South Africa: Condolences for Ambassador Masetlha

This story has been published on: 2023-05-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.

Spokesperson for President Cyril Ramaphosa, Vincent Magwenya, says there is no evidence to suggest that a Russian vessel, which docked in the Western Cape last year, took weapons back to that country. This after the US Ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, reportedly said that South Africa supplied weapons to the Eastern European ... See more
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National Black Pro-Life Union

May 15, 2023

WASHINGTON, May 15, 2023 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following is submitted by Day Gardner (photo), President of the National Black Pro-Life Union, she is available for comment:

I, like all of America, have been watching the strategic planned shredding of our "America the beautiful."

I am heartbroken.

I don't understand how fellow Americans, many who have gleaned great wealth and title because of all America stands for as a country -- can now hate our country so much, as to do everything in their power to devastate and destroy it.

We have media that turns a blind eye to all truth. What happened to the days when television news was about getting different sides to a story based on facts? Today, most news programs are merely opinion and propaganda machines spewing whatever they are told to spew by their billionaire bosses no matter how fact-less, no matter how wrong, no matter how false.

Our county's border is no longer a border, anyone can barge through. Actually, they don't even have to barge, they can just 'tiptoe through the tulips' across. We have gone from "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses" to give us your drugs, your gangs, your traffickers, your rapists, your diseases, your murderers, etc. What happened to coming to America legally? What happened to securing the safety of Americans first?

We are seeing hundreds of bank closures -- and hearing talk about the US dollar in danger of no longer being the global reserve currency.

Our allies seem to be wondering what the crap is going on with the United States, while our enemies are emboldened.

A few short years ago our military was strong and prepared for anything and everything. Not only did President Biden leave American citizens behind in Afghanistan, he also left spanking new, top of the line equipment. To make matters worse, President Biden is now diminishing our superior arsenal and stockpiles further by giving it away like cotton candy to Ukraine and other countries.

There is now mounting evidence of the Biden family being involved in pay to play dealings with China and others.

Everyday Americans are dealing with increased crime on the streets, high food and gas prices, smash and grabs, business failures and high mortgage rates yet, those on the left, are STILL hell bent on attacking former President Donald Trump. He's their priority and you don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand why.

It's the fear factor.

At a Wisconsin rally in October of 2017, Trump announced it was time to "Drain the swamp," in Washington, D.C. and spoke of proposing a package of ethics reforms to make government honest again. Immediately, all the good ole boy Democrats and lily-livered Republicans uttered a collective: "UH-OH! How dare this savvy businessman, former TV personality upset our crafty and lucrative apple carts."

Those same people have tried everything to halt TrumpEVERYTHING! They used impeachments, lawsuits, cover-up for this one and/or that one, voter fraud, frivolous investigations, promoting lies -- all while ignoring and even purposefully hiding the truth.

Even in the recent CNN Trump Town Hall, President Trump calmly and collectively answered the questions from the moderator - turned debater, yet she had a hissy fit because he didn't say what she wanted him to say, in the way she wanted him to say it. Oy

Our country is falling apart at the seams. Even though the media, immoral celebrities, and spineless Republican and Democrat politicians have sided with global billionaires determined to take down America, the movement Donald Trump inspired sees through the veil.

We the people will not do as "the left" expects. Unfounded, frivolous attacks on Donald Trump only solidifies reasons why we must continue to support him.

America is in deep trouble, and we have come to an impasse.

Many politicians smile in our faces, patting each other on the back for successfully tricking us one more time - one more political season with phony ballots, pandemics, lawsuits, and whatever the next thing will be. And trust methere will be something else coming down the pike.

We are not a socialist country and we do not want to be. We are not a communist country and we do not want to be. We have no interest in the globalist agenda which will be an evil black death to the America that we love.

I want my America back! I want the America that valued free speech, freedom of religion and traditional family values. I want the America that made it possible for my black parents to work, buy a home and start small businesses while raising six energetic children. I want every child to experience the safe childhood I had -- free from pressures of knowing and experiencing 'adult' things. I want good schools with good teachers who are excited to teach reading, writing and arithmetic -- leaving all other talks and rearing to their parents.

I didn't break through any glass ceilings in my life, but I did crash through a glass wall or two -- and I want that America back!

For all these reasons, I STAND with Donald J. Trump and proudly endorse him to be the 47th President of our failing country.

I truly believe that he, by the hand and grace of Almighty God, can make our beautiful America great again -- from sea to shining sea.
Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune.

Chicago police are searching for a crew that committed 10 armed robberies in just 30 minutes Sunday morning.

The rapid string of robberies occurred between 7:20 a.m. and 7:50 a.m. Sunday in the Hermosa and Humboldt Park neighborhoods, police said.

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The four attackers drove a gray Hyundai Elantra and wore black hooded sweatshirts and black ski masks. They approached victims on the sidewalk or while parking their car, then demanded victims property while brandishing semi-automatic handguns, police said.

Police warned people in the area to be vigilant in a news release Sunday afternoon and encouraged anyone with information about the attackers or their car to contact the Police Departments detectives bureau at 312-746-7394.

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Here are the locations and times police reported for each attack:
Declaring that choices have consequences, the Iowa Supreme Court on Friday rejected an effort by the state to have the justices decide the constitutionality of a rule that bars Medicaid from paying for sex reassignment surgery.

Noting that the rule isnt being enforced and that the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services has agreed to pay for such surgeries, the court said the states appeal was moot.

The justices said they was declining to rule on the constitutionality of the states actions since the issues appeared to be of merely academic interest to these litigants. Writing for the court, Justice Thomas Waterman said the justices would save the constitutional issues for another day, adding that the issues concerning Medicaid coverage for adult sex reassignment surgery are of public importance and likely to recur, but not in a manner that will evade appellate review.

The decision stems from the states appeal of a 2021 district court ruling that found legislation amending the Iowa Civil Rights Act violated the Iowa Constitution. That legislation had attempted to strip away protections for transgender Iowans who rely on Medicaid for transition surgery and related procedures.

The district court had also ruled that an Iowa Medicaid rule or regulation blocking Medicaid coverage for medically necessary transgender care violated both the Iowa Constitution and the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

The state appealed that element of the ruling that deals with the Legislatures amendment to the Iowa Civil Rights Act, arguing that the states elected lawmakers have the right to redefine the language of the act or even repeal it in its entirety.

Despite that appeal, the state has abided by the 2021 ruling and stopped denying preauthorization for transgender-related medical procedures. The two plaintiffs in the case, Mika Covington and Aiden Vasquez, have had their procedures approved for payment  which prompted the justices, during Januarys oral arguments, to question why the case was before them.

Lawyers for the state argued they were defending the constitutionality of the statute that was passed by the Legislature  but they acknowledged they were going to abide by the district court ruling that declared the law unconstitutional.

At the time, Chief Justice Susan Christensen suggested the states approach put the court in a difficult position.

Doesnt that kind of put us in a pickle? Christensen asked. Youre saying, Hey, by the way, were going to pay for it, but we want you to tell us (that) we dont have to pay for it. Arent you asking us to do the heavy lifting?  How much weight should we give the fact that you guys said, Uncle? You said, Were going to pay for it.

The state had argued that while some people characterized the Iowa Legislatures amendment to the Iowa Civil Rights Act as a prohibition on government funding for gender-reassignment procedure, the amendment merely stated that the act does not require to the state to pay for such procedures.

Debate over coverage dates back to 2016

The issue of coverage for gender reassignment dates back to 2016, when the ACLU of Iowa filed a complaint on behalf of an Iowa Department of Corrections worker, Jesse Vroegh, who had been denied health care coverage for treatment and procedures his doctors said were medically necessary.

A year later, the ACLU of Iowa filed a lawsuit on behalf of transgender clients Carol Ann Beal and Eerie Anna Good in an effort to block an Iowa Medicaid ban on the coverage of medically necessary gender-affirming surgery.

In 2018, a Polk County District Court judge ruled in favor of Beal and Good and blocked enforcement of the Medicaid ban under the Iowa Constitutions equal protection guarantee and the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

The state appealed that ruling. In the meantime, a Polk County District Court jury ruled in favor of Vroegh in his case, awarding him $120,000 in damages and finding that the state had engaged in sex and gender identity discrimination as prohibited by the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

Three months later, the Iowa Legislature passed a bill amending the Iowa Civil Rights Act to state that government agencies were not required to use public money, including Medicaid, to pay for transition-related surgeries. After the laws passage, Iowa Medicaid again started denying payment for such procedures.

In 2021, after the state denied Medicaid coverage to Covington and Vasquez, the ACLU sued the state again, which led to the November 2021 district court decision ordering the state to stop denying Medicaid coverage of medically necessary, gender-affirming surgery for transgender Iowans.
Two people are dead after a semi-trailer truck and a train collided Friday, the Iowa State Patrol said.

The crash occurred at 1:36 p.m. in the 120th block of 115th Street east of Lisbon, Iowa, in Cedar County.

Police said that the driver of a 2016 Mack 600 truck was attempting to cross the railroad tracks and was struck on the drivers side by an eastbound train.

One person in the truck and one person on the train were killed, according to the crash report issued by the Iowa State Patrol.

The names of the deceased were not released Friday, pending notification of family members.

Iowa State Patrol troopers were assisted at the scene by Lisbon and Mount Vernon police, fire and ambulance, Mechanicsville Fire Department, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Iowa Department of Transportation.

The crash remains under investigation.

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Turkeys presidential elections appear to be heading toward a second-round runoff. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has ruled his country for 20 years, is leading his chief challenger but is short of the votes needed for an outright reelection. With the votes of Turkish citizens living abroad still being counted on Monday, Erdogan had 49.3% of the votes, with his main rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, garnering 45%, according to state-run media. Erdogan, 69, told supporters he could still win but would respect the nations decision if the race went to a runoff on May 28. The vote is being closely watched to see if the key NATO country remains under the control of the increasingly authoritarian president or can embark on a more democratic course.
NEAR KYIV, Ukraine  By the time Kyiv residents hear the air-raid sirens signaling an imminent Russian attack, Ukraines air-defense units are already on the move. From camouflaged positions, they dart out by truck to farm fields around the capital, ready to take down enemy drones or missiles.

The scramble has become an almost nightly event since Russia resumed regular air attacks on Kyiv on April 28 after a nearly two-month lull. The units have intercepted every drone and missile fired at the capital since then.

It's a vast improvement since the opening days of the war, when waves of Russian missiles and aircraft eluded many Ukrainian defenses and inflicted heavy losses on Kyiv's air force.

With the help of Western weapons and growing experience, Ukraine's air defenses have made great strides in the past 14 months, saving infrastructure and lives and preventing Russia from achieving air superiority  a critical step as Ukrainians prepare for a counteroffensive.

The bolstered defenses have deterred Russian aircraft from going deep behind the front lines and "greatly shaped the course of the war, Ian Williams wrote this month in an analysis for the Center For Strategic and International Studies, or CSIS.

Since April 28, Russia has fired a total of 67 missiles and 114 drones at Ukraine, according to Ukrainian air force reports. Only seven missiles and 11 drones got through, and none hit Kyiv.

At the beginning of May, Kyiv units reported they had shot down Russias most advanced hypersonic missile, a weapon that was previously considered unstoppable by Ukraine. A newly acquired American-made Patriot battery made it possible.

On the first day of the invasion, Russia targeted Ukraines ground-based air-defense systems, first with a wave of missiles, then with dozens of bomber sorties supported by electronic warfare measures that essentially blinded Ukrainian radar, wrote Justin Bronk in an April analysis for the Virginia-based Center for Naval Analyses.

But Ukraine had received intelligence from allies ahead of the Russian attacks, allowing Ukrainian defenders to move mobile units out of harm's way.

The units were scattered, and for a brief time Russia was able to fly in waves of helicopters, supported by fighter jets, and inflict heavy losses on Ukrainian aircraft sent to intercept them.

But the Russians failed to follow up on their initial attacks, allowing Ukraine to regroup quickly, said Douglas Barrie, a defense aerospace specialist with the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.

The brigade commander of air defense command Center is a colonel who could only be identified by his callsign, Granite, in keeping with the Ukrainian military's policy of protecting soldiers' identities. He said his brigade was hit on the first day of the war with 20 Russian missiles, which took out barracks and command posts and killed people.

After abandoning fixed positions, they now operate strictly as mobile eams that can quickly spring into action and just as quickly slip away  a tactic commonly referred to as shoot and scoot.

After the initial setbacks suffered by Ukraine's air defenses, enough mobile units were back in operation by the wars third day that they were able to shoot down multiple planes, prompting Russia to pull back its attack aircraft and depriving it of a key advantage.

But many of the Russian missiles were still getting through.

With the arrival of new Western-made air defense systems in October and November, as well as the growing skill of the Ukrainian batteries, Ukraine reported intercepting some 80% of incoming Russian cruise missiles by December.

Today, Granite said the figure is closer to 90%, and he said the defense systems around Kyiv have taken down 100% of missiles shot at the city since April 28.

Two key systems used by Ukraine since the start of the war have been the Soviet-era long-range S300 and medium-range Buk systems.

Ukraine has gradually added new systems from Western allies, including IRIS-T batteries from Germany in October and the American and Norwegian-built NASAMS in November.

It has also received European-built SAMP/T systems, and American-built HAWK missiles, and last month added two U.S.-built Patriot batteries.

With so many Russian assaults, some speculate that Moscows strategy is to try to deplete Ukraines air-defense resources to the point where Russia will again be able to exploit its advantage with fighters and bombers. But there are also signs that Russia is running lower on missiles.

So far Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has successfully pressed allies for more air-defense supplies. The U.S. has announced $1.2 billion more in long-term military aid, including new HAWK systems, drones and air-defense munitions.

Morale seemed high among Granite's troops as a short-range team clowned around despite being on duty long into the early morning hours as Kyivs air defenses took down 35 explosive Iranian-made Shahed drones.

Beetle, who took down a Russian helicopter over Kyiv on the first day of the war with a shoulder-launched missile, said the success gave him confidence that he still holds.

I realized that it's not over yet, that we can fight, he said. So they're not that scary.

Timeline: A look at key moments in a year of war between Russia and Ukraine A month-by-month timeline of the war in Ukraine The war in Ukraine that began a year ago has killed thousands, forced millions to flee their homes, reduced entire cities to rubble and has fueled fears the confrontation could slide into an open conflict between Russia and NATO. A look at some of the main events in the conflict. Feb. 24, 2022: Russia invades Ukraine March 2, 2022: Russia takes Kherson, gets stuck near Kyiv March 29, 2022: Russia withdraws from Kyiv, shifts focus east April 2022: Mass graves discovered in Bucha April 9, 2022: Russia strikes train station, killing 52 civilians April 13, 2022: Ukraine sinks Russian missile cruiser May 16, 2022: Ukraine defenders surrender key steel mill May 18, 2022: Finland, Sweden apply for NATO membership June 2022: Western weapons flow into Ukraine June 30, 2022: Russian troops pull back from Snake Island July 22, 2022: Deal struck on grain exports July 29, 2022: 53 killed in missile strike on prison Aug. 9, 2022: Ukraine strikes air base in Crimea Aug. 20, 2022: Daughter of Russian ideologist killed in car bombing Sept. 6, 2022: Ukraine counteroffensive retakes parts of Kharkiv region Sept. 21, 2022: Putin orders mobilization of reservists, stages illegal "referendums" Sept. 30, 2022: Putin claims annexation of 4 regions October 2022: Bridge linking Crimea and Russia attacked November 2022: Russia retreats from Kherson Dec. 5, 2022: Ukraine uses drones to hit Russian targets Dec. 21, 2022: Zelenskyy visits US Jan. 1, 2023: Ukraine kills scores of freshly mobilized Russian soldiers Jan. 12, 2023: Russia claims capture of Soledar Jan. 14, 2023: Russian strike kills 45 in apartment building Feb. 20, 2023: Biden makes surprise visit to Kyiv
Pastor Angela Musyoka shared her story with Turning Point, narrating how losing her sight changed her life.

Can you give us a brief history of yourself?

I was born a healthy person in Kitui County but got raised in Nairobi. I grew up being full of life, studied, and later got employed at Yana Tyres as a personal secretary to my boss. It was there that I met the love of my life and we later got married and had two children.

We were a happy couple to the point that I quit my job and started a school where I was the principal.

What happened when you first noticed your loss of sight?

As I was busy conducting my business, I first noticed my loss of sight when I was teaching. I went to write on the blackboard and noticed that I couldnt see well; it was blurry. When it happened for the second time, it raised an alarm, and I sought medical advice. To my shock, after a check-up, I received the heartbreaking news that I was suffering from retinitis pigmentosa. This inherited condition affects veins leading to a lack of vitamin E. The condition cant be corrected, and the only thing that could be offered was counseling.

How did you receive the news?

I saw the world crashing on my head; I couldnt absorb the news softly. It was one of the toughest journeys I have ever walked, just when I was at the peak of success, thats when the calamity struck in. I went home a broken soul full of thoughts and worries. It took me time before I broke the news to my family.

What happened after you lost your sight?

Having limited time for my visibility, I became more prayerful. Prayers were my main comfort as my vision was dying slowly. In 2008, I slept, and when I woke up the following morning, I couldnt see. At first, I thought it was still dark, but when my daughter came to wake me up, thats when it dawned on me that I could no longer see. I couldnt even break it to my daughter that it had finally happened. This is where my hardest journey started. I faced rejection from all corners, was called names that some I cant even wish to repeat, and lost friends, including my own husband. I fought with evil spirits until I became scared of my house.

What do you mean by saying that you fought with evil spirits?

By the time I lost sight, my husband was working in South Africa, so I was left with my two children. Being alone in the bedroom, at first, I thought I was dreaming, but when the dramas extended each passing day, thats when I learned that I was being attacked by evil spirits. They could come, take away my blanket, and toss my bed upside down. Sometimes, they could climb the bed and pull me down.

Did you tell anyone about the evil spirits?

I tried to get hold of my blanket when the drama started, and thats where my hand landed on something that I cant even describe; the touch gave me goosebumps. I also tried to share my predicaments with my husband, but he kept me off, claiming that I was being brainwashed by the church.

Is that the point where you got divorced?

He tried at first, but our parents intervened, but since he was determined, he went on for the second time when I was at my lowest. I was being spoon-fed like a baby, but that didnt deter him.

How did you recover from all of this?

My recovery journey was full of hills. I developed a heart problem that saw me frequent the hospital, but counselling was the therapy that got me back on my feet. I had to let bygones be bygones and start my life from scratch. Peace was my main goal, which I managed to achieve, and salvation became my strength. Even though losing my sight at that age knocked me down, acceptance was my life bailout. I became a source of hope to many by sharing my life journey.

What advice do you have for those who are facing similar challenges?

To those in similar situations, take heart. Dust yourself off and move on. No one will pull you out of that situation other than you making the right move.
President William Ruto allayed any fears regarding his conspicuous weight loss following concerns from a section of Kenyans.

The President has lost a significant amount of weight since he assumed office, with some Kenyans expressing fears that he might be battling a chronic condition.

But speaking during a joint media interview at State House Nairobi on Sunday, President Ruto attributed his sudden weight changes to pressure from the electioneering period.

President Ruto explained that he added some weight as he had irregular eating schedules and that he sometimes overate.

I had an original fit that ran amok the last one and a half to two years. We went into elections and you know when you have elections there is a lot of pressure, sometimes you take out the pressure on food, Ruto said.
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Authorities reported the arrest of a Napa man in connection with a stabbing late Saturday night and a two-car collision that sent two Lake County residents to the hospital.

Alejandro Choc Choc, 18, was arrested by California Highway Patrol officers early Sunday morning, about four hours after the reported assault, according to CHP spokesperson Jaret Paulson.

Napa Police initially were called at 11:46 p.m. Saturday to the 400 block of Maple Street, where they found a male victim who had been stabbed in the lower left abdomen, police Sgt. Tommy Keener said. The victim, who identified Choc as his attacker, was taken to Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center with a non-life-threatening injury, according to Keener.

When police later contacted Choc by phone, he admitted stabbing the victim but said he did so in self-defense, and declined to meet officers in person, Keener said.

Later, at about 3:47 a.m., Choc was driving a Honda Accord east on Hoffman Lane when he failed to yield to northbound traffic at the Highway 29 intersection, according to Paulson of the highway patrol. A Mercury Marquis on northbound Highway 29 broadsided the passenger side of the Honda, and Choc ran from the scene, Paulson said in an email Monday.

The Mercurys driver and passenger, 56-year-old Rick Ellsworth and 54-year-old Julie Stewart of Kelseyville, were taken to Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center with what CHP described as moderate injuries.

CHP officers found and detained Choc, who was booked into the Napa County jail on felony allegations of leaving the scene of an accident and causing injury by driving under the influence.

When Napa Police learned Choc had been booked into jail, he was additionally held on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, according to Keener.

Choc remained in custody Monday on $100,000 bail.
ST. HELENA  Twenty years ago, Rianda House was a house. Fifteen years ago, it was a modest senior center offering coffee and the morning paper.

Today its a full-service senior center offering dozens of programs to hundreds of Upvalley residents.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register.

During the run-up to Riandas 15th anniversary open house on May 20, the centers leaders reflected on its changing role in the Upvalley, its perseverance during the pandemic and its future.

Board member Gene Armstead, who was also the centers first executive director in 2008, recalled those early days of coffee and a newspaper.

My job was to unlock the door in the morning and make coffee. That was it, he said. I marvel at how far weve come.

Today Rianda House offers as many as six activities per day: strength training, Readers Theatre, Gents & A Cuppa Joe, Ladies & A Cuppa Tea, canasta, mah-jongg, bridge, knitting, music appreciation, dementia caregiver support, etc.

The hottest new program is country line dancing at the Magnolia Room around the corner at Oak and Pine, which Rianda House rents on Wednesdays and Fridays. The staff also rents office space on the first floor of the Baldwin Building next to Rianda House, freeing up space in the main building for events.

Organizers are proud of Rianda House being a place where seniors are mentally and physically active. Drop by on a random day and you might find music fans talking about the San Francisco Operas latest production, Francophiles brushing up on their French, fitness buffs doing Zumba, or retired executives with masters degrees chatting about the latest trends in economics and international relations.

We have a variety of programs that addresses the variety of needs of local seniors, board member Carroll Cotten said.

That expansion in programming puts Rianda House in a position to handle an explosion in the senior population, with the youngest baby boomers just now entering their 60s.

History

Rianda House began as Riandas house  simply a house belonging to St. Helena real estate agent Jean Rianda, who died in 2003. In her will, she directed that the house be converted to a senior center. Riandas close friend, former Mayor Greta Ericson, founded the organizations first board of directors.

They went from bank to bank looking for a construction loan until First Republic Bank  which collapsed May 1  stepped up with a $690,000 loan that became a mortgage once construction was complete.

Rianda House leaders were able to pay off the loan in only seven years. After May 2015, the money that had been going toward mortgage payments was now freed up for staffing and programming, which fueled the centers growth in the late 2010s.

Rianda organizers take pride in how the center navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, providing virtual services at a time when some senior centers went on hiatus.

We never closed. Ever, said board president Peter Working.

The pandemic was the first indicator that Rianda House could navigate uncharted territory. The next came with the May 2022 retirement of Julie Spencer, whod served as executive director since October 2008 and had played a crucial role in shaping its identity.

The board tapped Maury Robertson to fill her role and hired new staff members. There are now three full-time and one part-time staff.

Robertson said hed expected to spend 2023 getting the new staff settled in before expanding services in 2024, but the expansion is already starting.

Serving the Upvalley

The center now offers six activities in Calistoga. That reflects Riandas long-term mission to serve the entire Upvalley, not just St. Helena  although organizers admit they still need to work on reaching seniors in remote areas like Angwin and Berryessa Estates.

Were starting to think of Rianda House not just as a place where people come for activities, Robertson said. It will remain that, but our dream is for it to be a provider of senior activities for the whole Upvalley.

The question is how to reach seniors  both inside and outside St. Helena  who arent being served, either because they cant leave home or they cant find a ride. The board has decided this isnt the time to expand Riandas physical plant, but rather to take Rianda House to them, as board president Working put it.

That involves a different way of thinking, a different focus in terms of where staff and volunteers spend their time, and finding ways to coordinate and pay for that, Working said. Its still cheaper than buying new space, and it gives us more flexibility.

That means putting on events at places like Calistogas senior parks and the city's Brannan Center.

It also means building on Riandas virtual offerings, which didnt entirely go away even as in-person programming resumed after the pandemic. Working and other board members see virtual programming as a way to keep seniors who prefer to stay home socially engaged and mentally active  as long as they have some help setting up the technology.

Wed love to be able to get to people in their houses, but we dont have the resources right now, Working said. We are working on a program for that though.

Another challenge is to provide those services without detracting from Rianda Houses on-site offerings.

At our last planning session, we talked about doing the things we do really well in St. Helena before we expand too far afield without the resources to back that up, said board member Bonnie Thoreen.

Meeting goals

Cotten said Robertson has helped the board focus on our primary goals and how we can track our progress.

One of those goals is to have 1,000 engagements  contacts with people  every month. Engagements have already topped 800 and are steadily rising.

Some of those engagements are the same people attending multiple events, so Robertson estimates there are about 300 different people using Riandas services every month and about 1,200 every year.

We want those numbers to go up, Working said.

Another goal is to provide a place where seniors can bring their gifts and talents, not just their needs. That goal is harder to quantify but easy to perceive, especially for those whove ever visited a senior center that feels depressing and moribund.

I want to see a culture shift in how people think about aging, Robertson said. We need to think of our older years as something rich and meaningful  something to be savored.

Cotten said to expect increased numbers and more creative programming over the next year. Robertson says to expect evening programs too, instead of Rianda Houses typical 5 p.m. closing time.

Rianda House receives annual grants from the city of St. Helena but mostly relies on private donations. To learn more about the centers programs and how to donate, go to riandahouse.org.

The center is also looking for new volunteers and board members. For more information, call 707-963-8555 or drop by Rianda House, 1475 Main St.

Photos: Casino Rianda, Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament, 2019 Top 6 finishers Susan Durbrow Andy Gridley, Susan Durbrow Chips Jennifer Lamb, Susan Collins Phoebe Ellsworth, Alan Galbraith, Leslie Cobb-Bruno April Mitts Kris Ridste Final table Elizabeth Cobb-Bruno, Raymond Bruno Andy Gridley, Polly Keegan
Azerbaijan's actions do not have the aim of closing the Artsakh issue once and for all because Azerbaijani president Aliyev declares at every opportunity that the Artsakh issue does not exist; that is, what is happening now is expansionism and refers to the sovereign territory of Armenia. Metakse Hakobyan, the secretary of the opposition "Justice" Faction of the National Assembly of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), said told this to Armenian News-NEWS.am, referring to the expectations from the tripartite meeting held in Brussels Sunday.

"When we draw parallels, today we are not able to operate the Kashen mine, the Sotk mine has been closed in Armenia for about a month; that is, the same thing is happening, its just that Armenia is bigger and it is not so obvious for our people. We can't wait for anything good anymore, we can wait for a quick agreement between the two leaders, which will address their false peace agenda, which will be accompanied by successive concessions for Armenia and Artsakh in the case of such a leader, whereas victory in the case of Azerbaijan," she said.

According to the Artsakh MP, the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders have already come to verbal agreements and we can expect the signing of the peace treaty every minute.

"Yes, one of the timeframes of signing the treaty can be June 1. And Azerbaijan's growing aggression towards Armenia is also one of the clear proofs that the treaty be signed faster. But the issue of Artsakh is not discussed there at all, they consider it purely in terms of our rights; that is, the way Azerbaijanis consider [it], as ethnic minorities in Azerbaijan. The authorities of Armenia, realizing that no guarantee from Azerbaijan can work, but they want to hear or sign some guarantee to close this issue and finish their actions with it, and until then, using Artsakh as a small coin to end this game," she said.

Reflecting on the domestic politics of Artsakh, Hakobyan said that a salvation front has been formed in Artsakh, an action plan has been developed, which will be announced soon. However, according to the lawmaker, there are also other actors who did not join this front.

The Opposition MP added that in the coming week, an announcement will be made about this salvation front and future actions.
Newspaper: Armenias Syunik Province remains in Wests center of attention

Parliament vice-speaker: Ukraine will unconditionally support Azerbaijans territorial integrity

Some important issues missing in Charles Michels statement: Why? Comments from EU official source

US State Department comments on Armenia, Azerbaijan leaders upcoming meeting in Moscow

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In the current situation, it is very important to support Syunik region. Andrea Wictorin

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Samantha Power: Reopening of road connecting Karabakh to Armenia is absolute necessity

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Artsakh Security and Development Front public movement declaration is publicized

Pashinyan: Certain positive understanding formed in Brussels regarding Armenia-Azerbaijan railway restoration

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France MP: Azerbaijan behaves like rogue state

1 Armenia soldier dead, another wounded by Azerbaijan Wednesday, criminal proceedings launched

Azerbaijan FM heads for Moscow to meet with Armenia counterpart

Karabakh ex-state minister: Artsakh people are 100 percent ready to defend their homeland to the end

Stanford University international relations Ph.D.: There is big epidemic of narcotics in Armenia

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Azerbaijan FM misinforms participants of summit of CoE countries heads of states, governments

There was an intention to harm the vehicle and the soldier. Human Rights Defender

Armenia does not sign CoE agreement on creating registry of damages caused to Ukraine

Azerbaijan accuses Russian peacekeeping contingent of assisting in transfer of weapons to Karabakh

The soldier who died in Sotk is 20-year-old Edgar Suleimanyan. Ministry of Defense

Soldier wounded by Azerbaijani Armed Forces died on the way to hospital

Armenia MOD publishes photos of ambulance that Azerbaijan fire on (PHOTOS)

Armenia Security Council head has phone talk with Germany Chancellor advisor

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Paolo Gentiloni: Sanctioned goods reach Russia via Central Asia, Armenia

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Armenia official presents model that can be used in order to oversee planned Nakhichevan-Azerbaijan railway

Economy minister on cocaine imported into Armenia: We are very worried

Karabakh parliament speaker: Political consultations have started in Artsakh

Humanitarian aid through Lachin corridor still suspended

2 of 8 Armenia soldiers wounded by Azerbaijan on May 11 and 12 in severe condition

Lavrov: Armenia would have had more stable situation if it deployed CSTO observers

Los Angeles intersection is named 'Republic of Artsakh Square'

Putin: Russia expects agreement with Iran, Azerbaijan on railway infrastructure, cargo transportation

Fruit importing company imports about 1 ton of cocaine into Armenia via Panama-Italy-Georgia route

Lavrov: West puts pressure on Russia allies in EAEU, CIS

Sergey Lavrov: US advises Armenia to drive away Russian military base, border guards

US State Department report addresses church-government relations in Armenia

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airBaltic resumes flights between Yerevan, Riga

Armenia PM in Reykjavik, attends 4th Council of Europe summit opening ceremony

Newspaper: Samvel Babayans getting active storms Karabakh domestic politics

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Karabakh FM: Europe should not have forgotten Armenians besieged in Artsakh

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Mirzoyan briefs Latvia FM on situation in Karabakh, Armenia-Azerbaijan talks

Secretary of Armenian Security Council discussed situation around Karabakh with Kolomina

Turkish authorities detained, then expelled three Spanish observers

The RA Investigative Committee and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation signed a Memorandum of Cooperation

Ombudsperson briefs Germany envoy on confinement conditions of Azerbaijan soldiers detained in Armenia

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Iran official: Silk Road will be revived

EBRD calculates Armenia economic growth indicator for 2023 first quarter

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Armenia permanent delegate: UNESCO mission needs to be urgently sent to Karabakh, neighboring areas

US State Department: Azerbaijan is destroying Armenian spiritual heritage of Nagorno-Karabakh

Siranush Sahakyan: European side is attempting to ensure Azerbaijani criminals exchange for Armenian POWs

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Armenia deputy FM on Karabakh-Azerbaijan international mechanisms: There are several options

Iran MFA condemns US double standards over recent oil tanker seizures

Deputy FM on exchanging Azerbaijanis lost in Armenia: Too early to talk about that

Azerbaijan State Security Service announces detention of 2 agents working for Armenia

Armenia official: Peace project is neither of Brussels nor of Moscow

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Deputy FM: Security Council discussed in September 2022 matter of Armenia leaving CSTO but was decided to remain
Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune.

The project manager for a Chicago-area construction company is the latest to be charged in an alleged scheme to bribe an employee of the Cook County assessors office, part of a larger corruption probe that also ensnared former 34th Ward Ald. Carrie Austin.

John Bodendorfer, 55, of Chicago, was charged with bribery conspiracy and wire fraud in a three-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court last week, court records show. An initial court date had not been set as of Monday.

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His attorney, Steven Shobat, could not immediately be reached.

The indictment alleged that between 2016 and 2019, Bodendorfer, a project manager at Summit-based Oakk Construction, conspired with his boss, Oakk Construction owner Alex Nitchoff, to provide free home improvement materials and services, jewelry, meals, tickets to sporting events and other items, to Lavdim Memisovski, a commercial group leader at the Cook County assessors office.

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In return, prosecutors allege, Memisovski made sure that appeals of property assessments related to Nitchoff and his business associates were routed to him so he could extend deadlines for the filing of appeals and reduce assessed property values.

Nitchoff was indicted on nearly identical charges in March and has pleaded not guilty.

Memisovski pleaded guilty last August and is cooperating with the investigation.

According to the indictment filed last week, Bodendorfer called Nitchoff in June 2017 to let him know that up to $20,000 of work was set to be performed on Memisovskis house. Over the next several months, the work Bodendorfer supervised included drywalling, gutters and windows and a delivery of gravel, the charges alleged.

In September 2017, Bodendorfer told Memisovski in a recorded call that he knew that the work amounted to not even 5% of the assistance Memisovski had given them with the property assessments, according to the indictment.

Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

In another call two months later, Bodendorfer asked Memisovski to keep him informed of what his workers were doing at the home, and said that Memisovskis address was not on any invoices so there was no paper trail and nothing to worry about, the indictment alleged.

Meanwhile, a federal grand jury subpoena stemming from the same probe in 2019 sought records relating to several interrelated companies and their officers, including Oakk Construction.

The FBI raided Austins office in June 2019. She stepped down from her seat in February and is awaiting trial along with her former top aide, Chester Wilson, on charges they shepherded a new real estate development through the City Hall approval process beginning in 2016 and were given home improvement perks from a now-deceased developer seeking to influence them. They have pleaded not guilty.

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The same investigation also ensnared former Chicago city inspector Joseph Garcia, who pleaded guilty to fraud for falsely claiming to have inspected homes supposedly worked on by Oakk Construction and found the work completed as required.

The city then paid the company up to $100,000 for replaced porches when the work hadnt actually been done, according Garcias plea agreement

Garcia was sentenced to probation in 2021.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
The Republic Alliance, led by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is getting an overwhelming majority in the parliament, according to the preliminary data published by state-funded TRT television after the counting of all ballots in Turkey's polling stations.

The presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey took place on Sunday. TRT published the preliminary data according to the data received from state-funded Anadolu Agency. The Supreme Election Council of Turkey will announce the final results.

According to preliminary data, the ruling party received more than 35 percent of the votes, which guarantees 266 seats, and together with allies Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the New Welfare Party53.2 percent; that is more than 320 seats in the 600-seat parliament.

The People's Alliance of six opposition parties received more than 35 percent of the votes, and the Labor and Freedom Alliance, led by the pro-Kurdish Green Left Partymore than 10 percent.

AKP had 295 seats in the 27th convocation Turkish parliament, which was elected in 2018.
In Syunik Province, the European Union (EU) has provided an assistance of 55 million euros, with which they send a clear signal that they support Armenia and the territorial integrity of Armenia. Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, stated this during a press conference Monday dedicated to Europe Day and EU-Armenia relations.

The "Russian aggression" against Ukraine has made people more united, and they are ready to fight for their values: democracy and the rule of law, and it is with that guidance they are moving forward in Armenia as well, where they have supported the reform process, Wiktorin said.

The respective progress in Armenia was ensured during a period of many challenges: covid, war, then snap elections, and until now there is a rather tense situation in the world, she added.

Reflecting on Sunday's meeting in Brussels between Armenian PM Nikol, Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev, and European Council President Charles Michel, the EU diplomat said they once again emphasize that the EU is committed and ready to assist Armenia and Azerbaijan on their way to finding a lasting and peaceful solution, which will not only ensure peace, but also guarantee stability in the region.
Together with its European Union (EU) partners, Armenia has been able to move forward with quite a lot of difficulties, to overcome unprecedented global challenges, and has also recorded significant achievements during these years. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Paruyr Hovhannisyan stated this during a press conference Monday dedicated to Europe Day and EU-Armenia relations.

Decades later, Armenias contacts with the EU have continuously developed, attracted new directions and areas, covering the entire range of political and sectoral issues; and this year, especially, they have enriched the decades-long successful cooperation with new domains and components, Hovhannisyan said, underscoring the EU monitoring mission in Armenia.

Armenias partners are surely contributing to the stabilization of the situation in the region, he emphasized.

Armenia appreciates and values the efforts made by the EU, particularly by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, he said.

Also, the Armenian deputy FM expresses his special gratitude to Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, who patiently and dedicatedly managed to raise Armenia-EU cooperation to a qualitatively new level, which will surely ensure the success of future actions.

Hovhannisyan said he clearly realizes that a peaceful and stable society can be formed only on human rights, fundamental freedoms, tolerance, and solidarity.
This is an ongoing work that ensures progress, and the parties will have an opportunity to meet once again in Brussels and discuss all the issues. Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Armenia, stated this during a press conference Monday dedicated to Europe Day and EU-Armenia relations, reflecting on the meeting between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in Brussels Sunday and the subsequent statement.

All issues should be discussed at the negotiating table; and if Charles Michel's statement is read carefully, it will be see that the main message is exactly that, Wiktorin said.

She added that they have been working for the return of prisoners for quite a long time, Michels statement said that there is a general perception that the detainees will be released in the coming weeks, and Michel emphasizes that it is extremely important to guarantee mutual understanding in the sense that this work will continue, these people will be released through an accelerated process, and the rest is up for discussion.

The EU diplomat said they understand that it is extremely important to come to an agreement, but they hope that both sides will withdraw their troops, and everyone will start the border demarcation and delimitation, Wiktorin said.

She recalled that there will be a big meeting in June in Chisinau, then tripartite meetings are still expected.
The issue of the withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from the territory of Armenia is not separated from the general issue, this issue is put on the peace treaty and included in other ongoing processes. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Paruyr Hovhannisyan stated this, responding to the question by Armenian News-NEWS.am on Monday.

According to him, there are provisions in the aforesaid peace treaty with Azerbaijan regarding border delimitation and unblocking of roads.

He explained that the peace treaty includes principles on the basis of which an attempt will be made to establish peace, and therefore, according to him, it is impossible to separate these issues from each other.

Hovhannisyan added that one of the most important and sensitive issues is to ensure the implementation of this peace treaty.

"One of our red lines is that within the framework of unblocking communications, the railway must operate exclusively within the framework of Armenias legislation. Only after receiving clear guarantees on this issue can we talk about construction and other work," emphasized the Armenian deputy FM.

He recalled that a tripartite commission was set up together with Russia, its next meeting will be held in Moscow soon, and this issue is also discussed in a separate format.

"Efforts on all issues are made in parallel, they are not separate negotiations from each other. The goal is to ensure the peace process in our region," Hovhannisyan stressed.
Regarding the corridor logic through Armenia, our partners did not use that term, which means that it is obvious what position the mediators have adopted. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Paruyr Hovhannisyan told this to reporters Monday, answering the question about Sundays tripartite meeting in Brussels.

A tripartite meeting between Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, President of the European Council Charles Michel, and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev took place Sunday in Brussels.

"One of our red lines is that within the framework of unblocking communications, the railway must operate exclusively within the framework of Armenias legislation. Only after receiving clear guarantees on this issue can we talk about construction and other work," emphasized Armenian deputy FM.

Answering the questions about what the head of the EU Delegation to Armenia meant by announcing that Armenian troops were in one or two other places on the territory of Azerbaijan, Hovhannisyan noted: "It is not clear to me as well what it is about. Probably, its about the first Karabakh war [in the early 1990s]; it is necessary to look [at it] from this point of view. I find it difficult to say what it is about. It is an accepted format: making statements addressed to both sides. But it is obvious to everyone that in that period it is about the withdrawal of [Azerbaijani] troops from the territory of Armenia. The US, the EU, and other partners [of Armenia] have spoken about this. I believe it is obvious to everyone what it was about."

To the question that if a sign of equality is placed between the two parties, will that lead to an impasse, the Armenian deputy FM responded: "Partners make both targeted statements and statements addressed to both sides in order, as they say, to maintain contacts with the other side as well. Therefore, the situation is not the same as a year or two ago."
The main message of Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, is that Armenia and Azerbaijan should recognize each other's territorial integrity. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Paruyr Hovhannisyan stated this during a press conference Monday dedicated to Europe Day and EU-Armenia relations, reflecting on the meeting between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan and the President of the European Council, in Brussels Sunday.

"It was about the borders that existed at the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union, which corresponds to the Almaty statement. On the other hand, of course, it was obvious that the meeting was aimed at achieving progress with concrete steps," Hovhannisyan said.

The Armenian deputy FM noted, however, he did not know whether the topic of enclaves was discussed at the aforesaid meeting.

As for the withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia, Hovhannisyan said that this concept was discussed not only by the EU, but also by a number of international partners.

A tripartite meeting between Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, President of the European Council Charles Michel, and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev took place Sunday in Brussels.
There are one or two points where the Armenias troops are in the border areas; there should be very clear border delimitation and demarcation. Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Armenia, stated this during a press conference Monday dedicated to Europe Day and EU-Armenia relations, reflecting on her announcement that the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides should withdraw their troops.

As for the timeframe, this depends on the negotiations, Wiktorin added.

She expressed hope that meeting between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan and the President of the European Council in Brussels Sunday gave a very fresh picture of all the discussed matter, and noted that a number of these matters will be further discussed at other levels.

Also, the EU diplomat expressed hope that they will reach a quality solution soon, and this will also lead to respect for territorial integrity, which implies the withdrawal of troops.

And to the question as to in which areas are the points where the Armenian troops should withdraw, Wiktorin responded that she is not familiar with the details, but she heard it from the negotiations.
The EU monitoring mission in Armenia is already doing quite impressive work, they are not yet operating at full speed, and they continue to expand. Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Armenia, stated this during a press conference Monday dedicated to Europe Day and EU-Armenia relations, adding that these EU observers collaborate with the Armenian authorities, and they are joined by the staff of the Ministry of Defense.

To the remark that until now there has been no mention of any report by these EU observers, Wiktorin said they do not submit the reports to Armenia, nor to Azerbaijan, but report to Brussels.

As for the recent atrocities, if we are talking about Sotk, they were not present there, but they are present along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border quite considerably, they don't want to end up where something is happening, they monitor the border and record what they see, but that doesn't mean they can automatically end up at a point where something is happening, the EU diplomat said.

The ambassador noted that the Armenian side was responsible for the safety of these EU observers.

There may be a situation when the observers refuse to go to a specific point, but they went, gave a specific assessment, and sent it to Brussels, Wiktorin added.
The statement by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, is a disgraceful statement. It is a gross violation of human rights and democracy, if not a blow. David Babayan, adviser and representative-at large of the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) president and ex-FM of Artsakh, stated this in an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am on Monday, regarding Michels statement made on Sunday in Brussels.

"Michel became equal to [former UK PM Neville] Chamberlain. As a result of the disgraceful conspiracy in 1938, democratic Czechoslovakia was handed over to Nazi Germany," Babayan noted.

He called this not only a repetition of the Munich conspiracy, but also a closer cooperation between distorted democracy and prosperous totalitarianism.

"What democracy are we talking about [regarding Azerbaijan]? They are geopolitically corrupt people. Does Michel want to drive us [the Armenians of Artsakh] to a concentration camp? That's how it turns out. What international mechanisms are we talking about if Chamberlain's plan is being implemented? the Artsakh presidential advisor asked in bewilderment.

In his opinion, all issues should be resolved quickly because time is short.

"It is necessary to understand the position of official Armenia, the Armenian people, the collective Westrepresented by the US, and Russia. After that, the situation will be clarified once and for all, and the possible steps to get out of this difficult situation will become clear.

"Michel severely reduced the possibility of maneuver, he noted a number and did it deliberately. Now we must get an answer from Armenia and the Armenian people.

"Europe has legitimized the 2020 [military] aggression, justified the installation of a checkpoint in the Lachin corridor [by Azerbaijan]. With that, it showed that, perhaps, it was directly or indirectly involved Azerbaijan and Turkey's aggression against the sovereign territory of Armenia in 2020. Where are those European observers? It will be so in Artsakh, too.

"It [i.e., Europe] came also to know the position of Russia as the main guarantor of the implementation of that document [i.e., the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020]. Is it present in those processes or not? As long as there are Russian peacekeepers, there is no massacre [in Artsakh]. Russia was strong in the South Caucasus for 300 years, including thanks to the Armenians of Artsakh. About 50 thousand Artsakh Armenians fell during the Second World War.

"There are no more diplomatic solutions; that matter is closed. Who is Michel, who took it upon himself to settle that matter? It is not legitimate; there is the OSCE Minsk Group. He refers to the Almaty declaration, distorting it. But all this does not matter, the EU just wants to create a united front against Russia, and is ready for anything for that.

"What rights are we talking about if they are including us [i.e., Artsakh] in the totalitarian state [i.e., Azerbaijan]?" Babayan asked.

He recalled that no one in Artsakh is ready to live under the yoke of Azerbaijan, informing that two of the four options for further actions remain.

"There were four options: inclusion in Azerbaijan, maintaining the status quo, struggle, as well as not accepting the Azerbaijani yoke and the biblical solution. Now there are two options left: struggle and biblical solution.

"What should we discuss with Baku? How we will surrender [to it]? It is not the Artsakh issue that is being resolved, but the issue of Armenian self-determination, the issue of who is an Armenian.

"Artsakh has never been a free eater for Armenia and the Armenian people, but has made an unprecedented contribution to the common cause. We want to know what the Armenian people think.

"We don't want to discuss rights and security or any other issues within Azerbaijan, no matter under the conditions of whatever mechanism it may be. The matter will not even reach the mechanisms.

There are two ways out: a struggle with an unknown ending, and a dignified biblical way out for the preservation of the [Armenian] gene pool, as the Jews once did by leaving Egypt," concluded the adviser to the Artsakh president.
The European Union (EU) Delegation to Armenia has provided a clarification to Mondays statement by Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, about the EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA). The clarification states as follows:

The EU Delegation would like to make the following clarification regarding the press conference held today. The correct interpretation of the reply to the question about the EUMA observers is below.

We ask all our media partners to use this translation. The full versions of the press conference with voiceover in English and Armenian will be published soon.

Well, the reports are not shared with Armenia. They are not shared with Azerbaijan, nor they are shared with Armenia. But, as the mission is accompanied by the officers of the Ministry of Defense, the Armenian side is well aware of what they see. Naturally, they cannot be everywhere. So, they can only monitor something, then they report back to Brussels. But they cannot report on things that they have not seen. Which is a rather logical element. So far with the latest incursion and hostilities they were not present on the ground when the incursion happened. You have quite a long border and there is a schedule of the patrols. It is also not an intention that they had to be there while something happens. They are monitoring the border and they see what they see around the border, but it does not mean that they are actually on the spot when something happens.

Envoy to Armenia: EU monitoring mission was not in Sotk
During his working visit to Brussels, secretary of the Security Council (SC) of Armenia Armen Grigoryan on Monday met with the members of the Deputies Committee of the Permanent Representatives of NATO, the SC office informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The interlocutors discussed matters related to the regional security environment. In this connection, the SC chief presented the security situation around Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, which contains risks of Armenian ethnic cleansing by Azerbaijan. Also, Grigoryan called on the international community to react in order to prevent the above from happening.

In addition, the SC chief presented the details of the recent Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations in Washington and Brussels.

Furthermore, Grigoryan emphasized the commitment of the Armenian side to the normalization of relations with Turkeyand without preconditions.

The parties discussed as well the matters in connection with the development of the Armenia-NATO bilateral partnership.
The Foreign Ministry of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Republic of Artsakh) issued a statement in connection with the statements of the President of the European Council made after the trilateral meeting in Brussels.

On 14 May, President of the European Council Charles Michel made a press statement following a trilateral meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The content of the statement as a whole, as well as a number of points contained there indicate that the EU leadership continues to ignore the legitimate rights and interests of the people of Artsakh and is guided solely by their own geopolitical and short-term interests in the region to the detriment of the values of democracy and human rights declared by the European Union.

This is evidenced in particular by the absence in the statement of any mention of more than 5-months blockade of the Lachin Corridor, the establishment of an illegal Azerbaijani checkpoint at the entrance to the corridor and the factual siege of the 120,000 population of Artsakh with all the ensuing humanitarian consequences. This is an indication of the fact that the President of the European Council not only does not prevent, but in fact indulges Azerbaijan in using the suffering of the people of Artsakh as a political tool.

However, if the intentions and visible actions of Azerbaijan to provoke a humanitarian catastrophe and carry out ethnic cleansing in Artsakh are not a matter of concern for the President of the European Council, we still had the right to expect that the organisation he represents would show direct interest in Azerbaijan's strict compliance with the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and the International Court of Justice, as one of the pillars of contemporary international legal order. In this regard, the European Council Presidents defiant disregard for Azerbaijan's consistent non-compliance with the legally binding Order of the principal judicial organ of the UN and its systematic violations of international law, in particular the non-use or threat of force and the peaceful settlement of disputes, is puzzling.

It is only the effective measures on the part of the international community aimed at forcing Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally implement its obligations under the Trilateral Statement of 9 November 2020 and the Order of the International Court of Justice of 22 February 2023, that may testify that those acting as mediators are sincerely interested in lasting peace and stability in the region. We believe that those international actors who either by their action or inaction are encouraging Baku in their aggressive, expansionist policies and internationally wrongful acts, not only bear responsibility for their grave consequences, but also justify the recurrence of such policies and violations in other parts of the world.

We recall once again that in 1991, the people of Artsakh, in full compliance with international law and domestic legislation in force at that time, exercised their inalienable right to self-determination and established their statehood on the same basis as Azerbaijan and Armenia. The authorities of the Republic of Artsakh have consistently defended and will continue to defend the legitimate choice and expression of the free will of their people.

Representatives of individual countries and international organisations have no right to decide the fate of the people of Artsakh. Moreover, any attempt to impose on the people of Artsakh an agenda based on the legitimisation of the illegal use of force and ongoing terror is tantamount to complicity in the implementation of Azerbaijan's criminal plans of ethnic cleansing of Artsakh and maintaining a permanent source of tension in the region, as well as encouraging Baku's territorial ambitions and aggressive policies.

In this connection, we reiterate the determination of the people and authorities of the Republic of Artsakh to continue the struggle for their inalienable rights in accordance with the norms and principles of international law. We are convinced that only the recognition of the right to self-determination exercised by the people of Artsakh can become the basis for a sustainable settlement of the conflict and the establishment of just and lasting peace and stability in the region.

We also recall that the authorities of the Republic of Artsakh have always advocated a comprehensive settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict through negotiations. The Republic of Artsakh remains open to discussing all components of the conflict and reasonable proposals aimed at a peaceful settlement, in an agreed and internationally recognised negotiation format, based on the equal rights of the parties and in the presence of strong international guarantees for the implementation of their obligations, the statement says.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan believes that the main goal of Armenia's foreign policy should be the establishment of normal relations with all neighbors ARMENPRESS reports, Pashinyan said in an interview with the Czech "Respekt" magazine, answering the question about what lessons Armenia has learned in the last 15 months.

"Because of our complicated history, we have learned not to have normal relations with some of our neighbors. Changing that is vitally important to our country. It seems very simple, but its implementation is connected with dozens of problems. there are some psychological and practical problems. Such a message is not easy for the Armenian society to digest," said the Prime Minister.

He said that he recently spoke in the National Assembly about establishing diplomatic relations with Armenia's neighbors, and an opposition member objected, saying that the Prime Minister is speaking as if Armenia's neighbor is Sweden.

"I replied, it would be good if we study the history of Scandinavia and Europe. If we think that Scandinavia has always been as peaceful as it is now, we are wrong. At that time, I was opposed, they said that unlike in our case, there was no genocide in Scandinavia. Yes, there are many differences between us and Scandinavia, but I think the essence is clear: people make history," Nikol Pashinyan emphasized and added that Armenia has good relations with Georgia and Iran and should continue to improve those relations.

According to him, Armenia now has almost no relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan, which should not remain like that.
David F. Scollan, who hails from Mahopac Falls, New York, took full advantage of the many hands-on opportunities at Miami Law. A Miami Public Interest Scholar, Scollan was also the managing editor of the University of Miami Inter-American Law Review and Symposium Chair for the Inter-American's Symposium "Haiti: Reparations & Restitution" held this past March.

His law review article on state violence in Chile and Colombia will be published in the upcoming issue of the Inter-American Law Review. Additionally, Scollan was a member of the International Moot Court Program and helped clinch the title of Best Regional Team for the Americas in the International Bar Association's International Criminal Court Moot Court Competition. In that competition, he was awarded worldwide Best Oralist and Best Defense Counsel out of hundreds of law students who competed.

Scollan has been on the dean's list for three semesters and earned the CALI Award in the criminal civil rights investigations and prosecutions course taught by Professor Christopher Lomax. He interned in the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of the Virgin Islands in St. Thomas during the summer of 2021. This year he clerked at Podhurst Orseck, P.A. Last summer, he worked as a legal intern with the U.S. Department of Justice Senior Advisor on Gender and Equality with Professor Caroline Bettinger-Lopez.

"Working for Professor Bettinger-Lopez was a world-class education in the federal policymaking process and intra/inter-agency collaboration," said Scollan.

Before Miami Law, Scollan earned a Master of Science in international relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science and a B.A., magna cum laude, in African studies and political science from the University of Pennsylvania.

He became interested in African studies when he spent the summer of his junior year of high school on an exchange program in Botswana. He learned Swahili to "round out my interests by gaining expertise on Sub-Saharan African, particularly East Africa. I think it's hard to take someone seriously who studies an area of the world but who doesn't speak the language."

After graduate school, where the focus was on academic theory with little practical experience, Scollan decided on law school  "to be someone who contributed to positive change.

Lawyers are a group of people who do  in courts and in policymaking across the country and around the world."

He chose to attend Miami Law because of the Miami Scholars Public Interest program.

"When I visited in February of 2020, the first day I met Dean Marni Lennon, she asked me what my dream job was. I demurred and said something about public interest in general. She pushed me for a real answer, and I finally said, 'I want to work in The Hague and prosecute war criminals.' And, without batting an eye, Dean Lennon said 'Great. Then that's exactly what we'll work toward.' It was refreshing for an administrator to not only not question my interest in public interest law, but to also encourage me to double down on it."

Scollan has tentatively accepted an offer from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Attorney General's Honors Program as a trial attorney in the Tax Division's Criminal Enforcement Section, which prosecutes federal criminal tax cases.

"The Honors Program has been my goal since I spent my 1L summer as a law clerk in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of the Virgin Islands in St. Thomas," said Scollan. "So, for now, my first three-and-a-half years will be with the tax division. After that, time will tell! DOJ offers attorneys a wide range of opportunities to work in different areas of law: civil rights, international affairs, other white-collar crimes are a few that pique my interest. Long term, I would like to serve as an U.S. Attorney or make it to The Hague as a war crimes prosecutor."

Read more about experiential learning at Miami Law.
Biden 'optimistic' on debt talks with Republicans

Alarm bells are ringing over the possibility of a first-ever US default, with uncertainty over the actual date the government would stop being able to pay its bills. File photo: AFP

President Joe Biden said on Sunday he remains "optimistic" about finding an agreement with his Republican opponents to raise the US debt limit and avoid a default, which his administration warned would cause "catastrophic" consequences.



Congressional Republicans are demanding budget cuts in exchange for lifting the US borrowing limit, while the White House has insisted for months that the nation's credit should not be up for negotiation.



Alarm bells are meanwhile ringing over the possibility of a first-ever US default, with uncertainty over the actual date the government would stop being able to pay its bills.



The two sides have remained at an impasse despite weeks of warnings from government officials and bankers that a default could unleash drastic consequences, including a possible recession and likely global financial contagion.



Nonetheless, Biden said on Sunday he thinks he will eventually be able to reach a deal.



"I remain optimistic because I'm a congenital optimist, but I really think there's a desire on their part as well as ours to reach agreement. I think we'll be able to do it," Biden told reporters while out on a bike ride near his beach home in Delaware.



A much-anticipated new round of debt-ceiling talks between Biden and Republican leaders, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, was postponed from Friday.



Asked if the Tuesday meeting was still on, Biden said: "I think so."



Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned a default could occur by June 1, while the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office forecast on Friday the date of June 15.



"We shouldn't be here," Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told CNN on Sunday.



"If Congress failed to raise the debt limit by the time of default, we would go into a recession and it'd be catastrophic," he warned.



"The United States of America has never defaulted on its debt  and we can't." (AFP)
SIU students invent device to easily monitor kestrels nesting in high places

by Tim Crosby

CARBONDALE, Ill.  An engineering duo at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is using high technology to solve a problem for an avian conservation group in Central Illinois: monitoring nesting kestrels in hard-to-reach places.

Melissa Flores and Bradley Thompson, both recent graduates in SIUs electrical engineering technology program, are making it much easier for members of the Lincoln Land Association of Bird Banders to tell if a kestrel has taken up residence in one the groups 60 bird boxes scattered around the Springfield area. The group is made up of dedicated and licensed banders and trained volunteers who support the conservation and scientific study of native birds.

Every year, the group helps capture and band American kestrels nesting the area. The small falcons, common throughout the United States in both rural and urban environments, migrate seasonally and tend to fly or perch over open country before swooping down to prey on small mammals, lizards or large insects.

The birds migrate back to Central Illinois during a four-week period between April and May.

Checking the occupancy status of each of the nesting boxes at least once a week during that time, however, can be an involved task requiring a small crew of volunteers, a ladder and a minivan.

Lucky for the conservation groups leader, Holly Thompson, her son has spent the last four years learning how to solve such problems with technology.

Yes, my mom is the president of the LLABB, and here I am solving the problem, Thompson said. It can be a pretty messy job, with people hauling a ladder, climbing it, steadying it. Our job was to make this into a chore that a single person could accomplish in a single afternoon.

Flores and Thompsons system uses an infrared sensor in a custom-designed, 3-D printed case to see when a kestrel enters or exits a particular box. Each time it is triggered, it transmits a signal to a receiver conveniently located at the bottom the poles, which are 6 feet high or higher. A volunteer can then walk up and read a screen that will tell how many times the device has been triggered, as well as whether the box is currently occupied based on an even or odd number in the count.

The Kestrel Box Occupancy Detector, which will be put in place next year and costs about $100 each, also is protected from the weather and does not disturb the bird in any way. A solar panel recharges the batteries in the transmitter unit, while the receivers batteries last for about a month.

We had to look at it from a problem-solving point of view and be creative with how we approached it, said Flores, from the West Lawn neighborhood of Chicago.

Thompson, of Scott Air Force Base, agreed.

We were able to show just how helpful modern technology, such as embedded computing and wireless technology, can be in wildlife to monitor the nesting activity, he said.

Thompsons mother, Holly, said determining which boxes are active is critical to implementing management strategies.

Other species, even invasives such as the common starling, use these boxes as well, so the future will tell if an active nest is a successful nest, she said. Regardless, this project will serve as a starting point to a future system of remote monitoring of these boxes.

Carl Spezia, associate professor in the School of Applied Engineering and Technology at SIU, said the senior design project portion of the electrical engineering technology program, is intended to make students pull together all the skills theyve learned to solve a real-world problem.

They spend the first couple years in the program really learning their tools, Spezia said. Once they have those, they can use their own creativity and teamwork to find technology-based solutions to problems.

Past projects have included spice dispensers for disabled cooks and a robot designed to move scenery around on a theater stage, among others, he said.

Thompson and Flores, both of whom have jobs lined up after graduation on Saturday (May 13), said the communication and teamwork skills they used working together to solve the problem will serve them well in their chosen careers.
SIU uses $937K grant to enrich early childhood education, address teacher shortage

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Children learn and express themselves in myriad ways, but traditional education often stifles them, according to education professors at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. A grant-funded project at SIU aims to draw on childrens natural curiosity while addressing the teacher shortage for the youngest learners.

We believe strongly that children can problem-solve, often with very little help from adults and have a creative ability to find the value in most anything, said Melissa Viernow, director of the Child Development Laboratories. A pebble, piece of wire or chunk of clay can bring about the richest of dialogue and an opportunity to represent knowledge in a hundred different ways.

Viernow said her philosophy coincides with Loris Malaguzzis theory that children learn in 100 languages.

Through scholarships, an upcoming conference, classroom grants and more, SIUs School of Education is introducing to the region a unique way of learning, said Christie McIntyre, director of Teacher Education Programs. The Reggio Emilia Approach, inspired by educators in Reggio Emilia, Italy, is all about giving children the opportunity to grow, explore, learn and tell their stories in ways that work for them.

The university received a two-year Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) state grant for $937,000 to accomplish this mission by:

Providing scholarships of $31,000 per year to early childhood majors (birth through second grade).

Hosting a special 3-day Rooted in Play conference in June that early childhood educators or educators in training may attend for a nominal fee.

Offering grants of up to $6,000 for 20 conference attendees to use for early childhood classroom supplies.

We want to help bring early childhood educators into the workforce to help ease the teacher shortage and provide educators with the information, tools and experience to effectively teach children in the ways they learn best, said McIntyre.

How does it work?

The Reggio Emilia Approach was conceived shortly after World War II as the rebuilding of Italy began and officials determined schools would be a top priority, McIntyre said. And more recent studies have shown that early childhood is a critical time for learning, including language skills and higher cognitive functions.

This is a holistic method of education that encompasses all of those ways children learn and demonstrate what they know, McIntyre said. The community invests in the children, and their education isnt bound by the walls of the school building. Learning is an extension of the childrens inquiries.

This approach has been used at SIUs Child Development Lab for decades, but now the goal is to facilitate use by others. McIntyre recently nabbed the last spot at the Reggio Emilia international conference, joining 405 other educators from 27 countries in an immersive study of the concepts, contents and values used in the citys municipal infant, toddler and preschool educational program. She said arts and creativity figure strongly in the program, as it does in the SIU CDL.

We have prided ourselves on encouraging and supporting child-led inquiry, while sharing the Reggio Emilia principle that all children are capable and competent, said Viernow, also coordinator for Southern Region Early Childhood programs and senior lecturer. They are a valued part of the school and campus community.

Following a heavy rain, for example, you might find children exploring the outdoor mud kitchen with cups and funnels to dig holes, scoop water as they learn about the effects of weather on their environment. In conjunction with a nature project, the children used the resources of their campus community and visited SIU campus greenhouses as they learned all about plants through diverse experiences, including touching a Mimosa pudica (touch-me-not) plant to observe its response. They planted and harvested vegetables at the lab, too, experiencing soil between their fingers and the taste of tiny tomatoes fresh off the vine.

In addition, the children create art in special ways, whether painting on canvas with mud to replicating the reflections of trees on glass. Building concepts come alive as they use sections of tree bark, sticks, pinecones, gumballs, tree slices and a variety of leaves to construct their own trees. They use resources, such as books, to support their learning and apply real concepts to their work in early childhood classrooms. The children are able to construct their own learning when they are seen as competent, treated with respect, and give the opportunity to engage their bodies and brains in learning, according to their teachers.

The children have minds of researchers, and we encourage that, McIntyre said. Their questions guide their explorations. They document their learning in all kinds of ways, including with cameras, journals and art.

McIntyre said a quote by Ayla Arseven, researcher and Sivas Cumhuriyet University faculty member, sums it up: Children growing up according to the Reggio Emilia Approach become individuals with high self-confidence, improved personalities, improved production level who are acting in solidarity.

Amanda Sullivan, CDL lead toddler teacher, agreed. As a classroom teacher, I see real differences when we trust children to show us what they need. I strive to honor the children's interests and development and have found that when I follow their lead and tune in to what they are showing and telling me, there are fewer behavior challenges and stronger relationships.

Learn what its all about

Anyone who is already working as an early childhood educator or anyone training to do so can discover what Rooted in Play is all about and how to implement it by joining the June 1-3 conference at Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, about 8 miles south of Carbondale off Giant City Road. Featuring numerous acclaimed guest speakers, the event cost is $30 for all three days or $10 for Saturday only.

Were pleased to offer professional development support for early childhood educators, McIntyre said, noting that plans are to host the conference annually. The conference is a wonderful opportunity for these educators to connect with us and one another and share with them best practices that are used in SIUs Child Development Laboratories, practices they can aspire to.

People can sign up to participate in the experiential Rooted in Play: The Power of Place conference through May 19. Find the complete program and details about the conference online.

We are beyond excited about this conference, Viernow said. The information that is going to be shared at the conference will inspire us all to remember why we chose this path, and how we, as early childhood educators are helping children to connect with themselves, each other and their environment.

Theres a special bonus for those who attend all three days. They can apply for one of 20 competitive awards to help fund supplies to implement or enhance place-based classrooms. The awards are $6,000 each.

In addition, conference participants can receive continuing education units.

SIU scholarships available

Anyone who has previous or current experience in early childhood education can also apply for an ECACE scholarship through the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, good for up to $31,000 annually through June 2024.

SIU is also working with community colleges and other universities in the state to streamline the degree process for these students. That includes having navigators to assist students at the community college level and mentors at SIU. The curriculum and transitions are also streamlined to help aspiring educators enter early childhood classrooms as quickly as possible with the best preparation.

McIntyre noted that SIUs Teacher Education Programs offer a variety of pathways to degrees, including:

Dual credit programs allowing students to earn dual college/high school credits thereby completing their degrees sooner.

The Grow Your Own program to help nontraditional students train for high-need teaching positions serving rural and minority classrooms.

The Saluki Teacher Residency Partnership featuring a shorter but more intense teacher preparation experience including a yearlong teacher residency.

SIU and the School of Education also offer a variety of other scholarships, student organizations and programs, including working with area feeder high schools and their students.
Astronomers have described the first radiation belt observed outside our solar system, using a coordinated array of 39 radio dishes from Hawaii to Germany to obtain high-resolution images. The images of persistent, intense radio emissions from an ultracool dwarf reveal the presence of a cloud of high-energy electrons trapped in the objects powerful magnetic field, forming a double-lobed structure analogous to radio images of Jupiters radiation belts.

We are actually imaging the magnetosphere of our target by observing the radio-emitting plasmaits radiation beltin the magnetosphere. That has never been done before for something the size of a gas giant planet outside of our solar system, said Melodie Kao, a postdoctoral fellow at UC Santa Cruz and first author of a paper on the new findings published May 15 in Nature.

Strong magnetic fields form a magnetic bubble around a planet called a magnetosphere, which can trap and accelerate particles to near the speed of light. All the planets in our solar system that have such magnetic fields, including Earth, as well as Jupiter and the other giant planets, have radiation belts consisting of these high-energy charged particles trapped by the planets magnetic field.

Earths radiation belts, known as the Van Allen belts, are large donut-shaped zones of high-energy particles captured from solar winds by the magnetic field. Most of the particles in Jupiters belts are from volcanoes on its moon Io. If you could put them side by side, the radiation belt that Kao and her team have imaged would be 10 million times brighter than Jupiters.

Particles deflected by the magnetic field toward the poles generate auroras (northern lights) when they interact with the atmosphere, and Kaos team also obtained the first image capable of differentiating between the location of an objects aurora and its radiation belts outside our solar system.

The ultracool dwarf imaged in this study straddles the boundary between low-mass stars and massive brown dwarfs. While the formation of stars and planets can be different, the physics inside of them can be very similar in that mushy part of the mass continuum connecting low-mass stars to brown dwarfs and gas giant planets, Kao explained.

Characterizing the strength and shape of the magnetic fields of this class of objects is largely uncharted terrain, she said. Using their theoretical understanding of these systems and numerical models, planetary scientists can predict the strength and shape of a planets magnetic field, but they havent had a good way to easily test those predictions.

Auroras can be used to measure the strength of the magnetic field, but not the shape. We designed this experiment to showcase a method for assessing the shapes of magnetic fields on brown dwarfs and eventually exoplanets, Kao said.

The strength and shape of the magnetic field can be an important factor in determining a planets habitability. When were thinking about the habitability of exoplanets, the role of their magnetic fields in maintaining a stable environment is something to consider in addition to things like the atmosphere and climate, Kao said.

To generate a magnetic field, a planets interior must be hot enough to have electrically conducting fluids, which in the case of Earth is the molten iron in its core. In Jupiter, the conducting fluid is hydrogen under so much pressure it becomes metallic. Metallic hydrogen probably also generates magnetic fields in brown dwarfs, Kao said, while in the interiors of stars the conducting fluid is ionized hydrogen.

The ultracool dwarf known as LSR J1835+3259 was the only object Kao felt confident would yield the high-quality data needed to resolve its radiation belts.

Now that weve established that this particular kind of steady-state, low-level radio emission traces radiation belts in the large-scale magnetic fields of these objects, when we see that kind of emission from brown dwarfsand eventually from gas giant exoplanetswe can more confidently say they probably have a big magnetic field, even if our telescope isnt big enough to see the shape of it, Kao said, adding that she is looking forward to when the Next Generation Very Large Array, currently being planned by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), can image many more extrasolar radiation belts.

This is a critical first step in finding many more such objects and honing our skills to search for smaller and smaller magnetospheres, eventually enabling us to study those of potentially habitable, Earth-size planets, said coauthor Evgenya Shkolnik at Arizona State University, who has been studying the magnetic fields and habitability of planets for many years.

The team used the High Sensitivity Array, consisting of 39 radio dishes coordinated by the NRAO in the United States and the Effelsberg radio telescope operated by the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Germany.

By combining radio dishes from across the world, we can make incredibly high-resolution images to see things no one has ever seen before. Our image is comparable to reading the top row of an eye chart in California while standing in Washington, D.C., said coauthor Jackie Villadsen at Bucknell University.

Kao emphasized that this discovery was a true team effort, relying heavily on the observational expertise of co-first author Amy Mioduszewski at NRAO in planning the study and analyzing the data, as well as the multiwavelength stellar flare expertise of Villadsen and Shkolnik. This work was supported by NASA and the Heising-Simons Foundation.
New Delhi [India], May 15 (ANI/ATK): It's 2023 and we can all bear witness to the democratization of the financial industry thanks to cryptocurrency. In more ways than not, the cryptocurrency sector has established a flexible and open environment for finance while also giving people the tools and control to secure their money. With blockchains like Internet Computer (ICP), we see an increase in decentralization which poses a threat to the status quo. But that's not all. Due to the rise of more and more crypto coins like Floki Inu (FLOKI) and Big Eyes Coin (BIG) entering the market, the crypto market keeps expanding and growing in popularity and acceptance. Internet Computer Keeps Attracting Innovation With its claims that it could push the internet's powerhouses out of the way and make it more decentralized, combined with its ability to be easily scalable and significantly lower processing costs, Internet Computer is a decentralized computer network that caught the attention of the crypto community when it first launched. ICP uses the blockchain to enable all users to develop software online, free from the control of major computer firms. As a result, the software these people develop will be their own and will not be the target of takeover attempts by bigger businesses. Additionally, this platform has the extra benefit of security because it operates on its own independent, decentralized network that is not hosted in the cloud. Giving Back the Floki Way FLOKI announced on its Twitter page on April 27 that it had partnered with Binance Charity (BCF) to support earthquake relief efforts in Turkey. The project claims to have donated 39.8 ETH (worth USD 71,380 at the time of donation) to BCF, which will be coordinating to ensure the funds go directly to victims of the Turkish earthquake. The coin prides itself on being a cryptocurrency created by and for the people. In contrast to previous meme coins, Floki intends to combine memes with utility by building a decentralized, autonomous economy with strategic alliances and benefits embedded into the token itself. Big Eyes Coin - It's a Catwalk to the Top of the Meme Coin World Big Eyes Coin, which had one of the biggest crypto presales in recent years, is attracting early investors who want to get in before the presale ends on June 3rd. The cute currency seems set to dominate the meme currency market. BIG uses the Ethereum blockchain, which provides users with a secure and dependable platform to easily create, trade, and acquire digital assets. Additionally, Big Eyes Coin hosts a fantastic NFT collection on OpenSea. With this, users have the option of making a long-term investment where they can gather and mint NFTs to trade later. Investors still have a brief window of time to make an investment and get some massive benefits by using the awesome discount code END300 before the presale closes. So, if you are looking to diversify your investment profile, consider a slice of Internet Computer, Floki Inu, and Big Eyes Coin. For the latter, a slice will get you 300x more than what you put in before the presale ends in a few weeks. Hurry up and make a move! Find out more about Big Eyes Coin (BIG): Presale: https://buy.bigeyes.space/ Website: https://bigeyes.space/ Telegram: https://t.me/BIGEYESOFFICIAL OpenSea: https://opensea.io/collection/big-eyes-lootbox-cards This story has been provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/ATK)
The Securities and Exchange Board of India apprised the Supreme Court on Monday that the market regulator is already investigating Adani Group companies since 2016 is factually baseless. SEBI has filed a rejoinder affidavit in response to a petition relating to Hindenburg Research's report on the Adani Group. SEBI had sought an extension to conclude the investigation in the report by US short-seller Hindenburg Research by a period of six months. The top court on Friday orally remarked that they will extend the time for the probe to SEBI, but not for six months and they can extend the time for the probe by three months. Petitioners had alleged that SEBI was probing the Adani Group since 2016. SEBI told the SC that the investigation done earlier by SEBI pertains to the issuance of Global Depository Receipts ("GDRs") by 51 Indian listed companies, in respect of which investigation was conducted. SEBI submitted before the Supreme Court that no listed company of Adani Group was part of those 51 companies it was investigating. "Pursuant to the completion of the investigation, appropriate enforcement actions were taken in this matter. Hence, the allegation that the Securities and Exchange Board of India ("SEBI") is investigating Adani since 2016 is factually baseless. I, therefore, say and submit that reliance sought to be placed on the investigation pertaining to GDRs is wholly misplaced," SEBI said in a rejoinder affidavit. SEBI submitted before Supreme Court that in the context of an investigation into Minimum Public Shareholding ("MPS") norms, SEBI has already approached eleven overseas Regulators under the Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with the International Organization of Securities Commissions ("IOSCO"). Various requests for information were made to these Regulators. The first request to overseas Regulators was made as early as October 6, 2020, and SEBI apprised the court. SEBI submitted before the Supreme Court that the application for extension of time filed by SEBI is meant to ensure carriage of justice keeping in mind the interest of investors and the securities market since any incorrect or premature conclusion of the case arrived at without full facts material on record would not serve the ends of justice and hence would be legally untenable. SEBI has informed Supreme Court that in respect of the investigation and examination relating to 12 transactions referred to in the Hindenburg Report, prima facie it is noted that these transactions are highly complex and have many sub-transactions across numerous jurisdictions and a rigorous investigation of these transactions would require collation of data/information from various sources including bank statements from multiple domestic as well as international banks, financial statements of onshore and offshore entities involved in the transactions and contracts and agreements, if any, entered between the entities along with other supporting documents. On March 2, the apex court directed the capital market regulator SEBI to investigate any violations of securities law by the Adani Group in the wake of the Hindenburg report, which led to a massive wipeout of more than USD140 billion of the Adani Group's market value. Supreme Court, on March 2, set up an expert committee on the issue arising from the Hindenburg Research report on Adani Group companies. The committee will consist of six members, headed by former apex court judge Justice AM Sapre. The top court had then asked SEBI to file a status report within two months. The apex court was then hearing petitions pertaining to the Hindenburg report, including on the constitution of a committee relating to regulatory mechanisms to protect investors' interests. The January 24 Hindenburg report alleged stock manipulation and fraud by the conglomerate. The Adani Group has attacked Hindenburg as "an unethical short seller", stating that the report by the New York-based entity was "nothing but a lie". A short-seller in the securities market books gains from the subsequent reduction in the prices of shares. (ANI)
New Delhi [India], May 15 (ANI/GPRC): M JETS Indamer's appointed as official FBO-MRO services provider for Air Expo India 2023. M JETS Indamer will showcase its expertise and services to a global audience for Air Expo India 2023 in December 2023 at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, The event is expected to attract a lot of attention from the aviation industry in India and beyond. M Jets Indamer is well-positioned to meet the needs of exhibitors and VIPs. M Jets Indamer is India's first FBO-MRO, based at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. Conceptualized with the One Stop Shop idea, the company caters to all the FBO and maintenance requirements of the General Aviation traveler. Furthermore, with the 'Service Personalised' aim, MJets Indamer provides the customary care for General Aviation aircraft and takes personal care of the valued passengers. With decades of experience in aviation, the team from across the globe proudly maintains an ardent commitment to comfort, service & safety. As the aviation industry in India continues to grow, events like Air Expo India 2023 are becoming increasingly important for showcasing the latest technology, products, and services. M Jets Indamer's participation in this event signals its commitment to being a key player in this segment, and its ability to deliver world-class services to the general aviation sector. The Air Expo India 2023 is set to welcome a range of general aviation aircraft, from single engines to heavy business jets. Air Expo India will take place over three days from 6th to 8th December 2023. It will welcome exhibitors and delegates worldwide, representing local and international aviation companies, owners, operators, suppliers and media. Delhi, being the national capital, has a significant advantage in showcasing this segment since Delhi serves as a central gateway for both domestic and international destinations. www.airexpo.in Indamer is the oldest MRO in India and has been providing services to corporate clients for the last 78 years. Indamer maintains all types of Fixed and Rotary Wing aircraft in the country. In addition, Indamer is also the Authorized Service Centre in India for Airbus Helicopter / Bombardier / Embraer and Dassault ASF. Indamer has 18 locations across India and hangar facilities at Ahmadabad, Delhi and Mumbai. Air Expo India will take place over three days from 6th to 8th December 2023 and will welcome exhibitors and delegates from around the world, representing local and international aviation companies, owners, operators, suppliers, and media. Air Expo India will focus on the latest trends, training and recruitment within the aviation industry - Empowerment through training. Air Expo India targets general aviation exhibitors who will come together on a static area. The space will accommodate 50 aircrafts ranging in size from single and twin-engine models to private jets. The show format will reflect the approach organised by Adone Events at Abu Dhabi Air Expo, France Air Expo and African Air Expo, which offers exhibits next to the runway enabling manufacturers to present their entire range of aircraft. Delhi International Airport Limited will host the event at the Delhi Airport. For more information : Arun Barathi +91 965 08 23311 arun@airexpo.in This story is provided by GPRC. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/GPRC)
New Delhi [India], May 15 (ANI/SRV): UK German Pharmaceuticals was honored with the most prestigious Global Excellence Awards 2023 as the "Best Electrohomeopathy Animal Feed Supplements & EH Human Medicine Manufacturer In India''. The award was presented to Dr Upkar Kansal, MD of the company, by the gorgeous Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit Nene at the event held at Hotel Sahara Star in Mumbai. The award received by UK German Pharmaceuticals is a testament to the company's commitment to excellence in the animal health and nutrition sector. The company specializes in the manufacturing and marketing of a wide range of Electro Homeopathy Animal Feed Supplements, including mineral mixtures, growth promoters, milk boosters, and more. The company's products are known for their quality, efficacy, and affordability, making them a popular choice among farmers across the country. Dr Upkar Kansal, MD of the company, expressed his gratitude for receiving the award and said, "We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which is a recognition of our efforts to provide high-quality animal health and nutrition products to farmers. We believe in using the power of nature to enhance the health and well-being of animals, and our Electro Homeopathy Animal Feed Supplements are a testament to our commitment to this mission. Our team of experts works tirelessly to develop and manufacture products that meet the highest quality standards, and this award is a recognition of their hard work and dedication." The company invests heavily in research and development to develop new and innovative animal health and nutrition products that can help improve the health and productivity of livestock. The company also has a strong distribution network that ensures that its products are easily available to farmers across the country. The company has a large network of distributors, dealers, and retailers, ensuring that its products are available in even the most remote areas of the country. The world-class competitiveness achieved by the professionals of this brand is unparalleled and their products adhere to national and international standards. Today, UK German Pharmaceuticals is termed as the "premium provider" of animal production boosters. They can proudly proclaim themselves as the pioneers in electro-homeopathy products for animals. Moreover, the professionals of this company maintain a strong and close bond with veterinary professionals which helps them in getting access to a lot of secrets that come in handy while conducting countrywide distribution in the market. The Global Excellence Awards recognizes the achievements of companies and individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, including healthcare, education, finance, technology, manufacturing, etc. The awards were conducted by the leading market research, PR, and branding company Brand Empower Pvt. Ltd. under the supervision of Rahul Ranjan Singh, the CEO of the company. He has taken businesses in the manufacturing sector to a greater level of recognition through this platform. His main aim is to foster more creativity, energy, enthusiasm, innovation, and a zeal for excellence amongst the budding as well as established entrepreneurs. Brand Empower strives to help MSMEs to push their envelope and expand their business by giving them the recognition that they deserve. This story has been provided by SRV. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV)
Vadodara (Gujarat) [India], May 15 (ANI/PNN): "Producer Ketki Pandit, founder of 'YOUth talks,' in collaboration with Parul University under the visionary leadership of Dr Devanshu Patel, presented a groundbreaking event that combined the Vadodara Film & Design Festival and Vadodara Fashion Week. This innovative initiative brought together esteemed celebrities, including Vivek Agnihotri, Madhur Bhandarkar, Suresh Menon, Sanjeev Sivan, and Bijon Das Gupta, who graciously shared their invaluable knowledge on the platform. The festival provided a remarkable opportunity for students and youth, as it took place right on the campus itself. This unique aspect allowed budding talents to experience the growth and exposure traditionally found in external events, right at their doorstep. It offered an immersive experience where the expertise of film and design professionals merged harmoniously with the enthusiasm and fresh ideas of the youth. Moreover, in addition to the Vadodara Film & Design Festival, the inclusion of Vadodara Fashion Week added an extra dimension to the event. Celebrated fashion designer Kenfern graced the occasion, further enhancing the glamour and style quotient. The collaboration of these two festivals not only created a vibrant and inspiring environment but also served as a launching pad for the aspirations and dreams of the students. The fusion of creativity, knowledge sharing, and industry expertise made it a truly memorable and enriching experience, enabling the youth to explore their potential and paving the way for a promising future in the fields of film, design, and fashion." This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)
New Delhi [India], May 15 (ANI/PNN): AKG Shutterings Pvt Ltd, a leading provider of shuttering and scaffolding material on rental basis for construction projects, has introduced a new product called "Walkway" that prioritizes workers safety. The company, which has a reputation for quality and reliability, has long been concerned about workers safety and has taken measures to prevent fatal accidents. Under the leadership of Director Tarun Gupta, the company has developed Walkway as a safer alternative to traditional MS Chaalis that workers were using previously to stand upon while completing finishing jobs like painting, fixing glasses and other civil works. These traditional methods have led to several accidents resulting in deaths and serious injuries. The Walkway product is made of a tough alloy and comes with a locking mechanism with horizontal ledgers that reduces the chances of accidents by up to 90 per cent. With the introduction of Walkway, AKG Shutterings Pvt Ltd has once again demonstrated its commitment to safety and innovation in the equipments used in construction industry. The product has already gained attention and appreciation from workers, contractors and reputed companies for its improved safety features. This new product is expected to become an industry standard and set a new benchmark for workers safety in construction projects across India. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)
Jodhpur (Rajasthan) [India], May 15 (ANI/PNN): Army subedar's Son Mohit Choudhary from Jodhpur, a student of Utkarsh Classes, has made history by securing the top position (AIR-1) nationwide in the SSC-CGL 2022 exam. The Staff Selection Commission, New Delhi, conducted the exam for 30,000 different posts, including approximately 400 positions for Income Tax Officers. More than 3.6 million candidates from all over the country applied for various posts through this examination. Mohit Chaudhary hails from Kishangarh, Rajasthan, and expressed his happiness on his achievement. He attributed his success to the support of his parents, teachers, and Utkarsh Classes. Mohit specifically mentioned the guidance he received from Kumar Gaurav's 'Phool-Patti wali Class', which focuses on Current Affairs & Static GK and is live on the YouTube Channel of Utkarsh Classes at 6 am daily. This class also holds the world record for the highest live viewership in an educational session on YouTube. Mohit completed his 10th and 12th grade from Nasirabad Army School and had previously attempted a defence interview, however, was not able to clear it. After completing his B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering, he made his second attempt at the SSC-CGL exam in 2022 and secured the top position. Mohit's father, Prabhulal Jat, holds the position of Subedar in the army. Proud of his son's success, he shared that Mohit had given up a job that was offering him a package of Rs 3.50 lakh from a private company to prepare for the exam. Dr Nirmal Gehlot, Founder & CEO of Utkarsh Classes, Jodhpur, stated that it would undoubtedly inspire all competitive exam aspirants in the state and motivate them to prepare with greater dedication and confidence. Over the past 21 years, Utkarsh has consistently produced excellent results in various competitive examinations. Apart from Jodhpur, Jaipur, and Prayagraj, Utkarsh Classes has established offline centres in Indore, where students prepare for various central and state-level competitive exams, as well as entrance exams like NEET-JEE and CLAT. Additionally, Utkarsh offers over 650 online courses on Utkarsh App. Utkarsh Classes, India's leading education company, aims to provide quality and affordable education to young minds for various competitive examinations. The company has a hybrid model and offers learning courses, in both online and offline modes, for various Central & State government recruitment examinations, all-India Competitive Exams like IIT-JEE, NEET, CLAT, and school education courses for Classes 6th to 12th, for CBSE & 8 other state boards. They specialize in competitive examinations and are the most significant player in all-India and state-level government tests like IAS, Banking, SSC, Defence Services, State PSCs, Teaching Exams, etc. The company has corporate offices in Jodhpur, Jaipur, Delhi, Prayagraj, and Indore. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)
New Delhi [India], May 15 (ANI/NewsReach): Are you a content creator, blogger, writer, or business owner looking for ways to monetize your content? Look no further than Publisher Growth! The platform is dedicated to helping publishers grow their businesses by finding the perfect ad networks to partner with. At Publisher Growth, our goal is simple - to help you monetize your content and achieve revenue growth. We understand that finding the right ad network can be overwhelming, which is why we take care of it for you. By analyzing your content and traffic, we find the best ad networks for your niche and notify you when we find a relevant match. But our services don't stop there. We also provide advice on increasing traffic to your site or content and finding sponsorships. As a member of our platform, you'll have access to webinars and conferences conducted by various monetization partners. From audio and video to written content, we serve publishers of all kinds. Benefits of Signing Up with Publisher Growth: for Publishers By signing up with Publisher Growth, you can enjoy a host of benefits that can help you scale your publishing business. * Discover AdTech solutions, hostings, and services that may boost your business. * Read genuine and unbiased reviews shared by publishers like you. * Find multiple ad partners who are willing to work with you just by signing up under one platform. * Find all upcoming webinars, conferences, and events hosted by various companies. * Find information about the entire publishing ecosystem @Pubnews. * Connect with similar publishers in your niche to plan, strategize, and build organic backlinks through @Pubconnect. * Get insights into how to build, scale, and sell your publishing business at a higher profit ratio. * Customized adops management by our team that guarantees a double-digit revenue uplift. * A dedicated account manager for eligible publishers. Benefits of Signing Up with Publisher Growth: for Vendors Vendors can also benefit from our platform. Here's how: * Access to a large pool of publishers to refer to if your solutions suit their content * Verified publishers with good content to partner with * Verified listing page and PublisherGrowth badge for greater transparency * Get greater visibility and organic leads with your product listing pages on Publisher Growth How Publishergrowth Works? Publisher Growth is not just a listing and review platform. After providing basic site details, a publisher can sign up, following which we review their website for eligibility. If approved, we connect you with relevant adTech solutions that can maximize your overall earnings. The benefit for publishers is that they can discover which ad partners are interested in working with them, all in one platform. As an intermediary, we maintain data on which publishers work with which AdTech companies and can prompt the publishers to write genuine reviews, creating an ecosystem of trust and transparency. The process flow: 1. A publisher signs up on the platform. 2. We review the publisher data and approve the site if eligible for monetization. 3. The approved site data is then passed on to the relevant AdTech vendors. 4. AdTech vendors now need to approve or reject the site from their end. The vendors who approve the site are shown as 'recommended AdTech partners' in the publisher's dashboard. 5. Publisher signs up with the preferred AdTech vendors of their choice and goes live with them. 6. Publishers get access to Pubnews, Pubconnect, and also get the opportunity to find more sponsored post opportunities for their websites. Maintaining a Transparency in the Publishing Business Transparency is important to us at Publisher Growth. We provide genuine reviews of software, tools, and platforms that cater to the publishing industry. This helps publishers filter out the guesswork. With us, you can choose solutions that are already working well for your website type and niche. Our reviews and community interactions create an ecosystem that is transparent and adheres to the principles of collective growth. If you need help with scaling your business and monetizing your content, Publisher Growth can help you. They will find the perfect partner that will give you relevant data and access to many solutions in your niche. You will also get opportunities to educate yourself on traffic and revenue growth. What are you waiting for? To monetize your content, sign up for Publisher Growth. For queries: Please email at contact@publishergrowth.com or visit our website. This story has been provided by NewsReach. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsReach)
The three hearings will take place from Tuesday through Thursday.

Federal regulators were first called to answer questions about the bank collapses by the Senate Banking Committee and House Financial Services Committee in March, according to CNN Business.

Since then, the Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation have released reports detailing management missteps at SVB and Signature Bank, as well as federal regulators' own mistakes in properly addressing red flags preceding the banks' demises, it added.

The Federal Reserve recommended a sweeping re-evaluation of its regulatory and supervisory functions in its report, and Barr called on the central bank to strengthen those processes, according to the CNN Business report.

Calls for stronger regulation of the banking sector revved up this month after the collapse of First Republic Bank, which was taken into Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) receivership and sold to JPMorgan Chase on May 1.

It added Republican Senator Kevin Cramer and Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren on May 9 re-introduced a bill to tackle "regulatory inefficiencies" in banking security.

According to the report, Warren also called on former First Republic chief executive Michael Roffler to answer for the regional lender's failure and "gross mismanagement."

Economic and bank sector leaders including Fed Chair Jerome Powell and JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon have recently assured the public that the banking sector is stable. (ANI)
Taking to Instagram, OTT platform Netflix shared the poster, which they captioned, "Just extracted these posters from a 21-minute single take action shot. Catch a glimpse of the action in Extraction 2 - trailer out tomorrow! #Extraction2 arrives on 16th June in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu"

https://www.instagram.com/p/CsQ_2aIhOj-/

Well! It's quite clear from their caption, that the upcoming sequel will feature a 21-minute single take-action shot.

In the posters, the 'Thor' actor could be seen in a complete action avatar.

Soon after the makers unveiled the posters, fans flooded the comment section with red hearts and fire emoticons.

"Too excited for this," a fan commented.

Another fan wrote, "Can't wait for this."

Makers of the film will be unveiling the official trailer on May 16.

Helmed by Sam Hargrave, the film will premiere exclusively on the OTT platform Netflix on June 16, 2023.

Released in 2020, 'Extraction' was a big hit. It featured black-ops mercenary Tyler Rake (Hemsworth) travelling to Bangladesh to rescue the kidnapped son of a drug lord. At the end of the film, Tyler Rake (Hemsworth) took a bullet to the neck while protecting the child. The climax made fans wonder if Tyler Rake survived.

Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda was also a part of the first instalment of the film.

Upon its release, the film was viewed on Netflix by an estimated 90 million households.Chris Hemsworth will reteam with director Sam Hargrave for 'Extraction 2' which is produced by Joe and Anthony Russo via their AGBO banner, from a script by 'Avengers: Endgame' filmmaker Joe Russo, who also penned the first instalment of the film. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the 'Jana Shakti: A Collective Power' exhibition at the National Gallery of Modern Art in the national capital on May 14. This show features works by famous Indian artists on 'Mann Ki Baat' subjects such as Swachhata, water conservation, agriculture, space, India's northeast, Nari Shakti, Yoga, and Ayurveda. "I am lucky to have a meeting with PM Modi. Having a one-to-one meeting is very special for an artist. He (PM Modi) is trying to understand artists' ideas and what artists think. He was very much aware of what I am doing and asked questions that were very relevant," well-known artist GR Iranna told ANI. Jagannath Panda, who is from Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, is known for his mixed-media paintings, drawings and sculptures. He talked about PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat and said there is something special about it that generates the interest to listen to it. " I was very honoured to be part of the Jana Shakti exhibition... It was great honour to meet PM Modi and he is very keen to understand the material and subject I was working with. People across the country listen to Mann ki Baat. Every time we listen to Mann ki Baat there is something very special about it," Jagannath told ANI. PM Modi also tweeted, "Visited Jana Shakti at @ngma_delhi . This is an exhibition of wonderful works of art based on some of the themes in the #MannKiBaat episodes. I compliment all the artists who have enriched the exhibition with their creativity." The artists who have displayed their works included Manu and Madhavi Parekh, Atul Dodiya, Paresh Maity, GR Iranna and Jagannath Panda among others. (ANI)
Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested the main accused of the 'Chenu Pehlwan gang' involved in the sensational murder-cum-dacoity case of the Civil Lines area on Sunday, officials said. According to the Special Commissioner of Police, Ravinder Yadav, the crime branch arrested a sharpshooter of 'Chenu Gang' identified as Mohit Chauhan (26), a native of Chaman Vihar area of Loni in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. "Chouhan is the main accused in the murder cum dacoity case of Civil Lines area and was previously involved in 19 criminal cases which include 394/397/302/34 sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), sections 27/54/59 of the Arms Act of PS Civil Lines, Delhi and also in an armed robbery case of Police Station Gulabi Bagh, Delhi," officials said. "He was arrested near the Rajputana Dhaba of Bulandshahar on the Aligarh Highway," they said. According to Delhi Police, the Chenu Gang led by Irfan Pehlwan is notorious for looting businessmen carrying large amounts of cash operated in the area of Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh and other nearby areas in Delhi with their main target to rob the carriers transporting huge cash. "On May 8 an incident of murder cum robbery took place in the area of Police Station Civil Lines wherein the victim was shot dead by armed robbers. Secret information was received that a suspect named Mohit Chauhan, the main shooter in the case of PS Civil Lines, would come to his uncle's Dhaba in Bulandshahr on a motorcycle," the officials stated. Accordingly, through manual intelligence and technical surveillance, the raiding party laid a trap near Rajputana Dhaba, Bulandshahr - Aligarh Highway and watched for the movement of suspect Mohit Chauhan. The suspect Mohit Chauhan came on a motorcycle and was identified through his photographs. The team immediately swung into action and apprehended the accused. During interrogation, the accused Mohit Chauhan disclosed that he along with his 5 other gang members identified as Fahim, Sammu, Sehnawaz, Alam and Javed alias Thekedar robbed the victim, who was coming out of the market. The Police said, "On the day of the incident, Mohit Chauhan and Alam chased the target victim on a scooty and intercepted him near Aruna Asif Hospital, Civil Lines, Delhi. When accused Mohit Chauhan and Alam tried to rob the victim, he resisted and did not hand over the bag. Eventually, Mohit Chauhan fired 3 rounds at the victim in order to grab the bag and fled from the place of the incident." Further, he disclosed that he along with his partners Fahim, and Sammu committed a robbery of Rs 16 lakh in the area of PS Gulabi Bagh, Delhi in December 2022. Further investigation revealed that the main accused, Mohit Chauhan had studied upto class 12 and is also an ITI diploma holder. He came into the crime world through his known person Rashid Khan as he lost money in Bitcoin Trading. When he went to jail, he met other criminals and started committing crimes, officials said. (ANI)
Nine people have been arrested in connection to the alleged killing of a 36-year-old man on suspicion of theft in Kerala's Malappuram, the police said on Monday. Officials said that the victim, identified as Rajesh Manchi, a native of Bihar, was brutally beaten by a group of people after he allegedly fell from a house in the Kizhissery area of Malappuram and was caught by locals on suspicion of theft. According to the police was brutally thrashed by locals using pipes and wooden sticks with his hands tied behind his back on the night of May 12. Rajesh Manchi suffered serious injuries in the chest, ribs and hips. The cause of death was injuries from the beating. Officials said that Rajesh Manchi was found under suspicious circumstances in Kizhissery on the night of May 12. He was then interrogated with his hands tied and brutally beaten for more than two hours. When he became unconscious, the accused informed the local public servant, who in turn informed the police. Following the information, a team from a nearby police station arrived and took him to the hospital, but doctors pronounced him dead. The arrested accused said that he came for theft. Although this is the preliminary conclusion, the police were conducting a detailed investigation in this regard, said officials. Officials said that the death of a Bihar native in Keezhissery, Malappuram, was a case of lynching. Sujith Das, SP Malappuram said that Rajesh Manchi was brutally beaten by 9 people with his hands tied behind his back. 9 people have been arrested in connection to the incident. "The mobile phones of the attackers were seized and nearby CCTV of the area is being scanned. The accused attempted to destroy the evidence and erase CCTV visuals," he said. "A special team under the leadership of Kondotti ASP is investigating the case. While the arrested accused in their statement alleged that Rajesh was attempting a theft" SP said further. The body was sent for post-mortem examination and has been handed over to his relatives, he added. (ANI)
The jail administration has issued a show-cause notice to the superintendent of Tihar jail no. 7 for shifting two men to the cell of former Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party's jailed leader Satyendar Jain on the latter's request. This comes after Jain had written an application from inside the Tihar Jail, requesting the prison administration to lodge him with two more inmates in the cell. Citing the depression and loneliness, he is suffering from, the Jain on May 11, requested the superintendent of Tihar jail no. 7 to lodge two more persons with him, an official of Tihar Jail said. "Jain in his application said he is feeling depressed and low because of loneliness. A psychiatrist suggested him for more social interactions and he requested to lodge him with at least two more persons. He also provided two persons' names, from the same ward no. 5," the official said, adding that immediately his request was accepted and two persons were moved to his cell. However, the jail administration along with the show-cause notice sent the AAP leader's fellow inmates back to their cell. According to the jail administration, the superintendent took this decision without informing the administration, whereas, as per the procedure, no inmate can be moved and transferred to another cell without informing the administration and taking permission. Jain has been lodged inside Tihar Jail since June, last year. Earlier in November, last year, a CCTV footage went viral and the AAP leader was seen having a full-body massage from inside the prison. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had initiated a money-laundering investigation on the basis of the First Information Report registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on August 24, 2017, under several sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against Satyendar Jain, Poonam Jain, Ajit Prasad Jain, Sunil Kumar Jain, Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain. The CBI filed a chargesheet on December 3, 2018, against Satyendar Kumar Jain, Poonam Jain, Ajit Prasad Jain, Sunil Kumar Jain, Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain. The charge sheet mentions that Satyendar Jain while holding the office as a Minister in the Government of Delhi, during the period February 14, 2015, to May 31, 2017, had acquired assets which are disproportionate to his known sources of income. The CBI has accused Satyendar Kumar Jain and others for the commission of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Jain was arrested after the ED in April this year attached immovable properties worth Rs 4.81 crore owned by companies named Akinchan Developers Pvt. Ltd, Indo Metal Impex Pvt Ltd, and others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 in connection with the disproportionate asset and money laundering case registered Jain, his wife Poonam Jain, and others. (ANI)
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief DK Shivakumar on Monday said that he is still in a dilemma, about whether he should go to Delhi or not. Shivakumar, one of the contenders for the Chief Minister's post in Karnataka, is expected to visit Delhi along with senior Congress leader and former State CM Siddaramaiah. They are likely to attend a meeting with the party's central leadership and team of observers. A discussion on Chief Minister's face is likely to take place in the meeting after their win in the Karnataka assembly polls. According to sources, the visit by both the CM candidates is cardinal in filling the State's top post. "Still haven't decided whether to go or not," Shivakumar told the mediapersons when asked about his visit to Delhi today. "I have not decided to go to Delhi still. Because a lot of people are coming from across the State and I have small rituals in my house as today is my birthday. There is some Puja and I have to go to some temples," he said. However, he added that he passed a resolution, which will be given to the party's high command. "We have passed a one-line resolution. We will leave it to the party high command," he said Earlier in the day, Shivakumar met with supporters, who gathered outside his residence in Bengaluru to greet him on his birthday. Scores of Congress supporters waited for hours with cakes to wish the Congress leader. Shivakumar was garlanded and given flower bouquets. After Congress' impressive victory in the southern state which it won the Assembly elections with 135 votes, both state chief DK Shivakumar and senior leader Siddaramaiah are reportedly eyeing the post of chief minister. Congress leader and All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, on Sunday late night said that party chief Mallikarjun Kharge will not take long and announce the name of next chief minister of Karnataka soon. Speaking to reporters after a late-night meeting of newly elected Congress MLAs in Karnataka's Bengaluru, Surjewala said, "Party leadership will take a decision. I can't replace my judgement with Kharge Sahab's judgement. He is our senior, and as you all know him. He is the son of the soil of Karnataka, and I'm sure he will not take very long." "The winning party will be in the first cabinet when we will implement our first five guarantees," he said while responding to a query on plans for the oath-taking ceremony after the decision on the new CM of Karnataka. Earlier, a huge number of supporters gathered outside the residence of Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar in Bengaluru on Sunday and raised slogans of 'We want DK Shivakumar as CM'. Congress, which registered an emphatic victory defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka on Saturday, had been facing the challenge of deciding the chief minister amid speculations of Siddaramaiah being the front-runner followed by state party president DK Shivakumar. Kharge on Sunday appointed three observers in Karnataka including former Maharashtra chief minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and party leaders Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria for the election of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader in the state. According to the Election Commission of India, Congress on Saturday won 135 seats pushing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) out of power in the only southern state it ruled and boosting its own prospects for the electoral battles ahead. BJP managed to win 66 seats. Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) bagged 19 seats. Independents have won two seats while Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha and Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha won one seat each. (ANI)
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday conducted searches at 13 locations in five districts of Jammu and Kashmir in a case pertaining to the criminal conspiracy for carrying out terrorist and subversive activities hatched by the cadres and Overground Workers (OWGs) of various proscribed organisations and their affiliates and off-shoots operating under various pseudo names at the behest of their Pakistani commanders and handlers. The raids are still underway in Budgam, Shopian, Pulwama, Srinagar, and Anantnag districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The searches were conducted at the premises of several suspects and OWGs of various banned outfits operating in Jammu and Kashmir. On December 23 last year, the NIA also conducted searches at 14 locations in Kulgam, Pulwama, Anantnag, Sopore and Jammu districts. "The case pertains to the criminal conspiracy for carrying out terrorist & subversive activities hatched by the cadres and OGWs of various proscribed organizations and their affiliates and off-shoots, operating under various pseudo names, at the behest of their Pakistani commanders and handlers," said the NIA. "They are involved in carrying out terrorist attacks by using cyber-space in J-K, targeting of minorities, security personnel and spreading communal disharmony." The case was suo-moto registered on June 21 last year by the NIA's Jammu branch. In earlier raids, the Central agency had claimed to seize various incriminating materials such as digital devices, SIM cards and digital storage devices. (ANI)
Congress leader Sachin Pilot whose 5-day 'Jan Sangharsh Yatra' culminates on Monday has reiterated his demand for investigating into corruption allegations against the former chief minister Vasundhara Scindia. "State government must take action against corruption, we still have six months' time. Students work so hard and spend money preparing for exams and then the question paper is leaked. The government should take action against this corruption," Pilot told reporters here today. Pilot had started his yatra on May 11 to protest against the inaction of the Rajasthan government in the alleged corruption cases during the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government in the State. Assembly polls are scheduled to be held in Rajasthan later this year and the Congress party is seeking another term ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha polls in 2024. Asked about the unity in the Rajasthan Congress in view of upcoming State polls, Pilot said, "Neither do I hurl allegations at anyone nor do I have any rift with anyone on an individual level." Earlier on Sunday, he said that he has been receiving the support of the people as the issues he had raised are "essential". Pilot who has been vocal about the inaction by the Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan government regarding the alleged corruption during the previous BJP government in the State, said that he and the Chief Minister have to fight "unitedly" against corruption, however, Gehlot did not take steps in this regard. "We are getting people's support because our issues are essential. The chief minister is the face of the state and CM Ashok Gehlot and I will have to unitedly fight against cases of corruption. But the Chief Minister has not taken any action I have been writing letters for a long time to take action against issues of corruption," Pilot told ANI on the fourth day of his yatra. "We need to change the entire system and make it transparent as paper leak is a serious issue and needs to be resolved. Middle-class suffers the most because of corruption and the allegations we had put on Bommai-led government have proved to be right and this is why people have voted for us in Karnataka," he added. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to the Central Government on a plea of a Fugitive Criminal (FC) seeking interim bail for his mother's surgery. He is an accused in a case related to a minor's rape in the US. His extradition inquiry is pending before a Delhi Court. Justice Amit Sharma issued notice to the Center in the plea moved on behalf of Ratnesh Bhutani. The matter has been listed tomorrow for a hearing. He has sought a four-week interim bail. Senior advocate Ramesh Gupta and advocate Arpit Batra appeared for the petitioner and submitted that his mother's surgery is fixed for May 21. It was submitted that the interim bail was granted in January 2023 on the ground of the illness of his mother. Delhi's Patiala House Court on May 10 dismissed the plea of a Fugitive Criminal (FC) seeking an extension of interim bail in view of his conduct of filing his fake Covid-positive report. The court directed him to surrender before the jail authorities. While declining the relief, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Swati Sharma said, " It is now clear that the FC placed on record his false/fake covid positive report which resulted in grant of some more time to him to remain with his family and look after his parents." Therefore, in the opinion of this Court, considering the conduct of FC in placing on record the false/fake covid positive report and absence of any immediate medical intervention, no ground is made out to grant him interim bail. Hence, his application seeking interim bail stands dismissed, the court said. The court had also said, "Moreover, the general medical condition of parents of FC had been duly considered by the Delhi High Court and still the prayer of extension of interim bail was rejected." The Court pointed out that the surgery of his mother was scheduled to be performed on April 30, 2023, but due to the false/fake covid positive report of his mother, the surgery could not be performed. "Even though she may have tested covid positive subsequently, as informed by the counsel for FC, however, the said report is not verified yet, so it cannot be relied upon considering the previous conduct of FC," the court said in the order passed on May 10. Be that as it may, the surgery of his mother is again scheduled for May 21, 2023, which will again depend on certain factors like her general condition stability of vitals etc., therefore, it is not certain whether the surgery is going to actually take place on May 21, 2023, the court had said. "Considering the entire facts and circumstances of the case, this court is of the opinion that even if the medical document of the mother of FC have been verified and the concerned doctor has certified that his mother needs surgery then also no ground is made out to enlarge himon interim bail," it opined. The FC was initially granted interim bail by the High Court of Delhi which was entended subsequently. Finally, the application for further extension of interim bail was dismissed on April 17, 2023, and the FC was granted liberty to move an appropriate application before the concerned Trial Court in case of any urgent need for surgery of his parents. The counsel for FC submitted a letter of April 15, 2023, issued by the treating doctor of the mother of FC as per which the surgery of the mother of FC was scheduled for April 30, 2023. He also placed on record the RTPCR positive report of FC for SARS-COV-2. The Court directed counsel for Union Of India to verify both the medical documents furnished by FC and gave 10 days' time for the same as per their request. On May 1, 2023, the counsel for the Union Of India filed the verification report. As per the verification report, the concerned testing lab Kantvam Healthcare informed that "currently we are not operational and not processing the sample in our lab from February month." The counsel for FC on May 1, 2023 itself also placed on record the covid positive report of FC's mother issued from the same lab. The counsel for UOI got it verified and again the concerned lab gave the report that "currently we are not operational and not processing the sample on our lab from February month". Ratnesh is an accused in a case of rape of a minor in the USA in 2005. He was arrested from Agra in 2021 after a run of around 17 years in the inputs US police through Interpol. A request for his extradition is pending before the concerned court in New Delhi. (ANI)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that institutions need to promote innovation which is not only useful for the defence industry but also for civilian purposes. "We need to promote such innovations in the defence sector which are not only useful for defence but also equally effective for the civil sector," Rajnath Singh said at the 12th convocation ceremony of the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) in Pune. He cited examples of how the use of navigation systems was initially started for defence requirements but later on became an important part of civilian life. "Plastic surgery is also deeply related to the defence sector. We see that many a time soldiers get injured during the war, and different parts of their bodies get damaged in an unfortunate way. For this plastic surgery is a boon which is also helping civilian life," the Defence minister said. Rajnath Singh said countries have to move fast towards technological advancement. "We have to keep in mind that if our adversaries have more advanced technologies, then it can become a problem for us in the coming times. That's why we have to move fast towards technological advancement along with the changing environment," he said. The minister said apart from land and air, threats can come from cyberspace and the space sector. Concepts like non-kinetic or contactless warfare have made the need for advanced technology in the defence sector more important than ever, the minister said. "In the last few decades, we have seen that the methods of warfare are changing at a faster rate.... The dangers of conventional war are in front of us, but going beyond them, now completely new types of threats are looming in front of us," added Rajnath Singh. He also touched upon the government's Atmanirbhar push and highlighted that a huge country like India cannot depend on imports. "If we only import defence equipment and platforms, it will make us dependent on other countries in the defence sector. This dependence can also be a hindrance to our strategic autonomy," he said. Rajnath Singh also met former President Pratibha Patil and personally expressed condolences to her on the demise of her spouse Dr Devisingh Shekhawat. (ANI)
Delhi's Patiala House Court on Monday remanded all six accused arrested in the Tillu Tajpuria murder case to 14 days of judicial custody. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Snigdha Sarvaria remanded all six accused after conducting the hearing through video conferencing. Delhi Police produced six accused namely Yogesh alias Tunda, Deepak Dabas alias Teeter, Riyaz Khan, Rajesh Karmabir, Vinod alias Chavanni and Ata Ur Rahman physically in court lockup. The Court has directed the jail authorities to ensure their safety and security. All the accused will be produced through VC on the next date on May 29 and till further orders. Delhi police had sought judicial custody of all the accused persons in the case. The court said, "Considering the overall facts and circumstances of the case and that matter is at the initial stage of investigation and since reasons for remand are found sufficient, accused Riyaz Khan, Deepak alias Tittar, Yogesh Tunda, Rajesh Karambir, Vinod Chawani and Ataul Rehman Khan are remanded to judicial custody for 14 days and be produced before the concerned Court/ Duty MM on May 29." Advocates Rohit Pathak, RHA Sikander and Ujjawal Puri represented the accused persons. Advocate RHA Sikander moved an application seeking a direction to ensure the safety and security of accused Riyaz. The court passed an order and said, "Considering that the accused apprehends threat from rival gang members, thus Superintendent Jail concerned where all 6 accused persons are lodged are directed to ensure proper safety and security of accused persons in Jail". Furthermore, all accused persons be produced through VC in the present case till further orders, the court directed. The court directed to send the Copy of the order to Superintendent Jail concerned and DG Prison for compliance. On May 8, CMM Snigdha Sarvaria granted 4 days of police custody of Deepak Dabas alias Teetar, Rajesh Bawana, Yogesh Tunda and Ariyaz Khan to the Special Cell of Delhi police. On May 8, four Accused were produced through video conferencing from court lockup. ACP of Special Cell had sought a seven-day remand of the accused persons. He submitted that the accused are required to be interrogated in the alleged offense. Custodial interrogation is required to unearth the conspiracy of murder of Tajpuria, he had submitted. The accused were produced before the court on a production warrant. Special Cell has got issued a production warrant for the accused persons. After the interrogation of these accused persons, Delhi police arrested Vinod and Ata Ur Rahman on May 9. The court granted 3 days of police custody of all accused persons on 12 May. All the accused were produced physically before the court. An FIR was registered by the local police in the incident. Later on, the investigation was transferred to the special cell. It is said that the murder was committed to take revenge on Jitender alias Gogi who was shot dead in Rohini Court in September 2021 by the members of the Tillu Tajpuria gang.(ANI)
According to the police, the woman has been identified as Parminder Kaur while the man has been identified as Nirmaljeet Singh Saini.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Patiala, Varun Sharma said, "The accused has been arrested and his licensed revolver has also been seized."

In another incident which is unrelated to the above, a 58-year-old man was allegedly shot dead outside his home in West Delhi's Paschim Vihar area, police said on Sunday.

The deceased has been identified as Anwar Khurshid alias Alha Diya, who was working as a mason in Delhi and hailed from Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh.

Police said the deceased was shot dead at a time when he was going to throw garbage on Sunday morning.

The daughter of the deceased said that she heard gunshots when she was talking to her father on the phone.

During the inquiry conducted by the police, three empty cartridges and blood were found at the scene.

Speaking with ANI DCP (Outer Delhi) Harender Kumar Singh said, On Sunday, a PCR call regarding a man sustaining gunshot injuries was received at the Paschim Vihar West police station.

"Before a local police team could reach the spot, the police found that the injured was shifted to SGM Hospital by family members, but was declared brought dead by the doctors," DCP Singh said. (ANI)
"A slab of a building collapsed in Naupada area of Thane on Monday. 5 people got injured in the incident, further details yet to be ascertained", one of the officials of Thane municipal corporation said.

Further details on the incident are awaited.

Earlier in August last year, one labourer died while another was injured after the slab of the 5th floor of the Komal Park building collapsed in Maharashtra's Thane.

Following the incident, the building was vacated and sealed by Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation, the officials said. (ANI)
A special Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) court has sent the accused Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientist Dr Pradeep Kurulkar to ATS custody till Tuesday. The Maharashtra ATS team had sought further custody of the accused scientist in connection with the DRDO espionage case. The ATS had informed a Pune court that it is probing the alleged "meetings in a guesthouse" (belonging to DRDO) between "some women" and the senior scientist. It had sought the registered entries from the guest house, which once received, will be investigated. The accused scientist was produced by the ATS before the special court as his custody ended on Tuesday. The accused DRDO Scientist arrested under the Official Secrets Act of the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) is in custody till May 15 for further custodial interrogation. ATS sought custody on the ground that the PIO agent had messaged the accused that "Why you have blocked me ." This message was sent using an Indian number. ATS has seized this phone which needs to be probed with the accused. The prosecution in its remand application also stated, "ATS is also looking for information from the accused if any other person had helped him to get secret information for him and if that person is found then ATS need to confront them with each other." Whereas while giving the order on the remand application The Special Court Pune stated, "The allegations made against the accused are serious. Apparently, the accused have shared specific images and some data with the foreign national. With the position the accused is holding, certainly sensible, sensational sharing of data can be said to be anti-national on his part. If the activity is detrimental to the interest of the country, more particularly to the security of the nation, the investigation has to be done thoroughly. Therefore, custodial interrogation of the accused further is unavoidable, and sending the accused to custody till May 15". Earlier on May 4, Senior scientist Pradeep Kurulkar of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was arrested for allegedly sharing confidential information with a Pakistani intelligence agent. He was in contact with her since 2022, according to sources from the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). Pradeep M Kurulkar who had been honey-trapped by the woman agent was arrested under the Official Secrets Act by the Maharashtra ATS. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday emphasized the need to study old and least controversial laws during the process of converting government policies into laws. He said, "Writing is a skill and punctuation marks should be used with great care and skill in legislative drafting." Amit Shah said, "While writing the law, one should not hesitate to express the intention of the Legislature clearly, without ambiguity, in simple and clear words." Shah's remarks came while inaugurating a training program on Legislative Drafting organized by the Institute of Constitutional and Parliamentary Studies (ICPS) in collaboration with the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE) for officers of Parliament, state legislatures, various ministries, statutory bodies and other government departments in the national capital. In his address, Shah said, "Legislative drafting is a crucial component of our democracy and lack of knowledge about it not only weakens the laws but the entire democratic system and it also affects the functioning of the judiciary." "It is very important for any democratic country that its legislative drafting skills keep upgrading and becoming more efficient with time," he further remarked. "The Constitution of India is considered to be the most perfect Constitution in the world and the people who framed it not only incorporated the country's traditional democratic values but also tried to modernize it according to the needs of contemporary times," Shah added. According to Shah, there are three main pillars of democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary and our Constitution framers built our entire democratic governance system on these three pillars. Shah said, "The function of the Legislative Department is to formulate the political will of the Parliament and the Union Cabinet into law." "The function of the Legislative Department is to provide a legal format to the political will and ways to solve the problems of the people and different needs of the country and for this reason, drafting attains great importance," he added. "If the drafting is better, it will be easier to educate about the law with minimal chances of errors by the executive. If grey areas are left in the drafting, it would lead to encroachment in interpretation, while, if the drafting is complete and lucid, its interpretation would also be clear," Shah said. Noting that the Parliament is the most powerful organ of the government and its strength is the law, Shah said, "Legislative drafting is the most important method of governing any country in a good way." Shah later said, "While translating Parliament's and people's will into law, many things have to be taken into account, such as the Constitution, customs, culture, historical heritage, structure of governance, society, Socio-Economic Development of the country and International Treaties. "Legislative Drafting is not a science or an art, but it is a skill which has to be used with spirit. The focus should always be on minimizing the grey areas and the law should be clear. During the process of converting government policies into laws, it is necessary to study the old and least controversial laws," he added. "Writing is a skill and punctuation marks should be used with great care and skill in legislative drafting," Shah noted. Apart from this, Shah said, "The draftsman should also have a good command over language because it is very important to reflect the spirit of our language. Every language has a limit and mere translation of the words will not work, but the translation of the spirit should be done." Pointing out that capacity building is a continuous process, Shah said "It is very important to upgrade the skills of the law-drafting team in every department of the Parliament, state legislature of the states." "The world is changing very fast and we have to keep pace with the changing world and also mould our laws according to the needs of today. If we are not so open, we will become obsolete and irrelevant," he remarked. "Drafting should be done in as simple and clear words as possible because a law drafted in cliched words always creates controversy. The more simple and clear the law is in words, the more it remains undisputed," he added. Shah said that making such a law that the court does not need to intervene is a medal for drafting a good law, and that "our aim should be to draft the law in simple and clear language." Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has worked a lot in the field of laws and since 2015 till now it has done the work of repealing thousands of irrelevant laws. He said, "By doing this, the government led by Prime Minister Modi, has done the work of liberating the lawyers, society and courts from the jungle of laws." "The government led by PM Modi has also enacted many laws in accordance with the time in the interest of the country," Shah added. Several dignitaries including Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla were present on the occasion. (ANI)
Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), the flagship initiative of the Ministry of Defence, has reached a milestone with the signing of its 250th contract - first under Mission DefSpace - and 100th SPRINT (Navy) contract in New Delhi on Monday. The contracts were signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and other senior civil and military officials. Mission DefSpace contract The first iDEX contract of Mission DefSpace was exchanged between Additional Secretary (Defence Production) and CEO of Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) T Natarajan and CEO of InspeCity, Arindrajit Chowdhary, one of the winners of the 'Micropropulsion system for CubeSats challenge, which is being led by the Defence Space Agency. CubeSats are a class of smallsats, which are modular; low-cost; easy to manufacture, integrate, and launch; and form a critical component for launch-on-demand capabilities. For imagery/Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance/communication purposes, CubeSats need to be precisely aligned, hence there is a requirement for a compact micro propulsion system for precise manoeuvring and orbit correction. InspeCity is developing a gas-based system for this purpose. This technology, once developed, can be integrated with other satellites, including the CubeSat swarm being developed under Mission DefSpace. Recognising the strategic significance of the space domain, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Mission DefSpace with 75 Defence Space Challenges to be addressed by the private sector during DefExpo at Gandhinagar in October 2022. It aims to nurture the Indian Private Space industry through challenges addressing every stage of a space mission - from mission planning to satellite data analytics. 100th SPRINT (Navy) contract The 100th SPRINT (Navy) contract was exchanged between AS (DP) and CEO-DIO and CEO, Siliconia Technologies Pvt Ltd, Sushil Eknath Ghule. Siliconia Technologies Pvt Ltd is the winner of the Challenge which envisaged the development of a prototype that is a lightweight ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) based communication system using a software-defined antenna for Low Earth Orbit, Medium Earth Orbit and Geostationary satellite communication. The solution by Siliconia can provide multiple independent receiver/transmitter sources that are essential in phased-array radars, typically used in satellite tracking. It may be recalled that under the 'SPRINT' initiative, a total of 75 Challenge statements for the Indian industry were unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) seminar 'Swavlamban' on July 18, 2022. The initiative aims at inducting at least 75 technologies/products into the Indian Navy by August 2023 as part of 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav'. The iDEX achieved the milestone of signing its 1st and 50th iDEX SPRINT contracts under DISC-7 in October 2022 and January 2023 respectively and within a few months the 100th SPRINT (Navy) contract was exchanged. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami laid the foundation stone of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) district office in Kashipur on Monday. On the occasion, CM Dhami said, "Today on the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we all have to sacrifice our labour in the yagya being organized for the construction of "New India" and "One India" and "Best India" to come true." "Our country has entered the Amrit Mahotsav year of independence and the Amrit era has started in the country under the efficient and energetic leadership of respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under the guidance of PM Modi, while India is touching new heights of development at the national level, on the other hand, it is gaining a new identity as a strong, capable and self-reliant country at the global level," CM Dhami added. CM Dhami inaugurated the National Homeopathic Conference 'Homeocon-2023' at Doon University, Dehradun on Sunday. On this occasion, the Chief Minister launched a documentary on homoeopathy. CM also honoured the doctors who have done commendable work in the field of homoeopathy, a press release said. Recalling the father of homoeopathy, Samuel Christian Hahnemann, CM said that he developed such a treatment method in the form of homoeopathy, which was very effective as well as economical. "With lifestyles changing rapidly, it has become all the more necessary that we take care of our bodies as much as possible," the CM said. The CM said that due to the untiring efforts of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, today all the ancient Indian systems of medicine, including Yoga, Ayurveda and Homeopathy, are regaining their lost glory. "Whether it is the formation of the Ministry of AYUSH or the organization of International Yoga Day. It is because of the vision of the PM that people are adopting the traditional system of medicine today. In order to promote the traditional medical system in India, the PM formed a separate Ministry of AYUSH in the year 2014. The state government is trying to bring Ayush medicine into the mainstream in the state," the CM said. (ANI)
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Monday "condemned" the violence in Manipur and appealed for peace in the state. "VHP strongly condemned the gruesome attacks by Kuki militants on Meitei Samaj and their places of worship in Manipur," a press statement by the VHP said quoting its national secretary general Milind Parande. He further said that not only churches but temples too have been "destroyed" during the violent clashes between two communities in the state. Releasing a district-wise list of selected grand temples of the Meitei community in Manipur hills, either "burnt or destroyed", during the clashes, the national secretary general of VHP said, "We are already serving the affected people, now the Hindu society needs to come forward to rebuild these temples." Parande also said that during the unfortunate clashes between the two communities, many properties of the state have been destroyed. "Now the Hindu society needs to come forward to rebuild the damaged or destroyed temples," he added. "VHP appealed that peace and restraint must be exercised and the anti-national and anti-social elements must be controlled. Elements and organisations trying to disrupt peace in the region must be taken to task strictly," the statement said. A curfew was imposed on May 3 after violence broke out in the State. The State government clamped down on the use of the Internet and mobile phones to ensure the spread of panic and false information is curtailed. Amid the demand of the Meitei for Scheduled Tribe status, a rally was organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) Manipur on May 3, which later turned violent. As per the latest figures, close to 71 people lost their lives while more than 230 were injured and close to 1700 houses were burnt down during the violence in Manipur. (ANI)
The central government on Monday notified the appointment of Judicial Officer Dharmesh Sharma as Additional Judge of Delhi High Court. Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju on Twitter stated that "in the exercise of the power conferred under the Constitution, Dharmesh Sharma, Judicial Officer is appointed as Additional Judge of Delhi High Court. I extend my best wishes to him." Notification issued in this regard stated that in the exercise of the power conferred by clause (1) of Article 224 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Dhannesh Sharma, to be an Additional Judge of Delhi High Court, for a period of two years, with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office. On May 1, 2023, two Judicial Officers were sworn in as Additional Judges of Delhi High Court. The Chief Justice Satish Chander Sharma administered judicial officers Girish Kathpalia and Manoj Jain to the new judges. After the oath of the two judges, the strength of the Delhi High Court had raised to 47. Recently, the Ministry of Law and Justice notified the elevations of Judicial Officers Girish Kathpalia, Dharmesh Sharma and Manoj Jain as Additional Judge to Delhi High Court. The Supreme Court Collegium recommended to the Centre the names of judicial officers Girish Kathpalia, Dharmesh Sharma and Manoj Jain for their appointment as Delhi High Court judges. The Collegium, which includes Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and KM Joseph, noted that on December 22, 2022, the Chief Justice of the High Court, in consultation with his two senior-most colleagues, recommended the elevation of three judicial officers as High Court judges. The Supreme Court Collegium received the file from the Union Law Ministry on April 7. In its April 12 resolution, the Collegium ascertained "the fitness and suitability" of the judicial officers for elevation and consulted the top court judges "conversant with the affairs of the High Court of Delhi". "For the purpose of assessing the merit and suitability of the above-named Judicial Officers for elevation to the High Court of Delhi, we have scrutinised and evaluated the material placed on record including the observations made by the Department of Justice and certain complaints/representations placed before us," the resolution stated. Before recommending the names of the three judicial officers to the Centre, the Collegium said it has considered the report of the Judgment Evaluation Committee, which graded the judgments authored by them as "outstanding". The Collegium also took note of Intelligence Bureau reports on these officers that they have "good personal and professional image" and "nothing adverse" has come to notice against their integrity. "In view of the above, the Collegium resolves to recommend that Girish Kathpalia, Dharmesh Sharma, and Manoj Jain, Judicial Officers, be appointed as Judges of the High Court of Delhi. Their inter se seniority be fixed as per the existing practice," the resolution of the Collegium added. (ANI)
Former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Monday gave an ultimatum to his own party's government in Rajasthan to probe the alleged paper leak scam that happened during the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule in the State. He warned the Gehlot government that if his demands were not met by this month, he would agitate across the state. Pilot's 5-day Jan Sangharsh Yatra' culminated on Monday in Jaipur. He had started his yatra on May 11 to protest against the inaction of the Rajasthan government in the alleged corruption cases during the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government in the State. Addressing a public meeting here, Pilot warned the state government of his own party to start agitation in the entire state from next month if the three demands raised by him are not fulfilled by this month. Along with disbanding and reorganizing the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC), which came into the limelight in the paper leak case, Pilot demanded financial compensation to the affected candidates and a high-level inquiry into the alleged scam of the Vasundhara government. The Congress leader said that there was loot along with corruption during the five years rule of the previous Vasundhara government. "Then Ashok Gehlot saheb also levelled allegations while being in the opposition. Today four and a half years have been completed but the promises made have not been fulfilled and action has not been taken on the allegations," Pilot said adding that he wrote several letters to Chief Minister Gehlot. "I went on a fast in Jaipur, but when nothing happened from that, I felt that now I will have to go among the public and I took out the Jan Sangharsh Yatra," he said. Sachin Pilot said that whether the "fish is small or big", it has to be caught. He said that when he raised the matter of the paper leak, the response from the government came without any investigation that no officer was involved. "I want to promise that I will serve people and serve Rajasthan till my last breath. I am neither going to suppress nor retreat, I will make sacrifices whatever I have to make because people are my strength," the Congress leader said. At the end of the yatra, Sachin Pilot not only reiterated his demand before the Congress government but also gave a time-bound ultimatum and clearly said that if all three demands are not accepted by this month, then he would agitate in the entire state. Pilot said that RPSC will have to be dissolved and a new organization will have to be formed and this will not be possible without radical changes. "If it is not fulfilled by this month, I will agitate across the state," Pilot warned. The Congress MLAs of the Pilot camp also showed strength in the public meeting. Many MLAs supporting Sachin Pilot also appeared on the stage in the public meeting held in Jaipur. Among them, state cabinet minister Hemaram Chowdhary, minister Rajendra Singh Gudha, MLA Ved Prakash Solanki, Mukesh Bhakar, Ramniwas Gawadia, Dipendra Singh Shekhawat, Harish Meena, Amar Jatav, Rakesh Pareek, Girraj Malinga, Suresh Modi were present in the public meeting. Assembly polls are scheduled to be held in Rajasthan later this year and the Congress party is seeking another term ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha polls in 2024. Asked about the unity in the Rajasthan Congress in view of upcoming State polls, Pilot said, "Neither do I hurl allegations at anyone nor do I have any rift with anyone on an individual level." Pilot who has been vocal about the inaction by the Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan government regarding the alleged corruption during the previous BJP government in the State, said that he and the Chief Minister have to fight "unitedly" against corruption, however, Gehlot did not take steps in this regard. (ANI)
Union Minister for State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai on Monday attended the inaugural session of the second G-20 Cultural Working Group meeting in Bhubaneswar and said culture is key to fostering a sustainable and inclusive future. Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and DoNER G Kishan Reddy and delegates of G-20 countries attended the inaugural session. Speaking on this occasion, Nityanand Rai said promoting cultural exchanges among the G-20 countries can help create "a more vibrant world". He said India has strived towards a better future for the world and the theme of India's G20 presidency is 'one earth, one family, one future'. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's desire is that there should be no second or third world but there should be only one world. He is trying to bring the whole world together for a better future. The mantra of G-20 in India's presidency is one earth, one family, one future," he said. "Culture is an important key to fostering an understanding as well as building a sustainable and inclusive future," he added. Rai said India's culture fosters values like 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'. "Our country considers the whole world as one family. By promoting cultural exchanges and understanding among the G-20 countries, we can create a more vibrant world," he said. The second Culture Working Group of G20 meeting in Bhubaneshwar is being held from May 15 to 17. (ANI)
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has called for withdrawing all work from Special Secretary (Vigilance) YVVJ Rajshekhar, who is probing the alleged corruption in the renovation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's bungalow. Vigilance Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on May 13 ordered the withdrawal of all work assigned to the officer with immediate effect, citing complaints against Rajshekhar for "running an extortion racket and demanding protection money". "There are complaints that Rajshekhar is running an extortion racket and demanding protection money. This allegation is quite serious and needs to be examined in detail... Therefore, all work assigned to Rajshekhar is hereby withdrawn," a communication written to YVVJ Rajshekhar. "The same may be distributed amongst ADs and ADs will directly report to Secretary (Vigilance). The ADs should directly put up the files to Secretary (Vigilance). This is for immediate compliance till further orders," it stated. However, the IAS officer, who is holding the charge of Special Secretary (Vigilance) with the additional charge of Special Secretary (Services), said he is a "Member of IAS and protected under Rule 311 of the Constitution of India and also protected under Rule 7 of IAS (Cadre Rules 1954)". "One cannot deny the rights which are accrued to a civil servant/public servant under the rule which he is entitled for," he said in his reply. He further exaggerated that he must be allowed to perform his duties objectively and dispassionately as per rule of law and documents and records that are available on the file. Rajshekhar also underlined that vigilance inquiries are done as per the set protocols and manuals prepared by the Central Vigilance Commission (VGC). "It is just like Mathematics and there is no scope for subjectivity while dealing with such cases as this case is filtered through due process as established by Law," he said. "The undersigned is being prevented from performing the duties and I apprehend serious threat and diversions of records pertaining to sensitive matters like Excise matter, 6 Flag Staff Road, Civil Lines, DIP etc. It is requested that this matter may be brought to the notice of the High Court to stay the order issued by the minister (Vigilance) vide his note dated 13.05.2023," he added. Urging that permission may be accorded to engage Sanjay Jain, ASG, before the High Court along with Yoginder Handoo as Special Counsel/Briefing Counsel and if need be, the matter may also be brought before the notice of the Supreme Court wherein permission may be accorded to engage Harish Salve, senior counsel in the Supreme Court, he said: "This kind of restraint to perform the duties amounts to indirectly transferring the undersigned from this Department which is nothing but subverting the decision of the Supreme Court dated 31.10.2013 wherein the officer can be transferred only through the deliberation of the Civil Services Board". "One cannot do indirectly what they cannot do directly. The officer is also entitled for rights that are provided to him under the All India Services Cadre Rules i.e. Rule 7," Rajshekhar added in its reply. (ANI)
According to Lucknow Police, a total of 19 mobile phones along with two vehicles that were used for snatching have been recovered from the arrested persons.

The accused have been identified as Zeeshan, Ujaifa, Rahul Singh, Astar Abbas, Gufran and Shariq.

"On the basis of the information, Hussainganj Police arrested six people Zeeshan, Ujaifa, Rahul Singh, Astar Abbas, Gufran and Sharqi. 19 phones have been recovered from them. Two vehicles have been recovered which were used for snatching," said Deputy Commissioner of Police, Lucknow (Central) Aparna Kaushik.

The police also said that information about selling stolen mobiles was being received at various places for several days.

Further investigation is underway. (ANI)
The Magistrate Court has remanded the accused Pakistani national Subair, who was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to 14 days of judicial custody. The value of drugs seized in a special operation by the NCB and Indian Navy in Indian waters on Saturday was priced at Rs 25,000 crores after enumeration, informed NCB on Monday. The operation has done by NCB and Indian Navy jointly under 'Operation Samudragupta'. In Court, NCB submitted that the accused is a Pakistani national who can speak five languages. However, the accused claimed that he is from Iran. According to the NCB officials, the enumeration of the high-purity methamphetamine seized by NCB and the Indian Navy has been completed. The total seizure has been confirmed as 2,525 kg and it is valued at 25,000 crore rupees, as per the official information received from the NCB. The officials further informed that the enumeration was completed in 23 hours. "The value became higher because it is higher grade methamphetamine. The seized drugs were in 134 sacks. The methamphetamine was kept in packets of one kilo each", one of the officials said. On Saturday, NCB seized approximately 2,500 kg of contraband drugs in Indian waters in a special operation. Sanjay Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General (Ops) said it was the largest in terms of monetary value. Talking to ANI, Singh said, "NCB & Navy conducted a successful operation in the Indian Ocean. It is the largest in terms of its monetary value. It originated from the Chabahar port in Iran. The source of the drugs is Pakistan." Singh further said that the consignment was meant for Sri Lanka, Maldives and India. "The mother ship was being stationed at different points in the sea. The smaller boats would go from various countries & collect consignments from the mother ships. The consignment was meant for Sri Lanka, Maldives and India. One Pakistani national has been arrested", he said. He added that the operation was started in February last year and as part of the operation, the team has seized roughly around 4,000 kg of various drugs. "We started Operation Samudragupta in February 2022 as part of that operation we have seized roughly around 4,000 kg of various drugs", Singh said. The initial success of the operation called 'Samudragupta' was achieved in the month of February 2022 when a joint team of NCB and Indian Navy seized 529 kg of Hashish, 221 kg of Methamphetamine and 13 kg of Heroin in the high seas off the coast of Gujarat, all sourced from Balochistan and Afghanistan. The seizure part of 'Operation Samudragupta' targeted the maritime trafficking of drugs originating from Afghanistan. Appreciating the threat to national security emanating from maritime trafficking of Heroin and other drugs over the maritime route in the Indian Ocean region, the Director General, NCB launched Operation Samudragupta headed by Sanjay Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General (Ops), NCB and comprising officers of Operations Branch of NCB Headquarters in January 2022. The primary objective of the operation was to collect actionable inputs which could lead to the interdiction of ships carrying narcotics contraband. For this task, the team exchanged and gathered information from drug law enforcement agencies such as DRI, ATS Gujarat and intelligence agencies such as the Intelligence Wing of Indian Navy, NTRO etc. (ANI)
A village in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Bastar district has set a glaring example of honouring the sacrifice of a jawan by setting up his life-size statue. Moreover, the villagers also offer worship to him regularly. Baniagaon, a village located around 25 kilometres from the district headquarters, has set up a life-size statue of their courageous hero who sacrificed his life in the line of duty while fighting naxals in 2021. In April 2021, Head Constable Shravan Kashyap made the supreme sacrifice while fighting ultras during an encounter at Tekalgudam in naxals-hit Bijapur. As the news of the encounter spread, the entire village landed into grief but the sorrow changed into pride when villagers learnt about the bravery of Kashyap. To honour the sacrifice of Kashyap, villagers installed a human-sized statue of him. Recently, Kashyap received Kirti Chakra posthumously from President Droupadi Murmu during a function in New Delhi on May 9. On behalf of the jawan, his wife Dutika Kashyap received the award.While talking to ANI, Dutika Kashyap said, "I feel proud. I would be more proud if he himself would have received the award from the President." Responding to a question whether she would have any objection if her children would join the police, Dutika said, "I do not have any objection if my children would join the police force. If my child receives a compassionate appointment in the police department, I will ask the officials to ensure the posting in a place like Jagdalpur instead of Bijapur." Meanwhile, she also shared the challenges faced by her husband during duty and the happy moments. She also recalled the day when Shravan Kashyap died in the naxal attack. "Police force has been extensively working to safeguard the lives and properties of people in Bastar region and on the same series of exercises, security forces were targeted by naxals in Bijapur and personnel belonging from DRG, STF and CoBRA died," said Bastar Range Inspector General of Police (IG) Sundarraj P. The IG further said, "The sacrifices made by Sub Inspector Deepak Bharadwaj, Head Constable Sodi Narayan and Head Constable Shravan Kashyap, will motivate security personnel belonging from all the forces. Moreover, the supreme sacrifices made by the security personnel will also encourage youths to join the force. The sacrifices made by our security personnel on the line of duty will keep motivating everyone to work dedicatedly so that the region could be made naxal free and peace be established." (ANI)
IAS officer J Radhakrishnan on Monday assumed office as the Commissioner of the Greater Chennai Corporation on Monday. In a bureaucratic reshuffle in Tamil Nadu, J Radhakrishnan has been made the Chennai Corporation Commissioner. J Radhakrishnan replaced Gagandeep Singh Bedi as the Chennai Corporation Commissioner. "The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu MK Stalin has once again given me an opportunity to serve as a commissioner in the Chennai Corporation, I express my deepest gratitude for that," said J Radhakrishnan. He said Chennai Corporation is the most important and oldest corporation. "This time there is a highly capable IAS team. Also, the cooperation of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Heads of Standing Committees and all Councilors has been received," he said. He said that in particular, Chennai Corporation road construction works, rainwater canal construction works, education, Health, CMDA etc will be carried out. "On behalf of the Chennai Corporation, steps will be taken to implement all the projects planned by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister for the public welfare of the people as soon as possible," he added. IAS officer J Radhakrishnan was made the Chennai Corporation Commissioner in a bureaucratic reshuffle, read an official statement on Saturday. Before assuming charge, he visited Chennai Corporation Mayor Priya and Deputy Mayor Magesh Kumar. "I will fulfil all the thoughts of the Chief Minister and take action to resolve the grievances of the public," he said adding that steps will be taken to speedily complete the various projects already being undertaken by the Chennai Corporation. As far as Chennai Corporation is concerned we will give full attention to field management," he said. He further said that as far as Chennai is concerned, the construction of roads, rainwater drainage works, Metro rail lines etc will be done in cooperation with the police department and public works department and steps will be taken to complete the works soon He said that the work of surveying the oldest buildings in Chennai will be carried out very quickly. (ANI)
The ruling coalition party, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) on Sunday sought the local district administration's permission to hold a sit-in outside of the Supreme Court premises in Islamabad, Tribune reported. Former minister and PML-N leader Tariq Fazal Chaudhry confirmed to journalists that an application on the matter had been submitted to the concerned authorities. "PML-N workers from across Islamabad will fully participate in the protest," he said. The application states that the ruling party alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) wishes to "hold a public gathering at D-Chowk, Islamabad on Monday at 10 am". Notably, the top court had come to the rescue of former prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday as it declared his arrest by the country's top graft-buster from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) illegal and directed immediate release of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief, Tribune reported. Subsequently, the IHC granted Imran interim bail for two weeks in the Al-Qadir Trust case. Shortly after the IHC's decision was reported, PDM announced that it will stage a protest demonstration in front of the SC over its "unjust behaviour". "We have decided that we will protest against this behaviour. As someone who is representing the PDM, I appeal to the entire nation to reach Islamabad on Monday. We will stage a sit-in and protest in huge numbers," said Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam - Fazl (JUI-F) chief and PDM President Maulana Fazlur Rehman while addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Tribune reported. Fazl had said that every worker of his party will participate in the protest and no one will stay at home. "If someone tried to stop us, we will reply back with clubs, slaps and punches if needed," he had warned. Meanwhile, the federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, had issued a strong condemnation against Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial for his "extraordinary intervention" in Imran Khan's arrest. The cabinet deemed the intervention as "misconduct" on the part of the top judge. According to the federal cabinet, Imran Khan's arrest was carried out in compliance with the Constitution, law, and legal procedures in the "open and shut case of corruption and corrupt practices". The federal cabinet reiterated its stance that the CJP's interference was unjustifiable and condemned it in the strongest possible terms. It denounced the CJP's interference as "misconduct". It may also be noted here that a meeting was held on Saturday, presided over by the SC's registrar, to review the security arrangements for the SC in view of the protest planned outside its premises on Monday but no representative of the Islamabad police attended the huddle, Tribune reported. The SC registrar expressed his concerns over the lack of cooperation by the Islamabad police. The SC has also decided to hear on Monday the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) plea asking the top court to revisit its order of holding elections in the Punjab Assembly on May 14, Tribune reported. The petition would be heard a day after the court-ordered election deadline has lapsed a second time. (ANI)
Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Monday divulged about "London plan" of Shehbaz Sharif government that aims to outlaw his party PTI, putting his wife Bushra begum in jail, and use some sedition law to keep him inside for next ten years. "So now the complete London plan is out. Using pretext of violence while I was inside the jail, they have assumed the role of judge, jury and executioner. The Plan now is to humiliate me by putting Bushra begum in jail, and using some sedition law to keep me inside for next ten years," Imran Khan said in a tweet. Notably, Shehbaz Sharif earlier decided to extend his stay for one more day on the directives of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif in London when he went for King Charles's coronation. "Then will follow complete crackdown on whatever is left of PTI leadership and workers," said Imran Khan. He compared the possible ban on his party with that of Awami League in erstwhile East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. "And finally they will ban the largest and only federal party of Pakistan. (Just as they banned the Awami League in East Pakistan)," he tweeted. The PTI chief also alleged that the Shehbaz government will suspend internet services and ban social media. To ensure that there's is no public reaction, they have done two things, first deliberate terror is unleashed not just on PTI workers but on common citizens as well. Second, the media is totally controlled and muzzled. And tomorrow they will again suspend internet services and ban social media (which is only partially open)," he tweeted. Khan is likely to appear before the Lahore High Court on Monday in the cases registered against him for torching the house of the Corps Commander and other incidents of violence erupted after his arrest last week. The ex-PM further alleged that houses are being broken in and shamelessly police is manhandling the women of the houses. "Never has the sanctity of chadar and chaar dewaari been violated the way it is being done by these criminals. This is a deliberate attempt to instil so much fear in people that when they come to arrest me tomorrow, people won't come out..," he tweeted. Speaking about Pakistan Democratic Movement chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman's protest demonstration scheduled to be held outside the Supreme Court on Monday, he said, "The JUIF Drama being done outside the SC tomorrow is only for one purpose, to overawe the Chief Justice of Pakistan so that he doesn't give a verdict according to the constitution." He said that Pakistan has already seen such a brazen attack on the Supreme Court when in 1997 PMLN goons physically attacked it and had one of the most respected Chief Justices Sajjad Ali Shah removed. Khan said that he will fight for Haqeeqi Azaadi till the last drop of his blood because for him death is preferable to be enslaved by an assortment of crooks in a message to Pakistani citizens. (ANI)
Taliban urged Qatar to invest in Afghanistan and requested them to take steps for the improvement of relations between the international community and Afghanistan, reported Tolo News. Taliban's spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said that officials of the Afghan interim government in their meeting with the Qatari delegation who visited Kandahar on Friday urged them to invest in Afghanistan. Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani arrived in Kandahar and met with Taliban officials. Mujahid said that the Taliban requested that Qatar take steps for the improvement of relations between the international community and Afghanistan, reported Tolo News. "We asked Qatar for their continued cooperation and to take influential steps in diplomacy to eliminate the concerns and doubts existing in some countries," he said. However, some diplomats said that Qatar's Prime Minister brought an important message to the Taliban, reported Tolo News. "Qatar itself, as the supporter of the Taliban, sent its Prime Minister to tell the Taliban that they are still a supporter of the Taliban but 'your actions affect the reputation and position of Qatar at an international level.' Another message was from regional countries since the recent (Doha) meeting about the concern about the Taliban," said Barna Salehi, political analyst. "If the international community wants to improve its relations with the Taliban via Qatar, I think the major influence of Qatar cannot be ignored and they may help the Taliban in the improvement of their relations," said Nematullah Bizhan, political analyst. This comes as Qatar's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Prime Minister of Qatar spoke with US Secretary Antony Blinken and discussed bilateral relations and the situation in Afghanistan, reported Tolo News. "The role of Qatar has been positive in Afghanistan's political and economic interaction. As it played an important role in signing the agreement, it currently plays an important role in extensions of engagement between the Islamic Emirate and the international community," said Abdul Latif Nazari, the Deputy Minister of Economy. Qatar hosted the fragile peace negotiations between the US and then Islamic Emirate's political office that also resulted in a peace deal between the US and Taliban, reported Tolo News. Qatar has longstanding ties with the Taliban. While this approach is criticized by some, others benefit from the country's contacts. Qatar's main interest is to cement its position as a regional mediator. The relationship between Qatar and the Taliban is anything but new. As early as 2013, Qatar allowed the Taliban to open an office in Doha, with the support of the US administration under Barack Obama. At the time, Washington was looking for a neutral place to negotiate with the Islamist militia in order to prepare for the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, reported DW News. Since 2018, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who is one of the founding members of the Taliban, has led its representation in Qatar. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday (local time) interacted with the Indian diaspora in Sweden and discussed transformations underway in India. He also apprised them about the progress in bilateral relationship with Sweden on the 75 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations. "Delighted to interact with the Indian Community in Sweden. Apprised them of the progress in our bilateral relationship as we mark 75 years of diplomatic ties. Sweden is valued as a member of the EU, a Nordic partner and a fellow multilateralist. Spoke about the transformations underway in India that enhance our global profile and create opportunities for Indians abroad," tweeted Jaishankar. Diplomatic relations between Sweden and India were established in 1948, a year after India became independent. During the 2018 visit of Prime Minister Modi to Sweden, the two sides adopted a wide-ranging Joint Action Plan and signed a Joint Innovation Partnership. The first high-level Dialogue on Innovation Policy was co-chaired by Prime Minister Modi and the King of Sweden in December 2019. PM Lofven was the Chief Guest at the 2016 Make in India event and Sweden hosted a major Make in India event in 2017. Earlier Jaishankar met Sweden's Defence Minister Pal Jonson and Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom during his three-day visit to Sweden. Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said, "Good to meet Defence Minister Pal Jonson of Sweden. Useful exchange of views on regional and global security." After meeting his Swedish counterpart, Jaishankar said that both countries are committed to taking bilateral cooperation to a higher level. Both nations had exchanged views on the Indo-Pacific, the European strategic situation and de-risking the global economy. "Wide-ranging discussions with FM @TobiasBillstrom as India and Sweden mark 75 years of diplomatic ties," Jaishankar said in another tweet. Jaishankar is on a three-day visit to Sweden to participate in the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial. He is also expected to attend the inaugural session of the India Trilateral Forum involving India, Europe, and the US, with his Swedish counterpart Tobias Billstrom. In addition, Jaishankar will discuss India-EU relations during his visit as Sweden currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. At the EU-India Pacific Ministerial Forum, Jaishankar laid stress on the multipolar world. "The Indo-Pacific is a complex and differentiated landscape that is best understood through more intensive engagement. A generous and strategic approach that caters to economic asymmetries will surely enhance the EU's appeal. The more European Union and Indo-Pacific deal with each other, the stronger will be their respective appreciation of multi-polarity. And remember, a multipolar world, which the EU prefers, is feasible only by a multipolar Asia," said Jaishankar. He said that the EU has major stakes in Indo-Pacific developments, especially concerning technology, connectivity, trade and finance. Jaishankar dealt with globalisation and established thinking at the forum. "Globalization is the overwhelming reality of our times. However, far apart, regions and nations cannot be impervious to significant events elsewhere. Nor can we cherry-pick them to our convenience. The European Union has major stakes in Indo-Pacific developments, especially as they pertain to technology, connectivity, trade and finance. It has to, in respect for, and observance of UNCLOS. Agnosticism on such matters is therefore no longer an option," he said. (ANI)
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing the biggest challenge yet in his two decades in power after millions voted in a landmark election on Sunday, reported CNN. State-run Anadolu news agency's latest figures show Erdogan's lead under 50 per cent and his main challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, over 44 per cent. If neither wins a majority, they will go to a runoff -- which would be a first for Erdogan. With 89 per cent of the ballot boxes opened, preliminary unofficial results show President Erdogan's share of votes at 49.94 per cent, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency. As things stand, the Turkish presidential election is going for a run-off on May 28. Opposition leaders have rejected Anadolu's figures, saying they are misleading, and Kilicdaroglu, chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), has insisted he is ahead in the polls, reported CNN. Opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu accused President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party of demanding recounts and delaying results in opposition strongholds, including in Ankara and Istanbul. "My dear nation, they are blocking the system with repeated objections at ballots where we have higher votes. For example, there are persistent objections at 300 ballots in Ankara and 783 ballots in Istanbul. There is a ballot with six, and another with 11 objections," he told reporters in a statement at his party headquarters in Ankara. Kilicdaroglu called on Erdogan to stop dealing in "perception management," adding that the opposition will not allow the vote to be a "fait accompli." "This is a serious matter. Let the votes come in and the result to be known as soon as possible. The country can no longer tolerate uncertainty. Do not be afraid of the nation's will," he said. He also urged election officials to act responsibly, and not let the process be stalled, reported CNN. "I repeat: Do not block this nation's will. I would like to call on the democracy workers in the field. Do not leave the ballots and election councils. We are here until every vote has been counted," he said. Ahmet Yener, the head of the Turkish election board, has said that 71.64 per cent of the votes within the country and 18.76 per cent of the votes from abroad were entered into its system, reported Al Jazeera. A total of 69.12 per cent of the votes have been entered in the system, he added. Sinan Ogan, the presidential race's third candidate backed by the right-wing Ata Alliance, foresaw the polls going to a second round. At this time, Ogan said, there would be no announcement on who the alliance is going to support in the run-off, reported Al Jazeera. He said that will take place after internal deliberations. Ogan appears to be gathering more votes than expected, surpassing five per cent. The presidential and parliamentary elections took place three months after an earthquake killed more than 50,000 people in southern Turkey. They also come amid a serious economic crisis and what analysts say is democratic erosion under Erdogan's government. (ANI)
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday announced that it will file cases against the Punjab Rangers and the National Accountability Bureau for "kidnapping" its chief Imran Khan, reported Geo News. The Rangers had arrested the ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan on May 9 in the Al-Qadir Trust case while acting on the anti-graft watchdog's warrant. A meeting of the party's central leadership on Sunday -- headed by Khan -- strongly condemned the "abduction" of the PTI chief and said that a Supreme Court's high-powered commission be formed to investigate killings of citizens on May 9 and attempts of creating anarchy in the country, reported Geo News. Khan's arrest erupted violent protests in different parts of the country. At least 10 people were killed and dozens of others sustained injuries during the days-long protests with internet services remaining suspended since then across the country. After the supporters attacked military installations, the army said that May 9, -- the day when chaos gripped the nation following Khan's arrest -- would go down in history as a "dark chapter". The PTI also announced registering cases over murders of unarmed citizens during the peaceful protests. Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, caretaker Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief ministers -- Mohsin Raza Naqvi and Azam Khan -- police officers, including IGs and others, will be nominated in FIRs, read the statement. The Punjab caretaker government has no legal or Constitution justification to continue as the Supreme Court's deadline (May 14) for holding elections in the province expired today, the PTI said and termed it "murder of the Constitution. The PTI urged authorities concerned to launch a probe into a "pre-planned" strategy to create anarchy during the "peaceful" protests of the party workers and incidents of firing on the citizens, reported Geo News. In its declaration, the PTI vowed to respond to the efforts made by the ruling alliance to blackmail the apex court or stop it from performing its Constitutional duties with people's force. (ANI)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad emerged victorious, after being shunned by Arab and Western governments for more than 12 years, as most Arab governments, realizing that he would not be toppled and would not accept their conditions, have grudgingly accepted him back to the Arab fold. Apparently, most Arab governments see that they have to recognize Assad's rule as a reality and as a means to avoid further destabilization in the region. In March 2011, the Arab League and the majority of Arab governments, reacting to the hard repression of Syrian people and Bashar al-Assad's massacre of protesters and use of chemicals against civilians, as well as his close relations with Iran, suspended Syria's membership and imposed sanctions on his regime. During that time more than half a million people were killed, and 12 million became refugees, while the rest of the population - with the exception of those close to the regime - were facing famine, do not have safe drinking water or electricity, or were in dire economic straits. 90 per cent of the people live under the poverty line. At a meeting in Cairo on May 7, the Foreign Ministers of the Arab League - ignoring the objections of Qatar, Kuwait, Morocco and some other states which did not participate at the meeting - voted to reintegrate Syria into the organization, but left individual member states to decide whether they will restore full diplomatic ties with the regime in Damascus. The decision was made in advance of the Arab League Summit in Saudi Arabia on May 19 and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud last Wednesday sent an invitation to the Syrian President to participate in the 32nd Regular Session of the Arab League Council Meeting. Sameh Shoukry, the Foreign Minister of Egypt, justified the decision for the return of Syria to the Arab League, saying that "all the stages of the Syrian crisis have proven that there is no military solution to it and that there are no winners and losers. The decision taken by the Arab League would mark the start of a revived political process in the country." The devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria gave Arab governments a good excuse to have contact with the Syrian regime concerning the provision of relief to the earthquake victims, while a major role in the rapprochement was played by the re-establishment of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran (that had supported opposite sides in the conflict) which removed one of the main obstacles to the restoration of relations. Although at the beginning of the Syrian crisis, the Bashar al-Assad regime, was expected to collapse, as several Arab countries supported the various factions trying to topple him, the critical assistance he received from Iran and Russia made it possible for the Damascus regime to regain a large part of the country it lost initially and now the regime controls about two-thirds of Syria. Gradually, the governments of the Arab states supporting the anti-regime factions began to realize that Bashar al-Assad would not be defeated and that they should try to stop the further destabilization of the region. Moreover, countries like Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan have provided shelter to millions of refugees, in the expectation that the Assad regime would fall in a matter of months, and want to send them back to Syria, as their populations see the refugees as competitors for jobs and state resources. The change in the stand of Turkey, which has been hosting some 3.5 million Syrian refugees, is quite indicative of this. The Turkish people initially welcomed the refugees in the name of Islamic solidarity, but now see them as a big problem. A poll shows that 85 per cent of the voters want them out of Turkey. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that last year that about half a million Syrians returned to the "safe zones" created by Turkey in northwest Syria and vowed that 1 million refugees would soon return to their country. Opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu in his election campaign has stated that one of his top goals is to return all Syrians to their country within two years. Lebanon, a country facing economic meltdown last year has started forcibly sending refugees back to Syria. The Arab League's decision to welcome Bashar al-Assad back to the Arab fold is undoubtedly a major victory for Assad. This is because the Syrian President was admitted back to the League without agreeing to any prior conditions, for example, a firm commitment not to persecute or victimize further Syrian refugees returning to their country. Assad also avoided undertaking any commitment to stop the production of the Captagon drug, which creates tens of thousands of drug addicts in the countries of the region and is currently the biggest foreign exchange earner of his regime. Furthermore, the restoration of relations between the Syrian regime and Arab governments represents a major success also for Iran and Russia, whose support allowed Bashar al-Assad to stay in power, although, at the beginning of the crisis in Syria, the collapse of the regime seemed to be inevitable. At the same time, it is a minor defeat of the US Administration and Western governments that repeatedly expressed their condemnation of the Damascus regime. Now, with the decision of the Arab League, Arab countries appear to be publicly backing an important ally of Russia and Iran, without securing any concessions from Damascus. Reuters has reported that a bi-partisan group in the US Congress introduced last Thursday a bill prohibiting the US government from recognizing or normalizing relations with any Syrian government led by Assad and expanding an Act that imposed tough sanctions on Syria in 2020. Gilles Kepel, of the Institute of Political Studies, Paris, points out: "The Arab League's decision to readmit Syria is a game changer in the Middle East, a clear success for Saudi diplomacy and an apparent win for Russia. It is another sign of the strengthening of the illiberal bloc which challenges the West's democracy agenda. It draws the curtain for good on what remained of the dreams of the Arab Spring a decade ago." (ANI)
General Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, has spent the majority of his nearly six months in office cleaning up the mess that General Qasim Javed Bajwa, his much-discussed predecessor, left behind, reported The Pakistan Military Monitor. The arrest of Imran Khan, the former prime minister, was too a part of this cleaning-up operation. Since his arrest, the army has absolved itself of all ties to its erstwhile protege and the disastrous hybrid regime experiment. It's too soon to declare it a win since much will depend on Munir's ability to restore a semblance of calm on the streets, unity among the army's top brass, and more responsible political leadership, according to The Pakistan Military Monitor. The Supreme Court coming to Khan's rescue has complicated the situation. Ironically, all of these checklists demonstrate how Munir has broken his first commitment to not engage in politics. Currently, General Munir is the de facto ruler of the unstable country. In all ways, Pakistan has already had a coup d'etat. Munir has never before needed to engage in aggressive core politics both inside and outside of GHQ in order to survive as a head. Playing both games at once presents him with the most challenge. In addition to leaving behind a dysfunctional Pakistan, Munir's old boss, Bajwa, also left behind a group of officers who were more committed to the Purana (old) army than the Naya (new) army that Munir wished to build and lead. These officials, many of whom hold senior positions, are reportedly kindling scepticism, if not outrightly mutinous dissent, inside GHQ, according to The Pakistan Military Monitor. Ever since he took over as chief, Munir has been taking action against these officers because he is aware of them. Given his limited experience at the GHQ, he is unlikely to be aware of the extent of these nay-sayers, but their presence at this crucial time makes him nervous. Munir is also aware of the colossal damage that a social media campaign against him could do. He could still remember how General Pervez Musharraf, a strong military dictator, lost to public derision. People, mostly young and empowered with mobile phones and a false sense of history, have developed a universe of hatred and derision against the army thanks to PTI supporters and other anti-army groups. The army's inability to stop such malicious activities on social media has further increased popular disdain for Pakistan's most powerful institution. As a result, the General might not be unconcerned by reports on social media that Lt General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, may attempt to overthrow him and assume control of the army. Mirza had lost out to become the Chief six months ago. The PTI social media brigade may have just been the source of the stories. However, these fake stories have the potential to sow disbelief and cast doubt on the army's leadership--a factor that has been chasing Munir since he assumed control last year in November, The Pakistan Military Monitor reported. Due to the status of the nation and the growing disconnect between the civilian population and the army, Munir hasn't had time to organise his home because he has been forced to run from the start. The murmurs at the senior level spread the word that Munir attended the Officer Training School in Mangla (OTS) rather than the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul. Second, his alleged disagreement with Imran Khan over accusations of corruption against the Prime Minister's wife while he was the head of the ISI has had an unanticipated consequence: as the Army chief, he is perceived to favour the Sharifs and Zardaris. These could be folklore, but they affect the public's mentality like viruses, warping reality and fostering a virtual conspiracy theory universe, read a report published in The Pakistan Military Monitor. Munir is acutely aware of this reality and said so during his first speech at the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul. We will, he said, ensure that the bond between forces and people is further strengthened. In the backdrop of to the ongoing crisis in Pakistan, the army chief blamed covert opponents for undermining state and societal cohesiveness and causing a rift between the populace and the armed forces. However, given that these same individuals view the army as the enemy, General Munir may need to marshal all of his resources and allies in order to help restore public faith in the army. Munir is currently in such a moment of truth, and how well he handles the situation will prove to be his litmus test, The Pakistan Military Monitor reported. (ANI)
"Indian Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande has proceeded on a three-day visit to Egypt. The visit will provide an opportunity to enhance bilateral Defence Cooperation and strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest," tweeted ADG-PI.

India and Egypt enjoy cordial defence relations. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was invited as chief guest on India's 74th Republic Day celebrations to reaffirm the strong relations between the two countries.

"This is for the first time that the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt has been invited as Chief Guest on our Republic Day," the MEA said. A military contingent from Egyptian Army will also participate in the Republic Day parade.

India and Egypt celebrated 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations this year.

India and Egypt enjoy warm and friendly relations marked by civilizational, cultural and economic linkages and deep-rooted people-to-people ties. The multifaceted relationship is based on shared cultural values, commitment to foster economic growth, collaboration in the fields of defence and security and convergence on regional and global issues. The two countries work closely at multilateral and international platforms.

Most of the current defence cooperation between India and Egypt is determined by Joint Defence Committee (JDC) activities. JDC meetings have been held alternately in either country, followed by exchange activities. In addition, several courses, exercises, ship transits, aircraft transits and defence exhibitions also contribute to defence cooperation between India and Egypt. (ANI)
A Chinese court has sentenced a 78-year-old American citizen to life in prison on spying charges, CNN reported. A permanent resident of Hong Kong, John Shing-Wan Leung, was convicted of spying and given a life sentence on Monday by the Intermediate People's Court in the eastern city of Suzhou, as per a statement on the court's social media account. The court's statement, which did not provide details on his charges, further said that Leung was detained on April 15, 2021, by state security authorities in Suzhou, Jiangsu province The court has also confiscated the man's personal property worth 50,00,000 yuan, the statement said, according to CNN. No information on Leung's detention or the court process that led to his conviction was disclosed by Chinese authorities and state media. Cases which involve state security are usually handled behind closed doors in China. Leung's imprisonment took place while Sino-American relations are at their lowest point in fifty years due to escalating competition in trade, technology, geopolitics, and military supremacy. It also happened at a time when American and Chinese officials are resuming high-level interactions after efforts to improve relations earlier this year were broken by a dispute over a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon. Leung is among an increasing number of foreigners who have fallen victim to China's escalating anti-espionage campaign under leader Xi Jinping, according to CNN. Earlier, a Japanese employee of Astellas Pharma was detained in Beijing on suspected espionage - the 17th Japanese national to have been detained in China since the counter-espionage law was introduced in 2014. Two Canadians, a former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor, were detained in China for almost three years in another high-profile case. Their arrest on charges of spying in late 2018 came briefly after Canada arrested Chinese businesswoman and Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on a US warrant in relation to the company's business dealings in Iran, as per CNN. The two men were nevertheless released on the same day that Meng was granted permission by Canada to return to China, despite Beijing's repeated denials that their cases were motivated by political revenge. China passed a wide-ranging amendment to its already comprehensive counter-espionage law last month, and it will go into force on July 1. The new legislation expanded the definition of espionage from covering state secrets and intelligence to any "documents, data, materials or items related to national security and interest," as well as cyberattacks against government institutions or crucial information infrastructure, CNN reported. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar here on Monday held a meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. The EAM stated that he values the commitment of Kristersson towards strengthening the ties between the two nations. "Delighted to meet PM Ulf Kristersson of Sweden. Conveyed the personal greetings of PM @narendramodi. Value his commitment towards strengthening the India-Sweden relationship," Jaishankar tweeted. He also met Sweden's National Security Advisor Henrik Landerholm and exchanged strategic assessments of Europe and the Indo-Pacific. "A good discussion with Henrik Landerholm, National Security Advisor of Sweden. Exchanged strategic assessments of Europe and Indo Pacific," EAM Jaishankar said in a tweet. Jaishankar, who is on a Sweden visit, also held a meeting with Swedish Parliament Speaker Andreas Norlen. "Met Dr. Andreas Norlen, Speaker of the Riksdag of Sweden this morning. Welcomed contacts between our two Parliamentary democracies. Also exchanged perspectives on our respective regions," the EAM said in another tweet. On Sunday, Jaishankar met Sweden's Defence Minister Pal Jonson and Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom during his three-day visit to Sweden. Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said, "Good to meet Defence Minister Pal Jonson of Sweden. Useful exchange of views on regional and global security." After meeting his Swedish counterpart, Jaishankar said that both countries are committed to taking bilateral cooperation to a higher level. Both nations had exchanged views on the Indo-Pacific, the European strategic situation and de-risking the global economy. "Wide-ranging discussions with FM @TobiasBillstrom as India and Sweden mark 75 years of diplomatic ties," Jaishankar said in another tweet. After arriving in Sweden, Jaishankar attended the EU-India Pacific Ministerial Forum. Jaishankar on Sunday (local time) interacted with the Indian diaspora in Sweden and discussed transformations underway in India. He also apprised them about the progress in the bilateral relationship with Sweden on the 75 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations. During his visit to Sweden, Jaishankar will discuss India-EU relations during his visit as Sweden currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a press release noted, "This will be his first visit as EAM and comes at a time when India and Sweden are celebrating 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations. Sweden currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union." (ANI)
US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti on Monday said India is embodying the dreams of the world today. "India is embodying the dreams of the world today. It doesn't matter where you come from, it doesn't matter who your parents are, it doesn't matter what religion you practice, it doesn't matter what language you speak. All that matters are the dreams in your heart. And those dreams of India are being realized every single day," Garcetti said on Monday during his visit to Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat. The Ashram, also known as the Gandhi Ashram, is located in the Sabarmati suburb of Ahmedabad and has been a witness to many important historical events. Garcetti said, "I want to thank everybody in Ahmedabad for being such wonderful hosts already. As my first trip away from the national capital, it was important to me that I come to this place and here in Gujarat, that has produced so many leaders for this country that it's produced so much commerce, so much connection, so much prosperity and so much peace that has come from this place." The US Ambassador further said, "In the next couple of weeks, we are opening up the next batch of student visas and we are assigning our workers to focus on it as much as they can. I think we will show that this year we will be able to go past the earlier numbers and get to an even higher number. The President has told me to reduce visa issuance time not just for students but also for first-time visitors: US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti on the issue of US student visa." Garcetti on his arrival to the Sabarmati Ashram, was garlanded and he greeted people there with the traditional "Namaste." Mahatma Gandhi resided in a small cottage that is now known as "Hridaya (Heart) Kunj" while he was in Sabarmati. It is a location of significant historical significance where visitors may still see some of the items Gandhiji used, including a writing desk, khadi kurta, yarn he spun and some of his correspondence. Garcetti had earlier posted a video on Twitter recounting his visit to the Maharashtra Bhawan in Delhi. "From the bustling streets of LA to the colourful lanes of Delhi, my love of great food continues. I'm at Maharashtra Bhawan, eager to explore the fascinating flavours of India. Join me on this journey as I sample the essence of India, one state at a time. Where should I go next?," the US envoy posted. Earlier on Thursday, Garcetti and envoys of Qatar and the Principality of Monaco presented their credentials to President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. (ANI)
Palestine's Ambassador to India Adnan Mohammad Jaber Abualhayjaa on Monday thanked the Indian government and people for their support to the Palestinian cause and the two-state solution. "I would like to thank the Indian government, the Indian people for their support to the Palestinian cause, for their support of the two-state solution, to peace in the area and hope they could manage with this extreme (Israel) government to do something," the Palestinian Ambassador Abualhayjaa said. "Today, we are celebrating the commemoration of the Palestinian Nakba or catastrophe which happened 75 years ago. This is the 75th commemoration of the Nakba of the Palestinian people where we have lost our homeland," he said. "Israel has been established in our homeland, we have lost the other part occupied by the Israelis," he said. The Palestinian Ambassador said: "We have very good relations with India. India supports the infrastructure in Palestine. They are helping in this country and they are supporting the two-state solution." Abualhayjaa said he hopes India could play a role in mediation between Israel and Palestine. "I hope India could play that role especially since it has good relations with both sides. It's not easy to find a solution with this government. We need real pressure from the international community to implement the two-state solution," he said. Meanwhile, Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad recently agreed to a ceasefire that was slated to go into effect at 10 pm on Saturday after nearly five days of fighting. Earlier, Egypt, which brokered the ceasefire, called on all sides to adhere to the agreement, Egypt's al-Qahera News television channel reported. The fighting resulted in the death of 33 Palestinians, including at least 13 civilians. Two people in Israel were killed by rocket fire. "The resistance is emerging from this conflict united and resolute... [We] caution the enemy against returning to the policy of assassinations. We are ready with a firm finger on the trigger... and if [it] returns [to fighting], we will too," said the so-called "Joint Room" of Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip, which includes both Islamic Jihad and Gaza-ruling Hamas. (ANI)
The suffering experienced by the Palestinian people is one of the greatest injustices in modern times, Palestine's ambassador to India Adnan Mohammad Jaber Abualhayjaa said here on Monday. "There is no doubt that the suffering experienced by the Palestinian people is one of the greatest injustices in modern times. This started with the ... of people's existence in their homeland, designing unjust colonial policies to control their land and resources and then practising a documented ethnic cleansing against them," Abualhayjaa said in the India-Palestine Friendship Forum. While speaking at the Forum commemorating the 75th anniversary of 'Nakba', Abualhayjaa stressed that they cannot turn a blind eye to the consequence of the tragedy. He said that Palestinians despite living in exile across various nations and refugee camps continue to cling to their legitimate hopes and still retain the keys to their ancestors' seized homes. "No matter how much time passes on the 75th anniversary of Nakba, it would be unfair to overlook Britain and the Western countries and their responsibility for this ongoing tragedy inflicted upon the Palestinian people. Most of them have been uprooted and displaced from their land," the Palestinian envoy said. "We cannot turn a blind eye to the consequences of this tragedy, which generations of Palestinians continue to pay the price. So far, we are well aware that most Palestinian currently live in dismal refugee camps or are scattered across various countries ... around the world. However, they still cling to their legitimate hope and they still retain the keys to their ancestors' seized homes," he added. Abualhayjaa said that Palestinian people continue to astonish with their determination to reclaim freedom as stipulated by international rights. He said that the Nakba commemoration is not a fleeting event. "Generation after generation, the Palestinian people continue to astonish us with their unwavering determination to reclaim their freedom, independence and inalienable rights, including the right to return to their land and homes as stipulated by international conventions and resolutions," Abualhayjaa said. "The Nakba commemoration is not a fleeting event. The Palestinian cause remains alive and its incident are continuous for example, the targeting of the town of Hawara in the West Bank by a horrifying collective arson campaign carried out by armed settlers, which was seen by the entire world, attempts to uproot Palestinian families from their neighbourhoods and towns continue, as seen in ... and Khan al-Ahmar," he added. Abualhayjaa said that reports directly from the field sound the alarm over escalating policies of "land confiscation and the explosion of residents from Palestine villages and towns in the West Bank." He further said, "all these incidents give the impression that the aftermath of the Nakba has not ceased." He called it a matter of urgency for the international community to act to protect the Palestinians. Abualhayjaa called on the international community to take rapid action to protect the people of Palestine and ensure their human security. "As Israel is clearly intent on carrying on with such brutality and impunity, a fact affirmed daily by the inflammatory rhetoric and incitement and the streets made by Israeli officials, it is a matter of urgency that international community act to protect the Palestinian civilian population and to deter the preparation of more crimes by Israelis, the occupying power," Abualhayjaa "We urge all states to pursue them collectively and in ... in line with their obligations under international law, including as high constructing parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to ensure respect to all circumstances. We thus call again the serious and rapid action to protect the Palestinian people and to ensure their human security and to bring an end to the illegal colonial Israeli occupation and apartheid regime that has been the cause of so much human suffering for decades and has precluded the realization of a just and lasting peace and security in the region," he added. (ANI)
Heavy contingents of police and elite commandos on Monday raided Lal Haveli - the residence and headquarters of Awami Muslim League (AML) chief and former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, reported ARY News. Reacting to the raid, Sheikh Rasheed said that he and his nephew were being targeted by the government and that they were not involved in any vandalism or violence. The police team kept asking house servants about the whereabouts of Sheikh Rasheed and Sheikh Rasheed Shafique as they were not present. Later, the police teams also raided Rasheed's ancestral house in Sarafa Bazaar, reported ARY News. Sheikh Rasheed is an ally of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and a close aide of Imran Khan. Earlier in January, Rasheed was arrested for alleging that the former President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari had hatched a conspiracy to assassinate former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Meanwhile, the Punjab police arrested the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fayaz-ul-Hassan Chohan outside a private hotel near Liaqat Bagh on Monday. Chohan was taken into custody by the police on charges of inciting violence and creating chaos during the recent protests, reported The Nation. Chohan was arrested when he was going to the press club from Liaquat Bagh's main gate. He said despite being on interim bail, police are conducting the raid on his house and arrested his brother-in-law who is a heart patient, reported ARY News. Police have launched a crackdown against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers following the 'violent protests' held after the arrest of party chairman Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust Case. Violent clashes broke out across Pakistan after the former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan was arrested at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday. The protests were held in remote and major cities as the party workers are agitated due to their chairman's arrest, with Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad summoning the armed forces to ensure law and order. (ANI)
Union Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh on Monday reaffirmed India's strong commitment to Fiji. "Minister of State for External Affairs Hon'ble @RanjanRajkuma11 conveyed warmest greetings of the Government & the people of India on the special occasion of #GirmitDay. Reaffirms India's strong commitment to further strengthening our partnership for progress with Fiji," tweeted the High Commission of India in Suva. Singh is on an official visit to Fiji on May 15-16 at the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Fiji. MoS was the Guest of Honor at the Girmit Day celebrations organized today in Suva by the Government of Fiji to recognize and celebrate the history and contributions of indentured Indian workers to Fiji, read the Ministry of External Affairs press release. Singh's visit comes ahead of the India-Pacific Island summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address the India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) summit and announce a number of initiatives aimed at deepening India's engagement with the Pacific Islands. He will attend the FIPIC summit in Papua New Guinea on May 21-22. Prime Minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka, was the Chief Guest at the Girmit Day celebrations, which was attended by a large number of dignitaries and people of Fiji. During his visit, MoS called on Sitiveni Rabuka. MoS also interacted with leaders and representatives of the Indian community in Fiji, added the release. In these engagements, MoS was joined by the Administrator (UTs of Dadra Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu and Lakshadweep) Praful Patel, who is on his first visit to the country. Before concluding his visit, MoS would also be meeting senior Fijian Cabinet Ministers on 16 May 2023. A day earlier, Sitiveni Rabuka on Sunday apologised to the Indo-Fijian community for the coup of 1987. Fiji, where ethnic Indians were in a majority until the aftermath of a military coup in 1987 forced tens of thousands of them to leave the country of 330 islands. Staged by Rabuka, it overthrew the elected government of Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra, who was the country's first ethnic Indian prime minister. "I make this confession on my own behalf and on behalf of all those who took part with me in the military coup on the 14th of May, 1987. We confess our wrongdoings, and we confess that we have hurt so many of our people in Fiji, particularly those of the Indo-Fijian community," tweeted Rabuka. The apology by Rabuka is seen as a significant step towards reconciliation between the indigenous Fijian and Indian communities. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met the Prime Minister of Belgium, Alexander De Croo along with Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal and Union Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, Skill Development, Electronics & Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar and discussed growing bilateral cooperation, including in trade and technology. "Delighted to call on PM of Belgium @alexanderdecroo along with my colleagues - @PiyushGoyal & @Rajeev_GoI today. Conveyed personal greetings of PM @narendramodi. Discussed our growing bilateral cooperation, including in trade and technology. Also spoke about contemporary strategic concerns," tweeted Jaishankar. He also shared his thoughts about visiting Sweden and engaging EU-Indo Pacific Ministerial. "I visited Stockholm for a meeting of the European Union's Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum and also to mark the 75th year of diplomatic relations between India and Sweden. My talks with my Swedish counterpart Tobias Billstrom were extensive in terms of exploring, taking our bilateral cooperation to a higher level as also comprehensive in discussing the political and economic challenges in our respective regions and indeed for the global economy," he said. The EAM also met Swedish Defense Minister Paul Johnson, National Security Advisor Henrik Landerholm and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson who reflected the interest in Sweden about intensifying its relationship with India. Speaker Andreas Norlen also spent time discussing how he viewed the cooperative possibilities, including more parliamentary exchanges between India and Sweden. Sweden is an important trade, technology and investment partner of India in the European Union. It is also a key member of the Nordic grouping that India has been engaging in a structured format since 2018. "During my visit, we spoke about extending our engagement to the Nordic-Baltic format as well, and that is something that we will be working on in the coming days. We have today significant Swedish economic presence in India. More than 250 Swedish companies are there, and many of them have been there for more than a century. Ericsson and SKF and Swedish Match come readily to mind in that regard. I heard and felt great enthusiasm in Sweden about working more closely, looking at new opportunities that are arising out of India's growth and development, and this was reflected in the digital and technology side as also in the fact that India today is emerging as a viable destination for global supply chain operations," said Jaishankar. Speaking about the growing Indian community in Sweden, roughly around 60,000, Jaishankar said, "I had the opportunity to sit down and talk to them. Their contribution, their impact really on shaping the image of India and Sweden I think is very notable and I'm very confident that they will continue to be a bridge between the two countries." Jaishankar further stated that the Indo-Pacific Ministerial in which he participated was the second such event. "The first one took place in France last year and this was an opportunity to engage with colleagues both from the European Union and the Indo-Pacific and in fact actually to encourage this larger regional, regional connect on issues of mutual interest for both of us," he said. Jaishankar delivered the keynote address at the forum and in his concluding session, he encouraged the European Union to take greater interest in the Indo-Pacific because what is happening there will be central to the direction of global politics and the international economy. "I met counterparts from Latvia, Austria, France, Lithuania, Belgium, Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria in bilateral meetings and of course interacted with a number of other ministers during the conference on social occasions. I felt overall that today Indo-Pacific as a concept had gained greater traction. There was a lot of interest in what the Quad was doing there was a better appreciation, really, of India's perspectives on de-risking the global economy. How today to encourage trust and transparency in the digital domain and to help construct more reliable and resilient supply chains. These are objectives today that the European Union shares with nations of the Indo-Pacific," he said. "So there was a considerable convergence, really, both in the views and interests of the countries around the table. Overall impression really today from the visit was that a long-standing relationship with a reliable partner like Sweden has received a boost from high-level interaction," added Jaishankar. He said that for India, the bilateral relationship certainly mattered and is of further significance because of Sweden's importance in the European Union. "Sweden is a key member of the Nordic grouping. And indeed, Sweden has been encouraging closer contact between the European Union and the Indo-Pacific in its presidency, which is of interest to India. Certainly, on global issues, issues involving climate action, digital progress, and sustainable development goals. These are all issues where Sweden is a natural partner," he said. Speaking on the LeadIT initiative - The Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) aims to enable the transition of heavy industry to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, Jaishankar said, "We co-chair the LeadIT initiative on Industrial Transition together. We, in fact, at the Multilateral Forum, also often sponsor resolutions of common interest. So a good bilateral partner, regional partner, multilateral partner, I think, who, with whom an important relationship has got updated." (ANI)
Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State, on Monday (local time) highlighted the deepening partnership between Washington and New Delhi ahead of the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Our partnership with India is one of our most consequential relations and we were close with India on a number of vital priorities. The state visit is an opportunity to deepen some of these partnerships," said Vedant Patel on the question of PM Modi's Official State Visit to the United States on June 22, 2023. He said that State Department and Secretary Antony Blinken are critically involved in the upcoming state visit for PM Modi. Speaking about India's role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific, Patel said, "The state visit is an opportunity to deepen some of these partnerships, whether it has been ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific and ensuring that it is a region that is more connected, more prosperous, more secure and more resilient. Obviously, between India and the United States, there exists an opportunity to deepen trade issues, deepen security partnerships." He also highlighted some shared global challenges like global health and addressing the climate crisis. "There's an opportunity to address some shared global challenges like global health and addressing the climate crisis. So, again, I'm not going to get ahead of the state visit, but we very much look forward to hosting the Indian government," said Patel. Earlier, the White House in a statement announced that US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an official state visit next month. The statement released by the White House read, "President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the Republic of India for an Official State Visit to the United States, which will include a state dinner, on June 22, 2023." The upcoming visit will affirm the deep and close partnership between the US and India and the warm bonds of family and friendship, linking Americans and Indians. "The visit will strengthen the two countries' shared commitment to a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific and our shared resolve to elevate our strategic technology partnership, including in defence, clean energy, and space," the statement read. The last in-person meeting between PM Modi and US President Biden was held in Indonesia. The two leaders took into account areas like crucial and emerging technologies and artificial intelligence. During the meeting, both sides discussed close cooperation in future-oriented sectors such as critical and emerging technologies, advanced computing, and artificial intelligence, an official statement by Prime Minister's office read. The two leaders also held talks on topical global and regional developments. (ANI)
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  A Mississippi judge has dismissed one lawsuit that challenges a new law dealing with appointment of judges in the majority-Black capital city of Jackson and the surrounding county, but a separate lawsuit remains alive in federal court.

In the ruling Monday, Hinds County Chancery Judge Dewayne Thomas wrote that appointing judges does not violate the Mississippi Constitution.

Three Jackson residents testified to Thomas last week that the new law tramples their rights because most Mississippi judges are elected.

Thomas wrote that a 1989 state law allows appointment of judges in some circumstances and that disappointment and frustration with the legislative process does not create a judicial right to relief.

While the Court is sympathetic to the Plaintiffs feelings, it cannot find that the same constitutes irreparable harm, Thomas wrote.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs said they will appeal Thomas' dismissal of the case and his decision last week to remove Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Randolph as a defendant.

Republican Gov. Tate Reeves signed laws last month to expand state policing in the capital city of Jackson, establish a court with an appointed judge in part of Jackson and authorize four appointed judges to work alongside the four elected judges in Hinds County Circuit Court.

Members of the majority-white and Republican-led Legislature who pushed for the changes said they were trying to curb crime in the capital city. Local residents protested that state officials were usurping power in Jackson and Hinds County, which are majority-Black and governed by Democrats.

The national NAACP, its Mississippi chapter and its local chapter filed a federal lawsuit hours after Reeves signed the new laws. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate temporarily blocked the appointment of four judges for Hinds County Circuit Court. Wingate set a May 22 hearing to consider extending his order.
Savannah Gilliland, 27, of Albany, Ohio, holds on to her 11-month-old daughter, Sarah, during the monthly gathering of the Vinton County Health Departments Help Me Grow program in Hamden, Ohio on April 13.

Access to maternity care continues to decline in the United States and in Ohio, with multiple maternity wards closing in the past year.

Since June 2022, the Ohio Hospital Association has counted 10 maternity wards closing across the state, according to spokesman John Palmer. Some merged or moved to a partner hospital, but Palmer said the reasons given for the closures centered around workforce issues, operational costs and a decline in use due to fewer births in Ohio.

In Ohio, 13 of the 88 counties have little to no maternity care, and the state had the most women, approximately 97,000, impacted by overall reductions in access to care in the past two years, according to March of Dimes data.

More: Babies delivered in cars: Rural Ohio's lack of maternity care affects nearly 100,000 women

Meanwhile, approximately 2 million women of childbearing age live at least 25 miles away from a labor and delivery unit, a 2022 USA TODAY analysis found.

There are around 90 Ohio hospitals that offer maternity services, with 49 in rural areas and 42 in urban areas. Eight of Ohios 88 counties, mostly in eastern Ohio, dont have a hospital.

Here is a list of the 10 Ohio hospitals that have ceased labor and delivery services since June 2022:

This location stopped offering labor and delivery services in mid-April 2023 and began routing patients to its TriPoint Family Birthing Center about 15 miles away.

The closure is "in order to offer the highest level of care to mothers and babies," according to a University Hospitals release.

This hospital, in North Central Ohio in Shelby, stopped offering delivery services in February 2023.

OhioHealth said women can now deliver at its Mansfield Hospital, 13 miles away.

Moms are dying: The rate of women dying in childbirth surged by 40%. These deaths are preventable.

"A change such as this is never an easy decision to make," according to a statement from OhioHealth. "We want to make sure the highest quality resources and support are available for our obstetric and newborn patients."

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This hospital, South of Cleveland, stopped delivery services in December 2022 and merged them with University Hospitals' Geauga Medical Center in Chardon, about 24 miles away.

The September announcement said the change would create a regional hub. The hospital system cited workforce shortages and declining patient volume as making it hard for them to continue providing quality services.

Summa Health System's Barberton Campus stopped offering delivery services in November 2022 and merged with the system's Akron City Hospital campus. The other campus is about 9.6 miles away.

Summa Health said the change will allow it to better serve mothers-to-be, newborns and families as it has seen declining use of labor and delivery services at Barberton.

Pregnant but unequal: In rural America, maternal health care is vanishing. These moms are most at risk.

"Summa Health remains committed to the Barberton community and we have no plans to eliminate inpatient services or to make wide ranging cuts across the campus," according to a statement from the health system.

This hospital, near Toledo, closed its delivery services in December 2022, with patients being referred to St. Vincent Medical Center, 6 miles away.

The health system expanded maternity services at St. Vincent and brought doctors from the two hospitals together to offer a higher level of care, according to a statement from Mercy Health.

McLaren St. Luke's hospital, in Maumee, announced in May 2022 that its labor and delivery services were shutting down in September due to staffing, a decline in births and exclusion from an insurance company's plan.

We made every effort to avoid eliminating the program," said Jennifer Montgomery, McLaren St. Lukes president and CEO, in a statement at the time. "It is simply not financially feasible to continue operating our birthing unit with such steeply declining volume."

'Staggering' and 'sobering': More than 80% of US maternal deaths are preventable, CDC study shows

Montgomery noted that there are several other local options for labor and delivery services.

In March 2023, the hospital announced it is closing its doors and discontinuing all operations after years of declining use, revenues and the "lingering impact of COVID-19," according to the hospital's website.

Mercy Health bought the facility for planned outpatient services. The transition took place this month.

Community Memorial Hospital, in Hicksville, in Northwest Ohio, announced its labor and delivery services would cease in September, according to Palmer.

The hospital did not respond to emailed requests for comment.

Highland District Hospital, in Southwest, Ohio, announced the closure of its labor and delivery services and a partnership with other health systems in August.

The partnership, with Physicians for Women, CMH Regional Health System, and TriHealth, will keep women's health services within Highland County, according to the announcement.

'Mommies matter': Columbus Diocese hopes to support mothers, build strong families with new program

The announcement said women can deliver at Clinton Memorial Hospital, which is 25 miles from Highland District Hospital, or Bethesda North Hospital, about 46 miles away.

In June, Miami Valley Hospital announced that labor and delivery services at its Miami Valley Hospital South location, in Centerville, near Dayton, would cease and be merged into the main hospital location, in downtown Dayton.

It is a 13-mile drive between the two locations.

Physician shortage: Decline of rural doctors may leave parts of Ohio with too few physicians

In a statement, owners of the hospitals, Premier Health, said that Miami Valley Hospital South has experienced growth in other health services, creating more demand for inpatient beds.

"To respond to this rapidly increasing need, we will be repurposing beds on the campus for medical/surgical care that are currently used for obstetrics," according to the statement.

This Northwest Ohio hospital announced that its labor and delivery services closed on April 28.

We made every effort to keep the department open but given the stresses on healthcare systems locally and nationally, including workforce shortages, physician recruitment, ongoing reimbursement challenges, and a declining birth rate we must pursue a more sustainable path forward," said Kristi Barnd, CEO, in a statement.

The announcement said several area hospitals within 20 miles of Henry County Hospital can offer delivery services.

dking@dispatch.com

@DanaeKing

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 10 Ohio hospitals closed labor and delivery services since June 2022
A shooting between rival motorcycle gangs has left two people dead and another three others injured following a fight in Richmond County on Saturday.

Deputies were called out to Sand Bar Ferry Road just after 6:30 p.m. Saturday for reports that someone had been shot.

When deputies arrived at the scene, they found five people with gunshot wounds.

Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen confirmed to WJBF that Keith Coates, 30, of Valdosta, and Germayne Farrell, 51, Daytona Beach, Florida, were pronounced dead at the scene.

TRENDING STORIES:

Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree said a total of 12 suspects have been arrested in the shooting  three of which remain in the hospital.

To bring this type of violence to our city, to add us to a national mass shooting list is unconscionable. This is something we will not tolerate here in Richmond County. That is why each individual who is involved or we feel to be involved or has any part in this will face charges, Roundtree said.

The sheriff said eight people are from the motorcycle gang Thug Riders from Florida, and four others are part of the Outkast motorcycle gang from East Augusta.

To make things worse, the sheriff said an emergency vehicle ran over one of the bodies at the scene in what the sheriffs office said was a freak accident.

Roundtree said they believe this was a targeted attack by the Florida gang who traveled three to four hours to engage in gun violence. They believe it stemmed from a recent incident that started in Florida.

Roundtree said 13 motorcycles, one car, and 10 firearms were taken into evidence.

IN OTHER NEWS:
Maia Kobabe with her book "Gender Queer: A Memoir" at North Sonoma Regional Park in Santa Rosa. (Josh Edelson / For the Times)

The recent surge in book bans in U.S. school districts and libraries is the latest front in a long-running battle that has swept up even literary masterpieces of John Steinbeck, J.D. Salinger and Toni Morrison.

But the dramatically increasing censorship attempts have evolved, says Allison Lee, Los Angeles director of PEN America, a century-old writers organization that works to defend freedom of expression.

Prior to the current wave, communities usually banned books on a case-by-case basis, often in response to complaints about violent or sexual content. Now, Lee says, large swaths of books, sometimes even entire school or classroom libraries are being removed. Many activists and politicians object to an entire genre of books that deal with LGBTQ+ topics or issues. Other targeted books deal with race.

The American Library Assn. reports that in 2022 a record 1,269 demands were made to restrict or ban books and other materials in schools and libraries  up from 156 demands in 2020.

Here are 15 books PEN America says were most frequently banned from July 2021 through the first part of the 2022-23 school year.

1. Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe. This bestselling 2019 autobiography in graphic novel format has been praised for its honest, open discussion of what its like to be a nonbinary person. It also has been attacked for its frank depiction of sexual behavior, as Times columnist Robin Abcarian wrote in 2022 . The debut book by a Santa Rosa illustrator, Gender Queer has become the most banned book in America, a target of school boards, conservative candidates, preachers and parental groups who condemned it as pornography aimed at impressionable children. (56 bans; 150 challenges, according to the ALA)

2. All Boys Arent Blue by George M. Johnson. In a recent discussion at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books , Johnson recalled that as a young Black queer person, they never saw themselves in any of the books they read. That led Johnson to write this 2020 book of coming-of-age essays, which has been challenged for its LGBTQ+ content and for being sexually explicit. In 2022, Time magazine named Johnson one of the 100 influencers shaping the next generation. (38 bans, 86 challenges)

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(Left to right) Author Angie Thomas and George M. Johnson discuss their work at the Festival of Books. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

3. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. First published in 1970, Morrisons novel about a Black girl growing up during the Great Depression is a meditation on the oppressive nature of Americas white-centric conception of beauty, as New York Times reviewer John Leonard wrote at the time. The storys depiction of child abuse and sexual violence led to it being banned at a Southern California high school and elsewhere. (32 bans, 73 challenges)

4. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez. A 1937 explosion that killed nearly 300 students and teachers at a Texas school provides the historical context for this YA novel, a love story about a Black boy and a Mexican American girl. Published in 2015, the book written by an Ohio State University literature professor faced challenges in 2021 about sexual depictions in the story. (31 bans, 50 challenges)

5. Flamer by Mike Curato. This award-winning 2020 novel explores a teenage boys struggle to understand and accept his sexuality while at summer camp in the 1990s. In an interview with PEN America, Curato described Flamer as a book about suicide prevention. Critics objected to its sexual-leaning content. (25 bans, 62 challenges)

6. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Published in 2017, this novel about a teenage girl who witnesses a police officer kill her childhood best friend was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. The bestseller was adapted into a 2018 film by the same name. An Illinois school board cited inappropriate language as a reason to ban the book in 2022 ; other challenges cited violence and an anti-police message. At the Festival of Books in April, Thomas said books like hers are seen as dangerous because of the power they have to create change through empathy. (24 bans)

Angie Thomas at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

7. Crank by Ellen Hopkins. The author based her 2004 novel on her daughters struggle with addiction to crystal meth and says the experience helped her better understand the nature of addiction. The power of this novel is still felt in the constant challenges it still faces nearly twenty years after it was originally published, writes Maryland librarian Nia Thimakis for the ALA. Challenges cited the books depictions of drug use and a violent sexual encounter. (24 bans, 48 challenges)

8. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison. The 2018 novel tells the story of Mike Munoz, a young biracial gay Chicano from a working-class family in Washington state. The coming of age novel has received top marks from critics and readers, but also some challenges as well in schools and libraries because it contains profanity and sexually explicit scenes, according to the ALA. (23 bans, 54 challenges)

9. Tricks by Ellen Hopkins. In this 2009 novel, Hopkins tells the story of five troubled teenagers who become involved in prostitution in different parts of the country. Its another provocative work by Hopkins, who had four books on the ALA's list of the top 100 banned or challenged books between 2010 and 2019. (21 bans)

10. This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson. The British author delves into sexuality and gender in her 2014 young adult nonfiction bestseller. I felt as a former teacher, sex education for LGBTQ+ teenagers wasnt very good, Dawson says on Instagram. They werent really learning anything about safety in relationships. Critics have denounced the book on social media as pornography. (21 bans, 48 challenges)

11. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. Based on his own experiences, Alexie tells the story of a budding cartoonist growing up on a Spokane, Wash., reservation. Detractors have challenged the 2007 bestseller, citing sexual references and profanity. (21 bans, 52 challenges)

12. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. This 2007 novel explores the reasons a teenage girl decided to take her own life, recorded on cassette tapes discovered by a friend. The book was adapted into a Netflix series in 2017. One Colorado school district banned the book, saying it glamorized suicide, according to PBS NewsHour . (20 bans)

13. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews. This 2012 novel centers around two teenage boys who try to make a movie about their female friend with leukemia. One Missouri school district pulled it from libraries in 2023 because of explicit sexual language. (20 bans, 48 challenges)

14. Sold by Patricia McCormick. This 2006 novel, about a young Nepalese girl who struggles to survive being sold into sexual slavery, was a National Book Award finalist . But its realistic depiction of her plight has led to challenges . (18 bans)

15. Melissa by Alex Gino. Published in 2015, the novel follows the story of trans fourth-grader Melissa, who is seen by everyone as a boy named George. The book received the ALAs Stonewall Book Award, a Lambda Literary Award and a Childrens Choice book award. In 2020, opponents of the book tried to close a town library in Kansas because it was on the shelf. (18 bans)

Classic works under fire

Here are another 10 notable books that have been banned or challenged over the years, according to the ALA and other sources.

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult. This 2013 novel, about a young woman who discovers that an elderly man in her town was a death camp commander during the Holocaust, was among 20 books by the bestselling author removed in March from school libraries in Martin County, Fla., according to PEN America. Also removed were nine books from James Pattersons Maximum Ride series and two books by Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison, among other titles.

Forever by Judy Blume. This 1975 novel, about a teenage couple who begin having sex, also was banned by Martin Countys school system. What country is this? Blume complained to NPR.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. This 1951 novel is a classic of post-World War II American literature. The ALA notes that this title has been a favorite target of censors since its publication. Numerous school districts removed it from libraries and reading lists between 1960 and 2000.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. The Nobel Prize-winning authors novel about the Dust Bowl and the hard lives of displaced farmers and their families in California became a bestseller in 1939. It was banned and copies were burned in Kern County, the destination of the fictional Joad family.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The classic 1960 novel about racial injustice in a Southern town has been banned and challenged in numerous communities. Challenges often cite language and racial depictions. The hit Broadway adaptation by Aaron Sorkin has been a lightning rod for controversy.

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell. The 1949 dystopian novel was challenged in Florida in 1981 for being pro-communist and sexually explicit.

Beloved by Toni Morrison. The 1987 novel, in which an enslaved Black woman kills her young daughter to spare her from slavery, was pulled from the Advanced Placement English class at a Louisville, Ky., high school in 2007 after parents complained. The principal ordered teachers to start over with The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. The 1961 antiwar novel was banned by a school district in Strongville, Ohio, in 1972, along with two novels by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. After students filed a lawsuit, a federal appeals court restored access, deciding the students had the right to receive information which they and their teachers desired to have.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Modern Librarys editorial board ranked Brave New World, the 1932 novel about the discontents of a technologically-advanced future society, as the fifth most important novel of the 20th century. Nevertheless, the book was challenged as required reading in the Corona-Norco Unified School District in 1993 because it is "centered around negative activity." The novel also was removed from a high school library in Foley, Ala., in 2000 after a parent complained that it showed contempt for religion, marriage and family.

Animal Farm by George Orwell. The 1945 allegorical novella has been a target of complaints for decades, according to the ALA. In 1987, "Animal Farm" was one of dozens of books banned in schools in Bay County, Fla. Then 44 parents, students and teachers filed a federal lawsuit, and the school board reversed the decision. ''The only thing we have succeeded in doing is making sure every child in Bay County reads the books we banned,'' a board member told the Associated Press.

Book club: State of Banned Books

What: Actor, author and "Reading Rainbow" founder LeVar Burton joins the L.A. Times Book Club to discuss the State of Banned Books with Times editor Steve Padilla.

When: May 24 at 7 p.m. Pacific.

Where: ASU California Center, 1111 S. Broadway, Los Angeles. This book club event also is available virtually. Get tickets.

Join us: Sign up for the Book Club newsletter for latest books, news and events.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A 19-year-old drowned while vacationing with family in New Yorks Finger Lakes region, police said.

The family, visiting from Catonsville, Maryland, were floating in a pontoon boat on Keuka Lake when their son jumped in the water for a swim on May 12, according to the Steuben County Sheriffs Office.

Ahmed Ayaz went underwater and never resurfaced after struggling to swim back to the boat, the sheriffs office said in a May 15 news release. He wasnt wearing a life vest, according to officials.

Keuka Lake can reach up to 183 feet deep and is one of 11 Finger Lakes formed by glaciers in central and western New York.

After authorities arrived at the lake at around 1:42 p.m., a 10-hour search for Ayaz ensued, according to officials.

With the help of sonar technology and an underwater drone, rescuers found Ayazs body and brought him out from the lake, the sheriffs office said.

Our hearts go out to the Ayaz family and our thoughts and prayers are for their recovery from this tragedy, the sheriffs office said in a statement.

The Finger Lakes region, south of Lake Ontario, is a vacation destination known as New Yorks wine country.

Keuka Lake spans 11,584 acres and is the third largest Finger Lake in terms of surface area.

The largest Finger Lake by volume is Seneca Lake, spanning 43,343 acres and reaching up to 618 feet deep.

Catonsville, where Ayaz is from, is about 10 miles west of Baltimore.

Children among 5 injured when jet skis collide on Mountain Island Lake, rescuers say

Search ends for woman, dog feared drowned in river while camping, Oregon rescuers say

1-year-old found dead in office park pond, Georgia police say. Mother now charged
Victims from two shooting incidents on Sunday evening showed up to local hospitals with gunshot wounds, prompting investigations from the Tallahassee Police Department.

Around 9 p.m. Sunday, TPD responded to an unnamed local hospital after an adult male and female with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds arrived. The victims reported their vehicle was shot, while they were traveling inside, in a residential neighborhood near Capital Circle NE and Miccosukee Road in north Tallahassee. The victims drove themselves to the hospital for treatment.

TPD says it is unclear what events led to this shooting.

More recent crime news: Pair of Saturday shootings injure 2 less than 24 hours after downtown Tallahassee shooting

City budget: Tallahassee City Hall proposes raising property tax. Here's what it could mean to you

Changing the plan: Commission redirects $200K from out-of-town group to sheriff's effort to thwart shootings

Approximately two hours earlier, around 7 p.m. Sunday, TPD responded to HCA Florida Southwood Emergency on Capital Circle SE after a teenage male showed up with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his hip. The teen told police that the shooting had occurred earlier in the 3100 block of Dunkeld Court.

Police then searched the reported crime scene but did not find any evidence. The circumstances related to the shooting are unclear, according to a release from TPD.

Investigations remain ongoing in both shooting incidents.

So far this year, three people were killed and 25 were injured in at least 31 shooting incidents in Tallahassee and Leon County, according to a Tallahassee Democrat analysis.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Shootings in Tallahassee: 3 people injured after Sunday gunfire
A 2-year-old was killed when she was hit by a car on Tybee Island, Georgia state troopers say.

The crash happened about 5:45 p.m. Sunday, May 14, in a parking lot on 15th Street, Georgia State Patrol said in a preliminary report.

The child, identified as RaeLynn Michelle Milton of Waycross, was standing with her family near parked cars, investigators say. As a car approached, Raelynn darted into its path and was struck, police said.

She was taken to a hospital but died from her injuries, troopers said.

Additional information wasnt available.

In a statement, Tybee Island police offered their condolences to the girls family.

The thoughts of the men and women of the Tybee Island Police Department will remain with RaeLynns family and loved ones as they attempt to move forward after this unspeakable tragedy, the department said on Facebook.

Tybee Island is about 265 miles southeast of Atlanta.

Three dead after truck slams into home after shooting and chase in NC, officials say

Family leaving zoo is struck in fit of road rage and forced into tree, Texas cops say

Middle schooler waiting for train is struck, killed by another train, Indiana cops say
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Serhii Nuzhnenko via Reuters

Two top Russian officers were killed on the frontline in eastern Ukraine over the weekend, Moscows Ministry of Defense said on Sunday, in a rare disclosure of high-level casualties.

The commanders died attempting to repel Ukrainian forces around the embattled city of Bakhmut, officials said. They were identified as Colonel Vyacheslav Makarov, commander of the 4th motorized rifle brigade, and Colonel Yevgeny Brovko, the deputy commander of the army corps. Their deaths were confirmed by ministry representative Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov, according to the state-run news agency TASS.

Makarov was personally leading a battle on the front lines when he was seriously wounded, Konashenkov said in a statement, dying as he was evacuated from the battlefield. Brovko similarly heroically died after receiving multiple shrapnel wounds, he added.

The ministry claimed that all attacks by units of Ukraines armed forces from both the north and the south were repelled on Sunday, and that Kyiv had been unable to break through Russian defenses.

Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the head of the Russian Wagner Group, which has been fighting in Bakhmut, said on Telegram that his forces had gained several hundred feet of contested territory over the weekend. Earlier in the week, as Ukraine made its largest gains in Bakhmut in six months, Prigozhin complained that the panicked Russian forces were not regrouping, but fleeing. (Moscow said its soldiers were retreating to more advantageous defense positions.)

Hanna Maliar, Ukraines deputy defense minister, added on Sunday that forces continue to move forward in the Bakhmut sector in the suburbs, capturing more than 10 enemy positions around the city.

After months of crushing warfare, with Russia trying and failing to take Bakhmut, Kyiv has warned that a long-planned Ukrainian counteroffensive will likely not look like one coordinated assaultnor will it begin in the spring as earlier anticipated.

Story continues

The Armed Forces of Ukraine are not preparing some single plan for a specific time or a specific direction. Rather, every day, they prepare a vast array of defensive and counteroffensive strategies, Maliar said last month.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
FIRST ON FOX  Former Vice President Mike Pence returns next month to Iowa  the state whose caucuses lead off the GOP presidential nominating calendar  to take part in an annual motorcycle ride that benefits veterans, as he gears up for his expected entry into the 2024 Republican presidential nomination race.

Fox News has learned that Pence will ride in Sen. Joni Ernst's, R-Iowa, annual Roast and Ride motorcycle ride on Saturday, June 3  a vital stop on the Iowa Republican political calendar. The event this year benefits the Freedom Foundation, an organization supporting veterans based in Cedar Rapids.

Ernst, who served in the Iraq War during her more than two decades as an officer in the Iowa Army National Guard, has invited all the confirmed and potential GOP White House contenders to take part in her annual ride through parts of Des Moines and ensuing rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

ERNST WANTS PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDERS ENGAGING ON AMERICAN LEADERSHIP

Republican Sens. Joni Ernst (left) and Chuck Grassley of Iowa speak at Ernst's annual 'Roast and Ride' that benefits veterans, in Des Moines, Iowa on Oct. 22, 2022 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Among those invited are former President Donald Trump, who is making his third straight White House run and is currently the overwhelming front-runner in the Republican primary battle, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who remains on the 2024 sidelines but is expected to launch a campaign in the coming weeks.

The senator announced last week that former Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina, who later served as ambassador to the United Nations in the Trump administration, would be participating in the Roast and Ride.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

PENCE SPOTLIGHTS POLICY DIFFERENCES WITH TRUMP

In a statement announcing the former vice presidents participation in her Roast and Ride, Ernst said that "as a fellow motorcycle fan, Mike will also be joining me on my Ride to benefit Iowa's Freedom Foundation."

Pence, who rode a Harley-Davidson motorcycle as the then-vice president took part Ernsts event six years ago, said in a statement to Fox News on Monday that "wherever Joni Ernst asks me to be, I will be."

Story continues

He continued: "As proud parents of a Marine pilot, Karen and I understand the importance of giving back to organizations like Cedar Rapids own Freedom Foundation, an incredible veterans support charity. I am honored that Joni has once again asked me to join her annual Roast and Ride and look forward to being back with the people of Iowa soon!"

Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks with social conservative voters at a gathering of the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, on April 22, 2023, in Clive, Iowa.

Pence, whos made numerous trips to Iowa and the other early voting presidential nominating states the past two years, has said hell make a decision on launching a presidential campaign in the coming weeks.

WHO'S IN AND WHO'S ON THE SIDELINES  YOUR GUIDE TO THE 2024 GOP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION RACE

Taking aim at President Biden and the Democratic National Committee for their move earlier this year to bump Iowa from its leadoff position in the Democrats presidential nominating calendar, the senator emphasized that "even though Joe Biden and the national Democrats ditched Iowa, Republicans are maintaining our FIRST in the nation status. My annual Roast and Ride is THE event to be at in 2023. Its the perfect opportunity to engage directly with Iowans from all corners of the state."

Ernst launched her annual ride soon after winning election to the Senate in 2014. She said at the time that her goal was to showcase her partys top candidates, just as former longtime Sen. Tom Harkin, of Iowa, had done with his annual "steak fry" for Democratic presidential hopefuls.

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa rides in annual 'Roast and Ride' that benefits veterans, in Des Moines, Iowa on Oct. 22, 2022 in Des Moines, iowa.

Ernst, along with the rest of Iowas all Republican congressional delegation, is staying neutral as the GOP presidential contenders battle in out in Iowas caucuses.

The senator, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, is also hosting foreign policy and national security policy discussions with the White House hopefuls.

Both Haley and Pence have already taken part in the discussion that Ernst hosts with the Bastion Institute, a think tank whose goal is "to discuss the path toward strengthening Americas leadership and standing on the international stage."
2nd Amendment now is taking lives

I am so weary and disheartened by all the mass shootings in this country. This nation is producing disturbed and frightened individuals whose first response is to shoot. Go to the wrong address or drive up the wrong driveway, or if someone hates their life or their classmates or teacher, or the color of your skin, or your religion, then people you love could be killed. If the shooting is carried out by someone with a semi-automatic weapon, then the carnage is much more widespread.

I cannot understand an individuals attachment to a weapon that either ends or severely maims other citizens. A semi-automatic weapon is a weapon of war. It has no place in civilian life. It also has no place in hunting. That is not sport, that is carnage. The Second Amendment needs to be amended to make these weapons illegal to own, use, sell or transfer. There should be a generous buy-back program, with these weapons melted down.

The Second Amendment has been corrupted. It was initially meant to save lives, not take them with callous disregard of the citizens it was meant to protect.

Amy Small, Richland

GOP to blame for excess deaths





Republicans recently characterized Inslees life-preserving COVID mandates as a major reason Democrats are unfit to hold such office. This is consistent to their deadly work at the onset of the pandemic. It also brings out their weakness on substantive issues to run on. Their aspiration to one-party-government is all they have asked voters to support.

Republican office holders acted in solidarity with their leader, the (former) president, to delay vital COVID mitigation measures and did so merely for political gain. Epidemiologists had told us what the deadly consequences would likely be, and they were proven right.

I guestimate that over 100,000 excess deaths lay at the feet of Republican leaders. Much more consequential than our school board asking that masks not be required in schools.

Story continues

Fox News aggressively spread Republicans proven-false claims that our election process was irredeemably invalid. That is a clear step toward fascism.

It once was seen as patriotic to wave a U.S. flag in ones yard, but today they are mostly flown by those who vainly hope it conceals their support for ending our democracy.

Putting more Democrats into office is crucial to sustain democratic freedoms. Please do your part in every future election.

Ivar Husa, Richland

Time to recognize public employees





May 7-13 was Public Service Recognition Week 2023. Since 1985, the first full week in May has been set aside to recognize the often unseen but the backbones of our countrys federal, state, county, local and tribal governments  our government employees.

This is a great time to reflect on the wide array of work these public servants do to help us each day, and to learn about the wide range of employment opportunities that hopefully will inspire a new generation of public servants. Whether in the air, on land or at sea, there are behind-the-scenes government employees working to keep us safe and make our lives better every day. Then, too, as with our military, there are those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

As a member of the now century-old National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), including its Tri-Cities Chapter 1192, it is inspiring to have members with such diverse federal service. NARFE continues to advocate for the entire federal community through its work on Capitol Hill, across the country or locally through chapters such as in the Tri-Cities.

So, thank you, current and retired public employees! You are appreciated and valued.

Nancy Crosby, Vice President,

NARFE Tri-Cities Chapter 1192

Kennewick
After going on strike for four days, the employees of Durhams REI co-op will vote on whether to form a union.

Walking out of those doors together, standing out in front, talking to customers  its brought us even closer together, said Alice Bennett, an employee of the outdoor clothing and gear store. We really feel the power of our voices right now.

If successful, the workers contracts will be collectively negotiated by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.

Bennett said they want guaranteed scheduling and guaranteed minimum hours, plus better wages and expanded access to benefits. They also want the HVAC system in the store repaired.

Benefits are decent, but they are tied to hours and when hour cuts come in, people have a fear of losing those benefits, Bennett said.

The Durham store has 38 workers, a representative told The News & Observer. Its located across from The Streets at Southpoint.

REI, a co-op headquartered in Washington state, has 181 locations across the country, employing more than 16,000 people.

A co-op is a member-owned collective. REI claims 23 million lifetime members today.

UFCW organizer Hannah Smith said four stores have won union elections and three more are actively campaigning.

Unionized: SoHo, New York; Berkeley, California; Cleveland, Ohio; and Chicago, Illinois.

Working on it: Boston, Massachusetts; Eugene, Oregon; and Bellingham, Washington.

A union vote

The National Labor Relations Board set the Durham stores union election for May 25, a Thursday.

We are fully supporting the process and vote  including the right of every eligible employee to vote for or against union representation, the company said in an email signed REI Communications.

Smith said they could voluntarily recognize the union, but REI told the N&O that wasnt their plan.

If you are asking whether REI would voluntarily recognize a union and unilaterally impose representation on employees without giving them the opportunity to vote, the answer is no, the company email stated.

Story continues

Organizers say REI has actively worked against the union effort, by holding up employees pending transfers and sharing anti-union literature and sentiments.

The union filed an unfair labor practice charge against the company for allegedly putting on leave and firing an employee involved in the organizing effort.

The company denies holding up transfers and says it didnt discipline any employees for organizing or taking interest in the union.

In the spirit of employee privacy, we do not share details of employee disciplinary matters, the company email stated. However, I can tell you that when we do take significant disciplinary action, it is only after a comprehensive investigation confirms that there have been clear violations of company policies.

Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam said it was disappointing to hear the reports of union-busting behavior, but uplifting to witness the solidarity among workers.

Were such a progressive community that advocates for workers rights vocally, she said. It takes a lot of courage, especially to go on strike.

The strike

Bennett worked at the store for about a year before getting involved in the organizing efforts.

She said workers at the store began to seriously consider organizing during a group outing at a climbing gym. REI was initially founded nearly a century ago by a group of climbing friends.

We started off just like complaining about stuff that was bugging us at work, Bennett said. And as we talked, we realized that the stuff that was bothering us was, first of all, not minor stuff. It was important. And we realized that we were also having a lot of same sort of issues.

One of the biggest complaints was inconsistent scheduling.

I had a friend who normally gets around like 15 or 20 (hours of work per week), who got like, zero hours one week, she said.

They filed for a union election on April 13 and say the REI held up four employees transfers in retaliation.

About half the store showed up to deliver a letter to the management team asking them to do the right thing and honor those transfers, Bennett recalled.

After that, Bennett said one of their colleagues was put on administrative leave.

They rallied and went on strike last weekend, putting up a tent, firing up a camp stove and playing music outside the store entrance. The store remained open during the strike.

I was so nervous driving there the first day of the strike. Everybody walked out on Thursday, and I wasnt scheduled that day, but I showed up to support my friend, Bennett said. I just, the whole drive, had crazy jitters.

Allam joined the strikers outside the store on May 4, the first day of the strike.

Honestly, all they talked about was how much they loved REI, Allam said. The fact that they were organizing is because they love the company and they want to keep being able to work there, but also earn living wages and take care of themselves.

On Monday, May 8, the organizers announced they were ending the strike because REI agreed to the election date.

That day, they said the on-leave employee was fired. UFCW declined to make him available for an interview as he seeks legal advice.

The company said there were no negotiations to end the strike.

Employees voluntarily returned to work. We did not engage with the group outside of asking them to be respectful of customers of the shopping center and our store, the email stated.

Bennett said the workers feel confident heading into the election.

There are a lot of folks at the store, who have been in these talks that weve been having, that have been with the company for over a decade and really seen how how the business has changed over time. And they want a seat at the table, she said.

The Durham Report

Calling Bull City readers! We've launched The Durham Report, a free weekly digest of some of the top stories for and about Durham published in The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun. Get your newsletter delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday at 11 a.m. featuring links to stories by our local journalists. Sign up for our newsletter here. For even more Durham-focused news and conversation, join our Facebook group "The Story of my Street."
Deputies arrested 43 people in Chesterfield County in a cockfighting bust, according to Channel 9s affiliate WPDE.

Chesterfield County Sheriff Campbo Streater said they received a tip about the operation going down along Prospect Church Road just before noon on Sunday. Deputies rescued 112 chickens and elaborate equipment that was used in the operation.

RELATED: 49 miniature horses, 39 chickens seized amid Burke County animal cruelty investigation

The birds are currently in the care of the Chesterfield County Animal Shelter, according to WPDE.

Most of the people arrested are not from South Carolina. Some are from as far away as West Virginia. The investigation is still ongoing, according to WPDE.

(WATCH BELOW: Suspect charged after absolutely horrific animal abuse found at Gastonia home)
Five people were hurt when two Sea-Doos crashed on Mountain Island Lake, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

Gaston Co- Lucia Riverbend Fire shared these pictures after two personal watercraft crashed on Mountain Island Lake sending five people to the hospital. The latest on the investigation and the injuries tonight on channel 9 eyewitness news at five. pic.twitter.com/0VNvjnyL8V  Dave Faherty (@FahertyWSOC9) May 15, 2023

NC Wildlife said the crash happened Sunday at the Riverbend Boat Landing on Eddie Nichols Drive shortly before 6:30 p.m.

The people on the Sea-Doos did not know each other, investigators said, and they dont think drugs or alcohol were involved.

ALSO READ: 3 people, dog rescued from overturned boat in Lake Noman, dispatchers confirm

All five patients were taken to the hospital with injuries that varied from minor to severe. Investigators say there were two adults on one Sea-Doo and three juveniles on the other.

The Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department told Channel 9s Dave Faherty they have already responded to four accidents on the lake over the last four weeks, including one drowning.

When theyre out there riding, theyre riding erratically. And I say with due disregard, theyre just not really paying attention, Fire Chief David Toomey said. Theyre just trying to have a good time and I understand that.

The wreck comes one week after Willie Gray heard an out of control personal watercraft strike his dock at the home hes lived in for more than 30 years.

ALSO READ: Public beach proposed for west side of Lake Norman

As you can see right now, its very calm, but on the weekends it gets crazy here, Gray said. And its still early in the season.

Crews are urging people to make sure they use the kill switch on their personal watercraft and wear a flotation device when on the water. Its something Tomas Suska knows all too well. He said five years ago, he was on a jet ski when he was struck and had to go to the hospital afterwards.

Story continues

Just got in a T-bone accident and didnt have time to react. The guy was broken in two different places, so you just got to be very careful, he said.

Faherty asked NC Wildlife about possible charges in the Sea-Doo crash they said the case remains under investigation.

This is a developing story, check back at wsoctv.com for updates.

VIDEO: 3 people, dog rescued from overturned boat in Lake Noman, dispatchers confirm




Strong consumption, high-level services bode well for China's economic outlook -- experts

14:54, May 13, 2023 By Tichaona Chifamba ( Xinhua

Tourists visit the Fuzi (Confucius) Temple scenic area in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, May 2, 2023. (Photo by Yang Suping/Xinhua)

China boasts a bright economic outlook, buoyed by high domestic and foreign consumption of Chinese goods and the development of high-level services, experts on China have said.

According to Zimbabwean economist Paul Musodza, the Chinese economy is expected to continue its growth due to strong domestic and foreign consumption.

HARARE, May 13 (Xinhua) -- China boasts a bright economic outlook, buoyed by high domestic and foreign consumption of Chinese goods and the development of high-level services, experts on China have said.

Manyika Kangai, a pundit advising African businesses and governments on trade with China, told Xinhua recently that the future development trend of the Chinese economy would focus on high-quality economic growth.

"I see the Chinese economy moving away from growth based on low-cost manufacturing, exports and investment to growth based on high-level services mainly driven by technology, green industries and consumption," said Kangai, who graduated from Donghua University in Shanghai.

According to Zimbabwean economist Paul Musodza, the Chinese economy is expected to continue its growth due to strong domestic and foreign consumption.

He said that China's current population "is huge enough to consume goods, and that will accelerate investments," adding that exports will continue providing momentum for China's growth.

Traffic is seen in front of banking halls in Harare, Zimbabwe, Feb. 23, 2023. (Photo by Tafara Mugwara/Xinhua)

According to the experts, China's huge consumer market also contains excellent opportunities for Zimbabwean companies to tap.

Kangai said that Zimbabwean companies "should focus on providing high-level services, supplying products needed by green industries, such as lithium, and pushing goods into the Chinese market that appeal to Chinese consumers."

"Many Chinese companies are now inventing new methods of making goods to feed an upper-class Chinese market... So it's up to the Zimbabwean government to help its small businesses to invest in China for the low and middle-income community," Musodza said.

For both experts, Western countries decoupling from China is not feasible since they are already deeply intertwined with the Chinese economy.

Participants pose during The 6th China International Import Expo Promotion Conference at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, on May 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)

Almost all countries trade with China, said Musodza, noting that China has much to offer. A peaceful China is also making China attractive to many countries.

Some Western companies are only profitable in China, not in the European Union or the United States. He said it makes sense for them to increase investments in China for good returns than to invest in other markets.

In addition, Musodza added, the world cannot be decoupled from China-proposed initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative because more countries need them to stimulate domestic investments.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Wu Chaolan)
President Donald Trump tours the border wall near Alamo, Texas, Jan. 12, 2021. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

When Donald Trump became president, he immediately set out to change the countrys immigration system, including with a travel ban that mostly affected countries with large Muslim populations and by making stark changes at the southern border.

Since leaving office, Trump has attacked his successors record on immigration. President Joe Biden has not countered Trumps approach the way some immigration advocates had hoped and has relied on deterrence as other presidents have. Yet in comparison with Trump, Biden has not used cruelty and fear as a cudgel.

That was a mainstay of the Trump immigration approach: deterrence through cruelty. Here are five highlights of Trumps immigration and border policies.

Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times

The Travel Ban

Trump began his presidency by signing an executive order that sought to limit travelers from seven largely Muslim countries for 90 days. The order, with some exceptions, affected travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. It also suspended the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the United States.

The travel ban caused instant chaos. Airports were clogged with travelers who had been on airplanes when the order was signed and had no way of entering the country. Advocates sued, and the case went to the Supreme Court, which upheld the policy in a 2018 ruling. The administration issued additional travel bans as time went on, removing or adding countries, including several African nations, often using terrorist activities as justification.

The Border Wall

In 2017, Trump began focusing on one of his earliest campaign promises  building a physical wall along the border between the United States and Mexico. The idea was initially suggested by a Trump campaign aide, Sam Nunberg, as a memory aid to prompt the candidate to remember to talk about immigration in his speeches. But it soon became a rallying cry at his events.

You know, if it gets a little boring, if I see people starting to sort of, maybe thinking about leaving, Trump told the editorial board of The New York Times during the 2016 campaign, I can sort of tell the audience, I just say, We will build the wall! And they go nuts.

Story continues

Trump had a series of extreme designs for the wall. He wanted spikes on top, black paint to burn the hands of immigrants trying to scale it, possibly a moat at the bottom. He wanted it 30 feet high. He queried at one point whether migrants could be shot in the legs to slow them down. Aides ignored such suggestions.

Ultimately, the construction of the wall was enmeshed in a partial government shutdown and money for it was not apportioned by Congress. Trump vowed to make the wall happen himself through the executive branch. Fewer than 500 miles of barrier, at an estimated cost of $15 billion, were constructed, a fact that some of Trumps Republican critics privately point to as a weakness. Nearly all of those 500 miles were in areas where dilapidated barriers already stood.

Family Separation

By 2018, Trump  along with Jeff Sessions, the hard-line anti-immigration former senator who was attorney general at the time  was frequently berating his Cabinet secretaries over the number of illegal border crossings still happening. But the administration had a new plan for deterrence.

We need to take away children, Sessions told other officials, elaborating on a new form of zero tolerance. The policy involved separating children and their caregivers who had crossed the border, and prosecuting the adults. According to notes from one of the people in the meeting, Sessions message was: If care about kids, dont bring them in. Wont give amnesty to people with kids.

The result of the policy: images and stories of children ripped from parents arms, crying and traumatized. Trump eventually ended his own administrations policy by executive order in 2018, amid a widespread outcry and intense media coverage, but at a town-hall meeting on CNN last week, he said he would reinstate the policy if elected in 2024.

In addition, Trump at times appeared interested in preserving some aspects of the Obama-era program known as DACA, under which people brought to the United States when they were young were spared deportation, a program he had promised to end as a candidate. But he allowed Sessions to announce its end, and the matter was tied up in court for years.

Border Surges

For a president obsessed with the number of border crossings, 2019 was Trumps most difficult year. An administration agreement with Mexico requiring asylum-seekers to stay there while awaiting processing in the United States  which was heavily criticized by human rights activists as an effort to reduce legal asylum  had not yet gone into effect across the entire border.

Trumps administration toyed with various ways to deter immigrants without legal permission that year, including with a plan that was ultimately abandoned for deportation raids targeting families in 10 major cities.

Trumps policies also led to the overcrowding of border facilities. When migrant children who are traveling alone are processed in a Border Patrol facility, they are supposed to be transferred to a shelter managed by the Health and Human Services Department, where many are subsequently released to a sponsor who is a relative.

But Trump deterred many sponsors from claiming those children by requiring they provide personal information that some feared would later be used to find and deport them. Many children were held in cells along the border for weeks, even though the government is supposed to transfer them to shelters within 72 hours. The border facilities lacked access to proper hygienic resources and the children were in some cases exposed to disease.

The COVID Year

When the coronavirus surfaced in the United States in early January 2020, Trump instituted a ban on travel from China, where the virus originated. He also moved to enact a policy known as Title 42 that March, using an obscure part of public health law to expel migrants and asylum-seekers because of the pandemic.

It empowered the Trump administration to put in place some of its most aggressive border policies, and officials used the pandemic to rapidly turn away migrants at the border without providing most of them an opportunity to ask for asylum.

Stephen Miller, the architect of Trumps immigration agenda, had repeatedly sought to use the law to block asylum-seekers and had finally found his chance in the pandemic. In violation of international refugee laws, the Trump administration also initially expelled children from other countries, including those traveling alone, to Mexico during the pandemic.

Both the Trump and Biden administrations have argued that they needed Title 42 to contain the coronavirus pandemic. But the law has also had the unintended consequence of encouraging hundreds of thousands of desperate people to make repeated attempts to enter the country. Many of those subjected to the rule are expeditiously returned to Mexico only to try again a few days later.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
Iranian authorities on Monday executed five people over "armed drug smuggling" in the south of the country, the judiciary reported.

The convicts, "all criminals and armed drug smugglers," had been sentenced to death by hanging in a verdict upheld by Iran's top court, the judiciary's website Mizan Online quoted Mojtaba Ghahramani, Chief Justice of the southern province of Hormozgan, as saying.

"The sentences of the aforementioned were carried out this morning in Bandar Abbas and Minab prisons" in Hormozgan, he added.

The latest hangings bring to eight the number of people executed in less than a week over drug smuggling.

On Wednesday, the judiciary executed three convicted drug cartel members, following warnings from the United Nations over the "frighteningly" high number of executions in the country.

People march in a protest against state executions and human rights violations in Iran, as they head toward the Iranian embassy in Madrid, Spain, Feb. 11, 2023. / Credit: Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket/Getty

Iran executes more people a year than any other nation except China, according to human rights groups including Amnesty International.

On Monday, Iran executed two people following a rare conviction for desecrating the Koran and insulting the Prophet Mohammad, prompting US condemnation and outcry from human rights groups.

Last week, U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk sounded the alarm over Iran's "abominable" track record this year, with an average of more than 10 people being put to death each week.

More than 210 people have already been executed in Iran this year, most of them for drug-related offenses, but a United Nations statement said the actual number is likely much higher.

"On average so far this year, over ten people are put to death each week in Iran, making it one of the world's highest executors," said Turk, adding that the execution rate in 2023 puts Iran "worryingly on the same track as last year when around 580 people were reportedly executed."

The country hanged 75% more people in 2022 than the previous year, the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights and Paris-based Together Against the Death Penalty said in a joint report in April. At the time, representatives from those organizations warned that Iran's "killing machine" may continue to push ahead with executions this year "in order to spread fear among people."

Story continues

At least 582 people were executed in Iran last year, the highest number of executions in the country since 2015 and well above the 333 recorded in 2021, the two rights groups said.

On May 9, after Iran had recently hanged two men on charges of spreading blasphemy on social media and executed Swedish-Iranian dissident Habib Chaab for "terrorism," the U.N. said at least 45 people, including 22 people from the Baluch minority, had been executed in the previous 14 days alone. Most of those executed were put to death on drug-related charges.

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A Georgia man accused of shooting his wife was killed after turning the gun on deputies, state investigators say.

It happened around 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 13, as Coweta County deputies responded to a domestic dispute at a home in Senoia, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Authorities said the man, 76-year-old Michael Adams, shot his wife and was still armed when law enforcement arrived. They ordered him to put down the gun but he refused, investigators said.

Adams then aimed the weapon at deputies, prompting two of them and a responding officer to open fire, the GBI said. He was struck and died at the scene.

An autopsy report is pending, investigators said in a news release.

Adams wife was taken to a hospital, the GBI said. Her condition wasnt known as of May 15.

Authorities said the investigation is ongoing.

Senoia is about 40 miles southwest of downtown Atlanta.

Gun violence in the U.S.

Thousands of people die every year from firearm injuries in the U.S. each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Firearm injuries are a serious public health problem, officials said. In 2020, there were 45,222 firearm-related deaths in the United States  thats about 124 people dying from a firearm-related injury each day.

Firearm-related injuries were one of the top leading causes of death for people ages 1 to 44 in 2020, the CDC reported.

The impact of gun violence, however, goes beyond the death toll, experts said.

The effects of firearm violence extend beyond victims and their families, according to the CDC. Shooting incidents, including those in homes, schools, houses of worship, workplaces, shopping areas, on the street or at community events can affect the sense of safety and security of entire communities and impact everyday decisions.

14-year-old found shot dead on South Carolina road, cops say. Teens among 4 charged

Boy uses slingshot to shoot 17-year-old trying to kidnap his sister, Michigan cops say

9-year-old shot and killed after little brother finds gun in car, Tennessee cops say
Carter Middle School student Dillon Reeves is seen stopping a bus on April 26, 2023, after the driver lost consciousness. Carter Middle School

A Michigan seventh grader guided his school bus to safety last month after its driver passed out.

Dillon Reeves jumped to action because he was not on his phone, his father told CBS News.

Other students on the bus told CBS that they were either listening to music or playing games.

A Michigan seventh grader, who took control of his school bus after the driver passed out, was the only passenger not distracted by his phone, CBS News reported on Sunday.

In a video that went viral last month, Dillon Reeves, a student at Lois E. Carter Middle School in Warren, Michigan, is seen saving more than 60 children after he took over the steering wheel from the bus driver who had become unconscious.

Reeves' father told CBS that he thinks part of the reason why his son was so alert was because he doesn't have a phone and was looking out the window.

"What else are you going to do when you don't have a phone? You're going to look at people, you're going to notice stuff. You're going to look out the window," Dillon's father, Steve, told CBS. "It's a very powerful lesson, maybe a change-the-world kind of lesson."

Other students on the bus that day told CBS that they were all on their phones, and hadn't noticed the driver had passed out.

"I had my AirPods in," one student said, while another added: "I was on my phone playing a little game."

In the video, Reeves is seen rushing to the front of the bus, putting his foot on the brake, and grabbing the wheel before telling his fellow students: "Someone call 911, now!" as they scream in the background.

The seventh grader was eventually able to bring the bus to a stop without incident before two passersby stepped in to help the students off the bus and attend to the driver.

None of the students were injured in the incident and the 40-year-old bus driver was brought to the hospital in "stable" condition, Warren Fire Commissioner Skip McAdams told CNN.

The boy's stepmother, Ireta Reeves, told reporters at the time that her son knew exactly how to stop the bus because he had watched the driver do it every day.

Read the original article on Insider
A 9-year-old girl has died after her little brother shot her while playing with a gun, Tennessee police said.

Memphis Police responded to a call about a shooting at a home around 3 p.m on May 14, according to an arrest affidavit.

Officers arrived to find the child with a gunshot wound and unresponsive in a homes driveway next to a Buick, police said.

The 9-year-old was taken to a childrens hospital where she was later pronounced dead, according to the affidavit.

The childs mother and her boyfriend were brought in by officers for questioning, and the pair told officers that the girls 7-year-old brother had found a pistol in the glove compartment of the mans car, police said.

The 7-year-old started playing with the gun, then accidentally fired it, hitting and killing his sister, according to the affidavit.

On the morning of May 15, the mothers boyfriend was charged with criminally negligent homicide, aggravated child neglect and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and taken into custody, police said.

Police did not release if charges would be filed against the mother.

14-year-old found shot dead on South Carolina road, cops say. Teens among 4 charged

Children among 5 injured when jet skis collide on Mountain Island Lake, rescuers say

Man killed when his pistol fires during struggle with police, California cops say

Boy uses slingshot to shoot 17-year-old trying to kidnap his sister, Michigan cops say
By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) -A New York City woman sued Abbott Laboratories on Monday, accusing the healthcare company of misleading consumers into believing its PediaSure nutrition drinks were "clinically proven" to increase children's height.

In a proposed class action filed in Manhattan federal court, Joanne Noriega said she bought PediaSure Grow & Gain vanilla and strawberry drinks for her eight-year-old grandson, who was "short for his age," believing they would help him get taller.

The Bronx resident said that by February, after a year of two PediaSure drinks per day, her grandson was still short for his age and had become "so overweight" that she stopped buying the drinks.

Noriega dismissed PediaSure as "just a flavored sugar and milk-based drink that contains vitamins, which is not a cure for shortness." She said also that Abbott "knows from its own studies that its Clinically Proven Claim is false and misleading."

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for New Yorkers who were allegedly deceived into buying or overpaying for PediaSure.

"This case is without merit," Abbott said in a statement. "PediaSure is a scientifically designed complete and balanced nutrition solution for children to help support growth and development."

Lawyers for Noriega did not respond to requests for comment, including additional information about her grandson.

Abbott says PediaSure is intended for children ages two to 13, and has been clinically shown to help children "grow out of at-risk weight-for-height percentiles (5th-25th percentiles)" within eight weeks.

PediaSure is part of the Abbott Park, Illinois-based company's pediatric nutritional segment, which also includes Pedialyte and Similac.

U.S. sales from that unit fell 29% last year, in large part because of Abbott's recall of infant formula from a Michigan plant.

The case is Noriega v Abbott Laboratories, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 23-04014.

Story continues

For plaintiff: James Denlea, of Denlea & Carton; and Philip Smith, of Kravit Smith

For Abbott: Not known

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
Abrams tanks

"I can confirm that 31 M1 Abrams tanks have arrived in Germany," Ryder said.

Read also: US reportedly removing sensitive equipment from Abrams tanks earmarked for Ukraine

According to him, they will be used to prepare for further training of Ukrainian tank crews.

The Pentagon representative added that Ukrainian military personnel, according to U.S. estimates, will arrive for training in the next few weeks.

Read also: U.S. to deliver Abrams tanks to Ukrainian Armed Forces in early autumn, says Pentagon

Ryder clarified that these tanks will be used exclusively for training purposes, and will not end up on the front lines in Ukraine later this year.

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
(Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the name of the Milwaukee County Community Reintegration Center.)

The life of a community activist is not glamorous. They work long hours for little money. They must be agitators as well comforters to those who suffer loss. They organize marches and protest, work with troubled youth, and are always on call. Its a thankless job.

They do what they do because they are driven to do so and if it wasnt for the work they do, our city would be in a much worse situation, said Tyrone Dumas, a longtime public official who has worked with youth for much of his career.

Activists have a servant mentality. The best strive not to be selfish; instead they believe in selflessness, but what happens when one renounces the community he professed to serve?

Frank Sensabaugh, who goes by Frank Nitty II, recently went on a social media rant saying crime was up in Milwaukee because he no longer lives here and added a graphic sexual reference  something Ive never heard from a community activist, especially one who said during the height of the Black Lives Matter Movement that if we were all in the fight together, things would improve.

More: Recent columns from James Causey

His comments sent shock waves to those still in the fight. Normally this wouldn't be something I would write about, but this required a response because it appears Sensabaugh either let his ego get the best of him or he is just so frustrated with the lack of change that he decided to do what some have done in our city: quit.

His comments are a slap in the face to the activists and citizens of this city who choose to stay here and fight for citizens of color. It's a gut punch to the people who have supported him and disheartening to hear someone who moved from my hometown bashing it.

Story continues

I wish him the best, but the fight doesnt stop because one soldier drops out. It means more of us need to do our part to help those in need. The best way to help those still in the fight is to support them. If you cant support them financially, consider becoming a volunteer. We all can do more in our community.

Despite rant, statistics show crime falling in Milwaukee this year

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers holds up one of the two signed reckless driving bills he signed into law as hes surrounded by family and friends of Milwaukee area pastor, Rev. Aaron Strong, including Strongs wife, Abbie Strong (upper, second left), who was killed by a reckless driver. Evers signed the bills at The Grace Center in Milwaukee on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.

On April 28, Sensabaugh posted a 36-minute Facebook video from a club in Atlanta saying crime was up in Milwaukee because he was no longer here. He starts out addressing rumors of his death. He also said social media ruined his life and that many local activists have sold out.

"I had to get away from y'all to remember who I was," he said. "I'm not in activist mode anymore, I'm back to Frank Nitty."

There is a lot to unpack from his sometimes profane and factually incorrect rant.

First, overall crime is down 18% in Milwaukee compared to last year, including a reduction in car thefts of 34%. While there is no doubt that many community activists are trusted messengers in the community and they have been responsible for helping police and families solve crimes, its a collaborative effort that goes into this equation.

The part that bothers me and many activists in the city the most is Sensabaugh's crude sexual comments. This is a slap in the face to the many who supported him financially when he organized marches and the many who provided him with words of encouragement when things got rough.

This is pretty bad because Ive always said community activists are not selfish, instead they believe in selflessness, said Earl Ingram Jr., a radio talk show host, who also started a senior group called Voices of the Elders. The group works with Milwaukee Public Schools to address the crisis of Black boys failing in school, stealing cars, and committing crimes.

More: Four women told police a prominent activist sexually assaulted them. A year later, theyre still waiting for answers.

You wont last long talking like that. I mean there is no coming back from that comment, Ingram said.

Sensabaugh has faced controversy before. In November 2020 he was arrested after a woman told police he had sexually assaulted her. Three other women separately filed allegations, but Milwaukee County prosecutors did not to file charges. He has always denied any wrongdoing.

He gained notoriety marching 750-miles to Washington, D.C.

Milwaukee protest leader Frank Sensabaugh, who goes by the name Frank Nitty, starts his march with supporters to Washington, D.C. along Highway 31 in Caledonia on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020. Sensabaugh hopes to arrive on foot in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 28, the same date as the historic March on Washington in 1963. The civil rights march brought more than 250,000 people to the Lincoln Memorial and is where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have A Dream" speech. Sensabaugh said he will have to walk more than 30 miles each day and invited others to march with him to honor King and spark change. Sensabaugh, along with organizer Khalil Coleman, led daily marches for weeks across Milwaukee and its suburbs following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in late May. The August march to D.C. means Sensabaugh will not be in Milwaukee for expected protests outside the Democratic National Convention, held Aug. 17-20.

Why is this such a shock?

Sensabaugh emerged as an activist in 2016 during the Sherman Park unrest, following the fatal shooting of Sylville Smith, 23. He used his large social media platforms to highlight the frustrations of those living in the neighborhood.

He built a brand. He gained followers and people paid attention to him.

In June of 2020, when protesters attempted to shut down the Hoan Bridge, to protest police brutality, Sensabaugh was allegedly thrown to the ground and arrested by sheriffs deputies, he suffered some scrapes and bruises that required stitches.

He gained national media attention in August 2020, when he marched from Milwaukee to Washington, D.C. on foot to protest violence against Black people.

During his 750-mile, 24-day journey, his group faced several 100-degree days; denied access to bathrooms; were called the N-word; and even shot at in Indiana. When he arrived at the National Mall to participate in the action known as the Commitment March, he was given two minutes to address the thousands in attendance.

We need to demand change not ask for change. They think this is a negotiation. This is not a negotiation. I came here to demand change. Im tired. Are yall tired. My grandsons are not going to be marching for the same things my granddaddy marched for, he said.

I was proud of him because he brought the fire which scares people into action. I was also excited because the things he said angered him angered me and most of the Black and brown people I know.

You want to make a difference? Volunteer your time, mentor youth

LT Austin, CEO and executive director of Hope Through Restoration, left, Clem Richardson, center, a mental health and substance abuse therapist, both talk with Marlin Dixon, right, at the 42nd Annual Project Return fundraiser at Marquette University on Saturday Oct. 8, 2022. Austin and Richardson talked with Dixon about programming to help him during his transition out of prison. Richardson stressed the need for talking with a counselor about mental health. Richardson said anyone who has spent time in prison has suffered trauma and to be reacclimated back into society they need to talk with professionals and work with mentors to ensure success.

Community activist Vaun Mayes, who worked with and sometimes sparred with Sensabaugh, said the comments were the worst hes ever heard from someone seen as a leader.

You cant take that back and he can stay wherever he is, said Mayes, who runs Program the Parks MKE.

A day before Sensabaugh made his social media post, Mayes was one of several leaders on a panel I moderated at the Milwaukee County Community Reintegration Center (formerly known as the House of Corrections). The conversations with the young, mostly Black and brown men were powerful. Each activist left the men with the message of not giving up on themselves and using this time to address their traumas while incarcerated.

They also advised the men with children who are thinking about becoming activists to first become better fathers and better people to their partners. They listened to the men's concerns and offered advice and encouragement. When I think about the role of a community activist, this is what I think of.

To keep our city safe and thriving, more of us need to step forward when one drops out of the fight.

James E. Causey started reporting on life in his city while still at Marshall High School through a Milwaukee Sentinel high school internship. He's been covering his hometown ever since, writing and editing news stories, projects and opinion pieces on urban youth, mental health, employment, housing and incarceration. Most recently, he wrote about a man who went to prison as a child for a horrific crime in Life Correction: The Marlin Dixon story. Released at age 32, Dixons intent on giving his life meaning. Other projects include "What happened to us?" which tracked the lives of his third-grade classmates, and "Cultivating a community," about the bonding that takes place around a neighborhood garden. Causey was a health fellow at the University of Southern California in 2018 and a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University in 2007. Email him at jcausey@jrn.com; follow him on Twitter @jecausey.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: BLM protest leader blasts local activists on social media post
The picture of Kylo that started it all.

The picture of Kylo that started it all.

During the last seven years, I never had to struggle to come up with a fun fact about myself when one of those awkward getting-to-know-you exercises required one. After all, how many people could truthfully say they were the owner of an internet-famous cat?

If, right now, you were to open another tab and Google Adam Driver cat, youd see my cat. You could then read about what everyone agrees is his uncanny resemblance to the actor Adam Driver in such reputable sources as Newsweek, Pinterest and Time magazine.

Internet obsessed with cat that resembles Star Wars actor, read the headline to one CNN article in 2016, within which the writer suggested that the Adam Driver Cat was on track to displace Grumpy Cat as the internets favorite cat.

But by January of this year, my internet-famous cat was struggling with kidney failure. After several weeks administering daily subcutaneous fluids at home failed to restore him to an acceptable quality of life, I made the heartbreaking decision to end his suffering. Thats not a fun fact.

My path to internet-famous pet ownership began in January 2016, when the Monmouth County SPCA in New Jersey tweeted a picture of a cat they called Corey. My friend Marci then tweeted the photo of Corey from her own account, adding the caption, Tell me this cat at @TheMCSPCA doesnt look like Adam Driver.

Tell me this cat at @TheMCSPCA doesn't look like Adam Driver. pic.twitter.com/OmtGnOWxyG  Marci Robin (@MarciRobin) January 16, 2016

It wasnt long before The Cat That Looks Like Adam Driver had become a viral phenomenon, and requests from journalists were inundating her mentions. But before the whole world fell in love with the big-eared lookalike, I already had.

Story continues

When I saw the picture shortly after Marci first tweeted it, I felt something deep in my soul. This cat and I are meant to be together, I thought.

Wed had family cats growing up, and as an adult, my former fiance and I had rescued a kitten from the streets of Bushwick and proceeded to treat him as sort of a starter baby. Still, Id never looked at a cat (or any animal) and been spoken to by an omniscient inner voice before.

I wouldnt really have even considered myself a cat person. But it was crystal clear I was this cats person.

Unfortunately, there were a few obstacles between us. Like the fact that I lived in Brooklyn and he was over an hours drive away in New Jersey, that I did not own a car or have a drivers license and that when I contacted the shelter they told me he had already been adopted.

In a win for the omniscient inner voice, however, they emailed me again the following day to let me know the adoption had fallen through and my feline soulmate was once again available. All I had to do was get to New Jersey before some person who probably wasnt even acting on the command of a deep soul voice beat me to adopting him. Given that a split-screen of Corey next to Adam Driver was rapidly becoming the internets new favorite meme, time was of the essence.

So I did what anyone would have done in 2016 and posted a slightly unhinged status on Facebook begging anyone I knew who had a car to drive me to New Jersey. I also offered to rent a car for someone else to drive. Fortunately, my friend Cassie answered the call and we white-knuckled our way to the Monmouth County SPCA.

Meeting Kylo for the first time.

Meeting Kylo for the first time.

When we arrived, another woman was already looking at Corey, and I was forced to take her out with physical violence. Kidding! She kindly deferred to me because she would have needed time to see if the cat was going to trigger her allergies, and she eventually ended up adopting two of Coreys family members.

So as the gears of the internet were pinging and whirring and driving Adam Driver Cat to greater and greater virality, my against-all-odds story got its happy ending as I officially adopted him. I decided to name him Kylo Ren after one of his actor doppelgangers best-known characters.

The Monmouth County SPCA sharing the news on Twitter.

The Monmouth County SPCA sharing the news on Twitter.

I didnt know at the time that Kylo was not your typical shelter cat. For one thing, he was a kind of purebred cat known as an Oriental Longhair. (It turns out they all kind of look like Adam Driver.) He was also a former show cat, before being surrendered to the shelter by a breeder who was experiencing mental health issues. I also had no idea that the cat I was paying a meager shelter fee to adopt would have cost thousands of dollars in any other situation. None of that would have really mattered, though: I just fell in love with his weird little face.

I now know that Oriental Longhairs (and Shorthairs) are almost dog-like in behavior: They will follow you from room to room around the house, they love to cuddle and some even play fetch. (Kylo exclusively liked to fetch plastic medicine cups, which I would forever be finding in every corner of the house and under the furniture.)

OLH cats are also known to be loyal and extremely loving, and they become deeply attached to their chosen people. One description I read said, This breed doesnt just want attention  they need it desperately if they are to live happy, healthy lives. (Which, honestly, sames.)

Rather than just being a lap cat, Kylo was more likely to perch on my shoulder, or plop down directly on my face. He preferred positions that made it impossible to do anything but pay attention to to him, and would regularly headbutt my phone when he wanted my undivided attention.

Kylo wasn't truly happy if he wasn't smooshed against my face.

Kylo wasn't truly happy if he wasn't smooshed against my face.

In bed at night, Kylo would wedge himself in between my then-boyfriend and me. It didnt matter how tightly we were pressed against one another  hed find a tiny crack and force his way in.

My son was just 4 years old when we adopted Kylo, and was accordingly loud and fast-moving and the opposite of gentle. But Kylo never snapped or scratched or swiped at him even once. He was endlessly tolerant, letting himself essentially be handled like a living teddy bear.

Kylos adoption set off a second wave of internet attention, and my boyfriend created an Instagram account for him with the handle @catam_driver. My cats follower count quickly surpassed my own. I did some interviews with national news outlets, mostly to promote donations to the financially struggling Monmouth County shelter, which got an unexpected and much-needed boost from their brush with internet fame.

While I liked sharing pictures and stories about Kylo online with people who felt connected to him, I had no real desire to try to monetize my famous pet, nor was it even clear how I would go about doing so.

But I did accept a lot of freebies! Petsmart sent over their product line of Star Wars pet accessories, so Kylo ate from a Darth Vader food dish and cuddled with mouse toy versions of Yoda and Chewbacca. A pet photographer volunteered to take some stunning images of him, one of which ended up on a greeting card. People sent me fan art in which my cat wielded a lightsaber while dressed as Kylo Ren. Stephen Colbert showed a laughing Adam Driver a picture of our cat on The Late Show.

Sadly, Adam and Kylo never met.

Sadly, Adam and Kylo never met.

The relationship Id been in when we first adopted Kylo ended, and the other boyfriends I had over the years sometimes struggled to adjust to my needy, high-maintenance and extremely vocal cat. Im 99% sure Kylo believed me to be his human wife, and every guy who came into my life over the seven years he was with us had to learn to respect our relationship.

I used to joke that he was always staring at me; in countless pictures I have of him, he is looking up at me from my lap with a squinty, half-stoned expression of total adoration and devotion. If more of the boyfriends had looked at me like that, maybe things would have worked out. In some ways, Kylo was kind of the best boyfriend I ever had.

Kylo preferred to be smooshed against my face.

Kylo preferred to be smooshed against my face.

When it became clear that the end of our time with Kylo was approaching, people who had been through it suggested I talk to him before he went. So in the veterinary exam room, I hugged him tightly and murmured that I loved him so much, and that he had been the best cat ever. I told him that it was OK to go, that I knew he was in pain. But the thing I kept repeating over and over was: Thank you for taking such good care of Kiddo.

Every single night, when it was time for my son to begin his bedtime routine, Kylo would trot into his room while he was brushing his teeth and wait in his bed to cuddle with us during family book time. The day after Kylos death, Kiddo climbed into bed alone and asked me,Who am I going to sleep with now? This was only slightly less heartbreaking than hearing him sporadically repeat, But he was my best friend to his empty bedroom.

Best friends

Best friends

Honesty, he dealt with the grief better than I did. Kylos death sort of broke my brain  for a week afterward, I suffered memory loss and confusion and had trouble focusing or managing basic tasks.

One night at a taco shop, I found myself completely unable to remember how to work a debit card machine. I found out these symptoms are a fairly common grief reaction, but I couldnt help but feel a little sheepish that I was thoroughly losing my mind in response to the death of what some would say was just a cat.

After further research, I found its not uncommon for people to feel more intensely affected by the death of a pet than even a human death. Something about the uncondtional love we receive from our pets makes it exponentially heartbreaking when we have to say goodbye.

As a single mom to an only child, its easy to feel somehow incomplete, as if the two of us just arent enough people to make a family. But with Kylo we were three, and three was substantial. Three felt like something. Whenever I posted a picture of the three of us on social media, Id caption it: Family portrait.

I could never have known when I saw a funny cat picture embedded in a viral tweet that the relationships my son and I would form with our internet-famous cat would run so deep and impact our lives so significantly.

It was nice that the world saw something special in Kylo, and that he was loved by so many people. But it wasnt Kylos fame that made him so special. I feel blessed that after his 15 minutes of fame were over, we got to spend seven more years together finding out just how special he truly was.

Do you have a compelling personal story youd like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what were looking for here and send us a pitch.
AFP chairman Fabrice Fries during a tribute for slain video journalist Arman Soldin said he had been 'adored' by friends and colleagues

Friends and colleagues of Arman Soldin, the AFP journalist killed last week in east Ukraine, gathered in Kyiv Monday to commemorate his empathy, spirit and dedication to journalism.

Soldin died when an AFP team came under fire by Grad rockets while they were with a group of Ukrainian soldiers near Bakhmut, the epicentre of the fighting for months.

Dozens, including senior AFP management and editors, gathered for an event hosted by news agency Ukrinform, where a large banner of Soldin, 32, hung showing him smiling and wearing a helmet and body armour.

AFP chairman Fabrice Fries, citing Arman's mother, described the slain video journalist as "all of humanity in one man," and noted he had been "adored" by friends, family and colleagues.

"Arman lost his life so millions of people could know what was happening in Ukraine. At a time when an inhumane war is ravaging Ukraine, the memory of who Arman (was) is our pride," Fries added.

Phil Chetwynd, AFP's global news director, described Soldin as "integral" to the agency's news operations in Ukraine and credited him with helping to drive "superb" coverage.

"There was nobody as brave, and as committed as Arman Soldin," Chetwynd said.

"The loss of Arman is so devastating for us, because he represented the very best of AFP," he added.

Born in Bosnia, Soldin is the third French reporter to lose his life since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022 and at least the 11th reporter, fixer or driver to have been killed, advocacy groups say.

"Arman's dedication to his work, to tell the world the story of this terrible war was total," said Antoine Lambroschini, the AFP editor in charge of Ukraine coverage.

"Arman stood out in everything he did because he never lost sight of the fact that beyond the geopolitical implications of Russia's war against Ukraine, there are men, women, children, parents, and grandparents, brothers and sisters," Lambroschini added.

afptv-jbr/as/pvh
(Bloomberg) -- The African Development Bank plans to help Zimbabwe raise $3.5 billion needed to compensate White farmers evicted from their land more than two decades ago, a condition set by the nations biggest creditors before they accept a proposed debt-clearance program.

Most Read from Bloomberg

We are currently working with the minister of finance and the government of Zimbabwe to develop a financial instrument that could potentially be useful, Akinwumi Adesina, the banks president, told reporters in the capital, Harare, on Monday. It will help leverage the capital markets to fund the compensation, without adding debt to Zimbabwe.

Read More: Zimbabwe Offers New Terms for $3.5 Billion White-Farmer Deal

The southern African nation concluded a fourth round of talks with creditors on Monday on the clearance of $17 billion it owes to multilateral lenders, including the World Bank and Paris Club. More discussions are planned after elections scheduled for later this year.

Under an accord signed in 2020, the government agreed to compensate White farmers whose land was seized by state-backed militants, but it has repeatedly missed the repayment deadlines. While it initially envisioned paying the farmers over 20 years, that period has now been reduced to a decade, according to Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube.

--With assistance from Ray Ndlovu.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
AI experts and tech-inclined political scientists are sounding the alarm on the unregulated use of AI tools going into an election season.

Generative AI can not only rapidly produce targeted campaign emails, texts or videos, it also could be used to mislead voters, impersonate candidates and undermine elections on a scale and at a speed not yet seen.

"We're not prepared for this," warned A.J. Nash, vice president of intelligence at the cybersecurity firm ZeroFox. "To me, the big leap forward is the audio and video capabilities that have emerged. When you can do that on a large scale, and distribute it on social platforms, well, it's going to have a major impact."

Among the many capabilities of AI, here are a few that will have significance ramifications with elections and voting: automated robocall messages, in a candidate's voice, instructing voters to cast ballots on the wrong date; audio recordings of a candidate supposedly confessing to a crime or expressing racist views; video footage showing someone giving a speech or interview they never gave.

Fake images designed to look like local news reports, falsely claiming a candidate dropped out of the race.

AI EXPERT TAPS UN OFFICIALS TO LEARN HOW TO BUILD A GLOBAL AI REGULATORY BODY

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"What if Elon Musk personally calls you and tells you to vote for a certain candidate?" said Oren Etzioni, the founding CEO of the Allen Institute for AI, who stepped down last year to start the nonprofit AI2. "A lot of people would listen. But it's not him."

Petko Stoyanov, global chief technology officer at Forcepoint, a cybersecurity company based in Austin, Texas, has predicted that groups looking to meddle with U.S. democracy will employ AI and synthetic media to erode trust.

"What happens if an international entity  a cybercriminal or a nation state  impersonates someone? What is the impact? Do we have any recourse?" Stoyanov said. "We're going to see a lot more misinformation from international sources."

Story continues

AI-generated political disinformation already has gone viral online ahead of the 2024 election, from a doctored video of Biden appearing to give a speech attacking transgender people to AI-generated images of children supposedly learning satanism in libraries.

Panelists speak about artificial intelligence at the Milken Institute Global Conference.

AI images appearing to show Trump's mug shot also fooled some social media users even though the former president didn't take one when he was booked and arraigned in a Manhattan criminal court for falsifying business records. Other AI-generated images showed Trump resisting arrest, though their creator was quick to acknowledge their origin.

Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., has introduced legislation that would require candidates to label campaign advertisements created with AI. Clark has also sponsored legislation that would require anyone creating synthetic images to add a watermark indicating the fact.

Some states have offered their own proposals for addressing concerns about deepfakes.

Clarke said her greatest fear is that generative AI could be used before the 2024 election to create a video or audio that incites violence and turns Americans against each other.

CLICK HERE TO GE THE FOX NEWS APP

"It's important that we keep up with the technology," Clarke told The Associated Press. "We've got to set up some guardrails. People can be deceived, and it only takes a split second. People are busy with their lives and they don't have the time to check every piece of information. AI being weaponized, in a political season, it could be extremely disruptive."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
STUTTGART, Germany  France has tested the VSR700 vertical-takeoff-and-landing unmanned aerial system demonstrator for the first time, marking a key milestone in the development of the nations next-generation maritime drone.

Aircraft developer Airbus and Frances military procurement office, Direction Generale de lArmement, or DGA, jointly conducted the test this month, Airbus said in a May 15 press release.

Airbus demos in-flight autonomous guidance of target drone with tanker

The VSR700 UAS serves as a demonstrator for the French Navys SDAM future maritime drone program, the acronym standing for the French Systeme de Drone Aerien pour la Marine. Once operational, the SDAMs are expected to be deployed aboard Frances FREMM multi-mission frigates.

One key capability for the new system is vertical takeoff and landing, as well as autonomous takeoff and landing. Airbus said Monday that the aircraft performed 80 fully autonomous takeoffs and landings from a civil vessel outfitted with a helicopter deck, off Frances West Coast of Brittany.

Frigate Fog Landing Deckfinder 2 VSR700 (Airbus)

The VSR700 prototype opened its flight envelope in winds above 40 knots, accumulated eight hours of testing in 14 flights, and made successful landings in several different sea states, said Nicolas Delmas, head of the VSR700 program at Airbus Helicopters in a press release.

The SDAM program aims to develop an vertical-takeoff-and-landing UAS capable of flying for eight hours, carry multiple payloads, and reach speeds of 185 kilometers/hour (115 mph). The companys DeckFinder system is what enables autonomous launch and recovery of unmanned aerial systems, with Airbus claiming an accuracy of 10 to 20 centimeters (4 to 8 inches) during challenging operations in harsh environmental conditions, independently of GNSS/GPS and regardless of degraded visual conditions.

Prior to the May flight test campaign, Airbus and the DGA in 2022 tested the autonomous takeoff and landing capabilities aboard an optionally piloted vehicle, based on a modified Guimbal Cabri G2, but this latest test was the first time the VSR700 demonstrator was used, the company said. The VSR700 made its maiden flight in 2019.

Story continues

Airbus and Naval Group were jointly awarded the SDAM risk reduction contract in 2017. Naval Group is developing the mission system for the UAS. The light military tactical vehicle is meant to be deployable aboard both frigates and destroyers, in support of intelligence, surveillance, targeting, and reconnaissance missions, along with anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search-and-rescue and maritime security.

According to the proposed 2024-2030 military programming law currently being debated by Frances Congress, the Ministry of Defense wants three SDAM aircraft delivered by the end of 2023, eight by the end of 2030, and at least 15 delivered by around 2035.

The DGA procured a second VSR700 demonstrator in 2022. Airbus expects this second aircraft to perform its maiden flight during the second half of 2023, ahead of flight testing aboard a FREMM ship.
First Nations citizen Grace Dove (left) and two-time Oscar winner Hillary Swank starred in the ABC drama 'Alaska Daily' (Photo: ABC-TV)

ABC canceled Alaska Daily, a prime-time drama starring two-time Academy-Award winner Hilary Swank and First Nations citizen Grace Dove (Secwepemc) after only one season.

The program debuted last September and its 11-episode run ended on March 30.

Alaska Daily highlighted the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) epidemic, exposing millions of viewers to the crisis during its first season run.

In the series, Swank played Eileen Fitzgerald, an investigative journalist who left her high-profile New York life behind after a fall from grace. At the urging of a former editor, she joins a small daily metro newspaper in Anchorage. Her first assignment: Get the scoop on a cold case involving the death of an Indigenous woman. Shes paired with another reporter, portrayed by Dove, who works alongside Fitzgerald.

This has been a lifetime in the making and I am so honoured to be a part of a very important story, Dove wrote on Instagram leading up to the premiere last September. Bringing awareness to #MMIW on network television.

Alaska ranks fourth in the nation for the highest number of MMIW casesbehind New Mexico, Washington and Arizonaaccording to a 2017 Urban Indian Health Institute study. In 2016, there were more than 5,000 reports of missing American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls, but the US Department of Justices federal missing persons database only documented 116.

Unfortunately, ratings led to Fridays cancellation announcement . Alaska Daily averaged 5.3 million total viewers per episode.

The series is available to stream on Hulu in the United States and on Disney+ in many countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
Photograph: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

A newly resurfaced FBI video purportedly training Americans to give themselves their best chance of surviving a deadly mass shooting is drawing scorn across the US and abroad.

In the video, released in 2020 by the USs top law enforcement agency, actors portraying everyday Americans explain to viewers ways in which they could at least survive  or, preferably, even stop  a mass shooting once the bullets start flying.

Related: He was certainly a racist: J Edgar Hoover and a history of white nationalism

If European countries want to deter brain drain to the US they should just play this FBI video to their soon-to-be graduates, the European tech investor Michael Jackson said on his LinkedIn profile, which has more than 134,000 followers.

Jackson, who shared a link to the video, added that the well-documented gun problem in the US  where rates of mass gun violence are much higher than they are in Europe and in many other parts of the world  was hurting its standing with tourists and its companies prospects of hiring talented employees from overseas.

Another typical reaction to the video was on Twitter from an Oklahoma scholarship foundation leader who wrote: America is broken. Instead of addressing the cause of the carnage, were talking about how to survive a massacre like its a damn tornado.

The video begins with a scene of a bustling bar filled with people. A fight breaks out and then the sudden eruption of gunshots sends the crowd into a panic, with people rushing to find an exit or a hiding spot.

A waitress spots a neon red exit sign and proceeds to explain to viewers techniques to avoid getting shot.

Running makes you harder to hit and improves your chances of survival, she says as she runs down a stairway with a group of people.

When she makes it downstairs and out the door, she is confronted by police pointing a gun at her. Still out of breath and distressed, the waitress reminds the camera to always keep empty hands up and follow their instructions when faced with law enforcement.

Story continues

Another woman hiding under a table then says to find another room and barricade the door if its not possible to escape. She ushers every person around her into a nearby closet and reminds viewers to turn their phones off.

She then says to find anything that could be wielded as if it were a weapon  a fire extinguisher or a flower vase would do  and prepare to attack if the shooter breaks down the door.

Lock and barricade the door, she instructs viewers as the gunshots can be heard firing in the background.

It doesnt address what to do if the attacker has a high-powered rifle and can fire through the door and walls enclosing the room.

Someone is later shown not having a tourniquet but still properly applying pressure to a woman with a bleeding gunshot wound.

Toward the end of the video, a man is shown trapped behind the bar with all exits blocked. He tells his audience: I gotta stay hidden. But Im no victim. Im ready for this.

He lays out an elaborate plan that ends with him seizing the shooters gun, which occasionally happens but can cost people their lives if attempted unsuccessfully.

The video ends with a narrator offering a word of encouragement  you can survive a mass shooting if youre prepared  and directs viewers to the website fbi.gov/survive.

The video resurfaced recently as the US is on pace this year to set the record for the highest number of mass killings in recent memory, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive.

The online reference sites data recently showed the country in 2023 was likely to see 60 mass killings, which involve four or more victims who are slain.

There were 31 mass killings in 2019, 21 in 2020, 28 in 2021 and 36 in 2022.

As of Monday morning, there had been at least 224 mass shootings in the US so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass shooting as one in which four or more victims are injured or killed.

Congress has been unable to meaningfully restrict access to guns despite the accelerated pace of mass shootings in the US this year.

Actually stopping a mass shooter as a civilian is exceptionally rare, according to Texas State Universitys Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center. Less than 3% of more than 430 active attacks in the US ended with a civilian firing back from 2000 to 2021.

A bystander who confronted and disarmed an attacker during a mass shooting that left five people dead and 17 others wounded at a Colorado LGBTQ+ club last year was a US army veteran who had previously gone to war. Richard Fierro had served three tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.
Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin makes a statement as he stand next to Wagner fighters in an undisclosed location in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, in this still image taken from video released May 5, 2023. Press service of "Concord"/Handout via REUTERS

Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin has been feuding with Putin over supplies for his mercenaries.

WaPo reported leaked intelligence showed Prigozhin offered to sell out Russian troops to Ukraine.

In exchange, Prigozhin wanted Ukraine to ease off his for-hire army on the front lines in Bakhmut.

In an apparent escalation of Yevgeny Prigozhin's public feud with Vladimir Putin over his for-hire army, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group offered to sell out the locations of Russian troops to Ukrainian officials in exchange for their mercy on the battlefield, according to leaked intelligence documents.

The Washington Post reported that US military intelligence documents allegedly shared on a Discord server by Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old airman at a National Guard unit in Massachusetts, included a briefing on a January meeting between Prigozhin and unnamed Ukrainian officials where the Wagner leader made his desperate offer.

In exchange for Ukrainians pulling back from the front lines of battle in Bakhmut, where Wagner mercenaries have faced heavy losses that Prigozhin blames on Putin's lack of support and supplies, Prigozhin would reveal the locations of Russian troops and stand by as Ukraine attacked.

Some versions of the leaked documents circulating online have been edited, Insider previously reported, but two anonymous Ukrainian officials confirmed to WaPo that Prigozhin has spoken to Ukrainian intelligence officers on multiple occasions. One official indicated Prigozhin had made the offer regarding Bakhmut more than once but Kyiv leaders, skeptical of his objectives, declined.

The document does not specify which Russian troop positions Prigozhin offered to reveal, WaPo reported, and US officials similarly cast doubt on the Wagner leader's intentions. Still, multiple high-level Russian military commanders have been killed near Bakhmut in recent weeks.

Prigozhin, who has increasingly criticized Putin for not supplying his troops with enough ammo, vowed earlier this month to pull his troops from the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, the site of one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the Russian invasion.

Story continues

Hours after his announcement, Russia launched a massive incendiary attack on the Ukrainian city using apparent chemical weapons, Insider previously reported.

Representatives for the Pentagon, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, and the Government of the Russian Federation did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, left, and Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz attend a news conference in Berlin on Sunday. (Matthias Schrader / Associated Press)

It was a joking remark, but a telling one.

Standing alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in the midst of a whirlwind tour of Western European capitals, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made note of Berlins role as the second-largest supplier of overall assistance to Ukraine, surpassed only by Washington.

I think were going to work on making Germany supporter No. 1, he said, as Scholz smiled along with him.

The seemingly lighthearted exchange, during Zelenskys visit on Sunday to Germany  one of a rapid three-day succession of stops that also took him to Italy, to France and, on Monday, to Britain  belied a sense of grim urgency as Russias war on Ukraine enters a potentially pivotal phase.

Ukraines scramble for weaponry and political support from its allies, a near-constant quest since the full-scale Russian invasion of February 2022, is increasingly shadowed by worries over a heretofore unthinkable scenario  one in which the United States would no longer be Ukraines chief patron.

It demonstrates, to some extent, that there is uncertainty in Europe over the next U.S. election, said Liana Fix, a Europe fellow at the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations. Europe wants to show that it will continue to help even if there is a change in U.S. policy, to make clear that this war is existential for Europeans as well as Ukraine.

While there is recognition in European capitals that its still early in the U.S. presidential contest, former President Trumps recent refusal to express hopes for a Ukrainian victory  a stark contrast with President Bidens full-throated support, including a visit to Kyiv in February  caused a ripple of nervousness across the continent.

Berlin is preparing for the possibility that Donald Trump could beat Joe Biden in the next election, the newsmagazine Der Spiegel wrote last month, adding that such an outcome could spell disaster for Ukraine and for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Story continues

As Europes economic heavyweight, Germany has previously had a fraught and sometimes frosty relationship with Zelensky over how much wartime support it would offer.

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Sunday. (Michel Euler / Associated Press)

The weekend visit, the Ukrainian leaders first to Berlin since the invasion, marked what was widely viewed as a distinct reset, with Scholzs government unveiling its largest military aid package  nearly $3 billion worth  on the eve of the two leaders meeting.

Only a little over a year earlier, Ukrainian disapproval derailed a visit to Kyiv by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier over his past warm relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a snub Scholz described as irritating. And Germanys earlier foot-dragging over providing heavy weaponry was a monthslong source of tension.

It was a very different tone Sunday at the joint news conference in Berlin, where Zelensky cited help from friends like Germany as a means of making a Russian defeat irreversible this year.

Zelenskys Sunday evening stop in France, not announced in advance, prompted a subtler parsing of his ties with the government of French President Emmanuel Macron.

The French leader had previously unsettled officials in Kyiv by repeatedly suggesting it would be reasonable to negotiate with Putin. But Sunday, after a three-hour dinner meeting, Macron and Zelensky said in a joint statement that France had offered training and promised to supply armored vehicles and light tanks for several Ukrainian battalions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, left, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hold a news conference at Chequers, the prime minister's official country residence, in Aylesbury, England, on Monday. (Carl Court / Associated Press)

In Britain, another stop not announced in advance, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak enveloped Zelensky in a warm embrace after the Ukrainian leader arrived by helicopter at Chequers, the prime ministers official retreat outside London.

Sunak, who in his relatively short tenure has emerged as a staunch backer of Ukraine, said Britain would be providing hundreds of additional air-defense missiles, as well as long-range attack drones.

That was on top of an announcement last week that Britain had already provided Ukraine with sophisticated Storm Shadow cruise missiles, with a range in excess of 150 miles  the first known delivery of its kind from a Western partner.

Germanys new aid package will include 30 additional Leopard 1 tanks, along with Marder armored vehicles, air-defense systems and surveillance drones. But rather than portraying the new tranche of aid as bolstering a Ukrainian counteroffensive that could begin at almost any time, Germany signaled it was meant to demonstrate a long-term commitment.

We all hope for a rapid end to this terrible war by Russia against the Ukrainian people, Germanys defense minister, Boris Pistorius, said in a statement Saturday as the assistance was announced. But unfortunately this is not in sight. This is why Germany will supply all the help that it can, for as long as necessary.

For Ukraine, showcasing major new European commitments is a way of allaying concerns  which Moscow will likely seek to amplify  about the U.S. political climate potentially hampering future major commitments, analysts said.

If I was [Zelensky], I would want clearly articulated European support in the run-up to the American election, said Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff, a scholar at the German Marshall Fund in Berlin.

But Zelensky by no means came away with everything on his wish list as his country prepares for the coming counteroffensive against Russian forces  and in fact, much of the pledged new aid will not make its way through the pipeline before that military push begins in earnest.

Ukraine has long said Western fighter jets are perhaps the most urgent need, but even Britain did not make unambiguous promises on that score. Sunak promised imminent help in training Ukrainian pilots to use advanced Western combat aircraft, but told reporters a buildup of fighter combat aircraft capability for Kyiv is not a straightforward thing.

Advanced fighter jets have been a major stumbling block for Western partners concerned about giving the appearance that NATO nations are engaging in direct confrontation with Russia.

This European tour  in what may be the last window for Zelensky to be absent from his capital for any length of time  also has yielded little movement on Kyivs often-repeated calls for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to invite Ukraine to become a member.

It is time to remove the biggest security uncertainty in Europe  that is, to make a positive political decision on our NATO membership, Zelensky said in a prerecorded video for the Copenhagen Democracy Summit on Monday.

But in his Berlin appearance with the Ukrainian leader, Scholz sidestepped the subject, and public support for bringing Ukraine into the NATO fold has thus far been limited to countries on the alliances eastern edge.

Following the unusual love fest of this European tour, thats the next friction coming, said Kleine-Brockhoff.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, speaking in Copenhagen on Monday, said that while he expects a multiyear process of assisting Ukraine in laying the groundwork for a bid to join, there is little meaningful discussion to be had about Ukrainian accession unless it manages to remain a sovereign independent nation in Europe.

Even as Zelensky was wrapping up his appeals, Ukraine on Monday claimed some progress in one of the war's bloodiest battles, in the eastern town of Bakhmut.

Ukrainian ground forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi, on the messaging app Telegram, said the advance, although limited, proved that even under the most "extremely difficult conditions," Ukraine was showing its determination to prevail.

"We are fighting with fewer resources than the enemy," he wrote. "At the same time, we are able to thwart its plans."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Andrew Baker, the son of former Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, was arrested on a drunken driving charge in Lynnfield on Saturday night, state police said.

Andrew Baker, 29, of South Boston, was charged with operating under the influence of liquor, state police spokesman David Procopio said in a statement on Sunday. Following his arrest, Baker was taken by state police to the Danvers barracks, where he was booked and later released on personal recognizance and $40 bail.

At approximately 8:15 p.m. Saturday, a state trooper responded to Interstate 95 south, prior to Walnut Street in Lynnfield, where Peabody Police officers had stopped a Volkswagen Jetta after following it onto that highway from Route 114, Procopio said.

Peabody Police had located and followed the Jetta after another motorist reported seeing the car being driven erratically, Procopio said.

Peabody officers on scene told the trooper they had detected signs of intoxication in the male driver, later identified as Andrew Baker, who was out of the vehicle when the trooper arrived.

The trooper also observed signs of intoxication during his interaction with the driver, Procopio said.

State police then administered several field sobriety tests.

Based on the results of those tests, in conjunction with his observations of the operator and statements made by the operator, the Trooper formed the opinion that the operator was impaired by liquor, Procopio said.

Andrew Baker will be arraigned at a later date in Peabody District Court, state police said.

In June 2018, while his father was governor, Andrew Baker, who is known as A.J., was accused of sexually assaulting a female passenger aboard a JetBlue flight from Washington, D.C. to Boston. The case was never prosecuted.

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
BALTIMORE (AP)  The Los Angeles Angels put infielder Anthony Rendon on the 10-day injured list Monday with a left groin strain.

The move was retroactive to Sunday, when Rendon was out of the lineup for a game at Cleveland. He was hurt Saturday.

The Angels also recalled infielder Livan Soto from Double-A Rocket City, reinstated catcher Chad Wallach from the IL and optioned catcher Chris Okey to Triple-A Salt Lake.

The 32-year-old Rendon has hit .301 in 30 games this year. He's in the fourth season of a $245 million, seven-year deal with Los Angeles. He hasn't played more than 58 games in a season since leaving Washington to join the Angels.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Another candidate has joined the race for the Long Island House seat currently held by Republican Rep. George Santos, who pleaded not guilty last week to federal charges of wire fraud, money laundering and theft of public funds.

Following the arraignment, Santos said he doesnt plan to resign and intends to continue running for reelection. But that hasn't deterred one Republican and four Democrats from officially launching 2024 bids for his seat, in a swing district that flipped from Democratic to Republican last year.

Zak Malamed, co-founder of the Democratic donor network Next 50, announced his candidacy in a Twitter post Monday by making several digs relating to the fabrications told by Santos.

While @Santos4Congress has deceived our community with his lies, I will always tell the truth about my story and the needs of this district, Malamed said.

Malamed is a co-founder of Next 50, a Democratic donor network that has raised millions for candidates younger than 50. Also in the running for Santos' seat are former Democrat state Sen. Anna Kaplan, Josh Lafazan, a former county legislator, law professor Will Murphy and Kellen Curry, a Republican veteran of the war in Afghanistan who worked at JPMorgan. Former Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi, who held the seat before Santos, is also reportedly considering a bid.

Federal prosecutors accused the first-term lawmaker in a 13-count indictment of fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits, using campaign contributions to pay down personal debts and purchase designer clothing, and lying to the House of Representatives about his financial condition. His next court appearance is set for June 30.

Santos has become known for fabricating almost his entire campaign biography. His claims about working for Goldman Sachs, having Jewish ancestry and even running pet charities were largely untrue. Santos has claimed he merely embellished his resume but never did anything unlawful.

Im going to fight the witch hunt, Santos said after his arraignment last week. Im going to take care of clearing my name.



Story continues

Santos congressional campaign lost money during the first quarter of 2023 after it reported having to issue refunds in excess of the contributions it received.

Several lawmakers and top New York elected officials have called on Santos to resign. Gov. Kathy Hochul in February called him a "huge distraction and said that she wanted him gone.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy hasn't called for his resignation but said Wednesday that he wouldn't support Santos' reelection bid. President Joe Biden declined to comment on if Santos should resign and said "that's for Congress to decide."

Six out of 10 House Republicans from New York have called on Santos to resign, including all four first-term Republican congressmen.

He should have resigned in January. He should resign now, Rep. Marc Molinaro told POLITICO last week.

"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," Rep. Anthony D'Esposito (R-N.Y.) said in a Twitter post.

A February Siena Poll found that 66 percent of New York voters across the state believe Santos should resign from Congress.

I believe that everyone can agree that George Santos is a disgrace and he should resign. But he has said that he's not going to, Kaplan told CNN This Morning on Monday. And Congress should expel him, but we have also seen Kevin McCarthy refuse to do the right thing. I'm running because I want to make sure we give the voters a choice at the ballot. And to unseat George Santos.
Ihor Kornet

The blast reportedly occurred on Demekhina Street in the premises of the Barbershop beauty salon, next to the Russian-controlled television and radio company.

Leonid Pasechnik, the head of the Luhansk puppet authority, confirmed that there were casualties as a result of the explosion.

Russian propaganda outlet RIA Novosti also confirmed this information, with reference to their own sources.

Later, Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported with reference to law enforcement agencies that Kornet was in intensive care with severe injuries.

Read also: Blaze at Russian barracks after several blasts rock occupied Luhansk  video

The BBCs Russian service calls Kornet one of the most influential security officials in the occupied Donbas.Kornet worked as a criminal investigator at Ukraines Interior Ministry until2014.

Later, he joined Russian occupying forces, heading the so-called interior ministry in occupied Luhansk.

In November 2017, the then head of the Luhansk puppet authority, Igor Plotnitsky, decided to dismiss Kornet, but the latter refused to resign. The next day, armed forces loyal to Kornet seized administrative buildings. After that, Plotnitsky left for Moscow and retired.

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
MiKayla Pickett, 8, was shot and killed around 11:45 p.m. Aug. 14, 2020, in the 700 block of Roselle Avenue.

Another person has been arrested and charged in connection to the 2020 shooting death of 8-year-old MiKayla Pickett during a backyard birthday party in Akron's Sherbondy Hill neighborhood, according to Akron police.

Jaevone Suggs, 18, was arrested Friday morning in relation to the girl's death on Aug. 14, 2020, Akron police said. During the incident, a then-14-year-old girl was also injured when she was shot in the leg, with police saying they were "caught between a hail of gunfire" outside a residence in the 700 block of Roselle Avenue.

Police said that detectives issued an arrest warrant for Suggs in April of this year after developing information linking him to the incident. The U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force members and Akron investigators tracked Suggs to a residence in the 1300 block of Nester Avenue in Akron's Kenmore neighborhood and took him into custody without incident.

Suggs was booked into the Summit County Juvenile Detention Facility and charged with aggravated murder, murder, discharging firearms and felonious assault.

MiKayla Pickett: Girl, 8, fatally shot during backyard teen birthday party in Akron

MiKayla Pickett, 8, was a student at Portage Path Community Learning Center in Akron.

Suggs is the fourth person charged in relation to the girl's death: Robert Scott, 22; Donte Farmer, 37; and Emahni Thomas, 21, are charged with aggravated murder and felonious assault. Scott was arrested last month in Michigan. Farmer is currently incarcerated on unrelated charges.

MiKayla, whom her family called "Kay Kay," was a student at Portage Path Community Learning Center. Her family said she took dance classes and gymnastics, and that she wanted to be a dancer when she grew up. Her mother, Shoskamika Risper, said she was a homebody, was lovable and had a good heart.

Risper she was at work when a babysitter took MiKayla over to the party, a street away from where she lived. She said theyve known the people throwing the party for a long time, but that she didnt know her daughter was there.

Story continues

MiKayla didn't even get to grow up yet, Risper said. She still had a lot to live for.

MiKayla Pickett: Mothers grief compounded with loss of 8-year-old in shooting

Contact Beacon Journal reporter Emily Mills at emills@thebeaconjournal.com and on Twitter @EmilyMills818.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Another suspect charged in relation to MiKayla Pickett shooting death
The Atlanta Police Department is seeking the publics assistance in identifying two suspects who reportedly broke into a southwest Atlanta business and stole thousands of dollars worth of items.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

On Apr. 29, two men broke into a business on Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard overnight, according to police. The address appears to be the West Food Market.

Once inside the suspects reportedly stole $13,000 in gaming money, 50 cartons of cigarettes, and $5,000 in cash.

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Atlanta officials said the store was closed during the time of the incident.

Anyone with information on the identities of the two men is urged to contact the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-8477 or online. Tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000 for the arrest and indictment of the suspects.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
A federal appeals court Monday partially paused a ruling from a Texas district court judge that jeopardized access to free preventive care for 150 million Americans.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit granted the Biden administrations request for a partial administrative stay while Judge Reed OConnors ruling is appealed.

The stay will allow the Department of Health and Human Services to continue to mandate most health plans to cover, without cost-sharing, certain preventive health services.

The Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover, without cost-sharing, more than 100 preventive health services recommended by the U.S Preventive Services Task Force.

A lawsuit challenged that requirement, and an injunction from OConnor ended it nationwide and invalidated the entire task force, because its members are not appointed by the president or confirmed by the Senate, yet its recommendations are binding.

OConnor also invalidated the laws requirement that health plans cover HIV treatment. He said the mandate forced the plaintiff, a Christian employer and well-known GOP donor, to pay for insurance that covers HIV prevention drugs.

OConnors ruling applied nationwide, even though the lawsuit only concerned one company.

The administration appealed in April and requested a stay of the nationwide impact of the ruling, arguing the court overstepped its authority by expanding a targeted injunction against a single company to an order that jeopardizes care for more than 150 million people.

The government said it was not appealing the targeted order, as it specifically precludes them from enforcing the preventive services mandate against the company that sued.

The district courts judgment extinguished the rights of 150 million Americansnot parties to this casewho are otherwise protected by the law thats been in place for 13 years, the administration wrote in its latest filing.

Story continues

In the appeal, the administration argued that limiting the injunction to the plaintiffs wouldnt cause them any harm because they would still benefit from the portion of the judgment that applies to them.

The requirement for health plans to cover preventive services without cost sharing has been demonstrated to save lives, the government said. Its elimination would do the opposite.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Apple's iPhone 14 Emergency SOS satellite feature launched last year in the US and Canada, then came to France, Germany, Ireland and the UK shortly afterwards. Now, it's finally launching elsewhere on the planet, coming to New Zealand and Australia  two countries with large wilderness areas lacking any cellular service. As before, it's available to all iPhone 14 users ( iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max) on iOS 16.4 or greater and is free for two years following activation.

"Australians know full well the importance of remaining connected in regional, rural, and remote areas, particularly when they need emergency services," said Australias minister of communications, Michelle Rowland, in a statement. "The ability to contact Triple Zero with Emergency SOS via satellite when there is no mobile coverage is a strong backup to keep Australians connected in an emergency."

Emergency SOS via Satellite is activated by a long press on the power and volume buttons, or rapidly pressing the power button five times. The interface guides you on the best direction to point your iPhone for the best signal. Once connected, you can open a message interface with emergency service providers, and the phone will also communicate your location. If everything goes to plan, you'll receive a message that responders have been notified, and to stay where you are.

You can also share your location with family members in a non-emergency using the Find My app. Users simply open the Me tab, swipe up to see My Location via Satellite, and tap Send My Location. It also works with iPhone and Apple Watch Crash and Fall Detection features. There's even a demo mode that lets you practice using Emergency SOS so you can act quickly if a real emergency arises.

"Since launching last year, Emergency SOS via satellite has already helped save lives in the 12 countries where it has been available," Apple noted. It added that users should be patient if they use the feature, as "it can take a few minutes for even short messages to get through" due to the low bandwidth and rapid speeds of satellites.
A Florida high school teacher ended up in jail after an argument with a fellow teacher turned physical just minutes before first bell, according to the Hernando County Sheriffs Office.

It happened around 7:15 a.m. on Friday, May 12, and involved male and female teachers at Central High School in Brooksville, about 50 miles north of Tampa, the sheriffs office said in a news release. Classes start at 7:20 a.m.

The victim advised that she was having a conversation with another educator ... in a classroom on the campus, officials said.

The conversation became heated. (The suspect) yelled at the victim to Get the (expletive) out of my room. (He) then walked over to the victim, in an aggressive manner, and intentionally pushed the victim (with two hands) in her upper chest area, causing her to step back two to three feet.

He then left school and went home, officials said. Investigators did not report whether the woman was injured.

The altercation happened in front of two other staff members and was recorded by a security camera, investigators say.

Deputies went to the 51-year-old suspects home, where he admitted to pushing the victim, as he was upset with her, officials said.

He was arrested May 12 and charged with aggravated battery on a public education employee, officials said. Bond was set at $2,000 and jail records show he was released that same morning.

The Hernando County School District is conducting their own internal investigation into the matter, the sheriffs office reports.

Central High School has an enrollment of 1,269 students in grades 9 through 12, according to Greatschools.org.

Baby with umbilical cord still attached found dead in trash bag, Florida police say

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Roving gunfight erupts as people in cars begin firing at each other, Florida cops say
Asheville Police Department body camera video from Dec. 25, 2021, the night two Asheville Blade reporters were arrested and charged with trespassing.

ASHEVILLE - Prosecutors in the high-profile trespass case of two local reporters have raised the possibility of moving the trial out of Buncombe County.

Meanwhile, Ben Scales, attorney for reporters Matilda Bliss and Veronica Coit, has claimed prosecutors under District Attorney Todd Williams are refusing to turn over evidence that may show violations of the press "shield law."

A Superior Court trial date for Bliss and Coit, reporters for the self-described leftist Asheville Blade, is set for June 12. They are appealing an April 19 District Court misdemeanor trespassing conviction that stems from what they said was their coverage of a Christmas 2021 homeless protest in a city park that was closed for the night. Press freedom groups and advocates including actor John Cusack have said charges should be dropped.

More: Actor John Cusack, dozens of media orgs protest Asheville reporters' criminal convictions

The reference to a venue change arose in a May 4 motion by Assistant District Attorney Robert McRight in which he asked a judge for a pretrial conference about Scales' out-of-court statements.

Scales has spoken to the media, including the Citizen Times, and appeared on a Facebook livestreamed program entitled "Why is Buncombe County DA Prosecuting Journalists," making statements such as his belief that Chief District Court Judge Calvin Hill's ruling against the reporters was "illegal."

Scales and Williams are past political rivals, with Scales challenging Williams twice unsuccessfully for top county prosecutor, most recently in the 2018 Democratic primary.

McRight in his "Notice of Extrajudicial Statement and Motion for Pretrial Conference" said Scales' out-of-court statements were "intended to materially prejudice an adjudicative proceeding," a violation of N.C. lawyers' ethics rules.

In an allusion to the possibility of moving the case, McRight said "the State is committed to trying this case on its merits in a Buncombe County forum before a Buncombe County panel of jurors."

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Such a change could put the trial of the leftist reporters before jurors of a more conservative county.

The Citizen Times did not have a reporter at the May 11 pretrial conference on McRight's motion but got statements from Scales and Williams who both said Judge Jacqueline Grant gave no order and made no finding that Scales violated ethics rules.

Williams, though, said Grant "advised the parties to comply with Rule 3.6 of the N.C. Rules of Professional Conduct for lawyers," a State Bar regulation against using pretrial publicity to affect a case.

More: Asheville homeless count numbers released. How do they compare to pre-COVID levels?

Williams added that his office "will pledge to comply with the rules of professional conduct."

Scales, while emphasizing Grant made no finding against him, said he still felt his "words and actions" were "under heightened scrutiny" as a result of the filing.

But Scales did discuss with the Citizen Times his latest filing, a May 11 motion for discovery  the pretrial process where both sides in a legal dispute share information.

He said it took Bliss 74 days to get back a cellphone seized by police and that he only learned it was being held so it could be searched. On May 3, Bliss told the Citizen Times that police got the warrant not to look for evidence of trespassing but to gather evidence for another case, which she called a violation of federal law.

In addition to the trespassing charges, prosecutors are trying some Christmas night protesters for felony littering, though problems with how police handled evidence caused the case to be restarted and rescheduled.

Scales said he is calling for prosecutors to turn over the search warrant for Bliss' phone.

"We want to know what information was retrieved from the phone and how it was used," he said, adding, they wanted to know if any effort was made to comply with the press shield law.

The state's shield law protects any "confidential or nonconfidential information, document or item" reporters obtain while acting as newsgatherers. The one exception is eyewitness observations of crimes.

Police have said the pair's status as reporters was not relevant and they were arrested because the park was closed.

In bodycam video released after a civil action brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina, an officer can be heard repeatedly asking Coit to leave the park. Coit responded they were "covering a story."

In his May 11 motion, Scales said he attempted through prior motions to get such information, but said "the State has indicated orally to counsel for Defendants that the State has no intention of complying with that Request fordiscovery."

Williams told the Citizen Times prosecutors would "make all disclosures required by N.C. criminal discovery laws."

Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville Blade reporters' trespass case: Venue change? Seized phone?
(Bloomberg) -- Australias center-left Labor government has approved its first new coal mine since it came to power a year ago, in a boost to the countrys lucrative fossil fuel industry.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Bowen Coking Coal Ltd. said Friday that it had received approval to move ahead with its planned Isaac River Coal Mine, which will sit alongside several other projects in the Bowen Basin in Queensland. The company plans to increase output of coal used in steelmaking to 5 million tons by 2024.

Australia is one of the worlds biggest fossil fuel exporters, which also makes it one of biggest per-capita polluters. The Labor government has pushed to reverse the nations reputation as a climate laggard, including imposing emissions targets of 43% off 2005 levels by 2030 and increasing funding for the transition to renewable energy.

However, its also faced criticism for maintaining its support for the industry, including guaranteeing future gas exploration and supply. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek defended her decision to approve the new coal mine on Monday, saying that she had made the decision in line with Australias current environmental regulations.

This is a small project, Plibersek told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Its a project that produces metallurgical coal, which is the coal you need for steel making. Theres no renewable energy future that doesnt have steel in it.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
The barrier was put up in the hope that droves of tourists will no longer flock to one of the most popular selfie spots

The Austrian village of Hallstatt -- popular among selfie-seekers for its similarity to the backdrop of the Frozen film series -- has installed wooden barriers to obstruct the Alpine view in an effort to curb overtourism.

The tiny village of just 750 residents, with its sloping, snow-laden timber houses and pointed church spire, would see about a million visitors per year before the Covid pandemic hit in 2020.

Grappling with a revived influx of tourists thronging its narrow streets, the village acted on complaints by residents and erected temporary wooden fences last week to partially obstruct the vista, a community official told AFP.

The barriers were put up in the hope that droves of tourists will no longer flock to one of the most popular selfie spots to frame themselves with the picturesque Alpine village nestled between soaring mountains and a sparkling lake.

It remains unclear for how long the wooden barriers will be in place.

A decision will be made based on the feedback of the intervention, the official confirmed.

"The only thing that would help is if the photo point is no longer a photo point," Mayor Alexander Scheutz told a local newspaper.

kym/jza/giv
Faith Good, 16, holds her 6-month-old son, Sheldon Morris, during the monthly gathering of the Help Me Grow program in Hamden, Ohio.

Margaret Demko always thought that, one day, an obstetrician would come to care for mothers and babies in Vinton County.

But it's been 25 years, and, despite efforts by her and other advocates, there's still no pre- or postnatal care within the sprawling 400-square-mile county in southeastern Ohio.

And last year, five babies died.

Demko believes those deaths could have been prevented if there was better access to health care within the county boundaries.

More: 10 maternity wards have closed in Ohio in the last year. Here's where and why

It shouldn't have to be about where I live. I should have equitable access to care, said Demko, the project director for Vinton County Help Me Grow, a home visiting program for new parents.

Vinton County  the least populated county in the state, with around 12,500 residents  is whats known as a maternity care desert.

In Ohio, 13 of the 88 counties are maternity care deserts, and the state had the most women, approximately 97,000, impacted by overall reductions in access to care in the past two years, according to March of Dimes data.

The lack of any maternity care in those counties, coupled with barriers to access care farther away, leads to poor health outcomes for mothers and babies.

Several Northeast Ohio counties, including Holmes, Tuscarawas, Coshocton and Ashtabula are considered to have low access, and Portage County's only maternity unit closed in Ravenna last year. Summa's maternity unit also closed in Barberton last year.

Pregnant but unequal: In rural America, maternal health care is vanishing. These moms are most at risk.

Experts are calling for a comprehensive solution that not only includes more hospitals and doctors, but an increase in health education.

Rocxzan Elkins, 21, holds her newborn daughter, Raegan, while talking to Help Me Grow Project Director Margaret Demko last month.

What is a maternity care desert?

A maternity care desert is an area where access to maternity health care services is limited or absent, according to March of Dimes, a national nonprofit that works to improve the health of mothers and babies. That could mean theres a lack of services or barriers to people's ability to access them.

Story continues

Over 2.2 million American women of childbearing age live in maternity care deserts like Vinton County, where there is no access to maternity care, an obstetric provider, a hospital with obstetric care or a birth center. Approximately 2 million women of childbearing age live at least 25 miles away from a labor and delivery unit, a 2022 USA TODAY analysis found.

An average of two women die every day from complications of pregnancy and childbirth, and two babies die every hour in the U.S., according to the data. Maternal death rates have also increased over the past few years, with Black women seeing the highest rates at nearly 70 deaths per 100,000 births, according to a report from the National Center for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Moms are dying: The rate of women dying in childbirth surged by 40%. These deaths are preventable.

Why does it matter where doctors work? Two medical administrators explain their perspectives

In Vinton County, the drive to hospitals in neighboring counties is at least 30 minutes, Demko said.

We have had multiple babies over the last few years delivered in a car, said Demko, who has spent decades working with pregnant women in Vinton County.

The only available medical care in Vinton County is a federally qualified health center called the McArthur Dental, Primary Health Care, and Behavioral Health Care Clinic, Demko said.

The center offers primary care doctors, but no maternity care or gynecological services, she said. And, there are often waitlists to even see a primary care doctor.

They do a fantastic job.  Theres just not enough of it, she said. "(Maternity care) is so basic, yet it does not exist, and we are losing babies."

Several of the families Demko works with can't access a primary care doctor or obstetrician out of town due to barriers, such as transportation and money.

The health department has been trying to bring in doctors, but its an issue of funding, she said. There would have to be the proper equipment, including sterilization capabilities and an exam table with stirrups.

"We have the capacity, just not the finances to pay for it," said Ciara Fox, the health commissioner at the Vinton County Health Department, standing outside three exam rooms at the health department, now being used for storage. "We have all the little pieces."

COVID-19's impact on maternity care

Nationwide, 5% of counties have less maternity care than they did two years ago, a decrease that's likely because of the pandemic's effects, experts say.

Hospitals are going through major challenges in both rural and urban areas, said Tom Campanella, a health care executive in residence at Baldwin Wallace University.

The pandemic has meant decreased staffing at hospitals and worsening hospital finances, he said. When hospitals evaluate their expenses, they may see that there isn't a large population of pregnant patients at the same time, and may decide the cost to staff maternity wards and keep the infrastructure for delivery and maternity care isn't outweighed by the need, Campanella said.

Fate Meadows, 19, of Wellston, Ohio, talks to Samantha Scott, left, of Help Me Grow as she plays with Levi Meadows, 1, during the April 13 gathering of the Vinton County Health Departments program in Hamden.

'Staggering' and 'sobering': More than 80% of US maternal deaths are preventable, CDC study shows

Maternity wards are closing across Ohio

Since June 2022, the Ohio Hospital Association has counted 10 maternity wards closing across the state, according to spokesman John Palmer. Some merged or moved to a partner hospital, but Palmer said the reasons given for the closures centered around workforce issues, operational costs and a decline in use due to fewer births in Ohio.

The number of births in the nation has been declining in recent years, though there are still women who do need maternity wards, even in rural areas.

Hamden, Ohio, located in Vinton County  the least populated county in the state, with around 12,500 residents  is whats known as a maternity care desert.

More pregnant and unequal: Inequities in maternal health care access are not new. They have deep roots in history.

In addition, the areas may not be attractive to doctors and health care systems because of the amount of poverty in the county. Many Vinton County residents may be on Medicaid, which pays providers at a lower rate than private insurance. There are also fewer patients to see due to the low county population, meaning a practice there may not be financially sustainable.

Vinton County: Columbus woman donates Christmas gifts to kids in southern Ohio for 20 years

"It's a symptom of a much bigger problem," Campanella said of the lack of maternity care in rural Ohio. "(With) rural health care in general, we have a major problem."

But, he said, "It's a societal problem that needs to be addressed by a societal perspective," not by individual doctors, hospital systems or people.

And, Campanella added, the answer isn't just more hospitals, but more health education in the form of community health workers, more doctors and better access to pre- and postnatal care.

Kylee Martin, 23, feeds snacks to her son, Weston, 2, and daughter, Kaislee, 9 months, at the Help Me Grow program April 13 in Hamden, Ohio.

Helping moms be the best parent they can be

One such program is Help Me Grow, a voluntary home visiting initiative that is run through a partnership with the Ohio Department of Health.

Demko and the six home visitors work with pregnant women until their baby is 5, she said.

They offer education on topics like safe sleep for babies and activity-based programming. They also help them make a birth plan, answer questions and provide more practical assistance like gas vouchers so women can make it to their appointments. They can also help women, many who are low-income, get diapers, wipes, car seats, emergency supplies, books and more.

Physician shortage: Decline of rural doctors may leave parts of Ohio with too few physicians

Mostly, we just try to help moms be the best parent they can be, Demko said. We provide tools to help families be stronger.

Home visitors help mothers set and reach goals, and offer monthly play groups.

Last year, the program served 135 families in Vinton and the surrounding counties, she said.

Freda Nicholson, 30, of Hamden, Ohio, talks to Help Me Grow home visitor Ashley Greenlee on April 13.

Treating moms, babies 'like family'

On a recent April afternoon, Freda Nicholson was holding her 1-year-old daughter, Paislee, in her lap at the early learning center.

Nicholson, 30, recently moved to Hamden from Jackson County, but shes been engaged with Vinton County Help Me Grow since before her 5-year-old son, Branson Moore, was born.

Its probably the most helpful program Ive ever been in, Nicholson said.

'Mommies Matter': Columbus diocese hopes to support mothers, build strong families with new program

The program has meant she's never had to buy diapers for Paislee, which has helped ease financial worries for her family. They also helped her get formula when there was a shortage, and they bring educational materials and activities when they visit her home once a month.

Its like a miniature play group, she said of the home visits. They treat (us) like family, they dont make you feel uncomfortable.

Nicholson, who is pregnant and due June 8, is happy to have Help Me Grow because she said maternity care in the county is "awful."

Getting to doctor appointments and the hospital can be a financial strain, she said, but Help Me Grow has also helped her pay for gas. Still, being in labor in the car isn't comfortable, Nicholson said.

"It would be so much more convenient if (a hospital) was closer," Nicholson said.

Sarah and Robert Holliday of McArthur, Ohio, carry their 4-month-old daughter, Eleanor, while hunting outside for rubber ducks at Vinton County Health Departments Help Me Grow program in Hamden.

Reach Danae King at dking@dispatch.com. On Twitter: @DanaeKing

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: State of maternity care in rural Ohio: Wards shuttered, births in cars
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)  Syria on Monday called on Arab countries to invest in the war-torn nation, now again a member of the Arab League. The appeal from Syria's economy and trade minister came during an economic conference in Saudi Arabia ahead of a league summit in the kingdom.

The 22-member Arab League agreed earlier this month 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.

However, crippling Western sanctions against Assads government remain in place and could prevent oil-rich Arab countries from rushing to invest in Syria  or lead to a quick release of reconstruction funds in the war-battered country.

We invite you to participate in investing in Syria, where there are important opportunities and promising horizons, said the Syrian minister, Mohammed Samer al-Khalil, as he addressed the opening session of the conference Monday in Jeddah.

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan also spoke, welcoming Syria's return to the Arab League and saying he looked forward to working together "to achieve what we aim for.

Syria earlier this month opened regional talks with Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Egypt in Amman, as part of an Arab-led initiative to resolve the Syrian conflict. Analysts say investments will likely be limited until Syria reaches a political solution to the conflict and resolves a host of other pressing issues  millions of Syrian refugees, a flourishing illicit drug trade and extremist militant groups.

It is unclear if Assad, who has been formally invited to the Arab League summit on Friday, will take part in it.

On Monday evening, Syria's Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad arrived in Jeddah to attend meetings that precede the summit, Syria's state news agency, SANA, reported.

This is a new opportunity to tell our Arab brothers that we don't look to the past but to the future, Mekdad told reporters upon arrival, according to SANA. There are many challenges that we should discuss and gather our force as Arabs to face them. They include the Arab-Israeli conflict and climate change.

Story continues

Syria was suspended from the league over Assad's brutal cracking down on mass protests against his rule in 2011. The uprising quickly turned into a civil war that has killed nearly a half million people and displaced half of the countrys pre-war population of 23 million.

Saudi Arabia had been a key backer of armed opposition groups attempting to overthrow Assad, but in recent months Riyadh had called for dialogue. Last month, Mekdad visited Riyadh and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, visited Damascus and met with Assad. Last week, the two countries agreed on reopening their embassies.

In his speech, al-Khalil also thanked Arab countries for sending aid to Syria following the February earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria, killing over 50,000 people, including more than 6,000 in Syria.

In addition to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt have also renewed ties with Damascus, following normalization efforts from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain years ago.

Still, Kuwait, Morocco, and Qatar, remain opposed to normalizing relations with Syria and Qatar continues to be a key backer of Syrian rebel groups fighting Assad.

____

Mroue reported from Beirut.
Ask any candidate for school board in a Monroe County suburb and they will tell you: Banning books is bad.

Dig a little deeper, though, and distinctions emerge.

"Im not a book burner, not at all," Septimus Scott, a candidate in Greece, said at a public forum. "(But) parents need to be involved in deciding what books go into our libraries and are in front of our children."

"I don't call it a book ban because they're kids," Don Markham, a candidate in East Irondequoit, said at a forum there. "Adults are adults  theres freedom. Kids are kids. I dont believe they have the freedom to do things."

"I dont like the word 'ban' because I dont think they should be in the library to begin with," Melissa Levato, a candidate in Hilton, said at the district's Meet the Candidates night. "If you are one of the parents who says youre OK with it, then we have public libraries. ... You can always access them that way. So its not really a ban."

School board elections set for Tuesday

For the third year in a row, elections in several Rochester-area suburbs (to be held Tuesday) are turning on ideological differences regarding diversity, inclusion and the public nature of public education itself.

Rochester-area school board elections will be held May 16.

In the above districts and others, including Gates Chili, Penfield and Webster, certain candidates are running on anodyne-sounding platforms of restoring safety to schools, ensuring parental rights, transparency and mending community division.

The specifics of their campaigns, however, would in some cases upend long-established norms in public education as well as recent commitments to better serving all students. They would give parents, not educators, the final word on what materials belong in the library and classroom, and would walk back pledges to focus on diversity in favor of a renewed emphasis on patriotism and unity.

The debate is particularly charged in Hilton, where a longtime principal was convicted last year of sexually abusing more than 20 students at school, and where classes were recently disrupted due to a bomb threat regarding a LGBTQ-themed book in the library.

Story continues

"If you're gay, that's fine; nobody cares," Mike Zillioux, a candidate in Hilton, said at the district's Meet the Candidates forum. "Let's focus on: a good citizen, one community, the United States of America. Let's not put people in boxes."

At the same event, Zillioux labeled some books in the school library as pornography and said he was opposed to "boys having access to private girls' space," a reference to attempts to make bathrooms accessible to transgender students.

Kristine Price, another candidate in Hilton, called those comments evidence of homophobia and transphobia.

"By making an issue out of trans people using the bathroom and banning this book  it seems to me we have some people with issues with the queer community," she said. "But instead of coming out and saying that, they nitpick these other issues that get people all riled up."

Strategic goals at issue in Greece

In the neighboring district of Greece, meanwhile, a three-person slate of candidates (Miguel Millan, Septimus Scott and Jordan Stenzel) promises to toss the district's current strategic goals related to diversity, equity and inclusion in order to "reject division and promote a culture of unity for all students and district staff." If elected, they would join two like-minded candidates on the current board to make up a majority.

The Greece Teachers Association has endorsed their three opponents, including current school board president and Republican Monroe County legislator Sean McCabe.

"If that whole ticket comes in and sweeps three seats itll philosophically change the direction of the district, and I dont think thats a good thing," McCabe said. "The narrative around (library materials) right now is a little bit frightening. ...

"It's not for me to decide its not appropriate to have a book with two moms or two dads  because we have students with two moms or two dads."

Millan, Scott and Stenzel did not respond to a request for comment.

Divisiveness growing in school districts

Districts across Monroe County have seen increasing challenges to library books and curriculum materials as well as protests at school board meetings. In the last three years, the mostly conservative opposition has shifted its target from COVID safety measures to diversity policies and now transgender issues but maintained the banner of parents' rights, administrative transparency and a no-frills approach to academics.

"We gotta get off the stuff with sex changes and Black Lives Matter and all this other stuff that Ive seen goes on in the schools and I know goes on," Markham said at the East Irondequoit candidates forum. "Weve got to get back to basics."

Markham ran for school board in 2022 as well and lost, then unsuccessfully challenged the result, saying the election had been "fixed."

During the same time frame, students at some local students have grown increasingly bold in calls for social justice, staging walkouts in Pittsford, East Irondequoit and Our Lady of Mercy High School and holding rallies across the county. And voters in the last two years have almost universally rejected candidates seeking to roll back diversity goals -- part of the reason, perhaps, that those goals are most often expressed on the campaign trail with extreme subtlety, to the point that residents seeking such candidates have a hard time identifying them.

From 2020: Rochester teen activism for social justice on the rise

Price, a candidate in Hilton and a teacher at Rochester's East High School, said she believes there is a core difference of opinion about the definition of public education itself.

"Its almost like they only want to have certain views upheld and certain topics talked about under the guise of parental rights," she said. "I really dont understand how people could feel that way given that schools are funded with public funds. ... If you want to control the environment of the school to that level, go to a private school."

All local school districts except Rochester will have public votes on their budgets and school boards Tuesday. For details, polling places and times, see individual district websites or newsletters.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: School board elections, budget votes in Monroe County NY: What to know
(Bloomberg) -- An upstart Thai political party delivered a shocking blow to a royalist establishment that has suppressed democracy over the past two decades. Now the question is whether it can implement real change without a fight.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Pita Limjaroenrat, the 42-year-old Harvard-educated leader of Move Forward, staked his claim to becoming Thailands prime minister after his party won the most seats and total votes in Sundays election. The party was by far the most ideological in a field of politicians pledging populist handouts, standing alone among major groups in calling for changes to a law that restricts criticism of the nations powerful monarchy.

Addressing reporters after the win, Pita vowed not to compromise in the push to change Article 112, a law known as lese majeste that can put offenders behind bars for as many as 15 years if theyre convicted of insulting 70-year-old King Maha Vajiralongkorn or several other top royals.

Im worried about the relationship between the people and the monarchy, especially the younger generation, Pita said on Monday.

Well use the parliament to make sure that its a comprehensive discussion, with maturity, transparency and how we should move forward in terms of the relationship between the monarchy and the masses, he added. Its fair to say that its the sentiment of the era that has changed.

The push to directly change laws affecting the monarchy breaks a longstanding taboo in Thailand, where in years past even the suggestion of disloyalty to the palace has been grounds for the military to stage a coup, leading to successive bouts of deadly street protests that have held back Southeast Asias second-biggest economy. Generals booted out an elected government in 2006 and then again in 2014, each time vowing to crack down on elements that posed a threat to the monarchy.

Story continues

Tensions started to build further after the 2016 death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who was widely revered after spending 70 years on the throne. His son, King Vajiralongkorn, succeeded him and quickly asserted his authority, taking direct command of some army units and acquiring personal ownership of Crown Property Bureau assets valued at tens of billions of dollars.

A backlash manifested in the form of student-led protests in 2020 calling for more checks and balances on the monarchy. While the demonstrations eventually flamed out, many who participated ended up joining or supporting Move Forward  sowing the seeds for the partys sweeping victory on Sunday.

This is a Bangkok Spring, Surachart Bamrungsuk, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University, told The Nation television network, using a term first associated with political liberalization in Czechoslovakia in the 1960s. Military leaders jumped out of their tanks and climbed into campaign trucks with confidence, but were crushed by dissenting voters.

Yet if history is any guide, the hard work is just starting for Pita and other pro-democracy parties. Ahead of the vote, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha, a former general who led the 2014 coup, warned that groups proposing sweeping societal changes will drag the country into a black hole of conflict.

The potential for a conservative backlash is one reason investors were divided on the outcome, with the baht rallying by the most in five weeks while the benchmark SET Index fell 1.3%. Shares of companies linked to some of Thailands billionaires slumped on concern a government led by Move Forward may unveil measures to usher in more competition in sectors such as telecommunications and power.

There is a possibility that the government formula that we heard today may be totally different from the real thing over the next two-three months, said Tim Leelahaphan, a Bangkok-based economist at Standard Chartered Bank Plc.

The first obstacle for Pita is a 250-member Senate appointed by the junta that took power in 2014. This group gets to vote for prime minister, and could still cobble together enough support with more conservative smaller parties to prevent Pita and other pro-democracy leaders from forming a government.

Doing so, however, risks sparking more violent protests and may be short-sighted, given the Senates ability to vote for prime minister is scheduled to expire next year. That means any minority government would be subject to a confidence vote that could see pro-democracy parties eventually take power.

More significant, perhaps, will be any attempts by Move Forward to amend the lese majeste law or to change the constitution. The appointed Senate can still block either of those initiatives. In addition, any legal changes can also be subject to review by the Constitutional Court, which has disbanded numerous political parties that have be seen to challenge the monarchy.

Pita need look no further than Pheu Thai, another pro-democracy party that finished second overall, to understand the risks. Two previous incarnations of the party have been disbanded, and governments led by two former Shinawatra prime ministers  Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra  were ousted in separate coups. Thaksin is currently in exile and seeking to return to Thailand.

Current Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, who helped write the constitution after the 2014 coup, warned Monday that the new government risks facing similar protests and resistance.

The military, palace and a minority of people willing to get on the streets amount to an opposition which is more powerful than a parliamentary opposition, according to Kevin Hewison, emeritus professor of Asian Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

So Move Forward, Pheu Thai  whatever government they might put together  has to be careful, he said. They probably have to proceed with a considerable amount of caution.

--With assistance from Suttinee Yuvejwattana and Anuchit Nguyen.

(Adds details.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Barry Morphew has claimed that his wife Suzanne made some bad decisions prior to her sudden disappearance but insisted that they had a wonderful marriage as he spoke out three years on from the day that she was last seen alive.

Mr Morphew and the couples adult daughters Mallory and Macy Morphew spoke to ABCs Good Morning America on what marks the third anniversary of Suzannes disappearance on Mothers Day 2020.

Clutching his daughters hands, he continued to profess his innocence of any involvement in what happened to his wife and claimed that his life had been ruined by the murder charges which were brought against him  and then later dropped.

He denied that there was any issues in their marriage and claimed that trouble with the chemotherapy and the drugs led his wife to make bad decisions.

We had a wonderful life, a wonderful marriage. She was just so loving and giving, and such a good mother, he said.

I know that she was going through chemotherapy for the last couple years before her disappearance. I know she was going through some hard things and made some bad decisions.

When asked what he meant by that, he added: She was really having trouble with the chemotherapy and the drugs.

Despite his claims of a happy marriage, Suzanne had allegedly been having an affair with an old friend at the time of her disappearance.

Texts messages also revealed that she had told her husband she wanted a divorce just four days before she was last seen alive, according to court documents.

Done, lets handle this civilly, she wrote.

She also referred to her husband as Jekyl and Hyde in messages to a friend and had been recording the couples arguments and his alleged abuse with a recording pen and in written notes on her phone, prosecutors said.

When asked about the affair, Mr Morphew told GMA that his heart was broken when he learned about it.

My heart was broke. My heart was broken. I didnt believe it, he sobbed.

The mother-of-two vanished without a trace after she reportedly left the home she shared with her husband in Chaffee County, Colorado, to go on a bike ride.

Story continues

Mr Morphew told police he left his wife at their home early that morning to travel to a construction job in Denver.

Macy, Barry and Mallory Morphew speak on the third anniversary of Suzannes disappearance (ABC)

She was reported missing by a neighbour when the couples two daughters were unable to get in contact with her while they were on an out-of-state trip. Her bike was found on a trail close to their home.

Extensive searches have been carried out at various locations including land around the Morphews home and on a plot of land previously owned by Mr Morphew, but her body has never been found.

The 49-year-old has never been seen or heard from since and she is presumed dead.

In May 2021  almost exactly one year to the day from his wifes disappearance  Mr Morphew was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, tampering with a human body, tampering with physical evidence, possession of a dangerous weapon and attempting to influence a public servant.

He denied the allegations and the couples daughters stuck by their father.

But, in a dramatic twist, prosecutors dropped all charges agains him just days before his murder trial was about to start in April 2022.

The charges were dismissed without prejudice which means that they can be refiled at a later date.

At the time, prosecutors said that investigators believed they were close to finding Suzannes body and said that they were not ruling out Mr Morphew as a suspect.

Mr Morphew is now suing prosecutors and law enforcement officials for $15m for allegedy violating his civil rights with his wrongful arrest and prosecution.

In the interview with GMA, Mr Morphew slammed authorities for having tunnel vision in the case and claimed that Colorado police have too much pride to admit that they were wrong in accusing him of Suzannes murder.

Suzanne Morphew has not been seen since Mothers Day 2020 (Denver7 - The Denver Channel)

Theyve got tunnel vision and they looked at one person and theyve got too much pride to say theyre wrong and look somewhere else, he said.

I dont have anything to worry about. Ive done nothing wrong.

When asked if he had anything to do with his wifes disappearance and presumed death, Mr Morphew insisted: Absolutely not. Its very hurtful to lose your reputation and your integrity.

His two daughters  who stood by him from the get-go  said they have never doubted their father.

Ive never had a shred of doubt, said Macy.

Not one, added Mallory.

The two daughters choked back tears as they spoke of the trauma of the past three years.

So traumatic. Literally our worst nightmare, said May.

The hardest part of the whole ordeal she said was: Just not having mom.
The beauty industry is full of celebrity branded products.

The beauty industry is full of celebrity branded products.

The number of celebrities leveraging their star power in the skin care and beauty industry has exploded in recent years. If your favorite celebrity doesnt already have their own beauty brand or skin care line, chances are they are considering one or have a line in the works and due on our shelves any day now.

And from the inception to the delivery, the rollout of a celebrity-fronted brand has certain hallmarks. For instance, expect a shot of the celebrity dressed in protective equipment and gliding through a lab with a look of intensity to suggest they know what is going on with the manufacturing side of the operation.

The branding will be sleek and minimal, with marketing buzzwords like ethical, sustainable packaging or a declaration of inclusivity. And a top dermatologist or esthetician will give their stamp of approval to the grand claims.

Over 50 celebrities and influencers have launched beauty and skin care brands in the last three years alone, according to research by Bloomberg. With the exception of a few, most have offered consumers nothing innovative when it comes to the beauty industry, and their existence is in direct conflict with any message of sustainability. Yet they seem to keep coming.

Good old-fashioned capitalism is a straightforward explanation for the proliferation of celebrity beauty brands  the need to constantly commodify oneself to make money and extend the fame cycle is now more pressing than ever. And its simply not enough for someone to just be a brand ambassador; they now must be CEO, too.

I think celebrities have realized they could have a bigger piece of the pie if they controlled the brand themselves rather than being the face of another brand, Jessica DeFino, an anti-product beauty culture critic, told me.

The legacy of celebrity beauty brands is one that can be traced as far back as 1994, when Somali-American supermodel Iman launched her cosmetics line, eponymously named IMAN, to address a glaring gap in the industry faced by Black and brown consumers including herself.

Story continues

Fast forward more than 20 years, those same principles would be at the forefront of a new celeb line fronted by one of the worlds most accomplished stars, Robyn Rihanna Fenty, when Fenty Beauty was introduced to the world. The Fenty empire has turned founder Rihanna into a billionaire.

Right out of the gate, the collection launched an inclusive campaign with 40 shades of foundation. True to the trendsetter that Rihanna is, Fentys success can be credited with spearheading a new cohort of ambitious celebrity-turned-beauty entrepreneurs hoping to create the same impact.

Rihanna is now a billionaire, thanks to her beauty empire.

Rihanna is now a billionaire, thanks to her beauty empire.

The global beauty industry is reported to be worth $532 billion, with the U.S.  the worlds largest beauty market  worth approximately $97.3 billion in 2021, according to Statista. Were seeing year-on-year growth with no signs of slowing, specifically in skin care, said DeFino. So it makes sense that celebs would want to cash in.

Hailey Bieber recently branded and bottled the idea of glazed donut skin into a five-piece collection, estimated to have earned $14.5 million in 2022. Selena Gomez, the most-followed woman on Instagram, posts Get Ready With Me videos on the platform using her Rare Beauty line, which donates 1% of proceeds to mental health organizations.

Multihyphenate Jennifer Lopez built a fragrance empire spanning two decades. Still, her timeless beauty and signature glow get people googling and speculating about what procedures she may or may not have done. The 53-year-old celebrated the launch of her brand JLo Beauty last year after what it says were 100 rounds of product development to create a range that was luxurious but accessible.

For years, the number one question Ive been asked is about my skin, and so I felt almost an obligation to share what Ive learned, Lopez said in a statement on the brands page. Its taken 20 years to realize this dream because I knew that when we launched, it had to be amazing because it has my name on it.

Gone are the days when a teenage superstar would get the call-up to be the ambassador for a brand like Neutrogena or Proactiv  instead, stars like Stranger Things actor Millie Bobby Brown are increasingly launching their own lines, with a legion of fans or followers ready to pay up for the cheapest entry point to their favorite stars.

The 19-year-old founded her beauty brand Florence by Mills, named 2022s number one brand on the beauty review site Cosmetify, while admitting that she initially didnt know anything about beauty and skin care.

Millie Bobby Brown launched Florence by Mills as a teenager.

Millie Bobby Brown launched Florence by Mills as a teenager.

The barrier to entry has also lowered significantly thanks to social media. Back in the day, if you wanted to launch a skin care brand, you had to get the buy-in of TV stations and magazine editors and all these different things, said Charlotte Palermino, beauty industry insider and co-founder of Dieux Skin. Now, celebrities have their own platforms.

The pivot from celebrity fragrances, so you can smell like a famous person, to celebrity skin care, so you can look like them, is a no-brainer, especially in the world of Instagram and Tiktok, said Palermino.

Packaging and selling aspiration, like J.Los infamous glow or Ariana Grandes dreamy perfumes, have proven lucrative and an extension of star power into consumer products.

Maybe its weird to say, but I think they do believe a lot of their own bullshit, said DeFino. We have to realize celebrities are just as brainwashed by beauty culture as the rest of us. Maybe even more so because their literal livelihood depends on how beautiful they are; the stakes are really high.

But sometimes the formula isnt always straightforward; take Vanessa Hudgens, for instance, who recently relaunched her 2021 brand Know Beauty.

We had been trying to get customers acquainted with the brand for a while, but it just wasnt translating like we thought it would. After a year, we knew we needed to switch gears and try something different, Hudgens told WWD.

Hudgens reintroduced the brand in March 2023 with a partnership with Amazon and just one product on offer: a Glacial Bay Clay Mask, retailing for $35.

Trying to take over an entire skincare line is a bit ambitious, so I instead decided to focus on something specific that could easily be slotted into a skincare routine  something we can be known for, Hudgens said.

Whether Hudgens has the star power to drive sales is yet to be determined. Skin care enthusiasts have already begun to voice their skepticism in the popular subreddit group BeautyGuruChatter, which has over 1 million members.

Outside of Rare Beauty and Fenty celebrity brands just give me the ick and all seem like a money grab. Over it, wrote one commentator.

I feel like shes not popular enough for this to be successful, wrote another.

While celebrities have yet to take over the skin care industry completely, they have certainly disrupted it, concedes New York-based esthetician and influencer Tiara Willis. But Willis is critical of the lack of innovation from celebrities entering the skin care space.

The skin care industry is already oversaturated and overwhelming for consumers, and the massive spike in celebrity skin care launches doesnt help, she said, Celebrity skin care brands tend to launch similar products that are not innovative to the industry.

Willis also notes that it isnt uncommon to encounter clients who are more enticed to gamble with celebrity skin care solely because of the name behind it, which can inhibit their results.

But just because a brand is celebrity-led doesnt mean its bullshit in a bottle  that is one thing all critics can agree upon. Willis is a fan of SKN by LH from socialite and influencer Lori Harvey, along with Humanrace by award-winning producer Pharrell, who has often been lauded for his youthful appearance.

Pharrell Williams has famously youthful skin, and he's capitalizing on it.

Pharrell Williams has famously youthful skin, and he's capitalizing on it.

All skin care brands, celebrity or not, are created by chemists who understand formulas and the science of skin, Willis said.

There are a ton of shitty brands that exist, and there are a ton of shitty celebrity beauty brands that exist. I dont think thats a uniquely celebrity-adjacent phenomenon, added DeFino.

As with several brands launched in the last few years, the support of beauty incubators has done the heavy lifting when creating an actual product for celebrities. Kendo brands, for instance, are the small but mighty force behind brands such as Fenty Skin by Rihanna, KVD and Ole Henriksen.

But the reality is that their support and involvement can only spread so far, something that is of concern to Dieux Skin CEO Palermino.

I would worry that investors only want to invest in brands that are backed by a face, she said.

Willis echoed Palerminos concerns over the limited opportunities for emerging skin care creators, particularly those who cater to minority communities and are looking for significant investment to level up their operation in an industry lacking in representation.

Black brands make up only 2.5% of revenue in the beauty industry, according to a report published by marketing consultant firm McKinsey & Company. Yet Black consumers are responsible for 11.1% of total beauty spending.

The battle for acknowledgment extends into physical stores as well, where Palermino says retailers have created more space for celebrity brands and no longer offer the average consumer a discovery experience to be introduced to lesser-known brands that are offering creative solutions to unique skin care concerns.

DeFino considers celebrity beauty brands a completely unnecessary addition to an already saturated market, but their enduring popularity is a matter of supply and demand.

I think we as consumers have a lot of responsibility, and we have more power than we think. These brands dont exist if people arent buying them, said DeFino, who is cautious about directing blame exclusively at consumers and our consumption patterns.

Palermino hopes for brand owners that more celebrities will be open to taking a backseat and putting their money behind brands instead of centering themselves, such as Dua Lipas role as a shareholder in London-based hair care brand Dizziak.

Celebrities who are interested in diversifying their brands are set for a more formidable challenge than those who moved into the industry early, if forecasters are correct about the changing tides.

In an age of de-influencing  and with consumers becoming better versed in the science of skin care and products  what will separate a brand from prospectively being the next Fenty or a flop will be authenticity above all else.

Ade Onibada is a reporter for BuzzFeed News and is based in London.
(Reuters) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has not been seen in public since Tuesday, did not appear on Sunday at a ceremony in the capital, Minsk, triggering speculation that the veteran leader is seriously ill.

The BelTA state news agency reported that Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko read a message from Lukashenko during an annual ceremony at which young people swear allegiance to the ex-Soviet state's flag.

The agency gave no reason for Lukashenko's absence five days after he appeared unwell and skipped parts of commemorations in Moscow marking the Soviet Union's World War Two victory over Germany.

Lukashenko also did not speak at an event in Minsk marking the anniversary for the first time in his long presidency. That event was the last time he was seen in public.

Lukashenko's office has declined to comment.

According to the opposition news outlet Euroradio, Lukashenko was taken to an elite Minsk clinic on Saturday.

A Russian online publication, Podyom, quoted a senior member of the Duma lower house of parliament, Konstantin Zatulin, as saying that "(Lukashenko) has simply fallen ill ... and probably needs a rest."

Russia's daily Kommersant also published a story about Lukashenko's health, citing Zatulin and Belarusian opposition media. Russian media rarely publish stories about the health of the leaders of Russia or its allied neighbours.

Lukashenko, 68, has led Belarus since 1994, using police to put down protests, while courts closed dissident media outlets and imposed long jail terms on opponents, and activists fled the country en masse.

Lukashenko received backing from Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin in squashing protests, and last year he allowed his country's territory to be used as part of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Russia calls the invasion a "special operation".

Belarus' foreign minister Sergei Aleinik is expected on Monday to start this three-day visit to Moscow, Russia's foreign ministry said last week.

(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Lidia Kelly; Writing by Ron Popeski; Editing by Gerry Doyle)
Alexander Lukashenko in Moscow, May 9

However, Zatulin stressed that there is nothing supernatural there, its not a coronavirus and the person has simply fallen ill  and probably needs a rest.

Lukashenkos office has declined to comment, saying the dictator is doing paperwork.

The Belarusian dictator has not been seen in public for more than five days.

Read also: Lukashenko to meet today with Russian intelligence head

Earlier, it was reported that Lukashenko had visited the presidential medical clinic in the Drozdy complex near Minsk on the evening of May 13, after rumors spread that he was ill.

Zerkalo (a medium set up by the former TUT.Y news outlet team) wrote that Lukashenko has been making many fewer public appearances since May.

Read also: Lukashenko unable to walk 300 meters, skips breakfast with Putin in Moscow

Lukashenko attended the Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9, but looked uncomfortable and ill at ease. He was unable to walk a few hundred meters to the place where he was to lay flowers together with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and the other foreign guests  the presidents of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and the prime minister of Armenia. He asked Putin if he could ride to the flower-laying in a car instead.

The Belarusian dictator was then absent from a breakfast for the foreign guests hosted by Putin.

Lukashenko was also seen wearing a bandage on his arm, and upon his return from Moscow, he did not deliver the traditional May 9 speech on Victory Square in the Belarusian capital Minsk.

The Belarusian opposition has also claimed that Lukashenko is ill.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A Belarusian propaganda Telegram channel has posted a photo of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, who is said to be unwell and has hardly been seen in public lately for that reason.

Source: Pul Pervogo, a propaganda Telegram channel of the Lukashenko regime

Details: The channel published a series of three posts. First it announced that something important was coming with the phrase "Stay tuned!"

Then: "This is going to be exciting."

And the final post shows Lukashenko apparently receiving a salute from Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin.

Quote: "Number One [literally "the first one", as they call Lukashenko  UP] is working at the central command post of the Air Force and Air Defence Forces today.

He will hear a report on the organisation and performance of air defence combat duty tasks.

The event is about to begin. More details soon!"

More details: Belaruski Hajun, an independent Belarusian military monitoring media outlet, analysed the photo and pointed out that Lukashenko's hand was bandaged again.

Lukashenko has a bandage on his hand: they showed him at the central command post of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces. pic.twitter.com/xaTi4BnpZw  Belarusian Hajun project (@Hajun_BY) May 15, 2023

Background: Lukashenko attended the Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May, but he did not participate in all of the events and returned to Minsk in a hurry. Journalists noticed that he had a bandage on his hand. Lukashenko did not deliver his traditional Victory Day speech in Minsk.

The media noted that Lukashenko has made significantly fewer public appearances since the beginning of May.

On 13 May, after a long absence from the public eye, Lukashenko visited the presidential clinic in the settlement of Drazdy in Minsk Oblast. On 14 May, he failed to appear at a celebration of the Day of the State Flag, State Emblem and National Anthem of Belarus.

The Russian State Duma [the lower chamber of the Russian parliament] confirmed that the self-proclaimed president of Belarus was unwell, but did not specify what was wrong with him.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
retire

Every day more people are seeking international locations to retire away from their home countries. Whether looking for more opportunities or peace of mind, there are a plethora of reasons why retirees are leaving the US for sandy shores and remote places once theyve wrapped up their working days. But where exactly are the best countries to retire?

International Living released its list of the best places in the world to retire in 2023. Compiled into their Annual Global Retirement Index, the list ranks the best countries to retire based on in-depth surveys with retirees from all over the world.

Based on data, personal insight, and perspective, these countries are offering a little bit of everything to retirees from every place. Here are the best countries to retire in the world.

1. Portugal

Photo Credit: Kampus Production

Portugal took the number one spot as the best country to retire. The foreigner-friendly nation has a lot to offer retirees with a business culture and infrastructure similar to the US. Expats and retirees enjoy stable electricity, drinkable tap water, high-speed fiber internet, and other necessities that make retirement carefree and easy.

Over 500,000 foreigners reside in Portugal and they have a variety of options when it comes to cities to live in. Theres a little bit of everything for everyone. On the low end, retirees can find suitable housing and live a comfortable life on $2,500 to $3,000 per month if they reside inland, according to International Living. Larger cities like Lisbon and Porto may be a bit pricier, however, according to the Annual Global Retirement Index, many retirees believe it is worth every penny.

Those who chose to retire in Portugal enjoy an array of beautiful landscapes at every turn. From lush coastal villages with cobblestone streets to hillside cities overlooking markets and grazing sheep, Portugal has become a retirees dream destination. Not only that, but Portugal ranks 12th by the World Health Organization for their affordable, quality healthcare, and the countrys friendly demeanor makes it one of the safest countries in the world according to Global Peace Index.

Story continues

2. Mexico

Mexico has been a forever favorite for US travelers and its increasing in popularity among retirees. More than 1.6 million Americans reside in the Spanish-speaking country and the many convenience it offers has made it a favorite for retirement. Just a short plane ride from the States, theres a plethora of reasons why Mexico is one of the best countries to retire.

According to International Living, most couples can live comfortably in Mexico for between $2,000 to $2,500 per month. That includes housing, transportation, food, and even healthcare, which cost 50 percent less than in the US. Additionally, the cost of living in Mexico is cheaper than in the US so retirees are able to stretch their dollars further.

Mexico also offers many services to those 60 years or older at a discounted rate. Through the INAPAM program, seniors have access to discounted prescriptions, transportation services, utilities, and more.

Retirees also enjoy how stress-free the residency process is for Mexico. Instead of jumping through hoops, endless paperwork, and FBI background checks, a visit to the consulate with the proper documentation is all you need.

3. Panama

Photo Credit: RF._.studio

Its no surprise that Panama made the Global Index of the best countries to retire. Retirees have been flocking to the country for decades and the perks keep getting better and better. Panama is one of the sunniest places in the world so if tropical, rainforest vibes are your preferred aesthetic, this is the place for you.

According to Nomad Capitalist, To acquire the retiree residence status in Panama, you have to prove a monthly income or pension of $1000 for life. However, it would depend on the luxuries you want to indulge in. The expat community is huge so theres no issue with finding friends and community. The deep blue water, excellent weather, and lush mountains are just a few added benefits of living under the Panamanian sky.

4. Ecuador

With its tranquilo culture, diverse ecosystem, and growing tourism industry, Ecuador has begun catching the eye of retirees worldwide. The family-friendly country has excellent weather, good transportation, and affordable housing and healthcare. The cost of living is relatively inexpensive compared to other countries and retirees can land a two-bedroom condo for only $500 per month, according to the study. Depending on where you chose to live, retirees can live comfortably in Ecuador for $1,500 to $1,800 per month.

5. Costa Rica

With more than 10 percent of its population being expats, Costa Rica is described by many as a magical paradise. Nothing short of a fairy tale, its no wonder the country made the Global Index as a favorite for retirees.

Costa Rica has remained dedicated to the environment for years. Considered the Switzerland of Central America, the country operates on 98 percent renewable energy most years, prioritizes protecting its green landscape, and dedicated its military budget towards education and healthcare reform when it was abolished in 1948.

For approximately $2,500 to $3,000, a retired couple can live in Costa Rica and enjoy all of its benefits including locally grown, tropical produce, varying climates, and a blended healthcare system.

6. Spain

Photo Credit: RDNE Stock project

The cost of living in Spain is relatively low so retirees are beginning to head over to its Mediterranean shores. Expats say retirees can live happily in the country for around $2,000 to $2,500 per month. Of course, this increases a bit if you choose to live in pricier cities like Barcelona or Madrid. But retirees can easily find a cute one-bedroom apartment for $700.

Retirees enjoy access to fresh coastal fruit, vegetables, and cuisine in Spain. Many of them use the countrys private healthcare system, which only costs about $100 a month. Although pickpocketing is still common in large cities, Spain is considered one of the safest countries and retirees appreciate that when seeking somewhere to live.
Anytime Californias three biggest privately-owned electric companies tell you they want to change their pricing structure just for your good, hold onto your wallet.

These companies  Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric  did exponentially more physical damage to this state and its people over the last decade than any other industry and never paid much for their misdeeds.

One  PG&E  has been convicted of manslaughter and negligence for its role in both wildfires and a huge natural gas pipeline explosion, without a single employee ever serving so much as a day in prison for causing the loss of well over 200 lives and many hundreds of homes and other businesses.

Instead of penalizing these companies heavily, the utilities friends in the state Legislature and other offices from the governor on down keep bailing them out.

When bankruptcy threatened PG&E after its admitted roles in the massive 2018 Camp Fire that destroyed the town of Paradise in Butte County, Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislators created the ongoing state Wildfire Fund guaranteeing aid to the companies after future fires they might cause. Customers of all three big utilities still pay monthly to fund this $13 billion insurance policy.

When PG&E worried about possible losses in shutting down the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant as scheduled in 2025, Newsom and the Legislature set up a state-funded extension of at least five years. The rationale for this took the form of blackout blackmail, threats of power outages if Diablo went off line. But plenty of peaker power plants exist around the state, firing up in times of very high electric demand and making blackout threats questionable.

Now the utilities are at it again, using a law passed quietly last year that supposedly requires them to restructure power rates so the rich pay more than the poor for electricity, regardless of how much juice they use.

Under this plan, households with income under $28,000 would pay a fixed $15 per month to fund power infrastructure like transmission lines, with usage charges added to it. The fixed charge for households earning $28,000 to $69,000 would be $20 to $34, those making $69,000 to $180,000 would pay $51 and households with more than $180,000 income would pay $92 per month, plus usage fees.

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One problem with this: average net bills for everyone would most likely rise, starting in mid-2025. The first phase of public comments on this system are due for submission to the state Public Utilities Commission (PUC) by June 2.

This masquerades as help for low income families, but it is really just another long-term insurance policy for the utilities. For Community Choice Aggregations (CCAs) are taking hold all over California today, from Sonoma to San Diego, Placer County to Pico Rivera.

These agencies buy power wherever they can get it, offering options including all-renewable energy to those who want to pay a bit more than if they bought the same mix offered by the utilities.

They use the utilities power lines to bring that energy to customers.

But what if large-scale CCAs like Northern Californias MCE Community Choice Energy and Southern Californias Clean Power Alliance decide to build transmission facilities of their own?

The utilities could be looking at multi-billion dollar transmission line white elephants they built with consumer money acquired through monthly bills. To eliminate that risk, the big companies need guaranteed funds to maintain and expand their lines, thus discouraging the CCAs from undermining them by getting their own facilities.

Thats what the new pricing system seems to be all about, although no utility company would ever admit it, and the PUC can be counted on to cooperate, as it almost always accommodates the utilities it regulates. If the new system also discourages rooftop solar installations by forcing solar owners to pay monthly electric bills, thats fine with the utilities.

Thats why their lobbyists worked to get the Legislature and Newsom to require them to make the currently planned change.

So as usual with the utilities, it is caveat emptor, let the buyer beware. The utilities planned new pricing is designed first of all to help them. Any good it might accomplish for anyone else would be incidental.

Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Beware of yet another customer-paid utility bailout
When he ran for president, Joe Biden called Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan an autocrat and said the U.S should support Erdogans opponents.

Now, with Erdogan leading in a tight runoff race for the Turkish presidency, Biden and his aides are a chastened bunch. When theyre willing to comment at all, they insist theyre not picking sides.

I just hope  whoever wins wins, Biden said Sunday of the first-round vote in Turkey, a situation he subtly compared to his own 2020 election. Theres enough problems in that part of the world right now.

The Biden teams awkward ambivalence reflects an uncomfortable reality. Yes, Erdogan may be an illiberal ruler who has damaged his countrys democracy. But Turkey is also a strategically located NATO ally, and Russias war in Ukraine and ongoing strife in the Middle East means Washington cant simply turn its back on the strongman.

Pressed on the topic during a briefing with journalists Monday, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby sounded stuck in neutral.

We congratulate the Turkish people for expressing their desires at the ballot box in a peaceful way, Kirby said. The Turkish people get to decide what their government looks like.

Neither Erdogan nor top rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu won more than 50 percent of the vote Sunday, forcing them into a runoff on May 28.

Former U.S. officials and analysts who deal with Biden aides said they have stayed mum about their preferences in recent months. Some speculate that many administration officials would prefer to bid Erdogan farewell because of his dismal track record on democracy and human rights.

That said, theyre realistic enough to know that Erdogan, who has run Turkey for two decades and has tremendous control of the media there, is likely to win.

Kilicdaroglu underperformed expectations during the first round, giving Erdogan momentum going into the runoff.

Some of the Biden administrations caution about speaking out stems from the standard U.S. claim that Washington doesnt interfere in foreign elections other than calling on them to be free, fair and non-violent.

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But the administration also may want to avoid providing fuel for Erdogans campaign. The Turkish leader is deft at using anti-Americanism to get votes; he accused the opposition of working with Washington. He also blasted U.S. Ambassador Jeff Flake for meeting with Kilicdaroglu.

Still, Charles Kupchan, a former senior National Security Council official, said the relationship between Washington and Ankara has somewhat improved.

After dragging his feet, the Turkish leader acquiesced on allowing Finland to join NATO and Swedish political figures are hopeful he will do the same for their country once hes past the pressures of the election.

The United States, meanwhile, recently gave a green light to selling software to Turkey to help it upgrade its F-16 fighter jets.

I think the Biden administration will be pragmatic and work with Erdogan to the degree possible, knowing that this is the Turkish government that they have, Kupchan said.

But Turkey remains at odds with the United States on a number of fronts, including how to approach the lingering challenges in Syria, not to mention Russia.

Turkey and Russia have in some ways deepened their economic ties despite heavy Western sanctions on Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine. Still, Erdogan also is an important interlocutor between the West and Russia, including on an initiative designed to allow for shipments of grain.

Soner Cagaptay, a historian who has authored multiple books on Turkey, said that with all of these factors in play, U.S. officials had to tread carefully through the first round, and that theyll likely keep that up throughout the runoff.

Washingtons policy was do no harm, with the hope that perhaps Kilicdaroglu would win, but probably not, Cagaptay said.

Alexander Ward contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden on Monday nominated cancer specialist Dr. Monica Bertagnolli to become director of the National Institutes of Health.

Bertagnolli is a cancer surgeon and researcher who last fall became the first female head of the NIHs National Cancer Institute. If confirmed by the Senate, she would become the second woman named permanent director of the NIH, one of the worlds leading biomedical research agencies.

Dr. Bertagnolli has spent her career pioneering scientific discovery and pushing the boundaries of what is possible to improve cancer prevention and treatment, Biden said in a statement. She will ensure NIH continues to be an engine of innovation to improve the health of the American people.

Bertagnolli also would bring a patients perspective to the job. Shortly after becoming NCI director, she was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.

Its one thing to know about cancer as a physician but it is another to experience it firsthand as a patient as well, Bertagnolli said in announcing her diagnosis and treatment plans in December. To anyone with cancer today: I am truly in this together with you.

Cancer is a top priority for Biden, who lost his adult son Beau to brain cancer in 2015.

But the NIH, with a $47 billion budget, funds and oversees a wide variety of medical research beyond cancer, including infectious diseases, heart disease, Alzheimers and other brain disorders, diabetes, drug addiction and mental health.

The NIH has been without a permanent director since Dr. Francis Collins, a well-known geneticist, stepped down in December 2021 after 12 years at the helm. If confirmed, Bertagnolli would replace the agencys acting director, Dr. Lawrence Tabak.

Prior to her appointment as NCI chief, Bertagnolli was a Harvard professor and cancer surgeon at Brigham and Womens Hospital. The daughter of first-generation Italian and French Basque immigrants, she grew up on a ranch in southwestern Wyoming. She earned an engineering degree from Princeton University and attended medical school at the University of Utah.

___

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.
President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) are set to meet for another round of debt ceiling talks this week, and a deal over raising the borrowing limit remains at a stalemate.

This weeks meeting  which has not been formally announced yet  comes after a gathering scheduled for Friday at the White House between the president and congressional leaders was postponed. It will be the second meeting of the principals this month: Biden huddled with the top four Capitol Hill figures last Tuesday.

Since that face-to-face gathering, however, staff for both sides have been meeting to try to find areas of potential cooperation for a debt limit deal. Some possibilities have emerged, but with less than three weeks out from the June 1 deadline, an agreement is nowhere in sight.

The House this week will mark National Police Week, bringing legislation to the floor related to law enforcement. And Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser is set to testify before the House Oversight Committee during a hearing on crime in the Capitol City.

On the Senate side, members are scheduled to dig into the March collapses of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, which shook financial markets and raised questions about the banking industry.

Biden, McCarthy to meet again on debt limit

Biden and congressional leaders will take another crack at face-to-face negotiations this week when they meet at the White House to discuss the ongoing debt limit dilemma. Multiple sources reported that the meeting will take place Tuesday.

But this huddle  the groups second in a week  comes after staff has been meeting behind the scenes to find potential areas of bipartisan cooperation for a deal to walk the U.S. off the fiscal cliff by June 1, the date Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the country could run out of cash by. Last week, however, the Congressional Budget Office said the U.S. could default in the first two weeks of June.

Heading into the week, administration officials sounded optimistic.

Story continues

The staff is very engaged. I would characterize the engagement as serious, as constructive, National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard told CBSs Face the Nation on Sunday.

Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told CNNs State of the Union on Sunday that conversations are constructive between all of the parties.

I know the president looks forward to getting together with the leaders to talk about how we continue to make progress, he added.

Biden and the four congressional leaders  McCarthy, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)  are set to gather this week after Fridays meeting was postponed.

McCarthy told reporters all parties agreed it would be best for the staff to meet again before the principals came back together. The Speaker, however, said he had not seen seriousness of the White House that they want a deal, adding that it seems like they want a default.

Since last weeks meeting, however, some potential areas of bipartisan agreement have emerged.

Biden told reporters after the gathering he was open to rescinding unspent COVID-19 relief funds, which House Republicans included in their debt limit bill.

Id take a hard look at it, because  we dont need it all. But the question is, what obligations were made, commitments made, the money not disbursed, etc., Biden said.

That is one of the four areas for potential compromise being discussed by House Republicans. Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.), a close McCarthy ally, told reporters last week the lowest-hanging fruits for a deal with Democrats are clawing back unspent COVID-19 funds, permitting reform, work requirements for public assistance programs and spending caps.

Go-at-it-alone avenues, however, are still being floated, leaving Biden a possible escape hatch if the stalemate does not break before the looming deadline. On that list is invoking the 14th Amendment, which in part says, The validity of the public debt of the United States  shall not be questioned.

Biden told reporters after last weeks meeting he was considering invoking the amendment, but he acknowledged it would not be a viable short-term solution because the move would almost certainly be tied up in the legal system.

On Sunday, Adeyemo told CNN that Biden made clear that he doesnt think that would solve our problems now. It comes after Yellen last week said that invoking the amendment would be legally questionable, attract litigation and would be a constitutional crisis.

Senate Democrats, nonetheless, are pressing Biden to keep the option on the table to prevent a default rather than agree to the steep spending cuts Republicans are calling for.

The 14th Amendment is not anyones first choice. The first choice is that the Republicans raise the debt ceiling because the United States government never, ever, ever, ever defaults on its legal obligations. But if Kevin McCarthy is going to push the United States over a cliff, then it becomes the presidents responsibility to find an alternative path, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said.

House to mark National Police Week

The House is set to mark National Police Week with votes on several pieces of legislation related to law enforcement.

On the list is a resolution that honors law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. The measure lists the names of the 556 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty that are honored on Peace Officers Memorial Day. That number includes 224 officers killed in 2022 and 332 who were killed in previous years but whose stories were recovered last year.

The resolution also expresses unwavering support for law enforcement officers across the United States in the pursuit of preserving safe and secure communities.

The House this week is also set to vote on the Protect Our Law Enforcement with Immigration Control and Enforcement (POLICE) Act, which calls for amending the Immigration and Neutrality Act to make assaulting a law enforcement officer a deportable offense, and a resolution that expresses support for local law enforcement officers and condemns calls to defund, disband, dismantle or abolish the police.

Additionally, the chamber this week will consider the Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act, which would create a program to allow federal law enforcement officers to purchase retired handguns. According to Rep. Russell Fry (R-S.C.), the sponsor of the bill, federal regulations require federal agencies to destroy weapons when they are retired from official use.

Bowser to testify before House Oversight Committee

Mayor Bowser is scheduled to appear before the House Oversight Committee at 10 a.m. Tuesday for a hearing titled Overdue Oversight of the Capital City: Part II.

The hearing, according to Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.), will focus on crime and safety in D.C. and management of the city. Congressional Republicans have been critical of crime in the capital city.

In addition to Bowser, witnesses will include Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee, City Administrator Kevin Donahue and Matthew Graves, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.

Its clear that Americans living in and visiting Washington, D.C., have suffered from haphazard policies that have emboldened criminals. They deserve better, Comer wrote in a statement last week. The District of Columbia is a federal district under the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. Congress, and I intend for the Oversight Committee to fulfill its constitutional duty to conduct oversight of the capital city.

The hearing comes as Congress has been flexing its muscles against the city. Earlier this year, lawmakers successfully blocked D.C.s revised criminal code from taking effect when the House and Senate passed and Biden signed a resolution that disapproved of the citys crime bill.

The D.C. City Council passed the crime bill unanimously in January, but Bowser vetoed it. The council, however, overrode the veto.

And last month, the House passed a resolution to block D.C.s police accountability bill from taking effect. The White House, however, has said Biden would veto the measure if it landed on his desk.

Tuesdays hearing will mark the second event the Oversight Committee has held that focused on D.C. In March, the panel held a hearing titled Overdue Oversight of the Capital City: Part I. Bowser, however, did not appear at that event.

Senate hearing on Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank collapses

The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is set to hold a hearing this week focused on the collapses of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in March.

The hearing  scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday  will feature testimony from former Silicon Valley Bank CEO Gregory Becker, former Signature Bank President Eric Howell, and Scott Shay, the former chairman and co-founder of Signature Bank.

The hearing comes nearly three weeks after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report that said regulators did not address serious mismanagement at Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, which in part led to their failures.

Last month, after the GAO report was released, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)  the chairman of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs  said the panel must address gaps in the Fed and FDICs supervisory structure and we must strengthen the rules weakened by the prior administrations.

These reports confirm how poorly managed, overconcentrated, and over-reliant on particular industries both of these banks were. It is also clear that supervision fell short here, he added in a statement.

The downfall of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, which happened in a matter of days in March, sent shockwaves throughout the U.S. economy and the banking industry while also rattling markets. Earlier this month, regulators seized First Republic Bank, which was sold to JPMorgan Chase.

The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs held a hearing in March following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden is leaving the door open to stricter work requirements for federal aid including food stamps to get the support of Republicans in Congress to raise the debt ceiling as the president and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy prepare to reconvene Tuesday at the White House.

Biden, speaking to reporters Sunday in Delaware, noted that as a senator he "voted for tougher aid programs that's in the law now" when asked whether he is open to Republicans' debt-ceiling proposals for tougher work requirements.

"For Medicaid, it's a different story," Biden said, ruling out changes to the health care program for low-income Americans. "And so I'm waiting to hear what their exact proposal is."

Biden optimistic, while McCarthy says side remain 'far apart'

Tuesday's meeting  which will also includes Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries  follows a White House meeting last week that failed to produce a breakthrough.

A second meeting was initially set for Friday but postponed as staff for the White House and congressional leaders continued talks.

"It never is good to characterize a negotiation in the middle of a negotiation," Biden said Sunday. "I remain optimistic because I'm a congenital optimist. But I really think theres a desire on their part as well as ours to reach an agreement, and I think well be able to do it.

McCarthy seemed much less optimistic Monday, telling reporters, "I still think we're far apart." He added that the White House isn't "talking anything serious" and "it seems like they want to default more than a deal." He said a deal needs to be in place by this weekend to pass something before the end of the month.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, in a letter Monday, stuck by her estimate that the U.S. is on track to run out of money as early as June 1.

Story continues

President Joe Biden departs after having lunch with family at Vietnam Cafe in Philadelphia, Monday, May 15, 2023, after attending his granddaughter Maisy Biden's commencement ceremony at the University of Pennsylvania.

Work requirements targeted by Republicans

McCarthy-backed legislation to tie $4.5 trillion in cuts to raising the debt ceiling would expand work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, which provides monthly food benefits to about 40 million low-income Americans each month.

The bill, which passed the Republican-controlled House by a 217-215 vote, would make able-bodied adults without dependent children subject to work requirements to receive SNAP benefits until they're 55 years old, up from 49. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the higher threshold would mean a loss of SNAP benefits for 275,000 Americans and savings of $11 billion.

The bill would also make it harder for states to exempt its residents from work and job training requirements to receive STAP benefits. Republicans have also proposed less flexibility for states to administer the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and a requirement that Medicaid recipients participate in working-related activities at least 80 hours a month.

Michael Kikukawa, a White House spokesman said "the president has been clear that he will not accept proposals that take away peoples health coverage. The president has also been clear that he will not accept policies that push Americans into poverty. He will evaluate whatever proposals Republicans bring to the table based on those principles.

U.S. Speaker of the House Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks to reporters on his way to the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on May 15, 2023 in Washington, DC. McCarthy will meet with President Joe Biden on Tuesday as debt ceiling talks continue.

Biden not ruling out skipping overseas trip to focus on debt ceiling

Republicans have demanded that spending cuts be a part of congressional action to raise the debt ceiling and avoid a default that would occur if the U.S. is unable to pay its bills.

Biden has said he won't negotiate with Republicans about raising the debt ceiling, which he's said should take place without conditions. But he's left the door open to bargaining with Republicans by saying he's willing to discuss budgets separately  not under the threat of default.

In addition to work requirements, other focuses of debt-ceiling talks include permitting reform for oil and gas projects, possible caps on future discretionary spending and rescinding unspent COVID-19 rescue funds, according to Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., who is serving as McCarthy's deputy in debt-ceiling discussions.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called staff-level talks on the debt ceiling "productive" but would not elaborate in a briefing Friday.

Meanwhile, Biden still hasn't ruled out skipping this week's G7 Summit this week in Japan if the two sides aren't on track to reach an agreement. "Hopefully we'll make it," said Biden, who is scheduled to depart Wednesday.

Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden open to tougher work requirements in debt-ceiling talks
President Biden on Sunday was asked to assess the state of the U.S.-Mexico border after the expiration of pandemic era policy Title 42 last week.

"Much better than you all expected," Biden said when asked by reporters during a bike ride near his vacation home in Rehoboth, Delaware.

WASHINGTON, DC May 9, 2023: US President Joe Biden.

The president said he had no immediate plans to visit the border for doing so, he argued, would "just be disruptive."

Bidens comments come after U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said border patrol agents have seen a 50% drop in the number of migrants crossing the border since Thursday.

WHAT IS TITLE 42? WHAT THE END OF THE BORDER POLICY MEANS FOR THE US

"The numbers we have experienced in the past two days are markedly down over what they were prior to the end of Title 42," Mayorkas said on CNN's "State of the Union" program. He said there were 6,300 border encounters on Friday and 4,200 on Saturday, but cautioned it was still early in the new regime.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Mayorkas credited the criminal penalties for migrants who illegally enter the country, which resumed under existing law after Title 42's expiration, for the decrease in crossings. The COVID-era rule adopted under former President Donald Trump allowed officials to expel migrants quickly without an asylum process but did not impose penalties.

A U.S. Border Patrol agent (R) speaks to immigrants before they are transported from a makeshift camp between border walls, between the U.S. and Mexico, on May 13, 2023, in San Diego, California.

Biden told reporters Sunday he hoped border crossing would continue to go down but cautioned more work was needed to be done and help was needed from Congress.

The Biden administrations post-Title 42 plan requires migrants to schedule an immigration appointment through an app or seek protection from countries they passed through on their way to the U.S. border. If they do not follow the process and are caught entering the U.S. illegally, they are not allowed to try again, even through legal means, for five years. There are prison terms for other violations.

ABC'S JON KARL SUGGESTS BIDEN ADMIN TOO TOUGH ON MIGRANTS DURING MAYORKAS INTERVIEW

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Officials from communities along the border agreed they had not seen the large numbers of migrants that many had feared would further strain U.S. border facilities and towns.

"The amount of migrants we were expecting initially  the big flow  is not here yet," Victor Trevino, mayor of Laredo, Texas, told CBS News' "Face the Nation."

Despite the Biden administrations assurances, multiple communities have been straining their resources to deal with an influx of migrants in recent weeks.

Last week, outgoing Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot issued an emergency declaration in response to illegal migrants being sent to her city by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

An influx of migrants has also sparked chaos in New York City, from where Mayor Eric Adams has fought with upstate counties to send busloads of asylum seekers for temporary housing, sparking contentious legal battles.

The Texas Department of Public also said Saturday it was temporarily ending its partnership with the Austin Police Department.

Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon told FOX 7 Austin that because Texas DPS is being deployed to border cities, their operations would temporarily cease in Austin. Texas DPS has been working with Austin authorities to investigate violent crimes and drug offenses.

The need for securing the border was also highlighted by San Diegos confirmation of an Afghani on the terror watch list who was arrested at the U.S.-Mexico border after attempting to cross.

Fox News Andrea Vacchiano and Reuters contributed to this report.
President Biden told reporters that he is meeting with Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Tuesday to resume talks about the debt limit and avoiding a default.

Biden confirmed the meeting while leaving a family lunch in Philadelphia after attending his granddaughters graduation ceremony at the University of Pennsylvania.

The White House has not yet officially announced a meeting or said who else would be attending. McCarthys office also hasnt confirmed the timing of the meeting.

Earlier Monday, the president replied, No, when asked if there were any updates about the budget talks.

Biden met with congressional leaders last Tuesday at the White House to discuss the debt ceiling. This would be the first meeting between Biden and McCarthy since then, after scrapping a meeting scheduled for last Friday.

The Treasury Department has warned that the nation will run out of money to pay its bills as soon as June 1, which would risk a default. McCarthy on Monday stressed that an agreement must be reached by the weekend in order for congressional lawmakers to have enough time to pass it.

The White House on Monday confirmed that Biden will leave as scheduled for his weeklong international trip Wednesday. The president is traveling to Japan for the Group of Seven summit before going to Papua New Guinea and Australia, where he is set to attend the Quad Leaders Summit on May 24.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Biden on Monday announced the nomination of National Cancer Institute Director Monica Bertagnolli to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Bertagnolli is a cancer surgeon who has led the National Cancer Institute, a unit of NIH, since October. The top post of NIH has been vacant since Francis Collins left the agency in December 2021. Collins, who was appointed by former President Obama, served for more than 12 years.

Dr. Bertagnolli is a world-class physician-scientist whose vision and leadership will ensure NIH continues to be an engine of innovation to improve the health of the American people, Biden said in a statement, adding that Bertagnolli has spent her career pioneering scientific discovery and pushing the boundaries of what is possible to improve cancer prevention and treatment for patients, and ensuring that patients in every community have access to quality care.

If confirmed by the Senate, Bertagnolli would be only the second woman to be the permanent NIH director.

Biden has made cancer research a priority of his administration, launching a revamped cancer moonshot program with the goal of reducing the death rate from cancer by at least 50 percent over the next 25 years.

In mid-December, Bertagnolli announced she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was receiving treatment at Brigham and Womens Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

Bertagnolli is likely to face difficult questions from senators about the agencys COVID-19 response and its spending priorities. Bidens 2024 budget request proposed $51.1 billion for the NIH.

She may also face questions about drug pricing. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) recently told the White House he would oppose any health nominee who does not commit to fighting for lower drug prices.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Joe Biden walks to speak in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Thursday, May 11, 2023. Biden thinks his administration and congressional leaders can reach a budget deal to end the debt ceiling standoff. | Susan Walsh, Associated Press

President Joe Biden said he thinks he can reach an agreement with Republican lawmakers to raise the debt limit before the U.S. defaults, but House Speaker Kevin McCarthy isnt as publicly optimistic.

After postponing a meeting with congressional leaders Friday, Biden spoke to journalists Sunday in Delaware. He said, I remain optimistic because Im a congenital optimist.

I really think theres a desire on their part as well as ours to reach an agreement, Biden said. I think well be able to do it.

Biden indicated he was open to stricter work requirements for certain government aid programs, which Republicans have called for as a condition to raise the debt ceiling, but he said Medicaid was a different story, according to The Associated Press.

I voted for tougher aid programs thats in the law now, but for Medicaid its a different story, and so Im waiting to hear what their exact proposal is, Biden said.

He also said last week he was open to recovering unspent COVID-19 funds, saying he would take a hard look at it and that it was on the table.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy accused Biden of wanting a default and he sent a message to Biden while speaking at a press conference last week: Do not miss another deadline.

Looking at the actions of this president, he doesnt want a deal, he wants a default, McCarthy said.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., left, standing next to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks to reporters outside of the West Wing of the White House in Washington, May 9, 2023, following a meeting with President Joe Biden on the debt limit. | Susan Walsh, Associated Press

Biden met with top congressional leaders last week and called the talks productive, but he declined to answer questions about how talks have gone since, saying, Ive learned a long time ago, and you know as well as I do: It never is good to characterize a negotiation in the middle of a negotiation.

Biden was scheduled to meet last Friday with McCarthy, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, but the meeting was pushed back and reportedly rescheduled for as early as Tuesday as staff members for the officials have continued negotiations.

Story continues

Related

Republican aides reportedly rejected multiple White House proposals to reduce the deficit by closing tax loopholes, including loopholes for cryptocurrency transactions and large real estate investors, according to The Washington Post. Steve Rosenthal, a senior fellow at Tax Policy Center, a center-left think tank, told the Post the crypto and real estate investor loopholes would close opportunities for taxpayers to reduce their tax liability artificially and that he believed no one outside the affected industries would find the loopholes defensible.

The U.S. owed money as early as its founding when the new nation had to pay debts owed due to the Revolutionary War, and since 1960, the debt ceiling has been raised 78 times, according to the Treasury Department.

Related

In the 21st century, the U.S. debt has grown as the government took on expenses like the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the federal response to the Great Recession, and the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which totaled $4.5 trillion for stimulus, COVID-19 testing and mitigation, the Paycheck Protection Loan Program for business owners, state-administered SNAP benefits for low-income households and other expenses.
President Biden will leave as planned to Japan on Wednesday, despite questions swirling around whether he might postpone a weeklong international trip given the crunch time lawmakers and the White House are facing to come up with a deal to avoid a debt default.

We are still planning to leave as scheduled on Wednesday, national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Monday. He still expects to be able to make that trip, so were all planning on departing on Wednesday as scheduled.

The president is slated to leave in the afternoon for the Group of Seven (G-7) meeting in Hiroshima, Japan, from May 19-21. He will then visit Papua New Guinea and then attend the Quad Leaders Summit in Sydney on May 24.

When asked whether he would cut the trip short and skip the latter half to return to Washington, Kirby said they are planning to conduct this trip as scheduled.

The president also told reporters this weekend his plan as it stands now is to leave Wednesday. He said at the time he is optimistic about talks and thinks there is a desire on both sides to reach an agreement.

Biden and congressional leaders, including Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), are expected to meet again Tuesday after staffers huddled over the last few days to discuss possible solutions.

It comes up against the June 1 deadline the Treasury Department determined would be around the date the U.S. could default on trillions of dollars of debt that could cause havoc on the financial system.

McCarthy on Monday stressed that an agreement must be reached by the weekend for congressional lawmakers to have enough time to pass it. So far, both sides have yet to indicate they are any closer to an agreement than last week.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
If there were any lingering fears of a slowdown in the pre-owned watch market, they were blown away over the weekend: the Phillips, Sothebys, and Christies watch auctions in Geneva raked in a total of just over $108 million, with numerous world records set for grail pieces that somehow keep making their way to the secondary market.

Rolex Daytona The End Game Ref. 6270

Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russos Geneva Watch Auction XVII totaled $52,488,707, with all lots sold. Two watches went above the $3 million mark, and a record was set for a gem-set Rolex Daytona: the Ref. 6270 The End Game, in yellow gold with a pave diamond dial, sapphire indexes, and baguette diamond bezel sold for $4,105,853. The second-and third-highest lots were both rare Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 perpetual calendar chronographsa perennially sought-after model among high-level collectors. A second-series model in pink gold sold for $3,261,784, and a first-series in yellow gold sold for $2,624,859.

More from Robb Report

Biver Tourbillon Minute Repeater Carillon

Another notable lot was the very first Biver watch produced by Pierre Biver and his father, industry legend Jean-Claude Biver, sold for $1,413,129. The watch, a Tourbillon Minute Repeater Carillon in Titanium with a silvered obsidian dial, is a prototype (numbered 00) launched in March for the new brand. The first pieces are not even delivered yet, but pre-orders are being taken for $550,000.

Rolex Milgauss Ref. 6541

On the other end of the up-and-comer, so to speak, spectrumeven minor Rolex models can hit the big-time at auction. Phillips sold a steel Ref. 6541 Milgauss, a steel watch with a honeycomb dial and lightning hand, for $2,490,222, a record price for any Rolex Milgauss. Made in 1956, this was the first series of Milgauss watches made by Rolex, with the rare lightning seconds hand to indicate its magnetic resistance.

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Patek Philippe x Tiffany Nautilus Ref. 5711-1A-018

Christies sold just over $45 million worth of watches at its weekend sales, held at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues, the combined total of its Rare Watches and Art of F.P. Journe sales: $29.7 million and $15.3 million respectively. A total of six watches sold above $1 million, with four watches exceeding the $500,000 mark. The top lot in the Rare Watches sale was a Patek Philippe Ref. 5711-1A-018, also known as the Tiffany Bluea Nautilus double-signed by Tiffany with a blue dial, which easily ranks as the most famous watch of the decade. It sold for $2,498,876, an impressive amount, but not a new record for the model. Christies sold one last year for $3,180,665. The watch, made in a limited edition of 170 to celebrate the 170-year partnership between Tiffany and Patek, retailed in 2021 for just over $50,000. Also notable in the sale was a rare Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 one of the first series, made in 1953, selling for US$1,954,811.

Sultan-of-Oman-1274730-Lot-31-Rolex-Daytona-Jack-of-Diamonds

Christies also sold a rare Daytona chronograph watch with a diamond-set bezel and a diamond and sapphire-set dial and bracelet, ref. 6269, made circa 1985 for the Sultanate of Oman, sold for CHF1,134,000 (US$1,274,730). It was one of six pieces in the sale ordered by Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, the Sultan of Oman.

F.P. Journe Chronometre a Resonance

The Art of F.P. Journe sale of 40 lots totaled an impressive $15,314,702, confirming Journe as the master of independent watchmakers. The top lot was a Tourbillon Souverain Souscription watch, numbered two of 20, made circa 1999, selling for $3,033,735. The second-highest lot was a platinum Chronometre a Resonance made in 2000, for $1,542,083.

Rolex Daytona John Player Special Ref. 6241

Sothebys Geneva watch totaled just over $13 million. The Important Watches sale generated $10,614,751 and the Centuries of Time: A Private Collection of decorative pocket watches totaled $2,575,919. The top lot in the Important Watches sale set a new world record for a Rolex Paul Newman John Player Special, at $2,491,655. Seven bidders battled in an eight-minute bidding war for the piece, the third most valuable Paul Newman Daytona in gold ever sold and the fourth most valuable Paul Newman style of Daytona. Named after the British tobacco-sponsored Team Lotus Formula One car of the 1970s, the Rolex JPS was produced in only 300 18-karat yellow-gold versions. Among these, only a small fraction were fitted with the coveted John Player Special dial.

F.P. Journe Ruthenium Chronometre a Resonance No.-1

The second-highest lot in the Important Watches sale was an F.P. Journe Chronometre a Resonance No. 1, with a platinum case and a ruthenium-plated movement, selling for $593,856.

Abraham-Louis Breguet Gold and Enamel Cabriolet Grande et Petite Sonnerie Pocket Watch

But not all collectors are after wrist candy. The Private Collection sale included a rare selection of curated elaborately decorated pocket watches, many of which were made for the Chinese market. The top lot was a Breguet pocket watch minute repeater with an elaborately enameled gold case, selling for $1,131,153, followed by a gold, enamel and pearl-set flask watch, with two elaborately engraved gold eagle heads. Made circa 1800, it sold for $106,046.

The takeaways? The usual suspects remained supreme, while F.P. Journe continues to exert its dominance on the secondary market to keep pace with Rolex and Patek Philippe. The Milgauss final hammer price indicates there may be some more upward trajectory for the recently discontinued model. The Patek Philippe x Tiffany Nautilus is coming down in price but not falling below seven figures, suggesting it will continue to be a legend found on very few wrists. And finally, solid gold Rolex watches with diamond-set dials and bezels prove bling can finally take the spotlight on the auction circuit.

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Bill Gates said he wishes he'd known when he was younger that "there is more to life than work." Getty Images

Bill Gates said he wishes his younger self knew that "there is more to life than work."

The Microsoft cofounder told graduates of Northern Arizona University to find work-life balance.

Gates said he used to watch for which staffers left early or late during Microsoft's early days.

Bill Gates said he didn't realize until he got older and became a father that "there is more to life than work."

"When I was your age, I didn't believe in vacations," Gates told graduates of Northern Arizona University in a commencement speech on Saturday. "I didn't believe in weekends. I pushed everyone around me to work very long hours."

The billionaire, who dropped out of Harvard University after three semesters to launch Microsoft, told NAU graduates "You are not a slacker if you cut yourself some slack."

Gates said that in Microsoft's early days he didn't understand the importance of a work-life balance and would keep track of which employees were leaving early or staying late from his office window, which overlooked the parking lot.

"Don't wait as long as I did to learn this lesson," Gates said. "Take time to nurture your relationships, to celebrate your successes, and to recover from your losses. Take a break when you need to. Take it easy on the people around you when they need it, too."

In the past, Gates has acknowledged that he had high expectations when it came to employees' work ethic. He would send critical "flame mails" in the middle of the night, his biographers told CNBC.

"When I was at Microsoft, I was tough on people I worked with," Gates wrote on his blog in 2019. "Some of it helped us be successful, but I'm sure some of it was over the top."

In Gates' commencement speech, which he shared on his blog, the billionaire also advised students to take time to reevaluate their decisions throughout the course of their lives and be willing to continue learning even outside of the classroom.

Story continues

"You probably feel a lot of pressure right now to make the right decisions about your career," he said. "It might feel like those decisions are permanent. They're not. What you do tomorrow  or for the next ten years  does not have to be what you do forever."

Gates also advised students to rely on their friendships and work on projects that solve important problems, like climate change or biases in AI.

"You are graduating at a time of immense opportunity to help people," Gates told the graduates. "New industries and companies are emerging every day that will allow you to make a living by making a difference. And advances in science and technology have made it easier than ever to make a big impact."

In the past, Gates has given commencement speeches at Harvard and Stanford.

Read Gates' full commencement speech on his blog.

Read the original article on Business Insider
74-year-old business mogul John Catsimatidis said in an interview that Gen Z is too distracted by TikTok to build their careers. AP Photo/Kathy Willens

John Catsimatidis says Gen Z is "too busy on TikTok" to work hard enough to start a career.

The billionaire said he worked 70 hours a week in his youth before he launched his supermarket chain.

Catsimatidis is one of several business moguls to slam Gen Z's work ethic.

Billionaire John Catsimatidis said in his youth he started out working 70 hours a week at a supermarket, but he worries Gen Z is "too busy on TikTok" to take similar steps.

"That's one of the problems we are having in our country these days, the kids are busy playing TikTok," he told Daily Mail in an interview.

The businessman told the publication he started working about 70 hours a week at a local supermarket after his mother "threw" him off the couch the summer he graduated high school.

"I was ready to sleep on the couch for the whole summer and watch television," he told the publication.

Catsimatidis later went on to take partial ownership of the grocery store he had worked in and extended the business. Today, the 74-year-old is worth about $4.1 billion in large part due to his ownership of Gristedes Food, a chain of New York City grocery stores, and a real estate and aviation company call Red Apple Group, according to Forbes.

Catsimatidis told Daily Mail that his advice for people striving to develop their careers is to hire people smarter than you, get an education, and stay out of trouble.

He also said that he feels a strong work ethic has gone by the wayside for many workers today.

"The harder you work, the easier it gets to win," he said. "Look at people only working three days a week, and I'll show you failures."

Catsimatidis has two children of his own and is known to be very active in politics, including on his radio talk show, "The Cats Roundtable," where he has expressed his support for former President Donald Trump.

Catsimatidis is one of many business moguls to slam younger generations' work ethic. Last year, Whole Foods cofounder John Mackey said that younger people "don't seem like they want to work." And more recently, PayPal Mafia member Keith Rabois accused some workers of doing "fake work."

Story continues

One expert previously told Insider the notion that younger generations are lazier and more entitled was just another "generational effect" or form of "back in my day."

However, Gen Z has indicated they're more concerned about work-life balance and less willing to put up with a toxic work culture. In 2022, a survey from the World Economic Forum found that about half of Gen Z workers would quit their job if it negatively impacted their work-life balance.

Read the original article on Business Insider
IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said Monday that Black taxpayers may be getting audited at significantly higher rates than non-Black taxpayers.

Our initial findings support the conclusion that Black taxpayers may be audited at higher rates than would be expected given their share of the population, Werfel wrote to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

A study out of Stanford University found audit rates could be as much as five times higher for Black taxpayers than white taxpayers. Wyden asked Werfel to investigate the matter after the latter took the helm of the federal tax collection agency earlier this year.

We are dedicating significant resources to quickly evaluating the extent to which IRSs exam priorities and automated processes, and the data available to the IRS for use in exam selection, contribute to this disparity, Werfel wrote to Wyden.

The Stanford study found the main reason for the unfair treatment to be the way audits are administered relating to a specific tax credit called the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

The EITC gives people on the lower end of the income scale credits worth up to $7,430, depending on how many children they have.

The IRS doesnt collect information on the race or ethnic background of individual taxpayers, but researchers at Stanford were able to infer racial information using statistical methods involving name data and Census block groups.

Its not simply a matter of people who claim the EITC getting audited at higher rates that led to more Black people getting audited, the researchers found.

The larger source of the disparity stems from the selection of taxpayers for audit within the population of EITC claimants: Black taxpayers claiming the EITC are between 2.9 and 4.4 times as likely to be audited as non-Black EITC claimants. In contrast, we observe a much smaller, though still statistically significant, difference in audit rates between Black and non-Black taxpayers who do not claim the EITC, they wrote.

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Specific features of the IRS algorithm that select EITC tax returns for audit may be leading to racial discrimination, including targeting for mistakenly received credits and only selecting simple returns for audit. The EITC costs about $75 billion annually, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation.

Asked whether the IRS should be sued for racially discriminatory practices, Howard University Law School associate professor Alice Thomas said, Perhaps we should do that.

To be able to sue the IRS  weve got to get buy-in from the law firms to supply their associates to do pro bono cases, she told The Hill in February after the release of the Stanford study.

Im not so interested in suing the IRS as I am in bringing this to their attention.

Thomas said that unconscious biases, both within individuals and statistical processes, can lead to unfair and discriminatory practices.

Behind the people doing the audits [can be] people who have unconscious bias, so we have to wake people up, she added.

Werfels letter comes as the IRS is undergoing a large-scale refurbishment and systems modernization courtesy of an $80 billion funding boost provided last year by Congress.

The IRS is in the middle of hiring tens of thousands of new staff and is receiving an operational redesign that will centralize many aspects of its enforcement and collections protocols, potentially tweaking the systems that produce higher audit rates for Black taxpayers.

An operating plan put out by the agency in April emphasized the new role that data processing and analytics will play as the IRS seeks to diminish the amount of taxes the government fails to collect each year, a sum known as the tax gap.

The tax gap could be as large as $1 trillion, former IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig told Congress last year, though more comprehensive estimates put that number between $400 billion and $700 billion annually.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
27-year-old Hilda Baci, a chef from Lagos, Nigeria, could set a new world record for the longest cooking time. Baci, set out to beat the previous title-holder of this record on May 11. She is expected to achieve a new record by the end of May 15.

With more than 88 hours done, Hilda Baci has officially surpassed the current Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual. She'll keep cooking till 4 pm today to reach 96 hours.



You have done it, Hilda and we are proud of you! pic.twitter.com/ntRZyzzoML  Document Women (@DocumentWomen) May 15, 2023

The current title holder is Lata Tondon, an Indian chef who achieved this feat back in 2019. Tondon cooked for 87 hours and 45 minutes in Rewa, central India.

Baci is a popular chef in her home country of Nigeria. She is attempting to break the record in an upscale market area in Lagos. Friends, family and even government officials have been cheering her on. The Vice-President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbanjo, called into her kitchen on May 14, while the President himself, Muhammadu Buhari, shared a congratulatory tweet.

I share the immense joy of all Nigerians as Hilda Bassey Effiong (Hilda Baci) makes history by breaking the world record for longest cooking marathon. A great day for Nigeria. We're all very proud of what she has personally accomplishedand placing Nigeria in the global spotlight pic.twitter.com/X69PadrjxV  Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) May 15, 2023

Baci has been cooking for up to 90 hours now, unofficially breaking the existing record. The Guinness World Record team is yet to officially confer the honor. Although she aims to set the new record at 97 hours, her fans are on the ground encouraging her to push to 100 hours.

Story continues

Baci is one of Nigerias fast-rising chefs. She owns My Food byHilda, a restaurant in the bustling city of Lagos. In 2021, she won a highly contested Jollof Faceoff competition. The contest brought chefs from around the African continent together to cook their best version of Jollof rice, a famous West African spicy dish.

In addition to standing for more than 80 hours, cooking over 100 dishes and serving the over 2,000 guests, Baci achieved this feat while on her period, according to her manager.

Omoooo!

To contextualize how amazing this is, this same babes period had her in the hospital a few months ago.

What a rockstar babe! https://t.co/q2hWvcAX5l  THEE AWAZI (@THEAWAZI) May 14, 2023

Many are awaiting for the Guinness World Record team to complete its authentication and update its website, thereby officially conferring the title on Baci.

The post Black Woman Set To Break World Record For Longest Cooking Time appeared first on 21Ninety.
NORWICH, Conn. (AP)  A body discovered partially buried in a shallow grave in a Connecticut park has been identified as a missing New York City man whose older brother was charged in April with murder and concealing the corpse.

Children of the missing man, Martin Wright, 44, had pleaded with their uncle, McMillian Wright, 45, to reveal the whereabouts of their fathers body, but to no avail. Police believe Martin Wright was killed in January in his apartment.

Martin Wrights body was discovered Sunday in a wooded area of the nearly 385-acre Mohegan Park in Norwich, Connecticut, which is about 135 miles (215 km) east of New York City. Norwich Police said a person walking in the park called authorities after spotting something sticking out of the ground and believed it might be a person.

Norwich Police, who later determined the person had not been murdered in the park, announced Friday they were able to identify the body as that of Martin Wright after working with New York detectives.

A second man has also been charged in the case, accused of helping McMillian Wright allegedly move and hide his younger brothers body.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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The body of a missing 4-year-old South Boston boy who went missing Sunday has been found, Massachusetts State Police said in a tweet Monday.

Police first announced they were searching for the boy, Mohemed Fofena, at 9:21 p.m. Sunday. He was reported missing from Castle Island.

The boy was with his older sister and their grandfather at the park shortly after 7 p.m. Sunday, reported Boston television station WCVB. His grandfather said the park was crowded and he was on the phone for 10 to 15 minutes while the children played. When it was time to head home, the boy was nowhere to be found.

His grandfather reported him missing at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, the outlet said. His mother said the kindergartener was autistic and was not able to communicate.

While he was missing, she pleaded on TV for the public to help find her son.

"Please, people, help me," she said to WCVB. "My little baby, please."

Police: Boy's body recovered near Castle Island shoreline

The search included Massachusetts State Police, the Boston Police Department, Massachusetts Environmental Police, the Boston Fire Department, Boston Emergency Medical Services, as well as marine units, a dive team and searchers in the air.

The agency tweeted a series of updates about the boy, including one at 8:24 a.m. Monday with a photo of him. Police asked the public to keep an eye out and call authorities if anyone saw him.

At some point during the night, the search was halted and resumed Monday morning.

UPDATE 2-Search operations around and off Castle Island are resuming for missing 4-year-old Mohemed Fofena (pictured). He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, and blue footwear when last seen. Anyone who sees Mohemed or has info about him should call 911 immediately. https://t.co/S0ptzSJy2m pic.twitter.com/ZoJpkWsUIX  Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) May 15, 2023

Police posted Monday afternoon that his body had been found at 12:29 p.m. on the shoreline of Castle Island.

Story continues

Boston Public Schools also posted about Fofena, tweeting on Monday morning that the school system was "deeply concerned" about him and offering support to students, staff and families. Social workers are providing counseling services for those impacted by, Boston Public Schools tweeted shortly before police announced his body was found.

The detective unit for Suffolk County will handle the death investigation, state police said.

"We express our deepest condolences to his family," wrote Massachusetts State Police in its final update Monday afternoon.

More coverage from USA TODAY

What happens when a child disappears in America?

'They were just such innocent kids.' Who were the teens killed in Oklahoma massacre?

Students are increasingly refusing to go to school. Its becoming a mental health crisis.

USA TODAY's true-crime podcast, Unsolved, investigates the cold case of Alexis Patterson

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Body of missing 4-year-old Boston boy found by Castle Island: Police
U.S. border patrol agents make contact with migrants hoping to cross into the United States from Tijuana on Thursday. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Biden administration officials said Monday that the number of migrants crossing the southern border had dropped dramatically over the weekend, following a significant increase early last week in the lead-up to the expiration of Title 42.

Some speculated that the end Thursday of Title 42, a policy used amid the COVID-19 pandemic to turn back migrants at the border without giving them access to asylum protections, would bring about an influx of crossings. But the Biden administration has long said it was prepared for the moment and had been planning for the change, despite attacks from Republicans who argued that border policy was being mismanaged.

The worries about increased migration were reflected in recent court filings from border officials who said that encounters could reach upward of 14,000 a day after Title 42 was lifted. Instead, the numbers have dropped.

Blas Nunez-Neto, a lead Department of Homeland Security official, said there had been a 50% decrease in crossings over the weekend, compared to the more than 10,000 a day they had seen early last week. He said that, over the weekend, they had averaged below 5,000 encounters a day.

Still, he warned that it was too early to draw any conclusions and that smugglers would continue to try to take advantage of the moment by spreading disinformation that encouraged migrants to cross.

Nunez-Neto added that Mexican and Guatemalan officials had stepped up enforcement in recent days and that the U.S. had already deported thousands to their home countries. He reiterated that DHS would continue speedy deportations and was enforcing a policy limiting asylum for those who cross without authorization. Nunez-Neto warned that those who are deported face a five-year reentry ban and could face prosecution if they attempt to cross again.

It is too early, but the numbers that we have experienced over the past two days are markedly down over what they were prior to the end of Title 42, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on CNN on Sunday, adding that there had been 6,300 crossings Friday and around 4,200 on Saturday.

Story continues

On Monday, Raul Ortiz, head of the U.S. Border Patrol, said the agency had apprehended 14,752 migrants in the previous 72 hours.

In the meantime, the administration is facing two lawsuits that could have big impacts. The American Civil Liberties Union sued DHS late Thursday over its new policy limiting asylum at the border, calling it unlawful and seeking a federal court order blocking it.

The policy limits asylum access from those who cross through a third country and do not seek protections on their way to the United States. The ACLU said it resembles a Trump administration policy that barred asylum access for those who crossed through a third country and did not apply for asylum there.

At the same time, the administration is facing a lawsuit from the Florida attorney generals office, which won a temporary block on a policy that allowed border officials to release migrants from custody without court notices. Migrants were told they were required to check in with immigration officials in the United States.

Judge T. Kent Wetherell, who was appointed to the district court by then-President Trump, issued the temporary restraining order on Thursday. The Biden administration sought an emergency stay from the judge. On Monday, Wetherell denied the stay. The government had previously said it would go to the the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals if denied.

In filings last week, they warned that without the power to quickly release people, there could be overcrowding at border facilities.

At the current operational pace, and without any additional measures such as Parole with Conditions, USBP would have over 45,000 individuals in custody by the end of the month. Further, the [U.S. Department of Homeland Security] Chief Medical Officer has concluded that current conditions pose an increased risk of adverse health outcomes, the filing from the Department of Justice lawyers read.

In a Monday filing, Florida officials argued that Wetherell should not stay his order and pointed to the recent advertised drop in crossings.

DHS claims that this relief is necessary 'to address the skyrocketing number of encounters at the southwest border, the filing read. Yet, Secretary Mayorkas told ABC News yesterday that, 'over the past two days, the United States border patrol has seen an approximately 50% drop in the number of people encountered at our southern border.'

Migrants are being told by officials that they should seek appointments at ports of entry and apply for asylum in the United States. The Biden administration has also continued a program that allows migrants from Nicaragua, Cuba, Venezuela and Haiti to fly into the U.S. if they have a financial sponsor and can pass certain background checks.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Alex Bowman is still unsure when hell return to NASCAR Cup Series competition but hopes a doctor visit this week, including a new x-ray, will provide some clarity.

Im obviously mobile, Bowman said Sunday at Darlington Raceway. Super-fortunate that the injury wasnt any worse than it was. Obviously, a lot of people have had that flat landing in a sprint car and have been hurt much worse than I was. So Ill heal up and come back when I can.

Bowman was injured on April 25 during a sprint car race at 34 Raceway in Iowa. The Hendrick Motorsports driver suffered a fractured vertebra and was initially sidelined for three to four weeks. Josh Berry has been driving the No. 48 Chevrolet in his absence.

More NASCAR!

Elliott dodges and weaves his way to third at Darlington Newman says poor finish masked a decent first start with RWR Hendrick hits out at Chastain over Larson wreck

I knew I hurt, Bowman said of the crash. It hurt a lot, but I was like, I can move everything, so in my head, if you can move everything, then youre just tweaked up or whatever. Like when you throw your back out. But when I got back to my trailer, I couldnt get my fire suit off or move much and realized how much pain I was in. My plan was to get home and get checked out, but it pretty quickly became get to a hospital in Iowa and get checked out there.

Because the fracture is so high up his spine, Bowman has not been wearing a brace, and there are no spinal cord injuries. He has able to get back in the gym, which has been the extent of his therapy.

I would say the most painful thing for me is laughing, coughing, sneezing, or trying to sleep, Bowman said. Laying down hurts pretty bad. Standing up and walking around is not so bad. Ive been able to walk the whole time, so thats been nice. Ive kind of kept myself busy.

This week, I was able to get back in the gym a little, which was really good because not working out for a couple of weeks is like the worst thing in the world for me. They have these, like, hair bands that pump up around your muscles, so you can work out with really lightweight and still get a really good workout from it. So, I was doing curls with like five-pounders. Typically, I do 10s, so five was a good workout for me.

Story continues

If he had to drive the car today, Bowman said it would probably hurt when the jack drops from a pit stop. He hasnt been in the simulator and thinks he could, but would expect discomfort when hed have to pull the seatbelts tight.

Bowman had the best average finish in the NASCAR Cup Series and briefly led the point standings before being sidelined. Missing the events at Dover Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway was particularly tough since those tracks are statistically strong for him, and he knows hes missing out on valuable points.

In the last three weeks, Bowman has fallen to 17th in the standings. The Cup Series runs the non-points race at North Wilkesboro Speedway this weekend before visiting Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600 at the end of the month.

It sucks. It sucks pretty bad, Bowman said of not racing. But its pretty self-inflicted. It was my choice to go sprint car racing, and I knew what I was signing up for. It really sucks being out of the race car, but everybody at Hendrick Motorsports has been super-supportive, as well as everybody at Ally. It definitely sucks to not be in the car, though.

Story originally appeared on Racer
Editors note: This story originally published Feb. 1, 2022. It has been updated slightly as part of our Oddly Idaho series.

Whether your family has lived in Boise for four generations or you just got out of the U-Haul from California, youve no doubt heard the debate on how to pronounce Idahos capital city.

In a nutshell: Those not from Boise tend to pronounce it Boy-zee, while many locals favor calling it Boy-see.





And with thousands moving to Boise and across Idaho over the past decade, how one pronounces the word is often used as a way to distinguish whos local and whos a recent arrival.

Oddly Idaho explores curious quirks and nostalgic moments in the Gem State.

But the debate of Boy-see versus Boy-zee is nothing new. It goes back nearly as long as Boise has been established as a city, nearly 160 years.

And during that span, news articles show that residents and visitors alike have hardly ever agreed on a uniform pronunciation for the City of Trees.

Longtime residents will be familiar with the names origin story: French-Canadian fur trappers in the early 19th century traveling through Southern Idaho came upon a valley lined with tall cottonwood trees, exclaiming Les Bois!

Its unclear how accurate that story is, but Boise  French for wooded  appears to refer to the many trees that lined the Boise River.

Boise, as a city, was founded in 1863, and it didnt take long for questions about the pronunciation to pop up.

One of the earliest examples was an 1864 article in the Gold Hills Daily News, located just south of Reno, Nevada, which discussed the pronunciation of the recently founded town.

But the pronunciation wasnt Boise as many longtime residents might say it today.

The celebrated mines up north, Boise, usually pronounced as a monosyllable, is a word of two syllables, the article said. The correct pronunciation is: Boizy, the s having the sound of a z. 

A short article published on January 20, 1864 in the Gold Hill Daily News in Nevada, in which the writer discussed the pronunciation of Boise.

The article then goes on to ask readers how Idaho, then just a territory, is pronounced.

There have also been a series of articles, particularly in the early 20th century, across the nation written almost as geography quizzes, telling East Coast residents what the far-off capital of Idaho is called.

Story continues

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the writers offer a few different answers: Boy-zee, Boy-say, Boosee, Bossy, Bwa-say and Bwaz to name a few.

And for nearly as long, those outside Idaho have long feared the supposed backlash for pronouncing the name incorrectly.

In 1919, Dr. William Brady, a popular health columnist at the time, was invited by the Idaho Statesman to deliver a health talk in Boise. In a preview of the talk, he said he had heard several different pronunciations for the city and was greatly concerned about getting it wrong. He developed a solution, of sorts.

I am just going to buy my ticket to Nampa and hang around there until I hear someone give away the true secret, Brady said.

All this raises the question: Why is Boise pronounced Boy-see?

For that, there appears to be no clear answer. Mariah Devereux Herbeck, a French language professor at Boise State University, told the Statesman there appears to be little connection between todays pronunciation and the original French word.

For example, Les Bois does not include any s sound; its pronounced lay bwah. Additionally, the French word boise is pronounced with a z sound at the end, as in bwah-zay.

The modern-day pronunciation most likely stems from a local adaptation of the pronunciation, she said.

Clearly the residents of Boise have made Boise their own by choosing to pronounce the s as an s,  Devereux Herbeck said.

It seems unlikely, though, that explanation will quell any sort of debate about the pronunciation. And the debate isnt even restricted to Idaho. In Boise City, Oklahoma, locals pronounce their town as Boys City.

But well save the history on that for another article.

You asked: Why are Five Mile and Ten Mile roads 6 miles apart? Heres the answer.

Whats in a name? From Black Cat to Frozen Dog, area roads provide history, mystery
A person on the train tracks was struck Monday morning and the investigation had part of Northeast 82nd Street shut down into the afternoon, Miami police said.

By 2 p.m., the street was open again and traffic flowed normally in the area.

A Brightline train hit a man near Northeast 79th Street and Fourth Avenue around 10 a.m., Miami police said. While he was taken to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital in serious condition, police cautioned drivers to avoid Northeast 82nd Street near Fourth Avenue. The street was closed from Northeast Fourth Court to Second Avenue.

Traffic on Northeast 79th Street between Fourth Avenue and Fifth Avenue also appeared to be affected.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more is learned.
LONDON  Britain is to start elementary flight training for Ukrainian pilots as part of a new military support package announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a face-to-face meeting in the U.K. with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday.

Sunak linked the training program to efforts by the U.K. and others to equip the Ukrainian Air Force with Lockheed Martin-made F-16 aircraft, which he called Ukraines fighter jets of choice.

During the meeting, which took place at the prime ministers Chequers country retreat just outside of London, the British government announced it would step up the supply of air defense missiles and 200-kilometer-range (124-mile-range) attack drones as part of a steadily growing arms package supplied by the U.K. to Ukraine.

Last week, Britain became the first Western nation to supply long-range cruise missiles to Ukrainian forces when the Defence Ministry announced it was already delivering MBDA-built Storm Shadow weapons to equip Kyivs Soviet-era combat jets with a potent strike capability.

An MBDA Storm Shadow/Scalp missile is seen at the Farnborough Airshow in London on July 17, 2018. (Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images)

Earlier this year, Britain led the way with the supply of Western main battle tanks to Ukraine, which is fighting off a Russian invasion.

The British Royal Air Force doesnt operate F-16s, but Sunak announced in February the countrys intention to provide pilot training at a time when arguments over whether the West will accede to Kyivs request for modern F-16 fighters were heating up.

Debates within NATO nations over providing Ukraine with combat jets continues unabated. But as the supply of Storm Shadow cruise missiles illustrates, capability that was once off the table can become acceptable to donate.

Ukraines president told reporters after the talks at Chequers that the issue was a very important topic for us because we cant control the sky. ... I think you will hear important decisions in the closest time, but we have to work a bit more.

The British government has pledged to adapt the program used by U.K. pilots to provide Ukrainians with piloting skills they can apply to different kinds of aircraft.

Story continues

The training could begin later this summer.

British military training, including that for elementary and basic flights, is largely provided by the Lockheed Martin-led Ascent joint venture, which also includes Babcock International.

Zelenskyys talks in the U.K. follow visits to Italy, France and Germany over the last few days.

Italian officials pledged open-ended military and financial support as well as stronger backing for Ukraines cherished aim to join the European Union.

Premier Giorgia Meloni, who staunchly supports military aid for Ukraine, said Italy would back the country 360 degrees for all the time necessary and beyond. Since the war began, Italy has contributed about 1 billion (U.S. $1.1 billion) in military and financial aid, as well as humanitarian assistance.

France promised to supply dozens of light tanks, armored vehicles and more air defense systems in the weeks ahead, without giving specific numbers. About 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers would also receive training in France this year and nearly 4,000 others in Poland as part of a wider European effort, according to the office of the French president.

Germany dedicated its largest military support package for Ukraine to date, including arms deliveries worth 2.7 billion.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Prince Andrew at the chapel at Royal Lodge, Windsor, April 11 2021. Steve Parsons / Associated Press

Prince Andrew is resisting having to move out from a lavish royal mansion, according to reports.

The upkeep of Royal Lodge  his current, 30-room home  is now unaffordable to the disgraced royal.

Buckingham Palace is offering the use of Frogmore Cottage, the former home of Harry and Meghan.

Prince Andrew is "refusing to budge" from the sprawling Windsor mansion he has lived in since 2004, despite being told to downsize by his brother, King Charles III, the Mail on Sunday reported a friend of his as saying.

The moves come after Andrew was forced to step back from royal duties in 2019 over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a matter he elaborated on in a disastrous BBC interview.

Andrew, the Duke of York, is "refusing to see anybody" and is "fragile" over the plan to leave Royal Lodge, the unnamed friend told the newspaper.

The Mail on Sunday earlier reported that Charles has cut Andrew's annual 250,000 ($310,000) allowance, making the upkeep of the historic, 30-room mansion a steep challenge.

In February 2022, Andrew settled a lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was trafficked to have sex with him on three occasions when she was 17. The settlement did not include any admission of guilt, per The Guardian.

Last year Andrew had his military titles removed, and lost the use of His Royal Highness.

"He's concerned that now the coronation is over, the knives are out," the friend reportedly added to the Mail on Sunday.

He is even worried that the royal family would turn off utilities to get him out of there, the friend said.

According to Yahoo News, maintenance and running costs on the property come to around 400,000 ($500,000) per year.

The Royal Lodge pictured in 1937. The Print Collector/Getty Images

As Yahoo News first reported, the prince has been offered the use of Frogmore Cottage instead  the property used by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle before they stepped down from royal duties.

They were evicted from the house in early March, a shock decision that came after the release of Harry's memoir "Spare."

Story continues

Although the couple spent $3 million renovating Frogmore, the five-bedroom property will be a significant step down for Andrew, who shares the Royal Lodge with his estranged wife Sarah, the Duchess of York.

The larger property, which has been extended and modified multiple times over the centuries, also boasts seven cottages, a chapel, and a tiny thatched children's cottage gifted to the late Queen Elizabeth II at the age of six  all set in 98 acres of land.

Frogmore Cottage. zz/KGC-09/STAR MAX/IPx 2019/AP

The original date for Andrew and Sarah to move out was September, but, according to the Mail, Buckingham Palace accepts this is likely too soon.

"He has until autumn to leave but is resisting," an unnamed insider told Yahoo News.

One friend defended Andrew, saying it was unfair to have him move out while his daughter, Princess Eugenie, is pregnant.

"This has been his family home for the past 20 years. Is it really sensible to kick him out?" the friend told the Mail on Sunday.

Representatives for the Duke did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Insider
David Hunter, a former miner from Northumberland, freely admits killing his wife at their Paphos home in December 2021 - Joe Giddens/PA Wire

A British expat said his wife begged him to end her life as he demonstrated to a courtroom how he suffocated her in what he claims was a mercy killing.

David Hunter, 75, showed the court how he placed his right hand over the mouth of his wife, Janice, 74, and his left hand over her nose until she died.

In emotional testimony, the former miner from Northumberland told the court in Paphos that his wife was in acute pain from blood cancer and that after years of suffering, she had implored him to kill her.

He said that for around three years she had been housebound, had lost weight, and had to undergo the humiliation of wearing adult nappies.

My wife was crying, sobbing. She had tears in her eyes, he said of the day that he killed her at the home they shared in a village outside Paphos, a resort town in western Cyprus.

He had gone to make a cup of coffee when his wife started crying. As he turned on the kettle, he gripped the bench for support as his wife sobbed in the room next door.

Then the next thing you know, I had my hands over her mouth and nose. I dont know how long I kept my hands there for. She did not attempt to stop me. When it was finished, she was a grey colour. She didnt look like my wife.

Mr and Mrs Hunter - PA

Mr Hunter admits killing his wife at their home in December 2021 but under Cypriot law there is no defence of assisted suicide.

He is charged with murder and risks facing the rest of his life in prison if convicted.

Under gruelling cross-examination, the lead prosecutor in the trial said the murder was premeditated and planned.

You planned to kill her. You wanted to do it. You did it. Your motives are irrelevant, said Andreas Hadjikyrou.

Mr Hunter, holding back tears, vehemently denied the accusation. I would never in a million years take my wifes life if she hadnt asked me. I didnt plan it, I swear to God. I hoped she would change her mind.

But she said she no longer wanted to live. I said No. She begged me. For six weeks she was asking me, 24 hours a day. It was doing my head in. She was asking me more every day.

Story continues

In the last week she was crying and begging me. Every day she asked me a bit more intensely to do it.

I did it because I loved her. We lived through hell together. She was sick of being alive.

My best friend

The couple had been married for 57 years. She wasnt just my wife, she was my best friend. But she was in pain and I wanted to help her.

Addressing the prosecutor directly across the court room, he said: You havent seen the strain that she went through in the last six years.

The prosecutor asked him whether he thought he had had the right to take his wifes life.

No, no, I didnt, the ex-miner replied. No, I didnt have the right. But after six weeks of her asking me, my mind was not in its proper state.

After killing his wife, Mr Hunter attempted to take his own life by drinking brandy and swallowing pills.

But his brother in the UK alerted police to what he had done, who in turn contacted the Cypriot police.

They went to the Hunters home and took Mr Hunter to hospital where he underwent a stomach pump.

The court heard evidence last week that Mrs Hunter may not have been suffering from terminal leukaemia, as the defence argue, but a blood cancer called myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), which can lead to leukaemia.

My wife was sick of life, whether it was leukaemia or MDS. Were not arguing about what she did or didnt have, he told the court on Monday.

She might have lived for another two years but I didnt want to see her in so much pain. In her mind, she didnt want to live.

Scratches on his hands

The prosecution alleged that Mrs Hunter tried to resist suffocation and that her struggles left Mr Hunter with scratches on his hands.

He denied that was the case. She never struggled. Her legs were stretched out straight and her arms were folded, he told the court. She moved her head only very slightly. She never scratched me and I never scratched her. I just kept my hands there.

The couple, originally from Ashington in Northumberland, moved to Cyprus two decades ago. It was to be their dream retirement, but Mrs Hunter became increasingly ill.

Outside court, Mr Hunter said: I finally got to have my say. For six weeks, 24 hours a day, she was asking me to end her life.

His daughter, Lesley, told the Telegraph that the case had put the family under immense strain.

In terms of how we are, were not great. Dad will be 76 at the end of this month and although he puts on a brave face, this is so hard for him. I'm struggling; it's been a very long 17 months.

My parents kept much of my mum's illness from me because they didn't want to worry me. However, Im aware that once the pandemic started they felt quite abandoned by my mums doctor. They felt she was often dismissive of my mums worsening symptoms and increasing pain levels.

Michael Polak, a British lawyer who is helping defend Mr Hunter, said: I was pleased with how he gave evidence. He was very clear on his motivation and the fact that his wife asked him to do it. It must be one of the most difficult decisions that anyone ever has to make.

The trial was adjourned until May 23, when the defence is expected to call two witnesses, including a neighbour of the Hunters.

A verdict could be delivered within around two months.

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.
HMS Albion

A Navy soldier has been found dead following a night out in Stockholm.

The 25-year-old serviceman was in Sweden carrying out military drills on board HMS Albion for the Aurora 23 defence exercise at the time of his death.

Four people, including one British national and three Swedish nationals, were arrested on suspicion of murder but have since been released, according to Swedish newspaper Expressen.

The Royal Navy said it was assisting police in Sweden with its investigation. "We are aware of an incident in Stockholm and we are assisting local authorities in their investigation. It would be inappropriate to comment further," a spokesperson said in a statement.

The man was reportedly on a night out in Stockholm with a colleague before he ended up at a home in Solna, north of the capital, where he was found dead.

Swedish authorities have not released any further information about the death, while the man's identity is yet to be released.

Aurora is Sweden's largest annual defence exercise and took place over a three-week period from April 17 until May 11.

The military drills involved more than 26,000 military personnel from Sweden, Finland, Poland, Portugal, the US and the UK and are designed to bolster Nato's defence in the event of an attack on Sweden.

Servicemen from the RAF, Navy and the Army were all involved with Typhoon planes providing provide air-to-air combat training over Swedens largest island, Gotland.

While the British Armys 1 battalion also participated in the exercise.

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.
Brooks Parker, a former Tennessee commissioner and a longtime Nashville public relations executive, died on May 4, his family confirmed. He was 92.

He was a "bridge-builder" for people and various causes, friends and family said, as well as a strong advocate for women and minority communities, and an influential arts patron in Nashville and beyond.

"His connections were amazing and immeasurable within government and business," said Howard Gentry, the Criminal Court Clerk of Davidson County. "He was creative. He knew how to deliver the message in a way that resonated with whatever community he worked with."

Brooks Parker, a former Tennessee commissioner and longtime Nashville PR executive, died in May 2023.

Parker, a Texas native and U.S. Navy and Korean War veteran, settled in Tennessee after attending the University of the South in Sewanee.

He joined Gov. Ray Blanton's administration as press secretary before he was named commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Employment Security in 1978. In 1976, Parker orchestrated a rare visit by the United Nations Assembly to Nashville, where 101 UN representatives attended a Vanderbilt forum and Centennial Park event.

Lois Riggins-Ezell, director emeritus of the Tennessee State Museum, first met Brooks at the beginning of Blanton's administration.

"Brooks was a door-opener. He kicked those doors open for you if he thought it was important for the state of Tennessee, and for you as an individual," Riggins-Ezell said, calling Parker instrumental in her own career.

He later founded the public relations and advertising firm The Parker Group, which boasted clients such as Rosa Parks and prominent Nashville businesses.

It was then that Gentry met Parker, when Parker was working with Fisk University on their museum and a public relations campaign. Gentry said he was surprised at first to see a white man working with a historically Black college, but he learned Parker was "very intentional" about understanding the people and communities he was working with.

Story continues

Parker later assisted Gentry in rapidly growing business at Citizens Bank, the oldest Black-owned bank in the U.S.. He also encouraged Gentry to seek public office.

"He's really responsible for a lot of who I am and what I've been able to accomplish in business and in politics, particularly in politics," Gentry said. "Had I not had him with me when I first started, I probably could not have handled being the first African-American in every office that I held in the beginning. There was a lot of pressure, a lot I needed to learn and be made aware of. I needed guidance in how to function in that world."

Parker was also a dedicated arts patron and sat on the first board of the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, where he helped secure a temporary home for the Tennessee State Museum at one point, Riggins-Ezell said.

"Tennessee is better off to have had him," Riggins-Ezell said. "He opened doors. He made things happen. He believed change was always good, and you hopefully always move up and forward, never backwards. Those were the principles he lived his life by."

Parker's family said he led a "long life of committed service to his family and community."

"His impact on those he assisted and loved runs deep," his family said in a statement. "He was a passionate advocate and champion for equal rights and opportunity for women and Nashvilles Black community. Tennessee State University and Fisk University held a special place close to his heart. His legacy for service, compassion, and kindness will live on in all that knew and loved him."

Parker was preceded in death by his wife, Anne Coleman Smith Parker, and is survived by four children, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

The Parker family invites his friends to celebrate his life on Saturday, June 24 from noon to 4 p.m. at the home of Carrie and Robert Peery, 1445 Hwy 96, Burns, Tennessee.

Reach Melissa Brown at mabrown@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Brooks Parker, former Blanton press aide, PR executive and patron of the arts, dies at 92
California's reparations task force is calling for the state legislature to require all cities and counties with allegedly segregated neighborhoods to submit all their real estate ordinances to a state agency for approval based on whether they maintain or lessen "residential racial segregation."

The task force, created by state legislation signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2020, formally approved last weekend its final recommendations to the California Legislature, which will decide whether to enact the measures and send them to the governor's desk to be signed into law.

The recommendations include several proposals meant to address "housing segregation" and "unjust property takings" that contributed to alleged systemic racism against Black Californians. Among the most controversial of the housing proposals is one that would seemingly hand over control of local land use decisions to a state agency that would approve ordinances based on whether they maintain or decrease segregation.

"Residential zoning ordinances have been used for decades in California to prevent African Americans from moving into neighborhoods, thereby maintaining residential segregation," the reparations committee writes in the final report outlining its proposals. "Various laws were also used to prevent additional housing from being built, effectively shutting out African Americans."

Kamilah Moore, chair of the California Reparations Task Force, and Amos Brown, vice chair, at the California Science Center in Los Angeles on Sept. 22, 2022.

CALIFORNIA REPARATIONS PANEL CALLS TO AMEND STATE CONSTITUTION TO LEGALIZE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

To address local zoning laws that "reinforce and recreate this systemic housing segregation," the task force continues, the legislature should identify California cities and counties that have historically redlined neighborhoods  areas flagged as risky investments where residents are therefore denied financial services such as loans or insurance  and whose "current levels of residential racial segregation are statistically similar to the degree of segregation in that city or county when it was redlined."

Story continues

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

After these areas are identified, the task force calls on the legislature to "require identified cities and counties to submit all residential land use ordinances for review and approval by a state agency, with the agency rejecting (or requiring modification of) the ordinance if the agency finds that the proposed ordinance will maintain or exacerbate levels of residential racial segregation."

In other words, if a city or county with a neighborhood deemed segregated wanted to implement an official change involving real estate, that change would need to be approved by a state agency based on whether it made the area more racially diverse.

The task force recommends the removal of this process for "additional review and approval" of the flagged cities and counties only if the city or county "eliminates a certain degree of housing segregation in its geographic territory."

However, the reparations committee suggests an alternative option as well for such localities: creating an "administrative appeal board to review challenges to developmental permitting decisions or zoning laws" and basing decisions on whether development permits and zoning requirements are deemed "to maintain or reinforce residential racial segregation."

CALIFORNIA REPARATIONS COMMITTEE CALLS FOR ENDING CASH BAIL, NO LONGER PROSECUTING LOW-LEVEL CRIMES

Beyond an official review process, the task force also proposes increasing home ownership among Black Californians by providing assistance through either direct financial aid or subsidized down payments, below-market-rate mortgages, and homeowner's insurance.

Another recommendation is to provide a so-called "right to return" for Black residents "displaced" by development projects, "racially restrictive covenants," "state-sanctioned violence," and "racial terror" to come back to those areas to live.

"The task force recommends the legislature enact measures to support a right to return for those displaced by agency action, restrictive covenants, and racial terror that drove African Americans from their homes," the committee writes. "The right to return should give the victims of these purges and their descendants preference in renting or owning property in the area of redevelopment. The right to return should extend to all agency-assisted housing and business opportunities in the redevelopment project area."

The task force additionally wants state lawmakers to give "preference in rental housing, home ownership, and business opportunities for those who were displaced or excluded from renting or owning property in agency-assisted housing and business opportunities developed in or adjacent to communities formerly covered by restrictive covenants." This preference should extend to the families and descendants of those allegedly displaced by "agency-assisted development," according to the report.

The committee's final recommendations include a host of other housing-related proposals  such as repealing policies limiting those with criminal records from renting property, funding housing-focused anti-racism education programs, and establishing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) certification programs for affordable housing contractors, providers, and decision makers.

The California state Capitol on July 17, 2022, in Sacramento.

CALIFORNIA REPARATIONS COMMITTEE CALLS FOR STATEWIDE K-12 CURRICULUM THAT TEACHES 'SYSTEMIC RACISM'

California is no stranger to controversial housing measures, especially those in which the state seeks to wrest control from local authorities. Indeed, California has imposed quotas on local governments to provide land for housing, particularly for lower-income families, and to streamline permits for these projects. Most of the state's 482 cities are complying  but not all, particularly in the suburbs.

Many of the communities seeking to thwart the housing mandate are overwhelmingly Democratic areas around San Francisco, but the one catching the most flak from Newsom's office is the city of Huntington Beach, a Republican area in Orange County that's openly resisting the quota.

"The city has a duty to protect the quality and lifestyle of the neighborhoods that current owners have already bought into and for the future sustainability of Huntington Beach," City Councilman Pat Burns wrote in a letter to colleagues earlier this year. "Radical redevelopment in already-established residential neighborhoods is not only a threat to quality and lifestyle, but to the value of the adjacent and neighboring properties."

Huntington Beach Mayor Tony Strickland, a Republican, echoed that sentiment at a meeting last month.

"People don't want an urban community here," he said. "I believe if we just went along, it will have a severe negative impact on our community's quality of life."

Flanked by Councilman Casey McKeon, left, and City Attorney Michael Gates, Huntington Beach Mayor Tony Strickland speaks during a news conference on Feb. 14, 2023, on state-mandated housing goals.

NEWSOM DECLARES WAR ON ENVIRONMENTALISTS SEEKING TO HALT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

Days later, Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and the Department of Housing and Community Development jointly announced a motion amending a lawsuit from March with the goal of holding Huntington Beach accountable for violating the state Housing Element Law. The law requires local governments to adopt housing plans that include sufficient opportunities for development.

California is seeking penalties and injunctive relief, as well as suspension of the city's authority to issue building permits and a court order mandating the approval of certain residential projects until the city comes into compliance with the law.

"Huntington Beach continues to fail its residents," Newsom, a Democrat, said in a statement at the time. "Every city and county needs to do their part to bring down the high housing and rent costs that are impacting families across this state. California will continue taking every step necessary to ensure everyone is building their fair share of housing and not flouting state housing laws at the expense of the community."

GOV. NEWSOM ROASTED FOR PLAN TO BUILD TINY HOUSES FOR HOMELESS: 'HE HAS RUINED CALIFORNIA'

"California is in the midst of a housing crisis, and time and time again, Huntington Beach has demonstrated they are part of the problem by defiantly refusing every opportunity to provide essential housing for its own residents," added Bonta. "The city's refusal last week to adopt a housing element in accordance with state law is just the latest in a string of willfully illegal actions by the city  decisions that worsen our housing crisis and harm taxpayers and Huntington Beach residents We'll use every legal tool available to hold the city accountable and enforce state housing laws."

However, several cities across California don't have certified, compliant housing elements, according to the state's housing tracker, leading Strickland to accuse the Newsom administration of singling out his city.

"The fact that the attorney general is singling out Huntington Beach only strengthens the city's arguments in court that the state is not following the law with these housing mandates," the mayor said in a statement last month. "These regular state press releases announcing legal actions against Huntington Beach may grab headlines, but they do not intimidate or deter the city, and they have no effect in the court of law, where these conflicts of law will ultimately be decided."

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Earlier this month, Newsom sued the city of Elk Grove for not approving housing projects for the homeless.
Hun Sen. who has ruled Cambodia for 38 years, will again be near uncontested in this year's election after Candlelight Party's disqualification

Cambodia's main opposition party and the sole credible challenger to the country's long-time leader Hun Sen has been barred from contesting July's election.

Electoral authorities disqualified the Candlelight Party on Monday for not having the right paperwork.

Party insiders had warned for weeks they were being stymied by red tape.

Critics say with this move, Hun Sen has again eliminated any real challenge for the second election in a row.

In 2018, his Cambodian People's Party won every single seat in the 125-seat National Assembly after the main opposition alliance was dissolved by the politically controlled courts.

The Candlelight Party formed from the ashes of that dissolved opposition. The fledgling alliance formed a year ago and received just 22% of the vote in local commune elections last year - but still represented the most credible challenge to Hun Sen, who has ruled since 1985.

Candlelight's party leaders told the BBC on Monday they would appeal against the decision by the National Election Committee.

"It is a disappointing outcome. However, we will appeal to the Constitutional Council," party secretary Kong Monika said.

Senior party figures had told the BBC earlier this month they were experiencing blockages trying to register for the election.

They said they had come up against new documentation rules previously not required. They had also noted the party had been able to contest local elections last year with no issues.

Cambodia, one of the poorest countries in Asia, holds a general election every five years.

However, Hun Sen, one of the world's longest-ruling leaders, has retained a stranglehold over power for 38 years.

The prime minister, 70, is seen as an authoritarian figure with a poor human rights record and the resources and will to thwart any real political challenge.

Story continues

Candlelight members have reported a series of public assaults by masked men this year, some of which happened after party meetings, and once after a visit to the UN's human rights office in Phnom Penh.

The crackdown on Candlelight also comes after Hun Sen sidelined a potential opposition figure, Kem Sokha, in March. He sentenced the former CNRP leader to 27 years in house detention on what rights groups said were trumped-up charges - ruling him out of July's elections.

The disproportionately harsh judgement sparked global condemnation from Western nations and rights groups.

The UN Human Rights Commissioner said at the time that Hun Sen's government "continues to suppress political opposition and independent media. these actions seriously undermine the civic and political space, including the environment for free and fair elections in July".

Hun Sen also ordered the shutdown of the country's only popular independent news outlet in February, which had been the only publication to print news critical of the government.

For the last election in 2018, he used the politically controlled Supreme Court to dissolve the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) a year before the election.

Analysts say the CNRP's popularity had threatened to unseat Hun - as the party received at least 44% of the vote in 2013 and 2017 polls.

Along with the order dissolving the party, Hun Sen also used the courts to convict about 100 opposition party members of treason, prompting several of the movement's most prominent leaders to flee into exile.

He then won every seat of the National Assembly, making Cambodia effectively a one-party state.

While he faced far less of a political challenge this year from the still-untested Candlelight Party, political observers say he has worked to crack down on any hint of a threat, as he has indicated he may begin a transition of power to his eldest son after the 23 July vote.

Cambodia was supported by the UN and Western countries to become a liberal democracy in the 1990s, after the horrors of the murderous Khmer Rouge regime.

The UN and international monitors have long raised concerns about the legitimacy of Cambodia's past elections after reports of vote-stealing, electoral fraud and intimidation and threats to opposition lawmakers.

Human Rights Watch last month urged countries such as Australia, Japan and EU member countries - who have financially supported election processes or conducted election monitoring in Cambodia - to publicly raise concerns about rights abuses against the political opposition before the July election.
Veterans and their family members who were exposed to contaminated water while living at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune are 70% more likely to develop Parkinsons disease than other service members, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on Monday.

The findings are the latest confirmation of the lifelong, devastating effects of the toxic water at the site from the early 1950s to the late 1980s. It also potentially adds new fodder to dozens of civil lawsuits pending against the government for the hazardous conditions there, which may have harmed more than 1 million individuals stationed at the North Carolina base.

Researchers found that about one in every 370 troops reviewed for the study showed signs of the disease, a brain disorder that causes uncontrollable movements of the limbs and body. That is significantly above control groups of veterans examined.

Military families devastated by Camp Lejeune water toxins

The study did not specifically look at spouses and children living at the base, but researchers concluded that the findings suggest that the risk of Parkinsons disease is higher in persons exposed to trichloroethylene and other volatile organic compounds in the water.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those chemicals leached into water supplies at the base from an off-site dry cleaning firm in the area. Leaks from underground storage tanks and industrial site pollution also contributed to the contamination, according to the National Research Council. Military officials did not discover the toxic water quality until 1982, almost 30 years after the contamination began.

The Department of Veterans Affairs already has Parkinsons disease listed as one of multiple presumptive conditions related to service at the site. For veterans who served at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days and developed the illness, it is presumed the disease originated there. They do not have to prove a military connection when applying for disability compensation.

Story continues

However, those benefits do not extend to family members. Last year, as part of the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, lawmakers for the first time allowed those individuals (and veterans who believe they are entitled to additional payouts) to sue the government for harm caused by exposure to the contaminated water.

Those lawsuits are still pending in federal courts. Lawmakers have expressed concerns about the number of lawyers advertising quick resolutions on the issue, and they are discussing possible limits to attorneys fees and commissions related to any Camp Lejeune legal decisions.

Individuals with questions related to VA benefits tied to Camp Lejeune water contamination can visit the departments web site. The JAMA study is available at the publications web site.
HMS Prince of Wales at Portsmouth Naval Base in October. Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images

The Royal Navy is taking parts from one of its aircraft carriers and using them on its other one.

New warships often have problems, especially complicated vessels like aircraft carriers.

But the "cannibalization" of parts reflects how the British military is juggling limited resources.

Britain is having to cannibalize parts from one of its two new aircraft carriers to keep the other one operational.

HMS Prince of Wales, which was commissioned in 2019, has been sidelined since August because of a broken propeller shaft. The breakdown happened the day the vessel left port for a well-publicized visit to the US that would include flight trials for the F-35B stealth fighters that the carriers are designed to operate.

To add to the indignity, parts from the Prince of Wales are being stripped out for use on HMS Queen Elizabeth, which was commissioned in 2017.

"Oil and fuel filters, used to separate sea water from diesel in the fuel tanks to prevent fouling of the engine, have been taken from" the Prince of Wales, according to The Telegraph. "Also removed was the chain from one of the flight desk lifts, used to carry fighter jets from the interior hangars up to the flight deck."

The Royal Navy maintains that swapping parts is normal procedure. "It is not unusual for equipment to be transferred between ships of the same class to ensure operational availability and avoid delays," a spokesman told The Telegraph, adding that the Prince of Wales is scheduled to be operational again in autumn.

Workers move the section of a Queen Elizabeth-class carrier at a shipyard in Glasgow in February 2011. REUTERS/David Moir

While Royal Navy officials have said the problem is limited to the ship and not "class-wide," the service's investigation is ongoing and it remains unclear whether the cause was defective design, lax construction, poor maintenance, or some other issue.

"These are big lumps of metal that have failed, so this is not necessarily going to be a quick fix," Adm. Ben Key, first sea lord and chief of the British naval staff, told reporters in September. And it is a rare ship that doesn't experience some kind of teething problems. The US Navy struggled for a decade to prepare the first ship of its new class of carriers for operations.

Story continues

Yet even Key called the propeller damage to the Prince of Wales "a great shame."

Either way, the woes of the Prince of Wales are another embarrassment for a controversial program to build the first British aircraft carriers since the early 1980s.

Ironically, Britain's navy was a pioneer in inventing the aircraft carrier, operating the first true aircraft carrier  HMS Argus  during the final months of World War I. The Royal Navy was responsible for crucial features of modern carriers, such as the steam-powered catapult and the angled flight deck. Yet its leading position did not last.

A Sea Harrier approaches the container ship Atlantic Conveyor to test its recently installed flight deck in June 1982. Royal Navy/Imperial War Museums via Getty Images

For the Falklands War in 1982, Britain could barely muster two carriers, one of which was about to be decommissioned, and it pressed two cargo ships into service as converted carriers. When the Royal Navy decommissioned HMS Illustrious in 2014, it was without any carriers for the first time in nearly a century.

The two Queen Elizabeth-class carriers were supposed to make Britain a carrier power again. The 65,000-ton vessels can carry up to 72 aircraft, including 36 F-35B short-takeoff and vertical landing fighters.

The gas-turbine-powered carriers, with their ski-jump flight decks for short takeoffs, are smaller than the US Navy's 100,000-ton, nuclear-powered carriers with their long flight decks and catapult-assisted takeoffs. (Jets also have to carry less ordnance and fuel to use ski-jump ramps.)

But the new flattops do give Britain a capability that few nations have: a mobile, floating airbase that can go wherever there is ocean. For example, on its first deployment, HMS Queen Elizabeth led a strike group around the world, operating in Mediterranean, Indian, and Pacific oceans, including in the South China Sea, as a signal to friends and rivals.

Though British power is but a shadow of its imperial heyday, there is a reason Britain has long had a reputation of punching above its weight.

HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales sail together for the first time in May 2021. Royal Navy/POPhot Jay Allen

But critics derided the program as an anachronism more suitable for the Royal Navy in the days of the British Empire, and not the current fleet, which has dwindled to fewer than 20 destroyers and frigates and just 10 nuclear-powered submarines.

With the Royal Air Force and the British Army also shrinking in size and facing tighter budgets, skeptics questioned whether the $3.7 billion carriers were a luxury item that the UK could not afford.

There were also concerns about whether the carriers' defenses could stop Russian anti-ship missiles or if there would be sufficient escort vessels to protect them. In 2021, five of the Royal Navy's six Type 45 destroyers were down for maintenance or upgrades. (HMS Queen Elizabeth's escorts during its maiden deployment included a US Navy destroyer and a Dutch navy frigate.)

Many of the same criticisms have been aimed at the US Navy's carrier fleet. Skeptics say they are hugely expensive  a new Ford-class carrier costs more than $13 billion  and vulnerable to weapons such as China's "carrier-killer" ballistic missiles.

The role of carriers may eventually change because of those threats, but for Britain  and for the US  too much money and prestige has been invested in carriers to give them up now. Mechanical problems or not, British flattops are here to stay.

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
BOA VISTA, Brazil (AP)  Until two months ago, Cartiers website showed Yanomami children playing in a green field.

The French luxury jewelry brand said it was working to promote the culture of the Indigenous people and protect the rainforest where they live, in a vast territory straddling Brazil and Venezuela. But the project that the site described protecting the Amazon never took place. And Cartier published the photo without the approval of Yanomami leadership, violating the beliefs of a people who had been living in almost total isolation until they were contacted by outsiders in the 1970s.

Some of the Yanomami and their defenders praise Cartiers promotion of Yanomami causes. However, advertising by one of the worlds biggest jewelers with images of an Indigenous people devastated by illegal gold mining has some complaining of greenwashing, a corporation promoting its own image by supporting a cause.

How can a gold jewelry company, which we, the Yanomami people, are against, use the image of the Yanomami? asked Junior Hekurari, a member of the Indigenous group and head of the Yanomamis health council.

Disease, killing and prostitution, fueled by the drugs and alcohol imported by thousands of illegal gold miners, have devastated traditional Yanomami life, and 570 Yanomami children died from malnutrition, diarrhea, and malaria between 2019 and 2022, according to Brazilian statistics. The poisonous mercury used in illegal mining causes birth defects and ravages ecosystems.

Cartier says it does not buy illegally mined gold, but Yanomami leaders have urged people not to buy gold jewelry at all, regardless of its source, because demand for the precious metal drives gold prices up and draws miners into their territory.

Cartier and other jewelry brands that are part of the Swiss conglomerate Richemont had combined sales of 11 billion euros ($11.7 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, according to its annual report. Some of the pieces advertised on its U.S. website cost as much as $341,000.

Story continues

Cartiers connection to the roughly 40,000 Yanomami goes back 20 years, primarily through Fondation Cartier, a corporate philanthropy created and funded by the company in 1984.

In the past, few Yanomami or their advocates have publicly criticized Cartier or the foundation, but a growing number have begun expressing concerns.

Cartiers foundation recently sponsored a finely curated exhibit displaying photographs of Yanomami, along with works by Indigenous artists, in an elegant non-profit Manhattan arts center. The exhibit, previously in Paris, was praised by outlets ranging from The New York Times to Luxury Daily, an influential industry publication whose headline read,  Fondation Cartier continues push for indigenous justice through art sponsorship.

Barbara Navarro, a French multimedia artist, saw something very different, as did several other artists, including some Yanomami.

In the multimedia show  Pas de Cartier,  or Not Cartier, in the village of Nemours, France, Navarro and others critique the luxury brand and the devastation caused by illegal miners in an exhibit that includes sculptures and drawings. In one photo montage, a large gold mine surrounded by the Amazon forest is seen next to a Cartier store.

The Yanomami are paying the price with their health and their very lives for our societys relentless avidity for gold, said Navarro. For Cartier, sponsorship of the Yanomami represents an opportunity to burnish their brand.

For many Indigenous groups, a corporation or philanthropy using a photo of them requires formal permission, which Hekurari gave The Associated Press to show how Cartier used their image. The photo of the children on the Cartier website violated the Yanomamis right to prior, free, and informed consent, according to the Roraima Indigenous Council, a grassroots umbrella organization, citing the International Labour Organizations Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, which Brazil signed.

Hekurari said his people need international cooperation but his organization would never accept money from a jewelry company.

In his trips along the Yanomami territory, an area the size of Portugal, the Yanomami leader has encountered scores of skeletal children in communities under siege by thousands of illegal miners. In March, his organization, Urihi, launched an online campaign to raise awareness against the gold trade and in a video the Yanomami leader calls on Oscar winners to replace the famous gold-plated statuettes with wooden figures of Omama, a mythical entity.

When someone buys gold in a jewelry store, he is financing more invasions to destroy Indigenous lands, he said. It is not just a matter of extracting gold. It is a matter of reaping lives.

Cartier declined to comment on the Yanomamis appeal for people to stop buying gold jewelry but, when contacted by AP in late March, Cartier removed the picture and the project description. Funds had been allocated to a forest-preservation project but ended up being used to acquire medical equipment to fight COVID-19 among the Yanomami, the company said. A donation worth $74,200 was made in June 2020.

The inaccurate description was a regrettable oversight on our part, and it was addressed immediately after it was brought to our attention, the company said.

But the problem is bigger than poor image choices, many say. Dario Kopenawa, vice-president of the Hutukara Yanomami Association, said he believes that, anyone who buys a gold ring is part of the crime.

Cartier and its foundation describe their relationship as arms-length. Kopenawa also made a distinction between Cartier and its namesake foundation.

We know that Cartier buys gold all over the world ... but the foundation is different. It is another coordinator, another branch. It supports the protection of the Yanomami, he said.

In February, Kopenawa even flew to New York to attend Yanomami Struggle - Art and Activism in the Amazon, the exhibit sponsored by the Fondation Cartier with photographic portraits of Indigenous people alongside works by Yanomami artists. Kopenawa and other Yanomami participated in the opening ceremony, with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres among the guests.

Fondation Cartier has a collection of nearly 2,000 works at its Paris headquarters. The foundation is run by an independent dedicated team of professionals from the art world in charge of defining and implementing the artistic program, it said.

The foundation is led by Alain Dominique Perrin, a prominent figure in the luxury industry who previously served as Richemonts top executive. In a 2018 interview with French business magazine Entreprendre, he emphasized the corporate value of arts patronage.

Patronage is similar to sponsorship: You help an artist to exhibit, to gain recognition and to develop, but in return, the Fondation receives praise from the press, the media and social networks, which necessarily benefits the company, he said.

The foundation, will become a focal point for the management and the image of the Cartier brand, Richemont wrote in its 1994 annual report, when the headquarters was inaugurated with 12,000 square feet of exhibition space.

French anthropologist Bruce Albert has been engaged with the Yanomami for decades, participating in a campaign in the 1990s that secured the tribes land demarcation. He connected Fondation Cartier with the Yanomami in 2003. That year, Albert curated the first photo and art exhibit about the Yanomami sponsored by the foundation.

In early February, Albert attended the opening ceremony of the New York exhibition after working on it as a paid consultant, together with Kopenawa and Yanomami artists.

Responding to questions in writing, Albert in February praised Fondation Cartier as independent, and said better control from Brazilian authorities would be more efficient than a gold boycott. Still, Albert criticized the use of the image on Cartiers website, saying by email in April that the Yanomami hadnt granted permission for its use, and the jeweler wasnt funding any reforestation projects.

When it comes to acquiring gold, Cartier says the vast majority is purchased recycled and the company conforms to standards of the Responsible Jewelry Council, which describes itself as the worlds leading sustainability standard-setting organization for the jewelry and watch industry.

With gold, however, it is next to impossible to prove provenance, as much illegal material seeps into global supply chains. And Yanomami leaders have made clear that they believe that gold is at the root of the groups troubles.

Is there a responsibility in the purchase of this gold? Ivo Makuxi, the lawyer from the Indigenous council, asked about Cartiers role in an industry that has hurt the Yanomami. Does the company respect the Indigenous rights?

___

Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about APs climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Nima Momeni - Gabrielle Lurie/Pool San Francisco Chronicle

A wealthy tech entrepreneur whose murder shocked San Francisco was allegedly stabbed to death by the brother of a woman he reportedly met at an elite underground sex and drug party scene.

Bob Lee, the founder of the money transfer system Cash App, was found dead outside a luxury apartment building in Silicon Valley, prompting people including Elon Musk to decry rising street crime in the area.

But according to new reports in the Wall Street Journal, it is claimed Mr Lee had told friends that he was having intimate relations with Khazar Momeni, 37, who he met at The Lifestyle, a party scene known for recreational drugs and casual sex in San Francisco.

San Francisco prosecutors allege that Mr Lee, 43, was repeatedly stabbed by Nima Momeni, her brother, after he confronted the former Google employee over his sisters behaviour asking if she was doing anything inappropriate or taking drugs.

Bob Lee was found dead outside a luxury apartment building in Silicon Valley - CASH App / Handout

On the night of his death, Mr Lee and Mr Momeni both arrived separately to Ms Momeni's apartment, before leaving together at 2.04am in Mr Momeni's white BMW Z4.

Prosecutors say Mr Momeni then drove Mr Lee to a "dark and secluded" San Francisco street corner and stabbed him in a "planned and deliberate attack.

Dana Wagner, the former general counsel of payments company Square where Mr Lee once worked, said his friend was increasingly hanging out with people who werent great people.

There are a lot of swingers, cheaters and liars in that crowd, he said, adding that he did not know Ms Momeni or her brother.

Mr Lees friend Harper Reed, the boss of fintech start-up General Galactic Corporation, said of The Lifestyle: It started with the hippies, who were not sober people, trying to expand their brains and the tech people came in and gentrified it like they did everything else.

Friends of the successful tech executive say he was happy, hard-working and generous to those around him. They also said he took drugs including cocaine, ecstasy, and ketamine.

Story continues

According to those who knew him, Mr Lee was known to pick up the bill for his friends at restaurants and once flew a group of them to Tulum in Mexico, paying for everything. He bought a Tesla for a woman he was dating, according to the Journal.

Khazar Momeni

Krista Lee, Mr Lees wife whom he had separated from, challenged portrayals of him as a party boy, insisting he was a dedicated father who was kind and generous.

She said she had never heard of the term the Lifestyle and believed the extent of his drug use involved ketamine microdosing for depression.

After his death, Ms Lee gathered friends at a private memorial service and all-night dance party with Mr Lees favourite DJ - Rob Garza of the Thievery Corporation.

Those present were invited to write tribute letters to be burned at the Burning Man musical festival.

Cash App operates similarly to Paypal, allowing users to quickly transfer money. Mr Lee left the company, which Forbes valued at 32 billion, in 2016. Before founding Cash App he helped write code for Google and was also an investor in Mr Musks SpaceX company.

Mr Momeni was arrested on suspicion of murder and is being held without bail after being charged. His attorney Paula Canny said he plans to plead not guilty, the Wall Street Journal reported.

My team and I continue to work hard to investigate all the many aspects of this case and the goings-on of the weeks preceding the incident, she said.

Mary McNamara and Ed Swanson, attorneys for Ms Momeni, said in a written statement that there were untrue rumours circulating around the case.

They added: Ms Momeni loves and supports her brother. What happened here is a tragedy, and Ms Momeni is deeply saddened at the suffering of the Lee family as they deal with their terrible loss.

Nima Momeni appears in court in San Francisco, California - VICKI BEHRINGER/REUTERS

According to the San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Mr Lees autopsy report showed he had a number of drugs in his system, including cocaine and ketamine.

A friend of Mr Lee insisted that there were unwritten rules at the party scene. Devon Meyer said: There is still an understanding of consent and boundaries, adding that, if someone gets drunk and handsy, they get excommunicated very quickly.

The murder prompted panic among San Franciscos tech community, Twitter boss Mr Musk said he was very sorry to hear about Mr Lees murder, adding: Many people I know have been severely assaulted.

Violent crime in SF [San Francisco] is horrific and even if attackers are caught, they are often released immediately.

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.
Nima Momeni, left, faces a murder charge in connection to the fatal stabbing of Cash App founder Bob Lee, right. Gabrielle Lurie/San Francisco Chronicle via AP and Courtesy of MobileCoin

Nima Momeni is facing a murder charge in connection to the death of Cash App founder Bob Lee.

Lee dated Momeni's ex-girlfriend about three years ago, sources told The Wall Street Journal.

At a later point, Lee began casually sleeping with Momeni's sister, Khazar, per WSJ.

Cash App founder Bob Lee dated his murder suspect's ex-girlfriend before he began casually sleeping with the alleged killer's sister, Khazar Momeni, friends familiar with Lee's relationships told The Wall Street Journal.

Nima Momeni, a 38-year-old tech consultant, faces a murder charge in connection to the fatal stabbing of Lee on April 4 in San Francisco.

Prosecutors previously alleged in court documents that Momeni confronted Lee that night about his sister, Khazar, before the stabbing. According to a witness that evening, Momeni asked Lee if his sister "was doing drugs" or "anything inappropriate."

Lee's friends told WSJ that Khazar  who is married  was having an affair with Lee, but the Cash App founder's connection to his suspected killer goes back further: About three years ago, Lee was dating Momeni's ex-girlfriend, the friends claimed.

Keith Kraft, a mutual friend of both Lee and the unnamed woman, told the newspaper she started seeing Lee after splitting up with Momeni. It's unclear how long after the woman broke up with Momeni before she started dating Lee.

Kraft said he recalled Momeni giving him dirty looks when he spent time with the woman, which he thought suggested Momeni was a jealous person: "Look, bro, I'm gay, I'm not a threat to you," Kraft recalled telling Momeni.

He added that Momeni may have had "some major insecurities going on." Kraft did not respond to Insider's request for comment.

Afterward, friends familiar with the matter said that Lee started sleeping with Khazar Momeni, who is married to Dino Elyassnia, a well-known San Francisco-based plastic surgeon. The timeline of their alleged affair is unclear. An attorney for Elyassnia and Khazar did not respond to a request for comment.

Story continues

Suspect's attorney disputes alleged affair

In a call with Insider, Momeni's lawyer, Paula Canny, disputed the information people provided to WSJ, including the alleged affair between Lee and Khazar.

"Based on my investigation, there was no romantic or sexual relationship between (Khazar) and Bob," Canny said, adding that she didn't know what Lee may have told other people about this supposed relationship. She declined to reveal to Insider what information she had to conclude Lee and Khazar were not having an affair.

Canny, who remains in contact with Momeni's family, also said she isn't aware if Lee and Momeni had the same partner. If they did, Momeni may have been unaware of it, Canny said.

"If Nima and Bob had ever dated the same person ... I wasn't aware, and it had no significance," Canny said.

It's unclear if Momeni might have heard of Lee through the alleged mutual ex-partner. According to a report from Mission Local, Momeni only knew Lee through his sister, who had known the Cash App founder for several years.

Momeni faces a murder charge with a sentencing enhancement due to the kitchen knife police say was used in the incident. The stabbing was a "planned and deliberate attack," prosecutors alleged in court documents.

An autopsy report from the San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner showed that Lee died from three stab wounds. The report also found the presence of alcohol, ketamine, and cocaine in Lee's system.

Canny pointed to the toxicology report and told reporters after a May 2 court hearing that Lee's system was "the Walgreens of recreational drugs," suggesting it may be relevant to her client's defense.

Friends told WSJ that Lee was part of an underground party scene known as "The Lifestyle," which included recreational drugs and casual sex, for several years.

"It started with the hippies, who were not sober people, trying to expand their brains and the tech people came in and gentrified it like they did everything else," said Harper Reed, the CEO of General Galactic Corporation, a fintech startup, and Lee's friend, told WSJ.

Sources close to Lee also told the newspaper that Lee attended raves and took ecstasy, ketamine, and cocaine.

Lee's wife, Krista Lee, who remained close to the Cash App founder even after their separation, disputed statements painting Lee as a "party boy." She told WSJ that, if anything, Lee may have been microdosing ketamine to treat depression.

"He was kind and generoushe saw the good in everybody," Lee's wife told the newspaper. She added that "he was a dedicated father. He was more mature than that."

Krista Lee did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A bill named after slain Navarre woman Cassie Carli intended to make child custody exchanges safer didn't make it to the governor's desk this legislative session, but it will be back on the table next year.

Rep. Joel Rudman, R-Navarre, announced Feb. 23 he was filing a bill named the "Cassie Carli Law" after Carli's body was found in a shallow grave in St. Clair, Alabama, on April 2, 2022, after a custody exchange with her daughter's father Marcus Spanevelo.

"I got notice that the bill did stall out in the Senate, which is unfortunate," Rudman told the News Journal. "We tried our best to make this a bipartisan effort, and we saw the fruits of that labor in the House where the vote was bipartisan, it was unanimous."

Rudman's bill, which was meant to strengthen and increase safety for custody exchanges, received 108 yeas and zero nays in Florida's House of Representatives, before it died in the Senate Rules Committee on May 5.

'A little good news': Rep. Joel Rudman announces bill in Cassie Carli's honor for safer child custody exchanges

Stephanie and Todd Marx light candles during a candlelight vigil in honor of Cassie Carli at Windjammers on the Pier in Navarre Beach on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. A bill filed by Dr. Joel Rudman, Florida House of representative for District 3, to establish safe zones for custody exchange of children failed in the Senate.

Who is Cassie Carli and what's happened so far?

Carli was a 37-year-old mother to a 4-year-old daughter and was Spanevelo's former partner. She failed to return home after a custody exchange with Spanevelo, sparking search efforts and an investigation.

Here is the timeline of what happened to Carli, according to Santa Rosa Sheriff Bob Johnson:

March 22, 2022: Carli goes missing after meeting Spanevelo to perform a custody exchange of their daughter.

April 1, 2022: Spanevelo is arrested in Tennessee on an SRSO warrant for tampering with evidence and obstructing an investigation.

April 2, 2022: Carli's body is found in a shallow grave in an Alabama barn.

Dec. 2022: The FBI begins investigating the case.

Jan. 24, 2023: Spanevelo is indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of kidnapping that resulted in death.

Story continues

Body found: Cassie Carli's remains found in shallow grave in Alabama; ex-boyfriend will be charged

What does Rep. Joel Rudman's "Cassie Carli Law" bill say?

Rudman's bill, HB 1031, would stipulate that the board of county commissioners in each county shall designate at least one sheriffs office, or substation thereof, as a safe exchange location where parents sharing custody of a child may meet in the parking lot to exchange custody of such child.

The sheriffs station must also include adequate lighting and external video 24 hours a day, seven days a week and must meet the following criteria:

A purple light on the parking lot premises to identify the safe exchange location.

At least one camera to record in the vicinity of the purple light, displaying the time and date.

The camera must retain surveillance for 45 days.

If parents choose to use the designated safe exchange location, the bill outlines that neither of the parents can be found in violation of his or her parenting plan or time-sharing schedule, or charged with the offense of interference with the parenting plan.

The bill also prevents parents from legal liability if they choose to use the county's designated safe exchange area rather than a judge-appointed area, and parents would not need a judge's permission to use the designated area.

District 3 Rep. Joel Rudman speaks during a candlelight vigil in honor of Cassie Carli at Windjammers on the Pier in Navarre Beach on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. Rudman filed a bill dubbed the "Cassie Carli Law" to establish safe zones for custody exchange of children, but it failed in the Senate.

Why did HB 1031, "Cassie Carli Law," die in the Florida Senate?

Rudman told the News Journal he was hopeful that his bill would garner unanimous support in the Senate as it did in the House, but he said he is unsure of why the bill died in the rules committee.

"We were hopeful that the same process would repeat itself in the Senate, but they must have run into some roadblocks there in the Senate that we're going to try and investigate and see what happened on the senate side," he said. "It is definitely a bill that needs to be passed into law."

Rudman said he was hoping that his bill would gain traction on the heels of the Senate passing SB 130, known as "Greyson's Law," by a vote of 117-0 on April 19. Rudman was a co-introducer in the House for "Greyson's Law," filed by Rep. Hillary Cassel.

This bill is named after 4-year-old Greyson Kessler, a Broward County boy who was killed by his father in a murder-suicide in 2021. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Lori Berman.

The law will require a court with jurisdiction to consider certain factors  including if a parent or child is in imminent danger or has been the victim of domestic violence, abuse, abandonment or neglect  when deciding whether shared parental responsibility would help or harm the a child.

The News Journal reached out to Senate Rules Committee Chair Debbie Mayfield for further information on why Rudman's bill did not make it through her committee. The News Journal has not received a response.

Custody issues: 'What a human piece of trash': Navarre man shot and killed next to his 4-year-old child.

Will the "Cassie Carli Law" bill return during the next legislative session?

Rudman says his bill is too important to not try again, thus he said he will bring the bill back to the House floor during the next legislative session that begins in January 2024.

"It certainly has statewide support," Rudman said. "The thing I'm proudest of is I can come home to my district and 120 representatives from every part of Florida from the Florida Keys, all the way up to Jacksonville, all the way over to Pensacola ... now knows the story of Cassie Carli.

"So, we're going to come back next year and get this done," Rudman added.

Katherine Shoemaker and her daughter Julianna Hernandez, 8, hold candles during a candlelight vigil in honor of Cassie Carli at Windjammers on the Pier in Navarre Beach on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023.

What does Cassie Carli's longtime friend have to say about HB 1031?

Carli's longtime friend from high school, Kirsty Sullivan, says she is disappointed in the legislature when so many parents need the type of protection that Rudman's bill would provide.

"We've got a serious custody issue, and the more safeguards we can get in place to help protect these parents, not just girls (and) not just Cassie, but anybody in a custody situation that becomes hostile," Sullivan said. "We need more protection. It's a major issue."

Although the bill did not pass through the Senate during this cycle, Sullivan said she is happy that Rudman won't stop fighting for his bill to become law.

"I know there's no perfect answer to all of this, and there's no easy path to any of this, so I'm grateful that even though we didn't get it passed this year (Rudman's) not giving up," she said. "I'm hopeful it will go through next year, and we're not going to stop until we get some safeguards in place, for Santa Rosa County especially."

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: 'Cassie Carli Law' custody exchange HB 1031 didn't make it to DeSantis
For the third time in four years, its South Beach vs Causeway Street.

After a runaway second half in Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Boston Celtics punched their ticket to the Conference Finals for the fifth time since 2017.

Theyll meet a familiar foe in Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat. After a lackluster regular season, Butler and company have come alive in the spring and are the first 8-seed to make the Conference Finals since 1999.

Miami and Boston squared off in the Conference Finals in the Orlando Bubble in 2020 and again in 2022.

Heres how the series schedule shakes out:

 Game 1: Heat at Celtics, Wednesday, May 17, 8:30 p.m. ET, TNT

 Game 2: Heat at Celtics, Friday, May 19, 8:30 p.m. ET, TNT

 Game 3: Celtics at Heat, Sunday, May 21, 8:30 p.m. ET, TNT

 Game 4: Celtics at Heat, Tuesday, May 23, 8:30 p.m. ET, TNT

 Game 5: Heat at Celtics, Thursday, May 25. 8:30 p.m. ET, TNT (if necessary)

 Game 6: Celtics at Heat, Saturday, May 27, 8:30 p.m. ET, TNT (if necessary)

 Game 7: Heat at Celtics, Monday, May 29, 8:30 p.m. ET, TNT (if necessary)

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
UK holiday village chain Center Parcs has been put up for sale by its owner, the Canadian private equity firm Brookfield.

The company is looking to raise between 4bn and 5bn from the sale according to the Financial Times.

Brookfield bought the business for about 2.4bn in 2015.

Center Parcs runs six holiday villages in the UK and Ireland which attract more than two million visitors every year.

They are particularly popular with families as they offer a range of activities on-site, with an indoor waterpark as the central attraction and wooden cabins set in cycle-friendly forests.

The first UK location opened in 1987, at Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. There are now holiday villages at Elveden Forest, Longleat Forest, Whinfell Forest and Woburn Forest.

In 2019, it opened its first site in Ireland, with Center Parcs Longford Forest close to the town of Ballymahon in County Longford.

The Financial Times said that Brookfield had appointed investment bankers to sound out potential buyers, including other private equity firms.

Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell, said there still appeared to be strong demand for Center Parcs holidays for now, with some wealthier holidaymakers trading down from holidays abroad.

"During the pandemic Brits rushed to snap up sought after places, but even with cash-strapped families ditching the extra 'staycation' in favour of one holiday, it's clear by the prices and availability that there's still more than enough business to go around - so far," she said.

But rising mortgage costs and the difficult economic climate did raise a question over future growth, she added.

Earlier this year, Center Parcs scrapped plans to develop a new holiday village in West Sussex.

In July 2021, the company had secured an option agreement to acquire Oldhouse Warren, a privately-owned woodland on the outskirts of Crawley.

However, Center Parcs said a "rigorous" environmental survey had revealed that the site was not suitable for development.

Story continues

Environmentalists had argued that the site would destroy established woodland and damage the habitats of rare birds.

At the end of last year Center Parcs said occupancy rates were at 97.3%, and broadly in line with pre-Covid levels.

Revenue of 426.6m between April and December last year represented a 20% increase compared to the same period a year earlier, and 18% higher than before the pandemic.

Last year, Center Parcs was forced to backtrack over a decision to ask guests to leave its sites on the day of the Queen's funeral.

When it announced the move, it said the decision was made "as a mark of respect" and to allow employees to "be part of this historic moment".

But the move prompted angry complaints from holidaymakers as it would have meant some guests would have had to leave part-way through their break and return afterwards.

Center Parcs UK is a separate business from Center Parcs Europe, which has holiday villages in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and France. The European business is still owned by Blackstone Group which sold the UK part of the business to Brookfield in 2015.
WILLISTON  After working 18 years as a public defender, 48-year-old South Burlington resident Rory Malone decided it was time for a mid-life career change. Malone wanted to do something completely different, something that would make him happier. So he pursued his lifelong passion for comic books.

In December 2022, Malone opened Champion Comics and Coffee  a one-stop-shop for all things nerdy at Taft Corners in Williston.

A shelf in the manga section at Champion Comics and Coffee in Williston, photographed April 20, 2023.

Champion's offerings include comics, manga, graphic novels, and books, as well as action figures, trading cards, games, and more. While customers browse the packed shelves of the sunny store, they can order coffee and baked goods from Champion's cafe.

"We have people that are coming here all the time that read all sorts of things, and we just sort of let them browse the stock, let them sit down, and read," Malone said. "We just have a place that we've styled as a sort of a non-judgmental nerd heaven for people to do whatever they want here."

Two of the shelves at Champion Comics and Coffee in Williston, photographed April 20, 2023.

A nerd wonderland in Williston

Now that the store is several months old, Malone is aiming for Champion to become a major hub for Williston's nerd community. The store hosted a Free Comic Books Day event on May 6, and is planning to host reoccurring events for roleplaying and tabletop games, including Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh.

"It appears that Williston has been looking for a place to game, so we want to be able to make sure that we can address that," Malone said.

A latte served up at Champion Comics and Coffee in Williston on April 20, 2023.

Another reason for Malone choosing Williston as the site for Champion is the city's new zoning regulations for its Taft Corners shopping center, where Champion is located. The regulations are aimed to make the area a more pedestrian-friendly and residential downtown center.

"Williston is an area that a lot of people frequent when they come shopping," Malone said. "Because of the location of some of the big-box stores, it draws in people from all over central and northern Vermont in a way that other areas maybe don't."

Story continues

A customer digs through the manga section at Champion Comics and Coffee in Williston on April 20, 2023.

From the courthouse to the comic shop

Walking away from a career as a lawyer to open up a comic book shop was definitely a gamble, Malone said. Originally from Juneau, Alaska, Malone moved to Vermont to attend Vermont Law School, which he graduated from in 2003, and he's been working as a lawyer ever since until now.

"It was and still remains at times a terrifying career change," Malone said. "I walked away from a good career with a steady paycheck to do this."

Rory Malone opened up Champion Comics and Coffee in Williston on Dec. 16, 2022.

While honest about his fears around his decision, Malone is also quick to talk about the joys of his new career.

As a lawyer, Malone often worked with unhappy people who were going through difficult circumstances. Now, Malone gets to talk every day with people who are in a good mood and excited to walk through the door.

One of Malone's favorite aspects of the job is serving as a kind of 'comics bartender,' making recommendations to customers based on their interests. He's even made some friends at the store through these connections.

"It's been a lot of fun talking to people, learning from my customers about what they like, what they want to buy, what they're looking for," Malone said. "That's been the most fun to me, hands down."

If you go to Champion Comics and Coffee:

Location: 31 Cottonwood Drive, Suite 106, in Williston.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Closed on Mondays.

Contact April Fisher at amfisher@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter: @AMFisherMedia

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Champion Comics and Coffee creates community hub for Williston's nerds
Editors note: This report has been updated with the correct timing for the hearing featuring ChatGPTs CEO.

The CEO of the company behind ChatGPT will head to Congress on Tuesday, as lawmakers race to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) while companies steam ahead with the technology.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman will make his public debut in Congress at a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing about oversight of AI, as lawmakers seek to better understand the range of risks posed by generative AI and possible ways to mitigate them.

AI is one of the most important issues of our times, with enormous potential both positive and negative, and it is crucial that we get it right, Gary Marcus, professor emeritus at New York University, said in an email.

Marcus will testify on the panel with Altman and Christina Montgomery, vice president and chief privacy and trust officer at IBM.

Marcus said he will discuss the urgency of the situation and the tremendous need for having independent scientists at the table in order to distinguish between hype and reality and to identify and mitigate a broad arrays of newly-developing risks.

Tuesday will mark Altmans first public appearance in Congress, but the CEO has had private meetings with key lawmakers in the months since ChatGPTs November launch and skyrocketing popularity.

Altman is also scheduled to attend a dinner with House Democrats and Republicans cohosted by Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) and GOP Conference Vice Chairman Mike Johnson (R-La.), NBC News reported, following his testimony.

Generative AI explodes on the scene

The OpenAI logo is seen on a mobile phone in front of a computer screen displaying output from ChatGPT, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

ChatGPT notched 266 million visits in December, its first month open to the public, according to data from Similarweb. ChatGPT use has exploded since, with 1.76 billion visits in April alone.

Microsoft, which invested heavily in the OpenAI and has incorporated ChatGPT tools into its search engine Bing, has been a leading force in the AI arms race.

Story continues

Tech giant Google also launched a rival chatbot  Bard  and Wednesday unveiled plans to add generative AI to its search features.

Googles dominance in the search market means more users could be exposed to and use the generative AI tools. In the last month, Google had a total of 83.9 billion total visits, compared to 1.3 billion total visits to Bing, according to SimilarWeb data.

Why Congress cares about AI

Text from the ChatGPT page of the OpenAI website is seen in New York, Feb. 2, 2023. Shares of the education technology company Chegg lost half their value Tuesday, May 2, after its CEO warned that OpenAIs free ChatGPT service was cutting into its growth. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

Both Democrats and Republicans are eager to address  and first, understand  AI.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary subpanel holding the hearing, said in a statement that AI urgently needs rules and safeguards to address its immense promise and pitfalls.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), ranking member of the subcommittee, said in a statement that AI will be transformative in ways we cant even imagine in ways that could implicate elections, jobs and security. He called the hearing a critical first step towards understanding what Congress should do.

AI has also drawn the attention of top congressional leaders.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who has power over what proposals advance to a floor vote, put forward a bill that aims to create a framework for AI regulation in a way meant to increase transparency and accountability. The leader has also met recently with Tesla and Twitter CEO Elon Musk to discuss AI, following news that Musk founded a new AI company.

In addition to Congress, the White House and regulatory agencies have signaled a focus on AI regulation.

Last week, Vice President Harris met with heads of four companies developing AI, including Microsoft and Google, about risks from the technology. And four government agencies put out a joint statement pleading to enforce existing laws that could address emerging threats from AI tech.

To date, most of the guidance from the government is through voluntary guidelines  leaving the industry to set the rules of the road.

But the industry is also warning that the government should work alongside the industry in setting rules so as not to stifle innovation in the process.

What to expect at the hearing

The hearing will feature two voices from industry: Altman and Montgomery.

A spokesperson for OpenAI declined to comment on what Altman is planning to share during the hearing.

Montgomery plans to discuss ways that business and government can collaborate to prioritize responsible AI development in a way that ensures innovation can thrive, according to a spokesperson for IBM.

In a blog post earlier this month, Montgomery said that policymakers should ensure that any policy framework for AI is risk-based and appropriately focused on the deployers of AI systems.

She urged policymakers to create a framework that promotes transparency, leverages flexible approaches, differentiates between different types of business models and studies emerging risks.

Policymakers should swiftly act to better understand and mitigate the risks of foundation models while still ensuring the approach to governing AI remains risk-based and technology neutral, she wrote.

Updated at 10:18 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Bloomberg) -- ChatGPT failed to correctly identify Japanese Digital Transformation Minister Kono Taro, even as he advocates for more use of artificial intelligence to help overcome labor shortages caused by a population decline.

Most Read from Bloomberg

I asked ChatGPT who Kono Taro is and he came back with the wrong answer, Kono said in an interview with Bloomberg Television broadcast Monday. So you need to be careful, he added. Kono asks that his name be written in Japanese style, with surname first.

Kono was speaking as Prime Minister Fumio Kishida established a panel to look into the economic potential and risks of AI, seeking to take a lead on the regulation of the technology as this years chair of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies.

The groups digital ministers last month agreed on an action plan for promoting trustworthy AI, and the European Union this month took a step toward more regulation of AI tools such as OpenAIs ChatGPT and Googles Bard.

Robots are not a threat to the labor force in Japan, because of the shrinking population, Kono said. We are more eager to try new AI technologies, he added, saying the government was discussing data set creation with Microsoft Corp. and other providers of the technology. The minority language data set compared to English is not big, so it could be skewed, he said.

SoftBank Group Corp.s mobile unit last week announced it is joining the global race to develop a version of OpenAI Inc.s ChatGPT, following a series of US and Chinese firms.

Kono, who was appointed to his current post last year, has long battled to do away with cumbersome government paperwork and the use of older technologies, like fax machines and floppy disks. He is seeking to pass a bill as soon as this month that would remove such requirements from more than 10,000 laws and regulations after a search through paperwork stretching back for decades, he said.

Story continues

The governments bid to issue ID cards for all residents, which streamline the issuance of local government paperwork, hit a snag recently when card users were mistakenly issued with residence certificates for unrelated individuals, triggering concerns over privacy.

Kono said he believed local governments would start running the program again after thorough checks by Fujitsu Ltd., the developer of the system.

The outspoken Kono, who lost to Kishida in a run-off vote for the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in 2021, often tops media polls on who is the most suitable person to be prime minister.

Asked how ChatGPT had identified him when he entered a query about himself, Kono said it had called him prime minister of Japan.

--With assistance from Kurumi Mori.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Taro Kono attends a news conference in Tokyo in 2015. REUTERS/Issei Kato

ChatGPT mixed up Japan's digital transformation minister with the country's prime minister.

During an interview with Bloomberg, Taro Kono said people needed to be careful when using the bot.

AI-powered products like ChatGPT are known to make errors, a point of concern for many experts.

Japan's digital transformation minister, Taro Kono, says ChatGPT mixed him up with the country's prime minister.

Kono made the comments in an interview with Bloomberg. He said he asked ChatGPT who he was and the chatbot came back with the wrong answer. "So you need to be careful," he added.

Japan's prime minister has been Fumio Kishida since 2021. Kono has never been the prime minister but was once seen as a favorite in the 2021 leadership race.

AI-powered products like OpenAI's chatbot are prone to making mistakes, a point of concern for some AI experts. The chatbots are powered by large language models, which are prone to "hallucinating" and can deliver incorrect answers to queries with a sophistication that makes them appear correct.

Since its launch, ChatGPT has caused frustration among professionals in a number of sectors. Some college professors, for example, have raised concerns about the technology and say they've already caught students trying to pass off AI-generated content as their own.

Misinformation is another key concern. As tech companies rush to incorporate the advanced technology into search and other publically available products, experts and commentators continue to raise the alarm about the risks of spreading misinformation.

Kono is advocating for the use of the technology in Japan, citing the country's shrinking population. "Robots are not a threat to the labor force in Japan," he told Bloomberg. "We are more eager to try new AI technologies."

Representatives for the Prime Minister's Office of Japan did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, made outside normal working hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has claimed that Ukrainian special services had helped him bring back his thoroughbred horse Zazu from the Czech Republic.

Source: Ramzan Kadyrov on Telegram

Details: The Czech Republic froze Kadyrovs assets  seizing several of his horses  as part of international sanctions imposed in relation to the war in Ukraine.

Unknown persons stole one of Kadyrovs horses from a stable in the Czech village of Krabcice. The Czech police reported that the horse was worth nearly 17,000.

Kadyrov is now claiming that the theft was organised by Ukraines special services upon his request.

Quote from Kadyrov: "Earlier this year, Ukrainian special service agents got in touch with me via mediators and offered to get Zazu back. They knew I favoured this horse, and they were right  obviously I said yes. To be honest, I thought that Zazu would be brought back via some official mechanisms, for example by lifting the sanctions. But it turned out that the special services had their own daring plan: they conspired with the Czech police to stage his theft from a stable in the Czech Republic."

More details: Kadyrov said that Zazu was currently "on his way home", and that the operation cost US$18,000. "Given his real value and excellent pedigree, this is nothing," he said.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






WASHINGTON  A former Trump hotel located blocks from the White House that inspired a battle with congressional Democrats is at the center of a dispute that the Supreme Court on Monday agreed to resolve.

At issue is a 2017 request from a group of Democrats who demanded the Trump administration provide records about how the former president obtained the rights to develop the government-owned building into a hotel. The property became a regular haunt for foreign dignitaries and GOP officials during Trump's presidency.

When the administration declined to provide all of those records to the House Oversight Committee, the lawmakers sued.

Hotel: A years-old fight between Trump, Democrats over a hotel lands at SCOTUS

Tracker: A look at the key cases pending at the Supreme Court

The hotel itself is no longer controversial: Trump left office in 2021 and the Trump Organization sold its lease for the hotel, now a Waldorf Astoria, a year later. But there are enormous balance-of-power issues at stake for future presidents.

If the Democratic lawmakers win, it could give members of the minority in Congress more power to probe a presidential administration of the opposite party  even though they wouldn't have the votes needed to issue a subpoena.

Trump and Biden administration officials have both fought the lawmakers' request.

Marine One with former President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump passes the Trump International Hotel as it departs the White House on Jan. 20, 2021.

"A congressional minority  'or even an ideological fringe of the minority'  could bring cases to 'distract and harass executive agencies and their most senior officials,'" the Biden administration told the Supreme Court in November, opposing the appeal.

A federal trial court in Washington, D.C., dismissed the lawsuit in 2018, concluding that the lawmakers didn't have standing to sue. But a divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit reversed that decision on a 2-1 vote in 2020.

The case is Carnahan v. Maloney.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court wades into fight between Dems, Trump over glitzy hotel
Chicago's new progressive Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a speech after he was sworn into office Monday that the Windy City has "enough room" for migrants surging across the border.

"We dont want our story to be told that we were unable to house the unhoused or provide safe harbor for those who are seeking refuge here. Because theres enough room for everyone in the city of Chicago whether you are seeking asylum or you are looking for a fully funded neighborhood," Johnson said.

"We dont want our story to be that Chicago became so traumatized by violence and despair that our residents felt they had no other choice but to leave. And so better days ahead Chicago. Our stories get to reach beyond this moment. And Im grateful to be working with a body of government that is committed to that transformation," he added.

The flow of new migrant arrivals into Chicago is expected to increase now that pandemic-era Title 42 restrictions on border crossings have ended. Last week, outgoing Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot issued an emergency declaration in response to illegal immigrants being bussed to her city by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Her office counted over 8,000 arrivals since August 2022.

DAUGHTER OF LATE CHICAGO COP FRUSTRATED BY CRIME SURGE: NOT THE CITY HE WAS SWORN TO PROTECT

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson delivered his first speech in office Monday.

"Speaking of the right thing to do, the soul of Chicago tells us that we will never close our doors to those who come here in search of a better life," the mayor said later on. "For as Scripture says, I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to eat, I was a stranger, and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison, and you came to visit me. That has always been the soul of Chicago, and it will always be the soul of Chicago."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"We know the strength of a city is determined by how we treat the most vulnerable," Johnson added. "And so we chose to be a strong city. We must reject a zero-sum formulation between investing in those who have been here for decades and supporting those who have been sent here on a bus even this morning. We can do both Chicago, and we can all strive together."

Story continues

Acknowledging that "too many Chicagoans fear for their safety," Johnson attempted to draw ties between the 2021 death of Adam Toledo, a 13-year-old boy who was shot and killed by since-fired Chicago Police Department officer Eric Stillman at the end of a foot chase, to last week's murder of 24-year-old Chicago Police Officer Areanah Preston on her way home from work. Joseph Brooks, 19, Trevell Breeland, 19, Jakwon Buchanan, 18, and a 16-year-old boy face charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery.

Chicago's new Mayor Brandon Johnson is sworn into office.

"The tears of Adam Toledos parents are made of the same sorrow of Officer Prestons parents," Johnson said. "To the family of Officer Preston, my heart is with you."

CHICAGO'S LORI LIGHTFOOT ISSUES STATE OF EMERGENCY OVER INFLUX OF ILLEGAL MIGRANTS SENT BY TEXAS GOV. ABBOTT

The mayor, noting that he himself lives in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago's West Side, also referenced how the city will host the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

"The very fact that the mayor of Chicago lives in one of the most disinvested and violent communities in the city, it shows us whats possible," he said. "So lets not be discouraged by what it is. Lets make sure we never stop imagining what it could be. So well create a Chicago where the big development projects get done, the poor have a pathway out of poverty and large events like the Democratic National Convention that would generate a vitality in every single neighborhood, that that gets done."

Chicago's new Mayor Brandon Johnson takes the stage Monday.

Johnson, 47, is a former organizer for the Chicago Teachers Union who was little known when he entered the mayoral race in 2022 and had no experience within city government. But the two-term Cook County commissioner gradually climbed atop a crowded field with the support of the influential union he once worked for, endorsements from Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and local progressive groups to knock off the incumbent mayor, Lightfoot, and win a tough runoff in April.

He has since tried to appeal to those who didn't back him in the election, stocking his transition team with familiar names from Chicago corporations and philanthropies beside leaders of organized labor and progressive groups. He selected a veteran of Chicago's emergency management agency as his chief of staff and a retired police commander who is popular among rank-and-file officers as interim leader of the Chicago Police Department.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Andrii Yusov, a representative of Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, has commented on the Washington Post article which alleged that Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin had been in contact with Ukraine's Defence Intelligence, discussing further actions in Bakhmut.

Source: Yusov on the national joint 24/7 newscast

Quote from Yusov: "I think that Ukraine should  and of course the special services will and should  discuss such things when it is necessary and in line with Ukraines national interests. It is clear that Ukraine is doing everything possible to protect its national interests, to effectively liberate the territory".

Details: Yusov said the special services and military intelligence use various assets and tools for this purpose. "As for individual hoaxes, I do not think we should comment on that," Yusov emphasised.

Background:

Previously, The Washington Post, citing data from leaked documents, reported that Wagner owner Yevgeny Prigozhin had offered to disclose the location of Russian troops to Ukraine in exchange for the withdrawal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from Bakhmut, where mercenaries were being killed en masse. The newspaper said two Ukrainian officials had confirmed that Prigozhin spoke with representatives of Defence Intelligence several times. In particular, one of the officials apparently said that Prigozhin had made the offer regarding Bakhmut "more than once", but Kyiv had rejected it because the officials do not trust Prigozhin and believe that his offers may have been disingenuous.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Lights on a Stockton police vehicle flash in downtown Stockton.

In the early hours of Friday, May 12, a 16-year-old boy fatally shot his younger brother at a home in south Stockton, according to Stockton police.

The younger boy has been identified as 13-year-old Richard Ornsri-Walker of Stockton, according to the San Joaquin County Medical Examiner's office.

Around 2 a.m. Friday, officers received a tip about a potential shooting near 800 Flint Avenue, police stated. The officers said they found a 13-year-old boy with gunshot wounds inside a residence at Conway Homes.

The 13-year-old later died at the hospital, police said. His brother was found "in the area" where the shooting occurred, Stockton police spokesman Omer Edhah said.

Officers arrested the 16-year-old around 11 a.m. Friday. He's accused of manslaughter and negligent discharge of a firearm, Stockton police spokesman Omer Edhah said during an interview at police headquarters.

"Detectives are still working on it  but at this point, it's being considered a negligent discharge," he said.

Detectives believe the 16-year-old found the gun inside the home where the shooting occurred, Edhah said. Police shared no further details on where he found it or whether it was securely stored.

The boys' parents could also face criminal charges if the gun wasn't stored properly.

Fatal collision on Thornton Road: police

One person died and two were injured in a car crash near Thornton Road and AG Spanos Boulevard Saturday, according to a Stockton police statement.

The person who died was Celia Contreras, 65, of Stockton, said Christy Patterson, a spokesperson for the county medical examiner. The crash happened around 4:30 p.m., police said.

Just one day earlier, another person was seriously injured in a car wreck on Thornton.

A teenage girl was hospitalized Thursday afternoon after a collision involving a box truck just south of Wagner Heights Road, according to a police statement.

Investigators had not identified the teenager or provided further information on her health status as of Monday afternoon.

Story continues

Teen arrested in SoCal after Stockton shooting booked in SJ County

A teenager Stockton police believe fatally shot someone near Southside Market in March was jailed in San Joaquin County on Saturday after being arrested over 300 miles away, outside San Bernardino.

Officers booked 18-year-old Iosua Sataua in San Joaquin County Jail around 8 p.m. Saturday, jail records show. Sataua had been in jail in San Bernardino County since late April on different charges, according San Bernardino County custody records.

Stockton police would not comment on what may have brought Sataua to southern California.

Investigators claim Sataua and a 16-year-old boy fatally shot two people the evening of March 4 near Southside Market, located on Airport Way in south Stockton.

The victims were Jacob Haywood-Thomas, 29, and Andrea Lee Jones, 24, of Stockton, according to a spokesperson for the county medical examiner.

As of Monday afternoon, Sataua had not yet been charged in San Joaquin County, a search of court records showed. No evidence connecting Sataua to the homicides has yet been presented in court.

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: 13-year-old shot, killed in Stockton identified
Videos of the group show a pack of roughly 150 masked men in uniforms carrying upside-down American flags (Rawsalerts screengrab)

Members of the white supremacist group Patriot Front marched through Washington DC on Sunday.

Videos of the group show a pack of roughly 150 masked men in uniforms carrying upside-down American flags and shields.

Police were seen escorting the right-wing demonstrators.

In video of the demonstrations, hecklers could be heard taunting the marchers.

The group has made previous appearances in Boston, Indianapolis and Idaho, where 31 members of the group were arrested inside a truck and found with a plan to start a riot at a Pride event.

The group, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), formed in 2017 after the infamous Unite the Right gathering of neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, Virginia, where a member of a far-right group called Vanguard America ran over counter-protester Heather Heyer.

White nationalist hate group Patriot Front marched toward the U.S. Capitol in Washington, chanting "life, liberty, victory." Approx. 100 men in masks



(video: @rawsalerts) pic.twitter.com/qT5Fjq6I8q  philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) May 13, 2023

After Heyers killing, a group split off from Vanguard to form Patriot Front.

Masked fascists with white nationalist group Patriot Front were escorted by Metropolitan Police today throughout the National Mall in Washington DC.



The group generally shows up unannounced to other groups' protests or holds their own without seeking permits in an attempt to pic.twitter.com/pIoxwPriFq  Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) May 13, 2023

Patriot Front is an image-obsessed organisation that rehabilitated the explicitly fascist agenda of Vanguard America with garish patriotism, the SPLC has said of the group, adding that it focuses on theatrical rhetoric and activism that can be easily distributed as propaganda for its chapters across the country.

The Anti-Defamation League describes the group as specialising in vandalism, racist propaganda and flash demonstrations meant to intimidate marginalised communities.

According to a study released in March by the ADL, there has been a 38 per cent increase in white supremacist propaganda efforts in the US, the highest number ever recorded by the organisation.
(Bloomberg) -- China has sentenced a 78-year-old American to life in prison on spying charges, as the worlds No. 2 economy prioritizes eliminating national security risks.

Most Read from Bloomberg

John Leung, who is also a Hong Kong permanent resident, was sentenced in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou on Monday, according to the courts official WeChat page. In addition, some 500,000 yuan ($71,808) of Leungs property was confiscated, the report added.

Leung was arrested on suspicion of espionage in April 2021, according to the statement. No details of his crime were provided. A US Embassy spokesperson in Beijing said in an emailed statement that they were aware of the reports.

Given the opacity of the charges, and evidence against the defendant, the verdict further erodes the foreign business communitys confidence in the environment, said James Zimmerman, a Beijing-based lawyer with law firm Perkins Coie. This is not a welcomed development.

Perkins Coie, which has its headquarters in Seattle, also provides legal services to Bloomberg LP.

Read more: China Begins National Anti-Spy Crackdown on Consulting Firms

According to the Chinese Communist Partys mouthpiece, Peoples Daily newspaper, a Hong Kong-born man of the same name and age moved to the US age 16. After working at the United Nations, Leung began facilitating exchanges between government officials and business people in China and the US, according to the article published in the newspapers overseas edition in 2004. He also founded a friendship association between Oklahoma City and Guangzhou, in southern China, the report said.

Last month, China passed new counter-espionage legislation expanding the list of activities that can be considered spying, as President Xi Jinping increasingly puts security concerns over development. The expanded law bans the possession of state secrets including all documents, data, materials and articles concerning national security.

Story continues

Read: Why Chinas Anti-Spy Campaign is Targeting This Global Consulting Firm

Beijing has also launched a nationwide anti-espionage crackdown targeting consulting firms. One global expert network, Capvision, has been accused of leaking state secrets and having ties with foreign intelligence agencies. The company has since vowed to follow Chinas national security laws and set up a committee to manage compliance issues.

The US has similarly announced efforts to crack down on Chinese spying and harassment of dissidents in the US.

There have been 224 publicly reported instances of Chinese espionage directed at the US between 2000 and last December, according to data collected by the Center for Strategic and International Studies based on open-source material.

Last month, the Department of Justice charged two Chinese nationals with seeking to set up an overseas police station in the US on behalf of the Fuzhou branch of Chinas Ministry of Public Security. In January, a US court sentenced a 31-year old Chinese national to eight years in prison for spying for the Chinese government.

--With assistance from Phila Siu and Jing Li.

(Updates with Peoples Daily details in the sixth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese president Xi Jinping attends a plenary meeting of the delegation of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the People's Armed Police Force during the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, on Wednesday, 8 March 2023 (via AP)

China sentenced a 78-year-old US citizen to life imprisonment on Monday after he was convicted of spying charges.

John Shing-wan Leung, a permanent resident of Hong Kong who also held an American passport, was found guilty of espionage in China and sentenced to life imprisonment, deprived of political rights for life.

Leung was arrested on 15 April 2021 by the National Security Bureau, Chinas counterintelligence agency, in the southeastern city of Suzhou.

Two years after his arrest, the senior US citizen was issued a fine of $72,000 apart from getting the life sentence by the Intermediate Peoples Court in Suzhou.

The court also revealed the US passport number of Leung and his Hong Kong ID. No further details were released to the public.

This comes as China updated its anti-espionage legislation last month in what observers have said could pose legal risks for foreign firms and individuals operating in the country amid growing tensions between the West and Beijing.

The state-sponsored Xinhua news agency reported that the revised law  which will come into effect in July  expands the definition of espionage to ban the transfer of any information related to national security, including cyberattacks against state organs or critical information infrastructure.

China also detained an employee of Japanese pharmaceutical company Astellas Pharma earlier in March on suspicion of spying. Japans government has demanded his release and an explanation.

In April, it was reported that a veteran Chinese journalist who worked at a ruling Communist Party-affiliated newspaper was facing espionage charges after being detained while meeting with a Japanese diplomat at a restaurant.

Dong Yuyu, deputy head of the editorial department at Guangming Daily, regularly met with foreign journalists and diplomats to help understand global trends. But Chinese authorities regarded his contacts with foreign diplomats as evidence of spying, according to a family statement.
John Shing-Wan Leung held permanent residency in Hong Kong, but it is not clear where he was living when he was arrested (file image)

A Chinese court has sentenced a 78-year-old US citizen to life in prison on spying charges.

John Shing-Wan Leung, who is a permanent resident in Hong Kong, was jailed on Monday.

The court in the south-eastern city of Suzhou gave no further details of the allegations against him.

Leung was arrested in the city two years ago by a local bureau of China's counterintelligence agency, a news release from the court said.

He "was found guilty of espionage, sentenced to life imprisonment [and] deprived of political rights for life", according to the statement from the Intermediate People's Court, which was posted on the WeChat social media platform.

It is unclear where Leung was living at the time of his arrest.

A spokesperson for the US embassy in Beijing said they were aware of the reports. "The Department of State has no greater priority than the safety and security of US citizens overseas," they said.

At a news conference in Washington DC on Monday, the State Department declined to comment on the case citing privacy concerns.

Closed door trials are common in China, and few details are usually made public for sensitive cases such as those involving espionage charges.

Heavy sentences such as this, however, are relatively rare for foreign citizens.

In July, a new law will come into effect that broadens the scope of China's espionage legislation. It will ban the handing over of any data the authorities deem to be related to national security.

US and Chinese media reports and records show that Mr Leung was heavily involved with Chinese cultural and expat organisations in the US.

According to Hong Kong media reports, he was head of the Texas branch of the Association for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China (APPRC), which promotes Beijing's claims over Taiwan abroad.

Mr Leung was also chair of his own foundation - the Leung Cultural Exchange Foundation - which sent musicians to and from China and the US, the Wall Street Journal reported. He frequently travelled to China to meet with government officials.

Story continues

The jailing of Leung is likely to further strain relations between China and the US, which deteriorated during former US President Donald Trump's administration after he launched a trade war against China in 2018.

The two superpowers continue to clash on various issues, including Taiwan, China's militarisation of the South China Sea, and the origins of Covid.

Tensions were also heightened in February when the US shot down an alleged Chinese spy balloon, which Beijing insisted was a weather monitoring device.
Li Hui, Chinese Special Representative, will visit Ukraine on 16-17 May to discuss the "political settlement" of the war.

Source: Reuters, citing a Ukrainian government official who spoke on condition of anonymity

Details: According to the Reuters source, Li will visit Ukraine on Tuesday and Wednesday. The official did not provide any further information.

According to Reuters, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China said that the details of Li's route will be made public later. In addition to Ukraine, the diplomat will visit Poland, France and Germany.

Background:

On 26 April, it was revealed that the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This is the first conversation between the leaders of the countries since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

China promised to send the Chinese Ambassador to Russia Li Hui as a special representative to Ukraine and other countries for communication on the settlement of the "Ukrainian crisis."

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
The editor-in-chief of a leading evangelical magazine called out Donald Trump for attacking the writer who accused the former president of rape and the CNN audience of supporters who laughed and cheered when he did.

Think about the teenage girl in a church somewhere whos being abused by her youth pastor, wondering whether to come forward, Christianity Todays Russell Moore said on Meet the Press on Sunday. [W]hen the victim is ridiculed by a presidential candidate in front of a crowd, the response is laughter. That has devastating implications.

Last week, a civil jury found the former president liable for sexual abuse and defamation in a lawsuit brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. Then, Trump attacked Carroll as a whack job during a CNN town hall event as the audience laughed.

Moore opposed Trump in the 2016 and 2020 elections, and Trump attacked Moore as a nasty guy with no heart.

NBC host Chuck Todd on Sunday asked Moore if he could ever see himself supporting the former president in 2024.

I cant speak for all evangelicals, I can only speak for myself, he said. And Jesus said Let your yes be yes and your no be no. Ill let my never, never.

See their full conversation below:
Funding to clean up toxic military sites is not keeping up with the rising costs of the work, potentially pushing back completion of the efforts by decades, an environmental group warned on Monday.

The disparity raises questions about the Defense Departments ability and commitment to solving the problem of lingering perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (better known as PFAS), used widely in the past in military firefighting foam. They may already be causing harmful environmental effects at military bases and inactive Defense Department locations.

A new analysis released by the Environmental Working Group says the price tag for cleaning up the forever chemicals swelled by $3.7 billion from 2016 to 2021, to total about $31 billion. But the Pentagons budget for the work rose only $400 million over that time period.

The Defense Department is facing a ticking cleanup time bomb as funding falls dramatically behind cleanup costs, said Jared Hayes, a senior policy analyst at EWG, in a statement. Its clear that funding at current levels cannot possibly catch up to rising cleanup obligations.

DoD dragged its feet on toxic chemical exposure prevention and clean-up, IG finds

Defense Department officials did not respond to requests for comment. The departments cleanup budget for affected sites in fiscal year 2021 was about $1.3 billion.

The department has stated that at least 707 military sites may have lingering contamination related to PFAS. Defense officials have in the past promised a full review of the scope of the problem.

Researchers from EWG said that without increased funding and focus on the problem some sites plagued by these toxic chemicals might not get cleaned up for more than half a century. The chemicals have been linked to a host of health problems, including increased risk of certain cancers, metabolic disruption and harm to individuals reproductive systems.

Environmental Working Group leaders said they want to see the funding levels for cleanup efforts significantly increased in fiscal 2024  to $2.75 billion, almost double what the department requested  and maintained at a high level until the problems are resolved.

That funding level disparity is likely to be a point of debate in the upcoming congressional work on the annual defense authorization bill. Senate and House lawmakers are expected to write their respective drafts of the policy bill next month.
A Florida Keys woman alleges that Island House, a decades-old resort in Key Wests Old Town, discriminates against cisgender women, transgender people and those who identify as non-binary by keeping a men-only policy for patrons.

Amina Chaudhry, 38, of Cudjoe Key, filed her civil rights complaint last June against the resort with the Florida Commission on Human Rights.

During two days of commission hearings in April, the resorts owner and attorneys defended Island House, saying its business does not discriminate against anyone based on sex or gender.

Island House is not men-only, attorney Wayne LaRue Smith, of Key West, who represents Island House, said in an interview with WLRN. For 20 years, theres an ongoing record of women staying on the premises. It absolutely targets its advertising to men. We dont have a gaydar detector at the door.

Not so, argues Chaudhry, who said she has tried to book a room with Island House only to be denied because shes a woman.

We did ask, again the front desk staff, how do we book a room? Chaudhry testified during the twoday hearing. How do we apply for membership, how do we purchase a guest pass? The answers to all were, women cannot do those.

Following the hearing, Florida Administrative Law Judge John G. Van Laningham, who is based in Tallahassee, said he may issue a ruling within the next month but said his decision will be limited to Chaudhrys personal complaint.

This isnt an action to enforce the anti-discrimination laws, Van Laningham said. Rather, this case is about whether this particular petitioner was damaged or injured by a discriminatory practice that was applied to her in a particular instance. And thats a narrower issue.

Island House, on a corner of Key Wests Old Town, advertises as an all male, clothing-optional vacation destination.

We truly are a sanctuary for all men, according to its website, which is filled with photos of men gathering for drinks, pool time and amenities such as the 24-hour gym, restaurant and outdoor hot tub.

Story continues

Under the subhead of All Male, is the line, Gay, straight, FTM, bisexual, married, single, coupled, in an open relationship or totally monogamous, all men are welcome here.

There are some male-only areas, such as the locker room or showers, but that is because its a clothing optional resort, and guests and staff have a right to privacy, said Smith, the resorts attorney.

You can go to Island House but youre not going to be in the shower taking a shower with men, Smith said.

Chaudhry and resort staff have clashed in the past.

The resort staff said they asked Chaudhry to leave in June 2022 because she was disrupting a Pride Week party  a yearly event at which Island House welcomes all genders to kick off the LGBTQ celebration in Key West. Once the party wraps up, its tradition for Island House staff to ask women to leave.

Chaudhry had brought fliers printed with legal definitions of discrimination at places of public accommodation. The fliers headline: Want gender equity at Key West Pride?

Island House staff said Chaudhry was making a scene and was escorted off the property by uniformed Key West police officers they said were hired as security for the party. Chaudhry has been banned from Island House because of her behavior that night, the resorts attorney said.

She was distributing fliers uninvited, engaging people in a diatribe about her view on the Island House, Smith said.

I was protesting because they wouldnt serve me, Chaudhry told WLRN.

Chaudhry represented herself at the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings, in video conference sessions held over Zoom. She questioned and cross-examined witnesses, including Island House Assistant General Manager John Michael Murray, and listened to arguments that her claim wasnt credible.

Is it Island House policy to not book accommodations or rooms to women? Island Houses attorney Ashley Sybesma asked Murray, 69.

Absolutely not, Murray replied.

Sybesma then asked, Have you ever trained an island house employee to not book a room to a woman?

Murray said, That has never happened.

Island House policies are based on the constitutional right for bodily privacy for guests and employees at a place where nudity is allowed, the resorts attorneys said.

The Island House really endeavors to be a resort thats a safe space for gay men to be gay, Smith said, after the hearing wrapped up Tuesday. Everyone has a constitutionally protected right to choose who may not view your partially or unclothed body.

Van Laningham, the administrative law judge, said that while testimony during the hearings touched on issues like right to privacy and broader issues concerning whether a clothing optional gay mens resource is permissible, those issues are beyond the scope of the proceedings.

State officials have police powers to raise issues concerning discrimination, Van Laningham said.

And apparently the state has not done so, and thats not what were here to do, he said.

-

This report is from Miami Herald partner WLRN 91.3 FM in South Florida and 91.5 in the Florida Keys.

Gwen Filosa covers the Florida Keys for WLRN. She has been reporting from the island chain for over a decade, from Cuban landings and the workforce housing crisis, to the oddities and charms of the Keys.
S Club 7s Hannah Spearritt wont be joining the pop group on their reunion tour.

On Sunday (14 May), S Club 7 confirmed that their reunion tour will be going ahead following the death of member Paul Cattermole last month. However, Spearritt wont be joining them.

Cattermole was found at his home in Dorset on 6 April, and was pronounced dead later that day, his family said in a statement.

It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of our beloved son and brother Paul Cattermole, their statement reads.

Paul, 46, was found yesterday, 6 April 2023 at his home in Dorset and was pronounced dead later that afternoon.

The cause of death is currently unknown.

The update about S Club 7s tour was announced in a video posted to the groups official Instagram page.

Youve probably noticed that theres only five of us here today, and although Hannah will always be part of S Club 7 she wont be joining us on this tour, Jon Lee said in the video. We wish her all the best for the future. However, the five of us are really excited and geared up.

Its just really sad, its really really hard to process it right now, added Tina Barrett.

Bradley McIntosh said that everyone was still in disbelief about losing Cattermole, adding: No one could ever replace our Paul, but he lives on inside each and every one of us.

Rachel Stevens added: Hes always going to be with us. He was such a big part of this tour, so involved in everything that we are planning.

And we are just going to keep his memory alive and share it with all of you and its going to make it even more special.

In 1999, S Club 7 reached No 1 with their debut single Bring It All Back.

The groups other hits include S Club Party and Dont Stop Movin.

By the time S Club 7 disbanded in 2003, the group had recorded four studio albums, released 11 singles that all entered the top 5 UK charts, and sold more than 10 million albums worldwide.
BOGOTA (Reuters) -Colombian leftwing guerrilla group the National Liberation Army (ELN) on Monday said peace talks with the government were in crisis due to comments made by President Gustavo Petro.

The declaration from the ELN represents the most recent setback to the negotiations, which Petro restarted last year as part of efforts to end the rebel group's role in Colombia's almost six decades of conflict.

Petro had questioned the unity of the group's leadership and ordered Colombia's military to target illicit activity such as drug trafficking that finance illegal armed groups.

"The peace talks cannot be subject to the fluctuations in the public statements of the president," the ELN said in a statement.

"The negotiations have entered into a crisis and clarity is needed from the government, so that the path towards peace is cleared and so that we might speak in plain language to the country and the world," the statement added.

In response, the government said: "It's imperative for us to answer to (affected) communities and establish ... a cessation of hostilities between all parties in the conflict, protection measures for civilians, and the participation of civil society as key pillars."

The ELN, founded in 1964 by radical Catholic priests, has some 5,850 members, including 2,950 combatants. The government says the group finances itself through drug trafficking, illegal mining and kidnapping.

Negotiations with the ELN under previous administrations faltered on the group's diffuse chain of command and dissent within its ranks.

(Reporting by Luis Jaime AcostaWriting by Oliver GriffinEditing by Marguerita Choy and Rosalba O'Brien)
On a recent weekday in the Colorado Capitol, a well known sound for someone familiar with the Mississippi Legislature could be heard through the state House chamber: a computer application reading a bill.

A security officer in the Colorado House gallery was asked what was happening.

Bills are being read to slow down the process, the officer said. He went on to explain that Colorado House and Senate members can request a bill to be read as a form of protest or just to slow the legislative process.The security officer was told that a similar procedure is used in the Mississippi Legislature, but the difference  and a distinct one  is that the bill was being read in the Colorado Legislature at a pace that could be comprehended.

When there is a request by a member to read a bill in the Mississippi Legislature, House clerks set the computer application at such a rapid pace that comprehension is impossible. Its become known in the Capitol as the demon chipmunk.

The security officer said the Colorado Supreme Court had ruled that the bill readings had to be comprehensible.

That is not what the Mississippi Supreme Court said. In a 6-2 decision in 2018, the state Supreme Court said the reading of the bills did not have to be comprehensible. The demon chipmunk mode on the computer application was just fine.

Both the Mississippi and Colorado constitutions give legislators the authority to have a bill read aloud before a final vote. In both states, the minority party  the Republicans in Colorado and Democrats in Mississippi  filed lawsuits trying to prevent the incomprehensible reading of bills.

Former state Rep. Jay Hughes, D-Oxford, who filed the lawsuit challenging the rapid reading of the bills, said the difference in the rulings is an illustration of what happens when all branches of government are controlled by one party like in Mississippi.

That is a shame because everyone  even the least powerful  should have a voice, Hughes said.

Story continues

Hughes was wrong about at least one thing. In Colorado, it was a justice appointed by a Democratic governor who agreed with the Republican minority that the framers of the constitution intended for the bills to be read at an understandable pace.

According to the Colorado Sun, Justice Carlos Samour Jr., appointed by a Democratic governor, wrote, There are unquestionably different ways by which the legislature may comply with the reading requirement. But the cacophony generated by the computers here isnt one of them. And while we have no business dictating the specifics of how the legislature might comply with the reading requirement, it is our prerogative and responsibility to declare that the legislature did not comply with that requirement in this case.

Colorado Republicans argued that the bill reading is one of the few tools they have to impact the legislative process and that tool should not be taken away or manipulated in such a way as to dimmish its impact.

The Mississippi justices had a different view.

Then-Mississippi Central District Justice Jess Dickerson wrote for the majority, By requesting the courts to force Speaker Gunn to read bills in a particular manner, Rep. Hughes seeks to involve the judiciary in legislative procedural matters. The text of our state Constitution that imposes upon the Legislature the obligation to read bills upon a members request, necessarily commits upon the Legislature the obligation to determine how that request will be carried out.

Interestingly, in Colorado the justices listened to the issue at hand  the bills being read at the incomprehensible pace. In Mississippi, the justices refused to allow Hughes to enter into evidence the demon chipmunk reading application.

The result of the court rulings is that an out-of-state visitor can go into a legislative gallery in the spectacular Mississippi Capitol and be confused and baffled by the impossible-to-understand demon chipmunk.

Out-of-state visitors to the also spectacular Colorado Capitol will have to go into the wilderness of the Rocky Mountains to hear such an incomprehensible sound.

This analysis was produced by Mississippi Today, a nonprofit news organization that covers state government, public policy, politics and culture. Bobby Harrison is Mississippi Todays senior Capitol reporter.
Angela Chapman, interim superintendent for Columbus City Schools; Brian McDonald, superintendent of the Pasadena Unified School District in California; and George (Eric) Thomas, associate superintendent for Minneapolis Public Schools, from left to right, during a public forum on the search for a new Columbus City Schools superintendent Thursday at the district's South Administration Building.

With the Columbus City Schools Board of Education conducting final interviews Monday for superintendent Monday, the selection of one of three finalists could come as soon as this week.

The district is searching for a new school chief executive after outgoing Superintendent Talisa Dixon announced in December that she would be retiring at the end of the current academic year.

Here's what you need to know:

Special, regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday

On Monday afternoon, the school board held a special meeting and immediately went into executive session to interview superintedent finalists. The board has also scheduled a special executive session for 4 p.m. Tuesday "to consider the appointment, employment, or compensation of public employees" before their regular meeting scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at Mifflin High School on Columbus' Northeast Side.

Mifflin High School: Student charged after stabbing another student during dismissal

In addition, the school board plans to go into executive session during a special meeting scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday at the district's Downtown administrative office at 270 E. State St.

Who are the candidates?

From left to right Columbus City Schools superintendent finalists Brian McDonald, Angela Chapman and George (Eric) Thomas.

Last month, the Columbus City school board announced three finalists for the open superintendent position, including Angela Chapman, the district's current interim superintendent. The other finalists are Brian McDonald, superintendent of the Pasadena Unified School District in California, and George (Eric) Thomas, associate superintendent for Minneapolis Public Schools.

At a public forum last week, the three finalists fielded questions in a moderated format and shared their leadership styles and why they want the job in Columbus leading Ohio's largest school district.

Five takeaways from public forum with CCS superintendent finalists: What they said

Thomas addresses mismanagement allegations

During the public forum, Thomas took several opportunities to address recent media reports about the settlement with the Georgia State Board of Education in 2020. From 2017 to 2020, Thomas served as "chief turnaround officer" for the Georgia State Board of Education, in which he was tasked with working with the worst-performing schools in the state.

Story continues

A 2020 letter from then-Georgia Inspector General Deborah Wallace to Board of Education Chairman Scott Sweeney claims that Thomas' office was "mismanaged" and "policies and procedures in place were routinely ignored" by Thomas, The Dispatch previously reported. However, Thomas pointed to a cash settlement with the state and shared a separate letter from the Georgia Attorney General's Office saying it could find no evidence to prosecute him.

During the forum, Thomas pointed to successes he had during his time in the chief turnaround officer position, saying 70% of the schools he worked with achieved "their highest results ever."

"That experience also gave me a really strong understanding of the political nature of a lot of things," Thomas said. "Quite honestly, Georgia is somewhat similar to Ohio."

Who is running the search?

Columbus City school board approved paying a total of $250,000 to be handled by the Taft Stettinius & Hollister law firm, which has offices in Columbus, to assist in finding the next chief executive for the district.

That included costs for Ray & Associates, a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based firm that specializes in school executive leadership searches, and Fahlgren Mortine, a Columbus-based marketing firm, to assist in the search.

All applications were submitted directly to Ray & Associates, and the firm had prescreened the total 31 applicants before presenting them to the board. Each application was screened based on their administrative experience, academic backgrounds, and input from the community and the board, according to a release.

@Colebehr_report

Cbehrens@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus school board may select superintendent this week: what to know
Then-Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina, left, in 2007. (Carlos Chavez/Los Angeles Times)

The eulogies are coming in for pioneering Chicana politician Gloria Molina, who died Sunday night  Mothers Day  after a three-year battle with cancer. She was 74.

The longtime L.A. County supervisor is rightfully being remembered as a trailblazer many times over: for women, for Latinos, for the Eastside. There will be more tributes in the weeks and months to come, Im sure.

As we place her in the pantheon of L.A. political legends, though, I think she would be the first person to quote Dorothy Day, co-founder of the Catholic Worker movement:

"Dont call me a saint. I dont want to be dismissed so easily."

Those who knew Molina best told me about her many political accomplishments. But they also shared anecdote after anecdote about the Gloria they loved: Someone who was as sharp-tongued as she was big-hearted. A selfless taskmaster. A mother hen who pecked when necessary but more often took everyone under her wing.

That flesh-and-blood Gloria, they insisted, should be remembered just as much as the political Gloria. That way, the public would forever know she was one of them.

Antonia Hernandez, an icon in her own right because of the 1989 voting rights lawsuit she filed while lead counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund that helped Molina become a councilmember and supervisor, told me about the vacations the two of them took with longtime friends. Their circle included lawyers, U.S. ambassadors, businesswomen and other fellow powerhouses.

But one time, we all go down to Baja, Hernandez said. She got her quilting friends, they took their sewing machines, and quilted for three or four days. No pretension at all. You think of Gloria as this professional leader, but theres a side of her thats traditional and homey that totally informed her politics.

Another time, the two were in a market in Oaxaca, Mexico, when Molina saw a woman sewing patterns on a dress. She looked at me and said, This is fascinating,  Hernandez said. Then she went to the mujer and said, If I pay you, can I sit here and watch you so I can do it? We told her, Gloria, we have to go. But she wouldnt leave. She was determined, and she learned the pattern.

Story continues

Supervisor Kathryn Barger knew Molina for almost 30 years, going back to the days when she served as chief of staff for former supervisor and frequent Molina adversary Mike Antonovich. We were always jealous of her team, Barger said. When we did Christmas lunches for our staff, we made reservations. When she did it, she opened up her home for days. Our team would tell me, Why are we going to a Chinese restaurant when her staff is going to her house for amazing food?

The tamales stuck with her, because Barger mentioned it to Molina one year in passing while the latter was still supervisor. She suddenly said, Come to my office.' She had made the filling from scratch, had the corn husks. And we start doing tamales right there and then.

Former L.A. councilmember Joy Picus was a key early supporter of Molina's first campaign back in 1982, for an Eastside Assembly seat. When Molina announced in 1987 she was going to run for City Council, Picus immediately endorsed her and volunteered to make phone calls and knock on doors in Boyle Heights.

Well, when I did that, I realized that most of the people I had to talk to only spoke Spanish, Picus said. So I was no help at all.

Until she was.

One morning before a meeting, Gloria was speaking to a journalist and asked me, Joy, whats the Spanish word for bridge? Picus said. And I thought, Youre asking me? I closed my eyes, and said puente? And we both laughed hard!

Few took more of Molina's barbs than former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who was best man at her wedding and described himself as Gloria's little brother.

Once I became speaker and once I became mayor, I almost became the big brother, Villaraigosa said. But I still wasn't the big brother. Instead of trying to talk to me about [things], she was raising her voice, talking down to me. After that, Id call Alma [Martinez, Molinas longtime chief of staff] and say, Man, she's a piece of work. I want to help her. I'm going to help her. But she wont let me talk. 

Six months before he left office, Molina told Villaraigosa she wanted to honor him at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes first gala. It seemed so incongruous after the way she always treated me, he said. But when he showed up, every table had a booklet about his life and a mini-shoebox to commemorate one of his first jobs.

It was very emotional, it was a big surprise. It was typical Gloria.

Martinez's Molina memory dated to 1976, when she and some of her classmates at Sacred Heart of Mary High School in Montebello volunteered for Jimmy Carters presidential run, for which Molina headed Latino outreach. During an event in Hollywood, she tasked Henry Lozano, a legendary Eastside consigliere to politicians, to get dinner for Martinez and other volunteers.

He was supposed to bring good food, but he brought something ridiculous, Martinez said. Gloria was like, What, you didnt bring anything warm and nice? Go get something better for these chickies. She would not accept the fact that there was not going to have properly fed volunteers."

Molina wasnt as persnickety in her own life. In 2009, Molina and about a dozen of her family members traveled to Washington, D.C., for Barack Obama's inauguration. We got one of those big passenger vans from Rent-a-Wreck, and the windows were held down with duct tape, said Bertha Molina Mejia, Glorias sister. She drove  if youre in the car with her, shes always the driver.

They headed to one of the presidential balls, and Molinas family begged her not to park their van with the valet. She ignored their pleas, and pulled up to the valet right in time for the window to fall out.

We tell her, Gloria, this is embarrassing," Bertha continued. We all jump out of the van, right in front of all these people in line, beautifully decked out. Gloria walks out with her head up, and said, Lets get in line.' I pretended that we fit in. She never acted.

One of Molina's biggest political allies and rivals was Zev Yaroslavsky, who was with her on the City Council and Board of Supervisors for 24 years. Although both Democrats, their clashes made for great political theater. It was like a brother and sister relationship, he said. If she trusted your competence and your word was good, you had a good relationship with her. If you crossed her once, it was curtains.

When the two were termed out in 2014, they exchanged gifts at their final supervisor meeting. He gave Molina a painting of her; she gifted him a quilt done in the form of a crossword puzzle complete with clues about his career. Yaroslavsky and his family use it to this day.

When I saw her for the last time, he joked, I told Gloria, Even if I try to get you out of my head, I sleep with you every day. Theres a reason were all talking about her. Its not just because she was the first Latina. Its because she was Gloria Molina.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
BEACH HAVEN - Grace Weidenhof was calling out directions in the kitchen, measuring water and flour, scooping out peanut butter.

Were making dog treats right now, she said. We have an amazing dog bakery line.

The Stafford resident is one of 80 employees of Compassion Cafe, a summer-season cafe on Long Beach Island whose staff is composed entirely of people with developmental disabilities. This is summer No. 3 for the nonprofit initiative, which will operate coffee shop-style out of The Sea Shell Resort in Beach Haven four mornings per week from May 16 to mid-September.

This is the most wonderful job Ive ever had, said Weidenhof, who is entering her third season on staff. Its good experience for everyone who has special needs.

No Limits Cafe: No labor shortage at Middletown cafe, staffed by workers with intellectual disabilities

Compassion Cafe staff members create dog treats in the kitchen at the First United Methodist Church on Long Beach Island Monday, May 8, 2023. The Cafe, whose employees are developmentally disabled, will be opening May 16 in Beach Haven.

Compassion Cafe was founded in 2021 by retired Southern Regional High School teacher Sue Sharkey and her niece Erin Sharkey, a behavior analyst who works with the special-needs community. They realized how few job opportunities exist for adults and teens with autism and Down syndrome. Compassion Cafe pays its staffers $14.50 an hour.

Theres a difference between going to a program and having a job  and feeling that purpose and value to it, Sue Sharkey said. This is a confidence-builder.

'The best opportunity'

Compassion Cafe founder Sue Sharkey works in the kitchen at the First United Methodist Church on Long Beach Island Monday, May 8, 2023. The Cafe, whose employees are developmentally disabled, will be opening May 16 in Beach Haven.

Last week, during a training session at Long Beach Island's First United Methodist Church, that spirit was evident as staffers made the dog treats that have become a menu staple and learned  or relearned  the ropes about customer service, manning a coffee station and working a cash register.

Its the best opportunity, said Donna Paszkewicz, an Upper Freehold resident whose 23-year-old son Kenny is entering his third year on staff (the family summers in Holgate). Hes learned so much, hes made friends, hes matured more. Hes happy, were happy.

Adults with autism: Wall job school plan aims to keep them from falling off 'the cliff'

Story continues

Another third-year employee who spends summers on LBI, Kayla Barry, parlayed her Compassion Cafe experience into a wintertime job working the register and stocking shelves at a CVS in her hometown in upstate New York.

Compassion Cafe really helped me to get the skills I needed to do it, Barry said.

For Jenny Ferrara, a 31-year-old employee from Barnegat, Compassion Cafe interactions have improved the clarity of her speech.

Jenny has had jobs, but nothing like this, said her mother, Mary Ellen Ferrara. We like to bake, so this is something she was interested in. She is very social, and this gives her an opportunity to get out and meet people and speak.

Jenny put a fine point on it.

I like working, she said. I like to help other people.

'I'm capable': Toms River indoor farm grows work opportunities for those with disabilities

Growing in popularity

The proof is in the retention rates. Last summer there were 60 employees, and 56 of them are back for 2023. With newcomers in the fold, this years staff is around 80 people, plus nearly a hundred volunteers who help keep the wheels turning.

We hire everybody who wants a job, Sue Sharkey said.

There are some caveats. Staffers must be 17 or older, must sign up in time to train before the summer rush begins in late June, and must commit to working a minimum of 12 days. The cafe is open Mondays through Thursdays from 7 to 11 a.m.

Were very flexible with scheduling, Sharkey said.

'Don't hold back': Pioneering Shore family help raise $1.2M for better lives for disabled

Compassion Cafe founder Sue Sharkey hands out staff shirts at the First United Methodist Church on Long Beach Island Monday, May 8, 2023. The Cafe, whose employees are developmentally disabled, will be opening May 16 in Beach Haven.

The menu consists of a variety of drinks (coffee, tea, cold brew, apple juice and bottled water) and breakfast foods (bagels, muffins, pastries, quiche, carrot cake, yogurt and fruit) as well as two varieties of dog treats. Theres also Compassion Cafe merchandise for sale and a weekly newsletter that highlights various employees so patrons can get a sense for who they are.

The dog treats are made by staffers; everything else is sourced locally, mostly at wholesale prices. Last summer, Sharkey said, the cafe chalked up $100,000 in sales. It didnt turn a profit, but thats not the point.

The reason were able to do this is because the community has supported us through donations, Sharkey said.

As a thank-you gesture, 17 employees performed a cabaret-style show at the Stafford Township Arts Center earlier this month.

It was kind of dual-purpose event, Sharkey said. It let the staff showcase their talents and also gave something cute and sweet back to the community.

Everybody can play: Inspired by her young son, Manasquan mom got inclusive playground built

It takes a village

Compassion Cafe volunteer Lee-Ann Carney, Manahwakin, works with staff member Caden Delligatti, Manahawkin, at the First United Methodist Church on Long Beach Island Monday, May 8, 2023. The Cafe, whose employees are developmentally disabled, will be opening May 16 in Beach Haven.

A huge factor behind Compassion Cafes success is the space. First United Methodist Church offers the use of its commercial kitchen and hall for prep and training purposes. In 2021, the cafe operated out of Barrys Do Me a Flavor restaurant in Beach Haven. Sharkeys idea is to move the locale each summer, but 2022 at The Sea Shell was such a success that resort owner Tom Hughes insisted they return in 2023.

It was so well-received by everybody and the space works so well for them, and our guests just loved it, Hughes said.

'Take a chance with me': Sea Girt man with cerebral palsy starts disabled job placement

Last summer, every morning when he arrived at the resort, Hughes stopped in the cafe for a coffee.

The next thing I know, I would get a big bear hug or a high-five from one of the kids, he said. Even if youre having a rough start to the day, it makes you feel like a million bucks.

Compassion Cafe is open 7-11 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays from May 16 to mid-September at The Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club in Beach Haven. For more information or to donate, visit www.compassioncafelbi.org.

Jerry Carino is community columnist for the Asbury Park Press, focusing on the Jersey Shores interesting people, inspiring stories and pressing issues. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Compassion Cafe on LBI offers work to developmentally disabled people
Members of Congress provided a range of opinions on regulating AI, but several agreed that bipartisanship is the key to moving forward with a framework, lawmakers on Capitol Hill told Fox News.

China and the European Union have recently drafted AI regulations, but Congress hasn't passed any legislation since the tech's recent rapid development. Republicans worry that lawmakers could overregulate AI and harm innovation, while Democrats fear that machine learning poses potential threats to consumers.

"There is an urgent need for regulation," Rep. Ritchie Torres, a New York Democrat, told Fox News. "But we have to get it right. We have to be careful not to regulate prematurely or haphazardly."

WATCH MORE FOX NEWS DIGITAL ORIGINALS HERE

Rep. Tony Cardenas, another Democrat, agreed: "We need to have regulations in Europe, around the world, and we need to have regulations on AI right here in the United States."

Nearly 40 countries passed AI laws last year, Gary Marcus, who hosts the AI-themed podcast, "Humans vs Machines with Gary Marcus," told Fox News last week. He called for international coordination to regulate the technology.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

AI overregulation is a concern for Republicans, Rep. Nancy Mace told Fox News.

But Republicans who spoke with Fox News said overregulation is also a concern.

AI CAN 'KILL US,' BUT SOME IN CONGRESS DONT EVEN KNOW HOW TO LOG IN TO FACEBOOK, LAWMAKERS SAY

"If you overregulate, as we tend to do, you're going to stifle innovation," Rep. Nancy Mace said. "If we overregulate like other countries around the world, in European Union for example, we can't even imagine some of the ways that it will be used."

The EU's Parliament approved the Artificial Intelligence Act last week, which would restrict how AI platforms use consumer data and limit how AI can be used for facial recognition and predictive policing. The Cyberspace Administration of China released regulations in April that outline rules AI companies must follow to avoid penalties, such as complying with socialist values and government security reviews of machine learning models before they are released publicly.

Story continues

"Congress is clearly behind on AI," Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance said. " But I also think that our answers are going to be a lot different than the Democrats' answers."

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer released a framework for AI regulation and met with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to discuss the plan last month, but so far no AI regulation has been passed. Those rules would lay out ethical restrictions as well as require tech companies to disclose its data sources and who trained the algorithm and to explain how the models arrive at their responses.

"Can Chuck Schumer and the Biden administration do anything substantive to stop the China assault on AI? No, they have no willingness to do it," GOP Rep. Ralph Norman said. "We're going in two different directions with a Republican plan versus a Democrat plan."

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS GRADE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF AI FROM ONE TO 10

Despite their different positions, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle said bipartisan cooperation on AI is needed to get anything passed.

The need for AI regulation transcends political party affiliation, Rep. Ritchie Torres told Fox News.

"AI Is going to be so revolutionary that it transcends partisanship and that we as a country have to figure out how do we remain the leaders of AI and how do we make it work for the American people," Torres told Fox News.

Vance said: "There's a broad concern about it, and I think that gives some opportunity for bipartisanship."

To watch the lawmakers' full interviews, click here.

Gabrielle Reyes contributed to this report.
Elected officials who represent Tarrant Countys minority communities have asked the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division to investigate County Judge Tim OHare and other county officials over concerns that their actions will diminish voting rights.

The letter, signed by U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth and six other Tarrant County area elected officials, cited the recent resignation of Tarrant County election chief Heider Garcia and the creation of an election integrity task force.

Veasey signed the letter with Tarrant County commissioners Alisa Simmons and Roy Brooks and state Reps. Nicole Collier, Ramon Romero, Chris Turner, and Salman Bohjani.

They ask that the Justice Department promptly review this matter and give them a written response about how the Civil Rights Division can end the pattern in Tarrant County of voter intimidation and harassment.

As elected officials representing districts that are predominantly communities of color in Tarrant County, we are deeply concerned that recent actions by Tarrant County Judge Tim OHare and other county officials will further diminish the voting rights of those we represent and undermine their ability to freely and effectively participate in elections, the letter states.

In his resignation letter, dated April 16, Garcia cited a meeting with OHare and differing ideas for running transparent elections as the reason for his departure.

In a section of the letter addressed to OHare, Garcia wrote that his formula to administer a quality transparent election stands on respect and zero politics and that compromising on those values wasnt an option for him.

You made it clear in our last meeting that your formula is different, thus, my decision to leave, Garcia wrote. I wish you the best; Tarrant County deserves that you find success.

At a True Texas Project meeting April 10, OHare told the crowd that he planned to have a closed door executive session discussion about the election administrators performance after May 6 municipal elections. The True Texas Project was the NE Tarrant Tea Party before it rebranded in 2019.

Story continues

This resignation is deeply troubling to us given the work Mr. Garcia has undertaken during his tenure to ensure elections are fair to all voters, including racial and ethnic minority voters, in Tarrant County, the letter states. Since 2020, Mr. Garcia has faced harassment and even death threats from groups that have denied recent election results, including Citizens for Election Integrity and the True Texas Project, which has been named as an extremist group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. These actions are intended to intimidate Mr. Garcia and send a message to minority voters that if they participate in Tarrant County elections, they will face investigation and prosecution.

In February, Republicans OHare, district attorney Phil Sorrells and Sheriff Bill Waybourn announced they had created an election fraud task force. During their campaigns, Sorrells had promised to create a unit and OHare pushed the idea of an elections officer position that would report to him, Wayborn and another commissioner.

They created the task force without Garcia, without Democrats and without notifying the Commissioners Court.

Simmons, a Democrat who represents Arlington and Mansfield, said at the time that the task force was nothing more than an attempt to appease ultra-partisan election deniers within their party.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Chinese policy bank steps up support for revitalizing NE region

Xinhua) 14:55, May 13, 2023

BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- China Development Bank, one of the country's policy banks, has increased financial support for the revitalization of the northeast parts of the country in recent years, data from the bank shows.

By the end of April, the policy bank had issued nearly 400 billion yuan (about 57.6 billion U.S. dollars) of loans to projects involved in this undertaking, it said.

It had also allocated 23.3 billion yuan of infrastructure investment funds to the region, backing 32 major infrastructure projects.

These loans have boosted the construction of highways, energy bases, water supply facilities and water diversion projects, and helped nurture strategic emerging industries in the northeast region, according to the bank.

The policy bank said that it would provide more financing support for the region this year, with the proportion of mid- and long-term loans expanding steadily.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Wu Chaolan)
In December, nearly every member country of the United Nations pledged to protect at least 30% of the world's land and sea by 2030 to reverse the damage done by humans and protect vulnerable species.

One of the animals at risk is also one of the largest in the ocean and among the least understood. Sperm whales are not the predators of Moby Dick legend. They have brains six times larger than ours and spend most of their lives in the darkest depths of the ocean. It is difficult to describe their size without comparing them to a school bus.

Last month, we traveled with National Geographic Explorer Enric Sala to the Caribbean island of Dominica, where he's proposing protections for the hundreds of sperm whales living there.

But first we had to find them.

Sperm whale in the water off of Dominica / Credit: 60 Minutes

Curt Benoit: You guys ready? Go, go, go. Go, guys, go! Look in the water coming straight to you.

Most of Enric Sala's dives don't start like a fire drill even though he has spent thousands of hours underwater as an explorer.

Curt Benoit: Look down and in back of you.

We came face to face with a pod of whales -- but these are not the whales we traveled all this way to see. They are pygmy killer whales known to threaten sperm whales. And because they are here, the sperm whales are not.

These killer whales can grow up to eight-and-a-half feet in size.

Sala told us seeing them up close almost never happens.

Cecilia Vega: You've never been able to get into the water with one of these. They're that elusive.

Enric Sala: They are very elusive.

Cecilia Vega: W-- why is that? Why do you not see them?

Inside Cecilia Vega's first 60 Minutes story on sperm whales



Enric Sala: They are very smart. They hunt like wolves. They hunt in groups. And they don't care about interacting with humans. They are after the prey

We were off the coast of Dominica -- a country in the eastern Caribbean.

Residents call it Nature Island. Those rainforest-covered volcanic peaks drop thousands of feet down to the seafloor below - which is why hundreds of sperm whales live in these waters. They are one of the deepest diving mammals on the planet.

Story continues

They are mostly females here -- families made up of grandmothers, mothers and daughters who stay together for lifenursing and raising their young.

When Enric Sala was here in December, his National Geographic team filmed this.

It is a pod of sleeping female sperm whales vertical giants up to 40 feet long suspended near the surfacetheir nap lasts only about 15 minutesuntil the whales are ready to dive again in what can be an hour-long journey for squid thousands of feet down.

When Enric Sala went to Dominica in December, his National Geographic team filmed something rarely seen: a pod of sleeping sperm whales. / Credit: Courtesy National Geographic

Even to researchers -- why they sleep like this is one of the great mysteries.

Cecilia Vega: What's it like to be in the water with them?

Enric Sala: Magical.

Enric Sala: We have, in our minds, the legend of Moby Dick: these nasty, aggressive animals. But you jump in the water, and they are so docile and gentle. They have never attacked humans, and they are so curious, especially the babies. So, it's one of the most amazing wildlife encounters that one can have on the planet.

Cecilia Vega: Your official title is "Explorer-in-Residence." Not bad.

Enric Sala: It's an oxymoron. Explorers are not supposed to be "in residence."

Cecilia Vega: That's true you're not supposed to be sitting in one place.

Cecilia Vega: What does that mean, to be an "explorer" in the year 2023?

Enric Sala: Very different from what an explorer of the 19th century was. I can dedicate my life, and work with an amazing team of scientists, policy experts-- filmmakers, storytellers to work with local communities, governments, and Indigenous peoples to assess the health of ocean places and help to protect them.

He grew up north of Barcelona, Spain near the coast-- his first dive was in a marine reserve.

Enric Sala: It drove everything that I have done afterwards. If we give the ocean space it can heal itself.

Sala moved to California, where he was a professor of marine ecology for seven years at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Cecilia Vega: You have had a long career in academia, at a top university, and you tried that and decided "not for me." You walked away.

Enric Sala: I walked away because my job was to study the impacts of humans in the ocean, the impacts of fishing and global warming. And one day I realized that all I was doing was writing the obituary of the ocean.

Cecilia Vega: Writing the obituary of the ocean?

Enric Sala: Yeah. I felt like the doctor who's telling you how you're going to die, with excruciating detail, but not offering a cure.

Cecilia Vega: Have you found that cure?

Enric Sala: There is one solution that is proven, it's a success story everywhere in the world. Which is-- marine reserves, or marine protected areas: areas where damaging activities are banned, and marine life can come back.

He founded the Pristine Seas Project in 2008. It combines sea exploration, scientific research and public policyand has worked with 17 countries to turn these large swaths of the ocean into marine protected areas.

In Dominica, scientists estimate the sperm whale population declines by 3% each year.

Sala says a preserve would protect them from their greatest threats: not those pygmy killer whales we saw or whaling, which has been banned for decadesbut plastic trash, ocean noise pollution and ship strikes.

Cecilia Vega: If they continue with the status quo here, what happens?

Enric Sala: If nothing is done, the population will probably continue declining, so reducing those threats hopefully will allow the sperm whale population to rebound. And the more whales there are, the more benefits Dominica and the local communities will obtain.

Hurricane Maria devastated those communities in 2017.

Cecilia Vega and Francine Baron / Credit: 60 Minutes

Today the island is continuing to rebuild and prepare for the futureFrancine Baron heads the agency in charge of that effort.

Cecilia Vega: What was it about Hurricane Maria that made the leaders of this country say, "We have to do something, we really have to act"?

Francine Baron: We suffered the equivalent of 226% loss of GDP. So we could see the trend, and we realized that we needed to become much more resilient.

Cecilia Vega: When Enric Sala came to you with this idea of creating-- a sanctuary for these whales, what was his pitch to you?

Francine Baron: We see whale-watching as an important part of our tourism product, and it's something that needs to be protected. And-- the idea of creating-- greater protection for the whales is something that Dominica is very open to. And we were very pleased with the suggestion that Enric made to creating-- a recognized sanctuary for the whales.

Enric Sala compares it to a model that has worked in Rwanda where protecting mountain gorillas helped bring tourism dollars to the local economy.

Cecilia Vega: You going to find us some whales?

Curt Benoit: Sure.

Cecilia Vega: Alright.

Captain Curt Benoit was born and raised in Dominica and has been in the whale tourism business for more than two decades. We set out on his 38-foot Lady Rose from a small fishing village on the west coast.

Our government permit to swim with the whales was good for six days.

Captain Benoit uses a homemade device that picks up the distinct clicking of sperm whales as far as 11 miles away.

Curt Benoit: We got whales in the south.

Every three miles, we checked to see if we were getting closer.

Curt Benoit: Come to Papa. Daddy's here.

Cecilia Vega: Tell me about this really high-tech device you've got here.

Curt Benoit: You have an underwater microphone which picks up sound from 360 degrees. So what I did: I take a salad bowl with Neoprene. So the hydrophone is kind of hidden, so as it goes out, it actually brings you straight to wherever you hear the sound.

Captain Curt Benoit listens for whales / Credit: 60 Minutes

Cecilia Vega: So this is a salad bowl from your house.

Curt Benoit: Yes.

Cecilia Vega: What do the whales sound like?

Curt Benoit: (snaps fingers) It's likea horse is gallopin' on a hard surface. So if you hear several of them, that means there's a lot of whales there.

Curt Benoit: Let's keep on going. I'm going to find these guys.

Cecilia Vega: Alright.

On the second day, a water spout.

Cecilia Vega: See it! It's right here. Look guys! See him? You can see his top, look at him, oh my gosh.

What a sperm whale did to a 60 Minutes cameraman that will help the ocean

Males here live with their families until their teen years. Then they roam mostly alone, swimming thousands of miles away. Caribbean male sperm whales have been found as far away as Norway, returning here only to mate.

Cecilia Vega: Our cameraman got lucky enough, or unlucky enough, to have the whale poop on him.

Enric Sala: So the whales go down, they hunt squid, they come back to the surface, they breathe, they rest, and they poop. And that poop is full of nutrients which fertilizes the shallow waters.

Cecilia Vega: So a good thing, I guess.

Enric Sala: It's a good thing.

Curt Benoit: Come on people, we're looking for spouts.

But our luckdidn't last.

Curt Benoit: Ok guys, nothing is here.

We spent the next day searching for sperm whalesand the next..

Cecilia Vega: Nothing at all?

Curt Benoit: Nothing at all.

And the nextnot a single click.

Curt Benoit: OK guys, it's pretty quiet.

And then -- in the last hour, of the last day of our trip

Curt Benoit: There are lots of animals in the area guys --

Curt Benoit:.oh, they're coming back. But I'm getting sounds of 360 so that means the whales, we are above themwe are right there.

First mate: There she blows! There she blows! Go, go, go!! And stay there, it's coming to you

Curt Benoit: It's coming to you! It's coming to you!

We jumped in the water and a young female swam right to us she came within feet at first, her size was terrifying.

Whale with squid in its mouth / Credit: 60 Minutes

She made a sound like a creaking door hinge -- it's one of the ways whales communicate and socialize.

With eyes on the side of her head -- she stared right at us

She had squid in her mouth -- left over from lunch thousands of feet below

She stayed and rolled around -- and her jaw was wide open. She was using echolocationbouncing those clicks off of us trying to figure out what we were.

Cecilia Vega: You could hear the clicking. You could hear her. Once you were really close to her, you could "t-t", you could hear that so well--

Enric Sala: Very loudly, I could feel it in my bones.

Cecilia Vega: Uh-huh. You grabbed my hand. You could tell I was nervous.

Enric Sala: I was excited too.

Cecilia Vega: You were?

Enric Sala: They are huge. You have to respect them.

Cecilia Vega: You have to respect them. There is a sense of awe that comes with being in there. She was lookin' right at us.

And she left us a souvenir.

Dennis Dillion: A piece of squid.

Shane Gero: Sperm whales live in

Shane Gero is another National Geographic explorer...he started the Dominica Sperm Whale Project and over the past 18 years, he's identified more than 35 families.

Shane Gero / Credit: 60 Minutes

Cecilia Vega: Did you recognize the whale that we saw?

Shane Gero: The animal you met belongs to the EC2 clan, the other clan of whales that we've known exists in the Caribbean, but we haven't seen all that much. And those groups identify themselves by making specific patterns of clicks, called codas.

Shane Gero: It's a part of who they are, where their grandmother grew up. And so it really ties the animals and the place together.

Cecilia Vega: What does the coda of the EC2 sound like?

Shane Gero: They make the 5R3 coda. And it sounds like this (clapping). Five slow clicks.

Shane Gero: And she came up to you and made this 5R3 coda, saying, "I am from the EC2 clan. Are you?"

Cecilia Vega: She was rolling around, and she kept coming back. But is that me, assigning human characteristics to a whale? Or is she actually a playful animal?

Shane Gero: These are the animals that are holding the largest brain to ever exist, maybe in the universe. And they use that to-- for complicated thinking and-- behavior Absolutely, this was an animal that was playful. And that curiosity of the animal actively coming towards you just shows that this is an animal that's investigating something in its world.

Back on the dock

Enric Sala: There is a treasure here

Enric Sala says, it's that world he's trying to protect.

Enric Sala: Being in the water with sperm whales is a magical experience, there's something spiritual there, this is more than science and data.

Enric Sala: The sense of awe and wonder that is unavoidable when you are in the water with these gentle giants.

Produced by Michael Rey. Associate producer, Jaime Woods. Broadcast associate, Eliza Costas. Edited by Sean Kelly.

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A Washington, D.C. law firm is set to present its findings from an investigation into potential racism at the Boise Police Department on Tuesday, and the cost of the investigation has risen by 30%.

Michael Bromwich, a lawyer with Steptoe & Johnson who has been leading the investigation, is scheduled to present to the Boise City Council at a Tuesday afternoon meeting. The councils consent agenda  which contains a list of items that generally pass without discussion  includes an additional $150,000 for the investigation. In December, the council approved an initial $500,000.

Council Member Jimmy Hallyburton, who is a member of the councils leadership team along with Council President Holli Woodings, told the Idaho Statesman by phone Monday that the extra $150,000 has been available to Steptoe for some time, and was needed to ensure the law firm could produce a final product for the city.

The investigation was launched after revelations that a retired, veteran captain espoused racist views. In November, a pseudonymous video interview and blog posts on a white supremacist website were linked to Matt Bryngelson, who worked for the Boise Police Department for close to 24 years and hosted a podcast for the department until his retirement last year.

Mayor Lauren McLean tasked investigators with uncovering whether racism had infected the departments work, and in the months since, Steptoe has made trips to Boise, interviewing current and former police department employees as well as other city employees and officials. The firm also created a website and has been accepting tips.

Probe costs can rise for cities

When the investigation began, Bromwich indicated that its length was uncertain and would require exercising judgment. Such probes can be expensive and time-consuming. More than 15 years ago, Bromwich led an investigation into the Houston Police Departments crime lab that took two years and cost $5.3 million, according to the Houston Chronicle. More recently, Bromwich conducted a high-profile investigation of the Baltimore Police Department, which included more than 160 interviews and reviews of two decades of police documents. A final report ran over 600 pages and detailed extensive problems at the police department.

Story continues

Bromwich formerly served as inspector general at the U.S. Department of Justice.

Conducting investigations like this are all about exercising judgment about what is worth pursuing and what is not worth pursuing, he told the council in December.

In March, the law firms investigation came to a halt when it ran out of funds, as first reported by BoiseDev.

Since then, the investigators have stopped their work. It is unclear exactly when the additional funds were made available to Steptoe, but Hallyburton said city officials have known for some time that additional funds would be needed to get a final report completed.

I think that we kind of ran to the end of the funds (and) needed some additional funds to get a report back, which is what well see (on Tuesday), Hallyburton told the Statesman. He said he understood the $150,000 to be discretionary funds already available to McLeans office.

Included in the Tuesday meeting agenda is a document altering the contract to include the additional funds. The document was prepared May 5.

Boise officials prepare for presentation on investigation

Hallyburton said he, Woodings, McLean and the mayors chief of staff, Courtney Washburn, met with Bromwich on Monday morning to discuss the coming presentation. He said the meeting entailed an overview from Bromwich about the investigations timeline, as well as what he is going to cover at Tuesdays public meeting. Hallyburton said the discussion aimed to make sure everyone was on the same page about what will be discussed.

But Hallyburton said the information so far has been pretty vague, and that the substance of any findings will be revealed at Tuesdays presentation.

Bromwich also discussed the investigation about a month ago with the council during an executive session, Hallyburton said, and council members have been in contact with the law firm as part of the investigation.

A spokesperson for McLeans office, Maria Weeg, told the Statesman that there havent been any kind of formal presentations about whats been found and what hasnt been found in the investigation. But she said the mayors office staff have had some conversations with the firm about how the investigation is going.

In an email, Weeg said that the scope of the investigation has not changed. Once the $500,000 had been expended, and the investigation paused, she said city staff worked with Steptoe to determine what would be needed to tie up loose ends, prepare a presentation and recommend next steps.

Weeg previously told the Statesman that the minutiae of the spending is less interesting to (McLean) than making sure the Boise Police Department, a department with an $80-million-plus budget, is looked at with an independent eye to make sure were ensuring safety, accountability, and justice.
The path to the GOP nomination for statewide elected office has often run through Jefferson County, Fayette County and South-Central Kentucky. But now with growth in GOP registration across the state, thats changing.

Theres a new set of highly important counties  thanks to high voter conversion or population growth  to watch on Election Night.

Urban counties like Fayette and Jefferson are losing influence among the GOP electorate, and many suburban counties and rural counties in the states East and West are picking up the slack.

These trends could change the political calculus for governor candidates since the last competitive GOP gubernatorial primary  in 2015 when former governor Matt Bevin beat now-U.S. Rep. James Comer by a mere 83 votes.

The dynamic is clearly trending away from Jefferson and Fayette counties and towards most of the states other 118 counties. However, the states two largest counties still hold the greatest share of registered GOP voters at 12.49% and 5.25%, respectively. Trailing them are the Northern Kentucky counties of Kenton and Boone at 4.2% and 3.89%, followed by the I-65 counties of Warren and Hardin at 2.57% and 2.45% of the GOP electorate.

A countys share of the GOP electorate is calculated by dividing their total number of Republicans registered to vote by the total number in the state. So while a county like Jefferson has grown its GOP ranks from 182,000 in 2015 to 198,000 in 2023, its 2023 total is less important to office-seekers than the 2015 number because the party has grown at a much faster rate elsewhere in the state.

While Fayette and Jefferson have become less relevant, many of their immediate surrounding suburban counties like Madison and Bullitt  high-growth counties where many voters have converted to the GOP  are becoming more important. Madison and Bullitt counties lead the rankings of counties that have gained the highest share of the GOP electorate since 2015. Madison rose from a 1.92% share to 2.24%  the biggest jump of any county in Kentucky  while Bullitt rose from 1.86% to 2.11%.

Story continues

Many traditionally ruby red counties have become somewhat less relevant in the overall electorate. Laurel and Pulaski counties, long anchors for the GOP in Kentucky, each lost about 0.3% of their share of the Republican electorate. Unlike many other counties, the vast majority of those voters were already Republican.

Traditionally Democratic parts of Eastern and Western Kentucky are also much more important for GOP nominations now. Counties like Graves in the West and Harlan in the East have nearly doubled their Republican registration since April 2015. McCracken and Marshall in the states Purchase Region and Pike and Floyd counties in the Eastern coalfields gained many GOP voters since then, often in spite of stagnant or dwindling population growth trends.

The last open race saw Jefferson punch slightly above its weight in terms of turnout, with 16.4% of the vote coming from Kentuckys most populous county, though its share of the registered voters was 14.7%. Two top candidates, Bevin businessman Hal Heiner, were from Jefferson. Similarly, Monroe County came out strong for Comer. The relatively small county on the states Southern border accounted for 1.55% of the vote, despite having only 0.58% of the states registered GOP voters. Their intense support of Comer nearly pushed him over the edge against Bevin.

Its possible that home counties could play a role in this gubernatorial election as well.

Attorney General Daniel Cameron is from Hardin County but lives in Jefferson and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft is from Barren County but lives in Fayette. Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles is from Scott County and conservative activist Eric Deters is from Kenton County. Its possible, too, that Auditor Mike Harmon or Somerset Mayor Alan Keck could boost turnout in their home counties of Boyle and Pulaski.

Kentucky Voter Guide: Heres everything you need to know about the primary elections
A drug dealer in South Carolina is in jail after posing as a pregnant woman and using a fake rubber stomach to hide drugs, according to deputies.

The Anderson County Sheriffs Office said they stopped Anthony Miller and Cemeka Mitchem as they were driving along Interstate 85. Deputies said the couple then gave them conflicting information about Mitchems due date. She then noticed the deputies were becoming suspicious and took off running.

ALSO READ: Gaston County K-9 unit assists in large drug bust

Drugs started to fall out of the fake stomach. Deputies found more than 1,500 grams of cocaine. Both Miller and Mitchem are facing drug trafficking charges.

(WATCH BELOW: Man accused of threatening police had grenades, guns, and drugs in Uptown apartment)
Authorities in South Carolina said a drug dealer is in jail after posing as a pregnant woman and using a fake rubber stomach to hide drugs, deputies said.

The sheriffs office in Anderson County, told our sister station, WSOC-TV, that deputies stopped Anthony Miller and Cemeka Mitchem as they were driving along Interstate 85.

According to deputies, the couple provided conflicting information about Mitchems due date. Mitchem noticed that deputies were becoming suspicious and fled the scene.

WSOC-TV said drugs started falling out of the fake stomach. More than 1,500 grams of cocaine were found. Miller and Mitchem are facing charges of drug trafficking.
Cruisin Tiki Boat Tours are back in Pittsburgh for 2023.

This is the sixth year for the tours around the city.

The tours offer sightseeing trips on the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers. The tour guides share different facts about the city as the boat makes its journey.

Upgrades were made to the boats sound system this year.

A group of six people can take a ride on the tiki boats for $410.

The tours started earlier in May and will continue through October.

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Bars come and bars go, but the best bars in Miami tend to stay the same.

For the second year in a row, a bar on Calle Ocho in Little Havana and another on Miami Beach were named among North Americas 50 Best Bars.

Cafe La Trova, the brainchild of Chef Michelle Bernstein and Master Cantinero Julio Cabrera, was No. 9 on the annual list, which is curated by 260 anonymous bar industry experts. That group includes bartenders, bar owners, drinks media and cocktail connoisseurs from the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

The judges called Cafe La Trova, which opened in 2019 and also serves food, a joyous celebration of Cuban hospitality.

Stepping into the space, one is instantly transported to the Caribbean via sight and taste. The bar team adheres to the traditional (and theatrical) cantinera style created by Constantine Ribalaigua at Havanas El Floridita. Typically, the bartenders are busy throwing Hotel Nacionals (rum, apricot liqueur, pineapple juice, lime juice, simple syrup) through the air or dramatically shaking a Daiquiri (rum, lime juice, simple syrup). Yet, the dinner jacket-uniformed staff also find time to pick up maracas and play along with the house Son Cubano band, the judges wrote.

This North Miami wine bar is one of the best bars in the country, Esquire says

Sweet Liberty in Miami Beach.

Bernsteins food is equally harmonious, they added, praising her empanadas and croquetas.

Also making the top 50 list is the Sweet Liberty in Miami Beach, which was ranked at No. 34.

Happiness is easy to find at this elevated fern bar, the judges wrote. Nestled in the heart of South Beach, Miami, Sweet Libertys spirits list alone includes nearly 1,000 different bottles. The voluminous menu also features a healthy bubbly selection, a variety of spritzes and a Martini menu. Lermayers classics like Giants Milk (rum agricole, dark rum, condensed milk, passionfruit, pressed lime, cinnamon, fire) are still present alongside new originals like the Banana Negroni (Scotch, Italian bitters, vermouth, fresh banana, Szechuan pepper, sesame oil, chocolate bitters, smoke).

Story continues

Sweet Libertys lobster mac and cheese and oysters were also applauded.

Christine Wiseman won the prestigious Altos Bartenders Bartender Award at this years 50 Best Bars in North America competition.

Also honored was Christine Wiseman, Bar Lab Hospitalitys global beverage director, who earned the prestigious Altos Bartenders Bartender Award (yes, there are two bartenders in that sentence). Bar Labs Broken Shaken didnt make the top 50 list this year.

The best bar in North America, according to the judges, is Double Chicken Please in New York Citys Lower East Side, where the front room is a soda shop with cocktails and chicken sandwiches. In the back room, each drink represents a meal, like the French Toast (vodka, roasted barley, brioche, coconut milk, maple syrup egg) or Japanese Cold Noodle (white rum, pineapple, cucumber, coconut, lime, sesame oil).

Last years winner, Attaboy, also located on the Lower East Side, was ranked No. 13 for 2023.

Best bars in Miami and Miami Beach

Cafe La Trova, 971 SW Eighth St., Miami; www.cafelatrova.com

Sweet Liberty, 237-B 20th St.., Miami Beach; www.mysweetliberty.com

This bar in Little Havana was just named the best place to drink in Miami by Yelp
Anju Treohan poses for a portrait in her apartment in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 13.

Anju Treohan poses for a portrait in her apartment in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 13.

Atfirstglance, my name appears simple enough, as far as words go: Anju. Four letters. Two syllables. One would think the pronunciation would be straightforward, but in Western cultures, it is not. And that reality has led to a range of pronunciations for me to choose from.

When I watched Saoirse Ronan, the Irish American actor best known for her roles in Lady Bird and Little Women, explain how to say her name in a recent interview, I could immediately relate. As a first-generation Indian American born in Queens, generally speaking, I dont have much in common with Ronan. But in this way I am deeply familiar with her experience  not just with the exercise of patiently performing my name but in receiving the feedback, I dont hear the difference when demonstrating it in various accents: On-joo vs. Onh-ju vs. Un-ju, and so on.

Though Ronan believes there is a correct way to pronounce her name, I believe there are many ways to say my name correctly. I dont speak any languages outside of English, but do feel a strong connection with my Indian ethnicity. And so, for me, the pronunciation of my name is flexible. The variations, rather than depicting a falsehood, are on an honest spectrum of my multicultural identity.

Treohan writes out the different ways her name is said phonetically.

Treohan writes out the different ways her name is said phonetically.

Growing up in 1980s Augusta, Georgia, I was Anne-joocourtesy of my elementary school teachers. On the first day of school, I dreaded the long pause during attendance every time a new teacher scanned their classroom of white, middle-class youths until finding me. A scrawny, brown girl with bangs in her eyes. Unh-ju, Id offer into the silence, my entire body caving in  as if by making the target of my physical self smaller the impact of my embarrassment would also be smaller.

Unable to mimic my quiet intonation, after a few tries my teachers landed on a stuttered A-chew, An-chew, Anne-joo. That was sufficient. I was happy to accept any speedy execution, or even a complete dismissal, of my name rather than draw attention to its awkwardness. Heather, Dawn, Karen: These were the names of the girls in my classes. Anne-joo didnt belong in the chorus of roll call.

Story continues

At Georgia Tech, I announced myself as Onh-ju, gifting my name with some softer elements. Perhaps, I was emboldened by the spirit of college experimentation. More likely, the evolution was due to a gentle confidence and self-assuredness I intuited now among a heftier population of South Asians and Asians. Even still, people rarely said my name, and I rarely said it specifically.

Then, my junior year as a teaching assistant for a computer science class, I had a moment of redemption. I remember standing before my peers introducing myself, saying my name aloud, Onh-ju, the first syllable sliding into the other in a smooth transition like it was the most natural thing in the world. Not wanting to let go of the feeling, I instinctively turned and wrote the phonetical pronunciation on the white board alongside the official spelling, for emphasis  and instruction.

"Ironically, my mom, a South Indian from Hyderabad, and my Punjabi dad immigrated from Delhi to the U.S. after marrying and were proud of themselves for mindfully choosing short Indian names that Americans would find 'easy' to say."

To my parents, or Indians of their generation, I am unequivocally Un-JU. Two palpably masculine syllables strung together in tight sequence. As a child, I hated that my name ended in a u. Itseemed like a boys name and that became the basis of my first battles with my parents.

One evening, as a fourth grader, I marched up to my dad and yelled, Why did you give me such a stupid name? Fraught with despair, my anger collapsed into a stream of tears. My father turned off the TV and looked at me, unable to comprehend my struggle. Anju is a such a cute name, he said, trying to explain the names sweet and endearing context in India. I didnt care. I was inconsolable.

With so many beautiful and elaborate Sanskrit names that poured out of our culture  Lakshmi, Seema, Nandani, for example  why couldnt my parents have picked one of those? Anything ending in a feminine a or i would have been acceptable. They couldve at least done me the favor, if not the justice, of giving me one of the fuller versions of my name. Anjali. Anjana. Ironically, my mom, a South Indian from Hyderabad, and my Punjabi dad immigrated from Delhi to the U.S. after marrying and were proud of themselves for mindfully choosing short Indian names that Americans would find easy to say.

Treohan holds photographs of herself as a young girl.

Treohan holds photographs of herself as a young girl.

But its not exactly easy, so my name code-switches on the fly. What feels right in one circumstance doesnt necessarily feel right in another. I can be out, at a party for instance, and introduce myself as Un-ju to one person, On-ju to another, and omit my name completely when talking with someone else. Even my boyfriends were not given a consistent speech pattern to abide by. Among my South Asian friends, following some innate code of conduct, well swap out the pronunciations of each others names. Its comical when these groups mix and one pronunciation is confronted with another. With sheepish expressions, they look to me to referee the call  who got it right?

This growing awareness for cultural differences and the desire to want to get it right is heartwarming. Nowadays, I get the sincere and polite question posed to me more often than not: How do you say your name? A marked improvement from the de facto What a beautiful name! exclamations and What does it mean? questions that rarely came across as a compliment or with genuine interest, but as a vehicle to mask confusion, or insult. What did my name mean? I had no idea. I never thought to ask, What does Brian (or Kate) mean? What a ridiculous question.

A cup is decorated with the letter A in Treohan's apartment.

A cup is decorated with the letter A in Treohan's apartment.

Mostly, I allow people a wide margin of interpretation of how to say my name. Or Ill give them two options to choose from. On-ju orAnne-ju, both are correct, Ill say reassuringly. This is not because it does not matter to me. I allow for their variations because, most of the time, I can and do identify with the pronunciation they have chosen  and in that way, we will have found some common ground in which we can know each other. There are exceptions, however. Occasionally people will mistake my name to contain a Spanish j, instead of a hard j, transforming it to On-who, in those types of instances Ill correct them.

It wasnt until my late 20s that I wholly embraced my name. I was dating an Indian guy who was passionate about graphic design  and design concepts at large. At the time, I was also expanding my small business and redesigning the logo. He was the one who helped me see my name differently. I began to gain an appreciation of its symmetry  the balance of straight lines and curves when written in clean type-faced fonts.

As I sketched out ideas, the letters not only visually pleased me but symbolically seemed made for me. The mountainous A with its bar bridging east and west. The n possibly being flipped upside down to play the part of a u. Then there was the j with its floating dot romantically wandering into the atmosphere and anchoring hook. Launching Anjuthreads, my eyebrow threading business, was a bold career statement. It had an equally bold demand  people would have to say my name. It was then that I blossomed into fully identifying with my name.

"When I say my name in my head, I hear Un-ju. Un-ju is more fragile. She is the name I call when I demand courage of myself."

On most days, I am On-ju. This is mystrongest, most versatile, most forgiving pronunciation. On-ju can walk into any room with confidence. On-ju can wear a tiny bikini, a saree or pair of jeans with an equal sense of self. Shecan embrace her heritage while opting-out of the parts of her culture that dont serve her. It is the name I default to at work, among mixed groups, and gravitate toward.

I rarely hear Anne-joo these days but when I do, it no longer evokes the struggle I felt as a child. Instead, I recall fond memories of weekend parties with 20 or so other Indian families and the community our parents forged for us, playing in the band, and fifth period lunch.

When I say my name in my head, I hear Un-ju. Un-ju is more fragile. She is the name I call when I demand courage of myself. She is the part of me that feels unique and special and capable of bold, cinematic moves. It is the pronunciation that ties me to my family and our experiences together. Its a name I protect but no longer shy away from. It is a name I celebrate and adore.

To those who question the authenticity of anything outside of the traditional Un-ju pronunciation, I am unbothered. My connection to my Indian ethnicity and culture is unthreatened. It follows the same simple truth Padma Lakshmi shared when asked how [she holds] on to [her] culture in this country and replied, Thats easy  I live it every day. The various pronunciations of my name and by extension, my identities  belong to me. They are all valid and sacred to the spaces I occupy.
Residents walk past fallen trees in Kyauktaw, Myanmar, on Monday, a day after Cyclone Mocha made landfall. (Sai Aung Main/AFP via Getty Images)

A powerful cyclone battered the coast of Myanmar Sunday, causing widespread destruction and leaving at least three people dead, officials say.

Cyclone Mocha made landfall Sunday afternoon near Sittwe township along Myanmars western coast with maximum sustained winds of 130 miles per hour, tearing roofs off homes and buildings, leaving some people trapped in low-lying areas of the Southeast Asian country.

The cyclone also damaged refugee camps in neighboring Bangladesh, but according to Reuters, it was Myanmar's strife-torn Rakhine State that bore the brunt of the storm.

A man surveys the roof of a house damaged by Cyclone Mocha on Shahpori Island in Bangladesh on Monday. (Munir Uz Zaman/AFP via Getty Images)

More than 850 houses, 64 schools, 14 health facilities and seven communication towers were destroyed or damaged, the news service said, citing state-run television. At least three deaths were reported.

A man carrying an umbrella looks at the damage caused by Cyclone Mocha in Sittwe, Myanmar, on Monday. (Sai Aung Main/AFP via Getty Images)

More than 400,000 people were evacuated in Myanmar and Bangladesh ahead of the cyclone, according to Reuters.

A girl stands in front of a damaged building near Ponnagyun township in Sittwe, Myanmar, on Monday. (Sai Aung Main/AFP via Getty Images)

The Associated Press reported that more than 4,000 of Sittwe's residents were evacuated to other cities, and roughly 20,000 people were sheltering in sturdy buildings such as monasteries, pagodas and schools located on the city's highlands.

A local resident walks past the fallen trees in Kyauktaw, Myanmar, on Monday. (Sai Aung Main/AFP via Getty Images)

Cyclones are, essentially, the same weather phenomenon as hurricanes and typhoons, and they differ only in where they form. Cyclones form over the South Pacific and Indian oceans; typhoons form over the northwestern Pacific Ocean; and hurricanes form over the North Atlantic and northeast Pacific oceans.

People pass by damaged structures in Sittwe, Myanmar, on Monday. (Sai Aung Main/AFP via Getty Images)

The early evacuations helped Myanmar avoid heavy casualties seen in previous storms.

In 2008, Cyclone Nargis slammed into Myanmars southern coast, killing at least 138,000 people.
Riders bike past wreckage in Sittwe, Rakhine, Myanmar.

At least six people are dead, 700 injured, and huge swathes of a city have been destroyed after one of the strongest storms to ever form over the Indian Ocean made landfall on Sunday afternoon.

Cyclone Mocha reached wind speeds of 175 miles per hour (282 kilometers per hour) before making landfall on Sunday, making it a Category 5 storm and putting it in a first-place tie with the most intense storm to form over the North Indian Ocean. The tie is with Cyclone Fani, which in 2019 killed 90 people and caused $1.81 billion in damages in India and Bangladesh after it made landfall. (Storms that reach 74 miles per hour [119 kilometers per hour] and form over the South Pacific and Indian Oceans are called cyclones. Theyre called hurricanes when they form over the Atlantic; in the Northwest Pacific, theyre known as typhoons.)

Read more

Mocha weakened a bit before making landfall, thanks to factors like cooler water and drier air, Yale Climate Connections reportedbut was still clocking wind speeds at 155 miles per hour (250 kilometers per hour). According to Yale, these wind speeds put the storm on par with the second-strongest cyclone to make landfall; the strongest, the 1999 Odisha Cyclone, killed more than 9,800 people in India.

The Myanmar military has declared the entirety of the coastal state of Rakhine a disaster area; up to 90% of the capital, Sittwe, has been destroyed, the BBC reported. About 1,000 people had to be rescued by authorities Sunday as seawater flooded into homes near the coast, in some cases flooding up to 12 feet (3.6 meters) deep, the AP reported. The damage to Sittwe is especially concerning given the large numbers of displaced Rohingya refugees, who have been forced by the Myanmar government to live in crowded sitesmany below sea leveloutside of the city.

Story continues

According to Yale Climate Connections, Mocha is the fourth Category 5 storm to form in 2023, joining Cyclones Ilsa, Freddy, and Kevin; 2023 is now tied with 2003 and 2015 as the year with the most Category 5 storms in the Southern Hemisphere. (Freddy also distinguished itself as one of the longest-lasting storms on record.). As Axios reported, Mochas rapid intensification is a signal of how climate change is supercharging storms. And while we cant link this specific storm to climate change without more research, it is very likely that the temperatures in the Bay of Bengalwhich were about 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) higher than averagehelped make the storm stronger.

Building Up Steam

A satellite image captured on May 14, right before Mocha made landfall.

Waiting for Landfall

People look over the Bay of Bengal in Sittwe, Rakhine, Myanmar before Mocha made landfall on May 13.

Delug

Two children stand under a shelter as Cyclone Mocha begins to make landfall in Sittwe, Rakhine, Myanmar on May 14.

Flooded Temples

A flooded area near a temple in Bagan, central Myanmar, on May 15.

Devastated City

A woman assesses the ruins of homes in Sittwa, the capital of Rakhine, on May 15, 2023.

Water Up to 12 Feet

A flooded statue at a pagoda in central Myanmar.

Downed Power

Downed power lines in Sittwe, Rakhine in Myanmar, on Monday, May 15.

More from Gizmodo

Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
PAPHOS, Cyprus (Reuters) - A British pensioner on trial for murder over the death of his terminally ill wife told a Cyprus court on Monday she had repeatedly begged him to end her torment and help her die.

David Hunter, 75, is accused of killing his wife of 56 years, Janice, who suffered from terminal blood cancer, in 2021. His lawyers contend it was assisted suicide. He has pleaded not guilty.

Cyprus does not have laws permitting assisted dying, and very few facilities offer palliative care.

Hunter, a retired miner, said his wife's illness saw her quality of life deteriorate markedly in the last three to four years before her death, with her days spent only at a hospital or at home.

"I felt so helpless," he told the court.

He said that five or six weeks before her death she asked him to help her, with the calls becoming more frequent and urgent in the final days.

"She would cry and begged me. She said 'I'm sick of my life'," Hunter told the three-bench criminal court in the western town of Paphos.

Hunter said he eventually agreed after his wife 'became hysterical', though said he would only in order to calm her down and had never planned to go through with it.

"I was hoping something would change, a small miracle," he said.

Janice died after Hunter placed his hands over her nose and mouth at their home in Dec. 2021. She made no effort to stop him, he said. He then attempted to take his own life with pills and alcohol.

Earlier witnesses said the couple had a loving relationship.

"I loved her," he said.

Hunter could face up to life in prison if convicted.

(Writing By Michele Kambas; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Petr Pavel

Read also: Czechs raise $2.3 million to buy RM-70 rocket launcher for Ukraine

Ukraine has a chance to launch a significant counteroffensive in the summer, and this window is narrowing, said Pavel.

The later the assistance comes, the less useful it will be... In order to use this temporary window that still exists, we should provide Ukraine with everything it needs  equipment and ammunition  by the end of spring.

He also noted that autumn weather conditions will prevent Ukrainian forces from making major gains against Moscows troops.

At the same time, the Czech leader stressed that there are opportunities to increase arms production in Central and Eastern Europe, but these efforts are currently stymied by a lack of funding.

Read also: Czech Republic to transfer Kub anti-air systems to Ukraine

"It's about better coordination: gathering everything and starting to produce quickly and flexibly," said Pavel.

He also added that there are significant reserves of Soviet-style weapons in warehouses in a number of third countries outside of Europe, which could be transferred to Ukraine.

Read also: Ukraine, Czech Republic to produce arms jointly, President Pavel says

In a recent interview with the BBC, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv needs a bit more time to start the counteroffensive, as defenders are waiting for weapons from Ukraines allies.

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
RM-70

"In just two and a half months, 19,165 individuals and companies contributed," the organizers said.

The rocket launcher is expected to be deployed in a matter of weeks.

On May 15, the initiative is starting a new collection for something truly explosive.

Read also: Czechia has been supplying Ukraine with weapons since day one of Russias invasion

Read also: Czech, Slovak leaders arrive to a Ukraine under attack by Russia

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The writer was born in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire

Fans of author D.H. Lawrence have raised funds to restore his family headstone.

The D.H. Lawrence Society worked with the local council on the project in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire.

While the society paid 800 towards the cost, Broxtowe Borough Council funded the remaining 200.

The society said it was proud to have contributed towards the upkeep. An official unveiling is due to take place on Saturday.

The ceremony will involve members of the society and representatives from the council.

The author of Sons and Lovers and Lady Chatterley's Lover spent his childhood in Eastwood.

Dr Andrew Harrison, director of the D.H. Lawrence Research Centre said the grave, in Eastwood Cemetery, was an important landmark in the town.

"[It commemorates] not only the author's life but that of his brother William Ernest, who tragically died of erysipelas in 1901 at the age of 23, and the lives of his mother and father, who died in 1910 and 1924 respectively," he said.

"The D. H. Lawrence Society is proud to have contributed to the upkeep of it."

The restoration cost 1,000

Alan Wilson, chairman of the D.H. Lawrence Society added: "We are thrilled to have this monument restored so beautifully, serving as a visual symbol of the legacy of D.H. Lawrence, his family, and a close connection with the Eastwood heritage."

Carolyn Melbourne, museum and collections officer at the D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum, which is owned and managed by the council, said: "We're really pleased that we have been able to assist in the restoration of the Lawrence family grave.

"Many of the people who visit us at the museum go on to explore the wider Eastwood area to see the places that Lawrence wrote about in his works, and this includes visiting the grave.

"Having it restored is a tribute to the legacy that Lawrence continues to leave in the town, county and across the world."

Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk.
Roman Chervinskyi

In two weeks, Chervinskyis defense team plans to file a motion to change his measure of restraint.

The case concerns an unsuccessful operation to achieve the defection of a Russian pilot, along with a Russian warplane, which, according to prosecutors, led to a Russian missile attack on the Kanatove airfield in Kirovohrad Oblast back in July 2022. The plan was that the recruited Russian pilot would fly to Ukraine, where he would be met by Ukrainian intelligence officers, helped to hide, and paid.

Two days after the failed operation, the Russian FSB claimed that it had allegedly foiled an operation by Ukrainian military intelligence, and that open-source investigative outfit Bellingcat journalist Christo Grozev was also involved in the operation.

Read also: Moscow court arrest in absentia leading Bellingcat investigator Christo Grozev

In a comment to Radio Liberty, Grozev rubbished claims of his involvement in any operations by special services. He said the Bellingcat team was filming an investigative documentary about how the FSB and Ukrainian special services have been playing a game of cat-and-mouse for many years, trying to deceive each other.

On Twitter, Grozev added that his only involvement in the operation was to document the events for his documentary. The investigative journalist called the special operation, which Russia tried to present as its own achievement, "a serious mistake on the part of the FSB" as the intelligence service revealed the identities of dozens of counter-intelligence officers, their methods of work, and other classified data.

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 Richmond County Sheriff's Office on Monday called the mass shooting in Augusta over the weekend a "targeted attack" and an act of retaliation for an incident that occurred in Florida.

The shooting, which killed two men and injured four others, occurred at 6:35 p.m. Saturday outside Olde Town at Sand Bar Ferry Road and East Boundary Street.

In a press conference Monday, Sheriff Richard Roundtree said the shooting involved members of the Outcast Motorcycle Club, based in Augusta, and an out-of-town motorcycle club called Thug Rider.

'I love it the most': Augusta Air Show showcases stunt jets, helicopters and more

Rolling Out the Dough: Here's a look at Columbia County's highest paid leaders, educators

Keith Coates, 30, of Valdosta, Georgia, and Germayne Farrell, 51, of Daytona Beach, Florida, were shot at least once and died at the scene, according to the Richmond County Coroner's Office. Four others were injured and transported to the hospital. More than 100 empty shell casings were found on site.

One of the people injured has been released from the hospital and was transported to the Charles B. Webster Detention Center on murder charges. The others injured will be charged when they are released from the hospital, according to authorities.

Empty shell casings sit on the ground outside the Outcast motorcycle club headquarters on East Boundary and Sand Bar Ferry Road in Augusta, Ga., on Monday, May 15, 2023. A shooting at the intersection over the weekend left two dead and four injured.

Roundtree explained that the retaliation was in response to a previous incident between the groups in Florida. He declined to give any further details on what happened in Florida.

Several suspects were arrested and transported to the Charles B. Webster Detention Center for the charge of murder and aggravated assault including:

Larry Ross, 44, Hephzibah  Thug Rider Member

McKayla Rickett, 26, Kingsland, Georgia - Thug Rider Member

Matthew Willis, 28, St. Marys, Georgia - Thug Rider Member

Jessica Sapp, 30, Kingsland, Georgia - Thug Rider Member

Cory Sapp, 30, Kingsland, Georgia - Thug Rider Member

Freddie Crosson, 39, St. Marys, Georgia - Thug Rider Member

Tysen Harper, 38, Lumberton, North Carolina - Outcast Club Member

Larry Sutton, 42, Fayetteville, North Carolina - Outcast Club Member

James Bryant, 31, Fayetteville, North Carolina - Outcast Club Member

Kenneth Taylor, 43, Boynton Beach, Florida  Outcast Club Member

Story continues

The sheriff also confirmed unofficial reports of a first responder hitting one of the bodies with his vehicle. Roundtree said fire personnel was clearing the area so emergency vehicles could get in and he did not see the body and struck it. The incident was documented as a traffic incident.

Roundtree said the body was recorded as deceased prior to the incident. However, the sheriff's office has yet to provide the media with any documentation. The sheriff's office said Monday afternoon that it will not release the incident report.

The Augusta Fire Department told reporters it would send out a press release Monday afternoon, but later declined to provide an incident report, name of the employee who ran over the body, or name of the person who was run over.

Outcast MC's history of violence in Augusta

The Outcast Motorcycle Club is connected to a 2020 murder cold case in Columbia County, according to authorities.

On Sept. 2, 2020, Richmond County deputies responded to IKONZ Sportsbar & Grill on North Leg Road for shots fired, according to previous reporting.

When deputies arrived, they found Victor Banks, the local Outcast MC president and active duty soldier stationed at Fort Gordon, dead at the scene.

Banks was at IKONZ with other members of Outcast, along with other motorcycle clubs in the area, for a memorial for a club member who died in a crash, according to authorities. Investigators learned that at least one set of motorcycle vests were stolen days prior to the shooting.

The case remains cold and the stolen jacket was never located, according to authorities.

In a statement to the media Monday afternoon, Fort Gordon said "there is also no evidence to suggest this group actively targets Fort Gordon members in its recruiting efforts."

Fort Gordon added that "currently there appears to be no Fort Gordon affiliation with those involved in this weekends incident at the Outcast Motorcycle Club in Augusta."

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Downtown Augusta shooting targeted attack, revenge of Thug Rider club
By Chayut Setboonsarng and Panu Wongcha-um

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's two main opposition parties agreed on Monday to form a ruling coalition after they trounced in a weekend election military-backed rivals that have controlled government for nearly a decade.

The Move Forward party and opposition heavyweight Pheu Thai dominated Sunday's ballot in a rout of army-backed parties, but could face challenges in mustering enough support to vote in a prime minister, with parliamentary rules drafted by the military after a 2014 coup skewed in favour of its allies.

Their alliance would need to ensure its efforts to form a new government would not be stymied by a junta-appointed Senate, which gets to vote on a prime minister in a bicameral sitting of the 750-member legislature, and has a record of favouring conservative parties led by generals.

Pita Limjaroenrat, Move Forward's 42-year-old leader proposed an alliance of six parties that would command 309 seats. That would be short of the 376 seats needed to ensure he was elected as prime minister.

Asked about the Senate, he said all sides must respect the election outcome and there was no use going against it.

"I am not worried but I am not careless," he told a press conference.

"It will be quite a hefty price to pay if someone is thinking about debunking the election result or forming a minority government."

Pheu Thai, controlled by the billionaire Shinawatra family said it agreed with Pita's proposal and wished him luck in efforts to become prime minister.

The party had won most seats in every election this century, including twice in landslides, but met its match against Move Forward as it came close to a sweep of the capital Bangkok and made gains in rivals' strongholds.

NO OTHER ALLIANCE

"Pheu Thai has no plan to form any other government," party leader Chonlanan Srikaew told a press conference.

Though the results appear to be a hammer blow for the military and its allies, with parliamentary rules on their side and some influential power-brokers behind them, they could determine the shape of a new government.

Story continues

Move Forward was galvanized by a wave of excitement among the youth over its liberal agenda and promises of bold changes, including breaking up monopolies and reforming a law on insulting the monarchy.

On Monday, Pita did a victory lap in Bangkok where thousands of supporters had gathered - some in the streets, others on rooftops - dressed in Move Forward's signature orange colour and chanting "Prime Minister Pita".

Student Pirag Phrasawang, 22, said he was "overwhelmed and excited to see change finally come to the country".

"My voice has been neglected for a long time. I'm glad that people finally woke up and responded to Move Forward's policies."

Pita has said Move Forward would press ahead with its plan to amend strict lese majeste laws against insulting the monarchy, which critics say have been used to stifle free speech. Thailand's palace does not comment on the law or its use.

The law punishes perceived insults by up to 15 years in prison, with hundreds of people facing charges, some of whom are in pre-trial detention.

Pita said parliament would be the right forum to seek amendments to the law, or article 112 of the criminal code.

"We will use the parliament to make sure that there is a comprehensive discussion with maturity, with transparency in how we should move forward in terms of the relationship between the monarchy and the masses," he said.

Asked if Pheu Thai would back that, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, one of its main candidates, said it could be discussed in the legislature.

"Pheu Thai has a clear stand that we won't abolish 112 but there can be a discussion about the law in parliament," she said.

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat, Chayut Setboonsarng, Juarawee Kittisilpa and Panu Wongcha-um; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Robert Birsel)
The Supreme Courtrejected a bid by Alabama officials to execute a prisoner on death row against his will by lethal injection on Monday.

Kenneth Eugene Smith, who was sentenced to death for a 1988 murder-for-hire, appealed against the inhumane method on the grounds it would violate his right to be free of cruel and inhumane punishment under the 8th Amendment, Reutersreported.

The Supreme Courts decision not to take up the case means that a November judgement by an appeals court remains in place. That decision allowed Smith to seek execution by inhaling nitrogen.

The Alabama Department of Corrections botched an attempt to execute the 57-year-old on 17 November, 2022 after failing to find suitable veins to inject the lethal doses.

According to DeathPenaltyInfo, Smith spent four hours strapped to a gurney as state prosecutors tried to lift a stay of execution issued by the federal appeals court.

In a decision issued at 10.23pm that night, the Supreme Court allowed the execution to proceed.

Prison officials reportedly tried for an hour to find two large veins while jabbing Smiths arm, hand, neck, and chest with large needles and as legal appeals were still pending.

The execution was called off when officials found they would not be able to complete the execution by the midnight deadline on his death warrant.

In his lawsuit, Smith argued that the method would cause intolerable risk of torture, cruelty or substantial pain.

Kenneth Eugene Smith argued that death by lethal injection would cause intolerable risk of torture, cruelty or substantial pain (AP)

It is the third controversial execution that the state has tried to carry out by lethal injection in five months.

Joe Nathan James execution last July was delayed for more than three hours, and an autopsy later found irregular cut marks all over his body.

In September, Alan Millers execution was halted after prison officials were unable to find veins to deliver the lethal cocktail of drugs before the death warrant had expired.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey called for a pause on executions in the state while an investigation was carried out.

Story continues

The review was completed in February but the results have not been made public, according to Reason magazine.

On 3 May, the state issued its first execution warrant since the investigation for death row inmate James Barber.

According to The Associated Press, Smith was one of two men paid $1,000 to murder Elizabeth Sennett by her pastor husband so he could collect on her life insurance.

Supreme Court justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented from the decision.
Sacramento jurors have chosen death for South Land Park mass murderer Salvador Vasquez-Oliva, who killed his family at their home in 2017.

Vasquez-Oliva was convicted May 1 in Sacramento Superior Court of murder with special circumstances of the March 2017 killings of his wife, two children and a niece inside their 35th Avenue home.

The one-time state worker awaited his fate last week in the trials penalty phase. Sacramento County District Attorneys principal criminal attorney Jeff Hightower had said from the court cases early days that he planned to seek the death penalty. A moratorium on the death penalty remains, but Vasquez-Oliva will spend his remaining years on death row.

On Friday, jurors returned the death verdict prosecutors sought, delivering the news to Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael Sweet.

Vasquez-Oliva, now 62, bludgeoned his wife, Angelique Vasquez, 45, and their two children, daughter Mia Vasquez, 14, and son Alvin Vasquez, 11, to death. He also fatally stabbed niece Ashley Coleman, 21, at the home in South Land Park, in murders that shocked the quiet neighborhood and Sacramento community. The four were discovered by Sacramento police during a welfare check prompted by a call from a concerned family member.

Hours after their bodies were found, police tracked down Vasquez-Oliva in a San Francisco neighborhood, where Vasquez-Oliva confessed his crimes to family members.

Vasquez-Olivas sentencing before Sweet is scheduled for Aug. 25 in Sacramento Superior Court.
Defense budget work on Capitol Hill remains halted until Congress finds a compromise on the looming debt limit crisis.

House Armed Services Committee members were supposed to begin public work on their initial draft of the annual defense authorization bill last week, but Republican leaders halted those plans until sometime next month. Senate lawmakers similarly have pushed back the defense policy work until mid-June, after they see what political deals are made in the next few weeks.

The Congressional Budget Office on Friday warned that the federal government is likely to run out of borrowing authority in early June. White House officials have warned that triggering a national credit default will cause a host of problems for agencies, including potentially delaying pay for troops and civilian workers.

President Joe Biden was scheduled to meet with House and Senate leaders on the issue on Friday, but the meeting was scrapped as staff members continued behind-the-scenes negotiations. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has said if a deal isnt in place in the next two weeks, lawmakers wont have enough time to avoid potential problems.

Tuesday, May 16

House Armed Services  10 a.m.  2118 Rayburn

Member Day

Lawmakers will offer their suggestions for the fiscal 2024 defense authorization bill.



Senate Commerce  10 a.m.  253 Russell

NASA Budget

Bill Nelson, administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, will discuss the fiscal 2024 budget request.



House Foreign Affairs  10 a.m.  Visitors Center H210

Pending Legislation

The committee will consider several pending bills.



Senate Foreign Relations  10 a.m.  419 Dirksen

Russia

Outside experts will testify on current U.S. policy towards Russia.



House Veterans Affairs  10:30 a.m.  360 Cannon

PACT Act implementation

Department officials will testify on delivery of benefits for military toxic exposure injuries.



Senate Appropriations  2 p.m.  106 Dirksen

U.S.-China Relationship

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo will testify on U.S. security investments and threats posed by China.



Senate Foreign Relations  2 p.m.  419 Dirksen

Pending Nominations

The committee will consider several pending nominations.



Story continues

Wednesday, May 17

Senate Armed Services  9:30 a.m.  222 Russell

Special Ops Forces

Outside experts will testify on special forces current missions and long-term planning strategy.



House Foreign Affairs  10 a.m.  2200 Rayburn

Afghan Women

Former Afghan officials will take part in a committee roundtable on the challenges facing women and girls in Afghanistan.



House Veterans' Affairs  10:30 a.m.  360 Cannon

VA recruitment

Department officials will discuss efforts to hire more staff to handle benefits claims.



House Foreign Affairs  2 p.m.  2172 Rayburn

China

Outside experts will testify on growing Chinese global influence and U.S. response.



Senate Foreign Relations  2:45 p.m.  419 Dirksen

Pending Nominations

The committee will consider several pending nominations.



Senate Veterans' Affairs  3 p.m.  418 Russell

VA Budget

Department leaders will testify on the FY24 budget request.



House Veterans' Affairs  3 p.m.  360 Cannon

Transition Assistance Programs

Department officials will discuss improvements to military transition programs.



Thursday, May 18

Senate Foreign Relations  10:30 a.m.  419 Dirksen

Western Balkans

State Department officials will testify on U.S. policy in the Western Balkan region.




Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will be the commencement speaker at the U.S. Naval Academys graduation and commissioning ceremony on May 26 in Annapolis, Maryland.

Austin will address roughly 1,000 graduating midshipmen, who will go on to serve at least five years as Navy and Marine Corps officers, academy officials said.

The graduation is not open to the public but will be streamed live on the academys YouTube page.

During his tenure as defense secretary, Austin has delivered commencement speeches at the nations other military academies, including the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2021 and the Air Force Academy last year.

On Saturday, Austin delivered the commencement address at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina, a speech he centered around the importance of public service.
The district needs a

The district needs a "fresh face," according to Zak Malamed, a co-founder of The Next 50, which advocates for young leadership in the Democratic Party.

The contest to determine the Democratic nominee in the indicted Republican Rep. George Santos seat is getting more crowded by the day.

Zak Malamed, a Democratic Party activist and nonprofit co-founder from Great Neck, New York, announced his bid for New Yorks 3rd Congressional District on Monday.

I really, truly never imagined that the most dishonest MAGA Republican would be representing me in my own congressional district, Malamed told HuffPost, And that alone really inspired me and moved me to step up and help and serve.

When you see your home or your family or those close to you struggling, you really have two choices, he added. You can run away and avoid them, or you can help  and Im choosing to step up and help and serve in this moment.

Malamed, 29, is the co-founder and executive director of The Next 50, a group that raises money to elect younger Democrats to public office. Malamed describes himself as a common sense Democrat, who identifies with the views of the business-friendly New Democrat Coalition.

Three other candidates have already entered the Democratic primary: Nassau County legislator Josh Lafazan, former state Sen. Anna Kaplan and law professor Will Murphy.

Other Democrats who might still jump in the race include public relations executive Robert Zimmerman, who lost to Santos in November, and former Rep. Tom Suozzi (D), whose decision not to seek reelection enabled Santos to run in an open seat last election cycle.

New Yorks 3rd is one of four House seats in the Empire State that Republicans flipped in November. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of Brooklyn is already leading the charge to ensure that Democrats retake those and other New York seats, though it is unclear whether he or the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee plans to pick favorites in party primaries.

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Im also a Democrat capable of building bridges across the ideological spectrum on the left.Zak Malamed

Regardless, the Democrats running in New Yorks 3rd, which is composed of a lengthy stretch of Long Islands North Shore and a sliver of northeast Queens, arent waiting for the national party to make the case for their electability vis-a-vis other Democrats. Speaking to HuffPost by phone on Monday, Malamed took a veiled jab at Zimmerman; Lafazan, who lost his 2022 primary bid to Zimmerman; and Kaplan, who lost her state Senate seat to a Republican in November.

I dont think we can take the risk of betting on someone or a campaign that lost to George Santos, or George Santos MAGA cronies across Long Island and northeast Queens, he said. We need a fresh face.

It is unlikely, of course, that Santos will be the Republican nominee in the district, which includes a lengthy stretch of Long Islands North Shore and sliver of northeast Queens.

Although the scandal-plagued lawmaker is seeking reelection, he is now facing a federal indictment for fraud, money laundering and other charges. Santos, who insists on his innocence, has refunded more donations than he raised thus far.

The revelation last December that Santos had largely fabricated his resume, and subsequent reporting on his alleged swindling of investors in a business venture, prompted Long Islands entire Republican establishment to condemn him and vow not to support his reelection bid.

Kellen Curry, a military veteran and former vice president at J.P. Morgan, a Wall Street megabank, has already declared his intention to challenge Santos for the GOP nomination. Other potential Republican contenders include state Sen. Jack Martins (R) and Nassau County legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip.

Asked how he would flip the seat absent a foil like Santos, Malamed noted that many of the Long Island Republicans lining up to condemn Santos now supported him in his 2020 and 2022 bids for Congress.

Those Republicans are trying to deceive the voter and pretend that were going to all of a sudden forget that theyre the ones who made George Santos the MAGA sensation that he is today, Malamed said.

If elected, Malamed wants to focus on lowering the cost of living for his constituents by fighting to eliminate the cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction and encouraging more housing construction. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) failed in her budget to force suburban communities with restrictive zoning laws to build more housing, but Malamed envisions a more cooperative approach yielding results.

Malamed, who has also advocated for more student involvement in education policy, hopes to join the Houses education and foreign affairs committees.

In keeping with the swing-voting character of an affluent district that President Joe Biden carried by eight percentage points in 2020, Malamed strikes a moderate note on many of the hot-button issues of the day. For example, he supports universal health care coverage, but not Medicare for All, and Bidens narrow student debt relief plan rather than an across-the-board cancellation of debts.

Im really standing against all forms of extremism, he said. I see myself as pro-growth, pro-public safety, pro-public education ... But Im also a Democrat capable of building bridges across the ideological spectrum on the left.

Malamed is not ruling out accepting donations from corporate political action committees and would not say whether he wants to undo the 2018 financial deregulation law that the Federal Reserve has said made it harder to prevent the recent spate of bank collapses.

Instead, Malamed said he supported applying more scrutiny on the banks.

Malamed, who is Jewish, affirmed that he plans to be a staunch supporter of U.S.-Israel relations, including by opposing stricter conditions on U.S. aid to the Jewish state. Malameds grandmother immigrated to Long Island from Israel and her parents were among the states pioneering founders.

A supporter of Bidens reelection bid, Malamed nonetheless plans to pitch voters on the advantages of electing a younger Democrat to Congress at a time when the advanced age of many party leaders has elicited criticism.

He promised to be a bridge from one generation of leadership to the next, he said. And I hope that when people vote on the ballot in 2024, they will literally see that on their ballot.
Kremlin officials at various levels have been informally forbidden to resign because it is necessary to "demonstrate unity". Resignation is regarded as treason, and those considering it are being threatened with prosecution.

Source: Vazhnye Istorii (Important Stories or iStories), citing sources

Details: An unnamed former Russian security service (FSB) official has said that he knows of at least two cases where governors attempted to resign. Not only were they prohibited from doing so by the internal policy department of the President's Administration, but criminal charges were hinted at.

An acquaintance of an official from the Presidents Administration had also heard about the ban: "A lot of people wanted to (resign) after the war started. If everyone leaves, control will be lost." The Presidents Administration regards wanting to resign as treason, and so civil servants have been ordered to maintain a "show of unity", he says.

Earlier, several unnamed FSB employees complained to iStories that they could not resign due to the mobilisation announced by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. According to the presidential decree, military servicemen under contract (which includes most FSB employees) cannot leave even after their contract has expired.

However, it was not previously known that the ban applies to civil servants as well.

iStories sources say that the resignation ban is informal and unlawful, so there may be exceptions to it  for example, for health reasons or corruption: "Many people are now ready to pay well for the opportunity to leave quietly and inconspicuously," a source explains.

Background:

There were media reports of officials from the Russian government and Moscow City Hall escaping mobilisation by fleeing abroad as long ago as October 2022.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Kellie Chauvin, left, and Derek Chauvin, right. Jean Pieri/MediaNews Group/St. Paul Pioneer Press via Getty Images; Reuters

Derek Chauvin's ex-wife will spend 20 days in jail for failing to file tax returns for 6 years.

Prosecutors accused Derek and Kellie Chauvin of failing to report over $400,000 in income.

Kellie Chauvin was also ordered to pay over $38,000 in fines and fees.

Derek Chauvin's ex-wife will spend 20 days in jail and pay over $38,000 in fines and fees for evading paying taxes for six years, court documents from Washington County, Minnesota, reviewed by Insider show.

According to the court documents, a judge ordered Kellie Chauvin to spend 20 days in jail and pay $37,868 in restitution fees and $137 in additional fines and fees on Friday.

Kellie Chauvin was charged in 2020 with six felony counts of filing false or fraudulent tax returns and three felony counts of failing to file a tax return for instances stretching from 2014 to 2019.

Prosecutors alleged in a criminal complaint that Derek and Kellie Chauvin did not file income tax returns in 2016, 2017, or 2018. Prosecutors alleged that tax return files for 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 did not report Derek Chauvin's off-duty security work for the Minneapolis Police Department or Kellie Chauvin's photography business. A 2014 tax return was filed late, and a 2015 tax return was filed in a "timely" manner, prosecutors alleged.

Minnesota prosecutors alleged that the couple's joint income for those years was "significantly above the threshold requirements" not to file an income tax return.

Prosecutors alleged that from 2014 to 2019, the Chauvins failed to report $464,433 in income, resulting in $21,853 in unpaid taxes.

Earlier this year, both Derek and Kellie Chauvin pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to file a tax return. Seven other counts in the case were dismissed as part of a plea deal.

Prosecutors said in court documents that in June 2020, while Derek Chauvin was in jail awaiting trial on charges tied to George Floyd's May 2020 killing, Kellie Chauvin called him about their taxes.

Story continues

In the phone call, she told Derek Chauvin that people were looking into their unfiled tax returns from "16 to now," prosecutors said. Derek Chauvin, who is now serving 22 years in state prison for Floyd's murder and was last year sentenced to 21 years for violating Floyd's civil rights, told her to use "who we have used to handle for many years," prosecutors said.

"Yeah well we don't want to get your dad involved because he will just be mad at me I mean us for not doing them for years..." Kellie Chauvin responded, according to court documents.

Read the original article on Insider
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said in a new interview that corporate behemoths like Google have far more power than megacompanies of the 20th century.

If you look at some of these companies, like Google, and look at the footprint that they have, they dont necessarily offend historical antitrust law because the antitrust law is focusing on jacking up prices on people, DeSantis said in an interview with The American Conservative.

But I would say theyre exercising way more power than Standard Oil ever did or any of the trust of the early 20th century, he continued. So the question is, is it OK to have a handful of private power centers that really, really dominate our society? And is it appropriate to have something like an antitrust principle applied there? I think it probably would be appropriate.

Other officials and lawmakers in both parties have also called to rein in Big Tech companies. In his State of the Union speech, President Biden boosted an antitrust reform proposal targeting tech giants and called on Congress to prevent big online platforms from giving their own products an unfair advantage.

A group of GOP lawmakers backed a set of proposals last year that would aim to give antitrust enforcers more power to rein in tech giants.

DeSantis also spoke about his ongoing feud with Disney, which sued him last month alleging he harmed its business. DeSantis said in the interview that the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the 25,000 acres that Disney has owned and self-governed for decades, was corporate welfare.

We are under no obligation as a state to continue that arrangement, DeSantis said.

DeSantis signed legislation earlier this year to replace the Reedy Creek Improvement District with The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, a board appointed by DeSantis to oversee Disney. The new board voted last month to void previous agreements Disney made with the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which prompted Disney to sue the Florida governor.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed three bills that will bring major changes to Floridas colleges and universities, staging the moment at a school that has come to be the centerpiece of his campaign to remold higher education.

During a ceremony at New College of Florida, he was flanked by supporters including Christopher Rufo, an activist known for his opposition to critical race theory and one of six trustees DeSantis appointed to the New College board in January.

DeSantis signed SB 266, which restricts certain topics from being taught in general education courses, the lower-level classes that all students must take for their degrees. It also expands the hiring and firing powers of university boards and presidents, limits protections for tenured faculty members and prohibits spending related to diversity, equity and inclusion programs beyond what is required by accreditors.

Regarding the restricted topics, the measure borrows language from last years Individual Freedom Act, also known as the Stop Woke Act. It targets theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political and economic inequities.

While those ideas will be kept out of general education courses on Florida campuses, they could be allowed in higher-level or elective courses, subject to review by the Board of Governors for universities or the State Board of Education for colleges.

DeSantis also signed SB 240, which supports workforce education, and HB 931, prohibiting schools from requiring students and staff to fill out diversity statements  described as woke litmus tests by the governors office.

Standing at the New College visitors center, behind a lectern with the label Florida The Education State, the governor mentioned a group of protesters outside the building who grew louder as he spoke. He joked that he was disappointed with the size of the protest and was hoping for more from the Sarasota school.

Story continues

Rufo, who has advised DeSantis on education policy and has been one of the New College boards more outspoken members, was met by supporters who jostled to take photos with him as he left the event. Outside, about 50 protesters peppered him with insults, calling him a fascist, before police officers escorted him away in a vehicle.

RELATED CONTENT: DeSantis vs. diversity: Blacklists have universities playing defense as Republicans attack

Its a bad day for higher education, lamented New College alum Jono Miller, a former adjunct professor at the school who spoke in an interview later. Its going to be so devastating for the whole university system.

Amy Reid, a professor of French and director of New Colleges gender studies program, said the signing event was sprung on faculty without warning during finals week. She said she fears the legislation will amplify an already chilling climate on campuses across the state.

What we know is that faculty are leaving Florida in droves, and universities throughout the system will have difficulty hiring and retaining qualified teachers in all fields, Reid said.

Before signing the bills, DeSantis hailed the states efforts to bring more regulation to higher education.

Its our view that, when the taxpayers are funding these institutions, that we as Floridians  and we as taxpayers  have every right to insist that they are following a mission that is consistent with the best interest of our people in our state, said the governor, who is expected to soon mount a campaign for president in 2024. You dont just get to take taxpayer dollars and do whatever the heck you want to do and think that thats somehow OK.

Referring to the Black Lives Matter movement, he called diversity, equity and inclusion a relatively new concept that took off post BLM rioting in 2020 and labeled it a veneer to impose an ideological agenda. Its better described as discrimination, exclusion and indoctrination, DeSantis said to applause.

He said he hoped the states higher education system will move toward more employable majors and away from niche subjects like critical race theory.

READ MORE: Few complained of woke classes at Florida universities. Still, DeSantis pushed new bans

Floridas getting out of that game, he said. If you want to do things like gender ideology, go to Berkeley, he said, referring to the University of California, Berkeley. For us with our tax dollars, we want to be focused on the classical mission of what a university is supposed to be.

DeSantis said SB 266 will allow university presidents to run their institutions instead of a cabal of faculty. He said he would allocate $30 million to the Hamilton Center, a civics institute at the University of Florida.

The budget also allocates $8 million to the center for civics at Florida State University, $5 million to another center at Florida International University and $100 million to recruit and retain faculty across the state system.

In addition to its other provisions, HB 931 establishes an office of public policy events within each state university to organize events on campus representing a range of viewpoints.

SB 240, meanwhile, will support Floridas goal of becoming No. 1 for workforce education, DeSantis said. The bill would expand apprenticeship programs and require districts to offer work-based learning to high school students.

The governor added that he wanted to ensure that students dont feel pressured to end up in debt for a degree in zombie studies, a term he uses often when speaking of higher education.

Also joining DeSantis was Richard Corcoran, the interim president at New College who formerly served as Floridas education commissioner. Corcoran spoke of the schools transformation in the weeks since he arrived, saying he had recruited high quality faculty and planned to enroll a record incoming class this fall.

New College, he said, is the LeBron James of higher education.

Protesters on campus had a decidedly different view.

READ MORE: Pitch to new students refers to New College as Hillsdale College of the southeast

Its not some kind of, Oh Florida is a little kooky, said second-year student Adom Neizer-Ashun. Everything here [DeSantis] is doing is completely strategic.

Ash Havel, who just finished her first year at New College, said she plans to transfer out of state but added that most of her peers dont have the financial means to do the same.

Devyn Gallagher, another first-year student, is leaving too. I came for a comforting, safe environment, Gallagher said. I didnt come here for a political show.

Advocacy groups and politicians who have followed DeSantis efforts to transform higher education this year also lined up to criticize Mondays bill signing.

The American Association of University Professors said SB 266 cements the decline of Floridas higher education system by enshrining into law culture-war-inspired censorship.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression called the legislation unconstitutional. Prohibiting ideas in the name of freedom is not freedom at all, the group said.
By Rich McKay

(Reuters) - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Monday banning tax dollars from being used in state colleges for diversity, equity and inclusion programs (DEI) in a sweeping measure that also places restrictions on classroom discussion of race.

While DEI programs are meant to assist in building racial, social and religious diversity among university faculty and students, the governor and other conservative critics have said they promote left-wing politics and sow racial divisions on campuses.

"DEI is better viewed as standing for discrimination, exclusion and indoctrination," DeSantis said at the bill signing on the campus of New College of Florida, a public liberal arts college, on Monday. "And that has no place in our public institutions."

The new law largely reflects a legislative program announced by DeSantis in January and represents another front in the Republican war against an agenda many conservatives believe those on the left are trying to push on U.S. public education.

DeSantis, who is expected to launch a presidential bid next month, has positioned himself as a leader in that fight.

The legislation restricts how gender and race are taught on campuses, requiring such lessons to be reviewed by the university trustees to prevent programs that "distort significant historical events" or teach "identity politics," the governor said.

Opponents of the legislation include many higher education experts and free speech advocates, who have characterized the efforts as an attack on academic freedom.

On the campus of New College of Florida in Sarasota, a traditionally liberal-leaning university where the governor has recently appointed a conservative-leaning board of trustees, the bill signing was greeted with loud chants from student protesters.

DeSantis said students who want to study diversity subjects should look at universities outside the state. "Florida's getting out of that game," he said.

(This story has been corrected to change timing of possible DeSantis announcement from 'later this month' to 'next month' in paragraph 5)

(Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
Ron DeSantis has summoned top financial backers to Miami next week, in what is the latest indication the Florida governor is on the precipice of launching his long-awaited presidential campaign.

The invitations  which were described by two people familiar with the discussions  request that donors be present from May 24-26. By law, DeSantis can not directly receive or solicit contributions for a presidential campaign unless he has formally launched his bid.

A DeSantis spokesperson declined to comment.

DeSantis has spent months laying the groundwork for a campaign, including traveling the country to promote a new book, The Courage to be Free, and has made stops in the early nominating states of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. On Saturday, he made multiple stops in Iowa.

DeSantis has stayed in close contact with donors over the past few weeks and months. But there are now indications that he is accelerating his presidential planning. On Monday, Fox News reported that Bryan Griffin would be stepping down from his role as press secretary in the governors office to join the DeSantis political operation.

No news yet, so just hang out there, DeSantis said over the weekend when asked by a reporter if he was nearing an announcement.

Should he pull the trigger, DeSantis would likely be the second Republican candidate to announce next week. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott is expected to formally launch his bid on Monday in North Charleston, S.C.
Its moving day in Tallahassee.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis political operation is moving from the Republican Party of Floridas headquarters and into a new office in the states capital city.

The move will trigger new expenses for DeSantis soon-to-be announced presidential campaign that will need to be reported to the Federal Election Commission, which will result in the first formal public acknowledgment that the Republican governor is running for president, according to a source familiar with DeSantis plans. The move and its significance were first reported by NBC.

DeSantis team is not just moving furniture, it is also making moves on staff.

Bryan Griffin, DeSantis press secretary, announced Monday that he is leaving the governors office to serve the governor in a different capacity.

I believe that Governor DeSantis is the only leader who can see us to victory at this critical moment in American history. Because of this, I am stepping away from this role to pursue other avenues of helping to deliver the governors success to our country, Griffin said.

If I can be even a small part of the revival and restoration of our great nation, then I am prepared to give it my all, Griffin said.

DeSantis political team did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment.

In recent weeks, DeSantis has incrementally taken steps that hint his announcement is imminent.

On Saturday, the governor was in Iowa, home to the first GOP nominating context next year. There was also a bus operated by the independent Never Back Down political committee supporting the governors presidential aspirations, encouraging Iowans to Join Team DeSantis for President.

Ahead of his visit, the states Senate president and House majority leader endorsed him as a presidential candidate, the Des Moines Register reported, despite the fact that he isnt yet in the race.

In the last week, the governor has been signing several of his legislative priorities at events across Florida, in an attempt to underscore how he plans to bring the Florida blueprint to the rest of the country.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law Monday a bill restricting how race and gender can be taught in Florida's public higher education institutions and banning them from using state or federal funding for diversity programs.

At a ceremony at the New College of Florida in Sarasota, DeSantis signed three bills that he said would give students foundational skills and prevent people from imposing orthodoxies at public universities. It marked an escalation of a broader conservative effort to limit the ways schools can teach about issues of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Referring to the initialism for diversity, equity and inclusion, DeSantis said: If you look at the way this has actually been implemented across the country, DEI is better viewed as standing for discrimination, exclusion and indoctrination, and that has no place in our public institutions. This bill says the whole experiment with DEI is coming to an end in the state of Florida.

Critics, however, say the measures, particularly Senate Bill 266, censor teachers and will make it harder to attract and support diverse populations at Florida's schools. Andrew Gothard, the president of United Faculty of Florida, a union of faculty at Florida's public universities, called the bill "authoritarian censorship" in a statement sent to NBC News.

"We believe in the free exchange of all ideas, and we reject efforts to control what students get to learn and what professors have the right to teach," Gothard said.

A spokesperson for DeSantis referred a request for comment to the governor's news conference.

Senate Bill 266, which passed the Legislature this month, will prohibit state colleges and universities from using state or federal funds for programs that promote activism or advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion.

The bill also augments the study of Western civilization, directing universities, whenever applicable, to provide instruction about the history and philosophy of Western civilization, particularly the nations founding documents. It requires that humanities courses include selections from the Western canon.

Story continues

The bill bans general education core courses that distort historical events or teach identity politics. It requires the Board of Governors, the strong majority of whose members DeSantis appoints, to review every institution's mission and make updates or revisions as it deems necessary. The board must include in its review a directive on university programs that are "based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities."

Brandon Wolf, the press secretary for Equality Florida, an anti-discrimination organization, said the bill represented a "war on academic freedom."

"From the podium today, he encouraged students that value academic freedom to look for educational opportunities elsewhere, cementing him as a governor who would rather drive away good talent than miss an opportunity to generate content for his right-wing acolytes," Wolf said of DeSantis.

DeSantis also signed House Bill 931, which will prevent universities from requiring prospective students or faculty members to pledge loyalty to any "ideology or movement," including to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Taken together, the three bills devote millions of dollars to civic and workforce education efforts. The laws will go into effect July 1. Protesters chanted in opposition to DeSantis as he signed the bills, according to local news reports.

New College, where DeSantis signed the measures, had been considered a progressive institution before he installed conservative allies on the board of trustees.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis greets audience members during a fundraising picnic for US Rep. Randy Feenstra, a Republican of Iowa, on Saturday, May 13, 2023, in Sioux Center, Iowa. Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo

DeSantis hasn't said whether he thinks Trump lost the 2020 election.

Trump continues to falsely allege widespread voter fraud in 2020.

DeSantis is likely to announce his own 2024 presidential bid in the coming weeks.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida has been subtly making the case for months that he is more electable in 2024 than former President Donald Trump.

He just hasn't said directly that Trump already lost the presidential election in 2020.

Asked by a reporter on Monday to directly acknowledge Trump lost, DeSantis stated only the fact that in 2020 "Biden becomes president."

"In 2018 we lost the House," he said during a press conference in Sarasota, Florida. "We lost the Senate in 2020, Biden becomes president and it's done a huge amount of damage, very unpopular in 2022. We were supposed to have this big red wave, and other than in Florida and Iowa, I didn't see a red wave across this country."

Trump continues to falsely deny that he lost the 2020 election to President Joe Biden. Polling shows that most GOP voters think the 2020 election was unfair, underscoring the tightrope DeSantis faces on the topic if he runs against Trump  a former political ally  in 2024.

To win the nomination in a field that is anticipated to have at least seven GOP contenders, DeSantis will need to win over support from Trump's base.

DeSantis is widely expected to announce a 2024 bid after finishing Florida's annual budget and signing more bills into law. After he announces, he's likely to face repeated questions about 2020 while on the campaign trail, and also on the debate stage.

Biden has made Trump's election denials central to his pitch for reelection, framing Trump's position as a threat to Democracy. But DeSantis, who is consistently the only Republican to poll second to Trump in a hypothetical 2024 field, hasn't directly said he believes Trump lost in 2020.



He repeatedly dodged such questions after the 2020 election, bragging instead that the elections went smoothly in Florida. Nevertheless, he since has tightened voting access in Florida, and campaigned alongside 2022 politicians like Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, who falsely alleged widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election.

Story continues

DeSantis himself won by nearly 20 points in former swing-state Florida, and boasted about the victory as compared with poorer showings elsewhere. For months after his gubernatorial reelection, he declined to comment about whether he would take on Trump in the 2024 nomination contest but urged voters to "look at the scoreboard."

Such remarks have been how DeSantis has largely handled Trump, at least until right before the Manhattan district attorney indicted the former president. In Iowa over the weekend, DeSantis subtly jabbed at Trump for his fixation on the 2020 election.

"We must reject the culture of losing that has impacted our party in recent years. The time for excuses is over," DeSantis said. "If we get distracted, if we focus the election on the past or on other side issues, then I think the Democrats are going to beat us again."

He reiterated this position on Monday during his press conference in Sarasota, though he once again didn't name Trump directly.

"The party has developed a culture of losing," DeSantis said Monday. "I think there's not accountability. And in Florida we really showed what it takes to not just win, but win big, and then deliver big."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Visits Israel - Credit: Amir Levy/Getty Images

Why nuke a hurricane when you can simply pray it away? Speaking at the Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem on Friday, as part of his multi-day visit to the country, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recalled his visit to the Western Wall during a separate trip in 2019.

The only thing I can tell you DeSantis said, is my prayer in 2019 was that we would be spared the upcoming hurricane season in the state of Florida.

More from Rolling Stone

At that time, when [Hurricane Dorian] was on that track, people were saying, well, God must not be listening to the governor because we may be getting rammed here  The storm was headed our way, it slowed down, it turned all the way, 90 degrees and went north and never impacted our coast. Im chalking it up to the prayer I put in the Western Wall. People can offer whatever rationale they want, he added.

Speaking in Jerusalem, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) claims Hurricane Dorian did not hit Florida harder in 2019 because of the prayer I put in the Western Wall. pic.twitter.com/awHSgVlYjB  The Recount (@therecount) April 28, 2023

While DeSantis has yet to declare his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election, his visit to Israel is part of the governors pseudo-campaign tour exploring his chops for a potential run. His exploits outside of Florida have already drawn criticism from local officials who say the governor has been unresponsive in the face of more current natural disasters in his own state.

Earlier this month, the Mayor of Fort Lauderdale complained that DeSantis had not bothered to contact him despite chaos in Southern Florida caused by catastrophic flooding. At the time, the governor was promoting his book in Ohio.

Story continues

Whether or not DeSantis believes his prayer was responsible for the weather, his comments echo the last time hurricane-evasion tactics were a subject of American political discourse. In 2019, former President Donald Trump suggested that the solution to catastrophic hurricanes menacing the United States could be to lob a nuclear bomb at them before they made landfall.

In May of last year, sources told Rolling Stone that the former president was deeply concerned that China and other U.S. adversaries were developing a hurricane gun that could shoot storms in the direction of the United States. It was almost too stupid for words, said a former Trump official, I did not get the sense he was joking at all.

While DeSantis was surely relieved that Dorian did not make landfall in their state, and instead ravaged the Bahamas and several Caribbean Islands, under his governorship, Florida has seen disastrous hurricane seasons in the years since. In 2022, Hurricane Ian struck Southern Florida, causing $113 billion in damage and becoming the third most costly Atlantic hurricane in recorded history.

Best of Rolling Stone

Click here to read the full article.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) tweeted out his support for the former Marine charged last week with second-degree manslaughter in the chokehold death of a man on the New York City subway earlier this month.

We must defeat the Soros-Funded DAs, stop the Lefts pro-criminal agenda, and take back the streets for law abiding citizens. We stand with Good Samaritans like Daniel Penny. Lets show this Marine Americas got his back, DeSantis tweeted Friday, adding a link to an online crowdfunding page for the former Marines defense fund.

The online crowdfunding page on GiveSendGo has raised more than $2 million as of Monday for the legal defense of former Marine, Daniel Penny. The page is titled Daniel Pennys Legal Defense Fund and was created by the law firm Raiser & Kenniff, P.C. to cover legal fees from any criminal charges filed and any future civil lawsuits that may arise, as well as expenses related to his defense.

Penny, who is white, turned himself in to police last week for the killing of 30-year-old Jordan Neely, who was Black. Neely was homeless and had struggled with mental illness at the time of this death.

Penny was charged with second-degree manslaughter and arraigned by the Manhattan District Attorneys Office last week over Neelys death. Neely died after Penny put him in a chokehold during an incident on the subway.

The city chief medical examiners office ruled earlier this month that Neelys death was caused from the compression of the neck.

Neely had been shouting at other passengers on the subway before he was tackled and placed in a chokehold. Attorneys for Penny maintain that the former Marine did not want to hurt anyone and was acting to protect himself and other subway passengers.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Fresno City Council recently came under criticism for something it has not yet done  rent control.

Some activists decided it was a good idea to get personal with their attack. Specifically, they went after four of the seven councilmembers because they happen to be owners of rental properties.

They are landlords on the dais, said Shar Thompson, the Central Valley regional coordinator with Tenants Together and a District 3 resident.

Her inference was that the property-owning councilmembers have a vested interest to make sure that measures capping rent increases are not adopted.

As reported by Fresno Bee staff writer Melissa Montalvo, councilmembers Mike Karbassi, Garry Bredefeld, Miguel Arias and Annalisa Perea own and rent out properties.

For activists hoping to achieve rent control through a political body, it was a curious strategy. No doubt, the advocates are frustrated by how rents in Fresno in recent years have risen faster than almost anywhere else in the nation.

Rent hikes

As Montalvo notes, Fresno saw some of the highest rent jumps in America during the pandemic. That was when prices for one-bedroom apartments skyrocketed by 28%.

She cited an analysis done by an organization called Construction Challenge that found Fresno was 11th out of the 56 largest U.S. metro areas for having the highest average increase in rents  about 33%, compared to a nationwide increase of just over 24%  from 2018-19 through 2022.

One of the speakers at the recent demonstration, Marisa Moraza with Power California, a youth-oriented advocacy group, said more than 26,000 households in the city spend more than half of their income on rent. A Fresnoland analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data determined that 60% of Fresno renters are cost burdened, meaning they pay more than 30% of their income in rent.

Economics & politics

So what is holding Fresno back from adopting rent control? To better understand the dynamics, I talked with two city leaders  Mayor Jerry Dyer and Councilmember Arias. Their answers boil down to economic and political realities.

Story continues

Dyer, himself the owner of several rental properties, believes that placing a cap on rents will lead to two outcomes: Landlords will stop taking care of their properties, and builders will stop constructing rental units.

Rent control would promote the decay in multifamily units based on the fact landlords will not invest in properties in manner they would because of the lack of rent, Dyer said.

The second part of that is it would dissuade builders from building apartments in our city. I have a difficult enough time persuading developers to build in in-fill areas of Fresno. Oftentimes, they tell you it does not pencil out. If you further that by controlling rent, they just are not going to build if it puts them in the red.

That said, the city has code enforcement powers to force negligent landlords to keep up their properties. And the city can use enticements like fee reductions to try to lure new construction.

Arias raised the politics of the issue as a sticking point for him: Rent control is opposed by the business community, real estate industry and apartment owners.

The special interests are adamantly against it, he said. They control $50,000 to $100,000 each to unseat a councilmember.

They spent $200,000 collectively against me the first time I ran for council, and the second time they did not even interview me.

Arias, who owns rentals in Mendota, called the activists criticism fair, but lazy, in that the advocates do not engage enough with the political forces opposing rent caps.

He predicts the city will ultimately have rent control, but only when most of the councilmembers are tenants themselves.

Be more effective

Given Fresnos high poverty rate, preponderance of low-wage jobs and historically stubborn unemployment, the city would seem tailor made for rent control. And it should be in the general interest: People who have to worry about affording housing are unable to be productive members of the city.

Rather than publicly shaming councilmembers, advocates for rent control should ask how they might help in the political and fund-raising arenas. That would be more effective.
After seven people died in two plane crashes near the Venice airport within months of each other, the National Transportation Safety Board reports have detailed what happened.

On April 5, two married couples from Indiana were killed when their plane crashed into the Gulf of Mexico shortly after taking off from Venice Municipal Airport.

On Dec. 3, 2022, a family of three died shortly after takeoff.

Pilots in both crashes were flying Piper model planes taking off on runway 23, and both were returning to the St. Petersburg area after leaving from there earlier in the day.

The NTSB recently released findings from its investigation into the April crash that claimed the lives of William Jeffery Lumpkin, 64, of Fishers, Indiana, who flew the plane. His wife, Patricia Ann Lumpkin, 68, was a passenger, as were Ricky Joe Beaver, 60, and his wife, Elizabeth Beaver, 57, both of Noblesville, Indiana.

The Lumpkins pastor, Nathan Peternel, told the Bradenton Herald their church has been heartbroken over the couples deaths, especially Peternels son who William Lumpkin was training to be a pilot.

Night takeoff

According to the NTSB, there was nothing wrong with the single-engine Piper PA-32R airplane Lumpkin was flying before it crashed from 100 feet in the air into the water.

Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact failures or malfunctions of the airframe, engine or propeller that would have precluded normal operation, the report said.

According to the report, the wind was calm, visibility was 10 miles, and the sky was clear the night the couples took off from the airport after dinner at Sharkys On the Pier restaurant in Venice, returning to Albert Whitted Airport (SPG) in St. Petersburg.

The moon was full and had risen for more than two hours before they took off at 9:35 p.m.

The plane took off from runway 23 and reached a height of 300 feet before it started to turn right, then plummet over the next 14 seconds. .

Story continues

Surveillance video from Venice Airport Festival Grounds and the Venice Fishing Pier showed the airplane took off over dark water with no discernible horizon, began a shallow climb, and then started a right turn before the runway lights extinguished. The report said the airplane peaked in altitude, descended rapidly and crashed into the Gulf.

The fuselage was destroyed on impact. The top portion of the cabin and right wing were not recovered, but everything else was found near the wreckage.

It was not the planes first crash. WFTX-TV FOX 4 reported the plane was previously damaged in Olive Branch, Mississippi, and was listed on an internet auction website, where it was described as having aircraft gear failure and was sold as-is for $43,000 in 2020.

Lumpkin registered the plane in June 2021, the same day he obtained his BasicMed certificate, according to FOX 4.

FAA records show he held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, and instrument airplane.

Pilots also are required by the FAA to pass a health inspection. His most recent FAA second-class medical certificate was issued on June 3, 2016. He had accrued approximately 1,221 total flight hours by then.

An alternative to an FAA medical certificate is a less stringent one called BasicMed. Lumpkin received that certification on June 17, 2021.

Pilot was training a protege

The Lumpkins pastor and family friend, Nathan Peternel, told the Bradenton Herald that the church, and especially his son, Jonathan, were heartbroken by his death.

Peternel said that given Lumpkins experience flying, he didnt suspect disorientation to be a factor in the crash or the condition of the plane, but he believes his age may have.

Did he have a heart attack? He wasnt that high above the water. If he slumped into the yoke, did that cause things to go down quicker, and theres panic in the cabin and they cant adjust quick enough? But I highly doubt something was wrong with the plane, Peternel said.

He took immaculate care of that plane. In fact, my son Jonathan would go help him work on the plane on Saturdays, said Peternel. He was showing some of the new technology he had invested into the GPS. He had some very sharp equipment on it.

Peternel said that because of his age, Lumpkin was taking steps to become a flight instructor and that his son Jonathan was going to be his protege.

Jonathan and Lumpkin had plans to attend flight school in Arizona this fall so Lumpkin could get his flight instructor certification.

After a certain age, they dont want you flying anymore. You have to have somebody younger in the plane with you, so youre technically training them to fly. That was his plan, Peternel said.

Since Lumpkins death, Peternel said, Jonathan decided not to become a pilot. He decided to go into ministry. He said it was a little too fresh for him to talk about Jeff, but he loved him.

December crash report

The December crash took the lives of Christian Kath, 42, his wife Misty Kath, 43, and their daughter Lily, 12, other media reported. The family had reportedly flown to Venice for dinner, and their youngest child, a 10-year-old daughter, was at a sleepover at a friends house.

The crash happened at 7:38 p.m. during takeoff. Sunset was at 5:35 p.m., and by the time of the crash it was dark with visibility of 7 miles and winds at 7 knots (8 mph). Skies were cloudy but not overcast.

The plane had left St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) that afternoon and was returning.

The plane first lifted from the runway at 7:37 about 4,100 feet from the end of the 5,000-foot runway going 88 knots. Over the next 900 feet, the plane accelerated to 90 knots and climbed 50 feet, then over the next 4 seconds reached 94 knots and 75 feet before descending.

At 7:38, the plane was going 109 knots at ground level, 1,800 feet beyond the end of runway 23.

Airport surveillance video from the time of the accident depicted an airplane departing runway 23 with little to no angle of climb into a dark sky over dark water with no discernable horizon.

The pilot got his private pilot certificate on July 31, 2022, with a rating for airplane single-engine land, and an FAA third-class medical certificate issued Jan. 27, 2022. He had declared 10 total hours of flight experience on that date.

The plane was made in 1976 and recently inspected on Nov. 2. The pilot rented it from the same operator where he received 74 hours of flight training.

Local emergency services and a commercial ocean salvage operator recovered most of the wreckage from the floor of the Gulf of Mexico, beneath about 15 ft of water, the report said.

The engine exam revealed no pre-impact mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation.
Rosalind Livingston, the grieving mother of Patrice Wilson, said her daughter dated her alleged abductor for a while, but she realized he was toxic and was attempting to escape him.

Police have arrested a man accused of kidnapping a Detroit nurse from the parking lot of her job and killing her.

Patrice Wilson, 29, was taken Saturday morning while leaving her job at the Detroit Medical Center in midtown. According to the Detroit Free Press, Jamere Miller, 36, was taken into custody on Monday following the kidnapping at gunpoint in the DMC parking lot, where he forced Wilson into a Black 2020 Lincoln Nautilus before driving off.

It is with deep sadness that we offer heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and DMC colleagues of cherished nurse leader Patrice Wilson, DMC shared in a statement, according to the Free Press. Patrice was not just a co-worker but a loving friend to many at the DMC.

Patrice Wilson, 29, was kidnapped Saturday morning while leaving her job at the Detroit Medical Center in midtown. Her body was found Sunday. (Photo: Screenshot/YouTube.com/WDIV ClickOnDetroit)

The hospital also offered condolences to Wilsons mother, calling her daughter another dedicated staff member.

Miller remains wanted and is considered armed and dangerous. Investigators said he was last seen leaving the kidnapping scene wearing a blonde wig.

Rosalind Livingston, Wilsons mother, said her daughter dated her alleged abductor for a while, but she realized he was toxic and was attempting to escape him, according to WDIV ClickOnDetroit.

The grieving mother expressed disappointment that her grandson could not be with his mother for Mothers Day. That bothers me, she added.

In 2021, a video of someone thought to be Miller attempting to break into Wilsons house went viral on TikTok after someone pushed it to residents via the Ring app.

I still feel like Im watching TV, said Wilsons grandmother Pamela Golden, Fox 2 Detroit reported. I dont feel like this is real.

Added Golden, Im very angry. Shes a good girl; she doesnt do anything.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post Detroit nurse found dead after being abducted appeared first on TheGrio.
Photo Illustration by Luis Rendon/Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Disney+/Reuters

Marvel has taken a bit of a hiatus on Disney+, seeing as the streamers last serialized MCU show was last summers She-Hulk. But this June, the family-friendly platform will not only have a brand new superhero sagatheyre also giving us an in-depth documentary about one of Marvel Comics original authors.

On June 16, Disney+ will release Stan Lee, a doc following the life behind the Marvel Comics figurehead. The film will premiere at this years Tribeca Film Festival before heading to the streaming home of (most) Marvel properties, which are known for their Stan Lee cameos. The film promises interviews with the creators friends and familyand, hopefully, a handful of those famed Marvel movie stars as well.

Then, the next story in the MCU will arrive, with Secret Invasion. The series, which begins unveiling new episodes on June 21, will be the first to feature Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) in the lead role. Fury teams up with the good Skrullswho were introduced back in Captain Marvelto take down a gaggle of evil Skrulls who attempt to invade Earth.

On the non-Marvel front, Disney+ will also premiere Worlds Best on June 23, a musical comedy set to follow a youngster who discovers his father was once a famous rapper. Though 12-year-old Prem (Manny Magnus) believes hes a math genius, he sets out to discover his hip-hop roots through his father Suresh (Utkarsh Ambudkar).

Wondering what else is headed to Disney+ this June? Take a look below at the titles releasing in the weeks to come.

June 2

Pride from Above

June 7

America's National Parks (S2)

Avatar: The Way of the Water

First Alaskans (S2)

June 9

Hailey's on It! (S1, 6 episodes)

Flamin' Hot

June 14

Last of the Giants: Wild Fish (S2)

Miraculous Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir (S5, 5 episodes)

Pupstruction (S1, 8 episodes)

Raven's Home (S6, 4 episodes)

Assembled: The Making of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters

June 16

Pretty Freekin Scary (S1, 7 episodes)

The Villains of Valley View (S2, 5 episodes)

Story continues

Stan Lee

Disney+

June 21

Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper (S1)

Minnie's Bow-Toons: Camp Minnie (S1, 9 episodes)

Secret Invasion

June 23

World's Best

Disney+

June 28

Alice's Wonderland Bakery (S2, 7 episodes)

The Ghost and Molly McGee (S2, 5 episodes)

Home Improvement (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8)

Home in the Wild (S1)

Disney Gallery: Star Wars: The MandalorianThe Making of Season 3

Week-End Family

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

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Gideon Harris is an experienced diver, but recently he was swimming off the coast of Israel when he spotted something unusual in the sand: ancient columns.

Buried beneath the ocean floor in the coastal waters of Beit Yanai, Harris had discovered a Roman-era shipwreck teeming with 1,800-year-old marble artifacts, according to a news release from the Israel Antiquities Authority.

Experts said they had been aware of the massive merchant ship  which could carry up to 200 tons of cargo  but they had never been able to locate it before Harris discovery.

We didnt know its exact whereabouts as it was covered over by sand, and we ... therefore could not investigate it, Koby Sharvit, director of the underwater archaeology unit at the antiquities authority, said in the release. The recent storms must have exposed the cargo, and thanks to Gideons important report, we have been able to register its location.

Inside the ship, archaeologists discovered a trove of Roman marble artifacts that were likely intended for use in building a magnificent public building, such as a temple or theater, experts said. The ship and its contents are the oldest of their kind to be discovered in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Experts said the ship likely wrecked during a storm.

Such storms often blow up suddenly along the countrys coast and due to the ships limited maneuvering potential, they are often dragged into the shallow waters and shipwrecked, Sharvit said.

The antiquities authority is conducting more extensive research of the wreck, officials said.

Beit Yanai is about 20 miles north of Tel-Aviv.

Oldest known Viking ship is found near early kings burials in Norway, experts say

Shipwreck found off Florida beach is much larger than originally suspected, team says

Someone buried treasure 2,000 years ago and never returned. A hiker just found it
Donald Trump on Sunday said CNNs Kaitlan Collins was not exactly Barbara Walters during last weeks town hall.

The former presidents biting reference to the pioneering TV journalist Walters, who died at the end of 2022, continued his Jekyll-and-Hyde regard for Collins, who moderated his first on-air appearance on CNN in years.

He called her a nasty person as she pressed for an answer to a question, but later told her she did a good job.

In between, he interrupted Collins, regurgitated lies about the 2020 election, dodged questions, steamrolled fact-checks and remained antagonistic.

On Truth Social Sunday, he noted the criticism CNN and its CEO Chris Licht received for its handling of the event.

Its really amazing to watch the head of CNN get absolutely lambasted for asking me to do a so-called Town Hall, he wrote. In all fairness, nobody had any problems with what he wanted to do until after the show started, when they quickly realized that Ms. Collins was not exactly Barbara Walters, or even close. Thats when the trouble from the Radical Left started.

Trump then went after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) who joined the chorus of disapproval over CNN giving Trump such a platform.

Neurotic little AOC with the bad looking boyfriend, went crazy, he said. He owns CNN, hes in their head, they screamed. CNN, take the GREAT RATINGS!

Collins defended herself and the network last week.

The 70 minutes I spent on stage in New Hampshire with former president Donald Trump was a major inflection point in the Republican partys search for its nominee and potentially the starting line for Americas next presidential race, she said. Its important to remember that he is, right now, the GOP frontrunner, a race that he is running, as noted, while being criminally indicted, found civilly liable and under investigation for everything from his handling of classified documents to his business empire.

Donald Trump and Kaitlan Collins

Donald Trump and Kaitlan Collins

Related...
Local demand is heating up Singapore's rental market

At the end of last year, the lease on Eva Teh's flat in central Singapore came up for renewal.

The Singaporean and her husband were expecting their monthly rent to rise. What they weren't prepared for was the 60% hike proposed by their landlord.

"We immediately went to search for available apartments. What we found gave us another shock. Rents have soared," she tells the BBC.

"The thought of not being able to afford a roof over our heads terrified us," she adds. "It felt like doomsday."

Ms Teh says she had little choice but to negotiate with her landlord for a better deal.

Now, they pay S$2,900 ($2,185; 1,732) a month for their one-bedroom home, up from S$1,950 before the rent hike.

"To cope with the increase in rent, I'm forcing myself to work harder so I can make more money," Ms Teh, who is a media freelancer, says.

"In months where I can't make ends meet, I will have to dip into my savings. Fortunately, we have an emergency fund for days like this."

She is not alone. Surging rents have become a major issue in the South East Asian country.

Private housing rents, which rose last year at the fastest pace in over a decade, have continued to climb in recent months.

Prices are rising across the city-state's property market, with rents for properties in public housing blocks and high-end homes heading higher.

According to real estate consultancy Knight Frank, Singapore now has the fastest rising luxury property rents, after overtaking New York.

Heated market

Rents have jumped as the pandemic delayed building projects and brought more locals into the market, the country's Housing and Development Board (HDB) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) tell the BBC.

"Rental demand has also increased as non-residents are returning to Singapore to work amidst the robust recovery from Covid-19," they add.

Story continues

The country's rental market has long been dominated by foreigners. This is because the majority of Singapore's 5.6m residents have bought long leases on subsidised public housing.

Traditionally, Singaporeans would not leave their family home until they got married, but that's now changing.

There is an increasing trend for younger Singaporeans choosing to rent, Tan Tee Khoon from the PropertyGuru real estate portal says.

"They wish to have their own space and live among a like-minded community. For that reason, co-living has become a more popular choice in recent times," he adds.

When Singapore's pandemic restrictions were in place in 2021, Pearlyn Siew moved into a co-living property, where she had her own room and shared amenities, including bathrooms, a kitchen and laundry facilities.

"I needed space from my family after being in the same house throughout Covid. It felt really suffocating," she tells the BBC.

"My parents were not agreeable and we were on pretty bad terms," she adds. "But my relationship with them improved after I got the space to take care of my own mental well-being. I was able to connect with them with a healthier nervous system."

Meanwhile, Asher Chua moved out after struggling to work from a flat that he shared with his parents and three siblings.

"When your siblings are not working and you're living in the same room, your schedules tend to conflict. It becomes quite tough to live together when you are not in the same life stages," he says.

Both Asher and Pearlyn are unmarried and under the age of 35, which means that they do not yet qualify for public housing.

"The eligibility rules limit access to affordable housing for singles, regardless of the individual's aspiration to have a place of one's own," says sociologist Chua Beng Huat.

"Families have a greater need for housing than single individuals, when the HDB is always trying to catch up with demand," Mr Chua adds.

The rent increases have also hit the LGBT community, who make up a significant portion of renters.

Same-sex marriages are not recognised in the country. It only recently repealed the controversial 377A law which banned sex between men.

"While housing policies which affect singles also affect the LGBT community, the community has its own set of problems," real estate agent William Tan says.

"Many people are not able to stay at their family home because of an unfriendly, dangerous or toxic environment. This forces them to rent," Mr Tan adds.

Promised supply

There is some good news though, as rents are expected to fall with "a significant housing supply coming onstream over the next few years," HDB and URA says.

Close to 40,000 public and private homes are scheduled to be completed this year. That is the most in five years, according to official estimates.

Another 60,000 homes are expected to be completed by 2025.

"As the supply comes onstream, Singaporeans who are temporarily renting while waiting for the completion of their new homes will vacate their rental units, and help ease the rental market," HDB and URA adds.

"The government will continue to monitor the property market closely and adjust our policies as necessary."

However, Ms Teh will have to keep renting until her public housing apartment is ready in three years time.

"We talked through every single option that we had. Moving in with our family was not an option because our parents live overseas," she says.

"I'm hopeful that rents will go down as more new flats are completed. I think nobody could have prevented this from happening, because nobody could stop Covid from spreading."
Bulgarian national qualification contest of the 16th "Chinese Bridge", a Chinese language proficiency competition for high school students, was held in Sofia on Sunday.



At the 16th "Chinese Bridge" held in the Multifunctional Hall of the Confucius Institute in Sofia, 19 teenage contestants demonstrated their language skills, gaining rounds of applause from the spectators.

Jana Todorova from 18th William Gladstone High School in Sofia won the competition, gaining a total of 98.5 points out of 100, and will represent Bulgaria at the final stage in China.

Vasco Vascov from Sofia's 138 High School for Western and Eastern Languages, who came second with 97.2 points, will attend the finals in China as a spectator.

Todorova, 16, told Xinhua that she has been studying Chinese for almost three years, and it opened the door for her to the culture and all the beauties associated with the Chinese language.

At first, she considered learning Korean, then Japanese, but "one day I heard a very beautiful Chinese song on YouTube, and because of that, I decided that I just have to learn Chinese, and I will be the best," Todorova said.

The event is organized by the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria and Confucius Institute in Sofia, and co-organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Veliko Turnovo.
Drew Barrymore has shared a vulnerable post about entering rehabilitation treatment at just 13 years old in honour of Mothers Day.

On Saturday (May 13), the 48-year-old Hollywood star reflected on legally emancipating herself from her parents after a two-year stay at a drug rehabilitation center. In her blog post, the Drew Barrymore Show host also explained how growing up in the spotlight has influenced how she parents her own children.

When I got emancipated by the courts at 14 years old, the umbilical cord was severed, and I have not been the same since, the Charlies Angels star wrote. It was necessary for me to step away and start to become my own person. And at the age of 14, my own parent.

Barrymore shared that her mother  Jaid Barrymore  admitted her to a youth program for drug rehabilitation when she was 13 years old. The hospital, called Van Nuys Psychiatric, was located in Los Angeles, California.

Once the door shut behind me, my stay lasted almost two years, she said. I was in for the long haul. I bonded with a lot of the kids, because like me, they did not know where to put their anger and they did not know how to live life anymore without the need to get high or self-destruct in some form and fashion.

The Never Been Kissed star explained how the rehab center was a revealing and healing experience, from meeting with therapists to learning how to set boundaries.

Kids love feeling safe, and having boundaries is one of those crucial bumper rails, she wrote. I lived a boundaryless life and job. And this place, as hellacious as it was, it was exactly what I needed from the too much excess my life had become on the outside. 

Her two-year stint at the rehab center also taught Barrymore how to process her own emotions and understand the foundations of telling your truth.

Your feelings. Your faults. Your hopes and wishes. Your hurts. What and where you wanted to get to in life. And  very important  who was going to help you on your path and who would you have to let go, she said. For me, at the end and when I got out, it was my mother.

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Despite winning emancipation from her parents at just 14 years old, Barrymore described how she found family in her friends and colleagues. Now, Barrymore has two daughters of her own  Olive, 10, and Frankie, nine  whom she shares with ex-husband Will Kopelman. Still, becoming a mother has brought up her own feelings about her rebellious childhood.

Being a mother constantly triggers everything from my own childhood now, Barrymore wrote. I live in an often-petrified state of thinking about my past and wanting to have things different for them. I want them protected. I want them to grow up slowly. I want family around and traditions and rules and boundaries.

While the 50 First Dates star went on to say that motherhood has been the greatest thing I will ever do in my life without question, she admitted that she still needs to continue to figure things out so that she can disembark from my past and live in the present.

Barrymore concluded her candid blog post by describing a recent conversation she had with her own mother on Jaids birthday: I texted her. It simply read Happy birthday, Mom, and she wrote back, Thank you so much! Im incredibly proud of you and send you love.

It was the biggest gift I could have ever received. To know that she is proud of me, the actor wrote, before adding a sweet message to her own daughters.

And to my girls I just hope I can be someone who makes you feel safe. And that you can laugh with. And that you can tell me anything. Im here for it. Im in the circle with you for life.

On Instagram, fans applauded Drew Barrymore for sharing the open and raw blog post. Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing, said one fan, while another wrote: You are beyond inspiring.

Drew Barrymore has often spoken about her complicated childhood, ever since she rose to fame in Steven Spielbergs ET the Extra-Terrestrial when she was seven years old. The child star, whose father John Drew Barrymore was also an actor, has since published multiple memoirs about her experiences with addiction as a teenager, including 1990s Little Girl Lost and 2015s Wildflower.

In a 2015 interview with The Guardian, Barrymore referred to the youth treatment center at Van Nuys Psychiatric hospital as an institution, and revealed that it was the rehab center professionals who suggested she legally separate from her mother and be declared an adult at 14.

It was a very important thing to experience for me. It was very humbling, very quieting, Barrymore recalled at the time. Maybe it was necessary, because I came out of there a more respecting person. And my parents didnt teach me that, and life wasnt teaching me that. I came out in a very different way but I still was me.

Most recently, Drew Barrymore shared in an essay last November that giving up alcohol has been one of the most liberating things in [her] life. The Ever After star, who previously revealed she hasnt drunk alcohol in four years, reflected on how important its been for her to prioritise herself, even when it has felt selfish to do so.

Maybe our definition of love changes throughout our lives, but I truly believe so much love goes outward, she wrote. One of the bravest things you can do is slay those dragons and finally change an awful cycle in which youve found yourself stuck. For me, it was to stop drinking.
Russian Telegram channels have reported that a drone has attacked a storage point containing military equipment near the village of Polevye Novoselki in the Suzemka district, Bryansk Oblast, and another UAV has damaged a police car in Khoromnoye.

Source: Telegram channels Baza and Astra

Quote from Baza: "A drone has attacked a storage point containing military equipment in Bryansk Oblast. An explosive device was dropped from a UAV onto the roof of the storage point in Suzemka district on the morning of 14 May. The explosion damaged five pieces of equipment. There were no casualties."

Details: According to Astra, the attack took place at around 06:00 on 14 May near the village of Polevye Novoselki. Four Ural vehicles and a howitzer were damaged.

Another attack is also reported to have taken place on 14 May at around 14:00 in the village of Khoromnoye in Russias Bryansk Oblast. As a result of the drone attack, a car at the Klimovsky police station and another vehicle were damaged. There were no casualties.

The regional authorities and the Russian Ministry of Defence have not yet commented on the reports of the attacks.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
This chart shows the forecasted relative humidity for northeastern Wisconsin, issued May 15, 2023.

A Fire Weather Watch has been issued Monday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. for parts of northern Wisconsin due to lower humidity and higher temperatures, the National Weather Service said Sunday.

The watch is in effect for Florence, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas, and northern parts of Marinette and Oconto counties.

The fire risk is higher in north-central and far northern Wisconsin, where spring plants haven't yet started growing.

The NWS advises residents of these areas to avoid burning yard debris, use caution when grilling, take care when extinguishing cigarettes and check for local burn bans.

The danger doesn't rise to the level of a Red Flag warning because of lower wind speeds today, said Tasos Kallas, a meteorologist with the NWS in Green Bay.

However, Kallas said the wind is "the only thing we're lacking" for the warning, and fire conditions will be near critical partly because far northeastern Wisconsin has a lot of "burnable dead vegetation."

During a Red Flag warning in mid-April, the DNR responded to 21 wildfires, including a 3,000-acre wildfire in Monroe County.

The risk of elevated fire conditions will continue into Wednesday, though according to the NWS, the relative humidity is expected to be higher, slightly decreasing risk.

Rebecca Loroff is a breaking and trending news reporter for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. Contact her at rloroff@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: 'Near critical' fire weather expected in northeastern Wisconsin Monday
Dubai - most beautiful places in the world

Dubai never ceases to surprise its visitors. Now, the most-visited city in the Middle East is offering yet another remarkable experience. Dubai is promoting 24/7 beaches, allowing people to enjoy the citys warm climate and stunning coastline at any time of the day or night. With a range of activities and amenities, Dubais beaches provide a unique and unforgettable experience for tourists and locals alike.

As reported by the Khaleej Times, city officials announced the opening of three new beaches in Dubai for night swimming. Unlike regular beaches, where lifeguards typically signal the end of swimming time at sunset, these newly introduced nighttime swimming beaches in Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim, and Jumeirah are open for water enthusiasts throughout the night. Each beach is equipped with well-lit systems to aid lifeguards in monitoring swimmers, while electronic screens help raise beachgoers awareness of potential dangers.

Keeping Swimmers Safe At Night

To ensure the safety of visitors, qualified lifeguards armed with cutting-edge rescue and emergency equipment patrol the beaches. However, it is important to note that nighttime beach swimming is prohibited between sunset and sunrise. The Dubai Municipality has designated specific areas for night swimming and urges beachgoers to adhere to these guidelines. They also stress the importance of parental supervision and emphasize that swimming at any other time is strictly prohibited.

Visitors have been asked to keep the beaches as clean as possible and to follow the instructions of the lifeguards.

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When tourists go around the city during the day, they miss out on being able to enjoy the beach, because after sunset swimming is not allowed. We wanted to give them an opportunity to enjoy this part of Dubai. That is why we are beginning the nighttime beach swimming facility, Dawoud Al Hajri, director-general of Dubai Municipality, told Khaleej Times.

The new facilities will further raise Dubais status as a beach tourism destination, he added.

Dubai recently implemented various measures to boost its tourism industry, including easing travel restrictions and launching new attractions. The nighttime beach swimming facility is expected to attract more tourists and provide a unique experience for visitors.

RELATED: Best Things To Do In Dubai
Former president Donald Trump

A long-awaited report has strongly criticised the FBI's handling of its investigation into alleged ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign.

In a 306-page report, special counsel John Durham said the agency's inquiry lacked "analytical rigor".

He concluded the FBI had not possessed evidence of collusion between Donald Trump's campaign and Russia before launching an inquiry.

The FBI said it had addressed the issues highlighted in the report.

In the report, Mr Durham - who was appointed by then-Attorney General William Barr in 2019 - accused the FBI of acting on "raw, unanalysed and uncorroborated intelligence".

Among the investigative mistakes it made were repeated instances of "confirmation bias", in which it ignored information that undercut the initial premise of the investigation.

The report noted significant differences in the way the FBI had handled the Trump investigation when compared with other potentially sensitive inquiries, such as those involving his 2016 electoral rival Hillary Clinton.

Mr Durham noted that Mrs Clinton and others had received "defensive briefings" from the FBI aimed at "those who may be the targets of nefarious activities by foreign powers". Mr Trump had not.

"The Department [of Justice] and the FBI failed to uphold their important mission of strict fidelity to the law," the report concluded.

In a statement, the FBI said it had "already implemented dozens of corrective actions".

"Had those reforms been in place in 2016, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented," the statement added.

Special Counsel John Durham was appointed by then Attorney General William Barr in 2019

The FBI investigation into alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, which was carried out by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, led to dozens of criminal charges against Trump campaign staff and associates for crimes including computer hacking and financial crimes.

It did not, however, find that the Trump campaign and Russia had conspired together to influence the election.

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Writing on his social media platform, Truth Social, Mr Trump said the Durham report showed that the "American public was scammed". He cited the report's conclusion that there had not been enough evidence to warrant a full investigation by the FBI. Mr Trump has long claimed that members of the "Deep State" are targeting him unfairly.

Last year, Mr Trump said he believed the Durham report would provide evidence of "really bad, evil, unlawful and unconstitutional" activities and "reveal corruption at a level never before seen in our country".

The Durham report falls short of the blockbuster revelations and prosecutions that some Trump allies hoped for from the inquiry.

The four-year investigation has resulted in three prosecutions. They include an FBI attorney who pleaded guilty to altering evidence while applying for permission to eavesdrop on a former Trump campaign official.

Two other people were acquitted on charges of lying to the FBI.

The former president cited some court filings by the Durham team as part of a lawsuit he filed against Mrs Clinton and several other Democrats and government officials, alleging that they had plotted to undermine his 2016 presidential bid by spreading rumours about his campaign's ties to Russia.

A judge dismissed the lawsuit as frivolous in January and ordered Mr Trump to pay nearly a million dollars in penalties.

Mr Durham and his investigation are not likely to disappear from the national headlines in the immediate future.

Shortly after news that the report would be publicly released, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan announced that he would be calling the US former attorney to testify before Congress about his work.
Washington  John Durham, the Trump-era special counsel tasked with scrutinizing the origins of the FBI's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, has concluded his sweeping examination into the bureau's conduct, finding the Justice Department and FBI "failed to uphold their important mission of strict fidelity to the law" regarding the events during the 2016 campaign.

The release of Durham's roughly 300-page report Monday comes four years after his investigation into the actions of the FBI in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election began. Attorney General Merrick Garland received the report from Durham on Friday, and it was transmitted to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on Monday.

Much of the information disclosed in Durham's report was revealed in a 2019 examination conducted by the Justice Department inspector general into the origins of the FBI's probe into possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. That investigation identified several procedural errors, but overall concluded there was no "political bias" at the bureau.

Read the full Durham report here

Though Durham had broader powers than the Justice Department's watchdog, he pursued prosecutions of just three people, two of whom were acquitted. The third, a former FBI lawyer, pleaded guilty.

The special counsel said the FBI had an "obligation" to look at the allegations, but it did not perform full due diligence in opening the probe. Durham, in the probe, concluded that the Justice Department and FBI had "failed to uphold their important mission of strict fidelity to the law in connection with certain events and activities" described in his report. The special counsel's examination also revealed senior FBI personnel "displayed a serious lack of analytical rigor toward the information they received, especially information received from politically affiliated persons and entities."

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"Neither U.S. law enforcement nor the Intelligence Community appears to have possessed any actual evidence of collusion in their holdings at the commencement of the Crossfire Hurricane investigation," the special counsel found.

Durham said there was "significant reliance on investigative leads" provided or funded by Trump's opponents.

FBI response to Durham report

The FBI, under Director Christopher Wray, had implemented a number of reforms before the Durham report was released, a point that it noted in responding to the release of the report.

The bureau said in a statement that "the conduct in 2016 and 2017 that Special Counsel Durham examined was the reason that current FBI leadership already implemented dozens of corrective actions, which have now been in place for some time. Had those reforms been in place in 2016, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented. This report reinforces the importance of ensuring the FBI continues to do its work with the rigor, objectivity, and professionalism the American people deserve and rightly expect."

GOP Rep. Jim Jordan, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, said he has reached out to the Justice Department to have Durham testify next week.

Who is John Durham?

Then-Attorney General Bill Barr selected Durham, who was at the time the U.S. attorney in Connecticut, in May 2019 to investigate the origins of the FBI's "Crossfire Hurricane" investigation, which later was taken over by special counsel Robert Mueller. Durham was then named special counsel by Barr in October 2020, weeks before the presidential election.

As part of his 48-month probe, Durham was tasked with examining the following: whether there was adequate predication for the FBI to open its Crossfire Hurricane investigation; whether the opening of the probe was consistent with FBI policy; whether there was evidence that the actions of FBI employees or third parties violated the law; and whether the Justice Department provided false information on applications for electronic surveillance.

Durham's report takes aim at the officials working in the upper ranks of the FBI when its investigation into the Trump campaign and alleged ties to Russia was opened, namely Andrew McCabe, then the bureau's deputy director, and Peter Strzok, then the deputy assistant director for counterintelligence. Both men were fired from the FBI in 2018.

Strzok, Durham wrote, "at a minimum had pronounced hostile feelings toward Trump," and the investigation was opened "without ever having spoken to the person who provided the information" claiming there was collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

"The speed and manner in which the FBI opened and investigated Crossfire Hurricane during the presidential election season based on raw, unanalyzed, and uncorroborated intelligence also reflected a noticeable departure from how it approached prior matters involving possible attempted foreign election interference plans aimed at the Clinton campaign," the report states.

Trump repeatedly asserted that members of the Obama administration had spied on his campaign and committed "the biggest political crime in American history" by trying to sabotage his presidency.

What happened to the Durham report?

Durham's probe transitioned into a criminal investigation in the fall of 2019, and aspects of the wide-ranging examination were handed off to federal prosecutors in Texas and Missouri.

FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith pleads guilty

The investigation led to one conviction: former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith pleaded guilty in 2020 to making a false statement after he was found to have altered a CIA email cited in a warrant application to the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to surveil former Trump campaign aide Carter Page.

Page made several exculpatory statements, but federal investigators failed to inform the Justice Department, Durham found.

The special counsel's report detailed the conflicting approaches between the FBI and Justice Department over the initial application to surveil Page, with records demonstrating "the inclination on the part of the department personnel to move cautiously and FBI executives to move quickly."

Durham found that the FBI drafted a FISA application on Page before it received information from former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele raising allegations about the Trump campaign and Russia, but information from the so-called dossier was "used to buttress the probable cause in the initial draft FISA application targeting" the Trump campaign aide.

Citing the case against Clinesmith, Durham said other FBI personnel working on the same applications to surveil Page "displayed, at best, a cavalier attitude towards accuracy and completeness."

Bureau personnel also "repeatedly disregarded important requirements when they continued to seek renewals of the FISA surveillance while acknowledging  both then and in hindsight  that they did not genuinely believe there was probable cause to believe that the target was knowingly engaged in clandestine intelligence activities on behalf of a foreign power, or knowingly helping another person in such activities. And certain personnel disregarded significant exculpatory information that should have prompted investigative restraint and re-examination."

Democratic lawyer Michael Sussman acquitted

In the first trial resulting from Durham's investigation, a Washington, D.C. jury acquitted prominent Democratic lawyer Michael Sussmann last year after he was charged with one count of lying to investigators during a Sept. 19, 2016 meeting in which he conveyed now-debunked data that purportedly linked Trump Tower to Russia's Alfa Bank. Durham accused Sussmann of hiding his ties with a technology executive and Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign when he brought the allegations to then-FBI general counsel Jim Baker.

Russian analyst Igor Danchenko acquitted

A third prosecution pursued by Durham, of Russian analyst Igor Danchenko, also ended with an acquittal. Danchenko worked with Steele, the former British intelligence officer behind the controversial dossier about Trump and Russia, and was charged in 2021 with five counts of lying to federal investigators about the sources of the information he provided to Steele's firm. That information was then included in the dossier passed along to the FBI.

Durham report recommendation

The only recommendation the special counsel made in his report was to institute a position to handle "politically sensitive investigations" and to make difficult decisions.

Another review of FBI Russia probe

Durham's investigation is one of several that reviewed the FBI's Russia probe. In December 2019, Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz released his own review into the origins of the investigation, finding there was no evidence of political bias by the bureau. But Horowitz did find 17 "significant inaccuracies and omissions" in each of the four warrant applications submitted to the surveillance court to wiretap Page.

In response to Horowitz's examination, Durham released a statement questioning the conclusions and noting his team had informed the inspector general "that we do not agree with some of the report's conclusions as to predication and how the FBI case was opened."

Durham's investigation was more sweeping than Horowitz's because he had the authority to issue subpoenas for witness testimony and documents, and impanel a grand jury.

Barr was not shy in criticizing the FBI for its conduct. In an April 2020 interview with Fox News, he said the bureau's treatment of Mr. Trump "was one of the greatest travesties in American history" and said it had no basis to launch its investigation. Then, in an interview with CBS News in May 2020, Barr expressed concerns the Justice Department has been increasingly used as a political weapon.

"People, you know, we should choose our leaders through the election process. And efforts to use the law enforcement process to change leaders or to disable administrations are incendiary in this country and destroy our republic," Barr said at the time.

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A Washington, D.C., judge has found an East Naples man guilty for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capital insurrection.

Christopher Worrell, 52, opted to let a judge hear the evidence rather than going before a jury.

On Jan. 6, 2021, after the loss of President Donald Trump's reelection, a mob of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol Building. The mob hoped to prevent Congress from counting electoral college votes and keep then-President-elect Joe Biden from power.

A photo included in a motion from the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia allegedly shows Christopher Worrell spraying pepper spray gel toward law enforcement officers outside the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2020.

More: Trial for East Naples man charged in Jan. 6 mob begins Wednesday without jury

More: East Naples 'Proud Boy' trial includes evidence in the 100s for Jan. 6 Capitol riot

A video of the attack appeared to show Worrell and others accused of storming the building, attacking police officers, breaking building windows and wreaking other damage. Worrell said he is a member of The Proud Boys, a far-right, neo-fascist group that advocates for and participates in politically motivated violent events

Worrell's trial took 10 days, with the verdict delivered by U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth on Friday. Lamberth set sentencing for Aug. 18.

More: Florida man charged with throwing explosive device at Jan. 6 riot, hurting officers

More: Collier man charged in Jan. 6 Capitol riot waives jury trial, guardian dines with Trump

Christopher Worrell speaks during public comment at the Collier County Commissioner meeting on Tuesday, April 26, 2022.

Worrell had pleaded not guilty to all the original charges. He faced 19 counts.

Lamberth found Worrell guilty of seven counts:

Obstruction of an official proceeding.

Entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon.

Disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon.

Engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon.

Act of physical violence in the U.S. Capitol grounds or buildings.

Civil disorder.

Assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon.

As of mid-March, at least 975 people were charged with federal crimes for their roles in the riot  502 have pleaded guilty and 382 have been sentenced. Of those, at least 192 people have received prison sentences.

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Worrell is among at least 111 Florida residents charged in connection with the mob.

A clerk at the Washington, D.C., federal court was unable to confirm whether Worrell is in custody. His attorney, William Shipley, and court-approved custodian Trish Priller, 52, who used to work for the Naples Daily News, didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: East Naples man Christopher Worrell guilty in attack on U.S. Capitol
Chinese flag - stock photo Image Source/ Getty Images

A Chinese court has sentenced a 78-year-old American citizen to life in prison on spying charges, CNN reports.

The Intermediate People's Court in the eastern city of Suzhou convicted John Shing-Wan Leung, also a permanent resident of Hong Kong, of espionage and handed down a life sentence on Monday, per the court's statement. Leung was arrested by state authorities in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, on April 15, 2021, according to the statement, though there were no further details on the nature of his charges. The court also confiscated about 500,000 Yuan ($71,797) worth of his personal property.

Authorities and state media have not disclosed much about Leung's detention or the court proceedings leading to his sentence. Cases involving spying or "other sensitive political issues are often shrouded in secrecy" in China, The New York Times notes. "Courts are controlled by the ruling Communist Party."

Leung's conviction comes as China ramps up efforts to curtail "what it sees as a growing threat of spies through a wave of raids, inspections, and arrests targeting businesses with foreign ties as well as individuals," the Times adds. In March, a Japanese business executive was arrested for suspected espionage, "the 17th Japanese national to have been detained in China since the counter-espionage law was introduced in 2014," CNN says.

Last month, China approved amendments to the existing counterespionage law, which will go into effect on July 1. The changes expanded the law's definition of espionage to include any "documents, data, materials or items related to national security and interests." Cyber attacks on government organizations or "critical information infrastructures" are also included, CNN summarizes. Experts say the latest amendments to the sweeping anti-espionage law could criminalize "a range of mundane tasks related to information gathering such as the work of journalists and due diligence research on companies," per the Times.

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Editors note: The Island Packet agreed to grant anonymity to the victims family in this story because the victim may be still at risk from the perpetrators.

The eight-month and nearly $500,000 gut-wrenching ordeal began with a single download.

Shirley, a 74-year-old Hilton Head retiree living near Coligny Beach, mistakenly thought an email  purportedly from the online payment system PayPal  was legitimate. When she opened it, the fraudulent message warned the womans account had been hacked, and offered a customer support software solution to fix the issue.

But neither the email nor the software came from PayPal. The file was designed and delivered by thieves to bleed all the cash they could from her accounts.

The customer support download was actually a remote desktop protocol, which allows outside users to connect to and operate a computer remotely. Once downloaded, the program gave entry to an organized network of scammers, providing them broad access to Shirleys computer data, personal information and passwords for several of her bank accounts.

From there, the fraudsters launched an elaborate operation of theft and lies. Through most of 2022, they quietly took thousands from Shirleys checking and savings accounts, eventually convincing her to make large cash withdrawals for conversion to gift cards and cryptocurrency.

A lawsuit filed May 8 in Beaufort County courts names three companies  PayPal, Bank of America and Wells Fargo  not as the perpetrators of the fraud, but as liable for not questioning, pausing or stopping the fraudulent transactions in accordance with state and federal consumer protection laws, according to the court summons.

The banks have to do their part, said Dave Maxfield, a Columbia consumer protection attorney representing Shirley and her family. When theres a preventable loss that the bank could have stopped, even by just hitting pause on the transaction, they need to step up and take responsibility for it.

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Court documents say all three corporations failed to take corrective actions while the fraud took place, even when the victim made unusually large in-person withdrawals from her banks.

The scam finally came to light on Dec. 10  eight months after the victim received the first fraudulent email from the thieves.

Ill never forget that day, said Nathan, the victims son. As he sat down on the couch for some Saturday morning coffee he received a text from an unknown number. It said something like your mom is part of a very big scam and were about to go after the last of her money, which is in her investment accounts, he told The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette.

Additional texts to Nathan revealed the swath of personal data the fraudsters had on file, including login credentials for nearly a dozen of his mothers online accounts, detailed reports of when her computer went in for repairs, and even the financial information of Shirleys 97-year-old mother.

Digging his mother out of the scheme was a long and complicated process, Nathan said. Its such a tangled web that they weave, he added. I think I had to lock down 22 accounts across 11 financial institutions.

He recalled making a trip to the Verizon store, where he bought his mom a new phone with a new number, created under his own account. By the next day, the scammers had found Shirleys new number  and the texts from the thieves kept flooding in.

The sheer amount of personal data scammers have access to makes it easy to brainwash their victims, Nathan said. It creates a situation where you believe its all true, because how could it not be? he said. They know everything about you, even if you havent told it to them.

The lawsuit calls for the defendant companies to return all stolen funds in addition to damages for the emotional strain suffered by Shirley and her family.

A spokesperson from Wells Fargo said the company is reviewing the complaint but advised the bank cannot comment on pending litigation. Representatives from PayPal and Bank of America did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.

Beaufort County is a target-rich environment for scammers





Although Shirleys story is the most complicated hes ever seen, Maxfield says about 40% of his cases involve similar financial scams. Calls from victims of fraud and scams come to his office almost daily.

Maxfield says these scams have changed massively in recent years. While schemes from the internets infancy revolved around hope and opportunism  emails from princes and heirs hoping to share their wealth with a lucky few  modern scams operate on fear, warning customers their data or savings are at risk. Some even threaten victims with potential jail time.

In moms case, they absolutely had (put) the fear of death in her, Nathan said, explaining why his mother didnt reach out to relatives for help. She was so fearful of what these people were going to do to her.

Investigators from the Beaufort County Sheriffs Office say local financial scams are becoming more frequent and more convincing. Some involve scammers posing as deputies, telling people they owe money to the agency for missing jury duty.

The losses are staggering

Fraudsters stole more than $1 million from county residents in 2022, said Sheriffs Office spokesperson Maj. Angela Viens. The years largest loss came in September, when a Beaufort woman had over $800,000 stolen by con artists claiming to be FBI agents, telling her she had to buy gold to protect her assets after her identity had been compromised.

County investigators have written 40 reports for scam and fraud crimes so far in 2023, Viens said.

We are a target-rich environment in the sense of retirees, said Lt. Eric Calendine, who has taken a special interest in scam and fraud investigations for the Sheriffs Office.

The countys most common cases involve fraudsters pretending a persons personal data has been breached by a computer virus, or masquerading as bank representatives to convince customers their accounts are at risk, Calendine previously told The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette.

Arrests and recovery are rare

These cases are notoriously hard to crack. Viens said the departments solve rate is very low for scam and fraud investigations, in tune with low indictment rates across the country and worldwide. One analysis of 2021 data from the United Kingdom suggests only 0.1% of the countrys frauds result in criminal charges.

Scam investigators are hindered by a number of roadblocks, Viens said. The majority of schemes targeting Beaufort County residents are operated out-of-state or even internationally, making it difficult to pinpoint a perpetrator. And fraudulent funds are often funneled through other unknowing victims  money mules  thus obscuring the payments original source.

Even after catching on to the crime, many victims of fraud delay reporting their financial losses to police out of embarrassment, Viens added, which over time lessens the likelihood of a successful investigation.

But police can sometimes stop scams in their tracks if theyre reported early enough. In 2018, Viens said, one fraud operation convinced a Beaufort County resident to ship a box filled with $70,000 in cash via FedEx. Catching wind of the case, Sheriffs Office deputies were able to intercept the package at the delivery center and return the money. Later that year, officers retrieved and returned another package containing $35,000 to a different victim, who had already lost $25,000 in a previous shipment that could not be returned.

County police always encourage scam victims to report incidents to the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), which helps federal investigators identify cases common themes and shared perpetrators. Their reporting process has helped solve multiple local investigations, Viens said, most recently in March.

How to protect yourself

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission warns that many scammers will pressure victims to act immediately, before their claims can be verified. Here are steps you can take to protect yourself from financial scams:

Do not accept calls from an unknown number.

Never give your name or other personal information over the phone in response to a request that you didnt expect.

Do not fall under pressure to act immediately. If they are a legitimate organization, they will not pressure you to make a decision immediately.

Do not make payments to someone insisting you pay them in wire transfers, using gift cards or with cryptocurrency.

Anyone who thinks they have been the victim of a scam or fraud may call their local police department or submit a tip to the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center at: https://www.ic3.gov.
Elk Grove will fight a state lawsuit alleging the city violated California affordable housing law, council members decided last week.

The 5-0 city council vote in closed session Wednesday sets the stage for the legal battle ahead with state officials.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta made good earlier this month on past threats to sue after Elk Grove leaders rejected the Oak Rose affordable housing project planned for Elk Grove Boulevard and Kent Street in the citys historic Old Town.

Theyve resisted the law time and time again. They have left us no choice, Bonta said in announcing the lawsuit. Everyone deserves to have a place to call home, Bonta said adding the Elk Grove lawsuit sends a strong message to local governments: if you violate fair housing laws, we will hold you to account.

How the case of Bonta v. Elk Grove will pan out is not clear. City officials declined to discuss details Thursday citing the pending suit, but said in a statement that they hoped for a resolution, saying Elk Grove will continue to work with its partners in the region to address housing needs.

The path toward resolution of the case could take various routes. Given the variables inherent in litigation, and the fact that the case is in its early stages, the city is not in a position to address details of the case at this time, officials said. The city does, however, look forward to a resolution of the case.

Elk Grove leaders continue to defend the citys record on affordable housing pointing to new projects including Bruceville Roads 387-unit Poppy Grove Apartments.

The city of Elk Grove is not a bad actor, Singh-Allen said earlier this month in response to the states lawsuit. Elk Grove has a strong track record for supporting affordable housing projects.

Bonta in 2021 created a team within the California Department of Justice dedicated to enforcing state housing laws. Gov. Gavin Newsom said holding local governments to account for reducing the states homeless crisis and increasing its affordable housing stock would stand atop his list of priorities in his second term. Bonta sued the city of Huntington Beach in April after years of skirmishes between the state and the Orange County city over housing enforcement.

Story continues

State housing officials initially sounded the alarm last October in a scathing report that charged the city broke state law, employed double standards and failed to fulfill its own goals of promoting and providing affordable housing stock when it rejected plans for the low-income apartments.

Oak Roses developers, who had filed their own lawsuit against Elk Grove before the states October report to compel the city to approve the project, said their planned 67-unit, three-story development would be the first permanent housing project in Elk Grove for the homeless.

Housing officials in the October report said Elk Grove should at a minimum, (provide) a specific plan for corrective action, including allowing the project to move forward.

Elk Grove leaders maintained that they continue to work with Oak Roses developers to find an alternative site even as they bitterly complain that state law wrests away local governments control to make decisions on affordable housing projects.
Representing the great achievements of the prehistoric rice-cultivating civilizations of China between 3300 BC and 2300 BC, the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, is being hailed as an outstanding example of an early urban civilization that stands as a concrete and compelling testament to the existence of at least 5,000 years of Chinese history.

Opening to public after being inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List at the 43rd session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Azerbaijan in July 2019, the cultural site, which covers around 14.34 square kilometers, has become a popular tourist attraction thanks to the application of ever-evolving technologies that help to evocatively unravel the mysteries of this millennia-old site.

Early in 2019, full 5G network coverage was rolled out at the site, making it the first national archaeological park of its kind in China to do so. And with integrated 5G systems, facilities and applications featuring cutting-edge technologies  ranging from 5G+VR (virtual reality) synchronous classrooms allowing for remote teaching, AR (augmented reality) glasses enabling visitors to witness a bird carved onto a jade disc relic take flight and circle around, to a VR headset that offers tourists the chance to experience fishing and deer hunting as the ancient Liangzhu residents did, and the use of 5G-supported patrolling drones  the site has been paving the way to better deliver Liangzhu's ancient stories in more vivid detail for its visitors.

Tourists are also able to embark on a virtual tour of the Liangzhu Museum, where rare relics found in the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City are on display, by visiting the museum's website and exploring the historical and cultural knowledge behind the ancient site through high-definition pictures and virtual reality.
PARIS (Reuters) -Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk will meet French President Emmanuel Macron and other political leaders on Monday at a business conference close to Paris, the Elysee Palace said, confirming earlier media reports.

Musk, the CEO of Tesla who bought social network Twitter in a $44 billion deal last year, will meet Macron at the palace before attending lunch with Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, the finance ministry told Reuters.

Musk will also visit the sixth edition of the annual "Choose France" summit in Versailles, aimed at boosting international investment in France.

Le Maire told BFM TV that the talks between the government and Musk would cover several topics, including electric cars.

Asked by BFM TV if any announcement was likely, Le Maire said "all investments that are being made today are the result of months or even years of negotiations."

Facing pressure over a widely unpopular proposal to raise the French retirement age - which weighed on Macron's approval ratings - the president has been seeking to win back momentum by championing a push towards the green industry sector.

Last week, France beat competition from Germany and the Netherlands for ProLogium's first overseas car battery plant, thanks to heavy government lobbying, deal sweeteners and competitive power prices, executives from the Taiwanese company said.

(Reporting by Tassilo Hummel, Michel Rose and Blandine Henault; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Bernadette Baum)
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

Another billionaire could soon be subpoenaed in a lawsuit over Jeffrey Epstein.

On Monday, the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands filed a motion indicating it was attempting to get records from Tesla and Twitter mogul Elon Musk as part of its litigation against JPMorgan, which it has accused of facilitating Epsteins sex-trafficking ring.

In the legal filing, lawyers for the Caribbean territory said the bank profited from the business opportunities referred to JPMorgan by Epstein and that Musk is a high-net-worth individual who Epstein may have referred or attempted to refer to JPMorgan.

The Daily Beast has reached out to Musk for comment.

Jeffrey Epstein Accuser Names Powerful Men in Alleged Sex Ring

The U.S. Virgin Islands says it issued a subpoena to Musk on April 28 but has been unable to personally serve him with it. The government is requesting the Manhattan federal judge overseeing the case grant alternative service via Teslas registered agent.

The Government made good-faith attempts to obtain an address for Mr. Musk, including hiring an investigative firm to search public records databases for possible addresses, the motion states, adding that discovery in the case is scheduled to end at the end of the month.

The subpoena, attached to the new legal filing, requests documents showing communications between Musk and JPMorgan regarding Epstein or Epsteins role with respect to Your accounts, transactions, or financial management.

It also seeks communications between Musk and Epstein regarding JPMorgan, documents reflecting fees paid to Epstein or JPMorgan, and records tied to Epsteins involvement in human trafficking and/or his procurement of girls or women for commercial sex.

As The Daily Beast reported, Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin are facing similar subpoenas as part of the case, as are billionaires Thomas Pritzker and Mortimer Zuckerman, and Michael Ovitz, a venture capitalist and former Hollywood agent.

Story continues

The Virgin Islands, and an Epstein victim referred to as Jane Doe, are suing JPMorgan for continuing to keep Epstein as a client despite numerous red flags over his trafficking scheme. The litigation has unearthed new revelations about powerful people in Epsteins orbitin particular, JPMorgan executive Jes Staley, who is accused of sexually abusing Doe.

Its unclear what information Musk could have on Epstein.

Musks alleged ties to Epstein and his convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell have come back to haunt him in recent years. After Twitter users bashed him for being photographed with Maxwell at a 2014 Vanity Fair Oscar party, he claimed he was photobombed.

But last fall, a report surfaced that the duo chatted that night and that Maxwell urged Musk to destroy the internet and asked why aliens hadnt communicated with humanity.

Meanwhile, Musks ex-wife, Talulah Riley, tweeted that she and Musk once visited Epsteins New York townhouse as part of an itinerary of appointments. (The tweet was aimed at dispelling rumors that Maxwell procured her as a bride for Musk.)

Riley said she and Musk would travel constantly with a contact/minder/guide.

This trip was no different, she added of the Epstein meeting. There was a man taking us round the city and introducing us to various people.

Bill Gates Thought Jeffrey Epstein Was His Ticket to a Nobel Prize, Ex-Staffer Says

In 2019, Vanity Fair reported that Musk introduced Epstein to Facebook honcho Mark Zuckerberg at a dinner hosted by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman in Palo Alto.

At the time, Musk told the magazine, I dont recall introducing Epstein to anyone, as I dont know the guy well enough to do so, Epstein is obviously a creep and Zuckerberg is not a friend of mine. He added that he had visited Epsteins mansion for about 30 minutes with Riley, who was curious about meeting this strange person for a novel she was writing.

We did not see anything inappropriate at all, apart from weird art, Musk concluded. He tried repeatedly to get me to visit his island. I declined.

New York Times columnist James Stewart also previously alluded to a possible relationship between Epstein and Musk, writing in 2019 that he reached out to Epstein the year before over rumors that he was advising Teslas embattled chief executive, Elon Musk, who was in trouble after announcing on Twitter that he had lined up the funding to take Tesla private.

There were calls for Mr. Musk to relinquish his position as Teslas chairman and for Tesla to recruit more independent directors, Stewart wrote. Id heard that Mr. Epstein was compiling a list of candidates at Mr. Musks behestand that Mr. Epstein had an email from Mr. Musk authorizing the search for a new chairman.

Musk adamantly denied this assertion, and a spokeswoman for the billionaire said: It is incorrect to say that Epstein ever advised Elon on anything.

In 2020, Insider reported that Epstein introduced Elon Musks brother, Kimbal, to a woman in his circle who lived in a Manhattan building where Epstein housed models. Kimbal and the woman dated from 2011 to 2012, according to the report.

Insider noted that as a result of this relationship, Epstein and his entourage snagged a private tour of Elon Musks SpaceX in California in 2012.

An attorney for SpaceX, however, denied Epstein ever set foot on the property.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Elon Musk has failed in his latest attempt to challenge a ruling that requires a lawyer's approval for some Tesla-related tweets. A federal appeals court in Manhattan has rebuffed Musk's claim that the 2018 consent decree with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is an unfair "prior restraint" on his speech. The CEO could have defended himself against the charges or negotiated a different deal if he'd wanted to tweet without a legal monitor, the court panel says.

Musk reached a settlement with the SEC in 2018 after the regulator claimed that he lied when he had "funding secured" for taking Tesla private. On top of requiring approval, the deal also had Musk step down as Tesla chairman. He and his company paid separate $20 million fines. The SEC wanted to find Musk in contempt when he claimed that Tesla would make 500,000 cars one year, but a judge pushed the parties involved to negotiate a 2019 arrangement that gave Musk more freedom in return for requiring legal team approval for finance-related tweets.

The tech leader has fought with the SEC in the years since, and more recently has been calling for courts to undo the settlement. Musk claims the Commission pressured him to strike a deal and overstepped its authority. The pact violated free speech rights, Musk's side claimed. A judge denied a request to cancel the deal last April, prompting the appeal.

It's not certain how Musk and Tesla will respond. Tesla disbanded its communications team years ago. If this latest decision stands, though, Musk won't have much choice but to either have his tweets screened or risk a regulatory crackdown.
By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) -A federal appeals court on Monday rejected Elon Musk's bid to modify or end his 2018 securities fraud settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that required a Tesla Inc lawyer to approve some of his tweets in advance.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan rejected Musk's claim that the SEC exploited his consent decree to conduct bad-faith, harassing investigations that violated his First Amendment free speech rights under the U.S. Constitution.

Musk's decree resolved an SEC lawsuit accusing him of defrauding investors with an Aug. 7, 2018, tweet that he had "funding secured" to take his electric car company private.

It required advance review of tweets that might contain material information about Tesla. Musk and Tesla each also paid $20 million in civil fines, and Musk gave up his role as chairman.

In the appeal, Musk's lawyers called the pre-approval mandate a "government-imposed muzzle" that amounted to an illegal prior restraint on his speech.

But the three-judge appeals court panel said the SEC had opened just two subsequent inquiries into Musk's tweets, and those tweets "plausibly violated" the decree's terms.

The panel said the SEC's "limited, appropriate inquiries in this case have not made compliance with the consent decree 'substantially more onerous'" for Musk, as he had argued.

It also said Musk chose to allow screening of his tweets, and had no right to revisit the matter "because he has now changed his mind."

Alex Spiro, a lawyer for Musk, said in an email: "We will seek further review and continue to bring attention to the important issue of the government constraint on speech."

The SEC declined to comment.

Monday's decision upheld an April 2022 ruling by U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman in Manhattan.

Liman called Musk's arguments a "bemoaning" of requirements he no longer wanted to adhere to now that Tesla had "become, in his estimation, all but invincible."

Story continues

Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion in October, and runs rocket and spacecraft manufacturer SpaceX. He is the world's second-richest person, according to Forbes magazine.

In February, a San Francisco jury found Musk not liable for investor losses over his "funding secured" tweet.

The case is SEC v Musk, 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 22-1291.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Ghislaine Maxwell and Elon Musk attend the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscar Party - Kevin Mazur/VF14/WireImage

Elon Musk has denied ever receiving financial advice from convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein after a court demanded he hand over evidence on his alleged dealings with the late financier.



Responding to a court subpoena to hand over evidence he may hold about Epstein, Mr Musk said: That cretin never advised me on anything whatsoever.



The US Virgin Islands has demanded the Tesla boss hand over any documents or payment records concerning investment bank JP Morgan and Epstein, according to court documents filed on Monday. It is also seeking any evidence he may hold about Epsteins sex trafficking.

Mr Musk hit back at the subpoena, calling it idiotic on so many levels.



On Twitter, the worlds second richest man said: The notion I would need or listen to financial advice from a dumb crook is absurd.

He added that Tesla had no dealings with JP Morgan, saying: [JP Morgan] let Tesla down 10 years ago, despite having Teslas commercial banking business, which we then withdrew. I have never forgiven them.

The US Virgin Islands is suing JP Morgan, alleging the Wall Street bank helped facilitate Epsteins sex trafficking on Little St James, a private island he owned, by ignoring red flags while providing him financial services.

The lawsuit relates to Little St James, Epstein's private island - REUTERS

The countrys lawyers have demanded documents from multiple high profile alleged clients and other billionaires who knew Epstein.



JP Morgan has denied the claims and called them misdirected and deficient.

Mr Musk has faced questions about whether he knew Epstein or his confidante Ghislaine Maxwell. Mr Musk was photographed in 2014 alongside Maxwell, who was convicted on sex trafficking charges two years ago, at an Oscars party.

The Tesla chief has denied knowing her and said Maxwell photobombed me once. Maxwell is appealing her conviction.

Epstein, who died by suicide in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while facing sex trafficking charges, claimed to have advised Mr Musk in 2018 while he searched for a Tesla chairman. Mr Musk has denied the claim.

Story continues

The US Virgin Islands applied to a court in the US for permission to serve the court demands to Mr Musk after failing to reach him. It was said to have hired private investigators to try and track down the billionaire.

The nation is also seeking permission to serve court demands on electric car company Tesla.

Earlier this month, a US judge granted permission for the islands to serve papers to Google co-founder Larry Page. It has also sought evidence from fellow Google founder Sergey Brin and former Disney executive Michael Ovitz.

There is no indication they have done anything wrong.

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The "farewell bell" celebration on 23 May has been cancelled in schools in Russias Bryansk Oblast, which borders Ukraine. [This is a traditional ceremony held in schools in Russia and other post-Soviet countries at the end of the school year, but before the final exams - ed.]

Source: Russian state-owned news agency TASS with reference to Andrei Milekhin, regional education minister; Vyacheslav Gladkov, Governor of Bryansk Oblast, on Telegram

Details: Farewell bell ceremonies have been cancelled in schools located 15 km from the border with Ukraine.

In non-border areas of the oblast, the festivities should still take place, but the number of schoolchildren at such events will reportedly be limited to no more than 300.

Bryansk Oblast governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said in early May that it was impossible to hold graduation ceremonies in schools in areas bordering Ukraine, which Russia has attacked.

He also suggested taking children further away from the border and presenting their certificates there.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Grambling State University

Whether colleges and universities should consider race or ethnicity during the admission process has been a widely debated topic in postsecondary education for years.

However, proposed legislation at the Louisiana State Capitol could potentially tip the scale on the conversation regarding admissions process.

Senate Bill No. 128, introduced by Sen. Jay Morris (R-West Monroe), prohibits colleges and universities from using an applicant's race or an applicant's family member's race, sex or national origin during admission and scholarship processes.

With the proposed legislation pending approval from the Senate Education Committee, how could it affect students in higher education?

What exactly does the proposal read?

The proposed law prohibits public postsecondary education institutions from using information relative to an applicant's or an applicant's family member's race, sex, or national origin in making admissions decisions for the institution or a program of study.

According to the proposed law's original text, each public college and university would be required to clearly state the criteria used in their admissions processes in admissions documents and on the institution's admissions website. The schools will also be prohibited from using subjective or vague criteria in the process.

The proposed law also prohibits public postsecondary education institutions from using information relative to an applicant's or an applicant's family member's race, sex or national origin in awarding of scholarships, grants, or other financial aid, unless the aid program requires the preferential treatment. It prohibits a scholarship, grant, or financial aid program funded with any state or institution monies from including terms that provide preferential treatment based on race, sex or national origin.

More: What would ending college diversity measures mean for some Louisiana schools?

Each public college and university will be required to provide a report to the Senate and House education committees on the aid programs that require the consideration of a student's race, sex or national origin and to identify the funding mechanism for each aid program.

Story continues

A student may seek a writ of mandamus or injunctive relief, together with attorneys fees and costs, to require compliance with the proposed law.

Attempts to reach Morris for comment were unsuccessful.

University of Louisiana at Monroe

How would the proposed legislation affect students in higher education?

The consideration of race, gender and other unrelated factors were put into place to ensure no biases in the admission and scholarship processes, Grambling State University Vice-President of Enrollment Management Gavin Hamms said.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1978 following Regents of the University of California v. Blakke, that using race as an exclusive basis for admissions decisions violated the 14th Amendment and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion sex or national origin.

With the removal of those considerations, Hamms said, the proposed legislation almost suggests that racial biases and gender inequality no longer exist.

"You're almost making decisions based upon some quantitative data when there's so many other factors that go into student performance," Hamms said. "There's a lot of suggestion that there may be racial biases in standardized testing. They're also socioeconomic issues that go into resources that allow certain student populations to be able to have the resources to be able to have test preparation at an early age and so all of these things being considered, you have to ensure that access is granted to all who want to pursue higher education. Sometimes those other points need to be considered."

The proposed legislation could potentially affect the awarding of foundation scholarships to students at the University of Louisiana Monroe, Vice-President of Enrollment Management Lisa Miller said. The ULM Foundation scholarships are privately funded by alumni and donors and are awarded to students who meet the criteria defined by those donors.

For example, the Lettie Whitehead Foundation offers scholarships to students pursuing medical careers at ULM as well as other universities throughout the country. When the university seeks out students for the scholarship, Miller said they look for students with the greatest needs and who are majoring in health sciences, such as nursing and medical laboratory science.

Miller said the university offers scholarships to minority and diverse students that are privately funded, some of which include a scholarship for Indian students, a scholarship for students identifying as LGBTQ and a scholarship for Black students endowed by the ULM Black Alumni Club.

"Those are not state dollars but private dollars," Miller said. "You will hear about... I would say it's usually going to be a more selective institution or a private institution that may be trying to diversify their population that will utilize their scholarship dollars to make that happen. The way we're audited by the state is that we must use our dollars the same across the board by the criteria that is the same across the state and the criteria that we are approved to award scholarships on. Private scholarships are a little bit different. If someone came in and they wanted to establish a scholarship for residents of Ouachita Parish or students of alumni then we would award those dollars accordingly but again those are private dollars, not state dollars."

Miller said she is not sure that the proposed legislation would have a significant impact on what the University of Louisiana Monroe is currently doing.

"I think what we're doing is fair," Miller said. "We have a very diverse population here at the university. We feel like we do a very good job at reaching out to every population accordingly and making them feel a part of the Warhawk family."

Follow Ian Robinson on Twitter @_irobinson and on Facebook at https://bit.ly/3vln0w1.

Support local journalism by subscribing at https://cm.thenewsstar.com/specialoffer.

This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Proposed bill bans affirmative action in college admission processes
Design specialists have released tentative replacement plans for a key bridge project in northern Allegany County.

LaBella Associates will outline its engineering proposal for the new county Road 26 bridge in Belfast on May 22 during an information session in the Belfast Municipal Building.

Allegany County and Town of Belfast officials will also be in attendance at the meeting.

A sign cautions motorists that the county Road 26 bridge over the Genesee River in the Town of Belfast in Allegany County is closed.

When Belfast bridge will be replaced

Once plans are approved by the New York state Department of Transportation, a bid packet will be released in the fall and construction is expected to begin in late spring or early summer 2024, officials closely involved with the project told the Evening Tribune.

Those officials forecast a fall 2024 opening date for the bridge, which takes motorists from one side of the Genesee River to the other.

The old county Road 26 bridge was closed on Feb. 4, 2022 following a DOT safety inspection of its components and structural elements.

During that same month, New York state committed $8.6 million for an expedited bridge replacement.

Why the county Road 26 bridge in Belfast is important

The bridge, which was constructed in 1974, is the only river crossing within nearly a dozen miles. When open, approximately 1,000 vehicles pass over the span each day, according to the Allegany County Department of Public Works.

The closure has impacted the routing of police, fire and emergency services, significantly altered school transportation plans and created a substantial detour for commuter and business traffic, both county and town officials said.

With the previous bridge now removed, traffic is being maintained using an off-site detour.

Public safety: Grand jury indicts Hornell man on 16 counts of rape, other charges

For subscribers: The federal COVID emergency is ending. What that means for vaccines, testing in NY

Campaign 2023: These candidates are running for Hornell Common Council: Here are the wards to watch

Preliminary plans for new county Route 26 bridge

The project objective, according to design engineers, is to "restore the bridge condition rating to 5 or greater, for at least 75 years" utilizing the most cost effective methods and minimizing maintenance and repair expenses.

Story continues

Plans call for a three-span continuous steel multi-girder structure, supported on concrete abutments. The previous bridge had a two-span design.

"We like the three span option because it eliminates a center pier," said Thomas H. Windus, superintendent of the Allegany County Department of Public Works. "Any time you have an obstruction within a waterway there is a potential to have flood debris collect on it. If we can eliminate this obstruction in the middle of the flow, it eliminates the issue from happening."

The new bridge is slated to be 326 feet in length, slightly lengthier than the old bridge which was 288 feet long.

"The reason we needed to lengthen the bridge is due to the instability of the west bank," Windus explained. "This was the cause of the old bridge abutment failing and we wanted to make sure the new bridge wouldnt end up the same way.

The width will be the same as before, with two, 11-foot lanes for traffic, according to the engineering plan.

Like the previous bridge, there are no plans for sidewalks. Pedestrians will be accommodated on the shoulders.

What's on tap for the May 22 public meeting

The session will take place starting at 6 p.m. in the Belfast Municipal Building on Merson Avenue.

There will be a short presentation on the project, followed by a question and answer period.

Neal Simon on Twitter @HornellTribNeal. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Belfast bridge replacement plan taking shape: What happens next
Rep. Tony Gonzales - Credit: CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) was openly critical of his own partys leadership for portraying undocumented immigrants as the enemy. Appearing on Face the Nation, the congressman accused House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of demonizing those who enter the country without proper documentation.

Youve got Kevin McCarthy on one side that is demonizing those that come over illegally, Gonzales told host Margaret Brennan on Sunday. But he criticized Democrats as well, saying, Youve got Chuck Schumer on the other side in the Senate that makes it a morally good thing to help people that are coming over illegally. Who gets hurt in this is people that have legal claims.

More from Rolling Stone

Gonzales, whose district covers a significant portion of the border between the U.S. and Mexico, has previously been openly critical of McCarthy and the partys approach to immigration. Bring unchristian anti-immigrant bills to the floor and I am a NO on the debt ceiling, Gonzales wrote on Twitter late last month.

With the end of the pandemic-era health restrictions  including Title 42, which allowed authorities to turn away migrants at the border, including those seeking asylum  the government will instead follow Title 8, a decades-old policy that brings what Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas described as more severe consequences for undocumented migrants. The end of Title 42 also raises concerns that a surge of immigrants will attempt to enter the United States from the global South.

Gonzales recently visited the border alongside McCarthy where he captured videos depicting the crowded and inhumane conditions in immigration facilities.

This is what Im hearing on the ground  from mayors, from Border Patrol agents, from embedded media  everyone is saying its not that bad, Gonzales said. So on Friday I went to El Paso, I visited the central processing center. Youre seeing on these videos, this is what not that bad looks like. In the El Paso sector there are over 6,000 people in custody. This particular facility is meant to house 1,000 people; its housing 3,000.

Story continues

"We can't allow not that bad to be the normal," says Texas Rep. @TonyGonzales4TX on the overcrowding of migrant central processing centers in El Paso. Adding that just this week a migrant minor died in HHS custody. pic.twitter.com/NSXVEMM8gv  Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) May 14, 2023

Rooms in the facility are at more than 450 percent capacity, he added. We cant allow not that bad to be the normal, Gonzales said. Just this week there was a migrant child that died in HHS custody. Thats only the second time in history.

On Friday, the White House confirmed that 17-year-old Honduran Angel Eduardo Maradiaga Espinoz died in a shelter in Safety Harbor, Fla. According to HHS, a medical examiners investigation is underway. There were 8,672 children in HHS custody as of Friday.

Texas Rep. @TonyGonzales4TX says the alternative to releasing migrants is that President Biden should "surge" immigration judges to the border and that migrants should get their case heard in days, not years. Adding, " This is America. Get your day in court." pic.twitter.com/c1drN3qgd0  Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) May 14, 2023

The congressman also called out the Biden administration for extremely long wait times for immigration hearings. Right now, in El Paso, if you apply on the one app  I was at the port of entry  if you apply on the one app, your court date is 2031, Gonzales said. I mean, thats eight years from now. The president can surge, instead of surging 1,500 troops, surge immigration judges.

The attempted demonization of undocumented immigrants that Gonzales called out is common in the GOP and has only heightened xenophobic sentiment in the country as the party attempts to link immigration with violent crime, which makes Gonzales a rare standout.

But immigration isnt the only issue where the congressman breaks with his partys rank-and-file. Gonzales was censured by the Republican Party of Texas last month over his votes supporting a bipartisan gun law and protections for same-sex marriage in addition to his refusal to support a GOP border security bill.

Best of Rolling Stone

Click here to read the full article.
(photo: Canva)

WASHINGTON  After decades of advocacy by tribal nations, states and conservation groups, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is updating requirements for one of the largest sources of mercury pollution.

The changes will require taconite plants to lower their mercury emissions by at least 50 percent by the end of 2026. The proposed rules come after nearly 20 years of advocacy by conservation groups, Michigan and Minnesota, and various Tribes in the region.

This is a step in the right direction, said Earthjustice Attorney James Pew, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Fond Du Lac Band of Ojibwe, in an interview with Native News Online. We now have limits of mercury emissions from taconite plants for the first time ever.

Taconite is a low-grade iron ore that was once considered a waste rock.

Current methods for processing taconite, where it is crushed into small marble-sized pieces. Then the taconite is mixed with water and ground in mills until it becomes a powder, and iron is separated from taconite via magnetism. The taconite is then transported to the steel mills to be melted down into steel.

According to Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), taconite iron ore processing plants are the largest source of mercury pollution in Minnesota. Minnesota is the largest iron ore and taconite producer in the United States. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) says mercury is a naturally occurring element that is toxic to people and animals, and it enters the environment through air emissions from smokestacks at power plants or heavy industry. Mercury then settles into the land and water and often accumulates in fish.

Minnesota and Michigan have had statewide fish consumption advisories related to mercury contamination. Exposure to mercury is poisonous and can cause permanent brain damage, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

We welcome limits on taconite plants emissions of mercury, which are badly needed and long overdue, said Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Chairman Kevin Dupuis in a statement to Native News Online.

Story continues

The new proposed rules in reducing mercury dont go as far as they should, though, said Earthjustice attorney Pew.

EPA needs to go further, however, and set stronger limits for mercury as well as limits for dioxins and other persistent pollutants that are poisoning our fish and waterways, Pew said. Thats good, but other industries have reduced their mercury emissions a lot more like coal power plantsby about 90%.

Taconite plants can do more, and they need to because they need to get the mercury out of the environment so that the waters can recover and fish consumption advisories can be taken down.

The EPA sets toxic air standards for heavy industries such as chemical plants, power plants, and taconite plants. The emission standards are supposed to be reviewed and revised every eight years, according to the Clean Air Act. However, the first emissions standards for taconite plants came out in 2003 and havent been reviewed or revised since and did not set mercury limits.

Earthjustice sued the EPA in 2017 because the EPAs emissions standards for taconite plants were overdue to be reviewed and revised according to the Clear Air Act. As a result of failure to set standards, the Trump Administration violated the Clean Air Act, said Pew.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has requested $17.6 million from the states general fund to create grants that will help reduce pollutants in air emissions or discharges to surface waters. If awarded, mining companies would be required to match grant funding.

About the Author: "Darren Thompson (Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe) is a staff reporter for Native News Online who is based in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Thompson has reported on political unrest, tribal sovereignty, and Indigenous issues for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Indian Country Today, Native News Online, Powwows.com and Unicorn Riot. He has contributed to the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Voice of America on various Indigenous issues in international conversation. He has a bachelor\u2019s degree in Criminology & Law Studies from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. "

Contact: dthompson@nativenewsonline.net
You are here: Business

A passenger train bound for the Lao capital Vientiane awaits departure from Kunming South Railway Station in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 13, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

The China-Laos Railway has handled 13,310 cross-border passenger trips since the launch of its passenger service on April 13, according to the Mohan entry-exit border checkpoint.

During this period, the Chinese border town of Mohan in southwest Yunnan Province logged 7,024 inbound passenger trips and 6,286 outbound trips.

"It's very convenient to travel to China by train now. More and more tourists from Laos and Thailand are planning to travel to China," said Nhanxana, a Laotian tour guide.

The China-Laos Railway, a landmark project of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, began operation in December 2021. The 1,035-km railway connects China's Kunming with Vientiane in Laos.
By Amina Ismail and Lisa Barrington

ERBIL, Iraq/DUBAI (Reuters) - The prospect of Tayyip Erdogan winning another presidential term in Turkey would once have rung alarms around the Middle East, but after taking a more conciliatory stance in recent years his strong election showing on Sunday has caused few flutters.

Erdogan secured just under half the votes and looks well placed for the May 28 runoff against opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, defying some predictions he might lose outright.

Over 20 years, Erdogan championed a muscular regional policy, sending troops to fight Kurds in Iraq, seize border enclaves in Syria and back government forces in Libya while challenging other Middle East powers.

But as Turkey's economy faltered, Erdogan changed his approach, reaching accommodations with rivals such as the United Arab Emirates, but without pulling back Turkish forces on the ground.

While some Kurdish groups still see Erdogan as an implacable foe, most Middle East governments have come to regard the Turkish leader as part of an acceptable status quo in a tumultuous region.

"Gulf countries prefer continuity over change ... the person we know is better than the person we don't know," said Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a political commentator in the UAE.

Erdogan fell out with the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt over his backing of Islamists after the Arab Spring. But with the revolts mostly over and the Muslim Brotherhood weakened around the region, they largely patched up their quarrel.

He repaired relations with the UAE in 2021 and with Riyadh last year, securing investment and economic help in return.

That conciliatory approach has also helped cool the conflict in Libya, where the UAE and Egypt had backed eastern forces against a Tripoli government supported by Turkey. In the uneasy peace since its troops ended an eastern assault in 2020, Ankara now has ties across the old front lines.

"It's business as usual (after the election) and Turkey will remain the influential power that everyone looks to work with," said Tarek Megerisi, a Libya expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

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SYRIA AND IRAQ

When Syria's civil war began, Erdogan backed the rebels against President Bashar al-Assad. But as millions of Syrian refugees crossed into Turkey and after Kurdish fighters established a border presence, he changed focus.

He worked with Assad's main backers Russia and Iran to contain the conflict at times while sending troops into Syria alongside rebels to seize territory from Kurdish groups.

In rebel areas where Turkish backing has helped ward off Syrian government attacks, some voiced support for Erdogan, fearing Kilicdaroglu would end its military support and send refugees back into Syria.

But in majority Kurdish areas some still hoped for an opposition victory in the second round.

"We would like the next president to be Kilicdoroglu, not because he is better than Erdogan, but there is bad and there is worse," said Aziz Suleiman, a Kurdish politician in northern Syria, describing the Turkish president as a "scourge".

That view was echoed in northern Iraq, where Turkey has sent troops against Kurdish militants while maintaining a working relationship with Kurdish authorities in Erbil.

"He's always bombing the broader region. If he leaves, maybe the situation will change," said Raber Mahmoud Ahmed, 30, a driver in Erbil.

Kamaran Othman, who documents casualties of Turkish operations in Iraq, said he had had little hope that an opposition victory in Turkey would have changed things in the long term, but feared an Erdogan win would spell more strife.

"If Erdogan is re-elected, he will come back even more powerful and will be heavy handed in terms of security in the region. It will be very bad," he said.

In Baghdad however, some politicians would "prefer to deal with the devil they know", said Bilal Wahab of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

One impact of an Erdogan win for Iraq could be on oil exports. To Baghdad's chagrin, Turkey closed a pipeline in March over a dispute about oil exported by the autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq.

"If Erdogan wins he might feel more confident in his dealings with Iraq and ... demand more concessions from Baghdad and Erbil" to open the pipeline, Wahab said.

(Reporting by Amina Ismail in Erbil, Lisa Barrington in Dubai, Khalil Ashawi in northwest Syria and Orhan Qereman in northeast Syria; Writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Alison Williams)
Janice Rowry was 59 years old when she stabbed her ex-boyfriend to death in August 2020 in the apartment they continued to share at Erie's Boston Store Place complex.

The defense said Rowry's mental capacity is that of a 10-year-old girl.

The contention held up her trial as her lawyer and the Erie County District Attorney's Office sparred over her mental competency.

Competency concerns: Boston Store homicide case paused for Erie woman, 61, with mental age of 'a young child'

Nearly three years after Rowry, now 62, was charged with first-degree murder, a judge has found her mentally fit to stand trial and set a tentative trial date for mid-November in Erie County Common Pleas Court.

Rowry's lawyer said he will argue that she acted in self-defense when she killed her ex-boyfriend, Jacob Carr, 42, who was still living with her at the time.

The homicide trial for Janice Rowry is tentatively scheduled for mid-November at the Erie County Courthouse.

Rowry stabbed him during a dispute shortly after 12:35 a.m. on Aug. 29, 2020, in their third-floor apartment at Boston Store Place, 716 State St.

"He came at her," said Rowry's court-appointed lawyer, Brian Arrowsmith. "She protected herself."

Arrowsmith declined to comment on whether he will argue that Rowry was legally insane at the time of the killing, a possibility he has raised in court filings.

Another possibility: Insanity defense raised for woman, 61, charged in fatal stabbing of ex-boyfriend in Erie

Arrowsmith commented on the self-defense strategy following a status conference Thursday. At the conference, Erie County Judge David Ridge said he had found Rowry competent and set Nov. 13 as the tentative date for jury selection.

The prosecutor at the status conference, Chief Deputy District Attorney Gregory Reichart, declined to comment.

The other prosecutor on the case, First Assistant District Attorney Jessica Reger, said in a previous interview that the District Attorney's Office wants Rowry held responsible for Carr's death.

"We believe she is legally culpable," Reger said in February 2022, as she and Reichart were dealing with the competency issues.

Story continues

Competency pertains to a defendant's mental state at the time of prosecution. An insanity defense pertains to a defendant's mental state at the time of the incident that led to criminal charges. A defendant can also be found guilty but mentally ill under Pennsylvania law.

Written opinion sealed under new appellate court ruling

Ridge did not go into detail about his competency decision at the status conference. His written opinion on why he found Rowry competent is sealed.

Many court records on a defendant's mental competency used to be public until a three-judge panel of the state Superior Court ruled otherwise in October. The panel placed limits on public access to mental health information in a case that originated in McKean County, Commonwealth v. Marc W. Nuzzo.

The Superior Court, in a precedent-setting 2-1 decision, said the state's Mental Health Procedures Act allows certain information on a criminal defendant's mental competency to be confidential and removed from public view. The ruling has led judges to close competency hearings, which also used to be open to the public.

More mental issues: Mental concerns postpone trial of Erie woman, 60, in fatal stabbing of ex-boyfriend

Before the Superior Court ruled in the Nuzzo case, the debate about Rowry's mental capacity had played out in open court and in public court documents. Testimony and documents showed the defense maintained that Rowry's limited intellectual capacity made her incompetent to stand trial because she could not comprehend the legal proceedings or assist in her defense.

A psychologist for the defense testified at a hearing in March 2022 and found Rowry to be incompetent, according to a defense memorandum filed in April 2022. Arrowsmith, Rowry's lawyer, argued that Rowry's "intellectual gap" could never be overcome and that she could not be deemed competent, according to court records.

In its own memo, also filed in April 2022, the District Attorney's Office argued that Rowry was competent to stand trial. The prosecutors cited Rowry's interactions with the police and the content of telephone calls she took while in the Erie County Prison after her arrest.

Ridge did not rule on Rowry's competency in April 2022. Based on the testimony at the hearing in March 2022, he ordered her to undergo another mental exam to help him determine if she was fit for trial.

DA contends premeditation : Erie woman faces trial on first-degree murder in fatal stabbing of roommate

In his order, issued in late April 2022, Ridge said he had not made a final finding that Rowry's "intellectual deficiency, i.e. her having the cognitive ability of a 10-year-old, is of such a nature that she would be forever incompetent to stand trial."

Ridge referred to another defense finding that Rowry has schizophrenia. He said he was not clear, at that point, on the impact of Rowry's "schizophrenia treatment on her ability to assist in her defense."

Erie County Judge David Ridge is presiding over the case of homicide defendant Janice Rowry.

Ridge is believed to have used the results of the second mental health exam  performed when Rowry was at Torrance State Hospital, east of Pittsburgh  to determine that Rowry is competent to stand trial.

Rowry to police: 'He jumped on me so I stabbed him'

Rowry is back at the Erie County Prison. Since her arrest in August 2020 she has been held with no bond set because she is accused of first-degree murder, a premeditated killing.

Rowry stabbed Carr, her ex-boyfriend, with a 10-inch kitchen knife, police said. She called 911.

Police responded to the stabbing on a report of a domestic dispute. When officers arrived at the apartment, Rowry told police, "He jumped on me so I stabbed him," according to the affidavit of probable cause filed with Rowrys criminal complaint.

Nine domestic-related calls were placed to 911 by Rowry between June and August 2020, according to testimony at Rowry's preliminary hearing, in September 2020. None of those calls resulted in a hospital visit or charges being filed, according to testimony.

Preliminary hearing: Erie woman held for court in fatal stabbing

During the investigation of Carr's death, Rowry told police Carr was intoxicated and was annoying her, police said. She said he often accused her of being with another man and refused to leave her alone, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

According to testimony at the preliminary hearing, Rowry told an Erie County dispatcher that Carr tried to hurt her and that she stabbed him.

Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNpalattella.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Homicide trial on for Erie woman said to have intellect of 10-year-old
By Gabriela Baczynska

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union's chief executive said on Monday that Kyiv's own peace plan should serve as the starting point for any efforts to end Russia's war in Ukraine, in comments timed to coincide with the start of China's "political settlement" tour of Europe.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke as a top Chinese envoy began a tour of Europe that Beijing says is aimed at discussing a "political settlement" to the war in Ukraine, now in its 15 month.

"Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine," said von der Leyen, who visited Kyiv last week. "We should never forget that Ukraine is the country that was brutally invaded. It's therefore the one that should set out the core principles for just peace."

While she said it was "very good" that Chinese President Xi Jinping had held a phone call with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy, she stressed Beijing should use its influence on Moscow to end the war.

She spoke on the eve of an intense international diplomacy week during which Russia's war against Ukraine would top the agenda.

"We will keep supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes," von der Leyen told a news conference, a statement she said "must translate into stable financial support also beyond 2023, and accelerated military support focused on now and here."

Von der Leyen also backed creating a special tribunal to hold Russia to account and said a new "register of damage" would be launched in the Hague: "a very good step towards Russian compensation."

SANCTIONS

Her comments come a day ahead of a summit of the Council of Europe, the continent's leading human rights watchdog, in Reykjavik, which will be followed by a gathering of G7 leaders of the world's most industrialised countries in Hiroshima.

Von der Leyen said the G7 would discuss sanctions over Russia's war, including the latest proposal for new EU measures put forward by her Commission, the EU's executive arm.

Story continues

The proposal aims to tighten implementation of the sanctions the bloc has imposed on Russia since it invaded Ukraine, including by threatening to curb specific categories of trade with third countries deemed involved in circumvention. That plan has raised some concern in Germany, according to EU diplomats.

Von der Leyen said the proposal - now being discussed by the bloc's 27 member states, which are expected to take time before they reach the necessary unanimity to enact any new sanctions - was largely meant as a deterrent.

She described it as: "A warning that we are serious about our sanctions, that we could ban those goods going to a third country if there is clear evidence that there is circumvention of sanctions and deliveries to Russia."

(Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
A screen showing major Activision Blizzard Franchises with an Xbox Series X in front



Microsoft and Activision Blizzard have argued their $68.7 billion deal would help them remain competitive in a crowded market. So far, the U.S. and UK have disagreed.

Microsofts big deal to eat up one of the biggest power pellets of the video game industry received a boost from EU regulators. On Monday, the European Commissionthe body overseeing the Microsoft/Activision Blizzard mergerannounced it had approved the $68.7 billion deal to go forward, as long as the companies pinkie swear theyll throw a competitive bone to other publishers along the way.

In its announcement Monday morning, the commission said that Microsoft and Activision Blizzard had both agreed to offer free licenses to allow users to stream any of the bought out publishers properties on any cloud game streaming service. This includes all future Activision Blizzard titles for the next 10 years.

Read more

Some of these concessions included allowing licenses for big franchises like Call of Duty and Candy Crush to competing cloud gaming services based in the European Economic Area. This includes countries in the European Union as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. The regulatory body said this would ensure that Activisions games available for streaming will have the same quality and content as games available for traditional download.

The commitments offered by Microsoft will enable for the first time the streaming of such games in any cloud game streaming services, enhancing competition and opportunities for growth, Executive VP of the European Commissions competition policy Margrethe Vestager said in the EUs notice.

In a tweet, Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith said this move would empower millions of consumers worldwide to play these games on any device they choose, Currently, gamers cannot play the latest Call of Duty: Warzone, Diablo, or any of its other titles on a game streaming service.

Story continues

On the side of Activision, the company called it a proper roadmap for regulators around the world. Activisions Chief Communications Officer Lulu Cheng called the EUs decision firm yet pragmatic, unbiased, and fact-driven further implying this would make one of the largest video game publishers in the world somehow more competitive on the world stage in a rapidly growing industry.

Activision Blizzard plans to meaningfully expand our investment and workforce throughout the EU, and were excited for the benefits our deal with Microsoft offers players in Europe and elsewhere.  Lulu Cheng Meservey (@lulumeservey) May 15, 2023

Last month, the UKs competition regulator declared the deal would drastically hurt competition in the video game industry, especially with cloud gaming as Microsoft has been pushing that realm heavily as of late. Both Microsoft and Activision said they would appeal the decision, further mentioning they were willing to offer these or similar concessions to British regulators.

Much of the EUs original concerns related directly to Sony, whose PlayStation consoles have an edge over Microsoft in Europe. Regulators said Microsoft would have no incentive to refuse to distribute Activisions games to Sony. Thats how the commission reasoned the biggest hurdle was the lack of cloud availability for Activision games. Microsoft has mentioned how it wants to expand its cloud-based offerings, even potentially creating an app store to rival Apple and Google.

Microsoft and Activision Blizzard will need to fight off both the UKs and the U.S. scruples to see their full deal come to fruition. U.S. regulators are more than a little wary about that $70 billion deal to merge two titans of the video game industry. Last year, the Federal Trade Commission launched a lawsuit to block the deal. The companies have promised to fight off that suit, and there is a hearing on the merger by the FTC scheduled for August.





This article is part of a developing story. Our writers and editors will be updating this page as new information is released. Please check back again in a few minutes to see the latest updates. Meanwhile, if you want more news coverage, check out our tech, science, or io9 front pages. And you can always see the most recent Gizmodo news stories at gizmodo.com/latest.

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Antonio Vitorino is the current head of the IOM

White House veteran Amy Pope hailed an "extraordinary day" after becoming the first woman elected to head the UN migration agency, promising a more "comprehensive" approach to helping migrants.

Pope, currently a deputy director at the International Organization for Migration, was elected by acclamation after her boss, former Portuguese government minister Antonio Vitorino, bowed to her lead and withdrew from the contest.

The IOM announced in a statement that she would become the organisation's first woman chief on October 1, after its 175 member states elected her to a five-year term.

"It's really an extraordinary day," Pope told reporters after the win, insisting "this is an incredible moment in time in terms of the work our organisation can do".

Pope, 49, pointed to the more than 100 million people who have already been displaced by conflicts and disasters worldwide, in addition to the many migrants simply searching for a better life.

- Climate change impact -

"With the impacts of conflicts and poverty and climate change, there will be even more work that we can do."

She is calling for "a much more comprehensive" approach to migration, including using data to identify vulnerabilities linked to for instance climate change early on, before they force people from their homes.

The IOM was founded in 1951 to handle the displacements in Europe following World War II but the agency only joined the UN fold seven years ago.

The race for the top job at the organisation came as global numbers of migrants soar, with some 281 million migrants throughout the world, according to a 2020 estimate.

After a first round of voting, Pope was just 12 votes shy of the two-thirds majority needed to declare victory.

Instead of allowing the vote to go to a second round, Vitorino decided to bow out of the race.

- 'Shock' challenge -

The unusually acrimonious leadership campaign had pitted the United States, eager to regain its traditional hold on the IOM's top job, against its European allies, observers said.

Story continues

Within the UN system, agency chiefs who wish to take on a second term are typically shooed in without challenge, and a European diplomat told AFP Pope's candidacy "was a bit of a shock."

Pope however told reporters she "never saw this as a battle between the United States and Europe", stressing she looked forward to "working comprehensively with all of our partners".

Vitorino, a 66-year-old former Portuguese defence minister and deputy prime minister who in 2018 became only the second non-American IOM chief in the organisation's history, had appeared defiant before the vote.

"All my predecessors for 70 years made two mandates," he told AFP, adding he saw no reason why he should not do the same.

He enjoyed strong support from European countries, but Pope managed to convince countries in other regions she had the vision needed to address new and emerging challenges.

"The previous director-general did well, but there is a crisis," Gambian ambassador Muhammadou M.O. Kah told AFP after the vote, voicing confidence that Pope "has what it takes".

- Will 'call out' practices -

She has called for a broader focus on the impacts of climate change on migration, which she dubbed "one of the most significant challenges for our generation".

With a long career in migration and disaster relief, including in the administration of former US president Barack Obama, Pope had high-level backing.

US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have weighed in on her behalf.

She insisted though that she would not shy away from criticising US migration policy if warranted.

"I am not working for the United States government," she said, adding it is "important that we as an organisation call out practices no matter where they're coming from."

Pope's election comes as her own country has introduced tough new asylum rules to replace an expired pandemic-era policy.

"The situation at the southern border of the United States underscores why it's so critical that we approach migration from a much more comprehensive point of view," Pope said.

The IOM, she stressed, must work with countries to identify why "people are being displaced, and to build solutions that address ... the root cause."

nl/vog/pvh
Image of Eve's eVTOL suspended in a wind tunnel



Eves eVTOL model suspended in the wind tunnel.

As of 2023, the new millennium has proven to be way less full of flying cars than the movies promised. In todays present, the sky isnt dotted with compact vehicles zipping back and forth through an aerial metropolis. But maybe tomorrow could be. Or at least thats what a handful of tech startups are angling for, Eve Air Mobility included.



The company announced on Monday that it has wrapped up wind tunnel testing for its electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle (eVTOL). Using a stationary, 1/3 scale model of the eight propeller craft, suspended from a rig in the air, Eve says it successfully proved that its helicopter-like design could flythough it hasnt yet. Completing wind tunnel tests is an engineering milestone, the companys chief tech officer, Luiz Valentini, said in a press statement. The testing allows engineers to monitor the flow of air over and around the vehicle and each of its individual parts, the news release further noted.

Read more

In other words: getting the right results in a series of stationary wind tests should mean that Eves eVTOL is one step closer to actually becoming airborne. We were able to validate vehicle characteristics and efficiency along with gathering critical data to validate our vehicle design. This is an important step before we commit to production tooling and manufacturing, Christian Flathman, the companys communications director, told Gizmodo in an email. The next step, according to Flathman, is prototype construction. And from there, the sky is the limit.

Eve says its eVTOL is projected to enter service in 2026. The companys ultimate goal is to create a passenger vehicle that could be used for a variety of urban air mobility missions. According to its website, Eves vehicle is designed to be 100% electric and have a range of 60 miles. The plan is for it to be piloted by a person at the beginning and then shift to autonomous operations after that.



Story continues

Though it may sound like a pie-in-the-sky sci-fi plan, the startup has attracted the support of at least one big, established name. It got a significant infusion of funds from a $15 million United Airlines investment just last year. Other airlines have also begun investing in similar air taxi and flying car companies. American Airlines has said it would pre-order 250 eVTOLs from Vertical Aerospace.

In total, purchasers have placed about 2,800 orders for Eves 4-passenger eVTOLs, whichagainare supposed to begin shipping in three years. Though if Eve missed this deadline, it wouldnt be the first flying car company to do so. And its a little hard to see how Eve could get its vehicles in the sky on that timeline. Jobyseemingly Eves most mature competitorfirst began flight tests in 2021, but has yet to clear all of the necessary hurdles to ferry passengers around and operate in urban airspace. A 2022 remotely piloted Joby test flight ended in a crash that reportedly destroyed one of the companys two prototypes.

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Milo Ventimiglia, Liza Weil, and Sean Gunn are among the "Gilmore Girls" alum who have popped up in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." Prime Video

"The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" season five is now streaming on Prime Video.

The latest episode of the comedy-drama sees two "Gilmore Girls" actors make an appearance.

Both shows come from creator Amy Sherman-Palladino.

"The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" shares many things with "Gilmore Girls," the long-running teen drama about a mother-daughter duo that creator Amy Sherman-Palladino brought to television viewers almost two decades before her Emmy award-winning Amazon Prime Video series.

For instance, both are led by fast-talking female protagonists (Lorelai Gilmore and Miriam "Midge" Maisel, respectively) and feature Palladino's signature screwball humor.

They also partly share a cast as since "Maisel"'s first season in 2017, Palladino has recruited more than a dozen residents of Stars Hollow to appear for both brief and extended cameos. Here they all are.

Milo Ventimiglia, who played Rory Gilmore's bad boy love interest in "Gilmore Girls." makes a brief but memorable cameo.

Milo Ventimiglia as "Handsome Man" in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" season five. Prime Video

Ventimiglia played Luke Danes' (Scott Patterson) nephew Jess Mariano who was brought in like a wrecking ball in season two of "Gilmore Girls" to do some damage to Rory (Alexis Bledel) and Dean's (Jared Padalecki) picture-perfect relationship.

In "Maisel" season four, Ventimiglia was once again cast as a roguish type, playing the unnamed dog-owning "Handsome Man" who Midge Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan) falls for on her daily walks through Riverside Park. After they take their flirtation from the park bench to the bedroom, Midge is horrified to discover that he is actually still married.

"Handsome Man" was then brought back for a brief encore  and explanation  in the second episode of season five, wherein he explained his side of the story to Midge.

Kelly Bishop, who played the Gilmore matriarch, appears as a rival to Rose's matchmaking business.

Story continues

Kelly Bishop as Benedetta in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" season four. Prime Video

Right up until the final moments of the 2016 revival series, "Gilmore Girls" proved that the story was as just as much about Emily Gilmore, as it was about Lorelai and Rory. Across the show, viewers saw the character, played by Broadway veteran Kelly Bishop, go from a high-maintenance housewife to the very definition of a coastal grandmother.

Bishop's casting as Benedetta on "Maisel"  who executive producer Daniel Sherman-Palladino described as "Emily Gilmore on steroids" to TVLine  actually marks the actor's third collaboration with Sherman-Palladino, as in addition to "Gilmore Girls," she also starred in the short-lived ABC Family drama "Bunheads."

The scene-stealing Liza Weil, who portrayed Rory's frenemy, Paris Geller, plays a very different role in "Maisel."

Liza Weil as Carole Keen in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" season three. Prime Video

From Chilton to Yale, Paris Geller was by Rory's side throughout her journey into adulthood  even though she wasn't always on her side as the two started off as enemies and even had a falling out during their college years. Played by Weil, Paris was a brutally honest and ambitious student who had dreams of becoming a top-class doctor.

Weil's role in "Maisel" saw her transformed into a peroxide blonde, cat-eye glasses-wearing touring musician named Carole Keen. Partly inspired by real-life bassist Carole Kaye, a prolific session player who worked with Sam Cooke, The Beach Boys, and Ray Charles, she befriends Midge while they're both touring with Shy Baldwin (Leroy McClain).

Scott Cohen had a one-season arc on "Gilmore Girls" as Lorelai's fiance, and made a cameo in season four of "Maisel."

Scott Cohen as Solomon Melamid in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" season four. Prime Video

Cohen portrayed Max Medina, Rory's English teacher, and Lorelai's first love interest in the show who memorably proposed to her by having a thousand yellow daisies delivered to the inn. After Lorelai got cold feet and canceled the wedding, he eventually moved to California to teach at Stanford.

The actor had a one-episode guest role in "Maisel" season four as Solomon Melamid, a wealthy upstate New Yorker who enlists Rose's (Marin Hinkle) services as a matchmaker to help him find suitors for his woefully single daughters.

Alex Borstein played several different roles in "Gilmore Girls" after turning down the role of Sookie.

Alex Borstein as Susie Myerson in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" season four. Prime Video

Borstein was the first choice to portray Lorelai's klutzy best friend Sookie St. James and even played her in the unaired pilot episode. However, when the show was picked up, she was forced to pass up the opportunity due to her commitment to "MadTV" and the role went to Melissa McCarthy.

However, Borstein made two appearances in "Gilmore Girls" throughout its original seven-year run, first as the inn harpist Drella, and later as the stylist Miss Celine.

Meanwhile, Borstein has appeared in almost every single episode of "Maisel" as Midge's grouchy manager Susie Myerson, a role which has earned her two consecutive Emmys for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series.

Brian Tarantina is another actor who stayed within Sherman-Palladino's orbit after "Gilmore Girls" ended.

Brian Tarantina as Jackie in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" season one. Prime Video

The late actor sporadically played the role of Bootsy, one of Stars Hollow's quirky residents who was known for antagonizing his former classmate Luke during town meetings at Miss Patty's dance studio.

Like Borstein, he had a much bigger role in "Maisel," playing series regular Jacopo "Jackie" Dellapietra, who manages the downtown club where Midge Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan) workshops many of her standup routines in the first few seasons.

After the actor's untimely death in 2019, his character likewise died off-screen, and an episode was dedicated to Susie's efforts to giving him a fitting sendoff.

Chris Eigeman, who played another one of Lorelai's love interests, scored a role in the Prime Video drama.

Chris Eigeman as Gabe in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" season four. Prime Video

Another one of Lorelai's lovers that "Gilmore Girls" fans came to know well during season four of the show was the fast-talking Jason "Digger" Stoles, played by Chris Eigeman. The pair kept their relationship on the down-low since Digger was business partners with Lorelai's father, Richard (Edward Herrmann).

Since season four of "Maisel," the actor  who is also known for his role in "Malcolm in the Middle"  has had a recurring role as Gabe, the editor of the newspaper that Midge's father Abe (Tony Shalhoub) writes his theater reviews for.

Emily Bergl, who plays Susie's sister, Tess, previously starred as high school bully Francie in "Gilmore Girls."

Emily Bergl as Tess Myerson in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" season three. Prime Video

Francie was Chilton's resident popular girl, who briefly flirted with the idea of letting Rory join The Puffs, one of the school's secret societies. Later on, she tried to use Rory to make the student body turn on Paris when she was elected student president.

Since season two of "Maisel," Bergl has been portraying Susie's younger sister, Tess, whose presence in the show has ebbed and flowed. One of her major storylines saw her and Susie conspire to burn down their childhood home for insurance money after Susie got into gambling debt.

Danny Strong, who played Paris' boyfriend and then husband Doyle in "Gilmore Girls," appeared at Susie's roast in season five.

Danny Strong as Aaron Lebowitz in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" season five. Prime Video

Strong portrayed Doyle McMaster, one of the friends Rory makes during her time at Yale, who later becomes a loyal and doting boyfriend to Paris. In "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life," they are married and have several children together.

In a flashforward episode of "Maisel" season five, set in 1985, Strong appears as one of the industry insiders at Susie's "Testi-Roastial" (that's a combination of "roast" and "testimonial"), who recounts some of the wilder stories about Susie's rise to fame as one of the most successful agents in Hollywood.

Sean Gunn, another "Gilmore Girls" alum, also appeared in the same episode.

Sean Gunn as Stewart Jones in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" season five. Prime Video

Who could forget Kirk, Stars Hollow's most wonderful and weird resident? Across the show's seven seasons and sequel, Kirk kept viewers on their toes by holding down just about every job in the town, showing up in the most unexpected places, and creating the cinematic masterpiece that is "A Film by Kirk."

The actor, who is the brother of director James Gunn and voices Kraglin Obfonteri in the MCU, including the recently released " Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 3," joins Strong in the fifth and final season of "Maisel" as Stewart Jones, who also takes part in Susie's roast, acting as emcee for the evening.

Jackie Hoffman had small roles in both series.

Jackie Hoffman as Gitta in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" season four. Prime Video

While Hoffman didn't appear in the original series of "Gilmore Girls," she was in "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life." She played Esther, one of the aging employees of Stars Hollow Gazette that Rory meets when she tries to revive the paper.

In "Maisel," Hoffman plays a character called Gitta who, like Bishop, is one of the members of the matchmaking mafia who takes issue when Rose begins her own marriage broker service.

Bailey De Young, who plays Midge's close friend Imogene, previously appeared in the Netflix revival of "Gilmore Girls."

Bailey De Young as Imogene Cleary in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" season three. Prime Video

Like Hoffman, De Young's character was introduced in the revival, which premiered in 2016, almost a decade after the original series finale. She played one of the "Twenty-Something Gang" members who Rory finds herself avoiding when she returns to Stars Hollow.

Meanwhile, in "Maisel," the actor has had a much bigger role, portraying Midge's bubbly best friend Imogene Cleary who, as we learn in season five, sticks by her side through thick and thin.

Before Jane Lynch played Midge's rival comedian Sophie Lennon in "Maisel," she had a small appearance in "Gilmore Girls."

Jane Lynch as Sophie Lennon in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" season four. Prime Video

Long before she graced our screens as Sophie Lennon  or even Sue Sylvester, her iconic "Glee" character  Lynch appeared in the first season of the mother-daughter drama, playing a grouchy nurse the Gilmores have to deal with at the hospital when Richard suffers a heart attack.

Lynch has a much bigger role in "Maisel," portraying Sophie Lennon, a comedian whose real personality is miles away from her bawdy, clownish housewife stage persona. While she was initially one of Midge's primary foils, later in the show, Susie became her manager and helped steer her career to new heights, before dropping her to focus on Midge.

Read the original article on Insider
Tarte Cosmetics is again embroiled in controversy after Bria Jones, a Black content creator, shared her experience of being invited on a brand trip to the Miami F1 Grand Prix last weekend.

I will be damned as a Black creator if I accept anything other than equal treatment on these trips, she said in a since-deleted TikTok video.

Jones said she decided not to participate in the brand trip after discovering her schedule differed from other influencers, Insider reported. She was due to leave for Miami on Thursday before the Grand Prixs practice and qualifying sessions and return a day before the race on Saturday.

I would love to go on a Tarte trip, and trust me, Im so grateful, Jones said. But I have more integrity than to get all the way to Miami and realize that Im being treated like a second-tier person or like Im being ranked.

Jones was told the lack of an invitation was a typo but decided to skip the event. She also wished brands would be more transparent regarding planned brand trips. Jones has since retracted her initial comments, saying there was miscommunication on both ends about the trip.

Black beauty influencer #BriaJones clocks #TarteCosmetics for racial inequality pic.twitter.com/jqI6IZpZHK  All Tea All Shade (@TeaTimeTips2) May 8, 2023

Maureen Kelly, the CEO of Tarte Cosmetics, addressed the situation in a since-deleted Get Ready with Me video posted on TikTok.

Woke up pretty sad this morning, she said after hearing about Jones video.

I wasnt thinking whats going on in the track; I was just thinking how can we get the most people to have this fabulous experience? she continued while curling her hair and applying Tarte makeup.

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I couldnt imagine making someone feel sad or, you know, hurting someones feelings, Kelly said, adding there was no ranking of influencers during brand events.

Kelly deleted the video and issued a more formal apology after she received backlash for not addressing the situation appropriately.

My choosing a lighthearted approach to a topic that deserved a serious response was definitely a wrong approach, Kelly said in a recent video. I should have used this as an opportunity to address the unequal treatment of Black creators within beauty creator programs. My post came off as me not taking the issue seriously and Im really sorry for that.

She addressed that the brand has fallen short in matters of diversity, inclusion and equity in the past. Kelly said the company is reviewing the brands creator program and pledged to take immediate action against inequality.

Late last week, Tarte Cosmetics posted a job on LinkedIn for a director of diversity, equity & inclusion position. Kelly said the company is establishing a creator advisory group to provide the brand with feedback and will update its guidelines to ensure that creators are treated equally regardless of background.

The goal of these initiatives is not to make a problem go away, but rather to start conversations that can lead to a better solution, she told NBC News. I want to express my gratitude to those who shared their feedback and comments online. I want to assure you that I took it to heart. Your input has helped me grasp the more significant problem, and work with my team to make sure we rectify the situation immediately to start the process of regaining your confidence in Tarte.

Under Kellys apology video, TikTok users pointed out it isnt the first time the brand apologized for lack of diversity and equity.

Tarte made promises in writing like this YEARS ago and nothing changed. Why is this any different? a user commented.

Just now STARTING to be a more diverse and inclusive brand after YEARS of being called out on it is ridiculous and disappointing, another said.

In 2018, Tarte received backlash for failing to include a wide range of shades for one of its products, the Tarte Tape Shape Foundation. Beauty influencers Alissa Ashley and Jackie Aina reviewed the product and called out the brand for not being inclusive in a YouTube video.

The controversy isnt specific to Tarte. In the past, several brands have been accused of treating Black content creators differently on press trips. In 2019, Kianna Naomi and Lisette went viral for sharing their experience on influencer trips.
A sixth employee of Federal Correctional Institution Dublin in Northern California has been arrested on charges of sexual abuse at the prison. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

A former correctional officer at a troubled federal women's prison in California was arrested Friday in Florida and charged with sexually abusing three inmates, according to federal prosecutors.

Darrell Wayne Smith, who was employed at Federal Correctional Institution Dublin in the Bay Area, was charged with repeatedly abusing the women between 2019 and 2021 in their cells and in the prison laundry room, prosecutors said.

Smith is the sixth employee of the facility to be arrested on charges of sexual abuse, which was so rampant at the prison that it was once referred to by inmates and workers as the "rape club." The criminal conduct went all the way to the top: Warden Ray J. Garcia was convicted in March of having sex with and sexually abusing inmates. Inmates cannot legally consent to sex with prison workers.

Garcia was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison.

Smith was indicted on 12 counts of abusive sexual contact and sexual abuse of a ward. The women he allegedly abused were referred to in court documents only by their initials.

Three of the other FCI Dublin employees charged with sexual abuse have pleaded guilty, while the prison's former chaplain, James Theodore Highhouse, is appealing a seven-year sentence for sexually abusing an inmate as excessive.

FCI Dublin is a low-security women's prison in Alameda County that currently holds about 500 inmates.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Stockton Police officer Ny Tran, who was arrested on charges of theft, forgery from an elder, appeared for arraignment at the San Joaquin County Courthouse in downtown Stockton on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022.

After taking more than $40,000 from an older man in Stockton, a former police officer accepted a plea deal Thursday that would allow him to return the money in exchange for reduced punishment.

"Hopefully, you can get that paid off ... and benefit from the bargain that was struck here today," Judge Gus Barrera told former officer Ny Tran at a hearing in downtown Stockton Thursday.

Tran did not want to comment on the deal, his attorney Chris Walsh said after the hearing.

The former officer was arrested in November and charged with theft from an elder, forgery, and other crimes, according to Stockton police and the San Joaquin County District Attorney's office.

According to prosecutors, Tran met the alleged victim  a Stockton resident in his 80s  while conducting a wellness check for the police department at the man's home in July last year.

Nine days later, "a check in the amount of $42,500 with the signature of (the victim) was deposited into Ny Tran's bank account," Scott Porter, a prosecutor for the county, said in court Thursday. "This did not appear to be (the victim's) signature."

Prosecutors also accuse Tran of charging over $500 to a gas card connected to the man's bank account.

Walsh told The Record Thursday his client "has always maintained that this man ... gave him the money."

According to Walsh, Tran visited the man several times after the initial wellness check to offer his help. The man, a well-off older resident of north Stockton, took a liking to Tran and tried to provide him with money, Walsh claimed. Eventually, Tran took it, he said.

"Ultimately, my client accepted responsibility, mostly because it was poor judgment," Walsh said.

In fall 2022, the man was put in a nursing home due to advancing dementia, Walsh said. Tran was fired from the Stockton Police Department in January, he said.

"(The alleged victim) has no memory of anything that happened to him in this case," Porter said in court Thursday. The man's finances are now managed by a county conservator, Porter said.

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Under the plea deal, if Tran repays full sum by Jan. 8, the judge will consider the alleged theft a misdemeanor and sentence Tran to six months in jail, Porter said. He could be eligible for alternative sentencing. Alternative Work Program (AWP) allows convicts who are sentenced to jail to serve time living at home or working in the community.

If he doesn't, the alleged theft will be treated as a felony, and Tran could serve up to 12 months, depending on how much money he pays back. Prosecutors dropped the remaining charges.

Under California law, theft from an elder is a "wobbler" crime, meaning it can be treated as a felony or a misdemeanor.

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: Ex-Stockton police officer will repay money for reduced theft sentence
Seven Chinese nurses have received this year's Florence Nightingale Medal, making China the country with the largest single number of recipients this year, according to the Red Cross Society of China.

A total of 37 nurses from 22 countries won the medal, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross on Friday. The honor is presented biennially to nurses who show exceptional courage and devotion to caring for people during conflict or disaster, or who demonstrate a pioneering spirit in the areas of public health or nursing education.

Among this year's honorees is Gan Xiuni, director of the nursing department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University.

She was on the front lines caring for the victims of a marsh gas explosion in 1985 in Chongqing. She also treated patients during the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in 2003, and people injured during the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008.

During the COVID-19 epidemic, the 58-year-old worked in makeshift hospitals for the infected in three provincial-level regions for more than 130 days. During an early phase of the outbreak in Xiaogan, Hubei province, she engaged in manual labor, including moving respirators, despite suffering from severe disc herniation, earning herself the nickname "Strong Spine" from her fellow medical workers.

Xing Shaoyun, head nurse at the leprosarium at the Fifth People's Hospital of Hainan Province in Haikou, the provincial capital, received her medal for "notably transforming traditional leprosy nursing and introducing novel leprosy wound treatment in China," according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Xing began caring for leprosy patients after graduating from nursing college in 1995. Through years of practice, she has learned to successfully apply regenerative medicine skills and moist exposed burn ointment, also known as MEBO, after the debridement of affected skin.

The new methods helped reduce the rate of ulceration among leprosy patients from 28 percent to 5 percent, and also lowered the rate of amputation, according to the hospital where Xing worked, which added that the nurse has also headed the expansion of innovative methods to leprosy patients around the country.

During a recent interview with Hinews.cn, a local media outlet in Hainan, Xing said that she plans to set up a wound care outpatient department at the hospital, and to visit more rural areas to train grassroots health workers.

Since China began recommending candidates for the award in 1983, 90 nurses have won, according to China's Red Cross.

There were 5.2 million nurses in China at the end of last year, or 3.7 nurses per 1,000 people, the National Health Commission said during a news conference held ahead of International Nurses Day, which falls on May 12 each year.

Xing Ruoqi, deputy director of the commission's medical administration department, said during a recent news conference that the number of nurses has grown by an average of 8 percent year-on-year over the past decade, with around 300,000 new nurses added each year.

She said that China will take measures to protect the rights and interests of nurses, improve their working conditions, arrange for better shifts and care for their physical and mental health.

By 2025, China aims to increase the number of nurses to 5.5 million, including 1.2 million at the grassroots level.
Gov. Henry McMaster has signed into law a measure that now shields the identities of drug companies that provide the lethal drug cocktail used for executions in South Carolina.

The measure, known as a shield law, removes a major hurdle for South Carolina prison officials, who for years have lobbied the Legislature to pass a bill they say would restart executions, on pause since 2011.

For years, drug companies that sell lethal injection chemicals to states have refused to sell the drugs to the S.C. Department of Corrections because they dont want their companies associated with executions, prison officials say.

The bill, S. 120, also contains provisions to keep secret the identities of people involved in preparing the execution, including execution team members.

McMaster signed the bill, sponsored by former solicitor and state Sen. Greg Hembree, R-Horry, May 12 sans fanfare or any remarks  a nonpublic and uneventful action a governors spokesman said was not unusual in his signing of numerous bills each year.

For over five years, (Corrections) Director (Bryan) Stirling and I have called upon the General Assembly to pass a shield law so South Carolina could resume the enforcement of a jurys lawful death sentence. This law will hopefully provide closure and justice for the grieving families and loved ones who have had to wait too long, McMaster said in a statement released Monday.

Stirling could not be reached for comment by press deadline.

The signing doesnt automatically mean executions will restart in South Carolina.

At least four of the current 34 inmates on South Carolinas death have run out of appeals or are close to running out of appeals.

Lawyers representing condemned inmates utilize multiple legal tactics that can result in delays of executions.

Lindsey Vann, executive director of Justice360, a Columbia-based group that helps mount challenges to executions, declined comment Monday.

Hembree said Monday, We are happy and pleased the governor signed it. We worked closely with Director Stirling to try to get a bill that would allow him to pursue this policy (carrying out executions by lethal injection) effectively.

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Hembree added the law will help bring closure on the criminal justice side of a tragedy, but the larger pain felt by a crime victims family never really goes away.

With executions on hold, South Carolina lawmakers in 2021 passed a law giving death row inmates the option to die by electrocution or firing squad if lethal injection was unavailable.

On Jan. 5, the S.C. Supreme Court heard arguments over a Sept. 6 2022, circuit court ruling by state Judge Jocelyn Newman, in which she ruled that two of the states three methods for electrocution  the firing squad and the electric chair  are unconstitutional.

The high court has not yet ruled whether the firing squad and electric chair are unconstitutional.

But, in late January, the five justices did send the case back to the lower court, asking why the state Department of Corrections had not been able to obtain lethal chemicals.

The case was brought by four death row inmates  Freddie Owens, Brad Sigmon, Gary DuBose and Richard Moore  against McMaster and Stirling.

The ruling stopped the state from moving forward with any executions, and kept in place South Carolinas unintended 12-year execution moratorium.

This story may be updated.
From school funding to high-stakes testing, Dr. Juontel White believes racial inequities persist in K-12 education as a result of decisions made following the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling.

White, the senior vice president of programs and advocacy for the Schott Foundation for Public Education, explored this through her contribution to The Ira A. Lipman Centers Uncovering Inequality  a research project that dissects racial justice issues in education, housing, criminal justice, health and economics.

Were seeing an increasing narrative that we do have racial equality in our nation, White told The 74. I want to lift up this entire report as a counter to that prevailing and pervasive narrative.

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Whites research delves into how the promise of Brown v. Board of Education  a historic decision by the U.S. Supreme Court declaring racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional  has not been fulfilled.

In addition, White noted that there are new ways racial integration has been repealed post-Brown as schools recover from pandemic learning loss.

One of the key takeaways is that Browns promise has not been fulfilled, and there are new ways inequality is not only surfacing but also re-entrenching, White said. Were seeing some of the opportunities from Brown in the integration of curriculum be repealed based on interests of the political right.

When we have examples like the racial identity of Rosa Parks extracted from our curriculum, we are being regressed into something that is steps before Brown, White said.

The goal of Whites research is to show how the state of K-12 education speaks to the broader conversation of Americas racialized society.

Racial inequality not only exists, but in every layer of our society theres opportunity and necessity for us to enact a solution, White said.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Story continues

Your research centers around how the state of school funding, high-stakes testing and curriculum instruction today are as a result of the policies and practices made post-Brown. Tell me more about this and how racial inequities continue to persist in K-12 education.

When we took up the question posed about how racial inequality exists in our present day K-12 education system, we cannot do that separate from understanding what happened post-Brown. The very structure of contemporary K-12 education rests on the approach, or attempt, to fulfill the promise of Brown. When we begin to unpack its potential, its design and the resulting policies that came after Brown, it is then that we get to see the ways that inequality endures in our K-12 education.

Thinking about the contemporary ways inequality persists is seminal in the education sphere because its not just one of the biggest policy restructurings in education, but by design it was intended to address racial inequality. So there was no question of whether or not to start with Brown because of that frame by which it was shaped in the mainstream to really undo this unequal system, unequal funding, unequal facilities and all of the things that segregated schools had endemic to their nature. So noting that were in a contemporary society where racial inequality has persisted, lets fill in the gap between those two bookmarks.

Related: The Unintended Consequence of Brown v. Board: A Brain Drain of Black Educators

As schools recover from pandemic learning loss, how does your research speak to the disparities of students of color?

The majority of students of color are attending schools, often in urban districts, that are under-resourced in terms of their class sizes, teacher turnover and limited teaching resources. When youre in an under-resourced school, especially Title I schools, there is support for students based on various needs. Whether students are unhoused or receiving free or reduced lunch, there are services provided through schools so they can get breakfast, lunch etc. As we think about them post-COVID when schools were shut down, there were students who were experiencing the squeeze  especially within those first couple of months. There were some schools that had to really ramp up what it would look like to ensure students had food to eat. And we felt that squeeze especially for students of color to just get basic needs.

You also have the digital divide. It wasnt an easy shift for students to just go home and hop on a computer to engage in their classrooms. So much of the world went to Zoom-landia and that wasnt so easy for your average student of color who either had limited technology  whether that be a laptop, phone or tablet  and/or sufficient internet to get onto those platforms. During the pandemic when a lot of industries were able to shift to remote work, there were also essential workers and many others who were still going in-person. So there was this squeeze for students of color to engage with the technology while also having limited parent support.

And then there was an overwhelming impact for students of color to get through their classwork. As the pandemic shook and shut down the world, one in three or four students of color experienced a close loved one pass away. Thats a lot of children over the last few years that are not just experiencing the squeeze of a new format of education, but also having lost people whove raised them. So when we think about the impact of the pandemic, theres a particular effect on not just learning laws, but also the social-emotional aspects that absolutely had an effect on the educational outcomes of all students  and certainly for students of color.

Related: 68 Years After Brown, Schools Still Highly Segregated: 4 Takeaways from Study

What would you say is a key piece of your research readers should take the most away from?

Theres a lot and its hard to whittle down. We took stock to identify those key areas youve named in terms of high-stakes testing, curriculum instruction, etc. So in each of those areas, I do think theres a key point. To zoom out, solutions are both needed and possible. We need equitable state and local policies in the education sector in order to shift all of these key areas named in the report. But we also need folks to understand the key learnings in this.

One key learning is that inequality has endured since Brown v. Board of Education. Were seeing an increasing narrative that we do have racial equality in our nation. Theres this counter narrative that it already exists, so why are we attempting to put in different practices and policies that would advance equity? I want to lift up this entire report as a counter to that prevailing and pervasive narrative. It is true that inequality has endured, we do not have a panacea, and all levels of society  both political and individual  are required.

Systemic change does not get resolved by one shot policies. There are multiple and theyre persistent because of how entrenched racial inequality is in our society. So at every level of our K-12 education system, both opportunity and a necessity for action is needed in order for equity to be achieved and realized. So that is the key takeaway. It is that racial inequality not only exists, but in every layer of our society theres opportunity and necessity for us to enact a solution.

Related: Clint Smith and Crash Course Series Grapple with Unforeseen Consequences of Brown v. Board in New Episode

What is something nobody has asked you yet about your research?

People often ask what can be done and what does this mean for educators. But so far, I have yet to hear about what communities and students themselves can do. Theres opportunities for policy changes and districts to use their voice to shape who is selected on school boards. However, mobilization and organizing are not just local needs. Using their voice at the state level is needed to ensure legislators are giving schools resources at the level they need so students can thrive.

Theres also ways parents need to be supported when addressing learning loss. Parents and families are often overlooked and seen as marginal to the education system. But theyre absolutely core, their voice matters and they have agency. So that is something I want to lift up when thinking about how we see educational inequality.

Parents, families and students themselves have agency to really be co-constructors in the type of educational experience they need. Theyre the closest to it and they have the voice to really answer what it is that they want and need. So giving space for that and having them empowered to know that is beyond important.

Taking note of the anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, how should educators, researchers, policymakers, journalists, etc. apply your research to their work today?

One of the key takeaways is that Browns promise has not been fulfilled, and there are new ways inequality is not only surfacing but also re-entrenching. Were seeing some of the opportunities from Brown in the integration of curriculum be repealed based on interests of the political right. When we have examples like the racial identity of Rosa Parks extracted from our curriculum, we are being regressed into something that is steps before Brown.

By design, all levels of our K-12 education system are Eurocentric and explicitly racist. So when were at a place where we cant even name the histories and heroines and heroes for communities of color, we are going back to a place pre-Brown. Whether youre a policymaker, teacher, principal or whomever, if you understand how we are repressing some of the earliest civil rights gains in education I think that is the powerful takeaway. Its a key takeaway when it comes to curriculum, when we think about high-stakes testing and absolutely when we dive into school funding.
Two Indonesian soldiers guard the gates of oil company ExxonMobil Indonesia's (EMOI) complex in Lhokseumawe, Indonesia, March 10, 2001

ExxonMobil settled Monday a long-running lawsuit brought by Indonesian villagers who alleged human rights violations by Indonesian military officials providing security to the oil giant.

The two sides agreed to resolve "all matters," said a joint filing from the opposing counsel that did not disclose terms of the agreement.

Filed in 2001, the case was brought by 11 villagers in Indonesia's Aceh province who allege they were victims of human rights violations committed by the Indonesian military between 1999 and 2003, including sexual assault, battery and unlawful detention.

A trial had been scheduled for May 24.

"Our clients ... bravely took on one of the largest and most profitable corporations in the world and stuck with the fight for more than twenty years," said Agnieszka Fryszman, an attorney at Cohen Milstein.

"We are so pleased that now, on the eve of trial, we were able to secure a measure of justice for them and their families."

The plaintiffs have stayed anonymous, "having brought this lawsuit in the face of grave threats to themselves and their fellow villagers," said a Cohen Milstein news release.

ExxonMobil "condemns human rights violations in any form, those include the actions asserted in this case against the Indonesian military," a company spokesperson told AFP.

"It should be noted while there were no allegations that any employee directly harmed any of the plaintiffs, the settlement brings closure for all parties."

jum-jmb/nro/dw
Screenshot: Imposter_Edits (Twitter)

Welcome back to another rundown of a cringey, embarrassing Karen tantrum. In a video circulating social media, a white woman is seen trying to steal a Black teens Citi Bike after he registered the bike to himself, per REVOLT. Her sudden cry for help drew an eerie comparison to a decades-old tactic by white women that endangered the lives of innocent Black men.



The video begins with the woman screaming, Help! Help! Please help me! while squeezing on the handlebars of a Citi Bike. Despite her signals of distress, her facial expression was blank. One Black teen stood next to her while also holding the bike, explaining that he already paid for the it. The few other Black teens around the two were heard off camera insisting the same notion and accusing her of purposely trying to make a scene. However, the woman went to her next tactic which was fake crying and scrunching her face up to force a tear to fall.

Read more

Youre hurting my fetus, she said to the teen.

It was only until another white man arrived (who also appeared to be calling he police) and suggested she take another bike that she hit the off switch on her meltdown and all of a sudden, nothing was wrong.

Watch the whole thing on Twitter:

This lady tried her best to weaponize her tears, but when she realized it wasn't going to work she switched it off and acted like nothing happened.



This should be criminal. pic.twitter.com/P1UW3gJZGf   Imposter  (@Imposter_Edits) May 14, 2023

She succeeded in making a scene but... while wearing her hospital uniform. The internet wasted no time calling up NYCs Bellevue Hospital to complain about their employee. In response, they released a statement:

Story continues

As for the internet, people are still reeling over white women weaponizing their tears because they didnt get their way. Its particularly foul when a Black boy is on the receiving end of the nonsense because they know a responding officer is more likely to show the white woman care and concern.

Shes a d-list actress & thief at best. She could have gotten these black men seriously hurt or killed, wrote one Twitter user.

This right here is one of the many dangerous situations our children face on a daily bases. Im glad this didnt go any further wrong than what it already did. Im even more proud to see these young Kings keep their calm and not escalate it any further, said another user.

More from The Root

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Click here to read the full article.
Quesadillas fritas from El Capitalino MX food truck in Inglewood. (Jenn Harris / Los Angeles Times)





















This week's column comes with a warning and an apology. Half of the stuff I'm about to mention is 2,800 miles away. I'm sorry. But you now have a short list of places to try on your next trip east.

I was in New York last week for our annual Coast to Coast party that brings together Los Angeles and New York chefs for a collaborative tasting event. The team from Anajak Thai made rou bao and papaya salad with Brooklyn's Win Son. The chefs from the Arts District's Damian and New York City's Cosme turned out potato tamales and fish flautas. Lafayette Grand Cafe in Manhattan brought trays of its chocolate Supremes, the circular, filled croissants that went viral last year.

A dinner at Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi at Lincoln Center introduced me to what I'm confident is the best okra in the universe. Dry-roasted, fried then doused in honey and "peppa sauce," they were crisp, light and addictive. I ate them like French fries. I ate them like candy. I ate them like I wanted no other snack for the rest of my existence. We finished one order, then asked for another.

I ate too well not to talk about it. But first, we'll start with a dish you can find in front of the Jet Strip club in Inglewood.

Quesadillas fritas from El Capitalino MX

Have you ever had a quesadilla frita? While I was eating microwaved tortillas with a clump of shredded cheddar cheese in the middle, Ivan Gomez was eating his mom's quesadillas fritas in Martin Carrera, a small area of Mexico City in the Gustavo A. Madero borough.

The quesadillas look like tacos, overflowing with carne asada, chicharron prensado or chicken tinga, a mound of shredded lettuce on top, and a zigzag of crema and crumbles of cotija cheese. But they're quesadillas, thrown into hot oil, then split open and filled.

"There was a lady who would sell them where we used to live," Gomez said on a recent call. "My mom would make them and I just really wanted to bring this authentic taste of Mexico City food to L.A."

Story continues

He also wanted to give his mother, Norma Ramirez, a chance to make the foods she's proud of. Ramirez used to sell quesadillas fritas, pozole, pambazos and toastadas in front of a cousin's house in Lennox when the family moved to the U.S., but the city shut down the operation in the late 2000s.

Gomez, who already runs the Birrieria Gomez trucks, launched the El Capitalino truck in January. He specializes in the fried quesadillas, but also offers pambazos, sopes and tostadas.

"I can't take credit for introducing the quesadillas fritas in L.A.," Gomez said. "Most of the places are run by older people who are not social media savvy. I've been involved in social media and it helped us get it out there."

Ramirez is the one making the quesadillas on the truck, preparing the masa and the fillings. Gomez divulged that his mother's secret masa is combined with water and two other ingredients to make the quesadilla dough, setting it apart from a more traditional tortilla. "It ends up being about the same texture and thickness of a pizza dough," Gomez said.

Ramirez flattens the dough with a tortilla press, adds enough shredded mozzarella cheese to create a sizable bulge, then presses the edges with her fingers before dunking the quesadillas in a vat of hot vegetable oil.

They puff up into pale golden pockets. Some are so stuffed the cheese oozes out of the edges. She removes them from the fryer, uses a knife to unseal the pockets, then fills them with your choice of filling and toppings. I'm partial to the chicken tinga, made by simmering chicken until it collapses in a sauce of pureed chipotle with sweet, slow-cooked onions.

Underneath all the fillings is a pool of melted cheese that clings to the walls of the quesadilla. The dough is crisp around the edges but soft in the middle, thicker and softer than a crunchy taco shell and with an obvious corn flavor.

Gomez said he's finalizing terms for a bricks-and-mortar restaurant, wanting his customers to have more time and room to sit down and enjoy his family's food. Inspired by his latest trip to Mexico City, where he spent a month in December, he plans to introduce more foods he loves, including gorditas.

MSG martinis, salt and a cha siu mcrib from Bonnie's in Brooklyn

MSG martini from Bonnie's in Brooklyn, N.Y. (Jenn Harris / Los Angeles Times)

MSG, or monosodium glutamate, is a push-up bra for food. It enhances the goods that are already there.

A little sprinkle on some wok-fried string beans will lift the limp vegetables to new heights. The reason you can't stop eating Flamin' Hot Cheetos? Well, there are probably many. But MSG is one of them.

If you've ever wondered what would happen if you added this flavor enhancer to alcohol, Bonnie's, a Cantonese American restaurant in Brooklyn, is serving MSG martinis.

You choose Grey Goose vodka or Botanist gin and the bartender adds olive brine, Shaoxing wine and MSG. I chose vodka, not wanting the other elements in the drink to be overshadowed by any juniper or flavors in the gin. It's served ice-cold in a coup glass with three olives.

That first sip is eye-widening. A total shock to your mouth. The heady, sharp taste of the Shaoxing wine floods your tongue, the salty brine rushes in and there's a hit of spice from the vodka. It all seems heightened, like I'm momentarily sipping drinks as the Daredevil.

You feel the MSG more than taste it, with the sensation of something or someone dancing on the roof of your mouth.

My colleagues and strangers on the internet rave about the MSG martini. To be honest, the first sip was so intense, I couldn't tell if I loved or loathed it. By the fifth sip, I loved it. I think.

The cha siu mcrib from Bonnie's in Brooklyn, N.Y. (Jenn Harris / Los Angeles Times)

If the MSG martini takes the classic martini to the extreme, the restaurant's cha siu mcrib applies that same ethos to the McDonald's sandwich.

It arrives with a knife plunged into the middle. Both dramatic and functional.

This is what a McRib could be if you replaced the pressed and formed pork patty with a properly charred, boneless slab of char siu-glazed rib so juicy that it trickles down when you take a bite. And tossed the dry, split bun in favor of a lightly toasted milk bun. Added a smear of Chinese hot mustard somewhere. Enough for just an echo of that distinct nose-tingling spice. And plenty of pickle chips and slivers of raw white onion to cover the entire sandwich. The cha siu mcrib is the real McRib. The one that will squash all other imitators, hopes and aspirations.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
An FBI special agent who previously faced domestic violence charges but wasnt indicted now faces new federal charges  and hes suing the local police department that previously charged him.

Michael Van Aelstyn, 45, has filed a lawsuit in federal court against Coleman Sparks and Scott Carnes of the Versailles Police Department for allegedly violating his civil rights.

Van Aelstyn was charged with assault and strangulation on July 9, 2021, following allegations of domestic violence in Woodford County. The charges against him were dismissed without prejudice when a Woodford County grand jury did not indict him.

While those charges were dismissed, Van Aelstyn has been federally indicted on firearms charges. In an indictment filed into court records Thursday, Van Aelstyn was charged with possession of a firearm made in violation of the National Firearms Act, possession of an unregistered firearm, and unlawful transfer of a firearm to an out-of-state resident.

The indictment alleged that Van Aelstyn had a Winchester 20-gauge shotgun Model 1400 Ranger with a barrel less than 18 inches long, which is considered a short-barreled shotgun and violates federal firearm law. Van Aelstyn had the gun from October 2020 until July 9, 2021, the day police showed up to his home, according to the indictment.

That same gun was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, according to the indictment.

Van Aelstyn is also charged with unlawfully transferring a gun to an out-of-state resident. He gave an AM-15 multi-caliber rifle to another person without being a licensed importer, manufacturer, dealer or collector, according to the indictment.

If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison for all three charges, $270,000 in fines, and supervised release for up to nine years.

He is scheduled to be arraigned June 22 in a federal courtroom in Covington.

It is unclear if Van Aelstyn faces any discipline from the FBI in light of his new charges. A spokesperson said the FBIs Louisville office is aware of the new indictment.

Story continues

FBI Louisville is aware of the indictment and has fully cooperated with the investigation. In accordance with FBI policy, the incident is subject to internal review, said Katie Anderson, spokesperson with the FBI Louisville office. We hold ourselves to the highest standard, and our focus will remain on our mission and on doing the right thing, in the right way, every time.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Karl Kadon was not able to comment on the charges against Van Aelstyn.

FBI agent alleges cops intentionally disregarded evidence

Van Aelstyns lawsuit, which he filed last week, alleges Carnes and Sparks continually violated his rights by pursuing a criminal complaint against him, including testifying or presenting to the grand jury without reviewing or presenting evidence which would demonstrate his innocence.

In the lawsuit, Van Aelstyn alleges the officers did not address discrepancies in the story of the woman he was accused of assaulting, and says they convinced her to file a report despite her repeated statements she did not want to file one.

Van Aelstyns lawsuit accuses the woman of being the aggressor in the July 2021 incident. He alleges she physically attacked, struck, punched and kicked him repeatedly.

Court documents state that during this encounter, the woman was on the phone with a family member falsely saying that Van Aelstyn was choking her. Fearing he would be set up, Van Aelstyn began an audio recording of the incident on his phone which he said contained plenty of evidence against the woman, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges the Versailles officers declined to listen to the recording. Van Aelstyn alleges in court documents he offered the officers a copy of the recording.

The officers of the Versailles Police Department declined to review the audio recording and did not request a copy of same, the lawsuit reads. To date, neither of the defendants have requested a copy of Van Aelstyns audio recording.

In addition, no photos were taken of Van Aelstyn by officers, despite visible marks and scratches, according to court documents. Officers did take photos of the woman.

It can be reasonably inferred that they intentionally disregarded such evidence in determining whether to continue the investigation of the allegations made against Van Aelstyn, court documents state.

The lawsuit alleges the photos taken were blurry, unstable and consisted of random items in the room. The lawsuit suggested this reflected the lack of thoroughness in the investigation.

Upon information and belief, said officers intentionally took low quality photos to obscure the weakness of (the womans) case, court documents state.

Sparks and Coleman were not immediately available for comment on Monday morning.

Van Aelstyn said the dismissed claims of assault and domestic violence negatively impacted his work as a federal agent, according to the lawsuit. He was placed on administrative duty within his office, deprived of an expected promotion, and requested for termination by the deputy director of the FBI.

He is seeking nearly $1 million in damages. Van Aelstyns attorney in the lawsuit was not immediately available for comment Monday morning.
Photograph: Evan Vucci/AP

Special counsel John Durham found no evidence that the US justice department and the FBI conspired in a deep-state plot to investigate Donald Trumps ties to Russia in 2016, though the report released on Monday found that the FBIs handling of key aspects of the case was deficient.

The Durham report was sharply critical of how the FBI decided to open the counterintelligence investigation into Trump, known as Crossfire Hurricane, accusing top officials at the bureau of relying on raw and uncorroborated information to continue the inquiry.

Related: Trump-Russia: what we know about the Durham investigation of an investigation

Much of the criticism of the FBI in the roughly 300-page report was already known when the justice department inspector general issued its own report, which raised similar concerns but ultimately concluded that the FBI investigation into Trump was justified.

The Durham report was more scathing, finding that the FBI moved quickly on a vague tip about potential contacts between a Trump campaign aide and Russian officials in July 2016 based on raw, unanalyzed and uncorroborated evidence in a departure from how it approached the Clinton campaign.

But Durhams inquiry failed to uncover any blockbuster revelations suggesting the bureau targeted Trump out of political motivations, and the report at times came across as a defense of his lengthy investigation.

Also contained in the report:

Durham said the FBI was more cautious of allegations of foreign influence when it came to the Clinton campaign, and did not pursue evidence in two cases of foreign governments trying to gain influence with Clinton while providing defensive briefings, unlike with the Trump campaign;

Durham said the FBI was overly reliant on investigative tips from Trumps political opponents and did not rigorously analyze the information it received, which extended the investigation and led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller to investigate Trump;

Story continues

Durham said the FBI decided to move ahead with Crossfire Hurricane despite a lack of information from the intelligence community that corroborated the hypothesis on which it was predicated and FBI agents ignored information that exonerated key people in the case;

Durham suggested that Crossfire Hurricane was triggered by the so-called Steele dossier, when it was in fact based on a tip from an Australian diplomat in London that a Trump campaign aide appeared to have advance knowledge about Russia releasing damaging information on Clinton.

The top FBI officials who oversaw the Crossfire Hurricane investigation and left the bureau years ago have long maintained that they had a duty to investigate allegations that Russia, a strategic US adversary, was seeking to garner influence with Trump, who had no experience in government.

The delivery of the report to the attorney general, Merrick Garland, and to the top Democrats and Republicans on the House and Senate judiciary committees several hours before it was made public, largely marks the end of the nearly four-year investigation led by Durham.

Durhams appointment as special counsel by former attorney general William Barr was unusual in that he was essentially tasked with investigating a different special counsel  Mueller.

The investigation was beset by controversy, including when Barr pressed Durham to draft an interim report just before the 2020 election, a directive that gave rise to allegations of improper political interference.

In September 2020, according to the New York Times, one of the prosecutors on Durhams team and former acting US attorney Nora Dannehy discovered that other members of the team had written a draft report that she had not been told about.

Dannehy was reportedly furious and told Durham that no report should be issued before the investigation had been completed and especially not relying on disputed information that could affect the election. Dannehy sent her colleagues a memo about her concerns and resigned.

While Trump once predicted that Durham would uncover the crime of the century, the investigation proved to be defective in court. Two people he charged were acquitted in court, and only the former FBI lawyer who altered an email to help prepare a wiretap application pleaded guilty.

After the second acquittal  Igor Danchenko, a researcher who was a primary source for the 2016 dossier alleging Trumps ties to Russia was found not guilty about lying to the FBI about where he got his information  Democrats called for Durhams team to be shut down as a waste of taxpayer money.

The Durham report ended without recommending any wholesale changes at the FBI, but suggested the creation of a position at the bureau to provide oversight of politically sensitive investigations with the power to challenge every step of investigations, including for wiretaps.

Durhams investigation was recorded as costing about $6.5m as of last December. Durham, a longtime federal prosecutor who was the US attorney in Connecticut during the Trump administration, was allowed to stay in his role by the current attorney general until the completion of his work.

Two cases that Durham took to court ended in failure. Last year, a jury found cybersecurity lawyer Michael Sussman not guilty of lying to the FBI. A jury also found Danchenko not guilty of making false statements to the FBI in October, in a case argued personally by Durham.

Durham extracted a guilty plea from Clinesmith, who was sentenced to one year of probation and 400 hours of community service after admitting in a 2020 plea agreement that he had altered a government email that a colleague then used to justify to a secret surveillance court the wiretap of the former Trump campaign aide Carter Page.
We can always do more to ensure food safety, a Food and Drug Administration official told lawmakers at a hearing on last years infant formula shortage. The agency is trying to figure out how to prevent something like this from happening again.

I never thought formula, you wouldnt be able to find the food that your baby needs, one parent told us.

Shes one of many who struggled as infant formula recalls and supply chain issues left store shelves bare. Parents said they were just trying to do what they could at the time.

Now, Congress is trying to figure out what went wrong by questioning FDA officials.

One Republican-led subcommittee called its hearing Responsibility for the Infant Formula Shortage. The chairwoman said its important to have accountability and consequences.

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Last year, the trust was broken, and families lost precious children as a result, Rep. Lisa McCain, R-Michigan, said. Those lives can never be replaced, and we owe it to those families to demand answers and I think thats what were doing.

Both parties agree theres plenty of blame to go around. The Democratic ranking member said shes hoping to shift the focus.

We need to use these hearings to identify what are worthy proposals, worthy innovations, and then we need to transform them into legislation, Rep. Katie Porter, D-California said. If we dont do that, were failing to solve the future problems.

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Dr. Susan Mayne leads the FDAs Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. She went over some of the changes.

We need industry to comply with our requirements and to adopt enhanced food safety measures, Mayne said. We have worked diligently to increase the supply of formula on the U.S. market FDA and industry should be able to address product contamination in or near real-time We are also actively hiring for specialized infant formula inspection staff.

So far, this year, weve already seen two infant formula recalls.

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Polystyrene balls have been found in the area surrounding a demolition site

A Manx charity has raised concerns after a large quantity of small polystyrene balls were discovered along an area of the island's coast.

The items have been found across a large area at the site of the former marine biological station, overlooking Port Erin bay.

The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) said the beads were a "legacy" from the demolition of the building.

A spokesman for litter picking group Beach Buddies said they could cause "massive damage to wildlife".

He said: "Animals cant distinguish the difference between materials like this and items such as fish eggs."

The island had a responsibility as a Unesco biosphere reserve to "care for the environment", he added.

A former marine biology station was demolished in March

A DEFA spokesman said it had been "monitoring the site for a couple of months" and was "in discussion with the developer".

He said: "The beads appear to be from the demolition in March, when the vast majority were safely removed from the site and surrounding area.

"However, due to their size it is extremely difficult to ensure they were all gathered up and disposed of properly."

He added that it was the responsibility of the developer to make sure "the site does not pollute the environment and also continues to liaise with the ecological advisers for the site".

Delgatie Limited was given planning permission to redevelop the site into apartments, a hotel and shops last year.

The company has been contacted for a response.

Why not follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and Twitter? You can also send story ideas to IsleofMan@bbc.co.uk
Plaintiffs last week fired back after Gov. Ron DeSantis administration argued that a federal judge should dismiss a potential class-action lawsuit filed after Florida flew 49 migrants from Texas to Massachusetts in September.

Attorneys for three migrants from Venezuela and the non-profit group Alianza Americas filed a 106-page document in federal court in Massachusetts disputing a series of arguments raised by the DeSantis administration in a Feb. 28 motion to dismiss the case.

The plaintiffs attorneys described the flights as a shocking abuse of power designed to boost DeSantis political profile in advance of a potential run for the White House in 2024.

This is a case about defendants unlawful, tortious and inhumane manipulation of a group of 49 immigrants newly arrived to the United States, many of whom did not or barely spoke English, in order to further defendants agenda and political aspirations, a legal memorandum, filed Thursday, said. Despite the defendants attempt to characterize this case as one about national immigration policy, it is not. Rather, at its heart, this case is about whether the laws of the United States and of Massachusetts permit state officials and their cronies to lure innocent people onto a plane with false promises of jobs, housing, and support, and dump them in an unknown place where they were not expected.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The lawsuit, filed in September and revised in November, alleges that the flights violated federal and Massachusetts laws, including violating migrants due process and equal protection rights. Defendants include DeSantis, other DeSantis administration officials, the Florida Department of Transportation, contractor Vertol Systems Company, Inc. and alleged organizer Perla Huerta.

The lawsuit seeks damages and an injunction to prevent the state from inducing immigrants to travel across state lines by fraud and misrepresentation.

Story continues

The DeSantis administration paid $615,000 to Vertol to fly the migrants on Sept. 14 from San Antonio, Texas, to Marthas Vineyard, with a brief stop in the Northwest Florida community of Crestview. The flights, which spurred national attention, came as DeSantis frequently criticized federal border policies.

In the Feb. 28 motion to dismiss the case, lawyers for the DeSantis administration raised a series of procedural and substantive issues.

Plaintiffs obviously disagree with Floridas policies and political leaders, the states attorneys wrote in a memorandum of law. But those disagreements are no substitute for asserting plausible facts or viable legal theories, or for overcoming fatal jurisdictional and immunity obstacles. They are also not a valid legal basis for hauling Florida, one of its agencies, the head of its executive branch and three other state officials into a Massachusetts courtroom.

As an example, the states attorneys wrote that a Massachusetts federal court should not have jurisdiction over the case.

To be sure, the planes landed in Massachusetts, the states attorneys argued. But plaintiffs claims all arose before the plane touched down.

The plaintiffs attorneys, however, disputed such arguments in the filing last week. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs.

Plaintiffs were injured in the Commonwealth (of Massachusetts), the plaintiffs attorneys wrote. Defendants engaged in a concerted, multi-state scheme to entice the unwitting individual plaintiffs onto flights to Marthas Vineyard where they were falsely imprisoned, then abandoned and humiliated in a publicity stunt contrived for DeSantis personal and political gain.

Also, the plaintiffs attorneys argued they had sufficiently raised claims of federal constitutional violations.

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The scheme, at its core, denied class plaintiffs their liberty in the most fundamental sense by tricking them into boarding planes under false pretenses and only revealing the planes true destination once escape was impossible, and impermissibly interfering with access to their immigration proceedings, the document said.

The legislature last year included $12 million in the state budget for the Department of Transportation to carry out a program to facilitate the transport of unauthorized aliens from this state. The DeSantis administration used part of that money to pay Vertol.

But amid the lawsuit in Massachusetts and another case in state court in Leon County, the Legislature on Feb. 10 passed a bill that sought to neutralize legal arguments against the handling of the flights.

In part, the bill repealed the part of the budget that was used to pay for the flights and created the Unauthorized Alien Transport Program in state law. Also, the bill funneled the remaining money provided in the budget section back to state coffers and allocated $10 million to the newly created program  effectively swapping out money.

That led to a Leon County circuit judge dismissing the lawsuit filed in state court. The DeSantis administration attorneys also have argued that the new law should scuttle part of the Massachusetts case, saying that the disputed section of the budget has been repealed so it is impossible for any plaintiff to be subjected to future transportation under the section.

DeSantis last week signed an immigration bill (SB 1718) that provided $12 million for the program in the coming year.

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This aerial photo taken on Feb. 28, 2023 shows the view of Thar Coal Block-I Coal Electricity Integration project in Sindh province, Pakistan. [Photo/Xinhua]

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by China. It consists of multidimensional investment in areas ranging from infrastructure development, energy sector, special economic zones and oil pipelines, to the development of the Gwadar Port and Gwadar city as well as associated facilities. The project, since it was proposed in 2015, has seen its institutional framework, relevant offices and organizations quickly become operational, with the years from 2015 to 2018 witnessing huge momentum.



It is undeniable that CPEC is a fulcrum of the BRI as it was the first such undertaking initiated by China. Its success and timely completion would represent a significant success for both China and Pakistan as it is the manifestation of a true spirit of win-win cooperation in a mega development project, which can then be replicated in other segments of the BRI.

According to official Pakistani government reports, 27 projects worth $19 billion have so far been completed, while 63 projects with an investment total of $35.2 billion will be completed by 2030. Despite the recent political instability and uncertain economic environment in Pakistan, the CPEC projects by and large have been moving according to schedule barring a few hurdles.

The 3,000-km-long CPEC is one of the BRI's six envisioned corridors, and the flagship project connecting the Belt from Kashgar in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region with the Maritime Silk Road at Gwadar Port in Pakistan.

Pakistan has expressed its support for the construction of the project on multiple occasions.

In his inaugural speech in April 2022, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif pledged to boost construction of CPEC. Meanwhile, since last year, he has held several meetings with the Chinese ambassador and the business community to reassure them of full government support for CPEC and the security of Chinese nationals living and working in Pakistan. In November 2022, during his first visit to Beijing, the prime minister highlighted the need to speed up bilateral cooperation on development and investment.

From Pakistan's perspective, this project has been labeled a "fate changer" for the country and a "game changer" for the entire region. Commencing with the initial allocation of $46 billion, the expected investment has been revised upward several times and now stands at $62 billion. When completed, this will elevate Pakistan's economy and infrastructure, creating around 2.3 million job opportunities, as well as the means for enhanced cooperation and regional integration. Both countries remain committed to seeing its timely completion in 2030, with all institutional arrangements advancing smoothly both in China and Pakistan.

The vision of the BRI is anticipated to be an advantageous conduit for the prosperity and development of relevant countries and regions. It will help build a community of shared future for mankind with shared values, mutual benefits and common prosperity through win-win cooperation.

As part of the BRI, CPEC also embodies the spirit of building a community of shared future for mankind, and has witnessed pragmatic cooperation between Pakistan and China, boosting closer bilateral commercial and trade cooperation, and serving as an important driver of Pakistan's economic growth.

The construction of CPEC shows great potential in a wide range of areas. Its success is expected to pave the way for commerce, trade, transport and energy supply, which will help Pakistan to materialize its vision of becoming a progressive and developed state.

Dr. Waseem Ishaque is a senior fellow of Taihe Institute, a think tank based in Beijing.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
Less than two weeks after a mistrial, federal prosecutors on Monday filed a motion to dismiss conspiracy and fraud charges against former Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum.

The move to drop the charges against Gillum, a former Tallahassee mayor, comes after jurors on May 4 acquitted him of lying to federal investigators but were unable to reach a verdict on charges that he and his political mentor, Sharon Lettman-Hicks, bilked political contributors out of money and illegally steered it to Gillum for his personal use.

Mondays one-sentence motion by prosecutors asked U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor to dismiss the indictment against Gillum and Lettman-Hicks, as allowed under federal rules.

Gillums legal team hailed the move.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Andrew Gillum had the courage to stand up and say I am innocent. And that is finally being recognized. We want to thank the hard-working jury who did their job and explained to the government why it should drop the case. Andrew has endured a lot over the past few years and now can resume his life and public service, attorneys David Oscar Markus, Margot Moss, Katie Miller and Todd Yoder said in a text message Monday afternoon.

Gillum, a one-time rising star in Democratic politics who has steadfastly maintained his innocence, on Monday tweeted an emoji of two hands clapping, adding, But God 

The charges against Gillum came after a lengthy FBI public corruption probe that also snared Scott Maddox, a former Tallahassee city commissioner, and former Florida Democratic Party chairman. Maddox pleaded guilty in 2019 and is serving time in federal prison. The investigation also netted Maddoxs long-serving aide, Paige Carter-Smith, and prominent businessman J.T. Burnette.

RELATED: US seeks dismissal of corruption charges against Florida 2018 Democratic governor nominee Gillum

U.S. Attorney Jason Coodys office did not elaborate on the decision to drop the charges against Gillum and Lettman-Hicks.

Story continues

But The Tallahassee Democrat newspaper reported this month that jurors were deadlocked 10-2 in favor of acquittal on 19 charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and committing wire fraud.

Gillum and Lettman-Hicks were indicted last year on charges related to activities that took place between 2016 and 2019, as Gillums political stature blossomed.

Gillum catapulted into the national spotlight after winning the Democratic gubernatorial primary in 2018. Gov. Ron DeSantis defeated Gillum by less than 33,000 votes in the general election.

Gillum, who at age 23 was elected in 2003 as Tallahassees youngest city commissioner, served on the commission for a decade before getting elected mayor in 2014.

Gillum and Lettman-Hicks were on trial for two weeks before the jury cleared Gillum of lying to investigators and deadlocked on the other charges. During opening arguments on April 18, prosecutors laid out a complex set of transactions involving contributions from a handful of non-profit organizations to P&P Communications, a company controlled by Lettman-Hicks. The indictment accused her of illegally steering campaign-related funds to Gillum for his personal use.

Gary Milligan, an assistant U.S. attorney, repeatedly accused Gillum of attempting to distance himself from the alleged wrongdoing. He wants something to happen but doesnt want to take responsibility for it and hes separating himself from it, Milligan argued.

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But Gillums lawyers argued that prosecutors put a target on the Democrat, who was Floridas first Black gubernatorial nominee.

The charges stemmed from payments Gillum received after stepping down from his job at the liberal-advocacy group People for the American Way, where he earned $122,500, in addition to his roughly $70,000 annual salary as mayor. After launching his bid for governor and leaving the job in 2017, Gillum began receiving regular payments from P&P, according to the indictment. Prosecutors filed a superseding indictment in April that dropped two of the initial charges against Gillum and Lettman-Hicks.

The indictment accused the defendants of having engaged in an ongoing and evolving scheme to defraud by unlawfully soliciting and obtaining funds from various entities and individuals through false and fraudulent representations and promises that the funds would be used for a legitimate purpose, but instead using third parties to divert a portion of those funds to P&P, which Lettman-Hicks then fraudulently provided to Gillum for his personal use disguised as payroll payments.

For about a year after his narrow defeat to DeSantis, Gillum continued to enjoy national fame, working briefly for CNN as a political commentator in 2019.

But he dropped out of the spotlight after a 2020 incident in a South Beach hotel room, where a man reportedly overdosed. Gillum was in the room, and a police report said he was unable to communicate with officers due to his inebriated state.

RELATED: Former Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum cleared on one charge, mistrial on others

Speaking to reporters outside the federal courthouse after the trial ended May 4, Gillum said he and his family have been under attack on all sides for the past seven years.

Theyve quite literally tried to take everything from us. And the beauty is that in our system, the powers that be dont always get to decide, said Gillum, accompanied by his wife R. Jai. Everyday people like you and me sometimes get our swing at the ball and today the jury took it.

Gillum has asserted that he was the victim of a political witch hunt, in part because he is Black.

I just got to believe that, through this all, maybe one of the things that needed to be revealed to me is that this system is in desperate need of reform. And Ill just say, to be continued, he said.

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A federal judge overseeing the Andrew Gillum corruption case has granted federal prosecutors' request to dismiss charges against the former Tallahassee mayor and Democratic gubernatorial nominee and his political mentor.

In a Monday morning filing in U.S. District court, the government "respectfully moves that this court dismiss theindictment against the Defendants Andrew Gillum and Sharon Lettman-Hicks."

The government did not comment on the move, which came after the Tallahassee Democrat reported that jurors overwhelmingly favored acquitting the two and urged prosecutors to drop the case.

Judge Allen Winsor issued an order completely dismissing the case making the move official. He canceled a previously scheduled hearing set for Wednesday.

Andrew Gillum had the courage to stand up and say I am innocent. And that is finally being recognized," his defense attorneys David Oscar Markus, Margot Moss and Katie Miller said in a statement. "We want to thank the hard working jury who did their job and explained to the government why it should drop the case. Andrew has endured a lot over the past few years and now can resume his life and public service.

The acquittal, partial mistrial and outright dismissal marked a major defeat for the government and its long-running and costly Operation Capital Currency investigation, which saw undercover FBI agents posing as crooked developers descend on Tallahassee starting in 2015.

The investigation led to prison time and guilty pleas in 2019 from former Mayor and City Commissioner Scott Maddox and his aide, Paige Carter-Smith, and guilty verdicts against their co-defendant, developer John J.T. Burnette, at the end of his 2021 trial.

But Gillum is walking away a free man, even though the charges and swirling investigation took a heavy toll.

In the crucial last few weeks of the Florida governor's race campaign in which he lost to Ron DeSantis by 32,463 votes, Gillum found himself playing defense after the release of records undermining the mayors explanations about his role in the long-running undercover probe.

Story continues

Gillum, who wasnt challenged on the issue by his Democratic rivals during the primary, hoped to steam past questions in the general election. But in the end, he couldnt escape them.

Included in the drop from his one-time friend, lobbyist Adam Corey, and his GOP-connected lawyer, Chris Kise, were emails and texts showing an undercover FBI agent posing as a developer named Mike Miller arranged outings for Gillum during a 2016 trip to New York City, including a performance of Hamilton. Those became a key part of the government's case against Gillum, even though jurors would unequivocally acquit him of lying to the FBI almost five years later.

Analysis: FBI revelations late in the campaign dimmed Andrew Gillum's chances in governor's race

The prosecutors' first attempt to convict Gillum and co-defendant Lettman-Hicks on charges involving their alleged illegal use of campaign contributions also ended poorly for the prosecution.

Former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum leaves the federal courthouse after a jury found him not guilty on making false statements while deadlocking on all other charges against him on Thursday, May 4, 2023.

On May 4, after a nearly three-week trial, jurors acquitted Gillum on a single count of making false statements but couldnt reach a verdict on 18 other conspiracy and wire fraud counts against both defendants. Several jurors later anonymously announced that the 12-person panel voted heavily in favor of acquittal but that two biased jurors prevented a unanimous decision.

Prosecutors signaled their intent to try the defendants again after a partial mistrial was declared, though they clearly engaged in subsequent soul searching given the jury room math.

Federal prosecutors faced distinct tactical disadvantages were they to proceed with a retrial.

The verdict: Gillum not guilty of lying to FBI as jury deadlocks on other charges

Inside Andrew Gillum jury deliberations: Jurors point to 'flimsy' case, 'biased' holdouts

Inside the courtroom: An emotional scene in the courtroom after Gillum found not guilty

Retrials can be quite complicated, Daniel Richman, a professor at Columbia Law School and former federal prosecutor in New York, said days before the dismissal. Defendants not only gain comprehensive knowledge of the governments case, but they gain material with which to impeach them in the second case.

However, retrials also offer prosecutors a chance to retool and refocus their case. In a Gillum retrial, its a given prosecutors would have changed the narrative given that half their case  involving the false statements charge and the then-mayors interactions with undercover FBI agents  was off the table.

Prosecutor's 'off-the-cuff' intention was to proceed with a retrial

After the jury announced its decision, Winsor declared a mistrial on the conspiracy and fraud counts and adjudicated Gillum not guilty on the false statements charge. He then asked the government about its next steps.

Well obviously discuss it, Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Milligan II said. But our intention right now at least off the cuff is that were going to proceed forward with a second trial.

But that exchange happened before either the government or defense knew exactly how the jury had voted during their secret deliberations.

Several of the jurors, including two who spoke with the Tallahassee Democrat, wrote in their public statement that the jury voted 10-2 not guilty for Gillum on all counts. It voted 10-2 not guilty for Lettman-Hicks on 10 counts 9-3 not guilty on the others.

Before prosecutors announced they were dropping the case, Diane Peress, a former state and federal prosecutor in New York who teaches law at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, told the Democrat the decision to retry is easier when juries vote heavily to convict but are prevented by one or two jurors. Its tougher when the reverse is true, said Peress, who helped successfully prosecute wealthy hotelier Leona Helmsley in a headline-grabbing case from the late 1980s.

Im not going to speak for the federal government, she said, but theyve got to really think this over. Retrying a case is doable, but it has its problems.

Jason Coody, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Florida, was expected to make the final call, possibly in consultation with the FBI, which conducted the years-long Capital Currency investigation into Gillum and others.

Dismissal comes after mounting pressure

After the partial mistrial, defense lawyers, including David Markus of Miami, who represents Gillum, and Mutaqee Akbar, who represents Lettman-Hicks, urged the government to abandon any plans for a retrial.

Since that time, other prominent Gillum supporters and surrogates have asked prosecutors to reconsider in what has appeared at times as a coordinated public relations campaign.

The Capital Outlook newspaper, led by the Rev. R.B. Holmes Jr., pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, opined in an editorial that a second trial would amount to government overkill and abuse of power.

Alan Dershowitz, a famous criminal defense and constitutional law attorney, said in an op-ed in the Democrat that the government should accept the jurys clear message."

Gillums team posted a tweet from his official account on Friday linking to Democrat video of comments he made about the trial outside the courthouse and his own Bring Justice Home legal defense fund. Another tweet that seemed to acknowledge a coming second trial was deleted.

If this isnt a modern day witch hunt, then its hard to know what is, one tweet said. Our work is not over, as we prepare for the possibility that this sham process will continue.

After the news broke, Gillum tweeted a photo of the court filing with the words "But God..." with the raising hands and folded hands emoji.

Lettman-Hicks thanked her legal team of attorneys R. Alex Morris and Mutaqee Akbar, "for the advocacy, friendship, and guidance."

This moment has caused me to reflect on how precious freedom is in this country. Martin Luther King, Jr., reminded us that 'the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.' These words have a more potent meaning to me after enduring an unjust investigation that has been emotionally challenging for myself and my loved ones."

Chronicling the case:

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com and follow @JeffBurlew on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Andrew Gillum corruption case: Judge grants request to drop charges
A fiery highway crash in northern Mexico left at least 26 people dead Sunday, authorities said, after a passenger van and a freight truck collided.

Prosecutors and police in the northern border state of Tamaulipas said the death toll was a preliminary count because of the sheer volume of the wreckage and the fire that consumed the van and the freight trailer. The cab that had been pulling the freight trailer was not found at the scene, suggesting the driver might have uncoupled it and fled.

The accident occurred on a highway near the state capital, Ciudad Victoria, which sits about 214 miles south of McAllen, Texas, and the cause was under investigation, officials said.

Reuters cited the Tamaulipas' public security ministry as having said two vehicles crashed about half an hour outside the state capital and then caught fire.

TEXAS SENDS MIGRANTS TO NAVAL OBSERVATORY NEAR VP HARRIS' HOME, ONCE AGAIN

A fiery crash unfolded on the Victoria-Zaragoza highway in Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Local media reported many of the victims might be members of an extended family returning from an outing, but authorities did not confirm that, according to the Associated Press.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

In the past, high death tolls in similar crashes in Mexico have often been blamed on overloaded vehicles linked to migrant smuggling.

Authorities say a fiery wreck on the Victoria-Zaragoza highway in Tamaulipas, Mexico, on May 14, 2023, left more than two dozen people dead.

A source at the Tamaulipas prosecutors' office told Reuters that authorities had not confirmed whether the driver of the truck fled the scene or was killed in the wreck.

BIDEN SAYS BORDER LOOKS MUCH BETTER THAN YOU ALL EXPECTED AFTER TITLE 42 ENDS, HAS NO PLANS TO VISIT

A firefighter tries to extinguish a fiery crash on the Victoria-Zaragoza highway in Tamaulipas, Mexico, on May 14, 2023.

The source reportedly added that the passengers of the van, believed to be from a private transportation business, included children. The deceased victims are all thought to be Mexicans as national identification cards have been recovered from the scene.

The crash also comes days after the expiration of Title 42 prompted record tens of thousands of migrants surging at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Members of the State Guard gather at the site of a deadly crash on the Victoria-Zaragoza highway in Tamaulipas, Mexico, May 14, 2023.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas claimed on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday that over the previous two days, U.S. Border Patrol had experienced a 50% drop in the number of encounters with illegal immigrants versus what they were experiencing earlier in the week before Title 42 expired at midnight on Thursday.

Border Patrol agents recorded 6,300 encounters on Friday and another 4,200 on Saturday, compared with a daily average of more than 10,000 shortly before Title 42 ended.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The firefighting airplane crash that killed a pilot during the Kruger Rock Fire was most likely caused by extreme turbulence.

The National Transportation Safety Board recently came to its final determination on the Nov. 16, 2021, crash near Estes Park that killed Fort Morgan-based CO Fire Aviation pilot Mar Thor Olson, an experienced military and civilian pilot with an extensive background in flying at night with night-vision goggles. The crash, which is believed to be Colorado's first use of a fixed-wing aircraft at night to fight a fire, happened after sunset, around 6:36 p.m.

The report stated the probable cause of the crash was "the airplanes encounter with severe to extreme turbulence associated with mountain wave rotor cloud activity, which resulted in loss of airplane control."

Rotor clouds form at or just below the tops of mountains on the leeward, or side opposite of the prevailing (generally west in Colorado) wind. The air movement can cause an eddy effect on the east side of the mountains, including dangerous updrafts and downdrafts, which creates severe turbulence.

Here are key details from the final NTSB report of the fatal flight

No mechanical anomalies were found that would have precluded normal operation.

Olson's toxicology report came back negative for all substances tested.

The pilot was using night vision goggles during the flight.

The crash site was located on the eastern slope (leeward) of a high mountain range's west winds, which were reportedly gusting to 34 mph near the time of the crash.

Two witnesses saw the plane roll inverted twice just before the crash. Neither witness saw the crash but one heard it.

More: Firefighter pilot Marc Thor Olson remembered: 'He was like the godfather of the fire pilots'

NTSB report looks into discussions about the weather before the fatal Kruger Rock Fire crash

Justin Whitesell, emergency operations director for the Larimer County Sheriff's Office, said in his witness statement in the report that he talked to CO Fire Aviation's Zach Sullivan and Olson around 3 p.m. on the day of the crash, asking them what they thought about the winds. Whitesell said the two said crosswinds looked good.

Story continues

"I asked then if theyd be able to fly with the current conditions and they said 'yeah'," Whitesell said in the report. "(Sullivan) said that him and Marc Olson had gone over looking at the fire and looked at the weather, and they were comfortable with everything they were seeing and didnt have any issues."

According to the report, Olson's first mission fighting the fire that day started in Fort Morgan where CO Fire Aviation is located. He dropped a load of fire retardant on the fire around 4:30 p.m., then landed at the Northern Colorado Regional Airport in Loveland to wait for the wind to subside until he made a second drop.

Whitesell told NTSB investigators he talked to Olson on the phone about an hour before the crash while Olson was at the Loveland airport to make sure he felt conditions were OK to fly, according to the report.

"I specifically said, 'Theres no need to push it if the conditions arent right; its not a big deal'," Whitesell said in the report. "I said he had to let me know because Im not a pilot, if the winds were too strong. And (Olson) said between Fort Collins and the fire it was pretty windy but over the actual fire it was pretty calm."

In a Coloradoan interview May 15, Whitesell said it's easy to look back at something with a traumatic ending and wonder about decisions made at the time.

"Knowing the outcome, it's hard to say I wouldnt look at it any differently," Whitesell said. "But at the same time, I'm not sure what lens I would be looking through. It's one of those things you constantly think about."

A Coloradoan phone call and email to CO Fire Aviation on May 15 asking questions about the NTSB's final determination of the crash and if the company would continue exploring night aerial firefighting went unanswered.

NTSB report: Witness details final minutes of the fatal Kruger Rock Fire airplane crash

Around 6 p.m. Nov. 16, 2021, Olson left the Loveland airport on his fatal Kruger Rock firefighting mission, making a high circle around the fire location, then a second lower circle to view the fire overall and his drop location and assess weather conditions.

Derek Rosenquist, Larimer County Emergency Services division supervisor of the fire at the time of the crash, was the last person to talk to Olson via radio communication.

Rosenquist said while Olson was circling on the fatal flight, he saw a "little bit of a wobble" based on the flood lights the plane had on its wings. He said Olson quickly corrected and mentioned a "little bit of turbulence."

Rosenquist said they discussed how comfortable Olson was making the drop, and the pilot mentioned he would make the drop, then land at the Loveland airport and check conditions around 10:30 p.m. to see if winds subsided.

Rosenquist said Olson in a "perfectly calm" voice let him know he was coming in; asked how the wind was on the ground, which Rosenquist estimated at 15 mph, gusting to 20 mph from the northeast; then flew over top him.

"As I watched him pass, based on the lights on the wing tips, there's a little bit of a wobble," Rosenquist stated in the report. "He started a complete roll to the left, another roll, wing tip over wing tip to the left, and I lost him behind some trees. Then I heard an impact about a second or two later."

Several days after the crash, the Kruger Rock Fire was fully contained after burning 147 acres in steep terrain.

Colorado tribute: Fallen aviation firefighters memorialized near where 4 died in Larimer County

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fatal Kruger Rock Fire plane crash: Report lists turbulence as cause
Reuters

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Walt Disney Co is scrapping plans to build a nearly $1 billion corporate campus in central Florida that would have housed 2,000 employees, according to an e-mail to employees on Thursday, against the backdrop of its ongoing legal battle with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Disney parks chief Josh D'Amaro said "changing business conditions" prompted Disney to reconsider its 2021 plan to relocate employees, including its Imagineers who design theme park rides, to a new campus in Lake Nona. The company was expected to spend as much as $864 million on the project, according to the Orlando Sentinel, on a campus that would have served as a base for Walt Disney Imagineering and the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products division.
Slow-moving thunderstorms could bring flooding to Oregon this evening, according to the National Weather Service.

Correction: A previous version of this story called the an alert sent out by the National Weather Service in Portland a "flood warning." It was a "flood watch."

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch Monday afternoon due to heavy rain that could arrive with slow-moving thunderstorms this afternoon and evening.

The warning was issued for the length of Oregon but due to the sporadic nature of the storms, some areas could get slammed with an inch of rain per hour while others could see no rain at all.

Right now we cannot say exactly where they are going to be, Noah Alviz, meteorologist at the NWS in Portland, said. What we can say with high confidence is that the places that do get them could see heavy rainfall and potentially flash floods.

The warning is in effect from 3-10 p.m. Monday.

Alviz said major rivers are unlikely to overflow their banks, but small creeks and urban areas could see localized flooding. Areas near recent wildfire scars could also see quicker-rising streams or debris flows. The heavy rain could also make driving hazardous.

Alviz said all the ingredients were in place  an upper-level low-pressure system with cool air, a warm surface, moisture from the ocean and instability.

Spring thunderstorms arent necessarily unusual, but this could be a heavy one, he said.

Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 15 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. To support his work, subscribe to the Statesman Journal. Urness is the author of Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon and Hiking Southern Oregon. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Flash flood watch issued in Oregon amid incoming thunderstorms
EDITORS NOTE: This is the first in a five-part series called How Florida got so conservative.

Florida has become the nerve center of the modern Republican Party.

Once the nations largest and most volatile swing state, Florida has lurched to the right in recent years, becoming a mecca for the GOPs most influential luminaries and wealthiest donors.

Republicans now hold supermajorities in the state legislature, and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has solidified his grip on the reins of political power in the state, turning Florida into a laboratory for conservative policy experiments. For the first time since Reconstruction, theres not a single Democrat in statewide elected office.

But Floridas transition from coveted political battleground to the premier haven of modern conservatism has been decades in the making, owing to a perfect storm of demographic changes, Republican power plays, pandemic politics and Democratic missteps, according to more than a dozen strategists, experts and officials interviewed by The Hill.

Republicans focused on the ultimate goal, said Fernand Amandi, a Miami-based Democratic pollster who helped former President Barack Obama win the state in 2008 and 2012. They thought things out in 10-year cycles. They built a permanent campaign apparatus. They started recruiting candidates to run for local office and springboarding them into higher office. They registered voters and managed the margins.

Florida is now mecca for MAGA, he added. It is the one safe space and lighthouse for Republican MAGA voters across the United States.

From Obama to Trump

File photo from 2012. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

It was just a decade ago, on the heels of Obamas reelection victory, that Democrats saw Florida as politically promising.

Obama won Floridas electoral votes for the second consecutive presidential election in 2012, nearly tying then-GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney for the states conservative-leaning Cuban American vote, and Florida was only becoming larger and more diverse.

Story continues

It seemed like things were actually going the other way at one time, Aubrey Jewett, a political science professor at the University of Central Florida, said. When Obama won the state, this seemed to be, at that time, confirmation of the demography is destiny idea  as Florida gets less white, its going to be more Democratic.

Instead, Republican nominee Donald Trump defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016, and Trump won again four years later  solidifying the idea Florida had gone red. In 2018, Republican Ron DeSantis was elected governor, and he won a huge reelection victory in 2022.

The last several years, with Trump and then DeSantis, seemed to bust that whole thing wide open, Jewett said.

With Trumps move to Florida after his presidency, the two favorites for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination both lived in the state.

How the pandemic turned Florida red

Republicans move in

File photo from 2019. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

There are a few reasons for Floridas shift, which include Trumps presidency itself and the coronavirus pandemic.

Both intersect with another big part of the recent shift in Floridas politics  the migration of new people into the Sunshine State  and not just Trump.

Florida has been the nations third-largest state for nearly a decade, but it is now growing faster than rival states  a point sometimes highlighted by DeSantis.

Estimates released by the Census Bureau in December showed that, for the first time since 1957, Florida became the fastest-growing state in the country, netting more than 400,000 new residents in the year between July 2021 and July 2022.

Those new arrivals, said Susan MacManus, a professional emeritus at the University of South Florida who specializes in Florida politics, have tilted heavily Republican.

During the pandemic, nearly 394,000 new voters moved into Florida, and nearly half of them  46 percent  registered with the GOP, according to voter data from L2, a data vendor. Only about 23 percent registered to vote as Democrats.

Meanwhile, Floridas electorate was shifting from within. Between January 2021 and September 2022, nearly 550,000 Florida voters changed their party affiliation, according to an analysis of state voter data by MacManus and her associates. Voters left the Democratic Party at nearly twice the rate as they left the GOP.

The GOP voter gains have been striking. Republicans surpassed Democrats in voter registrations in late 2021, and theyve only continued to grow their lead. There are now nearly 437,000 more registered Republican voters in the state than Democrats, according to the most recent data published by the Florida Division of Elections.

When Obama won reelection in 2012, Democrats held a roughly 550,000-voter lead over Republicans.

Yet Floridas rightward drift began even before Republicans gained their voter registration edge. After Trump narrowly beat out Clinton in 2016, he defeated President Biden in Florida four years later by 3 percentage points  a margin that, at the time, was seen as a relative landslide by Sunshine State standards.

Pandemic shifts Florida to right

While theres no one reason people move to Florida, both Democrats and Republicans pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic as a turning point for the state and its politics.

COVID was the catalyst for the explosion of the Republican political shift in Florida, said MacManus. It changed the trajectory. They were moving here from blue states where they didnt like the policies. And it wasnt just retirees and wealthy folks. It was things like school policies, schools being opened.

People move here because of policy, she added, but policy and politics go hand in hand.

DeSantis, a former Trump acolyte who is now the ex-presidents chief potential rival for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, played a key role in this process.

DeSantis lifted COVID-19-related lockdowns and restrictions, bucking the advice of public health experts and officials. It proved popular: DeSantis sailed to a massive 19-point victory over Democratic opponent Charlie Crist in his reelection bid last year.

The policies brought attention to DeSantis and his state, turning the lawmaker into a big national star in politics and solidifying the sense Florida had become a red state.

For many, the 2022 midterm elections underscored just how complete the states political transformation had become.

The details of DeSantiss win were even more alarming for Democrats. He managed to carry several Democratic-leaning counties, including Miami-Dade, becoming the first GOP gubernatorial candidate since former Gov. Jeb Bush in 2002 to win there.

File photo from Floridas 2022 gubernatorial debate. (Crystal Vander Weit/TCPalm.com via AP, Pool)

If you would have told me two years ago or three years ago that Dade County would vote red, I wouldve bet against you, said former Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.), a moderate Republican who lost his reelection bid in 2018. It was absolutely extraordinary.

Adding to Democrats distress was DeSantiss success among Hispanic voters, a group that Democrats had seen as vital to their political coalition. Roughly 7 in 10 Miami-Dade County residents identify as Hispanic or Latino.

Democrats took Hispanic voters for granted and just assumed that they would continue supporting the party at a growing rate, Curbelo said. Republicans were extremely opportunistic and committed to the Hispanic vote in the state and never took any of those voters for granted.

You can see the change or the evolution in Florida the way the Hispanic community has shifted in recent years.

Where you want to be if youre a someone in GOP politics

The GOPs outsized influence in Florida is now difficult to overlook.

Even before his move to the state, Trump made the Sunshine State his political home, taking meetings with legions of Republican officials, donors and operatives at Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Palm Beach. For two years in a row, the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) ditched its usual venue near Washington, D.C., for Florida.

Just last year, Ken Griffin, the Republican megadonor and hedge fund executive, moved his family and his company Citadel from Chicago to Miami, joining a long list of prominent conservatives who have been drawn to the idea of the so-called Free State of Florida in recent years.

Trump moving to Florida brought a lot more national conservative operatives to the state who wanted to be near the president, near the action. And they started to look for their own niche in the state, one GOP donor said. Its where you want to be if youre a someone in Republican politics.

The center of GOP politics now seems to emanate from Florida  in part due to DeSantis, who has used his perch to advance a policy agenda that largely embodies the ideals of his party.

DeSantis launched a political war against wokeness  a shorthand he uses to describe everything from cancel culture to discussions about race or gender identity  and created a state agency dedicated to investigating election crimes and voter fraud.

Not writing it off

Democrats say theyre not ready to write off Florida. Yet many in the party are clear-eyed about their challenges.

The Florida Democratic Party elected its third chairperson in little more than two years in February amid internal turmoil. Democratic state lawmakers lack any real ability to check DeSantiss power in Tallahassee. And some of the partys most prominent donors have pulled back on Florida.

In terms of the funding, donors and national groups have more or less abandoned Florida, one Democratic National Committee member, who requested anonymity to speak frankly about the partys troubles in the Sunshine State, said. And the question is what came first: the chicken or the egg? Are we losing because groups and donors left, or are groups and donors leaving because we lose in Florida?

Amandi, the Miami-based pollster, said that Democrats are facing a reckoning in Florida.

The question for Democrats at the state and national level is: Are they just going to sacrifice Florida? Or are we going to reposition ourselves to be competitive in the state? Amandi said.

If the answer is the latter, he added, then we need to see the commitment, the resources to say within the next eight-to-ten years, We can win the state again.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
More than 100,000 people are waiting for a life-saving organ in the United States, with a new name added to the list every nine minutes.

So, how does the U.S. organ transplant system work? To find out, we spoke with Anne Paschke, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit that runs the countrys organ transplant system.

Heres what we learned:

Who oversees the U.S. organ transplant system?

The countrys organ transplant system  the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network  is managed by the United Network for Organ Sharing, or UNOS, the Richmond-based nonprofit that has a contract with the federal government to operate the national organ wait-list system. (The nonprofit has a $6.5 million annual contract with the U.S. government, according to the Washington Post.)





We match organs to patients, not to transplant centers, said Paschke.

READ MORE: Jackson overhauls top staff at heart transplant program, amid patients deaths, investigations

How many transplant centers are there in the U.S? How many are in Florida?

There are more than 250 active transplant centers in the United States and 12 of them are in Florida. Keep in mind that not every transplant center has a program for every organ.

Here are the transplant centers in South Florida:

 Miami Transplant Institute, located in Jackson Memorial Hospital and staffed by University of Miami medical school physicians. The institute has transplant programs for a variety of organs, including kidneys, lungs, pancreas, intestines and livers. It also does heart transplants, but its adult heart transplant program is currently suspended and undergoing an overhaul amid multiple investigations involving patient deaths and infection rates. The institute is still performing pediatric heart transplants.

 Memorial Transplant Institute, at Memorial Regional Hospital and Joe DiMaggio Childrens Hospital in Hollywood, offers adult and pediatric transplants for hearts and kidneys. It also recently opened a pancreas transplant program.

Story continues

 Cleveland Clinic Weston offers heart, kidney and liver transplants.

Memorial Healthcares Dr. Basit Javaid (left), chief of Abdominal Transplant Medicine, and Dr. Seyed Ghasemian (right), chief of the Abdominal Transplant Surgery Program, will lead Memorial Transplant Institutes new pancreas transplant program, the hospital announced on April 25, 2023.

How can people become organ donors?

Generally speaking, in order to donate organs  heart, lungs, kidney, liver, pancreas and intestines  the patient would have to die in the hospital and be on a ventilator so the organs can continue to receive oxygen.

This accounts for less than 2% of the eligible population, said Paschke. Someone who dies at home may still donate their eyes and tissue.

You dont have to wait until death to donate certain organs. Healthy adults can become living donors for kidneys, livers and in rare cases, uterus or segments of other organs, according to the organ transplant network. You have two kidneys and can generally live with one; you can donate a section of a healthy liver as it regrows within weeks.

If you want to become an organ donor, enroll in your states donor registry. Family members can donate a loved ones organs, even if they never registered to do so. But this can be a difficult end-of-life decision to make, so its best to make those decisions ahead of time.

Its also worth noting that while family can choose to donate organs of a loved one, they cant override your decision to donate organs if you have registered to do so.

How do patients find an organ match?

Medical information from donors and patients are input into the nationwide organ transplantation system.

When an organ becomes available, the electronic system will rule out everyone on the wait list who is incompatible, and rank the remaining patients based on the systems allocation policies. Then, offers are sent out to the transplant centers that have patients at the top of the list, according to Paschke.

Its then up to the patients transplant surgeon to accept or reject the organ offer. They have an hour to make a decision before the system sends out the organ offer to another patient, she said.

READ NEXT: This heart pump can be a better option than a transplant. But its not for everyone

Doctors look at a variety of factors to determine if an organ is a match, including age, lab test results and pictures of the donors organ(s). Some of this information, such as blood type, is from testing done through histocompatibility laboratories. These labs analyze the blood of donors and recipients so that doctors can assess whether a patients body will likely reject or accept an organ.

There are five labs in Florida: One is at Jackson Memorial Hospital/the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in South Florida. The other labs are in the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville; Shands Hospital in Gainesville; AdventHealth Orlando; and LifeLink Florida in Tampa.

Does age play a role in transplant eligibility?

Paschke said the countrys organ transplant network doesnt restrict organ transplants based on age and lets hospitals and their doctors decide which patients are good candidates for a transplant. Some hospitals accept sicker, older patients while some may not.

For example, Cleveland Clinic Weston, a privately owned hospital, and Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, one of Browards public hospitals, accept patients age 70 and older on a case-by-case basis for heart transplants. Jackson also accepts patients age 70 and older.

Some patients may seek to join the wait list at multiple transplant centers, but a transplant centers physician decides who will be on a wait list.

How does a patient move up on the wait list?

A persons position on the wait list depends on how urgently they need a new organ, and can go up or down depending on changes in their health or treatment. Generally speaking, the sicker you are, the closer you get to the top of the list for a new organ.

While blood type, height, weight and other medical factors are automatically screened, every organ type also has its own individual distribution policy.

For a person who needs a new heart, for example, certain factors  distance from the donors hospital and whether a patient has a heart pump or other support device helps determine their urgency status, according to the heart allocation policy of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.

The organ networks website has a breakdown of what factors contribute to organ allocations.

How are organs delivered to the patients?

There are 56 nonprofits in the country that operate as organ procurement organizations; they are under contract with the federal government. Their job is to retrieve organs and tissues from donors in hospitals, evaluate the organ to see if it could potentially be usable, put the donors information into the system, and if there is a match, deliver the organ to the transplant center.

Some organs, such as hearts, lungs and livers, wont be recovered from the deceased donor unless a match is found, Paschke said. Organs can stay healthy only for a short period of time outside the body. Once removed from a body, they are placed on ice or connected to a machine that pumps blood through them. Hearts and lungs can survive four to six hours, livers, 8 to 12 hours, and kidneys 24 to 36 hours.

One of the nonprofits tasked with recovering organs, Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency, is a division of the surgery department at the University of Miami medical school. There are three other organ procurement organizations in Florida: LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services, part of the University of Floridas Shands Teaching Hospital in Gainesville; Our Legacy in Maitland, Central Florida; and LifeLink of Florida, a division of LifeLink Foundation, located in Tampa.

How to find, compare transplant programs?

If youre looking for a transplant program, or want to see how your transplant center compares to others, theres a way to do so.

Visit SRTR.org. You can search for programs by organ, ZIP code, state or by the hospitals name to see how they fare with wait list times, survival, the speed of transplantation and other key measures.
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In spite of breaking a world record and missing the light of the Sun, a Florida man who's been under the Keys for nearly two and a half months is refusing to resurface.

In an interview with the Associated Press conducted from a deep-sea "lodge"  basically a small room, 30 feet underwater, that's existed for some time  biomedical researcher Joseph Dituri explained what he missed the most about the dry world.

"The thing that I miss the most about being on the surface is literally the Sun," Dituri, also known as "Dr. Deep Sea," told the news wire. "The Sun has been a major factor in my life  I usually go to the gym at five and then I come back out and watch the sunrise."

10,000 Leagues

The University of South Florida professor and researcher said that he's staying underwater until early June, in spite of breaking the world record for time spent underwater without any kind of depressurization, to set a record of his own.

After going 74 days in the lodge and breaking the previous world record of 73 days, two hours and 34 minutes  which was set in 2014 at Jules Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, the same place where Dituri is staying  Dr. Deep Sea says he wants to make it to 100 days, which will be up on June 9.

"The record is a small bump and I really appreciate it," Dituri said. "Im honored to have it, but we still have more science to do."

"The idea here is to populate the worlds oceans," he said of his research, which he's dubbed Project Neptune 100, "to take care of them by living in them and really treating them well."

Hopefully Dr. Deep Sea will decide to resurface after he sets his own record  but who knows, maybe he'll end up trying to go for 200.

More on life below the surface: Scientists Discover Leak in the Bottom of the Ocean
Bobby Scott, 63, of Daytona Beach, was a general manager at Caribbean Jack's in Daytona Beach.

A DeLand man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the killing of a general manager of Caribbean Jacks, a well-known Daytona Beach restaurant, after meeting the victim for sex on a dating app.

Michael Harris Jr., 22, was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder in the 2021 killing of Bobby Scott, 63, of Daytona Beach.

In exchange for the plea, prosecutors agreed to reduce the charge against Harris to second-degree murder and to cap the maximum sentence at 50 years in prison. Without that agreement, Harris would have faced up to life in prison on the second-degree murder charge and mandatory life in prison on the first-degree murder charge.

Previous coverage: Caribbean Jacks manager killed after showing up to date from online ad

Xbox mass murder legal battles: Defense in Deltona Xbox mass murder asks for entire appeals court to review ruling

Harris withdrew his not-guilty plea and entered a plea of guilty to the lesser charge as part of the agreement.

Harris is scheduled to be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. June 22 before Circuit Judge Elizabeth Blackburn at the S. James Foxman Justice Center in Daytona Beach.

A sentencing guideline sheet states that the lowest permissible sentence for Harris is just over 23 years in prison.

Harris' prior record includes carjacking with a deadly weapon and robbery with a weapon when he was a juvenile in 2018, according to court records.

Scott was a general manager at Caribbean Jacks when he disappeared on Jan. 17, 2021.

A person who answered the phone at Caribbean Jack's on Monday said restaurant staff could not comment on the case.

Scotts husband said he last saw him about 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 17, 2021, when Scott left their Daytona Beach home to go to the gym. About 30 minutes later, Scott texted his husband that he May stop at a guy's house, too.

2 shootings, hours apart: 2 men shot two hours apart in unrelated incidents in Daytona Beach

Stabbing in NSB: New Smyrna Beach boat ramp stabbing was over fireworks, police say

Story continues

The couple had an open relationship and could date other men.

But that would be the last time the husband heard from Scott.

On that day, Scott picked up Harris at his home on Hunters Creek Drive in DeLand.

Harris later told detectives that they drove around DeLand and then headed to Orlando. Harris dropped Scott off at an unknown apartment complex." Harris said he paid Scott to use his vehicle for a week.

But detectives said the vehicle never left Volusia County. Investigators also detected blood on the drivers side door handle, on the rear cargo hatch and in the cargo area. They also found broken shards of glass consistent with a beer bottle.

Harris fingerprint was found in a blood smear in the cargo area, the affidavit stated.

Scotts body was found in the woods in the 2900 block of Old New York Avenue. Investigators believe Harris beat Scott to death with a 2-by-4 piece of wood and a beer bottle.

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood previously stated that Harris had a history of posing as a gay prostitute and blackmailing and robbing victims, and in this case, murdering the victim.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: DeLand man reaches plea deal in killing of Caribbean Jack's manager
 Flash

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech in Ankara, Turkiye, on March 10, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

Initial results of Turkiye's presidential election on Sunday showed incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead with 52.9 percent of votes compared to opposition rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu with 41.2 percent, according to the unofficial preliminary results carried by the semi-official Anadolu Agency.

Nearly 38 percent of the ballot boxes are opened, and the gap between Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu is narrowing as more votes are counted, said the report.

If no presidential candidate wins over 50 percent of the vote, a runoff vote will be held on May 28.

Sunday's presidential and parliamentary elections are one of the most consequential events that could either stretch incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's tenure into a third term or set Turkiye on a new course.

The voter turnout was noticeably high as electorates formed long queues in polling stations across the country.

International observers were deployed across the country, including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe mission.

Some 61 million voters are registered to cast their ballots. Ahead of the elections, more than 1.76 million Turks abroad have cast their votes at diplomatic missions and customs gates between April 27 and May 9.
A Florida teacher is under investigation by the Florida Department of Education (DOE) on accusations of indoctrination after showing her 5th-grade students a Disney movie that featured an LGBT+ character.

Jenna Barbee, a first-year teacher in the Hernando County School District, explained in a TikTok video that the investigation began after she chose to show a group of 5th-grade students the Disney movie Strange World after they completed standardised testing.

I thought it would be a great time to give them a brain break by showing a movie that related to what we were learning about in school, Ms Barbee said in the video.

According to Ms Barbee, students parents are given permission slips at the beginning of the year that allows them to watch PG-rated movies in class. She said all of her students parents signed the slips with almost no complaints.

Ms Barbee chose to show the students Strange World because she said was related to their unit on Earth science and ecosystems.

What better way to showcase all these standards along with huge lessons of overcoming differences, spreading kindness, communication and chasing your dreams? Ms Barbee said.

She clarified that the one LGBT+ character in the movie had nothing to do with her decision to show the movie.

However, due to the standardised testing day, Ms Barbee took some students from another teachers classroom as a few other students needed more time to complete the testing.

One of those students was the daughter of a school board member.

Upon hearing about the movie being shown, the parent and school board member reported Ms Barbee to the Florida DOE and conducted a meeting to express her perspective.

Ms Barbee said, I understood her perspective, that she really does not want this shown at her house. I never saw that perspective before so I didnt think it was a big deal but seeing how upset she was, I told her, I understand my lesson.

Story continues

The 5th-grade teacher said the investigation has resulted in a very disruptive classroom environment as the administration is in her classroom, pulling her out of class and calling students down to the office to interrogate them.

Ms Barbee said now an investigator from the Florida DOE is going to come to her class and pull her students out again, to investigate them individually.

The Independent has reached out to the Florida Department of Education for comment.

I am not and never would indoctrinate anyone to follow my beliefs, Ms Barbee said. I will however always be a safe person to come to that spreads the message of kindness, positivity and compassion for everyone.

In the last year, Florida has enacted legislation that restricts the curriculum that teachers may teach and books that may be taught.

Last summer, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis passed the Parental Rights in Education bill, nicknamed the Dont Say Gay bill which prevents teachers from holding classroom discussions or instruction involving gender identity or sexual orientation from kindergarten through third grade.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has spent his four years in office offering red meat to his party's base

Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a hotly-contested bill Monday dismantling efforts at colleges and universities to promote equality on campus as he burnishes his right-wing credentials ahead of an expected presidential bid.

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs aim to increase the share of students from historically marginalized communities but Republicans equate them with "wokeness," complaining that they threaten free speech and foster division.

The wide-ranging legislation prohibits Florida's public higher education institutions from spending state or federal cash on DEI, and eliminates compulsory courses teaching critical race theory or gender theories.

"If you look at the way this has actually been implemented across the country, DEI is better viewed as standing for 'discrimination, exclusion and indoctrination,'" DeSantis told a news conference.

"And that has no place in our public institutions. This bill says the whole experiment with DEI is coming to an end in the state of Florida."

DeSantis has become a darling of conservatives for his embrace of an "anti-woke" agenda that has fueled his meteoric rise within the Republican Party.

He has spent his four years in office offering red meat to his party's base and appears to be planning to run to Donald Trump's right on a number of issues, from welfare cuts to abortion access.

But he is attempting to sell Republicans a version of Trumpism without the chaos that engulfed the White House of the twice-impeached former president, who is the frontrunner by far in the Republican race for 2024.

DeSantis held the signing at New College of Florida, a public liberal arts school in Sarasota where he replaced seven trustees to give the board a conservative majority that quickly scrapped its own DEI office.

Education campaigners and free speech activists have complained that outlawing DEI amounts to state-backed censorship that undermines academic freedom.

Story continues

"Some of these niche subjects like critical race theory, other types of DEI-infused courses and majors: Florida is getting out of that game," said a defiant DeSantis, who is expected to announce his White House bid in the coming days.

"If you want to do things like gender ideology, go to Berkeley. Go to some of these other places."

ft/dw
[Source]

A former executive for ByteDance  TikToks Beijing-based parent company  has accused the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of having supreme access to all of the tech giants data, including those stored in the U.S.

The allegation  among several others  came in a wrongful termination lawsuit filed earlier this month by Yintao Yu, 36, who served as head of engineering for ByteDances U.S. arm from August 2017 to November 2018.

Yu claims he was sacked for raising concerns about ByteDances worldwide scheme to steal and profit from other companies intellectual property, according to the suit. Those rivals allegedly included Instagram and Snapchat.

ByteDance allegedly developed a software that scraped videos from those competitors without permission.

More from NextShark: Suspect in murder of elderly Asian man in LA had mental issues that came out of nowhere, uncle says

The company then reposted those videos to its platforms to boost engagement, which at some point was also allegedly helped by fake users, according to Yu.

Yu says he raised his concerns multiple times to Zhu Wenjia, who joined ByteDance in 2015 and was chosen to head TikToks global research and development in 2021, as per Reuters. However, Zhu allegedly dismissed them.

Amid U.S. national security concerns on TikTok, Yu also alleged that the Chinese government monitored all of ByteDances data, including those in America.

More from NextShark: 2 men accused of stabbing woman and Queens pizzeria owners who intervened indicted for attempted murder

He pointed to a special CCP unit called the Committee as providing guidance on advancing core communist values and possessing a death switch that could turn off the Chinese version of the companys apps, according to The New York Times.

After receiving criticism about access from abroad, individual engineers in China were restricted from accessing U.S. user data, but the Committee continued to have access, Yus suit stated.

Story continues

In June 2022, a BuzzFeed investigation of leaked audio recordings found that U.S. TikTok users data had been repeatedly accessed from China. One director reportedly cited a Beijing engineer called Master Admin as having access to everything.

More from NextShark: Video shows miraculous moment a man catches toddler falling from sixth floor of building in China

Yu in his suit also accused ByteDance of promoting anti-Japanese content on Douyin, Chinas version of TikTok, according to AP News. Additionally, the company was said to have demoted content that expressed support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong while boosting those that criticized them.

In response, ByteDance slammed Yus allegations as baseless claims.

A spokesperson told The Hill that Yu had worked for the company for less than a year, during which he worked on a now-discontinued app called Flipagram.

More from NextShark: Chinese woman rejects dowry, pays fiances $25,000 debt instead

We plan to vigorously oppose what we believe are baseless claims and allegations in this complaint, the spokesperson said. ByteDance is committed to respecting the intellectual property of other companies, and we acquire data in accordance with industry practices and our global policy.

TikTok at present faces a nationwide ban in the U.S. Its current CEO, Shou Chew  who concurrently served as ByteDances CFO for several months  testified at the House in March to assure lawmakers of the apps safety.
A Kentucky bank teller who stole more than $32,000 has been sentenced to two years and eight months in federal prison.

Jamie L. Hightower paid $32,800 in restitution to cover the thefts before she was sentenced last week in federal court in Lexington, according to court records.

Hightower pleaded guilty to one charge of bank fraud and one charge of aggravated identify theft.

The thefts took place over a four-month period in 2019 when Hightower was the head teller and vault teller at Community Trust Bank in Mount Sterling, according to court records.

Hightower began taking money soon after becoming the head teller at a bank branch and her misconduct became increasingly brazen in short order, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tashena A. Fannin said in a sentencing memorandum.

Court records cite a number of methods Hightower used, including altering a paper check from a business customer to pocket $4,000 and shifting funds to cover the theft; forging a customers name to a check to take $6,000 from his account; and taking $2,000 from another teller at the bank under the guise of putting it in the vault.

On Aug. 15, 2019, Hightower took a total of $10,000 in cash from Federal Reserve and armored-car shipments and the vault, then took $10,000 from a customers account the next day and made up a story that the customer had authorized the withdrawal and got the money, according to the court record.

The indictment charged that Hightower created false entries in records and used multiple teller drawers to hide the thefts.

Hightower also initially lied and blamed customers and coworkers in an effort to evade detection, according to the sentencing memorandum.

The prosecutor acknowledged that Hightower had repaid the money, calling that a welcome and rare deed.

The restitution will go the bank, which repaid people who lost money.

Defense attorneys said the thefts happened during a very difficult year for Hightower, which included a move for her family, a decision to homeschool her two children after one was bullied in public school, and a terminal cancer diagnosis for her mother.

In truth, Jamie herself does not know or cannot explain exactly why she committed these acts, her defense attorneys wrote. However, it seems clear that something within Jamie, historically a law-abiding and upright person, gave way in response to the combination of external pressures she faced at that time.

U.S. District Judge Karen K. Caldwell sentenced Hightower on May 9.
The former Preston Highway law office of suspended attorney Andrew Clooney

A suspended Louisville personal injury lawyer who settled cases worth over $400,000 for about a dozen clients and spent the money on himself has pleaded guilty to federal fraud and tax charges.

Andrew Clooney and his wife Christel Clooney pleaded guilty Monday to wire fraud and willful failure to pay before U.S. District Judge David J. Hale.

The victims were mostly Hispanic. Attorney Alex White, who represented many of them in lawsuits to recover their settlements, said previously that Clooney targeted people with poor English skills so their complaints wouldnt be believed or chalked up to a misunderstanding.

They were very vulnerable, White said at the time.

Clooneys lawyer, Timothy Denison, said he would not comment until his client is sentenced.

Clooney and his wife are scheduled to be sentenced Sept 14. The maximum penalty for the fraud charge is 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The tax charge is punishable by up to one year in priosn and a fine of up to $25,000. The actual sentences and fines will likely be far less under federal sentencing guidelines and the couples plea agreement.

For subscribers: From prison to 'Mr. Marijuana': This man fled Kentucky to become a Dutch pot pioneer

Clooney was suspended in 2019 and is listed as a former lawyer by the Kentucky Bar Association.

Ironically, his father, Ray Clooney, who died in 2017, was the bar associations chief disciplinary counsel.

The federal information charging the Clooneys said Andrew negotiated settlements with insurance companies to settle injury claims and deposited the money in the law firms account without telling the clients.

Then the couple withdrew the victims money and spent it on themselves.

They received taxable income of $426,098 on which they owed $107,140 in taxes that they failed to pay, according to the charging document.

Hale said in court Monday that the defendants will be ordered to pay more than $500,000 in restitution under his plea bargain.

Story continues

The suits alleged Clooney forged clients names on settlement releases and checks.

Clooney told Hale he has not practiced law since 2019 and now works at UPS.

For subscribers: Why do Republicans suddenly hate Kentucky Education Commissioner Jason Glass?

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Ex-lawyer Andrew Clooney pleads guilty to stealing clients money
Tariq Ramadan rape trial crime Switzerland Islamic studies professor scholar University of Oxford accusation - Pierre Albouy/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

A prominent Swiss academic told a court in Geneva that he was the victim of a trap to bring about his moral downfall as he denied charges of rape and sexual coercion.

Tariq Ramadan, the former professor of contemporary Islamic studies at the University of Oxford, said: I have never raped anyone on the surface of this Earth.

He is accused of carrying out a brutal sexual attack on a Swiss woman in a Geneva hotel in 2008, as well as beatings and insults. He faces up to 10 years in prison if found guilty.

I am not a predator. The plaintiffs objective was my moral downfall, that it be known that I was having extramarital affairs, contended Mr Ramadan, who took a leave of absence in 2017 when the rape allegations were first made against him by French women. He denied these too.

The Swiss complainant, who had converted to Islam in her youth, was 40 at the time of the alleged attack. She said that she has faced threats and therefore wished to be known under the assumed name of Brigitte during the trial.

Scholar hits out at lies and manipulation

On Monday, she wore a wig in court and was separated from Mr Ramadan by a screen.

She said that she had met the theologian at a book signing in Geneva and later at a conference. They had corresponded via social media.

A few months later, the pair met for coffee at his hotel after a conference and then went to his room, where prosecutors say he raped her three times and almost suffocated her.

Telling the court he was suffering from depression and multiple sclerosis that had left him mentally diminished, Mr Ramadan said Im not going to take this lying down as he denounced what he called lies and manipulation against him.

He said that he had received dozens of text messages from the plaintiff: In these, she didnt talk about abuse or violence but said she loved me.

Shes a woman spurned

Mr Ramadan said that she had turned up in a suggestive outfit on the night in question, adding: She had something in mind when coming to see me.

Story continues

Once in their room, she went to the bathroom and slipped into a nightgown. A play of seduction started, but he claimed he cut it short when he spotted a drop of blood on the garment, concluding she was having her period.

As it was late, he said she asked if she could stay the night. It was at this point that he abused her, according to the prosecution.

This is a fabrication! [Brigitte] is not a raped woman. Shes a woman spurned, Mr Ramadan claimed, asking for his name to be cleared in the eyes of his family.

Mr Ramadan a compulsive liar

Francois Zimeray, the Swiss complainants lawyer, accused Mr Ramadan of being a compulsive liar.

He said: This trial is an ordeal for my client, not therapy. She is waiting for recognition of the suffering that she has lived with for 15 years and which she has made it a painful duty to reveal.

She expects a difficult, painful confrontation but she is ready for it, convinced that this fight is a duty for her as much as an ordeal.

Last year, the French state prosecutor called for Mr Ramadan to stand trial in France for the alleged rapes of four women between 2009 and 2016. French judges must now rule whether those cases should go to trial.

Mr Ramadan was arrested in France in 2018 and spent nine months in prison on remand over the French rape allegations before being released on probation and barred from leaving the country. He was given exceptional authorisation to attend the Geneva trial this week.

The trial is expected to last three days and a verdict is due on May 24.

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LANSING  Former state Rep. Leslie Love announced her candidacy Monday for the U.S. Senate, setting up a possible primary battle Democrats had hoped to avoid.

Loves entry into the race marks the first hint of serious Democratic opposition for Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin (D-Lansing) who has worked to avoid a crowded primary field.

Dearborn businessman Nasser Beydoun announced his candidacy several weeks ago, while State Board of Education President Pamela Pugh and actor Hill Harper may unveil campaigns in the near future, according to the Detroit News.

Michiganders deserve a proven progressive leader with a track record of delivering results, Love said in a statement. We want to demonstrate to people that government can work when we elect a leader from the people, by the people, who puts the people first.

State Rep. Leslie Love is flanked by the Rev. Dr. Nicholas Hood III and the Honorable Denise Page Hood, U.S. federal judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, at a 2015 swearing-in ceremony.

Love, a former representative of Detroit who served from 2015-2020, said that her mother has served as an inspiration for entering the race.

My mothers dignity is important. Michigan families and healthcare workers deserve that same respect and support, she said. Well keep MAGA Republicans from slashing Social Security and Medicare, and we will work to make a system that respects being able to afford to grow old.

Slotkin, the most prominent Democrat to officially announce their candidacy, raised over $1 million on the first day of her campaign and around $3 million total as of April. But Love says that fundraising isnt the most important factor in the race.

This election is about more than who raises the most money, Love said. This campaign is about giving people a choice. Its about representation.

Representation of diverse backgrounds has served as a factor in the race since outgoing Sen. Debbie Stabenow announced her retirement in January. She is not running for another term, and her final term will end on Jan. 3, 2025. Former congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D-Southfield) told the Washington Post earlier this year that if a strong African American candidate didnt emerge, she would consider running herself.

Story continues

State Rep. Leslie Love of Detroit, whose district includes Redford Township, takes the ceremonial oath of office from Michigan Supreme Court Justice Bridget Mary McCormack on Wednesday, Jan. 14. Joining her were her mother Frances Witten, sisters Bethany Alexander and Jimalatice Gilbert, friend Cheryl Prude and staff members Kevin Harris and Lauren Bealore.

At her campaign kickoff event in March, Slotkin discussed her ability to appeal to Black voters throughout the state.

Here in Lansing, we have a vibrant African American community, she said. All I can do is introduce myself to leaders in places like Detroit and Flint and demonstrate that I care and I'm willing to fight on issues that are really important to people.

I'm just gonna go show them that I give a crap and introduce myself to a whole new group of people.

Several high-profile Democrats have publicly declined to run for the U.S. Senate position, including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak.

Contact Sheldon Krause at skrause@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @sheldonjkrause.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Leslie Love announces run for Senate, challenges Slotkin
By Kate Abnett and America Hernandez

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -France will host a meeting of ministers from 16 pro-nuclear European states on Tuesday aimed at coordinating expansion of atomic power and urging the EU to recognise its role in meeting climate goals for 2050, the country's energy ministry said.

The meeting in Paris will include EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson and representatives from 14 EU countries including France, Belgium and the Netherlands, plus Italy as an observer and the United Kingdom as a non-EU invitee.

A French ministry official said UK participation would be valuable because the country is building two reactors and could share information on economies of scale.

Each country will provide an update on its nuclear projects. "We will be able to .... see what types of synergies and coordination can be put in place on issues like financing, job training and recruitment to relaunch the nuclear sector in Europe," the official said.

Yves Desbazeille, director of EU lobby group Nucleareurope, will also give a presentation, including figures on potential job creation and investment.

A draft of the post-meeting statement seen by Reuters said the countries would encourage the commissioner to integrate nuclear energy into the EU's energy policy by recognising nuclear alongside other green energy technologies in EU decarbonisation goals.

The talks will cover the EU Net Zero Industry Act, the Hydrogen Bank, definitions of low-carbon hydrogen and hydrogen import strategies among other topics, the French official said.

The draft document also calls for the publication of an EU communication on small modular reactors.

The statement, which could still change before it is adopted on Tuesday, said participants planned to boost EU nuclear capacity to 150 gigawatts by 2050 from 100GW today by building 30 to 45 new reactors, both small- and large-scale.

Strengthening the supply chain and reducing dependence on Russia is also listed as a goal for coordination.

Story continues

A European Commission official said Simson's presence was "a signal of active attention to a growing industry and a key technology for net zero, but without departing from our limited role and neutral stance", as any signed declaration would be among national representatives only.

Nuclear energy jumped up the EU's energy policy agenda this year when countries splintered into pro- and anti- nuclear alliances amid a dispute over whether to count the energy source towards EU renewable energy targets.

After a last-minute compromise was thrashed out on that law, France and other pro-nuclear states are now seeking to improve the status of nuclear energy more broadly and boost cooperation between countries that use the technology.

Nuclear energy can produce baseload CO2-free electricity in large quantities, and European countries including Poland are planning their first reactors to help phase out fossil fuels.

Some land-locked states, such as the Czech Republic, see nuclear as a key green energy source especially because they, unlike coastal states, cannot build large offshore wind farms.

EU opponents of nuclear energy - among them Germany, which switched off its last reactors last month, Luxembourg and Austria - cite concerns including waste disposal and maintenance issues that have plagued the French fleet in recent years.

Austria and Luxembourg are taking the EU to court over its decision to officially label nuclear investments as "green".

(Reporting by Kate Abnett in Brussels and America Hernandez in Paris; Editing by Jan Harvey and Cynthia Osterman)
Apple is under investigation in France for limiting repair options

France is investigating US tech giant Apple over it allegedly planning for smartphones to become out of date through restricting their repair, prosecutors and an association said on Monday.

The probe into purported misleading commercial practices and planned obsolescence has been under way since December, the Paris prosecutor's office said.

It follows a complaint filed by the Halt Planned Obsolescence (HOP) association.

HOP said it hoped the investigation would demonstrate the iPhone maker was "associating the serial numbers of spare parts to those of a smartphone, including via microchips, giving the manufacturer the possibility of restricting repairs by non-approved repairers or to remotely degrade a smartphone repaired with generic parts".

The association called on Apple "to guarantee the right to repair devices under the logic of real circular economy".

Apple France was not immediately available for comment.

Apple in 2020 agreed to pay 25 million euros (then $27.4 million) for failing to tell iPhone users that software updates could slow down older devices.

The scandal erupted in December 2017, when the US tech giant admitted that its most recent iOS software was slowing the performance of older telephones whose battery life was deteriorating.

edy/ah/rl
France has promised to join international partners in the reconstruction of Ukraine after the war.

Source: a joint statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron after their meeting in Paris, shared by the press service of the Office of the President of Ukraine

Quote: "France, together with international organizations and partners, is committed to participating in the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine after the war.

Already now, it is important to lay the ground for an ambitious and long-term engagement that will create opportunities and enable the Ukrainian people to rebuild their country.

Engaging all relevant partners, including private companies and internationally, with the aim of securing the financial support, investments and knowledge needed, is essential to ensure a prosperous future for Ukraine."

Details: It is also stated that "Ukraine welcomes the fact that France organized an international conference on December 13, which led to the establishment of the "Paris mechanism" for better coordination of emergency aid".

Background:

Following the meeting between the presidents of Ukraine and France, it became known that in the coming weeks, France would provide dozens of armoured vehicles and light tanks, including AMX-10RCs, to several Ukrainian battalions.

In Paris, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron also talked about the "peace formula", the "coalition of fighters" and further military assistance to Ukraine.

France and Ukraine have separately called on the Russian occupiers to leave the seized Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
History center honoring Chinese railroad workers "puts China light" on U.S., California history

Xinhua) 15:27, May 13, 2023

SAN FRANCISCO, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Standing side by side, U.S. California's Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis thanked Florence Fang for "her vision to put a China light on a part of American history and of Californian history" at the opening ceremony of a history center in San Francisco's Chinatown on Wednesday.

The center, founded by Fang, was built to commemorate Chinese railroad workers who completed the Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869.

The railroad, which reduced coast-to-coast travel time to a week from months, has reshaped the fractured country in the wake of the civil war.

"Without Chinese railroad workers, it is impossible to complete the western part of this great railroad. As a Chinese American, I feel a personal obligation to do something for the unsung heroes," said Fang, also a Chinese-American community leader in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The construction of the Transcontinental Railroad relied heavily on human labor. Historians believe that between 12,000 and 20,000 Chinese workers were recruited to the workforce.

The Chinese workers, comprising 80 percent of the workforce in the west by 1867, are considered indispensable for their work ethic and endurance, according to a resolution passed in 2019 by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to honor the Chinese workers.

"You see the track as it clings to the cliffs of the Sierra Nevada. You see the snow shelters. You have to ask yourself how was this built?" said Kounalakis.

"It was the strength, the bravery, the courage, the sweat, the tears, and sometimes the lives of the Chinese immigrants who built the most treacherous, difficult part of the transcontinental railroad," she said, giving an answer that won applause from the guests.

But the Chinese workers who had built the railroad were all but invisible at the inauguration ceremony. Their contribution has been obliterated in American history, and they were prejudiced against because of the Chinese Exclusion Act.

Discrimination and hate crimes against Chinese communities, which happened in the past, unfortunately, persist nowadays, said Pan Qingjiang, Chinese deputy consul general in San Francisco.

A recent national survey conducted by Columbia University and the Committee of 100 showed that nearly three out of four Chinese Americans have experienced racial discrimination in the past 12 months. Fifty-five percent of respondents from across the United States worried about their safety relating to hate crimes and harassment.

Shamann Walton, member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, believed the center would help correct the omission of the past and remember the legacy of the Chinese builders. "Let us be inspired by these workers to apply the spirit of perseverance and ingenuity to fixing today's challenge."

Fang hoped that the history center would also contribute to reducing and stopping discrimination and hate against Chinese, and to enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Wu Chaolan)
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This photo taken on Aug. 23, 2022 shows the demolition site of a damaged building in Mariupol. [Photo/Xinhua]

At least 21 people were injured in Saturday's drone attack on the outskirts of Khmelnytskyi city in western Ukraine, local media reported Sunday, citing regional authorities.

The Khmelnytskyi regional military administration confirmed that a combat drone fired by the Russian forces hit a critical infrastructure facility located outside the settlements, causing explosions.

Educational, cultural, and medical institutions, administrative buildings, industrial facilities, as well as apartment blocks and private houses in the nearby settlements were damaged by the explosions.

Two of those injured in the attack were hospitalized.

In the country's western Ternopil region, at least two civilians were injured in the two waves of attacks carried out by Russian forces overnight to Sunday, according to local authorities.

Volodymyr Trush, head of the Ternopil regional military administration, said that the strikes, which involved cruise missiles, had damaged houses, commercial facilities, and trucks.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron adopted a joint declaration in which, among other things, Paris expresses support for Ukraine's move towards NATO membership.

Source: European Pravda

Details: According to the declaration, "within NATO, France continues to focus on direct support for Ukraine".

At the same time, "France fully supports the Ukraine-NATO Commission as a platform for further strengthening and expanding the current cooperation to help Ukraine move towards the Euro-Atlantic family in accordance with the Bucharest Declaration".

The declaration defines Ukraine's path to full membership, but through the stage of the Membership Action Plan, which Kyiv is not satisfied with now. As a separate clause, the declaration notes that "Ukraine and France look forward to resolving these issues at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July 2023".

Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Office of the President, commented on the document, noting that the approval of the declaration "with similar wording regarding NATO was simply impossible before".

Quote: "The joint declaration made it possible to strengthen Ukraine's support in the Euro-Atlantic direction with one more important voice," Zhovkva noted.

Background: As part of his tour of European capitals this weekend, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy adopted declarations with similar wording with the leaders of Italy and Germany.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
France and Ukraine are separately calling on the Russian occupiers to leave the seized Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).

Source: a joint statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron after their meeting in Paris, shared by the press service of the Office of the President of Ukraine

Quote: "France and Ukraine call specifically on Russia to withdraw from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, of which the irresponsible seizure and militarization by Russian armed forces is causing a grave threat."

Details: The statement has also stressed that "Russia must immediately, fully and unconditionally withdraw all its troops from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders".

Background:

Following the meeting between the presidents of Ukraine and France, it became known that in the coming weeks, France would provide dozens of armoured vehicles and light tanks, including AMX-10RCs, to several Ukrainian battalions.

In Paris, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron also talked about the "peace formula", the "coalition of fighters" and further military assistance to Ukraine.

In May, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi will present a proposal to the UN Security Council to create a safety zone around ZNPP.

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Zaporizhzhya NPP

France and Ukraine call specifically on Russia to withdraw from the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), of which the irresponsible seizure and militarization by Russian armed forces is causing a grave threat," the two leaders said.

Read also: Biden comes to Kyiv, Russia blocks IAEA rotation at ZNPP, Zelenska on her marriage

Zelenskyy previously stated that demilitarizing ZNPP was the best way to safeguard Europe from a potential nuclear disaster.

Read also: IAEA chief contemplates Russia visit for nuclear talks after touring ZNPP

At the end of March, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said that the organization had abandoned the idea of creating a demilitarized zone around the ZNPP, which was seized by the Russian military a year previously.

Zaporizhzhya NPP is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, and has been occupied by Russian forces since March 4, 2022. Several ZNPP facilities have been damaged by Russian shelling, and the station's employees are captives of the invading troops.

The Kremlin uses the site as cover for its forces, as Ukraine cant return fire for the risk of causing a nuclear calamity.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Samp-T

According to the report, 20 local specialists will be tasked with maintaining the sophisticated air defense system.

Read also: Italian PM Meloni travels to Kyiv, affirms Romes commitment to Ukraines sovereignty

"The Franco-Italian anti-aircraft missile system has arrived in Ukraine, and it will be serviced by 20 local experts," the article reads.

On Feb. 21, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced the transfer of the sixth package of military aid to Ukraine, including a SAMP-T anti-aircraft missile system.

Read also: Germany to provide Ukraine with four more IRIS-T AA systems

In early March, Ukrainian news agency Interfax-Ukraine reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces were expecting to receive SAMP-T and Patriot systems by early May.

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 Georgia deputy has been arrested after deputies said he crashed a boat while under the influence, killing his passenger.

Authorities responded to reports of an empty boat going in circles in Jackson Lake on Sunday night.

Deputies said the boats driver, 38-year-old Brandon McGaha, and his passenger, 56-year-old Joseph Upchurch, were both thrown from the boat after McGaha crashed around 10 p.m.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

McGaha was able to swim to shore, where he was taken to the hospital with critical injuries and is in the intensive care unit.

Upchurch, who was not wearing a life jacket, drowned. His body was recovered from 50 feet of water around 2 p.m. Monday.

The Butts County Sheriffs Office said the single-boat accident happened on the Jasper County side of the lake.

TRENDING STORIES:

McGaha has since been charged with operating a vessel under the influence. Its unclear if he will face any other charges.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division, Critical Incident Reconstruction Team is leading the investigation into the incident and a completed report is expected in 8-10 weeks.

I would ask for continued prayers for the families of both involved and pray God will bring them peace and comfort during this most difficult time, the sheriffs office wrote on Facebook. I would ask that you keep the deputies and firefighters currently working to recover the body of this beloved person in our community.

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ATLANTA (AP)  The Georgia prosecutor who's investigating whether Donald Trump and his allies broke any laws as they tried to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state fought back Monday against the former president's attempt to remove her from the case and exclude certain evidence.

Trump's Georgia legal team in March asked the court to toss out the report of a special grand jury that had been seated in the case and to prevent prosecutors from using any evidence or testimony stemming from the panels investigation. They also asked that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her office be barred from continuing to investigate or prosecute the case.

Willis responded in a filing Monday that the Trump's motion is procedurally flawed and advances arguments that lack merit.

For more than two years now, Willis has been investigating the actions Trump and others took in the wake of the 2020 election. She took the unusual step last year of asking for a special grand jury to aid the investigation, saying the panel's subpoena power would allow her team to compel the testimony of people who might not otherwise cooperate.

The special grand jury, which did not have the power to issue indictments, was seated last May and dissolved in January after hearing from 75 witnesses and submitting a report with recommendations for Willis. Though most of that report remains under wraps for now according to a judge's order, the panel's foreperson has said without naming names that the special grand jury recommended charging multiple people.

Trump lawyers Drew Findling, Jennifer Little and Marissa Goldberg argued that the special grand jury involved a constant lack of clarity as to the law, inconsistent applications of basic constitutional protections for individuals being brought before it, and a prosecutors office that was found to have an actual conflict, yet continued to pursue the investigation.

They also asked that their claims be heard by a judge other than Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, who oversaw the special grand jury.

Story continues

Cathy Latham, one of 16 Georgia Republicans who met at the state Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020, and signed a certificate declaring falsely that Trump had won the presidential election and declaring themselves the states duly elected and qualified electors, last month joined Trumps motion. It has become clear during the investigation that Willis is interested in the actions of the fake electors, and at least eight of them have secured immunity deals in the case.

In her motion Monday, Willis asked that McBurney retain supervision of the matter and urged that Trump and Latham's motions be dismissed or denied without holding a hearing.

Willis wrote that the arguments put forth in the motions fail to meet the exacting standards" for disqualifying a prosecutor and they also fail to prove their claims that their own due process rights have been violated or that the grand jury process was tainted or the law governing it unconstitutional.

Trump and Latham are not content to follow the ordinary course of the law, Willis wrote.

The State's reply was primarily procedural in nature and failed to address several of the critical substantive issues which were discussed at length in our brief and exhibits, Trump's lawyers said in a statement, adding that they plan to ask the court for time to file a response.

A coalition of news organizations, including The Associated Press, also filed a motion Monday objecting to Trumps request that the special grand jury report be quashed and expunged from the record.

Not only is such a remedy unsupported by any legal basis, it would also be starkly at odds with the fundamental principles of this Nation and State, the media lawyers argued. The Report is a matter of the utmost public concern, and it should be released to the public in its entirety.

Willis last month sent letters to local law enforcement leaders advising them to prepare for heightened security as she intends to announce charging decisions in the case between July 11 and Sept. 1. To secure an indictment, she needs to bring the case before a regular grand jury.

The Georgia investigation is one of several that threatens the former president as he campaigns to regain the White House in 2024. A Manhattan grand jury in March indicted him on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush-money payments to a porn actor during the 2016 presidential election. Meanwhile, federal grand juries in Washington are investigating efforts by Trump and his allies to undo the results of the 2020 presidential election and the potential mishandling of classified documents by Trump at his Florida estate.

And a federal jury in New York last week found Trump liable for sexually abusing advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996, awarding her $5 million.
IRIS-T system

Read also: Scholz gives reasons for delay in Germany's provision of aid to Ukraine

According to Kruger, the air defense systems are already being produced. She also emphasized that the new package will include four additional systems  in addition to the four previously announced.

On May 13, the German government announced a EUR 2.7 billion ($2.94 billion) military aid package 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
A popular Ghanaian social media influencer has been extradited to the U.S. from the United Kingdom after being charged for her role in a lucrative romance scam targeting elderly Americans.

Prosecutors charged Mona Faiz Montrage, 30, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and money laundering, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, the Department of Justice said in a news release.

Montrage is also charged with receipt of stolen money, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and conspiracy to receive stolen money, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, prosecutors said.

Montrage, who is from Accra, Ghana, currently has 4.2 million followers on Instagram. At one point her account, which uses the handle "Hajia4Reall," was among the top 10 most followed profiles in Ghana.

Prosecutors allege that from around 2013 through 2019, Montrage was a member of a criminal enterprise in West Africa that committed fraud, including romance scams, against individuals and businesses in the United States. The victims of the scheme's romance scam were typically "vulnerable, older men and women who lived alone," according to prosecutors.

The scammers allegedly would send their victims emails, texts, and social media messages that tricked them into believing they were in romantic relationships, prosecutors said.

"Once members of the Enterprise had successfully convinced victims that they were in a romantic relationship and had gained their trust, they convinced the victims, under false pretenses, to transfer money to bank accounts the victims believed were controlled by their romantic interests, when, in fact, the bank accounts were controlled by members of the Enterprise," prosecutors said.

Prosecutors say that Montrage controlled bank accounts that received over $2 million in fraudulent funds.

Montrage allegedly received money from several victims who were tricked into sending funds by being told the payments were to transfer gold to the United States from overseas, resolve a fake FBI unemployment investigation, or even help a fictitious American army officer receive funds from Afghanistan, according to prosecutors.

Story continues

With one of her victims, Montrage used her real name and spoke with him on the phone several times, prosecutors said. She sent the victim a fake marriage certificate that claimed the pair had wed in Ghana. The victim sent Montrage 82 wire transfers that totaled $89,000, supposedly to help Montrage's father's farm in Ghana, prosecutors said.

"Romance scams  especially those that target older individuals  are of major concern. The FBI will be tireless in our efforts to hold fraudsters accountable in the criminal justice system," FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll said in a statement.

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TheGrio attended the 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York City on Saturday, where attendees reflected on the ceremonys theme, Amplify Your Voice, Act Now, while on the red carpet.

From respected political voices like Karine Jean-Pierre and Symone Sanders-Townsend to celebrities like Colman Domingo and Bob the Drag Queen, the 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards was filled with voices coming together to support and amplify the LGBTQ+ community.

TheGrio attended this years GLAAD Media Awards on Saturday evening, which descended upon New York City with an official theme: Amplify Your Voice, Act Now. On the heels of hundreds of anti-LGBTQ bills seen across America, with 350 of them directed explicitly towards trans people, attendees hit the red carpet ready to use their platform. Many spoke to theGrio about the essential need for visibility, representation in media, and the importance of speaking out against prejudice and attacks against the community.

Karine Jean-Pierre speaks on stage during the 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on May 13, 2023, at New York Hilton in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for GLAAD)

Karine Jean-Pierre, who makes history the first openly gay and first Black White House press secretary, spoke to the power of representation. One of the things thats so amazing about being here is lifting up and representing what we see in the movies and what we see on TV, she explained. If we are not telling our stories, how can we be visible? Lifting that up tonight and seeing that is so key to how we move forward.

The press secretary then addressed the recent rise in anti-LGTBQ bills, saying, Across the state houses, across the country, we have seen more than 600 pieces of legislation. Just think about that, its anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, something weve never seen before, and a few hundred of those are anti-trans and anti-kids.

She continued, What we have been doing and what we continue to do is speak out. Our President (President Joe Biden) has been a great ally to our community, and we are going to speak out and have the backs of our community.

Speaking directly to fellow community members, she added, Representation matters, visibility matters and we want folks to know that we see you, we love you and it is important to be who you are and exactly who you are because guess what? Thats your superpower.

Story continues

Emmy Award-winning talent Colman Domingo also hit the red carpet, calling events like the GLAAD Awards more important than ever. He said, As we know, legislation is trying to take us backward and what we can do is really be outspoken with what we write, what we create, what we greenlight.

Colman Domingo and L Morgan Lee appear on stage during the 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on May 13, 2023, at New York Hilton in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for GLAAD)

He added, This is an act of sheer resistance just by being. I look at this beautiful room and look at the wonderful drag performers out there spreading light and joy. Darkness is trying to take over all of us and theyre trying to hit us where we have the most joy.

Domingo has several upcoming projects, including the Bayard Rustin biopic, Rustin, set to hit theaters later this year. Domingo said hes proud of the film about the Black and gay civil rights leader.

I really want it to inspire and ignite a movement again, he added. I want young people to know that the power has always been in your hands. The larger picture would like to make you believe that you are powerless but you are actually the most powerful.

MSNBC host Symone Sanders-Townsend spoke about the very real threats members of the community face in this country.

She said, Lets just be clear: there is a target on the backs of the LGBTQ+ community across this country  this is the state of play in the USA right now. Sanders herself was nominated at the ceremony for a segment from her MSNBC series Symone, which highlighted Club Q shooting survivor Michael Anderson. Tonight is the night that we celebrate the people who are living their lives out loud and also the folks who are telling those stories.

RuPauls Drag Race star and winner of season 8 Bob the Drag Queen, spoke to the importance of LGBTQ+-focused events like the GLAAD Media Awards in the industry. If it wasnt for the GLAAD Media Awards, we probably wouldnt be recognized in places like the Emmys  I mean I just won a Peabody Award!

Bob The Drag Queen appears on stage during the 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on May 13, 2023, at New York Hilton in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for GLAAD)

Bob, who stars in the HBO docuseries Were Here (which took home the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Reality Program later in the evening), also spoke to using your platform, quipping, Im just a real loud-mouthed b- and I just talk a lot, and people will say, Youre speaking out and Im like, I just cant shut up! Im just being me, but I love that people are inspired by my inability to shut up!

For more on the GLAAD Media Awards, how to take action and support the LGBTQ+ community, and more, head to the official site here.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post GLAAD Media Awards: Karine Jean-Pierre, Colman Domingo, and more on the trailblazing event appeared first on TheGrio.
Then-L.A. County Supervisor Gloria Molina, in a 2014 portrait. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Gloria Molina, the daughter of working-class parents and an unapologetic Chicana who transformed the political landscape of Los Angeles, died Sunday night after a three-year battle with cancer.

Her death at her home in Mount Washington, surrounded by her family, was confirmed in a Facebook post on Molina's official account. She was 74.

Leer en espanol

Molina's political life had been a series of firsts that inspired generations of women and Latinos to seek public office  the first Latina Assembly member in California, the first Latina on the Los Angeles City Council, the first Latina on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors.

Through her rise, Molina strode through L.A.'s corridors of power with an outsiders skepticism and an insider's know-how. A populist equally informed by the Chicano and feminist movements and the immigrant ethos of her parents, Molina's battlegrounds were many.

Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley and Councilmember-elect Gloria Molina in L.A. on Feb. 12, 1987. (Penni Gladstone / Los Angeles Times)

In Sacramento, she confronted politicians who sought to dump prisons and polluters in her Eastside district. On the City Council, she spearheaded efforts to build affordable housing and have street sweepers clean neighborhoods neglected for decades by local officials. As a supervisor, she successfully pushed back against public employee pension spikes and work perks, like a private chef and personal driver for the supervisors.

Fernando Guerra, director for Loyola Marymount's Center for the Study of Los Angeles, described her as a "perfect convergence" of communities  women, Mexican Americans, the Eastside  long ignored by L.A.'s power brokers, often both white and male.

"Even though she was part of the system," he said, "she never gave up on the fact that you should never take its word for granted."

Molina relished any opportunity to antagonize critics  and there were many over a 32-year political career.

Bigots wrote nasty letters that Molina insisted staffers tack onto pin boards in her office. Department heads and their employees snickered that hot flashes provoked her pointed queries during board meetings. She consistently defied Eastside politicos who tapped into her organizing smarts for their earliest electoral victories but wouldn't support Molina once she decided to run for their seats.

Story continues

"At some point, the train is going to stop and people are going to say, 'Gloria, what have you done?'" one of them told The Times in 1993. "'Whats the agenda? What are the solutions? Whats the program? Are we better off as a result of you being in office?

Former Supervisor Mike Antonovich, a frequent target of Molina's sharp stares and sharper tongue, once described her style as governance by tantrum. He was one of dozens of L.A. political and cultural heavyweights  past colleagues, former foes, longtime admirers and lifelong friends  who reached out to Molina in person, via phone calls, or through passed-along messages to pay their respect after she announced her cancer diagnosis in mid-March.

"Its not like there was a red carpet laid out for her," said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who got to know Molina while she worked for Antonovich. "There was a lot of challenges. It seemed like every time there was an issue, it was a constant fight, but no one did it better than Gloria."

Sometimes she was wrong, but most of the time she was right, said Zev Yaroslavsky, who served alongside Molina on the City Council for four years in the 1980s and 20 years on the Board of Supervisors. He still bundles up in a quilt she knitted for him when the two were termed out in 2014. And the reason why so many were annoyed by her was because she held up a mirror to ourselves.

That style made her a living legend to the voters and volunteers who helped her win elections again and again.

Once, Yaroslavsky drove around his native Boyle Heights with a staffer and stopped at a former synagogue that had turned into a Latino evangelical church. The pastor approached the two, and wasnt impressed when Yaroslavsky introduced himself as a supervisor. Then he mentioned that one of his colleagues was Molina.

And his face lit up, Yaroslavsky said. County supervisor meant nothing to him, but Gloria Molina? That was everything.

In the last weeks of her life, public and private entities that reflected the breadth of her career publicly honored the politica.

Metro's board of directors voted to name a Gold Line station in East L.A. after Molina, who fought for years to ensure that the region's light-rail system extended to the Eastside. The all-female Board of Supervisors  each sporting a clipped-on lock of purple hair in honor of the women's predecessor's signature fashion flair  announced they would rename downtown's Grand Park to reflect Molina's crucial role in its creation. Casa 0101 in Boyle Heights christened its performance space the Gloria Molina Auditorium in honor of the frequent patron and donor to Latino arts across the Southland.

And the L.A. County Fair announced that starting this year, the winning quilt in its annual Home Arts contests would receive the Gloria Molina Quilting Award, to commemorate a lifelong enthusiast who applied the craft's skills to her public service: a smart use of color, a methodical approach, an expansive outlook and a thick skin able to weather the pricks that came with the job because she could dole them out even better.

***

Gloria Molina was born in 1948 to Concepcion and Leonardo Molina, a homemaker and construction worker with roots in the town of Casa Grandes in Chihuahua, Mexico. The family lived in a small house behind a mercadito that her godmother owned in Barrio Simons, a neighborhood in what's now Montebello that stood next to one of the biggest brickyards in the world.

Even though we were poor, I was never at home ever felt to be poor, Molina said in a 2017 interview for Cal State Fullertons Center for Oral and Public History. And never told I was poor. Never told that I was not going to be able to do what I wanted to do.

As the oldest of 10 children, Molina found herself negotiating from a young age. She translated for her Spanish-speaking father, helped her mother raise her siblings and argued on behalf of them to her parents once they came of age. One incident in particular hinted at the person Gloria would become.

One day, Concepcion took her children to a Lerner department store in downtown to buy clothes for the school year. The family stood at the checkout counter for 15 minutes before a pre-teen Gloria asked the store manager why they werent being helped. The man made a crack about her Mexican mother having so many children when he finally attended to them. Concepcion told Gloria not to tell her father, but Gloria did. An enraged Leonardo went back to Lerner to square up the bill, and the family never shopped there again.

The prejudice we saw was in small ways, said Gracie Molina, Gloria's sister, but she would keep that in her mind and backbone.

The family moved to Pico Rivera when Gloria was in third grade, joining the thousands of Mexican Americans who left the Eastside for L.A.'s middle-class suburbs. But in 1967, Leonardo suffered a work injury that put him on disability for two years. Molina effectively became the family breadwinner, working as a legal secretary for a downtown firm while studying fashion design at Rio Hondo College, then East L.A. College. At the latter school, she participated in the Chicano activism that was sweeping the American Southwest.

Molina volunteered at the nearby Maravilla housing projects, where the squalor that young women and their children lived in shocked her. She skipped a history final exam to show solidarity with the thousands of high schoolers across Eastside schools who walked out for better conditions during the 1968 "blowouts." She was also there at the 1970 Chicano Moratorium, a protest against the Vietnam War in East L.A. that ended with sheriffs deputies brutally beating up attendees and the deaths of three people, including L.A. Times columnist Ruben Salazar.

Bertha Molina, from left, Timmy Martinez, Gloria Molina, Red Martinez and Julie Martinez during the Chicano Moratorium in Salazar Park, formerly Laguna Park, in 1970. (Ralph Arreola / Los Angeles County Library)

But it was a movie Molina saw at East L.A. College that forever changed her political outlook: "Salt of the Earth, a 1954 film about a real-life New Mexico zinc strike in which Latinas replaced their jailed husbands on the picket lines. Their bravery resonated with Molina, who was already chafing at the sexism in a Chicano movement that claimed to be progressive.

The guys would just kind of roll all over us, she said in an interview with The Times shortly before her death. And as Chicanas, we didn't think that was appropriate.

Molina nevertheless assisted on the campaigns of Richard Alatorre and Art Torres, two Eastsiders who became Assembly members in 1972 and 1973, respectively, and became the architects of a political machine that ruled the region for decades. Torres hired her as his administrative assistant  the first Latina to hold such a position in the California Legislature.

Shortly after, she became the chair of the Comision Femenil Mexicana Nacional, a statewide grassroots network. It was in that role that Molina found herself sitting next to a tearful Dolores Madrigal at a news conference in 1975 announcing a class-action lawsuit alleging that L.A. County-USC Medical Center had coerced Mexican American women into sterilizations.

Antonia Hernandez, who had just graduated from UCLA's law school, had asked Comision Femenil just weeks before if it could be the lead plaintiff.

"I had to explain to them that if we lost the case, we could be liable to pay the defendants case. so the victims wouldn't have to incur any legal costs in case they lost," said Hernandez, who recently announced her retirement as president of the California Community Foundation. "My first impression of [Molina], then and now, is just a gutsy person, with a real sense of community obligation, and she rallied those folks" to sign on.

As the sterilization case went through the courts  a federal judge ultimately ruled against the plaintiffs  Molina served as a campaign manager or a fundraiser for Chicana candidates across California. In Los Angeles, Molina became a bridge between the separated sisterhoods of the Westside, South L.A. and the Eastside.

"We considered her the leader," said Rep. Maxine Waters, who met Molina when she was chief deputy to L.A. Councilmember David Cunningham Jr. and leaned on her support during Waters' successful 1976 Assembly race. "She was settled, she was cool. Without the men, she organized the women."

Gloria Molina, left, sits next to Dolores Madrigal at a news conference in 1975 announcing a class-action suit against Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center that alleged doctors sterilized Mexican American women without their consent. (Ben Olender / Los Angeles Times)

While Molina campaigned for Waters, she also headed Latino outreach in California for former President Carter. She joined his administrations Office of Presidential Personnel, tasked with diversifying the ranks of thousands of commission seats. But the lack of Latinos in Washington, D.C., made Molina yearn for home, so she took a job with the Department of Health and Human Services' office in San Francisco, then became the L.A.-based deputy for Assembly Speaker Willie Brown.

In 1982, her former boss Torres suggested she take his Assembly district seat since he wanted to run for the state Senate. She went to seek the blessing of Alatorre, who told her to stand down: He and other Eastside leaders had decided that the seat should go to his childhood friend Richard Polanco, whom Molina remembered as a teenage boxer hanging with the wrong crowd back in the Maravilla housing projects.

Feeling betrayed, Molina nevertheless announced her candidacy.

The first-time candidate enlisted the network of women she had helped over the years as "lickers and stickers"  volunteers who phone-banked, walked precincts, sent out mailers and counted for an estimated 70% of the contributions she received, including a $5,000 check by Waters that was Molina's first big donation.

She beat Polanco in the primary by a 52%-48% margin, then easily won the general election against a Republican opponent. Molina's election night party was held at Stevens Steakhouse in Commerce, the restaurant where the Eastside machine had met months earlier to settle on Polanco as their candidate.

They were accustomed to the role they played: Big chingones [badasses], theyre in charge, Molina told The Times in 1993. They didnt want some pipsqueak like me coming in.

It was a template for victory she would repeat.

Gloria Molina, shown in 1982, during her successful California Assembly campaign. (Los Angeles Times)

In Sacramento, Molina immediately clashed with a macho world where decorum and deal-making ruled. During a budget debate between Waters and a Republican assemblywoman, Assemblymember Lou Papan cracked, Mr. Speaker, could we keep the girls from fighting on the floor? Molina cut in and demanded he apologize to all women. A recess was immediately called, and colleagues told Molina she should apologize to her senior colleague. She refused.

He had to take the consequences of what he said, Molina said in her Cal State Fullerton oral history. You don't just blurt out these statements without any responsibility to them.

Soon, she would find herself pitted against state leaders on a far bigger issue back home.

The Legislature had passed a bill that required the state to build a prison in L.A. County before any other prison could open. Gov. George Deukmejian's office chose a location across the L.A. River from Boyle Heights and secured the backing of Mayor Tom Bradley.

The Eastside exploded in opposition. Father John Moretta, pastor at Resurrection Church in Boyle Heights, first met her at a meeting at the prison's proposed location.

"She was short, but that didnt stop her from being tall in the eyes of the people," said Moretta. "She was like a commander of the troops down below, and the people followed her."

Molina politicked in Sacramento and marched in Los Angeles. She and Torres worked to have the Assembly kill the plan at the end of the legislative session in 1985. But Speaker Brown revived the plans a few months later after Molina defied him by supporting an Assembly candidate.

Soon after, Deukmejian's office called her with a deal: Let the prison go through, and the governor would sign Molina-authored bills that sought to prevent high school dropouts. She declined, despite pleas from staff members that the benefit of those bills outweighed any harm the prison might create.

Deukmejian vetoed them all. But the Eastside prison was never built.

While the standoff continued, a U.S. Justice Department civil rights lawsuit forced L.A. to redraw its council districts to make it easier for another Latino candidate to win on the Eastside. Molina returned to Alatorre and Torres, and asked if she could join the former on the City Council.

Once again, Torres and Alatorre already had a candidate: L.A. Unified School District trustee Larry Gonzalez.

Once again, Molina went against them.

She got married during the campaign, took a two-day honeymoon, then got back to canvassing. Molina easily beat Gonzalez and two other candidates, becoming the first Latina on L.A.'s City Council in 1987.

Gloria Molina dances with her mother, Concepcion, after her City Council victory in 1987. She became the first Latina council member. (Patrick Downs / Los Angeles Times)

Molina had served in her new role just a year and a half before the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund filed a lawsuit that alleged L.A. County supervisors had gerrymandered districts in 1981 to ensure a Latino couldn't join their board. The lead lawyer was Hernandez, who befriended Molina since the unsuccessful sterilization lawsuit they pursued together a decade earlier.

This time, they would win. The 1st Supervisorial District's boundaries were redrawn, and longtime Supervisor Peter F. Schabarum decided not to seek reelection. Molina once again went to her Eastside elders. This time, she came armed with the endorsements of Reps. Ed Roybal and Esteban Torres. But Alatorre and Torres once again refused to support her; Torres wanted the seat as well.

The two placed first and second in the primary, then moved on to a bitter general election. She became the first Latina on the board in 1991, and the first Latino since Francisco Machado and Francisco Palomares served in the 1870s.

So many people attended her swearing-in ceremony that the crowd spilled onto the sidewalk and heard via speakers Molina declare, "We must look forward to a time when a persons ethnic background or gender is no longer a historical footnote."

The new supervisor joined during a fiscal crisis. She quickly earned a reputation as someone who demanded answers from all levels of the county's departments and didn't care for niceties.

Alma Martinez, Molina's longtime chief of staff who met her future boss as a high school volunteer for the Carter presidential campaign, remembered how Molina had staffers shadow fancy cars that drove into the Westlake neighborhood to buy drugs. When they traced the license plates back to the parents of USC students, Molina sent them a letter letting them know what their children were up to. Another time, she printed out a list of probation officers who hadn't worked in a while and called each of them at home, demanding they show up.

"We told her, 'You gotta stop doing that,'" Martinez said. "She wouldn't listen, especially when she felt something was wrong."

Gloria Molina, foreground, speaks as fellow Supervisors Zev Yaroslavsky, Mike Antonovich, Yvonne Brathwaite Burke and Deane Dana look on during a 1995 news conference. (Los Angeles Times)

The Times described her style of questioning at board meetings as "direct, abrasive, rude and unrelenting." She offered stern words in a ringing voice as she glared at whoever was at the dais with her glasses either on the bridge of her nose or on her head. One department head fainted after a Molina interrogation. Another one began referring to her as "sir."

Her acolytes  who called themselves "Molinistas"  began to populate L.A. politics. Mike Hernandez won a seat on the L.A. City Council in 1991. Xavier Becerra finished first in the 1992 race to replace Roybal, the longtime Eastside representative, in a campaign that saw Molina and Torres fight yet another proxy war. The following year, Antonio Villaraigosa  Molina's representative on the Metro board and the best man at her wedding  went to the Assembly.

"I was like her little brother," said Villaraigosa, who Molina shunned shortly after his win after she found out he had cheated on his wife but they patched things up in time for his historic 2005 L.A. mayoral victory. "She beat me up like no one else, but I knew it came with the territory. She was tough on all of us, but we all loved her and were loyal to her, and stayed with her."

Though Molina was an admitted taskmaster, staffers stayed with her for years. She took lunch in the break room with them, and she invited her team to her house every Christmas for gifts and homemade pork tamales.

Speculation about higher positions  mayor, congresswoman, governor, even U.S. senator  swirled as Molina began to assume a national profile. She became close with Bill and Hillary Clinton and served as one of the vice chairs for Democratic National Conventions from 1996 through 2004. But the Board of Supervisors proved Molina's final stop on her political journey.

Even a Democrat-majority board couldn't help Molina achieve all of her goals. Repeated bids to increase the number of supervisorial seats went nowhere. Her push for a rebuilt L.A. County-USC facility with 750 beds resulted in only 600. The Gold Line expansion to the Eastside went mostly above ground despite her wishes that it be a subway, and she decried it as "substandard" once it opened. A resolution in 2008 to severely limit street vending failed after a public outcry.

Victories were more common, on issues big and small.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina listens during a 2013 board meeting. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Parks and community centers opened from downtown to the San Gabriel Valley. She set aside tens of millions of dollars in discretionary funds to help create LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, arguing the city needed a museum that told its Latino history. Then there was the time in 2002 when the Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance that forced businesses caught overcharging customers to publicly post notices of their violations. It came after Molina went to Kmart to buy discounted lipstick only to get rung up at the register for the regular price.

"We were trained to always think about [issues] from the context of our parents," said Miguel Santana, a longtime Molina aide and former chief administrative officer for the City of Los Angeles who's now the president of the Weingart Foundation. "If it doesn't make sense to our parents, we need to fix it. And the other mantra was the government should treat our community in the way you want your parents to feel."

When she was termed out in 2014, only three other supervisors  Roger Jessup, Kenneth Hahn and Antonovich  had served longer.

This seat was just a perfect fit, she told The Times in 2009. I love what I do and I wish I could stay here forever, but its just as well that I move on and find something else, hopefully not elective office.

Thats exactly what she did just months before she was termed out in 2014, when Molina announced she was going to challenge Eastside Councilmember Jose Huizar the following year.

Followers loved the idea of Molina taking down yet another Eastside politico. She lambasted his focus on developing downtown at the expense of working-class neighborhoods, telling Huizar during a debate, "Youre so busy working with developers and talking about density that you forget about the basic issues."

Her brawling style no longer drew the adulation of the past. On election night, Molina had about a dozen volunteers working the phones at her campaign office; Huizar had over 60. She pulled in only 24% of the vote, while Huizar easily sailed to a third term.

She never ran for public office again.

Labor activist Dolores Huerta, from left, Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina and supervisorial candidate Hilda Solis cheer during Solis' 2014 election night party in El Monte. (David McNew / For The Times)

Molina spent her retirement easing into her role as the lioness of L.A. politics. She became a regular on panels or in documentaries that retold some of the struggles that she had participated in  the Chicano Moratorium, the L.A. County-USC sterilization scandal, the battle against Proposition 187, even Fernando Valenzuelas historic 1981 rookie year  for a new generation.

Her lifelong love of quilting led Molina to co-found the East Los Angeles Stitchers, a group of Latinas who held monthly meetings and have vowed to complete the 100-plus quilts Molina couldn't finish.

She also went on more outings and vacations with a group of friends Molina called "Las Girls," women who had weathered their own professional battles and found solace among one another for decades.

Monica Lozano, former publisher of her family's newspaper, La Opinion, first met Molina during the Comision Mexicana Femenil Nacional days. "You walk into a room with these powerful women talking about issues, and you think, 'I belong,'" said the former president of the College Futures Foundation. "And thats what Gloria created even then."

Las Girls came from across the world to visit Molina near the end of her life. "When we got together, Gloria said, 'Aqui vienen mis comadres!' [Here come my girlfriends!]," Lozano said. They looked at photos of their lives together. "And Gloria smiled and looked at all of us and said, 'Look at those powerful Chicanas.'"

Molina is survived by her husband, Ron Martinez; daughter, Valentina Martinez; grandson, Santiago; and siblings Gracie Molina, Irma Molina, Domingo Molina, Bertha Molina Mejia, Mario Molina, Sergio Molina, Danny Molina, Olga Molina Palacios, and Lisa Molina Banuelos. There will be a public celebration of her life at LA Plaza at a forthcoming date.

Even after leaving elected office, Molina insisted that Latino politicians had a special duty to the community that forged them.

To dismiss it and think, Oh, you know, Im just here, Ive just got elected and I can address it, go-along-to-get-along, and I dont have to be that champion.' Youre wrong! she told Cal State Fullerton in 2017. Its your job, its your duty, its your responsibility.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Google is still taking a financial hit over allegations it misled customers with Pixel 4 ads. The company has agreed to pay Texas $8 million to settle claims it paid radio hosts for "deceptive" testimonials about the Pixel 4 even though the DJs couldn't use the phone beforehand. The ads continued even though Google was aware it was breaking the law, according to state Attorney General Ken Paxton's office.

The tech giant already reached a $9 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and six other states. Paxton argued the state settlement was important as Google has "significant influence," and no large company should expect "special treatment."

We've asked Google for comment. In a statement to Reuters, spokesperson Jose Castaneda said the company took advertising laws seriously and was "pleased to resolve" the dispute.

The high value of a separate Texas settlement isn't surprising. The state is already pursuing multiple legal actions against Google, including an antitrust case over advertising tech dominance and another lawsuit over face data collection practices. Texas is determined to limit Google's influence as an industry heavyweight wherever possible, including radio commercials.

Google isn't the only phone maker to be accused of trying to trick customers. Huawei and Samsung have both been caught passing off DSLR photos as phone camera samples. The Pixel 4 ad campaign may have been more problematic, however. Between the FTC and state claims, Google is accused of deliberately setting out to mislead listeners and continuing even when confronted over its behavior.
NEW YORK  Republicans have a new obsession: The case of Daniel Penny, the former Marine charged with fatally choking Jordan Neely on a Manhattan subway this month.

New York prosecutors say Penny committed manslaughter when he killed Neely. But leading voices in the GOP are casting him as the victim  one of many Americans subjected to out-of-control crime in major Democratic cities.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) dubbed Penny a hero on Twitter within days of the May 1 encounter. Fox News host Sean Hannity depicted Neely as a public menace who was subdued by a brave veteran.

And now Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is taking up the cause, encouraging his Twitter followers on Friday to contribute to Pennys legal defense fund and take back the streets for law abiding citizens. That plea fueled a surge in donations that brought the former Marines haul from $280,000 to over $2 million in a matter of days.

The new messaging by Republicans  and blaming of Democratic leaders  extends a tough-on-crime political strategy that helped the GOP secure several House seats last year in the suburbs outside of deep-blue New York City. Penny's case has quickly become their latest cudgel heading into the 2024 elections.

This individual case is emblematic of what Republicans see as the collapse of the policing system and law-and-order in major cities across America, said Dave Urban, a Republican strategist and former adviser to Donald Trump.

The case has sparked local and national outrage among many on the left whove called Penny a vigilante. Neely, who was on the citys Top 50 list of homeless people at risk, was recorded screaming that he was hungry, fed up and ready to die before he was put in the chokehold that would end his life.

Many progressive Democrats pushed early on for charges against Penny, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) stating that Neely was murdered and his death representative of a larger failing to invest in mental health and homelessness services.

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Jumaane Williams, the citys progressive public advocate, said Republicans like DeSantis are using fear to get a response from voters. Williams, who had been critical that charges werent brought sooner against Penny, said the former Marine deserves his day in court.

Their [Republicans] narrative is not trying to solve problems. It's always trying to sow as much division as possible, Williams said.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Friday charged Penny with second-degree manslaughter. Penny has not entered a plea but his lawyers have said he acted in self-defense.

Republicans have also seized on the case as another line of attack against Bragg, a darling of progressive Democrats for his pledge to reduce the number of bail-eligible crimes.

In April, House Republicans held a so-called field hearing in New York City that was billed as an evaluation of how Braggs pro-crime policies had threatened public safety. It came after Bragg charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records for his alleged role in a hush money scheme. Trump has pleaded not guilty.

DeSantis, a likely Republican presidential contender, said we must defeat the Soros-Funded DAs in calling for people to donate to Pennys defense  a common right-wing talking point to tie Bragg to liberal billionaire George Soros, who helped fund a political action committee that was part of a nationwide effort to elect progressive district attorneys.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) also took a shot at Bragg in pledging financial support for Penny.

These soft-on-crime policies, like we see in New York, kill, he said.

A spokesperson for Bragg referred POLITICO to a past statement about the charges. It reads, in part: "As this case proceeds, we will be constrained from speaking outside the courtroom to ensure this remains a fair and impartial matter."

Money for Pennys legal defense was raised through GiveSendGo, a crowdfunding site that also secured support for the legal defense of Jan. 6 insurrectionists. Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and Republican presidential candidate, also gave $10,000.

Penny retained Steven Raiser and Thomas Kenniff  the latter ran against Bragg in 2021 as a Republican  and released a statement through them last week stating he was defending himself and did not mean to harm Neely. Lawyers for Neely have called on Bragg to step up the charges.
North Carolina Republican lawmakers face a key test of loyalty as they prepare to override the governors veto of a bill that shortens the period in which a pregnancy can be terminated. Its a vote that could cost both sides of the aisle.

Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed a 12-week abortion ban over the weekend, setting up the GOP for a razor-thin override vote that will require total unity.

This bill will create dangerous interference with the doctor-patient relationship, leading to harm for pregnant women and their families, Cooper said while announcing his veto at a rally with the North Carolina Reproductive Freedom Coalition, where roughly 2,000 people were in attendance. With its medically unnecessary obstacles and restrictions, it will make abortion unavailable to many women, particularly those with lower incomes, those who live in rural areas, and those who already have limited access to health care.

The North Carolina Senate is scheduled to vote to override Coopers veto Tuesday afternoon, followed by the state House.

The bill passed along party lines earlier this month. If ratified, not only would abortions be prohibited past 12 weeks  a steep drop from the states current 20-week limit  patients and providers would also face additional requirements to terminate pregnancies.

Individuals seeking medical abortions would have one fewer week to take medicines, down from 11 weeks to 10, and also be required to have an additional in-person appointment after taking the course of drugs.

Abortion clinics could also be subject to additional requirements, such as needing an ambulatory surgical center license to operate. This change, which the North Carolina Medical Society blasted as administratively burdensome, could result in clinics shutting down.

Party flip allowed for possible veto override

The situation in the Tar Heel State wouldnt have been feasible until one lawmakers blindsiding decision last month.

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N.C. state Rep. Tricia Cotham, elected in November as a Democrat, shocked the state political system when she announced she would join the Republican Party. The flip gave the GOP a veto-proof majority in the House, adding to its Senate supermajority.

Cotham had campaigned on abortion rights, even sharing her own experience with having the procedure in a medically-necessary situation, but she voted with the majority to pass the 12-week ban.

North Carolina state Rep. Tricia Cotham announces she is switching affiliation to the Republican Party at a news conference April 5 at the North Carolina Republican Party headquarters in Raleigh, N.C. The change gives Republican state legislators a veto-proof supermajority in both chambers. (AP Photo/Hannah Schoenbaum)

Cooper has called on constituents to reach out to their representatives in an attempt to get just one member of the majority to defect in voting to override the veto, but the effort may not be enough.

This has never been a question. They are going to override, Dallas Woodhouse, former executive director of the North Carolina Republican Party, told The Hill.

I suspect that the Speaker of the House actually has a couple of Democrats in the back of his pocket if he needed, Woodhouse said, referring to state House Speaker Tim Moore (R).

GOP sees bill as compromise, Democrats dont

Pundits and media outlets have noted that Republican enthusiasm for this vote was rather low, but inaction was not a viable alternative for the party.

I think the Republicans have been very, you know, skilled in this. I mean, I dont think its ever an issue anybodys jumping up and down to deal with it, but Republicans had to deal with it. Doing nothing wasnt going to be an option for them, said Woodhouse, adding that the bill represented as much of a middle ground or a consensus that the state legislature could reach.

Julie Mayfield, North Carolina Senate Democratic Caucus secretary, pushed back against that description, saying it was a compromise for them but not for me.

The line that this is a 12-week ban is a lie. It is absolutely a lie, and it is not a compromise bill that the people of North Carolina  asked for or wanted, Mayfield said.

She argued that the measure banning medical abortions at 10 weeks invalidated the 12 weeks provided by the bill. More than half of all abortions are performed with medications, and Mayfield noted that most people dont know theyre pregnant at even six weeks.

The abbreviated timeline, combined with the added appointment requirements and potential wait time to see a provider, would cause a radical reduction in abortion access, said Mayfield, effectively enacting a six- or eight-week ban.

According to Woodhouse, even if a Republican were to oppose the override and no Democrats sided with the majority, the party could easily wait for a more favorable makeup of lawmakers to come about in the legislature.

This vote, however, could very well jeopardize the GOPs iron grip on the state government in the 2024 election cycle. As Cooper has noted, some state Republicans in 2022 campaigned on maintaining the states 20-week limit. An override vote could be used by Democrats to accuse GOP members of going back on their word, threatening the partys supermajority.

Folks across the state, we have to educate them strongly about what Senate Bill 20 is and trying to make sure that they are advocating to their legislators that this is not what North Carolinians voted for, Anderson Clayton, chairperson of the North Carolina Democratic Party, told The Hill.

Clayton was frank when discussing immediate actions that Democrats could take in response to an override, noting that North Carolinas largely conservative courts likely wont provide a good avenue to challenge the bill. Instead, she said state Democrats would lean into bringing about a statewide referendum on abortion in 2024.

Maintaining abortion access proved to be popular at state ballots following the Supreme Courts ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade last year. Voters in California, Vermont and Michigan all approved ballot measures enshrining abortion access in their state constitutions.

Recent polling suggests North Carolina is no different. Survey results released in February by Meredith College found that 57.1 percent of registered voters favored maintaining the 20-week limit or expanding it, while 34.7 percent of voters said they were in favor of further limiting abortion access to some degree.

Demi Dowdy, spokesperson for state Speaker Moore, said the 12-week limit in the bill reflected where most North Carolinians stood on the issue. Dowdy also pointed to the incentives for prenatal care that were included along with grants for free contraceptives, which she noted Cooper has made no mention of.

By calling out specific Republicans in swing districts, Governor Cooper seems to believe he can pressure these Republican members into voting his way, just as he has bullied members of his own party, Dowdy said.

The Speaker has always encouraged each of our members to vote their conscience on behalf of their constituents, and he is confident they will continue to do just that. We will ultimately override the governors veto of SB 20 when the time comes.

No Republican legislators have come forward to say they will oppose the override, making the passage of the bill all but certain. Democratic lawmakers are hopeful that the law can be delayed for some time by lower courts.

We have to hope the attorneys can get an injunction, North Carolina state Sen. Graig Meyer (D) told The Hill. Either way, its going to be the top issue in next years election. And I feel strongly that the GOP base will keep demanding they move farther away from what most voters will tolerate.

Mayfield echoed these sentiments, adding that Republicans will pay for this in 2024.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
In an apparent rebuke of a maverick Democratic lawmaker  Rep. Marvin Robinson, D-Kansas City  Gov. Laura Kelly rejected controversial funding for the Quindaro Ruins in Wyandotte County.

In an apparent rebuke of a maverick Democratic lawmaker, Gov. Laura Kelly rejected an effort to allocate $250,000 in State Historical Society funds to the Quindaro Ruins Archaeological Park Project in Wyandotte County.

The project itself is largely noncontroversial in nature, with Quindaro serving as an important waypoint on the Underground Railroad, with escaping slaves crossing the Missouri River from the east.

The Quindaro Ruins, however, has been a top priority for Rep. Marvin Robinson, D-Kansas City, who advocated for the site to be recognized as a National Historic Landmark and for improvements to the area before being elected to serve in the Statehouse.

Quindaro Ruins advocate voted with Republicans on key votes

Robinson has sided with his Republican colleagues on a number of key votes, including nearly every attempt to override Kelly's vetoes at the end of the legislative session, including a controversial vote to enact a ban on transgender athletes in women's sports.

Despite stiff criticism from Democratic lawmakers on the House floor, Robinson maintained he had no awareness of the proviso's inclusion. Other Republican lawmakers echoed that sentiment but seemed to indicate that the funding was included for Robinson's benefit.

More: Top Kansas lawmaker didn't know his community had a food pantry. Here's who it helps.

"What was added to that proviso was done without his knowledge, it wasnt done in exchange for anything," said Rep. Patrick Penn, R-Wichita. "It was done because he actually did the hard work. I would like to say thank you to the distinguished rep, my colleague, my friend. And I would like you to have one morsel, one modicum, after all the stuff you have seen him go through, of that type of courage."

In a message explaining her decision to line-item veto the funding, Kelly said, "There was no opportunity to vet this proposal to ensure that it truly serves the needs of the community for whom the site is named."

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"My administration recognizes the importance of this culturally significant site, and I will support efforts to elevate this fundamental piece of Kansas history and honor the surrounding community," Kelly wrote. "Advocates should work through the proper channels to seek funding for this measure and ensure that it receives the recognition it deserves."

Kelly's decision earned an immediate rebuke from Republican lawmakers, with House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, saying the governor had "put politics before protecting this historical site thats so important to the African American community in Kansas City."

"Preserving the archeological integrity and educational importance of the Quindaro Ruins should be a bi-partisan priority and excluded from the wrath of political punishments," Hawkins said in a statement.

More: No charges have been filed in a 2020 Kansas prison riot. Workers say delay endangers them.

Democrat frustrated by Gov. Kelly veto on historic site dunds

But at least one member of Kelly's party also expressed bewilderment and frustration at the move.

Sen. David Haley, D-Kansas City, whose district includes Quindaro, said it was "ill-advised" upon being informed of the line-item veto.

"Whomever she is taking advice from on that, and you can quote me, probably has not read our history or the tea leaves of the area," Haley said. "That is unfortunate."

Haley underscored Robinson's longtime reputation in the area as a crusader on behalf of Quindaro and noted that his support for Republican lawmakers at times was known while running for office.

The hope was, he added, that Kelly wouldn't be so "petty" as to veto the item over an intra-party feud and he called on her administration to immediately distribute funds to bolster the site.

"I would think she's bigger than the politics of it," Haley said.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: In rebuke of Marvin Robinson, Kansas governor cuts controversial funds
The latest episode of The Greg Cote Show podcast, out now, features Greg and Chris (plus the return of Yeti) rhapsodizing over the Miami Heat and Florida Panthers as both No. 8-seed underdogs shock the world (and South Florida) by each reaching their sports Eastern Conference finals, which begin this week.

Greg and Chris both were at the Heats clinching victory Friday night, the same night the Cats were advancing with an overtime win in Toronto. Its a different, rather new father-son dynamic with both being at a sporting event as credentialed media: Greg actually working and writing for the Miami Herald, and Chris there representing Meadowlark Media/The Dan Le Batard Show and pretty much goofing around.

Hear Greg blast his son for unprofessional antics such as openly cheering in the pressbox as the Panthers score the winning goal. Hear Chris counter by mocking how awkward and unfriendly his father is around fellow journalism colleagues.

This is our 19th episode of 2023 and 165th overall, and we welcome you back as always.

Also in the new episode:

 An update on our shows effort to enlist ESPN SportsCenter anchor Randy Scott to judge Greg, Chris and younger son Michael to see who does the best impressions of ESPN big-voice-guy Chris Kelley.

 Greg apologizes (or does he?) for criticizing Zaslow too harshly on last weeks Le Batard Show.

 Chris gets called out for some of his rude driving habits including habitually cutting lines in traffic.

 Greg calls out the music industry and musical artists for an epidemic of collaborations.

 Chris explains how he got injured in his sleep.

 Pooh Bearing.

 What is the proper use of Gentlemens Sweep?

 The triumphant return of Dad jokes and Three Facts, Jack!

Hear all of this and much more in the newest GCS. Aside from the occasional bonus emergency episode, a new show drops every Monday morning at 7 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify -- wherever you pod, including of course at miamiherald.com. Find our entire show catalog with all 163 episodes HERE. (The show also simulcasts on Sirius XM radio Mondays from 5 to 6 p.m.).

Our podcast debuted in March 2020 just before the pandemic hit. (Coincidence; dont blame us). We thank you all, pod family, for your great and growing support. Please continue to listen, rate, review, follow and tell your friends, too! We now also have a teaser video out each week on the Miami Herald YouTube channel to preview the latest episode. Check it out.

Also visit thegregcoteshow.com website and click Shop for our merch store. We have several new T-shirt designs out -- including the Jumpin Charlie/Baaaaay design -- as well as signature merch featuring Gregs Lobos, the GCS logo, Nellies Diner and the Greg Floating Head. (ShoppinIt.) Also check out our podcasts new YouTube channel.
Gloria Molina, a pioneering political leader who represented the people of Los Angeles, died from terminal cancer Sunday, her daughter said. She was 74.

She passed away at her home in Mt. Washington, surrounded by our family, Valentina Martinez said in a Mothers Day statement. We will miss Gloria the strong and selfless matriarch of our family.

Molina had battled cancer for three years, Martinez said.

A product of the Pico Rivera community on Los Angeles Countys Eastside, Molina proudly identified as Chicana, a political term describing people of Mexican descent both empowered and oppressed by life between two nations, two cultures.

She was the first Chicana elected to the state Assembly (1982), the Los Angeles City Council (1987) and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (1991).

She was also noted as a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee from the days of Bill Clintons presidency until 2004. It was a role that highlighted Molina as a featured speaker at multiple Democratic national conventions.

Molina was born May 31, 1948, to parents raised in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Her father, she said, was born in Los Angeles but raised in Mexico.

As she was growing up in the San Gabriel Valley east of downtown Los Angeles, she said, college was something for white people  until a high school bookkeeper named Charlene Levesque kept pestering her about attending a new community college.

I used to hang around with all the Chicanos, she said. And none of them were talking of going to college at the time.

She went. And she fought back her mothers pressure to work.

At college, including classes at East Los Angeles College, Molina sought out Latinas, and she found them through the Chicana Service Action Center, a nonprofit community group, and local influencers like Francisca Flores.

After school she volunteered for Democratic politicians and was Hispanic deputy for Jimmy Carters presidential campaign in California in 1975. After Carter began his term as president, she worked in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel.

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When she took a shot at the state Legislature, she credited support from women in general as much as from her Latino home base.

"One of our big goals was learning to become leaders," she said. "Not to become followers to the white women's movement, and not to become followers to the Chicano movement. But to become leaders for ourselves, for other women. That was very important to us."

She volunteered for countless community and political groups, held a seat on the Los Angeles City Council and considered running for mayor before she decided instead to take one of five potent seats on the county Board of Supervisors, which each represent 2 million people.

In an oral history interview for the California State Archives State Government Oral History Program in 1990, Molina claimed victory.

Every time I stepped up to one of these opportunities, the first thing that ran through me was fear, absolute fear, she said of running for office. And with that fear was the intimidation. Theyre smarter than I am. They know more.

I think one of our biggest challenges is to convince a lot of Latinos out there who are citizens and noncitizens that it is definitely a place and game that we need to be a part of, Molina said. What Ive also learned is that you can beat City Hall.

Molina is survived by daughter, Martinez; her husband, Ron Martinez; grandson Santiago; and siblings Gracie, Irma, Domingo, Bertha, Mario, Sergio, Danny, Olga and Lisa.

The LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, which Molina created during her time on the Board of Supervisors, has scheduled a celebration of life for June 3.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A corrections officer at the now-closed Leavenworth Detention Center was subjected to racist slurs and other demeaning language by other employees, according to a federal lawsuit filed this week.

Wilfredo Carrasquillo, who is Hispanic, started working for CoreCivic at the federal jail in Leavenworth in May 2021. He had over a decade of security experience and passed a screening test, physical exam and tactical exam.

During a training class, a co-worker said that Hispanic people cannot comprehend things, the lawsuit said. Guards used a racist slur against Hispanic people many times, the lawsuit continued, and Carrasquillo was harassed in the parking lot on several occasions. One guard allegedly told him not to park near him and another flung spit in his face.

He filed written complaints with human resources, but the for-profit prison company ignored every incident, the lawsuit said.

Carrasquillo also said that white employees were allowed privileges that he was denied. When he asked for time off to pick up a prescription to treat diabetes he was denied, but other employees were allowed to leave early or arrive late, the lawsuit said.

When a CPR test was administered, CoreCivic claimed Carrasquillo had failed. During a second test, an instructor read multiple choice questions, Carrasquillo answered and the instructor marked the response. The lawsuit said he did not have a chance to review the answers and was told he had failed the test. Carrasquillo, who was 49 years old at the time, was terminated.

He filed a complaint with the Kansas Human Rights Commission, which determined he had a right to sue in February.

The federal lawsuit was filed in the District of Kansas and lists CoreCivic as a defendant. The complaint includes claims of discrimination based on race, age and disability as well as retaliation from before the detention center closed.

Ryan Gustin, a spokesman for Tennessee-based CoreCivic, said the company does not comment on active or pending litigation, but its policies prohibit harassment and discrimination based on race, age or any other protected classification.

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We believe the diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments our company has made positively impact the quality of our operations, increase employee engagement, and support a culture of dignity and respect, he said in a statement to The Star.

In January 2021, President Joe Biden signed an executive order eliminating the use of privately operated detention facilities.

The Leavenworth Detention Center transferred prisoners out of the facility, sending men to the nearby U.S. Penitentiary in Leavenworth and women to state and local jails, the U.S. Marshals Service said in January 2022. It is listed as inactive on CoreCivics website.

While the facility was open, it had been the subject of many concerns including dangerous understaffing, routine violence and suicides. It also paid out $1.45 million in 2019 after phone calls between prisoners and their attorneys were illegally recorded.

The Stars Bill Lukitsch contributed to this story.
Protesters at Portland State University joined a nationwide campus walkout to oppose President-elect Donald Trump in 2016. (Don Ryan / Associated Press)

Weve become accustomed to the weaponization of words. Words are used to divide, dehumanize and incite violence. Conservative leaders spread hateful rhetoric to whip up support for attacks on women, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community and more. Progressives fight back by trying to shout down the purveyors of bigotry.

Meanwhile, Americans are losing faith in their capacity to tap into the opposite power of words  bringing people closer together. Polls show a tendency to avoid political discussions across party lines. Why have so many of us forsaken the remedial power of language?

In his new book The Persuaders, Anand Giridharadas describes how Russias Internet Research Agency bombarded Americans with social media posts meant to harden perceptions of our political opponents as unchangeable. He writes: Again and again, in one way or another, the IRA posts were sending the same message: These people are not to be trusted. They will never change. They are who they are. And who they are is a risk to your being.

The deterioration of our discourse is rooted in this conviction that opponents cant be changed, except perhaps by force. The trend is especially concerning among Gen Zers, who will shape the future of this country.

About 76% of liberal college students believe shouting down a speaker is acceptable, according to the 2023 College Free Speech Rankings. Only 44% of conservative students believe the same.

On college campuses, conservatives are hosting speakers who denigrate transgender people and other groups. Opponents of such bigotry are disrupting them with their own insults, as in recent incidents at Stanford Law School, the University of Pittsburgh, UC Davis and SUNY Albany.

Its important for Gen Z liberals to understand that many on the right really do feel persecuted. However absurd it may seem to liberals, countless conservatives think theyre under attack. Young liberals can reinforce the belief by ridiculing it or they can diffuse it with careful words rooted in compassion. Gen Z Republicans are much more socially liberal than their parents. If anybody on the right is open to persuasion, its them. If theyre attacked as bigots, theyre more likely to double down on harmful beliefs, including the idea that theyre the real victims of oppression.

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Consider the case of Trumps senior advisor Stephen Miller. As a student at Santa Monica High School, he often provoked his liberal classmates with incendiary monologues, lamenting the schools multicultural events and Spanish-language announcements. He invited controversial speakers to campus. He was called a racist by his peers, including Maria Vivanco, president of the schools MEChA chapter at the time, who recalls verbally sparring with Miller when he picked on students who couldnt speak English.

During the visit of right-wing provocateur Larry Elder, whom Miller invited to the school, Vivanco stood up and confronted him. You are a racist! she cried. Miller shouted back at her, telling her she was wrong and didnt understand. She later told me: He was a joke to me. Looking back, I wish Id been like, Hey, lets go have a coffee. Lets talk about this.

It may not have been her job to have sensitive conversations with someone who seemed openly hostile to her and other Latinos. But what if more people like her had done so anyway? Miller later referred to his high school experiences as some of the toughest I faced in my life. He wrote of classmates and teachers: Their resistance only strengthened my resolve.

After his school canceled the speech of another right-wing provocateur he invited to campus, David Horowitz, he forged a bond with him and Elder. Elder invited Miller on his radio show and pressured the school to let Horowitz speak. Both men became mentors to Miller, with Horowitz helping him get hired on Capitol Hill. The resistance Miller faced from his classmates didnt change his views. Might a different approach have been more effective?

Gen Zers are more open to diverse perspectives than older generations. If any generation can come together, its them. But young liberals need to learn to communicate productively, placing more value on dialogue and less on derogatory judgments that are known to alienate their peers.

Of course, dialogue isnt always possible. This was obvious in the CNN town hall with Trump, who overwhelmed his interviewer Kaitlan Collins with a deluge of lies. What Jean-Paul Sartre observed of antisemites applies more broadly to liars and demagogues: They know that their remarks are frivolous, open to challenge. But they are amusing themselves, for it is their adversary who is obliged to use words responsibly, since he believes in words.

When bad-faith speakers are invited to campuses, the best way for students to engage, if at all, is to call attention to their manipulative tactics, as Aaron Huertas, a political strategist, advises in his essay A Field Guide to Bad Faith Arguments.

Trying to get the speakers disinvited or drowning out their voices doesnt achieve much. Those tactics play into right-wing propagandists hands, providing them with viral videos to show free speech under attack by fascistic liberals, even as Republican leaders ban books and punish speech thats critical of them.

If we give up on words, the demagogues win. We cant give them that advantage.

@jeanguerre

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Triggered five years ago by police chasing a U-Haul truck that rammed patrol cars and escaped, a prolonged investigation into a whites-only Columbus street gang finally is wrapping up as the suspects plead out.

Authorities in April 2018 said the suspects were associated with the Ghostface Gangsters, a gang that began in the Cobb County jail in 2000. Five locals were arrested in the days following the chase that damaged three police cars and led to multiple charges.

The latest defendant to plead guilty was Adam James Canada, 42, arrested in May 2018 at his 30th Street home, where police found drugs, stolen checks and multiple guns.

Ive changed my life, Canada told Superior Court Judge Arthur Smith III on Friday. Im no longer out there gangbanging or anything like that.... My heart changed, your honor.

Canada was not involved in the police chase that kicked off the investigation, but was arrested as part of the probe.

He initially was charged with 35 counts of identity fraud, 21 counts of gang activity, four weapons offenses, two counts each of third-degree forgery and fourth-degree forgery, and one each of selling meth and having a drug-related object.

He pleaded guilty Friday to four counts of forgery and one count each of criminal street gang activity and using a firearm to commit a crime. Smith sentenced him to 15 years in prison with six to serve and the rest on probation.

Canada is the fourth defendant to plead guilty, leaving one whose case has yet to be resolved.

Here are the others:

Kevin Brian Davis, 39, pleaded guilty April 12 to two counts each of assaulting a police officer and interfering with government property by ramming patrol cars; three counts of second-degree burglary; four counts of financial card theft and one of trying to elude police. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison with six to serve.

Cody T. Watson, 30, pleaded Dec. 14. 2022, to possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being a convicted felon with a gun. He was sentenced to eight years in prison with four to serve.

Brandon Thomas Barfield Sr., 40, pleaded guilty Nov. 12, 2021 to second-degree burglary and felony theft. He was sentenced to five years probation.

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Still facing charges is Kevin Jerome Carter, 51, accused of four counts of financial card theft, two of second-degree burglary and one of possessing fentanyl.

Chase and arrests

Police first encountered Canada and Watson at Canadas home as investigators searched for Davis, having linked Davis to the U-Haul chase on April 16, 2018. A search of the residence turned up forged checks, stolen Social Security cards, 30 firearms and 12.7 grams of methamphetamine, Assistant District Attorney Austin Hammock said during Canadas sentencing.

The hunt for Davis began on April 12, 2018, when a manager at The Storage Place, 4445 Warm Springs Road, told investigators Davis and Carver had loaded a Dodge Ram pickup with equipment they took from the business storage room, then left and returned for more.

They were loading the truck again when the manager arrived and blocked them in. Carver was arrested there, but Davis ran away.

On April 15, 2018, police were called to the business again when a customer renting a unit there reported finding two men loading his old comic books and other collectibles into a U-Haul truck. The thieves sped away with about $1,500 worth of goods, some tumbling onto the pavement as they fled.

Patrol officers looking for the U-Haul that night spotted it around 1 a.m. on Second Avenue and tried to stop it. The U-Haul sped north to the J.R. Allen Parkway, briefly pulled over near Schomburg Road, then shifted to reverse to ram and disable a police car, and sped off again.

At 2 a.m., police stopped the truck again, at the J.R. Allen Parkway and Moon Road. Again the driver reversed to ram and disable a police car, and escaped a second time.

Tipped that Davis was driving the U-Haul, investigators tracked his cell phone signal to Canadas home, where officers arrested Davis about 7:30 p.m. that day.

But police still had not found the U-Haul truck.

Around 11:30 p.m. , on April 17, 2018, officers saw Barfield driving the U-Haul at 42nd Street and Meritas Drive, investigators said. Though the truck again rammed a police car, the officer still was able to pursue the U-Haul, which police chased to Miller Road and Milgen Road, where Barfield wrecked and ran, they said. He was arrested after officers ran him down.

In the weeks that followed, police alleged the suspects were committing crimes to further the interest of the gang, and added more charges. But the case was delayed by COVID-19 court lockdowns and conflicts of interest.

Known for their violent enforcement of gang rules and use of contraband cell phones to conduct criminal activities from within prisons, the Ghostface Gangsters since have expanded outside the prison system, with thousands of members in Georgia, particularly in the Atlanta area, experts say.

Federal authorities last year concluded an extensive investigation into the gang, ending with 25 guilty pleas to various felonies. Among those pleading were three of the gangs seven founding members, prosecutors said.
Two Grayson High School students were arrested last week after an incident involving a gun on campus.

In a letter sent by Dr. Dana L. Pugh, the principal of Grayson High School, obtained by Channel 2 Action News, said the incident occurred shortly after school let out for the day.

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At that time, a student told an administrator someone had stolen his backpack that had his laptop and personal belongings inside.

After officials reviewed surveillance footage, the administrator identified another student who was seen taking the bag.

Officials said when administrators found the second student on a school bus, he told them where the missing bag was.

When administrators went to get the bag, they found a gun and knife inside. Pugh said they immediately identified a school resource officer after finding the weapons.

TRENDING STORIES:

To be clear, neither student pointed the gun at anyone or threatened anyone with it, Pugh wrote. With that said, we are taking this situation seriously. Bringing and/or possessing a gun on school property is not only violation of our student conduct code, it is also against the law.

Pugh added that both students would face criminal charges and school disciplinary consequences for the incident.

This situation serves as an opportunity to talk to your student about the importance of following school rules while on campus and the potentially life-altering consequences of breaking the law and bringing guns and weapons to school, Pugh wrote. Please check your students bag before leaving the house to ensure they are not bringing inappropriate items to school. Working together, we can continue to ensure Grayson High remains a safe place where students grow and excel.

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The identities of the students have not been released.

Authorities have not specified what charges the students will face.

IN OTHER NEWS:
A 10-tonne beached sperm whale was so thin when it died its ribs were sticking from its side.

The post-mortem examination on the mammal found at Porth Neigwl, Gwynedd also discovered it ate squid beaks.

Experts said the whale was very poorly and underweight when it became stranded and had urged people to stay clear of the carcass.

The adult female whale about 10.8m (35.4ft) long was the second to wash up on a UK beach in two days.

It is only the second sperm whale to be recorded in Wales in the last century.

The post-mortem examination was carried out by a team from the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme and marine biologist Rob Deaville said there were parasites at "several sites" but these were considered incidental to its death.

He added that there was no evidence of recent feeding but the whale had consumed "small numbers of squid beaks".

Mr Deaville said there was little evidence it had eaten plastic or other debris bar a "few fragmentary pieces".

Sections of intestine were taken to be examined for microplastics.

The marine biologist said on Twitter it was confirmed it was an adult female from "scars on the ovaries and the appearance of the uterus".

It was, he said, in "markedly poor nutritional condition".

"We were concerned about a potential mass on its side," Mr Deaville said.

"Surprised to find on site that this was actually the ribs protruding."

It had suffered significant muscle wastage and was "the thinnest sperm whale I've ever worked on".

The age of the whale remains unclear.

Mr Deaville said the interim findings were considered consistent with "marked nutritional loss and live stranding".

The whale was far from home, he said, adding that more could be learned from further analysis.

Mr Deaville said it was only the second sperm whale recorded in Wales over the last century and only the fourth female in the UK in the same period.
The New Hampshire college that hosted Donald Trumps CNN town hall has condemned the former president for the deeply troubling event.

Saint Anselm College criticised both the comments of the ex-president and the reactions to his statements by the Trump-friendly audience in the auditorium.

CNN moderator Kaitlan Collins asked Mr Trump about the civil trial between him and writer and former advice columnist E Jean Carroll. Mr Trump was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation and has been ordered to pay her $5m. Mr Trump was not found liable for rape. His legal team is appealing the verdict.

Mr Trump denied Ms Carrolls allegation, to laughter from the crowd in the room.

A Manhattan jury found you sexually abused the writer E Jean Carroll and defamed her. Youve denied this. But what do you say to voters who say it disqualifies you from being president? Ms Collins said.

Well, there arent too many of them because my poll numbers just came out and they went up, Mr Trump replied.

Mr Trump claimed that he doesnt know who Ms Carroll is.

In a statement, Saint Anselm said: The college was deeply troubled by the former Presidents remarks regarding the civil trial with a finding that he was liable for sexual assault.

Equally disturbing was the audiences reaction, nearly all of whom were not members of the Saint Anselm community, with laughter. The college does not tolerate sexual misconduct of any kind, including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and sexual harassment.

The college noted in its statement that Saint Anselm has a long history of participation in the democratic process, with every major candidate for president since the 1960 election visiting the college.

Through the years the college has hosted hundreds of talks, town halls and other political events. The New Hampshire Institute of Politics, a nonpartisan center whose mission is to educate, engage and empower citizens to participate in civic and political life, is at the center of much of this activity, the college added.

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Dr Joseph Favazza, the college president, said: We believe that an interchange of ideas and perspectives is the bedrock of an informed electorate, which is why we have enthusiastically and impartially hosted political events since the 1950s. Democracy depends on an educated citizenry. Here at Saint Anselm, we are proud to play an important and unique role in this regard.

The college put forward a similar argument to CNN about hosting Mr Trump, saying that While former President Trump faces legal trouble in several jurisdictions and continues inflammatory rhetoric, he is the current frontrunner in the Republican presidential race. At this moment, he is the likely Republican candidate to appear on the 2024 ballot.

The institution added that considering its mission and history, the college would betray its responsibility toward impartiality by turning away any major party candidate.

Dr Favazza added: For more than a generation, Saint Anselm has participated in the democratic process, underscoring our mission to provide a transformative education that fosters critical thinking skills for our students.

We look forward to hosting many more town halls, debates and other political events, as we once again play this important role for our community and our country, he said.
Pets going missing in Stockton is nothing new.

You see the posts in community groups on Facebook and Nextdoor, with loving owners pleading for neighbors to help them find their lost furry friends. They post photos of their missing cats and dogs and their last known locations and even offer cash rewards to those who find their pets.

But a missing French bulldog is getting special attention from Stocktonians online... and local law enforcement agencies.

Dior, a 15-month-old French bulldog, was stolen from a yard in the 3000 block of Lennon Way on May 2, according to police.

"Her owner misses her dearly and would like to have her back," police said this week.

Frenchies can fetch thousands of dollars in ransom or the black market for buyers looking for a purebred dog. The average cost for a French bulldog puppy is $4,500.

Pet Keen  a popular pet advice website  ranked French bulldogs as the most likely to be stolen.

Dior, a 15-month-old French bulldog, was stolen from a yard in the 3000 block of Lennon Way on May 2.

Dior is not the first canine to be stolen  and she won't be the last. Statistics show that pet theft and "dognappings" have increased in the U.S. in recent years. An estimated 2 million dogs are stolen every year, according to the American Kennel Club.

"They are having a fashion moment, and this trendy status is part of what places them so high on our list of breeds most likely to be stolen," said Nicole Cosgrove, lead pet expert at Pet Keen. "They are also compact and less likely to bite than most other dogs, which is a major advantage for would-be crooks."

Instances of French bulldog theft have been making national headlines this month. Celebrities over the years have reported being stripped of their Frenchies as they walk.

On May 5, a man who arranged to meet a fellow animal lover at a New Jersey dog park so their French bulldogs could play together was lured to a nearby apartment complex, where his dog was stolen. The man said he received a text from the thief demanding $8,000 for the return of his dog, New Jersey news outlet reported.

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On May 10, a man was taking his dog on a morning walk in Ladera Heights, a Los Angeles neighborhood, when a car pulled up next to him. Two people wearing ski masks jumped out of the car and shouted at the man to give them the dog. He was punched in the mouth and kicked several times, and the dog was taken, CBS Los Angeles reported.

Stealing a pet could land the thief behind bars, or even in prison, according to Animal Legal and Historical Center. To protect your pup, experts recommend purchasing an anti-theft dog collar, getting dog theft insurance, and ensuring you don't leave your four-legged friends alone outside.

Detectives continue to piece together clues to help Dior and her owner reunite. Police are asking anyone with information on her whereabouts to contact detectives at (209) 937-8573 or Stockton Crime Stoppers at (209) 946-0600.

Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. To support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Heartbroken owner, police search for Frenchie stolen in Stockton
At the urging of Miami-Dade County leaders, the National Weather Service has lowered the bar for extreme heat warnings and advisories in the county. The hope is that the new standards will better protect residents from the rising risks of heat, which the county estimates kills about 34 people and hospitalizes hundreds more each year.

Miami-Dade Chief Heat Officer Jane Gilbert speaks during the heat season press conference.

NWS meteorologist Robert Molleda announced the change Monday at a county event marking the start of Miami-Dade Countys heat season, which officially runs from May 1 to Oct. 31 each year. The decision has implications beyond Miami-Dade. The county will serve as a test case for the new warning levels, Molleda said. If they work well, the weather service may make them permanent and export them to other South Florida counties.

The most important thing is that advisories and warnings go out when there is an increased threat to the general population, said Molleda, the warning coordination meteorologist at the NWS Miami office. Its about making sure people have the information they need and are receiving weather alerts and notifications that can enable them to take action.

Jane Gilbert, the countys chief heat officer, said the change will help shape the response of emergency managers and public health agencies.

Well be able to galvanize our emergency response resources when we get to those truly excessive heat temperatures and address the needs of our homeless population and those who cant afford to keep their homes cool, she said.

Robert Molleda, the warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service Miami office, announces lower thresholds for heat warnings and advisories in the county.

At the Monday heat season kickoff event, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniela Levine Cava stressed that South Floridas hottest days are becoming more common. The average number of days over 90 degrees has increased from 85 days a year in 1960 to 133 days a year today, according to an extreme heat report the county released last year.

In recent years, our summers are definitely getting hotter and longer due to climate change and to increasing urban development, Levine Cava said. We all feel it and its going to get worse. The heating will only increase.

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READ MORE: Will South Florida start its rainy season with thunderstorms? What the forecast says

Lowering the threshold

Under the new system, the NWS will lower the threshold for heat warnings and advisories by 3 degrees. The weather service will now issue a heat advisory when the heat index reaches 105 degrees, and it will issue a heat warning when the heat index reaches 110 degrees.

The heat index is a measurement that combines temperature and humidity readings to give a sense of how hot it feels in the shade on a particular day.

That means that Miami-Dade residents can expect to see around five to 10 heat advisories a year, based on averages from recent years, according to Molleda.

County officials and local climate advocates have been urging the weather service to lower the heat warning threshold for more than a year. Last year, the county funded a heat vulnerability study that cataloged local heat deaths and the temperatures that caused them.

Most heat related deaths are happening below [the old warning] thresholds, Gilbert said.

The NWS decided to test out lower heat warning thresholds in Miami-Dade because of that advocacy, said Molleda, who sits on the countys Climate and Heat Health Task Force along with Gilbert and a dozen other public officials, researchers and local advocates.

WeCount! Organizing Director Erick Sanchez, far-left, and WeCount! member Delia Rodriguez, 72, center, hold flags after attending a press conference outside of Government Center. The groups Que Calor! campaign pushes for Miami-Dade County to require employers to give oudoor workers water, shade and rest to protect them from extreme heat.

The task force was a big driver behind this, Molleda said. He also credited data shared from studies like the countys heat vulnerability assessment with convincing the NWS to make the change.

Heat warnings save lives

When the NWS issues a heat advisory or warning, Miami-Dade County residents may receive an alert on their smartphones  or see the announcement shared by local governments or news organizations on social media.

Meanwhile, the county will extend hours at parks facilities and libraries to give people an air conditioned place to cool off, according to Gilbert. The warning will also go to county officials at the Department of Emergency Management and the Homeless Trust to make sure they get the word out to vulnerable residents.

Weather service officials recommend drinking plenty of water and resting under the shade or inside an air conditioned room on extremely hot days to avoid heat stroke, heat exhaustion and other illnesses that can lead to hospitalization or death.

Jose Delgado Soto, 74, a member of WeCount! and a farmworker who has suffered from two heat strokes, attends a press conference outside of Government Center on Monday, May 15, 2023, in downtown Miami, Fla. The groups Que Calor! campaign pushes for Miami-Dade County to require employers to give oudoor workers water, shade and rest to protect them from extreme heat.

The good news is, heat-related illnesses and death can be prevented, Levine Cava said.

For Miami-Dade Countys most vulnerable residents  people who work outside, cant afford air conditioning or are pregnant, homeless or have a disability  a well-timed warning can be life saving.

But county officials and the weather service are trying to strike a balance between sending out alerts every time heat becomes dangerous and making sure residents dont get so many notifications that they start to tune them out.

We need to be aware and careful every day, Gilbert said. But it would be too much of a resource constraint on the county and exhaust the messaging if we had lowered the threshold further.

Well test it and see, she added. Well have an actual chance to test our heat advisory and warning thresholds, which we havent had the opportunity to do. So were excited.

This climate report is funded by Florida International University, the Knight Foundation and the David and Christina Martin Family Foundation in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald retains editorial control of all content.
NEW CASTLE, Ind.  Henry County Prosecutor Michael Mahoney wants to charge a 13-year-old boy as an adult in a fatal shooting.

A hearing will be held in juvenile court on Mahoney's motion to waive the juvenile's case into adult jurisdiction.

The boy was arrested  on a preliminary count of murder  on May 3, hours after 47-year-old Ernest D. Thornsberry Jr. was found mortally wounded at 21st Street and A Avenue.

The New Castle man was transported by ambulance to Henry County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

New Castle police had received a report of a possible hit-and-run accident involving a pedestrian at that intersection.

More: Yorktown teen held in fatal shooting waived into adult court

However, witnesses reported they had heard gunfire, and emergency responders determined Thornsberry had "injuries consistent with a gunshot wound," according to a release.

Members of the New Castle/Henry County Major Case team at first received names of four possible "subjects of interest."

The youth  whose name has not been released  was then arrested, and the other suspects were released. He is reportedly being held at a juvenile detention facility.

In January, a Yorktown teenager was waived into adult jurisdiction for her alleged role in a fatal shooting in Muncie.

Daisy Craft was 17 on Dec, 12 when she allegedly fired a gunshot that fatally wounded 17-year-old Kayden Devon Lee at a home in the 1500 block of West Stirling Drive.

Testimony at a hearing in juvenile court indicated a magazine containing bullets had been removed from the handgun, and that the teenagers were apparently unaware the firearm still held a live round.

Craft, who has since turned 18, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide and pointing a firearm in Delaware Circuit Court 5. Her trial is scheduled for Nov. 14.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Henry prosecutor wants boy, 13, charged as adult in fatal shooting
A U.S. Army special forces medic who 30 years ago participated in the rescue of fellow soldiers during the Battle of Mogadishu is honoring the fallen with a tribute motorcycle he designed to help heal the scars of that hellacious battle.

Ed Ricord of Canon City is a retired chief warrant officer who served 34 years in the U.S. Army, 28 of which were with the special forces. He created the tribute as a way to deal with his anger, work on healing and honoring these guys who are absolutely forgotten, he said.

Local residents will get a chance to see the fully restored 1993 Harley Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Classic on display in Pueblo starting May 20 and running through June 9 before it heads to Fort Drum, New York, for the 30th anniversary of the battle.

It is a tribute, in part, to the Battle of Mogadishu on Oct. 3-4, 1993, which was made famous by the Black Hawk Down book and movie. That battle started when two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down as Task Force Rangers worked to try to flush out a Somali warlord whose forces were seizing supplies the U.S. and other United Nations forces were providing as part of humanitarian food relief.

Ed Ricord with the 1993 Harley Davidson tribute bike he made to honor his fellow soldiers 30 years after the Battle of Mogadishu.

Ricord and members of the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment Quick Reaction Force, known as the 2-14, were tasked with helping starving Somalis by providing safe passage for those relief supplies and getting them medical equipment. Ricord was attached to a civil affairs battalion out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and served as a medic.

On March 3, his best friend was killed in action, so when he joined the task force in Somalia in July 1993, he said he felt he had a reckoning to settle.

The situation in the country was dire. Warlords with weapon caches made soldiers' task difficult  there were ambushes and rocket-propelled grenade launcher attacks. Before the October battle, a Black Hawk helicopter was shot down on Sept. 25 and Ricord and his team were sent in to secure what they could.

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When I went around the corner and saw it, it did not look like a Black Hawk helicopter. I secured one body and one bone. As we were loading them in a field ambulance, things went sideways and upside down and we started getting incoming rounds, Ricord recalled.

He looked up and saw a soldier in need.

I said, 'Cover me,' and I took off," Ricord said. "There was this guy down, a young guy, and as I got on top of him I said, You picked one hell of a place to lay down'  it was in the middle of an intersection, Ricord said.

Once that soldier was stabilized and transported by ambulance, Ricord put field dressings on a tank gunner who'd been shot in the leg. As the team was withdrawing, calls for a medic came in and Ricord found himself running down the street to put tourniquets on another soldier who lost his left arm and leg in an RPG attack.

By the time the dust had settled, the 2-14 had lost Sgt. Eugene Williams, Pfc. Matthew Anderson and Sgt. Ferdinan Richardson. Miraculously, the pilot and copilot of that helicopter survived.

Retired Chief Warrant Officer Ed Ricord is working to reunite members of the U. S. Army's Task Force 2-14 who participated in the Battle of Mogadishu 30 years ago.

Just eight days later, it was a late Sunday afternoon when the 2-14 got word that a U.S. Army Ranger Task Force ran into more than what they anticipated, Ricord said. As they were en route, they were told the first Black Hawk had been shot down.

So there was anxiety because we knew a lot of those guys. By the time we got to the airfield the second had been shot down, he said.

As Ricords team arrived it quickly became apparent that hell was coming at us and we were the target, Ricord said. They entered a traffic circle and were forced to jump out of their trucks to try to find cover.

I saw a kid get hit. I took off, went straight to him, grabbed him, picked him up and extracted him to my truck, Ricord recalled.

Once inside the truck, Ricord removed the soldiers shirt to examine his wounded shoulder. He spotted a shoulder tattoo of the Tasmanian Devil.

I told him, 'They missed Tasmania,' and he said, Thanks, Doc, Ricord recalled with a laugh.

As they pushed farther into the conflict, Ricord said it "looked like the opening scene of Terminator."

"I saw hell, he said.

That was when Sgt. Cornell Houston dismounted from the vehicle, worked to clear a road block and was wounded. Pfc. James Martin Jr. was rushing to Houstons aid when he was killed.

Ricord was able to stabilize Houston, who was transferred to a hospital in Germany where he later died.

Once the two crash sites were secured, the team pulled back, set up a triage site and Ricord went to work. By the time he was done, his medic bag was empty and he was using pieces of uniforms to dress wounds.

He was finally ordered to get on a Huey helicopter and fly out with the last urgently-wounded soldier, a ranger who had been shot in the back. That ranger survived.

Back at the command center, Ricord collapsed on a gurney and did not wake up for 36 hours. Because he was motionless and covered in blood, they thought I was dead, he said.

More war news: 'This is their American Revolution': Beulah first responder recounts aid trip to Ukraine

The tribute bike is dedicated to (from left) Pvt. David Conner, Sgt. Ferdinan Richardson, Sgt. Eugene Williams, Pfc. Matthew Anderson, Sgt. Cornell Houston and Pfc James Martin Jr.

When he finally woke up, there was an urgent request for him to call his mother. She had seen video of Somalis pulling a dead American soldier through the streets and was sure it was her son.

I called home and said, Mom, its me, Ed, and she handed the phone to my little brother telling him, Thats not Ed. My brother started talking to me and he looked at mom and said, Thats Ed, he recalled.

Ricord was told the Battle of Mogadishu claimed 18 rangers in addition to Martin and Houston from the 2-14. Looking back, he's not sure how he survived. He figures he was helped by the fact he could run really fast.

Several books and movies recounted the horrific battle, but Task Force 2-14 had been forgotten. In 2021 they upgraded 60 awards (battle medals) for the rangers, but there was no mention of 2-14, he said.

We didnt even get a thank you. I got angry, Ricord said.

His wife of 28 years, Laura, asked him what he was going to do about it. That was when he got the idea to create a tribute bike.

It took a year to find the 1993 Harley Davidson he needed. When he finally found it, he was in Grand Junction a couple days later loading it up. Back in Canon City, he stripped it down to the frame and motor.

Ricord got a lot of help decking the bike out with new upholstery from Garys Upholstery that was embroidered with the names of all six fallen soldiers by Embroidery Plus, both of which are Pueblo businesses. In Canon City, Quantum Wraps covered the bike with a camouflage wrap and Sentry Siren powder coated everything else.

Hand engraving by a Denver artist completed the detailing. Outpost Harley Davidson in Pueblo did all the maintenance and although the motorcycle runs perfectly, Ricord only rides it to load it on and off a trailer.

As the bike came together, day by day Ricord started to heal.

I looked into the gates of hell. I am still working on healing, he admitted.

The goal is to have a living tribute and memorial to these guys, a place for family members to take their kids and grandkids to show them what they were a part of. It comes from the heart  it represents the emotional and physical cost to the guys of Task Force 2-14, Ricord said.

Carmen Houston (center) reacts to seeing her husband's name on the tribute bike created by Ed Ricord (left) while James Wing, another member of the Quick Reaction Task Force 2-14, looks on.

Ed and Laura are working to find all of the six gold star families who lost loved ones in the 2-14 so they can sign the bike. They recently returned from Mobile, Alabama, where Sgt. Houstons family was able to see it and sign it.

Any member of the task force is welcome to sign it. The bike will be in Pueblo from 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. on May 20 at the Praise Assembly of God Church, 2000 Troy Ave., where Ricord and fellow veterans will be stopping for lunch during the Run for the Wall, a motorcycle ride from California to Washington D.C.

After that, the bike will be on display at Outpost Harley Davidson, 5001 N. Elizabeth St., until June 9.

Ricord will then transport it to Fort Drum in New York for the 30-year reunion of the battle. He hopes it will stay there on display in the post museum.

This is a (reason for) reuniting the task force to let the guys talk and work it out. Thirty years ago we were tight and we need to get back to that, he said.

More information about the efforts of 2-14 in the battle can be found in the documentary "Black Hawk Down: The Untold Story."

Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via Twitter at twitter.com/tracywumps.

More killed in action news: 'Life of the party': Former CSU Pueblo students and staff fondly remember Kyle McKenna

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Tribute motorcycle to fallen Mogadishu soldiers set for Pueblo debut
Hertz has apologized for denying a Puerto Rican man a rental car that he paid for in advance.



The man, Humberto Marchand, said he presented his Puerto Rican drivers license to an employee at a Hertz rental car counter at New Orleans' international airport last week and was told he would need to show his passport. The employee insinuated, according to Marchand, that he was a foreigner and couldn't rent a vehicle without showing his passport.



Puerto Ricans are United States citizens. Marchand has his Puerto Rican drivers license, which is as valid as any other drivers license issues in the United States. He was not carrying his U.S. passport.

Hertz rental car employees in Louisiana treat a Puerto Rican man like hes a foreigner and deny him a rental car that hes already paid for. Thats the gist and facts of the story. But it doesnt in there. Watch for the resolution and takeaway. pic.twitter.com/ShXKKSBmB6  David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) May 13, 2023

Video recorded by Marchand shows a manager asking him to leave. When he didn't, she asked him if he wanted her to call the police and he replied, "yes, please call the police.



The Kenner police officer who responded also told Marchand to leave, according to Marchand, who served 25 years as a federal law enforcement officer before retiring.



Marchand decided to leave, and as he was walking away Marchand says he heard the officer say he would call "the border authorities" if he needed to. A police spokesman for the Kenner Police Department said body camera video from the encounter was reviewed and that comment is not heard. It's unclear, however, when the officer turned the body camera off after responding to the incident.



Kenner police invited Marchand to file a complaint and said the agency would investigate further if he did so. Marchand said he plans to file one.



Hertz initially responded to Marchan by saying the employee was right and he in fact did need to show a passport. After CBS News reached out to Hertz, the company said it "accepts Puerto Rican driver's licenses from our customers renting in the U.S. without requiring a valid passport."



"We sincerely regret that our policy was not followed and have apologized to Mr. Marchand and refunded his rental," the statement continued. "We are reinforcing our policies with employees to ensure that they are understood and followed consistently across our locations."

Story continues

Durham report on FBI's Russia investigation released

Largest-ever "narco sub" intercepted off Colombia

Oakland teachers, school district reach tentative deal to end strike
A sophomore at a Washington high school tragically died after an accident on campus. The students family continued to ask for support for his burial.

>> TRENDING: 3 overnight shootings in Cleveland kill 4, injure 1; Family identifies female victim

Brayden Bahme was in his second year at Cheney High School in the state of Washington when he suffered a life-threatening injury that ultimately claimed his life, Cheney Public Schools Superintendent Ben Ferney said, according to KREM.

Bahme was in his fourth-period physical education class when he fell into a goal post and was impaled through the eye while running, Cheney Fire Chief Tom Jenkins said.

Emergency responders arrived on scene minutes after the incident and transported him to Sacred Heart Childrens Hospital. However, he succumbed to his injuries and died at the hospital.

Bahmes family expressed their sadness and requested financial aid from the public to pay for the students burial expenses and the familys immediate needs. The remaining funds would reportedly be used to create a youth fishing program in honor of Bahme, who was affectionately known as fish pockets Bahme, KREM said.

Counselors were made available during this time to support students and staff who needed grief counseling, Ferney informed.

A candlelight vigil was held for Bahme May 1 at Crunks Sports Complex. Attendees were asked to bring small white candles and fishing gear in honor of the deceased student. The fishing gear was to be donated in his name.




Job fairs are a way for people to ask questions, build networking opportunities and meet potential employers.

Many Texans may have been introduced to job fairs in high school, but companies have these events regularly to find new employees. Whether its finding a new job, joining the workforce or re-entering the workspace, job fairs are a good place to start.

Fort Worth will be home to several job fairs over the next month. Heres what to look for:

Job fairs in Fort Worth in May

The Mid-Cities Workforce Center of Workforce Solutions For Tarrant County is hosting an in-person hiring day fair. Burlington will be one of the employers at the event, looking for cashiers and retail associates.

When: Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: 8701 Bedford Euless Rd., suite 100, Hurst

Register: No need to register online to attend.

Workforce Solutions For Tarrant County is hosting a job fair for individuals with challenged backgrounds. Over 50 employers will be at the event, including veteran and re-enter friendly companies.

When: Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: 2300 Circle Dr., Fort Worth

Register: Pre-registration is required and can be done online.





Nationwide Career Fairs is hosting an event with recruiters and HR managers from local and Fortune 500 companies in Fort Worth. Attendees are encouraged to dress in business attire and have resumes ready.

When: May 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Where: 334 W. 3rd St., Fort Worth

Register: Register online here.

Job fairs in Fort Worth in June

Workforce Solutions For Tarrant County is hosting a virtual job fair over Zoom.

When: June 15 from 11 a.m. to noon

Where: Virtual event

Register: Pre-registration is required and can be done here.

Workforce Solutions For Tarrant County is co-hosting the 2023 Renaissance Heights in-person job fair. The event will have over 30 Tarrant County employers in attendance at the William H. McDonald YMCA.
Law enforcement officials are looking for a sedan and its driver after a hit-and-run crash killed a 78-year-old pedestrian last week near a Northern California casino.

The deadly crash happened sometime Friday evening along northbound Forty Mile Road south of Highway 65, near Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Wheatland, the California Highway Patrols Yuba-Sutter office said in a news release.

The CHP said it was contacted by the Yuba County Sheriffs Office on Saturday morning after a man was found dead on the east shoulder of Forty Mile Road.

The suspect vehicle, believed to be a white Chevrolet Malibu, model year 2016 or newer, allegedly struck a male pedestrian before fleeing the scene toward Highway 65, according to the news release.

The CHP described the pedestrian as a 78-year-old Olivehurst man, whose identity will be released by the coroners division of the Sheriffs Office, pending notification of family.

Anybody with information about the vehicle or the identity of its driver is asked to contact the CHP Yuba-Sutter office at 530-645-6200.

The incident is the second deadly hit-and-run this year near the Wheatland casino. In February, a Mercedes-Benz driver turned himself in to the authorities after allegedly hitting and killing a 28-year-old Marysville man along Forty Mile Road, the CHP said at the time.
Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/HBO/Getty

This episode of Succession might be one of the hardestif not the hardestto watch. The parallels between America Decides and the 2020 election are harrowing, and ultimately reflect a version of America we couldve been living in had the results not swung a different way on that fateful election day in November 2020.

Though there are only two candidates really in the runningDemocrat Daniel Jimenez (Elliot Villar) and Republican Jeryd Mencken (Justin Kirk)the most noteworthy presidential wannabe is Connor Roy (Alan Ruck). Romans (Kieran Culkin) job was to push Connor off the map, but he failed to account for his brothers stubbornness. So glad I didnt drop out, Connor says to Willa before the polls start to close. It just makes everything more interesting.

Offering Connor a government post in Oman in exchange for dropping out of the election wasnt enoughuntil Connor starts to lose every state. Then, without missing a beat, Connor comes crawling back to Roman, begging for a new position in a smaller country, articulating his request with a bizarre rhyming game: Organize a little coup in old Peru. Put me in a van down to Kazakhstan. Couldnt I just be our fun guy down in Uruguay? Shocking no one, these rhymes dont work. Connor does manage to walk away from the election with the ambassadorship in Slovenia, a country with a population lower than that of Houston.

While Connor broods in his palace of failure, everyone else in the Succession cast is storming around the Waystar Royco offices in an attempt to swing the election their way. Roman is a fierce advocate for Mencken, the white supremacist/fascist candidate who promises to block the GoJo deal with Matsson (Alexander Skarsgard), further securing Roman and Kendalls (Jeremy Strong) place at the top of Waystars totem pole. While Shiv (Sarah Snook) has her secret deal with Matsson, shes more cautious over the ramifications of Menckens possible win. Yes, a win for Jimenez would help with Matsson, but really, shes more focused on the state of the nation.

Story continues

Nicholas Braun and Matthew Macfadyen. Macall Polay/HBO

Its actually the biggest night for ATN flacks Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) and Greg (Nicholas Braun), who start their night with an awkward bump of coke and a bit of squabbling over who will be Gregging (i.e. running stupid errands). Ah, yesits always comforting to know that those in power on election night are throwing temper tantrums over bodega sushi. God bless the USA.

After Shiv finds out Greg has been kicking it with Matsson and his crew, she grows wary that her brothers may find out about her alliance with their enemy. Instead of stooping to Gregs level, thoughin another scene, she literally hangs up on Greg just as he starts rattling off election info to her teamShiv heads to Tom. Perhaps Tom knows of the little deal. Shiv apologizes for the blow-up in last weeks episode, but Tom refuses to accept her apology. When Shiv asks for a little bit of empathyher dad just died!Tom rejects and rejects and rejects until Shiv is tearing up. Her last resort: announce the pregnancy. The baby is Toms.

WTF Is Going on With the Succession Election Plot?

Is that even true? Tom retorts almost immediately. Or is that, like, a new position or tactic?

Its safe to say that, after such a hurtful comment, Shiv is done with Tom forever. Or, at least, she should be.

So, desperate to clean up her Matsson mess, Shiv resorts to Plan C, which is to reason with Greg. As the election heats up, she corners him in a copy room. Her first confrontation made me jump: Do you find me attractive, Gregory? she says, which probably feels more painful than a dagger to the chest for Greg.

I dont think of things such as that, Greg responds. (This is a Greg Hall of Fame quote, close to If it is to be said. So it be. So it is. Spell-check always has a field day when I type up Gregs grammatically disastrous quotes.)

Though it sounds incestuousand Shiv makes a reference to the Disgusting Brothers, suggesting that Greg might be interested because his buddy Tom was also sleeping with herShiv is playing at something more metaphorical here. Im just letting you know that if you try to fuck me, Ill kill you, she tells Greg. Once again, Greg has secured some power in Waystar. Who did he feed the cruise documents to? Kendall. Who will he unleash this gossip to? Well, its not going to Tom, who has forced Greg to fetch coffee and non-bodega sushi all night.

More on that later, because as this is happening, the biggest news story of election night begins to bubble up in Milwaukee. Protestors with unknown motives have burned some big ballot boxes in the crucial district. Since Milwaukee traditionally swings Democratic, most of the media and almost everyone at ATN (except Roman) blames Menckens fanbase, who probably destroyed the ballots to be sure Wisconsin would be called in the Republican candidates favor. But Roman, who is hell-bent on leveraging his bosom buddy into the Oval Office, forces Tom to call the state for Mencken.

Who Is Actually More Toxic on Succession: Tom or Shiv?

When a few more states swing red, ATN then must call the election for Mencken. While Shiv and Roman do everything but have a screaming match over what the network should do, Kendall is level-headed, and expresses his concern over naming Mencken president. His adopted daughter has been facing racist threats at school. Giving Mencken counts white supremacists among his supporters, the win would embolden the bulliest. Shiv spins a web of lies to try and stop Kendall from giving the OK to announce Mencken as president. When Greg ultimately informs Kendall of Shivs secret alliance with Matsson, the co-CEO sides with his brother and tells Tom to call the race.

ATN deems Mencken the winner, he gives a speech about creating a more pure America, and the night is over. Kendall thinks hes in control, but as Romans phone buzzes with a call from the new president; he realizes he may have just lost the reins. On Pierce Global News and other networks, the race hasnt been called yetinstead, chyrons indict Tom for calling the race too early, before Milwaukee residents had the chance to revote. By the end of the episode, the race hasnt been officially called, meaning ATN might have just lost all their credibility as an American news source.

Jeremy Strong. Macall Polay/HBO

As we enter the final two episodes, this is a horrifying turning point in Succession. Mencken fans, who feel a lot like Trump supporters, are waiting to enact violence if their candidate doesnt secure the win. Most likely, he didnt actually win. But ATN has called the race, and the folks who stand by Mencken believe that the network reported the truth. Everyone except Roman, who has become a bit of a right-wing incel, is too fearful to speak up at ATN.

While this may be reminiscent of the 2020 election (we hear a few utterances of Stop the count!) and the following Jan. 6 insurrection, the episode might actually be more prescient than it is a look-back on American events. Just days ago, Trump was featured in a town hall on CNN. The network was later blasted for platforming a famous election denier immediately after Trumps event. This CNN controversy feels an awful lot like this America Decides episode of Succession, in which ATN interviews a bunch of Mencken supporters with no opposing viewpoints. As we roll into the 2024 election, best we keep this episode and its many consequences in our back pocket.

The Latest Succession Episode Throws the Worst Party Ever

Keeping Up With the Roys

Even though they may not be in the main plot, we still want to highlight the most blazing burns and spiciest moments of Succession. Here they are from this episode:

-As Shiv and Kendall try to convince Tom that he should be covering the Milwaukee ballot burning on ATN, he gets frustrated and passes the phone off to Greg. Were not talking to Greg, Shiv says. She hangs up the phone before he can even get a second um into his mouthpiece.

-Shiv begs Tom for forgiveness, using her fathers death as the reason for her cruelty. Toms not buying it. You also sort of killed him, he tells her, leading to more tears. Sort of. Tom, chill out!

-Roman and Shiv exchange plenty of digs in this episode. Theres no way Im applauding any of Romans childish bursts of angerI spent most of the episode wishing he would shut the hell up. So Im awarding one point to Shiv for this one: This is the grown-ups table. Be serious, she says, echoing her father.

-Shiv tries to get Roman to hush, and Tom attempts to prove that his wife is worthless. Shiv, you sound a little unhinged, he says. Thats not going to work. Kendall steps up to the defense with his loudest, angriest remark of the night: You fuckin watch it, Tom.

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(Getty Images)

House Oversight & Accountability Chairman James Comer told Fox News on Sunday that one of the informants of his probe into President Joe Biden had gone missing.

Mr Comers words come days after he and a coterie of Republicans on his committee held a press conference when they claimed to have hard evidence of Mr Bidens family benefiting financially from American adversaries while Mr Biden was vice president. But the press conference produced no evidence that Mr Biden or his family members broke any laws.

The interview came on Sunday Morning Futures, with host Maria Bartiromo, who asked him if the whistleblower had gone missing.

Well, we we're hopeful that we can find the informant, he said.

Remember these informants are kind of in the spy business so they don't make a habit of being seen a lot or being high profile or anything like that. We have basic information with respect to what the informant has alleged, and it's very serious.

Mr Comer said that the informant claimed that Mr Biden engaged in a quid pro quo exchange during Mr Bidens tenure as vice president.

This is a very serious accusation, he said. All the FBI has to do is say, yeah, we looked into it and it wasn't a credible informant. But they won't answer our questions.

In the buildup to the press conference, Mr Comer and other Republicans hinted they would provide bombshell evidence of wrongdoing. But at the press conference, Mr Comer said it was inconceivable that the president did not know that his family allegedly received millions of dollars from China.

Mr Comer has also alleged that Mr Bidens son Hunters previous profesional relationship with a Chinese natonal played a role in Mr Bidens decisions as president and said the president was compromised because of his sons business dealings.

-Andrew Feinberg contributed reporting
Men behaving badly in Hollywood  or more precisely, the takedowns of these people in power  have inundated the news over the last few years, with movie producer Randall Emmett being one of the central figures. So much so that a 90-minute documentary, "The Randall Scandal: Love, Loathing, and Vanderpump," begins streaming May 22 on Hulu.

Emmett's downfall began with an investigation ("The Man Who Played Hollywood: Inside Randall Emmetts Crumbling Empire") by L.A. Times reporters Amy Kaufman and Meg James into claims against Emmett that include allegations of race discrimination, workplace abuse, and questionable on-set behavior toward actor Bruce Willis as his mental acuity declined  all of which Emmett denies.

The ABC News Studios-L.A. Times Studios-produced doc will feature interview footage with Emmetts ex-fiancee, "Vanderpump Rules" star Lala Kent, and exclusive interviews with Kents mom and brother, past employees and more. Here is a timeline of Emmett's troubles as chronicled by The Times.

'Vanderpump Rules'

Though he was already a film producer, Emmett came to the public's attention in a guest role on season 8 of the Bravo series "Vanderpump Rules, a reality show about the people working at Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpumps West Hollywood restaurants and bars. He became a recurring cast member in the ninth season. Though he is no longer part of the show, there's still all kinds of scandal going on there.

Bruce Willis

Emma Heming and Bruce Willis in 2019. (Charles Sykes / Invision / AP)

While investigating Emmett, it was revealed that nearly two dozen people who were on set with Willis expressed concerns about the actor's declining cognitive state on movie sets in recent years. Emmett produced the films and in a statement to The Times, he denied knowing of Willis' condition or that he had been aware of any decline in Mr. Willis health  a disputed claim. Since 2006, the actor has appeared in two dozen projects under Emmett's production company, Emmett/Furla Oasis  and the pace of the output heightened as Willis health declined. Willis was diagnosed with aphasia, and later, frontotemporal dementia. Willis has since halted his acting career, though he still enjoys an "impromptu" harmonica solo every once in a while.

Story continues

The investigation

Times reporters Kaufman and James interviewed dozens of people connected to Emmett and his productions. Alongside those interviews, a review of hundreds of court filings and internal company records depicted an empire that was crumbling. The producer faced and still faces lawsuits and mounting debts, as well as allegations of abuse against women, assistants and business partners. He is accused of inappropriate behavior with women, including offering acting work in exchange for sexual favors, and of forcing assistants to conduct dangerous and illegal activity on his behalf.

The nearly dozen lawsuits include several from former financiers, an insurance company and a previous landlord, all clamoring to be repaid their portion of more than $25 million in outstanding loans and disputed payments.

Marital struggles

The producer and actor Ambyr Childers divorced in December 2017. During that separation, Childers said she found a tracking device placed under her car. She later said that Emmett told her that his attorney had "directed him to hire a private investigator who then placed the tracking device on my car.

She later sought and secured a restraining order against him after discovering threatening messages involvng his lawyer. The order was later released and the two straightened out their legal entanglements and custody issues.

Kent was engaged to Emmett from 2018 to 2021 before their relationship imploded amid accusations of abuse. Kent and Emmett are currently involved in a custody battle over their 1-year-old daughter.

Legal troubles

Martin GBlae, 29, one of Randall Emmetts former assistants, accused him of racial discrimination and creating a hostile workplace that included the use of the N-word. A PA on Emmett's action movie Midnight in the Switchgrass, he was also offered $50,000 by Emmett to produce a movie. G'Blae recently settled his suit against Emmett, though no further details were released.

Emmett still faces civil fraud claims and abuse allegations.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, Peter Szijjarto

"Europe got obsessed with the war," he claimed.

Read also: Beijing's position paper good sign, but Kyiv expects more support, Ukrainian diplomat says

"The war is ongoing in the neighbouring country, that's why peace efforts are so important. We support the peace plan proposed by China for two reasons: on the one hand, it refers to peace, on the other hand, it exists. At least, it is something that relates not to the continuing of the war, but its termination," the Hungarian diplomat wrote, echoing Russian propaganda claims that NATO and allies help to continue war.

Hungary doesn't want the European-Chinese relationships to be damaged by such an attitude, the minister added.

Read also: Hungarian PM voices support for China's peace plan

"We see China not as a risk, but as a country with great opportunities for cooperation. West-East (Europe-China) cooperation can create a truly beneficial division of labour. Hungary is an excellent example of it," Szijjarto said.

China presented on Feb. 24 a 12-point "position paper" on ending the Russian full-scale war against Ukraine. Beijing called on, in particular, to cease fire, peace negotiation, but not for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine's sovereign territory.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he believes it is positive that Beijing has started talking about Ukraine, but disagreed with some points.

Zelenskyy offered his own, ten-point peace plan, based on respect for the UN Charter and international law, back in November. Under it, Russia would withdraw completely from all Ukrainian territory, pay reparations, and hand over war crimes suspects for trial, among other measures.

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
Flag of Hungary

Read also: Ukrainian NATO membership possible only with Russias agreement, says Hungarys deputy speaker

According to the report, the 500 million were supposed to be allocated on May 22. As reported, Budapest demanded guarantees that the European Peace Fund would maintain its "global" scope in the future and not be used exclusively for aiding Ukraine.

The European Peace Fund usually reimburses EU members states for 50% of their expenses in providing security assistance to Kyiv.

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
Ice Spice has taken the world  and the internet  by storm in recent months. The 23-year-old rapper has gone viral on TikTok for her songs like Munch and the Princess Diana remix featuring Nicki Minaj. In addition, she has been featured on several magazine covers, has attended exclusive events such as the Met Gala and has been the subject of debate within the music industry.

Ice Spice has known a meteoric rise, and the star has kept most of her private life under wraps. But, recently, the rapper shared her race as a light-skinned Black woman of Nigerian and Dominican descent as fans kept speculating about her ethnicity.

Her mother, who is Dominican, quickly went viral after photographs surfaced online. Fans pointed out that the rapper and her mother look exactly alike.

Ice Spice and her Mom (2021) pic.twitter.com/PMWaeEW51n  #TillerBrief (@TillertheWorld) May 12, 2023

Whats impressive is it took my brain a second to pick out which one was ice spice lol good for her mom, a fan tweeted.

Ice Spice was not lying about her mom being a bad b***h, another tweeted.

Ice Spices mom is going viral after these pictures surface online  pic.twitter.com/B4rww7Hc93  Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) May 12, 2023

Ice Spice shared how her parents felt about her signature pose in her music videos and featured on the cover of her E.P.

Moms a baddie, so she knows what it is, the rapper told Apple Music in an interview. But my pops, though, Im his baby girl.

She also shared that her love of rap stems from her father, an underground rapper.

Subconsciously, I ended up becoming an artist because I saw my father be one first, she previously told Paper. Hes a music lover himself. Hes a true Hip Hop head, beyond me, honestly. He knows everything. Hes always educating me on Hip Hop and s**t like that.
A man who failed to show up to his own murder trial in Illinois was arrested in Lexington over the weekend, according to the Bloomington Police Department in Illinois.

Michael Bakana, 44, was facing charges related to the shooting death of Mariah Petracca and the attempted murder of Bibianna Cornejo and was set to stand trial last week, Bloomington police said. The shooting happened in 2021. Illinois court records indicate he was charged with murder/intent to kill, murder/strong probability to kill and aggravated battery/discharging a firearm.

On May 8, Bakana cut off an ankle-monitoring device and fled the area, according to Bloomington police. Officials spent days working to find Bakana. He was found in Lexington Friday afternoon.

Bakana was arrested by a U.S. Marshals Task Force without further incident, Bloomington police said. He was being held at the Fayette County Detention Center Monday morning.

The hard work of the Bloomington Police Officers, Detectives and staff to bring justice to the victim and the victims family is always the highest focus, said Bloomington Police Chief Jamal Simington in a Facebook post. I applaud them for their diligent efforts and the many work hours a case of this magnitude takes.

Court held suspects trial without him

Bakana underwent a trial in absentia, which is when a trial is held without the defendant present, according to the Cornell Law School. Trials in absentia are not prohibited if a defendant knowingly and willingly waives their right to be present, according to Cornell Law School.

He was found guilty of all charges in the case, according to Bloomington police.
Pandemic Era Border Policy Title 42 Expires

Immigrants seeking asylum in the U.S., who are stuck in a makeshift camp between border walls between the U.S. and Mexico, reach through the border wall as volunteers offer assistance on the other side on May 12, 2023 in San Diego, California. Some of the hundreds of migrants at the open air camp have been waiting for days in limbo for a chance to plead for asylum with local volunteer groups providing food and other necessities. The U.S. government's Covid-era Title 42 policy, which for the past three years had allowed for the quick expulsion of irregular migrants entering the country, expired last night. About 25,000 immigrants were in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection yesterday at the sunset of the policy. Credit - Mario Tama-Getty Images

On May 11, the COVID-19-era restrictions that allowed U.S. officials to quickly reject migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border expired. With the lapse of those restrictions, known as Title 42, tens of thousands of migrants are expected to soon arrive at the border in hopes of settling in the United States.

The images of chaos likely to emerge from this surge will quickly become a talking point on both the left and right, defining the American political debate for some period. As ever, this debate will center on the problems posed by migrants  rather than the benefits they might bring.

Something similar is true of the conversation across the pond. The United Kingdoms current government has focused on the negatives of immigration, planning to slash the number of people crossing the English Channel by promising to deport anyone entering the country illegally and prevent them from filing asylum claims.

The United States and United Kingdom are not alone; immigration has become a defining and polarizing issue for democracies like Italy, Greece, and Australia, not to mention South Korea and Japan. Popular discussions in these countries tend to focus on migrants as a problem to be solved instead of an opportunity to boost our own economies. The real problem, however, is not migration itself, but the fact that very few countries have immigration policies fit for the 21st century.

Story continues

The facts are clear. A huge number of advanced economies have shortages of either high- and low-skilled workers (or both), and will need to fill those gaps by welcoming people from abroad. In the long-term, these countries will need these immigrants to fuel economic growth, which otherwise risks slowing because of our own low fertility rates.

Pretending that immigrants are not necessary, and explicitly saying that they are not wanted, will scare people away and ultimately leave these countries poorer. Such a state of decreased opportunity  in which countries are short of the workers and tax revenue they need to prosper  risks the continued rise of illiberal populists able to tap into economic insecurity.

Of course, these populists, like Donald Trump and Viktor Orban, can benefit from the perception of too much migration. Trump famously began his 2016 campaign by raging against migration from Mexico. But polls continue to show that majorities in countries as diverse as Australia, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States believe immigrants make their countries stronger. Opposition to most immigration is a minority opinion, even if it is often the loudest one.

This is why it is so critical that pro-immigration leaders make the positive case for immigration by talking more about the tangible economic benefits immigrants bring, rather than focusing on terms like justice and dignity that risk falling flat at a time of global economic uncertainty.

Even leaders like British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida seem to understand the economic necessity of immigration. Both men have plans to bring in more high-skilled workers to their countries, despite trying to close off pathways for asylum-seekers (with the notable exception of Ukrainians fleeing war).

But democracies can only choose their immigrants to some extent. More frequently, people choose democracies, making the perilous trip as refugees.

Too often, even well-meaning politicians go along with discussions that describe refugees as a burden, rather than explaining how smart government policies  like job training  can actually turn refugees into drivers of the economy, as in Utica, New York and parts of Denmark.

On the other hand, anti-refugee policies risk driving potential migrants away and to more friendly advanced economies, most of which have their own demographic issues and will need immigrants as well. The global fight for talent is real, and countries with overly restrictive immigration policies could very much lose out, despite the advantages provided by top-class universities like Oxford, the cultural allure of Italy, or the tech advancements of Japan.

Yet as I point out in my new book, Defeating the Dictators: How Democracy Can Prevail in the Age of the Strongman, in 2018  the last fully pre-COVID year  the anti-refugee government of Hungary accepted 67 percent more long-term immigrants per capita than did South Korea, and 87 percent more than Japan. Austria, with the immigration-skeptic Sebastian Kurz in power, accepted 85 percent more long-term immigrants per capita in that same year than did South Korea, and 94 percent more than Japan.

Immigration to the United States, meanwhile, has fallen every year since 2016. The UK, for its part, accepted 77 percent fewer refugees in the first three quarters of 2022 than during the same period in 2019. UK-bound immigration overall fell by 90 percent in 2020.

Those numbers have since recovered modestly in the UK, owing to migrants from Hong Kong, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. But as one diplomat in London told me recently, resettlement difficulties are prompting more of these refugees to move to places like Germany and Denmark instead.

Still, any recovery in net migration is positive because native-born Britons are simply not having enough children to keep the countrys economy afloat. The UK posts a fertility rate of just 1.6 children per woman, far below the 2.1 rate demographers say is needed for a stable population.

In fact, not a single European Union country comes particularly close to that 2.1 rate. Neither do Canada (1.4) or the United States (1.6). Japan posts an even worse rate of around 1.3. And South Korea posts the worlds worst rate, of 0.78.

Without welcoming both refugees and economic immigrants to account for those low fertility rates, our populations will continue to age. Governments will have no choice but to impose higher taxes on younger people to pay for elders healthcare, or shift funds from other priorities like the social safety net. Either choice is likely to slow the economy and prompt predictable public backlash, particularly in many Western countries where people already distrust their governments. A dearth of immigrants will make likely the kind of economic downturns that just about promise the rise of more Orban-like politicians who come to power on the back of popular discontent before looking to do away with their countrys liberal institutions.

On a purely economic level, immigrants are key to fighting off such authoritarianism.

It helps, too, that immigrants innovate and open businesses at a greater rate than native-born citizens. UK government studies have found that immigrants, on average, contribute more to the public purse than native-born Britons do. Immigrants to the United States add somewhere around $2 trillion to the countrys GDP annually. Individual refugees pay $21,000 more in taxes than they receive in benefits during their first twenty years in the country.

Immigrants also tend to be highly entrepreneurial. Those who come to the United States are 80 percent more likely to launch a new business than their native counterparts. That is not surprising: People willing to leave behind their own homes for an unknown life abroad are the same people willing to take risks, which is key to innovation and entrepreneurship.

So, while Brits may not know it, they owe the MINI car to Greece: Greek-born asylum-seeker Sir Alec Issigonis founded the company that produced an icon of British 1960s culture. An immigrant from the Soviet Union, Sergey Brin, co-founded Google in the United States. An immigrant from Turkey and the child of one played a key role in Germany in developing the mRNA COVID vaccines from which the whole world benefited.

My own great-grandfather Solomon Lieberman came to the United States from Transylvania, now Romania, in 1921. He fled the chaos and anti-Semitism of post-World War I Europe, making his way nearly 1,000 miles from Sibiu to Antwerp before sailing to Philadelphia and eventually settling in immigrant-rich New York, where I grew up.

His journey is one contemporarily repeated, often under far more arduous circumstances, by tens of thousands of people every day. Their decision to drop everything at home and seek a better life elsewhere is a humbling reminder of how democracies continue to pull on the worlds heartstrings in a way autocracies do not. There is a reason why  despite the vast amount of money China and Russia have poured into Asia and Africa  emigrants still prefer the West. There is a reason why the United States remains the top desired destination for potential migrants worldwide, and why their other most preferred destinations are all democracies.

That reason is the promise of the good life: of the freedom, vibrance, and wealth that only democracy can deliver, and that autocracies still cannot. China, the Gulf States, and other autocracies can lay claim to the future all they want, but the weary people of this world  those fleeing home only because home, as the Somali-British poet Warsan Shire has written, is the mouth of a shark  give lie to these dreams. It is always those facing the most desperate straits who are most likely to speak the truth. And in their most dire moments, those brave people fleeing the jaws of poverty and violence continue to choose us. They continue to choose democracy.

Their choice should remind us that democracies are an oddity not only in the course of human history, but today, too, when there are more autocracies in the world than there are democracies. Their choice should remind us of how lucky we are as citizens of democracies. It should remind us not only of the need to fight for democracy, but also to stand up to those who would prefer that we put up walls to keep out immigrants  not only because of economics, but because these immigrants are the best ambassadors for democracy. Every immigrant demonstrates all that we can offer, and all that autocracies cannot.

This is certainly not a call for open borders, but for smart borders that democratic leaders can use to advance their own countries national interests. Its a call for politicians to seize the issue and make the case for immigration, rather than letting the politics of the issue seize them. Because to get smarter immigration systems, democracies will need brave politicians willing to speak positively and honestly about immigrations benefits.

Immigrants drive for success and their willingness to work for it have long been what make democracies great. Today, it is immigrants who can help keep our democracies together. It is immigrants, then, who will help us defeat the dictators, not only today, but tomorrow, too  if only our governments let them.
A Venezuelan migrant cuts the hair of another on the banks of the Rio Grande in Matamoros, Mexico, Sunday, May 14, 2023. As the U.S. ended its pandemic-era immigration restrictions, migrants are adapting to new asylum rules and legal pathways meant to discourage illegal crossings. | Fernando Llano, Associated Press

Title 42 expired on Thursday, and without the pandemic-era policy in place, many feared it would cause a significant increase of people trying to cross the border illegally.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, attempted migrant crossings has actually dropped  by 50%, per CNN.

The numbers we have experienced in the past two days are markedly down over what they were prior to the end of Title 42, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on CNN.

But he also said it might be too early to know if there will be an upcoming surge or not.

Laredo, Texas, Mayor Victor Trevino said his community is still on high alert bracing for a possible surge.

The unfortunate reality is that we were already at near capacity in our hospitals before Title 42 expired and without a pediatric intensive care unit, Trevino, who is a physician, told CNN. We wouldnt be able to care for some of the arriving children and family groups.

The borders are not open, Eric Welsh, an immigration lawyer and partner at Reeves Immigration Law Group in Pasadena, California, told the Deseret News. I think thats important to emphasize that the lifting of Title 42 does not mean theres an open door to the United States. Our preexisting, pre-Title 42 laws were already quite strict.

After having the Title 42 policy invoked for the last three years, what does U.S. immigration protocol look like without it?

What is Title 42?

Within the Public Health Service Act of 1944, theres a section called Title 42 that the Trump administration deployed when the COVID-19 pandemic started spreading in the U.S.

The policy is to protect the public from contagious disease, and it allows border patrol to turn away migrants at the border without having to process and fingerprint them. It expedites the time-consuming process.

It also allows border patrol to turn migrants away from the border immediately, even if they request asylum  saying they would be unsafe returning to their home country. Under U.S. immigration law without Title 42 in place, for those individuals requesting asylum, it is mandatory to allow them to stay in a holding facility until their case is processed.

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Despite the allowance to turn away migrants without processing their case, Title 42 was only used about a third of the time, The New York Times reported.

And the allowance does have its limitations and drawbacks when it comes to border control. Because it does not require each and every case to be processed, some individuals were not recorded and could attempt to cross the border again.

They might try again the next day or the same day, Welsh said. They might try repeatedly, and they just keep getting pushed back until they finally found their weak spot. So it almost encourages recidivism.

What is Title 8?

Without Title 42 in place, protocol returns to the requirements under Title 8. Under Title 8, people who attempt to cross the border again after being turned away could be immediately deported or detained.

Many immigration lawyers, including Welsh, have argued to end Title 42 to allow for formal due processing for individuals who try to cross the border illegally.

It takes a little bit more time than the Title 42 push out, but it is a full process that requires fingerprinting, paperwork and record keeping, Welsh said.

Misunderstandings around immigration and U.S. immigration law

Immigration laws are confusing, and experts feel differently about how to best tackle keeping the U.S. borders safe while also allowing for refuge for those who need it and do it legally.

The Biden administration is requiring migrants to schedule an immigration appointment through an app or seek protection from countries they passed through on their way to the U.S. border, Reuters reported.

If they skip that process and attempt to get into the U.S. illegally, they have to wait for five years to try again using the legal means to get in, and there could be prison time or other consequences for other violations, per Reuters.

Welsh said that some migrants looking to escape conflict or poverty in their home countries can be misled to believe the borders are more open than they are, which could lead to a possible surge in migrants attempting to cross the border.

The problem with our broken immigration laws is that because theyre confusing, because theyre archaic, they lead to misinterpretation, Welsh said. Youve got smugglers at the border who can take advantage of desperate migrants who dont know the laws, and the smugglers dont know the laws either, and they can tell a migrant whatever they need to tell them.

For migrants seeking legal means to enter the United States, they should start consulting an immigration lawyer or reach out to government resources to see what is out there.
Helena and Indy in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny wont be in theaters until next month, but fans who happen to be at the Cannes Film Festival this week will be among the first public audiences to see the film in its entirety. Which means this is it. This is the week we find out if director James Mangold has made a sequel worthy of the original trilogy or if hes made a sequel destined to be shunned like the fourth one.

To prep for whats sure to be a massive world premiere (which takes place Thursday evening in France), the film festival has posted a clip from the film, from one of its action set pieces. Check it out.

Read more



Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny new clip official from Cannes Film Festival 2023

So thats one minute of the movie and it looks pretty cool, right? Well, there are 153 more to look forward to as the Cannes program lists the final runtime of Dial of Destiny at two hours and 34 minutes long, making it the longest Indy film by 26 minutes (Last Crusade is 128 minutes). Thats like a whole sitcom of extra Indy! (Though a 142-minute runtime was previously reported, io9 confirmed with Disney and Lucasfilm this is the final, accurate runtime.)

And if youre wondering whats going on in this scene, well, youre in luck. This is from the same scene that Lucasfilm has shown at both Star Wars Celebration in London and at CinemaCon in Las Vegas in the past few weeks, so you can read about what happens before and after right here. Mangold explained that its from the middle of the movie and follows Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) who has just had the Dial of Destiny stolen from her by Voller (Mads Mikkelsen), who you see at the end of the clip. And, apparently, she was married to some kind of mobster who is not too happy that shes running away from him.

I get the sense Disney and Lucasfilm are leaning so far into this scene because its super fun, obviouslybut it also doesnt reveal much of anything about the plot. If you can find a scene that gets people interested in the movie without spoiling the movie? Thats the perfect mix.

Story continues

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny opens in theaters June 30. Check back Thursday to see what attendees of the Cannes Film Festival thought about it.





Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

More from Gizmodo

Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
Indianapolis officials are planning to ask the Metropolitan Development Commission for just under $54.3 million to purchase Pan Am Plaza from Kite Realty Group Trust, according to documents filed with the city.

"In order to use public financing to complete the Signia hotel project, the city must buy the land on which it will be located," city spokesperson Mark Bode told IndyStar. "Kite will remain the developer and the city will be the sole owner of the building upon completion."

The city plans to finance the $510 million Signia by Hilton, an 814-room, 40-story hotel, at the Pan Am Plaza after Kite could not secure funding. The City-County Council is considering a request for up to $625 million in hotel revenue bonds to fund the construction of the hotel.

More: City of Indianapolis will take over financing for Hilton Signia hotel

Ordinarily, the city would offer the average of the two appraisals, which came in at $29.6 million, as offering price for the land at the southwest corner of West Georgia and Illinois Streets. But a resolution on Wednesday's agenda said that because Kite paid more for the land than what the appraisals determined it was worth, the city requested to make a higher offer.

According to the resolution, the city is seeking purchase authorization for nearly double market value because the project is of "utmost importance" to the city's tourism economy, and because there is nowhere else the hotel could be built that would be in proximity to the Convention Center project.

"Time is of the essence in the initiation and completion of construction on the Pan Am Plaza Project tosecure future contracts for certain major conventions," the resolution read.

Stakeholders are considering the project not only essential to attracting future convention business but to retaining current business, Visit Indy executive Chris Gahl previously told IndyStar.

The Hilton by Signia project has been the works for years, since it was first announced as part of the now-$200 million expansion of the Indiana Convention Center. Kite first announced its plans to build two luxury hotels at the Pan Am Plaza in 2018.

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Since then, the developer struggled to secure financing for the project. Building a second Hilton hotel after several years depending on demand was part of Kite's original proposed plan, but city officials said they will monitor the demand and assess whether a second hotel is needed.

The Metropolitan Development Commission will consider the request Wednesday.

Contact Claire Rafford at 317-617-3402 or crafford@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis considers $55M purchase of Pan Am Plaza
By Arpan Chaturvedi and Jayshree P Upadhyay

(Reuters) -India's market regulator told the Supreme Court on Monday that any incorrect or premature conclusion of its investigation into the Adani group's possible lapses of regulatory disclosures will be "legally untenable" and not "serve the ends of justice".

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), in a filing, said it has approached 11 overseas regulators for information relating to whether the Adani group has violated any norms regarding its publicly available shares.

The first such request, the SEBI said, was made as early as Oct. 6, 2020.

"(An) analysis would have to be conducted on the documents received from various sources before conclusive findings can be arrived at," the regulator said.

India's Supreme Court is hearing an appeal from SEBI to give it an additional six months to complete its probe into the Adani group.

The probe comes after U.S.-based short-seller Hindenburg Research in January raised several governance concerns around billionaire Gautam Adani's group, and alleged improper use of tax havens and stock manipulation by the ports-to-energy conglomerate. The group has denied all the allegations.

On Friday, SEBI sought six months to complete its probe, rather than the two months it given was on March 2.

However, the Supreme Court, in oral arguments, said that it was inclined to give a three-month extension. Oral arguments do not necessarily match the final court order, which will likely be given on Monday.

Ahead of that order, SEBI, in its filing, reiterated that the Adani group's transactions highlighted by Hindenburg for violating Indian laws are highly complex and included many sub-transactions across numerous jurisdictions.

(Reporting by Arpan Chaturvedi and Jayshree P Upadhyay; Editing by Savio D'Souza and Bernadette Baum)
Rapper Supaman

KESHENA - Award-winning Indigenous hip-hop star Supaman visited the Menominee Nation last week and dazzled with his lightning-fast traditional dances and inspired with his positive messages.

Indigenous hip-hop is known for its uplifting messages and addressing serious issues in Indian Country. Supamans lyrics are no exception, as they instill a sense of pride in being Native American.

He visited with all three school districts on the reservation to perform and share his experience with sobriety.

Later in the day, Supaman paid a visit to the Menominee Community Center, where he met with fans, signed autographs and performed again.

Indigenous hip-hop star Supaman signs autographs during a meet-and-greet with fans on the Menominee Reservation.

It was all part of events in conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Month.

Supaman really brings that spirit of community through his music, said Beth Waukechon, Indigenous wellness director for the College of Menominee Nation.

She said theres a high rate of drug abuse on the reservation and Supamans positive messages can help to empower people to change for the better, providing music as medicine.

The Culture of Wellbeing Health Fair at the community center provided attendees with information about suicide prevention, mental health, domestic violence and behavioral health, among others.

Lindsay Besaw, who helped organize the event, said Menominee was experiencing a high rate of suicide since the pandemic.

Indigenous hip-hop star Supaman performs at the Menominee Reservation.

She said Native Americans, overall, experience higher rates of suicide because of higher rates of poverty and sense of disconnectedness from their culture as a result of assimilation.

Natasha Verhulst, who teaches Native American music at Keshena Primary School, was instrumental in inviting Supaman to Menominee.

As a fan, she incorporates Supamans music into her own lesson plans for students.

Teaching Native American music: Natasha Verhulst wasnt taught Native American music in school. Now a teacher, shes changing that.

Verhulst saw Supaman perform at UW-Green Bay last year and asked him after the show if hed be willing to come to Menominee sometime, and he agreed.

Story continues

She said Supaman provided the children with motivational messages about being kind, staying sober and showed them how they should be Proud to be who we are as Indian people.

Indigenous hip-hop star Supaman performs at the Menominee Reservation.

Ten-year-old Xavier Housewaka said he recently became a fan of Supaman and has been constantly watching his music videos on his phone.

He said he likes all the dances and his favorite video, so far, is We Are One.

Supaman said he felt very welcome at the Menominee Nation.

It was good all day, he said. Theres been nothing but love and the kids are really excited.

Indigenous hip-hop star Supaman performs at the Menominee Reservation.

Supaman said he spoke with them about founding strength as a Native through their culture and that nobody is alone.

During his concert at the community center, he offered a prayer in the Apsaalooke language.

Supaman said that language is thousands of years old and if he had a coin that was thousands of years old people would say that is worth something.

Thats how we need to think about our language, he said.

Sign up for the First Nations Wisconsin newsletter Click here to get all of our Indigenous news coverage right in your inbox

He said he also wanted to try his stand-up comedy routine with them.

Supaman joked that a teacher walked into a classroom of rez kids and wrote the word custom on the chalkboard and asked one of them to use it in a sentence.

The teacher called on a boy with braids who said, My brother ate all the frybread, so my grandmother cussed him out.

Read more:

Frank Vaisvilas is a Report for America corps member who covers Native American issues in Wisconsin based at the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact him at fvaisvilas@gannett.com or 815-260-2262. Follow him on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank.You can directly support his work with a tax-deductible donation online 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: Indigenous hip hop star Supaman visits Wisconsin Menominee reservation
A man was arrested for stealing a military vehicle the day he was released from jail, which he then used to lead police and deputies on a chase down an interstate in Maryland Friday evening.

>> TRENDING: 3 overnight shootings in Cleveland kill 4, injure 1; Family identifies female victim

A man was released from the Hartford County Detention Center in Maryland at around 6:35 p.m. Near this time, the man allegedly stole a privately owned 1986 923-A military vehicle from a home in the 900 block of Rock Spring Road in Bel Air. The Hartford County Sheriffs Office was dispatched as a response, CBS News reported.

Michael Stevens, 38, was identified as the recently released inmate who allegedly perpetrated the theft.

Stevens then drove the military truck, which weighed five tons, through Bel Air and onto Interstate 95. During this time, law enforcement agents attempted to stop Stevens with stop sticks, but were unsuccessful.

The driver reportedly crashed into multiple vehicles during the chase.

The suspect reached Baltimoreabout 33 miles away and approximately 40 minutes driving.

After reaching the city, Stevens allegedly got out of the vehicle on Conkling Street and tried to run, but was apprehended and arrested, a spokesperson for the sheriffs office said.

There were no reported injuries during the incident.

Stevens was returned to the Harford County Detention Center at around 9:20 p.m.

He faced charges of motor vehicle theft, two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault, and failing to obey a lawful order.

He was held without bond.

Baltimore County Police, Maryland State Police, Baltimore Police, and the Bel Air Police assisted in the pursuit.

Those whose properties were damaged by Stevens was encouraged to call the Harford County Sheriffs Office Southern Precinct at 410- 612-1717.
OTTAWA COUNTY  The Michigan Court of Appeals has dismissed an appeal filed Monday, May 1, by the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners after a circuit court judge granted a preliminary injunction preventing the group from firing its health officer.

Muskegon 14th Circuit Court Judge Jenny L. McNeill granted Adeline Hambley a preliminary injunction April 18, allowing Hambley to remain in her position until a trial can take place later this year over the myriad claims she made that Ottawa Impact-linked commissioners have repeatedly interfered with her ability to do her job.

More: Judge: Ottawa health officer will remain in place until trial on broader issues

More: Judge to consider whether Ottawa County health officer was properly appointed

On Tuesday, May 2, the COA released an order  not even 24 hours after the appeal was filed  dismissing the request.

The appeal was dismissed, the court said, because McNeill's order is not yet final, and only final orders are appealable by right. The commission will have the right to appeal following the outcome of the pending trial, or if the courts give the board permission to appeal before then. A trial date has not yet been scheduled.

The commissioners, represented by Kallman Legal Group, claimed the April ruling was "both final and not final," in that it granted Hambley's request for injunctive relief, but not the other parts of her lawsuit that dealt with a request for declaratory judgment and punitive damages. Kallman asked the COA to dissolve the preliminary injunction.

Adeline Hambley (left) and her lawyer Sarah Howard (right) speak with media Friday, March 31, 2023, at the Michigan 14th Circuit Court in Muskegon.

Punitive damages are considered punishment and are usually awarded at a judges discretion when a defendant's behavior is found to be especially harmful. Hambley claims the demotion and constructive termination of her position violated Michigan public policy. A declaratory judgment allows a judge to outline the rights of parties without ordering any specific action or awarding damages.

Story continues

In her lawsuit, Hambley asked the court to declare her the health officer of Ottawa County, without any interim designation or demotion, and find the commissioners may not appoint their preferred candidate, Nathaniel Kelly, whom they tried to install Jan. 3.

Kelly applied through the Ottawa Impact organization for the position  before the Ottawa Impact commissioners took office, according to statements made by OI Commissioner Gretchen Cosby, District 1, who said she personally vetted Kelly for the job.

Kelly is a health and safety manager at a Grand Rapids-area HVAC company. He has no previous work history in public health and said he'd recommend kits for individuals infected by COVID-19 with vitamins, ivermectin and neti pots, but not masking or social distancing.

Ottawa County Board Chair Joe Moss appears as a defendant in a lawsuit from County Health Officer Adeline Hambley.

That aligns with the beliefs and values of the founders of Ottawa Impact  Joe Moss and Sylvia Rhodea  who created the far-right fundamentalist group after clashes with the county and its COVID-19 mitigation mandates in 2020 and 2021.

Moss and Rhodea were unsuccessful in suing the previous board of commissioners and the county's former health officer, Lisa Stefanovsky, so they targeted seats on the board in 2022, recruiting like-minded candidates who agreed traditional Republicans werent enforcing true conservative policies. They successfully defeated enough incumbents in the August primary to win the majority.

McNeill granted a temporary restraining order just days after OI commissioners made a "correction" to a resolution the former board approved on Dec. 13 appointing Hambley to the role after Stefanovsky announced in August she planned to retire in the spring.

David Kallman addresses the judge during proceedings Friday, March 31, 2023.

The OI commissioners argue the resolution approving Hambleys appointment "did not accurately reflect the actual motion and vote that took place at the meeting" because there were wording discrepancies between the written resolution and the verbal motion made by one of the commissioners prior to the unanimous vote to appoint Hambley.

Kallman said the written resolution the previous board approved wasn't in front of commissioners when they voted to appoint Hambley  and further alleged former Board Chair Matt Fenske and County Clerk Justin Roebuck changed the written resolution in private, which he asserted was a violation of the states Open Meetings Act.

Both Fenske and Roebuck have denied the allegation.

McNeill said in her ruling that was a "misinterpretation of the events."

Judge Jenny McNeill speaks to Adeline Hambley's lawyer Friday, March 31, 2023, at the Michigan 14th Circuit Court in Muskegon.

"The board approved the appointment of (Hambley) as Ottawa County Administrative Health Officer at the Dec. 13, 2022, meeting by a unanimous vote," McNeill wrote in her ruling. "The only remaining contingencies at that point in time were confirmation by the MDHHS and passing the county's background check process."

Howard said in her filings that Hambley's position grants her certain powers through the state and that her position is of a just cause nature, where the supervising authority  the board of commissioners  would need to provide a reason, or cause, to fire her, and could only do so after a public hearing, where she could be represented by legal counsel.

McNeill agreed, saying if commissioners want to fire Hambley, they must follow outlined procedures in the law to do so. That aspect of the judge's decision reaffirms previous legal opinions provided to the county by former corporate counsel Doug Van Essen and former state attorney general Mike Cox.

Roebuck is now publicly addressing the issue "that I secretly altered documents and violated the Open Meetings Act. I just want to publicly address that here."  Sarah Leach  (@SentinelLeach) May 9, 2023

Roebuck addressed the allegations from Kallman during a board meeting May 9.

"Corporation counsel for the county of Ottawa on March 31, in public court, made an accusation against me that I secretly altered documents that were passed by this board and that I violated the Open Meetings Act in doing so," he said. "I just wanted to address that publicly here and let you know, as your clerk, those allegations are patently and demonstrably false.

"Integrity matters a lot to us. We serve, we provide you customer service, but we also take our oaths very seriously. The promise of my oath of office is to do exactly what the law says and the constitution of the state of Michigan in regards to my relationship with you. ... We will, at every cost, defend the integrity of our office."

Ottawa County Clerk Roebuck addressed allegations made by county corporate counsel Kallman Legal Group prior to his report to the board May 9.

Afterward, Commissioners Rebekah Curran and Jacob Bonnema apologized to Roebuck.

"I just wanted to say, for the record, that ... I echo your sentiment this morning as far as the court case and the accusations that were levied against you with absolutely no proof or evidence at all. I apologize for that and I just wanted you to know that," Curran said.

"I was going to say the same thing, just to echo those sentiments," Bonnema said. "Ive known everyone in your department to be full of integrity, incredibly responsive. ... I really admire that about you. When these baseless claims against your department came from the Kallman Group, I was very disturbed. Especially when I found out that they never reached out to talk to you about these concerns. They just used them in court. ... You have my full confidence and many other commissioners full confidence."

More: Ottawa Clerk: Kallman accusations of illegal actions 'categorically false'

Commissioner Gretchen Cosby said she heard Kallman's legal arguments differently.

"I did not hear that as an accusation against you, Justin," she said. "I didnt hear it that way. They werent willing to speculate, I thought, is what I remember. Its been a couple months ago."

"Id be happy to provide you the court transcripts," Roebuck said.

 Sarah Leach is executive editor of The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at sarah.leach@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter @SentinelLeach.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: 'Integrity matters': Ottawa County denied appeal in Hambley case
May 15 will mark the beginning of a new day for schools in Chicago.

Thats the day Brandon Johnson, a former organizer for the Chicago Teachers Union, will lay down the mantle of progressive insurgent and take the oath of office as mayor. Last month, in the citys closest mayoral race in 40 years, Johnson prevailed by just 26,000 votes over former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas, a technocrat who ran on a record of support for education reform.

Related In Progressive Breakthrough, Teachers' Union Organizer Elected Mayor of Chicago

The win represented a generational breakthrough for Johnson and his union, which has waged a decade-long struggle against a regime of school choice and accountability that stretches back to Vallass tenure. That ambitious complex of policy and regulation was carefully installed over decades, including a lengthy interval during which Chicago saw some of the fastest academic growth of any major school district in the United States  but also a steadily building resistance from educators and community members over controversial policies like school closures.

The lessons of the long reform era are detailed in a new book, How a City Learned to Improve Its Schools, released in April by Harvard Education Press. In five chapters, the text chronicles the genesis of Chicago Public Schools transformation  beginning with a 1988 state law initiating an unprecedented decentralization of autonomy from the district office to local school communities  and the adoption of stringent accountability measures that in some ways anticipated the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

The books lead author, Anthony Bryk, offers a rare perspective on the city. A veteran researcher and former president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Bryk previously served as a professor of urban education at the University of Chicago. In 1990, he helped found the UChicago Consortium on School Research, a data hub that has generated a host of influential studies on Americas fourth-largest district.

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Bryk believes the evolution of CPS under leaders like future U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and long-serving Mayor Richard M. Daley helped spur a leap forward in student performance by engaging CPS families, improving the selection and development of teachers, and allowing administrators more latitude in running their schools. The results were revealed in a 2017 analysis by Stanford sociologist Sean Reardon, which found that Chicago elementary and middle schoolers gained six years of academic benefits from just five years in school.

Related Competing K12 Visions Collide in Chicago Mayors Race

But he has reservations about the future of the citys schools, and particularly the gradual establishment of an elected board that will oversee them. In an interview with The 74s Kevin Mahnken, Bryk offered his views on what worked during Chicagos turnaround; the warning signs ahead, including dramatically falling enrollment numbers and mounting debt; and the unions overnight move from one of the districts biggest critics to perhaps its most important actor.

This might be as radical a reform in governance as one could envision, Bryk said.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The 74: Your book depicts a long journey toward school improvement in Chicago during the 1990s and 2000s. But the years since have been marked by a great deal of tumult, obviously including the pandemic. How far has the district come, and where is it headed?

Anthony Bryk: I think about Chicago Public Schools within the broader context of major American school systems at the moment. We are clearly in an unprecedented time with respect to post-pandemic trauma and learning loss, which have been especially pervasive for those students who are most dependent on strong civic institutions. Of course, were also living through a period of racial reckoning as we come to better understand the vestiges of systemic racism that operate in big urban school districts.

Former U.S. Secretary of Education William Bennett allegedly dubbed Chicago Public Schools the worst school district in America. (Norm Staples/Getty Images)

Then you bring in the Chicago-specific context of a new mayor and, perhaps even more important, the shift to a 21-person elected school board over the coming years. Most people dont realize that Chicago has never had an elected board, and a 21-person board is just a huge change. Over the last number of years, theres also been renewed conflict between labor and management in schools, and  like a number of other places, but maybe more so in Chicago  the district is experiencing a new round of budget shortfalls.

Together, these factors pose extraordinary challenges. Although the array is quite different, it appears to me in some ways like what Chicago felt like in the 1980s, at the beginning of the work to turn around local schools. [Then-Education Secretary] Bill Bennett visited Chicago and called it the worst public school system in America. I doubt if it was the absolute worst, but it was clearly one of the most troubled public school systems in the country. And while the specific challenges that had to be confronted were different at that time, their scope certainly strikes me as comparable to what the city is facing now.

I would expect the teachers union to organize and have a significant voice within that new board. If you get this kind of progressive alignment  the union and the mayor and school board and the governor in Springfield  Im curious to see whether these people can actually solve these challenges. Its one thing to go around criticizing what others do, but theyll now be in a position to do something.

The big difference, as we write about in the book, is that there is now a civic architecture that grew up over the past several decades. Its an interesting kind of architecture in that the politics of urban districts typically tend to focus on shaping what happens at the systems center; but a lot of the energy in Chicagos reform push was focused on making ideas work out in schools and finding new ways of developing teachers and school-based leadership. A lot of social learning emerged around the work of school improvement, and there was space for new ideas. The district, over the period of [Arne] Duncan, was open to partnerships with the business community, foundations and lots of new organizations. It generally kept things stabilized even through the period of 20102017, when we saw a lot of financial issues and churn in system leadership.

Thats what leads me to think that Chicago is still positioned well to take on these new problems. The improvement work in Chicago  keeping kids on-track through high school and onto college, developing a framework of essential supports and regularly reporting evidence  has created coherence among an incredibly diverse array of actors, and those will be resources in the years ahead. Having said all that, its really hard for me to discern how this shift to an elected board will unfold. In my mind, thats the real wild card.

Can you be more specific about the steps that led to academic improvement over the last few decades?

We describe decentralization as the DNA of reform. Over the decades, theres been a lot of attention paid to governance as a key lever for reform. Whats important to take from the Chicago story is what governance change did and the mechanisms it opened up. One of the things it did was to recognize schools as the principal unit for change: How do we get schools to get better at their core work?

The 1988 law [the Chicago School Reform Act, which formed local school committees that gained authority over hiring and budgetary practices in individual campuses] made that critical. It helped reform the relationships between and within schools and local communities, and it brought a horizontal dimension to relationships where, traditionally, educators looked vertically up to bureaucratic actors to tell them what to do. And by virtue of the fact that there were real resources made available to schools, there were opportunities for innovation to occur; a lot of them were wasted, but some very positive things emerged and eventually spread across the system.

One of the key initiatives was all the attention to how principals were selected, supported and evaluated. Again, when you see schools as the prime mover for change, you focus carefully on the quality of leadership at school sites. Chicago is a huge district, but there are only about 600 people who do this work, and maybe 100 get replaced each year. That makes the task of identifying and developing school leaders a manageable one, and it did become a priority in CPS.

There were efforts to create more aligned instructional systems: curricular materials, professional development, assessment data to judge the progress of students and feedback systems to support teachers in their own improvement. In the past, it had been the task of central administrations to make all these pieces run and work together because its so hard to put them together in individual schools. Not impossible, but hard.

Related New Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Inherits Americas Worst Teacher Pension Mess

Thats where some tension plays out. Itll play out, for instance, around the new Skyline curriculum that CPS has heavily invested in. From what I know of the design principles behind Skyline [an online compendium of learning resources that the district spent $135 million to develop], its an attempt to create a coordination environment across various systems and generate good, formative information to support improvement. But thats a huge undertaking, and it runs the risk of the central office defining whats to be taught, how its to be taught and what evidence should be used.

The tension lies in the fact that you need lots of capacity to build an integrated instructional system that has the promise of actually delivering more ambitious academic outcomes, both reliably and at scale. But then you confront this political issue that democratic localism was intended to solve, i.e., We want to push these problems into local school communities to decide what they think is best for their own children. So to some extent, were shifting back now to more centralized control.

Youre describing these organizational dynamics and players in a very different way than Im used to hearing about them, which is always through the prism of reformers vs. unions. Do you think that debates over K12 politics are cast too simplistically, both by the press and the combatants themselves?

I do. When the second major reform act passed in 1995, it turned over control of the system to the mayor of Chicago, who appointed the board and the CEO. Since the mayor at that time [Richard M. Daley] also basically controlled the City Council, 49-1, you essentially had unitary politics in Chicago for a 15-year span. You just dont see that in big, urban districts. And there was mostly peace between labor and management from 1995 to around 2011.

There were a few things that established that peace. One was that Illinois had swung Republican in 1994. We had a Republican governor and a Republican legislature, which had been very rare, and downstate Illinois was intent on taking a sledgehammer to the Chicago Teachers Union by stripping out a lot of provisions around collective bargaining. But when the mayor took over, his office chose not to use a lot of the power it had been given. They didnt bludgeon the union; Paul Vallas actually figured out how to negotiate a multi-year contract with decent wages for CTU members. In the early 2000s, there was an element within the union that emphasized professionalizing teaching, and the system sent some resources in that direction as well.

Related As Chicago Prepares to Close Additional Schools, New Report Shows the Shuttering of 49 Campuses in 2013 Led to Lower Test Scores

At that time, there wasnt a traditional labor-management conflict. In some regards, it looked more like a European system, where theyve got more of a cooperative relationship than you tend to see in American cities. But it broke down after 2010, largely because enrollments were declining, and we had financial issues affecting both the city and the state. Those are what led to the closure of all those schools. The conflict is quite active again in Chicago, but there was a period of time when these forces were working together in a more productive fashion.

Those long-term declines in enrollment, combined with big deficits of academic and social-emotional skills following the pandemic, seem to pose the biggest problems to Chicago schools right now.

The situation is extraordinarily challenging. In big districts like Chicago, where revenues are predicated on a per-pupil basis, its all fine as long as the student margins are growing. But when you start subtracting, which is what the city has been doing for years, the fixed costs dont go down with every person who walks out of the building. They closed a lot of schools, but theyve still got a lot of schools that are already under-utilized and will probably become more so. The way we financially support school systems doesnt really take that into account.

Students walked out of class in solidarity with teachers during a COVID-related work stoppage in 2022. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Its going to be interesting to see a mayor coming out of the teachers union. With the move to an elected board, I would expect the teachers union to organize and have a significant voice within that new board. If you get this kind of progressive alignment  the union and the mayor and school board and the governor in Springfield  Im curious to see whether these people can actually solve these challenges. Its one thing to go around criticizing what others do, but theyll now be in a position to do something. What would better look like, and how would they get to it?

Would you agree that, whatever the political configuration moving forward, the urgent question is whether the district can shrink its footprint to match the roughly 100,000 fewer students it now educates compared with 20 years ago?

From a purely financial point of view, CPS has got more buildings operating than it surely needs. But one of the results of that is that the typical school, particularly at the high school level, has gotten smaller. Of course, the smaller size allows more personalized relationships to form between faculty and students and parents. Going back to the 90s, we did see that smaller schools were more likely to engage in reform in productive ways. You tended to see stronger reports about relational trust in that students felt that adults knew and cared about them more. No one intended this, but in shrinking the size and population of schools, they actually created resources for improvement by making them less bureaucratic places.

That certainly contributed to improved high school graduation outcomes: Reduced size has enabled more intimate relationships to form between adults and students which have, in turn, allowed more students to graduate. At the same time, you do have this financial squeeze that will almost certainly force the district to close more buildings.

Do you think thats feasible, given the backlash that school closures spawned during Mayor Rahm Emanuels administration? The shrinkage that youre describing as almost inevitable is also a politically explosive scenario.

Without question, one of the most contentious issues in Chicago politics is that of closing schools. Emanuel closed 50 of them all at once, and there had been an initial threat of something like 130 candidates for closure. It fractured political alliances, and it was a key component of the revival of the Chicago Teachers Union as a political force.

Parents and educators alike protested the closure of dozens of Chicago schools in 2013. (Scott Olson/Getty Image)

If you go back to 1987, the union was broadly vilified across Chicago by parents and community leaders. In the opening pages of our book, we reproduce a very critical Chicago Tribune cartoon of the CPS from that era. If you fast forward to 2015 and the aftermath of the school closings, it was the union that organized parents and community members against the system. It was a fundamental realignment  but having said that, there was another shift of some dimension during the pandemic. The union was largely responsible for keeping Chicago schools closed for a very long time, which didnt necessarily work to the benefit of all parents and children.

Another equally important factor is this period of racial reckoning. Race has always been a big issue in Chicago, but its gotten really heightened attention over these last four or five years. That has made it much more challenging to form the community relationships that supported improvement for several decades.

Related Exclusive: As Post-Pandemic Enrollment Lags, Schools Compete for Fewer Students

Is the CTU now the most important single actor in Chicago Public Schools?

In all likelihood, yes.

This is brand-new territory. Teachers unions have organized in other cities to get members elected to boards of education, but when a teachers union is recognized as being responsible for how a system operates, thats really new. The elected board is structured to phase in over the next four years, such that half the seats are appointed  but theyre appointed by the mayor. In that sense, this is positioned to be as novel a governance reform as we saw in 1987, which was the most radical decentralization of public education that had ever been tried in the United States. Chicago is positioned to have a public school system run by its teachers union.

This is positioned to be as novel a governance reform as we saw in 1987, which was the most radical decentralization of public education that had ever been tried in the United States. Chicago is positioned to have a public school system run by its teachers union.

As an aside, something on the horizon that hasnt gotten a lot of attention is the new authority for school principals to collectively bargain. Whether that actually comes into play is an open question, but if principals organize, its not clear to me that their union will be on the same side as the CTU on all issues.

At the same time, is it fair to say that some of the measurements of school performance in the district  including school ratings, which have relied to one degree or another on student test scores  are due to be refocused on different metrics?

I totally agree that these things are all being challenged. But theyre essentially written into regulations, and some of them are federally mandated by things like Title I and the Every Student Succeeds Act. While the existing assessments and their use will be challenged, theyre going to have to be replaced by something; I cant imagine us going to nothing, no measures of achievement and school quality.

The question is, what are they going to replace it with? Over the last couple of decades, theres been so much focus on being evidence-based in how researchers and policymakers do our work; but of course, that is predicated on evidence. So if you dont like the evidence weve been using, whats going to take its place? It might be hard to arrive at suitable replacements, especially in a heavily choice-based district like Chicago. In a choice district, parents have to have evidence to make their choices about where to send their kids to school  what are they going to use?

Again, thats the difference between being in a critics role, where you challenge the status quo, and being in the governance role, where you say, Heres what were going to do instead. Right now, its not clear that there is an instead.

If you were designing a district from scratch, would you create a school board of 21 elected members?

No, Id have to say I would not.

Chicago Public Schools is something like a $9 billion operation. Its a huge enterprise that has to be managed. A 21-member elected board managing a $9 billion enterprise  like I said earlier, this might be as radical a reform in governance as one could envision. Theres just no way to predict how it plays out.

Would you want to be a superintendent accountable to a 21-member board? It just opens up challenges for which we have no precedent to suggest that it will work well.

Could I imagine a scenario where this really works well? Yeah. I could imagine one where labor and management begin to come together because labor really has a stake in the success of the system. In the old days, they might have said, Well, thats managements responsibility, not ours. Now its all ours. So yes, this could evolve in a productive fashion. But would you want to be a superintendent accountable to a 21-member board? It just opens up challenges for which we have no precedent to suggest that it will work well.
Iran continues to support Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine

Read also: Owners of freight carrier accused of attempting to smuggle aircraft engines to Iran

According to Kirby, the United States is increasingly seeing evidence that Russia and Iran are expanding their military cooperation, drone supplies being a part of this partnership.

AP reported that Russia has already used most of these drones to attack Ukraine's infrastructure and now plans to purchase more of them.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently told Italian journalists that Iran has supplied Russia with over 1,000 drones and other weapons.

Read also: Sham trials  International groups slams Irans sham justice in deliberate downing of UIA passenger plane

The Wall Street Journal reported in late April that Iran has transported over 300,000 artillery shells and nearly a million rounds of small arms ammunition to Russia in the last six months.

Read also: Russia receives new batch of Shahed attack drones from Iran, Humeniuk says

According to various reports, in exchange for weapons for its large-scale war against Ukraine, Russia provides Iran with cyber warfare capabilities, western weapons "seized on the battlefield," and also helps to develop Tehrans missile program.

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
Tariq Ramadan arriving at the Geneva courthouse on Monday to face rape charges

The Swiss Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan went on trial in Geneva on Monday charged with "rape and sexual coercion", allegations which the former Oxford University professor denied.

Ramadan told the judges that he let himself be kissed by his accuser but firmly insisted there were no sexual relations between them.

The Swiss intellectual, a charismatic yet controversial figure in European Islam, could face two to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Sometimes smiling and sometimes tetchy, Ramadan did not hide his emotions during the first day of his trial at the Geneva Criminal Court.

The Swiss complainant, who says she has faced threats and therefore wishes to be known under the assumed name of "Brigitte", is a convert to Islam.

She was in her 40s at the time of the alleged attack on October 28, 2008.

In a Geneva hotel room, Ramadan, 60, is accused of having subjected her to brutal sexual acts accompanied by beatings and insults.

In court, a screen was placed between Ramadan and Brigitte at her request, so that they could not see each other.

- 'Extremely insistent' -

Ramadan said he had not told Brigitte that he was in Geneva and insisted that she had invited him for a coffee, and then invited herself to his hotel room, having sent him a string of messages.

Asked by a judge why he accepted the invitation, he replied: "I got these messages from someone who says they've met me before; I don't remember. She has a nice way with words, she's smart. Like any man, one can be intrigued."

"It's not a philosophical or sentimental meeting. It's curiosity about a woman who is extremely insistent on seeing me," he continued.

Suffering from depression and multiple sclerosis, Ramadan said he wanted to "fight" against what he called the "lies and manipulation" in the case.

He insisted he had "never sexually assaulted anyone".

His children were in court to see him give evidence.

Story continues

Ramadan's defence revealed that it intends to call the controversial French comedian Dieudonne to give evidence on Tuesday.

According to the indictment, he is accused of committing rape three times during the night, and "sexual coercion" to the point of suffocation. Ramadan denies the allegations.

The trial is expected to last three days. The verdict will be delivered on May 24, and Ramadan will be able to appeal if convicted.

- Permission to leave France -

Controversial among secularists who see him as a supporter of political Islam, Ramadan obtained his doctorate from the University of Geneva, with his thesis focused on his grandfather, who founded Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood movement.

He was a professor of contemporary Islamic studies at Britain's prestigious Oxford University until November 2017, and held visiting roles at universities in Qatar and Morocco.

He was forced to take a leave of absence when rape allegations surfaced in France at the height of the "Me Too" movement, over suspected attacks in France between 2009 and 2016.

Brigitte filed a complaint with the Geneva courts in April 2018.

The Swiss investigation moved slowly, as Ramadan was initially in pre-trial detention in Paris and could not be questioned by the Swiss authorities.

After he was released in November 2018, he was put on probation and barred from leaving France.

However, he has exceptional authorisation to cross the border into Switzerland for the Geneva trial.

apo/rjm/vog/yad
By Dan Williams

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government could pass part of its contested judicial overhaul by August if compromise talks with the opposition fail, a senior lawmaker in the ruling religious-nationalist coalition said on Monday.

The proposed reforms, which would curb some Supreme Court powers and increase government sway over appointments to the bench, have set off unprecedented protests in Israel and Western worries for the independence of Israel's judiciary.

Netanyahu, who is on trial on corruption charges that he denies, said the overhaul aims to balance out branches of government and redress court overreach. But he put the legislation on hold in late March to enable negotiations with opposition parties.

"If they (opposition) don't want to reach agreement, we will, in my opinion, have to move ahead with some of the reforms," Simcha Rothman, a coalition lawmaker who heads a key review committee in the Knesset, told Channel 12 TV when asked about plans for the parliamentary session that ends on July 30.

He added that he believed a bill reordering the system for selecting judges was "ripest" for ratification as it has already passed a preliminary reading in the Knesset, 64 of whose 120 seats are controlled by the coalition.

There was no immediate reaction from Netanyahu, who has previously voiced hope a compromise deal will emerge from the so-far fruitless talks overseen by President Isaac Herzog.

"The effort to reach agreements in the President's House is the main effort," Netanyahu's national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, said in a public appearance on Saturday. "He (the prime minister) believes it is possible, too."

With other lawmakers trading barbs across the aisle over the proposed overhaul, Herzog called for reining in the rhetoric.

"The State of Israel is at a critical moment of utmost importance. The easy thing to do would be to blow up the talks, but the cost would be unbearable," he said in a statement.

(Writing by Dan Williams; editing by Mark Heinrich)
JERUSALEM, IsraelThe United Nations is embroiled in a new anti-Israel scandal amid allegations that the world body is again distorting history and spreading antisemitism by staging a first-ever official Palestinian commemoration event that attacks the founding day of Israels rebirth as a nation.

The UN-sponsored commemoration day for what the Palestinians called the "Nakba" or "catastrophe" on May 15  the same day as the 75th anniversary of Israels modern founding  sparked outrage.

In a letter to U.N. ambassadors, Israels Ambassador Gilad Erdan launched a campaign urging his fellow envoys to "not participate in the Palestinian Nakba Day" event in the U.N. General Assembly that presents "the establishment of Israel as a catastrophe."

Erdan wrote "This event is a blatant attempt to distort history, neglecting the fact that those who paint themselves as the victims were actually the aggressors who initiated a five-front war on the newly established State of Israel."

Israel Ambassador Gilad Erdan speaks during a press conference at U.N. headquarters on Feb. 20, 2023, in New York City.

KEVIN MCCARTHY BLOCKS RASHIDA TLAIB FROM HOSTING ANTISEMITIC' EVENT CALLING ISRAEL A CATASTROPHE

The Israeli ambassador said, "We have already managed to convince a number of countries to boycott this despicable event and I continue to work to convince more countries not to attend."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

He continued, "Those who attend one-sided hypocritical initiatives, such as the abominable event taking place on May 15, only serve to promote the antisemitic practice of holding the Jewish State to a different standard than any other member state. Not only does this condone Jew-hatred, but it also gives a green-light to the Palestinians to continue exploiting international organs to promote their libelous narrative. Attending one-sided Palestinian initiatives that falsely brand Israel as the source of all evil does not bring the conflict closer to an end, but only serves to enflame tensions."

Story continues

In a video shot inside the U.N. General Assembly hall, Erdan called the event "antisemitic," while noting that "instead of the commemorating the real Nakba  the expulsion of almost a million Jews from Arab countries following the establishment of Israel  this biased organization is distorting its own history."

He said attending the event means "adopting the Palestinian narrative" while "ignoring Palestinian hate, incitement, terror and refusal to accept the legitimacy of Jewish state."

Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, appears before the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 23, 2011, in New York. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)

When Fox News Digital asked about whether U.S. will participate in the event, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations spokesperson Nate Evans said, "The United States is not attending the U.N.s Nakba event. The United States supports actions in the U.N. that bring the parties together and lay the groundwork for a negotiated two-state solution and has also been focused on encouraging the parties to take steps to de-escalate tensions and restore mutual confidence. At the same time, the United States has long-standing concerns over anti-Israel bias within the U.N. system, which is also counter-productive to peace. We do not support events organized or in support of the institutional anti-Israel bias."

Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad H. Mansour speaks during a press conference after a Security Council meeting on Feb. 20, 2023, in New York City.

Evans concluded, "The United States continues to recognize the plight of Palestinian refugees and continues to believe Israelis and Palestinians alike deserve to live in equal measures freedom, security, and prosperity."

AFTER ISRAEL HITS TERROR GROUP, UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS AS SOME MEMBERS REBUKE THE JEWISH STATE

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is headlining Mondays U.N. commemoration.

According to The Associated Press Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, called the observance "historic" and significant because the General Assembly played a key role in the partition of Palestine.

"Its acknowledging the responsibility of the U.N. of not being able to resolve this catastrophe for the Palestinian people for 75 years," Mansour told a group of U.N. reporters recently.

He said "the catastrophe to the Palestinian people is still ongoing." The Palestinians say the Nakba commemorates the estimated 700,000 who, they claim, fled or were forced from their homes.

Mideast experts and historians have documented that many Palestinians left their homes in 1948 and relocated to Arab countries because they followed the direction of Arab leaders and sought to avoid the Arab war against Israel.

Supporters of the Palestinians hold a protest in front of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., on May 18, 2021. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

According to Mitchell Bard, the director of the Jewish Virtual Library, "The Palestinians left their homes in 1947-1949 for a variety of reasons. Thousands of wealthy Arabs left in anticipation of war, thousands more responded to Arab leaders call to get out of the way of the advancing armies, a handful were expelled, but most simply fled to avoid being caught in the cross fire of battle."

Following Israels 1948 declaration of Independence based on the U.N. Partition Plan, five Arab armies immediately attacked the tiny Jewish state.

Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for the U.N. secretary-general, seemed to distance Antonio Guterres from the event. In a statement to Fox News Digital he said that, "The Nakba Day commemoration is taking place because the member states voted in the General Assembly decided to commemorate the event. It is a decision of the member states, not a decision of the Secretary-General.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, second from right, looks at pictures of Holocaust victims at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. (Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images)

Dujarric continued, "This event is organized following General Assembly resolution 77/23 of 30 November 2022, which specifically requests the Division for Palestinian Rights to dedicate its activities in 2023 to the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Nakba, including by organizing a high-level event at the General Assembly Hall on 15 May 2023."

He added, "Similarly, we would note that the U.N. has marked that the situation of Jewish refugees was a tragedy of major proportions. The U.N. hosted exhibits on the plight of Jewish refugees in 2023 and 2022."

"On the issue of antisemitism, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has an unimpeachable record in denouncing it firmly, clearly and without reservations since he came into office. His numerous remarks on the issue attest to it. Furthermore, the U.N. has organized meetings and discussions relating to the effort to combat antisemitism," he said.

Members of the newly created state of Israel gathered to hear Prime Minister David Ben Gurion read the Jewish "Declaration of Independence" in Tel Aviv on May 14, 1948. (Getty Images.)

Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the associate dean for the Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center, told Fox News Digital, "The real Nakba is that the United Nations is allowing itself again to feed the lurid fantasy that the lone Jewish state in the world is illegitimate, despite the fact that the U.N. voted in 1947 to partition the Holy Land into two states one Jewish and one Arab."

The Wiesenthal Center is a human rights organization that was named after the legendary Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal.

Cooper added, "That vote led by U.S. and the USSR was accepted by the Jews and rejected by the Arab States. They launched all-out war against the fledgling Israel, encouraging local Arabs to flee. Against all odds Israel won and the rest is history."

Palestinian fighters beside a burned-out Israeli supply truck near Jerusalem,1948. (Pictures from History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

He added, "But the rejection of the Jewish state continues fueled by the Palestinian Authority, Hamas and Iran. The real Nakba is that this asymmetrical war never helped a single Palestinian but such gatherings keeps hate not hope alive and turns historic truth and founding U.N. ideals on their head."

Cooper took the U.N. to task for its anti-Israel activities, declaring, "When you delegitimize the worlds largest Jewish community you legitimize Jew-hatred."

Fox News Digital sent press queries to the Palestinian mission to the U.N. for comment.

THE Associated Press contributed to this report.
The increasingly regular series of strikes by Russian drones and missiles are likely part of a new Russian air campaign aimed at weakening Ukraine's ability to conduct counteroffensive operations in the near term, according to analysts at the Institute for the Study of War.

Source: ISW report

Details: The institute estimated that since April 19, Russian troops have conducted at least 10 series of strikes throughout Ukraine, especially in the rear areas.

"In these recent series of strikes, Russian forces used significantly fewer precision-guided missiles compared to their failed campaign against Ukraine's critical infrastructure from fall 2022 to winter 2023," the experts noted.

According to ISW's preliminary assessment, Russian forces likely spent a significant portion of their precision-guided missiles during the previous air attack, and therefore are using far fewer of these missiles in the latest attack to preserve their limited stockpile. Instead, analysts said, Russian forces have relied on launching large numbers of Shaheds to overcome Ukrainian air defence, although Ukrainian forces have been more effective in destroying Russian precision-guided systems than during the previous Russian air campaign.

"The new Russian air campaign appears to be focused on Kyiv and suspected Ukrainian military industrial and logistics facilities in the deep rear. The more limited air campaign so far has been more regular than the previous broader Russian campaign against critical infrastructure," the analysts said in their report.

ISW has previously assessed that Russian forces may be trying to conduct a near-daily series of strikes to show that they are successfully deterring potential future Ukrainian counteroffensives.

"The intended targets and limited nature of this campaign indicate that Russian forces are directly concerned about Ukraine's current ability to launch counter offensive operations, although the reduced effectiveness of these strikes likely does not significantly limit Ukrainian capabilities in the overall scheme of things," the institute said.

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Taylor Swift performs onstage during Night 2 of the Eras Tour at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

Taylor Swift performs onstage during Night 2 of the Eras Tour at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

My hands were held high in the shape of a heart, the wristbands of 70,000 people glowed purple around me, and Taylor Swift was spinning with her guitar in the spring rain, casting a spell.

Is it raining? Is it really raining during this song? she asked us.

Yes, it was. As I sang along with her and everyone else in the stadium, I felt Fearless and Fifteen and 22 and 31  the age I actually am  all at the same time.

In other words, Night 1 of the Eras Tour in Nashville was pure magic.

Between Swifts powerful performance and unmatched stamina (the show is over three hours), and the concerts lengthy setlist (45 songs, including the added duet of Nothing New with Phoebe Bridgers) and stellar production (sets, costumes, special effects), I have a feeling that every show feels just as transcendent, especially for fans like me who have grown up alongside Swift. Im about two years younger than her, and Swifts music has been the soundtrack to every phase of my life since I was in eighth grade and she released her self-titled debut album.

On social media, Ive seen some fans describe the concert as the best night of their lives, others compare it to therapy, and another who said it was the most emotional shes ever been at one of Swifts shows. I understand all those descriptions. Personally, the best way I can summarize it is that I felt like a nesting doll; each era and every song contained a piece of every version of myself thats existed since I was 14.

The author and her friend at the Eras tour in Nashville.

The author and her friend at the Eras tour in Nashville.

I also felt safe.

Living in Memphis  a city that consistently makes headlines for the ongoing surge in violent crime  and living in the United States  a country besieged with gun violence  safe is something I never feel. Im always looking over my shoulder, noting exits, wondering if a trip to Target or the grocery store is worth whatever could go wrong.

Story continues

Its also been an especially hard year to be a woman in this country, to watch my bodily autonomy and access to equitable health care be taken away. So, while I expected to love the music, I wasnt prepared for how overwhelming of an experience standing inside Nissan Stadium would be. I didnt anticipate the freedom and joy I felt being in a public space where I could just exist. I danced and jumped and sang, unafraid of the man next to me who was dancing and singing just as enthusiastically and unworried about the threat of violence.

Maybe that feeling of freedom was false. Maybe I should have been more worried. But, singing along to Love Story, I couldnt find it within myself to feel those things. I couldnt feel anything else except joy or, dare I say, fearlessness.

In the first third of the show, Swift paused on the moss-covered Evermore piano bench to talk about everything that has happened since her last tour, 2018s Reputation. She talked about the (impressive) number of albums shes released  Lover, Folklore, Evermore and Midnights (in addition to her re-recordings of Fearless and Red)  and a global pandemic that kept her from performing live.

While she spoke, I thought about where I was the last time she toured  seven months pregnant with my first child and dancing in Soldier Field Stadium in Chicago to Look What You Made Me Do. Two months later, I had a daughter. Six months later, my mom died from cancer. A little less than two years later, I gave birth to my son during the beginning of a global pandemic. Yes, so much has changed in Swifts catalog since then, but a lot has also changed in the lives (and demographics) of her fans.

The weight of the time that had passed and Swifts newer music and expanding audience created an unmatched anticipation for the Eras Tour. The fact that Swift considers Nashville a hometown show, as she told us Friday night, added even more emotion to this tour stop. Its also why I think Swift chose to announce the release of her newest re-recording. If only you could have heard the screams when she pointed to the screen behind her to tell us that Speak Now (Taylors Version) will be out July 7. It was one of the nights many highlights.

The author and her friend at the Reputation tour.

The author and her friend at the Reputation tour.

As the eras progressed during the concert  Lover, Fearless, Evermore, Reputation, Speak Now, Red, Folklore, 1989, Midnights  I experienced an emotional whiplash.

I was the eighth-grade version of myself in my bedroom crying over a boy and listening to Teardrops on My Guitar. (Swift played it on the piano as the nights second surprise song.) I was that same 14-year-old girl who sang Our Song like a prayer, a hope that Id experience that kind of love. I was the 16-year-old blaring You Belong With Me in the bathroom while blow-drying my hair, wishing the boy I liked saw me too and grateful that someone else understood my unrequited wanting. I was also the high school senior driving at night with the windows down as one of my best friends and I screamed the words of Love Story, reclaiming it, trying to forget the way a boy whod treated her terribly had used it to ask her to prom.

During the Red era, dancing next to another one of my best friends, someone Ive been friends with since middle school, I remembered driving through the Blue Ridge Mountains during my sophomore year of college and playing All Too Well on repeat because my heart ached. I remembered graduating and dancing to Shake It Off because I hated so many parts of my first job and just wanted to let it go, to feel like it would be alright.

When Swift played Folklore and Evermore songs, I felt closer to the age I am now. I remembered the long days at the height of the pandemic when Id put in my headphones and play those songs over and over again, listening to them while I did more dishes and more laundry and picked up more toys. I remembered listening to Midnights in October the week of my birthday, feeling like its release was a gift just for me. The intimacy of my memories and the energy of the crowd and the awe-inspiring control Swift had onstage cant adequately be described with one emotion. All I can say is that Ill never forget that feeling.

Eventually, after more than three hours, all the eras  both Swifts and mine  coalesced into a frantic blur. Partially this was because the setlist wasnt in chronological order, but it was also because each song released so much inside of me.

At the end, as the final notes of Karma faded and the last pieces of confetti fell, I was left with the certainty that I had just borne witness to something spectacular.

But, while energizing during the concert, I found it to be emotionally depleting after. Its hard to reenter the real world after a mountaintop experience like that. But I did. The next day, I drove back to Memphis and my husband and my two kids.

On Sunday afternoon, my daughter climbed into my bed and glanced at my phone.

She looks like a princess, she said.

She does, I replied as I paused the clip someone had posted on Twitter of Swift singing one of the surprise songs on Saturday night.

In the moment, I didnt know how to explain to my 4-year-old that Swift is so much more than a princess. I didnt know how to articulate that Swift is better than Elsa or Belle or Rapunzel because she has worked for everything she has. She deserves the sparkly dress. She deserves her crown.

The author and her friend at the Eras tour in Nashville.

The author and her friend at the Eras tour in Nashville.

One day, I want my daughter to understand that. I want her to know that while the word princess might adequately describe one of the many Bejeweled outfits Swift wore during the Eras Tour, it barely scratched the surface of the impact that she has had in the lives of her fans (and the music industry). Most important, I want her to understand one of the most significant lessons Swift has ever taught me: We all wear crowns.

But I didnt explain any of that then. Instead, I pressed play on the video, and my daughter and I sat in my bed and watched together as Swift played the piano and sang Fifteen.

In the future, I hope that there will be plenty of time to tell my daughter about Swift and what her music has meant to me. I cant wait to watch my daughter discover what it means to her. Already, she dances to Shake It Off in the kitchen in her fairy wings. She sings along from her car seat on the way to preschool. She practices her plies around the bathroom to Anti-Hero while I get ready in the morning.

Before I left for Nashville, she asked me if she can go to a Taylor Swift concert one day when Im older.

Of course  if we can get tickets. I cant wait for that day. I cant wait until she can stand next to me in a stadium and feel how Swifts music connects the girl my daughter is growing into to the woman that I am becoming. I know it will be The Best Day, maybe even better than Night 1 of the Eras Tour in Nashville because it will be the beginning of a new era. Ill be the mom taking my daughter to a Taylor Swift concert, embarrassing her with my loud singing and energetic dancing and themed outfit. The hope of a moment like that, of sharing the experience of Swifts music with my daughter, is whats helping me navigate my post-concert blues.

In her opening speech, Swift said that she hoped by the end of the night her music would feel like a part of our stories. But it already does, whether you have the chance to see her perform live or not. Thats the magic of her personal and evocative (yet universal) lyrics and her long career.

The Eras Tour simply gave fans the gift of remembering that, of remembering all of the versions of ourselves weve been while listening to Swifts music. It also gave us over three magical hours to feel a part of something larger than ourselves, to feel connected to Swift and her eras and the 70,000 other fans who lifted hands high in the shape of a heart, temporarily fearless.

Related...
Jacksonville mayoral candidates Donna Deegan and Daniel Davis both joined supporters Sunday afternoon as early voting ended in Duval County.

Its a final push, said Davis.

Its been a wonderful day, wonderful last several days, said Deegan.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Deegan attended a Souls to the Polls event on the Northside to court Democratic voters like Mariano Mendez who says early voting is critical.

We also always have low voter turnout for the mayoral election. The more people to come out and vote, the higher turnout the candidate that everyone actually wants can be in there, said Mendez.

Election observers tell Action News Jax that Deegan needs a substantial lead going into Tuesday to fend off an expected red wave of Republican voters.

Davis was joined by Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters and Senator Rick Scott at Chimney Lakes Elementary School.

Youve got to go out and vote. If you are about what happens in your community you have to go out and vote, said Scott.

Eric Moore didnt say which candidate he supports but says people need to make their voices heard.

Its very important because its a big contrast between the opponents, and its very important for people to come out and make their decision and come out and vote, said Moore.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Deegan and Davis gave us their perspectives on what separates them from each other when it comes to who will be the next Mayor of Jacksonville.

You would not hire a CEO that didnt know how to run a company or didnt know how to work for a company. What you are hiring over the next 48 hours is the next CEO of our city, said Davis.

We will have a city that brings the people inside of the city government not one that is just used towards a handful of folks. Thats the biggest difference, between transparency and inclusion thats the big difference, said Deegan.

Election Day is Tuesday, May 16. Polls open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Jamie Foxx's co-star and friend Garcelle Beauvais addressed rumors that the "Day Shift" star was "near death" amid his recent health struggles.

During an interview with People magazine, the 56-year-old actress weighed in on the speculation after Foxx, 55, was hospitalized due to a "medical complication," according to a statement shared by his daughter Corinne last month.

When asked if she was able to send her well wishes to the comedian, Beauvais replied, "Yeah, for sure."

"I've spoken to the family, and I don't want to say much because they're the ones to say it, but it broke my heart that this horrible rumor [about Jamie's health] was running around," the Real Housewive of Beverly Hills" star added.

Jamie Foxx's friend and former co-star Garcelle Beauvais spoke out on rumors that the actor was "near death."

She continued, "... I immediately got the right information, [but] I just think people can't run with stuff like that. It's hurtful to so many people."

JAMIE FOXX HEALTH UPDATE: WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT ACTOR'S MEDICAL COMPLICATION

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Beauvais met Foxx when she played his character Jamie King's love interest Francesca "Fancy" Monroe on "The Jamie Foxx" from 1996 to 2001. The two later co-starred in the 2013 political action thriller "White House Down."

Corinne revealed on April 12 in a since-deleted Instagram post that Foxx experienced a "medical complication" the day before, and "quick action and great care" helped guide him toward recovery. She did not share further details about the medical complication.

Corinne Foxx and Jamie Foxx attend the Los Angeles Screening of "Below The Belt" at Directors Guild Of America on October 01, 2022, in Los Angeles, California.

Afterseveral reports surfaced making claims about the Academy Award winner's health, the 29-year-old actress spoke out in a post on her Instagram Story on Friday. She wrote a response underneath a screengrab of an article with the headline "Jamie Foxx's loves ones reportedly preparing for the worst."

"Update from the family: Sad to see how the media runs wild," Corrine wrote. "My dad has been out of the hospital for weeks, recuperating. In fact, he was playing pickleball yesterday! Thanks for everyone's prayers and support."

Story continues

"We have an exciting work update coming next week too!" the model added with a smiley face.

Foxx's daughter also addressed the rumors as she shared that Foxx was out of the hospital and "playing pickleball."

Corinne is the DJ on the Fox interactive game show "Beat Shazam," which is hosted by her father. Both stepped away from the show during his medical condition. Kelly Osbourne temporarily took over for Corinne while Nick Cannon is filling in for Foxx.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

"He is one of the most, I think, talented and incredible human beings in the industry," Osbourne said. "It is such an honor to be asked to keep Corinne's seat warm for her while everything is going on and it was so much fun and I hope I did her justice."

Foxx broke his silence last week as he shared an Instagram post to thank fans for their support

APP USERS CLICK HERE

The Grammy Award winner did not include a photo of himself and instead shared a text-only post.

"Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed," he wrote. Foxx also thanked Cannon for stepping up to take over his role as the host of FOX's "Beat Shazam."

On "The Today Show" on Friday, Osbourne shared her love for Foxx. "He is one of the most, I think, talented and incredible human beings in the industry," the television personality said.

She continued, "It is such an honor to be asked to keep Corinne's seat warm for her while everything is going on and it was so much fun and I hope I did her justice."

Fox News Digital's Janelle Ash contributed to this report.
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New Jersey's two Democratic senators and the state's governor said on Monday they are seeking to halt a plan by New York City to adopt a congestion pricing plan in Manhattan, which would be the country's first.

Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker urged U.S. Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg not to grant final approval to environmental reviews needed to implement the congestion pricing plan after his department gave a key approval on May 5.

Menendez said separately that he is introducing legislation this week that would cut 50% of New York state federal highway grant funding if the plan moves ahead.

The plan "would shift New Yorks financial and environmental burdens onto New Jersey families and institutions," the senators wrote.

Governor Phil Murphy said he would work "to halt implementation of this misguided tolling plan" and said the state is assessing legal options.

Buttigieg's office did not immediately comment.

Earlier this month, USDOT approved release of the final environmental assessment for New York's congestion pricing plan for public review.

New York said drivers could face a traffic congestion charge of up to $23 a day. A study projected would reduce the number of cars entering Manhattan by 15% to 20%.

The city wants to charge a daily variable toll for vehicles entering or remaining within the central business district, defined as between 60th Street in midtown Manhattan and Battery Park on Manhattan's southern tip.

After the public review expires June 12, USDOT's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will make its final decision. Following entry into a tolling agreement, tolling could begin up to 310 days later, the city said on Friday.

New York, which has the most congested U.S. traffic, would become the first major city in the country to follow London, which began a similar charge in 2003.

New York lawmakers approved the plan in 2019 to provide funding to improve mass transit by using tolls to manage traffic in central Manhattan and was originally projected to start in 2021. The federal government under President Donald Trump did not take any action.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler and Marguerita Choy)
Five people, including children, were injured in a Mothers Day weekend jet ski accident on Mountain Island Lake.

Around 6:30 p.m. Sunday two jet skis crashed into each other on the lake about 12 miles northwest of uptown Charlotte, Mount Holly authorities said. The injured were removed from the water and treated.

While it is unclear what caused the wreck, jet skis do present a potential risk of injury if used improperly.

Here are North Carolina laws in place that regulate the use of personal watercraft.

What are NC jet ski operating requirements?

Similar to boats, state law also regulates the use of personal watercraft (PWC), commonly referred to as jet skis or Wave Runners. Here are the laws pertaining to them.

PWCs cannot be operated between sunset and sunrise.

No one under the age of 14 can operate a PWC, but those between the ages of 14 and 16 can if they are accompanied by an adult or have passed a boating safety education course.

Each person aboard a PWC is required to wear a personal flotation device.

If the watercraft has a lanyard cut-off switch, it must be attached to the operator.

PWCs must not be operated in a way that could endanger the lives or property of others.

What are the leading causes of jet ski wrecks?

There were 30 jet ski accidents reported in North Carolina in 2020, including 11 on Lake Norman, according to the most recent data from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

In 2021, the leading cause of jet ski accidents was operator inexperience, with 276 incidents occurring in the U.S. that year, according to the most recent data available from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Other common causes of jet ski mishaps include operator inattention, excessive speed, and alcohol use.

Jet ski safety tips

Here are some tips on how to stay safe while riding a jet ski, according to discoverboating.com, an online resource for boater safety:
Michael Wilson, a recent MSU graduate, stands at Michigan and Grand River Avenues on May 15, 2023, hoping to raise money for housing and his phone plan.

EAST LANSING  When Michael Wilson graduated from Michigan State University less than two weeks ago, he didnt think hed use his robe again.

But on Monday, he donned the green cap and gown with a sign reading, Homeless jobless anything helps!! as he panhandled at a corner in East Lansing.

Wilson, 28, graduated earlier this month from the College of Communication Arts and Sciences with a degree in digital storytelling. He said he's put in over 90 job applications and conducted interviews for three, but has yet to receive an offer.

I'm not just sitting around doing nothing, Wilson said. I went to college, I paid the money, I did everything society has told me to do and still here I am.

He set up at the intersection of Michigan and Grand River avenues, the day after his apartments lease ran out. His first priorities are obtaining housing and about $70 to reactivate his phone so he can resume his job search, he said.

Even if someone was to call me about a job interview, I wouldn't be able to get it, Wilson said.

Wilson has applied for some lower paying jobs in the area, including a doorman position at an East Lansing bar. But despite that business having a hiring sign up for several months, he said he never received a response. And due to his student loan payments, Wilson won't be able to work a low-paying job in the long term.

The clock is ticking, he said. He has six months to figure out a significant income source before his post-graduation payment pause lapses.

Wilson is looking for a role in the media industry and has applied to several local news stations.

Michael Wilson, a recent MSU graduate, stands at Michigan and Grand River Avenues on May 15, 2023, hoping to raise money for housing and his phone plan.

During his time at MSU, he was involved with Big Ten Network and Focal Point, a journalism program that creates television-like video stories. He also helped start the MSU Survivor Club, an adaptation of the classic "Survivor" show on CBS.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the median pay in the news industry in 2021 was $48,370 per year, or $23.26 per hour. The Bureau also predicts a 9% decline in the number of journalism jobs by 2031.

Story continues

Wilson said he doesnt have any family members in the area he could stay with  his father was killed overseas in the military in 2017 and his mother lives in Alma. Wilson previously lived with her when classes went online due to the pandemic, but said that she now doesnt want him living with her.

Before his fathers death, Wilson thought he would be destined for a life of unspecialized jobs, but his fathers military service made him eligible for a scholarship that helped put him through college. Still, he feels that MSU didnt provide him with enough support as a student.

As soon as I had that money  that blood money  they welcome me with open arms, slap 100% on all of my assignments, give me a cap and gown and send me on my way because they just want that money, he said. They don't want to help me, they just want the money.

Dan Olsen, deputy spokesperson for MSU, praised the university's ability to prepare many students for post-college careers.

"The value of a Michigan State education can be life changing," he said. "MSU Career Services Network connects students and recent alums with career service professionals to provide valuable career resources and relevant connections to strengthen their career outcomes."

Olsen said that university data shows that 93% of graduates are employed full time or continuing their education and that more than 200,000 job internship postings went out last year seeking MSU students and graduates.

"We encourage all students and recent alums to reach out to our Career Services Network to support their career search efforts in a way that helps capture the full scope of their experience  from volunteer experiences to classroom activities and co-curricular activities  so they (may) be successful in their search."

Beyond raising money for his phone bill and housing, Wilson said that he hopes to spread a message to people driving by about the worth of higher education.

Maybe someone else won't put as much value on a degree and hold themselves back because they don't have a degree, he said. Maybe someone else might hire someone without a degree because they'll see me on the street with a sign and say Hey, maybe that guy without a degree could do it.

We place a huge value on these pieces of paper, and in the end they don't really get you anything, Wilson continued. The students are the ones who did the work  without the school, they would have been able to do the same thing.

Contact Sheldon Krause at skrause@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @sheldonjkrause.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State grad turns to panhandling while job searching
US-POLITICS-BIDEN

President Joe Biden stops to speak with the White House Press Corps as he rides through Cape Henlopen State Park in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on May 14, 2023. Credit - Jim WatsonAFP/Getty Images

Facing pressure to resolve the ongoing U.S. debt limit standoff, President Joe Biden said he expects to resume budget negotiations with congressional leadership on Tuesday, just one day before he leaves for the G7 summit in Japan.

He declined to give details on where they stand in terms of a negotiated deal but said he believed an agreement could be reached with House Republicans to raise or suspend the debt cap before the U.S. runs out of cash, which the Treasury Department has said could happen as early as June 1.

I remain optimistic because I am a congenital optimist, Biden told reporters on Sunday evening while out for a bike ride in Rehoboth Beach, Del. I really think there is a desire on their part as well as ours to reach an agreement. And I think well be able to do it.

Bidens comments come less than a week after Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he didnt see any new movement toward a resolution on the debt limit. There is currently little indication that either side has budged from their initial positions.

Weve not reached the crunch point yet, Biden told reporters Saturday before boarding a flight to the beach. Theres real discussion about some changes we all could make. Were not there yet.

Biden was supposed to meet with McCarthy and other top congressional leaders last Friday, but their meeting was postponed to let staff continue discussions over the weekend.

McCarthy has maintained that he wants to attach spending reductions to a debt ceiling increase, while Biden has insisted that he would not negotiate over the debt limit, calling on Congress to pass a clean increase before addressing a framework for spending.

When asked if he would support the tougher work requirements for federal aid recipients that Republicans want included in the deal, Biden said hes voted for some in the past. For Medicaid, its a different story and so Im waiting to hear what their exact proposal is, he said.

Pressure is mounting on the two sides to find consensus and break the months-long stalemate. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the U.S. could default on its debt for the first time in history, a scenario that would be economically devastating and could plunge the global economy into a financial crisis.

Despite the looming deadline to strike a deal with Republicans, Biden said he still plans to travel to Japan on Wednesday for the Group of Seven summit that is set to begin in Hiroshima on Friday.
John Travolta paid tribute to his late wife Kelly Preston on Mother's Day.

The 69-year-old actor posted a throwback video of the actress opening a gift on a previous Mother's Day. Preston and Travolta were married for 28 years until the actress's death at the age of 57 after a two-year battle with breast cancer in July 2020.

"Happy Mother's Day Kelly. We miss you and love you! Love, Ben, Ella and John," the "Grease" star captioned the clip, referring to their daughter Ella, 23, and son Ben, 12.

John Travolta shared a Mother's Day tribute to his late wife Kelly Preston.

In the short video, Preston beamed as she peered inside a white box that was decorated with blue flowers and block letters that spelled out the word "Mom."

JOHN TRAVOLTA PAYS TRIBUTE TO KELLY PRESTON ON WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HER 59TH BIRTHDAY

"Oh my God!" the "Jerry Maguire" star said.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"But first I want to hold it like this," she continued as she picked up the box and turned to display it for camera with a wide smile.

"Ok," Travolta said as he filmed his spouse.

The "Grease" star announced the news of his wifes death in an Instagram post in 2020.

"It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my beautiful wife Kelly has lost her two-year battle with breast cancer," Travolta wrote.

"She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many," he added. "My family and I will forever be grateful to her doctors and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Center, all the medical centers that have helped, as well as her many friends and loved ones who have been by her side."

In addition to Ella and Ben, Travolta and Preston also shared son Jett, who died at the age of 16 in 2009 after suffering a seizure during a family vacation to Grand Bahama Island.

Since Preston and Jett's passing, Travolta has honored their memories on special occasions. Last October, he shared a tribute to Preston on what would have been her 60th birthday.

Story continues

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"Happy birthday to my favorite dance partner! We love you and miss you Kelly," he wrote alongside a throwback photo of the couple embracing at a red carpet event.

In April 2022, Travolta honored Jett on the day that he would have celebrated his 30th birthday. The New Jersey native shared a black-and-white throwback photo in which Travolta was seen smiling while hugging a young Jett.

"My dearest Jetty, I miss you more than words can say. I think about you everyday. Happy Birthday. Love, your Dad," Travolta wrote in the caption.

Ella commented on the "Gotti" actor's tribute to Jett, writing, "Happy Birthday Jetty, we love you so much."
John Wray. Courtesy Image

John Wray is the acclaimed author of Lowboy and five other novels. In his latest, Gone to the Wolves, a teenager falls for a fellow death metal fan, turning their coming of age into a unique love story  much like the unique love stories Wray recommends below.

First Love and Other Stories by Ivan Turgenev (1860)

Is there any more literary subject than first love? I'd say not  and Ivan Turgenev, Russian literature's great romantic, would have agreed. First Love was his favorite of his own works, dearer to him than Fathers and Sons. He claimed to have taken it directly from his own life. It's achingly beautiful, magnificently sad. Buy it here.

The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen (1938)

This is first love as tragedy  nowadays one might call it trauma. Portia, a lonely 16-year-old who falls for an unsavory family friend, hurls herself into the lopsided affair like a suicide jumping into the sea. She's not a particularly sympathetic figure. She's as flawed and feckless as the rest of us, which is one reason the novel is a cornerstone of literary modernism. Buy it here.

My Dog Tulip by J.R. Ackerley (1956)

Who says one's first great love need be human? After a long-haired Alsatian named Tulip comes into his life, the arch, grouchy Ackerley is transformed before our eyes from a middle-aged London cynic into a poet of heartbreak. Buy it here.

G. by John Berger (1972)

A true product of its time, Berger's novel of self-liberation (some might call it promiscuity) is also one of the oddest works of fiction to win the Booker Prize. G. is a teenager when he's seduced by his aunt, and his fall from innocence is rendered even more jarring by Berger's impartial, omnipotent tone. Buy it here.

Important Artifacts by Leanne Shapton (2009)

This inventive tale of love and loss is told entirely through the descriptions and photographs of a couple's estate. Whimsical as it may sound, it's an account of the perils of marriage that gives Richard Yates' Revolutionary Road a run for its money. Buy it here.

Story continues

The Festival of Earthly Delights by Matt Dojny (2012)

This novel brought me as much joy as any I've come across in the last decade. Boyd, our hopelessly WASPish yet sweet-natured hero, accompanies his fiancee to a Southeast Asian country and falls head over heels for a poker-faced local woman with an unusual birthmark. The rest is impossible to summarize without giving half the fun away. Buy it here.

This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here.

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Photo of Elon Musk



Musk may own Twitter, but the SEC still kind of owns him.

Elon Musk has once again lost a court battle over his right to shitpost unfettered. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City has rejected the billionaires bid to end his 2018 agreement with the Securities and Exchange Commission that mandates legal oversight on some of Tesla-related tweets.



Musks request to overturn the more than four year-old consent decree had already been struck down by one federal judge in New York District Court in April 2022. But the multihyphenate CEO filed an appeal, which was rejected Monday. In the new ruling, three additional judges have denied Musks bid to sidestep SEC oversight and accountability for his posts.

Read more

We have considered Defendant-Appellants remaining arguments and find them to be without merit. Accordingly, we AFFIRM the judgment of the district court, the three-judge panel wrote in their Monday filing. In accordance with this ruling, Musk is still required to have a Tesla lawyer review certain content he wants to post online, or face potential investigation and consequences.

Which means even owning Twitter hasnt freed Musk from legal restrictions on his tweets. Though he may be Twitter CEO (at least for the next few weeks until Linda Yaccarino presumably takes his place), Musk remains beholden to powers even beyond that of Chief Twit.

Why Cant Elon Musk Tweet Anything He Wants?

All of this dates back to a very stupid 2018 420' Twitter post that Tesla CEO Musk has claimed had nothing to do with weed. Am considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured, he notoriously posted on August 7, 2018. Except Teslas board and investors apparently hadnt been been informed of the idea. A shitstorm ensued in which Teslas stock price skyrocketed, trading was halted, and the SEC stepped in. The federal watchdogs investigation revealed that there was never any finalized deal to privatize Tesla in place. The SEC charged Musk with fraud.

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As part of a settlement, the billionaire had to resign as Tesla Chairman (though kept his CEO position) and both he and the company were forced to pay out separate $20 million fines. Also, Musk signed a consent decree intended to rein in any communications that could drastically alter Teslas stock price. Under the agreement, Musks Tesla operations-related tweets are supposed to be reviewed by company lawyer before he posts them.

Though Musk subsequently won his securities fraud case earlier this year, and a jury found him not liable to investors for their losses, the terms of the original settlement still stand.

Has Musk Changed His Twitter Habits?

Yet Musk has openly seemed to flout that requirement and continued to tweet rather indiscriminately. Two of his posts since the 2018 settlement have triggered additional investigation by the SEC (one in 2019 and one in 2021). At least one additional post has led to another federal agency investigating Musk. A 2019 deal reaffirmed the restriction on his social media communications. But hes even continued to defend that original 420 post, and hes continued to fight against the consent decree restrictions.

In 2022, his lawyer, Alex Spiro, claimed the SEC was attempting to muzzle and harass the billionaire by digging into specific posts. Spiro additionally said that the SECs oversight was calculated to chill Musks First Amendment rights.

What did the Judges Think?

Yet, according to the Monday ruling, the federal appeals judges dont think the second richest man on Earth is being unfairly muzzled, harassed, or deprived of freedom.

We see no evidence to support Musks contention that the SEC has used the consent decree to conduct bad-faith, harassing investigations of his protected speech, the panel wrote. Whether or not the consent decree may have provide[d] broader relief than the court could have awarded after a trial does not detract from the SECs ability to enforce the agreement Musk voluntarily signed.

Basically, through consent decrees, people are allowed to sign away some of their First Amendment rights. And Musk knowingly did so when he agreed to the SECs settlement terms. Had Musk wished to preserve his right to tweet without even limited internal oversight concerning certain Tesla-related topics, he had the right to litigate and defend against the [SECs] charges or to negotiate a different agreementbut he chose not to do so.

Additional appeals from Musks legal team about changing conditions and common good also held little sway over the court. Spiro and Musks other attorneys attempted to argue that it was in everyones best interest for the consent degree to be adjusted, and that changes in factual conditions made the agreement more burdensome that it originally was.

But the judges pointed out that nothing in the law had shifted and that the public still probably benefits from some oversight of the CEOs public communications regarding their companies.The public interest [does not] require modification of the consent decree. If anything, it cuts in the other direction, the panel wrote.

Yet Musk remains undeterred. To Reuters, Spiro wrote, we will seek further review and continue to bring attention to the important issue of the government constraint on speech.

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Washington County District Courtroom

After five hours of deliberation Friday, the Washington County jury found a Tulsa man not guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and not guilty of the lesser charge of first-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of two men at a Bartlesville bar in 2021.

The State of Oklahoma had charged Gregory Rogers with two counts of first-degree murder in the Dec. 13, 2021 fatal shooting of Austin Standeford and Van Parson at the Kickstand Saloon.

"That was a brutal trial but the jury, in the end, found in our favor, at least on the big charges," Chase McBride, attorney for Rogers, said.

Rogers was found guilty of carrying a weapon where alcohol was served and possessing a firearm after conviction of a felony.

"We kind of planned on getting convictions on the others, So there were no surprises to those," McBride said. "They maxed him out on 10 years on that, which would we fully expected, but it's a non-violent crime so he probably won't do much of that time in reality with Oklahoma prisons being so overcrowded."

McBride said the outcome was the "best-case scenario" and his client, Rogers, was "unbelievably relieved."

As for the reason for the verdict, McBride said he could only speculate.

"I just don't think that the state met the burden to show first-degree murder," McBride said. "I don't know if they found (it was) self-defense or if they just thought they didn't meet all the elements."

Washington County District Attorney Will Drake said "It was a real tough case, and although I don't agree with it, I respect the jury's decision."

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Jury returns not guilty verdict in Kickstand Saloon case; guilty on lesser charges
Allergies caused by native plants can become more prevalent this time of year in Kansas.

Medical science has improved considerably over the years in terms of better relieving the misery people feel from allergies, says longtime allergy sufferer Amy Jean Harrison, of Topeka.

Unfortunately, Harrison said, the pollen has gotten "much worse" over the past couple years.

A university study bears that out, saying recent years have brought longer pollen seasons and more potent allergens to North America.

Misery of allergy season is lasting longer and producing more pollen

Those seasons now start earlier, last 20 days longer and produce 21% more pollen than they did in 1990, with human-caused global warming being a significant reason for that, said the study completed in 2020 by the University of Utah.

The study analyzed counts between 1990 and 2018 from 60 pollen stations the National Allergy Bureau maintains across the U.S. and Canada. Those stations collect mold samples and airborne pollen, which are then hand-counted.

After splitting the study years into two periods, 1990-2003 and 2003-2018, researchers concluded the degree to which climate change contributes to rising pollen counts has been accelerating.

'Allergy capital of the U.S.' is in Kansas

Kansas is known for farms, tornadoes, "The Wizard of Oz" and  increasingly  the itchy, sneezy misery of seasonal allergies.

The Sunflower State is home to the allergy capital of the U.S., says the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

It recently awarded that dubious distinction for 2023 to Wichita, which had placed second for 2022 behind Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Wichita took this year's top spot because of its worse-than-average tree and grass pollen, higher-than-average allergy medicine use and lower presence of board-certified allergists and immunologists, the AAFA said.

The Kansas City, Missouri, metro area finished 21st on the AAFA's list of this year's 100 worst cities for allergens.

No other cities in Kansas made the list, because none were considered.

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In creating the list, the AAFA said, it only studied data from the 100 most-populated metropolitan areas in the U.S.

'I couldn't breathe and my eyes were swollen'

Amy Jean Harrison, a longtime Topekan, she used to wake up sneezing every day during allergy season and would feel miserable for most of the day.

"I would sneeze and the teacher three doors down would say 'Bless you Amy,' because they knew it was me," she said.

Harrison said she first learned she had an allergy problem when she was about 4 years old, and her sister brought home some kittens she found along the side of the road.

"I couldn't breathe and my eyes were swollen, so we knew I was allergic to cats right away," she said.

Harrison regularly had to be hospitalized in the fall for pneumonia or bronchitis.

But about 10 years ago, she said, she enjoyed considerable relief after seeking help from Bilal Khan, internal medicine specialist at Topeka's Cotton-O'Neil Allergy and Immunology Clinic.

He put her on a regimen of various allergy-related medications.

Harrison has also received a series of vaccinations to help build her resistance, she said.

Today, she said, she takes about five allergy medicines every morning and uses an application on her cell phone to keep track of when pollen counts are high.

Harrison still sometimes experiences allergy symptoms but feels much better overall, and no longer wakes up sneezing, she said.

"I'm able to function, and I don't get pneumonia and bronchitis," she said.

Medium-high pollen count forecast Monday for Topeka

More than 67 million Americans suffer from allergy symptoms, including hay fever, said the website pollen.com.

That site is maintained by IQVIA, a Durham, N.C.,-based pharmaceutical company that manufactures a tool used to measure pollen counts.

Pollen.com offers a function that enables users to go online to learn the allergy forecast for the city where they live.

Its Topeka forecast said Monday's pollen count here is expected to be 6.3, which it described as being "medium."

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas is increasingly becoming known for seasonal allergies
State employees will officially be in line for a pay raise, after Gov. Laura Kelly signed the state's wrap-up budget bill Monday.

State employees will officially be in line for a pay raise, after Gov. Laura Kelly signed the state's wrap-up budget bill Monday.

Lawmakers advanced the multi-billion-dollar proposal to Kelly's desk in the waning days of the legislative session, including the $120 million pay bump for state workers.

Statewide officers, including the governor, attorney general and secretary of state, already have been assured of a pay raise beginning in 2025, as have top judicial branch officials. The Legislature established a binding committee that could recommend their compensation rise.

Legislators, however, waited to evaluate the best way of raising pay for other state employees, seeking to ensure fairness for workers making less than market rate.

More: Governor, statewide officials in Kansas to see significant pay raise under new law

How much is the pay raise for state workers?

The framework comes after a study showed that workers in more than 100 positions were being paid under market rate. Kelly's budget proposed a flat 5% pay raise but also more targeted boosts to those most behind the going rate.

Under the proposal enacted Monday, individuals whose positions are deemed to be 10% or more below the established market will be brought up to that 10% figure or given a 5% raise, whichever is higher. Those making about market rate will receive a flat 5% raise and individuals with a salary above 10% of market rate will get only a 2.5% pay hike.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Kansas Highway Patrol will get a 2.5% raise in addition to other scheduled compensation increases, but statewide officials, legislators and judges won't.

More: Top Kansas lawmaker didn't know his community had a food pantry. Here's who it helps.

Workers at state prisons, mental health hospitals and veterans' homes will get a flat 5% raise in addition to adjustments based on the job market.

And employees at the state's public universities have access to a $13 million pool of money available for merit pay increases.

"I am proud of this bipartisan, fiscally responsible budget that will bolster our states workforce, improve roads and expand high-speed internet, and provide essential mental health resources for our students," Kelly said in a statement.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Budget with Kansas state employee pay raise signed by Laura Kellly
Police are calling on the community to help identify a baby found dead Saturday in a field in Kansas City.

Police have described the child as a small baby, but the age and gender had not yet been determined as of Sunday afternoon, said Sgt. Jake Becchina, a spokesman for the Kansas City Police Department.

Right now the biggest thing is we know there are people in the community that know what happened here. There has to be. Theres no other explanation for it, Becchina said during a press conference Sunday. Today on Mothers Day, theres at least one mother who is without their baby, and those people know who they are and they have the answers that investigators need, whatever that explanation is.

A teddy bear sits on a pile of rocks off Pittman Road, close to East 41st Street, near the entrance to a field where a small baby was found dead Saturday, May 13, 2023, Kansas City police said. Crime scene tape remained up two days later.

On Saturday, a neighbor was walking through an open, uninhabited area near a wooded area across the street from some homes near East 41st Street and Pittman Road when they came across a body, Becchina said.

Police were called to the scene around 7:45 p.m. that evening. A full squad of homicide detectives was among them, Becchina said.

Detectives returned to the scene Sunday morning to collect more evidence in the daylight and to canvass the area and speak to those living in homes and apartments in the area, and those experiencing homelessness in the nearby woods.

The case is currently a death investigation because so much is still unknown about how the baby died.

Becchina said detectives are waiting on results from the medical examiner to make determinations including the gender of the baby, how old the baby was and how the baby died. Police will then determine whether to continue pursuing the case as a death or homicide investigation based on whether it appeared the baby was killed by another person.

We pray that somebody didnt intentionally do this to this baby, but well find out, Becchina said.

As of Sunday, it was too early for authorities to say if the baby had been injured, or what those injuries might be. It was also still unknown when the baby died, though Becchina said it was clear the baby didnt die as recently as Saturday.

Story continues

Not knowing the full story is hard, he said. I know every one of these investigators, they want to know what happened and what led to this, whatever the explanation is. We pray that somebody didnt intentionally hurt this baby, that maybe there someone out there that panicked; a situation came up and they didnt know how to deal with it.

He said finding out who the baby was will be a huge challenge, adding that no babies are currently reported missing that match this case.

Without somebody coming forward, its hard to quantify how big of a challenge it is, Becchina said.

Police are asking anyone with information on the baby to contact the homicide unit at 816-234-5043 or the anonymous TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.
Kansas City-area Proud Boy William Chrestman will likely spend at least three more months in jail while awaiting a court hearing in his Capitol riot case.

A federal judge on Monday granted a request by the Justice Department to continue for 90 days a hearing scheduled for Tuesday. The new hearing date is set for Aug. 4 in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Chrestman, 49, was charged with five other Proud Boys in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach. But unlike the others, the former sheet metal worker from Olathe is incarcerated, held without bond since his arrest on Feb. 11, 2021.

The Army veteran was captured on numerous videos alongside other Proud Boys during the insurrection, dressed in tactical gear, carrying an ax handle and stirring up the crowd with raucous chants.

In a motion filed Monday, the government said that a continuance was necessary because both sides need additional time to attempt to resolve this matter pretrial and because the Justice Department is continuing to provide global discovery to the defendants.

Given the volume of discovery that has been and is being produced, a continuance will provide the defendants with the opportunity to meaningfully review such discovery and determine how best to proceed, including making decisions regarding the filing of pretrial motions, the government said.

It also said that if plea negotiations fail, the defendants and the government will need reasonable time to prepare for trial.

The government said it had consulted with the attorneys for Chrestman and the others charged with him and they did not oppose the motion.

In granting the request, U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly found that the ends of justice served by this continuance outweigh the best interests of the public and Defendants in a speedy trial

Should plea negotiations not be fruitful, he said, the parties and counsel should be prepared to set a trial date at the next status conference.

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Mondays action is the latest in a string of continuances in the case. The last hearing was March 2, 2022. Since then, the hearings have been pushed back eight times.

Chrestmans family and other supporters have long complained that he continues to be held without bond. He is among the Capitol riot defendants incarcerated the longest  even though he hasnt been convicted. He and roughly 20 other Jan. 6 inmates in the District of Columbia jail, many of them charged with serious crimes including assaulting police, are referred to as political prisoners by former President Donald Trump and other GOP hard-liners.

Chrestman was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2021 along with Kansas City-area Proud Boys Christopher Kuehne, of Olathe; Louis Colon, of Blue Springs; and Ryan Ashlock, of Gardner  and Arizona siblings Felicia and Cory Konold.

The indictment alleged that they planned with each other, and with others known and unknown, to forcibly enter the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and to stop, delay, and hinder the Congressional proceeding occurring that day.

Chrestman also was charged with threatening to assault a federal law enforcement officer. All except Chrestman were released on personal recognizance bonds pending trial.

Colon pleaded guilty in April 2022 to one count of civil disorder, a felony, and awaits sentencing. Ashlock pleaded guilty to one count of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, a misdemeanor, and was sentenced in November to 70 days in jail and 12 months of supervised release.

The cases of Kuehne and the Konolds are ongoing, and like Chrestman, they were scheduled to be in court Tuesday via video conference. Kuehne no longer lives in Olathe. Last fall, after the judge granted his request to move out of state, he sold his house and relocated to Arizona.

The far-right Proud Boys have been at the forefront of the federal investigation into the attack.

Just this month, jurors found four leaders  including former national chairman Henry Enrique Tarrio  guilty of seditious conspiracy and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, among other charges. A fifth was found guilty of charges that included assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and robbery involving government property.

A sixth defendant pleaded guilty on April 8, 2022, to conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers. Another Proud Boys leader pleaded guilty in October to seditious conspiracy and cooperated with the prosecution, testifying as the Justice Departments star witness in the recent trial.

The organization of self-described Western chauvinists known for street-level violence and confrontations with anti-fascists at protests received national attention in September 2020 when, during the first presidential debate, Trump was asked if he was willing to condemn white supremacists and militia groups. Trump responded that the Proud Boys should stand back and stand by.
For months, Black leaders urged Kansas City police to provide public reports on how many people were reported missing in the city and how many cases were resolved.

Such information, it was argued, would help answer community members questions about how many Black people were going missing and what was being done to find them.

Now, after the Kansas City Police Department relaunched its missing persons squad last month, it has begun producing those reports.

The data shows what many Black leaders had feared and suspected: Black adults and children have been reported missing in Kansas City in significantly greater numbers than other racial groups. And their cases remain unsolved more often.

In its May 10 analysis, the police department reported that Black adults accounted for 11 of the 15 active adult missing persons cases.

Black children represent almost half of the 45 active missing cases in Kansas City, according to police statistics, in a city that is about 24% Black.

The data substantiates what advocates in the Black community have stated all along, theres a very real problem of missing Black people in Kansas City, said Michele Watley, founder of the nonprofit Shirleys Kitchen Cabinet, who has led public discussions about missing Black women.

Lisa Benson, left, looks on as Major Kari Thompson of the Kansas City Police Department, center, addresses concerns about missing Black women in Kansas City during Black and Missing, a community forum Saturday, Nov. 18, 2022, at the Lucile H. Bluford Branch Library. Thompson said 18 Black women have been killed this year in Kansas City. The event was hosted by Shirleys Kitchen Cabinet and Hot 103 Jamz whose Julee Jones, right, moderated the discussion.

The data provided in these daily missing persons reports shine a light on the glaring disparities in the number of missing Black people in comparison to others in the Kansas City community, Watley said.

Community leaders have questioned whether police take reports of missing Black people seriously enough and experts and advocates said the department was not following best practices in missing persons cases.

Among the gaps pointed to by advocates: The police department did not maintain a list of active missing person cases that was accessible to the public. It did not require the missing persons unit to file monthly reports tracking which cases are being closed or going unsolved, and it did not track the demographics of missing persons.

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As a result, those who provide support to families of the missing say its nearly impossible to know what resources police are using to search for specific missing persons, or whether Black and brown communities are being disproportionately affected.

Missing persons unit revived

In March, Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said she was reviving the missing persons squad, which had been shut down by the previous police chief, in response to those concerns from community leaders.

A few weeks later on April 11, Maj. Leslie Foreman, who oversees the unit, said that the KCPD had laid out several new steps to be taken by the departments recently revived missing persons unit. The revamped unit began working on April 16.

Those steps included maintaining the departments own public list of active cases, releasing reports on which cases were closed and which remained open. Additionally, the department would use the National Missing and Unidentified Person System, or NamUs, which is open to the public, as advocates have urged.

As of Friday, the department still had not publicized a list of active missing persons cases and has yet to say which investigations they have closed.

And the police department has not committed to entering all missing persons into the NamUS database right away, as advocates and experts have recommended.

That database is used at the discretion of detectives, Capt. Corey Carlisle, a KCPD spokesperson said in an email to The Star.

Carlisle said missing persons are already added to the statewide law enforcement database, called MULES and the National Crime Information Center or NCIC.

Those law enforcement databases are not open to the public.

KCPD missing persons report by Ian Cummings on Scribd

Detectives may request missing person fliers be sent to media outlets and social media to help gather more information and for public awareness, Carlisle said. But the police department has not said that it would do so in each case.

Each missing persons case is unique and investigated on a case by case basis, Carlisle said. Each case presents its own set of challenges in which detectives use investigative tools in order to navigate the nuances of those challenges.

Criticism of police investigations

Black leaders have pointed to past experiences that have led some in the community to lose trust in the discretion of Kansas City police.

Some criticized Kansas City police for not alerting the public to the disappearance of Oscar Cabral, 18, when his family reported him missing on March 18. His body was found five days later near the heavily wooded trails inside Swope Park. His death is being investigated as a homicide.

About two weeks before that, police found the body of Jayden Robker, 13, in a pond near his Northland home. Police had delayed four days before informing the public of Jaydens disappearance. At the time, police said they had difficulty getting a current photo from the family.

Since then, The Star has reported that Jayden told police he was being abused by his stepfather months before he was found dead.

Much of the recent discussion around missing persons in Kansas City stems from the case of a 22-year-old Black woman who escaped from the Excelsior Springs house of a man who she said picked her up in Kansas City and kept her captive for weeks.

Kansas City police had disregarded as rumors a report in the community that a serial killer was targeting Black women.

Because of those incidents, the Black and Missing Foundation, a Maryland-based nonprofit, recently included Kansas City as part of its 16-city billboard campaign mean to raise awareness of missing persons of color.

Family and friends of Kansas Citys Oscar E. Cabral circulated flyers after he went missing in March 2023. His body was found near Swope Park on March 23.

Over the years, we have seen an uptick in cases of missing persons cases from Kansas City, said Natalie Wilson, one of the groups co-founders. We especially have been keeping a close eye on Kansas City since local activists and community media have been raising concerns that a serial killer has been targeting Black women. These concerns were dismissed as rumors by law enforcement.

Wilson said it is critical for the KCPD to establish policies and procedures to ensure fairness in missing persons cases regardless of race, gender, and ZIP code. That could be accomplished through enhanced sensitivity and cultural diversity training as well as partnering with organizations such as BAMFI to help in amplifying the cases, she said.

Additionally, the public alert system should be enhanced to include all missing persons beyond the Amber or Silver alerts. This would encourage news organizations to work with law enforcement to help share information about missing persons, Wilson said.

In its May 3 analysis, KCPD reported that 13 out of the 16 active adult missing persons cases were Black. The report also said that 40 Black children were reported missing out of 50 open cases.

Several of the active Black adult missing persons cases date back to May 26, 1989 and one was as recent as Feb. 22.

To know that African Americans make up more than 80 percent of the unsolved cases is alarming and speaks to the lack of resources that can aid in the recovery, she said. Sadly, missing persons of color do not receive the same level of media coverage or law enforcement resources as their white counterparts; therefore, their cases remain open four times longer than their white counterparts. This epidemic is not only happening in Kansas City, but on a national level as well.

A daily report counting missing persons and runaway juveniles is available on the KCPD website, much like the daily homicide analysis the police department already makes available.

Since Oct. 1, the police department recorded 418 missing Black adults and juveniles. That was about 55% of all the people reported missing as of Wednesday.

We have to keep in mind that this report only accounts for missing persons that have been reported to the police department, Watley said. Challenges around reporting a loved one missing is also another issue raised by Black advocates and this report doesnt include that data.

The data in these reports clearly reflect the urgent need for the department to both prioritize and direct resources towards strategies and solutions to address the highly disproportionate number of Black men women and children that have gone missing in the city, Watley said.

Ken Novak, a criminal justice professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, said the KCPDs decision to disband the missing persons unit last year would not be uncommon among police departments across the country facing staffing shortages and high crime rates.

This likely led to difficult decisions like this, Novak said. But fortunately they see the importance of reinstating it.

National statistics showed that people of color (particularly Black) make up a disproportionate number of people reported missing.

In 2022, 35% of all missing persons, and 39% of persons under age 18, were Black, Novak said.

KCPD had previously assigned missing persons cases to detectives who also handled other assignments.

The revived squad, which is made up of seven detectives and a supervisor, will work missing persons cases in addition to non-criminal death investigations such as suicides and drug overdoses.

One of the major concerns raised has been centered on transparency; specifically transparency around processes, deciding how missing persons reports are handled, data and other information that one would expect from their police department. Watley said.

The Kansas City Missouri Police Department kept its word in providing public access to their daily missing persons report and I hope they continue to take steps to be as transparent with the public they serve as possible.
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Keke Palmer is one of the hardest-working entertainers in Hollywood. In 2004, she made her big screen debut as Queen Latifah's niece in Barbershop 2: Back in Business. Less than a year later, she became the youngest leading actress Screen Actors Guild nominee for her role opposite William H. Macy in The Wool Cap. In the 19 years since jump-starting her career, Palmer has been a staple on the Disney and Nickelodeon networks, was the youngest and first Black Cinderella in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway musical, hosted daytime talk shows on BET and ABC, and earned major critical acclaim for her role in Jordan Peele's sci-fi horror film Nope.

Palmer has also successfully explored music, releasing several mixtapes and EPS, including Virgo Tendencies Pt. 1 and 2. And for the first time since 2007, she is releasing a new album called Big Boss, a project title befitting the multihyphenate who recently launched her own network KeyTV. And lucky for us, we can stream Big Boss (and all of her other musical endeavors) on Amazon Music.

Stream Big Boss on Amazon Music

On Thursday night, Palmer took over the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles to play her album for industry insiders and loved ones. The 29-minute album features 10 R&B songs with pop cross-over appeal, like the third track, "Love Language."

Getty Images

For the occasion, Palmer wore a form-fitting blue strapless dress from Sergio Hudson and you can score a similar outfit from Hudson on Amazon for a cool $2,100. Palmer most recently sported his designs on the 2023 Met Gala champagne carpet.

Shop Now Sergio Hudson, Strapless Mini Dress $2096.25 amazon.com

Last week Friday, Palmer was in New York and chopped it up with Gayle King on CBS Mornings to discuss her new movie, also called Big Boss. The film, which opens up with home movies of Palmer, is an intimate look at her life growing up as a child star and overcoming misogyny in the music industry, along with the insecurity she felt during that period.

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"We all have these narratives that we tell ourselves. My first record deal was at 12 years old, with Atlantic Records [telling] me that I was always going to have a hard time in music and that no one would allow me to be me. So every situation kind of mirrored that. The situations I even put myself in and the movie are about me overcoming that narrative and understanding that I'm always enough," says Palmer.

Not only did Palmer write the script for the 41-minute-long project, but Big Boss also marks Palmer's directorial debut. When King asked about how it feels to direct, Palmer drew upon her experiences working with Tyler Perry in the 2006 film Madea's Family Reunion. "I grew up on sets with people like Tyler Perry where Tyler Perry is doing everything, so that's why I felt that I could do it and I wanted to do it  but it is unique. I'm excited to see how it is directing when I'm not in it and when I can focus solely on being the director, not the actor and the director," she explains.

Watch Keke Palmer's Full Movie Big Boss on YouTube

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NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenyan government agencies should have been able to prevent the deaths by starvation of more than 200 members of a cult in the country's coastal region, said President William Ruto, adding he took responsibility for the disaster.

Authorities accuse Paul Mackenzie, leader of the Good News International Church, of ordering his followers to starve themselves and their children to death so they could go to heaven before the end of the world.

The death toll so far stands at 201, making it one of the worst cult-related disasters in recent history.

Of the 201, eight people died from emaciation after being rescued, while the rest have been exhumed mostly from mass graves in Shakahola Forest in Kilifi County in the country's southeast.

Given the presence of government agencies in the area, including police, intelligence services and the local administration, Mackenzie's activities should not have gone unnoticed, Ruto said.

"I am not taking it lightly. I am taking responsibility that as president this should not have happened. And certainly, some people who are responsible for this failure on the part of government will have to give an account," he said in a joint interview with Kenyan news outlets late on Sunday.

"It should not have happened when we have all the agencies. We have our intelligence, we have our CID (Criminal Investigations Department), we have chiefs and all the other people in the whole of that ecosystem."

Mackenzie was arrested earlier this year on suspicion of the murder of two children by starvation and suffocation, but was then released on bail.

Relatives of his adherents say that after Mackenzie was freed he returned to Shakahola forest and moved forward his predicted date for the end of the world from August to April 15.

Mackenzie surrendered to police on April 14 after police raided the forest where the church was based, rescuing 15 people who had been starving themselves.

Story continues

Last week, a court denied Mackenzie bail. He has not yet been required to enter a plea after handing himself over to police last month.

George Kariuki, a lawyer representing Mackenzie, has said the self-styled pastor was cooperating with the investigation.

Ten days ago, Ruto appointed a commission of inquiry into the deaths in Shakahola, and another task force to review regulations governing religious organisations.

(Reporting by George Obulutsa; Editing by Nellie Peyton and Alex Richardson)
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Kevin McCarthy said on Monday he thinks he is "far apart" on a debt ceiling solution with Biden.

This comes after Biden expressed optimism on the direction of the talks on Sunday.

McCarthy said he thinks a deal needs to be reached by this weekend to avoid a default.

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy isn't inspiring confidence that the US can avoid an unprecedented and catastrophic default on its debt.

Last week, President Joe Biden met with McCarthy and the three other top lawmakers in Congress to come to an agreement on raising the debt ceiling before the US defaults, which Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said could happen as early as June 1. Since that meeting, the lawmakers' staff have been holding frequent discussions on what an eventual deal to raise the debt ceiling could look like  including possible areas for compromise  and Biden himself has since appeared optimistic with the directions these talks are going.

"It never is good to characterize a negotiation in the middle of a negotiation," Biden told reporters on Sunday. "I remain optimistic because I'm a congenital optimist. But I really think there's a desire on their part, as well as ours, to reach an agreement, and I think we'll be able to do it."

McCarthy doesn't feel the same, telling reporters on Monday that he thinks both sides are "far apart" from reaching a deal.

"It doesn't seem to me yet they want a deal, it just seems like they want to look like they are in a meeting but they aren't talking anything serious," McCarthy said.

"I think we've got to have a deal done by this weekend to have a timeline to be able to pass it in both houses," he added.

McCarthy referenced the Congressional Budget Office's latest estimate on Friday that there is "significant risk" the US could run out of money to pay its bills in the first two weeks of June, writing that if the debt ceiling is not raised by then, "the government will have to delay making payments for some activities, default on its debt obligations, or both."

Story continues

Biden and McCarthy are expected to meet again on Tuesday to move forward with discussions on a debt ceiling solution. As Insider previously reported, consequences would be severe should Congress fail to come to an agreement before a default. The White House has warned that prolonged default could trigger a recession on par with the Great Recession, and the Joint Economic Committee previously said that a default could cost Americans $20,000 in retirement savings, and their private student-loan and mortgage payments would surge.

With the fate of the economy on the line  and still no solution from Congress  Biden even said last week that he has been "considering" using the 14th amendment to address the crisis, which would declare the debt ceiling unconstitutional and get rid of the limit forever. Even so, Biden said he doesn't think that route "solves our problem now" due to potential litigation, so for now, top lawmakers need to find a solution with the president that would ensure Americans don't hurdle into economic catastrophe as soon as next month.

"Default should be avoided, period," GOP Sen. Cynthia Lummis told Axios, adding that Biden and McCarthy "are going to have to negotiate through this."

Read the original article on Business Insider
A 60-year-old woman was found stuffed inside of a small plastic container after being kidnapped and tortured, Ohio officials said.

Police conducting a welfare check at a Cleveland residence discovered her trapped and moaning in pain on May 2, according to a May 10 press release from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Office.

I have seen a lot of truly terrible cases over the years, and this one is one of the most horrific Ive seen, Prosecutor Michael OMalley said in the release. Thankfully, law enforcement found her alive, and I am praying for her recovery.

The incident began when 31-year-old Dalontay Edmond-Geiger Sr. picked the woman up and drove her to his home in a residential neighborhood of Cleveland, officials said.

He used either force, threats or deception in order to get her into his vehicle, according to court documents.

Once at his home, he stabbed her arm and restrained her with zip ties before torturing her, officials said.

He was reportedly in possession of an AK-47 assault rifle at the time of the alleged kidnapping despite being banned from carrying firearms due to a 2013 robbery conviction, according to court documents.

An attorney for Edmond-Geiger did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News.

After being tipped off to a woman being held against her will in the mans home, police conducted a search of the residence, according to WOIO.

Once inside, an officer heard moaning, but the man turned his radio volume up, drowning out the noise, according to the outlet, citing a police report.

The officers eventually found the kidnapped woman in a container on the porch, officials said. She was taken to a hospital and Edmond-Geiger was arrested on the spot.

He has been charged with attempted murder, assault and kidnapping, among other charges, and was arraigned at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center on May 15.

During his arraignment he reportedly gave the judge the middle finger after being informed that his bond was set at $750,000, according to WKYC.

Story continues

He pleaded not guilty to all charges during the arraignment, according to WJW.

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A mans family followed his accused kidnappers demands by dropping off a ransom payment. Then, his body was found zip-tied in an alley, federal prosecutors said.

Andre Simmons Jr., 28, of Bowie, Maryland, was killed about an hour after his family paid the $7,000 ransom the morning of June 20, 2018, according to prosecutors.

Simmons was shot 19 times, with his hands bound by zip-ties, in an alley in Washington, D.C., after his abduction in Bowie, prosecutors said.

In the cases latest development, four men, Darin Moore Jr., 29, of Bowie and Gabriel Brown, 33, John Sweeney, 29, and James Taylor, 33, of Washington, D.C., were sentenced to life in prison on charges of kidnapping resulting in death, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia announced in a May 12 news release.

Moore, Brown and Sweeney were also sentenced to 45 years in prison on counts of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, first degree premeditated murder and felony murder, officials said. Taylor was sentenced to 45 years in prison on a charge of felony murder, according to prosecutors.

All men have been in federal custody since their arrests in 2018 and 2019, the release said.

McClatchy News contacted attorneys representing the men for comment on May 15 and didnt immediately receive a response.

Simmons death

The case dates to May 2018, when Moore, Brown, Taylor and Sweeney planned on targeting Simmons and his associates for robberies, court documents show.

On the evening of June 19, they abducted Simmons near his mothers home in Bowie after learning of his whereabouts, according to court documents.

A search of Moores iCloud account showed photos of Simmons social media, photos of Simmons familys home and photos of Simmons associates car, according to a sentencing memo submitted by the government for Moore.

Moore and Sweeney found Simmons riding on a scooter before ramming into him with Moores car, the sentencing memo says.

Then, the pair pistol-whipped Simmons, bound his hands with zip ties and kidnapped him by forcing him into the car, according to the sentencing memo.

Story continues

Over the next few hours, Taylors phone was used to call and demand ransom payments from Simmons family, prosecutors said.

During the early morning of June 20, Simmons family dropped off a $7,000 payment to a location chosen by the men before Brown picked up the money, according to prosecutors.

Just before 6:30 a.m., the four men shot Simmons to death and left his body in an alley in Washington, D.C., prosecutors said.

Shotspotter, a system used for gunshot detection, detected 19 gunshots in the alley where Simmons was found by police and pronounced dead, according to the sentencing memo.

After the shooting, the men divided up the $7,000 payment from Simmons family during a meeting in Capitol Heights, Maryland, according to officials.

Moore was arrested the day Simmons was killed, prosecutors said. Brown was arrested a week later on June 27 and Taylor was arrested on Aug. 17, according to officials. Authorities arrested Sweeney on Jan. 14, 2019, the release said.

All four men were found guilty of charges related to the kidnapping on Nov. 1, according to prosecutors.

Bowie is about 20 miles northeast of D.C.

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Kim Kardashian has shared a video her son Saint recorded for her for Mothers Day, in which the seven year old admitted that he often tells her shes nothing to him.

On Sunday 14 May, the reality star shared a look at the Mothers Day presents she was given by her and ex-husband Kanye Wests four children, North, nine; Saint, seven; Chicago, five; and Psalm, four, in celebration of the holiday.

In one post shared to her Instagram Stories, Kardashian shared a picture of one of the cards she received from her daughter Chicago, in which the five year old had filled out sentences about her mother.

In response to the prompt The best thing she cooks is, Chicago wrote: Mom doesnt cook. She has a chef, while the sentence she is really good at was finished with going to the gym.

In honour of Mothers Day, Kardashian also shared a video recorded for her by her son Saint, where hed informed his mother how grateful he is for her and how much he loves her while admitting he is mean to [her] a lot.

Mom, Im very grateful for you. I know Im mean to you a lot and say youre nothing to me, but you mean the world to me. I love you more than anything. Youre my favorite in the family. I even love you more than my cute little brother Psalm. I love you, Saint told his mother in the clip.

On social media, the video has divided viewers, with some questioning the seven-year-olds admission that he tells his mother she is nothing to him.

Now why would Saint West be telling Kim Kardashian that she means nothing to him, one person tweeted, while another said: Saint said that he tells Kim shes nothing to him like omg.

Whyyyyy is Saint telling Kim shes nothing to him. How does he even know what that means. Omg! someone else asked.

Others questioned where Saint would have learned the phrase, with one person writing: Like where does a seven year old learn to say something like that?

Story continues

Although many fans found the sentiment hurtful to Kardashian, others revealed that they found the message from the Skims founders oldest son amusing, and relatable.

LMFAO Kim Kardashian posted a video that Saint sent her for Mothers Day. Omgggg Im CRYING laughing, one person tweeted, while another joked that the video had them screaming.

Too cute, I cant, someone else wrote in response to the video.

(Kim Kardashian / Instagram)

(Kim Kardashian / Instagram)

As of now, Kardashian has not addressed the video from Saint. However, she joked that she felt seen in response to one of the responses on Chicagos Mothers Day card, where the five year old had written that her mother is 22 years old.
King Charles III is in the midst of considering which castle, palace or stately home to call home, it has been reported.

The newly crowned monarch, who had his coronation ceremony last weekend (Saturday 6 May), may be in perpetual orbit if he tries to divide his time between his more than a dozen properties across the country.

However, there is one royal residence  the most famous one in the world  that the King is not keen on using as his base, royal experts have suggested.

Buckingham Palace is not His Majestys style, according to Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine. Royal historian and biographer Hugo Vickers also said Charles would rather not live in the palace, but could run his office and hold state occasions there.

Seward told The Times: Maybe in the end he will have to move into Buckingham Palace, but I dont think he wants to.

Buckingham Palace is so huge and impersonal and red, with red carpets and curtains. Its not his style. He may decide that it should be available to the public all year round.

Vickers added that he thought the King would stay at Clarence House, adding that this was what the late Queen Elizabeth II wanted to do, but Winston Churchhill made her go to Buckingham Palace.

King Charles and Queen Camillas beloved family residence is Highgrove House, located in Gloucestershire. The gardens there, overseen by Charles, are a major attraction and draw thousands of visitors between April and October every year when they are open to the public.

The King in the gardens of his home at Highgrove (Leanne Punshon/The Princes Foundation/PA) (PA Media)

He also owns Birkhall, a Scottish estate, and Llwynywermod, a Welsh farmhouse.

The Kings property portfolio includes seven palaces, 10 castles, 12 homes, 56 cottages and 14 ancient ruins. He inherited The Crown Estate, as well as his mothers private estates such as Balmoral Castle in Scotland when she died last September.

According to the report, Charles prefers living in smaller properties than grand palaces, and it is likely he will use Balmoral in the same way as Buckingham Palace.

Story continues

One source said that, when in Scotland, Charles would prefer to stay at his eight-bedroom home in Birkhall compared to the 52-room Balmoral.

Queen Elizabeth II, her two children Charles (R) and Ann and a corgi posing in Balmoral (-/AFP via Getty Images)

He absolutely loves Birkhall, the source was quoted as saying. I would be amazed if he abandoned that. I think its far more likely that he will stay at Balmoral when there are prime ministerial visits but treat it like an office, as he does with Buckingham Palace.

The Independent has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.

The Kings decision over his royal residences come after reports suggested that his brother, the Duke of York, is refusing to budge from Royal Lodge.

Prince Andrew was understood to have been offered the keys to Frogmore Cottage after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were asked to vacate the property earlier this year.

However, the disgraced duke is reportedly unwilling to downsize from his 30-room residence, which he has lived in for the past 20 years.

Sources close to Andrew said he is concerned that now the coronation is over, the knives are out and fears that Charles may turn off the utilities to get him out of there.

Previously, it was reported that Andrew was worried that he would no longer be able to afford to maintain Royal Lodge  where he lives with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson  after the King cuts off his annual 25,000 allowance.
Kitchen Kings, a spot serving seafood, burgers and chicken for takeout or delivery only, is planning to take over the former Sticky Rice space at 1000 E. Locust St. in Riverwest.

The new concept comes from four owners: Waleed Mohamady and Ramez Aly, who own the Mad Chicken franchise with two others, plus Mo Salah and Intessar Musa.

They are working on creating a menu that includes seafood items like tilapia and fried fish plus other Mediterranean-style dishes. They also plan to offer a shrimp sandwich, something Mohamady said he could not find elsewhere in Milwaukee.

"I've been looking around for that. We want to do one in a Mediterranean style with tahini," Mohamady said.

Their menu also will have burgers, chicken tenders and chicken sandwiches.

Sticky Rice restaurant, serving Lao and Thai dishes, opened on E. Locust St. in 2020. They opened a second location at 707 E. Brady St. in July 2022 and moved all their operations to that location in January of this year, closing the Riverwest spot.

Mohamady and Ramez said they have been working to open a new concept with the help of their other partners, including Musa, Ramez's wife, for some time. They want to capitalize on pickup and delivery orders which have been on the rise thanks to the pandemic and third-party delivery services. They are also hoping to open a food truck under the same Kitchen Kings brand.

They are planning to open the Riverwest space in June.

Carol Deptolla contributed to this report.

Jordyn Noennig covers Wisconsin culture and lifestyle. Follow her on Instagram @JordynTaylor_n. Find her on Twitter @JordynTNoennig. Call her at 262-446-6601 or email Jordyn.Noennig@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New Rivewest takeout spot Kitchen Kings to open in former Sticky Rice
Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, has said that the information of The Washington Post about the alleged attempts of the leader of the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) Yevgeny Prigozhin to negotiate with Ukrainian intelligence is a hoax.

Source: Peskov during a press call on 15 May

Quote: "I can't [comment  ed.], but it looks like another hoax. Unfortunately, even respected publications in recent times quite often do not disdain it. "

Earlier: The Washington Post, citing data from leaked documents, reported that the owner of Wagner PMC Yevgeny Prigozhin suggested providing Ukraine with the locations of Russian troops, in exchange for the Armed Forces of Ukraine moving their units out of Bakhmut, where mercenaries were being killed en masse.

The newspaper states that two Ukrainian officials confirmed that Prigozhin spoke several times with representatives of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.

In particular, one of the officials allegedly said that Prigozhin made a proposal regarding Bakhmut "more than once," but Kyiv rejected it because officials didn't trust Prigozhin and believed that his proposals could be insincere.

Andrii Yusov, representative of Defence Intelligence, commenting on The Washington Post article, said that "Ukraine is doing everything possible to protect its own national interests, and effectively liberate the territory."

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia takes an "extremely negative" view of Britain's decision to supply Ukraine with more military hardware such as long-range attack drones, but does not believe London's help will change the course of the conflict, the Kremlin said on Monday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in Britain on Monday with a promise of long range attack drones on top of cruise missiles pledged last week, as he tours Europe to try to source new arms for a counter-offensive against Russia.

Asked about Britain's military aid, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said:

"We take an extremely negative view of this. Britain is trying to be one of the leading countries which keeps pumping weapons into Ukraine."

He said the impact of Britain's military aid would not be significant and would ultimately only make things worse for Ukraine.

"It cannot have any significant or major impact on the course of the Special Military Operation," he said, using the phrase the Kremlin uses to describe Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.

"But it all leads to more destruction, to further military action and so on. So for Ukraine, it makes things much more complex."

The Russian defence ministry was cited on Monday by Russian news agencies as saying its air defence forces had shot down a British-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missile fired by Ukraine.

Reuters was unable to confirm the report.

Zelenskiy says he needs all the weapons he can get if Ukraine's long-expected counter-offensive is to meet all of its goals.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
Chad Smith, chief executive of the L.A. Phil, photographed at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

The Boston Symphony made the surprise announcement Monday that this fall its next president and chief executive will be current Los Angeles Philharmonic CEO Chad Smith.

In his two decades at the L.A. Phil, of which he became CEO in October 2019, Smith has played an outsize role in the progressive ambition of the orchestra, which now has the largest budget, the broadest range of musical and educational activities and the most extensive community engagement of any orchestra in the world.

He opened my eyes to new music, Gustavo Dudamel said in a phone call from Berlin, as he was about to go onstage and conduct the Berlin Philharmonic in Teenek  Invenciones de Territorio, a work by Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz that was commissioned by the L.A. Phil and premiered by Dudamel in 2017.

I was not a teenager when I began at the L.A. Phil, Dudamel said of becoming the orchestras music director in 2009 at age 27, but musically I was a teenager, very young. Chad gave me the possibility to grow up inventively.

Smith leaves at the height of his career and when the L.A. Phil is in the best shape of its 104-year history. While many other American orchestras are struggling to come fully back from pandemic shutdowns, the L.A. Phil, which lost more than $100 million in projected income, has brought audiences back to Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. Thomas Beckmen, the orchestras board chairman, said the L.A. Phil will be ending the year with record sales and income of $160 million. Artistically as well, the L.A. Phil is an international leader; no orchestra is more influential.

Smith, whose relatively short time as CEO was dominated by pandemic crisis management, said he was full of mixed emotions.

I love the music we make in every way, he said, in how we are advancing the art form and how we get to more appreciate it. My favorite days are those sitting down and talking with Gustavo and with composers.

But Smith also noted that the orchestra is super healthy, in amazing shape, and thrives in times of change while always retaining that thing that is the L.A. Phil. Meanwhile, at 51, Smith said he was ready for a new challenge. Boston is where his musical roots are, having graduated from New England Conservatory of music and spent many Fridays attending Boston Symphony concerts at nearby Symphony Hall, arguably the best concert hall in America until Disney Hall opened in 2003.

Story continues

Like the L.A. Phil, the BSO has a broad range of activities and a legendary summer home, Tanglewood, in the Berkshires. The orchestra has a full concert season there as well as a prestigious teaching program, where Leonard Bernstein famously got his professional start  and so did Smith, who was a vocalist. There he met Michael Tilson Thomas, who brought him to the New World Symphony in Miami and then the San Francisco Symphony.

Shortly after Deborah Borda became head of the L.A. Phil in 2000, she hired Smith to run the orchestras new-music Green Umbrella series. He worked with her for most of her 17 years at the L.A. (with a brief break Smith calls a hiccup at the New York Philharmonic). He helped to open Disney Hall and worked closely with Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen to expand the orchestras musical profile and then with Dudamel in a multifaceted directorship that has included an enormous commitment to education through Dudamels YOLA program, the Frank Gehry-designed Beckmen YOLA Center in Inglewood and the Ford amphiheater, which serves as yet another venue.

Im sure it makes L.A. uncomfortable, Borda said of Smith's departure. Hes a great manager. He guided the L.A. Phil through the pandemic, diversified the board, kept its creative spirit alive. But there comes a time when you feel a need of a challenge.

After 17 years in L.A., as much as I loved it, I felt that need, she said of leaving her job as the orchestras president and CEO to move to the New York Philharmonic, where she has given new life to a then-struggling orchestra.

The BSO, a storied American orchestra, has a popular music director in Andris Nelsons, but the orchestra has struggled for a long time to maintain a strong artistic profile and to regain its former vibrancy as a cultural institution in a city that is culturally conservative but also youth-oriented and full of digital startups. The BSO, which also includes the fabled Boston Pops, hired another former L.A. Phil executive, Gail Samuel, in June 2021. But the dynamic didnt work, and she resigned at the end of last year.

In Smith the BSO is getting the top orchestral manager of his generation. Stravinsky once said that 50 is the age for a new career. Salonen left the L.A. Phil around 50. Borda left the New York Philharmonic to come to L.A. around 50. Its an age where you feel like you have accrued technique and knowledge, she said. You are filled with energy. And if youve had success, you begin to think, 'What can I do to make a difference?' It seems for Chad like a natural and organic change.

Tom Morris, former head of the Ojai Music Festival and the Cleveland Orchestra, led the Boston Symphony between 1969 and 1985, when Seiji Ozawa was music director and during one of the orchestras periods of creative vibrancy. Hes not surprised by Smiths hiring.

The orchestra needs someone with artistic chops, and that is what he brings to the table, Morris said. He is the way of the future.

"It is good for Boston. It is good for L.A. And it makes me very happy.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A Tompkins County man who was wanted as a person of interest in the death of an Ithaca resident has been taken into custody in Tioga County and faces a murder charge.

Last week, the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office announced they were looking for Larry R. Walrad, Jr., 52, of Lansing, in connection with the March 4 death of 71-year-old Joseph West, Jr.

Following an investigation by the sheriff's office, a Tompkins County grand jury handed up a sealed indictment charging Walrad with second-degree murder.

Investigators made several unsuccessful attempts to contact Walrad, and believed he had become aware of the indictment and was in hiding. A sheriff's office callout asked members of the public to contact authorities if they had any information regarding Walrad's whereabouts.

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Late Thursday evening, the Tompkins County Sheriffs Office received a tip that Walrad had been seen on Main Street in Candor, and investigators contacted the Tioga County Sheriff's Office and New York State Police.

Around 1 p.m. Friday, deputies from the Tioga County Sheriff's Office responded to another tip and took Walrad into custody in Candor without incident. He was transported back to Tompkins County by state troopers.

Walrad was arraigned in Tompkins County Court on the murder charge and sent to the Tompkins County jail without bail by Judge John C. Rowley. No futher details have been released regarding West's death.

The Ithaca Police Department, Cornell University Police Department, Tompkins County Medical Examiner's Office and Tompkins County District Attorney's Office also assisted in the investigation.

Follow Jeff Murray on Twitter @SGJeffMurray. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on Ithaca Journal: Lansing man arrested in Candor, charged in death of Joseph West Jr.
Jeremy Strong in "Succession" season four, episode 8 titled "America Decides." HBO

It's true. You really should wear comfortable shoes on election night.

It's not true that decision calls are left up to media executives.

Warning: There are major spoilers ahead!

The latest episode of "Succession" was a nail-biting, anxiety-inducing, roller coaster ride of...nope, can't say that word. Let's just say it was a mess as it documented how the fictional news network, ATN, covered a high-stakes presidential election.

It chronicled with intense pace as the journalists and the Roy clan battled each other to name who the next president of the United States would be  even if it may not be totally accurate.

By the episode's end, Roman's pick  Mencken, who's giving Trump vibes  is named the winner by ATN. It comes despite some votes in Wisconsin not being counted due to a mysterious fire and due to some serious election interference by the youngest Roy. Meanwhile, Shiv is found out for dealing with Matsson on the side, and Kendall is dealing with his own issues as he considers how the election will affect ordinary people, like his daughter, from a changing cultural tide.

Greg and Tom during season four, episode 8 of "Succession" called "America Decides." HBO

Still, what did the episode get right about working election night as a journalist? Well, lots.

Wearing comfortable shoes is a must: The episode opens with a hilarious moment as people question why Tom is wearing hard-soled shoes since they're not comfortable. It's true: On election night, people who aren't on camera tend to dress comfortably as it's often a long night. Depending on the newsroom  and I've worked in many on election night  it may even involve running back and forth to the studio, up and down stairs. So yes, wear comfortable shoes.

You will eat in the newsroom: It may not be sushi with a side of some spicy wasabi dashed with LaCroix, but it's often hard to order food on election night, which is notoriously busy. The newsrooms that I've worked in, however, typically pick the easy route and order pizzas and salads.

Technical difficulties happen: And when they do everyone is asking, and asking, and asking what happened, who did it, and when will it be fixed  just like when the touchscreens broke and Tom asked why, then Kendall asked why. That wasn't an exaggeration, sadly.

Story continues

Here's what it got wrong:

Decision desk calls aren't made by executives: Each newsroom has a standard practice on how their Decision Desk operates. NBC breaks down how theirs operates here. In summary, it "uses exit poll data to determine whether uncompetitive races can be called. Most races are called based on analyses of precinct- and county-level vote returns. The analyses also examine differences between early and Election Day votes. In close contests, a careful analysis of how much of the vote has not been counted is a crucial part of the process. No race is projected until the Decision Desk is at a minimum 99.5 percent confident of the winner."

Read the original article on Insider
EDGEWATER  A state investigation released last week found that elected and appointed officials actively worked to benefit a prominent Bergen County developer, confirming claims made by another developer in a lawsuit years ago.

The New Jersey State Commission of Investigation report outlined how many Edgewater officials had connections to Fred Daibes, a local developer with property along the Hudson River, and that some of the ties included business contracts and, in one case, discounted rent for a luxury apartment.

Accusations, lawsuits and the most recent investigation have tied up the borough and its officials for years. Why and when did the trouble start?

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Story behind the state investigation

In 2017, 615 River Road Partners, LLC, filed a complaint in federal court against the borough, claiming officials had blocked it from building on its site on River Road because of the influence exerted by Daibes.

The developer did not respond to requests for comment regarding the findings of the investigation.

The complaint alleged that numerous officials  including the mayor and several Borough Council and zoning board members  receive cash payments, employment in enterprises linked to Daibes, or other favors from Daibes-owned businesses, such as apartments for below-market rent.

'Abdicated their sworn responsibilities'

In 2018, Daibes and a business associate were indicted in federal court on multiple counts in an alleged conspiracy to circumvent lending limits set by Mariner's Bank, which Daibes founded in 2001. He has since pleaded guilty.

The commissions investigation found borough officials repeatedly abdicated their sworn responsibilities to safeguard public tax monies and the interests of all residents, to protect their own personal and financial concerns and those of private developer Fred Daibes, the report said.

Story continues

In this 2004 photo, Fred Daibes is building aluxurious apartment tower on Gorge Road in Edgewater with magnificent views of the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline. Daibes stands in the first floor lobby.

The 18.7-acre former Hess oil terminal on River Road is the last piece of land to be developed along the Hudson River. A settlement agreement was reached with the borough in 2019 despite new lawsuits for the developers popping up and delaying future construction.

In 2018, court documents showed Daibes' close involvement with the future of the property, which was once considered to be part of an eminent domain plan and home to a public works facility instead of benefiting from tax ratables from a development.

Court documents showed that in 2017, zoning board member Jeffrey Mathieu sent an email to Daibes asking for his opinion on the rival development, which was due before the board.

I would like to know your take on the Hess application coming before us on September 12, Mathieu wrote.

Daibes replied: Im not in favor of the project at all.

The emails and rent totals for public officials in Daibes' buildings are among several documents included as evidence in a federal lawsuit accusing borough officials of conspiring with Daibes to drive out competitors.

Edgewater Mayor Michael McPartland informed the town of the state probe in his New Year report in January. "The New Jersey State Commission of Investigation has been investigating the slanderous and defamatory accusations made by the 615 Partners, owners of the former Hess site," he wrote on the borough website.

McPartland referred to his official statement in the state's investigation report for his comment. In a letter dated March 17, he denied any wrongdoing and noted that he has known Daibes for 50 years. In his statement he said he has never provided Mr. Daibes with any benefit he was not otherwise entitled to and that he takes serious offense at the innuendo that I have.

He also said the rent incentives at the time of the new Daibes-owned apartment building were offered to everyone to increase the occupancy of the building.

The truth is I have paid every dollar I owed for all of the time I have been at the Alexander. I never received any free rent, McPartland said.

Other lawsuits

Despite the settlement with the borough, other lawsuits have prevented work from proceeding at 615 River Road.

Last year, multiple lawsuits were filed claiming the borough was "strong-armed" into the settlement agreement to avoid revealing its conflicts of interest with Daibes.

One lawsuit by Windsor Cove Associates LLC also cites conflicts of interest, saying the mayor and council were "eager" to enter into the settlement agreement "so there would never be a trial at which evidence of such conflicts would ever see the light of day."

Windsor Cove Associates owns two parcels of land in Edgewater. According to tax records, the properties are also owned by J. Demetrakis. The postal address for Windsor Cove Associates is the same as that of attorney David Carmel, who filed the lawsuit in state Superior Court in Bergen County. The address for both is 1 Bridge Plaza, Suite 519, in Fort Lee.

James Demetrakis prior to a court hearing in Newark in 2019.

James Demetrakis, the luxury high-rise developer who helped transform Bergen County's Hudson River Gold Coast, avoided prison in 2019 when a judge sentenced him to two years' probation for a loan scheme that also entangled Daibes, his business partner.

Demetrakis also was assessed a $75,000 fine for allegedly conspiring to defraud Mariner's Bank, the Bergen County-based lender founded by Daibes.

Additional lawsuits were filed by SoJo Spa and Cliffside Park, which claimed the development would block their views. The borough attorney said that litigation was decided in favor of the developer and is currently in the appeals process with no current court date set.

A third lawsuit was filed against 615 River Road and the Edgewater Zoning Board of Adjustment last year by former council candidate Erik DiMarco claiming proper notice wasn't given to the surrounding property owners and for the meeting hearings.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: The story behind the state's investigation into Edgewater officials
Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Russia's Wagner mercenary force, speaks in Paraskoviivka, Ukraine in this still image from an undated video released on March 3, 2023. Concord Press Service/via REUTERS

The Wagner Group has frequently feuded with Russia's military leadership over its war in Ukraine.

A new report suggests the group leader took it farther than previously known, offering to give Ukraine Russian troop locations.

The report indicates that Yevgeny Prigozhin was ready to derail Russia's war for his own aims, an expert told Insider.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the paramilitary Wagner Group, offered to sell Ukraine the positions of Russian troops in an attempt to take the pressure off his mercenaries in a key battle, a new report said, citing leaked US intelligence.

The reported offer, which Prigozhin has denied, suggests he may have been so dead-set on claiming victory in the war-torn city of Bakhmut, where Ukrainian and Russian forces have squared off for months at tremendous cost to both sides, but the Russians in particular, that he was ready to effectively throw the Russian military offensive "under the bus," an expert on Russian security and politics told Insider.

"Obviously, Prigozhin was looking for shortcuts," said Mark Galeotti, a senior associate fellow at the London-based Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). "And particularly, shortcuts at the expense of his main enemy of the moment," the defense ministry and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

Wagner mercenaries have played a key role in Moscow's months-long bid to capture Bakhmut, located in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region. The fight for the city is the longest and bloodiest battle since Russian forces launched their full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Desperate for a symbolic victory amid a faltering winter offensive in Ukraine, Russia poured significant resources into its fight for Bakhmut, which holds limited strategic value. Moscow's forces  including its regular military and mercenary army  incurred heavy losses in just a few months of fighting, and a lack of progress on the battlefield exposed rifts between Prigozhin and Russia's military leadership.

Story continues

Prigozhin, the notorious Wagner leader and financier, has routinely criticized top military officials over the Kremlin's handling of its struggling war, with a major point of contention being a lack of ammunition and weaponry reaching the mercenaries in combat. And according to a new report, amid these tensions, Prigozhin attempted derail Russia's battlefield operations in a major way.

Determined to toss Russia's offensive 'under the bus'

As Wagner continued to take substantial losses around Bakhmut, Prigozhin in late January offered to give Ukraine the locations of Russian troops so Kyiv could then launch attacks against them. In exchange, Ukrainian soldiers would withdraw from the area, The Washington Post reported on Sunday.

The report, which cited top secret US military intelligence leaked to social media, said Prigozhin made the offer on several occasions to Ukraine's military intelligence directorate, but it was rejected because Kyiv doesn't trust the Wagner boss.

Insider was unable to verify the document's authenticity, and the Pentagon declined to comment on the report. Prigozhin, who has long enjoyed close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, denied offering the intelligence to Ukraine.

Ukrainian soldiers walk in the position close to Bakhmut, Ukraine, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. AP Photo/LIBKOS

Galeotti, an expert in modern Russian intelligence services, security politics, and criminality at RUSI, described the reported move as a "catastrophic blunder" on Prigozhin's behalf, especially now that the information has been made public.

Prigozhin "was clearly so determined to try and deliver the victory for the boss in Bakhmut that he was prepared to essentially throw the rest of the Russian offensive under the bus," said Galeotti, who is also an honorary professor at the University College London's School of Slavonic and East European Studies.

"Now, if he got away with it, then maybe he would've been in a very strong position, but not only did he not get away with it, this has now become public knowledge," Galeotti said. He described Prigozhin's offer to Ukraine as "another sign of the essentially dysfunctional way that when Putin's power politics gets transposed to the battlefield, it just doesn't work."

'A serious problem for the Russians'

Irregular Russian commanders, such as Prigozhin and Ramzan Kadyrov, who leads a band of Chechen fighters, have long been a feature of Putin's war in Ukraine. But these individuals appear to be calling more shots on the battlefield, or at least attempting to amid pushback from the defense ministry, and war experts say they may be taking advantage of Moscow's military leadership and threatening operations.

Prigozhin, for example, went on a screaming tirade earlier this month against Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Gen. Valery Gerasimov and blamed them for mounting Wagner casualties, later threatening to withdraw his forces from Bakhmut because they lacked enough ammunition.

Prigozhin then walked back his threat a few days later, claiming he was promised ammunition from Moscow. Experts at the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, wrote in an analysis that the reversal was likely a coordinated effort from Prigozhin and Kadyrov to blackmail Russia's military command into giving Wagner the resources it demanded, even if the defense ministry's priorities were elsewhere.

Ukrainian soldiers fire a cannon near Bakhmut, an eastern city where fierce battles against Russian forces have been taking place, in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, Monday, May 15, 2023. AP Photo/Libkos

"Putin's basic way of running the Russian system is divide and rule," Galeotti said, referring to the Russian leader's tendency to play factions off of one another and compete for his attention. "We have a whole variety of sharp-toothed political entrepreneurs with overlapping responsibilities competing against each other, trying to rip each other down, trying to pitch their own bright ideas to the boss."

This strategy has worked for Putin during his decades in power, but "it really doesn't work well when it's transposed to the battlefield and you have all these multiple different sort of private armies and different forces," Galeotti said. "It's been a serious problem for the Russians throughout."

While Prigozhin's threat to withdraw from Bakhmut was among the more serious examples of tensions boiling over, his reported offer to reveal Russian troops positions to the Ukrainians seems to be one of the more telling instances of Wagner's crippling feud with the Russian military leadership.

Prigozhin "probably over-promised around Bakhmut, realized he needed a victory when he was riding high last year, made way too many enemies, and appreciated that of course they were all looking for an opportunity to tear him down," Galeotti said. "And I think this is the point. This is a system which essentially encourages ruthless opportunism, but above all, self-interest rather than loyalty."

Read the original article on Business Insider
As a visitor approaches the front entrance of a Minneapolis elementary school, their every move is documented by a security camera. A second camera positioned on the right picks them up as they walk down the hallway and a third keeps a watchful eye as they pass by the gym.

The specific locations of the campus surveillance cameras, and other sensitive details about the schools physical security infrastructure, are attainable without ever stepping foot inside. Thats because theyre now readily available online, an investigation by The 74 has found. Security experts said the startling revelation puts students and staff citywide at risk of physical danger at a moment when mass school shootings have reached record highs, including a March attack in Nashville where police say the shooter relied on a hand-drawn map.

Folks are already on edge with whats been going on in schools and the fact that they got all of the security information and then think about who has it, said Marika Pfefferkorn, a Minnesota-based student privacy activist and executive director of the Midwest Center for School Transformation. The information, she noted, is already in the hands of known threat actors. At any moment, were just vulnerable.

The school security records, including blueprints of campuses citywide, were uncovered in an analysis by The 74 of confidential files purportedly stolen from the Minneapolis school district by the ransomware gang Medusa. The records were published online in March after the district refused the cyber criminals demand for $1 million to keep the highly sensitive information from becoming public. The data encompasses more than 189,000 individual files totaling 143 gigabytes. The records, which outline specific, technical details about security systems in Minneapolis schools, can be downloaded with little more than a Google search.

States nationwide have ramped up efforts to digitize their campus security layouts, and since the mass school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, last year, several have rolled out multi-million dollar digital map initiatives in hopes they help improve police response times.

Story continues

Along with insight into campus layouts and surveillance camera placements, the leaked Minneapolis records pinpoint the locations of fire alarms, security keypads, gas meters and water shutoff valves. Videos and PowerPoint presentations offer instructions on how to arm and disarm a campus alarm system. Maps document the routes that children are instructed to take should an emergency force them to evacuate their buildings.

In an email, district spokesperson Crystina Lugo-Beach declined interview requests from The 74. She said a third-party company is meticulously reviewing all the documents released by the threat actor and that the district has not yet been provided with the results of that review.

This has been, as you know, an incredibly difficult situation for our community, she continued. With accurate, comprehensive information, we will certainly make any necessary updates to our safety protocols.

Given the sensitive nature of the campus security records, theyre generally inaccessible to the public. Under the state public records law, government records related to security information are explicitly exempt from public disclosure. This shields documents, including those maintained by public schools, that are likely to substantially jeopardize the security of information, possessions, individuals or property. Government entities typically apply a broad interpretation of the exemption to withhold records, said Don Gemberling, a Minnesota Coalition on Government Information board member who spent three decades in state government helping public agencies comply with the Data Practices Act.

The kind of things youre talking about, if you went and asked for it theyd tell you that you couldnt have it, he said.

Gemberling, who lives in Saint Paul, said the school district must move quickly to reconfigure its security systems.

Id be changing the location of cameras, Id be making sure that every door that indicates some kind of vulnerability is fixed, he said. Id sure be looking at where my security software failed because it appears to have failed miserably.

The Minneapolis schools breach also exposed confidential and highly sensitive records about individual students and teachers, including files that outline campus rape cases, child abuse inquiries, student mental health crises and suspension reports. Some of the sensitive files are from earlier this year, though many of the campus security records are undated and it is unclear which details remain accurate.

Related Minneapolis Data Breach a Worst-Case Scenario after Ransomware Attack

For individual students and educators whose sensitive information was published, the data breach could have serious, long-term ramifications, said school cybersecurity expert Doug Levin. Yet even taking into account that disturbing consequence of the breach, the release of campus security records presents a serious escalation.

Youre talking about the possibility of catastrophic outcomes for a whole school community, said Levin, the national director of the K12 Security Information eXchange. If there was somebody who was aggrieved and wanted to go onto the campus and create an issue, knowing that these files are out there, it certainly represents a heightened risk.

Despite the significant volume, recency and sensitivity of the exposed files, community members said the district has failed to be transparent and forthcoming about key details. For a recent investigation, local television station WCCO News obtained district emails that exposed a nearly two-week delay between the time officials learned about the cyber attack and when they alerted families to what they euphemistically called an encryption event, warning them their personal data could be compromised.

Im going to kill some kids

Amid the national uptick in mass shootings, campus safety has become a top concern for parents, with nearly 70% saying they are at least somewhat worried about a shooting unfolding at their childs school, according to a Pew Research Center poll.

Mass school shooters often conduct significant research and planning prior to their attacks, according to recent Secret Service research. Previous shooters have surveilled the campus police officer in order to learn his route, noting security camera locations and trying to arrange meetings with a targeted teacher, the report notes. Some rely on maps.

Prior to the attack on a Nashville Christian elementary school in March, police said the perpetrator conducted extensive surveillance of the school and drew a map that outlined their attack plan, which left three children and three adults dead. Just last month, a 20-year-old St. Olaf College student was arrested and accused of planning an attack on the campus roughly 40 miles south of Minneapolis. Police say the student had a gun magazine, plans to buy guns, a list of security radio frequencies and a map of the schools recreation center with an exit route.

Related Trove of L.A. Students Mental Health Records Posted to Dark Web After Cyber Hack

Breaking from a common procedure for data leaks, the stolen Minneapolis records werent published to the dark web. Instead, as The 74 first revealed, download links were published on a faux technology news site thats indexed by standard search engines. Theyre also available on Telegram, the encrypted instant messaging service thats been used by terror groups and violent far-right extremists.

A single Telegram account was identified in a recent Vice News investigation as a primary source in a nationwide wave of so-called swatting calls. The swat-for-hire account holder has reportedly called in dozens of false mass shooting reports nationwide that have sent police scrambling to respond. Perpetrators tend to make the phony threats sound as credible as possible and access to school floor plans  perhaps on the same platform they already use  could be seen as extremely valuable. In recent posts on the app, the Telegram user identified by Vice announced that an online marketplace to sell their swatting services was set to drop in late May or early June, possibly leading to an escalation in the hoax attacks that are already bedeviling law enforcement.

The Minneapolis cyber attack isnt the first time that hackers have breached a schools physical security safeguards and exploited parents fears of mass shootings. In 2017, hackers with the notorious ransomware gang TheDarkOverlord infiltrated district computer networks in multiple states and used school data to send parents threatening text messages that invoked the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Im going to kill some kids at your sons high school, texts to Iowa parents read. In Montana, the hackers reportedly breached a districts security cameras, allowing them to watch what was being recorded.

Related Swatting Hoax Targeting Schools Absolutely Coordinated, But May Still Be Kids

Complete damage control

School safety experts told The 74 that Minneapolis officials must take immediate steps to mitigate risks after the hack. But the path forward, they said, wont be easy.

Following a 2020 ransomware attack in Baltimore, the county school district reported nearly $10 million in recovery costs.

The district, at this point, has to be in complete damage control mode, school security consultant Kenneth Trump told The 74, adding that school leaders must adopt heightened situational awareness of potential threats moving forward and shore up their cybersecurity procedures to prevent additional leakage. You cant put the genie back in the bottle, its already out there. The first step is to take a look at your systems and what steps that you can take to prevent it from happening again.

Yet the district should steer clear of reconfiguring its breached physical security systems just for the sake of haha, now you dont know where they are, said Trump, president of the Cleveland-based National School Safety and Security Services. Such a move, he said, could simply make the campuses more vulnerable.

Related The Latest School Weapons Detection Tech Can Miss Serious Threats, Experts Say

If they were where they were supposed to be in the first place, they were there to serve a specific purpose, he said. It makes no sense: OK, you know one (camera) is in the back hallway. Well show you  well take it out.

Because camera systems and other physical security infrastructure is essentially immutable, the hack presents an ongoing concern, Levin noted, and could be exploited by threat actors well into the future.

State law requires public entities to establish appropriate security safeguards for all records containing data on individuals. To Gemberling, of the Minnesota Coalition on Government Information, its clear that didnt happen.

Somewhere along the way, somebody is going to sue about this because we live in a pretty litigious society, said Gemberling, who regularly fields questions about the viability of lawsuits after data breaches. Im a retired attorney, Ive written law review articles about this stuff. If somebody were to call me about this particular one Id say, Go for it.

While the breached sensitive information about individuals could open the district to litigation, he said the physical security records present an even greater risk should someone use the information to carry out an act of violence.

Now youve got serious problems, especially if people could prove that, but for the failure to keep the data secure, that (attack) would never have happened, he said. Thats what security is all about, is keeping people from getting hurt.

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A man was hospitalized after a shooting in Pittsburgh.

Allegheny County dispatchers say police and medics were called to Amanda Street and Loyal Way in Allentown at around 7:09 p.m. Sunday.

Police say they found a man who had suffered a graze wound in his shoulder when they arrived.

Officers also investigated a vehicle that had been hit by gunfire. The vehicle that had been shot appeared to have crashed into another vehicle, which had to be towed from the scene.

The man is listed in stable condition.

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A handout picture released by the Mexican Army shows the site of an accident between a truck and a passenger van in Mexico's Tamaulipas state on May 14, 2023

At least 13 people were killed when a passenger van and a semi-truck collided on a highway in northeastern Mexico on Sunday, local authorities said.

The vehicles crashed on a road between the cities of Zaragoza and Hidalgo in the border state of Tamaulipas.

"Civil protection authorities are responding, and so far they are reporting 13 people deceased," Tamaulipas security officials said in a statement.

Images shared by authorities showed the passenger van almost entirely destroyed by fire, with the semi-truck also severely burned.

The number of victims could increase, said an official from the prosecutor's office, who did not want to be identified, as there were indications that the truck driver's family was with him and may have died too.

Early indications were that the driver may have fled.

Local media reported that more than 20 people may have died in the crash and resulting fire, but first responders were still working to fully understand the situation at the scene, the prosecutor's office official said.

The victims may have all been members of one family who had rented the van to drive to the northern city of Monterrey in Veracruz, local media reported.

Road accidents have increased in recent years in Mexico, usually due to high speeds, poor vehicle conditions or driver fatigue.

Civil organizations have demanded stricter regulations to curb the toll.

str/sem/gm/caw/qan
At least three people were killed and six others, including two police officers, were hurt Monday morning in a shooting in Farmington, New Mexico, police said. An 18-year-old man suspected of carrying out the attack was "confronted and killed on scene," police said.

Two officers, one from the Farmington Police Department and one from New Mexico State Police, were shot and listed in stable condition at a hospital, Farmington police said in a statement Monday afternoon. The state police officer was able to drive himself to the hospital, authorities said Monday night. He was still in the hospital as of Monday night and was "doing well," Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said. The Farmington officer had been released from the hospital by Monday night, Hebbe said.

Officers responding to the shooting found a "chaotic scene" with the suspect "actively firing upon individuals" at around 11 a.m., Deputy Chief Baric Crum told reporters Monday afternoon.

Hebbe said Monday night that the first officers arrived at 11:02 a.m. and that the suspect had been shot by officers by 11:05.

The shooter fired at least three different weapons, including an "AR-style rifle," Hebbe said.

Authorities did not identify the suspect and Crum said he didn't know if the 18-year-old had any previous contact with police. Hebbe said that, while police were still trying to piece together a motive, the shooting "appears to be purely random."



"There were no schools, no churches, no individuals targeted," he said.

During the shooting, the suspect "roamed the neighborhood, up to a quarter of a mile" and "randomly fired at whatever entered his head to shoot at," Hebbe said. At least three cars and six houses were also shot at, he said.

A video posted to social media appeared to show the suspect pacing with what looks like a gun near a building. An officer was heard saying on police radio that the suspect was outside a church. Investigators were trying to determine the validity of the video, Crum told reporters.

Story continues

Hebbe said that it was initially believed there may have been more than one shooter, "but at the end of it, it does not appear there ever was a second shooter."

Investigators work along a residential street following a deadly shooting Monday, May 15, 2023, in Farmington, N.M. Authorities said an 18-year-old opened fire in the northwestern New Mexico community, killing multiple people and injuring others, before law enforcement fatally shot the suspect. / Credit: Susan Montoya Bryan / AP

Schools throughout the city were placed in lockdown at the request of police, the Farmington school district said in an 11:15 a.m. message on its website. Hebbe noted that police had requested the lockdowns when they thought there may have still been more than one shooter. The lockdowns were all lifted by early afternoon.

"All students and staff are safe," the school district said in a 12:40 p.m. update.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham called the shooting a "horrific tragedy" and said she was praying for the victims' families and was grateful for the "quick response" from law enforcement.

"This serves as yet another reminder of how gun violence destroys lives in our state and our country every single day," Lujan Grisham said in a statement. "This administration will not stop fighting the epidemic of gun violence from every angle possible."

Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett said in a statement that the shooting had left the community "reeling in anguish and disbelief."



"We are a resilient community, a community that cares for each other. In the face of adversity, we must stand together, comfort one another, and make a determined effort to heal these wounds so we can emerge stronger and not allow this act of violence to define us," Duckett added.

Monday's mass shooting was the latest in a string of deadly attacks in the U.S in recent weeks. In Texas, eight people were killed in a shooting at a mall in Allen just over a week ago. An officer shot and killed the shooter there.

In Cleveland, Texas, a man was arrested and charged in the killing of five people earlier this month, over complaints that he was firing a gun late at night. The suspect was taken into custody after an extensive manhunt.

Jericka Duncans interview with Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown: extended cut

Congressman speaks out after staffers assaulted by man with baseball bat

China sentences U.S. citizen to life in prison for espionage
Four people, including a suspect, were killed and two police officers wounded during a shooting in northwest New Mexico on Monday, authorities said.

Three civilian victims were killed, Farmington police said, in addition to one suspect who was confronted and killed on scene.

One Farmington police officer and one member of the state police were also wounded, Farmington police said. Both were stable.

New Mexico shooting

The suspects identity is unknown and there are no other known threats at this time, according to a police statement. At this time we dont believe there is a second suspect.

Police had Farmington Municipal Schools lock down at 11:15 a.m. MT, officials said. That order was lifted by 1:05 p.m.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents and San Juan County Sheriffs deputies also responded to the shooting.

Investigators were concentrating their work on Dustin Avenue between Ute and Apache streets in Farmington, officials said.

The city, with a population of a little over 46,000, is about 200 miles northwest of Santa Fe, the states capital.

Mondays mass shooting comes on the heels of two others in the past nine days. Two people were killed and five others were injured in a shooting Saturday night in Yuma, Arizona, police said.

Seven victims, all male, were found with gunshot wounds. Two of the victims, 19 and 20 years old, were taken to Yuma Regional Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead. No suspects were in custody.

A week before that shooting, a gunman killed eight people at a Dallas-area outlet mall.

The 33-year-old shooter, a neo-Nazi sympathizer with an AR-15-style assault weapon, was killed by an officer who happened to be at the shopping center in Allen, authorities said.

The victims included a young boy and his parents, two elementary school-age sisters, a security guard working toward his goals and an engineer with a new masters degree.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. This story first appeared on NBCNews.com.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Toxic plant superbloom

With the vaunted superbloom of wildflowers in our county, we should also beware that toxic plants have luxuriated in similar profusion.

As an outings leader for the Sierra Club, Ive roamed the local roads recently and have become alarmed at the record growth of both poison hemlock and poison oak. Drive, for instance, along LOVR between SLO and Los Osos and you will notice dozens of stands of shoulder-high plants along the side, tipped with clusters of tiny flowers. Thats poison hemlock. Or take a walk along Poly Canyon Road and see the ample clusters of poison oak along the sides.

Leaves of three, let it be goes the saying. Just touching a leaf or branch of either plant can bring a painful rash. Ingestion may get you a quick trip to the ER. In my experience, at least nine of ten people cannot identify them. Please find out. A Google search is useful.

Joseph Morris, San Luis Obispo

Diablo extension is not a done deal

On May 4, The Tribune posted a video clip from the NRC meeting in SLO discussing the future of Diablo Canyon. Supervisor Peschong says, please join the California Energy Commission in support of continued safe operation of Diablo Canyon...

This statement was echoed and magnified by many other speakers.

However, that agencys actual words from their March 2023 final report are: CEC staff recommends that the CEC determine that it is prudent to pursue extension of DCPP until the state can confirm that the necessary resources are on-line (emphasis added).

Furthermore, the states Legislative Analysts Office, aware this is not a done deal reported on May 8, ...the administration is not accounting for the availability of DCPP-provided energy past 2025 in its reliability planning and modeling for the next decade.

Elected officials and civic leaders erroneously attributing the final blessing of this project to certain state regulatory agencies would be advised to read the details more carefully.

Story continues

David Weisman, Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility

Support for Diablo

At the May 3, 2023, NRC hearing, there was strong community support for extending operations at Diablo Canyon. There were 44 in-person comments that stretched until 9:24 p.m. About 80% were positive, which is an increase from the poll showing 68% in support of extended operations in late August 2022.

The May 3 audience was far more civil than at past meetings. I recall hisses from plant opponents while plant supporters commented during local NRC Diablo Canyon hearings a decade ago.

Gene Nelson, Californians for Green Nuclear Power

White pride banner

Bravo! I cant tell you how glad I was to see your response to the disgusting behavior of the people on the Vineyard Drive overpass. It is revolting to see the Trump Won and other radical and racist banners while being assaulted by sound pollution blaring from their boom-box.

I agree with your position on what they are doing. And yes, I too feel that they are cowards and certainly zealots who have bought into one of the most blatant and unsubstantiated lies of our time. Their version of patriotism has no place in our society.

Dennis Ivans, Paso Robles

Banner bullies

I was pleased to read the editorial written by The Tribune Editorial Board calling out the two masked sign carriers (embrace white pride) on the Templeton overpass. During the McCarthy era, the infamous senator and bully was asked Have you no sense of decency?

Obviously, he did not, and clearly neither do they.

Myra Lathrop, Paso Robles

Praise for Morro Bay High cafe

San Luis Coastal Unified School District is proud to celebrate the grand opening of the new Cafe at Morro Bay High School! Thanks to the generous support of our incredible community with Measure D, we were able to upgrade many facilities, including a brand new state-of-the-art kitchen, serving room and seating area.

Students are thrilled to enjoy this new space with a variety of menu choices, all free for students, thanks to universal free meals in California. Chef Cory Bidwell is leading the team at this new centralized production facility and brings years of local restaurant experience and culinary talent to the program.

We are proud to work with over 30 local farms and food businesses. We believe food should taste good and that excellence starts with good ingredients. We look forward to serving our students at Morro Bay High School.

Were equally excited to open a new kitchen and dining space at SLO High in the fall, also thanks to Measure D. Check us out on Instagram @slcusdfood

Erin Primer, San Luis Obispo

Let them speak

I wholeheartedly agree with your closing statement regarding the drag show: Dont like it, dont go.

Too bad so many students at many of our universities dont follow that sentiment when it comes to inviting speakers to their campuses who have opinions that differ from theirs. They could let them speak, and just not go.

George Hanna, Nipomo

For the record

I am writing to correct recent coverage in an article in your April 10 Cambrian and April 29 Tribune.

Correction: There has never been a long-simmering feud between the San Simeon Boards members and the general manager. The San Simeon Community Services District Board and staff through 2022, with the exception of a recent rogue director, have always worked as a solid team with full transparency to support the community.

Correction: The Fair Political Practices Commission, on my request for their counsel, sent me a formal reply stating that I MAY work on the California Coastal Commissions mandated inward relocation of the San Simeon Waste Water Treatment Plant. The relocation is exactly what I have been working on with all involved agencies and contracting companies for the last one and a half years.

Your information came to you from a source who is consistently unreliable and in opposition to the San Simeon CSD and the general manager.

G. Kellas, San Simeon

GOP holds us hostage

When did the Republican Party become a terrorist organization?

You and I are being held hostage by the party that insists on taking money from the National Rifle Association.

Sen. Mitt Romney has taken over $13 million, followed by senators Richard Burr of North Carolina; Roy Burt, Missouri; Thom Tillis, North Carolina; Joni Ernst, Iowa; and Marco Rubio, Florida, to name a few who have taken millions of dollars from the NRA. Then there are congress members who also have accepted huge donations. Dont take my word for it. Google it!

Democrats want common-sense gun reform, as do the majority of Americans from all parties, but most Republicans are on the take from the NRA.

You know as well as I that no one needs an AR-15 or any assault weapon outside of the military for use in combat. What we do need are background checks, waiting periods before purchase and licensure of anyone wearing a gun.

America is in trouble when the leading cause of death among young people is gun violence. Republicans say they are the pro-life party but they dont care if your children are slaughtered in the classroom, at a movie theater or church or shopping mall. They refuse to do anything about this.

Call your congress member and senators and tell them you are fed up with living in a war zone.

Diane Griffin-Duenow, San Luis Obispo
National debt is GOPs fault

Search online for debt by President, last 75 years. You will see Reagan two terms, Bush Sr. one term, George W. Bush two terms plus blew up economy and didnt include Iraq War expenses in equation. But none as bad as Trump and his Republicans, who changed federal taxes to a gift giveaway to the wealthy and corporations. And every time, used the debt to try to cut any program that would make the life of most Americans better.

In between, Democratic presidents had to spend their time in office reducing debt, restoring sensible bank and mortgage regulations, saving social programs, and trying to get badly needed infrastructure paid for, and reducing the disgraceful greedy cost of healthcare.

All while Republicans fight to privatize everything to maximize profit, and promote bullying and hatred of trans, LGBTQ, drag queens, refugees, immigrants, non-Christians, and non-white northern European Christian heritage.

Of course we need to reduce debt. Just rewrite tax law to make corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share. Hire more IRS forensic experts to find where they hide taxable income. Raise the income ceiling on Social Security taxes. Monitor the ripping off by the medical community of Medicare.

And dont vote Republican, or none of the above fixes have any chance of happening.

Bonnie Smith, Santa Paula

Defending right of free speech

Re: Brian Yorkes May 14 letter, Boycott CNN for Trump town hall:

In response to Mr. Yorke urging Americans to boycott CNN because of a recent town hall hosting former President Trump.

I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.  Voltaire

Doreen Lynch, Lake Sherwood

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Letters: Blame Republicans for debt; town hall and freedom of speech
Kentucky Derby entrant Keepmeinmind works out at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., in 2021. (Charlie Riedel/Associated Press)

To the editor: The May 10 article indicts an entire industry and fails to credit Californias significantly improved safety record, which demonstrates how stringent regulatory reforms can effectively safeguard the well-being of horses.

Since these reforms went into effect in 2019, incidents of fatal injury in California have been reduced through measures such as enhanced monitoring practices, testing policies and significant investment in racing surfaces and diagnostic equipment. Taken together, California has laid out a clear blueprint for how we as an industry can prevent these senseless deaths.

Generating many jobs, horse racing is a beloved sport around the country; it is inclusive and accessible to communities of all ages, genders, and economic backgrounds.

Given Californias demonstrated success, its high time that the entire industry come together to support the implementation of uniform national regulations which will ensure the safety of horses on and off the track.

Amy Zimmerman, Sierra Madre

The author is with the California Horse Power Coalition.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The mother of murdered student Libby Squire has said she hopes a Bafta-winning documentary series about her daughter's killing would "honour her memory".

Lisa Squire said it was bittersweet to see Sky's Libby Are You Home Yet? win the factual series prize.

She said she would swapped the red carpet ceremony for sitting on the sofa with her daughter "in a heartbeat".

Hull student Libby, 21, was abducted on a night out and killed in 2019.

Pawel Relowicz, a Polish butcher, was convicted of raping and murdering the student, originally from High Wycombe, and jailed for life in 2021.

Mrs Squire, who attended Sunday night's Baftas ceremony, said she was "really pleased" for the team behind the three-part documentary who did an "incredible" job.

She said she hoped the programme would help raise awareness of issues surrounding violence against women.

But she said: "You've got friends and people saying 'How exciting, congratulations' and you think 'I would give all of that up, I just want to be a normal mum sat on the sofa with all my children'.

"You'd give it up in a heartbeat if it meant you could have her back.

"But we can't. So, we just do as much as we can to get her message out and to honour her memory."

The documentary chronicles Libby's life, the hours that led to her death and the police investigation that followed, and features interviews with her family, friends and detectives.

Director Anna Hall, from production company Candour, dedicated the award to Libby.

Mrs Squire, who has given talks in schools urging pupils to look after friends on nights out, said she planned to meet with Rishi Sunak to discuss violence against women and girls.

Follow BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.
FILE - Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman speaks at a news conference on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, regarding an incident where deputies pulled over the Delaware State lacrosse team charter bus.

The United States Department of Justice has reached an agreement with the Liberty County Sheriff's Office to settle a racial discrimination complaint related to deputies stopping a bus of mostly Black athletes from Delaware State University last year.

Under the agreement, the sheriff's office will "review its bias-free policing policies, make necessary updates to its policies on traffic enforcement and searches, and develop and implement data collection procedures, among other provisions," according to a press release from DOJ.

DSU brought the complaint after deputies stopped a bus carrying the women's lacrosse team. The bus was motoring along Interstate 95 through Liberty County on April 20, 2022 after playing at Stetson University the previous night in DeLand, Florida. Deputies pulled over the bus for traveling improperly in the left lane. Deputies subsequently searched luggage stored in the compartment under the bus after a K9 officer "alerted" on the bus, but found no contraband.

More: Sheriff says deputies did nothing wrong in HBCU bus search amid racial profiling accusations

Also: Body camera footage contradicts sheriff's account of how deputies acted on Delaware State lacrosse bus

According to the press release, DSU alleged that the stop, questioning and search was unlawful racial discrimination under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prevents organizations that receive federal funding from discriminating on the basis of race. The sheriff's office receives federal funds from DOJ, according to the release.

The students and staff at Delaware State University deserve policing that is racially equitable and bias-free," Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division was quoted as saying in the press release. "The agreement that we have secured with the Liberty County Sheriffs Office will help ensure that its policing practices are free from racial bias and discrimination going forward."

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At the time of the stop, Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman, who is the first Black sheriff of the county, defended the deputies while acknowledging things could have been done better.

"Delaware State University continues to stand in solidarity with our players," Carlos Holmes, director of news services for DSU, told the Savannah Morning News on Monday. "... We hope that the U.S. Department of Justice will closely monitor and evaluate the Liberty County Sheriff's Office compliance with the terms of the agreement and if necessary re-open its investigation if the Liberty County Sheriff's Office fails to meet its obligations."

The Savannah Morning News and USA TODAY Network subsequently reported on the mixed histories of the deputies involved the stop and some of the prior complaints brought against the department.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: After bus stop, Liberty County Sheriff's Office, DOJ reach agreement
Kenneth Hawthorne enters the courtroom during his trial in West Palm Beach, Florida on April 25, 2023. Hawthorne is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder in the deaths of two men in 2017.

WEST PALM BEACH  Kenneth Hawthorne's guilt wasn't in dispute when he returned to the courtroom in handcuffs Wednesday. The question then was whether he should die in prison for it.

A jury convicted Hawthorne of first-degree murder in April for killing two of his friends and trying to kill a third several years ago. The verdict normally triggers an automatic life sentence in non-death-penalty cases like Hawthorne's, but on Wednesday, Public Defender Carey Haughwout suggested something else.

She urged Circuit Judge Scott Suskauer to shirk the state's sentencing statute, calling the mandatory life sentence "cruel and unusual punishment" for a mentally ill person such as Hawthorne.

Court-appointed psychologists diagnosed the 22-year-old West Palm Beach man with schizophrenia soon after he shot and killed his friends at his Caribbean Villas apartment in 2017. He underwent years of treatment before being deemed competent to stand trial in the wake of his 28th birthday.

Public Defender Carey Haughwout, seen here in 2021, on Wednesday suggested to a judge to shirk the state's sentencing statue for Kenneth Hawthorne, who killed two of his friends and tried to kill a third. Haughwout called the mandatory life sentence "cruel and unusual punishment" for a mentally ill person such as Hawthorne.

"There is hope for the mentally ill to get better," Haughwout said Wednesday, echoing the testimony of a doctor who spoke before her.

Her position left the judge to weigh Hawthorne's actions against questions of basic fairness as it relates to punishing people with severe mental illness. In the end, he sided with Assistant State Attorney Francine Edwards.

His only option, they agreed, was to sentence Hawthorne to life in prison.

Death penalty: Execution set for Florida man convicted of rapes and murders across Palm Beach County

Killer clown: Son of 'clown' murder victim doesn't think blood is on Sheila Keen-Warren's hands alone

Shooting survivor bares scars, physical and emotional

Suskauer's decision followed nearly two hours of testimony from victims' loved ones and others affected by the shooting.

Abiade Granger, Hawthorne's friend since elementary school, survived the attack with the scars of eight gunshot wounds  one of which he hides beneath a beard. He said he heard Hawthorne continue to pull the trigger again and again after running out of bullets.

Story continues

Kenneth Hawthorne appears at his trial in West Palm Beach on April 25, 2023.

Like Haughwout, Granger's wish for Hawthorne was redemption.

"We all have an opportunity to receive grace and salvation," Granger said, a Bible in his hand. "  I believe it still exists for Mr. Hawthorne if he believes and takes it serious enough."

Letter from victim's mother describes her own life sentence

Granger's father, Bishop Walter Granger, talked of the survivor's guilt that plagues his son.

Hawthorne, Granger and their friend Cortney Lowery Jr. had spent the afternoon playing Call of Duty in Hawthorne's bedroom before Hawthorne left the room without a word. He got his gun from his car, killed his roommate Isaiah Hyndman first, then returned to his bedroom and opened fire again.

The elder Granger said hes haunted by the same question as his son: Why did Abiade survive?

"Cortney needed a witness," Granger's father said at last. "Isaiah needed a witness. The state of Florida needed a witness  somebody to tell what happened."

Lowery's mother, Chantee Jones, watched over Zoom and pleaded for Suskauer to unmute the courtroom mic as person after person testified. Her messages went unnoticed, the audio feed accidentally cut from those watching online for the last half of the hearing.

Though she didn't testify, Jones wrote a letter to the judge describing the life sentence she was dealt the moment her son died. It's endless grief, she wrote, redoubled pain on the anniversary of his death and in the weeks leading up to his birthday.

Lowery would have turned 28 on May 17.

Hannah Phillips is a journalist covering public safety and criminal justice at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at hphillips@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Killer has mental health issues, is life in prison the right sentence?
Lily-Rose Depp and 070 Shake

Lily-Rose Depp has a girlfriend!

The actor confirmed her romance with rapper 070 Shake, whose real name is Danielle Balbuena, on her Instagram stories last week.

4 MONTHS W MY CRUSH, wrote Depp in the caption of the photo of the two of them kissing, which she shared via her Instagram Stories.

The following day, Balbuena posted a photo of the two passionately kissing on her IG stories.

These PDA-packed social media posts end the speculation that the two were dating (for a few months, apparently). They began posting on social media together during Paris fashion week in February.

Lily-rose depp and 070 shake kiss

lilyrose_depp/Instagram

In the past, Depp seemingly came out as sexually fluid only to then walk that back. In 2015, the actor participated in a photo shoot for Self-Evident Truths, a photo project that is documenting people who fall under the LGBTQI spectrum. Their website says that they are documenting 100,000 people in the U.S. who identify as anything other than 100% straight.

In the caption of her photo, Depp explained she wanted to be involved with the project because she falls somewhere on the vast spectrum.

However, in an interview with Nylon in 2016, she explained it wasnt her big coming out moment after all. A lot of people took it as me coming out, but thats not what I was trying to do. I was literally doing it just to say that you dont have to label your sexuality; so many kids these days are not labeling their sexuality and I think thats so cool, she told the publication.

Well, wherever Depp is on the vast spectrum, were rooting for her new romance with Balbuena.

Is Lily-Rose Depp in a relationship?

It appears so! She has been reportedly dating rapper 070 since February 2023.

What is Lily-Rose Depps real name?

Lily-Rose Melody Depp.

How old is Lily Rose?

Lily-Rose Depp was born on May 27, 1999.
Anne Heche was buried on Sunday. She died last year after a fiery car crash at age 53. (Jordan Strauss / Invision/Associated Press)

Mother's Day was a bittersweet occasion for Anne Heche's loved ones.

The Emmy- and Tony-nominated actor known for "Six Days Seven Nights and Another World was laid to rest Sunday, The Times has confirmed. Heche, whose body was cremated, was buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery nine months after she died in August 2022 at age 53.

Heche's remains were placed in the cemetery's Cathedral Mausoleum, which overlooks its central lake. She joins a number of stars resting at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, including Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Rudolph Valentino, Mel Blanc, Marion Davies and Cecil B. DeMille.

A representative for Heche said her crypt is next to Rooney's crypt and across from those of musicians Chris Cornell and Johnny Ramone.

"Mother, actress, writer, director, creator, believer," reads the inscription on her plaque. "Live in love."

The plaque is engraved with the star's full name (Anne Celeste Heche), her birth and death years and an image of a butterfly. The plaque also features a picture of Heche in a striped shirt.

"She loved everyone so passionately and deeply and her children, her legacy, thank everyone for their support and love through this difficult time and are grateful to be able to honor their mother, on Mothers Day," a representative said in a statement shared Monday with The Times.

Heche was laid to rest months before the one-year anniversary of her death. The actor died Aug. 12, 2022, a week after she crashed her car into a Mar Vista home, which then caught fire.

She was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital in critical condition. Days after her hospitalization, Heche was declared "brain dead," then was deemed legally dead a day later.

Heche's career spanned decades. She was best known for her work in the long-running NBC soap opera "Another World," where she took on two roles. She won a Daytime Emmy for her work in 1991.

Her film credits include the 1997 movies "Donnie Brasco," "Volcano" and "I Know What You Did Last Summer," and later works such as "Six Days Seven Nights" (1998), "Return to Paradise" (1998) and "John Q" (2002). She had a trio of projects slated for release this year  the rom-com "Frankie Meets Jack," action-adventure "Supercell" and horror flick "You're Killing Me."

Story continues

Heche also gained notoriety for her high-profile romance with Ellen DeGeneres. The actors met at the Vanity Fair Oscar party in March 1997 and dated until August 2000.

In January, Viva Editions published Heche's posthumous book, "Call Me Anne," her second memoir. Through his mother's Instagram, Heche's son Homer Laffoon wrote that the book "is the product of mom's further efforts to share her story and to help others where she could."

"'Call Me Anne' is the result and I know she was excited to share with the world," he wrote. "So, mom, here I am sharing it with the community you created, may it flourish and take on a life of it's own, as you would have wanted."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
There were a few things that surprised me when I moved to Longyearbyen. Eveline Lunde

Moving to Longyearbyen, a town only about 800 miles from the North Pole, had its surprises.

The town, on the Norwegian archipelago called Svalbard, has polar nights and the midnight sun.

I've grown accustomed to watching out for polar bears and traveling by snowmobile or boat.

A few years ago, I packed my bags and moved from Oslo, Norway, to Longyearbyen, the northernmost town on Earth.

Located on the Svalbard archipelago, Longyearbyen is a small town with about 2,300 residents. I've loved living there even though a few things took a bit of getting used to.

Here are some surprising things about living in the northernmost town on Earth.

In Longyearbyen, the sunshine comes and goes depending on the time of year.

During polar nights, we experience minimal sunlight. Eveline Lunde

After moving to Longyearbyen, I soon learned we have the midnight sun  when the sun is out 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from April to August. The midnight sun can make it hard to sleep, so many locals cover their windows with aluminum to keep out the sunlight.

But it's an excellent time for long snowmobile adventures or midnight hikes.

Later, I learned that we experience polar night, which is when the sun never rises from November to February. It's pitch black throughout the day and night.

Essentially, there are only 2  months a year when we can experience the normal day-and-night cycle I was used to before I moved.

There aren't any trees in Longyearbyen.

Though there aren't any trees, some vegetation can grow. Eveline Lunde

Svalbard also has permafrost, meaning the ground has been frozen at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for over two years. As a result of the permafrost, there are no trees and minimal vegetation here.

During the summer, when the permafrost thaws, some flowers can grow. Svalbard's unique flora is protected by law, and harvesting it is illegal since it will take many years for the flower to bloom again.

We always need to watch out for polar bears and are often encouraged to carry rifles.

Since I moved to Longyearbyen, I've seen a lot of polar bears and other wildlife. Eveline Lunde

A 2004 report from the Polar Institute estimated that the Barents Sea area was home to 1,900 to 3,600 polar bears. Approximately 300 of them are thought to roam around Svalbard, so residents are encouraged to carry a rifle and a flare gun for protection whenever we leave our settlement.

Story continues

Still, killing a polar bear is illegal, so you can shoot only in a life-threatening situation.

Longyearbyen is considered to be a safe zone, but there are still instances of polar bears walking inside the town.

During Christmastime in 2019, a polar bear walked down our main street. Luckily, it was early in the morning, so there weren't many people around. Eventually, the police scared the bear away.

I learned locals could rent remote cabins.

The remote cabins are a pretty attractive getaway for the locals. Eveline Lunde

Various organizations and the governor of Svalbard own remote cabins outside Longyearbyen that can be reached by snowmobile. Lots of locals take the opportunity to rent the cabins at a low rate.

Most cabins are in areas with no mobile-phone coverage, so a satellite-communication device is necessary. They usually don't have running water or electricity, so renters rely on firewood and candles for heat and lighting.

I've even heard polar bears will break through cabin walls and windows in search of food. They'll eat anything from ketchup to bed mattresses, so renters aren't allowed to leave much behind.

The archipelago also has beautiful snow and ice formations.

I've explored underground caves close to my home. Eveline Lunde

Approximately 60% of Svalbard is covered by glaciers. When the ice melts in summer, the glacier forms meltwater channels that turn into ice caves in the winter. You can't see the frozen channels when you stand on top of the glacier, but if you know where to look, you can explore them below the surface.

The caves can be miles long and several feet underground. With the proper helmets, spikes, and headlights, you can safely explore their beautiful ice formations and even some fossils.

Though they're beautiful, they can also pose a big threat to snowmobilers. Snow covering the crevasses and snow bridges can easily collapse, so if ever you go on a snowmobile tour in Svalbard, be prepared for accidents like this.

I had to get used to traveling by snowmobile or boat.

There are only a few roads in Longyearbyen. Eveline Lunde

Only about 27 miles of roads run through Longyearbyen, and no roads connect the settlements on Svalbard. In the winter we use snowmobiles or dog sleds to get around, and in the summer we use boats. Consequently, owning a snowmobile is common, and during the winter it's the most popular activity.

Still, Longyearbyen can be reached by plane because the town has an airport. But if I wanted to go to Russian settlements like Barentsburg or Pyramiden, I'd have to travel by boat or snowmobile.

The town handles childbirth and deaths differently from most places I've been.

The hospital in Longyearbyen handles small medical cases. Eveline Lunde

Though Longyearbyen has a small emergency medical hospital, most cases must be treated on the mainland. The hospital isn't equipped to handle childbirth, so pregnant people are advised to travel to the mainland about a month before their due date.

I also learned that the permafrost prevents most traditional burials, so the deceased are transported to the mainland. Those who were residents of Svalbard at the time of death have the right to be buried in the cemetery in Longyearbyen but only in urns if they have been cremated.

There are also a few exceptions to the guidelines, depending on a person's connection to Svalbard.

Our remote location doesn't prevent us from enjoying arctic luxury.

If you're a foodie or someone who appreciates anything fancy, you might like Longyearbyen. Eveline Lunde

Despite its remote location, Longyearbyen is home to some great restaurants and a luxury hotel. I love the outdoors and adventure, but sometimes I like to treat myself at places like Huset, a restaurant that focuses on using as much of an animal as possible and relies on local ingredients.

If we want a staycation, my boyfriend and I might head to the Funken Lodge, a small boutique hotel with amazing cocktails and a fantastic atmosphere. The hotel has its own wine and Champagne cellars with one of the largest selections in Norway. A private tasting is perfect for a date night.

I love Lonyearbyen's arctic nature and the opulence of a big city and appreciate my adventures more than ever before.

Read the original article on Insider
In a 28-page complaint filed with the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court, the Greene County solicitor said the county district attorney is guilty of official oppression.

He said the DA has a history of using his office to charge his political opponents with crimes.

RELATED >>> Greene County DA defends actions, says solicitors claims are politically motivated

In the complaint, Robert Eugene Grimm said as Greene County solicitor, he was involved in several investigations into District Attorney David Russos alleged criminal acts and misbehavior.

Those investigations include the arrest of several county 911 employees on felony process crimes without probable cause, his creation of a SWAT team without proper credentials, insurance, equipment, and training, his prosecution of a former county detective despite a direct conflict of interest, the alleged firing of an assistant prosecutor because of their age, and more.

Because of this, Grimm said he lived in fear of being arrested by the Greene County detectives  at the direction of district attorney David Russo  for more than 18 months.

He said his fear came true on April 4, 2023.

Thats when Grimm was charged with 16 misdemeanor charges. Those charges stemmed from complaints by several Republican candidates over how Greene Countys election office picked the order of candidate names on the upcoming primary election ballot.

They first did that on March 15, but it was tossed out because they did not publish the date in two local newspapers.

They did the selection again about a week later.

Several candidates protested that selection, including Russo, and refused to draw a number when called. Allegedly, a decision was made to put those candidates on the bottom of the ballot.

Thats where Russos name is on Tuesdays Republican primary ballot for his re-election bid.

The case was turned over to the state attorney generals office, which announced Wednesday that all of the charges against Grimm were withdrawn after their own investigation.

Story continues

Grimm initially resigned as Greene County solicitor when charges were filed.

The complaint from Grimm outlines other allegations of misconduct as well.

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Kate Middleton and Prince William leave the wedding of friends in October 2010. | Associated Press

Kate Middleton, Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth II have all been recognized for their impressive fashion sense. But royal women have to work within a royal dress code that prevents them from dressing  or expects them to dress  in a certain way. The royal men have a dress code as well. Some royals are rebellious in their fashion choices, while others stick strictly to the code.

The royal dress code spans from expected to strange, but most of it derives from decades of royal tradition.

Here are 10 rules of the royal dress code.

1. Clutch signals

There is more that meets the eye when it comes to royal clutch use. Ladies are known to use their clutch to give subtle signals to staff  such as a desire to leave an event, or a need to escape an awkward conversation.

Queen Elizabeth would switch her handbag or clutch from one hand to the other to signal that she was ready for a conversation to end.

It would be very worrying if you were talking to the queen and saw the handbag move from one hand to the other, royal historian Hugo Vickers told People.

It would be done very nicely, Vickers continued. Someone would come along and say, Sir, the Archbishop of Canterbury would very much like to meet you.

Princess Diana was known for using her clutch to hide her cleavage when getting out of the car to avoid having a wardrobe malfunction photographed by any pesky paparazzi.

We used to laugh when we designed what she called her cleavage bags, little satin clutches which she would cover her cleavage with when she stepped out of cars, British handbag designer Anya Hindmarch told The Telegraph, per Vogue.

2. No bright nail polish

Royal family members are prohibited from painting bright colors on their fingernails. Only natural-looking polish or bare nails are allowed.

The royal family tends to favour sheer, neutral shades on shorter, squoval-shaped nails, Sarah Gibson Tuttle, founder and CEO of Olive & June, told Harpers Bazaar. Its a super-classic, clean look that looks timeless and royal appropriate. While weve all heard rumours of rules, I know royal nails are always pretty, polished and perfectly manicured.

Story continues

Queen Elizabeth was known for favoring Essies pale-pink Ballet Slippers shade  which currently costs $10 for a bottle. Elizabeth regularly wore the Essie shade from 1989 on, reports Harpers Bazaar.

3. Pantyhose are encouraged

Royal women are not required to wear pantyhose, but it was highly encouraged that they do out of respect for the queen. With Queen Camilla recently crowned, this unspoken rule could be updated.

Kate Middleton is rarely seen in public without a pair of nude pantyhose on. Meghan Markle, on the other hand, frequently broke this unspoken rule as a royal. In her engagement photocall with Prince Harry, she is not wearing any pantyhose.

Meghan did not wear a lot of nude stockings, but then when she and the queen appeared together, she did, veteran fashion journalist Elizabeth Holmes told Insider. Kate leans into this stuff much more than Meghan did.

4. Queen Elizabeth did not like facial hair

Queen Elizabeth made her dislike for facial hair known  but it never stopped Prince Harry from keeping his ginger beard.

The queen felt that beards were appropriate in only a handful of circumstances.

She doesnt mind royal men growing beards when they are away in the armed forces or out in the wilds, like Harry was in the Antarctic, but she expects them to be clean shaven when they get home. Royal staff are not supposed to grow beards or mustaches, and she probably thinks it is difficult to enforce that rule when her own grandson has a beard, reports Vanity Fair.

In regards to Harrys rebel beard, Elizabeth said she intensely dislikes facial hair, and hoped her grandson would remove it sooner rather than later, according to The Telegraph.

5. Boys must not wear trousers

There is a reason Prince Louis only wears shorts. At 4 years old, he is not mature enough to wear trousers, according to royal dress code.

Its a very English thing to dress a young boy in shorts, etiquette expert William Hanson told Harpers Bazaar.

Trousers are for older boys and men, whereas shorts on young boys is one of those silent class markers that we have in England. Although times are (slowly) changing, a pair of trousers on a young boy is considered quite middle class  quite suburban. And no self-respecting aristo or royal would want to be considered suburban.

The tradition goes back generations. Prince Harry, Prince William and King Charles III all donned shorts as young boys.

The usual custom is that a boy graduates to trousers around 8 years old, Hanson told Harpers Bazaar. This is, historically, perhaps due to the practice of breeching, which dates back to the 16th century. A newborn boy would be dressed in a gown for their first year or two (these gowns have survived as the modern Christening robe) and then he was breeched and wore articles of clothing that more resembled shorts or trousers than dresses.

6. Women and their elaborate hats

One of the hallmarks of a royal event are the big, elaborate hats worn by women. Queen Elizabeth was known for her impressive hat collection, but its not just because it was her preferred accessory  its royal tradition.

Up until the 1950s, ladies were very seldom seen without a hat as it was not considered the thing for ladies to show their hair in public, Diana Mather, a senior tutor for The English Manner etiquette consultancy, told the BBC. But all that has changed and hats are now reserved for more formal occasions.

Today, royal women are expected to wear hats during all formal royal occasions, reports Bustle. Hat-wearing is also seen as a status symbol  donning a hat visually expresses that you are part of the elite.

Related

7. Queen Elizabeth liked to stand out

Queen Elizabeth often wore bright-colored clothing  for a reason. She wanted to stand out so people knew her as the queen. I cant wear beige because nobody would know who I am, said Elizabeth, according to her biographer Robert Hardman, per The Telegraph.

In large crowds, bright-colored clothing made it easier for people at the back of a dense crowd to spot her.

She needs to stand out for people to be able to say I saw the queen, daughter-in-law Sophie, Countess of Wessex, explained in the documentary The Queen at 90.

Dont forget that when she turns up somewhere, the crowds are two, three, four, 10, 15 deep, and someone wants to be able to say they saw a bit of the queens hat as she went past.

8. Always pack a black outfit

When traveling, members of the royal family are expected to pack an all black outfit in case of an unexpected death in the family. This way they can be properly dressed to fit the somber occasion when they arrive back in the U.K., reports Harpers Bazaar.

This rule was created after the unexpected death of Queen Elizabeths father, King George VI. She was rushed home from Kenya and had to wait on the plane in London until someone brought her a change of clothes, according to Bustle. It would have been deemed inappropriate for Elizabeth to emerge in London in a normal dress after the death of the king.

9. Tiara wear is limited

Tiaras are only worn during white-tie events and only married women and members of the royal family are allowed to wear them. Middleton never wore a tiara until she married into the royal family. Same for Markle.

The old rule is that hats are never worn indoors after 6 p.m., because that is when the ladies changed into evening dress, and tiaras and the family jewels would come out, etiquette expert Grant Harrold, known as the Royal Butler, told the BBC.

For married ladies it was a sign of status and would show you were taken and not looking for a husband, Harrold added. For the gentleman it was a clear sign not to make advances toward the lady in question.

10. Gloves stop the spread of germs

Gloves were a standard accessory for royals up until the 90s. Diana was not a big fan of wearing gloves. Vogue former deputy editor Anna Harvey, claims she once ordered a dozen suede gloves for Diana, but she never wore them. She wanted flesh to flesh contact, Harvey said, per Vogue.

In recent decades, gloves have no longer been part of the standard dress code, but Elizabeth wore them throughout her life. Members of the royal family shake hands with hundreds of people each year and gloves help prevent the spread the germs, reports Bustle.
Days after announcing Twitter's new CEO, Elon Musk sent an email instructing Tesla employees to get his approval for all new hires. Steve Nesius/Reuters

Elon Musk told staff he must approve all new Tesla hires, even contractors, in a company-wide email.

The Tesla CEO said executives should "think carefully" before sending him a new hire.

It's a sign Musk might be shifting more of his focus back to Tesla after finding a new Twitter CEO.

Elon Musk is making a change at Tesla: The CEO wants to personally sign-off on each new hire.

"Think carefully before sending me the request," Musk wrote in an email obtained by Insider. "No one can join Tesla, even as a contractor, until you receive my email approval."

In the Monday morning email, the Tesla CEO said that he wants "to gain a better understanding of our hiring" and executives should send him a list of their candidates once a week for approval. The EV blog Electrek was the first to report on the email.

Last year, Tesla employed nearly 130,000 people and grew its head count by about 30,000. The company's hiring process is already very competitive. In 2022, the carmaker said it received over 3.6 million applications.

However, it's not a new strategy for Musk. In 2019, recruiters received a similar email calling for Musk to approve headcount increases.

The recent email comes only a few days after Musk announced he had found a new CEO to helm Twitter. The billionaire said former NBCUniversal advertising chief Linda Yaccarino will take over his role as Twitter CEO in about six weeks, and that he would shift into a CTO role overseeing product at the social network.

Tesla shares climbed on the news and investors appeared to celebrate the news that Musk would be turning more of his attention back to the electric-car maker. Wedbush tech analyst Dan Ives said in a note that the move will allow Musk to "finally remove this lingering albatross" when it comes to running Twitter.

Since Musk took over as Twitter CEO in November, some Tesla shareholders have expressed concern over his focus on the social-media company as Musk has taken to sleeping at its headquarters. Most recently, several Tesla investors wrote an open letter saying Musk had been "distracted" by other ventures and calling for him to be reined in.

Story continues

A spokesperson for Tesla did not respond to a request for comment ahead of publication.

Read Musk's full email titled "Hiring" below:

I would like to gain a better understanding of our hiring. VPs should send me a list of their department hiring requests once a week.

Think carefully before sending me the request. No one can join Tesla, even as a contractor, until you receive my email approval.

Thanks,

Elon

Do you work at Tesla or have insight to share? Reach out to the reporter from a non-work email at gkay@insider.com

Read the original article on Business Insider
(AP/Hnadout/Fox 10)

Lori Vallow was silent when authorities demanded to know where her missing children JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan were.

She wouldnt speak when their remains were found  Tylee hacked to pieces and burned, JJ still in his red pyjamas  in shallow graves on her new husband Chad Daybells property.

She refused to give any answers when confronted by her distraught surviving child, sister and other loved ones as they begged her to tell them the truth in heartbreaking jailhouse phone calls.

She even continued to stay quiet over the next three years as she was hit with new charges for the murders of her fourth husband Charles Vallow and Mr Daybells first wife Tammy Daybell, spent time in a psychiatric facility and had her case severed from her alleged co-conspirator.

And now, even as she stares down the prospect of spending the rest of her life behind bars, she is still silent.

This week, during her high-profile murder trial, the 49-year-old shocked the court when she not only declined to take the stand to testify in her own defence  but refused to entertain putting on any defence case at all.

In a final bid to save herself from life in prison, Vallows attorneys (in what many are mulling may have been a revolt against their client) turned on her lover, fellow cult member and alleged accomplice Mr Daybell in closing arguments  arguing that she was under his control but that she was not involved in any of the murders.

But it wasnt enough.

On Friday (12 May), Vallow was convicted of all charges.

The jury took less than seven hours to find her guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft over the deaths of Tylee and JJ. She was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of Mr Daybells first wife Tammy, 49.

Dressed in a black suit, with her blonde hair down in waves around her shoulders, Vallow once again said nothing as she learned that she would likely be spending the rest of her life behind bars.

Story continues

But given her silence, its perhaps unsurprising.

Lori Vallow Daybell stands and listens as the jury's verdict is read (AP)

When jurors retired for deliberations, the only story they had about what happened to little JJ, 7, teenager Tylee, 16, and mother-of-five Tammy was the one laid out by the state of Idaho.

And it was a horrifying story at that  one involving a warped plot to kill off almost everyone around the doomsday cult couple.

Money, power, and sex  thats what this case is about, prosecutors said in both opening and closing statements.

Over 27 days of trial, prosecutors laid out their case that Vallow conspired with Mr Daybell and her brother Alex Cox to murder JJ, Tylee and Tammy  driven by her doomsday cult beliefs, her lust to be with Mr Daybell and greed.

The trio allegedly spent months orchestrating a plot whereby they justified their plans to kill by claiming that the victims were demons or dark spirits.

Then, after brutally murdering the two children and mother-of-five, Vallow looked her concerned family, friends and authorities in the eye, refusing to reveal where her son and daughter were.

Instead, she and Mr Daybell began a new life together, swanning off to Hawaii to get married in what appeared to be every inch the perfect fairytale romance.

This photo of Tylee Ryan and her brother Joshua JJ Vallow with their uncle Alex Cox was taken days before they were killed (Handout)

Doomsday cult beliefs

Over a dramatic month-long trial, jurors heard how bizarre cult beliefs lie at the centre of the case against Ms Vallow.

Jurors heard how the deadly saga began when Vallow  a member of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints  and Mr Daybell  an LDS member and self-published doomsday books author  embarked on a romance.

After speaking for some time, they eventually met in person at a religious conference in October 2018 while they were both married and prosecutors say their love affair, cult beliefs  and murderous plans  all grew from there.

Vallow and Mr Daybell believed that they were on a religious mission to gather the 144,000 and they believed in a rating system of light and dark for how they ranked the spirits of the people around them.

Over time, this evolved into the belief that some people  including the children  were zombies and the only way to get rid of the zombies was for the human body to be destroyed.

Prosecutors alleged that these beliefs were used to justify the murders of those around them.

In the weeks and months leading up to the murders, Vallow told friends that her children and fourth husband Charles Vallow had become demons or dark spirits  some of them bearing names.

In February 2019, Vallow allegedly told a friend that she believed Charles was possessed by demon called Ned Schneider and that he was already dead with the demon using his body as a host.

Two days before Charles was murdered, Vallow texted her niece Melani Boudreaux: They have an elaborate plan... This week will change everything.

Two days later, in July 2019, Cox shot Charles dead at Vallows home in Arizona in what was claimed to be self defence at the time. (Now, Vallow is facing murder charges in Arizona.)

Chad Daybell is set to face his own trial for the murders (Post Register)

Then, in September 2019, Vallow allegedly told another friend that JJ and Tylee had been taken over by dark spirits and that JJ would say things like I love Satan. Tylee was possessed by a demon named Hillary and had to be freed, Vallow told another friend.

Text messages between Vallow and Mr Daybell also reveal her complaining about being tired of taking care of demons while referring to her children.

We r both so tired of taking care of demons, she wrote in a bombshell text in August. We are weary. Please ask the Lord to take them.

Jurors also heard how the couple discussed inflicting pain on the children, giving them a reason to scream and also spoke about the so-called death percentages of Tylee and JJ.

In the defences closing statement, Vallows attorneys argued that Ms Vallow was only a follower of her new lover Mr Daybell and was under his control and the craziness of his cult beliefs.

Conspiracy and greed

Prosecutors alleged that  as well as the cult beliefs  greed also drove the three alleged accomplices to conspire to kill the victims.

And based on text messages, internet searches, financial records and witness testimony presented in court, the murders were months in the making.

Internet searches revealed that Vallow shopped for life insurance policies for her children in July 2019  two months before they were murdered.

That same month, her Gmail account also searched for how to sell a service dog  like the one JJ, who had autism, was using at the time.

In the months leading up to the murders, jurors heard that Vallow also made several suspicious changes to Social Security payments meant for Tylee and JJ.

It was a pattern where Vallow altered the payments to go directly to her and then the respective child wound up dead days later.

Even after the deaths of JJ and Tylee, prosecutors say Vallow continued to collect the Social Security payments.

Mr Daybell, meanwhile, also made a life insurance claim for Tammy just days after she died.

The doomsday couple was also planning for their new  spouse-less and child-less  life together in other ways, jurors heard.

In August 2019  while Tammy was still alive  Vallow searched for malachite wedding rings. She then bought a pair on 2 October 2019  days before Tammy was killed  and wedding photos show her and Mr Daybell wearing matching rings.

Chad and Tammy Daybell before her death in October 2019 (Facebook)

Brutal murders

The most harrowing and disturbing part of the trial came as jurors learned harrowing details of the childrens murders and saw graphic photos of the state of their remains.

Tylee was last seen alive on 8 September 2019 when she, JJ, Cox and Vallow went on a trip to Yellowstone National Park. A photo of the teenager at the park marks her last proof of life.

The next day, Mr Daybell sent a chilling text message to Tammy claiming he had shot a raccoon and buried it in the pet cemetery on the grounds of their property in Rexburg  the same location where Tylees remains would be found months later.

Days later on 22 September, JJ was last seen alive at his mothers apartment. A photo taken that night showed the little boy sitting on a sofa dressed in a matching set of red pyjamas.

Vallows former friend David Warwick testified that he saw JJ that night when he and his wife Melanie Gibb were staying with her for the weekend. The next morning, JJ was gone.

When he asked about the boys whereabouts, Vallow allegedly told him that JJ had an episode and knocked over a picture of Christ.

It wasnt until 9 June 2020 that the childrens remains were discovered on Mr Daybells property  JJs body buried in a shallow grave close to a tree and Tylees remains close to a fire pit in the pet cemetery.

Graphic photos revealed that JJ was still wearing his red pyjamas and a pull-up nighttime diaper.

His arms were wrapped in duct tape and his head was wrapped in plastic bags with thick layers of duct tape over his mouth.

Autopsy findings showed that the little boy had the date rape drug GHB in his system when he was smothered to death with the plastic bags. He also had scratch marks on his neck suggesting he was awake and fought for his life to get the bag off his head.

Jurors heard that Coxs fingerprints were found on the plastic bag.

Tylees body meanwhile was so badly burned that an autopsy to determine her cause of death was impossible with jurors hearing gruesome testimony of how search teams found pieces of bone, charred flesh, just globs of flesh belonging to the 16-year-old.

Investigators are seen digging up the bodies of JJ and Tylee in June 2020 (Post Register no sales no mags)

Before her remains were dispersed on the grounds, the killer or killers had brutally attempted to dismember her body with a pickaxe which was found at the Daybell home, with Tylees DNA found on both the pickaxe and on a shovel.

Despite the efforts to hack at the teenagers body, the killer did not appear to manage to dismember her and her burned body parts were scattered in the grounds.

While all horrifying, perhaps the most damning evidence tying Vallow alone to the murders was the discovery of a hair.

DNA analyst Keeley Coleman testified that a single hair had been found on the duct tape used to wrap the plastic bag around little JJs head. That hair belonged to Vallow.

Jurors heard that the chances of finding a match were one in 71 billion.

A search of Vallows home in November 2019  when the children were reported missing  also uncovered a trove of concerning items including several guns, ammunition, empty magazines, silencers, Army-grade knives and Hazmat-style suits. Meanwhile, JJs toys and prescription medication were found in black trash bags and Tylees in a storage unit.

Just one month after the children were last seen alive, Tammy was also murdered.

Jurors heard how the healthy 49-year-old died suddenly on 19 October 2019, with a chilling 911 call revealing Mr Daybell bluntly saying shes clearly dead. At the time, Mr Daybell declined an autopsy and her death was ruled natural causes.

Tammys sister Samantha Gwilliam told the court that she sensed things didnt add up as her sister was perfectly healthy when she saw her two weeks earlier.

Jurors also heard how 10 days before her death, Tammy had been shot at by a masked man on the driveway of her home.

Two separate witnesses had testified that Mr Daybell had a dream or vision that his wife would die before she turned 50.

When Tammys death was tied to the disappearance of the children, her body was exhumed and an autopsy revealed she died of asphyxiation.

Cox allegedly raised concerns about being made the fall guy for her death by the doomsday couple.

One day after he made that comment  on 11 December 2019  Cox also died suddenly at the age of 51. His death was also ruled natural causes, however the overdose drug Narcan was also found in his system.

Silence and secrecy

In the aftermath of the murders, Vallow showed no concern for her children and refused to reveal what had happened to them.

Despite repeatedly being confronted by family members and authorities, she made a series of lies about where they were.

In one instance, she allegedly told police that JJ had gone to see Frozen 2 with Ms Gibb and had asked her to take photos of random children to show to authorities.

In another instance, she allegedly threatened to kill another friend, cut her up and then bury her remains in a place nobody would ever find when she questioned her about the missing children.

Following the June 2020 discovery of the bodies, Vallow showed no signs of her surprise at their deaths.

Video shows the moment Lori Vallow was served with court documents over her missing kids (FOX 10/ screenshot)

Instead, in one jailhouse phone call with her sister, she appeared to confess that she was aware the children were dead all along.

In the 24 June 2020 call, a distraught Summer Shiflet accuses her sibling of throwing her murdered children away like garbage and questions how she could have gone to Hawaii and married Mr Daybell in a fairytale wedding on the beach knowing that her children were dead and buried in a pet cemetery.

You were dancing on a beach with a smile on your face taking wedding photos, she shouts.

At this point of the call  where she repeatedly dodges questions about what she knew  Vallow appears to unwittingly slip up.

Yeah, months later, she says of the gap between the deaths and her wedding.

In both this call and a distressing call with her eldest son Colby Ryan, Vallow continues to give no account as to what happened even in the face of confrontation from some of her closest family members.

While the remains of her children lay buried on Mr Daybells property, the couple headed to Hawaii where they got married on the beach on 5 November 2019.

They were still there two months later relaxing by a pool when Vallow was served with court papers demanding that she present her children to authorities.

Shocking video, taken in January 2020, captured the bikini-clad mother-of-three sunbathing by a pool with Mr Daybell in Hawaii when she was confronted about JJ and Tylees whereabouts.

There was no effort to argue against the official. No explanation for where the children might actually be. No concern for their safety.

Instead  true to form  Vallow simply asked: Do you need something from me?
Hidden sex trade, one of S. Korea's costs for its alliance with U.S.

08:16, May 15, 2023 By Yoo Seungki ( Xinhua

SEOUL, May 14 (Xinhua) -- South Korea has made significant financial contributions for the presence of the American military on its territory, including costs for the stationing of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), procuring weapons from U.S. defense companies and, more recently, encouraging investment by South Korean companies in the U.S. mainland.

Another high cost has been the sex service to U.S. soldiers based there, which was justified directly and indirectly.

Some 120 South Korean women, who were victims of sexual exploitation in camp towns -- known as gijichon -- around U.S. military bases since the 1950s, have recently achieved a significant legal victory at home. However, their journey for justice is far from over as they seek acknowledgment and compensation from the U.S. government for the sexual exploitation they endured.

People hold portraits of "comfort women" and their testimonies during a protest rally held in Seoul, South Korea, Aug. 14, 2022. (Photo by James Lee/Xinhua)

SEX TRADE FOR MILITARY ALLIANCE

In September last year, the South Korean Supreme Court upheld the Seoul High Court's original ruling that ordered the government to compensate former gijichon sex workers and found it guilty of "encouraging and justifying" the sex trade to "intensify military alliance and acquire foreign currency."

"Above all, it was the first historical ruling recognizing the state's responsibility for the U.S. military 'comfort women' in the camp towns," Ahn-Kim Jeong-ae, co-representative of the Solidarity for USAFIK (United States Army Forces in Korea) Comfort Women's Human Rights, told Xinhua on Friday.

The lives of the women were "one aspect of the painful modern history of the Korean Peninsula that no one told you about," and were officially examined for the first time through the trial process, said Ahn-Kim, whose organization is made up of advocacy groups to support the victims and proceed with the lawsuit.

This photo taken on May 13, 2023 shows a deserted house in a camp town in Dongducheon, South Korea. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang)

Since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, South Korea has prioritized its military alliance with the United States to ensure national security while urgently needing U.S. dollars for post-war rebuilding. Sexual exploitation became a means of meeting both ends.

"During the Korean War, the U.S. military proposed that the (South) Korean government establish 'comfort stations' for the exclusive use of (the U.S.-led) UN troops," wrote Park Jeong-mi, a sociology professor at Chungbuk National University, in a 2019 paper titled "Making Healthy Soldiers (and 'Comfort Women')."

In post-war years, "'comfort women' as a legal category remained, while 'comfort stations' gave way to clubs, bars and dance halls" in camp towns across the country, Park said. "USFK, wary of directly controlling 'comfort women' beyond its jurisdiction, chose to supervise the (South) Korean government, delegating to it the responsibility to round up, examine, and treat them."

In the 1970s, the South Korean government conducted a so-called "camp town clean-up campaign" to provide better "comfort women" service for American soldiers after former U.S. President Richard Nixon announced plans in 1969 to cut the number of U.S. troops in the Asian country.

Then chief of the Yongsan police station in central Seoul, where the U.S. army garrison was located, said in an official letter to "those engaged in the U.S. military service business" in June 1971 that some sex workers failed to please the U.S. soldiers. However, the chief "believes that you're doing the best service to the U.S. military so far."

According to court documents submitted as evidence, the police chief encouraged them to "reflect on and rectify" their mistakes, emphasizing that enemies could exploit such mistakes to undermine national security.

The high court said the camp towns were operated to "maintain the military alliance essential for national security" and acquire foreign currency by providing "friendly service" for U.S. soldiers and stirring up their "rationale."

Revenue from such "friendly service" was significant. In the 1960s, about 25 percent of the South Korean gross national product came from the sex trade and relevant businesses in camp towns, said Woo Soon-duk, director of the Sunlit Sisters' Center, an advocacy group for the gijichon women, in a 2019 article.

PRIORITIZING U.S. SOLDIERS

The camp town sex workers were praised as "dollar-earning patriots" when they took monthly classes sponsored by the South Korean government and the U.S. military to educate them about beauty, hygiene and simple English conversation, according to the court ruling.

This photo taken on May 13, 2023 shows a partially-covered building called "monkey house" in Dongducheon, South Korea. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang)

In mandatory classes attended by health center employees, police chiefs, county heads in South Korea and U.S. military medical unit officers, the educators emphasized the importance of conducting twice-weekly sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) testing for sex workers to safeguard U.S. soldiers.

"Praised as patriots, we made a lot of dollars ... Even if we suffered deadly pain, we didn't see any doctor but were only tested for STDs. The STD test was conducted for U.S. soldiers at the request of the U.S. military, not for us," said one of the plaintiffs at the court hearing.

Those testing positive for venereal diseases were detained and taken to medical treatment facilities called "monkey houses," where they received large doses of penicillin and suffered massive pain behind barred windows.

"U.S. soldiers from the U.S. military base administered the penicillin to the detained women," Park Su-mi, an activist of Durebang, a counseling center for the gijichon women, told Xinhua in a written interview, citing the testimony from one survivor who said many of her colleagues died from or were crippled by overdoses.

The activist noted that the survivors of penicillin shock continue to suffer from physical and mental trauma today.

As local doctors refrained from administering penicillin because of the frequent shock accidents, the South Korean health ministry sent a letter in February 1978 to prosecutors, asking them to investigate such cases cautiously and exempt the doctors who took emergency measures, according to the letter submitted to the court.

South Korean health center employees randomly conducted a joint crackdown with the U.S. military in the camp towns to "hunt down" women who avoided STD testing or lacked valid test cards.

In addition to the crackdown, detention and administration of penicillin without a doctor's diagnosis, the sex workers also had to endure beatings, forced abortions and having their money confiscated by both pimps and U.S. soldiers.

The pimps colluded with government officials and the police, who turned a blind eye and failed to investigate such crimes as murder, assault and confinement by U.S. soldiers, according to the plaintiffs.

"We were abandoned in this country where we were born ... Even though I was a teenager, no adult helped me ... I was so scared and hated this that when I ran away and asked for help, my whereabouts were told to pimps who beat me and sold me elsewhere after raising my debt," one of the plaintiffs told the court.

This photo taken on May 13, 2023 shows a partially-covered building called "monkey house" in Dongducheon, South Korea. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang)

Ahn-Kim told Xinhua that the plaintiffs would bring their cases to the United States, calling the legal victory over the South Korean government a "small gift" to compensate the surviving victims for their longstanding suffering.

While preparing for the legal fight in the United States, the Solidarity has submitted a report on the issue of camp town sex workers to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the co-head said.

"We are now planning to bring up that issue to the UN Human Rights Council to hold the United States accountable," she added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Smoke over the city of Klintsi, where a Russian helicopter crashed, on May 13, 2023

Russia has sent its best pilots to kill Ukrainians, in particular those who bombed Syria. Many of them will never fly again as they are taken captive, injured, or "out of commission forever," Ihnat said.

"Russia continues to train pilots, its educational facilities are functioning, he said.

It could be about 100-150 people a year in terms of pilots graduation. There is not much hope for us that (the supply of) pilots will end, but we do have hope that their quality will be significantly worsening..."

Read also: Military expert tells NV how Russia might have lost four aircraft in single day

The air force spokesperson also confirmed that besides two Russian helicopters and two aircraft, another helicopter crashed in Bryansk Oblast on May 13 as well. He said that Russia hasn't admitted it in order not to "shock Russians even more" and not to "further blacken this day." However, the Air Force observes "tense hysteria" in Russia, he said.

Two Russian Mi-8 helicopters, a Su-34 fighter-bomber, and a Su-35 fighter crashed almost simultaneously in Russia's Bryansk Oblast. Their crews, nine in total, were killed.

This was reported, with video footage widely shared by Russian media andlocals. However, the Russian Defence Ministry hasn't commented on the crashes or the numbers of the lost aircraft.

Russian air defenses were responsible for their downing, Ihnat said.

However, military experts have suggested that the aircraft, thought to have been on a mission to attack Ukraine, may have been downed by a Ukrainian air defense system that had been brought close to the Ukrainian-Russian border in Chernihiv Oblast.

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
House Bill 321, which would open up court records for minors as young as 13 in Caddo, Orleans and East Baton Rouge parishes, passed the chamber Thursday on a 63-36 vote.

Three of the states predominantly Black parishes would be affected by the Louisiana House of Representatives recent approval of a bill to make some juvenile criminal records public.

House Bill 321, which would open up court records for minors as young as 13 in Caddo, Orleans and East Baton Rouge parishes, passed the chamber on a 63-36 vote on Thursday, according to The Advocate.

State Rep. Debbie Villio, a Republican from Kenner who sponsored the legislation, said it was about public safety, contending that it aimed to reduce crime in Louisiana parishes with the highest rates by promoting greater transparency.

A view of the Louisiana State Capitol, where its House of Representatives recently approved House Bill 321, which would open up court records for minors as young as 13 in Caddo, Orleans and East Baton Rouge parishes. (Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

While supporters of the measure hope it will pave the way for a statewide system, some lawmakers have branded it an overtly racist initiative that would subject Black children to scrutiny usually reserved for the adult criminal justice system.

Lets be real. We know what this is about, said state Rep. Edmond Jordan, a Democrat from Baton Rouge, The Advocate reported. The optics are obvious. Lets stop playing around with this, he said.

If youre from Baton Rouge, if youre from Shreveport, if youre from New Orleans, he continued, you should be offended by this.

The proposal by Villio would require the three municipalities to develop publicly accessible electronic databases  linked to the attorney generals office website  containing minute entries from juvenile court proceedings.

The three parishes were reportedly the bills target due to their high crime rates, with Villio citing a dramatic increase in gun violence in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport in recent years.

Lawmakers made several failed attempts on the floor to soften House Bill 321; Rep. Barry Ivey, a Republican from Central, called it reckless and irresponsible.

The legislation will now head to the state Senate but will only succeed if funds are set aside.

Story continues

Republican state Rep. John Stefanski of Crowley, whos running for attorney general, is also among those who expressed reservations about opening juvenile records.

Even though these kids are accused of very bad crimes, he said, The Advocate reported, theyre still just accused.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post Louisiana House approves bill to open juvenile records in majority-Black areas appeared first on TheGrio.
During a visit to the Central Command Post of the Air Force and Air Defence Forces, Alexander Lukashenko, the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, stated that the troops have been on high combat readiness since 13 May.

Source: Belarusian Telegraph Agency

Quote from Lukashenko: "No big reports. Let's look at what is happening around our country, primarily in the air.

We often discuss security issues in our state, especially in the airspace. As I see it, the situation here is not critical right now. Nevertheless, there are worrying factors."

Details: Lukashenko noted that the troops have been on high alert for several days.

He was informed that on Saturday, after the incidents, the Belarusian Air Force and air defence were transferred to the number one readiness level.

Quote: "Three days after the events near us. I mean in Bryansk Oblast [Russia  ed.] when four aircraft were shot down.

We had to react to this. Since then, we have been on high alert  [that is,] our troops.

Therefore, I am interested in the situation around the country. And, of course, the directions and prospects for developing this situation. In brief. No scaremongering. About what is happening and what we expect in the short term."

Updated: After completing Lukashenko's report, Andrey Lukyanovich, Commander of the Air Force and Air Defence Forces of Belarus, shared the details with journalists.

He stated that the duty forces are in an intensified mode because of the latest events on the western and southern borders, particularly in connection with the combat training activities of NATO countries led by the USA.

"At the moment, additional forces and means are being recruited. We have from 750 to 1,000 people in our Armed Forces standing in for combat air defence duty every day. After the incidents in the Russian Federation, the duty forces were brought to highest combat readiness. Specifically, anti-aircraft missile troops, radio engineering and aircraft," said the commander.

Story continues

According to him, combat duty is conducted in an intensified mode, and security at all airfields and some radio engineering and anti-aircraft missile forces facilities were reinforced as well.

Background: On 13 May, Russian media reported that Russia had lost two helicopters and two jets in one day. Yurii Ihnat, spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, later said Russia had lost five combat aircraft that day: two jets and three helicopters.

On 15 May, Lukashenko arrived at the central command post of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence Forces to hear a report on the organisation and performance of air defence missions. The presidents press service posted a photo of Lukashenko there amid rumours of his poor health.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Belarusian propagandists posted a video in which their dictator, Aleksandr Lukashenko, talks to the military.

Source: Pul Pervogo, a propaganda Telegram channel of the Lukashenko regime

Details: The video clearly shows that the self-proclaimed president has a suspicious bandage on his left arm, and his voice sounds choked.

Lukashenko discusses the situation in the airspace around Belarus.

The opposition media Nasha Niva ("Our Field") also drew attention to one of today's photographs of the dictator. Lukashenko has a distant look and a stone face in the picture. He looks like a wax figure.

Background: Earlier on Monday, Belarusian propaganda finally posted a photo of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, who is said to be unwell. Lukashenko's hand was bandaged again.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






M-KOPA, the asset financing platform that offers underbanked African customers access to productive assets and the ability to pay for them via digital micropayments, has secured more than $250 million in new funding.

The capital injection includes $55 million in equity and over $200 million in debt, huge sums in both categories that testify to strong fundamentals and solid performance for any growth-stage company in this venture capitals current contraction. Following the $75 million in equity the Kenyan-based fintech announced last March, M-KOPA has raised $245 million in equity funding since its inception in 2011.

Japanese-based trading house Sumitomo Corporation, which M-KOPA co-founder and CEO Jesse Moore on a call with TechCrunch described as the type of investor whose long-term visions complement M-KOPAs aspirations, led the growth equity capital, donating the lions share at $36.5 million.

They share with us a conviction that even though there might be wobbles in the economy, theres an undeniable trend towards progress and an undeniable trend that the technology enablement of financial services and other digital services will only make the continent more successful, commented the CEO on Sumitomos first significant fintech-focused investment on the continent.

The firm, known for its infrastructural deals in Africa, in a statement, said, By leveraging each expertise and resource, we believe this partnership will have a positive impact on both the financial and telecommunications sectors, ultimately enriching the lives of people across the continent. Meanwhile, Blue Haven Initiative, Lightrock, Broadscale Group and Latitude, the sister fund to Local Globe, participated in the equity round alongside Sumitomo.

Underbanked customers in emerging markets face challenges due to low-income, limited credit histories, and lack of collateral. Strong identity and credit scoring infrastructure in developed markets enables various credit options, allowing individuals to make large purchases through post-paid methods. However, in sub-Saharan Africa, where 85% of the population lives on less than $5.50 per day, making major purchases without credit is difficult, while access to credit remains limited. Also, in these markets, individuals have limited pre-existing financial identities and conventional collateral.

Story continues

M-KOPAs business revolves around using debt to finance customers purchase of products and services it sells, such as smartphones and solar power systems, as well as loans and health insurance across four markets: Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and Nigeria. With its flexible credit model, the business allows individuals to pay a small deposit for the two products above and pay off through micro-installments, helping build their credit history over time. Default rates are little above 10%.

Until now, M-KOPA had received a little over $100 million in working capital financing for this repayment cycle. It has doubled that amount with this new financing. Standard Bank, Africas largest bank in terms of assets, provided half of the $200 million+ sustainability-linked debt financing. Development financial institutions -- the IFC, FMO and BII and funds managed by Lions Head Global Partners, Mirova SunFunder and Nithio -- supplied the rest.

Moore noted in a TechCrunch interview that the funding, one of the largest combined debt and equity raises in African tech, will allow M-KOPA to double the size of its now 3-million-strong customer base in existing markets (a metric which already witnessed an 85% CAGR from 2020 to 2022.)

The asset financier also intends to extend its financial services offerings and product sets and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Kenya and Uganda, where its solar product is more prominent. However, what remains a top priority for the company is to continue to drive womens financial inclusion across its operations (in 2020, when M-KOPA sold smartphones in Kenya, about 30% of its customers were women; two years later, it now stands slightly over 40% but the objective is to reach over 60%, the companys chief executive noted.)

Across all the markets, one key theme for us, in terms of broader impact, is our ability to close the gender gap of our consumers and I think were starting to make a notable impact on that problem. Data shows that women in sub-Saharan Africa are 20% less likely than men to own a smartphone, said Moore. Theres work to be done and our sustainability-linked facility is effectively an agreement between the lenders and M-KOPA to continue to try to overachieve on that front, especially as the quality of credit from female customers bests that of men globally so the ability to reach more female consumers with life-enhancing smartphones, and digital financial services is a win-win for us.

In addition, last year, M-KOPA claimed to have provided over $600 million in cumulative credit for its underbanked customers via a network of over 10,000 agents; 52% of these agents are women, Moore disclosed on the call, and the credit figure now touches over $1 billion.

Various models, such as agency banking and community-based finance, tackle the financial inclusion problem in Africa. But the pay-as-you-go model employed by M-KOPA, which starts with providing assets on a credit sale basis (as the wedge fintech product) and building on that relationship to cross-sell financial services via partnerships (for instance, it partnered with Turaco to offer health insurance), is unique in itself, and according to Moore, highly scalable, very commercially sustainable with a huge impact.

Given its success in East and West Africa, where it has sold over a million solar home systems and helped avoid 2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, M-KOPA will now set its sights on South Africa, where Moore says the company is ready to open a pilot operation in the next few weeks. Electric mobility is also a category the 10-year-old asset financier, which directly employs nearly 2,000 people across Africa, plans to test out, starting in Nairobi.

Theres a huge demand for life-enhancing products like smartphones and solar systems, which are difficult to afford, but weve made them affordable and accessible to our customers, said Moore. Our next category in R&D right now is electric motorcycles. Were very excited about electric mobility and were sure that in the next couple of decades, there will be a big switch in ownership where electric motorbikes will scale when theres financing to go with them.
PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with France's TF1 television on Monday that France is open to training Ukrainian fighter jet pilots in France and that those training programmes could start right away.

Asked about delivering warplanes to Ukraine, Macron said he had not discussed that issue with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during his visit to France this weekend.

"I have not talked about airplanes. I have talked about missiles. I have talked about training," he said. Asked about training for Ukraine pilots on French warplanes, he said: "There are no taboos".

Zelenskiy, delivering his nightly video address from a train returning him to Kyiv after a stop in London on Monday, said Britain and Poland had agreed to join a coalition that was being created to train Ukrainian pilots on modern Western aircraft.

"Britain -- yes. Poland -- yes. And I am sure France and other partners will join," he said.

(Reporting by Geert De Clercq and Elaine Monaghan; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Macron is hosting a conference aimed at persuading business leaders to put their money in France

President Emmanuel Macron met billionaire businessman Elon Musk on Monday to discuss future investment projects, as the French leader hosts a conference aimed at persuading business leaders to put their money in France.

Macron hosted the world's second richest man, who is the chef executive of electic car firm Tesla, social media company Twitter and cosmic exploration outfit SpaceX, six months after their last encounter in the United States, his office said.

They met at the Elysee Palace before both head to Versailles for the latest edition of the president's Choose France conference where Macron seeks to drum up investment in the country.

The two men were to talk about the "attractiveness of France and its industries", Macron's office announced. Musk smiled and waved at reporters as the meeting got underway but made no comment.

Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told the BFMTV broadcaster that "negotiations are ongoing" with the magnate.

Le Maire gave no details of Monday's talks with Musk, saying simply that "all of today's investments are the fruit of months or even years of negotiations".

During a US trip in December, Macron held an unannounced face-to-face meeting with Musk, saying later the two had had a "clear and honest" discussion during an hour-long meeting, including on electric cars and batteries.

He had also conveyed to Musk his -- and Europe's -- concerns about content moderation on Twitter since Musk bought the influential platform.

"Transparent user policies, significant reinforcement of content moderation and protection of freedom of speech: efforts have to be made by Twitter to comply with European regulations," Macron tweeted after that meeting.

vl-lum-sjw/tgb/lth
Musk, the world's second richest man, is the chief executive of electic car firm Tesla, social media company Twitter and exploration outfit SpaceX

Billionaire businessman Elon Musk on Monday said he was considering "significant investments in France" as he visited the country for a summit aimed at attracting foreign business leaders.

The world's second richest man, who is the chief executive of electric car firm Tesla, social media company Twitter and cosmic exploration outfit SpaceX, made the comments after meeting President Emmanuel Macron and Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire.

"I'm very impressed with President Macron and the French government and how welcoming they are to industry," the 51-year-old South African said.

"I'm confident that in the future Tesla will be making significant investments in France."

Le Maire said France would "continue discussions" with the businessman, but refused to share any further details.

Macron and Musk earlier met at the Elysee Palace before heading to Versailles for the latest edition of the president's Choose France conference where Macron seeks to drum up investment in the country.

"We talked about the attractiveness of France and the significant progress in the electric vehicle and energy sectors," Macron wrote on Twitter afterwards.

"We have so much to do together," he added.

Musk smiled and waved at reporters as the meeting got under way but made no comment.

Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told the BFMTV broadcaster that "negotiations are ongoing" with the magnate.

Le Maire gave no details of Monday's talks with Musk, saying simply that "all of today's investments are the fruit of months or even years of negotiations".

- 'Choose France' -

Macron said in another tweet that some 13 billion euros of investment would be announced at the summit, equating to the creation of some 8,000 jobs.

"When a foreign investor chooses France, it's good for jobs and for our regions," he said.

Some 200 foreign business bosses are expected at the summit, including Sunil Bharti Mittal of Indian conglomerate Bharti Entreprises, ArcelorMittal chief Lakhsmi Mittal and Nokia chief executive Pekka Lundmark.

Story continues

The meeting is being hosted at the Palace of Versailles, the former residence of France's monarchs, around which a tight security perimeter has been erected.

Macron remains the target of angry protests after signing into law his controversial pension reform last month, leading to new accusations from the opposition he was only a president for the rich.

Already confirmed last week was the investment of over five billion euros by Taiwanese battery maker ProLogium in building a new factory in northern France for its first European plant.

Among other projects, the Swedish furniture giant Ikea is announcing over 900 million euros of investment in France by 2026, including the creation of a logistics centre near Toulouse.

In pharmaceuticals, Pfizer is injecting an additional 500 million euros and Britain's GSK nearly 400 million in France

During a US trip in December, Macron held an unannounced face-to-face meeting with Musk, saying later the two had had a "clear and honest" discussion during an hour-long meeting, including on electric cars and batteries.

He had also conveyed to Musk his -- and Europe's -- concerns about content moderation on Twitter since Musk bought the influential platform.

Macron confirmed the pair "also talked about digital regulation" in their Paris meeting.

vl-lum-boc/ah/adp/yad
Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris on May 14, 2023

"We have opened the doors to training pilots alongside several other European countries, which are also ready; I believe the negotiations with the Americans are ongoing," said Macron.

Read also: Zelenskyy and Macron discuss Ukraines need for weapons

CNN also quotes Macron as saying that "training can start right away." When asked if France would provide fighter jets to Ukraine, the president said that he was not talking about aircraft, but about "missiles" and "training." According to him, Paris will not supply Ukraine with weapons that would "allow reaching into Russian territory."

Read also: Macron fails to change Xi Jinping's stance on war in Ukraine, Politico writes

During his visits to Italy, Germany, France and Great Britain, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Ukraine is creating a coalition to train pilots on modern Western aircraft.

Read also: France and Ukraine urge Russia to withdraw from Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant

Earlier, London announced that training for Ukrainian fighter pilots would begin this summer.

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
Samir Hussein - Getty Images

Ex-Made in Chelsea star Spencer Matthews has opened up on his friendship with former co-star Jamie Laing, after being noticeably absent from his wedding last month.

Speaking to OK! magazine, Spencer touched on the apparent snub after fans noticed he didn't attend Jamie and Sophie Habboo's recent wedding.

"His [Jamie's] mistake  as you all know. It was nothing to do with me," Spencer said when asked about not being invited to the ceremony at Chelsea Registry Office.

"It's water under the bridge. Jamie's a bit scatty, he's badly-organised, and at the end of the day, I believe it, so he's off the hook."

Samir Hussein - Getty Images

Related: Made in Chelsea's Liv Bentley and Tristan Phipps split

The reality star confirmed that he will be attending the couple's upcoming larger wedding ceremony in Marbella, adding that he will be very much involved in the celebrations.

"I'm going, I'm speaking. I have a role. I'm doing all kinds of stuff," he said.

Jamie has also set the record straight after feud allegations began to circulate, blaming himself for a "miscommunication" around holiday dates.

Mike Marsland - Getty Images

"I f**ked up. We had our wedding, our civil ceremony, in the UK. It was a hectic process," he explained on his and Sophie's NearlyWeds podcast while joined by Vogue and Spencer.

"Amongst the hectic-ness of getting people there and things like that, I thought Spen and Vogue were away. Sophie took over and said, 'Are they coming?' and I said, 'No, they're in Portugal'. And I didn't send out an invite."



Vogue then revealed that her husband had been upset about the situation, replying: "I've never seen him like that, he was genuinely upset over something! And I was like, 'Oh god'."



Rowben Lantion - Getty Images

Related: Made in Chelsea's Sam Thompson opens up on future with Zara following ADHD diagnosis

"For your wedding  I would fly three times around the world to come to it because I care about you so much," Spencer added.

Story continues

Spencer wasn't the only Made in Chelsea alum to be absent from the wedding celebrations either, with Sam Thompson also expressing his disappointment after missing out on the stag do.

However, Sam made it clear that there's been no fallout and he will also be attending the celebrations in Marbella.

Made in Chelsea airs on E4.

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A.P. Moller-Maersk is expanding its warehousing footprint in Bangladesh to offer more than half-a-million square feet of storage in the South Asian country.

Commissioned in cooperation with container depot and freight station provider Ispahani Summit Alliance Terminals Limited (ISATL), Maersk says it is entering a second phase of its partnership with the Bangladesh-based firm to give customers access to a newly built 210,000-square-foot export customs-bonded warehouse in the countrys southeastern port city of Chattogram.

More from Sourcing Journal

Customs-bonded warehouses are where imported taxable merchandise may be stored or undergo manufacturing operations without any required duty payments.

The warehouse is tailored for retail and lifestyle commodities exporters and should open by April 2024.

We continue to invest and strengthen our commitment to Bangladesh with the expansion of our footprint in the country, said Vikash Agarwal, managing director, Maersk South Asia in a statement. We strongly believe in the potential of this country and its exporters, and we are fully committed to participating and playing a role in their respective growth stories.

Maersk and ISATL had first entered into an agreement towards the end of 2021, with the latter providing 200,000 square feet of export customs-bonded warehouse space to the logistics giant just 14 months later.

The warehouse developments come as Bangladesh has seen a slowdown in exports owing to current macroeconomic concerns, which has reduced demand for retail goods in Western markets. Maersk says it expects flagging demand to turn around as inventory restocking begins, giving a boost to exports out of the country.

But when demand bounces back, Maersks Chattogram investments will support consumer goods customers.

The 100,000-square-foot warehousing space it created with Vertex Depot officially opened in February. The newest Chattogram expansion means Maersk will offer customers more than 500,000 square feet of dedicated export warehousing space when the facility opens next year.

Story continues

Another 300,000 square feet of flexible warehousing capacity is available through local tie-ups to help Maersks client meet short-term requirements.

The global storage and warehouse leasing market is on track to grow by $91.27 billion at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.17 percent from 2022 to 2027, according to a report from Technavio, a market research firm.

Technology-fueled investments to modernize warehouses are fueling the growth, according to Technavio. This includes automated business process tools and methodologies, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and robotics deployments, and integrated cross-functional business process components that can identify, track, quantify and report on various sustainability factors.

Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc recently said a radically changed business environment drove a 26 percent decline in first quarter revenue to $14.2 billion. Net underlying profit fell 66 percent to $2.6 billion in the wake of freight rates that declined by an average of 37 percent year-over-year.

Amid todays freight recession, Maersk continues investing ahead of the dissolution of the 2M alliance in 2025.

Most recently, after reporting its earnings, the global logistics company opened its first warehousing and distribution facility in Cape Town, South Africa.

The 30,000-square-foot site offers 11,000 square feet of additional open yard space. More than 85 percent of the warehouse is covered with 7,000 pallet racks.

With complete data integration into its warehouse management system (WMS), Maersk says it guarantees clear visibility of customer cargo movement and improves inventory management.

Last month, Maersk opened a new Global Service Centre (GSC) in Mexico City to service its Americas region, as well as a dedicated satellite center in Santos, Brazil. It also signed a new lease for a 685,000-square-foot facility in Derby, England.

To close 2022, Maersk signed a land grant contract to operate its first green and smart flagship logistics center in Chinas Shanghai Free Trade Zone. With a total investment of $174 million, the facility is expected to be open by the third quarter of 2024.

Around the same time, the ocean freight titan opened its new Integrated Logistics Park at Port Qasim in Pakistan in December.

The many recent changes at Maersk arent just expansion related, despite what some of its recent acquisitions like LF Logistics and Pilot Freight Services would suggest.

The company is divesting its Maersk Supply Service (MSS) division, which is a provider of global offshore marine services and project solutions for the energy sector, to parent company A.P. Moller Holding for $685 million. Peter Wikstrom, head of M&A and strategic brands at A.P. Moller-Maersk, noted in a statement that the divestment marks the completion of our previous decision to divest all energy related activities and focus on truly integrated logistics.

Operating in more than 130 countries and employing more than 100,000 people worldwide. Maersk is aiming to reach net zero emissions by 2040 with new technologies, new vessels, and green fuels.

Click here to read the full article.
NYX Professional Makeup announced the launch of the Game Out Loud pride campaign. The initiative aims to bring awareness to LGBTQIA+ bullying in the online gaming world.

Black Gamer Joins New Campaign

The campaign imagery features five LGBTQIA+ talents who bring their passion to life through makeup artistry reflective of their favorite games. One of the influencers representing the new campaign is Black gamer, Glitch. On her Instagram page, Glitch, shared NYXs reel announcing the campaign. According to her IG, along with being a gamer, Glitch is also a video game remix and cover artist and music producer.

According to NYX, nearly 90 percent of LGBTQIA+ gamers have been harassed about their identities online. With the launch of the Game Out Loud campaign, the brand hopes to target hate. To do so, the brand will create safe spaces both in the metaverse and in real life. The brand will offer education and allyship training nationwide.

Safe Spaces and Allyship

The brand is activating safe spaces online on Roblox, Twitch, and nyxcosmetics.com. At the House of NYX Professional Makeup on Roblox, the brand will feature an non-player character. The character will ask visitors to take an allyship pledge. After committing to the pledge, visitors will receive an ally badge for their Roblox avatar to wear.

On Twitch, NYX Professional Makeup will partner with LGBTQIA+ gamers who will host a series of live streams. They will focus on education, ally messaging, and inclusivity. Allyship training and education will also be offered on nyxcosmetics.com. Offline, the brand will feature safe space activations at Pride events in Los Angeles and Paris. The brand will present interactive, immersive experiences at both events open to consumers.

Our longstanding allyship to the LGBTQIA+ community is a major pillar of our brand values, said Nicolas Vissat, Assistant Vice President, US Marketing at NYX Professional Makeup. NYX Professional Makeup stands for artistry for all, and proudly advocates for the communitys freedom of expression online and offline.

The post Makeup Brand Targets Bullying in Gaming With New Pride Campaign appeared first on 21Ninety.
Photo: Getty (Getty Images)

The Texas man who has been charged with shooting and killing his girlfriend last week after she traveled to Colorado to get an abortion had strangled her weeks earlier, she had told police.

The woman, Gabriella Gonzalez, reported to Dallas police in March that her boyfriend, Harold Thompson, repeatedly attacked her throughout their relationship, according to KERA News. She said hed recently tried to strangle her and had punched her in the past, giving her bruises and a black eye. Police spoke to Thompson that month and he said Gonzalez was pregnant with his child and denied choking her, though he said may have struck her after she placed her hands on him.

Read more

An arrest warrant affidavit from the day of the killing said that Thompson has an active family violence strangulation warrantwhere Complainant Gonzalez was the victim. That first warrant, after she reported his abuse, was dated April 14more than three weeks before Thompson killed her.

Strangulation is a red flag and a key predictor of homicide in domestic violence situations. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, if someone has strangled their partner in the past, the chances the partner will kill them increase by a factor of 10.



Gonzalez appeared to be very fearful of the suspectand was crying when she talked to the police in March, per the affidavit, and said she was scared because he had made threats to harm her family and her children.

Thompson shot Gonzalez on May 10, the day after she returned home from Colorado. Abortion has been banned in Texas since the fall of Roe v. Wade, and the affidavit said Thompson didnt want her to get an abortion. Dallas police charged Thompson with murder, as well as felony assault for the March strangulation incident. According to Everytown for Gun Safety, 70 women are shot and killed every month by an intimate partner.

Story continues

More women will die now that Roe is gone, both from pregnancy itself and from intimate partner violence related to pregnancy decisions. In fact, homicide is a leading cause of death for pregnant people in the U.S.even more so than health problems. In addition to bodily harm, women and pregnant people living under abortion bans will also increasingly face partners who use their pregnancy to manipulate and control them.

More from Jezebel

Sign up for Jezebel's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
Trent Taylor, 21, was killed Sunday evening following a shooting at the Shively Animal Clinic.

Officers from the Shively Police Department responded to 2401 Dixie Highway around 6:30 p.m., where they said an altercation escalated into a shooting, according to Sgt. Jordan Brown.

From prison to 'Mr. Marijuana': This man fled Kentucky to become a Dutch pot pioneer

Taylor died at the University of Louisville Hospital from a gunshot wound, according to the Jefferson County Coroners Office. The shooting has been ruled a homicide.

There have been no arrests in the case. Police said all involved parties were accounted for, and there are no suspects "outstanding." This was an isolated incident, and there is no present danger to the community, police said.

Contact reporter Rae Johnson at RNJohnson@gannett.com. Follow them on Twitter at @RaeJ_33.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Shively Animal Clinic: Trent Taylor dies after a Mother's Day shooting at clinic
A 31-year-old Fernandina Beach man was killed in a crash involving a Nassau County Sheriffs Office patrol SUV on State Road 200 in Yulee on Sunday afternoon.

At 1:23 p.m., the deputys vehicle was traveling westbound on SR 200 near Daydream Avenue. Nassau Sheriff Bill Leeper said the deputy was responding to a call for assistance from the Florida Department Of Agriculture on a human trafficking case.

The 31-year-old man was traveling in a sedan eastbound on SR 200, preparing to turn left onto Daydream Avenue.

As his vehicle was turning and crossing through westbound lanes, the front of the deputys SUV struck the right side of the mans car. Leeper said the patrol SUV overturned in the crash.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash and the deputy was taken to Baptist Nassau Hospital.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Leeper released the following statement about the crash:

On Sunday, May 14, 2023, around 1:30 PM a traffic crash occurred involving a Nassau County Sheriffs Office patrol vehicle. The preliminary investigation indicates that a NCSO Deputy was traveling westbound on SR-200 just west of the intersection of Wildlight Blvd. responding to a call for assistance from the Florida Department Of Agriculture on a human trafficking case. Another vehicle was traveling eastbound on SR-200 and was attempting to make a left turn across the westbound lanes of SR-200 onto Daydream Ave. That car turned into the path of the patrol car and was struck in the right side. The patrol car then overturned on the north shoulder of the roadway. The driver of the other vehicle died at the scene. The deputy was transported to Nassau Baptist Hospital with minor injuries. The crash is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Its heartbreaking when anyone is killed in a traffic crash. We want to send our prayers and condolences to the family who lost a loved one in this tragic unfortunate accident.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
A Texas man is accused of making his father drink Fabuloso cleaner disguised as Gatorade, according to Brownsville police.

Officers responded to a call for a welfare check on May 9 at an apartment on Brownsvilles south side, the department said in a news release video posted on Facebook.

They arrived to find a 35-year-old man and his father at the home, which was unsanitary, police said, adding that the living conditions were horrible.

Officers saw a bottle of Fabuloso near the mans father, near a bottle of Gatorade and some food, police said.

Officers could smell cleaner in the Gatorade bottle and determined the mans son had been serving him Fabuloso, police said.

The father said he had already drunk half the bottle since it was with his food provided to him by his son, according to police.

The son was arrested on charges of abuse to an elderly person and marijuana possession, police said. He was booked into the Brownsville City Jail.

Home cleaners can be dangerous if consumed.

Depending upon the ingredients used, all-purpose cleaners can irritate your skin, eyes, nose and throat. And they can be highly poisonous if swallowed, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Mom uses seat belt to tie boy to car then drags him on highway as punishment, cops say

8-month-old fatally shot as mother and father fight over handgun, Texas officials say

8-month-old fatally shot as mother and father fight over handgun, Texas officials say

Three family members get shot trying to stop man hitting girlfriend, Texas cops say
The father of a teenage girl who was traveling with her earlier this month claimed airline authorities suspected him of being a human trafficker.

Francisco De Jesus was traveling with his 13-year-old daughter from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Charlotte, North Carolina on an American Airlines flight when the incident took place.

We were going to go celebrate my oldest daughters graduation. You know, I mean, it was a happy time, Mr De Jesus told NBC affiliate King5.

He said that after boarding the plane, he went to the bathroom and returned to find his daughter holding some wings.

I got up to go to the bathroom. When I came back, my daughter had some wings. I was like, oh, where did you get those from, he was quoted as saying.

He said his daughter informed him that a flight attendant had come to her while he was away and asked her several questions, including if she was fine, where she was going and who she was going to meet.

Once the plane reached Charlotte, airport security officials met the pair.

As were deplaning, were greeted by several individuals. One of them who introduced himself as the head of security for the Charlotte International Airport, said Mr De Jesus.

He said they were taken to the terminal where law enforcement officers said flight attendants are trained to look for the signs of human trafficking.

At that point, my heart just sank, he said.

The man said he was asked a few questions by the law enforcement officers who saw the situation for what it was immediately.

They were very professional. They saw the situation for what it was immediately, he said.

My question that I would like to have answered is how did they get to label me as a human trafficker? I had my iPad; we were watching a movie. She had her phone. I mean, these are things that I thought a dad and a daughter traveling do.

The airline told King5 in a statement that their staff is trained to navigate signs of safety issues and apologised for the misunderstanding.

Our frontline team members are trained to navigate a variety of safety issues, including recognising the potential signs of human trafficking. We strive to create a positive, welcoming environment for everyone who travels with us and apologise for any misunderstanding that may have occurred, the American Airlines statement said to the outlet.

The airline said it had reached out to Mr De Jesus, who also confirmed to the outlet having received their communication.
A Mashpee man has died following an outside fire that likely resulted from open burning on Monday, the district attorneys office said.

Roger Collin, 86, was found dead outside of a Hooppole Road residence in Mashpee, Cape and Islands Deputy First Assistant District Attorney Russ Eonas said in a statement Monday.

No foul play is suspected.

At about 11:45 am, Mashpee Police and Fire received a 911 call from neighbors regarding a fire outside of 274 Hooppole Road.

When emergency crews arrived, they found Collin, who had been badly burned, Eonas said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators believe the fire was started by open burning.

State Police detectives assigned to the Cape and Islands District Attorneys Office, the State Fire Marshals Office, Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Services, and Mashpee Police and Fire responded and assisted with the investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
A Massachusetts man has been arrested for passing information about Chinese dissidents in the United States to the Chinese government

A Massachusetts man has been arrested for providing information about Chinese dissidents in the United States to China's government, the Justice Department said Monday.

Litang Liang, 63, of Brighton, was arrested on May 9 on charges of acting as an agent of the People's Republic of China (PRC) without notifying US authorities, according to the department.

The announcement of Liang's arrest came on the same day as a court in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou revealed that a 78-year-old US citizen, John Shing-wan Leung, had been sentenced to life in prison for espionage.

The Justice Department said Liang, between 2018 and 2022, had passed information about Boston-area residents, dissidents and groups, including "community organizations with pro-Taiwan leanings," to Chinese government officials.

Liang organized a counter-protest against pro-democracy dissidents in Boston and provided names and provided photographs of dissidents and potential recruits to China's Ministry of Public Security, the department said.

"We will not tolerate the PRC's efforts to interfere with public discourse and threaten civic participation in the United States," assistant attorney general Matthew Olsen said in a statement.

"This case demonstrates, once again, the lengths that the PRC government, including its Ministry of Public Security, will go to target people in the US who exercise their rights to speak out against the PRC."

Liang could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of the charge of acting as an agent of a foreign government. He could face an additional five years if convicted of conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government.

The Chinese court in Suzhou revealed few details about the espionage case involving Leung, who is also a Hong Kong permanent resident, but it is likely to increase tensions between Beijing and Washington.

US-China relations are already strained over issues such as trade, human rights and Taiwan.

Washington and Beijing just ended an unofficial pause in high-level contacts over the US shooting down of a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon in February.

cl/mlm
Hello and welcome back to Max Q!

In this issue:

Virgin Galactic aims for a triumphant return

Vast aims to launch space station in 2025

News from SpaceX, and more

Virgin Galactic will return to the skies later this month in a crewed mission that the company hopes will bring to an end the nearly two-year gap since its first and only crewed flight in July 2021.

The space tourism company said Monday it will send a crew of four to space in late May. The main objective of the mission is to validate the spaceflight system and astronaut experience before officially commencing commercial service in June. Virgin Galactic took people to space for the first time in July 2021, with a crew that included its billionaire founder, Richard Branson. The company was no doubt riding high after that mission, but VG has been plagued by issues since.

Virgin Galactic VSS Unity in flight

Virgin Galactic VSS Unity. Image Credits: Virgin Galactic

Some of the biggest names in the space industry are billionaires: Elon Musk. Jeff Bezos. Richard Branson. The newest person to join this small cadre, at least by personal net worth, is Jed McCaleb. His space station company, Vast, is partnering with SpaceX to be the first private company to launch and operate a fully commercial station in orbit.

The average American is likely unfamiliar with McCaleb, a software developer who was one of the creators of the now-infamous Mt. Gox Bitcoin exchange and a founder of the crypto protocol Ripple. According to some estimates, his fortune is said to be worth around $2.5 billion. When Vast emerged from stealth in the fall of 2022, it was greeted with more than a little skepticism. The company said it was launching with a mission to build the worlds first artificial gravity space station  and provided few other details.

I dont fault people for being skeptical, McCaleb said in a recent interview. Ive clearly never done anything in aerospace before, so it is a leap.

Story continues

The publics doubts about McCaleb are likely fading fast today, with news that the company is aiming to put the first commercial space station in orbit as soon as August 2025. Its an aggressive timeline, one that outpaces other station developers  and its all being funded by McCaleb himself.

Vast Haven-1 space station

Image Credits: Vast

More news from TC and beyond

Astroscale and Momentus submitted a joint proposal to NASA detailing their plans to boost the Hubble Space Telescope's orbit. (Astroscale)

Axiom Space is gearing up for its second private human spaceflight mission to the ISS, now scheduled to launch on May 21. (TechCrunch)

China's spaceplane may have captured and released an object in space multiple times during its recent test flight. (Space News)

Impulse Space said its Saiph thruster is now space-qualified and ready for launch on the company's inaugural mission set for October. Saiph thrusters will power the company's first spacecraft, Mira. (Impulse)

JSX, a charter plane operator, has made Starlink available across its fleet of 40 Embraer jets. (AviationWeek)

Rocket Lab landed another multi-CubeSat launch contract from NASA, following the successful deployment of a batch of satellites under a separate contract with the space agency last weekend. (Rocket Lab)

Virgin Orbit received more than 30 "indications of interest" in its bankruptcy proceedings, including multiple bids from parties reportedly interested in continuing business operations and retaining current employees. (Virgin Orbit)

Max Q is brought to you by me, Aria Alamalhodaei. If you enjoy reading Max Q, consider forwarding it to a friend.
Jordan Neely, 30, died on May 1 after being put in a fatal chokehold on the New York City subway by Daniel Penny.

Jordan Neely, 30, died on May 1 after being put in a fatal chokehold on the New York City subway by Daniel Penny.

After Daniel Penny killed Jordan Neely with a chokehold on May 1, several local media outlets reported that Neely had thrown trash at subway passengers, aggressively threatened them and got into an argument with Penny before Penny tackled him to the ground.

But within a few days, as reporting relied less on anonymous law enforcement sources, journalists began poking holes in each of these details, and outright contradicted some of them.

By that time, though, the two men involved in the incident had been painted with broad brushes. Penny, a 24-year-old white man, was written not as someone whod used a deadly martial arts position for several minutes straight, but rather as a Marine veteran looking for work as a bartender in New York. Neely, on the other hand, was a Black, homeless, mentally ill former Michael Jackson impersonator  an unhinged vagrant, as the New York Post described him  whose killing recalled an era when residents felt besieged by crime, as The Associated Press put it.

Even after the citys medical examiner found that Neely, 30, died of a fatal chokehold, some outlets used passive, soft language and invited debate. A since-deleted tweet from the AP read: The choking death of a man with apparent mental illness in the New York subway set off powerful reactions, with some calling the chokehold a homicide and others defending the passengers action as a defense against disorder.

For several days, media reports withheld Pennys name while printing Neelys police record.

That record included dozens of arrests, some for assault and many for lesser charges like fare evasion. And police sources appeared to immediately leak Neelys rap sheet to news outlets after his death, despite Neely having just been killed in public. The practice of leaking criminal records to reporters after a public incident is a habit for the NYPD, deployed after the arrests of countless defendants  but not usually for homicide victims. A spokesperson for the department didnt respond to HuffPosts requests for comment.

Story continues

As Penny surrendered to authorities Friday on a manslaughter charge, pleading not guilty, the citys media apparatus faced an urgent question: How had the victim of a killing so quickly been made into the villain?

People gather to attend a May 8 vigil to honor Neely's life.

People gather to attend a May 8 vigil to honor Neely's life.

Jordan Neelys Last Words

Neelys final minutes began with a scene many New Yorkers have encountered: a man in mental distress, hungry and tired, shouting for help on the subway.

According to Juan Alberto Vazquez, a freelance journalist who took the only published video of Penny putting Neely in a chokehold, Neely was aggressive but not specifically threatening or getting physical with anyone on the train.

Vazquez, who did not respond to HuffPosts requests for comment, posted a video of Neelys final moments on his Facebook page, along with a quote purportedly from Neely written in Spanish: I dont have food, I dont have anything to drink, Im fed up....I dont care if I go to jail and they give me life in prison. Neely didnt seem to want to attack anyone, Vazquez wrote.

He started screaming all these things, took off his jacket, a black jacket that he had, and threw it on the ground, Vazquez told the New York Post for a story published May 2, the day after Neelys death. He also told The New York Times that day that Neely had said, Im ready to die.

Three days later, Vazquez told a nearly identical story to New York magazine: He started yelling that he didnt have food, that he didnt have water. From what I understood, he was yelling that he was tired, that he didnt care about going to jail. Then Vazquez went further, emphasizing the relative lack of risk Neely posed at the moment Penny attacked him: 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.

But Neelys purported words grew more aggressive with the use of anonymous police sources. The NewYork Post, the Daily News, ABC7 and Fox News, all citing law enforcement, said Neely had threatened subway riders.

On television, NBC New Yorks Checkey Beckford cited anonymous law enforcement sources who claimed, according to a witness, that Neely shouted Im not taking no for an answer and Ill hurt anyone on this train  quotes that have not been widely matched by other outlets. (Fox News Jesse Watters used the same quotes during his May 4 broadcast, without citing his source, and The New Yorker, also unsourced, included the quote Im not taking no for an answer! in a May 10 story.) Two early articles on NBC New Yorks digital platform, published on May 3 and May 4, paraphrased the dialogue: Police sources told NBC New York that Neely told riders on the train that he wanted food, that he wasnt taking no for an answer, and that he would hurt anyone on the train. Two subsequentarticles added a crucial word, reporting on what Neely purportedly told riders, according to police sources.

A spokesperson for WNBC told HuffPost, We stand by our story and our reporting.

Over the past few years, and especially since the peak of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, the media has grown more circumspect about basing stories on law enforcement sources alone. But change has been slow.

Journalism supposedly is based on skepticism, said Linn Washington Jr., a journalism professor at Temple University with decades of experience reporting on police. You take everything with a grain of salt, and you do your balanced reporting in as accurate and as fair a way as is possible to both sides. Has this been a sea change? No. But there has been some changes. And the changes are substantial. But then, you get these circumstances where the initial reportage can overshadow some of the underlying facts.

Even as some outlets cited anonymous law enforcement officers to report Neely supposedly threatening straphangers, others reported nearly the opposite.

On May 4, an unidentified witness, speaking to CBS News, said that while Neely had been panhandling and shouting, It did not appear that this man, who seemed to be suffering from some kind of mental disturbance, was seeking to assault anyone.

One witness told Hell Gate, a worker-owned New York City outlet, that he hadnt seen the beginning of the incident, but he described what he heard secondhand as a demand for help from Neely, not necessarily a threat. [Bystanders] said [Neely] had gotten on the train and was belligerent about getting his food, James Kings told the outlet. He was using the wrong method, he was using aggressive panhandling, he was screaming and hollering about how he needed food. (Hell Gate also published the account of an anonymous witness who said theyd heard secondhand from other riders that Neely had been threatening people.)

Pennys attorneys have said he merely protected himself and others after Neely began aggressively threatening Daniel Penny and the other passengers. But few of Pennys fellow passengers have come forward saying the same.

On Friday  more than 10 days after the incident  the Post published the account of an unidentified 66-year-old who claimed Neely had said, I would kill a motherf***er. I dont care. Ill take a bullet. Ill go to jail. The woman said Penny had asked her and another rider to give their accounts to authorities. Penny, the source said, did not engage with the gentleman. He said not a word. It was all Mr. Neely that was... threatening the passengers.

Now, the case is in prosecutors hands. The Manhattan district attorneys office is fielding criticism from all sides  on the right, for bringing a case at all against a supposed Good Samaritan acting in self-defense, and from Neelys family, for not pursuing a murder charge.

Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass said Friday in court that several witnesses observed Mr. Neely making threats and scaring passengers before Penny put him in a fatal chokehold. The DAs office didnt answer HuffPosts questions about those witness accounts.

Speaking in court on Friday, Steinglass focused on Pennys actions once his minutes-long chokehold began.

At some point Mr. Neely stopped moving, Steinglass said. The defendant continued to hold Mr. Neely for a period and then released him.

Penny is escorted in handcuffs by New York police after turning himself in to the 5th Precinct in Lower Manhattan. Penny turned himself in after being charged with second-degree manslaughter in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely.

Penny is escorted in handcuffs by New York police after turning himself in to the 5th Precinct in Lower Manhattan. Penny turned himself in after being charged with second-degree manslaughter in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely.

Shaping A Victims Story

Accounts of an alleged argument before Penny took Neelys life are similarly shaky.

No witnesses have described any interaction between the two men before Penny choked Neely, and theres no video footage of the moments leading up to the chokehold.

Vazquez told New York magazine that Penny came up behind [Neely] and grabbed him by the neck. CNN similarly reported that, according to Vazquez, Neely did not interact with the passenger at all before the attack. Vazquez told The New York Times that he didnt directly see Penny grab Neely, but that he heard a thump and saw both men on the floor. Lawyers for Neelys family similarly claimed to the Times that theyd been told by witnesses that Penny grabbed Neely from behind. The Post, citing both Vazquez and police, reported that Neely approached the homeless man from behind and took him to the ground with a chokehold.

Multiple reports citing both witnesses and police  from The Associated Press and The New York Times to CNN and NBC New York  have said theres no evidence that Neely got physical with anyone before Penny began his chokehold.

Still, some outlets described the incident in a way that implied a two-sided struggle.

In a May 2 story, the Daily News wrote: A disturbed man threatening strangers on a Manhattan subway train died after getting into a brawl with the wrong passenger  a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who put him in a chokehold, cops said Tuesday. According to that report, Neely threw garbage at commuters, prompting an argument with Penny  a quarrel that turned into a brawl as the train entered the station.

Here, too, police sources may have shaped the narrative. In a May 3 story, NBC News quoted a phone call with a police spokesperson who said officers came to the subway station to respond to a call about a physical fight.

Further investigation revealed the 30-year-old was involved in a verbal dispute with the 24-year-old male and it escalated into a physical altercation, the spokesperson said, according to the story. During the physical struggle between the two males, the 30-year-old male lost consciousness.

Fox News Watters went even further on May 4, saying, without explaining the source of his information, that Penny confronted Neely gently at first and that Penny tried to deescalate  two claims that havent appeared in any other outlet.

FOX News Channel stands by our coverage and does not disclose sources, a spokesperson said.

The criminal complaint against Penny cites an unnamed person who observed the defendant come up from behind an individual, later identified as Jordan Neely, pull him down to the ground, and further observed the defendant hold his arm around Mr. Neelys neck for several minutes.

The claims about Neely throwing garbage at passengers  rather than simply throwing his jacket on the ground  have similarly not been established, outside of reports within a couple days of Neelys death from the Daily News, the Post, and CBS New York, the last of which cited unnamed witnesses.

And one detail seems to have disappeared from the story: Screenshotsindicate that an ABC7 article originally included the text, Importantly, detectives so far have no information suggesting that the veteran who administered the hold had been warned by onlookers that Neely was dying or suffering serious physical damage while being restrained.

However, that phrase no longer appears on ABC7s website. Perhaps relatedly, Vazquezs video includes remarks from an onlooker on the subway several minutes into Pennys chokehold. Youre going to kill him now, the man says. And later: You dont want to catch a murder charge.

Mari Hayman and Dirce Toca contributed reporting.

Related...
Meera Syal, who was born in Wolverhampton, was given the Bafta Fellowship at the annual awards on Sunday

Meera Syal placed a bindi on her Bafta and said it "represents change" as she was presented with a lifetime achievement award.

The Wolverhampton-born actress, comedian and writer was given a Bafta Fellowship on Sunday in recognition of "outstanding achievement" within TV.

Collecting the award, she spoke of the need for diversity in the industry.

"As a chubby brown kid from Wolverhampton, I got othered a lot," she explained.

The 61-year-old referenced a quote from Maya Angelou about the "the agony of an untold story" as she reflected on her career, which has spanned three decades.

"We are all storytellers here, so we know how much it matters, what stories we get to tell but more importantly who gets to tell them," she added.

The actress thanked husband Sanjeev Bhaskar and said the lifetime achievement award "represents change"

Syal, who was awarded a CBE in 2015, grew up in the village of Essington in south Staffordshire after her parents moved from India to the UK.

Known for her roles in Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumar's at No. 42, alongside husband Sanjeev Bhaskar, she reflected on growing up in the West Midlands as she picked up the award.

Previous recipients of TV's highest accolade include Sir Billy Connolly and the journalist Jon Snow.

On stage at London's Royal Festival Hall, Syal adorned a glittering bindi decoration on her award and thanked her family, agents and casting directors.

"I know this represents change and we all know we still have work to do, but we all stand on the shoulders of our ancestors and giants," she said.

"[Thanks] to all the casting directors who fought to get me in the room, especially when it didn't say Asian in the breakdown."

'This represents change'

The Mrs Sidhu Investigates star also praised her "wonderful parents", including her father who died in 2018, adding that he had found himself in a refugee camp during the partition of India in 1947.

"When he and his Punjabi mates shared their stories about their dreams and their struggles and their hopes for their children like me, that's when I really knew who they were.

Story continues

"Because when you hear someone else's story you stand in their shoes," she added.

The actress ended her speech by dedicating her win to her "fellow travellers" and those who had been made to feel that their stories had not mattered, due to their race, gender or class.

"The untold stories are the ones that change us and sometimes can change the world," she said.

"Please keep going, I see you, and thank you so much Bafta for tonight - seeing us."

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk
The demon catshark, a deep water species discovered off the coast of Australia. CSIRO Australian National Fish Collection

A new species called the demon catshark has been discovered off the coast of Australia.

The first found of its kind, the shark has ghostly white eyes and is likely an opportunistic hunter.

A researcher in the discovery told Insider they tracked 40-year-old egg sacks to identify the shark.

After 40 years of searching, researchers at the CSIRO Australian National Fish Collection have finally identified the mysterious creature leaving unique egg sacks in the deep water off the country's coast, discovering a new species in the process.

Enter: the demon catshark, or apristurus ovicorrugatus. Only one specimen of the small ocean shark, characterized by its bright white eyes, smooth dark skin, and uniquely ridged egg sack, has been found.

Thankfully, that specimen was a female, about 47 centimeters long, with a fully intact egg pouch. It allowed researchers to positively match the species with mysterious sacks that had plagued them for decades. Dr. Will White, a senior research scientist at the ANFC who led the team that made the discovery, told Insider they quickly realized they had found a new piece in "a jigsaw puzzle with 100 other pieces missing."

White told Insider the team worked backwards to identify the demon catshark based on sacks found off the Australian coast and cataloged 40 years ago by the National Fish Collection, tracking the shark's possible breeding locations until they caught a living specimen of the new breed.

The demon catshark's unique egg sack. CSIRO Australian National Fish Collection

"This particular species has got the black pupil, and then it's got a bright white iris around it that stands out quite a lot for deep water sharks, which normally have very dark eyes, dark green or almost black eyes," White told Insider.

Initially, White's research group believed they had found a known species fitting a similar description that also has a white iris but determined the demon catshark was genetically unique.

"It's almost like this different evolutionary arm within this group of sharks  and we don't really know why they have this white iris," White said. "It could be something to do with attracting prey or something like that. We just really don't know."

Story continues

Not much is yet known about this species of catshark, White said. However, he noted that it swims in slightly shallower depths than other catsharks  approximately 1,000 meters deep, likely along ancient coastlines underwater. Like other catsharks, however, White expects it to be an opportunistic hunter, feeding on various crustaceans and fish as they pass by.

Generally, catsharks are among the smaller species of sharks, averaging lengths of less than two and a half feet, according to PBS, and are found in warm ocean waters. They have between 40 and 110 rows of spiny teeth and, as slow-moving carnivores, tend to feed on small fish and invertebrates such as octopi and squid.

The demon catshark's unique egg sack, attached to a piece of coral. CSIRO Australian National Fish Collection

While the shark's Latin name is an homage to its ridged egg sack, its colloquial name references its dark skin and haunting eyes  the perfect camouflage to sneak up on unsuspecting prey in deep, dark water.

"In deep water it'd almost just be like this ghost-like demon thing that would just be swimming really quietly through the water," White told Insider. "I can imagine, if you're a smaller prey out there, it would look like a demon coming in to get you."

The identification of the demon catshark is a landmark discovery for marine taxonomists. White said the discovery highlights how little is known about ocean biodiversity.

"You know, sharks and rays, they're large animals compared to most other groups, and a lot of people assume we know everything about all the sharks and rays, for example, whereas we're still finding new species every year," White told Insider. "And if you follow that down the chain from there, once you get to a smaller fish, there's a hell of a lot more of them. And then once you start looking at invertebrates, crustaceans, and mollusks  there's so much we don't understand."

Read the original article on Business Insider
OBIRA ISLAND, Indonesia - On a remote island close to where the Pacific meets the Indian Ocean sits one of the first refineries built specifically to support the world's transition away from fossil fuels.

Rocks unearthed here contain traces of nickel, a key ingredient in electric vehicle batteries. Extracting it, refining it and readying it for export is a gargantuan task.

Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post.

More than $1 billion has been sunk into the processing facility, the first in Indonesia to use an acid-leaching technology to convert low-grade laterite nickel ore - which the country has in abundance - into a higher-grade material suitable for batteries. Foreign investors and lenders cite the project as evidence of their commitment to fighting climate change.

But the sprawling facility, bordered on one side by forest and on the other by blue seas, faces a major challenge: what to do with the roughly 4 million metric tons of toxic waste produced every year - enough, approximately, to fill 1,667 Olympic-size swimming pools.

In 2020, the companies behind the project told the government they had a solution: They would pump the waste into the ocean. They ultimately backtracked in the face of public pressure. But it's not clear that the on-land storage alternative they've offered instead is significantly safer.

Indonesia is the world's top producer of nickel by a wide margin, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Along with Australia, the country has the largest nickel reserves left on Earth.

And as global demand for nickel surges, company executives and Indonesian government leaders are turning to a refining technology long considered too risky to embrace, too perilous for the environment and for local communities.

This technology, using acid under conditions of intense heat and pressure to remove nickel from raw ore, has never been tested before in Indonesia, where the frequency of earthquakes, heavy rainfall and landslides can make it especially treacherous to transport and store hazardous waste. The process poses steep environmental costs that have yet to be reckoned with, according to interviews with more than 40 people familiar with the country's nickel industry, visits to six largely isolated mining villages in eastern Indonesia and visual analyses by mining experts.

Story continues

Indonesian officials say this new refining technology is needed to harness these nickel resources, which they hope will transform the country's future as oil did for Saudi Arabia. At least 10 other projects using this same technology are already under development, according to the Indonesian Nickel Mining Association.

Officials have made it a priority to build a nickel supply chain, banning the export of raw nickel ore for processing abroad and approving the development of acid-based refining facilities as well as additional conventional nickel smelters at a rate unparalleled elsewhere. Despite official pledges to reduce carbon emissions, the government has approved the construction of coal-fired power plants specifically to support the processing of nickel for the EV industry.

Much of the nickel in EV batteries used by automakers such as Tesla, Hyundai and Ford is already sourced from Indonesia by way of battery manufacturers in China. And by 2030, when global nickel demand is forecast to be 52 percent higher than in 2020, Indonesia will probably churn out more than two-thirds of the supply, according to estimates from Macquarie Group, an Australian financial services group with expertise in the mining sector.

The surging interest in nickel is part of the global boom in demand for a range of metals used in making EVs, which typically require six times the mineral inputs of their fossil-fuel burning counterparts to make them run. But while the transition to EVs is widely considered essential in addressing climate change, there has often been little recognition of the toll that extraction and processing of these raw materials - including technologies now urgently needed to produce the quantity and quality of minerals required - will take on the lives and livelihoods of local communities and the surrounding environment.

Laterite nickel ore comes in two forms, and until recently there was no need to use the acid-leaching technology in part because Indonesia was mining the kind known as saprolite, which can be processed partly by using traditional smelters. But Indonesia - and the world - is running out of saprolite ore. What will be left is lower-grade limonite ore, which consists of less than 1.5 percent nickel, making processing by traditional means nearly impossible.

The decline in saprolite ore has occurred just as the demand for battery-grade nickel has spiked. Most nickel mined in Indonesia has previously gone into products like stainless steel, which can use a lower-grade mineral. But batteries require a higher standard, which has placed an unprecedented premium on the acid-leaching process.

One afternoon late last year, Liyus, a 52-year-old farmer on Obira, walked along the coast where his family has lived for four generations. It's been quiet on this island for most of his life. Without a private jet, getting to Obira from the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, is at least a two-day journey involving an overnight ferry and hours of driving on roads stippled with potholes.

Liyus, who goes by one name, said he used to drink from the rivers that run past his village, but since the nickel mine added its acid-leaching refinery two years ago, the waterways have turned dark red, so thick with pollution at some points that rows of coconut trees have been killed off. He doesn't know what's in the water, only that it bleeds into the sea and that his nephews have had to go farther and farther out to find fish. He pointed to a fishing net drying on a nearby tree. It was stained a reddish brown.

In an hour-long interview, representatives from the two companies that jointly own the processing plant on Obira island - an Indonesian firm, Harita Group, and a Chinese firm, Lygend Resources - said that the operation has not had a negative impact on the environment and that the pollution along the coast was not related to waste produced by their plant. All of their operations, they emphasized, are in "full compliance" with government requirements. "We looked at what was the best and we confirmed it with the government," said Tonny Gultom, Harita's head of health, safety and environment.

Like other inhabitants of the village of Kawasi, which sits at the foot of Obira's nickel-mining operation, Liyus has never owned a car and has no idea why there's been a sudden interest in the mineral that sat untouched on his island for so long.

"We had a comfortable life," Liyus said, "before this."

- - -

Daunting challenges

High-Pressure Acid Leaching (HPAL) is a method of refining low-grade nickel ore by combining it with sulfuric acid under high pressure and heat, producing a slurry that allows for the extraction of pure, high-grade nickel. The technique was pioneered in the 1960s in Cuba but has rarely been used elsewhere - until recently.

Managing the acidic material under extreme heat is more complicated than traditional methods of refining nickel ore. And the titanium vessels needed to mix the chemicals are expensive, part of why capital costs for HPAL projects are typically double those of conventional smelters, according to the International Energy Agency, an intergovernmental research organization.

The leaching process is also energy-intensive, and generating that energy produces about 20 tons of carbon dioxide per ton of nickel, or about double the amount of the prevailing processing method, according to the IEA.

And then there's the waste.

HPAL produces an enormous amount of corrosive chemical tailings - often in the millions of tons for each mine per year - that are extremely challenging to neutralize, store and contain. Even after the slurry is treated, studies show, this waste can contain harmful heavy metals, such as certain types of chromium, linked to respiratory illnesses and an increased risk of cancer.

Engineers have suggested three disposal options: putting the waste into a ditch behind a dam; drying out the waste and stacking it on vacant lots; and pumping it into the ocean. Each approach can go wrong.

Some of the world's biggest mining companies have tried to master the HPAL process - and failed.

In 2021, Brazilian mining conglomerate Vale exited a multibillion-dollar HPAL nickel-mining project in the Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia after having five chemical spills in 10 years. Studies by scientists in New Caledonia had by that time found "high levels" of toxic hexavalent chromium in water samples collected in and around the HPAL refining facility. The facility, now owned by a consortium of New Caledonia companies, had yet another leak in November at its tailings dam, prompting local authorities to impose new regulations that could limit production.

Closer to Indonesia, in Papua New Guinea, a Chinese company operating an HPAL plant has for years been criticized by residents and officials for dumping its tailings into the sea. After a tank filled with mining waste overflowed onto the coast in 2019, thousands of residents filed a lawsuit against the company demanding $5.2 billion in damages. The case is still pending in court, said lawyer Ben Lomai, who represents the plaintiffs.

HPAL's troubled history, however, has done little to deter industry enthusiasm for the technology.

While research is being conducted on safer ways to process limonite nickel ore, they won't be able to satiate existing demand, said Brian Menell, founder of TechMet, an investment firm that focuses on minerals required for the green-energy transition and does not operate in Indonesia. Indonesia's HPAL facilities "might not be how you want your nickel," he said, "but right now, you've got no choice."

- - -

A change of plans

The nickel mine on Obira has been operated by Harita since 2016, but in 2018, Lygend joined to plan, design and construct the HPAL refinery, eventually acquiring a majority stake in the project. The processing facility, which was designated a priority for the national government, opened in 2021.

After the companies withdrew their initial plan to dump the HPAL waste into the sea, they told authorities that they would store the waste on land, drying out the acidic slurry before dumping it back into the mining pit, and then treating the residue water in a tailings "pond."

Only a year earlier, however, Harita executives had published a research article in a science journal stating that land disposal on Obira is actually "less suitable" because the region is in a notoriously active seismic zone - as recently as 2019, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake devastated a port town on Bacan island, less than 50 miles from Obira - and is frequently visited by heavy rainfall. That article also noted that about 7,000 villagers lived downstream from the site, concluding that the construction and water control required for land disposal was "not feasible."

Asked about those findings, a Harita spokesman acknowledged that storing the waste on land is dangerous but said the company is managing the risks by drying out the slurry and dumping it back into the mining pit, where it is prevented from seeping into local waterways.

But a foreign mining consultant who has been working on projects in Indonesia for more than two decades said: "It's a massive heap of waste. And if it's not stored properly, you can have landslides. That's my biggest concern." He spoke on the condition of anonymity because of business considerations.

Following the public outcry over the initial disposal plan, the Indonesian government barred all nickel-processing plants from dumping waste into the sea, said Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Indonesia's coordinating minister for investment and maritime affairs and chief architect of the country's nickel strategy.

"We tackled this very well, you know?" Luhut said, speaking at his office in Jakarta last year. "We listened to the advice of the European Union and we stopped. We don't do that anymore."

Villagers and environmental activists say they remain concerned that Harita and Lygend, which operate jointly in Indonesia under the name PT HPAL, are failing to honor their promise to keep the waste on Obira out of the ocean and have not adequately addressed the risks posed by storing the waste on land.

Four international mining experts independently reviewed photos of the mining site at Obira taken by The Washington Post. The experts said that it was impossible without a formal audit to ascertain whether Harita and Lygend were dumping HPAL tailings into the sea, but that there were multiple signs that the companies were generally failing to contain mining waste.

The photos show "devastating" levels of deforestation, which can increase the risks of tailings accidents, said Aimee Boulanger, executive director of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance, an organization that audits mining operations and measures them against social and environmental standards. Even if tailings were not being actively pumped into the sea, there don't appear to be "any significant controls" over what's flowing out of the mine and entering waterways, she added.

Sam Riggall, an advocate of responsible mining and the chief executive of Sunrise Energy Metals, an Australian nickel and cobalt mining company, said the material entering the rivers around the mining facility resembled processed waste, rather than just runoff from open-pit mines.

"Frankly, I feel a bit ashamed to be part of an industry that's allowing this to happen," Riggall said. "If this is the legacy we leave behind . . . who will be happy with that?"

Gultom, Harita's head of safety, acknowledged that the HPAL refinery was producing a "huge volume" of waste that could pose safety risks if not properly managed, but he stressed that it was being handled with adequate precautions.

The discolored water near Obira's coast, he said, was caused by sedimentation created by timber mining years ago. "It has nothing," Gultom said, "to do with us."

Harita, which debuted on the Jakarta stock exchange in April, plans to add a second processing plant on Obira next year, company executives said.

- - -

A booming industry

Across the nickel-rich islands of North Maluku province, old mining companies are expanding and new ones are taking root. They're taking over large tracts of land, residents say, sometimes with government authorization, sometimes without. Bulk carrier ships congregate along coastlines, recalling for some communities Indonesia's colonial history, when Dutch and Portuguese settlers exploited these islands for spices such as nutmeg and cloves.

Nickel production in Indonesia hit a record high of 1 million metric tons in 2021, though it pales in comparison with what is projected to come. By 2028, according to Macquarie, the country will be producing at least 2.5 million metric tons of nickel annually.

China's CATL and South Korea's LG, the world's largest battery manufacturers for EVs, recently announced they would open HPAL plants in Indonesia. Ford Motor Co. said it would join an HPAL project being developed by Vale and Chinese mining company Huayou on Sulawesi island in eastern Indonesia. And last year, Tesla signed a $5 billion deal to buy nickel from Indonesia, government officials said.

One of Indonesia's biggest upcoming HPAL projects is not far from Obira in North Maluku.

The Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park on Halmahera island, a joint venture between French and Chinese companies, has more than doubled its footprint in the past five years, satellite imagery shows. So far, the facility has primarily produced nickel for stainless steel, but a group of Chinese companies said in 2021 that they would add a $2.1 billion HPAL facility.

Maryama Usama, 60, lives in Sagea, a village just outside the industrial park. She has heard that the nickel companies on Halmahera need more space. And she said she knows people in the neighboring village of Gemaf who weren't given any notice before heavy equipment showed up on the land that had belonged to their families for generations.

"The government may have given them permits," Usama said, brushing the corner of her eye with her hijab. "But the land does not belong to them. It's ours."

- - -

A matter of trust

At a mining conference in 2021, Gultom outlined Harita's mission: "Sustainable excellence though continuous improvement of people and process." On its website, Lygend says it is committed to making "green" nickel that will "accelerate carbon neutralization."

But Faizal Ratuela, executive director of the North Maluku chapter of WALHI, an Indonesian environmental advocacy group, questioned whether these companies can be trusted to responsibly operate nickel refineries, especially those that use technology as complex as HPAL. He pointed to their environmental records in Indonesia and China.

Since the Harita Group ventured into mining in the early 2000s, it has clashed with local communities several times, including on Obira, where journalists who tried to report on the effects of the mine have been detained and intimidated by security personnel employed by Harita, Ratuela said.

Sian Choo Lim, head of sustainability at Harita, said that there may be an "image" that the company has not done enough to protect the environment, but that it's unfounded. "We've never had any issues with the Kawasi community," she said.

Lygend and its subsidiaries have been cited in China for violating environmental regulations at least four times in as many years, according to a Post review of statements released by Chinese provincial governments. These citations, made as recently as last year, include exceeding standard emissions of smoke and mismanaging waste.

Zhang Baodong, a Lygend representative, declined to address these violations. "What we've done [at Obira] is already very up to mark," he said. "I have nothing more to add."

Indonesian companies are aware that HPAL is a "totally different" technology from what they're familiar with and that the waste management is particularly tricky, said Meidy Katrin Lengkey, head of the Indonesian Nickel Mining Association. "But as companies, we say, as long as there is a regulation, we'll make sure to follow."

Environmental regulations in Indonesia have long been difficult to enforce because they're often delegated to faraway provincial governments, which are not only strapped for funds but prone to corruption, activists say. Now, they say, even those regulations are being rolled back in some cases to attract foreign investment.

Villagers, as a result, fear they are defenseless.

"The government is supposed to protect us," said Arnikus Jinimaya, 66, a Halmahera resident who said he lost his land to the Weda Bay Industrial Park. "But now, we see they only protect those who have money."

Luhut, the senior minister, scoffed at the idea that officials were overlooking social or environmental safeguards. There are problems "here and there" with the nickel-refining industry, he said, but the government is more than able to take care of the country's resources without "the lecturing" of environmental activists - especially those from carbon-emitting Western countries.

The tall, mustachioed former general has spent the past few years engineering the growth of the nickel industry, personally inaugurating new HPAL facilities and courting figures such as Tesla chief executive Elon Musk. At cabinet meetings and international summits, he has repeatedly made the case that the global energy transition presents the biggest economic opportunity for Indonesia since it gained independence in 1945.

"This," Luhut said, leaning over his desk to point at a graph charting nickel growth, "is going to transform Indonesia."

In June 2021, a few months after the refinery on Obira began operating, Luhut visited the island, donning a red hard hat as he examined the new HPAL technology. Liyus and other residents of Kawasi said they had expected him to stop at their village, where they hoped to show him the rivers that had started to run red and the trees that had died when their roots were covered by sludge from the mine.

He never came, locals said.

- - -

Washington Post reporters Rebecca Tan and Dera Menra Sijabat and photographer Joshua Irwandi journeyed together to the far-flung Obi Islands in eastern Indonesia, traveling about 18 hours by ferry and another two hours by speedboat to reach the cutting edge of the country's nickel-processing industry. Tan is The Washington Post's Southeast Asia bureau chief, based in Singapore. Sijabat and Irwandi, a documentary photographer, are based in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Washington Post's Pei-Lin Wu in Taipei, Taiwan, and Devianti Faridz in Jakarta also contributed to this report.

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The court of public opinion is seething with contempt for Catherine, the Princess of Wales, who they believe copied Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex.

It's a story that we've heard several times before, but fans on social media criticized the princess for wearing an eerily similar one-shoulder gown that Markle wore last year.

"It is quite creepy the way Kate Middleton copies everything that Meghan wears and does. She never ever has an original idea of her own Meghan lives on in Kate's head rent free," one Twitter user wrote.

Another person tweeted, "Copy Kate has once again 'borrowed' Meghan's style with a replica of the dress Meghan wore to the NAACP Image Awards."

Fans were quick to point out the similarities between the one-shoulder dresses worn by Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle.

MEGHAN MARKLE, KATE MIDDLETON'S RELATIONSHIP IS 'NONEXISTENT,' THEY WERE NEVER FRIENDS

Making a surprise cameo in a pre-recorded video for the Eurovision Song Contest final, Kate Middleton wore a beautiful cascading Jenny Packham dress with a ruffled shoulder.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The color of her dress was symbolic, representing the Ukranian flag, as she dazzled while playing an instrumental version of "Stefania," by the Ukrainian group Kalush Orchestra. They group reigned victorious in the singing competition last year.

Kate Middleton's cascading Jenny Packham dress, worn while playing the piano for Eurovision, was reminiscent of the gown Meghan Markle wore to the NAACP awards last year.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

At her first public event of 2022, Markle appeared at the NAACP awards in a Christopher John Rogers gown. Rogers, a Black designer, had reached out to Markle to collaborate on the look.

Markle's ombre gown had a similar chiffon detailing as Middleton's blue dress.

Often pitted against one another, their attire is frequently compared to one another. There have been several instances where Middleton and Markle have been spotted wearing nearly identical outfits. One example involves the infamous plaid jacket, which both women rocked on separate occasions.

Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle wore similar plaid jackets, but several years apart.

Earlier this year, shortly after the release of Prince Harry's memoir "Spare," Middleton stepped out in Liverpool wearing her own version of the blue and green blazer. Markle had worn a similar look in 2018 while in Edinburgh.

Story continues

The two were also spotted wearing another similar coat. In 2020, Markle wore a tan coat in London during a trip to Canada House and Middleton wore a similar long coat last November when she visited the Ukrainian Community Centre in Reading.

Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle have both worn similar tan coats on occasion.

During a pre-coronation luncheon at Buckingham Palace on May 5, Middleton wore a black-and-white long-sleeve dress with Aquazzura bow tie pumps. The shoes appeared to be the same heels Meghan Markle has worn during previous royal occasions.

Catherine, Princess of Wales wore Aquazzura bow tie pumps at a pre-coronation event that appeared similar to shoes Meghan Markle had previously worn.

While plenty believe their similar style is not a coincidence, one person on Twitter offered a simpler observation.

"Meghan Markle stans and Kate Middleton stans fighting over who copies who when in reality both of them just simply have very basic middle aged rich women styles."
GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization said on Monday that its members in Europe had voted to shut a regional office located in Moscow, in a move which follows Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year.

WHO Europe's member states have been considering moving the European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases outside Russia since last year.

Russia's diplomatic mission in Geneva did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the decision.

The motion received the necessary majority in a special meeting of the WHO's Europe's office on Monday, the U.N. agency said in an email. The office will be relocated to Copenhagen, Denmark no later than 1 January 2024, the motion said.

At the same meeting, Russian ally Tajikistan sought to relocate the office there instead of Denmark, but the majority of members voted against it.

Diplomats previously told Reuters that the Moscow office closure was intended as a political step to further Western efforts to isolate Russia and is not expected to have health consequences for Russia or global health policy.

Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cancer are the leading cause of death in the WHO's European region, which includes 53 countries.

(Reporting by Emma Farge; Editing by Alexander Smith)
Samantha Lee spent 15-20 minutes at the McDonald's drive-thru and then filled out a report saying the 'suspect would need to be arrested', leaving someone else to follow up - Eddie Mulholland

A former Metropolitan police officer who allegedly failed to investigate Wayne Couzens properly for indecent exposure on the day that he later murdered Sarah Everard, rushed the job and then lied about it when she realised the stakes had escalated astronomically, a disciplinary hearing has been told.

Samantha Lee was suspended and then resigned from the Met in 2022, after it emerged that she had set up an OnlyFans account entitled Officer Naughty.

While serving, she had been the first responder assigned to look into two reports that a man had flashed at female workers at a McDonalds restaurant in Swanley, Kent on Feb 14 and Feb 27 in 2021.

The incident was reported by Sam Taylor, the manager of the fast-food restaurant, on Feb 28 and Miss Lee was assigned to pay a visit to the scene of the crime three days later, between midday and 1pm.

Couzens abducted, raped and murdered Everard, 33, just hours after the investigation had been launched, as she walked home through south London.

Allegedly lied about failings

At a police disciplinary hearing on Monday, it was alleged that Miss Lee failed to conduct the investigation thoroughly, including securing crucial CCTV footage, and then lied about her mistakes.

The hearing was told that Mr Taylor made a 999 call on Feb 28 and told police call handlers that a man had exposed himself twice to female staff, providing details of the car registration number and the credit card used by Couzens.

Sam Taylor, who rang 999, gave the operator a car registration number, which when run through the Police National Computer was found to be registered to a man called Wayne Couzens in Kent. Wayne Couzens (pictured) abducted Sarah Everard just hours after the investigation launched - AFP

The operator ran checks against the Police National Computer and confirmed that the registered keeper of the black Seat Exeo was a man called Wayne Couzens, who lived at an address in Kent.

However, the system is not designed to confirm whether suspects are serving police officers, the hearing was told.

The report was triaged as less urgent than other matters the Met Police had to deal with and so it was booked for an appointment some days later.

When Miss Lee came on shift on March 3, she was told to make a one-hour visit to the McDonalds drive-thru between midday and 1pm.

Story continues

It was the last appointment of her day and she only spent 15-20 minutes there before returning to her police station.

Once back at the station, she filled out a report stating: This needs to be further looked into and the suspect will need to be arrested for indecent exposure.

A string of failings

But it is alleged there were a string of failures in her investigative work that amounted to gross misconduct.

Opening the case against her, Paul Ozin KC, representing the Metropolitan Police, said: We suggest the work carried out by Pc Lee was a rushed job which suggests she was more intent with getting away quickly than performing her job properly.

Miss Lee is accused of failing to take adequate steps to secure CCTV footage of Couzens car at the drive-thru and then falsely telling investigators it had been automatically deleted.

Mr Ozin said: It is supportive of the unpalatable conclusion that Pc Lee just didnt bother to get the CCTV, even though she knew that it was important, relying on others to do that work instead of her, and that she later lied about it after the event when she knew that the stakes had escalated astronomically.

Other failures

In addition, Miss Lee is accused of failing to record and store written witness statements and receipts that were relevant to the investigation.

It is further alleged that the officer failed to carry out intelligence checks on the suspects car and did not request local officers visit the home of the person recorded as the registered keeper.

Mr Ozin told the inquiry: Who knows what would have happened if a knock on Wayne Couzens door had taken place as a result of the actions of Pc Lee. It may well have established that he was a police officer.

He went on: The general standard of the investigation was extremely poor, treating the matter as a low-grade allegation that could be dealt with by her cursorily, deliberately leaving to others what she should have done herself.

Miss Lee denies one count of breaching police standards of professional behaviour for duties and responsibilities for alleged failings over the way inquiries were progressed.

She also denies one count of breaching the standards relating to honesty and integrity over parts of an account provided to investigators in respect of the alleged failings.

The hearing, due to last seven days, continues.

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Mexican Ambassador to the United States Esteban Moctezuma excoriated Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) over a derogatory statement he made at a Senate hearing last week.

While prodding Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Anne Milgram to endorse U.S. military and law enforcement action in Mexico, Kennedy said that without the people of America, Mexico  figuratively speaking  would be eating cat food out of a can and living under a tent behind an Outback.

In response, Moctezuma wrote Kennedy a two-page letter.

I dont think the people of Louisiana feel represented by the vulgar and racist words you used, he said.

At the Senate hearing, Kennedy asked Milgram four times whether she believed Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador should invite U.S. military and law enforcement personnel into the country to fight the cartels.

If President Lopez Obrador invited the American military and or law enforcement personnel to come into Mexico and work with his  we could stop the cartels, couldnt we? Kennedy asked in the fourth iteration of his question.

I believe we can stop the cartels, replied Millgram.

Kennedy pressed Millgram on whether she had suggested such a deployment to President Biden and segued into a comparison of the two countries economic output.

Our economy is $23 trillion, Mexicos is $1.3 trillion. Ours is 18 times bigger. We buy $400 billion every year from Mexico, said Kennedy, before launching into his cat food metaphor.

As I was listening, my initial reaction was to answer you in the same low, uninformed, and arrogant tone as the one you used, Moctezuma wrote.

But it is always better to use your brain instead of your guts, so I recalled the vibrant relationship that exists between Mexico and the United States.

The ambassador cited figures including the 33 million U.S. tourists who visit Mexico every year and the $800 billion in bilateral trade, as well as the 2 million U.S. citizens who permanently live in Mexico.

Story continues

To enlighten you, Louisiana greatly benefits from its relationship with Mexico, Moctezuma added.

Last year, it exported to us $40 billion and bought $15 billion, with a surplus balance in favor of Louisiana of $25 billion. Furthermore, the jobs in Louisiana generated by all this trade support 70,000 families in that great state.

The Hill has reached out to Kennedys office for comments.

Moctezuma also praised diversity in Louisiana, and compared Kennedy to his namesake, President John F. Kennedy, who remains a popular figure in Mexico.

When your racist and xenophobic insults were known in Mexico, people wondered How can a Kennedy say that? since the image of President John F. Kennedy in Mexico is a beacon that illuminates the path of freedom, democracy, and inclusion.

But it didnt take long to learn that John Neely Kennedy is not from the Kennedy family of Massachusetts, added Moctezuma.

Moctezuma called on Kennedy to apologize to your citizens because what you asserted is not worthy of the state of Louisiana, known for being a cultural melting pot.

Given the moral standards expressed in your unfortunate statement, we do not expect any reconsideration from you at all, he added.

Yet the Mexican ambassador expressed willingness to dialogue objectively and respectfully about drug and arms trafficking, among other challenges that our nations must face together.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The jet was deemed the most modern and luxurious of any president at the time it was made

A luxury presidential plane which Mexico had been trying to offload for more than four years has finally arrived in its new home - Tajikistan.

President Lopez Obrador made the sale of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner one of his campaign promises, calling it a symbol of previous governments' excesses.

But the specially-outfitted plane proved hard to shift and an attempt to raffle it off failed.

It was finally sold to the Tajik government for $92m (73.7m).

The jet took off from California, where it had been in storage, and arrived in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, early on Monday.

The plane was originally purchased in 2012 by the president at the time, Felipe Calderon, for $218m (175m). It was then used by Mr Calderon's successor, Enrique Pena Nieto.

Mr Lopez Obrador vowed to never set foot in it. After taking office, he at first used commercial flights but more recently he has been travelling aboard planes owned by Mexico's armed forces.

However, the sale of the plane was beset by problems.

While the plane has a luxurious interior, including a presidential bedroom and marble and mahogany finishings, the fact that it was modified to carry only 80 passengers makes it an extremely expensive mode of transport per passenger.

It went on the market on 2 December 2018, a day after Mr Lopez Obrador was sworn in. When no buyer was found, he suggested raffling off.

But while winning a presidential plane may sound like a dream come true, the sheer cost of storing and maintaining such a jet are astronomical, and the raffle soon became the subject of jokes in Mexico.

Instead, the government organised a symbolic raffle, in which buyers could win the value of the plane in cash.

But interest in the symbolic raffle was low, with fewer than 61% of tickets sold.

With maintenance costs continuing to add up over the years, the government's relief at finally finding a buyer last month were clearly visible.

In his joy at being rid of the plane and fulfilling his campaign promise, President Lopez Obrador even boarded the plane and had himself filmed inside its luxurious interior.

Story continues

Informo al pueblo de Mexico que hoy se celebro el contrato de compra-venta del avion presidencial. El gobierno de Tayikistan deposito mil 658 millones 684 mil 400 pesos, de conformidad con el avaluo oficial, a la cuenta del Instituto para Devolver al Pueblo lo Robado. Este dinero pic.twitter.com/ILw0IDlSn6  Andres Manuel (@lopezobrador_) April 21, 2023

The president said the proceeds from the sale would be used to build two new hospitals in Guerrero and Oaxaca state.

Tajikistan officials have not revealed who will be using the jet but as it left the hangar in California where it had been kept, it already had "Tajikistan" emblazoned on its body.
U.S. Border Patrol agents took 10 people into custody they say were among a group of migrants who came ashore in Sunny Isles Beach Monday morning.

The people were caught around 11:30 a.m. in what the Border Patrol called in a statement released on Twitter, a suspected maritime smuggling event.

According to Miami Herald news partner CBS News Miami, the location of the encounter was at the beach at around 167th Street, north of Haulover.

The Border Patrol didnt release anymore details about the incident on Monday. The agency did not immediately respond to questions from the Miami Herald.

CBS News Miami, citing police, reported the migrants were part of a larger group of about 15 people dropped off in the surf.

The news station reported that law enforcement searched the beach and behind nearby buildings for other members of the migrant group, but did not find more people.
In the past two days, Ukraine's Armed Forces have advanced on the flanks around Bakhmut from 350 meters to 2 kilometers "in some places," a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military's Eastern Operational Command said on May 15.

"However, the enemy is fiercely resisting," Serhii Cherevatyi said on national television, as cited by Interfax Ukraine.

According to the official, 34 combat clashes occurred in the Bakhmut area over the previous 24 hours, with Russian forces firing at Ukrainian positions 479 times. During this period, the Ukrainian military reportedly killed 149 Russian soldiers, wounded 160, and captured six more in the fighting over Ukraine's key eastern city.

"In fact, Bakhmut is now a bifurcation point, a point of resolution of this conflict, because if the enemy does not find an opportunity to replenish its forces there, then we will simply destroy it," added Cherevatyi.

Wagner a shadow of what it once was: Russia security expert on the rage of mercenary boss Prigozhin After seeming to have calmed down over early spring, the internal conflict between Wagner mercenary group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin and the Russian Defense Ministry has escalated dramatically. In the early morning of May 5, Prigozhin recorded a video in front of what he claimed to be the bodies of doz Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell

Ukrainian forces have recently retaken more than 10 Russian-held positions on the northern and southern outskirts of Bakhmut, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said on May 14.

Recent failures around Bakhmut are likely connected with the escalating feud between the Russian Defense Ministry and Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner mercenary group, which has led the assault on Bakhmut for months.

While Wagner leads the attacks inside the city, which have themselves stalled, the flanks where Ukrainian forces have advanced are manned by regular army units.

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed a renewed wave of Ukrainian counterattacks on May 14 and admitted that two colonels  including a brigade commander  were recently killed in the Battle of Bakhmut.

Story continues
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Minnesota Democratic leaders will convene an emergency meeting Thursday evening to respond to the chaos that broke out during a convention to endorse a candidate for a Minneapolis City Council race.

Video circulating on social media shows the disturbance Saturday after supporters of incumbent Aisha Chughtai took the stage to seek the delegates' backing for the Ward 10 council seat. That sparked an uproar among backers of her challenger, Nasri Warsame. Some jumped on stage, shouting, banging on tables and waving signs. At least two people were injured, and the convention broke up with no endorsement.

Ken Martin, chair of the state Democratic Party organization, tweeted that he would use the upcoming meeting to propose a bylaw change to ban individuals engaged in violent assaults from the party and take immediate action to remove the folks involved in Ward 10.

Martin also said in a separate statement late Saturday that it was clear that the conflict was instigated" by Warsame supporters.

We expect candidates and their campaign teams to work hard to curb such behavior when it comes from their supporters, staffers, or volunteers, Martin said. Warsame and his team took the opposite approach ... by escalating the situation and encouraging conflict.

Both candidates are Democrats in an overwhelmingly Democratic city when campaigns for party backing are often heated. Warsame, a political newcomer, is a Somali immigrant.

Chughtai is a longtime activist who managed U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar's 2018 campaign. She's the daughter of Pakistani immigrants and has support from some prominent Somali American politicians, including Omar and state Sen. Zaynab Mohamed, and other Muslims including Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

Some of their biggest differences are ideological. Chughtai has endorsements from a long list of progressive and labor groups, including the Democratic Socialists of America.

Story continues

Warsame has campaigned on a law-and-order message, saying on his website that hes committed to reducing crime and addressing issues such as car theft, organized crime, human trafficking, and the opioid crisis, while also dedicated to working collaboratively with law enforcement to reform policing practices and address issues of racial bias and discrimination within the department.

A sergeant-and-arms for the convention, Quentin Wathum-Ocama, said there was a lot of jeering as Chughtai and her supporters went on stage. At some point, he said, a small number of Warsame supporters started making their way to the front and scuffles broke out. One Warsame supporter was "particularly aggressive." At the same time, he said, some Warsame supporters tried their best to de-escalate the situation, but others tried to instigate trouble and it devolved into chaos.

The widely-seen video was shot by John Edwards, editor and publisher of the Wedge LIVE! local news website, named for the Wedge neighborhood in the ward. He was there as an uncommitted delegate. He said it was clear from early procedural votes that Chughtai had the 60% support she needed to win the endorsement, and that that appeared to leave Warsame's supporters frustrated.

Other factors appeared to be language barriers and unfamiliarity with the procedures, Edwards said. Many Warsame alternates could not get upgraded because the seats for their precincts were already filled with full-fledged delegates, he said.

Edwards compared the chaos to the kind of melee that can erupt at a sporting even where a couple people fight, and others join in with little thought.

It seemed like there was a total lack of anybody from Warsame's campaign stepping in to settle people down as it was happening, Edwards said. By the time Warsame got on stage and called for calm, he said, most people were already leaving.

The Chughtai campaign issued a statement denouncing the incident as horrifying, unacceptable, and indicative of the growing threat to progressive, pro-people candidates and movement leaders.

At least one person was treated at a hospital for injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. A second person was treated at the scene. But the campaign said more than a dozen of her supporters or party volunteers were assaulted.

"The Warsame campaign punched multiple women of color on our campaign team, and shoved and harassed LGBTQIA2S+ delegates and supporters," the statement said.

Chughtai spokesman Akhi Menawat said Monday that the campaign had little to add to the statement, but he said he didn't think the dispute had anything to do with ethnicity or race.

Warsame said Sunday night he regretted the unexpected and unfortunate events ,,, I do not condone violence and I do not condone yesterdays events. The incident should have never happened. I apologize to those who were impacted, and I pray for all who were injured."

One person who participated in the violence was a volunteer, not a member of my campaign staff," Warsame said in a statement. "This person was appropriately and immediately removed as a volunteer and should be permanently banned from any future conventions.

Neither Warsame nor his campaign responded to messages seeking comment Monday.

Police said Sunday that they made no arrests because officers didnt see anyone fighting when they arrived and the crowd was already dispersing. Police spokesman Sgt. Garrett Parten said Monday that the incident was still under investigation and that he had no further information to release.
About 40 people offered ideas on how to enhance parking in downtown Modesto at two meetings led by a consultant.

Some urged a return of parking meters, last seen in these parts in the late 1990s. Others want to tweak the time limits to better match customer needs. Still others suggested making garages more attractive.

The city hired Dixon Resources Unlimited, based in San Diego, to draft a plan on a $185,000 contract. One of the firms principals, Julie Dixon, held online and live meetings May 10 and 11.

She said Modesto likely does not need to build new parking lots or garages, but it could better manage the spaces it has. A key step could be making the garages free and some street spaces paid, the reverse of the current system.

Several businesspeople said curbside time limits are too short, including the mostly two-hour spaces near the State Theatre.

We want the economy of downtown to thrive, which means a movie and a dinner, said Kirstie Boyett-Zacharias, the venues former executive director.

The firm also is taking input via an online survey of people who park downtown. It already has more than 500 responses and could be up for about another month.

Dixon hopes to release a draft plan around August and get final approval from the City Council by late September.

Some of the ideas offered over Zoom and in a Tenth Street Place conference room:

Leave spaces just outside businesses for customers. Employees can park in garages or on streets with no time limits.

Install meters in parts of downtown with higher parking demand. Todays technology allows a driver to extend the time remotely with a smart phone. City leaders of the late 90s thought the coin-fed meters discouraged business.





Install chargers for electric vehicles in parking lots. They will explode in number as California phases out sales of gasoline-powered cars by 2035.





Adjust the time limits for street parking. Speakers mentioned, for example, a bridal shop that tends to have appointments well past two hours.





Improve lighting and cleaning of garages so they are more inviting to drivers.





Stop charging fees for the garages. This would help fill the often vacant stalls and free up curbside parking.

Widen garage stalls so drivers can enter them with a simple turning motion.





Build more dense housing downtown, such as the six-story project that could rise on Seventh Street if funding comes through.





Story continues

The parking study could mesh with a 2020 downtown plan covering all kinds of land uses. It envisions about 1,500 apartments and townhomes in multistory buildings. Residents could walk to workplaces, dining and a depot coming perhaps by late 2026 for the Altamont Corridor Express.

Modesto is in on another trend: easing the minimum parking requirements for housing. Past practices left many vacant spaces that do little to make cities vibrant.

Vickie Higginbotham, who attended Thursdays meeting, said she likes the housing and other elements of the 2020 plan. She also had suggestions for the current garages.

The spaces should be a little bit larger ... and there has to be a great deal of reassurance about the safety and the lighting, she said.

Dixons firm has worked with clients across the nation on improvements to parking. She urged Modestans to take a cautious approach, so residents get accustomed to the changes.

For example, installing meters might cost close to $1 million, Dixon said. And then guess what, everybody moves their cars and parks on the perimeter, and then we have all these empty streets in the core.
The Burundian flag flies at the head of a convoy of buses moving refugees back home from Tanzania in 2019. Tchandrou Nitanga/AFP via Getty Images

There are close to 4 million people living in refugee camps across Africa. Of the more than 300 camps, nearly 70% are situated within 30km-50km of an international border. They include some of the largest camps in the continent, such as Kakuma in northern Kenya, Nyarugusu in western Tanzania and Bidibidi in north-western Uganda.

The closer the camp is to an international border, the easier it is for people on both sides of the border to interact.

What this means is that healthy refugees in Kakuma, for example, can walk across the Kenyan border and get to Uganda or South Sudan within a day or two. It also means that rebel groups operating in any of these countries can access the refugee camp. This easy access to refugees benefits rebel groups across the border. And asylum countries like Tanzania and Kenya may choose refugee policies that help rebel groups in this fashion.

Exploitation by armed groups is one of the many threats refugees in border camps face. Often refugees are not allowed to leave camps to seek work, making them dependent on aid. Young refugees, particularly men, are vulnerable to armed rebel groups that recruit people to their causes. These groups also informally tax refugees by taking a share of the aid they receive or demanding contributions.

Researchers and aid groups have suggested that rebel groups take advantage of refugees because host countries cannot or will not stop them. This logic focuses on the lack of will or capacity of such host countries as Chad or the Central African Republic. But this ignores their strategy.

Even governments of poor countries choose where to allocate resources. For example, rather than being inept or incapable of protection, Chads approach to refugees has been consistent with a broader approach to its relations with Sudan.

I set out on my research project in east Africa to develop an analytic narrative of refugee policy selection in the region. Using in-depth case studies and formal theory, I expected to find that foreign policy informed refugee policy in some ways, including interactions with humanitarian aid and donor countries. I sought to investigate the extent to which these tempered the domestic drivers of refugee policy.

Story continues

What I found is that countries policies for hosting refugees are more strategic than expected. Host countries choose their refugee policy to influence the war from which the refugees fled. When Tanzania and Kenya chose the location of camps and the restrictions on work and movement, it was to influence civil wars across their borders. Camp location and restrictions, along with dense refugee settlements, give rebel groups valuable access to refugee camps for exploitation.

My study demonstrates that east African host countries can follow a foreign policy logic for setting refugees up to be exploited. Domestic considerations can matter as well.

My research can help aid organisations identify whether domestic or foreign policy interests drive border camps in east Africa and elsewhere. When domestic rather than foreign policy considerations drive border camp location, humanitarian agencies can negotiate alternatives that make camps less crowded, move refugees further from the border or provide options for integrating elsewhere.

Each of these make refugee camps safer for refugees but less valuable to a rebel group. However, aid agencies will be less successful in negotiating alternatives when foreign policy drives the border camps because the alternatives undermine the goal of helping the rebel group.

Proxy intervention aims

Tanzanias refugee policy in the 1990s is a good example of how geopolitics can inform refugee policy. Tanzania hosted hundreds of thousands of Burundian refugees. They began arriving in 1993 because of political violence and then a civil war. Densely populated camps were set up for arriving Burundian refugees as close as 15km to the common border.

The location, dense population and movement restrictions ensured that aid groups could serve the refugees. But the refugees were also ideal targets for recruitment and taxation, unable to work and with aid that could be taken away as efficiently as it was distributed.

Tanzania need not have established crowded camps on the border but this favoured its goals. Tanzanias aim was to create pressure to return Burundi to a government consistent with the 1993 constitution. Tanzania hoped that by Burundi holding multiparty elections and selecting a government backed by the majority of its citizens, Burundi would gain some stability.

At the same time, Tanzania sought to avoid a domestic backlash from the host population in the north-west who were growing weary of hosting refugees.

For Burundian rebel groups, the policy created a constant flow of resources and people from the camps to the front lines, which put the rebel groups in a better position to fight. Tanzania, which also hosted the peace accords, used a variety of tools of statecraft to end the war, and refugee policy was one of them. The better position to fight gave the rebel group more bargaining power. Since the rebel group also supported the 1993 constitution, a negotiated settlement where the rebel group had a pathway to elections would achieve this goal.

East Africa offers another example of the foreign policy logic. Following the fall of the Mengistu Haile Mariam regime in Ethiopia in 1990, refugees from southern Sudan left Ethiopia for Kenya. Kenya established camps for the Sudanese at Kakuma near the border with Sudan. This was in line with Kenyas support for the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Armys fight for autonomy. Like Tanzania, Kenya used multiple tools to sway the civil war outcome in their northern neighbour. Its combined efforts were instrumental in securing a pathway to independence for South Sudan.

Non-intervention as a policy goal

Tanzania and Kenya also offer a lesson in advancing foreign policy aims by not intervening.

At roughly the same time as Burundian refugees were being placed into crowded camps, Tanzania was also hosting between 70,000 and 300,000 Mozambicans. Many of them fled or could not return home because of civil war in Mozambique.

The Tanzanian and Mozambican governments have a long history of cooperation. Tanzania was also strongly opposed to the apartheid-backed rebel group, Mozambican National Resistance, or Renamo, which was battling the government.

Unlike refugees from Burundi, Mozambican arrivals were not housed in camps. Most Mozambicans were allowed to settle across the southern regions of Tanzania, where they integrated with their co-ethnics in rural villages. Their shared way of life made the experience more like the regular cross-border migration that has occurred for generations.

By dispersing refugees throughout the countryside, refusing aid and allowing Mozambicans to integrate, Tanzanias strategy followed a logic of non-intervention. This ensured that the migrant population was not easily targeted by Renamo in keeping with its political backing of the Mozambique administration.

In Kenyas case with Somalia, the tide turned from indifference to non-intervention within a span of six years.

After the United Nations pulled out of Somalia in 1995, Kenya shifted the policy for Somalis away from intervention while building a relationship with what would became the transitional government in Somalia. Kenya consolidated existing refugee camps and eliminated camps that were close to the border with Somalia and along the coast. Somali refugees were subsequently moved across the country to Kakuma in the north. Settlements in Nairobi were allowed to expand, which reinforced an informal pathway to make Dadaab  the remaining camp near the Somali border  less attractive for recruiting.

Conclusion

Most wars end in negotiated settlements. Rebel groups need to extract sufficient assurances to negotiate. If not, they are unwilling to take the risk of giving up the fight. Providing a rebel group with a stronger bargaining position could help along negotiations and bring about a peace agreement.

Giving a rebel group bargaining power by helping it fight a war can inform refugee policy. Alternatively, host countries might avoid camps specifically to prevent helping a rebel group.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. Like this article? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

It was written by: Kara Ross Camarena, Loyola University Chicago.

Read more:



Kara Ross Camarena received funding from the Harvard University Committee on African Studies and the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs for this project. She is also a faculty affiliate of the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts.
The Mother is the most popular movie on Netflix, according to the streaming services public ranking system.

Released on May 12 to mixed reviews, the film stars Jennifer Lopez as a military asset and assassin who comes out of hiding to protect her estranged teenage daughter from dangerous criminals. Joseph Fiennes, Omari Hardwick, Lucy Paez and Gael Garcia Bernal also appear in The Mother.

The second most popular movie of the moment is A Man Called Otto, which joined Netflix on May 6 after premiering in theaters in December. Based on a novel by Swedish author Fredrik Backman, the comedy-drama film stars Tom Hanks as a curmudgeonly widower who forges an unexpected bond with his new neighbors.

"The Mother" on Netflix.

A couple of foreign films are also in the current ranking. Que Viva Mexico! is a Mexican political satire that premiered on March 23 before joining a global audience on Netflix on May 11. And Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway is a new Indian drama based on the real legal battle of an Indian couple whose children were taken away by Norwegian Child Welfare Services in 2011.

Older movies that are trending on the streaming service include the 1995 crime film Heat, which stars Al Pacino and Robert De Niro as an LAPD detective and professional thief, and the 2012 college a cappella-themed hit Pitch Perfect.

Check out the full list of the top 10 movies below. And if you want to stay informed about everything joining Netflix each month, subscribe to the Streamline newsletter.

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Moms all over the world have a holiday dedicated just to them, but for some, Mothers Day is a reminder their children arent here to celebrate them.

The Louis D. Brown Peace Institute honors those women through the annual Mothers Day Walk for Peace in Dorchester. The event is meant to empower thousands of survivors impacted by trauma and grief as they march the streets of Boston promoting peace.

Boston 25 News reporter Brea Douglas sat down with some of those moms about how Mothers Day affects them as they grieve the loss of their children who were killed.

My daughters name is Sharrice Perkins. She was my only daughter, and she was just a strong believer of, like, social justice, says Angela Francis.

My sons name is Andrew, but we called him Drew. He was just from the very beginning, even as a baby and toddler, just a very sensitive, just a really sensitive soul, very loving, says Deborah Donahue-Keegan.

My son Matt was the oldest of my five children. People called him an old soul, says Shannon Tangherlini.

Angela Francis, Shannon Tangherlini, and Deborah Donahue-Keegan are members of a club no one wants to join: all mothers grieving the loss of their children who were murdered as young adults.

There were two perpetrators and what they did was so heinous and brutal. I see what the impact is on our family, says Donahue-Keegan.

Boston 25 News asked the moms, Does the saying time heals all wounds apply to you or do you think time never heals the wounds?

With time youre a new person. Im a new person. I carry my son with me all the time, says Tangherlini.

Grief is always there; it is not linear. You think you are well on the healing path and there can be a memory or something that makes you feel like you slipped right back, says Donahue-Keegan.

Boston 25 News: Speaking of grief and healing, what are some of the ways that helps you through it?

The biggest thing is, like I said, its the double Dutch. You know, she learned to jump when she was about twelve. That is one of the biggest things that keeps me going is that legacy that we have, says Francis.

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Making a conscious decision to choose love, to choose compassion, even though its so much just my heart hurts, says Donahue-Keegan.

Their journey to healing began at the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute in Dorchester. It is a center serving grieving families and communities impacted by murder and trauma.

I feel like it is a comfortable blanket or something, says Francis.

On the day Boston 25 News spoke with the women, Clementina Chery encouraged them to use toys to process their emotions. Clementina started the Peace Institute after her own child was murdered in 1993.

Say what principal you selected that is your strength and which principal that you selected that you are struggling with, says Chery.

I am struggling with forgiveness. I put the bridge in there and so maybe if I keep up the hope then I will be able to go over there and forgive, says Francis.

These moms tell Boston 25 News that Mothers Day comes with mixed emotions. They say they like to mark this day by participating in the annual Mothers Day Walk for Peace.

We did it every year which I find a little ironic that now I am walking for her, says Francis.

For me, its a way of healing. It is thousands of us gathering together walking for our loved ones and for peace, says Tangherlini.

Three women who never met before this conversation are now bonded through grief and tattoos in remembrance of their children.

The whole time was just imagining Drew like Mom oh whoa I never thought you would get a tattoo! says Donahue-Keegan.

The love of these mothers knows no bounds.

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MSNBCs Mehdi Hasan tore into conservatives such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for celebrating Daniel Penny, the man charged with manslaughter in the death of Jordan Neely on the New York City subway earlier this month.

Neely, 30, was reportedly yelling at passengers on the train. Penny, a 24-year-old veteran, put him in a chokehold, and New Yorks Office of Chief Medical Examiner ruled Neelys death a homicide.

DeSantis praised Penny as a good Samaritan, which Hasan found baffling.

Im a Muslim, but Ive read my Bible. Ive read the Gospel of Luke, the parable of the good Samaritan who helps the injured traveler after the priest and another man failed to do so, he told fellow MSNBC host Ayman Mohyeldin on Sunday night. I dont remember the good Samaritan choking the traveler to death.

Mohyeldin said its clear that the Republican Party is not, as is so often claimed, the party of God.

They are not a party that demonstrates compassion in the spirit of Christianity, he said, pointing to GOP policies on everything from immigration to homelessness as well as its open embrace of vigilantism.

Hasan sarcastically offered a suggestion to those not-very-Christian Christians.

Maybe they should fund free Bibles like you get in hotel rooms to Trump supporters to actually read the parable of the good Samaritan, he said.

See more of their conversation below:
Bianca Povalitis, center, along with fellow roller skaters enjoy an evening at Venice Beach Skate Plaza in June 2022. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

With wide-reaching intervention against COVID-19 now firmly in the past, officials and experts continue to preach the importance of individual decision-making to assess and manage their health risks.

Monitoring coronavirus conditions is becoming more difficult, however, as the pandemic's post-emergency phase has seen data collection and reporting endeavors either scaled back or abandoned entirely.

Part of this is by design. The collective experience with the coronavirus has shunted some incomplete metrics, such as officially reported case counts, in favor of others such as wastewater monitoring, which can provide a clearer picture of the virus' circulation in a community.

But dwindling data make it more difficult to assess the virus' trajectory in specific areas and for people to adjust their attitudes and behaviors accordingly  a potentially unsettling development for those who remain most at risk of falling seriously ill.

And the public knowledge gap may widen in the months ahead, as metric collection becomes increasingly decentralized following the termination of the national COVID-19 public health emergency and more residents lose access to resources such as no-cost testing.

"Tracking is going to be quite a bit more difficult now. It's already become more challenging over the last few months as states and localities have started to decrease the frequency of their reporting," said Dr. Mario Ramirez, an emergency medicine physician and managing director at Opportunity Labs, a nonprofit research and consulting firm.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made several efforts at packaging pandemic conditions into digestible bites, including the unveiling of the agency's COVID-19 Community Levels map in February 2022.

That system sorted counties nationwide into one of three categories  low, medium or high  based on case rates and certain hospitalization metrics. For each category, the CDC released tailored guidance on measures such as masking, testing and avoiding crowds.

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However, officials on Thursday retired that system. While partly a reflection of the limitations of case counts, which have become increasingly unreliable because of the prevalence of at-home testing, officials also acknowledged the growing difficulty of providing an on-the-ground snapshot. Many states and counties have stopped gathering or reporting COVID-19 data.

On Thursday, the CDC's COVID Data Tracker ended reporting of aggregate cases and removed test positivity data. The old tracker listed weekly COVID-19 deaths; the new version reports on the percentage of COVID-associated deaths among all reported deaths, based on provisional death certificate data, to indicate the COVID death trend.

The tracker's lead data point was the number of people newly admitted to the hospital with a lab-confirmed coronavirus infection over the prior week.

The hospitalization data are offered down to the county level, with areas sorted into one of three tiers: green, yellow or orange. Much of the country is currently in the green tier, with fewer than 10 weekly coronavirus-positive hospital admissions for every 100,000 residents. The worst level, orange, is when the rate is 20 or more.

On Thursday, L.A. County reported a rate of 2.8 coronavirus-positive hospital admissions for every 100,000 residents.

A map of weekly coronavirus-positive hospitalizations shows much of the nation in green, including L.A. County.

The weekly trend of coronavirus-positive hospitalizations is available for each state on the CDC's site. For the week that ended May 6, California reported 1,284 coronavirus-positive hospital admissions, the lowest such rate since last spring's lull.

The all-time low for this metric was 870 for the week ending April 16, 2022. The all-time peak  16,663  occurred over the week ending Jan. 9, 2021, in the midst of California's deadliest COVID-19 wave. At that time, L.A.'s hospital morgues were so overwhelmed the National Guard was called in to help with the temporary storage of bodies.

While coronavirus-positive hospitalization metrics are vital in illustrating what, if any, pressure COVID-19 is exerting on hospitals, some experts note they provide only a limited look at transmission.

"Those are going to be much broader strokes than the sort of predictive forecasting analytics that we've gotten used to over the last few years," Ramirez said Tuesday during a panel hosted by the COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project. "And so what I worry about is that by the time that data makes its way back, it's usually two, three, four weeks old  particularly because hospitalization is a lagging indicator and certainly death is, as well. We will be several weeks behind an increase in cases if that's what's happening."

That's not to say hospital-focused metrics don't have their place. According to the California Department of Public Health, COVID-19 hospital admission levels "have shown 99% concordance" with community levels.

"We are reviewing how our data collection and reporting will change with the end of the federal emergency and will keep the public informed on any changes that may come," the department wrote in a statement to The Times.

Currently, California publicly releases COVID-19 case and death data weekly on its online dashboard and also tracks the number of coronavirus-positive patients hospitalized statewide. That information is accessible at COVID19.ca.gov/state-dashboard.

Los Angeles County releases case and death data weekly every Thursday. Officials also provide the average percentage of emergency department encounters related to the coronavirus, a figure that remained stable around 3% for the past month. The number was 4% in late March and early April.

While expressing gratitude at the county's progress, Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer noted "that each day thousands of people throughout Los Angeles County continue to be impacted by COVID-19, whether they need to miss work due to illness, require hospital care or are experiencing the effects of long COVID."

"[The Department of] Public Health remains committed to work that reduces the chance of transmission and ensures the county remains prepared for the likelihood of periodic changes in transmission," she said Thursday. "Were continuing our work to make sure there are no barriers for anyone wishing to access life-saving vaccines, therapeutics and tests."

The state also maintains a model  CalCAT, the California Communicable disease Assessment Tool  to approximate the extent of coronavirus transmission. That tool uses available data to generate an estimated effective reproductive rate, which demonstrates how many other people an infected individual is spreading the coronavirus to, on average.

However, this model is also not immune to changes in the availability of pandemic data.

"Overall, case metrics including R-effective are less reliable in the face of changes to testing patterns including the increased use of at-home/antigen testing compared to confirmed PCR testing," state health officials wrote in response to a previous Times' inquiry.

They added, though, that "as R-effective represents a rate of change, it can still be helpful to identify trends in COVID-19, especially when supplemented with hospitalization data."

For example: The latest statewide R-effective estimate was 1.06, indicating that the spread of COVID-19 is probably stable. Correspondingly, the number of coronavirus-positive patients hospitalized statewide has fallen since the start of the month  from 1,282 on May 1 to 1,182 on Wednesday.

Another key effort, both throughout the pandemic and moving forward, is wastewater surveillance. Officials say that gives a more comprehensive picture of how prevalent the virus is in a given area than testing alone and can assist in identifying and tracking any possibly worrisome mutations.

In California, the Department of Public Health anticipates "that wastewater monitoring will become a regular part of public health surveillance for COVID-19" and "has a potential role in the monitoring of other pathogens of public health importance as well, such as for mpox and influenza."

"At the local health department level, wastewater surveillance also has the potential to add useful localized information for health systems, facilities or campuses needing to monitor COVID-19 or other diseases of public health importance," the department wrote in its statement last week.

Findings of the state's wastewater surveillance network, Cal-SuWers, are updated regularly online.

The L.A. County Department of Public Health also regularly reports wastewater data in its weekly news releases. On Thursday, the county reported its levels were just 11% of last winter's peak, according to the most recent data available.

And last week, San Francisco International Airport announced it's the first airport in the nation to start a CDC program monitoring wastewater samples from internationally arriving flights.

Whatever the current extent of the coronavirus, however, officials say there are several things residents can do to protect themselves.

"While the COVID emergency declarations are ending, the virus is still with us," the state public health department wrote in its statement. "Its important for Californians to continue to use the tools we have in place to fight COVID, including vaccines, testing and treatment."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Suspects arrested around the country in connection with Wichita-area crimes often arrive in the Air Capital by plane, specifically the Sedgwick County Sheriffs Offices 1975 Rockwell Commander.

By the end of the year, Sheriff Jeff Easter will have a new aircraft  a 2001 Beechcraft King Air 350 previously owned by the Kansas Highway Patrol that the county is purchasing for $2.5 million.

Weve got a great deal, Sedgwick County Commissioner David Dennis said.

Easter told commissioners the plane is actually worth about $4.2 million. The lower price point was negotiated with the highway patrol and Textron Aviation, which is building a new plane for KHP.

Easter said his office racks up an average of 1,560 flying hours a year on two to three flights per week.

The current Sheriffs Office plane has fallen into disrepair and some Commander parts are no longer being made, he said. The commission set aside $1.8 million for a replacement plane in 2021 but several other King Air purchases fell through.

Every time we turned around and we found a plane and were getting ready to buy it, somebody offered a whole lot more money than what we had available and it sold, Dennis said.

On May 3, the commission approved the purchase of the turboprop plane, which comfortably seats eight passengers and has cabin dimensions of 19.2 feet long, 4.5 feet wide and 5 feet tall.

The additional $700,000 needed for the King Air will come from the countys general fund. A Sheriffs Office spokesperson told The Eagle that the county will not take possession of the aircraft until this fall.

The most conservative way to do this

Sheriffs Office flights include two pilots up front and one deputy to guard single prisoners in the air or two deputies if theres more than one inmate.

When we take our trips, very rarely are we just picking up one prisoner, Easter said. We try to schedule our trips so that were able to fly out and pick somebody up and on the way back, fly through a place . . . pick up those inmates and then bring them back to Wichita.

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The Sheriffs Office drives to pick up prisoners when its cheaper, but cross-country travel is easier by plane, Easter said.

When were talking about having to go to Florida when our plane is down, which its been down quite often because of the age of it, were talking about 23-hour drives to Florida, Easter said. Then, coming back, we have to find jails to hold the prisoner overnight.

Its just not practical.

Commercial flights are expensive and Easter said his department has been turned away before trying to fly with airlines.

The biggest problem with commercial flights is, the pilot can tell you Youre not coming on my plane with a prisoner or armed, and weve run into those situations, he said. Also, it can be a very expensive mode of travel.

Before the new plane can be used for inmate transport, an eye bolt must be added in the cabin for securing prisoners chains.

Commissioner Jim Howell said hes convinced that a King Air is the most cost-effective solution for the county.

After I did a lot of data analysis on this, it made a lot of sense, Howell said. This is the most conservative way to do this.

Easter said his department has already received two inquiries to buy the Commander once it is replaced. Proceeds of the sale will go back to the county.

Because Beechcraft is headquartered in Wichita, the Sheriffs Office wont have to fly to Indiana for maintenance or Florida for pilot training as it does with the Commander.
Anwar in the refugee camp

Anwar Sadiq was just hours old when a BBC team first met him in a refugee camp in Bangladesh in September 2017.

A thin cotton cloth was all his mother Mohsena had to cover him, as she cradled her tiny baby under a flimsy makeshift tent, on an empty patch of land.

Five years on, the life of the little boy who entered the world in the most precarious of circumstances remains fragile.

He's one of half a million children growing up here amid hunger, disease and trauma with little prospect of things getting better - in the camp there is no formal education and few chances of getting a job.

Anwar was born into a life of chaos and danger. His young parents were part of a mass exodus of Rohingya people, who fled their villages in Myanmar in fear, carrying nothing.

"I used to think I would bring him up in a beautiful and peaceful world," Mohsena told us at the time, "but I am in a refugee camp and this is not a beautiful place at all."

Now close to a million people live here, surrounded by barbed wire fences and cut off from the outside world.

They fled Myanmar forces who are accused of systematically murdering, raping and torturing the minority Rohingya population - last year the US government said they had committed genocide.

With the very same military now running their homeland, since a coup in 2021, Rohingya refugees have very little chance of going back.

We tracked Anwar down in the vast maze of congested and narrow lanes, which make up what has become the world's largest refugee camp, near the seaside town of Cox's Bazar.

We couldn't believe we were able to find the family, amongst the endless rows of identical bamboo shelters.

In 2017 they were living in the open with no fixed address. Even now they still don't own a mobile phone.

Today, Anwar has grown into a wide-eyed, shy little boy. He clings tightly to his mother much of the time - resting his head on her lap, he tugs at her pink headscarf.

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He also has two younger sisters, two-year-old Sadeqa, and Almar Rufa, who is nearly one.

While the family no longer have to stay under canvas, where they live today is barely better.

They share a modest one-room shelter which has no windows to bring the light in. There are no fans to cool from the sticky heat, and very little ventilation.

Anwar and his sisters don't even have a bed to sleep in - a mat donated by the United Nations provides scant relief from the hard concrete floor.

Anwar and his family live in a one-room bamboo shelter with no windows, beds or ventilation

Their few possessions - metal pots and pans, and some clothes strung up on a washing line - have all been given to them by aid agencies.

"Back in Myanmar we had a big strong house made of wooden planks, we owned land, and we farmed it to make a living," Mohsena says.

She was just 15 and heavily pregnant when she escaped Myanmar's military in September 2017, with her husband, Nurul Haq.

Her uncle was shot and killed while he was out fishing and Mohsena feared that if they didn't leave soon, her family would be next.

Mohsena walked barefoot for days, her ankles swollen.

Just as she was crossing the river to neighbouring Bangladesh, her contractions started.

The rickety wooden boat she was in capsized and Mohsena thought she and her unborn baby would drown - her husband saved them.

Tired and drenched, the couple kept going until they made it to a hospital close to the border, where Anwar was born.

It's amazing he survived. But a few months ago, Mohsena ended up back at the same facility near the camps, worried again that she'd lose Anwar.

He'd come down with fever, his heart was racing and he wouldn't stop coughing. Doctors said he had pneumonia.

Barely a week goes by without Anwar or his siblings falling sick.

Living conditions for the children in the camp are squalid and unsanitary - they play next to piles of rubbish, inhaling the pungent fumes emanating from the thick black streams of open sewage.

Children breathe in fumes from the polluted black sewage streaming through the camp

According to the UNHCR, 30,000 babies are born here every year - but this is no place for a child. More than half of children under five here are anaemic, and four in 10 suffer from stunted growth.

"Children are living in unhygienic and congested spaces which leads to different diseases which are contagious and infectious," explains Dr Tanvir Ahmed from the charity Doctors Without Borders.

Despite their efforts, Dr Ahmed says Rohinyga children are trapped in a cycle of illness, where they fall sick, get treated, before returning to the same unhygienic conditions in the camp, and becoming ill again.

A lack of access to nutritious, healthy food is also a big factor. "Sometimes we can eat, sometimes we can't," Mohsena says, with a look of deep sadness on her face.

Rohingya refugees rely almost entirely on aid agencies for food, receiving a fixed monthly food voucher which they can exchange at a UN distribution centre, to buy staples like rice, chicken, vegetables and lentils.

Last month the food aid refugees rely on was cut from $12 (9.60) a month, to $10. In June it will be reduced yet again, to just $8. The UN-run World Food Programme (WFP) says it was forced to make the cuts due to a drop in international funding - the war in Ukraine has stretched aid budgets and funds from major donor countries like the US.

Mohsena's family have very little to eat

Mohsena has already run out of food this month - plastic containers which should be filled with rice, lentils, sugar and spices are all empty, and the only ingredients left are half a pot of salt and a bulb of garlic.

Until they get their next rations, they are living off a tiny portion of days-old fish and chicken curry, stored in a metal pot on the side, and may have to borrow some food from other families.

"We are constantly worried about how we'll survive. How can we even earn a living to support our family?" Mohsena says.

Her husband Nurul, who's 22, manages to pick up just a few days of work a month, doing hard labour or cleaning the stinky sewers, but most days he's forced to sit at home.

During our visit, he sat quietly in the corner, rocking their youngest child to sleep.

When cyclone Mocha hit the camp, a small tree fell and struck their shelter, bending some of the flimsy bamboo structure.

In a sign of how resilient Rohingya refugees are, Nurul managed to repair the hut hours after the storm passed.

But the refugees aren't permitted to leave the camps to work, and jobs inside are scarce - 95% of young men in the camps are unemployed, according to a 2022 report from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).

Bangladesh limits any sort of integration between refugees and the local population and won't even allow Rohingya refugees to be taught the local language or curriculum.

Having hosted the refugees for five years, the Bangladeshi government now wants to repatriate them back to Myanmar as soon as possible.

In a BBC interview, Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called on the rest of the world to shoulder more responsibility.

"They cannot put this burden on us forever," she said. "Ours is an overpopulated country and our people are already suffering."

But Rohingya refugees say they will only return to Myanmar if their security is guaranteed - with a civil war continuing that's an unlikely demand.

The mental toll of this refugee crisis is another untold story.

"I don't want my son to suffer like me," Nurul says. "I want him to get an education and start a business."

But that will be a challenge.

The children of the Rohingya camp gather at Anwar's learning centre, where education offers hope for a brighter tomorrow

Rohingya children don't have access to formal education - schools aren't allowed in the camps, and they can't attend the local Bangladeshi schools outside.

To plug some of the gap, aid agencies and volunteers have set up makeshift classrooms inside the camp. Unicef says around 5,000 of these so-called learning centres are in operation, many of them staffed by teachers with no formal qualifications.

Anwar goes to one near his home for just a couple of hours a day. And even though he has only ever lived in Bangladesh, his lessons are in Burmese, the language of the country his parents fled.

When Anwar asks Mohsena where he was born, she tells him his life began in this refugee camp.

"Have I seen Myanmar yet, mummy?" he asks her.

"No, you haven't," she replies.

In five years from now, where will Anwar be?

Additional reporting and photography Neha Sharma and Aamir Peerzada.
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.

At the end of April, the Verkhovna Rada registered draft law No. 9225, which further changed the procedure for selecting judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine (CCU). Spoiler alert: the draft law will establish the governments complete political control over the CCU.

This has already happened, the attentive reader will say. At the end of 2022, the Parliament adopted Law No. 2846-IX on updating the competition procedures for the Constitutional Court, which was criticized by our Western partners and the public.

The new draft law is supposed to correct the mistakes of Law No. 2846-IX, but it only worsens the already-existing procedure.

Zakhar Tropin: Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism  a legal perspective 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. Not long ago, the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) dealing with the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) said intercepted phone conversat Kyiv IndependentZakhar Tropin

Control of the CCU under the guise of European integration

Introducing a transparent, competitive procedure for selecting the Constitutional Courts judges is the first of seven priorities set up by the European Commission for Ukraine to maintain its EU candidate status and open accession negotiations.

Law No. 2846-IX, adopted in December 2022, oversaw the creation of the Advisory Group of Experts (AGE)  a body that should conduct a preliminary selection of all CCU candidates. The AGE consists of six members: three independent international experts and three members appointed by the President, the Parliament, and the Congress of Judges.

The European Councils Venice Commission (VC) recommended in December 2022 the inclusion of a seventh member under the AGEs international quota. EU representatives have repeatedly voiced the same opinion.

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Ukrainians support the same model: as a survey conducted in 2023 by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology shows, more than half of Ukrainians believe that independent international experts should have the casting vote in selecting the CCUs judges.

The concept behind implementing international experts casting vote is to ensure the commissions independence.

The AGEs current model does not allow decisions to be made without the votes of political appointees. Registered draft law No. 9225 still provides for the AGEs six-member model. Furthermore, it introduces a novel requirement: For a candidate to pass the interview successfully, they must receive the votes of at least two Ukrainian political appointees.

CCU judges attend the swearing-in ceremony of Judge Oleksandr Petryshyn at a special plenary session of the CCU in, Kyiv, Ukraine, in September 2022. (Kaniuka Ruslan/Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Why the AGEs 6-member model is flawed

The authorities are trying to argue that the six-member model, or its variants, is effective based on its previous use in other competitions, like for the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), High Council of Justice (HCJ), Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (SAPO), and the High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ).

However, with this model, there is a high probability of appointing politically biased candidates. While such a model worked during the SAPO and HQCJ competitions, it led to ambiguous results in those of the HCJ and NABU. In the last one, for example, the three best candidates did not make it to the finals  those that international experts and their Ukrainian counterparts were able to reach a compromise on did.

International experts have rarely exercised their right to cast a vote. They have been reluctant to confront their Ukrainian counterparts and risk harming further cooperation. As a result, the quality of the competitions final decisions has been somewhere between the EUs high standards and stable Ukrainian practices.

Given the importance of the CCUs reform and its key role in ensuring Ukraines rule of law, precluding any possibility of the AGE performing under a similar model is imperative.

However, draft law No. 9225 fails to address this issue. It does not provide for the inclusion of a seventh member in the AGE, nor does it provide international experts with the right to the casting vote.

Instead, the proposed legislation mandates that a candidate must secure at least five out of six votes, thereby necessitating the approval of two political appointees. This further reinforces the influence of Ukrainian politicians in the AGE and extinguishes the prospects for politically impartial candidates to be appointed to the CCU.

The CCU's Acting Chief Justice Serhiy Holovaty hands Judge Oleksandr Petryshyn a badge during the swearing-in ceremony at a special plenary session of the CCU in, Kyiv, Ukraine, in September 2022. (Kaniuka Ruslan/Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

The CCU's 10 Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Currently, five of the CCUs judges are politically loyal to the President and his political party. DEJURE has previously outlined the circumstances surrounding the appointment of these four judges, namely Oksana Hryshchuk, Oleksandr Petryshyn, Viktor Kychun, and Olha Sovhyria.

Furthermore, the fifth politically loyal judge, Viktor Kolisnyk, worked for almost 15 years at the Yaroslav Mudryi National Law Universitys Constitutional Law Department before his appointment, alongside Kychun and the Presidents CCU representative and Servant of the People MP Fedir Venislavskyi. Kolisnyk has also displayed a voting pattern aligned with the CCUs aforementioned judges.

Five more seats in the CCU are currently vacant. This includes the three vacancies that arose in December 2022 due to the voluntary resignation of three judges appointed under the parliamentary quota before the end of their tenure  a matter that has already drawn the G7 Ambassadors attention.

If the six-member AGE model is preserved, there is a significant possibility that the majority of the CCUs judges, i.e., 10 out of 18 judges, will be fully subject to political control for several years, given that a judges tenure at the CCU spans nine years.

Andrii Borovyk: Why Ukrainian cities need to strengthen transparency during the war 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. The full-scale war started by Russia has shown that decentralization in Ukraine works. It was local authorities ability to make rapid, essential deci Kyiv IndependentAndrii Borovyk

Why does the government want control over the CCU?

The argument for judicial independence as a critical component of the checks and balances system is apparent. However, in addition to these general principles, it is essential to consider how the authorities may wield a controlled CCU in actual political battles.

The decisions made by the Constitutional Court will be critical on a range of important post-war issues, including proposals for simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections, which are likely to contribute to a further concentration of power that is already very high during wartime conditions. Ukraines Constitution deliberately separated these elections to prevent such a situation.

A politically loyal CCU will interpret the Constitution in a way that benefits politicians. Furthermore, the CCU will determine the constitutionality of draft laws related to the reintegration of Ukraines occupied territories and future membership in the EU and NATO, as well as all reforms pending before it  for example, on the Anti-Corruption Court and the land market.

Such risks are unacceptable for a democracy, especially one as young and vulnerable as Ukraine.

The collective Wests desire to help Ukraine in difficult times is understandable, and we are grateful for it. But receiving weapons and basic financial assistance, which come without special conditions, is one thing. Joining the privileged club of nations is another thing entirely  this requires Ukraine to meet a set of high standards.

Conflating these two processes is not only counterproductive but also dangerous. The EU is primarily a rules-based club. If we start by bypassing and bending these rules in the very beginning, then what is the point at all?
High school senior Lauren Hewski died shortly after receiving an associate's degree from Brookdale Community College, where she was also taking classes

Go Fund Me

A New Jersey community is mourning the death of a young student with dreams of making a "difference."

Lauren Hewski, 18, was killed in a car crash on Thursday afternoon while driving to meet her parents for a graduation celebration, NBC New York reported. Despite being a senior in high school, Hewski had earned an associate's degree from Brookdale Community College as part of her high school's early college academy program.

The crash took place "an hour" after she earned her degree while she was on the way to a "celebratory lunch" with her parents, according to a GoFundMe.

The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE that police responded to a report of a collision alongside a road in Colts Neck shortly after 12:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Upon their arrival police found a "17-year-old male driver of an overturned Jeep Cherokee, as well as a passenger, an 18-year-old female," per the statement.

Related:Tenn. Firefighter Expecting Baby with Wife Dies Responding to Crash, Last Words Were 'Where Do You Need Me?'

The female passenger was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver, identified as Hewski's boyfriend by NBC New York, was transported to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries, the statement said.

The circumstances behind the crash remain under investigation, the prosecutor's office said.

On Friday, St. John Vianney High School released a statement on social media confirming the senior's death.

"The Saint John Vianney High School community has suffered a great loss," the post read. "On Thursday, May 11, 2023, Lauren Hewski, a gifted student and athlete in our Senior Class, passed away from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident."

"We ask for prayers and privacy for the family at this time. We also ask for prayers for our school community," the school added of the student, who was set to graduate in June.

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In a statement shared with the Asbury Park Press, Brookdale Community College's president David M. Stout described Hewski as "an incredibly intelligent and talented young woman."

"We had just celebrated her success as one of our youngest college graduates at Brookdale's morning Commencement Ceremony," he told the outlet. "Our hearts are broken at the loss of this precious young life  a life so filled with promise and possibilities."

Related:Wisconsin Mom Dies in Car Crash Hours After Attending Husband's Funeral: 'She Is with Him'

The Hewski family will be creating a foundation in her name called Lauren's Light, which will "keep Lauren's light shining bright and allow other women to follow in her footsteps," according to the GoFundMe page

"Lauren was a bright light, a passionate advocate, a fierce competitor, and a kind and genuine friend with a wicked sense of humor," read a message on the page.

The student "was getting ready to start a new chapter in life: she planned to attend Syracuse University to study political science and public policy at the renowned Maxwell School," the organizer wrote.

"Lauren wasn't foolish enough to think she could change the world, but she certainly wanted to make a difference," the message continued. "Lauren's story does not end here."

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Read the original article on People.
BOSTON (AP)  As a citizen of the Quapaw Nation, Ahnili Johnson-Jennings has always seen Dartmouth College as the university for Native American students.

Her father graduated from the school, founded in 1769 to educate Native Americans, and she had come to rely on its network of students, professors and administrators. But news that the Ivy League school in New Hampshire identified partial skeletal remains of 15 Native Americans in one of its collections has Johnson-Jennings and others reassessing that relationship.

Its hard to reconcile. Its hard to see the college in this old way where they were taking Native remains and using them for their own benefit, said Johnson-Jennings, a senior and co-president of Native Americans at Dartmouth.

The remains were used to teach a class as recently as last year, until an audit concluded they had been wrongly catalogued as not Native. Native American students were briefed on the discovery in March.

It was very upsetting to hear, especially when youve just felt so supported by a school and theyve had that secret that maybe no one knew about, but still, to some sense, was a secret, Johnson-Jennings said.

Dartmouth is among a growing list of universities, museums and other institutions wrestling with how best to handle Native American remains and artifacts in their collections, and with what these discoveries say about their past policies regarding Native communities.

Until the 20th century, archeologists, anthropologists, collectors and curiosity seekers took Native remains and sacred objects during expeditions on tribal lands. Some remains, including Native skulls, were sought after in the name of science. Bodies were collected by government agencies after battles with tribes. Museums wanted them to enhance their collections, and academic institutions relied on Native bones as teaching tools.

One-hundred years ago, it was OK for a professor, for an alumni to go into the lands of a Native community and dig up their ancestors, said professor Jeremy DeSilva, a paleoanthropologist and chairman of Dartmouths anthropology department.

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Its amazing that folks didnt recognize how harmful that was, he continued.

For Native tribes, the loss of the remains and cultural items still inflicts significant pain. The remains, most believe, are imbued with the spirit of the ancestor to whom they belong and are connected to living citizens of those tribes.

Tribes could go to court or negotiate with an institution for remains to be repatriated. But it wasnt until the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, or NAGPRA, in 1990 that a process was created for their return. It requires federally funded institutions, including universities, to return remains and funerary items to rightful communities.

More than three decades later, some 884,000 Native American artifacts  including nearly 102,000 human remains  are still held by colleges, museums and other institutions, according to data maintained by the National Park Service.

Critics complain that many institutions move too slowly, invoking an exception in NAGPRA for remains they label as culturally unidentifiable. That puts the burden on tribes to prove the remains are their ancestors, an expense many cant afford.

Dartmouth has repatriated skeletal remains of 10 Native Americans along with 36 burial objects since 1995. The NAGPRA database says the 15 sets of skeletal remains and 46 associated funerary objects were taken from counties in Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, California and Florida. It lists the geographic origin of two sets of remains as unknown.

In February, Cornell University returned to the Oneida Indian Nation ancestral remains that were inadvertently dug up in 1964 and stored for decades in a school archive. Colgate University in November returned more than 1,500 items that the Oneidas had buried with their dead as far back as 400 years ago.

It is hard to overstate the importance of repatriations to the Oneida people," said Ray Halbritter, Oneida Indian Nation Representative.

When our ancestors remains and their cultural artifacts are restored to us, we are not only able to lay them to rest according to our traditions  we regain nothing less than the history of our people and the ability to tell our own stories, Halbritter's statement said. "Each repatriation represents another step forward on a long journey toward recognition of our sovereignty as a Nation and our dignity as people.

The University of California, Berkeley tops the list of institutions still holding artifacts, according to the Park Service; followed closely by the Ohio History Connection, a nonprofit organization working to preserve the states history; and Harvard Universitys Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.

The process of returning remains to affiliated tribes can be complex and complicated, but Shannon OLoughlin, chief executive of the Association on American Indian Affairs, a national group that assists tribes with repatriations, said it's racist to refuse.

It just says that they value the idea of Native Americans as specimens more than they do as human beings, said OLoughlin, a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

The remains held in Dartmouth's teaching collection in Silsby Hall were identified as Native in November in an audit led by Jami Powell, curator of Indigenous art at Dartmouths Hood Museum.

The bones have been moved from locked cabinet in the basement to a secure off-campus location. Dartmouth has hired a team of independent experts to determine their origin, a review that will take months.

It also is studying an additional 100 bones that may be Native American and working with tribes to repatriate additional bone fragments related to three individuals whose remains were repatriated in the 1990s.

For me as an Indigenous person, its always important in my work that I treat these ancestors with the utmost care and respect and that an essential part of my function is helping them return home, said Powell, a citizen of the Osage nation.

Dartmouth President Philip Hanlon said in March that he's deeply saddened by what weve found on our campus. His statement apologized for the colleges wrongful possession of the remains and pledged to take careful and meaningful action to address our situation and consult with the communities most directly impacted.

The Department of Anthropologys teaching collection is believed to have included bones purchased from biological supply companies; from donated cadavers used by medical students; and archeological remains, some of which came from Native American burial mounds and were given by alumni.

Until November, Dartmouth officials said they had believed Native American bones had been removed from the school in the 1990s.

Nobody had really taken the time or the effort to fully document what we had. This was around a time where our whole discipline was beginning to reflect a little more deeply on what it meant to be in the care of, or caring for human remains, said DeSilva, the anthropology departments chairman.

DeSilva acknowledged mistakes in documenting Native American remains, but said they werent malicious, and no one was to blame. He said he hopes the most recent discovery will force a reckoning over past practices.

The college is now reevaluating its whole collection of human remains and plans to build an ethically sourced collection that complies with legal standards to be used in osteology  the study of bones and skeletal systems, DeSilva said.

The college is also working to repair its relationship with Native students and alumni. That includes accommodating Native students uncomfortable going into Silsby. A Navajo medicine man aso held a cleansing ceremony on campus that included the anthropology building.

Native Americans now represent about 1% of Dartmouth's 4,458 students. Though the school was formed to teach Native Americans, it wasnt until 1972 that Dartmouth created a program tailored to them, one of the first in the country. Still, symbols of insensitivity lingered on campus, including a set of murals that the school said it would move into storage in 2018.

Shawn Attakai, co-president of the Native American Alumni Association of Dartmouth, said he's disappointed about the discovery, and sad that some of the remains could be from his own Navajo Nation, where he is a tribal lawyer.

Native Americans have a history of injustices in this country starting from its founding all the way to the present, said Attakai.

Johnson-Jennings appreciates the efforts, but said justice requires a person or entity to be held accountable. Allowing the remains to be mislabeled for so long, she said, "is a mistake that us Natives are paying for, the tribes that those ancestors belong to are paying for.
BRUSSELS (AP)  NATO leaders are discussing ways to ensure that Ukraine does not come under attack from Russia again once the war is over, but they are concerned about doing anything that might drag the organization into a wider conflict, the head of the military alliance said Monday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seeking security guarantees from the 31-nation alliance to ward off any future attack from Ukraines neighbor. Some countries are weighing what could be done to avoid a repeat of the war. Russia already annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

There are consultations that are going on, ahead of a summit involving U.S. President Joe Biden and his counterparts in Lithuania on July 11-12, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said during an interview with his predecessor, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, at a conference in Copenhagen.

Stoltenberg declined to provide details about those talks.

NATO allies benefit from a collective security guarantee  so called Article 5 of the organizations founding Washington Treaty  which ensures that an attack on any one of their number would be considered an attack on them all.

In the past year, the U.S., U.K., France and Germany committed to provide security guarantees to Finland and Sweden when they applied to join NATO, should it be necessary to dissuade President Vladimir Putin from trying to destabilize the two Nordic neighbors.

Finland has since joined and has Article 5 protection, but Swedens accession is pending.

We dont know how this war will end, but what we do know is that when it ends it is extremely important that we are able to prevent history from repeating itself, Stoltenberg said. Beyond the annexation of Crimea, he also noted Russias conflict with Georgia in 2008, saying: This has to stop.

The only way to ensure that that stops is partly to ensure that Ukraine has the military strength to deter and defend against further aggression from Russia but also to find some kind of framework to prevent President Putin from continuing to chip away at European security, Stoltenberg said.

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But he said that if NATO allies, and especially of course the big ones, start to issue security guarantees bilaterally to Ukraine we are very close to Article 5. So, theres no way to find an easy solution to these issues.

In February, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called on NATO countries to provide long-term security guarantees for Ukraine. He said they are necessary to shield Ukraine from future Russian aggression and to protect the system of international rules that has helped keep peace since the end of World War II.

NATO as an alliance does not provide weapons to Ukraine  although its members do bilaterally and in smaller groups  and the organization defends only the territory of its member countries as it is wary of being dragged into a wider war with nuclear armed Russia.

Ukraine has applied to join NATO but for that to happen, all 31 current members would have to agree. Most of the allies oppose letting the country in at a time when a war is raging.

Stoltenberg said that he expects NATO leaders to endorse Ukraines membership aspirations at their summit and to emphasize that the alliances door remains open to European countries that want to join.

But he underlined that there is no point in talking about membership if Ukraine loses the war.

The most important thing is to be very strong in our support to Ukraine, so Ukraine (can) prevail, Stoltenberg said.
The federal government is attempting to recoup almost $7 million from more than 1,200 people who retired from the Navy after it discovered a system error had given them larger monthly payments than they were due for almost four years, officials said Monday.

The Navy Times first reported the error, which resulted in incorrect service time calculations for 1,283 retirees from August 2019 to February.

That error created a total debt of about $6.8 million, according to new data obtained by NBC News. The personal debts incurred range from $35 to more than $70,000, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service said Monday.

The agency  which oversees payments to Defense Department personnel and retirees  said it plans to recover the money and that it will issue official debt notifications, containing information on how to pay the debt or request a waiver, to affected retirees this week.

Some retirees are bracing to be billed tens of thousands of dollars. All have seen reductions in their monthly retirement incomes due to the corrected error.

Its a double whammy, said Devin Morrison, 52, who was the executive officer of the Naval Medical Center in San Diego before he retired in 2021.

His net pay went down by about $762 from March to April. He has not yet received his official debt letter but expects he will have to pay back about $30,000.

Morrison, who took a job in the private sector after his retirement, has since reduced his 401(k) contribution by 10% to increase his monthly disposable income while he reviews his new smaller budget.

Through no fault of my own, Im going to be saddled with this pretty significant bill, he said. Thats a hard pill to swallow.

The Navy said the error began when its personnel system sent incorrect data to the DFAS. The retirees inactive reserve service time was incorrectly counted as active-duty creditable service, which led to larger monthly paychecks.

From there, the Navy thoroughly investigated the issue, determined the affected population and decided on corrective actions, Cmdr. Rick Chernitzer, a Navy Personnel Command spokesperson, said in a statement.

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This process took time and was important to ensure we did not negatively affect someones pay without understanding the scope of the issue," he added.

The DFAS said the median amount of overpayment is $2,700. It said the debt notification letter would detail circumstances in which interest would be charged.

If a retiree does not take any action after receiving the official notification, the agency said it can involuntarily deduct from the persons monthly benefit at a rate of 15% of net disposable pay. It also said the Defense Department retains the right to pursue other collection methods, as necessary.

The system error affecting Navy retirees is the latest administrative oversight to come to light in the last few weeks.

At least 65 dentists and physicians with the Navy Reserves have been told they owe at least three more years of service after an error was discovered in how their retirement credits had been calculated, NBC News previously reported.

In late April, Army officials said more than 600 aviation officers are being held to another three years of service after they noticed a similar record-keeping error.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
At a time when the public is calling for more police accountability, two organizations are competing for control over the process that gives officers an often career-ending label of being untrustworthy.

A bill working its way through the General Assembly has lifted a curtain on a dispute between North Carolina criminal justice stakeholders. The disagreement could help officers deemed untrustworthy on the job land new positions in law enforcement, according to experts.

North Carolinas Conference of District Attorneys and the Police Benevolent Association disagree about who should control a process intended to prevent cops with a history of bias, lying or fabricating evidence from testifying in court.

In its current form, House Bill 704 would repeal a section of a 2021 law that requiresofficials to tell state law enforcement commissions when a district attorney deems an officer or deputy untrustworthy to testify. The law requires officers, their employers, prosecutors and judges to report what are often called Giglio letters.

The bill, which passed in the House and has moved to the Senate, repeals a section of a law signed by Gov. Roy Cooper in September 2021. It was part of a bipartisan effort to identify and track bad cops and police use of excessive use of force, a priority for states across the country after the murder of George Floyd in 2020.

Interior of an empty courtroom with gavel and sounding block on the desk.

The proposed repeal of a portion of the law has vocal critics, including Dawn Blagrove, executive director of civil rights organization Emancipate NC, which is pushing for more criminal justice reform.

This is disgraceful, Blagrove said after a reporter informed her about the bill. She described it as a step back for criminal justice reform that decreased transparency about bad cops.

Rep. Joe John, a Raleigh Democrat, was a primary sponsor of initial versions of the bill, which gave officers a route to appealing Giglio designations. He removed his name because the bill now focuses on repealing notification requirements, he said.

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Rep. Hugh Blackwell, a Burke County Republican and a primary sponsor in the House, didnt respond to multiple requests for comments about the current language.

Gilgio letters

U.S. Supreme Court rulings since 1963 have required prosecutors to disclose relevant evidence that could raise questions about witnesses credibility, bias or motivation. That could include officers previously caught lying in a case or a witness who was offered immunity in exchange for testimony favoring the prosecution.

In some cases, district attorneys issue what are called Giglio letters to officers or their employers that outline what information would be disclosed if an officer testified in court. Sometimes the letters say the officers are deemed not credible and are barred from testifying in all cases in that jurisdiction.

The letters are often called death letters because they can be career ending.

The 2021 law requires officers, agencies and district attorneys to report the letters barring court testimony to one of two North Carolina law enforcement training commissions.

In 2022, 15 of those letters were reported, according to the first full-year tally report to a legislative oversight committee, also required by law.

Anson County Sheriff Landric Reid. left, listens as Assistant Attorney General Bob Pickett presents cases during the North Carolina Sheriffs Education and Training Standards Full Commission meeting Thursday June 16, 2022 at the Brunswick County Courthouse in Bolivia, NC.

Under the 2021 law, the Giglio letter is placed in an officers state certification file. The letters are shared with prospective law enforcement employers when an officer transfers to a new agency, as well as with district attorneys in those locations.

After a state certification agency receives a Giglio letter, the agency reviews the information, looking for violations of its rules. If violations are found, officers can face sanctions such as suspension or losing their certification.

Officers want powers to appeal

The initial version of the current bill, introduced in April, would have required that officers receive notice of a pending Gilgio letter and the opportunity to dispute it.

Backed by the Police Benevolent Association, which advocates for 16,000 officers in the state, the bill also created a process where officers could appeal their negative designation to superior court.

The earliest version of the bill, circumvented prosecutors responsibility mandated by the United States Supreme Court, said Conference of District Attorney executive director Kimberly Spahos. The responsibility includes seeking out and reporting whether a governments witness suffers from lack of credibility, dishonesty and other issues that will affect their ability to testify, Spahos said.

The authority is given to prosecutors and prosecutors alone and doesnt give superior court judges or anyone else the authority to preempt or overturn the decision to force someone to call a witness they dont think is credible, she said.

The Police Benevolent Association disagrees with the conferences stance on how far their authority extends, including the issuance of Giglio letters. The association is challenging officer Giglio designations in two cases working their way through state courts.

Under todays political pressure to hold officers accountable, some district attorneys arent gathering all the facts before issuing the letter, association Executive Director John Midgette said. In other cases they are misapplying Giglio standards, or sending the letters in retaliation, he said.

Yet there is no way that officers can object to this badge of infamy, Midgette said.

Law enforcement officers train in compliance and control techniques related to use of force at the North Carolina Justice Academy in Salemburg Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022.

Representatives from the sheriffs association and police chiefs association said they support due process for officers who receive Giglio letters that is consistent with the Supreme Court decisions.

Others are concerned

Representatives from the state sheriffs association and police chiefs association said they oppose repeal of the current law.

I think everyone can agree that we dont want bad actors wearing police uniforms, said Hendersonville Police Chief Blair Myhand, president of the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police.

The NC Sheriffs Association supports the current law because it allows the commissions to identify problematic officers, said Eddie Caldwell, the groups general counsel.

The law created a process that allowed officers to object to the Giglio designation and officials to review the allegations and determine whether the officers certifications should be suspended or revoked, he said.

The Police Benevolent Association representative Midgette said they dont want to eliminate the opportunity to identify problematic officers, but want to give officers some due process in that system.

We just want to have fairness in the system so good officers have the right be heard before their reputations is ruined, he said.

The executive director of the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys declined to take a stance on the current language in the bill.

What I can tell you is we dont support law enforcement officers that have credibility issues being able to move around the state and us not know about it, Spahos said.

Virginia Bridges covers criminal justice in the Triangle and across North Carolina for The News & Observer. Her work is produced with financial support from the nonprofit The Just Trust. The N&O maintains full editorial control of its journalism.
While a new School of Civic Life and Leadership would be established at UNC-Chapel Hill and receive millions in state funding under a budget proposal released Monday from the state Senate, two other schools at the university would see their budgets cut.

As in the House budget released last month, the Senate budget would allocate $2 million in state funding in each of the next two fiscal years to the School of Civic Life, which the UNC Board of Trustees proposed in January and has been a topic of controversy and contention at the university ever since.

Meanwhile, the Senate budget appears to reduce state funding to both the universitys School of Law and the School of Government in each of the upcoming fiscal years.

Those provisions to cut funding were not included in the House budget, and the Senates proposal seems to echo similar cuts proposed by the chamber in previous years, which ultimately were not as severe under the budget deals reached those years.

The Senates budget bill is expected to be voted on by the end of the week. A final compromise budget between the two chambers could pass in June.

Proposed funding for UNC School of Civic Life

Funds allocated in the Senate budget would be used to create and operate the School of Civic Life, per the Senates committee report on the budget, including hiring faculty and staff.

Both the Senates and the Houses budget proposals for the School of Civic Life, which has yet to be formally established at the university, fall short of the funding amounts UNC provost Christopher Clemens suggested in a budget planning document drafted earlier this year.

That document, reported by The News & Observer, included a potential request for $5 million in recurring funds for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. The document stated that the university expects any state-appropriated funds to the school will be matched with private support. Specific donors or sources of that financial support were not listed in the planning document.

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As in the House budget bill, the Senate bill states that if the funds provided in the budget are insufficient to establish the school, the university shall expend sufficient additional funds to achieve that purpose.

The bill would officially establish the school, which would offer courses on the development of democratic competencies informed by American history and the American political tradition, with the purpose of fostering public discourse and civil engagement necessary to promote democracy and benefit society.

The school would house the universitys Program for Public Discourse, which was criticized in its planning stages over alleged conservative leanings, influences and funding sources. In describing the need they see for establishing the School of Civic Life, the universitys trustees have said the school would make the Program for Public Discourse more robust.

Since the Board of Trustees adopted a resolution supporting the development of the school in January, university faculty have criticized both the school and its proposed purpose, as well as the process by which the trustees introduced it.

Board of Trustees chair David Boliek appeared on the Fox and Friends morning show shortly after he introduced the resolution, saying the school would remedy the universitys lack of right-of-center views.

Faculty at the university say they were not informed of the boards plans to propose a school, nor consulted on the proposal, which many believe contradicts typical governance structures at the university, in which new academic programs traditionally come from faculty  not the trustees.

UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz wrote in a Jan. 27 campus message that any proposed degree program or school will be developed and led by our faculty, deans, and provost.

Funding cut to schools of government, law

As the School of Civic Life would receive millions in funding under the Senates proposed budget, two existing schools at the university would lose funding.

The Senate would cut funding to both the School of Government and the School of Law by $2.5 million in each of the next two fiscal years.

Those provisions, which were not in the Houses proposed budget, appear similar to previous cuts to the law schools funding proposed by the Senate in prior years, including 2015 and 2017.

In 2015, The N&O reported, the Senate proposed a $3 million funding cut to the school, which was ultimately not approved. In 2017, the Senate proposed a $4 million cut, which was negotiated down to a $500,000 cut.

Amid the proposed cuts in 2017, alumni of the law school rallied against the provisions, reaching out to legislators in droves to make their case against the cuts, The N&O reported.

In both years, as is the case this year, the House did not include cuts in their proposed budgets.
State Rep. Donna White had a secret to share Monday with a class of first-grade students at Riverwood Elementary School in Clayton.

White told the class she prefers reading to children instead of other lawmakers because sometimes big boys and big girls are not easy to read to. White was among 66 lawmakers who signed up for Mondays inaugural Bring Your Legislator To School Day co-sponsored by the Public School Forum of North Carolina and members of the NC Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year Network.

White has prior firsthand experience because the Johnston County Republican served on the school board for 12 years.

Its just an opportunity to be here, be involved and to know what the needs are and see what they are doing great, and theyre doing a lot of great things, White said in an interview.

State Rep. Donna White watches as Christine Duan reads her weekend journal to her first-grade classmates at Riverwood Elementary School in Clayton, N.C., on May 15, 2023. It was a statewide Bring Your Legislator To School Day.

Experience day-to-day realities of schools

Organizers of Bring Your Legislator to School Day say its meant to help lawmakers experience the day-to-day reality of North Carolinas elementary and secondary schools and to gain a better understanding of what works well for students and educators, and the challenges they face.

We talk about our civic responsibilities and being global citizens, said Jane Armbruster, principal of Providence Spring Elementary in Charlotte. So students understand the role of a lawmaker. We hope the lawmakers see the realities of public education and the challenges we have.

Invitations were extended to all 170 state lawmakers. The event was bipartisan, but 40 of the 66 lawmakers who registered were Democrats.

How much money for public schools?

Mondays statewide event comes amid a heated debate about how and how much state leaders should fund education and public schools.

State Senate GOP leaders are releasing Monday their budget plan for the next two years. Theyll negotiate with the House GOP, which approved its own budget plan that includes increases in education funding, including a 10.2% average raise for teachers over the next two years.

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White noted that education spending represents 59% of the state budget.

Im not sure that money is the answer to everything, White said. I think theres a lot of collaboration that needs to be taken.

Weve got great teachers and weve got principals and they need to be able to do that and not feel like theyve got to be pressured into taking another leadership role like the central office.

Jenn Botterell (left), a special-education teacher assistant at Riverwood Elementary School in Clayton, N.C., talks to state Rep. Donna White (right) on May 15, 2023. It was a statewide Bring Your Legislator To School Day.

At the same time, GOP lawmakers are planning to pass legislation this year that would allow any North Carolina family, regardless of income, to get state funding to help cover the cost of attending a K-12 private school.

Democratic lawmakers have urged the GOP majority to fully support the Leandro plan, which would help fund programs to try to provide every child with a sound, basic education. The plan is up in the air after the new Republican majority on the state Supreme Court blocked an order transferring hundreds of millions of dollars into public schools.

Students fears

At Providence Spring, Rep. Laura Budd, a Mecklenburg County Democrat, listened Monday to a group of students talk about their fears of moving on to middle school.

I hear you  it is scary when your world opens up and gets bigger, said Budd, mom to three teens. When it happens to me I make new friends, but I make sure and keep my old friends.

Providence Springs chorus sang for Budd during lunch, and then Budd was introduced to a snapshot of the school, including an outdoor classroom school officials created.

I love the fact we can take them on a field trip without putting them on a bus, Budd said of the outdoor classroom.

Mikayla Beverly, a fourth-grade student at Providence Spring, was part of a group that went to Raleigh earlier this year to watch lawmakers do their job.

Now its good that they can come to see our school, Mikayla, 9, said. They can see that were a great school, we have fun and have strong friendships.

How great our school systems are

At Riverwood Elementary in Johnston County, White toured first-grade classrooms to see how theyre using phonics to teach reading. She read the book Three Hens And a Peacock to one class.

State Rep. Donna White has first-grade students stretch their hands to the floor as she reads them Three Hens And A Peacock at Riverwood Elementary School in Clayton, N.C., for Bring Your Legislator To School Day on May 15, 2023,

White also toured two special-education classrooms to talk with staff and give hugs to the students.

I just feel like theyre special human beings on this Earth and theyre here for a very special purpose, White said of the special-needs students.

As White prepared to leave, school and district staff encouraged her to make the case to her fellow lawmakers for supporting public schools.

What I hope comes out of it is she goes back and talks with her colleagues, especially ones that are on different education committees, and shares with them and stresses to them how great our school systems are and how hard are staff and students are working on a daily basis and how much they are learning, Leigh White, the principal of Riverwood Elementary, said in an interview.
A 23-year-old man has died after a shooting at a residence in Myrtle Beach, according to the Horry County Coroners Office.

Jordan Drake, of Wingate, North Carolina, was shot Saturday about 7:20 p.m. at 145 Hartland Drive, said Chief Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard.

Mitchell Sykes, of Monroe, North Carolina, has been charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to arrest warrants.

Police said the 21-year-old man killed the victim with malice afterthought, warrants state.

Drake died at the scene.

No additional details about the shooting has been released as of Monday morning.
In 1923, William Bunk Callihan stumbled on a pair of bootleggers stashing whiskey jars in the woods, and when the Fayetteville lawman seized the liquor and placed the men under arrest, he caught a bullet through the back  fatally piercing his kidney.

He was just 43 when the gunshot took him, an officer both for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and the Cumberland County sheriff, and the tangled story of his murder remains unsolved after a century.

What is certain: The man sent to prison for Callihans murder didnt shoot him. What is almost certain: The 1920s justice system framed a bystander for the crime of being Native American, though Callihan himself named a different killer on his deathbed.

But these failings aside, Callihan received a slain officers due one century late on Saturday when his name got added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C., rescued from the obscurity of newspaper archives.

A volunteer with the Wilmington Railroad Museum brushed the dust off Callihans story, tracked down his granddaughter in Fayetteville, alerted the monument authorities and even corrected the engravers on the spelling  Callihan not Callahan.

And on Saturday night, Barbara Capps stood at the candlelight vigil four blocks from the U.S. Capitol, saluting the grandfather she never met.

He was just a very conscientious man, she said. Liked his job, put 100% into his job. I think its an awesome honor after all this time. Kind of wish it had happened before my daddy passed away.

The Wilmington museum offers a whole exhibit to railroad officers, who in Callihans day would have tossed freeloaders out of boxcars and foiled would-be stick-ups in the passenger cars. But they also guarded the rail yards, and thats likely how Callihan would have spent his time, standing watch over cars that sat idle outside Fayetteville.

Christine Williams volunteers at that museum, and while redoing a display case, she discovered a list of fallen railroad officers didnt match up with the list at the national memorial. A retired officer herself, splitting time between Wilmington and her home in Wisconsin, she set about bringing Callihans name into the 21st century.

Story continues

Its one of the coolest things Ive done, she said. Its 100 years in the making, to have this happen.

William Callihans 1923 murder made headlines around the state, including extensive coverage in The News & Observer

The story of Callihans end unfolds almost entirely in 100-year-old newspaper accounts, which differ wildly not only in facts but also by spelling of proper names. But you can hear the frustration come screaming through the linotype as my long-gone N&O colleague banged out this dispatch:

Considerable secrecy has marked the investigation of Callahans death, and when this correspondent learned that Levy has been taken into custody, much questioning was necessary.

The Levy mentioned here would be Joel Levy, who was arrested and quickly tried for the lawmans shooting. News accounts describe him as a Negro and a Croatan, but Levy would almost certainly identify as Lumbee were he alive today.

Who killed Callihan?

All versions of this story more or less agree that Callihan and two other men were out behind a textile mill south of Fayetteville, looking for kindling to start a fire, when a car drove up and two men got out without seeing the lawman. They dumped four bags and drove away, and when Callihan looked inside the sacks, he found bountiful jars full of moonshine and promptly ordered his two companions to alert the sheriff while he stood guard.

Stories start to vary at this point, but it seems clear that two men soon returned for the stash of illegal booze: Levy and John Smith, a known moonshiner from nearby Grays Creek. One of Callihans men said he couldnt tell who did the shooting. But the other, one B.F. Strickland, told investigators that the Croatan fired.

This landed Levy behind bars.

His trial began only weeks later, but it quickly turned sensational when Ethel Andrews, a nurse at Highsmith Hospital, testified that the dying man implicated Smith with some of his final words. No less a figure than A.B. De Mesquita, publisher of the Fayetteville Observer, testified that the nurse told him this same story while he was his patient.

A century later, Barbara Capps can remember her grandmother insisting the same thing:

He told my grandma, Levy didnt shoot me. He was standing in front of me. I was shot in the back,  she said.

Not surprisingly, justice did not exactly prevail.

A jury deadlocked 8-4, but even after the judge declared a mistrial, Levy remained jailed on a $10,000 bond  about $177,000 in todays money. Smith did get arrested, but when all was said and done, he served six months on a road gang for his bootlegging.

Levy, however, faced a second trial only eight months after Callihans death. And this time, a freshly married Ethel Andrews Wise had moved to Florida, where she could not be reached. De Mesquita had died in a plane crash. Transcripts of their earlier testimony had strangely gone missing.

Facing murder charges for a second time, Levy testified he never heard about Callihans shooting until a Fayetteville police officer asked him about it shortly afterward. His defense team produced six alibi witnesses, including the Fayetteville officer and a prominent Negro physician. They also lined up three witnesses to say that the other man with Callihan that day, one B.W. Hall, all told them that Smith pulled the trigger.

The prosecution called only two witnesses, Strickland and Smith himself, who testified that he hollered Dont shoot! at the crucial moment. For good measure, he added that he had been recently saved at a traveling revival.

But while Levy found himself convicted and sentenced to a minimum of 20 years, he got paroled after only three. This, more than any of the obviously trumped-up facts, suggests some serious legal shenanigans. Little else explains how a convicted police-killer, and a Native American in the 1920s, could serve such drastically shortened time.

Williams wants to seek an official pardon for him, and she would appreciate any help doing so. Regardless, there is no further mention of Levy beyond 1926 other than he went North.

It may have been an agreement that he get out of here and never talk about it again, said Holli Saperstein, railroad museum director in Wilmington. We dont know. It feels that way.

Police officers take photographs and engravings of the names of officers killed in the line of duty which are engraved on the marble walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Regardless, the officer who died young without meeting his granddaughter has a new legacy beyond that moonshine still in the woods.

And this one is chiseled in stone.
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This story was originally published by the Border Belt Independent.

State Sen. Danny Britt, one of the most powerful Republicans in North Carolina, said he does not plan to run for state attorney general next year.

Political insiders have speculated that Britt, a Robeson County defense attorney who has served in the General Assembly since 2017, would vie for the seat.

But Britt told the Border Belt Independent on Monday that he decided the timing wasnt right for his family, including his 11-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son.

I want to. Ive got a lot of people that want me to, Britt said. But I want my kids to be a little bit older before I run for anything statewide.

Britt, 43, said he also wanted to pay down his student loan debt before running for attorney general. He has previously told the BBI that he owed about $185,000 when he finished law school in Oklahoma.

A lot of folks who went to law school had somebody kind of paying their way for them, he said. I didnt have that. It kind of put me in a different place financially for a little while.

Britt said Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Bishops potential run for attorney general was not a factor in his decision.

Andrew Murray, a former U.S. attorney who had been considered an early frontrunner in the Republican primary, opted out when Bishop expressed interest.

Britt said he encouraged Bishop to run for attorney general. If Bishop were to win and serve two four-year terms in the job, Britt said he would be well set up to succeed him in the 2032 election.

If he stays for at least eight years, my kids will then be 21 and 19, he said. So I can do about what I want to at that point.

Jeff Moore, director of communications for the North Carolina Republican Party, declined to comment for this story.

We love Sen. Britt, but (we) want to avoid weighing in on hypotheticals like this due to our duty of neutrality when it comes to primary elections, Moore said in an email.

Britt and abortion vote

Britts rise to power once seemed unlikely in Robeson County, where generations of voters had picked Democrats for office. But in recent years the GOP has gained major momentum in southeastern North Carolina, where many people were already aligned with socially conservative views.

Story continues

Joining fellow Republicans, Britt voted this month in favor of a ban on most abortions after 12 weeks  which would further restrict the current ban after 20 weeks.

Britt said he wanted something longer than 12 weeks, noting that his wife did not know she was pregnant with their son until she was 11 weeks along. But, he said, the legislation was absolutely better than what we have in current law.

N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, vetoed the bill in a public ceremony over the weekend, but Republicans have a slim supermajority to override the veto.

As for the 2024 election, Britt said he will support Mark Robinson in the Republican primary for the governors race. Robinson, who currently serves as lieutenant governor, has come under fire for numerous comments he has made, including speaking out against transgender athletes and criticizing survivors of a school shooting.

There are some things that Mark Robinson said that I dont necessarily agree with, Britt said. But I think hes the best shot our state has to have somebody thats going to represent what the majority of people think.

Looking ahead to a future run for attorney general, Britt said, I think its something I would be good at. I think its something I would enjoy.
The Senate budget unveiled Monday cuts state laws that regulate hospital competition, placing Medicaid expansion, and health coverage for thousands of low-income North Carolinians, in conflict.

During last years Medicaid expansion negotiations, a key disagreement between the House and the Senate was Certificate of Need laws, which limit where hospitals, clinics and other health care facilities can be built. The Senate wanted to pass expansion with Certificate of Need changes but the House did not.

But this year, there was a breakthrough, and in early March, the Senate and House announced that they had reached a compromise deal: Medicaid expansion would pass and it would cut some CON regulations for health care facilities. The compromise bill would also include a new reimbursement program for hospitals.

By the end of March, Gov. Roy Cooper signed expansion into law at a ceremony at the Executive Mansion in downtown Raleigh, opening the door for health insurance coverage to 600,000 low-income North Carolinians, who would be newly eligible for the program under its enhanced eligibility parameters.

There was a big caveat, though. Expansion would be contingent on the passage of the state budget, setting up the stage for roadblocks during potentially contentious budget negotiations.

The Medicaid expansion law signed by Cooper eliminates CON requirements for behavioral health beds and chemical dependency beds, among other cuts.

Meanwhile, the Senates budget bill takes a sledgehammer to those archaic and unnecessary Certificate of Need laws that remain on the book, said Sen. Ralph Hise, Monday, during a press conference to unveil the budget.

These common sense changes will build on the CON reforms we included in the Medicaid expansion package and drive down costs and increase availability for patients he said.

What happens next?

Senate Leader Phil Berger addressed Monday how the proposed CON changes could affect the House compromise and Medicaid expansion.

Story continues

I suspect therell be a number of things in this version of the budget that will create conflict with what the House did and well work that out, Berger said at during a budget press conference Monday.

The House passed its version of the budget in April. Berger said the Senate expects to pass its version this week, followed by negotiations between both chambers.

Thatll set up conference, because Im pretty sure that the House will not concur in the changes that we make, Berger said. So even if it takes us three weeks in conference, thats still the middle of June getting it done. So I think, were on track to get the budget done before the end of the fiscal year.

Pressed further on how expansion fell through because of CON change disagreements, Berger said, I dont anticipate us reaching a stalemate with the House. We will see what happens but I dont anticipate that.

Details on changes

In addition to the Medicaid expansion law cutting CON for behavioral health beds and chemical dependency beds for counties with a population of 125,000 or more, it eliminates CON requirements for MRI machines and ambulatory surgical centers. These provisions would become effective years down the line, as previously reported by The News & Observer.

Under the new Senate budget, CON laws would be repealed:

for ambulatory surgical centers and facilities with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines, in counties with a population under 125,000 that do not have a hospital.





for mobile MRI machines, linear accelerators, physician office-based vascular access for hemodialysis, and kidney disease treatment centers.





for the conversion of special ambulatory surgical programs to multispecialty programs and for the addition of a specialty.

The North Carolina Healthcare Association, a powerful interest group that represents hospitals, had been against cutting CON laws  and tying CON reform to Medicaid expansion  saying that it would erode access to care.

By limiting how many providers can offer lucrative services, CON helps hospitals ensure they can offset operations losses for things such as Medicaid care, said the NCHA, as previously reported by The N&O .

Cynthia Charles, a spokesperson for the NCHA, said Monday that the association was reviewing the budget proposal and didnt yet have a comment about the changes.

Under the Dome Newsletter

What do you want to read in this newsletter? Tell The N&O's politics team by filling out this form or by sending an email to dome@newsobserver.com.
A teacher who has repeatedly faced sex crime charges was arrested for a third time Saturday when police found her intoxicated drunk after a car crash  again with one of the minors a judge has ordered her to stay away from, authorities say.

Elizabeth Suzanne Bailey, 37, worked at Northview Academy, a non-traditional campus once known as Pressly School, according to the Iredell-Statesville Schools and the Iredell County Sheriffs Office. Several inappropriate relationships with students and children have since landed her in jail several times, public records show.

She was first arrested and released on bond, charged with felony statutory sex offense with a child under 15 in August 2022, according the Iredell sheriffs office.

Not a month later, she was again arrested and charged 19 times after officials reported Bailey had the student at her home several times since her arrest. She faced nine counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, nine counts of intimidating or interfering with a states witness and a count of violating pretrial release conditions, according to police.

School officials said at the time Bailey was suspended. Her current employment status is unclear.

Police Saturday found Bailey in the passenger seat of a car that had crashed along Mocksville Highway between Statesville and Cool Springs, according to the news release. She admitted she had been drinking at the time of the accident, police said.

The two juveniles in the car fled before police arrived but were quickly located, according to the release. Police later took one, who had an outstanding secure custody order, to Alexander County Detention Center. The driver was not licensed, police said.

Deputies Saturday arrested Bailey, of Statesville, for being in contact with a juvenile who a judge ordered her to stay away from, according to the release. The North Carolina Highway Patrol also cited her for contributing to the delinquency of a minor and allowing an unlicensed driver to drive. Her bond was first set at $750,000, but a judge Monday reduced it to $50,000, police said.
[Source]

A whopping 98,920 people attended this years Asian Food Fest in Cincinnati, the largest crowd the event has seen since its launch 12 years ago, according to new reports.

The festival, which featured more than 170 dishes from 15 Asian countries, took place at Court Street Plaza on April 29 and April 30, marking a grand welcome for AAPI Heritage Month.

It was such a joy to see our community come together at Asian Food Fest to celebrate and learn about Asian food and culture, said Marketing and Social Media Coordinator Sam Burke, as per WXIX. What a way to kick off the start of Mays AAPI Heritage Month!

Aside from the best of Asian cuisine, attendees enjoyed performances from more than 100 artists, 16 local groups and 10 local AAPI DJs. These included Chinese and Filipino cultural dances, a Bollywood and Bhangra dance party, comedy performances and a karaoke contest, WCPO reported.

More from NextShark: Japanese railroad workers build safe passages for wandering turtles

This years Asian Food Fest also featured interactive activities such as dumpling folding lessons and calligraphy demonstrations. There were also lantern workshops and activities for Rangoli sand art, a traditional part of Diwali celebrations.

Cincinnati continues to embrace this unique event, said Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Marketing Manager Brad Mason. Throughout the weekend we saw attendees from across the Cincinnati region and beyond come together to celebrate Asian culture and indulge in some absolutely amazing food. It was a phenomenal kickoff to the festival season in Cincinnati.

More from NextShark: Repeat offender faces life in prison for fatal rock attack on Guiying Ma

Ohio is home to around 344,000 people who identify as Asian American or Asian, according to a 2022 report by local think tank The Center for Community Solutions.

The largest concentration is reportedly in Columbus. Meanwhile, areas with at least 5,000 residents include Cincinnati, Akron, Cleveland, Washington (Franklin County), Deerfield (Warren County), Orange (Delaware County) and West Chester Townships (Butler County).

Story continues

A full economic impact of this year's Asian Food Fest is expected to be released several months from now. In the meantime, attendees are encouraged to participate in a survey.

More from NextShark: Filipino nurse who administered worlds first COVID-19 vaccine receives UK's highest civilian honor
Before Cullen Jones became a four-time Olympic medalist and the first African-American swimmer to be a world-record holder as part of the unforgettable 2008 4x100-meter freestyle relay, he nearly died in the water at a Pennsylvania amusement park.

Then 5 years old, he went down a water slide behind his parents and clung to his inner tube until he couldnt hold on any more when it flipped over and trapped him beneath.

He didnt learn many of the details until years later. But some of that terrifying episode attached itself to him ever since.

I can still vividly remember that feeling of not knowing what to do, he said in a phone interview. And, like, the lights going out.

After he lost consciousness, he was forever fortunate to be resuscitated by alert lifeguards.

The chilling story is one that Jones has told often and even eagerly over the years.

Not so much because it compelled his parents to promptly sign him up for swimming lessons that led to his groundbreaking career and a life in the sport.

Because of the more vital aspect of it: the ability and conviction to advocate for water safety.

Its a profoundly passionate cause for Jones, who sees it as no less than a calling to use his platform this way at every turn. That includes as an ambassador and board member of the USA Swimming Foundation and in his partnership with the Goldfish Swim School.

Which is why hell be at its Overland Park facility Wednesday and Thursday to promote the Goldfish Gives Back program to provide free swim lessons as part of Water Safety Month. The goal also is securing commitments to the Safer Swimmer Pledge, which can be found at: goldfishswimschool.com/safer-swimmer-pledge/.

This is exactly up my alley, said Jones, who considers each child taught to swim a chance to break generational gaps because it nearly always leads to passing on the education.

The message and effort are particularly significant as Memorial Day and summer loom. Drowning is an epidemic, as Jones put it, and data bears that out.

Story continues

Its the third-leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. In the United States, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4,000 people a year die from drowning, which is the leading cause of death of children ages 1-4.

Another heartbreaking reality Jones seeks to combat is what stems from generations of institutional racism, segregation and exclusion.

All of which rippled into stereotypes and even the cultural resistance and teasing Jones said he faced as a swimmer growing up in New Jersey.

It was not cool in the community, Jones remembered, until he swam for North Carolina State and became an Olympic medalist and those who scoffed before took notice.

That gave him credibility with a crucial audience.

I wanted other people of color to know that this is something that you can do: Dare to be different, said Jones, who is senior manager of sports marketing and philanthropy at Speedo. I never take away football, basketball, track. These are sports that I love to watch. I participated in them.

Cullen Jones won the silver in the mens 50m butterfly during the 2017 USA Swimming Phillips 66 National Championships at Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis on June 28, 2017.

But swimming is something that changed my life and I want other people that might have grown up the way that I grew up to understand that.

The history and its fallout helps explain why 64% of Black children cant swim compared to 40% of white children, according to the USA Swimming Foundation.

Piercing outcomes follow, per the CDC: Drowning death rates for Black people are 1.5 times higher than the rates for white people. Disparities are highest among Black children ages 5-9 (rates 2.6 times higher) and ages 10-14 (rates 3.6 times higher).

Forty years ago this summer, Chiefs running back Joe Delaney, alas, became part of a shattering example of that when he ran into a pond in Monroe, Louisiana, trying to save three drowning children despite the fact Delaney could not swim.

Jones, 39, was not yet born then but was moved to learn of Delaney  in whose honor last fall GEHA, the Hunt Family Foundation and the YMCA of Greater Kansas City announced the Joe Delaney Learn To Swim Program, Presented by GEHA Health.

Delaney was the true definition of a hero, and it breaks my heart, Jones said, later adding: It just speaks to the importance of why we have to get our kids to learn to swim.

Because the three children Delaney went in to try and save that day, one of whom survived, were like most others in Jones experience: They are drawn to water.

Every time he speaks with a group of children, he asks for a show of hands for how many like to be in the water. Most go up.

Then comes the next question: How many of you have had formal lessons?

Then the hands start dropping, he said.

The more hands that drop, the more his conviction intensifies.

Because kids are drawn to water. And the difference between wanting to be near it and being alert to its risks and being able to swim are everything.

Jones already has a remarkable place in swimming history.

That includes setting the U.S. record in the 50-meter freestyle at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials and being part of ongoing history itself in Beijing:

He was Leg 3 on the 2008 relay that still stands as the world record and also is well-remembered for Jason Lezaks impossible anchor leg and as one of Michael Phelps eight gold medals in that Olympics.

But his work in this realm could well be his truest legacy  for reasons he knows all too well.
The proportion of human traffic on the internet has fallen significantly in recent years, according to the latest research from cyber security firm Imperva (Getty Images/ iStock)

Nearly half of all internet traffic came from bots last year, according to new research.

Figures from cyber security firm Imperva revealed a significant increase in automated and malicious web activity in 2022, with the proportion of human traffic falling to its lowest level in eight years.

The company noted that so-called bad bots were at their highest level since it started tracking the trend in 2013.

Bot activity is expected to increase even further this year, the researchers claimed, due to the arrival of generative AI tools like OpenAIs ChatGPT and Googles Bard.

Bots have evolved rapidly since 2013, but with the advent of generative artificial intelligence, the technology will evolve at an even greater, more concerning pace over the next 10 years, said Karl Triebes, a senior vice president at Imperva.

Cyber criminals will increase their focus on attacking API endpoints and application business logic with sophisticated automation. As a result, the business disruption and financial impact associated with bad bots will become even more significant in the coming years.

Bad bot activity can include anything from spam that clogs up email inboxes, to advanced systems that carry out brute force attacks to hack into peoples emails or online accounts.

Some bots even mimic human behaviour in order to avoid being detected by security software.

Another worrying trend noted in the report was the rise of bots used in warfare, with a 145 per cent spike in automated attacks targeting Ukrainian web applications in early 2022.

These were likely designed to disrupt the countrys critical infrastructure, ranging from energy and telecom, to transport and financial sectors.

Every organisation, regardless of size or industry, should be concerned about the rising volume of bad bots across the internet, said Triebes.

Year-over-year, the proportion of bot traffic is growing and the disruptions caused by malicious automation results in tangible business risks  from brand reputation issues to reduced online sales and security risks for web applications, mobile apps, and APIs.
The author and her husband. Courtesy of the Ewens

A few weeks into dating, I told my then-boyfriend I didn't want to have kids.

I was relieved when he said he didn't want kids either.

We've been together for almost two decades and have no regrets

I told my future husband that I didn't want to be a mother at a bus stop outside the cinema. I was 25, he was 22, and our relationship was just weeks old.

It was an unplanned confession. One of those moments when you shyly say: "I could have a future with you," then poke like a destructive goblin at what could break you. Christian said that he could offer love and monogamy, but perhaps not a wedding. My own truth  that I didn't want to have children  felt comparatively uglier. A betrayal of who I ought to be as a woman.

He didn't want kids either

It was a sweet relief when he replied: "I've been wanting to tell you. I don't want kids either."

But I didn't believe him at first.

Christian's Scots-Irish Catholic family burst at the seams with children. He interacted with his nieces and nephews with joyous comfort and ease. I had no doubt he would make an outstanding, loving father. But every time we revisited the topic, he was steadfast in his desire to live child-free.

With time, Christian's feelings on marriage turned into a proposal that morphed into a 2008 wedding. But after 19 years together, we still haven't had children. As a 44-year-old woman, I can say that with a smile on my face and no hint of regret.

I'm an aunt, and I love that role

My younger sister was always the first to visit when our neighbors had babies. Their newness and warmth excited her in ways I have never related to. I knew she would be a mother the same way you can smell the rain before it falls. Our paths forked, with me heading to university to study journalism while she had the first two of her three children.

The 12 children I am lucky enough to be auntie to are some of the greatest human beings I have ever known. My heart is full of love for them as I watch them grow up into adults.

Story continues

I just don't want to be a mother myself. There is no aching void within me that is infant-shaped, pink, and squalling. In the mathematical sum of my life, I have never been able to equate motherhood with a plus.

Children need parents who want them, and as much as I respect everyone who is called to that vocation, it's not the destiny I chose for myself. Christian and I live a life that feels equally purposeful and exciting. We have the time and energy to home a rescue cat, raise funds for animal welfare, and deliver toys to vulnerable families at Christmas. We have traveled the world and written a book together.

People see me as less than others because I don't have kids

The very fact I feel the need to defend my existence outside the construct of motherhood shows that being child-free remains problematic. Some of those prejudices even carry health risks, as I have found when trying to access gynecological care.

Now we know that women can be happily single, it's time to acknowledge that they can also be content living without children. After all, parenthood comes with no guarantee of happiness.

Read the original article on Insider
REUTERS/Toby Melville

Welcome to this weeks edition of Royalist, The Daily Beasts newsletter for all things royal and Royal Family. Subscribe here to get it in your inbox every Sunday.

Prince Andrew refusing to leave Royal Lodge

Scandal-magnet Prince Andrew is reportedly refusing to vacate the 30-room Royal Lodge in Windsor, according to the Sun on Sunday. Even though King Charles has slashed his 250,000 ($436,000) subsidy, meaning he cannot afford the propertys upkeep, a friend of Andrews told the paper: This has been his family home for the last 20 years. Is it really sensible to kick him out? Hes concerned that now the coronation is over, the knives are out. But were dealing with human beings, not real estate.

Another friend said: Eugenie (Andrews daughter) is heavily pregnant and her parents expect to have the new grandchild there this summer.

Senior Royal Jokes About Kicking Prince Andrew Out of His Royal Home

Prince William and his family were thought to be likely to move in to the property, with Andrew slated to move to Frogmore Cottage, Prince Harry and Meghan Markles former British home.

Andrew paid a multimillion dollar settlement to Virginia Giuffre last year, after she accused him of sexually abusing her while she was being trafficked by his friend, the billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew emphatically denied Giuffres accusations. He has since become royal persona non grata, and while present at Charles coronation, has no official royal duties to carry out.

Palace chiefs had a September date in mind for Andrews move-out, but now apparently agree that it is too early. Another friend of Andrews told the Sun: If Charles wants Andrew to play ball and help the family, arent there better ways of going about it? Why not do the decent thing, sit down and talk? If they need the house for William, perhaps Andrew should be told. Perhaps William should invite his uncle for tea and explain? Or why doesnt Charles invite his brother for a meeting and ask him if hed leave Royal Lodge to help his nephew and the future of the monarchy. And agree a schedule acceptable to both sides?

Story continues

Prince William wants a very different coronation

Prince William wants his coronation to look and feel different from his father King Charles service, so that it looks modern and relevant, the Sunday Times reports. Pondering how to evolve the ceremony, the first, controversial element to be jettisoned will be the homage of the peopleso no request to the public to swear allegiance to the king and his heirs. Even for Charles, after the kerfuffle in the U.K. over it this time around, the Archbishop of Canterbury dialed the wording down to invite those who wish to offer their support to do so.

King Charles III, Prince William, Prince of Wales, and Prince George pose on the day of the coronation in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace, London, Britain, in this handout picture obtained by Reuters on May 12, 2023. Hugo Burnand/Royal Household 2023/Handout via REUTERS

A source close to William, who was reportedly not closely consulted on the planning for Charles coronation, told the Sunday Times: There is no way he will go down that route or anything like it. (Hmm, Maybe Williams will be, You do you.)

William's mulling of the issue coincides with the U.K. Observer reporting that the membership of anti-monarchy group Republic has doubled since the coronationand the British polices heavy-handed crackdown on their supporters. 64 people, including Republic's chief executive Graham Smith, were arrested by police on the day, which Scotland Yard later expressed regret over.

The Observer also reports that almost nine in 10 Britons did not pledge allegiance to Charles in the ceremony. The Opinium poll for the paper found that 57% of Britons said they did not pledge allegiance to the king because they did not want to. Another 31% said they did not pledge allegiance, but would not have minded doing so. Only 12% of those polled pledged allegiance.

William has been reflecting on the events of last week with his closest friends and advisers. A source told the Sunday Times: He is really thinking, how do we make his coronation feel most relevant in the future? He is mindful of the fact that in 20 years time, or whenever his time comes, how can the coronation be modern but also unifying to the nation and the Commonwealth? I think his coronation will look and feel quite different.

Are courtiers sitting at Kensington Palace coming up with a grand plan about what the next Bridge will look like [London Bridge was the codeword for the late Queens death, and Forth Bridge for Prince Philip]? No. But of course the prince and his team are reflective about the events of last week, and it is extremely important to him that it evolves to be relevant whenever it happens.

The Times generously points out that, compared to the late queens coronation in 1953, Charles was notably more inclusive and diverse, with female bishops and leaders of other faiths.

Prince William holds the hands of his father King Charles III during his coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey, London. Gary Calton/Pool via REUTERS

Another source close to William told the paper: Hes taking stock, hes thinking That was a supreme success and it was because Pa altered things. Ive got to be cognizant of how that evolution happens in my day. What is it that stays? What do I need to change? What will our relationships with the realms and the Commonwealth be then? I dont think hell be taking the filleting knife to it, but he will be checking it is sharp.

Another source close to William said he was focused on the issue of relevance, adding: You can see it in how he has taken having an investiture off the table, and his thinking on how to leave a legacy in communities rather than just going in [to] do ribbon cutting. You can see it in how he is running an environmental prize with Earthshot that is not just about handing cash out, but about the long-term impact globally. He is thinking about his coronation in the same way.

Subscribe here to get all the latest royal news and gossip with Tom Sykes and Tim Teeman.

Kate Middleton plays piano to open Eurovision

As reported by The Daily Beast, Kate Middleton stunned TV viewers Saturday night when she played piano at the beginning of the Eurovision Song Contest. Kate, dressed in a blue, one-shouldered Jenny Packham gown, played the piano for 10 seconds in a rendition of last years winning song, Ukraines the Kalush Orchestras Stefania.

The perennially popular Eurovision has an estimated worldwide audience of 160 million, and was held in Liverpool in the U.K. this year after Ukraines victory last year (the country could not hold the contest as is traditional for the winning entrys country because of the war). Kates performance was filmed earlier this month in the Crimson Drawing Room of Windsor Castle. Oh, and in case you had a different kind of great night out and missed it, Sweden won.

Charles could be heading to Kenya

Queen Elizabeth II was, famously, on a royal tour in Kenya when her father, King George VI died in February 1952, and she became queen. She was staying in a treehouse at a game reserve, and it has been correctly observed that she went up the ladder a princess and came down a queen.

Ever since, Kenya has held a particular place in the hearts of the royal family, and the Mail on Sunday reports that King Charles III is due to visit the country as soon as this yearperhaps before he even gets round to rescheduling a state trip to France that was cancelled after the country was rocked by violent strikes and protests.

An insider said: It will be a poignant moment. Inevitably it will be a reminder of his young mother at the start of her reign. Now, he is at the start of his, but he has the advantage of experience, too. It will also be an important marker for his reign that will underline how importantly he views the Commonwealth.

Meghan gets a salute on Mothers Day

Mothers Day is upon us, and this is one piece of territory the Californian and British branches of the royal family have been able to divide peaceably because it is marked on a different day in the U.S. (today) to the U.K. (March).

The Sussexes do not have a social media presence, but a friend of Meghans, Kelly McKee Zajfen, who has raised awareness around the mental health implications of losing a child after her nine-year-old son died last year, has paid tribute to Meghan as an incredible friend and mother, and posted a picture of her and Meghan on Instagram. Zajfen is a founder of LA charity Alliance of Moms, which supports teenage mothers in foster care, the Telegraph reports.

This week in royal history

It seems a long time ago On May 19, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary; they married on May 19, 2018, at St Georges Chapel, Windsor.

Unanswered questions

Will Harrys phone hacking trial uncover the identity/identities of the royal family whose camps allegedly fed stories to the Daily Mirror and any other tabloids?

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Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
Christopher Reeve's Superman costume on display at Christie's auction house Ian Walton / Getty Images

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's  James Gunn's Superman!

The Guardians of the Galaxy director is hanging up his walkman and leaving the Marvel franchise behind after being hired as co-CEO of DC Studios. On top of overseeing the entire superhero franchise, Gunn will personally write and direct a Superman relaunch called Superman: Legacy, which is slated for release on July 11, 2025. He has described it as the "true beginning" of the new DC film universe.

While the project is still far away, Gunn has revealed a few tidbits about what fans can expect as the man of steel's return approaches faster than a speeding bullet.

The film follows Superman in 'an earlier part' of his life

Gunn confirmed in December 2022 that Henry Cavill won't reprise the role of Superman after playing the character from 2013's Man of Steel up to 2022's Black Adam. This, according to Gunn, is because the film will be "focusing on an earlier part of Superman's life." However, the director said it won't be an origin story. "He's not meeting the major characters for the first time, either," Gunn clarified. "He's merely younger." Superman will be working at the Daily Planet in the film and not living in Smallville, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Gunn also explained he initially turned down an opportunity to direct a Superman film before coming up with a take "centering around Superman's heritage  how both his aristocratic Kryptonian parents and his Kansas farmer parents inform who he is and the choices he makes." He "is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned," DC also stated, and Gunn described Superman as a "big ol' galoot" whose "greatest weakness is that he'll never kill anybody," according to Slash Film. This suggests a divergence from Cavill's Superman, who controversially killed General Zod in 2013's Man of Steel.

Story continues

Though Gunn was inspired by All-Star Superman, the film won't be a direct adaptation of that comic. "I don't think the movie would be worth making if it was just a redo of any other Superman adaptation," he told Variety.

The new Superman actor will be in his 20s or 30s

Cavill is 40 years old, so Gunn's comment about focusing on an earlier part of Superman's life sparked speculation that he could be looking for a much younger actor, maybe even someone in his 20s. In May, The Hollywood Reporter also said Gunn is planning to depict "20-something characters."

Gunn, however, confirmed the casting is "not limited to people in their 20s." But he said the new Superman will be "younger than in his 40s," adding that the new DC universe Batman, who will be different from the Robert Pattinson version, "might be a couple years older than Superman."

A search for the actor is underway

Though we may not hear an announcement for a while, the casting process is in its early stages, and Gunn confirmed in April he already has "some incredible choices." But in late March, he denied claims that he was very close to picking the actor. "Haven't had a single talk with a single actor about the role," he said. "Just making private lists, prepping material for auditions." Gunn also denied a rumor that his top choice is Logan Lerman, saying he has "never been part of a conversation about playing Superman."

By May 13, The Hollywood Reporter said the screen test stage of the audition process is likely to take place after Memorial Day or in early June, while Deadline said Gunn has "only just begun watching" audition tapes. Early preproduction on the movie began in April, though, and Gunn turned in his first draft days before the 2023 writers' strike began, according to The Wrap.

David Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult are reportedly being considered

David Corenswet is one of the top contenders to play Superman, according to The Hollywood Reporter, which also said Tom Brittney and Andrew Richardson were "in the early mix." Jacob Elordi has also been considered, Deadline reported, though the Reporter said Elordi "never submitted himself into the ring." Though the Reporter added that Nicholas Hoult "has been tipped" to play Lex Luthor, Deadline contradicted this, claiming Hoult is actually in the mix for Superman.

Additionally, Emma Mackey, Phoebe Dynevor, Samara Weaving, and Rachel Brosnahan are among the contenders to play Lois Lane, according to the Reporter, though the report added that Brosnahan, 32, "may be in the older range" given Gunn hopes to focus on characters in their 20s. In response to these casting reports, Gunn said he wouldn't comment on who was auditioning but noted "only one person has been CAST in Superman: Legacy, and it isn't any of the regular players in the Superman world."

Someone from Guardians of the Galaxy is in the movie, but Chris Pratt isn't Superman

Gunn has revealed a cast member from his Guardians of the Galaxy films will have a role in Superman: Legacy, though he didn't specify how substantial the part will be. It's possible he could be referring to Michael Rooker, who has appeared in every film that Gunn has directed to date. Before fans run wild with speculation, though, Gunn told Variety his Superman won't be played by Chris Pratt.

"If he was a few years younger, maybe," Gunn said of Pratt. Though this was an off-handed comment, if Gunn is taken literally on this, it would suggest an actor in his late 30s might not be too old for the role considering Pratt is 43. While Pratt himself won't be cast, reporter Jeff Sneider shared a rumor on the "Hot Mic" podcast that Gunn is looking for a "young Chris Pratt type."

Pom Klementieff, who plays Mantis in the Guardians films, told Variety she has talked with Gunn about a role in the DC universe, though it's not clear if that would be in Superman or another project. Justin Kroll of Deadline also reported that Gunn has been talking to someone from Guardians of the Galaxy for the role of Lex Luthor.

The film will be 'quite different' from Guardians

Some DC fans felt Gunn wasn't a natural choice to write and direct a Superman film based on the comedic tone of his Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy and his prior DC efforts, The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker.

Gunn, however, told The Hollywood Reporter that Superman: Legacy won't be a comedy and that fans should expect a sincere portrayal of the character. "It's not like Superman is going to have exactly the same vibe as a Guardians movie, he told Rolling Stone. "It's actually quite different."

The new Superman will be somebody 'you want to give a hug'

When Variety asked Gunn what he's looking for in the next Superman, he said the actor should embody "all the humanity that Superman has" while also reminding us that he's an alien. "It's got to be somebody who has the kindness and the compassion that Superman has, and it has to be somebody that you want to give a hug," he added. This may suggest another divergence from Cavill's slightly more brooding take on the character.

The film will feature Jimmy Olsen and possibly Krypto the Superdog

Gunn confirmed that Jimmy Olsen, the Daily Planet photojournalist and friend of Clark Kent from the comics, will be in Superman: Legacy. After bringing Cosmo the Spacedog to life in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Gunn also appeared to confirm in an interview with the Toronto Sun that Superman: Legacy will feature another famous comics dog: Clark Kent's pet, Krypto the Superdog. "I was hoping I could cast you as Krypto the Superdog," Gunn jokingly told Chris Pratt before adding the fact that Krypto will be in the movie is "a scoop, I guess."

Though it hasn't been confirmed which other characters will appear, The Hollywood Reporter said the film "will be populated by many faces as it will seek to introduce DC heroes that are already established in the movie's setting."

It might not be the only Superman film on the horizon

Ta-Nehisi Coates was revealed to be writing a new Superman movie in February 2021, which would reportedly star a Black actor. So when Gunn's Superman: Legacy was announced, some fans assumed Coates' project had been scrapped. But according to Gunn, it might still happen, in which case it would take place in a separate universe from the main DC continuity like Matt Reeves' The Batman and Todd Phillips' Joker. "If it comes in and it's great, which I haven't read the script, and if the timing is right, that could absolutely happen," Gunn told io9.

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at a high school in Hialeah Gardens, Fla., just before signing the so-called "Stop Woke" bill into law last year. (Daniel A. Varela / Associated Press)

Most Americans don't know which countries the United States fought against in World War II or when the U.S. Constitution was ratified. Good luck having them point to Ukraine on a map, much less Belarus. Watch them stare blankly if you ask who represents them in the state legislature or what rights are protected by the 1st Amendment.

There is nothing particularly new about this. As far back as April 4, 1943, the New York Times reported on its front page that college freshmen around the country showed "a striking ignorance of even the most elementary aspects of United States history." Among other things, the paper reported that only 6% could name the 13 original states.

But the situation appears to be getting worse, not better. Between 2012 and 2019, the number of students majoring in history at colleges around the country dropped by about a third. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Education reported a substantial drop in younger students knowledge of U.S. history and a less significant but still worrisome decline in civics knowledge as well.

Just 13% of eighth-graders were deemed proficient in history, based on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, an exam sometimes called Americas report card. Only 22% were found to be proficient in civics.

Its a national concern, said Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, a part of the U.S. Department of Education. Too many of our students are struggling  to understand and explain the importance of civic participation, how American government works and the historical significance of events.

Some people don't think it matters. They believe civics is unnecessary and history is just an ivory tower subject for pinheaded policy wonks and bespectacled academics. Surely what our kids need in high school and college, they say, are not abstract lessons in arcane facts, but skills that will put them on the path to jobs and productivity. Let's hear it for accounting! Computer science! Nursing! Supply chain management! This is where education is going, no?

Story continues

I utterly and emphatically hope not. History matters, as does an understanding of our government and how it works. Especially in times like these. We're an increasingly polarized country in an increasingly globalized world  and only with informed and engaged citizens can a democracy like ours function.

Of course Americans could be forgiven for throwing up their hands in frustration as history, civics and social studies have become weaponized in the culture wars, with self-serving politicians jockeying to control what our kids are learning.

President Trump was the worst and, unsurprisingly, the most reductive of the offenders. As president he created a 1776 commission to do battle with the radicals and socialists he insists dominate our schools. Our children, he said, are being fed a twisted web of lies about the United States in which the men and women who built it were not heroes, but rather villains. He wants schools to teach the magnificent truth about our country.

Thats not history; thats propaganda.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, for his part, apparently hopes to win Republican primary votes by provoking and heightening culture war divisions. Thats why hes signed various anti-woke laws banning the teaching of gender identity and sexual orientation and barring lessons that might make people of a particular race  read: white people  feel guilt or discomfort for actions taken in the past by members of their race.

Thats not history; thats politics.

Conservatives complain, meanwhile, that its the left that is bringing its bias to K-12 schools and colleges. One favorite example is the proposed draft ethnic studies curriculum in California that they, and others, found to be narrowly ideological, jargon-filled, anti-capitalist and generally politicized. (Its since been rewritten.)

But putting aside for the moment whos to blame, heres my bottom line: Teachers shouldnt be indoctrinating students in their classrooms with the politics of any single side  right, left or center.

Students should learn through discussion and debate, and be introduced to clashing interpretations and competing perspectives that challenge their preconceived points of view.

Was Thomas Jefferson a great democratic innovator and statesman even though he was a slaveholder  and can those ideas be reconciled? Is the United States the greatest and most robust democracy in the world or is democracy here on life support?

Why do we have so many statues to the Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee if the South lost the Civil War? Do World War I and World War II make the case for isolationism or engagement? Since the founding of the country, whove been more effective: reformers or radicals? Were the Black Panthers heroic freedom fighters or gun-toting extremists?

By all means, introduce students to the work of legitimate conservative historians, liberal historians and radical historians. Revisionists and counterrevisionists. Boosters and critics.

To what end? Not to persuade them that one point of view is correct (or to inundate them with mind-numbing facts), but to teach them the critical thinking skills that will help them wrestle their way to their own informed conclusions. To help them reject simplistic, ideology-driven bluster in favor of complexity, ambiguity and nuance.

The United States is at a crisis point. Elections are under fire, voting rights are at risk, book banning is spreading, the Supreme Court is losing credibility and a new reckoning is underway on race relations. The country is bitterly divided, climate change is bearing down and Americans on all sides are losing faith in government.

Now is when we need citizens who understand what is happening around them and who have a context and a framework in which to view the country, its principles, its successes and failures, and its place in the world. History and civics may sometimes seem abstract and irrelevant, but they matter.

@nick_goldberg

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP)  A Nigerian Afrobeat star was arrested Monday after being accused of assaulting a police officer in the commercial hub of Lagos.

Seun Kuti was detained at the Lagos State police headquarters after turning himself in, according to police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin, who tweeted photos of the celebrity in handcuffs.

The son of Nigerian musical icon and political agitator Fela, who himself was serially detained by Nigerian military regimes, Kuti was captured on video assaulting a police officer in uniform, the police said.

Videos posted online appeared to show an agitated Kuti pushing a police officer as the officer stood beside a police vehicle along a major road in Lagos on Saturday.

It was unclear what led to the confrontation, though Kuti tweeted that the officer in question tried to kill me and my family. He suggested the officer tried to ram their car.

Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali Baba ordered an investigation into the incident. The inspector general assures Nigerians that acts of contempt/disdain for symbols of authority will not be tolerated while offenders of such hideous crimes will be surely brought to book, the police said.
GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley declined Sunday to endorse a federal abortion ban and said it would not be honest for a Republican to promise such an unrealistic prospect to the American people.

In an interview on CBS Face the Nation, Haley, who was ambassador to the United Nations and governor of South Carolina, said, "For a national standard, I think we have to tell the American people the truth."

She noted the political realities of passing federal legislation through Congress: "In order to do a national standard, youd have to have a majority of the House, 60 Senate votes and a president. We havent had 60 pro-life senators in 100 years.

So the idea that a Republican president could ban all abortions is not being honest with the American people, any more than a Democrat president could ban these pro-life laws in the states, Haley said. So lets be honest with the American people and say: Lets find national consensus. Lets agree on getting rid of late-term abortions."

CBS Margaret Brennan noted that Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., who is exploring running for president next year, has recently endorsed a 20-week abortion ban  so he is picking a week" of gestation  before she asked Haley: "Some of your fellow Republicans are. Why do you feel like thats misdirection?"

Haley argued that it would be unrealistic to endorse a specific number of weeks of pregnancy when the Senate filibuster would be likely to stand in the way of passing a strict federal ban.

Im not going to lie to the American people. Nothings going to happen if we dont get 60 votes in the Senate. Were not even close to that on the Republican or the Democrat side, she said.

Why try and divide people further? Why not talk about the fact that we should be trying to save as many babies as possible and support as many mothers as possible? Haley added. I think the media has tried to divide them by saying we have to decide certain weeks. In states, yes. At the federal level, its not realistic. Its not being honest with the American people.

Story continues

Haley recently called for consensus on the issue of abortion and downplayed the importance of the debate over exceptions and weeks of pregnancy. She, however, made it clear that she does see a federal role.

My goal as president will be the same as it was when I was governor and ambassador: I want to save as many lives and help as many moms as possible, Haley said last month. At the federal level, the next president must find national consensus.

Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel last month urged Republicans running in the 2024 presidential election cycle to tackle the issue of abortion access head-on, noting that many GOP candidates did not in the 2022 midterms, which brought lackluster results for the party.

Put them on the defensive and articulate where you stand, and thats going to be the critical message we have to get out before 2024, she said.

Abortion access emerged as a key issue in the November elections after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a landmark decision that guaranteed the constitutional right to abortion, in June.

Republican presidential candidates, who must consider a base that favors banning abortion and a majority of the nation that favors keeping it legal, have struggled to find consensus.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Nikki Haley. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley said Sunday that it's "not realistic" or necessarily "honest" for any 2024 candidate to promise a federal abortion ban should he or she make it to the Oval Office.

"I'm not gonna lie to the American people. Nothing's gonna happen if we don't get 60 votes in the Senate," Haley told CBS News' Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation. "We're not even close to that on the Republican or the Democrat side. Why try and divide people further?" Brennan had mentioned Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), another presumed GOP candidate in 2024, and his vow to sign a 20-week federal abortion ban if elected, per Axios.

The former Trump administration official said she believes the media has stoked divides by claiming "we have to decide certain weeks" for abortion restrictions. "In states, yes. At the federal level, it's not realistic. It's not being honest with the American people." Haley signed a 20-week ban into law when she was governor of South Carolina, notes The New York Times.

"In order to do a national standard, you'd have to have a majority of the House, 60 Senate votes, and a president. We haven't had 60 pro-life senators in 100 years," she continued. The idea that a Republican president could ban all abortions is no more truthful than the idea "a Democrat president could ban these pro-life laws in the states."

"So let's be honest with the American people and say: Let's find national consensus," Haley went on. "Let's agree on getting rid of late-term abortions."

Reproductive rights became a central issue of the November midterms after the Supreme Court voted to overturn federal abortion protections as outlined under Roe v. Wade. That Republicans were unable to decidedly wallop Democrats and the first-term president was attributed in large part to the GOP's reluctance to relax its anti-abortion rhetoric so as to win over more women and independent voters.

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Dawn Basciano holds up legal documents while speaking during public comments at the California Reparations Task Force meeting, Wednesday, March 29, 2023, in Sacramento, Calif. She said her ancestors had land in Coloma taken by the state parks system. - Hector Amezcua/Sacramento Bee/via AP

The Democratic Governor of California, Gavin Newsom  a potential Presidential candidate next year  set up a reparations task force in his state in 2020 to consider the case for compensation for the historical wrongs and discrimination experienced by Californias black community. Now the task force has reported and suggested that individuals should be given up to $1.2 million each in recompense.

The cost of this, estimated in hundreds of billions of dollars, has met with a cool response from the Governor and the hard-pressed taxpayers of California, where public services and quality of life have been in free fall in recent years.

Among those qualifying for compensation are the descendants of black slaves. This is curious because California itself was a free state. It was part of that great swathe of territory  the American South West  taken by the United States in the war with Mexico between 1846-48, and it entered the American Union in 1850 with a constitution that outlawed slavery in the state. It remained part of the Union  the North  during the Civil War. The only people held as slaves in California up to that time were the slaves of native American tribes in what became the north of the state.

So todays tax-payers in California are being asked to pay for the historic wrongs committed by the slave-holding Southern states  Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina and suchlike  even though their ancestors in California never held slaves. No wonder so few of them welcomed this report with glee.

After the Civil War and the emancipation of 4 million slaves in the South, a relatively small number of them went west. It is another curious fact of American history that perhaps as many as a third of cowboys, in their heyday between about 1875 and 1910, were black men whod left the South. But California was never one of the major destinations of the Great Migration of African Americans from the South during and after the First World War. The vast majority of these went to the north-east and mid-west, to cities like New York, Detroit and Chicago.

Story continues

Today, blacks make up only 6.5 per cent of the Californian population, which is about half the proportion in America as a whole. Throughout black history, whether in slavery or freedom, African Americans have made up approximately 12 per cent of the population of the US.

Meanwhile, the historic wrongs that really could have been laid at the door of Californians were not part of the task forces remit. The internment in California of tens of thousands of Japanese during the Second World War, the majority of them citizens of the US, is relatively well-known. They were sent to camps for the duration, losing their livelihoods, and in many cases, their homes. They fought for this wrong to be recognised for decades after the war, eventually receiving apologies and relatively small sums in reparation.

Less well-known is the case of the Chinese. As many as 200,000 Chinese came to California, first in the 1849 Gold Rush and then to build the railroads across the West. They were subject to vicious local discrimination and racial violence. Debates after the Civil War over whether to grant the suffrage to freed black slaves were influenced by Californias concern that it should not thereby be forced to grant the vote and other civil rights to the mostly male Chinese workers it had absorbed.

The 15th Amendment to the Constitution, passed in 1869 and designed to secure black voting rights, was a weaker measure because of Californian opposition to a more generous grant of fundamental rights to all citizens, the Chinese included. Indeed, it was so weak that it was easily evaded by Southern states intent on disenfranchising their black citizens in the decades that followed.

Leaders among the Californian black community are themselves stretching back to the aftermath of the Civil War to demand the equivalent in todays money of 40 acres and a mule. This was the cry that went up among the freed slaves when the war ended in 1865. Despite what some black Californians may believe and say now, it was never a pledge made by the federal government in Washington DC.

Todays advocates of black reparations misunderstand the demand for land and the historic situation, in any case. The freed people were not calling for compensation for slavery: they wanted their forty acres so they could be independent and free of the influence of former slaveholders who still owned the land across the South. They wanted to work in family units on family farms, not in the gang labour of slavery. In the event, they became sharecroppers, sharing the proceeds of their labour with the white landowners.

With the exception of a few of the most radical members of Abraham Lincolns Republican Party, hardly anyone outside the community of former slaves supported the break-up of the great estates of the South: to have expropriated the owners of the land would have started the Civil War all over again. And this has been the pattern ever since in American History: Americans have been willing to grant ever-increasing rights to ever-increasing communities in their midst, whether those communities are national, ethnic, religious or gender-based. But they have been far less amenable to the idea of giving them property, payments, or compensation.

Martin Luther King held together a great national coalition of all communities while he led the cause of civil rights in the mid-1960s in America. When, after their achievement, he turned his fire on social inequality and levelling up he lost his hold on many whites who had supported him hitherto.

American History can be characterised as the pursuit of political, civil and social equality. But America has also been dedicated to economic individualism, opportunity, self-help, and low taxes. California itself grew into the wealthiest and most creative state of the Union on the basis of those values.

For that reason, and with many precedents from the American past in mind, it is most unlikely that the reparations calculated and advocated in this report will ever be paid.

Professor Lawrence Goldman taught American History at Oxford University. He is an Emeritus Fellow of St. Peters College

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During a recent graduation ceremony, the Northeast Florida Builders Associations (NEFBA) Apprenticeship Program proudly certified its largest class in history - 77 new apprentices.

This comprehensive program offers 4 years of classroom instruction and on-the-job training for trades such as carpentry, electrical work, HVAC, plumbing, and sheet metal.

The Apprenticeship Program is celebrating its 50th year after getting started in 1973 by Carmel Morris and several local area electricians in reference to the need for skilled trades professionals.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The University of North Florida hosted the graduation ceremony, with Tim Conlan - the Vice-President of NEFBA Training and Chairman of the Apprenticeship Executive Committee - serving as the Master of Ceremony.

Conlan extended his congratulations to the graduates, while NEFBA Executive Officer Jessie Spradley, Current NEFBA President Chris Wood, and educational partner President Lisamarie Winslow of Keiser University were also present. Notable attendees who made the event special for the 50th anniversary were Laura Laseman, John Griffin, and Jonny Moore.

It is an incredibly exciting time for our NEFBA Apprenticeship Program to be graduating our largest class of skilled professionals while celebrating our 50th year. We added the Sheet Metal trade four years ago and this is our first graduating class since that trades resurgence, said Christina Thomas, Director of Workforce Development. I am continually impressed by the ambition and achievements of these individuals. They are the future of our workforce and industry.

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Graduation is the pinnacle of why we do what we do. To see the families, colleagues, employers, and community come together and celebrate the commitment each of these graduates is very rewarding, stated Tim Conlan, NEFBA Vice President of Training.

Story continues

The NEFBA Apprenticeship Program is accepting applications through June 12, 2023.

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Norway's Armed Forces, Forsvaret, plan to train about 3,200 Ukrainian soldiers this year.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as European Pravda reports

Details: It is noted that training will take place both on the territory of Norway and abroad.

Bjrn Arild Gram, the Minister of Defence of Norway, together with Morten Eggen, the Acting Chief of the Norwegian Home Guard, visited the training of the Ukrainian military at one of the training grounds.

"We supported Ukraine both materially and with training, and we will support it as long as necessary," said the Norwegian Defence Minister.

At the end of April, instructors of the Norwegian Home Guard, Heimevernet, began a four-week intensive training of more than a hundred servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in military medicine, fire training and team leadership.

This is the first of several courses from the Home Guard of Norway for Ukrainian soldiers.

Background: It was reported that from 15 May, Canada and Latvia will jointly train the Ukrainian military on Latvian territory as part of the UNIFIER Operation at the level of combat commanders.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
In the occupied territories of Kherson Oblast, the invaders are detaining men who previously refused Ukrainian citizenship in favour of Russian citizenship. The detainees are offered to pay off, and those who do not have the means or do not want to pay bribes are forcibly conscripted.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 15 May

Quote: "In a number of settlements in Kherson Oblast, facts of forcible detention of men who previously refused Ukrainian citizenship in favour of Russian citizenship have been reported.

After the detention, during the first introductory conversation, the occupiers demand from such citizens an illegal remuneration for postponing mobilisation. Persons who refuse to pay a bribe or do not have the required amount of funds are sent by the occupiers to field camps to undergo an accelerated course of general military training. After that, the people are sent to the settlements bordering the contact line."

Background: According to the National Resistance Center, collaborators are fleeing en masse to the Russian Federation from the temporarily captured territories of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
The occupiers in Luhansk and Russian propagandists have reported strikes in the area of the bus station on the morning of 15 May. They are also claiming that a former aviation academy for navigators has been hit.

Source: Luhansk collaborator Rodion Miroshnik on Telegram: Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti

Quote: "Two strikes in the area of the bus station in Luhansk. Most likely missiles. The strikes were carried out in the same way, most likely by British-French Storm Shadow missiles."

Details: Propagandists also said that the area around a former aviation academy for navigators was hit.

The site of the explosion is reported to have been cordoned off, and emergency services and security forces are at the scene. "Fragments of a foreign-made rocket have been found in the area of the strike," propagandists say.

Earlier:

On 12 May, Russian news outlets reported that two explosions had rocked the occupied city of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine; a column of smoke was seen rising over the city. The explosion occurred over the Polipak factory on the territory of the former 100 Machine-building Plant.

On 13 May, Russian media reported the second attack on Luhansk in two days, with black smoke rising over the city.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
OCONTO - The Oconto County Board will be asked to declare the county a "Second Amendment Preservation County" when it next meets on Thursday.

The Public Safety Committee on May 10 forwarded a resolution that would declare the board "opposes the enactment of any legislation unlawfully infringing on our rights under the Second Amendment."

The Second Amendment, ratified in 1791, is one of 10 amendments that form the Bill of Rights. It generally involves gun regulation.

The proposed resolution also says "all lawmakers are hereby urged to honor the Second Amendment, as well as Article 1, Section 25 of the Wisconsin Constitution, and be vigilant in their duty to avoid improperly or unconstitutionally abridging a citizen's right thereunder to keep and bear arms."

Text of the proposed resolution to make Oconto County a "Second Amendment Preservation County."

The five-member Public Safety Committee approved advancing the resolution unanimously to the full County Board when it meets at 9 a.m. Thursday in the County Board Room on the third floor of the Oconto County Courthouse, 301 Washington St. It would need a simple majority to pass, meaning 16 votes if all 31 supervisors attend the meeting.

The Public Safety Committee had two possible resolutions to choose from. The other, which didn't advance, would have stated the Board was against any legislation that would infringe upon any right or protection granted in the entire Constitution.

Chair Dennis Kroll said he preferred the wording on the one that focused on the Second Amendment.

"Its just the education behind the whole thing," Kroll said why he supported the resolution. "I think thats what made me decide thats the route we should go."

The resolution contains a paragraph saying the board and sheriff "feel now is the time to discuss violence in its totality, not simply as an issue of gun violence."

It continues, "Violence is a result of a breakdown on many fronts. The lack of faith, the eroding of family values, the involvement in gangs, sex trafficking, the abuse and sale of illegal drugs, the lack of proper mental health treatment, the lack of education and guidance within our educational system as it relates to safe firearm use, storage and handling. The discussions must continue in our community from all disciplines who are dedicated to addressing the complex issues related to our safety."

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Supervisor Jolene Barkhaus originally urged the committee to create a resolution making Oconto County a Second Amendment sanctuary, but the word sanctuary is not in the recommended resolution.

Typically speaking, a Second Amendment sanctuary is a jurisdiction that's adopted a resolution declaring gun control laws passed by a higher legislative body, such as the federal government or a state legislature, violate the Constitution and won't be enforced in that jurisdiction.

At least 21 of Wisconsin's 72 counties consider themselves as Second Amendment sanctuaries. Florence County was the first, approving a resolution in 2019 while Lincoln County was the latest on Dec. 20. The others are Dodge, Grant, Kenosha, Lafayette, Langlade, Marquette, Monroe, Oneida, Ozaukee, Polk, Portage, Rusk, Sawyer, Shawano, Vilas, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha and Wood.

The Public Safety Committee received written comments from county residents about the resolution discussion. Fifteen messages were in favor, with two against. The comments mostly focused around a "sanctuary" status.

The Oconto County Board will still have a chance to amend the resolution as it sees fit before voting on the final wording.

"The committee engaged in discussion, they heard from some interested citizens who were present who wanted to speak, so they gave people who wanted to speak for a few minutes on the topic," County Administrator Erik Pritzl said. "So I think they took their time with it."

Contact Kevin Dittman at 920-431-8416 or kdittman@gannett.com.

.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Oconto County Board to vote on 'Second Amendment Preservation County'
A Savannah police officer said he wasnt sure he heard right when the call for a six-foot alligator was found roaming around a neighborhood.

Officer Reyes responded to the call, and sure enough, he found the gator in a ditch along Montclair Boulevard, the Savannah Police Department said in a Facebook post.

Now, he has the same rights as all of us to go on a peaceful evening stroll um, just maybe not right there, the department said in the post.

Police said Reyes assisted the Gatorman in wrangling the large reptile and helped take him somewhere to resume his evening stroll without bothering anyone.

TRENDING STORIES:

RELATED NEWS:




Igor Kornet, the so-called acting Minister of Internal Affairs of Luhansk Peoples Republic, was injured in an explosion in the Russia-occupied city of Luhansk on 15 May.

Source: Russian Kremlin-aligned media RIA Novosti with reference to a source; TASS news agency, with reference to "law enforcement" of occupied Luhansk Oblast

Details: The Russian media outlets report that Kornet was severely injured and is now in emergency care.

Background:

On 15 May, the Russian occupiers reported that explosions sounded in the centre of the occupied city of Luhansk. Explosions have reportedly resulted in casualties.

Previously:

In April 2023, journalists of the Donbas Realii project of Radio Liberty took hold of an audio recording of Pasichnik's conversation from the sources in a Ukrainian special service. In the recording, Pasichnik mentions the internal conflict in the Luhansk People's Republic, and that he could not control Igor Kornet, the so-called Minister of Internal Affairs of Luhansk People's Republic.

In the occupied territory, Kornet formed a gang of collaborators who used to work in law enforcement. This gang has been terrorising farmers and entrepreneurs. Pasichnik told Putin about all these problems, and the latter promised to deal with them.

For reference:

Kornet served as a criminal investigation officer at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Luhansk Oblast until 2014. Then, he was appointed the so-called "Minister of Internal Affairs" of the occupied part of Luhansk Oblast.

He was removed from his "position" in 2017, though he refused to resign, ignoring orders from the sham "leadership" of the self-proclaimed republic.

He is wanted in Ukraine. Russia has been investigating Kornet's role in the murder of Russian citizen Artem Bulgakov since 2017.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
The former manager of a beekeeping business in Kentucky pleaded guilty in connection with what federal authorities said was the theft of nearly $700,000.

Jeremy Clay Guthrie pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of wire fraud and two counts of aiding in the preparation of a false tax return.

Guthrie managed the Frankfort branch of Dadant & Sons, an Illinois-based company that says it is the oldest and largest maker of beekeeping supplies in the U.S.

Guthrie also had his own business, called Guthries Naturals.

He acknowledged that beginning in October 2015, he used a number of methods to steal from Dadant.

Those included diverting money to his company from customer payments to his employer; offering Dadant customers unauthorized discounts if they paid with cash, then taking some or all the money; altering checks from customers to show the payment was to his company, not Dadant; and hiding sales to Dadant and taking the money.

The company fired Guthrie in September 2017.

The tax charges result from Guthrie not telling his tax accountant about $325,543 in income for 2016 and 2017, resulting in an underpayment to the Internal Revenue Service of $72,770, according to the plea agreement.

Guthrie concealed a significant portion of his income because he was suffering from a drug addiction and was using proceeds from his unreported sales and cash transactions, in part, to fund his addiction, according to the plea agreement.

Guthrie does not have a clear recollection of many transactions because he was often under the influence of drugs during the time of the thefts, his plea agreement says.

The government contends Guthrie owes $692,044 in restitution. He contests that amount, according to court records. That issue will be worked out later.

Guthrie pleaded guilty May 8 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew A. Stinnett, who recommended that U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove accept the plea.

Stinnett scheduled sentencing for August.

The wire fraud charge has a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Pope Francis welcomed President Biden to the Vatican for talks in October 2021, as U.S. Catholic bishops debated denying the president communion in American churches. (Vatican Pool / Getty Images)

Its time to take a clear look at the far-right politics of U.S. Catholic bishops. They won a 50-year campaign to turn back legal abortion, but they will not rest, it seems, until the country becomes a Christian nationalist state, with their moral principles codified into law. The religious right has long been identified with white evangelical Christians, but the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, some 250 men, mostly white and past middle age, ranks among the nation's most formidable reactionary forces. As a Catholic, I must protest.

There was a time when I was proud of the principled but often unpopular positions of my faith leaders. During the Cold War, they spoke out against nuclear proliferation. When neoconservatives rose to power in Washington, the bishops issued a powerful letter on the economy, reminding government of its responsibility for making a preferential option for the poor. They stood against Ronald Reagans support for autocrats in wartime Central America  I was covering the region as a reporter and met several bishops who traveled south to see for themselves before making the policy decision.

Since those days, the proportion of conservative U.S. prelates has increased with nominations by the two pontiffs who preceded Pope Francis, and the USCCB drifted far to the political right, narrowing its focus to the "preeminent threat" of abortion. Its members lead the countrys largest and hardly monolithic faith group  73 million American Catholics  but it also attempts to sway the law with amicus curiae briefs on cases from gay rights to prayer in schools, and with a powerful lobbying arm, its Office of Government Relations, tasked with influencing Congress. The bishops are driving the U.S. church to the point of schism with opposition to Pope Francis, who emphasizes pastoral care more than doctrine, and who virtually slapped down their attempt to forbid Holy Communion to lifelong Catholic Joe Biden, who is pro-choice.

What shaped the conservatism of the Americas bishops?

The roots of todays right-wing church hierarchy go back to the 1970s when Catholic activist (and Heritage Foundation co-founder) Paul Weyrich persuaded evangelical minister and broadcaster Jerry Falwell to join forces in a moral majority  Weyrich suggested the term. As a movement, ultraconservative Catholics and evangelicals would restore the values and morals of the founding fathers as Weyrich, Falwell and their followers saw them, a promise taken up by Reagan, their favored presidential candidate. Abortion became the Moral Majoritys flagship issue.

That highly politicized obsession has put U.S. Catholic bishops sharply at odds with the global church (and public opinion) in their animus to Pope Francis, who calls capital punishment, euthanasia and care for the poor equally important pro-life issues. For moderate Catholics like me, the deviation hits close to home, pushing the U.S. church too far from too much of Christs most elemental teachings while engaging in modern culture wars.

About sexual orientation, Francis, who recently celebrated 10 years as pope, famously said, Who am I to judge? but U.S. bishops rail against the intrinsic disorder of homosexuality. They ignore his urgent call for action on climate change and its existential threats. They drag their feet on his unprecedented process to prepare for a global Synod this year in Rome, which asks people, and in particular women, at every level of the churchs life  not just bishops  to contribute assessments and aspirations meant to define the mission of todays church.

During the COVID pandemic some U.S. prelates tried to undermine the authority of both church and state. Francis encouraged vaccination, but San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone distributed communion unmasked and unvaccinated and played the aggrieved victim (a Christian nationalist trope), claiming that cultural elites treated Catholics with willful discrimination by limiting public gatherings. Timothy Broglio, archbishop for the Military Services USA, contravened the pope by saying Catholic service members could request a religious exemption to the shot, despite Pentagon orders they get it. Broglio is the newly elected president of the USCCB.

The U.S. church has a history of discrimination against Black Catholics in parishes and seminaries, and now the bishops go wrong, with notable exceptions, by failing to adequately condemn white supremacy. After Black Lives Matter protests, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez  president of the U.S. bishops for three years until late 2022, and vice president of the group before that  called out social solidarity movements as pseudo-religions that are part of a deliberate effort  to erase the Christian roots of society and to suppress any remaining Christian influences.

Wealthy laity support the vision of far-right prelates. Southern California billionaire Timothy Busch, for example, is the founder of the Napa Institute and its influential summer conference where well-to-do conservative Catholics hobnob with bishops, archbishops and right wing politicians. Archbishops Gomez and Cordileone are advisors; last year Trump administration Atty. Gen. Bill Barr was a keynote speaker. Busch, who sees unregulated free markets as congruent with Catholic teachings, has little to say about Francis attack on the sacrilized workings of the global economy.

Perhaps of greatest concern, the USCCB has been increasingly willing to render the wall between church and state a mere gossamer curtain. Invoking novel theories of religious liberty, the bishops have fought legislation and court decisions most Americans support, notably laws protecting same sex marriage and access to contraceptives.

At age 86, Pope Francis is close to the end of his pontificate. Among American Catholics, a stunning 82% view him favorably. But he may not live to appoint enough like-minded cardinals to elect a similar successor.

Moderate U.S. prelates do not go along with the USCCB right-wing hardliners, but they are a minority. I can only hope their numbers grow in time, providing the church with the leadership devoid of political considerations that American Catholics deserve.

Mary Jo McConahay is the author of "Playing God: American Catholic Bishops and the Far Right."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Gov. Spencer Cox greets students after speaking to the student body at Tooele High School as he kicked off his Connecting Utah Tour with the first stop in Tooele on Monday, March 20, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Recently, I attended a speech given to local high school students and community members by Gov. Spencer Cox as part of his Connecting Utah Tour. I am drawn to these kinds of events, both by my personal interest in all things government and by my desire to be an informed citizen. During his address, I noted two things: First, there is power in Coxs relatable optimism  through his message, he managed to transform fear into hope. And second, by speaking with civility and positive energy, he demonstrated how to work in politics while respecting the dignity of others.

He began his speech by talking about growing up in the 80s and some of the things that worried him back then. The governor and I are close in age, so these worrisome things were very familiar to me. One example he shared was the hole in the ozone layer and how frightening we found that. But, he pointed out, we never hear about it anymore. Why? Because the scientific community educated us on what was causing the hole (chlorofluorocarbons in aerosols), and we addressed it. Through international agreements, government regulations and adjustments in production, chlorofluorocarbons were phased out of use, and the ozone layer no longer weighs heavily on our minds.

Todays teenagers have many concerns, and some of those were expressed by students during the assembly. But the governor believes we can address and fix those, too. He helped the students understand that there are good reasons to look forward to the future. He acknowledged the deep divides that exist between people and in communities and said that although the average citizen only hears about a few controversial bills, the government does many positive things. The governments quieter accomplishments are evidence of the work of bridge building and compromise. Throughout the speech, Cox spoke about his colleagues with civility and respect.

I was especially interested in Coxs perspective because of my own work. For the last year and a half, I have been the director of nonpartisanship for Mormon Women for Ethical Government. Contrary to popular impression, nonpartisanship does not mean being neutral. For us, it means choosing principles over party and avoiding a dogmatic approach to political issues. Because I am constantly thinking about what it means to be a principled citizen and how to decrease the outrage that seems to possess even the most good-hearted of us, I found Coxs topic and approach inspiring.

Story continues

He told the students that Americans dont need to disagree less  we need to disagree better. It seems the governor and I both appreciate the sentiments of Arthur Brooks, who has spoken and written about reducing contempt in politics. Brooks believes America is developing a culture of contempt  a habit of seeing people who disagree with us not as merely incorrect or misguided but as worthless. He advises us to do something radical: love each other.

And, in a simple way without any fanfare, Cox demonstrated that kind of love  with basic respect and kindness.

Related

Cox reminded the students of the purpose of government: It exists to protect the rights that we have inherently. The government didnt create those rights. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are unalienable rights given to us by our Creator. Conscious of the public school setting, Cox quoted from the Declaration of Independence without elaboration.

But I was immediately reminded of hearing then-Vice President Joe Biden speak in Philadelphia in 2014. It was the Fourth of July, a day when, Biden said, we celebrate the notion that all men are created equal. He spoke of the march toward guaranteeing every man, woman and child the dignity that youre entitled to merely because they are children of God. Not because of the Constitution, not because of any written document, merely because they exist, they are entitled to dignity.

This basic understanding of the source of our rights is one that is shared by two men  Biden and Cox  who are politically opposed. Their ways of emphasizing and ensuring those rights are different, but they have the same foundational understanding.

Listening to Coxs perspective was beneficial, and I hope our high school students appreciated it. Although I dont agree with all of the governors viewpoints, I can sincerely respect his approach of being respectful, showing civility and finding common ground.

I dont agree with all of anybodys viewpoints, including my own husband. Thats what makes democracy work. It makes democracy hard, but it also makes it work. We need each other. We need diversity of thought and diversity of ideas. And if we respond to that diversity with the respect and positivity Cox displayed, we have many reasons to be optimistic.

Megan Rawlins Woods is the senior director of nonpartisanship for Mormon Women for Ethical Government. She is from West Jordan, Utah. She earned a bachelors degree in planning and resource management from Brigham Young University and currently lives with her husband and five children in rural Utah.
Pita Limjaroenrat Jack Taylor/AFP via Getty Images

With nearly all of the votes counted, Thailand's main opposition parties came out on top in Sunday's election.

The liberal Move Forward party and populist Pheu Thai Party are both set to win more than triple the number of seats of the junta's political vehicle, Palang Pracharat, and the army-backed United Thai Nation, according to a Reuters calculation. About 75 percent of registered voters  39.5 million people  turned out for the election.

It is not guaranteed that a new government will be easily formed; as The Associated Press explains, Thailand's House of Representatives and Senate will hold a joint session in July to pick a new prime minister, but this is a "process widely seen as undemocratic because the senators were appointed by the military rather than elected but vote along with Sunday's winning lawmakers." The incumbent prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, came to power in a 2014 coup, and ahead of the election warned that a change in leadership could result in conflict.

Move Forward, led by 42-year-old businessman Pita Limjaroenrat, outperformed even the most positive projections, and is on track to capturing all of Bangkok's 33 House seats, AP reports. It was a "sensational" election for his party, Pita told reporters, adding that he wants to form a government that will be "anti-dictator-backed, military-backed parties, for sure. It's safe to assume that minority government is no longer possible here in Thailand."

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Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters.

During a recent budget hearing, a Republican lawmaker questioned how the Department of Health uses data to provide oversight of doctors in Pennsylvanias medical marijuana program, citing ongoing public records disputes involving the agency.





The states Office of Open Records has ordered the health department to release the number of approvals by specific doctors if such records exist. But the agency has sued to keep those records secret, arguing for a broader interpretation of the medical marijuana laws confidentiality rules.

At least three cases that center on the issue are currently pending in Commonwealth Court. Spotlight PA is a defendant in two of them.

State Sen. Greg Rothman, R-Cumberland, referred to those cases as he questioned Debra Bogen, the states acting health secretary. He didnt ask Bogen to comment on releasing the data.

But I would like to know if your department does do reviews of this information, Rothman said. And does the department protect against doctors from providing blanket approvals for medical marijuana use?

Bogen didnt directly say how the agency uses the data or clarify whether it routinely reviews the information for patterns or outliers. Instead, she said the department responds to complaints against doctors, and doctors have to attest that theyre following requirements of the law in order to certify patients.

Looking at the numbers of certifications done by a specific provider is challenging because there are health care providers that, by the nature of their work, would certify more patients than others, Bogen testified. And just looking at the numbers alone doesnt really give us that information.

Rothmans questions follow a series of Spotlight PA investigative stories that uncovered serious flaws in the medical marijuana program, including questionable health claims, weak oversight of cannabis companies and unfair rules for doctors.

Story continues

Publicly available records obtained by Spotlight PA show the department has cited patient approval numbers in at least one disciplinary case against a doctor. In another disciplinary case against a doctor, an attorney for the health agency argued that the total number of patients versus his time and ability to certify patients is relevant.

In response to questions from Spotlight PA, health department spokesperson Mark ONeill said it reviews approval data in limited situations, and it has only used the information as part of enforcement actions that resulted from a patient complaint or compliance investigation.

ONeill also defended not releasing approval data publicly, saying that unless courts rule differently, the agency will continue to interpret the law in the manner most protective of patient and practitioner information consistent with its ongoing commitment to privacy rights and confidentiality.

As of late March, there were more than 425,000 active certifications for medical marijuana patients, and there were more than 1,800 approved practitioners in the program  a relatively small percentage of the tens of thousands of licensed doctors in the state. In order for doctors to participate in the program, they must register with the state and complete a four-hour training program.

Some medical professionals, including medical marijuana supporters, argue the health agency should audit doctor records to ensure compliance and not rely solely on patient complaints to initiate investigations.

In February, an editorial from TribLIVE urged the health department to release approval data. It argued that the information could provide important context for medical marijuana approvals and help reveal if the process is deliberative or if just paying for certification is an all-access pass beyond the programs velvet rope.

WHILE YOURE HERE ... If you learned something from this story, pay it forward and become a member of Spotlight PA so someone else can in the future at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.
More than 12 million people living in the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S. will be impacted by a heat advisory for the next couple of days.

In a National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Prediction Center report, forecasters said that above-normal temperatures are forecast to persist along the West Coast through the period while extending across the Intermountain West and into the Rockies early this week, adding that daytime temperatures are expected to reach 10 to 20 degrees above normal on Monday and Tuesday.

While a weak area of low pressure in the upper levels of the atmosphere may provide some relief and an increasing chance for showers and thunderstorms, high temperatures may once again exceed their daily records for parts of the Pacific Northwest, including the Seattle and Portland metro regions, on Monday, forecasters said in their notice.

For instance, four locations in the Seattle region of the Pacific Northwest set temperature records over the weekend, with Quillayute reaching 90 degrees on Saturday, breaking a previous record set in 1975.

The city of Sea Tac reached a record temperature of 86 degrees, going up one degree from the previous record set in 2018, the city of Olympia reached 89 degrees on Saturday, breaking its previous high-temperature record set in 1973, and the city of Hoquiam reached its highest temperature of 89 degrees on Saturday, also breaking its previous high-temperature record set in 1973.

The city of Portland, Ore. recorded a high temperature of 93 degrees on Saturday, breaking its previous high-temperature record by one degree, set in 1973.

Four other locations in Oregon and Washington either set or matched their temperature records on Saturday, according to the NWS data.

The advisory comes as Portland officials urged local residents to seek cooler areas during the wave of high temperatures hitting the city, such as local libraries, community centers, and pools. City officials also advise residents to Stock up on fans/air conditioners and sun-blocking curtains, sunscreen, and other summer essentials.

King County, the county where Seattle is located, announced that they plan to open several cooling centers throughout the area due to the record temperature.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Two popular, low-priced retailers are expanding in the U.S., including with stores in the Charlotte area.

European retailer Primark will make its North Carolina debut opening at entrance 2 at Concord Mills, according to the malls website. The store sells womens, mens and childrens apparel, as well as lingerie, beauty and homeware at low prices.

And Australian retailers Cotton:On also is expanding with plans to open at entrance 6 at the mall. The store sells affordably-priced mens and womens apparel and accessories.

Both retailers prices compete with other budget-friendly retailers like H&M, Walmart, Target and Old Navy.

Concord Mills website lists both as coming soon.

Officials with Primark, Cotton: On and mall property owner Simon did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.

Primark plans

The Dublin-based retailer opened its first U.S. store in 2015 in Boston with expansion plans. That store is 77,000-square-foot store and four floors with 84 fittings rooms and a phone charging station with free WiFi, Fashion Network reported.

Primark has 16 stores in the U.S. and will reach 60 stores by the end of 2026, according to the companys website. The Concord Mills store will be its first in the Carolinas.

Womens jeans are priced $16 to $22 and dresses $11 to 25, while mens jeans are $18 to $28 and mens shirts are $14 to $28, according to Primarks website.

Primark, with stores mostly in the Northeast U.S., plans a Southern expansion in Alabama, Florida, North Carolina and Texas, according to the Wall Street Journal. Primark also relies only on physical stores, mostly in malls, because it does not have online sales. However, customers can view items online and check whether theyre available at local stores.

Founded in 1969 under the Penneys brand, Primark has over 400 stores and 72,000 employees in 15 countries with plans to make it 16 this year opening in Slovakia.

The Concord store is hiring for full-time positions including human resources and department manager.

Story continues

Cotton: On plans for NC

There are 500 Cotton: On stores with over 5,500 employees, according to Concord Mills website. Cotton: On opened its first store in 1991 in Geelong, Australia.

Cotton On Group has eight brands with 1,500 stores in 22 countries and employees over 20,000 people, according to the company. Among its other brands are Cotton On Body, underwear; Typo, stationery; and Rubi, womens footwear.

There are 194 stores in the U.S., including Cotton: On Kids which opened in July at Carolina Place mall in Pineville. Its the first store in the Carolinas for the company.

Cotton: On has been rapidly expanding across the U.S. since opening its U.S. headquarters in Glendale, California, in 2017.

The stores sell trendy clothes to women, men, and children for low prices. Two-thirds of the merchandise at Cotton: On is priced under $25, the Los Angeles Times noted.

The company plans to open thousands of stores over the next five years, according to the malls website. Cotton: Ons popularity has been growing across the U.S., BuzzFeed reported last summer.

Other new stores at Concord Mills

Other new stores and venues that have opened this year or plan to open at Concord Mills include:

 Gilly Hicks, part of Hollister Co., will open at entrance 2, and is listed as coming soon on the malls website. The store carries undergarments, swimwear, loungewear and sleepwear. The store is hiring for full-time cashiers and assistant managers.

 The Escape Game, now open at entrance 1, featuring five themed escape rooms.

 Alex Baby & Toy, now open at entrance 5, with brands including G.I. Joe, Masters of the Universe, Lego, Marvel and Star Wars.

 Splash, at entrance 6 between Old Navy and Burlington, sells plant-based, homemade cosmetics, including bath soaps, body butters, scrubs, candles and hair products.

Concord Mills at 8111 Concord Mills Blvd. has 184 stores, according to the malls website.
The UN says there are now 5.9 million Palestinian refugees in the Palestinian territories, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria

Thousands from across the occupied West Bank demonstrated Monday, waving Palestinian flags to mark the 75th anniversary of the "Nakba" or "catastrophe" which they associate with Israel's creation.

According to the UN, more than 760,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes in 1948.

In Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority, protesters carried black banners that read "Return" and also raised images of old keys, a symbol of the Palestinians' plight and demand for recognition of their right to return.

Commemoration of the Nakba this year comes during heightened tensions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has claimed more than 170 lives on both sides since the start of the year.

Thirty-five people, almost all of them Palestinian, were killed during five days of fighting between Israel and armed groups in the blockaded Gaza Strip last week.

Israel was established on May 14, 1948 following a United Nations vote in November 1947 that divided the British Mandate for Palestine into a Jewish and an Arab state.

A day after Israel declared statehood, five Arab armies attacked the young nation. In the war that ensued, Israel defeated the Arab forces.

During the conflict, more than 600 communities were destroyed or depopulated by Jewish forces, according to the Israeli organisation Zochrot.

Palestinians have since demanded a right to return, which Israel has steadfastly denied, claiming it would be tantamount to a demographic surrender of the state's Jewish nature.

According to the United Nations, there are now 5.9 million Palestinian refugees living in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Israel celebrated its 75th Independence Day on April 26, according to the Jewish calendar.

- 'Respect international resolutions' -

For the first time, the United Nations commemorated Nakba at its headquarters in New York on Monday, after a resolution was passed in November.

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Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas, whose "State of Palestine" has UN observer status, spoke in Arabic at a special session of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.

"We demand today officially, in accordance with international law and international resolutions, to make sure that Israel respects these resolutions or suspend Israel's membership of the UN," Abbas said, referring to hundreds of UN resolutions over the years that Palestinians view as guaranteeing their rights.

During the hour-long speech he said that Nakba "did not start in 1948 and it did not stop after that date."

"Israel the occupying power continues its occupation and its aggression against the Palestinian people and continues to deny this Nakba and rejects international resolutions regarding the return of Palestinian refugees to their homeland."

- 'Not a number' -

Back in Ramallah, 64-year-old Khairy Hanun, dressed in a traditional Palestinian costume, was carrying an old suitcase and an old key, symbolising the displacement of 1948.

"We are here to tell the occupation (Israel) that it was like this that they have chased away our parents and grandparents, only with the clothes on their backs", said Hanun, resident of Tulkarm in the northern West Bank.

Within Israel, about two million people -- more than 20 percent of the population -- are Palestinians and their descendants who remained there after the state was founded.

The community of Arab-Israelis, as Israel calls them, was also represented at the gathering in Ramallah.

"One of the greatest mistakes committed by the Zionist movement was that between 150,000 and 160,000 Palestinians remained (in Israel) after the Nakba", said Mohammed Baraka.

"Today, we are almost two million, and we are not a number, but a testament to the national identity Israel had tried to erase," Baraka said.

Nohad Wahdane, whose family lived through the Nakba, said that "these commemorations are organised every year, so that young people can learn their history and not forget it".

he/mab/feb/mj/ami/it
Pedestrians in masks walking in the city

Credit - Getty Images

Thomas McDade, a biological anthropologist at Northwestern University, still remembers an advertisement for cold medicine he saw in late 2019. The ad showed a visibly sick businessman walking through an airport, and the message was, You can solider through this. You can make it,' McDade says.

That message didnt age well. Only a few months later, the virus that causes COVID-19 began spreading across the globe, prompting health officials to beg people to stay home no matter whatbut especially if they felt sick. Suddenly, soldiering through an illness wasnt seen as admirable, but irresponsible, selfish, and dangerous.

Since then, countless op-eds and articles have argued that the pandemic would usher in a new normal where people were more thoughtful about disease, companies were more generous with sick time, and everyone stayed home when unwell. It looked like it was happening, at least for a while. Millions of people worked and learned from home, many for the first time; comparing symptoms became a national pastime; and photos of at-home test strips crowded out vacation shots on social media.

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But now, with the pandemic effectively overat least in terms of the federal response, if not epidemiologicallyit seems that the promised new normal never fully materialized.

Eric Shattuck, an assistant professor of research at the University of Texas at San Antonio, studies sickness behavior: the constellation of behavioral changes that people adopt when theyre ill, like lethargy, social withdrawal, and decreased appetite. Much of sickness behavior is biological, driven largely by inflammation in the body. But the extent to which people perform these behaviors is informed by cultural norms about how were supposed to act when sick, Shattuck says.

Though pushes to stay home and flatten the curve changed behavior early in the pandemic, they werent enough to enduringly alter dominant cultural messages about sucking it up and soldiering through, Shattuck saysin large part because they werent backed up by supportive policy changes, like expanded access to paid sick leave and affordable child care.

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We may see that people are paying more attention and listening to their bodies more, Shattuck says, but if the conditions arent there for them to be able to stay home or work from homeit may not actually change the large-scale behaviors.

The start of the pandemic brought a flurry of new sick- and family-leave policies, but many were temporary or didnt apply equally to all workers. As of March 2022, 77% of private-industry workers had access to paid sick time, only slightly more than the 75% who did in March 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). But that top-line statistic doesnt tell the whole story.

Read More: As People Return to Offices, Its Back to Misery for Americas Working Moms



While 96% of people working in the management, business, and financial sectors had access to paid sick time in 2022 (along with the option to work remotely in many cases), only 62% of service-industry workers didup slightly from 59% in 2020. Only about 40% of the lowest-paid private-industry workers had paid sick time in 2022, versus nearly all of the highest earners, BLS data show.

Overall, during the first two years of the pandemic, only 42% of work absences related to illness, child care, or personal obligations were compensated, according to a report from the Urban Institute, an economic and policy research institute. Many workers, especially those least able to afford it, still have to choose between getting well and getting paid. Its hard to fault people for choosing the latter.

Even people who have paid sick time often work through their illnesses, and that didnt change during the pandemic. In some respects, says Kai Ruggeri, an assistant professor at the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health who studies population behavior, the rise of remote work actually made it harder for people to justify taking sick time. Lots of people seemed to think, Whats the difference, if you get some things done from your laptop in bed? Ruggeri says.

In 2020, researchers surveyed people with COVID-like symptoms about whether they worked while sick. (About a quarter of them ended up testing positive for COVID-19, while the rest had other respiratory illnesses.) About 42% of people with COVID-19 worked either remotely or in-person while sick, and 63% of people sick with another respiratory illness did so. One 2023 study even found that, within a group of about 250 health care workers with symptomatic COVID-19, half worked at least part of a day anyway.

That may be because many workers still feel pressurespoken or unspokenfrom their employers to show up no matter their health status, says Terri Rhodes, CEO of the Disability Management Employer Coalition, which provides employers with guidance on workplace absences. The pandemic didnt change that. The general feeling that I get from employers is, We just want to be done with [the pandemic], Rhodes says. Theres a big push right now for productivity and earnings and just get back to work, as opposed to mental health, well-being, taking sick days.

The old normalthe one valuing stoicism, productivity, not stopping for a secondhas proven hard to uproot. But there have been changes around the way we think about illness: the fact that people are even talking about sick-leave policies and forming opinions about the merits of vaccinations and masks (for better or for worse) suggests theres been a culture shift around health and sickness, Ruggeri says.

As director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, Kathleen Hall Jamieson oversees research projects that assess how much the U.S. population knows about health and science. Over the course of the pandemic, Jamieson says, shes seen two contradictory things happen in parallel: overall scientific literacy grew, even as more people began to believe conspiracy theories and misinformation.

The fact that most of the U.S. population got vaccinated and wore masks at the height of the pandemic suggests most people generally understood how the virus spreads and how to slow transmission, Jamieson says. In a survey fielded around the time COVID-19 vaccines became available to the general public, around three-quarters of respondents correctly answered questions about the safety and efficacy of the shots. Results like those show an astonishing level of public literacy about a topic that we knew nothing about in January 2020, Jamieson says.

Read More: This Emergency Is Over. Now Its Time to Get Ready for the Next Pandemic



Concepts once foreign to most of the general publiclike incubation periods and airborne transmissionalso became part of regular conversation. Nobody knew what an R value was before, Ruggeri says. I had people calling me, asking me to explain it to them.

For many people, the pandemic was a first introduction to a blind spot in the medical world, as a 2022 research review put it: post-acute illness. Viruses ranging from influenza to Epstein-Barr can cause potentially debilitating long-term complications, but that reality went mostly unnoticed until scores of people developed Long COVID symptomsranging from brain fog and memory loss to chronic fatigue and painwithin roughly the same period of time. For some people in both the medical field and the general public, these long-term symptoms reframed what a seemingly mild illness could do.

In addition to increased scientific literacy, Dr. Yuka Manabe, a professor at Johns Hopkins Medicine who specializes in infectious disease, has noticed a stronger desire for diagnostic certainty among patients. In 2019, someone with a respiratory illness might have been content to say they were sick and leave it at that, but many patients now want to know exactly what they have and where they caught it. I hear a lot of people say, I have a cold, but dont worry because its not COVIDI tested myself, Manabe says.

The unprecedented availability of at-home tests likely contributed to that desire for certaintyand consumer demand for COVID-19 diagnostics seems to have carried over to other conditions, too. In a 2022 survey, 82% of adults ages 50 to 80 said they were at least somewhat interested in using at-home tests in the future. And they may indeed get the chance. In February 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the first combined at-home influenza and COVID-19 test.

But while COVID-19 turned some people into amateur disease detectives, many othersabout 40% of U.S. adults, according to federal datadelayed or avoided health care during the pandemic. One 2022 study found that lower-income people and those with preexisting conditions were likely to delay care in 2021, which suggests that financial stress and fear of the virus played a role. Another study from 2022 found that people were more likely to skip doctors visits during the pandemic if theyd previously had bad experiences with medical care.

It makes sense that people whod had previous bad experiencesa group that tends to include people of color, lower-income people, those without insurancemay have shied away from the medical establishment during the crisis, even as others literally trusted it with their lives. Throw in partisan polarization, which made even basic practices like masking and vaccination feel like political statements, and its no wonder that people responded very differently to the same health threat. How could there be a single new normal when the old normal varied so much by race, class, gender, and age?

Despite the divisions, however, Jamieson says shes optimistic that at least some of the knowledge gained during the pandemic will stick around, ready to be deployed if and when theres a similar threat in the future. For many people, behaviors like masking and handwashing became habitual during the pandemic, and you dont unlearn habitual behaviors, Jamieson says.

Although far fewer people wear masks now than at the height of the pandemic, Manabe says shes noticed that people are now quicker to wear one when they have respiratory symptomsa sign, she thinks, that people understand how pathogens spread and want to protect others.

This kind of social altruism is really welcome, from my point of view, Manabe says. Were trying to move forward as a society in the post-COVID era.
On Friday, Jonathan Anderson and Mytheresa took over L.A. party palace the Sheats-Goldstein residence to bring a touch of island life to Beverly Hills, celebrating the latest Loewe Paulas Ibiza collection.

Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade, Dan Levy and Kaitlyn Dever came dressed in denim, sunset-hued degrade and palm-frond tops for the resort party, which was time zones away from where the beach lifestyle brand was born off the coast of Spain in 2017, and proof of its ability to travel and grow.

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The first two years of the brands growth were explosive, with sales tripling every year, according to Loewe chief executive officer Pascale Lepoivre. Once it reached scale, sales have continued to grow at 30 to 35 percent each year. As a result of that weve consistently increased the number of doors featuring the collection, which currently stands at 167 worldwide, she told WWD.

Coming to L.A. this year to celebrate Paulas was a natural since in November Loewe opened its first store on Rodeo Drive, now the number-two door in the U.S.

The event also marked a partnership with Mytheresa, the German luxury e-commerce player thats been growing rapidly in the U.S..

These events serve multiple purposes; its an opportunity to invite our best customers to attend an event where the designer is present, thats a rare occasionAnd we know our heavy spenders love the opportunity to dive into the fashion industry, said Mytheresa chief executive officer Michael Kliger. Second purpose is to create awareness and amplification. We want as a team for Loewe and Mytheresa to be talked about, to be seen, and we hope to have help with media, celebs and social media. And third is we have a long-standing partnership with Loewe, we have worked with Loewe and Jonathans own brand on campaigns and events, so we felt, hey, lets celebrate.

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Loewe is one of Mytheresas top five selling brands worldwide, and Paulas Ibiza offers novelty at a 30 percent lower price point, with shorts, sandals, swimwear and other dressed-down pieces like rose-printed cropped cardigans and jeans, as well as accessories like anagram-logo raffia bags and leather seahorse bag charms, plus home and body fragrances with coconut musk and other summertime notes.

Loewe Paulas Ibiza 2023

It was Andersons idea to reach out to the founders of the by-then defunct Paulas Ibiza boutique, Armin Heinemann and Stuart Rudnick, for a capsule collection, using their artwork on his pieces. The shop was a bohemian hotspot on the island in the the 70s and 80s, when it welcomed everyone from Freddie Mercury to Jean Paul Gaultier, to a young, vacationing Anderson. The partnership was a success from the first collection out in summer 2017, and the relationship developed to the point where it became an annual collection.

It is a great entry point into the brand as it portrays a modern Spanish lifestyle, craftsmanship through basketry, and has a deep connection to music culture, as you can see from this years campaign which features Karol G and Bad Gyal, amongst others, noted Lepoivre.

The [stock keeping unit] count has almost doubled and we have significantly increased the number of categories to include pouches, animal bags, fragrance, sunglasses, swimwear and lifestyle accessories, she said.

The brand has driven awareness through pop-ups (at Neiman Marcus in Dallas and Bergdorf Goodman in New York, among others this season), recruiting new customers as Loewe expands its own store network.

The biggest demographic buying is in their 30s, and the 18-to-24 age group is the fastest growing customer year-on-year, Lepoivre said, noting this years top seller has been the new Loewe Font Tote, a raffia bag that retails for $1,100 and up.

Loewe Paulas Ibiza 2023

But Paulas Ibiza is not a diffusion line. It has the same level of craft and quality as our other collections and contains many intricately crafted leather pieces in ready-to-wear bags and accessories. In this years collection for example we have the leaf dress in nappa created using our intarsia technique, she said.

While the range is popular with existing clients, Paulas Ibiza definitely drives customers to our other collections. From the clients whose first purchase was Paulas in 2021, almost half of them are engaged with our brand now and have bought ready-to-wear and womens bags, the executive said.

Lepoivre would not share how much of Loewes overall business Paulas represents, but did say the investment in the brand is ongoing. We acquired the Paulas Ibiza trademark and the archives from the founders after collaborating for a few years, she said, adding that the design team does run the collections by Heinemann and Rudnick before they are launched.

Loewe Paulas Ibiza 2023

Paulas also has a charitable aspect befitting Loewes overarching support of craft through its prize program and other initiatives.

Woven raffia Font Totes and Iraca palm bags are the brands hero accessories, and for every one sold, Loewe donates 15 euros to the local communities who hand-make them.

Our baskets in particular are crafted by artisans around the world and its important for us to support those local communities who are making these products by hand, Lepoivre said, explaining the collaboration with childrens rights organization Plataforma de la Infancia. The donations we make will help create a university scholarship program for the children of artisans in Narino, Colombia, and build a craft training school in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

The Paulas Ibiza brand has also helped elevate the business of resort fashion, which has gained a higher profile in recent years because of luxury brands globetrotting runway shows, as well as the success of transporting resort-only fashion concepts like Zimmerman and others that have blossomed into full-fledged lifestyle brands.

[Jonathan] started it, it wasnt his intention, it was his intention to celebrate his experience, said Kliger. In hindsight he was way ahead of everyone else.

Launch Gallery: A Look at the Loewe Paulas Ibiza 2023 Collection

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Click here to read the full article.
(Bloomberg) -- Petroleos Mexicanos is in advanced talks to buy KKR & Co.s Monterra Energy fuel-storage terminal in Tuxpan, Veracruz, in one of the latest blows to Mexican energy liberalization that ushered in a wave of foreign investment.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Pemex, as the state oil company is known, is planning to pay $320 million for the 2.2 million-barrel import terminal, according to two people with knowledge of the situation who asked to remain anonymous because the talks are private. A Monterra representative declined to comment; Pemex didnt immediately respond to an emailed inquiry.

Houston-based Monterra Energy was founded by KKR to invest in Mexicos fuel sector following the 2013 and 2014 energy reforms that opened the sector to private capital. Yet it has faced regulatory obstacles under nationalist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has sought to rein in the energy reforms of his predecessor and return much of the industry to government-owned entities Pemex and CFE.

The terminal was shut by regulators for almost a year after a surprise 2021 inspection.

In February 2022, Monterra Energy threatened legal action and estimated damages as high as $667 million, alleging the action violated the international free trade agreement known as USMCA.

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Costco's bakery doesn't accept cake orders online or over the phone. Michael Stuparyk/Toronto Star via Getty Images

Over the weekend, one Twitter user's viral post drew attention to Costco's cake-ordering system.

You can't order a cake online. You must write your request on a piece of paper and put it in a box.

The user, Lucy Huber, wrote that Costco told her: "if you put it in the box, it will be there."

You can't order a cake from Costco online, nor can you call Costco to order a cake.

Instead, you must write your request on a piece of paper, physically drop it into a box at the Costco bakery, and hope your order is there on time and as requested. It's a system that writer and editor Lucy Huber pointed out in a tweet on Thursday and one that's mystified people in the days that followed.

"Ordered a cake from Costco and their system is from the 1800s," Huber wrote in the May 11 tweet. "You write what you want on a piece of paper & put it in a box then nobody follows up and you just show up and hope they made it?"

As of Monday, the tweet had 19.5 million views and 237,000 likes.

According to Huber, she tried calling Costco to confirm the process, to which she said they responded: "If you put it in the box, it will be there."

Indeed, according to Costco's website, you cannot order a cake online. (You might be able to fax a request to your local Costco bakery, but they'd have to tell you whether they accept faxes, Costco's website says). Costco did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Costco's "mysterious cake box" baffled some Twitter users over the weekend, while others appeared to know the drill, assuring Huber that the cake will be there when she requested it.

Huber did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, but in a follow-up tweet two days after she placed the order, Huber said the cake arrived as ordered.

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Huber wrote that she decorated the sheet cake herself to satisfy her 3-year-old's request: "a cake with a whole city on it."

Read the original article on Insider
A Democratic primary that will likely determine who becomes Philadelphias next mayor could boost a progressive cause struggling to make a comeback after national setbacks, but with no clear front-runner it's just as likely to fortify the city's existing Democratic machine.

Not one of the five top candidates has emerged as a clear favorite in Tuesday's primary, a digression from mayoral races in recent history, said Richardson Dilworth, author of the book Reforming Philadelphia, which examines the citys government over the course of 350 years.

The political structure of the city is in a moment that is somewhat unprecedented, he said. Its ideologically incredibly cohesive. But ... theres nothing taking that cohesive ideology and converting it into a unified governance for the city.

The progressive movement  which has focused on local races to counter national setbacks  has its sights on the Philadelphia race after being energized by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's recent victory and other progressive wins on the St. Louis City Council.

Our Revolution, a movement born during Sen. Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential race and now one of the largest progressive organizations in the country, has endorsed Helen Gym, a former member of the City Council. Sanders has also personally endorsed her, and appeared alongside her ahead of the primary, along with progressive U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

In Philadelphia, Youve got an old guard Democratic machine, just like you do in Chicago, although that formation has been rattled within the last couple of years by successful progressive and Democratic Socialist candidates, said Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese.

Whether Gym can do the same is uncertain.

Philadelphias Democratic City Committee  which, in a deeply blue city, can have significant influence  won't back a candidate. That's left the choice with the committee's dozens of independent wards, which aren't united in their endorsements. Other Democratic factions, meanwhile, are all over the map.

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A number of ward leaders, who can rally voters to cast their ballots, have backed the more moderate former city council member and former state lawmaker Cherelle Parker, but others have sided with Gym and former city controller Rebecca Rhynhart, who has sought to appeal to moderates and progressives. The left-wing Working Families Party and the grassroots progressive organization Reclaim Philadelphia, in step with Our Revolution, is backing Gym.

There is even division among unions, which have historically held a lot of weight because of their financial support and their on-the-ground ability to push people to the polls. In a tight contest, that can be essential.

A number of trade and labor unions, which helped propel Kenney when he first ran for mayor, have coalesced behind Parker. Kenney himself said he cast a ballot for Parker during early voting. Meanwhile, the citys local police union is backing grocery business owner and political outsider Jeff Brown, and the teachers union wants Gym.

Allan Domb, a former councilman and real estate mogul who has poured millions of dollars of his own money into the campaign and sought to appeal to a more moderate-to-conservative base, picked up an endorsement from former Mayor William J. Green III. Rhynhart, meanwhile, is backed by three past mayors: John Street, Michael Nutter and former Gov. Ed Rendell.

All of the candidates, regardless of ideology, have tapped gun violence and public safety as their top concerns. Theyve also discussed a need to bolster the economy, reduce poverty and improve quality-of-life issues such as trash pickup and streetlights.

"The candidates are more or less aligned on most important issues of the day, said Mark Nevins, a political consultant for The Dover Group. Really, youre looking at who has the ability to create a coalition of voters from different parts of the city ... that will put them over the top.

A number of cities have moved to ranked-choice elections, allowing voters to order the candidates from most to least preferred. But in Philadelphia, the winning candidate needs a plurality  which could be just a slim amount of the total vote  to face lone Republican candidate David Oh in the November general election.

In mayoral elections across the nation over the past five years, voters have tended to pick the mainstream liberal candidate, said Robert Speel, associate professor of political science at Penn State. Exceedingly progressive candidates who have called for defunding the police have not done well, he noted; nor have conservative, tough-on-crime candidates who seem more aligned with Republicans, including one who lost Boston's 2021 mayoral race.

It was a kiss of death for a Democratic candidate in a Democratic city to be associated with Republicans in some way, he said.

Theresa Tsai, a University City resident who fell in love with Philadelphia after moving here from New York City years ago, is just looking for someone who can work with other city departments to address her issues with crime and what she sees as an overall decline in city services.

Tsai, 71, said she has begun to feel vulnerable in the city while walking alone at night. Years ago, she said, a mini-police station opened in her district, which she said showed her that community policing was critical.

She also said that many city facilities, from libraries to recreational centers, are understaffed. Tsai said her husband keeps a spreadsheet of endorsements, which she is monitoring, and she also wants to hear the recommendation of her ward leader, whom she said she implicitly trusts."

At the moment, she is weighing the different qualities that Gym, Rhynhart and Domb could bring to the office.

This is a difficult election, it really is, she said. Its a good one, its good that we have such good choices.

__

Associated Press writer Sara Burnett in Chicago contributed to this report.

__

Brooke Schultz is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
The Philippines have looked to deter Chinese aggression around islands it claims as its own in the South China Sea by putting up buoys in a show of ownership, as Beijing continues to threaten its sovereignty in the region.

Five buoys carrying the Filipino flag were set up around the Spratly Islands within its Exclusive Economic Zone according to the Philippine coast guard.

Five areas were claimed by the markers within the 200-mile-long stretch of islands, including along the Whitsun Reef where China moored hundreds of maritime vessels in 2021.

This photo taken on April 21, 2023 shows crew of the Philippine coast guard ship Malabrigo on board their rigid hull inflatable boat sailing towards the Philippine-occupied Thitu island in South China Sea.

CHINA CLAIMS US CRUISER 'TRESPASSED' IN ITS WATERS, NAVY CALLS ACCUSATION 'FALSE'

Ownership over the Spratly Islands  which is made up of nearly two dozen islands and hundreds of reefs  has long been contested with China, Taiwan and Vietnam claiming control of the entirety of the region while the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei lay claim over portions of it.

However, Chinas increasingly hostile attitude in the region prompted Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to take action last week to set up the buoys between May 10 -12 to assert Manilas sovereignty.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

This photo taken on April 23, 2023 shows the Philippine coast guard vessel BRP Malapascua, right, maneuvering as a Chinese coast guard ship cuts its path at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea.

CHINA THREATENS 'SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES' AFTER US WARSHIP AGAIN SAILS BY CONTESTED PARACEL ISLANDS

"This move highlights the Philippines' unwavering resolve to protect its maritime borders and resources and contribute to the safety of maritime trade," Philippines coast guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela, said on Twitter.

Manila took similar steps in May 2022 when it installed five navigational buoys around four of the Spratly Islands.

In recent years, China has attempt to assert control over the internationally-contested islands by deploying hundreds of navy and maritime vessels, as well as building up manmade islands on the reefs by dredging in sand and equipping them with missiles and runways.

This photo taken on April 21, 2023 shows heavy machinery at the Philippine-occupied Thitu Island in the disputed South China Sea. Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including the Spratly Islands, ignoring an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis.

Though Chinas claims were invalidated by an international arbitrary ruling in 2016.

Fox News Digital could not immediately reach the Chinese embassy in Manila for comment.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Police lights

A suspect has been identified and booked into jail after his vehicle crashed into a family of seven, killing one teen while driving the wrong way on 30th Street and Greenway Road on Sunday.

The suspect has been identified as 36-year-old Bartolome Godinez-Perez and he was booked on multiple charges stemming from the investigation, including manslaughter. He is suspected of driving impaired, according to Phoenix police.

Officers said the crash happened around 8 a.m. on Sunday after a pickup truck going south on 31st Street did not stop at the red light on Greenway Road and turned right in the eastbound lanes while going west.

While driving the wrong way, the pickup crashed into a car occupied by a family of two adults and five children. All of them were taken to a hospital where one of them, a teenage boy, later died.

Police did not release the identity or age of the teenager who died.

Two boys were in critical condition but were later stabilized, according to the Phoenix Fire Department. A boy, a girl, a man and a woman were in stable condition. All of them were expected to survive, police said.

The driver of the truck stayed at the scene and showed signs of impairment, police said on Sunday.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix police ID driver who hit family of 7 and left teen dead
Mars Perseverance selfie on Mars. NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS/Sean Doran

NASA's Mars rover found evidence to suggest deep, powerful rivers once raged on the red planet.

The Perseverance rover took close-up images a specific region in Jezero Crater for the first time.

The discovery may help scientists figure out what kind of ancient life existed on the planet.

NASA's Mars Perseverance rover has taken new images that reveal that some of the red planet's ancient rivers were much wilder than scientists previously thought.

"It's the first time we're seeing environments like this on Mars," Katie Stack Morgan, Perseverance's deputy project scientist, said in a NASA release.

Scientists studying rock formations, features, and valleys on Mars, so far, have found evidence to suggest Mars was once covered by water.

Scientific evidence suggest Mars was once covered in water. Today, it's a dry, barren land. NASA/GSFC

Now, thanks to the rover's first close-up images of curving bands of layered rock within Jezero Crater  a place nicknamed "Skrinkle Haven"  scientists are getting a better picture of water in that region.

Jezero Crater was once a lake, and the new photos suggest that the rivers pouring into it were deeper, more powerful rivers than previously thought, according to NASA.

One of the images shows coarse sediment grains and cobbles, which are big enough to "indicate a high-energy river that's truckin' and carrying a lot of debris," Libby Ives, a researcher at NASA, said in the release.

"The more powerful the flow of water, the more easily it's able to move larger pieces of material," Ives added. In other words, a shallower, more gentle river probably couldn't create formations like the ones shown here.

These bands of rock could have been formed by ancient rivers, according to NASA. NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

Another image from Perseverance further supports this idea of a powerful ancient river that once roared across Jezero Crater.

The image shows a hill about a quarter of a mile from Skrinkle Haven. What's interesting about this hill is the sedimentary layers that curve skyward.

"These layers are anomalously tall for rivers on Earth," Ives said in the release. "But at the same time, the most common way to create these kinds of landforms would be a river."

Story continues

Scientists think rivers could have helped form this hill nicknamed "Pinestand." NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

The new discovery from the Perseverance rover, which has been traversing Mars for two years, could help scientists in their search for ancient alien life on Mars, since long-extinct microbial life may be preserved within those very rocks.

The Perseverance rover has several objectives as it traverses Jezero Crater including hunting down evidence of ancient microbial life as well as studying the region's geology, past climate, and paving the way for the first humans on Mars.

"What's exciting here is we've entered a new phase of Jezero's history," Morgan said in the NASA release. "We're thinking about rivers on a different scale than we have before."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Residential buildings and a church stand in front of the "Brienzer Rutsch" the rockfall danger zone in Brienz-Brinzauls, Switzerland, on Friday, May 12, 2023. AP Photo/Arnd Wiegmann

Residents of Brienz, Switzerland, had to evacuate because a massive rockslide threatens to spill.

The centuries-old Alpine village is home to under 100 residents, who were told to leave last week.

Authorities said 70 million cubic feet (2 million cubic meters) of rock could soon crash down.

BRIENZ, Switzerland (AP)  Stragglers packed up belongings in cars, trucks and a least one pickup truck before an evacuation order took effect on Friday in a tiny village in eastern Switzerland that is facing an urgent rockslide threat.

As geologists and other experts in fluorescent vests took measurements on Friday, villagers and vacationers bared their emotion that the centuries-old Alpine village of Brienz  home to under 100 residents  could be soon be subsumed under spilling rock.

Swiss authorities say about 2 million cubic meters of rock on an Alpine mountainside overhead could soon come crashing down.

View of the "Brienzer Rutsch" the rockfall danger zone in Brienz-Brinzauls, Switzerland, Friday, May 12, 2023. AP Photo/Arnd Wiegmann

Erosion over generations has left the bald-faced mountainside white, gray and orange with exposed rock and earth, and a few boulders have already made their way onto the edge of the village in the verdant valley.

One boulder sat menacingly next to a small wood cabin.

Residential buildings stand in front of the "Brienzer Rutsch" the rockfall danger zone in Brienz-Brinzauls, Switzerland, Friday, May 12, 2023. AP Photo/Arnd Wiegmann

The rumble of shifting ground, the sporadic crackle of rocks colliding, and the remains of dead trees and dirt sliding down the mountain facade Friday brought an eerie sense of portent to the village and underscored the rising urgency for locals to get out of town.

Authorities set a 6 p.m. deadline on Friday for residents to evacuate.

Residential buildings stand in front of the "Brienzer Rutsch" the rockfall danger zone in Brienz-Brinzauls, Switzerland, Friday, May 12, 2023. AP Photo/Arnd Wiegmann

A Zurich woman who has for years vacationed in the bucolic village stood back about 30 meters (100 feet) from a barrier on the edge of the village to look up worryingly at the mountainside.

Last week, authorities upgraded the alert status to "orange."

A road is blocked in front of the "Brienzer Rutsch" rockfall danger zone in Brienz-Brinzauls, Switzerland, Friday, May 12, 2023. AP Photo/Arnd Wiegmann

That meant residents had to evacuate but could also return during the day to pick up their belongings, if conditions allowed.

By Friday evening, authorities had raised the alert to "red."

Story continues

A road is blocked in front of the "Brienzer Rutsch" rockfall danger zone in Brienz-Brinzauls, Switzerland, Friday, May 12, 2023. AP Photo/Arnd Wiegmann

That meant authorities wouldn't allow residents to return for the foreseeable future, said Christian Gartmann, a member of the crisis management board in the town of Albula, which counts Brienz in its municipality.

Barriers blocked off roads and a sign under a portable traffic light read: "Extreme danger of rockfall when red."

A warning sign is seen in front of the "Brienzer Rutsch" the rockfall danger zone in Brienz-Brinzauls, Switzerland, Friday, May 12, 2023. AP Photo/Arnd Wiegmann

One woman loaded up a pickup truck with a caged pet turtle, named Max, and other belongings as neighbors packed up cars and trucks, too.

Centuries-old Brienz straddles German- and Romansch-speaking parts of the eastern Graubunden region.

The village of Brienz-Brinzauls, Switzerland, is at the foot of the Brienzer Rothorn mountain. Google Maps

It sits southwest of Davos at an altitude of about 1,150 meters (3,800 feet).

The mountain and the rocks on it have been moving since the last Ice Age, officials say.

View on the "Brienzer Rutsch" the rockfall danger zone in Brienz-Brinzauls, Switzerland, Friday, May 12, 2023. AP Photo/Arnd Wiegmann

But last Tuesday, they said measurements indicated a "strong acceleration over a large area" in recent days, and "up to 2 million cubic meters of rock material will collapse or slide in the coming seven to 24 days."

Gartmann said experts estimate a 60% chance the rock will fall in smaller chunks.

A furniture transport truck drives into the village Brienz in Brienz-Brinzauls, Switzerland, Friday, May 12, 2023. AP Photo/Arnd Wiegmann

Those may not reach the village or the valley. The landslide could also move slowly.

But there's also a 10% chance that the rock mass may spill down, threatening lives, property, and the village itself.

Glacier melt has affected the precariousness of the rocks over millennia.

View of the village and the "Brienzer Rutsch", taken in Brienz-Brinzauls, Switzerland, on Friday, May 12, 2023. AP Photo/Arnd Wiegmann

But melting glaciers due to "man-made" climate change in recent decades wasn't a factor, Gartmann said.

Read the original article on Insider
Mr Pita, 42, has led Move Forward to a stunning win

"Today is a new day, and hopefully it is full of bright sunshine and hope," 42-year-old Pita Limjaroenrat told a room packed with reporters and flashing cameras, hours after it had become clear that he could well be Thailand's next prime minister.

Mr Pita's party, Move Forward, which in Thai evokes leaps of change, has swept to a surprising and stunning victory. Voters rejected nearly a decade of army-backed rule, handing more seats and votes to Move Forward than any other party. That is is no mean achievement in a country that has experienced at least a dozen successful coups.

"The sentiment of the era has changed. And it was the right timing," Mr Pita said, speaking at the party's headquarters in Bangkok, where it had won 32 of the city's 33 seats.

The business of forming a government is still weeks away. It can also get messy, given that Thailand's military still has the power to play kingmaker. But the win has put the spotlight on Mr Pita and his party, who have built a strong following among young voters disillusioned by years of military rule and hungry for change.

Mr Pita started his political career when he was elected to parliament in 2019 as a member of the Future Forward Party. Founded by Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, a billionaire and staunch critic of the army, the party performed well in the 2019 election, shaking up Thai politics with its demand for change.

But Future Forward was forced to disband the following year after contentious allegations. And Mr Thanathorn was disqualified as an MP. Move Forward was formed soon after as its successor and named Mr Pita its new leader.

Thousands of young people took to the streets in Thailand that year after the ban, demanding amendments to the constitution, a new election and an end to the harassment of rights activists and state critics.

That desire for change and many of those very issues drove Move Forward's appeal in this election, with some of the protest leaders from 2020 running as candidates.

Story continues

Mr Pita - once called a "rising star" of the Thai parliament because of the critical speeches he made as an opposition MP - also gained popularity with his party's bold promises to break the military's political influence and reform laws relating to the monarchy.

He wants to rewrite the constitution and has pledged to bring Thailand out of what he calls a "lost decade" under a military regime.

In a campaign interview with Bloomberg in April, Mr Pita said his priorities for Thailand were to "demilitarise, demonopolise and decentralise".

Move Forward will also continue to push for an end to Thailand's lese-majeste laws.

"We will pass that in this parliament. And we will use the parliament to make sure that it is a comprehensive discussion with maturity, with transparency, in how we should move forward in the relationship between the monarchy and the masses," he said on Monday.

Mr Pita was born to a wealthy Thai family involved in politics. His father was an adviser in the agriculture ministry and his uncle was an aide of former ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

He was sent to school in New Zealand, which is when he developed an interest in politics.

Mr Pita with his daughter Pipim

"I got shipped to the middle of nowhere in New Zealand and there were three [TV] channels back then. Either you watch Australian soap operas, or you watch the debates in parliament," he told the Thai YouTube programme Aim Hour earlier this year in February.

Mr Pita graduated with a bachelor's degree in finance in Bangkok's Thammasat University, a master's in public policy from Harvard University and an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

He has described himself as "an American product of public policy schools".

He started his career in business, first taking over the running of his late father's rice bran oil company and later as an executive director of ride-hailing company Grab Thailand.He was married to Chutima Teenpanart, a Thai actress-model, but the couple divorced in 2019. He is now a single dad of seven-year-old Pipim, whom he has brought to Move Forward's rallies.

Despite Move Forward's success at the polls on Sunday, it is not a given that he will become prime minister - this will be decided by the military-appointed Senate and the Lower House.

Asked on Monday about the uncertainty that the ruling establishment might rig the polls, Mr Pita said: "I'm not worried, but I'm not careless.

"With the consensus that came out of the election, it will be quite a hefty price to pay for someone who is thinking of abolishing the election results... The people of Thailand will not allow that to happen."
Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat could emerge the frontrunner as Thailand's next prime minister

Harvard graduate, corporate titan and unlikely pro-democracy champion, 42-year-old Pita Limjaroenrat has shocked the Thai establishment with a grassroots campaign pushing royal reform that has seen him emerge as a frontrunner to be the kingdom's next prime minister.

His Move Forward Party (MFP) has captured the majority in an election that saw record turnout -- with 14.1 million people throwing their support behind him.

Vowing Monday that he would be "the next prime minister of Thailand", Pita said in a triumphant victory speech that his party is now ready to form a government.

"Today is a new day, and hopefully it is full of sunshine and hope," he said in English.

Pita first appeared in Thailand's political scene as one of the fresh faces of the newly formed progressive Future Foward Party in 2018.

It drew the third-largest share of voters in the following year's poll -- but after facing a barrage of legal challenges that critics say were politically motivated, Future Forward was dissolved and its leaders banned from politics.

Reborn as the Move Forward Party, Pita has been a dynamic presence on the campaign trail -- capitalising on his youth and energy to reach voters disillusioned and yearning for change after more than eight years of military-backed government.

"We will together rewrite Thai political history," he told ecstatic supporters at MFP's last rally in Bangkok on Friday.

The election is the first since major youth-led pro-democracy protests erupted across Bangkok in 2020 with demands to curb the power and spending of Thailand's king -- breaching a long-held taboo on questioning the monarchy.

MFP is the only party promising to reform the kingdom's draconian lese majeste laws, known as "112" in Thailand after their section in the penal code.

A hugely controversial and sensitive subject, it has long been held as an untouchable in Thai politics.

Even opposition rivals Pheu Thai -- once Thailand's most popular party -- said they would leave the issue to parliament.

Story continues

But Pita has not shied from it, telling reporters late Sunday that "no matter what, we will push for royal lese majeste law reform".

- Harvard graduate -

In a Thai political scene more commonly populated by ageing wheeler-dealers, the charismatic father of one inspires rockstar levels of enthusiasm from his supporters.

Educated in New Zealand and the United States, Pita studied at Harvard on an international scholarship, before going on to become an entrepreneur.

However, following his father's death when he was 25, Pita returned home to run his family's heavily-in-debt business Agrifood, turning its fortunes around. He later became executive director of transport and delivery app Grab Thailand.

In 2012 he married Thai TV actress Chutima Teepanat, and they have a seven-year-old daughter. The marriage broke down in 2019.

His young daughter has featured prominently in the campaign with Pita bringing her on stage after speeches, much to the crowds' delight.

Online, he has utilised a public "personal" account -- followed by almost one million users -- to share images of him and his daughter wearing matching t-shirts and eating ice cream together.

But despite the success at the ballot box, there is no indication his path to prime minister will be straightforward.

He must now cobble a coalition together to surpass government-appointed senators who elect Thailand's prime minister from among eligible candidates.

rbu-pdw/dhc/ssy
In April, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey held a press conference outlining spring cleaning efforts his office would be undertaking in tandem with the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.

On Thursday, the PDP shared further details of what the mayors office and its teams have accomplished thus far.

According to the PDP, the two entities have since increased the frequency of street sweeping and morning and afternoon cleanings downtown, specifically on Smithfield Street, as well as weekly scheduled maintenance of 12 alleys. The citys Department of Public Works will be installing a permanent 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. crew specifically to address issues in the Central Business District. The PDP said that the DPW has so far removed over 35 construction signs downtown, in addition to broken sandbags and other obstructions on sidewalks and accessibility ramps.

Click here to read more from our partners at the Pittsburgh Business Times.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

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Teens charged for allegedly stealing Air Jordans during exchange outside Ross Chick-fil-A Company refuses to recall 67 million airbag inflators over safety fears Lost dog shot, killed by Ambridge police officer VIDEO: It looked like a river: Water main break at North Oakland condominium building causes damage DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
The Placer County Republican Party endorsed a candidate in one of the countys biggest upcoming races, an important distinction in the red county.

Mike Murray of Rocklin, won the partys endorsement with a unanimous vote Wednesday for a seat on the Placer County Board of Supervisors. The backing could give him an edge over campaign rivals Dave Butler, a former Rocklin city councilman, and Anthony DeMattei, a member of the countys planning commission, in the March election.

I am truly honored to receive the endorsement of the Placer County Republican Party, Murray said in a statement. ... I understand how rare it is to be unanimously endorsed, and I am truly humbled that this room of community leaders have put their trust in me to fight for the quality of life we expect in Placer County.

Murray has run for the 3rd District seat before. He lost to incumbent Jim Holmes in the 2020 primary by nearly 3,500 votes.

Holmes, who has held the seat for 18 years, is not running for re-election after new district boundaries adopted last year left him outside the boundaries. The 3rd District, which covers Rocklin and Loomis, shifted slightly west into the Whitney Ranch area while losing areas east of Interstate 80 and north of Dick Cook Road to the 4th District.

Murray launched his second campaign for the supervisors seat March 31 on a platform of keeping Placer red.

Murray worked as the campaign manager for Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, and currently serves as the vice chair for the Placer County Republican Party. He also works at the American Council as their political and outreach director.

He and his wife, Noelle, have two children and they live in Rocklin.

I will do everything in my power to give my kids the same opportunities I had growing up here, he said in a statement. Placer County is a special place. I often say, people flee from California, they do not flee from Placer County. We must do everything in our power to preserve our community here in Placer County.

He is endorsed by Roseville City Councilman Tracy Mendonsa, Rocklin Unified School District Trustee Julie Hupp and Loomis Mayor Danny Cartwright.
Photo: Sarah Morris (Getty Images)

Nearly one year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood has come out in its support of a slew of major court reforms, including expanding the Supreme Court, setting term limits, and ending single-judge divisions, which essentially allowed anti-abortion activists to choose the judge who would rule on their abortion pill lawsuit.



The fight to strengthen our democracy and bolster our institutions has always been intertwined with the fight for reproductive freedom, Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement on Sunday. [T]he courts have been used as a vehicle to advance a dangerous agenda against abortion rights, voting rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and so much more.

Read more

The Supreme Court hasnt been expanded for 150 years, Planned Parenthood notes, while the U.S. has become much more diverse and the population has multiplied by more than 10. Adding justices and balancing the court is also essentially our last hope for the restoration of abortion rights, or just about any human right you can name that the Supreme Court has gutted in recent years.

As it currently stands, a third of the bench consists of Trump picks, and the majority were chosen by right-wing presidents who lost the popular vote and vetted by fringe right-wing groups. The 52 Republican senators who voted to confirm Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the high court in 2020 represented 13.5 million fewer people than the senators who rejected her. Not exactly a sign of a thriving democracy!

In addition to expanding the Supreme Court, Planned Parenthood advocates for adding more judges on lower courts to keep up with the growing U.S. population and caseload, and ending single-judge divisions. This includes the Northern Texas District Court, where the sole judge, Matthew Kacsmaryk, was able to issue a major ruling on medication abortion access in March. (The Supreme Court temporarily blocked Kacsmaryks decision last month, and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments on Wednesday.) Single-judge divisions allow interests groupslike, say, anti-abortion activiststo go judge shopping by [picking] and [choosing] where to file cases, Planned Parenthood notes, and guarantee that a favorable judge decides their case.

Story continues

In addition to the anniversary of the Supreme Courts Dobbs decision that ended Roe, Planned Parenthoods announced support for court reforms also comes as nearly every week brings forth a new ethics scandal at the court, particularly surrounding Justice Clarence Thomas shady financial maneuverings and questionable friendship with a right-wing billionaire. To that end, the organization also calls for ethics and transparency requirements for the justices, noting that justices arent currently prevented from owning and trading stocks, the rules around their accepting gifts are poorly defined, and there are no direct consequences for wildly unethical behaviors in general.

In the first months of President Bidens term, he signed an executive order to establish a formal commission to closely study whether to add seats, among other reform proposals. Nothing has come of the commission yet, to the surprise of no one who understands the slow if not utterly stagnant grind of federal bureaucracyeven as an unelected government body hacks away at our most basic rights, worsening the maternal mortality crisis and landing pregnant people and doctors in jail. With all of this on the line, I couldnt care less what George Washington would have thought of court expansion and other extremely basic reforms; but its clearly a step in the right direction that a major organization like Planned Parenthood, with its deep influence in the Democratic Party, is on the same page.

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Click here to read the full article.
CHICAGO  A rapid drop in temperature is expected Tuesday in Chicago and Milwaukee as a "pneumonia front" races down Lake Michigan, changing a summerlike day to one more typical of the beginning of April in a matter of minutes.

Despite the name, you will not catch pneumonia from this type of cold front. The name simply refers to the dramatic temperature plunge for cities along the western shores of Lake Michigan as the front charges south through the lake's chilly waters, pushing that lake-chilled air into eastern portions of Illinois and Wisconsin.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

The passage of a "pneumonia front" causes a rapid temperature drop as chilly air from Lake Michigan pushes inland.

The current water temperatures in Lake Michigan are generally in the upper 40s and lower 50s. Temperatures Tuesday in Chicago and Milwaukee are expected to climb to 75 to 80 degrees  but not for long

"The bigger short-term headline is obviously the backdoor lake-enhanced cold front that will result in a rapid drop in temps this afternoon," meteorologists with the National Weather Service office in Chicago wrote in a forecast discussion Tuesday morning. "Along the north shore of the lakefront, still looks like temps should drop from around 80 into the 50s in minutes with the (frontal passage) between about (5-7 p.m. CDT). Gusty north-northeast winds are expected behind the front, especially close to the lake, where winds could gust to around 30 mph behind the front."

WHAT IS A BACKDOOR COLD FRONT?

A "pneumonia front" will cause temperatures to drop rapidly in portions of Illinois and Wisconsin on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.

The strong difference in density and pressure between the warmer air mass ahead of the cold front and the cooler air mass behind it causes these so-called pneumonia fronts to progress rapidly southward down the lake and shoreline areas, according to the NWS Chicago. Warm air is less dense than cold air, which causes it to rise and allows the colder, denser air to replace it at the surface as the front moves in.

Pneumonia fronts are common in the Great Lakes during the spring when water temperatures are still cold after reaching seasonal lows in the winter.

Story continues

CAN BIG TEMPERATURE SWINGS MAKE YOU SICK?

An extreme case occurred on March 24, 2017, when the temperature in Chicago dropped 29 degrees in one hour, falling from 77 at 5:15 p.m. to 48 at 6:15 p.m. That came up just 1 degree shy of Chicago's most extreme temperature drop of 30 degrees in one hour set on March 26, 1908, when temperatures fell from 71 to 41 between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

According to a 2005 study by Cory Behnke from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a pneumonia front  a term first used in the 1960s by the NWS office in Milwaukee  specifically refers to at least a 16-degree temperature drop in one hour, particularly along the western shores of Lake Michigan.
Police were called to Lady Gaga's Malibu mansion last week over a startling trespassing incident.

"Deputies responded to the residence of Lady Gaga, regarding a trespassing call," Lieutenant Jack Jordan of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department tells EW of the ordeal, which occurred May 11 at around 7:42 p.m. local time. "[Police then] contacted her security officer, who stated that the suspect had walked past security and placed flowers on the driveway."

Jordan says deputies later "determined no crime had occurred," as the unidentified man didn't attempt to make contact with Gaga, and he was not arrested.

A representative for Gaga had no comment. TMZ first reported the news of police responding to Gaga's home.

Lady Gaga at the 2023 Oscars

Arturo Holmes/Getty Images Lady Gaga at the 2023 Oscars

Gaga, who recently wrapped production on her upcoming role as Harley Quinn in Joker: Folie a Deux, previously grappled with another scary situation when her dog walker was shot amid an attempted robbery of her French bulldogs in 2021. One assailant was eventually sentenced to 21 years in prison.

"[She's] very supportive of my journey right now. It's hard for people to understand why someone would go about healing in this way. I grew up Catholic, in the Jesuit faith, and there's something about giving up your resources, giving up your belongings and to contribute back to society," Ryan Fischer, Gaga's dog walker, said in an interview with CBS This Morning.

EW later learned that Gaga covered his medical bills, totaling close to $100,000. "I know that doesn't make sense to a lot of people, but she totally gets it."

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

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Salt Lake Police investigate a scene in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. A suspicious death is being investigated in Salt Lake City, police say. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Salt Lake City police are asking for the public's help in the investigation of a body found in a field in Salt Lake City.

Police responded to a 911 call on Sunday at about 11 a.m. about an unresponsive person. The person was located in a field to the east of 536 S. 200 West, Salt Lake City police said in a news release.

Police arrived on scene and confirmed that the person was dead. Police have not released details about the person's potential cause of death, but police said "due to the nature of the case" it is considered to be "a suspicious death."

The name, age and sex of the person is not being released pending notification of next-of-kin, police said.

Police say they do not believe there is a threat to the community at this point.

Any person who may have information related to this investigation is asked to call 801-799-3000.
The desperate mother of a missing 4-year-old boy is calling out to the public for help as crews on Monday continue to search the water off Castle Island for her young son.

Law enforcement officials launched an intensive search on Castle Island and the surrounding ocean for Mohamed Fofana, of South Boston, on Sunday night.

Massachusetts State Police, Massachusetts Environmental Police, Boston firefighters, Boston police, Boston EMS, and the Coast Guard combed a sprawling area well into the night without any trace of the child.

State police searching water off Castle Island for missing 4-year-old boy

MSP told Boston 25 News that Mohamed was playing at a park on Castle Island on the South Boston coastline with an adult family member Sunday evening. Shortly after 7 p.m., the relative lost sight of Mohamed. They couldnt find the little boy and called 911 around 7:30 p.m.

Mohameds mother said her son was with his grandfather and sister when he disappeared. She also noted her son doesnt speak.

Please help me. If someone has Mohamed, I need Mohamed. Please help me, the boys mother said in an emotional plea. Hes autistic, he doesnt talk. Please, please.

Mohameds grandfather said the park was crowded while they were playing and that they were unfamiliar with the area.

MSP patrols responded and conducted a sweep of the area. Multiple other agencies and units then assisted in the search by land, air, and water.

Police remained on the scene overnight after suspending the search around 1 a.m. Monday. The search resumed Monday morning with officials shutting down parts of Castle Island to sweep the area with K9 dogs. Boats and divers were also searching a section of ocean known as the Western Way, which connects Dorchester Bay to the south and the Boston Main Channel to the north.

The Fort area on Castle Island has reopened to public. There is a huge presence of emergency officials along the water as the search continues for missing boy. pic.twitter.com/iiHhgbFVxE  Robert Goulston (@rgoulston) May 15, 2023

State police said three boats are using side-scan sonar to obtain images of the ocean floor. Divers are also searching along the Castle Island seawall out to 150 years offshore.

Story continues

The state police airwing and the Boston Fire Department Drone Unit are also conducting an aerial search of the coastline. Chelsea, Cambridge, Massport, and DCR officials are also assisting.

Crews are searching rocks as tide goes down. pic.twitter.com/eDvUgFACUE  Robert Goulston (@rgoulston) May 15, 2023

In a statement, Boston Public Schools confirmed that Mohamed was a student in their system.

We are deeply concerned to hear of the disappearance of one of our students, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and the entire school community during this difficult time, BPS said.

Mohamed is Black and was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, and blue footwear. Anyone who sees Mohamed or who has information about him should call 911 immediately.

UPDATE: It appears the search has resumed for missing 4-year-old South Boston boy Mohemed Fofena. He disappeared on Castle Island last night.



Boats, chopper, police all back at the park after suspending search at 1 AM.



FULL STORY https://t.co/h6x1raioGU@boston25 pic.twitter.com/tZfmUky1Sh  Julianne Lima (@JulianneLimaTV) May 15, 2023

SHARE: This is 4-year-old Mohemed Fofena from South Boston. He disappeared while playing at the park on Castle Island last night. He was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt & jeans. He has autism and is nonverbal.



Live reports on the search efforts all morning on @boston25 pic.twitter.com/vvfXY68awm  Julianne Lima (@JulianneLimaTV) May 15, 2023

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
A Vineland man is facing attempted murder and aggravated assault charges for allegedly going after a police officer and another person with a large knife in an incident near his home.

Police shot him twice during the incident on May 5.

Luis R. Conde Perez, 28, of the 500 block of Birch Street, is now in Cumberland County Jail on the charges.

An arrest report states the officer, who is not identified, was dispatched to Birch Street after a call and encountered a male subject armed with a large knife.

More: Why'd South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter's chicken bill cross the line for Vineland?

More: Christmas cold left South Jersey electric plant off the grid; what it might cost you now

The male subject charged towards the Officer and a civilian on scene, resulting in the Officer shooting the subject two (2) times with his service issued firearm, county Detective Miguel Martinez states in an affidavit.

The civilian on scene was wounded by the subject during the altercation prior to the Officer discharging his firearm, the affidavit states.

The report does not identify the civilian, who was taken to the hospital and released after treatment. The report states that one victim was not injured while the other victim, apparently the civilian, sustained injuries to his abdomen.

Conde Perez was treated at Cooper University Hospital after the shooting and then taken to Cumberland County Jail.

Conde Perez also is charged with possession of a weapon with a purpose to use it.

Criminal charges are not proof of guilt but represent the start of the criminal justice procedure that may result in a trial.

The county Prosecutors Offices Professional Standards Unit is investigating the shooting according to a New Jersey Office of the Attorney General directive covering police-involved shootings.

Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey more than 30 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.

Have a tip? Reach out at jsmith@thedailyjournal.com. Help support local journalism with a subscription.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Vineland man in court, shot in alleged knife attack on cop, civilian
UPDATE @ 9:30 p.m.:

One of three Texas Longhorns that escaped their pasture in Fairfield Township has been captured.

Fairfield Township Police Department posted an update on social media stating One lassoed and in custody and two to go.

Sightings of the missing cattle should be reported to the Butler County Dispatch Center at (513) 785-1300.

>> Police: Butler Co. woman set on fire remains in critical condition

INITIAL REPORT:

Police are working to capture three Texas Longhorns that escaped from their pasture in Fairfield Township.

Fairfield Twp. police are urging residents and drivers to use caution in the area of Morris Road, Hamilton-Mason Road, Tylersville Road, and Bypass Route 4 as officials work to capture the escaped cattle.

The cattle escaped from their pasture in the 7800-block of Morris Road, Fairfield Twp. police said in a social media post.

The public is advised to not approach the cattle and motorists traveling in the area are urged to exercise extreme caution and keep a safe distance from the animals, the post said.

Sightings of the missing cattle should be reported to the Butler County Dispatch Center at (513) 785-1300.

The Fairfield Township Police Department is urging caution to residents and motorists in the area of Morris Road,... Posted by Fairfield Township Police Department on Monday, May 15, 2023












Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, delivers an address at a National Conservatism conference in Westminster this afternoon - Leon Neal/Getty Images Europe

Suella Braverman has attacked "prognosticators of doom" who issued dire economic warnings about Brexit as the Home Secretary said they had been proven wrong.

Ms Braverman told a National Conservatism conference in Westminster this afternoon that Conservatives are "sceptical of self-appointed gurus, experts, and elites" as she criticised people who predicted leaving the EU would lead to an "economic catastrophe".

She said: "We [Conservatives] are sceptical of self-appointed gurus, experts, and elites who think they know best what is in the publics interest, even when that public is quite certain that they need something different from what those experts are proposing.

"Those prognosticators of doom who said that Brexit would be an economic catastrophe for the UK  not only were they wrong, they demonstrated a profound ignorance of the British people when they attributed their legitimate desire to regain our national sovereignty as some mix of stupidity and xenophobia."

You can follow the latest updates below.

04:08 PM

That is all for today...

Thank you for joining me for today's politics live blog.

I will be back tomorrow morning.

03:31 PM

Tory MP: Net migration numbers running at 'hundreds of thousands too many'

A Conservative MP said net migration numbers are running at "hundreds of thousands too many" as he called for tougher border controls, writes Dominic Penna.

Danny Kruger told a National Conservatism conference in Westminster: "Whether its a million or half a million migrants this year, that is hundreds of thousands too many."

He also sounded a pessimistic note about "the machine" he said was at the heart of modern society, noting British society "feels insecure, under threat and we feel confused about what to do... [civil servants] want to reanimate the corpse of the 2000s and 2010s. Let's not do that. Let's do something else."

Story continues

03:11 PM

Prophets of Brexit doom were wrong, says Suella Braverman

Suella Braverman has attacked "prognosticators of doom" who issued dire economic warnings about Brexit, writes Dominic Penna, The Telegraph's political reporter.

Ms Braverman told a National Conservatism conference in Westminster this afternoon: "We are sceptical of self-appointed gurus, experts, and elites who think they know best what is in the publics interest, even when that public is quite certain that they need something different from what those experts are proposing.

"Those prognosticators of doom who said that Brexit would be an economic catastrophe for the UK  not only were they wrong, they demonstrated a profound ignorance of the British people when they attributed their legitimate desire to regain our national sovereignty as some mix of stupidity and xenophobia."

03:02 PM

Suella Braverman mocks Keir Starmer over trans comments

Suella Braverman joked Sir Keir Starmer could campaign to become Labours first female prime minister next year as she mocked him over his past comments on trans issues.

Speaking at a National Conservatism conference in Westminster, the Home Secretary said: Conservatives must always be honest with the public. Honest about our principles and honest about our priorities.

In that way, we distinguish ourselves from the leader of the left, Sir Keir Starmer. He opposes today the things he stood for yesterday, that hell change his mind on tomorrow and hell campaign on next year as a man of great principle.

Although given his definition of a woman, we cant rule him out from running to be Labours first female prime minister.

Earlier in her speech, Ms Braverman said to applause from the audience that it was an unfashionable fact that 100 per cent of women do not have a penis.

Sir Keir said in a Sunday Times interview earlier this year that 99.9 per cent of women do not have a penis.

02:37 PM

Suella Braverman: Conservatives are 'sceptical of self-appointed gurus'

Suella Braverman said Conservatives are "sceptical of self-appointed gurus, experts and elites" as she addressed a National Conservatism conference in Westminster this afternoon.

The Home Secretary said Conservatives "prize experience, judgment and wisdom" as she said she would rather be governed by the first 2,000 people in the telephone directory than by the Harvard University faculty.

"Common sense and a shared understanding of who we are and what really matters in life have vastly more to recommend themselves than does anything that emanates from an ivory tower," she said.

02:31 PM

West must make clear to Beijing that Taiwan escalation will prompt 'severe reaction'

Former prime minister Liz Truss said the West needs to make clear there will be "a very serious and severe reaction" to any escalation of Chinese aggression towards Taiwan.

She told the Copenhagen Democracy Summit this afternoon: "I dont think Vladimir Putin believed the West was serious about sanctions before we put them on, and we have to be absolutely clear that if there is any kind of escalation in Taiwan there would be a very serious and severe reaction."

02:25 PM

Truss says China 'largest threat we face to the free world'

Liz Truss has branded China "the largest threat that we face to the free world".

The former prime minister used an appearance at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit this afternoon to warn "we cannot listen to rhetorical bullying from authoritarian regimes".

Asked about her own stance on Beijing compared with the less hawkish position of her successor Rishi Sunak, she said: "I stand by my assertion that we should designate China as a threat. I think theyre a very clear threat. I think theyre the largest threat that we face to the free world."

02:24 PM

Suella Braverman speech disrupted by Extinction Rebellion activists

Suella Braverman's speech at the National Conservatism conference in central London this afternoon was interrupted by two members of activist group Extinction Rebellion, writes Dominic Penna.

A protester posing as a conference delegate stood up and started shouting over Ms Braverman, the Home Secretary, seconds into her remarks.

As soon as he was removed, he was followed by a second activist who spoke over her as she tried to restart her speech.

After the protesters were escorted out by security, Ms Braverman quipped: "Anyone else?"

01:57 PM

No10: 'No plans' to change national voting age

Downing Street said there are "no plans" to change the voting age at general elections as Labour considers the move along with a proposal to give the right to vote to EU citizens who have settled in the UK (see the posts below at 09.16 and 09.43).

The Prime Ministers Official Spokesman said: "The right to vote in parliamentary elections and choose the next UK Government is restricted to British citizens, citizens of those with the closest historical links to our country. Thats the position of the vast majority of nations across the world."

The spokesman added that 18 "is recognised as the age at which one becomes an adult  full citizenship rights, drinking, smoking, voting are only gained at adulthood".

"We have no plans to change the national voting age," the spokesman said.

01:00 PM

Suella Braverman comments on cutting net migration are in line with Government approach, says No10

Downing Street said Suella Bravermans expected comments this afternoon on cutting net migration are in line with the Governments approach.

The Home Secretary will use a speech at a National Conservatism conference to demand Rishi Sunak deliver the Tory manifesto promise to reduce net migration so that Britain does not forget how to "do things for ourselves".

The Prime Ministers Official Spokesman said: "She continues to represent the UK Government views on all issues relating to the Home Office, as you would expect."

The spokesman added: "We want to see employers make long-term investments in the UK domestic workforce instead of relying on overseas labour as part of building a high-wage and high-skilled economy and we are supporting those industries in doing that."

The 2019 Tory manifesto pledged that "overall numbers will come down". But asked about what level the numbers would come down from, the spokesman said at lunchtime: "I dont think weve set out a baseline."

12:39 PM

No10: 'No plans' to donate Typhoons or F-35s to Ukraine as Kyiv wants F-16s

Downing Street said there are "no plans" to supply Ukraine with the Typhoon or F-35 fighter jets currently operated by the UK armed forces.

The Ukrainian government has identified the more widely-used F-16 as its Western fighter plane of choice as it pushes for the aircraft to be donated.

The Prime Ministers Official Spokesman told reporters at lunchtime: "The Ukrainian government has made the decision to train their pilots on F-16 jets, thats a decision for them.

"Obviously, I believe, they are in discussions with other countries who use those jets and we are working with those countries."

12:34 PM

Michael Gove: Speed up house building or Ill remove planning powers

Michael Gove has threatened to strip planning approval powers from the Peak District National Park Authority and nine councils in a bid to speed up house building.

The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary wrote letters to the bodies chief executives after they were found to be repeatedly falling short of targets for making decisions on planning applications.

Mr Gove warned that decision-making powers would be removed and given to the UK-wide Planning Inspectorate unless tangible improvements were seen by June.

You can read the full story here.

12:03 PM

UK training for Ukrainian pilots to fly western fighter jets to start 'relatively soon', says PM

Rishi Sunak said the UK will be ready to help train Ukrainian pilots to use Western fighter jets "relatively soon" but that helping to supply the planes was "not a straightforward thing".

Speaking to broadcasters following talks with Volodymyr Zelensky at Chequers, the Prime Minister said: "We are going to be a key part of the coalition of countries that provides that support to Volodymyr and Ukraine.

"It is not a straightforward thing as Volodymyr and I have been discussing to build up that fighter combat aircraft capability. Its not just the provision of planes its also the training of pilots and all the logistics that go alongside that and the UK can play a big part in that.

"One thing we will be doing starting actually relatively soon is training of Ukrainian pilots and thats something weve discussed today and were ready to implement those plans in relatively short order."

11:55 AM

Zelensky focused on fighter jet asks during talks with Sunak

Volodymyr Zelensky said he discussed the issue of western fighter jets with Rishi Sunak in their talks at Chequers this morning and that he was anticipating "very important decisions" to be made soon.

The Ukrainian President told broadcasters following the meeting: "Today we spoke about the jets. Very important topic for us because we cant control the sky."

Rishi Sunak and Volodymyr Zelensky smile as they walk around the Chequers estate in Buckinghamshire this morning - Shutterstock

He said Ukraine and the UK were "real partners", with Mr Sunak knowing details of developments on the battlefield.

Mr Zelensky said: "We want to create this jets coalition and Im very positive with it. We spoke about it and I see that in the closest time you will hear some, I think very important decisions but we have to work a little bit more on it."

11:53 AM

PM and Zelensky discussed long term security arrangements for Ukraine

Rishi Sunak said he discussed "long-term" security arrangements from allied countries for Ukraine to protect itself against "future Russian aggression" in his meeting with the countrys leader.

Speaking to broadcasters following his talks with Volodymyr Zelensky at Chequers, the Prime Minister said: "Another topic of conversation weve had today is about the security arrangements we should put in place among allied countries for Ukraine for the long term to ensure it can defend itself and provide effective deterrence against future Russian aggression."

11:32 AM

PM has 'surrendered to the blob' on scrapping EU laws, claims Rees-Mogg

Jacob Rees-Mogg accused Rishi Sunak of "surrendering to the blob" after the Government watered down a post-Brexit promise to scrap EU laws (see the post below at 11.15).

Addressing a National Conservatism conference in Westminster, the former business secretary and leading Brexiteer, said: "Rishi Sunak made a specific promise to scrap thousands of EU laws in a specific video with a shredder working overtime. He's broken that promise, which is very unfortunate because one of his virtues is his trustworthiness.

"And his surrender to the blob risks exposing the Government to ridicule, ridicule particularly to the action he has taken. It also risks making us poorer.

"Because restoring economic growth is vital. Resolving our constitutional settlement is the way to get to prosperity, and it won't be if the governing philosophy of the Conservatives in power is simply taking official advice."

11:15 AM

Jacob Rees-Mogg criticises Rishi Sunak over 'pathetically unambitious' axing of EU laws

Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former business secretary, has slammed the Governments decision to scale back post-Brexit plans to scrap EU laws.

The Government had pledged to complete the axing of thousands of regulations by the end of the year but the overhaul has now been watered down.

Some 600 laws will now be revoked rather than the 4,000 which had been originally pledged in a U-turn which has sparked a furious backlash among Tory Eurosceptics.

Mr Rees-Mogg told a National Conservatism conference in Westminster this morning: "These reforms are so pathetically unambitious. We are removing things that are merely otiose, and would have been dropping off by the sunset, which was the whole point of a sunset in the first place. But the opportunity for the country is supply side reforms."

10:46 AM

Starmer tells Braverman to cancel migration speech and 'get back to the office'

Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, is due to address a National Conservatism conference in Westminster this afternoon when she will demand that Rishi Sunak deliver the Tory manifesto promise to reduce net migration so that Britain does not forget how to "do things for ourselves" (you can read the full story here).

Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, said this morning that Ms Braverman should cancel the speech, "get back to the office" and solve the problems with the UK's asylum system.

He told LBC Radio: "Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, is today making a speech about what she thinks ought to happen on immigration. She is the Home Secretary.

"Theyve been in power for 13 years. This is like [Mikel] Arteta [the Arsenal manager] doing a speech this afternoon on what Arsenal ought to do."

Sir Keir added: "This is pathetic. Id say to the Home Secretary: Stop the speech, cancel that, get back to the office and sort out the processing of these claims."

10:32 AM

Tory MP claims 'cultural Marxism' is 'destroying our children's souls'

A Conservative MP has claimed "cultural Marxism" is "destroying our childrens souls".

Miriam Cates told the National Conservatism conference in Westminster that young people would not have children if they did not have "hope for the future".

She said: "That hope is sadly diminishing in so many of our young people today, because liberal individualism has proven to be completely powerless to resist the cultural Marxism that is systematically destroying our childrens souls.

"When culture, schools and universities openly teach that our country is racist, our heroes are villains, humanity is killing the Earth, you are what you desire, diversity is theology, boundaries are tyranny and self-restraint is oppression, is it any wonder that mental health conditions, self-harm and suicide, and epidemic levels of anxiety and confusion characterise the emerging generation?"

She added: "We must end the indoctrination of our children with destructive and narcissistic ideologies, instead protecting childhood, training children in the timeless virtues and teaching them how to love our country."

10:28 AM

Falling birth rate bigger risk to West than Russia or China, claims Tory MP

Britain's falling birth rate is a bigger risk to the West than Russia, China or climate change, a Tory MP has claimed.

Miriam Cates, who represents the Red Wall seat of Penistone and Stocksbridge, told the first day of the National Conservatism conference in London that the declining birth rate is the "one overarching threat to British conservatism and the whole of western society".

She said: "Its not climate change, its not Russia or China or Iran. Its not the neo-Marxist ideology that has so weakened our institutions. No, there is one critical outcome that liberal individualism has failed to deliver and that is babies."

Ms Cates went on to blame "recklessly liberal" immigration policies for a shortage of good family homes, and criticised society for failing to "value" motherhood and paternity.

10:23 AM

Stage invasion briefly disrupts Rees-Mogg speech at National Conservatism conference

Jacob Rees-Moggs keynote address at a National Conservatism conference in London was briefly disrupted by a stage invasion this morning, writes Dominic Penna, The Telegraphs political reporter, who is at the venue.

A man briefly got up onto the stage and grabbed the microphone from Mr Rees-Mogg.

He said: "Ladies and gentlemen, you're very nice people and I'm sure you are fantastic. I'd like to draw your attention to a few characteristics of fascism"

A protester interrupts Jacob Rees-Mogg's keynote address at a National Conservatism conference in London this morning - Jeremy Selwyn/Selwyn Pics

The man was subsequently led away by security as the audience laughed and cheered.

Mr Rees-Mogg said national conservatism was about free speech "so he can have his national loony convention next week".

10:14 AM

Shift to proportional representation not a 'priority' for Labour government, says Starmer

Changing the UK voting system at general elections to proportional representation will not be a "priority" for a Labour government, Sir Keir Starmer said this morning - but he did not entirely rule the move out.

Asked if proportional representation was going into the mix of Labour's consideration of potential voting changes, Sir Keir said: "Not really. To be fair, there is a lot of people in my party who think very strongly, there is a fierce debate. Again, in Wales and Scotland you have got versions of PR but I have been very clear, I think we are going to inherit a real mess if we are privileged enough to come into power.

"I know that means an incoming Labour government needs to be laser focused on fixing the things that need fixing and PR isnt one of my priorities."

09:58 AM

Zelensky thanks UK for continued support amid ongoing Russian invasion

Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the UK for the support shown to Ukraine since the Russian invasion as he said he and Rishi Sunak would "discuss very important issues" during talks at Chequers today.

Speaking to Mr Sunak in front of broadcast cameras this morning, Mr Zelensky said: "Your support is already a lot for us, you did a lot  you, your government and His Majesty the King and of course your people, your society.

"We are thankful from all our hearts, from Ukrainians, from our soldiers, we are thankful. It is a privilege to be here."

09:53 AM

Sunak compares Zelensky to Sir Winston Churchill

Rishi Sunak compared Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukraine's fight against Russia to Sir Winston Churchill and the UK during World War Two as he welcomed him to Chequers.

Speaking to the Ukrainian President in front of broadcast cameras, the Prime Minister said: "You are actually the first foreign leader that I have had the privilege of welcoming here as Prime Minister and there is a lot of great history here.

"In fact this room that we are standing in, Winston Churchill made many of his famous speeches in World War Two from this room and in the same way today your leadership, your country's bravery and fortitude are an inspiration to us all.

" I look forward to us discussing what more we can do to support you and your country."

Rishi Sunak welcomes Volodymyr Zelensky to Chequers this morning - Carl Court /Getty Images Europe

09:48 AM

Pictured: All smiles as Rishi Sunak welcomes Volodymyr Zelensky to Chequers

Rishi Sunak welcomes Volodymyr Zelensky to Chequers in Buckinghamshire

09:43 AM

Handing vote to 16 and 17-year-olds 'not such an outlandish idea', says Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer said handing the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds is "not such an outlandish idea".

The Labour leader told LBC Radio: "They can have babies, they can work, they can join the army, so there are big things you can do at 16 and 17 and, again, it is not such an outlandish idea. In Wales it already happens, in Scotland it already happens. So again, we are looking at voting."

He added: "These are some of the ideas that are going into the mix but they are not policy. We are just looking at them."

09:38 AM

'It just doesnt pass the common sense test for me'

Sir Keir Starmer said the fact that an EU citizen who has lived in the UK for 30 years cannot vote at a general election "doesn't pass the common sense test for me".

He told LBC Radio: "Lets just take someone who has been here for 30 years, has literally put down their roots here this is their country, this is where they live, this is where they contribute.

"I think it is very hard to say well, you should really be voting back in your country of origin where you havent been living for 30 years. Actually it just doesnt pass the common sense test for me."

09:24 AM

Zelensky arrives at Chequers for talks with Sunak

Volodymyr Zelensky , the President of Ukraine, has now arrived at Chequers to hold talks with Rishi Sunak.

The Prime Minister welcomed Mr Zelensky and they posed for photographs before walking away.

09:23 AM

Starmer: 'Feels wrong' that EU citizens settled in UK cannot vote at general election

Sir Keir Starmer said it "feels wrong" that EU citizens who have lived in the UK for many years are not currently allowed to vote in general elections.

Asked to make the case for giving the vote to settled migrants, the Labour leader told LBC Radio: "The thinking behind it is that if someone has been here say 10, 20, 30 years, contributing to this economy, part of our community, they ought to be able to vote.

"Let me bring it alive, I have obviously knocked on a lot of doors in the last few years and you go to doors sometimes in a general election and you are met with someone who says look, I am an EU citizen, I have been living here for 30 years, I am married to a Brit, my kids were raised and brought up here, they are now working in the UK, I am even working in lots of community projects etc, but I cant vote.

"I think that feels wrong and something ought to be done about it."

09:16 AM

Sir Keir Starmer rejects claims Labour is planning to reverse Brexit

Sir Keir Starmer has rejected claims that he is trying to drag the UK back into the EU with a Labour plan to hand the vote to millions of EU citizens (you can read the original story here).

The voting policy is being considered by Labour and Greg Hands, the Conservative Party chairman, argued Labour was "laying the groundwork to drag the UK back into the EU by stealth".

But Sir Keir told LBC Radio this morning: "The first thing is there is no plan to reverse Brexit. I dont know how many times I have said there is no case for going back in, we are going to make Brexit work and that is our absolutely firm position."

He added: "This is the fact that we are looking at some of the voting issues and looking at is the operative word, there is no settled policy here."

08:45 AM

Senior Tory MP refuses to say if Sunak should lead Tories into next election

Sir John Redwood, a senior Tory MP, has refused to say whether Rishi Sunak should lead the Tories into the next general election.

Asked if he agreed that Mr Sunak will, and should, fight the next election as leader, the former Cabinet minister said: "I agree that the argument at the moment is about what we do now, immediately. Most of us just want to govern the country well or help those who govern the country well to do so and we think policy needs to change.

"So the focus is all on policy, not on people."

Asked if it would become about people if the policies do not change, Sir John told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "The current focus is on policy and I am an optimist. I think this Government could do well, it could make changes for the better, I and my colleagues are desperate for it to do so.

"It needs to make some big changes on its attitude towards Brexit, on its attitude towards economic growth and on its attitude towards migration."

08:20 AM

Braverman challenges Sunak to cut unsustainable net migration

Suella Braverman will demand that Rishi Sunak deliver the Tory manifesto promise to reduce net migration so that Britain does not forget how to "do things for ourselves".

The Home Secretary will use a speech at the National Conservatism Conference this afternoon to argue that "its not xenophobic to say that mass and rapid migration is unsustainable" amid a Cabinet split over the scale of immigration since the Brexit vote.

The Tories made a manifesto pledge in 2019 to bring down overall numbers, but the official figures are expected to show net migration close to 700,000 within weeks, with analysis suggesting that it could top one million this year.

You can read the full story here.

07:59 AM

Zelensky visit comes ahead of big diplomatic week for Rishi Sunak

Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the UK today comes ahead of a crunch week of international diplomacy for Rishi Sunak.

The Prime Minister is due to attend a Council of Europe summit in Iceland on Tuesday and Wednesday before travelling to a G7 summit in Japan this weekend.

Mr Zelensky is also due to attend the Council of Europe summit virtually.

Downing Street said Mr Sunak will "use these gatherings to push for sustained international support for Ukraine, both in terms of military aid and long-term security assurances".

07:49 AM

PM: Ukraine facing 'crucial moment' and allies 'must not let them down'

Rishi Sunak said today's meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky at Chequers comes at a "crucial moment in Ukraine's resistance" and the country's allies "must not let them down".

The Prime Minister said: "This is a crucial moment in Ukraines resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke. They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year.

"We must not let them down. The frontlines of Putins war of aggression may be in Ukraine but the fault lines stretch all over the world. It is in all our interest to ensure Ukraine succeeds and Putins barbarism is not rewarded.

"That is why the UK is sustaining our support to Ukraine  from tanks to training, ammunition to armoured vehicles. And this message of solidarity will ring loud in all my meetings with fellow world leaders in the days ahead."

07:47 AM

Sunak to announce new UK donation of long-range attack drones to Ukraine

Rishi Sunak will today confirm the UK is donating hundreds of air defence missiles and more unmanned aerial systems to Ukraine as he holds talks with Volodymyr Zelensky.

The latest donation, which comes just days after the UK announced it was giving Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Kyiv, will include hundreds of new long-range attack drones with a range of more than 200km.

Downing Street said these weapons "will all be delivered over the coming months as Ukraine prepares to intensify its resistance to the ongoing Russian invasion".

Mr Sunak will discuss with Mr Zelensky what further support Ukraine needs in the coming months as it prepares for an intensified period of military activity.

07:40 AM

No10: Rishi Sunak will welcome Zelensky to Chequers

Rishi Sunak will welcome Volodymyr Zelensky to Chequers, the Prime Minister's grace and favour home in Buckinghamshire, for talks today, No10 has just announced.

Mr Zelensky will be the first world leader that Mr Sunak has hosted at the residence.

Downing Street said the Ukrainian President had already arrived in the UK.

07:37 AM

Visit to London continues whistle-stop tour of western Europe for Zelensky

Volodymyr Zelensky has engaged in a whistle stop tour of western Europe in recent days as he looks to bolster support for Ukraine as it continues to fight back against the Russian invasion.

The Ukrainian President held talks in Rome, Italy, and then in Berlin, Germany on Saturday before heading to Paris, France yesterday.

Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky meets French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Presidential Palace on May 14 - Christian Liewig/Corbis News

The visit to the UK today comes after Rishi Sunak and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace announced the Government had agreed to donate long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles after continued Russian attacks.

It also comes after the UK hosted the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine on Saturday.

07:23 AM

Volodymyr Zelensky to hold talks with Rishi Sunak in London today

Volodymyr Zelensky has announced a surprised visit to London today to hold "substantive negotiations" with Rishi Sunak.

The Ukrainian President said that the UK "is a leader" in helping the country to expand its ground and air military capabilities and "this cooperation will continue today".

Today  London. The UK is a leader when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air. This cooperation will continue today. I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations.    (@ZelenskyyUa) May 15, 2023

Mr Zelensky tweeted: "Today  London. The UK is a leader when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air. This cooperation will continue today.

"I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations."

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Various kinds of music around world meet in Xi'an via cultural communication

Xinhua) 08:20, May 15, 2023

A Brazilian band performs in an outdoor show in Weiyang District of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, April 16, 2020. Founded about 3,100 years ago, Xi'an, which is today the capital of China's Shaanxi Province, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. Various kinds of music around the world such as rock and roll and Qinqiang Opera, a Chinese folk opera genre, meet here via cultural communication. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen)

Members of the Xi'an Symphony Orchestra perform in an outdoor concert near the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Sept. 19, 2020. Founded about 3,100 years ago, Xi'an, which is today the capital of China's Shaanxi Province, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. Various kinds of music around the world such as rock and roll and Qinqiang Opera, a Chinese folk opera genre, meet here via cultural communication. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)

Tourists enjoy a show staged by a band in front of the Yongning Gate of the ancient city wall of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 1, 2022. Founded about 3,100 years ago, Xi'an, which is today the capital of China's Shaanxi Province, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. Various kinds of music around the world such as rock and roll and Qinqiang Opera, a Chinese folk opera genre, meet here via cultural communication. (Photo by Zou Jingyi/Xinhua)

Actors perform a stage play in the Tang Paradise in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 24, 2023. Founded about 3,100 years ago, Xi'an, which is today the capital of China's Shaanxi Province, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. Various kinds of music around the world such as rock and roll and Qinqiang Opera, a Chinese folk opera genre, meet here via cultural communication. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

A band performs during the Xi'an Strawberry Music Festival in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Nov. 1, 2020. Founded about 3,100 years ago, Xi'an, which is today the capital of China's Shaanxi Province, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. Various kinds of music around the world such as rock and roll and Qinqiang Opera, a Chinese folk opera genre, meet here via cultural communication. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)

Actors perform during the closing ceremony of the 9th Qinqiang Opera art festival in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, June 24, 2022. Founded about 3,100 years ago, Xi'an, which is today the capital of China's Shaanxi Province, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. Various kinds of music around the world such as rock and roll and Qinqiang Opera, a Chinese folk opera genre, meet here via cultural communication. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

Chinese artists perform in a concert near the ancient city wall of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Sept. 22, 2018. Founded about 3,100 years ago, Xi'an, which is today the capital of China's Shaanxi Province, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. Various kinds of music around the world such as rock and roll and Qinqiang Opera, a Chinese folk opera genre, meet here via cultural communication. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen)

A band performs near the ancient city wall of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 11, 2023. Founded about 3,100 years ago, Xi'an, which is today the capital of China's Shaanxi Province, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. Various kinds of music around the world such as rock and roll and Qinqiang Opera, a Chinese folk opera genre, meet here via cultural communication. (Photo by Zou Jingyi/Xinhua)

Tourists enjoy a music performance at the Datang Everbright City scenic area in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 8, 2019. Founded about 3,100 years ago, Xi'an, which is today the capital of China's Shaanxi Province, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. Various kinds of music around the world such as rock and roll and Qinqiang Opera, a Chinese folk opera genre, meet here via cultural communication. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

The chorus of the Xi'an Symphony Orchestra performs in front of Pit No.1 of the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 18, 2019. Founded about 3,100 years ago, Xi'an, which is today the capital of China's Shaanxi Province, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. Various kinds of music around the world such as rock and roll and Qinqiang Opera, a Chinese folk opera genre, meet here via cultural communication. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)

Folk artists perform Qinqiang Opera at the Yuxiang Gate of the ancient city wall of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 12, 2023. Founded about 3,100 years ago, Xi'an, which is today the capital of China's Shaanxi Province, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. Various kinds of music around the world such as rock and roll and Qinqiang Opera, a Chinese folk opera genre, meet here via cultural communication. (Photo by Zou Jingyi/Xinhua)

Members of a chorus perform at a park near the ancient city wall of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 12, 2023. Founded about 3,100 years ago, Xi'an, which is today the capital of China's Shaanxi Province, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. Various kinds of music around the world such as rock and roll and Qinqiang Opera, a Chinese folk opera genre, meet here via cultural communication. (Photo by Zou Jingyi/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Across the country, a growing number of states are introducing or expanding school choice legislation. Proponents of these programs tout greater educational options for families through access to alternatives to traditional public schools including charter schools and homeschooling. But these initiatives take on a troubling aspect when they divert taxpayer money to policies like vouchers and education savings accounts to pay for education in private schools  nearly two-thirds of which have a religious affiliation.

Even more troubling: Our research shows that many of these proponents have one particular religious affiliation in mind.

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Our home state of Iowa is a good example. Under newly passed legislation, Iowa families are eligible to receive $7,598 a year in an education savings account for private school tuition. According to a Des Moines Register analysis, all but six of Iowas 183 private schools have a religious affiliation.

Related: Teacher Pay, School Choice, Literacy: Top Priorities for 44 Governors in 2023

A Grinnell College National Poll asked 1,000 adults 18 years of age or older whether states should be allowed to subsidize religious education with public funds. Fifty-five percent of Americans said they should not. The major exceptions to this fact: Republicans and evangelical Christians. Majorities of both groups favor the policy.

But our research found that support for school choice programs isnt just about providing options for families of all religious backgrounds  it is about the unspoken assumption that the beneficiaries of these programs are private Christian schools. Respondents to our poll were split into two groups at random. One group was asked if they would favor using taxpayer funds to support students who attend private religious schools, with no particular faith mentioned. The other half was asked the same question, prefaced with the statement, Across the United States, there are private religious schools affiliated with the Muslim, Jewish and Christian traditions.

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While 55% of respondents opposed funding private religious education in both versions of the question, Republicans support for providing taxpayer funds to religious schools fell by nearly 10 points, from 60% to a bare majority of 51%, when they were informed that there are Muslim and Jewish schools in addition to Christian options. We observed a similar decline in support among evangelical Christians; 65% supported providing public funds answering the generic version of the question, compared with 53% responding to the multi-religious version.

Efforts to pass school choice legislation have risen to prominence as public K-12 education has increasingly become the subject of partisan and ideological conflict over the teaching of topics like gender identity and the history of racism in America. The response in many Republican-led states has been a two-pronged effort to more tightly regulate classroom lessons and library materials in the public school system, while giving parents greater support for moving their children into private schools.

Related: GOP Plan to Expand School Vouchers to All 1.1 Million Arizona Students Clears House

The fact that so many of these are Christian-affiliated explains why providing state funding for private education has been a longstanding goal of the Christian conservatives who form a core part of the Republican Partys base. But the United States is a nation of enormous religious diversity. While many Americans are likely familiar with a private Christian school in their local community, far fewer are likely to have encountered any of the countrys 1,300 or so private Jewish and Muslim K-12 schools.

While perhaps the strongest advocates of choice are not considering them in their efforts, non-Christian schools would indeed be eligible to benefit from state-funded school choice programs. This raises the question: Do the most vocal school choice advocates genuinely support educational choice  including by funding Jewish and Muslim schools? Or is choice really just code for Christian?

These research findings offer some much-needed clarity about the way Americans think about programs that fund private schools on the public dime. When framed in terms of their practical effect of paying for religious education, school choice programs are unpopular with the American public. Going a step further, Republicans and evangelical Christians  the main advocates of school choice legislation  view the idea much less favorably when theyre reminded that choice doesnt just mean Christian.

Ultimately, pulling back the veil on the politics of school choice reveals that the American public is in dire need of an honest conversation about K-12 education. This is one place to start.
A poll released on the cusp of election day showed that Attorney General Daniel Cameron is still the clear front-runner in the race for the GOP nomination for governor.

Released by Emerson College and WDKY/Fox56 television station on Sunday, the survey of 500 very likely Republican voters showed Cameron with 33% support compared to former ambassador Kelly Craft with 17.6% and Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles with 13.2%.

The poll result indicated that Cameron has a more commanding lead over the field than was shown when the same group conducted a poll of 900 very likely GOP voters in early April. The poll then showed that Cameron held just a six percentage point lead over Craft, and that Quarles secured 15% of the vote before getting up on television.

With only 500 voters surveyed, compared to the last polls 900, the margin of error is +/- 4.3%.

Here are the results.

Daniel Cameron: 33%

Kelly Craft: 17.6%

Ryan Quarles: 13.2%

Undecided: 12.8%

Eric Deters: 9.7%

Mike Harmon: 4.4%

Alan Keck: 3.1%

Jacob Clark: 1.6%

David Cooper: 1.6%

Johnny Rice: 1.2%

Robert Devore: 0.8%

Robbie Smith: 0.6%

Dennis Ray Ormerod: 0.5%

The previous poll showed Cameron with only 30% of the vote and Craft with 24%. However, the poll was conducted at a time when Cameron and a political action committee (PAC) had just gotten up on television. Camerons PAC has run several ads, as well as direct mail, critical of Craft since then.

Also, several debates have taken place in the interim.

Craft leads the pack in terms of money spent on the race by far. As of two weeks ago, her campaign had raised more than $10.8 million, with well over $9 million of that coming from her own pocketbook. Her husband Joe Craft, a billionaire coal entrepreneur, was the primary source of funding for a PAC supporting her via a $1.5 million donation.

Cameron and Quarles have raised over $1.4 million and $1.2 million, respectively.

A PAC supporting Cameron had raised $2.7 million as of two weeks ago, with most of that coming from an untraceable dark money group well-known for funding attempts to reshape American courts to become more conservative. The group, The Concord Fund, also has ties to U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, R-KY.

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One consistent theme throughout the scant available public polling has been the rise of Northern Kentucky conservative activist Eric Deters. Having largely self-funded his campaign with close to $800,000 loaned, Deters has risen from polling at 2% in January, 6% last month and nearly 10% in the recent survey.

In terms of favorability, Cameron led the pack with a 63%/21% favorable/unfavorable rating among those survey. Craft had relatively high unfavorability, posting a 46%/37% rating. Many voters were unsure about Quarles or didnt know him, as the commissioner of agriculture garnered a 39%/15% rating, while 46% were unsure or didnt know him.

Perhaps linked to the good news for Cameron was a strong poll result for former president Donald Trumps bid for the 2024 presidential nomination. Trump has endorsed Cameron, participating in a brief tele-rally for the attorney generals campaign on Sunday night.

70% of the respondents said they would support Trump for president in 2024, compared to second-place likely candidate Ron DeSantis at 14%.

At least one Quarles supporter was sharply critical of the poll, which was released less than 48 hours before polls close on Tuesday. Tres Watson, a former campaign manager for Quarles and longtime GOP operative in the state, said on Twitter that the state was done a disservice by the poll.

Their previous poll was a sample size of 900, this one is of 500. Its a lesser poll that theyre releasing days before the election. Next, there is a zero percent chance this is accurate. It flies in the face of all the logic we know about political campaigns, political spending, and how voters digest spending. If you believe Quarles (percentage) dropped after finally going on air, I have beach property in Arizona to sell you, Watson said.
KITTERY, Maine  Portsmouth Naval Shipyard announced it is updating its Enterprise Land Mobile Radio communications system starting Wednesday, May 17.

The ELMR communications system dramatically improves communications between military security and fire department organizations, while simultaneously providing for direct radio communication between Department of Defense and civilian first responders, according to the shipyard's announcement.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Seavey Island in Kittery, Maine.

The update will expand the reach to approximately a 10-mile radius of the shipyard. The updated communications system will undergo a period of testing and is scheduled to continue until the end of August.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard first implemented ELMR in 2016 and at that time some local residents experienced interference to their garage door openers as their controls operated on the same frequency as ELMR.

Most radio-controlled garage door opener systems operate on frequencies reserved for use by the Department of Defense or other federal government organizations. These devices operate legally under Part 15 of Federal Communications Commission rules, at very low power, with the requirement that they do not interfere with government communications systems. In response to increased communication needs, the Department of Defense now must make more use of these frequencies to upgrade new mobile radio systems on and around military bases, according to the shipyard.

Because garage door openers are unlicensed devices, they are not offered any protection from interference by licensed users in the same frequency band.

More Portsmouth Naval Shipyard news:

ELMR has been in use at U.S. military installations nationwide since 2004. The systems use is mandated by a 1992 Congressional law, a subsequent 1993 National Telecommunications and Information Administration mandate, and a 2001 Department of Defense policy which requires military land mobile radio systems to operate more efficiently.

It is recommended that homeowners who experience problems with their garage door openers contact the manufacturer of their wireless device and request their device be retrofitted.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth shipyard's radio system may affect garage door openers
Omari Hardwicks character on Power may have died, but hes willing to reprise the role if he receives the right check.

Hardrick starred as James Ghost St. Patrick in all six seasons of the hit Starz series. During the shows finale, Ghost was shot and believed to be killed by his son Tariq St. Patrick. Hardwick has since appeared in Power Book II: Ghost flashbacks and dream sequences with his on-screen son.

While speaking to The Associated Press, the actor said that producers have approached him to return to the 'Power' universe.

Hardwick said that the show would need to have a great plot for Ghost in order for him to consider returning to the series.

It would just have to be the perfect thing. They asked me to come back. Theyve asked me in the last year and a half to come back, the actor said.

Hardwick also said that he would need to receive the right amount of money to take on this opportunity.

When I was offered this when I was in Boston reading [Netflixs The Mother] script. I was in Boston saying, and then this. And then the then this went to Starz, and then they didnt come back, the actor explained. They didnt give me what I wanted on the then this. So if they gave me the then thisbut it would need to be the right that.'
Members of the American Frontline Doctors give a press conference at Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., on July 27, 2020.

Members of the American Frontline Doctors give a press conference at Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., on July 27, 2020. Credit - mpi34/MediaPunch /IPX/AP

Julie Moore keeps an orange plastic bottle on her desk in Gas City, Indiana, with 14 round white pills. The other 21, she says, killed her father.

Moore remembers laughing when she first heard on the news that people were taking ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug commonly used as a livestock dewormer, to treat COVID-19. She never expected her father, a career pharmacist, to become one of them.

Over the course of the pandemic, Moores father started watching online videos of doctors in white coats who claimed that alternative COVID treatments were being used effectively in India. He told his skeptical children that the studies they cited as evidence made sense. Soon after, he refused to get vaccinated for COVID-19. Instead, he paid $90 for a telemedicine appointment with Americas Frontline Doctors (AFLD), a right-wing anti-vaccine group that claimed the U.S. government was suppressing effective treatments, hospitals were killing COVID patients, and vaccines for the virus caused cancer. Moores father told his wife he trusted their credentials; President Donald Trump had praised the group as very respected doctors. A few days after the consultation, ivermectin and antibiotic pills arrived on his doorstep from a pharmacy in Alabama.

More from TIME

When Moores father contracted COVID in Dec. 2021, he didnt initially go to the hospital as his symptoms worsened. He believed so strongly that ivermectin would cure the virus that he refused to seek medical help until it was too late. In his final days, Moore could only watch through the glass as her dad battled delirium, trying to tear off his oxygen mask in a panic. The worst patients weve seen are the ones that delayed treatment because they were self-medicating through ivermectin, Moore says a nurse told her. You wouldnt believe how many people weve treated who have done this. When Moore asked if any of those patients left the hospital, the nurses shook their heads no.

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The extent of what Moore calls her dads death by deception only became clear after he died. In his office, she found emails and documents from AFLD outlining their COVID protocol, printed out and annotated with characteristic meticulousness. My dad was a highly intelligent man. He was a fantastic pharmacist, Moore says. But he was also 82. They were very convincing, and they were lying.

An email to Julie Moore's father confirming a prescription written by America's Frontline Doctors Courtesy Julie Moore

The COVID-19 public-health emergency expired May 11. But as the U.S. officially closes the book on the pandemic, it remains awash in tragedies like these. Ravkoo, the online pharmacy that AFLD partnered with, sold $8.5 million worth of dubious treatments for COVID drugs in 2021 over the course of 10 months alone. Many families have remained silent about this aspect of their loved ones deaths. Some are embarrassed or reluctant to tarnish their relatives memories by speaking out about how they fell prey to conspiracies or paid for unproven COVID-19 treatments. (Moore asked TIME to withhold her fathers name.)

Now these families are engaged in an uphill battle to hold AFLD and its partners accountable for what they say was a cynical, organized scheme in which doctors who swore an oath to do no harm raked in millions by peddling dubious treatments, often to the patients most vulnerable to the disease: the elderly, the isolated, those who distrusted the medical establishment or lacked easy access to health care. (AFLD did not respond to TIMEs request for comment for this story.)

So far, efforts to hold AFLD or its network of partners accountable have fallen short. Some families, like Moores, have unsuccessfully tried to file complaints with state medical boards to report doctors who prescribed unproven COVID-19 treatments. Pandemic emergency measures may serve to shield telemedicine practitioners from liability. Legislative efforts to sanction or suspend the licenses of doctors, nurses, or pharmacists who spread COVID-19 misinformation or promote unproven treatments have been blocked in more than two dozen states by Republican lawmakers who say disciplining them would violate free speech. A House subcommittee that launched an investigation into AFLDs predatory practices following a TIME investigation in 2021 wrapped up the probe last year after its requests for documents from the group went ignored. In legal filings, AFLD has alleged it never represented itself as a medical organization, but rather a civil-liberties group that was simply providing information online.

Read More: How Americas Frontline Doctors Sold Access to Bogus COVID-19 Treatmentsand Left Patients in the Lurch

In the meantime, these doctors have continued to thrive financially. Dr. Simone Gold, a former emergency room physician who founded AFLD, has opened a new telemedicine practice in Florida, allegedly using millions raised by AFLD during the pandemic as startup capital. Other anti-vaccine groups have continued to capitalize on their online following by charging hundreds of dollars for ivermectin consultations, which they are now promoting as a cure for non-COVID illnesses.

Jeremy Parker and Jelena Hatfield-Parker Courtesy Jelena Hatfield-Parker

In Feb. 2022, Jelena Hatfield-Parker got a lunchtime call from her husband Jeremy. A 52-year-old father of three from Sparks, Nev., Jeremy Parker said he was coming down with cold-like symptoms and worried he might have COVID-19. He told his wife he would spend the night at a friends house. The next morning, that friend discovered Jeremys dead body.

It took three months for the toxicology report from the Washoe County medical examiner to come back. It concluded that Jeremys immediate cause of death was sudden death in the setting of therapeutic use of hydroxychloroquinean anti-malaria drug that is also used to treat diseases like lupus, but is not indicated for treatment of COVID-19.

The previous summer, Jelena discovered, Jeremy had started following AFLD online after listening to podcasts that promoted conspiracies about COVID-19. At the time, the group was producing slick videos on social media, falsely claiming that U.S. health agencies were withholding life-saving treatments, and that doctors refusing to prescribe them were like good Germans who allow the Nazis to kill the Jews. Jeremy, who worked as an industrial sandblaster, became convinced that hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin were the only effective treatments for the virus.

On Aug. 26, 2021, Jeremy paid $90 for a consultation through AFLDs online telemedicine portal. He was connected to a doctor named Medina Culver, 33, an osteopathic physician and Instagram influencer based in Henderson, Nev. Culver did not see or examine Jeremy. Over the phone, she prescribed him hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 treatment or prevention, according to a receipt reviewed by TIME. Soon after, Jeremy received a prescription for 200mg of hydroxychloroquine in the mail from Ravkoo, a Florida-based pharmacy chain partnered with AFLD. According to his widows lawsuit, he took those hydroxychloroquine pills the night he died.

Read More: How an Online Pharmacy Sold Millions Worth of Dubious COVID-19 Drugs  While Patients Paid the Price

Jeremys family is suing both AFLD and Culver in Nevada district court for in excess of $30,000 in damages. The lawsuit, which was filed in February on behalf of his estate and cites TIMEs 2021 investigation, alleges that his death was linked to the falsehoods spread by AFLD as well as the doctor who prescribed it. They didnt even examine him. They gave him something that he used as they prescribed, and it killed him, Jelena Parker-Hatfield says. How can they not be held accountable for something? How in America can this be a system that works, that everybody is okay with?

Culver did not respond to TIMEs request for comment. Jose Jimenez, a lawyer representing Gold, defended AFLDs actions and noted that there have been cases of adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccines, too. You can probably write a lot of stories where families have been saved by ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, he told TIME. Sometimes, regrettably, we focus on the small percentage of the population wherethat maybe isnt successful.

In March 2020, then-Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak signed an order barring pharmacists from filling prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID. Later that year, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration revoked its Emergency Use Authorization and warned against its use for COVID. Dr. Robert Bruce Bannister, a retired ER physician and medical-school professor at the University of Nevada retained by Jeremy Parkers family, says Culver should not have prescribed a drug that isnt indicated for COVID-19 treatment over the phone, and should have noted the possible side effects.

The remote telemedicine visit did not allow sufficient interaction with Mr. Parker to determine if he was at increased risk by taking hydroxychloroquine, a medication with known cardiac side-effects and warnings, Bannister wrote in a statement filed with the Parker estates complaint. A physical examination was not performed, diagnostic tests, most importantly an electrocardiogram, were not performed to evaluate Mr. Parkers cardiac rhythm, to ensure that the hydroxychloroquine could be safely prescribed.

Culvers lawyers have argued that she is immune from liability under the Public Readiness and Preparedness (PREP) Act, which they allege allowed practitioners like Culver to focus on using every available means to combat a pandemic and save lives without being chilled in their efforts by the threat of litigation. Meanwhile, AFLD has distanced itself from its previous telemedicine work, deleting all mentions of its telemedicine consultations from its website, according to a review of previous versions captured by TIME in 2021. While AFD does work closely with medical doctors in aggregating and disseminating information about healthcare options in America, AFD is not a medical organization that consults with patients, provides diagnosis, or prescribes treatment, the groups CEO said in a legal filing, describing it as a civil liberties organization.

Yet Parkers emailed receipts from the group, which his wife discovered after his death and shared with TIME, show that the telemedicine consultation was described as Americas Frontline Doctors virtual visit along with a receipt labeled Americas Frontline Doctors Prescription from Americas Frontline Doctors Team. At the time, its website openly touted its telemedicine service as connecting patients with hundreds of AFLD-trained physicians, according to TIMEs investigation.

The case, which will test the difficulties of holding groups responsible for their behavior during a period of loosened telemedicine regulations, could drag on for years. But Hatfield-Parker says shes undeterred. Were not the only family going through this, she tells TIME. Thats why I feel like we had to stand up and say something[these doctors] lives havent changed. If anything they have gotten more comfortable, and ours have been completely destroyed.

Dr. Simone Gold, founder of America's Frontline Doctors, speaks at an event in Jenks, Okla., on June 30, 2021. John ClantonTulsa World/AP

While Hatfield-Parker, a bilateral amputee, struggles to keep up with her three children alone, Simone Gold is living in a $3.6 million mansion in Naples, Fla., allegedly purchased with AFLD funds.

The founder of AFLD served 48 days of a 60-day sentence for participating in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Last summer, Gold received a medical license from Florida and subsequently launched a new medical freedom online practice called GoldCare, according to a review of Florida business records. GoldCare offers memberships for $200 per month. Dont stay with a doctor that restricted access to life-saving medication because Fauci told them to, promotional materials on its website say. A lifetime membership to the practice runs $20,000. None of these fees include doctor visits, for which the service charges $400 per hour in pre-paid tokens.

Since last fall, Gold has been embroiled in a legal battle over control of AFLD with the groups other leaders, who have accused her of lavishly spending AFLD funds and using its money and employees to set up her new practice. According to a lawsuit filed by AFLDs board, Gold used the groups funds for personal expenses at a rate of nearly $50,000 a month, including $12,000 per month for a personal security officer, $5,600 per month for a housekeeper, Peloton exercise bikes, and the purchases of a Mercedes Benz Sprinter van, a Hyundai Genesis, and a GMC Denali. Gold maintains that the expenses were incurred for company purposes.

Golds legal troubles dont seem to have had a big impact on her bottom line. I have raised millions, intend to raise millions more, and have incredible ideas for 2023, she wrote in an email to AFLD lawyers in Oct. 2022, which was made public as part of the lawsuit brought by the board. Both her Telegram channels associated with AFLD still have more than 200,000 followers, who use the forum to discuss everything from how to administer ivermectin to children to using body-weight charts to determine proper dosages.

Gold isnt the only ivermectin-promoting doctor who seems to be financially thriving. Dr. Pierre Kory, who leads the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC), a network of doctors promoting alternative COVID treatments, launched an advanced COVID-19 care center for patients with Long COVID. It charges $1,650 for an appointment with him for post-vaccine syndrome or other issues. Another FLCCC doctor, Fred Wagshul, has continued to sell ivermectin consultations for $211 apiece.

Read More: Congress Is Looking Into Groups Profiting From Fake COVID-19 Drugs After TIME Investigation

In a Morning Consult/de Beaumont Foundation poll released in March, almost three in four physicians said medical misinformation hindered their ability to treat COVID-19 and hurt outcomes for their patients. Yet attempts to hold those responsible for such misinformation have largely flopped. State medical boards efforts to punish doctors who continue to profit off misinformation have been stymied. By last year, Republican lawmakers in half the states in the U.S. had introduced bills to prevent regulatory bodies from punishing doctors, nurses and pharmacists who promote COVID-19 misinformation or unproven treatments, according to the Federation of State Medical Boards. Other bills being discussed in several states would prohibit medical boards from disciplining physicians for COVID-19 free speech.

Despite a lack of medical evidence, AFLD has expanded to promoting ivermectin as a life-saving cancer treatment for a range of diseases, including renal and ovarian cancer. An internal AFLD document from March 2023, which was revealed in court filings, includes a proposal for the group to explore options to reinstate its Telehealth services.

In March 2022, Julie Moore filed a complaint with the Ohio Medical Board against the AFLD-connected doctor who prescribed her dad ivermectin, arguing that the doctor gave him unproven drugs knowing that he had been referred to her by an anti-vaccine conspiracy group. In an emailed letter sent last November, which TIME reviewed, the board told Moore that no further action was justified. Its hard for Moore to stomach that there may never be consequences for what she describes as a long, lethal con.

What happened during the pandemic was so wrong, and it was so evil and it was so unjust, that vulnerable people like my father got duped by these so-called doctors, Moore says. Wheres the accountability? How much money did they make off this? What price was my fathers life worth?
Yevgeny Prigozhin, owner of the Wagner private military company, offered to disclose the location of Russian troops to Ukraine in exchange for the withdrawal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from Bakhmut, where Prigozhin's mercenaries were being killed en masse, reports The Washington Post, citing leaked documents.

Source: Washington Post

Quote from the WP: "Prigozhin said that if Ukraines commanders withdrew their soldiers from the area around Bakhmut, he would give Kyiv information on Russian troop positions, which Ukraine could use to attack them. Prigozhin conveyed the proposal to his contacts in Ukraines military intelligence directorate, with whom he has maintained secret communications during the course of the war, according to previously unreported US intelligence documents leaked on the group-chat platform Discord."

Details: Reportedly, the leaked document does not make clear which Russian troop positions Prigozhin offered to disclose.

The WP says two Ukrainian officials have confirmed that Prigozhin spoke with the Ukrainian intelligence directorate several times.

One official said that Prigozhin extended the offer regarding Bakhmut "more than once", but that Kyiv rejected it because the officials do not trust Prigozhin and thought his proposals could have been disingenuous.

The Washington Post spoke to a US official who also cautioned that there are similar doubts in Washington about Prigozhins intentions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would not confirm whether there had been contact with Prigozhin. The Ukrainian leader also said the public airing of information of unknown provenance would benefit Russia.

The WP also writes that according to one of the classified documents, Prigozhin told a Ukrainian intelligence officer that the Russian military was struggling with ammunition supplies. He apparently advised Ukrainian forces to push forward with an assault on the border of Crimea, which Russia has illegally annexed, while Russian troop morale was low.

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The report also referred to other intelligence, noting that Prigozhin was aware of plummeting morale among Wagner forces and that some of his fighters had baulked at orders to deploy in the Bakhmut area under heavy fire, for fear of suffering more casualties.

The newspaper mentions the conflict and power struggle between Prigozhin and the Russian military leadership, particularly Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, and emphasises the bitter disappointment felt by the Wagner leader due to the gruelling battles in Bakhmut.

Against that tense backdrop, Prigohzin has reportedly carried on a secret relationship with Ukrainian intelligence that, in addition to phone calls, includes in-person meetings with Ukrainian Defence Intelligence officers in an unspecified country in Africa, one document states.

"The leaked US intelligence shows Prigozhin bemoaning the heavy toll that fighting has taken on his own forces and urging Ukraine to strike harder against Russian troops," the WP states.

The newspaper says the Kremlin did not respond to a request to comment on Prigozhin's connection with Ukraine.

Prigozhin himself ridiculed the WP, announcing on his Telegram channel that he and Budanov are "still in Africa".

Background: The Washington Post removed part of an interview with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, published on the newspaper's website on 13 May, in which the Ukrainian president was asked about contact between Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin and Ukraines Defence Intelligence. However, this part of the interview was later reinstated.

A source at the Washington Post explained this by saying that the outlet had been preparing a piece about Prigozhin and his contacts with Ukrainian intelligence and had posted the full transcript of the conversation with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in error before the investigation had been released.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Yevgeny Prigozhin

The Washington Post reported on May 14 that the documents say Prigozhin allegedly passed this offer on to his "contacts in Ukraines military intelligence directorate, with whom he has maintained secret communications during the course of the war.

The leader of Wagner Group allegedly wanted to provide information about specific positions of the Russian military so that they could be attacked by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Read also: After Prigozhins statement about leaving Bakhmut, Malyar says Russia will try to capture city by May 9

It is not clear from the leaked documents which positions of the Russian troops he proposed to disclose, but he allegedly advised them to continue the offensive to reach the occupied Crimea. Prigozhin said that the Russian military was facing a shortage of ammunition and had poor morale.

One of the documents says that Wagner's financier allegedly had telephone conversations with HUR officers and met with some of them in person in an African country, the newspaper reports. Another document says that Kyiv is aware of the Kremlin's knowledge of the HUR's contacts with Prigozhin.

Two Ukrainian officials confirmed to WP on condition of anonymity that Prigozhin had indeed spoken to the HUR on several occasions. According to one of the sources, Prigozhin "extended the offer regarding Bakhmut more than once," but Kyiv rejected it because of distrust and doubts about the sincerity of the proposals.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave an interview to the Washinton Post in early May. When asked about possible contacts between the HUR and Prigozhin, he said that this was a matter of "military intelligence." He also inquired where the journalists got such information and with whom exactly they had spoken to, as leaking such information constitutes high treason.

This fragment of the interview was initially removed, but later restored, the BBCs Russian Service reported on May 14.

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According to the BBC, a shortened version of the transcript has now been published on the WP website. The unabridged version is available in the web archive.

Read also: Military observer analyses ongoing media battle between Prigozhin, Kadyrov, and Russian Defense Ministry

Responding to Zelenskyy, the interviewing WP journalist told the president what information he had about the contacts between the HUR and Prigozhin. In particular, according to the newspaper, on Feb. 13, spy chief Kyrylo Budanov informed Zelenskyy about Russia's preparation of a scheme to destabilize Moldova in order to "expose" the founder of the PMC, because Ukraine "has business with him."

"The document also says that Budanov expected the Russians to use details of Prigozhins secret talks with the (HUR) and meetings with (HUR) officers in Africa," the journalist said in the deleted fragment.

Zelenskyy responds in the cut-out part of the interview as follows: "So, I dont quite understand what you are talking about. I dont quite understand your goal. Is your goal to help Russia? I mean, that means we have different goals. If Im not sitting at the same table with them, I dont quite understand what were talking about. Each of these inquiries simply demotivates Ukraine, demotivates certain partners to help Ukraine. Well, one way or another, I just dont understand your goal."

At the end of the cut-out part of the interview, Zelenskyy said that the information provided by the Washington Post journalist was not part of the Pentagon leak and was not publicly available.

Reacting to the publication, Prigozhin said he confirmed his contacts with the HUR and added: "We (Wagner) have nothing to hide from foreign intelligence services. We are still in Africa with (HUR head Kyrylo) Budanov."

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Yevgeny Prigozhin stated the high quality of ACF investigations

Prigozhin said that the head of the Anti-Corruption Foundation, Alexei Navalny, should be granted access to the internet in prison so that he can continue his work.

He made the suggestion while commenting on U.S. newspaper the Washington Post's claims that he had allegedly met in Africa with representatives of the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence for discussions.

Read also: Ukrainian serviceman dismisses Prigozhin's tantrums as false and exaggerated

Prigozhin claimed some "comrades from Rublyovka" were actually behind the leaked information about his alleged meetings with Ukrainian intelligence. Rublyovka is the informal name for a prestigious residential suburb in western Moscow where many of the countrys political, business and cultural elite have luxurious homes.

"Instead of engaging in nonsense, connect Lyosha Navalny to the Internet," Prigozhin said, using the familiar version of Navalnys first name."

Read also: Prigozhin offered to reveal Russian positions if Ukrainian defenders withdraw from Bakhmut  WP

He'll paint you a hell of a picture of f*cking dragons. And he will paint not only me, but also all the other comrades from Rublyovka. So don't try to replace Lyosha Navalny. You're not any bloody good at it. Hes much more professional."

It is difficult to say exactly how to interpret the words of Prigozhin, who is known for his media provocations, but his rhetoric, whatever its actual meaning, is increasingly showing signs of a confrontation between factions in the Kremlin, against the backdrop of the failure of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine and the upcoming counter-offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which, according to some experts, could eventually lead to the collapse of the current Russian regime.

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 Duke of York is said to be refusing to budge from his current residence in Royal Lodge despite fears that his brother, King Charles III, may turn off the utilities to get him out of there.

Prince Andrew is understood to have been offered Frogmore Cottage as his official residence, after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were asked to vacate the property earlier this year.

However, the disgraced duke is reportedly unwilling to leave the 30-room mansion and downsize to Prince Harry and Meghan Markles former UK residence.

According to reports by US journalist Daphne Barak, sources close to Andrew have said he is concerned that now the coronation is over, the knives are out.

Previously, it was reported that the duke worried he would no longer be able to afford to maintain Royal Lodge after the King cuts his annual 25,000 allowance from the late Queen Elizabeth II.

A source was quoted as saying: [Andrew] is so fragile. Hes refusing to see anybody. This has been his family home for the past 20 years. Is it really sensible to kick him out?

Hes concerned that now the coronation is over, the knives are out. Hes worried that the royals might even turn off the utilities to get him out of there. But were dealing with human beings, not real estate.

It has been said that, if and when Andrew moves out of Royal Lodge, the Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to take up residence there.

King Charles III and the Duke of York are said to be in disagreement over Prince Andrews residence (Getty)

At present, Prince William and Kate Middleton live in Adelaide Cottage in Home Park. They moved there last year to be closer to their childrens school, Lambrook School, which is near Ascot in Berkshire.

Another source was quoted in Baraks articles as saying: If Charles wants Andrew to play ball and help the family, arent there better ways of going about it? Why not do the decent thing, sit down and talk?

If they need the house for William, perhaps Andrew should be told. Perhaps William should invite his uncle for tea and explain?

Andrew shares the massive property, which encompasses 98 acres, with his former wife Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York. Their daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, visit them frequently there.

Story continues

The couple in 2018 (Getty Images)

A family friend was quoted in the Daily Mail as saying: Eugenie is heavily pregnant and her parents expect to have a new grandchild there this summer.

Dont forget that Sarah has been the glue holding the family together through this nightmare.

Neither Andrew nor Ferguson are working royals. Ferguson was married to the duke from 1986 to 1996, and stepped down from the royal family following the divorce, although she remains close to Andrew.

The duke stepped down from royal duties in 2019 over his association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. He was also stripped of his HRH style, military titles and patronages after he was sued by Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre for sexual abuse when she was underage.

Andrew has vehemently denied the allegations and said he does not recall ever meeting Giuffre. He reached a multi-million pound settlement with Giuffre early last year and said he regretted his association with Epstein, who he acknowledged trafficked countless young girls over many years.

The last time Andrew was seen in public was at the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla, at which he held no formal role.

Buckingham Palace has declined to comment.
(Bloomberg) -- A pro-establishment Thai political party that championed the liberalization of cannabis won more seats than predicted in Sundays election, boosting its ability to resist attempts by groups seeking to undo the landmark policy set barely a year ago.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Bhumjaithai Party, headed by Anutin Charnvirakul, won 70 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives as it swept its home-turf of Buri Ram province and nearby constituencies, according to data from the Election Commission. That compares with as few as 12 seats projected by a Nation Group survey in early May and more than the 50 they won in the 2019 election.

The better-than-projected performance by Bhumjaithai should help Anutin drive a bargain and thwart any attempt to roll back the legalization of cannabis even against the backdrop of pro-democracy parties dominating the Sunday vote.

Opposition parties Move Forward and Pheu Thai  which together won about 290 lower house seats  had earlier called to reclassify marijuana as a drug to curb recreational use. Bhumjaithai is set to win the third-most number of parliament seats in this election.

Anutin, a former business tycoon who played kingmaker in the 2019 vote to help Prayuth Chan-Ocha lead a military-backed government, cast ballot on Sunday in Buri Ram wearing a shirt printed with bright green marijuana leaves.

The politician, who headed the health ministry in Prayuths cabinet, has said hell only join a coalition that will back a cannabis bill that the party plans to resubmit in parliament. Lawmakers failed to pass the bill in an earlier sitting before the house was dissolved to pave way for the election.

Story continues

An ongoing regulatory vacuum, which emerged a year ago after Thailand decriminalized cannabis before passing the bill to regulate wider uses of the plant, has led to a mushrooming of over 4,500 dispensaries all over the country.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Turnout across Kentucky for the 2023 primary races  including a high-profile race for the Republican nomination for governor  has proved lethargic thus far.

Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams reports fewer than 73,000 registered voters cast a ballot during the states three-day early voting period, which concluded Saturday.

In addition, requests for absentee ballots declined about 40%, Adams said, citing unofficial data.

Theres still time to cast your ballot if you have not already. Weve rounded up this last-minute voting guide with what you need to know to before you head to the polls.

When are polls open on Election Day in Kentucky?

Tuesday, May 16, polls will open across the commonwealth from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time.

All voters in line by 6 p.m. should be allowed to cast a ballot.

How do I find my polling place in Kentucky?

On Election Day, voters are required to visit their assigned precinct.

If youve moved or are unsure where to go, you can use the states voter record search tool to locate your polling place. You will be required to enter your first and last name, as well as your date of birth.

You can find other options and more details on finding your polling location with our helpful guide.

Who can vote in the primary election?

As Kentucky is a closed primary state, those who registered with a major party as of Dec. 31, 2022, can cast a ballot in that partys primary.

Voters who are not registered as a Republican or a Democrat may still be able to vote in special elections if there is one on their ballot.

Weve rounded up some information on who can participate in the primary this year in this guide, including eligibility for 17-year-olds.

Can I still vote early?

No. All in-person early voting has concluded in Kentucky as of Saturday.

Adams reports that during early voting, nearly 42,000 registered Republicans cast a ballot, more than 30,700 registered Democrats visited the polls and 166 Independent voters also got to participate. Those figures are based on unofficial counts.

Story continues

Do I need an ID to vote in Kentucky?

Yes. Kentucky requires registered voters to present a valid photo identification at their polling place.

A wide variety of IDs are accepted, and you can find a list of them here, through the nonpartisan League of Women Voters.

If you do not have a valid ID, you can ask your poll worker about options available to you, including voter affirmation forms.

Can I vote if I am not registered?

No. Kentucky does not offer same-day registration on Election Day or during early voting. Books closed statewide April 17.

If you arrive at your polling place and run into trouble with your registration, ask a poll worker what options might be available to you.

Can I still return my mail-in ballot?

Yes, and you need to get it in by 6 p.m. local time Tuesday if you want it to be counted.

You can return your voted mail-in ballot in person to your county clerks office or use your countys secure ballot drop box. You can find your drop-box location using this listing, which is sorted by county.

What is on my primary ballot? Where can I find candidate information?

Need to get caught up on the races? Weve got you covered. You can find information about looking up sample ballots with this guide.

If you are looking for information on candidates and races, you can check out the Herald-Leaders Kentucky Voter Guide, which includes comprehensive coverage.

Whats the forecast look like for Election Day?

If youre a Fayette County voter headed to the polls, be aware there is a chance of thunderstorms Tuesday, according to The Weather Channel.

As of Monday afternoon, there was a 90% chance of rain forecast for Tuesday, with the possibility of gusty winds and small hail. The high is 72 degrees with a low of 51 degrees.

Where can I find race results Tuesday night?

The Herald-Leader is proud to deliver comprehensive coverage of the 2023 primaries in Kentucky. You can follow along at Kentucky.com or our social media accounts, including Kentucky.com on Facebook and @heraldleader on Twitter.

You can find our ongoing and Election Day politics coverage on Twitter @BGPolitics.

Results are expected statewide Tuesday evening following the close of polls.

Do you have a question about the 2023 election in Kentucky for our service journalism team? Wed like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.
The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office has filed a motion seeking to free Christopher Dunn, who prosecutors say has spent more than three decades behind bars for a crime he did not commit.

Evidence proves Dunn, 51, is innocent and should not remain in custody a day longer, a special assistant to Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner wrote in the motion to vacate Dunns convictions. They are asking the courts to end this injustice.

Arrested at age 18, Dunn was convicted during a two-day trial of first-degree murder and other crimes in the May 18, 1990, fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy named Ricco Rogers in St. Louis. His conviction was based on the testimony of two boys, 14-year-old DeMorris Stepp and 12-year-old Michael Davis, both of whom have since recanted and admitted they lied at trial.

For months, lawyers and activists have urged Gardner to seek to overturn Dunns convictions. His case has drawn national attention for the legal conundrum in which he has been trapped: Dunn remains incarcerated at the South Central Correctional Center in Licking despite the fact that a judge, William Hickle, in 2020 agreed a jury would now likely find him innocent.

With the recantations and evidence of Dunns alibi, Hickle wrote, he did not believe any jury would now convict him.

Hickle declined to free Dunn, though, because he is not on death row. Legal precedent in Missouri restricts freestanding innocence claims  ones made without constitutional violations  to prisoners who have been sentenced to die. It meant Dunn would have been better off had he been awaiting execution, as opposed to his sentence of life in prison plus 90 years.

In the motion, Gardners office called that legal limit inexplicable.

We have an ethical duty to work to correct this injustice, Gardner, who is resigning June 1, said in a statement Monday. We are hopeful his wrongful conviction is set aside for the sake of Mr. Dunn, his family and the people of the City of St. Louis.

Story continues

On the left, Christopher Dunn can be seen as a teenager. On the right, he poses for a photograph taken in a Missouri prison.

Dunns legal team, including attorneys with the Kansas City-based Midwest Innocence Project, thanked the circuit attorneys office for their efforts. In a statement, they noted Missouri is the only state that limits innocence claims based on a prisoners sentence.

Until the legislature changes the law, only a prosecutor can petition a court to free an innocent defendant sentenced to anything less than death, Dunns attorneys said.

The states witnesses recant

The shooting that sent Dunn to prison unfolded at night outside 5607 Labadie Ave. in the citys Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood.

In their motion, prosecutors laid out their evidence of Dunns innocence.

For one, no physical evidence tied him to the killing.

The first witness recantation came in 2005, when Stepp signed an affidavit saying he committed perjury when he testified that Dunn was the shooter. He identified Dunn because he did not like him and because the police told him to do so, he said.

A prosecutor also cut Stepp a deal in an unrelated robbery case in exchange for his testimony. He ultimately got probation instead of a potential prison term of 30 years to life.

Im willing to come forward after all these years, because my conscious has been eating a way (sic) at me for all these years, Stepp wrote in an affidavit, adding that he was a scared kid who didnt know better. I just want to do what is right now and tell the truth.

Meanwhile, Davis provided a reason for his lies: He and Stepp were Bloods gang members, and he said it was rumored that Dunn was part of the rival Crips in their neighborhood  an accusation that Dunns wife has called false. Prosecutors also note that no gang ties were brought up at Dunns trial, which was devoid of a motive.

Davis was initially uncertain about his identification, but detectives showed the pre-teen gruesome photos of Rogers corpse, according to Gardners office. They pushed him.

Are you gonna let them do this to your friend? he recalled the police telling him.

Adding to the pressure, detectives also had Rogers mother call Davis. She cried, asking him to help get this monster off the streets.

Judge: Dunn is innocent

When Dunns attorneys took his new evidence to court in 2018, Dunns wife thought they brought far more to the table than what prosecutors used to convict him.

It was so apparent that after the hearing, she said, a sheriffs deputy apologized to Dunns mother.

Their evidence included testimony from a prisoner who said he overheard Stepp admit he didnt know who killed his friend, as well as two of Dunns friends who said they were on the phone with him around the time of the murder.

One of those friends, Catherine Jackson, who was 16 at the time, said she told a public defender about the call, but that her mother did not want her to testify at a murder trial.

I remember Chris Dunn was happy and acting normal, Jackson wrote in a 2016 affidavit, later adding: It has always bothered me that this boy  was arrested for a murder he supposedly committed on the night I was talking to him for almost an hour on the phone.

Another witness, Eugene Wilson, has swore that it was so dark, there was no way Stepp or Davis could have seen the shooter.

During Dunns prior attempts to overturn his convictions, the Missouri Attorney Generals Office has argued he is guilty. The office called the recanting witnesses repeat criminal offenders  Stepp is doing life in Missouri for killing a girlfriend and Davis did not testify at the 2018 hearing because he escaped from a California drug treatment center, making him a fugitive from justice.

The AGs office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Gardners effort to free Dunn.

Dunns mother and sister have also testified he was home around the time of the shooting.

In a call from prison, Dunn previously told The Star he was outside with his mother, uncle and siblings when they heard the gunshots three blocks away. His mother said, these fools out here shooting, lets go, and rushed them inside.

After he heard evidence at the 2018 hearing, Judge Hickle was convinced.

Coupled with the evidence in the record that (Dunn) had an alibi, this Court does not believe that any jury would now convict Christopher Dunn under these facts, he wrote.

But in denying Dunns petition, Hickle cited an appeals court decision in Lincoln v. Cassady, which lawyers say is a significant barrier to freeing innocent prisoners in Missouri. It was in the case of Rodney Lincoln that the appeals court in 2016 said the state supreme court had not recognized actual innocence as a reason to free a prisoner who was not facing death.

The Missouri 3

Dunn has dubbed himself a member of the Missouri three  a group of prisoners who, while they served time in separate cases, had the support of public officials in their fight for exoneration.

The other two, Lamar Johnson and Kevin Strickland, have been exonerated through the legal path Gardner is now taking to free Dunn.

Johnson spent more than 28 years in prison for a murder he did not commit in St. Louis. Strickland, whose case was the focus of a Star investigation, spent more than four decades in prison for a triple murder in Kansas City that he did not commit.

Earlier this month, Gardner announced she will resign June 1.

She agreed to step down after cutting a deal with lawmakers who agreed to no longer pursue legislation that would have allowed Missouris governor to strip prosecutors of their ability to handle violent crimes.
Police evacuated a Publix store in Duluth on Monday in response to a bomb threat.

Duluth police confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that its officers were called out to Duluth Station off 2750 Buford Highway.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

NewsChopper 2 flew over the building and spotted several police cars and Publix workers in the parking lot. Other businesses in the area have been evacuated as well.

Police gave the all-clear shortly before 3 p.m. after no bomb was found.

TRENDING STORIES

IN OTHER NEWS
WASHINGTON  Demand for munitions to support Ukraines fight against Russia  and the resulting need to backfill U.S. weapons stockpiles  could put a significant strain on the industrial base as the Pentagon works to transition its first hypersonic weapons programs from development to production in the coming years.

Defense officials see hypersonic weapons, which can travel and maneuver at speeds of at least Mach 5, as a gamechanger in future conflicts, designating the technology a critical focus area. The U.S. Department of Defense has 10 unclassified programs in development, the first of which  the Armys Long Range Hypersonic Weapon  could field as soon as this year.

A report from the National Defense Industrial Association, released May 11, emphasizes that the shift from developing and testing hypersonic technology to fielding weapons in high numbers will require targeted funding from the Pentagon and a focused effort on shoring up the supply bases.

While that presents a challenge on its own, industry executives and experts said during a May 11 NDIA event in Washington, DC, it will likely be further complicated by the push to replenish conventional U.S. weapons stockpiles and continue to aid Ukraines fight against Russia.

FILE - An airman helps line up the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon Instrumented Measurement Vehicle 2 as it is loaded under the wing of a B-52H Stratofortress at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. (Air Force photo by Giancarlo Casem)

In addition to ramping up for the hypersonic mission, you still need to ramp up your facilities and supply chains for just backfilling the conventional products, said Jason Fischer, market lead for high-speed tactical boosters at Northrop Grumman. It is probably a good problem to have for industry, but it is certainly a challenging one as well.

As of May 9, the U.S. had committed more than $37.6 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, including more than 1,600 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, 10,000 Javelin anti-tank missiles and 60,000 other anti-armor and munitions, according to a State Department fact sheet.

Fischer said companies are getting more frequent requests from DoD to produce conventional missiles at much higher rates and on shorter timelines. Those are the hardest scenarios for industry to respond to because they often require additional capital investment in facilities and equipment.

Story continues

Marty Hunt, vice president of hypersonics and advanced materials at Dynetics, said the compounding demand not only impacts production capacity, but it also makes it harder to access the raw materials needed to produce hypersonic weapons.

When the demand changes, and additional demand is added outside of hypersonics, it starts drawing on the resources within the hypersonic supply chain, he said.

Increased demand also puts strain on the workforce, Hunt added, requiring companies to shift personnel from hypersonics development and toward high-need product lines.

When these other supply chains are flexing and increasing demand, it draws the high-tech workforce away from hypersonics, which has a negative effect, he said. It can slow down the efforts and the programs that we have in process.
Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik via Reuters

When Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to invade Ukraine last year, he dragged millions of his countrymen into a conflict in which they had no say. Now a report suggests that high-ranking officials within his administration have been banned from resigning from their jobs while the war rages on.

The unofficial decree was reported by independent Russian outlet iStories on Monday citing four sources who anonymously disclosed details of the ban. One former FSB officer said they were aware of at least two cases where governors made failed attempts to leave their posts in which they were not just blocked from doing so, but the threat of criminal cases was also hinted.

2 Senior Russian Commanders Killed in Eastern Ukraine, Moscow Says

The outlet also spoke with another source described as an acquaintance of an official within the Kremlins Presidential Administration who had heard about the ban. There are many who want [to leave] after the start of the war, the source said. If everyone leaves, control will be lost. The report described a view in the administration which regarded the desire to leave as flat-out betrayal, with civil servants instead being ordered to demonstrate unity by remaining in post.

Officers within the FSBRussias main security agencyhave previously spoken out about being unable to quit in the wake of Putins military mobilization. A decree from the Russian president meant that servicemen under contract could not leave their roles even after their contracts had expired. But the draconian rules were not previously known to also apply to civil servants.

Sources who spoke with iStories said that because the resignation ban is both illegal and informal, some exceptions are possible, including for those wanting to resign on the grounds of health or corruption.

News of the restriction is just the latest sign of Moscows desperation to keep its war machine running in spite of growing turmoil within Russia amid battlefield setbacks and outspoken criticism of the Kremlins military leadership.

Story continues

Over the weekend, Moscows Defense Ministry admitted that two of its high-ranking commanders were killed while fighting for control of the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine. Colonel Vyacheslav Makarov, commander of the 4th motorized rifle brigade, and Colonel Yevgeny Brovko, the deputy commander of the army corps, were confirmed dead on Sunday.

Wagner Boss Offered to Sell Out Russian Troops to Ukraine, Report Says

On the same day, an embarrassing story emerged in Western media that Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin had offered to reveal the positions of Russian forces to Ukrainian intelligence if Kyiv withdrew its troops from Bakhmut. The mercenary bosss offerwhich was revealed in documents leaked on Discordwas reportedly rejected by Ukrainian officials who didnt trust Prigozhin to make good on his word.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Rishi Sunak and Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The Russians are down, but not quite out. With Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the UK meeting Rishi Sunak, British arms could soon enable the Ukrainian armed forces to deliver the killing blow. Todays announcement has covered attack drones and air defence missiles; last week, we saw the donation of Storm Shadow missile systems. And, of course, theres the offer of training for jet pilots.

Its all good stuff, but Britains lead must be followed by others. America and Europe must rally and give Kyiv everything it asks for this week; long range missiles do no good on the shelves of warehouses when they could be blowing up Russian tanks. And if we dont enable Ukraine to finish the war this year, we will be storing up trouble for years to come.

What was meant to be a Special Military Operation lasting a few weeks has turned into a 15-month military disaster for the Russian autocrat. Things are bad on the battlefield, and a quick scan of the headlines in the last month hints that far worse could be following. In a signal humiliation, the defences of the Kremlin were apparently breached by a drone, while a much-vaunted Russian hypersonic missile, supposedly overmatching anything Nato could muster, was unceremoniously shot out of the sky by a US-provided Patriot missile system.

It's not as if all is well at home, either. The price cap on oil exports has forced the Kremlin to tax domestic producers more, slowly eroding its capability to produce in the future. This is only going to get worse as the summer will further lessen demand and reduce prices. Putins magic money tree is failing him when he needs it most.

Meanwhile, the infighting between the Wagner group and the Russian MoD speaks to deep tensions that may further degrade battlefield performance, with Wagner now apparently able to call the shots on tactics and supplies.

And the situation is worsening in Ukraine. A short time after their arrival in Ukraine, it is clear that Western tanks and armoured vehicles are almost ready to conduct deadly combined arms manoeuvre warfare. They will brush aside the untrained conscripts thrown onto the front-lines by the Kremlin. Antiquated Russian tanks hauled out of storage wont last a minute in a scrap with a Challenger 2; the depleted uranium shells fired by the British tanks will punch through them as if they werent there, while the return fire is unlikely to do more than scratch the paintwork.

Story continues

Whats more, the operational security around their deployment has been outstanding. We dont know where they are, or what the plan of attack is; neither do the Russians. The sudden appearance of formations of Western made armour is likely to produce a rout in troops already low in morale, badly led and with little ammunition.

Things have become so desperate that the Russians are now apparently using phosphorus bombs to try and burn their way to victory. Using this chemical in civilian areas is a war crime. That wont stop Putin. He knows that this medieval style of scorched earth warfare proved highly effective for the Russians and Assad Regime in Syria, rapidly becoming their go-to weapon when conventional fighting failed. The last resort was chemical weapons, which we have not yet seen in Ukraine. I would not bet against an increasingly desperate Kremlin turning to their use; they secured Assads survival, the West did nothing in response to their deployment, and Putin is aware that failure could be the end of both his regime and his life. It is this fear that could lead to Putins deployment of his deadliest weapon.

Civilians are being evacuated in droves, and in panic, from the area around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Many analysts believe this is in response to Ukrainian shelling and the threat posed by a strong counterattack spearheaded by modern Western tanks. But while it may be speculation, there are some who believe Moscow may be planning to use the plant as some form of improvised nuclear device; a kill-switch for Russian occupation in the area. It seems inconceivable, but how many times have we seen Putin cross red lines we believed inviolable?

This war cannot be allowed to drag into next year. We must give the hawks circling Putin the carrion they need to remove him. And we must give Zelensky all the military capability needed to kick the Russians out of Ukraine.

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.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree that allows foreign citizens who signed contracts for military service in the Russian Armed Forces during the period of the so-called "special military operation" to obtain Russian citizenship in a simplified way.

Source: Russian internet portal of legal information

Details: The document amends the decree on the simplified admission of foreign citizens and stateless persons who sign contracts for military service to Russian citizenship.

The contract must be concluded for a period of 1 year.

Spouses, children and parents of those foreign citizens who agree to serve in the Russian army can also apply for simplified acquisition of citizenship.

The decree was signed on 15 May and it took effect immediately.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
(Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin told members of his Security Council that their video meeting on Monday should discuss the benefits of cooperation among former Soviet states.

The meeting is usually held on a Friday but was brought forward for undisclosed reasons.

"We and the republics of the former Soviet Union have a whole range of significant competitive advantages," Putin told the meeting, which was attended by top members of his cabinet, in televised opening remarks.

"Let's talk about this today, about what more can and should be done in order to achieve better results in our joint work."

Since Russia invaded Ukraine last year, Moscow's ex-Soviet neighbours have become vital economic partners as it grapples with Western trade sanctions.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
(Bloomberg) -- Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February of last year, Anna Korobkova says she has spent her days informing on her fellow citizens.

Most Read from Bloomberg

In some weeks, I write dozens of donosy, in some only a few, she wrote in an email exchange, using the Russian word for denunciations, a term still fraught with years of history of informers going back even before the rule of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin. In just over a year, shes written 1,013 of them.

Korobkova is perhaps the most prolific of a growing number of Russians who are joining in the Kremlins crackdown on critics of the war. The informers are a reflection of the sweeping changes the invasion has brought to Russia, seeking to eradicate once-tolerated hints of opposition from neighborhoods, schools, universities and workplaces around the country.

Though there are no official statistics, the number of denunciations has grown since the start of the war, driven increasingly by enthusiasts such as Korobkova, motivated by ideology, according to several people close to the security services who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss matters that arent public.

While they account for less then a tenth of the criminal prosecutions under the strict censorship laws imposed since the war, informers have been at the heart of cases that have led to jail time, fines and lost jobs for those targeted, according to lawyers who track the trend.

Unfortunately, people still write too few donosy, said Pavel Danilin, a political analyst with close ties to the Kremlin whos a frequent guest on state TV talk shows. This is proper and socially acceptable behavior.

Story continues

European Spies Piece Together Strategy Behind Russian Abuses

A teachers report to her principal on a students drawing of a peace symbol triggered a court case this year that led to the jailing of the schoolgirls father. A donos was the basis of a criminal probe that led to the jailing of a prominent poetess for justifying terrorism with an award-winning play. Bystanders overheard a woman praise Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as a handsome young man with a good sense of humor in a restaurant and turned her in. She was fined 40,000 rubles ($519).

Tatyana Chervenko, a Moscow math teacher, says she was fired from her job after a string of donosy from Korobkova to school and government officials following her appearance on Deutsche Welle, an internet TV channel that Russia has declared a foreign agent.

They may have wanted to make an example of me, to scare the other teachers, she said, noting that shed refused to conduct special Kremlin-ordered lessons on the war.

Korobkova credits her donosy with leading to five protocols or administrative cases against her victims and vows to keep up the effort. She said doesnt know any of them personally and hasnt ever seen most. But her name and email address have come up in legal documents and some of her targets have written to her to ask why.

She declined to speak by phone for this article, preferring to comment in writing. While she said she feels completely safe, she wont reveal her age or where she lives, saying only that its a large city far from the border areas.

Could Putin Really Be Prosecuted for War Crimes?: QuickTake

By exposing enemies, people are proving to themselves first of all that these enemies exist and that theyre doing the right thing by supporting the war, said Alexandra Arkhipova, an anthropologist who has not only studied the informer phenomenon but also fallen victim to it.

Korobkova wrote seven emails to deans at the universities where Arkhipova taught, demanding she be fired for amoral behavior - for giving an interview to an internet TV network banned by the authorities. Administrators limited themselves to a request that Arkhipova stop speaking to the media.

For the moment, donosy are a marginal issue, but there are some clear activists, said Denis Volkov, a sociologist at the independent Levada Center.

These people dont want so see those who say things against the war, they dont want to hear anything that might shake their picture of the world, said Alexei Makarov, a historian at Memorial, a human-rights group thats been closed by the Kremlin. Unlike in the Stalin era, theres no major state propaganda campaign encouraging informers, he said, but theres approval from above and the system reacts positively to donosy.

President Vladimir Putin has called on Russians to help root out scum and traitors. Shortly after the invasion last year, Putin called the process a natural and necessary self-detoxification of society.

Russians seem more willing to rat on websites than other citizens, according to statistics from the governments Internet censor. Complaints about illegal information posted online, the category that covers what Russian law calls fakes about the invasion, doubled to 133,601 last year, according to the agency. The biggest spike came in March, just after the new rules were imposed.

Recent high-profile cases involving informers have revealed some hints of some debate among the elite. Last month, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denounced the practice as disgusting.

Few others are as open with criticism of the trend, but there are signs its still not widely accepted.

At the elite state-run Moscow Institute of International Affairs, which trains the countrys diplomats, the administration quickly distanced itself from a Telegram channel that appeared shortly after the start of the war where students reported on faculty seen to be insufficiently loyal. But the reporting didnt stop.

There are vigilantes who are fighting for purity in the ranks of universities, said Dmitry Dubrovsky, an academic and human-rights activist. This trend is growing.

Informing is in my blood, Korobkova wrote in a series of long emails after Arkhipova asked about her motivation for reporting on a stranger. Korobkova traces her activism to her grandfather, who she said was a military officer and an informer for Stalins NKVD secret police during World War II.

She said she spends two days at a time watching media outlets branded foreign agents on YouTube and then writes her donosy on those who appear. Often, she has to write more than one, because officials either ignore them or refuse to take action.

Her donosy, she said in an email to Arkhipova, can be compared to the use of submarines for destroying enemy ships: the number of ships sunk was never large but the fear of attack led the enemy to reduce the number of voyages. Her goal, she said, is to leave the foreign agent media unable to attract guests for their programs.

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Boston residents living just two miles apart have a 23-year life expectancy gap, according to a new study.

Inhabitants of the affluent Back Bay inner city neighbourhood live to nearly 92 on average, while those living in Roxbury have an average life expectancy of under 69 years, the Boston Health Commission study found.

The massive disparity in life spans was really disturbing, Boston Public Health Commission executive director Dr Bisola Ojikutu told WBUR.

So much work has gone into improving life expectancy for individuals. It feels discouraging, Ms Ojikutu said.

The demographics of the two neighbourhoods also showed stark differences in wealth, education, home ownership levels and race, according to US Census data.

The medium household income in Back Bay is $141,000, compared to just over $42,000 in Roxbury, WBUR reported.

There are more than double the number of homeowners in Back Bay, compared to Roxbury. And nine in 10 Roxbury residents have a college degree, compared to just four in 10 in Roxbury.

The public health study, conducted using Census data, found the average life expectancy for Bostonians fell by 2.4 years due to Covid-19.

Boston with the Back Bay skyline in the background. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The pandemic had exacerbated racial and ethnic health inequities it found, with Latino residents seeing their life expectancy decline by four years, and Black and Asian residents by three years. White residents experienced a one-year decline.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said in a statement her administration had a lot of work to do to address health gaps in the city.

Public health researchers say the gap in life expectancy in the two Boston neighborhoods has decreased since 2007, when it stood at 33 years.

According to December data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, life expectancy rates across the United States fell to 76.4 in 2021, the lowest its been for nearly two decades.

Back Bay, on the south bank of the Charles River, is home to several of Bostons most significant cultural and historical buildings, including the Trinity Church, Boston Public Library and the John Hancock Tower, the citys tallest skyscraper.

Roxbury, two miles south, has several famous attractions including the Boston Childrens Museum and the Franklin Park Zoo.
Gerber Good Start SoothePro Powdered Infant Formula is pictured in this handout photo from the FDA Monday, May 15, 2023. The product was recalled due to potential contamination issues. | U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Gerber Good Start SoothePro Powdered Infant Formula that was initially recalled by the company voluntarily back in March was still distributed in certain states, according to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration release.

The recall of the product was due to possible contamination by the bacteria Cronobacter sakazakii that has the potential to cause severe illness in children and those with weakened immune systems.

Importantly, no distributed product has tested positive for the presence of this bacteria, no adverse events have been reported and no other products manufactured at this facility or any other of Perrigos facilities are affected by this recall, according to the Perrigo company statement released by the FDA.

The formula affected was produced in the companys Wisconsin facility between Jan. 2-18. The company statement says a portion of the possibly contaminated formula was transferred to distributors in the Nashville division following the recall notice in March and shipped to independent retailers in multiple states.

Consumers who have purchased the Gerber product in the following states are urged to check the dates of their products:

Georgia.

Indiana.

Tennesse.

Kentucky.

West Virginia.

Alabama.

Virginia.

Ohio.

Related

Purchasers who bought formula in these states are encouraged to check any product they may be feeding their child at home.

Consumers can request refunds for impacted products and find more information about Gerber Good Start by contacting the Gerber Parent Resource Center on behalf of Perrigo at 1-800-777-7690 anytime 24/7, the FDA release said.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA (Reuters) - In 1948, Intisar Muhana's family fled al-Masmiyya village, northeast of Gaza during the war which accompanied the creation of Israel. Last week, she lost her home again when it was destroyed during Israeli airstrikes.

Muhana's family were among some 750,000 Palestinians who are estimated to have been forced out or fled their homes around the 1948 war. Every year on May 15, Palestinians lament the Nakba, or catastrophe, that resulted in their dispossession.

For those who ended up in Gaza, the anniversary is particularly bitter after five days of Israeli air strikes against the militant Islamic Jihad group in the enclave wrecked dozens of houses and left hundreds homeless. Hundreds of rockets were fired at Israel by Palestinian militants.

"They smashed the one in al-Masmiyya and we came here. Now they have done it again and we have ended up with nothing," Muhana said.

"We have nothing there and now we have nothing here."

Around 5.6 million Palestinian refugees - mainly the descendants of those who were forced to flee - currently live in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza. About half of registered refugees remain stateless, according to the Palestinian foreign ministry, many living in crowded camps.

This year the United Nations will commemorate the Nakba for the first time. In the West Bank, where Palestinians exercise limited self-governance under Israeli military rule, a siren will sound for 75 seconds to mark 75 years since the Nakba.

Negotiations about ending the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians have been stalled for years, leaving no prospect of any agreement that would draw a line that all sides might agree on. In the meanwhile, the memories remain alive.

"Those who said that the elderly will die and the young will forget were mistaken," said Yacoub Odeh, who was 8 years old in the 1948 war when he fled under fire from his village of Lifta, on the hills outside Jerusalem.

Story continues

"I am 83-years-old, I have not, and I will not, forget."

Odeh, now a resident of Shu'afat, about 7 km (4.5 miles) away, frequently visits Lifta. He still calls the village home and longs to return with his children and grandchildren.

One spring day, he walked around the village, greeting the abandoned domed buildings as if they were alive: "Good morning, house. Good morning, arches and pillars."

The houses in Lifta are still standing but are uninhabited.

For those from generations born since 1948, such as Muhana's son 56-year-old son Mohammad, the memories are kept alive in family stories.

He said his mother has kept telling them about the houses and fields they owned back in al-Masmiyya, a tale they are now telling their children, so they may keep the hope alive.

"Of course, I have hope. My 97-year-old mother every day asks me to take her to al-Masmiyya, and she is still hopeful," said Mohammad.

"Whatever happens and no matter how many times they bomb we will continue to live steadfastly here," he added.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said Israeli diplomats had worked to dissuade other countries from participating in the U.N. event.

"We shall fight the falsehood that is the 'Nakba' with all our power and we will not allow the Palestinians to continue spreading lies and twist history," he said, indicating that Israel did not agree with the Palestinians' view of what happened in 1948.

(Reporting by Nidal Almughrabi in Gaza and Roleen Tafakji in Jerusalem; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
I recreated some of my childhood photos at Disney World. Megan duBois

I've been going to Disney World for over 30 years, and a lot has changed since 1992.

I spent two days recreating old photos of me at the parks to see just how Disney World has evolved.

The most impressive thing to me was how much the characters changed their looks over the years.

For the last 30 years, one of my favorite things to do at Disney World has been seeing Mickey Mouse.

I've been doing meet and greets with Mickey Mouse since I was a kid. Megan duBois

Mickey used to greet guests at Magic Kingdom in Mickey's Toontown Fair, which is now Storybook Circus.

Mickey's Toontown Fair closed at the park on February 11, 2011.

Today, Mickey can be seen in his classic suit at Epcot.

There's still a Mickey meet and greet at Magic Kingdom, but he's not always in this outfit. Megan duBois

I had to go to Epcot instead of Magic Kingdom to recreate my photo with Mickey in a similar outfit.

Minnie Mouse used to walk around Main Street USA at Magic Kingdom.

I love the old window displays along Main Street. Megan duBois

Decades ago, I was able to say hello to Minnie Mouse while she roamed around the front of Magic Kingdom. Now, the parks have specified meet-and-greet locations.

I recently spotted Minnie in her classic polka-dot dress at the entrance to Epcot.

Minnie's outfit really hasn't changed much over the years. Megan duBois

Although I spotted her at Epcot, you can also see her in Storybook Circus at Magic Kingdom.

Alice from "Alice in Wonderland" also used to meet guests at Mickey's Toontown Fair.

I meet Alice at Magic Kingdom when I was a kid. Megan duBois

Getting autographs from the characters was a big part of my childhood, so I also have photos of me meeting Alice at Mickey's Toontown Fair.

You can still meet Alice today, and she's even at two parks.

Alice has her own area in the UK Pavilion at Epcot. Megan duBois

Today, Alice meets at Magic Kingdom near the Mad Tea Party Attraction and in the UK Pavilion at Epcot.

One of my favorite attractions as a kid was Dumbo the Flying Elephant.

The classic Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride has evolved over the years. Megan duBois

The classic ride used to be in the middle of Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom.

I don't ride it as much now, but every once in a while, it's still fun.

The Dumbo ride moved to Storybook Circus. Megan duBois

The iconic was moved to Storybook Circus in 2012, and Disney even built a second carousel during the renovations to make the line move faster.

Disney World celebrated its 25th anniversary by turning Cinderella Castle into a bright-pink birthday cake.

Story continues

The entire castle was transformed for the park's 25th anniversary. Megan duBois

I loved this magical transformation as a kid.

Disney World kicked off its 50th anniversary with a new castle overlay.

The castle was transformed again for the 50th anniversary. Megan duBois

In 2021, Disney World kicked off its 50th-anniversary celebration, which just ended in March.

The castle was adorned with shimmering ribbons and a 50 medallion.

You could also see a tiny figure of Dumbo near the castle for Disney World's 25th anniversary.

I loved Dumbo as a kid. Megan duBois

In addition to the cute 25th-anniversary statues, this photo is iconic because those yellow ponchos were everywhere at Disney in the 1990s.

For the 50th anniversary, Disney has a larger Dumbo figurine on display.

The yellow ponchos have been replaced with an opaque white variety. Megan duBois

Guests can even interact with the current Dumbo statue honoring the 50th anniversary of the parks using a MagicBand.

The Tomorrowland Speedway gave kids my age the chance to get behind the wheel.

I used to love this ride when I was a kid. Megan duBois

I loved this ride as a kid  much to the despair of my parents who'd get stuck riding with a 5-year-old driver.

Today, the attraction doesn't seem nearly as exciting to me.

Now that I can drive, it's not as impressive to me. Megan duBois

Now that I drive a real car, getting behind the wheel of a tiny theme-park vehicle isn't as enchanting as it once was.

As a kid, I loved meeting the Disney princesses.

I got to meet Cinderella at King Stefan's Banquet Hall in Magic Kingdom. Megan duBois

As a kid, I met Cinderella while dining at King Stefan's Banquet Hall (now Cinderella's Royal Table) inside the castle at Magic Kingdom.

As an adult, I don't visit the princesses often, but it's always fun when I do.

Cinderella's blue dress is still as beautiful as ever. Megan duBois

Several of the princesses, including Cinderella, now meet at Princess Fairytale Hall in Magic Kingdom.

They also greet diners at Cinderella's Royal Table, the restaurant in the castle today.

One of my favorite Disney memories as a kid was riding the carousel behind the castle.

I always tried to ride the same horse. Megan duBois

Whenever I rode the classic carousel at Magic Kingdom, I always tried to find a horse that had flowers on it.

I still love the carousel, and the same horse is available for guests to ride.

I was able to find my childhood-favorite horse. Megan duBois

I love the purple and yellow flowers on the horse, and I'm glad it's still part of the carousel today.

My family and I would always try to eat at Crystal Palace to meet Winnie the Pooh.

Crystal Palace is a buffet-style restaurant inside Magic Kingdom. Megan duBois

I loved eating at Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom as a kid because I could see Winnie the Pooh and all of his friends during our meal.

We still love Crystal Palace, but you don't need a reservation to see Pooh anymore.

Pooh Bear meets over by the Winnie the Pooh ride at Magic Kingdom. Megan duBois

Pooh Bear has a meet-and-greet spot next to the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction at Magic Kingdom.

As a kid, my family always stayed at Disney's All-Star Resorts.

The All-Star Resorts are near Animal Kingdom. Megan duBois

Apparently, I really needed a photo near this trash can when I stayed at the All-Star Resorts as a kid.

Today, my family and I rarely stay at the budget resorts, but we like to visit them on occasion.

I was able to find the same trash can to recreate the photo. Megan duBois

The three hotels that make up this complex  All-Star Movies, All-Star Sports, and All-Star Music  all have their own trash-can designs now. But I found one of the old designs hidden near a parking lot.

Read the original article on Insider
Reedy Creek firefighters are expected vote on a new union contract Monday after negotiations with the board overseeing the Disney district.

The tentative deal ends four years of fighting between the then Reedy Creek Improvement District and the fire union.

It means more jobs and includes a raise.

Watch: As Reedy Creek overcomes shock, attorneys say Disney deal could be in trouble

Union officials said the deal will improve safety for the millions of people who come to Walt Disney World every year.

I think that the steps you have taken in regards to public safety is certainly made everyones vacations and stays here much much safer and a much more enjoyable experience, union president Jon Shirey said.

Watch: Power play: Disney handicapped new Reedy Creek board before handing over control

The deal would also allow the department to invest in new equipment.

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.
This article originally appeared on Velo News

Remco Evenepoel, who recaptured the pink jersey Sunday with victory in the stage 9 time trial, is out of the Giro dItalia following a diagnosis for COVID-19.

The Soudal Quick-Step star beat Geraint Thomas by one second to win the stage and regain the maglia rosa, but hours later tested positive for coronavirus in a routine post-race test.

I am really sorry to be leaving the race. As part of the team's protocol, I took a routine test, which unfortunately was positive, Evenepoel said. My experience here has been really special and I was looking forward to competing over the next two weeks.

I can't thank enough the staff and the riders who sacrificed so much in preparation for the Giro. I will be cheering them on over the next two weeks.

Also read:

The departure will turn the Giro upside down, and comes following a recent uptick of COVID-19 cases within the peloton.

Four other riders, including Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers), left the Giro with infections in the Giros first week, and a few others did not start due to positive tests.

Rigoberto Uran of EF Education-EasyPost is also out of the Giro on Sunday after testing positive, team officials confirmed.

Rigoberto Uran has tested positive for Covid after displaying symptoms this evening. He will leave the Giro and take this time to rest before he resumes racing. -- EF Pro Cycling (@EFprocycling) May 14, 2023

Evenepoel roared into the 2023 Giro as the five-star favorite, and delivered in the opening day time trial to capture the pink jersey.

Despite faltering a bit in Saturdays explosive stage, Evenepoel rebounded Sunday to win his second stage of this Giro in a narrow victory to deny Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) the stage win by one second.

Story continues

That pushed Evenepoel back into the pink jersey, but in what the team described as a routine health control ahead of Mondays rest day, he returned a positive diagnosis. Following the teams health protocols, he is out of the race.

Its with a heavy heart that I have to announce that I will be leaving the Giro dItalia due to COVID-19 after taking a routine test, which unfortunately was positive, Evenepoel wrote on Twitter. Team officials confirmed all the other Soudal Quick-Step riders and staff were tested and are negative.

The pink jersey is suddenly up for grabs

Evenepoel promised hed win Sundays time trial for his mother, left, but now hes out of the race. (Photo: Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

Evenepoels stunning exit will have immediate impacts on the Giro.

Not only did the race lose one of its top names and the prospects of a clash in the closing two weeks, the pink jersey will be unexpectedly up for grabs.

Based on Sundays performance, second-place rider Thomas will be poised to take over the pink jersey.

Following tradition, however, Thomas could refuse to race in the pink jersey when action resumes Tuesday due to the long-running custom of riders not wanting to take over a leaders jersey due to a mishap for another racer.

Thomas moved into second place at 43 seconds back following his impressive ride Sunday. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) remained third Sunday, now at 47 seconds back.

Without Evenepoel, Soudal Quick-Step will lose its lone captain, opening the race up to Ineos Grenadiers, with two riders in the top-5, and Jumbo-Visma.

Other teams, including Bora-Hansgrohe and UAE Team Emirates, will see their Giro hopes revived due to Evenepoels ill-timed health setback.

Evenepoels untimely exit will not only rob the race of what looked to be setting a fantastic back half of the Giro, but also stop Evenepoel in his tracks.

Following his breakout season in 2022 that included the world title, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, and Belgiums first grand tour victory in four decades with the Vuelta a Espana, Evenepoel put the Giro at the center of his ambitions.

Its too early to say if Evenepoel might recover in time to race the Tour de France. Rivals and fans alike will be hoping he will not be too seriously impacted from the infection.

The Giro peloton will have time to digest the shocking news during Mondays rest day, and will resume racing Tuesday with the 196km 10th stage from Scandiano to Viareggio.

For exclusive access to all of our fitness, gear, adventure, and travel stories, plus discounts on trips, events, and gear, sign up for Outside+ today.
Two men, including one from Daytona Beach, were killed in a Georgia shootout between the Outkast and Thug Rider motorcycle clubs, according to authorities.

Germayne Farrell, 51, was fatally shot in the incident which was reported at 6:53 p.m. Saturday in east Augusta, according to the Richmond County Sheriffs Office.

Keith Coates, 30, of Valdosta, Georgia, was also killed. Four additional people were shot. All parties involved belonged to one of the motorcycle clubs, officials said.

Outlaw gets 2 years prison: Outlaws biker who ran out of gas while fleeing Flagler deputies gets 2 years in prison

Man sentenced for shooting Outlaw: Ormond Beach man sentenced to 15 years for shooting Outlaws Motorcycle Club member

Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree said during a press conference Monday that Thug Riders traveled to the Outkast Motorcycle Club's headquarters in east Augusta to retaliate for an incident in Florida.

Roundtree declined to provide more details about the Florida incident. He said his office is in contact with law enforcement in Florida.

Another Florida man involved was identified as Kenneth Taylor, 43, of Boynton Beach and a member of the Outkast Motorcycle Club, according to the Richmond County Sheriff's Office.

Nine Thug Riders and five Outkast members were involved, most from Georgia and some from North Carolina.

The sheriff said at least 150 rounds were shot and that more than two people were shooting.

He said 10 firearms were recovered either from the scene or from or near vehicles from where the occupants tossed them out.

He said the scene of the shootout was near a neighborhood with kids playing outside.

This could have been a much more horrific event, Roundtree said.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 2 Florida men killed in Outkast and Thug Rider motorcycle gangs shootout
The quick thinking of a local school bus driver is what some are saying helped saved the life of a student just trying to get home from school.

On Friday afternoon longtime school bus driver Karen Amos was dropping off her last student of the day when three cars flew past the doors of her bus going around 50 miles per hour.

We trained so much to check your mirrors before you open your door and being on 68 as many years as I have, its just a pretty good habit that Ive gotten into keep checking them, Amos said.

Elmer Beard has been the transportation director with Greenon Local Schools for almost 10 years.

>> RELATED: If the first car didnt get her the second one would have; Bus driver credited with saving student

He said if a bus is flashing yellow lights its preparing to stop and so should you.

When it is flashing red, it has stopped and students are getting off the bus.

Beard said it isnt unusual for drivers to not stop for kids getting off.

I probably have one or two drivers a week report vehicles actually going through the red warning lights which means the service door is open, Beard said.

>> Officers, bystanders step in after motorcyclist hit by car in Miami Twp.

He said buses have cameras that will catch the license plates of cars that dont stop when the bus is letting them off.

We have a form that we fill out and we forward to law enforcement with as much information as we have, he said.

News Center 7 reached out to Ohio State Highway Patrol to see how this years violations compare to last year.

OSHP said they have increased by 14 percent compared to last year.








Tim Gerdmann has been drinking bottled water since early November after his well water was found to have high levels of PFAS in it. He is shown Wednesday, December 28, 2022, in the Town of Stella in rural Oneida County, Wis. Private wells in this northern Wisconsin town near Rhinelander have tested positive for "forever chemicals" at levels so high the water in them can no longer be safely consumed by residents.

MADISON  Republican lawmakers released a bill Monday aimed at helping communities cope with the impacts of "forever chemical" contaminations while in some cases limiting investigative actions that can be taken by the Department of Natural Resources.

The large bill would create a number of programs and provide state funding to help communities and public water systems offset the cost of testing drinking water, among other requirements for the DNR.

Authored by Sen. Rob Cowles, R-Green Bay, Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Green Bay, Rep. Jeffrey Mursau, R-Crivitz and Rep. Rob Swearingen, R-Rhinelander, the bill was circulated Monday among lawmakers for co-sponsorship.

The bill does not include the funding for the programs. Lawmakers would need to take additional action to fund the grant programs and no fiscal impact statement has yet been conducted estimating the costs of the measures, but Cowles said Monday funding would likely be discussed Thursday during a session of the Legislature's joint finance committee.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a family of man-made chemicals used for their water- and stain-resistant qualities in products like clothing and carpet, nonstick cookware, packaging and firefighting foam. The family includes 5,000 compounds, which are persistent, remaining both in the environment and human body over time.

More: Forever chemicals are a growing problem. Heres what we found when we tested Wisconsins drinking water.

The chemicals have been linked to types of kidney and testicular cancers, lower birth weights, harm to immune and reproductive systems, altered hormone regulation and altered thyroid hormones. The chemicals enter the human body largely through drinking water.

PFAS have been found across the state in cities like La Crosse, Marinette, Peshtigo, Milwaukee, Madison, Rib Mountain, the Town of Stella, Rhinelander and Eau Claire. As testing increases, more communities are finding the compounds within their water supplies and considering what actions to take to protect residents.

Story continues

More: 'Are we poisoning ourselves?': 'Forever chemical' levels are so high in a Northwoods town that filtration might not work

Here are changes the bill would make:

Create a municipal PFAS grant program

For all grants provided under this program, the DNR would not be able to require that a recipient take any action to address PFAS unless the compounds exceed existing standards in state or federal law. The results of any testing done with grant funding could not be publicly disclosed without notifying the community at least 72 hours in advance before disclosure.

More: 'There will be policy responses': Key GOP lawmaker pledges action on toxic 'forever chemicals'

Here's what the grants would cover.

Grants would be distributed in equal amounts to municipalities to cover the cost of testing drinking water or to reimburse the community for testing already done.

Grants for testing would be available to non-municipal entities that are treated as public water systems by the state.

Grants for municipalities to test for PFAS at municipally-owned or managed locations where the compounds may be present. These grants wouldn't be available if the community has already accessed grant funding for water testing.

Grants for the disposal of biosolids  the sludge left over after the wastewater treatment process  at facilities that accept PFAS-contaminated waste. The grant would require a 20% match from the community.

Grants to aid in paying for facility upgrades or new infrastructure for communities that are small or disadvantaged or in which rates for drinking or wastewater would increase by more than 20%.

Grants to aid in other costs for PFAS, such as those incurred by fire departments that may have had PFAS-containing foam or have used it in the past.

Innocent buyer grant program

The bill would provide grant funding for those who own a property with PFAS contamination that is no fault of their own. The DNR may provide grants up to $250,000, and may require matching funds of no more than 20% of the grant amount from the applicant.

Limits on DNR actions relating to PFAS

Under this bill, the DNR can't require owners of brownfields  abandoned, idle or underused industrial or commercial facilities or sites  to test for PFAS unless there is a measurable risk to public health, there is a significant risk that the project would lead to worsening environmental conditions or the entity is responsible for contamination.

When testing for PFAS, the DNR also could not collect samples from properties without written permission from the landowner to collect samples, test them and publicly disclose the results.

The agency also would not be able to take enforcement action against a landowner based on sampling results, unless the results are above the state or federal standards.

Generally, the bill would require the department to increase its PFAS testing as well.

Firefighting foam

The bill would require the DNR to survey or resurvey local fire departments about their use and possession of foam containing PFAS, and contract with a third-party group to collect the foam.

This program is similar to one already underway in Wisconsin, which is working with fire departments across the state to collect and dispose of foam.

More: PFAS contamination has been a problem near Air Force bases. Why Madison's Truax Field became the first to eliminate them

Well compensation grant program

The bill would allow for applicants to the well compensation fund, which helps homeowners pay to replace contaminated private wells, to use the funding to purchase a filtration device and up to two replacement filters.

Portable water treatment system pilot project

The DNR would be required to contract with an entity to conduct a pilot project, in which PFAS-contaminated surface water is partially or fully diverted to a portable treatment system, treated and returned to the surface water. The agency would be required to test the water to evaluate its effectiveness.

Remedial action at contaminated sites

The DNR must begin response and remedial actions at any contaminated site, where a responsible party hasn't been identified, or the identified party cannot pay for remediation.

Reduction of PFAS testing costs

The DNR and the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System would be required to reach an agreement to decrease the price of PFAS testing at the state lab of hygiene by at least 10% within two years.

Currently, the cost of a single PFAS test can range from about $350 to $500.

PFAS studies and reporting

The DNR and the Board of Regents would be required to study the cost, feasibility and effectiveness of different methods of treating PFAS before they are released into a body of water. It would also require a cost-benefit analysis of different options for disposing of biosolids containing PFAS, a study on the cost and effectiveness of destruction and disposal methods, and a study on the migration of PFAS into the bay of Green Bay.

Finally, the DNR would be required to create an interactive map of contamination, with data points showing whether levels are above state or federal standards.

DNR reporting requirements

The DNR would be required to report to the Legislature every six months for three years, providing detailed descriptions of expenditures related to provisions of the bill.

Public water utility projects

Communities that began a project to address PFAS without the permission of the Public Service Commission couldn't be punished for having done so. The community must have commenced the project due to public health concerns and must submit proper documentation to the PSC within six months.

Limitations on annexation as a PFAS source reduction measure

No city or village may annex territory to which they have extended drinking or wastewater services, unless two-thirds of residents vote to approve the annexation.

Bill authors hope grant programs will be funded by upcoming biennial budget

Cowles said in an interview Monday that the authors of the bill are currently in discussions with the joint finance committee over how the bill would be funded if passed.

He said the committee would likely discuss funding the PFAS measures during the committee's hearing Thursday morning, in which the natural resources section of the budget is scheduled to be discussed.

Cowles said the legislation would be a step forward for Wisconsin, and help with addressing the growing number of contaminations being found.

"We're going to fight for this, and a substantial monetary contribution," he said.

Gov. Tony Evers proposed several measures in his biennial budget

Gov. Tony Evers has tried several times to include money to fund similar measures in the state budget. In 2021, almost all PFAS-related measures were stripped from his proposed budget by the Republican-controlled Legislature, and in the current budget process, a number of measures have been rejected as well.

Included in this year's budget proposal were a number of proposals regarding identifying and cleaning up contaminations, but it is unclear if any of the measures will be included in the final budget released by the Legislature this summer.

$100 million for a municipal grant program, which would help cover the cost of testing and fixing contamination.

About $4 million to conduct sampling and research, including the development of soil-testing standards, redevelopment guidelines, standards for the disposal of PFAS-contaminated materials and sampling for private wells.

$1 million to continue the collection, disposal and replacement of firefighting foam containing PFAS

$1.8 million for emergency responses to PFAS contamination.

Establishing and enforcing various environmental standards for PFAS. This measure was eliminated by the Legislature.

$8.2 million for the Revitalize Wisconsin program, to address discharges of hazardous substances of the existence of environmental pollution and removing waste materials dumped on abandoned properties.

$1 million for the well compensation program, which would expand the program to serve more residents with contaminated private wells.

Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on Twitter at @SchulteLaura.

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 Republicans introduce bill to help communities hit with PFAS
Former US president Donald Trump on the 4th hole at Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg, Co. Clare, during his visit to Ireland. Picture date: Thursday May 4, 2023. (Photo by Brian Lawless/PA Images via Getty Images) | GREER, UNITED STATES - MAY 04: Republican presidential candidate and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley holds a rally in Greer, South Carolina, United States on May 4, 2023 (Photo by Peter Zay/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Were being forced into the 2024 presidential election far too early. This is giving political reporters ulcersand its also giving Republican candidates more and more opportunities to flounder about just how much they want to restrict abortion. Though they consistently agree that talking about banning abortion does them no favors (because it is extremely popular), they continue to spout their extreme anti-abortion opinions at nearly every opportunity.



I think the media has tried to divide [the American public] by saying we have to decide certain weeks, Republican hopeful Nikki Haley said of abortion ban specifics on Face the Nation on Sunday. In states, yes. At the federal level, its not realistic. (A classic, noncommittal politician sentence.)

Read more

In a direct contrast, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who is exploring running for president, went hard out of the gate, saying he supports a 20-week federal abortion ban. It makes total sense to me, he told New Hampshire media in April. Hilariously, he walked that back almost immediately.



Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) said last yearbefore Dobbs sent abortion policy back to the statesthat the state-level abortion ban he signed into law should be reconsidered to add rape and incest exceptions if Roe was overturned. Well, here we are, and Hutchinson has maintained that hed support a national abortion ban if it includes some exceptions. (Yes, Hutchinson is running. Right now, hes the forgotten candidate, but elections are long and everyone seems to get their moment in the spotlight.)

I would support the restrictions, and I would advocate for the exceptions of the life of the mother and the cases of rape and incest, he told CNN last month. I believe thats where the American public is. I dont think anything will come out of Congress without those exceptions. And I certainly would sign a pro-life bill, but I would expect those exceptions to be in place.

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Exceptions to abortion bans are incredibly hard to use and require very intense burdens of proofso in practice, they end up simply being total bans. Of course, Hutchinson is also ignoring the fact that nearly two-thirds of Americans think abortion should be legal, including more than half of people living in states won by Donald Trump in 2020.

Speaking of... Lets talk about Trump, whos never met a political stance he could stick to. In an interview with The Messenger, a newly launched news website, the former president commented on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R)and likely rival for the GOP nominationsigning a six-week abortion ban. He has to do what he has to do, Trump said. If you look at what DeSantis did, a lot of people dont even know if he knew what he was doing. But he signed six weeks, and many people within the pro-life movement feel that that was too harsh.



Reporter Marc Caputo noted that Trump himself wouldnt declare if he agreed with the many people within the pro-life movement regarding how harsh a six-week abortion ban is or isnt. (For the record, from any sensible persons perspective, isnt just harshits cruel.)

This is typical of Trump: When asked repeatedly by the Washington Post whether he agreed with the six-week ban, he wouldnt comment. The Post also reported that the former president maintains it is a states rights issue and not something he should focus his time on.

While DeSantis hasnt officially declared, hes signed increasingly more stringent anti-abortion laws, decimating abortion access in the southeastthough, so far, hes kept fairly quiet about it.

All of this flailing comes as anti-abortion groups want to make national abortion bans (of any kind) the standard in order to get an endorsement. Even back in October, shortly before the midterm elections, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America was mad that Republican candidates were focusing on the economy instead of abortion after overturning Roe v. Wade. Pro-life Republicans must account for their policy positions on abortion, Mallory Carroll, a spokesperson for SBA, told Politico at the time. With pro-abortion Democrats holding rallies specifically to talk about abortion, pro-life Republicans have an opportunity to present a strong contrast to that.

The groups position has only gotten clearer since then. In April, SBAs president said there is now a standard that Trump is running afoul of: 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, Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of SBA Pro-Life America, told the New York Times.

This goes against what voters actually want, though. In state-level votes since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, efforts to preserve abortion access have prevailed. Yet Republicans are ignoring that factor dont careand a growing number have committed themselves to looking indecisive and squabbling over deeply unpopular policies in public for the next 18 months.

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Richard E. Dick Ray, retired general manager of ALCOA Inc. in Blount County, is being remembered for many contributions he made to the Knoxville-area community but particularly for his leadership at the state level in education.

He died at his home in Alcoa on April 25 at age 92. Services for Ray will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at New Providence Presbyterian Church in Maryville.

Ray served on the State Board of Education for 28 years and as its chairman for six years during a time when Tennessees education system was being revamped. He first was appointed by Gov. Lamar Alexander, whom he had helped nurture as a Boy Scout, and then was reappointed by two other governors in a period from 1984-2012.

ALCOA President Richard Ray, left, C.D. Martin and Gov. Lamar Alexander attend the Boy Scouts' Silver Beaver Awards ceremony on March 27, 1980. Ray, a Great Smoky Mountains Council executive board member, and Martin, chairman of the Pellissippi District, were presented their awards by Alexander, himself an Eagle Scout. (Photo: News Sentinel Archive)

In 2015, Ray told this columnist, At retirement on the board, I was the longest-serving state board member in the United States. Officials at the Board of Education are not aware of any other person having a similar record.

As the appointed member that would replace Dick Ray on the state board, you can only imagine the shoes I had to fill, said former state board member Mike Edwards, retired CEO/president of the Knoxville Chamber. Dick was instrumental in leading the charge for public education policy. At a time when our education system was being reconstructed, Dicks leadership and wisdom led many innovative ideas to come to fruition. His involvement in the No Child Left Behind Act allowed our state to focus on our established student achievement goals. Dick was a phenomenal friend who can best be described as a public servant  helping students succeed was sacred in his mind. Tennessee is in a better position for public education because of Dick. He will be missed dearly.

State Board of Education Chairman Robert Eby, a senior consultant at Oak Ridge-based Navarro Research and Engineering, also offered his condolences.

Retired ALCOA executive Dick Ray, who was still active in Knoxville-area nonprofits in 2015, died on April 25 at age 92. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at New Providence Presbyterian Church in Maryville.

While serving on the Board, it is my understanding that he projected his leadership with a unique capability. Dicks established style of authority still reigns for how we serve the State. Many also know that Dick was a pioneer for impactful education policies under Lamar Alexanders constituted Board reformation. His passing is a true loss for the State of Tennessee, Eby said.

Story continues

The statements were provided to this columnist by the State Board of Education.

Ray, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, came to the area as a metallurgist in 1953 with the Aluminum Company of America and eventually became manager of the Tennessee Operations in 1977 before retiring in 1993. The plant is now known as Arconic, a global supplier of aluminum sheet, plate and extruded products.

Besides helping raise money for the Knoxville Symphony, Knoxville Museum of Art, East Tennessee Foundation and the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, he chaired the University of Tennessee-Knoxville Chancellors Associates and was past chairman of the finance committee of the board for Maryville College.

But he also had an influence as a Boy Scout leader and teaching teenagers life-long lessons about camping safely. For a story by this columnist in the News Sentinel in 2015, Alexander, also a former U.S. senator, told how Ray took Explorer Scout Post 88 at New Providence Presbyterian Church hiking and camping in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

One August he led us on a hike to Spence Field, where we spent the night in an Appalachian Trail shelter. While we slept, a bear crawled into the shelter with us, stole our packs, and ate our breakfast, Alexander said.

"Dick Ray was my explorer Scoutmaster. He kept a lot of Maryville teenage boys out of trouble by taking us hiking in the Smokies. Later on, when I was governor, I asked Dick to serve on the state Board of Education. In addition to leading ALCOA, Dick Ray was always giving back. He was one of our states best citizens," the former senator said on Friday.

During Rays career at ALCOA, the company invested more than $400 million in modernizing the East Tennessee aluminum-making and -fabricating complex. It was completed in mid-1990 and is considered the most modern aluminum rolling facility in the world.

Rays wife, Ann, died on Jan. 19, 2023. The couple was married 69 years. They had two sons, David and Daniel Ray.

 UPDATE ON CITY CANDIDATES: With noon Thursday, May 18, as the candidate qualifying deadline for the Knoxville city primary election, interest has picked up in the races for mayor and municipal judge, based on individuals picking up qualifying petitions.

The judges race could become one of the more interesting this year.

Incumbent John Rosson Jr., who is seeking his 10th four-year term, doesnt always have competitors but this year could have two.

Tyler M. Caviness, a founding partner at Stephens, DiRado & Caviness, specialists in criminal defense litigation, said last week he plans to run on a campaign for the city court to be modernized and improved with efficiencies.

He said he considers the office to be a little bit of an iron curtain, a closed office, with only one person in charge for 36 years. Caviness earlier was associated with former state Rep. Wayne Ritchie in civil defense.

His treasurer will be Marshall A. Jensen II, a federal public defender who also had taken out a qualifying petition for the judicial post but is now supporting Caviness.

Rosson said Friday he disagreed with Caviness characterization of the office being closed. The office is open 8-4 Monday-Friday, and we have night court on Tuesday and Thursday, beginning at 5:30 p.m. until were finished. It is one of the most open courts, he said. He also said hed like to hear more about how it could be more efficient and praised clerks who have worked there for helping run it.

Andrew Beamer, a lawyer with 14 years' experience, also has taken out a petition.

Rosson was in the news recently when it was revealed he was cited in February for driving the wrong direction on a Middle Tennessee interstate. He is scheduled to appear in Williamson County General Sessions Court on July 11. Rosson told Knoxnews he was driving the wrong way on a ramp, not the interstate, to get to a gas station to use the bathroom.

Mayor Indya Kincannon is actively campaigning for a second term. Among new candidates who have qualifying petitions are R.C. Richard Lawhorn, a contractor and former owner of Billiards and Brews, which the city and state had issues with during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, and Umoja Abdul-Ahad, a community organizer who has been executive director of Zero Waste Neighborhoods/Projects 2000 Inc.

Kincannon, activist Constance Every and mortgage lender Jeff Talman have returned their petitions for mayor to the Knox County Election Commission.

Other posts up in the citys nonpartisan elections are at-large seats A, B, and C on City Council and 5th District City Council.

 POLITICAL ODDS AND ENDS:A meet and greet for Matthew Best, City Council candidate for at-large Seat C, will be held at the home of David Nix and Ed Strickland at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 16, at 2413 E. 5th Ave. in the Park Ridge community.

Branca Alves, Brazilian suffrage activist and author, will speak at a Suffrage Museum fundraiser at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 25, at the law office of Wanda Sobieski, 712 Gay St. The speaker has worked on behalf of the womens suffrage movement in Brazil through the United Nations Development Fund for Women and other organizations. A donation of $25 is suggested. To make a reservation, contact Linda Haney at 2929 Long Hollow Road, Powell, TN 37849, llinc@icloud.com or 865-719-0597.

Faith in Politics: Southern Political Battles Past and Present, a book by former Democratic state party chairman and legislative leader Roy Herron of Dresden, features 20 editorial cartoons by Charlie Daniel, who is retired from the Knoxville News Sentinel, and the Chattanooga Times' Bruce Plante. The book was published by the University of Tennessee Press in 2021, with Herron continuing to promote it and with 100% of his royalties going to the Volunteer Center founded in Dresden by the late Gov. Ned McWherter and others for college scholarships. To purchase the book for $25.95 from the University of Tennessee Press, visit https://utpress.org/title/faith-in-politics/ or call 1-865-974-3321.

Correction: In last Sunday's column, Bethlehem's location was misidentified. It is in the West Bank of Palestine.

Georgiana Vines is retired News Sentinel associate editor. She may be reached at gvpolitics@hotmail.com.

Knox News promptly correct all errors. If you think we have published incorrect information, please email accuracy@knoxnews.com. Describe the error, where you saw it, the date, page number or the URL.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Georgiana Vines: Dick Ray remembered for contributions to education
An artists rendering of the Lunar Flashlight.

NASA is finally giving up on its tiny water-hunting cubesat, officially calling it quits on the Lunar Flashlight mission after failing to fix its propulsion issues.

On Friday, the space agency announced the end of its Lunar Flashlight mission because the CubeSat cannot complete maneuvers to stay in the Earth-Moon system, NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory wrote in a statement. Its disappointing for the science team, and for the whole Lunar Flashlight team, that we wont be able to use our laser reflectometer to make measurements at the Moon, Barbara Cohen, the missions principal investigator, said in the statement.

Read more

The briefcase-sized satellite launched in December 2022 on a mission to shine infrared light on some of the Moons permanently shadowed areas, scanning the lunar South Pole for ice water reservoirs. Shortly after launch, however, the cubesat began experiencing problems with its propulsion system.

Three of the Lunar Flashlights four thrusters were underperforming due to obstructed fuel lines, likely due to debris buildup. The cubesat was supposed to enter a near-rectilinear halo orbit around the Moon using its sole functioning thruster, but even that one began experiencing its own issues. Instead, NASA hatched a plan to place the probe in a high Earth orbit, allowing it to scan the Moons south polar regions once per month, as opposed to once per week with its original orbit.

For the past five months, mission teams have been trying to resolve Lunar Flashlights propulsion issues to get it on its modified track. NASA engineers have been trying to clear suspected obstructions in the thruster fuel lines, enabling the spacecraft to produce adequate thrust for carrying out monthly flybys of the Moons south polar region.

There was a brief glimmer of hope earlier this month, with one of the thrusters showing some improvement. Ultimately, however, the cubesat failed to generate enough thrust to get into lunar orbit.

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Lunar Flashlights miniaturized propulsion system was the first of its kind to be flown beyond Earths orbit as a demonstration of the new technology. Technology demonstrations are, by their nature, higher risk and high reward, and theyre essential for NASA to test and learn, Christopher Baker, program executive at NASAs Small Spacecraft Technology in the Space Technology Mission Directorate, said in the statement. Lunar Flashlight was highly successful from the standpoint of being a testbed for new systems that had never flown in space before. Those systems, and the lessons Lunar Flashlight taught us, will be used for future missions.

In that sense, the mission wasnt a complete failure, although it is still disappointing that the cubesat couldnt shine its infrared flashlight on the Moons possible hidden reservoirs of ice water.

For more spaceflight in your life, follow us on Twitter and bookmark Gizmodos dedicated Spaceflight page.



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Kirill Kudryavtsev/Pool via REUTERS

A Belarusian state news channel published a photograph of President Alexander Lukashenko Monday in an apparent attempt to assuage concerns about his health after a week-long absence from public events.

The photo, published by Pul Pervogo on Telegram, appears to show Lukashenko with a bandaged hand at a military command center. Other photos, shared by Belta, another state-owned new agency, appear to show him receiving a briefing on air defense.

Lukashenko was last seen in public last Tuesday at Victory Day events in Russia and in Belarus. The president, who has allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory as a launchpad for Russias war in Ukraine, reportedly skipped parts of the ceremony commemorating the Soviet Unions wins in World War II in Moscow.

When Russian President Vladimir Putin made the procession to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldieralong with leaders from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and ArmeniaLukashenko opted to follow the procession in a vehicle, The New Voice of Ukraine reported.

An ambulance followed Lukashenko to the airport, according to Belarusian political analyst, Dmitry Bolkunets, Meduza reported. Later, in Minsk, he did not deliver his typical speech.

Lukashenko arrived at the Republican Clinical Medical Center on the Drozdy reservoir on Saturday, according to the Belarusian Hajun project.

The speculation about the health of Europes so-called last dictator comes as the leader of Belarus pro-democratic opposition, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, urged her followers to be prepared to take any opportunity to act and change Belarus into a democracy.

There are many rumors about the dictator Lukashenka's health. For us, it means only one thing: we should be well prepared for every scenario, Tsikhanouskaya said Monday on social media. To turn Belarus on the path to democracy & to prevent Russia from interfering. We need the international community to be proactive & fast.

Story continues

There are many rumors about the dictator Lukashenka's health. For us, it means only one thing: we should be well prepared for every scenario. To turn Belarus on the path to democracy & to prevent Russia from interfering. We need the international community to be proactive & fast. pic.twitter.com/qfnsnPYBMZ  Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (@Tsihanouskaya) May 15, 2023

Tsikhanouskaya told Newsweek on the sidelines of a conference in Denmark that the uncertainty around his health has been causing some chaos in Belarus that enemies and allies alike can exploit.

His ailing health means that the opposition has to be prepared to take advantage of a time when their pro-democratic government can take over, Valery Kavaleuski, Tsikhanouskayas Representative for Foreign Affairs, told The Daily Beast.

What we saw today he looked really bad. You can say that he is in the worst shape weve seen him so far, Kavaleuski said. For us, it means that even if he comes back to his feet, it is likely that this is the beginning of his physical degradation. And we have to account for this and be adequate prepared for possible scenarios.

People in Lukashenkos circle are almost certainly preparing for his potential ousting, Kavaleuski warned. And Russian officials are likely watching the situation closely to consider ways that the Kremlin can maintain influence in Belarus without Lukashenko in power.

People around him are getting prepared for for his possible departure. And also, Russians definitely are on on this issue as well theyre thinking what to do, to at least not decrease the level of influence or control over those hopefully to for them to increase this control, Kavaleuski said.

The only path forward, from the oppositions perspective, is a Belarus with Tsikhanouskaya in power, given that Lukashenkos claimed victory in 2020 is illegitimate given widespread reporting of fraud in voting.

The only legitimate source of power in Belarus is Belarusian people. They have voted for Tsikhanouskaya in 2020. And therefore she is the only legitimate and legal representative of Belarusian people and Belarusian interests, Kavaleuski said, calling on the international community to prevent Russian interference in the coming days.

Putins Favorite Neighbor Is Caving in to the Kremlin

Official readouts from Lukashenkos press service have not acknowledged his performance at the latest events.

Nevertheless, his absence and the spotty appearances in recent days have prompted rumors that his health was deteriorating, particularly after his prime minister, Roman Golovchenko, attended a ceremony on Sunday in his place, according to Belta. Golovchenko read a message from Lukashenko, but did not provide a reason for his absence, fueling speculation about the presidents wellbeing.

The first deputy of the Committee of CIS countries in Russia's state Duma, Konstantin Zatulin, indicated that Lukashenko has been sick, according to Sky News.

The fact that he was sick was obvious even during the parade in Moscow, Zatulin told Sky News, claiming that it was not COVID. I know that he is ill but I am not authorized to distribute his diagnosis.

The Kremlin sought to tamp down on the rumors Monday. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov urged Russians to seek official reports on Lukashenkos health.

We need to focus on official reports. There were no such official messages from Minsk. And here we believe that it is very important to focus on official information, Peskov said Monday.

Lukashenkos press service did not immediately return a request for comment.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A law enforcement officer stands early Friday at the scene in San Jacinto where a crash left a Riverside County sheriff's deputy in critical condition. The deputy later died of his injuries. (OnScene.TV)

A 26-year-old Riverside County sheriff's deputy has died after he was critically injured in a car crash last week while on duty, authorities said.

Deputy Brett Harris was responding to a call for backup at 2:16 a.m. Friday when he collided with a Nissan Maxima sedan and hit a light pole in San Jacinto.

Harris was in critical condition when he was taken to a hospital, where he died Saturday from his injuries, Sheriff Chad Bianco said in a news release.

"Deputy Harris suffered major injuries as a result of the crash, including a catastrophic brain injury," Bianco said.

The 54-year-old driver of the other vehicle was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The cause of the crash is under investigation, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Another deputy was injured trying to pull Harris out of his patrol vehicle after the crash at West Esplanade Avenue and State Street, according to officials. He was treated and released from the hospital.

Harris was listed as an organ donor, and his family is working with the hospital to follow through on his request, Bianco said. Funeral arrangements are still pending.

Harris is survived by his wife, parents, twin sister and brother, officials said.

The crash comes months after the Riverside County Sheriff's Department mourned the loss of two deputies killed in the line of duty in two weeks.

Deputy Darnell Calhoun, 30, was fatally shot Jan. 13 while responding to a domestic violence call in the unincorporated community of Lakeland Village. The shooting came just one week after the funeral of Deputy Isaiah Cordero, 32, who was fatally shot Dec. 29 during a traffic stop in Jurupa Valley.

Cordero was the first Riverside County deputy killed in the line of duty since 2003, Bianco said.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Here's a roundup of recent incidents and announcements from Ventura County agencies:

2 Oxnard men shot in incident tied to wine store

Two Oxnard men sustained non-life threatening bullet wounds Saturday in shootings that police believe are tied to an incident at a beer and wine store.

Oxnard Police Cmdr. Luis Mc Arthur said one of the men is a 32-year-old who showed up at a Ventura hospital late Saturday afternoon for treatment of a gunshot wound to his lower extremities. The second man, age 47, was found by police in a trailer park across the street from the store just before 7 p.m.

Police are trying to find out what led to the incident reported around 2:20 p.m. at Docs Beer & Wine at 145 E. Pleasant Valley Road in southwest Oxnard, Mc Arthur said.

Officers found some evidence of a shooting at the store including blood, but did not locate the two men until that evening, he said.

It was unclear whether the younger man received treatment after being grazed by gunshot, Mc Arthur said.

No arrests have been made, he said, and the shootings remain under investigation.

2 men suspected in beauty store heist in Simi Valley caught

Two men were caught and arrested Saturday after allegedly stealing $2,000 worth of fragrances from a beauty supply store in Simi Valley.

The suspects fled in a sedan with covered license plates after the theft reported around 9 p.m. from the Ulta store at 1555 Simi Valley Town Center Way, according to the Simi Valley Police Department.

The agency said an officer spotted the suspects' vehicle traveling east on Highway 118 and followed it to North Hollywood, where the men were taken into custody and booked into the main jail in Ventura.

Police said the stolen property was recovered.

The suspects both live outside the county  one was identified as a 23-year-old from Upland and the other a 26-year-old from Los Angeles. By Sunday evening, the Los Angeles man had been released from jail, but the Upland man remained in custody in lieu of $40,000 bail.

These items may be updated.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Roundup: 2 hurt in shooting tied to wine store, fragrance theft foiled
A former associate of Rudy Giuliani accuses the ex-Trump attorney of demanding sexual favors from her in a bombshell lawsuit alleging unlawful abuses of power, wide-ranging sexual assault and harassment, wage theft and other misconduct.

Noelle Dunphy, former director of business development for several Giuliani-owned companies, filed a lawsuit Monday before the Supreme Court of the State of New York.

Dunphy is seeking $10 million in compensation from Giuliani, who allegedly subjected her to constant sexual remarks, demands and threats.

He made clear that satisfying his sexual demandswhich came virtually anytime, anywherewas an absolute requirement of her employment and of his legal representation, the lawsuit reads.

Giuliani worked aggressively to hire Dunphy in 2019, according to the lawsuit, and allegedly began abusing her almost immediately after she started work.

Giuliani began requiring Ms. Dunphy to work at his home and out of hotel rooms so that she would be at his beck and call. He drank morning, noon, and night, and was frequently intoxicated, and therefore his behavior was always unpredictable, Dunphy argues in the 70-page suit.

The suit includes graphic anecdotes about Giulianis alleged behavior toward his employee.

The suit, which also names three of Giulianis companies, further alleged that Giuliani took Viagra constantly and that Dunphy worked under the constant threat that Giuliani might demand sex from her at any moment.

In addition to his sexual demands, Giuliani went on alcohol-drenched rants that included sexist, racist, and antisemitic remarks, which made the work environment unbearable, the suit contends.

Giuliani, a former New York City mayor, allegedly also offered Dunphy pro bono legal representation related to a dispute with an abusive ex-partner  but told Dunphy that her his employment of her would be kept secret and her pay deferred until his then-ongoing divorce had finished, according to suit.

Story continues

Unfortunately, Giulianis seemingly generous offers were a sham motivated by his secret desire to pursue a sexual relationship with Ms. Dunphy, the suit argued.

The wide-ranging filing also includes allegations that the former Trump attorney was selling pardons for $2 million, which he and President Trump would split, and that he gave Dunphy access to his email account containing privileged, confidential, and highly sensitive information.

Ted Goodman, a spokesperson for Giuliani, said in a statement to The Hill that the former Trump attorney denies Dunphys allegations.

Mayor Giulianis lifetime of public service speaks for itself and he will pursue all available remedies and counterclaims, Goodman said.

Updated on May 16 at 11:04 a.m.

.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
ST. LOUIS (AP)  First baseman/outfielder Darin Ruf agreed to a one-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, two days after he elected free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to the minor leagues with the San Francisco Giants.

Milwaukee will pay $541,935, a prorated share of the $720,000 major league minimum, and the Giants are responsible for $178,065.

The New York Mets are paying the rest of Rufs $3 million salary plus a $250,000 buyout of his contracts 2024 team option  a total of $2.53 million. New York acquired Ruf in a trade with San Francisco last August, then released him this year before he signed with the Giants again.

The 36-year-old Ruf hit .261 with no homers and three RBIs in nine games with the Giants this season. San Francisco designated him for assignment on May 9.

Ruf split time with the Giants and Mets last season. He batted .204 with a .307 on-base percentage, .338 slugging percentage, 11 homers and 45 RBIs in 118 games.

His .886 career OPS against left-handed pitching could prove helpful for his new team. The Brewers have an MLB-low .618 OPS against lefties. Their .278 on-base percentage against lefties ranks ahead of only the Minnesota Twins .273.

Ruf has a .240 career batting average with a .330 on-base percentage, .430 slugging percentage, 67 homers and 205 RBIs in 570 games. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies from 2012-16, spent three seasons in South Korea, then returned to the majors with San Francisco in 2020.

In other moves Monday, the Brewers placed first baseman Luke Voit on the 10-day injured list with a strained neck, transferred right-handed pitcher Brandon Woodruff to the 60-day injured list, recalled right-hander Trevor Megill from Triple-A Nashville and optioned right-hander Colin Rea to Nashville.

Woodruff, a two-time All-Star, has pitched in just two games this season due to a shoulder issue. His last appearance was April 7.

Rea had gone 0-3 with a 5.52 ERA in seven appearances, including six starts. He allowed four runs over 3 2/3 innings Sunday in a 9-6 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
When Kansas City last conducted its review of the city charter in 2013, the volunteers on the commission took five months to do their work. They met once a week and heard testimony from 150 people.

A decade later, Mayor Quinton Lucas gave his charter commission six weeks to get the job done. On Tuesday, the groups nine members are on track to possibly finish their work and issue a report to the city council.

Then the council will decide which, if any, of the proposed charter changes will go to voters. Lucas would prefer the council get that done in a little more than a week from now, whereas the last time this was done, the council took two months to make a decision.

That contrast is why some people, including some on the commission, say this charter review process has moved too fast. They say the process should last longer and be more open ended for a once-every-decade review of the 57-page document that sets the rules for how city government operates.

Instead, the current commission has largely spent its limited time discussing election-related items suggested by the mayor, and little else.

What is the rush? Rodney Bland, president of the Black political organization Freedom Inc., asked commissioners during last weeks meeting. These charter revisions will stay with us for 10 years, and they will impact our voters at every level, including minority voters. I think its unfair to present these ideas in a short five-week, six-week time frame.

Commission member Wilson Vance agrees and scolded fellow members who seem willing to comply with Lucas timetable, rather than take more time to see if members of the community might want to discuss charter changes not on Lucas list.

I find it baffling that we as a commission can see that there have been 17 testimonies just this week, asking to extend the timeline, Vance, who represents the 4th District, said at the last meeting.

Another commissioner warned a week earlier that the breakneck pace, as commission co-chair Jack Steadman often describes it, could backfire by breeding distrust in the process.

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I just think its not a good look, Jenny Johnston, president of the Northland Chamber of Commerce who represents the 2nd District on the commission, said at the May 2 meeting. Its not a good look when we are looking over the citys governing document for 10 years in the amount of time that we all have to pay off a credit card bill.

Still, Steadman, one of the two co-chairs, has said he favors wrapping things up on time and Lucas chief of staff, Morgan Said, believes there is no reason not to.

When theres a possibly anxiety-inducing decision that has to be made, I think the natural reaction is we want more time to make the decision, she said in an interview. We have asked repeatedly, what more our commissioners are wanting to discuss, and we have not heard from any of our commissioners, any new items that they would like to bring for discussion.

Lucas gave the commission a list of items to discuss, but the commission has been no rubber stamp.

He asked the commission to consider stripping some power from the Board of Parks and Recreation, but the item was soon dropped. Lucas pulled it off the table when current and former parks board members lobbied against changing the status quo.

The charter gives the parks board powers that other city commissions dont have. The Parks and Recreation Department is governed by a semi-independent board appointed by the mayor that has the power to hire the department director, whereas other department heads are hired by and report to the city manager.

Lucas suggested that the dates of city elections be shifted as a possible way to boost voter turnout. In most election years, no more than one in five of those registered cast votes for mayor or city council.

But according to Said, the commission is leaning toward keeping the current schedule set by the last charter process: An April primary, with the general election in June in odd-numbered years every four years.

Lucas supported changing city elections to the summer-fall schedule Missouri voters are used to for electing federal and state office holders, with the primary in August and general election the first Tuesday in November.

Lucas also felt it was too easy for people to get initiatives and referendums on the ballot, or to launch recall campaigns. The commission seems likely to tweak the number of signatures required by petitioners, but not by a lot, Said said.

The commissioners were unanimous in wanting to do away with the current practice of having candidates scheme to get their names placed first on the ballot. The timestamp on candidates filing papers determines ballot order. Many candidates camp overnight outside the Kansas City election board office so they will be the first in line on the first day of filing for office.

Savvy pols outsmart them sometimes by getting up early and driving from their homes to the election offices in Clay or Platte counties, where there often is no line and the timestamp counts the same.

With Lucas support, the commission wants to do away with the silliness and recommend that candidates be listed on the ballot in random order, no matter what time or day they file during the month-long filing window.

Commissioners havent reached consensus on whether they favor Lucas suggestion that candidates for mayor and city council be excused from running in the general election if they win their primaries by more than 50 percent of the votes.

And that rounds out the the work that the commission was asked to do, Said said. If the commission wants to open any additional conversation related to the charter, we are happy to facilitate that conversation and provide any sort of background or red lines that they would need to complete that work.

But according to Said, we have not heard a request for that.

Vance believes, however, that there may be topics out there that people think should be explored, but havent brought up because few Kansas Citians are aware the charter was being reviewed.

At the last meeting, Vance asked whether it might be possible to produce its first set of recommendations this week, and then keep on working. Thats one of the things likely to be discussed when the group meets at City Hall for what could be the last time at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

I think one of the problems is that most people dont know this is happening, she said. And so it feels really, it feels like a disservice to the public, for us to rush through something that people are just now starting to understand is even happening I mean, there are serious concerns with whether or not this has been truly democratic.

Said defends the process, noting that commission meetings have been streamed online, documents are shared on the citys website and this Monday night the commission will hold its third public listening session outside city hall. This one starts at 6 at the Glegg/Klice Community Center, 1600 E. 17th Terrace.

I think its very easy to create a controversy around, youre moving too fast, according to Said. But I hope that we can pull back a little bit and say moving too fast because of what?

If its anything other than, you know, everyone complains about the timeline, no matter what the timeline is, thats different than, hey, we really wanted you to examine this important thing to the future of the city that you completely ignored. 

And so far, she hasnt heard what that thing is, she said.
Ukrainian military near the city of Bakhmut

"Things are difficult in Bakhmut and the outskirts now. Very, the message reads.

Against all odds, our troops have managed to advance for several days, thanks only to the superpowers and professionalism of our military.

Russia hasn't changed its goals and now is gathering its assault reserves around the city, she said.

Read also: Ukrainian military reveals garbage and ammunition left by invaders during retreat from Bakhmut positions

"Heavy fighting is ongoing. The defence of Bakhmut is ongoing," Malyar said.

The commander of the Eastern Military Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, said that Ukrainian defenders are moving forward on the Bakhmut axis, capturing over dozen of the Russian positions to the north and south from the city, as well as have cleaned a great deal of the woods near Ivankivske.

Invading Russian troops have also been taken captive, Syrskyi said.

Read also: Ukrainian military achieves success on flanks in Bakhmut, says Israeli military expert

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Japan is warning that China and Russia have increased military cooperation in a bid to disrupt the current world order in Asia and beyond.

Foreign Affairs Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi warned over the weekend that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has "shaken the very foundation of the international order" and that the world should unite in support of Ukraine.

But he also argued that China's cooperation with Russia opens the door to "similar challenges" in other regions and threatens "the existing order, which has underpinned our peace and prosperity, could be fundamentally overturned," according to a report from Military.com.

Japan has continued its support of Ukraine while China has said it is neutral in the conflict, though the country has declared a "no limits" relationship with Russia and pinned blame on the U.S. and NATO for provoking the European war.

FUTURE IS NOW: CHINA, RUSSIA REVERT TO PRE-1989 WORLD AND FUNDAMENTALLY CHALLENGE US-LED WEST

Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin

Hayashi, who was speaking at a meeting of European and Indo-Pacific foreign ministers in Sweden, accused China of "continuing and intensifying its unilateral attempts" to gain disputed territory in the East and South China seas and has intensified military actions around Taiwan, all while holding joint military exercises with Russia.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"In addition, China and Russia are strengthening their military collaboration, including joint flights of their bombers and joint naval exercises in the vicinity of Japan," Hayashi said.

China has said that it is defending its sovereignty in the South China Sea, though much of the territory it claims are Japanese-held islands.

Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, left, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin participate in a news conference.

CHINA THREATENS RETALIATION AFTER EU WEIGHS SANCTIONS FOR BEIJINGS MILITARY AID TO RUSSIA

Speaking to reporters at the conference, Hayashi warned that the current situation in Ukraine and China's actions in the Pacific are "not separable," urging European leaders to take the threat of China seriously while combating Russia in Ukraine.

"Since the aggression of Russia to Ukraine, the security situation here in Europe and the security situation in the Pacific are not separable," Hayashi said. "So, this is very important and this is very meaningful that the European ministers and also the ministers from the Pacific area are jointly discussing about those issues here in Stockholm."
The Russian leadership is increasingly concerned that the Russian air defence system is unable to intercept drones that attack targets on the territory of the country.

Source: UK Defence Intelligence update, as reported by European Pravda

Details: In particular, the agency recalled that on 3 May, several drones struck Russias Seshcha Airbase in Bryansk Oblast, 150 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.

As a result of this attack, one An-124 heavy transport aircraft of Russias Military Transport Aviation was likely damaged, the intelligence service added.

Seshcha is a military transport aviation base in the west of Russia and has played a major role in supporting Russias invasion of Ukraine. In addition, Russia uses the site to launch Iranian-made attack UAVs towards Kyiv.

Quote: "The Military Transport Aviation (VTA) is a well-resourced element of the Russian Air Force, essential for transport across the vast country. Russian leaders will be concerned that Russias air defences continue to be compromised, holding at risk key strategic assets such as VTA bases," the report says.

Background: The day before, the UK Ministry of Defence reported that Russian forces are unlikely to be able to effectively control their actions along the entire front line by the 15th month of the full-scale war.

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Robert Shonov is said to be held in Moscow's notorious Lefortovo prison, according to state media.

A former employee of the US Embassy in Russia has been detained in a Moscow detention centre for "conspiracy", according to Russian state-owned news agency TASS.

Robert Shonov was arrested by Russia's Federal Security Service and "remanded into preventive custody", the outlet reported on Monday.

It said he faces up to eight years in prison.

The BBC has reached out to the US Embassy in Russia for comment.

The embassy told Reuters it was aware of the reports but had "nothing further to share at this time".

Mr Shonov was detained in the port city of Valdivostok and, after questioning, he was charged with "collaboration on a confidential basis with a foreign state or international or foreign organisation", according to the TASS report.

Officials have asked to detain Mr Shonov for three months. No court date has been set, the news agency said.

Mr Shonov is being held in the Moscow's Lefortovo prison, a former KGB prison.

American journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in March while working for the Wall Street Journal newspaper and charged with spying, is also being held at Lefortovo.

So is former US marine Paul Whelan, who was given a 16-year jail sentence in 2020 after being arrested in Moscow on suspicion of spying in 2018. The US has called the charges against both men baseless.
Russia continues to train pilots, but many professional pilots have been killed or wounded in the war in Ukraine by now.

Source: Yurii Ihnat, spokesman for Ukraines Air Force, on the national 24/7 newscast

Quote from Ihnat: "Russia continues to train pilots; training centres are operating. In terms of the number of pilots graduating, its around 100-150 individuals each year.

Obviously, we aren't putting a lot of hope into Russia running out of pilots. But its [obvious] that the quality of the Russian personnel will diminish. This is war."

Details: According to Ihnat, many of the pilots Russia deployed to Ukraine had fought in Syria; they were among the best Russian pilots. Many of them will no longer be able to operate aircraft, whether because they have been killed, wounded, or captured by Ukrainian forces.

Talking about Russia losing five aircraft on 13 May (two military planes and three helicopters), Ihnat noted that Russian propaganda is considering many possible lines of enquiry, blaming a wide range of suspects  from Russian partisans to Ukrainian fighter jets, from Russian or Ukrainian anti-aircraft defence systems to Ukrainian partisans operating MANPADS, among others.

"There are many versions, theyre in a state of hysteria, and were quite entertained by it," Ihnat added.

Background:

On 13 May, several Russian military planes and helicopters crashed in Russia's Bryansk Oblast. The aircraft were on their way to carry out an attack on Ukraine.

According to Ukraines Air Force, five Russian aircraft crashed that day. Ihnat said that the Russian planes and helicopters "encountered difficulties".

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The journalist found a loaf of bread in a backpack among the equipment of wounded soldiers

The journalist said he found the said loaf of bread in a backpack among a pile of equipment that military medics cut from wounded soldiers, which are brought to them to carefully examine.

There are many such piles in the forest strips near Bakhmut now, Kutiepov said.

This is just one of them. A pile of personal equipment, weapons and bloodstained clothes... But, as always, individual details most clearly highlight the overall picture... The last photo shows a loaf of bread. The bullet pierced the car, the backpack and got stuck in the bread. In other words, bread may have saved a soldiers life.

Read also: Russia is bringing assault troops to Bakhmut, the situation is tough, Malyar says

Meanwhile, the Defense Forces are trying to encircle the Wagner mercenaries from the flanks in Bakhmut, while the Russian armed forces are transferring airborne assault units into the area to prevent the Ukrainian military from continuing to advance.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A warehouse with humanitarian aid burned down in Ternopil

"In the aftermath of the missile strike on Ternopil on May 13, our warehouse with humanitarian aid, which also served as a hub for inter-church coordination in our region, was completely demolished," he said.

Two warehouse drivers, who spent the night nearby, were miraculously unhurt. The organisation will continue to work, he added.

Read also: Day 40 of Putin's war. Russians attack Odesa, Mykolaiv and Ternopil while world reacts to Bucha massacre (UPDATED)

Russia launched two cruise missile attacks on Ternopil on the same night the 67th Eurovision Song Contest grand finals were being held on Ukraines behalf in Liverpool, UK.

Read also: Wounded reported, including child, as Russian missile strikes Ternopil Oblast

Electronic pop duo Tvorchi, who are from Ternopil, represented Ukraine at the contest. The Russian attacks came just as they were about to perform.

A missile hit storage facilities in Ternopil's industrial zone during the first attack.

Two cottage houses were destroyed and another 12 damaged as a result of the second attack. Debris affected commercial and business facilities, as well as nine trucks.

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On Monday, the Russian occupiers launched a missile attack on Avdiivka, as a result of which four people who were in a shelter were killed.

Source: Vitalii Barabash, Head of Avdiivka City Military Administration

Quote: "Four middle-aged people (all civilians) were killed this morning by an airstrike on Avdiivka.

At the time of the missile strike, people were in a shelter set up in a railway hospital that has been closed for a long time.

This [report] is preliminary. Unfortunately, there may be more victims."

Details: The victims were two men and two women who were hiding in the bomb shelter.

Barabash is insisting on the evacuation of all civilians from the city.

Background:

At the end of March, Barabash reported that the infrastructure of Avdiiivka in Donetsk Oblast was completely destroyed due to shelling by the Russian occupiers; not a single surviving building remained in the city, and 80% of the housing stock was destroyed.

Serhii Teliatytskyi, the head of the Joint Centre of the Defence Forces on the Tavria front, said they would try to evacuate the entire civilian population from the city.

Barabash doubts that the complete evacuation of the civilian population from Avdiivka is possible.

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Russian troops continue shelling the Donetsk Oblast

Kherson Oblast was shelled 86 times with a total of 381 rounds fires with heavy artillery, tanks and aircraft, the head of the regional military administration Oleksandr Prokudin said.

The city of Kherson has come under enemy attack four times in the past 24 hours.

Six people were killed and three more injured by the Russian attacks in the region.



In Kharkiv Oblast, the occupiers used artillery, mortars and aircraft to attack settlements in the oblasts Kupyansk and Chuhuiv districts in the past day.

Two civilians were killed due to Russian attacks there.



Read also: Seven killed in Donetsk Oblast, crucial infrastructure damaged in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

Two houses were damaged and caught fire in Podoly village in Kupyansk District.

Meanwhile, Russia has launched missiles at Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast twice over the last day.

A residential building was destroyed by one Russian attack. Luckily, there were no casualties as its residents had been evacuated, the head of Donetsk regional military administration, Pavlo Kyrylenko, reported on Telegram.

However, three people were injured in Kurakhove in Donetsk Oblast when Russian shelling damaged seven multi-storey residential buildings in the town.

Two people were injured, ten houses, seven multi-storey buildings and a school were damaged in Kostiantynivka, southwest of the front-line town of Bakhmut, where the Ukrainian army is holding up advancing Russian forces.

In other Russian attacks, a person was injured near Lysychansk and a house damaged near Siversk.

A total of seven locals were injured in the region in the past 24 hours.

Russian invasion forces also attacked areas bordering Russia in Chernihiv Oblast. Russia shelled a settlement with Grad multiple rocket launchers there in the early hours.

Operational Command North reported 16 hits in the village of Yelino from 6.30 a.m. to 7.10 a.m. Reports of casualties among the locals are being verified. The shelling damaged civilian infrastructure and set fire to a private house.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
As weather heats up in Sacramento and you wrap up spring to-dos, these rebates from the city and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District could help you make energy- and water-efficient upgrades to your home.

The rebates, which the the city and SMUD detail on their websites, range from roughly $100 to $3,000 for single family homes.

Here are some options, the eligibility and application requirements:

A Sacramento Bee reporter confirmed rebates for SMUD and the city of Sacramento with its spokespeople.

SMUD electric upgrade rebates

SMUD, according to its website, has a rebate if you switch to an induction cooktop. These stoves are more energy efficient, which could save you money and reduce the amount of harmful pollutants emitted when you cook. It also heats up water faster than the alternatives  youll just need induction compatible cookware for it to work (cast iron, carbon steel and some stainless steel work).

Induction stoves only create heat when a pan is placed on its surface, making them 10% more efficient than a gas stove, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Heres how you qualify

According to the SMUD website you need to meet these two qualification:

You should be willing to install an electrical cooktop that measures at least 24 inches.

A cooktop stove or range both qualify for a rebate.

Rebate incentive

You can receive a rebate of up to $750 depending on the type of stove you already have. Heres a breakdown of the rebates you can cash in on, according to the SMUD website.

If you already have an electric stove, but want to upgrade, you qualify for a $100 rebate.

If youre looking to switch from gas to electric, you qualify for a $750 rebate. Youll have to provide proof of upgrade.

Application Requirements

You can start the rebate process online, through the SMUD website, by logging on to your account. Here is some information youll need:

Appliance number and model of the induction cooktop stove you purchased.

Youll need to provide the date you purchased the stove, installation costs and the name of retailer you purchased the appliance from.

Proof of purchase will be required.

Youll also be asked to submit pre and post photo updates to SMUD.

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Sacramento outdoor rebates

The city of Sacramento also offers rebates to help customers save water. Heres a list of rebates and how much cash you can get, according to the city website.

Switch over to a drought tolerant landscape:

Heres the breakdown on how much you can get back

Single families can get a rebate of up $3,000.

Multi-family residences with three or more units can get rebates of $50,000.

Upgrade your sprinklers to high-efficiency nozzles:

Heres the breakdown on rebate pricing

$800 for irrigation materials

$400 to upgrade current irrigation

$400 to upgrade EPA Water Sense-certified smart irrigation controller

$150 for a license-contractor labor

Get a rain barrel

Customers can receive up to $150. Rebates are calculated at $0.75 for each gallon of storage capacity.

Install a laundry-to-landscape system

Receive up to $100 for materials to install a laundry-to-landscape system in your home.

How do you apply?

Applications for each rebate can be found on the citys website.

Requirements to consider before applying

Below is a list of general requirements listed on the citys website that apply to all posted rebates:

You must be a city of Sacramento water customer

You must be a property owner or get approval from your property owner to apply

Rebates are not retroactive

Please keep in mind that some rebates will require per-qualification as well as approval from Water Conservation Staff.

Work must be completed within the time allotted by the rebate terms

Verification of installation from water conservation staff will be necessary after installation to approve the rebate

The rebate can take up to 90 days after a city inspection

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill shows a photo of an overturned bucket of ammunition found inside Peter Michael Larsens home while talking about a July 9, 2022, officer-involved critical incident involving Larsen during a press conference at the Salt Lake County District Attorneys Building in Salt Lake City on Friday, May 12, 2023. Gill said the Salt Lake City police officers use of deadly force, which did not kill Larsen, was justified. Gill said the ammunition did not weigh on that decision since the officers didnt know about it until after their use of force. Larsen was shot in both hands. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Two Salt Lake police officers have been found to be legally justified in shooting a man who pointed a shotgun at the officers after threatening to shoot firefighters.

Officers Taylor Adair and Carson Jones were cleared Friday by Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill.

On July 9, 2022, Salt Lake firefighters were called to 1423 S. Utahna Drive on a report that Peter Michael Larsen, 45, had set the weeds in his backyard on fire. When informed that the fire he had set was against the law and that a fire investigator would be in contact with him, Larsen became extremely agitated and told firefighters that he would not speak to anyone, according to charging documents.

Approximately eight hours later, a neighbor called 911 saying that Larsen had started another fire in his backyard. Firefighters again responded to Larsens house and began putting out the fire. But a short time later, they were confronted by Larsen, who threatened to sic his dog on the firefighters and threatened to shoot them if they came on his property, according to the charges.

Police were called and officers Adair and Jones responded. They went into a backyard area adjacent to Larsens house.

They could see into the backyard through a hole in a burned-out section of the fence as well as through spaces between burned fence slats, Gills final report states.

Larsen then stepped out of his home holding a pistol-grip shotgun. After the officers yelled commands for Larsen to drop the weapon, he briefly went back into the home, then stepped back out and started bringing his shotgun up and leveling it at the officers, according to the report.

Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill talks about a July 9, 2022, officer-involved critical incident involving suspect Peter Michael Larsen during a press conference at the Salt Lake County District Attorneys Building in Salt Lake City on Friday, May 12, 2023. Gill said the Salt Lake City police officers use of deadly force, which did not kill Larsen, was justified. Larsen was shot in both hands. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

What was in his hands was going to kill me or my partner, or other people in the community, Jones later told investigators, while noting that he had a clear view of Larsen holding the shotgun. He said when Larsen came out of his home the second time and raised his shotgun, it became a matter of saving my life and saving my partners life because a shotgun (was) being leveled, pointed directly at us.

Story continues

Once it became an immediate danger, thats when we took lethal action, Jones said. Thats when we reacted with deadly force.

Likewise, Adair told investigators that when Larsen raised the shotgun, he didnt feel safe enough to let the suspect get the rest of the motion in. Officer Adair said he brought his rifle up all the way and started shooting, the report states.

He said, he thought, I was about to get shot. ... I could see the shotgun coming up. To me, that is a, Im going to shoot this weapon, and so I wanted to beat him to the punch. I wanted to eliminate the threat before it got to the point where officer Jones and I couldve actually gotten shot.

Adair fired a total of 12 rounds from his rifle, while Jones fired two shots from his handgun, the report states. The officers then repeated their commands to Drop the gun and, Let me see your  hands.

The officers eventually entered the backyard and started a conversation with Larsen, who retreated into his house through an open door. Larsen was shot in both hands and was taken into custody.

During a press conference on Friday to announce his decision, Gill showed a picture taken at the scene of a mass number of shotgun shells in the entryway where Larsen had been standing with his shotgun. Although it did not play into his decision in determining the shooting to be legally justified, Gill noted that it showed the confrontation could have gotten out of control really quickly because the amount of ammunition that he had there within reach right inside the door.

He also noted that he was extremely appreciative that the two officers agreed to be interviewed as part of the police shooting investigation  something that has become rare in recent years in Salt Lake County. Gill says by having the statements from the officers, he does not have to make inferences about what they were thinking or seeing when they pulled the trigger.

Our question is: At the moment that the decision is made to fire, what was the perception of the officer and how does it fit into the objective facts? And when that statement is not given to us, it does not absolve our responsibility to our community of citizens to demonstrate what happened to the best of ability, he said.

In this context, having those statements was really critical because while we can put the context into the use of force, we dont have the line of sight here. And what is really crucial, those statements from both officers actually help us demonstrate that those two officers exercised incredible professional restraint, and the sequencing of that decision that was made.

Gill said it was very important as part of the investigation to know that the officers did not shoot the first time Larsen exited his house and was seen holding the shotgun.

They are concerned about it. Theyre certainly alarmed about it as they should be situationally aware. But since that gun was not in an immediate danger of being pointed at them, they made a very conscious decision  both of them, independently  not to fire at that suspect, he said.

It wasnt until Larsen stepped out of his house a second time and raised the shotgun that officers felt their lives were in danger. Gill said without the statements from the officers, he wouldnt have been able to articulate that in his report.

Larsen pleaded guilty in November to assault on a police officer and arson in exchange for eight other counts being dismissed. On Jan. 17, he was sentenced to a term of one to 15 years in the Utah State Prison.

Following Gills decision, Salt Lake City police released a prepared statement that stated, in part, As members of law enforcement, we have a responsibility to protect our community and ourselves from harm. The decision to use force  at any level  must always be made with great care and consideration.
Malia and Sasha Obama

Sasha Obama, the youngest daughter of Barack and Michelle Obama, has given her parents yet another reason to be proud. The 21-year-old officially became a college graduate on Friday. With her family in attendance, Sasha gracefully walked across the stage at the University of Southern California to receive her degree in sociology.

Sasha, who attended the University of Michigan as a freshman in 2019, later transferred to USC. Michelle revealed last year that Sasha and her older sister Malia have been living together in Los Angeles, Essence reported.

The First Lady has also spoken extensively about the pressure of raising her daughters as public figures.

It was no accident that our children had to show up right in the world. They carried a burden of making sure they werent messy, Michelle said on The Light Podcast, which she launched in March according to Essence. It wouldnt have been laughed off. It wouldnt have been [dismissed as] just oh its youthful whatever. It would have been some bigger statement about the soul of Black folksThat weight is exhausting.

According to The Los Angeles Times, there was a massive cheer from the crowd when Sasha heard her name called at Fridays graduation ceremony. Kim Demu, one of the attendees at the graduation, was in shock as she sat near the Obamas.

I knew [Sasha Obama] transferred from [University of] Michigan to here, but I had no idea she was graduating in this class with my niece, Demu told the Los Angeles Times. Very exciting!

Sasha, who was 7 years old when her father became president in 2009, graduated from a Washington D.C. high school, then attended the University of Michigan. On Friday, she walked with her peers graduating from USCs Dornsife College of Letters.
El Nino is coming, El Nino is coming  but instead of the "secret signal" lanterns that Paul Revere's militia men left in the window of the Old North Church, this one comes from space. A satellite picked up Kelvin waves which are a potential precursor of a developing El Nino.

Short but powerful, the 2 to 4-inch waves that develop at the equator are hundreds of miles long from north to south, according to NASA. They are bringing warm water from the western Pacific to the Eastern Pacific.

Scientists wait for the central and eastern Pacific to be 0.5 degrees Celsius warmer than the average for three months before making the call, "El Nino is here."

EL NINO NOW NEARLY SLAM DUNK TO IMPACT WORLD WEATHER LATER THIS YEAR

The black line in the animation indicates the equator. You can see the red marching steadily from west to east.

This animation shows the Kelvin waves, moving warm water across the equatorial Pacific Ocean during March and April. The signals can be an early sign of a developing El Nino and were detected by the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich sea level satellite.

"When we measure sea level from space using satellite altimeters, we know not only the shape and height of water, but also its movement, like Kelvin and other waves," said Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, NASA program scientist and manager of this satellite. "Ocean waves slosh heat around the planet, bringing heat and moisture to our coasts and changing our weather."

The three recent La Nina years were marked by California drought, unimaginable flooding across Kentucky and whole towns under rainfall across New Zealand and Australia. A strong El Nino pattern could have opposite but still destructive results.

HISTORIC CALIFORNIA DROUGHT, RARE TRIPLE-DIP LA NINA TRIGGERED BY AUSTRALIAN WILDFIRES, STUDY SUGGESTS

Water spills from Australia's Wyangala Dam

"Well be watching this El Nino like a hawk," said Josh Willis, satellite project scientist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. "If its a big one, the globe will see record warming, but here in the Southwest U.S., we could be looking at another wet winter, right on the heels of the soaking we got last winter."

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NOAA says to watch for a soggy Gulf Coast, but a change in wind direction tends to suppress hurricane development.

"The most reliable of these signals (the one that has been observed most frequently) is wetter-than-average conditions along the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida during this 6-month period (October to March). This relationship has occurred during more than 80% of the El Nino events in the past 100 years," states NOAA.

"El Nino impacts are associated with drier conditions in the Ohio Valley, and there is a less-reliable dry signal in the Pacific Northwest and the northern Rockies," the NOAA explanation continued. "Hawaii also often experiences lower-than-average rainfall totals from the late fall through early spring period."

The Northeast winter tends to be milder. Strong El Nino patterns have delivered heavy rains across California.

A luxury home in the Orange County, California near Laguna Beach slips down a hillside eroded by heavy El Nino generated rains earlier in the month. Two homes and seven condominiums were also destroyed.

El Nino is also associated with a weakening of the trade winds. The condition can bring drought to countries in the western Pacific, such as Indonesia and Australia, according to NOAA.

NOAA's Climate Prediction Center said last week the tropical waters of the Central Pacific Ocean are still warming and are now on the cusp of reaching the threshold for being considered an El Nino .
By Tom Bateman

HIROSHIMA, Japan (Reuters) - When Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida hosts leaders of the Group of Seven richest nations in Hiroshima this week, restaurants in the city hope to put a local speciality on the map, with a choice of fillings to cater for foreign tastes.

A gateway to tourism on the western side of Japan's main island, Hiroshima's name is forever carved in history as the first city to suffer the horror of a nuclear attack nearly 78 years ago.

Kishida's parliamentary constituency covers part of Hiroshima, a city that is home to over one million people, and also around 800 restaurants specialising in okonomiyaki, a savoury pancake whose name means "cooked as you like".

The ingredients of the signature dish typically include noodles, cabbage, batter, and meat fried on a hot metal plate, but for the G7 the Oconomiyaki Academy, a local restaurant trade group, has dreamed up variations incorporating favourite foods from each nation.

"You could say that okonomiyaki is the number-one most popular soul food among people from Hiroshima," said Atsuki Kitaura, the city-wide manager of the Chinchikurin chain.

"We thought a lot of customers from various countries overseas would come here, so we wanted to offer various flavours of okonomiyaki to match their taste."

They include German sauerkraut, as well as a maple syrup-infused Canadian version, and a carbonara style to honour Italy. For American tastes there will be burger meat, while the French version contains cabbage, bean sprouts, bacon, cheese, okonomiyaki sauce and a fried egg, all wrapped in a crepe.

Some locals weren't so sure about the new foreign fillings, such as the British-themed version with fried sardines and topped with potato chips.

"If it's fish and chips with a Coke, that's ok," said office worker Shinya Otsuki. "But I don't think I can eat it served this way."

(Reporting by Tom Bateman; Writing by Rocky Swift; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
Storyful

A video posted on May 5 by a Ukrainian army brigade showing troops advancing quickly on Russian trenches near Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, has rankled the administrators of Grey Zone, a Telegram channel closely tied to Russias Wagner mercenary company.The video, posted on YouTube by the 3rd separate assault brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and captured by a soldiers helmet-mounted camera and a drone, shows at least seven Ukrainian soldiers exiting a BMP infantry vehicle next to a tree line in fields in Kostyantynivskyi district, about 9 miles southwest of Bakhmut, and proceeding to advance on Russian positions in trenches and dugouts to their east.Using the BMP as cover, the soldiers move forward while exchanging fire with enemy forces ahead of them. In just 16 minutes, they successfully advance about 330 meters (1,082 ft) toward a transmission tower, where they find Russian dugouts. After a Ukrainian soldier says a Russian soldier was still inside one of the dugouts, they begin shouting at him to surrender, telling him he would survive, and throw a smoke grenade inside the hole to try to force him out, according to English-language captions generated by Google Translate. As an unseen Russian soldier fails to surrender and continues to fire at the Ukrainian troops from inside the dugout, the Ukrainian soldier filming the operation on his helmet camera throws a hand grenade into the dugout.The footage rankled the administrators of Grey Zone, a Telegram channel closely tied to PMC Wagner, the private mercenary company led by Yevgeny Prigozhin that was leading Russian efforts in Bakhmut. In a post on May 18, the administrators said the footage appeared to refute reports from the Russian defense ministry that its assault units in the area were holding their flanks with support from artillery units, according to translations provided by Google and Dmitri Masinski of War Translated.The assault itself lasts about 16 minutes in one shot. During this time, the enemy advances 305 meters, Grey Zone wrote. Where are the hand-held anti-tank weapons? Where are the anti-tank firing points with ATGMs? Where is the minefield with the TMs? Where is the fire support from the flanks (perpendicular forest plantations) on the left and right? WHY THE F*** DOES THE BMP RIDE SLOWLY IN OPEN TERRAIN FOR 15 MINUTES? they continued.Grey Zone said the video showed the Ukrainian brigade seizing a platoon strong point belonging to the Russian Armed Forces whose troops, they said, were lacking resources and support, leading them to be crushed as below in the video. Credit: Ukrainian Ground Forces via Storyful
If disgraced former attorney Richard "Alex" Murdaugh is to proceed with plans to appeal his recent murder convictions and double life sentences, he must find an alternate way to pay for his legal defense  or rely on a public defender.

South Carolina circuit court Judge Daniel Hall filed an order Friday denying a motion request by Murdaugh's legal defense team to use any more of Murdaugh's own money to pay for his criminal appeal.

Murdaugh, who was convicted March 2 in the June 2021 murders of his wife, Maggie, and younger son, Paul, and sentenced to consecutive life sentences, filed a notice of appeal of that conviction on March 9.

Attorneys: Murdaugh has a constitutional right to choose his lawyers

On March 21, Murdaugh's legal team, led by Richard Harpootlian and Jim Griffin, filed a motion "for payment of attorney's fees and costs from untainted funds" from a receivership that has been established when the courts seized Murdaugh's assets in light of his 100-plus criminal charges and the dozen lawsuits filed against him.

Harpootlian and Griffin claimed that Murdaugh's murder trial lasted longer than expected  six weeks  and had exhausted the fees Murdaugh had already paid, an amount they say is "grossly insufficient," adding they need more money to adequately mount his appeal case.

Murdaugh's attorneys also argue that their client has a "fundamental constitutional right" to an attorney of his choosing, and if he is unable to pay for an adequate defense, "the burden of representing Murdaugh will shift to the already overworked appellate public defenders."

Judge's order means Murdaugh's money goes to victims, not lawyers

However, those receivership funds are earmarked for Murdaugh's alleged victims.

Murdaugh's assets were seized and placed under control of two court-appointed receivers at the request of attorneys handling a wrongful death suit against Murdaugh in relation to the 2019 Beaufort County boat crash involving Murdaugh's son, Paul, that left 19-year-old Mallory Beach dead.

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Mallory Beach and one of her furry friends posing for a selfie.

After the sale of several of Murdaugh's properties, including his home at Moselle, $2.786 million has been set aside for the victims of the boat crash case, and another $1.2 million has been raised for other alleged Murdaugh victims.

On May 2, the receivers, South Carolina attorneys Peter McCoy Jr. and John Lay Jr., filed a motion in opposition to Murdaugh's request, which Judge Hall took into consideration when denying Murdaugh's motion for more money.

The receivers argued the court had already approved an October 2022 request to liquidate Murdaugh's 401(k) retirement account and use $600,000 of that to pay for his murder defense and his appeal.

The receivers further argued that, by Murdaugh's own agreement, the remainder of his retirement funds, $424,941.24, were to be deposited into the receivership for his alleged victims  and he was not legally entitled to any more money.

Alleged Alex Murdaugh accomplices: What's next for Russell Laffitte, Curtis Edward Smith?

Defense attorney Jim Griffin asks Alex Murdaugh if he killed his wife Maggie Murdaugh and son Paul Murdaugh with the 12-gauge shotgun that is in evidence in Murdaughs murder trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023.

What's next for Alex Murdaugh?

A total of 12 civil suits  11 in state court, and one federal  have been filed against Murdaugh after an alleged decade-long, multi-county financial and drug-related crime spree in which he allegedly stole more than $8.7 million from his clients and other attorneys.

Murdaugh has signed confessions of judgement in some of these cases, and to date only one civil case, the Mallory Beach wrongful death suit, is scheduled for trial: in Hampton County beginning Aug. 14.

Judge Hall is currently considering a motion for summary judgement by a co-defendant in that trial, Gregory M. Parker Inc., the owner of the Parkers convenience store which allegedly sold some of the alcohol involved in the boat case.

Parker is asking the court to dismiss him and his business from the case and let the claim stand against Murdaugh alone, arguing that his store employees did not violate the law and are not responsible because they were duped by Murdaugh's underage son using a valid ID. The Greenville News will have more on that story later this week, and Judge Hall is expected to rule on that motion by May 26.

Murdaugh is also facing 104 remaining criminal charges, but court dates have not been set for those cases.

Meanwhile, Murdaugh is serving his life sentences under protective custody in an undisclosed maximum security state prison.

Hampton County Guardian Editor Michael DeWitt, the Greenville News and USA TODAY Network will continue to follow the ongoing criminal and civil cases surrounding the Murdaugh crime saga. Follow DeWitt on Twitter at @mmdewittjr and support his local and national journalism with a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: SC Judge says Murdaugh attorneys can't use 401k for appeal
Just a few years ago, Carl Lentz was on top of the world.

The pastor had founded the New York City outpost of Hillsong, a Pentecostal megachurch with roots in Australia, in 2010. Over the following decade, the church became a sensation, drawing thousands of diverse, young congregants every Sunday to services at Irving Plaza in Manhattan.

Known for his designer skinny jeans, plunging V-neck shirts and wildly charismatic sermons, Lentz attracted numerous celebrities to his flock and in 2014, famously baptized Justin Bieber in a bathtub belonging to NBA player Tyson Chandler. In the process, Lentz turned into a star himself, a  hypepriest  to the rich and famous who was interviewed by Oprah Winfrey and profiled in major magazines.

As a white Evangelical who lived in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, and wasnt afraid to say Black lives matter  even on "The 700 Club"  he seemed to represent a new, more progressive strain of Christianity, even as he skillfully dodged questions about the churchs stance on LGBTQ+ issues and did little to increase diversity in the organization's leadership.

Then, in late 2020, he was fired from Hillsong for moral failures. On Instagram, Lentz apologized for cheating on his wife, Laura, disappointing the thousands of congregants who looked to him for spiritual guidance. Then, he disappeared from public view, even as Ranin Karim talked about her affair with Lentz on Good Morning America, and the familys former nanny, Leona Kimes, publicly accused Carl Lentz of misdeeds. "I was subjected to manipulation, control, bullying, abuse of power and sexual abuse," she wrote in a 2021 blog post.

To many, it seemed like a predictable twist in an all-too-familiar tale: Lentz, despite his hipster trappings, was just another hypocritical religious leader caught up in a sex scandal and ultimately undone by his own hubris.

The Secrets of Hillsong, a four-part docuseries premiering Friday on FX, makes the case that Lentz, although flawed, was a convenient, high-profile scapegoat for an institution that went much deeper than a single wayward pastor.

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The Secrets of Hillsong features the first interviews with the Lentzes, who were both ousted from the church, and includes new revelations about the personal demons that contributed to Carl Lentzs behavior. Lentz, who relocated with his family to Sarasota, Fla., after a stint in rehab, says he was sexually abused by a family friend as a child, an experience that led to intense shame and secrecy around his private life. Lentz also says he misused drugs prescribed for ADHD for years, including during his tenure at Hillsong, when he would oversee as many as seven worship services on a single Sunday.

Lentz in 2017 during an interview in New York, around the height of his fame. "I think this moment of quiet must be disorientating for him," director Stacey Lee said. (Bebeto Matthews / Associated Press)

My actions are my fault. What Ive done is my fault, but where that thing started, I have no control over. I was a kid, says Lentz.

Lentz also admits an inappropriate relationship with Kimes, who was co-pastor of Hillsong in Boston, in addition to being the familys nanny, but insists that it was consensual.

I am responsible for allowing an inappropriate relationship to develop in my house with someone that worked for us, he says. Any notion of abuse is categorically false. There were mutual decisions made by two people who lied profusely, mainly to my wife.

Lentz is also critical of Hillsongs leadership, particularly that of founder Brian Houston, a former friend and mentor, who is now in the midst of a trial in Australia, where he is accused of failing to report child sexual abuse by his father, Frank Houston, a preacher who died in 2004 and whose Pentecostal church there was a precursor to Hillsong.

Typically, the way that Hillsong has handled scandal ... was [by doing] what looks best for the church, Lentz says. Most of the time, it serves everybody to push everything down. You just push it as far under the rug as you can. We choose narrative over truth and that leads to absolute disaster, because the truth doesnt go anywhere just because you cover it up

Directed by Stacey Lee and drawn from reporting by Vanity Fairs Alex French and Dan Adler, the series goes deep into the history of the Australian megachurch, alleging a pattern of cover-ups, inappropriate behavior and financial self-dealing by Brian Houston, who resigned from Hillsong last year and will return to court in Australia next month as his trial continues. It also includes interviews with several people who allege that they were abused by Frank Houston, as well as former Hillsong congregants and employees, who say they carry deep emotional scars from their experiences with the church.

The megachurch, which once boasted a weekly global attendance of 150,000 in 30 countries, is now in disarray: numerous pastors have resigned, and in the United States, only six of 16 locations remain open.

Vanity Fair published a gripping account of Lentzs downfall in early 2021 . It became very clear to both of us that the problems with Hillsong New York were not specific to Carl, that there was a larger cultural malaise, a toxic cultural climate that Carl was maybe a symptom of, not so much the cause of, French said in an interview with The Times (he and Adler are executive producers on the series). There were these deep, systemic, inborn problems with this church that date back to Frank Houston using his ministry as a tool for grooming and abusing young boys. Carl was just the handsomest, most charismatic, most camera-friendly version of what the problem looks like when it's full grown.

Scout Productions, known for creating such programs as Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, soon came on board to develop the Vanity Fair story into a docuseries.

For executive producer David Collins, the subject was personal: He is a former member of Hillsongs Los Angeles congregation. Hed been invited to come to the church around 2011, at a time when he was going through a divorce, raising two small kids and was hurting and wanting to find connection.

Collins, who is gay and grew up in a Southern Baptist church, became a regular, attending for a year and a half until a confrontation with a homophobic Sunday School teacher who questioned his familys validity on Mothers Day. I grabbed my daughters hands, and we walked out and never went back, he said.

Collins was also crucial in securing Lentzs participation in the documentary. Adler and French had repeatedly reached out to Lentz while writing their Vanity Fair story, but had gotten nowhere.

Collins sent Lentz a lengthy text message telling him about his experience with Hillsong, ending with an open invitation to have lunch. Lentz replied within minutes, and they soon met up.

I saw his humanity, and he saw mine. And without sounding too Brene Brown [a professor and podcast host] and cliche, we were vulnerable with each other, we shared our truths. I talked about how painful that time in my life was, re-reevaluating who I was, Collins said. We found common ground. I think his wife, Laura, was the motivating factor for him.

Eventually, after months of conversations with Collins and Lee,the Lentzes agreed to participate in the series. Lee conducted extensive pre-interviews before picking up a camera, because I wanted to get a sense of the holistic story, she said. It wasn't a quick process. It wasn't immediate trust. I'm literally walking into everybody's worst moment of their life.

In his first appearance on camera, Lentz is visibly uncomfortable. We learn that he relocated with his wife and three children in part to escape media scrutiny.

But over the course of the series, Lentz opens up about the therapy he has undergone in an effort to better understand his compulsions and, as he puts it, "peel back what sexual abuse does to somebodys brain." He also allows Lee to follow him at home with his family and at the generic office where he was then working in advertising.

I get what it looks like, he says of his new job, which doesnt involve baptizing pop stars in bathtubs or preaching to throngs of adoring congregants. Its not better or worse or higher or lower. Its a different setting.

I think this moment of quiet must be disorientating for him, compared to what the measures of success used to look like, said Lee.

Lentz was hired in March by the nondenominational Transformation Church in Tulsa, Okla., though his role will reportedly not involve any public ministry. After leaving his Instagram account dormant for most of the last two years, Lentz posted an update last week, saying that he and his wife had celebrated their 20th anniversary in the purest way after overcoming a lot of humiliation and embarrassment and heartache.

Part of the healing from that heartache led us to the decision to be a part of a documentary that we do not control, that we dont have any say in and that we havent even seen yet, he wrote. Well see it when the world does.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A Kennewick school transportation employee allegedly embezzled $18,000 in union funds over the course of her 10 years as the treasurer.

Karen Ann Steele, 63, reportedly told investigators that she started taking the money after being the victim of a scam and owed a substantial amount of money, according to court documents.

She is charged in Benton County Superior Court with first-degree theft and is out of jail awaiting trial.

Starting in 2013, Steele was the treasurer for the Kennewick Transportation 103 chapter of the Public School Employees of Washington Local 1948.

In that position, she was the only person in charge of handling the chapters money. Union dues paid by employees are divided between state and local union chapters.

Starting early in her tenure, she began using the union money to make thousands of dollars in purchases at various stores, including Rite Aid and Costco, according to court documents. In all, there was $18,000 missing, according to court documents.

Chapter president Peggy Morgan discovered the missing money and reported it to police in March.

When Steele started to talk to investigators, she allegedly said she used the fact that no one checked the finances to take money from the chapters account.

She allegedly created a bank account where she would transfer the money and could take cash withdrawals through an ATM.

Steele allegedly admitted to taking just over $9,600. She told Morgan about the theft and tried to repay some of the money, said court documents.

She also told the investigator that she regretted taking the money.
Sheriffs deputies and fire personnel began searching Sunday afternoon and evening for a man who fell into the North Fork American River in Placer County but had not located him as of Monday, authorities said.

The man was recreating around 4:30 p.m. near Yankee Jims Bridge between Foresthill and Colfax, Placer County Sheriffs Office spokeswoman Angela Musallam said in an emailed response, when he jumped into the water and was swept away.

Deputies, Cal Fire and California State Parks personnel responded to the scene Sunday, Musallam said, and searched using ground, water and air resources.

The victim had not been located as of Monday afternoon, Musallam said.

Authorities as of Monday were involved in a limited but continuous search, she said.

Emergency officials, including the Placer County Sheriffs Office, continue to warn Californians that even as outside temperatures warm to summer-like highs, waterways continue to run very cold and fast during this time of year. They often do not warm to safe levels for recreation until around late July or early August.

Area waterways are still running cold & fast due to snow melt. It only takes a few minutes to lose muscle control with water temperatures this cold.



With warm air temperatures expected again this week, beware of cold, fast-running water! #CAwx pic.twitter.com/UNzzU1VbaW  NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) May 15, 2023
Seattle police made an arrest Friday in connection to the shooting death of a man who was found in a downtown alley early Wednesday morning.

According to the Seattle Police Department, officers found the 27-year-old suspect around 7 p.m. Friday and booked him into the King County Jail for investigation of murder.

Police were called to Third Avenue and Cherry Street at around 2 a.m. Wednesday for a report of a person with a traumatic injury. They arrived to find a badly injured man lying in an alley between Second and Third avenues.

Officers tried to give the man aid until Seattle Fire Department medics arrived and pronounced him dead at the scene.

Initial reports were that the man was stabbed, but SPD said Sunday that the incident was a shooting.
FX

Over the past few decades, pious profiteering has become so commonplace that its a cliche, such that Steve Martin was lampooning it back in 1992 with Leap of Faith and Danny McBride is still using it as fodder for HBOs The Righteous Gemstones. Thus, its no revelation that making money was the prime directive of Hillsong, a megachurch that was founded in Australia in the early 1980s and became a recent American sensation courtesy of its New York branch run by Carl Lentz, an unconventional and charismatic pastor who made Christianity cool for younger generations. Carl was a superstar on the fast track until scandal derailed his career. As it turns out, though, his missteps were the least of Hillsongs problems, what with its own closeted skeletons involving alleged financial malfeasance and pedophilic sexual abuse.

Produced and directed by Stacey Lee, FXs four-part The Secrets of Hillsong (May 19) tells a story full of disgusting elements that are now routine in conversations about religious organizations, much of them centering, in this instance, around Hillsong bigwig Brian Houston. Nonetheless, its main selling points are the first on-camera interviews with Brians hand-picked protege Carl and his wife Laura, whom Carl was revealed to have cheated on in 2020, thus outing him as a hypocrite and ending his tenure with Hillsong. Considering his public profile as a rising celebrity phenom who served as Justin Biebers spiritual advisor (he even baptized him) and befriended Selena Gomez, Kevin Durant, and Oprah Winfrey, Carls infidelity was headline news, undercutting his reputation with his flock, destroying his marriage, and compelling Brian to let him go.

Carl is now an advertising executive in Sarasota, Florida, and in The Secrets of Hillsongs late bombshell, hes still with Laura, who despite her spouses betrayal has chosen to take him back. Thats certainly the biggest Carl-centric surprise to be found in Lees docuseries, given that otherwise, his downfall was brought about by a fairly standard mixture of unchecked hubris and horniness. The thing that truly made Carl uniqueand successfulwas that he didnt resemble a pastor in the first place. With NSYNC hair (as he himself describes it), arms full of tattoos, a ripped body, and a wardrobe of leather jackets and tight jeans, he more closely resembled a pop star or modelor a particularly attractive hipster from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the location of his NYC headquartersthan a stereotypical man of the cloth.

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The fact that Carl used Instagram as a marketing tool for Hillsong, and leaned heavily on the churchs rich music tradition (its albums and songs have been chart-topping best-sellers and Grammy winners), helped make Hillsong seem exciting to its congregation, which he rapidly grew. Many Hillsong devotees speak about the churchs breath-of-fresh-air approach to sermons and community, even as they also, in some cases, chastise its old-fashioned power structure, with minorities welcomed through the front door but prevented from assuming leadership positions on the stage or behind the scenes. Couple that with commentary about the way in which Hillsong utilizedand in many instances seemingly exploitedunpaid volunteers to keep itself afloat, and what emerges is a snapshot of an outfit that promoted itself as trendy and inclusive, and yet was far more conservative than it let on.

Exposing Hillsong: The Pedophile Church That Justin Bieber Made Famous

Buoyed by input from a collection of reporters (including Vanity Fairs Alex French and Dan Adler, Mike Cosper, Katelyn Beaty, and David Hardaker), The Secrets of Hillsong contends that Carlwho drew praise for supporting Black Lives Matter and cast Hillsong as a home for allwas a veritable Trojan Horse designed to entice people to join a die-hard Pentecostal church founded on extremist evangelical principles, replete with speaking in tongues and magical healing demonstrations. In that light, Carl was a phony in multiple respects, and Lees thorough series doesnt let him off the hook, this despite allowing him to candidly confess his mistakes, apologize, and discuss his attempts at atonement. Carl comes off badly in The Secrets of Hillsong, and his trademark tearswhich he used to shed to his megachurch throngs, and does so again for TV viewersdont soften his newfound image as a fraud.

FX

The Secrets of Hillsongs true enmity, however, is reserved for Brian. Having learned at the feet of his father Frank, a pastor whod led New Zealands Assemblies of God into Australia, as well as from modern American evangelists who preached that financial success was the way to God (and proof of ones holiness), Brian transformed Franks church into the immensely lucrative Hillsong. Along the way, he allegedly covered up his dads fondness for molesting young boysa charge that Brian is currently fighting in court following his dismissal from Hillsong. That a verdict isnt due until this July suggests that FXs series is a tad premature. Nonetheless, with the aid of numerous journalists, as well as the heartrending testimony of some of his victims, director Lee persuasively argues that Frank was a pedophilic monster and that Brian knew full well what his dad was up to, no matter that he downplayed his awareness of these crimes to a 2014 Royal Commission.

Inside Justin Biebers Pastors Wild Cheating Scandal

The Secrets of Hillsongs final two episodes detail Brians sexually inappropriate behavior with two separate women, and the payoffs and non-disclosure agreements that were employed to silence them. Factor in Brian and other church elders treatment of Hillsong as their private piggy bank, and what you have is a familiar tale of corporatized greed and misconduct. In light of this ugliness, its no shock that Hillsongs global reach has dwindled, and its likely to shrink more, courtesy of the audio and video recordings presented by Leein particular, a Zoom conference call in which Hillsong bigwigs talk about covering up Brians misdeeds.

Per modern docuseries convention, The Secrets of Hillsong runs at least one episode too long. Regardless, its a comprehensive overview of a reprehensible situation that often plays out in the religious worldone in which power, wealth, and sex, rather than biblical standards of benevolence, generosity, and selflessness, are the prime motivators of those claiming to have a direct line to God.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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All eyes will be on the foothills of North Carolina as NASCAR makes its return to North Wilkesboro Speedway this week.

The NASCAR All-Star Race, which will run Sunday night, is the obvious headliner. But racing events and festivities will take place at the vaunted venue all week.

Heres what you need know.

North Wilkesboro Speedway schedule

Tuesday: ECMD 150 Race. The ASA STARS National Series will bring late model racing to North Wilkesboro Speedway for practice, qualifying and then the race at 7:30 p.m. NASCAR Cup Series superstar Chase Elliott announced last week that hed run in the race. Erik Jones and William Byron and Daniel Suarez will be running in it, too. The day will also feature practice for the CARS Late Model Stock Tour race.

Wednesday: CARS Pro Late Models race and CARS Late Model Stocks race. The highlight of this night will be the whos-who on pit road. Dale Earnhardt Jr., who was a key player in resurrecting North Wilkesboro, will be racing on Wednesday night. So will Kevin Harvick, wholl be in a throwback number and paint scheme. Fans can get autographs signed from 6-6:45 p.m., and the nights racing will begin at 8 p.m.

Friday: Truck practice begins at 3 p.m. Cup practice begins right after that. At 5:45 p.m., the Pit Crew Challenge will commence  where pit crews of all the drivers in the All-Star Race will complete a four-tire stop, and the times of each team will determine the qualifying order for Saturdays heat races. That will then be followed up by concerts from North Carolina-bred country music star Chase Rice and American country band Midland.

Saturday: The Tyson 250. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returns to North Wilkesboro for the first time since 1996. Gates open at 10 a.m., and the race begins at 1:30 p.m. You can also catch the two NASCAR Cup Series heat races starting at 7:35 p.m.

Sunday: The All-Star Race. Sundays schedule will be thoroughly packed, but here are some highlights. The Fan Zone opens at 11 a.m. Pre-race concerts featuring Tim Dugger and Dierks Bentley begin in the early afternoon. The All-Star Open, which will feature drivers not previously eligible for the All-Star Race running 100 laps to see who can get in the race, will begin at 5:30 p.m., and then the All-Star Race will begin at 8 p.m. The winner of the heralded race, as per tradition, gets a cash prize of $1 million.

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Additional links for North Wilkesboro information

 For day-to-day tickets, visit the Speedway Motorsports website.

 For all your parking and shuttle information, check out the SMI website again. (Its worth printing here, too: The racetrack is asking for attendants to carpool, to download the Waze app on your mobile device and to be patient on race day.)

 For more information on the All-Star Races format, as well as other stories throughout the weekend, stay up-to-date on the Charlotte Observer website.
A blue whale looks downward as man seemingly walks underwater, past the whale mural at a fish processing plant in New Bedford.

NEW BEDFORD  From the Courting the Sky" mural at Clasky Common Park to the colorful Frederick Douglass mural on Pleasant Street, downtown New Bedford is bursting with vibrant, colorful art that can be seen across the city. Not only can visitors admire the work, but they can also take selfies and photos of themselves as part of the amazing art.

"What makes New Bedford's thriving mural scene unique is that the majority of them are designed and created by local artists. The few that may not have had local community input," said Margo Saulnier, director and creative strategist for the New Bedford Creative.

"There is a great sense of pride that our vibrant street art reflect us as residents of NB. Im always impressed with the artist community that supports one another to create these murals  they are the best!"

More: In the Kitchen: How The Black Whale expedites its food to be ready for the table.

A mural featuring a crying eye with the icons of the Whaling City reflected in its pupil, the large mural painted of Sgt. William Carney at Carney Academy and a mural celebrating the Massachusetts 54th regiment, here are a few places to go check out some incredible wall art.

A woman walks past the new mural found in Sears Court alley which bridges Purchase Street and Pleasant Street in downtown New Bedford. The mural is entitled In Motion and was painted by Brian Tillett, compromising a series of colorful silhouettes of residents in action. The project is part of a MassDot grant 'Shared Streets and Spaces' that New Bedford Department of Planning received and is being managed by Superflat NB.

New Bedford 'In Motion' Mural

In the Sears Court alley, which connects Purchase and Pleasant streets in downtown New Bedford, the mural "In Motion" features a vibrant work of art created by Brian Tillett. It consists of silhouettes of local residents in motion. The mural is part of the 'Shared Streets and Spaces' project, funded by MassDot and under the management of Superflat NB.

A. Duie Pyle delivery driver, Peter Crepeau, admires the giant mural depicting famous New Bedford jazz musicians, as he waits for the door to open for a delivery he is making to the Fiber Optic Center on Hamilton Street in downtown New Bedford.

Celebrating Jazz

Produced by Superflat NB in 2020, the giant mural depicting famous New Bedford jazz musicians on Hamilton Street features Armsted Christian, Paul Gonsalves, Bobby Greene, Rick Britto, Herbie King and Joe Livramento.

A hardwood specialist is seen sanding the wood floors through an open window on a wall featuring a mural celebrating the Massachusetts 54th regiment painted on the side of the Freestone's building on William Street in downtown New Bedford.

The 54th Regiment mural

On William Street, near the NPS Visitor Center and Custom House, the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Plaza and Mural is part of a tribute to all of the Black men who joined the Union Army in the Civil War. This location served as the recruiting station for the Fifth Cavalry, the 54th and 55th Regiments, as well as the U.S. Navy. Over 350 New Bedford citizens signed up between 1861-1865, according to the New Bedford Historical Society.

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Graffiti artist Jeff Saint works on a mural featuring a crying eye with the icons of the whaling city reflected in its pupil, surrounded by coronavirus spores. He and fellow graffiti artist, Ryan McFee, are painting the piece on a building adjacent to the Custom House Square in New Bedford with the hope of eventually replacing the spores with flowers are the virus is defeated.

A tearful eye in New Bedford

Located on a building near Custom House Square, graffiti artist Jeff Saint created a mural of a tearful eye with the symbols of New Bedford displayed in its pupil, surrounded by coronavirus spores. He and Ryan McFee, another graffiti artist, painted the mural with the goal of changing the spores to flowers once the virus has been eliminated, according to a previous Standard-Times article.

The 'Whaling Wall' on Rt. 18

The giant whales painted on the outside wall of a warehouse on Route 18, known as a Whaling Wall, was painted in 2005 by Robert Wyland. It was #93 in a series of 100 whaling walls painted over three decades. Wyland began the series on a parking garage wall in 1981 and finished his 100th wall at the 2008 Olympic Games in China as a lead-in for the Beijing International Stadium.

Cedric Douglas works on the mural he is painting on the side of one of the apartments at the Reb Rose housing development in the south end of New Bedford. The subjects seen in the mural all lived at one time or another at the Ben Rose development and went on to be prominent members of the community. The mural is visible from Route 18 near the Division Street intersection.

A homage to growing up

Visible from Route 18 near the Division Street intersection, artist Cedric Douglas created a mural on the side of one of the apartments at Reb Rose housing development in the south end. The subject depicts the concepts features all that lived at one time or another at the Ben Rose development and went on to be prominent members of the community.

Two men walk past the mural featuring postcards from New Bedford at the Bank of America parking log on Elm Street.

Greetings from New Bedford

Located on the back wall of 674 Pleasant St., Superflat NB's "Postcards to New Bedford" mural was another SuperFlats NB project to create multiple cards giving different artists an individual voice or "postcard" to represent their relationship to the city.

More: Ella's Wood Burning Oven owners open new restaurant in Marion. Here's what's on the menu.

"Postcards are of course, fundamentally, snapshots. Often of a place in time or an object of significance in a particular place, they can also be imaginative, artistic, and less literal," said Greg Pennisten in a previous Standard-Times interview.

The Courting the Sky" mural at Clasky Common Park in New Bedford.

Nautical messaging in Clasky Commons

The Clasky Commons mural Courting the Sky," is inspired by the history of whaling in New Bedford. In the summer of 2019, artist Maria Molteni worked with community youth to teach them how to write using the Nautical Flag messaging system that ships used to communicate. (There is a flag for each letter of the alphabet.) The painted court features these flags which translate into secret messages.

A man walks past the marching figures painted on the side of the Dennison Memorial Community Center on 1st Street in New Bedford, MA on December 2, 2022.

Celebrating kids of all walks of life

In June 2022, as part of the 20mi2 three-day event across the city, the organization commissioned artists Gregory Pennisten and David Guadalupe to design a mural for he Dennison Memorial Community Center on 1st Street.

"It's a way for the community to really connect to each other and really get back to what's amazing about New Bedford," said Lillianne Condez, director of public relations for the center, in a previous Standard-Times interview.

Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter:@ChitwoodReports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford's downtown is becoming a destination for fans of murals
BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) -- "Australia doesn't want to decouple from China. What Australia wants to do is to improve our trading relationship with China," said Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell during an exclusive interview with Xinhua recently.

Farrell is the first Australian trade minister to have visited China in four years. He and Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao co-hosted on Friday the 16th Joint Ministerial Economic Commission here in Beijing.

The Australian government forecasted the nation's first annual budget surplus in 15 years on Tuesday. Farrell said one of the reasons is the "terms of trade that we have received over the last 12 months."

China is Australia's largest trading partner and Australia is one of China's major suppliers of commodities. Several Australian enterprises and associations have recently confirmed their participation in the 6th China International Import Expo.

"This last 12 months has been a record year for trade between Australia and China. We think we can do better," Farrell said.

Farrell said China's booming tourism and consumption during the May Day holiday was "very good news for Australia and the world."

"We're very hopeful and confident that the wonderful places Australia has to offer will attract lots of Chinese tourists," Farrell said, adding that Chinese people love coming to Sydney to see the Harbor Bridge, the Opera House and have a taste of the food and wine.

As Australia has realized the importance of decarbonizing the economy, Farrell said the country is looking forward to cooperating with China in renewable energy.

"We believe that we can provide the world with clean energy into the future. And we very much look forward to working with China to bring that about," the minister said. 
The Senate Democratic campaign arm is preparing to file a lawsuit in an attempt to obtain West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) official schedule, according to a letter sent to the governors general counsel.

Justice is considered the top contender to face off against Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) in next years election if the incumbent Democrat decides to run.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) announced the suit after it twice filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) records requests with the state in an attempt to access the calendars of Justice, his chief of staff, his deputy chief of staff and his general counsel in March shortly before he announced his Senate campaign.

J. Berkeley Bentley, Justices general counsel, blocked those requests both times, saying that none of the schedules were maintained solely for official business and likened them to drafts of schedules.

That prompted the DSCC to file a lawsuit in order to compel the governors office to release the schedules under the states FOIA law. DSCC counsel Jacquelyn Lopez argued that Bentleys argument doesnt hold weight and is not a valid exception to West Virginia FOIA law.

Jim Justice cannot hide his work schedule  or lack thereof  from West Virginians, and this is an area which is sure to receive further scrutiny in his nasty primary, DSCC spokesperson David Bergstein said in a statement.

Seeking schedules of this sort is a standard move by opposition researchers as they dig into information they can use against opposing candidates.

Manchin has said he will wait until December to decide on whether to seek a third full term.

Roman Stauffer, Justices campaign manager, accused Democrats of attempting to interfere with the GOP Senate primary in support of Rep. Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.) as they believe Manchin would have a better chance of defeating him in next years election.

Chuck Schumer and the Democrats have seen the polling that shows Governor Jim Justice winning this race and are in panic mode, Stauffer said in a statement. They want Alex Mooney as the Republican nominee because they can beat him. The Democrats see that Governor Justice will be West Virginias next U.S. senator and will likely help Mooney in the Republican primary election.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Diadie Ba

DAKAR (Reuters) - Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko has appealed a libel conviction that could prevent him running in presidential elections next year, one of his lawyers said, as another round of protests broke out on Monday.

Last week, Sonko received a suspended six-month sentence for libel stemming from his accusations that the minister of tourism had embezzled funds.

The conviction casts doubt over Sonko's eligibility to run for president in an election that where President Macky Sall is widely expected to seek a third term. Sall has neither confirmed nor denied this.

Sonko has denied the charges and denounced the conviction, as well as another trial he is facing on charges of rape, as politically motivated. The government denies this.

One of Sonko's lawyers, Bamba Cisse, declined to provide further details on the appeal.

The legal saga besetting Sonko has spurred more than two years of tensions and sporadic unrest in Senegal as supporters - many of whom are disenfranchised urban youth - have heeded calls for protests that often spiral into violent clashes with security forces.

Clashes broke on Monday out in the southern city of Ziguinchor, of which Sonko is mayor and where he is currently staying, after police used tear gas to disperse stone-throwing supporters outside his home.

Three protesters were injured in the process, Senegal's state news agency reported. Senegal's interior ministry said a police officer died following an accident involving an armoured personnel carrier.

The crowd had barred access to Sonko's house to prevent security forces from taking him to court for the next rape trial hearing, scheduled to take place on Tuesday in the capital Dakar.

Skirmishes were also reported in the capital Dakar on Monday.

Sonko said earlier this month that he would no longer obey court summonses or co-operate with the justice authorities unless his security is guaranteed.

The charismatic former tax inspector has become the face of growing frustration against Sall, accused of becoming increasingly repressive and failing to improve livelihoods since he took power in 2012.

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Hundreds rallied in Dakar last week in the latest show of protest against Sall's potential bid for a third term in the upcoming February poll.

Senegal's new constitution, adopted in 2016, limits presidential terms to two five-year mandates.

But Sall told French newspaper L'Express in March that he could technically run because the new constitution reset the clock on his number of terms.

(Reporting by Diadie Ba; Writing by Sofia Christensen; Editing by Bate Felix and Lisa Shumaker)
Thousands of people in Serbia participated in anti-gun protests last Monday following two devastating mass shootings the week before. On May 3, a 13-year-old schoolboy opened fire in a school, killing eight of his fellow students, according to AFP. Less than 24 hours later, a 21-year-old man killed eight and injured at least 13 more in a drive-by shooting.

Demonstrators called for the resignation of top government officials as well as more adequate safety protections and a ban on violent media content. Crowds gathered in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, and marched silently through the streets under a banner that read: Serbia Against Violence.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, left, inspects weapons collected as part of an amnesty operation on Sunday. (Serbian Presidential Press Service via AP)

In an address to the nation, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic condemned the shootings, calling them an attack on our entire country. He pledged to remove all illegal and registered guns to disarm the country. On Sunday, Serbian authorities showcased some of the 13,000 weapons that were handed in after Vucic declared a one-month amnesty for citizens to hand in their weapons or face jail time.

Since 2007, six mass shootings have been recorded in Serbia. This could be linked to the countrys high gun ownership rates. According to data compiled by the Small Arms Survey, Serbia, tied with Montenegro, ranks third in the world for the number of civilian firearms owned by 100 residents. The two Balkan states follow Yemen and the U.S.

Here are four other international news stories you may have missed this week from Yahoo News partner network.

Caribbean leader says country will never be 'totally free' under King Charles

King Charles III poses with Commonwealth leaders at a May 5 meeting in London. (Chris Jackson/WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The prime minister of St. Kitts and Nevis told the BBC last Monday that the Caribbean nation would not be totally free as long as King Charles III remains its head of state.

Dr. Terrance Drew said that he will open a public consultation on whether the two-island nation should become a republic. The prime minister also said he would welcome an apology from King Charles over the royal familys historic links to slave trades that devastated generations of people from the islands. "I think that acknowledging that ... something wrong was done, acknowledging it and apologizing for it, is a step in the right direction," Drew told the BBC.

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St. Kitts and Nevis is part of the British Commonwealth, a collection of former colonies stretching across the world, and one of 14 nations that have the British monarch as its head of state.

Pope Francis holds talks with Zelensky at Vatican

Pope Francis meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday in Vatican City. (Vatican Media Vatican Pool/Getty Images)

As reported by the Associated Press, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the Vatican to speak with Pope Francis on Saturday about a possible peace plan to end Russias war.

Following the private talks, Zelensky took to Twitter to praise the pontiff for his personal attention to the tragedy of millions of Ukrainians. He said the two spoke about the thousands of Ukrainian children that have been allegedly illegally deported to Russia  an accusation the United Nations has deemed a war crime. However, a statement from the Vatican avoided specifics and said instead they spoke about Ukraines humanitarian and political situation provoked by the ongoing war."

Zelensky said he told the pope that the only peace plan that would work was the one proposed by Ukraine. In December, Kyiv officials published a 10-point peace plan that would see the restoration of Ukraines state borders with Russia and the release of all prisoners and deported children.

U.S. ambassador in South Africa apologizes over Russian arms deal

Reuben Brigety, now a deputy assistant secretary of state speaks to journalists in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2010. (Khalil Senosi/AP)

South Africas foreign ministry announced that the U.S. ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, has apologized after claiming that the country had sold weapons to Russia, the BBC reported.

Brigety accused the South African government of loading a Russian ship with weapons in the capital of Cape Town last December, something he stated to be fundamentally unacceptable. In a news conference last week, Brigety said, We are confident that weapons were loaded onto that vessel and I would bet my life on the accuracy of that assertion.

However, South Africas foreign ministry said it had no record of the arms sale, and President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered an inquiry into the accusation. But on Friday, Brigety wrote on Twitter that he was grateful for the opportunity to speak with Foreign Minister [Naledi] Pandor and that he was happy to correct any misimpressions left by my public remarks.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said he would not speak about the allegations but said it was a serious issue and that the U.S. would urge other countries against providing arms to Russia.

Italys birth rate continues to plunge

Italian Minister of Education and Merit Giuseppe Valditara. (Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)

Italian Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said on Thursday that the countrys school population will decrease by one million in the next 10 years  an alarming situation that is due to low birth rates and emigration, Reuters reported.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has pledged to improve the birth rates in Italy by supporting parents through benefits. On Thursday, Pope Francis reiterated Melonis message and urged Italians to have more children and fewer pets. Let us not resign ourselves to sterile dullness and pessimism, the pontiff said. Let us not believe that history is already marked, that nothing can be done to reverse the trend. Italys fertility rate is one of the lowest in the world, with 1.24 children per woman.

The pope criticized Italys young population and told them to let go of selfish, egotistical ideals.
A woman was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after she was struck by a vehicle while riding her bike, the Boise Police Department said.

The collision occurred at the intersection of Eagle and McMillan roads in West Boise and caused police to shut down the intersection in all directions, according to a news release from the department. The intersection is expected to be closed for several hours.

The bicyclist was traveling eastbound on McMillan Road when the driver, who was traveling northbound on Eagle Road, hit her, according to the release. No other injures were reported and police are investigating.

Police said that traffic in the area is experiencing major delays and asked the public to avoid the area while officers clear the scene and investigate the crash.

Lowell Scott Middle School is located off the intersection, and the school day ends at 3:05 p.m. West Ada School District spokesperson Niki Scheppers said the collision didnt cause any delays for students or affect the schools bus routes.
Nigerian Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer.

Lagos police spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin tweeted that Kuti had handed himself in on Monday, along with a photo of the musician in handcuffs.

Police chief Usman Alkali Baba had ordered his detention on Saturday.

Kuti, 40, was "captured on video assaulting a police officer in uniform", the police spokesman added.

Kuti - the son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti - went to the police headquarters on Monday with his lawyer and family representative, Hundeyin added.

Before his arrest, Kuti said on Twitter that the policeman had tried to kill him and his family, but he did not explain how.

He and his lawyer have not commented since his arrest.

Videos posted online on Saturday showed the two men in the middle of a busy Lagos road.

It is not clear what caused the altercation but an agitated Kuti could be seen pushing the surprised policeman before hitting him in the face, twice.

The musician has tweeted that he would give "full cooperation" to any investigation.

His action drew widespread condemnation from Nigerians, with many calling for his immediate arrest and prosecution.

Slapping a police officer is a serious offence in Nigeria, and if charged and found guilty, he risks three years in jail.

Kuti is the last child of Fela and leads his father's former Egypt 80 band.

In 2020, he announced a revival of his father's defunct political party - Movement of the People - but was unable to register it with authorities.
Reports of a severed hand discovered on a California sidewalk baffled police  but only briefly.

A man missing a hand showed up at a Riverside hospital shortly after the initial reports about the disembodied limb came in at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday, May 13, police told McClatchy News.

Hospital officials called police, and the patient told authorities that someone armed with a sword had cut off his hand.

Detectives investigating the incident believe the two men are familiar with each other and have an ongoing dispute, police said.

Police have not released further information as the investigation continues.

Riverside is a city of 317,000 people about 55 miles east of Los Angeles.

Woman killed in hit-and-run after stopping to help another driver, California cops say

Watch terrifying moment as fisherman kicks tiger shark attacking his kayak in Hawaii

Man killed when his pistol fires during struggle with police, California cops say
Sarah Bonner has been an Illinois middle school teacher for 20 years, and she has always tried to offer her students a diverse collection of books.

This year, a parent called the police over her book choice.

It started on Monday, March 13, 2023, when she held what she calls a book tasting" for students.

I wanted to give them a smattering of fiction and nonfiction to choose from on a day that we call Reading Monday, Bonner, 42, tells TODAY.com. We just read and celebrate books.

One of those books was Juno Dawsons This Book is Gay. It's a bestselling nonfiction book that's billed by its publisher as an entertaining and informative "instruction manual" for anyone coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans.

Sarah Bonner (Courtesy Sarah Bonner)

By Wednesday, I received notice that parents had gotten a hold of pictures from that book that their child had taken in class, Bonner says. By Friday, I was told that parents had filed a police report against me for child endangerment.

TODAY.com reached out to the local chief of police, who confirmed the report but declined to comment further.

The notion that I was putting children in danger because of books  I didnt feel safe, Bonner says. I knew I couldnt go back.

'Things have really changed for students'

Over the years, Bonner has watched her students graduate and go to college, only to return a year later because, she says, "They had a tough time acclimating to bigger, more diverse spaces."

"I wanted to do something to support them," Bonner, who has a 10-year-old son, says.

After listening to her students' questions and interests, Bonner structured a curriculum that she says included "a diverse library of texts," including books centering Black, Indigenous and LGBTQ characters and themes.

"I've been fortunate up until now to be supported by the communities that I've taught with," Bonner says. "The signs (of a potential issue) started at the beginning of this school year ... and this heightened culture war that's continuing to build nationwide."

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More than 1,600 books were banned during the 2021-2022 school year, according to a report from PEN America, a nonprofit group that advocates for free expression in literature.

More than half of the books banned or challenged had LGBTQ themes.

"It's not necessarily about what happened to me," Bonner adds. "It's about how things have really changed for students."

According to a 2020 National Literacy Trust research report, most kids aged 9-18 say it's "important to read books from a range of backgrounds."

Nearly half said that they liked to read stories with characters "who are different from them."

Those in favor of banning books in school often argue they're protecting children from inappropriate content and advocating for parental rights in school.

Sarah Bonner (Courtesy Sarah Bonner)

Bonner says that she understands parents "know their children best" and believes that both parents and educators have that "love and care" in common.

"The difference is that I have that love and care for all students, not just a singular student," she adds. "In regards to the book that was challenged in my classroom, it was a message to the LGBTQ+ community in my room and in my district that they're 'less than.'"

What about the kids?

The day after Bonner learned about the police report, she received a letter from her school district  she had been placed on paid administrative leave.

TODAY.com reviewed a copy of the letter, which said in part that the district "recently became aware of certain allegations" against Bonner and was "currently investigating." Until the investigation was complete, Bonner was told "not to perform any duties for the school district."

TODAY.com reached out to a school district's superintendent for comment but did not hear back at the time of publication.

Bonner says she decided to resign.

"I couldn't be the professional I've worked hard to be," she says.

The following Thursday, the school district held a special board meeting and voted unanimously to accept Bonners resignation.

"My first instinct was the kids," Bonner says, adding that many of her current and former students spoke during the board meeting to say that her classroom was "a safe place."

"If I am a safe place and I'm leaving, what does that do for our students?" Bonner asks. "'What about the kids?' has always been a question rooted in everything I do.

"Thinking about what happens to them was definitely hard," she adds.

'I will always be a teacher'

TODAY.com reviewed a copy of Bonners one-page resignation letter, which said in part that while Bonner was saddened by how the events have played out over the last week, theres a piece of me that isnt surprised.

Sarah Bonner (Courtesy Sarah Bonner)

"It's really interesting that people continue to use the word 'teacher shortage,'" she says. "I don't believe that there's a teacher shortage. There is a lack of acknowledgement of the profession itself."

An estimated 300,000 public-school teachers and staff left the profession between February, 2020 and May, 2022.

"There are plenty of people who want to work with students  who believe in education and the ability to engage young people," Bonner adds. "But what motivates you to get into this space, given the conditions that exist?"

Bonner recently completed her doctorate.

"Our students deserve to be seen as thinkers and as people who can think critically  they need the ability to ask questions," Bonner says, adding that her middle school students are just four years away from being able to vote.

"Our students need teachers now more than ever," Bonner adds. "I will always be a teacher, and I will always be a middle school teacher at heart, regardless of where I am and what I do."

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
A casual stroll on the beach can leave enough intact DNA behind to extract identifiable information. Comezora/Moment via Getty Images

Human DNA can be sequenced from small amounts of water, sand and air in the environment to potentially extract identifiable information like genetic lineage, gender, and health risks, according to our new research.

Every cell of the body contains DNA. Because each person has a unique genetic code, DNA can be used to identify individual people. Typically, medical practitioners and researchers obtain human DNA through direct sampling, such as blood tests, swabs or biopsies. However, all living things, including animals, plants and microbes, constantly shed DNA. The water, soil and even the air contain microscopic particles of biological material from living organisms.

DNA that an organism has shed into the environment is known as environmental DNA, or eDNA. For the last couple of decades, scientists have been able to collect and sequence eDNA from soil or water samples to monitor biodiversity, wildlife populations and disease-causing pathogens. Tracking rare or elusive endangered species through their eDNA has been a boon to researchers, since traditional monitoring methods such as observation or trapping can be difficult, often unsuccessful and intrusive to the species of interest.

Researchers using eDNA tools usually focus only on the species theyre studying and disregard DNA from other species. However, humans also shed, cough and flush DNA into their surrounding environment. And as our team of geneticists, ecologists and marine biologists in the Duffy Lab at the University of Florida found, signs of human life can be found everywhere but in the most isolated locations.

Animals, humans and viruses in eDNA

Our team uses environmental DNA to study endangered sea turtles and the viral tumors to which they are susceptible. Tiny hatchling sea turtles shed DNA as they crawl along the beach on their way to the ocean shortly after they are born. Sand scooped from their tracks contains enough DNA to provide valuable insights into the turtles and the chelonid herpesviruses and fibropapillomatosis tumors that afflict them. Scooping a liter of water from the tank of a recovering sea turtle under veterinary care equally provides a wealth of genetic information for research. Unlike blood or skin sampling, collecting eDNA causes no stress to the animal.

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Genetic sequencing technology used to decode DNA has improved rapidly in recent years, and it is now possible to easily sequence the DNA of every organism in a sample from the environment. Our team suspected that the sand and water samples we were using to study sea turtles would also contain DNA from a number of other species  including, of course, humans. What we didnt know was just how informative the human DNA we could extract would be.

The researchers were able to collect intact human DNA in water samples from a river in Florida. Todd Osborne, CC BY-ND

To figure this out, we took samples from a variety of locations in Florida, including the ocean and rivers in urban and rural areas, sand from isolated beaches and a remote island never usually visited by people. We found human DNA in all of those locations except the remote island, and these samples were high quality enough for analysis and sequencing.

We also tested the technique in Ireland, tracing along a river that winds from a remote mountaintop, through small rural villages and into the sea at a larger town of 13,000 inhabitants. We found human DNA everywhere but in the remote mountain tributary where the river starts, far from human habitation.

We also collected air samples from a room in our wildlife veterinary hospital in Florida. People who were present in the room gave us permission to take samples from the air. We recovered DNA matching the people, the animal patient and common animal viruses present at the time of collection.

Surprisingly, the human eDNA found in the local environment was intact enough for us to identify mutations associated with disease and to determine the genetic ancestry of people who live in the area. Sequencing DNA that volunteers left in their footprints in the sand even yielded part of their sex chromosomes.

Ethical implications of collecting human eDNA

Our team dubs inadvertent retrieval of human DNA from environmental samples human genetic bycatch. Were calling for deeper discussion about how to ethically handle human environmental DNA.

Human eDNA could present significant advances to research in fields as diverse as conservation, epidemiology, forensics and farming. If handled correctly, human eDNA could help archaeologists track down undiscovered ancient human settlements, allow biologists to monitor cancer mutations in a given population or provide law enforcement agencies useful forensic information.

The researchers extracted identifiable genetic information from footprints in the sand. David Duffy, CC BY-ND

However, there are also myriad ethical implications relating to the inadvertent or deliberate collection and analysis of human genetic bycatch. Identifiable information can be extracted from eDNA, and accessing this level of detail about individuals or populations comes with responsibilities relating to consent and confidentiality.

While we conducted our study with the approval of our institutional review board, which ensures that studies on people adhere to ethical research guidelines, there is no guarantee that everyone will treat this type of information ethically.

Many questions arise regarding human environmental DNA. For instance, who should have access to human eDNA sequences? Should this information be made publicly available? Should consent be required before taking human eDNA samples, and from whom? Should researchers remove human genetic information from samples originally collected to identify other species?

We believe it is vital to implement regulations that ensure collection, analysis and data storage are carried out ethically and appropriately. Policymakers, scientific communities and other stakeholders need to take human eDNA collection seriously and balance consent and privacy against the possible benefits of studying eDNA. Raising these questions now can help ensure everyone is aware of the capabilities of eDNA and provide more time to develop protocols and regulations to ensure appropriate use of eDNA techniques and the ethical handling of human genetic bycatch.

This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation has a variety of fascinating free newsletters.

It was written by: Jenny Whilde, University of Florida and Jessica Alice Farrell, University of Florida.

Read more:



Jessica Alice Farrell received funding from the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center d/b/a Friends of Gumbo Limbo (a 501c3 non-profit organization) through a generous donation through their Graduate Research Grant programme

Jenny Whilde 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.
Sheep

Scottish scientists have been using mobile testing equipment to measure greenhouse gas emissions from sheep.

Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) said it was the first time the New Zealand-designed portable accumulation chambers (Pacs) had been used in the UK.

The equipment helps scientists visit farms and analyse methane concentrations from sheep to identify which of their genetics and feed produce the highest emission levels.

SRUC's Dr Nicola Lambe said there was an urgent need to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from sheep.

'Carbon-zero sheep'

The scientist said there were an estimated 1.2 billion sheep in the world producing about seven million tonnes of methane into the atmosphere.

Edinburgh-based SRUC's research could help find solutions to reducing the animals' carbon footprint.

Dr Lambe said: Despite the fact resource efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions are global priorities, there are few examples around the world of research to implement breeding strategies to directly tackle these issues in sheep.

This is largely due to the difficulty in recording feed consumption and greenhouse gas emissions on an individual animal basis, especially in grass-based systems."

Rob Hodgkins, who farms 2,500 in Hertfordshire, was involved in the first use of the trailer-mounted Pacs.

He said: "It will only be a matter of time before consumers will be able to look at labels on packets of meat that shows what theyre buying has come from, for example, a carbon-zero sheep.

A sheep inside the mobile testing chamber

The UK government announced plans last month which could see cattle being given special products to help limit the amount of methane they produce.

The announcement formed part of wider UK proposals on how to meet climate targets.

Earlier this year, billionaire and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates invested in an Australian climate technology start-up trying to reduce the methane emissions of cow burps.

Methane is the most common greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide (CO2).

Livestock such as cows, sheep and deer produce methane when their stomachs are breaking down hard fibres like grass for digestion.

This fermentation process creates methane gas which is then mostly belched out again.
A Publix shopper was arrested more than a week after she was accused of pepper-spraying an employee in Southwest Florida.

Around 10:30 a.m. May 3, a woman was caught on surveillance video walking out of the supermarket without paying for a cart full of items, then attacking the employee who tried to stop the crime in the parking lot, according to Fort Myers police.

Surveillance video shows the struggle between the two people outside the supermarket and then the suspect getting into her silver SUV and driving away with the victims cellphone that she reportedly ripped from the workers back pocket.

READ MORE: He gave a threatening note to a Publix worker and chaos ensued

Despite being sprayed with the noxious substance, the employee was able to retrieve the merchandise. The victim has recovered, Fort Myers police spokesperson Kristin Capuzzi told the Miami Herald on Monday.

A Friday Facebook post by the department says that through SWFL Crime Stoppers, tips and a thorough investigation, detectives identified Jazmin Nazario, 28, as the suspect.

Nazario was arrested on May 11, facing charges of robbery with a weapon and larceny.




SOFIA, May 15 (Xinhua) -- A Bulgarian expert has recently voiced hope for further cooperation between China and Bulgaria. The expert mentioned several fields that he would like to see enlarged cooperation with China with energy a promising one.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
The possibility of a controversial gunshot detection program coming to Raleigh may be more likely than before, Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson suggested recently.

ShotSpotter, the surveillance technology that some cities around the United States have used in hopes of curbing gun violence, would require city funding approved by the Raleigh City Council.

At a first-quarter crime update last week, the chief appeared to shift from a previous stance regarding the program.

Id like to always take a proactive approach to crime-fighting and whatever that entails, Patterson said. Weve had conversations abut violence interrupters, weve had conversations about ShotSpotter and other technology. So, Im open to it.

At a news conference in January, The News & Observer asked Patterson if the Raleigh Police Department wanted to try ShotSpotter, as Durham is doing now.

Patterson responded then that she preferred to stay focused on preventative measures against gun violence.

Patterson took just three questions Thursday from reporters after her crime update. She declined to provide further details on her budget request to the Raleigh city manager except to say the department was looking at salaries.

There are currently around 100 vacancies in the Raleigh Police Department, a number that fluctuates with hiring.

City Manager Marchel Adams-David will present her recommended spending plan to the City Council on Tuesday.

Police did not respond to questions from The N&O on Friday.

Last year, the Raleigh City Council approved spending $2 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds on a gun violence prevention program similar to the Cure Violence model used across the country. The model treats violence like a disease and tries to reduce it by changing behavior.

Patterson has said the program, which will involve the city, county and other organizations, is being worked out and could launch later this year.

Raleigh gun violence stats

Patterson noted at Thursdays crime update that 42% of aggravated assaults in the first three months of 2023 involved firearms and that removing guns from dangerous offenders is a priority for the Police Department.

Story continues

When nearly half of all aggravated assaults involve a firearm thats something that should concern all of us, she said.

There were 282 reported aggravated assaults in the first quarter of 2023, a 4% increase from the first quarter of last year.

Firearms were used in 118 of them, compared to 120 last year.

ShotSpotter program in Durham

ShotSpotter was launched in Durham last December with the hope that its detection of possible gunfire could help police reach the scenes of shootings more quickly.

The City Council agreed to try the program by 5-2 vote last September after years of debate. The first three months are free to the city, after which Durham will pay $197,500 to continue the program through the rest of the year.

The two dissenting City Council members, Javiera Caballero and Jillian Johnson, expressed concern it could lead to excessive policing and questioned its effectiveness.

In Durham, the program set up sensors in a designated part of east and southeast Durham where the city says a third of all gunshots are reported.

When the sensors are triggered by the sound of possible gunfire, an audio recording is reviewed by ShotSpotters Incident Review Center, where a person listens to confirm gunfire or explosions.

ShotSpotter then alerts 911 dispatchers and police. The company previously told The N&O that it typically deploys 15 to 25 sensors per square mile.

The ShotSpotter dashboard on the citys website logs incidents, shell casings recovered, arrests and other data and shows nearly three-quarters of the incidents that ShotSpotter alerts are not associated with a residents 911 call.

The programs launch drew controversy, however, after its sensors did not detect a drive-by shooting on New Years Day that injured five people, The N&O reported previously.

The sensors also failed to detect two fatal shootings in February.
(L-R) Tom Cruise and Simon Pegg. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for CinemaCon

Simon Pegg told BBC Radio's "Desert Island Discs" that he never talks to Tom Cruise about his personal life or beliefs.

"My relationship with him is very, very simple and amiable," Pegg said. "We're friends."

The two will star opposite one another again in "Mission: Impossible  Dead Reckoning Part One."

Though Simon Pegg has been working with Tom Cruise on and off since he first entered the "Mission: Impossible" franchise in 2006's "Mission: Impossible III," Pegg said he's never chatted with Cruise about Scientology or the superstar's personal life.

"I don't ask him about stuff like that because I feel that would be me abusing my privileged access that I get to him, you know what I mean?" Pegg said on BBC Radio's "Desert Island Discs" (28:36 mark).

"My relationship with him is very, very simple and amiable," he continued. "We're friends."

Pegg then went on to speak about how Cruise navigates his level of fame.

"I mean, he loves the fame and he really relishes it, it's all he knows," Pegg said. "It energizes him and spurs him on."

"Mission: Impossible  Fallout." Paramount Pictures

"We joke about it," Pegg continued. "I mean, I always make fun of him for it, you know, about the things that he can access."

Cruise has been the face of the Church of Scientology for decades. The controversial religion has previously been accused by former members of abuse and forced labor of its followers. Many of those cases have been handled via "religious arbitration" within the church.

However, he's not as vocal about it as he once was.

Back in the early 2000s, Cruise's fame took a major hit after speaking out on the "Today" show about psychiatry, which Scientology is opposed to.

Since then, thanks to the box-office success of the "Mission: Impossible" franchise, Cruise is back to being one of the biggest stars in the world. He never speaks about Scientology anymore when he does interviews.

Pegg will return to the "M:I" franchise and star opposite Cruise when "Mission: Impossible  Dead Reckoning Part One" opens in theaters on July 12.

Read the original article on Insider
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP)  Slovakias President Zuzana Caputova swore in on Monday a government of technocrats to lead the country to snap elections in September amid a political crisis.

Ludovit Odor, the the former deputy governor of the central bank and a respected economist, will head the 15-member Cabinet. Career diplomat Miroslav Wlachovsky becomes the foreign minister, with Martin Sklenar, a former senior defense ministry official, as the defense minister.

Odor, who comes from Slovakia's Hungarian minority, is not affiliated with any political party. No member of his government will run in the forthcoming election.

We won't work miracles but you can expect us to ensure the proper functioning of the state, Odor said.

Slovakia has been without a proper government since Dec. 15, when the coalition government led by Prime Minister Eduard Heger lost a vote of no confidence in parliament called by the opposition, following months of political crisis.

Caputova initially asked Heger to lead a caretaker government until early elections could take place. However, after four members of the caretaker administration gradually left their posts, Heger offered his resignation and Caputova opted for a government of technocrats.

Odor's government has to face a confidence vote in Parliament within 30 days.

Caputova said that in its limited time, the new government should focus on stabilizing the current situation in the country, preparing next year's budget for the next year and lead Slovakia to the early elections set for Sept 30.

Heger's government was a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its fight against Russian military aggression and gave the Ukrainian armed forces the arms they requested, such as 13 Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets and the S-300 air defense system.

Some current opposition leaders, including former populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, oppose military support for Ukraine and European Union sanctions against Russia.

Fico and his Smer-Social Democracy leftist party are the favorites to win the upcoming election, according to recent polls.
(Bloomberg) -- South Africa is ahead of its target for cutting emissions of greenhouse gases.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Output of the climate-warming gases from the worlds 14th-biggest emitter is already falling even though its Nationally Determined Contribution, a target adopted by the cabinet in 2021, only forecast a decline from 2025.

Regular breakdowns of the coal-fired power plants that supply more than 80% of South Africas electricity mean that less carbon dioxide is being pumped into the atmosphere and daily rotational cuts of more than 10 hours a day are further limiting emissions from factories.

Its unintentional, Crispian Olver, the executive director of South Africas Presidential Climate Commission, said in an interview in Johannesburg on Monday. We reckon we are well within the range of meeting the 2030 target, he said.

South Africa aims to reduce its emissions to between 350 and 420 megatons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030, bettering a target set in 2015 of emitting between 398 and 614 megatons by that date. The 2021 goal was key to South Africa securing pledges of $8.5 billion in climate finance from some of the worlds richest nations.

If the decommissioning dates of some coal-fired plants are pushed back it will make little difference to emissions as they produce little electricity in any event, he said.

Keeping them open for another year or two is neither here nor there, Olver said on an earlier webinar. Its very difficult to recommend the decommissioning of power stations in the middle of an energy crisis.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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(Bloomberg) -- A South African army delegation is visiting Russia for talks on enhancing military cooperation between the two nations and improving their combat readiness, the state-run Tass news service reported Monday, citing the Russian Defense Ministry.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Oleg Salyukov, the commander-in-chief of Russias ground forces, and South African army chief Lawrence Mbatha concluded agreements on the need for greater cooperation between their militaries, Tass said. The South African delegation will also visit Russias military educational institutions and defense industry enterprises, it said.

News of the visit comes at an awkward time for South Africa, which has adopted a neutral stance over Russias invasion of Ukraine and has been trying to defuse a row with the US over allegations that it supplied weapons to Moscow. Pretoria has denied any knowledge of the armament shipments, but has appointed an independent judge to investigate the matter.

South Africas Presidency and Ministry of Defense didnt respond to calls and text messages seeking comment.

Read more: South Africa, US Look to Ease Strain After Russia Weapons Dustup

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP)  Russia's top army general and his South African counterpart discussed "military cooperation while meeting Monday in Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The announcement came hours after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa denied accusations by the United States that his country was siding with Russia in the war in Ukraine and had sent weapons to help it.

Gen. Oleg Salyukov, the commander of Russia's ground forces, met the chief of South Africa's army, Lt. Gen. Lawrence Mbatha, at Russia's general command headquarters in Moscow, the Russian ministry said.

The sides discussed issues of military cooperation and the implementation of projects geared to enhance the combat readiness of the two countries armies, the ministry said in a statement. The meeting between the military commanders yielded agreements on the further expansion of cooperation between the land forces in various areas.

The Defense Ministry said a South African delegation would visit a number of Russian army educational and training facilities.

The South African army said the trip was planned well in advance of the U.S. ambassador to South Africa alleging last week that the country had provided weapons to Russia when a ship under U.S. sanctions made a secret stop at a South African naval base in December.

The South African government has denied the Russian cargo ship's stop involved an official sale of weapons, although it has not categorically ruled out an arms transaction took place.

Ramaphosa has said an investigation was underway to determine if anyone loaded weapons onto the Russian-flagged Lady R cargo ship at the Simon's Town naval base near Cape Town.

Ramaphosa used his weekly message to the nation Monday to reaffirm South Africa's non-aligned stance with regard to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The president's statement was seen as a response to U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety, who questioned South Africa's neutrality in the Ukraine war while making the allegations about a weapons shipment.

Story continues

Brigety was subsequently summoned to a meeting with South Africa's foreign minister.

We do not accept that our non-aligned position favors Russia above other countries, Ramaphosa wrote in his weekly message. Nor do we accept that it should imperil our relations with other countries.

Ramaphosa added: We have been firm on this point: South Africa has not been, and will not be, drawn into a contest between global powers.

He also hinted that Russian President Vladimir Putin would visit South Africa for a meeting of leaders of the BRICS economic bloc in August. The Kremlin has not confirmed that Putin plans to attend the BRICS summit.

Such a trip would entangle South Africa in another diplomatic mess because the country is a signatory to the treaty that created International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March for alleged war crimes involving the abductions of children from Ukraine.

Since the indictment, Putin has traveled rarely, and only to countries that are close allies of Russia. Countries that are parties to the treaty would be obliged to arrest the Russian leader.

While Russia and South Africa both described Monday's meeting of the countries' top army generals as part of a normal bilateral trip, it's bound to increase scrutiny of Africa's most developed economy, which is seen as an influential nation in the developing world.

South Africa is the only African nation in the BRICS bloc, which also includes Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Aside from the weapons allegations, South Africa also hosted Russian and Chinese warships and took part in naval exercises off its east coast in February that coincided with the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Brigety, the American ambassador, said last week that U.S. officials have respect for South Africas policy of neutrality and non-alignment in international affairs but had noted a series of issues which suggest that in practice the government of South Africa is in fact not non-aligned.

The Associated Press independently verified that the Lady R cargo ship stopped at the South African naval base for at least three days in December, as Brigety claimed. A review of records by the AP also shows that the Lady R is tied to a company that was sanctioned by the U.S. for transporting weapons for the Russian government and aiding its war effort in Ukraine.

___

Magome reported from Johannesburg. AP Writer Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott speaks at an Orrin G. Hatch Foundation symposium at Zions Bank Founders Room in Salt Lake City on Oct. 29, 2021. Scott appears ready to launch a big for the GOP presidential nomination. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, a Republican, is laying the groundwork ahead of an anticipated announcement next week where he is expected to launch his 2024 presidential campaign.

Politico reported that former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam will serve as the national co-chairman of Scotts campaign.

In the end, one of the things I learned from being in elected office is it really does matter who we elect, said Haslam, who previously chaired the Republican Governors Association. The more I talked to Tim, the more I became convinced that hes got a message that the country really needs to hear right now.

Additionally, Michael Mikee Johnson, a South Carolina-based business leader, will step in as the national finance co-chairman and Zac Moffatt, CEO of the Republican political firm Targeted Victory, will also be involved.

How does Sen. Tim Scott fare against other GOP candidates?

Scott launched a presidential exploratory committee for the 2024 election nearly a month ago.

Related

He has about $22 million cash on hand after his senate campaign in 2022, outpacing former President Donald Trumps war chest by nearly $6 million and former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haleys by $18 million.

But his success in fundraising hasnt translated to high poll numbers, neither has it attracted endorsements from his Senate colleagues.

A Morning Consult poll from May 9 shows Trump ahead with 60%, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is speculated will run, stands with 19%, and Scott trails behind with 1% support.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark, who havent endorsed Trump consider Scott a great candidate from the sidelines.

Im a big fan of Tim. He is a good friend of mine, Cruz told NBC News. Im staying out of the race and Im confident that the voters will decide and make the choice. And I look forward to enthusiastically supporting the Republican nominee in 2024.

Story continues

Besides Trump and Haley, other GOP candidates in the race include entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu are all reportedly mulling bids.

Sen. Tim Scott and faith

Scott sets himself apart from the crowd by putting an emphasis on optimism and faith, and his Faith in America listening tour, which kicked off in February, is a testament to that.

When you start in a single-parent household, mired in poverty, you watch your mother work 16-hour days, you question whether or not this will work for you, he said in his appearance on Fox and Friends last month. I thank God almighty that I had mentors and a mother who believed that prayer was the key and faith unlocks those doors.

Industrialist and Republican donor Andy Sabin said he will back Scott.

We dont know a lot about Scott at this point, but I think hes a very viable candidate, Sabin told Reuters, supporting Scotts stance that Ukraine should be helped and that abortion should be federally banned after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Related
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Japanese business leaders on Monday and called for expanded technology cooperation between the countries, which he described as a key element in broader efforts to improve relations.

Yoon has met twice with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in recent weeks, demonstrating their intent to overcome historical grievances that have strained ties for years and to strengthen cooperation in response to shared challenges, including a nuclear-armed North Korea and growing Chinese assertiveness in the region.

They will meet again this weekend at a summit of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations in Hiroshima, where they will also hold talks together with U.S. President Joe Biden, who has been seeking to strengthen alliances with Japan and South Korea to counter North Korea and China.

Meeting with a delegation led by Mikio Sasaki, the former chairman of the board of Japan's Mitsubishi Corp. who heads the Japan-Korea Economic Association, Yoon spoke glowingly about the potential for business cooperation in semiconductors, batteries and electric cars, and in building more resilient supply chains amid geopolitical uncertainties.

Mutually complementary cooperation is possible between South Korean companies, which possess excellent manufacturing technologies, and Japanese companies, which are highly competitive in materials, components and equipment, Yoons office quoted him as saying.

Sasaki told Yoon that exchanges between the countries are increasing as their relations begin to thaw and that his group will encourage Japanese companies to employ more South Korean students and young adults, according to Yoons office.

Ties between Japan and South Korea have long been complicated by disputes stemming from Japans colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945.

Yoons meetings with Kishida came after his government announced in March a domestically contentious plan to use local funds to compensate a group of Korean plaintiffs who were enslaved by Japanese companies during the colonial period. The move was aimed at resolving a dispute over South Korean court rulings in 2018 that ordered Japanese corporations to pay reparations, which drew an angry response from Tokyo, which insists that all compensation matters were settled by a 1965 treaty that normalized relations between the countries.

The dispute spilled over into trade in 2019, when Japan tightened its export controls on key chemicals needed by South Korean companies to produce semiconductors and displays, prompting South Korea to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization. The countries also downgraded each others trade status and South Korea threatened to scrap a bilateral military intelligence sharing agreement that symbolized their three-way security cooperation with Washington.

Following a meeting between Yoon and Kishida in March, South Korea withdrew its complaint at the WTO and Japan simultaneously confirmed its removal of export controls on the chemicals. South Korea has also restored Japan to its list of preferred trading partners and Japan is now taking similar steps to put back South Korea on its own preferred list.
Special counsel John Durham in Washington, DC. AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Special Counsel John Durham finally finished his 4-year investigation and released a report.

He was examining the FBI's investigation into the 2016 Trump campaign's links to Russia.

He thinks the FBI didn't have enough solid intel to open that investigation in the first place.

Special Counsel John Durham concluded that the FBI didn't have sufficient evidence to open its investigation into Donald Trump's connections with Russia, according to a report published by the Justice Department on Monday.

For nearly four years, Durham  appointed by former President Trump's attorney general Bill Barr  investigated the origins of the FBI's investigation into links between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia. In his 300-page report, he found that it had no basis for opening the investigation in the first place.

"At the time of the opening of Crossfire Hurricane, the FBI had no information in its holdings indicating that at any time during the campaign anyone in the Trump campaign had been in contact with any Russian intelligence officials," the report says.

The FBI investigation, with the code name Crossfire Hurricane, was opened in July 2016 to examine Russia's attempts to influence the 2016 election. It was taken over by Special Counsel Robert Mueller in 2017. When it concluded two years later, it found more than 100 points of contact between people associated with the Trump campaign and Russian government-linked individuals or entities.

Mueller's team, however, didn't find sufficient evidence to bring charges against any Americans for conspiring to illegally influence election results  though it did bring dozens of other criminal cases.

Crossfire Hurricane was also the subject of a 2019 report by the Justice Department Inspector General, which harshly criticized the FBI's use of unsubstantiated intelligence during the course of its investigation. The inspector general investigation faulted the FBI for aggressively using FISA applications to obtain court orders that allowed it to spy on Trump campaign members. In one case, the inspector general's office found, an FBI employee fabricated information for one such application. Durham's report repeats much of those findings.

Story continues

"FBI personnel also repeatedly disregarded important requirements when they continued to seek renewals of that FISA surveillance while acknowledging  both then and in hindsight  that they did not genuinely believe there was probable cause to believe that the target was knowingly engaged in clandestine intelligence activities on behalf of a foreign power, or knowingly helping another person in such activities," the Durham report says.

John Durham. AP Photo/Bob Child

Kevin Clinesmith, the FBI official who doctored an email used in a FISA application, pleaded guilty in a criminal case that the inspector general's office referred to Durham. Durham separately brought two cases to trial, for a cybersecurity researcher affiliated with the Democratic party and a Russian policy researcher, both of whom he accused of lying to the FBI. Both cases resulted in acquittals.

While the Durham report appears to contain little new information about Crossfire Hurricane, it is likely to inflame concerns from Trump and his supporters that a "deep state" within the FBI was acting to undermine his campaign for the 2016 election, which he won. On his website Truth Social, Trump said Durham's report demonstrates that Americans were "scammed."

"After extensive research, Special Counsel John Durham concludes the FBI never should have launched the Trump-Russia Probe!" Trump wrote. "In other words, the American Public was scammed, just as it is being scammed right now by those who don't want to see GREATNESS for AMERICA!"

Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said in a statement that Durham "over promised and under delivered."

"At long last, after two failed trials and at the cost of more than $6.5 million taxpayer dollars, the Durham investigation has come to an end," Nadler wrote. "The accompanying report is, sadly, pretty much what we expected from this effort: a political rehashing of what the Justice Department Inspector General already made public in 2019."

Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a letter accompanying Durham's report that he had not made any redactions or modifications. In his own letter, Durham thanked Garland for giving him free rein.

"We want to thank you and your Office for permitting our inquiry to proceed independently and without interference as you assured the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee would be the case during your confirmation hearings to become Attorney General of the United States," Durham's letter says.

Read the original article on Business Insider
WASHINGTON  The special counsel who spent four years investigating the Trump-Russia probe accused the FBI of acting negligently by opening the investigation based on vague and insufficient information in a sweeping 300-page report made public Monday.

Special counsel John Durham, named by then-Attorney General William Barr to examine the origins and conduct of the investigation into whether Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign colluded with Russia, criticized the FBI at length in the report.

The [Justice] Department and the FBI failed to uphold their important mission of strict fidelity to law, the conclusion section of Durhams report says. Senior FBI personnel displayed a serious lack of analytical rigor toward the information they received, especially information received from politically affiliated persons or entities.

The FBI, in response to the report, indicated that the missteps identified by Durham have already been addressed.

Then-President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin during a joint press conference after their summit on July 16, 2018 in Helsinki, Finland. (Mikhail Svetlov / Getty Images file)

The conduct in 2016 and 2017 that Special Counsel Durham examined was the reason that current FBI leadership already implemented dozens of corrective actions, which have now been in place for some time," the statement said. "Had those reforms been in place in 2016, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented. This report reinforces the importance of ensuring the FBI continues to do its work with the rigor, objectivity, and professionalism the American people deserve and rightly expect.

Durham lost the only two prosecutions he brought to court. But the report released Monday appeared to be an appeal to the court of public opinion  an argument that Trump was treated unfairly by FBI officials who were too quick to unleash the bureaus investigative powers.

Trump allies have been eager to see the report, arguing that Durham would make it clear what the former president has been saying all along  that his campaign did nothing wrong but that the Obama administration was using the power of the federal government to try to influence the 2016 election.

Story continues

"WOW! After extensive research, Special Counsel John Durham concludes the FBI never should have launched the Trump-Russia Probe! In other words, the American Public was scammed, just as it is being scammed right now by those who dont want to see GREATNESS for AMERICA!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Durhams central conclusions were previously contradicted by a 2019 report by the Justice Departments internal watchdog, which found that while the FBI made a series of mistakes, the decision to open the probe was justified as a matter of law and policy  and untainted by any evidence of political bias.

Durham, who issued a statement disagreeing with the Justice Department inspector generals report at the time, expanded his dissent in the report released Monday.

Durham, a former U.S. attorney in Connecticut, submitted his report Friday to Attorney General Merrick Garland, who read it over the weekend and ordered it released without changes, a Justice Department spokesperson said.

Durhams report examines in painstaking detail various aspects of the FBI investigation code-named Crossfire Hurricane, which led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller. Mueller ultimately did not establish any coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia, but he found a series of contacts between campaign officials and Russians and a campaign that was willing and eager to accept help from Moscow. A bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report went further, saying the Trump campaign posed a counterintelligence risk to the U.S. by opening itself to foreign influence.

But Durham argued that the FBI acted too hastily when it opened the Crossfire Hurricane investigation in July 2016, after a Trump campaign aide told an Australian diplomat that the Trump campaign had received an offer from Russia to help Trump by releasing damaging information on his opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton.

The objective facts show that the FBIs handling of important aspects of the Crossfire Hurricane matter were seriously deficient," the report said. "Some FBI employees who were interviewed by our investigators advised that they had significant reservations about aspects of Crossfire Hurricane and tried to convey their misgivings to their superiors. Others had doubts about the investigation, but did not voice their concerns. In some cases, nothing was said because of a sense that there had to be more compelling information in the possession of those closest to the decision-making center of the case than had been made known to them.

"Importantly, had the Crossfire Hurricane actors faithfully followed their own principles regarding objectivity and integrity, there were clear opportunities to have avoided the mistakes and to have prevented the damage resulting from their embrace of seriously flawed information that they failed to analyze and assess properly," the report added.

Durhams investigation found that at the time, neither the FBI nor the CIA had any intelligence suggesting an improper relationship between Trump and Russia. But it also noted that it was known by then that Russian intelligence had hacked the Democrats, and Trump had made his infamous comment publicly beseeching Russia to find emails that were missing from a server used by Clinton.

Durham said the FBI opened a full counterintelligence investigation of the Trump campaign based on raw, uncorroborated information, and the key agent involved in the decision, Peter Strzok, was later found to have excoriated Trump in private texts to a companion.

Durham said the FBI took a much different approach with other counterintelligence matters that had the potential to affect the election. For example, when it learned that an unnamed foreign government was seeking to influence the Clinton campaign with political contributions, the FBI moved cautiously and ultimately provided fact-specific defensive briefings, warning Clinton campaign officials  something the FBI decided not to do with Trump.

The Durham report also discusses intelligence gathered in 2016 that suggested that the Russian government believed Clinton had a plan to vilify Trump by stirring up a scandal claiming interference by the Russian security services. Durham appears to suggest that the intelligence information should have given the FBI pause in its pursuit of allegations involving the Trump campaign. A former senior intelligence official said the intelligence in question was never verified.

While the report is the first time Durham has made sweeping conclusions, much of the lengthy document summarizes well-known history, including examining the veracity of the so-called dossier gathered by former British intelligence operative Christopher Steele, which the FBI relied on in part to get a national security warrant to conduct surveillance of Trump aide Carter Page.

The FBI was not able to substantiate most of the dossier, which appeared to have been gathered in large part by a Russian named Igor Danchenko.

Durham prosecuted Danchenko on charges of lying to the FBI, but a jury acquitted him. Another jury absolved Michael Sussmann, a lawyer whom Durham also charged with lying.

Durham secured a guilty plea from an FBI lawyer, Kevin Clinesmith, who admitted having falsified an application for a national security warrant for Page. Clinesmith got probation, and his law license was suspended for a year. The FBI also overhauled the way it deals with warrants under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
JAKARTA, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia recorded a trade surplus of 3.94 billion U.S. dollars in April, up from the previous month's 2.91 billion dollars, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS) on Monday.

"Indonesia's trade balance has recorded surplus for 36 consecutive months since May 2020," said BPS Deputy for Statistical Methodology and Information Imam Machdi in a press conference.

The non-oil and gas sector contributed a surplus of 5.64 billion dollars but was offset in part by a deficit of 1.70 billion dollars in the oil and gas sector.

The archipelagic country's export value was recorded at 19.29 billion dollars in April, down by 29.40 percent compared to the same period last year, while the import totaled 15.35 billion dollars, a drop of 22.32 percent from a year earlier.

From January to April, Indonesia's non-oil and gas exports were mainly to China, the United States and Japan, with a combined contribution of 42.90 percent. 
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STORY: This shrunken head is one of the cultural treasures being returned to PeruThe U.S. also returned a funerary bundle, a mummy head and ancient textilesas well as three viceregal paintings[Eric Catalfamo, Director, U.S. Cultural Heritage Center]For the United States, for the State Department and for the Embassy here, in Peru, its so important for us to be able to work together with the authorities in Peru to protect and preserve cultural heritage. We have had a bilateral agreement between our countries for more than 25 years and weve actually returned over 2,000 pieces of art that entered our country illicitly back to Peru, where they belong.[Guido Toro, Director General, Peru Cultural Affairs]"There are two (repatriated pieces) that are of particularly high quality and great technique: a painting of the Virgen del Rosario in a fairly large format that comes from New York and a painting of the archangel with baby Jesus surrounded by a choir of angels, which is also a magnificent piece from the Cuzco school.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Officer Nakeya Nelson was arrested after a domestic violence incident that happened Sunday in Wrightsville Beach, police said.

Nelson was charged with assault and battery.

She will be placed on administrative assignment pending the Internal Affairs investigation.

ALSO READ: CMPD officer charged with DWI after being found in patrol car along I-277, chief says

Nelson was hired on Oct. 27, 2014, and is assigned to the Education Outreach & Youth Services Division as a school resource officer at Randolph Middle School.

One other person was arrested connected to the incident, police said.

Yesterday, one of our officers was arrested during a domestic violence situation in New Hanover County, said CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings in a news release. The CMPD will continue to gather all the facts about this incident, and we will allow Internal Affairs to conduct a full investigation. Our officers and their actions are scrutinized heavily in and out of the uniform because of their profession. However, we hold them to a high standard, and any time their actions fall short of those standards, they will be held accountable.

VIDEO: Detectives make arrest in 28-year-old sex assault cold case, CMPD says
Several earmarks for Lowcountry projects totaling more than $25 million are included in House and Senate budgets that negotiators will hammer out this week.

The largest of these earmarks include $10 million to help build a new workforce development center at the New River Campus of the Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL) in Bluffton, and $8 to $10 million for a new multi-use facility at the Bluffton campus of the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB).

Also included is $2 million for maritime cybersecurity and health care initiatives in Beaufort, $1 million for building a new shrimp dock in Port Royal and $750,000 for relocating a Hilton Head Island church.

The projects are not guaranteed to pass but are included in either the $13.8 billion House budget or $13 billion Senate budget that are now being reviewed by a six-member conference committee. The full House and Senate will vote on the compromise bill, which also needs the OK from Gov. Henry McMaster.

Sen. Tom Davis, R-Bluffton, who serves on the Senate Finance Committee, said he worked closely with Rep. Bill Herbkersman, R-Bluffton, who serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, on the Lowcountry requests.

We get in the trenches and make sure Beaufort and Jasper counties are treated fairly, Davis said.

Heres the earmarks included in the House Budget:

 $10 million to build the 50,000 square-foot workforce development facility at TCL that will enable the college to serve an additional 850 students a year, with 12 percent from outside the Lowcountry such as transitioning military. The total construction cost is $26 million.

 $10 million toward construction of a 131,820-square-foot, $70 million convocation center at the USCB Bluffton campus with a 4,000-person seating capacity. The total project cost is expected to be split between the state and Beaufort County.

 $2 million for maritime cybersecurity and health care initiatives in Beaufort. Of that, $1 million would go to the University of South Carolina Beaufort, the Technical College of the Lowcountry, Beaufort County Economic Development Corp. and the the city of Beauforts Beaufort Digital Corridor for maritime cybersecurity research and training. In recent years, those entities have teamed up in an effort to create training and jobs in the cybersecurity arena. Another $1 million would go to Beaufort Memorial Hospital to expand training for nurses.

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 $1 million to the town of Port Royal for to build a dock that would be used by shrimp boats and other vessels. The town received $900,000 from the state for the same project in 2021. The old dock is falling apart and the town is planning to tear it down and build a new dock. A shrimp-processing facility also is in the works.

 $750,000 to assist in the relocation of St. James Baptist Church because of a runway extension at Hilton Head Island Airport.

 $500,000 for improvements at the Waddell Mariculture Center, 211 Sawmill Creek Rd, Bluffton. Waddell Mariculture Center is a field experiment station of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources where mariculture research is conducted.

 $400,000 for educational programming at Port Royal Sound Maritime Center. The not-for-profit Port Royal Sound Foundation runs the museum, which is located at 310 Okatie Highway in Port Royal. It recently constructed a new events pavilion and remodeled its offices for $3 million, which included a $500,000 accommodation tax grant from Beaufort County.

 $50,000 for the St. Francis Center at St. Helena. The center provides food, clothing and financial assistance to the under-served and people with disabilities.

 $50,000 for Hilton Head Islands Pregnancy Center and Clinic of the Low Country.

 $54,000 for Catholic Charities Getting Ahead Program, which helps those in poverty develop skills needed for self-sufficiency.

 Beaufort County Youth Conference, $50,000.

 $50,000 for the Beaufort Original Gullah Festival. The festival is May 26-28 at Waterfront Park in Beaufort. It celebrates Gullah Geechee culture with song, dance storytelling.

Heres whats in the Senates budget:

 $10 million for workforce development at the Technical College of the Lowcountry.

 $8 million for the USCB convocation center at the Bluffton campus.

 $3 million for the Beaufort-Jasper Regional Housing Trust Fund to assist in the development of workforce housing.

 $2 million for the Town of Bluffton for the New River Linear Trail.

 Hilton Head Regional Habitat for Humanity, $2 million.

 $922,000 for interpretation and archaeology at the Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park on Hilton Head.

 $300,000 for the Hilton Head Island Independent Bridge Replacement Study.

 $750,000 for the Hilton Head Airport mandatory relocation of the church.

Earmarks are state funding set aside for projects at individual lawmakers request. They received scrutiny following more than a year of reporting by The State newspaper and The Island Packet in 2021 that revealed how legislators previously directed money to local groups through a process shrouded in secrecy, at times benefiting organizations they had close ties with.

Now, thanks in part to a new transparency rule in the S.C. Senate, comprehensive lists of earmark requests and the organizations receiving them are released to the public ahead of budget votes.

As a conservative, says Davis, his priority is passing tax cuts. The second is improving roads, bridges and education.

The third priority, Davis said, is prioritizing funding for localities once its known how much money will be available.

Six members of the Budge Conference Committee  three each from the House and Senate  will go line by line through the budgets to reconcile them, Davis said. He says about half of what each body wants will be cut. A reconciled budget will be voted on by the House and Senate next week.

Davis thinks there is good shot the requests from Beaufort County will make it into the reconciled budget.
Just like Eleven's shaved head and Will's bowl cut, Stranger Things' Max, played by Sadie Sink, is known for her wavy long red hair. The almost waist-length ginger tresses the character is known for have also been a mainstay of the actor's own personal style. Some of her most iconic looks on the red carpets showcase her long hair, making it one of her most noteworthy signature styles. However, it seems like Sink may have decided to change things up, and fans are finding out in a pretty unconventional way  a tweet by Croatia Airlines.

Sink debuted her new hairstyle in a photo shared by the European airline company on Twitter. In the snap, Sink sits in the cockpit of a plane alongside staff with a shag haircut. Her hair appeared to be around shoulder length with face-framing layers. Her wavy tresses were pushed back for a cool and effortless look.

Sink similarly wore a casual off-duty outfit consisting of a leather jacket and a white t-shirt with glasses hanging from it. She also sported a pair of the Apple AirPods Max, one of the hottest accessories in fashion  and technology.

The big reveal of the brand-new look seems to match Sink's laid-back style. While fans have said to have spotted Sink around New York City recently, this is the very first official photo of the actor's short hairstyle, and as it so happens, it comes via a shoutout from an airline. Who would have thought? Not me.

Priah Ferguson as Erica Sinclair, Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield and Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair in STRANGER THINGS. Courtesy of Netflix  2022

Understandably, fans have gone into a frenzy over Sink's new look. While most are simply enjoying the new look, some are wondering if it could relate to her character's future plot in Stranger Things or if she'll be wearing longer wigs on set. (ICMYI: production for Stranger Things' fifth and final season has been halted in support of the ongoing Writers Guild of America's (WGA) strike.)

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While we don't know how the new 'do will affect Max's future, we do know that short hair is a hot trend for 2023, at least among celebrities. Hailey Bieber started out the year with a major haircut and has been rocking the bob since. Florence Pugh also debuted a bob last month that she later completely shaved off for the Met Gala 2023, going inarguably the shortest one could possibly go. As the weather warms up and summer comes by, who will chop it all off next?

Want more like this from Teen Vogue? Check these stories out:

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
Do straws cause wrinkles? Its a question as old as time (or, you know, the invention of the first straw) that has recently re-emerged thanks to TikTok. As content creators gush over their go-to tumblers  particularly the Stanley Quencher  many have taken to the platform to also express their concerns about how their straws might cause wrinkles around the mouth.

Remember, mouth wrinkles are a part of the natural aging process  they're going to happen to everyone, no matter how you drink your water. But if youre one of the millions of TikTokkers concerned about the potential for their earlier-than-usual arrival (yes, #mouthwrinkles has over 2 million views), read on for what board-certified dermatologists and a plastic surgeon have to say.

Meet the experts:

Lily Talakoub, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist who practices in McLean, Virginia and Potomac, Maryland.

David Shafer, MD, is a double board-certified plastic surgeon located in New York City.

Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist located in New York City.

What exactly is social media saying about straws and wrinkles?

To understand where this panic is coming from, we must first dive deep into beverage container TikTok. Some users love posting their expansive Starbucks tumbler collections. Others swear by their HydroFlasks, taking followers through new colorways theyre excited about. Still others are obsessed with the Stanley Quencher, a 40-ounce tumbler with an ergonomic handle.

The hype around the Quencher has spawned videos raving about how convenient it is and its almost magical ability to keep beverages hot or icy for hours. But, as is essentially always the case with something that people on TikTok love, content creators have also posted videos expressing some concerns. Thinking about the long term effects all of us straw obsessed drinkers will have, the overlay text on a video by Rachel Sheppick says. Its caption simply reads, LIP WRINKLES.

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Tylee Waters, an esthetician also chimed in on the platform-wide conversation. Her video featured the overlay text, POV: When I tell you your Stanley cup will give you these lip wrinkles.

This is just a snapshot of the platform-wide conversation, which dermatologists and estheticians are also joining in on, creating their own video replies about the straws long-term effections. This leads us to the big question

Do straws cause wrinkles?

There are plenty of things TikTok has gotten wrong. (Remember skin taping? Crystal hair removers?) This isnt one of them. When you use straws, youre pursing your lips repeatedly, leading to the appearance of perioral wrinkles earlier, says board-certified dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, MD. He explains that wrinkles typically take years to form, but, depending on how often youre taking sips, you might see them around your mouth sooner if youre a straw user than if you werent.

Board-certified dermatologist Lily Talakoub, MD, agrees, noting that anything that has you pursing your lips regularly  like a straw  will eventually cause wrinkles over time. Shes noticed some of her long-term patients that using straws day-to-day over a span of five to 15 years will cause the muscles to create lines.

Our experts agree that using straws less can effectively prevent the appearance of these lines, but remember, they arent the only cause of wrinkles. As board-certified plastic surgeon David Shafer, MD, explains, smoking, intense and repeated sun exposure, and lack of hydration can all speed up the arrival of wrinkles on someones face. Genetics can play a role  daughter looks like mom, mom looks like grandma  as well as anatomy," he explains. "If there is a lack of underlying skeletal, dental, and soft tissue support to the lower face, the skin is more likely to wrinkle.

What about that wrinkle-preventing bendy straw?

The only thing people on TikTok love more than inventing new problems is inventing new solutions to them. Case in point: A bendy straw that has its opening along its side (similar to where a flute has its mouthpiece). According to a variety of brands that sell the straws, it was explicitly designed to reduce the pursed-lip position that reportedly contributes to mouth wrinkles.

We hate to break it to you, but this straw wont be causing any fewer wrinkles than the traditional type (which, luckily, probably also means it wont be causing any more either). Dr. Talakoub, explains that anything that requires your lips to wrap around it like a seal can cause wrinkles. Not only are you sealing your lips over its opening, but you're sucking through it, Dr. Talakoub says.

So should I ditch my Stanley for good?

You heard it here folks  keep your Stanley Quencher. Youre definitely going to get wrinkles even if you never use a straw again, so why not keep enjoying this $45 tumbler thats bringing you joy?

Fine lines and wrinkles are a normal part of the aging process, and honestly, the only things that will truly reverse them are a lot more expensive. Dr. Bhanusali and Dr. Talakoub say a neuromodulator, like Botox, is the best bet for smoothing any existing lines and limiting muscle movements that could deepen them in the future. There are also dermal fillers to restore volume and energy-based devices  such as the Genius RF, CORE CO2 resurfacing that can help enhance skin resurfacing and collagen remodeling, according to Dr. Shafer.

If youre not down to drop hundreds of dollars a few times a year, Dr. Bhanusali also suggests adopting a skin-care regimen that includes retinol  which helps prevent fine lines by facilitating cell turnover and collagen production  and SPF. (But you already have sunscreen in your daily lineup, right?) Basically, theres no quick, easy, or cheap way to avoid wrinkles  including special straws.

More investigations into TikTok's latest obsessions:

Plus, Jennifer Garner weighs in:

Follow Allure on Instagram and TikTok, or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all things beauty.

Originally Appeared on Allure
A band member was hit in the head by a stray bullet while performing on a Louisiana stage, police said.

Around 8:30 p.m. on May 13, Houma Police responded to reports of gunshots, according to a news release.

When they arrived at the reported intersection, they didnt find a shooter or a victim, but officers did see spent shell casings on the ground, police said.

Just 10 minutes later, they were called again with reports of someone with a gunshot wound to the head  only about a mile away.

The officers traveled to the downtown park where the Josh Garrett Band had been performing, according to a Facebook post.

The bands bass player had been hit with an unknown object while the band was performing live, police said. They later discovered that he had been hit by a bullet.

Police believe the bullet was a stray from the earlier shooting that fell out of the sky and down onto the band, hitting the bass player in the head.

Falling bullet struck our bass player, Josh Garrett Band commented on a Facebook post from another local band. The bullet is still in his head, but he is gonna be ok  Very thankful.

Police said the bass player was recovering from the gunshot wound which was found to be non-life threatening.

One of the concertgoers described the confusion during the show.

They made an announcement that the show was over because someone (threw) either a bottle or rock from across the bayou, hitting the bass player in the head, the person wrote on the Facebook post. We found out the next morning what really happened. That bullet traveled from 9 blocks away.

Police said the investigation was in the infant stages and more information would be released as the investigation developed.

Houma is about 55 miles southwest of New Orleans.

9-year-old shot and killed after little brother finds gun in car, Tennessee cops say

76-year-old shoots his wife and then turns gun at deputies, Georgia cops say

14-year-old found shot dead on South Carolina road, cops say. Teens among 4 charged

Man killed when his pistol fires during struggle with police, California cops say
A traveler studies the information sheet displayed outside a London Underground station as public transport workers hold strikes over pay and conditions.

A traveler studies the information sheet displayed outside a London Underground station as public transport workers hold strikes over pay and conditions.

News of the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike has generated headlines (and memes) for two weeks amid the breakdown in negotiations between the screenwriters labor union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

Labor disputes are also afoot in another major sector  travel.

From individual airlines and pilots to rail networks and passport offices, strikes can unfold across various industries, leading to significant vacation disruptions, said Cody Candee, founder and CEO of the luggage storage and travel company Bounce. Such strikes typically take place as a result of industry disputes across factors, including pensions, pay, job security and working conditions.

In recent months, weve seen these exact scenarios unfold as rail workers, pilots, passport office employees and others in the travel world have taken action in pursuit of fair labor policies. And, as we enter the peak tourism season of summer, countless travelers likely will experience the impact firsthand.

Strikes can disrupt vacation travel in several ways, said Michael Ballard, director of intelligence at the international security firm Global Guardian. Airport staff, including air traffic controllers, security personnel and baggage handlers, can go on strike, leading to canceled flights, delays with baggage handling and security lines, and lost luggage.

Airline pilots also may strike, which means planes cannot fly, Ballard noted. Similarly, there might be mass cancellations of railway and metro services when transit operators walk out.

Anti-pension reform protests in France in 2023 led to widespread strikes across labor sectors, including in public transportation, Ballard explained. As a result, many people who use rail, subway, metro or bus services to get to work or otherwise move around were forced to travel by automobile during the strike, leading to significantly increased traffic in Paris and other French cities.

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Strikes often are accompanied by protests, which can require tourists to further change their plans, Ballard said.

Many holidaymakers have already been affected by travel-related strike action this year, with flight delays, train cancellations, and extensive passport renewal times becoming more frequent, Candee said. With this in mind, it pays to be prepared if your plans are impacted.

Below, experts explain how exactly to be prepared and what to do if a strike occurs during a planned trip:

Find out what you can in advance.

The good news is that strikes are generally announced in advance and are usually limited to a finite time period, said Zach Griff, senior reporter at The Points Guy.

Although snap strikes may occur, more often theres a fair bit of planning and communication ahead of time. For example, the British and Irish trade union Unite announced in April that Heathrow Airport staff walkouts were scheduled for May 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10, and May 25, 26 and 27. This gave travelers the opportunity to adjust their itineraries.

If a strike is planned when youre scheduled to travel, many airlines will offer flexible rebooking policies to let you voluntarily change your plans to avoid any possible disruptions, Griff explained. If youre traveling with a major airline, youll likely have the option of rerouting through a different airport or flying at a different day or time to avoid a strike.

Pointing to the recent passport office strikes in the U.K., Candee recommended advance planning for those whose documents are expired or about to be.

To avoid any issues associated with passport office strikes, make sure to apply for a passport well in advance of your trip, Candee said. Currently, the U.K. Home Office is working toward a 10-week time scale for general passport renewals. However, this figure could increase as a result of strikes.

Build flexibility into your itinerary.

Plan flexible itineraries, book flexible fares, and take advantage of bookings sites that allow you to make multiple bookings for options that you can cancel at the last minute, said Julian Moro, senior vice president and regional security director at International SOS.

Indeed, many hotels and rental car companies allow free cancellation until 24 hours before a reservation, so you could book accommodations in more than one destination if youre worried about anything impacting a long-awaited vacation. For event-related trips like a destination wedding, try to build in extra travel days and options to account for delays.

If you absolutely must travel during a strike, arrive even earlier than you normally would and be prepared for possible disruptions to your journey, Griff advised. Flying with major airlines is also a great way to prepare for a possible strike. These mega-carriers typically offer multiple daily flights to a given destination from an assortment of hubs, so youll likely have a higher chance of avoiding disruptions with these carriers.

Have backup plans.

Have a backup plan on how to get to your destination, whether that means taking a car instead of traveling by rail, or a secondary airport to fly into/out of if a strike is planned during your vacation, Ballard said.

Taking the time to determine alternative transportation options in advance is incredibly useful, should the primary option disappear.

Understand the driving license requirements for driving in countries in your itinerary in case you need to drive one or more parts, Moro said. Know where your ride-sharing apps do and dont work, download any authorized local equivalents in jurisdictions in which ride-sharing is assessed as a legitimate and safe alternative to taxis.

Dont be afraid to ask for help figuring out these backup options.

You can reach out to your travel agent if you have one to determine alternative means of travel and accommodations or contact the businesses that are going on strike to determine an alternate plan of attack, Moro said.

Keep up with the latest news.

While youre traveling, be sure to stay up to date on the local news and sign up for travel alerts from your airline, Griff advised.

That way you can take action as soon as possible.

While most strikes are planned in advance, some can happen unexpectedly, Ballard said. Like bad weather, try not to let the inconvenience of a labor strike ruin your vacation. Stay informed. Maintain communication with your airline, travel agent, and hotel.

Security consultants like Global Guardian offer pre-travel intelligence reports and access to real-time travel alerts as well, Ballard said. You can also discuss an evacuation plan in the event unrest escalates and prompts a Do Not Travel Advisory from the U.S. State Department  as recently happened in Sudan.

Monitor official and unofficial local sources, Moro said. Understand where and when in your itinerary strike action could be prevalent.

Know your refund rights.

When your flight to, from or within the U.S. is canceled or significantly delayed, youre entitled to a full refund, Griff said. If a strike disrupts your trip, you may have better luck rebooking with a different airline than the one you originally booked, especially if you were planning to fly a smaller carrier. If thats the case, remember that youll get your money back from your original carrier, even if it takes a few weeks.

The laws around refunds have changed over time and can vary, depending on where your travels take you.

For example, under European law EC 261, travelers are eligible for up to $700 per person in airline compensation for avoidable flight disruptions, including delays over three hours, cancellations or denied boarding due to overbooking, explained Tomasz Pawliszyn, CEO of the passenger rights service AirHelp. The exact same rule applies in the U.K. with UK261 regulation.

These laws require airlines to compensate passengers for flight disruptions that are considered the responsibility of the carrier, Pawliszyn said.

That includes any disruptions due to airline staff strikes  anything involving the employees of the airline carrier, including pilots, cabin crew, airline engineers, and other employees working directly under the airline, Pawliszyn said. However, you are not entitled to compensation if the strikes are outside of the airlines control. Strikes by airport security staff, baggage handlers, and air traffic controller staff are considered extraordinary circumstances.

Checking your rights as a passenger is worth the time. AirHelps free eligibility checker is one tool for passengers to determine whether theyre entitled to compensation. Dont be afraid to seek help if anything is unclear.

Contact your travel agent, tour operator or airline and see if you are able to reschedule your booking or claim compensation, Candee said.

Consider travel insurance.

The unforeseen challenges and general uncertainty of the pandemic led many to invest in travel insurance. While potential COVID-related disruptions are a common motivation, Candee noted that strikes could also be a good reason.

Although travel insurance cant help to prevent vacation disruptions, it can help to avoid leaving you out of pocket later down the line, he said. Its a good idea to purchase travel insurance as soon as youve booked your trip. A travel insurance policy wont cover you for strike action if you buy it after the strike has been announced.

As always, make sure to read the fine print when purchasing travel insurance.

Note that not all travel insurance policies cover claims related to strikes, though, so take the time to check your policy documents carefully to ensure that you are definitely covered, Candee said.

Try to avoid hot areas.

It is important not to automatically conflate strikes with demonstrations, albeit they can be both, Moro explained.

He recommended avoiding the immediate vicinity of demonstrations when you can if youre not from the area.

It may be possible to visit the desired location early in the morning before the demonstration forms, Moro explained. Select modes of transport and accommodation options that are less likely to be impacted.

Some demonstrations may escalate, as well. He noted that response from authorities might include the use of tear gas, which may have short- and long-term health effects.

Do not select hotels within proximity of potential flashpoints, Moro said. Teargas can travel a considerable distance and make remaining in affected nearby hotels very uncomfortable.

Pack comfortable shoes.

Comfy footwear options are a must on vacation for a number of reasons, and you should add potential demonstrations and labor disruptions to that list.

Its a smart idea to wear comfortable shoes when there is an anticipated strike, Moro said. It could be a long walk back to your hotel if you cant find alternative travel accommodations.

Related...
Nicholas Braun and Matthew Macfadyen in <i>Succession</i> season 4, episode 8 "America Decides" Credit - Macall PolayHBO

Spoiler alert: This article discusses details of Succession season 4, episode 8.

Who is to blame for Jeryd Mencken claiming victory at the end of America Decides, the third-to-last episode of Successions fourth and final season? Maybe its the Menckenists or, you know, whoever it was who burned down a vote-counting center in Milwaukee containing 100,000 absentee ballots that almost certainly wouldve heavily favored Jimenez. Maybe it happens because Roman gets too close to Mencken, or because Shiv has been going behind her brothers backs about GoJo, or because Kendall craves power more than he wants to be a good dador because all three of them are grieving their father while trying to prove they can live up to his titanic legacy. Maybe America can thank Tom for his spinelessness or Greg for just following orders. Hell, maybe Mencken is poised to take the White House because Kens preference for roast chicken prevented Roman from eating steak often enough as a child.

No matter how you apportion blame, the Roys deserve much of the credit for putting Mencken where he is at the end of Election Day. (Unlike ATN, Im not going to presume he won until we find out how the Wisconsin situation is resolved but, well, Succession has never been an optimistic show.) The familys culpability hardly begins with Tom and Gregs 5 p.m. check-in. It goes back at least as far as Logans anointing of Mencken as his GOP primary pick, midway through Season 3. But really, I think were supposed to understand a neo-fascists probable ascent to the presidency as the culmination of work that began with the founding of the Roy media empire, decades ago. America Decides reckons with the broadest possible consequences of the bitter inter-corporate and intrafamilial power struggles that have made the show so entertaining. And its a case study in how the world changes slowly, then all at once.

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The evening starts out normally enough. Its hectic, sure. I have PGN to the left of me, and I have FVA to the right, Tom complains to Greg. I gotta deliver the best election numbers ever because my bosses want to rip my heart out as a peace offering to all comers. Hes also running on no sleep and excess agita because he and Shiv threw a tailgate party in their penthouse last night, during which they got into the nastiest fight of their marriage. Ken phones with the self-evident exhortation: It needs to be gangbusters tonight Markets watching. First Super Bowl, how we gonna cope without the king? Still, Toms expectation seems to be that, stray annoyances aside, the Roy kids will follow their fathers traditionand a key tenet of journalistic integrityand stay out of ATNs hair while the votes are being counted.

Sarah Snook in Succession season 4 episode 8 "America Decides" Macall PolayHBO

To that end, ATNs decision-desk decider Darwin offers a measured pre-game analysis tailored to the networks Mencken-leaning audience. Our early read would be: closer than polls have suggested. He also warns that any inside information leaked while voting is still underway could get them in trouble. Tom backs him up: You heard the manzip it. But Darwin doesnt know that Tom is seething over the news that Greg has partied his way into Matssons confidence and seems to know more about his wifes backchannel with the Swede than he does. (A classic Wambsgans line: Information, Greg, is like a bottle of fine wine. You store it, you hoard it, you save it for a special occasion, and then you smash someones f-ckin face in with it.) Soon, he and Greg are going to prep for the long night ahead by snorting coke behind a whiteboard.

The Roys also seem ready, early on, to let the ATN staff do their thing. One turning point is news of voter suppression. In Florida, vehicles that Shiv calls Nazi vans but Roman shrugs off as fun buses claim to be ferrying voters to the polls but have instead allegedly abandoned at least one little kid by the side of the road. Then theres the Milwaukee fire. Nate urges Shiv to make ATN cover what is almost certainly the act of extremist Mencken supporters looking to destroy votes in a heavily Democratic district of a crucial swing state. Who watches the watchmen? Nate prods. Shiv: Who watches the watchmen? I f-ckin do. So begins our weekly tragic-hero arc. Shes the Roy who meddles in ATNs coverage firstsparking a chain reaction whose results will horrify her. Theres painful irony to the fact that she puts her privileged finger on the scale for the sake of saving democracy. Then again, her intentions were never entirely noble. As Shiv tells Matsson, a Jimenez win would be good for democracy, great for us.

In America at large, Election Day is a battle between a run-of-the-mill Democrat and a right-wing populist the likes of which the country has never seen before. (Its funny: I hadnt expected Successions election to echo 2016 more than 2020. But it makes sense when you consider that the show premiered in 2018 and creator Jesse Armstrong clearly went into it with a vision for how it would parallel contemporary politics.) But within the Waystar Royco offices, its a battle between Establishment liberal Shiv and nihilistic edgelord Roman. Nothing matters, Ken, he tells his brother later in the episode. Dads dead, and the countrys just a big pussy waiting to get f-cked. Sensitive as he can be to the people close to him, Roman has repeatedly shown that he has no empathy for regular Americans. Hes had violence inflicted on him, and he wants to inflict it on people he considers inferior to himnow that hes grieving Logan more than ever.

So, of course, Roman gravitates toward Mencken, a powerful surrogate father figure who can give him the tough love he craves. He pays Jeryd a friendly visit. Then he agrees to steer ATNs Wisconsin narrative away from Menckenist mischief and towards preemptively calling the state for Jeryd. To that end, Roman gives a fiery ATN personality some incoherent talking points that basically amount to Kens all your guns are gonna be ladies joke from last week. He cuts a deal with Schrodingers president, Connorwho got bored recording footage for no one and is now fantasizing about life in Europe as an ambassador of minor influenceto concede in Menckens direction, whatever that means. (Cons deeply weird concession speech is a highlight of Alan Rucks performance: I happen to be a billionaire. Sorry. But honestly, America, you flunked it. I guess youre gonna have to find some other poor mooks paps to suck on.)

By the time ATN has to decide whether to call Wisconsin for Mencken, as its competitors to the right have already done, or wait for the state to determine what its going to do about the burned ballots, which would be the responsible course of action, the Roys have all been on and off the floor for hours. The idea that Tom and Greg possess the authority to keep brass off the battlefield was always laughable. Only Logan couldve done that. And it isnt a far leap from the ATN floor to the room where Roman announces that he, Tom, and Darwin are going to make the big decision together. Darwin, who looks like hes about to have a panic attack, is negotiating to contextualize the Wisconsin situation on-air, alongside a graphic clarifying that the call is pending, when wasabi finds its way into his eye and Gregiconicallytries to wash it out with lemon-flavored LaCroix. (Another unwitting Mencken accomplice: bodega sushi.)

Adam Godley, left, and Kieran Culkin in Succession season 4, episode 8 "America Decides" Macall PolayHBO

In the end, the swing vote belongs to Ken. From an ideological perspective, he agrees with Shiv when she reminds him that Menckens the nightmare He says the bad sh-t. He believes the bad sh-t. Unfortunately for her, Mencken is also much more morally flexible than her pals in the Jimenez campaign. Jeryd agrees in no uncertain terms to put the regulatory kibosh on the GoJo deal in return for ATN calling the election for him. Desperate, she pretendsmaybe because she knows this kind of shady deal-making wont work with Jimenezs people, but definitely because she secretly wants the GoJo deal to happento call Nate and see whether the Dems would also be willing to trade a win for some extremely specific tech-industry reform measures.

Ken is already torn, at this point, between a conscience that tells him Jimenez will create a better future for his kids and the monstrous ambition that has been gnawing at his soul for as long as hes been alive. Now hes had a taste of power, and a taste of actual on-the-job success with his Living+ presentation, and hes having trouble backing away. I have sometimes felt like I could do it. Like I should do it, he tells Shiv. Me. Just me. He also says: I dont think Im a very good father. It even occurs to him that acquiescing to Mencken would be selling out his children for his career, the same way his dad did. Maybe the poison drips through, he reflects.

Who knows what hes on his way to deciding when he calls the Jimenez team, catches Shiv in her lie, and then finds out shes been going behind his and Romans backs with Matsson all along? Her betrayal gives him an excuse to make the selfish choice, even if it means putting a right-wing troll in the White House. Its the second time in one night that Shiv, convinced that good ends justify underhanded means, sows the seeds of her own downfall. (Lest we forget, she also finally told Tom shes pregnant.) Watching Mencken speak, Ken concludes: Hes a guy we can do business with. You can tell hes trying to convince himself more than anyone else.

Its his siblings who go on to articulate the consequences of what theyve just done, beyond the Roys and ATN and Waystar and GoJo. We just made a night of good TV, Roman declares. Nothing happens. (I cant be the only one who heard, in this rationalization, an echo of CNN defending Wednesdays predictably catastrophic Trump town hall.) Shiv, who has been a principled defender of democracy but also a self-interested, undemocratic traitor to her family, remains aghast. Things do happen, she insists.

If America Decides really is an alternate-universe reenactment of Election Day 2016, then we know that shes right. Kens ambition and Shivs duplicity and Romans anger and Toms cocaine and Gregs seltzer and the steak and the chicken and the Roy kids Daddy issues and the empire Logan spent his whole life building while the people around him struggled to understand what he wanted and why he wanted itit all adds up to a demagogue at a podium pretending to America that one of its most elite families didnt just decide, for its own selfish reasons, to put him there. Dont we long, sometimes, for something clean, once, in this polluted land? asks Mencken, in a speech that would make Steve Bannon proud. Thats what I hope to bring, not something grubby with compromise. There are sure to be a lot more lies where that came from.
Roman Roy (Kieran Culkin) in season four, episode eight of Succession' (HBO)

Back when Donald Trump was in office, there were a number of common refrains youd hear. What will be the first great piece of art about the Trump administration? Who will portray him in the inevitable biopics? Which actor will one day win an Oscar for playing US president Donald J Trump? Well, it may not be the first great piece of art about the tumultuous Trump era, but with its antepenultimate episode, America Decides, Succession has produced one of the definitive artistic statements on the rise of Trump. And  whats more  it didnt mention his name once.

The episode picks up hours after the close of its predecessor. In the world of Succession, its election night, with bland liberal frontrunner Daniel Jimenez (Elliot Villar) coming up against right-wing firebrand Jeryd Mencken (Justin Kirk). We already know from last seasons What it Takes that Mencken is seriously bad news. Hes racist. Sexist. You name it, hes probably said something depraved about it. Hes worked his way up to become the Republican presidential nominee, thanks in part to the backing of the late Logan Roy (Brian Cox) and his Fox News-esque right-wing TV network ATN. He enters election night as an underdog. By the morning, and against all odds and polling predictions, hes been declared president. Sound familiar?

Of course, this is Succession, and the story does not revolve around Mencken. Instead, we follow Tom (Matthew Macfadyen), whos taking a breather from his imploding marriage to head up coverage of the event on ATN. Barking (often contradictory) commands in Toms ear are the Roy siblings, Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Shiv (Sarah Snook), with the trio tussling over where to throw ATNs weight, and how vehemently. An apparent firebombing in Wisconsin appears to swing things in Menckens favour  with thousands of majority-Democrat votes lost  but throws up an ethical storm for the media: how do you declare a winner when it appears that the election was sabotaged? In the end, for a mix of conflicting political and personal reasons, Kendall relents to Romans pressure, and has Tom declare Mencken the new US president. Democracy be damned.

The parallels to Trump are unmissable. Like Mencken, he was an incendiary underdog, reviled by the left for his racist and sexist outbursts, and his far-right stances on everything from immigration to education. Like Mencken, he defied the polls to win the presidency, with the ardent backing of Fox News. The apprehension voiced by characters like Shiv and  less coherently  Greg (Nicholas Braun) echo the very real fears people voiced when Trump got in. Menckens the nightmare, Shiv says. Plausible in a decadent era. He says the bad s***... he believes the bad s***. Looking back on the Trump administration, and its ongoing aftermath of abortion bans and violent insurrections, its hard to accuse anyone of catastrophising.

What Succession keenly understands, in its cynicism, is that a person like Trump, or Mencken, does not ascend to office on the strength of their political beliefs. Those holding the levers of power  the Roys, in this instance  are motivated not by any particular right-wing agenda, but by naked, greedy self-interest. Indeed, by smoothing the path for Mencken to take power, Kendall is acting both against his conscience (such that it is) and the pleas of his family  his daughter, who is of south Asian descent, has been harassed, seemingly by hard-right Mencken supporters. Ultimately, he decides that emboldening racists is a price worth paying to try to block the impending GoJo merger and keep his hands on the corporate tiller.

Where art deviates from life is in Mencken himself. Succession is an uproariously funny series, often more comedy than drama. For all his myriad flaws, Trump was, and is, a profoundly comic figure, a man of such innate, unfettered ludicrousness that all attempts to parody inevitably come up short. And yet Mencken is no such clown. Stripped of all Trumps foibles, his braggadocio and physical buffoonery, Mencken is just a repellent husk of toxic ideology: his acceptance speech at the episodes close is ominous and not funny in the slightest. His televised address is peppered with antisemitic dogwhistle language, as well as disconcerting references to purity and polluted land. Succession knows that, underneath it all, theres nothing funny about watching the American elite shepherd a man like this through the corridors of power. But it knows something else  its fascinating, and chilling, to watch.
(Bloomberg) -- Home Secretary Suella Braverman lashed out against the UKs soaring immigration levels, as she staked out a claim to succeed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in a potential future Conservative Party leadership contest.

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With official statistics next week expected to show record net arrivals in the UK last year, Braverman urged to bring down numbers that she said threatened the national character. Britons should be trained to take roles currently being filled by immigrants, she told NatCon UK, a conference of the Tory right organized by the Washington-based Edmund Burke Foundation, a public affairs institute.

Britain has relied for decades on waves of immigration to fill jobs in the health service and other industries. Bravermans own parents are of Indian origin and emigrated to Britain from Kenya and Mauritius in the 1960s.

Its not racist for anyone, ethnic minority or otherwise, to want to control our borders, Braverman said. Britain cant have immigration without integration, she said, adding we have a national character to conserve.

Braverman, who oversees immigration policy, is seen as a standard-bearer for the Tories populist right. The speech puts down a marker as party members increasingly look to who might succeed Sunak after the next general election.

The governing party has trailed the main opposition Labour Party by a double-digit margin for months, and appears on course to lose a national vote that must be held by January 2025.

Her remarks also point to a split in government between those on the right who want to deliver on Brexit promises to greatly reduce immigration  and others who see the need for foreign arrivals to fill jobs in agriculture and road haulage that Britons wont take.

Story continues

With high vacancies and low unemployment, industry groups are also among those calling for more immigration, especially after Brexit cut off the free passage of workers from the European Union.

There is no good reason why we cant train up enough truck drivers, butchers or welders, Braverman said. She also said that rapid migration is unsustainable in terms of housing supply, public services and community relations.

Census data from 2021 shows that almost one-fifth of people in England and Wales were born abroad, up from 13% in 2011. More than 60% of workers in packing and bottling were born abroad, as were almost half of specialist medical practitioners, two-in-five generalist doctors and more than one-quarter of mental health nurses.

Conservative governments for years have struggled to rein in immigration, despite a long-standing pledge through the 2010s to get it down to the tens of thousands.

Instead, net immigration rose to a record 504,000 in the year to June 2022, and Office for National Statistics data due on May 25 is expected to eclipse that. The Centre for Policy Studies estimates it could be as high as 997,000, a figure thats likely to heighten criticisms that the government is failing to deliver on its Brexit problems.

Energy Secretary Grant Shapps on Sunday said that he didnt think the figure would hit a million, and pointed out that British programs to accept Ukrainian refugees and UK nationals from Hong Kong accounted for about 300,000 people. Thats a record the country should be proud of, he told Sky News.

Sunak has said that he wants to get immigration down over time. Wary of criticism from his right, he has focused on reducing the number of people arriving on Britains shores in small boats. Braverman is at the center of that effort.

The government says criminal gangs and people smugglers are at the root of the boat migration problem. Ministers are trying to end the crossings through deterrent policies including sending arrivals to Rwanda and banning them from ever claiming asylum or citizenship in Britain.

Legislation to deliver on that is working its way through Parliament, and during a debate in the House of Lords last week, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the head of the Church of England whose position affords him a seat in the UKs upper chamber, described it as morally unacceptable.

Nevertheless, Sunak remains undeterred by the opposition, telling the Mail on Sunday that he was leading meetings of a special panel twice weekly to discuss the immigration crackdown as the legislation progresses.

Ending small boats crossings is one of Sunaks five core pledges that hes asked voters to judge him on as he tries to turn around the flagging fortunes of the governing Conservatives, who have trailed the opposition Labour party by a double-digit margin in national polling for months.

A month after contracting the first barge to house people who cross the English channel, he promised to use as many as it takes to reduce the current bill for housing arrivals in hotels.

Sunaks preparations for the incoming law mean that from the moment that we have the green light we can crack on and deliver it, he told the paper.

--With assistance from Ellen Milligan.

(Adds background on UK immigrations history in third paragraph.)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
TEHRAN, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Monday hailed the high turnout in Turkiye's presidential and parliamentary elections as "an indication of the democracy's victory."

Kanaani made the remarks in a statement published on the ministry's website, commenting on the Turkish citizens' wide participation in Sunday's elections.

He congratulated the Turkish people, organizers of the elections, leaders and political parties on the successful holding of the votes and the "victory of democracy," hoping that the "best fate" would befall them, according to the statement.

Some 61 million voters have been registered to cast their ballots in Turkiye's first-round presidential and parliamentary elections. Around 3.5 million voters living abroad have been called to cast their votes in advance. The voter turnout was high at nearly 80 percent. 
Eduardo Lerro, a former public school teacher who recently became a higher-paid consultant and moved back to the Minneapolis area, reads in his condoOs office, in Minnetonka, Minn., May 9, 2023. (Jenn Ackerman/The New York Times)

The college graduates who fill white-collar jobs in the San Francisco area began to leave in growing numbers about a decade ago. More and more have moved to other parts of the country  an accelerating outflow of educated workers that, in a poorer part of America, might be thought of as brain drain.

When the pandemic arrived, these departures surged so sharply that the San Francisco area has lately lost more educated workers than have moved in.

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Over this same time, a similar pattern has been taking shape in Californias metro San Jose and in Los Angeles. Across the country, it has been building in the Washington, D.C., and New York City areas. Educated workers, dating to before the pandemic, have been migrating away from the most prosperous parts of the country.

This trend, visible in an Upshot analysis of census microdata, is startling in retrospect. Major coastal metros have been hubs of the kind of educated workers coveted most by high-powered employers and economic development officials. Economists have lamented the growing coastal concentration of their wealth. A politics of resentment in America has fed on it, too. These urban centers have become a class of their own  superstar cities  with outsize impact on the American economy fueled by the clustering of workers with degrees.

But it appears in domestic migration data that, years after lower-wage residents have been priced out of expensive coastal metros, higher-paid workers are now turning away from them, too.

Working-age Americans with a degree are still flowing into these regions from other parts of the country, often in large numbers. But as the pool leaving grows faster, that educational advantage is eroding. Bostons pull with college graduates has weakened. Seattles edge vanished during the pandemic. And the analysis shows San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles and Washington all crossing a significant threshold: More college-educated workers left than moved in.

Story continues

For most of this century, large metros with 1 million residents or more have received all of the net gains from college-educated workers migrating around the country, at the expense of smaller places. But among those large urban areas, the dozen metros with the highest living costs  nearly all of them coastal  have had a uniquely bifurcated migration pattern: As they saw net gains from college graduates, they lost large numbers of workers without degrees.

At least, that was true until recently. Now, large, expensive metros are shedding both kinds of workers.

The college-educated workers who have turned away from them are increasingly migrating toward major metros that are still prosperous but not quite so expensive  places such as Phoenix, Atlanta, Houston and Tampa, Florida. During the pandemic, smaller cities such as Portland, Maine, and Wilmington, North Carolina, also saw growing inflows of such workers.

The overall migration rate in America today is historically low, and mobility has fallen since the 1980s for all kinds of demographic groups. But these college-educated workers have recently bucked that trend. In the years leading up to the pandemic, their mobility rate was actually rising, a pattern true for both local moves and the kind of longer-distance moves between metro areas analyzed by The Upshot. That has opened a potentially new divide in the American economy between increasingly mobile white-collar workers and blue-collar workers who are increasingly likely to stay put.

For every move that anecdotally points to these trends  and the pandemic produced many such anecdotes  its trickier to capture these patterns nationwide. The census doesnt publicly track moves between metro areas by demographic cohorts. So to identify these patterns, The Upshot examined an anonymized sample of millions of census records and identified people who moved, grouped them by education level and age, and then linked each movers origin and destination with larger counties and metro areas.

The fact that big coastal metros have been losing workers without a degree is not that surprising  living costs have surged in these places as the good big-city jobs once available to less-educated workers in factories and clerical pools have dwindled. But for workers with a degree, economists have concluded that the higher pay promised in places such as the San Francisco Bay Area and New York should still mean its a good deal to live there.

That makes it all the more curious that these workers have been leaving anyway.

Migration patterns for lower-education workers make complete sense, said Daniel Shoag, an economist at Case Western Reserve University who has found similar trends in work with co-authors Stan Veuger and Philip Hoxie.

For college-educated workers, he said, its more of a puzzle.

Affordability Issues Move Up Income Ladder

For higher-education workers, its not so easy to separate those who cant afford a city from those who can but leave anyway. Affordability is relative and personal; for one person, it means making rent, but for another, it means making enough to also join a gym, buy concert tickets and dine out regularly. And even a professional who can afford all of that in New York may still eventually sour on the sixth-floor walk-up and the laundromat that comes with it.

It is clear, though, that affordability has broadly been eroding up the income spectrum in the countrys most expensive metros. As these regions have become richer, that has, among other things, helped fuel the rise in their housing prices.

And it ends up pricing out more and more people  not just people in the middle, but even people with higher incomes and college degrees, said Jed Kolko, undersecretary for economic affairs at the U.S. Department of Commerce (and a former Upshot contributor).

If the Bay Area, for one, ceased to be a land of opportunity more than a generation ago for bus drivers and home health aids, today it may be losing that appeal for engineers and consultants.

The sudden pandemic-era rise of remote work has also accelerated that shift. Remote work has driven demand for more space by white-collar workers in precisely the places where more space is hardest to come by. And remote work has altered the bargain that educated workers must swallow high living costs to access the highest wages.

Now, highly educated and more high-income workers have an option that theyve never had before, said Hans Johnson, a demographer with the Public Policy Institute of California. At least some of those workers can now keep (or accept) San Francisco jobs, while paying Houston or Charlotte, North Carolina, living costs. Johnson suspects that helps explain why the whole state of California has now become a net domestic loser of college graduates.

California is so beautiful, but it is a hard place to live, said Rebecca McGrail, 62, a school principal who moved with her husband, a consultant, and daughter from metro San Francisco to Durham, North Carolina, in 2019. That sentiment encompasses wildfires, earthquake fears and traffic, she said, but above all the steep cost of everything from housing to a pizza dinner.

Expensive big metros have struggled the most to retain educated workers ages 40 to 64, who face the greatest exposure to steep mortgages, child care costs and big grocery bills. (Younger educated workers were, at first, a bulwark against that trend but have increasingly migrated away from these regions, too.)

Jim Dalrymple II left Los Angeles when he reached that costly life stage  when the smallest, cheapest house he said he and his wife could find in the city was no longer big enough to fit children.

I love LA, I thought we would stay there indefinitely  I miss it still, said Dalrymple, a 41-year-old writer. When he and his wife concluded they couldnt afford to stay, they moved in 2019 to a much larger home within walking distance of downtown Salt Lake City. He recalled the abundant jobs and affordable housing that attracted his schoolteacher grandparents to Southern California two generations before he left.

I would love to take advantage of all that myself, he said. Its not available to us. And its not available to a lot of people.

Garrett Lyon, a 40-year-old brand strategist, described having a similar realization in Seattle when he and his wife considered buying a home: Seattle was crazy, absolutely, absolutely insanely expensive, he said. They could have afforded a home an hour outside the city, he said. Instead, they moved to Nashville, Tennessee.

Other college-educated workers who have moved away from the coasts described in interviews quality-of-life considerations that go beyond any simple accounting of wages versus living costs. They mention wanting furniture that would never fit in a New York elevator, or having a home office with a door that actually closes. They talk about not just cheaper housing, but washing machines, walk-in closets and walls to hang artwork.

Some describe frustration that even people who have followed typical routes to success  get a degree, save up money, work your way up to better-paying jobs  still struggle to live comfortably in coastal metros.

The threshold is just so high, Eduardo Lerro, 45, said of the income required to get by in New York. He was a public-school teacher in the city, then recently became a higher-paid consultant who could live elsewhere. In 2021, he moved home to the Minneapolis area.

Metro New York has long lost more college graduates than it gains through domestic migration (a steady influx of immigrants has historically helped make up for that population loss). But although New York continues to attract more than 100,000 inbound working-age graduates annually, the number departing has grown steadily and topped more than 200,000 in the most recent year of census data  which encompasses Lerros move.

My living room is bigger than any apartment in New York I ever had, he said. And that was true even with a doctorate and a good job.

Theres an Incredible Concentration of Wealth

Prosperous cities have long grappled with the imbalance created by an exodus of lower-wage workers. Their departures stress businesses needing to hire lower-wage staff, and they fray working-class neighborhoods that have lost residents. The high cost of living in big coastal metros also means that many lower-income households are blocked from moving into places with plentiful jobs and a stronger safety net. Its bad for these regions, too, when essential workers such as firefighters and child care providers cant afford to live there.

The migration of college-educated residents away from these same places, on the other hand, raises a more muddled set of questions. Domestic migration is zero-sum, meaning a loss of college graduates prized by local officials and tax collectors in Washington or San Francisco can be a gain for Kansas City, Missouri, or Orlando, Florida. And researchers who study inequality say it would be a good thing if college graduates (and their spending power) were less clustered on the coasts.

Theres an incredible concentration of wealth in these superstar cities that is unhealthy, said David Autor, an economist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology whose work has traced the disappearance over time of good big-city jobs for less-educated workers. It also means a lot of the affluence that goes with that is very concentrated among a small set of people.

Although it may be good for the country for that affluence to spread out more, some of the forces that appear to be driving this shift  such as a coastal housing shortage and political paralysis around solving it  are hardly positive.

Its a side benefit of a very messy, costly thing, said Adam Ozimek, chief economist at the Economic Innovation Group, a think tank focused on the widening inequality in America between prosperous and struggling places.

College-educated workers leaving the most expensive parts of the country are also not spreading out equally everywhere  or even going to parts of the country that are struggling. Most are going to what could be considered the next price tier of big metros. And since the pandemic, more are going to smaller metro areas and even rural parts of the country.

These migration patterns may also reflect the fact that many cities outside coastal America have themselves changed over the past 20 years. More of them have developed the amenities associated first with big coastal cities: revitalized downtowns, brewpubs, loft apartment conversions and diverse restaurant scenes.

Some of it is that the most expensive places got really expensive, Rebecca Diamond, a Stanford economist, said of shifting migration patterns. But also, the middle-tier places became more attractive.

Since 2000, she has found, college graduates have increasingly been moving toward high-amenity cities and away from the highest-wage ones. Consumer cities, as she puts it, are increasingly replacing producer cities as the places where college graduates want to live.

In interviews, several movers described not just the appeal in their new homes of more space and a lower cost of living, but also the sense that they hadnt given up too much to gain those benefits. To a growing degree, they said, what they left behind they can find in Charlotte, Denver, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Dallas or Louisville, Kentucky.

Those places today may promise something like 90% of the city life of a big coastal metro at 60% or 70% of the cost. And that trade-off is particularly alluring for some workers choosing between a central neighborhood in a more affordable city or a far-flung home in the coastal exurbs.

Theres never been a time since I moved here where I was like, Dang, I wish I could do something I used to be able to do back in D.C., said Jonathan Ruckman, 42, who moved to Louisville from Washington in 2013.

On the other hand, he can do in Louisville things he believes he couldnt afford to in D.C., including buying a home as a public-interest lawyer.

Decisions such as his are noteworthy not because a lawyer, a consultant or a brand strategist who moves across the country counts for more than a server who does, but because their decisions say something broader about the places they have left behind and the options available to others there.

This is about choice, and who has choices, said Abigail Wozniak, who directs the Opportunity and Inclusive Growth Institute at the Minneapolis Fed. That means, she said, that we have to understand what goes into the choices visible in this data to recognize what choices are closed to other people  like the teacher who might like to move to California but cant afford to and never does, or the nursing assistant who wont make it in New York because even an entrepreneur cant.

I had these dreams about opening a business, said Laura Newman, 33, who wanted to own her own bar in her native New York City. I really wanted to pursue those dreams. And it didnt matter how much money I saved, because the cost of achieving those goals increased as I was saving money.

And so she moved to Birmingham, Alabama, in 2017 and opened her first bar there instead.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear an appeal from South Carolina Republicans who are defending a congressional district that a lower court ruled to be a racial gerrymander.

The state's 2022 congressional map, which was used in last year's midterm election, moved tens of thousands of Black voters out of the states congressional district that covers part of Charleston County. The seat is currently held by Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican.

While centered in South Carolina, the Supreme Court's decision could wind up having implications for how lawmakers draw congressional boundaries across the nation.

Republican lawmakers claimed the lower courts decision to strike the map amounted to a "thinly reasoned order that presumes bad faith." Instead, the lawmakers say, the lower court should have applied a presumption of good faith  that the moves were about shifting the political landscape of the district, not its racial makeup.

But the NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund and the ACLU told the Supreme Court this year that the new map was designed with a discriminatory purpose. The lower court, those group claimed, correctly found that mapmakers adopted a racial targetand achieved it by unnecessarily moving tens of thousands of Black voters and departing from traditional districting principles."

The case is Alexander v. NAACP and it will likely be argued this fall.

Temporary security fences align along a path to the plaza of the Supreme Court Building on April 19, 2023.

A divided Supreme Court in 2019 essentially got out of the business of deciding partisan gerrymander lawsuits. But parties may still file suits over racial gerrymanders, alleging minority voters are having their power diluted.

The Supreme Court is already considering a major redistricting case raising similar questions. The justices heard arguments in October about an Alabama congressional map that includes one district out of seven with a majority of Black voters  even though African Americans make up 27% of the state's population.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court to review South Carolina map for 'bad faith' on race
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court agreed Monday to hear a bid by South Carolina Republicans to restore a congressional district that a lower court ruled was racially gerrymandered.

Republicans led by South Carolina Senate President Thomas Alexander are contesting a January ruling that said one of the state's seven newly drawn districts was configured to dilute the power of Black voters.

The district, which covers Charleston County, including the city of Charleston, is represented by Nancy Mace, a Republican.

After the 2020 census, Republicans redrew the boundaries to strengthen Republican control of what had become a competitive district.

Democrat Joe Cunningham won it in 2018 and narrowly lost to Mace in 2020. The new map was used in the 2022 midterm elections, in which Mace won by a wider margin than she had two years previously.

Lawyers for the Republican legislators said in court papers that the three-judge panel should have operated on the presumption that the Legislature was acting in good faith. They also said there were obvious political reasons legislators wanted to move predominantly Democratic voters out of the district to cement a Republican majority.

Civil rights groups, including the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, alleged that Republicans targeted Black voters, moving almost 30,000 of them from the district into another one.

"That predominant reliance on race is impermissible even if mapmakers used race as a proxy for politics," lawyers wrote in court papers. They argue that the new map violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution's 14th Amendment.

The Supreme Court is weighing a separate case concerning racial gerrymandering in the South, this time over Republican-drawn congressional districts in Alabama. The case could lead to a ruling that further weakens the landmark Voting Rights Act.

Leah Aden, a lawyer with the group, said Monday that the district was a "blatant example of unconstitutional racial gerrymandering and intentional vote dilution."

Story continues

Mace said last week that she doesnt know anything about the battle over her district, except that it makes her job difficult because there is uncertainty over whom she will be representing.

"I will serve whomever the courts or the state decides were serving, she said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Ketanji Brown Jackson and Amy Coney Barrett

In the Wednesday decision that gave a transgender immigrant another chance to appeal a deportation order, the U.S. Supreme Court did something unprecedented: It used her proper pronouns and name.

Estrella Santos-Zacaria had said she would be persecuted if she were forced to return to her home country, Guatemala. She had been raped there and in Mexico. After the Board of Immigration Appeals ordered her deportation, she sought relief from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. It dismissed her appeal, as the law requires noncitizens to exhaust all their options with administrative bodies, such as immigration authorities, before going to court. But the Supreme Court ruled that this is flexible, so Santos-Zacaria will have another chance to make her case to the Fifth Circuit.

In the ruling, the first majority opinion written by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, uses she/her pronouns throughout and also uses Santos-Zacarias female name, although it uses her deadname in the first reference to her, that being the legal name under which she filed the action. The ruling was unanimous; six other justices joined Jacksons opinion, and conservative Justice Samuel Alito wrote a concurring one, in which fellow conservative Clarence Thomas joined. Alitos opinion used the correct pronouns as well.

Legal scholars and observers of the court noted that not only did the opinion correctly gender Ms Santos-Zacaria, but also that it used more humanising language for non-citizens than past opinions have, The Independent reports.

The Court reads the statutory word alien to mean a non-citizen (in a footnote), former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance tweeted. Non-citizen, not illegal alien or similar dehumanising term. 7 justices signed on to Jacksons decision in full & the concurrences dont mention it. This is huge progress on both fronts.

\u201c1/ A very smart friend, Professor Lisa Bressman at Vanderbilt Law, flagged two important things about this decision for me. First, SCOTUS refers to a transgender woman as \u201cshe\u201d throughout the opinion. And it's unanimous. All of the Justices signed on.\u201d  Joyce Alene (@Joyce Alene) 1683817423

Scholar and trans rights activist Alejandra Caraballo tweeted about the ruling as well.

Story continues

\u201cIn a major immigrants rights decision from SCOTUS today, the court ruled in favor of a trans female asylum seeker on a procedural question. They used her preferred name and correct pronouns.\u201d  Alejandra Caraballo (@Alejandra Caraballo) 1683814636

So did lawyer Andrea Reyes who praised that the court, "even started the decision using [Santos-Zacarias] preferred pronouns".

\u201cEven started the decision using her preferred pronouns. \ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffd\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffd\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffd\u201d  Andrea Reyes (@Andrea Reyes) 1683893994

There were those who objected, though.

\u201cThis is not a good thing, though! The highest court in the land should not be using pronouns that are at odds with reality! I\u2019m a whole lot more interested in the Supreme Court getting basic truths right than supposedly countering a narrative of right-wing dominance, actually. \ud83c\udfdb\u201d  D.E. (@D.E.) 1683823516

The ruling came amid a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ bills in state legislatures  more than 450, many of them aimed specifically at trans people  and just before the expiration of pandemic-related restrictions on immigration. With the expiration, the Biden administration issued a new immigration policy that some progressives say is as restrictive as Donald Trumps, possibly more so. The administration has defended the policy.
The suspect in a hit-and-run crash that killed a woman on I-75 is back in Ohio.

Nicholas Debello, 37, was booked in the Montgomery County Jail just before 5 p.m. Friday, according to online jail records.

Debello is being held on multiple traffic violations, including OVI, and a probation violation. Jail records indicate hes being held on a $5,000 bond.

>> RELATED: Local man arrested in Kentucky in connection to deadly hit-and-run crash in Moraine

The Huber Heights man spent just over two weeks in a Kentucky jail after being arrested in Boone County.

Moraine police previously told News Center 7 that they believe Debello was behind the wheel of a 2021 Ram 2500 pickup truck that hit and killed 20-year-old Emily Ryan on I-75 in April.

An investigation showed that Ryans vehicle became disabled in the right lane. Police said she had apparently gotten out of the vehicle and was hit by a full-size white pickup truck. The truck continued south and exited the interstate onto Dryden Road.

>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Woman identified as victim of deadly hit-and-run crash in Moraine; police investigating

According to Sgt. Andrew Parish, police were able to track DeBellos truck to a campground in Oldham County, Kentucky. The truck still had obvious and fairly significant damage to the passenger side front area, he said.

Officers from the Florence Police Department in Kentucky later located and arrested DeBello on an unrelated probation violation warrant that had been issued by the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court, Parish said.
A suspected drunk driver tried to place his dog in the drivers seat to say the pet was the one behind the wheel, Colorado police said.

After the man was pulled over for speeding in Springfield on Saturday, May 13, an officer watched as the man tried to switch places with his dog in the passenger seat, the Springfield Police Department said in a May 14 Facebook post.

He then got out from the cars passenger side and said he wasnt driving, police said.

When the officer asked the man if he had been drinking, he ran, making it 20 yards before the officer apprehended him, police said.

The man got lost in Springfield while driving from Las Animas to Pueblo, according to police.

Police said they learned the man had two active warrants for his arrest out of Pueblo.

Once the man was checked at a hospital, he was arrested on his previous warrants and also faces a number of new charges, including driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license and resisting arrest.

Springfield is about 165 miles southeast of Pueblo.

Driver who crashed into Rock Hill home charged with DUI, accused in 2 other wrecks just minutes before

CHP sergeant hit by suspected drunken driver on anniversary of another officers death

Man faces felony charge after allegedly crashing truck into properties
Twitter/GMA

Just over three years since Suzanne Morphew vanished without a trace on Mothers Day after going on a bike ride, her family has spoken out, slamming authorities for once charging her husband with murder.

It's very hurtful to lose your reputation and your integrity, Barry Morphew, 55, said in a Good Morning America interview Monday morning.

Flanked by his two adult daughters, Morphew described the years leading up to his wifes disappearance on May 10, 2020, in Maysville, Colorado, including the bad decisions he claims Suzanne, 49, made while battling with drugs and chemotherapy for Hodgkin's lymphoma. He also denied any trouble in their marriage of 26 years, or any involvement in his wifes disappearance.

I know she was going through some hard things and made some bad decisions, Morphew said, insisting that he was unaware of an affair she was having. She was really having trouble with the chemotherapy and the drugs.

Chaffee County Sheriffs Office

But for years, Colorado law enforcement was steadfast in alleging that Morphew murdered Suzanne after he learned of her extramarital love affairbefore he disposed of her body and staged a fake bike crash to cover up his crime.

In May 2021, prosecutors charged Morphew with her murder, offering up shocking details about how Suzanne wanted to end their marriage and even referred to him as a Jekyll and Hyde. Days after his arrest, Morphew was hit with additional charges for allegedly submitting a mail-in ballot on behalf of his missing wifeand casting her vote for Donald Trump. (Morphew pleaded guilty last July for casting his wifes ballot.)

"It's very hurtful to lose your reputation and your integrity."



Barry Morphew and his daughters speak out for the first time since filing a $15 million lawsuit after murder charges against him were dropped. @eriellereshef has more. pic.twitter.com/v0Fh9LD4Ri  Good Morning America (@GMA) May 15, 2023

Despite the mountain of evidence, prosecutors abruptly filed a motion to drop the murder charges last April, just nine days before Morphew was set to stand trial. The shocking move came after 11th Judicial District Attorney Linda Stanley barred prosecutors from using many of their key witnesses at trial after failing to turn over evidence.

Story continues

The case, however, was dismissed without prejudicemeaning prosecutors can refile charges against Morphew at any time.

Theyve got tunnel vision and they looked at one person and theyve got too much pride to say theyre wrong and look somewhere else, Morphew told Good Morning America. I dont have anything to worry about. Ive done nothing wrong.

How a Husband-Wife MAGA Murder Saga Descended Into Chaos

Morphew and his family have since filed a $15 million federal civil rights lawsuit against prosecutors and local law enforcement, claiming that he was wrongfully arrested for a crime he did not commit. On Monday, Morphews two daughters stressed they are standing by their dad and called the last few years literally our worst nightmare.

I've never had a shred of doubt, Macy Morphew said.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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(Google Maps)

A man's hand was found on a sidewalk in California after a person wielding a sword cut it off, according to police.

Law enforcement in Riverside, California, responded to several emergency calls just before 10.30pm on Saturday night from bystanders who found a human hand on the sidewalk.

The hand was found near 5th Street and Fairmount Boulevard in the city's downtown area, according to NBC News, citing local law enforcement.

Later that evening, police learned that a local hospital had admitted a man in his 60s who arrived with a missing hand. The patient reportedly told hospital staff that the appendage "was cut off by someone swinging a sword."

The man is expected to survive his injury, according to police.

Law enforcement in Riverside is investigating the incident, but believe the incident was an altercation between two homeless men.

This assault may have stemmed from a recent ongoing dispute they have had with each other, police told NBC News.

No arrests have been made so far.

Sword attacks are uncommon, but they still occur.

Three weeks ago, a court in Connecticut handed down a second 55-year prison sentence to a man who attacked two people with a katana, killing one and severely injuring another.

Peter Manfredonia, 26, attacked and killed Theodore DeMers, 62, with a sword in 2020, according to NPR.

He then attacked John Franco, 80, who came to assist Mr DeMers. The attack left the man with injuries on his hands, neck, and head.

Mr Manfredonia then broke into the home of a third man and held him hostage for 24 hours before driving across the state, where he shot and killed a former classmate and kidnapped his girlfriend. He later let her go at a rest stop in New Jersey.

Police searched for Mr Manfredonia for six days before they eventually arrested him at a truck stop in Hagerstown, Maryland.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

Syria ended over a decade of exile from the Arab League on Monday as its officials took part in a preparatory session ahead of Friday's summit in Saudi Arabia.

"I... take this opportunity to welcome the Syrian Arab Republic to the League of Arab States," Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan told the meeting, which was broadcast live by state TV channel Al Ekhbariya.

Jadaan said he was "looking forward to working with everyone to achieve what we aspire to", as the camera panned to the Syrian delegation.

It was the first time Syrian officials participated in an Arab League meeting since the body suspended Damascus in November 2011 over its violent crackdown on protests which spiralled into a conflict that has killed more than 500,000 people and displaced millions.

Earlier this month, the pan-Arab body officially welcomed back Syria's government, securing President Bashar al-Assad's return to the Arab fold.

Saudi King Salman has invited Assad to attend Friday's summit in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, which would be his first since a 2010 meeting in Libya.

"This is a new opportunity for us to tell our Arab brothers that we do not look to the past but towards the future," Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said upon landing in Jeddah on Monday evening.

"There are many challenges that we must discuss and mobilise to confront, including the Arab-Israeli conflict," Syria's official news agency SANA quoted Mekdad as saying.

- 'Arab solidarity' -

Regional capitals have gradually been warming to Assad as he has held onto power and clawed back lost territory with crucial support from Iran and Russia.

The United Arab Emirates re-established ties with Syria in 2018 and has been leading the recent charge to reintegrate Damascus. It has also invited Assad to attend the UN climate summit in Dubai later this year, SANA reported on Monday.

Diplomatic activity picked up after a deadly earthquake struck Syria and Turkey on February 6.

Story continues

During Monday's preparatory session, Syria's Economy Minister Mohammad Samer al-Khalil called on Arab nations to invest in his country in light of "promising opportunities and new laws that attract investment", according to SANA.

A decision in March by Saudi Arabia and Damascus ally Iran to resume ties has also shifted the Middle Eastern political landscape.

Riyadh, which cut ties with Assad's government in 2012 and had long openly championed the Syrian leader's ouster, confirmed last week that work would resume at the two countries' respective diplomatic missions.

While Syria's frontlines have mostly quietened, large parts of the north remain outside government control, and no political solution to the conflict is in sight.

Top diplomats from nine Arab countries discussed the Syria crisis in Saudi Arabia last month, and five regional foreign ministers including Syria's met in Jordan on May 1.

The Arab League's secretary-general, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, said on Monday that Syria's return could revive "the principle of Arab solidarity", according to a statement delivered by his deputy, Hossam Zaki.

- 'Serious challenges' -

But not every country in the region has been quick to mend ties with Assad.

Qatar said this month it would not normalise relations with Assad's government but also noted this would not be "an obstacle" to Arab League reintegration.

Aboul Gheit said the "positive atmosphere" created by the end of some disputes in the region "should not push us away from the reality that the Arab region has been witnessing for years, which is the accumulation and overlapping of serious challenges".

Among these, he added, was "a new wave of displacement", a likely reference to the month-old conflict in Sudan, an Arab League member state, which has prompted some 200,000 people to flee the country and displaced hundreds of thousands more within its borders.

The conflict is expected to be a major agenda item during the summit on Friday.

A senior Saudi diplomat said last week that army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, one of two generals at the heart of it, had been invited to represent Sudan but that it was unclear who would attend.

Representatives of Burhan and of his adversary, paramilitary leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, have been in Jeddah for more than a week for talks facilitated by Saudi Arabia and the United States.

On Thursday, the two sides signed an agreement committing to respect humanitarian principles, but they have yet to agree on terms of a possible truce.

str-ht-rcb-ho/ami
A moment from a Taylor Swift concert went viral this weekend, and it had nothing to do with her singing. Swift interrupted her performance of "Bad Blood" during a show in Philadelphia on Saturday to speak up for a concertgoer in an apparent dispute with a security guard. Her comments were captured on video, with one clip generating more than 6 million views on Twitter.

Taylor Swift performs onstage during an earlier stop in her Eras Tour. / Credit: Octavio Jones/TAS23/Getty Images for for TAS Rights Management

"She's fine," Swift is heard yelling into the crowd, apparently frustrated by what she saw. She paused again to add, "She wasn't doing anything." The star then yelled, "Hey, stop" two more times.

It's unclear from the videos on social media what transpired in the crowd to prompt the reaction. The fan was later identified as Kelly Inglis, a Maryland elementary school teacher and mother, according to CBS News Baltimore.

Inglis told her side of the story in a TikTok posted to her friend Caitlin Gabell's account. With the caption "Its me, hi, im the problem"  a reference to Swift's song, "Anti-Hero"  she said the security guard had been "harassing" her and her group all night.

"Every time we did anything, he was, like, on top of us," Inglis said. "We're dancing, we're having fun, and he didn't like it."

She said the guard was later escorted out and the group was offered tickets to the following night's concert.

CBS News reached out to the venue, Lincoln Financial Field, for comment. The stadium said the issue was addressed and resolved internally.

In a follow-up post  this time from her own TIkTok account  Inglis offered up her heartfelt gratitude for Swift's actions the previous night.

"I have been a huge fan, Taylor, since I was 17 years old," the self-professed "Swiftie" said. "The fact that you did that for me last night and you stood up for me meant so, so, so much."

Inglis added the Saturday show marked her 13th Taylor Swift concert.

Story continues

Swift's Eras Tour  the star's first tour in five years  kicked off in March. She heads to Massachusetts next, with three shows scheduled at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.

Durham report on FBI's Russia investigation released

Largest-ever "narco sub" intercepted off Colombia

Oakland teachers, school district reach tentative deal to end strike
Turkiye's presidential election goes to likely runoff with 93 pct of votes counted

Xinhua) 08:39, May 15, 2023

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (1st L) casts his vote at a polling station in Istanbul, Turkiye, May 14, 2023. Turkish citizens headed to the polls on Sunday for twin presidential and parliamentary elections that could shape the Turkish political landscape for the upcoming years. Some 61 million voters are registered to cast their ballots. Around 3.5 million voters living abroad have been called to cast their votes in advance. More than 1.76 million Turks abroad have cast their votes at diplomatic missions and customs gates between April 27 and May 9. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

ANKARA, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye was heading toward a likely runoff presidential election as Sunday vote count showed neither of the candidates above the 50-percent threshold of the votes to win outright, according to preliminary results delivered by the semi-official Anadolu Agency early Monday.

Early results of Anadolu showed incumbent Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with a comfortable ahead compared to the opposition rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu, but the gap was narrowed as more votes were counted.

Erdogan received 49.67 percent of the vote when 93 percent of the ballots were counted, against 44.59 percent of the vote for opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the Anadolu reported. The third candidate Sinan Ogan garnered 5.3 percent of support.

If no presidential candidate secured a simple majority, or 50 percent, of the votes in the first round, a second ballot would be scheduled between the top two frontrunners on 28 May.

As the ballot boxes for the parliamentary election were also finishing counting, unofficial results showed that the People's Alliance, formed by Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the New Welfare Party and the Great Union Party, had 323 lawmakers, highest among three alliances that run for the 600-seat parliament.

The six-party opposition block Nation Alliance gained a total of 214 lawmakers and could not secure 360 seats required to hold a referendum for ending the current executive presidency that they pledged in their election campaign.

The Labor and Freedom Alliance, a coalition of left-wing political parties, had 63 lawmakers, with the Green Left Party gaining 60 seats and the Workers' Party of Turkiye 3 lawmakers.

Some 61 million voters are registered to cast their ballots. Around 3.5 million voters living abroad have been called to cast their votes in advance. The voter turnout was high at nearly 80 percent.

A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Istanbul, Turkiye, May 14, 2023. (Photo by Omer Kuscu/Xinhua)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets with supporters outside a polling station in Istanbul, Turkiye, May 14, 2023. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

A woman prepares to cast her ballot at a polling station in Ankara, Turkiye, May 14, 2023. (Xinhua/Shadati)

Kemal Kilicdaroglu (C, front), the leader of the center-left Republican People's Party, casts his ballot at a polling station in Ankara, Turkiye, May 14, 2023. (Xinhua/Shadati)

A staff member shows the ballot paper at a polling station in Ankara, Turkiye, May 14, 2023. (Xinhua/Shadati)

Kemal Kilicdaroglu (C), the leader of the center-left Republican People's Party, casts his vote at a polling station in Ankara, Turkiye, May 14, 2023. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

A voter casts her ballot at a polling station in Istanbul, Turkiye, May 14, 2023. (Photo by Omer Kuscu/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) -- China will adopt the tariff rates it pledged under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement on certain imports from the Philippines on June 2 this year, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council has said.

The annual rates for subsequent years will be implemented on Jan. 1 each year.

The move means that by June 2 this year, the RCEP agreement will be in effect for all 15 members.

The RCEP agreement was signed on Nov. 15, 2020, by 15 countries in the Asia-Pacific region -- 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand -- after eight years of negotiations, which started in 2012. 
Bad blood was percolating in the Philadelphia stratosphere at Taylor Swift's Eras Tour on Saturday night.

Performing her second of three shows at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Swift's lively concert was interrupted by a disturbance off-stage.

While performing her hit song "Bad Blood," Swift could be heard yelling at an unknown individual, "She's fine. She wasn't doing anything!"

As the song builds to the chorus, Swift grows more agitated, yelling, "Hey! Stop!"

TAYLOR SWIFT SPEAKS OUT AFTER INJURING HERSELF DURING ERAS TOUR: 'IT WAS MY FAULT COMPLETELY'

Taylor Swift was heard yelling "stop" while on stage, in the middle of performing her song "Bad Blood."

Fox News Digital spoke to a fan at the concert, who detailed their confusion of the situation.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"As Swifties we were confused whether it was part of the song or not because of the nature of the song," she explained of the hit track off Swift's 1989 album.

"But we knew something was off, especially because Taylor doesn't speak to her fans that way."

Although the song "Bad Blood" is feisty, fans were unsure if Taylor's ad libbing was part of the show or not.

A representative for Swift did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment.

The 12-time Grammy Award winner uttered one final "Stop" before strutting across the stage and continuing on with her set. She never addressed the incident, although video of the contentious moment went viral on social media.

Fans immediately defended Swift, explaining she was yelling at a security guard in an effort to protect her fans.

The video of Taylor Swift yelling mid-concert went viral on social media.

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People on social media were eager for the fan to come forward and explain exactly what happened.

In a video shared to her friend's TikTok account, Maryland resident Kelly Kelly revealed she was the fan Swift was protecting.

"Basically, the guard had been harassing our group all night He just kept telling us not to touch the rail, and like every time we did anything, he was like on top of us," she began.

"We're dancing, we're having fun, and he didn't like it," she continued. "Taylor noticed that I was having fun and that he didn't like it, and she didn't like it. And then he basically like got escorted out, and then they offered us free tickets for tonight."

Story continues

The fan that was protected by Taylor Swift at her Eras Tour identified herself on Twitter.

The video quickly amassed more than 1 million likes, prompting Kelly to create her own account and thank Swift for standing up for her.

Kelly also spoke to GMA about the incident, explaining that she and her friends had front row seats at the concert.

"He kept telling me to stop. He kept telling me to like calm down and not to dance," she recalled of the moment. "And I guess she noticed and she yelled at him and told him to leave me alone and that I wasn't doing anything wrong."

The next leg of Swift's tour will be at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
A Florida elementary school teacher is accused of using hair pulling as a form of discipline on one of her students with disabilities, according to the Sumter County Sheriffs Office.

The suspect works with the Exceptional Student Education (ESE) program at Wildwood Elementary School, about 50 miles northwest of Orlando. The physical abuse investigation began May 9, the sheriffs office said in a news release.

Allegations against (the teacher) stated (she) would pull the hair and ears of a special needs child to gain compliance, knowing it caused the child pain and discomfort, the sheriffs office said.

The Sumter County Sheriffs Office conducted an investigation, interviewed witnesses, and concluded the defendant engaged in physical force to gain compliance from a special needs child in her class when the victim acted out.

The 55-year-old teacher, who lives in Bushnell, was arrested May 11 and charged with cruelty toward a child without great bodily harm, a third-degree felony, officials said. She was released the same day on a $2,000 bond, records show.

Details of the students age and grade level were not released.

The suspect has been teaching since 1991, and works with special needs students and the general education population, according to the district.

Wildwood Elementary has 827 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 5, Greatschools.org reports.

The Exceptional Student Education program covers students with a wide range of disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, emotional/behavioral disability and speech and hearing impairments, according to the Sumter County School District.

Teacher arrested after whacking student on butt and legs with ruler, Florida cops say

Argument between teachers at Florida high school ends with one in jail, deputies say

School bus driver kissed, touched girls breast through her clothes, Florida cops say
Graduation ceremony at St. Thomas Aquinas High School

Several teachers have lost their jobs at a Catholic school in New Hampshire, and they say its because they are members or supporters of the LGBTQ+ community.

St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Dover did not renew the contracts of four faculty members, and two others have made personal decisions to not return next year, the schools president, Paul Marquis, told Seacoast Online, a site for several area newspapers. However, a GoFundMe page raising money to assist the faculty members describes them all as terminated.

While St. Thomas Aquinas High School denies these teachers were not renewed as part of an anti-LGBTQ+ movement, critical-thinking students, parents, and community members see a clear correlation, the GoFundMe page says. The teachers names have not been made public.

The actions came after the school announced plans to have teachers participate in training provided by Person and Identity, an anti-transgender project of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a right-wing think tank. The projects website denounces gender ideology, which it says is an erroneous system of beliefs about the human person, with philosophical roots in nihilism, atheism, Marxist-feminism, and queer theory, adding that psychological and medical interventions based on gender ideology are causing serious harm, especially to children, adolescents, and other vulnerable persons.

Marquis denied that the school would be using the program and said it is simply one of one of the resources that the Diocese of Manchester, N.H., makes available.

Several people have accused the school of anti-LGBTQ+ bias. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that same-sex relationships are wrong and that gender is fixed at birth, but some Catholic institutions have adopted a more welcoming attitude toward LGBTQ+ people.

Kevin Collins, a former St. Thomas Aquinas principal, commented in a private Facebook group on the issues raised by Catholic dogma. He allowed Seacoast Online to quote from the private group, called #SaintsShame  St. Thomas Aquinas Alumni, reflecting a hashtag being used across social media. He said his post did not deal with the schools current administration.

Story continues

Back in the day, he wrote, "we prided ourselves on being an open and welcoming institution to [LGBTQ+ students]  and I do believe that compared to many other schools (especially in the 80s and 90s), we were exactly thatto a degree.  When we said that we were welcoming, it came with a caveat: We care for you, but we cannot acknowledge who you truly are. And so, many LGBTQ+ students who graduated from STA have admitted that, in general, they did not feel part of the school while they were there. They did feel accepted and supported by individual teachers and staff, but not necessarily by the school as a whole. I can understand that. After all, if Catholic teaching cannot accept all of the aspects of LGBTQ+ life then, at some level, the school is denying their full existence.

Casey Flanagan, a trans alum of the school who has two siblings currently attending, expressed disappointment but not surprise at recent events. I feel simultaneously disappointed, angry and sad, but not surprised just given my experience at the school and information that I have about religion, the Catholic Church, and how they view trans people specifically as well as the wider LGBTQ+ community, they told Seacoast Online. But there has been a silver lining. I am extremely pleased that everyone is so upset about it. Not that I want everyone to be upset, but it feels validating in some way.

Jennifer MacNeil, who started the GoFundMe campaign with Erin Jacobsen, told the site that the school has changed in recent years, and not for the better where LGBTQ+ people are concerned. This fundraiser was created to support the teachers and administrators whose lives have been abruptly upended by these recent changes and subsequent decisions of the diocese, said MacNeil, the mother of two recent St. Thomas Aquinas graduates. Shining a positive light on the individuals who have been known to be supportive of the LGBTQ+ students, who once felt welcome and safe at STA, is very important. High school is a time in a childs life when they are vulnerable and in need of a loving and supportive school community. These supportive people act out of a personal faith that does not need to be dictated by a few people with power and influence, she said.

She called for the Diocese of Manchester to intervene. I believe the diocese needs to take a pause and reflect, she said. I believe they should have an open, in-person conversation with past and present STA students, teachers, stakeholders, and all Seacoast area community members. My hope would be for the diocese to follow the model of Notre Dame University, Loyola University Maryland, and many other Catholic universities that respect, welcome, and even celebrate their LGBTQ+ members.
A 14-year-old boy in Michigan helped save his little sister from a would-be kidnapper by using his slingshot. An 8-year-old girl was looking for mushrooms in her backyard on May 10 when a man appeared from the woods and held the girl's mouth shut, Michigan State Police said in a news release.

The girl, who has not been identified, struggled with the man until she was able to break free  and her brother, who was also not identified, used his slingshot to shoot the suspect in the head and chest.

Police did not specify what he shot at the suspect.

A family member reported seeing a man that matched the man's description running away and state troopers searched until they found the suspect hiding.

He has been identified as a 17-year-old, who had injuries to his head and chest consistent with a slingshot strike. He has been charged as an adult with one count each of attempted kidnapping/child enticement, attempted assault to do great bodily harm less than murder, and one count of assault and battery.

His bond was set at $150,000 and his court appearance is on May 17.

The suspect got onto the family's property in Alpena Township through the woods, grabbing the girl from behind and attempting to pull her into the woods, a representative for the Michigan State Police said, according to CBS Philadelphia.

"You wouldn't think if you were playing in your own back yard or on your own property that you have to be concerned about something like this, but it just goes to show that there is evil out there," the spokesperson said.

The girl's brother was "really the one" to save her, the spokesperson said. "For a 14-year-old to see that and pop into action that quickly is extraordinary and he should be commended for it."

"What he did also helped us identify who the suspect was because obviously [the suspect] had injuries from being hit with the slingshot and those were things that helped us evidentiary-wise identify who it was," the spokesperson said.

Story continues

North Carolina enacts 12-week abortion ban as abortion pill gets another day in court

Examining Prince Harry's security situation after reported NYC car chase

Prince Harry, Meghan in "near catastrophic car chase" with paparazzi, spokesperson says
The 18-year-old killed in a shooting over the weekend in Lees Summit was identified as Dakota Wrightsman, a police spokesman said Monday.

The investigation into his death was ongoing and no other new details were being released, said Sgt. Chris Depue, a spokesman for the Lees Summit Police Department.

Police responded about 1 a.m. Saturday to investigate a report of shots being fired in the 2300 block of Southeast King Street. Arriving officers found Wrightsmans body inside a home. He was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound, Depue said.

At the time of the shooting, Wrightsman was inside the home with a small group of friends. Police said on Saturday that detectives were working to interview everyone who was there to determine how Wrightsman was shot.
A gunman killed eight people at a mall in a suburb of Dallas, Texas two weeks ago

Police in Texas are disputing the account of a witness who described in great detail the aftermath of a deadly shooting at a shopping mall.

Steven Spainhouer told US media outlets he arrived at the Allen Premium Outlets near Dallas before first responders and gave medical aid to victims.

On Friday, police said they had determined he was not credible.

Mr Spainhouer defended his original recollection and told CBS News Texas that he stood by it.

A gunman killed eight people and injured seven others in the attack on 6 May.

In an interview with CBS, which was quoted by the BBC, Mr Spainhouer had described how he ran to the scene after getting a call from his son who said there was gunfire. He said there was "unfathomable carnage" at the mall when he arrived in the car park and that he gave CPR to some victims.

He also recounted seeing a young girl who "had no face" and a boy covered "head to toe" in blood, who he said was hiding beneath the body of his deceased mother.

The Allen Police Department said there were inconsistencies between the public accounts Mr Spainhouer had given, and the facts established in its investigation.

It said it had conducted a follow-up interview with Mr Spainhouer after he spoke to the media. The department said he was not the first to arrive at the scene, was not there while shots were being fired, and did not provide medical aid to the victims. It also said he "did not move a deceased mother who was covering a live child".

"As inaccurate reports can be prevalent in such situations, it is essential to confirm information before sharing it," police said. "Please take note of this to prevent unintentional spreading of misinformation."

On Saturday, Mr Spainhouer responded to the police statement about his account and said he was "hurt and disappointed".

"I know what I did and did not do while waiting on the Allen Police and Fire Departments," he wrote in a Facebook post. "I know that there were individuals who were deceased and could not be treated with CPR. I know because I was there."

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He argued that he could not have known if there were first responders there before he arrived.

Police are investigating whether the gunman, named as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, had far-right links. During the attack, he wore a clothing patch with the letters RWDS, which stands for Right Wing Death Squad, a phrase popular among white supremacy groups.

Photos he apparently posted also showed Nazi tattoos on his arm and torso.

Six people, including children, were pronounced dead at the scene in the north Dallas suburbs, while two died later in hospital. Three members of one family, a young security guard, and an engineer from India were among those killed.
Smoke rises above Khartoum, Sudan, amid fighting between warring factions. Hundreds of thousands have fled the city. (Marwan Ali / Associated Press)

It took a bullet for Ashraf Malik to start panicking. For the first three days of Sudans latest eruption of armed conflict, the 23-year-old dental student bunkered in his apartment in Khartoum, watching the fighting rage close to his neighborhood in the Sudanese capital but feeling relatively unconcerned.

I didnt take it seriously. I thought it would be a minor conflict and resolve itself within a couple of days, as usual, he said in an interview via WhatsApp.

But then a .50 caliber slug smashed through a window, chomping out an iPhone-sized chunk in the wall above where his cousin was sleeping.

Thats when we decided to leave, he said.

There was just one problem: Malik couldnt get his passport. Two days before the fighting began, he had handed it over to the Spanish Embassy to obtain a visa to attend a dentistry conference in Madrid. Now, Khartoum's diplomatic quarter was experiencing some of the hardest fighting in the battle for supremacy between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The embassy was closed.

Days later, when it posted an emergency phone contact, he finally managed to reach someone.

When she knew I wasnt Spanish, she hung up. I called again, and she said, Youre not Spanish. I cant help you, and hung up again. I called again and told her the embassy has my passport, but she said it didnt matter and that they couldnt help me, Malik said. Then she blocked my number.

Almost a month into the fighting, hundreds  potentially thousands  of passport-holding Sudanese like Malik remain stranded because their documents are stuck in embassies whose international staff has long since been evacuated.

They're unable to flee the country as the fighting rages, despite ongoing negotiations and cease-fires that are broken almost as soon as they are set. Khartoum, a city of roughly 5.4 million people, has seen hundreds of thousands escape as streets become battlegrounds and fighter jets hunt in the skies above. Some 600 people have been killed, and thousands more have been wounded.

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Fighting in Khartoum, Sudan's capital, has gone on for nearly a month, and at least 600 people have been killed. (Marwan Ali / Associated Press)

On Tuesday, the United Nations' senior aid envoy Martin Griffiths said the number of people internally displaced by the violence had topped 700,000.

It's a race against time to provide life-saving assistance to those in need. The fighting needs to stop now, he tweeted.

By April 24, nine days into the fighting, foreign embassies had managed to evacuate thousands of their nationals, including about 1,000 from the European Union. But there had been no action for people like Rasha Omer, 37, an Amsterdam-based social media manager who has permanent residency in the Netherlands but whose mother, Nafisa, and brother, Abdulrahman, were in Khartoum. They had submitted their passports to the Dutch Embassy early last month to get visas to visit her in Amsterdam after Ramadan.

We tried calling and emailing multiple times but got no response," Omer said. "I also asked if they could send me a letter detailing what happened in case my family could use this as a supporting document. They never responded.

The Twitter account of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded April 25 to a Sudanese journalist asking how to retrieve passports by saying it deeply regrets the current situation youre in but that the embassy was closed and we advise to apply for a new passport with your local authorities.

But that was clearly an impossibility with Khartoum virtually a war zone and no passport-printing facilities available outside the capital.

What local authorities? There is NO WAY that the Dutch ministry of foreign affairs could be so detached from the reality of what's happening in Sudan that they don't know that there seems to be NO local authorities in Sudan capable of processing any formal documents, one Twitter user wrote in reply.

Other Sudanese compared their treatment with the travel facilities offered to Ukrainians when their country plunged into war. Thousands signed a petition asking the British Parliament to set up a mechanism allowing Sudanese affected by the conflict to join their families in the U.K., just as it had for Ukrainians.

"The [British] Government should aim to treat all people equally, a war is a war, and people affected by war should be treated and helped equally," the petition said.

Initially, Reem Abbass, 33, a writer in Khartoum, was sure the fighting would end within a week; she even assured organizers of a workshop in France that she would attend. But as the violence spun on, she found herself in limbo, unable to make any plans with her parents to flee because her passport was at the Spanish Embassy (she had planned a visit to Spain after the workshop).

My family didnt know what to do. I was afraid my moms medicine would run out, and my father is also sick; I didnt know what our plan was as a family, she said.

Though she understood embassies prioritized staff and their nationals, she expected some level of responsibility toward visa applicants.

Sudanese refugees arrive at a camp in South Sudan. (Peter Louis / World Food Program)

OK, youre safe, youre evacuated. Now please help us, she said. These are embassies. They have protection from the authorities. Open it an hour and give us the passports. And then its our responsibility.

Instead, the response has been ad hoc. Some embassies gave people a few hours to pick up passports before shredding them. Others said they would provide a letter certifying that the passport was in the embassys possession.

Ahmad Mahmoud, a Sudanese filmmaker, had submitted his passport in late March to the Swedish Embassy to attend a film festival in April in the city of Malmo. After pleading for days via email and WhatsApp to get his passport back, even without a visa, he was told to look for a Plan B, and that the embassy would not be able to furnish any kind of supporting documentation. Eventually, the embassy staff member with whom he was communicating stopped responding.

That left Mahmoud enraged.

Theres no need to leave a passport at the embassy," he said, citing electronically issued visas. "I know they do this for some nationalities. But some of us are not worthy of keeping our passport with us, it seems."

Mahmoud finally decided to escape to Port Sudan, a 13-hour drive from Khartoum. Hes staying in a friends apartment with his wife, but is still unsure what to do.

My wife wont leave the country without me, and it feels like shes stuck because of me, he said.

Omer, the social media manager, and her family also gave up on their passports. On April 26, they headed to the Egyptian border, where the Sudanese government had set up a limited consular office. They arrived two days later, and two days after that, Omers parents crossed into Egypt.

Her brother, Abdulrahman, found an expired passport of his whose validity he extended, but two weeks later, hes still waiting for permission to cross.

Malik, the student, and his family also wanted to escape to Egypt, but they waited for him to get his passport back from the Spanish Embassy. When the fighting came close to their home, they decided they had to leave right away.

While the others headed for the Egyptian border, Malik and his brother went to Port Sudan. When evacuations began from there, his brother boarded a ship bound for Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia, then went on to Dubai. But Malik remains in Port Sudan.

"Im still trying to get the passport, but no response, he said.

Im just stuck here. All my family escaped. Im the only one still here.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
What happened when my daughter came out as trans

If you cant accept me, you will lose me forever. My undeniably female child came out at the age of 12, during lockdown, in a letter to me and her father, first as nonbinary and later as a transboy. For clarity, I shall call her she and Jo here throughout, but she demanded a new name and pronouns and immediate acceptance on threat of withdrawing all communication and love.

I felt my world shatter.

Youd be forgiven for thinking that Id be happy to have a trans child  I am an openly bisexual, atheist, Left-wing arty-type with bright blue hair. I should be waving the Progress Pride flag. I certainly supported trans rights and considered myself an ally to a vulnerable group who, based on what I had read in the media, had always felt deeply unhappy with their bodies. Like any parent, Id give anything to help my child be happy, confident and thriving.

But my husband and I quickly found that while our natural inclination to be open-minded and empathetic was well-received, our impulse to ask questions and receive satisfactory answers was not welcome among the agencies who position themselves as experts on this topic.

At the time, questions had begun to be asked about the NHSs Tavistock clinic and how, as a country, we were managing the sudden uptick in children reporting gender dysphoria. This week, a poll published by the Civitas think tank showed one in ten 16 to 18-year-olds in England say they want to change gender, or have already done so. The authors warned sex education policies in schools could exploit vulnerable children  almost a third of the teenagers surveyed had been taught that a woman could have a penis.

Alarmingly, almost all of Jos friends adopted a trans identity around the same time, strongly suggesting to us that social contagion was an issue. Her letter to us, in November 2020, was in her hand but the words didnt sound like her own, and I feared she was repeating narratives she had seen on TikTok. Such a cruel ultimatum was so out of character for her; just a few months before she had excitedly and unabashedly told us that the girl she had a crush on was rumoured to be crushing on her too (she was, we took them bowling, it was adorable). We wondered what had led to these feelings of dysphoria when she had never shown any discomfort with her sex or body.

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My husband and I knew from media coverage that the correct thing to do was use requested pronouns and names and that the potential consequence of not doing so was the reportedly high trans suicide rate (we have since learnt this idea is misleading and potentially drives more suicides). Every agency and expert we turned to told us to affirm everything and question nothing  including the potential use of powerful hormonal drugs that could suppress our daughters adolescence and lead to irreparable damage to her body. Even social services told us we should not be talking about it.

We reassured Jo we loved her unconditionally and that we would get her whatever support she needed, but despite our best intentions, conversations were awkward and unproductive. She found it almost impossible to describe her feelings  following her later diagnosis of autism, we learnt this is a common symptom. She told us she wanted a chest binder and just didnt feel like a girl, but would become defensive and unresponsive when we tried to dig deeper. There were tears all round.

We needed expert help, so in the spring, we contacted our GP. Although sympathetic, he could offer no advice either on gender dysphoria or using a binder. He referred Jo to the NHSs gender identity development service (GIDS), warning of a long waiting list and in the meantime suggested we get support from trans organisations, such as the charity Mermaids.

Campaigners march behind a Mermaids UK banner at the London Trans+ Pride march - Alamy

Mermaids reiterated the importance of affirmation and reassured us. However, I refused to allow breast binding  it seems an inherently bad idea to restrict a growing body. This did not go down well with Jo who responded with age-appropriate tears and door-slamming. I called grandparents, aunts and uncles and did my best to explain the inexplicable. Bewildered as they were, everyone knew what to do  cards of love and reassurance addressed to Jos new name arrived in the post and everyone did their best to use the new, grammatically awkward pronouns.

Its no easy thing to unlearn the name you so carefully chose for your child, which youve sung in a thousand lullabies. Trans people call it their dead name; a cruel choice, forcing parents to think of their baby in such emotive terms. I grieved my loss and felt guilt in the grieving. I paid close attention to news coverage of trans issues, and was disquieted, particularly by questions over care provided by the Tavistock GIDS, which was being reviewed by the paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass (the interim report in February 2022 led to the NHS announcing its closure). Jo had mentioned various potential medical interventions, including hormones and top surgery (a euphemism for an elective double mastectomy), but I doubted she could understand the consequences of such things.

Despite all our support, her mental health worsened and during a trivial argument she blurted out that a few months previously she had taken an overdose of paracetamol, with the intention of ending her life. Distraught, we locked away meds and sharps and sought medical help. Our GP referred us to social services to see what support they could provide. A week later, a social worker was inspecting our home, interviewing us and, separately, our child. Her report arrived the next week, and as I read it, blood pounded in my ears. It stated that Jo was a 13-year-old white British male who was born into a biologically female body, with the directive you do not need to discuss his gender identity at all.

Id made the mistake of telling the social worker that, although I use my childs chosen name and pronouns, I didnt want Jo to have irreversible medical interventions. Now the social worker knew who to blame for my childs unhappiness. She said we should join trans support groups and re-educate ourselves via Mermaids.

I raged, I wept and finally I retreated, cowed by the double-pronged threat of losing my child if not to her own hand, then to care by the indoctrinated state. But I wasnt beaten. I couldnt be the only person with concerns.

I created secret, anonymous social media accounts to search for evidence about chest binding, puberty blockers and surgeries. Research was thin on the ground and solid evidence even thinner  when I asked questions, pointed out inconsistencies, I was labelled transphobic and a terf [trans-exclusionary radical feminist] and told to kill myself.

But I also found more terfs who, like me, were concerned about the impact deference to gender over sex was having on children, women and LGB people. Finally, I was able to find evidence and resources willing to view it with a critical eye. These brave women saved my sanity and inadvertently, my marriage, as I now had the evidence needed to open my husbands eyes too. Our arguments became discussions of shared outrage and horror. I railed against the insanity. So it was that, as my husband drove us through a tunnel on a wet October evening I wound down my window and screamed to the wind Transwomen are MEN!.

Our daughter is now confirmed autistic, has poor mental health, and suffered bullying for her same-sex attraction. These are all things I learnt are common features in teenage girls who experience rapid-onset gender dysphoria (ROGD), It seems far more likely Jos trans identity was a coping mechanism for a difficult period than that my child had somehow been born in the wrong body.

We tread on eggshells around Jo, who soon will be old enough to make her own decisions. I wish we could simply sit her down and explain we were wrong, we should never have affirmed her adopted identity, that these feelings of wrongness are common to adolescence and will likely pass. But I know such a direct approach would only drive her further away. Instead, we talk around the issue, by discussing the harms of porn, beauty standards and celebrating the amazing abilities of women.

There are signs its working; I hear my words repeated to her friends and while she still calls herself a boy, shes no longer unwilling to include herself when discussing sex-based issues. Skirts have reappeared where once they were shunned and she no longer becomes hostile when misgendered. She seems happier and more confident. I have hope that Jo may yet come to accept herself as the incredible young woman I know her to be.

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.
FRANKLIN (Somerset)  Three teenagers  a 14-year-old from the Somerset section and two 13-year-olds, one from Somerset and the other from New Brunswick  have been arrested in connection with robbing and fatally shooting a North Brunswick taxi driver in the head.

The 14-year-old and the 13-year-old from New Brunswick were both charged as juveniles with murder, felony murder, conspiracy to commit murder and robbery, all first-degree crimes, as well as conspiracy to commit robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, all second-degree crimes, and possession of a firearm by a minor, a fourth-degree crime, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said.

The other 13- year-old was charged under juvenile statutes with robbery, a first-degree crime, and conspiracy to commit robbery, a second-degree crime.

The teens' names were not released due to their age. They were being held at the Middlesex County Youth Detention Center in North Brunswick pending a Family Court appearance.

Around 9:56 p.m. May 11, Franklin Township police responded to a 911 call about a shooting in the area of Rose Street and Sydney Place in the Somerset section. When officers arrived they found taxi driver, Kofi Addo, 57, of North Brunswick, suffering from a gunshot wound.

The taxi had come to rest after crashing into a parked vehicles in a driveway of a home on Sydney Place. Police and emergency medical personnel responded to the scene and performed life-saving measures on Addo who was transported to an area trauma center where he died.

An investigation by detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department along with the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit, the Crime Scene Investigations Unit, Somerset County Sheriffs Office K-9 Unit, and Warren Township Police K-9 Unit revealed Addo drove to the area of Rose Street to pick up a fare and when he arrived, he was confronted by the teens while inside his taxi and was shot.

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The investigation found the juveniles intended to rob Addo when one of the juveniles allegedly fired a shot killing Addo, and then they fled on foot, the prosecutor said.

The three teens were located by authorities on May 12 and taken to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office where they were charged.

On Sunday the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner determined Addo died from a gunshot wound to the head.

McDonald praised all the law enforcement agencies that assisted in the investigation including the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office, the Middlesex County SWAT team, the New Brunswick Police Department, and the FBI Franklin Resident Office.

Anyone with information related to the homicide is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at 908- 231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at 732-873-5533 or via the STOPit app. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

Email: srussell@gannettnj.com

Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Franklin, New Brunswick NJ juveniles charged in taxi driver killing
A lot of bad things can happen to young mountain gorillas in the wild. Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund

In 1974, an infant mountain gorilla was born in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Researchers named him Titus. As is typical for young gorillas in the wild, Titus spent the first years of his life surrounded by his mother, father and siblings, as well as more distant relatives and unrelated gorillas that made up his social group.

In 1978, however, tragedy struck. Poachers killed Titus father and brother. In the chaos that followed, his younger sister was killed by another gorilla, and his mother and older sister fled the group. Juvenile Titus, who was at a developmental stage similar to that of an 8- or 9-year-old human, experienced more tragedy in his first four years of life than many animals do in a lifetime.

In people, a rough start in life is often associated with significant problems later on. Early life adversity can take a wide variety of forms, including malnutrition, war and abuse. People who experience these kinds of traumas, assuming they survive the initial event, are more likely to suffer health problems and social dysfunction in adulthood and to have shorter life spans. Often, these outcomes trace back at least in part to what public health researchers call health risk behaviors  things like smoking, poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle.

But researchers have documented the same kinds of problems in adulthood in nonhuman animals that experienced early life adversity. For example, female baboons who have the hardest childhoods have life spans that are on average only half as long as their peers that have the easiest. Activities like smoking and unhealthy food choices cant be the whole story, then, since animals dont engage in typical human health risk behaviors.

Given the connection between adverse events while young and poor health later in life, one might expect that Titus unlucky early years would predict a short, unhealthy adulthood for him. However, there are interesting hints that things might work differently in mountain gorillas, which are one of humans closest living relatives.

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Researchers analyzed decades of observational data to determine how life turned out for young gorillas that had faced adversity. Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund

Decades of gorilla observations

As scientists who have spent many years studying wild gorillas, we have observed a wide variety of early life experiences and an equally wide variety of adult health outcomes in these great apes. Unlike other primates, mountain gorillas dont appear to suffer any long-term negative effects of losing their mothers at an early age, provided that they reach the age at which they are old enough to have finished nursing.

Losing your mother is only one of many bad things that can happen to a young gorilla, though. We wanted to investigate whether a pattern of resilience was more generalized. If so, could we gather any insight into the fundamental question of how early life experiences can have long-lasting effects?

To do this, we needed exceptionally detailed long-term data on wild gorillas across their lifetimes. This is no mean feat, given gorillas long life spans. Primatologists know that males can survive into their late 30s and females into their mid-40s.

The best data in the world to conduct such a study comes from the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, which has been following individual mountain gorillas in Rwanda almost daily for 55 years. We conducted doctoral and postdoctoral research with the Fossey Fund and have collaborated with other scientists there for more than 20 years.

From their database, which stretches back to 1967, we extracted information on more than 250 gorillas tracked from the day they were born to the day they died or left the study area.

We used this data to identify six adverse events that gorillas younger than age 6 can endure: maternal loss, paternal loss, extreme violence, social isolation, social instability and sibling competition. These experiences are the gorilla equivalent of some kinds of adversity that are linked with long-term negative effects in humans and other animals.

Many young gorillas didnt survive these challenges. This is a strong indication that these experiences were indeed adverse from the perspective of a gorilla.

Ubufatanye experienced the loss of her mother and father and the disintegration of her family group before the age of 5. Now 20, she has become a successful mother, raising three offspring. Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund

We were surprised to discover, however, that most of the repercussions of these hardships were confined to early life: animals that survived past the age of 6 did not have the shorter life spans commonly associated with early life adversity in other species.

In fact, gorillas that experienced three or more forms of adversity actually had better survival outcomes, with a 70% reduction in the risk of death across their adult years. Part of this hardiness, especially for males, may be due to a phenomenon called viability selection: Only the strongest animals survive early adversity, and thus they are also the animals with the longest life spans.

While viability selection may be part of the story, the patterns in our data strongly suggest that as a species, mountain gorillas are also remarkably resilient to early adversity.

Where do gorillas get their resilience?

Although our findings corroborate previous research on maternal loss in gorillas, they contrast with other studies on early adversity in humans and other long-lived mammals. Our study indicates that the negative later-life consequences of early adversity are not universal.

The absence of this connection in one of our closest relatives suggests there might be protective mechanisms that help build resiliency to early-life knocks. Gorillas may provide valuable clues to understand how early life experiences have such far-reaching effects and how people can potentially overcome them.

Young gorillas live with their parents as part of larger social groups. Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund

While there is still much left to explore, we suspect that gorillas food-rich habitat and cohesive social groups could underpin their resiliency. When young gorillas lose their mothers, other social group members fill in the companionship hole she leaves behind. Something similar may happen for other types of early adversity as well. A supportive social network combined with plentiful food may help a young gorilla push through challenges.

This possibility underscores the importance of ensuring that human children who experience early adversity are supported in multiple ways: socially, but also economically, especially since early adversity is particularly prevalent among children living in poverty  itself a form of adversity.

Titus, pictured here as an adult, survived more adversity before age 4 than many animals confront in a lifetime. Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund

And what became of Titus? Despite his difficult start in life, Titus went on to lead his group for two decades, siring at least 13 offspring and surviving to his 35th birthday, making him one of the most successful gorillas the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund has ever studied.

Though Titus story is only a single anecdote, it turns out that his resilience is not so unusual for a member of his species.

This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation has a variety of fascinating free newsletters.

It was written by: Stacy Rosenbaum, University of Michigan and Robin Morrison, University of Exeter.

Read more:



Stacy Rosenbaum receives funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the University of Michigan.

Robin Morrison receives funding from the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and the Swiss National Science Foundation.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang meets with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto, who comes to China to attend the upcoming China-Central & Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Expo, in Beijing, capital of China, May 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Monday met in Beijing with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto, who came to China to attend the upcoming China-Central & Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Expo.

Noting China and Hungary are good friends and partners who can stand tests, Qin said that bilateral relations have entered the best period in history under the joint leadership of the leaders of the two countries.

Qin said China is willing to plan bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, maintain high-level exchanges with Hungary, deepen strategic mutual trust, expand friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation, increase cultural and people-to-people exchanges, firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns, and jointly address various risks and challenges.

Qin noted that Hungary is the only guest of honor country at the third China-CEEC Expo, which will be held in Ningbo of Zhejiang Province. Hungary has sent a delegation led by Szijjarto to attend the opening ceremony of the expo, which fully demonstrates Hungary's support for China-CEEC cooperation and the great importance it attaches to bilateral ties.

It is hoped that the European Union (EU) could establish an objective and correct perception of China and uphold a positive and practical policy towards China, Qin added.

Echoing Qin's remarks, Szijjarto said that Hungary regards China as a strategic partner and an important development opportunity. Hungary welcomes Chinese investment and opposes decoupling and severing of the chains, Szijjarto said, adding that Hungary is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields, and firmly supports China-CEEC cooperation and the development of EU-China relations.

The two sides also exchanged in-depth views on Ukraine and other issues. 

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang meets with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto, who comes to China to attend the upcoming China-Central & Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Expo, in Beijing, capital of China, May 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)
Below is a timeline of the FBI's investigation into public corruption in the city of Tallahassee and the events since.

2015 & 2016: The FBI begins an investigation

August 2015: An undercover FBI agent posing as developer Mike Miller attends an annual chamber conference in Sandestin. He and at least two other agents spend the next year and a half hobnobbing with local business and political leaders.

May 2016: Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum and his wife vacation with Edison restaurant investors Sean Pittman and Adam Corey in Costa Rica. During the vacation, Corey sends Gillum a calendar invite to meet with Miller back in Tallahassee. Corey, who also worked as a lobbyist, initially became friends with Gillum back in college. Gillum's chief of staff says the mayor paid cash for the trip; Corey would later say he did not.

August 2016: Miller and another undercover agent go on outings with Gillum and Adam Corey in New York City. The visit included watching a performance of "Hamilton." Photographs of the outings, which included a boat ride in New York Harbor, surface in 2017 and 2018.

Sometime in 2016: Miller and two other undercover agents are photographed with City Commissioner Scott Maddox and local entrepreneur J.T. Burnette in a Las Vegas hotel room. The exact date of the photo, which surfaced in 2017, is unknown.

2017: FBI serves subpoenas

Early 2017: Miller and the other undercover agents disappear from Tallahassee. Websites for their front businesses are later taken offline.

March 1, 2017: Andrew Gillum announces he'll run for governor in 2018.

April 2017: FBI agent Josh Doyle discusses details of an undercover FBI operation during a job interview with his future employer, the Florida Bar. He describes a major, two-year probe with a $500,000 budget that used a team of 20, including undercover agents and forensic analysts. An article with references to the investigation, which would years later be revealed as Operation Capital Currency, is published in the Florida Bar News in early June.

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June 13, 2017: The FBI serves subpoenas on City Hall and the Community Redevelopment Agency demanding records involving local business people and their interactions with city officials and staff.

June 23, 2017: Gillum releases a statement saying he met with FBI agents the preceding week about its investigation and pledged to cooperate. He said the FBI told him he was not a focus of its probe.

June 30, 2017: Tallahassee Democrat reveals details of Scott Maddox's real estate transactions that intersect with FBI investigation.

July 2017: City officials say they will deliver some 90,000 pages of documents to the FBI as part of its investigation into local redevelopment deals.

August 21, 2017: Corey cancels his lobbying registration with the state.

August 17, 2017: Gillum acknowledges trip to New York City with Miller and Corey after photos of the trip are released. Gillum says the trip was not for business and city funds didn't pay for it.

Sept. 6, 2017: A third subpoena is served on City Hall, demanding communications involving Maddox and a number of his current and former aides and associates, including Downtown Improvement Authority Executive Director Paige Carter-Smith.

2018: An ethics complaint and corruption charges

January 2018: Gillum, in an interview with the Tallahassee Democrat, asserts that 20 or more subpoenas have nothing to with him. He also discusses cutting ties with Adam Corey after details of the investigation came to light.

Jan. 22, 2018: Corey puts his home and office on the market for $1.3 million.

February 2018: Search warrant detailing the case against Scott Maddox and Paige Carter-Smith is accidentally released and quickly sealed.

February 12, 2018: Maddox denies allegations, vows he won't resign from office.

May 2018: New FBI subpoena served on city seeks more records about the Edison and correspondence with developer Adam Corey.

June 14, 2018: Local businessman Erwin Jackson files a state ethics complaint against Gillum over 2016 trip to Costa Rica with Corey and Pittman.

August 28, 2018: Gillum wins Florida Democratic primary for governor, becoming Floridas first African-American to be the gubernatorial nominee of a major party.

September 4, 2018: Gillum releases travel receipts for trips he took to New York City and Costa Rica that are under investigation by the Florida Commission on Ethics.

October 23, 2018: Adam Corey, Chris Kise release documents days before Gillum and Republican nominee for governor Ron DeSantis debate. Documents show undercover FBI agents arranged for tickets to "Hamilton" in New York City in 2016.

October 26, 2018: Undercover FBI agent is revealed to have paid for food, drinks for 2016 fundraiser for Gillum's PAC.

October 31: In a Q&A with the USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida editors around the state, Gillum opens up about his relationship with Miller and how it came to a decisive end. "You wont find me making that kind of mistake again," he says, adding he needs to be more careful about who he trusts.

Nov. 6, 2018: Gillum loses bid for governor on Election Day. Calls for recount of votes follows days later.

Nov. 17, 2018: After recount shows margins in DeSantis' favor, Gillum officially concedes governor's race.

Dec. 11, 2018: The FBI indicts Scott Maddox and Paige Carter-Smith on public corruption charges. The two plead not guilty to the 44 charges in federal court.

2019: Gillum settles ethics case as J.T. Burnette is charged and Maddox takes a plea deal

Jan. 25, 2019: Florida Ethics Commission finds probable cause in complaint against Gillum.

April 24, 2019: Gillum decides to settle the state ethics complaint on the day his administrative trial was set to begin. As part of the settlement, Gillum agreed that he accepted gift(s) from a lobbyist over $100 and later paid a $5,000 fine.

May 9, 2019: A federal grand jury hands up a superseding indictment in the Maddox case, charging a third defendant, local developer John J.T. Burnette, with bribery-related offenses.

Aug. 6, 2019: Maddox and Carter-Smith plead guilty to charges of conspiracy and wire fraud. As part of a deal with federal prosecutors, all but three counts in the indictment were dropped. Maddox and Carter-Smith also agree to cooperate with prosecutors.

2020: Gillum goes to rehab after hotel shocker

March 30, 2020: Gillum is found passed out in a Miami Beach hotel room with a male escort and another person. No one was charged, but the incident made international headlines and prompted Gillum to go to rehab for an alcohol problem. Although methamphetamine was found in the hotel room, Gillum said he didnt use drugs.

July 2020: Gillum returns to public view with an 11-minute video on Instagram. He said he went into therapy to deal with the issues he was facing, and the depression he sunk into after narrowly losing the 2018 governor's race to Republican Ron DeSantis. "I had totally underestimated what losing the race for governor had had on my life and on the way those impacts started to show up in every aspect of my life," he said.

2021: Prosecutors notch another win in Operation Capital Currency.

Aug. 13, 2021: After more than a 3-week trial, jurors find Burnette guilty on five counts and not guilty on four others. He was accused of giving Maddox a $100,000 bribe in 2014 in exchange for his help in spiking a rival downtown hotel project and arranging $40,000 in bribes in late 2016 and early 2017 to Maddox from undercover FBI agents posing as developers and other wealthy businessmen.

Sept. 9, 2021: U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle sentences Maddox to five years in prison and Carter-Smith to two years.

'I let all those lines cross': Scott Maddox on his descent from public service to bribery

Nov. 9, 2021: Judge Hinkle sentences Burnette to three years in federal prison.

2022: A bombshell development and a new front in the corruption case

June 7, 2022: Gillum and his longtime mentor Sharon Lettman-Hicks are charged in a 21-count indictment stemming from alleged misuse of campaign funds. The sealed indictment didnt become public until June 22, when it was unsealed and the two were arrested. Both pleaded not guilty. The charges were nearing the statute of limitations.

2023: A corruption case, mistrial and acquittal lead to dropped charges

April 11, 2023: A federal grand jury hands up a superseding indictment in the case with two fewer wire fraud count than what appeared in the initial indictment.

April 17, 2023: Jury selection begins in the public corruption trial of Gillum and Lettman-Hicks. Testimony and arguments unfold over next nine days.

April 28, 2023: The government and defense present closing arguments.

Chronicling the case:

May 4, 2023: In a stunning defeat for the government, jurors acquit Gillum on charges that he lied to the FBI about a Hamilton ticket and other gifts he took from undercover FBI agents in New York. After five days of deliberating, they deadlocked, however, on the most serious charges against Gillum, Florida's Democratic nominee for governor in 2018, and his co-defendant, Sharon Lettman-Hicks, involving the misuse of campaign funds.

May 9, 2023: Several jurors tell the Tallahassee Democrat in an exclusive interview they were heartbroken that they couldnt reach a verdict on most of the charges and that the former Tallahassee mayor would have been acquitted fully were it not for two holdouts they described as biased. The jurors, who wrote the letter, also took the extraordinary step of urging prosecutors not to retry the case.

May 15, 2023: After signaling they planned to move ahead with a retrial, federal prosecutors reverse course and move to dismiss charges against Gillum. His attorneys say "Andrew has endured a lot over the past few years and now can resume his life and public service.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Andrew Gillum timeline: From FBI probe to Florida governor loss to verdict
New restrictions on abortions in North Carolina could pass as early as Tuesday night.

The Republican-supermajority North Carolina General Assembly is planning to vote Tuesday on whether to override Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers veto of Senate Bill 20.

Cooper vetoed the bill, which restricts abortions after 12 weeks, at a rally on Saturday in downtown Raleigh. The House and Senate, which both have Republican supermajorities by one vote, passed the bill the first week of May.

Senate leader Phil Berger said Tuesdays session of that chamber convenes at 4 p.m., with the override on the calendar for a vote.

Because it is a Senate bill, the override vote has to be called first in the Senate. Senate rules say that Rules Chair Bill Rabon, a Southport Republican, gives 24 hours notice to the Senates minority leader, Democratic Sen. Dan Blue of Raleigh. However in the House, there does not have to be the same notice. Blues office told The N&O they were notified at about 3 p.m. Monday.

If the Senate is successful in overriding Coopers veto, the bill next goes to the House for an override vote. The measure could fail, as every single Republican House member would have to vote in favor, and be in attendance, for it to pass into law.

House Speaker Tim Moores chief of staff, Neal Inman, said in a tweet that the House will vote to complete the override of the Governors veto of Senate Bill 20 (Tuesday) evening sometime after the conclusion of the Senate session.

If Republicans are successful on Tuesday, this would be the second successful veto override this year of a controversial bill, after the GOPs repeal of a permit requirement for handgun buyers.
Michael Lo and his brother wanted to take a trip to Cape Cod this summer to celebrate their mothers birthday. Lo said junk fees prevented them from doing that.

[The rental property] wasnt as affordable as it seemed, Lo said.

Lo said after adding in a service fee, processing fee, and cleaning fee, a room advertised for $200 a night actually turned out to be closer to $350.

It just seems deceptive, Lo said. My brother and I wanted to do something real nice. That just wasnt possible at the end of it.

The Federal Trade Commission says junk fees can hit your wallet in different ways.

They can be hidden without your consent at the end of a purchase

A company can make you think optional upgrades or services are mandatory

You can be charged for products or services with little or no value

Now lawmakers and regulators are cracking down.

We want to make sure consumers arent being taken unfair advantage of, said Sen. Maria Cantwell, the junior Democrat from Washington. Cantwell introduced a bill last month to eliminate hidden ticket fees for concerts and sporting events.

The Government Accountability Office says surprise fees can contribute anywhere from 21 to 58 percent of the total cost of tickets. Cantwell said, The price they say should be the price you pay.

When we buy tickets we want to know what the price is and we should be able to find out that information and understand what the hidden fees are all about, Cantwell said.

The Biden Administration called for a Junk Fee Prevention Act to eliminate unfair and expensive fees including late credit card payments and overdraft bank penalties, as well as enforcing more transparency when it comes to internet cable bills and airline tickets.

Yes, we need some action to protect consumers, said MASSPIRG Legislative Director Deirdre Cummings. Theres a perversity to it. Some people will charge a convenience fee to pay electronically. Now, this is absurd. Its cheaper for them to get the money electronically.

Story continues

Cummings and U.S. PIRG have a list of ways consumers can protect themselves from junk fees:

Read everything before you pay, sign, initial or agree.

Dont sign or agree to anything that you didnt actually read.

If theres something you dont understand, ask what the fee is for. Getting a clarification in writing (or via email) is better.

Dont be afraid to walk away or from the transaction if you dont like the extra fees.

Pay by credit card. Never by debit card. Undisclosed fees are easier to dispute with a credit card. And debit cards expose your whole checking account to all kinds of additional problems.

Note the names of anyone you talk with. Put a note in your calendar or send yourself an email of the day and time of day when you talked with the person. It helps you fight a fee if you can document that you talked with this person on this day and were told this.

Keep copies of all receipts, agreements, emails, texts.

If youre hit with an undisclosed or misleading fee, complain to the company and file a complaint with your state attorney generals office of consumer protection or the FTC.

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The expiration of the Title 42 pandemic emergency rules along the U.S.-Mexico border on May 11 means that all migrants and asylum-seekers who reach American soil need to be processed under Title 8, a set of complex and decades-old immigration laws.

On paper, the processing of migrants who enter U.S. border custody has returned to pre-pandemic protocols. But the current levels of migration to the southern border are at historic highs, making the processing of migrants anything but normal.

Now that Title 42 is no longer in place, U.S. asylum law, which dates back to 1980, requires officials to, at the very least, give migrants who say they are fleeing danger an initial interview. That does not mean all migrants will be allowed to stay in the U.S.

In fact, the Biden administration has enacted a rule to make it more difficult for migrants to qualify for asylum in the first place and easier for the government to deport them. It is pairing that restriction and increased deportations with programs that allow migrants to enter the U.S. legally if they meet certain requirements.

Here's how migrants will be processed under Title 8, for at least the near-future.

What is Title 8, and how is it different from Title 42?

Both Title 8 and Title 42 refer to sections of the U.S. Code, which categorizes all permanent federal laws. Title 8 encompasses laws concerning "Aliens And Nationality," while Title 42 includes laws about "The Public Health And Welfare."

The now-expired Title 42 order was based on a 1944 public health law that empowers the government to ban people or products from countries if there is a "serious danger" they could spread a contagious disease. The Trump administration first issued the order at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to summarily expel migrants without adhering to processing requirements under U.S. immigration and asylum laws.

Migrants who were processed under Title 42 were not allowed to request asylum. They were quickly processed and expelled from the U.S., typically by being turned back to Mexico. In more limited cases, they were flown to their home countries.

Story continues

Unlike formal deportations under Title 8, expulsions under Title 42 did not impose immigration or criminal consequences on migrants, meaning those expelled to Mexico could repeatedly try to cross the border. Under Title 8, migrants who are deported are banned from entering the U.S. for at least five years. And if they reenter the U.S. unlawfully, they could face charges and jail time.

A U.S. Border Patrol agent keeps watch as immigrants enter a vehicle to be transported from a makeshift camp between the U.S. and Mexico on May 13, 2023, in San Diego, California. / Credit: Getty Images

While those processed under Title 8 are typically deported to their home countries, Mexico recently agreed to accept Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan deportees at the request of the U.S., which cannot conduct large numbers of deportations to these migrants' home countries because of diplomatic and logistical reasons.

Who can seek asylum now?

U.S. asylum law gives migrants the legal right to request asylum if they are physically on American soil, regardless of how they entered the country.

Under "expedited removal" proceedings, a fast-track deportation process the Biden administration is expanding following Title 42's termination, migrants can be quickly deported, without a court hearing, if they don't claim asylum. If migrants processed under expedited removal claim asylum, they must pass an initial screening with an asylum officer to avoid deportation.

Typically, these initial screenings, known as "credible fear" interviews, have had generous standards. But the Biden administration's recently enacted restriction on asylum has raised the screenings' passing threshold for migrants who enter the country illegally after failing to seek asylum in a third country en route to the U.S. The new rules are designed to ensure most non-Mexican asylum-seekers are rejected, deported and banished from the U.S. for five years.

Not all migrants will be processed under expedited removal, since the government does not have enough asylum officers, detention facilities and deportation flights to make everyone who crosses the southern border illegally subject to the policy.

Some migrants will be detained in long-term detention centers pending a review of their cases. Others will be released with a notice to appear in court. Another policy, in which migrants would be released with instructions to check in with immigration officials to receive a court date at their final destinations, has been blocked in federal court.

While migrants placed in court proceedings can be ordered deported if they don't qualify for asylum or don't show up to hearings, they often wait years for a decision because the massively backlogged immigration court system is handling over 2 million unsettled cases.

Are adults processed differently than families and children?

Yes. Migrant adults traveling without children are expected to be disproportionately affected by the more stringent measures announced by the Biden administration, since the U.S. can detain larger numbers of single adults while officials determine whether they should be deported.

Single adults processed under expedited removal will be deported if they don't claim asylum and kept in federal custody if they do to undergo phone screenings with asylum officers. Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently expanded its detention capacity to be able to hold several thousand additional adults.

While the new asylum restriction applies to both adults and families, most parents and children traveling together are likely to be released with court notices or a scheduled interview with an asylum officer since the Biden administration discontinued family immigration detention. However, some parents will be required to undergo GPS tracking and subject to home curfews.

Migrant adults and families who pass initial screenings with asylum officers will be allowed to have a day in court. Like those released with court notices, they will need to prove they are fleeing persecution due to their race, nationality, religion, politics or membership in a social group to secure asylum, which would allow them to stay in the U.S. permanently.

Unaccompanied migrant children are categorically exempted from expedited removal and the restriction on asylum. A 2008 law requires U.S. border officials to transfer all unaccompanied migrant children who are not from Mexico to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within 72 hours.

HHS houses these children in shelters, foster homes and other housing facilities until they turn 18 or are claimed by a U.S.-based sponsor, who is typically a family member, such as a parent or grandparent. While in the U.S., they can apply for asylum or visas for abused or abandoned children.

How can migrants enter the U.S. legally?

The Biden administration has also expanded opportunities for migrants to come to the U.S. with the government's permission, betting that doing so will dissuade illegal border entries.

Migrants in northern and central Mexico can use a government phone app, known as CBP One, to try to secure an appointment to enter the U.S. at a port of entry along the southern border. The U.S. is distributing roughly 1,000 appointments per day. Those with an appointment are generally allowed to enter the U.S. after some vetting, released and given a court notice.

A migrant shows the CBP One App from Customs and Border Protection, which is used to apply for an appointment to claim asylum, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on May 10, 2023. / Credit: GILLES CLARENNE/AFP via Getty Images

Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan migrants also have the option of flying to the U.S. if U.S.-based individuals agree to financially sponsor them. The Biden administration's program allows for up to 30,000 of these arrivals per month.

Migrants who use the CBP One app or the sponsorship program are exempted from the asylum restriction and can apply for work permits and asylum.

The Biden administration recently announced a program to allow up to 100,000 Central Americans and Colombians to fly to the U.S. if they have approved visa sponsorship requests filed by their American citizen or resident relatives. It also said it will set up dozens of processing centers in Latin America to screen migrants for eligibility to be resettled in the U.S., Canada, Spain or the hosting countries.

Jericka Duncans interview with Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown: extended cut

Congressman speaks out after staffers assaulted by man with baseball bat

China sentences U.S. citizen to life in prison for espionage
Generative AI -- AI that can write essays, create artwork and music, and more -- continues to attract outsize investor attention. According to one source, generative AI startups raised $1.7 billion in Q1 2023, with an additional $10.68 billion worth of deals announced in the quarter but not yet completed.

There's scores of competition, including incumbents like OpenAI and Anthropic. But despite that, VCs aren't shying away from untested players and up-and-comers.

Case in point, Together, a startup developing open source generative AI, today announced that it raised $20 million -- on the larger side for a seed round -- led by Lux Capital with participation from Factory, SV Angel, First Round Capital, Long Journey Ventures, Robot Ventures, Definition Capital, Susa Ventures, Cadenza Ventures and SCB 10x. Several high-profile angel investors were also involved, including Scott Banister, one of the co-founders of PayPal, and Jeff Hammerbacher, a Cloudera founding employee.

"Together is spearheading AI's 'Linux moment' by providing an open ecosystem across compute and best in class foundation models," Lux Capital's Brandon Reeves told TechCrunch via email. "Together team is committed to creating a vibrant open ecosystem that allows anyone from individuals to enterprises to participate."

Together, launched in June 2022, is the brainchild of Vipul Ved Prakash, Ce Zhang, Chris Re and Percy Liang. Prakash previously founded social media search platform Topsy, which was acquired in 2013 by Apple, where he later became a senior director. Zhang is an associate professor of computer science at ETH Zurich, currently on sabbatical and leading research in "decentralized" AI. As for Re, he's co-founded various startups, including SambaNova, which builds hardware and integrated systems for AI. And Liang, a computer science professor at Stanford, directs the university's Center for Research on Foundation Models (CRFM).

Story continues

With Together, Prakash, Zhang, Re and Liang are seeking to create open source generative AI models and services that, in their words, "help organizations incorporate AI into their production applications." To that end, Together is building a cloud platform for running, training and fine-tuning open source models that the co-founders claim will offer scalable compute at "dramatically lower" prices than the dominant vendors (e.g., Google Cloud, AWS, Azure).

"We believe that generative models are a consequential technology for society and open and decentralized alternatives to closed systems are going to be critical to enable the best outcomes for AI and society," Prakash told TechCrunch in an email interview. "As enterprises define their generative AI strategies, they're looking for privacy, transparency, customization and ease of deployment. Current cloud offerings, with closed-source models and data, do not meet their requirements."

He has a point -- insofar as incumbents are feeling the pressure, at least. An internal Google memo leaked earlier in the month implies that the search giant -- and its rivals, for that matter -- can't compete against open source AI initiatives over the long run. Meanwhile, OpenAI reportedly is preparing to publicly debut its first open source text-generating AI model amid a proliferation of open source alternatives.

One of Together's first projects, RedPajama, aims to foster a set of open source generative models, including "chat" models along the lines of OpenAI's ChatGPT. A collaborative work between Together and several groups, including the MILA Quebec AI Institute, CRFM and ETH's data science lab, DS3Lab, RedPajama began with the release of a dataset that enables organizations to pretrain models that can be permissively licensed.

Together's other efforts to date include GPT-JT, a fork of the open source text-generating model GPT-J-6B (released by the research group EleutherAI), and OpenChatKit, an attempt at a ChatGPT equivalent.

"Today, training, fine-tuning or productizing open source generative models is extremely challenging," Prakash said. "Current solutions require that you have significant expertise in AI and are simultaneously able to manage the large-scale infrastructure needed. The Together platform takes care of both challenges out-of-the-box, with an easy-to-use and accessible solution."

Just how seamless Together is remains to be seen, though -- the platform has yet to launch in GA. And, one might argue, its efforts are a bit duplicative in the context of the broader AI landscape. The number of open source models both from community groups and large labs grows by the day, practically. And while not all are licensed for commercial use, several, like Databricks' Dolly 2.0, are.

On the AI hardware infrastructure front, besides the big public cloud providers, startups like CoreWeave claim to offer powerful compute for below market rates. There's even been attempts at building community-powered, free services for running AI text-generating models. (Together intends to follow in the footsteps of these community groups by building a platform, tentatively called the Together Decentralized Cloud, that'll pool hardware resources, including GPUs from volunteers around the internet.)

So what does Together bring to the table? Greater transparency, control and privacy, Prakash argues. It's a sales pitch not dissimilar to the one made by startup Stability AI, which funnels compute and capital toward open source research while commercializing -- and selling services on top of -- the various finished products.

"Regulated enterprises will be big customers of open source, as open source models pre-trained on open data sets enable organizations to fully inspect, understand and customize the models to their own applications," he said. "We believe that the challenges in AI can only be overcome by a global community working together. So we made it our mission to build and steward a self-sustaining, open ecosystem that produces the best AI systems for humanity."

It's a lofty goal, to be sure. And it's early days for Together, which wouldn't say whether it has any customers at present -- much less revenue. But the company is forging ahead, planning to increase the size of its team from 24 employees to around 40 by the end of the year and spend the rest of the seed capital on R&D, infrastructure and product development.

"The Together solution, based on open source generative models, was built on understanding requirements from large organizations and addressing each of these needs, to provide enterprises with the core platform for their generative AI strategy," Prakash said. "Together is seeing tremendous interest from enterprises looking for greater transparency, control, and privacy."
TOMS RIVER -- A company that runs a kosher liquor store in New York City has purchased a liquor distribution license in Toms River for a record-breaking $1.6 million.

The Township Council awarded the license to MB Vineyards, which operates a discount liquor store on Avenue J in Brooklyn. The license is a new one; the township was allowed to sell one new distribution license and two new consumption licenses after Toms River's population increased in the 2020 U.S. Census.

New Jersey towns can issue one new liquor license to a bar or restaurant for every 3,000 people in a municipality; Toms River's population grew to over 95,000 in the last census.

Dune restoration: Toms River to pay $305K to restore Ortley Beach before Memorial Day

Consumption licenses allow alcohol to be consumed on a licensed premise, while distribution licenses allow alcohol to be sold for consumption elsewhere. Toms River has 52 existing liquor licenses, including 29 consumption licenses, 11 distribution licenses, eight club licenses and four licenses used at hotels and motels, according to Township Clerk Mike Cruglio.

Because they are relatively scarce, liquor licenses can be big money-makers for towns. Council President Matt Lotano said the $1.6 million purchase price is a record for a license sold in Toms River.

The council had also authorized the sale of two consumption licenses, which are usually purchased for bars or restaurants. So far, though, Toms River has not received the minimum bids needed to sell those licenses, Lotano said.

The reason? Likely Gov. Phil Murphy's efforts to revamp New Jersey's restrictive liquor license laws, making it easier for establishments, particularly breweries and distilleries, to obtain licenses. Murphy wants to eliminate the population requirement for licenses, making it easier for towns to issue more of them for bars, restaurants and breweries.

Suspect captured: Asbury Park murder suspect on the run since last summer, located in Toms River

Story continues

The governor's attempt to revamp the state's liquor license laws has received pushback from license owners who say they must be compensated after spending hundreds of thousands -- and in some cases, more than 1 million -- dollars to acquire their permits to sell alcohol.

So far, no legislation has moved forward that would repeal the population cap on liquor licenses. Lotano said that means Toms River's consumption licenses may become more valuable and receive higher bids.

Township officials said they did not know where MB Vineyards plans to use the distribution license.

Jean Mikle covers Toms River and several other Ocean County towns, and has been writing about local government and politics at the Jersey Shore for nearly 39 years. She's also passionate about the Shore's storied music scene. Contact her: @jeanmikle, jmikle@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: $1.6 million liquor license sets record in Toms River
BEIJING (Reuters) -A top Chinese envoy will begin a tour of Ukraine, Russia and other European countries on Monday in a trip Beijing says is aimed at discussing a "political settlement" to the Ukraine crisis.

Li Hui, China's special representative for Eurasian affairs and former ambassador to Russia, will also visit Poland, France, Germany on the multi-day trip, the foreign ministry announced Friday without providing a detailed schedule.

He is the most senior Chinese official to visit Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022, and his trip could coincide with the beginnings of a long anticipated counteroffensive by Ukraine to recapture territory seized by Russia.

Li will visit Ukraine on Tuesday and Wednesday, a Ukrainian government official told Reuters on Monday, declining to provide further details. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said the specifics Li's itinerary would be released in due course.

The visit comes weeks after Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy in late April, in the first talks between the two leaders since the war began.

Zelenskiy described the call as "long and meaningful" on Twitter, while Xi said China would focus on promoting peace, although Beijing's proposals to end the conflict have been met with some skepticism in the West given its ties with Russia.

However, several European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, have urged Xi to speak with Zelenskiy and play a more active role in restraining Moscow's actions during a string of visits to the Chinese capital from March onwards.

Since February, Beijing has heavily promoted a 12-point proposal for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

But the plan, launched on the first anniversary of Russia's invasion, was largely a reiteration of China's previous lines on the war. It urged both sides to agree to a gradual de-escalation and warned against the use of nuclear weapons.

Story continues

"This visit is a very good (opportunity) to promote communication and dialogue with all parties, and make clear all parties' bottom lines," said Wang Huiyao, president of the Center for China and Globalization thinktank in Beijing.

Kyiv has ruled out the idea of any territorial concessions to Russia and has said it wants every inch of its land back. Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014 and since last year has claimed to have annexed four other Ukrainian regions, which Moscow now calls Russian land.

Throughout the war, China has refrained from condemning its strategic ally Moscow or referring to its actions as an "invasion", leading to criticism from European countries and the United States which have questioned China's credibility as a potential broker in the conflict.

Whatever message Li delivers will be carefully scrutinised given the unease among Western nations over Xi's meeting with his "dear friend" Russian President Vladimir Putin in March, and the two countries' commitment to a "no limits" partnership less than three weeks before the invasion, which Moscow called a "special military operation".

(Reporting by Laurie Chen; Additional reporting by Andrew Hayley in Beijing and Thomas Balmforth in London; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
Guido Taroni

Unlike Rome, Venice, Florence, or even Naples, Milan for the casual tourist can be a challenge. There isnt a long checklist of must-sees. In fact, Italys most modern city can seem cold and uninviting. But a new book from Vendome, Inside Milan: Colorfully Creative Italian Interiors, takes you past the forbidding gray stone walls of its apartment buildings and into some of the citys more spectacular residences. Its also the latest selection for our series on gorgeous new coffee table books, Just Booked.

In fact, theres a decent chance it will make you want to fly back ASAP and befriend some of its residents so you can get inside. The book was put together by the interior designer Nicolo Castellini Baldissera and the photographer Guido Taroni, whose other works covering Tangier and Mongiardino we have covered. Each home is given a little introduction by Baldissera, almost as if youre meeting your hosts before youre welcomed across the threshold.

And while the streetscape of Milan might be relatively sedate, these homes are anything but. Theyre colorful, loud, vibrant, provocative, sumptuous, and filled with odds and ends that come alive through Taronis lens. There are decadent historic rooms like those of the rarely-photographed Palazzo Trivulzio Brivio Sforza (say that five times fast!) and ones filled with so many patterns and textures and materials like that of Lapo Elkanns modern penthouse your eyes might struggle to take it all in.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
The trial of a Macon man accused of murdering three family members before kidnapping his 2-year-old son in 2020 will begin this week at the Bibb County Courthouse.

Caesar Zamien Crockett, now 32, was the subject of extensive news coverage in 2020 when he allegedly killed the grandparents and aunt of his child before fleeing with his son and getting into a standoff with police in Florida, according to Telegraph archives.

Crockett apparently got into an argument with the childs mother, Jamila French, at their Moreland Avenue home March 31 of 2020, records show. He allegedly pulled a gun and shot Frenchs mother Janet Samuel, 67; her step-father James Samuel, 69; and her sister, Lachasta Childs, 47 before leaving the scene.

Crockett kidnapped his 2-year-old son King when he left and drove to Tampa before leading Florida police on a chase, reports said. Crockett reportedly crashed his car on an exit ramp after driving at speeds over 120 mph, according to Telegraph archives.

Crockett then held Florida police in a nearly six-hour standoff April 1. He gave King up to police at about 7:30 p.m. that night before peacefully going into custody that night, Telegraph reports show.

Police extradited Crockett back to the Bibb County Jail in October of that year, where he awaited a trial until this year. The trial before Superior Court Judge Howard Simms is expected to begin Tuesday morning.
India Ria Amarteifio as Young Queen Charlotte in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. | Liam Daniel, Netflix

Whether or not youre watching, Netflixs Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story has taken the world by storm. An extension of the Bridgerton universe, Queen Charlotte delves into Queen Charlotte and King Georges marriage and the expectations placed on the young queen.

The show has garnered more interest than other Bridgerton stories  namely due to the fact that Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is rooted in a real, historical story. But how accurate is Queen Charlotte? And what liberties did the creators take?

Heres everything you need to know about the true story of Queen Charlotte and King George.

Who was Queen Charlotte?

Queen Charlotte was only 17 years old when she married King George III and became queen of England and Ireland, according to National Geographic.

Charlotte was born in 1744 in a German duchy called Mecklenburg-Strelitz, which is now northern Germany. Per National Geographic, Charlotte had an unremarkable childhood in a mediocre and provincial dukedom.

But this was all regarded as beneficial to Georges  who took the throne in 1760  political advisers. Charlotte was relatively unknown and, as a result, likely had no political connections or aims, according to National Geographic.

An emissary proposed marriage on (Georges) behalf, even though the pair never met, and Charlotte accepted. King George and Queen Charlotte were married in 1761, even though she spoke no English and had never met her husband before her wedding day, per National Geographic.

Was Queen Charlotte Black?

While Bridgerton creators are known for casting actors of color in stereotypically white roles, casting a Black actress as Queen Charlotte wasnt out of left field. Rumors have been swirling around Queen Charlottes race for years.

Queen Charlotte was a direct descendent of Margarita de Castro y Sousa, which was, according to PBS, a Black branch of the Portuguese royal house. It is this Portuguese lineage that has caused historians to debate  did Queen Charlotte have brown skin or not?

Story continues

According to National Geographic, some historians point to Charlottes portraits, which they believe depict the queen with having African features. They argue that Charlotte was a light-skinned person of color, but was likely hiding her race to conform with the eras Eurocentric beauty ideals.

But other historians argue that Charlottes Portuguese lineage was so distant that it most likely didnt impact her physical appearance. Per National Geographic, these historians argue that modern conceptions of race are whats driving the belief that Charlotte was Black.

Descriptions of Charlottes physical appearance at the time were varied. According to Vox, A Tale of Two Cities described Charlotte as a queen with a plain face. Charlottes physician called her small and crooked, with a true mulatto face. According to a prime minister, Her nose is too wide and her lips too thick.

While the debate continues, according to National Geographic, well probably never know if Queen Charlotte was Black. Since its impossible to determine how Charlotte really looked in real life, the argument will likely never be settled.

Did King George love Queen Charlotte?

By all accounts, King George and Queen Charlotte had a very loving relationship. According to National Geographic, the king and queen had an unusually happy marriage, and George III was a devoted father and husband.

Speaking of Charlotte, King George said, The queen is my physician, and no man can have a better; she is my friend, and no man can have a better.

The king and queen reportedly slept in the same bed, which was unusual for the time, until King Georges madness separated them, according to a paper published in the London Review of Books.

What caused the madness of King George?

In 1765, King George underwent a mental affliction so serious that his ministers proposed having Charlotte temporarily take the throne while the king was incapacitated, according to National Geographic.

The king recovered quickly, but continued to have multiple relapses. King George would experience mania, depression, hallucinations, and convulsions, per National Geographic, and even attacked and sexually assaulted members of his family.

Francis Burney, one of the queens attendants, wrote, The queen is almost overpowered with some secret terror. I am affected beyond all expression in her presence, to see what struggles she makes to support serenity.

Over time, Georges manic episodes turned lengthy, forcing him to be isolated and even incarcerated. After his son, George, took over the throne as king regent, King George would remain ill for the rest of his life, according to National Geographic.

But what caused Georges madness? Historians have offered a few theories.

Porphyria

Some historians had suggested that George suffered from porphyria  a physical and genetic blood disorder with symptoms such as aches and pains, as well as blue urine, according to BBC.

But researchers have disputed the theory. The porphyria theory is completely dead in the water, Peter Garrard, a researcher studying King George, told BBC. This was a psychiatric illness.

Bipolar disorder

On the other hand, researchers suggest that George experienced mania  potentially bipolar disorder. In a paper published in Clinical Medicine, researcher Timothy Peters said that recent studies and research implies that the King suffered four/possibly five episodes of bipolar disorder.

In a research paper, Garrard and his fellow researchers came to the same conclusion, saying that in the modern classification of mental illness acute mania now appears to be the diagnosis that fits best with the available behavioural data.

How many children did Queen Charlotte have?

Queen Charlotte and King George had 15 children, according to Today. Thirteen survived to adulthood  and two died as children. Heres the complete list, per Today:

George, Prince of Wales (1762).

Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (1763).

Prince William, Duke of Clarence (1765).

Charlotte, Princess Royal (1766).

Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (1766).

Princess Agusta Sophia (1768).

Princess Elizabeth (1770).

Prince Ernest, Duke of Cumberland (1771).

Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex (1773).

Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge (1774).

Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester (1776).

Princess Sophia (1777).

Prince Octavius (born 1779, died 1783).

Prince Alfred (born 1780, died 1782).

Princess Amelia (1783).

Prince George of Wales took the throne from his father at 48 in 1811 due to King Georges mental illness, according to the royal familys official website. He was the uncle of Queen Victoria, who took the throne in 1837 at 18, per the Royal Family  which makes Queen Charlotte Victorias grandmother.

How historically accurate is Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story?

While Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story gets some historical facts right, the series makes no promise of historical accuracy. In fact, the opening credits of the show sets the record straight, saying, It is not a history lesson. It is fiction inspired by fact.

As mentioned, the show gets a few things right  most notably the portrayal of Georges madness and the mention of George and Charlottes 15 children. The pair also did meet on their wedding day and were married six hours after Charlotte arrived in England, according to National Geographic.

Also, more endearingly, George was known as Farmer George because of his agricultural interests, and had a love of botany and plants, per National Geographic.

Unsurprisingly, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story takes some liberties. Charlotte is played by a Black actress, but there is no historical evidence that indicates that Charlotte was Black in real life. Therefore the Great Experiment, which is a major plot point in the show, never happened, according to USA Today.

Where can I watch Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story?

All six episodes of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story can be found on Netflix.

Whats Queen Charlotte rated and why?

According to Common Sense Media, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is for those aged 16 and up, but it might be best for adults only. The series is TV-MA, according to IMDb. The show contains:
ADEN, Yemen, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) announced on Monday that it will reinstate over 52,000 civil, security and military employees who were dismissed from their jobs nearly 30 years ago in the country's southern provinces.

The state-run Saba news agency reported that Rashad Al-Alimi, chief of the PLC, signed decisions approving the reinstatement, promotions, settlements, and wage increases for the 52,766 employees who were forcibly dismissed from their jobs after the 1994 civil war.

"The decisions involve the approval of procedures for a previously formed committee dedicated to dealing with the grievances of the employees who were forcibly dismissed from their positions in southern Yemen," it reported.

It clarified that "the committee included procedures for reinstating and compensating personnel who had been dismissed from their jobs in the armed forces, interior forces, and political security (intelligence) services."

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a retired military official told Xinhua that "it is a positive sign that our grievances are being acknowledged, and it reaffirms the PLC's commitment to healing the wounds of the past injustices and building an equitable society."

In 1994, a civil war erupted in Yemen, four years after the unification of North and South Yemen to form the Republic of Yemen.

One of the consequences of the war was the mass dismissal of thousands of employees in the southern part of Yemen, who had previously held positions within various sectors, including government, security, and the military. 
(Bloomberg) -- US Special Counsel John Durham faulted the FBI and Justice Departments probe into whether Donald Trumps campaign conspired with Russia to interfere in the 2016 election but failed to issue any new charges or recommend significant changes to investigative procedures.

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Durham, the longest serving special counsel, concluded his four-year probe with a report made public Monday that found the federal governments investigation failed to rigorously meet investigative standards both in opening the investigation in 2016 and in conducting the probe.

We conclude that the department and the FBI failed to uphold their important mission of strict fidelity to the law in connection with certain events and activities investigated by Durham, according to the 306-page final report.

The announcement ends a highly anticipated investigation that fell far short of Trumps claims that Durhams probe would reveal a conspiracy to spy on him and undercut his presidency.

The report was submitted to Attorney General Merrick Garland last week.

Trump responded on his social media site Truth Social, writing: WOW! After extensive research, Special Counsel John Durham concludes the FBI never should have launched the Trump-Russia Probe! In other words, the American Public was scammed.

Durham was tapped in April 2019 by Garlands predecessor, William Barr, to determine whether FBI or intelligence officials committed crimes in conducting the so-called Crossfire Hurricane investigation into Trumps 2016 campaign. Durham was then named a special counsel by Barr in October 2020, a move that allowed his inquiry to continue into the Biden administration.

Story continues

Durham also concluded FBI and Justice officials treated Trump and his campaign differently than they did the campaign of Democrat Hillary Clinton, who was his rival in 2016.

The speed and manner in which the FBI opened and investigated Crossfire Hurricane during the presidential election season based on raw, unanalyzed, and uncorroborated intelligence also reflected a noticeable departure from how it approached prior matters involving possible attempted foreign election interference plans aimed at the Clinton campaign, according to the report.

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican, said he plans to have Durham testify publicly next week.

The FBI issued a statement Monday saying that reforms have been made since the time that Durham investigated.

The conduct in 2016 and 2017 that Special Counsel Durham examined was the reason that current FBI leadership already implemented dozens of corrective actions, which have now been in place for some time, the FBI said in the statement. Had those reforms been in place in 2016, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented. This report reinforces the importance of ensuring the FBI continues to do its work with the rigor, objectivity, and professionalism the American people deserve and rightly expect.

Trump and his conservative allies made repeated and unsubstantiated claims that a cabal of deep state figures illegally spied on his 2016 campaign and took actions to sabotage his administration after he was elected. They were counting on Durham to uncover scandals to back up their assertions.

In the end, though, Durhams investigation only led to charges against three low-level figures, two of whom were acquitted by a jury.

Igor Danchenko, a business analyst, was found not guilty in October 2022 of charges that he lied to the FBI. Michael Sussmann, a lawyer for Clintons 2016 presidential campaign, was found not guilty in May 2022 of lying to the FBI.

Durham secured a guilty plea from a former FBI lawyer who acknowledged falsifying an email when seeking to renew a secret warrant to conduct surveillance on Carter Page, a former Trump campaign aide. The lawyer, Kevin Clinesmith, admitted he changed the email to incorrectly say that Page hadnt been a CIA source and pleaded guilty in August 2020 to falsifying a document.

Durham described his investigation as a sprawling global probe, saying his office did more than 480 interviews, reviewed more than 6 million pages of evidence, served more than 190 grand jury subpoenas, and obtained information through search warrants and one request for assistance to a foreign government. His public expense reports showed that as of September, the offices investigation had cost more than $6.5 million.

Durhams work has gone on longer than the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who took over the original Russia interference probe in May 2017 and concluded it in March 2019.

By comparison, the Mueller investigation resulted in 34 indictments, the conviction of Trumps former campaign manager Paul Manafort for unrelated financial crimes and a guilty plea from Trumps first national security adviser Michael Flynn for lying to the FBI. Trump pardoned Manafort and Flynn before leaving office.

Most of the individuals indicted by Mueller were Russian officials who have never been apprehended by the US to be prosecuted.

Mueller also documented almost a dozen examples of possible obstruction of justice by Trump, and his investigation exposed a massive criminal conspiracy by Russian operatives to interfere in the 2016 election.

Notwithstanding the intense partisan political climate that has surrounded Durhams work for years, he concluded his letter to Garland by thanking the Biden appointee for permitting our inquiry to proceed independently and without interference.

--With assistance from Mark Niquette and Zoe Tillman.

(Updates with statement from Trump spokesman in the 15th paragraph.)

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Former President Trump has said hell bring back his former national security adviser Michael Flynn if he wins another four years in the White House in 2024.

I will say, General Flynn, hes some general. Hes some man. He took abuse like nobody could have handled, and he came out bigger, better, stronger than ever before, Trump said via phone to the ReAwaken America rally at Trump National Doral Miami, according to a Rolling Stone report.

Hes a leader, and you just stay wealthy and healthy and well, and everything. I want you to have great lives and, General, you just have to stay healthy because were bringing you back. Were gonna bring you back, the former president said.

Flynn, whom Trump fired early in his administration, pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about speaking with the Russian ambassador, though he later withdrew the plea.

Hes been surrounded by other controversies related to the 2020 transfer of power and prior dealings with foreign entities, and has been tied to QAnon and backed Trumps claims of widespread election fraud. He was pardoned by Trump as the former president left office.

Trump, who lost his 2020 reelection bid, is running to reclaim the White House in 2024.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Donald Trump. Robert Perry/Getty Images

Trump wished Happy Mother's Day to the "Mothers, Wives, and Lovers" of "Radical Left Fascists."

It was in keeping with Trump's tradition of using happy occasions to attack his political rivals.

But his Mother's Day wishes did not extend to his wife Melania Trump, with whom he shares a son.

In a time-honored tradition, former President Donald Trump once again used the joyous occasion of Mother's Day to blast his political rivals.

In a rant on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, he extended Mother's Day greetings "to ALL," in particular the "Mothers, Wives and Lovers of the Radical Left Fascists, Marxists, and Communists who are doing everything within their power to destroy and obliterate our once great Country."

He added a bizarre plea to said mothers and lovers: "Please make these complete Lunatics and Maniacs Kinder, Gentler, Softer and, most importantly, Smarter, so that we can, quickly, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!"

Trump has historically used occasions like Easter, Christmas, Father's Day, and last year's Mother's Day, to attack his political rivals with less-than-festive greetings.

Just a few days after his arrest on April 4, he took to Truth Social to post a similar Easter greeting to "MARXISTS, & COMMUNISTS WHO ARE KILLING OUR NATION."

Last year, he sent out Christmas greetings to the "Radical Left Marxists," and wished a Happy Father's Day to the "Radical Left, RINOs, and other Losers of the world."

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is regarded as Trump's largest rival for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, posted a starkly different Mother's Day message on Twitter.

In a tweet on Sunday, he posted a picture of his wife and family, saying: "Madison, Mason and Mamie are lucky to have the best mother in the world - @CaseyDeSantis. Thank you for all that you do for our family, we love you very much!"

Story continues

Trump, on the other hand, did not seem to extend his Mother's Day wishes to his wife, former First Lady Melania Trump, on his Truth Social platform. The couple share a 17-year-old son, Barron.

The ex-president's rant on Truth Social comes days after he lost a defamation suit filed against him by writer E. Jean Carroll, and was found liable by a Manhattan jury for sexually abusing Carroll in the 1990s.

Trump responded to the verdict by denying that he ever knew Carroll, ranting in a Truth Social post that "THIS VERDICT IS A DISGRACE - A CONTINUATION OF THE GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME!"

A spokesman for Trump did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Tarek Amara

TUNIS (Reuters) -A Tunisian judge on Monday sentenced in absentia opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi, a fierce critic of President Kais Saied, to a year in prison on charges of incitement, his lawyer Monia Bouali said.

Ghannouchi, 81, has been in prison since April. His lawyer said the charges stem from a funeral eulogy he gave last year for a member of his Ennahda party when he said the deceased "did not fear a ruler or tyrant, he only feared God."

The leader of the Islamist Ennahda party is also accused of plotting against state security along with other detained opposition figures who accuse Saied of a coup for shutting down the elected parliament and moving to rule by decree.

Saied, who enshrined his new powers in a constitution that he passed through a referendum with low turnout last year, has denied his actions were a coup and said they were needed to save Tunisia from years of chaos.

He has called his critics criminals, traitors and terrorists and warned that any judge who freed them would be considered abetting them.

Ghannouchi has refused to appear before judges in legal cases, arguing that the charges are fabricated and the trial is political, his lawyer said.

"These trials are the purification against opposition leaders, using the judiciary, because they have not been able to defeat them politically," said Bouali.

Ghannouchi, a political prisoner and exile before the 2011 revolution that brought democracy, was parliament speaker from the 2019 election until Saied sent tanks to shut down the chamber in 2021.

Tunisian authorities last month banned meetings at all Ennahda offices and police closed the headquarters of the Salvation Front, the main opposition coalition, in what rights groups called a de facto ban.

The Tunisian authorities did not comment on the decision, but Saied said that "no one is above the law" and that he will not back down from holding accountable those who have committed crimes against the country.

(Reporting by Tarek Amara in TunisEditing by Angus McDowall and Matthew Lewis)
(Bloomberg) -- Turkey will hold a runoff election in two weeks after no presidential candidate won an outright victory in Sundays elections, according to the High Election Board.

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The result means President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will run against top opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu on May 28.

Erdogan won 49.5% of the votes while Kilicdaroglu secured just under 45% support, short of the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff, Ahmet Yener, head of the electoral board, said in televised comments on Monday.

The incumbent president, who is set to retain a parliamentary majority together with his allies, is likely to have a more comfortable race against Kilicdaroglu in the runoff where there is no threshold but the winner is determined by the number of votes.

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On today's episode of the 5 Things podcast: Turkey goes to the polls

Turkey goes to the polls, as voters decide on democracy, and more. Plus, USA TODAY Domestic Security Correspondent Josh Meyer discusses a new submarine, and the importance of the ocean floor, USA TODAY Justice Department Correspondent Bart Jansen looks at the shift from paper to electronic presidential records, New York City uses hotels as emergency shelters, and an El Nino climate pattern is building. That could mean even warmer temperatures.

Podcasts: True crime, in-depth interviews and more USA TODAY podcasts right here

Hit play on the player above to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript below. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text.

Taylor Wilson: Good morning. I'm Taylor Wilson and this is 5 Things you need to know Monday, the 15th of May 2023. Today, we have the latest from Turkey's election. Plus, the Navy wants to build a new state-of-the-art submarine, and we look at the shift from paper to electronic for presidential records.

 A runoff election between Turkish President Recep Erdogan and his main rival opposition leader, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, appears likely this morning after a tight election race. The unofficial count is nearly complete, and support for Erdogan dipped below the majority required for him to win reelection outright. According to the state run news organization, Anadolu, Erdogan has 49.3% of the vote while Kilicdaroglu has 45%. If neither candidate gets to 50%, a second vote will take place in about two weeks. Erdogan has ruled Turkey for 20 years, with an increasingly authoritarian grip. Turkish voters this election have largely been concerned about domestic issues, including the economy, civil rights, and an earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people earlier this year. But other countries and investors also eagerly await the outcome. Erdogan has raised the country's profile around the world, but he's also eroded democratic institutions, and Turkey is one of the world's biggest jailers of journalists. Kilicdaroglu has pledged to return the country to a more democratic path, and would also likely put the Muslim country on a more secular course compared to Erdogan. You can read more with a link in today's show notes.

Story continues

 The US Navy wants to spend billions on a new submarine as several countries ramp up technology on the ocean floor. I spoke with USA TODAY Domestic Security Correspondent Josh Meyer to learn more.

Josh, thanks for hopping back on 5 Things.

Josh Meyer: Sure, glad to be here.

Taylor Wilson: The US Navy has commissioned a new submarine for the ocean floor. What do we know about it?

Josh Meyer: Well, most of it's very classified, totally top secret stuff, but it's a Virginia-class sub. It's estimated to be about 5.1 billion when approved by Congress. Hopefully it'll be approved by Congress. And it's designed to be a proposed successor to the USS Jimmy Carter, which is a sub that's been around for a couple decades now that has spy capabilities on the ocean floor, and the deep ocean depths. And the sub is just one of Washington's initiatives that are aimed at protecting America's commercial, and security interests deep under the sea.

Taylor Wilson: And do the Navy and military already have similar technology to what this submarine will have?

Josh Meyer: Yeah, the USS Jimmy Carter has some of these capabilities, but what they're talking about for this new one are really, really high-tech, and again, very classified versions of underwater drones and submersibles, a lot of automated craft. But, as you probably know, the bottom of the ocean or even at serious depths, the pressure is so strong that it could literally crush a regular submarine or vehicle. So these are specially outfitted craft, and what they're designed to do is patrol the deep waters where submarines can't go, and protect our interests, especially on the seabed floor. I wasn't really even aware of this until I started reporting the story, but there's hundreds of thousands of miles of cables that are laid at the bottom of the ocean that carry everything from fiber optics and other communications cables to oil and gas pipelines and things like that. And if those are tapped into a hostile enemy to get our telecommunications correspondence, or sabotaged to break up our communications, or disrupt the supply of oil, it could be potentially catastrophic to us and to our allies.

Taylor Wilson: And Josh, do other countries have this kind of technology?

Josh Meyer: Yeah, I mean, it's an arms race at this point. One of the things we're very concerned about is Russia. Russia has been very interested and aggressive in mapping the undersea infrastructure, not just up in the Arctic, but all over the place. One of the things that they're really looking into, and I think so are we, is mining the ocean floor for precious metals and other things that can be used in cell phones and things like that. So that's one problem. China is also being very, very aggressive with regard to this, and so we're watching that very closely. But also US allies are also concerned about the vulnerability to the network of pipelines and fiber optic cables and so forth on the ocean floor. France is working on developing this capability, and the UK has also been doing it at least since 2017. Back then, the guy that is now the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, wrote a very long detailed report calling attention to these vulnerabilities and said that they need to be plugged up.

Taylor Wilson: USA TODAY Domestic Security Correspondent Josh Meyer, thanks as always.

Josh Meyer: My pleasure.

 Taylor Wilson: New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced yesterday that the city will use the historic Roosevelt Hotel to accommodate an expected wave of asylum seekers. He said the city will use the Roosevelt to provide up to 1,000 rooms for migrants expected to arrive in the coming months after the expiration of Title 42 pandemic era rules, those measures that allowed federal officials to turn away asylum seekers from the US border with Mexico. The Roosevelt will join several hotels across New York, converted to emergency shelters.

 National Archives and Records Administration is struggling to maintain a flood of presidential records in recent years. USA TODAY Justice Department Correspondent Bart Jansen has more on that, and the tricky shift from paper to electronic records. Hello, Bart.

Bart Jansen: Hello. Thanks for having me.

Taylor Wilson: Thanks for hopping back on. So you wrote about how the National Archives is struggling to maintain this flood of presidential records in recent years. Just how many documents are we talking about here, Bart?

Bart Jansen: Well, it's hundreds of millions of emails, hundreds of millions of pages of documents, and the volume has only been growing over the recent decades as more electronic messages are exchanged back and forth.

Taylor Wilson: And what are some of the complications to that transition to electronic records?

Bart Jansen: Well, the big challenge for the National Archives is just the volume. Congress approved the Presidential Records Act in the aftermath of Watergate to basically distinguish that presidential records had been the President's records, personal records up to that point. After Richard Nixon, they said, "Well, these should be public records. They should be publicly accessible. It's government business." And so beginning with the Reagan administration, they started storing these things. But with electronic records, there wasn't much email under Reagan, and so there were only... President George H. W. Bush transferred something like 20 gigabytes of electronic records. Well, you could hold that in your phone right now. That grew just exponentially to four terabytes of electronic records under the Clinton administration. Now each terabyte is like 500 hours of movies, or more than 86 million pages of documents. So he's got four terabytes. It grows under the Obama administration to 250 terabytes of electronic information. Trump also had 250 terabytes, but he only had one term, so the pace of the growth doubled under the Trump administration. And the White House has directed that all federal agencies begin storing all of their records electronically by next June, 2024. And so the flow of this electronic version of records is only going to grow. It's just a monstrous problem for them.

Taylor Wilson: And Bart, there are also now all kinds of secure apps that allow people to hide and even erase messages. What do advocates say about these when it comes to presidential records?

Bart Jansen: Well, that's right. As I said, the Presidential Records Act was created to try to hold on to records, and the National Archives takes ownership of an administration's records on Inauguration Day at noon on January 20th, as one administration switches over to the other. The problem is you got to get a hold of those records. In the search of Donald Trump's estate in Florida, Mar-a-Lago, FBI agents found 11,000 documents down there, so you need to just take possession of the records. Basically, the presidents and their administrations turn these over to the National Archives. Another facet, as you mentioned, is there are now apps - WhatsApp, Signal, Wickr - that destroy messages as soon as the recipient reads them. And so that raised concerns that those documents won't be preserved then. So an advocacy group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, sued the Trump administration, tried to get them to prevent them from using these apps. Federal courts were reluctant to weigh in though because they said, "Well, each administration will preserve its own records." But the DC Circuit Court of Appeals said, "Boy, Richard Nixon could have only dreamed of this type of technology."

Taylor Wilson: And could artificial intelligence technology, we've seen this popping up, especially in the last couple of years, hurt or help this problem?

Bart Jansen: The problem with as many electronic records as they've got is, it's hard to then look through them and find what you're looking for. And so the National Archives is testing a program called its Electronic Records Archives, and they are trying to get a better handle on these electronic records. And also a guy who used to serve as a litigation chief for the National Archives, Jason Baron, he's now a professor over at the University of Maryland, he suggests that if they adopted more artificial intelligence to search through the emails, it would help folks find what they're looking for and basically give better public access to the records. Short of that, this huge volume of records that you can't really look at, he calls that a dark archive.

Taylor Wilson: Bart Jansen, great insight as always. Thanks so much.

Bart Jansen: Thanks for having me.

 Taylor Wilson:An El Nino climate pattern is building along the equator in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said this week that there are above normal chances it'll be a strong El Nino. That could have major impacts around the world later this year into next year. Climate scientists are especially concerned about the potential for hotter temperatures.

Thanks for listening to 5 Things. You can find us every day of the week right here wherever you're listening right now. If you have any comments, you can reach us at podcasts at usatoday.com, and I'm back tomorrow with more of 5 Things from USA TODAY.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Turkey goes to the polls, NYC hotels to shelter migrants: 5 Things podcast
Bad Sisters star Sharon Horgan, who co-wrote the series, used her Best Drama Series acceptance speech to express support for the writers' strike

You might have heard several winning actors thanking their writers at Sunday's Bafta TV awards.

Although the evening celebrates the best UK productions, there was a lot of talk about America.

That's because some big shows have gone off-air as thousands of screenwriters in the US are striking over pay and contracts.

It's a conversation that spilled on to the red carpet - and the stage - in London too.

Hollywood writers have not only taken action because of their wages and streaming profits, but also because they're worried things like AI could threaten their jobs.

Actress Saffron Hocking, best known for her role in Top Boy, says UK writers will feel sympathy for those on strike in the US.

"If it's happening in America, it's affecting writers over here as well," she says.

"The problem is universal so it needs to be addressed."

For her, a talented writing team is the difference between a show feeling authentic or out of touch.

"Writers are everything and without them we have nothing," she says.

"I am firmly standing with our writers and I really hope that change comes and they get what they need and deserve."

Saffron Hocking said writers in the UK will have similar concerns to those in the US

Jack Rooke wrote Big Boys, the Channel 4 comedy about two uni freshers becoming unlikely best mates.

He tells BBC Newsbeat you can't underestimate the demands of scriptwriting.

"There's so much work that goes into it," he says.

And Jack feels protesting over working conditions goes beyond his industry.

"I think it's important to remember there's people striking all over the world right now, from all different professions, because people are realising their worth," he says.

"We can't be constantly having people making work that's honest and true and authentic and not paying them for it."

Big Boys writer Jack Rooke and its star Dylan Llewellyn say the role of a show's writer is a huge part of any production

The writer's role doesn't just stop with the script, as Big Boys lead actor Dylan Llewellyn points out.

He says Jack was always on set and credits that with why the programme feels so authentic.

Story continues

"He's there the whole time and that really sets the tone," he says.

"When we're there we feel very precise about the whole process and about what we're doing with the script."

One of the big winners on Sunday, Irish actress and writer Sharon Horgan expressed solidarity with striking writers in her acceptance speech.

As she and her cast-mates received the Best Drama award for Bad Sisters, she said "it all begins and ends with the writers".

Nicole Lecky, who took home the Best Miniseries award for her music drama Mood, which she wrote and starred in, agrees that writing goes way beyond the script.

"Writers are where the idea starts and you have to pay that its dues," she says.

Nicole Lecky said writing is the foundation of any successful show

Most of us won't have spent time on a set, but Nicole explains it's commonplace for the writing team to be around.

She says this is especially true now the "showrunner model" - where one person has creative control over an entire production - is being used more often.

Sam Bottomley was nominated for his role in Somewhere Boy, a nomination he said he wouldn't have without the show's writing team.

"Ninety per cent of it is the script, and 10% is the acting," he says.

"Writers are always there. They know your character better than anyone else.

"It's their baby and we're just delivering it in a weird way."

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Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
Twitter's new CEO Linda Yaccarino. Kevin Winter/GA/The Hollywood Reporter/Getty Images

Twitter's new CEO has a reputation for being influential at work, former coworkers told Fortune.

So much so that some staffers copied her fashion sense and attitude.

She is known for her signature look of thick-framed glasses, heels, and colorful power suits.

Twitter's newest CEO Linda Yaccarino is so influential in the workplace that her fashion choices and mannerisms are adopted by the most loyal staffers around her, Fortune reported Sunday.

Yaccarino, formerly chairman of advertising sales and client partnerships at NBCUniversal, has been selected by Elon Musk to be the next CEO of Twitter.

In conversations with Fortune, seven unnamed sources that have worked with Yaccarino in the past painted a picture of a powerhouse "that can both inspire and terrify the people who work for her," Fortune wrote.

One unnamed source said that she is so influential that some employees around her adopt her fashion style and mannerisms. She is known for her signature look of thick-framed glasses, heels, and often colorful suits, per Fortune.

These sources described her as "tough" in the workplace. "She stood up to a lot of misogyny. She stood up to a lot of men," one unnamed source told Fortune. "There's nothing demure about her."

In April, Yaccarino appeared on stage at a Miami Conference to interview Musk about his plans for the new era of Twitter.

Her ability to ask Musk hard questions, and quiz him about his sometimes controversial tweets, meant that some insiders speculated as to whether this was her interview for the CEO gig at Twitter. "There was chemistry there," Lou Paskalis, CEO of marketing consultancy firm AJL Advisory, told Fortune. Paskalis has worked with Yaccarino for more than three decades.

Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion in October and is said to have spooked some advertisers with his unconventional and chaotic leadership style. The company lost half of its top 100 advertisers including Ford, Chipotle, and Chevrolet within one month after Musk became CEO.

Musk previously said that he expected his stint as Twitter's CEO to be temporary and would resign once he found a replacement.

Read the original article on Business Insider
North Port police have arrested a man and woman in connection to a shooting on Cincinnati Street in North Port that happened around 10:30 a.m. Sunday May 14, 2023. One man was seriously injured and was recovering on Monday May 15, 2023.

North Port police have arrested a man and woman in connection with a shooting Sunday morning that injured one individual, according to a news release sent out by department officials.

William Walker, 41, of Dade City, and Gilliana Eichenlaub, 41, of Zephyrhills, were arrested Sunday. Walker is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, shooting into an occupied dwelling/vehicle, tampering with evidence, drug possession, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Eichenlaub is charged with tampering with evidence and accessory after the fact, according to the news release.

The victim, who has not been identified, is currently recovering, according to the release Monday.

In other North Port news: Two people arrested in North Port home shooting

Conclusion of trial: North Port man found guilty of murder in connection to fatal shooting of ex-girlfriend

For subscribers: North Port man accused of fatally shooting ex-girlfriend in 2020 on trial

When police arrived at a residence on Cincinnati Street on Sunday, they found the victim "bleeding profusely from the mouth," and unable to answer questions, according to a police report. He was transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

A witness said they saw the victim driving a black GMC truck ram through a fence and into an RV trailer parked on the property, the report states. A moment later, Walker exited the RV and allegedly started shooting at the truck with a pistol. The witness told investigators that Eichenlaub also exited the RV before she and Walker got into a white Ford F150 pickup truck and left the scene.

Following Walker and Eichenlaub's departure, the man in the truck entered a residence at the property, the witness told investigators.

Another witness, Sherrie Wooden, told investigators she and the victim had argued earlier in the day over her wanting to help him with his handyman business. Following the argument, Wooden invited Walker to the residence at Cincinnati Street, and he and Eichenlaub arrived shortly after.

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Wooden told police that the victim returned to the residence in his GMC truck and crashed into the trailer twice, prompting Walker to exit the trailer and begin firing at the truck, striking the victim in the mouth, the report states.

Investigators noted in the report that there were five bullet holes in the black GMC truck and multiple shell casings next to the door of the mobile home. Investigators also observed two separate tire tracks indicating the truck accelerated before crashing into the mobile home.

Sarasota courts: New trial denied for Sarasota man found guilty of manslaughter with a firearm

Officers in the area found the white Ford F150 at a 7-Eleven at 1400 Price Creek Way and arrested Walker and Eichenlaub as they were exiting the convenience store, according to the report.

Officers found a black Sig Sauer p365 in a trashcan in the men's bathroom, which according to the report, Walker had been observed entering earlier.

Gabriela Szymanowska covers the legal system for the Herald-Tribune in partnership with Report for America. You can support her work with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America. Contact Gabriela Szymanowska at gszymanowska@gannett.com, or on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: North Port police arrest two in connection to mobile home shooting
J. Marie Bailey, left, a former teacher, and Will Larkins, 18, a high school senior, speak up against book banning and repression of LGBTQ+ students at an April 11 protest during an Orange County school board meeting in Orlando, Fla. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

The tattoos on Jen Cousins arms speak to literacy and how books can take us on trips across strange and extraordinary universes: an owl for wisdom, a drawing from the novel Wonder, multicolored glasses from Harry Potter and a saying from one of her children: The world is only what you shape it to be.

But as any Hogwarts wizard knows, and as Cousins, a mother with a defiant streak, was quick to discover, many forces are conspiring to shape the world.

At a school board meeting here two years ago, her ideas clashed with those of conservative parents and a Proud Boys member who called for Gender Queer, a graphic memoir by Maia Kobabe about sexual identity, to be pulled from library shelves.

"This is the 21st century. We dont ban books, right? said Cousins, recalling that day when school board members freaked out over the memoir's depictions of sexual acts that she said were taken out of context. It was even more personal to me because my child, who was 12 at the time, had just come out as non-binary. I gave them Gender Queer after that so they could find acceptance and confirmation and know they were not alone.

Jen Cousins, center, co-founded the Florida Freedom to Read Project. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Cousins said she grew incensed at the encounter, the way she did when she was 10, watching the first Gulf War on CNN. "We were latchkey kids," she said. "My mom worked nights at a drugstore, and I'd call her and say, 'I can't believe this war is happening. We shouldn't be there. Stop it.'"

The mother of four is still at the center of an inflamed culture war that has pitted teachers, librarians and parents against conservative parental rights groups and powerful politicians, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who are pressing school boards to remove hundreds of books on gender identity, race, sex education and LGBTQ+ issues. Cousins was back in front of her Orange County, Fla., school board last month, protesting against censorship.

In 2022, a record 1,269 demands were made to forbid books and other materials in schools and libraries nationwide, according to the American Library Assn., up from 156 in 2020. But the book-banning opponents are gaining momentum.

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Red Wine & Blue, a national, politically active "sisterhood" founded in Ohio, helps people speak out against censorship at public meetings. A librarian who was threatened and harassed for condemning book bans started Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship.

Texas teacher Frank Strong publishes the "Book-Loving Texan's Guide", a report on state school board races that rates candidates with a color chart.

"These conservative groups show up like clockwork to school board meetings," said Strong, a high school English teacher in Austin. "It's clear to me that if you want to combat them, you have to organize, get out early and be disciplined."

He said resistance to book bans was significant in November, when only eight of the 38 "pro-censorship" school board candidates he tracked were elected.

"Anti-censorship people are building a network in Texas," he said. "They're savvier and more aware now of what the other side is doing."

Texas state Rep. James Talarico challenged conservatives' literary tastes in March, saying proposed restrictions could mean censoring "Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurtry. The book, beloved by liberal and conservative Texans alike, contains sex scenes, including rape. A Democrat and former teacher, Talarico told a committee meeting that it would be a "travesty" to ban "the greatest novel, I think, in Texas history."

Some of the books that have been banned from schools in certain Florida counties. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times )

The passion around book banning in public schools underscores the dangerous rancor in the nations politics.

Many of the debate's most potent issues  parental rights, gender identity, race and the future of schools  are emerging as campaign themes in next years presidential election. DeSantis, a likely Republican candidate for president, has drawn praise from conservatives and parental rights groups for leading one of the most aggressive states in policing library shelves and the teaching of racial history.

"It blows my mind," said Cousins, who tucks her disdain into a half-smile and travels across Florida rallying against what she sees as an attempt to narrow the minds of children. This goes hand in hand with right-wing groups wanting to destroy public education."

The political action committee EveryLibrary is tracking more than 100 proposed bills nationwide that would limit what people can read and, in some states, could lead to criminal charges against educators. Teachers have been vilified as groomers, librarians have been cursed, and school administrators have been harassed to get rid of evil and pornographic books.

I never thought Id be a president who is fighting against elected officials trying to ban and banning books, President Biden told a gathering of teachers April 24 at the White House. Ive never met a parent who wants a politician dictating what their kid can learn and what they can think or who they can be.

Larkins, a senior at Winter Park High School, said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state legislators "are terrified of us. They know that Gen Z is on the side of freedom. They're afraid, and they know in a few years they won't have any power." (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Book banning is being weaponized to harm LGBTQ+ students and students of color, said Will Larkins, a senior at Winter Park High School in Florida, who was draped in a Pride flag while protesting alongside Cousins at the Orange County school board meeting. He said DeSantis and Florida legislators know that Gen Z is on the side of freedom. Theyre afraid, and they know in a few years they wont have any power.

::

Students, teachers and parents attend the school board meeting in Orlando to voice their concerns regarding the move by the board and the Florida Legislature to remove books from school libraries and limit education on race and LGBTQ+ issues. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Wearing green-tinted glasses and carrying a water bottle, Cousins, who has an art history degree, walked the lines of the protest. LGBTQ+ students handed out fliers and rainbow flags as older couples held umbrellas against the sun. A girl with peace-sign earrings danced not far from a man wearing an Ask me about Jesus T-shirt.

A New Jersey native who studied for a time in England, Cousins said she is alarmed at what is happening in her adopted state. A charter school principal in Tallahassee resigned in March under pressure for not informing parents of sixth-graders that a picture of Michelangelo's nude statue "David" would be shown in class.

Talk of such cultural skirmishes was in the air as Cousins, with about 300 others, filed past metal detectors and into the board meeting. She watched as emotionally charged students and parents took to the microphone. One mother said she didn't want books in school exposing children to "anal sex" and LGBTQ+ themes: "We want math, biology and education."

"I'm hated for existing," said an LGBTQ+ student, noting that she lives near Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, where a gunman killed 49 people in 2016.

Cousins listened and shook her head.

We vacationed in Florida and liked the people and the weather," she said after the meeting. When she and her husband, a software architect, decided to move here from Pennsylvania in 2014, "it was still the Florida of Florida Man and alligators in hurricanes. Just weird stuff, she said. But now its a fascist hellscape. With all the laws theyre passing, my family essentially isnt safe here anymore. Its a nonstop attack on human rights. We are considering moving.

Cousins and Stephana Ferrell founded the Florida Freedom to Read Project after meeting at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to support mask-wearing in schools. They confronted conservative parental rights groups, including Moms for Liberty, that opposed COVID-19 restrictions and would later challenge "liberal indoctrination" on the teaching of racial equality and gender. Those protests have resulted in attempts to remove more than 1,100 titles from Florida school libraries, including The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood and 20 books by Jodi Picoult.

Stephana Ferrell co-founded the Florida Freedom to Read Project. (Inspired Storytellers)

I didnt know it would lead to any of this when I was sitting in a school board meeting two years ago, said Ferrell, a mother of two elementary students who shut down her photography business to concentrate on fighting censorship. We chose public schools because of diversity. But diversity is under attack. Theyre targeting minority communities whose stories are only just getting out there on the shelves.

Cousins and Ferrell track school board votes and the fates of books across the states 67 districts. They file public records requests, travel to Tallahassee to appear before the Legislature (Ferrell was once given 15 seconds to speak), enlist volunteers and try to find wins in a state firmly in the hands of a conservative Republican Party.

This is seven days a week, said Ferrell. I feel guilty at spending less time with my family. But Id feel completely lost as a parent if I wasnt doing this work. Someone has to push against the pendulum. Its exhausting and empowering.

She added: Its a David-and-Goliath situation. But we are having wins. A school district [in Pinellas County] recently reinstated The Bluest Eye to its shelves.

With its 2,000 members, the Florida Freedom to Read Project is outnumbered by Moms for Liberty, which claims 115,000 members across 280 chapters in 45 states. Last year, Moms for Liberty endorsed 500 candidates in school board elections nationwide, and 275 of them won. The group has grown into a political force. DeSantis spoke at the organization's conference last summer in Tampa, which was also attended by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Betsy DeVos, who was Education secretary in the Trump administration.

Moms for Liberty criticizes what it regards as an agenda-driven education system that emphasizes race, gender and diversity at the expense of core subjects. The group notes that millions of U.S. children cannot read at grade level.

American parents should not be villainized for asking any questions about their childrens education, said Tiffany Justice, a former school board member and co-founder of Moms for Liberty. But that is whats happening.

Justice said she wants to reform an "education system that is failing and an educational industrial complex that is working to hide that failure.

The meeting of the Orange County school board. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Sonia Ledger, an Orange County high school resource teacher who works with families to prevent students from dropping out, stood near Cousins at the protest. Public education," she said, "has been under attack for so long, and now theyve found something they can use to get rid of public schools.

Ledger added: My biggest concern is that students will not have access to books that represent everyone. Were going to send these kids out into the world, and theyll be competing against students in other states that have not banned books. Theyre going to sound ignorant."

A student at the protest. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

::

Conservative fervor around book removal stems largely from stories about racial inequality and graphic novels, memoirs and sex education books aimed at LGBTQ+ students, including Gender Queer, Flamer and This Book Is Gay. Members of Moms for Liberty and other groups have held up explicit illustrations  depictions of sex and nudity  from these books at school board meetings.

A PEN America study found 1,477 individual book bans affecting 874 unique titles during the first half of the 2022-23 school year. Of those titles, 30% dealt with racial themes or characters, while 26% featured LGBTQ+ story lines.

From left, Stephen Nagy, Rick Johnson and Steven Wade pray together before the Orange County school board meeting. "I believe in free speech, but it has to be tempered with common sense," says Wade. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

I think books need to be regulated more," said Rick Johnson, who wore the Ask me about Jesus T-shirt at the school board protest. "We as a community have dropped the ball by not paying attention to whats being brought into our schools.

He couldnt name the books he wanted taken off shelves but said theyre of extreme sexual content. Some of the things even at an adult level are extreme, crude, ugly and pornographic in nature.

While Johnson spoke, Cousins carried a bag of banned books, handed out flags and talked to students and a few adults wearing T-shirts that read Moms demand action for gun sense in America. Cousins has been an activist for years, canvassing for candidates and tracking issues, particularly those pertaining to the LGBTQ+ community. She recently attended a drag queens march in Tallahassee and believes Florida's book restrictions are part of a broader effort to discriminate against non-binary and gay children like hers.

The Florida Board of Education recently expanded the states Dont Say Gay law by forbidding the teaching of gender identity and sexual orientation in any grade.

My kids know exactly whats happening, said Cousins, who scrolled to a picture on her phone of her 9-year-old son marching in a Pride parade. I want them to be aware that their rights are being attacked. They definitely feel it. This state is trying to put these kids in a bubble and force everyone else who isnt white or straight out of it.

One of her favorite books is George Orwell's dystopian novel "1984," which she noted is eerily relevant to the times. Her encounters with conservatives often border on the surreal: One guy yelled at me for my gay shoes because I had rainbow strings in them. He was up in my face, mad about my gay shoes. Its insane.

When the protest was over, Cousins praised the students and headed home to her flags and banned books. She had to make phone calls and post on social media. Another trip to the state capital was in the works.

L.A. Times Book Club: State of Banned Books

What: Actor, author and "Reading Rainbow" founder LeVar Burton joins the L.A. Times Book Club to discuss the "State of Banned Books" with Times editor Steve Padilla.

When: May 24 at 7 p.m. Pacific.

Where: ASU California Center, 1111 S. Broadway, Los Angeles. This book club event also can be attended virtually. Get tickets.

Join us: Sign up for the Book Club newsletter for the latest books, news and events.

Cousins, right, gets a hug from a supporter. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
SANAA, May 15 (Xinhua) -- A total of 392 Yemeni citizens were evacuated from Sudan and safely returned home in the past 24 hours, Yemen's state TV station reported on Monday.

The country's national carrier, Yemenia, operated two flights to facilitate their repatriation. The first flight, carrying 197 citizens, arrived in the southern port city of Aden on Sunday. The second flight, with 195 passengers on board, landed in the Houthi-held capital of Sanaa later on Sunday night.

According to the report, additional flights are scheduled throughout the week to evacuate approximately 2,000 Yemeni citizens from the city of Port Sudan.

This operation aims to relocate the Yemeni community, which had been residing in various Sudanese cities since the conflict erupted in mid-April. Port Sudan, situated on the coast of the Red Sea and approximately 675 km west of the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, was chosen as a gathering point to facilitate their returning home.

The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces has prompted many countries to evacuate their citizens. 
Update: A federal judge on Monday delayed again the case of William Chrestman.

Kansas City-area Proud Boy William Chrestman just keeps popping up in connection with Jan. 6.

In scenes of an angry mob outside the U.S. Capitol that day, wielding an ax handle and chanting Whose house? Our house! before breaching the building. On video clips shown last year during a prime time televised hearing of the special House panel investigating the attack.

And now, dressed in orange attire and singing The Star-Spangled Banner with the J6 Prison Choir inside the District of Columbia jail. The song has been turned into a track called Justice for All, interspersed with the voice of former President Donald Trump reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. In early March, the single rose to No. 1 on the iTunes chart, and Trump used it on March 25 to open the first rally of his 2024 presidential campaign in Waco, Texas.

On Tuesday, Chrestman will be making another appearance. This one, in federal court.

After a string of continuances  the judge in his case was also handling the sedition trial of five Proud Boys leaders that just wrapped up after nearly four months  Chrestman is scheduled for a status conference in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The former sheet metal journeyman from Olathe is expected to attend the hearing via video conference from the jail.

Unlike the five other Proud Boys charged along with him, Chrestman is incarcerated, held without bond since his arrest on Feb. 11, 2021. Dubbed #axehole on Twitter, the Army veteran was captured on numerous videos alongside other Proud Boys during the insurrection, dressed in tactical gear, carrying an ax handle and stirring up the crowd with raucous chants.

A man identified as William Chrestman of Olathe uses what was described as an ax handle to prevent a metal barrier from being lowered to keep the crowd back in the Capitol.

Chrestman, 49, is among the Capitol riot defendants incarcerated the longest  even though he hasnt been convicted. He and the roughly 20 other Jan. 6 inmates in the D.C. jail, many of them charged with serious crimes including assaulting police, are referred to as political prisoners by Trump and other GOP hard-liners.

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During a CNN town hall with Trump on Wednesday night in New Hampshire, the former president called Jan. 6 a beautiful day and was asked whether if re-elected, he would pardon the Capitol rioters convicted of federal crimes.

I am inclined to pardon many of them, Trump said, drawing applause from the heavily Republican-leaning audience. I cant say for every single one, because a couple of them, probably, they got out of control.

The Justice Department declined to comment on Trumps remarks.

Some Republicans, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, had harsh words for Trump.

Cheney, who was vice chairwoman of the House select committee that investigated the Capitol riot, narrated a 60-second ad that ran on CNN in New Hampshire before and during the town hall. The ad, funded by Cheneys political action committee, showed clips of the pro-Trump mob invading the Capitol and attacking officers.

Rather than accept defeat, he mobilized a mob to come to Washington and march on the Capitol, Cheney said, adding that Trump was warned repeatedly that his plans for January 6th were illegal.

He didnt care, and today he celebrates those who attacked our Capitol.

On March 24, about a dozen Republican lawmakers, led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, and two Democrats went on a tour of whats been dubbed the D.C. Gulag to examine conditions and visit the Jan. 6 defendants, who say they are being mistreated.

Afterward, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, one of the Democrats on the tour, told MSNBC that the inmates were allowed outside of their cells for much of the day and had tablets to watch movies and communicate with families and attorneys. He said the GOP lawmakers treated the inmates like celebrities, shaking their hands and slapping them on the back.

It was completely shameful to see these are people that tried to overthrow our government, and theyre being treated like rock stars and heroes by Marjorie and others, Garcia said.

As the lawmakers left, he later tweeted, the prisoners chanted Lets Go Brandon  a slogan that has become conservative code for f Joe Biden.

Greene described a much different scenario. She tweeted that the jail looked better than the last time she was there because it had inmates/defendants clean, scrub, and paint the week before we got there so conditions would look good for our visit. She also said that other inmates had educational and job opportunities that the J6ers didnt have and that while the inmates were now allowed to be out of their cells, theyd previously been in solitary confinement for months.

She said the Democrats who were on the tour didnt care about J6ers complaints about the courts and judges and how they are being treated like political prisoners.

No, they just praised the jail after our tour, she said. Either they like jails and approve of the two-tiered justice system or are easily fooled by fresh paint.

Chrestman was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2021 along with three other Kansas City-area Proud Boys  Christopher Kuehne, of Olathe; Louis Colon, of Blue Springs; and Ryan Ashlock, of Gardner  and Arizona siblings Felicia and Cory Konold.

The indictment alleged that they planned with each other, and with others known and unknown, to forcibly enter the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and to stop, delay, and hinder the Congressional proceeding occurring that day.

Chrestman also was charged with threatening to assault a federal law enforcement officer. All except Chrestman were released on personal recognizance bonds pending trial.

Colon pleaded guilty in April 2022 to one count of civil disorder, a felony, and awaits sentencing. Ashlock pleaded guilty to one count of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, a misdemeanor, and was sentenced in November to 70 days in jail and 12 months of supervised release.

Kuehnes case is ongoing, and like Chrestman, he is scheduled to be in court Tuesday. Last fall, after the judge granted his request to move out of state, he sold his house in a southern Olathe subdivision and relocated to Arizona.

William Billy Chrestman of Olathe (left to right), Louis Enrique Colon of Blue Springs, Ryan Keith Ashlock of Gardner and Christopher Kuehne of Olathe were indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia on conspiracy charges and other offenses.

The far-right Proud Boys have been at the forefront of the federal investigation into the attack.

Just this month, jurors found four leaders  including former national chairman Henry Enrique Tarrio  guilty of seditious conspiracy and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, among other charges. A fifth was found guilty of charges that included assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and robbery involving government property.

A sixth defendant pleaded guilty on April 8, 2022, to conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers. Another Proud Boys leader pleaded guilty in October to seditious conspiracy and cooperated with the prosecution, testifying as the Justice Departments star witness in the recent trial.

The organization of self-described Western chauvinists known for street-level violence and confrontations with anti-fascists at protests received national attention in September 2020 when, during the first presidential debate, Trump was asked if he was willing to condemn white supremacists and militia groups. Trump responded that the Proud Boys should stand back and stand by.

At last Wednesdays CNN town hall, Trump was asked whether the pardons he talked about granting if he was re-elected would include the four Proud Boys just convicted of seditious conspiracy.

His response: I dont know. Id have to look at their case. But I will say in Washington, D.C., you cannot get a fair trial. You cannot.

Chrestmans mother doesnt see much chance her son will get out of jail any time soon unless Trump pardons him. In an April 14 interview on The Political Prisoner Podcast, a show produced by Look Ahead America, Susan Moser said his situation has been absolutely horrendous.

She noted that after Chrestmans arrest in 2021, a federal magistrate judge in Kansas City, Kansas, decided to grant him bond. But before he could be released, a judge in Washington, D.C., reversed the Kansas judges decision and ordered him to be held without bond until his trial.

We were all ready to go down there, post his bail, get him out, Moser said. And a judge in D.C. overrode it, and he was whisked away.

Moser acknowledged that Chrestman was a Proud Boy but said he did nothing wrong on Jan. 6.

He went there to listen to President Trump speak  very patriotic, she said. We all, as well as him, were devastated by the election results...He got kind of caught up with the crowd and, you know, walked to the Capitol.

He broke no windows, no doors, he didnt do any damage. He didnt hurt anybody, he just walked in. And because he was a Proud Boy, they targeted him. Now, its not illegal to be a Proud Boy, you know. I mean, he was a Boy Scout. Is it illegal to be a Boy Scout?

But U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly said in a July 2021 court hearing that Mr. Chrestman was much more  much, much more  than someone who merely cheered on the violence or who entered the Capitol after others cleared the way.

Kelly denied Chrestmans request to be released from custody, going through a laundry list of Chrestmans alleged actions on the day of the riot that he said were captured by dozens of photos and videos. The actions, Kelly said, included Chrestman wielding an ax handle, encouraging the crowd to storm the Capitol and confronting law enforcement, telling an officer that You shoot and Ill take your f------ ass out!

In a world in which January 6 has passed but yet the notion in our politics that the 2020 presidential election was stolen and is still a live issue, those statements do not reflect someone for whom the fight is over...they reflect someone who is focused on the future and for whom the fight continues, Kelly said.

On the April podcast, Susan Moser praised Greene and others who she said have supported the Jan. 6 defendants.

Every Friday night, Moser said, supporters hold a vigil outside the D.C. jail. When she visited Chrestman in February, she attended the vigil.

The detainees, they all get together every night at nine oclock and they say the Lords Prayer and they sing the national anthem, she said. So everyone at the vigil at nine oclock gathers in a circle. They say the Lords Prayer and they sing the national anthem. I was in tears. I was a complete mess, I was so touched.

Moser said her son told her he would not agree to any plea deals with the government.

If they take the plea deal, they have to confess to the horrible crimes theyre accusing them of and write a statement that they did it at President Trumps urging, she said. Billy said absolutely no way is he doing that...He said no, he did not go there at the urging of President Trump.

But after Chrestmans arrest in February 2021, his federal public defenders argued that he should be released on bond because he was not a danger to his community and that Trump  not the rioters  was responsible for the Capitol breach. (He has since retained new counsel.)

It is an astounding thing to imagine storming the United States Capitol with sticks and flags and bear spray, arrayed against armed and highly trained law enforcement, his public defenders wrote in a court filing. Only someone who thought that they had an official endorsement would even attempt such a thing.

And a Proud Boy who had been paying attention would very much believe he did.

That endorsement, Chrestmans defense contended, came from Trump.
Calling the situation in Haiti tragic, the head of the United Nations on Monday acknowledged that it has been difficult mobilizing the international community to rescue the country from the absolutely appalling gang violence.

This has been a difficult exercise, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said from Kingston, Jamaica. It has been difficult to mobilize the will of those that would have the best capacity to lead this operation. And it has been difficult to create, also, the political conditions to make it easier for different countries to accept to be part of this action.

Guterres, who arrived in Jamaica on Sunday, spent the day Monday meeting with Prime Minister Andrew Holness. The two discussed a range of issues from the climate crisis in the Caribbean to the lack of low-interest borrowing for developing and vulnerable middle-income countries, to the deteriorating situation in Haiti where more than 600 people were killed last month across metropolitan Port-au-Prince in conflict caused by armed groups.

Haiti is in a tragic, tragic situation, the secretary-general said, personally addressing Haitis catastrophic descent into a spiral of violence for the first time in months. Previous comments have come through a spokesperson, his representative in Port-au-Prince, or his regular reports to the U.N. Security Council.

You have dramatic humanitarian needs. You have a political system that is paralyzed, and you have levels of violence by gangs that are absolutely appalling, he said, adding that both the gang violence and the political paralysis needs addressing. The number of people killed, the number of people unable to live their lives, the dramatic food insecurity problems are indeed something that needs a much stronger commitment by the international community.

Guterres visit came a day before foreign ministers of the 15-member Caribbean Community, known as CARICOM, are set to meet in Jamaica. The meeting, chaired by Jamaicas Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamina Johnson Smith, will broach several issues including the regions foreign policy, bilateral relations with the U.S., Canada and the U.N., and the situation in Haiti, the regional bloc said in a statement.

Story continues

In an interview with Nationwide Radio in Jamaica, Johnson Smith announced that CARICOM heads of government have agreed to appoint three former prime ministers  St. Lucias Dr. Kenny Anthony, Jamaicas Bruce Golding and Perry Christie of The Bahamas  to work with a technical support group to engage with Haitian leadership to try to broaden consensus around a path to elections, security and other areas of agreement. The hope is to have proposals that can be discussed at a potential Haiti summit in Jamaica this summer.

In October, as a gang federation seized control of the countrys main fuel terminal in the capital, Guterres called for the immediate deployment of a multinational rapid action force to assist the countrys beleaguered police force as it struggled to regain control from powerful gangs. His appeal, which was part of a multi-pronged security plan, was later accompanied by a resolution by the U.S. and Mexico before the Security Council to create a non-U.N. multinational force. By making it not a U.N. peacekeeping mission, per se, the U.S., which doesnt want to deploy its own boots on the ground, was hoping the proposal would be more palatable to the Haitian public  and perhaps members of the international community who have been critical of previous U.N. interventions in Haiti.

Seven months later, however, neither request has gone anywhere and the security situation has only worsened. Gangs now control at least 80% of the capital and have expanded their reach to the Artibonite Valley, just north of the capital. Haitians facing acute hunger has risen from 4.7 million to more than 5 million. At least eight documented gang massacres this year have contributed to the deaths of at least 1,446 people in the first four months.

With violence becoming more extreme, kidnappings have soared and mob killings and lynchings are on the rise. The U.N. says at least 164 suspected gang members were killed in April by the population taking matters into its own hands.

U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths has allocated $9 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to support relief efforts in Haiti, which continues to see deterioration of its humanitarian situation due to spikes in violence.

The people in need of humanitarian assistance has doubled over the past five years to 5.2 million people, and the number of children suffering severe acute malnutrition, compared to a year ago, has increased by more than 30%.

This years Humanitarian Response Plan for Haiti is the largest since the devastating 2010 earthquake. But of the $720 million the U.N. is seeking for Haiti, only 12% has been funded.

Jamaica willing to help

In late January, Holness publicly announced Jamaicas willingness to assist Haiti by deploying soldiers to be part of a multinational force. The support, endorsed by the countrys opposition in a rare show of unity on an international issue, was followed a month later by a visit to Port-au-Prince as Holness led a small delegation on behalf of CARICOM, of which Haiti is a member. The purpose of the trip was to gain a better understanding of the security crisis and to see if Caribbean leaders could help Haitis warring political factions come together.

Since the July 7 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, Haitians have been at odds over how to govern the country in lieu of elections or any elected officials. The international community has called on Prime Minister Ariel Henry to broaden a December political agreement that sets up a transitional council to assist him in taking the country to elections. Civil society groups, which have endorsed their own plan known as the Montana Accord, want Henry out and say they have their own road map for addressing the crisis.

During the press conference after their meeting, Guterres said Jamaica was the first country that immediately expressed its readiness to be part of the multinational force. He added that Jamaica is involved in a very important political process trying to bring together the different stakeholders to find their way out of this political crisis.

I want to express my full support to the initiatives of Jamaica and CARICOM. And I want to once again, ask the international community to understand that an effective solidarity with Haiti is not only a matter of generosity, it is essentially a matter of enlightened self-interest, Guterres said. Because the present situation in Haiti reflects a threat to the security of the whole region and further afield.
United Nations-Secretary General Antonio Guterres is headed to Jamaica Sunday to meet with Prime Minister Andrew Holness where the two will discuss a wide-range of issues affecting the Caribbean region.

The two men will meet on Monday and the topics to discuss include the impact of the climate crisis in the Caribbean region and the global framework for disaster risk reduction. Also development financing will be a major discussion item.

Jamaica, along with Canada, is co-chair of the Group of Friends on Financing for Development. The effort is focused on reforming the global financial architecture so that developing countries, including those that are middle-income, can better manage debt and access technology and finance at affordable rates. This has been a major issue for Caribbean nations, which had their tourism-dependent economies hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and as a result forced to take on more debt.

Despite this, many continue to be considered middle-income countries and therefore subject to high interests rates.

Guterres spokesman Stephane Dujarric said both leaders will also discuss the situation in Haiti and how to involve the international community more strongly.

Some 22 months after the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, Haiti remains in the throes of deepening chaos with hunger and cholera spreading throughout; and armed gang violence and kidnappings on the rise. There is also now worrying mob killings and lynchings of alleged gang members. At least 164 of such killings were documented in April, according to the United Nations Integrated Office in Port-au-Prince.

In recent days, police have launched several anti-gang operations aimed at taking back control of some communities. These includes the communities of Martissant and Portail Leogane that are located just south of the capital and have been under gang control for two years. On Thursday, police announced they were carrying out operations in the area, specifically against those operating in Village de Dieu, and heavy gunfire could be heard near the infamous kidnapping lair as specialized police units confronted armed gang members.

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During a Saturday visit to the Portail Leogane police substation, under heavily armed guards, Police Chief Frantz Elbe, said the police force today finds itself at a historic crossroads where the population needs it like never before, he said. Its important for us to unite...for all the police to become one to fight back against the gangs so that the population can live normally.

U.N. officials have acknowledged efforts by Haitis beleaguered force to go after gangs but have noted that due to their small numbers, lack of equipment and firepower, they have a hard time maintaining control of the areas once they succeed in taking back control.

In October, Guterres supported Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henrys request for the rapid deployment of an international force to Haiti to assist the Haiti National Police, and both he and his special representative in Port-au-Prince have reiterated the call.

Jamaica, along with a few other smaller nations, has expressed a willingness to send troops to Haiti as part of a multinational force. But seven months after Guterres request, no large country has stepped forward to lead the effort. The United States, which penned a resolution at the U.N. Security Council to support such a deployment, doesnt want to lead and had been hoping Canada would. Though the country participated in several discussions with Jamaica, Haiti and other Caribbean nations, it has sent signals to the contrary.

In both meetings with Caribbean Community leaders in the Bahamas and President Biden in Ottawa, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada, for now, was focused on aiding the situation by proving financial assistance to the Haitian national police and by sanctioning individuals the Canadian government believes are supporting gangs and destabilizing Haiti through corruption.

In addition to its offer of troops, Holness, who visited Port-au-Prince in February, also offered to host a meeting of Haitis warring political factions in order to find a broader consensus around governance, which the international community has been insisting on.
By Andrew Chung

(Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday allowed a challenge by an Alabama death row inmate who sued months before surviving a botched execution claiming that the state's troubled lethal injection process would violate constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment.

In an unusual case that has returned to the justices because the execution of convicted murderer Kenneth Smith failed, they turned away an appeal by Alabama officials of a lower court's decision to revive his lawsuit seeking to block the state from putting him to death through lethal injection. Smith instead is seeking to be executed using another method.

Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented from the decision to allow Smith's challenge to proceed.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, a Republican, is disappointed with the court's action and his office is reviewing it to determine its next steps, a spokesperson for Marshall said. Smith's attorney Robert Grass declined to comment.

A majority of the justices in November cleared the way for the execution of Smith, sentenced to death for his role in a 1988 murder-for-hire plot.

Smith, 57, filed his suit in federal court last August - months before his botched execution. The lawsuit alleged that the state's lethal injection protocol would subject him to cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the U.S. Constitution's Eighth Amendment based on problems Alabama officials encountered in putting prior condemned inmates to death, including accessing veins to insert intravenous lines.

The method in Alabama posed an "intolerable risk of torture, cruelty or substantial pain," Smith's lawsuit stated.

At issue in the case is whether, under Supreme Court precedent, a death row inmate may argue that a method of execution known as nitrogen hypoxia that has been approved by Alabama's legislature but not yet used by its Department of Corrections is a legally available alternative.

Story continues

Smith is seeking to require Alabama to execute him by inhaling nitrogen, a gas that would deprive his body of oxygen. Smith has said the protocol would substantially reduce the risk of aborted executions or pain, such as a sensation of drowning or choking.

A judge dismissed Smith's lawsuit, but on Nov. 17, the day of his scheduled execution, the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals revived his case, letting Smith file an amended complaint.

The 11th Circuit also in a separate decision stayed his execution, but after the state appealed to the Supreme Court, the justices allowed it to proceed. The nine-member Supreme Court's three liberal justices dissented from that decision.

State officials that night repeatedly tried but failed to place the necessary intravenous lines or a central line in his collarbone area before calling off the execution after 11 p.m.

"Mr. Smith's worst fears began to play out much as his federal lawsuit had alleged they would," his lawyers said in court papers, adding that the experience "subjected him to hours of torture while trying to execute him and exposed him to the severe mental anguish of a mock execution."

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, a Republican, announced a review of the state's execution procedures after Smith's case, which was the third time that Alabama had called off an execution since 2018 after problems placing intravenous lines. Officials completed their review in February.

Smith was convicted in 1989 of killing Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett the prior year after he and an accomplice were hired by her husband Charles Sennett, a Christian minister who had taken out a large insurance policy on his wife, according to prosecutors. She was stabbed repeatedly and beaten with a blunt object.

Charles Sennett later committed suicide. Smith's accomplice also was convicted and sentenced to death, with the execution carried out in 2010.

Smith's case is not a challenge to the death penalty itself. Some liberal justices have raised questions about the death penalty in the United States but the court, with its 6-3 conservative majority, appears unlikely to reverse course on its use.

(Reporting by Andrew Chung in New York; Editing by Will Dunham)
By Andrew Chung

(Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a bid by President Joe Biden's administration to block a lawsuit by several congressional Democrats seeking details of a government lease for a Washington hotel concerning when it was owned by his predecessor Donald Trump.

The justices took up an appeal by the General Services Administration (GSA), which manages federal government real estate, of a lower court's ruling allowing the lawsuit by U.S. House of Representatives Democrats to proceed. The lawmakers sued after the agency declined to provide details of a 2013 lease of the Old Post Office building to the Republican former president's company to convert it into a hotel.

The opulent hotel with a soaring clock tower, located on Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and the U.S. Capitol, opened shortly before Trump was elected in 2016. The lease was sold last year for $375 million and rebranded as a Waldorf Astoria.

The hotel became a gathering spot for Trump supporters, lobbyists and foreign dignitaries, who Democrats and watchdog groups complained could patronize the hotel in order to curry favor with Trump when he was in office.

Lawsuits accused Trump of violating the U.S. Constitution's anti-corruption provisions by maintaining ownership of his businesses including the Washington hotel while in office. The justices ordered those cases dismissed because they became moot with Trump leaving office in 2021 after his election loss to Biden, a Democrat.

The case pursued by the lawmakers tests whether small groups of legislators have the proper legal standing to sue to enforce a federal law aimed at obtaining information from federal agencies.

The law dates to 1928 and lets a minority on the 45-member House Oversight and Reform Committee to request and receive information from executive agencies. Under the so-called "seven-member rule," at least seven members must make the request.

Story continues

The GSA rejected several requests by a group of Democrats, whose party was then - as today - the minority in the House, saying they did not have the authority as individual members to conduct oversight.

Seventeen Democratic members of the House Oversight and Reform Committee sued in 2017 to compel disclosure of the information they sought, including GSA's actions given that the lease agreement prohibited elected officials from benefiting from the lease.

Some of the lawmakers who sued are no longer part of the committee while some others are no longer in Congress. The action was led by the committee's former top Democrat Elijah Cummings, who died in 2019.

A federal judge dismissed the case, finding that the committee members did not as legislators suffer the kind of legal injury that would entitle them to sue.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit revived the case in 2020, concluding: "A rebuffed request for information to which the requester is statutorily entitled is a concrete, particularized and individualized personal injury."

Biden's Justice Department, defending the GSA, appealed the case to the Supreme Court, saying that the case could set an unwelcome precedent by allowing just a few members of Congress, even fringe members of a minority party, to distract and harass executive branch officials.

"Such disputes between the political branches are properly resolved through the long-established political process of negotiation and compromise," the Justice Department told the justices in a filing.

(Reporting by Andrew Chung in New York; Editing by Will Dunham)
(Bloomberg) -- The UK and Switzerland are kicking off negotiations for a new free trade agreement to boost the exchange of services between the two countries post-Brexit.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch met with her Swiss counterpart Guy Parmelin on Monday in Bern, the countrys capital. Formal talks will start next Monday in London. At a press conference in Bern, both sides refused to give a timeline to conclude negotiations.

The two countries existing deal rolled over from when UK was in the EU and predates the home computer and the internet, according to Badenochs department. The prize for negotiators is a new agreement that reduces barriers to trade between the two services superpowers in areas like finance, legal and professional services, and architecture, it said.

That Switzerland is not in the EU makes negotiations much easier, Badenoch said. I dont anticipate that we should have too many difficulties, but of course its difficult to say before going into the details of the negotiations.

While the 2019 treaty secures rights and obligations from pre-Brexit times, it should now be adapted to current conditions and further developed toward an agreement that is as comprehensive as possible, the Swiss economic ministry said. Switzerland is the UKs 10th biggest commercial partner, with bilateral trade totaling about 53 billion ($66 billion) a year.

To help companies in sectors like technology and life sciences share expertise, British negotiators aim to make business travel easier between the two nations.

Another aim is to cut remaining tariffs on UK exports such as red meat, chocolate and baked goods, which would need to overcome Swiss rules on agriculture. The country imports over 5.5 billion a year of foodstuffs under product lines where tariffs still apply for the UK.

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In addition to the overall goals, the Swiss cited provisions on intellectual property rights and small and medium-sized enterprises as their priorities. Britain is Switzerlands third-most important trade partner for services, with the exchange totaling around 23 billion francs ($26 billion) annually.

The UK government has presented signing new trade deals as one of the great benefits of Brexit. Earlier this year, Britain struck a deal to join an 11-nation Indo-Pacific free-trade bloc which includes Australia, Japan and Canada  a pact that Rishi Sunaks government believes will boost economic growth and geopolitical relations.

UK to Join Indo-Pacific Trade Bloc in Major Post-Brexit Pact

But theres also a long way to go to reverse the economic impact of a steep decline in trade with the EU, Britains biggest partner, since its exit three years ago. The UKs independent budget watchdog recently estimated that Brexit likely reduced economic output by 4%.

For its part, Switzerland was keen to ensure its relations with the bloc remained intact.

We dont want to jeopardize our good relations with the EU, but improve our relations with the UK, Parmelin said in Bern.

(Updates with comments from press conference in Bern, beginning in second paragraph)

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(Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged support for a coalition to help provide Ukraine with a fleet of Western-made fighter jets, although he stopped short during a surprise UK visit by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of promising actual aircraft.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Sunak told Zelenskiy on Monday that he was very keen to build that coalition of countries to give Volodymyr and his people the aircraft support that they need. The UK prime minister also committed to giving Ukraine more attack drones and air-defense systems during unannounced talks at his Chequers countryside retreat north of London.

We want to create this jets coalition and Im very positive with it, Zelenskiy said after the meeting. And I see that in the closest time you will hear I think some very important decisions. But we have to work a little bit more on it.

Sunaks spokesman, Max Blain, later told reporters that there were no plans to send British Typhoon or F-35 jets to Ukraine because Kyiv had decided to use F-16s, which the UK doesnt own.

While Ukraine has been seeking more advanced fighter jets since the first days of Russias invasion of the country last year, Western governments have resisted the requests over concerns about the risk of escalating tensions with Moscow. There are also practical concerns about the time would take to make sure Kyiv had the trained pilots, weapons and maintenance capabilities needed to operate them effectively against Russian planes.

To help Ukraine prepare, Sunak said he said efforts to train Ukrainian pilots would begin in relatively short order, reaffirming a pledge made during Zelenskiys previous visit to the UK in February. We are going to be a key part of the coalition of countries that provides that support to Volodymyr and Ukraine, Sunak said, adding that he would push the issue during his upcoming diplomatic engagements, which including the Group of Seven nations meetings this week in Japan.

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The UK will confirm the transfer of hundreds of air-defense missiles and further unmanned aerial systems including new attack drones with a range in excess of 200 kilometers (120 miles) to Ukraine, the Prime Ministers Office said in a statement. Last week, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said the UK was providing the country with Storm Shadow cruise missiles, the longest-range offensive weapons yet provided to Ukraine by Western allies.

We take this extremely negatively, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to a question about the UKs latest military package. This may not have any significant impact on the course of the special military operation, but it will lead to further destruction, actions. For Ukraine, this will just make things worse.

NATO Membership?

Public support for Ukraine remains strong in the UK, which has been the countrys second-largest contributor of military aid after the US. On Saturday, Liverpool hosted Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine.

Kyiv is seeking additional supplies of weapons as it prepares for a counteroffensive to take back territory occupied by Russian forces. Zelenskiy has made similar visits to France, Germany and Italy in recent days. Hes also expected to meet a Chinese envoy Tuesday in Kyiv.

The Ukrainian presidents tour of European capitals was to discuss weapons supply and to speak to North Atlantic Treaty Organization members about his countrys future in the defense alliance. Ukraine is looking for a signal on NATO membership in July, when leaders are due to meet at a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Another topic of conversation that weve had today is about the security arrangements that we should put in place amongst allied countries for Ukraine for the long term to ensure that it can defend itself and provide effective deterrence against future Russian aggression, Sunak said.

--With assistance from Mark Sweetman and Alex Morales.

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Britain pledged to provide Ukraine with more military resources on Monday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys multistop lobbying tour included a meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Sunak committed to providing Ukraine with hundreds of more air defense missiles, as well as attack drones.

This is a crucial moment in Ukraines resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke, he said. They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year.

Zelenskys stop in Britain comes after he made appearances in Italy, France and Germany during his latest European trip. The Ukrainian leader thanked the U.K. for its support.

Thank you very much for this package that youve prepared  great, huge, Zelensky told Sunak. Really what can save the lives for all our people.

On his latest European trip, Zelensky also secured more support from Germany, which had been facing criticism for its level of backing of Ukraine.

The military assistance package from Berlin is expected to top $3 billion, making the country the second-largest backer of Ukraine in the war, behind the U.S.

The trip to the U.K. was Zelenskys second since the start of the war.

Moscow blasted the British military support package for Ukraine on Monday, with a Kremlin spokesperson saying the weapons would not alter the course of the war.

Britain aspires to be at the forefront among countries that continue to pump weapons into Ukraine, Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, said Monday, according to the Associated Press. We repeat once again, it cannot yield any drastic and fundamental influence on the way the special military operation is unfolding. But, definitely, it leads to further destruction, further action.  It makes this whole story for Ukraine much more complicated.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Britain will hand over hundreds of attack drones to Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in the United Kingdom early on May 15 for discussions with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Ukraines ongoing military resistance to Russias brutal invasion.

Today the Prime Minister will confirm the further UK provision of hundreds of air defense missiles and further unmanned aerial systems including hundreds of new long-range attack drones with a range of over 200 kilometers, reads the statement.

These will all be delivered over the coming months as Ukraine prepares to intensify its resistance to the ongoing Russian invasion.

Read also: US position on long-range missiles unchanged after UK transfers Storm Shadow to Ukraine

On May 11, CNN reported that London had provided Kyiv with Storm Shadow cruise missiles, capable of hitting targets over 250 kilometers away. This information was later confirmed by UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, who emphasized Ukraines sovereign right to defend its territory from the Russian invasion.

Wallace added that all of the UK-made Challenger 2 battle tanks promised for delivery had already arrived in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy visited Rome on May 13, where he held talks with the Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The leaders agreed on air defense and weapons for Ukraine. He also had private talks with Pope Francis in the Vatican.

Read also: UK PM Sunak disappointed Zelenskyy was not allowed Eurovision address

Later Zelenskyy arrived in Berlin on May 14, where he met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The day before, on May 13, the German government announced a new aid package for Ukraine worth EUR 2.7 billion ($3 billion), which will be the largest since Russias full-scale invasion began. It includes tanks, drones and new air defense systems.

In the evening of May 14, Zelenskyy arrived in Paris to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron. Following their talks, France vowed to donate in the coming weeks dozens of armored vehicles and light tanks, including the wheeled AMX-10RC, used by the French army until 2021.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Move over, Treasury. Youre not the only one with an X-date.

The $48 billion Ukraine aid package that Congress approved in December has about $6 billion left, meaning U.S. funding for weapons and supplies could dry up by midsummer.

Thats raising fresh concerns among lawmakers about what the White House is planning next, including when the administration will ask for another major package and whether it will be enough.

The funding, many members say, needs to continue to flow without interruption, especially as Kyiv prepares to launch whats expected to be a sweeping counteroffensive and retake ground in the east from the Russians.

"It is critical that the administration provide Ukraine with what it needs in time to defend and take back its sovereign territory," Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) told Pentagon leaders during a hearing on Thursday. "We expect the administration not to wait until the eleventh hour if the Ukrainians need more before the end of the fiscal year."

The White House is discussing a new package, and it will be timed to keep support for Ukraine flowing, said a senior administration official who was granted anonymity to speak ahead of an official announcement.

The official added that its unclear how Ukraines needs might change during or after the counteroffensive, but that the administration is fully committed to supporting Kyiv during and after the fight for the long haul.

But this isnt the same Congress that approved the last big batch of money, nor is it the same set of circumstances.

This time around, any late-summer proposal by the White House could run up against the raging debate over the debt ceiling, and will almost certainly face opposition from a small but vocal group of Republicans that wants to slash spending on Ukraine.

Keeping the money flowing

The original $48 billion package approved in December included about $36 billion for the Pentagon to craft a wide range of military aid to Kyiv. The U.S. sent millions of artillery shells, funded tanks, and shipped armored vehicles and advanced air defense systems into the Ukrainian militarys hands. The aid allowed them to beat back Russian attacks while preparing for the coming offensive meant to break the grinding stalemate across hundreds of miles of front lines.

Story continues

Outside the hearing on Thursday, Collins said she is concerned about giving Ukraine what it needs for the coming counteroffensive and the pace of U.S. aid deliveries.

Its clear that it will happen, Collins said. I expect there will need to be a supplemental at some point. It's also clear that it's taken far too long to get munitions and tanks delivered to the Ukrainians.



Frustration is also becoming evident on the Ukrainian side about the pace of those shipments.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said new armored vehicles promised by the U.S. are only "arriving in batches," contradicting European Commands Gen. Christopher Cavoli, who told Congress last month that Ukraine had received over 98 percent of the combat vehicles it had requested.

I am very confident that we have delivered the materiel that they need, and well continue a pipeline to sustain their operations as well, Cavoli told the House Armed Services Committee.

When Collins on Thursday pressed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin about why Abrams tanks pledged by Washington werent arriving sooner, he noted that some had already arrived in Germany for Ukrainians to train on. Kyivs troops would be ready when the rest certainly arrive in early autumn, he added.

Figuring out the X-date

Collins and a host of other lawmakers POLITICO interviewed were unclear about when exactly the Ukraine military aid would run out, and how large the next package might be.

The massive U.S. supplemental has been used to steadily supply Ukraine with everything from Patriot air defense systems to spare parts for Humvees. The Biden administration has settled into a mostly regular pace of doling out several hundred million dollars every week to 10 days.

This month, the U.S. announced a $1.2 billion package of drones, artillery, air defense systems, and software and technical help to network Ukraines air defenses. All of those items will be placed on contract with U.S. defense companies, and are meant to help support Ukraine in the long term. That package leaves $4 billion in the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, further draining the money available.

One congressional aide who closely tracks the issue estimated that, based on the rate of announcements, the money to draw down existing U.S. stockpiles will expire in July. That would mean the flow of equipment could be disrupted if Kyiv has to wait an extended period for a new tranche of funding.

The Pentagon is assessing how to spend the remaining money and continues to look at options "as the situation evolves to support battlefield successes during new offensives in the spring, spokesperson Lt. Col. Garron Garn said in a statement.



Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) said hed been told recently during a briefing with administration officials they would have sufficient funds for Ukraine for the next several months, therefore that the appropriations process  or an emergency supplemental funding bill around then  would likely be the next time Congress doled out more funds.

We're OK for the next several months, he said in an interview.

If I had to guess, probably September, House Foreign Affairs Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said. The counteroffensive that's gonna be waged in the next several days will have a major impact.

Back to the budget

Timing for the next round is a major issue, especially as lawmakers continue to grapple with a host of other issues.

Congress will spend the next several months debating the fiscal 2024 defense budget, a wrinkle that could complicate Ukraine funding, even as lawmakers from both parties say they fully support keeping the aid spigot turned on.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), a senior appropriator, indicated the appropriations process would likely be the next time Congress would provide funding unless the situation changed substantially on the ground.

I think you'll see it in appropriations, Murkowski said in an interview. It's not making the front page or the second page. It kind of continues to be out there  we know it's there  but not at a level that is going to get people really focused.

Alluding to those in her party skeptical of providing additional resources to Ukraine, Murkowski said that it's hard to say that the way that people are talking now is going to be the way that they will talk [in the future]. I just think there are so many uncertainties.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of the biggest backers of Ukraine in Congress, agreed lawmakers would eventually have to pony up more funding and predicted the annual government funding process would likely be the next best shot.



Although there are dissenting voices, the large majority of certainly Republicans  for sure in the Senate and arguably in the House as well  believe strongly that we need Ukraine to win and that the outcome there is something that matters not only to that region, but to the United States and our national security interests, he said.

Mark Cancian, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said he expects several smaller Ukraine packages to be proposed by the White House to get through the rest of the year.

The first would likely be enough to last through the current fiscal year that ends Sept. 30, followed by another package that would bridge the lag in getting the defense funding bill passed, which in recent years has been pushed to the end of the year or early the following year.

Once the budget passes, another funding package could be nestled within that annual bill since at that point, they're going to want to buy some time to see where the war is going and how the counteroffensive is going, Cancian said By then, Ukraine will be planning its war strategy for 2024.

But more money isnt guaranteed, especially in this environment in Washington.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said it would be a mistake for the Biden administration to bank on an additional Ukrainian supplemental funding measure.

It looks like they're expecting some sort of a supplemental at some point  they're going to come back and ask for more money, Rubio said. I think thats a mistake. I think it should be in their baseline budget.
KHARTOUM, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Clashes continued on Monday between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with eastern parts of the capital Khartoum witnessing intense bombardment by the army's air force.

"A large logistical supply of weapons, ammunition and fuel belonging to the rebel militia has been dealt with in a qualitative operation that targeted some areas in Sharq Al-Neel (eastern Nile) locality and bases around the East Nile Hospital," the army said in a statement.

The statement said there were no civilian casualties during the operation, but the RSF said the bombardment resulted in the "death and injury of dozens of innocent citizens and the destruction of a large part of the hospital."

Also on Monday, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry condemned what it called the "RSF attacks" on a number of diplomatic missions in Khartoum.

"The Rapid Support Forces attacked and forcibly entered the diplomatic missions of the Kingdom of Jordan, the Embassy of South Sudan, the Embassy of the Republic of Somalia, the Embassy of the Republic of Uganda, the Military Attache of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Military Attache of the State of Kuwait," the ministry said.

The statement said that the RSF damaged documents and furniture, and stole valuables, including computers and diplomatic vehicles without regard to international law.

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission in Sudan on Monday issued a statement on the development of the situation in Sudan.

The commission condemned the use of air force and heavy weapons in the vicinity of civilian residences, which resulted in civilian casualties.

The commission further demanded the evacuation of all health and civilian facilities, urging the conflicting parties not to deal with these facilities for military purposes or as military targets under any circumstances.

On Sunday, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a report that at least 676 people have been killed since the clashes broke out on April 15.

According to the report, over 936,000 people have been newly displaced by the conflict since April 15, including about 736,200 internally displaced, and about 200,000 taking refuge in neighboring countries.

According to the United Nations, it is estimated that about 15.8 million Sudanese, or about one-third of Sudan's population, will need humanitarian aid in 2023, and the figure is likely to increase as a result of the war.

On May 11, the Sudanese warring parties signed in the Saudi port city of Jeddah the Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan to facilitate the delivery of emergency humanitarian aid and guarantee the safe evacuation of civilians.

However, the two sides accused each other of breaching the deal and continuing the armed clashes. 
 Ukraines Tvorchi gains one of the best results among Eurovision 2023 acts

Ukrainian electronic pop duo Tvorchi couldnt make it two wins in a row for Ukraine at this years Eurovision song contest, but came in a creditable sixth place at the final of the event in Liverpool, in the UK.





 Black Sea grain initiative talks end in Istanbul, no decision on extension reached

Negotiations on extending the Black Sea grain initiative, which allows for limited food exports from Ukraine despite an ongoing Russian blockade, have ended with no decision reached, Ukraines Reconstruction and Development Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov wrote on Facebook on May 11.





 No significant arms smuggling from Ukraine during war, EU says

The European Union has not observed any significant arms smuggling from Ukraine into Europe during the war with Russia, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said in an interview with Reuters on May 11.





 Ukraines Eurovision Wartime Playlist

You know all their Eurovision tunes  but have you heard what Ukraines Eurovision acts have been up to since Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022? Check out NVs definitive Eurovision Wartime Playlist to find out!





 Zelenskyy meets with Scholz and Steinmeier in Berlin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continued his visit to Europe with a visit to Germany on May 14, where he met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the Chancellor Olaf Scholz.





 Russian military helicopters and planes crash almost simultaneously in Bryansk Oblast, crews killed

Residents of Bryansk Oblast were witnesses to incredible incidents in the sky for a few minutes on May 13. Russian military helicopters and planes began to explode in the air and fall, and videos indicate that they were shot down.





Story continues

 Russian cruise missiles target Ternopil in overnight attacks

Russian troops attacked Ternopil Oblast with cruise missiles twice overnight on May 14, the head of the Ternopil Oblast Military Administration Volodymyr Trush reported on Telegram.





 Nighttime attack in Khmelnytskyi Oblast leaves at least 11 injured, air defense covers Kyiv and Lviv oblasts

Russia launched a new air raid on Ukraine on the night of May 13, hitting critical infrastructure in Khmelnytskyi Oblast, while the air defense systems were activated in Kyiv and Lviv oblasts. Details of the attack have emerged, including the consequences of the air raid.





 State-owned PrivatBank reports net profit for 2022, pays out dividends

PrivatBank, one of Ukraines largest banks, posted a net profit of UAH 30.2 billion ($817 million) for 2022  during the first year of Russias full-scale invasion, the bank said in a report on May 12.





 Ukrainian military prepares several options for upcoming counter-offensive, says Danilov

The Ukrainian military has prepared several options for an upcoming counteroffensive, National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) secretary Oleksiy Danilov said in an interview with Azerbaijani news agency Report on May 12.

 U.S. to deliver Abrams tanks to Ukrainian Armed Forces in early autumn, says Pentagon

The United States intends to deliver Abrams tanks to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in early autumn of 2023, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during congressional hearings on the 2024 U.S. defense budget on May 11.





 Zelenskyy says Ukraine is working to create fighter jet coalition

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's working trips to European capitals are partly aimed at creating a "fighter jet coalition" to provide modern jet fighters to Ukraine, he said at a press conference in Berlin on May 14.





 Scholz gives reasons for delay in Germany's provision of aid to Ukraine

Germany was weighing its decisions to provide aid or sometimes delayed them because of a "slightly different system in the country, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at a briefing in Berlin on May 14.





 Ukraine, Russia approaching a deal on Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, Reuters reports

Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, is expected to present a "deal between Ukraine and Russia" on ensuring the security of Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), Reuters reported on May 12, citing four unnamed diplomats.





 Ukrainian troops halt Russian advance, regain control in certain areas  Zelenskyy

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy chaired a military staff meeting on May 12 to discuss recent developments on the frontline of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he reported on Telegram.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
By Dan Peleschuk and Kylie MacLellan

KYIV/LONDON (Reuters) - Ukraine on Monday hailed its first substantial battlefield advances in six months as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy won pledges for new long-range drones in Britain to add to a haul of Western arms for a counteroffensive against Russian invaders.

Since last week, the Ukrainian military has started to push Russian forces back in and around the embattled city of Bakhmut, its first significant offensive operations since its troops recaptured the southern city of Kherson in November.

"The advance of our troops along the Bakhmut direction is the first success of offensive actions in the defence of Bakhmut," Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander of Ground Forces, said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.

"The last few days have shown that we can move forward and destroy the enemy even in such extremely difficult conditions," he said. "We are fighting with fewer resources than the enemy. At the same time, we are able to ruin its plans."

In its evening battlefield update on Monday, Ukraine's army General Staff said Russian forces were pressing efforts backed by heavy shelling to gain ground but had failed to advance around the village of Ivanivske on the city's western fringes.

The battle for Bakhmut has become the longest and bloodiest of the war and has totemic significance for Russia, which has no other prizes to show for a winter campaign that cost thousands of lives.

Over the past half year, Kyiv has dug in on the defensive while Moscow mounted its campaign, sending hundreds of thousands of fresh reservists and mercenaries into Europe's bloodiest ground combat since World War Two.

Kyiv is now preparing a counteroffensive using hundreds of new tanks and armored vehicles sent by Western countries since the start of 2023, aiming to recapture the sixth of Ukraine's territory Moscow claims to have annexed.

Zelenskiy met British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in London on Monday, the latest stop in a tour that brought him to Rome, Berlin and Paris over the past three days, pocketing major new pledges of weapons along the way.

Story continues

Britain, which last week became the first Western country to offer Ukraine long-range cruise missiles, followed that up during Zelenskiy's visit by promising drones that could strike at a range of 200 km (125 miles).

Sunak's government said it would soon start training Ukrainian pilots to fly fighter jets. French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with France's TF1 television that France was open to training Ukrainian pilots but he and Zelenskiy had not discussed delivering warplanes.

"I have not talked about airplanes. I have talked about missiles. I have talked about training," Macron said.

'PIVOTAL MOMENT'

Zelenskiy described the new weapons pledged by the Europeans as "important and powerful."

In a video address from a train taking him back to Kyiv, he said, "We are returning home with new military help. Newer and more powerful weapons for the front, more protection for our people. Greater political support..."

Sunak said the war was at a "pivotal moment" and Britain would remain steadfast. "It is important for the Kremlin to also know that we are not going away. We are here for the long term."

The Kremlin said it did not believe the added hardware would change the course of what it calls a "special military operation" to eliminate security threats posed by Kyiv's pursuit of ties with the West. Kyiv and Western backers call Russia's actions an unprovoked land grab.

Ukrainian forces drove Russian troops back from Kyiv a year ago, and recaptured ground in the second half of 2022, but have since endured a punishing Russian assault while waiting for arms to arrive.

Ukrainian officials are generally mum about details of offensives that are under way, but have reported substantial territorial gains on both the northern and southern outskirts of Bakhmut over the past week.

Moscow has acknowledged retreating north of the city, and the head of the Wagner private army fighting inside Bakhmut has said Russia's regular forces have fled positions on the northern and southern flanks.

Ukrainian officials portray the fighting in that area as localized advances, not the major counteroffensive yet to get under way.

A respected Russian news outlet's report on Saturday that four Russian military aircraft were shot down near the borders of Belarus and Ukraine was inadvertently confirmed by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko on Monday.

"Three days after the events near us - I mean in the Bryansk region, when four aircraft were shot down, we are forced to respond. Since then, we, our troops, have been on high alert," Lukashenko was quoted as saying at an air force command base, according to the Pul Pervovo Telegram channel, a state outlet that reports on Lukashenko's activities.

There was no official response from Ukraine. But Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Zelenskiy, on Saturday called the incident "justice ... and instant karma."

Belarus is a close ally of Russia, which used it as a launch pad for the invasion, though Lukashenko has insisted Belarus is not a party to the war and has not sent troops to fight alongside Russian forces.

(Writing by Peter Graff, Mark Heinrich and Patricia Zengerle; editing by Christina Fincher and David Gregorio)
(Bloomberg) -- Multiple explosions were heard in Kyiv early Tuesday, marking the eighth Russian attack on the capital this month.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The US will impose new sanctions against those involved in the transfer of drones from Iran to Russia that are being used in Moscows war against Ukraine, the White House said Monday.

The US believes Iran and Russia are readying a deal for additional drone sales, after many of the more than 400 pilotless aircraft already sent to the Russian military have been used to target infrastructure in Ukraine, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that he backed the idea of a coalition to provide Ukraine with Western-made fighter jets but didnt promise any UK planes. French President Emmanuel Macron said that he has opened the door for Ukrainian fighter pilots to be trained in France starting now.

Key Developments

Ukraines Supreme Court Under Scrutiny in Anti-Corruption Probe

UKs Sunak Backs Coalition to Send Fighter Aircraft to Ukraine

Russia Hosts Belarus Official With Lukashenko Out of Public View

Ukraine Says Tycoon Firtash Suspected of Embezzlement

South Africa Says Row With US Resolved After Investor Alarm

Russias Seaborne Flows of Crude Oil Climb to a New High

Putins War Revives Russias Dark Tradition of Informers

(All times CET)

Missiles Shot Down in Latest Russian Attack, Mayor Says (3:30 a.m.)

Air raid sirens were triggered across the country and multiple explosions were heard in Kyiv, the capital, early Tuesday.

Air defense systems shot down some of the missiles and debris set fire to several cars and damaged at least one building in the city, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram. At least three persons were injured in what was the eighth attack on Kyiv by Russian forces this month.

Story continues

Ukraine Supreme Court Is Focus of Graft Inquiry (12:40 a.m.)

Ukrainian investigators found large-scale corruption at the Supreme Court, amid pressure on Zelenskiys government to root out graft as a condition for joining the European Union.

Some judges on the court received illegal gains, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, or NABU, and anti-corruption prosecutors said, without giving further details.

NABU announced the investigation late Monday in a statement on Facebook. Calls to the Supreme Court made after business hours were not answered.

France Is Ready to Train Ukraine Fighter Pilots, Macron Says (9:03 p.m.)

President Macron told the TF1 TV network that French training for Ukrainian fighter pilots would be coordinated with other European countries and added that discussions are also ongoing with the US.

While not ruling out a change in approach, the US hasnt disavowed its position that providing Ukraine with fighter jets would be unnecessarily provocative. Macrons comments came a day after the French leader hosted Zelenskiy for a working dinner in Paris.

US Seeks to Restrict Western Components Used in Irans Drones (7:03 p.m.)

In addition to sanctions aimed at curbing Irans supply of drones to Russia, the US plans steps to help governments and businesses better understand how Iran is obtaining components for its drone program, Kirby, the National Security Council spokesman, said.

The US has also joined the European Union and the UK in imposing new restrictions to prevent Western components that have been found in Irans Orion drones from making their way into the country.

Russian Premier, Sanctioned Tycoons to Visit China Forum (4 p.m.)

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will lead a government delegation to China next week to attend a business forum along with sanctioned tycoons as Moscow leans on Beijing to help it withstand economic pressure over the Kremlins war in Ukraine.

Billionaire Oleg Deripaska has been invited to the Russia-China Business Forum in Shanghai on May 23, while fertilizer tycoons Andrey Guryev and Andrey Melnichenko, pipe maker Dmitry Pumpyansky and Alexey Mordashov of steel and mining giant Severstal, have also been asked to attend, according to people with knowledge of the plans. Deripaska wont be attending the forum, his spokesman said after publication of the original story.

UK Backs Coalition to Send Fighter Jets (3 p.m.)

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged support for a coalition to help provide Ukraine with a fleet of Western-made fighter jets, although he stopped short of promising actual aircraft during Zelenskiys visit.

Zelenskiy says his recent trip to Italy, Germany, France and Great Britain brought important agreements regarding military support, according to an emailed statement from his office.

Really important, powerful defense packages, Zelenskiy said.

Russia Hosts Belarus Official With Lukashenko Out of View (2:45 p.m.)

The foreign minister of Belarus begins a three-day visit to Moscow on Monday amid speculation about the whereabouts of the countrys long-serving President Alexander Lukashenko.

G-7 to Strengthen Russia Sanctions Enforcement (1 p.m.)

Group of Seven leaders plan to bolster their coordination in combating the circumvention of sanctions imposed on Russia when they meet in Hiroshima, Japan, later this week.

The impact of sanctions is highly linked to the quality of the coordination with our partners, be they in the G-7 or beyond, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said during a news conference on Monday.

The European Union is working on a new package of sanctions that would close loopholes and hit companies and countries that are helping Russia to obtain sanctioned goods. The bloc could ban goods from going to a certain country if theres clear evidence of them ending up in Russian territory, von der Leyen said.

NATO Needs to Devise Framework for Ukraine: Stoltenberg (12:52 p.m.)

NATO allies need to devise some kind of framework to prevent Russia from continuing to chip away at European security and re-invading Ukraine after the war ends, the alliances chief, Jens Stoltenberg said, declining to provide more details on what that should look like.

What I can say is that if NATO allies, and especially the big ones, start to issue security guarantees bilaterally to Ukraine, we are very close to Article 5, Stoltenberg told his predecessor Anders Fogh Rasmussen in a live interview at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit. Article 5 refers to the collective defense commitments allies enjoy once they are full members of NATO.

Stoltenberg said he would push allies to agree to a stronger defense investment pledge and said the goal to spend at least 2% of gross domestic production on defense is something that should be reached as soon as possible, immediately, without waiting as much as is necessary  the message should be that theres not another decade.

Asked about another potential extension to his role, Stoltenberg said he has made it clear he has no other plans than to leave this fall.

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Dmytro Firtash

The NV sources said the SBU and the ESBU are serving Firtash himself and eight top managers of his companies with charge papers today.

In addition, searches have been taking place at the properties of top managers of the oligarchs companies (the Regional Gas Company (RGC), Ye Energy) and regional gas companies since early morning.

Read also: Ukrnafta plans to launch gas station network, double production

The law enforcement officers have exposed a scheme according to which Firtash-controlled structures bought fuel from his company, but actually received 30% of the volumes.

The artificial deficit was covered using state gas. According to NV sources, the scheme caused losses to the countrys budget amounting to UAH 18 billion ($492.2 million) over seven years.

Earlier RCG dismissed its CEO Oleh Nykonorov, who reported about the scheme on his Facebook page on Feb. 18.

Read also: Ukraine sees natural gas price drop for fifth month in a row

RGC is owned by two offshore companies. Formally, RGC does not have a beneficial owner, but it has been linked to Firtash, one of Ukraines richest businessmen.

RGC is a technology company specializing in operational, production, engineering and R&D solutions for gas distribution. The enterprise oversees 20 gas distribution network operators (formerly regional gas companies) under the RGC brand.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Key developments on May 15:

Zelensky meets with Sunak, new defense aid from UK announced

Sunak promises UK will be a "key part" of the "fighter jet coalition"

Ukraine's military intelligence says around 152,000 Russian servicemembers preparing "defensive measures" in occupied Zaporizhzhia, Kherson oblasts

Key proxy official injured in explosion in occupied Luhansk Oblast

G7, EU plan stricter sanctions against Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelensky continued his European tour on May 15, arriving in the U.K. to meet with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and discuss further defense aid for Ukraine.

Leading up to Zelensky and Sunak's meeting, the prime minister's office announced that the U.K. would be providing Ukraine with hundreds of air defense missiles and long-range attack drones with a range of over 200 kilometers, all of which will be delivered over the next few months.



"We must not let (Ukraine) down. The front lines of Putins war of aggression may be in Ukraine, but the fault lines stretch all over the world. It is in all our interest to ensure Ukraine succeeds and Putins barbarism is not rewarded," Sunak said.

Appealing to the West for more advanced fighter jets has remained one of the Zelensky administration's top priorities. During a press conference after their two-hour meeting, Sunak acknowledged that supplying Ukraine with fighter jets would be "not a straightforward thing," but he said that the U.K. would be "a key part of the coalition countries," providing such support.

The U.K. will also launch a new basic training program for Ukrainian pilots aimed at enabling them to operate aircraft that differ from the Soviet-era models they are more familiar with.

Russian troop and proxy unease in occupied territories

Ukraine's military intelligence reported on May 15 that around 152,000 Russian servicemembers in the occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts are attempting to fortify defensive measures by strengthening existing fortifications and building new ones.

Story continues

Andriy Cherniak, a representative of Ukraine's military intelligence, said that the actions of Russian forces convey that they are aware they lack the resources to launch offensive measures.

"The only task before them is to maintain the positions they currently have. There is absolutely no question of any further offensive," Cherniak added.

Meanwhile, new explosions occurred in the occupied city of Luhansk. Russian state media reported that Igor Kornet, the so-called "acting interior minister" of Russia's proxies in Luhansk Oblast, sustained injuries following an explosion.



Proxy officials are calling the incident at a downtown barbershop an act of "sabotage," reportedly resulting in injuries to seven individuals.

Four of the individuals are now said to be in serious condition, including Kornet.

Ukrainska Pravda reported that one of their sources in law enforcement said that Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) was behind the explosion that targeted Kornet.

The agency hasn't responded to the accusation.

There have been multiple reports since the start of the full-scale invasion about fires, explosions, and other acts of sabotage within Russia and the Ukrainian territories occupied by Moscow.

This Week in Ukraine Ep. 5  Everything we know about Ukrainian attacks inside Russia This Week in Ukraine is a video podcast hosted by Kyiv Independents reporter Anastasiia Lapatina. Every week, Anastasiia sits down with her newsroom colleagues to discuss Ukraines most pressing issues. Episode #5 is dedicated to Ukrainian attacks deep behind enemy lines  on Russian soil, and i Kyiv IndependentAnastasiia Lapatina

Russian attacks continue in eastern, southern Ukraine

Russia continues to terrorize civilians in eastern Ukraine with daily attacks.



A missile strike on Avdiivka struck a hospital and killed four people, according to Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. Avdiivka has been targeted by attacks since Russia first invaded Donbas in 2014.

Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov also reported that two people were killed and one person was injured in the village of Dvorichna by Russian shelling.

Two men were also injured by shelling in the village of Lvove in Kherson Oblast, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

The city of Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast was once again targeted by heavy artillery fire, Governor Serhiy Lysak reported. As a result, a 14-year-old girl was hospitalized in stable condition with injuries. Two men are also being treated for less severe injuries.

Shortage of air defense missiles endangers Ukraines ability to fight off Russian attacks Over last winter, Ukraine successfully withstood Russias months-long campaign targeting energy infrastructure with barrages of missiles and drones. But that achievement came with a cost. Having shot down hundreds of Russian rockets and kamikaze drones since October, Ukraines Air Force is now fac Kyiv IndependentStanislav Storozhenko

G7, EU plan stricter sanctions against Russia

The Group of Seven (G7) countries and the European Union are devising more stringent sanctions to target Russian exports and third-party countries that assist Russia in circumventing existing sanctions.

Unnamed officials with direct knowledge of discussions told Reuters on May 15 that the planned sanctions "seek to undermine Russia's future energy production and curb trade that supports Russia's military."

The U.S. is also allegedly pushing for a broader ban on Russian goods "unless they are on a list of approved items."

The precise language of the sanctions is still being determined and is expected to be announced at the upcoming G7 summit in Japan on May 19-21.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that the EU's 11th sanctions package since the start of the full-scale invasion will likely expand the list of Russian goods that are banned from being transited through Russia.

It will also target countries that transport banned Russian goods, serving as "a warning" that the EU is "serious" about sanctions and could ban said goods from those third-party countries, von der Leyen added.
Ukrainian border guards shot down two Russian drones near Bakhmut on Sunday, 14 May.

Source: press service of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine

Quote: "At dawn, when [our] vigilance should, as invaders think, have dropped, they decided to try and reach their target using 2 UAVs at once."

Details: Border guards shot down both drones with an anti-drone gun.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
SOF WEEK Tampa Ukraine arms

Sitting at a small round table in the middle of the showroom floor at the SOFWeek special operations conference in Tampa last week, the representative of a Ukrainian company seeking weapons for his nations military sat down with The War Zone to talk about what Ukraine needs most.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, Igor talked about drones, optics, the challenges of developing a logistics chain for the wide array of armor donated to Ukraine and the frustrations of dealing with bureaucracy that can delay the fielding of equipment for months.

Some of the questions and answers have been slightly edited for brevity and clarity.

https://twitter.com/TheTampaCC/status/1656046640828956685

Q: What brings you here?

A: So, before I never visited the [Special Operations Forces conference], but this year, I know the Global SOF Foundation (GSOF) that organized the exhibition. I'm very familiar with the GSOF community. And that's why I want to come and see how everything's organized.

Q: What does your company do?

A: We provide some equipment to our [Defense Ministry] MoD, special operations forces, security services, and other different parts who are fighting against Russian aggression. Because under Ukrainian legislation, not all parts of the MoD have their own rights to procure by themselves. So sometimes they need some company in the middle.

And now, the import legislation in Ukraine became very, let's say opened. And after that, you could easily receive some necessary papers, which allow you to make an import. Export is a totally different story and more complicated. But if you're talking about imports, now, I'm thinking about maybe 60 to 100 Ukrainian companies could do some international trading and bring some necessary equipment to Ukraine.

Q: So you're basically serving as a front person to bring Ukraine weapons and other systems that you need?

A: Yes. You're right. So I'm trying to find something which is quite interesting. Then we help U.S. companies to organize some demo because if you bring something new, the first question from our military guy is like 'okay, I like it. But bring it here in Ukraine and I will test it.' Why is this necessary? Because you know, in Ukraine now it's a very hard electronic warfare situation. Russians are great at jamming GPS, radio signal, everything. So sometimes you have no LTE [long-term evolution or broadband communications network], no GPS, no radio communication systems, or nothing.

Story continues

And this is why the equipment - if you're talking for example, about drones - needs to be tested in the real battlefield where it goes to the bottom line and we have some place where we could switch off, switch on some Russian electronic warfare equipment which we have in our hands and test it but we could not make it outside of Ukraine. So that's why we asked all producers to bring such equipment to Ukraine make some tests and then we could send this equipment back. It's up to the producer.

https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1506306740421341193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1506306740421341193%7Ctwgr%5Ef73d6e7e1ad2945b0e52b553bce179b223226175%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2F44879%2Fukraine-just-captured-part-of-one-of-russias-most-capable-electronic-warfare-systems

Q: What kind of equipment are the Russians using to jam your equipment?

A: They have a lot and to be honest, they study very well. So they have an understanding of the waveform of radio waves and some other characteristics of this. I'm not a very big specialist on electronic warfare, but I know how it generally works. So they teach from time to time which signals they need to jam because you could jam everything but it's just for low distance. If you want to jam something special you need to be very accurate with this frequency rate, this waveform and everything.

So for example, they know for sure the Harris [radio] waveform and it's very dangerous for us because if they could identify the Harris waveform, Harris radio stations, and arrays - if they know the location, they could immediately hit this place.

Q: Because not only can they jam but they can detect it, and then they can hit the spot. And they know that.

A: For example, if we're talking about drone operators, yes. So if you will define where is the base station located, you could hit the operator.

Q: Is there a big problem of Ukrainian drone operators being attacked because the Russians have picked up their frequencies?

A: I have no statistics, but understand how this works. It's why I think it's happened. Because now we use a lot of drones and it's some information which was in some open sources, the average time for DJI Mavic on the battlefield, it's like three to five days. So what this means is we lose a lot of drones and we need to replace it... It's now not like something unusual, we use it and we lose it and we need to be all the time replacing different types of drones. Of course, if the drone is better and flies higher and it's more protected from jamming, its lifetime could be longer but you never know.

If you want to ask questions about what we need...

A: Yes

Q: So we need a lot of different types of drones because we now operate with FPV [First Person Video] drones, with Mavic drones and also with all other types of drones for ISR [information, surveillance, reconnaissance] for sometimes for some civilians, [trying to understand] where's the enemy located? And not just in an optic way, but in radio way because we could also scan some frequency and understand where this enemy is located.

https://youtu.be/u48wfBNdua8

So we need different types of drones and also we need a lot of kamikaze drones because drones [are cheaper to operate than rockets] which we dont have. We use kamikaze drones to penetrate some special objects, like for example, an S-300 [air defense] complex etc. etc. So for this reason we use such kamikaze drones because the price of this equipment that would be destroyed, compared to the price of drones, it's less than if you use the rockets. Rockets are quite expensive. Send a kamikaze drone? It could have accuracy like a rocket but cheaper.

The Spike family of loitering munitions, made by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, on display last week at SOFWeek in Tampa. (Howard Altman photo)

Q: Which kamikaze drones are you using?

A: All these commercially available on the market. Drones from Polish producers. Drones from U.S. producers. German ones as I remember. So every single one that is available. So of course we try to make something inside Ukraine and for this reason Ukrainian producers bought a lot of components on the market and then make some drones and put some explosive parts inside and sent it to [the Russians.]

https://twitter.com/Aviation_Intel/status/1504207339972227072?s=20

https://twitter.com/Aviation_Intel/status/1504208122658783235?s=20

Q: What have you seen at SOFWeek that you'd like to take back to Ukraine?

A: So we could talk about different producers from here because, you know, when you come to a producer and ask him, is it possible to buy tomorrow, usually they say no. And this is a big problem. You could just go to AeroVironment and ask them how many Switchblades could they produce and send to Ukraine? And the answer is just let's say honestly what we have right now. Boeing? They maybe have some ISR drones in stock, let's check. Anduril? Everything is still testing and they have just demos. So if we're talking about kamikaze, which is here available in the market, in not-so-big numbers... we are ready to procure as much as the whole world could produce.

https://twitter.com/aerovironment/status/1655989078624534528

Q: Can you talk about your procurement budget, how much you have to spend?

A: It's better to read some official information, but I know its average budget for drones, which United24 declared in some media, it's about $1 billion.

Q: So basically you are working with a pool of about $1 billion to procure drones?

A: It's drones that we could buy from local producers, and try to find something which is available on the market, and which is most productive. Producers are interested to come to Ukraine, to test the equipment on the real battlefield to make it battle-proof. And then they could expect some orders from our government. And I think all over the world.

Q: Can you talk about any specific companies that are going to be coming to Ukraine to test their systems?

A: Sorry, but better to get hold of them.

Q: Can you say how many companies are interested in coming to Ukraine to perform that testing?

A: So it's like three to five companies if you are talking about drones specifically from here.

Q: Were they surprised they would have to come to Ukraine to test their equipment?

A: They understand this. But sometimes it takes a lot of paperwork from both sides. Because bureaucracy in the U.S. and Ukraine, it's like, the same world. But sometimes it happens. People go for a test, the U.S. producer receives immediate feedback, then they come back, make the changes, and they are deployed again. So it's happened.

Q: Would you say you've been able to facilitate or speed up the process of bringing people over to Ukraine, to test their drones, by being here?

A: So when I'm here, I'm just explaining from our side, which options we have. How they could come to Ukraine, and which paper we need to fill out and depending on the type of drones, its going to be a little bit [of a] different story. But I explain to all producers interested in coming to Ukraine - it could happen with our help or someone elses help. Sometimes it could be done just due to GTG [government-to-government] channel work. So I'm explaining the whole possibility and trying to speed up this process. Yes.

Q: Are you able to talk about any other systems or products that you're interested in here?

A: It's also optical systems. The biggest projects should come from government to government. So if you're talking about large-caliber howitzer ammunition, a company like [General Dynamics], it should come from the government level. I'm trying to bring something which is not so huge, right? But which is more real.

Let's say this is why I'm interested in some different optics systems - thermal vision, binoculars, some type of lighter munitions, electronic warfare systems, some for civilians for when we try to find where the enemy is in an electronic way, let's say...

...

So some equipment which allows us to find the enemy. It's like the main point because we could not cover all markets and bring every single thing. So if we can try to concentrate on a few niches in which we have good portfolios and on which our clients have requested such equipment.

Q: Have you reached any deals here?

A: I've not come to the exhibition to sign some deal. It's like, day-by-day work, because sometimes you start emailing, but finally, you need to meet in person and discuss in person how you should move on to the next step. Because, you know, for us, it's quite a big problem. The compliance procedure could make you crazy. And, for example, if real military guys say okay, can you please get this system to the Ukrainian battlefield tomorrow for testing, I say yes. Okay. And if your boss or whoever says yes, okay, we will do it. But three months passed, and nothing happened. Because you need to know we need [a non-disclosure agreement] some [memorandum of understanding], compliance and due diligence and etc., etc., etc. So before the process of providing goods for tests can start, it takes about three months, maybe four months. And the military asks me why I am so slow and I try to explain how it works. It takes time.

Q: What is your military asking you to find?

A: The drone guys, especially, asked to bring more drones. So it depends. With the radio guys, they will ask to bring some new equipment.

Q: What are the SSO (special operations forces) asking for?

A: Radio communication systems, optical systems, drones. Because, again, they also need armored vehicles. And a huge problem for the Ukrainian military will be like, we have a zoo of armored vehicles, wheeled and tracked. Doesn't matter which ones and now, we faced this problem of spare parts. Because before we use just this number of armored vehicles, which were used to operate, and we know for sure which spare parts were needed at which time. But now it's like a mess.

https://youtu.be/xqDgn-qXr0E

Q: It must be a logistical nightmare to try to supply and maintain and service all these different vehicles from all these different countries.

A: Our military logistic forces are responsible for this. But now it's like a big zoo and you need from scratch to build a system to procure the right spare parts. And this is something which now happens and somehow we try to help them because you need to know English to speak to some producers or traders for this purpose. So it's a very complicated story.

https://twitter.com/haltman/status/1640518467492147201

Q: Are you involved in the procurement of spare parts as well?

A: We try to help to organize all logistic chains. Like volunteers, let's say, because I understand how important this is and military guys come to us and ask, 'please help because we don't understand how to make international contracts because they never faced this.' They usually contracted with Ukrainian producers but now they need to procure from abroad from the market. And for them, it's quite a big issue.

Q: What is the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence directorate (GUR) asking for?

A: Almost the same sort of things. They need the same equipment. They also use drones, electronics, rifles, ammunition, etc., etc. Yes, they are more flexible, because they sometimes procure something which is not in the service. Because our law allows them to procure just equipment that is in service in Ukraine. If they want to have something new for them, it's a big headache.

If you're talking about special operation forces, Defense Intelligence or security services, they have their own budget, and sometimes they are more flexible. For example, okay, I know this rifle, it's quite good. We need this. And they procure it through us or through some other company. They have more flexibility. And this is why they have the newest equipment.

https://twitter.com/militarnyi_en/status/1653328029408477184

Q: Can you talk about a specific weapon that has gone through this process?

A: I dont want to.

Q: So how close would you say that you are to actually procuring something for Ukraine after your visit to SOFWeek?

A: So, if it's a company we just meet here for the first time, something could happen, but like a minimum of four months or five months, because it's usually like this. If it's not a first meeting, if it's a second or third meeting, it could be a little bit faster. But again, almost every single thing I find here new, I need to bring it for testing. So it takes a few months to organize all this procedure.

Q: How frustrating and concerning is that, as Ukraine is talking about counter-offensive, and it's also still defending against Russians in Bakhmut and elsewhere in the Donbas also being attacked by drones and missiles constantly. From your point of view, how concerning is that long lead time of getting things to the battlefield?

A: Of course, it's not good, but we try to bring it, but against your [U.S.] due diligence systems and sometimes some compliance systems, it's very long so and from my experience, the fastest contracts, which we have, were about one month and a half, but it was one year ago. Now, everything is back to the normal life. And the fastest contract now, it's like, three, four months. It's from the point to which we're signing contracts. So all pre-contract works already happened. We agreed on price, terms of delivery and everything. And usually, normal terms of delivery is like three months.

Q: So just to get to that point takes months?

A: Three to four months.

Q: Just to get to that point and another three to four months for delivery? So thats a long lead time.

A: Yes.

Q: Can you talk about any of the systems that you've been able to procure that are now on the battlefield?

A: I dont want to.

Q: Are you going to see any trials for weapons systems?

A: Yes, some suppressor from one producer.

Q: Anything else?

A: We are interested in all kamikaze drones available on the market, so let's see. But here and especially for example the UMEX [trade show] in UAE we are just finding a lot of prototypes which are not tested and not battle proof so this is the problem.

Q: So thats not really helping.

A: Yes.

Q: So where else would you go to get some of this stuff?

A: We look at all markets, all different markets, all producers.

Q: Would you say it was helpful to be here at SOFWeek?

A: I think yes, but lets see in a few months.

Q: Again, nothing you have seen here will show up on the battlefield at best for another six months, right?

A: Let's see. Yes, maybe longer.

Q: What kind of ammunition are you interested in?

A: All ammunition is a point of interest. We are interested in smaller ammunition. So what is happening is that we are now switching from ex-USSR standard or non-NATO standard. We now switch to NATO standard. Each day, we receive fewer requests for non-NATO standard ammunition and we receive more requests for NATO standard ammunition.

Q: So are you also looking to procure NATO standard small arms as well?

A: I am not a big specialist in ammunition and rifles etc. So I'm working like with numbers, names. I received the list. I asked some company for a quotation, receive it, send it to customers, thats it.

https://twitter.com/military_cots/status/1655975987840942085

Q: You are also working with the Ukrainian National Guard?

A: We are trying to.

Q: The Azov Battalion?

A: We actually provide for them some optical systems like night vision systems.

Q: Sniper optics?

A: Not for them, but yes we have.

Q: What about helicopters? The GUR has a Black Hawk helicopter.

A: So helicopters are also very interesting, but it's a very expensive toy you know, and now the main point of interest is ammunition. Then we could talk about helicopters and other aircraft, but I think it should be done on the government level. What we show to all the world is that we are ready to operate with NATO standard helicopters. Now our pilots use helicopters, it shows to the world that we are ready to receive such type of equipment because world leaders told us they are not ready. We could not sell it to them because they need to teach pilots some of the stuff, they prepare, etc., etc. But we try to show to the markets that we are ready.

Let's bring this equipment to us on some government level and see.

https://youtu.be/wYFNaAWsWvI

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
Andriy Yusov

U.S. newspaper the Washington Post, in an article published on May 14, alleged that Prigozhin had offered to disclose Russian troop positions to Ukraine if Ukrainian forces withdrew from the ruined Donetsk Oblast town on Bakhmut, which Russia and Ukraine have been fighting over bitterly forthe best part of a year.

Such matters (as a deal with Prigozhin) will be discussed by the special forces when it is necessary and in accordance with Ukrainian national interests, Yusov said, adding that all possible efforts are being undertaken to protect and liberate Ukraine's territory.

Read also: Videos show Russian regular troops seeking to join Wagner, whats Prigozhin up to?

"Speaking of special services and intelligence, they use different means and tools. As for the particular fakes that are being officially investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice, I don't think we should comment on them," Yusov said.

Prigozhin allegedly made his proposal to the HUR at the end of January, but was refused by Kyiv. The Washington Post story was based on a leak of U.S. intelligence documents that hadn't been reported earlier.

Prigozhin allegedly had phone talks with HUR officers and even met them personally somewhere in Africa, according to the publication. His contacts with Ukrainian intelligence were confirmed by two Ukrainian officials on condition of anonymity.

Read also: Prigozhin offered to reveal Russian positions if Ukrainian defenders withdraw from Bakhmut  WP

Answering the Washington Posts question about possible affiliations between the HUR and Prigozhin in an interview earlier in May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that it was an issue of military intelligence and asked journalists about the sources of this information and who exactly they had been in contact with. He said that revealing such information would be classified as high treason. This part of the interview was deleted at first, but then restored.

Story continues

Prigozhin, in his turn, said that he hasn't been to Africa since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He said that either the Washington Post journalists were "trying to hype him up" or that "comrades from Rublyovka" (a prestigious Moscow suburb where many of the Russian elite keep luxurious houses) had launched a campaign against him.

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 Ukrainian artillery unit fires toward Russian positions on the outskirts of Bakhmut on December 30, 2022. SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty Images

A Ukrainian man put messages on artillery shells fired at Russian forces to honor his late grandson.

Yuriy Medynsky, 84, told The New York Times he paid around $13 for each message.

His grandson Maksym was 33 years old when he died fighting in the Kharkiv region last spring.

An 84-year-old Ukrainian man paid to write messages on artillery shells fired at Russian forces to honor his late grandson.

Yuriy Medynsky told The New York Times he paid around $13 for each message and repeatedly sent them to honor his grandson Maksym Medynsky, who was 33 years old when he died fighting in Kharkiv last spring.

"To Katsap hermits for Maksym Medynsky. Grandpa," one message read, according to the Times.

"I put in my message all the hate I feel for Muscovites," Medynsky told the Times.

Maksym Medynsky's widow, Tetyana Medynska, told the Times that she has also paid to send multiple messages as a "tiny bit of revenge" against the Russians following the country's invasion of Ukraine last year.

"When I send money for the message on the bombs, I feel some kind of psychological relief," she told the Times.

The money raised from these artillery messages can be used for a variety of purchases, including military vehicle repairs, one unit told the Times.

RevengeFor.com, a donation fund, takes money for these artillery messages.

These inscriptions can be on "a projectile, bomb, or rocket, which will target the Russian army," their site reads.

Read the original article on Business Insider
During the day, the Ukrainian army hit an ammunition storage point, a control point, two areas of concentration of manpower, three artillery units in firing positions and two electronic warfare stations of the Russian troops.

Source: General staff on Facebook

Details: In addition, the Air Force of the Ukrainian Defence Forces carried out seven strikes on the areas of concentration of Russian personnel and military equipment during the day, as well as seven more on Russian anti-aircraft missile systems.

At the same time, during this period, Russia launched two missile attacks on Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast, using S-300 air defence systems. In addition, Russia carried out 38 air strikes and more than 25 attacks from multiple-launch rocket systems.

The Russians continue to focus their primary efforts on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka fronts  37 military confrontations occurred. Bakhmut and Marinka remain at the epicentre of fighting.

Russia continues to conduct offensive operations on the Bakhmut front. Heavy fighting for Bakhmut continues. In addition, during the day, Russia conducted unsuccessful offensive operations on the village of Ivanivske.

On the Marinka front, units of the defence forces repelled numerous Russian attacks near the city of Marinka.

The General Staff also said that to strengthen control over the population of occupied Crimea, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation conduct raids on railway and bus stations. Crimean Tatars are subject to priority inspection.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






HANOI, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Banks in Vietnam have rushed to raise funds this year, with many issuing stocks or offering stakes to strategic partners as the size of their loans and deposits is determined by registered capital, Vietnam News reported on Monday.

The country's top four lenders, state-run Agribank along with three partly privatized lender Bank for Investment & Development of Vietnam (BIDV), Vietcombank and Vietinbank, are rushing the head of the line of banks looking to raise registered capital this year.

BIDV, Vietnam's largest partly privatized lender by assets, is set to raise its registered capital by 21 percent to 61.2 trillion Vietnamese dong (2.6 billion U.S. dollars) this year via dividend payments and a share issue.

Hanoi-based BIDV would distribute 6.07 trillion dong (257 million dollars) of shares to existing shareholders as dividends and sell 4.55 trillion dong (192.5 million dollars) through either private placement or public offering.

Vietcombank, the largest lender by market value, got in line too, saying that it plans to sell a maximum of 2.77 billion shares over the years of 2023-2024 to raise its registered capital by 58.5 percent to 75 trillion dong (3.2 billion dollars).

Vietinbank, or Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade, is about to raise its registered capital by 37.3 percent to 66 trillion dong (2.8 billion dollars) via dividend payments.

Meanwhile, the government would fund 17.1 trillion dong (723 million dollars) to the capital boost of state-run Agribank by 50 percent to 51.5 trillion dong (2.2 billion dollars).

Despite the fact that the current bearish stock market has made it tougher for Vietnamese lenders to meet their targets, other smaller commercial banks have announced plans to raise registered capital by trillions of dong.

VPBank, or Vietnam Prosperity Joint Stock Commercial Bank, sold a 15-percent stake for 1.5 billion dollars to Japanese financial group Sumitomo Mitsui in March in an attempt to raise its capital by 17.7 percent to 3.4 billion dollars.

The central bank has consistently told banks to raise their registered capital as part of a strategy to strengthen the banking system.

Larger minimum risk-based capital requirements would give lenders more flexibility to cope with difficulties and expand lending and other essential banking services, said experts. 
KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine's state security agency has served businessman Dmytro Firtash and top managers of companies he controls with "notices of suspicion" of embezzlement, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said in a statement on Monday.

The SBU said that, acting with the Economic Security Bureau (BEB), it had uncovered the alleged theft of up to $485 million between 2016 and 2022 as part of a "large-scale scheme" involving Ukraine's gas transit system.

"Effectively we are talking about the embezzlement of money from ordinary Ukrainians who paid their utility bills," the statement said.

A statement issued by Firtash's company, Group DF, "firmly and categorically" rejected all the allegations as without legal foundation and "part of an ongoing campaign of corrupt pressure directed at its business operations."

It said the company and its legal advisers "will vigorously defend the interests of its businesses, personnel, and the shareholder in both Ukrainian and international courts."

The statement said Group DF had suffered losses linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and "will continue to support the defence effort against the Russian aggression."

While fighting Russia's invasion, Ukraine has also been seeking to reduce the political influence enjoyed by some businessmen since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The European Union has also made tackling corruption a priority for Kyiv as it tries to join the wealthy bloc.

Ukraine imposed sanctions on Firtash last June, accusing him of selling titanium products that Kyiv said ended up being used by Russian military enterprises. Firtash denied the allegations.

Firtash, 58, rose to wealth and influence in Ukraine but has been indicted in the United States on bribery and racketeering charges. He denied wrongdoing and has fought extradition from Vienna.

(Reporting by Dan Peleschuk in KyivEditing by Ron Popeski, Timothy Heritage and Matthew Lewis)
Ukrainian soldiers prepare to fire artillery shells toward Russian positions in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine, July 29, 2022. (Mauricio Lima/The New York Times)

TORETSK, Ukraine  The Ukrainian artilleryman was all set to slide the explosive shell into a launcher and send it on its way toward Russian positions  but first he had to take care of one last thing on his checklist.

For Uman, he scrawled on the side of the projectile with a felt-tip marker.

Then he ducked away as it roared off on a fiery trajectory to the front line.

Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times

Uman is the Ukrainian city where more than two dozen civilians were killed last month in a Russian rocket attack. But it is hardly the only city Russia has attacked, and the message on the shell was also only one of many.

After more than a year of war, Ukrainians have a lot to say to Russia, and many have chosen to say it on the sides of rockets, mortar shells and even exploding drones. Thousands of messages have been sent, ranging from the sardonic to the bitter, among them one from Valentyna Vikhorieva, whose 33-year-old son died in the war.

For Yura, from Mom, Vikhorieva asked an artillery unit to write on a shell. Burn in hell for our children.

Vikhorieva said her son, a Ukrainian soldier, was killed last spring by a Russian artillery shell.

I will never forget, she said in an interview. And he will always be my boy.

It is more than just venting.

Charity groups and even the military have seized on the desire of Ukrainians to voice their anger as a mechanism to raise funds  never mind that however well-crafted the messages, the Russians are unlikely ever to read them. The shell cases, of course, generally explode into smithereens. And if they hit their target, their intended recipients may be in no condition to appreciate them.

But for some Ukrainians, it still feels like justice, if only symbolically, said Victoria Semko, a psychologist, who works with people who endured the brutal Russian occupation of Irpin, a suburb of Kyiv.

People are in pain because of the loss, personal and national, Semko said. It is normal when aggression is directed at the guilty parties.

Story continues

The cost of the messages vary. They are essentially a mechanism for encouraging donations, and people are asked to give what they can. Revenge For, one of the groups behind the campaign, says it once got a donation of $10,000. But sometimes there is no charge at all.

It is not just Ukrainians who have paid for messages. The groups behind the campaign say people from Eastern Europe still angry over the long years of Soviet rule have also written in. Oleksandr Arhat, a co-founder of one group raising money for the military through the messages, Militarny, offered some examples.

There was the writer from Israel who wanted to avenge the torture death of a grandfather by Soviet Internal Affairs. There was the Czech who wanted to commemorate the Prague Spring of 1968, when the Soviet army put down protests. Russians Go Home wrote a Hungarian denouncing the Soviet invasion of his country in 1956.

But most of the message requests have come from within Ukraine, Arhat said.

One retiree, Yuriy Medynsky, 84, said he had drawn on his meager benefits to send a message not once but repeatedly to honor his grandson, who was 33 when he was killed fighting in the Kharkiv region in the spring of 2022.

To Katsap hermits for Maksym Medynsky. Grandpa, he wrote, using an epithet for the Russians.

I put in my message all the hate I feel for Muscovites, Medynsky said. He paid about $13 for each message.

His daughter-in-law, Tetyana Medynska, Maksyms widow, has also sent repeated messages.

Personally for me its a tiny bit of revenge, she said. I do not imagine killing someone particular, as they are all guilty, all Russians who came to Ukraine. They have no faces for me. When I send money for the message on the bombs, I feel some kind of psychological relief.

Some have struck a tone of irony.

When my friend got married, she asked to write her maiden name on the mortar, to say farewell to it, said Pvt. Vladyslav, a soldier at a mortar position outside the town of Toretsk, in eastern Ukraine.

He himself once sent a message: I congratulated my mom on her birthday this way, Vladyslav said.

At that moment, he was preparing an 82 mm mortar with a message from a comrade, Pvt. Borys Khodorkovsky, who was celebrating his 50th birthday at the front.

I want those devils to know that I am here, and want them to feel bad, Khodorkovsky said. Psychologically, I know that this mortar will hit something and fewer of my brothers in arms will die, and fewer Russians will shoot at us.

But most messages seethe with unvarnished fury.

For the destroyed childhood, wrote Dmytro Yakovenko, 38, a pharmacist. He has two daughters, 11 and 14. The family lived through a harrowing bombardment and then evacuation of their hometown, Lozova, in the Kharkiv region.

My daughters childhood is destroyed, he said. I want Russians to know why this mortar is flying their way.

The unit that fired the mortar with a message for Vikhorieva, whose son was killed fighting, is a small one. Its members say that they have used the money raised by selling messages to repair vehicles, and that they have fired more than 200 personalized mortar shells to date.

I feel uneasy when a person orders a message for the loss of a loved one, and I know that nothing will change, said Ihor Slaiko, the commander. But I still sign them.

His men dutifully inscribe the words onto the shell  and then send them toward Russian lines with a boom.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
(Reuters) -Ofcom, Britain's communications regulator, said it launched an investigation on Monday into Royal Mail's failure to meet delivery targets over the past year, adding it would consider imposing a financial penalty.

Royal Mail blamed union disputes that led to strikes for its failure to meet the targets for the year to end-March, 2023.

In its quality of service report released on Monday, Royal Mail said that 73.7% of first class mail was delivered within one working day, compared with a universal service obligation (USO) target of 93%.

"In deciding whether the company is in breach of its obligations, we will consider if there were any exceptional events  beyond the company's control  that may have explained why it missed its targets," Ofcom said in a statement.

"If it does not provide a satisfactory explanation and we determine that Royal Mail has failed to comply with its obligations, we may consider whether to impose a financial penalty."

Ofcom opened a similar investigation last year over the company's performance in the 2021-2022 year. Royal Mail blamed disruptions related to the pandemic, while the regulator concluded the company was not in breach of its regulatory obligations.

A total of 18 days of strikes by Royal Mail postal workers between August and December cost the parcels and postal company more than 200 million pounds ($252.42 million).

"We are disappointed with our quality of service performance and restoring our service to the high standards our customers expect is our top priority. We will participate fully with any Ofcoms investigation," Royal Mail said in an emailed statement.

Shares in parent company, International Distributions Services Plc (IDS), were down about 1% in afternoon trade.

The investigation comes as Royal Mail has also been struggling in the past year with disruption to its international services caused by a cyber attack, falling parcels volumes and a slide in letters.

Story continues

Its CEO Simon Thompson plans to step down later this year, IDS said last week.

($1 = 0.7923 pounds)

(Reporting by Eva Mathews in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Anchal Rana; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Sharon Singleton)
Welsh in-space manufacturing startup Space Forge has developed a satellite reentry system to enable rapid recovery and reuse of its in-space manufacturing spacecraft.

The new system, which includes a heat shield and a water vehicle designed to soften the spacecrafts landing, will be incorporated into the companys in-space manufacturing satellite platform called ForgeStar.

As opposed to ablative heat shields, like those used on SpaceXs Dragon capsule, which require replacement after each mission, Space Forge says it built its Pridwen heat shield to be large enough to radiate away the heat generated by atmospheric reentry. The shield, made out of a high-temperature alloy, was designed to fold inside the launcher for lift-off and unfold when the spacecraft makes its return to Earth.

Moving away from ablative heat shields is one way Space Forge hopes to set itself apart from its competitors.

Its old technology, Space Forge co-founder and chief technology officer Andrew Bacon explained. The idea of ablative heat shields, something that eats itself as it returns, its [1950s] technology.

Image Credits: Space Forge

The company has also developed an uncrewed water vehicle, Fielder, which will maneuver itself under ForgeStar and catch it in a soft landing. The idea is to reduce stress on sensitive payloads inside the vehicle as much as possible, while also reducing the need for spacecraft refurbishment.

Space Forge is one of a handful of companies vying to be among the first to exploit the potentially astronomical market for materials made in space. The five-year-old startup has ambitious plans to enable the fabrication of semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, certain alloys and more. While astronauts on the International Space Station have proven that these materials can be manufactured in orbit, manufacturing them at scale -- and returning them to Earth -- has yet to be achieved.

Image Credits: Space Forge

The space station is a great laboratory, but its not a factory, Bacon said. Nor is in-space manufacturing as simple as turning a Dragon capsule, the most-used cargo and crew vehicle in history, into an orbital factory. The capsule simply isnt optimized for it -- on cost or engineering, he explained.

Story continues

SpaceX have done fantastic work in reducing the cost of launch, but they havent really reduced the cost of return, he said.

In addition to cost, the mechanics of Dragons reentry could pose problems for some materials, like live biological cultures. Weve spoken to biological customers whove lost their three-year in-development experiments in the last millisecond of landing, due to the high-shock of landing, Bacon explained.

The company says it's on-track to launch its inaugural mission this year. That mission, whose customer is the European Space Agency as part of its Boost! Commercial Space Transportation Services program, will demonstrate Space Forges manufacturing technique and prove out other key technologies, including safe reentry technology. While Bacon declined to specify the potential launch date or launch provider, he did say that the company chose a U.S. launch provider with proven flight heritage.

The company first attempted to launch a spacecraft on Virgin Orbits January mission from Cornwall, U.K., but that payload -- and everything else -- was lost when Virgins launcher experienced an anomaly and failed to reach orbit.

Space Forge closed a $10.2 million seed round in 2021, co-led by U.S.-based firms SpaceFund and Type One Ventures, and Berlin-based World Fund. Space.VC, Starbridge Venture Capital, Quiet Capital, Kencoa Aerospace, Trousdale Ventures, Newable Ventures, Dylan Taylor and FJ Labs also participated.

As for the companys next funding round? Expect an announcement soon, Bacon said.
By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. aid chief said on Monday efforts will continue in coming days to extend a deal allowing the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain, a pact Russia has threatened to quit on May 18 over obstacles to its grain and fertilizer exports.

The final two ships are due to leave Ukrainian ports on Tuesday under the Black Sea deal, said a U.N. spokesperson.

"Continuation of the Black Sea Initiative is critically important," Martin Griffiths told a U.N. Security Council meeting on Ukraine. "We will continue to call on all to meet their responsibilities as the world watches us very closely."

The U.N. and Turkey brokered the Black Sea agreement in July last year to help tackle a global food crisis that has been aggravated by Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, one of the world's leading grain exporters. At the same time, the U.N. agreed to help Moscow facilitate its own agricultural shipments.

Griffiths met in Istanbul last week with senior officials from Russia, Ukraine and Turkey but there was no Russian agreement to extend the Black Sea deal.

"These efforts will continue and focus in coming days," Griffiths said on Monday.

A Ukrainian foreign ministry official said on Monday that no additional talks were planned this week.

Russia has issued a list of demands regarding its own agricultural exports that it wants met before it agrees to an extension of the deal.

"It is disgusting that Russia still pretends to be on the losing side of the deal," Ukraine's U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya told the Security Council.

AMMONIA

Russia's demands include restarting a pipeline that delivers Russian ammonia to a Ukrainian Black Sea port, which the United Nations has been pushing for.

"The (Black Sea) Initiative refers to the export of ammonia, but this has not yet been realized," Griffiths said.

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused Ukrainian officials at a Joint Coordincation Center (JCC) in Istanbul - which oversees implementation of the deal - of refusing to discuss restarting the ammonia pipeline. Ukraine's Restoration Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Story continues

While Russian exports of food and fertilizer are not subject to Western sanctions imposed following the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Moscow says restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance have amounted to a barrier to shipments.

"While Russia keeps Ukrainian grain supplies from feeding the hungry, Russia is successfully exporting its own bumper crop of grain," Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood said. "Russia must stop holding global food security hostage to its cynical power plays and profit-taking."

'CRUCIAL'

Nebenzia again complained that not enough poor countries were benefiting from the Black Sea grain deal. Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to deliver Russian grain and fertilizers free of charge to African countries.

Some 30 million metric tonnes of grain and foodstuffs has been exported from Ukraine under the deal, including nearly 600,000 metric tonnes of grain for World Food Programme aid operations in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Yemen. The U.N. has also said the deal helped bring down global prices.

"Food exported under the Black Sea Initiative  and food and fertilizer exports from the Russian Federation  continue to make a crucial contribution to food security at a global level," Griffiths said.

Ukraine had been putting forward daily a list of ships to be authorized by the JCC. Once approved, ships are inspected by JCC officials near Turkey before traveling to a Ukrainian Black Sea port via a maritime humanitarian corridor to collect their cargo and return to Turkish waters for a final inspection.

Along with the final two ships due to depart Ukrainian ports on Tuesday, there are another two vessels in transit back to Turkey and another eight ships waiting for outbound inspection near Turkey. No new ships have been authorized since May 4.

In an excerpt of a letter seen by Reuters last month, Russia told its JCC counterparts 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."

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols Additional reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Mark Potter)
The election season has begun. The probable front runners for their partys candidate for President have announced their campaigns. In both houses of Congress the margin of control can be counted on one hand. The lines between the parties and their attendant policies are clearer than they have been since the Civil War.

Our local elections are the bedrock of our democracy. Your vote matters. People have sacrificed their lives and livelihood so that you will have the opportunity to vote on Tuesday.

Around the community

Last week, See Yourself at 3 Dots celebrated art, artists and YOU. Lauren Steinberg and Lori Bedell from Happy Valley Improv hosted and DJ Elbow Knee Knee spun discs while local artists created self-portraits in all media. Carolyn Donaldson, Terry Watson and myself served as judges. Bri Wiegand took first place for a mixed performance on an electronically modified xylophone. Coconut Wolf won second sharing an original spoken word rap. Recent Penn State graduate David Arevalo was awarded third place for his creative video presentation, Un Atorretrato. Joe Bell and Jon Vickers Jones were honorable mentions. 3 Dots has emerged into an important community organization. Over the last year they have engaged over 36,000 neighbors, generated $900,000 in downtown economic impact. They have awarded 59, $1,000 grants, hosted 6,500 open hours, and collaborated with 150 artists and 60 community partners. They were awarded Best Community Space by State College Magazine.

The event took place during the Centre Gives campaign. 3 Dots Coordinator Erica Quinn announced that they had received a matching grant of $10,000 as well as winning a bonus for soliciting the most pledges during Power Hour. The 12th annual event raised a record $2,316,315 through 15,213 gifts to more than 200 organizations.

On Friday, in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, WPSU, Procter & Gamble and Penn State sponsored a livestream discussion, Whats in A Name. The panel included Clarabelle Lin, a first-generation Chinese American and Penn State alum who is executive director for Online Education Strategy and Business Development at Penn State World Campus. Yea Yun Chow is a senior brand director at Procter & Gamble with more than 21 years of experience in building brands; she led the creative development of Procter & Gambles The Name campaign. Nalini Krishnankutty is the Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Program Manager in Penn State Human Resources, a first-generation Indian American and Penn State alum. Her TEDx talk on How Immigrants Shaped the United States is used in classrooms around the country. Janet Luong, an Asian born Chinese, is a senior brand director at Procter & Gamble with over 10 years of experience in consumer health marketing. Youngeun Kim is head of equality & inclusion at Procter & Gamble IT with over seven years of experience as a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion leader in various capacities.

Story continues

The Jana Marie Foundation held its annual JAM Fest celebrating mental health awareness in the Martin Luther King Plaza on Saturday. Co-sponsored by Mount Nittany Health, Tides, GP Audio, The Meadows and PeerStar, there were over 20 vendors and five performing acts. The AAUW will continue its annual used book sale at the Snider Ag Arena through Tuesday.

Monday at 7 p.m. Centre Stage will present One Night on Broadway at the Penn State Downtown Theatre. Directed by Penn State alumni Robert W. Schneider, with music direction by Jordon Cunningham and choreography by Catherine DeLuce, the show will feature current Broadway and Penn State musical theater alumni: Matthew Hydzik (The Cher Show), J Savage (Bad Cinderella), Lexi Rhoades (Black Nativity) and more.

And on May 21, the newly formed Centre County Interfaith Coalition for Gun Safety will hold a screening of Armor of Light at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. A discussion will follow.

On Tuesday, go vote. Our democracy depends on it.

Charles Dumas is a lifetime political activist, a professor emeritus from Penn State, and was the Democratic Partys nominee for U.S. Congress in 2012.
On the latest episode of Under the Dome, The News & Observers politics podcast, for the week of May 15, 2023, host and state Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan interviews state Sen. Mary Wills Bode.

Bode is a freshman Democratic senator representing Granville and northern Wake counties. Shes also an attorney and former director of North Carolinians for Redistricting Reform.

And she, like every other member of the Senates Democratic caucus, debated Senate Bill 20, the abortion restrictions bill, before it passed the General Assembly. Bode talked about how much, and little time, Democrats had to talk about the bill, which came and went within a few days before it passed the legislature.

This is a big deal, for North Carolina. Its very important to our constituents, its important to our state. And so I think we all felt very strongly about having an opportunity to ask questions, speak on the bill, debate the bill, because we hadnt been afforded that opportunity previously, in in the typical process that usually happens with legislation, Bode said.

N.C. Sen. Mary Wills Bode, a Granville County Democrat, pictured in her Legislative Office Building office before recording the Under the Dome podcast.

Bode also talks about what she thinks will happen with the expected veto override vote this week.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper held a rally in downtown Raleigh on Saturday to veto the bill. The Senate could hold its override vote as soon as Tuesday, followed by the House if the override is successful. Republicans have supermajorities in both chambers, which is enough votes to overturn a veto.

Bode also talks about why she ran for office and her familys history working in politics and government.

I grew up in a political household, Bode said.

She explains why she sits where she does on the Senate floor.

Headliner of the Week

Like everyone else who spends time in the Legislative Building, Bode has her picks for what to get for lunch  and where to find snacks.

Stay tuned to the end for Bode and Vaughans choices for Headliner of the Week and preparing for the week ahead.

Listen to our latest episode below and catch up on previous episodes. You can also listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Audible, iHeart, Pandora, Amazon Music and Stitcher.

Now you can also watch video of our Under the Dome podcast on our N&O YouTube page under the Under the Dome playlist.
Traveling carnivals are a summertime staple like baseball and funnel cake. But they can also be a magnet for trouble as Bensalem police experienced Friday night.

After what police called unacceptable activity in and around the annual fair at the Neshaminy Mall, Bensalem police announced new crackdowns for the rest of the 10-day run, which ends May 21.

"This was by far the worst night we've seen with disorderly conduct," Bensalem Director of Public Safety William McVey said. Bensalem Police will have a zero-tolerance policy as it relates to criminal activity of juveniles and adults who attend this year's carnival."

Here is a look at the changes and why.

Bensalem police have implemented safety procedures at the annual carnival at the Neshaminy Mall after reports of unruly behavior among teens on May 12, 2023.

Did you know this about traveling fairs? Carnival workers not covered under Pennsylvania criminal background checks

What happened at the Neshaminy carnival?

Bensalem police responded to the carnival for multiple incidents Friday night involving dozens of juveniles fighting and acting disorderly, according to McVey. As a result of the conduct, police closed the carnival operations at 9 p.m.

Social media posts, including videos and photos, showed crowds of teenagers and young adults running around the fairgrounds.

Around the same time police were responding to reports of juveniles fighting at the carnival, they received a report of a juvenile who was robbed and pistol-whipped in the mall parking lot near the carnival site.

Responding officers saw a juvenile who matched the description of a suspect, McVey said. The suspect and two others with him ran from police. The juveniles were later caught across the street at the St. David cemetery after police deployed a drone and canine officer.

One of the juveniles had an active warrant for robbery charges out of Philadelphia, McVey said. He was transported to Edison Juvenile Detention. The investigation is continuing into the alleged robbery. The victim was treated and released from a local hospital, McVey said.

Story continues

Bensalem police have implemented safety procedures at the annual carnival at the Neshaminy Mall after reports of unruly behavior among teens on May 12, 2023.

What are the changes police made at the Neshaminy carnival?

Bensalem police and carnival management made changes in fair operations including installing a fence around the perimeter of the fairgrounds. Other changes implemented as of Saturday for the duration of the fair.

All carnival visitors must use a single entrance point where all guests will be subject to identification checks.

Anyone under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is at least 21 years old. Fair guests should be prepared to show valid identification (with picture and date of birth) such as a drivers license, state identification card, military ID, passport or visa to enter.

The carnival will close at 10 every night.

There will be an increased presence of Bensalem police officers and carnival security officers. Bensalem police doubled the number of uniformed officers it posts, McVey said. The cost of officer overtime is paid by Dreamland Amusements.

Generally admission to the fair is free, but after 5 p.m. Dreamland may require a wristband or ticket purchase to enter the premises to allow for crowd control for paying guests.

No further incidents have been reported at the carnival since the changes were implemented Saturday, McVey said. Carnival operators were told if the modifications did not work, the fair would be shut down permanently.

"The safety of patrons and the community are the number one priority of the township," McVey said.

Bensalem police have implemented safety procedures at the annual carnival at the Neshaminy Mall after reports of unruly behavior among teens on May 12, 2023.

More about 2015 arrest at fair Carnival worker accused of filming up Bensalem shopper's skirt

Have Bensalem police had other problems at the Neshaminy carnival?

During the carnival's run in 2013, a ticket booth operator was charged with double-charging credit cards for customers buying ride tickets. She was charged with theft by deception and receiving stolen property but skipped down before her case was heard.

In 2015, Bensalem police arrested a Dreamland Amusement carnival worker for using his cellphone to film up the skirt of a female shopper at the Boscov's store at the Neshaminy Mall, hours before the kickoff of the fair. The 34-year-old defendant pleaded guilty to invasion of privacy and he was sentenced to three to six months in jail.

Fair worker arrested for theft in 2013 Fines, background checks proposed for Bensalem carnival operators

More: A crash, a death, a mystery in Levittown. What happened to Josh Louder?

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Neshaminy Carnival has new rules in Bensalem after unruly incidents
Diamonds in a bloody setting. Why does the West hesitate to impose sanctions on metals and gemstones from Russia?

European Union countries have banned or restricted imports of Russian oil and oil products, coal and natural gas over the past year. These are the core but by no means the only sources of the Kremlin's income.

Apart from the rather sensitive issues of grain and fertiliser sales, some Russian goods are not usually mentioned in sanctions packages. These are metals and gemstones.

The Ekonomichna Pravda estimates that exports of these two products to Western countries still bring the aggressor country an additional US$20 billion annually.

These revenues are scattered across a dozen different types of metals and precious stones, but Russian companies use these crumbs to raise tens of billions of dollars to finance the war in Ukraine.

Diamonds for Belgium

UN Comtrade estimates that Russia supplied nearly US$1.5 billion worth of diamonds to the Western market in 2022. 95% of this volume ended up with buyers from Belgium, as Antwerp is home to the world's largest diamond hub. The famous diamond district of this city sees gemstones from all over the world.

Antwerp diamond quarter. Diamond masters, brokers and exchanges have been concentrated there for centuries.

Photo: GETTY IMAGES

However, not all diamonds in Belgium are of Russian origin. The aggressor country accounts for only 25% of gem supplies, but the EU has not yet imposed any restrictions on the procurement of this product.

Representatives of the diamond industry in Antwerp oppose the sanctions, as the ban on Russian gems will allegedly lead to the bankruptcy of small traders and the loss of 10,000 jobs.

Addressing the Belgian parliament in 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tried to convince local authorities that "peace is worth more than any diamonds". The Belgian government stressed that it wasnt blocking the embargo, but the country managed to avoid measures against Russian diamonds in each sanctions package.

Story continues

The Belgian money from the sale of diamonds goes to the Russian government-owned Alrosa PJSC. The group is one of the large "wallets" from which the Kremlin fuels the war against Ukraine.

Alrosa has avoided Western sanctions so far. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan have imposed restrictions only on the company's management. Meanwhile, the EU and Switzerland seem in no hurry to impose even personal sanctions against the companys executives.

Previously, Alrosa paid taxes for the use of its deposits to the budget of its region [the Republic of Sakha, Federal Subject of the Russian Federation, located in the countrys Far East  ed.], but in 2023, Russias State Duma [lower chamber of the Russian parliament  ed.] raised them and ordered to charge 50% to cover the federal budget deficit.

In addition to using Alrosa's resources for the war effort, the group supports the maintenance of the submarine that bears its name. The Alrosa diesel-electric submarine is part of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and features Kalibr cruise missiles.

Photo of the B-871 Alrosa submarine

Alrosa is not only a financial source but also a geopolitical tool for Putin's conquest of Africa. The group has diamond mines in Angola, Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It also targets the Central African Republic, where Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Private Military Company have been operating. Along with Russian investment in these countries comes an influence on local politicians.

Nevertheless, Belgium continues to pump money into Alrosa. The country reduced imports of Russian diamonds last year, but only by a quarter.

Chart. Countries to which Russia sells diamonds

Antwerp is worried that if an embargo is imposed, Russia will redirect their diamonds to competitor hubs in India, the UAE and Israel.

"If Belgium does agree to sanctions, it will want to coordinate the embargo against Russian diamonds with other Western countries. The plan is to create a system to track the origin of diamonds and ban countries from buying diamonds made from Russian commodities.

Then Indian and Arab hubs will not be able to make money on the sale of toxic Russian diamonds, and Belgium will benefit from the sale of "proper" diamonds," Svitlana Taran, an analyst at the Kyiv School of Economics, told EP.

The Financial Times reported that Belgium allegedly agreed to impose sanctions, but as Ukrainian representatives stated, the final decision has not yet been made.

"The draft of the 11th package of sanctions, which was presented on 9 May, does not contain a single word about the diamond embargo," said a source familiar with the following package of sanctions against Russia.

Whilst Belgium and the European Union negotiate, Russia is gaining time to develop its markets in India and the UAE. Every day of delay makes a potential embargo lose its impact.

Platinum for Western vehicle manufacturers

Russia also offers platinum group metals. Their exports to Western countries brought the country US$3.8 billion in 2022. In contrast to diamonds, there is no discussion of an embargo on them at all.

For reference: The platinum group metals include ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium and platinum. They are mainly used in the automotive industry.

Platinum and palladium sales bring in the most revenue for Russians. The main importers in the West are the US, the UK, Germany and Italy.

Chart. Which Western countries buy the most Russian platinum

Russian Platinum and Norilsk Nickel are two Russian companies, the major profit earners. The latter is one of the favourite "toys" of Putin's oligarchs.

Norilsk Nickel is controlled by Vladimir Potanin, Russia's second-richest man. The company is one of Russia's five largest taxpayers, and Potanin himself is an oligarch close to Putin. The second major shareholder in Norilsk Nickel is United Company RUSAL, belonging to oligarch Oleg Deripaska, one of the wealthiest people in Russia. It has been implicated in scandals involving Russian interference in the US election.

Both oligarchs are currently under personal sanctions from many countries, but each owns less than 50% of Norilsk Nickel, so these sanctions do not apply to the company itself.

The EU, Switzerland and Japan have not yet imposed personal sanctions against Potanin. The latter also does not impose restrictions on Deripaska.

The sanctions may shake Norilsk Nickel. According to EP's sources in the company, the group faced a shortage of Austrian equipment in 2022. This forces its management to look for alternative equipment suppliers of "questionable quality", which cost 70% more.

The air travel ban and the growth of the Russian rouble have hit the supply chain and forced the company to seek additional working capital. Norilsk Nickel may cut platinum production by 1-7% and palladium by 7-14% in 2023. The company's Board of Directors recommended that shareholders not pay dividends for 2022 for the first time in 15 years.

However, the Russian steel giant seems to have avoided a catastrophe. The company is gradually shifting its focus to China and continues to generate revenue in Western markets, financing the federal budget.

The only countries that have taken steps to reduce Russian platinum revenues so far are the United States and the United Kingdom. These countries have imposed additional duties but have not set an embargo.

Non-ferrous metals for the EU

Exports of aluminium and copper to Western countries brought Russia US$6.7 billion. Almost all of the metal was exported to the European Union. The largest beneficiaries are the same, particularly Rusal, Norilsk Nickel, and Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company (UMMC), whose owner, Andrey Kozitsyn, is a member of Putins United Russia political faction.

These metals are used in the production of electric vehicles, so demand for them is steadily growing.

Chart. Which Western countries buy the most Russian non-ferrous metals

The European Union is still procuring copper and aluminium from the aggressor country, although it is not heavily dependent on it. Imports from Russia account for only 8% and 17% respectively.

At the same time, Russia sends a quarter of its aluminium and about a third of its copper to the EU. So, a potential embargo would hit Russia harder than the EU.

However, the only significant dependence is on Russian nickel, making up almost half of the EU's imports and US$3.8 billion of the aggressor's revenue. Most of this metal is bought by Finland, where Norilsk Nickel has built Nornickel Harjavalta, a subsidiary processing facility.

Titanium for the USA and Germany

Western countries bought US$365 million worth of Russian titanium in 2022. Aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing purchased the majority of the volume for their plants in the US and Germany.

VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation, which receives Western money from selling titanium, serves the Russian military industry. It supplies titanium to produce armoured vehicles, combat aircraft and missiles.

VSMPO-AVISMAs facilities are strategic for the Russian military-industrial complex, so the company should have been sanctioned as an arms manufacturer. However, so far, only Ukraine has done so.

In 2022, Russian titanium was pulled off the sanctions list at the last minute, as the countries that manufacture Airbus aircraft wanted it so.

Chart. Countries to which Russia sells titanium.

The US Boeing has abandoned the Russian titan. Airbus intends to do the same. To this end, the European airline giant and its partners have acquired French titanium supplier Aubert & Duval. However, the ban has not yet been imposed at the country level, so exports continue.

Steel and iron for everyone

The Russian ferrous metallurgy industry has been repeatedly included in sanctions packages, but Western countries have not been able to completely abandon Russian iron, steel, ore and ferroalloys. Russias exports of these products to the West amounted to US$5.3 billion in 2022.

The largest pig iron producer in Russia is Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant (NMP), owned by oligarch Vladimir Lisin. In December 2022, journalists of the Times discovered that Lisin's company supplied steel for Russian nuclear weapons.

Nevertheless, Lisin and his company have not yet been subject to Western sanctions, and Russian pig iron and ferroalloys have remained outside the embargo. They account for 28% and 4% of EU imports, respectively.

Only Ukraine and Australia have imposed sanctions on Vladimir Lisin so far.

The European Union has reduced its imports of Russian iron ore by four times but still purchases it. The EU paid US$600 million to Russia in 2022 alone. At the same time, the share of Russian ore in EU imports is insignificant  only a few percent.

Chart. Which countries buy the most Russian ore, steel, cast iron and ferroalloys

The eighth package of EU sanctions imposed an embargo on the import of Russian ferrous metals, but it will only take effect from 30 September 2023 and for some items from 2024.

The decline in steel production in Russia in 2022 did not meet the expectations of the countries that imposed sanctions. GMK Center stated that the Worldsteel Association expected a 20% drop in April 2022, but the decline was only 7%.

Time matters

Critics of tougher sanctions argue that Russia is shifting its goods to Asia and will still make money anyway. Svitlana Taran believes that India and China will not wholly replace the vast and logistically close market of the G7 countries, so this excuse is misleading.

Chart. How much Russia earns from selling diamonds and metals to Western countries

Sanctions remain a highly effective tool if they are imposed without exception.

The timing of the embargo also matters. The longer the embargo is delayed, the more time Russia has to partially shift its products to Asian markets. Revenues from Western countries also allow Russians to finance the "war budget" during the hottest war period.

The Russian extractive and processing industry has been increasing production of certain goods despite the sanctions pressure, said Lidiia Lisovska, an analyst of the ANTS project Russian Assets as a Source of Economic Recovery in Ukraine.

Russia's production of stainless-steel ingots in the first quarter of 2023 was 132.6% up on the same period in 2022. Production of lead concentrates, alloy steel ingots, powdered silver, aluminium wire, unprocessed titanium, zinc and magnesium increased considerably.

Ukraine can also encourage the West to impose an embargo on Russian metals and gemstones by offering its goods to the European market. First of all, uranium, titanium, ore and ferroalloys, Ostap Semerak, former Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, told EP.

"If Ukraine is included in strategically important production chains, it may make the Germans and the French care more about our protection. To do this, government officials should offer specific investment projects. Investors will not come in on their own," he said.

The EU managed to quickly abandon most of the Russian gas in 2022 thanks to the rapid mobilisation of resources and investment in infrastructure, although its dependence on it was 40%.

The same "miracle" can be achieved with a number of other non-sanctioned goods if Ukraines allies pay due attention.

"So far, we do not see our partners' commitment to fully sanction Russian diamonds, platinum, non-ferrous metals and ferrous metallurgy. These are billions of dollars of revenue that Russia uses to create weapons. To cut off these flows, we need joint decisive actions, not delays or exceptions," Vladyslav Vlasiuk, advisor to the Ukrainian Presidents Office, told the EP.

The story was created within the framework of the ANTS project "Russian Assets as a Source of Recovery of the Ukrainian Economy", implemented in cooperation with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) with the financial support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).



Bohdan Miroshnychenko for Ekonomichna Pravda

Translation: rtem Yakymyshyn


Photograph: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images

Last week, the Biden administration toughened its stance against migration at the US-Mexico border through a new federal regulation that severely restricts access to asylum. This Circumvention of Lawful Pathways rule effectively replaces the Title 42 public health order, which Donald Trump introduced ostensibly to stem Covid-19 but has functioned increasingly as an immigration enforcement tool, allowing border officials to quickly expel migrants without the chance to request asylum in the US. Title 42 ended on 11 May.

Related: Calm prevails at US-Mexico border after Title 42 migration restrictions lifted

The new regulation means people fleeing their home countries because of unlivable violence and instability are rendered ineligible for asylum unless they can meet one of a handful of exceptions.

As a result, the US will probably return many more vulnerable people to dangerous situations. The rule is being challenged in federal court by advocacy groups.

What does the rule do?

Generally, the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways rule means those traveling through a third country before reaching Mexico and the US-Mexico border will be presumed ineligible for asylum, with limited exceptions. In practice, most nationalities seeking American protection will be disqualified from asylum if they reach the southern border by land or water and cant overcome a presumption of asylum ineligibility.

Who will be ineligible for asylum?

Those requesting asylum in the US now will generally be presumed ineligible unless they or their accompanying family member can show they:

already have permission to enter through a parole process approved by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

use a DHS scheduling system like CBP One  a recently developed government phone app  to secure a coveted appointment to present themselves at an official border port of entry. Or show up at a port of entry and meet a very high bar for why they couldnt use the scheduling system.

have sought protection in another country en route to the US and been denied it.

Story continues

Mexicans typically dont transit through another country before reaching the border, so they are generally exempt from the new rules presumption of asylum ineligibility, though historically Mexicans in US immigration court have especially low rates of being granted asylum. Children who migrate unaccompanied by a parent or legal guardian may seek asylum, unaffected by the regulation.

For others, even if they pass initial screenings for protection, they still face the presumption of ineligibility during their full immigration court proceedings. Theres the opportunity for rebuttal, but the chance of success is probably slim.

Why cant all asylum seekers just comply with the stated exceptions?

In practice, the exceptions are weighted against the worlds most at-risk people. They are:

Exception one: permission to enter. The Biden administration is offering specific parole processes, allowing up to 30,000 people total from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Haiti and Cuba to enter each month.

But those people must obtain a passport, fly to the US and find a US-based sponsor who will support them financially.

The government also recently announced more or improved family reunification parole processes for Colombians, Salvadorians, Guatemalans, Hondurans, Cubans and Haitians who already have approved, family-based petitions for green cards. These are invitation-only and apply to relatively few migrants.

Exception two: CBP One appointments. The CBP One app offers a very limited number of daily appointments to begin the asylum process. Users  who need a smartphone  have reported glitches and deficiencies, causing frustration for those waiting on the Mexican side of the border.

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has made some changes but the roughly 1,000 available daily appointments still cant meet demand.

Exception three: unsuccessfully sought protection elsewhere. Joe Biden has referred to the greatest migration in human history across the western hemisphere, driven by political instability or dictatorship, economic calamity, natural disaster and violence. Yet many of the countries that asylum seekers pass through overland on their way to the US are potentially dangerous places from which local residents are already simultaneously fleeing, and where poor travelers are targets for criminals. Conditions in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador have sent many thousands to the US.

And asylum systems in places such as Mexico, Costa Rica and Colombia are already under significant strain, which this federal regulation could exacerbate.

Why cant people just wait in Mexico for an asylum appointment in the US?

When a previous Trump-era policy  the Migrant Protection Protocols, also known as Remain in Mexico  stranded people at the border, there were more than 1,300 reports of rape, kidnapping and other attacks. Since Biden took office, there have been approximately 13,500 reports of migrants and asylum seekers facing similar violence after being blocked in Mexico or expelled there under Title 42.

Meanwhile, more than seven in 10 women in Mexico have experienced gender-based violence amid a decades-long femicide crisis.

What about other forms of protection?

Asylum seekers may still qualify for other, lesser, protections, for example for victims of torture. But, especially with the stresses endured on the way to and at the border, and during expedited processing, many will struggle to make their case.

What are the other hardline rules at play?

The Biden administration has also expanded the use of expedited removal, in which people are rapidly deported and given a five-year bar to re-entry; threatened potential criminal prosecution for those attempting to re-enter the US after being removed; expedited initial asylum screenings  called credible fear interviews  in border facilities, conducted by telephone soon after apprehension and with limited access to an attorney, also only by telephone; increased removal flights; and made an agreement in which Mexico accepts certain deported non-Mexicans.

Together they make it far more difficult for asylum seekers with legitimate claims to access protection in the US.

What about US and international law?

Domestic law says that any non-citizen arriving in the US or already there  regardless of immigration status or how they entered  has a right to seek asylum. And the US is bound to international treaties protecting the rights of those fleeing specific kinds of threats. Accordingly, under federal law the authorities cannot return people to places where they face persecution or torture.

The Circumvention of Lawful Pathways rule inherently challenges these principles by potentially sending asylum seekers with legitimate claims back to danger. Attorneys for the union representing 14,000 US Citizenship and Immigration Services employees, including asylum officers, had urged Biden to rescind it, so that officers do not become complicit in violations of US and international law.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has also protested.

Alexandra Villarreal is a policy and advocacy associate at the National Immigration Forum, and this Q&A is a condensed version of an explainer published here
HANOI, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The Vietnamese government has set a target of expanding the size of the economy of the Mekong Delta, a key agricultural base of the country, by between 2 and 2.5 times by 2030, Vietnam News reported on Monday.

The Mekong Delta, home to a fifth of Vietnam's population, is expected to grow 6.5-7 percent a year on average over the 2021-2030 period, according to the government's action plan on socio-economic development in the region towards 2030 and vision to 2045.

The government is planning to pour 320 trillion Vietnamese dong (13.5 million U.S. dollars) into the region in the 2021-2025 period, up 23.3 percent over the 2016-20 period, said the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

An additional 140 trillion dong (5.9 million dollars) from the state budget will also be set aside for the development of the Mekong Delta, the ministry added.

The funds will be funneled into inter-provincial and inter-regional projects, including those on infrastructure and adaptation to climate change, especially routes connecting the region with the country's southern economic hub Ho Chi Minh City and the Southeastern region, Vietnam News quoted Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, as saying.

The Mekong Delta is the most important agricultural production area in Vietnam as the region grows half of the country's rice output, supplies 90 percent of its annual rice exports, and is the source for most of Vietnam's seafood exports, according to its Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

However, the Vietnamese Mekong Delta is recognized as one of the areas worldwide most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In recent years, drought and saline intrusion into the region have become increasingly serious.

Under the action plan, the government would invest a large sum of funds to battle flooding, land erosion, droughts, and saline intrusion in the region. 
Members of civil society take part in a candlelight vigil in memory of victims who died in 2002 religious riots in Gujarat, in the Indian state's capital Ahmedabad on February 28, 2023

The United States wants India to condemn persistent religious violence, a senior official said Monday, one month before a state visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The State Department on Monday released an annual report on religious freedom which listed attacks against religious minorities including Muslims and Christians in the billion-plus nation led by Modi's Hindu nationalists.

A senior US official, briefing reporters on the report on customary condition of anonymity, spoke of India's "vast potential" and said he was "saddened" by the persistence of religious violence.

"Regarding these concerns, we're continuing to encourage the government to condemn violence and hold accountable (those) who engage in rhetoric that's dehumanizing towards religious minorities," the official said.

The official promised to speak "directly" with Indian officials and said: "We'll continue to work very closely with our civil society colleagues on the ground (and) with courageous journalists that are working every day to document some of these abuses."

The State Department report, based on direct research as well as accounts by media and advocacy groups, pointed to concerns about home demolitions against Muslims and public flogging by police of Muslims accused of injuring Hindus in the state of Gujarat.

New Delhi has long hit back at American criticism on religious freedom, particularly by the autonomous US Commission on International Religious Freedom, which earlier this month once again recommended that the State Department put India on a blacklist over its record.

Later this year Secretary of State Antony Blinken will list "countries of particular concern" on religious freedom but it is virtually certain he will spare India, with which the United States has been building warmer relations for decades, partly as a bulwark against China.

Blinken, presenting the report, did not mention India as he voiced alarm by actions by authorities in China, Iran, Myanmar and Nicaragua.

"We defend the right to believe -- or to not believe -- not only because it's the right thing to do, but also because of the extraordinary good that people of faith can do in our societies and around the world," he said.

sct/mlm
Rohit Chopra, Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Sarah Silbiger/The Washington Post/Getty Images

A US debt default could spike borrowing costs and should concern everyone, a consumer watchdog says.

Democrats and Republicans have remained locked in an impasse over raising the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen had warned the US could run out of money as soon as June 1.

The ongoing US debt ceiling debate should concern everyone, the head of America's top consumer watchdog told CNN last Thursday.

That's because borrowing costs on everything  from credit cards to car loans and mortgages could spike if the US defaults on its debt, cautioned Rohit Chopra, the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB.

"It's a big worry. Every family should be concerned," Chopra told CNN.

The Democrats and Republicans have remained locked in an impasse over raising the country's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling  which means the US could run out of money as early as June 1, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned Kevin McCarthy, the Speaker of the House, last Monday.

The federal government relies on debt  raised from selling bonds  for its spending. The US debt serves as a key benchmark for different types of credit, and hence, a default could have a domino effect on the domestic and global economy.

"If global investors do not think that is completely safe, all of us will end up paying for it," Chopra told CNN, referring to the US government debt. "A lot of things we assume are part of our financial fabric would get ripped away," he added.

Chopra's comments joined similar warnings from experts such as Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase's CEO, and other Wall Street executives over the dangers of not raising the US debt ceiling.

The debt ceiling impasse has even elicited some Hail Mary pass solutions. Some economists even touted a trillion-dollar coin platinum coin that could be deposited to pay off the debts until a more permanent solution emerges, Insider's Juliana Kaplan and Ayelet Sheffey reported.

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Dimon told Bloomberg TV in a Thursday interview that a default "is potentially catastrophic." While Dimon said he doesn't expect the US to default on its debt, investors could get jittery closer to the deadline should the situation remains unresolved.

"The closer you get to it, you will have panic," Dimon told Bloomberg. "Markets will get volatile, maybe the stock market will go down, the Treasury markets will have their own problems."

The CFPB did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The FBI lacked "actual evidence" to investigate Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and relied too heavily on tips provided by Trump's political opponents to fuel the probe, U.S. Special Counsel John Durham concluded in a report released on Monday.

The report marks the end of a four-year probe launched in May 2019 when then-Attorney General William Barr appointed Durham, a veteran prosecutor, to probe potential missteps by the FBI when it launched its early stage "Crossfire Hurricane" inquiry into potential contacts between Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and Russia.

That Crossfire Hurricane investigation would later be handed over to Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who in March 2019 concluded there was no evidence of a criminal conspiracy between Trumps 2016 campaign and Russia.

In his new 306-page report, Durham concluded that U.S. intelligence and law enforcement did not possess any "actual evidence" of collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia prior to launching Crossfire Hurricane.

He also accused the bureau of treating the 2016 Trump probe differently from other politically sensitive investigations, including several involving Trump's Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

For instance, he said Clinton and other officials received defensive briefings about being the possible targets of foreign interference, whereas Trump received no such briefing before the FBI opened probes into four members of his campaign.

"The Department and the FBI failed to uphold their important mission of strict fidelity to the law in connection with certain events and activities described in this report," Durham wrote.

"Senior FBI personnel displayed a serious lack of analytical rigor towards the information that they received, especially information from politically affiliated persons and entities."

In response to the report, the FBI said it has already implemented dozens of corrective actions that have been in place for some time.

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Durham's report was released to Congress on Monday without redactions, after it was delivered to Attorney General Merrick Garland on Friday. House Judiciary Committee Republican Chair Jim Jordan said on Twitter he has invited Durham to testify about his report next week.

Durham's findings are likely to become political fodder for Trump, who is planning to run for re-election in 2024 despite facing criminal charges in New York and two federal investigations by Special Counsel Jack Smith that are looking both at Trump's retention of classified records and his role in efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Trump had hoped Durham would release his report ahead of the 2020 election, in what he thought would be a blow to President Joe Biden's campaign. Trump said on social media on Monday he was pleased with the results of Durham's report.

But Durham's investigation has largely failed to produce meaningful impact, after two separate juries acquitted both defendants he tried to prosecute in 2022.

In one case Durham brought, a Washington, D.C. jury acquitted Hillary Clinton's former campaign attorney Michael Sussmann on charges he lied to the FBI when he met with the bureau in September 2016 to share a tip about possible communications between Trump's business and a Russian bank.

Durham's investigation was dealt yet another major set-back just a few months later, when a jury in Virginia acquitted Russian researcher Igor Danchenko of charges that he lied to the FBI when he was interviewed about the sources of information he provided that became part of a document known as the "Steele dossier."

That document, penned by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, made allegations about ties between Trump's 2016 election campaign and Russia and contained salacious details - many of which were never substantiated.

An investigation by the Justice Department's inspector general later found that the FBI improperly continued to rely on unsubstantiated allegations in the Steele dossier when it applied for court-approved warrant applications to monitor the communications of Carter Page, a former Trump campaign adviser.

Durham did secure a successful guilty plea against former FBI attorney Kevin Clinesmith, who was singled out in the inspector general's report, for altering an email that was used to justify a government wiretap application for Page.

Durham's report on Monday echoed many of the concerns the inspector general previously raised about the rigor of the FBI's process for applying to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court for wiretap applications.

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; additional reporting by Doina Chiacu and Jasper Ward; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
(Bloomberg) -- The US Supreme Court will consider reinstating a Republican-drawn congressional map in South Carolina in a case that could help determine which party controls the House over the next decade.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The justices said they will review a lower courts conclusion that the GOP-controlled South Carolina legislature engaged in unconstitutional racial gerrymandering when it redrew the states seven congressional districts after the 2020 census.

A three-judge panel said that for South Carolinas 1st District, lawmakers established a target of 17% Black voters, shifting tens of thousands of African Americans out of the district to hit the goal. The configuration left the GOP with a comfortable majority in the Charleston-based district, which elected Republican Representative Nancy Mace in 2022.

South Carolina Republicans led by Senate President Thomas Alexander said the panel, which consisted entirely of Democratic appointees, made a series of legal errors. The appeal contended the lower court failed to look holistically at the entire district and should have presumed that lawmakers were acting in good faith.

Republicans say they were motivated by politics, which is permissible, not race.

The South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP sued to challenge the map, saying the legislature ignored traditional redistricting principles to dilute Black voting power. The group said a person cant drive from one end of the coastal district to another without going through the neighboring 6th District.

Both sides said that if the court decided to take up the case, it should put it on a fast track to get a ruling by the beginning of next year.

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Since South Carolina picked up a seventh congressional district after the 2010 census, Republicans have held a 6-1 majority every election cycle except for one. Democrat Joe Cunningham won the 1st District in 2018, before losing to Mace two years later.

The case is Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference, 22-807.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
By Blake Brittain

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc's challenge to a $235 million award to GlaxoSmithKline LLC in a patent dispute over generic drugs involving a heart medication.

The justices turned away Israel-based Teva's appeal of a lower court's ruling reinstating the jury award for U.K.-based GSK. The case involves "skinny labels," which allow generic drugmakers to avoid patent lawsuits if a generic drug's label omits potentially infringing uses of a brand-name drug.

GSK sued Teva in Delaware federal court in 2014 over its generic version of GSK's heart drug Coreg. Teva argued that it followed U.S. Food and Drug Administration instructions to "carve out" from its label a patented method for using the drug to treat heart failure.

A jury awarded GSK $235 million in 2017. A judge then overturned the verdict, but the patent-focused U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reinstated it in 2020. The Federal Circuit affirmed after a rehearing last year that Teva's label, combined with its marketing materials, encouraged doctors to prescribe the generic in a way that constituted patent infringement.

Teva, in its appeal, told the Supreme Court that the ruling would cause "havoc" and discourage the use of skinny labels, which it said are "extraordinarily common" and "save patients and the federal government billions."

President Joe Biden's administration also urged the Supreme Court to hear the case, arguing that the Federal Circuit's decision created "significant uncertainty" for generic drugmakers.

GSK responded in a court brief that the case "presents no threat to generic companies who operate properly under the law."

A Teva spokesperson said the company was disappointed with the Supreme Court's decision but has other defenses it will present at the Delaware court.

A GSK spokesperson said the company was pleased with the decision.

(Reporting by Blake Brittain; Additional reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Will Dunham)
By John Kruzel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a bid by South Carolina officials to revive a Republican-crafted voting map that a lower court said had unconstitutionally "exiled" 30,000 Black voters from a closely contested congressional district.

The justices took up an appeal by South Carolina officials of a federal judicial panel's ruling that found the Republican-drawn map had deliberately split up Black neighborhoods in Charleston County in a "stark racial gerrymander" and ordered the district to be redrawn.

Gerrymandering is a practice involving the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to marginalize a certain set of voters and increase the influence of others. In this case, the Republican legislators were accused of racial gerrymandering to reduce the influence of Black voters.

Legislative districts across the United States are redrawn to reflect population changes documented in the nationwide census conducted by the federal government every decade. South Carolina's Republican-controlled legislature adopted a new voting map last year following the 2020 U.S. census.

In a major blow to election reformers, the Supreme Court in 2019 rejected efforts to rein in gerrymandering done for partisan advantage, finding that federal judges do not have the authority to curb the practice. Alleged race-based gerrymandering can be challenged in federal courts but the Supreme Court, which has a conservative majority, has rolled back protections over the past decade.

In the South Carolina case, the map at issue set new boundaries for the state's 1st congressional district, which for almost four decades had consistently elected a Republican to the House until 2018, when a Democrat secured what was widely seen as an upset victory. In 2020, Republican Nancy Mace won the district by just over 1 percentage point.

In redrawing the district last year, Republicans moved more than 30,000 Black residents in Charleston County to the neighboring majority-Black 6th congressional district, which for more than 30 years has been represented in the House by Representative James Clyburn, a Black Democratic legislator.

Story continues

The Republican map resulted in a 1st district with a larger percentage of white, Republican-leaning voters. Mace, who is white, won re-election by 14 percentage points last November under the district's new configuration.

The state conference of the NAACP civil rights group sued in 2022, arguing that several House districts created under the map were designed at least in part with "a racially discriminatory intent to discriminate against Black voters in violation of the U.S. Constitution."

A federal three-judge panel in January ruled that the way the 1st district was drawn violated the rights of Black voters under the Constitution's 14th and 15th Amendments, which guarantee equal protection under the law and prohibit race-based voting discrimination.

The strategies employed in drawing the district boundaries, the panel wrote, "ultimately exiled over 30,000 African American citizens from their previous district and created a stark racial gerrymander of Charleston County and the City of Charleston."

The judges - all three appointed by Democratic presidents - ruled that no elections could take place in the 1st district until it has been redrawn, prompting the South Carolina Republican officials to appeal to the Supreme Court.

South Carolina NAACP and Taiwan Scott, a Black voter who lives in South Carolina's 1st congressional district, on Monday urged the justices to uphold the lower court's ruling.

"South Carolina's congressional map is the latest instance in our state's long, painful history of racial discrimination that must be remedied," they said in a statement. "As the case moves to oral argument, we implore the court to uphold the panel's decision and protect Black South Carolina voters from this egregious form of discrimination."

The case will be heard during the Supreme Court's next term, which begins in October.

Redistricting in most states is carried out by the party in power, though some states assign the task to independent commissions to ensure fairness. Gerrymandering typically involves packing voters who tend to favor a particular party into a small number of districts to diminish their statewide voting power while dispersing others in districts in numbers too small to be a majority.

In another case involving redistricting and race, the Supreme Court is weighing Alabama's appeal of a lower court's ruling that a Republican-drawn electoral map setting the boundaries of the state's seven U.S. House districts unlawfully diluted the influence of Black voters. A decision in the case is expected by late June.

(Reporting by John Kruzel; Editing by Will Dunham)
By David Lawder and Susan Heavey

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary on Monday dismissed the idea of minting a platinum coin as a way to avoid a U.S. default, saying the only workable solution was for Congress to raise the federal debt ceiling.

Asked in a National Public Radio interview about the possibility of minting a $1 trillion platinum coin to circumvent the debt ceiling, Adeyemo said "creative, inventive" ideas have been floated in the past but are not workable.

"What I can tell you is the only thing that we can do that will maintain our credibility for investors in the United States, our credibility with the people who we've made commitments to, is for Congress to raise the debt limit," Adeyemo told NPR's 1A program.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also has rejected the idea of a platinum coin to skirt the debt ceiling and fund government expenses. Treasury was given the authority to mint platinum coins in any denomination in a 1997 law meant to allow the U.S. mint to raise revenue by issuing collectible coins.

Adeyemo said a default would harm the U.S. and global economies for years to come, raising borrowing costs and making people less willing to invest in dollar-based assets.

The debt ceiling standoff was already having an impact on the U.S. economy, Adeyemo said, hurting the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment surveys "because the American people are starting to worry about whether the government is going to pay the bills."

He repeated a Moody's Analytics estimate that a default would cost the U.S. around 8 million jobs and lead to recession.

"So it would, in lots of ways, throw our economy off track and throw the global economy off track in a way that would impact America a great deal not just for the next several weeks, but for years to come," Adeyemo said.

(Reporting by David Lawder and Susan Heavey; editing by Jasper Ward and Chris Reese)
EXCLUSIVE: British Foreign Minister James Cleverly, in an interview with Fox News Digital, underscored the need for the U.K. and U.S. to remain united on key issues, including the potential nuclear threats of Russia and Iran.

"Preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon remains an absolute priority in U.K. foreign policy," Cleverly said. "Weve worked very, very closely with the members of the Quad, France, Germany, the United States  in imposing sanctions, and obviously we know very closely what we're doing in conjunction with the International Atomic Energy Agency to prevent Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon."

Cleverly stressed that it "will always be a U.K. foreign policy priority" to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon." He also criticized Russia, insisting that "nobody is threatening nuclear weapons use against Russia" and that "the rhetoric is only coming from Vladimir Putin himself."

Cleverly visited Washington, D.C., last week to reaffirm the U.K.s commitment to Ukraines defense and spoke with Secretary of State Antony Blinken to ensure cooperation between the two long-time allies. He said after the meeting, the U.S.-U.K. partnership "continues to make life better for our people and the world."

Ukrainian servicemen ride atop an armored fighting vehicle Tuesday as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues at an unknown location in Eastern Ukraine.

SIX RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT INTERCEPTED NEAR ALASKA AIRSPACE DURING US MILITARY TRAINING EXERCISES: NORAD

He reiterated the point in an interview with Fox News Digital, labeling the dynamic an "excellent working relationship" that relies on how the two allies work through their disagreements.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"What we have seen both through our departure in the European Union, the resolution of the Windsor framework, is that the United States has been honest with us about our concerns," Cleverly said. "In return, we've always been honest with the United States about our concerns. We listen to each other. We address these concerns where we are able to."

Story continues

British Foreign Minister James Cleverly spoke with Fox News Digital in an inclusive interview.

Cleverly did not dwell on those differences, instead highlighting the various times that the U.S. and U.K. have pursued common interests and goals, including the response to Iraq, the recent evacuation efforts from Sudan and mutual support of Ukraines self-defense.

The U.K. was able to evacuate more than 2,000 people, including U.S. citizens, from Port Sudan as violence continues to ravage the region. Blinken said that over 1,300 Americans were evacuated from Sudan.

RUSSIA, CHINA COZY UP AS MILITARY POWERS THREATEN THE EXISTING ORDER, OFFICIAL WARNS

Russian President Vladimir Putins nuclear rhetoric and posturing, which has repeatedly put countries on edge throughout the Ukraine conflict, has remained a top concern for the U.K., and Cleverly urged Putin to act with more responsibility.

"As a P5 member of the U.N. Security Council, Russia has an enhanced responsibility to act in a reasonable manner: That's what it signed up to," Cleverly argued.

United Kingdom Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, left, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken hold a joint news conference at the Harry S. Truman Building on May 9, 2023 in Washington, D.C.

"Now, we always expect that as he finds himself under more pressure in this conflict, he will start using a rhetoric of escalating rhetoric, so this is not a particular surprise," he continued, adding that the international community has "made it absolutely clear" that not just the use but even merely talking about or threatening to use nuclear weapons is "completely unacceptable."

China remains a particular concern as an increasingly close ally of Russia, with tensions rising after the European Union revealed it might follow the U.S. and impose sanctions against Chinese companies accused of selling weapons to the Russian military.

UKRAINE'S ZELENSKYY PAYS VISIT TO POPE FRANCIS, ITALIAN OFFICIALS IN ROME BEFORE GERMANY TRIP

Foreign Minister Qin Gang said China would "take the necessary response to firmly protect the legitimate interests of Chinese companies" following the news, but Cleverly downplayed any further tensions that might arise by claiming he had "assurances" from the Chinese that they do not intend to supply Russia.

"We have received assurances from them that they do not intend to do so. We intend to hold them to those assurances," Cleverly said. "Russia is the clear aggressor in this instance, and arming the aggressor to perpetrate such a brutal invasion would be completely unacceptable, and whatever country has done it has really gone beyond the pale."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets British Secretary of State for Foreign Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Cleverly in Kyiv, Ukraine on Nov. 24, 2022.

While the U.K. has maintained hard stances against China and Russia, it has had one clear point of divergence with the U.S. The U.K. has not yet declared Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist group, despite continued sanctions against the group and the U.S. placing the IRGC on the State Departments list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations in 2019.

Members of the Iranian revolutionary guard march during a parade to commemorate the anniversary of the Iran-Iraq war.

Cleverly noted that only the U.S. government has declared the IRGC a terrorist group, and that the U.K. continues to assess and determine "the most effective way of curtailing the IRGC and indeed the Iranian governments malign activities."

"We, of course, keep these decisions under constant review, but the decisions that we make within the U.K. will always be based on our, you know, the primary commitment, which is to keep British nationals safe, to keep people in the region safe."
Carlos Reyes, Owner of Olas de Carlos Surf Grill in Camarillo, works the front counter at his restaurant on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. The eatery is the subject of a lawsuit alleging that the slope for its disabled access parking spot is out of compliance.

Last summer, Olas de Carlos Surf Grill, a popular Mexican restaurant in Camarillo, was sued by someone who alleged it was violating the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The restaurants owner, Carlos Reyes, said he had some relatively minor work done to correct the problems, including lowering the sinks in the restroom, and the business's landlord paid about $10,000 to settle the lawsuit.

Then in March of this year, Olas de Carlos and its landlord were hit with another lawsuit, this one from someone who has filed more than 500 ADA lawsuits in the past few years. There was only one alleged violation: The disabled access space in the parking lot has a slope that exceeds the 2.08% allowed by state and federal law.

Reyes said he feels targeted. Hes not sure what hell do about the new lawsuit, but he said he cant afford to hire a lawyer or pay a settlement like the one his landlord paid last year.

I would have to close the business, restaurant margins being what they are, Reyes said. My wife and I operate this place, and we work from open to close every day.

The plaintiff in the most recent case is Anthony Bouyer who says in his lawsuit that he visited Olas de Carlos on or about Feb. 8.

So far this year, Bouyer has filed 35 disability access lawsuits in Ventura County Superior Court, most of them with similar claims regarding the slope of parking spaces. He is even more prolific in federal court, where he has filed more than 500 ADA lawsuits against businesses and property owners in Southern California since the beginning of 2020.

Carlos Reyes, owner of Olas de Carlos Surf Grill in Camarillo, stands over the handicap parking spot for his business on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. The eatery is the subject of a lawsuit alleging that the slope for its disabled access parking spot is out of compliance.

'It's driving people out of business'

The Ventura County lawsuits come in flurries.

On Feb. 1, Bouyer sued seven separate businesses and commercial property owners in Moorpark and Simi Valley. On March 9 and 10, he filed separate lawsuits against Olas de Carlos and seven other businesses in Camarillo, Moorpark and Simi Valley. April 25 was an eight-lawsuit day, and May 9 brought nine suits, mostly against businesses in or near Thousand Oaks.

Story continues

Bouyer could not be reached for comment. According to his lawsuits, he lives somewhere in California, and he uses leg braces, a walker and a wheelchair.

His attorney in most of his lawsuits, Joseph Manning of the Orange County firm Manning Law, did not respond to numerous emails and phone calls requesting an interview.

Most of their lawsuits end in out-of-court settlements. Those settlements are not typically made public, but lawyers who work on ADA cases say they tend to settle for around $10,000 or sometimes more. At that rate, Bouyer and his lawyers have likely collected millions of dollars in the past three years.

Private enforcement  in other words, lawsuits  is the main way that disability access is enforced in the United States, especially for buildings that have been around longer than the ADA, which became law in 1990.

But Reyes said he thinks the methods used by Bouyer and other high-volume plaintiffs amount to a shakedown.

California needs to do something, Reyes said. Its driving people out of business.

Pressure to settle

These lawsuits are more common in California than in any other state because under California law, a plaintiff can be awarded $4,000 for each ADA violation, plus legal fees, on top of what the business might have to spend to correct the violation. In most states, the only legal remedies are legal fees and a court order to fix the problem.

Stuart Tubis, an attorney in San Francisco who has represented businesses sued by Bouyer, said most ADA cases in California are filed by serial plaintiffs like Bouyer, and parking lot issues are the most common type of alleged violation.

Most cases are settled out of court for two reasons, he said. Most businesses do have an ADA violation somewhere on their premises, especially if their buildings are older, and taking the suit all the way to trial would usually cost more than the settlement, even if the business owner wins.

Theres a lot of pressure to settle these cases, because fighting them can be really costly, Tubis said.

Changing the way that the ADA and its California equivalent, the Unruh Act, are enforced in the state is a longstanding goal of the California Chamber of Commerce and other business groups.

This is one of the topics Ive had the most legislators reach out to us about because it impacts so many small businesses across the state, said Ashley Hoffman, a policy advocate with the California Chamber. Its tricky because you want to make sure that small businesses are not unfairly being sued, but then also you dont want to permit businesses to flout the accessibility laws.

This year, State Sen. Roger Niello, a Republican from the Sacramento area, introduced a Chamber-backed bill that would require businesses to be given 120 days to correct an ADA violation before they could be sued. Senate Bill 585 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 8 by an 8-0 vote.

Dani Anderson, the county of Venturas disability access manager, said she thinks the bill would be a positive step. The ADA and the Unruh Act are very detailed and many business owners arent aware of all the requirements so they should be given the chance to fix problems before the courts get involved, she said in an email interview.

It is unfortunate the issue has become more commonly seen as a litigious one rather than an opportunity to educate and further improve our communities throughout the county, Anderson wrote. As a wheelchair user and someone who experiences challenges to access, I greatly appreciate it when businesses are attentive to creating a welcoming and accessible environment for their customers and take the step to obtain input from someone with lived disability experience!

Olas de Carlos Surf Grill in Camarillo is the subject of a lawsuit alleging that the slope for its disabled access parking spot is out of compliance.

'Litigation is a form of accountability'

The idea has been introduced in legislation before, and has never gotten far. Some advocates for people with disabilities feel a grace period would remove any incentive for businesses to fix ADA issues before theyre facing a potential lawsuit.

That would be absolutely devastating, said Autumn Elliott, an attorney with Disability Rights California, a Sacramento-based legal nonprofit. What if the rule was, if you didnt pay your taxes, before anything happened the IRS had to send you a letter saying, Here is how much you owe in taxes and well give you four months to pay it, and if you pay it within those four months, nothing bad will happen? No one would pay their taxes with that system unless they got the letter.

Instead, Elliott would rather see every owner of a business or other space thats open to the general public take it upon themselves to make sure theyre meeting all the legal requirements for access. There are consultants that evaluate businesses for ADA compliance and recommend changes, and California law gives businesses that have used a certified consultant extra protection from lawsuits: They can qualify for a grace period to fix violations before they can be sued, and court damages are set at $1,000 per violation, rather than $4,000.

There are a ton of benefits, but unfortunately, a pretty small number of folks take advantage of that system, Elliott said.

There are also loans, grants and tax credits that can help business owners pay for inspections and ADA improvements. Newer buildings are typically required to be fully ADA compliant, while older ones only have to make improvements that are deemed feasible.

Cindy Liu, a Thousand Oaks resident who founded the disability rights advocacy group WeBelong:805, said the best approach to improving access for people with disabilities is to value them as consumers. There are 4 million Californians with a disability, she said, and many more who will become disabled due to age or health conditions.

People with disabilities have buying power and they want to support small businesses, but if Im a wheelchair user and something that seems like a small grade might be inaccessible, then Im not going to spend my money at that business, Liu said. To me, compliance with federal law is the right thing to do, and its the smart thing to do.  Everyone wins when a customer can go into your restaurant and spend money.

Liu considers lawsuits, and the threat of lawsuits, an important deterrent for businesses, and shes against the idea of a grace period like the one in SB 585. Theres nothing wrong with someone filing a lot of ADA lawsuits, she said, because it means there are a lot of businesses that need to be more accessible.

Litigation is a form of accountability, she said.

Carlos Reyes, owner of Olas de Carlos Surf Grill in Camarillo, looks out at the handicap parking spot for his business on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. The eatery is the subject of a lawsuit alleging that the slope for its disabled access parking spot is out of compliance.

'Fight like hell'

Litigation over business websites is also common, usually when the websites are not accessible to screen readers used by visually impaired people. Reyes said he hasnt received any complaints about Olas de Carlos website, but he recently took it down entirely, after seeing a television news segment about ADA website lawsuits.

The restaurants next-door neighbor in Old Town Camarillo is a deli and liquor store called the Cork & Bottle. Like Olas de Carlos, the owner of the property was sued last year over ADA violations, fixed them and settled the suit, only to be sued again this year by Bouyer over the slope of its disabled access parking space.

John Alamillos in-laws own the property, and he manages it for them. He said they would fix any ADA issues that were brought to their attention without a lawsuit.

But the way things are going, he said, Im going to advise our attorney to fight like hell.

Tony Biasotti is an investigative and watchdog reporter for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tbiasotti@vcstar.com. This story was made possible by a grant from the Ventura County Community Foundation's Fund to Support Local Journalism.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura County businesses face ADA lawsuits
A photo in a person's hands of Jean Hall, an early computer scientist and pioneer into the realm of digital computers, feeds perforated paper into an early computing machine in 1953.



Jean Hall, an early computer scientist and pioneer into the realm of digital computers, feeds perforated paper into an early computing machine in 1953.

The essence of the very concept of artificial intelligence is inherently cold. Cool metal encasing a mess of silicon and wires buzzing with processed data. No, the computer cannot feel or even think, but that sense of emotional scarcity often gets attributed to the scientists and researchers who helped create what we know as AI. Knowing that, what emotional substance can you truly glean from the old typewritten extrapolations of an early computer scientist?

Enoughenough is the answer. The starched writing of a 1960s academic is burned with with few hints of excitement like the scattered ash of a cigarette left on a white page, but they are there, hidden in the technical jargon of faded research papers and technical documents. In a letter from pioneering philosopher David Lewis to a friend in 1964, he touched on the metaphysical nature of intelligence. He claimed that human intelligence is an illusion, that were barely more than computers with large storage capacity. He rejects an existential identity of the human consciousness. To recreate a real human brain, you would need to recreate all its firing neurons, a difficult task since back then scientists understood even less about the brain than they do now.

Read more

If a machine won the Turing gamebehaved intelligentlywith the wrong internal mechanism, it wouldnt be intelligent, Lewis wrote. You say, what if humans have the same sort of internal mechanism? We dont know well what kind they have.

At the annual New York International Antiquarian Book Fair, a gathering of antique and rare booksellers from around the world, one small booth by the UK-based Christian White Rare Books contained a single shelf of old, yellowing documents, photos, and other paraphernalia relating to the early days and research into artificial intelligence. Owner Christian White and his daughter Poppy offered Gizmodo an exclusive glimpse into the old, fading text that offered a rare and intensive look at that early AI history.

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Christian White and his Daughter Poppy in front of their collection of documents relating to AI.

Though the Turing test is now considered antiquated, these papers, letters, and documents were penned during exciting days, the anything is possible post-war fervor that bled from the research papers into the collective consciousness through the burgeoning golden age Science Fiction scene. So much of the collection is, White admitted, quite boring to look at, at least on its face. Theres technical memorandums, conference flyers. To White, with all his very British mix of whimsy and deference, this was the stuff that was going to change the world, but its not always done in a beautiful, fantastic format.

Most of the papers relate to the late 1940s, 50s and 60s, the post-WWII age where the legacy of Alan Turing and his contemporaries created a boom time for advancing the idea of an artificial cognition. Computers, these thinking machines, didnt actually perform any real thought. Our modern understanding of generative AI still doesnt actually think. But beyond vague notions of an artificial general intelligence, this early research shows that the ideas of Deep Learning, as we know it now, were already being theorized before the technology was there to see it through. The concept of neural networks that powers todays AI chatbots, as well as probabilistic computing and machines passing as a humanall that was being considered long before companies like OpenAI came onto the scene.

From the very beginning, computers are being thought about not just as mathematical, but as a kind of thinking, White said. This idea of artificial intelligence was there from the outset.

While there is plenty of AI experiments coming from laypeople in an open source network, todays major AI developments are stemming from for-profit companies who have shunted their entire businesses toward deploying generative AI en masse. Compared to now, these papers were from a time of scientists doing research for researchs sake, and not just in the halls of academia. Places like Bell Telephone Laboratories, the once-famed site of Nobel Prize-winning research into lasers and transistors, was also a home for early work in AI. One of Whites collections included a probabilistic work study looking at how well Turing-type computing machines were with a random element. Another old brochure from ACF Industries shared multiple papers discussing, in part, techniques for weighing information for intelligence analysis.

A full scope of the papers, books, and photos in Christian Whites collection.

The average ChatGPT-user probably hasnt heard any of the names on these documents, though women are often left out of the conversation on early AI research, despite how critical they were. One of those ACF papers was co-authored by Joyce Friedman, a professor and computer scientist working on the cutting edge of machine intelligence in the 1950s and 60s. Another photo in the collection features pioneer computer scientist Jean Hall feeding perforated paper through a computing machine at Argonne National Laboratory.

The documents also showcase the concerns these early researchers had about the computers they were building, before they even had the technical ability to build these machines. They were aware of the risks of what would happen when people couldnt tell the difference between content generated by a human or by AI.

Just by the idea of making a computer simulate a human is quite terrifying, said Poppy. The younger White is starting her masters degree in reproductive health at the University of Edinburgh. I think these people, they were just thinking of something so new and different, it probably seemed kind of surreal.

Flip through the following slides to get a better look at the ways scientists progressed toward AI, and how they conceptualized recreating the human brain with computers.

Jean Hall at Argonne National Laboratory, 1953

Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo

Jean Hall was an early computer scientist and pioneer in the field. This image shows her at Argonne National Laboratory feeding orders into the labs digital computer AVIDAC.

Letter from David Lewis on machine intelligence, 1964

Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo

Philosopher David Lewis discussing his thoughts and worries about intelligence regarding computers.

Poppy White:

Hes looking at the theory of the mind and how do we approach a computer that has a mind that has a brain that kind of is starting to behave with intelligence, trying to simulate or represent the human brain or our mental processes.

Giant Brains by Edmund Berkley, 1949

Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo

A book by early computer scientist Edmund Berkeley that, while very technical in its descriptions, still popularized the idea of early computers being capable of having cognitive abilities.

Christian White:

This was obviously intended, at that point, for a kind of popular audience. This is for you and me, not for the specialists in the field. It would be tough going, I suspect, if you didnt have a kind of math degree. But nonetheless, its a commercial publisher producing it and intending it for a wider audience than just the kind of specialists who are going to a conference who are going to read a scientific paper.

Memorandum on Probabilistic Machines, 1954

Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo

This paper describes Turing-type computing machines and how their operation could depend on the output of a random device.



Christian White:

Because of the grammatical structure of language, there are only so many possibilities that language can go off with. And therefore, if youre able to process that, you can make predictions about what language will do using theories of probability. You then get the comprehensibility of language, andultimatelyyoure on the path natural language producing AI.

Research on so-called Biological Computers, 1957

Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo

Warren McCulloch did pioneering research into neural structures and function in the context of creating biological computers, AKA a computational structure that mimics the processes of the human brain.

Poppy White:

And so then much later, McCulloch, and [computational neuroscientist Walter] Pitts doing a lot of research and looking at the theory of neurology, and what they find is that the human brains processes of thought can actually be represented using this binary analysis. You have a very complex computer that can represent the human brain, and so that basically is kind of artificial intelligence.

ACF Electronics on Logic Machines, 1955

Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo

This booklet is a technical paper provided to the Air Force Cambridge Research Center. A lot of early work on AI, going all the way into the 1980s and beyond, was propped up by the U.S. armed forces and the industries surrounding it.

Poppy White:

The ACF electronics collection is basically part of this research project into the logic machine. This first machine was theorized to have properties that would allow it to answer general problems. Its one of the first times that had ever been considered. When computers were just solving numerical problems. This was theorizing all of these different things. I think a lot of that was because its an industrial company, so it was thinking a lot in terms of industry and computers role within that.

Multiple papers involving research on logic machines

Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo

A brochure containing multiple research papers by scientists working at the data processing department at ACF Electronics. The brochure was meant to display an accurate picture of the progress in this field.

Poppy White:

It was a project that took place at ACF electronics led by Alonzo Church, this a professor, lecturer, and researcher who headed this research project into the theory of logic machine. This kind of moved away from computing that happened in the past. Basically, mathematical computing focused on purely numerical problems being solved. And this was kind of pioneering a sense that it was the first time that we expect anyone who thought about computer being able to kind of solve problems and general problems and human problems. And whats also really interesting is that youve got numerous women taking part in that research, which is really important, because this is the early 1900s. And so theres Joyce Friedman has items of theirs that theyve co-authored or authored which is part of this research.

Two more papers by Warren McCulloch

Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo

As a neurophysiologist and cybernetician, Warren McCulloch introduced many new ideas into the popular lexicon and furthered the realm of cybernetics. But among that, he also brought up several ethical questions about the role of machines in human society. The paper on the left touches on the mind-like behavior of robots, while the one on the right, in no small amount of flowery language, touches on themes of the unknown aspects of the human brain and people governing their own bodies with cybernetics.

Christian White:

Its that same dilemma, which again, these brilliant people doing this work so long ago, before the technical possibilities of realizing it were present. They were nonetheless aware of as a risk of what happens when you cant tell the difference between people and computers? And again, were in the mid 1950s. Computing power is so limited at this time. But nonetheless, the theory of all of this is already being worked through. And McCulloch is absolutely central to that at MIT.

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Cambodia's Health Minister Mam Bunheng (7th R, back), Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian (8th R, back) and other guests pose for a group photo with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) specialists of a Chinese medical team in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on May 15, 2023. Cambodia on Monday awarded the government's honorable medal decorations to a team of 17 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) specialists after they completed their 14-month mission in helping the kingdom fight COVID-19 and other diseases.

Cambodia's Health Minister Mam Bunheng presented the "Knight Class" medals to them at a ceremony in Phnom Penh, which was also attended by Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Monday awarded the government's honorable medal decorations to a team of 17 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) specialists after they completed their 14-month mission in helping the kingdom fight COVID-19 and other diseases.

Cambodia's Health Minister Mam Bunheng presented the "Knight Class" medals to them at a ceremony in Phnom Penh, which was also attended by Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian.

"The honorable medals were conferred in recognition of their contributions to helping treat patients and train Cambodian medical staff in using TCM," he said.

Bunheng said the Chinese medical team brought the effective clinical experience of TCM in fighting against the epidemic to Cambodia, bringing high-level medical technology to the country, and winning widespread praise from all sectors of Cambodian society.

For his part, Wang hailed the TCM experts for their efforts to help treat Cambodian patients, saying that their work has not only saved lives, but also helped deepen China-Cambodia relations.

"You are all the ambassadors of the ironclad friendship between China and Cambodia and the contributors to building a community of health for mankind," the ambassador said.

The Chinese medical team specializing in TCM to aid Cambodia in the fight against COVID-19 arrived in the Southeast Asian country in March 2022. 
Amy Pope is vying to become the director general of the UN's migration agency

The UN's International Organization for Migration chooses its next director general on Monday, with the current IOM chief Antonio Vitorino being challenged for the job by his deputy Amy Pope.

Former Portuguese government minister Vitorino has been running the UN's migration agency since 2018; US lawyer Pope is a former White House figure who has been at the Geneva-based IOM since 2021.

Here are profiles of the two candidates:

- Antonio Vitorino -

The 66-year-old is a former deputy prime minister of Portugal who has held the top IOM post for the past five years.

A politician and a lawyer, Vitorino was Portugal's defence minister and deputy prime minister from 1995 to 1997 in the government of Antonio Guterres, who is now the UN secretary-general.

Vitorino was then the European Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs from 1999 to 2004.

IOM member states chose him to lead the organisation in 2018, making him only the second non-American to lead the agency in seven decades.

"I'm pretty confident that my work deserves to be supported and continuous," Vitorino told AFP in March.

He said he was counting on "very strong support from the European countries" and "strong encouragement" from nations in other regions.

Born in Lisbon, Vitorino holds a master's degree in law and political science from the Lisbon Law School.

Standing for the Socialist Party, he was first elected to the Portuguese parliament in 1980 and held a junior government role.

After the Socialists lost power in 1985, he became the member of the government of Macau in charge of administration and justice from 1986 to 1987. The Chinese city was a Portuguese colony until 1999.

He served as a judge of the Portuguese Constitutional Court from 1989 to 1994.

Returning to the Portuguese government as the defence minister, he resigned in 1997 under suspicion of tax evasion, but was cleared of the charges.

He then joined the European Commission, the European Union's cabinet government.

Story continues

"During these years Antonio Vitorino crafted leadership, management and negotiations skills at the highest level and developed in-depth knowledge of global and national migration contexts and related policy challenges," the IOM says in his bio.

Married with two sons, he speaks Portuguese, English, French and Spanish.

- Amy Pope -

The US lawyer, 49, is the IOM's deputy director general for management and reform, one of two deputies working under Vitorino.

Pope, who has spent most of her career focused on migration issues, including within the administration of former US president Barack Obama, started working at IOM in September 2021.

Her roles include supervising ethics, staff security, financial management, human resources, information technology and legal affairs.

"Amy Pope is a transformative leader in international migration policy with demonstrated experience improving complex organisations," the IOM says.

"She has extensive technical knowledge of migration challenges that span the breadth of IOM's engagement, experience managing large-scale budgets and operations, and is an innovative and strategic thinker with a proven ability to translate policies into actionable steps."

Pope was US President Joe Biden's senior advisor on migration after he took office in 2021, having served under Obama as senior director on trans-border security (2013-2015) and then deputy homeland security advisor (2015-2017).

She came up with strategies for the White House on managing migration surges, human trafficking and responding to Zika and Ebola outbreaks. Pope has also worked with the Chatham House international affairs think-tank in London.

Pope graduated from Duke University School of Law in North Carolina. She is married and has two daughters.

She told AFP in March that it was "a bit awkward" to be running against her boss but felt the agency needed a new vision.

"It's not ideal in some ways, but it's really about the future of the organisation," she said.

"We're still kind of stuck in old ways of looking at migration," said Pope, calling for a broader focus on the impacts of climate change on migration.

bur-rjm/pvh/lb
Lori Vallow Daybell talks with her lawyers before the jurys verdict is read at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho (AP)

More than three and a half years after her children were brutally killed and buried, Lori Vallow is set to face life in prison for their murders.

What began as a small-town search for two missing children in the fall of 2019 quickly exploded into an unimaginable saga with too many twists and turns to count, including the exposure of at least five mystery deaths, a doomsday cult preparing for the end of times and a joyful beach wedding between that cults two recently-widowed leaders. The world watched as Loris portrait transformed from devoted mother-of-three to accused child abandoner to murder suspect  and now, convicted killer.

A jury in Boise, Idaho, took just seven hours of deliberation to find the so-called cult mom guilty of the murders of her 16-year-old daughter Tylee Ryan and seven-year-old son Joshua JJ Vallow on Friday (12 May). She was also convicted of conspiracy to murder her fifth husband Chad Daybells first wife, Tammy.

For all of the twists and turns that preceded it in Loris spectacular story, this verdict comes as little surprise given that two days prior, her attorneys declined to call any witnesses in her defense.

Having followed this case in near-obsessive detail since police first appealed for the publics help in finding Tylee and JJ in December 2019, my jaw dropped when the defense rested without a case. Why on earth would someone decline to defend themself at a murder trial, especially when their own children are the victims? But looking back over the case as a whole, I realized the move isnt surprising at all.

When Loris children vanished in September 2019, she alerted no one to their disappearance as she continued collecting their Social Security and life insurance benefits. Just weeks later, Lori glowed on a Hawaiian beach at her wedding to Chad, whose own wife had died  in an apparent murder conspiracy  17 days prior.

When police in Rexburg, Idaho, came knocking for a welfare check at the request of JJs grandparents two months after the children were last seen, Lori dismissed their concern before going on the run the following day.

Story continues

When Lori and Chad were tracked down to Hawaii in January 2020, the sunkissed couple kept silent with their eyes trained on their flip-flops as a news crew confronted them in a parking lot asking where JJ and Tylee were.

When Lori was extradited back to Idaho on charges for failing to meet a court order to present the children before a judge, she chose jail over revealing what she knew about the kids whereabouts while vaguely saying they were safe and happy.

After her two childrens bodies were recovered from Chads property, she still gave no public explanation or pronouncement of innocence, aside from not guilty pleas entered before the court. Even when Loris loved ones, including her eldest son, sister and longtime best friend, made one-on-one pleas for the truth, she brushed them off.

Across the three years and eight months from when the children were killed and buried in the Daybell familys pet cemetery and when her trial began, Lori never made an obvious effort to convince anyone she wasnt involved. When her final chance to do so came in court this week, she again chose not to.

Instead, the defense gambled on the possibility jurors wouldnt accept the case presented by prosecutors through five weeks of testimony from 60 witnesses.

In a powerful closing statement, the prosecution seized upon a string of crucial questions unfurled over the course of the cult mom saga. Why didnt Lori report the children missing? Why did she collect thousands of dollars in benefits meant for them? Why was she on a beach in Hawaii during a multi-state search? Why did she repeatedly claim they were safe as their bodies decomposed in the ground?

The answer to all of these questions, prosecutors said, is simple: because she killed her children, motivated by money, sex and power.

In the defense closing, Loris attorneys sought to shift blame onto Chad, savagely painting him as a controlling force peddling nutty religious beliefs. They urged the jury to take a close look at all of the evidence and find that it leads back to him, not Lori.

While the idea that Chad bears all of the responsibility  for the murders and for Loris actions around them  is indeed compelling, it leaves one more crucial question: Why did we never hear this from Lori?

In the end, an hour-long closing argument wasnt enough to create reasonable doubt that Lori killed her children. In staying silent from beginning to end, Lori Vallow sealed her own fate.
THAILAND-POLITICS-VOTE

Thailand's election results are displayed during a press conference at the Office of the Election Commission in Bangkok on May 15, 2023. Credit - Jack TaylorAFP/Getty Images

For the Thai establishment, this was the worst imaginable result.

With nearly all votes counted in Sundays general election, the progressive Move Forward Partywhich campaigned on stripping power from Thailands conservative power nexus centered on the military generals and royal palacepolled best with 151 seats in the 500-strong Lower House. In second place, with 141 seats, sits another opposition party: Pheu Thai of exiled billionaire Thaskin Shinawatra, whose populist political machine is loathed by the Bangkok-based elites and whose ousting in a 2006 coup detat uncorked years of political turmoil.

Meanwhile, the military-backed United Thai Nation Party of incumbent Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the general who led the 2014 coup that toppled Thaksins sister when he was army chief, received just 36 seats in a damning indictment of how his royalist administration has run Southeast Asias No. 2 economy.

Its a clear rejection of the status quo and a crying call for change and reform, says Thitinan Pongsudhirak, professor of political science at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

The late surge behind Move Forward stunned predictions of a landslide for Pheu Thai, with particularly young Thaisincluding 3.3 million first-time votersbacking the upstart partys bold pledges to weaken the political role of brass hats and amend the nations strict royal defamation law, known as Article 112, which critics say is increasingly wielded to stifle dissent.

Pita Limjaroenrat, Prime Minister candidate and leader of the Move Forward Party, waves to supporters at a stadium in Bangkok, May 12, 2023. Varuth PongsapipattSOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

It is now clear that Move Forward has gained the immense trust of the people and of the country, Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat, a 42-year-old, Harvard-educated former executive for ride-hailing firm Grab, posted on Twitter early Monday morning. While Move Forward has previously been popular among young Thais, its bold reformist agenda demonstrated an unexpected appeal among the older generation also. People want change, but they want bigger change than everyone was expecting, says Aim Sinpeng, a senior lecturer at the University of Sydney.

Story continues

The result means the possibility of a Move Forward and Pheu Thai coalition government has become much more likely, says Napon Jatusripitak, a visiting fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. Speaking to reporters in Bangkok, Pheu Thais Paetongtarn ShinawatraThaksins youngest daughtersaid, We are ready to talk to Move Forward  We can work together.

Such a coalition, however, would be anathema to Thailands establishment, which still has many tools at its disposal to cling onto the levers of power. Firstly, the military-drafted constitution dictates the Prime Minister is chosen from a combination of the 500-member Lower House and the 250-strong junta-appointed Senate, meaning Move Forward and Pheu Thais combined 292 votespresuming they join in a coalitionisnt alone enough to get a preferred candidate the top job.

In addition, agencies like Thailands Election Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission, and Constitutional Court have all performed the establishments bidding in recent years. Several Thaksin-aligned parties have been dissolved as has the Future Forward Party, which was the progressive precursor to Move Forward.

For the conservative establishment, Sundays result is a major setback, says Thitinan. But I wouldnt characterize it as a decisive blow.

A man reads a Thai newspaper featuring front page coverage of Thailand's general election results, at a newsstand in Bangkok on May 15, 2023. Lillian SuwanrumphaAFP/Getty Images

What comes next?

Thailands Election Commission now has 60 days in order to officially confirm the result. (During Thailands last election in 2019, it took some 45 days.) There will no doubt be intense negotiations between the top three partiesand possibly Senate representativesin the interim.

Much hinges on what the Senate chooses to do. In 2019, it voted with the party that gained the largest proportion of the popular vote. To do so this time, however, would be like turkeys voting for Christmas, since Move Forward has openly campaigned on revising the constitution to abolish the anti-democratic chamber.

However, given the dismal showing of all conservative parties, its unclear who else the Senate could legitimately throw their weight behind without sparking popular outrage. And even if it did back a pro-military minority candidate, that person would have a torrid time attempting to enact legislation, since the Senate has no role in day-to-day parliamentary business.

It is time for the 250 senators to think and decide their stance, whether they would listen to the peoples wish, Pita told a press conference on Monday. If they care about the people, there will be no problem.

People cast their ballots for the Thai General Election during early voting day in Bangkok on May 07, 2023. Getty Images2023 Getty Images

One option may be that the Senate abstains altogether, says Napon, though they will be facing significant pressure not only from the people but also from the international community not to vote against the will of the people.

The Senates role may be diminished depending on the actions of the third-place party, Bhumjaithai, which is currently junior partner in a military-backed coalition. If allied to Move Forward and Pheu Thai, Bhumjaithais 71 seats could help get the coalition nearer to the 376 needed to choose a Prime Minister regardless of the Senates choice. I see Bhumjaithai as a potential kingmaker, says Napon.

However, that would mean Bhumjaithai turning its back on establishment friends and alienating its close links with the palace. When TIME sat down with Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakulcurrently Thailands Health Minister and Deputy Prime Ministerin January, he specifically ruled out an alliance with any party seeking to reform Article 112, calling the monarchy our most illustrious institution.

At any rate, the result is also hugely disappointing for Pheu Thai, which dominated opinion polls for most of the campaign but ended up with less than half their target of 310 seats. One factor, says Napon, was the background role of Thaksin, who remains hugely divisive and repeatedly claimed that he was planning to return to Thailand.

Not just young people, but a broader segment of the population are totally fed up with this long-standing power grab between Thaksin and the conservative establishment, says Napon. People are looking forward to something new.

Left: Thaksin Shinawatra, the ousted populist former Prime Minister. Right: Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the military leader defeated at the polls on Sunday. Munshi Ahmed/Bloomberg and Jes Aznar  Getty Images

Of course, whether the country can truly move on will depend on the generals staying in their barracks. In a land that has weathered 12 military coups in the past 91 years, the specter of military intervention looms large, though Thitinan calls it a nuclear option given the challenges any new junta would face.

Firstly, the generals would have to explain their rationale to the international community, as well as deal with the popular protests a putsch would undoubtedly spark. It would then have to work out how to improve an economy still reeling from the pandemica task the generals have proven themselves ill-equipped to achieve over the last nine years of torpid growth. After which, they would need to write a new constitution and somehow hold elections that return a positive resultdespite having every card in their favor this time around and still failing. Still, similar arguments have been made many times before, and it would be unwise to completely rule out such a folly unfolding yet again.

Their backs are really against the wall here, adds Thitinan. Theyve done everything they can but they still lost this election big time.
(Reuters) -The head of Russia's Wagner private army dismissed a U.S. newspaper report on Monday that he had offered to betray Russian positions, and the Kremlin called it a "hoax".

The Washington Post, citing a U.S. intelligence leak, said Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin had offered Ukrainian intelligence in January to reveal the location of Russian regular forces in return for Ukraine pulling back troops in Bakhmut.

Wagner's soldiers have been at the forefront of Russia's offensive to take the eastern city in the longest and bloodiest battle of the war. Prigozhin has emerged as a persistent critic of the Russian military brass, accusing commanders of betraying his men by withholding ammunition.

The Post said Prigozhin's offer had been rebuffed by Ukraine which did not trust him.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the report "looks like the latest hoax".

In an audio message posted by his press service on Telegram on Monday, Prigozhin called the allegations "nonsense", and suggested that residents of Moscow's Rublyovka suburb, home to the business and political elite, were behind an attack on him.

Prigozhin denied having met Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukrainian military intelligence, in Africa, saying he had not been on the continent since the start of the Ukraine conflict and portraying the idea of a phone call with him as laughable.

Since last week, Ukrainian forces have made their biggest gains in six months, recapturing territory around Bakhmut. Prigozhin has released daily messages denouncing the Russian regular military's brass for failing to supply his men adequately and abandoning ground on Bakhmut's flanks.

The defence ministry has not explicitly addressed Prigozhin's complaints in public, but has repeatedly said it is providing Russian forces with all the resources and support they need.

A White House spokesman declined to comment on the Washington Post report, which was based on secret U.S. documents leaked to the group-chat platform Discord.

(Reporting by Brad Heath; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Kevin Liffey, Peter Graff)
(Anthony Devlin/PA) (PA Archive)

Beleaguered tech firm WANdisco has sounded the alarm on its cash levels as it seeks a speedy $30 million capital raise to avert its demise.

The Sheffield-based business said it only has enough working capital to survive till the middle of July and plans to raise fresh funds from shareholders before the end of June.

In March the company stunned investors after it said it had discovered a gaping hole in its sales and bookings figures that it warned would threaten the business as a going concern. It suspended its shares and commissioned chair Ken Lever to conduct an investigation into potential fraud.

In an update Lever said: The business needs to be urgently properly capitalised and so today we are announcing our desire to raise $30 million towards the end of June.

Unfortunately, much of this capital requirement is a direct result of the issues that led to our announcement on 9 March. On completion of the fund raise I believe that the Company can have a bright future.

WANdisco said it will seek to raise the funds by issuing fresh shares in a move that will dilute the holdings of existing shareholders. The firm said the proceeds will help shore up its balance sheet and provide confidence to shareholders, as well as being used to fund marketing and business development work.

Last month, the UKs finance watchdog said it had begun an investigation into WANdisco amid concerns over fraud. The company said it was cooperating with the requests of. The Financial Conduct Authority.

Just weeks ago, the Sheffield-based tech firm, which also has a base in California, said it was eyeing a listing in the US after it surpassed a $1 billion market cap. But its fortunes quickly turned following the discovery of over $100 million in missing sales bookings, with its CEO and CFO abruptly quitting shortly thereafter. Lever said he was pleased to now have a world class CEO and CFO in place.

WANdisco has since said the missing sales related to actions taken by a single employee.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  Investor Warren Buffett recommitted to his favorite bank stock, Bank of America, during the first quarter while dumping two other banks as part of a number of moves in Berkshire Hathaway's stock portfolio.

Berkshire provided a quarterly update on its U.S. holdings Monday in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Many investors follow the companys moves closely because of Buffetts remarkably successful investing record over the decades.

Berkshire slightly increased its 179.4 million share stake in Bank of America stock while eliminating long-time stakes in US Bancorp and the Bank of New York Mellon. Buffett has eliminated a number of bank investments in recent years, but he continues to back Bank of America.

Berkshire also picked up nearly 10 million shares of Capital One stock.

The quarterly filings dont identify which investments Buffett made and which ones were done by one of Berkshires two other investment managers, but Buffett generally handles all of Berkshires biggest investments worth $1 billion or more. Buffett doesnt regularly comment on these stock filings.

Berkshire continued to reduce its Activision Blizzard stake in the quarter down to 49.4 million shares from 52.7 million at the start of the year. Buffett has said he bought that stock as a way to bet that Microsofts acquisition of the video game maker will ultimately go through. That deal is in doubt after British regulators rejected it and U.S. regulators sued to block it although the European Union did endorse Microsofts purchase Monday.

Berkshire also cut its General Motors investment down to 40 million shares from the previous quarter's 50 million.

Mondays report doesnt include the biggest investment move Berkshire has made over the past year to sell more than half of its stake in Chinese electric carmaker BYD. Those sales, which have generated several billion dollars for Berkshire, are reported separately on the Hong Kong stock exchange. At the last update on that investment, Berkshire held about 108 million BYD shares worth roughly $3.3 billion.

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Until last August, Berkshire held 225 million shares that it bought in 2008 for $232 million. The value of that BYD investment had ballooned to more than $9.5 billion last summer before Buffett began selling.

One of the biggest other moves Berkshire made in the quarter was selling some 35 million Chevron shares to leave it with 132.4 million shares of the oil producer, but Berkshire had already disclosed that move in its quarterly earnings report.

And Buffett remains bullish on oil stocks.

One of Buffetts biggest purchases over the past year has been billions of dollars worth of Occidental Petroleum stock. Berkshire picked up another 17.4 million shares during the quarter, as it previously reported, to take control of nearly 24% of the oil producers stock or some 211.7 million shares. Berkshire does hold warrants to buy another 83.9 million Occidental shares, but Buffett told shareholders at Berkshires annual meeting earlier this month that he has no plans to try to buy the entire company.

Berkshires biggest singe investment in Apple shares remained essentially unchanged at 915.6 million shares. The Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate did pick up 16.5 million shares of HP Inc. to give it nearly 121 million shares of the printer maker.

Berkshire eliminated nearly all of the rest of its 8.3 million shares of chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor. Just last fall, Buffett bought 60 million shares in that company but he has said he quickly reconsidered that investment based on geopolitical concerns about China.

In addition to investments, Berkshire owns dozens of companies outright, including Geico insurance, BNSF railroad, several large utilities and an assortment of manufacturing and retail businesses such as Precision Castparts, Sees Candy and NetJets.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)  Off-year elections on Tuesday in Kentucky and Pennsylvania could send early signals about the mood of voters ahead of next year's races for the White House and Congress.

The Kentucky governor's race is a table-setter for what should be a bruising general election contest. Republican voters will settle on a nominee to challenge incumbent Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who has enjoyed high approval ratings but will have to fend off a GOP challenge in a state Republicans usually dominate. Two candidates with ties to former President Donald Trump are contenders in a 12-candidate field.

A special legislative race in the Philadelphia suburbs could determine whether Democrats retain a one-vote majority in Pennsylvania's House of Representatives, and the outcome could demonstrate how voters are feeling in a crucial region of a swing presidential state. Both parties will choose nominees for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and Philadelphia voters will cast ballots in mayoral primaries.

What to watch in Tuesday's primaries:

KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS PICK A CHALLENGER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRAT

A fierce Republican primary for governor comes to a head in red-leaning Kentucky, where a flurry of attacks has overshadowed candidates' plans for governing.

Attorney General Daniel Cameron turned away from a bid for reelection to run for governor, a race many Republicans think is ripe for the taking, but the primary campaign has been unexpectedly feisty. Cameron snagged the campaign's biggest endorsement from Trump and touted his legal fights defending Kentucky's anti-abortion laws, all the while challenging policy decisions by Beshear and working to tie him to President Joe Biden's administration.

With a primary win, Cameron would become the state's first Black nominee for governor by either major political party.

His main rival, Kelly Craft, mounted an aggressive campaign backed by her family's fortune. Craft pointed to her experience as ambassador to Canada and later at the United Nations during Trump's presidency. She touts her ties with government and business leaders, which she says would benefit Kentucky.

Story continues

The campaign escalated into a slugfest between the Craft and Cameron camps. A pro-Craft group ridiculed Cameron as an establishment teddy bear." Cameron backers criticized Craft's tenure as ambassador.

Another GOP gubernatorial contender, state Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, stayed out of the fray, hoping to win over Republican voters turned off by the attacks.

As the campaign entered the stretch run, Craft had loaned her campaign more than $9 million. She was on the air for months before Cameron and Quarles ran TV ads. Cameron got a boost from a well-financed outside group.

Beshear, expected to cruise through the primary over two nominal opponents, looks to draw on his family's political brand to counter the state's GOP tilt. He was attorney general four years ago when he defeated then-Republican Gov. Matt Bevin. Before Bevin's single term, Steve Beshear, the current governor's father, served two terms as governor.

Andy Beshear has presided over record economic growth. His term also has been marked by a series of crises  the pandemic, tornadoes, flooding and a mass shooting that killed one of his closest friends. He has received consistently high voter approval ratings, in part by settling into a role as the state's consoler in chief.

INCUMBENT SECRETARY OF STATE FACES REMATCH WITH ELECTION DENIER

Republican incumbent Michael Adams will face two challengers in the GOP primary for Kentucky secretary of state, including a former opponent who has raised his profile by denying election victories by Democrats.

Adams, a lawyer, has worked with Beshear across party lines on election reform and soundly defeated challenger Steve Knipper in the GOP primary four years ago. Knipper is back for another run along with a third Republican, Allen Maricle, a former state representative and TV executive. The winner will face Democrat Buddy Wheatley, a former legislator who narrowly lost reelection.

Other statewide offices also are on the ballot.

PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE ON THE LINE

Special legislative elections could determine if Democrats remain in control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

They won a one-seat majority in November after 12 years. On Tuesday, voters will fill two empty seats, with most of the attention focused on a seat in Philadelphias suburbs left vacant by a Democrat who resigned. The contest pits Democrat Heather Boyd, a former legislative and congressional aide, against Republican Katie Ford, a military veteran, school volunteer and behavioral therapist.

Control of the House will affect how partisan measures are handled, from abortion rights, gun rights and election law to the coming years budget, which will be lawmakers focus through June.

PHILADELPHIA MAYOR

In heavily Democratic Philadelphia, voters will likely choose the next mayor of the nations sixth most-populous city from a crowded field of candidates in Tuesday's primary. The election comes as the city faces upticks in gun violence and safety concerns.

Five frontrunner candidates including former city council members, former city officials and a grocery store franchiser, have sought to differentiate themselves in a tight contest.

They are vying to replace Mayor Jim Kenney, a Democrat who is term-limited. The winner will go up against the lone Republican candidate, David Oh, a former city councilmember, in November.

___

Associated Press writers Marc Levy, Brooke Schultz and Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pa., contributed to this report.
The Ax-2 crew, from left to right: Ali Alqarni, Rayyanah Barnawi. Peggy Whitson, and John Shoffner.

History could be made this week, as astronaut Rayyanah Barnawi seeks to become the first Saudi woman and first Arab woman to reach orbit. Weve also got our eyes on the annual Humans to Mars Summit and an ongoing contest to make in-space food production more practicable.



Its also a big week for SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket, which could perform as many as four missions in the coming days.



Read more

Axioms second stint on the ISS

The second privately funded mission to the International Space Station is set to take off on Sunday, May 21, at 5:37 p.m. ET aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Commander Peggy Whitson, pilot John Shoffner, and mission specialists Ali Alqarni and Rayyanah Barnawi will spend 12 days aboard the orbital outpost while working alongside the regular ISS crew.

Axiom-1 mission approaching the ISS, April 8, 2022.

Saudi astronauts Algarni and Barnawi obtained their spots on Ax-2 by means of a partnership between Saudi Arabia and Axiom Space. During their stay, the four astronauts will implement a full manifest of science, outreach, and commercial activities, according to Axiom Space.



OneWeb is adding to its internet constellation

British company OneWeb plans to add 16 new internet satellites to its constellation as early as the morning of Friday, May 20. A Falcon 9 rocket will perform the lifting duties, launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. According to stats kept by Harvard-Smithsonian astronomer Jonathan McDowell, OneWebs constellation currently consists of 616 active units.

Mission badge for the OneWeb launch.

The company has plans to grow the constellation to 6,372 units, a phase that appears set to begin. Of this batch, one is a test unit called JoeySat, which OneWeb will use to test its next-gen internet satellite. This rideshare launch to low Earth orbit includes five Iridium communications satellites meant to replenish the U.S. companys constellation, which consists of 66 active units.



Story continues

A new Arabsat satellite heads to GEO

On Sunday at 11:20 p.m. ET, a Falcon 9 will attempt to deliver Arabsat 7B (Badr 8) to geostationary orbit (GEO). The Airbus-built communications satellite will increase the capacity of Arabsats network and feature an optical communications payload demonstrator and advancements to minimize the effects of jamming, according to Airbus. The medium-lift Falcon 9 is slated to launch from SLC-40 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The 2023 Humans to Mars Summit gets underway

The annual Humans to Mars Summit, organized by Explore Mars, runs this week from Tuesday to Thursday and includes an impressive lineup of speakers and a fascinating agenda.

Image: Explore Mars

Session titles include Artemis 3: How Will Lunar Surface Missions Advanced Humans to Mars, Mars in 2023: Is It Still Possible, and The Power Of Inclusion: Advancing the Goal Of Humans On Mars By Empowering Underserved Communities Through Analogs and Space Camps, among many others. The event is being held at at the National Academy of Sciences building in Washington D.C., but the event will also be streamed live.



More Starlink V2 Minis are heading for orbit

A Falcon 9 launches during a Starlink mission, May 14, 2023.

A Falcon 9 is slated to deploy the third batch of SpaceXs Starlink V2 Minis to low Earth orbit. Launching from Cape Canaveral, the rocket will carry 21 of the units, which are more powerful than the companys first-generation units. The first batch exhibited issues shortly after reaching orbit, but the second batch, launched in April, fared better.



NASAs Deep Space Food Challenge advances to next stage

On Friday at 12:00 p.m. ET, NASA will announce the second-phase winners of its Deep Space Food Challenge. The global competition, done in conjunction with the Canadian Space Agency, began two years ago, and its meant to foster new ways of developing food for deep-space missions.

ISS astronauts unpacking newly delivered food, October 2019.

As NASA says, teams have been designing and building new food tech solutions that would help keep astronauts safe, healthy, and productive for missions lasting years at a time. The awards event is being held at the Smart Design studio, Building 127, at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and Gizmodo will be there, so be sure to check back for our coverage.



For more spaceflight in your life, follow us on Twitter and bookmark Gizmodos dedicated Spaceflight page.



More from Gizmodo

Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
The Loafers Lodge hostel in Wellington, New Zealand on the morning of 16 May 2023 ( Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

At least six people are dead and others are missing after a fire broke out at a four-storey hostel in Wellington, New Zealand.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed on Tuesday morning local time that at least six people were dead at the Loafers Lodge hostel, adding that there are likely to be more.

Authorities said they believed that up to ten people were dead, but that estimate might change as they continue to investigate.

Local fire chief Nick Pyatt said it was a once in a decade fire for the nations capital, describing the tragedy as the worst nightmare for us.

Read live updates about the situation below.

A 'worst nightmare' fire in New Zealand's capital

23:56 , Io Dodds

Good evening, or good morning if you're in New Zealand. At least six people are dead and others remain missing after a hostel fire in Wellington that local authorities described as the city's "worst nightmare".

New Zealand's prime minister Chris Hipkin said on Tuesdya morning local time that six have been confirmed killed and "there are likely to be more" at the Loafers Lodge hostel in southern Wellington.

Police said they believed the total number of dead was lower than ten, but were still waiting to gain access to the building and confirm that figure.

We'll bring you more updates as we have them.
The UKs Competition and Markets Authority became the first major regulator to block the Microsoft acquisition of Activision.

The European Commission has approved Microsoft Corp.s $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, publisher of the Call of Duty and World of Warcraft video game franchises, less than a month after UK regulators blocked the same deal.

The Commissions May 15 ruling is contingent on Microsoft making concessions on access to cloud gaming, a burgeoning market that lets people play video games on any device.

Read more

Specifically, the regulators require Microsoft to automatically grant a license for Activision Blizzard games to any competing cloud-based gaming service, effectively giving consumers the right to stream any game they had already purchased on any device and using any type of operating system.

Why is the EU approving the deal?

Margrethe Vestager, the European Commissions executive vice president in charge of competition policy, said the ruling will improve cloud gaming across the industry.



The commitments offered by Microsoft will enable for the first time the streaming of such games in any cloud game streaming services, enhancing competition and opportunities for growth.

In its report on the ruling, the Commission found that Microsoft wouldnt have an incentive to refuse to distribute Activisions games to Sony, citing the Sony PlayStations four-to-one market share advantage over Microsofts Xbox console.

And if Microsoft did withdraw Activisions games from the Playstation, the report noted, Sony could leverage its size, extensive games catalogue and market position to fend off any attempt to weaken its competitive position.

Quotable:

Theres a clear message herethe European Union is a more attractive place to start a business than the United Kingdom. Microsoft president Brad Smith, after the UK blocked the companys Activision acquisition in April

Story continues

The EU approved the deal while the UK blocked it. What happens now?

Despite Microsofts victory in the EU, its planned acquisition remains in doubt, thanks to the dissenting opinion by the UKs Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) last month.

Although there isnt a strict legal precedent for contradictory regulatory decisions like these, similar situations in the past show that it can take just one country to sink a deal.

For example, the CMA blocked Metas acquisition of Giphy in 2021, even after US regulators approved the purchase. After a lengthy appeals process, Meta agreed to sell the GIF search engine last fall, telling Quartz that it accepted the CMAs ruling as the final word on the matter.

In the meantime, Microsoft has announced it plans to aggressively appeal the UK decision, while president Brad Smith told the BBC that the regulators decision marked the companys darkest day in more than four decades of operating in the country.

The CMA responded to Smith, saying that its the organizations job to do what is best for the people, businesses and economy of the U.K., not merging firms with commercial interests.

Interestingly, the CMAs ruling cited the deals potential effect on the cloud-based gaming market as a major factor in its April decision to block Microsofts acquisition. Now, with Microsoft agreeing to major concessions on that front in the EU decision, that could plausibly make a difference in the appeal process.



Related stories:

Antitrust regulators in the UK blocked Microsofts takeover of Activision

Microsoft is getting ready to defend its Activision Blizzard acquisition to EU regulators

Microsofts purchase of Activision Blizzard gives it the clear lead in the metaverse

More from Quartz

Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  In 1971, the Philippines launched the Community Health Organization Program to classify health services into primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. As part of this initiative, barangay health stations were created to ensure that primary healthcare improves the overall health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities.

Since then, these local health centers have played a crucial role in improving the health outcomes of Filipinos. They have not only provided general healthcare services but also served as agents during the COVID-19 pandemic and helped with the vaccination rollout. Additionally, they continue to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent diseases, particularly among vulnerable populations.

Adequate facilities for improved healthcare

SM Foundation (SMFI) has made it its mission to provide adequate facilities and upgraded equipment to boost health centers as they fulfill their mandate of delivering quality health care, even amid the pandemic.

Pursuing its mission, SMFI and UNIQLO Philippines traveled to the cities of Tuguegarao and Cauayan in Cagayan Valley and upgraded two health facilities serving thousands of Filipinos. Beyond the new infrastructure, health workers see it as a chance to put forth the services they have always drawn from the heart.

In Brgy. District 1, Cauayan, Midwife Tarita Ann Ballasteros has tended to patients from low-income households, who barely have money to spare for the fare going to the facility and to buy medicine. She would then give the best care she can offer to compensate for the limitations of their center.

A resident of Cauayan City, Isabela undergoes a routine checkup in Brgy. District 1 Health Center. Photo from SM Supermalls

Nakikita ko ang sitwasyon nila na ultimo pamasahe, wala sila. Iniisip ko, wala man lang akong maibigay na gamot sa kanila. Para sa akin, hindi ko man sila lubos na mapagaling, lalabas sila sa facility na magaan ang pakiramdam dahil sa tinatawag nating TLC (tender loving care), she said.

Before, they had to use curtains as improvised medical partitions or lock the health centers door to provide comfort to women seeking reproductive health care, or pregnant mothers coming in for prenatal checkups.

It takes time to prepare and attend to the next patient. Kailangan pa namin takpan ng kumot o i-lock ang pinto ng center para magkaroon ng privacy ang mga pasyente. Dahil dito, isa lang ang naa-accommodate namin. Minsan, hindi sila komportable dahil nakikita ng iba yung procedure na ginagawa namin sa kanila, she said.

Through the upgrade, the Brgy. District 1 Health Center had its own room for maternal and child health services, equipped with necessary medical tools. It was also fitted with a breastfeeding area and a designated space for immunization.

Health workers of Brgy. District 1 Health Center provides free prenatal checkups in the newly renovated health center. Photo from SM Supermalls

The upgrade served as the boost they needed to complement the TLC they have always given their community.

Malaki ang connection ng renovation ng center sa pagsasaayos ng kalusugan ng aming komunidad. Kaming mga health workers ay mas eager na sa pag-pasok sa trabaho at mas marami na kaming pasyenteng mabibigyan ng serbisyo at matutulungan, she said.

Through the newly renovated health center, residents of Brgy. District 1 health center enjoy free medical checkups. Photo from SM Supermalls

Dahil maganda na at maaliwalas, nakakatulong ito para gumaan ang pakiramdam ng pasyente bago pa man sila gamutin, she added.

A change for the better

Sharing the same passion for health care service is Corazon Tanguilan, a Barangay Health Worker from Brgy. Cataggaman Pardo Health Center in Tuguegarao City.

As a healthcare provider, hindi po namin gaano iniisip ang kalakihan ng aming health center. Ang importante po ay taos pusong pagbibigay ng serbisyo sa patients namin. Nasa kalooban po namin kung paano namin gagawing maayos pagpapatakbo ng aming operasyon, she said.

Through their dedication, they strived to accommodate the healthcare needs of their patients despite unfortunate working conditions  from broken tiles, cracked wall paint, and damaged cabinets to limited electric fans for ventilation.

Sira po ang aming mga tiles. Mahirap po ito dahil baka madulas o mapaano ang aming mga pasyente na kadalasan ay buntis at mga bata. Kaya nilagyan na lang po namin ito ng masking tape para makaiwas sa aksidente, she recalled.

Due to the centers layout and space limitations, it became even more difficult for them during the pandemic. With sick children, pregnant women, and TB-DOTs patients, it felt like a weight was pressed against their chests as they hoped to safely accommodate all patients while implementing social distancing.

Pregnant mothers from Cataggaman Pardo, Tuguegarao City can now get comfortable prenatal care in the newly refurbished health center. Photo from SM Supermalls

During immunization days, may mga pregnant mothers na darating for prenatal check-up. Ine-entertain namin sila dahil hindi namin puwedeng pauwiin ulit at pabalikin pa. Mahalaga po ang sapat na espasyo para maisagawa ang infection prevention and control measures. Kaya mainam po ang ginawa ng SM Foundation na pagpapalawak ng health center namin para sa kaligtasan ng patients namin, she explained.

As their center was rebuilt from the ground up, they felt relief and gained renewed optimism to improve their operations.

In addition to the installation of new equipment and facilities, complemented by cosmetic improvements such as fresh paint and tiles, the upgraded health centers now include designated rooms for maternal care, medical check-ups, and TB-DOTs treatment. The spacious and well-ventilated lobby provides a warm welcome to the people of Tuguegaraonos, encouraging them to pursue healthy living and become valuable contributors to the growth of their city.

27 years na po ako sa serbisyo at bihira po ang health center na naka-aircon at well-ventilated. Kaya ngayon pong naisaayos na po ito, tiyak po ako na mas maeengganyo ang constituents namin na pumunta sa aming center, she said.
The White House on Monday released financial disclosure forms for President Biden and Vice President Harris, offering a glimpse into some of the outside sources of income the two reported in the past year.

The forms, which cover 2022, showed little change from the previous year, though Biden earned less in book royalties compared to 2021.

The disclosure indicated that Biden earned between $2,500 and $5,000 on his 2017 memoir Promise Me, Dad, and less than $201 on his 2007 memoir Promises to Keep. In 2021, Biden earned roughly $30,000 in book royalties.

First lady Jill Biden reported earning between $5,001 and $15,000 in royalties on her 2020 childrens book Joey  The Story of Joe Biden, and less than $1,000 in royalties on her 2012 childrens book Dont Forget, God Bless Our Troops.

In 2021, she had earned between $15,000 and $50,000 in royalties.

The form also showed the Bidens own assets worth between $1.09 million and $2.57 million based on reported investments and holdings. The couple owe between $250,000 and $500,000 on a mortgage on their Delaware home.

Harris reported earning roughly $42,000 on her 2019 memoir, The Truths We Hold, as well as $40,209 on her 2019 childrens book SuperHeroes Are Everywhere.

In April, the White House disclosed the 2022 tax return forms for both the Bidens and Harris and her husband, second gentleman Douglas Emhoff. The Bidens reported nearly $580,000 in income, while Harris and husband reported earning $457,000.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Joe Bidens administration is preparing a proposal for a new round of funding for defence aid for Ukraine as the US$48 billion Ukraine aid package that Congress approved in December is expected to dry up in the next few months.

Source: Politico

Details: According to Politico, the $48 billion Ukraine aid package that Congress approved in December "has about $6 billion left, meaning US funding for weapons and supplies could dry up by midsummer."

A senior Biden administration official told Politico that the White House was discussing a new package, timed to keep support for Ukraine flowing.

The situation, however, is complicated by the fact that it might run into the opposition from a "small but vocal" group of fiscally conservative Republicans in the Congress.

The White House is still in the talks with the Republicans demanding that Biden slash spending in return for raising the debt ceiling. The 2024 defence budget is at stake, and financing aid for Ukraine might be complicated by these circumstances.

Though both Republicans and Democrats have declared their continued support for Ukraine's efforts to fight Russia, the Congress cannot predict exactly when the funds already approved will be exhausted.

The latest US budget included a $1.2 billion package of military aid to Ukraine, including additional air defence systems and ammunition and artillery shells.

Earlier, the White House stressed that it had a plan to fund the security, economic, humanitarian and energy assistance Ukraine needs for most of 2023, and that it would not be affected by disagreements between political parties.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






White House

Read also: US position on long-range missiles unchanged after UK transfers Storm Shadow to Ukraine

The White House is discussing a new package, and it will be timed to keep support for Ukraine flowing, Politico writes, citing an unnamed senior official.

The source clarified that it is currently unclear how Ukraine's needs may change during, or after, the looming counteroffensive, but the White House is "fully committed" to supporting Kyiv during and after the fighting "for a long time."

At the same time, the report notes Biden's administration's proposal to allocate new funds for Ukraine may face debates. Any forthcoming funding pool will have to be approved by the U.S. House of Representatives, which has flipped to Republican Party control in January, with many lawmakers focused on reining in government spending.

Read also: US Congress to hold Ukraine aid oversight public hearing

"In the aid package for Ukraine worth $45 billion, which Congress approved in December, there is still about $6 billion left," the article said.

On May 12, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Washington will help Ukraine replenish its shortage of arms if necessary.

On May 3, U.S. Department of Defense announced a $300 million military aid package to Ukraine, which included artillery and HIMARS ammunition, among other items.

Read also: Russia lost 20,000 troops fighting for Bakhmut, White House says

In total, the United States has provided Ukraine with nearly $37 billion in military aid since the Russian 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
After three failed lethal injections in 2022, Alabama is set to resume executions this summer.

The Alabama Supreme Court issued a death warrant for James Edward Barber, 64, earlier this month, following a top-to-bottom review of the states capital punishment system, which Gov. Kay Ivey ordered in November.

Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm affirmed to the Montgomery Advertiser that the department purchased new equipment and will increase the number of staff present for the process of carrying out of executions. The state also changed death penalty procedures to allow more time to carry out each execution.

The governor now has the authority and responsibility to set the time frame for the execution of James Barber, Iveys spokeswoman Gina Maiola said in a statement. 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.

Here is what we know about Barbers crimes, his imminent execution and changes made to Alabamas criminal punishment system since last fall.

Barbers crime and sentencing

A jury convicted Barber in the 2001 robbery and murder of Dorothy Epps 19 years ago. Since then, he has been on death row in Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore.

Epps lived in Harvest, an unincorporated community outside of Huntsville, and before her death, she hired Barber to do repair work on her home, according to court documents. Barber was also an ex-boyfriend of Eppss daughter.

On May 20, 2001, Barber entered the home without force and beat the 75-year-old woman to death. Based on physical evidence presented in court, Barber struck her with his fist before striking her with a claw hammer.

James Edward Barber, sentenced for murder on Jan. 9, 2004

A state medical examiner testified that Epps, who weighed about 100 pounds, defended herself and attempted to escape by moving about the house before the multiple blunt-force injuries resulted in her death.

Story continues

Investigators found a bloody handprint left on the counter above Eppss body. Huntsville Police Department latent print examiner Dan Lamont testified that the print unequivocally belonged to Barber.

Law enforcement arrested Barber five days later and he confessed in a video-taped interrogation with Deputy Dwight Edger, a Madison County sheriffs investigator. Barber later said he was not aware that the interview was being recorded and attempted to recant his confession.

Barber continued to deny involvement in Eppss murder through the trial and into sentencing when his attorneys asked Circuit Judge Loyd Little for a sentence of life in prison without parole.

"I've taken all of the evidence into consideration, and my decision is the death penalty," Little said.

The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals denied Barbers petition for a rehearing, and both the Alabama Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of the United States denied Barbers petition for writ of certiorari.

Alabamas series of problematic executions

The American flag is seen behind barbed wire at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Ala.

The last time Alabama attempted to execute a man was Nov. 17, 2022.

Kenneth Eugene Smith was convicted of a 1988 murder for hire and the state planned to execute him by lethal injection that day. After officials struggled to find a vein, though, the state abandoned the execution.

Two months before, a similar situation occurred when the state attempted to execute convicted murderer Alan Miller. His request to die by nitrogen hypoxia was delayed in the courts when the state prepared his execution on Sept. 22.

That execution was not successful, and through court filings, Miller has stated that he was restrained and punctured with needles multiple times before it was called off. The state has since agreed that any future effort to execute (Millers) sentence of death can only be by means of nitrogen hypoxia.

A month before Millers scheduled execution, another circumstance occurred on death row. Convicted murderer Joe Nathan James Jr. was executed more than three hours after the lethal injection was scheduled to happen on July 28, 2022. At that time, James did not open his eyes or speak any final words.

Ivey declined to intervene in James's planned execution execution, but after the situations with Miller and Smith, she ordered the review of the process

Changes in the execution process

The top-to-bottom review that Ivey ordered concluded in February. In addition to new equipment and additional personnel that will be present for executions, Alabama Department of Corrections officials have said that rehearsals have been conducted to ensure the process runs smoothly.

Gov. Kay Ivey at the Alabama State Capitol Building in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.

Additionally, the Alabama Supreme Court authorized a change in the way death warrants are executed. Now, the warrants will be issued for a time frame, rather than a particular day.

Thus, the governor has the power to choose the exact timing of an execution.

These changes will be implemented starting with Barbers execution, which must take place some time after June 2.

Hadley Hitson covers the rural South for the Montgomery Advertiser and Report for America. She can be reached at hhitson@gannett.com. To support her work, subscribe to the Advertiser or donate to Report for America.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: State sets execution time frame for Huntsville man convicted of murder
Irshad Manji, founder of the consultancy Moral Courage College, says an almost offensive focus on group labels is a big problem with workplace D.E.I programs. (Dave Sanders/The New York Times)

Woodward is a 153-year-old aerospace company that required its male employees to wear bow ties into the 1990s.

So Paul Benson, the companys chief human resources officer, knew that creating a companywide diversity, equity and inclusion program would require a seismic shift. Look at our org chart online, and were a lily-white leadership team of old males, he said. But employees were eager for a more inclusive culture.

People want to feel like they belong, Benson said. They want to come to work and not feel like they have to check themselves at the door.

Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times

Last summer, Benson started searching for a diversity consultant who was up to the task. He hoped to find a relatable former executive who had seen the light.

Instead, a Google search led him to a comedian and former media personality named Karith Foster, who is Black. She is CEO of Inversity Solutions, a consultancy that rethinks traditional diversity programming.

Foster said companies must address racism, sexism, homophobia and antisemitism in the workplace. But she believes that an overemphasis on identity groups and a tendency to reduce people to victim or villain can strip agency from and alienate everyone  including employees of color. She says her approach allows everyone to make mistakes, say the wrong thing sometimes and be able to correct it.

Benson was convinced. He hired Foster to give the keynote address at Woodwards leadership summit last October.

Shortly after taking the stage, she asked attendees to close their eyes and raise their hands in response to a series of provocative questions: Had they ever locked the car when a Black man walked by? Had they thought, Yes, Jewish people really are good with money? Had they questioned the intelligence of someone with a thick Southern accent?

People raised their hands tentatively, even fearfully. By the time Foster finished, nearly every hand  including her own  was up.

Story continues

Congratulations; youre certified human beings, she said. Its not about being right or wrong but understanding when bias comes into play.

Benson was relieved. I was at a table with somebody who started the whole thing with his arms folded, he recalled. His body language said this dudes not a believer. Halfway through, hes laughing and clapping.

Foster, he said, helped people feel OK with themselves, like maybe you havent been an activist or on this journey in your past, but lets see how we can move forward.

In other words, she helped them feel that they belonged in the conversation.

The question of belonging has become the latest focus in the evolving world of corporate diversity, equity and inclusion programming.

Interest in creating more inclusive workplaces exploded after George Floyds murder in 2020. Many corporations turned their attention to addressing systemic racism and power imbalances  things that had kept boardrooms white and employees of color feeling excluded from office life.

Now, nearly three years since that moment, some companies are amending their approach to DEI, even renaming their departments to include belonging. Its the age of DEI-B.

Some critics worry that its about making white people comfortable rather than addressing systemic inequality, or that it simply allows companies to prioritize getting along over necessary change.

Belonging is a way to help people who arent marginalized feel like theyre part of the conversation, said Stephanie Creary, assistant professor of management at the Wharton School who studies corporate strategies for diversity and inclusion.

She believes an abstract focus on belonging allows companies to avoid the tough conversations about power  and the resistance those conversations often generates. The concern is that we are just creating new terms like belonging as a way to manage that resistance, Creary said.

Foster contends that as a practical matter, there will be no equity if the people in power  the straight white male feel excluded from the conversation. The people traditional DEI practitioners most want to enroll are the people theyre isolating and honestly ostracizing, she said.

The nonpartisan nonprofit Business for America recently interviewed more than two dozen executives at 18 companies and found this to be a common theme. The way theyve rolled out DEI has exacerbated divides even while addressing valuable issues, said Sarah Bonk, BFAs founder and CEO. It has created some hostility, resentment.

Its why companies such as Woodward are now hiring consultants who specialize in belonging and bridge building. They are coming to the aid of executives who fear that national divisions are penetrating the workplace, threatening to drive a wedge between colleagues and making everyone feel anxious and defensive.

Creary agrees these are real problems. I can see that corporations want to have a structured conversation around how allowing all of us to thrive will help us all collectively, she said. But she worries belonging gives cover to people who would rather maintain the status quo. Theres still a large percentage of people who have a zero-sum mindset, she said. If I support you, I am going to lose.

Where Values Come From

The belonging obsession is the result of a corporate standard that is now widespread: Bring your whole self to work. If you have the flexibility to work wherever you want, and the freedom to discuss the social and political issues that matter to you, then ideally, youll feel that you belong at your company.

Bring your whole self to work emerged before the pandemic but became something of a mandate at its height, as companies tried to stanch a wave of resignations. They were also responding to concerns that many people felt excluded in the workplace. According to a 2022 report by the think tank Coqual, roughly half of Black and Asian professionals with a bachelors or more advanced degree dont feel a sense of belonging at work.

Last year, the Society for Human Resource Management conducted its first survey on corporate belonging. Seventy-six percent of respondents said their organizations prioritized belonging as part of its DEI strategy, and 64% said they planned to invest more in belonging initiatives this year. Respondents said that identity-based communities, such as employee resource groups, helped foster belonging, while mandatory diversity training did not.

Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist and professor at the Stern School of Business at NYU, wishes we werent having this conversation about identity and belonging. At a time of rising political polarization, many peoples whole selves dont fit with the whole selves of their colleagues, said Haidt, a self-described centrist. Ive heard from so many managers. They cant stand it anymore  the constant conflict over peoples identities.

In 2017, he and a colleague, Caroline Mehl, started the Constructive Dialogue Institute, whose main product is an educational platform called Perspectives. The tool uses online modules and workshops to help users explore where their values come from and why people from different backgrounds might have opposing values.

In 2019, CDI began licensing Perspectives to corporations. Annual fees are $50 to $150 per employee license. Companies can also book a menu of live training options for $3,500 to $15,000 for a full day.

Allegis Global Solutions, a workforce solutions company with 3,500 employees, was an early adopter.

Already, the platform has helped the company navigate some complex political situations. Last June, a 26-year-old human resources coordinator named Shakara Worrell was in a meeting when she learned that the Supreme Court had overturned Roe v. Wade. The entire meeting stopped, Worrell said. Thats when I realized, Im not the only one whose heart just dropped.

Worrell, who is mixed race, said she came to Allegis partly because the company prioritized belonging. She recalls reading news of police brutality at her previous job and feeling that she had to suppress her feelings.

I just remember sitting in my cube and not being able to just voice my opinions, Worrell said. She remembered thinking, I dont really belong.

Not so at Allegis. There, Worrell is a leader of Elevate, the companys employee resource group for womens empowerment. After the Supreme Court decision, she and fellow members decided to hold an event series to help employees digest the ruling. When they informed the human resources and DEI teams, they were directed to Perspectives.

No matter if they were for or against, we wanted our people to feel OK and be OK, Worrell said.

And were they? Allegis said roughly 200 people attended the first meeting, which was held virtually. Afterward, Worrell followed up with the one attendee who had spoken in favor of the courts decision.

Even though I was that one person going against the grain, Worrell recalled the colleague saying, I still felt like I should share.

Being Fake Nice

Irshad Manji, founder of the consultancy Moral Courage College, says an almost offensive focus on group labels is a big problem with mainstream diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. It all but compels people to stereotype each other, she said. I happen to be Muslim and a faithful Muslim. But that does not mean I interpret Islam like every other Muslim out there.

Manji believes that people now use belonging as a tacit acknowledgment that traditional DEI hasnt worked well.

So what approach does work? In 2018, Autodesk, a software company with 13,700 employees, began planning a culture shake-up.

Some employees were afraid to offend one another, so they defaulted to being fake nice and passive aggressive, said Autodesks president and CEO, Andrew Anagnost. Others felt unsupported and would not speak up in meetings.

Autodesk renamed its Diversity and Inclusion team the Diversity and Belonging team. Managers learned strategies for recognizing  and then counteracting  their own defensive thinking.

They were given poker chips to play each time they spoke to avoid dominating the discussion.

The company paid the leaders of employee resource groups bonuses to signal their value. And Anagnost put himself forward as the executive sponsor of the Autodesk Black Network.

But the company also tackled equity. It switched the location of a new office hub from Denver to Atlanta, knowing it would have a better shot at attracting Black engineering graduates there.

Autodesk regularly polls its employees about their experiences at work. After the culture shift took hold, Anagnost said that belonging scores increased for women and employees of color and decreased for white men.

Then that normalized, he said. Yeah, sure, OK, theres going to be some squeeze on opportunity in some areas as you try to increase representation in others. But the threat level goes down when you create a sense of we can all rise together.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
As state policymakers, we have long been concerned about Chinas growing espionage and interference inside the U.S. The concerns are myriad but include theft of American intellectual property to the tune of $500 billion annually, the spy balloon which is reported to have gathered intel from sensitive military sites, and the purchase of land near U.S. military bases by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) affiliates in Florida and elsewhere.

Information and data that flows to China could be devastating for Americas security interests and also Floridas economic interests. The CCPs intelligence gathering creates opportunities that China could exploit, particularly as it threatens to invade Taiwan and start a war in Southeast Asia.

This is an important national security issue that requires urgent action by all levels of government. In Florida, we are taking the lead to protect our residents and businesses.

This legislative session we introduced a bill to protect our states physical, digital and strategic assets from being exploited or undermined by foreign adversaries. It earned overwhelming bipartisan support in both the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate. It has been approved by both bodies and now awaits Governor DeSantis' signature.

Our legislation will restrict entities and people linked to the CCP and other countries of concern from purchasing land in Florida near military bases or critical infrastructure, accessing Florida residents healthcare data, or receiving economic incentives from our state or local governments.

Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. Some U.S. Defense officials fear Chinese-made seaport cranes pose a national security threat.

Passing this bill was an important step to protect businesses in the state, our agriculture sector, tourists and residents from foreign interests, like the Chinese Communist Party and other potential adversaries, such as Cuba, Venezuela and Iran.

Similar to our efforts this legislative session, earlier this month members of the U.S. House Select Committee on China began to investigate threats posed at ports across the nation by Chinese-manufactured cranes. They are potentially being used to steal sensitive data about U.S. supply chains, and could even halt the flow of goods in and out of U.S. ports.

Story continues

The reason for alarm? Just one Chinese-based company controls nearly 70 percent of the world market for cranes, meaning the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has eyes on nearly every major port across the globe.

In conjunction with our work at the state level, Congressman Carlos Gimenez, R-Miami-Dade, introduced legislation to decouple from CCP-manufactured cranes in ports around the nation while working to re-shore and friend-shore production of cranes. Creating an environment that supports U.S.-based innovators will help protect us from these threats in the future, maintain supply chain resiliency and will better inoculate us from espionage.

Katherine Waldron

This is an important issue for our thriving ports all across the statein Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, Port Canaveral, and Jacksonville.

While China commits genocide against the Uighers, colonizes its neighbors territorial seas, oppresses the people of Hong Kong, continues a vast military buildup, and threatens war against our allies in Taiwan, we must come together curb this growing threat. At the same time, we must reduce American dependence on China, ensuring we can (and are producing) the critical tools and technologies we need here at home.

Our nation must pursue a whole-of-government approach with urgent action at the local, state, and federal levels to deal with the China threat. We encourage our colleagues in states across the nation and at the federal level to follow Floridas lead and advance common-sense legislation that protects residents, businesses, and infrastructure from Chinese espionage and interference.

David Borrero

Democratic Rep. Katherine Waldron represents Florida House District 93, which includes Southwest Palm Beach County. Previously, she served as a Port of Palm Beach Commissioner. Republican Rep. David Borrero represents Florida House District 111 which includes Northwest Miami-Dade County.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Waldron, Borrero: Chinese spying threatens Florida
Palestinians and supporters gather to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Nakba in Times Square on May 14, 2023 in New York City.

Palestinians and supporters gather to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Nakba in Times Square on May 14, 2023 in New York City. Credit - Leonardo MunozVIEWpress

For the first time ever, the U.N. will commemorate the Nakba, or catastrophe in Arabic, in which at least 700,000 Palestinians fled or were forcibly expelled from their homes during the creation of Israel in 1948.

On May 15, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will deliver a keynote speech at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, as part of a high-level special meeting to mark Nakba Day. In a statement outlining the event, the U.N. said the occasion aims to highlight that the noble goals of justice and peace require recognizing the reality and history of the Palestinian peoples plight and ensuring the fulfillment of their inalienable rights.

As the 75th anniversary of the Nakba approached, the 193-member General Assembly voted in November on whether to host a commemoration event; the plan was approved by a vote of 90-30 with 47 abstentions. The U.S., a longtime military and financial supporter of Israel, voted against the event and confirmed that no American diplomats would be present.

For many others, the U.N.s decision is an acknowledgement of the central role played by the intergovernmental organization in the partition of the Mandate for Palestine.

Its acknowledging the responsibility of the U.N. of not being able to resolve this catastrophe for the Palestinian people for 75 years, said Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, according to the Associated Press.

Israels U.N. ambassador, Gilad Erdan, described the commemoration as abominable and called it a blatant attempt to distort history.

Read More: Darin Sallam on Portraying the Nakba in Netflixs Farha

From the early 1900s, a growing number of Zionist settlers escaping antisemitism in Europe arrived in the Mandate for Palestine. During the 1920s and 1930s, Palestinians resisted displacement that had been enabled by the British colonial presence. British forces eventually tasked the U.N. with finding a solution.

Story continues

In 1947, the U.N. General Assembly, formed of 57 member states at the time, passed a resolution to divide the Mandate for Palestine into a Jewish state and a Palestinian one. The plan allocated more than half the country to the Jewish state at a time when Jews formed around one-third of the population. The plan would also have left around 500,000 Palestinians living in a future Jewish state with a drastic choice: remain a minority in a Jewish state or leave.

Palestinians rejected the proposal and when the British mandate expired in 1948, Israel declared its independence.

Fighting broke out and 5 Arab countriesEgypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syriadeployed forces to stem the flow of Palestinian refugees. The aftermath of the fighting saw Israel conquer additional land that the U.N. plan had earmarked for a Palestinian state, while Egypt and Jordan each retained control over the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, respectively.

Over time, the Israel took control of more land that was formerly designated by the U.N. as part of a future Palestinian state. After the June 1967 War between Israel and a coalition of Arab states, Israel occupied the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

In recent decades, Israeli settlements in the West Bank have expanded under successive governments, with the settler population surpassing half a million people earlier this year. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, and much of the international community see them as an obstacle to peace and a future Palestinian state.

This year, Nakba Day is being observed on the heels of a round of violence between Israel and Palestinian militant groups. Israeli airstrikes which intended to target key figures from Islamic Jihad, the second-largest Palestinian armed group in Gaza, claimed at least 33 Palestinian lives. Meanwhile, Palestinian militant groups fired as many as 800 rockets toward Israel, leading to the death of two people in Israel.

The catastrophe to the Palestinian people is still ongoing, Mansour said, adding that Palestinians are still being forcibly removed from their homes.
Hes a hack.

Thats three races the 1 car has taken us out of.

If you wreck us, youre going to get it back.

These are three of the many splashy quotes provided by Hendrick Motorsports representatives during or after the controversial conclusion to the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday. The third of which was delivered by an honest Rick Hendrick, the powerful owner of the best race team in the NASCAR Cup Series.

And yet, however frustrating it all was, Hendrick Motorsports still emerged as winners on Sunday.

Quietly rising above the rubble has sort of become William Byrons thing.

Ive heard a lot of different opinions, Byron said in his mild-mannered way on Sunday in the media center of Darlington Raceway. But I think as a team, statistically, I feel like were right where we need to be.

The driver of the No. 24 car  a born-and-bred Charlottean  took the win at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, eluding carnage and embracing opportunity. His win flew under the radar, but the milestones he reached cannot go unnoticed: Byron now has three Cup wins in 2023, the most in the field.

He also was the one to deliver HMS its first win at Darlington since 2012 and the No. 24 cars 100th all-time Cup win.

We were well aware on the team, Byron said of the pressure of having 99 wins to the No. 24 cars name, chuckling. Its kind of that hump we wanted to get over pretty quick. I think I was a little bit anxious about it. Getting those two wins early in the year and then trying to get a third is tough. In this sport, everyone is so competitive, as we saw today. You had four or five cars within a chance for the lead.

Just good to get over that hump and get to get that monumental win for the No. 24. Its been a really special number to me already.

The win itself required grit  staying out of the spotlight until it shined upon him: After a difficult race through the first two stages, Byron shrugged it off and the 24 team kept their heads in it until chaos erupted and gave the team a path to victory. That chaos came in the form of a late-race restart with 13 to go, when Chastain appeared to squeeze Larson into the fence and shook up the top 10.

Story continues

Byron was thrust into the lead from there, and knowing the damage a few of the cars had behind him (and knowing their racing style), he figured he had a good chance to hold them off on the final seven laps on Sunday.

And thats what he did.

NASCAR Cup Series driver William Byron (24) wins at Darlington Raceway. David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports

The win seemed to mean a bunch to everyone at Hendrick Motorsports.

It certainly meant a lot to Jeff Gordon. The organizations vice chairman and one of the sports greatest drivers celebrates all HMS wins. But the paint scheme Byron ran in on Sunday  a 24 car paying homage to the 1998 car, back when Gordon was dominating the sport at the height of his popularity  strummed all the strings of nostalgia.

Real special, Gordon said. This weekend is special with all the throwback, especially that 24 throwback meant a lot to me, a lot of memories from the 50th anniversary year  was that 98, I believe  and that car and that paint scheme. Certainly was great to see it on track.

Gordon said he saw an at-peace Byron on Sunday.

I was standing right there with him on pit road last year when (Byron) didnt win the race because he got knocked out of the way by Joey (Logano), and I would not have considered that a calm, cool and collected William, Gordon said with a laugh. But he does hold it in and composes himself well. He just puts his head down, gets through it over the next couple days and goes on to the next one and puts it behind him. Thats what great race car drivers do.

The win meant a lot to Rick Hendrick, too. Sundays victory marks 296 Cup wins for Hendrick Motorsports. Win 300 might come this year.

And Byron is not an insignificant part of that history anymore. Hes on pace to meaning even more.

To look back at William and see how hes matured over the years and how good he is now, its pretty amazing that the lack of laps hes got, to be in the position that hes in, Hendrick said. But hes smart. He works hard. Hes in the simulator all the time. He puts a lot of effort into the program.

NASCAR Cup Series driver William Byron (24) celebrates in Victory Lane at Darlington Raceway. David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports

The victory left Byron feeling reflective. He mentioned this celebration coming after a difficult week after his grandfather died. He also mentioned that his family was in New York, celebrating his sisters graduation from Columbias business school.

But Sunday also was a big day of affirmation for Byron. The smiley, blonde-bearded 25-year-old was a mere clean-shaven 20-year-old when he made the leap to NASCARs top series six seasons ago. He took up Gordons number in the process.

Byron mentioned that he probably wasnt ready for that moment then.

He was asked if he felt any different now.

I think Im just honest with myself and reflective, and I felt like  I feel like Im a different person than I was when I stepped in the car, Byron said. It was a lot of pressure driving the 24, no matter what way you slice it. Its a big number and has a lot of meaning.

Byron is growing that meaning, too.

And hes doing so in his own way.
A Texas police department is disputing a widely interviewed bystanders account of the 6 May mass shooting at a mall in Allen in which eight people were killed.

Steven Spainhouer spoke to numerous local and national news outlets about his experience of the shoot at the Allen Premium Outlets.

The man said he drove over to the mall after getting a call from his son, who worked at an H&M store.

Mr Spainhouer said he believed he arrived to the store before law enforcement and found multiple people who had been shot.

The injuries were so severe there was nothing I could do, he told NBC affiliate KXAS. I found a 4-year-old under a lady, got the 4-year-old, 5-year-old, around the corner. He said he was OK, he was covered in blood from head to toe. There wasnt anything I could do.

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, he added in an interview with 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.

In a press release on Friday, the Allen Police Department (APD) said in a press release it had conducted follow-up interview with Mr Spainhouer and determined he was not a credible incident witness.

Mr Spainhouer arrived between 3:44 and 3:52 p.m. and was not first on the scene, nor was he on the property while gunfire was occurring, the department said in the release.

Mr Spainhouer did not perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) or administer first aid, the APD added, addressing various claims about the mans experience that were circulating in the media. Mr Spainhouer did not move a deceased mother who was covering a live child.

The Texas man responded to the police in a Facebook post, Law and Crime reported.

I have seen the Allen Police Department press release about me. I am hurt and disappointed, Mr Spainhouer wrote.

Instead of targeting me on what I did or didnt do, perhaps the Allen Police can explain why it took 20 minutes to get to the front of the H&M store, where there were injured victims, if they were already on site, before I got there.
Companies owned by Milwaukee mega-landlord Youssef "Joe" Berrada sent shock waves through the courthouse in January 2022 when they filed evictions against nearly 800 tenants in one day.

More waves could be on their way as one of those evictions was tossed out by a state appellate court judge last week. Judge Timothy Dugan found the filing by a Berrada company failed to list specific reasons to justify forcing a person from their home.

The eviction suit filed against Chakari Lathan, "does not explain what facts the claim for eviction is based upon," Appeals Court Judge Timothy Dugan wrote in his order. "In other words, it does not say why Berrada Properties is entitled to a judgment of eviction."

Jill Kastner, supervising attorney at Legal Action of Wisconsin, said the order is "going to have big impact on tenants in Milwaukee."

She praised the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee for bringing the suit against the Berrada company.

"This is going to help a lot tenants better understand why they're being evicted," Kastner said. "There are a lot landlords who dont provide enough information" evicting a tenant.

Former tenants probably will not be helped by ruling

Dugan's ruling likely will do little to help the 800 Berrada tenants who were sued for eviction on one day in January 2022, said Nick Toman, the Legal Aid attorney who represented Lathan, one of those tenants. The Court of Appeals order was in response to Lathan's challenge of her eviction.

But, Toman added, "it's going to affect people going forward. Landlords will have to at least tell tenants why they are being evicted."

Berrada has been a controversial landlord for several years  both for the size of his operation and his companies' propensity to aggressively evict tenants. The native of Morocco who has owned several mansions, including one in Mequon, controls companies that own at least 8,000 rental units in Milwaukee.

Story continues

He is known by some as "the Boulder Guy" because his firms often place large boulders in front of Berrada properties.

In 2021, the state Department of Justice sued Berrada and his companies charging they regularly violate the rights of tenants through a range of illegal actions, including wrongly forcing some out of their units and confiscating their property. The suit is still pending and Berrada and his companies have denied wrongdoing.

Attorneys for Berrada did not return calls for comment last week.

Berrada company never said why eviction was necessary

In the Lathan case, Dugan's order noted that the Berrada company never told the court or Lathan why it was evicting the woman.

Toman said Dugan's order will likely not help the tenants who were evicted the same day since the vast majority have likely either moved out, were evicted or made payment arrangements.

The Dugan order "is going to make all landlords, presumably, provide enough information so tenants could prepare for court," Toman said. "It's good for everybody if people know what they are showing up in court for."

The eviction action against Lathan was initially approved by Milwaukee County Circuit Judge David Swanson. Dugan overturned that ruling.

The eviction action against Lathan stated the amount of money that she owed would be determined later, court records show. In the section of the suit seeking a statement of the facts, the Berrada company simply states that Lathan was "served with a termination of tenancy notice and failed to vacate the property."

Toman said the filing was typical of the eviction actions filed by Berrada companies until this year.

"They filed the same exact complaint over and over and over again," Toman said.

Contact Cary Spivak at (414) 550-0070 or cspivak@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cspivak.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tenant beats giant Milwaukee landlord Berrada in eviction case
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 15)  The government is keeping the shelters for distressed Filipino workers in Kuwait open in the wake of news that the establishment of the emergency centers was the reason behind the suspension of visa issuance.

We would like to say that we do not intend to close the shelter, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said the Laging Handa briefing.

It is mandated by law that the Philippines is obligated to open shelters and centers kung saan maraming [where theres many] Filipino, he added

De Vega said shelters provided by the Philippine embassy protect distressed Filipinos, not to encourage them to run away from their employers.

The shelters currently house 466 distressed overseas Filipino workers.

He said government representatives are en route to Kuwait Monday evening to discuss the suspension of the issuance of new entry and work visas, including the reason behind it.

RELATED: PH to send officials to Kuwait to discuss visa issuance suspension

Another issue is meron tayong shelter pero congested na, kaya meron tayong 166 na dinala muna sa hotel, pero sabi ng Kuwait bawal yan, De Vega said.

[Translation: Another issue is that we have a shelter that is congested, so we brought 166 Filipinos to a hotel, but Kuwait said it's not allowed.]

So, 'yun daw ang maaring violation na tinutukoy nila kaya ang ginawa natin. Over the weekend, ay binalik sila sa shelter, he added.

[Translation: So, that may be the violation they are referring to that we committed. Over the weekend, we brought them back to the shelter.]

Citing the Department of Migrant Workers, De Vega said 3,000 workers may be affected by the visa suspension.
A woman died in a hit-and-run crash on a San Francisco Bay Area freeway after stopping to help another motorist, the California Highway Patrol told news outlets.

A man and woman in a Mitsubishi stopped on Interstate 880 near Fremont at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday, May 14, to help move a disabled vehicle from a solo crash onto the side of the highway, officers told KPIX.

The woman was standing between the two vehicles when a Ford F-150 pickup truck hit the Mitsubishi, which then struck and killed the woman, the CHP told KNTV.

The driver of the pickup truck ran away after the crash, officers told KGO. The driver of the disabled vehicle was later arrested on charges of driving under the influence, police said.

The womans name has not been released.

The CHP asks that anyone with information on the crash call 510-489-1500.

Watch terrifying moment as fisherman kicks tiger shark attacking his kayak in Hawaii

Man killed when his pistol fires during struggle with police, California cops say

Woman wakes to find strangers hand on her thigh on flight to California, feds say
A 63-year-old woman was bummed when she realized somebody had won a jackpot prize in Michigan.

The possibility of myself being the jackpot winner didnt even cross my mind, the Tuscola County woman, who chose to remain anonymous, told lottery officials.

But she had bought 10 tickets for the April 30 Fantasy 5 drawing, and hoped she had won at least a few dollars, according to a May 15 news release from the Michigan Lottery.

So, she signed into her Michigan Lottery account to check if she won anything.

Thats when she realized she was the lottery player who won the Fantasy 5 jackpot prize.

When the pop up came up showing my $417,233 Fantasy 5 prize, I started screaming, she said when claiming her prize. My husband ran upstairs because he thought something was wrong. When I showed him how much Id won, he was in disbelief.

She plans to use the prize money to buy a new vehicle and invest, according to the release.

The winning ticket  with numbers 08-14-30-37-39  was bought online at MichiganLottery.com.

Tuscola County is about 100 miles north of Detroit.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

Confused accountant thought he only won $100 in Maryland lottery. It was much more

Lottery player sees he won big in email, but thought it was a scam. I was shocked!

75-year-old grandma wins big Iowa lottery prize and family cant believe it. No way!
The Washington Post has removed from an interview with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, published on the newspaper's website on 13 May, a fragment in which the President of Ukraine is asked about the contacts of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner private military company (PMC), with the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine. When asked about the authenticity of the information, Prigozhin ridiculed WP, saying that he "is still with Budanov in Africa".

Update: Later, WP brought back this part of the interview.

Source: BBC Russian Service; Prigozhin's press service

Details: According to the BBC, WP removed from the current version of the interview with Zelenskyy a fragment with questions about the leak of secret US documents, which, according to journalists, refer to Prigozhin's ties to the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. The previous version of the material has been preserved in online archives.

Here are the deleted fragments of the conversation between WP journalists and the Ukrainian president.

WP: "The documents indicate that HUR, your intelligence directorate, has back-channel contact with Yevgeniy Prigozhin that you were aware of, including meeting with Yevgeniy Prigozhin and HUR officers. Is that true?"

Volodymyr Zelenskyy: "This is a matter of [military] intelligence. Do you want me to be convicted of state treason? And so, its very interesting, if someone is saying that you have documents, or if someone from our government is speaking about the activities of our intelligence, I would also like to ask you a question: With which sources from Ukraine do you have contact? Who is talking about the activities of our intelligence? Because this is the most severe felony in our country. Which Ukrainians are you talking to?"

The journalists assure Zelenskyy that no Ukrainian officials have spoken to them about this, and they rely solely on the leaked documents.

Story continues

WP: "I can read you what information exactly there is about Prigozhin and the GUR. On February 13,Kyrylo Budanov, chief of Ukraines Main Directorate of Intelligence, informed you about a Russian plan to destabilize Moldova with two former Wagner associates. Budanov informed you that he viewed the Russian scheme as a way to incriminate Prigozhin because "we have dealings" with him. You instructed Budanov to inform Moldovan President Maia Sandu, and Budanov told you that the GUR had informed Prigozhin that he would be labeled a traitor who has been working with Ukraine. The document also says that Budanov expected the Russians to use details of Prigozhins secret talks with the GUR and meetings with GUR officers in Africa."

Zelenskyy: "Listen, to be honest, well, you just read something, you say something. I just dont understand where you get it, whom you talk to and so on. You talk about how I met with Budanov. This suggests that you  how do you put it? It looks like you have people who have some records or you have some evidence or you have something, because thats what it looks like. You are again doing, I apologize, what you were doing before. You are releasing some sort of information that does not help our state to attack and does not help us to defend our state. So, I dont quite understand what you are talking about. I dont quite understand your goal. Is your goal to help Russia? I mean, that means we have different goals. If Im not sitting at the same table with them, I dont quite understand what were talking about. Each of these inquiries simply demotivates Ukraine, demotivates certain partners to help Ukraine. Well, one way or another, I just dont understand your goal."

The WP journalists continue to insist that no one told them this information personally and that they received the data from secret documents. The Ukrainian president continues to say that the information was passed on to them.

Zelenskyy: "They (the documents - ed.) were not on the Internet, they were part of something. We, the normal society, couldnt access all of this. We couldnt. And then, I think, information began to come out that we would partially publish everything else. I think its yours  or your editorial board, or whoever. I dont want to offend anyone, I dont know. Thats why you are releasing this information one by one today. You publish information about a counteroffensive in Ukraine, about this or that. I told you that I believe that this is, how to put it?  someone heard something somewhere, someone published something somewhere, but the information is compiled, and it is different, and it definitely does not work in Ukraines favor."

More details: Asked to comment on the reports of a meeting with Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine officers, Prigozhin said that "Budanov and I are still in Africa".

"Of course, I can confirm this information. We have nothing to hide from foreign intelligence services. Budanov and I are still in Africa. And as for WP and the deleted fragment, I think it happened because they didn't buy tickets in time, and I'm afraid if someone finds out that WP is still in Africa, they will be sold business class for too much. So they just want to save money, as usual," he said.

Update at 08:55: A source in the Washington Post explained this situation by saying that the outlet was preparing a text about Prigozhin and his contacts with Ukrainian intelligence and mistakenly posted the full transcript of the conversation with Volodymyr Zelenskyy before the investigation was released.

Now, after the publication of the article about Prigozhin, the website has posted the full transcript of Zelenskyy's interview again.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Four years after it was in a state budget that never became law, the Senate budget proposal again calls for funding of a monument to African Americans on the North Carolina state Capitol grounds.

If the Senates budget proposal becomes law, the stalled project would receive $3 million in funding for the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to complete the planning, design, and construction of the African American Monument, led by the African American Heritage Commission.

Senate leader Phil Berger told The News & Observer earlier this legislative session that he supported the project.

The long-planned project has been on hold for several years. It was in the 2019 state budget that Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed over raises and tax cuts, and smaller budget bills did not include funding. Another project honoring the African American experience in North Carolina, Freedom Park, was funded, however, and will open this summer. Freedom Park is located on the downtown block between the Legislative Building and the Executive Mansion, a few blocks from the Capitol.

A 10th-grade honors civic literacy class from Wake Early College of Information and Biotechnology in Morrisville tours the construction site of the North Carolina Freedom Park in downtown Raleigh on Wednesday, March 8, 2023. The new park will honor and celebrate the African American experience in North Carolina.

There is no monument at the historic Capitol in the center of downtown Raleigh that recognizes the contributions of African American people in North Carolina. Plans for the African Americans monument call for it to be built on the southeast corner of the grounds, and keep in mind the most frequent visitors, who are schoolchildren.

The Capitol grounds projects funding stalled in legislation after protesters tore down some Confederate statues, and others were removed, at the Capitol in 2020.

Republican lawmakers said previously that it was not the time to put something back up there of any type, while Democratic lawmakers called the lack of inclusion an insult.

In March, Berger noted that Senate Republicans have supported the monument in the past, adding that the budget committee members had not yet discussed it.

But I think its known that I have supported that in the past, and will continue to support it, Berger said then.

Story continues

The N&O has asked lawmakers about the project on and off for years. Sen. Dan Blue, the Senate minority leader and a Raleigh Democrat, told The N&O in February that the project needs to move forward more urgently now than before, and referenced all the springtime field trips students make to the Capitol complex.

There is no experience on the Capitol grounds of Black existence in North Carolina, Blue said.

Coopers budget proposal also would allocate $3 million for the project. It was not in the House budget, but does have bipartisan support there.

The project is led by the African American Heritage Commission within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen affirmed on Monday that the nation faces federal default as soon as June 1, dialing up pressure on Congress to strike a deal.

In her previous letter to lawmakers earlier this month, Yellen warned that the Treasury could run out of cash to stave off a federal default by early June if Congress did not raise or suspend the debt ceiling.

We still estimate that Treasury will likely no longer be able to satisfy all of the governments obligations if Congress has not acted to raise or suspend the debt limit by early June, and potentially as early as June 1, Yellen wrote to leaders Monday.

Yellen said she plans to provide additional updates to Congress in the weeks ahead, noting the actual date Treasury exhausts those measures could be a number of days or weeks later than these estimates.

Treasury began implementing the emergency measures in January, when the nation ran up on the roughly $31.4 trillion cap set by Congress more than a year ago.

Yellens letter comes as White House and congressional leaders struggle to strike an agreement to raise the federal borrowing limit.

President Biden is expected to meet with Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and other leaders on Tuesday, as both sides try to find a path forward on the debt limit after a months-long stalemate.

Republicans have vowed not to work with Democrats to raise the debt ceiling without cuts or fiscal reforms, while Democrats have instead called for a clean bill to address the debt ceiling, insisting bipartisan budget talks be carried out separately.

In remarks to reporters earlier on Monday, McCarthy indicated both sides had not made much progress since talks began last week.

I still think were far apart. It doesnt seem to me yet they want a deal, it just seems like they want to look like they are in a meeting but theyre not taking anything serious, McCarthy said, underlining the challenges both sides face in striking a deal soon.

Updated at 5:05 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Temperatures inside a car can rise rapidly on a hot day, leaving your dog susceptible to a heat stroke or death if left alone without proper ventilation.

As temperatures continue to rise across California, remember confining your pet inside an empty car with a cracked window wont suffice.

According to California penal code 597.7, its illegal to leave any animal  dog, cat, rabbit or pig  inside an empty car if its too hot and the animal could be in danger. The same rule applies to temperatures that are too cold, as well as vehicle conditions that lack adequate airflow, food or water.

If you see a pet confined to an empty car under conditions that could endanger their health, its your right to step in and help them.

Spokeswoman Allison Harris with Sacramento County Animal Services said bystanders should dial 9-1-1 immediately if they see a pet in danger or suffering. In an email to The Bee, she said its legal to break into someones car in Sacramento County to save a pet if:

You called 9-1-1 first

Law enforcement doesnt arrive on time

The owner of the vehicle cannot be found

And the pet is clearly suffering or in danger

The person must stay with the pet until law enforcement arrives, she said.

First-time violators could receive a fine of up to $100 per animal, according to California law.

Pet owners could receive a fine of up to $500 and be imprisoned for up to six months if the pet suffered a significant physical injury while left unattended.

How hot is too hot?

According to a 2005 study from the American Academy of Pediatrics, outside temperatures of around 70 degrees can heat the inside of a car to over 115 degrees within minutes.

Dogs experience heat exhaustion when their body temperature hits 103 degrees, according to pet food company Hills Pet Nutrition. Its typically safe to leave your dog in the car for no more than five minutes when the outside temperature is above freezing and below 70 degrees, pet health author Jean-Marie Bauhaus wrote on Hills blog.

Story continues

If you have a passenger in the car with you, have them stay behind and keep the air conditioning running.

What are the symptoms of heat stroke?

Dogs dont sweat across their entire body like humans because their body is covered with fur.

Instead, they sweat mainly through their merocrine glands located in their paw pads, according to American Kennel Club.

Dogs will also pant and rely on the expansion of their blood vessels to regulate their body temperature but none of it is as effective in cooling dogs down as sweating is for humans.

Heat stroke is a serious concern for all dogs, the American Kennel Club wrote on its website, especially those with short noses and flat faces.

Obese dogs and animals with dark coats are also at a higher risk of stroke.

The signs of heat stroke include:

Dehydration

Body temperature over 105.8 degrees and the dog feels warm to the touch

Bright red gums

Rapid or irregular heart rate

Muscle tremors

Lack of coordination

If youre outside of a locked car and cannot physically access the dog, look out for the following symptoms:

Unconsciousness

Seizures

Vomiting

Excessive drooling

Heavy, frantic panting

Some cars have safety modes

Some cars  including many electric vehicles  have modes that allow you to keep your car cool while youre not in it. However, these modes are not recommended for long periods of time.

For example, Tesla owners can control the inside of their cars temperatures with an app.

According to the electric vehicle company, the dog function maintains a comfortable cabin temperature for pets while left alone inside the car.

When in dog mode, the cars touchscreen will display the inside temperature to inform those walking by that the pet is safe.

The setting should only be used for short periods of time while the pet owner is close by, according to Tesla.

Rivian has a similar feature.

The electric vehicles pet comfort mode allows owners to set their cars inside temperature between 68 degrees and 74 degrees.

Like Teslas, those passing by the car can read a message that the pet is safe and comfortable inside.

Editors note: This story has been updated to include information on electric vehicles.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
Temperatures inside a car can rise rapidly on a hot day, leaving your dog susceptible to a heat stroke or death if left alone without proper ventilation.

As temperatures continue to rise across California, remember confining your pet inside an empty car with a cracked window wont suffice.

According to California penal code 597.7, its illegal to leave any animal  dog, cat, rabbit or pig  inside an empty car if its too hot and the animal could be in danger. The same rule applies to temperatures that are too cold, as well as vehicle conditions that lack adequate airflow, food or water.

If you see a pet confined to an empty car under conditions that could endanger their health, its your right to step in and help them.

A bystander who removes an animal from a car will not be criminally liable if the person, according to the law:

Determined the car was locked

Believed forcible entry into the vehicle was necessary because the animal was suffering

Used no more force than what was necessary to retrieve the animal

Contacted law enforcement, the fire department or animal control services

Stayed with the animal in a safe location until authorities arrived

Immediately turned the animal over to authorities when they arrived at the scene

First-time violators could receive a fine of up to $100 per animal, according to California law.

Pet owners could receive a fine of up to $500 and be imprisoned for up to six months if the pet suffered a significant physical injury while left unattended.

How hot is too hot?

According to a 2005 study from the American Academy of Pediatrics, outside temperatures of around 70 degrees can heat the inside of a car to over 115 degrees within minutes.

Dogs experience heat exhaustion when their body temperature hits 103 degrees, according to pet food company Hills Pet Nutrition. Its typically safe to leave your dog in the car for no more than five minutes when the outside temperature is above freezing and below 70 degrees, pet health author Jean-Marie Bauhaus wrote on Hills blog.

Story continues

If you have a passenger in the car with you, have them stay behind and keep the air conditioning running.

What are the symptoms of heat stroke?

Dogs dont sweat across their entire body like humans because their body is covered with fur.

Instead, they sweat mainly through their merocrine glands located in their paw pads, according to American Kennel Club.

Dogs will also pant and rely on the expansion of their blood vessels to regulate their body temperature but none of it is as effective in cooling dogs down as sweating is for humans.

Heat stroke is a serious concern for all dogs, the American Kennel Club wrote on its website, especially those with short noses and flat faces.

Obese dogs and animals with dark coats are also at a higher risk of stroke.

The signs of heat stroke include:

Dehydration

Body temperature over 105.8 degrees and the dog feels warm to the touch

Bright red gums

Rapid or irregular heart rate

Muscle tremors

Lack of coordination

If youre outside of a locked car and cannot physically asses the dog, look out for the following symptoms:

Unconsciousness

Seizures

Vomiting

Excessive drooling

Heavy, frantic panting

Some cars have safety modes

Some cars  including many electric vehicles  have modes that allow you to keep your car cool while youre not in it. However, these modes are not recommended for long periods of time.

For example, Tesla owners can control the inside of their cars temperatures with an app.

According to the electric vehicle company, the dog function maintains a comfortable cabin temperature for pets while left alone inside the car.

When in dog mode, the cars touchscreen will display the inside temperature to inform those walking by that the pet is safe.

The setting should only be used for short periods of time while the pet owner is close by, according to Tesla.

Rivian has a similar feature.

The electric vehicles pet comfort mode allows owners to set their cars inside temperature between 68 degrees and 74 degrees.

Like Teslas, those passing by the car can read a message that the pet is safe and comfortable inside.

What do you want to know about life in Modesto? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@modbee.com.
Robert De Niro and Al Pacino have long been considered two of Hollywood's most talented actors. For decades, the longtime pals, who have frequently collaborated onscreen, have been feted with Oscar nominations and glowing critical reviews.

But now, De Niro, 79, and Pacino, 83, are squaring off against each other in a new internet poll that wonders, "Who was hotter? Young Al Pacino or Young Robert De Niro?"

Robert de Niro, Al Pacino (Getty Images)

The poll, which was launched May 13 by writer Ashley Reese (while she was attending a wedding!), garnered more than 277,300 votes. The results? A dead even split. By the time the Twitter poll's 24-hour span came to a close, both Oscar winners had garnered exactly 50 percent of the votes.

Many voters proudly explained their choices. Young De Niro had a certain je ne sais quoi. Rugged yet graceful. This is the working mans choice, one person wrote alongside images of the actor in his youth.

Next to a video montage of young Pacino, someone else wrote, This is literally the most beautiful man ive ever seen in my life sorry.

Robert De Niro, Al Pacino in the Godfather II (Everett Collection)

Oscar winner Diane Keaton, who co-starred alongside both actors in "The Godfather II"  and also alongside then-boyfriend Pacino in the first "Godfather" movie gushed about Pacino's good looks to USA Today in 2014.

"Lets talk about (Pacino's) nose. The best nose Ive ever seen. Bar none. I wouldnt mind taking a look at that nose again," said Keaton.

Meanwhile, actor Amy Adams has gone on the record to talk about her "retroactive crush" on De Niro as he looked in the 1970s. "Theres something about him in 'The Godfather' and 'The Deer Hunter,' I was just like Whoa, the Oscar nominee told late-night host Jimmy Kimmel in 2020.

It's obvious that the De Niro vs. Pacino hotness debate is far from settled. Actually, the "discourse" is now heating up again on TikTok and Reddit.

Story continues

As evidenced by the images on this page, it's clear that both these actors are genetically blessed. As for their critical success, well, they're neck-and-neck in that category too.

De Niro has been nominated for eight Oscars, winning twice, first for his portrayal of Vito Corleone in "The Godfather Part II" (1974) and later for playing boxer Jake LaMotta in "Raging Bull" (1980).

Pacino has been nominated nine times, bringing home one Oscar, for "Scent of a Woman" (1993).

So, which actor was more appealing in his youth? That Twitter poll result is split evenly for a reason. Which begs a bigger question: Why choose at all?

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Early indications suggest that this weekend's Yuma shooting was not migrants on the rage but local teens having a party.

Another weekend, another mass shooting.

This time, in Yuma where two young men, just 19 and 20, are dead and five other teens were injured late Saturday night.

All of the dead and injured were between 15 and 20 years old, in this, Americas latest mass shooting.

Its the 33rd mass shooting just this month and at least the 215th nationwide, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass shooting as one in which four or more people are either killed or injured.

Fox News was quick to play up Yuma shooting

No suspects are in custody and theres not much to know as yet about what happened here, but leave it to Fox News to deliver the story that its audience craves.

7 people shot in Yuma, Arizona, just 10 miles from the US-Mexico border, the network screams.

The shooting unfolded at a time when the border city of just about 97,000 residents is dealing with a large influx of migrants surging across the border, Fox reported.

In Arizona: Sen. Sinema talks about rollout of gun law

Yuma Mayor Douglas Nicholls appeared on Fox News on Friday to sound the alarm that Border Patrol had begun releasing migrants onto the streets a day after Title 42 expired.

The story  of the shooting  includes a photo of the U.S.-Mexico border and two more photos of migrants who were released by the Border Patrol in Yuma and nearby Somerton and, well, you get the picture.

This is Arizona's 4th mass shooting in 2023

Interestingly, Fox never noted that Saturdays shooting was Arizonas fourth mass shooting of the year.

Or that early indications suggest that this was not migrants on the rage but local teens having a party.

A woman told Z93 radio that her 15-year-old son attended a party in the foothills and was shot in the leg after a fight broke out. He was caught in a crossfire.

My kid attended a party like 15-year-olds do, she said. Is this what is happening in Yuma now? I am sickened, saddened and pissed off. We need to do better.Fox News must be so disappointed.

Story continues

Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LaurieRoberts.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Yuma shooting probably isn't what Fox News was hoping for
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy issued a new appeal to NATO on Monday to make a "positive political decision" on Kyiv's membership bid at a July summit.

Ukraine's Western partners have provided it with weapons to fight Russia's invasion. But Kyiv wants stronger security guarantees for the future and hopes to join the NATO military alliance, which is due to hold a summit in Vilnius in July.

"It is time to remove the biggest security uncertainty in Europe  that is, to approve a positive political decision on (Ukrainian) membership in NATO," he said in a video address to the Copenhagen Democracy Summit.

"This is worth doing at the July summit already. This will be a timely signal."

Zelenskiy is on a tour of European capitals to shore up support before an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive to try to retake Russian-occupied territory.

(Reporting by Dan Peleschuk, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Xiplomacy: China-Central Asia cooperation: Palmy past, rosy future

Xinhua) 08:43, May 15, 2023

This aerial photo taken on Oct. 27, 2020 shows the construction site of the second phase of the north-south highway built by China in Kyrgyzstan. (China Road&Bridge Corporation/Handout via Xinhua)

BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- "The precious merchandise of many foreign countries is stored up here. The soil is rich and productive, and yields abundant harvests. The forest trees afford a thick vegetation, and flowers and fruits are plentiful."

The excerpt from "The Great Tang Records on the Western Regions" written by Chinese Buddhist monk Xuanzang in 646, a narrative of his 19-year journey through China and neighboring areas, vividly depicts a richly-endowed Samarkand, one of the most important transit points on the ancient Silk Road linking the East to the West.

The legendary route activated more than 2,000 years ago bore witness to interactions between China and Central Asia through tradings of merchandise and flows of ideas. Now, the footprints of camel caravans have faded away, but cooperation and exchanges between the two sides have remained and become ever thriving.

This photo taken on April 24, 2023 shows a flume rebuilt under a project allocated from a Chinese grant to reconstruct Kyrgyzstan's irrigation system at Kara-Oi village in Issyk-Kul region, Kyrgyzstan.(Photo by Chingiz/Xinhua)

BREAD AND BUTTER, AND A BETTER LIFE

Water is life, and with water anything is possible. But for Kyrgyz farmers like Evgeny Yakovlev, there was a time when getting water became a big problem.

"Water is not enough. (We have) constant queues. It is very difficult to get water in a timely manner," said Yakovlev, who has been growing crops for 15 years in a village called Kara-Oi, which lies on the northern shore of Kyrgyzstan's Issyk-Kul Lake.

Yakovlev has four hectares of land, on which he nurtures about 1,000 cherry, apple and pear trees, as well as clover and barley. Every summer, Yakovlev needs to water his plants at least three times a day, but the old irrigation system built decades ago could not deliver enough water.

To solve the water problem in Kara-Oi and villages alike, the Kyrgyz government initiated a project in May 2018 allocated from a Chinese grant to reconstruct the country's irrigation system.

Under the project, a reservoir was built by China Railway No.5 Engineering Group Co., Ltd in Kara-Oi with a capacity of 470,000 cubic meters of water. A total of 330 hectares of undeveloped land were put into operation, and the water supply was increased on an area of over 1,000 hectares.

"Before, it was very difficult with water ... Now it's better. We are grateful to the builders," said Arstanbek Zhundubaev, head of the Water Users Association of Kara-Oi.

Ensuring a good life for the people means going beyond water, food and other daily necessities to touch on the experience of life, for example, by making journeys safe and sound. And this is exactly what China and Kyrgyzstan have been cooperating on -- since 2001, about 300 km of roads and more than 10 bridges have been built and reconstructed with joint efforts from both sides.

"More than 20 years, China Road and Bridge Corporation has been implementing large projects in Kyrgyzstan in the road industry," said Ulan Uezbaev, deputy director of the Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development of the Bishkek Mayor's Office. "During the implementation of projects, the company also hired citizens of Kyrgyzstan, who learned a lot. I hope that our cooperation will continue."

"This is the street where my sister and I walk ourselves to school each morning," Kasyet Azamatovna, a young girl living in Bishkek, pointed to the newly-paved road outside her front door.

"Look how smooth and neat it is!" she said, bubbling with excitement.

Photo taken on Sept. 13, 2022 shows the entrance to the 100-MW Zhanatas wind farm near the city of Zhanatas in the Zhambyl Region, Kazakhstan. (Photo by Dmitry Vasilenko/Xinhua)

GO GREEN TOGETHER

Maksat Abilgaziev, 33, is a Kazakh born and raised in Zhanatas, a run-down town in the country's south that was once the thriving center of phosphate mining and fertilizer production.

In 2020, Abilgaziev quit his electronic engineering job at a local phosphate mine, and became a wind power engineering trainee at the Chinese-built Zhanatas wind farm, one of the largest of its kind in Central Asia.

"Our Chinese friends have brought equipment, investment, technology and experience to Kazakhstan. They have also cultivated clean energy talents in our country. The wind power projects have created jobs and tax revenues for Zhanatas, bringing the town back to life," rejoiced Abilgaziev, whose income has more than doubled in three years.

The studious and industrious man, now a senior at the wind farm, told Xinhua that it was the dream for a better future that prompted his decision for a career change.

Clean energy, including wind power, is what the future holds for Zhanatas, and Kazakhstan at large and what the future should look like, he said.

"We should pursue the new vision of green development and a way of life and work that is green, low-carbon, circular and sustainable," Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in May 2017. "We propose the establishment of an international coalition for green development on the Belt and Road, and we will provide support to related countries in adapting to climate change."

To put words into action, China has fully integrated the Belt and Road Initiative with Kazakhstan's "Bright Road" new economic policy, and launched 52 cooperation projects with the Central Asian country, with the Zhanatas wind farm as one of the flagship projects.

Put into operation in 2021 with a capacity of 350 million kWh of electricity annually, the wind farm is expected to save about 110,000 tons of standard coal per year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, compared with thermal power plants.

Another signature project of green cooperation between China and Central Asia is the 100 MW solar power plant seated in the town of Kapchagay in southeastern Kazakhstan's Almaty Region. The plant, jointly invested and built by a Chinese enterprise and Kazakh partners, is one of the largest photovoltaic power generation projects in the country, reducing carbon emissions by 160,000 tons per year.

"With more green cooperation, I believe that in the future, the sky will be bluer, the water will be clearer, and the earth we live on will be cleaner," said Abilgaziev.

This photo taken on April 29, 2023 shows a view of the historical sites in Khiva, Uzbekistan. (Xinhua)

HANDSHAKE OF CULTURES

On a refreshing autumn day in September 2022, Xi held talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the International Conference Center in Samarkand, during which a small gift was presented by China to Uzbekistan. The gift turned out to be a miniature of the ancient city of Khiva, which celebrates the two countries' joint efforts to restore the cultural heritage of the ancient Silk Road.

"The preservation and restoration of historical sites in Khiva, a project launched during my visit to Samarkand in 2013, has been successfully concluded, further augmenting the charm of this ancient city," Xi said in a signed article published on Uzbek media ahead of his state visit to Uzbekistan.

"I'd give a bag of gold to visit Khiva," goes a Central Asian saying.

Located in southwestern Uzbekistan, Khiva, a shining pearl on the ancient Silk Road, was built in the 10th century and inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in the 1990s. However, due to disrepair, some ancient buildings of the cultural relic sustained damage in varying degrees.

Following Xi's Uzbekistan visit in 2013, China and the Central Asian country announced they would be working together to restore the Amir to'ra madrasasi, the Hasan Murod Qushbegi Mosque and their surroundings in Khiva. A Chinese team arrived at the site in May 2014, and with expertise and dedication to preserving history, the team members had overcome difficulties and successfully completed the restoration work with a minimal intervention approach.

"Our Chinese colleagues do their work very carefully, with love and with all their soul, and try to keep everything in its original form," said Abdullayev Masharib Saydamatovich, deputy director of Center for Promotion of Science of Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences. "Cultural cooperation with China does not stop there. It continues, and restoration work has been singled out as one of the main directions."

True, joint restoration on Khiva only stands as one of the many epitomes of cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Central Asian countries. Another dazzling example is the Luban Workshop in Dushanbe, a Chinese vocational workshop program training talents in Tajikistan. The workshop, officially going into service in November 2022, is the first of its kind in Central Asia.

"China's Luban Workshop is recognized as an international vocational education brand worldwide. We believe that Luban Workshop will be of great help to Tajik Technical University in training talents in measurement, green energy and heating, and can promote cooperation and exchanges between the two universities in all aspects," said Shahriyor Sadullozoda, vice rector of Tajik Technical University.

(Xinhua reporters Zhang Jiye in Astana, Guan Jianwu in Bishkek, Li Ao in Tashkent, and Han Liang, Sun Hao and Chen Yin in Beijing also contributed to the story.)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 15) -- The Department of Justice has pushed back the filing of charges against Negros Oriental representative Arnie Teves after several suspects in the killing of Governor Roel Degamo "lawyered up" and are now refusing to work with the DOJ.

"Meaning by lawyered up, they were provided with lawyers by some people who are paying for these lawyers who are not there before. Obviously theres some people interested in the statements that they want to give and now they dont want to cooperate," DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla said on Monday.

Remulla said around six or seven suspects now have lawyers and are not cooperating with the DOJ.

Remulla said they expected this to happen, so they are now going over the earlier statements made by the suspects. He clarified, however, that the suspects have not taken back their statements.

"We suspect that they will change their statements later on. And they will make a recantation of sorts, but were not afraid of that because everything was fairly given, said in front of counsel," he said.

Cases were also expected to be filed against Teves today but this has been moved to Wednesday.

Remulla believes the lawmaker is still in Southeast Asia, but added that he still has valid US and Korean visas.

Remulla said the Negros Oriental representative's passport can be cancelled when the cases reach the court.

The Justice chief said Teves will face 10 murder charges.

Remulla added that former Negros Oriental Governor Pryde Henry Teves  the brother of the embattled lawmaker  is not yet off the hook.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that new defence packages were agreed, and more extensive support pledged for Ukraines Peace Formula, during his visits to Italy, France, Germany and the UK.

Source: President Zelenskyy in a video address on Facebook; Office of the President of Ukraine

Quote from Zelenskyy: "Three long days  and our warriors and our state are getting stronger. Much stronger, I am sure of it.

We are returning home with new defense packages: more new and powerful weapons for the frontline, more protection for our people. [And] more political support."

Details: Zelenskyy said that in Italy he held "good talks" with Prime Minister Giorgia Melone and a "quite encouraging" meeting with the Pope. He also met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

In Germany, Zelenskyy, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz discussed Ukraines defence.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "In addition to Berlin, we also visited Aachen. I visited a military base, inspected Leopards [main battle tanks], Marders [infantry fighting vehicles], and thanked our soldiers who are training on German equipment.

On behalf of the Ukrainian people and in honor of the Ukrainian people, we received a significant European award named after Charlemagne in Aachen. It was the first time that the Ukrainian language was spoken in the hall where the laureates are honored. Ukrainian will be one of the official languages of the European Union, I am sure of it."

Details: Zelenskyy said that following his visit to Germany he met with French President Emmanuel Macron in France, and added that they agreed on a "powerful" new military package and reached new political agreements as a result of "long, useful talks".

In the UK, which Zelenskyy visited next, he met with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to discuss defence and the UKs leadership in international military coalitions.

Story continues

Quote from Zelenskyy: "We coordinated our positions before the international events scheduled for the near future: before the G7, the summit in Vilnius.

Our Peace Formula was discussed at all the meetings, and now [our partners are more willing] to follow the Ukrainian formula. There is more support for our accession to the EU, more understanding that Ukraine's accession to NATO will happen, it is inevitable."

Details: Zelenskyy thanked Italy for its help in protecting the lives of Ukrainians, "from protecting the sky to preparing [to rebuild] Ukraine after [the end of  ed.] hostilities".

He thanked Germany for its largest military aid package to date, worth 2.7 billion, which includes IRIS-T air defence systems, IRIS-T missiles, guns, shells and armoured vehicles. Germany has allocated a total of 11 billion to support Ukraine and contribute to its defence in the long term. Germany is also part of the European Peace Facility, which also seeks to strengthen Ukraines defence capability.

Zelenskyy then thanked France for helping consolidate the support of Ukraines partners, for supplying additional equipment and armoured vehicles, and for creating new opportunities for Ukrainian soldiers "to counter Russian terror", though he noted it was not yet "the time to talk about the details".

The Ukrainian President expressed his gratitude to the UK for training Ukrainian pilots.

"We are creating a coalition to train pilots on modern Western aircraft. The UK agreed, Poland agreed, and I'm sure France and other partners will join [the coalition soon]. We continue our work on the fighter jet coalition as well, and we are moving forward actively. Of course, I am [also] grateful to the UK for [supplying] the long-range [equipment] for our warriors," Zelenskyy added.

He concluded: "the main results of these days are new weapons for Ukraine, respect for Ukrainians, and our victory has been brought closer. And we will [find] more support! I know it. I believe in it."

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






During their meeting in Paris, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed a "peace formula", the creation of a "fighter jet coalition" and further military assistance to Ukraine.

Source: Press service of the Office of the President of Ukraine

Quote: "The meeting focused on France's military assistance to Ukraine, in particular, the priority needs of our country to strengthen its defense capabilities and protect Ukrainian skies.

The parties also discussed practical cooperation with the French Republic to strengthen the capacity of Ukraine's defense forces to launch an effective counteroffensive and liberate the occupied territories."

Details: During the meeting, Zelenskyy expressed hope that France will support the allies' joint decision to form a "coalition of fighter jets", which Ukraine has been waiting for for a long time.

It is noted that the presidents have discussed issues of cooperation for the efficient implementation of the Ukrainian "peace formula".

Quote: "The Head of State [Zelenskyy  ed.] expressed hope for the involvement of as many countries as possible, particularly those of the Global South, in the Global Peace Summit to be held this year. He thanked Emmanuel Macron for his diplomatic efforts aimed at ending Russia's war against Ukraine and achieving a just peace based on the Ukrainian Peace Formula."

More details: Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine is expecting firm political decisions at the NATO Vilnius summit and expressed hope that negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU will begin in 2023.

"We expect the Alliance to make concrete decisions on a clear algorithm of Ukraine's movement towards NATO membership and on guaranteeing the security of our country for the period until membership," the President of Ukraine noted.

Background: In the coming weeks, France will hand over dozens of armoured vehicles and light tanks, including AMX-10RCs, to several Ukrainian battalions.

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Macron and Zelenskyy met in Paris

France will also provide aid in air defence and training for Ukrainian military pilots and tank crews.

The presidents of Ukraine and France, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron, also agreed to impose new sanctions on Russia.

"Ukraine and France agree on the need to increase collective pressure on Russia through further sanctions to weaken Russias ability to continue its illegal war of aggression," Zelenskyy's press office said in a statement.

Read also: Ukrainian PM visits Rome, focused on EU integration and financial aid

Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to Macron for his leadership and also expressed expectations that "France would support the principled joint decision of the allies to form a coalition of fighter jets, which Ukraine has been looking forward to for a long time."

French support of Ukraine in its accession to the European Union and NATO was also discussed during the meeting.

Read also: US military aid package for Ukraine to include Hydra-70 missiles, Politico reports

Ukraine is expecting specific steps in this regard at the upcoming 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius on July 11-12, the Ukrainian president said.

Zelenskyy arrived in Paris on working visit in the evening of May 14, and met with Macron. Earlier in the day he was in Germany, meeting the countrys president and chancellor.

"Paris. With each visit, Ukraine's defence and offensive capabilities are expanding. The ties with Europe are getting stronger, and the pressure on Russia is growing. I will have a meeting with my friend Emanuel and we will talk through the most important points of bilateral relations," Zelenskyy said in a post on Twitter.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Germany

The one who brought death, the one who embarked on the path of genocide, the one who wants to destroy us, the one who wants to destroy the Europe we value must ask for mercy, the Ukrainian president said at the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen award ceremony. He was accepting the award on behalf of the Ukrainian people.

And then there will be our response  a tribunal.

Zelenskyy said the only one who does not accept the formula for peace is the aggressor.

And it is because he is the aggressor that he does not accept it, he said.

But what is most important is that he is alone, and we are not afraid of him. And he does not accept this because he is not interested in peace. That is it.

Read also: Zelenskyy hosts summit on special tribunal for Russia

The Ukrainian president reiterated that there were hundreds of rounds of negotiations between 2014 and 2022 in various formats with Russia after its occupation of our Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea and the incitement of a hybrid war against Ukraine in Donbas.

Read also: Poll reveals over 90% of Ukrainians view Russian dictator Putin as modern Hitler

There were all these negotiations, he said.

And you, Olaf (Scholz), Mr. Chancellor (of Germany), you remember, and our ally (French) President Emmanuel Macron, and other conscientious leaders of the world spent hours and hours talking to (Russian dictator Vladimir) Putin, trying to avert this modern-day catastrophe.

Zelenskyy added that Putin is a catastrophe.

Putin is aggression, and he does not want anything else for himself and his people, Zelenskyy said.

His formula has become death. How can one talk to it, explain to me, how can you talk to it? In its long history, humanity has never known anyone who could reach an agreement with death.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
LONDON (AP)  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pressed the British government at the end of a whirlwind European tour Monday to join a fighter jet coalition that would help strengthen his country's aerial capabilities, but instead secured a commitment for attack drones and hundreds more missiles.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greeted Zelenskyy with a handshake and hug after the president's helicopter landed at Chequers, the British leader's official country retreat. It was Zelenskyys second trip to the U.K. since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, but the fifth European country he visited in three days..

He is seeking more military aid as Ukraine prepares a long-anticipated spring offensive to retake Russian-occupied territory. The Ukrainian leader also visited Italy, the Vatican, Germany and France.

Russia reacted to the U.K.'s new pledge extremely negatively, but also doubts the missiles and drones would drastically change the course of the war, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

Britain aspires to be at the forefront among countries that continue to pump weapons into Ukraine, Peskov said. We repeat once again: It cannot yield any drastic and fundamental influence on the way the special military operation (in Ukraine) is unfolding. But, definitely, it leads to further destruction. ... It makes this whole story for Ukraine much more complicated."

Zelenskyy said one of the missions of his European travels that started Saturday was to build a fighter jet coalition to provide Ukraine with vital military power in the air. He said more work was needed on that front.

While the U.K. will not provide the planes, the prime minister said the country would join the coalition and begin a previously announced training program for Ukrainian fighter pilots as soon as this summer.

The U.K., one of Ukraine's major military allies, has provided short-range missiles, Challenger tanks and training 15,000 Ukrainian troops on British soil. Last week, the government announced it had sent Ukraine Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which have a range of more than 250 kilometers (150 miles). The British missiles were the first known shipment of longer-range weaponry that Kyiv has long sought from its allies.

Story continues

Sunak's office said it was giving Ukraine hundreds more air defense missiles, as well as long-range attack drones" with a reach of more than 200 kilometers (120 miles).

This is a crucial moment in Ukraines resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke," Sunak said. "They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year.

We must not let them down, the prime minister added.

Sunak plans to push allies at a meeting of Group of Seven leaders in Japan later this week to deliver more support to Ukraine, Downing Street said.

As Zelenskyy visited European capitals, Russia stepped up attacks across Ukraine with drones and missiles. Russia shelled two communities Sunday in the northern border province of Sumy, regional officials said on Telegram. They said 109 explosions were recorded.

Zelenskyy's office said Monday that Russian attacks had killed nine civilians and injured 19 in the past day. Six of the deaths were in southern Ukraine's Kherson province. Two civilians were killed in Chuhuiv in Kharkiv province, and one in Prymorsk, on the Azov Sea coast about 12 miles (20 kilometers) from Russian-occupied Berdyansk.

The presidential office also reported that Marhanets, which lies across the river from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, was shelled.

Russian state news agency RIA-Novosti reported that an acting regional interior minister appointed by Moscow, Igor Kornet, was injured in an explosion at a barbershop in the Russian-occupied city of Luhansk. The leader of the so-called Luhansk Peoples Republic, a separatist-held region of Ukraine that Moscow illegally annexed, was quoted as saying a bomb caused the explosion.

Assassination attempts and sabotage attacks have increased in Russian-occupied territory as well as Russia proper. Russian authorities often blame Ukrainian forces, but Kyiv rarely acknowledges such attacks.

Zelenskyy traveled to Britain from Paris, where he met Sunday with French President Emmanuel Macron and secured a pledge of light tanks, armored vehicles and air defense systems.

About 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers would receive training in France this year and nearly 4,000 others in Poland, Macrons office said.

Speaking Monday on French television network TF1, Macron said training on French fighter jets such as the Mirage 2000 can start now but rejected the idea of France delivering warplanes to Ukraine.

Zelenskyy also met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday. It was his first visit to Berlin since the start of the invasion and came a day after the German government announced military aid for Ukraine worth more than 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion).

Modern Western hardware is considered crucial if Ukraine is to succeed in its planned counteroffensive. During his European trip, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would aim to liberate Russian-occupied areas within Ukraine's internationally recognized borders and would not attack Russian territory.

Among areas Russia still occupies are the Crimean Peninsula and parts of eastern Ukraine with mainly Russian-speaking populations.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
There are more than 1,270 barbecue joints in Zibo, according to the city's Barbecue Association

Zibo, a sleepy industrial city of 4.7 million in eastern China, is not typically known as a tourist hot spot.

But when Zibo native Mr Zhang travelled home for his wedding last month, he was stunned by the "outrageous" deluge of tourists that he found.

Going back to the city had never been an issue before, said Mr Zhang, who did not give his full name. "But this time, I couldn't promise my guests that I could either get high-speed train tickets for them, or guarantee a hotel room booking, let alone find a place available for a barbecue meal," he told the BBC.

Zibo has been at the centre of a social media frenzy since China shed its Covid restrictions in January. Millions of domestic visitors have descended on the previously little-known city in Shandong province, lured by influencers and a chance to let off steam after crippling lockdowns.

But the biggest attraction is barbecue on the cheap, with skewers selling for as low as 2 yuan ($0.30) each.

Footage posted from Zibo shows a bustling atmosphere as crowds eat and drink their fill. A video on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu shows revellers breaking into dance and song around their dining tables, while others wave light sticks around.

"There was an open-air karaoke session going on, everyone was passionately eating and singing their hearts out," wrote the user who posted the video.

One of the nation's favourite cuisines, especially in the north and west of China, barbecue typically involves small pieces of marinated meat and vegetable skewered and grilled over charcoal.

Locals in Zibo particularly enjoy rolling the grilled skewers in thin pancakes with scallions.

Some online influencers are now calling Zibo "China's outdoor barbecue capital". There are more than 1,270 barbecue joints in the city, according to the president of Zibo's Barbecue Association.

At Zibo, one could get three dozen skewers for $10

"Zibo barbecue" has been a trending topic on Chinese social media platforms like Xiaohongshu and Weibo since early March.

Story continues

That month, Zibo's population more than doubled. On 29 April, Zibo Railway Station saw a record 87,000 train trips to and from the station, according to Chinese news website Caixin.

The city also saw one of the nation's highest hotel room occupancy rates during the Golden Week holiday in the first week of May.

Domestic tourism in China rebounded above pre-pandemic levels during Golden Week, with 274 million trips made within the country. This is almost 20% higher than in 2019, according to China's Ministry of Tourism.

Local authorities in Zibo have been quick to capitalise on the sudden influx of visitors. A barbecue zone that can accommodate 10,000 people, featuring live band performances, was built overnight.

Volunteers, including kindergarten children, have been dispatched to the railway station to offer advice and recommendations to tourists, while museums have extended their opening hours. Designated buses and trains bring tourists to and from the hottest barbecue spots.

The government has even threatened to punish profiteering hotels who raise prices by more than 50%.

Many say such moves have been a big draw for tourists.

One third-year university student described the barbecuing methods as delicious and unique. "The government also reacted swiftly and grabbed onto the trend. People there are down-to-earth, friendly to tourists, and prices and cheap. Sincerity is always the best killer move," said the man, who declined to be identified.

Millions have flocked to Zibo

Several theories have surfaced as to Zibo's newfound popularity.

One harkens back to almost a year ago, when more than 10,000 university students from other cities were transported to Zibo for quarantine.

After they were released, authorities treated them to barbecue, and invited them to come back for a visit "during the warmth of spring when all the flowers bloom". Some accepted the invitation, and hashtags about their trips started trending on social media platforms like Douyin, China's domestic version of TikTok.

Zibo's cheap prices are also appealing to students who have adopted the recent trend of "special forces" travel, which features short trips with packed itineraries, at minimal cost.

"We don't have much money, but we have a lot of free time," said the third-year university student who declined to be named. "After three years, people feel suffocated, so everyone is revenge-travelling."

Social media influencers have spread the word too. In a widely liked Douyin video, SpecialWulala, a food vlogger with more than 15 million followers, travelled to Zibo in March after being tagged by people asking him to visit.

A month later, a popular influencer who specialises in exposing dishonest restaurants went to Zibo and said he found nothing underhand about any stalls.

Butnot everyone in the city has been able to cope with the influx of tourists.

A video widely shared on Weibo shows a restaurant owner on his knees, repeatedly bowing down and apologising to a customer who was not served as the restaurant was at full capacity. "Please forgive me," he said.

Locals in Zibo particularly enjoy rolling the grilled skewers in thin pancakes with spring onions

An employee of the restaurant said staff had been sleeping just four hours a day in order to fulfil customer demand, according to South China Morning Post.

On 26 April, officials from Zibo's Culture and Tourism Bureau even published a letter advising people to avoid the city during the May Day holiday.

"The Zibo barbecue 'fire' has gone out of hand. We have been doing our best to accommodate the recent influx of tourists, but it has caused trouble and inconvenience to everyone," they wrote.

Mr Zhang agrees having so many tourists is not sustainable, especially as barbecue is a summer event.

"In the long run, it is really up to the city's capacity. It has less than five million people, so it's hard to host a net inflow of 200,000 people."

Still, most locals seem happy enough about the influx of visitors and shy away from hot spots to make space for outsiders, according to Mr Zhang, who says he is "proud" that his hometown has gained nationwide fame.
Reanimated corpses are innately pretty terrifying, but they are also pretty political. Since the genre was created, zombie stories have reflected the unique social fears of that moment in history. And with The Last Of Us, the most recent zombie story to take the world by storm, paying attention to why these stories captivate us can tell us a lot about whats going on in the world. While zombies have adapted over time, at their core they ask the same question: what makes us human?

Although zombie media might seem like a recent phenomenon, these stories have deep roots in Haiti and Haitian Creole traditions. The word zombie comes from nzambi which in West Africa means spirit of a dead person and zonbi in Haitian Creole, which means a dead person thats been reanimated by magical means. According to Haitian folklore, male Vodou witches called bokors would resurrect the deceased with no free will or speech. From that point on, zombies were at the service of the bokor until his death. The horror of this fate was a direct expression of the African diasporic experience: to be eternally enslaved.

But the path from Haiti to Hollywood wasnt direct. The earliest references to zombies in the United States were in a short story, "The Unknown Painter," published in newspapers in 1838. Credit for taking zombies mainstream often goes to William Seabrook, and his 1929 book The Magic Island. However, movie makers may have gotten a taste for Haitian folklore from Henry Francis Downing, an African-American author and diplomat, who penned the play Voodoo in 1914. The story didn't actually involve zombies, but the tale of voodoo magic set in Barbados introduced all the elements of early zombie movies. More importantly, Downing's work was known in Hollywood circles.

Whatever the inspiration, the first major zombie film White Zombie (1932) was shot in 11 days in a rented studio space for about $50,000. The film tells the tale of a plantation owner in Haiti whose business success is due to his workforce of Black zombies. The plantation owner tries to use these methods of control to seduce an engaged woman, turning her into a zombie in the process. White Zombie was released at the end of the 19-year American invasion and occupation of Haiti, which wasnt very popular by that time. The villainous plantation owner can be seen as a criticism of colonial rule. Despite its attempts at criticizing colonialism, the film doesnt give any Black characters agency. The white woman is the only one freed from the curse, while the plantation owner and all the Black zombies perish.

Throughout the 1930s and 40s, zombies kept their Caribbean Vodou roots. But as they became a more common horror tool, the origins and nature of zombies began to change to reflect the fears of the time. By the 1950s, as threats of nuclear war took over the American imagination, zombies were no longer being created by magic, but by science and communism. In Creature with the Atom Brain (1955), it was Nazis with atomic energy. In Teenage Zombies (1959), it was an eastern power with nerve gas.

In the 1960s, the nation turned its attention to civil rights. George Romeros Night of the Living Dead (1968) featured the first Black horror lead: Duane Jones in the role of Ben. The film was the first time that a Black actor played the heroic star of a horror film in the U.S., and notably one of the first times a lead role was given to a Black man when it was not explicitly written for one. The film, which was released just five months after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., doesnt end well for Ben.

Romero followed this up with Dawn of the Dead (1978) which finds survivors taking shelter in a shopping mall, with some strong criticisms of modern consumerism. It was also long for the time (clocking in at over two hours), gruesome (released unrated to avoid the dreaded X-rating), and filmed on a slim budget. Still, the film went on to become a blockbuster hit.

In the 1980s and 90s, the social metaphors of zombies took a backseat to special effects and laughs. Films like The Evil Dead (1981), Re-Animator (1985) and Dead Alive (1992) feature over-the-top gore and absurdity  a mark of zom-coms that continue to be made today (looking at you, Shaun of the Dead).

Throughout the rest of the 20th century, zombie movies continued to reflect societys fears. The late 1990s saw outbreaks of ebola, avian flu, and West Nile virus, leading to increased anxiety around disease and the threat of pandemics. There was also an increasing focus on the dangers of hyperpolarization and intolerance. Zombie movies ran with these fears  literally. Frighteningly fast and furious monsters, created by a man-made virus, ravage the world in 28 Days Later... (2002). The movie focuses on how rage and violence can tear apart civilization and has some heavy themes around sexual assault. The 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead also featured super fast and super strong zombies and the greatly expanded cast asked the question: How do we retain our humanity while eradicating those who are infected?

Although in these stories zombies might be the most obvious antagonist, many contemporary television shows and movies reveal that human society is the real villain. It was The Walking Dead, which premiered in 2010, that blatantly called this out, with the slogan for the later seasons: Fight the dead. Fear the living.

HBOs The Last Of Us strikes a balance between reflecting the fears of our time and highlighting human monstrosities. Today, we arent as afraid of nuclear annihilation like in the 1950s or mindless consumerism as in the 1970s, but rather climate change has taken center stage. In the show, the cordyceps fungus evolved to infect humans all thanks to global warming. Meanwhile, we witness humanity at its lowest; we are constantly confronted with scammers, bandits, cult members, murderers, and cannibals.

Zombies may not be part of our reality, but the writers behind these stories certainly see humanity as being capable of the destruction and violence we see on our screens  whether in the shows we watch or the news we see every day.

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Today marks a stepping stone of sorts for Danville.

After nearly five years of chatter surrounding bringing a casino to the River City, a temporary facility will open at 10 a.m.

With it comes many unknowns  traffic hurdles lead the list  but also high anticipation of a citys rebirth and march toward a tourism destination.

Im hoping we see a lot of lines, Chris Albrecht, general manager of Caesars Virginia, said Friday morning. Everything right now has been speculation.

The 40,000-square-foot facility  officially called Danville Casino  is housed inside a giant white rented tent on the corner of the future home of Caesars Virginia, the permanent casino and resort.

Its all located in an area known as Schoolfield  once a bustling mill village  on a property formerly owned by Dan River Inc., a textile manufacturer that was synonymous with Danville.

Today, three original smokestacks remain on the space and will be incorporated into the new resorts design as a nod to Danvilles past.

The entire resort was originally scheduled to be opened this year, but pandemic-induced supply chain snarls and ensuing delays forced the completion target date to 2024.

Thats one reason Caesars Virginia decided to push forward with a smaller-scale operation while construction continues on the main attraction.

We decided it was a great opportunity to look forward to getting this operation going, starting to generate some revenue, getting team members trained, Albrecht explained after a question posed by the Register & Bee in a Friday media session.

He said the full casino and resort is still on track to open next year.

The traffic

Danville steps into uncharted territory by becoming a gathering spot for casino lovers or just those curious about the flashing games.

I think anytime you have a large event or large change like that, theres going to be a feeling out period, Lee Vogler, a member of Danville City Council, said in a phone interview Friday when asked if the community is ready for the influx of traffic.

But Vogler was quick to point out that just a few decades ago the same spot had thousands of people rolling in and out to work at the Schoolfield mill.

That site used to have a whole lot of traffic day in and day out, he said.

To avoid possible traffic woes, Danville Public Schools will shuttle some students at Schoolfield Elementary School  a facility just a few blocks from the casino site  from a nearby church parking lot, at least for this coming week.

Ahead of the casino opening, we have received no indication of increased traffic from Caesars or the city, Lanie Davis, a spokesperson for Danville Public Schools, told the Register & Bee last week. However, a casino opening in the city is something we have not experienced before.

The school has about 150 students who are dropped off and picked up by parents.

We want to ensure that in the event of possible traffic congestion in the Schoolfield area, parents are not experiencing delays, and students are getting to school on time and safely, she explained.

Car-riding students will be dropped off at a nearby church and shuttled via a school bus to Schoolfield Elementary. The reverse will happen in the afternoon as students leave for the day.

This arrival and dismissal change is planned for one week, Davis said. If we find that the casino is not impacting traffic, the school will go back to its normal operations as soon as possible.

Also, additional traffic always brings the possibility of crashes and injuries. With that in mind, Sovah Health-Danville leaders are prepared for whatever comes.

The new casino will undoubtedly be a driving force behind increased tourism to our region and we have been in conversations with both casino leadership and the city of Danville as to how Sovah Health can be a partner, Corey Santoriello, a spokesperson with Sovah Health, told the Register & Bee last week. While we cannot predict what type of impact the casino opening will have on the hospital, we do know that Caesars and the city of Danville have taken many steps to prepare for visitors to our area and Sovah Health is committed to community partnership and caring for all who need us.

As for parking for the Danville Casino  located at 1100 W. Main St.  spaces are available around the facility and the company has leased parking lots from the city of Danville across West Main Street and Bishop Road.

If youve been outside you can see we are are still striping those lots, so I dont have an exact number of spots, Albrecht said Friday, but he felt confident parking wouldnt be an issue.

Facility and capacity

About 400 people are employed by the Danville Casino that can hold close to 3,000 people at a time.

A lot of our team members are from Danville, Albrecht said, but noted others are from across the region and over the state line in North Carolina.

The biggest comment Ive heard is that it looks a lot different on the inside than on the outside, he said while explaining the feel for the casino.

We put a lot of detail into making this experience very strong, he said, even though its a temporary operation.

As a matter of fact, the temporary site is built on a future parking lot for the final facility. When that opens in 2024, the rented tent will come down.

Weekends tend to be the busiest time for casinos, but Albrecht noted Danvilles a new market for the group.

The inside is dominated by more than 700 video-style gaming machines  all with vibrant colors and myriad themes  where a customer takes a seat in front of the towering unit to place a bet.

Beyond those units, there are about 25 live table games like blackjack and roulette and other electronically operated machines.

Obviously our temporary facility here is focused on gaming, Albrecht said, explaining the hospitality aspects will come with the full casino.

Vogler got to be part of two sneak-peak sessions hosted last week.

I was really impressed on how it looks on the inside, the staff and everyone, he said. I thought everyone did a fantastic job from security to the wait staff.

Vogler was there for a couple of hours with his wife for what amounted to fundraising sessions for the House of Hope and Haven, two nonprofit organizations in the Dan River Region.

While he spent most of his time walking and talking, he did try his hand at some of the slots.

The outcome? He said they left with more than we came in with.

Other growth in Danville

Taking a stroll in downtown Danville right now  especially for someone whos never been to the city  isnt the prettiest sight.

Recently, a building in the heart of the River District started coming down leaving rubble in its wake. The area will become green space until a final decision is made for the future use.

Right across the road, construction is beginning on the new riverfront park thats right beside Danvilles iconic White Mill  another former Dan River Inc. facility  thats being transformed into housing units and retail space.

In one sense, it would be best if they were completed, Vogler said when asked about the timing of visitor influx with ongoing construction.

On the other hand, he said tourists can view it as more progress for the city.

It shows that Danville is moving forward and the best is yet to come, he explained. When they come now they will get an idea of things in motion.

Folks coming to visit the temporary casino will get to watch progress unfold at other areas of the city undergoing a transformation.

Albrecht also looks forward to sharing the casino customers with the city.

The community is very strong, he said Friday. Weve already seen a lot of development underway.

He also noted when players venture to a casino, they arent just selecting the gaming establishment. They also are choosing the community, something tourism officials also are betting on.

On Thursday, Danville and Pittsylvania County leaders unveiled a new tourism brand: Visit SoSi. The new marketing slogan highlights Southside Virginia by playing off the words so and see.

When the full Caesars Virginia casino opens next year, more than 2 million visitors are expected to flood into Danville annually. Todays opening of the temporary facility will provide the region a taste of whats to come.

Not all positive

Business owners and residents in the Schoolfield area recently expressed reserved thoughts when it comes to the opening of the casino.

Some were worried about traffic, and others were concerned with the aspect of a gambling facility in Danville.

We listen to feedback of all of our citizens, and certainly dont dismiss any of that, Vogler said, noting that voters overwhelmingly approved via referendum to allow a casino to open in Danville.

Another worry often brought up is the potential for crime, but Vogler said the city has thoroughly thought out and vetted this thing.

The crime aspect was one of the first issues city leaders explored a few years ago when a casino became a possibility for Danville.

Vogler said they talked to Danville Police Department Chief Scott Booth who was very supportive of it.

In fact, Booth was standing right behind Vogler when he presented the casino case before the General Assembly in order to allow the measure to go before the voters.

They also went to other localities of similar size in Iowa and New York. Chatting with leaders there, they asked a simple question: if they had to do it over, would they still bring in a casino?

The answer  each time  was an overwhelming yes.

For people not sold on the casino, Vogler asks them to just give it a chance before shutting it out.

I think for us, as we went through this whole process, the pros outweighed any of the cons, when it comes to revenue for the city and jobs for the residents.

We have no desire to be Atlantic City, he quickly added, saying thats not a fair comparison for the vision of Danville.

In the end, he hopes about 10 years from now other leaders from across the nation will look to Danville and say, This is a city that did things right.
Police are searching for a 22-year-old Council Bluffs man in connection with a Friday morning shooting in Blair, Nebraska.

Police say that he was seen leaving the area in a 1988 green Jeep Cherokee with Iowa license plate NAM032. The U.S. Marshals and metro area law enforcement agencies are assisting in the search for the man.

Any witnesses or neighbors with surveillance video of the nearby area are encouraged to call the Blair Police Department at 402-426-4747.

The shooting killed a man and injured a woman, police say.

According to a Facebook post from the Blair Police Department, officers were dispatched at 6:30 a.m. to a home near 10th and Park Streets in Blair to reports of a shooting with injuries. Upon arrival, police found a man dead at the scene and a woman who had been shot in both legs.

The woman was transported to the hospital. Her condition is currently unknown, and neither victim has been identified.
Weather Alert

WHAT...Air Quality Alert WHERE...DESCRIPTION OF GENERAL REGION - Nebraska-statewide WHEN... 5/18/2023 9:30 AM until 5/19/2023 12:00 PM POLLUTANT...PM 2.5 particulates AIR QUALITY INDEX...Moderate to Unhealthy ADDITIONAL DETAILS... An alert for possible Moderate to Unhealthy air quality (Air Quality Index yellow/orange/red category) due to smoke has been issued for the entire state of Nebraska, which includes the following counties: Adams, Antelope, Arthur, Banner, Blaine, Boone, Box Butte, Boyd, Brown, Buffalo, Burt, Butler, Cass, Cedar, Chase, Cherry, Cheyenne, Clay, Colfax, Cuming, Custer, Dakota, Dawes, Dawson, Deuel, Dixon, Dodge, Douglas, Dundy, Fillmore, Franklin, Frontier, Furnas, Gage, Garden, Garfield, Gosper, Grant, Greeley, Hall, Hamilton, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock, Holt, Hooker, Howard, Jefferson, Johnson, Kearney, Keith, Keya Paha, Kimball, Knox, Lancaster, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, Madison, McPherson, Merrick, Morrill, Nance, Nemaha, Nuckolls, Otoe, Pawnee, Perkins, Phelps, Pierce, Platte, Polk, Red Willow, Richardson, Rock, Saline, Sarpy, Saunders, Scotts Bluff, Seward, Sheridan, Sherman, Sioux, Stanton, Thayer, Thomas, Thurston, Valley, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wheeler, York, from May 18, 9:30am through May 19, 12:00 pm. Smoke from fires in Canada is expected to impact air quality conditions in Nebraska. During Moderate (AQI yellow category) conditions, those who are unusually sensitive to particle pollution should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion. During Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (AQI orange category) conditions, members of sensitive groups are advised to reduce prolonged or heavy exertion and avoid intense outdoor activities. Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children. During Unhealthy (AQI red category) conditions, some members of the general public may experience health effects and members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. All are advised to avoid prolonged or heavy exertion and consider moving activities indoors or rescheduling. Smoke levels and wind directions are monitored by Nebraska and other states to predict when impacts to the air quality may occur. Air Quality alerts for smoke are issued for affected areas by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Environment and Energy and posted on agency webpages and social media sites. By notifying the media and local health departments, alerts help citizens protect their health by informing them of days where outdoor activities should be reduced or avoided to minimize exposure to smoke. Alerts are based on data available from weather forecasts, smoke plume modeling, satellite imagery, and from air quality monitors located in Omaha, Bellevue, Lincoln, Beatrice, Grand Island, and Scottsbluff.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 15)  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the additional importation of sugar to stabilize prices.

Maximum amount will be 150,000 MT (metric tons) but probably less, he said Monday after his meeting with the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).

The exact amount will be determined once we have determined the exact amount of supply, which will come at the end of this month, Marcos added.

In a statement, the Palace said SRA recommended importing another 100,000 MT to 150,000 MT of sugar as the Philippines may see a negative ending stock of over 550,000 MT by end-August.

Based on the Department of Agricultures latest price monitoring, a kilogram of refined sugar in Metro Manila markets costs between 86 to 110.

Meanwhile, moving the start of the milling season from August to September to boost productivity likewise secured Marcos thumbs up, the Palace said.

Marcos also ordered the SRA to speed up the adoption of block farming, or the consolidation of small farm lots to make a 30-hectare-block farm.

Consolidation is an important part of agro-industrial production. Were looking at increasing the budget for block farming to accelerate the process of organizing the block farms, he said.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had this Monday, May 15, a phone call with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, during which the two officials discussed the ceasefire between Israel and Gaza, as well as security and peace in the region.

The US Secretary of State announced the phone call in a post on his Twitter account, saying I spoke today with Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. We discussed the ceasefire between Israel and Gaza, strengthening the U.S.-Moroccan bilateral partnership, and efforts to advance regional peace and security, added the US official.

Meanwhile, a statement by the U.S. State Department affirmed the determination of the United States to move forward in its economic and security cooperation with the Kingdom of Morocco.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita to review regional and global developments and emphasize his ongoing commitment to further strengthening the U.S.-Morocco bilateral security and economic partnership, the statement said.

The Secretary of State lauded King Mohamed VIs crucial voice in advancing regional peace and his leadership in promoting a secure and prosperous future for Israelis and Palestinians, the statement said, adding that the two officials discussed the importance of the Negev Forum and also affirmed the importance of full adherence to the recent ceasefire in Israel and Gaza.

At the same time, the American official renewed his countrys full support for the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, as he intensifies the UN process toward an enduring and dignified political solution for the whole region.
Morocco has contributed to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) through numerous socioeconomic integrated projects launched in several African countries to improve their infrastructures, industry, university & vocational training, health system, and strengthen their food & energy sovereignty.

The remarks were made Monday in Johannesburg by Speaker of the Moroccan Parliaments Upper House Enaam Mayara during the opening ceremony of the ordinary session of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) convening in South Africa until June 2.

The AfCFTA is expected to create job opportunities for a large number of young African people, lift 30 million Africans from extreme poverty and improve the income of 68 million people, while increasing the Continents wealth by $450 billion, added Mayara who is leading the Moroccan delegation to the PAP gathering.

This landmark project, which is at the top of Moroccos priorities, will change the Continents development model, boost it production capacity and create more opportunities for all, said Speaker of the House of Councilors (Senators).

Morocco shares with African countries its successful experiences in economy, development, finance and banking, added Mayara, affirming that this has enabled the Kingdom to increase its annual African trade exchanges by 9.5 % besides strengthening its investment across the continent, becoming the first African investor.

AfCFTA reflects Africans desire to build a strong, integrated Africa, said Mayara, recalling Moroccos South-South solidarity-based cooperation and its noteworthy contributions to ensure food security in the continent.

Besides the African FTA zone, African MPs gathering in South Africa will discuss several issues related to peace & security in the continent, access to information, digital rights & internet governance, climate change, rights of migrant workers, traditional medicine in African health systems, gender parity
Agence France Presse (AFP) deserts its professional, ethical and deontological obligations in the handling of Algerian news and persists, on the contrary, in reserving an incriminating and tendentious coverage against the Kingdom of Morocco, writes the daily Le Matin in its Monday edition.

In an editorial under the title Flagrant offence: the French State News Agency (AFP) persists in exonerating the Algerian regime and charging Morocco, the newspaper stresses that it is increasingly worrying to note that AFP persists in sparing Algeria by reserving it, unlike Morocco, a preferential and most accommodating treatment and this, despite the adoption, Thursday in Strasbourg, of a resolution condemning the Algerian regime.

Recalling that the European Parliament (EP) condemned, last Thursday, by an overwhelming majority of votes (536 for, 4 against and 18 abstentions) Algeria, guilty of repressing the freedoms of the press and expression, as evidenced by the case of journalist Ihsane El Kadi, sentenced last April 2 to five years in prison, the publication writes that AFP had, in its news article on the incongruous EP resolution on Morocco, deliberately used very critical language towards the Kingdom, through presenting the MEPs as having strongly criticized and demanded action against the country.

On the other hand, adds the newspaper, the French Agency slips, in its news article on the resolution of the EP condemning Algeria, in a grid of language more watered down, merely stating that the MEPs have requested and called Algeria.

This different treatment in the choice of terms is intended to lead to a misperception of the real situation in the two countries, says the daily.

The newspaper notes that the contrast between the said resolution and the AFP article aroused the astonishment of observers, who point the finger at this systematic relentlessness and this blatant bias of the Agence France Presse against Morocco and its interests and wonder, once again, about the reasons for its bias while handling Moroccan news.

According to the publication, AFPs biased treatment of Morocco is in line with the French political and media pressure to soften the content of the EP resolution against Algeria.

In this regard, Le Matin explains that the usual maneuvers carried out in the halls of the legislative institution and in some European capitals have not had the expected success, to the great displeasure of some MEPs and other French political and media circles, which have visibly spared no effort.

The editorial, which recalls that French media of reference had stated, without being contradicted, that the presidency of the Renew group in the EP, close to the French power, managed, initially, to withdraw the draft resolution against Algeria from the agenda of the EP, specifies that this information has been confirmed to other media by two political sources within the European institution.
Photo: Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images

A stunning leak of a cache of classified Pentagon documents appears to be one of the most significant breaches of U.S. intelligence in decades, revealing national-security secrets regarding Ukraine, Russia, Asia, and the Middle East, as well as details about U.S. espionage methods and spying on adversaries and allies. The Pentagon has confirmed the leaks authenticity, and while the documents had been made available online for more than a year, U.S. officials werent aware of the leak until April 6, the day it was reported by the New York Times. The Justice Department quickly opened an investigation, and within a week the FBI arrested the 21-year-old suspected leaker, National Guard airman Jack Teixeira. Below is what we know about the leak and Teixeira thus far, including what secrets the documents reveal.

Revelations So Far

Although no news organization or government source has confirmed the accuracy of the information contained in the leaked documents, there is at this point no doubt they are authentic assessments based on U.S. intelligence. Below are some of the key purported revelations from the cache.

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The Washington Post reports that in late January, Prigozhin offered to provide Russian troop locations to Ukraine if they withdrew their forces from the fight for Bakhmut, where Wagner Group forces defending the city were taking heavy losses. According to U.S. intel documents in the leak, Prigozhin  a key Kremlin ally who has publicly criticized Russias support for Wagner Group fighters  made the offer to contacts in Ukraines military intelligence, though its not clear what troop positions he offered. Per the Post, Ukrainian officials confirmed that Prigozhin attempted to reach out multiple times, but that they didnt take it seriously:

Two Ukrainian officials confirmed that Prigozhin has spoken several times to the Ukrainian intelligence directorate, known as HUR. One official said that Prigozhin extended the offer regarding Bakhmut more than once, but that Kyiv rejected it because officials dont trust Prigozhin and thought his proposals could have been disingenuous. A U.S. official also cautioned that there are similar doubts in Washington about Prigozhins intentions. 

Prigohzin has carried on a secret relationship with Ukrainian intelligence that, in addition to phone calls, includes in-person meetings with HUR officers in an unspecified country in Africa, one document states.  The leaked U.S. intelligence shows Prigozhin bemoaning the heavy toll that fighting has taken on his own forces and urging Ukraine to strike harder against Russian troops. According to one document, Prigozhin told a Ukrainian intelligence officer that the Russian military was struggling with ammunition supplies. He advised Ukrainian forces to push forward with an assault on the border of Crimea, which Russia has illegally annexed, while Russian troop morale was low.

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According to the Washington Post, a top-secret document in the leak, based on intel collected by human sources, said that Ukraine made and then abandoned plans to conduct deniable covert attacks on Russian forces inside Syria. They initially planned to arm and train operatives of the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces to conduct strikes using drones that would target Russia-backed Wagner Group mercenaries in the country. The document also said that Turkey was aware of the effort and tried to limit potential blowback on themselves by suggesting the attacks be launched from Kurdish-controlled areas. President Zelenskyy ultimately halted the plans in December, but the intel document suggested the plans could be revived.

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The Washington Post reports that according to one of the documents, earlier this year the U.S. offered Ukraine a bleak assessment of its ability to hold Bakhmut against Russian advances and suggested they withdraw from the city. Ukraine went ahead with the defense of Bakhmut anyway, however.

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The leaked documents also contained top-secret information about four additional Chinese spy balloons that U.S. intelligence agencies knew about in February, after another one of the balloons flew across the continental U.S. before being shot down. The documents include annotated images, including one taken of the transcontinental balloon apparently taken by a U2 spy plane, pointing out the balloons similarities and assessing what they appeared to be equipped with. The Washington Post reports:

The Chinese spy balloon that flew over the United States this year, called Killeen-23 by U.S. intelligence agencies, carried a raft of sensors and antennas the U.S. government still had not identified more than a week after shooting it down, according to a document.  Another balloon flew over a U.S. carrier strike group in a previously unreported incident, and a third crashed in the South China Sea, a second top-secret document stated, though it did not provide specific information for launch dates.

A document produced by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and dated Feb. 15  10 days after the Air Force shot down the balloon that flew over the United States  contains the most detailed government assessment to date of Killeen-23 and two balloons from previous years, labeled Bulger-21 and Accardo-21.

Read the rest of the report here.

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The New York Times and Washington Post report that the documents indicate the U.S. has gained access to most of Russias security and intelligence services and high levels of Russian military command. It has intercepted communications within Russias defense ministry; gained insight into the internal planning of Russias military-intelligence agency, GRU; and obtained actionable intelligence on Russias military capabilities and war plans in Ukraine  many of which the U.S. likely passed along to Kyiv.

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The Washington Post reports that classified assessments in the leaked documents indicate that the conflict has gutted Russias spetsnaz forces, in large part due to their misuse by Russian commanders, and it may take as long as a decade to build the forces back up again:

Typically, spetsnaz personnel are assigned the sorts of stealthy, high-risk missions  including an apparent order to capture Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky  for which they receive some of the Russian militarys most advanced training. But when Moscow launched its full-scale invasion last year, senior commanders eager to seize momentum and skeptical of their conventional fighters prowess deviated from the norm, ordering elite forces into direct combat, according to U.S. intelligence findings and independent analysts who have closely followed spetsnaz deployments.

The rapid depletion of Russias commando units, observers say, shifted the wars dynamic from the outset, severely limiting Moscows ability to employ clandestine tactics in support of conventional combat operations. U.S. officials believe that the staggering casualties these units have sustained will render them less effective, not only in Ukraine but also in other parts of the world where Russian forces operate, according to the assessments, which range in date from late 2022 to earlier this year.

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Per the New York Times, the documents capture infighting and finger-pointing among Russian agencies responsible for different aspects of the war, including one report noting a dispute over the actual human cost of the conflict:

In one document, American intelligence officials say that Russias main domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Security Service, or F.S.B., has accused the countrys Defense Ministry of obfuscating Russian casualties in Ukraine. The finding highlights the continuing reluctance of military officials to convey bad news up the chain of command, they say.

The entry, dated Feb. 28 in a document with a series of updates about the war in Ukraine and other global hot spots, appears to be based on electronic intercepts collected by American intelligence agencies.  F.S.B. officials, the document says, contend that the ministrys toll did not include the dead and wounded among the Russian National Guard, the Wagner mercenary force or fighters fielded by Ramzan Kadyrov, the strongman leader of the southern Russian republic of Chechnya.

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One of the leaked documents indicates the U.S. has been surveilling Zelenskyys communications, CNN reports:

The U.S. intelligence report, which is sourced to signals intelligence, says that Zelensky in late February suggested striking Russian deployment locations in Russias Rostov Oblast using unmanned aerial vehicles, since Ukraine does not have long-range weapons capable of reaching that far.

Although its not unexpected that the U.S. would be monitoring Ukraines leadership, Ukraine has publicly attempted to discredit the disclosures, and Ukrainian officials are reportedly furious about the leaked intel, which has forced Kyiv to make changes to its spring-offensive plans.

The leaked documents also reveal that the U.S. had intercepted recent discussions with South Korean leadership on whether to break policy and provide military aid to Ukraine via an intermediary country. South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has since attempted to downplay the breach and the subsequent scandal it has caused in his country.

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U.S. intelligence assessments from early February expressed serious doubt about Ukraines ability to take back a great deal of Russian-occupied territory this spring, according to a review of one of the leaked documents by the Washington Post. The upcoming offensive is likely to produce only modest territorial gains owing to Ukraines lack of equipment, ammunition, and troops, the document said. It also noted that enduring Ukrainian deficiencies in training and munitions supplies probably will strain progress and exacerbate casualties during the offensive.

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According to the Washington Post, one of the reports in the leaked documents indicates that, in early February, the Kremlin-backed mercenary force met with Turkish contacts to purchase weapons and equipment from Turkey for [Wagners] efforts in Mali and Ukraine, and that Malis interim president confirmed it could get the arms from Turkey on the groups behalf. Turkey declined to comment on the allegation when contacted by the Post, but if the assessment is accurate, it could mean the NATO member was covertly supplying weapons to both sides of the Ukraine conflict.

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According to a leaked top-secret document from mid-February, Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi secretly ordered the production and shipment of as many as 40,000 rockets to Russia, the Washington Post reports. Egypt, a longtime key U.S. ally in the Middle East, has publicly maintained a policy of noninvolvement toward the war in Ukraine, and in a statement to the Post, the foreign ministry suggested that policy has not changed. Regarding the rocket plan, an anonymous U.S. official also told the Post, We are not aware of any execution of that plan. Its not clear how far the plan has progressed, assuming the leaked intel is accurate, nor is it clear how such a move would have impacted the relationship between the U.S. and Egypt.

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According to one leaked U.S. military document, British defense minister Ben Wallace told U.K. lawmakers last October that on September 29, two Russian Su-27 fighter jets intercepted and harassed a British RC-135 reconnaissance plane flying in international airspace over the Black Sea. Wallace said one Russian jet had flown within 15 feet of the U.K. plane and another had released a missile from a distance, but Russian defense officials had told him the missile launch was due to a technical malfunction. The U.S. military document referred to the incident as a near shoot down. British officials have pushed back on the leaked U.S. assessment.

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The Associated Press reports that one document, dated March 9, reported that In mid-January, FSB officials claimed UAE security service officials and Russia had agreed to work together against US and UK Intelligence agencies, according to newly acquired signals intelligence. The AP adds that Its not clear if there was any such agreement as described in the UAE-Russia document, or whether the alleged FSB claims were intentionally or unintentionally misleading, and that the UAE has called the claim categorically false.

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Another of the leaked documents reveals that, earlier this year, the U.S. intercepted electronic communications between the pro-Russian hacking group Zarya and officers with Russias FSB security service in which the hackers said they had breached a Canadian gas-pipeline company and gained access to its control systems. The hackers purportedly shared screenshots of their access with the officers and claimed the breach gave them the ability to increase valve pressure, disable alarms, and initiate an emergency shutdown of the facility. The leaked briefing did not identify the Canadian company or the facility. It said the hackers claimed that they did unspecified damage, causing profit loss for the company, and that FSB officers told the hackers to maintain their access and await further instructions.

After news of the alleged hack surfaced, the Globe and Mail reported that it was unable to verify the claims and noted that there is no evidence to date that a natural-gas pipeline company in Canada suffered such an attack, which the Pentagon documents suggest occurred earlier this year. According to cybersecurity reporter Kim Zetter, a U.S. government source who closely follows critical infrastructure incidents in the U.S. said they heard chatter a while back that something had occurred at a Canadian gas facility, but was not aware of anyone confirming that any physical impact had occurred.

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According to one of the leaked documents, a March 1 CIA assessment said that, according to intercepted communications, leaders of Israels intelligence agency had backed protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus controversial attempt to overhaul the countrys judiciary. Mossad leaders advocated for Mossad officials and Israeli citizens to protest against the new Israeli Governments proposed judicial reforms, including several explicit calls to action that decried the Israeli government, the assessment said.

Netanyahus power play has triggered mass protests and strikes in Israel, and the backlash recently prompted him to at least temporarily abandon the effort. Israeli officials have denied the leaked assessment. Some Israeli pundits have also suggested that the assessment might have been referring to an open letter supporting the protests sent by former Mossad leaders and/or how the agencys leadership allowed employees to join the demonstrations, provided they did so only as private citizens.

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One late-February report in the leaked documents said the Wagner Group, the notorious Kremlin-backed Russian mercenary force, planned to discreetly travel to Haiti to assess the potential for contracts with the Haitian government to fight against local gangs.

Its not clear how far those plans progressed. The Miami Herald reports that a Haitian government official told the paper that Prime Minister Ariel Henry has not had any discussions with the Wagner Group or any Russian officials, nor has he sought help from either as part of his request to international partners to deploy a rapid response force to Haiti to help the national police take on gangs.

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Another document said that, according to intercepted communications, Nicaragua has been deepening its ties with China since its primary security ally, Russia, became entangled in the Ukraine invasion. Nicaragua and China have conducted negotiations over building a deepwater port in Bluefields, and a Chinese engineering firm purportedly began moving forward with initial plans in the middle of 2022. The U.S. assessment concludes that though Nicaragua still favors Russia, it probably would consider offering Beijing naval access in exchange for economic investment.

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The Guardian reports that a daily update slide on the war in Ukraine that is among the leaked documents listed the number of NATO special forces operating inside the country:

According to the files, U.S. officials assessed at the time that of the 97 special forces from Nato countries active in Ukraine, 50 were British. This is considerably higher than the number from the U.S. and France, which were said to have deployed 14 and 15 special forces, respectively. The documents appear to offer a partial snapshot of U.S. military assessments of the state of the war and allies support for Ukraine. They do not contain any information about the purpose of the deployments of U.K. or other contingents of special forces.

The U.K. Ministry of Defence declined to comment on the information but has attempted to discredit the accuracy of the leak in a tweet. France has denied the assessments claim that there are French soldiers on the ground in Ukraine. ABC News reports that according to a current and former U.S. official, a team of U.S. special-forces troops has been operating out of the American embassy in Kyiv:

Among several duties this team provides is security for VIPs and intelligence assistance to Ukrainian Special Operations Forces, according to the current U.S. official. The official stressed that they are not on the front lines and they are not accompanying Ukrainian troops in Ukraine.

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Serbia, one of the only countries in Europe that has refused to sanction Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, agreed to supply arms to Kyiv or has sent them already, according to a classified Pentagon document reviewed by Reuters. A document dated March 2 for the Joint Chiefs of Staff included a chart showing Serbia either agreed to sending lethal aid or had supplied it already, though it declined to train Kyivs forces. Serbias defense minister denied his government was deliberately supplying Ukraine.

Who leaked the documents and why?

The suspected leaker, Jack Teixeira, is a 21-year-old technology staffer with the Massachusetts Air National Guards Intelligence Wing. Teixeira was arrested on April 13 and charged in a federal court in Boston with one count of unauthorized retention and transmission of national defense information, as well as a second count of unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or material. Both are violations of the Espionage Act.

A pic of Jack Teixeira he posted on social media - released by the NYT pic.twitter.com/IGZGUnN2Wb  Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) April 13, 2023

The Washington Post initially reported on April 12 that according to members of the small invitation-only Discord chat community where the leaked intel appeared earlier this year, the person who posted them was a charismatic gun enthusiast in his early 20s who created the group and apparently worked on a U.S. military base. By the time he was identified as Teixeira by the New York Times, federal agents were already closing in.

Justice Department lawyers, in a court filing released April 27, revealed that Teixeira had attempted to obstruct the federal manhunt for himself, and had made a number of disturbing comments online. Per the Times:

Prosecutors pointedly questioned Airman Teixeiras overall state of mind, disclosing that he was suspended from high school in 2018 for alarming comments about the use of Molotov cocktails and other weapons, and trawled the internet for information about mass shootings. He engaged in regular discussions about violence and murder on the same social media platform, Discord, that he used to post classified information, the filing said, and he surrounded his bed at his parents house with firearms and tactical gear.

Teixeira, who comes from a military family, serves in the U.S. Air Forces 102nd Intelligence Wing, which is part of the Massachusetts Air National Guard based out of Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape Cod. He was arrested on April 13 without incident outside his childhood home in North Dighton, Massachusetts. Investigators quickly zeroed in on Teixeira, who has held top secret clearance since 2021, and according to the criminal complaint filed against him, used his government computer and clearance to search for information about the efforts to identify him.

The Associated Press has more on the airmans role in the military:

Teixeira was a cyber transport systems specialist, essentially an IT specialist responsible for military communications networks, including their cabling and hubs. In that role Teixeira would have had a higher level of security clearance because he would have also been tasked with responsibility for ensuring protection for the networks, a defense official told the Associated Press, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

The Post adds that that Teixeira had access to the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System, an internal Defense Department hub for top-secret information, according a U.S. official.

Members of the private Discord group told the Post the leaker, whom they referred to as OG, shared hundreds of posts revealing government secrets over a period of months, initially transcriptions of classified intel he had read and retyped, and then eventually photographs of the original documents. According to the criminal complaint against Teixeira, he told a member of the group that he stopped copying the documents by hand because he was worried someone at work would discover him. The Post reports that that Teixeira seemed to believe it was his responsibility to educate the other members of the Discord group about the world as it truly was:

The gathering spot had been a pandemic refuge, particularly for teen gamers locked in their houses and cut off from their real-world friends. The members swapped memes, offensive jokes and idle chitchat. They watched movies together, joked around and prayed. But OG also lectured them about world affairs and secretive government operations. He wanted to keep us in the loop, the member said, and seemed to think that his insider knowledge would offer the others protection from the troubled world around them.

Religion was another topic of interest for the group and Teixeira, but there was a dark side, too:

In a video seen by The Post, [Teixeira] stands at a shooting range, wearing safety glasses and ear coverings and holding a large rifle. He yells a series of racial and antisemitic slurs into the camera, then fires several rounds at a target.

OG had a dark view of the government. The young member said he spoke of the United States, and particularly law enforcement and the intelligence community, as a sinister force that sought to suppress its citizens and keep them in the dark. He ranted about government overreach. OG told his online companions that the government hid horrible truths from the public.

The leaks began more than a year ago

The New York Times reports that the suspected leaker, airman Jack Teixeira, apparently began sharing secret intelligence in a 600-member Discord group in February 2022, shortly after the war in Ukraine began. This was a separate, larger Discord group from the one where Teixeira shared secret intel over the winter. Per the Times:

The newly discovered information posted on the larger chat group included details about Russian and Ukrainian casualties, activities of Moscows spy agencies and updates on aid being provided to Ukraine. The user claimed to be posting information from the National Security Agency, the Central Intelligence Agency and other intelligence agencies. 

The posts reviewed by The Times appear to be detailed written accounts of the classified documents themselves, and identify which intelligence agency they are from. While it appears that the user likely posted pictures of some documents, those have since been deleted from the chat group.

What are the documents, and how many were leaked?

The Post, in its report on the source of the leaks, said it reviewed approximately 300 photos of classified documents as well as text posts that apparently transcribe other intelligence reports. Much of the media coverage has focused on a collection of about 100 documents from the leak. From the Posts reporting, it appears much more material than that was originally leaked, though most of the documents dont appear to have been made public. According to the New York Times, there is another collection of documents which the suspected leaker began sharing in another Discord group in February 2022, but its not yet clear how many there were.

The surfaced files from the later leak are photographs of briefing documents and slides, mostly prepared in February and March, based on intel collected by the NSA, CIA, Defense Intelligence Agency, DEA, and National Reconnaissance Office (which manages U.S. spy satellites). Markings on the documents indicate that some were cleared for sharing with allies, while others were designated for U.S. eyes only  which was a major clue they came from a American source.

Many of the documents appear to have been prepared for Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, though anyone with a high enough security clearance would have had access to them. It appears the documents in the first tranche of images are likely part of a classified briefing that was folded and removed to somewhere where the pages could be photographed. The New York Times has been able to match up details in the margins of the images with details in photos of the suspected leakers family home.

Some of the circulating leaked documents appear to have been doctored, but apparently that was done by pro-Russia propagandists after they were leaked.

How did they come out?

Per what has been reported thus far, the leaks began in February 2022 in a Discord group months ago in a small Discord community called Thug Shakers Central, where the creator of the group. Teixeira, began revealing classified intelligence last year. The images of the classified documents he shared with the group eventually spread to other Discord servers in March, then to other social-media sites in early April  at which point they gained the attention of the media and the Pentagon.

Are there more?

Its not clear if all of the leaked intelligence reports have been shared beyond the two Discord groups where the suspect is currently known to have leaked the information, but many of them clearly have. The documents revealed so far seem to have been prepared no later than early March.

What about the doctored documents?

Some of the documents circulated on social media have been doctored  for instance, to reduce the number of estimated Russian casualties in Ukraine and inflate Ukraines estimated losses. But that disinformation effort appears to have been made after the documents were leaked.

How has the Pentagon responded to the breach, and what damage could the leak do?

After becoming aware of the leaked documents, the Pentagon launched an investigation and reportedly imposed a strict clampdown on access to U.S. intelligence. Politico reports that Pentagon officials were greatly distressed by the leak, adding that experts said the disclosure could be even more damaging than the leak by Edward Snowden ten years ago, particularly because the information is so recent.

That potential damage is manifold. It might have compromised various intelligence-collection methods and sources, allowing adversaries like Russia and China to evade future U.S. espionage efforts. Information in the documents regarding Ukraines military weaknesses may also prove valuable to Russia if the country were not previously aware of that information. But the documents also contain numerous assessments based on U.S. signals intelligence (the spy term for intercepted communications) that targeted friends and foes alike. In addition to the diplomatic fallout, this could prompt allies to shore up their defenses against U.S. surveillance. And as Politico national-security reporter Erin Banco points out, the leak of such highly classified intelligence raises serious questions about whether the U.S. can be trusted to share and disseminate the intel within the government in a safe and secure way.

On April 26, the Air Force announced that two commanders in Teixeiras unit  the commander of the 102nd Intelligence Support Squadron and a detachment commander  had both been suspended pending further investigation into the unauthorized disclosure of classified information.

The leak has offered an unparalleled look at U.S. intelligence-gathering efforts

The Washington Post highlights how the leaked documents have shed new light on the ways the U.S. conducts espionage:

Among other secrets, they appear to reveal where the CIA has recruited human agents privy to the closed-door conversations of world leaders; eavesdropping that shows a Russian mercenary outfit tried to acquire weapons from a NATO ally to use against Ukraine; and what kinds of satellite imagery the United States uses to track Russian forces, including an advanced technology that appears barely, if ever, to have been publicly identified.

This post has been updated.
The Downtown Merchants Association will host its fourth annual Downtown Family Supper Thursday evening on Tichenor Avenue.

Chefs from some of Auburns top restaurants will provide a multi-course meal to 200 guests who will dine outdoors. Restaurants participating this year include The Hound, The Depot, Acre, Ariccia, Hey Day Market, and Irritable Bao. Guests will also have a chance to enjoy cocktails and live music.

Youre never going to find yourself getting to eat a meal from the Hound, the Depot, Acre and Ariccia all in one setting. This is where you get to do that, said Jessica Kohn, downtown coordinator for the Auburn Downtown Merchants Association. We put the dining tables out there. We string up the string lights. The chefs come, and they prep the food. They serve it to you family-style, right there on the streets of downtown.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Auburn Downtown Merchants Association and Nourish Alabama.

The Downtown Family Supper is one of three fundraising events the Downtown Merchants Association hosts each year. These events help pay for public events, such as the Christmas parade. Nourish Alabama is a hunger initiative that partners with Hornsby Farms in Auburn to provide fresh produce for disadvantaged families in the community.

This is such an incredible opportunity for us to take something thats such a culinary driven event, but also wrap it into this culinary-driven nonprofit, Nourish, Kohn said.

Tables will be set up along Tichenor Avenue between the Coffee Cat and City Hall. In previous years, there has been one long table where everyone dined together at previous events. This year, there will be multiple round tables set up. Kohn said the change will better facilitate servers and allow guests a greater opportunity to talk with each other.

The food and setting will have a tropical theme this year. Robbie Nicolaisen, executive chef at The Hound, works with Kohn on the event each year. He suggested participating restaurants work around a theme in order to bring a cohesiveness to the menu this year.

Were going to take that theme, and youre not just going to see it from the culinary standpoint, Kohn said. We are going to bring it in through the decor and just overall the aesthetics of the event this year will follow that theme.

The Downtown Family Supper originally began in 2018 as a partnership between the Downtown Merchants Association and the Hound. Kohn said that the Hounds management team has been instrumental in creating the event each year its been put on. Downtown took a break from the supper during the COVID years but brought it back in 2022.

Its just gotten bigger and better each year, she said. This will be our biggest year.

Visit aotourism.com to get tickets and more information about the Downtown Family Supper.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 15)  Representatives from the Philippine government are off for Kuwait Monday evening to seek solutions with counterparts on the suspension of the issuance of new entry and work visas for Filipinos, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

Speaking to CNN Philippines The Source, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said another team may also leave on Tuesday. The officials representing Manila are from the Foreign Affairs and Migrant Workers departments, as well as the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, he added.

They are not going to come back with this issue fully resolved, but these are exploratory talks, which eventually, hopefully will lead to a long-lasting solution. So at least we are talking to indicate to the Kuwaitis we are not quarrelling with them, we just want to clarify some issues, De Vega said.

The reason for the suspension remains unclear, but De Vega said this is likely because of a 2018 agreement between the two nations allowing the Philippine embassy to serve as a shelter for Filipino workers escaping from their employers.

Since the facility in Surra, Kuwait City was getting congested, Philippine authorities had to transfer around 160 OFWs to a hotel, De Vega said.

He said, however, that this did not sit well with authorities in Kuwait. Immigration officials and police were sent to the hotel and the Philippines had no choice but to bring the Filipinos back to the shelter, he added.

Honestly, we only wish that they had discussed this with us before they suddenly dropped the bombshell last Wednesday, but thats why were going to talk to them, De Vega said.

Before this, the government carried out a deployment ban for first-time household workers bound for Kuwait until more safeguards are in place for Filipinos there.

The policy came after the charred remains of 35-year-old Filipino household worker Jullebee Ranara was found in the Gulf state early this year.

For those who are requesting or demanding or expecting the government to resolve this impasse with Kuwait and allow again workers to come in and out, Id like to remind them that the current situation came out because of that murder, and even without the murder, theres a problem in hundreds keep escaping, De Vega said.

We are not criticizing the government of Kuwait but we seek justice, he said.

He noted there will be consequences, like the suspension of deployment to Kuwait, but this will be all for the good of Filipino workers.
HE DID WHAT OH MY GOD

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he's a loser who needs to be held accountable but 20 years is too much

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https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/11/us/trevor-jacob-youtuber-plead-guilty-federal-charge/index.html



Edited at 2023-05-15 06:07 am (UTC) he lied to the NTSB when he reported the crash and claimed he didn't know where the site was, then flew with a friend so he could get his cameras to and get the footage later. the bulk of those years are for obstructing a federal investigation

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hope he gets the max.

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Dammnnnnn wtf

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jesus this sounds like a movie

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Trevor Daniel Jacob admitted to authorities he planned to crash his plane in a video he made to promote a wallet.



im really glad the article doesnt list what wallet. he did all of this for a sponsored ad for a wallet? i wonder how much they paid him and did they know about his plan.



my wallet is a metal cardholder from daiso thats held up for almost 10yrs now like bruh

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It's really not.

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People could have died.



I always ask people, if you think this is too much, what would be the appropriate charge or sentence for such a thing?

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No as someone who works in aviation, sounds about right.

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No, they need to give him the full sentence, ban him from piloting a plane for life, and make an example out of him. This is completely unhinged, like others have stated, he could've killed someone or cause a forest fire. And all this for what? A couple of "likes" from strangers/bots for advertising/sponsorship money??



Luckily for him, neither of those things happen, but now there's a all crap from the plane wreckage just sitting on that mountain and no one to clean it up. I don't even like people littering on a small scale, this is infinitely worse. And you never know when there's gasoline involved, you could be just a hot summer day away from igniting it.

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lol, nope he is getting exactly what he deserves!

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Oh boy...



He could have hurt/killed people, started a forest fire. He purposefully caused a plane crash. He lied to authorities. Should never be allowed to pilot a plane again and definitely deserves up to 20 years. He pulled this stunt for fucking views/likes. Yeah. Jail his dumb ass.

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Honestly, the less time we're subjected to his influencer form of terrorism, the better off we are. But also, lbr, he's a wealthy(?), white man... He'll probably not get the full sentence or have it commuted. 

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What a fucking idiot. I don't get being so desperate for fame that you're willing to do this shit.

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It's honestly a race to the bottom with doing the most absurd, stupid, dangerous shit for likes.

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Selfish and self-absorbed = the worst kind of influencer.

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I mean thats pretty much every influencer. Lol

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are there any influencers who are NOT self absorbed? lol

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ngl it scares the fucking SHIT out of me that we have people in jobs that ur meant to put ur trust into them but they get a taste for the influencer life and all ethics and common sense/safety go out the window

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Influencers were and continue to be a huge fucking mistake.

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I read about this idiot the other day.



Over the coming days, Jacob admitted in the agreement that he cut up and destroyed the plane parts by leaving the pieces in bins around the airport.



Commenters on the video were rightly skeptical of the footagewith many questioning why in a high-stakes situation a pilot would grab their selfie stick to capture their fall.



Crashing a whole ass plane, lying to the FAA & other organizations, destroying the evidence, etc all for some views and a sponsorship. And look at him now, facing two decades in a federal prison. Moron.

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Play stupid games win stupid prizes.



Seriously, people like this are just horrid. You're literally endangering others, could have started a forest fire and then lied and destroyed/hid evidence for what? Likes? Fuck this asswipe.



I really wish 'influencers' never became a thing.

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WHAT

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This is actually insane

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What a moron. You could have killed someone too. Pilot influencer...lmao okay. Gonna be a prison influencer soon



Edited at 2023-05-15 06:18 am (UTC)

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I heard Sandra Bullock's voice from Miss Congeniality reading this.

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All I can think about is how he is so privileged to be able to do this:



- become a pilot

- destroy a plane



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The John McCain career path.

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Imagine going to prison because you were so desperate for attention from strangers lol

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he took narcissism to new heights! (that's an awful joke im sorry i'll see myself out)

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He really flew too close to the sun this time



I'll be here all week

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If only this was a lesson to everyone else too

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Gonna get a lot of attention from strangers soon in lock up.

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He destroyed a whole ass plane for this stunt? Fuck him. And he could have killed someone! So fucking reckless.

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And he was flying over a national forest when he jumped out so his plane could have set that place on fire when it crashed. He is so lucky that this wasn't much worse.

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that's what i was thinking about. what if that started another huge forest fire? dumbass.

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If he misjudged the trajectory and it end up crashing in a populated area.

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Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ

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i was going to write that he's especially stupid for doing a crime in the air because that's automatically a federal charge but i didn't realize he's an actual pilot so he should know that? i hope it was worth it once he's sitting in prison. i don't know if the feds will actually give him 20 if he's pleading guilty but i guess we'll see.

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What an idiot

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Oh fuck off, idiot.



Christ, this ignorant shit pisses me off so much. Just because YOU dont need something, it doesnt mean others dont. And given her disdain (virtue police), people who do need it on her sets probably are not comfortable asking.



It infuriates me when people cant or wont pull their heads out of their own arses and consider that maybe their experiences and opinions and needs are not fucking universal.



Edited at 2023-05-15 08:21 am (UTC)

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I also find it ignorant when directors say they don't need it. ICs are there for the actors who are being put in vulnerable places, not the directors who are comfortable behind the camera.

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The headline isn't the actual quote, which OP did include in the post:



So for me, intimacy coordinators arent necessary. If I was forced to have some kind of virtue police on set, Id rather not film those scenes. I understand why some people might feel reassured, but its very far from the experience of my own film sets.

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I dont know what your point is or why you assume I didnt a) read or b) understand the article.

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Id rather not film sex scenes than have virtue police on set



Then maybe you're just a shitty director 



Im extremely sensitive and pay lots of attention to the respect that the actors need to have for one another. Ive never had any kind of problem.



Then maybe you're just a shitty director 

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SO so cool to hear women say this stupid harmful shit. So cool. Such a cool girl.

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Yikes. Intimacy coordinators are there to make sure everyone is safe. You wouldnt have a fight scene without choreography and safeguards in place, sex scenes should be seen the same way.

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Exactly! Even when you have very experienced stunt people, there are still choreographers and rehearsals before shooting and stunt coordinators supervising to ensure that it's a safe experience for everyone.

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If everything runs smoothly you probably wont need so much influence of them. But theyre still there if someone needs them.

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right? if you're doing your job respectfully then they won't be interfering, but they need to be there

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This somehow reminds me of the time a female ex boss was asked to panel a women in the workplace kind of discussion and explained to everyone how women never get harassed in the workplace because she has personally never experienced it and has had many trusted male mentors in her career. It was very hurtful to hear because I (as a non nepo baby in my industry) had from the first DAY (literally) of my career had to deal with inappropriate behaviour from male superiors.



I mean great and happy for you, but maybe try to see things from others perspective particularly those who are the most vulnerable amongst us????





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I guess it's great to be one of the few women who has never experienced harassment in the workplace, but that doesn't mean she gets to be the spokesperson for everyone else and deny their experiences. That attitude of "it never happened to me so everything is fine" reminds me of when people defend rapists and abusers by saying "but he never did it TO ME," as if they are the stick by which all behavior is measured.

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Im sure if she actually analyzed her experiences, she would find a lot of instances of sexism.

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A lot of people dont see things because they dont want to feel victimized. Ive been unaware about my personal situations being abuse until years later when I actually sat back and thought about what was happening

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Shes also lying

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Is this the same person who said theyre not a feminist because I dont do ideologies or some shit like that when their film was mildly criticised?

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And I think people apply their necessities to the wrong instances. I see a lot of "had they had intimacy coordinators on 1968's Romeo & Juliet..." and I'm like...no, because not only is that a story that should probably never be adapted again (like Lolita), but they were CHILDREN, and no amount of care would make those scenes less appalling.



I'd apply it more to a set like "Last Tango In Paris" where a woman was literally assaulted with a dairy product for shits and giggles. But, having read some stories about the people in these roles not really doing anything, or straight up ignoring the actors, I just don't trust that it'll do anything. It's really either trust one person or trust another.



Maybe I'm just jaded and my distrust of people is showing, but this reddit post and some of the replies really points out how important having the right people in these roles is: The only issue I have with intimacy coordinators is that they're just more humans being expected to do the right thing.And I think people apply their necessities to the wrong instances. I see a lot of "had they had intimacy coordinators on 1968's Romeo & Juliet..." and I'm like...no, because not only is that a story that should probably never be adapted again (like Lolita), but they were CHILDREN, and no amount of care would make those scenes less appalling.I'd apply it more to a set like "Last Tango In Paris" where a woman was literally assaulted with a dairy product for shits and giggles. But, having read some stories about the people in these roles not really doing anything, or straight up ignoring the actors, I just don't trust that it'll do anything. It's really either trust one person or trust another.Maybe I'm just jaded and my distrust of people is showing, but this reddit post and some of the replies really points out how important having the right people in these roles is: https://www.reddit.com/r/acting/comments/ql4lla/i_had_a_bad_intimacy_coordinator/ . I then think of Toni Collette who said the coordinator she had made her so anxious she asked them to leave.

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Weirdly it reminds me of JYP(a KPop company) hiring a therapist and pretending he was helping his musicians stay mentally healthy then it came out the therapist was negatively influencing/gaslighting the musicians on behalf of JYP.



I wouldn't put it past most of these studios to hire someone they trusted who's not actually equipped or trained for the job just so they can control the situation.

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I've said before that we need more than intimacy coordinators. We need people empowered to overrule everyone - directors, producers, parents, CEOs - to make sure people are protected. Intimacy coordinators are a bandaid solution to a much bigger problem.

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Lolita is such a repulsive book. I tried reading it because its a ~classic and I couldnt get through it. I just cant do pedo content. Idk if this happens to anyone else, but my fingertips go numb for some reason when I read/hear descriptions of child abuse or just child bodies in general.

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yeah i think there's lots of circumstances where an intimacy co-ordinator should be the norm, but it's also naive to assume that a. the actors will trust and feel more comfortable with the intimacy co-ordinator vs. their director or fellow actors and that b. the intimacy co-ordinator will be doing their job well and not just function essentially as HR.



i have no way of knowing if this woman is portraying the reality of her sets truthfully but if it's a situation where trust truly has been built between the actors and the director and other relevant parties i can get how it would be a situation akin to what toni collette talked about where the intimacy coordinator might make things feel more uncomfortable if they haven't been integrated into the process/group dynamic properly?

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i'm with you and slightly agree with this lady (her conclusion, NOT her thought process).



seeing so many SHITTY, SHITTY covid people on sets whose bottom line is to make the bosses happy makes me not trust intimacy coordinators at all. there absolutely needs to be accountability in sex scenes (and somebody to protect actors whose interests aren't the studios) and i'm worried intimacy coordinators won't or can't do that because they are fallible and human

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Oh God

She married a super old director when she was very young, I wonder if it affects their view, like Maiween, because honestly, I don't get it, it is so twisted

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I saw that when I looked at her wikipedia page and wondered the same thing. She was 21 when she officially started dating a 47 year old man who she met when she was a 17 year old actress in her first movie and he was the (married) 43 year old nepo baby director so my guess is yes.

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Surprise: shes another French asshole. Its crazy to imagine people saying this bullshit about stunt work, ie I dont need it because Im very careful. Because sex scenes are basically choreography work.

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Glad I wasn't the only person going 'let me guess, she's French. "

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Oh I thought this sounds French :(

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lol, I had to Google that because her name is super Danish.

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Yeah, I definitely thought she was Scandinavian every time I saw her name. Makes sense that she's another French asshole.

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Makes sense that she's French but I also wasn't surprised when I assumed she was Danish because I've heard so so many Danes say incredibly disparaging things about anything they consider "PC".

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Yeah, my first thought was, "I bet she's French".

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Sigh Sometimes I hate that there are some French programs I enjoy. Its like I dont want to give them the views because so many of them are such assholes! Male & female.

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This is such a dumb take because at the very least if you're an asshole, you would want to employ an intimacy coordinator to protect yourself from lawsuits. If something happens on your set, you can push the blame on the intimacy coordinator.



Obviously you should be a good person and want to create a safe work environment and protect the people on your set from harm, but if you're a total self centered capitalist swine then intimacy coordinators are great for business.



Not only are these people callous, they're just bad at their job.

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ffs just say you don't care about sexual harassment/assault in the workplace and move on.

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"I understand that people might be assured by having someone on set to ensure their physical and emotional safety. And I understand that having such a person would not effect me in any material way, but I refuse because I'm a selfish, self absorbed cunt"



That's all I read from that.

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100%. Very easy to say that from behind the camera.

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Quite a deep sigh.

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"I've never had a problem" is a privileged statement coming from the boss. When we are a supervisor we have a very different take on what our staff feel comfortable sharing with us. Also that one person that reports to us has a different view on the same thing as another on the team who also reports to us. Would like to hear the opinion from a jobbing actor





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right? lol why do we wanna hear from the director on something like this? I only wanna hear from the people affected: the actors

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Not to mention as a director, she'd have to take some budgetary constraints into consideration so this is coming off like "I don't want to pay for another useless person on set when I can use that money elsewhere". It's a complete conflict of interest for her to be talking about this when intimacy coordinators are not there for her; if anything, they're there to fight her on behalf of the actors, which can be interpreted as subordinates of the director. Why would she be interested in paying someone who's job is to argue with her and challenge her authority?



Now if an actor/actress on set doesn't want to be coordinated by one, then it's a different story but an intimacy coordinator should be seen as a fixed cost for any script with sex and be present and readily accessible, even if they're not actively coordinating, to act as insurance for the actors/actresses in such scenes. And it should be in the actor/actress' right to request another one if they are not comfortable with whoever's assigned; you can't rely on someone to advocate for you if you don't trust them.

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Yeah, I think there should be an option for actors involved to waive intimacy coordinators if it's at their request (with no pressure), but it absolutely has to be built into the budget and architecture of the project.

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Washington views Chinas attempts to aggressively expand its influence in Latin America with increasing alarm. Beijing is using its considerable economic clout as the worlds second-biggest economy to ramp up relationships with Latin Americas resource-rich nations at Washingtons expense, as the rivalry between the two global powers intensifies. An area to emerge in recent years as being of particular interest to Beijing is the resource-rich countries situated in the northern Andes of South America. After more than a decade of Chinas state-controlled enterprises investing in mining, oil, and infrastructure projects in that region, Beijing is moving to formalize those relationships in the form of various treaties. These developments have sparked considerable consternation in the U.S. which for over a century has been the traditional hegemonic power in Latin America.

In the latest concerning development, the impoverished Andean country of Ecuador, Latin Americas sixth-largest oil producer, announced the signing of a free trade agreement with China. This occurred much to Washingtons chagrin with the U.S., especially since the pandemic, seeking to blunt Beijings rising influence in Latin America. This is a surprising event because Ecuadors rightwing President Guillermo Lasso has frequently made it known that he is pro-U.S. and sought closer financial and trade ties with Washington. But a lack of attention from the White House forced a fiscally strained and heavily indebted Quito to seek support elsewhere. It is China which readily filled the role with Beijing having provided Ecuador with crucial financial support and developed critical infrastructure, as well as energy projects in the country over the last decade.

The deal, which has yet to be sanctioned by Ecuadors National Assembly, will deepen trade ties by giving preferential access to China for nearly all of Ecuadors agro-industrial exports such as shrimp, coffee, and bananas. Quito expects the trade agreement to boost non-oil exports by up to $4 billion over the next decade thereby improving a flagging balance of payments and bolstering government coffers. The deal will strengthen ties between Ecuador and China at a crucial time with Quito struggling to boost export income and faltering fiscally crucial oil production.

It was during the tenure of leftist President Rafael Correa, in office from 2007 to 2017 when Beijings relationship with Ecuador became particularly important. Over that period China became a key trading partner and Beijing backed important infrastructure projects, including the controversial Coca Codo Sinclair Hydroelectric project, while providing billions of dollars in oil-backed loans. It is believed that Ecuador owes China around $5 billion, giving Beijing considerable leverage with Quito. Much of that debt is backed by Ecuadors petroleum production, forcing the Andean country to allocate a proportion of its declining oil output to meet those financial commitments.

China isnt only seeking to strengthen ties with Ecuador. Much to Washingtons exasperation Beijing, over the last decade, has been courting the governments of many resource-rich countries across Latin America with Venezuela and Colombia of particular interest. Elevated U.S. pressure on Venezuela after Hugo Chavez assumed the presidency in 1999 and kicked off his socialist Bolivarian revolution with its anti-American sentiment piqued Beijings interest. As Washington applied ever greater pressure to an authoritarian Caracas, particularly after President Barack Obama declared Venezuela to be a national security threat in 2015, Beijing provided crucial economic support to President Hugo Chavez from 2007 and then President Nicola Maduro. By 2020, Caracas had received nearly half of all loans made by China in Latin America, with it estimated at the end of 2022 that the outstanding debt could be as much as $12 billion.

Even as that relationship rapidly cooled from 2017 onwards because of endemic corruption impacting Beijing-sponsored projects, China remained a key buyer of Venezuelan oil even after President Trump ratcheted-up sanctions to cut Caracas off from global financial and energy markets. There are signs that the relationship between Beijing and Caracas is thawing with renewed talks between the two nations over restructuring Venezuelas loans. China National Petroleum Corp., once a major investor in the OPEC members oil industry restarted operations in 2021 in an effort to ramp up output from the Sinovensa oil project which recently saw production reach 90,000 barrels per day, roughly double what it had been two years earlier. If discussions between Beijing and Caracas are successful it is likely that there will be greater investment from Chinas state-controlled energy companies in Venezuela.

China is investing considerable effort to build closer ties with Colombia the closest U.S. ally in Latin America. During a 2016 visit to Colombia, Chinas foreign minister stated the country wanted to start talks on the feasibility of a free trade agreement between the two countries, although no deal has been inked to date. That announcement came on the back of firmer trade relations between Colombia and China that had been deepening since 2011 during the administration of then-President Juan Manuel Santos. China is now Colombias second-largest trade partner after the U.S., to establish a bilateral free trade agreement, although no deal has been agreed upon to date. Beijing is focused on leveraging the importance of its trade with Colombia, with China during 2022 the source for nearly a fifth of all imports into the Andean country and the destination for 4% of all exports.

In July 2019, the then hard-right President Ivan Duque made an official visit to China to promote investment in Colombia and boost demand for the Andean countrys exports. During that visit, he even committed to Chinas multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, although Colombia never became a signatory. This came on the back of various state-controlled Chinese enterprises including Sinochem, Sinopec, and Zijin mining acquiring Colombian commodity assets over the last decade while others are involved in developing vital infrastructure. In 2019, then rightwing Bogota Mayor Enrique Penalosa awarded the $12 billion contract to construct the citys metropolitan rail system to two Beijing-controlled companies China Harbour Engineering Company Limited and Xi'an Metro Company Limited.

Ever-closer ties between Colombia and China concerned Washington so much that the Biden White House reputedly sent a diplomatic mission to Bogota in 2021 in an effort to head off further agreements between the two countries. That, however, may have been too little too late. Current leftist President Gustavo Petro has made no secret of his desire to forge a more independent path from long-time key ally the U.S., which aside from building closer ties with regional neighbors could see him seek to bolster ties with Beijing. Indeed, in a recent missive (Spanish) Petros administration recognized China and not Taiwan as a legitimate state.

China continues to consolidate its position in Latin America where it is focused on strengthening ties, at the expense of the U.S., with the region. This includes forging closer ties with countries like Colombia and Ecuador where Beijing does not wield significant influence, while repairing the cracks that emerged with Venezuela as corruption and debt fractured what was a solid relationship. This forms part of Chinas strategy to expand its influence and challenge U.S. hegemony in Latin America while gaining access to vital natural resources such as oil, coal, and metals. For a region where anti-U.S. sentiment runs deep after decades of Washingtons interference, Beijing with its tremendous economic clout and apparently inexhaustible government coffers appears as an attractive partner.

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By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com

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Legislators need to agree on a higher debt ceiling as soon as possible because the states coffers will run out by June 1st, according to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. This is not the first time Congress is taking its time agreeing to higher debt limits and it is not the first time various officials are sounding the default alarm.

The current debt ceiling of the United States is $31.4 trillion. Democrats and the White House want this raised without any conditions but Republicans insist on some spending cuts in order to agree to the raise.

"With the uneven re-opening in China and concerns that the U.S is facing a growth slowdown at a time when the X-date for the debt ceiling is rapidly approaching, topped off by a rally in the U.S dollar, market sentiment towards crude oil will remain tepid at best," IG analyst Tony Sycamore told Reuters.

Sentiment in the oil market remains negative with an uncertain demand outlook and concerns over the US debt ceiling, Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy for ING Groep, told Bloomberg. The market will likely be looking out for any potential demand revisions in the IEAs monthly market report.

Since the start of the year, oil has lost some 13%, according to Bloomberg, and traders have accumulated the largest short position on the commodity since July 2021.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Russias crude oil exports by sea rose in the four weeks to May 12 to a new record-high and are now estimated to have increased by 10% from early April, tanker-tracking data monitored by Bloomberg showed on Monday.

Crude on vessels departed from Russias oil export terminals and en route to international markets hit another record at 3.61 million barrels per day (bpd) in the four-week period to May 12, according to the data reported by Bloombergs Julian Lee.

Thats the highest volume of Russian seaborne crude oil exports since Bloomberg started detailed tracking of the vessels and cargoes at the beginning of 2022. It is also higher than the previous high of 3.55 million bpd in the four weeks to May 5.

Volumes headed to China and India in the four-week period to May 12 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.

Russian crude oil shipments have now increased in four out of the five latest four-week periods, per Bloombergs estimates, 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.

Last week, reports emerged that Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin sought to convince Western analysts in a rare call earlier this month that Russia is indeed reducing its oil production by 500,000 bpd.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Russias natural gas exports via pipeline to Europe have fallen by 11.4% so far this month compared to the average pipeline flows in April, estimates from Reuters showed on Monday.

Russia still sends some gas via pipelines to Europe via one transit route through Ukraine and via TurkStream.

Between May 1 and May 15, Russias gas giant Gazprom sent 67 million cubic meters per day of gas to Europe, down from 75.6 million cubic meters per day last month, as spot prices for gas in Europe fell to a 21-month low.

Low demand for natural gas sent Europes benchmark gas prices towards a sixth consecutive weekly loss last weekthe longest run of weekly losses since 2020. Lower power demand amid mild spring weather in most of Europe is depressing gas prices, while comfortable inventories of gas have not yet led to any rush for filling storage sites ahead of the next winter.

Last month, Russian gas deliveries to Europe rose by 7.5% compared to March, due to higher volumes shipped in transit via Turkey, according to Reuters calculations from earlier this month.

Gazprom has stopped publishing numbers on its gas deliveries to Europe.

The Russian giant has seen exports to Europe decline since the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year, as Russia cut off gas supplies to a number of countries in Europe.

Russia halted gas supply to Poland, Bulgaria, and Finland in April and May 2022, slashed gas deliveries via Nord Stream to Germany in June, then cut off Nord Stream supply in early September, weeks before the still mysterious sabotage on the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea at the end of September.

Germany, Russias biggest customer of gas before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, doesnt import any Russian gas via pipeline now. Norway became Germanys single-largest natural gas supplier in 2022, overtaking Russia, as total German gas imports dropped by 12.3% compared to 2021.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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It might appear counter-intuitive to characterise Saudi Aramcos first quarter net income of SAR119.54 billion (US$31.88 billion) as bad but, in the context of what the company is, it is. It is not so much the 19 percent drop in net income that will be troubling to savvy oil market watchers. Some of that can be explained by the drop in oil prices over the quarter. Troubling rather is that the result came from the flagship oil and gas company of the third largest crude oil producer in the world with a near monopoly on its oil fields. These fields have an average lifting cost (the price of extracting one barrel of oil from the ground, not including capital expenditure) of US$1-2 per barrel. This is the lowest in the world, alongside the oil fields of Iran and Iraq. The reasons why there is such a discrepancy between this cheap extraction cost and Saudi Aramcos net income figures raises significant questions that make the future of Saudi Aramco potentially even more troubling.

These questions were key reasons why no major Western stock exchange would allow Saudi Aramco to list on them. This was despite such a high-profile listing being one of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans (MbS) key selling points to senior Saudis when he first pitched them the idea of floating part of Saudi Aramco. Back in the mid-2010s, the then-Deputy Crown Prince MbS saw the initial public offering (IPO) of Saudi Aramco as a core part of his strategy to usurp the position of Crown Prince from Muhammed bin Nayef. In theory, the idea had several positive factors going for it that would benefit MbS. First, it could raise a lot of money, part of which might be used to offset the economically disastrous effect on Saudi Arabia of the 2014-2016 Oil Price War, as analysed in my new book on the new global oil market order. Second, it could boost Saudi Arabias reputation and the breadth and depth of its capital markets. And third, the money coming directly from the sale and from the increased capital pool of Saudi capital markets could be used as part of the National Transformation Program 2020 - in turn part of Saudis Vision 2030 development plan. This sought to diversify the Kingdoms economy away from its reliance on oil and gas exports. After a few months of further discussion, MbS assured senior Saudis that he could ensure the flotation of 5 percent of the company, which he believed would raise at least US$100 billion in much-needed funds for Saudi Arabia. It would also make the Saudi Aramco offering the biggest IPO in history. This, in turn, would place a valuation on the entire company of at least US$2 trillion. In addition, MbS said, Saudi Aramco would be listed on one of the worlds major stock exchanges, with the New York Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange being the two preferred options.

Related: $70 Oil Creates Opportunity In Canadian Oil Stocks

However, looking at Saudi Aramco in more depth, including in the mammoth pre-IPO prospectus, raised more questions than answers for Western investors. For a start, the crude oil production figures that Saudi Arabia had long bandied around as being fact were no such thing. Far from being able to produce 10, 11 or 12 or more million barrels per day (bpd), Saudi Arabia struggled to produce anything over 9 million bpd. To be accurate: from 1 January 1973 to Monday 15 May 2023 Saudi Arabias average crude oil production was 8.252 million bpd. This meant that the countrys equally much-vaunted spare capacity of around 2 million bpd was also not true, founded as it was on a false baseline crude oil production capability.

Additionally concerning then, and now, are Saudi Arabias equally fantastical claims about its oil reserves. Specifically, at the beginning of 1989, the country claimed proven oil reserves of 170 billion barrels. Just one year later, and without the discovery of any major new oil fields, it claimed proven oil reserves of 257 billion barrels, an increase of 51.2 percent. Shortly afterwards, Saudi Arabias proven oil reserves miraculously increased again, this time to just over 266 billion barrels, again without the discovery of any major new oil fields. Proven oil reserves increased once more in 2017, to 268.5 billion barrels, again with no new major oil finds being discovered. At the same time as these increases being announced, the country was extracting an average of 8.162 million bpd. Therefore, from 1990 (the year in which Saudi Arabias claimed proven oil reserves jumped from 170 billion barrels to 257 billion barrels), to 2017 (the year when Saudi Arabia was claiming proven oil reserves of 268.5 billion barrels), Saudi Arabia had physically removed from the ground forever an average of just over 2.979 billion barrels of crude oil every year. The total amount of crude oil permanently removed from the beginning of 1990 to the beginning of 2017, was, then, 80.43 billion barrels. In short, from 1990 to 2017, Saudi Arabias official crude oil reserves number had gone up 98.5 billion barrels, despite there being no new oil finds and it physically removing 80.43 barrels forever.

Western investors were also profoundly concerned that Saudi Aramco was being used as a cash cow for a variety of other non-hydrocarbons projects dreamt up by the senior Saudis, MbS and their advisers. There was funding for multiple socio-economic projects, including the creation of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. There were also broader sovereign concerns over Saudi Arabia that fed through into a negative risk backdrop for the Saudi Aramco IPO. Crucially in this context, 28 September 2017 saw the U.S. Congress override former President Barack Obamas veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, making it possible for victims families to sue the government of Saudi Arabia. Within weeks of this, there were seven major lawsuits in federal courts alleging Saudi government support and funding for the 9/11 terrorist attack on the U.S. Although Saudi Arabia has denied longstanding suspicions of involvement in the attack, 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals. Back in 2010, various news media had published documents that highlighted such potential links between Saudi Arabia and various terrorist organisations. One of these was a leaked classified memo from then-U.S. Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, in which she warned that donors in Saudi Arabia were: The most significant source of funding to Sunni terrorist groups worldwide.

Given these and many other negative factors, MbS could not engage any significant Western investor interest in the Saudi Aramco IPO, so the stage was set for a series of events that partly define the new global oil market order, as analysed in my new book on that subject. One of these was a face-saving offer for MbS from China that he has never forgotten and that has underpinned Saudi Arabias drift towards China since then. Another was the expediting of Saudi Arabias move away from the U.S. and towards Russia that had been gathering pace since the end of the Second Oil Price War in 2016. Even more specifically for Saudi Aramco, it meant that MbS had to offer massive incentives to investors to buy any of the IPO. One of these was a guarantee by the Saudi government that, whatever happened, it would pay a US$75 billion dividend payment in 2020, split equally into payments of US$18.75 billion every quarter. Making matter worse now is that along with the Q1 2023 results, Saudi Aramcos chief executive officer Amin Nasser, said that the company is looking to introduce additional performance-linked dividends. These would target 50-70 percent of annual free cash flow, net of the base dividend and other amounts including external investments, he said.

It may be, though, that counting such numbers ultimately equates to trying to work out how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. Given the increasing antagonism between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia that also partly defines the new global oil market order, as analysed in my new book on that subject, the possibility of the final introduction of the No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act (NOPEC) might be the end of Saudi Aramco in its current form. NOPEC would open the way for sovereign governments to be sued for predatory pricing and any failure to comply with the U.S.s antitrust laws. OPEC is a de facto cartel, Saudi Arabia is its de facto leader, and Saudi Aramco is Saudi Arabias key oil company. The enactment of NOPEC would mean that trading in all Saudi Aramcos products  including oil  would be subject to the antitrust legislation, meaning the prohibition of sales in U.S. dollars. It could further mean the eventual break-up of Aramco into smaller constituent companies that are not capable of influencing the oil price.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

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It is unlikely that U.S. imports of crude oil will decline from current levels as refiners in the country prefer international blends and the U.S. cannot disconnect from the global market.

As the first graph below shows, the U.S. was not energy independent from 1953 to 2019, but since 2019 the country has been a net exporter of energy.

The claim that the U.S. is energy independent is true based on a definition that involves the country producing more energy than its needs.

Every time I address the topic of energy independence, it spurs a lot of interest. But people also get confused about the subject. In the previous article, I addressed a number of questions related to energy independence.

In todays article, I am going to make it very simple, using just two graphics. You can see all of the data yourself in the Energy Information Administrations (EIA) Monthly Energy Review.

There are two different ways to think about energy independence. One is that we produce more than enough energy for our needs. In other words, being a net energy producer means you are energy independent. When someone says We became energy independent under President Trump, thats the definition they are implicitly using.

The following graphic shows U.S. net energy exports from 1949 through 2022. It considers fossil fuels, nuclear power, and renewables. When the number is negative, that means we are a net energy importer, and thus not energy independent by this definition. I highlighted several noteworthy events on the graphic.



70 Years of Net U.S. Energy Trade ROBERT RAPIER



On the graphic, U.S. net energy exports turned negative in 1953. In other words, we became a net energy importer at that time, and thus lost our energy independence. From 1953 to 2005, the U.S. steadily lost ground, with the exception of when the Alaska Pipeline came into service in 1977. But in 2005, U.S. energy dependence reached its maximum level.

Then the fracking boom changed the graph. Suddenly, net U.S. imports began to decrease each year as the U.S. began producing more oil and gas. The graph turned upward in 2006, and then climbed steadily during President Obamas two terms. The only inflection during President Obamas terms was caused by a price war initiated by OPEC in 2014.

But OPEC capitulated a couple of years later, and the graph continued to climb under President Trump. Those who wish to give President Trump credit can see that the climb under Trump was steeper than it was under Obama. If you take the average climb under President Obama and extrapolate it, you would hit zero around 2020 or 2021.

Under President Trump, we hit zero in 2019, and thus became energy independent under that definition. Thus, although its not true that President Trump made us energy independent, he probably sped up the timeline. But the trend toward energy independence had already been going for a decade.

Likewise, by this definition of energy independence, in 2022 we saw the highest level of net energy exports since the EIAs first data point in 1949. Thus, per the definition that producing more than we consume is equal to energy independence, we achieved that in 2019, but then 2022 was significantly better.

The second definition of energy independence is that we dont import any energy at all. But under that definition, we havent been energy independent since the EIA began recording the data. We have always imported energy, even under President Trump.



70 Years of Total U.S. Energy Imports ROBERT RAPIER

As with the previous graph, imports peaked in about 2005, and then declined as the fracking boom expanded. Again, if you are looking to credit President Trump with something, energy imports did decline for three of four years when he was in office. Under President Obama, energy imports declined in five of eight years.

But crude oil imports, in particular, have been approaching a point in which further significant declines are unlikely, because U.S. refiners prefer certain international crude oils over domestic crude oils. Further, as explained in previous articles, some crude oil is imported simply to refine into finished products and then export them.

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Thus, the U.S. is unlikely to ever achieve energy independence based on this definition. Our energy systems will remain entangled with those of the rest of the world.

By Robert Rapier via rrapier.com

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(CNN)  Life in Gaza quickly appeared to be returning to normal Sunday, the morning after a ceasefire ended five days of intense rocket fire and airstrikes between Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Israel Defense Forces left 35 people dead  all but one of them Palestinians.

Israeli military authorities opened two border crossings into Gaza, allowing much-needed fuel trucks and other supplies to enter the tiny coastal enclave, and Palestinian fishermen were able to resume work.

A CNN team arriving in Gaza on Sunday saw children playing in the streets and fruit and vegetable sellers back at work.

The scenes marked a sharp contrast from the previous five days, which saw a relentless series of strikes and responses between the IDF and militants.

On Sunday the IDF said Islamic Jihad had launched nearly 1,500 rockets towards Israel between Wednesday and Saturday. The IDF itself, meanwhile, said it struck 422 Islamic Jihad targets since Tuesday,when it launched what it called Operation "Shield and Arrow."

Islamic Jihad named its response "Revenge of the Free."

An Egypt-brokered ceasefire was supposed to begin at 10 p.m. local time (3 p.m. ET) Saturday, but it took more than an hour after that for rockets and airstrikes to stop completely.

Sunday evening sirens sounded in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip and the IDF said that a rocket fired from Gaza Strip toward Israel "fell in an open area."

Israel has thanked Egypt for its efforts, with the head of Israel's National Security Council Tzachi Hanegbi saying as part of the country's response "quiet will be answered quietly, and if Israel is attacked or threatened, it will continue to do everything it needs to do in order to defend itself."

Hamas, the militant Palestinian movement that runs the Gaza Strip, issued a statement praising Palestinian resistance factions after the ceasefire began.

Hamas "hails the Joint Operations Room of the Palestinian Resistance Factions for defending the Palestinian people against the most recent Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip," Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qasem said.

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland welcomed the ceasefire and urged "all sides" to observe it.

"I look forward to the immediate restoration of humanitarian access and all social and economic measures to support Palestinian livelihoods in Gaza," he said in a statement.

Word of the agreement came near the end of a day of intense fighting. A rocket launched from Gaza killed a Palestinian man working in Israel and seriously wounded another, Israel medical authorities said.

The two brothers were working in the Negev desert in southern Israel and were hit by shrapnel.

The Palestinian man from Gaza who was killed in Israel was one of two fatalities in Israel as a result of rockets from Gaza. The other was an elderly woman killed on Thursday.

In a separate incident, clashes also took place on Saturday morning in the occupied West Bank and at least two Palestinian men were killed, Palestinian officials said.

The latest flare-up began on Tuesday, with the IDF launching strikes on Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian militant group it accuses of planning attacks against Israel.

It is the third conflict in as many years between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, including Hamas, the largest armed group in the enclave, and Islamic Jihad, the second largest.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Ceasefire between Israel and Islamic Jihad appears to hold after days of violence"
The European Parliament is proposing a cap on the revenues of electricity generators in case energy prices surge again, according to a draft proposal of the Parliament's lead negotiator on the EU electricity market reform seen by Reuters.

Nicolas Gonzalez Casaresthe European Parliament's lead negotiator on the reform proposed by the European Commission earlier this year  has drafted the Parliament's position on the Commission's proposals for market reforms. According to Gonzalez Casares and the Spanish Socialist Members of the European Parliament, the reform of the EU's electricity market should cap the extraordinary profits that power-generating companies reap when energy prices spike in a crisis.

"Social justice has to be above the profits of few," the Spanish Socialist MEPs say.

Gonzalez Casares's draft report, seen by Reuters, proposes a cap that would recover 90% of any revenue over $196 (180 euros) per megawatt-hour (MWh). The cap would include producers of electricity from wind, solar, and nuclear power, as well as coal.

The money raised from the revenue cap would go to government measures to support the most vulnerable consumers, including temporary cuts in electricity tariffs for households and businesses.

"It's very important to use these revenues in order to reduce bills for people," Gonzalez Casares told Reuters, commenting on his proposal.

The European Commission in March presented a proposal to revise the rules for electricity market design and for improving the EU protection against market manipulation in the wholesale energy market.

The Commission says that the market reform is aimed at making the EU energy market more resilient and making the energy bills of European consumers and companies more independent from the short-term market price of electricity.

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The proposal has now passed to the Council and the European Parliament for debate and negotiation, with the market reform expected to be voted on later this year.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Iran has seized yet another oil tanker bringing the tally to three tankers seized in the space of just 19 days as tensions in the Persian Gulf heat up. The tanker in question is said to be an Iranian oil tanker that had been seized by a foreign company five years ago, according to state-run IRNA news agency, which describes the seizure as the reclamation of that previously seized Iranian tanker.

The seized 10,000-ton oil tanker Purity had been illegally leased to a foreigner by falsifying documents since 2018 and its Iranian owners were deprived of the benefits of the oil tanker, Mojtaba Qahremani, head of the justice department in Irans southern province of Hormozgan, was quoted as saying.

According to the Tehran Times, the 10,000-ton oil tanker Purity returned to Iranian territorial waters following a court order and a joint operation by the Intelligence Ministry and IRGC Navy.

The Bahrain-based U.S. fleet continues to monitor the situation in the Persian Gulf.

Over the past two years, Iran has attacked, interfered with or harassed the navigational rights of 15 internationally flagged commercial vessels, U.S. officials have revealed.

Late last month, Irans state television showed footage of the countrys navy commandos in a helicopter operation boarding the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Advantage Sweet. The Turkish-operated, Chinese-owned tanker was reportedly bound for Houston, Texas carrying Kuwaiti crude oil for U.S. energy giant Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX). Iran claimed that the tanker collided with an unidentified Iranian vessel hours prior to its seizure, with several crew members reportedly falling overboard while others were left injured. The tanker then fled the scene and ignored radio calls for eight hours before a court ordered its seizure.

The U.S. Navy 5th Fleet had termed Irans actions a violation of international law and has called on Tehran to immediately release the seized tankers.

Irans continued harassment of vessels and interference with navigational rights in regional waters are a threat to maritime security and the global economy, it said, adding this was at least the fifth commercial vessel seized by the Islamic state in two years.

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By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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Uniper and Sefe, two energy firms Germany nationalized last year, paid some of their traders big bonuses for 2022, sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Monday.

Traders at the companies have received millions of U.S. dollars in bonuses for last year, even as the German government had to intervene and rescue Uniper and Sefe with multi-billion-dollar bailouts.

As part of the nationalization, the companies have agreed to cap salaries for the management boards, but the bonus limits did not apply to the entire staff, Reuters sources noted.

Sefe and Uniper have both confirmed to Reuters that some of their traders have received bonuses and performance-based remunerations for last year.

In 2022, Germany moved to save its energy companies which had been amassing losses with the lack of contracted Russian gas supply and the high price they had to pay on the spot market to replace lost Russian volumes.

Germany saved a former Gazprom unit it had expropriated in April with a multi-billion-euro loan to ensure security of supply. Gazprom Germania was renamed Securing Energy for Europe GmbH (Sefe), to secure energy supply to Germany and Europe, the government said in June. Europes biggest economy also granted a loan from its state investment bank KfW to the company to save it from insolvency. The money was to be used to secure liquidity and to purchase gas to replace Russian deliveries and to prevent a cascading insolvency effect on the German energy market.

Germany also nationalized in September 2022 energy giant Uniper, aimed at preventing a collapse of the German energy and gas suppliers. Germany owns 99% of Uniper after the nationalization, which involved a capital increase of $8.7 billion (8 billion euros). Since the July $15 billion bailout of Uniper, losses at the German company continued to mount as the energy crisis in Germany and Europe worsened before the start of the 2022/2023 winter.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Venezuela is planning to issue in June export licenses to European majors Eni and Repsol to ship liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the country, Venezuelas Oil Minister Pedro Tellechea has told Bloomberg in an interview.

The LNG export licenses would allow Venezuela to start shipments of natural gas, having spent decades focusing only on its huge reserves of heavy crude oil.

Eni and Repsol are interested in growing in the area of ??gas in Venezuela. They had been waiting for seven years for the export permit for natural gas liquids, which we have just granted, Tellechea told Bloomberg, adding that the country would complete the negotiations for the LNG export license in the coming days.

Earlier this month, Venezuela issued a license to Eni and Repsol to allow them to export natural gas liquids (NGLs), or condensates, Tellechea, who is also head of the state-owned oil firm PDVSA, said.

Eni and Repsol are joint venture partners in the Cardon IV offshore natural gas field, which currently produces condensates for feedstock at refiners operated by PDVSA in Venezuela. The NLGs license would allow the two European energy majors to export part of the condensates to Europe via a condensate recovery plant.

According to oil minister Tellechea, Repsol and Eni are seeking to resume production at Cardon IV at its maximum capacity.

At the same time, Venezuela is looking to boost its revenues from its most important export commodity, crude oil. After several arrests in a corruption probe earlier this year, Nicolas Maduro is looking to increase Venezuelas oil revenues, which are pretty much the only hard-currency revenues the country is receiving.

In March, Tareck El Aissami, Venezuelas oil minister for three years, resigned amid a corruption probe into PDVSA, and Maduro appointed PDVSAs Tellechea to serve as the new oil minister.

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Chevron, the only U.S. company authorized by the U.S. to pump and export oil from Venezuela, is hoping to increase its shipments of Venezuelan oil, but Venezuela hasnt been unable to bear the cost of dredging a key oil export inlet.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is seeking information from the public regarding a 17-year-old state ward who has been missing for more than two years.

Caden Debaun, 17, was reported missing on May 9, 2021. He was last seen in the Omaha area. Debaun became a state ward after he was removed from his mothers care in January 2021, according to court documents.

According to a press release from DHHS, the agency has worked closely with law enforcement and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. They have contacted known family members and attempted to make contact with Debaun through social media accounts.

Anyone with information about Debaun is asked to contact the Omaha Police Department at 402-444-5600 or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.
An Omaha man learned a hard lesson when his middle finger was severed while trying to remove an obstruction from underneath a lawn mower.

The incident occurred about 9:30 a.m. Friday near 36th and Grant Streets. A 56-year-old man told police that he was mowing his lawn when something got stuck in the blade.

He attempted to remove the obstruction while the blade was still moving. The blade sliced off his middle finger, and he yelled for help.

Someone called 911, and an Omaha Fire Department ambulance transported the man and finger to the Nebraska Medical Center. It is not known whether the finger was reattached.

Thats a tough lesson to learn, said Joe Kozol, owner of Kozy Lawn Care for 37 years. Kozol said his employees are instructed to think safety first when working with mowers.

People get in a hurry, and thats when things like this happen, Kozol said. Never try to fix a lawn mower while it is running is something everyone should know and understand.

Kozol said that many years ago, one of his employees lost three fingers in a similar incident. A lawn mower got hung up on a fence, and the employee tried pulling it away by lifting from the bottom while the blade was still moving.

You have to think safety first, Kozol said. Im sure the guy that was hurt the other day wishes he had done that.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of May 2023
Funds are being raised to help with funeral expenses for a 34-year-old man being hailed as a hero for protecting his sister from a gunman in Blair on Friday.

Blair police said Jordan Ely, 34, was fatally shot inside his familys residence near 10th and Park Streets about 6:30 a.m. His sister, Samantha Ely, 22, was shot in both legs and taken to an Omaha hospital for treatment.

Officers were called to the home near Blair High School for a report of shooting. Jordan Ely was pronounced dead at the scene.

Elijah E. Logan, 22, of Council Bluffs, who was identified by witnesses as the shooter, turned himself in to authorities without incident Monday, a statement from the Blair Police Department said. He was arrested on a warrant on suspicion of first-degree assault and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. The Washington County Attorneys Office will review and possibly amend the charges in the coming days, the statement said.

Logan is the father of Samantha Elys 7-month-old son, who was also in the house but was not injured.

Alexis Ely, 27, of Omaha, said her brother Jordan put himself between Logan and her sister, Samantha.

Alexis Ely said Jordan Ely was sleeping but woke upon hearing his sisters cry for help. He ran upstairs to his sisters bedroom, where reports say he confronted Logan, who had allegedly broken into the house.

Most people would run away or hide from the sound of an intruder, but not Jordan, Alexis Ely said. He lost his life saving our sister and our nephew, and I know for a fact he would choose the same path if given the opportunity to do it again. My brother died a hero.

Alexis Ely said her brother did not have life insurance, and funeral expenses are adding up. She asked anyone who is able to donate toward the funeral costs.

Any money left over will go to help my sister with her medical expenses, she said. She has a long road to go. We dont even know if she will even be able to walk again.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of May 2023
The mother of a La Vista boy who went missing from his elementary school in 2021 has filed a civil lawsuit alleging that the Papillion La Vista school district was negligent in supervising her son.

Around noon on May 17, 2021, 11-year-old Ryan Larsen walked out the front doors of La Vista West Elementary School. Ryan was on an individualized education plan and had a previous history of running away from school. Despite an extensive search and investigation, he hasnt been found.

The lawsuit filed in federal court Friday by Ryans mother, Tammi Larsen, alleges that the Papillion La Vista Community School District was negligent in supervising Ryan and violated multiple federal laws meant to protect students with disabilities.

According to the lawsuit, Ryan began attending La Vista West Elementary as a kindergartener in 2014. He had already been diagnosed with a seizure disorder prior to starting school, and in the coming years, he would receive additional diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder and Tourettes syndrome.

The lawsuit describes Ryans learning, social and communication skills as substantially delayed, and he struggled to communicate his needs to adults. As a result, he was placed on an individualized education plan, or IEP, which was regularly updated by his teachers and special education professionals.

Ryans IEP included information about his tendency to run away from school. According to the lawsuit, the (district) knew that Ryan needed to be supervised at all times because of his documented history of running away from the building.

In the two weeks before his disappearance, Ryan ran away from school twice. Despite this, according to the complaint, he was left alone and unsupervised in a classroom at the elementary school on the day of his disappearance.

Tammi Larsen said she was told by the district that Ryan had been struggling with a math problem and was frustrated to the point that he needed to be alone to settle down. In accordance with his IEP, Ryan was sent to a room to be by himself under the supervision of an adult.

An adult was initially in the room with Ryan but left at some point. A replacement was scheduled to take over, but that person was late. Sometime before 12:05 p.m., Ryan left the classroom and walked out the schools front doors in the middle of the day.

La Vista police later said that the school secretary saw Ryan leave and called out to him, but Ryan continued walking. The lawsuit alleges that no attempts were made to prevent him from leaving or to immediately find and return him to school after his absence was discovered.

The complaint states that at least one staff member watched (Ryan) walk out of the building without attempting to stop or retrieve him.

Despite extensive searches involving divers, dogs, helicopter searches and hundreds of volunteers, Ryan has never been found. Tammi Larsen filed a petition to have Ryan declared legally dead earlier this year, but the request was denied by a Sarpy County judge.

Now, Tammi Larsen is seeking compensation for the emotional trauma she and her lawyers claim was caused by the negligence of the school district and staff.

In addition to claims of negligent supervision and negligent infliction of emotional distress, the lawsuit also alleges violations of the 14th amendment and of three federal laws intended to protect students with disabilities. The lawsuit claims that, by failing to accommodate Ryans need for constant supervision, the school district and staff violated the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Tammi Larsen is seeking monetary damages for the severe emotional distress caused by Ryans disappearance, as well as attorney fees and court costs. The amount is undisclosed in the filing.

The school district will submit a response to the complaint in the coming weeks.
As Douglas County prepares to open its new downtown Omaha juvenile detention center, it is renegotiating its contracts with Sarpy County and the State of Nebraska to house young people who are being held while their cases progress.

The County Board appears poised to limit the detention of youths from jurisdictions outside Douglas County. The issues have to do with money and with capacity in the new detention center, scheduled to open this fall. With 64 beds, it will be smaller than the current 96-bed Douglas County Youth Center which as of last week held about 80 young people.

The cost to house detained young people has gone up, Douglas County Board member Chris Rodgers said. Also, Douglas County will have less juvenile detention space come January, a situation that state juvenile probation officials have known since 2020 was coming, he said. Rodgers said the juvenile detention center move also is intended to cause reforms  including for the state to develop better alternatives, programs, placements and services to serve young people who dont need to be detained.

Douglas County has said it plans to close the current facility in January 2024. As that date approaches, and as hoped-for programs and services have not yet materialized to a large enough scale, the board and county officials have been looking for ways to reduce the detention center population below the capacity of the new facility.

Douglas County gave notice months ago to the State of Nebraska and Sarpy County that it would terminate its contracts to provide them juvenile detention services. The contract with the Nebraska State Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation ended May 1. The contract with Sarpy County ended in December, but the Douglas and Sarpy County Boards voted in January to extend it through June 30. Talks have been under way for about a year, and the extension was meant to give both counties time to figure out a better long-term solution said Kim Hawekotte, Douglas Countys deputy county administrator for juvenile services.

On Tuesday morning, the Douglas County Board is scheduled to consider a proposal to further extend its secure juvenile detention services contract with Sarpy County until Sept. 30. That extension was on the Douglas County Boards agenda last week. The reason for ending it Sept. 30, County Board member Chris Rodgers said Tuesday, is because Douglas Countys transition to the new detention center is scheduled to begin Nov. 1.

But County Board member Mike Friend persuaded the board to delay a vote until this week to allow for more discussion, saying the board should consider extending the contract longer.

Sarpy County doesnt have any other solutions, Friend said.

Sarpy County currently has only a staff secure center for juvenile detention, which is a lower level of security than the Douglas County facility has. The Douglas County Youth Center is one of only three secure juvenile detention centers in Nebraska. The others are in Lancaster and Madison Counties. Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson, who has opposed Douglas Countys move to the smaller detention center, expressed concern about the prospect of no longer detaining youths for Sarpy County in Douglas County.

He said the youths from Sarpy courts often are from Douglas County, and are charged with serious violent offenses. If Douglas County wont take the young people, Sarpy judges may be faced with deciding to send the youths to be detained far from home or to release them, Hanson said. That presents a public safety risk, he said.

Its an Omaha metro area challenge, Hanson said.

Hanson said he wants more public discussion and deliberation on how Douglas County proceeds.

We need to have secure options for high-risk juvenile offenders, Hanson said.

Sarpy County Sheriff Jeff Davis said the Sarpy County Board is contemplating the possibility of having to add some secure beds for juvenile detention in Sarpy County, possibly as a wing to Sarpys juvenile services center. Davis said its his opinion that fast-growing Sarpy County will need that secure detention whether or not Douglas County decides to stop housing Sarpy youths.

But Davis said he hopes Douglas County will continue providing detention services to Sarpy County. He said Sarpy County also provides staff-secure juvenile detention services to Douglas County as well, about three to 10 youths per year.

The number of youths Douglas County detains for other jurisdictions is not large  usually about three to five at a time, Hawekotte said. But it has increased at times to seven to 10, including young people from as far away as Scottsbluff, she said.

Rodgers said Douglas County leaders were glad to help when we had the space. But we dont have the space anymore.

He said the county will continue housing Douglas County youths ordered to be detained, and that there will be enough space to detain youths who pose a risk to public safety.

Douglas County has long housed young people in its juvenile detention center for the state at the countys cost. Nebraska juvenile probation only started paying for detention in 2013, said Deb Minardi, state probation administrator.

She said Douglas County had asked for a pretty significant increase in the rates that we had been paying them.

And we are at this point in time were ... towards the end of the legislative session, so we were not prepared or equipped to accommodate those rates that they were asking for, Minardi said. And so we made a counteroffer. That counteroffer was rejected, and so were currently operating without a contract right now.

Currently, Hawekotte said, the Douglas County Youth Center is accepting young people from juvenile probation from Douglas County, but not elsewhere in the state.

Asked whether the state will still be able to put youths in Douglas County when the new facility opens, Minardi said that remains to be seen.

If a judge has a court order to detain a youth, the court order should be followed in relationship to detaining that youth, she said. So hopefully we wont get into that situation, but I guess well have to deal with it, should that arise.

Minardi said she hopes that Douglas County and state probations history of collaboration continues.

Our hope is that, like the last time, well find a place of consensus and we will come to an agreement, but never lose sight of the fact that our number one priority is community safety and serving kids, she said.

Hawekotte said she doesnt know what the County Board will decide.

Were in negotiations right now, she said. But I think the reality is that something the board is considering is that we have to give priority in our detention facility to our youth here in Douglas County.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of May 2023
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 15)  Both houses of Congress were urged on Monday to hold inquiries into the series of disturbances in the countrys power transmission system in the hopes of ensuring a reliable and continuous electricity supply.

Senator Win Gatchalian, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Energy, filed Senate Resolution No. 607, which seeks to hold those responsible for the successive power transmission disturbances in the past weeks accountable.

[It] caused inconvenience to communities and losses to businesses. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) as the operator of the transmission system in the country should be held to account for the root cause of these disturbances, Gatchalian said.

The NGCP on May 8 reported red and yellow alerts in the Luzon grid after five power plants went on forced outage while three others ran on derated capacities. This resulted in rotational brownouts that affected about 300,000 customers of Meralco in parts of Metro Manila, Rizal, and Cavite.

Gatchalian also noted that NGCP reported a system disturbance in the Visayas grid last April 27, leading to power interruptions that lasted up to 12 hours, which persisted until April 30 in the islands of Panay, Guimaras, and Negros, affecting over 1.5 million households.

The senator said the NGCP is mandated to operate and maintain the transmission system, grid, and related facilities at all times in accordance with industry standards.

Senator Raffy Tulfo, who heads the energy panel, said he also filed a similar resolution.

The Makabayan bloc also filed House Resolution 971 to investigate the red and yellow power alerts in aid of legislation.

"Dapat talagang maimbestigahan ito at mapanagot ang may kasalanan dahil kada summer na lang ay ganito ang nangyayari at di nila sinosolusyonan. Dahil na din siguro sa kumikita ang mga power players sa ganitong modus," said ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro said.

[Translation: We need to investigate this and hold them accountable. We face this problem every summer and it doesn't get fixed. Maybe power players are earning from this modus.]

The Department of Energy last week said more yellow alerts  or when power reserves fall below the ideal levels  could be potentially raised throughout May.

Worries over NGCP's foreign ownership

Senate Committee on Energy member Sen. Grace Poe said the panel will thoroughly scrutinize the performance of NGCP to know if it has remained faithful to its franchise or if it has committed violations.

JV Ejercito, another member of the panel, expressed concern over the stake of a Chinese company in NGCP amid Manila's rising tension with Beijing in the West Philippine Sea.

The State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) has a 40 percent stake in NGCP, while 60 percent belongs to Filipino firms.

But Ejercito doesn't buy it, saying it could lead to paralyzed operations. He stressed that the Philippine government should have full control of the country's power grids.

"May info na kahit 40% lang sila, sila na ang nagko-control... At present kasi may dispute tayo with China. Red alert, yellow alert, baka practice ito. Sana hindi," he said in a media briefing.

"We have to find ways. We are talking about national interest, maraming paraan naman siguro na itong vital entities that has national security issue have to remain at PH control," he added.

[Translation: There is information that even if they only own 40%, they are already controlling it... Presently, we have a dispute with China. Maybe the red and yellow alerts are a practice. But I hope that's not the case. There are a lot of ways to ensure that vital entities that have national security issues will remain under the control of the government.]

Sen. Risa Hontiveros echoed Ejercitos remark as she renewed her call for the Philippines to reclaim its control of the NGCP from China.

"Based on expert testimony submitted during earlier Senate investigations, China acquired the upper hand in regulating the system functioning of the grid because it owns 40% of the consortium, Hontiveros said.

The NGCP told CNN Philippines in 2019 that SGCCs role is limited to that of an investor, with board seats corresponding to its stake in the company. It added that it was necessary to include a foreign technical partner in the consortium that operates it.

CNN Philippines correspondent Eimor Santos contributed to this report.
Drivers heading west from Council Bluffs into downtown Omaha on Interstate 480 may have to alter their commute this week.

The Dodge Street exit ramp from I-480 westbound will be closed this week to allow workers to reinstall an overhead highway sign.

The exit will close at 9 a.m. Tuesday and remain closed until 5 p.m. Friday, said Barbara Gerbino-Bevins, district construction engineer for the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Traffic will be detoured to the 14th Street exit.

The sign had been removed earlier as part of the two-year, $60 million effort to renovate I-480 along the elevated 1-mile stretch between 20th Street and the Iowa state line. The project included bridge repairs, new asphalt and the replacement of highway signs and guardrails. Workers also installed a new asphalt membrane on top of the underlying bridge deck.

About 19 miles due west, near the western end of the West Dodge Expressway, NDOT also has reduced traffic to a single lane on the 228th Street bridge over the highway to allow bridge repairs and preservation work, Gerbino-Bevins said. The exit goes to Waterloo, and the project was scheduled to avoid the popular Junkstock event there.

Traffic will be regulated with a temporary red-green traffic signal at either end of the bridge. Work is expected to continue until the fall.

The Omaha Public Works Department also announced several new road and lane closures Monday:

Dodge Street between North 72nd Street and North 76th Street/Rose Blumkin Drive will have varying lane restrictions for street improvements through December.

Cass Street between North 72nd Street and North 76th Street will have various lane restrictions for street improvements through mid-July.

Burt Street between North 33rd Street and North 34th Street will be closed for utility work through May 29.

South 158th Street between Spring Street and Valley Street will be closed for street repair through Thursday.

Saddle Creek Road between Douglas Street and Farnam Street will be restricted to one lane southbound for fiber optic installation in the outside curb lane through May 22.

North 177th Street between West Maple Road and Spaulding Street will be closed for street improvements through mid-July.

L Street between South 108th Street and South 102nd Street will be restricted to one lane eastbound for street repair in the inside lane through May 22.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of May 2023
Two new deaths have been recorded from coronavirus in Akwa Ibom and Borno states on Sunday.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control made this known on its website.

According to data from the NCDC, with the two new fatalities, no fewer than 21 persons have died from coronavirus-related complications in Nigeria.

Other states that have recorded fatalities from COVID-19 are Lagos  13, one each in Edo, Katsina, Kano, and Delta, and Abuja  two.

The NCDC added, On the 19th of April 2020, 86 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Nigeria.

Till date, 627 cases have been confirmed, 170 cases have been discharged and twenty-one deaths have been recorded in Nigeria

The 86 new cases are reported from seven states- Lagos (70), FCT (seven), Akwa Ibom (three), Katsina (three), Borno (one), Bauchi (one), Jigawa (one).

A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre, activated at Level three, continues to coordinate the national response activities.

Before the NCDCS announcement, the Borno State Government said it was expecting the test result of a dead nurse working with MSF in Pulka, Gwoza Local Government Area.

News Direct reports that Abba Kyari, the Chief of staff to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), is one of the 21 deaths of COVID-19 recorded in Nigeria.

The late CoS had tested positive to the ravaging COVID-19 and moved to a private facility in Lagos, where he died on Friday, April 17.

Kyari tested positive for coronavirus in late March after visiting Germany, forcing a string of top Nigerian officials, including governors who had been in contact with him to self-isolate.

Kyari, 67, is the highest-profile COVID-19 death in Nigeria, The PUNCH reports.

There has been no official confirmation on whether Buhari took a test, but the president had imposed a lockdown on Lagos, Ogun and Abuja.

Governors have also introduced several measures in their states to curb the spread of the virus.

Post Views: 2
Mr. Ukpong, cousin to Godswill Akpabio, says the people of Essien Udim local government area of Akwa Ibom state have totally rejected the All Progressives Congress (APC) senator.

Ukpong spoke when he alongside some stakeholders marched to the state press centre in Uyo to protest electoral offences masterminded by the senator (Akpabio) and his cohorts.

He accused former governor Akpabio of

intimidating and assaulting officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the polls, especially on the day of the governorship and state assembly election. Essien Udim people condemn in strong terms the various electoral offenses and irregularities masterminded and perpetrated by Senator Akpabio and his cohorts in which almost all the election processes in the area were marred by unlawful militarisation, rigging and assault on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) electoral officers, read a communique jointly signed by the stakeholders, including Akpabios cousin. The atrocities include carting away of electoral materials and kidnapping of INEC ad hoc workers, with military help, to the home of Ibanga Akpabio. Senator Akpabio and his cohorts, apart from assaulting INEC workers, also beat and machete some PDP faithful to unconsciousness we as a people have totally rejected him (Akpabio).

The political leaders in Akpabios area alleged that one Idorenyin Akpabio of SARS, in company of other police men, shot at the people indiscriminately.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) said it would ensure a smooth and successful conduct of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Dr Fabian Benjamin, the boards Head of Media and Publicity, disclosed this to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Bwari.

He said that as of April 13, over 1.2 million have successfully written the examination scheduled to end April 17.

NAN reports that over 1.8 million candidates are expected to sit for the boards UTME that commenced nationwide on April 11.

Benjamin said the process of the examination has so far been successful, adding that the board was addressing some of the challenges that came up during the exercise.

He also said that the board was still investigating those who were unable to be verified through its biometric process and would come out with a stand on the matter.

Speaking also on the issue of results, Benjamin said that no results have been released yet.

He explained that the board was still screening the results as the examination was ongoing and also because more fraudulent activities were being identified in the process.

He said: We have to keep screening these results because there are lots of issues we discovered like multiple registrations, impersonation and the likes, so we are still fishing them out.

Some have been arrested and those yet to be arrested, we have their records, we will fish then out. However, candidates should expect their results very soon.

He added that the boards suspension of some Computer Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide has not affected the candidates.

Benjamin explained that adequate examination centres was provided to all who registered for the examination.

The board in its weekly Bulletin of the Office of the Registrar for April 15 said that it uncovered and arrested Professional Examination Writers who writes examination for candidates for a fee.

According to the bulletin, 50 of such fraudulent persons were apprehended in centres across the country as a result of various intelligence gathering.

The bulletin also said that the board suspended 49 CBT centres from participating in the ongoing exercise.

The suspended centres which are spread across the country were suspended for failing to live up to expectations in ensuring a seamless examination.

30 of the exam centres were suspended during the start of the exam on April 11, while the other 19 were blacklisted during the registrations exercise; 10 of the centres are located in the FCT.

NAN

Post Views: 14
Terrorists have abducted the village head of the Fugge community in the Rijau Local Government Area, Mallam Abdullahi Zaure, and 49 others.



The incident occurred at the weekend when the terrorists invaded the village on several motorcycles, shooting into the air and causing panic among residents.

It was learnt the majority of the abductees were women and children with few males while several cattle were rustled.

It was also gathered that fighter jets descended on the terrorists when they were moving with the abductees which resulted in the death of several of the bandits and rustled cattle.

The residents claimed that the terrorists have gone into their den in the forest bordering Niger State and Kebbi State.

The residents said that the terrorists have begun contacting the abductees families demanding fuel and motorcycles as ransom for their release.

Efforts to contact the Niger Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abiodun Wasiu, and Commissioner for Internal Security, Emmanuel Umar proved abortive. Their lines didnt connect when called.
The news of Afolabis passing was first reported on Sunday by actor, director, and film producer Tunde Ola-Yusuf.

Just 24 hours after news of the death of well-known Nollywood actor Obinna Nwafor, often known as Saint Obi, went viral, news of the passing of Murphy Afolabi also becomes public.

The news of Afolabis passing was first reported on Sunday by actor, director, and film producer Tunde Ola-Yusuf.

However, he made no mention of how the well-known Yoruba actor passed away.

Ola-Yusuf wrote on Facebook, REST IN PEACE

May God give the family and close associates the

Good night Muphy Afolabi.
The Nigerian movie industry has again lost another actor, producer and director, Murphy Afolabi.

Afolabi reportedly died yesterday from a domestic accident when he slipped in his bathroom and sustained serious injuries.

Incidentally, the audacious actor who has given more than a decade and half into the movie industry, particularly the Yoruba movie theatre, passed away a few days after his 49th birthday.

The sad news of Afolabis death came on the heels of the death of a veteran actor, Saint Obi, whose death was announced on Saturday.

According to reports, Murphy Afolabis body would be taken to his hometown in Osogbo, Osun State for burial today.

It was gathered that an agreement was reached by his son, family members and some Nollywood stakeholders who visited Afolabis family.

His demise is still a shock to many of his colleagues as they posted different sad emojis in response to his death.

Frontline Lagos-based transport union leader and a lover of the movie industry, Musiliu Akinsanya, who is popularly known as Mc Oluomo said Murphys death was shocking and had given a legacy to his fans and colleagues. He wrote on his social media page, It is with a heavy heart that I bid farewell to the talented actor, Murphy Afolabi.

His performances on stage and screen brought joy and inspiration to many. He will be remembered for his charisma, professionalism and dedication to his craft. Rest in peace but Murphy, why your legacy will live on in the hearts of your fans and colleagues, and you will be sorely missed.

The TAMPAN Guild of Directors (TGD) where he belonged said he was a professional and accomplished actor, saying Its a wrap indeed for Murphy Afolabi.

Comedian, Jeje Wisdom Hayoumi, who is called Ogbonologbon1 said he remembered when the deceased acted in a movie, Ibosi Oru, which he watched when he was in JSS 2, He added: Rest on Boss. A musician, Busola Aina eulogised Afolabi and penned, This is very bad news. He just celebrated his birthday. May his soul rest in peace. I pray that God comforts and consoles his families.
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Education is a critical priority for Nigeria, as it is for any nation serious about growth and development. Unfortunately, in the past ten years, we have not seen any focus on or dramatic improvement in education. Our best efforts at addressing education have put us steps behind our peer nations in all key development indicators. We inadvertently signal to the world that we do not care about the future. Education is a fundamental human right that should be available to all citizens, regardless of socio-economic status or background. This is different in Nigeria. Nigerias literacy rate, put at 62% by Globaldata does not make us competitive among nations and shows the dysfunctional state of our primary schools . At this point, we do not need talks, sound bites, and pretensions. We need radical reforms backed by action to change the status quo. The Nigerian government needs to take a holistic approach to education reform that focuses on improving the quality of education, increasing access to quality education, and promoting innovation and technology in education. Acknowledged , education is on the concurrent list and Local Governments have a pivotal role to play . The federal government still has a responsibility to set policy direction for the nation.

As a first step, it may be necessary to establish a Special Office on Education Reforms at the Presidency, working with other levels of government and stakeholders, to fashion out a 25-year Marshall plan to reposition education and follow up the plan with a measurable implementation strategy. It must establish policies and regulatory framework to increase literacy rates and encourage gender equality in education. While the federal government should strengthen regulatory regimes for standards nationwide, state and local governments should establish their competitiveness standards to be measured by academic performance in public examinations and evidence of high levels of numeracy and literacy skills among the children.

State and Local Governments proactive actions are desperately needed given the cultural dichotomies and multiplicities of geopolitical differences in both access to education and quality of education in Nigeria. There are by far too many differences in standards in the Nigerian system, and state-by-state differences, regional geopolitical differences, and differences between public and private institutions exist. The education challenges in the Muslim North are peculiarly different from those of the South. Insecurity in the North has compounded the problems.

Education statistics in Nigeria are frightening, as it faces many challenges in providing quality and inclusive education for its large and diverse population. Nigeria has the worlds highest number of out-of-school children, with about 10.5 million children aged 5-14 years not attending school. Nigeria has a low literacy rate of 65.1% according to World Bank data with significant gender and regional disparities. It has a low gross enrolment rate in primary schools of 68.3%, with 22.4 million children in public primary schools and 4.2 million in private primary schools. Nigeria ranks 124th out of 137 countries in terms of quality of primary education according to World Economic Forum . It has a low school completion rate of 63% for primary education, 44% for junior secondary education, and 17% for senior secondary education.

It allocates only about 5 to 6% of its federal budget to education, far below the recommended 15-20% national budget by UNESCO. The expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP is also low at 1.95%.

Furthermore, to underscore the crisis in our education sector, only 450,000 to 550,000 applicants who sit for JAMB out of 1.761 million in 2022 were admitted to universities. These 450-550,000 persons are 0.013% of 40 million youths aged between 15 and 24 (2020 data) eligible for university education. This lag in tertiary education opportunities is part of the reasons we are crawling as a nation. The astronomical rise in private universities from 3 in 1999 to 30 in 2009 and 111 in 2022 is evidence of the gap in university education but not necessarily about quality or affordability .

Apart from the issue of access, Nigerian Universities are plagued with poor quality of instruction and learning, leading to a generation of unemployable Nigerian university graduates because they need more skill, cognitive ability, and critical thinking capacity. This gap can be traced to the quality of our basic education which is under the purview of local governments. Research output, which is the main criterion for ranking universities globally, of Nigerian universities and Nigeria academics is comparatively low behind countries like Botswana and South Africa. And knowledge accumulation, which leads to social and human capital formation and economic development, gives developed countries an advantage over developing countries. Our low research output partially accounts for why our growth is stagnated and the rentier economy is thriving.

Conversely, estimated 5-7% of our seasoned Academics leave Nigeria annually to go overseas because of a better research environment. Several special NUC intervention schemes started earlier are either abandoned or discontinued. Such innovative schemes as Linkages with Experts and Academics in the Diaspora Scheme (LEADS) designed to attract Nigerian academics in the diaspora, Presidential Scholarship for Innovation and Development (PRESSED) for first-class graduates, and Transnational Education Scheme (TES) to boost foreign investment and partnerships between Nigerian universities and their foreign counterparts have not made the intended impact on our tertiary education sector.

The education infrastructure in Nigeria is old, decrepit, poor, and sometimes abysmal. Successive governments have failed to build new public schools commensurate to the community need, or where they do, no real investment is made in infrastructure and facilities. Most public schools conditions are terrible, and no one wants to study there. The school buildings and premises are not fit for purpose. There is an extreme level of negligence towards education. The teachers are neither well-trained nor really motivated. Private schools are personal businesses and are squeezing the living daylight out of most parents who struggle to pay the cost of private education. The curriculum emphasises cognitive knowledge (memory-oriented learning) aimed at passing examinations instead of skill base, analytical and independent thinking needed for mental and economic progress. The theory is emphasised more than practice. Education technology is significantly unavailable in most schools.

Neglect of education by government at all levels is a critical indicator of a failing state. When a state fails or is failing, the effective educational systems are privatised, or the public facilities become increasingly decrepit and neglected. Teachers and others who work in the education sector are ignored or relegated to the background, and reports to the relevant ministries are ignored.

I must acknowledge the effort of Dr Oby Ezekwesili as minister of education under Obasanjos presidency who embarked on comprehensive education reform, but this was dumped as soon as the government wound down. At the sub-national level, attempts by Ekiti State under Fayemi, Edo under Oshimole, and Kaduna under El- Rufai to kick start the reset of education by improving the quality of teachers was resisted by the organised labour and other entrenched interest. This, unfortunately, is the dilemma.

Recently, the federal government has devised various initiatives to deal with the education problem in Nigeria. These include Universal Basic Education (UBE) Programme, Education Tax, Safe Schools Initiative, Teacher Professional Development (TPD) Programme, National Education Policy, and the Private Sector Participation Programme. These initiatives, at best, had minimal positive effects on our education sector. Little wonder the education statistics still evoke horror reading. No doubt our education sector is broken.

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I call for a state of emergency and a complete reset in education. This means a holistic education reform that will position our education sector as the social and economic growth engine. Asian Tigers, referring to Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea, amongst others, can attribute their success to the fact that they scaled up investment in education, as well as research and development, that enhanced human capital development to improve the productivity of the workforce across all sectors. Nigeria needs to do the same. It behoves the new administration to restructure the whole education system on a priority basis and align it with modern education techniques.

Improving education in Nigeria requires a multifaceted approach that involves the government, businesses, educators, parents, and the broader community. Government should first devise a means of sustainably funding education and allocate a significant portion of the national budget to the sector. Second, improve teacher training and professional development to ensure teachers have the skills and knowledge necessary to teach in a 21st-century classroom. Third, prioritise expanding access to education, especially in rural areas. Fourth, prioritise science , technology, engineering and mathematics ( STEM), then invest in vocational and technical education to equip students with practical skills relevant to the job market. Fifth, champion curriculum reforms by reviewing and updating the curriculum to ensure that it is appropriate and responsive to the needs of the country and the global economy. Sixth, embrace digital learning and promote the use of technology in education. And finally, improve monitoring and evaluation to assess the quality of education and track progress in achieving academic goals.

The benefits to Nigeria of a robust education sector providing good access, high quality, and skill and practice-driven education are evident. A good education sector can contribute to economic growth by producing a skilled workforce better equipped to meet the job markets needs, attract foreign investment, and boost economic productivity. Quality education is a powerful tool for poverty reduction, promotes better health outcomes, and promotes social cohesion by fostering a sense of national identity and shared values. Education can also promote understanding and tolerance among different ethnic and religious groups, therefore reducing ethnic and religious tensions and insecurity. It fosters innovation and entrepreneurship by providing individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to start businesses and develop new technologies whilst enhancing Nigerias global competitiveness by producing a skilled workforce that can compete in the worldwide marketplace. We, therefore, implore the new administration not to play Russian Roulette with our education sector. They must remember that a robust education system catalyses sustainable, social and economic development.
(CNN)  Two senior Russian military officers have been killed in eastern Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry said Sunday, the latest high-profile losses for Moscow in a grinding war with its western neighbor.

The ministry said the two officers -- Col. Vyacheslav Makarov and Col. Yevgeny Brovko -- were in killed in action while leading Russian troops in the Donetsk region. It did not specify when or exactly where they were killed.

"The commander of the 4th motorized rifle brigade, Colonel Vyacheslav Makarov, being at the forefront, personally led the battle," a Russian Defense Ministry briefing read.

Brovko, the deputy commander of the army corps for military-political work, was leading troops in "repelling enemy attacks" and "heroically died after receiving multiple shrapnel wounds," the ministry said.

The Donetsk region of Ukraine includes the city of Bakhmut, which has seen some of the fiercest and most relentless fighting of the war.

A months-long assault on the city by Russian forces, including Wagner mercenaries, has driven thousands from their homes and left the area devastated. But despite the vast amounts of manpower Russia has poured into capturing the city, they have been unable to take total control, and in the past week suffered heavy losses in the area.

Ukrainian forces have been able to capture more than 10 Russian positions near Bakhmut, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said in a Telegram post on Sunday.

Maliar called the situation in Bakhmut "very hot."

The Ukrainian military reported on Sunday that Bakhmut and Maryinka in eastern Ukraine remain the "epicenter of fighting"

"The enemy continues to focus its main efforts on the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Maryinka directions. In total, about 30 combat engagements took place in the above-mentioned areas over the last day," the military added.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Ukraine has made "massive attempts to break through the defense of our troops to the north and south of Artemovsk," referring to Bakhmut by its Russian name.

"All the attacks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have been repelled. There has been no breakthrough in the defense of Russian forces," the statement read.

Also in eastern Ukraine, Russian targets in the occupied city of Luhansk have been hit in missiles strikes in the past several days.

The city has become a significant hub for Russia's invasion effort and has rarely been hit by Ukrainian attacks since the war began.

But two missiles hit in the area on Friday and another explosion was reported there on Saturday.

Some Russian bloggers, without providing evidence, suggested Ukraine used cruise missiles recently provided by the United Kingdom. But Kyiv also has Ukrainian-made Grom missiles, which have the range to hit Luhansk.

Elsewhere, unconfirmed reports said Russia may have had four military aircraft shot down over its own territory on Saturday, which if true would mark a significant coup for Ukraine.

One Russian media outlet said that at least two combat aircraft -- an Su-34 fighter/bomber and an Su-35 fighter -- and two Mi-8 helicopters crashed.

The aircraft were reportedly lost in the Russian region of Bryansk on the border with Ukraine.

Multiple crashes within Russian territory at the same time would be unprecedented. Some analysts believe Ukrainian air defenses may have been pushed forward as the Russian air force uses more "glide munitions" that can fire at targets from distance.

This story was first published on CNN.com. "Two Russian commanders killed in Ukraine fighting, Defense Ministry says"
Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, has congratulated the twenty-first (21st) traditional ruler of Onitsha and Chairman of SouthEast Traditional Rulers Council, Obi Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe who just clocked eighty-two (82) years of age today.

Obi Achebe has been chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University since 2015, and was earlier chancellor of Kogi State University. He also serves as the chairman of the board of Directors of Unilever Nigeria, and the Chairman of International Breweries (ABInBev) Nigeria. Before his emergence as the Obi of Onitsha, in 2002, he had a long and distinguished career in the Royal Dutch Shell Group serving as Director in various companies in the group.

In his congratulatory message, Governor Soludo described Agbogidi as a first class traditional ruler who has redefined the traditional institution in Nigeria, particularly Anambra State.

READ ALSO: Soludo bags National Dailys Most Outstanding Innovative Leadership award

Governor Soludo noted; Agbogidi is a distinguished royalty and gentleman who has given meaning, honour and dignity to the traditional institution in the South Eastern part of the Country.

Obi Achebe has diligently served Nigeria in many fronts, and capacities, making invaluable contributions for the good of the society.

Through his pivotal role as the leader of the traditional institution in Anambra, he has contributed, in no small measure, to the peace and tranquility we enjoy in our communities.

May I use this singular opportunity to extend my congratulations on behalf of the government and good people of Anambra State, on this auspicious occasion of his birthday celebration
Godwin Madubuko Unam, a Lagos-based man, has told the story of how his wife was trafficked.

He narrated how his wife, Roseline was allegedly trafficked out of Nigeria by one Miss Eniola Remilekun Ololade.

According to Godwin, his wife was deceived and sponsored by Eniola who promised her a job in Ghana

Speaking to SaharaReporters, the father of one said he reported the case at Ikota police station but the police have refused to investigate the issue.

He added that Eniola was released by the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) after paying N50,000.

My Wife Roseline Madubuko was trafficked out of Nigeria by one Miss Eniola Remilekun Ololade whom I cant identify with a particular job, he said.

The mother of one, Mrs Roseline had told me earlier that she would be traveling to Ghana soon. I ask her where will she get the money for traveling expenses because I have been the one providing for her and our baby and she told me Miss Eniola was the one assisting her with a job in Ghana.

Suddenly on the 15th of March, she told me she will be leaving the next day which I didnt take seriously. On the 16th of March, she left as hinted earlier without further discussion on the matter. I was able to reach her three (3) days later and she told me that I should not worry, that she was fine and that they had just arrived and ever since then I havent heard from my wife.

I went to meet Miss Eniola, she told me it is not her business that my wife said she wanted to go to Ghana and she has done her own part.

He added that he got a call a few days after from his wife who claimed she was locked up after refusing to be a s*x worker.

On the 29th of March, 2023, I saw a strange number calling and I picked up, it was Roseline my wife crying to me on the phone that everything Miss Eniola told her was a lie and that she had been in bondage ever since. She said she cant be a s*x worker, she has been locked up somewhere, and that I should please come to her rescue, Godwin told SaharaReporters.

I went back to Eniola but she insulted me that why was I disturbing her for what she knows nothing about.

I went to Ikota Police Station and was given one policeman to arrest Miss Eniola, the policeman was harassed by Eniolas friends and he had to go back to police station. The police asked me to get the Beach Chairmans contact which I did. They called him to tell Eniola to come which she did.

I was told to provide the number my wife called me with and the person claimed they spent money on my wife and if I wanted her back, I should send six hundred thousand naira (N600,000) to them in Ghana. That was how Eniola was released.

The police Inspector that attended to me asked me to go and look for the six hundred thousand to pay off the claimed expenses incurred in trafficking my wife to Ghana. Please, Im pleading with all relevant agencies involved in s*x trafficking and well-meaning Nigerians to come to my rescue.

When contacted by SaharaReporters, Eniola confirmed helping Roseline to relocate to Ghana, describing both of them as hustlers.

She added that the mother of one is not legally married to Godwin as claimed.

Eniola also confirmed that she paid N50,000 to the policemen in the station, adding that she was not ready to be extorted over the issue again.

See, the girl is a prostitute like me and I did not force her to go anywhere. His girlfriend (Roseline) said she wanted to change location to go and hustle because of her daughter and she wants to stop drugs and heard when I was talking to my friend in Ghana about hustling work over there.

And she said she wanted to go to Ghana and she went, even this her boyfriend knew about it. The boyfriend had earlier brought the police to arrest me and the policemen collected N50,000 from me and released me.

This guy should not look for trouble because I am keeping quiet. His girlfriend said if he wants her to come back, he should send N600,000, so what is my business with that? The girl is not his wife, she is just a ghetto girlfriend. So why is he lying that the girl is his wife? I dont know why he wants to kill himself because of a hustler. He thought he can let anybody collect money from me again because I didnt drag him when the police collected N50,000 from me, right.
Veteran Nollywood actress and producer, Joyce Kalu has sent a message to May Edochie, the first wife of actor Yul Edochie.

This comes following rumours that the couple may be planning for divorce because Yul is reportedly planning to return May Edochies bride price.

Taking to her Instagram page to comfort and encourage May, Kalu described her as a light and blessed woman, noting that theres an expiry date for every ungodly move.

Sharing May Edochies picture, she wrote: You are a light and blessed woman. There is an expiry date for every ungodly move. You will always be in my prayers.

But in everything, one goes through in life. It comes a TIME when you need to understand that, you need to make a divine decision to protect your mental health and spiritually like a hen to protect your CHILDREN. Because they are your light and a divine gift from the Almighty. I pray that God gives you the grace of sound mind.

DAILY POST recalls that Yul Edochie had earlier in 2022 unveiled his second wife, Judy Austin and son.

Edochie announced his marriage to Judy on April 27 2022, while sharing a photo of their son on his Instagram page.

He wrote: Its time for the world to meet my son. His name is STAR DIKE MUNACHIMSO YUL-EDOCHIE. Born by my second wife @judyaustin1 And I love him so much, just as much as I love my other children.
Former Governor of Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio has decribed the President-elect, Bola Tinubu as Gods own choice for leading the country.

The former Niger Delta affairs minister, who was nominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke on Sunday during a meeting with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state.

Akpabio said senators-elect for the 10th assembly believe in Tinubus vision for the country, stressing that if elected as senate president, he would adopt a national approach to legislation in the red chamber.

He expressed the urgent need for significant development in Nigerias economy and believed that Tinubus administration would replicate the successful progress achieved in Lagos at the federal level.

The lawmaker, who underscored the integrity of the stability group within the 10th senate, said that they would collaborate with the new administration to realize this vision.

The stability group of the 10th senate is made up of men and women of integrity. We came today to show ourselves to the governor and also solicit his support.

He (Sanwo-Olu) has not only thrown his support behind us, he has shown so much hospitality. Today, he stood before the cameras to endorse my humble self to become the president of the 10th senate and Senator Jibrin as deputy senate president-designate.

We are not taking this support for granted. This team has senators elect from different political backgrounds and parties.

We are determined to ensure collaboration and support for the incoming administration of Tinubu whose presidency is a nationalistic project that will bring positive development to Nigeria.

We want him to replicate what has happened in Lagos in the last 24 years of democracy to cover the rest of the country, Akpabio said.

In response, Governor Sanwo-Olu praised Akpabios outstanding profile and experience, stressing that he foresee his ability to set new standards and achieve legislative milestones in the 10th assembly.

KanyiDaily recalls that Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi had also revealed why he dropped his senate president bid and endorsed Godswill Akpabio.

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The Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba has vowed to do everything in his power to defend democracy alongside other security personnel amidst claims that some powerful political figures were publicly threatening to sabotage the May 29 inauguration ceremony because they were unhappy with the results of the recent elections.

IGP Baba who disclosed this on Monday, issued a warning to political figures, as well as to their allies and proxies, who it said were preparing to obstruct Bola Ahmed Tinubus inauguration as president on May 29.

According to him, the Nigerian police and the intelligence community cannot fold their hands to watch political actors with subversive agenda and their collaborators, particularly their foot soldiers, who they are exposing to political radicalisation and extremism to, henceforth, jettison their ongoing premeditated attempts to create tension within the national space with intention of derailing the 29th May 2023 Presidential Inauguration Ceremony.

He said, Following the successful conclusion of the 2023 general elections, it has been observed that some major political actors that the outcome did not favour, have been issuing public threats that are directed at instigating actions to frustrate the presidential inauguration ceremony on 29th May, 2023.

READ ALSO: Obasanjo praises IGP Baba at National Daily Awards night

The Nigeria Police and the national intelligence community have been closely monitoring the activities of these political elites as well as other elements, who have formed themselves into unpatriotic brands, whose only fantasy, in recent times, is to subvert our national security interests.

In so doing, they seem to be bent on deploying extra-judicial and undemocratic means to truncate our democratic heritage in advancement of their narrow personal political considerations.

The IGP further noted that the security agencies would no longer tolerate any utterance capable of throwing the country into turmoil, adding that any political actor, who does not heed the warning, will be made to face the wrath of the law.

READ ALSO: IGP Baba bags National Daily Man of the Year award

Firstly, the Nigeria Police hereby sternly warns all political actors with subversive agenda and their collaborators, particularly their foot soldiers, who they are exposing to political radicalisation and extremism to, henceforth, jettison their ongoing premeditated attempts to create tension within the national space with intention of derailing the 29th May 2023 presidential inauguration ceremony.

Secondly, any such persons, regardless of their political affiliations, who continuously engage in acts that are inimical to our nations democratic and security interests, should not be in doubt on the firm determination of the Nigeria Police under my watch to closely collaborate with the law enforcement family and the intelligence community to defend our democracy, keep the internal security order stable and optimally deploy our common unique assets towards guaranteeing the successful conduct of the presidential inauguration ceremony.
The United States on Monday announced that it has taken steps to impose visa restrictions on individuals in Nigeria for undermining the democratic process during Nigerias 2023 elections.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, in a statement, said the move was not targeted at Nigerians or the government.

The Secretary of State however did not name the affected individuals.

The United States is committed to supporting and advancing democracy in Nigeria and around the world. Today, I am announcing that we have taken steps to impose visa restrictions on specific individuals in Nigeria for undermining the democratic process during Nigerias 2023 elections cycle.

READ ALSO: UK threatens visa ban on politicians inciting electoral violence, manipulating elections

These actions are specific to certain individuals and are not directed at the Nigerian people or the Government of Nigeria as a whole, he said.

The decision, Blinken added, is in compliance with Section 212(a)(3)C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

These individuals will be subject to restrictions on visas to the United States under a policy covering those believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy.

These individuals, he said, were involved in intimidation of voters through threats and physical violence, the manipulation of vote results and others.

The decision to take steps to impose visa restrictions reflects the continued commitment of the United States to support Nigerian aspirations to strengthen democracy and the rule of law, he said.
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Residents of Denro in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State woke up, on Monday morning, to wailing and mourning as a midnight windstorm, accompanied by heavy rains, wiped out a family of four in the area.

According to eyewitnesses, during the heavy rains that was proceeded by a windstorm, a concrete fence beside the house of the family gave way and fell on the apartment the family occupied.

The head of the family, popularly called Onimalu, a butcher at the local abattoir in the area, was said to have made efforts to save his son and pregnant wife but none of his efforts made any difference as they all died.

READ ALSO: 24 dead as flood, rainstorm hit Katsina

According to the eyewitnesses, several others, who were injured in the building have been rushed to different hospitals in the Denro area, as fear mounts over their fate.

A resident of the area, who gave his name simply as Toafeek, lamented the tragedy, and said the late Onimalu was an easy going person, who related well with both the young and the old.

Taofeek, however, blamed the tragedy on the landlord who built an extraordinary high concrete fence.

What happened wouldnt have happened if the landlord beside Onimalus house did not build such high fence. When residents of the area warned him about the fence, he said he was protecting himself against armed robbers. By protecting himself, he has wiped out a whole family and injured several others, who we are not sure will survive, Taofeek said.

Policemen from Akute Division were on guard, as butcher colleagues of the deceased Onimalu, are threatening to destroy the building and deal with the landlord.

Our reporter overheard some of the butchers calling their colleagues from other areas to come over, threatening to burn the house down.
Zainab Rabiu, a 45-year-old woman, of Gwammaja Quarters in Kano metropolis in Kano State has been nabbed.

She was arrested by the police for allegedly kidnapping her brothers six-year-old son, Almustapha Bashir, in Dala LGA.

The suspect was arrested alongside three others involved in the incident.

City & Crime learnt that the incident happened sometime in April when the boy was declared missing by his parents who reported the matter to the police.

It was further learnt that later, the father of the victim was contacted by some people who demanded a N20m ransom but later agreed to collect N5m after negotiations.

The states Commissioner of Police (CP), Muhammed Usaini Gumel, while parading the suspects, said, In a follow up investigation by the police command, the victim was rescued unhurt, and his aunt, Zainab Rabiu, and three others, Abdulrasheed Saidu (27), Hassan Abdullahi (24) and Ahmed Saleh (25), were arrested.

Narrating how she masterminded the incident, the principal suspect, Zainab, said she led one of the suspects to the house of her younger brother and directed him to abduct the boy.

She said, His father is my younger brother. I did that to get some money, but I didnt get even N1 from the N5m collected. When they received the money, I got arrested. I really regret what I did and will never repeat it.
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It appears the power of the media is still underrated by the informed and enlightened members of the society most especially in the Muslim world with special emphasis on Northern Nigeria despite the strategic position of the media in nation building.

Even in the 21st century, when it is obvious that the most prominent instrument of change is the media, most Muslim individuals and societies still do not see the need to accord the media the priority it deserves. If the Machiavellian theory of using attack as a form of defence is anything to tacitly agree with, the media must be seen as its practical example. But ironically, any good observer can vividly see a manifest apathy to the media in Northern Nigeria. And, the cost of such lackadaisical attitude towards a deadly weapon like the media, in this technological age, cannot be quantified psychologically and spiritually. Whether we realize it or not, it is a standing fact beyond doubt, universally acknowledged, today, that a world without the media is like the carcass of a mobile corpse waiting for interment.

When the print media first arrived, Nigeria in 1859, its first place of call was Abeokuta in present day Ogun State in the Southwest of Nigeria. And, that was because that part of the country (Southwest) had adopted literacy in Roman letters, as of that time. For several decades after the arrival of the media in Nigeria, newspaper publication and readership became solidly domiciled in the Southwest. Anybody who wanted to read newspaper or to express an opinion in it, at that time, was to get in touch with Lagos/Ibadan axis of the media, directly or indirectly. And, with Lagos being the seat of the colonial power at that time, that situation was considered a further impetus for the people of the Southwest, to advance, ahead of the other regions, in literacy and education. However, with time, the people of some other regions of the country, especially from the Southeast and the South-south, began to key into the media scheme after realizing the covert and avowed power. That was the situation that made Southern Nigeria generally, the foremost custodian of information and education in the country.

With the coming of the electronic media (Radio/Television) to Nigeria in the early part of the 20th century, it became evident that the southern part was the main habitat of the media in the federation called Nigeria.

It therefore took the people of the Southern part of Nigeria to study the instrument used by Nigerias Freedom Fighters in their struggle for independence which was the media, as well as that of the tortuous efforts of Jews to get a permanent home for themselves at the heart of the Arab World. The combination of both studies then became a template for them to copy in order to get their own voices heard around the world for the purpose of sympathy and assistance. It can, therefore, be concluded that without the active support of the media, a Goodluck Ebele Jonathan couldnt have emerged from the minority South-south as a Nigerian President despite the constitutional support at his disposal. It was also the media that supported the agitation of the oil producing areas to change the formula of income derivation from oil in their favour and to demand federal character in the process of federal appointments. Today, those in the oil producing States are enjoying 13% derivation against the hitherto pittance that they were receiving even as the adoption of federal character in appointments has now become a political norm, courtesy of the media. Thus, as a result of the tremendous success achieved by using the media for agitation, the South-south has become a model for other minority groups to speak up in demand for their needs and wants, as a matter of right, in the Nigerian Federation.

Today, whether in the print or electronic sector of the media, no one can brush aside the prominent role that the people of the southern part of Nigeria are playing in control of the media and for the benefit of the tribal and religious kiths and kin. As a matter of fact, the Nigerian media, today, is incontrovertibly controlled and dominated by the southerners. Think of it, almost all the functional newspapers, private radio and television stations are wholly-owned by them.

Therefore from all indications, the people of Northern Nigeria are grossly apathetic to media function in the federation. And, this is adversely affecting not only the geographical North but also the religion of Islam and the Muslims, socially, economically, politically and psychologically. Yet, the Northerners apart from a minute few do not seem ready to change the narrative. If the oil producing areas can use the media to fan their agitations for increased derivation on oil, what stops the Northerners from using the media to also demand huge derivation on the solid minerals that are abundantly available in various parts of the North whether harnessed or not? This formed part of a one day Roundtable Discussion attended by delegates from the 19 Northern States held on May 12, 2023 at Arewa House Kaduna with the Theme: Nation Building and Democracy: The Imperative of Participation, Equity and Equitable Development of Northern Nigeria powered by Democratic Research Institute. The North has paid its dues in the February 25th presidential election by massively voting the APC Muslim/Muslim presidential candidate. The North delivered over 63 percent of the total votes scored by Tinubu. This automatically qualifies the region for the 2023 Senate Presidency without any eye brow raised by any of the regions.

Besides the derivation issue, the North has the Kainji, Shiroro and other big dams and falls used for the generation of electricity to feed Nigeria. Why cant these economic features be used as causes of demand for bigger derivation? Crude oil in commercial quantity was discovered and being explored in Kolmani valley sandwiched between Bauchi and Gombe States, also in Nasarawa and Kogi States.

One other serious issue the North do not seem to notice with agility the use of the Southern media to categorize the entire North Region as a unit in the Nigerian federation while the South is being strategically positioned as different separate regions economically. I hope my point is clear?

Usually, the reference to the Middle Belt, Northwest and Northeast by the southern controlled media, is a more political strategy to stratify the North psychologically, in readiness for an incoming demand that could warrant the support of the minority Northern Christians.

That strategy, which began during the first tenure of Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999, was politically instructive. It should be recalled that Atiku Abubakar was the elected governor of Adamawa State in 1999. But when Obasanjo became the president, the same Atiku was his choice as Vice-president just to pave way for Boni Haruna to be the governor of a Muslim dominated state and aid a hatchet plan against the unity of the Muslim North.

A similar scenario played out in Kaduna State when, after becoming President, Goodluck Jonathan, just from nowhere chose the then governor of that state, Arch. Namadi Sambo, as Vice-president to pave way for Namadis deputy, Patrick Yakowa to be the governor of another Muslim dominated state. It had a semblance of a normal political design, but the real motive was to use such strategy as a means of empowering those agitators of a mirage called Middle Belt within the North. The February 25th presidential election added credence to the drama play started by Obasanjo in the North. Northern Christians in other parties other than Labour Party, unanimously, voted for Labour Partys presidential candidate based on religious sentiment and are now on their knees expecting political patronage from the sweat of others who voted the winning party to power. Why should they be considered for any political patronage? Because the Northern Muslim who stood against all odds to vote the Muslim/Muslim ticket is not the fool he is rated to be and is much more-wiser now to harness the fruit of his labour. Therefore, the North at this material time deserves to have the Senate President and Sen. AbdulAzeez Yari is the choice of the North for the Senate Presidency. No shaking and no two-way about that. A game of numbers was played. The North delivered 63 percent of the total votes Tinubu scored. The North should dictate where the pendulum should swing to.

If it can be recalled, during his tenure as military Head of State, it was same Obasanjo who disfigured the strongest voice of the North, Radio Nigeria Kaduna which was established by the defunct Northern Nigerian Government as Broadcasting Corporation of Northern Nigeria (BCNN). The plan was to deny typical Northerners the opportunity to be educated, informed and entertained.

Today, the situation of the media, generally, in Nigeria, is such that North is not reckoned with at all on matters of effective media function. And, the complacency of Northerners which is seen as an encouragement for the Southern media to constantly ride roughshod over the poor North does not help matters. If only the moribund New Nigerian Newspaper could stand up vertically to checkmate the scores of the Southern press in the past, why cant the same be done through the electronic media now that the North needs very strong media mouth piece most?

One major concern about the media that often amazes most Nigerians is the seeming permanent complacency of the Northern elite about the functions of the media in the country. while there are scores of privately owned electronic and print media in virtually all parts of the South, expect some few cases, Northerners seem unperturbed by the incessant bashing coming out of those Southern media organizations against the North. This has become so embarrassingly disturbing that some of us journalists are left with no choice other than to remain aloof watching helplessly.

Now, why is the situation like that? The situation requires a vital and convincing answer from the Northerners. One fact that must be seriously noted is that most of the media outfits in Nigeria are taken as political, tribal and religious arsenals with which to fight the North from all conceivable angles.

This situation is one of the breeders of inter-tribal and inter-religious hatred in Nigeria which makes the country look like an impossibility.

On a final note, we are told that for equity, fairness and justice, the position of Senate President should go to the Southern Christians for balancing the equation. But what stopped those Southern Christians from supporting the Muslim/Muslim ticket to victory in the first instance, but now asking for position to serve in a Muslim/Muslim presidency? What an effort in futility!

Muhammad is a commentator on national issues

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Unknown religious fundamentalists in Kaduna State on Friday night set the St. Augustine Catholic Church pulpit in Tudun-Wada in Kaduna South Local Government Area ablaze.

A source said it was the eight time, a part of the church would be set ablaze.

St Augustine Catholic parish, Tudun wada Kaduna, opposite Maimuna Gwarzo Girls Secondary School behind Kaduna Polytechnic Main Campus was set on fire yesterday, Friday night, by unknown fundamentalists.

This incident was the Eight time this church is being attacked and some of her properties burnt by people we suspect to be Islamic fundamentalists who do not want to see any church standing in that area.

The Parish Priest, Rev. Father Joshua Achir, confirmed the incident.

It was also gathered that the church has reported the incident to the law enforcement agencies.

Meanwhile, the State Chapter of the Christain Association of Nigeria led by Rev. Joseph Hayab has condemned the incident.

CAN Kaduna State is sad with this development which is a clear indication that Kaduna is under siege and our government is not paying serious attention to these evil happenings but instead is busy chasing shadows with a divisive preaching bill, Hayab said.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Electoral Officer in Bokkos Local Government of Plateau, Salihu Adamu Musa, has apologised for the shameful behaviour of the Returning Officer deployed to the area.

Musa defending why he was declaring the results of elections for Bokkos, instead of the Returning Officer, as stipulated by law, explained that the Returning Officer, a university lecturer, was drunk on Sunday and was sacked when he could not perform his duty.

The Returning Officers attitude was appalling; he was drunk and couldnt do anything at all.

I took over the job based on instructions from the INEC headquarters in Jos, Musa said.

Jonathan Mawuyau, an APC Collation Officer and former Justice Commissioner in Plateau State, who witnessed the shameful behaviour of the returning officer stated that: The returning officer came to the collation centre drunk. On Sunday, we waited for his arrival up to 2.00 p.m. but when he later arrived and took his seat, he started dozing off before the very eyes of everybody in the hall.

Shortly after, he woke up and excused us to go ease himself, but the next thing we heard was that he had driven away. He was later accosted and brought back. The official was so drunk that he could not do the Job.

Salihi Musa, therefore, apologised on behalf of the commission, and promised that the situation would not repeat itself.
Days after congratulating President Muhammadu Buhari for defeating PDPs candidate Atiku Abubakar at the presidential election tribunal, Gov. Nyesom Wike has made another pass at the APC.

And his party, still running helter skelter to appease Atikus anger at the last incident, wont be amused hearing the Rivers governor celebrating to high heavens the APC Gov. Kayode Fayemi.

According to him, Fayemi is the good thing that happens to Nigeria.

My brother, the Chairman of NGF, Governor Fayemi is a great leader, said Wike during the commissioning ceremony to which he invited Fayemi in Port Harcourt.

He is one of the few leaders who understand that a political party is a vehicle to get into government and that party affiliation should not bring animosity, especially when development is the focus.

The PDP governor was impressed the way the APC governor and chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum helped him weather the storm over a mosque demolition in Port Harcourt recently.

Kano Gov. Umar Gaduje had flared up, threatening to sue Wike for tht action. Wike ,too, had responded, calling the governor Gandollar ( a sarky about the governor stuffing dollars in his babanringa in a video last year) and incapable of pocketing him.

He called me when he heard about the development, said Wike. He came here and intervened in the matter, not minding our political party affiliation. That is leadership. And such a leader should be encouraged.

Fayemi, too, as the guest of honour, hailed Wike for his development efforts in the state.

He said he was impressed by the PDP governors penchant for people- oriented projects, which has earned him the nickname Mr Project.

This mutual appreciation has further fuelled speculations about Wike dumping his party, which he described as corrupt, for the APC.

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Pastor Sunday Egbo

A report by Punch Metro has shown that the Enugu state police command on Tuesday paraded one Pastor Sunday Egbo, the founder of Christ Mercy Ministry, Ajuona Obukpa, in Nsukka Local government Area of the state for the alleged rape of a member of his church.

Parading the suspect along 36 other suspects at the Police Headquarters, the Police Commissioner, Ahmed Abdur-rahman, said that the fake man of God had on November 9, 2019, allegedly invited one Ukwueze Ifebuche Blessing with the pretence of having a crusade on that faithful day by 6pm.

According to the Commissioner, the suspect asked the victim to come along with the picture of her sick brother for prayers.



On arrival, the Pastor took her to his house and left with the pretence to go and bring other people who were supposed to come for the programme but returned about 11pm and dragged her to his room, brought out a magic Stone and threatened to kill her if she raised an alarm.

He ordered her to remove her clothes, she refused and the Pastor slapped her and forcefully tore her clothes and raped her, Ahmed said.

The police commissioner added, The Pastor not satisfied, seized her pant, brazier and brought small a bottle and wanted to insert it into her private parts, and she struggled and ran naked to the door and shouted which attracted neighbours who came and invited the Police for her rescue and the Pastor was subsequently arrested.

The suspect confessed to committing the crime to journalists when he was asked to narrate why he was arrested by the police.

Egbo said, I actually raped her in my house.
The Provost of the University of Ibadan College of Medicine, Prof. Ezekiel Olapade-Olaopa and his deputy, Prof. Obafunke Denloye, have contracted coronavirus.

Olapade-Olaopa made the announcement in a statement on Sunday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

He said: Dear colleagues, I wish to inform you that the deputy provost and I tested positive for the COVID-19 following the tests done on Friday.

Although we are both asymptomatic, we have gone into self-isolation for the 14 days while our contacts are being observed closely to determine if they should also be tested.

Also, the Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UH), Prof Jesse A. Otegbayo, tested positive for coronavirus.

In a statement on Sunday, Otegbayo said: On Monday 23rd March, we commenced a 12man quarterly board meeting which was meant to last 5 days in the hospital, we observed social distancing and other precautionary measures for covid-19 as much as possible.

However, on Wednesday morning, one of us presented with what appeared to be symptoms of covid-19, his samples were immediately taken for test and the meeting called off.

His results returned positive on Friday morning and every participant (including me) immediately went into self-isolation while our samples were also taken for test.

Unfortunately, my result returned positive on Saturday afternoon and I remain in isolation as I am not symptomatic. All staff who have been in contact with me and other participants during this period have been advised to immediately proceed on self-isolation pending the time they get tested.

Covid-19 is spreading faster than we think and I enjoin everyone to take precautions. If one person has it, then a gathering of two becomes dangerous. Stay at home, avoid unnecessary outing and stay safe.
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has hosted a delegation from the Zambia Refugee Commission to learn about the NIA's refugee registration process.



During the meeting, the Executive Secretary of NIA, Prof. Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah expressed NIA's commitment to providing the necessary information to help the Zambian delegation improve the well-being of refugees in their country.



He explained that refugee registration in Ghana is under the purview of the Ghana Refugee Board and the NIA. He highlighted that the Zambian delegation's visit aimed to learn about how Ghana registers refugees improves their economic activities, modernizes settlements, harmonizes documentation, and removes barriers that hinder their mobility and enjoyment of life.



Prof. Attafuah discussed the establishment and mandate of the NIA and how identity issues have been at the heart of many political crises in Ghana. He emphasized the importance of ensuring the integrity of the electoral process and stated that the NIA has so far registered 17.37 million people out of a population of 19 million, with 16.7 million Ghanaians receiving their cards.



He also mentioned that the NIA plans to register Ghanaian children between ages 15 and 18 and those between ages 6 and 14, with the latter exercise starting on June 1, 2023. Additionally, he talked about the registration of Ghanaians abroad and foreigners in Ghana.



Prof. Prosper Ng'andu, the UN High Commissioner of Refugees in Zambia who led the delegation stressed that policymakers and practitioners need to stop referring to refugees as a "burden" and start seeing them as an opportunity. He noted that with suitable investment and wise policies, welcoming refugees can yield substantial economic dividends.



According to Prof. Ng'andu, the Zambian government sees refugees are a viable resource that can be managed to contribute to the country's economy. He discussed the need to digitize refugees and bring them under one platform, as Ghana is doing with the Ghana Card, to manage them properly and provide support.

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 Ghana Association of Mechanical Engineers has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to consider the establishment of a National Commission For Science And Technology.



The president of the association, Godsway Ankrah in a statement said Ghana will benefit from the commission in the era of the technological world.



This proposed commission would serve as a pivotal catalyst in advancing Ghana's scientific and technological capabilities, he said



Read the full statement below



Reviving Ghana's Focus On Science And Technology: A Call To Establish A National Commission For Science And Technology



On behalf of the science and engineering communities, we extend our sincere gratitude to Your Excellency, Nana Akufo-Addo, for your steadfast commitment and contribution to our profession through your industrialization and educational flagship programs. We firmly believe that education is a crucial component in developing human capital, which is essential for national progress, and we commend your visionary leadership in this regard.



As the President of the Ghana Association of Mechanical Engineers, Godsway Ankrah earnestly urges the President of Ghana to give thoughtful consideration to the establishment of a National Commission for Science and Technology.



This proposed commission would serve as a pivotal catalyst in advancing Ghana's scientific and technological capabilities. By assembling a diverse panel of experts from different domains, it would provide invaluable insights, recommendations, and strategic guidance on matters concerning science, technology, and innovation. Embracing this initiative would undoubtedly contribute to Ghana's overall development in these crucial areas.



The ripple effect of Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have highlighted the significant role of science and engineering in building a strong foundation for our economy.



We deeply regret the missed opportunity to meet with you on July 26, 2022, and the challenges encountered in rescheduling the meeting. Given the circumstances, we are compelled to reach out to you through this press release

I humbly urge the President to act swiftly to create the commission and to ensure that it has the resources and support necessary to carry out its mandate. Please allow us to make our contribution to compliment your resilient effort in restoring hope and building a legacy in economic recovery from the current crisis, as we believe it is our professional and civic responsibility to you and our motherland, Ghana



My fellow intellectuals, as we confront the challenges facing our nation, we firmly believe that unifying our diverse strengths will not only showcase the beauty of our civilization but will also test its resilience. As engineers, we have a profound responsibility to work diligently and with a deep sense of duty to secure a brighter future for Ghana. It is our inherent duty and civic obligation to serve and improve the lives of all, ensuring abundant opportunities for work and happiness, and that the fruits of our labor are bountiful for every citizen.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Former President John Dramani Mahama has been re-elected to lead the National Democratic Congress (NDC) into the 2024 elections.



The former President is on his third mission in hope to clinch victory for the party following their defeat in the 2020 elections which was contended by the party, hence resulting in a legal tussle between the NDC and the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).



Mr. John Mahama has won the NDC Presidential primaries in a landslide victory to become the Presidential candidate of the party.



Certified results by the Electoral Commission (EC) show Mr Mahama polled an overwhelming 297,603 votes representing 98.9% of the total valid votes cast at the end of the NDC primaries on Saturday.



His closest contender, the former Kumasi Mayor Kojo Bonsu, polled a paltry 3,181 representing 1.1%.



The other contender in the NDC flagbearership race, former Finance Minister in the Mills regime, Kwabena Duffour, pulled out on Friday.



This is the fourth time John Mahama will be leading the NDC into an election.



As an incumbent, he first lost to then New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo in 2016, becoming the first President to serve only one full term.



He won the flagbearership race in February 2019 with an overwhelming endorsement of 95% votes to represent the NDC in the 2020 election.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Ghana Police Service says its attention has been drawn to a viral video showing a parliamentary candidate splashing cash on party delegates and supporters in the Ashanti regional town of Ejura.



Juliana Kinang Wassan, the candidate, was seen in the 19-second viral video standing in a car and showering cash on party members at the polling station on the Ahmadiyya School Park.



She is reported to have said that she realised she had the money in her car and decided to show some love to her fellow NDC members by sharing it.



But the police in a statement said a dedicated legal team is currently scrutinising her conduct in the video to establish whether there are elements of election-related crime to warrant police intervention or otherwise.



Meanwhile, the police said, at least, eight suspects have been arrested across the country for various election-related offences.



The suspects, Yaro Burdove, Harrison Martey, Imoro Ibrahim, Arkoli Mensah, Nyarko Richard, Prince Lomotey, Hamidu Dramani and Bejando Emmanuel, were arrested at voting centres across four constituencies.



Burdove was arrested at the Ningo-Prampram Constituency for taking a photograph of his ballot paper in the polling booth and also attempting to take photographs of the ballots of other voters. Martey and Ibrahim were engaged in a fight in the same constituency.



Mensah and Nyarko were engaged in a fight in the New Juaben South Constituency in the Eastern Region.



Lomotey was arrested for impersonation in the Mfantseman Constituency in the Central Region while Dramani and Bejando were arrested for causing violence in the Atebubu-Amantin Constituency of the Bono East Region.



The statement said, Five of the suspects are currently on police inquiry bail, while the three others are in custody assisting the ongoing police investigation.







Source: asaaseradio.com









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The Adentan constituency has been noted to be one interesting swing constituency which is fiercely contested for by the NPP and NDC within the Greater Accra Region. Since its creation in 2004, no sitting MP, from either side, has been able to occupy the seat for more than one term though the NDC won it back to back with two different candidates in 2008 and 2012 consecutively when Hon. Opare Hammond of the NPP bequeathed the seat to Hon. Kojo Adu Asare of the NDC in 2008.



The voting behaviour of the electorate is such that the constituents value long service with local popularity and good interpersonal relationship with the electorates more than any other consideration. Other factors such as resources, national influence, gender, tribal or religious consideration have so far proven to be of little concern to the people of Adentan as these do not really determine who emerges as their MP.



2024 Election



Prior to the 2024 elections, the NDC in their recent primaries held on Saturday 13th May 2023, retained their sitting MP, Hon. Adamu Ramadan, to battle it out with whoever emerges as the NPPs parliamentary candidate.

Hon. Ramadans first attempt as MP was in 2016 when he lost it to Hon. Lawyer Yaw Buaben Asamoa who had earlier contested for the NPP PCship and lost it to Hon. Frances Essiam in 2011 ahead of the 2012 general elections.



Research has proven that of all the aspirants vying to be NPP parliamentary candidates including the PRO for the Ministry of Energy, Kwasi Obeng-Fosu, popularly known as Baba Tauffic (Homeboy), Kwame O.B Nartey, Akosua Manu(Kozie), and Kumi who contested the 2020 primaries, Kwasi Obeng-Fosu stands tall amongst his contenders as he is the only aspirant who has the required experience, local popularity and good interpersonal relationship with the people of Adentan.



Kwasi Obeng-Fosu started his politics in Adentan as an ordinary member since the constituency was created in 2004, became a polling station executive and then rose to become the Constituency Youth Organizer, who mobilized and led the youth for NPP Adenta to win its first-ever twin victory in 2016 (ie. Both presidential and Parliamentary Elections). He later contested for Greater Accra Regional Youth Organizer and lost marginally to Hon. Moses Abor as he placed second out of five candidates.



Many political observers and pundits have averred that should the NPP elect Kwasi Obeng-Fosu as their Parliamentary Candidate, they stand a greater chance of winning back the seat since he is the most experienced, popular with the electorates and has the interpersonal relationship with lots of the constituents across the political divide.



Also, though Hon. Ramadan has been in the constituency for some time and maybe popular to some extent, incumbency disadvantage may be his major flaw as he has been accused by the constituents of non-performance and incompetence.



Most constituents are looking forward to a Ramadan versus Baba Tauffic battle come 2024.



The incumbent MP Ramadan won the NDC primaries in Adenta recently by beating Oye Bampoe Addo and Linda Awuni.

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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" " President Joe Biden signs an executive order aimed at boosting American manufacturing and strengthening the federal government's Buy American rules on Jan. 25, 2021. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

On February 19, 1942, two months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066. In this one-page decree, the president used his authority as the commander-in-chief to authorize the U.S. military to "exclude" 122,000 Japanese Americans  more than half of them U.S. citizens  from their homes and businesses and relocate them to isolated and desolate internment camps [source: Our Documents]. A month later, Congress passed Public Law 503, making it a federal offense to disobey the president's executive order.

An executive order, also known as a proclamation, is a directive handed down directly from a president or governor (the executive branch of government) without input from the legislative or judicial branches. Executive orders can only be given to federal or state agencies, not to citizens, although citizens are indirectly affected by them.

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Executive orders have been used by every American president since George Washington to lead the nation through times of war, to respond to natural disasters and economic crises, to encourage or discourage regulation by federal agencies, to promote civil rights, or in the case of the Japanese internment camps, to revoke civil rights. Executive orders can also be used by governors to direct state agencies, often in response to emergencies, but also to promote the governor's own regulatory and social policies.

There is no specific mention of executive orders in the U.S. Constitution. Instead, presidents argue that the power to make executive orders is implied in the following statements contained in Article II of the Constitution:

"The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States"

"The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States"

"He shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed" [source: Contrubis ].

Governors use similar interpretations of their state constitutions to justify the legality of executive orders.

Critics of executive orders argue that these unilateral decrees undermine our trusted system of checks and balances, giving undue authority to the executive branch. For that reason, executive orders are considered a form of "executive legislation" [source: Contrubis]. In recent years, presidents have wielded executive orders as political weapons to push through controversial policies or regulations without Congressional or judicial oversight. Executive orders can be overruled by the courts or nullified by legislators after the fact, but until then they carry the full weight of federal and state law [source: Contrubis].

To better understand the controversial and colorful history of executive orders in the United States, let's start at the beginning, with George Washington himself.
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Graphical abstract. Credit: Science of The Total Environment (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160524

Rivers, lakes and oceans worldwide are home to trillions of pieces of plastic pollution that are smaller than five millimeters in length, known as microplastics, and their size allows them to easily enter humans and animals. Some can adsorb and transport other harmful toxicants that pollute waterways, including certain types of a more recently discovered set of toxic "forever chemicals" called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.

There are thousands of types of PFAS in freshwater and saltwater bodies, and testing whether microplastics can absorb each one requires costly, time-consuming and labor-intensive testing. That's why a University of Maine-led team of researchers developed a new type of model for predicting whether any given kind of microplastic would adsorb any specific type of PFAS and at what concentration.

Dilara Hatinoglu, a Ph.D. student in civil and environmental engineering, spearheaded the project in collaboration with Onur Apul, assistant professor of environmental engineering and her adviser, and Francois Perreault, associate professor at the Arizona State University School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment.

Dilara Hatinoglu. Credit: University of Maine

Their models are applicable for fresh and saltwater and account for the type, size, shape and ionic charge of the microplastics; the functional compound groups and chain length of PFAS; and the salinity, pH level and natural organic matter that make up the solution chemistry of the water. In addition to minimizing the need for extensive lab testing, these models could assist with the development of new technologies and resources for PFAS removal.

"In water treatment plants, we use polymers that act as adsorbents, and they have the potential for removing PFAS from water. Our model can support the development of new adsorbent technologies," says Hatinoglu. "We can modify sorbents depending on the outcomes and findings of our model because it gives an idea of what are the mechanisms and contributors of the adsorption mechanisms."

For their research, the UMaine-led team trained its models to determine whether polystyrene microplastics would absorb 12 different chemicals, all of which are part of a subset of PFAS known as perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs). In addition to validating the efficacy of their models, which accounted for both fresh and saltwater, they also obtained several insights into the adsorption mechanisms between PFAS and polystyrene microplastics.

Among their findings were that polystyrene adsorbed greater concentrations of long chain PFAS than short chain ones, microplastics in saltwater adsorb more PFAS than those in freshwater, and the top contributing factors for whether a PFCA will be absorbed into a microplastic is the polarizability and hydrophobicity of the former. Their findings and other details about the model were published in the journal Science of The Total Environment.

Researchers created their method for forecasting PFAS adsorption by microplastics through reconfiguring an existing type of model known as a linear solvation energy relationships (LSER)-based predictive model. Traditional LSER models are used for the adsorption mechanics between naturally-charged organic compounds, but PFAS are negatively-charged. Hatinoglu, Apul and Perreault are among the first researchers to apply LSER modeling to PFAS adsorption.

Hatinoglu is building on her previous work by creating another model to predict the adsorbability of other pollutants into microplastics. The new model will factor in the extent of microplastic degradation.

"The interactions can be significantly affected if the plastics are degraded, so I would like to know more about the effect of degradation on adsorption," she says. "That would be more realistic."

The project led by Hatinoglu is part of a broader effort involving Apul, his students and colleagues, and researchers from Arizona State University to explore the interactions between microplastics and various chemicals.

"We are trying to pioneer academic knowledge. We are trying to lead the world and line up with the needs of the state. It's just a good position to be at," says Apul. "We're making [cutting-edge] research in this field, trying to publish the first-evers of this discipline that happens to be at the forefront of Maine and national needs."

Many UMaine researchers are working together on several PFAS research projects as part of the UMaine PFAS+ Initiative. Apul is science lead and a steering committee member for the university-wide initiative to focus on the emerging PFAS pollution crisis and its cascading environmental and societal impacts.

"We are trying to create a multidisciplinary, collaborative environment to tackle the PFAS problem. It's such a massive crisis, that a single discipline, a single person is not going to solve it," Apul says. "There are so many different aspects, so we are trying to bring a multitude of talented researchers. Dilara is one of them, and we're lucky to have her."

More information: M. Dilara Hatinoglu et al, Modified linear solvation energy relationships for adsorption of perfluorocarboxylic acids by polystyrene microplastics, Science of The Total Environment (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160524 Journal information: Science of the Total Environment
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Credit: Ocean Research Project via Facebook

In the sunlight of a May afternoon on the Chesapeake Bay, a 72-foot schooner called the Marie Tharp floated above a shipwreck from long ago.

The boat's instruments were hard at work, mapping the ruins of the sunken wooden steam freighter, the New Jersey, using sonar equipment affixed to its hull.

But that effort Thursday afternoon was just a test, and the Chesapeake Bay a proving ground, for mapping the previously uncharted.

On Monday, the crew of the Marie Tharp will set sail from Annapolis for Greenland to begin mapping the seabed around the massive North Atlantic island and analyze the environmental impacts of glacial melting caused by a warming climate.

The ship is named after Tharp, a woman whose work charting the ocean floor, and revealing its peaks and valleys, laid the groundwork for the theory of continental drift. However, she wasn't allowed aboard research ships due to her sex. Tharp died in 2006 at the age of 86.

From Annapolis, the ship will sail north to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, and go out through Delaware Bay to reach the Atlantic Ocean. In early June, the ship is scheduled to reach St. John's, Newfoundland. Next, the crew must traverse the Labrador Seaknown for its punishing conditions mingling fog, gale-force winds and iceto reach Nuuk, Greenland.

From there, the crew will explore a series of fjords, which are estuaries formed by glaciers, along the coast of Greenland and even further north in the Canadian Arctic, near Devon and Ellesmere islands.

During their travels, they will gather seabed and water samples to assess the health of bodies of water in the wake of glacial retreat. Additionally, they will be charting what's below.

It will be the second Arctic voyage for the Marie Tharp, a steel-hulled sailboat constructed in 2000 that serves as home base for the nonprofit Ocean Research Project. This type of voyage is nothing new for the Annapolis-based organization's founderMatt Rutherford.

Rutherford is best known for being the first to complete a nonstop solo sail circumnavigating North and South America. But after his 2011 trip, during which he "caught more plastic trash than I caught fish," Rutherford founded the Ocean Research Project, andjoined by scientist Nicole Trenholm of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciencedecided to use his sailing prowess to map the eastern side of the North Atlantic Garbage Patch, a collection of microplastic and other trash concentrated by ocean currents.

In 2015, the nonprofit's attention turned to climate change research, and it teamed up with NASA's Ocean Melting Greenland Program to conduct research in the coldest northern reaches of the planet.

The idea was simple, but groundbreaking. Aboard his small sailboat, Rutherford could conduct research more cheaply and efficiently than with a large icebreaker, which would burn far more fuel along the way. But it takes tremendous skilland a "sailor's intuition"to avoid icebergs and endure storms and fog without the safety net that a heftier vessel provides, Rutherford said.

It quickly became clear that the nonprofit was outgrowing its aging sailboat, whichat 42 feetcould only hold about four people at once.

Enter the Marie Tharp, a Bruce Roberts Voyager 650 that hardly had been sailed at all when it was donated to the nonprofit. Outfitting the boat, which had fallen into disrepair, for dangerous voyages north required significant work. The coronavirus pandemic found Rutherford living in a boat yard on his new ship, a layer of saw dust coating his bed and his belongings as he completed the repairs.

After the Tharp's first trip to Greenland last year, there were a few kinks to work out, Rutherford said. For one thing, the boat's multi-beam sonar system was attached to a pole in front of the boat, frequently endangered by ice formations and the elements. But now it is stowed on the bottom of the boat, protected by metal shark fins that will work to divert potentially damaging ice chunks.

During the trip, the Marie Tharp and her passengers (seven to nine people, including a rotating cast of scientists with Arctic research to complete) will visit what Trenholm called the "dirtiest fjord in all of Greenland," located near the southwestern town of Paamiut.

Water from melting glaciers have filled that fjord with excess sediment, which carries nutrients capable of upending the ecosystem's balancethe same phenomena playing out in an estuary closer to home: the Chesapeake Bay.

The water quality research collected by the Tharp and her crew will offer a critical snapshot of the current conditions stemming from climate change in the Arctic, assisting efforts to predict the future. And the seabed samples will tell the story of the fjord's history before glacier melt, in the same way rings on a trunk chart the life of a tree.

The Ocean Research Project's latest trip has attracted the attention of consumer advocate and environmentalist Ralph Nader, now 89-years-old, whose great nephew Adnaan Stumo is a crew member.

Nader, who ran four times for president, said he was struck by Rutherford's effort to make climate research cheaper and greener, calling it a bright spot amid otherwise distressing subject matter.

"There's so much grim reality in this climate violence, climate catastrophe," Nader said. "And he's quite a unique person."

Stumo, an experienced sailor who has completed trips across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, said he learned about the Ocean Research Project while listening to Rutherfordone of his sailing heroesspeak on a podcast. When Rutherford mentioned that he was seeking sailors for his next voyage, Stumo reached out. And soon enough, he was set to join Rutherford and make his very first trip to the Arctic.

This year, the crew is all volunteer. After a critical funding source dried up, none of the crew members will receive a salary during the five-month voyage, though all the research activities are paid for.

That news did not deter Stumo.

"I thought about it for a minute," he said. "But at the end of the day, if I wanted to get rich, I would be doing something else."

The crew is mostly women, which is a first for sailor and shipwright Allie Gretzinger.

"Usually, I'm the only female or there's maybe one other," said Gretzinger, who also will be making her first voyage to the Arctic aboard the Marie Tharp.

Over the past several weeks, Gretzinger and Stumo and have been among those helping Rutherford prepare the boat. For Stumo, that has included installing a wind generator while "swinging high in the air trying not to drop tools" and a Costco haul for the ages, featuring massive amounts of dry and canned goods, from pasta to tuna.

The bill? More than $3,500, he said.

"The girls behind the counter were kind of wide-eyed, like: 'Are you having a party?'" Stumo said.

But a party it won't be. Stumo and the crew will battle the elements, navigating narrow fjords and dodging submerged icebergs the size of school buses.

Of course, that is all part of the adventure. But Stumo said he is more energized by the knowledge that he will be contributing to climate change research conducted in a "unique window" in time, as glaciers packed with geological clues recede into the land.

In addition, he is sailing with the memory of his sister Samya Stumo, who perished at 24-years-old in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash that took the lives of all 149 passengers and crew. At the time, Samya Stumo was heading to Kenya for her first project with a health systems development organization, trying to fulfill health care needs for vulnerable communities.

"She would have had a 50-plus-year career and touched so many lives," Stumo said. "So, I am trying to do my small part and keep her in mind."

2023 The Baltimore Sun.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Artist's impression of an aurora and the surrounding radiation belt of the ultracool dwarf LSR J1835+3259. Credit: Chuck Carter, Melodie Kao, Heising-Simons Foundation

Astronomers have described the first radiation belt observed outside our solar system, using a coordinated array of 39 radio dishes from Hawaii to Germany to obtain high-resolution images. The images of persistent, intense radio emissions from an ultracool dwarf reveal the presence of a cloud of high-energy electrons trapped in the object's powerful magnetic field, forming a double-lobed structure analogous to radio images of Jupiter's radiation belts.

"We are actually imaging the magnetosphere of our target by observing the radio-emitting plasmaits radiation beltin the magnetosphere. That has never been done before for something the size of a gas giant planet outside of our solar system," said Melodie Kao, a postdoctoral fellow at UC Santa Cruz and first author of a paper on the new findings published May 15 in Nature.

Strong magnetic fields form a "magnetic bubble" around a planet called a magnetosphere, which can trap and accelerate particles to near the speed of light. All the planets in our solar system that have such magnetic fields, including Earth, as well as Jupiter and the other giant planets, have radiation belts consisting of these high-energy charged particles trapped by the planet's magnetic field.

Earth's radiation belts, known as the Van Allen belts, are large donut-shaped zones of high-energy particles captured from solar winds by the magnetic field. Most of the particles in Jupiter's belts are from volcanoes on its moon Io. If you could put them side by side, the radiation belt that Kao and her team have imaged would be 10 million times brighter than Jupiter's.

Particles deflected by the magnetic field toward the poles generate auroras ("northern lights") when they interact with the atmosphere, and Kao's team also obtained the first image capable of differentiating between the location of an object's aurora and its radiation belts outside our solar system.

The first images of an extrasolar radiation belt were obtained by combining 39 radio telescopes to form a virtual telescope spanning the globe from Hawaii to Germany. Credit: Melodie Kao, Amy Mioduszewski

The ultracool dwarf imaged in this study straddles the boundary between low-mass stars and massive brown dwarfs. "While the formation of stars and planets can be different, the physics inside of them can be very similar in that mushy part of the mass continuum connecting low-mass stars to brown dwarfs and gas giant planets," Kao explained.

Characterizing the strength and shape of the magnetic fields of this class of objects is largely uncharted terrain, she said. Using their theoretical understanding of these systems and numerical models, planetary scientists can predict the strength and shape of a planet's magnetic field, but they haven't had a good way to easily test those predictions.

"Auroras can be used to measure the strength of the magnetic field, but not the shape. We designed this experiment to showcase a method for assessing the shapes of magnetic fields on brown dwarfs and eventually exoplanets," Kao said.

The strength and shape of the magnetic field can be an important factor in determining a planet's habitability. "When we're thinking about the habitability of exoplanets, the role of their magnetic fields in maintaining a stable environment is something to consider in addition to things like the atmosphere and climate," Kao said.

To generate a magnetic field, a planet's interior must be hot enough to have electrically conducting fluids, which in the case of Earth is the molten iron in its core. In Jupiter, the conducting fluid is hydrogen under so much pressure it becomes metallic. Metallic hydrogen probably also generates magnetic fields in brown dwarfs, Kao said, while in the interiors of stars the conducting fluid is ionized hydrogen.

The electron radiation belt and aurora of an ultracool dwarf were imaged by combining 39 radio telescopes to form a virtual telescope spanning the globe from Hawaii to Germany. Credit: Melodie Kao, Amy Mioduszewski

The ultracool dwarf known as LSR J1835+3259 was the only object Kao felt confident would yield the high-quality data needed to resolve its radiation belts.

"Now that we've established that this particular kind of steady-state, low-level radio emission traces radiation belts in the large-scale magnetic fields of these objects, when we see that kind of emission from brown dwarfsand eventually from gas giant exoplanetswe can more confidently say they probably have a big magnetic field, even if our telescope isn't big enough to see the shape of it," Kao said, adding that she is looking forward to when the Next Generation Very Large Array, currently being planned by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), can image many more extrasolar radiation belts.

"This is a critical first step in finding many more such objects and honing our skills to search for smaller and smaller magnetospheres, eventually enabling us to study those of potentially habitable, Earth-size planets," said co-author Evgenya Shkolnik at Arizona State University, who has been studying the magnetic fields and habitability of planets for many years.

The team used the High Sensitivity Array, consisting of 39 radio dishes coordinated by the NRAO in the United States and the Effelsberg radio telescope operated by the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Germany.

"By combining radio dishes from across the world, we can make incredibly high-resolution images to see things no one has ever seen before. Our image is comparable to reading the top row of an eye chart in California while standing in Washington, D.C.," said co-author Jackie Villadsen at Bucknell University.

Kao emphasized that this discovery was a true team effort, relying heavily on the observational expertise of co-first author Amy Mioduszewski at NRAO in planning the study and analyzing the data, as well as the multiwavelength stellar flare expertise of Villadsen and Shkolnik.

More information: Melodie Kao, Resolved imaging of an extrasolar radiation belt around an ultracool dwarf, Nature (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06138-w. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06138-w Journal information: Nature
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The U.K. is losing the sound of the cuckoo as their numbers continue to decline. Credit: Nick Edge/Shutterstock

Most of the declining species are farmland birds, where a mix of increasingly industrialized agriculture, habitat loss and the climate crisis are having severe impacts.

The dawn chorus is a lot quieter nowadays.

While 50 years ago it might have been normal to hear the rhythmic call of a cuckoo or the gentle trill of a turtle dove, these sounds are becoming ever rarer.

This is because a new study has found that over this time Britain has lost almost a third of all its wild birds. If these declines continue unabated, it is not inconceivable that future generations will grow up never having heard the call of a cuckoo or a song thrush.

The staggering numbers are the result of research by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), who have looked back to data from the 1970s to try and get a better idea of how many wild birds lived in Britain at that time, before comparing the stats to more modern surveys.

What they have revealed is a shocking decline of birds. Over the past five decades, Britain has lost close to 30 million house sparrows, 20 million starlings, four million skylarks, two million blackbirds and one million chaffinches.

Professor Juliet Vickery, the BTO's Chief Executive, says, "BTO's wealth of data means we can confidently report this alarming drop in the U.K.'s breeding bird population."

Nightingales have been hit hard, with populations declining by 90% over the past 50 years. Credit: Karel Zahradka/Shutterstock

"In the last 50 years, my own area of Cambridgeshire farmland has experienced some of the highest declines of species in Britain and Ireland. I can no longer hope to hear nightingales singing or enjoy house martins quite literally sharing my home."

"Future generations may well not hear or see song thrushes, cuckoos or kestrels in the area either. We must all do more to reverse these relentless declines and we need to do it urgently."

The BTO have now published their results on a website that allows anyone in the U.K. to discover which bird species once lived in your local area, and which ones are doing well, simply by entering your postcode.

Crashing numbers

One of the biggest drivers for the decline of British birds, and biodiversity in general, is thought to be changes in agricultural practices and land-use.

This has resulted in farmland birds having suffered the worst declines over the past 50 years, which were at their worst in the late 1970s and 1980s. This was largely due to the rapid changes in farmland management during the 1950s and 1960s. But these declines have continued into recent decades.

Not all species are declining, with wood pigeons helping to bring up the total number of birds in Britain. Credit: Branislav Cerven/Shutterstock

Recent data released by the U.K. government, for example, has found that 48% of all bird species in the U.K. declined in just the five years between 2015 and 2020. While within this period woodland birds were found to be doing the worst, the government data also showed that, overall, it was the farmland birds that have declined the most.

The BTO data underscores this, showing how there are now 73 million fewer birds in our skies. This number, however, is masked by an increase of some 41 million birds from certain species such as wrens, wood pigeons and blackcaps. The total estimated loss of individual birds is actually an even sharper drop of some 114 million.

While these numbers are extremely concerning, we do at least know what is causing them. The destruction of habitats, be it hedgerows surrounding fields or flower rich meadows, the increase in the use of harmful pesticides and shift in agricultural practices that has resulted in a lower diversity of plants being grown, have all played a role.

"Presenting these results at the local level, so that anyone can see the changes that have happened on their doorstep simply by entering their postcode, delivers a powerful message that the U.K.'s birds are in trouble, and that we all need to do more," explains Juliet.

The data from the BTO is vital to a get a better understanding of the true state of nature in the U.K. We now know what is impacting biodiversity in the U.K., and we know how to fix it.

This story is republished courtesy of Natural History Museum. Read the original story here.
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Using the largest butterfly tree of life ever created, scientists have determined where the first butterflies originated and which plants they relied on for food. Credit: Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace and phylogeny by Hillis, Zwickl, and Gutell

About 100 million years ago, a group of trendsetting moths started flying during the day rather than at night, taking advantage of nectar-rich flowers that had co-evolved with bees. This single event led to the evolution of all butterflies.

Scientists have known the precise timing of this event since 2019, when a large-scale analysis of DNA discounted an earlier hypothesis that pressure from bats prompted the evolution of butterflies after the extinction of dinosaurs.

Now, scientists have discovered where the first butterflies originated and which plants they relied on for food.

Before reaching these conclusions, researchers from dozens of countries had to create the world's largest butterfly tree of life, assembled with DNA from more than 2,000 species representing all butterfly families and 92% of genera. Using this framework as a guide, they traced the movements and feeding habits of butterflies through time in a four-dimensional puzzle that led back to North and Central America. According to their results, published May 15 in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, this is where the first butterflies took flight.

For lead author Akito Kawahara, curator of lepidoptera at the Florida Museum of Natural History, the project was a long time coming.

"This was a childhood dream of mine," he said. "It's something I've wanted to do since visiting the American Museum of Natural History when I was a kid and seeing a picture of a butterfly phylogeny taped to a curator's door. It's also the most difficult study I've ever been a part of, and it took a massive effort from people all over the world to complete."

There are some 19,000 butterfly species, and piecing together the 100 million-year history of the group required information about their modern distributions and host plants. Prior to this study, there was no single place that researchers could go to access that type of data.

"In many cases, the information we needed existed in field guides that hadn't been digitized and were written in various languages," Kawahara said.

Undeterred, the authors decided to make their own, publicly available database, painstakingly translating and transferring the contents of books, museum collections and isolated web pages into a single digital repository.

Underlying all these data were 11 rare butterfly fossils, without which the analysis would not have been possible. With paper-thin wings and threadlike, gossamer hairs, butterflies are rarely preserved in the fossil record. The few that are can be used as calibration points on genetic trees, allowing researchers to record timing of key evolutionary events.

The results tell a dynamic storyone rife with rapid diversifications, faltering advances and improbable dispersals. Some groups traveled over impossibly vast distances while others seem to have stayed in one place, remaining stationary while continents, mountains and rivers moved around them.

Butterflies first appeared somewhere in Central and western North America. At the time, North America was bisected by an expansive seaway that split the continent in two, while present-day Mexico was joined in a long arc with the United States, Canada and Russia. North and South America hadn't yet joined via the Isthmus of Panama, but butterflies had little difficulty crossing the strait between them.

Despite the relatively close proximity of South America to Africa, butterflies took the long way around, moving into Asia across the Bering Land Bridge. From there, they quickly covered ground, radiating into Southeast Asia, the Middle East and the Horn of Africa. They even made it to India, which was then an isolated island, separated by miles of open sea on all sides.

Even more astonishing was their arrival in Australia, which remained sutured to Antarctica, the last combined remnant of the supercontinent Pangaea. It's possible butterflies once lived in Antarctica when global temperatures were warmer, making their way across the continent's northern edge into Australia before the two landmasses separated.

Farther north, butterflies lingered on the edge of western Asia for potentially up to 45 million years before finally migrating into Europe. The reason for this extended pause is unclear, but its effects are still apparent today, Kawahara explained.

"Europe doesn't have many butterfly species compared to other parts of the world, and the ones it does have can often be found elsewhere. Many butterflies in Europe are also found in Siberia and Asia, for example."

Once butterflies had become established, they quickly diversified alongside their plant hosts. By the time dinosaurs were snuffed out 66 million years ago, nearly all modern butterfly families had arrived on the scene, and each one seems to have had a special affinity for a specific group of plants.

"We looked at this association over an evolutionary timescale, and in pretty much every family of butterflies, bean plants came out to be the ancestral hosts," Kawahara said. "This was true in the ancestor of all butterflies as well."

Bean plants have since increased their roster of pollinators to include various bees, flies, hummingbirds and mammals, while butterflies have similarly expanded their palate. According to study co-author Pamela Soltis, a Florida Museum curator and distinguished professor, the botanical partnerships that butterflies forged helped transform them from minor offshoot of moths to what is today one of the world's largest groups of insects.

"The evolution of butterflies and flowering plants has been inexorably intertwined since the origin of the former, and the close relationship between them has resulted in remarkable diversification events in both lineages," she said.

More information: Akito Kawahara, A global phylogeny of butterflies reveals their evolutionary history, ancestral hosts and biogeographic origins, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02041-9. www.nature.com/articles/s41559-023-02041-9 Journal information: Nature Ecology & Evolution
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Plass promoted his theory in Scientific American magazine in 1959. Credit: Scientific American (1959)

We have grown so used to many things. To the pictures of wildfires and cremated animals, to the ice sheets calving into the ocean, to the promises of world leaders that they will heed the "last chance" warning of the scientists.

It's hard for anyone under the age of 40 to remember a time when carbon dioxide build-up, whether it was "the greenhouse effect," or "global warming" or "climate change" or now "climate crisis," wasn't in the news.

The long hot summer of 198835 years agois held as the moment that world leaders began to mouth the right pieties.

Presidential candidate (and soon to be president) George H.W. Bush said he would use the "White House effect" to fix the Greenhouse Effect (he didn't). UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher warned of a giant experiment being conducted "with the system of this planet itself."

Thirty-five years. But it was actually 35 years before thatfully 70 years ago this monththat the danger of carbon dioxide build-up in the atmosphere first traveled around the world.

That carbon dioxide trapped heat was uncontroversial. Irish scientist John Tyndall (possibly drawing on the work of an American, Eunice Foote) had shown that it did back in the mid-1800s.

In 1895, Swedish Nobel prize winner Svante Arrhenius had suggested thatover hundreds of yearsthe build-up of carbon dioxide released when humans burn oil, coal and gas might trap so much heat as to melt the tundra and make freezing winters a thing of the past.

His work was challenged, but the idea occasionally popped up in popular journals. In 1938 English steam engineer Guy Callendar suggested to the Royal Meteorological Society in London that warming was underway.

But it was in early May, 1953, at a meeting of the American Geophysical Union, that Canadian physicist Gilbert Plasswho had been corresponding with Callendartold the gathered scientists that trouble was afoot.

Plass said that: "The large increase in industrial activity during the present century is discharging so much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere that the average temperature is rising at the rate of 1.5 degrees per century."

This got picked up by the Associated Press and other wire services and appeared in newspapers all around the world (even as far afield as the Sydney Morning Herald). Plass's warning also popped up in Newsweek on May 18 and in Time on May 25.

The fact that the world was warming was already uncontroversial among scientists. But the emphatic connection with carbon dioxide made by Plass, as opposed to competing theories such as orbital wobbles or sunspot activity, was newsworthy.

Plass had become interested in the question of carbon dioxide buildup while working for the Ford Motor Company. He looked at how carbon dioxide actually functions in the real world, not just at sea level (without getting too technical. Many scientists had dismissed Arrhenius's earlier work on the basis of false confidence that carbon dioxide worked the same there as in the stratosphere).

Plass kept working on the issue, with technical and popular publications through the rest of the 1950s. In 1956, he had an academic article on "the carbon dioxide theory of climate change" published in the Swedish scientific journal Tellus, and also a popular article in the American Scientist. And he was present at the first major meetings to discuss carbon dioxide build up.

Meanwhile, the carbon dioxide theory started getting more coverage among science journalists. One, George Wendt, wrote up the findings in the then well-regarded UNESCO Courier, and this got excerpted in the Irish Times in 1954, the same year that British journalists started mentioning it.

In 1957 the then-new magazine New Scientist mentioned it. By the end of the 1950s, anyone who read a newspaper could have been aware of the basic idea.

Throughout the 50s and 60s US, Swedish, German and Soviet scientists were examining the issue. In 1965 President Lyndon Johnson even namechecked carbon dioxide build-up in an address to Congress.

By the end of the 1960s international collaboration was beginning, though there was caution still. For instance, in April 1969 the American scientist Charles Keeling, who had been measuring atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations at a Hawaiian observatory, revealed that he had been asked to change the title of a lecture from, "If carbon dioxide from fossil fuels is changing man's environment, what will we do about it?" to "Is carbon dioxide from fossil fuel changing man's environment?"

For climate historians like me, the 1970s are a fascinating period of intense measurement, modeling, observation and thinking which, by the end of the decade, produced a working consensus that there was serious trouble ahead. In effect, Plass had nailed it.

When Plass spoke out, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide was at about 310 parts per million. Today, they're 423 or so. Every year, as we burn more oil, coal and gas, the concentration climbs and more heat is trapped.

By the time Plass's warning is 100 years old, the concentrations will be much higher. There's a very good chance we will have gone over the 2C warming level that used to be regarded as "safe."

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Coral reefs in the Red Seasuch as this one in the Gulf of Eilat/Aqabaand Persian Gulf are particularly affected by light pollution. Credit: Sahchaf Ben Ezra

The light pollution caused by coastal cities can trick coral reefs into spawning outside of the optimum times when they would normally reproduce, a new study has found.

Coral broadcast spawning eventsin which lunar cycles trigger the release of eggs on certain nights of the yearare critical to the maintenance and recovery of reefs following mass bleaching and other similar events.

However, using a combination of light pollution data and spawning observations, researchers were able to show for the first time that corals exposed to artificial light at night (ALAN) are spawning one to three days closer to the full moon compared to those on unlit reefs.

Spawning on different nights could reduce the likelihood of coral eggs being fertilized and surviving to produce new adult corals that help reefs to recover after bleaching events and other disturbances.

The research, published in Nature Communications, is the latest to be carried out as part of the Artificial Light Impacts on Coastal Ecosystems (ALICE) project.

It builds on research published in December 2021 that mapped out the areas of the ocean most affected by light pollution.

That study found that at a depth of one meter, 1.9 million sq km of coastal ocean are exposed to biologically important ALAN (around 3.1% of the global Exclusive Economic Zones).

For the new study, researchers paired that data with a global dataset of 2,135 coral spawning observations from the 21st century.

This enabled them to demonstrate that ALAN is possibly advancing the triggers for spawning by creating a perceived period of minimum illuminance between sunset and moonrise on nights following the full moon.

Dr. Thomas Davies, lecturer in marine conservation at the University of Plymouth, is the study's lead author and also principal investigator of the ALICE project. He said, "Corals are critical for the health of the global ocean, but are being increasingly damaged by human activity. This study shows it is not just changes in the ocean that are impacting them, but the continued development of coastal cities as we try and accommodate the growing global population.

"If we want to mitigate against the harm this is causing, we could perhaps look to delay the switching on of night-time lighting in coastal regions to ensure the natural dark period between sunset and moonrise that triggers spawning remains in tact. That would potentially raise a number of economic and safety issues, but is something we potentially need to consider to ensure our coral reefs are given the best chance of survival."

Dr. Tim Smyth, head of science for marine biogeochemistry and observations at Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the study's senior author, added, "This study further emphasizes the importance of artificial light pollution as a stressor of coastal and marine ecosystems, with the impacts on various aspects of biodiversity only now being discovered and quantified. A critical first step along that path was enabled with our global in-water light pollution atlas which highlighted for the first time the true extent of the problem, which hitherto had gone unrecognized."

The study looked at coastal regions all over the world, but coral reefs in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf are particularly affected by light pollution.

They are areas where coastlines have been heavily developed in recent years and where coral reefs are both close to the shore and at particular risk.

Co-author Professor Oren Levy, who heads the Laboratory for Molecular Marine Ecology at Bar-Ilan University in Israel, added, "The Red Sea and the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba are heavily impacted by Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) due to urbanization and the proximity of the reefs to the coastline. Despite the challenges posed by ALAN, corals in the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba are known for their thermal tolerance and ability to withstand high temperatures. However, a disturbance in the timing of coral spawning with the moon phases can result in a decline in new coral recruits and a reduction in the coral population.

"It is crucial that we take immediate action to reduce the impact of ALAN on these fragile marine ecosystems. By implementing measures to limit light pollution, we can protect these vital habitats and safeguard the future of the world's oceans. It's our responsibility to ensure that we preserve the biodiversity of our planet and maintain a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come."

More information: Thomas W. Davies et al, Global disruption of coral broadcast spawning associated with artificial light at night, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38070-y. www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-38070-y Journal information: Nature Communications
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

People who live in communities with higher proportions of Black and Hispanic/Latino residents are more likely to be exposed to harmful levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their water supplies than people living in other communities, according to a new study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The researchers link this finding to the disproportionate siting of sources of PFAS pollutionsuch as major manufacturers, airports, military bases, wastewater treatment plants, and landfillsnear watersheds serving these communities.

The study will be published online May 15, 2023, in Environmental Science & Technology.

In March, the EPA proposed the first-ever national drinking water regulation for six PFAS, which it anticipates finalizing by the end of 2023. The regulation would establish maximum contaminant levels of two PFAS compounds, PFOA and PFOS, at 4 parts per trillion (4 ng/L) and limit the other four. The public comment period ends on May 30.

"Our work suggests that the sociodemographic groups that are often stressed by other factors, including marginalization, racism, and poverty, are also more highly exposed to PFAS in drinking water," said first author Jahred Liddie, a Ph.D. student in population health sciences at Harvard Chan School. "Environmental justice is a major emphasis of the current administration and this work shows it should be considered in the upcoming regulations for PFAS in drinking water."

This is the first peer-reviewed study to show sociodemographic disparities in drinking water PFAS exposures and to statistically link sources such as landfills and airports to PFAS concentrations in community water systems over broad geographic scales.

PFASdubbed "forever chemicals" because of their extreme persistence in the environment due to their characteristic fluorine-carbon backboneare artificial compounds widely used for their stain-resistant and water-resistant properties. PFAS exposure has been associated with numerous adverse health outcomes, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

The researchers used PFAS monitoring data from 7,873 U.S. community water systems in the 18 states in which such data is widespread: California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Their analysis included 44,111 samples collected between January 2016 and August 2022. They also looked at the geographic locations of PFAS sources from multiple databases.

The study found that PFAS detection was positively associated with the number of PFAS sources and proportions of people of color who are served by a water system. Each additional industrial facility, military fire training area, and airport in a community water system's watershed was associated with a 10%108% increase in perfluorooctanoic acid and a 20%34% increase in perfluorooctane sulfonic acid in drinking water.

According to the researchers, about 25% of the population in the 18 states considered in their study were served by community water systems that had levels of PFAS above 5 ng/L. Per this estimate, if the EPA's new proposed level of 4 ng/L is implemented, more than 25% of all Americans are likely to be considered exposed to dangerous levels of PFAS.

"Our findings are particularly concerning because past work on environmental disparities for other pollutants shows marginalized populations are susceptible to greater risks of adverse health outcomes compared to other populations, even at the same exposure levels," said senior author Elsie Sunderland, Fred Kavli Professor of Environmental Chemistry and professor of earth and planetary sciences at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and professor of environmental science and engineering in the Department of Environmental Health at Harvard Chan School. "Regulating releases from PFAS sources and ensuring that people have safe drinking water is especially important in the most vulnerable communities to protect public health."

Laurel Schaider at Silent Spring Institute was a co-author.

More information: Sociodemographic Factors Are Associated with the Abundance of PFAS Sources and Detection in U.S. Community Water Systems, Environmental Science & Technology (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07255 Journal information: Environmental Science & Technology
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

When it comes to reducing pollution in the Chesapeake Bay, throwing more money at the problem may not be enough.

A new independent study suggests better tactics are needed in order to improve the health of the bay and its estuaries.

For the past four years, the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee, an independent entity that provides scientific advice to the regional Chesapeake Bay Program partnership, has reviewed and researched why meeting water quality goals has taken longer than anticipated.

The report, released May 9, says some improvement has been made in the 40 years since the original Chesapeake Bay Agreement was signed. But it says recent progress to reduce pollutants have been lagging.

In 1983, the governors of Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia, the mayor of Washington and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator signed the first joint commitment to addressing the historical decline of the bay's health. Over the years, that mission has evolved and expanded, but the reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus in the watershed has always been central to that effort.

According to the report, watershed models estimated that nitrogen loads to the bay were reduced from 370 million pounds per year in 1985 to approximately 258 million pounds per year in 2021. Phosphorus loads were reduced from 29 million pounds per year in 1985 to approximately 15 million pounds per year in 2021.

"However, modeling and monitoring evidence indicates that current efforts to reduce nutrient loads will not meet the (total maximum daily load) targets," the report reads. "In addition, the (Chesapeake Bay Program's) ambient water quality monitoring program indicates that estuary water quality has been slow to respond to realized nutrient and sediment reductions in many regions of the Bay. The CBP has estimated that 27% of the Bay area met the water quality standards in 1985. By 2020, that figure had only risen to the mid-30% range. The consequences for living resources have not been fully evaluated."

Specifically, improvement has been made in point sources, or wastewater treatment plants, but progress in other areas like farms and developed land is "insufficient" for current goals. Water quality standards are measured by chlorophyll (an indicator of algae growth), underwater grass abundance (an indication of water clarity) and dissolved oxygen levels. This represents the conditions necessary to support the living resources, such as oysters or fish in the bay.

"Moving the needle on improving Bay water quality will require more than just money and effortit will require new approaches to implementation," Dr. Kurt Stephenson, professor in the department of agricultural and applied economics at Virginia Tech, said in a statement. "We hope this report provides the Chesapeake Bay Program with ideas on how to improve nonpoint source programs and increase the potential of water quality management to improve living resources."

The report states that plant and animal species are not dependent on water quality standards alone. Instead, they will likely be affected by a variety of future conditions including disease, water temperature and salinity levels, commercial and recreational harvests and nearshore habitat. The reports says changing conditionssuch as human population growth, land use and climate changewill make future restoration "more challenging."

"The Chesapeake Bay and its surrounding watershed are critical to the livelihood of all its 18 million residents, and changes in land use, population growth, economic development and climate change mean that its past conditions cannot be recreated; the Bay of the future will not be the same as the Bay of the past,'" Denice Wardrop, research professor of geography at Penn State and executive secretary of STAC, said.

"However, significant opportunities exist to improve the effectiveness of our actions, achieving a Bay of equal vitality by building on the significant learnings of the past."

2023 The Virginian-Pilot.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Two men drive past fallen utility poles in Kyauktaw in Myanmar's Rakhine state, hit by Cyclone Mocha.

The death toll from Cyclone Mocha which barrelled through the Bay of Bengal rose on Monday as contact was slowly restored to western Myanmar, with 29 people reported dead.

Cyclone Mocha made landfall between Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh and Myanmar's Sittwe carrying winds of up to 195 kilometers (120 miles) per hour, the biggest storm to hit the Bay of Bengal in more than a decade.

The storm had largely passed by late Sunday, sparing the refugee camps housing almost a million Rohingya in Bangladesh, where officials said there had been no deaths.

Twenty four people were killed in Khaung Doke Kar village tract northwest of Sittwe, a Rohingya camp leader told AFP, requesting anonymity due to fear of reprisals from the junta.

Several others were feared missing from the low-lying tract, home to Rohingya villages and IDP camps, he said.

AFP footage from the area showed wooden fishing boats smashed to splinters and piled up near the shore.

At least five people were killed in Myanmar and "some residents" were injured, the military junta said in an earlier statement, without giving details.

More than 860 houses and 14 hospitals or clinics had been damaged across the country, it said.

Communications were still patchy on Monday with Rakhine state's capital Sittwe, home to around 150,000 people and which bore the brunt of the storm according to cyclone trackers.

A man fixes his house's roof which was destroyed by Cyclone Mocha, on Shahpori island on the outskirts of Teknaf, Bangladesh.

Hundreds of people who had sheltered on higher ground were returning to the city along a road littered with trees, pylons and power cables, AFP correspondents said.

In Sittwe, power pylons hung low over deserted streets and trees still standing were stripped of leaves.

At least five people had died in the city and around 25 had been injured, local rescue worker Ko Lin Lin told AFP.

It was not clear whether any of them were included in the death toll in the junta's statement.

Mocha made landfall on Sunday, bringing a storm surge and high winds that toppled a communications tower in Sittwe, according to images published on social media.

"I was in a Buddhist monastery when the storm came," one resident told AFP.

"The prayer hall and monk dining hall have collapsed. We had to move from this building and that building. Now roads are blocked as trees and pylons are fallen."

Junta-affiliated media reported that the storm had put hundreds of base stations, which connect mobile phones to networks, out of action in Rakhine.

The track and forecast track of Cyclone Mocha as of May 14, the Bay of Bengal's first cyclone of the year.

'Extensive damage'

The United Nations said communications problems meant it had not yet been able to assess the damage in Rakhine, which has been ravaged by ethnic conflict for years.

"Early reports suggest the damage is extensive," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said late on Sunday.

Bangladesh officials said they had evacuated 750,000 people.

Secretary of the disaster management ministry, Kamrul Hasan, told AFP on Monday no one had died in the cyclone.

The damage was also minimal in the Rohingya camps, where about a million people live in 190,000 bamboo and tarpaulin shelters, officials said.

"Although the impact of the cyclone could have been much worse, the refugee camps have been severely affected, leaving thousands desperately needing help," the UN said as it made a urgent appeal for aid.

Jomila Banu, a 20-year-old Rohingya woman from Nayapara refugee camp at Teknaf, said, "The roof of my home has been blown away by the wind, now I am eating rice under the open sky with my children."

A man walks past fallen trees after Cyclone Mocha crashed ashore, in Kyauktaw in Myanmar's Rakhine state.

Better forecasting and more effective evacuation planning have dramatically reduced the death toll from such storms in recent years.

Scientists have warned that storms are becoming more powerful as the world gets warmer because of climate change.

Cyclonesthe equivalent of hurricanes in the North Atlantic or typhoons in the Northwest Pacificare a regular and deadly menace on the coast of the northern Indian Ocean where tens of millions of people live.

Cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar's Irrawaddy Delta in 2008, killing at least 138,000 people.

The then-junta faced international criticism for its response to the disaster. It was accused of blocking emergency aid and initially refusing to grant access to humanitarian workers and supplies.

 2023 AFP
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Members of the Sunderland Lab sampling for PFAS contamination on Cape Cod. Credit: Michael Salerno

Earlier this year, the US Environmental Protection Agency proposed maximum allowable levels in drinking water for six PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)so-called forever chemicals. But the draft standards do not account for half of the PFAS at contaminated sites across the country.

The findings are from a team led by the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and are published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

PFAS are present in fire retardant foams among other products and have been building up in the environment since they were first invented by Dupont in the 1930s and manufactured widely by 3M beginning in the 1950s. Exposures to some PFAS are linked to a range of health risks including cancer, immune suppression, diabetes, and low infant birth weight.

PFAS compounds come in two forms: a precursor form and a terminal form. Most of the monitored PFAS compounds are terminal compounds. The EPA's draft drinking water rules are for six terminal compounds that do not degrade under normal environmental conditions. Precursor compounds can be transformed through biological or environmental processes into terminal forms. There are many precursor compounds, most of which are not routinely monitored, and none are currently regulated.

The U.S. military is the largest global user of fire-retardant foams containing PFAS known as AFFF (aqueous film forming foam). For decades, hundreds of military bases across the U.S. and around the world used AFFF containing high levels of PFAS for fire training drills and fighting fires. AFFF use is one of the largest sources of PFAS contamination in drinking water.

"Many PFAS precursors present in AFFF are difficult to measure. This work shows that they are slowly transforming into PFAS of health concern at AFFF-contaminated sites and contributing to downstream contamination" said Elsie Sunderland, Fred Kavli Professor of Environmental Chemistry and Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at SEAS and senior author on the new paper.

Much of the PFAS at military sites consists of precursors that are omitted from standard analytical methods. Using a method previously developed in the Sunderland lab that captures all precursors in AFFF, the Harvard team modeled the expected duration and contribution of those precursors to groundwater contamination. The study finds that contamination of two of the newly regulated PFAS chemicals (perfluorohexane sulfonate: PFHxS and perfluorbutane sulfonate: PFBS) at one military base on Cape Cod, Massachusetts are sustained by microbial precursor biotransformation in the soil. These precursors are retained in the soil where they leach into groundwater in terminal form at concentrations thousands of times greater than the safe levels established by the EPA.

The researchers projected using a computer model and field data that, without remediation, widespread PFAS contamination of drinking water supplies near military facilities is likely to persist for centuries. Despite contamination of nearby aquifers that may already pose a risk to human health, the majority of PFAS are still sitting in the soils surrounding these contaminated sites, emphasizing the urgent need for advances in remediation technology that are effective at cleaning up both terminal and precursor compounds. Since regulations focus only on terminal compounds, the effectiveness of current remediation technologies at cleaning up precursors is not known.

The researchers concluded that elevated PFAS exposures downstream of more than 300 U.S. military facilities that used the fire-fighting foams could similarly persist for centuries.

"The role of PFAS precursors in sustaining hazardous levels of contamination at Joint Base Cape Cod raises concern about whether exposure risks are underestimated near hundreds of other sites where they are not measured" said Bridger Ruyle, the first author of the study and former doctoral student in Sunderland's Lab.

The public comment period for EPA's draft PFAS drinking water regulation closes on May 30. While a step in the right direction, there are thousands of PFAS chemical structures, several hundred of which have already been detected in the environment, Sunderland notes.

In related work also published in Environmental Science & Technology today, Sunderland's group also has shown that the number of military fire training areas within a watershed is a good predictor for PFAS contamination in a community's drinking water supply. But some groups are at higher risk than others; a forthcoming publication by the Sunderland lab documents marked sociodemographic disparities in exposures to PFAS and proximity to PFAS sources across the country.

Additional authors include Colin Thackray and Chad Vecitis of Harvard; Craig Butt of AB Sciex LLC; and Denis LeBlanc and Andrea Tokranov of the U.S. Geological Survey.

More information: Centurial Persistence of Forever Chemicals at Military Fire Training 2 Sites, Environmental Science & Technology (2023). Journal information: Environmental Science & Technology
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Healthy resistant barley (right) and susceptible barley shows symptoms of Fusarium head blight (left). Credit: Brian Steffenson, University of Minnesota

When Fusarium head blight (FHB) threatens winter barley, the best time to apply a fungicide is about six days after full barley head emergence, according to a recent study published in Plant Disease.

FHB, also known as scab, is a fungal disease that attacks small grains, discoloring the heads and contaminating the grain with the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON), a toxic compound also known as vomitoxin. For barley, the most common grain used to make malt for beer and spirits, even a small amount of DON can cause crops to be rejected by purchasers. The disease in malted barley kernels may lead to gushing, or the rapid and uncontrolled foaming of beer, making the crop unusable for beer production.

In a four-year study, researchers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the University of Minnesota assessed three different fungicides for FHB reduction. The researchers evaluated the amount of DON present in mature winter barley heads following a fungicide application at one of three growth stageshalf heading, full heading, and six days after full barley head emergence.

"The latest timing of fungicide application reduced DON significantly more than the early timing for all three fungicides tested in the study,"said Christina Cowger, small grains pathologist at ARS's Plant Science Research Unit in Raleigh, North Carolina. "Applying fungicide before all heads were emerged did not significantly reduce DON in winter barley as compared to not spraying at all. If scab is threatening, growers should wait about six days after barley heads have all appeared before applying fungicide."

According to Cowger, eastern U.S. barley growers have two main tools for FHB managementplant moderately resistant varieties and apply a fungicide. By understanding the best timing for fungicide to minimize FHB, growers can manage high-FHB epidemic years and maximize profits from malting barley.

FHB is one of the factors limiting the global production of barley since it can result in yield loss and economic damage. According to the American Phytopathological Society, the disease has cost U.S. wheat and barley farmers more than $3 billion since 1990.

"Year in and year out, FHB is the disease that most threatens profitable wheat and barley production in the U.S.," Cowger said. "Knowing how to get the most out of our FHB management tools is key to small grain profitability."

More information: Christina Cowger et al, Optimal timing of fungicide application to manage Fusarium head blight in winter barley, Plant Disease (2023). DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-01-23-0021-RE
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Electron microscope images of various glass particles identified from China's Chang'e-5 lunar samples. Credit: Laiquan Shen, R.Z. et al. (2023)

Through the Artemis Program, NASA plans to send the first astronauts to the moon in over 50 years. Before the decade is over, this program aims to establish the infrastructure that will allow for a "sustained program of lunar exploration and development." The European Space Agency (ESA) also has big plans, which include the creation of a moon Village that will serve as a spiritual successor to the International Space Station (ISS). China and Roscosmos also came together in June 2021 to announce that they would build the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) around the lunar south pole.

In all cases, space agencies plan to harvest local resources to meet their construction and long-term needsa process known as in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). Based on samples returned by the fifth mission of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program (Chang'e-5), a team of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) identified indigenous glass fibers for the first time. According to a paper they authored, these fibers were formed by past impacts in the region and could be an ideal building material for future lunar bases.

The work was led by Rui Zhao, Laiquan Shen, Dongdong Xiao, and Chao Chang from the CAS Institute of Physics (IOP) in Beijing. They were joined by researchers from the Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), the Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, the Qian Xuesen Laboratory of Space Technology, the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), and the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Nanjing University. The team's paper, "Diverse glasses revealed from Chang'E-5 lunar regolith," recently appeared in the National Science Review.

As the IOP team indicated in their paper, lunar glasses are an important component of lunar soils and are produced by various processes. Altogether, they identified five types based on the formation process involved: volcanic, impact, adhered, deposited, and irradiated. These glasses can remain stable for billions of years, providing a geological record of the moon and leading to a better understanding of its formation and evolution. This includes questions relating to the duration of volcanism, the Late Heavy Bombardment, the origins of lunar water, and the presence of a lunar magnetic field.

The team determined that impacts are the most active processes on the lunar surface, as they are "highly heterogeneous in both temporal and spatial scale"i.e., impacts are an ongoing phenomenon, unlike volcanism and other geological activity that ended billions of years ago. By studying the diverse glasses in the 1.73 kg (3.8 lbs) of lunar regolith returned by Chang'E-5 (CE-5) from the northern mare region Oceanus Procellarum, they were able to clarify their origins and attribute to three main mechanisms: impact, deposition, and irradiation.

As they state, the samples were quite different from those returned by the Apollo astronauts and the Soviet Luna program, suggesting that different mechanisms were at work in Oceanus Procellarum: "Compared with previous Apollo and Luna returned samples that are limited in narrow volcanism ages of 3.93.0 Ga and cover only about 4.4% of the lunar nearside surface, the CE-5 samples are collected from the youngest lunar region dated to 2.0 Ga and higher mid-high latitude, allowing the moon to be studied in an extended spatiotemporal range. Preliminary characterizations show that the CE-5 samples are mature samples, but have a significantly lower glass content of 8.3%20.0% than that of Apollo samples (25.4%72.3%), implying quite different space environment from Apollo sites."

Schematic of the origins of diverse lunar glasses and the corresponding lunar activities. Credit: Laiquan Shen, R.Z. et al. (2023)

Upon characterizing the samples' morphological, microstructural, and geochemical properties, the team found that the CE-5 samples contained various glassy materials. As shown in the image above, this included glass particles of various shapes, such as globules, ellipsoids, dumbbells, and teardrops (a to i). They also noted the presence of elongated glass fibers that (based on their elongation) ranged in shape from tadpoles (n), maces (o), and filaments (p). They further concluded that these fibers were formed by molten materials created by impacts that cooled upon contact with the lunar environment.

These fibers would make for a highly effective construction material, consistent with proposals for building lunar bases through ISRU. The IOP team indicated this by addressing previous attempts to fabricate artificial glass fibers from lunar regolith simulants in the lab.

In short, their analysis demonstrated that these fibers could be harvested on the moon and used to fabricate the necessary materials: "[Attempts were made using] lunar simulant materials to fabricate artificial glass fibers in laboratories for future lunar base construction. Our findings directly demonstrate that glass fibers can be produced in-situ on the moon, which could inspire space fabrication of glass fibers such as homogeneous optical fibers and strengthening structural fibers required by future lunar bases."

Before space agencies can construct long-term habitats on the moon, research that characterizes the lunar environment and its resources is absolutely essential. In addition to providing new insight into the many processes that have shaped the lunar surface over time, the IOP study could provide a pathway toward the creation of permanent bases on the moon. This research could also inform future missions to Mars, which NASA and China plan to commence by 2033. These missions include the creation of surface habitats, and further characterization of the Martian environment could lead to specialized construction methods.

More information: Rui Zhao et al, Diverse glasses revealed from Chang'E-5 lunar regolith, National Science Review (2023). DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwad079
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Scientists collected high-quality DNA from footprints made by one of the researchers on an uninhabited island, which was otherwise devoid of human DNA. Sequencing the DNA revealed identifiable information about the participants genome. Credit: David Duffy

On the beach. In the ocean. Traveling along riverways. In muggy Florida and chilly Ireland. Even floating through the air.

We cough, spit, shed and flush our DNA into all of these places and countless more. Signs of human life can be found nearly everywhere, short of isolated islands and remote mountaintops, according to a new University of Florida study.

That ubiquity is both a scientific boon and an ethical dilemma, say the UF researchers who sequenced this widespread DNA. The DNA was of such high quality that the scientists could identify mutations associated with disease and determine the genetic ancestry of nearby populations. They could even match genetic information to individual participants who had volunteered to have their errant DNA recovered.

David Duffy, the UF professor of wildlife disease genomics who led the project, says that ethically handled environmental DNA samples could benefit fields from medicine and environmental science to archaeology and criminal forensics. For example, researchers could track cancer mutations from wastewater or spot undiscovered archaeological sites by checking for hidden human DNA. Or detectives could identify suspects from the DNA floating in the air of a crime scene.

Jessica Farrell and Sean Goggin collecting water samples at Moultrie Creek, St. Augustine Florida. Credit: Todd Osbourne

But this level of personal information must be handled extremely carefully. Now, scientists and regulators must grapple with the ethical dilemmas inherent in accidentallyor intentionallysweeping up human genetic information, not from blood samples but from a scoop of sand, a vial of water or a person's breath.

Published May 15 in Nature Ecology and Evolution, the paper by Duffy's group outlines the relative ease of collecting human DNA nearly everywhere they looked.

"We've been consistently surprised throughout this project at how much human DNA we find and the quality of that DNA," Duffy said. "In most cases the quality is almost equivalent to if you took a sample from a person."

Because of the ability to potentially identify individuals, the researchers say that ethical guardrails are necessary for this kind of research. The study was conducted with approval from the institutional review board of UF, which ensures that ethical guidelines are adhered to during research studies.

Fiona Duffy and Daivd Duffy filtering water samples, Wicklow Ireland. DNA was found everywhere they sampled a river except the remote mountain top where the river starts. Credit: Jenny Whilde

"It's standard in science to make these sequences publicly available. But that also means if you don't screen out human information, anyone can come along and harvest this information," Duffy said. "That raises issues around consent. Do you need to get consent to take those samples? Or institute some controls to remove human information?"

Duffy's team at UF's Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital has successfully used environmental DNA, or eDNA, to study endangered sea turtles and the viral cancers they are susceptible to. They've plucked useful DNA out of turtle tracks in the sand, greatly accelerating their research program.

The scientists knew that human eDNA would end up in their turtle samples and probably many other places they looked. With modern genetic sequencing technology, it's now straightforward to sequence the DNA of every organism in an environmental sample. The questions were how much human DNA there would be and whether it was intact enough to harbor useful information.

The team found quality human DNA in the ocean and rivers surrounding the Whitney Lab, both near town and far from human settlement, as well as in sand from isolated beaches. In a test facilitated by the National Park Service, the researchers traveled to part of a remote island never visited by people. It was free of human DNA, as expected. But they were able to retrieve DNA from voluntary participants' footprints in the sand and could sequence parts of their genomes, with permission from the anonymous participants.

Duffy also tested the technique in his native Ireland. Tracing along a river that winds through town on its way to the ocean, Duffy found human DNA everywhere but the remote mountain stream where the river starts, far from civilization.

The scientists also collected room air samples from a veterinary hospital. They recovered DNA matching the staff, the animal patient and common animal viruses.

Now that it's clear human eDNA can be readily sampled, Duffy says it's time for policymakers and scientific communities to take issues around consent and privacy seriously and balance them against the possible benefits of studying this errant DNA.

"Any time we make a technological advance, there are beneficial things that the technology can be used for and concerning things that the technology can be used for. It's no different here," Duffy said. "These are issues we are trying to raise early so policy makers and society have time to develop regulations."

More information: David Duffy, Inadvertent human genomic bycatch and intentional capture raise beneficial applications and ethical concerns with environmental DNA, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02056-2. www.nature.com/articles/s41559-023-02056-2 Journal information: Nature Ecology & Evolution
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Schematic illustration of inclusion complexation and crystallization inhibition abilities of cyclodextrins (CDs) on the model drugs: carvedilol (CVD) and chlorthalidone (CLT). Credit: Kunikazu Moribe from Chiba University, Japan

In the medicine market, most newly introduced drugs and drug candidates show poor water solubility, which prevents their absorption in the body. This, in turn, limits their therapeutic efficiency. Solubilizing agents such as cyclodextrins (CDs) are commonly employed to enhance their solubility.

CDs have a cyclic structure featuring a hydrophilic exterior and a hydrophobic cavity inside that can enclose drug molecules to form inclusion complexes. However, solubilization does not necessarily enhance drug adsorption in the body, since the solubilized drugs cannot readily pass through biological membranes.

One way to improve the permeability of drugs through biological membranes is by increasing their concentration in the solution to form a supersaturated state. However, supersaturated states are unstable as the drug tends to precipitate and form crystals, limiting its effectiveness.

To prevent this, the addition of effective crystallization inhibitors is necessary to stabilize drug supersaturation over a long period. CD derivatives are particularly advantageous as they can solubilize drugs as well as inhibit their crystallization. However, the mechanism underlying their crystallization inhibition effect remains poorly understood.

In this light, a study led by researchers from Chiba University, Japan, recently investigated the impact of 12 different CD derivatives with varying hydrophobic cavity sizes on crystallization inhibition of two poorly water-soluble drugscarvedilol (CVD) and chlorthalidone (CLT).

Their work was published in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics. It involved contributions from Professor Kunikazu Moribe, Associate Professor Kenjirou Higashi, and Assistant Professor Keisuke Ueda.

"Different solubilization abilities of CD derivatives lead to different drug supersaturation levels, resulting in a misestimation of their crystallization inhibition strength. Thus, a systematic analysis of the drug crystallization inhibition effect while considering the solubilization effect of CD derivatives is essential," explains lead author Mengyao Liu, a Ph.D. student at the Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology at the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Chiba University.

The researchers evaluated the solubilization and crystal inhibition effect of each CD derivative on the two drugs by performing phase solubility tests and measuring the crystallization induction timethe time taken for a supersaturated solution to form crystals. In a phase solubility test, they dissolved the drugs in CD derivative solutions of different concentrations and examined their solubility.

For measuring the crystallization induction time, the researchers added the drugs in drops to form supersaturated solutions and then analyzed their concentrations at different time intervals after removing the precipitated crystals.

The phase solubility tests revealed that the addition of -CD and -CD derivatives improved the solubility of CVD. However, CLT's solubility was enhanced only by the -CD derivative. "Notably, the degree of solubility improvement depends on the ability to form stable inclusion complexes that, in turn, depends on the size fitness between the drug molecule and the CD cavity," explains Prof. Moribe.

However, there was no correlation between the solubilization effect of the different CD derivations and their crystallization inhibition abilities. Moreover, methylated CD derivatives were more effective than their unmethylated counterparts in maintaining the supersaturated state. The researchers attributed the crystallization inhibition ability of the methylated CD derivatives to their highly hydrophobic outer surfaces, which sterically hinder the nucleation and crystal growth processes, and thus maintain the supersaturated state.

"We have discovered a novel function of methylated CD derivatives as effective stabilizers for supersaturated drugs, an effect that is independent of their inclusion complex formation ability," says Prof. Moribe.

In conclusion, these findings shed light on the potential application of CD derivatives in drug-supersaturated formulations, which, in turn, could facilitate the clinical use of poorly water-soluble drug candidates.

More information: Mengyao Liu et al, Supersaturation maintenance of carvedilol and chlorthalidone by cyclodextrin derivatives: Pronounced crystallization inhibition ability of methylated cyclodextrin, International Journal of Pharmaceutics (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.122876

Provided by Chiba University
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Annual estimates of the CH 4 emissions reported in previous studies. The dashed blue line represents the mean CH 4 emissions estimates across all the studies. The period for which emissions are reported is mentioned above the individual studies, and the year and the last name of the first author of the study are listed on the horizontal axis. Credit: Environmental Research Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/acb6a9

Researchers found that emissions of the powerful greenhouse gas dropped for several years near the nation's second-largest metropolitan area.

Two recent studies by researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California used contrasting approaches to measure drops in human-caused emissions of the potent greenhouse gas methane in recent years in the Los Angeles region.

In the first study, published in February in Environmental Research Letters, scientists analyzed data from ground-based sensors scattered around four counties in densely populated Southern California: Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside. They found emissions fell by about 7% between 2015 and 2020a reduction of 33 million pounds (15 million kilograms) of methane released per year.

The second study, published in March in Environmental Research Communications, compared emissions from a belt of oil refineries across the South Bay area of Los Angeles during the first summer of the COVID-19 pandemic to those observed three years earlier. Using data from a NASA airborne instrument, researchers saw that most of the facilities they identified as methane sources in the earlier campaign were no longer emitting the greenhouse gas, leading to a 73% reduction in measured emissions. While such a reduction around COVID disruptions was not necessarily surprising, the result was important for demonstrating scientists' ability to track point sources of methane.

Methane has a much shorter atmospheric lifespan than carbon dioxidearound 12 years, compared to centuries for carbon dioxidebut it absorbs much more energy while it exists in the atmosphere. Therefore, reducing human-caused emissions of the gas is a particularly effective way to make significant, short-term impacts on global climate change.

"These papers demonstrate that methane reductions are not only possible, they're measurable through persistent monitoring," said Andrew Thorpe, lead author of the COVID-period study and a JPL research technologist.

That two studies could use different techniques to identify and quantify emissions trends is crucial for generating confidence in the conclusions drawn from methane observations, added Vineet Yadav, a JPL data scientist and lead author of the first paper.

"The important thing is to determine whether emissions are increasing or declining, and for that it's helpful to have more than one approach," said Yadav, whose study employs two techniques. "If you are turning the information over to decision-makers, you have to be sure."

Focusing on the region

Yadav's paper is based on measurements from eight spectroscopic sensors that were installed as part of the Megacities Carbon Project, a multiagency collaboration currently monitoring greenhouse gases in the Los Angeles, Indianapolis, and Washington areas. The sensors have been gathering data across a large swath of Southern California since 2015 and enabled researchers to study an area that stretches from the beaches of Malibu in the west to the mountains and deserts of San Bernardino and Riverside counties in the east. It also extends south through all of Orange County.

The researchers found that month-to-month fluctuations in methane concentrations measured at each sensor tower gradually fell from 2015 to 2020 and well into 2022a strong indication that local emissions of the gas were also decreasing. Then, using a mathematical model to estimate the emissions decrease, Yadav and colleagues found the areas covered by the Granada Hills and Ontario sensors accounted for much of the drop in annual emissions from 2015 to 2020.

Although the paper doesn't cite causes of the emission reductions in those two locales, Yadav suspects they resulted from better management of natural gas pipelines and equipment, which in turn led to lower fugitiveor accidentalmethane releases. Improved infrastructure at a massive waste site near Granada Hills likely also played a role.

Focusing on refineries

Rather than analyzing data from ground sensors, the study focusing on oil refineries uses measurements made by an imaging spectrometer called AVIRIS-NG (Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer-Next Generation). Attached to the bottom of an aircraft, the instrument can detect greenhouse gas emissions from individual facilities or even pieces of equipment by looking at how the gases absorb sunlight.

In 2016 and 2017, AVIRIS-NG was flown over 22,000 square miles (57,000 square kilometers) of the state as part of the California Methane Survey. From July to September 2020, researchers retraced some of those flight paths over refineries and power plants in Los Angeles County and over oilfields in central California's San Joaquin Valley.

The 2020 surveys over Los Angeles identified only 11 plumes from five refinery sources, with a total emissions rate of about 712 pounds (323 kilograms) of methane per hour. The 2016 and '17 flights had found 48 plumes from 33 sources, with a total emissions rate of roughly 2,639 pounds (1,197 kilograms methane) per hour.

The drop correlates with an 18% decrease in monthly production in Southern California refineries between the two flight campaigns, the scientists noted, citing data from the California Energy Commission. The study also found that emissions from oilfields in and around the city of Bakersfield in central California fell 34.2%, correlating with a 24.2% drop in oil production.

Thorpe said that reduced production during the pandemic due to lower demand for fuel and depressed oil prices could have led to the drop in methane emissions, as oilfields and refineries emitted less methane during operations. However, he added, improved equipment maintenance and mitigation efforts at those facilities between 2016 and 2020 can't be ruled out as a factor.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's estimate of global atmospheric methane concentration accelerated after 2020, "underscoring the critical need to reduce emissions," Thorpe writes in the paper. Being able to accurately detect and measure emissions is a key step, both he and Yadav said.

More information: Vineet Yadav et al, A declining trend of methane emissions in the Los Angeles basin from 2015 to 2020, Environmental Research Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/acb6a9 A K Thorpe et al, Methane emissions decline from reduced oil, natural gas, and refinery production during COVID-19, Environmental Research Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1088/2515-7620/acb5e5 Journal information: Environmental Research Letters
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Research shows the ongoing uncertainty for refugees about their visa status can have a devastating impact on their mental health. Credit: Shutterstock

In February this year, the Albanese government announced that thousands of refugees living in Australia who were on Temporary Protection Visas (TPV) and Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEV) would now be moved onto a permanent visa known as a Resolution of Status Visa (ROS).

When making the announcement, Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said this would end the limbo for refugees after they had "endured ten years of uncertainty".

The change was welcomed by an estimated 20,000 refugees who can move to permanent visas. They are part of a larger group of around 31,000 asylum seekers who arrived in Australia by boat before January 2014. Known collectively as the "legacy caseload", their refugee status was subject to a "fast track" process.

The trauma of uncertainty

The minister's recognition of the impact of visa uncertainty resonates with recently published research we conducted with lawyers and migration agents who work with this group. They encountered clients in mental health crises, feeling marginalized, defeated and in some cases "lethal hopelessness".

This research adds to existing evidence about the negative impact of temporary visas on the mental health of asylum seekers. The research goes further and found that years of delays and the process itself contributed to deteriorating mental health.

This research reveals how the government can use a trauma-informed approach to end visa uncertainty and create a shared future.

What is the new procedure for obtaining permanent residence? What are the options for those who do not have a TPV or a SHEV? How can the government end ongoing uncertainty for them?

Resolution of Status Visas

Refugees who currently hold TPVs and SHEVs will be eligible for a permanent Resolution of Status Visa.

Processing is under way and as of late March 2023 100 visas have already been granted. The department predicts most of these visas will be granted within 12 months. Funding to provide legal assistance to refugees is a welcome step towards facilitating a sense of stability and predictability as they await a visa.

Permanent visas will mean refugees can begin the process of family reunion after over a decade of separation. Last year, the government removed policy barriers that meant sponsors who arrived by boat were the lowest priority in the visas queue.

However, processing delays, high visa charges and strict rules around which family can be sponsored to Australia will mean refugees will continue to face ongoing separation from their partners and children.

What happens to those who do not hold a TPV or SHEV?

Giles has stated that the February 13 announcement "includes a pathway for all those in the cohort who are ultimately found to be owed protection".

Statistics published by the department in February 2023 state there are 9,861 people who have been through the fast-track process and were refused visas. Around 5,000 of those are challenging those refusals in the courts. If successful, their cases will be re-examined by the Immigration Assessment Authority (IAA). If they are then found to be a refugee, they would be eligible for a Resolution of Status Visa.

Others may seek ministerial intervention. In late 2021, almost 200 people from Afghanistan were waiting for the minister to use his personal discretion to allow them to reapply for protection based on the Taliban takeover in 2021.

The minister also has the discretion to grant visas to individuals who may not meet refugee criteria, but may have Australian citizen partners, children or employersas already done in the case of the Nadesalingham family.

Flaws in the fast-track process and in particular with the review process of the IAA have been documented previously. Dismantling the "fast track" system was part of the Labor Party platform. But, to date, no announcements have been made and the IAA continues to hear cases.

Reform may come as part of the upcoming overhaul of the administrative review system. What changes, if any, might be made are unclear, but this group of people face ongoing limbo.

Deterioration in mental health is directly linked to treatment

While the minister has declared there is a pathway for all those who are found to be owed protection, there continues to be doubt about what will happen to those whose cases have been refused.

In 2018 and 2019, we surveyed and interviewed lawyers and migration agents who worked directly with clients going through the "fast track" assessment process. They heard stories of overwhelming emotions (for example, despair and anger) as well as witnessing self-harm and suicidal behavior.

A key driver of people's mental distress was their inability to apply for a visa for several years. This was followed by a difficult and fast-paced application process in which they were expected to relay their stories of persecution. Many individuals were distressed and destabilized before the process began.

Legal professionals described clients feeling trapped by ongoing visa insecurity and having no control over their future. Family separation combined with uncertainty about their future undermined individuals' capacity to cope with everyday life and decision-making.

These findings have significant practical implications for how the government handles law reform and policy development with this group. For those who have now found permanency, uncertainty around family reunification will continue to be a significant stressor. There are options to amend laws, policies and processes, which would make them more humane.

Clarity and trauma-informed approaches are essential. For those who do not hold a TPV or SHEV, the Australian government should urgently collaborate with community groups, mental health experts and legal providers to co-design pathways and communication on how their cases will be reviewed and progressed.

A recent High Court decision relating to how the minister's intervention powers have been exercised will force a review.

The government has an opportunity to amend the guidelines and provide clear guidance for this group, which will allow those who were refused under the "fast track" system to be considered for visas that provide a pathway to certainty.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Let's say you're a corn grower farming on low-fertility soil. How do you go about making that soil healthier and more fertile? Many farmers think if they add plenty of nitrogen fertilizer, that nutrient, along with carbon, will be stored in the soil as organic matter when microbes decompose crop residue. But new research from the University of Illinois suggests those efforts might not work for poor soils.

The new study, published in the Soil Science Society of America Journal, compared corn residue decomposition in high- and low-fertility, with and without nitrogen fertilizers. The results came as a surprise.

"Corn residue decomposed significantly faster in poor, low-nitrogen-supplying soils compared to a fertile soil, especially when we added nitrogen, which stimulated microbial activity. It was a surprise, based on our earlier findings that showed high-nitrogen corn residue broke down faster," said study author Tanjila Jesmin, doctoral researcher in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES), part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at U of I.

Richard Mulvaney, professor in NRES and study co-author, explained poor soils have fewer aggregate particles, small craggy nuggets that house soil microbes and give soil its structure. With fewer aggregates, free-wheeling microbes roam loose in the soil, encountering carbon more frequently, gobbling it up, and creating carbon dioxide as a byproduct.

"In a poor soil with less aggregate stability, microbes have greater access to the residues and the carbon. And when there's a high nitrogen supply, they also have a high demand for carbon as an energy source. Eventually, their demand may exceed the carbon supply in residues, which may cause them to attack organic matter in the soil," Mulvaney said. "The microbes just keep burning it and evolving more carbon dioxide. It's a downward spiral."

To learn how soils of contrasting fertility mineralized carbon in the presence of corn residue, Jesmin performed a soil incubation study in the lab. She collected two soils of the same type from production fields in Central Illinois, one with high native nitrogen content and one depleted in nitrogen after 70 years of continuous cropping. She also collected corn residues from a single field; this time, the corn tissue didn't differ in terms of nitrogen content.

Jesmin incubated the soils in jars after applying different combinations of corn residues and one of two fertilizers: potassium nitrate or ammonium sulfate. She monitored continuous carbon dioxide emissions and intermittent changes in microbial activities from the incubation jars over a two-month period as a measure of microbial carbon mineralization.

"Fertilizer increased residue decomposition rates for both soils, but the fertilizer types behaved differently according to soil fertility," Jesmin said. "Potassium nitrate was more effective for increasing the residue decomposition rate in low-nitrogen soil, whereas ammonium sulfate had a greater effect in the high-nitrogen soil."

Jesmin also noted an acidification effect of fertilizer in the low-nitrogen soil, an issue that can limit roots' access to essential nutrients and deepen the downward spiral for poor soils.

"For me, the striking message from this paper is that it's not possible to improve low fertility soil by applying more fertilizer nitrogen to grow more residues. You can put nitrogen in the soil, but you can't keep it," Mulvaney said.

He added nitrogen management could potentially make a difference in low-fertility soils, for example applying fertilizer during the growing season as crops demand it. He also suggested reducing tillage intensity.

"Tillage, of course, is a factor that promotes mineralization, carbon dioxide production, and residue decomposition. Maybe if you go to a system like no-till, that could be useful for reducing microbial activities and their access to those residue carbon sources," he said. "It might help."

More information: Tanjila Jesmin et al, Residue and nitrogeninduced carbon mineralization varies with soil fertility status, Soil Science Society of America Journal (2023). DOI: 10.1002/saj2.20530 Journal information: Soil Science Society of America Journal
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

With record-breaking storms wreaking havoc throughout California, even rabbits need rescuing.

For months, a team from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has navigated the Central Valley looking to rescue from rising floodwaters stranded riparian brush rabbits, a small, brown and white creature listed as an endangered species.

Using canoes and motorboats, the five team members have trekked out in rivers from sunrise to past sundown in the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge to rescue rabbits. Some are stranded on high ground, on bush branches or trees. They are then taken to higher ground as the river water level floods the region.

During operations in January and March, 286 rabbits have been rescued, said Fumika Takahashi, wildlife biologist at the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which includes the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge.

More operations are planned for next week.

"These rabbits are resilient, they bounce back, but each one you rescue becomes important," she said.

The rescue effort comes couple of months after the state endured one of the wettest winters in years.

According to Fish and Wildlife Service, the riparian rabbit was believed to be found only in Caswell Memorial State Park and near Lathrop. But with dangerously low numbers, the species was reintroduced into the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge, about 75 miles northeast of San Jose.

"Riparian brush rabbits are especially vulnerable to floods because they live at the edges of rivers," refuge manager Eric Hopson said in a statement. "They only live in a small area and there aren't many of them, so events like this can have a big impact on their population and recovery."

Living near rivers, the animals have evolved to be able to survive floods, Takahashi said, but not for extended periods of time as they've had to do so this year.

"They're actually really good at climbing on vegetation and can even swim short distances," she said. "But when we have these large floods, there's very little high ground for them to escape to."

Animals in the area have seen the San Joaquin River flood in the past, most recently in 2017. But climate change and the current landscape, with growing farms in the area, have meant the rabbit can no longer flee upland. Levees around the river have cut off the escape path for rabbits, and the flooding has directly affected their habitat.

Because of this, officials created what are known as "bunny mounds," or areas of high land in flood-prone areas where the animals can escape to during flood events. But these areas are also limited in food and can sometimes leave the rabbits exposed to predators.

In January, 37 of the rabbits were rescued from the mounds. In March, 110 were found in the mounds.

The rescues this year have been especially significant for the endangered rabbits, considering the refuge estimates there are only 2,000 to 3,000 rabbits in the area, said Takahashi.

Biologists have worked to trap the rabbits and move them closer to drier land, at least four to five feet higher than the flood area.

But they have had to be careful that their rescue efforts don't exacerbate a growing problem among the population. Since May 2022, veterinarians confirmed the riparian brush rabbits have been facing rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2, a highly contagious and deadly disease that has spread quickly in the western United States.

To curb its spread, officials have vaccinated all of the rescued rabbits. But officials are also concerned that having more rabbits in a smaller area could advance the spread of the disease.

Changing the ecosystem of the environment, moving the rabbits and increasing the concentration of their population could also mean other problems that haven't yet been spotted, said Erin Hagen, director of restoration science for River Partners, a nonprofit group that has worked with the refuge on the rescues.

Officials are also concerned that climate change will leave the area more prone to flooding.

"Although they're in a safe elevation, we're not sure it's threaded the needle on being on the other side and being completely safe," Hagen said.

2023 Los Angeles Times.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Credit: roberjzm/Shutterstock

Sex education in English schools is under scrutiny. A review of relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) brought forward by prime minister Rishi Sunak, will lead to new statutory guidance by the end of 2023. Sunak has also stated that schools will receive guidance on transgender issues for the 2023 summer term.

Sunak's acceleration of the RSHE education review came after Miriam Cates MP voiced concerns over "age-inappropriate, extreme, sexualising and inaccurate" sex education. Cates also presented Sunak with a report outlining concerns that lessons were "promoting" trans identification and gave a "disproportionately dominant" place to LGBTQ+ topics.

Rhetoric like this threatens to undermine the positive progress that has been made in sex education in schoolsand represents another chapter in the fraught history of LGBTQ+ education.

There are decades of evidence showing the value of comprehensive and inclusive relationships and sex education for all young people, not just those who identify as LGBTQ+. We need to listen to what young people want and need and educating about diversity and gender is vitala point emphasized by one of us (Dr. Sophie King-Hill) at an evidence session for the Women and Equalities Committee on the teaching of Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) in schools, held on 10 May 2023.

The introduction of statutory relationships and sex education in 2020 was a key step towards the provision of LGBTQ+ inclusive education in England. For the first time, secondary schools were required to provide "clear, sensitive and respectful" teaching on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Section 28

This move was the most recent measure to undo the damage caused to LGBTQ+ education by Section 28 of the 1988 Local Government Act. Section 28 stated that the local authority should not "intentionally promote homosexuality" or "promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship".

The legislation dealt a severe blow to the LGBTQ+ community. Before this, valuable steps towards equality had been made. Homosexuality was partially decriminalized in England and Wales in 1967 and the first Pride march in the UK took place in 1972. In the early 1980s, the Greater London Council had a strong position on gay rights, establishing the Gay Rights Working Party in 1981 to investigate issues relating to gay Londoners. This was discontinued in 1986 when the Greater London Council was dissolved.

Nevertheless, the passing of Section 28 came at a peak of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment in the UK, when 64% of the population believed being gay was "always wrong". In practice, this meant that any already limited engagement with LGBTQ+ topics at schools disappeared.

Years of influence

Section 28 informed the sex and relationships guidance for English schools issued in 2000. While this guidance made attempts to include sexual orientation, the legacy of section 28 meant the inclusion of LGBTQ+ sexualities was left up to schoolsand schools were told to give "no direct promotion of sexual orientation".

Section 28 normalized discrimination and fostered the bullying of young people in the LGBTQ+ community. It lead to over 20 years of sporadic or neglected coverage of LGBTQ+ identities within schools. Section 28 was finally repealed in England in 2003.

The integration of LGBTQ+ relationships and sex education content in schools has faced significant barriers. The teaching of the LGBTQ+ inclusive education program "No Outsiders" lessons at a Birmingham primary school in 2019 met notable opposition from parents, forcing the school to suspend delivery of the lessons.

The introduction of statutory RSE in 2020 marked a step in the right direction. By the age of 18, young people are expected to be aware of damaging stereotypes surrounding sexual and gender identity.

Uneven provision

However, despite this statutory guidance, LGBTQ+ provision in secondary schools is not comprehensive. A 2022 poll found that only 31% of students identifying as LGBTQ+ rated their relationships and sex education lessons as "good" or "very good".

The 2020 statutory guidance also leaves significant room for inconsistency in LGBTQ+ provision within faith schools. As with all secondary schools, faith schools are now required to teach content on same-sex relationships.

However, as highlighted within Ofsted's inspection guidance regarding protected characteristics, faith schools are still permitted to teach "that same sex relationships and gender reassignment are not permitted by a particular religion"though they must also explain the "legal rights LGBT people have under UK law, and that this and LGBT people must be respected".

A 2017 survey by the charity Stonewall of over 3,700 LGBTQ+ young people found that only one in ten of these students at faith schools had received information on safe sex in LGBTQ+ relationships. One in five students at secular schools reported receiving this information.

Schools have a role to play in reducing discrimination against LGBTQ+ young people. Research has found that transgender and gender-diverse young people face significant discrimination in UK schools.

The government's guidance for schools on transgender issues and on sex education must not undo the progress that has been made.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys) and chick on a nest in colony J, Bird Island. Credit: British Antarctic Survey

Scientists are tracking a group of young black-browed albatross, who have begun their first epic journeys across the Southern Ocean. In April 2023, 26 young black-browed albatross on Bird Island in South Georgia were fitted with satellite transmitters. They are now being tracked in near real-time using the Argos system.

Albatrosses cover vast distances when foraging. When breeding, wandering albatrosses range from sub-tropical to Antarctic waters on trips of up to 10,000 km in 10 to 20 days. In the non-breeding season, many species migrate long distances, some traveling right around Antarctica.

This season's tracking project will offer crucial data to scientists working to understand the causes of the population decline of black-browed albatross. Numbers of black-browed albatross on South Georgia have halved since the mid-1980s. Until the last decade, South Georgia held the third largest population of any island group.

Although the species is not listed as globally threatened, the decrease from 100,000 pairs to 50,000 pairs is so rapid that black-browed albatross are now part of local conservation plans by the South Georgia Government.

Movements of juvenile black-browed albatross as of 13 May 2023. Credit: British Antarctic Survey

The population of adult albatross have been affected globally by longline and trawler fishing, with birds becoming trapped by fishing equipment, or swallowing baited hooks and plastic waste. However, bycatch of seabirds has been reduced to low levels around South Georgia following the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). Bycatch has also been significantly reduced in South African and Namibian fisheries, due to concerted efforts by national fisheries bodies and BirdLife International.

However, elsewhere in the Southern hemisphere, bycatch is still a major threat. Little is known about the travel patterns of juvenile and immature black-browed albatrosses, and ringing recoveries suggest they range more widely than the mature adults. The data from this group of recently fledged albatrosses stands to offer important new insights into the early lives of these prolific travelers.

Richard Phillips, seabird ecologist at British Antarctic Survey, said, "It's fascinating to see where the juveniles are going in near real-time. So far, the birds that fledged successfully nearly all flew on a similar bearing to the northeast of South Georgia, and most are currently around Tristan da Cunha and Gough.

"If the juveniles behave as they did in 2021, we expect most to move quite soon to waters off South Africa and Namibia. However, if any encounter strong northerly winds, it's possible they will head east into the Indian Ocean, or even as far as Australia. Only time will tell."

Since the early 1960s, BAS scientists have monitored albatross populations at Bird Island, South Georgiahome to some of the largest, and best studied, albatrosses in the world. During this time a range of innovative techniques have been developed to understand breeding and foraging ecology. The return rates of ringed birds give scientists an indication of breeding frequency and survival rates, while tiny tracking devices reveal the vast areas of ocean covered by these birds in search of food.

Pioneering satellite tracking studies by BAS scientists in the early 1990s gave the first real evidence that some albatrosses spend substantial amounts of time foraging behind commercial fishing vessels. Since then, BAS has accumulated a wealth of tracking data, used recently in one of the most comprehensive studies to date of fisheries overlap and bycatch risk across the Southern Ocean.

More information: Explore the live map on the project page: www.bas.ac.uk/project/black-br  nile-tracking/#about
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In this photo provided by the Florida Keys News Bureau, diving explorer and medical researcher Dr. Joseph Dituri peers out of a large porthole, Saturday, May 13, 2023, at Jules' Undersea Lodge positioned at the bottom of a 30-foot-deep lagoon in Key Largo, Fla. On Saturday, Dituri broke a record for the longest time living underwater at ambient pressure, his 74th day of a planned 100-day mission living submerged in the Florida Keys. The previous underwater habitation record of 73 days, two hours and 34 minutes was set by two professors from Tennessee in 2014 at the same location. Dituri's underwater mission, dubbed Project Neptune 100, was organized by the Marine Resources Development Foundation and combines medical and ocean research along with educational outreach. Credit: Frazier Nivens/Florida Keys News Bureau via AP

A university professor broke a record for the longest time living underwater without depressurization this weekend at a Florida Keys lodge for scuba divers.

Joseph Dituri's 74th day residing in Jules' Undersea Lodge, situated at the bottom of a 30-foot-deep lagoon in Key Largo, wasn't much different than his previous days there since he submerged March 1.

Dituri, who also goes by the moniker "Dr. Deep Sea," ate a protein-heavy meal of eggs and salmon prepared using a microwave, exercised with resistance bands, did his daily pushups and took an hour-long nap. Unlike a submarine, the lodge does not use technology to adjust for the increased underwater pressure.

The previous record of 73 days, two hours and 34 minutes was set by two Tennessee professorsBruce Cantrell and Jessica Fainat the same location in 2014.

But Dituri isn't just settling for the record and resurfacing: He plans to stay at the lodge until June 9, when he reaches 100 days and completes an underwater mission dubbed Project Neptune 100.

The mission combines medical and ocean research along with educational outreach and was organized by the Marine Resources Development Foundation, owner of the habitat.

In this photo provided by the Florida Keys News Bureau, diving explorer and medical researcher Dr. Joseph Dituri, right, waves to scuba diver Thane Milhoan, left, Saturday, May 13, 2023, while in Jules' Undersea Lodge, positioned at the bottom of a 30-foot-deep lagoon in Key Largo, Fla. On Saturday, Dituri broke a record for the longest time living underwater at ambient pressure, his 74th day of a planned 100-day mission submerged in the Florida Keys. The previous underwater habitation record of 73 days, two hours and 34 minutes was set by two professors from Tennessee in 2014 at the same location. Dituri's underwater mission, dubbed Project Neptune 100, was organized by the Marine Resources Development Foundation and combines medical and ocean research along with educational outreach. Credit: Frazier Nivens/Florida Keys News Bureau via AP

"The record is a small bump and I really appreciate it," said Dituri, a University of South Florida educator who holds a doctorate in biomedical engineering and is a retired U.S. Naval officer. "I'm honored to have it, but we still have more science to do."

His research includes daily experiments in physiology to monitor how the human body responds to long-term exposure to extreme pressure.

"The idea here is to populate the world's oceans, to take care of them by living in them and really treating them well," Dituri said.

The outreach portion of Dituri's mission includes conducting online classes and broadcast interviews from his digital studio beneath the sea. During the past 74 days, he has reached over 2,500 students through online classes in marine science and more with his regular biomedical engineering courses at the University of South Florida.

While he says he loves living under the ocean, there is one thing he really misses.

"The thing that I miss the most about being on the surface is literally the sun," Dituri said. "The sun has been a major factor in my lifeI usually go to the gym at five and then I come back out and watch the sunrise."

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Credit: Nature Synthesis (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s44160-023-00316-4

Synthetic organic polymers are typically insoluble polycrystalline or amorphous products rather than single crystals. The direct synthesis of single-crystal porous polymers remains a challenge in polymer science and crystal engineering.

However, many biomacromolecules found in nature can achieve single-crystal form assisted with multiple supramolecular interactions, implying that reversible supramolecular interactions can be used to modulate the crystallinity of porous polymer materials.

In a study published in Nature Synthesis, the research groups led by Prof. Liu Tianfu and Prof. Cao Rong from Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter of the Chinese Academy of Sciences proposed a strategy to achieve single crystals of a porous polymer.

In the hierarchical structures of natural protein crystals and some nucleic acids, 1D covalent chains generate highly crystalline or even single-crystal products through a synergistic combination of non-covalent supramolecular interactions, and further fold into specific spatial conformations as secondary, tertiary and quaternary structures. Inspired by this, the researchers envisioned that the judicious choice of 1D chains with tunable dynamic covalent bonds and supramolecular interactions might yield direct synthesis of a single-crystal porous polymer with desired cavities, ion channels and functionalities.

They designed and synthesized a single-crystal porous polymer-based hydrogen-bonded organic framework (PHOF-1) through a one-pot route and confirmed its structure by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.

The researchers found that 1,4-phenylenebisboronic acid monomers polymerize into a tetramer to afford a nine-membered B 4 O 5 2- cluster (primary structure), which further extends into 1D covalent chains (secondary structure) that are noncovalently cross-linked by hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions (tertiary structure), ultimately evolving to afford a hydrogen-bonded organic framework (quaternary structure).

Compared with insoluble 2D or 3D crosslinked porous polymers, the 1D polymer chains show excellent solubility and solution processability. The dissolved PHOF-1 maintains the consecutive 1D chain structure with a very narrow molecular weight distribution and can regenerate reversibly in single-crystal or amorphous states depending on the solvent evaporation rate.

Taking advantage of the solution processibility, the researchers continuously coated PHOF-1 onto a non-woven fabric to afford a functional composite textile capable of capturing NH 3 .

This design strategy may open a new avenue for the exploration of single-crystal porous polymer materials with precise structural information, confined pore spaces, and straightforward solution processibility.

More information: Bai-Tong Liu et al, A solution processible single-crystal porous organic polymer, Nature Synthesis (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s44160-023-00316-4 Journal information: Nature Synthesis
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University of Montana students Jazzelle Elias, left, and Grace Walhus were members of research team, led by Assistant Professor Will Rice, that studied park signage at the Sunlight Trailhead in Missoula. Credit: Ryan Brennecke

It's a well-known truism in the world of park management: Hikers rarely read trailhead signs.

And in their zeal to enjoy the wildernessnowthey miss important messages posted to protect parks, wildlife and the hikers themselves.

"Since the 1960s, we've been doing studies on how we message to visitors and change people's behaviors," said Will Rice, an assistant professor of outdoor recreation and wildland management at the University of Montana. "That's more than five decades we've been thinking about the words, but we've done little to date to test the graphic design of the signs."

Figuring there must be a better way to grab attention, Rice reached out last year to University of Kansas Associate Professor of Design Jeremy Shellhorn, who founded the Design Outside Studio, a summer class for design students to tackle projects that benefit the public.

Shellhorn also created a type font called National Park Typeface, which is becoming, as Rice puts, "insanely popular."

After a brainstorming session or two, Rice and Shellhorn assembled a team of undergraduate student researchers to determine what it takesvisually and verballyto reach even the most single-minded hikers. Through their coursework, KU's students designed the graphics based on messaging crafted by UM's students, who also conducted field research to determine if their efforts resonated with the hiking-boots crowd.

For funding and help with the project, Rice turned to Missoula Parks & Recreation representatives, who asked students to address two very real management needs: keeping dogs on leash 200 meters from trailheads, and stopping the spread of invasive plant species by using boot brushes at trailheads.

"Parks & Recreation told the students they wanted positive messaging that invoked stewardship of this place," Rice said. "We wanted to see if different graphic treatments would not only capture people's attention but also influence their behaviors and get them to buy into what we are trying to do."

The students collaborated for weeks over the design, meeting online and sharing opinions on typefaces and colors through a messaging platform.

The designs that garnered the most interest, according to the data gathered by students, were those that featured something called typography as image, a visual treatment intertwining images with the messaging. Credit: University of Montana/University of Kansas

"It was interesting the way we interacted over Zoom," said Jazzelle Elias, who graduated this spring with a degree in parks, tourism and recreation management at UM. "The KU students talked in media arts, we talked in social science. They were cool."

Grace Walhus, another senior in PTRM, said working with the Kansas students was a unique experience, as was conducting field research once the signs were completed in the summer of 2022. The lab for their experiments was the Sunlight Trailhead in Missoula.

"It was the first time for me to do research out in the field," said Walhus, who also graduated in May and is working in Missoula taking care of campgrounds and trailheads for the U.S. Forest Service. "It was interesting to see how extensive it was."

Walhus and Elias said the big challenge was trying to remain as unobtrusive as possible as hikers interactedor notwith the signs, while recording which signs drew the most attention and how much time hikers invested in reading the messaging. Sitting in camp chairs, pretending to picnic, was involved.

"Will told us we would be collecting data using the 'lurking method,' which everyone was super stoked about," said Elias, who will work this summer "clearing trails and running chainsaws" for the U.S. Forest Service in the Lincoln Ranger District.

"The most memorable reaction I saw was a hiker who not only wiped his boots on the boot brush, he wiped his dog's paws too," she added.

The designs that garnered the most interest, according to the data gathered by students, were those that featured something called "typography as image," a visual treatment intertwining images with the messaging. In one case, it was plants blooming in the North Hills of Missoula intertwined with typeface. In another, it was a dog leash, with collar.

"All the signs were way more enticing than a white sheet of paper stabled to tree," Rice said. "They were really beautiful."

They were also effective, said Walhus.

The designs that garnered the most interest, according to the data gathered by students, were those that featured something called typography as image, a visual treatment intertwining images with the messaging. Credit: University of Montana/University of Kansas

"Our research showed that messages and graphics really do influence people" she said.

Missoula Parks & Recreation will use the results of the study as it develops new signage, Rice said. Meanwhile he'll conduct a similar study this summer in the Grand Canyon, testing signage to stop people from peering too far over the canyon's crumbling rim.

"The wording does depend on the audience," Rice said. "The Grand Canyon has a much more diverse audience than hikers in Montana. So that will be an interesting challenge."

The results of the first study will be published in June's issue of the Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. It's also been posted online since earlier this year.

All of the students in the study were listed as authorsa rarity in academia, Rice said.

"In the past it was unheard of for undergraduate students to be listed as authors even though they often put in a ton of the work," he said. "But in recent years there has been a really big push to recognize their efforts, and it's awesome that their names are there."

Sharing authorship is definitely a lasting legacy for students in the class, Elias said.

"I remember thinking, wow, I'm published now," she said. "My partner and his family were so excited they made me a cake to celebrate."

More information: William L. Rice et al, The impact of graphic design on attention capture and behavior among outdoor recreationists: Results from an exploratory persuasive signage experiment, Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jort.2023.100606
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The energy crisis has shown Europe the need to become more self-sufficient in resources. Wood is one of those resources, used in the construction sector, for example, and is already largely produced in the EU itself. The demand for wood is still increasing. However, a new study shows that the additional potential for wood harvesting is limited, and smaller than previously thought, unless more investments are made in afforestation and forest management.

Wood is a renewable resource, has many different uses, and is an important means of CO 2 storage. As such, it is not surprising that wood is increasingly in demand. But where should it come from? According to the study that was recently published in Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research, a small increase in wood harvest in European forests will be possible. An international team from 10 European model regions has done research on how behavioral change by forest managers can lead to a sustainable wood harvest increase.

In addition, a literature review has been carried out into the ambitions of each European country with regard to wood harvesting. This has shown that an additional 90 million m3 of wood could be harvested annually from European forests in the next 1020 years. When barriers are considered in detail, however, the potential turns out to be much smaller.

At the same time, forests are under pressure as a result of climate change. If we want to produce more wood from European forests in the long term, we must invest in forest vitality and afforestation.

The wood increment is much larger than the amount harvested

"Every year, much more wood grows in Europe than we harvest. The difference between increment and harvest is called the theoretical potential for additional wood harvest," says lead author Bas Lerink of Wageningen University & Research. This theoretical potential amounts to about 250 million m3 per year.

Lerink says, "But only a part of it will be realistic. There are several reasons why it is better not to harvest in some forests. To prevent soil erosion or to protect biodiversity, for example. As a result, this theoretical potential will never be achieved." In the study, Lerink and colleagues have combined two ways to determine a realistic potential.

Realistic increase in wood harvest

The literature review was conducted based on national forest strategies and other policy documents. Based on this, the researchers determined each country's ambition to increase their wood harvest in the near future (1020 years) on a current total harvest of approximately 546 million m3. In total, this will lead to a realistic potential of 90 million m3 per year for the EU and the United Kingdom.

In addition, the EFISCEN Space forest resource model was used to develop projections for future wood harvest in 10 model regions, based on forest inventory data. First, the model applied forest management regimes as currently carried out in the regions. Next, these were compared to a number of scenarios with more intensive management, derived from neighboring regions, for example.

This has shown that the realistic potential for additional wood harvest is much smaller than the literature review suggested, namely half, about 40 million m3. National forest strategies seem to overestimate harvesting possibilities.

The state of European forests

How does an increase in wood harvest relate to the current state of European forests? There are indeed concerns about the health of European forests. Climate change has greatly increased natural disturbances (such as fires, diseases and pests) and CO 2 sequestration is already declining in some countries. Still, since the Second World War, there has not been as much wood in European forests as there is now.

A small increase in wood harvest (by the aforementioned 40 million m3 per year) still seems to be realistic. To give an idea of the scale, this is enough to build about 800,000 wooden houses in the EU per year.

"But in the long term, a larger wood harvest will only be feasible if forest restoration, afforestation and forest management improvements are already started now. These are important for Europe to become more self-sufficient," says co-author Gert-Jan Nabuurs. "Education, cooperation between forest owners and forest industry and governments will be necessary. This will make the EU less dependent on other continents, and also contribute to sustainable forest management with enhanced biodiversity in a bio-economy."

More information: Bas J W Lerink et al, How much wood can we expect from European forests in the near future?, Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research (2023). DOI: 10.1093/forestry/cpad009
PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account.
China's Inner Mongolia sees foreign trade up 45 pct in January-April

Xinhua) 08:54, May 15, 2023

Photo taken on Jan. 8, 2021 shows freight trains at Erenhot Port in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Photo by Guo Pengjie/Xinhua)

HOHHOT, May 14 (Xinhua) -- North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region saw robust foreign trade growth in the first four months of 2023, according to the customs authorities in Hohhot, capital city of the region.

The region's total import and export value hit 60.77 billion yuan (about 8.73 billion U.S. dollars) from January to April, up 45.1 percent year on year.

Exports rose 26.6 percent to 23.38 billion yuan, while imports soared 59.6 percent to 37.39 billion yuan.

The region's private enterprises also saw rapid growth in foreign trade volume, increasing by 67.9 percent year on year during the period to 47.29 billion yuan.

The Erenhot Port, the largest land port between China and Mongolia, has made great contribution to the region's foreign trade. As of May 3, the port had handled a total of 1,042 China-Europe freight trains, up 7 percent year on year.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
South Jersey's weather varies from the beaches to the bridges. That's no different on Monday. Meteorologist Joe Martucci is here to describe just how different it'll feel from the ocean to the Pine Barrens and everywhere in between. He also times out the one round of rain expected this week.
The Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) officials during the investigation of the DRDO scientist espionage case have revealed that an Indian Air Force officer was also in contact with a Pakisan Intelligence Operative (PIO). According to ATS officials, the IAF officer is also suspected to have been trapped by the woman intelligence operative of Pakistan using the same IP address which was used to communicate with DRDO scientist Pradeep Kurulkar.

The Air Force officer who is working at Bengaluru has recorded his statement with ATS and the Indian Air Force has also initiated an internal enquiry on the matter. The investigation also revealed that Kurulkar was using four different mobile phones and the ATS officials were facing difficulties in opening the lock of one of the seized mobile phones. However, ATS officials have now opened the lock of the seized phone and a detailed analysis will be done.

The ATS officials today informed the court that Kurulkar had used DRDO Guest House in Mumbai for meetings and a detailed investigation is necessary to get more details on it.
Purdue University is among the members of a new institute that will leverage artificial intelligence to help absorb and store carbon in the agriculture and forestry industries. (Photo provided by Shashi Shekar)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  A technology with the potential to transform all aspects of everyday life is shaping the next pursuit at Purdue University. With the programs, research and expertise highlighted below, Purdue is guiding the advancement of artificial intelligence. If you have any questions about Purdues work in AI or would like to speak to a Purdue expert, contact Brian Huchel, bhuchel@purdue.edu.

Taking AI as his theme, President Chiang concluded his address to graduates with these words: Our best hope for AI is that it advances individual freedom. That it presents more options, not more homogeneity. That the freedom to choose and free will still prevail. Let us preserve the rights that survived other alarming headlines in centuries past. Let our students sharpen the ability to doubt, debate and dissent. Let a university, like Purdue, present the vista of intellectual conflicts and the toil of critical thinking.

The Institute for Physical Artificial Intelligence, or IPAI, is a pillar of Purdue Computes, a new initiative consisting of three dimensions that enable the university to lead in a new frontier of technological advancement.

The institute develops AI at the intersection of the virtual and the physical, leveraging strengths in agricultural data, neuromorphic computing, deep-fake detection, smart transportation data and AI-based manufacturing.

This universitywide institute will add 50 affiliated faculty over the next five years and pursue cutting-edge topics through several current and emerging university research centers.

Purdue has received a five-year, $500,000 grant for education and workforce development in the new AI Institute for Climate-Land Interactions, Mitigation, Adaptation, Tradeoffs and Economy (AI-CLIMATE).

Part of a larger federal initiative for collaborative AI research, the institute will leverage AI to create more climate-smart practices that will absorb and store carbon while simultaneously boosting the economy in the agriculture and forests industries.

Purdue will guide the development and deployment of instructional modules and other education related to digital agriculture and AI in climate-smart agriculture. Other institute members: University of Minnesota, Cornell University, Colorado State University, Delaware State University, North Carolina State University and the American Indian Higher Education Consortium.

A recent Inside Indiana Business article highlights Purdues multimillion-dollar investment to advance AI, computer sciences and microchip research.

President Mung Chiang said: When it comes to computing, AI and chips, areas that will redefine the entire economy and society in every way imaginable, the strategic hiring, structuring and investment announced today enables Purdue University to advance at the forefront.

Purdues Institute for Physical AI will engage scientists across the university who bring interdisciplinary thinking and problem-solving to advance AI, according to Karen Plaut, executive vice president of research.

Six Purdue researchers have joined the nations best computer scientists and engineers to form the National Science Foundation-sponsored Institute for Agent-based Cyber Threat Intelligence and OperatioN (ACTION).

Institute for Agent-based Cyber Threat Intelligence and OperatioN (ACTION). ACTION researchers will work to bring the continuous learning  and now, reasoning  of AI to the constant situational awareness and actions that are fundamental to cybersecurity.

Purdue will serve as one of ACTIONs major hubs for research, education, workforce development and technology transfer in this $20 million, five-year project.

AI presents both unique opportunities and unique challenges. How can we use this technology as a tool? Researcher Javier Gomez-Lavin, assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy, shares the work that needs to be done in habits, rules and regulations surrounding those who work with AI.

Current AI technology understands only content, not context. Researcher Aniket Bera is programming devices to incorporate nonverbal cues and communication, which involve observing and analyzing facial expressions, body language, involuntary and subconscious movements and gestures, eye movements, speech patterns, intonations, and different linguistic and cultural parameters.

This emotional AI can be used for mental health programs, navigating human emotions in shared spaces like self-driving cars, and providing rescue services during disasters.

The idea is to build a future where robots can be partners, can help humans accomplish goals and tasks more safely, more efficiently and more effectively, Bera said. In computer science, a lot of time the biggest problems are the humans. What our research does is put the human back into problem solving to build a better world.

Visit the Purdue News YouTube channel for video of demonstrations from Beras lab.

Hear researcher Aniket Bera explain more about his groundbreaking work to bring human behavior into AI and what sparked his interest in the technology. In this interview, Bera touches on the importance of technology in human emotion and the goal of his research lab.

WRTV 6 Indianapolis visited Purdues West Lafayette campus to learn how the university is leading AI development at the intersection of technology and humanity.

Researcher Aniket Bera showcased his robot dog and discussed his focus on incorporating human emotion into AI to ensure human factors are integrated into building technologies.

The story also featured English professor Bradley Dilger on the AI software ChatGPT. His view: The technology isnt taking away the ability to teach and learn but, rather, is evolving writing standards in the classroom.

Is AI trustworthy? Hear Purdue University in Indianapolis researcher Arjan Durresi explain how making AI safe and easy to understand for the everyday user requires treating the development of the technology like the development of a child.

AI is touching almost every subject, discipline and career field as it evolves. In human resources, the technology has already been used as a selection tool in job interviews. Professor Sang Eun Woo explains how we can turn this use of AI as a selection tool into a professional development tool.

How will AI influence writing and education? Harry Denny, professor of English and director of Purdues On-Campus Writing Lab, answers how ChatGPT and other AI programs may be integrated into the classroom experience.

The rise of ChatGPT has created concerns over security. Professor Saurabh Bagchi shares the reality of cybersecurity concerns and how this technology could be used to strengthen the security of our computing systems.

Purdue AI in the news

How Purdue is helping design artificial intelligence, raise trust in it

WISH-TV Indianapolis

Purdue University professor working to help robots better work with humans

WGN-TV Chicago
Shreyas Sen, the Elmore Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University, at left, and Shovan Maity, a Purdue alumnus, are two of the three founders of Ixana. The companys high-speed Wi-R silicon chip allows high-speed broadband communication among on-body devices to securely communicate at a fraction of the energy cost. Purdue Ventures has invested in Ixana as part of a larger $3 million seed funding round for the company. (Ixana photo)

Ixanas patented high-speed Wi-R silicon chip communicates with 100 times more energy efficiency and is more secure than traditional wireless technologies

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Purdue Ventures, which manages multiple early stage investment funds to support Purdue University-connected startups, has invested in Ixana, a company that provides wearable smart devices with the ability to securely communicate with touch.

Purdue Ventures investment is part of a larger $3 million seed funding round for Ixana, including backing from EvoNexus, Hack VC, Paradigm Shift Capital, Samsung Next and Uncorrelated Ventures.

Ixanas high-speed Wi-R silicon chip debuted during the January 2023 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The technology is based on patented, published, peer-reviewed research conducted by Shreyas Sen, the Elmore Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering in Purdue Universitys Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and director of Purdues Center for Internet of Bodies.

Sen said the Wi-R wirelike wireless developed by Ixana has the potential to transform how wearable devices communicate with each other.

The technology utilizes the conductive properties of the human body to guide tiny amounts of Electro-Quasistatic, or EQS, fields around the person, Sen said. This allows high-speed broadband communication among on-body devices to securely communicate at a fraction of the energy cost compared to conventional wireless communication technologies. This allows wearables to use computing in smartphones without affecting battery power or latency.

Sen said the human body hurts traditional wireless communications by absorbing radiofrequency signals.

Radio was not designed to communicate around humans because of the high water content in our bodies, Sen said. On the other hand, the human body helps EQS fields, making communication efficient.

The ultimate end users of Ixanas technology are everyday consumers of personal electronic devices such as smartphones, smartwatches and other upcoming on-body devices.

Today, every wearable device has its own CPU and communicates only when required because wireless is inefficient, Sen said. Wi-R provides a virtually free wire that enables efficient distributed computing on the body; all wearables can piggyback off the computing in the smartphone or another body-worn hub without a significant battery or latency hit. This means every wearable device can have access to real-time AI.

Wi-R reimagines the architecture of wearable computing from standalone devices on the body to a tightly coupled computer-communication network connected by the body itself to enable longer-lasting, more secure devices while making the network more intelligent. In the process, it helps increase the adoption of wearables in the coming decades.

Ixana co-founder and CEO Angik Sarkar said artificial intelligence has advanced by leaps and bounds in the last few years, but it forms only a small part of peoples everyday lives.

The challenge is we largely interact with AI when we look at a screen or through voice prompts, Sarkar said. Ixana's long-term goal is to enable our brain to interact with AI in real-time, all day long, while being in our physical world.

Sarkar said the Purdue Ventures investment will impact Ixana in several ways.

Ixanas North Star is to make Wi-R ubiquitous in devices such as smartphones, smartwatches and AR/VR headsets, Sarkar said. Purdue Ventures' investment moves Ixana closer to that goal. Further, the backing of Purdue Ventures helped leverage more investors to invest in Ixana. Being associated with Purdue University and Purdue Ventures means more partners and investors believe in the technology.

Ixana has several ties to Purdue, including licensing Sens patented research through the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization. Sarkar and Shovan Maity, Ixanas co-founder and head of research, both earned their doctoral degrees in electrical and computer engineering at Purdue.

Riley Gibb, associate director of Purdue Ventures, said Ixanas strong connections to Purdue research is a key qualifier for investment.

We also recognize Ixana has taken a technological lead by creating the worlds first high-speed Wi-R silicon chip, Gibb said. This innovation and its multiple applications will have an impact upon the adoption of wearable technology.

In April Ixana won the Startup of the Year category in the Mira Awards, which recognize the achievements of companies, individuals and organizations in Indianas tech industry. A three-minute video of David Yang, product engineer at Ixana, accepting the award is online.

About Purdue Ventures

With almost $20 million under current management, Purdue Ventures manages multiple pools of capital in collaboration with the university ecosystem and local corporations, enabling Purdue startups to improve the world.

About Ixana

Ixana is developing high-speed human-computer interfaces with all-day, real-time, distributed AI. Licensing Purdue University intellectual property through the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization, Ixana has developed Wi-R, a non-radiative communication technology for wearables.

Writer/Media contact: Steve Martin, sgmartin@prf.org

Sources: Riley Gibb, rtgibb@prf.org

Shreyas Sen, shreyas@ixana.ai

Angik Sarkar, angik@ixana.ai
The Clinton County Sheriffs Department has identified the teen who drowned Saturday in the Ben Martinsen Wildlife Area as Benjamin Williams, 18, of Donahue.

Sheriff Bill Greenwalt said deputies were sent to the wildlife area on U.S. Highway 67 south of Folletts at about 9:45 a.m. to investigate a report of a missing 18-year-old person.

The wildlife area encompasses 420 acres along the Wapsipinicon River.

Upon arrival, deputies met with two teenagers who reported their 18-year-old friend, Williams, was missing from the campsite.

First responders from the Clinton County Sheriffs Department, Low Moor Fire Department and an off-duty Camanche firefighter began searching the area and the backwaters of the Wapsipinicon River.

Man wounded in Clinton shooting A 29-year-old Clinton, Iowa, man was wounded by gunfire Thursday at an apartment house at 514 8th Avenue South, Police Chief Kevin Gyrion said in a news release Friday.

A K-9 from the Clinton Police Department and a drone also were used in the search.

At 10:28 a.m., the body of Williams was discovered in the backwaters of the Wapsipinicon River by the Camanche firefighter.

Williams was pronounced dead at the scene.

The case remains under investigation by the Clinton County Sheriffs Department and the Clinton County Medical Examiner.

Clinton teen sentenced to 50 years in prison for shooting death of man last summer Kyler Jay Andresen, 18, was sentenced to 50 years in prison in connection with the shooting death of Zachary Tyler McDivitt, 35, last summer.

A glimpse at the 2023 Quad Cities Law Enforcement Memorial Service
Former Vice President Mike Pence will speak at a rally and ride a motorcycle at Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernsts annual Roast and Ride fundraiser June 3.

Looking forward to being back in Iowa with @joniernst for the 2023 Roast and Ride! Pence tweeted.

The charity fundraiser has become a prominent Iowa caucus stop for Republican presidential candidates since Ernst took office and launched the event in 2015. That year, seven GOP candidates who ran for president in 2016 attended the motorcycle ride, hog roast and rally.

According to Ernst, Pence is an avid Harley-Davidson rider. She said she looks forward to him joining us for both the morning Ride and the big rally!

Pence has said he plans to decide on whether to launch a 2024 presidential bid well before late June. The former vice president would enter what is expected to be a crowded field for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, which includes his former boss, Donald Trump.

Pence was last in Iowa in late April, where he joined eight other potential or already declared GOP presidential candidates at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalitions annual fundraiser in Clive, courting support from Iowas influential evangelical voters and faith leaders.

Ernst last week announced Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and former governor of South Carolina, also will join her as a special guest at the fundraiser.

Every potential Republican challenger in the 2024 GOP primary has been invited to the event, with Haley the first to say she would attend.

Pence and Haley have already appeared at events with Ernst this year. Both sat down with Ernst, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, for foreign policy forums through the Bastion Institute, a conservative foreign policy organization.

The June 3 event will begin with the motorcycle ride at 10:30 a.m., with food and speeches from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.

Tickets and more information are available at https://bit.ly/3WcQmfi.
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden has an ambitious agenda when he sets off this week on an eight-day trip to the Indo-Pacific.

Hes looking to tighten bonds with longtime allies, make history as the first sitting U.S. president to visit the island state of Papua New Guinea and spotlight his administrations commitment to the Pacific. The three-country trip also presents the 80-year-old Biden, who recently announced hes running for reelection, with the opportunity to demonstrate that he still has enough in the tank to handle the grueling pace of the presidency.

But as he prepares to head west, Biden finds himself in a stalemate with Republican lawmakers over raising America's debt limit. If the matter is not resolved in the coming weeks, it threatens to spark an economic downturn.

A look at what's at stake in Biden's upcoming trip:

Where is Biden going?

Biden first heads to Hiroshima, Japan, for the Group of Seven summit. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is this year's host for the annual gathering of leaders from seven of the world's biggest economies. He picked his hometown of Hiroshima, where the U.S. dropped the world's first atomic bomb in 1945.

The bombing destroyed the city and killed 140,000 people. The United States dropped a second bomb three days later on Nagasaki, killing 70,000 more. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, 1945, ending World War II and its nearly half-century of aggression in Asia.

The significance of Hiroshima resonates deeply today, given that Russia has made veiled threats of using tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine, North Korea has stepped up ballistic missile tests and Iran pushes forward with its nuclear weapons program.

Biden will then make a brief and historic stopover in Papua New Guinea. Biden has sought to improve relations with Pacific Island nations amid growing U.S. concern about Chinas growing military and economic influence in the region.

Finally, Biden travels to Australia for a summit with his fellow Quad leaders: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kishida.

The Quad partnership formed during the response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed some 230,000 people. Since coming to office, Biden has tried to reinvigorate the Quad as part of his broader effort to put greater U.S. focus on the Pacific.

The big issues

Russias invasion of Ukraine and provocative actions by China in the South China Sea and in the Taiwan Strait are expected to be front and center throughout Biden's trip.

At last month's G-7 ministers' meeting, the alliance pledged a unified front against Chinese threats to Taiwan and Russias war. The G-7 includes Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.

Biden administration officials have been troubled by Chinas increasing threats against and military maneuvers around Taiwan, the self-governing democracy that Beijing claims as its own. The U.S.-China relationship has also been strained by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei last August. Those ties were further inflamed after the U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon in February after it traversed the United States.

The G-7 foreign ministers said in their communique that the alliance would look toward intensifying sanctions" against Russia. How far the G-7 is willing to go remains to be seen.

Is America back?

The looming potential for a debt default by the U.S. government raises a difficult dynamic for Biden as he heads overseas for the first time since announcing his 2024 campaign.

Since the start of his presidency, Biden has repeatedly told world leaders that America is back. That's a short-handed way to assure allies that the United States was returning to its historic role as a leader on the international stage following the more inward-looking America First foreign policy of President Donald Trump.

But Biden has also acknowledged that skeptical world leaders have asked him, For how long?

To that end, top administration officials have said the looming debt limit crisis is a troubling sign.

It sends a horrible message to nations like Russia and China, who would love nothing more than to be able to point at this and say, See the United States is not a reliable partner. The United States is not a stable leader of peace and security around the world," said White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.

The Congressional Budget Office said on Friday that there was a significant risk that the federal government could run out of cash sometime in the first two weeks of June unless Congress agrees to raise the $31.4 trillion borrowing cap.

Pacific island respect

With the brief stop in Papua New Guinea to meet with Pacific Island leaders, Biden gets the chance to show the United States is serious about remaining engaged for the long term in the Pacific Islands.

The area has received diminished attention from the U.S. in the aftermath of the Cold War and China has increasingly filled the vacuum  through increased aid, development and security cooperation. Biden has said that he's committed to changing that dynamic.

Last September, Biden hosted leaders from more than a dozen Pacific Island countries at the White House, announcing a new strategy to help to assist the region on climate change and maritime security. His administration also recently opened embassies in the Solomon Islands and Tonga, and has plans to open one in Kiribati.

He'll be the first sitting U.S. president to visit the island nation of about 9 million people. Chinese President Xi Jinping made a visit to Papua New Guinea in 2018.
Gov. Kim Reynolds will sign a handful of bills on a tour across the state this week, holding public ceremonies to enact laws dealing with fentanyl, child care, vehicle enforcement and butcheries.

Reynolds will hold a fentanyl roundtable in Atlantic on Tuesday, where she will sign House File 595 into law. The bill will hike penalties for manufacturing and selling fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid. It will also increase penalties for providing or selling a drug to someone that results in their death, and increase access to opioid antagonists like naloxone, that can reverse the effects of an overdose.

Later on Tuesday, Reynolds will sign Senate File 513, which will transfer certain motor vehicle enforcement employees from the Department of Transportation to the Department of Public Safety. The ceremony will take place at the I-80 Weigh Station in Adel.

On Thursday at the Childcare Discovery Center in Fort Dodge, Reynolds plans to sign House File 707. The bill will make more parents eligible for state child care assistance, but require that they work more hours. The bill will bump up the eligibility limit for child care assistance to 160% of the federal poverty line and require recipients to work 32 hours per week, up from 28 hours.

Later on, Reynolds will visit Rutland to sign into law House File 185, which increases eligibility for butchery businesses to participate in the butchery innovation and revitalization program.

Seat belt campaign

Iowa officials are urging Iowans to buckle up ahead of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations Click It or Ticket campaign.

The enforcement effort will run from May 22 to June 4.

According to a release from the Iowa Department of Public Safety, about 55% of traffic deaths in Iowa were unbelted or unknown in 2022.

The Click It or Ticket campaign is managed by the Governors Traffic Safety Bureau, which works with local governments and the state to improve traffic safety and reduce deaths.

AG updates immigration lawsuit

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced new claims in a Texas-led lawsuit against President Joe Bidens administrations immigration parole practices, which have been put on pause by another lawsuit.

The lawsuit challenges a May 10 update to the U.S. Border Patrols parole practices, which would allow officials to parole migrants crossing the border to alleviate overcrowding at border facilities if certain conditions are met. The migrant would then generally be required to schedule a hearing date within 60 days, but the parole could be extended under certain conditions.

A Florida judge issued a temporary halt on the practice in response to a separate lawsuit filed by the state of Florida on Thursday.

At a time where we have record numbers of illegal immigrants flooding our southern border, the Biden Administration decided to make things worse, Bird said in a press release Friday.

Photos: Migrants rush across US border in final hours before pandemic rule expires
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  Tens of thousands of people gathered in New Mexico on Friday for what organizers bill as the largest powwow in North America.

The annual Gathering of Nations kicked off with a colorful procession of Native American and Indigenous dancers from around the world moving to the beat of traditional drums as they filled an arena at the New Mexico state fairgrounds.

Were ready to rock the house here, the announcer proclaimed, after introducing drum groups, including from Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

During the event, dancers slowly spiral their way, one by one, toward the center of the venue, making for a spectacular display. This marks the 40th year for the gathering, which has grown from humble beginnings in 1983 into a massive celebration with Indigenous people showcasing their cultures through dancing and singing competitions.

Dale Metallic has been dancing for about 30 years, since he was a teenager, but this marked the first year he was able to persuade his father, Sibugug, to join him in competition. They made the trip from the Migmaq Nation in eastern Canada.

Its a celebration, the younger Metallic said.

Its in our blood, his father added. Its about language, culture, family.

And style.

Competitors wear feathered bustles, buckskin dresses, fancy shawls, and beaded head and hair pieces. Many of the dancers elaborate outfits are detailed with hand-stitched designs.

Twelve-year-old Violet Sutherland showed off elaborate beadwork and a fancy shawl as she spun around beneath the welcoming sign while her mother took photos. They traveled from Ontario, Canada, so Violet could fulfill a wish made the previous year.

I always wanted to go and see everyone dance, said Violet, nodding at the colorful Aztec dancers performing nearby.

Violet, who is Ojibwe and Cree and the youngest of three siblings, practices every day, keeping alive a tradition like her parents and grandparents before her.

As spectators and competitors took breaks to get roasted corn, fry bread and lattes, the echoing thunder of drum beats could be heard outside the arena.

In addition to the dancing and singing competitions, more than two dozen contestants from the U.S. and Canada also are vying for the title of Miss Indian World. The winner will be crowned on the final night of the powwow and will spend the next year serving as a cultural ambassador as she travels to events and other powwows.

Several hundred Native American tribes in the United States and First Nations in Canada are represented at the gathering, which has become Albuquerques second-largest annual festival and brings in more than $20 million for the local economy each year.

Organizers held virtual gatherings in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID-19 restrictions. This is the second in-person gathering since public health regulations were relaxed.
Governor Greg Gianforte vetoed Senate Bill 442.

He ignored 137 legislators, county commissions, local governments, farmers and ranchers, hunters, veterans, EMTs plus thousands of Montanans who have voiced their opinion directly to make sure this historic public lands bill became law. Prior to the governors veto decision, many of Montanas lawmakers stood with Montana citizens. Senate Bill 442 soared through both chambers passing the Senate 48-1 and the House 82-17.

For months, the Gianforte administration said that when good bipartisan bills hit the governors desk, hed sign them. Our representatives and senators held up their end of the deal, but the governor didnt. SB 442 is bipartisan. Its secured historic investments in habitat conservation, water conservation, weed management, public access and more.

Governor Gianforte is supposed to listen to and serve the public, not turn his back on the needs of our people, our public lands, and our wildlife. Call the Montana Secretary of State asking the Montana Constitution be upheld and that legislators be sent veto override poll immediately. And make your voice heard by calling Governor Gianforte.

Chistine Jacobson, 406-444-2034, contact https://sosmt.gov/contact-feedback

Archie L. Thomas and Merry E Schrumpf, Corvallis




Russian news outlet Kommersant said two Russian fighter jets and two military helicopters had been 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 Russian state news agency TASS said a Russian Su-34 warplane had crashed in that region but did not specify a cause.





TASS also cited an emergency services official as saying an engine fire in a helicopter had caused it to crash near Klintsy, which is about 40 km (25 miles) from the border.





It made no mention of the Su-35, or of a second helicopter.





A video posted on the Russian pro-war Telegram channel Voyenniy Osvedomitel showed a helicopter high in the sky suffering an explosion, being thrown off course and then plunging towards the ground in flames.





Comments accompanying the video, which Reuters could not immediately verify, said it showed a Mi-8 being shot down by a missile. Other images posted by the channel showed wreckage in an agricultural field.





Kommersant provided no evidence for its report that four aircraft had been downed, but the same assertion was also made by several heavily followed pro-war military bloggers.





Later on Saturday, Bryansk regional governor Alexander Bogomaz said a Ukrainian drone had hit a food production plant in Starodub, close to the Ukraine border, damaging the roof. Bogomaz, writing on Telegram, said there were no casualties.





The incident occurred two days after Bogomaz reported a drone strike on an oil storage depot in the region.





The Moscow Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Kommersant report.





Voyenniy Osvedomitel said it appeared that "most likely, the enemy staged an ambush with air defences previously transferred to a border zone close enough to hit our group".





It said the downed helicopters appeared to be Mi-8MTPR-1 electronic warfare craft.





Kommersant said all four crews had been killed.





There was no official response from Ukraine, which usually declines to comment on reports of attacks inside Russia.





However, in a Twitter post, Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, called the incident "Justice ... and instant karma".








Kathmandu, Nepal, May 15, 2023: CPN UMLs suspended secretary Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, who was arrested on Sunday late evening on the charge of involving in fake Bhutanese refugee scam, is being presented today at Kathmandu district court seeking permission to take into custody more days for further investigation.





Rayamajhi, who had been absconding since the court issued an arrest warrant against him two weeks ago in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam, was arrested on Sunday evening from Budhanilakantha area of Kathmandu. It is said that he was arrested while he was hiding at a home of his close friend.





Rayamajhi, who is also a member of the elected representatives of CPN UML from Arghakhanchi district for the post of member of federal parliament, is accused of being involved in a racket of sending people to the United States identifying them as Bhutanese refugees.




A hot air balloon made an emergency crash landing in Henrico County on Sunday morning, police say.

Shortly before 7:30 a.m., Henrico Emergency Communications received a call about a balloon suspected of having crashed near Chamberlayne Road and Diane Lane.

Henrico police and fire officials located a possible crash site with help from the Hanover County Sheriffs Office, then made contact with the balloons pilot, who was able to make an unplanned but safe landing in the 800 block of Azalea Avenue.

There were multiple adult passengers in the balloon, but police say no one was injured in the landing.

Henrico Police would like to thank our partners with the Henrico Division of Fire, Hanover Sheriffs Office, and Virginia State Police for their always professional response and assistance, the police department said in a statement Sunday.
Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Petersburg, is touting endorsements by 30 current or former local government leaders in his Senate district as proof that hes the work horse in a Democratic primary battle with former Del. Lashrecse Aird, D-Petersburg, whom he derides as a show horse.

Airds campaign to unseat the first-term senator has featured endorsements by six of his Senate colleagues  all women  and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, but Morrissey dismissed them as outsiders who do not know the district.

He countered with endorsements by elected leaders in six of the eight localities in the district  Petersburg, Hopewell and the counties of Prince George, Dinwiddie, Charles City and Sussex. The list did not include anyone from Henrico County, which is home to the single- largest number of potential voters in the June 20 primary, or Surry County.

There are two types of elected officials  work horses and show horses, Morrissey said in a statement announcing the endorsements. Local elected officials, who know both candidates intimately, know that Morrissey is a work horse and that Lashrecse Aird is simply a show horse.

He leaned heavily on Petersburg Mayor Sam Parham, who sparred publicly with Aird during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she urged then-Gov. Ralph Northam to require the city to reconnect water services for delinquent accounts.

In the six years that I worked with Lashrecse in the City of Petersburg, she did not show up one single time to City Council to champion or advance a single cause, Parham said in a statement quoted by Morrisseys news release. Morrissey, on the other hand, came before City Council on dozens of occasions.

He and Morrissey also are close allies in Petersburgs ongoing effort to win state permission to host a casino resort and deny Richmond a second opportunity for voters to act on a proposed casino there. Aird supports giving Petersburg the opportunity to vote on a proposed casino, but she does not take a position on a second vote in Richmond.

In addition to the mayor, Morrisseys endorsements include five other Petersburg City Council members: Howard Myers, Darrin Hill, Marlow Jones, Arnold Westbrook and Charlie Cuthbert. The list does not include council member Annette Smith-Lee.

Morrissey also received endorsements from Petersburg School Board members Hal Miles Sr. and Celeste Wynn; former Councilman and Treasurer Ken Pritchett; and former Del. Fenton Bland, D-Petersburg.

He also announced endorsements by:

Prince George Board of Supervisors Chairman Donald Hunter and members Floyd Brown Jr. and Alan Carmichael; and School Board Chairman Cecil Smith and member Chris Johnson;

Hopewell Sheriff Travis Stanley; City Council members Rita Joyner and Janice Denton; former Mayors Patience Bennett and Christina Luman-Bailey; and former council members Arlene Holloway and Ray Edmonds;

Chickahominy Indian Chief Stephen Adkins, Charles City Sheriff Alan Jones and Charles City School Board member Preston Adkins;

Dinwiddie County School Board members Barbara Pittman and Jerry Jay Schnepf; and

Sussex County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Susan Seward and member Eric Fly, and Waverly Mayor Angela McPhaul.

The list also includes an endorsement by Jesse Hellyer, whom Morrissey identifies as a resident and business leader in Sussex.

Aird said in an emailed statement: We plan to release our own diverse coalition of trusted Democratic leaders who have endorsed me that is reflective of the ENTIRE district and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
More organizations are popping up to help seniors age independently, such as The Village Movement, which connects older adults with tools and resources to age in place, and has established more than 300 locally developed communities in the United States, including Charlottesville, Locust Grove and Northern Virginia.

TruBlue's mission is to provide an affordable alternative to senior living communities, which offer the convenience of not having to worry about home maintenance, but can cost residents thousands of dollars a month.

According to SeniorLiving.org, the monthly cost of a private room in a nursing home in Virginia can run as high as $9,000 a month.

TruBlue's subscription model starts at $49 a month (plus $99 startup fee) for quarterly services and $199 a month for monthly services. Each package comes with a home assessment and a personal house care manager. The monthly plan comes with additional benefits, such as no startup fee, selected discounts and up to $25 in materials per month. Customers can also order one-time services as needed.

Recurring visits involve technicians doing little things, such as changing filters, cleaning gutters or taking down the Christmas tree after the holidays.

"Being a handyman is something that's always been sort of near and dear to me," McNamara, who stepped away from the corporate world to become a TruBlue owner, said. "I grew up in that environment with my father owning a painting and decorating business for years."

Although TruBlue does not work on large-scale projects, such as roofing or HVAC systems, its intention is to be a single point of contact for everything else.

"It's often difficult to get people to show up for the smaller needs and still give those the quality service and professionalism that's needed to do the job," McNamara said. "That area of focus was key for us in getting into this space and making a bit of a difference."

TruBlue of Midlothian opened May 1 as a mobile franchise, with staff reaching customers remotely and directly at their homes. It's accepting project requests for the rest of the spring and is hiring for all positions, including home technicians.

Even though trade skills are needed for home tasks, TruBlue also wants its technicians to be personable, especially when dealing with older adults.

"We want a team that can enter somebody's home and make them feel comfortable," Etheredge said.

TruBlue places a large focus on seniors, but the company is open to anyone who needs help at home, including busy families, veterans, people with disabilities and people of all ages who are healing in place.

"Whether you have young children or you're just busy with corporate or whatnot, you don't have time to manage the day to day of your house," Etheredge said. "The basic things you're supposed to do every month that we don't think of until it's too late, that's definitely a service we provide."
Despite the recent cool stretch, 2023 continues to be the warmest year on record so far in Richmond. But May is doing its best to drag this year out of the top spot.

While not legitimately cold, Richmond is about 1 degree below normal so far this month, and temperatures for the rest of the week will do little to move the needle further from that spot.

The news-making heat in the western U.S. and Canada is allowing relatively cooler air to progress into eastern North America  including Virginia, and that will likely continue through this weekend. And with it will come a few more chances for rain, starting as early as Tuesday.

Spotty showers will pass through parts of metro Richmond on Tuesday, but there is more concern for heavier rain Tuesday night.

A small but potent area of low pressure will race eastward across southern Virginia on Tuesday evening, and it will produce a narrow ribbon of especially heavy rain. Depending on its precise location, a quarter-inch to an inch of rain is possible in less than six hours across metro Richmond on Tuesday night.

More concerning, some of the heaviest rain is expected between midnight Tuesday and daybreak Wednesday, so do not be surprised if streams and creeks are near bank full for the morning commute to work on Wednesday.

In addition to the heavier rain, some scattered thunderstorms may precede the more consistent rain, and have the potential for wind gusts upward of 60 mph. The conditions are not optimal for thunderstorms with damaging winds, but there are enough ingredients coming together on Tuesday to allow a couple of those stronger storms to push through. The risk of those storms is actually higher west of Richmond, toward Roanoke, Danville and areas of the state farther southwest toward the Kentucky state line.

This active period on Tuesday and Tuesday night will yield to three quiet and relatively cool days for the rest of the workweek. Afternoons from Wednesday through Friday will hold in the 70s, perhaps even low 70s on Wednesday and Thursday.

Two systems approach on Saturday, one from the south and one from the west. Often when this happens, there is a narrow ribbon of relatively nice weather in between, so while a few showers appear likely on Saturday, it does not look like an especially rainy Saturday in metro Richmond.

Both systems look to push offshore Saturday night, giving mostly sunny and pleasant afternoons both Sunday and Monday, and those high temperatures continue in the 70s through most of next week as well.

By Memorial Day weekend, the normal high in Richmond reaches 80 degrees but, until then, all signals suggest that hot and humid weather will remain far away from Virginia.

Close This July 1955 image shows the building, at Madison and Grace streets in Richmond, that once sat downtown and housed First Presbyterian Church. Completed in 1853 at the current site of Old City Hall, the buildings outer shell was moved to Madison and Grace in the mid-1880s to make room for the city building. In 1943, the Acca Shriners, who had lost the Mosque (now Altria Theater) during the Great Depression, purchased the old church building. They used it until the mid-1950s; the building has since been torn down. In May 1977, this 150-foot smokestack came down, thanks to Controlled Demolition of Towson, Md. The smokestack stood behind what used to be Broad Street Station in Richmond; the demolition was part of a contract with the state for removal of the stack and several buildings in the area. This April 1951 image shows St. Andrews School in Richmonds Oregon Hill area. Noted philanthropist Grace Arents founded the school in 1894 and was a key supporter of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. The school offered a wide range of programs, including sewing, music and physical education. It still stands today, serving low-income children. In May 1959, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway announced plans to move about a third of its workforce from Richmond to Huntington, W.Va., by 1961-62. Many employees worked in the First and Merchants National Bank building at Ninth Street downtown, which was partially owned by C&O. The building has been converted to First National Apartments. This July 1947 image shows the new Curles Neck Dairy plant at 1600 Roseneath Road in Richmond. The building, which cost more than $200,000, gave the 13-year-old dairy modern features including a refreshment room that served up to 50 people, ice-cream-making facilities and curbside service. The building is now home to the Dairy Bar restaurant. This March 1987 image shows the Independent Order of St. Luke building at 900 St. James St. in Richmond, which was the new home for the citys Head Start program. The building, which today stands empty, was built in the early 1900s and was expanded between 1915 and 1920. It was home to the benevolent society under Maggie Walkers leadership, as well as the first location of the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank that she ran. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. This May 1935 image shows Herberts shoe store at 419 E. Broad St. in downtown Richmond. The store advertised itself as the first air-cooled shoe store in the entire South. A fall sale that year offered womens shoes as low as $1.77. This May 1957 image shows the Woolworths at Fifth and Broad streets in downtown Richmond. The $1 million building opened in September 1954, and it housed several departments for the nearby Miller & Rhoads, which had an earlier store on the site in the late 1800s. An ad for the Woolworths Easter sale offered handbags for $1, records for 99 cents, and cowhide and plastic belts for between 39 and 98 cents. In February 1968, the National Theater on East Broad Street in Richmond was about to undergo a $150,000 remodeling to make it suitable as a movie theater  the building, which opened in 1923, was designed more for vaudeville and other live performances. In June 1968, the theater reopened as The Towne and operated until 1983. It has since been restored again and now hosts concerts. From the Archives: Old Richmond buildings This July 1955 image shows the building, at Madison and Grace streets in Richmond, that once sat downtown and housed First Presbyterian Church. Completed in 1853 at the current site of Old City Hall, the buildings outer shell was moved to Madison and Grace in the mid-1880s to make room for the city building. In 1943, the Acca Shriners, who had lost the Mosque (now Altria Theater) during the Great Depression, purchased the old church building. They used it until the mid-1950s; the building has since been torn down. In May 1977, this 150-foot smokestack came down, thanks to Controlled Demolition of Towson, Md. The smokestack stood behind what used to be Broad Street Station in Richmond; the demolition was part of a contract with the state for removal of the stack and several buildings in the area. This April 1951 image shows St. Andrews School in Richmonds Oregon Hill area. Noted philanthropist Grace Arents founded the school in 1894 and was a key supporter of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. The school offered a wide range of programs, including sewing, music and physical education. It still stands today, serving low-income children. In May 1959, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway announced plans to move about a third of its workforce from Richmond to Huntington, W.Va., by 1961-62. Many employees worked in the First and Merchants National Bank building at Ninth Street downtown, which was partially owned by C&O. The building has been converted to First National Apartments. This July 1947 image shows the new Curles Neck Dairy plant at 1600 Roseneath Road in Richmond. The building, which cost more than $200,000, gave the 13-year-old dairy modern features including a refreshment room that served up to 50 people, ice-cream-making facilities and curbside service. The building is now home to the Dairy Bar restaurant. This March 1987 image shows the Independent Order of St. Luke building at 900 St. James St. in Richmond, which was the new home for the citys Head Start program. The building, which today stands empty, was built in the early 1900s and was expanded between 1915 and 1920. It was home to the benevolent society under Maggie Walkers leadership, as well as the first location of the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank that she ran. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. This May 1935 image shows Herberts shoe store at 419 E. Broad St. in downtown Richmond. The store advertised itself as the first air-cooled shoe store in the entire South. A fall sale that year offered womens shoes as low as $1.77. This May 1957 image shows the Woolworths at Fifth and Broad streets in downtown Richmond. The $1 million building opened in September 1954, and it housed several departments for the nearby Miller & Rhoads, which had an earlier store on the site in the late 1800s. An ad for the Woolworths Easter sale offered handbags for $1, records for 99 cents, and cowhide and plastic belts for between 39 and 98 cents. In February 1968, the National Theater on East Broad Street in Richmond was about to undergo a $150,000 remodeling to make it suitable as a movie theater  the building, which opened in 1923, was designed more for vaudeville and other live performances. In June 1968, the theater reopened as The Towne and operated until 1983. It has since been restored again and now hosts concerts.
AMLO says Tula Coking plant will produce more gasoline with less pollution

Tula de Allende, Hidalgo  President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador paid a visit to his under-construction coking plant in Hidaglo.

On Friday, AMLO supervised the progress of the construction of a coking plant which he says, will process fuel oil to produce more gasoline with less pollution.

In total we invested 60 billion pesos. Around 9,000 workers participate in the work, he reported on his social media.

He says the coking plant will add value to crude oil, while simultaneously creating more jobs.

Many jobs are generated, a lot of well-being in Mexico () work will not be lacking and we will always seek to increase wages and benefits for workers, he said.

After his visit, AMLO said that after the rescue of Petroleos Mexicanos, the government has endorsed the commitment to achieve energy self-sufficiency, which will avoid the importation of gasoline, in contrast to previous six-year terms.

We are investing around $3 billion dollars, not credit, but public budget. This will mean that with the new projects, the modernization of the six refineries that we found, the purchase of the Deer Park refinery in Texas, the new refinery from Dos Bocas, another coking plant in Salina Cruz, with all that, next year we are not going to buy gasoline abroad.

All the gasoline will be produced in our country. We are going to achieve that purpose of being independent in our energy resources, he reiterated.
At least 13 killed in fiery highway crash between semi and van

Guemez, Tamaulipas  At least 13 people were killed Sunday after an accident between a semi trailer and a van. The fiery crash happened along a section of the Hidalgo-Zaragoza highway in the state of Tamaulipas.

Tamaulipas Public Security Secretariat confirmed the accident and death toll at the time on social media Sunday.

State Guard personnel attended to an accident registered Sunday morning between a trailer and a van after both units caught fire after impacting, said Tamaulipas Public Security.

The accident occurred at kilometer 80 of highway 83 of the road that connects Hidalgo and Zaragoza.

According to the initial report, State Guard elements responding to the accident scene reported being unable to distinguish the cab of the semi due to the severity of the wreck.

Secretary of Public Security Tamaulipas posted on social media that Civil protection authorities are assisting and so far 13 people have been reported dead. The circulation is not obstructed, however it is recommended to drive with caution and respect the speed limits as well as the signs.

Authorities have not released a cause for the accident which happened on a straight stretch of paved highway.
Residents around Sac-Tun demand quarry closure

Solidaridad, Q.R.  Area residents around the Sac-Tun quarry protested over the weekend. The small group were demanding the permanent closure of the quarry.

A group of residents who live in the vicinity demonstrated at the access to the facilities along the federal highway outside Playa del Carmen. The group say they are concerned for area schools and the health of their children.

We come to demand our rights be taken into account. We are neighboring communities, a kilometer and a half from Sac-Tun and the first structure is a school.

The neighbors have presented breathing problems, so we are demanding the definitive closure of Sac-Tun which is the reason the people of the communities are here.

Here we are and we will continue here, said Quetzal Tzab, a member of the Peninsular Maya Indigenous Movement.

Tzab is part of the same group who took their concerns to the 11th United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights last November in Switzerland. At the time, they presented the issues at hand in hopes of receiving international support.

In October of 2022, they filed a class action suit against the company Caliza Industriales del Carmen (Calica), currently with the trade name Sac-Tun, before the federal Judiciary in Cancun for serious violations of the environment and the health of girls and children from the rural communities of Quintana Roo.
Trio with over 600 packages of hard drugs arrested in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  Solidaridad Police arrested three people who were found with more than 600 packages of hard drugs. The trio were taken into custody from the Villas del Sol residential area of Playa del Carmen Saturday.

They were also jailed for possession of a loaded firearm.

According to a report by Seguridad Publica Solidaridad, the three adults were arrested Saturday night from Garza Morena Street when they saw two men and one woman exchanging drug-like packages and cash with the driver of a mototaxi.

When they saw police, everyone fled which lead police into a chase. During their pursuit, they saw one of the men carrying a gun on his waist. Once intercepted, police proceeded to arrest 35-year-old Marco N from Mexico City who was found in possession of a firearm, a magazine stocked with 7 cartridges and a variety of narcotics that included marijuana and cocaine products.

They also arrested 44-year-old Carlos N from Chiapas who was found in possession of marijuana and cocaine products, as well as 43-year-old Yesi N from Honduras, who was found with drugs and cash in both pesos and foreign currency.

In total, over 600 packages of drugs were seized along with one loaded gun and a vehicle.
A veteran police officer charged and convicted two years ago.

Another longtime officer charged last year, then found guilty this year.

Two other officers brought up on charges, with the most recent coming this month when a Wytheville man swore out a warrant for assault against an officer he said shoved him during an off-duty altercation.

The Radford Police Department, which has 42 sworn officers, is enduring a run of problems that city officials describe as alarming and unfortunate  but not a sign of wider issues.

When something bad happens, it doesnt necessarily indicate something systemic, Mayor David Horton said last week, voicing what he said was city councils full confidence in police Chief Jeff Dodson. Unconnected charges against several officers should not overshadow major steps that the department is making toward national accreditation, building community relations, and more, he said.

I really want to express how proud I am of the work Jeff has done, Horton said.  It is just somewhat of a bad hand that he has been dealt.

Commonwealths Attorney Chris Rehak, who was a police officer before he went to law school, noted that the four officers were accused of very different things. Like Horton, Rehak said that he saw no larger pattern, calling the confluence of charges a combination of bad luck and coincidence  it looks like four unrelated and totally random things.

Dodson, responding to questions in a long email, said that the entire force was disappointed by the actions of a few officers. It is heartbreaking to see your fellow officer tarnish their badge and breach the publics trust, he wrote.

But Dodson said that the charges are not representative of a department that he described as focused on moving forward.

I assure you that this department is doing great things and will continue to do great things in the future, Dodson wrote. I am proud of the departments work and the Radford community should be too.

Dodson noted in a email Friday that the department had just that day successfully completed the first step in its effort to obtain accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. The first step involved interviews assessing the departments property and evidence functions, as well as its use of force procedures, training, review and data collection. The second step toward accreditation will involve a visit by a CALEA assessor to Radford in June. A final decision should be issued by November.

Brad Lehman, a faculty member of the criminology program at Virginia Commonwealth University and a former police sergeant, said Wednesday that crisis offers chances for reflection.

Mistakes will always occur, but repeated mistakes could signal a need to look at the framework that guides behavior, Lehman said. For any police department, arrests of officers would be a critical time  to do a strong look at their internal processes  Theres an opportunity here to think about not just what is said about ethics but about what is actually being done.

Four episodes that cover a range of offenses are a real question mark that can affect perceptions of police legitimacy, Lehman said.

It tarnishes the good work being done by the rest of the department, he added.

The first arrest in the recent string came in 2021, when Robert Andrew Wilburn, a veteran detective who had retired two years earlier, was accused of having mishandled cash that was forfeited in criminal cases.

Dodson, previously an officer in Culpeper, became chief in 2019 and discovered that money was unaccounted for. He referred the matter to the Virginia State Police. Horton said Dodsons action guaranteed the situation would get more attention and showed a commitment to transparency.

The fact that we know about it means something, Horton said.

Wilburn pleaded guilty in 2021 to a misdemeanor charge of malfeasance, with his attorney saying that Wilburns position was that poor bookkeeping, not theft, led to the problem. Wilburn was fined $500, with another $2,000 of fines suspended, and repaid $2,418.25 to the city.

In 2022, Capt. Chris Caldwell, one of the departments top leaders, resigned after state police notified the department they were investigating Caldwells electronic communications with a teen-age boy. Caldwell was arrested in December on a felony charge of using a phone, computer or other device to sexually solicit a minor.

Last month, that charge was dropped and Caldwell entered a no contest plea to a misdemeanor charge of attempted consensual sex with a minor, age 15 or older. Caldwell was convicted of the lesser charge, was put on supervised probation for a year, and was given a suspended jail sentence.

As the case against Caldwell moved through the courts, school resource officer Mark Wright Mills was charged with assault and battery against a family member and with preventing a 911 call, both misdemeanors and both stemming from a January incident. Mills was put on paid administrative leave and is scheduled to resolve the charges at a May 23 hearing.

Earlier this month, Officer John Fuhrman became the fourth officer to face charges when a Wytheville man took out a warrant against him for assault and battery. A Wytheville police report said that Fuhrman, a Wytheville resident, and his accuser, a man named Zane Perkins, had an altercation in a restaurant that began verbally and  according to Perkins  turned physical when Fuhrman brushed past him. Perkins said that Fuhrman cited him for traffic violations some weeks before and was asking that night if he had flattened the officers tire in response, the Wytheville police report said.

Fuhrman denied that the confrontation became physical and said that he thought Perkins was harassing him by putting dead mice in sealed plastic bags in his yard, according to the Wytheville police report.

Fuhrman was assigned to non-enforcement administrative duties until his case was resolved. He has a June 22 scheduled court hearing on the misdemeanor charge.

Dodson put Fuhrmans situation in a different category from those of the other officers, noting that anyone can swear out a warrant against anyone else and that there had been no law enforcement investigation leading to the charge.

It would be inappropriate for me to comment on the details of the case before trial, but in every story you always have two sides, Dodson wrote. I firmly support MPO Fuhrman and his many years of dedicated service to the Radford community.

Lehman said that speaking generally, incidents like officers getting in fights or being involved in domestic violence, while serious, also could be understood as reactions to the high levels of stress and trauma that accompany law enforcement work. They might be a signal that an agency should look at officer wellness, things to create a culture of care, Lehman said.

These are areas already addressed in Radford  under Dodson, the department put in place a peer support team to care for the emotional wellness of officers, Dodson wrote. Last year, the city department became the smallest accredited peer support team in the Commonwealth of Virginia, he wrote.

Lehman, who focuses on law enforcement operations and ethics, said that of the Radford cases, he was most disturbed by Wilburns and especially Caldwells, because these were officers with decades of experience. That both officers careers began in an era when Radford police went through a much wider pattern of upheaval was also troubling, he said.

Twenty years ago, the Radford department was in the midst of a yearslong storm that included 21 officers suing the city for not paying overtime, an officer filing a lawsuit accusing another officer of sexually touching her while she slept after a party, a chief retiring after his leadership was criticized by a citizens panel appointed by city council, and the next chief being fired in 2004 after being charged the year before with malfeasance, petit larceny, and three counts of obtaining criminal histories under false pretenses.

Caldwell, who had accompanied then-Chief Wes Terry in the incident that led to Terry being indicted, was charged with malfeasance along with Terry. The charge against Caldwell, like those against Terry, ended up being dropped after Terry was fired.

Lehman said that the history made him wonder if changes put in place by the multiple police department administrations between the two arrests of the same officer had dug deeply enough.

If the leadership is not looking at the foundation  all that toxicity, all that negative behavior, whatever you want to call it that is the breeding ground for this type of behavior is just going to lay dormant, Lehman said.

Dodson wrote that he was not familiar with the departments problems of 20 years ago.

However, I will tell you that it is important for the department to continuously move forward.  Policing has changed greatly over the last 20 years and so has this agency, for the better, he wrote.

Dodson wrote that morale in the Radford department remains good, and that while law enforcement agencies across the country report problems filling positions, the city department is fully staffed and has a waiting list of applicants. Since 2021, the hiring process has included polygraph examinations, psychological testing, and in-depth background interviews, he wrote.

Be assured that the mistakes of a few is not representative of this agency as a whole, Dodson wrote. The Radford City Police Department works hard to serve the Radford community each day. I am proud of the men and women of this department. I will continue to work each day to move us forward in a positive direction.

Jeffrey Simmons of the Wytheville Enterprise contributed to this article.
Construction of a natural gas pipeline through the Jefferson National Forest, held to a near standstill since 2018 by litigation, received its latest approval Monday from the U.S. Forest Service.

The permit, issued for the Mountain Valley Pipelines 3.5-mile path through the forest in Giles and Montgomery counties, is a step toward the companys goal of completing construction by the end of this year.

However, the $6.6 billion project still must receive authorizations from other government agencies  and survive legal challenges from environmental groups  if it is to avoid additional delays.

In an announcement late Monday, the Forest Service said it approved amendments to its Land and Resource Management Plan to allow the massive buried pipeline. But work in the national forest, which will include boring a tunnel under the Appalachian Trail at the top of Peters Mountain, cannot start until Mountain Valley has other permits in hand.

We maintain that the Mountain Valley Pipeline cannot be built through the Jefferson National Forest without lasting damage to sensitive forests, habitats and waters, said Jessica Sims, Virginia field coordinator for Appalachian Voices.

Amending a forest plan 11 times to accommodate a ruinous project on federal land is unacceptable, Sims said.

Siding with environmental groups, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has twice thrown out earlier Forest Service approvals for the pipeline, first in the summer of 2018 and again in the winter of 2022.

Each time, Mountain Valley has obtained a new permit. The latest permit issued Monday follows a year of additional review by the agency and an updated environmental impact statement.

The statement takes into account newly listed protected species and other issues that were identified by the Fourth Circuit when it struck down the second permit last year, according to the Forest Service.

The Forest Service said it considered significant public input that consisted of 359 comment letters, roughly 9,100 forms and several petitions. Appalachian Voices has said that more than 30,000 individuals and organizations oppose the pipelines route through the forest.

A spokeswoman for Mountain Valley called the approval a notable step forward in completing this critical infrastructure project. The company now expects the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to soon issue a right-of-way permit, Natalie Cox wrote in an email.

Last year, just two weeks after it invalidated the then-existing permit for Mountain Valley to pass through the Jefferson National Forest, the Fourth Circuit dealt the company another setback  rejecting a biological opinion from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that found construction was not likely to jeopardize endangered and threated species.

After additional evaluation, the Fish and Wildlife Service came to the same conclusion in March. The following month, environmental groups went back to court, asking the Fourth Circuit to review the Fish and Wildlifes finding for what will be the third time.

Appalachian Voices and about a dozen other environmental and community groups that filed suit are asking the appellate court to stay construction while the case is pending.

Citing Mountain Valleys stated goal of finishing the long-delayed pipeline by the end of this year, the groups argue in court papers that without a stay, the pipeline may very well be completed before this petition is resolved.

The resumption of grading, trenching and steam crossings will increase sediment loads in nearby streams that will harm protected species of fish, and the felling of trees endangers bats, the groups argue in their request for a stay.

In rejecting the Fish and Wildlife Services finding last year, the Fourth Circuit warned that an agency may not press on the gas when a species is already speeding toward the extinction cliff.

Attorneys for Appalachian Voices wrote that the agencys foot remains firmly on the pedal in a 24-page brief asking the Fourth Circuit to again intervene.

The pipelines route passes through the habitats of five protected species: the endangered Indiana bat, the threatened northern long-eared bat, the endangered Roanoke logperch, the endangered candy darter and the threatened Virginia spiraea, a flowering shrub native to southern Appalachia.

Mountain Valley argues that government agencies have devoted six years of careful study to ensure the survival of wildlife and plants along the pipelines 303-mile path through West Virginia and Virginia.

Environmental groups want to kill the Mountain Valley Pipeline  regardless of the consequence to bipartisan national energy policy or the impact of further delay on the environment and landowners, attorneys for the company wrote in arguing against a stay.

A decision is expected in the coming weeks.
AFTON  Waynesboro City Council seems intent on severing the citys lease on the Rockfish Gap Tourist Information Center on top of Afton Mountain.

Council members agree with the city assessment that the facility is outmoded, in a neglected area and with a deteriorating access road. The tourist information center on Afton Mountain has been open for at least 40 years, according to Waynesboro City Manager Mike Hamp. Previously, the center was located near other buildings on Afton Mountain, just off Interstate 64. The center earned state certification in 2002.

The current facility, a modular classroom-manufactured office, was purchased in 2010, and the center moved to the top of the mountain, according to Hamp.

But a proposal by Waynesboro Director of Economic Development and Tourism Greg Hitchin to move to a new tourist information location on East Main Street in Waynesboro received no support at a recent council meeting. Council members were not convinced the new center location would bring tourists to Waynesboro.

Hitchin presented an outline to the council, detailing all the recent business investment on East Main and how a consultant had previously said East Main is the gateway to Waynesboro. He also explained that the new center would still be close to Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The park generates 80,000 car visits a year, and the Blue Ridge Parkway up to 17 million visits by people a year. The Blue Ridge Parkway extends 469 miles from Virginia to North Carolina.

A leased location on East Main would also be near the citys newest park, Sunset Park, opening to visitors in the fall. The park is just off East Main and is located in the former city landfill.

And Hitchin said, unlike the Rockfish Gap center, a tourism center on East Main could create a destination experience for visitors, telling them of the attractions in the area. The new center could offer displays about the area and tell a story about Waynesboro.

While council members agreed it is time to cut ties on the current tourist information center, they expressed no support for an East Main center.

Councilman Terry Short asked Hitchin about seeking an easement on I-64 to put up a large sign that would attract visitors to downtown Waynesboro.

Short estimates that the city has spent more than a half million dollars over the past two decades on the center on top of the mountain without any verifiable results that it has helped. Hamp said the costs vary from year to year. He said the city has spent about $15,000 to $20,000 in annual nonlabor costs for the center and about $10,000 annually in labor, with the latter not being exclusive to the center.

Short said he is enormously thankful to the volunteers who have staffed the center. Hamp said the center, which was open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day of the year pre-pandemic, has been staffed by volunteers with support from professional and paid staff.

But Short was skeptical about the latest proposal, saying there is no evidence that a new center on East Main Street would work. There is no one who can demonstrate a return on that investment, Short said.

The councilman said the city needs to explore other ideas for attracting tourism. Short is baffled why the National Park Service would not foot the bill for a tourist information center on top of the mountain near the entrance to the national park and Blue Ridge Parkway.

We need a public investment to happen, he said.

Waynesboro city staff will work on an exit strategy from the Rockfish Gap Tourist Center in the coming months. In addition to ending the lease, Short said Waynesboro will have to calculate the costs of moving the tourist center building from its current location.

For Hitchin, it could be time to return to the drawing board with a new strategy. As a staff, we are looking for different strategies, he said. He said considerable time was spent researching the East Main tourist center idea and following up with the Virginia Tourism Corporation.
Border crossings off from last week's highs as US pins hopes for order on mobile app

With demand far outstripping available slots, a new U.S. government mobile phone app has been an exercise in frustration for many would-be asylum seekers
" " The massive Batagaika megaslump is located in Siberia's permafrost. It was discovered in the 1960s on satellite imagery. Alexander Kizyakov, Lomonosov Moscow State University

If you like to peruse the internet for strange, puzzling extreme phenomena  and to be honest, who among us doesn't?  you may already have come across the Batagaika crater. It's a massive, growing hole in the landscape of Siberia that's inspired even serious-minded scientific publications to resort to supermarket tabloid-style terminology such as the Doorway to Hell and the Gateway to the Underworld.

First spotted in the mid-1960s by surveillance satellites that were classified, the Batagaika crater has grown over the past 60 years from an insignificant gully to a massive tadpole-shaped depression that covers 200 acres (81 hectares) and stretches 2/3 of a mile (1 kilometer) in length and is 164 feet (50 meters) deep, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

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"From 1991 to 2018, the crater area increased by almost three times," Sarah Cadieux, a lecturer in New York'sRensselaer Polytechnic Institute's department of Earth and environmental sciences, says via email.

But what is it, exactly, and how did it get there? And why does it keep getting bigger?
Even though we can see a glowing object far in the distance, the human eye has its limitations, especially when it comes to visual acuity, the scientific-medical term for sharpness of vision.

The cone cells  photoreceptors that are sensitive to red, green and blue wavelengths of light  are concentrated in the macula, an area in the middle of the retina. Our sharpest vision is at the center of the macula, in a spot called the fovea that can zero in on a small part of the world in front of you.

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"You might think that you have a very wide visual field, but the reality is that your area of clearest vision is actually just a few degrees. You don't see the whole world clearly," Singman says. "If you take a big letter E, big as your hand, and move it about 15 to 20 degrees away to the side, you wouldn't be able to tell what letter it was. The clarity of your vision drops pretty quickly, once you get off the center."

That's the reason why macular degeneration, an eye condition in which the macula becomes damaged so that you lose that central vision, can be such a serious problem for people who get it. (The risk increases as you get older, according to the National Eye Institute.)

"You've got to remember that the brain is a really big part of this process," Singman says. That's evident in people who have some sort of brain injury that interferes with their vision, even if there's nothing wrong with their eyes.

"There are types of brain damage where you can't see something move, or where you can't recognize faces  you'll look and pick out an eye or a nose or mouth, instead of the whole face," Singman says.

The brain, in fact, can perform tricks to make up for the eyes' shortcomings. Singman recalls the case of a patient who after eye surgery, suddenly discovered that when he covered that eye, he couldn't see out of the other, supposedly good eye.

When a doctor examined the patient, it was discovered that he had a cataract, a natural clouding of the lens on that eye, but apparently had never noticed it because of his brain's ability to filter out the blur. "That's a classic trick  the brain can shut things off," Singman says.

Now That's Interesting What's the farthest the human eye can see if it's unobstructed? Look up  to space that is. On a dark night sky without light pollution, you should be able to see the Andromeda galaxy, which is 2.5 million light years away. That's the equivalent of 15 quintillion miles or 24 quintillion kilometers.

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Originally Published: Apr 1, 2000
FLORENCE, S.C.  Florence residents will soon get the chance to see a piece of aviation history up close and personal at the Florence Regional Airport.

The Experimental Aircraft Association will bring the Liberty Ford Tri-Motor 5-AT-B to Florence as a part of its nationwide tour with the airplane. The historic airplane will be in town from May 18-21.

Its an incredible airplane. Theres fewer than 10 that are still airworthy, to my knowledge, and less than 200 were made to begin with, said association spokesperson Drew Stephani.

The Ford Tri-Motor 5-AT-B, serial number eight, was built in 1928. Since then, it has passed through many commercial and private hands, including Transcontinental Air Transport and William F. Harrah of Harrahs Hotel and Casinos.

In 2014, the plane landed in the care of the Liberty Aviation Museum in Port Clinton, Ohio. The museum now leases the plane out to the Experimental Aircraft Association to tour around the county.

The plane has a cruise speed of 122 mph, a wingspan of 77 feet, six inches, a range of 560 miles and it seats 12 people.

Those who want to take a flight in the Ford Tri-Motor 5-AT-B can sign up online at FlytheFord.org or can buy tickets at the airport day-of.

Tickets are $95 for non-member adults, $85 for adults who are members of the Experimental Aircraft Association and $65 for everyone under the age of 18.
DILLON, S.C.  Jenny Hardee has been named as the new CEO of McLeod Health Dillon.

In addition to leadership qualities, Hardee will focus on the mission and values of McLeod and an alignment with the local community.

Hardee joined McLeod Health in 2005 as the chief nursing officer for McLeod Health Darlington, and previously served as interim administrator of McLeod Health Cheraw during a leadership transition. She also served as administrator of McLeod Health Darlington. Her clinical background includes experience as a staff nurse, nurse manager and clinical leader as the corporate vice president of McLeod Occupational Health. She has also worked as a school nurse and clinical instructor for the nursing program at Florence-Darlington Technical College.

Hardee says she looks forward to serving the staff and patients of McLeod Health Dillon. In this role, my goal is to serve alongside the staff and community to ensure the availability of excellence and quality medical care to the residents of Dillon and surrounding counties.

Hardee received her associate degree in nursing from Florence-Darlington Technical College. She also earned her bachelor of science degree in nursing and a master of science in nursing from the Medical University of South Carolina School of Nursing. While in graduate school, Hardee was also a member of Sigma Theta Tau, the nursing honor society.

Hardee and her husband, J. Todd Hardee, reside in Darlington. They have two sons and two grandchildren.
 SCOTUS grants cert in ACCA cases to address prior drug convictions as predicates for 15-year mandatory minimum | Main | Lots of sentencing coverage as part of Season 1 of "Drugs on the Docket" podcast 

May 15, 2023

US Sentencing Commission publishes detailed retroactivity analysis for its amendments to federal guidelines' criminal history rules

In this post last month, I provided some details on the US Sentencing Commission's proposed consequential amendments to alter how criminal history is assessed and calculated under the federal sentencing guidelines. The big ticket items in the proposed amendments concern "status points" and "zero-point offenders"; as detailed here, the Commission has officially sought comment on whether it should make these key parts of its new criminal history amendment "available for retroactive application."

Today, the USSC publish on its website this new 48-page memo titled "Retroactivity Impact Analysis of Parts A and B of the 2023 Criminal History Amendment." Here is how the memo gets started:

On April 27, 2023, the United States Sentencing Commission submitted to Congress an amendment to the federal sentencing guidelines revising two criminal history provisions found in Chapter Four of the Guidelines Manual. Specifically, Part A of the amendment makes targeted changes to reduce the impact of providing additional criminal history points for offenders under a criminal justice sentence (commonly known as status points), and Part B, Subpart 1 provides a twolevel downward adjustment for certain offenders with zero criminal history points under the guidelines (zero-point offenders). Because these two provisions reduce the sentencing range for some offenders, the Commission is statutorily required to determine whether either or both of these parts of the amendment should be applied retroactively to previously sentenced, imprisoned defendants. As required by its Rules of Practice and Procedure, the Commission voted at the April 5, 2023 public meeting to instruct staff to prepare a retroactivity impact analysis to aid the Commission in determining whether to do so. This memorandum provides that analysis. Part I of this memorandum summarizes the operation of the 2023 criminal history amendment applicable to status points and zero-point offenders. Part II of the memorandum provides background on the statutory authority and guidelines policy statement governing retroactive application of amendments to the federal sentencing guidelines, noting the factors to be considered in the Commissions decision regarding retroactivity. Part III of the memorandum provides an estimate of the impact of Parts A and B, Subpart 1 of the amendment if the Commission were to authorize the courts to apply these parts of the amendment retroactively. Part IV of this memorandum describes how the analysis was performed.

Here is the summary of the details of the USSC's analysis of who would benefit from retroactive application of its proposed criminal history amendments:

Staff estimates that there are 50,545 offenders in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) as of January 28, 2023, who were assigned status points at sentencing (status points offenders).... Staff estimates that approximately one-quarter (22.7%, n = 11,495) of the 50,545 status points offenders would have a lower guideline range if the Commission were to make Part A of the 2023 criminal history amendment retroactive and, therefore, would be eligible to seek a modification of sentence under 18 U.S.C.  3582(c)(2). The current average sentence for those offenders is 120 months. If the courts were to grant the full reduction possible in each case, the projected new average sentence for those offenders would be 106 months, a reduction of 14 months (or 11.7%). The offenders would be released over a period of many years.... Staff estimates that there are 34,922 offenders in BOP custody as of January 28, 2023, for whom no criminal history points were assigned under Chapter Four, Part A of the Guidelines Manual when sentenced for their instant offense. Of those 34,922 zero-point offenders, 12,574 meet the criteria in Part B, Subpart 1 of the 2023 Criminal History Amendment. Staff estimates that slightly more than half (57.8%, n = 7,272) of those offenders would have lower guideline range if the Commission were to make Part B, Subpart 1 of the 2023 criminal history amendment retroactive and, therefore, would be eligible to seek a modification of sentence under 18 U.S.C.  3582(c)(2). The current average sentence for those eligible zero-point offenders is 85 months. If the courts were to grant the full reduction possible in each case, the projected new average sentence for those offenders would be 70 months, a reduction of 15 months (or 17.6%). The offenders would be released over a period of many years.

Putting these particulars together in a very rough way, it seems that the USSC is estimating that just under 19,000 thousand current federal prisoners would be able to get just under 1.2 years off their sentences if these new criminal history amendments are made retroactive. That adds up to a total of about 23,000 prison years saved were these new guideline amendments made retroactive and these estimated impacts become reality.

May 15, 2023 at 02:29 PM | Permalink

Comments

I am glad to see the trend towards greater impact of criminal history or lack thereof.

Posted by: William C Jockusch | May 15, 2023 9:17:52 PM

Post a comment
An unsightly scene of a man baring it all while lying seductively on a road was captured on video by a driver recently.

The Singapore Police Force yesterday said a 34-year-old man was arrested for lying on a road in Sembawang after they were called in on Friday at around 2:40am.

Dashcam footage posted on Sgfollowsall showed the very naked man on his back with one leg up on the side of the road. The car then slowly maneuvered around him on the rather empty road.

The naked man did not seem to react to the car approaching and continued to lie fearlessly on the ground.

Investigations are ongoing.

Commenters took the chance to find the humor in the situation, some saying that the recent heat wave drove him to do it, another saying that he was just looking at the stars.





If found guilty of appearing nude in a public place, he faces up to three months in jail with a S$2,000 fine.

Other stories you should check out:
Louvre Museum in Paris, France is one of the most popular tourist attractions. (Photo: Getty)

While planning your itinerary for your next holiday, have you tried searching on Google how to pronounce the name of a particular landmark or tourist attractions? Especially if you dont want to sound stupid or unknowledgeable, it is only natural to try and figure out the correct pronunciation.

By analysing such Google search data, the online language learning platform Preply has found the 20 most commonly mispronounced tourist attractions. Native language experts then investigated the linguistic background of the most mispronounced attractions, shedding some light on how to pronounce them correctly.

Here are the 20 most visited tourist attractions and landmarks worldwide people seek pronunciation guidance on. Interestingly, Paris, France has the most landmarksfive out of 20commonly mispronounced. How many of these did you get right?

READ:

The ultimate guide to fun things to do in Singapore

8 exciting things to do in Sydney, and how to get the best travel deals

7 fun, family-friendly things to do in Bangkok with kids

How to remove mould from grain leather bags and shoes properly

How to use retinol and retinoids properly, as shared by beauty expert Larry Yeo

20. Sacre Coeur (Paris, France)

Book a Sacre Coeur walking tour

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 840

How to pronounce: sa-kuh kuh

Sacre Coeur, Paris, France. (Photo: Getty)

19. Neuschwanstein Castle (Hohenschwangau, Germany)

Book a castle tour!

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 840

How to pronounce: noysh-vaan-stine kaa-sl

Neuschwanstein Castle, Hohenschwangau, Germany. (Photo: KKday SG)

18. Angkor Wat (Siem Reap, Cambodia)

Angkor Temples Sunrise Tour

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 840

How to pronounce: ahng-kor wot

Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia. (Photo: Klook SG)

17. Buckingham Palace (London, United Kingdom)

Book Buckingham Palace ticket here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 960

How to pronounce: buh-kuhng-uhm pa-luhs

Buckingham Palace, London, United Kingdom. (Photo: Klook SG)

16. Stonehenge (Wiltshire, England)

Book Stonehenge tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 1,080

How to pronounce: stown-henj

Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England. (Photo: Klook SG)

15. Alhambra (Granada, Spain)

Book Alhambra tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 1,200

How to pronounce: al-ham-bruh

Alhambra, Granada, Spain. (Photo: Klook SG)

14. Petra (Ma'an Governorate, Jordan)

Book Petra tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 1,440

How to pronounce: peh-truh

Petra, Ma'an Governorate, Jordan. (Photo: Klook SG)

13. Parthenon (Athens, Greece)

Book Parthenon tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 1,440

How to pronounce: paa-thuh-non

Parthenon, Athens, Greece. (Photo: Getty)

12. Taj Mahal (Agra, India)

Book Taj Mahal tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 1,800

How to pronounce: taaj-muh-haal

Taj Mahal mausoleum in Agra. (PHOTO: Getty)

11. Uluru (Northern Territory, Australia)

Book Uluru tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 2,160

How to pronounce: oo-luh-roo

Uluru at Sunset. (PHOTO: Getty)

10. Pompeii (Campania, Italy)

Book Pompeii tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 2,280

How to pronounce: pom-pay

The ruins of the ancient city of Pompeii near Naples in the Campania, the classical Roman city. (PHOTO: Getty)

9. Arc de Triomphe (Paris, France)

Book Arc de Triomphe tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 2,520

How to pronounce: ark duh tree-omphe

A day view of Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile, one of the most famous monuments in Paris, France. (PHOTO: Getty)

8. Colosseum (Rome, Italy)

Book guided tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 3,960

How to pronounce: ko-luh see-uhm

View of the exterior of the Roman Colosseum and Arch of Constantine. (PHOTO: Getty)

7. Niagara Falls (border of New York, United States, and Ontario, Canada)

Book Niagara Falls tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 4,440

How to pronounce: nai-a-gruh fawlz

Niagara waterfalls is a famous place to visit in summer, autumn and winter. (PHOTO: Getty)

6. Machu Picchu (Cusco Region, Peru)

Book Machu Picchu tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 4,680

How to pronounce: mach-oo pee-choo

Machu Picchu, Cusco Region, Peru. (Photo: Getty)

5. Burj Khalifa (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)

Book Burj Khalifa deck ticket here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 4,680

How to pronounce: buhj-kuh lee-fuh

Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo: Klook SG)

4. Hagia Sophia (Istanbul, Turkey)

Book tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 5,160

How to pronounce: hai-yuh suh-fee-uh

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo: Klook SG)

3. Eiffel Tower (Paris, France)

Book tour here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 6,240

How to pronounce: eye-fuhl tow-uh

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France. (Photo: Klook SG)

2. Notre Dame (Paris, France)

Book tours and tickets here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 18,720

How to pronounce: noh-truh daam

Notre Dame, Paris, France. (Photo: Getty)

1. Louvre (Paris, France)

Book Louvre tickets here

Annual number of pronunciation searches: 25,920

How to pronounce: loov-ruh

Louvre, Paris, France. (Photo: Klook SG)
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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.

"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 about half of the koala population in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales  that means vaccinating about 50 animals.

The safety and effectiveness of the single-shot vaccine, designed specifically for koalas, previously was tested by vaccinating a few hundred koalas brought to wildlife rescue centers for other afflictions.

Now scientists want to understand the impact of vaccinating wild koalas. "We want to evaluate what percentage of the koalas we need to vaccinate to meaningfully reduce infection and disease," Phillips said.

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 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 animals  they'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, Wakeman said.

Before release, the researchers mark the koalas with a dab of pink dye on their backs to ensure the same animals aren't vaccinated twice.

When the first vaccinated koala was returned to her habitat 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 that 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.

Facing 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.

About half of wild koalas in Queensland are 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.

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.

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. 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 devastating  there's 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, Crowther said.

There are only a handful of other examples worldwide of scientists attempting to catch and inoculate 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."

Photos: Race is on to vaccinate rare wild monkeys in quest for survival
SIOUX CITY -- A Sioux City man has been charged with attempted murder, along with other felonies, related to a home invasion that took place in a near-northside residence Sunday night.

In addition to attempted murder, Littlehawk Eagleelk, 35, was charged with first-degree burglary, assault while participating in a felony and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

At approximately 8:45 p.m. Sunday, Sioux City Police responded to the report of a burglary. The victim told investigators that a woman and two men entered his home, struck him in the head with a shotgun, and stole several items.

At 9:55 p.m. Sunday, police responded to a report of shots fired in the parking lot of a nearby apartment building. Officers were able to determine that the same subjects were involved in this incident.

Eagleelk was located in Sioux City and taken into custody on Monday.

Anyone with information on this case can call the Sioux City Police Department at 712-279-6440 or 712-258-TIPS (8477).
SIOUX CITY  A Sioux City man has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for selling methamphetamine near the Boys and Girls Home in Sioux City.

At a December trial in U.S. District Court in Sioux City in December, a jury found Kenneth Schneiders, 34, guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a protected location.

He was sentenced Wednesday to 80 months in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Schneiders communicated with others about selling meth on Dec. 2, 2019. A confidential source tipped off law enforcement officers, who arrested Schneiders at the Boy and Girls Home parking lot in possession of 2 ounces of meth.
SIOUX CITY  The federal government has sued a former Sioux City plastic surgeon who is alleged to have filed more than a thousand fraudulent claims for medical services.

A complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Sioux City charges Adam Smith, also known as Adam Bryant, with two counts of violating the federal False Claims Act. The complaint also includes two counts of violating Iowa's False Claims Act.

Smith, who was previously found guilty of similar practices in Michigan, potentially faces penalties of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Both the federal and state governments are entitled to judgments that triple the costs incurred for any false claims. In addition, the federal government is entitled to penalties between $13,508 and $27,018 for each of more than a thousand claims Smith submitted.

Smith, who now lives in Minnesota, practiced in Sioux City from August 2014 to August 2019 and was affiliated with Tri-State Specialists before leaving the group.

During that time, the complaint says, Smith billed Medicare and other government programs for surgical procedures he said were medically necessary but were actually unnecessary and thus ineligible for government payment, billed for services in excess of those performed in order to increase his reimbursement, billed for procedures he didn't perform and overstated the complexity of office visits with patients in order to obtain larger reimbursements.

As an example, the complaint said, Smith would perform cosmetic surgeries such as tummy tucks, which are considered unnecessary, and bill them as medically necessary hernia repairs, procedures that would gain him thousands of dollars in reimbursements.

In December 2021, the United States entered into a $612,501 settlement agreement with Tri-State Specialists, which has since consolidated its operations with CNOS, for False Claims Act violations committed while Smith practiced there.

A federal judge in Michigan in November 2021 ordered Smith to pay more than $236,000 in damages and penalties for filing dozens of fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid claims when he practiced in Michigan before moving to Sioux City.

Smith also pleaded guilty in federal court in Michigan to a criminal charge of making false statements and was sentenced to three years' probation and a $3,000 fine, plus restitution.

Before Smith left Sioux City, the Iowa Medical Board charged him with professional incompetency and unethical conduct, accusing him of providing inappropriate surgical care to 17 patients and other unprofessional conduct. The case was resolved after Smith voluntarily surrendered his Iowa medical license. He also surrendered his South Dakota medical license.

At least five malpractice lawsuits filed against Smith by former patients are pending in Woodbury County. A jury found in Smith's favor in a previous lawsuit, and judges have dismissed at least nine others.
HARTINGTON, Neb.  A woman charged in connection with the shooting death of a Laurel, Nebraska, man has pleaded not guilty of murder.

Carrie Jones on Wednesday waived her right to appear in person for a May 22 arraignment and entered written pleas of not guilty to first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence and being an accessory to a felony.

A pretrial conference was scheduled for July 24 in Cedar County District Court.

Jones, 44, of Laurel, is accused of aiding and abetting her husband, Jason Jones, in the death of Gene Twiford, whom she told investigators had verbally harassed her for several years. During a previous hearing, an investigator testified that the day before the Aug. 4 shooting, Carrie Jones threatened her husband with a handgun and a knife, telling him he needed to stand up for her to end the harassment.

She told the investigator she didn't tell her husband to kill Twiford, but did say shed do it if he didnt.

Hours later, Twiford, 86, was found shot to death, along with his wife, Janet, 85, and their daughter Dana Twiford, 55, in their burning home at 503 Elm St. in Laurel.

Jason Jones, 43, is charged with their deaths in addition to the shooting death of Michele Ebeling, 53, whose body was found in her burning home across the street from the Jones' home.

Jones has pleaded not guilty of four counts each of first-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony and two counts of first-degree arson. His pretrial conference also is set for July 24.

Carrie Jones told investigators she 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 administered first aid after he refused to go to the hospital. He was arrested without incident at his home about 24 hours later.

Carrie Jones was arrested Dec. 16. She remains in custody on a $1 million bond.

Jason Jones is being held without bond at the Nebraska Department of Corrections Reception and Treatment Center in Lincoln, where he continues to receive medical treatment.
Goin' Dutch!

Orange City, Iowa's 82nd Tulip Festival allows everyone to be Dutch, no matter their nationality.

The Tulip Festival's Night Show -- a full-fledge musical production -- has been the event's kickoff event for more than 70 years. This year's production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" will run six performances, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Monday.

The majority of the Tulip Festival -- including the famous and twice-daily parade -- will take place in downtown Orange City and in other locations around the Sioux County town.

For a complete list of Tulip Festival events, go to octulipfestival.com.
ALPENA, Mich.  A Michigan girl was able to escape an attempted kidnapping when her brother used a slingshot to strike the would-be attacker, authorities said this week.

Mlive.com reports that the Michigan State Police arrested the accused assailant in the city of Alpena on Wednesday.

The 17-year-old's name has not been released though he has been charged as an adult with one count of attempted kidnapping/child enticement, one count of attempted assault to do great bodily harm less than murder, and one count of assault and battery.

Michigan State Police said in a news release that the 8-year-old girl was in her backyard when the alleged assailant came out of the woods, grabbed her and covered her mouth. Authorities said the girl's brother, 13, hit the alleged attacker in the head and chest using a slingshot.

Police later arrested the 17-year-old based on another family member's description of the suspect. Authorities also said the teenager had visible wounds from the slingshot.

Different types of alerts and what they mean What exactly is a Silver Alert? What exactly is an AMBER Alert? What exactly is a Blue Alert? What exactly is an Ashanti Alert? What exactly is a Green Alert?
WASHINGTON (AP)  A special prosecutor has ended his four-year investigation into possible FBI misconduct in its probe of ties between Russia and Donald Trumps 2016 campaign with withering criticism of the bureau but a meager court record that fell far short of the former presidents prediction he would uncover the crime of the century.

The report Monday from special counsel John Durham represents the long-awaited culmination of an investigation that Trump and allies had claimed would expose massive wrongdoing by law enforcement and intelligence officials. Instead, Durham's investigation delivered underwhelming results, with prosecutors securing a guilty plea from a little-known FBI employee but losing the only two criminal cases they took to trial.

The roughly 300-page report catalogs what Durham says were a series of missteps by the FBI and Justice Department as investigators undertook a politically explosive probe in the heat of the 2016 election into whether the Trump campaign was colluding with Russia to tip the outcome. It criticized the FBI for opening a full-fledged investigation based on "raw, unanalyzed and uncorroborated intelligence," saying the speed at which it did so was a departure from the norm. And it said investigators repeatedly relied on confirmation bias, ignoring or rationalizing away evidence that undercut their premise of a Trump-Russia conspiracy as they pushed the probe forward.

Again, the FBIs failure to critically analyze information that ran counter to the narrative of a Trump/Russia collusive relationship exhibited throughout Crossfire Hurricane is extremely troublesome, the report said. Crossfire Hurricane was the FBI code name for its investigation.

The impact of Durhams report, though harshly critical of the FBI, is likely blunted by Durhams spotty prosecution record and by the fact that many of the seven-year-old episodes it cites were already examined in depth by the Justice Departments inspector general. The FBI has also long since announced dozens of corrective actions. Still, Durhams findings are likely to amplify scrutiny of the FBI at a time when Trump is again seeking the White House as well as offer fresh fodder for congressional Republicans who have launched their own investigation into the purported weaponization of the FBI and Justice Department.

The FBI released a letter to Durham outlining changes it has made, including steps to ensure the accuracy of secretive surveillance applications to eavesdrop on suspected terrorists and spies. It also stressed that the report focused on prior leadership.

Get the rest here:
The U.S. has approved more than $42 billion in federal student loan debt forgiveness for more than 615,000 borrowers in the past 18 months as part of a program aimed at getting more people to work in public service jobs, the U.S. Department of Education said this week.

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is open to teachers, librarians, nurses, public interest lawyers, military members and other public workers. It cancels a borrower's remaining student debt after 10 years of public interest work, or 120 monthly payments.

The program is separate from President Joe Bidens student debt relief plan, which would wipe away or reduce loans for millions of borrowers regardless of what field they work in. The U.S. Supreme Court is currently considering whether that plan can go ahead.

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, known as PSLF, was launched in 2007, but stringent rules meant that more than 90% of applicants were rejected, the Department of Education said in 2019.

In October 2021, the government temporarily relaxed the requirements, making it easier for people to apply and be approved. Those relaxed requirements ended in October 2022. However, borrowers who want to increase their payment count have another opportunity to do so. They can apply for the one-time account adjustment until the end of the year.

Through the one-time account adjustment, borrowers with direct loans will have similar benefits to those that were available under the limited PSLF waiver. Borrowers who do not have direct loans can consolidate and receive PSLF credit for prior payments as part of this adjustment, as long as they submit a consolidation application by the end of 2023.

Starting July 1 of this year, the Education Department will implement changes designed to make the PSLF application process easier.

Heres what you need to know if you want to apply:

Who qualifies?

If you are or were previously employed at least 30 hours per week with the following types of organizations, you qualify:

Government organizations at any level (U.S. federal, state, local, or tribal). This includes the U.S. military, all work in public education, and full-time volunteer work with AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps.

Any not-for-profit organization that is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

If you work for a not-for-profit organization that is not tax-exempt, you may still qualify for PSLF if the organization provides certain types of qualifying public services such as emergency management, legal aid and legal services, early childhood education, service to individuals with disabilities or the elderly, public health, including nurses and nurse practitioners, public library and school library services, and public safety such as crime prevention and law enforcement.

To demonstrate that your job in public service qualifies you for forgiveness, youll file an employer certification form with your servicer, listing jobs youve held.

You must have direct loans or consolidate other federal student loans into a direct loan. You must also make 120 qualifying payments or 10 years of payments.

Which student loans are eligible?

Any federal student loan received under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program is eligible.

If you have either a Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) or a Federal Perkins Loan, youll need to consolidate those into direct loans with your servicer. Payments made on these loans before you consolidated them do not count as qualifying PSLF payments.

Private student loans are not eligible.

How can I apply?

You can apply to the program using the PSLF help tool. If you want to do it manually, you can print and mail a PSLF form.

How can I consolidate my debt into a direct loan?

First, visit studentaid.gov to see if you have loans made under the Federal Family Education Loan or Perkins Loan Program. Those are the loans youll consolidate.

Next, apply online or by mail. The process is free and takes about six weeks to complete, but you can submit the Public Service Loan Forgiveness form after consolidation is complete.

What counts as a qualifying payment?

A qualifying monthly payment is a payment that you made after Oct. 1, 2007, while you were employed by a qualifying employer.

The 120 qualifying monthly payments dont need to be consecutive. For example, if you have a period of employment with a non-qualifying employer, you will not lose credit for prior qualifying payments.

Who can I contact if I have questions?

If you have a specific question about your application, its best to call or email a representative.

For general questions about student loans, the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) hosts a contact center that allows borrowers to live chat, call or email.

How student loan forgiveness could boost Black homeownership rates How student loan forgiveness could boost Black homeownership rates Americans hold more than $1.7 trillion in student loan debt Black and Hispanic students are more likely to have student loan debt Black Americans have lower homeownership rates What student loan forgiveness could mean for Black Americans
Five California men have been charged in Nebraska for their alleged roles in a drug and money laundering conspiracy involving the transportation of thousands of pounds of marijuana and millions of dollars in drug proceeds across the country.

U.S. Attorney Steven Russell said the investigation by the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office and Homeland Security Investigations dates back to September 2019.

On Thursday, two of the five made their first court appearances in federal court in Omaha on the charges: conspiracy to distribute 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

If convicted, Eric Thibodo, 54, of Malibu, and Evan Bowen, 45, of Garberville, would face at least 10 years and up to life in prison.

Both were released on conditions and will be monitored by the U.S. Probation and Pre-Trial Services agency.

Russell said David Leidermann, David Bose, and James Reja also were charged in the same indictment but have yet to make court appearances.

Leidermann, the suspected leader of the organization, and Bose were arrested in the Los Angeles area. Reja has not yet been arrested.

In the affidavit for their arrests, Craig Allrich, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations, said it started Sept. 12, 2019, when the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office Interdiction Unit arrested Tyler Gooch with 90 pounds of marijuana, 3,000 vape pens, 30 pounds of THC shatter concentrate, and a pound of psilocybin mushrooms in his pickup.

Through the investigation, he said, they learned the drugs were bound for eastern Nebraska.

A related traffic stop Jan. 19, 2020, turned up more than $200,000 in cash that smelled of drugs in a trash bag. Thibodo was the passenger.

Allrich said investigators searched his phone and found discussions of the delivery of narcotics from Chicago to Omaha.

They also searched a home in Papillion, where Thibodo had been, and found 111 pounds of marijuana, 32 pounds of THC shatter and 5 pounds of THC oil. Allrich alleges Thibodo delivered the drugs.

He said phone records led to other alleged co-conspirators and to a FastBox warehouse in New York, which led to a traffic stop in the Oklahoma City area that turned up roughly $3.9 million of suspected narcotics proceeds.

Allrich said that on May 7, 2020, HSI executed multiple search warrants on FastBox locations, containers and an employees residence, as well as storage units in California, Chicago, Cincinnati, Kansas City and New York. It turned up 55,000 THC vape pens and over $1.6 million in suspected drug proceeds.

Allrich said texts and audio messages discovered as part of that investigation indicated Leidermann had been directing the FastBox shipments. Bank records showed employees had deposited $1.4 million in cash between 2017 and 2020, he said.

He said FastBox created the appearance that it was a legitimate moving company when it really was being used to transport drugs and drug proceeds. Allrich said Leidermann and Reja started the company in 2014 as a marijuana and marijuana byproduct delivery company.

They are suspected of using the FastBox service to move marijuana and marijuana proceeds between California and the other FastBox locations, according to Allrich's affidavit.
A Davenport man was arrested Thursday, accused of sexually abusing a child in 2018. He previously was on the sex offender registry.

Michael John Cross was convicted in 2008 of lascivious acts with a child, and successfully petitioned the court to be taken off the sex offender registry and his lifetime parole in 2017.

Cross, formerly known as Michael John Byars, 34, is charged with one count of second-degree sexual abuse. Due to his conviction in 2008, the charge is a Class A felony that carries a sentence of life in prison.

According to the arrest affidavit filed by Davenport Police Detective Sean Johnson, police received a report of sexual abuse on May 4.

The affidavit states that, beginning at least in June of 2018, Cross sexually abused a child by pulling down the childs pants and underwear and touching the childs genitals. The abuse began when the child was three to four years old and occurred on multiple occasions.

During a first appearance on the charge Friday in Scott County District Court, Magistrate Eric Syverud scheduled a preliminary hearing in the case for May 19.

Cross was being held Friday night in the Scott County Jail on a $500,000 cash-only bond.

According to Scott County District Court electronic records, on Aug. 10, 2007, Cross, then known as Byars, was arrested on a charge of third-degree sexual abuse, a Class C felony that carries a prison sentence of 10 years. In a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to a charge of lascivious acts with a child, also a Class C felony. Cross, who was born in 1989, was 18 at the time the abuse occurred in 2007.

On Jan. 10, 2008, District Judge J. Hobart Darbyshire sentenced him to 10 years in the Iowa Department of Corrections. On Nov. 3, 2009, Darbyshire granted Cross a reconsideration of sentence and placed him on supervised probation for two years.

Cross was arrested in 2013 for failing to register his job as a volunteer lobbyist in Des Moines. According to a story published April 2, 2013, in the Quad-City Times, Cross had spent months trying to lobby on behalf of legislation aimed at lifting lifetime parole status for some teenagers, himself included, who were convicted of sex crimes.

Cross pleaded guilty to a charge of sex offender registration violation-first offense and was sentenced to one year on unsupervised release.

In 2015, when he was still known as Byars, he was arrested on two counts of sex offender registration violation-providing false information-second offense. The charge is a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of five years. He pleaded guilty to one of the counts and on July 16, 2015, District Judge Joel Barrows sentenced Cross to two years on supervised probation. He was discharged from probation on Sept. 1, 2017.

On July 21, 2017, Cross filed an application in Scott County District Court to modify the sex offender registry requirements seeking to get off of the registry and off of lifetime parole. On Oct. 5, 2017, District Judge Mark Lawson approved the application.

Scott Count Sheriff Tim Lane said Thursday night the law that allows sex offenders to be removed from the registry allows for the Department of Correctional Services to assess the offender. The sex offender then takes that assessment to the courts to support their claim that they should be removed from the registry.

Its the poorest law on the books in Iowa for protecting victims and is contrary to the purpose of the sex offender registry law, Lane said. So, last year the Iowa legislature looked at this law, and I did my best to lobby the Iowa House and Senate to take the assessment out of the hands of the Department of Correctional Services."

A private psychiatrist should do the assessments and the Department of Correctional Services should provide expert testimony on behalf of the County Attorneys Office, who would clearly want to find cases where obvious predators are being assessed as low risk to the public when clearly they are not, Lane said.

It was just a matter of time before a convicted Scott County sex offender reoffended, the sheriff said.

Theyre getting these people off the registry and then these people are turning around and making new victims, Lane said. The public should not stand for that.
Climactic showdown in the Legislature on Tuesday.

A proposed ban on most abortions in the state after 12 weeks of pregnancy combined with a prohibition against "gender-altering procedures" for individuals younger than 19. That means surgeries.

All ready to be tucked into one explosive bill, LB574, the legislation that triggered a session-long filibuster war.

Grab your helmets and buckle up your seatbelts.

* * *

A couple dozen bills are awaiting a vote on final reading in the Legislature now and voter ID legislation is poised to begin its three-stage journey across the legislative floor.

The current final reading list counts a handful of biggies, including the state budget, a dramatic change in school funding support, income tax cuts and more.

An east Omaha proposal to fund a number of projects is poised at second stage consideration.

And there still appears to be time and space for criminal justice reform to be considered with legislative days dwindling down to a precious few.

Zero gubernatorial vetoes so far and none on the horizon, clear evidence that Gov. Jim Pillen and the conservative Republican majority in this nonpartisan Legislature are in accord.

And in charge  with the minority only able to delay, but not stop, the major legislation that has inched its way forward through multiple filibusters.

When the Legislature returns on Tuesday, it will be Day 78 with 13 to go.

And then this filibuster-ridden legislative session that often tried men's  and women's  souls will be done.

It's been a big win for Pillen in his first year.

And for a conservative Republican agenda.

And for rural Nebraska, which will benefit from reduced property taxes and increased state school aid while also seeing some of its social concerns addressed.

* * *

Rep. Mike Flood continues his effort to urge the U.S. Postal Service to consider moving Lincoln's downtown post office out of the Haymarket to open up that prime site for development.

"I am not asking that this facility be relocated immediately; rather to begin the conversation of finding a more appropriate long-term location," Flood wrote U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.

In responding to Flood, U.S. Postal Service government relations representative James Reedy said "vacating and relocating such operations would be highly disruptive to our operations and would significantly impact delivery services to your constituents  our customers."

Reedy noted that operations at the site in the Haymarket include a vehicle maintenance facility that maintains "hundreds of vehicles."

Flood requested a meeting with Lincoln Postmaster Kerry Kowalski and other relevant Postal Service officials to begin to discuss the issue.

A previously scheduled meeting with Kowalski had been abruptly canceled.

* * *

Finishing up:

* It's political heaven in the Legislature with tax cuts on parade  property, personal income, corporate income. How could an elected politician ask for anything more?

* Open Sky Policy Institute counters the political celebration over tax cuts with a warning: "The significant loss in revenue could lead to cuts in important state programs, including education and workforce development, when the state faces an economic downturn."

* Donald Trump's town hall on CNN was a reminder of what a challenge he would be for President Biden in a 2024 debate. Trump is quick and crafty, adjusts to rapidly changing subjects, interrupts, is skilled with deploying knees and elbows, and overwhelms fact-checkers.

* There is chatter about replacing the subdued lighting in the legislative chamber with brighter, more modern lighting; that would change the whole character of the artistic, elegant setting, which is particularly dramatic at night.

* Out in the Rotunda, school children lie in a circle on the floor as a guide tells them about the artwork they see above and all around them in their magnificent state Capitol.

* The University of Nebraska Medical Center's primary care medical program ranked eighth among 123 medical schools in the nation in a new survey by U.S. News and World Report.

* Among the final challenges for this legislative session will be agreement on new voter identification requirements in a state that has had no issues with voter fraud. Will they make it more difficult for some people to vote?

* Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington, speaking to her legislative colleagues: "We've gotten ourselves into a very toxic culture here."

Photos: Omaha students walk out on in support of transgender rights
Sprawling Midwestern pipelines that would carry captured carbon dioxide from ethanol plants and other facilities would change little when they cross state lines.

The proposals would be constructed the same way in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska and the Dakotas  with carbon steel pipe ranging from 4 to 24 inches in diameter with operating pressures of up to 2,200 pounds per square inch.

But the rules and procedures that determine whether they can be built in the first place vary widely among those states.

They range from seemingly no rules at all in Nebraska to Iowas robust system, which puts all regulation of the pipelines construction and operation into the hands of one governing body.

Yet, even in states with rules that give a measure of protection to people who own land in the path of the pipelines, there are calls to strengthen those protections.

Legislation failed in three of the states this year that would have restricted or prevented the companies from using eminent domain to gain land easements. It remains unclear whether regulators and courts in each of the states will decide that the projects are worthy of that forced power.

Some counties have adopted stricter rules about where the pipelines can be built, and landowners are arguing in court that merely allowing the companies to survey land without permission is unconstitutional.

This is just the beginning, said Vicki Hulse, a northwest Iowa landowner who is challenging Iowas survey law and alluded to further legal challenges as the permit processes advance. Theres a long ways to go.

The most prominent projects have been proposed by Navigator CO2 Ventures and Summit Carbon Solutions.

Navigator wants to build about 1,300 miles of pipe  mostly in Iowa  to transport the greenhouse gas to Illinois for underground sequestration or other commercial purposes.

Summit plans a route of more than 2,000 miles that would end with sequestration in North Dakota.

The wild West

While Nebraska has laws concerning pipeline transport of hazardous liquids, such as crude oil, it has not adopted regulations or oversight of carbon dioxide pipelines.

A proposal in 2022, which failed to advance in the Nebraska Legislature, was aimed at requiring companies that build carbon dioxide pipelines to remove the pipe once the pipeline was abandoned.

In reaction to the controversial Keystone XL pipeline and its initially proposed route across the states fragile Sandhills, the Nebraska Legislature a decade ago passed laws governing the routing of hazardous liquid pipelines. But those do not pertain to carbon dioxide projects.

Right now, some counties are considering local ordinances concerning the pipelines,according to Jane Kleeb, founder of Bold Nebraska, the citizen group that led the opposition to the Keystone XL crude oil pipeline. She said at least 430 landowners are rejecting offers to sell right-of-way to carbon dioxide pipeline developers in the Midwest.

Omaha lawyer Brian Jorde, who represents many of those landowners, said he doesnt believe the pipelines have the right to use eminent domain to obtain right-of-way under Nebraska law, an issue that will likely end up in court.

At this time, none of the companies planning a carbon-capture pipeline in Nebraska  Navigator CO2 Ventures, Carbon America or Summit Carbon Solutions  has filed any eminent domain actions in that state, according to Jorde.

As long as they dont try to use it against any of my clients, theyll be fine, he said.

Jorde thinks Nebraskas lack of a permitting process for carbon dioxide pipelines will benefit landowners if they must fight against eminent domain. Other states with laws about the permitting process explicitly say that eminent domain is allowed for the projects. Nebraska has no such edict.

Similar processes

All the other states have a board or commission to review and decide whether to grant pipeline permits. Some have publicly elected members and others are composed of governors appointees.

North and South Dakota have three-person commissions with elected members.

The commissions in Illinois and Minnesota have five members appointed by their governors, although the Illinois Commerce Commission cannot, by law, have more than three members of the same political party affiliation.

The Iowa Utilities Board has three members who are appointed by Gov. Kim Reynolds, who recently named a new chairperson. That prompted the existing chairperson  who was still set to serve on the board for several years  to step down.

Each of the states permit processes share the goals of evaluating the need for the projects, the environmental impacts and the best routes.

Iowa, Illinois and South Dakota hold one final hearing to make those determinations, and Illinois commission has 11 months from the application date to make its decision about whether to issue a permit.

North Dakotas commission holds four final hearings in different parts of the state, the last of which for Summit was held Tuesday.

Minnesota is an outlier: An administrative law judge presides over multiple hearings to determine the need for a pipeline and its proper route. The judge submits a finding of facts to the commission along with legal conclusions and recommendations. Then the commission decides.

Iowa is unique in that it is the only state to empower its board or commission with discretion over eminent domain. In the other states, eminent domain is handled by the courts after pipeline permits are granted.

Landowner interactions

The states also vary widely in how they govern  or dont  the communications among pipeline companies and affected landowners.

Those communications most often pertain to informing the public about the projects, surveying land to help determine a pipeline path, negotiations for easements and, potentially, eminent domain.

All of these are state-by-state, uniquely different permitting processes, said Elizabeth Burns-Thompson, vice president of government and public affairs for Navigator. How and when we communicate with landowners. How and when we go about negotiation.

In Iowa, the companies are required to hold informational meetings in each of the affected counties, after which they can begin negotiations with landowners and survey land without fear of trespassing charges  although that survey law was recently found by a district court judge to be unconstitutional.

There are similar rules for land surveys in the Dakotas, but in Illinois there is nothing in the law that forces the surveys until after a permit is issued and eminent domain is sought.

Negotiations for easements or rights of way can begin whenever in the Dakotas. In Illinois, the companies are required to send notifications by certified mail and can follow up in other ways if there is no response. The companies must generally show a good faith effort to negotiate before starting the eminent domain process.

Legislation that ultimately failed in Iowa this year would have broadly curtailed the companies abilities to conduct surveys without landowner permission and would have prevented them from limitless contact in regard to negotiations.

Court challenges so far

Jorde predicted it will be at least three years before all the legal challenges related to the pipeline projects are settled.

Dozens of lawsuits have been filed in Iowa and North and South Dakota regarding the pipelines. Most of them have been initiated by the pipeline companies.

In North Dakota, Summit has sued landowners to get access to their properties for land surveys. A judge in that state recently upheld the law that allows the surveys as constitutional.

In South Dakota, there are more than 100 pending state and federal court proceedings related to the pipeline proposals. Summit has sued landowners to gain access to their property for surveys and counties for moratoriums and other actions that would block construction of its pipeline.

Recently, Summit initiated more than 80 eminent domain proceedings in South Dakota court. Each of those cases will likely take a year or more to decide and must conclude before construction can begin, Jorde said: Thats a humongous roadblock.

And some landowners have sued Summit, claiming the company lacks legal authority to enter their land for surveys or to exercise eminent domain.

In Iowa, Summit and Navigator have sued landowners and counties and also the Iowa Utilities Board to prevent it from releasing certain information they have provided to the board as part of the permit process.

The lawsuits against landowners have sought to obtain injunctions to gain access to their properties, and more than 10 suits are pending in different counties. The landowners are arguing that Iowas pipeline land survey law is unconstitutional, and there is the potential for multiple, conflicting rulings.

In the first case to be decided  one of Navigators lawsuits  a judge ruled that the law is unconstitutional because it does not provide compensation for the duress landowners suffer by the mere act of the forced entries onto their properties. The law provides compensation for actual damage caused to land, which Navigator has said satisfies a constitutional requirement that land cannot be taken without appropriate compensation. In another Iowa county, a judge upheld the constitutionality of the law. A decision by a third judge in another county is pending.

A trial is also pending for a Summit land surveyor who was charged with trespassing in Dickinson County. The Iowa Supreme Court recently declined to review a district court judges decision to let the case proceed to trial.

Permits in Iowa

Summit is the furthest along in the hazardous liquid pipeline permitting process in Iowa. The Iowa Utilities Boards recently departed chairperson had said a final, weekslong hearing on Summits permit would be held starting in October, but the board has not yet issued an order setting that schedule. Two new members recently joined the three-person board.

Navigator has said it will seek a permit hearing sometime in the first three months of 2024. The timing of a permit hearing for a third company, Wolf Carbon Solutions, which intends to build a much smaller length of carbon dioxide pipeline in eastern Iowa, is unclear.

Summit wants to construct about 680 miles of pipeline in northern and western Iowa and connect to 11 facilities. Navigators project would bisect the state from northwest to southeast and include about 810 miles of pipe that would connect to at least 14 facilities. Wolfs project would span about 95 miles on the eastern edge of the state and connect to two ethanol plants.

Navigator and Summit have indicated they will use eminent domain to gain land easements for their projects. Wolf has said it will get voluntary easement agreements for the full length of its pipeline in Iowa.

Joshua Haiar of the South Dakota Searchlight contributed reporting for this article.
Lincoln Journal Star. May 13, 2023.

Editorial: Pillen, state right to focus on provider payments

Earlier this month, Gov. Jim Pillen agreed to make a one-time stabilization payment to cover a funding gap for developmental disability service providers that will allow them to raise pay and hire more staff.

The June payment, based on the number of individuals a provider serves, will be between $23 million and $24 million and will be a critical first step to addressing a crisis of care for Nebraskans with developmental disabilities.

That crisis, created by languishing reimbursement rates for care providers who work in community-based settings, has led to staff shortages and high employee turnover that have resulted in more than 2,400 people in Nebraska who qualify for a developmental disability waiver under Medicaid to be placed on a wait list.

It takes an average of nine years for those on the wait list to receive adequate care, which is simply unacceptable.

One Lincoln man, who was on the wait list for nearly nine years, recently obtained services, only to have one of the providers close their doors without notice or explanation two weeks ago, leaving his caregiver without a months pay and forcing him to find new services.

That is particularly frustrating given the fact that, because of low provider rates, $42.6 million appropriated to the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Health and Human Services went unspent last year.

This year, the unspent amount is projected to exceed $96 million. Again, that is simply unacceptable.

Pillen recognizes the crisis of staff and low rates and is willing to continue conversations about raising rates for community-based providers.

Now, the Legislature should, in the words of Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, put caring for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities among its priorities, like infrastructure and public safety.

Hansen, who chairs the Legislatures Health and Human Services Committee, said specifically the Legislature should not only increase provider rates but work to make those rates more consistent and stable.

That would allow providers to fill the staffing shortages, providing services for more people and create positive outcomes for their clients.

That will require a funding increase beyond the one-time bump authorized by Pillen.

But, in a time when hundreds of millions of state funds are going to water projects that wont be built for decades and a new prison, and tax cuts will return millions more to taxpayers, that investment would be the right thing to do.

We need to take care of our most vulnerable citizens and create pathways that allow them to have productive and meaningful lives, Pillen said in announcing the June payment. We trust that move will begin the process of providing services to the developmentally disabled to create those pathways.

North Platte Telegraph. May 13, 2023.

Editorial: Unicam bets it wont have to cut tax relief

Even as we wrote April 30 about Nebraskas next two-year state budget, we knew our biblical seven fat years and seven lean years analogy might be overcome by a simpler credo.

To wit: Give the money back to the people.

And thats what Gov. Jim Pillen and the Legislature will do.

Senators will take final votes this week on boosting state school aid and property tax credits; tapping the states fat cash reserve for the Perkins County Canal and a replacement state prison; delaying cash transfers to the reserve fund; and cutting state income tax rates even more than they were last year.

The net effect, the Nebraska Examiner reported last week, will be a cash reserve of $780 million  around one-third its current level.

Thus state leaders are betting enough extra money will come in to keep the cash reserve healthy, even if the seven lean years lie ahead.

Would that we were so confident. But history argues against that.

We do hope it all works. Nebraskas property owners have badly needed a rebalancing of the three-legged stool that funds our state and local governments through property, income and sales taxes.

State government has long needed to keep its three-decade-old promise of greater levels of state support for K-12 schools. This package does that.

Nebraska business leaders have constantly said our state income tax rates leave us uncompetitive. One cant compete with zero income taxes (think Wyomings oil and coal and Wyomings and South Dakotas natural wonders). But lower rates are on their way now.

And we would be remiss if we didnt thank state senators for their substantial, long-overdue investments in western Nebraska these past couple of sessions.

Completion of the $574.5 million Perkins County Canal, one of the budgets two big-ticket items, isnt our project per se. But clearly west central Nebraska will reap its rewards.

Like Lake McConaughy last year, Fort Robinson State Park will get well-justified help in realizing its full tourism potential. And the state will pitch in to help rebuild the Nebraska National Forests 4-H Camp, burned to the ground in last Octobers Bovee Fire.

If the moneys going to be spent, western Nebraska shouldnt be forgotten. And it wont be.

But we mentioned history. And Nebraskas history when our agricultural economy turns sour says these millions of dollars in property tax relief and state school aid will be the first things cut when the Legislature faces revenue shortfalls.

One wonders at Albion Sen. Tom Brieses boldness when he declared the cycle of boom-and-bust and budget cuts wont hold.

Future (senators) can hit the pause button, but I submit to you it wont be necessary, Briese said last week.

Ditto Elmwood Sen. Rob Clements, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, who said it would have to be desperate times for senators to raid the new, extra pot of state school aid.

Remember: We have seen desperate times before here. Enjoy this state budgets benefits. And wait and see.

END
Another month, another bank rescue. Seven weeks after the government rescued the depositors of Silicon Valley Bank, it swept in to keep First Republic Bank from freefall early on the morning of May 1, brokering a sale to JPMorgan Chase while absorbing most of its losses. Its what we expect the government to do: step in to reassure the public that the nations political and economic might are there to prevent outsized risk from turning into wider catastrophe. When the magnitude and systemic character of the risk are more than private institutions can reasonably bear, the government takes overeven, in the case of Silicon Valley Bank, protecting depositors who held more than the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limit.

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Yet when the cost of medical catastrophes is more than ordinary Americans insurance coverage can sustain, the United States fails to reinsure their health plans. The runaway costs of outlier health events famously drive up insurance premiums and lead insurers to deny benefits covering the most desperately needed and expensive treatments. Rather than absorbing and spreading these costs, this country leaves families and employers exposed to denials, even bankruptcy, and allows these individual catastrophes to destabilize systemwide access to private health coverage.

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I have worked on or written about U.S. health policy for a quarter of a century now, and whenever I point out that Americans should enjoy the right to state-guaranteed absorption of ruinous medical costs, I can count on some version of the following response: Indeed we should, but it is just not politically realistic to expect the government to guarantee a claim to economic resources, when the U.S. has only ever viewed rights as freedom from the heavy hand of the state. But the events surrounding the recent bank runs, and the long American tradition of government reinsurance in which they are embedded, reveal otherwise.

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In domain after domain, we in the U.S. rely on government to provide robust material guarantees against catastrophic riskif not to the individual beneficiary, then to the primary private insurer or financier who provides access to those goods or services. When mortgage crises lead to a housing crunch, when drought jeopardizes farming and the food supply, or when pension funds run short of promises to retirees, the federal government routinely stabilizes the publics access to these vital benefits. These commitments suggest not a reluctance to intervene but instead a well-established American belief in the concept of the government as reinsurer of last resort. Whatever we may call themstate loan guarantees, mortgage insurance, state-sponsored secondary markets, risk-corridors, price supportsthese devices all function as government reinsurance in the sense that high-loss, catastrophic cases are offloaded onto government to stabilize the underlying private risk market.

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Why does this commitment stop at the hospital door? In the light of these other guarantees, the nations failure to provide robust, explicit, and permanent state-sponsored reinsurance for health care is an unwarranted withdrawal of the states power and obligation to absorb high-magnitude losses, smoothing out and shoring up the underlying private risk market. Health reinsurance was proposed by Dwight Eisenhower, showcased by John Kerry as the centerpiece of his presidential campaign platform, and included as one of the main stabilization devices in the Affordable Care Actthough those provisions ultimately sunset much too soon. According to both experts and insurers alike, the price of ACA exchange plans would have soared without transitional reinsurance to anchor the programs launch. The idea of a health reinsurance stability fund has even enjoyed broad state-based and Republican support. It is high time we furnish it as a guarantee to all Americans.

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Government backstops in nonhealth domains reach back even further in our history. The FDIC, as we have been reminded recently, dates back to the Great Depression. But the idea of the FDIC draws from a deeper and broader reservoir of expectation that the government will stand behind our institutions to guarantee baseline stability from catastrophic disaster loss. As the legal historian Michele Landis Dauber details in her book The Sympthetic State, there is a long history of congressional appropriations based on the principle of disaster relief for blameless victims of Providence, predating even the New Dealfor causes as diverse as the New Madrid earthquake of 1811, the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, or the cotton-price failures of 1914. Indeed, the perceived unfairness of government backing for so many others and but not yet extended to depositors at that time was precisely what led to the creation of the FDIC, as Rep. Robert Luce of Massachusetts explained in the legislative debate at that time:

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I have seen insurance extended in every direction  and I fail to understand why the depositors in a bank, persons who have no opportunity to know, who have in fact no knowledge about the interior affairs of the bank  should not be insured against mischance that they cannot guard against and prevent.

Once the FDIC was established, other interests pressed to extend the model further. The United Auto Workers, in their bid to insulate their promised pensions from employer underfunding, proposed establishing something like the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to backstop private pension plans.

This logical progression evinces an understanding that government aid in the event of loss beyond a certain threshold is a matter of principle, or, in other words, a rightsomething we owe someone out of fairness, because the last person in like circumstances received the same thing. And, as I argue in my just-released book, this cross-sector extension should be applied to health coverage.

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We should ditch the tired bromide that a right to health is impossible in the U.S. There was no right to bank insurance, either, until banks and depositors not only conceived of but also redeemed on their expectations of affirmative government assistance, based on the evidence of government backstopping for other catastrophic risks. Surely medical coverage, which addresses the most intimate and fundamental of all risks, is another area where we must urgently press the claim. Funding for past reinsurance has been creative and multifarious, lodged sometimes in Federal Reserve powers, sometimes in program authority to recoup through future premiums, or borrowing authority from the U.S. Treasury. Reinsurance programs may also draw from emergency appropriations, entitlement spending, or even the Court of Claims Judgment Fund.

Suffice it to say that when catastrophe strikes, government has stepped in to shore up these critical nonhealth institutions without getting too bogged down in technical funding niceties. Health security is at a grave disadvantage if we fail to furnish the same advantage. Given all the sectors in which government reinsurance is already a fact of life, health-care risks should at least be on equal footing.
Toward the end of Successions second season, the comedian Demi Adejuyigbe went viral with a video that added lyrics to the shows main theme. (The fact that Nicholas Britells whirling composition is already a banger didnt hurt.) All the rich white folk are going to argue, he sang, and then whoevers best is going to win a kiss from Daddy. What made the joke pop was that, for all the clout that Successions billionaire characters appear to wield, the shows stakes seemed almost preposterously small. Like Rupert Murdoch, on whom he was transparently modeled, Waystar Royco CEO and Head Daddy himself Logan Roy was presented as a shaper of worlds, a maker of kings. But the specific environment that the shows characters inhabit is so insulated from the one most people live in that they might as well occupy a separate plane of existence. (Kieran Culkin, who plays middle child Roman Roy, pointed out in an interview that the real-life versions of the Roys can go from private jet to chauffeured car to penthouse apartment with such airtight seamlessness that, even in the dead of winter, they dont wear coats.) Occasionally, wed see a hint of a ripple, as when Kendall personally ventured into the Vaulter newsroom to fire its staff face-to-face or when Shiv met with a single victim of the abusive culture at the companys cruises division. But even when Kendall drunkenly crashed his car and drowned a young man at the end of the first season, it was swept briskly under the (admittedly very costly) rug. By and large, Succession has shown us very little of the truly destructive consequences of the Roys corporate jostling, outside of the psychic damage they deal unto themselves and one another.

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But after America Decides, with only two episodes remaining in the shows final season, it feels as if a storm is coming. The episode plays out as a terrifying mirror of election night 2020 at Fox News HQ, when the networks decision desk made a controversial early callwith Murdochs express consentpredicting the state of Arizona for Joe Biden. In the shows version, with no elder statesman to steady the tiller, the fateful task of calling a purple state falls to Logans sons Kendall and Roman, now cointerim CEOs of the Fox News-ish American Television Network. The Republican presidential candidate Jeryd Mencken, a white nationalist who believes that Hitler had a few good ideas, has already privately admitted his likely defeat. But when a fire, likely started by his supporters, consumes 100,000 absentee ballots in the Democratic stronghold of Milwaukee, he sees a chance to claim victory based on his lead in in-person votes. Roman, who pushed Mencken on his father at a secret gathering in which a cluster of Republican megadonors effectively picked the next nominee, orders his ineffectual brother-in-law Tom, the head of ATNs news division, to proclaim Mencken the winner in Wisconsin, and when the night is over, the states 10 electoral votes are just enough to put Mencken over the top. America has its first fascist presidentat least, according to ATN.

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Its not quite that simple, of course. Even the Roys cant just declare the next president of the United Statesalthough Roman does claim that Logan once dethroned the ruler of an unnamed country with a single fax. But while we might not be able to crown him, Shiv argues, we can stop him. An ostensible liberal, although shes never shown much dedication to any principle more complicated than her own self-advancement, Shiv is openly horrified at the prospect of Menckens election. (After their first meeting, she proclaimed him an integralist, nativist fuckhead.) But shes at least as concerned with the fact that the Democratic candidate, Daniel Jimenez, is less likely to interfere in the sale of Logans company to a Swedish tech giant, which would benefit her both financially and strategically. Mencken, on the other hand, has pledged to block the deal in exchange for the networks editorial support, a quid pro quo that both brothers support so they can maintain control of ATN. Kendallwhose South Asian daughter was physically harassed by fans of the racist ATN host Mark Ravenhead (also something of a Hitler fan)and Shiv wrestle openly with the seriousness of the decisions they have to make. Theyve spent their whole lives jockeying for their fathers power, and its only just occurring to them what it means to actually wield it. Roman, meanwhile, cant throw the levers fast enough. When Kendall balks at the possibility that ATNs meddling could do serious damage to the countrys democracy, Roman just smirks, Oh, America.

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Set almost entirely inside the ATN newsroom, America Decides shows us nothing of America itself beyond the images that flash, often muted and out of focus, on screens adjacent to the Roys private quarrels. When the head of ATNs decision desk takes a moment before the returns start pouring in to remind the staff of the meticulous terms and conditions that govern their work, his words are drowned out by the uninterested chatter of Tom and Greg. Even the rare cutaways find characters in the backs of cars or hotel suites; not until the last few minutes, as Shiv storms out of the building, does anyone take so much as a breath of unfiltered air. But there is a world out there, and no matter how tight, the seal isnt perfect. Maybe the poison drips through, Kendall muses at one point, a stray observation connected to both nothing and everything.

At Shiv and Toms election-eve party in the previous episode, reports that Menckens supporters had firebombed a campaign office had filtered in, and the next day, they torched enough ballots to throw the outcome of a presidential election into doubt. Whether were in for a repeat of 2020 or 2000, its clear that more uncertainty and unrest are going to follow, and for once, not even the Roys can be sure of their safety.
Christopher Michael Sanchez had the right idea. During jury selection in his Texas trial for assault on a public servant, Sanchezs lawyer asked the prospective jurors to rate on a scale of one to five whether [they] agreed or disagreed with the statement that it is better for ten people [to] go free than one be convicted.

While Sanchez was ultimately convicted, defense counsel was on to something fundamental about how people think about crime and punishment. Despite increased public awareness of wrongful convictions, the politics around criminal justice have begun to produce some strange inconsistencies. Particularly during recent elections, weve heard loud calls for more people who had been merely arrested, not convicted, to be locked up without a fair hearing. Lawmakers are presently considering harsher arrest, jail, and sentencing measures in response to violent crime. Sensational coverage of murder trials continues to attract wide audiences. Yet, at the same time, in opinion surveys, most people support police reform, reducing racial disparities, and a focus on rehabilitation and not just punishment in the criminal system. People may oppose defunding the police, but they also support community and social services alternatives to policing.

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What explains these seemingly inconsistent views? Our research suggests that this is not the product of partisan divides or polarization, but that it actually reflects a deep source of common ground.

When English jurist Sir William Blackstone famously expressed the view that it is better that ten guilty persons escape, than that one innocent suffer, in 1765, he was not being particularly original. The notion that false convictions are a greater injustice than false acquittals animated the law at least as early as biblical times.

This view is the cornerstone of due-process protections for those accused of crimes, giving rise to the presumption of innocence and the high burden of proof required for criminal convictions. In the United States, the Supreme Court first invoked Blackstones maxim in 1895 to justify the presumption of innocence, and again in 1970 to justify incorporating the requirement of the beyond-a-reasonable-doubt burden of persuasion in criminal cases under the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment.

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But do people share Blackstones view? We asked a simple question that delivered a shocking result:

Which of the following errors at trial do you believe causes more harm to society?

 Erroneously convicting an innocent person

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 Failing to convict a guilty person

 The errors are equally bad

Most respondents answered that the errors were equally bad. Our first results showing widespread rejection of the Blackstone ratio were so surprising and potentially disruptive that we tested their robustness multiple times, using a series of large samples drawn from the entire U.S. population and multiple measurement methods.

Across multiple national surveys sampling more than 12,000 people, we have found that a majority of Americans, more than 60 percent, consider false acquittals and false convictions to be equally bad outcomes. Most people are not Blackstonians. They are unwilling to err on the side of letting the guilty go free to avoid convicting the innocent. Indeed, a sizeable minority viewed false acquittals as worse than false convictions; this group is willing to convict multiple innocent persons to avoid letting one guilty person go free. You would not want those people on your jury if you were charged with a crime.

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These are not just abstract views, and they translated into how people voted to convict defendants in mock trials and how they weighed the evidence. For example, in one of our recent studies, the conviction rate among people who prioritize avoiding false acquittals was 58 percent, compared to a conviction rate of 25 percent among those who prioritize avoiding false convictions, even though the two groups reviewed the same evidence.

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Perhaps still more surprising is that this is not necessarily a partisan preference. Majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and independents all viewed false convictions and false acquittals to be errors of equal magnitude. These findings reflect how most Americans balance fairness and public safety.

These findings have important implications for seemingly intractable divisions in criminal justice debates. Due process depends on jurors faithfully following instructions on the burden of proof, but our research shows that many jurors would not hold the state to its high burden. Instead, courts should do away with the fiction that the reasonable doubt standard guarantees due process and consider other protections, such as stricter limits on prosecution evidence. Lawyers should rethink how they select jurors and present evidence, and judges should reconsider how due-process protections are implemented.

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Further, the fact that many people place crime control on par with, or above, the need to avoid wrongful convictions helps explain divisions in public opinion on important policy questions like bail and sentencing reform. If a policy solution is framed as only improving fairness, but not answering the need for public safety, then it may fail. Similarly, framing a solution as only helping public safety, but not treating the accused fairly, will also not be successful.

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Despite sometimes heated legal and political rhetoric, our justice system does not operate as a zero-sum game, even though in any given case the prosecution or defense wins. Convicting the wrong person is not just a fairness concern but also a public safety concern. When an innocent person languishes in prison, a guilty person goes free. From bail reform to sentencing reform to protections against wrongful convictions, a range of proposed changes can improve both fairness and public safety.

The public is not well-served by false dichotomies. Making both fairness and public safety benefits clear to the public will be crucial to the success of future criminal justice reforms.
As election nightmares go, Sunday nights episode of the HBO series Succession, America Decides, was a doozy. It was the most uncomfortable hour of scripted television I have ever watched, and apparently I was not alone in being triggered. But it was not just a good night of TV, the ultimate result of which would be that nothing happens, as Roman Roy tries to assure his sister Shiv; it is a warning to us that the next election meltdown is always potentially around the corner.

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To briefly recount the relevant plotline: Its election night in the U.S. in a race between Trump-like authoritarian candidate Jeryd Mencken and left-leaning candidate Daniel Jimenez. The race comes down to Wisconsin. About 100,000 absentee ballots are destroyed in a fire, possibly arson, in Democratic-leaning Milwaukee. Without those ballots, Mencken would win Wisconsin. Some suspect the fire was caused by Mencken supporters; Roman, who is in cahoots with Menckens folks, calls that claim a false flag and causes a Tucker Carlsonlike talking head to go on air on the Roys Fox Newslike ATN Network to blame the left for the fire as a way of deflecting from an election loss.

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Roman gets assurances from Mencken that if ATN declares him the winner and he assumes the presidency, he would block the merger of the Roys company with GoJo, a merger that Roman and his brother Kendall wish to stop. This ultimately drives a victory call for the far-right candidate on a major news network. The mild protestations of the data geeks that the electionand specifically what to do about the burned ballots that would have sent the race the other wayneeds to be litigated in the courts before it can be called are ultimately ignored. The news network call gives the authoritarian candidate a PR boost, and with its blessing, he declares victory.

The episode was frightening on a number of levels: the power of right-wing media to muddy the truth and whip up a neo-authoritarian base, the difficulty of figuring out the true facts in real time on election night, and the risk that dirty tricks could lead to an election meltdown. These are things Ive written about and worried about for many years. But the Succession episode presented the issue in a visceral and emotional way that no scholar could ever compete with.

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And the episode performed a public service because it shows how, even after 2020, our elections still face serious risks of not producing a fair and democratic winner. Most states, including Wisconsin, do not have laws on the books to deal with election emergencies or dirty tricks like the (maybe arson) fire.

No doubt the candidates and others would turn immediately to state and federal courts for relief. Given the truncated nature of Electoral College voting, the entire dispute would have to be litigated to conclusion in just a number of weeks before Congress convened to count Electoral College votes (not in three months, as suggested in the episode by an ATN executive). It would be a litigation circus and nightmare in multiple courts with multiple theories.

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Wisconsins election statutes do not appear to speak to what would happen with the massive destruction of ballots on Election Day. Many states interpret vague election statutes to favor enfranchisement of the voter, but Wisconsin gives less protection for absentee ballots, as the key state Supreme Court justice in the 2020 case of Trump v. Biden explained. If the justices on the state Supreme Court divided along party lines, as is often (but not always) the case, thanks to the recent election of Janet Protasiewicz, the court likely would side with the left-leaning candidate and offer some kind of remedy. Doing so would prevent voter disenfranchisement. If the same scenario were to take place in a potential tipping-point state that had a more conservative-leaning state Supreme Court, such as North Carolina, however, it could go another way.

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To carry on the hypothetical based on the premise of a divided state court with a pro-democracy lean, like in Wisconsin: Perhaps the state court would require a partial revote in Milwaukee, as was suggested by Shiv in the Succession episode and by Claire Woodall-Vogg, executive director of the Milwaukee Election Commission, who consulted on the Succession episode. Woodall-Vogg explained that election officials would have records to know whose absentee ballots were destroyed in the fire.

But a revote may violate federal law, which requires that there be a uniform day on Election Day. (My former dean Erwin Chemerinsky unsuccessfully tried to get a revote in Palm Beach County, Florida, in 2000 after many voters were misled to vote for Pat Buchanan rather than Al Gore by the infamous butterfly ballot.) And any order from the state court requiring a revote might violate the so-called independent state legislature theory, which, if adopted by the Supreme Court, would potentially limit state court remedies in federal elections when such remedies are not directly written into a statute. (The scope of this theory is currently before the U.S. Supreme Court in the Moore v. Harper case.)

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On the other hand, preventing a revote would clearly violate the equal protection or due process rights of voters protected by the U.S. Constitutions 14th Amendment. It is easy to imagine a federal district court, particularly one in Milwaukee, saying that the Constitution requires a revote or some other remedy to prevent disenfranchisement.

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Ultimately, the case would be decided by the United States Supreme Court, where, in some of the most contentious election cases, the justices split along party lines. Who is to say what this court might do?

Now you know why my skin was crawling after Sundays Succession episode. No clear answers. A situation fanned by media disinformation that could further undermine voter confidence in both the election system and the judiciary. Potential disenfranchisement first by fire and second by judiciary.

And yet, despite all our increasingly desperate warnings about an election meltdown, nothing happensuntil its too late.
When Montanas far-right Freedom Caucus called for Democratic state Rep. Zooey Zephyr to be censured last month, the irony was not lost on her.

Their letter called for civility, claiming that her impassioned speech against a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors violated decorum rules. And at the same time, the letter misgendered her.

I was unsurprised at the hypocritical nature of a letter like that, Zephyr, the first openly transgender woman serving in the state Legislature, told me in an interview. It is a caucus that also, in its own words, describes itself as a supporter of limited government. Yet it is a caucus that has advocated for the use of government to remove life-saving health care from my community.

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The states Freedom Caucus formed in January as part of a national network of state legislators emulating the House Freedom Caucus, which won concessions to its agenda by blocking Kevin McCarthys bid for speaker.

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I spoke with Zephyr about the experience of being censured, why its so important to hear from a range of voices in the state House, and whats next for herand for the state, as the measure she spoke out against, Senate Bill 99, has been signed into law and is set to go into effect in October.

Heres our conversation, lightly edited and condensed for clarity:

Shirin Ali: Can you walk me through that day in April when the Montana House was debating a measure to ban gender-affirming health care for minors?

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Rep. Zooey Zephyr: [Senate Bill 99] impacted all levels of care in some way, including, at its simplest, banning the use of state facilities for performing or advocating for things like social transition. Thats a type of care that is basically growing your hair, wearing preferred clothing, using a new name or pronoun. The bill also banned care along the spectrum, from puberty blockers to hormone replacement therapy, which is the kind of care Im on, to surgeries as well.

There are a couple important notes to remember about this bill. This is care that is done slowly and carefully with the patient, with their parents, with therapists and doctors, in accordance with guidelines from every major medical association across the country. Every major medical association acknowledges that gender-affirming care is necessary care. It is life-saving.

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The second thing to note is, while it banned an array of care, it also banned gender-affirming surgeries for trans youth, which are performed rarely. I think we have seen a handful of surgery cases, mastectomies in particular in Montana, and these surgeries are banned for trans youth. But if a cisgender teen gets their parents and familys approval and doctors approval for breast augmentation, breast reduction, or a mastectomy, theyre allowed, but not in this instance of gender-affirming care.

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This was the second time the House had discussed this bill. Specifically, we were debating the governors amendments to Senate Bill 99 and an amendatory letter that the governor wrote about the bill. In that letter, he used harmful language, describing gender-affirming care as, quote, Orwellian Newspeak. I had spent this entire legislative session watching bills targeting all aspects of LGBTQ existence in Montana. We have heard bills targeting our art forms, the ability to have our stories exist in public spaceslike libraries. On that day, I had just heard a bill to write us out of code entirely, Senate Bill 458, which misdefines sex and writes trans, nonbinary, and many intersex people out of Montana code entirely.

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In addition to that, I had seen the impact this legislation had on my community. I have seen the way in which trans youth were suffering in this state for fear of losing their health care. We had a letter from an emergency room doctor who said they were caring for a trans patient who had come in suicidal. When they asked what was going on, the trans patient said, My state doesnt want me. There was also a family in Montana whose trans teenager attempted suicide while watching one of the hearings for one of the anti-trans bills.

When I rose to oppose Senate Bill 99, I was rising to speak to the very real harm to the lives that were at stake in this bill. What I was doing was holding the Legislature accountable for the real impact that their vote has.

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And when you spoke up and voiced your concerns about the bill, what was the reaction on the House floor?

On the House floor we have a variety of debates on important pieces of legislation, and many of us speak with conviction about the issues that are near and dear to our hearts, that impact our communities. I spoke with conviction, precision, and with clarity, to the real harm that these bills do. As happens sometimes during discussions, the majority leader rose up to object to things that I had stated and then we moved on, because thats what happens on the House floor. There have been things that the majority has said, and our minority leader stands up and says, I object to that. And then we move on. So I was not surprised that the majority leader stood up, but we carried on because we had a variety of bills that we were debating on the House floor.

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Did you have any sense that Republicans in the Montana House would go so far as to formally silence you over what you said?

I was obviously elected to represent my constituents and to speak to the issues that they sent me there to speak about. So when I spoke on Senate Bill 99 in opposition, when it came to the next pieces of legislation that we heard that day, I was focused on those. When I went home that evening, I was focused on the hearings in my committee that were coming up the next day, the bills that were going to be on the House floor, and discussing how my caucus and I were going to talk about those bills. My focus was on the work ahead, and I learned that evening that the Freedom Caucus, while misgendering me, had called to censure me. I believe I put out a statement in response to that, that same day. Then I went back to work and spent some time with other legislators later that evening.

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Montana has passed numerous bills targeting LGBTQ people. As a lawmaker actively fighting against every single one, has the process felt frustrating?

For me, it was not frustrationit was a recognition that this was the last time I was going to get to speak on this bill. What was happening was a recognition that I was in a moment in which the Legislature needed to be held accountable for what it was going to do with this vote. It was harm that was not theoretical, harm that had already been happening in our state to trans youth, due to the Legislature taking up legislation like Senate Bill 99 and others.

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You were elected in 2022 and became the only openly transgender woman in the Montana Legislature. Whats your experience been like so far?

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As legislators, we talk to our communities to understand their needs, desires, hopes for what our state can be. My first question on every door that I knock is: What do you think Montana could do better? So we gather that kind of information, and then, in addition to that, each of us brings our own lens to the Legislature. I bring my lens as a woman, as a trans person, a renter, as someone who relies on health care for her quality of life. I bring those lenses to the Legislature and the hope is that when you put together 100, 150 different lenses, that we can collectively come to solutions that are right for everyone in Montana. There are not a lot of full-time renters in the Legislature, and when there are fewer legislators with a particular lens, their voices become important and necessary on those issues. I spoke with landlords and other renters about how landlord-tenant law should look in the state of Montana.

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When it came to LGBTQ rights, there were four of us in the House, openly LGBTQ people, and part of our role was to speak to other members of the Legislature, with the hope of moving different issues of LGBTQ rights and particularly trans rights. Representative SJ Howell and I had many conversations with our colleagues, both Democrat and Republican, about the importance of gender-affirming care, the importance of drag to our history, and the harm of a bill like Senate Bill 458.

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Montana is far from alone when it comes to anti-trans legislation. At least 430 bills have been introduced across the country that target LGBTQ education, health care, and free speech. How do you view your experience in the midst of that?

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This year, weve seen hundreds of bills targeting the trans community, more than all previous years combined. Weve watched the way in which these attacks have escalated from bills targeting our participation in sportsits important to acknowledge that the people pushing for trans sport bans, their goal was the eradication of trans people from public life entirely. Weve watched the escalation, like Senate Bill 99 here in Montana, and then Missouri looking for a full adult health care ban, places like Florida, which is looking to allow trans children to be removed from parents.

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My role in the Legislature is twofold. First, to hold the Legislature and legislators accountable for when they bring these bills forward, when they try to push and pass these bills in a state like Montana where there is a Republican supermajority. My second goal is to move the needle on these issues, to make sure that Republicans understand the harm theyre doing, and, down the line, work to stop these harmful bills from coming altogether.

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I think were seeing extremism on the right that is out of step with our communities and the acceptance of trans people, which is growing in this country. You are never far from a trans person, or someone who cares about us deeply. Thats true in the Legislature, or if youre at a coffee shop in your town, and its true if youre in the governors office.

The attacks were seeing on the trans community now are echoes of the same attacks we saw against the gay community in the 90s. The same handful of detransitioners that get flown out to hearings are an echo of the ex-gays being flown out in the 90s to hearings. In the 90s, there was language used around gay people saying that they couldnt have children so they were recruiting. You see the same harmful language used around trans people today, where people on the right attack us with words like groomer. Its important to acknowledge that these attacks against the trans community are echoes of attacks against the rest of the LGBTQ community in the 90s, and that they will fail for the same reason that those attacks failed. Which is to say, trans people are a part of every community. Theyre part of your community, friends, neighbors, colleagues.

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Senate Bill 99, which bans gender-affirming care for minors, was signed into law by governor Greg Gianforte despite your opposition. What do you think comes next for Montanans now?

Yes, it was signed into law by the governor despite the governors child, who is nonbinary, lobbying the governor to veto it. That bill has now been challenged in court by two families.

As I said in my speech on Senate Bill 99, to force a trans child to go through puberty when they are trans is tantamount to torture. Trans youth need access to gender-affirming careit is life-saving and medically necessary. It is approved by every major medical association in this country. That care is being removed, so obviously, the stakes are high.

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Now, the way Montana law works, this bill does not go into effect until Oct. 1. The bill has been challenged in court, and my expectation would be that the courts would recognize that Senate Bill 99 is as cruel as it is unconstitutional. We have a right to privacy enshrined in our Montana Constitution, and that has been recognized to include privacy in our medical decisions. My expectation is that the courts will recognize that and how it infringes on a series of rights enshrined to Montanans.

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Your colleagues voted to censure you, which means you wont be allowed to speak on the Montana House floor for the rest of this legislative session and unless youre reelected next year. Youve now kicked off those reelection efforts. How are you feeling about that?

I feel as I always have felt: loved and cared for by the city of Missoula. It is my home, a community that I take public transit through every day. It is a community that I walk through every weekend. When I campaigned, I was knocking on the doors of friends and neighbors and [even if] I didnt know the person who I was speaking to, it seemed I was always one or two connections from love. I feel supported by my community. I feel humbled that I have gotten to be their representative and hopeful that they will continue to want me to be that representative going forward.
In 2006, at an industry conference, then-Google-CEO Eric Schmidt introduced a now ubiquitous term: the cloud. Here was a grand technological shift, Schmidt explained, that would let information exist simultaneously nowhere and everywhere. Naming it the cloud made the change sound almost natural. Your information is not in a massive bank of servers in Nevada; it is, as he put it, in a cloud somewhere. Data as a nimbus floating above.

The cloud is just one of many linguistic elisions between the artificial and natural worlds. These appropriations span the gamut: Firefox, OpenSea, OnStar, Airbnb, Apple (Yosemite, Monterey, Big Sur), internet surfing, neural networks, mouses, viruses. Sue Thomasa writer and scholar of digital cultureargues that bringing nature into the lexicon lets technologists position their domain as a real and integrated extension to human experience. This framing brings a sense of comfort to complex innovations but encourages us to not think too deeply, either. As researchers have noted, the phrase data mining does not exactly clarify the privacy concerns at play when Meta sorts through your personal information.

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The historian Paul N. Edwards sees this naturalizationtechnology becoming as ordinary as trees, daylight, and dirtas a defining characteristic of modern life, a process whereby a companys tools self-camouflage. Media scholar Lisa Parks calls this infrastructural concealment, and for many modern apparatuses, environmental neologisms prove critical.

If the cloud is really as natural as the fluffy wisps that drift across the sky on a pleasant afternoon, then it follows that its presence is similarly harmlessnever mind the environmental burden all this data storage imposes. The cloud is out of reach, floating indifferently above the realm of human affairs.

But of course this isnt true. These technologies are not ephemeral abstractions, nor are they elemental processes out of our control. Unlike clouds or tornadoes or wildfires or earthquakes, they are products owned by companies that society can fine, restrict, and regulatea fact most corporations would prefer governments forget. But no matter how closely companies try to align their wares with the elements, they remain within human jurisdictions. We are not helpless bystanders staring at the sky.

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Remembering that power seems important now. The past decades have witnessed profound shifts in how we inhabit the world. Natural and created environments are both evolving quickly. Technophiles continue to roll out designs that weave themselves into every aspect of our realitythe Internet of Things, the metaverse, AR goggles, haptic wearableseven as scientists warn of the Anthropocene and urge us to witness the destructive impact of human industry.

As social theorist John Durham Peters has argued, weve always understood our relationship to the environment through our technologies (and vice versa). Before Google Maps, star maps guided us; before algorithmic pathways, charts of wind and currents shaped the flow of trade; before the addictive scroll of TikTok, the hypnotic flicker of fire captured our gaze.

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Metaphors like the cloud draw upon these ancient roots, interweaving slick marketing coinages with primordial gravitas. In his speech, Schmidt was highlighting the commercial potential of this new cloud model where people are living  more and more onlinea captive audience for advertisers.

Yet the age-old entanglement between our tools and the environment reveals that theres a way to think about this relationship beyond the narrow lens of profit. Employing the cloud shows we can expand beyond what seems humanly possible; we can normalize a new world. As the doyenne of eco-philosophy Donna Haraway reminds us, if a vast societal reconfiguration is required amid climatic upheaval, it matters what thoughts think thoughts. The only question that remains is how we will deploy our nature metaphors: To sell iPhones? Or to survive the ongoing sixth mass extinction?

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Thailands pro-democracy opposition won a landslide victory in Sundays parliamentary elections. After 99 percent of the ballots were counted, the winner was the Move Forward party led by 42-year-old Pita Limjaroenrat, who, according to the electoral commission, won about 150 seats in the 500-member parliament, reports the German news agency dpa.

The opposition party also took second place with around 140 seats Phew Thaiwhich is run by a 36-year-old Paetongtarn Shinawatra and for which public opinion polls predicted her victory. The military-backed ruling United Thai Peoples Party, which came to power in a 2014 coup, has suffered heavy losses.

The final results of the election will have to wait a few more weeks.

Pie Limjaroenrat has already written on Twitter that he is ready to become the next Prime Minister of Thailand. Among other things, his party advocates the abolition of compulsory military service and the reform of the monarchy. Together we will change the country, he tweeted, adding that he wants to be at the head of the government for all Thais, even those who disagree with his policies.

The generals changed the constitution in 2017

Although a coalition between Naprej and Pheu Thai seems likely, both parties need the support of other parties to enter the government. After the military coup in 2017, the generals changed the constitution in their favor: in addition to 500 newly elected members of parliament, the head of government is also decided by 250 unelected senators appointed by the army. It is unlikely that they will support the opposition.

Thus, current Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who has been in power since 2014, or another military-linked party could theoretically lead a minority government despite losing the election. A few days ago, Prayut announced that he would withdraw from politics in case of defeat.

In order for a party to nominate a candidate for the position of prime minister, it must win at least 25 seats in the lower house. To be elected, a candidate needs a total of 376 votes in both houses of parliament, which means that the formation of a coalition for the opposition will most likely be imminent.

According to observers, Thailand could face protests if the election of the prime minister does not reflect the will of the people. However, many fear that the army could intervene if the opposition wins. The country has a long history of coups. Last but not least, in 2014, Prayut also came to power as the chief of the Thai army with a military coup, in which he removed Paetongtarns aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, from power.













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The girl, who was seriously wounded in the shooting at the Vladislav Ribnikar school in Belgrade on May 3, died this morning at the University Childrens Clinic in Belgrade, reports Index.hr. The girl is the tenth victim of the massacre committed by a thirteen-year-old student.

The girl suffered severe, life-threatening head injuries in the school shooting. She was shot in the head. The doctors fought for her life for several days, she underwent several operations, they carried out all measures of intensive treatment, but unfortunately they did not manage to save her, writes Nova.rs.

Minister of Health Danica Grujicic expressed her sincere condolences to the girls family on her own behalf and on behalf of the Ministry of Health.

After the May 3 massacre at Vladislav Ribnikar School in Belgrade, in which 13-year-old KK killed eight classmates and security guards with his fathers gun, six wounded students and one female teacher were admitted to two Belgrade clinics.

The attacker is in a childrens psychiatric institution

After the murders, the 13-year-old assailant was arrested and placed in a childrens psychiatric facility because he is not criminally responsible, and his father, who took him to the shooting range and simulated shooting games, was detained for up to 30 days.

Minister of Education Branko Ruzic has already resigned under public pressure.













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Children under 14 constitute 15 percent.

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In the last ten years, the number of people sleeping rough in Slovakia has increased threefold, reports the Statistics Office. According to the last population census in 2021, there were 71,076 people without homes.

Until now, the only relevant number came from the previous population census in 2011, according to which there were 23,483 such people.

"This is due to the absence of systemic assistance to those living in extreme poverty. However, this is partly due to the different methodology compared to the last census as well," Vagus, a civic association for the homeless in Bratislava, explains the stark difference in a social media post, calling the number "alarming".

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Related article Charity furniture project for homeless launched Read more

The last census allowed to quantify what is called secondary homelessness, a situation where people are forced to move from one temporary shelter to another. This includes emergency and transitional accommodation, couch surfing, a structure not intended for dwelling, etc.

Men constitute the dominant group. People at the productive age comprise a large part, followed by children under 14 years of age with a 15-percent share.

Region-wise, the highest number of homeless are in the Nitra, Kosice and Banska Bystrica Regions.

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In this regard, the Research Institute of Social and Economic Risks (IVRA) suggests that a new government should recognise the right to housing, which would ensure that no Slovak will become homeless.

"We want to draw attention to the crazy logic that in 2023 all of us pay 64 per day for one prisoner, but the state cannot even help homeless people, most of whom are of productive age, with housing, leaving all responsibility and financing to individual self-government regions," says Martin Halas from IVRA.
One of the most time honored forms of coffee brewing in the world is Turkish coffee, also referred to as cezve or ibrik. With roots dating back to the 16th century, it is one of the most ancient methods of coffee preparation, predating modern luxuries such as paper filtration and pressure profiling espresso machines. The drink is so much a part of the culture of Turkey that their word for breakfast, Kahvalti, literally translates to before coffee.

Pax & Beneficia is a specialty coffee shop based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas, where the art and deliciousness of traditional Turkish coffee is placed in a modern context, at a contemporary coffee bar with global echoes. It was founded by Mouyyad Abdulhadi, a marketing specialist, and Dr. Mamdouh Khayat, a noted vascular radiologist, both of whom are first-generation immigrants from Palestine to the United States. The name translates to peace and blessings.

For many cultures across the world, coffee represents a sense of home and familiarity, and a way of breaking down barriers between others.Certainly Turkish coffee is an important element in our culture, Dr. Khayat tells me. It evokes emotions of hospitality. It was important for us to incorporate this cultural element in our cafes.

As immigrants, we remember discreetly early memories of coming to this beautiful country, uncertain of tomorrow and incapable yet of speaking English, continues Khayat. Despite humble beginnings, our parents hospitality overcame all poverty. I distinctly remember the kitchen air imbued with the aroma of freshly brewed Turkish coffee, as conversations were shared between two families and these bonds ultimately formed.

Khayat and Abdulhadi are serving a pretty traditional version of this coffee style at Pax & Beneficia, modeled on how they grew up drinking coffee in their own homes. Finely ground coffee is boiled using the long-handled irbik pot; there is no filtration, and a steady boil helps full integrate the coffee and water into an ambrosial beverage. There is also a fully modern coffee bar in addition to the traditional service at Pax, with gear by La Marzocco, Hario, and Mahlkonig.

Across the world, Turkish coffee can be found with a multitude of different additives to accentuate the brew. Oftentimes these are spices and sugars that are combined with the coffee while it is brewing. Whether one or the other is added can come down to local tradition, and the founders of Pax opt for the addition of cardamom into the brew, modeling this on how coffee was served growing up at home. For us, our tradition is to combine finely ground Turkish coffee with ground cardamom, says Khayat. The subtle and aromatic spice of cardamom complements and elevates the coffee. The velvety elixir of ground coffee and cardamom slowly infuse any room with its earthy scent.

Taking something such as Turkish coffee, an object of both personal and cultural importance to a new place and serving it to a new audience can be a daunting task. However, Khayat doesnt see it that way. He says, That initial encounter is the inception of the hospitality we hope to exude. These conversations open doors to other cultures and traditions previously unknown, in hopes of cultivating camaraderie and fostering community, together.

Moreover, Khayat spoke to the reception of Turkish coffee being on their menu. Thankfully, the vibrant and culturally diverse community [here in Dallas-Fort Worth] has welcomed Turkish coffee openly. People are receptive to the idea of expanding their palate with a more global interpretation of coffee preparation.

For Khayat and Abdulhadi, Turkish coffee started as a way to connect with the world around them and build community, while respecting their traditions. Youll find this exhibited with uncommonly beautiful and deep hospitality at Pax & Beneficia.

Pax & Beneficia has multiple locations in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram

Daniel Paskill is a coffee professional and freelance journalist based in Dallas. This is Daniel Paskills first feature for Sprudge.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230514/yemen-government-delays-prisoner-swap-with-rebels-1110358713.html

Yemen Government Delays Prisoner Swap With Rebels

Yemen Government Delays Prisoner Swap With Rebels

A new prisoner swap between the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels in the north has been delayed. The swap was initially set for Monday, but will be reportedly delayed until the rebels reveal the location of their prisoner.

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"The start of the new exchange will be delayed for a while. There is progress in the talks on allowing us to visit prisons in Sanaa and Magrib to check on the prisoners but nothing regarding the exchange," Fadael said. The new prisoner exchange was initially set for Monday but the government's lead negotiator Yahya Kazman told Sputnik over the weekend that there would be no further exchanges until the rebels revealed the whereabouts of captive senior Yemeni official Mohammed Kahtan, who has been in Houthi custody since 2015.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/biden-to-meet-with-kishida-in-japan-on-thursday-1110359878.html

Biden to Meet With Kishida in Japan on Thursday

Biden to Meet With Kishida in Japan on Thursday

Biden will arrive in Hiroshima on Thursday, May 18, and will hold a meeting with Kishida that day, spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said, and will participate in the Group of Seven (G7) leaders summit.

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The G7 summit will take place in Japans Hiroshima from May 19-21. According to the White House schedule, Biden will arrive in Hiroshima on Thursday, May 18, and will hold a bilateral meeting with Kishida that day. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said on Friday that Biden was going to travel to Japan on Wednesday to participate in the Group of Seven (G7) leaders summit. Jean-Pierre said that Biden would meet with congressional leaders "early next week" to discuss the raising of the debt limit. Biden told reporters in Delaware on Sunday that he expected to meet with congressional leaders on Tuesday.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/erdogan-gets-4924-of-vote-after-100-of-ballots-processed-kilicdaroglu-has-45---report-1110361713.html

Erdogan Gets 49.40% of Vote After 99% of Ballots Processed, Kilicdaroglu Has 44.96% - Report

Erdogan Gets 49.40% of Vote After 99% of Ballots Processed, Kilicdaroglu Has 44.96% - Report

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has secured 49.24% of the votes in the presidential election, while his main challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, has obtained 45%, with 100% of ballots cast in Turkiye processed, according to state media.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has secured 49.40% of the votes in the presidential election, while his main challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, has obtained 44.96%, with 99% of ballots cast in Turkiye processed, according to state media.According to state media, the Turkish Election Commission has annulled more than 1 million ballots out of 53.9 million. More than 26 million people have voted for Erdogan, over 23.8 million  for Kilicdaroglu, and more than 2.7 million  for Sinan Ogan of the ATA Alliance.The turnout has exceeded 88.8%. Ballots cast abroad are still being processed.The final results and confirmation of the second round of the presidential election will be announced by the Turkish Central Election Commission.The ATA electoral alliance, whose candidate Ogan won about 5 per cent of the vote, could have the deciding word in the case of a second round of Turkey's presidential election, Turkish analyst Engin Ozer said. The alliance is ready to support any of the main contenders for the post if certain conditions are met, Ozer added.The preliminary results of the parliamentary elections were also announced.The ruling AKP party obtained more than 35% of the vote, securing 266 seats in the parliament, together with its allied parties  more than 320 seats in the 600-seat parliament.The opposition Nation Alliance, consisting of six parties, has obtained more than 35%.Polling stations of the presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkiye opened at 8.00 local time (5:00 GMT) on Sunday. The second round of the presidential election, which will take place if no candidate gains 50% of votes, is scheduled for May 28.Sitting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his main opposition challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu are frontrunners in the race for the countrys top job, with right-wing politician Sinan Ogan a distant third. Muharrem Ince, the fourth contender until recently, dropped out of the race on Thursday.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/turkiyes-presidential-election-2023-results-1110316169.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/five-civilians-injured-in-gorlovka-during-ukrainian-troops-shelling-1110360451.html

Five Civilians Injured in Gorlovka During Ukrainian Troops Shelling

Five Civilians Injured in Gorlovka During Ukrainian Troops Shelling

The number of civilians injured in the Ukrainian troops shelling of Gorlovka, located in the Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR), has gone up to five, the city mayor, Ivan Prikhodko, said.

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"In the course of the day, as a result of the Ukrainian armed aggression, 5 civilians of Gorlovka received injuries of varying severity," Prikhodko said on Telegram on Sunday. The mayor specified that two civilians were wounded when a residential building was hit in the city. Earlier on Sunday, Prikhodko said that three civilians, ordinary people in retirement, were injured when Ukrainian troops shelled Gorlovka. Earlier in the week, Prikhodko said that Ukrainian forces used Grad rockets to shell the center of Gorlovka, which resulted in many wounded civilians.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230514/ukrainian-forces-fail-in-attempts-to-break-through-russian-defenses-near-artemovsk---moscow-1110346026.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/musk-to-meet-with-macron-in-france---reports-1110370501.html

Musk to Meet With Macron in France - Reports

Musk to Meet With Macron in France - Reports

US entrepreneur Elon Musk arrived in France on Monday to participate in the Choose France economic summit and meet with French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of the event, French TV channel BFMTV reported on Monday, citing the Elysee Palace.

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Musk is scheduled to meet with Macron on Monday morning before heading to the forum. The entrepreneur also plans to have breakfast with French Economy, Finance and Recovery Minister Bruno Le Maire, the report said. Later in the day, businessmen, investors and heads of large companies will gather at the Choose France Summit in Versailles in the suburbs of Paris. The first event of this kind, aimed at attracting foreign investments in France, took place in 2018.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/needing-us-hires-norway-dubs-lack-of-f-35-mechanics-declaration-of-bankruptcy-1110362342.html

Needing US Hires, Norway Dubs Lack of F-35 Mechanics 'Declaration of Bankruptcy'

Needing US Hires, Norway Dubs Lack of F-35 Mechanics 'Declaration of Bankruptcy'

According to Norway's own air professionals, the staff shortage is a persistent problem that won't be remedied by million-dollar grants alone.

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A recent report by Norway's Defense Commission has highlighted a severe shortage of mechanics in the Scandinavian country's air force.The problem is said to have exacerbated by the closure of the air base at Bodo, with the entire F-35 fleet to be distributed between air stations and Orland and Evenes.As of now, Norway is forced it to hire technical personnel for its prized fleet of F-35s abroad, from none other than the US-based manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, but this solution is admittedly temporary. According to Gram, the plan is valid until the end of 2023.The government is now proposing to earmark nearly NOK 60 million ($5.6 million) to secure enough technicians for the F-35 fleet from the country's four aviation schools, including a newly established one at Fosen. However, even according to branch representatives themselves, the million-dollar grants won't solve the problem in the short term."Getting an aviation specialist or technician trained takes time. It takes up to five years before a technician is put into production. Then it takes even more time before you get the hands-on know-how with F-35s," union representative Sigurd Myrvoll with 30 years of experience at Bodo Air Base told Norwegian media.Myrvoll further argued that the lack of aircraft technicians makes Norway vulnerable despite receiving top-notch gear.Myrvoll also stressed that Norway in general has too few employees per plane compared to other countries in Europe, a problem only made worse by Bodo Air Base's closure, a facility with 110 aviation workers and flight technicians.In total, Norway has ordered 52 F-35 jets, making it the largest military procurement in the Nordic country's history. According to the agreement, Oslo will receive six new F-35s from the US-based factory annually.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230418/whats-the-rumpus-hundreds-of-norwegians-sue-state-over-f-35-noise-1109611641.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/proxy-force-militants-trained-by-us-special-ops-troops-not-vetted-for-war-crimes-1110371532.html

Proxy Force Militants Trained by US Special Ops Troops not Vetted for War Crimes

Proxy Force Militants Trained by US Special Ops Troops not Vetted for War Crimes

The US has a long history of training and arming guerrillas to destabilise countries whose governments it disapproves of  including the Nicaraguan contras and the 'Syrian Democratic Forces' mish-mash of sectarian militants.

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us

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Foreign proxy forces trained by US troops have not been vetted for past human rights violations, a new report has revealed.Pentagon documents released to a US newspaper through a freedom of information request detail how US special operations forces (SOF) trained insurgents recruited in countries such as Niger and Somalia to act as armed surrogates in Washington's dirty wars.Section 127e of the bill  dubbed "Echo 127" by the Department of Defense (DoD)  authorises spending of up to $100 million to train and arm militants for what it calls "counterterrorism" operations.Section 1202 provides another $15 million for proxy guerrilla forces for black operations against countries with which the US is not openly at war.An un-named senior Pentagon official told the newspaper that recruits for those programs were screened to weed out any who might attack or spy on US forces, claiming that was enough to weed out "bad actors."DoD spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Cesar Santiago-Santini insisted that it had found "no verifiable gross violations of human rights" by trainees in either scheme and was "confident that our vetting system for Section 127e and 1202 programs would reveal any human rights concerns with potential recipients."US troops have also trained thousands of Ukrainian troops to fight Russia, despite numerous documented cases of atrocities against civilians and Russian prisoners of war since the launch of Moscow's de-Nazification operation in the country in February 2022. A program to train Ukrainian insurgents was wound up just before the conflict, although leaks indicate that former British army officer had taken over that effort.The Russian Ministry of Defence states to have caused thousands of casualties among foreign mercenaries The revelation prompted criticism from within President Joe Biden's own Democratic party.Jacobs and Fellow Democrat Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland sponsored an amendment to a defense bill last year to require stricter screening of recruits to the Pentagon's militant training programme. It passed a vote of the House of Representatives but was defeated in the Senate, where Democrats hold a majority.But the Pentagon remains tight -lipped on where it is spending its funds on training and arming "partner" forces.The US Government Accountability Office completed a report entitled 'Special Operations: Overarching Guidance Needed to Oversee and Assess Use of Surrogate Forces to Combat Terrorism' in February this year, but the text has yet to be made public.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230505/jihadist-killed-in-ukraine-got-nato-weapons-sas-training---investigation-1110120239.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/russian-iranian-axis-threatens-american-empire---top-dc-think-tank-1110381912.html

'Russian-Iranian Axis' Threatens American Empire - Top DC Think Tank

'Russian-Iranian Axis' Threatens American Empire - Top DC Think Tank

Russia and Iran have enjoyed warm, strategic cooperation for decades, building on ties forged over the course of more than 500 years, when the Grand Duchy of Moscow and the Persian Empire first established relations. The countries plan to sign a new strategic cooperation agreement in the near future.

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The US must do something to counter a "growing Iran-Russia axis" before it wreaks havoc on and further "undermines American interests in Europe, Eurasia, and the Middle East," a pair of scholars from the Heritage Foundation  a leading Washington, DC-based think tank, have warned.According to Heritage's Middle Eastern affairs observer James Phillips and weapons of mass destruction and proliferation expert Peter Brookes, the Wests efforts to "isolate" Russia and Iran and to sanction them into submission havent borne their expected fruit, with the two countries not only ramping up security and defense cooperation, but cooperating economically to sabotage Western restrictions.The scholars blasted the Biden administration for failing to "sufficiently address" the "ballooning alliance between Iran and Russia," and for "failing" to "deter or contain the aggressive foreign policy of either."Steps the White House should take are (you guessed it) more sanctions  including a formal US renunciation of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement and a return to a Trump-era policy of "Maximum Pressure," and a crackdown on sanctions evasion, including restrictions against any countries or other third parties deemed to "facilitate sanctions evasion."The researchers propose efforts to strengthen US and Middle Eastern anti-Iran drone and missile defenses, and measures to sabotage Iran's drone-making capabilities by putting additional restrictions on microchips (the value of such restrictions is questionable, since the Islamic Republic has an extensive domestic defense electronics sector, and extensive cooperation with E-giant China).Finally, Phillips and Brookes want Washington to ramp up US oil and gas exports abroad to reduce global demand on Russian and Iranian supplies.The scholars warn that Washington and its allies must take steps "urgently" to "undermine and counter the anti-American Russian-Iranian axis," and say that failing to do so "will only lead to more international instability, including in the war in Ukraine."The Heritage researchers recommendations are aggressive, even from the standpoint of the influential Republican-leaning think tanks typical recommendations  which have included proposals to use diplomacy, rather than restrictions, penalties and bullying, to divide Americas geopolitical adversaries. Its not immediately clear how more pressure could undermine the Russian-Iranian partnership, instead of bringing the two countries even closer together, both at a bilateral level and through cooperation platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS.Russian-Iranian PartnershipRussia and Iran are in the process of finalizing a new draft comprehensive cooperation agreement on bilateral strategic partnership, taking into account the recent rebalancing of power that took place in the Middle East following the historic normalization of ties between Iran and traditional US client Saudi Arabia.The two countries have maintained diplomatic relations for over five centuries, with ties maintained and strengthened through the rise and fall of empires, revolutions and new political and economic systems in both nations.Amid the escalation of the long-running Donbass crisis into a full-blown Russia-NATO proxy conflict in 2022, Russian-Iranian trade grew by 15 percent, and the two countries signed a series of agreements in areas including energy, defense and banking.The US and its allies have sought to undermine Russia-Iran cooperation, accusing the Islamic Republic of supporting Moscow militarily in Ukraine, and of providing Russia with assistance in the evasion of sanctions. Tehran has dismissed these allegations, emphasizing that ties between Iran and its northern neighbor are not directed against any third state.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230504/raisis-visit-to-syria-heralds-failure-of-wests-mideast-policy-1110097905.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230429/iran-ready-to-ramp-up-joint-drills-with-china-to-challenge-us-unipolar-world-1109956249.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230320/russias-iran-envoy-to-sputnik-moscow-tehran-relations-have-acquired-a-strategic-character-1108613856.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/scott-ritter-ukraines-counteroffensive---myth-or-reality-1110370203.html

Scott Ritter: Ukraines Counteroffensive - Myth or Reality?

Scott Ritter: Ukraines Counteroffensive - Myth or Reality?

As we approach mid-May, the question on everyones mind is where is the big Ukrainian counteroffensive?

2023-05-15T09:01+0000

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2023-05-15T18:58+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

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This much-touted event has been percolating in the western mainstream media and social media channels since the Fall of 2022, when the commanding general of the Ukrainian armed forces, Valeri Zaluzhnyi, informed the US and NATO-led Ukraine Contact Group during a meeting in Ramstein, Germany, about the shopping list of military equipment Ukraine would need to carry out a successful offensive operation designed to expel Russian troops from Ukrainian soil. Since that time, the collective West has been working overtime to provide much of this material support, along with the training necessary for Ukrainian troops to employ it using standard NATO combined arms offensive operational and tactical doctrine.Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, announced in late April 2023 that NATO had delivered more than 98% of the equipment promised to Ukraine last fall, including more than 1,550 armored vehicles, 230 tanks, and vast amounts of ammunitionincluding, controversially, depleted uranium ammunition used in the British Challenger 2 main battle tanks, and the British-supplied Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missile. NATO, Stoltenberg said, also provided training for over 30,000 troops, enabling Ukraine to form nine fresh brigades of combat forces capable of delivering punishing blows against the Russian army in Ukraine.Not so fast. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, while the Ukrainian army has enough trained troops to carry out a counteroffensive against Russia, some of the equipment these troops need has not yet arrived in Ukraine. Ukraine, Zelensky said, needs more time to carry out any major offensive operations. The Ukrainian President is currently on a tour of Europe, where he is pressing his NATO allies for even more military aid. The United States, Germany, and France have all promised to increase the amount of military assistance to Ukraine. The question that remains is when will Ukraine believe it has sufficient forces for the conduct of a successful offensive operation? The answer is more than likely never.The standard being used to measure the success or failure of any Ukrainian attack is unrealistically highthe September 2022 Kharkov offensive. Here, Ukraine was able to exploit Russian defensive positions that were inadequately manned, insufficiently prepared, and lacked any meaningful depth. Opting to trade land for lives, the Russian military conduced a withdrawal, allowing Ukraine to win a major propaganda victory while ceding little military advantage. Ukraine conducted a similarly successful operation against the right bank of Kherson, where once again Russia withdrew some 30,000 troops to avoid high casualties that would be accrued if they opted to defend largely indefensible territory.The nine Ukrainian brigades that NATO has helped train and equip are, if anything, more capable than the NATO-trained forces Ukraine used in Kharkov and Kherson. But so, too, are the Russian forces facing off against them. After the success of the Kharkov and Kherson operations, Russia conducted a partial mobilization of some 300,000 troops which, along with a parallel mobilization of volunteers, increased the number of forces available to the Russian command to around 700,000 troops. These troops have, for the most part, completed their training, and have either already been committed to the front lines or are being held in reserve for future military operations. The Russian defensive positions have been prepared in accordance with Russian doctrine, both in terms of density on the line of contact, the provision of sufficient fire support, and the preparation of second and third lines of defense to thwart any potential Ukrainian breakthrough. In short, if Ukraine does attack, it will be running into a steel barrier that is far different than what they confronted back in the fall of 2022.Moreover, Russia has further adapted to the realities of the modern battlefield. Ukraines use of US-provided artillery systems, including the HIMARS artillery rockets, has largely been negated by improved Russian operational art, designed to reduced potential targets for HIMARS, and new tactical actions, such as the employment of electronic warfare capabilities designed to jam the GPS signals used to guide HIMARS to its target, and improved air defense capabilities that end up shooting down the majority of the HIMARS rockets launched by Ukraine.Russia has likewise improved its use of Kamikaze dronesin particular the Lancet systemto hunt down and destroy critical Ukrainian military hardware and command and control capabilities. Russia has likewise incorporated new technologies of its own, including the employment of precision-guided glide bombs that have been used with devastating effect against Ukrainian troop concentrations. The Russian air force and navy have likewise been very effective in carrying out punishing attacks on Ukrainian arms and logistics depots in the Ukrainian rear using long-range drones and precision-guided missiles, destroying the very accumulations of ammunition and fuel Ukraine would need to carry out any meaningful and sustained military attacks. When added to the ongoing shortages Ukraine has regarding artillery shells and air defense systems, it is difficult to see how Ukraine would be able to conduct any successful attack against the Russian forces as things presently stand.The Ukrainian conflict has taken the US and NATO by surprise in terms of its intensity and lethality, both of which, at the end of the day, equate to the cost of waging modern war in terms of economic, material, and lives. While the cost of war is a two-way street, meaning that Russia is likewise suffering a massive human and economic toll, the ultimate question is what is the collective Wests pain threshold? While US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin noted a year ago that the goal of the US in Ukraine was to inflict pain on Russia of such intensity that it would serve to deter any future acts of Russian aggression in Europe, it is now becoming clear that it is the US which is beginning to feel the pinch, both in terms of the impact the continuing support for Ukraine has had on US military preparedness, and the high cost of underwriting Ukraines ability to sustain this war, which is currently estimated at more than $130 billion and growing.As President Joe Biden begins his bid for re-election, the domestic political consequences of a frozen conflict in Ukraine which continues to sap US military and economic resources will become a political liability. While Volodymyr Zelensky seeks more time to get fully prepared for a counteroffensive, time is not on the side of Ukraines number one supporter. At the end of the day, Ukraine will be pressured by the US to carry out a decisive strike against Russia it simply cannot accomplish. The 30,000 troops Ukraine has carefully accumulated will be lost fighting a Russian military than is more than capable of handling whatever Ukraine sends its way. This does not mean that Ukraine will not achieve momentary tactical advantage over small portions of the battlefield, or that Russia wont suffer losses. But at the end of the day Russia is far more prepared to handle the consequences of a Ukrainian counteroffensive than Ukraine and NATO are, if and when it finally occurs.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/nato-could-send-troops-to-western-ukraine-if-kievs-spring-offensive-fails---heres-why-1109858694.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230224/new-2bln-ukraine-aid-package-includes-himars-ammo-switchblade-drones-pentagon-says-1107765980.html

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ukraines counteroffensive, nato-led ukraine contact group, nato secretary general
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/somewhat-surprising-finnish-petrol-prices-soar-to-all-european-highs-1110361001.html

'Somewhat Surprising': Finnish Petrol Prices Soar to All-European Highs

'Somewhat Surprising': Finnish Petrol Prices Soar to All-European Highs

The high fuel prices have been attributed to a combination of exorbitant taxes, a renewable fuel obligation and self-maiming sanctions against Russian energy.

2023-05-15T06:18+0000

2023-05-15T06:18+0000

2023-05-15T06:18+0000

economy

finland

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european union (eu)

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Finland has risen to the top of the latest fuel price table in the EU, leaving even experts baffled.A litre of 95-octane petrol now costs 1.94 euros ($2.11), putting Finland in first place ahead of Denmark and France.Finland also finished a close second in diesel prices, being edged out by Sweden by a matter of 3 cents at 1.83 euros ($1.99)The differences in fuel prices among the EU countries have generally been attributed to salary levels and purchasing power. In Finland, however, taxation was singled out by Kalenoja as the main reason for the high prices.The Finnish fuel tax is two-pronged and consists of an excise duty and value-added tax (VAT). On top of that, there is a renewable fuel obligation that also affects the price of fuels. In Finland, the obligation used to be around 20 percent, but was cut to 13.5 percent last year and this year, which has lowered the price of gasoline and diesel somewhat, although it is still higher than in many EU nations, many of which don't have it at all.Furthermore, Finland's energy crisis, largely in line with that of the entire EU, has been fueled by Helsinki's backfiring "retribution" against Russia and its energy over Moscow's special operation in Ukraine. From the very start, Helsinki made a point of refusing to comply with Moscow's demands to pay for energy in rubles, claiming that the hostilities in Ukraine, in which Finland is a firm supporter of the Kiev regime with both arms and finances, made further cooperation with Russia impossible. As a result, several Finnish companies have left the country, accruing heavy losses.As the Nordic nation tries to wean itself off Russian energy and sever the once-profitable economic ties, Finns are encumbered with soaring energy bills. The Finnish economy recently entered technical recession, with dark clouds on its horizon attributed to shrinking expectations among both consumers and businesses.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230314/finns-forked-out-5bln-extra-in-power-costs-last-year-report-says-1108363240.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/texas-gov-resumes-migrant-bussing-tactic-to-vp-harris-dc-residence-warns-more-to-come-1110380649.html

Texas Gov. Resumes Migrant-Bussing Tactic to Kamala Harris' DC Residence

Texas Gov. Resumes Migrant-Bussing Tactic to Kamala Harris' DC Residence

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has resumed the strategy he first tried out last year, sending busloads of illegal migrants from his state to one of the Democrats' sanctuary cities" - Washington D.C.

2023-05-15T14:22+0000

2023-05-15T14:22+0000

2023-05-15T14:34+0000

us

migrants

texas

texas governor greg abbott

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Texas Governor Greg Abbott has resumed the strategy he first tried out last year, sending busloads of illegal migrants from his state to one of the Democrats' "sanctuary cities" - Washington, DC.About 50 migrants were dropped off at Vice President Kamala Harris' residence, at Number One Observatory Circle, with a second carrying over 30 migrants to the city, according to Abbotts office. Videos of the dropoff were circulated on the internet. The illegals came from the border town of Del Rio, South Texas, according to local reports.Biden's Border 'Disaster'The relocation of migrants was not a new tactic, as previously a bus of migrants was dropped off outside of Harriss home on Christmas in 2022, and migrants were also bused to the Naval Observatory last September and October. Texas Governor Greg Abbott seized upon this "in your face" approach last year in protest against the Joe Biden administrations "lax" border policies.Besides Washington, Abbott's office is believed to have sent more than 17,500 migrants to New York City, Chicago, and Philadelphia since last April. It was specified that migrants were not forced to board the shuttle buses, but offered to do so voluntarily.Authorities in Texas, followed by other southern states, such as Arizona, complained of being inundated with "hordes of illegal immigrants," and began delivering them north, to the major Democratic Party strongholds, in 2022. When Florida joined the fray last year, it chartered two planes to take 50 migrants to Martha's Vineyard. The affluent resort in Massachusetts was chosen as a deliberate snub.Faced with a barrage of criticism over the controversial strategy since the outset, Abbott reiterated that border towns lacked the capacity to handle the influx of migrants. he also dismissed accusations of using the illegals as a political stunt.According to Abbott, Bidens border "disaster" was a "catastrophe of your own making," as he added that Texas "has borne a lopsided burden caused by your open border policies. When Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot late last month sent Abbott a letter, saying his actions were "inhumane and dangerous," the governor wrote back, saying:The recent relocation of migrants came as Title 42, the Trump-era health policy that allowed for prompt deportations of illegal migrants to Mexico or their origin countries, expired. Ahead of the developoment, Greg Abbott announced that Texas will deploy a newly created National Guard unit, called the Texas Tactical Border Force, to intercept migrants amid an anticipated surge in arrivals.Meanwhile, top Biden administration officials have been reported as acknowledging that they expect record levels of border crossings in what they called a "difficult transition" post Title 42 that could stretch well into the summer months.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220917/texas-governor-trolls-kamala-harris-drops-off-another-busload-of-migrants-at-her-dc-mansion--video-1100908482.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230508/texas-to-deploy-newly-created-guard-unit-to-intercept-migrants-at-border-1110199099.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230513/biden-pulling-agents-from-us-mexico-border-despite-post-title-42-migrant-influx-1110307748.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/trump-vows-return-of-russiagate-victim-michael-flynn-if-he-wins-in-2024-1110382856.html

Trump Vows Return of Russiagate Victim Michael Flynn If He Wins in 2024

Trump Vows Return of Russiagate Victim Michael Flynn If He Wins in 2024

The national security advisor was forced to resign in 2017 after getting entrapped by the FBI over his failure to disclose conversations with then-Russian Ambassador to the US Sergei Kislyak before Donald Trumps inauguration.

2023-05-15T16:35+0000

2023-05-15T16:35+0000

2023-05-15T16:47+0000

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Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn will have a place in the next Trump administration if the Republican primary candidate wins the nomination and the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump has said."I will say, General Flynn, hes some general. Hes some man. He took abuse like nobody could have handled, and he came out bigger, better, stronger than ever before," Trump told Flynn by phone at a rally in Miami, Florida over the weekend.Flynn, 64, was forced to leave his job as Trumps national security advisor in February 2017 for failing to disclose conversations he had with Russias ambassador during the Obama-Trump transition period on efforts to normalize Russia-US ties.Flynn later pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about these conversations. In January 2020, he withdrew the plea, citing alleged FBI efforts to entrap and persecute him, but later reneged amid crushing legal fees and threats by the FBI to prosecute his son.In May 2020, leaked hand-written notes and text messages between senior FBI officials revealed evidence of a plot to entrap Flynn, with former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe and former FBI Director James Comey exchanging a message on efforts to "get [Flynn] to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired."An email sent by former Obama National Security Advisor Susan Rice a day before Trumps inauguration in 2017 revealed that Comey recommended pushing the Flynn probe even after finding no evidence of any criminal wrongdoing, including from the NSA-to-bes conversations with Kislyak.In 2018, Comey boasted that sending agents to interview and entrap Flynn at the White House was something that that he "probably wouldn't have done or maybe gotten away with in a more organized administration."The Justice Department dropped the case against Flynn in May 2020, ruling that the FBIs questioning was not "conducted with a legitimate investigative basis," and his responses immaterial, "even if true." A federal appeals court dismissed charges a month later. Trump gave Flynn a full pardon in late 2020, shortly before leaving office.Flynn's prosecution became one of the first manifestations of Russiagate  a conspiracy theory claiming that the Trump campaign colluded with the Kremlin to get the Republican candidate elected in 2016, and that some sort of behind-the-scenes relationship existed between Trump and Moscow to get him to pursue pro-Russia policies. The claims collapsed in 2018 after a two-year-long, $32 million investigation could find no evidence of any Trump-Russia collusion.Trump accused former President Barack Obama and then-former Vice President Joe Biden of engaging in "treason" by targeting Flynn, and suggested that the politicians would each have got 50 years in prison for their role in perpetuating "the greatest political scam" and "hoax in the history of our country" if they had been Republicans instead of Democrats.Flynns firing early into the Trump administration altered Washington's foreign policy trajectory for the remainder of his presidency. Although Trump successfully avoided getting the United States entangled in any new foreign quagmires, he failed to make good on campaign promises to improve relations with Russia, and to pursue a Nixonian-style "divide and rule" strategy of separating the diverse array of nations challenging US global unipolarity.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20211201/what-pushed-donald-trump-to-view-us-intelligence-community-with-suspicion-during-his-tenure-1091178668.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230223/mike-flynn-lauds-president-putins-words-on-family--god-as-strong-values-west-is-destroying-1107729204.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/turkiye-presidential-election-what-is-known-so-far-1110369436.html

Turkiye Presidential Election: What is Known So Far

Turkiye Presidential Election: What is Known So Far

What is known so far about elections in Turkiye.

2023-05-15T11:30+0000

2023-05-15T11:30+0000

2023-05-15T13:02+0000

world

recep tayyip erdogan

turkiye

presidential election

kemal kilicdaroglu

muharrem ince

justice and development party (akp)

2023 turkish presidential election

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The presidential election in Turkiye will head into a runoff, as none of the contenders were able to secure 50% of votes. Turkey's Supreme Election Council officially announced the second round of the presidential election in the country, scheduled for May 28.President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has obtained 49,51% of votes, as of 12:15 GMT, while his main challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, secured 44.88%, he said. Some of the ballots cast abroad from April 27-May 9, with more than 1.8 million Turkish citizens participating, are still being processed.More than 26 million people have voted for Erdogan, over 23.8 million  for Kilicdaroglu, and more than 2.7 million  for Sinan Ogan of the ATA Alliance. It has also been reported that the Turkish Election Commission annulled over 1 million ballots out of 53.9 million cast. Overall, the turnout at the presidential election exceeded 88.8%. The Turkish Central Election Commission is expected to announce final results, along with official confirmation of the second round.Here is what we know so far about the elections in Turkiye.As Turks went to the polls on Sunday to cast their votes in the presidential and parliamentary elections, sitting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed hope that their outcome will be good for the Turkish people and the state."I have been following the process since morning, the interior minister told me that voting is going on without any problems or incidents at the moment," Erdogan told reporters after casting his ballot at a polling place in Istanbul's Uskudar district, where he arrived together with his wife, at around 11:45 a.m. (08:45 GMT). "It is very important that all our voters vote before 5:00 p.m. without any fear, to show the strength of democracy. I wish the outcome to be good for our democracy, our people and our state," he said.Security measures at the polling station in Istanbul, where Erdogan cast his vote were strengthened, a Sputnik correspondent reported. Special forces soldiers and law enforcement officers in civilian clothes were deployed next to the site, while fences were installed in the area, preventing cars from entering the stations territory. Voters in the areas affected by the devastating February earthquakes in southeastern Turkiye also participated, with special voting containers set up in the areas where the buildings of regular polling stations were destroyed, media reported.People arriving to cast ballots were banned from entering polling booths with mobile phones and cameras, according to Turkish media, with fines for those violating this rule.Tightly Contested ElectionAhead of the presidential and parliamentary elections, opinion polls had projected tight races in both from the outset. Sitting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his main opposition challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu were seen as evident frontrunners in the race for the countrys top job. The incumbent, Erdogan, was likely to win in the first round by a small margin, polls by the Areda and Asal research centers had indicated. Aredas survey showed that 51.3% of respondents were ready to vote for Erdogan, while 44.2% - to support Kemal Kilicdaroglu. The third candidate, right-wing politician Sinan Ogan, was projected as getting almost 4% of the votes, and becoming a distant third. As to the fourth contender - Muharrem Ince, the leader of the Memleket party, he had dropped out of the race on Thursday. just three days before the election. However, President of the Turkish Supreme Election Council (YSK) Ahmet Yener said on Saturday that the votes cast for Muharrem Ince would not be nullified.Ballot Count RollercoasterAfter polling stations closed and the vote count began, it became clear that predictions of a hotly contested race were coming true. Earlier in the night, the head of Turkiyes YSK said that Erdogan, who was nominated by the ruling Justice and Development Party and its coalition partner, the Nationalist Movement Party, had 49.49% of the votes with 91.9% of the ballots processed. Kilicdaroglu had 44.79%. This prompted a buoyed Erdogan to tell supporters in Ankara late on Sunday night that he still had hopes of winning in the first round with over 50%. TRT Haber then reported that with 99.9% of the ballots counted, Erdogan had garnered 49.34% of the votes, while Kilicdaroglu had 45%.With emotions running high, a spontaneous rally of supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan unfolded near the office of the ruling party in Istanbul following the presidential election. According to a Sputnik correspondent, some of the people blocked the roadway in Istanbul near the office, but security forces refrained from any attempts to detain anyone. People were chanting, singing songs, burning flares and waving Turkish flags.Turkiye Parlaimentary ElectionAhead of the elections, the alliance of the ruling Justice and Development Party and the Nationalist Movement Party were projected as gaining over 51% of votes, according to an Areda research center poll.On Monday, figures showed that the People's Alliance of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) had secured the majority of seats in the parliament, according to state-run TRT Haber. The broadcaster cited preliminary results after the processing of ballots cast in Turkiye ended. The ruling AKP party scored over 35% of the vote, securing 266 seats in the parliament. Together with its allied parties, AKP secured more than 320 seats in the 600-seat parliament. As to the six-party opposition Nation Alliance, it obtained more than 35%. The Alliance comprises the Republican People's Party (CHP), the Good Party (IYI), Future Party (GP) and Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA), the Felicity Party (SAADET), and the Democrat Party (DP).Tension-Riddled RacePreceeding all of Monday's numbers and percentages was a tense election campaign. Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu ran neck and neck in the polls since March, with polls ranging from a nine and a half point lead for Kilicdaroglu, to a 7.7 point lead for Erdogan.Pro-Erdogan forces were incensed earlier in April after US Ambassador to Turkiye Jeff Flake privately met with Kilicdaroglu. Erdogan slammed the move, saying the ambassador needs to know his place as a diplomat.Meanwhile, ahead of the vote, deputy leader of Turkiye's Republican People's Party (RPP), headed by Kemal Kilicdaroglu, told Sputnik that in the event of electoral success the opposition wanted to bolster ties with Russia.The words do not align well with the cobbled-together accusations pushed by Kilicdaroglu, the 74-year-old opposition leader billed as a democratic alternative to Erdogans "authoritarianism" by most Western media. He accused Russia of interfering in the countrys elections just days before the crucial vote. Manipulated videos and soundbites were allegedly conceived by Moscow and aimed at discrediting the opposition.Meddling ClaimsIndeed, the third candidate, Muharrem Ince, stepped away from the race citing a smear campaign. Ince, who had faced pressure from supporters of the Republican Peoples Party (CHP) and their candidate Kilicdaroglu, accused of dividing the vote and being a pawn of Erdogan," dropped out of the race, saying:It was hardly a surprise that the election campaign in Turkiye was marred by West-instigated accusations of the Kremlin's alleged meddling in the Turkish presidential race."The opposition leader said he had evidence. He is yet to present that evidence. We are certain that he cannot do it because it does not exist," the Kremlin spokesman argued.He said the Russian presidency was "extremely disappointed by such claims" and "will respect the choice made by the Turkish people" when they go to the polls to elect the next president and parliament on Sunday.The United States was also slammed for meddling in elections in Turkiye by Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu.The Turkish interior minister also accused Washington of trying to subjugate Ankara."Turkiye has a clear position in its foreign policy. The US says 'Come and obey me.' We obey the Turkish interests," Soylu said. Still earlier in the month, Soylu said that the US would attempt a presidential coup during the upcoming election in order to finish what was started in July 2016, when a failed attempt to remove Erdogan from office took place, which Soylu also blamed on the US.On the day of his final campaign rally, supporters of Recep Tayyip Erdogan thronged Kizilay Square in his home neighborhood of Kasimpasa in Istanbul. Turkish flags and campaign posters for Erdogan were everywhere.Erdogan, who is seeking a stronger role for Turkiye in the world politics, has criticized the West for openly backing his rival.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/turkiye-wont-turn-its-back-on-russia-whoever-wins-presidential-runoff-1110386303.html

Turkiye Won't Turn Its Back on Russia Whoever Wins Presidential Runoff

Turkiye Won't Turn Its Back on Russia Whoever Wins Presidential Runoff

A second round of the Turkish election has been scheduled for May 28. Why is the unfolding political contest in Turkiye so important in terms of geopolitics?

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"From the point of view of the regional neighborhood of Turkey, this is important, because indeed, if the [Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal] Kilicdaroglu wins, then [Turkish] foreign policy orientation will noticeably change," Yulia Kudryashova, associate professor at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), told Sputnik. "That is, he heads the Republican People's Party, which was founded by [Mustafa Kemal] Ataturk. And the main values of this party are traditional: secularism, rapprochement with the West and the privileged position of the military in society. Accordingly, this is diametrically opposed to the position of the party headed by [President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan."Given the tight fight between Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu, some observers don't rule out the latter's potential win and subsequent changes in the Turkish political landscape.If Kilicdaroglu manages to come out on top in the runoff, Ankara may opt for further rapprochement with NATO, and may potentially try to unfreeze negotiations over its membership in the European Union, according to Kudryashova. Thus, unsurprisingly, the West is currently supporting Erdogan's opposition, the academic pointed out.There are a plethora of reasons why the US wants to drive Turkiye back in its fold, according to the academic. First, Turkiye is the most important ally for the United States within NATO, that is, the largest army in Europe among NATO members. Second, the US needs to halt Ankara's normalization with Syria which does not fit into Washington's Mideast strategy.Third, Turkiye's military cooperation with the United States has been actually frozen due to the independent and sovereign position pursued by the Turkish president. Fourth, the US wants Turkiye to join the anti-Russia sanctions regime and reduce cooperation with both Moscow and Beijing, as per the associate professor. She further presumed that if the pro-Western opposition wins, Turkiye could scale down its activities within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and similar Eurasian formats.Ankara's Ties With Moscow Important for TurksAlthough Kilicdaroglu promised on campaign trail to maintain working relations with Moscow, he nonetheless resorted to anti-Russia allegations last week by claiming Russia was interfering in Turkiye's general elections - something the Kremlin resolutely rejected.The crux of the matter is that ordinary Turks don't want any deterioration in mutually beneficial Russo-Turkish relations, Erim emphasized."All sane people in Turkey support the further development of Turkish-Russian relations based on the mutual interests of the two countries," the Turkish political commentator stressed."It is obvious that the main part of the Turkish people does not want any worsening, let alone breaking off, relations with Russia. Mr. Erdogan and Mr. Putin support interaction between our countries at a high level. Therefore, the Turkish public, for the most part, negatively perceives attacks similar to what Kilicdaroglu did."No matter who wins the runoff, Ankara cannot turn its back on Russia given strong trade ties between the countries and ongoing economic difficulties faced by Turkiye, according to Kudryashova."And most importantly, there is the Turkish Stream project, which gives Turkiye a completely unique chance to become a gas hub. This means discounts for the local population, the possibility of re-exporting [of gas], and the establishment of its own price for gas. There are a number of absolutely unprecedented favorable conditions for Turkiye from participation in this project. Therefore, in fact, given the difficult economic situation, [a potential new Turkish government] will not be able to reject cooperation with Russia," the academic continued.Kilicdaroglu's CHP Lost to AKP in ParliamentMeanwhile, Onur Erim expressed doubts in Kilicdaroglu's victory and referred to the fact that the Peoples Alliance - formed by Erdogans ruling AKP, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the New Welfare Party (YRP) and the Great Union Party (BBP) won the majority of seats (325) in the 600-seat parliament."The positions of the opposition Nation Alliance in the parliament, compared with the last elections, have been shaken," Erim said. "In contrast, the People's Alliance managed to largely consolidate its seats in parliament and demonstrated a fairly high percentage of votes. This is perhaps the most remarkable moment of the election, given that the 6-party Nation Alliance enjoyed the open support of US President Biden, as well as American and many European media."

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/turkiyes-presidential-election-2023-results-1110316169.html

Turkiye's Presidential Election 2023 Results

Turkiye's Presidential Election 2023 Results

Turkiye's presidential and parliamentary elections started on Sunday morning, with the second round of the election having been scheduled for May 28 if no candidate gains 50% of votes.

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There are three candidates in Turkiye's presidential election, with the main battle for the top government post being between opposition leader Kemal Klcdaroglu and incumbent President Tayyip Erdogan. The third candidate is Sinan Ogan of the ATA Alliance, while the fourth candidate, leader of the Memleket party Muharrem Ince, announced the withdrawal of his candidacy three days before the election.Take a look at Turkiye's live presidential election results:A total of 64 million Turkish citizens was able to take part in the elections, according to Turkiyes Central Election Commission. A total of 191,885 ballot boxes were installed inside and outside the country.

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UK Pledges 'Hundreds of Long-Range Attack Drones' to Ukraine

UK Pledges 'Hundreds of Long-Range Attack Drones' to Ukraine

The United Kingdom will provide Ukraine with air defense missiles and unmanned aerial systems in the coming months, the UK government said on Monday.

2023-05-15T08:14+0000

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"Today the Prime Minister will confirm the further UK provision of hundreds of air defense missiles and further unmanned aerial systems including hundreds of new long-range attack drones with a range of over 200 km. These will all be delivered over the coming months as Ukraine prepares to intensify its resistance to the ongoing Russian invasion," the government said in a press release.The government also said that the UK will start training Ukrainian pilots this summer. On Monday, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hosts Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in London.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230511/kremlin-vows-response-against-uks-long-range-missiles-bound-for-kiev-1110260251.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/ukrainian-troops-become-active-along-entire-front-line-but-no-counteroffensive-yet---dpr-1110363344.html

Ukrainian Troops Active Along Entire Front Line, But No Counteroffensive Yet - DPR Head

Ukrainian Troops Active Along Entire Front Line, But No Counteroffensive Yet - DPR Head

Ukrainian troops have become active along the entire front line, but this is not a counteroffensive yet, the situation is under control, Denis Pushilin, the acting head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), said on Monday.

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"We are seeing real activation along the entire line of contact. This is not yet the counteroffensive about which there is a lot of talk. We see that the enemy is trying to probe our positions, trying to conduct reconnaissance ... in some areas," Pushilin told Russian broadcaster, noting that "in general, the situation is under control."Speaking about the situation in Artemovsk (Bakhmut), Pushylin said that there was "definitely an absolute improvement". Russian forces are advancing and "bringing the liberation of the city to its logical conclusion," he added. At the beginning of April, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that Kiev's counteroffensive against Russia could start this summer. Later on, he said it could be launched in the immediate future. US media reported Ukraine's counteroffensive was scheduled for April 30.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/us-has-iron-dome-system-ready-to-ship-out-to-ukraine---pentagon-1110386026.html

Pentagon Has Iron Dome System Ready to Ship Out to Ukraine

Pentagon Has Iron Dome System Ready to Ship Out to Ukraine

The US acquired two Iron Dome batteries from Israel in late 2020, sending one to Guam in 2021 to get a sense of how the system might perform against Chinese missiles. Israel has used the air defense system extensively against garage-built rockets and drones fired by Palestinian militias, but has never tested it against state actors.

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2023-05-15T19:13+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

ukraine

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The United States has an Iron Dome system ready to ship out to Ukraine if Kiev asks for it, US Army Space and Missile Defense Commander Daniel Karbler has indicated."Obviously missile defense is very important to the Ukrainians," King said, while formulating his question. "Why isnt Iron Dome being deployed to Ukraine? We helped pay for it. We spent something like $3 billion [for] Israel to develop it, $500 million a year my understanding [is]. Wouldnt this be a very important resource for the Ukrainians, since their principle problem right now is air defense?" the senator asked.Assistant secretary of defense for space policy John Plumb told King that to date, the US has focused on missile defense systems from its own stocks to send to Ukraine. You know weve supplied Patriot batteries for example, weve [made] significant investments in missile defense and weve encouraged allies to do the same, the official said.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed reluctance to entertain sending military equipment to Ukraine last month amid reports of growing pressure from Washington to do so. Tel Aviv's current stance follows a reversal from Netanyahus comments in January that Tel Aviv might send an Iron Dome to Kiev.Kiev pleaded with Israel to send Iron Domes to the country last year, with officials saying that Ukraine would be ready to "buy" the system and wasn't looking for a "donation."In early 2022, on the eve of the escalation in Ukraine, Israeli media reported that Tel Aviv halted an attempt by the US to transfer its Iron Dome batteries to Ukraine amid concerns over how Moscow might respond.First introduced into service with the Israeli military in 2011, the Iron Dome has been used extensively in Israels battles against Palestinian and Lebanese militias armed mostly with small rockets and drones. Israel has touted the system as one of the best air defense systems in the world. However, independent analyses of its fire-to-shoot-down ratio have raised questions about just how effective it is, with one study of its use against Hamas rockets during the May 2021 conflict in Gaza revealing that the system had been partially overwhelmed by the Palestinian militias mass firing of rockets.Iron Dome batteries consist of radar and command and control modules and three launchers, the latter armed with 20 Tamir interceptor missiles apiece. Israel has about 12 Iron Dome systems in its arsenal.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/watch-russian-ka-52-helicopters-obliterate-ukrainian-stronghold-1110376272.html

Watch Russian Ka-52 Helicopters Obliterate Ukrainian Stronghold

Watch Russian Ka-52 Helicopters Obliterate Ukrainian Stronghold

Ka-52 is the best attack helicopter Russia operates at the moment and one of the most effective in its class around the globe.

2023-05-15T16:03+0000

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Russia's Ministry of Defense has recently shared a video of top-end Ka-52 attack helicopters fire S-8 unguided rockets. According to a statement by the military, the crew blasted an enemy frontline command point and hit several Ukrainian armored vehicles.The Ka-52 is equipped with six hardpoints for mounting various armaments. The helicopter has a maximum load capacity at up to 12 9K121 Vikhr ATGMs, which are capable of hitting enemy armour at a 10km distance; up to 80 80mm S-8 unguided rockets or 10 122mm S-13 rockets alongside with various unguided bombs, gunpods, and up to four Igla anti-air missiles.The powerful and accurate 2A42 30mm autocannon, the same as on the famous BMP-2, is used as the main armament of this helicopter.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/what-to-expect-from-top-chinese-envoys-shuttle-peace-tour-to-ukraine-russia--europe-1110361165.html

What to Expect From Top Chinese Envoy's Shuttle Peace Tour to Ukraine, Russia & Europe

What to Expect From Top Chinese Envoy's Shuttle Peace Tour to Ukraine, Russia & Europe

Li Hui, China's special representative for Eurasian affairs, is setting off on a bout of shuttle diplomacy to five countries, including Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Germany, and France.

2023-05-15T06:52+0000

2023-05-15T06:52+0000

2023-05-15T07:51+0000

china

ukraine crisis

volodymyr zelensky

xi jinping

world

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Li Hui, China's special representative for Eurasian affairs, is setting off on a bout of shuttle diplomacy that will take him to five countries, namely Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Germany, and France.The department stopped short of providing a detailed schedule of the visit, but underscored:According to some media reports, Li is to make his first stop in Ukraine.Li will be the highest-ranking Chinese official to meet with Kiev authorities since the escalation of the Ukraine crisis in February 2022. He will also be a familiar face when he steps foot on Russian soil. The official who joined the Chinese Foreign Ministrys Department of Soviet and East European Affairs in 1975, spent 10 years in Russia - between 2009 and 2019 - as an ambassador, and is fluent in Russian. Russia's President Vladimir Putin presented the Order of Friendship to the Chinese Ambassador to Russia in 2019. Li previously served as head of Eastern European and Central Asian affairs in the foreign ministry.Message & TimingBeijing's 12-point proposal for a diplomatic settlement of the Ukraine crisis is at the heart of Li's message during his shuttle tour. Chinai is serious about becoming a major diplomatic player and has called for peace talks between Kiev and Moscow to be resumed; for nuclear power plants to be kept safe and strategic risks reduced; for unilateral sanctions to be ended and the Cold War mentality to be abandoned; and to promote post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine.In March, the People's Republic of China orchestrated a historic reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The two rivals signed an agreement to restore full diplomatic relations, confirming China's status as an influential mediator. The West was always going to be sceptical about any plan proposed by China about a settlement for Ukraine. But Vladimir Putin said that the blueprint could be a basis for ending the Ukraine conflict if the West were ready to accept the plan.The announcement that Li would be sweeping through Europe to engage in "in-depth communication with all parties on political settlement of the Ukraine crisis" was made after Chinese President Xi Jinping had a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in April. At the time, Moscow noted Beijing's readiness to establish a negotiation process, but emphasized that Kiev is still rejecting "any sensible initiatives aimed at a political and diplomatic settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, and eventual agreement to negotiations" dictating ultimatums with "deliberately unrealistic demands".Xi's telephone conversation with Zelensky came in the wake of the Chinese leader's visit to Moscow in mid-March, to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The leaders signed a sweeping agreement to bring the relationship between their two countries into a new era," with analysts hailing the cooperation as shifting the geopolitical focus from unilateral hegemony to a more equal "multipolar" world order.The Chinese President's visit set off a flurry of diplomatic activity around Beijing. Several European leaders made a beeline for Beijing, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. The European officials juggled "charm offensive" with "pressure campaign" in an attempt to dissuade Beijing from supporting Russia. However, they were careful not to alienate a key trade partner and increasingly assertive global player. The top Chinese envoy's tour comes amid speculations about an imminent Ukraine "counteroffensive." The much-heralded "onslaught" would be carried out with the billions of dollars of weaponry with which Washington and its NATO allies have provided the Kiev regime. Now, the West is described as expecting Ukraine to deliver on the goods, showing success on the battlefield. The very countries that the Chinese top envoy will reportedly visit - France, Germany and Poland - are among the main suppliers of weapons and financial assistance to Ukraine and it will be interesting to hear how China's "peace" tour goes down with them.As to Russia, it has repeatedly said that it values China's sincere desire to contribute to the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. The Kremlin has emphasized several times that it is ready to negotiate, whereas the government in Kiev has ruled out any talks as long as Putin remains president of Russia."We have repeatedly said that Russia's goals can be achieved in various ways  these are political and diplomatic or, if political and diplomatic are currently impossible - and in the case of Ukraine, they are impossible, unfortunately - via the military way, that is, through a special military operation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/zelenskys-fighter-jet-coalition-depends-on-russian-advancement-1110383880.html

Zelensky's Fighter Jet Coalition Depends on Russian Advancement

Zelensky's Fighter Jet Coalition Depends on Russian Advancement

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky embarked on a European tour to drum up support for the Ukrainian counteroffensive. The West's aid to the Kiev regime is inversely related to Russia's military successes on the battlefield, Viktor Litovkin, Russian military expert and retired colonel, told Sputnik.

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"[The West's] support depends on [Russia's] success," said Viktor Litovkin. "If we block the possibility of supplying weapons to Ukraine, and this is possible, [we will be able to scale it down  Sputnik]. It is necessary to destroy the transport infrastructure of Ukraine, the border transport infrastructure, the transport infrastructure in the Carpathian Mountains, large railway junctions in Lvov, for example, and in Kiev. If we destroy the Kiev railway station, then these old politicians from the European Union will not be able to come to Kiev. Neither Zelensky will be able to make tours across Europe."Last week, Zelensky claimed that Ukraine needed more time before kicking off its much-discussed counteroffensive because it was awaiting the military equipment promised by NATO member states. The Ukrainian president met with leaders in Italy, Vatican, Germany, France, and the UK, who promised to provide the Kiev regime with more shells, missiles, armored vehicles, and drones.In particular, Berlin announced a weapons package worth $2.95 billion for Ukraine, which includes 30 Leopard 1 A5 tanks, 18 self-propelled howitzers, Marder armored personnel carriers and other combat vehicles, two hundred reconnaissance drones, as well as IRIS-T SLM anti-aircraft systems. For its part, France promised to provide tens of armored vehicles and light tanks including AMX-10RC. London vowed to equip the Kiev regime with "hundreds of air defense missiles and further unmanned aerial systems including hundreds of new long-range attack drones with a range of over 200 km," according to the UK government's statement.West's Dragging Feet Over Provision NATO Aircraft to ZelenskyMeanwhile, the Zelensky regime is continuing to ask for more. As per the Ukrainian president, the main goal of his latest European tour was securing more fighter jets from his allies. "We are currently working on the creation of a fighter jet coalition, and my visits to European capitals are partly aimed at this," Zelensky told journalists during his trip. Earlier, it was reported that the Kiev regime's Western partners had sent several dozen Soviet-era fighter jets to Ukraine, but fell short of providing advanced NATO aircraft to the Ukrainian Air Force.Hypothetically, Western aircraft could be deployed in Poland, in Romania, somewhere in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and take off from there, suggested Litovkin. Still, the major problem is that neither the US nor its Western allies are interested in their warplanes being shot down by Russian missiles, the military expert noted. He projected that Washington and its European allies would resist sending their aircraft to Ukraine until the very last moment. Moreover, these potential warplane deliveries depend on the advancement of Russian troops, according to the retired colonel.West Needs Ukrainian Counteroffensive More Than KievThe West still has the capability of arming the Kiev regime with various types of weapons, according to Litovkin."Naturally, rich countries can afford [equipping the Ukrainian military]," the expert said. "They have factories, and their military-industrial complexes are working. They can do it all. Then they have a lot of weapons accumulated in warehouses. There is talk that they are missing something, it's not quite right. When they say that they lack something, it is a signal: 'give us more money, we will produce more weapons.'"However, if Russia continues to destroy Western military equipment on a massive scale, the West's enthusiasm will start to wane, according to the retired colonel.Apparently, therefore, the US and its European allies are hastening Zelensky to launch the counteroffensive. "They must report to their voters or to their taxpayers that sending a huge amount of weapons and money to Ukraine has not been in vain," Litovkin remarked. In fact, the West needs the much discussed Ukrainian advancement even more than the Kiev regime, according to him.Zelensky's Bravado is Part of West's PR StuntAgainst this backdrop, Zelensky's bravado in Europe is aimed at demonstrating to the Western public that the Kiev regime feels confident, according to the military analyst."Firstly, it's a demonstration that he, the head of a warring country, can travel around Europe, visit the leadership of certain leading European countries, and show to them that Ukraine will win victories one after another. () This is sort of a demonstration of Ukrainian victory. It even looks like [a PR stunt] for the media: 'Look, we feel calm and confident.'"Nonetheless, the US and European leadership are hailing Zelensky's tour and the Kiev regime's readiness to fight to the last Ukrainian as visible success of the Western project, Litovkin concluded.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230514/nato-intends-to-offer-kiev-support-but-no-membership-at-july-summit---reports-1110352127.html

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The Pennsylvania-sired glamour division, the three-year-old pacing males, were featured in their first of two consecutive Sunday stops at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on May 14, contesting three $30,000 divisions of their Pennsylvania All-Stars event.

The fastest divisional winner, the Sweet Lou gelding Idiosyncratic, was also the only non-favourite to be victorious, taking a new mark of 1:50.3 as the 5-2 second choice. Simon Allard directed Idiosyncratic three-wide down the backstretch to loop a parked-the-mile horse, then kept going in the stretch to catch Mamba, who had gone fractions of :26.4, :54.1 and 1:22.1 under pressure, by three-quarters a length. Favoured Stay Grounded shuffled back then closed for third. Ron Burke trains Idiosyncratic, a winner of half his 12 seasonal starts who lowered his mark from The Meadows last week by a tick, for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.

Favoured sons of Captaintreacherous took the other two cuts -- one easily, one not so easily. The Brett Pelling-trained Command gradually worked from post eight by Todd McCarthy, wearing the colours of owners Diamond Creek Racing, and took command. He posted splits of :27.2, :56 and 1:23.3. Hunters Hero swung wide from second-over and closed powerfully on the far outside at 30-1, but he was a nose shy in the 1:51.1 mile, with pocket-sitter Panettone Hanover just another nose shy of taking it all.

Perhaps the most impressive winner to the eye won in the slowest clocking of the three, 1:51.4. Ken Hanover, coming off a 1:49.4 Meadows sire stakes win, was the overwhelming choice and was driven by confidence by David Miller. He laid off early fractions of :27.2 and :57.1 before launching a steady uncovered bid well before the 1:24.3 three-quarters. Ken Hanover ate the ground until taking over late on the turn, then held off second-over Lyons Surfing by 2-1/4 lengths while pacing his own last half in :53.4. Trainer Polie Mallar and co-owners Patrick Leavitt, William Jordan, and Dennis Osterholt look to have themselves a national-caliber colt here.

Pocono will close out its racing week with 1 p.m. cards on Monday and Tuesday, with younger horses featured on Monday and sharing the spotlight with the tracks top claiming handicap trotters on Tuesday.

(PHHA / Pocono)
Beth and Tom Rankin hosted a very well attended Open House event at their St. Catharines Standardbred breeding farm on May 13 with over 300 visitors meeting the mares and foals.

The Rankins hosted the Open House in support of four horse-themed contests for kids coordinated by the newly formed Bill Galvin Racing Alliance (BGRA), including the Youth Literary Derby and the Youth Art Derby. These contests are for elementary school children in Grades 3 to 8. Complete rules and details for the contests can be found on the BGRA website.

Kids visiting the St. Catharines breeding farm had lots of subject matter to inspire them for the contests as 10 mares had foals by their side and were eager to interact with their captive audience.

The smiles on their faces, thats all I need," said Tom Rankin. That means a lot to me and makes this all worthwhile. Bill [Galvin] would have loved this!"

Tom Rankin and Barb Cornelius with Royal Witch at the Open House.

The Rankins started breeding Standardbreds in 1990 and have enjoyed considerable success. Over the course of 33 years, they have bred about 300 horses at the St. Paul St. West nursery. Currently, the farm is home to 16 broodmares and 10 foals with two more foals on the way.

We should never underestimate the power of the horse, said Karen Hauver, the founding director of the BGRA. Its amazing how people feel when they spend some time with horses, and we sincerely appreciate everything that the Rankins and their wonderful staff did to host this event and welcome people to their farm."

Kids could take part in a Name The Foal Contest for any of the seven fillies and three colts, and were provided with a list of the dam and sire names for each foal. The newest foal on the ground was a two-day old Muscle Mass filly out of Miss Adam T.

Ive driven by here for 20 years and I always wondered what breed of horses were here," said Linda Garrett, a local resident. "Now I know. To have an opportunity to come in and talk to the people who work with the horses, and even pet some of the mares and foals, was amazing!"

When I feel crummy, I take a drive by this farm," said Anita from Port Colborne, Ont., "and seeing the horses always makes me feel better.

The event drew a wide range of guests -- families, couples, a dance club, local residents and more. Included among the visitors were Dave Augustyn, former Mayor of Pelham, and people visiting the St. Catharines area from Holland and Germany.

Volunteer directors from the Bill Galvin Racing Alliance were on hand to greet guests, provide information on the four youth contests and answer any questions about harness racing.

(Bill Galvin Racing Alliance)
Woodbine Mohawk Parks Race Office would like to inform all racing participants of updates to drivers changes and qualifying entries.

Effective immediately, all driver changes are now due by 9 a.m. the day following each draw. The new driver change times are listed below:

Draw Monday for Thursday  Driver changes due Tuesday at 9 a.m.

Draw Tuesday for Friday and Saturday  Driver changes due Wednesday at 9 a.m.

Draw Wednesday for Monday  Driver changes due Thursday at 9 a.m.

Also taking effect this week, all entries for qualifiers must be made through Standardbred Canadas online entry system. The entry box for Friday qualifiers closes Thursday mornings at 10:30 a.m.

The Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA) will be offering support for any trainers having difficulties operating the online entry system.

For more information on online entries, click here.

(Woodbine)
Crossroads Arts and Science Early College celebrates their eighth consecutive year of 100% graduation rate as the Class of 2023 earned a high school diploma. Crossroads principal, Alicia Eller, said she is proud of the hard working students and congratulated them on their success for the future.

Introduction and welcome speaker Kaylee Greer reminisced on the first day at Crossroads early college as a freshman and how their feelings were as a freshman. Memories made at Crossroads are unforgettable, Greer said. She described all the different paths graduates are going to take in the future. Im so proud of us and excited to see what the future holds, Greer said as she wrapped up her speech.

Isabel Ebin, one of the student speaker, described how she had taken a class in myth and human culture in which she learned about a topic called liminality. Ebin described this topic as being in between two worlds. We have one foot in childhood and we have the other foot in adulthood, she said, describing liminality. Ebin described how this can be a challenge as students feel like they are stepping into adulthood while not being prepared like a child.

Liminality makes you powerful, said Ebin. Youre a part of two groups but you are not bound by the rules of either.

Ebin later talked about how these are the years for students to have fun like a child but understanding like an adult. The world is open to all of us, she said.

Yajat Govardhan expressed gratitude to staff, students, and parents for allowing him as well as his fellow classmates to have the opportunity that is given at Crossroads. I want you to remember all of the memories and experiences that have led you to this moment, said Govardhan, addressing his classmates. Govardhan reminisced about memories and obstacles that students have faced throughout their time at Crossroads.

Haley Murdock gave an introduction speech about Eller and the influence she had at Crossroads Early College. She has been the heart and soul of our school, Murdock said. Her leadership has been nothing short of exemplary. Murdock talked about all of the skills and support that has impacted every student as well as to the staff. It is because of their guidance and support that we stand here today ready to take on the world, Murdock said.

Eller expressed her pride in the graduating class of 2023. Eighty-nine percent of Crossroads students have earned an associate's degree and $1.35 million has been earned in scholarships for students in the 2023 graduating class at Crossroads.

Chloe Breece's farewell speech to the graduating class highlighted different memories that students have experienced at Crossroads as well as wishing them luck for their future. We still have so much of our lives ahead of us to fail, to succeed, to make big decisions, and meet new people, Breece said.
NAACP/The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints scholarship program provides need-based, renewable scholarships to Black/African American college students beginning their sophomore year.

In June 2021, Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, pledged $1 million annually more than three years to fund scholarships. Each scholarship is a $5,000 award for college sophomores that is renewable for three years (a total of $15,000 per student).

Applications are being accepted through the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) website between now and June 29.

We admire and share [the churchs] optimism that all people can work together in harmony and should collaborate more on areas of common interest, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said.

The scholarship program provides need-based, renewable scholarships to Black/African American college sophomores enrolled full-time and attending an accredited four-year U.S. college or university beginning Fall 2023.

Applicants for the NAACP/The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Scholarship program must meet the following eligibility requirements:

1. Possess a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

2. Complete a free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.

3. Have a demonstrated, unmet financial need verified by their college or university.

4. Be enrolled full-time in fall 2023 as a sophomore at any UNCF member institution, other accredited HBCU, or any accredited four-year U.S.-based college or university.

5. Preference shall be given to candidates at HBCUs who are pursuing undergraduate studies.

These efforts represent an ongoing desire of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to teach and live the two great commandments  to love God and neighbor, Nelson said.

Since 1944, UNCF has helped to double more than the number of minorities attending college, serving as the nations leading advocate for the importance of minority education and community engagement. For more information about the 2023 NAACP/The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Scholarship program, including renewal requirements and how to apply, please visit the UNCF scholarship page.
Twenty-five years ago: Record & Landmark, May 15-21, 1998.

Obit John Sherrill Cloer, Jr., 75. Mr. Cloer served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was retired as a supervisor at Thonet Industries and was a member of the Cochran Street Baptist Church. (5/15)

Photo. North Carolina Department of Transportation employees continue to work on a collapsed drain at the intersection of Water and Center streets. Three hundred feet of the pipe had to be replaced in order for repairs to be made after a sink hole was discovered. (5/16)

Obit Fieldian Allen Shaver, 86. Mr. Shaver was a retired farmer and was retired from Thonet packing department. He was educated in Iredell County schools and was a member of New Prospect Baptist Church. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart medal and the Good Conduct Medal. (5/17)

Students from Monticello Elementary School collected drink cans for the Ronald McDonald House again this year. Those students who collected the most cans were Elizabeth Barnard, with 800 cans; Lindsay Laws, with 770 cans, Evan Wood, with 780 cans; Casey Frye, 740 cans. (5/18)

Fundraising for new womens shelter at Fifth St. ministries. In February, the total stood at $28,805.28. That figure exceeded the original goal of $25,000. Folks have continued to give out of their own pockets. Yard sales, bake sales and other events have been conducted to enhance the project. To date $35,000 has been raised through the campaign. (5/19)

New redistricting underway. Louise McDaniels, supervisor of the Iredell County Board of Elections, said she hopes Iredell County will not have split precincts as a result of the redistricting. But right now its too hard to tell if we will or wont. (5/20)

Dome on the old courthouse downtown getting repairs. The original tile on the dome portion of the roof had deteriorated very badly. It was an old terra cotta type of roof tile and leaks had started, Jim Vernon, county support services said. (5/21)

Fifty years ago: Record & Landmark, May 15-21, 1973.

ABC store referendum for Statesville set for Sept. 13. Funds from the stores would be allocated as follows: 25 per cent to Mitchell Community College; 25 per cent to the Statesville school system; and 50 per cent to be divided among the Arts and Science Museum, the recreation commission, the public library, sheltered workshop and mental health clinic. (5/15)

City school board. J. Vaughn Brock, principal of Avery Sherrill School, presented an account of his trip to England to study the infant schools, the equivalent of state supported kindergartens. He used slides and told the board of his observations. (5/16)

Nursecare International, of Atlanta, Ga., revealed plans to construct a 120-bed center in Statesville early this summer. The facility will be situated on a five-acre tract at the intersection of Davie Ave. and Valley St. (5/17)

The North Carolina General Assembly gave final approval yesterday for the merger of Mitchell College into the North Carolina Community College system. Mitchell College will officially join the community college system on July 1, 1973. (5/18)

Seventeen North Carolina cities and towns had no traffic deaths in 1972, according to the N.C. State Motor Clubs annual traffic safety survey, the club announced Friday. [Among the 17 was Mooresville. (5/19)

Reggie Lynn Bauguess, presently a fire inspector for Mecklenburg County, will report for duties as fire marshal for Iredell County on July 1. Bauguess will work under the general statutes in coordination general services, fire prevention and fire inspection of public places required by law. (5/21)

Seventy-five years ago: Statesville Daily Record, May 15-21, 1948.

Miss Floy A. Wilkinson, secretary of the Iredell county Board of Elections, warned voters that today is the last opportunity to register for the state and local primaries May 29. Miss Wilkinson said registrars would be at the regular polling places until sunset today. (5/15)

Bob Cline has a rather neat bottle dispenser at Clines Soda shop on West Front street which plays a record of Pepsi-Cola hits the spot every time it shoots a Pepsi at you. Its a right clever machine. (5/17)

Supporters of J. Melville Broughton for the United States Senate brought a cavalcade of 24 cars to Statesville yesterday. The caravan stopped here for lunch. A small crowd gathered on the sidewalk in front of the Peoples Loan and Savings bank to hear the talks. (5/18)

One of the biggest construction jobs in town is going on unnoticed while the rest of us sleep. Construction men swarm over the Playhouse theater after the late show closes and work until the next afternoon. Each day brings changes and soon the Playhouse will be as beautiful as it was when it was new. New seats to go in next week, we are told. (5/19)

Body of Pvt. Ross Isaac Marlow returned for burial. He was a native of Mooresville and worked in a textile mill after his graduation from Mooresville High school. He entered the Army in July of 1944, was sent overseas Christmas Day of that year, and was killed in France just a few weeks after, January 31, 1945. (5/20)

Swarm of bees threatens entrance to the State theater. Charles Utley, manager of the theater, said the bees almost took over his place before deciding, instead, to settle on a Studebaker parked nearby. They were subsequently scooped up by an Iredell apiarist. (5/21)

One hundred years ago: Landmark. May 17 and 21, 1923.

At a meeting of the school board Monday, it was agreed that in selecting teachers for the city schools, preference would be given to unmarried women and that any single women hereafter elected shall be elected with the implied condition that her marriage is equivalent to her resignation. (5/17)

At a meeting of the Ministerial Association Monday a resolution was drawn up requesting the co-operation of the local theater managers in protecting the morals of the citys youth by declining to show on their screens pictures that are so objectionable that they have been condemned by the press or the better element of other cities and towns. The resolution will be laid before the theatre managers immediately. (5/17)

Of the ten entrants into the contest for life savers certificates held under the auspices of the National Red Cross, only three passed the strenuous list of eight tests. Two of the three were Statesville boys, John Moore and Charles Litaker both 17 years of age. The boys were awarded life-savers certificates and are now recognized as such by the Red Cross. (5/21)

Troutman. Building activities are a little above par down here. The Murdochs are completing their brick store. Litten and Suther will soon occupy their splendid new quarters. A.G. Brown is pushing to completion his modern filling station. (5/21)

Shiloh. M.F. Nash, S.G. Caudill and H.M. Morrison are building a power line from Statesville so the former can operate his machinery as well as furnish lights for others. (5/21)

One hundred twenty-five years ago: Landmark, May 17 and 20, 1898.

The force which is putting up the Bell telephone line between Charlotte and Statesville is now within 5  miles of town. We will be able to say hello to Charlotte pretty soon. (5/17)

Col. J.F. Armfield, of the First Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers, came home Friday and returned to Raleigh Saturday morning. While here Col. Armfield bought and shipped to Raleigh a horse for his use in the service. He expects his regiment to be ordered to the front at any time. [Iredell volunteers were in Company E 1st NC.] (5/17)

At a meeting of Statesville tobacco manufacturers Saturday resolutions were adopted and forwarded to Washington protesting against the increase in the tobacco tax from six to 16 cents. Tobacco men hope that a compromise will be made on 12 cents a pound. (5/17)

The First Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers will leave Raleigh at noon to-day for Tampa, Fla. The regiment has not yet been equipped but it is stated that it will be equipped with arms and uniforms at Tampa. [Iredell volunteers were in Company E, 1st NC] (5/20)

Mayor Harrill gave notice that the sanitary regulations will be enforced and all citizens are requested to clean their premises at once and keep them clean. The sanitary policeman will begin his rounds very soon. (5/20)

The Landmark is asked to request the ladies of the community who feel an interest in our soldier boys to meet at the armory Saturday afternoon at 5 oclock to discuss ways and means to give them some aid. (5/20)
UNC Greensboro graduate Abby Bailiff is celebrating two major milestones: getting her doctorate of nursing practice degree and becoming a mother in a 24-hour period, the university said in a news release.

On May 3, one day before her graduation, Bailiff gave birth to her first child  a son named Bodie, the university said. Bailiff left the hospital with Bodie at noon on May 4 and then decided to attend her graduation ceremony hours later.

Bailiff earned her degree in the adult-gerontological primary care nurse practitioner concentration, the university said.

I remember walking into the gymnasium for graduation, and everybody was just cheering and standing and there was a huge crowd, Bailiff said. I dont know if it was a mix of the hormones or just how overwhelmed I was feeling, but I just started crying.

"It was just an overwhelming feeling of accomplishing so much within the last couple of days," Bailiff said. "It felt really good.

Bailiff became a mom right before Mothers Day and earned her doctorate just as National Nurses Week was about to begin, the university said. As if that werent enough, she went viral after her sister, Hannah, posted a video about Bailiffs 24 hours on TikTok.

The nine-second clip shows photographs of Bailiff in the hospital after giving birth to her son, followed by footage of her getting hooded by School of Nursing faculty member Autumn Henson at graduation.

The short video has been liked more than 120,000 times since it was posted on TikTok, the university said. It has received more than 1,000 comments.

"I want other women to know, especially those in school who get pregnant and want to do this or want to do that, we can do anything we want to do, Bailiff said. We have to set our minds to it. I know that sounds cliche, but that whole video put it into perspective.
A large number of the calls local police respond to are in some way associated with mental health or mental health crisis.

Last week, law enforcement officers from the Marion, Chilhowie and Wytheville police departments and the Grayson County Sheriffs Office underwent training to help them better handle those responses.

Despite what anyone might think, calls with a mental health nexus are our most frequent responses, said Marion Police Chief John Clair.

Wytheville Lt. Brian Bard echoed those thoughts, saying, Dealing with people in mental crisis is very common now for law enforcement. It has been for a long time and knowing how to recognize signs of mental illness or people in mental distress, this training gives them the tools and knowledge of how to handle and treat these situations.

That high volume of calls related to mental health essentially demands training in crisis intervention, Clair said.

Crisis Intervention Training needs to become a fundamental police skill, just like directing traffic, he said.

Hosted at the Marion Police Department and offered by Mount Rogers Community Services, officers learned over the 40-hour course how to identify when a person is in crisis, and how to respond to and de-escalate crisis situations. They also became familiar with a number of mental health situations that could contribute to those crises.

Theres a lot of factors within mental health and substance use, said Leah Jackson, crisis intervention coordinator for Mount Rogers. What theyre learning this week can really assist in de-escalating and help them in getting resources.

A lot of gray exists when it comes to mental health, Jackson said.

Often times, it can present as a criminal matter and often times it progresses to one, she said.

Situations can present one wayit may look like a criminal matter when they get the call, but when they get out there, there may be obvious signs that that person is in distress, explained Kim Woodlee, Mount Rogers director of crisis management services

The hope, Woodlee said, is that by training officers, the officers will be able to identify, de-escalate and prevent a criminal offense, which would prevent the prolonging of that person getting the services they need.

We want these people to have help instead of hauling them off to jail, said Marion Officer Amber Eades, who, along with Smyth County Deputy Uriah Farris, doubles as an instructor for the program. We also want to give officers the tools to recognize these situations, because with a mental health condition, rarely its black and white.

As part of the training, officers learned about specific disorders, including substance use, post-traumatic stress disorder, and traumatic brain injury, as well as how to interact with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They also focused on cultural diversity, learned basic intervention and de-escalation skills and took part in role-play exercises to test their new knowledge and skills.

Both Clair and Eades recalled their training in the police academy.

When we all went to the police academy some 15 to 20 years ago, I want to say that there was zero discussions about mental health, Clair said. There may have been some discussions about excited delirium or something like that, but no comprehensive or even really introductory mental health training.

In those days, the two officers said, it was more of a brief introduction on how to serve Emergency Custody and Temporary Detention orders.

When I went, it was more introductory on paperless ECOheres how you sign it, heres how you serve a TDO, Eades said.

I think there was a reliance at the time on the personality and natural de-escalation skills of the officer, Clair said. I dont think really any of that was taught.

Today, new officers do get a basic introduction to mental health, but Bard said, they dont get the in-depth training like theyre receiving now.

Following their initial training in the academy, Bard said Wytheville officers were previously required to go through the more in-depth training offered through Mount Rogers. First launched about 15 years ago, the training took a hiatus after 2019 due to staffing and funding issues caused by the pandemic.

Both Mount Rogers staff and law enforcement alike were pleased to see it return.

That program was a huge success, said Bard, who was part of the initial Crisis Intervention Team and who later on became an instructor.

The officers that have had it really expressed to the officers thats going to the training now, youre really going to some good training, you know. Youre going to get a lot out of this, Bard added.

With the training program back in action, Bard said it will become the norm again that all new officers take part. Likewise, Clair said he intends to have every Marion officer trained in crisis intervention.

A Mount Rogers spokesperson said the Crisis Intervention Training is the foundation and part of the agencys efforts in launching its Marcus Alert System, a state-mandated system to coordinate an improved response to mental and behavioral health crises.

Additional training will be provided when the system rolls out. Although not every officer will be designated a crisis intervention officer, Clair said, Every officer will have the requisite toolkit to respond well.

Offered to all 12 law enforcement agencies in the Mount Rogers catchment area, the Crisis Intervention Training will be offered again in July and in October. Instructors include both Mount Rogers staff members and members of law enforcement.

According to the Virginia Department of Behavioral Healths website, localities have until July 1, 2028 to roll out their Marcus Alert Systems.
MOSCOW, Idaho  As the University of Idaho Class of 2023 sat in its caps and gowns Saturday morning, the community took a moment to recognize those who weren't there.

"Awws" rang out through the crowd as the four students who were killed at an off-campus home last fall were posthumously recognized.

Maddie May Mogen's parents walked across the stage to accept her marketing degree.

The hundreds of people crowded into the Kibbie Dome erupted into a standing ovation.

"This is her day that she worked so hard for," said Ben Mogen, Maddie's father. "We're all just so proud of what she did with her life."

Maddie Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were found dead at the women's off-campus home in November. After a monthslong investigation, a Washington State University graduate student was charged with their murders.

The graduation ceremony marks another milestone of grief for their families and community.

"This a moment for us to acknowledge the contributions they've made and celebrate their academic achievement with their family," said Torrey Lawrence, provost and executive vice president at the university.

Kernodle's family chose to accept her marketing certificate in a private ceremony. Chapin's family will also receive a certificate in his honor.

Goncalves' siblings tearfully accepted her general studies degree during the Saturday afternoon commencement ceremony. As they stood on stage, an extended round of applause filled the dome.

As Karen and Scott Laramie, Maddie Mogen's mother and stepfather, crossed the stage, they wore pink, Maddie's favorite color. The emotion of the moment was clear on their faces.

"It was emotional, of course," Ben Mogen said. "It was a really special moment."

Mogen thanked the University of Idaho and the Moscow community for their support and consideration during graduation weekend.

"It was so sweet," Mogen said. "Just the whole way that the university has handled everything has been so special to my whole family and the other families, too."
PORTLAND  Two women died crossing Portland streets on foot, police said Sunday, bringing the number of pedestrian fatalities so far in 2023 to nine.

On May 9, 81-year-old Joanna M. Sunseri, of Kelso, Washington, died after a woman driving a Nissan Pathfinder turned into Sunseri as she crossed Northeast Broadway at 15th Avenue in a crosswalk. The unidentified driver cooperated and was not cited or arrested, police said.

Katherine Lyda, 40, died May 7 after being struck by the driver of a Ford Taurus on April 25 at Northeast 122nd Avenue and Skidmore Street. Police said a preliminary investigation showed Lyda was crossing against the light around 5:20 a.m. when the driver, an unidentified man, hit her. He was not cited or arrested, police said.

Last September, a pedestrian died about a block away, at Northeast 122nd Avenue and Shaver Street near Parkrose High School.

Portland has recorded 19 fatal car crashes so far in 2023. Nine have killed pedestrians.
Longview firefighters came to the rescue on Mothers Day, reuniting a family of ducks after five ducklings run afoul of a storm drain.

Around 11:15 a.m. Sunday, John Deveny, with Lower Columbia College maintenance, was working in the area when he noticed a seemingly-distressed mother duck hovering near a storm drain, according to a Longview Fire Department Facebook post.

Deveny called the fire department after he saw that several ducklings had fallen into the storm drain.

Firefighters pried open the drain grating, allowing firefighter Mitch Alberts to climb into the catch basin and lift out the five ducklings.

The mother duck and several of her other ducklings left the area when crews arrived but watched the rescue from across the street, according to the department. Firefighters carried the rescued ducklings across the street and reunited the family.
A dozen people were rescued Monday after a large debris slide occurred around 9 p.m. Sunday, blocking the highway to Johnston Ridge.

Officials say it could be months before the road to the Mount St. Helens overlook reopens.

The slide washed out the bridge on that section of Spirit Lake Memorial Highway, or state Route 504, east of Coldwater Lake, said Washington State Department of Transportation regional spokesperson Kelly Hanahan.

The Skamania County Sheriffs Office reports 12 people and a dog were airlifted from the other side of the slide Monday morning using a rescue helicopter from King County. No one was injured.

The slide covers more than 100 yards of Spirit Lake Memorial Highway near mile marker 43, before the turn off to the Coldwater Science and Learning Center. Earlier Monday, the road was closed farther up the mountain at Coldwater Lake.

Johnston Ridge Observatory was scheduled to open for summer tourists on Monday morning but is now inaccessible. The road is covered in mud, rocks, debris and water, and emergency responders are asking drivers to avoid the area while the damage is being assessed.

The Skamania County Sheriffs Office, Cowlitz County Sheriffs Office, Washington State Patrol, Washington Department of Transportation, U.S. Forest Service and other agencies set up a joint response area at Coldwater Lake.

Rescue

Pierce County photographer Tim Uhler was trapped at Johnston Ridge Sunday night after going to the site to photograph the Milky Way and other celestial events. Uhler said about four drivers returned to the ridge after seeing the landslide and told visitors about the event.

Still, Uhler said he wasnt concerned. He took aerial photos of the damage with a drone Monday morning.

We could make the emergency calls out so we werent too worried, he said. We had good weather, good water.

Uhler said eventually he and the other visitors were driven to Castle Rock to meet with friends and family.

I think we were happy they werent rescuing us for something stupid we had done, he said. It was just a fluke.

Suspected cause, effects

Cascade Volcano Observatory Seismologist Weston Thelen said the recent unseasonably warm temperatures likely melted snow pack and led to the slide, but the definite cause has not been determined. Thelen said the area around the slide is comprised of the debris avalanche from the 1980 eruption, which is pretty weak stuff.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is also investigating the cause of the slide. Hanahan said once the area is deemed safe by geological engineers, WSDOT and other crews will begin clearing the road.

Gifford Pinchot forest spokeswoman Gala Miller said the slide temporarily knocked out the power to the Coldwater center and other Forest Service locations.

The mountain continues to remind us that its a dynamic landscape, Miller said. Building roads and facilities out in the middle of a blast zone-affected area is not easy.

Thelen said some tools to monitor Mount St. Helens volcanic activity are no longer working due to the power outage, while others were wiped out during the slide.

Thelen said he is not concerned about a few less stations for a short period of time because no large changes in volcanic activity have been seen. He expects the tools to be online by the end of the week.

He said the Cascade Volcano Observatory also has tools to monitor the tunnel that drains Spirit Lake, and the tunnel is not blocked by the debris.

Editors note: City Editor Hayley Day contributed to this story.
Robot with artificial memory could aid in finding lost objects

May 15, 2023 18:09

A groundbreaking robot equipped with artificial memory has been developed by researchers at the University of Waterloo in Canada, offering hope to those who often misplace their belongings. The team believes this innovation could be particularly beneficial for individuals with dementia, reports Siasat.com.

Dr. Ali Ayub, a postdoctoral researcher in electrical and computer engineering at the university, expressed enthusiasm about the long-term impact of the project. He stated, "A user can be involved not just with a companion robot but a personalized companion robot that can give them more independence."

The inspiration for this research stemmed from the growing number of individuals suffering from dementia, a condition that impairs brain function, resulting in confusion, memory loss, and reduced capabilities. Many of these individuals repeatedly forget where they have placed everyday items, which not only diminishes their quality of life but also places additional burdens on caregivers.

Engineers at the University of Waterloo hypothesized that a companion robot equipped with its own episodic memory could revolutionize these situations. Through the utilization of artificial intelligence, they successfully created a unique artificial memory.

The research team initially employed a Fetch mobile manipulator robot, which incorporated a camera to perceive its surroundings. They then programmed the robot with an object-detection algorithm, allowing it to detect, track, and log specific objects within its field of vision through stored video.

By distinguishing one object from another, the robot can record the date and time an object enters or exits its view. To enhance usability, researchers developed a graphical interface that enables users to select objects they wish to track. After inputting the names of the objects, users can search for them using a smartphone app or computer. The robot then indicates the location and time it last observed the specific object.

Tests have demonstrated the system's high accuracy. Although some individuals with dementia may find the technology overwhelming, Dr. Ayub highlighted that caregivers can easily utilize it.

Moving forward, researchers plan to conduct user studies with both non-disabled individuals and those with dementia. The study showcasing this groundbreaking technology was recently presented at the 2023 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction.
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:

Macron is hosting a conference aimed at persuading business leaders to put their money in France.

Billionaire businessman Elon Musk on Monday said he was considering "significant investments in France" as he visited the country for a summit aimed at attracting foreign business leaders.

The world's second richest man, who is the chief executive of electric car firm Tesla, social media company Twitter and cosmic exploration outfit SpaceX, made the comments after meeting President Emmanuel Macron and Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire.

"I'm very impressed with President Macron and the French government and how welcoming they are to industry," the 51-year-old South African said.

"I'm confident that in the future Tesla will be making significant investments in France."

Le Maire said France would "continue discussions" with the businessman, but refused to share any further details.

Macron and Musk earlier met at the Elysee Palace before heading to Versailles for the latest edition of the president's Choose France conference where Macron seeks to drum up investment in the country.

"We talked about the attractiveness of France and the significant progress in the electric vehicle and energy sectors," Macron wrote on Twitter afterwards.

"We have so much to do together," he added.

Musk smiled and waved at reporters as the meeting got under way but made no comment.

Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told the BFMTV broadcaster that "negotiations are ongoing" with the magnate.

Le Maire gave no details of Monday's talks with Musk, saying simply that "all of today's investments are the fruit of months or even years of negotiations".

Musk, the world's second richest man, is the chief executive of electic car firm Tesla, social media company Twitter and exploration outfit SpaceX.

'Choose France'

Macron said in another tweet that some 13 billion euros of investment would be announced at the summit, equating to the creation of some 8,000 jobs.

"When a foreign investor chooses France, it's good for jobs and for our regions," he said.

Some 200 foreign business bosses are expected at the summit, including Sunil Bharti Mittal of Indian conglomerate Bharti Entreprises, ArcelorMittal chief Lakhsmi Mittal and Nokia chief executive Pekka Lundmark.

The meeting is being hosted at the Palace of Versailles, the former residence of France's monarchs, around which a tight security perimeter has been erected.

Macron remains the target of angry protests after signing into law his controversial pension reform last month, leading to new accusations from the opposition he was only a president for the rich.

Already confirmed last week was the investment of over five billion euros by Taiwanese battery maker ProLogium in building a new factory in northern France for its first European plant.

Among other projects, the Swedish furniture giant Ikea is announcing over 900 million euros of investment in France by 2026, including the creation of a logistics center near Toulouse.

In pharmaceuticals, Pfizer is injecting an additional 500 million euros and Britain's GSK nearly 400 million in France.

During a US trip in December, Macron held an unannounced face-to-face meeting with Musk, saying later the two had had a "clear and honest" discussion during an hour-long meeting, including on electric cars and batteries.

He had also conveyed to Musk hisand Europe'sconcerns about content moderation on Twitter since Musk bought the influential platform.

Macron confirmed the pair "also talked about digital regulation" in their Paris meeting.

 2023 AFP
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

The architecture illustration of the proposed TKD-Net on five-way, one-shot classification. Credit: Frontiers Journals

Although few-shot learning (FSL) has achieved great progress, it is still an enormous challenge especially when the source and target sets are from different domains, which is also known as cross-domain few-shot learning (CD-FSL). Utilizing more source domain data is an effective way to improve the performance of CD-FSL. However, knowledge from different source domains may entangle and confuse with each other, which hurts the performance on the target domain.

A research team led by professor Zhong JI in Tianjin University published their new research on March 27, 2023 in Frontiers of Computer Science.

The team propose team-knowledge distillation networks (TKD-Net) to tackle the CD-FSL, which explores a strategy to help the cooperation of multiple teachers. They distill knowledge from the cooperation of teacher networks to a single student network in a meta-learning framework. It incorporates task-oriented knowledge distillation and multiple cooperation among teachers to train an efficient student with better generalization ability on unseen tasks. Moreover, their TKD-Net employs both response-based knowledge and relation-based knowledge to transfer more comprehensive and effective knowledge.

Specifically, their proposed method consists of two stages: a teacher development stage and a multi-level knowledge distillation stage. They first respectively pre-train teacher models with the training data from multiple seen domains by supervised learning, where all the teacher models have the same network architecture. After obtaining multiple domain-specific teacher models, multi-level knowledge is then transferred from the cooperation of teachers to the student in the paradigm of meta-learning.

Task-oriented distillation is beneficial for the student model to quickly adapt to few-shot tasks. The student model is trained based on Prototypical Networks and the soft labels provided by the teacher models. Additionally, they further explore the knowledge embedded in the similarity and explore the similarity matrix of teachers to transfer the relationship between samples in the few-shot tasks. It guides the student to learn more specific and comprehensive information.

Future work may focus on adaptively adjusting the weight of multiple teacher models, and finding more ways to effectively aggregate the knowledge from multiple teachers.

More information: Zhong Ji et al, Teachers cooperation: team-knowledge distillation for multiple cross-domain few-shot learning, Frontiers of Computer Science (2022). DOI: 10.1007/s11704-022-1250-2

Provided by Frontiers Journals
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A traveler inserts her ID card while using the Transportation Security Administration's new facial recognition technology at a Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport security checkpoint, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Glen Burnie, Md. Credit: AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson

A passenger walks up to an airport security checkpoint, slips an ID card into a slot and looks into a camera atop a small screen. The screen flashes "Photo Complete" and the person walks throughall without having to hand over their identification to the TSA officer sitting behind the screen.

It's all part of a pilot project by the Transportation Security Administration to assess the use of facial recognition technology at a number of airports across the country.

"What we are trying to do with this is aid the officers to actually determine that you are who you say who you are," said Jason Lim, identity management capabilities manager, during a demonstration of the technology to reporters at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

The effort comes at a time when the use of various forms of technology to enhance security and streamline procedures is only increasing. TSA says the pilot is voluntary and accurate, but critics have raised concerns about questions of bias in facial recognition technology and possible repercussions for passengers who want to opt out.

The technology is currently in 16 airports. In addition to Baltimore, it's being used at Reagan National near Washington, D.C., airports in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Jose, and Gulfport-Biloxi and Jackson in Mississippi. However, it's not at every TSA checkpoint so not every traveler going through those airports would necessarily experience it.

Transportation Security Administration's Identity Management Capabilities Manager Jason Lim demonstrates new facial recognition technology at a Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport security checkpoint, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Glen Burnie, Md. Credit: AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson

Travelers put their driver's license into a slot that reads the card or place their passport photo against a card reader. Then they look at a camera on a screen about the size of an iPad, which captures their image and compares it to their ID. The technology is both checking to make sure the people at the airport match the ID they present and that the identification is in fact real. A TSA officer is still there and signs off on the screening.

A small sign alerts travelers that their photo will be taken as part of the pilot and that they can opt out if they'd like. It also includes a QR code for them to get more information.

Since it's come out the pilot has come under scrutiny by some elected officials and privacy advocates. In a February letter to TSA, five senatorsfour Democrats and an Independent who is part of the Democratic caucusdemanded the agency stop the program, saying: "Increasing biometric surveillance of Americans by the government represents a risk to civil liberties and privacy rights."

A traveler inserts her ID card while using the Transportation Security Administration's new facial recognition technology at a Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport security checkpoint, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Glen Burnie, Md. Credit: AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson

As various forms of technology that use biometric information like face IDs, retina scans or fingerprint matches have become more pervasive in both the private sector and the federal government, it's raised concerns among privacy advocates about how this data is collected, who has access to it and what happens if it gets hacked.

Meg Foster, a justice fellow at Georgetown University's Center on Privacy and Technology, said there are concerns about bias within the algorithms of various facial recognition technologies. Some have a harder time recognizing faces of minorities, for example. And there's the concern of outside hackers figuring out ways to hack into government systems for nefarious aims.

With regard to the TSA pilot, Foster said she has concerns that while the agency says it's not currently storing the biometric data it collects, what if that changes in the future? And while people are allowed to opt out, she said it's not fair to put the onus on harried passengers who might be worried about missing their flight if they do.

A traveler inserts his ID card while using the Transportation Security Administration's new facial recognition technology at a Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport security checkpoint, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Glen Burnie, Md. Credit: AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson

"They might be concerned that if they object to face recognition, that they're going to be under further suspicion," Foster said.

Jeramie Scott, with the Electronic Privacy Information Center, said that while it's voluntary now it might not be for long. He noted that David Pekoske, who heads TSA, said during a talk in April that eventually the use of biometrics would be required because they're more effective and efficient, although he gave no timeline.

Scott said he'd prefer TSA not use the technology at all. At the least, he'd like to see an outside audit to verify that the technology isn't disproportionally affecting certain groups and that the images are deleted immediately.

TSA says the goal of the pilot is to improve the accuracy of the identity verification without slowing down the speed at which passengers pass through the checkpointsa key issue for an agency that sees 2.4 million passengers daily. The agency said early results are positive and have shown no discernable difference in the algorithm's ability to recognize passengers based on things like age, gender, race and ethnicity.

A person poses for a photo while demonstrating the Transportation Security Administration's new facial recognition technology at a Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport security checkpoint, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Glen Burnie, Md. Credit: AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson

Lim said the images aren't being compiled into a database, and that photos and IDs are deleted. Since this is an assessment, in limited circumstances some data is collected and shared with the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate. TSA says that data is deleted after 24 months.

Lim said the camera only turns on when a person puts in their ID cardso it's not randomly gathering images of people at the airport. That also gives passengers control over whether they want to use it, he said. And he said that research has shown that while some algorithms do perform worse with certain demographics, it also shows that higher-quality algorithms, like the one the agency uses, are much more accurate. He said using the best available cameras also is a factor.

"We take these privacy concerns and civil rights concerns very seriously, because we touch so many people every day," he said.

Travelers wait in line at a Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport security checkpoint to use the Transportation Security Administration's new facial recognition, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Glen Burnie, Md. Credit: AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson

Transportation Security Administration's Identity Management Capabilities Manager Jason Lim discusses TSA's new facial recognition technology during an interview with The Associated Press at a Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport security checkpoint, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Glen Burnie, Md. Credit: AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson

A person inserts an ID card while demonstrating the Transportation Security Administration's new facial recognition technology at a Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport security checkpoint, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Glen Burnie, Md. Credit: AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson

Travelers wait in line at a Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport security checkpoint to use the Transportation Security Administration's new facial recognition, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Glen Burnie, Md. Credit: AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson

A Transportation Security Administration officer demonstrates new facial recognition technology at a Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport security checkpoint, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Glen Burnie, Md. Credit: AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson

A Transportation Security Administration sign at a Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport security checkpoint, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Glen Burnie, Md. TSA is implementing facial recognition technology at 16 airports across the United States. Credit: AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson

Transportation Security Administration's Identity Management Capabilities Manager Jason Lim discusses TSA's new facial recognition technology during an interview with The Associated Press at a Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport security checkpoint, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Glen Burnie, Md. Credit: AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson

Vehicles pull up to the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Glen Burnie, Md. The Transportation Security Administration is implementing facial recognition technology at 16 airports across the United States. Credit: AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson

Transportation Security Administration's new facial recognition technology at a Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport security checkpoint, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Glen Burnie, Md. Credit: AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson

Retired TSA official Keith Jeffries said the pandemic greatly accelerated the rollout of various types of this "touchless" technology, whereby a passenger isn't handing over a document to an agent. And he envisioned a "checkpoint of the future" where a passenger's face can be used to check their bags, go through the security checkpoints and board the planeall with little to no need to pull out a boarding card or ID documents.

He acknowledged the privacy concerns and lack of trust many people have when it comes to giving biometric data to the federal government, but said in many ways the use of biometrics is already deeply embedded in society through the use of privately owned technology.

"Technology is here to stay," he said.

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Twitter CEO Elon Musk, center, speaks with Linda Yaccarino, chairman of global advertising and partnerships for NBC, at the POSSIBLE marketing conference, Tuesday, April 18, 2023, in Miami Beach, Fla. Musk announced Friday, May 12, 2023, that he's hiring Yaccarino to be the new CEO of San Francisco-based Twitter, which is now called X Corp. Credit: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File

Less than two months into his $44 billion purchase of Twitter, Elon Musk declared that whoever took over as the company's CEO " must like pain a lot." Then he promised he'd step down as soon as he found a replacement "foolish enough" to want the job.

That person, Musk announced Friday, is Linda Yaccarino, a highly-regarded advertising executive from NBCUniversal. She'll start in six weeks. How long she'll last might depend on her pain tolerance.

When Musk tweeted on Thursday that he's found a new CEO but didn't say who, one word stuck out: "she." Some of his more extreme Twitter followers took immediate issue with the new CEO's gender, but the fact that Musk hired a woman is actually notable simply because it is so rarein business overall and especially in the tech industryto see female chief executives.

Her appointment renewed questions about the "glass cliff," a theory that womenas well as underrepresented minoritiesare more likely to be hired for leadership jobs when there's a crisis, which sets them up for failure. The term was coined in 2005 by University of Exeter professors Michelle Ryan and Alex Haslam, and there have been plenty of famous examples since then, from Yahoo's Marissa Mayer to the U.K.'s Theresa May.

Could Yaccarino be headed toward it?

"Her credentials are impeccable and she's been extremely successful so far. But she's also been in settings where her success was achievable," said Jo-Ellen Pozner, a business professor at Santa Clara University who studies corporate governance. "I mean no disrespect to her or to diminish her in the least. I just think that this is an impossible situation for basically anybody."

Whether or not she succeeds depends in part on how much Musk is willing to step back from Twitter's day-to-day operations. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO said he will continue to serve as Twitter's executive chairmanYaccarino's bossas well as its chief technology officer, reporting to her. He added that Yaccarino "will focus primarily on business operations."

From the moment Yaccarino's name was confirmed, advertising industry experts hailed the decision as a good oneperhaps the only oneto steer Twitter toward stability and profitability. Yaccarino oversaw NBCUniversal's market strategy and advertising revenue for its broadcast, cable and digital assets, which totaled nearly $10 billion. In comparison, Twitter's final quarterly revenue as a public company, reported in July, was just $1.17 billion.

"She is exactly what Twitter needs to start rebuilding advertiser trust, bring back big advertisers and really start improving Twitter's ad business," said Jasmine Enberg, an analyst at Insider Intelligence who follows Twitter. "That said, there are still a lot of challenges and Yaccarino is going to have her hands full from day one."

Musk's tenure at Twitter's helm has been chaotic at best. He began his first day firing the company's top executives, followed by roughly 80% of its staff. This has meant that Twitter has far fewer engineers to ensure that the site is running smoothly and far fewer content moderators to help rid it of hate speech, animal cruelty and graphic violence.

The Twitter splash page is seen on a digital device, Monday, April 25, 2022, in San Diego. By hiring Linda Yaccarino as Twitters new CEO, Friday, May 12, 2023, Elon Musk is welcoming a veteran ad executive to the helm of the social media site. Credit: AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File

He's upended the platform's verification system and has scaled back safeguards against the spread of misinformation. It's been some of these changesalong with Musk's own penchant for spreading misinformation and engaging with prominent conspiracy theorists and far-right figuresthat analysts say soured many advertisers on the platform.

"Elon Musk has been telling us for months repeatedly that Twitter's problems are the result of advertisers pulling away. But that's not the source of his problems. Advertisers pulling away are a symptom of the problems at Twitter. He's created chaos. He's eliminated internal controls. He's eliminated critical functions like content moderation. He's made the user experience very unpredictable. He's allowed dangerous voices to flourish," Pozner said. "Nobodyman, woman, alienis going to be able to right this ship given these circumstances."

The glass cliff theory holds up in business as well as politics, and, according to a 2011 Harvard Business Review report, "does not seem to apply to organizations with a history of female leaders."

Twitter, like most tech companies, does not have a strong history of female leaders. Its founders were all men, as were all five of its CEOs, including Musk. While female chief executives are rare across industries, they are exceptionally rare in tech. Of the 340 CEOs in a recent survey of S&P 500 companies, 18 were women, up from 16 in 2020. In tech, prominent female CEOs include Oracle's Safra Catz and chipmaker AMD's Lisa Su.

Yaccarino seems ready to go head-to-head with Musk, though it's not clear how that'll play out. In a recent on-stage interview with him, she asked Musk if he could commit to not tweeting after 3 a.m. Agreeing that he's "gotten myself in trouble a few times" with late night/early morning tweets, he responded with a noncommittal "I will aspire to tweet less at 3 a.m."

She also asked Musk if he's open to let advertisers "influence" his vision for Twitter, in "product development, ad safety, content moderation" so they could get more excited about investing in the platform.

Musk quickly shut her down.

"It's totally cool to say that you want to have your advertising appear in certain places in Twitter and not in other places, but it is not cool to to try to say what Twitter will do," he said. "And if that means losing advertising dollars, we lose it. But freedom of speech is paramount."

Regaining advertisers' trust will require stabilizing Twitter and ensuring that key product decisions are made thoughtfully and deliberately and not, as Musk has often been known to do, on the spur of the moment, inspired by a fan's tweet or a passing thought. Industry insiders describe Yaccarino as extremely capable, with a proven track record and impressive resume.

But if she's to succeed on the business side, she'll need Musk's buy-in on the product side.

"It is really debatable whether or not he's going to hand the reins over entirely to Yaccarino," Enberg said "And a lot of Twitter's success from here on out really depends on what he decides in terms of that."

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
China's ultra-high-definition video industry tops 3 trln yuan

Xinhua) 08:56, May 15, 2023

BEIJING, May 14 (Xinhua) -- The scale of China's ultra-high-definition video industry had exceeded 3 trillion yuan (about 431.8 billion U.S. dollars) by the end of 2022, industry data showed.

Of the total, south China's Guangdong Province accounted for 600 billion yuan, according to the China Center for Information Industry Development (CCID) under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

China now has eight 4K broadcast channels and two 8K channels, which helped expand the sector, the center said. The country has also developed and industrialized key products including 8K cameras, 8K monitors and 8K image sensors.

According to the CCID, further development of the sector can focus on home and car audio and video systems, teleconference systems, online streaming systems and commercial display systems.

China approved the establishment of three new national manufacturing innovation centers last November to nurture graphene, virtual reality, and ultra-high-definition video industries, respectively.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Ameren Co. (NYSE:AEE  Get Rating)s share price traded down 3.4% on Monday . The stock traded as low as $84.37 and last traded at $84.77. 870,213 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 35% from the average session volume of 1,345,169 shares. The stock had previously closed at $87.72.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently commented on AEE shares. Bank of America raised their price target on Ameren from $96.00 to $99.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Ameren from $84.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Ameren in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of Ameren from $95.00 to $98.00 in a research note on Monday, May 8th. Finally, Guggenheim lowered Ameren from a buy rating to a neutral rating and raised their target price for the stock from $84.00 to $89.00 in a research note on Monday, January 23rd. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Ameren presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $95.40.

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Ameren Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a current ratio of 0.75 and a quick ratio of 0.52. The company has a market capitalization of $22.33 billion, a PE ratio of 20.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.43. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $87.19 and its 200 day simple moving average is $86.70.

Ameren Dividend Announcement

Ameren ( NYSE:AEE Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 5th. The utilities provider reported $1.00 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.94 by $0.06. Ameren had a net margin of 13.34% and a return on equity of 10.41%. The company had revenue of $2.06 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.95 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.97 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 9.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Ameren Co. will post 4.35 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, June 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.63 per share. This represents a $2.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.96%. Amerens payout ratio is 60.43%.

Insider Activity

In other Ameren news, Director Rafael Flores sold 1,900 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $86.15, for a total transaction of $163,685.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 14,172 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,220,917.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Chonda J. Nwamu sold 3,660 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.40, for a total transaction of $305,244.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 36,692 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,060,112.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Rafael Flores sold 1,900 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $86.15, for a total value of $163,685.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 14,172 shares in the company, valued at $1,220,917.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 63,509 shares of company stock worth $5,221,792 over the last 90 days. 0.42% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Ameren by 100,874.2% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 74,273,572 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $6,604,406,000 after acquiring an additional 74,200,015 shares during the period. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Ameren by 22.9% during the 4th quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 11,824,707 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,051,453,000 after acquiring an additional 2,200,700 shares during the period. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec raised its holdings in shares of Ameren by 11,937.4% during the 3rd quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 1,576,895 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $127,019,000 after acquiring an additional 1,563,795 shares during the period. Jennison Associates LLC increased its holdings in shares of Ameren by 53.7% during the 4th quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 3,174,582 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $282,284,000 after buying an additional 1,109,611 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp increased its holdings in shares of Ameren by 8.0% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 13,889,994 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,302,326,000 after buying an additional 1,029,187 shares during the last quarter. 78.42% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Ameren

(Get Rating)

Ameren Corp. is a public utility holding company, which engages in the provision of electric and natural gas services. It operates through the following segments: Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution, Ameren Illinois Natural Gas, Ameren Transmission, and Other. The Ameren Transmission segment consists of the aggregated electric transmission businesses of Ameren Illinois and Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois (ATXI).

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Shares of Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NYSE:NLY  Get Rating) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the eleven research firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, one has assigned a hold recommendation and four have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $22.28.

A number of analysts have recently commented on the stock. Argus cut shares of Annaly Capital Management from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 21st. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Annaly Capital Management from $20.00 to $24.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 17th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Annaly Capital Management in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Piper Sandler upgraded shares of Annaly Capital Management from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and boosted their target price for the company from $20.00 to $21.50 in a report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of Annaly Capital Management from $23.00 to $22.00 in a research note on Monday, April 24th.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in NLY. Atticus Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Annaly Capital Management during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Financial Connections Group Inc. bought a new position in Annaly Capital Management in the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Romano Brothers AND Company bought a new position in Annaly Capital Management in the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Glassman Wealth Services boosted its stake in Annaly Capital Management by 292.4% in the 4th quarter. Glassman Wealth Services now owns 1,440 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 1,073 shares during the period. Finally, Wipfli Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in Annaly Capital Management in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,000. 52.80% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Annaly Capital Management Stock Down 1.0 %

Shares of NYSE NLY opened at $18.74 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 0.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85. Annaly Capital Management has a 52 week low of $15.11 and a 52 week high of $27.96. The firms fifty day moving average is $19.07 and its 200 day moving average is $20.60. The company has a market cap of $9.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -8.33 and a beta of 1.36.

Annaly Capital Management (NYSE:NLY  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.72 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $818.25 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $183.00 million. Annaly Capital Management had a negative net margin of 38.80% and a positive return on equity of 18.86%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.12 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that Annaly Capital Management will post 2.86 earnings per share for the current year.

Annaly Capital Management Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 31st were given a dividend of $0.65 per share. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 13.87%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 30th. Annaly Capital Managements payout ratio is currently -115.56%.

About Annaly Capital Management

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Annaly Capital Management, Inc engages in the investment and financing of residential and commercial assets. It operates through the following investment groups: Agency, Residential Credit, and Mortgage Servicing Rights. The Agency group invests in agency mortgage-backed securities. The Residential Credit group involves non-agency residential mortgage assets within securitized products and whole loan markets.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Archrock (NYSE:AROC  Get Rating) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note published on Friday.

Several other analysts have also recently commented on the stock. 500.com reiterated a reiterates rating on shares of Archrock in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on shares of Archrock from $12.00 to $15.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd. Finally, Raymond James boosted their price target on Archrock from $10.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 24th.

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Archrock Stock Performance

Shares of AROC stock opened at $9.53 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average price is $9.96 and its 200-day moving average price is $9.36. Archrock has a one year low of $6.28 and a one year high of $11.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.81, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a current ratio of 1.19. The firm has a market cap of $1.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.08, a P/E/G ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 1.74.

Archrock Announces Dividend

Archrock ( NYSE:AROC Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 22nd. The energy company reported $0.07 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.06 by $0.01. Archrock had a net margin of 6.73% and a return on equity of 6.83%. The firm had revenue of $218.87 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $213.27 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.09 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Archrock will post 0.59 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 9th will be given a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.30%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 8th. Archrocks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 157.89%.

Insider Activity

In other Archrock news, major shareholder Ocean Reserves Lp Old sold 557,737 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.83, for a total value of $6,040,291.71. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 16,172,626 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $175,149,539.58. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, CAO Donna A. Henderson sold 13,961 shares of Archrock stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.11, for a total transaction of $155,106.71. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 50,039 shares of the companys stock, valued at $555,933.29. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, major shareholder Ocean Reserves Lp Old sold 557,737 shares of Archrock stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.83, for a total value of $6,040,291.71. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 16,172,626 shares in the company, valued at $175,149,539.58. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 2.80% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Signaturefd LLC raised its position in Archrock by 31.7% in the 1st quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 4,094 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 986 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System grew its position in shares of Archrock by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 40,580 shares of the energy companys stock worth $396,000 after purchasing an additional 1,058 shares in the last quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. grew its position in shares of Archrock by 2.1% during the 4th quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 58,600 shares of the energy companys stock worth $526,000 after purchasing an additional 1,212 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Archrock by 8.3% during the 4th quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 15,958 shares of the energy companys stock worth $143,000 after purchasing an additional 1,218 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LPL Financial LLC grew its position in shares of Archrock by 9.3% during the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 14,464 shares of the energy companys stock worth $130,000 after purchasing an additional 1,231 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.05% of the companys stock.

Archrock Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Archrock, Inc engages in the provision of operations, maintenance, service and equipment for oil and natural gas production, processing, and transportation applications. It operates through the Contract Operations and Aftermarket Services. The Contract Operations segment includes the owned fleet of natural gas compression equipment that the company uses to provide operations services.

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Atalaya Mining (LON:ATYM  Get Rating) had its target price decreased by investment analysts at Berenberg Bank from GBX 480 ($6.06) to GBX 450 ($5.68) in a research note issued to investors on Monday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the stock. Berenberg Banks price target would indicate a potential upside of 31.20% from the stocks current price.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Canaccord Genuity Group reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 595 ($7.51) price objective on shares of Atalaya Mining in a report on Monday, April 17th. Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of Atalaya Mining from GBX 370 ($4.67) to GBX 420 ($5.30) and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 23rd.

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Atalaya Mining Trading Up 2.1 %

ATYM traded up GBX 7 ($0.09) during trading on Monday, reaching GBX 343 ($4.33). 115,114 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 314,813. The company has a quick ratio of 1.64, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 16.79. The stock has a market capitalization of 479.79 million, a PE ratio of 1,715.00, a P/E/G ratio of -2.02 and a beta of 1.70. The stocks 50-day moving average is GBX 343.64 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 332.50. Atalaya Mining has a 12 month low of GBX 183 ($2.31) and a 12 month high of GBX 405 ($5.11).

About Atalaya Mining

Atalaya Mining Plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the mineral exploration and development in Spain. The company's flagship property is its 100% owned Proyecto Riotinto mine, an open-pit copper mine located in the Andalusia region of Spain. It produces copper concentrates, including silver by-products.

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Shares of Builders FirstSource, Inc. (NYSE:BLDR  Get Rating) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $119.61 and last traded at $118.30, with a volume of 1558826 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $115.84.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently issued reports on BLDR. StockNews.com began coverage on Builders FirstSource in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. B. Riley boosted their price objective on Builders FirstSource from $70.00 to $77.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Wedbush boosted their price objective on Builders FirstSource from $95.00 to $135.00 in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on Builders FirstSource from $110.00 to $138.00 in a report on Friday, May 5th. Finally, Robert W. Baird downgraded Builders FirstSource from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $96.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Builders FirstSource presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $111.42.

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Builders FirstSource Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $15.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.47 and a beta of 1.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.83. The company has a 50 day moving average of $92.60 and a 200 day moving average of $79.69.

Insider Transactions at Builders FirstSource

Builders FirstSource ( NYSE:BLDR Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 3rd. The company reported $2.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.63 by $1.33. The business had revenue of $3.88 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.57 billion. Builders FirstSource had a return on equity of 55.42% and a net margin of 11.68%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 31.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.90 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Builders FirstSource, Inc. will post 8.42 EPS for the current year.

In other news, insider Michael Alan Farmer sold 12,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.97, for a total value of $1,362,125.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 62,122 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,769,434.34. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 1.40% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Builders FirstSource

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Altshuler Shaham Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Builders FirstSource by 5.2% in the 1st quarter. Altshuler Shaham Ltd now owns 1,759 shares of the companys stock worth $156,000 after acquiring an additional 87 shares during the period. Macquarie Group Ltd. grew its holdings in Builders FirstSource by 5.4% during the 1st quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 2,269 shares of the companys stock valued at $201,000 after buying an additional 116 shares during the last quarter. Kingfisher Capital LLC grew its holdings in Builders FirstSource by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Kingfisher Capital LLC now owns 45,746 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,061,000 after buying an additional 134 shares during the last quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp grew its holdings in Builders FirstSource by 20.6% during the 1st quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 803 shares of the companys stock valued at $71,000 after buying an additional 137 shares during the last quarter. Finally, WASHINGTON TRUST Co grew its holdings in Builders FirstSource by 6.8% during the 4th quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Co now owns 2,624 shares of the companys stock valued at $170,000 after buying an additional 166 shares during the last quarter. 94.71% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Builders FirstSource Company Profile

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Builders FirstSource, Inc engages in the supply and manufacture of building materials, manufactured components and construction services to professional homebuilders, subcontractors, remodelers and consumers. Its products include factory-built roof and floor trusses, wall panels and stairs, vinyl windows, custom millwork and trim, and engineered wood.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Enel Chile (NYSE:ENIC  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report published on Thursday.

Enel Chile Stock Performance

ENIC stock opened at $3.04 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.21 billion, a PE ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 1.05. Enel Chile has a 12-month low of $0.98 and a 12-month high of $3.10. The company has a current ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $2.60 and its 200 day simple moving average is $2.28.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Enel Chile

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its position in shares of Enel Chile by 2.3% during the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,620,788 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $4,376,000 after purchasing an additional 36,200 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in Enel Chile by 6.1% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,671,303 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $4,513,000 after buying an additional 95,889 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in Enel Chile by 0.8% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 410,056 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,091,000 after buying an additional 3,371 shares in the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Enel Chile in the first quarter worth $217,000. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Enel Chile by 54.6% in the first quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 248,366 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $445,000 after purchasing an additional 87,694 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 2.49% of the companys stock.

About Enel Chile

Enel Chile SA engages in the development, operation, generation, and distribution of electricity. It operates through following segments: Generation, Transmission, and Distribution. The Generation segment supplies electricity to end customers using lines and substations that belong to transmission and distribution companies.

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Independent Family Office LLC lowered its position in iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM  Get Rating) by 1.9% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 42,032 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 804 shares during the quarter. iShares Russell 2000 ETF accounts for 4.4% of Independent Family Office LLCs holdings, making the stock its 6th largest position. Independent Family Office LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF were worth $7,329,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in IWM. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 8.9% during the 3rd quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 14,581,100 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,404,715,000 after buying an additional 1,192,100 shares in the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 12,616.2% during the 3rd quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 7,756,010 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,279,086,000 after buying an additional 7,695,017 shares in the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 6,640,764 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,095,195,000 after buying an additional 119,602 shares in the last quarter. Personal Capital Advisors Corp boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter. Personal Capital Advisors Corp now owns 6,267,638 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,033,659,000 after buying an additional 260,184 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 4,019,321 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $825,046,000 after buying an additional 39,661 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares Russell 2000 ETF Price Performance

Shares of IWM traded up $1.68 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $174.40. The stock had a trading volume of 10,244,868 shares, compared to its average volume of 28,085,771. iShares Russell 2000 ETF has a 12 month low of $162.50 and a 12 month high of $201.99. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $175.63 and a 200 day simple moving average of $180.93.

iShares Russell 2000 ETF Profile

iShares Russell 2000 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 2000 Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and includes securities issued by the approximately 2,000 smallest issuers in the Russell 3000 Index.

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BellRing Brands (NYSE:BRBR  Get Rating) had its target price upped by Mizuho from $38.00 to $47.00 in a report issued on Thursday morning, The Fly reports.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Needham & Company LLC upped their price objective on shares of BellRing Brands from $40.00 to $44.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on shares of BellRing Brands from $36.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on shares of BellRing Brands from $38.00 to $42.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Truist Financial raised shares of BellRing Brands from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $25.00 to $40.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 23rd. Finally, Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of BellRing Brands from $34.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $40.15.

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BellRing Brands Stock Performance

BellRing Brands stock opened at $36.38 on Thursday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $33.74 and a 200-day moving average price of $29.21. BellRing Brands has a fifty-two week low of $20.20 and a fifty-two week high of $37.55. The company has a market capitalization of $4.86 billion, a PE ratio of 33.07, a P/E/G ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 0.87.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On BellRing Brands

BellRing Brands ( NYSE:BRBR Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 8th. The company reported $0.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.20 by $0.04. BellRing Brands had a net margin of 8.29% and a negative return on equity of 36.56%. The company had revenue of $385.60 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $371.26 million. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.23 earnings per share. BellRing Brandss revenue was up 22.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that BellRing Brands will post 1.23 earnings per share for the current year.

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Wasatch Advisors LP boosted its holdings in shares of BellRing Brands by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. Wasatch Advisors LP now owns 3,796,468 shares of the companys stock valued at $129,080,000 after buying an additional 53,242 shares during the last quarter. Stifel Financial Corp raised its stake in BellRing Brands by 23.1% in the 1st quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 100,191 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,406,000 after acquiring an additional 18,774 shares during the period. FORA Capital LLC bought a new stake in BellRing Brands in the 1st quarter valued at $679,000. HRT Financial LP bought a new stake in BellRing Brands in the 1st quarter valued at $2,188,000. Finally, Sei Investments Co. raised its stake in BellRing Brands by 40.7% in the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 784,374 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,669,000 after acquiring an additional 226,735 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.40% of the companys stock.

BellRing Brands Company Profile

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BellRing Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides various nutrition products in the United States and internationally. It offers ready-to-drink (RTD) protein shakes, other RTD beverages, powders, nutrition bars, and other products primarily under the Premier Protein and Dymatize brands. The company sells its products through club, food, drug, mass, eCommerce, specialty, and convenience channels.

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StockNews.com cut shares of Pure Storage (NYSE:PSTG  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report released on Thursday morning.

A number of other research firms also recently weighed in on PSTG. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Pure Storage from $40.00 to $35.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. TD Cowen lowered their price objective on Pure Storage from $37.00 to $31.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their target price on Pure Storage from $38.00 to $32.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Lake Street Capital lowered their price objective on Pure Storage from $38.00 to $32.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. Finally, Wedbush upgraded shares of Pure Storage from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $34.00 price objective for the company in a report on Thursday, April 6th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Pure Storage presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $36.58.

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Pure Storage Stock Up 1.3 %

Shares of Pure Storage stock opened at $23.24 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 110.67, a P/E/G ratio of 12.78 and a beta of 1.22. The firms 50 day moving average is $24.13 and its two-hundred day moving average is $27.22. Pure Storage has a 52 week low of $21.90 and a 52 week high of $32.45.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Pure Storage ( NYSE:PSTG Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, March 1st. The technology company reported $0.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.10 by $0.17. Pure Storage had a net margin of 2.65% and a return on equity of 16.59%. The firm had revenue of $810.21 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $811.30 million. As a group, research analysts expect that Pure Storage will post 0.19 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In other news, Director Roxanne Taylor sold 19,155 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.08, for a total transaction of $499,562.40. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 63,416 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,653,889.28. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CRO Dan Fitzsimons sold 28,481 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.49, for a total transaction of $697,499.69. Following the transaction, the executive now owns 192,530 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,715,059.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Roxanne Taylor sold 19,155 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.08, for a total value of $499,562.40. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 63,416 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,653,889.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 6.80% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Pure Storage

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust purchased a new position in Pure Storage in the first quarter valued at about $33,000. Ellevest Inc. grew its stake in Pure Storage by 50.4% during the third quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 994 shares of the technology companys stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 333 shares during the last quarter. Altshuler Shaham Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Pure Storage during the third quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Penserra Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Pure Storage during the first quarter worth $47,000. Finally, American National Bank bought a new stake in shares of Pure Storage during the 1st quarter worth about $36,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.96% of the companys stock.

Pure Storage Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Pure Storage, Inc engages in the business of delivering innovative and disruptive data storage, products, and services that enable customers to maximize the value of data. The firm is also involved in the provision of data storage and management with a mission to redefine the storage experience by simplifying how people consume and interact with data.

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Reaves W H & Co. Inc. cut its stake in Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D  Get Rating) by 53.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 5,927 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 6,728 shares during the period. Reaves W H & Co. Inc.s holdings in Dominion Energy were worth $363,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of D. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board lifted its holdings in Dominion Energy by 486.1% in the third quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 10,364,622 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $716,299,000 after buying an additional 8,596,097 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Dominion Energy by 5.5% during the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 58,954,665 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $4,074,356,000 after purchasing an additional 3,051,912 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Dominion Energy by 3.9% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 73,953,046 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $5,110,895,000 after purchasing an additional 2,767,626 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its holdings in shares of Dominion Energy by 9.9% during the third quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 30,771,075 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,126,590,000 after purchasing an additional 2,763,501 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Dominion Energy by 3.9% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 49,478,314 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $3,419,446,000 after purchasing an additional 1,853,875 shares during the last quarter. 70.30% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Dominion Energy Stock Performance

D traded down $0.35 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $54.84. 964,490 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,454,449. The stock has a market capitalization of $45.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.23, a P/E/G ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50. The companys fifty day moving average price is $56.10 and its 200-day moving average price is $59.22. Dominion Energy, Inc. has a 52-week low of $52.03 and a 52-week high of $86.28.

Dominion Energy Announces Dividend

Dominion Energy ( NYSE:D Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 5th. The utilities provider reported $0.99 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $5.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.46 billion. Dominion Energy had a return on equity of 12.67% and a net margin of 7.05%. Dominion Energys revenue was up 22.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.18 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Dominion Energy, Inc. will post 3.85 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 2nd will be paid a $0.6675 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 1st. This represents a $2.67 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.87%. Dominion Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 186.71%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Guggenheim lowered their target price on shares of Dominion Energy from $69.00 to $63.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Dominion Energy from $58.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Credit Suisse Group lowered their price objective on Dominion Energy from $67.00 to $58.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. StockNews.com cut Dominion Energy from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Friday. Finally, Mizuho lowered their price objective on Dominion Energy from $62.00 to $58.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 27th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and two 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 a consensus price target of $64.18.

Dominion Energy Profile

(Get Rating)

Dominion Energy, Inc engages in the production and distribution of energy. It operates through following business segments: Dominion Energy Virginia, Gas Distribution, Dominion Energy South Carolina, Contracted Assets, and Corporate and Other. The Corporate and Other segment focuses on corporate, service company, non-controlling interest in Dominion privatization, and non-regulated retail energy marketing operations.

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Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. (NYSE:REPX  Get Rating)s stock price traded up 8.3% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $37.83 and last traded at $37.66. 52,133 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 10% from the average session volume of 58,020 shares. The stock had previously closed at $34.76.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. Truist Financial boosted their target price on Riley Exploration Permian from $43.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. Roth Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of Riley Exploration Permian in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd.

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Riley Exploration Permian Stock Up 8.1 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 0.67 and a quick ratio of 0.55. The company has a market capitalization of $757.58 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.69 and a beta of 1.36. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $38.71 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $33.62.

Riley Exploration Permian Dividend Announcement

Riley Exploration Permian ( NYSE:REPX Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, March 8th. The company reported $1.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.23 by $0.41. Riley Exploration Permian had a return on equity of 39.97% and a net margin of 48.84%. The business had revenue of $78.05 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $66.01 million. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. will post 9.15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 25th were issued a dividend of $0.34 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, April 24th. This represents a $1.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.62%. Riley Exploration Permians payout ratio is presently 17.09%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Riley Exploration Permian

In other Riley Exploration Permian news, CEO Bobby Riley sold 7,323 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.04, for a total value of $329,827.92. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 358,908 shares in the company, valued at $16,165,216.32. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other news, President Kevin Riley sold 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.55, for a total value of $227,750.00. Following the transaction, the president now owns 193,899 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,832,099.45. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Bobby Riley sold 7,323 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.04, for a total value of $329,827.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 358,908 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,165,216.32. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 17,323 shares of company stock worth $783,128 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 3.30% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Riley Exploration Permian

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in REPX. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its position in Riley Exploration Permian by 872.4% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 33,752 shares of the companys stock worth $846,000 after buying an additional 30,281 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its position in Riley Exploration Permian by 13.7% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 204,226 shares of the companys stock worth $5,122,000 after buying an additional 24,588 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Riley Exploration Permian during the first quarter worth approximately $180,000. Rhumbline Advisers acquired a new stake in Riley Exploration Permian during the first quarter worth approximately $277,000. Finally, BlackRock Inc. grew its position in Riley Exploration Permian by 248.5% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 531,585 shares of the companys stock worth $13,332,000 after buying an additional 379,047 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 51.14% of the companys stock.

Riley Exploration Permian Company Profile

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Riley Exploration Permian, Inc is an independent oil and natural gas company. The firm is focused on the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in Texas and New Mexico. Its activities also include the horizontal development of the San Andres formation, a shelf margin deposit on the Northwest Shelf of the Permian Basin.

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RiverGlades Family Offices LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 48,014 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,657,000. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF comprises about 4.3% of RiverGlades Family Offices LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 5th biggest holding.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Texas Capital Bank Wealth Management Services Inc. grew its stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Texas Capital Bank Wealth Management Services Inc. now owns 76,182 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,389,000 after acquiring an additional 409 shares during the period. Scotia Capital Inc. boosted its position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 23.4% during the 4th quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. now owns 255,715 shares of the companys stock valued at $24,802,000 after acquiring an additional 48,414 shares during the last quarter. Joseph Group Capital Management boosted its position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 750.0% during the 4th quarter. Joseph Group Capital Management now owns 6,902 shares of the companys stock valued at $669,000 after acquiring an additional 6,090 shares during the last quarter. Texas Capital Bancshares Inc. TX purchased a new stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF during the 4th quarter valued at $1,910,000. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. raised its holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 632,208 shares of the companys stock valued at $61,320,000 after buying an additional 13,331 shares during the period. 80.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Stock Performance

NYSEARCA:AGG traded down $0.24 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $99.15. 1,422,743 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,964,581. The firms fifty day moving average is $99.27 and its 200-day moving average is $98.50. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF has a 12-month low of $93.20 and a 12-month high of $104.39.

About iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF

IShares are index funds that are bought and sold like common stocks on national securities exchanges as well as certain foreign exchanges. iShares are attractive because of their relatively low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account.

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Schwerin Boyle Capital Management Inc. cut its stake in shares of U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB  Get Rating) by 1.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 416,513 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 4,600 shares during the quarter. U.S. Bancorp comprises approximately 1.8% of Schwerin Boyle Capital Management Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 18th biggest position. Schwerin Boyle Capital Management Inc.s holdings in U.S. Bancorp were worth $18,164,000 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 the stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its position in shares of U.S. Bancorp by 100.5% during the 3rd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 5,262,600 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $212,188,000 after acquiring an additional 2,637,400 shares during the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of U.S. Bancorp by 749.3% during the 4th quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 2,830,520 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $123,439,000 after acquiring an additional 2,497,256 shares during the last quarter. Balyasny Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of U.S. Bancorp during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $95,568,000. Two Sigma Investments LP boosted its position in shares of U.S. Bancorp by 197.9% during the 3rd quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 3,081,787 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $124,258,000 after acquiring an additional 2,047,150 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Van ECK Associates Corp raised its holdings in U.S. Bancorp by 2,599.4% during the 4th quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 2,041,422 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $89,026,000 after buying an additional 1,965,798 shares during the period. 71.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider James B. Kelligrew acquired 16,260 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 8th. The shares were bought at an average price of $30.59 per share, with a total value of $497,393.40. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now owns 151,927 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,647,446.93. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other U.S. Bancorp news, Director Scott W. Wine purchased 30,438 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 28th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $32.85 per share, with a total value of $999,888.30. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 30,438 shares in the company, valued at approximately $999,888.30. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider James B. Kelligrew purchased 16,260 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $30.59 per share, for a total transaction of $497,393.40. Following the purchase, the insider now owns 151,927 shares in the company, valued at $4,647,446.93. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have purchased 76,698 shares of company stock valued at $2,446,082. Insiders own 0.24% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

U.S. Bancorp Price Performance

Several analysts recently weighed in on USB shares. Argus decreased their price target on U.S. Bancorp from $63.00 to $58.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 20th. UBS Group lowered U.S. Bancorp from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, April 10th. Robert W. Baird upgraded U.S. Bancorp from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $52.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 20th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on U.S. Bancorp from $46.00 to $43.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on U.S. Bancorp from $52.50 to $45.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, U.S. Bancorp presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $50.35.

Shares of U.S. Bancorp stock traded up $0.42 on Monday, reaching $29.55. The companys stock had a trading volume of 5,385,449 shares, compared to its average volume of 14,896,672. The company has a market capitalization of $45.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.75, a PEG ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 0.93. U.S. Bancorp has a 52-week low of $27.27 and a 52-week high of $53.37. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $34.94 and a 200-day moving average price of $41.80. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90.

U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 19th. The financial services provider reported $1.04 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.13 by ($0.09). The business had revenue of $7.18 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.14 billion. U.S. Bancorp had a net margin of 19.21% and a return on equity of 16.70%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 28.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.99 earnings per share. Analysts expect that U.S. Bancorp will post 4.59 EPS for the current year.

U.S. Bancorp Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 31st were paid a dividend of $0.48 per share. This represents a $1.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.50%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 30th. U.S. Bancorps dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 51.06%.

U.S. Bancorp Profile

(Get Rating)

U.S. Bancorp operates as a bank holding company, which offers financial services including lending and depository services, cash management, foreign exchange and trust and investment management. The firm also offers mortgage, refinance, auto, boat and RV loans, credit lines, credit card services, merchant, bank, checking and savings accounts, debit cards, online and mobile banking, ATM processing, mortgage banking, insurance, brokerage and leasing services.

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Tesco PLC (LON:TSCO  Get Rating) insider Ken Murphy acquired 51 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 12th. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 275 ($3.47) per share, for a total transaction of 140.25 ($176.97).

Ken Murphy also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Friday, April 14th, Ken Murphy acquired 51 shares of Tesco stock. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 267 ($3.37) per share, for a total transaction of 136.17 ($171.82).

On Friday, March 17th, Ken Murphy purchased 55 shares of Tesco stock. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 251 ($3.17) per share, for a total transaction of 138.05 ($174.20).

Tesco Stock Performance

LON:TSCO traded down GBX 1.88 ($0.02) during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting GBX 273.82 ($3.46). 10,097,816 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 17,681,586. The stocks fifty day moving average price is GBX 267.20 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 247.12. The firm has a market cap of 20.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2,748.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.50 and a beta of 0.64. Tesco PLC has a one year low of GBX 194.35 ($2.45) and a one year high of GBX 289 ($3.65). The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 123.29.

Tesco Increases Dividend

Analysts Set New Price Targets

The company also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 23rd. Investors of record on Thursday, May 11th will be issued a GBX 7.05 ($0.09) dividend. This represents a yield of 2.63%. This is a positive change from Tescos previous dividend of $3.85. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 11th. Tescos dividend payout ratio is currently 11,000.00%.

TSCO has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Shore Capital restated a buy rating on shares of Tesco in a research note on Monday, March 13th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Tesco to a buy rating and boosted their price target for the company from GBX 260 ($3.28) to GBX 310 ($3.91) in a research note on Monday, March 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Tesco from GBX 270 ($3.41) to GBX 290 ($3.66) and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of GBX 312 ($3.94).

Tesco Company Profile

(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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Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. lowered its holdings in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO  Get Rating) by 2.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 70,723 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 2,035 shares during the quarter. Tocqueville Asset Management L.P.s holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific were worth $38,946,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in TMO. Roffman Miller Associates Inc. PA grew its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Roffman Miller Associates Inc. PA now owns 31,116 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $17,135,000 after buying an additional 166 shares in the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 36.3% in the 4th quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 5,583 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $3,075,000 after acquiring an additional 1,486 shares during the last quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 9.9% in the 4th quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 6,417 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $3,534,000 after acquiring an additional 580 shares during the last quarter. Western Financial Corp CA bought a new stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in the 4th quarter worth about $627,000. Finally, Ameritas Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 4,607 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $2,337,000 after buying an additional 230 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.92% of the companys stock.

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Thermo Fisher Scientific Trading Down 0.2 %

NYSE TMO traded down $1.07 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $523.58. The company had a trading volume of 142,149 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,405,973. The stock has a market capitalization of $201.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.79. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a 1-year low of $475.77 and a 1-year high of $611.06. The company has a current ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $558.42 and a 200 day moving average of $554.14.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Increases Dividend

Thermo Fisher Scientific ( NYSE:TMO Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The medical research company reported $5.03 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $5.03. The firm had revenue of $10.71 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.67 billion. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a net margin of 13.75% and a return on equity of 19.16%. The firms revenue was down 9.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $7.25 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will post 23.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 14th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 15th were given a dividend of $0.35 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 14th. This is a positive change from Thermo Fisher Scientifics previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.27%. Thermo Fisher Scientifics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 9.13%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $544.49, for a total transaction of $4,083,675.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 66,655 shares of the companys stock, valued at $36,292,980.95. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 1,600 shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $571.96, for a total transaction of $915,136.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 128,705 shares in the company, valued at approximately $73,614,111.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 7,500 shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $544.49, for a total value of $4,083,675.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 66,655 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $36,292,980.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 20,700 shares of company stock valued at $11,306,723 over the last three months. 0.32% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

TMO has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. StockNews.com lowered shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $700.00 to $650.00 in a report on Thursday, April 27th. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $670.00 to $620.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. Barclays cut their target price on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $625.00 to $610.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. Finally, Evercore ISI cut their target price on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $615.00 to $610.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $627.91.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Profile

(Get Rating)

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc engages in the provision of analytical instruments, equipment, reagents and consumables, software, and services for research, analysis, discovery, and diagnostics. It operates through the following segments: Life Sciences Solutions, Analytical Instruments, Specialty Diagnostics, and Laboratory Products and Services.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Toro (NYSE:TTC  Get Rating) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report published on Thursday.

Separately, Northland Securities started coverage on shares of Toro in a research report on Monday, April 17th. They set a market perform rating and a $110.00 price target for the company. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Toro has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $118.67.

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Toro Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of TTC stock opened at $105.30 on Thursday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $106.60 and a 200-day moving average of $109.64. The firm has a market cap of $10.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.09 and a beta of 0.72. Toro has a 12-month low of $71.86 and a 12-month high of $117.66. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 1.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76.

Toro Announces Dividend

Toro ( NYSE:TTC Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 9th. The company reported $0.98 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.91 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $1.15 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.16 billion. Toro had a net margin of 10.16% and a return on equity of 36.04%. Toros revenue for the quarter was up 23.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.66 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Toro will post 4.83 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 19th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 6th were given a $0.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, April 5th. This represents a $1.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.29%. Toros dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.82%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Toro news, VP Blake M. Grams sold 11,400 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $107.05, for a total value of $1,220,370.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 37,106 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,972,197.30. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Richard M. Olson sold 12,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.40, for a total value of $1,312,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 17,913 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,959,682.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, VP Blake M. Grams sold 11,400 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $107.05, for a total transaction of $1,220,370.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 37,106 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,972,197.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 59,634 shares of company stock worth $6,516,758. Corporate insiders own 2.22% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Toro

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its position in Toro by 145.4% in the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 270,400 shares of the companys stock worth $30,058,000 after acquiring an additional 160,200 shares during the period. Cresset Asset Management LLC grew its stake in Toro by 5.2% during the first quarter. Cresset Asset Management LLC now owns 11,095 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,233,000 after acquiring an additional 547 shares in the last quarter. Stifel Financial Corp grew its stake in Toro by 5.3% during the first quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 122,960 shares of the companys stock valued at $13,668,000 after acquiring an additional 6,162 shares in the last quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec purchased a new position in Toro during the first quarter valued at $422,000. Finally, Candriam S.C.A. purchased a new position in Toro during the first quarter valued at $1,386,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.14% of the companys stock.

About Toro

(Get Rating)

The Toro Co is in the business of designing, manufacturing, marketing, and selling professional turf maintenance equipment and services. It operates through the following segments: Professional and Residential. The Professional segment consists of turf and landscape equipment, rental, specialty, and underground construction equipment, snow & ice management equipment, and irrigation and lighting products.

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Proett named

to Dean's List

at Bob Jones

GREENVILLE -- Sarah Proett of Orangeburg, a senior interior architecture and design major, was among approximately 800 Bob Jones University students named to the spring 2023 Dean's List

The Dean's List recognizes students who earn a 3.00-3.74 grade point average during the semester.

Local students

set to graduate

from UGA

ATHENS, Ga. -- The University of Georgia has recognized more than 7,000 candidates for graduation in the Class of 2023 Commencement exercises.

Ashton McLean of Holly Hill and Jonathan Adrian Hunter of Orangeburg are candidates for DVM Veterinary Medicine; and Caroline Banks McConnell of Orangeburg is a candidate for a BS biology.

Davis among

MSU's Spirit of

State recipients

MISSISSIPPI STATE, Miss. -- Yasmine Davis of Eutawville, a geoscience major, is a recipient of Mississippi State's premier student recognition, the Spirit of State Award.

Organized by the university's Division of Student Affairs, the 18th annual Spirit of State Awards honor students making a positive impact on peers and the broader campus community through organization involvement, service to the institution and personal actions promoting school spirit and tradition.

Graham honored

by Citadel

Graduate College

CHARLESTON -- Cassidy Graham of Orangeburg has been recognized by The Citadel as a member of the graduating class that excelled during their time at the college.

Each year, The Citadel Graduate College celebrates student and faculty excellence in areas of academics, leadership and service during the annual CGC Awards Ceremony.
Firefighters from across the region responded to a fire at Dons Car Crushing near Holly Hill, according to Orangeburg County Fire Director Teddy Wolfe.

Firefighters received an initial report of an unknown fire at 11:31 a.m. Sunday.

First responders noted a large column of smoke coming from the area and upgraded the assignment to bring in mutual aid fire departments.

Arriving first responders found a fire moving across a large pile of vehicle fluff, which contains various car components after they are crushed up.

This almost 40-foot tall fluff pile was difficult to access, Wolfe said. An aerial ladder truck was utilized to contain the fire away from the facilities machinery, buildings and large electricity transmission lines.

Crews used tankers to shuttle water to the site because there are no fire hydrants in the area.

A tanker task force was utilized from Orangeburg County battalions 5 and 4. The Berkeley County tanker task force was called in to aid in the water shuttle process.

Crews contained the fire to the initial pile of fluff and turned the facility back over to Dons Car Crushing employees at 5:25 p.m.

There were no reported injuries, and the fire is currently under investigation.

Ten Orangeburg County departments responded: Holly Hill, Bowman, Canaan, Providence, Eutawville, Four Holes, Jamison, Vance, West Middle and Orangeburg County.

Two engines, one tower ladder and five tankers from Berkeley County assisted.
A jury trial is set for July to decide a lawsuit filed by the family of a man shot and killed by Casper police near his home, newly filed court documents show.

Douglas Oneyear was killed by two Casper police officers on Feb. 25, 2018. Officials responded to a report of a man threatening an employee at an east Casper gas station that day. The department says the shooting was justified because Oneyear was carrying a sword while approaching the officers.

Video footage from the shooting shows both officers ordering Oneyear to drop the sword. There was about 12 seconds between the first command and when the first shot was fired.

Shortly before being killed, Oneyear appeared to threaten a cashier at a nearby gas station with the sword. Natrona Countys top prosecutor later ruled that officers were justified in their actions, describing the shooting as a suicide by cop.

But a lawyer for Oneyears family says the sword was a toy or replica and that police had opportunities to deescalate the situation.

Linda Lennen, Oneyears mother, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and the officers on the first anniversary of his death, claiming her sons constitutional rights were violated. The lawsuit slowly traveled through the court system before a state judge ruled last year that a negligence lawsuit for wrongful death could continue.

In March, the city attempted to seal confidential documents from the public, strike experts and bring an end to the wrongful death lawsuit before it went to trial. They moved to eliminate several of Lennens experts, particularly the sole liability expert, Dan Montgomery.

City defendants argued Montgomery never offered an opinion to support Lennens claim that the city failed to properly train the officers involved in Oneyears death.

This month, the court denied the citys motion and will allow Montgomery to testify, as the city has a right to raise objections to the witnesses prior to their testimony, the recent filing states.

Based on that, the case will be able to proceed to trial. The city originally asked the Natrona County District Court to make a decision without going to trial, arguing Lennens claims would lack proof without Montgomerys expertise.

Judge Kerri M. Johnson did decide to withhold certain documents from the public, so there will be information not disclosed or revealed to anyone other than the court.

This protective order is meant to protect a party or person from annoyance, embarrassment, oppression, or undue burden the city said in the initial request. ...The potential harm to the privacy of the parties outweighs any public interest.

The two sides have listed over two dozen witnesses collectively, a court filing shows. Among them are several Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation special agents and Oneyears daughter.

The trial is scheduled to start July 10.
Cody Regional Health will be the first hospital in Wyoming to offer its own med-flight program, which will allow those in critical condition to access needed medical care much faster than before.

People typically only need med flights in the most traumatic situations  severe car crashes, shootings and life-threatening emergencies. Now, theyll be able to get care in medical situations, when each minute matters, more quickly.

Cody Regional Health and St. Vincent Healthcare, part of Intermountain Health, have partnered to launch First Flight of Wyoming this summer, according to an announcement about the program.

A Bell 407 aircraft and crew will be based at the Greybull airport allowing shorter response times for those in the Big Horn Basin area, the statement said.

Previously, medical flights had to come from Billings, which is more costly and time-consuming for those in emergency situations. This hospital-owned med flight service will be replacing the for-profit flight programs that the hospitals have been using.

We know this service will save lives and save patients money in the long run, Keith Ungrund, president of First Flight of Wyoming, said in the statement.

With the recent closures of EMS services and the high costs of air medical transport, the hospitals hope this new service will allow for a higher quality of care for patients in Northern Wyoming, Doug McMillan, Cody Regional Health CEO, said in the statement.

St. Vincents longstanding HELP Flight program was a pioneer in air medical services and continues to be at the forefront of hospital-based flight services, making them the ideal partner..., McMillan said.
OVER 90 per cent of nationals were successful in the Swiss global cruise line MSC Cruises recruitment drive and will be hired in various suitable areas.

The recruitment drive took place last week at Queens Hall, Port of Spain.

Tourism Culture and the Arts Minister Randall Mitchell told the Express yesterday that over 200 applicants were interviewed by a recruitment team comprising MSC Cruises and Meridian Recruitment Agency Ltd officials.
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Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, third left, gets the attention of US energy officials during discussion at the White House on energy security and its impact on Caricom
new regulatory framework: Minister of Trade and Industry Paula Gopee-Scoon, centre, permanent secretary in the Ministry Ayleen Alleyne-Ovid, right, and deputy permanent secretary Randall Karim, left, with eight newly designated scrap metal inspectors at the Ministrys headquarters at Nicholas Tower, Independence Square, in Port of Spain, last week.
FLASHBACK APRIL 2020: Police officers and members of the defence force walk along Pointe-a-Pierre Road in San Fernando, during a joint-patrol on Tuesday. -Photo: DEXTER PHILP
LAST DAY: Venezuelan migrants wait patiently for the Queens Park Oval registration centre to be opened on the final day yesterday at Havelock Street, St Clair.

Photo: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK
In a recent letter to this newspaper, the author declared emphatically that trial by jury is a disservice to justice. The basis for the assertion, in a nutshell, was that jurors are fickle mortals who are more often than not bamboozled by skilful defence attorneys. According to the author, they also fail to adhere to guidance on the law given to them by judges, either because of their general lack of intelligence or an inability to control their inherent biases.
Local governments and charities have been tested, but so far, Tucson shelters have been able to handle a sharp increase in migrants released by border authorities.

Casa Alitas, the nonprofit group at the heart of the shelter operations, had more than 1,300 people sheltered in Tucson Friday night, and thats apart from those housed by the city government.

Were finding space for all of them, said Teresa Cavendish, who directs Casa Alitas. Weve managed to avert street releases.

First thing (Saturday) morning, folks start moving out, and we help them circulate through that process. At the same time, hundreds more folks are arriving.

Constant coordination between the state, county and city governments as well as Casa Alitas, has worked so far to keep people from being released on the streets of Southern Arizona towns or Tucson without any place to go, she said.

This is a wild ride, said Lane Mandle, the chief of staff to the city manager, working at one of the hotels Tucson uses for shelter. I wake up in the morning, and I dont know what the day is going to hold.

Her fear is that the city, which is the backup provider of shelter, will run out of beds. At that point, street releases are likely.

The increase in border crossings is, in part, a result of the end of the enforcement of Title 42 health mandates at the border. This allowed Border Patrol agents to immediately return some people to Mexico without any processing. But the end of the pandemic emergency meant the end of this policy.

One thing that has helped the local authorities is a court injunction issued by a federal judge in Florida. The injunction stopped the U.S. Border Patrol from conducting expedited releases of people found not to pose a risk to public safety, even though they dont have court dates yet.

As a result of the ruling, Border Patrol must detain people longer, meaning its facilities are remaining overfilled, but the releases are happening at a pace that is manageable for local authorities.

Migrants and government officials were still assessing the effects of new regulations adopted by President Joe Bidens administration in the hope of stabilizing the Southwest border region and undercutting smugglers who charge migrants to get there, the Associated Press reported Saturday.
The Citizen Hotel, a 10-room boutique hotel downtown, will serve its last cocktails in the lobby bar on Saturday, May 20.

On Sunday, May 21, the hotel in the former Tucson Citizen office building downtown will close.

The closing comes nearly 15 months to the day that the hotel opened and coincides with Tucson businesses bracing for the annual summer slowdown. Thats when tourism dramatically drops, and the city loses its reliable revenue stream from the loss of University of Arizona students and winter residents.

Sofonias Astatke, founder and managing partner of the hotels owner Equilibrium Real Estate Investments, could not be reached Monday to comment on the hotels future.

The Citizen Hotel opened in mid-February 2022, a year after Equilibrium and its then partner, Tucson hotel operator Moniqua Lane, invested $2.5 million to renovate the 110-year-old office building at 82 N. Stone Ave., converting the first- and second-floor offices into hotel rooms, adding a bar in the lobby and creating an event space in the 5,000-square-foot basement.

We knew it would be risky, Lane, who owns The Downtown Clifton boutique hotel at 485 N. Stone Ave., said of the project.

Equilibrium, the 20-year-old Tucson-based company that primarily focuses on multifamily residential properties, bought out Lanes stake in the project earlier this year.

The Tucson Citizen Building, built in 1913, was home to the former Tucson Citizen newspaper from 1914 until 1940, when the Citizen and Arizona Daily Star entered into a joint operating agreement that allowed both newspapers to maintain independent and competitive newsrooms while sharing in the costs and revenues of joint printing, distribution and advertising operations.

Over the years, the building housed professional offices, including doctors, dentists, lawyers and radio stations.

Lane and Astatke bought the building in 2018 for $1.45 million. When she announced plans for the hotel in early 2021, Lane said they chose to name it Citizen Hotel as a nod to the newspaper, which at the time that it stopped publishing in 2009 was the oldest newspaper in the state.

The renovations took a year before the hotel opened in early 2022, just as Tucson and the rest of the state was starting to make inroads to recovering from the pandemic losses. Statewide hotel occupancy rates from March 2022 to this March inched up 3.5%, according to data from the Arizona Office of Tourism.

In metro Tucson, hotels in the first quarter of this year (January-March) had an occupancy rate of 73.8%, which was 3.3% higher than last years first quarter, the state reported.

Since opening in mid-February 2022, the hotel has hosted weddings and community arts events, from jazz concerts to art exhibits. The bar had garnered a loyal following, with customers giving four- and five-star reviews on Yelp and TripAdvisor about the inventive cocktails, vibe and service.
Kari Lake listens to a question at an Aug. 3, 2022, press conference at her campaign headquarters in Phoenix. Lake declared victory in the GOP gubernatorial primary. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror

Kari Lakes remaining hope of overturning the 2020 election is in the hands of a Maricopa County Superior Court judge after a May 12 hearing in which Maricopa County said her last-ditch effort is built on demonstrably false claims of malfeasance for which she has no evidence.

Lake, a Trump-endorsed election denier, lost her bid for Arizona governor six months ago, but has continued to insist that she, in fact, won because the election was rigged. Lake lost to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs by more than 17,000 votes, and courts have repeatedly rejected Lakes claims as evidence-free.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Thompson on May 12 heard arguments over Lakes claims that Maricopa County failed to follow ballot envelope signature verification that he initially dismissed in December, but that the Arizona Supreme Court remanded back to him after Lake appealed that ruling.

Lakes attorneys also tried to convince Thompson to reopen a claim regarding logic and accuracy testing of Maricopa Countys ballot-on-demand printers and tabulators that was previously dismissed. Lakes attorneys argued that new evidence uncovered after the claim was dismissed warranted its reconsideration.

The GOP gubernatorial nominee argued that system logs from Maricopa County tabulators, along with the results of an independent review of election issues that the county commissioned, showed that this election was rigged.

Lake attorney Kurt Olsen claimed that an unexplained and ongoing issue with the countys ballot printers that caused the 20-inch ballot to be shrunk to 19 inches before it was printed, thus preventing tabulators from being able to read the ballots, must have resulted from malware or other nefarious activity like someone remotely accessing the printers.

He also claimed that Maricopa County should have redone its logic and accuracy testing on the tabulators after it installed software on the tabulators that would prevent them from reading early and provisional ballots.

But Joseph LaRue, an attorney representing Maricopa County, fired back that he believed Lakes lawyers misunderstood or ignored the countys explanation of what happened with the software installation. LaRue said the new software was installed on the sample of tabulators that were included in the logic and accuracy testing prior to those tests, and was installed on the rest of the tabulators afterward.

The assertion that this election was rigged is offensive, and its untrue, LaRue said.

Olsen also claimed on Friday that 260 tabulators failed during logic and accuracy testing and that those tabulators failed again on Election Day.

But LaRue countered that just because a tabulator failed to read a ballot one time during the testing doesnt mean that it wholly failed, adding that sometimes a tabulator wont read a ballot because it was inserted at an angle or there was lint on the reader, and that the ballot is often read the second time its inserted.

Signature claims

And while Lakes lawyers argued that the math didnt add up when it comes to Maricopa Countys signature verification process, lawyers for the defendants pushed back, saying that much of Lakes evidence backing up her signature verification claim came from the 2020 election and not the 2022 election.

Lawyers for the defendants also pointed out that witnesses who testified that Maricopa County violated signature verification processes were relying on their own memories of how many signatures they verified or did not verify as first-level signatures reviewers in the 2022 election in Maricopa County. There are several more levels of signature verification review that happen after that, which those witnesses were not a party to.

Abha Khanna, an attorney representing Hobbs, said that Lake and her lawyers had provided no evidence that could prove with mathematical certainty that Lake actually won the election, the standard needed to overturn the election.

All that she offers are untethered assertions of uncertainty, Khanna told the court Friday. Theyre wholly untethered to reality.

The Supreme Court ruled May 4 that Lakes attorneys must pay $2,000 in sanctions for writing in her appeal that it was an undisputed fact that more than 35,000 ballots were illegally inserted into batches of legal ballots in Maricopa County when the November 2022 ballots were being sorted shortly after Election Day. Theres no proof of that.

The court also called out Lake and her legal team, made up of Scottsdale divorce lawyer Bryan Blehm and Washington, D.C., employment attorney Olsen, for repeating that false assertion in another filing.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

Re: the April 23 article "Prop 412 means cleaner, greener grid" and the May 1 article "The Prop 412 'Sweet Spot' will grow Tucson's resiliency."

There have been dozens of letters to the editor on Proposition 412 and a good number of opinion-editorials appearing in the opinion pages of the Arizona Daily Star. And for good reason, citizens have been sending mostly anti-Prop 412 messages, and there has been healthy debate with some that have been submitting pro-412 opinions.

There are two statements written though which are bothersome, one that patronizes the community and one that is highly deceptive. First, in a May 1st op-ed by Councilwoman Nikki Lee, she wrote that before the Council put this on the ballot that, City staff collaborated closely with TEP (Tucson Electric Power) for approximately 18 months, ensuring that the Mayor and Councils priorities and the community's interests were incorporated into the agreement.

How could anyone expect TEP, a for-profit company with a parent corporation based in Canada named Fortis, would ensure the communitys interests were represented in this agreement? After 18 months of meetings with TEP, the community was granted only one meeting with the City of Tucson, and that meeting was held with less than 24 hours of notice. Citizens were literally informed in the afternoon proceeding the day of the meeting.

The second item that sits very badly with me and others is this. Erik Bakken, VP of Energy Resources and Chief Sustainability Officer for TEP, wrote in an April 23rd Star op-ed, More than 25% of our communitys power now comes from carbon-free renewable resources. This is so inflated. It incorrectly indicates that 25%+ of your energy comes from renewables. TEP recently reported in its annual report to the Securities and Exchange Commission that its renewable energy output for 2022 was only 13.8%. See for yourself at page 60: tinyurl.com/TEP2022SEC

Using his logic, when TEP is at 100% theoretical power capacity of solar, they could still be producing much of their power with fossil fuels. Maximum theoretical power level does not equal electrical output.

You might think that maybe they are misconstruing power capacity with energy output. But it appears they are not. They know what to report in their annual SEC report. They know that they have reported what really matters in the SEC report, which is what they reported on page 60 of this monumental report. After all these years of knowing that solar and wind are the main energy sources in any sound energy policy for Tucson, they are only at 13.8% energy output. Now they would have us believe that they will get to 70% by 2035. Are they using that irrelevant theoretical maximum again?

If you, like me, do not want to buy the TEP misinformation, vote No on Proposition 412.
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP)  A pickup truck fire and explosion outside the Maine governor's mansion last week was traced to a faulty battery in a cordless drill, officials said.

The unoccupied truck was parked on Chamberlain Street, just feet from the white fence surrounding the Blaine House, when smoke began pouring from the vehicle, followed by flames and a blast on Thursday.

The incident caused some concern because of proximity to the governor's residence. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills was working at her Statehouse office at the time.

No one was injured.

Fire marshal investigators blamed the fire on a lithium-ion battery attached to a cordless drill in the back of the truck, said Shannon Moss, spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

The batteries are used in everything from electric vehicles and bicycles to cellphones and computers. While rare, lithium-ion battery fires can be caused by a mechanical defect or being left in hot areas or direct sunlight, Moss said.

In New York, Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said last week that the lithium-ion batteries have caused more than 70 fires this year.
ONEOK Inc. announced Sunday that it will acquire Magellan Midstream Partners LP for $18.8 billion, including assumed debt, resulting in a combined company with a total value of $60 billion.

The transaction brings together two premier energy infrastructure businesses with strong returns on invested capital and diverse free cash flow generation: The transaction adds a leading, and primarily fee-based, refined products and crude oil transportation business to ONEOK, ONEOK said in a news release.

The combined company will own more than 25,000 miles of liquids-oriented pipelines, with significant assets and operational expertise at the Gulf Coast and Mid-Continent market hubs, ONEOK said.

Magellans stable, primarily demand-driven businesses are expected to generate significant free cash flow due to low capital expenditure requirements. This acquisition creates a more resilient energy infrastructure company that is expected to produce stable cash flows through diverse commodity cycles, ONEOK said.

The transaction is expected to be earnings per share (EPS) accretive beginning in 2024 with EPS accretion of 3% to 7% per year from 2025 through 2027, and free cash flow per share accretion averaging more than 20% from 2024 through 2027. Base forecasted synergies are expected to total at least $200 million annually, ONEOK said.

From a tax perspective, ONEOK expects to benefit from the step-up in Magellans tax basis from the transaction, thus deferring the expected impact of the new corporate alternative minimum tax from 2024 to 2027, it said.

Utilization of expected tax attributes could increase if additional capital projects are put into service or acquisitions are completed, which may increase the net present value of future tax deferrals.

The combined company is expected to experience a step change in free cash flow after dividends and growth capital by generating an average annual amount of approximately $1 billion in the first four years following the expected transaction close, the company said.

The increase in free cash flow will provide additional cash for debt reduction, growth capital and value returned to shareholders through dividends and/or repurchasing shares, it said.

ONEOK anticipates this combined liquids-focused portfolio will present significant potential for enhanced customer product offerings and increased international export opportunities, the release said.

We believe these activities could potentially result in total annual transaction synergies exceeding $400 million within two to four years, it said.

ONEOK has a long history and track record of being at the forefront of transformational transactions, Pierce H. Norton II, ONEOK president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

The combination of ONEOK and Magellan will create a diversified North American midstream infrastructure company with predominately fee-based earnings, a strong balance sheet and significant financial flexibility focused on delivering essential energy products and services to our customers and continued strong returns to investors, he said.

Our expanded products platform will present further opportunities in our core businesses as well as enhance our ability to participate in the ongoing energy transformation with an increased presence in sustainable fuel and hydrogen corridors. We are excited about the future of our combined companies and look forward to welcoming Magellans well-respected employees to ONEOK, Norton said.

Throughout more than 20 years as a publicly traded company, Magellan has remained focused on safe and responsible operations, financial discipline and long-term investor value. We believe ONEOK shares these priorities, and we are pleased to join them in creating a stronger, more diversified midstream company, said Aaron Milford, Magellan president and chief executive officer.

We believe the premium offered maximizes value creation for Magellans unitholders and reflects the essential nature of Magellans assets and service offerings as well as the quality of our talented and innovative employees.

This transaction provides a significant upfront cash component and an opportunity for Magellan investors to benefit from the attractive cash dividend offered by the combined company going forward.

Tulsa Regional Chamber President and CEO Mike Neal noted the companies' lengthy histories in Tulsa, ONEOK dating back more than a century and Magellan about two decades.

"This kind of local legacy, which will continue under this acquisition, is something the Tulsa Regional Chamber holds dear," Neal said in a prepared statement. "Both energy infrastructure businesses value community involvement, and we are grateful this combined company will stay in our city.

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2023 and has been unanimously approved by the board of directors of both companies.

The closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approvals of both ONEOK shareholders and Magellan unitholders.

Following the close of the transaction, Norton will continue to serve as chief executive officer of the combined company. ONEOK intends to seek and nominate one or two director(s) serving on the board of Magellans general partner.
Police Chief Wendell Franklin is still waiting for someone to do something about gun violence.

People talk  the legislators talk about it  but nobody has put pen to paper and done anything to try and help curb this, Franklin said last week in an interview with the Tulsa World.

The latest mass shooting to grab the nations attention happened this month at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, where a man with an AR-15-style rifle gunned down 15 people, killing eight and wounding seven more before being killed by a police officer.

Franklin took note.

Hes got an AR-15 and just pouches of magazines, he said of the gunman, which would tell you that, you know, if each one of those is a 30-round magazine, you know he is going out to do some damage.

That kind of firepower only makes law enforcements job more difficult and more dangerous, and it reflects a major change from the way things used to be, Franklin said.

Today theyre armed with firearms that are equivalent to what we have and then some, Franklin said. And so that is a huge concern for us in law enforcement and really complicates things for us in law enforcement. Rifles complicate our ability to be able to operate safely.

Franklin indicated that he would be inclined to support placing more restrictions on the purchase of high-powered firearms such as AR-15s.

They can certainly do more restrictions. You can go in and buy a firearm quicker than you can go in and come out with an automobile, he said. There used to be a time delay, where you would go in and make that purchase, and three days later or five days later, they would call you and say, Hey, your background is clear, you can come in and pick up your firearm now.

You know, there might should be a delay in time between purchasing and receiving.

Although the federal government has restrictions in place on some firearms and on a persons ability to turn them into fully automatic weapons, the laws are still playing catch up, Franklin said.

As technology continues to improve, there are modifiers that you can build yourself through 3D printers to make guns fully automatic, he said. Thats a problem.

Oklahomas gun laws are among the least stringent in the nation. Lawmakers in 2019 passed House Bill 2597 giving Oklahomans 21 or older  or 18 and older, if a member or veteran of the military  the right to carry firearms without a permit or training. This is often referred to as constitutional or permitless carry.

Franklin said he has been vocal with decision-makers about what he believes should be done to help mitigate gun violence and make law enforcement officers job safer.

As I talked about before, give ATF (the federal Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) the tools that they need to do their job effectively, Franklin said. Dont plead out these firearm cases that involve individuals doing straw purchases, individuals that are buying multiple firearms and then selling them to straw purchasers.

There is a proliferation of that that occurs. Thats how a lot of people get guns into their hands is through a straw purchaser, and the other is vehicles.

A straw gun purchase is one made by an individual with a clean record, who then provides the gun  or guns  to someone who the law says is not allowed to have one.

A day doesnt go by when the Tulsa Police Department doesnt receive a call that a gun has been stolen out of a vehicle, the police chief said.

If you just so happened to be a constitutional carry person, and most people, they get tired of carrying that firearm; it is uncomfortable, Franklin said. It messes up your clothing. And so what do they do? Well, Im just gonna keep it in the car or the truck, and they put it in the car or truck and they say, Well, I need to be able to access it while Im driving, just in case.

So it is not just hidden in the truck or car. Its openly exposed in there, and a person going by can just look in the window and see theres a firearm right there, (and) they go in there and steal those firearms.

He also pointed to issues underneath the surface, such as mental illness, that he said need to be part of the conversation.

We have a huge issue in our society with mental illness and, you know, access to firearms, the ability to go out and purchase a firearm, Franklin said.

Though mental illness is often cited as a reason for gun violence  especially in the aftermath of mass shootings  there is no consensus that it is what drives most killers. Numerous studies, including ones from the Rand Corp. and Oklahomas Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, paint a more nuanced picture that rebuts that assertion.

Despite media reports and popular belief, mental illness is not widely associated with violence against others, the Healthy Minds report states. However, there are limited exceptions where a greater possibility of violence can be mitigated with appropriate strategies.

Almost a year has passed since four people were fatally shot on the Saint Francis Health System campus in south Tulsa, and its only been a few weeks since two people in north Tulsa  one in a library and one inside a convenience store  were shot in the backs of their heads and killed by the same man.

For people like Franklin, the incidents cant help but call to mind how the culture of guns among criminals has changed.

It used to be in the late 90s and early 2000s, when I was on the street (as a police officer), criminals were deathly afraid of being captured with a gun. They would do everything that they could to get rid of that gun before you caught them, Franklin said. They didnt pull it on law enforcement. They didnt turn and shoot at law enforcement.

They didnt pose and take pictures with firearms on social media. People have become so brazen that thats what they do now.

Video: Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin discusses shootings at library, QT after arrest
Admin awards: District leaders from Union and Sand Springs schools will be recognized in June by the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators.

Unions Kirt Hartzler has been named District 5 Superintendent of the Year, while Sand Springs Assistant Superintendent Kristin Arnold has been named District 5 Assistant Superintendent/Central Office Administrator of the Year.

Honorees were nominated and selected by their peers. District 5 covers Tulsa and Washington counties.

Teacher of the Year: Mannford Public Schools announced Monday that its 2022-23 Teacher of the Year is Helen Veenker.

A fourth grade teacher at Mannford Upper Elementary School, Veenker has been with the district for 11 years.

New board leadership: On Monday night, Unions school board unanimously elected Heather McAdams as its president and Stacey Roemerman as its vice president.

McAdams replaces Ken Kinnear as president, while Roemerman succeeds McAdams.

STEM accolade: Bartlesville Public Schools announced Monday that for the fourth consecutive year, it has been named a Distinguished District by Project Lead the Way.

Project Lead the Way is a nonprofit organization that offers hands-on STEM curricula for students and teachers nationwide.

Awards are based on student participation rates and at the secondary level, offering a minimum number of applicable courses. Bartlesville is one of 17 districts across the country to earn the distinction and the only honoree in Oklahoma.

More Bruin accolades: Bartlesvilles Joyce Yang was announced Wednesday as one of Oklahomas three Presidential Scholars.

The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects up to 161 seniors nationwide annually based on their academic success, artistic excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership and demonstrated commitment to high ideals.

An Academic All-State selection and National Merit semifinalist, Yang is a former Girls State and Girls Nation participant. She is also a former member of the State Superintendents Student Advisory Council.

Additional in-state honorees are Jeffrey Evans from Oklahoma City Casady School and Lindsay Flores from Western Heights High School.

The final bell: Tuesday is the last day of classes for Claremore Sequoyah.

Wednesday is the last day of classes for Berryhill and Verdigris.

Thursday is the last day of classes for Collinsville, Mounds and Oologah-Talala.

Friday is the last day of classes for Bartlesville, Bixby, Dove Charter Schools, Glenpool, Kellyville, Kiefer, KIPP Tulsa, Owasso, Sperry and Skiatook.

Commencement calendar: Collinsville and Jenks will host graduation ceremonies on Monday.

Mounds, North Star Academy, Owasso and Street School graduations are Tuesday.

Bixby, Dove Science Academy, Edison and McLain graduations are Wednesday.

Central and East Central graduations are Thursday.

Bartlesville, Liberty, Oologah-Talala, Rogers, Sapulpa, Skiatook, Wagoner and Webster graduations are Friday.

Booker T. Washington, Charles Page, Epic Charter Schools, Hale, Memorial, Phoenix Rising, Tulsa MET, Tulsa Virtual Academy and Union graduations are Saturday.

Claremore High Schools graduation is Sunday.

Stay home day: Liberty Public Schools will not be in session Friday.

School board schedule: The boards of education for Bartlesville, Catoosa and Tulsa have regular meetings Monday.

The board for the Oklahoma CareerTech system meets Thursday in Oklahoma City.
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.
OKLAHOMA CITY  Gov. Kevin Stitt wants state lawmakers to be subject to the public records laws that apply to the executive branch, state agencies, and city and county government entities.

But the GOP-led Oklahoma Legislature appears unlikely to undo an exemption in state law that shields lawmakers emails, text messages, calendars and other records from public scrutiny.

In a veto message last week, Stitt said he welcomes reforming the states Open Records Act, including expanding it in a manner that would allow public access to records in other branches of government.

In 1985, lawmakers who wrote the Open Records Act exempted the Legislature from most aspects of the law.

Asked Thursday whether Stitt was saying the Legislature should have to abide by the public records law, the governor didnt skip a beat.

100%. Everybody should, Stitt said.

When you write laws, you shouldnt pick on just one part of government versus the other, he said.

The governor offered a similar rationale when last year he vetoed a bill that would require his appointed Cabinet secretaries and state agency directors to file financial disclosure forms. He said legislative appointees, not just executive branch appointees, should also be required to file the forms that detail personal income and investments. Lawmakers successfully overturned Stitts veto of that bill.

Stitt said Thursday that public scrutiny is needed for all federal funding flowing into the state and how those dollars are being spent. The Legislature is subject to public records laws when it comes to financial and business records showing the receipt or expenditure of public funds.

Although most court records are available to the public, Oklahoma judges and justices are exempt from public records laws except when it comes to financial transactions related to public funds.

The Oklahoma Legislature is one of four state legislatures that are exempt from public records laws, according to a 2018 review by MuckRock, an investigative journalism group. But that number may be growing. Arizona lawmakers decided this year to exempt themselves from state public records laws.

Although lawmakers have filed a handful of bills in recent years to remove the Oklahoma Legislatures Open Records Act exemption, none of the measures has made it close to the governors desk.

Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said the Legislature already conducts its business openly because the public is welcome at all legislative hearings and those meetings are livestreamed. He also said his chamber has made strides toward posting meeting agendas with significant notice before any votes.

We are already extremely transparent, he said.

If the Legislature were subject to the Open Records Act, legislators could weaponize the law for political gain, Treat said. He envisioned a scenario where lawmakers in the minority party would send a flood of public records requests to majority leaders just to keep them tied up.

In the past, lawmakers have also expressed concerns about correspondence with their constituents and work-product conversations with their colleagues becoming public.

A spokesman for House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, did not respond to a request for comment.

Joey Senat, an open government expert and associate professor at Oklahoma State University, said its unlikely that Stitts comments will serve as a catalyst for change unless the governor actively pushes the Legislature to update the Open Records Act. Even then, lawmakers are likely to resist.

He said the lack of transparency surrounding how lawmakers craft a state budget is a key reason why the body should be subject to public records laws. Although leading GOP lawmakers have defended the state budget process as open and transparent, the spending plan is largely crafted behind closed doors and without public scrutiny.

Making the Legislature subject to the Open Records Act would allow the public to see whos influencing state lawmakers on legislation and how theyre making policy decisions, Senat said.

People in power always like to avoid having the public see what they do, he said. Its certainly much more convenient, but that kind of secrecy also leads to more corruption, more incompetence and more inefficiency.



Video: Gov. Stitt on pursuit of tax cuts, concerns of future economic slowdown
OKLAHOMA CITY  State officials on Monday announced a historic funding agreement for education.

The total includes an additional $625 million recurring investment in public education.

The new appropriations would provide $286 million for pay raises ranging from $3,000 to $6,000, based on experience, for certified personnel, including teachers, librarians, nurses, reading specialists and speech language pathologists.

We hear you, teachers, said Senate Education Committee Chairman Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, who added that teachers are currently making decisions about their futures. We need you to stay in the classroom.

The raise would be effective by next school year, Pugh said.

The plan also would provide for six weeks of paid maternity leave.

Additionally, it would provide an additional $10 million for a three-year literacy program.

Officials put in $125 million for the Redbud Fund, which largely benefits rural schools that dont have the same ad valorem tax collections as others.

Finally, it would include $150 million for a three-year pilot program for school safety and security. The program would allow every district to hire a school resource officer or pay for security upgrades.

The plan came after months of negotiations among House and Senate leaders and Gov. Kevin Stitt.

House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, said lawmakers plan to advance the package this week.

This is a historic education package for our state that is going to raise the overall investment in the states education over the last five years that will exceed the previous 25 years in our states education investment, McCall said.

This is a big day, said Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City.

Stitt said the package is a win for every student and every parent. A tax credit piece would be tied to education funding for students who go to a private school.

The credit, which will reduce the amount of state income tax a parent owes yearly, will be up to $7,500 if you make under $75,000 a year all the way to $5,000 on an unlimited income basis, and that money can be used to go to a (private) school of your choice, Stitt said.

McCall said the tax credit bill will be forwarded to Stitt upon passage of the education funding measures.

Providing state money as incentives for parents to send their children to private schools when the state already funds public schools that are available to all has been a sticking point for Democratic legislators, who are in the minority.

Tying education funding to an unpopular voucher scheme is not the solution Oklahoma families are looking for, said Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City.

Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, said the program is a tax shelter for people who can already afford private school.

We know the Oklahoma Tax Commission is not equipped to manage this program and that Oklahoma tax dollars will be misused and abused with no repercussions, Hicks said.

Tulsa-area state legislators and how to contact them Sen. Nathan Dahm Sen. Dana Prieto Sen. Jo Anna Dossett Sen. John Haste Sen. Todd Gollihare Sen. Kevin Matthews Sen. Joe Newhouse Sen. Dave Rader Sen. Cody Rogers Rep. Meloyde Blancett Rep. Jeff Boatman Rep. Amanda Swope Rep. Suzanne Schreiber Rep. Dean Davis Rep. Mark Tedford Rep. Scott Fetgatter Rep. Ross Ford Rep. Regina Goodwin Rep. Kyle Hilbert Rep. Mark Lawson Rep. T.J. Marti Rep. Stan May Rep. Monroe Nichols Rep. Clay Staires Rep. Terry O'Donnell Rep. Melissa Provenzano Rep. Lonnie Sims Rep. John Kane Rep. Mark Vancuren Rep. John Waldron Check out our latest digital-only offer and subscribe now
MEXICO CITY - A tractor trailer and a van crashed on a highway in the northern Mexican state of Tamaulipas on Sunday morning, killing 26 people, local authorities said. The two vehicles crashed about half an hour outside of the state capital Ciudad Victoria and then caught on fire, the Tamaulipas' public security ministry said. Once authorities arrived at the site of the crash, they found the truck carrying the trailer was no longer at the scene. A source at the Tamaulipas prosecutors' office said investigators were unsure whether the driver of the truck had fled or if he was also killed in the crash. The passengers of the van, believed to be from a private transportation business, included children, the source said. The victims are all thought to be Mexicans as national IDs have been recovered from the scene, the source said. Members of the State Guard gather at the site of a crash, in the Victoria-Zaragoza highway, Tamaulipas, Mexico, May 14, 2023 in this still image from video obtained from social media. Photo: Reuters

MEXICO CITY - A tractor trailer and a van crashed on a highway in the northern Mexican state of Tamaulipas on Sunday morning, killing 26 people, local authorities said.

The two vehicles crashed about half an hour outside of the state capital Ciudad Victoria and then caught on fire, the Tamaulipas' public security ministry said.

Once authorities arrived at the site of the crash, they found the truck carrying the trailer was no longer at the scene.

A source at the Tamaulipas prosecutors' office said investigators were unsure whether the driver of the truck had fled or if he was also killed in the crash.

The passengers of the van, believed to be from a private transportation business, included children, the source said.

The victims are all thought to be Mexicans as national IDs have been recovered from the scene, the source said.
In an area on the border between Vietnam and Laos, there is a club that has become a hub of hope for many people who are drug addicts or have been living with HIV for years. In addition, the club is also a place where many former gangsters have received support to rebuild themselves again and find a meaningful path for their lives after addiction. A haunt of people who share their life situation The club is an idea of the Border Guard Command at Cau Treo International Border Gate, which is under the Border Guard of Ha Tinh Province in north-central Vietnam. At 8:00 am, Pham Quang Minh, a club member, stopped his car in front of the club in Khe 5 Village, Son Kim 1 Commune, Huong Son District, Ha Tinh. As usual, he comes to the club to get methadone, which is prescribed to treat heroin and other opioid addictions and to relieve pain from certain diseases. That morning, Minh welcomed two more new members to the club, which is growing in popularity among people who are addicted to drugs or carry HIV. Minh used to trade wood across the border between Laos and Vietnam. During those years, he was lured into drug use. Being deep in drug addiction, Minh only focused on doing anything that supported the bad habit without caring about his work, which not only affected his health but also undermined his career. In fact, villagers tend to distance themselves from people who are addicted to drugs like Minh. To help him return to the community, border officials encouraged him to join the club and allowed him to perform some tasks such as loading and unloading packages, planting trees, and raising livestock. Thanks to their help, Minh has turned into 'an example of positive changes' to people who want to turn over a new leaf in their lives. "I am lucky to have the support of the Border Guard Unit and the local women's association. I would not have known what to do if they had not helped me, maybe I would even be dead already," said Minh. The club has held a monthly meeting on the 16th day of the lunar month for the past 13 years in Ha Tinh Province, north-central Vietnam. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre Nguyen Manh Cuong, 35, from Tay Son Town in Huong Son District, said he had heard about the club for addicts for a long time, but only recently applied to join it. "I have to change because no one believes in me when I am still a drug addict. I am trying to regain people's trust in me. I know it is extremely hard for me, but I will still try," Cuong confirmed. "I asked to join the club to gain experience from other members like Minh. I want to find a new life after drug addiction." Making a difference with love According to Lt. Col. Phan Van Thong, who is from Cau Treo International Border Gate and has worked with the club since its foundation, Son Kim 1 Commune was notorious for drugs and HIV infection between 2004 and 2010. During that time, there were many people using drugs in the community whose security was threatened by several criminal individuals. In search of solutions to the problems, the Border Patrol Command at Cau Treo International Border Gate tried to control the situation by screening criminals as well as people who used drugs or were living with HIV and proposing appropriate methods to manage them. In June 2010, when the club was first opened to drug addicts and people with HIV, many locals discriminated against and stayed away from them. Despite the initial difficulties, the club has succeeded in convincing the people involved that there is nothing that cannot be changed if they have the will to do so, thanks to the dedication and perseverance of the initiators. Tran Thi Gian, 63, former chairwoman of the Women's Association of Khe 5 Village, recalled that in the past many people were afraid to join the club for fear of being judged negatively. Gian's family understood their concerns and showed understanding instead of isolating or discriminating against them. "The number of people who become addicted has decreased significantly. Also, there are individuals who can successfully beat drug addiction after joining the club. Some can improve their health by taking methadone," Gian said. The club members, who once had a sad past, have been helped to put their lives in order and redefine themselves thanks to the Border Guard and local authorities in Ha Tinh Province, north-central Vietnam. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre Helping people living with HIV earn a living Due to the enthusiastic support of the Border Guard and local authorities, the number of club members has grown to 65 from an initial 15. They meet regularly on the 16th day of each lunar month to be briefed by Lt. Col. Thong on the criminal cases that the Border Guard has solved recently. The updates will keep club members informed and actively preventing themselves from getting involved. In addition, medical officials will share their knowledge about HIV/AIDS prevention measures, the use of methadone to combat drug addiction, and contraceptive methods. Remarkably, the club has an initiative called the 'Bank of Cows,' which allows club members to build their own financial capacity. This enables poor club members to receive a female cow carrying a fetus for raising. After six months, when the cow has given birth to a calf that can live independently from its mother, the cattle will be returned to the club and then given to other needy members. Le Dinh Dung, 38, is another man who has made positive changes in his life since becoming a member of the club. He has been committed to beating drug addiction by taking methadone regularly, which helps him improve his health over time. Thanks to the club's support, Dung has been able to take control of his own life by, for example, raising livestock. He can also support his disabled parents, too. "I just hope my close relatives will not get involved in addiction," said the middle-aged man, adding that it is extremely troublesome and sinful for anyone to become addicted to drugs. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

In an area on the border between Vietnam and Laos, there is a club that has become a hub of hope for many people who are drug addicts or have been living with HIV for years.

In addition, the club is also a place where many former gangsters have received support to rebuild themselves again and find a meaningful path for their lives after addiction.

A haunt of people who share their life situation

The club is an idea of the Border Guard Command at Cau Treo International Border Gate, which is under the Border Guard of Ha Tinh Province in north-central Vietnam.

At 8:00 am, Pham Quang Minh, a club member, stopped his car in front of the club in Khe 5 Village, Son Kim 1 Commune, Huong Son District, Ha Tinh.

As usual, he comes to the club to get methadone, which is prescribed to treat heroin and other opioid addictions and to relieve pain from certain diseases.

That morning, Minh welcomed two more new members to the club, which is growing in popularity among people who are addicted to drugs or carry HIV.

Minh used to trade wood across the border between Laos and Vietnam. During those years, he was lured into drug use.

Being deep in drug addiction, Minh only focused on doing anything that supported the bad habit without caring about his work, which not only affected his health but also undermined his career.

In fact, villagers tend to distance themselves from people who are addicted to drugs like Minh.

To help him return to the community, border officials encouraged him to join the club and allowed him to perform some tasks such as loading and unloading packages, planting trees, and raising livestock.

Thanks to their help, Minh has turned into 'an example of positive changes' to people who want to turn over a new leaf in their lives.

"I am lucky to have the support of the Border Guard Unit and the local women's association. I would not have known what to do if they had not helped me, maybe I would even be dead already," said Minh.

The club has held a monthly meeting on the 16th day of the lunar month for the past 13 years in Ha Tinh Province, north-central Vietnam. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Manh Cuong, 35, from Tay Son Town in Huong Son District, said he had heard about the club for addicts for a long time, but only recently applied to join it.

"I have to change because no one believes in me when I am still a drug addict. I am trying to regain people's trust in me. I know it is extremely hard for me, but I will still try," Cuong confirmed.

"I asked to join the club to gain experience from other members like Minh. I want to find a new life after drug addiction."

Making a difference with love

According to Lt. Col. Phan Van Thong, who is from Cau Treo International Border Gate and has worked with the club since its foundation, Son Kim 1 Commune was notorious for drugs and HIV infection between 2004 and 2010.

During that time, there were many people using drugs in the community whose security was threatened by several criminal individuals.

In search of solutions to the problems, the Border Patrol Command at Cau Treo International Border Gate tried to control the situation by screening criminals as well as people who used drugs or were living with HIV and proposing appropriate methods to manage them.

In June 2010, when the club was first opened to drug addicts and people with HIV, many locals discriminated against and stayed away from them.

Despite the initial difficulties, the club has succeeded in convincing the people involved that there is nothing that cannot be changed if they have the will to do so, thanks to the dedication and perseverance of the initiators.

Tran Thi Gian, 63, former chairwoman of the Women's Association of Khe 5 Village, recalled that in the past many people were afraid to join the club for fear of being judged negatively.

Gian's family understood their concerns and showed understanding instead of isolating or discriminating against them.

"The number of people who become addicted has decreased significantly. Also, there are individuals who can successfully beat drug addiction after joining the club. Some can improve their health by taking methadone," Gian said.

The club members, who once had a sad past, have been helped to put their lives in order and redefine themselves thanks to the Border Guard and local authorities in Ha Tinh Province, north-central Vietnam. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre

Helping people living with HIV earn a living

Due to the enthusiastic support of the Border Guard and local authorities, the number of club members has grown to 65 from an initial 15.

They meet regularly on the 16th day of each lunar month to be briefed by Lt. Col. Thong on the criminal cases that the Border Guard has solved recently.

The updates will keep club members informed and actively preventing themselves from getting involved.

In addition, medical officials will share their knowledge about HIV/AIDS prevention measures, the use of methadone to combat drug addiction, and contraceptive methods.

Remarkably, the club has an initiative called the 'Bank of Cows,' which allows club members to build their own financial capacity.

This enables poor club members to receive a female cow carrying a fetus for raising.

After six months, when the cow has given birth to a calf that can live independently from its mother, the cattle will be returned to the club and then given to other needy members.

Le Dinh Dung, 38, is another man who has made positive changes in his life since becoming a member of the club. He has been committed to beating drug addiction by taking methadone regularly, which helps him improve his health over time. Thanks to the club's support, Dung has been able to take control of his own life by, for example, raising livestock. He can also support his disabled parents, too. "I just hope my close relatives will not get involved in addiction," said the middle-aged man, adding that it is extremely troublesome and sinful for anyone to become addicted to drugs.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Many parts of Ho Chi Minh City are seeing the national expanded campaign on immunization slow down due to vaccine supply disruptions. Most residents in the city have accessed private medical facilities to have their children vaccinated instead of waiting for free vaccinations backed by the government. Dr. Pham Van Tuan, director of the Healthcare Center in the outlying district of Binh Chanh, said that the center frequently faces a dearth of vaccines for the national expanded vaccination program. The national expanded program on immunization, which was launched in 1981, is providing children under one year old with vaccinations against 11 vaccine-preventable diseases in Vietnam. The medical facility is lacking in the 5-in-1 vaccine. Pentavalent vaccine, or 5-in-1 vaccine, is meant to prevent five common and potentially fatal childhood diseases, including diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B. Dr. Tuan said that the vaccines for the expanded vaccination program are administered to residents free of charge, but supplies have been unstable. The Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control published a list of vaccines out of stock for the expanded vaccination program, including a vaccine against diphtheria and tetanus, the 3-in-1 vaccine against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus, as well as the 5-in-1 vaccine against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, and measles. A representative of a medical facility in Binh Thanh District said that the facility is facing a scarcity of vaccines for the expanded vaccination program. The healthcare facility is out of the 5-in-1 vaccine, but the 3-in-1 shot and the vaccine against measles are available. Ho Chi Minh City is not the only place with a shortfall of vaccines for the national expanded campaign on immunization, said a representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control. A woman walks past a healthcare center in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Xuan Mai / Tuoi Tre Ho Chi Minh City lacks several types of vaccine In early May, the Ministry of Health asked the department of health in every province and city to review the number of vaccines left and the demands of vaccination, and submit a report to the local Peoples Committees to allocate funds for vaccine purchases. Starting from 2023, localities are required to use their budget to buy vaccines instead of receiving shots from the Ministry of Health as before. However, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on May 11 asked the Ministry of Health to order vaccines and hold a national centralized auction to make life easier for cities and provinces to get the vaccines, ensuring an adequate supply for the expanded vaccination program. Ho Chi Minh City has long faced a shortfall of vaccines, said Nguyen Hoai Nam, deputy head of the municipal Department of Health. Under the governments latest directive, the ministry still opens tenders for vaccine packages to smooth the supply chain for the national expanded vaccination program. This year, the city will need over 672,520 doses of vaccines for the expanded inoculation program. Among them, 123,070 doses of 5-in-1 vaccines are needed. The city will need more than 880,000 doses of these vaccines for infants in the first half of 2024. Pham Duy Quang from the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City said that the institute has a list of 27 types of vaccines needed. Many vaccine suppliers started to deliver the products to the institute on May 13. The institute was expected to receive 19 of the 27 types on Monday to serve the demands for vaccination in the city. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Many parts of Ho Chi Minh City are seeing the national expanded campaign on immunization slow down due to vaccine supply disruptions.

Most residents in the city have accessed private medical facilities to have their children vaccinated instead of waiting for free vaccinations backed by the government.

Dr. Pham Van Tuan, director of the Healthcare Center in the outlying district of Binh Chanh, said that the center frequently faces a dearth of vaccines for the national expanded vaccination program.

The national expanded program on immunization, which was launched in 1981, is providing children under one year old with vaccinations against 11 vaccine-preventable diseases in Vietnam.

The medical facility is lacking in the 5-in-1 vaccine.

Pentavalent vaccine, or 5-in-1 vaccine, is meant to prevent five common and potentially fatal childhood diseases, including diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B.

Dr. Tuan said that the vaccines for the expanded vaccination program are administered to residents free of charge, but supplies have been unstable.

The Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control published a list of vaccines out of stock for the expanded vaccination program, including a vaccine against diphtheria and tetanus, the 3-in-1 vaccine against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus, as well as the 5-in-1 vaccine against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, and measles.

A representative of a medical facility in Binh Thanh District said that the facility is facing a scarcity of vaccines for the expanded vaccination program.

The healthcare facility is out of the 5-in-1 vaccine, but the 3-in-1 shot and the vaccine against measles are available.

Ho Chi Minh City is not the only place with a shortfall of vaccines for the national expanded campaign on immunization, said a representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control.

A woman walks past a healthcare center in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Xuan Mai / Tuoi Tre

Ho Chi Minh City lacks several types of vaccine

In early May, the Ministry of Health asked the department of health in every province and city to review the number of vaccines left and the demands of vaccination, and submit a report to the local Peoples Committees to allocate funds for vaccine purchases.

Starting from 2023, localities are required to use their budget to buy vaccines instead of receiving shots from the Ministry of Health as before.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on May 11 asked the Ministry of Health to order vaccines and hold a national centralized auction to make life easier for cities and provinces to get the vaccines, ensuring an adequate supply for the expanded vaccination program.

Ho Chi Minh City has long faced a shortfall of vaccines, said Nguyen Hoai Nam, deputy head of the municipal Department of Health.

Under the governments latest directive, the ministry still opens tenders for vaccine packages to smooth the supply chain for the national expanded vaccination program.

This year, the city will need over 672,520 doses of vaccines for the expanded inoculation program. Among them, 123,070 doses of 5-in-1 vaccines are needed.

The city will need more than 880,000 doses of these vaccines for infants in the first half of 2024.

Pham Duy Quang from the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City said that the institute has a list of 27 types of vaccines needed.

Many vaccine suppliers started to deliver the products to the institute on May 13.

The institute was expected to receive 19 of the 27 types on Monday to serve the demands for vaccination in the city.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Upcoming feature-length documentary, The Kingdom, sees SBS journalist Marc Fennell (Framed, Stuff the British Stole, Mastermind) returns to the world of Pentecostal religion after running away 17 years ago.

In a deeply personal documentary, he investigates how Australia produced one of the worlds most successful and scandal plagued megachurches Hillsong and asks if this kingdom is crumbling then who will take its place?

Marc Fennell said, The moment the rest of the world knows that you have this in your past, they dont pay attention to whether you liked it, hated it or if you left. You get tarred with it. Many people have had their lives positively transformed by Pentecostalism. But there are also volunteers, staff, victims, and others who have been completely chewed up and spat out by modern megachurches.

Marc meets current and fellow former believers who expose the human cost of the Pentecostal juggernaut and explores how allegations of bullying, sexual assault and financial mismanagement have eroded Hillsongs once mighty empire.

He confronts his own past spent in these churches, where he witnessed adults speaking in tongues, falling to the ground, and demons being thrown out of people. He explains why he escaped and why hes remained largely silent about it until now.

Spanning a wild journey around Australia and into the USA, The Kingdom takes cameras inside the up and coming Pentecostal megachurches making the bold move into Hillsongs home turf and asks: is this the competition for souls it seems to be and can they succeed where Hillsong has failed its followers?

The Kingdom will be subtitled in two languages, streaming on SBS On Demand in Simplified Chinese and Arabic.

Thursday 8 June on SBS On Demand

7.30pm Sunday 11 June on SBS
Snobar Khan and Syed Mueen, TwoCircles.net

Basavaraj Bommai, former Chief Minister of Karnataka, conceded defeat on May 13, 2023, as the Congress took the lead after defeating the BJP and winning 137 seats in the Assembly elections. He stated that his party had failed to make an impact and would return in the Loksabha election of 2024 with more power.

However, there are a number of factors that contributed to the BJPs defeat in the state and victory for the Congress party.

After the election results, TwoCircles.Net reached out to a number of hijabi students and activists who fought for their right to get education while wearing a hijab in Karnataka to learn about their perspectives on the defeat of the Hindu right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party.

Niyif Ashfi, one of the Hijabi activists who played a leading role in the pro-Hijab agitations, stated, It is the curse and tears of Hijabi students that has kicked the BJP out of the state..

The political leaders of the BJP did everything in their power to fulfill their agenda of hatred and demonise Muslims, but our tearful prayers to God defeated them, she added.

BJP leader and Karnatakas Ex- Minister of Education, BC Nagesh, who had imposed the ban on hijab in the states educational institutions and called for an economic boycott of Muslims, lost the Tiptur constituency.

Nagesh was one of the several prominent Hindutva party leaders who suffered electoral defeat.

Hazra, a hijabi activist from Udupi, said it is a big victory for all the Muslim hijabi students. Now students will be happy if this government revokes the new rules of the hijab ban and follows the old rules when there was no ban on hijab in schools and colleges.

I hope that time will come now when Muslim women students can enroll in any of the colleges in Karnataka wearing their hijab. And enjoy their right guaranteed by the constitution under Article 21.

However, during this election, Congress did not mention the hijab issue. But last year, in 2022, amid growing controversy over the wearing of hijab in educational institutes, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said had tweeted, By letting students hijab come in the way of their education, we are robbing the future of the daughters of India. Ma Saraswati gives knowledge to all. She doesnt differentiate.

Congress has somewhere used the hijab ban, halal, etc. as a tool to accumulate Muslim votes in many places, and Muslims supported Congress with hopes of having a pro-people government.

We will wait and watch what the Congress government will do next. The people of Karnataka united against the anti-people policies of the BJP and voted against them, Hazra said.

Gowsiya, a student of Mangalore who was forced to change her college when hijab was banned by her college, said, till the new Government revokes the hijab ban, we cannot say it is our victory.

We should not forget that the Muslim Congress-winning MLA, UT Khadar, was also significantly equally responsible the hijab ban, aand denying our constitutional right to wear hijab. Khadar had initially told us to go to Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, etc if we want to wear the hijab. Gowsiya contended.

She added that the Congress government should make plans to ensure that no extremist groups disrupt society in the future while also ensuring that girls have access to education and the fundamental right to wear hijab.

Talking about girls who discontinued their education due to the Hijab ban should be given another opportunity to enroll again and continue with their studies wearing their hijab. college.

Amid the hijab controversy in Karnataka in 2022, Congress senior leader UT Khadar advised the Muslim female students at Mangalore University College who were protesting to follow the law rather than engage in protest. He also asked them to visit Muslim nations to understand and acknowledge the culture of Indian democracy and cautioned them against taking the freedoms guaranteed by the Indian Constitution for granted.

Ashfi, a Hijabi activist, remarked, Will Congress keep their promise of banning Bajrang Dal for causing communal strife in the state, as menionted in the Congress Party manifesto?

Mentioning the previous terms elections and its result when despite Congress being elected, how the Government was actually formed by the BJP, she said , Defeating the BJP is still a question for us because during the last elections people had elected Congress who failed to live upto the hopes and expectations of the people of Karnataka paving way for the BJP to rule the state.

Now, the only responsibility of the Congress government is to take unequivocal action against the BJPs communal politics and counter the propaganda, Imran PJ, an intellectual writer and political analyst, said.

While the defeat of BJP has given the Muslim Hijabi students hope that they can now continue their education wearing their hijabs, they also worry about whether Congress will be able to keep its promises made in its manifesto, such as banning Bajrang dal for inciting communal violence and attacking minorities on the basis of religion.

It seems that the promises that Congress made during the election are now in the spotlight with the people of Karnataka.

On asking about the BJPs defeat in the state, Hazra said that the people of Karnataka chose love over hatred. The BJP government came up with their communal policies to divide people and play dirty hatred politics, such as the hijab ban, Halal vs. Jhatka, the anti-conversion law, the anti-cow slaughter law, and removed Muslim 4% OBC reservation quota and, moreover, a 40% corrupt government. With the new hopes of Congress winning the 2023 elections, we have hopes that it will bring change and restore our constitutional rights and values.

Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi, said on Saturday that his partys win in Karnataka elections against BJP is a victory of love over the politics of hate.

We contested the Karnataka polls with love, not hate; nafrat ka bazaar band hua, mohabbat ki dukaanein khul gayi, he said while addressing the media.

Addressing the Hijabi students who fought for their right to education, political analyst from Shimoga, Ra Chintan, said, Your prayers are working. Tears are coming to an end for children, and the communal BJP government, which kept you away from studying because of religion (Hijab), has been kicked out by the socialist people of our (Karunadu) Karnataka. There is no hindrance to your future. Study well and help build a model Karnataka! I love you, Karnataka.
CTC aviation celebrates 10 years of 'Joy' during open house

Photo courtesy of Alaskan Aviation

The FedEx Boeing 727 "Joy," delivered February 28, 2013, under the glow of the northern lights.

Visitors can tour the University of Alaska Fairbanks Community and Technical Colleges 727 cargo jet, "Joy," and visit the school's aviation facility during Fairbanks Aviation Day May 20.

The colleges aviation program is celebrating the 10th anniversary of receiving the jet and moving into its facility on the East Ramp of the Fairbanks International Airport.

The CTC aviation facility will be open to the public from 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

CTCs program has grown significantly since moving to its facility, and it has become an important part of Alaskas aviation industry.

UAF photo by Kevin Alexander

Fairbanks International Airport Police and Fire Department personnel use Joy for their aircraft rescue firefighter state certification.

Ten years ago, local and national entities stepped up to support the move. FedEx offered the Boeing 727 cargo jet, named Joy. It has been a crucial asset to the program, serving as a turn-key maintenance curriculum on three wheels.

To deliver the jet, the airports administration, maintenance and operations departments all assisted. Gate 6 at the main terminal was cordoned off, and a crowd was treated to a high-speed missed approach before the aircraft landed. Everts Air Cargo provided expertise and equipment to tow the 100,000-pound aircraft down the tiny ski-plane runway to the East Ramp.

UAF photo by Kevin Alexander

UAF CTC airframe and power plant students inspect the igniters on an engine during an ignition systems class.

At CTC, both the airframe and powerplant and the aviation maintenance certificate programs use the 727 in classes. With two hydraulics systems, three electrical systems and turbine engines, Joy is a perfect tool for hands-on instruction and systems familiarization.

The aviation programs mission is to train Alaskans for Alaskas jobs, and its success is reflected in the increasing number of graduates that go on to work on large aircraft.

Joy also has been used in the Fairbanks International Airport Police and Fire Departments aircraft rescue firefighter certification training. And the Transportation Security Administration has used Joy to train its K-9s in the smells and distractions of a real aircraft.

Fairbanks Aviation Day will return this year for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. During the event, the public can tour the 727 and ask CTC faculty members questions about large aircraft. Children also can get accustomed to a large jet before taking their first flight.

ADDITIONAL CONTACT: Kevin Alexander, UAF CTC associate professor, kwalexander@alaska.edu, 907-455-2921

176-23
People over 50 can find it hard to change their thinking. (Getty Images)

Many older people have entrenched ideas on certain subjects  now a study has thrown light on why it can be so difficult to get them to change their minds.

Scientists have evaluated how people were able to change their opinions following decades of a deep-rooted viewpoint.

To achieve this, they used research from around the time of the 1989 uprising against communist rule in Romania, before which 'truth' came from a single TV channel controlled by an authoritarian government.

They found that younger generations shifted the way they evaluated truth  a process known as epistemic thinking  while older people struggled.

There was a greater occurrence of sticking to one rigid viewpoint among those who had experienced the transition to democracy in middle-age rather than at an earlier period of life, the researchers said.

Read more: A 1988 warning about climate change was mostly right

The vast majority of those 75 or older tended to read or listen to the news and instantly take it as truth, "possibly because for most of their lives, they had only one TV program to watch, and all books, news, movies and music were under communist censorship," said co-author Raluca Furdui, a master's student at Romania's West University of Timisoara.

"They learned to respect the authority of the teachers in schools, and some never even had the chance to go to high school."

"In contrast, Furdui added, "we, the youngest generation in our study  currently between 18 and 30  were challenged by our teachers to express our opinions, think critically and check information."

Epistemic thinking goes from absolutist thinking, the belief that only one claim can be right, to multiplist thinking, the belief that more than one claim could be right and it is just a matter of opinion.

Evaluativist thinking suggests that statements can be evaluated in terms of both logic and evidence.

Read more: Why economists worry that reversing climate change is hopeless

Story continues

The researchers found that evaluativism was most common among the youngest generation, which also had the highest education levels.

They concluded that the developmental window for epistemic thinking is open during the first 25 years of life. After this it slowly closes, and a person's epistemic thinking style will change little later in adulthood.

Patricia Greenfield, a UCLA distinguished professor of psychology and co-author of the study, said" "We found that the social environment produced by a combination of democracy and a market economy more frequently led people to abandon the assumption that there is one right answer and to evaluate multiple possibilities  when one was born into this environment or when it was experienced in the first 25 years of life.

"We found that there is indeed a sensitive developmental period for acquiring cultural ways of thinking."

Lead author Amalia Ionescu, a doctoral student in psychology at UCLA, said: "Whether we are monitoring various news sources or scrolling through a busy Twitter feed, we are constantly encountering diverse viewpoints about topics ranging from politics to films.

"Some of these topics carry infinitely more weight than others, but ultimately we are using the same sort of mechanism when deciding how to make sense of contrasting viewpoints."

In the US, developmental psychology research has shown that children typically think in absolutist terms, then progress to multiplist thinking and sometimes, particularly with a relatively high level of education and exposure to various experiences and points of view, emerge as evaluativist adults.

The researchers focused on Romania, which in the late 1940s became communist and aligned itself with the Soviet Union.

Beginning in 1965, under the authoritarian leadership of Nicolae Ceausescu, Romania became increasingly repressive and isolated. After Ceausescu was overthrown in 1989, the country quickly moved toward democracy, embraced a market economy and joined the European Union.

Today, Romanians have a developing education system and open access to technology, social media, consumer goods and travel.

Watch: TikTok bans highlight social media regulation issues
A New York City-based fashion influencer is demonstrating how she modifies her outfits to avoid getting catcalled while on the subway.

Madison Wild (@madisonxwild) is a model and fashion girlie located in New York City. With over 656,000 combined followers on TikTok and Instagram, Wilds developed a following for her clear, eclectic point of view when it comes to her sense of style.

In a recent video, TikTok user Hannah (@hannahtiktoks97) asked, Do you get catcalled in NYC? I would be so scared but your fashion is impeccable.

I would not be caught dead on the f****** subway in this, because I will be afraid that someone is going to take me and hurt me.

On May 12, Wild posted a video in response to Hannahs comment.

So, unfortunately, part of being a gowrl in NYC is that you have to have an outfit over your outfit or under your outfit, Wild begins. This is the outfit Im wearing to the event. Super cute, but I would not be caught dead on the f****** subway in this, because I will be afraid that someone is going to take me and hurt me.

Wild pairs a patterned halter top with a sheer, cream-colored lace skirt.

So, what we do is a lot of the time I will put, like, a big t-shirt over something like this or I put shorts under and then I just put them in my bag after. And then I also will probably do a little jacket moment, she explains. And its not totally ruining the outfit. Its still cute.

Same thing if I were to put, like, just an oversized jacket. I usually like to do an oversized jacket or t-shirt I can put in my bag. But I like the underwear. So yeah, thats what I do, she adds.

Wild admits that she still feels a bit apprehensive leaving her apartment, even with the adjustments shes made.

And I still feel, like, a little nervy, but Im not in anything crazy, she says. Like, at the end of the day, these are normal-length shorts. Men are just scary, so stay safe.

Keep a knife or something. Maybe not. Maybe pepper spray, a gun, I dont know, she jokes.

Story continues

we could literally be wearing trash bags and still get cat called  sad

Wilds video, which has more than 266,200 views and 26,200 likes in just two days of posting, has generated discourse surrounding the perils of being a woman in New York City.

got catcalled in a huge oversized hoodie and pants they see female they jump regardless of what ur wearing, @carlymariin wrote.

Its very sad we have to do this as women. Youre beautiful as ever, @babygrinchxox said.

I dream of a world where its all girlies and we can dress SO cute, @rootforellie replied.

we could literally be wearing trash bags and still get cat called  sad, @desiraerita admitted.

i forgot my subway shirt on monday and i almost had a panic attack, @priya.mia revealed.

yall act like lower manhattan is afghanistan

And while many TikTok users feel for Wild and the precautions she takes to maintain her safety in the city, others have taken a critical, less empathetic stance.

Its not about what youre wearing this just kinda perpetuates.. @1017bonkers wrote.

Leave New York you aint welcome anymore, @realkennybattle declared.

i dont think it should be allowed to wear underwear in public anyway, @hyunjaestinyteeth said.

yall act like lower manhattan is afghanistan, @7sssssb criticized.

I probably wouldnt if I hadnt gotten a chunk of my hair ripped out after being chased down the street, and mugged and assaulted

Wild replied to @7sssssb in a separate video on May 14, in which she defends her decision to alter her outfits in an effort to protect against unwanted male attention.

See, and I probably wouldnt if I hadnt gotten a chunk of my hair ripped out after being chased down the street, and mugged and assaulted while with two guys and another girl, she revealed. And I dont want to imagine what would have happened if I was alone, because we luckily got away, but only because I was with other people that helped me get away.

Wild then asserts that shes completely content with taking precautions just as she wants to  and encouraging others to take theirs, too.

So I will wear my shorts and take my precautions, and warn other people to take their precautions as well, in peace, she added.

SSH, or Street Sexual Harassment, occurs in a public space (street, public transport) and is conceptualized by a face-to-face interaction between two unknown people, that is, people who share no stable, long-term or safe connection, according to Victoria A. Ferrer-Perez, a womens studies, feminism and gender researcher at the University of Balearic Islands.

Commonly recognized as gender-based harm, SSH is understood to be among the most pervasive forms of sexual violence, according to Bianca Fileborn, a senior lecturer in Criminology at the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne. Street harassment is deeply implicated in the (re)production of gendered power relations and their spatial manifestation and can be understood as both the result of broader systems of gender inequality and actively reproducing these power relations.

Women in cities where catcalling and street sexual harassment are prevalent find themselves in incredibly vulnerable, often gendered positions. In a matter of moments, women can become victims of whats called sexual terrorism, which is the control implied by men over women in the form of both actual and implied violence, according Deirdre Davis in the UCLA Womens Law Journal.

All this to say, Wild has every right to dress however she wants, whenever she wants  and her decision to alter an ensemble to mitigate potential sexual harassment is also entirely hers to make. While some commenters lack the empathy to recognize the plight of simply being a woman, the majority, thankfully, support Wild and the ways she chooses to express and protect herself.

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Biden administration officials said Monday that the numbers of migrants making unauthorized border crossings over the weekend continued to be significantly lower than expected but they were not ready to declare their plan a success just yet.

"I think it's -- it's still too early to draw firm conclusions," Assistant Secretary for Border and Immigration Policy Blas Nunez-Neto said in response to questions about the decline seen since last Thursday when the pandemic-era policy that allowed migrants to be quickly expelled ended.

"We are closely watching what's happening. We are confident that, you know, the plan that we have developed across the U.S. government to address these flows will work over time," he told reporters on Monday.

U.S. Border Patrol agents made 14,752 migrant apprehensions in the past 72 hours, Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz said in a tweet Monday.

Unauthorized crossings had reached more than 10,000 per day last week -- and President Joe Biden said then he expected the border to be "chaotic for a while," despite measures by border authorities to contain a surge in migration.

PHOTO: A US Border Patrol agent takes into custody a group of migrants that turned themselves in after crossing over from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, May 12, 2023. (Andrew Caballero-reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: Biden administration faces new legal hurdles at border as Title 42 ends

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told ABC "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl on Sunday the decline was about 50% from levels seen just before the Title 42 policy lifted last week.

As ABC News has reported, some data suggests the Title 42 expulsion order may have caused more border crossings, not fewer. The data showed significantly higher repeat crossing attempts under Title 42, compared to standard immigration processing under Title 8 of the U.S. Code.

Since Friday, Title 8 now dictates the way all migrants at the border are processed.

"And it is important to note, that while Title 42 has ended, the conditions that are causing hemispheric migration at unprecedented levels have not changed," Nunez-Neto said. "We continue to see more displaced people in the hemisphere than we have in decades."

Story continues

PHOTO: US Border Patrol agents keep watch over migrants that just turned themselves in after crossing over from Mexico as they wait for a bus to take them to a processing center in Fronton, Texas, May 12, 2023. (Andrew Caballero-reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: What is Title 8 immigration law?

There are many factors that cause migrants to make the dangerous journey north, including high levels of violence and economic instability across Latin America. More than 100 million people are displaced globally, including 20 million in the Western Hemisphere, according to the State Department.

"Migration impacts every single country in the region, and no one country can provide solutions for millions of displaced people on their own," State Department Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Marta Youth said Monday.

PHOTO: US Border Patrol agents keeps watch over migrants that just turned themselves in after crossing over from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, May 12, 2023. (Andrew Caballero-reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

Mexico and Guatemala have surged their own law enforcement and military personnel in recent days while administration officials continue to tout the effectiveness of the parole pathways that allow migrants to temporarily enter the country and claim asylum.

Homeland Security over the weekend returned "hundreds" of migrants to Mexico, including Venezuelans, Cubans and Nicaraguans. Thousands more were repatriated to other countries, Nunez-Neto said, adding that Title 8 deportations are occurring "much more quickly" than before.

Administration officials have pointed to new options for legal immigration including proposals for foreign migrant processing centers.

PHOTO: Migrants wait in along the border wall to board a bus after surrendering to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol agents for immigration and asylum claim processing on the US-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, May 12, 2023. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

However, a spokesperson for Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei said the government had not received any official requests from the U.S. government to create special processing centers for migrants trying to cross borders and eventually cross into the U.S.

"The government of Guatemala has not received any official requests for creating any kind of reception center yet," Guatemalan government spokesman Kevin Lopez Oliva told ABC News in an interview Friday.

"We just made a proposal to Secretary Mayorkas in a call, in a just unique call that just recently happened last week" between the Guatemalan President and the US Secretary of Homeland Security, "in which we were proposing an approach, an integral approach between the two countries," he added.

The approach proposed by the Guatemalan government includes "logistics support" from the U.S., Oliva said.

ABC News' Haroldo Martinez contributed to this report.

Authorities say it's unclear why fewer migrants making unauthorized border crossings originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
University of North Georgia (UNG) sophomore Mireille Cypher was awarded placement in the four-week Fulbright UK Summer Institute (UKSI) held at the University of Strathclyde and Glasgow School of Art in Glasgow, Scotland.

Cypher, a Marietta, Georgia, native pursuing a degree in kinesiology, will travel to Europe in July and stay there until Aug. 5, focusing on creativity and biomedical technology.

The UKSI is designed for students, like Cypher, who are early in their academic careers, as opposed to the more well-known Fulbright U.S. Student Program, which is meant for graduating seniors and alumni. Whereas the scholar program is a full year abroad, the summer institute program can only have freshman or sophomore participants and lasts for a month.

"We're very excited for Mireille," Dr. Kathryn Quinto, Nationally Competitive Scholarships advisor, said. "We want the application process to be helpful for all students, and Mireille did fantastic work on this application. This was extremely competitive."

Kyle Murphy, associate director of Multicultural Student Affairs, referred Cypher to the program, which she had to apply to with two recommendations, two 800-word essays and answers to questions.
It is urgent to integrate sustainability into business

The economic landscape of the world in general, and of Viet Nam and Singapore in particular, has been negatively influenced by such uncertainty as rising temperatures, or extreme weather. According to Mr Lim Boon Heng  Former Singaporean Cabinet Minister in the Prime Ministers Office of Singapore and Chairman of Temasek Holdings - IPCC released its AR6 Synthesis Report on Climate Change 2023 in March this year, ahead of COP 28 in Dubai which will be held later from November 30 to December 12. The report showed that it is more likely than not that global warming will exceed 1.5C this century, with a best estimate that this will occur before the year 2040.

Mr. Lim stated that businesses that regard the transition as an opportunity, and not just a risk, will be best positioned to succeed. To succeed, businesses must proactively develop new products, services, and relevant and innovative business models, innovative ways of operating, greater workforce capabilities, and better ways of communicating with their investors, customers, regulators, and other stakeholders.

According to Ms. Mary Pham Thu Hang, Director of VSBF and CEO of VIETSTAR, VSBF 2023 is joined by policymakers, business leaders, and national and international academics to update global trends and discuss policies, solutions, and strategic implications toward sustainable inclusive growth.

It can be said that VSBF has been engaged by businesses in key moments and until today - it has been hailed in Vietnam, Singapore, Southeast Asian countries while spreading its influence on broader scope outside Asia with the presence of leaders from General Electric (GE)-USA, or Energy Transition Partnership (ETP)-UNOPS, etc., said Ms. Thu Hang.

Lesson learned from leading businesses

Sharing Temaseks transition experience, Mr. Lim said that, sustainability is at the core of everything we do. Our annual Ecosperity is one of our key platforms for engagement and advocacy. It brings together key decisionmakers, such as business leaders, policymakers, investors, and civil society, to share best practices and push the agenda on sustainable development. This year, the conference is held on June 6-8.

Mr. Wong Kim Yin, Group President and CEO of Sembcorp Industries Ltd, said that to bridge the gap between sustainability and profitability, Sembcorp has driven growth by renewables and storage systems. The corporation also invests more in renewable energy and storage systems, which generate sustainable solutions for customers, partners, and suppliers, particularly setting the sustainability KPIs for operations, processes, and technology.

Stemming from investors increasing demands for sustainable investment, businesses in the public and private sector are focusing more on ESG (Environment  Society  Governance) and making ESG practices a reality in business activities at different levels.

According to Mr. Hoang Quoc Vuong, Chairman of Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, the corporate has been practicing ESG, such as discussing and assessing serious ESG issues, balancing E-S-G in the ESG process, and building an ESG management structure.

Currently, energy transition is defined as an inevitable development process. Therefore, in addition to an established structure of ESG governance, relevant steering committees have been established, namely the Energy Transition Steering Committee. Specifically, the risk Management Team is responsible for identifying, assessing and raising warning of financial, legal, environmental and governance risks during operation as well as proposing control measures accordingly., said Mr. Hoang Quoc Vuong.

Affirming that delivering a sustainable development orientation is an inevitable trend, Assoc. Dr. Ho Sy Hung - Vice Chairman of the Committee for State Capital Management at Enterprises said: Sustainable development is a global strategy, realized on a correlate and harmonious combination of such aspects as social-economic developement and environmental protection, which align with the inclusive goal pursuited by the Government of Vietnam. However, it is imporatant that the Government continues to promulgate standard regulations, and define clear roadmap for implementation. At the same time, it is necessary to focus on green technology development policies regarding greening existing industries, transforming to a more advanced industrial structure...
HA NOI  The Mekong Delta region, located on the maritime route in the centre of the ASEAN region, has great potential to draw strong investment waves from other countries, especially neighbouring nations.

To tap the opportunities ahead, regional localities have designed various policies and measures to support foreign investors in developing stably and sustainably, including creating a smooth environment for them. The efforts are expected to turn the region into an attractive destination for investors.

Great potential for investment attraction

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), in the 2021-25 period, the region expects to be allocated VN320 trillion (about US$13.65 billion) of State capital for infrastructure projects, up 23.3 per cent over the 2016-20 period.

Meanwhile, it will also get about VN140 trillion in State funding through ministries for other projects across the region.

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said that the capital will be poured into infrastructure development projects, especially routes connecting the region with HCM City and the Southeastern region through roads, waterways and railways.

At the same time, a coastal route linking Tien Giang and Kien Giang provinces will be developed in association with saltwater intrusion prevention and security-defence protection, forming an open economic corridor towards the sea.

In the first six months of this year, the construction of 188-km Chau oc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway, part of the North-South Expressway that crosses four localities of An Giang, Can Tho, Hau Giang and Soc Trang was launched, while Ha Tien-Rach Gia Expressway with a length of nearly 100km was also proposed by Kien Giang.

Long An Province, located in the gateway to the Mekong Delta region, ranks third among localities across the country in the process of developing industrial parks after ong Nai and Binh Duong provinces.

In terms of FDI attraction, Long An ranks 13th in the country and third in the southern key economic region after Ba Ria - Vung Tau and HCM City. It always leads the provinces and cities in the Delta region in the field. To date, the province has attracted 167 projects outside industrial parks, including 16 foreign-invested projects with a total registered capital of $4.5 billion.

Meanwhile in Can Tho City, the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) has been one of the major projects developed towards green, smart, modern and sustainable manufacturing. The project has created a large number of jobs and paid a great amount to the local budget collection, contributing to the city's modernisation and industrialisation.

Creating smooth investment environment

Over the years, Long An has been highly evaluated by investors for its support in exploring the local investment environment and implementing its projects. Investment projects meeting the provinces requirements and priorities have received investment licensing within one day.

Chairman of the Peoples Committee of Long An province Nguyen Van Ut said that this year, the province will upgrade its investment promotion capacity to lure more big investors and multinational groups, while fostering coordination among authorised agencies in processing the procedures to issue investment licences with the motto of accompanying businesses.

At the same time, Can Tho, the capital of the Mekong Delta region, is focusing on assisting local firms to expand production and business operations, and introducing its potential to domestic and foreign investors through different channels.

Chairman of the Can Tho Peoples Committee Tran Viet Truong said that Can Tho will provide optimal conditions for businesses, while creating a smooth business climate and turn itself into a trustworthy and attractive address for foreign investors. The local administration commits to accompanying businesses and investors to explore opportunities and implement their projects in the city, he pledged.

In Vinh Long Province, a plan for investment promotion for 2023 was issued with an aim to put forth investment and socioeconomic development programmes in the locality. It has also called for investment in its prioritised sectors such as digital economy, biotechnology, high-tech agriculture, environment, clean energy and technical infrastructure development.

Deputy Chairman of the Vinh Long Peoples Committee Nguyen Van Liet said that along with implementing major projects, Vinh Long will also organise investment promotion programmes and exchange information with foreign organisations, agencies and associations to introduce the province's potential to foreign investors.

At the same time, Vinh Long will also join investment promotion events inside and outside the country with the same purpose, he said.

According to the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, as of the end of January 2023, the Mekong Delta region, comprising 13 cities and provinces had hosted 1,884 FDI valid projects worth over $35 billion. VNS
HA NOI Vietnamese businesses still have a lot to do to realise the full export potential to Japan and South Korea, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).

In a recent report by the ministry, the Japanese market had a GDP of US$4.1 trillion in 2022 with a population of 125 million and an annual import demand of $900 million. South Korea's GDP was over $1.73 trillion, and an annual import demand of $731 million.

Despite numerous free trade agreements signed between Viet Nam and the two countries, Vietnamese products only accounted for a modest 2.7 per cent in the Japanese market and 3.3 per cent in the South Korean market. There was still a lot of room for improvement in Vietnamese exports, especially given the strong economic ties between the three countries in recent years.

o Quoc Hung, deputy head of the Asia-Africa market department under the MoIT, said both Japan and South Korea have strong demand for products that are Viet Nam's strengths.

For example, Japan imports over $24 billion worth of textile products annually but Vietnamese exporters have only managed to account for just over 12 per cent market share. Viet Nam does better with leather and footwear products with 18 per cent market share, or $4.5 billion.

The Southeast Asian economy tends to do worse with agricultural products in Japan despite being a world-class exporter. Every year, Japan imported nearly $1 billion worth of bananas, mainly from the Philippines at $844 million. Meanwhile, Vietnamese banana accounts for just over $6 million.

Vietnamese coffee and seafood fare a little bit better at 14 per cent and 11-22 per cent market share, respectively.

It's the same story for South Korea where Vietnamese agricultural and seafood products exported to South Korea only account for about 3 per cent market share with bananas taking just 1.3 per cent and coffee 12 per cent in their respective markets.

Hung said the challenges no longer have to do with customs duties and trade barriers but rather a difficulty in meeting the high standards set by the two markets including quality, sustainability and environment.

In addition, Vietnamese exporters have yet to establish a strong connection with local distribution channels and lack the management capacity to oversee operations in foreign markets.

"We are sitting on major advantages thanks to numerous trade agreements signed with Japan in the form of reduced tariffs, in many cases to 0 per cent such as textile, garment and seafood," he said.

Similarly, a vast majority of Vietnamese products (97.2 per cent) exported to South Korea enjoy a 0 per cent tariff with Vietnamese fruits going to be tariff-free from 2024. Meanwhile, several ASEAN countries still face as high as 36 per cent tariffs in Japan and South Korea.

Consumer shift

A major reason was a shift in consumer's attitude towards more environmentally friendly and increased demand for highly specialised products in said markets.

Both countries have, in recent years, impose stricter standards on imported agricultural products. Those who cannot adapt will likely face great difficulty in gaining access in the future.

"Take banana for example, while there is great demand Japanese and South Korean consumers have specific preferences for varieties, packaging and weight," he said.

It requires a deep understanding of consumer behaviour and preference to produce the right products.

In addition, there have been numerous incidents in the last five years in which Vietnamese products were found to contain residue of harmful ingredients or additives.

According to Hung, due to the limited ability to meet quality standards, there have been numerous cases of violations of import standards. Statistics over the past 5 years have shown dozens of violations, mostly related to exceeding permissible levels of harmful ingredients or using unlicensed additives, which did not help improve Vietnamese products' reputation.

Vietnamese exporters have also been struggling with meeting product origin rules set by the two countries, which require exporters to be fully transparent when it comes to input material and product origin.

Experts have long called for greater incentive programmes for businesses to engage in more sustainable production and awareness of high-quality standards to help Vietnamese products compete in international markets including Japan and South Korea. VNS
HA NOI  At SHB, women-led businesses are valued as a strategic segment, which comes with specialised solutions and policies in meeting their credit and service needs.

In general, credit demand in this segment has been steadily on the rise, along with the growing role and contribution of small and medium-sized enterprises to the economy.

The backbone of the economy

This role and contribution serve as the backbone of many developing economies, including Viet Nam, said Natalia Bogomolova, Asia-Pacific Regional Industry Manager for Financial Institutions Group of International Finance Corporation (IFC), at the signing ceremony for a high-level loan agreement worth US$120 million with Saigon-Hanoi Bank (SHB) at the end of March.

She added that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including women-led businesses, account for about 40 per cent of the country's GDP and about 50 per cent of total employment. In addition, women-led businesses in Viet Nam represent a quarter of the country's total number of enterprises. Vietnamese women entrepreneurs generate annual revenues equivalent to their male counterparts and experience growth rates exceeding 20 per cent.

According to the IFC expert, a market survey conducted by the organisation in 2017 indicated a capital shortfall of around $22 billion for Vietnamese SMEs, with an estimated $5 billion gap specifically for women-led SMEs. A report by the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in 2020 showed one-third of women-led businesses identified access to finance as a primary barrier to their business operations.

These are some of the reasons why IFC continues to collaborate with and enhance funding for SHB, with the aim of strengthening support for domestic SMEs, including women-led businesses, and SMEs engaged in the supply chain.

"The IFC investment is expected to help SHB double the number of loans to SMEs and credit for women-led businesses in their investment portfolio by 2025," said Natalia Bogomolova.

She noted that over one-third of IFC's funding will be dedicated to women-led businesses. Through IFC's investment, SHB will develop a gender strategy for women-led SMEs, establish monitoring and tracking mechanisms for the portfolio and improve products offered to female entrepreneurs.

Enhancing connectivity

In recent years, SMEs in general, and women-led businesses in particular, have been a strategic segment for SHB. With a clear focus, close alignment, and understanding, SHB has developed seamless solutions and policies for this segment, especially by strengthening connections with international concessional funding sources.

In an interview with the media, Ngo Thu Ha, CEO of SHB, said SHB has successfully maintained a B1 credit rating by Moody's in the April 2023 update, amid a global market undergoing major changes and challenges in 2022 and early 2023. Meanwhile, the bank has been highly regarded by the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) and international financial institutions for the bank's contributions to green credit development and credit provision to SMEs, including women-led businesses. In addition, compliance with international standards in operations has enabled SHB to access higher international funding limits that allow SHB to be more proactive in supporting and accompanying SMEs.

According to the CEO, besides the preferential value, IFC funds have medium to long-term maturity, which helps stabilise the funding structure, especially considering that the mobilised funds of Vietnamese commercial banks, in general, are still predominantly short-term.

In 2022, SHB has expanded and strengthened cooperation with various international financial institutions to diversify funding sources. The bank has obtained over $2.6 billion from 26 ODA projects, nearly $800 million from commercial funding limits, and nearly $400 million in medium to long-term loans from international organisations.

Alongside funding, SHB has been in close collaboration with experts from the World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), IFC, among others, to implement support programs and advisory services for SMEs, including women-led businesses. These programmes focus on developing business solutions and adapting to market changes, as well as providing specific guidance on cash flow management and utilising credit sources effectively and efficiently.

Through IFC and SHB collaboration, Bogomolova said IFC recognises that SHB's development strategy places a strong emphasis on providing credit to women entrepreneurs, and this can be achieved with support from the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) and Women Entrepreneurs Opportunity Facility (WEOF) through performance-based incentive programmes provided to SHB, which encourages financial institutions to provide finance to small businesses led by women.

In this strategic direction, the SHB's CEO affirms the bank's commitment to enhance and expand the scale of credit in support of SMEs, including women-led businesses, in alignment with the expectations of IFC and international financial institutions. Additionally, SHB will leverage its strengths in credit development in priority sectors and green credit, following the sustainable development strategy outlined by the Viet Nam Government and the central bank.
HA NOI The Muong Lo Cultural and Tourism Festival has received the Gold award in the category of Best Arts & Cultural Event of Event Marketing Awards 2023 (EMA 2023).

The festival, which took place on September 24, 2022 at the Nghia Lo Stadium in the northern province of Yen Bai, was organised by the Yen Bai Provincial People's Committee in collaboration with Newday Media JSC.

It was held to raise awareness of art of traditional xoe dance of the Thai ethnic minority in Muong Lo Village that was recognized as the intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO, and also to promote the village as a national tourist attraction.

The EMA 2023 awards were launched by Campaign Asia-Pacific, a leading media brand for advertising, marketing, and media professionals in the Asia-Pacific region.

The aim of the awards is to honour the regional business events community and celebrate its creativity and innovation.

Judged by a panel of global experts, every year, the awards receive hundreds of entries from leading organisations across the continent in the field of organising cultural, historical and artistic events.

The Muong Lo Cultural and Tourism Festival 2022's win marks the first time a representative from Viet Nam, Newday Media, has surpassed many big names in Asia to win the prestigious awards.

The InnerGlow 2022 event in Hong Kong (China) won the Silver award, and the GQ ART LAB? exhibition in China won the Bronze award.

Commenting on the Vietnamese festival, the organisers of EMA 2023 Awards wrote: Understanding the challenges, the team came up with the idea of a great musical in combination with various folk music and ancient languages to unfold the story of the lives and culture of the Thai ethnicity.

"The event brought in over 20,000 visitors, and over three million TV viewers, and became the talk of the town in the months after the event."

The Muong Lo Cultural and Tourism Festival 2022 created a unique cultural and artistic space on an unprecedented scale in the northwest region which was likened to a "living museum" preserving and awakening the thousand-year culture of the Thai people.

Pursuing a completely different direction from conventional festivals, the Thai xoe dance festival is a unique grand theatrical performance that exclusively uses traditional materials and are mostly performed in the Thai language by Thai dancers.

Modern technology such as 3D mapping, laser lighting, and matrix LEDs only serve as supportive tools to enhance and honour their rich cultural values.

The success of the festival has had a powerful impact on the media and tourism sector of the province. In September 2022, Yen Bai received 260,200 visitors, of which 6,600 were foreigners.

The tourism revenue was estimated to reach VN201 billion (US$8,6 million), a 150 per cent increase compared to August 2022. These are impressive figures for a mountainous town with just over 68,000 inhabitants.

"After the successful festival, we promptly prepared the submission for the Event Marketing Awards 2023. We are overjoyed that the event has been awarded the Gold award, which will encourage more attention from event and media professionals throughout Asia to this unique intangible cultural heritage of Viet Nam. This will generate more interest and spread the beauty of this heritage to the world," the director of the festival, Le Hai Yen, said:

In 2018, Newday Media JSC won the Gold Stevie Award in the Communications or PR Campaign of the Year - Events & Observances category for the organisation of the Sam Son Beach Vacation Festival 2018.

In 2019, the Muong Lo Cultural and Tourism Festival 2019 also won a gold prize in the Communications or PR Campaign of the Year - Travel & Tourism category of the 17th Stevie Awards. A mass xoe dance, which was performed by up to 5,000 people at the festival, secured a silver prize in the Community Involvement Programme of the Year category.

Xoe is a unique type of traditional dance associated with and plays a significant role in the daily life of Thai communities in the northwest of Viet Nam, especially in the provinces of Lai Chau, ien Bien, Son La and Yen Bai. It is performed in various community activities, from festivals to funerals, as a symbol of hospitality.

The art of xoe dance was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021 by the UN culture agency. VNS
HAI PHONG  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasised that Hai Phong is the locality with the highest State investment in the Red River Delta region, so it must make breakthroughs and contribute to the development of the country.

He made this statement during an inspection of several key projects in Hai Phong City on Saturday, where he also attended the ground-breaking ceremony of the Xuan Cau Industrial Park and Non-Tariff Zone Project.

The Xuan Cau Industrial Park and Non-Tariff Zone Project, which covers 752ha in the inh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone, is the country's largest non-tariff zone with a total investment capital of VN11.1 trillion (US$473 million).

Xuan Cau  Lach Huyen Investment Joint Stock Company is the investor in the project. It is expected that the project will be completed by 2033. The project will attract approximately 40,000-50,000 workers when it is put into operation.

The project is designed to perfect the structure and value chain of the Lach Huyen International Seaport and pave the way for further marine economic breakthroughs achieved by the port city.

At the ground-breaking ceremony, PM Chinh emphasised that the development of socio-economic infrastructure is one of the three strategic breakthroughs, especially in the development of road transport infrastructure, seaports, industrial parks, and non-tariff zones.

The Politburo has issued resolutions on the development of the Red River Delta region, the construction and development of Hai Phong City by 2030 with a vision by 2045. These resolutions aim to strongly promote the development of Ha Noi  Hai Phong  Quang Ninh.

Chinh praised Hai Phong and Xuan Cau Company for implementing the project in the direction of green, digital, and intelligent development. It is a model of public leadership and private management that should be expanded.

He requested that the central agencies, departments, and the citys People's Committee actively resolve difficulties and obstacles to ensure the project is implemented on schedule and effectively and to build a model industrial park and non-tariff zone that meets modern international standards.

He expressed his hope that Viet Nam will have more non-tariff zones and large shopping centres to serve visitors who come to Viet Nam, and that the projects investors will strive to grow strongly, apply intelligent and advanced management practices to compete fairly with foreign-invested industrial parks such as the Viet Nam-Singapore Industrial Park.

Earlier, the PM inspected the construction progress of wharfs 3, 4, 5, and 6 at the Hai Phong International Gateway Port.

The Hai Phong International Gateway Port, with total investment capital of nearly VN9 trillion, is owned by the Hateco Group. The project was started in July 2022 and planned to be completed in 2024.

Once completed, wharfs 5 and 6 will be able to accommodate container ships with a capacity of 18,000 to 20,000 TEUs while wharfs 3 and 4 can accommodate ships with a capacity of 160 TEUs.

He requested regular supervision and encouragement of workers to speed up the construction progress, shorten the construction time, while ensure safety and health for workers.

While inspecting the progress of the Terminal 2 of Cat Bi International Airport on Saturday, Chinh directed the investor to coordinate with the city and relevant ministries and agencies to urgently complete procedures with management agencies to approve the project as a basis for implementing the selection of consulting contractors.

He also urged the completing of appraisal and approval of technical designs for construction contractors. He noted the management of the projects implementation to ensure peoples safety and the quality of the project.

The Prime Minister required the city to be proactive in studying the investment in some works at the airport such as runways and proposing a plan to resolve land clearance issues, which must be completed in the third quarter of this year.

The Ministry of National Defence and Hai Phong City must complete the land handover in the third quarter, and Vietnam Airport Corporation must complete the construction of the project within one year.  VNS
HA NOI - The Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) attaches great importance to the exchange of theories and policies with ruling and political parties of countries worldwide, including Germany, Nguyen Xuan Thang, Politburo member and Chairman of the CPV's Central Theory Council, has said.

Thang made the statement during a reception on Sunday in Ha Noi for a delegation of German's Social Democratic Party (SPD) co-led by Alexander Schweitzer, member of the SPD Central Committee, and Dr. Nils Schmid, SPD Parliamentary Group Foreign Policy Spokesman during their working visit to Viet Nam to attend the 8th theoretical dialogue between the two parties.

The host spoke highly of the outcomes of the eighth dialogue and working sessions between officials of the two parties during the SPD delegation's trip.

He reaffirmed the Vietnamese Party and States external policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, development, diversification and multilateralisation of relations, with active and proactive integration into the world, saying Vietnam is a reliable and responsible friend and partner of the international community.

Expressing appreciation for the fruitful cooperation and friendship between the CPV and the SPD within the framework of the Viet Nam - Germany strategic partnership, Thang emphasised similarities between the two countries in approaching development policies, saying that the two parties should make efforts to strengthen practical and effective cooperation for peace and development in the region and the world, and for democracy, justice, social progress and the interests of their people.

For their part, the German guests expressed their admiration and congratulated VietNam on its achievements in the cause of oi Moi (Renewal), as well as the countrys recent economic recovery and growth.

They stressed that the SPD treasures the dialogue mechanism with the CPV, one of the most important partners of the German party, as well as the 8th dialogue.

The German officials agreed with Thang's assessment of the importance of the 8th dialogue, affirming that the dialogue and their visit to Viet Nam continue to strengthen mutual understanding and trust, as well as the friendship and cooperation between the two parties, contributing to promoting the Viet Nam  Germany strategic partnership.

During the 8th theoretical dialogue, the two sides exchanged views on issues related to peace and development in the context of a changing world; and the planning and implementation of policies to ensure peace and stability for sustainable development, climate change adaptation, and economic and energy transition in each country.

On this occasion, head of the CPV Central Committees Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung welcomed the SPDs delegation, during which the two sides shared views on regional and international issues of common concern, and discussed measures to further strengthen relations between the two parties, thus further deepening the bilateral strategic partnership in a more substantive manner.

During their trip, the German guests visited President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Presidential Palace complex; and had working sessions with representatives of some ministries and sectors to enquire about Viet Nams policies on energy conversion and sustainable socio-economic development. VNS
HA NOI  Ship 20 of Naval Region 3s Brigade 172, together with a delegation of the Viet Nam Peoples Navy (VPN), left the central city of a Nang on Sunday for international multilateral activities in Malaysia and Indonesia.

The trip, made at the invitation of Malaysian and Indonesian navies, aims to consolidate and strengthen the good friendship and cooperation between the Viet Nam Peoples Army in general and the VPN in particular and those of other ASEAN countries as well as outside the region, the Peoples Army Newspaper reported.

It was also intended to materialise directives of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence on international integration and defence diplomacy, and improving troops ability to work together in response to common maritime security challenges.

During their 5,000-mile journey, the officers and soldiers will organise training in order to raise their combat readiness, and conduct patrols to grasp the situation at sea.

They are scheduled to participate in activities within the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) in Malaysia, including a naval vessel display, a fleet review and exercises at sea.

In Indonesia, the Vietnamese delegation will partake in the fourth Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo (MNEK-4), an international fleet review, and the International Maritime Security Conference.

They will also take part in various cultural and sport exchanges in those two countries.  VNS
STOCKHOLM  Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang attended the second EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum in Stockholm on May 13.

Speaking at the event, Hang said that the global economy is at a crucial turning point, from quantity-based to quality-based growth, and from a resources-based to a knowledge-based economy.

In the process of cooperation in transition and dealing with global challenges, with the three keywords of cooperation, coordination and connectivity, countries need to have a suitable approach so as to overcome differences, meet the needs of the parties, and create a favourable environment for businesses and people, stressed the diplomat.

From Viet Nam's experience in economic development and international integration, she highlighted three balance factors that need to be ensured, namely between obligations and capabilities; between self-reliance, and openness, economic integration and linkages; and between transformation and stability. The process of green and digital transformation must ensure financial sustainability and social stability, energy security and food security, she added.

The official affirmed that Viet Nam appreciates European partners financial commitments on climate change and hopes for their continued support to achieve the net zero emission target.

She also reaffirmed Viet Nam's commitments to the Asia-Europe Partnership, and called on countries to coordinate in resuming activities of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) for peace, cooperation and development.

The ministerial forum, co-chaired by Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles, offered a chance for foreign ministers of European countries and those in the Asia-Pacific region to share opinions on and assess opportunities, challenges and prospects for cooperation, and propose initiatives and solutions to enhance connectivity and promote coordination in addressing common issues.

Josep Borrell expressed his hope that the forum will become a regular channel of dialogue connecting European and Indo-Pacific countries.

Delegates shared concerns over complex and multi-dimensional security challenges affecting the two regions, affirmed commitments to international order based on international law, and agreed to strengthen cooperation in response to common challenges to ensure regional security and facilitate development.

They highlighted the importance of maritime security cooperation, and ensuring freedom of navigation and aviation in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the waters of the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean, including the East China Sea and the East Sea (known internationally as South China Sea).  VNS
HA NOI  The Viet Nam e-Commerce and Digital Economy Agency has requested all e-commerce platforms to remove the sale of Australian coins bearing the flags of the now-defunct Saigon regime.

The agency told all businesses and individuals who own e-commerce websites and apps to review and remove all commemorative AUD2 coins  produced by the Australia Royal Mint to mark the 50th anniversary of Australias pulling out all its troops from the US-led war in Viet Nam  and other similar collectibles featuring the "yellow flag" symbol that are being sold on their platforms.

The yellow flag with red stripes in the coin design, contained in a ring surrounding a helicopter, is the medal ribbon colours awarded to Australian veterans of the forces in southern Viet Nam.

The flag was banned by the Vietnamese Government after the US-backed Republic of Viet Nam regime was defeated in 1975 and the country was reunited.

All e-commerce platforms are asked to take measures such as keyword filtering and manual human intervention to remove these items and other similar collectibles featuring the "yellow flag".

The agency also demanded the reporting of the details of the above-mentioned actions in writing and attach an appendix with information on the shops, products/items, and keywords that have been reviewed and removed.

Deputy spokesperson for the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang earlier this month asked that Australia "take measures to stop the circulation of these items and prevent similar incidents from happening in the future."

"We regretted and absolutely protested Royal Australian Mint and Australia Post's releases and circulation of the items containing the yellow flag with three stripes, the flag of a regime that is no longer in existence," Hang commented.

She also noted that the Vietnamese side has discussed the matter with Australia, adding that the issuance of the coins did not match the ongoing positive trends of the Viet Nam-Australia Strategic Partnership,

Viet Nam and Australia are enjoying thriving ties, and both countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, and the fifth anniversary of Strategic Partnership.

In response to the complaints from Viet Nam, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said in a statement: "The design of the coin reflects the colours of the ribbons of the service medals awarded to Australians who served in Viet Nam, including the Vietnam Service medal, introduced in 1968.

"The Australian Government does not recognise the flag of the former Republic of Viet Nam."  VNS
CA MAU  Ca Mau Province has strengthened efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities.

Its Border Guard Command routinely works with other agencies to inspect all fishing boats.

This helps promptly penalise boats that turn off their vessel monitoring system (VMS), an indication they encroached into foreign waters for fishing.

It also helps monitor the origin of catches.

The Border Guard Command has disseminated information about the Border Law and IUU fishing several times this year to improve the awareness of officials and people living in coastal areas about managing and protecting maritime and island sovereignty and developing the marine economy.

Aware of the importance of removing Europes yellow card for the country for IUU fishing, fishing boat owners have signed commitments not to trespass into foreign waters.

The province has around 5,000 fishing boats, of which 1,500 are 15 meters or longer and have all been equipped with VMS.

Nguyen Trong Nghia was one of the first boat owners in Tran Van Thoi Districts Song oc Town to do so.

His boat often has four to five men when fishing squid and the device ensures its safety, he said.

One time in 2021, while fishing offshore, the captain took the boat into foreign waters and the Song oc Border Guard discovered it, he said.

It promptly called the captain and also told his family to contact him and tell him to return to Vietnamese waters, he said.

He and the captain then signed a commitment not to violate regulations again, he added.

Phung uc Huy, chief of the Border Guard Command, said the province has set up a Fishing Boat Monitoring Centre in his office to promptly discover violations.

The centre monitors all fishing boats, both active and inactive, and instructs captains and owners of fishing boats to return when they encroach into foreign waters.

Boats that do not heed the warning are penalised, he said.

The province has a coastline of 254km, and its boats caught about 58,535 tonnes of seafood in the first quarter of this year, up 2.8 per cent year-on-year, according to its Fisheries Sub-department.  VNS
GIA LAI  An ethnic teacher in Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) province of Gia Lai finds many ways to encourage poor ethnic students to overcome difficulties to pursue studying.

Born in a poor village, Nay Khon  a Jrai ethnic man of Chu Gu Commune in Krong Pa District overcame difficulties trying to study with a desire to return to teach the ethnic children in his hometown.

Understanding the difficulties of the ethnic students, since graduating from school to teaching until now, Khon has helped many poor students pursue their studies.

In 1995, Khon graduated from a three-year training course of pedagogy at Gia Lai Pedagogy College and then was assigned to work at a number of elementary schools in difficult areas of Krong Pa District.

In the 2022-23 school year, he was transferred to teach at a school in the Ia Jip ethnic hamlet, 24km from the centre of Krong Pa District.

Since the school was built in 2002, the classrooms had degraded.

Responding to the movement of building green, clean, beautiful and safe classrooms launched by the schools principal, Khon determined to re-design the classrooms with his students.

The moldy, dirty walls were cleverly covered by wallpaper. The teacher also encouraged students to bring branches of wild orchids, flowers and plants to decorate and create natural corners in the classrooms and the school's balconies.

In the dry season, he also instructs students to bring water bottles from home to take care of the plants.

Thanks to the perseverance of the teacher and students, anyone who visits the school is surprised and admires Khon and his students efforts to build a green, clean, beautiful and safe school.

In addition, in an effort to maintain the number of students in class, Khon often goes to remote hamlets to persuade parents to send their children to school regularly.

Understanding the difficulties of his students who have to help their parents earn more income and put studying on hold, the teacher braved the sun and the rain, wading through the forest to find and mobilise students to come to class regularly.

Ksor H'Met, a student who stayed in the same grade for two years in a row because she often missed school to help her parents work in the fields, said that her family struggled with many brothers and sisters. Although her parents work hard in the field, they could not afford to support their children.

She has to drop out of school to herd goats and earn more money for her family.

Knowing that, Nay Khon deducted his salary and supported H'Met and her sisters in daily life as well as with studying.

Regularly, after the morning class, the teacher cooks lunch at the schools kitchen for H'Met and her sisters and some other poor students so that they can attend classes in the afternoon.

In order to help poor students have enough school supplies, every summer, the teacher asks sponsors to provide school supplies and books for students at Ia Jip school.

In the school year 2022-23, the teacher received four used bicycles and then repaired gave them to his students.

In addition, he also used his own salary to buy three sets of new clothes, two pairs of slippers, two briefcases and school supplies for disadvantaged students in his class.

To attract students to read books daily and have a habit of reading books, Khon decorated a corner of the classroom as a library and organised a reading club in class.

Specifically, he divided the students into reading groups with each group of four to six students. The students helped each other to improve their reading skill. Every Friday, the group leaders reported on their group's performance.

Thanks to the activity, the reading skill and literary of his students improved dramatically, which is highly appreciated by the schools principal, and is followed by other teachers.

oan Thi Thuy, principal of Tran Quoc Tuan School, said Khon is a dedicated teacher.

With strong effort and empathy with poor students, he had maintained the number of students in class for many years, Thuy said.

His students won one second prize and one consolation prize in a contest of Vietnamese language at the school.

Financial supporting poor students helped many students pursue their studies.

"As a teacher of ethnic groups, teaching at a remote and difficult school site, Khon's deeds are worthy of praise, commendation, and to be spread throughout the education sector, said Thuy.  VNS
HA NOI  The collective economy and cooperatives have made new developments, overcoming prolonged weaknesses and helping connect farmers, businesses, and build a rural ecosystem.

However, there is a need for changes in the operation and management of the collective economy to fully tap its potential, experts have said.

The collective economy and cooperatives have been present in Viet Nam for a long time. During the period from 1955-1985, cooperatives were formed to gather small producers in a trade and each member was assigned a specific job.

After the transition from a subsidy economy to a market-oriented economy between 1986-1996, the collective economy and cooperatives faced many difficulties and many cooperatives were ineffective.

In 2012, the Law on Cooperatives was introduced, helping to establish a clear and specific direction for cooperatives, especially agricultural cooperatives. Ten years since the Law on Cooperatives came into effect, cooperative units and clusters have been established, forming a collective entity with legal status, production and consumption plans, and specific quality criteria to negotiate with domestic and even international buyers.

The Central Institute for Economic Management reported that since the Law on Cooperatives was born, the cooperative economy has directly contributed an average of 48 per cent to the country's GDP.

By the end of 2022, there were nearly 30,000 cooperatives, 125 cooperative federations, and 71,000 cooperative clusters nationwide. Of that, there are 35,000 agricultural cooperative clusters, 19,500 agricultural cooperatives, and 91 agricultural cooperative federations, attracting 3.8 million members and providing 1.5 million jobs.

Cooperatives, particularly agricultural ones, have connected small and individual farming households into a larger group, and helped determine their production and consumption amid intense competition.

Ngo Minh Long, Chairman of the Hau Giang Cooperative Alliance, said that the Mekong Delta is an area with strong potential for agriculture. Without the model of cooperatives, most farmers in this region would struggle and compete with each other to find outlets for their products. With cooperatives, each farmer only needs to perform their duties well and produce high-quality products according to the requirements of customers, leading to success for the entire group of farmers.

Nguyen Quoc Bao, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ben Tre Green Grapefruit Cooperative, shared that since its establishment, the cooperative had only 69 members, but now has attracted more than 310 members.

Cooperative members have many opportunities to collaborate with agricultural cooperatives in Canada, exchange experience in producing green grapefruits and find customers, he added.

Modest efficiency

However, the efficiency of the collective economy in the past 20 years has been modest.

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said the growth rate of the collective economy was only 50 per cent of the overall economic growth rate.

To develop the collective economy and cooperatives, Dung said that it is necessary to improve the institutional framework and technical infrastructure of rural and mountainous areas.

At the same time, the workforce should be improved to manage cooperatives along the value chain. In particular, the cooperatives need to promote the advantages of member scale, and attract more members for further development.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan said in addition to the management of human resources of each cooperative, the role of local authorities is very important. The more attention local leaders pay to the collective economy, the more quality cooperatives are active in that area.

All levels and sectors need to support cooperatives with resources already linked to sustainable rural development strategies. In order to effectively develop the collective economy, the National Assembly has recently undertaken a project to revise the 2012 Cooperative Law, creating opportunities for cooperatives to access resources for development, he added.

Nguyen Tien inh, representative of the Cooperative and Rural Development Economics Division under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said among more than 18,700 agricultural cooperatives, only about 3.7 per cent have access to credit annually.

This difficulty in accessing preferential loans from the commercial banking system has caused the cooperatives to lack the economic resources to invest in processing, leading to a focus on harvesting with low productivity, limiting the formation and development of supply chains.

New targets

In mid-June 2022, the Government issued Decision No799/QD-TTg to develop a revised Cooperative Law project.

The development of the collective economy has become a crucial task to promote the country's economy. A resolution on continuing to innovate, develop and improve the efficiency of the collective economy in the new period was passed at the fifth plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee.

It targets that by 2030, the country will have approximately 140,000 cooperative groups with two million members, 45,000 cooperatives with eight million members, and 340 cooperative federations with 1,700 member cooperatives.

More than 60 per cent of collectives are expected to reach a good or fair development level, with at least 50 per cent participating in value chain linkages.

Additionally, the country aims to have over 5,000 cooperatives applying high technology to agricultural production and consumption, developing agricultural value chains linked to production, providing processing services and product consumption, and promoting participation in supply chains for export.

To achieve these goals, many initiatives have been implemented. The application of high technology and digital transformation in the production and consumption of agricultural products is a big step forward for the cooperatives.

Nguyen uc Phuong, Chairman of Can Tho City's Cooperative Alliance said that the group has supported more than 40 cooperatives to exchange information, buy and sell goods on social networks.

They have also supported the introduction of products with food safety certificates or VietGAP certificates, and products that have been certified under the One Commune One Product (OCOP) programme on e-commerce trading floors such as Posmart.vn, Voso.vn, and chonongsancantho.vn.

This has gradually helped cooperatives transform their business methods and increase their competitiveness in the market.

Pham Ngoc a, Director of the Giot Phu Sa Agriculture Technology Cooperative in Phong ien District in Can Tho City shared that the cooperative uses QR codes to trace the origin of products and also sells products on e-commerce trading floors. This has not only increased customers trust but also helped the cooperative improve business efficiency.

Currently, their products are widely sold in provinces in the Mekong Delta region and HCM City. The products are also sold through e-commerce platforms such as Tiki, Lazada, and Posmart.vn.

This has brought high economic efficiency to the cooperative, contributing to stable income for more than 20 labourers with a monthly income of VN5-8 million per person.

Phuong said the group has proposed to continue to coordinate with relevant departments and branches of the city to organise training courses to help the cooperatives apply information technology in production and consumption.

This will help the cooperatives access and effectively apply digital solutions to their production and business activities, developing sustainably and adapting to the market, he said.  VNS
HA NOI  Authorities of the south-central coastal province of Binh Thuan will inspect enterprises exporting aquatic products to the European market to prepare for the European Commission (EC)s fourth round of inspection of the local fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in late May.

Accordingly, inspections will be conducted from May 15-18 at local businesses that purchase raw materials, process and export aquatic products to the European market. The work will focus on the compliance with regulations on anti-IUU fishing and reviewing the documentation for confirming and certifying the origin of harvested seafood to ensure traceability throughout the supply chain.

The inspections are expected to promptly detect, rectify, and punish organisations, seafood processing and export establishments, and individuals who intentionally violate regulations on IUU and attempt to legitimise documentation for exporting seafood batches to the European market.

Relevant forces of Binh Thuan have coordinated with local administrations to deploy many solutions to combat IUU fishing; and promoted communication activities to popularise guiding documents of the central and local authorities and raise local fishermen's awareness of law observance.

Since early 2023, over 16,000 fishermen in Binh Thuan have been provided with information relating to relevant regulations on preventing IUU fishing. Owners of over 3,800 fishing vessels with a length of 12 metres and above have signed commitments not to engage in IUU fishing.

The coordination between various competent forces in and outside the province to manage fishing vessels and combat IUU fishing is closely linked to the implementation of the Fisheries Law.

Local fishing vessels were strictly inspected at ports, sea, and via vessel monitoring systems (VMS), which help early detect and promptly prevent cases of potential violations of IUU fishing, and fishing vessels' infringements into foreign waters.

As of April 21, Binh Thuan had completed the installation of VMS on 99 per cent of its fishing ships with a length of 15 metres and above.  VNS
The dialogue between ASEAN leaders and the High-Level Task Force on the ASEAN Community's Post-2025 Vision on May 10, part of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia (Photo: VNA)

Jakarta - The ASEAN Village Network (AVN) will focus on three cooperation areas in its implementation namely tourist village, digital village and One Village One Product (OVOP), in order to promote the comprehensive connectivity and development in the region.

Abdul Halim Iskandar, Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration (PDTT) Minister of Indonesia, the current ASEAN Chair, said on May 12 that the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit agreed to form the AVN, an open, independent, and bottom-up network of villages, village groups, and village associations in ASEAN member countries.



According to Iskandar, some Indonesian villages would serve as pilot projects for the cooperation areas.



Villages that served as pilot projects for tourist villages comprise Mangunan Village in Bantul, Yogyakarta; Kembang Kuning Village in East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara; and Sekapuk Village in Gresik, East Java, he said in a statement on May 11.



Meanwhile, Cibiru Wetan Village in Bandung, West Java; Duda Timur Village in Karangasem, Bali; and Kubu Village in Kubu, West Kalimantan, served as pilot projects for digital villages.



Muara Badak Ulu Village in Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan; Namang Village in Central Bangka, Bangka Belitung Islands; and Blendung Village in Pemalang, Central Java, function as OVOP villages, he elaborated.



Moreover, the Senior Officials Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication (SOMRDPE) will be held at least once per year and chaired on a rotating basis. The meeting concerns village development and poverty eradication, Iskandar remarked.



The first annual meeting for the ASEAN Village Network is scheduled to be held in July 2023 in Indonesia.



The minister expects other ASEAN countries to take a cue from Indonesia about its village development policies since it has the best in Asia, and thus, it can become a benchmark in village development.



The ASEAN Village Network is intended to serve as a platform for the exchange of worldviews and opinions on smart solutions in confronting challenges at the village level, he noted.



"ASEAN Village Network made the voice of villages to be heard at the local, national, and regional level," he remarked.



AVN is an open platform for discussion and knowledge sharing concerning various issues related to village development, poverty alleviation, and village development policies in the future.



Indonesian Chair of SOMRDPE Sugito stated that through this forum, countries in ASEAN can collectively foster cross-sectoral collaboration to develop villages, so that they are able to synergize and be competitive.



In this way, villages can contribute to the development of the nation, country, and ASEAN.



SOMRDPE is expected to be able to accommodate issues pertaining to village development, including food security, connectivity, electricity and water supply, education or literacy, manpower, migration to urban areas, land reformation, and infrastructure deficit, he said.

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Delegates to the investment promotion conference in Amersfoort (Photo: VNA)

Brussels - Chairman of the Peoples Committee of Ha Nam province Truong Quoc Huy has called on Dutch enterprises to invest in hi-tech agriculture, supporting industry, logistics and tourism at a recent investment promotion conference in Amersfoort.

The event was jointly held by the Dutch Business Association Vietnam (DBAV), the provincial Peoples Committee, and the Vietnamese Embassy in the Netherlands.

Huy introduced participants to potential and opportunities to invest in the northern province, which has a favourable geographical position and convenient infrastructure system, rich natural resources, and abundant and high-quality labour resources.

Over the past years, Ha Nam has always seen an economic growth rate of over 10%, and maintained in Vietnams top 15 in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction.

Briefing Ha Nam representatives on information about the Netherlands, Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Viet Anh expressed his belief that the event will open up new opportunities for Ha Nam and Dutch partners to form partnerships, contributing to promoting the Vietnam-Netherlands Comprehensive Partnership in general and the bilateral economic cooperation in particular.

At the conference, participating businesses paid attention to policies, procedures and the investment environment of Ha Nam.

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PM Pham Minh Chinh (front, third from right) inspects the construction of terminals at Hai Phong International Gateway Port on May 13. (Photo: VNA)

Hai Phong  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has demanded the northern port city of Hai Phong make breakthroughs to deserve the States investment and its position and role in the Red River Delta and Vietnam as a whole.

He made the request while addressing the ground-breaking ceremony of the Xuan Cau Industrial Park and Non-Tariff Zone project in the Dinh Vu - Cat Hai Economic Zone on May 13.

Covering 752ha, the Xuan Cau Industrial Park and Non-Tariff Zone are invested with 11.1 trillion VND (473.1 million USD) in total by the Xuan Cau - Lach Huyen Investment JSC.

The project is expected to have its first phase completed in 2025, the second phase in 2030, and the third in 2033. Once operational, it is set to attract about 40,000 - 50,000 workers.

Speaking at the ceremony, PM Chinh said developing socio-economic infrastructure, especially roads, seaports, industrial parks, and non-tariff zones, is one of the three strategic breakthroughs targeted by the Party and State, who have issued many resolutions, directives, mechanisms, and policies to promote them.

The Politburo also released a resolution on the development of the Red River Delta and another on Hai Phong city by 2030, with a vision to 2045, so as to strongly bolster the Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh development triangle.

Among the Red River Delta localities, Hai Phong has received the biggest investment from the State, but its contributions to the country remain modest. Therefore, the city has to make breakthroughs to deserve that investment, as well as its position and role in the region and the country at large, the PM emphasised.

He expressed his hope for more large non-tariff zones and shopping centres in Vietnam with sufficient services for foreign visitors, especially in the current context when the global market is shrinking.

Earlier the same day, the Government leader and other officials inspected the construction of Terminals 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Hai Phong International Gateway Port, a project of national importance.

The 9 trillion VND port, invested by the Hateco Group, had its construction started in July 2022 and is scheduled to be put into use in 2024.

Once completed, Terminals 5 and 6 will be capable of handling container vessels of 18,000 - 20,000 TEUs that run on the routes to North America and Europe. Meanwhile, Terminals 3 and 4 will be able to serve vessels of 160 TEUs.

Also on May 13, PM Chinh examined preparations for the construction of Terminal T2 of the Cat Bi International Airport.

With an investment of over 2.4 trillion VND by the Airports Corporation of Vietnam, it is designated to serve as the domestic terminal and handle 5 million passengers per year. Meanwhile, Terminal 1 will be the international one.

Work on Terminal T2 is set to begin in November this year and be completed in May 2025.

Hai Phong needs to make breakthroughs to deserve State's investment: PM hinh anh 2

A performance at the opening ceremony of the Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Festival 2023 on May 13 (Photo: VNA)

Later the same day, PM Chinh attended the opening ceremony of the Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Festival 2023.

Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Nguyen Van Tung said the city has attached special importance to cultural values and peoples spiritual life, which will create the momentum and internal strength for development. Therefore, the Red Flamboyant Festival has been held annually since 2012 and featured hundreds of events, leaving good impression on local residents and visitors.

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Hai Phong works to draw investment from Taiwans electrical, electronic firms The Hai Phong Economic Zone Authority (HEZA) on April 19 held a working session with the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (TEEMA).
National Green Cooling Programme project officially launched

The project is implemented through a consortium of the Vietnam Energy and Environment Consultancy JSC (VNEEC), and Perspectives Climate Group. They bring together a consortium of local and international thought leaders. The assignment will be carried out in 12 months from February 2023 to February 2024.

The project was launched in the framework of workshop In-depth study and survey to develop the National Green Cooling Programme (NGCP), funded by the Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership managed by the United Nations Office for Project Services.

The cooling sector is a critical component of Vietnams economy, and it is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years. At the same time, the sector contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and can have adverse impacts on vulnerable groups, including women, children, and low-income households," said John Robert Cottoon, senior programme manager of the Southeast Asian Energy Transition Partnership.

"The development of the NGCP will assess and reflect the effects of increasing cooling activities and reducing GHG emissions on vulnerable groups, ensuring an inclusive and gender-balanced approach.

The development of the NGCP will align with Vietnam's latest GHG emissions targets and commitment to the net-zero target by 2050, ensuring that the proposed strategies and interventions are consistent with the country's goals. The project team will successfully accomplish the assignment's objectives, and the NGCP will provide significant contributions to Vietnam's energy transition and greenhouse gas reduction goals.

Climate change is already affecting Vietnam. According to the VNEEC, the cooling sector has grown significantly in the last 10 years and is expected to expand considerably in the next few years to meet the increasing cooling demand of the country. The global unit sales in the cooling sector will grow from 336 million in 2018 to 460 million by 2030.

Dang Hong Hanh, co-founder at VNEEC, said that cooling was an irreplaceable aspect contributing to the GHG emission reduction target.

"In the short term, the in-depth study and survey to develop the National Green Cooling Programme will provide an in-depth study that supports policymakers to establish National EE standards for different coolings subsectors in collaboration with an assessment that reveals the potential of the cooling sector in reducing GHG emissions contributing towards net-zero in Vietnam. Besides this, stakeholders are well-informed to prepare a transition towards a low-GWP and high-energy-efficient market," Hanh said.

In the midterm, the NGCP with a clear roadmap serves as a platform to strengthen coordination between government agencies key stakeholders in the cooling sector concerning EE and climate change mitigation. Furthermore, the NGCP will provide input and is expected to be adopted to integrate into and develop the National Plan for Management and Phase-out of controlled substances that will be endorsed by the Prime Minister.

Vietnam approves programme for green energy transition On July 22, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh signed Decision No.876/QD-TTg approving an action programme on the green energy transition and the reduction of carbon and methane emissions in the transport sector. The move aims to develop a green transport system in the push for net-zero emission by 2050.

USAID launches $14 million project to help Ho Chi Minh City accelerate its green growth The United States Mission to Vietnam, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee launched a project to accelerate renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions on September 20.

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Bui Vien pedestrian street - a popular nighttime destination for foreign visitors and young local people in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi - In a bid to revive the struggling tourism sector, Vietnam is set to unveil a series of new visa and immigration policies at the upcoming National Assembly meeting.

These policies are expected to bolster the country's socioeconomic development by attracting foreign visitors, following the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.



The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has been proactively urging the Government to present a comprehensive plan to the National Assembly, aimed at expanding the list of visa exemptions and promoting the growth of tourism. The proposed immigration policies encompass several key changes that could potentially transform the landscape of travel to Vietnam.



One significant proposal is the extension of the duration for electronic visas from 30 days to 3 months, applicable for both single and multiple entries. This extended timeframe aims to provide travellers with greater flexibility and encourage longer stays, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the country's perse offerings.



Furthermore, the plan entails the issuance of electronic visas to citizens of all countries and territories. By streamlining the visa application process, this measure seeks to eliminate unnecessary barriers and facilitate smoother entry for international visitors. This inclusive approach reflects Vietnam's commitment to embracing global tourism and fostering cultural exchange.



Another noteworthy proposal involves extending the visa exemption period. Currently limited to a duration of 15 days, this certificate would be extended to 45 days. This extension aims to accommodate travellers from countries enjoying visa-exempt status, granting them a more extended period to explore the country's attractions and contribute to its tourism revenue.



These forthcoming visa and immigration reforms signify Vietnam's determined efforts to revitalise its tourism industry, which has suffered immensely from the impact of the pandemic. The introduction of these policies is anticipated to create new opportunities for growth and development, positioning Vietnam as an appealing destination for international travellers seeking a memorable and immersive experience.



As the country prepares to present these proposals to the National Assembly, stakeholders and industry experts eagerly await the outcome, hopeful that these reforms will pave the way for a vibrant and resilient tourism sector in Vietnam.



In addition, besides considering the decision to expand the visa exemption list, there will also be breakthrough policies to attract international tourists to Vietnam and promote the development of the country's green economy in the near future.



The MOFA is coordinating with relevant agencies and localities to actively carry out economic diplomacy, actively engage in comprehensive and effective international integration, and prepare for and implement high-level foreign relations programmes, further deepening bilateral and multilateral partnerships with countries and on international forums.



The Government has also entrusted the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to work with relevant authorities to enhance promotional activities for tourism, and efficient exploitation of potential international tourist markets. This includes the development of new tourism products with high quality and competitiveness to stimulate tourism recovery and sustainable development.



Ministries, sectors, and localities are required to organise the effective implementation of tasks and solutions in various fields, with a particular emphasis on the need to boost the recovery and development of tourism and propose the expansion of visa-exempt entry for countries into Vietnam.



Currently, the tourism sector is receiving significant attention from the Party and the State. At the National Tourism Conference in March 2023, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged ministries, sectors, and localities to amend and improve policies regarding immigration procedures for international guests.



This includes expanding the list of visa-exempt countries, extending the appropriate duration of stay with reasonable fees, and expanding electronic visas. The Prime Minister also called for facilitating domestic and international airlines to open new routes and establish direct connections between Vietnam and key tourism markets.



PM Chinh also emphasised the need to enhance international cooperation, particularly with large multinational tourism corporations and conglomerates, to promote connectivity and attract major and potential markets based on the principles of "harmonious benefits and shared risks."



Following this conference, it is expected that the Government will issue a resolution to accelerate the recovery and development of tourism in the near future.

Visa makes it a breeze to receive funds from abroad with Visa Direct Visa, the worlds leader in digital payments, has partnered with Vietnamese banks to make it easier for Visa debit card holders to receive inbound remittances using MoneyGram and Remitly. Powered by Visa Direct, cardholders will receive the funds directly to their accounts in near real-time.

New visa policy gives hand to delayed plans Restoring pre-pandemic visa policies should significantly contribute to the breakthrough of overseas investment in the country.
A review Monday of remaining mail-in ballots in the May 6 election failed to close the three-vote gap in the Place 7 at-large Waco Independent School District race.

Incumbent Angelo Ochoa maintained his narrow lead over challenger Peaches Henry after the McLennan County ballot board met Monday to process the last outstanding mail-in and absentee ballots, McLennan County Elections Administrator Jared Goldsmith said Monday.

Only two of the ballots processed contained votes in that race and one vote went to each candidate, so the result remains Ochoa by three, Goldsmith said.

As of Monday, Ochoa had 1,072 votes, or 50.07% of the total, while Henry had 1,069 votes, or 49.93%.

In an interview Monday, Henry expressed thanks to her her campaign workers and supporters. She did not have any thoughts to share about the possibility of a recount.

According to the Texas Election Code, Henry may file a petition for recount until 5 p.m. two days after the Waco ISD board of trustees canvasses the election, which is scheduled for noon Tuesday at the districts conference center at 115 South Fifth Street.

The ballot board is made of up of approximately equal parts Democratic Party and Republican Party members, with five members, including a Republican presiding judge and a Democratic alternate judge, Goldsmith said.

Ochoa, a financial adviser and former teacher, won an election to finish the unexpired term for the at-large in May 2022, with a margin of victory of more than 400 votes.

Henry, who is also president of Wacos NAACP chapter, works as an English professor at McLennan Community College.

Henry said she was disappointed that early voting did not include any vote centers open on a Sunday, which meant no opportunity for any churches to have Souls to the Polls events.

Let this race in this election be an object lesson to everyone that every vote counts, Henry said. Its very important to go to the polls and vote for the people you support.

Ochoa hesitated to declare victory until he knows whether or not Henry will file a petition for a recount.

Its been a tough extra week of not knowing, Ochoa said. The campaign, the whole process, takes a toll on families and supporters. In an election you set an end date in your mind, when you think it will all be over.
It took exactly two songs for Kenny Chesney to blow the doors off Pinnacle Bank Arena Saturday night.

After Til Its Gone and his I Go Back tour welcoming message  I think its been four years since weve played in this building. Were going to make up for every single second tonight, Chesney and his band kicked into Beer in Mexico.

Driven by Lynyrd Skynyrd-like three-guitar attack and Chesneys constant motion stage work, the packed-to-the-rafters crowd of more than 12,500, went into full voice, elevating the show to the point of no return.

We dont just see you, Chesney said, patting his heart. We feel youwhat an audience we have here tonight.

And it was on  rocking to Reality, taking a trip to the islands with Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven and hitting the emotions of the spotlight ballad Somewhere With You.

And that was just the first 30 minutes of the fast-moving, two-hour show, that had the crowd singing along, clapping in time m, dancing in their seats  fully illuminated on the anthemic Big Star, one of the nights many highlights.

Other highlights  or maybe just the songs I like best  were a cool, slow swinging When the Sun Goes Down, the hillbilly rockstar rocker Living in Fast Forward and the non-setlist ballad There Goes My Life that Chesney pulled out just before it became a touching crowd vocal performance.

My favorite part of the show came when opener Kelsea Ballerini returned to the stage, joining Chesney on a rocknroll romp through She Thinks My Tractors Sexy their duet Half of my hometown, and, after taking a shot You and Tequila.

Then the bouncy, pop culture celebration American Kids kicked off the run of hits that closed the set with How Forever Feels and encored with Dont Happen Twice.

That Chesney and the band put on a terrific show was no surprise. Hes a multiple country entertainer of the year and all his previous Lincoln shows have been thoroughly entertaining and engaging.

But, returning to arenas after playing stadiums last year, he, the band and the crowd kicked things up to a whole new level for Lincoln.

Ballerini and her six-member band tore through 11 songs in their 40-minute set, opening with her Grammy-nominated HEARTFELT and going out with the rock blast of Miss Me More.

In between, she played both sides of the country/pop line, delivering a rambunctious YOURE DRUNK, GO HOME followed by a killer emotional take on her Penthouse, singing from her knees in the middle of the stage.

Thoroughly engaging, Ballerini worked the stage like a total pro and repeatedly connected with the audience with stories and observations.

I think this is my first time playing in Lincoln, Nebraska, she said. We had an off day here yesterday. I went to Barrys. Today they had the Farmers Market. I hope its not too soon. But I have the biggest crush on you. We just love it here.

Judging from the audience response  singing with her so well she complimented the crowd and the roar at sets end, it appears Lincoln returned that crush.

Ballerini almost certainly will be back  and, given her impressive performance, she might just be atop the bill.

Photos: Kenny Chesney 2019 concert in Lincoln Kenny Chesney Concert, 5.18 Kenny Chesney Concert, 5.18 Kenny Chesney Concert, 5.18 Kenny Chesney Concert, 5.18 Kenny Chesney Concert, 5.18 Kenny Chesney Concert, 5.18 Kenny Chesney Concert, 5.18 Kenny Chesney Concert, 5.18 Kenny Chesney Concert, 5.18 Kenny Chesney Concert, 5.18 Kenny Chesney Concert, 5.18
South Africa: Makhathini Lower Pongola water association to address community needs

The Department of Water and Sanitation says the process to set up a governance structure for the newly established Makhathini Lower Pongola Water User Association (WUA) for collaborative use in the northern KwaZulu-Natal has commenced.

The Water User Association is a statutory body established by the Minister under the National Water Act. It aims to enable water users within a community to pool their resources, including money, human resources, and expertise to carry out water-related activities more effectively.

Through WUA, members can benefit from addressing their local water needs and priorities.

Water and Sanitation spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa, said the process to set up a governance structure has commenced, and the interim management committee which developed the proposal and the constitution, will facilitate the management committee election to be convened on 16 May 2023 in Jozini, Northern KwaZulu-Natal.

Mavasa said Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, published a Gazette Notice No 48514 early this month, for the establishment of the Makhathini Lower Pongola WUA in terms of the section 92 (1) of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No 36 of 1998).

The area of operation of the Makhathini Lower Pongola WUA traverses the jurisdictions of the Jozini and uMhlabuyalingana Local Municipalities under the uMkhanyakude and Pongola Local Municipality in the Zululand District, respectively. The area of operation also falls within the Pongola to Mtamvuna Water Management Area which is located in KZN.

The area commences from the W44E quaternary catchment in the basin of Pongolapoort Dam flowing north down the Pongola River catchment to the border of Mozambique, stretching to the eSwatini Boarder in the west and aligning to the 45a and 45b quaternary boundaries on the east. This incorporates the quaternaries W43F, W45A, B, and W57K, Mavasa explained.

She added that the Makhathini Lower Pongola WUA management committee will consist of 15 members representing the user groups within the catchment, including commercial and emerging farmers; tourism and recreation; nature conservation; Water Services Authorities (uMkhanyakude and Zululand District Municipalities); and uMkhanyakude Local House of Traditional Leaders.

Mavasa highlighted that all members in the water users groups or sectors that appears in the approved constitution in accordance to the voters list will be afforded an opportunity to nominate or elect the preferred representatives on the management committee.

The Amakhosi representing the Jozini, uMhlabuyalingana and Pongola Local Municipalities are also invited. Enquiries regarding the gazette should be made to bofilatose@dws.gov.za, Mavasa said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-05-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Belt and Road project staff in Malta receive on-site traditional Chinese medicine treatments

Xinhua) 09:09, May 15, 2023

Chinese Ambassador to Malta Yu Dunhai (R) and Clarence Pace, director general of the Department for Health Services within the Ministry for Health of Malta, and chairman of the board of the Mediterranean Regional Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine (MRCTCM), inaugurate an insomnia specialist clinic in Paola, Malta, on April 21, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Wenxian)

This year commemorates the 60th anniversary of China sending its first medical aid team abroad, as well as the 30th anniversary of China dispatching its first medical team to Malta. Since 1994, when the MRCTCM was established by the Chinese and Maltese governments, 18 Chinese medical teams composed of over 100 physicians have offered TCM treatment to around 250,000 Maltese patients.

VALLETTA, May 14 (Xinhua) -- "It is amazing," said 34-year-old Mario Borg after receiving a neck massage from a doctor of the 18th Chinese medical team for Malta.

The Chinese medical team from the Mediterranean Regional Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine (MRCTCM) Friday provided free on-site consultations and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments such as acupuncture, cupping and massage at the Delimara 3 (D3) power station.

Situated in Marsaxlokk, southeastern Malta, the D3 power station controlled and operated by China's Shanghai Electric Power (Malta) Holding Co., Ltd. (SEP), is a clean energy project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Prior to the on-site TCM treatments, Xing Xuemei, a member of the Chinese medical team, delivered a brief lecture on the rehabilitation of neck and back pain. Two employees actively participated and demonstrated training exercises under Xing's guidance.

Daniel Bugeja, a patient receiving Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment, is treated with acupuncture in Paola, Malta, April 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Wenxian)

Following the lecture, the Chinese medical team distributed popular items among the Maltese people, including plasters, cooling oil, and sachets.

Borg, an employee who has been working at the D3 power station for four years, had heard about TCM but never experienced it until now. After his first TCM treatment, Borg shared with Xinhua that he already felt some improvements, although the doctor mentioned that his neck pain would significantly improve after a couple of days.

He also expressed his enjoyment of working with his Chinese colleagues, learning about Chinese New Year, Chinese cuisine, and even picking up some Chinese language phrases.

Similarly, Renata Ziber, a 36-year-old employee at the D3 power station, said that "It feels really good. I almost feel like sleeping during the treatment," after receiving a neck massage.

Ziber, who also experienced TCM treatment for the first time, considered it a valuable opportunity and expressed her willingness to try it again in the future.

Staff members from the International Energy Services Centre Limited, a subsidiary of Malta's Enemalta, also actively participated in the TCM consultations and treatments.

"I feel the positive effect of the treatment because I feel more relaxed," Johann Zammit, executive chairman of the company, told Xinhua while receiving acupuncture from Dong Xiaoyan, head of the Chinese medical team.

Zammit not only attentively listened to the lecture but also received on-site acupuncture treatment for his neck pain, marking his first encounter with TCM. He expressed gratitude towards the Chinese medical team for providing an excellent opportunity to learn more about TCM and experience its benefits.

Cheng Xun, general manager of the D3 power station told Xinhua that foreign employees constitute more than half of the station's staff, and they hold a positive view of Chinese culture. Some of them have previously received TCM treatments and have faith in its effectiveness, he added.

Cheng noted that thanks to the continuous efforts of the Chinese people, including the Chinese medical team for Malta, the influence of the TCM has steadily expanded in the Mediterranean region.

Dong highlighted that the Chinese medical team for Malta is the only nationally dispatched TCM team in Europe. She emphasized that their mission also includes serving countries along the Belt and Road and projects under the BRI.

She further noted that in recent years, there has been a growing interest in TCM among the Maltese population, with many local patients choosing TCM as a new treatment option. She attributed this trend, in part, to the frequent academic exchanges and clinic activities conducted by the Chinese medical team.

Zhang Yilong, a member of the 18th Chinese Medical Team for Malta, gives a lecture on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to a group of secondary school students from Germany and Luxembourg who are on a cultural exchange trip in Paola, Malta, April 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Wenxian)

This year commemorates the 60th anniversary of China sending its first medical aid team abroad, as well as the 30th anniversary of China dispatching its first medical team to Malta.

Since 1994, when the MRCTCM was established by the Chinese and Maltese governments, 18 Chinese medical teams composed of over 100 physicians have offered TCM treatment to around 250,000 Maltese patients.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Ben Pleasants exposes Hollywood hypocrisy on Stalin By Thomas M. Sipos

web posted May 15, 2023 I first met Ben Pleasant in 2002 at Los Angeles's libertarian Karl Hess Club, where he announced that his new play, Contentious Minds: The Mary McCarthy/Lillian Hellman Affair, was to be performed at Hollywood's Lillian Theatre. The play dramatizes a series of encounters between Mary McCarthy and Lillian Hellman between 1946 and 1982, the women arguing about men, art, and politics -- with McCarthy accusing Hellman of lying to cover up Stalin's genocide. Hellman had been a screenwriter (Watch on the Rhine), better known for her plays, who remained a fervent defender of Stalin through to her death in 1984. McCarthy was a leftist -- but anti-Stalinist -- critic and writer (The Group, Memories of a Catholic Girlhood). The two literary lionesses' decades-long clashes culminated on October 18, 1979, when McCarthy said on PBS's Dick Cavett Show: "Every word [Hellman] writes is a lie, including 'and' and 'the.' " Hellman filed a libel suit against McCarthy, Cavett, and the Educational Broadcasting Corp. The suit ended with Hellman's death before reaching trial. McCarthy died five years later, in 1989. Before Contentious Minds, Pleasants wrote the similarly themed and structured The Hemingway-Dos Passos Wars. In it, Ernest Hemingway urges the leftist writer John Dos Passos (Manhattan Transfer, USA Trilogy) not to expose Stalinist murders in the Spanish Civil War. Stalin-backed Communists were fighting a "civil war within a civil war," murdering their Trotskyite, anarchist, and democratic allies -- an event that would inspire George Orwell's anti-Stalinist satires: Animal Farm and 1984. I interviewed Pleasants in 2002, when he told me, "Both plays deal with the same subject: the coverup of Stalin's crimes in America by writers like Hellman and John Howard Lawson, who attacked writers like Dos Passos and Koestler when they attempted to bring forward the murders of their friends, and the torture and execution of others writers in the USSR, like Babel, Bulgakov, and Gorky." Contentious Minds reminds audiences that HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee) was founded in the 1930s to investigate American Nazis -- and that HUAC was supported by American liberals and Leftists, including Hellman -- until it turned its attention to Communists a decade later. Liberal support for HUAC -- even from Hollywood screenwriters -- is one of the uncomfortable truths that Contentious Minds forces its Hollywood audiences to confront. It exposes the irony of Hellman being celebrated today as a victim of HUAC -- when she was one of its initial supporters. According to Pleasants, "After the HUAC, Hellman and Lawson were placed on Mount Rushmore as martyrs. They should be remembered as gangsters who attacked Dos Passos and James T. Farrell and Koestler, writers who addressed Stalin's crimes and charged [Hellman and Lawson] with lying and complicity [with Stalin]." Why did Pleasants choose this now obscure area of history -- the 1930s Hollywood Left, Stalin's murders, the Trotskyite/Stalinist rift -- as a topic for two plays? He said, "I'm attracted to the subject because no one else will say anything." Although the heroes in Pleasants's plays (Dos Passos and McCarthy) are Trotskyites, Pleasants says, "I have no sympathy for either side. I see no difference between Stalin and Trotsky. They were both murderers. If Trotsky had won, he would have taken out Stalin in the same manner. "Mary McCarthy became a Trotskyite because she was sleeping with two of the editors of the Partisan Review, and was drawn into the mess when James T. Farrell (Studs Lonigan) asked McCarthy if she supported a commission headed by John Dewey to investigate Trotsky's death. She agreed in theory, but ended up on the letterhead of the group Farrell was sponsoring. "Before McCarthy could chide Farrell for using her name, she started getting anonymous calls and threats in the middle of the night from Stalinists like John Howard Lawson, telling McCarthy not to support the investigation of Trotsky's death, and warning her that her own career would suffer -- that she would be blacklisted. And that got her started." In The Hemingway-Dos Passos Wars, Pleasants interjects a libertarian message into the play. A minor character tells the audience: "We didn't get any grants for this play. ... You can do this stuff when you don't get money from the government. You can do anything!" Said Pleasants, "Art supported by government rots the artist's soul. It's nothing more than the plutocrats' message. I raise my own money with no strings attached. Producers call me frequently about doing my plays. I just need to meet them face to face. Face to face is always better than email. I prefer letters rather than email. Email plays so nicely into the state. Before long, they'll rewrite it for us. I'm sure they do that in China." Still, Pleasants does not call himself a libertarian. "I am an anarchist. I am completely anti-state. Governments would never support a play like this because it brings up issues like the Samuel Dickstein matter. He was the US Representative from New York City who created the HUAC to go after German-American Bundists. HUAC was supported strongly by the Left, passed in Congress by 340-42 votes, and had the support of the CPUSA. What interests me today is why this is not known." The HUAC still touches raw nerves in Hollywood, as demonstrated by the controversy over the special Oscar awarded to Elia Kazan (a friendly witness at the HUAC) in 1999, and which was opposed by Daily Variety's Army Archerd, Steve Erickson, and many others. Yet despite this emotional atmosphere, Contentious Minds dares tell its Hollywood audience that, on the scale of evil, Stalin's genocide dwarfs the brief prison terms suffered by the Hollywood Ten. How did Hollywood react to Pleasants's message? Pleasants said, "When Contentious Minds was in rehearsal, we heard from Variety and NPR. We were informed that Nora Ephron (Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail) was doing a play about Hellman and McCarthy this summer in San Diego at the Old Globe, to open on Broadway in the fall. Both Variety and NPR wanted advance copies of Contentious Minds, and to see it in preview. I refused both requests. "Variety reviewed Contentious Minds, defended Hellman and questioned the veracity of what I wrote. NPR's Iris Mann (who was once directed by Hellman in The Children's Hour as a girl of ten or so) came on opening night to sniff it out, and decided to do nothing. The L.A. Times's Don Shirley told my PR people flat out that they would not review it. I was glad they missed it. When they reviewed my Hemingway play, they put Dos and Hem on the side of the rebels -- which would mean they were fighting for Franco! But, it goes with the territory, as Chomsky says." As for the L.A. Weekly, their critic wrote that the play "may contain both the most thrilling and squandered theatrical idea to come along in some time: the legendary rift between Mary McCarthy and Lillian Hellman. Here's a drama potentially straddling and smearing the chalk line between fact and fiction. Unfortunately, in Pleasants's prodigiously researched work, the monumental figures merely name-drop and cat-fight. Jennifer Gundy's McCarthy and Melissa Jones's Hellman fail to connect. Stephanie Stearns plays a narrator with more charm than either of the central characters, which encapsulates the problem of Denise Gillman's staging." Ironically for a "left alternate" paper, the L.A. Weekly seemed not to have appreciated that the "name-dropping" and "cat-fighting" was what Contentious Minds's playbill describes as its Russian Constructivism, a technique used by Soviet playwright Sergey Tretakov to broach ideas for discussion. Instead of advocating a single position, characters argue opposing sides, hoping that audience members continue debating after the play. Quoting Tretakov: "The theatrical show is replaced by the theatrical blow, by the immediate processing of the audience." Pleasants added that Tretyakov, though a Stalinist, was eventually executed by Stalin. Pleasants dedicated Contentious Minds "to Robert Conquest, who, single-mindedly, mapped the vast terrain of Stalin's terror network, making it possible for former Soviet citizens to find out, not only the final resting places of their murdered families, but also the names of their murderers!" Contentious Minds starred Jennifer Gundy (Star Trek: Voyager, South of Sunset) as Mary McCarthy, and Melissa Jones (Spin City, Primetime Glick) as Lillian Hellman. Also featured were Stephanie Sterns and Ronald E. Wingate. You can watch it on YouTube: Act One and Act Two. Apart from his plays, Pleasants's wrote for the L.A. Times, Herald-Examiner, L.A. Free Press, L.A. Vanguard, L.A. Reader, and Los Angeles Magazine. As a literary critic, his greatest achievement was rediscovering Ask the Dust, which was gratefully acknowledged by its author, John Fante. Pleasants was also a friend to "meat poet" Charles Bukowski, who called Pleasants "the Beverly Hills anarchist" for his cushy bourgeois lifestyle, something Pleasants recounts in Visceral Bukowski: Inside the Sniper Landscape of L.A. Writers. In 2010, Pleasants told me that he was working on a trilogy of plays about H. L. Mencken. "They're coming along about as fast as the replacement to the World Trade Center. Mencken is an ideal subject for rediscovery now. He was a true libertarian. Opposed to censorship, open to fresh ideas, at war with bureaucrats in the state, the church and the public weal." I edited four of Pleasants's books: two novels and two plays, including the published version of Contentious Minds. But he never did complete his Mencken plays. To the regret of his many friends, Ben Pleasants died on April 18, 2013 at the age of 72. Thomas M. Sipos writes satirical novels and film criticism. His website is CommunistVampires.com . Home
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.

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.
by Erin Miller

Oh wow! a kid yelled as he sprinted against the gusting wind towards the runway at Avenger Field while staring up at a Boeing B-29 Superfortress on final approach in late April, 2023. The WWII bombers four, powerful radial engines drowned out the rest of the kids enthusiastic shouts as the B-29 passed by and touched down; Doc had arrived! Gusty conditions and blowing sand are not unusual to Sweetwater, Texas, where Avenger Field is located. Most of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) trained here during World War II. Having some of the historic warbirds flying at the field for the annual homecoming event of the National WASP WWII Museum makes one appreciate the sort of conditions those brave women, including my grandmother Elaine Danforth Harmon, learned to fly in. The weather was not ideal for this years event, but even so, there were excellent representatives of the WWII warbird era on hand, including Doc (one of just two airworthy B-29s in the world), B-25J Devil Dog, C-47 Thats All Brother, BT-13s, T-6s, Stinsons, and the only Curtiss SBC2-5 Helldiver presently flying in the world. Furthermore, the museum also announced their acquisition of a T-6 Texan to join its BT-13.

Of the 1,102 women who served as WASP, sadly only about a dozen are still with us, and these survivors were too frail to attend the annual gathering. So the WASP Museums Homecoming event is now championed by the descendants of this trailblazing group of female aviators, present-day pilots, and fans of WASP history, all of whom are committed to carrying on and teaching the WASP legacy. The museum has grown in recent years, and now includes a second building where WASP artifacts are displayed and archived; the new structure also houses exhibits to honor subsequent pilots who expanded the legacy established by the WASP.

The focus for this years fundraising dinner centered upon the 30th anniversary of the Department of Defenses landmark decision formally allowing woman to fly in combat. This change also meant that women could fly both fighter and bomber aircraft types in combat alongside their male counterparts. Museum board member and retired USAF F-16 combat pilot and Thunderbird, Caroline Blaze Jensen, introduced Sharon Betty Preszler for the keynote speech and shared how her own U.S. Air Force was connected from the WASP through this interim group of women who flew combat missions. Dinner guests then watched alongside Betty and Major General Jeannie Leavitt as a video played which documented their flying careers, along with the story of retired Colonel Martha McSally. These three pilots stood at the press conference in 1993 when the Air Force announced its policy change; they went on to fly the F-16, F-15, and A-10 in combat  about 50 years after the WASP had first trained in Army planes.

Support for the WASP history came from across the aviation community and was evident throughout the weekend. The event featured a live charity auction to support the museum. The auction included a reveal for a new wrist watch which the Abingdon Company has created to honor the WASP legacy. Two of the donated watches made their first flight earlier that day in the Museums BT-13. The auction also included an exquisite, handmade propeller from Culver Props depicting the WASP mascot Fifinella. The aircrew from the visiting B-29 and B-25 bombers each donated a slot aboard a flight experience ride in their aircraft. Indeed everyone who attended the event in their warbirds and vintage planes happily chatted with visitors about aviation history. Event attendees could book rides aboard some of these visiting aircraft or have a tour aboard and learn about other historical types. The homecoming event also featured lectures and authors signings for books written about the WASP and other aviation-themed topics. A significant contingent of women who had become some of the first female pilots in the U.S. armed forces during the 1970s and 1980s came to honor the service of the WASP, some of them never having been to the museum before. The museum also held memorial services for two WASP, Susie Winston Bain and Jean Harman, whose ashes were spread across Avenger Field. Per Jean Harmons wishes, Jan Johnson, dispersed her mentors ashes, mingled with flower petals, from the rear of the AT-6 Texan.

I learned from my grandmother that her fellow aviators in the WASP program wanted formal recognition for their particular place in aviation and womens history  not because they believed themselves more important than others, but because they knew that if history forgot those who broke barriers it would impose an additional burden on those who follow, making it harder for them to push the envelope further. Fortunately, young people are especially (and naturally) inspired by the story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots  the challenge is ensuring that they are exposed to it. The National WASP WWII Museum staff and volunteers are dedicated to preserving the WASP legacy and work throughout the year to plan this annual event. The Homecoming Weekend featured a kids zone with STEM learning activities which, of course, included details about the WASP. As I gave a presentation about my book, Final Flight Final Fight, which chronicles the journey to honor my grandmother and the WASP at Arlington National Cemetery, one young girl sat in the front row with her copy of my childrens book, What Grandma Did, absorbing all of the information I discussed  despite the talk being targeted for adults. A few days later, her mother sent a video showing her daughter reading What Grandma Did aloud to her classmates. I can only imagine my grandmothers happiness in knowing that young children are not only learning about her service, but they are also teaching their friends and even their teachers about this important time in history!

Because poor weather prevented her from flying to Avenger Field, my friend Allyssa (known to many by her social media handle as @FlyAllyssa), ended up driving the twelve-hour journey to Sweetwater to ensure she arrived in time for the festivities. Being at WASP homecoming and being on the field where they trained gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. Im thankful for the women who stepped out of line and did what others didnt think possible, she said. The National WASP WWII Museum is determined to preserve, promote and advocate for the important legacy that WASP personnel left the nation. The Homecoming Weekend plays an important part in that mission, both raising funds and public awareness, so be sure to keep an eye open for the announcement of their 2024 homecoming weekend and fly-in via their website waspmuseum.org and social media.
Vintage Aviation News staff did not write this article; the content comes via our partners who wish to help $upport our website.

Want to try something new and unique? Visiting a historic aviation museum might seem niche and only interesting to fans or people who have an aviation career, but it can be exciting for anyone.

Airplanes are one of mankinds greatest inventions, and learning about their history can potentially stimulate inspiration and awe unexpectedly. Weve compiled some good reasons as to why you should visit an aviation museum on your next trip and a few examples of some great ones you should consider going to.

Reasons To Visit

Before we dive in, if you want to take some time off to travel and explore cultural and artistic hubs like museums, its time you use Studyfy. Hire a professional academic writer to help you with your college work by simply sending us a write essay for me request on the website. Invest in your time and your success simultaneously by visiting Studyfy. Now, on to the topic at hand. Your reasons for visiting an aviation museum can either vary from casual scrolling to keen interest, whatever it may be; here are some obvious advantages to just getting up and going to one.

Learn Something New

Historic aviation museums can certainly offer a breadth of knowledge when it comes to the history and the technological evolution of aircraft and flight. If aviation and aircraft fascinate you, you might learn a thing or two by visiting. If youre completely new to the topic, you can learn something new altogether.

Exhibits in these museums typically showcase:

Aviations evolution started with the Wright Brothers to space exploration and modern-day aviation.

Close-up vintage aircraft.

Interactive exhibit elements.

If you have further questions, the staff at these museums will typically be knowledgeable about aviation and can help with your inquiries. They can also teach you something thats not showcased, which can be helpful, especially if youre not just there to visit but to collect information.

Gain Valuable Career Insights

For college students who want to pursue a career in aerospace and related majors, visiting an aviation museum can be a valuable experience. You have the potential to not only learn new knowledge about the field but you can also possibly meet relevant professionals that work in the aviation industry. This can be good for building your career network.

You might also have the chance to attend seminars and workshops, given that you go on the right day. By doing so, you can learn more in-depth about engineering, management, and aviation safety. There might also be a possibility that you meet other students who share similar interests and aspirations to yourself.

Youll also be thrilled to know that some of these museums offer internship and volunteer opportunities. If youre looking to get hands-on experience that can help with setting up your career path onward, then you might want to take the chance of signing up for them.

Must-visit Aviation Museums

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C.

A large and prominent aviation museum, its a must-visit destination for casual travelers and enthusiasts alike. It can be found in the National Mall of Washington, D.C. The museum hosts about 60,000 artifacts related to aviation or space exploration. So, if youre looking for a huge aviation center, this should be your pick.

In this museum, youll find some very prolific aircraft artifacts such as the Wright Brothers 1903 Flyer or The Apollo 11 Command Module. Looking for one of the most iconic and popular sights in the Smithsonian? You might want to try visiting the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, which has the Boeing 367-80, Space Shuttle Discovery, and the Enola Gay Bomber.

Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Ottawa, Ontario

Located in Ottawa, Ontario, is the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. It holds a massive collection of aircraft and is the biggest in Canada. The museum features military and civilian aircraft. You will also be able to witness gliders and helicopters, and the museum even has a space shuttle simulator. We definitely think its a must-visit center for enthusiasts.

Another noteworthy exhibit that this museum holds is the World War I exhibit. Youll be able to see up close and personal vintage planes that hail from the earliest days of aviation. You can also enjoy interactive games, virtual tours, workshops, and the like.

National Museum Of the United States Air Force , Dayton, Ohio

Located in Dayton, Ohio, The National Museum of The United States Air Force is the largest military aviation museum. Not just in the U.S. but in the world. Its also the oldest military aviation museum. For enthusiasts, this might be another must-visit destination idea for your bucket list.

If youre interested in military aircraft, then youll find 360 aircraft and even missiles in this museum. Popular aircraft include the B-29 Superfortess, The F-22 Raptor, and the SR-71 Blackbird. You can also have the chance to witness the Presidential Aircraft Gallery. A gallery showing the aircraft used by U.S. presidents like John F. Kennedy and George Bush.

Final Thoughts

Historic aviation museums are a great place to visit, especially for those who are keen on aviation history and technology or who want to pursue a career in a related field. You can enjoy an engaging experience where youll be able to learn more about aviation while gaining valuable knowledge about the industry.

Whether youre just casually looking into going to one or if youre a huge fan of aviation, it certainly is a unique place to visit and can be refreshing. Tourist destinations can always be too overcrowded and even overhyped. By visiting something that you wouldnt normally go to, you might find something new to appreciate.

As for fans and students who want to get into aviation, its pretty obvious why visiting one can be beneficial in many ways. We hope you check out one of the centers on our list for your next trip.

Vintage Aviation News staff did not write this article; the content comes via our partners who wish to help $upport our website.
Vintage Aviation News staff did not write this article; the content comes via our partners who wish to help $upport our website.

Are you dreaming of a career in the military as a fighter pilot or helicopter pilot? If so, then you are going to need specific education and qualifications to get there. And while becoming a military pilot may have its challenges, we can give you a roadmap of just what universities will provide the training needed to make your military flying dreams come true! Lets dive right in and explore what it takesand whereto become an accomplished pilot in the armed forces.

Why become a military pilot?

Are you tired of the mundane routine of a typical office job? Do you crave the thrill of adventure and the rush of adrenaline? Well, have no fear because becoming a military pilot might just be the answer to your high-flying dreams. Not only will you become a part of a prestigious group of aviators, but youll also have the opportunity to travel the world, experience new cultures, and potentially save lives while youre at it. Plus, who doesnt want to wear a super cool flight suit and impress their friends with stories of flying at supersonic speeds? So, buck up, buttercup, and prepare for takeoff on an exciting career path in the skies.

The benefits of being a military pilot

Flying high, getting paid, and serving your country  being a military pilot has never been cooler. With breathtaking views from the cockpit and the thrill of soaring through the clouds, its like having your own private rollercoaster in the sky. But the benefits dont stop there. Youll also receive top-notch training, advanced technology, and opportunities to travel the world. Plus, the sense of pride and purpose that comes with serving your country is priceless.

Need help getting into the aviation program university of your dreams?

Attention aspiring aviators! If you have lofty dreams of flying high in the sky, then you better start polishing up your writing skills!

Getting into the top aviation program of your choice requires an outstanding admissions essay. Lucky for you, Edubirdie is here to save the day with their top-notch university assignment help for students. No need to stress about nailing that essay, just leave it up to the pros so you can focus on your real passion: planes, planes, planes! So what are you waiting for? Contact Edubirdie today and soar into your dream program with ease. Trust us, the only turbulence youll encounter is from the breathtaking views up in the clouds!

Top universities for becoming a military pilot

The U.S. Air Force Academy

If youve always dreamed of soaring through the skies like a superhero, then the U.S. Air Force Academy should be at the top of your list. Not only is it the top university for becoming a military pilot, but it also offers a world-class education that will prepare you for anything life throws your way (except maybe a flock of birds). And lets be real, who wouldnt want to wear a flight suit and have their own Top Gun moment?

The Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

With its top-notch aviation programs and commitment to training the best of the best, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a no-brainer for anyone aspiring to become a military pilot. Not only do they have state-of-the-art facilities and experienced faculty, but they also have a reputation for producing some of the most capable pilots out there.

California Polytechnic State University

If youre looking to soar through the skies like a majestic bird of prey, then California Polytechnic State University just might be your ticket to the cockpit. This top-notch institution boasts a strong aviation program, as well as proximity to numerous military bases that are just itching for talented pilots to join their ranks.

The Liberty University

Liberty is offering a special program just for you as you navigate your way through the skies. With state-of-the-art flight simulators and experienced instructors, Libertys aviation program will take your training to new heights (literally). Plus, youll have the added bonus of studying at a university founded on the principles of faith and freedom.

Purdue University

With Purdues top-notch aviation program and state-of-the-art facilities, youll be soaring through the skies in no time. Dont believe me? Just ask Neil Armstrong, a Purdue alum who went on to fly far beyond the reaches of Earth. And who knows, maybe one day youll be the one piloting a spacecraft to new heights. So put on your aviator shades and get ready to take flight at Purdue University.

The University of Texas at Austin

If you have the determination, discipline, and a love for soaring through the air, then youre off to a great start. The University of Texas at Austin has a top-notch ROTC program that can give you the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in the military. Just remember, when youre up there in the sky, theres no T in cant. Now, lets get this bird in the air!

Private Ground School at MIT

If youre looking to soar through the skies in a fancy flying machine (bonus points if its a military-grade plane), then attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology might just be your golden ticket. With their Private Pilot Ground School, youll learn everything you need to know about taking a plane from point A to point B. And who knows? Maybe youll even become the next Maverick from Top Gun. Just make sure to bring your aviators and a killer soundtrack.

Conclusion

Becoming a military pilot is no easy task, but with the right university and training program, it can be an extremely rewarding career. With any luck, youll find the perfect school for your journey to becoming a military aviator  one that will give you the skills and knowledge needed to take flight. So dont let fear or doubt take away from your success!

Author Bio:

Sylvester Greer is a writer and aviation enthusiast. He holds degrees in computer science and aeronautical engineering. He has spent years researching and writing about the fascinating world of aviation.

Vintage Aviation News staff did not write this article; the content comes via our partners who wish to help $upport our website.
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 you've 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, there's 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.

"It's 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 that's 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 don't 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 you're part of the "class" of a lawsuit  that is, if you were affected by the certain event or purchase described  you'll 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 DON'T 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 isn't always the case.

Even though the class representative is the case's headline, "That person isn't necessarily going to get any kind of windfall," says Jennifer A. Riley, a partner at Duane Morris and vice chair of the firm's 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 it's 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 firm's workplace class-action group. "You're trying to decide, 'If I opt out, am I going to do that much better than I'd do in a class action?' And in certain circumstances, an individual would do better. They'd get the money quicker, and they'd get more money."

One example: Following the credit-scoring company Equifax's 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 you're 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.

___

8 times youre using the wrong credit card Which card is the right card? 1. You're still using your starter credit card 2. You're not using a card enough to earn the sign-up bonus 3. You're using a store-specific card 4. You didn't realize 5% cards take extra work 5. You mix up the card names 6. You're regularly using a balance transfer card for purchases 7. You aren't using the right card for that purchase 8. You're not using a credit card at all PennyWise podcast: 5 tips to help avoid credit card debt Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | Omny Studio
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Poland has received its first shipment of U.S.-made HIMARS rocket launchers as part of a defense upgrade amid security concerns due to the war in neighboring Ukraine.

Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak and military officials attended an acquisition ceremony at a Warsaw air base on Monday.

Blaszczak said that combat in Ukraine had proven the value of the HIMARS and that NATO member Poland was seeking to procure additional launchers, with a goal of acquiring some 500 units.

We are watching the developments in Ukraine, and we know that artillery has a key role in the war, in repelling the Russian invasion," he said.

Under a 2019 contract, Poland is spending some $414 million (380 million euros) to buy 18 advanced combat HIMARS launchers and two HIMARS training launchers, with ammunition and related equipment. The deal includes logistics and training.

The launchers will go to the 1st Artillery Brigade in northeastern Poland, Blaszczak said.

Their task will be to deter (an) aggressor and strengthen Poland's armed forces on the nation's and NATO eastern flank, the minister said.

A HIMARS academy is to be launched in the city of Torun to provide logistics, servicing and training, including for troops from other NATO countries that have or plan to get the launchers.

Produced by American aerospace company Lockheed Martin, the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System is a multiple rocket launcher with a range of up to some 300 kilometers (190 miles) developed in the late 1990s for the U.S. armed forces.

Poland is buying billions of dollars worth of weapons, chiefly from the U.S. and South Korea, including fighter jets, to modernize its armed forces.

Some of the equipment will replace weapons - including over a dozen Soviet-made MiG-29 jet fighters - that Poland agreed to give Ukraine for its defense against Russia.

Poland's right-wing government, which will be seeking a third term in a fall parliamentary election, is giving the purchases wide publicity, seeking to reassure Poles amid a military conflict across their eastern border.

Last year, Poland received a number of U.S. Patriot missile systems, and deliveries of another battery are expected this year. The first deliveries of Abrams tanks have also arrived from the U.S., as well as deliveries of tanks and howitzers from South Korea.
WASHINGTON  In an effort to deter threats aimed at IRS employees, the agency said it will start limiting workers' personal identifying information on communications with taxpayers.

The change begins next month.

The Treasury Department's inspector general for tax administration said in a report this week that it was concerned that taxpayers and anti-government or anti-tax groups with malevolent intent may use the Internet or social media to track down and identify IRS employees, their families, their homes, and personal information to threaten, intimidate, or locate them for physical violence.

The IRS said it will remove workers' first names from communications, leaving their last names and respective Mr., Ms., or a gender-neutral title. Phone numbers will still be included in communications.

The decision comes as the agency has received increased attention after the climate, health care and tax legislation signed into law by President Joe Biden last year included $80 billion funding for tax collection efforts.

Since then, misinformation has spread online, including by Republican lawmakers, that 87,000 armed agents authorized to use deadly force were going to crack down on taxpayers of all earnings levels.

In August, IRS leadership announced that it would conduct a comprehensive review of the safety at its 600 facilities nationwide, after increased threats to workers were tied to the conspiracy theories.

For me this is personal. Ill continue to make every effort to dispel any lingering misperceptions about our work, then-Commissioner Chuck Rettig said in a letter to workers.

New IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel said last month that no hiring boost is foreseen for the criminal investigation unit, which represents 3% of the agencys workforce and employed roughly 2,077 special agents as of the 2022 budget year, according to the IRS annual report.

Under the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, contact information for IRS employees must be included on manually generated correspondence. That includes the worker's name and phone number.

Kenneth Corbin, commissioner of the IRS wage and investment division, said in a letter to the inspector general's office that we will take steps to limit the amount of personally identifiable information of our employees provided on manually generate correspondence while remaining compliant with the law.

5 ways to invest your tax refund and boost your financial well-being 5 ways to invest your tax refund and boost your financial well-being 1. Boost your emergency fund 2. Contribute to an IRA 3. Pay off debt 4. Contribute to a savings account to save for key goals 5. Investing and building wealth
It's Congress's turn to address Chase's discriminatory banking practices By Scott Shepard

web posted May 15, 2023 Chase Bank (of JP Morgan Chase) discriminates on the basis of religion and viewpoint, and then lies and lies and lies about it. Nineteen state attorneys general have demanded that the company knock it off. Given that JP Morgan  already too-big-to-fail  just in effect colluded with the Fed and the Treasury to become even bigger, this seems like it would be a good idea. It might also be a good idea if the House Financial Services Committee were to inquire into Chase's misdeeds. You're forgiven for thinking that the next attorney-general interest in Chase would have had something to do with the growing scandal about Chase's post-conviction support for and interactions with noted-pedophile and unlikely suicide (a phrase that is amenable to more than one interpretation) Jeffrey Epstein. It appears increasingly possible that former executives at Chase may have helped him to hide transactions related to his execratory activities, and CEO Jamie Dimon will be required to give a deposition in the case. Instead, though, the AGs were focused on conduct that is perhaps less stomach-turning but likely to have vastly wider consequences if not constrained. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron's letter on behalf of the coalition of AGs added some additional information to the controversy that has erupted in the wake of Chase's debanking of Senator Brownback's National Committee for Religious Freedom (NCRF) (previously reported about on these pages here). Chase closed NCRF's account three weeks after it was opened, initially without explanation. When representatives of NCRF asked about this astonishing development, a number of Chase employees said that the decision had come from the corporate office, and that they "were not permitted to provide any further clarifying information to the customer." From the very first, then, we have both Chase executive involvement and stonewalling. Unless, that is, anyone in the corporate offices can close accounts at their unfettered whim and refuse to give any reasons for their actions. Which of these options is correct is a question to which the House committee might address itself. NCRF's concern must have trickled back up through the seniority chain, because eventually Chase contacted NCRF to let it know that the bank would deign to restore the account, but only if NCRF provided the bank with a list of its donors, a list of political candidates NCRF intended to support and the criteria it used to make such determinations. As the internet says: THIS. Could there be a clearer demonstration that the executive offices of JP Morgan Chase directly discriminate on the basis of viewpoint, even when that discrimination directly inculpates discrimination on the basis of constitutionally protected religious activity? Or maybe, of course, Chase shuts all non-profit accounts, and then allows them to be reopened once they share this information with Chase. Which one are you betting on? Wouldn't it be useful if the House committee were to probe that question? To learn how many organizations Chase has pulled this maneuver on, the ideological predispositions of those organizations, and what the results were? I have a pretty good guess what that inquiry would find. Don't you? Chase's response, when pushed on its insane request, was to continue to lie and lie, citing clearly inapplicable banking regulations to justify its debanking decision  going so far as to cite a regulation that the Fed, the U.S. Treasury and a bevy of other administrative offices had signed onto an explanatory letter about, saying that the regulation did not apply in exactly this situation. But when presented with that fact, the bank clammed back up entirely. The House committee might ask Chase's executives in minute detail about their whole series of lies, and drill down to get the truth. Then it could ask them to explain why an entity that discriminates on the basis of viewpoint should enjoy the too-big-to-fail protections it does  at cost to all taxpayers of all viewpoints  and why it should not be forced to disgorge all the profits arising from its takeover this past weekend of First Republic Bank; discriminatory companies have no business colluding with executive agencies to gain not only profits but even greater control of American capital sources. The committee could pull in the collusive administrative officials at the Fed, Treasury and elsewhere to explain why they're assisting this grossly discriminatory company to acquire additional assets. U.S. public officials have the duty not to aid and abet discrimination, after all. It should also call in Gary Gensler and his chief assistants at the SEC. Attorney General Cameron was kind enough in his letter to point out that the organization I direct, the Free Enterprise Project of the National Center for Public Policy Research, had submitted a shareholder proposal to Chase to challenge its discriminatory policies, only to have the SEC permit Chase to reject the proposal on the ground that this kind of blatant discrimination merely constitutes the "ordinary business" of the company. That's standard practice at the SEC, where, for instance, efforts to make companies discriminate more in the name of equity or "stopping hate"  such as conservative policy positions  constitutes matters of significant public policy concern that must be included on proxy ballots, while efforts like ours to stop similar discrimination against the right is just ordinary business that companies can exclude. Last week an amazing team of lawyers at Boyden Gray & Associates filed suit on behalf of the Free Enterprise Project against the SEC for these discriminatory administrative procedures, which among other things violate the First Amendment. (More on the lawsuit as soon as possible.) But it would be great if the House could call Gensler & Co. to testify about this discriminatory treatment. That would shed first light on their excuses, since the SEC's practice is only to permit or exclude shareholder proposals, never to explain its decisions, while Gensler's office has refused to allow the Commission itself to review any of the discriminatory rulings. Wait  do you see some similarity in Chase's discriminatory modus operandi and that of the SEC? Good heavens. What a coincidence. It's almost as though the administrative state and giant corporations are colluding to discriminate in favor of hard-left policy goals in violation of law. If the House committee does call in Gensler and his team, I hope it'll ask them a question just for me: Just how many attorneys general must weigh in on an issue before it constitutes a matter of "significant social policy concern?" And one for Jamie Dimon: Care to explain why Chase can't do business with a religious-liberty organization, but carrying forward with Jeffrey Epstein after his pedophilia conviction was a-Ok? Scott Shepard is a fellow at the National Center for Public Policy Research and Director of its Free Enterprise Project. This first appeared at RealClearMarkets and is reprinted with their kind permission. Home
WATERLOO  Waterloo police arrested a man after he allegedly broke into a downtown business over the weekend.

Police allege Darrion Bryceland Jones, 25, entered the Dark Rose Salon, 302 Commercial St., around 5 a.m. Saturday. He allegedly turned around a security camera and began rummaging through the business.

Officers captured him as he exited the building and found he was carrying flashlights and screwdrivers.

Jones, of 209 W. Fifth St., was arrested for third-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools. Bond was set at $8,000.

It was the second business burglary in downtown Waterloo in as many weeks. Last weekend, someone broke into the Savvy Bean, a new coffee shop that recently opened at 218 E. Fourth St.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Waterloo Police Department at (319) 291-4340 or Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers at 855-300-TIPS (8477).

Jones is currently awaiting trial for allegedly trying to pawn a PlayStation 5 that was taken from an apartment in a Nov. 7 burglary.
WATERLOO  A Waterloo woman has been arrested for allegedly taking her daughter to see the childs grandmother.

Police said Trisha Anne Schneck, 32, dropped off her 4 year old April 20 in a parking lot in the 500 block of West Dale Street because she has a trespass ban at her mothers apartment complex a block away.

The child had a McDonalds bag and a note to the grandmother explaining the mother had a doctor appointment and would be back later to pick up the child, according to court records. The child walked to the house but the grandmother wasnt home, records state.

About 50 minutes later, passersby spotted the child wandering around and called authorities. The grandmother was found at a neighbors house and didnt know the child was outside, records state.

The Iowa Department of Human Services was notified of the matter.

On Saturday, Schneck was arrested for misdemeanor child endangerment.
A teen drowned Saturday in the Ben Martinsen Wildlife Area in Clinton County, Sheriff Bill Greenwalt said in a news release.

The wildlife area is along the Wapsipinicon River south west of Clinton.

Greenwalt said that deputies went to the wildlife area on Iowa 67 south of Folletts at about 9:45 a.m. to investigate a report of a missing 18-year-old person.

Upon arrival, deputies met with two teenagers who reported their 18-year-old friend missing from the campsite.

First responders from the Clinton County Sheriffs Department, Low Moor Fire Department and an off-duty Camanche firefighter began searching the area and the backwaters of the Wapsipinicon River.

A K9 from the Clinton Police Department and a drone also were used in the search.

At 10:28 a.m., the body of the 18-year-old was discovered in the backwaters of the Wapsipinicon River by the Camanche firefighter.

The victim, whose gender was not released, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The identity of the victim was not released Saturday pending notification of family members.

The case remains under investigation by the Clinton County Sheriffs Department and the Clinton County Medical Examiner.

Also assisting at the scene was Clinton County Emergency Management and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Photos: Take a look inside the Rock Island Arsenal Museum as it completes renovations
Responding to a lawsuit over her decision to deny federally funded unemployment benefits to tens of thousands of Iowans, Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a statement Friday saying the federal government doesnt get to run the state of Iowa.

Reynolds comments follow the filing of a potential class-action lawsuit over her 2021 decision to terminate pandemic-related jobless benefits for unemployed Iowans months before the federal funding for those benefits was scheduled to be shut off.

Although Iowa was one of at least 25 states, all led by Republican governors, to take that step, the lawsuit claims Reynolds violated an Iowa statute that requires the state to pay out all available federal unemployment assistance to eligible Iowans.

On Friday, Reynolds released a brief written statement that didnt address that specific allegation but reasserted her right to terminate jobless benefits for Iowans.

The federal government doesnt get to run the state of Iowa or impose policies that damage our economy, the statement said. Paying people to stay home at a time when there are more jobs available than people to fill them defies common sense. Iowans know there is dignity in work.

In March 2020, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act  better known as the CARES Act  to address mass layoffs, business closures and soaring unemployment.

The act provided enhanced unemployment benefits, provided for cash payments to be made to qualified recipients, extended the period of eligibility for benefits, and allowed for benefits to be paid to people who wouldnt otherwise have been eligible.

Iowa then entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor to provide the states residents with Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits, effective March 29, 2020.

Iowans later received letters from Iowa Workforce Development stating they would be eligible for the benefits through Sept. 4, 2021. However, in a May 10, 2021, memorandum, Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend recommended that Reynolds terminate Iowas participation in the federal programs effective June 12, 2021.

The next day, Reynolds officially adopted the recommendation and announced that IWD, which administers many elements of Iowas unemployment programs, would be withdrawing from participation in the federal, pandemic-related unemployment programs, despite the fact that they were entirely funded by the federal government.

Lawyers for Karla Smith of Pleasantville and Holly Bladel of Clinton allege the two women, along with 30,000 to 55,000 other Iowans, were illegally denied unemployment benefits due to the actions of Reynolds and Townsend.

The lawsuit alleges Iowas Employment Security law requires the state to cooperate with the United States Department of Labor to the fullest extent and make available to Iowans all advantages available under the provisions of the Social Security Act that relate to unemployment compensation.

Lawyers for Smith and Bladel are seeking class-action status in the case in an effort to recover damages for thousands of Iowans who may have been harmed by Reynolds decision.

The state has yet to file a response to the lawsuit.
PARIS  France pledged additional military aid for Ukraine on Sunday, including light tanks, armored vehicles, training for soldiers and other assistance as the Ukrainians gear up for a counteroffensive against Russian forces, following surprise talks in Paris between the Ukrainian and French presidents.

Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy and France's Emmanuel Macron met for about three hours at the French presidential Elysee Palace  an encounter kept under wraps until shortly before the Ukrainian leaders arrival in Paris from Germany on a French government jet, extending his multi-stop European tour.

With Ukraine planning to go on the offensive hoping to retake Russian-occupied territory, military aid was a top agenda item. Macron's office said France will supply dozens of light tanks and armored vehicles in the weeks ahead," without giving specific numbers. Also promised were more air defense systems, but again details weren't made public.

More Ukrainians will also be made battle-ready, with France aiming to train about 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers in France this year and nearly 4,000 others in Poland as part of a wider European effort, Macron's office said.

In a statement, France described its support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as unwavering and promised that its political, economic, humanitarian and military aid will continue for as long as necessary.

In a tweet on his arrival, Zelenskyy said: With each visit, Ukraines defense and offensive capabilities are expanding. The ties with Europe are getting stronger, and the pressure on Russia is growing."

France has supplied Ukraine with an array of weaponry, include air defense systems, light tanks, howitzers and other arms and equipment and fuel.

France dispatched a plane to pick up Zelenskyy in Germany, where he met with Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier Sunday and discussed his country's planned counteroffensive. Zelenskyy said it will aim to liberate Russian-occupied areas within Ukraines internationally recognized borders, and not attack Russian territory.

The Washington Post cited previously undisclosed documents from a trove of U.S. intelligence leaks suggesting that Zelenskyy has considered trying to capture areas in Russia proper for possible use as bargaining chips in peace negotiations to end the war launched by Moscow in February 2022. This would put him at odds with Western governments that have insisted that weapons they provide must not be used to attack targets in Russia.

Asked about the report, Zelenskyy said: We dont attack Russian territory, we liberate our own legitimate territory.

We have neither the time nor the strength (to attack Russia), he said, according to an official interpreter. And we also dont have weapons to spare, with which we could do this.

We are preparing a counterattack for the illegally occupied areas based on our constitutionally defined legitimate borders, which are recognized internationally, Zelenskyy said.

Among areas still occupied by Russia are the Crimean peninsula and parts of eastern Ukraine with mainly Russian-speaking populations.

A Luftwaffe jet flew Zelenskyy to the German capital from Rome, where he met Saturday with Pope Francis and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni.

It was his first visit to Berlin since the start of the invasion and came a day after the German government announced a new package of military aid for Ukraine worth more than $3 billion, including tanks, anti-aircraft systems and ammunition.

Zelenskyy thanked Scholz for the support, saying Germany is now second only behind the United States in providing aid to Ukraine  and joked that he is working to make it the biggest donor.

German air defense systems, artillery, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles are saving Ukrainian lives and bringing us closer to victory. Germany is a reliable ally! Together we are bringing peace closer! he wrote on Twitter.

Scholz said that Berlin has so far given Kyiv some 17 billion euros in bilateral aid and that it can expect more in future.

After initially hesitating to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons, Germany has become one of the biggest suppliers of arms to Ukraine, including Leopard 1 and 2 battle tanks, and the sophisticated IRIS-T SLM air defense system. Modern Western hardware is considered crucial if Ukraine is to succeed in its planned counteroffensive.

In the western German city of Aachen, Zelenskyy also received the prestigious International Charlemagne Prize, awarded to him and the people of Ukraine.

In her congratulatory speech, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen compared the war in Ukraine to the fall of the Iron Curtain more than 30 years ago.

Every generation has its moment when it has to stand up to defend democracy and what it believes in, she said. For us, that moment has come.

Zelenskyy accused Moscow of trying to turn back the clock of European history.

Modern Russia waged war not just on us, as a free and sovereign state, not just against united Europe as a global symbol of peace and prosperity, he said in his acceptance speech. This is Russias war for the past.

In Ukraines forests, fighters race to prepare for next push
The Graves family walks out into their orchard. The apples are ready to be harvested. There are over 75 varieties of apples growing on their property in Brownsville.

Danielle Graves, who owns the property with her husband, is excited about the coming season: the farm store; the visits of guests; the fall activities for local families to participate in; knowing their apples are providing health and nutrition to the community.

The farm will get to do more of that through a grant they just received.

The Graves Family Orchard is one of 165 Wisconsin farms that have been awarded funds through the 2023 Wisconsin Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA), put together by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and Marbleseed, an organization dedicated to working in community with the Midwests regenerative and organic farmers.

Recipients were awarded amounts ranging from $3,000 to $20,000 to grow and provide food for local hunger relief efforts across the state.

The LFPA program and the grant we received will help us distribute fresh apples to those in need, Graves said, while helping us strengthen our distribution area.

Elsewhere, Jay Salinas is tending his 40-some acre farm in Sauk County. Salinas is a farmer and artist who cofounded the Neu Erth Wormfarm CSA, established in 1995, and Director of Special Projects for the Wormfarm Institute.

The farm Salinas oversees was awarded $7,500 to assist in building local food systems; something hes strived to do his entire career in sustainable, human-scale agriculture.

I think one of the impacts, Salinas said of the grants, is that it will help a number and range of producers. Functional supply chains will be built and relationships will be developed.

Farmer awardees gathered recently at the Marbleseed Organic Farming Conference in La Crosse. There, awardees were introduced to key partners; connected with resources in food production, food safety, and scaling up their farm business; and networked with historically underserved producers, distributors, and food outlets.

Other local farmers who received a grant include: Andrew Bigalke, in Juneau County; Rose Fliess, in Dodge County; Zach Kohls, in Dodge County; and Chontelle Southworth, in Columbia County.

Of the 165 farmers who were awarded grants, 60% are part of a socially disadvantaged and historically underserved community.

Every community has a local food network, said Krista Knigge, administrator of agricultural development for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP). We want to strengthen that. We want to craft plans to maintain and enhance the food supply chains across the state. We want to build resiliency in our food systems.

The grants will help. This is the first year of the Wisconsin LFPA program. This new program is aimed at strengthening local and regional food systems; supporting Wisconsin farmers; and distributing fresh nutritious foods to underserved communities.

DATCP, which signed a cooperative agreement with the USDAs Agricultural Marketing Service in creating the program, will work collaboratively with producers, distributors, food security organizations, and tribal partners to provide program development, coordinate transportation and logistics, and procure food from local producers.

Graves said. The grant will ensure that all our available apples will be sold and there will be minimal waste from apples sitting in the field or in cold storage.

Graves highlighted the nutritional benefits of an apple  1 gram of protein, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 19 grams of naturally occurring sugar, 3 grams of protein  and said, due to an apples long shelf life, families will have time to consume them, thereby reducing product waste.

Salinas is already eying the future, beyond the program.

When the program ends, he said, there will be a bunch of folks ready to participate in a system of growing, packing, shipping, receiving, and consuming locally produced foods.

That, too, is Knigges hope.

We want an established network across the state. We want to help farmers better serve their local communities. We want people eating locally grown nutritious food.

According to Feeding America, 427,380 people in Wisconsin are facing hunger. Of them, 142,050 are children. One in 14 people in the state is facing hunger. One in nine children is facing hunger. People facing hunger in Wisconsin are estimated to report needing $263,063,000 more per year to meet their food needs.

A box of apples from Gravess orchard will help. A box of greens from Salinass CSA will help. The work of Knigge, the DATCP and their collaborators, including Marbleseed, Wisconsin Farmers Union, and Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative will help.

For more information about the program visit www.wilocalfood.org.
A 21-year-old Baraboo woman was arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, 5th offense, Saturday morning.

She received her first OWI in 2018, at age 17.

According to a press release from the Department of Transportation, the driver was pulled over on Interstate 90/94 in Juneau County after a State Patrol trooper observed her vehicle to have an equipment violation. Upon contact with the woman, the trooper observed signs of impairment.

The woman was arrested following a field sobriety test. A search of the vehicle was conducted, and a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine was seized.

She was taken to the Juneau County jail with assistance from the Sheriffs Office.
The Reedsburg girl who was killed as she was about to board a school bus Friday morning has been identified by family and friends as Evelyn Gurney, an 11-year-old Webb Middle School student.

Absolute heartbreak, Brian Gurney, Evelyns father, said of the familys finding out about the crash last week. Just absolutely heartbreaking to know that shes not going to be with us anymore.

An online fundraiser had raised more than $77,000 for the family from more than 1,100 donations as of Monday. And the union representing paramedics and firefighters in Baraboo, where the elder Gurney is a paramedic, is selling stickers with Evelyns initials and the number 42  the jersey Evelyn wore for her youth girls hockey team  with two crossing hockey sticks for $5.

Gurney said the family is overwhelmed by the amount of community support theyve received.

Its not something anyone would wish upon anybody, but the way the community has come together, stepped up, and showed how they feel, Gurney said. It shows what sort of an impact Evelyn has made to so many.

Support has poured in from throughout Wisconsin, Minneapolis and northern Illinois, he said.

Its amazing how far-reaching one person can actually get and it also shows what kind of community the hockey families are, Gurney said.

The Gofundme page for Evelyn initially set a goal of $1,000 but quickly blew past that.

She was the sweetest, most kind person you would ever meet, wrote Reedsburg resident Ellie Vielhuber and four other friends who set up the fundraiser.

Evelyn was waiting for a school bus when the crash occurred just before 7:30 a.m. on Highway 23/33 near Northwoods Drive, according to the Sauk County Sheriffs Office.

The bus was stopped in the westbound lane when a westbound Ford pickup truck failed to slow down in time and swerved to avoid striking the bus, the Sheriffs Office said. The truck sideswiped the bus on the rear right side, continuing along a driveway on the north side of the highway and striking Evelyn, investigators said. The truck came to a stop in a ditch.

The National Transportation Safety Board on Monday said it was helping the Sheriffs Office with its investigation.

NTSB, in coordination with Sauk County Sheriffs Office, is conducting a safety investigation into the May 12 crash involving a Ford F-150 pickup that struck a school bus, and struck and fatally injured a student about to board the school bus near Excelsior, Sauk County, WI.  NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) May 14, 2023

Evelyns death was a truly devastating time for our entire community and it will have far reaching effects, Reedsburg School District Superintendent Roger Rindo said in a statement Friday. Weekend extracurricular activities in the district were canceled.

No students on the bus were injured, according to authorities. The truck driver, who sustained minor injuries, has not yet been identified by authorities. A small makeshift memorial was set up at the site of the crash.

Were sorry that hes also having to go through the grief he is, said Gurney regarding the Ford F-150 driver. We hope that he can try to grow from this and not let it ultimately affect him for the rest of his life.

No information has been released regarding any services for Evelyn.

GALLERY: Reedsburg's Webb Middle School presents 'A Christmas Carol' 121219-reed-gallery-play011 121219-reed-gallery-play005 121219-reed-gallery-play008 121219-reed-gallery-play015 121219-reed-gallery-play006 121219-reed-gallery-play002 121219-reed-gallery-play004 121219-reed-gallery-play001 121219-reed-gallery-play020 121219-reed-gallery-play003 121219-reed-gallery-play007 121219-reed-gallery-play009 121219-reed-gallery-play010 121219-reed-gallery-play012 121219-reed-gallery-play013 121219-reed-gallery-play014 121219-reed-gallery-play016 121219-reed-gallery-play017 121219-reed-gallery-play018 121219-reed-gallery-play019
On the 175th anniversary of Marx and Engels Communist Manifesto (1848) (Part One) By Mark Wegierski

web posted May 15, 2023 In February 1848, in the year in which Karl Marx turned thirty, The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels was published in German. This was one of the launching points of Marxist thought. It was also the year of huge revolutionary upheavals in Europe. For many succeeding decades, the document languished in obscurity. It only really gained traction in the late nineteenth century. It became a ubiquitous document after the success of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917. It can certainly be debated, however, to what extent Leninism and Stalinism reflected Marx's ideas. The document was a succinct statement of Marx and Engels' thought. It coined the term "capitalism" to describe the bourgeois system. The central idea was that a revolution was needed to displace the oppressive bourgeoisie  that would usher in a phase of history called socialism. After the struggles of socialism ended, a new golden age of a classless society called Communism, would be ushered in. Marx's thought certainly called for violence in the initial phase of the struggle against capitalism. Indeed, much later, he criticized the Gotha program of the reformist socialists  which he termed as "revisionism". If one reads the Manifesto literally, the predicted total socialist revolution against capitalism has never taken place in Western capitalist societies. So that would be for Marx a hope for the future. However, the current-day situation clearly cannot be sociologically related to the situation of the mid-nineteenth century. Arguably, the most enduring insight of Marx and Engels is to point to the revolutionary nature of capitalism: "The bourgeoisie, historically, has played a most revolutionary part...The bourgeoisie, wherever it has got the upper hand, has put an end to all feudal, patriarchal, idyllic relations. It has pitilessly torn asunder the motley feudal ties that bound man to his "natural superiors", and has left remaining no other nexus between man and man than naked selfinterest, than callous "cashpayment". It has drowned the most heavenly ecstasies of religious fervour, of chivalrous enthusiasm, of philistine sentimentalism, in the icy water of egotistical calculation. It has resolved personal worth into exchange value...The bourgeoisie has stripped of its halo every occupation hitherto honoured and looked up to with reverent awe...The bourgeoisie has torn away from the family its sentimental veil, and has reduced the family relation to a mere money relation...The bourgeoisie cannot exist without constantly revolutionizing the instruments of production, and thereby the relations of production, and with them the whole relations of society... All fixed, fastfrozen relations, with their train of venerable prejudices and opinions are swept away... All that is solid melts into air, all that is holy is profaned." (Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, The Communist Manifesto. Penguin Books, 1967, pp. 82-83.) So, they had, to some extent, anticipated what is called today by its critics, "woke capitalism". Indeed, Karl Marx (and his intellectual collaborator and patron Friedrich Engels) have established a heritage of thought which is sometimes said today to be nearly-universally discredited, yet which has both today and historically also attracted a surprising variety of supporters and defenders, across virtually the entire, conventional spectrum of left, right, and center. It could be argued that the Marxian tradition is more multivalent than its identification with the former East Bloc system, nominally called "Communist" -- suggests. One should avoid either the simplistic condemnation of Marx common among some anti-Communists, as well as the panegyrics which had been de rigueur in the former Eastern Bloc -- which, along with the various depredations of the system -- have today reduced Marx's intellectual cachet far more in East-Central Europe and Russia than in the United States, Canada, and Western European societies that never experienced that "worker's paradise." It is argued that Marx might indeed have some serious disagreements with the current-day Left  and most certainly with the current-day left-liberal establishment. To be continued. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home
Weather Alert

...UNSEASONABLE HEAT THIS WEEKEND WITH FLOODING CONCERNS ACROSS AREA WATERWAYS DUE TO EXCESSIVE SNOWMELT AND RUNOFF... ...THUNDERSTORM CHANCES INCREASING THROUGH THE WEEKEND... Heat: * Highs will warm 15-20 degrees above average this weekend, similar to typical readings during late June. This translates to around 90 degrees across western Nevada valleys and mid to upper 70s for Sierra valleys. The warmest days are most likely on Friday and Saturday, with record highs possible and potential for moderate heat risks to sensitive individuals in warmer western Nevada valleys. Snowmelt and River Rises: * Increasing heat will continue accelerating snowmelt this week. If planning outdoor recreation, avoid streams and rivers as they will flow fast, cold, and high. While it may seem like a good idea to jump into the rivers to cool off, the water is extremely cold and shock can quickly set in, causing loss of motor function. There are also likely to be snow bridges present in the backcountry with water flowing beneath. Use extreme caution. * The latest forecasts indicate the East and West Forks and mainstem Walker River reaching minor to moderate flood stage through the weekend. The West Fork of the Carson is expected to remain in minor flood stage while the East Fork of the Carson River could reach minor flood stage late Friday night. For more detailed river forecasts, visit www.cnrfc.noaa.gov. Shower and Thunderstorm Chances: * Shower and thunderstorm chances will increase each this weekend with a 15-20% chance on Friday, increasing up to 30% on Saturday, and up to 40% on Sunday across Mono and Mineral counties. Gusty outflow winds of 40-50 mph, small hail, and localized heavy rainfall will be possible in the vicinity of any thunderstorms.

.Warm temperatures may melt snowpack and increase river flows. ...FLOOD WATCH FOR SNOWMELT REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY EVENING... * WHAT...Flooding caused by snowmelt continues to be possible. * WHERE...Portions of east central California and western Nevada, including the following areas, in east central California, Greater Lake Tahoe Area and Mono County. In western Nevada, Greater Lake Tahoe Area, Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area and Mineral and Southern Lyon Counties. * WHEN...From 8 PM PDT this evening through Monday evening. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Low-water crossings may be flooded. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - The current period of unseasonably warmer temperatures will result is excessive snowmelt and runoff from higher mountain areas into lower elevation locations along the Carson River, Walker River basins, and eastern Sierra Basins. Creeks, streams, and main stem river areas will continue to run high, fast, and cold after expiration of this watch. Through the diurnal melt cycle, peak flow and heights will occur overnight and early morning in many cases. - Http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. &&
If youre wondering whether now is the time to start planning a hike, consider the many benefits of getting out and trekking some trails. After all, hiking is fun, healthy and its often free. And unless youre preparing to hike Mount Everest, you shouldnt have to invest in too much new gear either.

Thanks to the pandemic, theres been a renewed interest in the outdoors, including hiking, biking and camping. If youre nervous about hiking by yourself, you can head for more popular trails or even join organized group hikes that may be offered in your area through REI, Meetup or Eventbrite.

Choosing the destination

For those who arent lucky enough to have a national park in their backyard, local city, county and state parks are an excellent place to start searching for potential hiking trails. National recreation areas and national forests often have tons of trails that also tend to be less crowded.

If youre set on finding excellent hikes in national parks, consider what else you may appreciate about the parks aside from the hiking. If youre looking for incredible fall foliage, you may want to head to Acadia National Park in Maine. If mountains are your goal, Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming and Glacier National Park in Montana would be excellent choices.

Think about your overall goals of the trip, since great hiking could be part of a larger vacation that includes different activities. You also dont necessarily need to choose between outdoorsy fun and urban adventures as many large cities are also near excellent trails. This way, you can visit museums and world-class restaurants one day and walk through forests and mountains the next. Las Vegas and Los Angeles are known for glitz and glam, but both have tremendous hiking opportunities within about an hours drive. Atlanta is only 90 minutes from the start of the Appalachian Trail.

As you plan, technology can guide you in choosing a trail and while hiking. Kirkland Shave, certified hiking guide, former Park Ranger and now the program creator and co-owner of British Columbias Mountain Trek Health Reset Retreat, explains that our phones are excellent tools for on the trail, especially when they are in airplane mode. He suggests apps like AllTrails or Gaia GPS that let you download maps while online at home that still work with the phones GPS when off-grid or in airplane mode.

Not only does AllTrails allow you to use the app offline, but it lets you search trails in your area and includes helpful information like distance, elevation and difficulty level, along with reviews and photos. These user comments give a good sense of how crowded (or uncrowded) the trail is and current mud or snow conditions. AllTrails also tags hikes to indicate whether it is wheelchair-friendly, dog-friendly (on a leash, of course!) and if its known for something special like wildflowers, waterfalls or birdwatching.

Gaia GPS is great for more advanced hikers who may want to pull segments from different trails and roads to plot their own route. Once youre on your hike, several apps can enhance your experience, like Merlin, which identifies birds based on how they look or sound, and iNaturalist, which helps identify plants and animals you encounter.


Investee Cortical Dynamics Update

Perth, May 15, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Philips Electronics North America Corp. has confirmed that BPH Energy Limited ( ASX:BPH ) investee company Cortical Dynamics Limited (Cortical) has with successful testing and provision of documentation met the necessary prerequisites of the Philips License and Cooperation Agreement to claim the BARM-PEC as a compatible and "supported device" for Philips Patient Monitoring Systems IntelliVue MP40-90 and MX400-850 using the Philips IntelliBridge EC10 Interface Module or IntelliBridge EC10 integral Interface Board, as well as Philips IntelliBridge System Release C.0 and Patient Information Center iX using the EC40/80 Hub with Open Interface driver (ED/BD101) and EC5 ID Module #106.



Philips confirms that Cortical may now claim compatibility of the BARM-PEC with the abovementioned Philips IntelliVue Patient Monitoring Systems.



Philips will include Cortical's BARM-PEC in the list of Open Interface supported medical devices that is communicated to the Philips sales force and published on related Philips webpages.



Neurotechnology Company Cortical Dynamics has developed BARM(TM) (Brain Anaesthesia Response Monitor) a next generation certified class II personalised Depth of Anaesthesia Monitoring Device for use in the operating room and ICU , complemented by CORDYAN(TM) (Cortical Dynamics Analytics) a proprietary deep learning system/App focusing on anaesthesiology.





About BPH Energy Limited





BPH Energy Limited (ASX:BPH) is an Australian Securities Exchange listed company developing biomedical research and technologies within Australian Universities and Hospital Institutes.

The company provides early stage funding, project management and commercialisation strategies for a direct collaboration, a spin out company or to secure a license.

BPH provides funding for commercial strategies for proof of concept, research and product development, whilst the institutional partner provides infrastructure and the core scientific expertise.

BPH currently partners with several academic institutions including The Harry Perkins Institute for Medical Research and Swinburne University of Technology (SUT).
On the 335th anniversary of the Glorious Revolution  the historical significance of the English Civil War (Part Three) By Mark Wegierski

web posted May 15, 2023 Political Allegiances: Broadly speaking, these were between Tories and Whigs (as these terms were defined in the second half of the seventeenth century). The term "Tory" is derived from the Irish Gaelic, toraidhe, from a phrase meaning "Come, O King". The term "Tory" was originally used as a term of abuse denoting an "Irish Papist or Royalist bandit", with the added meaning of "the pursued". The term Toryism at this time referred to a creed embracing the belief in the ultimate supremacy of the monarchy in the realm (with Parliament a distinct but junior partner) which was justified as constituting the ultimate, organic, and unifying element of the kingdom. Religiously, it generally embraced Roman Catholicism, or Anglicanism, or the Scottish Episcopal Church. Royalist is another general term, while Cavalier is used to describe this side in the English Civil War itself. The term Cavalier, roughly equivalent to "knight", "gentleman", or "armed horseman" was derived from the medieval French chevalier. The stereotypical image of the Cavalier was as a horseman in a fancy, "musketeer-type" hat, richly-dressed, with long, flowing hair behind, sword in hand. The Cavalier lifestyle was said to be uninhibited, including a large element of "wine, women, and song". The term is also used in the study of English literature to describe the so-called Cavalier poets of the same period, who embraced similar themes in their work. The primary meaning of the word today, through the adjective "cavalier", is largely negative, meaning "rude" or "disdainful". This could be seen to reflect the perception which ultimately prevailed as a result of that conflict, which saw the traits typical of an aristocrat or nobleman as excessively arrogant. The term Whig was derived from the shortening of the Lowland Scottish word whiggamore, which was originally a form of a cry used for herding horses or cattle. It had been adopted as a battle-shout of the most radical faction of the Presbyterian Covenant in Lowlands Scotland. The term was extended to refer to advocates of the ultimate supremacy of Parliament in the English constitution, which was justified as being the best political arrangement: as a so-called mixed constitution of checks and balances (King-in-Parliament, House of Lords, House of Commons); and as the best guarantee of certain so-called "ancient rights of Englishmen", which were to be enshrined in the constitution. The term Parliamentarian is used to describe this side in the English Civil War. Roundhead, often used as a synonym for Parliamentarian, refers more specifically to Puritan soldiers, and was derived from the closely-cropped hair typical of Cromwell's cavalry. The stereotypical Roundhead wore the "lobster" helmet and a plain coat of hard leather, with no vain adornments. One should note a degree of divergence between the Parliamentarians and Roundheads, as Cromwell eventually came to rule as Lord Protector. Ultimately, however (after 1688) the Parliamentarian position won out. Dynastic Allegiances: The Stuarts, originally Kings of Scotland, had come to the throne of England in the person of James VI (of Scotland) and I (of England). The term Jacobites (derived from the Latinized name of James -- Jacobus) referred to partisans of the Stuarts in the period to the middle of the eighteenth century. In 1688, the so-called Glorious Revolution in England had effectively deposed King James VII and II. The emphatically Protestant William of Orange was brought over from Holland to England as King William III. Upon his death, the Protestant Hanoverians were drafted to keep the Catholic Stuarts from the throne. Territorial Allegiances: Ireland was an almost exclusively Roman Catholic society, although there was an ongoing influx of English and Protestant settlers, in the so-called Pale of Settlement. Ironically, the spark for the English Civil War was a great Irish Catholic rising against the English in Ireland. Charles I needed money to raise troops to prosecute the war, which Parliament refused to grant, suspecting they were more likely to be used at home. The King managed to reach an effective truce with the Irish when the fighting began in England. Scotland was at this time a kingdom unified with England only in the person of the monarch, with its own Parliament, law-courts, system of customary law, foreign relations, and coinage. The term "Auld Alliance", for example, refers to the traditional close ties between Scotland and France. It was divided between the basically Jacobite Royalist Highlands, and the Whig-oriented Lowlands, although even the Scottish Presbyterians had a degree of allegiance to their native Stuart dynasty. All Scots participated in the great invasion of England in 1648 (at the behest of Charles I), but their army, three times larger than Cromwell's, was decisively defeated at Preston. In England, support for the King, at the beginning of the war, was centered in Wales, Cornwall, and northern England, and Wales and Cornwall were the last Royalist bastions in England. To be continued. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home


First Gas Supply Contract for Odin

Melbourne, May 15, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Vintage Energy Ltd ( ASX:VEN ), 50% interest holder and Operator of the PRL 211 Joint Venture ("the joint venture", other interest holders: Metgasco Ltd, 25%; and Bridgeport (Cooper Basin) Pty Ltd, 25%) announces the securing of the first gas supply contract for the Odin gas field located in the Cooper Basin.



The joint venture interest holders have contracted with Pelican Point Power Limited, a joint venture between ENGIE Australia and New Zealand (72%) and Mitsui & Co Ltd (28%), to supply gas from Odin from field start-up until 31 December 2024, the maximum period permissible for contracting under the existing interim ACCC authorisation for Odin.



Pelican Point Power Station is a 497 MW combined cycle gas power plant in South Australia operated by ENGIE and Mitusi. The plant is regarded as a critical infrastructure asset for energy security and system stability in South Australia



The agreement provides Pelican with all of Odin's gas production over the contract term with commercial terms that encourage field appraisal and production expansion.



The contract has been secured less than 5 months after the joint venture resolved to accelerate connection of the Odin-1 gas well in South Australia so gas from the field could be supplied to eastern Australia at the earliest opportunity.



Work on the accelerated connection, involving a 1.4 km spur to the existing Vali-Beckler pipeline, is advancing on schedule and budget for first flows in the coming September quarter.



The Vali gas field and facilities are owned by the ATP 2021 joint venture which has an identical composition to the PRL 211 joint venture. The contract has been signed approximately two months after gas from the nearby Vali gas field started flowing to eastern Australia under a gas supply agreement with AGL.



Comment



Vintage Managing Director, Neil Gibbins, said "we are delighted to have secured this agreement. ENGIE are a major energy provider to eastern Australia and their commitment in becoming the inaugural customer for Odin gas enables a new field to be brought online into the eastern Australia energy network.



"This agreement expands our production and revenue generating footprint and provides an attractive commercial footing for addressing the promising appraisal opportunities we have identified on the field."



The GSA provides for interruptible supply of all gas produced from the Odin gas field to ENGIE for a period of up to 17 months.



Customer engagement on Odin gas was conducted following granting of an interim authorisation earlier this year. The joint venture has applied for authorisation to contract supply of gas for longer periods.



"The Odin experience has highlighted the eagerness of gas users to secure the supply they need. At Vali and Odin we have uncontracted gas we expect will be supplying eastern Australia for many years" said Mr Gibbins.



"It is clear these resources are valued by gas users, as are the appraisal and exploration opportunities we have identified around the Vali-Odin hub".



Odin will become Vintage's second producing field when it comes online with gas produced from the field joining that from Vali in the 14 km Vali-Beckler pipeline through which it is transported by the South Australian Cooper Basin Joint Venture to the Moomba facility for processing and sale. The accelerated connection of the Odin gas field will enable supply whilst a long-term connection, involving tieback to the Vali facilities, is installed.



The Odin gas field was discovered by the joint venture in 2021. Odin-1 confirmed gas pay in the Toolachee, Epsilon and Patchawarra formations and delivered a stable gas flow rate of 6.5 MMscfd from the Epsilon and Toolachee formations. The well was completed as a Toolachee and Epsilon gas producer as part of the Vali well completion campaign conducted in July - August 2022.



The field has independently certified Contingent Resources (2C) of 40 PJ (Vintage Energy share 19 PJ).





About Vintage Energy Ltd





Vintage Energy Ltd (ASX:VEN) has been established to acquire, explore and develop energy assets principally within, but not limited to, Australia, to take advantage of a generally favourable energy pricing outlook.
A family had set up tables to sell bouquets and other Mothers Day gifts when gunfire erupted near the intersection of Wyoming and Central in southeast Albuquerque on Sunday afternoon.

There was a guy running across the street just randomly shooting. Randomly, said Yarely, a woman who was selling items with her other relatives at a nearby gas station. We just ducked down under the tables we had set up to cover ourselves. We were scared.

Rebecca Atkins, an Albuquerque police spokeswoman, said police were called to the area near the 8500 block of Central SE after three people were shot Sunday afternoon. One person was killed, two were injured and the shooter hadnt been arrested Sunday evening.The two people who were injured had non-life-threatening injuries, Atkins said.

Police didnt release any additional details about the case on Sunday.

Yarely and other witnesses said the shooting happened around 12:30 or 1 p.m.

Joshua, who was working at a nearby restaurant, said people who were dining outside at the time ducked under their tables.

I was in the middle of taking an order on the headset when I heard shots go off, he said.

The polices mobile command center was on scene and officers had blocked off Central on Sunday evening during the investigation.
When cannabis was legalized in New Mexico, lawmakers also passed legislation to automatically expunge charges that would no longer be a crime after the law went into effect in late June 2021.

It is now legal for anyone over 21 to possess up to 2 ounces of cannabis, 16 grams of cannabis extract and 800 milligrams of edible cannabis, and to use it in their own home or share it without compensation. The new law means many thousands of New Mexicans who were charged with marijuana possession will be able to have those cases expunged from court and law enforcement records.

But the process has proved to be cumbersome, time-consuming and complicated.

The Journal consulted with the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Law Offices of the Public Defender and the New Mexico Department of Safety to get some answers on how its going.

Why are cases being expunged?

As states across the country have legalized cannabis over the past several years, many  like New Mexico  are now working to address those who picked up charges in the past when the drug was still illegal. Residents with drug possession charges on their criminal records can find it hard to get a job or rent an apartment, for instance.

There are a lot of people where there are very real world consequences to (cannabis) convictions and those people really need it expunged, said Adrianne Turner, general counsel with LOPD. Then just as a policy matter across the board, I think it was important to make sure we werent commercializing something that we have still been punishing people for.

Whats the latest update?

While the original legislation laying out which charges should be automatically expunged included what officials call mixed cases, a bill passed this year narrowed it down to just simple cases. Simple cases involve only cannabis charges that are eligible for expungement whereas mixed cases include another charge  like shoplifting and traffic violations but also more serious crimes. Someone with a mixed case can still petition to have their record expunged, it just wont be done automatically.

Instead of an enormous  almost boundless  project, it will focus it on simple cases while leaving the door open to a simple administrative process for anyone whos seeking relief assuming theyre eligible, said Celina Jones, general counsel at the Administrative Office of the Courts.

How many cases have been expunged so far? The Administrative Office of the Courts has expunged  essentially sealing off a case from public view  about 14,500 simple cannabis cases as of mid-April. In the meantime, the Department of Public Safety had expunged about 14,258 records over the course of six months. Many of those arrest records and criminal charges could be pertaining to the same case, although they dont overlap entirely, according to a spokesman for the Administrative Office of the Courts. He added that the AOC has an automated a process for sending DPS court orders to expunge records, and send reports daily. It doesnt appear to have the same processes in place for other law enforcement agencies.

How many are left to go?

The AOC estimates there are about 90,000 cases that still need to be reviewed manually to determine if the charges are eligible for automatic expungement. While those that have already been done were coded in the system as, for example, possession of marijuana, the task became more labor intensive if the charge was possession of a controlled substance. In those cases, someone would have to open the case file to determine if the controlled substance is marijuana.

Whats the oldest case that will be automatically expunged?

The AOC has identified cases from the mid-1970s for automatic expungement, but there could be older ones.

How much longer will it take?

Jones said its very hard to know how long it will take to finish automatically expunging cases, but she estimates it could take another four or five years to expunge the simple cases alone.

How can people petition to get their cases expunged if they have other charges? The AOC said it expects to have a webpage up on the New Mexico Courts website in the first week of June. A spokesman said it will include an online form for people to fill out and submit electronically to seek expungement of records involving cannabis charges.

How will I know if my case is automatically expunged?

Search for your case at caselookup.nmcourts.gov/caselookup. The AOC will not notify those whose cases are automatically expunged because it usually does not have current contact information. If someone petitions for it, then they will be notified.

If youre one of the people whose cannabis cases have been automatically expunged, wed like to hear your story and experience. Send us an email at yourstory@abqjournal.com
FARMINGTON  An 18-year-old man, firing at least three different weapons, roamed across a Farmington neighborhood on Monday, apparently shooting indiscriminately at anything he saw, police say.

Three people were killed, and the shooter was also shot and killed by police. Six more people were shot and wounded, among them two responding officers, Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said in a video statement released late Monday evening.

I dont even know what to say in an event like this. How do you address it? the chief said. I have my deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.

The three people who were killed were all women over the age of 70, according to former state representative James Strickler, who spoke with the Journal following a vigil late Monday.

He said he knew one of them very well, identifying her as a woman in her 80s with five children. He said he heard the other two who were shot were a mother and daughter, in their 90s and 70s.

The younger was a schoolteacher, Strickler said. She taught my neighbors kids preschool. A great family. Were a small community and were just so heartbroken.

The identities of the victims and the shooter were not publicly released on Monday.

Rampage in a quiet neighborhood

The active shooting unfolded in a quiet middle-class neighborhood lined with houses and churches in the heart of Farmington. Ranging across up to a quarter-mile stretch of the neighborhood, and at times using a firearm Hebbe described as an AR-style rifle, the shooter fired on at least six houses and three cars in what the chief described as a rampage.

The suspect randomly fired at whatever entered his head to shoot at, he said. We are doing the best that we can to  look at the evidence to see if we can figure out what the motivation was. But at this point, it appears to be purely random.

The suspect was shot and killed by police. He was found in the 700 block of North Dustin Avenue, roughly a mile northeast of Downtown Farmington.

Police were dispatched to the area just before 11 a.m. At 11:05 a.m., Hebbe said, officers announced theyd fired shots and that the shooter was down. At almost the same time, they called out that a Farmington officer was shot, and that they began transporting him to San Juan Regional Medical Center about a minute later.

A New Mexico State Police officer was also shot in the incident, and drove himself to the hospital, Hebbe said. The Farmington officer who was wounded was treated and released, while the state police officer remained in the hospital. He was doing well, Hebbe said.

SUVs riddled with bullets

Paul Fowler left work early because he didnt feel well. He lay down on his bed and his family, including two young daughters, left the house on Dustin Avenue.

Ten minutes later he heard gunfire  it sounded close.

I thought it was directly behind me and the first thing I realized is I didnt have the gun by me, Fowler recounted, standing in his neighbors driveway just north of the sprawling crime scene. I hit the floor, I heard it come over my house.

Fowler said after he heard the gunfire, he remained on the floor for about five minutes  but it seemed longer  and then went outside once he heard on the police scanner that the suspect was no longer a threat.

I know that there were three white SUVs that had been traveling north on Dustin and they all ended up getting shot, Fowler said. They ended up, one of them parked over here.

He said the SUVs were riddled with bullets, sprayed through windshields, front windows and from behind. He said he didnt know how anyone could survive that type of gunfire.

One womans vehicle had a flat tire.

Even she said that she didnt realize, she had never even seen the guy, Fowler recalled, about one of the people who was shot at. She didnt realize until the glass shattered and she got sprayed with the glass. She said she ducked down and just floored it, blew through the stop sign and everything.

Inside the crime scene, a blue minivan could be seen surrounded by police vehicles. A person in the passenger seat was dead. Evidence markers were placed all around it.

Its a sad day, Fowler said.

School lockdowns and investigation

Farmington is a city of roughly 45,000 people about 180 miles northwest of Albuquerque. This is the second active shooting in the area in less than six years.

In December 2017, 21-year-old William Atchison shot and killed two students at Aztec High School before killing himself. Atchison, who had attended the school, had pretended to be a student and entered the building along with other students.

Multiple area school sites were put on lockdown in response to Mondays shooting, Farmington Municipal Schools spokesman Roberto Taboada said. In a letter to parents, the district referred to the incident as a series of shootings.

Everyone at Farmington schools  the students and the staff  theyre all safe and theyve been fed, Taboada told the Journal in an interview.

The area where the shooting unfolded remained taped off into the evening. Officers roamed the streets, taking photos for evidence.

Jeremy Gerber, who lives in the neighborhood, didnt know what had happened until a friend texted him to ask him if he was OK.

Dude, there is a shooting at your house, he said his friend told him.

Gerber raced home to find both windows shot through in the cab of his truck. The bullets pierced his neighbors fence and shed.

It could have been much, much worse, Gerber said, surveilling the damage and looking toward the crime scene.
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged the United Nations on Monday to suspend Israels membership unless it implements resolutions establishing separate Jewish and Arab states and allows the return of Palestinian refugees.

Abbas spoke during the first official U.N. commemoration of the flight of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from what is now Israel following the U.N.s partition of British-ruled Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states 75 years ago.

Israels U.N. ambassador, Gilad Erdan, had sent letters to General Assembly ambassadors condemning the commemoration and urging them not to attend what he called an abominable event and a blatant attempt to distort history. He said those who attended would be condoning antisemitism and giving a green light to Palestinians to continue exploiting international organs to promote their libelous narrative.

Israel and the United States were among those that boycotted the commemoration of what is known as the Nakba, or catastrophe.

In an hourlong emotion-charged speech, Abbas asked the worlds nations why more than 1,000 resolutions adopted by U.N. bodies regarding the Palestinians had never been implemented. He held up a letter from Israels foreign minister, Moshe Sharett, after the resolutions were adopted in 1947 and 1948 promising to create a Palestinian state and allow the return of refugees and said: Either they do fulfill these obligations, or they stop becoming a member.

The General Assembly, which had 57 member nations in 1947, approved the resolution dividing Palestine by a vote of 33-13 with 10 abstentions. The Jewish side accepted the U.N. partition plan and after the British mandate expired in 1948, Israel declared its independence. The Arabs rejected the plan and neighboring Arab countries launched a war against the Jewish state.

The Nakba commemorates the estimated 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were forced from their homes in 1948.

The fate of these refugees and their descendants  estimated at over 5 million across the Middle East  remains a major disputed issue in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Israel rejects demands for a mass return of refugees to long-lost homes, saying it would threaten the countrys Jewish character.

The Nakba commemoration comes as Israeli-Palestinian fighting has intensified and protests over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus right-wing government and its plan to overhaul Israels judiciary show no sign of abating. Israels polarization and the Netanyahu governments extremist positions have also sparked growing international concern.

Abbas specifically blamed Britain, as Palestines ruler before the 1947 partition, and the United States, Israels most important ally, for the flight of the Palestinians, saying they bear political and ethical responsibility for evicting Palestinians and implanting Israel in our historic homeland.

And Israel would not have continued its hostility and aggression without the support it receives from these two countries, he said.

Abbas strongly criticized Israel for calling itself the only democracy in the Middle East, saying it is the only state in the world that occupies another people. And he rejected Israels insistence that it made the desert bloom, saying Palestine pre-1947 was very civilized, green, with lakes and rivers, and exported oranges to Europe.

The Palestinian leader said the most important right Palestinians are demanding now is self-determination and an independent state based on June 1967 borders. He reiterated that the Palestinians have agreed to accept 22% of the 1947 territory as part of a two-state solution to the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict, not the 44% they were given in the partition.

But he said the two-state solution is being destroyed, pointing to Israeli ministers publicly calling for another nakba against the Palestinians and Israelis calling for the killing of Palestinians, insisting defiantly that the Palestinians will never leave or give up East Jerusalem, which they want as their capital.

Abbas said Palestinians are not against Jews, but I am against those who occupy our land. He was born in Safed in the Galilee, now part of Israel, and said like other Palestinian refugees he wants to go home.

He said Israel should recognize and apologize for the Nakba, which has created the worlds longest refugee crisis, and pay compensation to the refugees and for land it now occupies. And he said that if these root causes are not addressed, the Palestinians will continue to pursue its rights and take legal action, especially at the International Criminal Court, which was greeted by loud applause from the large audience in a U.N. conference room.

Israel has remained defiant.

We will fight the Nakba lie with full strength and we wont allow the Palestinians to continue to spread lies and distort history, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said in a statement.

As the 75th anniversary approached, the now 193-member General Assembly approved a resolution last Nov. 30 by a vote of 90-30 with 47 abstentions requesting the U.N. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to organize a high-level event on May 15 to commemorate the Nakba. The United States was among the countries that joined Israel in voting against the resolution.

Abbas called for the General Assembly to establish May 15 every year as an international day to commemorate the Palestinian plight and to call for Palestinians achieving their rights to an independent state.

Israels foreign ministry said dozens of countries canceled or downgraded their participation in Mondays event in response to an Israeli campaign. But among the many groups supporting the Nakba commemoration and an independent Palestinian state whose representatives spoke on Monday were the Group of 77, a U.N. coalition of 134 mainly developing nations and China, and the 120-member Nonaligned Movement.

Speaking at the commemoration, U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo expressed deep concern that prospects for restarting negotiations toward a two-state solution continue to diminish.

DiCarlo pointed to the rapid expansion of Israeli settlements, which is illegal under international law, pervasive violence including by Israeli settlers, and Israels unabated evictions, demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned property.

She also cited the record number of Palestinian civilians killed last year since the U.N. started recording deaths in 2005, and the highest number of Israeli civilians killed since 2015, warning that this year is on track to match or surpass those numbers.

Palestinians deserve a life of justice and dignity and the realization of their right to self-determination and independence, the undersecretary-general for political affairs said. The U.N. position is clear. The occupation must end.

In a speech to the U.N. Security Council on April 25, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Malki renewed his call for countries that havent yet recognized the state of Palestine to do so as a means to salvage the moribund two-state solution.

To hurt Israel economically, Malki urged countries to ban products from Israeli settlements and trade with settlements, to sanction those who collect funds for settlements and those who advocate for them and those who advance them, and to list settler organizations that carry out killings and burnings as terrorist organizations.

And he urged the international community to take Israel to the International Court of Justice, the U.N.s highest tribunal. The General Assembly asked the court in December to give its opinion on the legal consequences of Israels occupation of Palestinian territories, a move denounced by Israel.

___

Ilon Ben Zion contributed from Jerusalem.
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The 'Starship Trooper' actor opens up that growing up with a soldier dad and going to a military school has prepared him for pursuing a career in showbiz.

May 15, 2023

AceShowbiz - Casper Van Dien believes his military upbringing helped him become a big-name actor. The "Starship Troopers" star, 54, spent his childhood a dad in the navy, went to a military school, and thought he was destined for a career in the army before he turned to showbiz.

"I was born in Florida and then we moved to Japan. My dad was in charge of handling the naval base for the Japanese from 1969 to 1963," he told Closer US magazine about how it gave him the "discipline" to succeed in Hollywood.

"I thought I was going into the military. I chose to go to a military school when I was 16. My mom said, 'Don't go away to school.' My dad was like, 'I'm proud of you.' Having that background gave me discipline, which has been extremely helpful in the industry."

"There are some producers I've worked with multiple times. I'm always prepared. I'm always early. "I can't not do that, otherwise I'd feel like I'm not being me. That background gave me great tools as an actor. I've been very lucky, but I also think it's the structure and discipline that helped me."

Despite his love of discipline, Casper says one of his greatest regrets wasn't letting himself go and having a cigarette on set with Johnny Depp when they worked together on Tim Burton's "Sleepy Hollow". The three-time married dad-of-four added, "That was so surreal. In my experience, Johnny Depp was one of the greatest gentlemen and a kind, giving actor."

"I had just quit smoking cigars, and he was rolling a cigarette one day. He asks, 'Hey, Casper, do you want a cigarette?' I always regretted that I said no. I should have gone and smoked a cigarette with Johnny Depp. At the time, he was representative of what a real Hollywood star should be."

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First posted by entrepreneur Diamond Bu, the clip features the former 'The Wendy Williams Show' host modeling the cap while saying, 'This costs $500. Yeah!'

May 15, 2023

AceShowbiz - A new video of Wendy Williams further sparks concern among her fans. In the said Instagram video, the former daytime talk show queen could be seen flexing a hot pink hat while on the bed.

First posted by entrepreneur Diamond Bu, the video featured Wendy modeling the cap while saying, "This costs $500. Yeah!" The former "The Wendy Williams Show" host, who donned a white knit top, layered necklace and bracelets, later awkwardly fixed her hair.

Upon watching the clip, fans showed concern in Instagram comments. "This is truly sad," one person said. "She looks so broken," another user commented.

Some others, meanwhile, urged The Gossip Twins, who reposted the clip on Sunday, May 14, to take down the clip. "Y'all. Take this down. SMH," someone else noted. "As a Mother's Day gift to her take this down! She's obviously not mentally stable," one shared with another saying, "Y'all posting this knowing she ain't in a good place, man this world really needs healing."

However, some others sent love to Wendy. "Happy Mother's Day Wendy I still love you," a fan wrote. A person also noticed that "her legs aren't swollen anymore, God is good."

After "The Wendy Williams Show" ended last year, Wendy is reportedly gearing up for a new project. Her representative, Shawn Zanotti, confirmed in April that the 58-year-old TV personality was filming an unknown project in New York City, but Shawn noted that "it is definitely not a reality show." The rep continued, "After taking a long break, Wendy feels some of the best days of her life were in media."

She went on saying, "She has been in media since her early 20's and wants to return to what she loves. Getting back to what she loves is something that is important to her. Yes, Wendy is filmingYes, she is gearing up for something and the specifics of that can't be disclosed as of yet."

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The actress, who starred alongside the Oscar winner on 'The Jamie Foxx Show', says it's 'hurtful' to read false report about his former co-star's condition following his 'medical complication.'

May 15, 2023

AceShowbiz - Jamie Foxx's friend Garcelle Beauvais has blasted false report on the actor's health following his hospitalization last month. While she had access to "the right information," the actress said it was "hurtful" to read "horrible rumor" about her friend's condition.

"The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star spoke with PEOPLE about the conflicting reports on Jamie's health at the 6th Annual Best Buddies' Celebration of Mothers. "I've spoken to the family, and I don't want to say much because they're the ones to say it, but it broke my heart that this horrible rumor [about Jamie's health] was running around," she said at the event held in Pacific Palisades, California, on Saturday evening, May 13.

The actress, who starred alongside Jamie on "The Jamie Foxx Show" before reuniting in "White House Down", added, "... I immediately got the right information, [but] I just think people can't run with stuff like that. It's hurtful to so many people." Asked if she was able to pass well wishes to her friend, she said, "Yeah, for sure."

Jamie's daughter Corinne Foxx revealed that her father has been "has been out of the hospital for weeks" after report surfaced that his family prepared for "the worst." The 29-year-old posted on her Instagram Story on Friday, "Update from the family: Sad to see how the media runs wild. My Dad has been out of the hospital for weeks, recuperating."

She added, "In fact, he was playing pickleball yesterday! Thanks for everyone's prayers and support! We have an exciting work announcement coming next week too!"

This prompted Daily Loud to issue an apology for publishing the false report. "We would like to apologize for the misinformation regarding Jamie Foxx's condition we unfortunately thought the source we had was real but it was not," it said in a statement.

The outlet continued, "We are sorry to Jamie and his family for our actions here and continue to wish him nothing but good health. Sorry for letting our followers down as well. We will do better in the future and will make sure every source is properly fact-checked from here on."

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In a video which circulates online, a man raises his two hands behind a car and another man is lying face down on what looks like a parking lot while officers surround them.

May 15, 2023

AceShowbiz - Shy Glizzy has apparently landed in another trouble with the law. The Southeast rapper has been detained in Sherman Oaks, California following sexual misconduct allegations made against him by an OnlyFans model earlier this month.

On Sunday, May 14, an onlooker ran into the hip-hop star during his latest brush with the police. In a video taken by the eyewitness and posted on social media live, a man was seen raising his two hands to make sure he was not armed while standing behind a car.

Another man was seen lying face down next to the car on what looks like the parking lot, while police officers surrounded them. Some of the cops were seen carrying guns as they gave instructions from afar.

It's currently unknown why Shy was detained, but the other man with him was reportedly his manager. While details of the incident are still scarce, some social media users were not surprised considering his history of legal troubles.

"wasn't he openly talking bout taking advantage of girls while they drun- maybe he deserved itttt no shadeee," someone commented on the video. Another reacted, "i heard a lot about him he probably deserved it."

Shy is indeed no stranger to getting himself into trouble with the law. Back in July 2015, he was arrested in Maryland on five charges, one count of disorderly conduct, one count of a failure to obey a reasonable and lawful, one count of obstructing and hindering, one count of riot, and a count for resisting arrest.

According to charging documents, the then-22-year-old star joined a group around the officers, who attempted to arrest another person after a suspected marijuana transaction, climbed onto a concrete wall and with others incited a crowd. He yelled obscenities and said the officers needed a search warrant. "You can't search that!" he allegedly shouted.

After officers moved to place him in handcuffs, he resisted by stiffening his arms and pulling them to his front. "They are trying to kill me!" he yelled, according to the police.

Later in January of this year, Shy was accused by an OnlyFans model of inappropriate behavior while on the set of his music video "White Girl". She claimed he pressured her to take an unknown drug. "I don't know what the pill was. I said 'no' a million times. Eventually, I was like, 'Okay, whatever,' " the accuser, Bri, said.

After they wrapped the shoot, Bri said, "I was getting ready to leave and he comes in and he pulls me on to the bed and I look down and his d**k is out. And he's like, 'Suck it.' And I said no and he's like, 'Lick it,' and I said no and he said, 'Then you're fine with not getting paid?' And I said yeah and I just got up and went downstairs and got the director."

Responding to the allegations, Shy said, "I ain't got no relationship with her. What type of relationship am I supposed to have with her? I'm an artist; is it my job to pay motherf**kers? I come on set just how everyone else come on the mothaf**kin' set. That ain't my mothaf**kin job."

"It's not true," he went on claiming. "I don't even know where a n***a like that...I've been in this s**t too long. You ain't never heard no s**t like that about me. I'm a player."

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The 'Blonde' actress joins the likes of Jude Law, Alicia Vikander and Daniel Bruhl in the survival thriller, which is 'set around a group of eclectic characters who abandon civilization for the Galapagos.'

May 15, 2023

AceShowbiz - Ana de Armas has joined the cast of Ron Howard's survival thriller "Origin of Species". The 35-year-old actress, who previously played Paloma in the James Bond film "No Time to Die", is set to star in the upcoming movie alongside the likes of Jude Law, Alicia Vikander and Daniel Bruhl, according to Deadline.

The film has been billed as a "tale of murder and survival, set around a group of eclectic characters who abandon civilization for the Galapagos. They are all searching for the answer to that ever-pressing question that plagues us all: what is the meaning of life."

"Origin of Species" is due to begin filming in Queensland, Australia, later this year. The script is being penned by Noah Pink, who previously wrote the screenplay "Tetris" for Apple TV. Last year, meanwhile, Ana starred as Marilyn Monroe in the acclaimed drama movie "Blonde".

The actress subsequently claimed that she found it easy to relate to the Hollywood icon. Ana told Vanity Fair magazine, "There was a lot there that I could relate to. If you put Marilyn Monroe the movie star aside, she's just an actress trying to navigate life and this system, which is so hard to navigate for anybody. On top of that, you add this point of view of [director Andrew Dominik's], which was to see that through her trauma. I truly thought it was going to do justice to a more dimensional human being, because I wouldn't want to be remembered just for one thing. I am more than just an actress on the cover of a magazine."

Ana also suggested that modern-day movie stars don't compare to people like Marilyn. She explained, "I feel like the new generations don't have that concept, because of social media. There is so much information out there and oversharing. The concept of a movie star is someone untouchable you only see onscreen. That mystery is gone."

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This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices.
Cover Images/Dutch Press Photo Celebrity

A week after King Charles' coronation on May 6 in London, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are pictured going on a star-studded date in Santa Barbara, California.

May 16, 2023

AceShowbiz - Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been spotted for the first time since his father King Charles' coronation on Saturday, May 6. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were seen going on a star-studded date on Friday, May 12 in Santa Barbara, California.

In some pictures obtained by TMZ, the couple appeared to be in high spirits during the outing. The two were joined by Gwyneth Paltrow and her TV producer husband Brad Falchuk as well as Cameron Diaz and her husband, Benji Madden. Also present during the dinner were Whitney Wolf Herd, CEO and founder of Bumble, and her husband, Texas oil heir Michael Herd.

For the outing, both Meghan and Harry dressed casually. The former "Suits" actress opted for a brown Heidi Merrick mini satin dress and matching Hermes slides. She completed her look with an off-white bucket bag from Cesta Collective. As for Harry, the royal wore a black T-shirt that he paired with white pants and suede brown shoes.

The new sighting also seemingly shut down speculations that they are expecting their third child together. While it's unknown what Meghan ate inside the restaurant, it's highly likely that the mom of two would eat raw fish and that wouldn't be a wise decision for a pregnant woman.

Prior to this, Harry made line for his brief appearance at King Charles' coronation, before the 38-year-old quickly returned to the U.S. for his son Prince Archie's fourth birthday. It allegedly left many members of the royal family wondering why he even bothered to show up at all.

"One makes one'S choices. To be honest there wasn't much talk of Harry at all. The focus was very much on the occasion," a source told Vanity Fair.

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Zoomcar recently rolled out its first ever 360-degree brand campaign in India, which attempts to encapsulate its true ethos as a peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace. The campaign, titled #ApniHiSamjho, depicts the warmth of Host-Guest connects.

Apni Hi Samjho articulates the true spirit of the platform. A campaign should ultimately tell a powerful story. It is all about the narrative. At its core, it is about translating this story for people in such a way that we demonstrate the value that we create for them. Whether a guest or a host, people come to the Zoomcar platform with the expectation that it can serve their requirements. This campaign helps satisfy this need, whether a guest is embarking on a trip or a host is pursuing an entrepreneurial opportunity.

While the Zoomcar campaign kicked off with a flourish on TV during the ongoing IPL 2023, the 360 campaign has been released across mediums, ensuring that the brands story remains consistent.

In an interaction with Adgully, Naveen Gupta, Country Head India, Zoomcar, elaborates on the #ApniHiSamjho campaign, building the Guest-Host connect, the key communication strategies of the brand, and much more.

Could you tell us about the #ApniHiSamjho campaign and how it reflects the ethos of Zoomcar as a peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace?

The #ApniHiSamjho campaign is one of our first large-scale brand campaigns focused on establishing the guest-host connect. ApniHiSamjho is the overall tagline of the campaign that articulates the true spirit of our platform. We believe a brand campaign should ultimately tell a powerful story. At its core, it is about translating this story for people in such a way that we demonstrate the value that we create for them. Whether you are a guest or a host, you come to the Zoomcar platform with the expectation that we can help serve your requirement. We believe this campaign helps satisfy this need, whether a guest is embarking on a trip or a host is pursuing an entrepreneurial opportunity. We want the guests to focus on enjoying their journey when they rent a car which is possible if they think of the car as their own  this helps them create memorable moments as the car becomes a part of the experience. The hosts, on the other hand, would want the guests to have a wonderful experience and ensure the car is safe  if the guest treats the car as if it was their own.

While we kicked off with a flourish on TV during the IPL, the 360 campaign isnt limited to TV alone. We now have a very active brand presence across digital mediums, top airports, and various prominent outdoor properties. Overall, across these mediums, we're ensuring that the story remains consistent. This repetition across mediums is what builds memorability and helps satisfy our broader awareness requirement.

What was the inspiration behind the campaign and how did you come up with the idea?

The campaign, #ApniHiSamjho, depicts the warmth of Host-Guest Connect. We wanted to announce our new marketplace business model to our existing base and potential customers via our campaign. While deciding on what will be the best way, after multiple iterations it was very clear that we have to capture the moment of car exchange from host to guests. This is the exact point in time where the magic of exploring your favourite car from a host nearby unbundles.

How did you ensure consistency of the campaign story across different mediums such as TV, digital, airports, and outdoor properties?

We are doing this by ensuring the story told in our TVCs, echoes through all the channels.

Digital - Our creative team has ensured the visual aspect and copy communicate the same guest-host story that our TVCs are telling.

Airports/ outdoors - Our OOH partner has done a brilliant job in ensuring that were conveying the same story here by having our guests and hosts together in the design, sharing smiles.

Influencer marketing - Our TVCs are 30-40 seconds long, and a condensed version of these stories is also being amplified by hundreds of nano influencers. We are also working with 2 great influencers to bring the guest-host story to life for an audience that may have missed out on it during IPL.

What are the key values that Zoomcar aims to communicate through the campaign?

As mentioned, whether you are a guest or a host, you come to the Zoomcar platform with the expectation that we can help serve your requirement. From offering a wide variety of cars to keyless entry, the importance of ratings to a 2-way chat between Host and Guest. We also wanted to appeal to budding entrepreneurs to host their cars on Zoomcar and earn their second income.

Could you share any specific success metrics or feedback you have received since launching the campaign?

We are still early on in the campaign to measure specific success metrics, we are, however, working with a leading research analysis brand that will provide us with the specific success metrics by the end of the campaign.

How does Zoomcar differentiate itself from other car-sharing platforms in the market?

At Zoomcar, we aim to fundamentally transform the urban landscape in India and emerging markets through the introduction of affordable, shared personal mobility solutions that address the pressing problems of congestion, affordability, and air quality at scale. Zoomcar has a strong India focus with global ambitions for growth and scale and a strong defensible market position. Founded in 2013, Zoomcar has pioneered car sharing across emerging markets. With its asset-light marketplace-focused business model, the Zoomcar platform connects host vehicle owners with guests who choose from a selection of otherwise idle cars to use for personal, business, and travel needs. With our host program, Zoomcar is creating a network of micro-entrepreneurs through passive income creation.

Other players in the market operate on a fleet model, which is vastly different and restrictive compared to our guest-host marketplace model.

How has Zoomcars business model evolved over the years and what can we expect in the future?

Zoomcar is the leading marketplace for car sharing in emerging markets, with over 20,000 cars on its technology-driven platform across India, Southeast Asia, and Egypt. Zoomcar empowers host entrepreneurs to safely and easily share their cars to earn additional passive income. Guests in the Zoomcar community enjoy a diverse, affordable selection of cars to unlock memorable driving experiences with friends and family. Zoomcar currently operates across more than 50 cities globally and plans to continue building smart, convenient, and sustainable transport solutions for emerging market consumers.

How does Zoomcar ensure the safety and security of its users and their vehicles?

At its core, Zoomcars primary advantage stems from its continuing focus, from inception, on investing across core technologies such as IoT and machine learning to create a seamless, frictionless user experience for guests and hosts. What sets the company apart is the intense focus on technology, product, and infusing data science to create a disproportionately robust customer experience, which help creates a very sticky customer cohort, both on the guest/ demand side and host/ supply side. We take great care to invest in the technology in the vehicle. We have the custom hardware that we fit in all vehicles to allow for additional safety and security monitoring from remote digital entry through a keyless entry system through your smartphone which is very, very powerful along with having real-time driver behaviour monitoring and also the ability to have a remote engine and mobilisation capability. This gives more peace of mind for that vehicle owner and host, and then also more seamlessness and more frictionless experiences for the guest.

Could you share any exciting developments or plans for the platform shortly?

We are working on a lot of new exciting features and product updates to strengthen our marketplace construct. In the coming months, we will empower our hosts to set discounts, and their prices and also offer extra services like full tank and home delivery options. All these tools are a good conversion mover for our hosts and help give the best experience to the guests. On the guest side, we are also working on creating a very seamless and personalised experience to generate repeat usage. Apart from India, we also have a presence in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Egypt. We are laser-focused on building out scale, density, and supply in these newer markets and continuing to build that network effect in each of these cities. Particularly in Indonesia, which is the biggest of the newer markets because of its size and scale of footprint in the country. We expect to target future expansion opportunities in markets that include SE Asia, Latin America, MENA (Middle East and North Africa), and Sub-Saharan Africa. As Zoomcar takes both early-mover advantage for car sharing in emerging markets, and strong user engagement and growth upside in new and existing markets.
JioCinema has launched Jio Cinema Premium, a paid subscription service. Users will have to pay Rs 999 per year to see Hollywood content stored on the platform.

Users will be able to view across four devices at the same time with a single subscription.

Recently, Viacom18, the parent company of JioCinema, the Tata IPL's official streaming partner, has announced a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to offer programming from HBO, Max Original, and Warner Bros. on its platform.
Stage is set for the 2023 edition of Goafest, the largest advertising festival in South Asia, to be held from May 24 to 26. Co-hosted by AAAI and The Advertising Club, Goafest 2023 will be held at the Grand Hyatt, Bambolim, Goa. The event includes the 54th edition of the ABBY's, an esteemed awards ceremony recognising creative excellence in advertising for over 50 years. With over 2,000 industry professionals attending, Goafest offers a unique blend of knowledge sharing, networking, and celebration.

In its 16th edition, Goafest is taking creativity to new heights with the theme The Future of Creativity is Here! This years festival explores the exciting possibilities brought by technological advancements such as machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing. These innovations are expanding the boundaries of creativity, and tools like virtual and augmented reality (VR & AR) are enabling immersive and interactive experiences that bridge the gap between physical and digital realms.

The prestigious ABBY Awards, recognised as the premier accolades for Creativity, Media, and Communication, have once again partnered with The One Show, the worlds most esteemed award program. This collaboration aims to elevate global standards in judging, jury selection, and transparency, further enhancing the already revered ABBY Awards.

On extending the partnership with The One Show, Partha Sinha, President Times of India Group and President of The Advertising Club, said, On the one hand, we have an industry-owned award that represents the voice of the industry, and on the other, we have a global partner who understands this game and has been a part of the high stakes for several years. Therefore, as a result, we have a platform, ABBY One Show, which is neither owned by a select few, nor does it contain any bias, nor does it provide privilege to anyone. At the same time, quality and standards are truly international. The association with The One Show has already started yielding huge dividends this year and going forward, this will only continue to multiply.

This year, there will be 10 knowledge-sharing masterclasses, the highest number till date. Increased participation from advertisers is also expected in this edition. The Awards stature has changed dramatically, pointed out Sinha. He further added, Whatever wins at ABBYs, wins at Cannes; we saw an example last year. The same trend will follow this year too. If we are celebrating excellence, then excellence must be of a global standard today.

Sinha noted, India is globally competitive in every field. If you hear our Prime Minister speaking, every second of his speeches compares India, globally. Therefore, we are not less competitive than anyone else in the world. We take honour in calling ourselves the voice of the industry, the representatives of this industry. We also represent excellence in this market at a global standard.

This year, The Advertising Club is witnessing several agencies returning to ABBY Awards after years. Commenting on this, Ajay Kakar, Managing Committee Member, The Advertising Club & Co-chair, The ABBYs Award Governing Council, said, McCann, MullenLowe Lintas Group, Wunderman Thompson, Creativeland Asia, etc., have returned. They choose to enter the ABBY One Show because, as the president rightly noted, winning here will be a great stepping stone to winning at Cannes or One Show or other international forums.

When asked about the entries received from agencies for ABBYs 2023, Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India & Chairman, The ABBYs Award Governing Council, said, I have been working closely with Partha for two years and started this journey last year by restaging the ABBYs. As compared to 54, last year, this year 63 media agencies have participated. Additionally, 181 creative agencies have participated this year against 142 last year. Looking at both creative and media output, both have had higher entries this year: on the one hand, creative agencies have had 2,282 entries this year compared to 2,007 last year. On the other hand, media agencies accounted for 1,019 entries this year against 1,014 last year. This year, the number of entries was 3,301 versus last years, which was a cumulative count of three years, which was 3,021.

ABBY Awards has introduced new sub-categories in Digital Technology, Mobile, Design, and Audio Technology. The Radio category has transformed into the Audio category, and new sub-categories have been added, including Use of Music, Sound Design, Script, Casting, Performance, Audio Technology, Voice Activation, Branded Content, Podcasts, and Content placement. These additions reflect the evolving landscape and creative trends in the industry.

About the new award categories at ABBY 2023, Ajay Kakar pointed out, In the creative category, there are seven broad categories. However, this year we have made some changes, to remain relevant and contemporary, representing a fast-evolving industry. What was earlier called Print, we have changed to Still, further sub divided as Still Print and Still Digital. What used to be called Films, we have now recognised as Audio-visual; this now includes TV, Cinema, Digital, OTT, etc. But we have further divided it into two subcategories. Above 1 minute and below 1 minute. This is because we know that films are made with different perspectives, for the Tv medium, versus the online medium. Additionally, the Radio category is now rechristened as Audio. It is not just a name change but is meant to accommodate new categories like podcasts. So this year we have widened the Category and sub categories to represent the new world and emerging media. Then of course we have the Out Of Home and Integrated categories.

Barua added here, We have rejigged the categories too with the addition of sharper categories based on the current times and a category dedicated to youngsters, called the Young Maverick. This award is to recognise and reward the work of people under 30 years of age.

The Young Maverick ABBY Award is aimed at inspiring and motivating young creative professionals. This category aims to recognise and promote the work of the new generation of talent in the advertising industry. Starting this year, the Young Maverick ABBY Award will celebrate emerging talent and disruptive ideas that young mavericks are pushing beyond conventional boundaries in advertising.

To judge these entries, ABBYs has a diverse set of Jury Chairs. About onboarding the Jury Chairs, Barua said, When you look at the Jury Chairs, you must feel proud because some of them are the biggest names in international advertising. If somebody is knowledgeable in a particular domain, we have contacted and invited them to be Jury Chairs.

The current list of Jury Chairs includes, Nick Law, Wesley ter Haar, Prajato Guha Thakurta, Avinash Pandey, Valerie Pinto, Ahmed Aftab Naqvi, Ashwini Deshpande, Emmanuel Upputuru, Sabyasachi Mitter, Bobby Pawar, P G Aditiya, Guneet Monga, Mangesh Rane, Russell Barrett, Mandie van der Merwe, Pallavi Chakravarti and Rajdeepak Das, among others.

Commenting on the diverse Jury Chairs, Ajay Kakar said, Last year, with the onboarding of One Show, many agencies and stalwarts associated with the Abbys as Jury chairs and Jury members. You will appreciate that lending your name as a jury is a very substantial statement because individuals don't lend their names easily unless they are convinced about the award platform. This year we have got a very inclusive set of Jury chair, that represent world-class, today, be they from global networks or Indian agencies, be they from large agencies, or newer agencies, and specialists. On one hand, we have Mandie van der Merwe and on the other, we have Nick Law and Wesley ter Haar; internationally renowned and toasted names. They have been chosen to serve as Jury Chairs for ABBY One Show 2023 and have happily invested their time and expertise. Additionally, we have a mix of seasoned and young celebrated professionals as Jury Chair; Prajato Guha Thakurta and P G Aditya are young, but their work has received the same level of recognition as that of the masters. We also have veterans like Bobby Pawar, Russell Barrett as well as Rajdeepak Das. Furthermore, coincidentally, we also have two Jury Chairs who have also been invited by Cannes this year, as Jury. And we have Guneet Monga who has won recognition for her craft and the country, at the Oscars. Among 23 Jury Chair, 7 are women, approx. 33%. We believe that an award is as good as the jury who judge it. With that definition, we have the most coveted Jury Chairs and Jury members, representing a diverse range of international, Indian, young, and experienced veterans.
Vikaasa, a forward-thinking coalition of Indian businesses, driving the achievement of UNs Sustainable Development Goals, announced the appointment of Satish Pai, Managing Director, Hindalco Industries, as its new Chair. He succeeds Sanjiv Mehta, CEO and Managing Director, Hindustan Unilever Limited.

Facilitated by Xynteo, a purpose-driven sustainability advisory firm, Vikaasa was launched in March 2017, by the then Honble President of India, Late Pranab Mukherjee, who welcomed this initiative as "the need of the hour". Over the past five years, the Coalition partners of Vikaasa  Hindustan Unilever, Hindalco, Cyient, Shell, Technip Energies, State Bank of India, Tata Trusts, Baker Hughes and WPP  have developed and incubated impactful projects in energy transition, plastic circularity, access to healthcare and sustainable livelihoods.

Mr. Sanjiv Mehta, the CEO & Managing Director of Hindustan Unilever Limited who has been instrumental in shaping Vikaasa since its inception commented, For the last five years, it has been a great privilege to Chair Vikaasa, a coalition of top Indian and MNC companies that work on a shared ambition to create a long-lasting impact on our planet and people. As I pass on the baton, I am confident that Vikaasa will continue to nurture the spirit of collaboration and demonstrate bias for action to help accelerate Indias progress on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Satish Pai said: Hindalco joined the coalition five years ago, to work on impactful projects in the sustainability space, especially those relating to local economic development and sustainable operations. Hindalco has partnered Xynteo in several path-breaking initiatives, such as developing Sustainable Mining Charter and setting up Kosala Foundation, which fosters sustainable artisanal livelihoods. I am honoured to take forward the baton from Sanjiv and I am sure that Xynteo Vikaasa will continue to blaze a path for responsible business.

Xynteos Senior Partner, Vipul Kumar, shares: Vikaasa is committed to developing and promoting new growth models that are inclusive, transformative, and sustainable. We express our deep gratitude to Mr. Mehta for his unwavering commitment and dedication towards our shared vision. At the same time, we are thrilled to welcome Mr. Pai as our Executive Committee Chair and look forward to continuing our journey of building India's growth story under his guidance and vision. With Mr. Pai taking over as the Chair, it endorses our aspiration to expand and strengthen our diverse ecosystem of purpose-driven companies in service of India and the world. "
Motherhood is a journey filled with countless joys and challenges. One of the biggest challenges for mothers is choosing between their responsibilities towards their children and family or pursuing their passions. However, modern motherhood has evolved to embrace both aspects without seeing them as mutually exclusive. This Mother's Day, SBI Life recognizes the new-age mothers who courageously pursue their dreams while simultaneously taking care of their loved ones.

Through its latest digital campaign, SBI Life pays a tribute to the new-age mothers who are exploring solo trips with their children. The campaign aims at putting these extraordinary brave mothers in spotlight, who are chasing their dreams while keeping their kids' and loved ones well-being in mind. SBI Life applauds such mothers who are determined to take up new challenges in life while fulfilling all of their responsibilities towards protection and parenthood equally.

The digital video depicts a family who on their way to the airport for a trip to Paris. The father while driving is continuously noticing the mother sitting at the passenger seat accompanied by their child, who is sitting at the back. As the car stops at a traffic signal, the father notices the mother looking intently at her phone. He assures her that he will make video calls to her every night, despite the time difference between India and Paris. The mother expresses concern about the solo trip and the things at hand to be managed at home. However, the father assures her that everything will be well taken care of all the whereabouts. The same time we witness a twist in the plot, wherein upon reaching the parking lot, the father hands over the passport and other travel related documents to the mother, hinting that the trip will be taken by her and his child. The scene ends with the mother and child leaving for the check-in counter while the father stays back with a book on France's history.

Through their playful banter, the video showcases that with some amount of encouragement, support and a positive outlook, the mother is able to pursue her passion without compromising on her duties towards her family. It celebrates the spirit of modern-day motherhood, which breaks free from traditional societal expectations and empowers women to fulfill their dreams while being great mothers.

Mr. Ravindra Sharma, Chief of Brand, Corporate Communication & CSR, SBI Life, said, "Motherhood is an experience that is associated with selflessness and compassion and we are of the belief that it should never hold a woman back from achieving her goals. At SBI Life, we are driven to liberate the new-age mothers who are redefining modern-day parenting by pursuing their passions without compromising on their family responsibilities. We want to honour the self-assured mother who serves as role model for her children and inspires them to pursue their dreams. Our Mother's Day film is a salute to the brave mothers who are taking the plunge and embarking on solo trips with their children. We hope their inspiring stories will motivate numerous other mothers to chase their dreams.

He further added, Motherhood has evolved over the years. Women no longer see their role as just caretakers of children but also have ambitions and passions they want to pursue. Pursuing passion while being a responsible parent can be liberating experience for many. Mothers who chase their dreams while simultaneously raising children, inspire their kids and instill a sense of responsibility in them. They show that it's possible to achieve success without sacrificing family life.

Sahil Shah, President - Digital Experience, Dentsu Creative India said, Motherhood is not just about nurturing and caring, it's also about leading and inspiring. For our Mothers Day film, we identified a new archetype of motherhood where women are fearlessly venturing out on solo trips while also creating meaningful experiences for their kids, which is a testament to the power of a mother's love and determination. In responsibly pursuing her passion for travel, a mother can open up new horizons for her children and instill in them a love for exploration and learning.
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 15.05.2023 - The Fifth Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) will take place in The Hague from 15 to 19 May. The CWC seeks the permanent and verifiable destruction of all chemical weapons worldwide. At the conference, the 193 states parties, including Switzerland, will review progress towards implementation of the CWC and set priorities for the coming years. Repeated use of chemical weapons, notably in Syria, and the current geopolitical situation pose major challenges for the conference. Switzerland is committed to the scientific clarification of all uses of chemical weapons and seeks to strengthen the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in order to send a strong message against such weapons.

The CWC prohibits the development, production, acquisition and use of chemical weapons. The OPCW, of which Switzerland has been a member since 1997, is tasked with implementing the CWC. The repeated use of chemical weapons, particularly in Syria, since 2012, and the use of toxic chemical agents in the attack against Sergei Skripal in 2018 and the poisoning of Alexei Navalny in 2020, have dominated discussions within the OPCW. This has created a highly polarised climate within the OPCW. Switzerland is committed to ensuring that the OPCW can continue to fulfil its tasks in a credible and impartial manner.

The CWC provides for a review of the Convention's implementation every five years and for recommendations to be made for the future. The Fifth Review Conference begins today in The Hague, the Netherlands, and will run until 19 May 2023. The main issue on the agenda is the use of chemical weapons in Syria and their clarification.

Earlier this year, the OPCW's Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) published its third report, which investigated the perpetrators of a chemical weapons attack in Douma, Syria, on 7 April 2018. The attack claimed the lives of 43 people and affected dozens more. Switzerland strongly condemns any use of chemical weapons. It works to ensure that all instances of chemical weapons use are clarified through a scientific investigation of the facts, and that those responsible are identified and held accountable.

The destruction of all declared chemical weapons, the verification of which is one of the OPCW's main tasks, should be completed this year. This is a major milestone. Yet the use of chemical weapons in recent years has shown that the OPCW's work is not over. On the contrary, the OPCW must focus its efforts on preventing the re-emergence of chemical weapons. A robust verification regime, the ability to conduct challenge inspections, addressing the threat posed by non-state actors and raising awareness through public relations work are all essential to achieve this objective. Switzerland supports the efforts of the OPCW both through financial contributions, such as for the construction of the recently opened Centre for Chemistry and Technology, and through the provision of expertise. Furthermore, the Spiez Laboratory in Switzerland is one of the world's leading specialised organisations and forms part of the OPCW's network of designated laboratories.

Switzerland is among the group of states that are advancing the enforcement of the CWC's provisions. Despite attempts by some states to undermine the OPCW's credibility, these states have succeeded in taking effective countermeasures through clear majority decisions. These include the establishment of the IIT, the revocation of Syria's voting and electoral rights, and the inclusion of chemicals belonging to the 'Novichok' family in the annex to the CWC. Switzerland will continue to address these issues both at this review conference and in the future within the framework of the OPCW.

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Image: Pixabay

Recently, May 11 was celebrated as Technology Day worldwide to appreciate the advancements that have taken place in the field of technology. It is an opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of technology to our lives and to recognize the merits and demerits that come with it

In todays world, technology has become an integral part of our lives, bringing with it numerous benefits and conveniences. However, as with anything, there are also downsides to this rapid advancement. As the great philosopher and poet Allama Iqbal warned us in his poem,

Diyari Magrib ke rehne walo! Khuda ki basti dukan nahi hai. Khara jise tum samajh rahe ho, wo ab zar-e-kam aiyar ho ga. Tumhari tehzeeb apne khanjar se aap khudkushi karegi, Jo shaakh-e-nazuk pe aashiyaana bane ga, napayedaar ho ga.

This powerful verse by Allama Iqbal warns us of the consequences of a culture of violence and aggression. The poet reminds us that the world is not a marketplace for power and dominance but a sacred abode of the divine. When we perceive it as a mere commodity to be exploited for our own benefit, we lose sight of its true worth and become blind to the fragile beauty of life.

The poet goes on to caution us that our civilization, which prides itself on its technological prowess and military might, may ultimately destroy itself with its own weapons. The use of the word khanjar (dagger) evokes a sense of danger and destruction, suggesting that our own tools of war may turn against us and lead to our own self-destruction.

This warning is especially relevant in light of historical events such as the devastating atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As we continue to pursue technological advancement and military might, we must remember that our civilizations ultimate success or failure depends not on the power of our weapons but on our ability to cultivate a culture of empathy, compassion, and respect for all life.

Technology has made our lives easier, faster, and more efficient. We can connect with anyone, anywhere, and anytime with just a click of a button. It has revolutionized the way we communicate, work, and live. Technology has brought people together and made the world a smaller place.

In terms of its uses, technology has played a vital role in various sectors, such as healthcare, education, and business. It has helped improve the quality of healthcare, provided access to education, and made businesses more productive and profitable. Additionally, technology has enabled us to explore space, understand our planet, and facilitate scientific advancements.

However, with the merits come the issues of misuse and overuse. Technology addiction is becoming a growing concern, and it has become a source of distraction and disconnection in our daily lives.

People are becoming more reliant on technology, which is leading to a lack of face-to-face interactions and social skills. Furthermore, cybercrime and hacking have become rampant, and data breaches have become more frequent.

Despite the potential hazards, it is crucial to appreciate the positive impact of technology. It is essential to use it wisely, knowing when to disconnect and when to connect. It is important to recognize that technology is a tool and not a replacement for human connection.

Technology is only as good as the intentions behind it; let us use it for the greater good. It is essential to use technology with caution, understanding its potential benefits and drawbacks.

Certainly! There are many countries that are leading the way in technology and innovation. For example, Japan is known for its advanced robotics and AI, which have been used to improve healthcare, transportation, and manufacturing. South Korea has also made significant advancements in technology, particularly in the fields of electronics and telecommunications.

In the United States, Silicon Valley is known as a hub for technology and innovation, with companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook leading the charge. These companies have revolutionized the way we interact with technology and have made our lives more connected and convenient.

However, there are also concerns about the use of technology for military purposes. Countries like the United States, Russia, and China have been criticized for their investments in military technology, including drones, cyberwarfare, and other advanced weapons.

Bottom line: Technology Day serves as a reminder to appreciate the benefits of technology while also recognizing the potential pitfalls that come with its misuse. We must also be mindful of the potential hazards and use technology responsibly to ensure that we strike a balance between the advantages and disadvantages.

Overall, Technology Day is a reminder that technology is a tool that can be used to make human life better. By continuing to innovate and improve technology, we can create a better future for ourselves and future generations.

As we celebrate Technology Day, let us reflect on how we can use technology for the greater good and how we can prevent its misuse. Let us strive to use technology responsibly and to promote a culture of empathy, compassion, and respect for all life. By doing so, we can create a brighter future for ourselves and for generations to come.

The future of technology is not predetermined; it is up to us to shape it for the betterment of society. Let us use technology to create a more just and equitable world where everyone has access to the benefits of technological advancements and where technology is used to uplift humanity rather than exploit or harm it.
A Canadian man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for the 2021 killing of a 23-year-old Sikh from India in the countrys Nova Scotia province, media reports said.

Prabhjot Singh Katri was stabbed to death by 21-year-old Cameron James Prosper in an unprovoked attack outside an apartment building in Truro, the provinces capital, in September 2021.

A Nova Scotia judge sentenced Prosper to nine years in jail for manslaughter on Friday, The Global News reported on Saturday. Prosper was initially charged with second-degree murder but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter during a court appearance on December 19, 2022.

Katri, who worked for a taxi service company as well as a few restaurants in Truro, came to Canada from India in 2017 to study. He was 23 when he died.

Prosper stabbed Katri in the neck on September 5, 2021, when the Sikh youth was leaving a friends apartment. Katri rushed back to his friends apartment, where they called the police. He was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead because of blood loss from the injuries.

In his decision, Justice Jeffrey Hunt said the attack was made without rational cause but without the intent to kill Katri, according to the report.

Apologizing to Katris family, Prosper said, I am truly sorry, like, genuinely sorry about this. If I could go back in time, I would change it. The maximum sentence for manslaughter in Canada is life in prison, while there is no minimum sentence for the crime unless a firearm is involved, the report said.

Hunt said the mitigating factors for Prospers 9-year term included his guilty plea and expression of remorse, which spared Katris loved ones from having to go through a trial.

Rajveer Kaur, Katris sister, said in an interview following the decision, that the nine-year sentence was not enough.

We deserve more, Kaur was quoted as saying in the report. If someones lifes gone, nine years, (its) not comparable to that. In September last year, India advised its nationals in Canada and those traveling to that country to exercise due caution and remain vigilant given the sharp increase in incidents of hate crimes, sectarian violence, and anti-India activities there.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has been booked in Maharashtras Nashik for allegedly causing a rift between the police and the public through his statement, according to a police official.

A case has been registered in Mumbai Naka Police Station under s. 505(1)(b) of the IPC against Uddhav faction leader and MP Sanjay Raut for allegedly creating discord between the police and the public by his statement, Nashik City Police said.

IPC Section 505 (1) (b) deals with the intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public, whereby any person may be induced to commit an offense against the state or against the public tranquility.

There are so many ministers in the cabinet who use hate speeches, but they are not charged, NCP MP Dr. Fauzia Khan told Afternoon Voice. People are not allowed to speak, which implies that our democracy has a very unfair and selective form of free speech.

If a case has been registered against me in Nashik after the Supreme Courts decision, all I said was that the current state government is illegal. Therefore, if officials follow the orders of this government, doing so will be illegal. Also, in the coming days, action may be taken against such officials. Consequently, they must take extra care before following orders, Raut said, according to ANI.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Vilas Potnis said, Opposition parties are facing a lot of biasness from the central government, and henceforth members from the opposition are booked with such charges.

We will not tolerate every baseless allegation leveled against the ruling government by opposition parties, BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhyay said. If others speak out against something, then actions that are implemented are correct.



The Supreme Court also gave information regarding some illegal decisions made while hearing the Sena factions plea, veteran Congress leader Ratnakar Mahajan said. At the time, no questions were raised against the court, and anyone who speaks about them is booked for using the word illegal.
A $2 million settlement with the Mobile County sheriff over sexual harassment claims filed by female corrections officers has been provisionally approved in U.S. District Court, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday.

With the agreement provisionally approved, the parties can begin to fulfill the terms of the agreement, which includes the payment of compensatory damages to the women who were, according to the Department of Justice lawsuit, subjected to severe and pervasive sexual harassment in the workplace by male inmates at the Mobile Metro Jail.

The lawsuit also said the sheriffs office, under former sheriff Sam Cochran, failed to take prompt and effective action to remedy this harassing conduct as required by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The lawsuit said male inmates would frequently expose their genitals to the female officers, masturbate in front of them and direct sexual slurs, sexual propositions, threats of sexual violence and sexually degrading comments towards them.

The 12 female officers initially filed sex discrimination charges with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2021. The EEOC investigated the allegations and found there was sufficient basis to believe the women were subjected to a sexually hostile work environment, forwarding the findings to the Justice Department.

The DOJ originally announced the settlement on April 24, but at the time Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said his department had not agreed to all the provisions of the proposed agreement.

AL.com has reached out to Burchs office for comment.

The Justice Department brought this litigation to bring an end to the hostile work environment faced by women employed at the Mobile County Metro Jail, said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division. The courts action will help ensure that impacted female employees receive the relief that they rightly deserve.

Along with the compensatory damages paid to the 12 women named in the lawsuit, the sheriffs office will also establish a $1.41 million settlement fund to compensate other women exposed to similar discrimination by the sheriffs office.

In addition to the payment of compensatory damages, the sheriffs office will be required to implement a series of specific changes at the jail to reduce sexual harassment against female employees, based on the recommendations of an expert on correctional facilities operations.

None of the compensatory funds will be used to implement the changes, the DOJ said.
Just three days after the suspect in a mass shooting in Ocean Springs was arrested in Mobile, another Mississippi coast murder suspect was taken into custody in Mobile.

Mobile County deputies arrested 27-year-old Thomas Guy Rogers at a residence in Mobile Friday. He is being held at the Mobile Metro Jail awaiting extradition back to Mississippi, according to the Gautier (Miss.) Police Department.

Police responded to a report of a shooting on April 3 at a gas station on Ladnier Road in Gautier about 3:20 p.m. Officers arriving at the scene found 20-year-old Maurice Shannon dead from gunshot wounds.

On May 5, Lesha Fairley of Gautier was taken into custody and charged as an accessory after the fact. Detectives believe Fairley and Rogers were dating at the time of the shooting.

Gautier police were assisted by the FBI, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Brookhaven Police Department and the Mobile County Sheriffs Office Special Operations Unit.
The suspect in an April 10 murder in Mobile was extradited back to the city from a neighboring Mississippi community.

Mobile police said James Luu Tanksley was taken into custody last Tuesday by the Moss Point (Miss.) Police Department and arrived back in Mobile on Friday.

Tanksley was booked into the Mobile Metro Jail, charged with the murder of 34-year-old Darrell Brown, who was found suffering from a gunshot wound at a residence in the 1000 block of Orchard Drive shortly before 6:30 p.m. on April 10.

Brown was taken to a local hospital, but later died.
Donald Trump continues his verbal assault on CNNs Kaitlan Collins.

The former president said Sunday she was not exactly Barbara Walters and blamed her poor performance during last weeks town hall on the firestorm of criticism that the network has endured.

Its really amazing to watch the head of CNN get absolutely lambasted for asking me to do a so-called Town Hall, he wrote on Truth Social. In all fairness, nobody had any problems with what he wanted to do until after the show started, when they quickly realized that Ms. Collins was not exactly Barbara Walters, or even close. Thats when the trouble from the Radical Left started.

Trump also took aim at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Neurotic little AOC with the bad looking boyfriend, went crazy, he said. He owns CNN, hes in their head, they screamed. CNN, take the GREAT RATINGS!

CNN faces backlash over its town hall, an event that swiftly turned chaotic.

The town hall was the first major television event of the 2024 presidential campaign, and CNN defended its decision to hold it as a chance to put Trump in front of a wider audience, outside of the conservative media bubble he has largely kept to since early in his presidency.

Critics said the event, which was staged in front of Republicans and unaffiliated voters who were expected to vote in the GOP primary, instead turned into a Trump campaign rally and allowed him to repeat longstanding falsehoods while dodging difficult questions

Tom Jones, a senior writer at the media research institute Poynter, said the atmosphere put CNNs moderator, Kaitlan Collins, in an almost impossible position as she tried to elicit straightforward answers from Trump and fact-check his comments about the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol by his supporters and the 2020 election, which he still falsely insists he won.

The event did widen CNNs audience, at least for a night. Nielson said the town hall averaged 3.3 million viewers, compared to the 707,000 who tuned in to CNN during the same time slot a night earlier.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on The Opening Kickoff on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Music App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.
Authorities on Sunday were assessing the damage after a sidewalk sinkhole developed on a New Mexico bridge, resulting in the rescue of two pedestrians.

Los Lunas police said the citys Main Street bridge over the Rio Grande remained closed due to the sinkhole under a sidewalk on the east side of the bridge.

Theres culverts nearby that undermined the roadway and for that reason, it caused some areas to erode, New Mexico Department of Transportation District 3 spokeswoman Kimberly Gallegos said. Thats when we started to realize that we had to get traffic off of this roadway.

Gallagos added that water levels are high and the culverts are being affected by that.

Albuquerque TV station KOAT said a man and his son were rescued Saturday night after two women passing by the sidewalk sinkhole heard someone calling for help.

Several media reports Saturday night said the bridge partially collapsed, but authorities said that was not accurate.

New Mexico Department of Transportation officials were on the scene Sunday trying to determine the extent of the culvert damage on one of Valencia Countys main roads.

Los Lunas Fire Chief John Gabaldon said a water line had to be shut off to prevent more problems if a pipe running through the sinkhole broke.

Gabaldon didnt immediately know how many homes were affected by the water outage.

Los Lunas is about 24 miles (38.6 kilometers) south of Albuquerque.
Lauderdale County investigators say a three-year-old child fired a semi-automatic handgun Saturday afternoon, leaving him wounded in the chest.

WHNT is reporting the incident happened about 2:52 p.m. Saturday, when authorities learned of a three-year-old gunshot victim being taken to a hospital in a private vehicle.

According to Sheriff Joe Hamilton, deputies and emergency medical services met the vehicle at a business on Alabama 157 in Florence.

The child, whose name was not released, was airlifted to Birmingham for treatment and was released Sunday with a grazing wound on the chest.

Initial reports are that the child found the gun in the bedroom of his grandparents home on May Branch Loop Road in Cloverdale.

The incident is still under investigation.
The U.S Supreme Court on Monday ruled in favor of Alabama Death Row inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith, siding with his lawyers who argued he should be allowed to die by nitrogen hypoxia, the states new but untested method of execution.

Smith was set to die in November 2022, but survived after workers at the Alabama Department of Corrections couldnt start an intravenous line for the lethal injection drugs before the states execution warrant expired at midnight.

His legal team had argued in federal court that he should instead be allowed to die by nitrogen hypoxia, a method the state approved in 2018 but hasnt yet been attempted anywhere in the United States.

The U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Smith on the day of his scheduled execution, granting him a stay. But the nations high court lifted that stay, allowing the execution to go forward it was only called off due to issues placing the IV in time. The 57-year-old later claimed in court filings he laid on a gurney and was poked with needles for four hours before the state called off the execution.

Read more: Death row inmate argues Alabama will fare no better if second execution is attempted

But the Supreme Courts lift of the stay at that time did not address Smiths choosing nitrogen hypoxia instead of lethal injection. Mondays decision not to grant certiorari, or review the case, leaves in place the appeals courts decision, which sided with Smith.

Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented, saying they would review the case. Thomas in his dissent called the case last-minute litigation and questioned whether a new and untested method was a readily available option.

Thomas said Smith did not even attempt to plead facts indicating that Alabama could readily use [nitrogen hypoxia] to execute him.

The Eleventh Circuits error is not only plain but also serious enough to warrant correction, wrote Thomas. This petition offered an opportunity, which may well prove unique, to consider and correct (former cases) faulty reasoning outside of that posture. Because the Court declines that opportunity, I respectfully dissent.

Smith was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1988 murder-for-hire of Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett, a pastors wife from Colbert County who was fatally stabbed and beaten.

Read more: Alabama AG: Pain related to difficulty from execution IVs not cruel, unusual punishment
The Pinellas County, Florida Sheriffs Office has arrested an Alabama man in connection with death threats made against Clearwater City Council member Mark Bunker last year.

Ricky James Myers, 58, was extradited from Alabama on April 30, booked into the Pinellas County jail and charged with felony aggravated stalking, according to court records.

The charge relates to a series of phone calls and Facebook messages Myers allegedly sent in October that included threats to kill Bunker and cut off his head, according court filings. Although he is identified only by his initials in an affidavit filed by Clearwater Police Detective Eliad Glenn, Bunker confirmed to the Tampa Bay Times he is the recipient of the threats.

Before he was elected to the council in 2020, Bunker spent 20 years as a critic of the Church of Scientology and has produced dozens of videos documenting alleged abuses by the organization. However, the threats Myers allegedly sent to Bunker do not reference Scientology.

In an interview last year, Bunker told Glenn that he received three calls to his Google voice number on Oct. 19 from an unknown number that he did not answer.

In the first voicemail around 12:22 a.m., a male with a heavy southern accent stated he would mess up Bunkers face and called him a stupid, fat son of a b----, according to Glenns affidavit. In a second voicemail about two minutes later, without mentioning Bunker by name, the same person stated I will kill you and threated to cut off Bunkers head, according to the affidavit.

In a third voicemail, left around 9:36 p.m. that day, the caller stated he had business to take care of without mentioning Bunker by name, the affidavit states.

The caller also stated he was resentful that Bunker had put him in prison for 17 years. Bunker told Glenn, the detective, that he has never been involved in anything that could send someone to prison, according the to affidavit.

Three days later, on Oct. 22, Bunker received a series of Facebook messages from a user named Ricky Myers.

The sender told Bunker U didnt realize who you were dealing with and Im getting even, watch and learn.

Glenn subpoenaed Facebook to get the email address, phone number and Internet Protocol address of the sender of the messages. The cell number on the account matched the number that left the threatening voicemails and was registered to Ricky Myers of Dekalb County, according to the affidavit.

At the request of Clearwater Police, the Dekalb County Sheriffs Office interviewed Myers on Nov. 29. According to the affidavit, Myers told Dekalb County authorities he did not know who Bunker was and denied contacting him. He gave the investigator permission to look in his phone, and the investigator found calls to Bunkers number in his call log, according to the affidavit.

After his extradition to Pinellas County on April 30, Myers was released the same day on a $50,000 surety bond and has an arraignment on May 22. Myers did not immediately respond to a request for comment left on his phone number identified in court records.

Its been surreal, Bunker said Monday. It seems like it could be a case of mistaken identity but after leaving the death threats on my phone, he then went to my Facebook profile so he could see who he was threatening. Death threats against a politician, I think, should be treated seriously.

2023 Tampa Bay Times. Visit tampabay.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The uncertain future of the Saturn 1B rocket at an Alabama welcome center has seen a slight turn with a new bill introduced last week by state Sen. Tom Butler, R-Madison.

The rockets fate is no longer tied to a toughening of the 2017 Memorial Preservation Act that was added to Butlers original bill. Instead, the new bill is a brief standalone of less than 300 words that allows for either the refurbishment of the rocket at the north Alabama welcome center on Interstate 65 or a replica to replace it.

Related: NASA updates plans for rocket at Alabama rest stop

NASA, which owns the rocket, has said it is beyond repair and needs to be removed from the welcome center, which is closed currently and undergoing its own refurbishment. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center, which has custody of the rocket on loan from NASA, has been charged with its removal. The rocket center said it is awaiting an opinion from the Alabama attorney generals office about the legality of removing the rocket in the context of the 2017 Memorial Preservation Act.

Butler said Monday his original bill  which spelled out the Alabama State Council on the Arts to commission the design and construction and provide for the installation of a replica of the deteriorating rocket  was diluted in language added later by Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, about revamping the monuments law.

The original bill is essentially dead after being carried over at a Senate committee hearing two weeks ago and now replaced with the new bill.

I wanted the one bill with one item in it having to do with the Saturn 1B rocket, Butler said. I dont want anything else in there.

Language in a new bill allows for the possibility that the rocket can be restored but, if not, a replica would go up in its place. A Huntsville group is seeking to raise $10 million to restore the rocket and a conservator working with the group said he believed restoration is possible.

If a replica is needed, Butlers new bill calls for the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) to oversee the process of a new rocket. Butler said ADECA has funds to contract with individuals or groups regarding a replica.

Butler said he had no sense of the status of the rocket, whether it can survive or be replaced. But he said he values the message about Alabama that it sends to visitors at the welcome center.

To me, its a national image, Butler said. It tells everybody coming into the state of Alabama from the north at the Tennessee state line what Alabama is about today and were about the future. Thats our national image now.

Butlers new bill is scheduled for a Senate committee hearing on Wednesday. The bill has bipartisan support in the Senate.
The Biden White House wants to leave the U.S. Space Command Headquarters permanently in its startup location of Colorado Springs, CO, NBC reported today.

The administration has signaled the Pentagon and lawmakers that they want to reverse the decision to move Space Command headquarters to Alabama, NBC news reported Monday night.

That decision, which has been rumored for several days, was in part because of concerns about the states restrictive abortion law, the story said. It quoted one unnamed U.S. official saying, They are delaying any move because of the abortion issue, referring to the White House and another unnamed U.S. official saying, This is all about abortion politics.

Abortion is illegal in Alabama today unless there is a serious health risk to the fetuss mother. A proposed new law in the state Legislature would prosecute abortion as murder.

The NBC report says the White House ordered another review into how the decision was made to send the headquarters to Alabama. Former President Trump has claimed credit for the move, but Redstone Arsenal came in first in a formal and required Pentagon comparison of candidates from multiple states.

The NBC report said Biden administration officials have signaled privately to Pentagon officials and lawmakers that theyre looking to reverse the Alabama decision. The reason given in the story was not abortion but concerns about operational disruptions that moving Spacecoms headquarters, which is currently located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, could bring. This is the argument Colorado lawmakers have been making for months.

The militarys Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process to fairly compare competing options to move or combine military operations was created to keep basing decisions from becoming political and based on objective pros and cons of bases being considered and generally ensure a level playing field. The BRAC process grades competing bases and communities on issues related to their ability to accommodate new troops and their families. Redstone Arsenal won that comparison for the permanent Space Command HQ that included such issues as quality of local schools, availability of affordable housing and a job market that would support servicemembers spouses.

Colorado lawmakers have fought hard to keep the headquarters in Colorado Springs, where the command was formed and where the Air Force presence is strong. They have quoted former President Donald Trump saying on an Alabama radio show that he  not the base comparison - decided to move the Space Command headquarters to Huntsville.

Now, Trumps successor is reportedly deciding that it wont move.
Montevallo police say 39 people have been charged in connection with extensive damage at Montevallo High School last month.

According to police, 39 individuals at this point have been charged with third degree burglary and first degree criminal mischief.

This was an unfortunate incident for our community and everyone involved, police said in a statement on Facebook.

Police were dispatched to the high school on April 27 at about 11:40 p.m. in connection with a large group of people present doing damage to the school.

The group dispersed once police arrived, but eight people were arrested and charged with burglary and criminal mischief.

Students transitioned to remote learning the following day and cleanup began.
A special prosecutor found that the FBI rushed into its investigation of ties between Russia and Donald Trumps 2016 campaign and relied too much on raw and unconfirmed intelligence as he concluded a four-year probe that fell far short of the former presidents prediction that the crime of the century would be uncovered.

The report Monday from special counsel John Durham represents the long-awaited culmination of an investigation that Trump and allies had claimed would expose massive wrongdoing by law enforcement and intelligence officials. Instead, Durhams investigation delivered underwhelming results, with prosecutors securing a guilty plea from a little-known FBI employee but losing the only two criminal cases they took to trial.

The roughly 300-page report catalogs what Durham says were a series of missteps by the FBI and Justice Department as investigators undertook a politically explosive probe in the heat of the 2016 election into whether the Trump campaign was colluding with Russia to tip the outcome. It criticized the FBI for opening a full-fledged investigation based on raw, unanalyzed and uncorroborated intelligence, saying the speed at which it did so was a departure from the norm. And it said investigators repeatedly relied on confirmation bias, ignoring or rationalizing away evidence that undercut their premise of a Trump-Russia conspiracy as they pushed the probe forward.

Based on the review of Crossfire Hurricane and related intelligence activities, we conclude that the Department and the FBI failed to uphold their important mission of strict fidelity to the law in connection with certain events and activities described in this report, the document states.

The impact of Durhams report, though harshly critical of the FBI, is likely blunted by Durhams spotty prosecution record and by the fact that many of the seven-year-old episodes it cites were already examined in depth by th e Justice Departments inspector general. The FBI has also long since announced dozens of corrective actions. The bureau outlined those changes in a letter to Durham on Monday, including steps meant to ensure the accuracy of secretive surveillance applications to eavesdrop on suspected terrorists and spies.

Had those reforms been in place in 2016, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented. This report reinforces the importance of ensuring the FBI continues to do its work with the rigor, objectivity, and professionalism the American people deserve and rightly expect, the FBI said in a statement. It also stressed that the report focused on the FBIs prior leadership, before current Director Christopher Wray took the job in 2017.

Still, Durhams findings are likely to amplify scrutiny of the FBI at a time when Trump is again seeking the White House as well as offer fresh fodder for congressional Republicans who have launched their own investigation into the purported weaponization of the FBI and Justice Department. After the report was released, Republican House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan said he had invited Durham to testify next week.

Trump, on his Truth Social platform, claimed the report showed the American public had been scammed.

Durham, the former U.S. Attorney in Connecticut, was appointed in 2019 by Trumps attorney general, William Barr, soon after special counsel Robert Mueller had completed his investigation into whether the 2016 Trump campaign had colluded with Russia to move the outcome of the election in his favor.

The Mueller investigation resulted in roughly three dozen criminal charges, including convictions of a half-dozen Trump associates, and concluded that Russia intervened on the Trump campaigns behalf and that the campaign welcomed the help. But Muellers team did not find that they actually conspired to sway the election, creating an opening for critics of the probe  including Barr himself  to assert that it had been launched without a proper basis.

The original Russia investigation was opened in July 2016 after the FBI learned from an Australian diplomat that a Trump campaign associate named George Papadopoulos had claimed to know of dirt that the Russians had on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the form of hacked emails.

But revelations over the following months laid bare flaws with the investigation, including errors and omissions in Justice Department applications to eavesdrop on a former Trump campaign aide, Carter Page, as well as the reliance by the FBI on a dossier of uncorroborated or discredited information compiled by an British ex-spy, Christopher Steele.

Durhams team delved deep into those mistakes, finding that investigators opened the investigation hastily, without doing key interviews or a significant review of intelligence databases. The report says the FBI, at the time the investigation was opened, had no information that any Trump campaign officials had been in touch with any Russian intelligence officials.

It said the FBI did not corroborate a single substantive allegation in the so-called Steele dossier and ignored or rationalized what it asserts was exculpatory information that Trump associates had provided to FBI confidential informants. That includes, the report said, minimizing the importance of a conversation in which Papadopoulos strenuously denied to the FBI informant that he had any knowledge of ties between the campaign and Russia.

An objective and honest assessment of these strands of information should have caused the FBI to question not only the predication for Crossfire Hurricane, but also to reflect on whether the FBI was being manipulated for political or other purposes, the report said. Unfortunately, it did not. "

Durhams mandate was to scrutinize government decisions, and identify possible misconduct, in the early days of the Trump-Russia probe. His appointment was cheered by Trump, who in a 2019 interview with Fox News said Durham was supposed to be the smartest and the best. He and his supporters hoped it would expose a deep state conspiracy within the top echelons of the FBI and other agencies to derail Trumps presidency and candidacy.

Durham and his team cast a broad net, interviewing top officials at the FBI, Justice Department and CIA. In his first year on the job, he traveled with Barr to Italy to meet with government officials as Trump himself asked the Australian prime minister and other leaders to help with the probe. Weeks before his December 2020 resignation as attorney general, Barr appointed Durham as a Justice Department special counsel to ensure that he would continue his work in a Democratic administration.

The slow pace of the probe irked Trump, who berated Barr before he left office about the whereabouts of a report that would not be released for several more years. By the end of the Trump administration, only one criminal case had been brought, while the abrupt departure of Durhams top deputy in the final months of Trumps tenure raised questions about whether the team was in sync.

Despite expectations that Durham might charge senior government officials, his team produced only three prosecutions. A former FBI lawyer pleaded guilty to altering an email the FBI relied on in applying to eavesdrop on an ex-Trump campaign aide. Two other defendants  a lawyer for the Clinton campaign and a Russian-American think tank analyst  were both acquitted on charges of lying to the FBI.
A man who pleaded guilty in the 2011 rape of a girl in the mental health ward at Childrens Hospital is now revictimizing her by proclaiming he didnt do it in her civil case against him and the hospital, her attorneys say.

Allowing a convicted child sex offender to deny harming his victim retraumatizes the survivor of child sexual abuse. It turns the civil courts into a child predators playground, said attorney Gregory Zarzaur, who represents the child victim in the case.

Alabama is one of a minority of states that allows someone to maintain their innocence in civil court after being found guilty in criminal court of the same act. The lawsuit, filed by the victim, called Jane Doe in the suit, is challenging that practice.

Doe is suing Childrens Hospital and Melvin J. Williams, the man found guilty of her rape in the 2nd degree in a 2011 criminal case, in a civil suit in state court filed in Jefferson County in April of 2017.

During this time, when she was without the protection of her family and especially vulnerable due to her age and her acute psychiatric needs, Defendant Williams, an adult male employee of Childrens, whom Childrens knew or should have known had a propensity for impermissibly crossing boundaries with children, took advantage of Jane Does vulnerability.

Doe, a resident of Talladega County, was born in 1997. In 2011 she was a 14-year-old, admitted to the mental health ward of Childrens Hospital in Birmingham.

Melvin Williams Jr. was a mental health worker at the hospital whose job was to monitor children. In 2014, Melvin pled guilty to raping the child and was sentenced to ten years of prison. His prison term was later suspended in place of four years of probation, according to the complaint filed by Jane Doe. Williams is now a registered sex offender in Jefferson County.

In his answer to the complaint, Williams, who is representing himself, stated he is innocent.

The defendant denies all allegations of the Plaintiffs Restated and Second Complaint and demands strict proof thereof, he stated in July of 2021.

The lawsuit claims the hospital failed to protect Doe against the sexual assault while she was in its care. It alleges Williams raped Doe after pressuring her for hugs and kisses and sex in her room on the locked mental health ward at Childrens.

Williams used his status and credentials as a Childrens employee to enter the Plaintiffs room on the locked psychiatric unit in order to groom, harass, and ultimately rape her when she was a vulnerable 14-year-old child, the suit alleges.

Williams declined a request for comment for the story stating he would make his case in court.

Childrens Hospital declined a request for comment due to the ongoing litigation.

In its response to the suit, Childrens Hospital argued that if Williams did commit the rape, he was acting outside of the scope of his employment.

The defendant avers that if the plaintiffs allegations are true as to the acts of the defendant, Melvin Williams, such acts were not within the scope of his employment at Childrens of Alabama.

Williams had no prior convictions when he was hired by Childrens according to court documents from his plea deal in the criminal case.

The hospital also stated in a filing in the case that it was without sufficient information that any rape occurred, which attorneys for Doe called cruel.

Despite having knowledge of the events which took place on its own premises, and notwithstanding Defendant Williamss admission and guilty plea to the charges stemming from the rape of the Plaintiff, Childrens inexplicably and cruelly continues to maintain that it is without sufficient information that any rape actually occurred.

The defendants argued that state law on damages is unconstitutional because it is vague about the standards for payment amounts.

The lawsuit alleges the hospital never notified the parents of children who were alone with Williams. A hearing on May 19 is scheduled for circuit judge Pat Ballard to consider the question of whether Williams should be allowed to argue his innocence in this case after pleading guilty in criminal court.

Resources for children who have experienced sexual assault include the Prescott House Child Advocacy Center in Birmingham and the Clay House Childrens Advocacy Center in Bessemer.
The process of defending Joran van der Sloot once he arrives in the United States has begun.

According to court records, Kevin Butler, federal public defender for Alabamas Northern District Court, has filed a motion seeking a public defender for van der Sloot ahead of his planned extradition from Peru.

Van Der Sloot has been in custody since approximately 2010 and is indigent, the filing stated.

Magistrate Judge Gray M. Borden granted the request.

Attempts to contact Butler were not immediately successful.

Last week, a Peruvian executive order paved the way for van der Sloot, 35, to be extradited to the U.S. to face charges he extorted thousands from Natalee Holloways mother.

It remains unclear currently when he is expected to arrive in the U.S.

Van der Sloot, a Dutch national from Aruba, has long been suspected in the disappearance and death of the Mountain Brook High School graduate, who was visiting Aruba in 2005.

Read full coverage of the case here

He is expected be tried in Birminghams federal court on charges that he told Natalees mother, Beth Holloway, that he would lead her to Natalees body in exchange for $250,000.

Holloway paid van der Sloot a $25,000 down payment only to learn he lied about the location of Natalees remains.

A federal grand jury in Birmingham indicted van der Sloot in 2010 on charges of extortion and wire fraud.

He is currently serving a 28-year prison sentence in Peru for the 2010 murder of Lima college student Stephany Flores, who was killed five years to the day of Natalees disappearance.

Van der Sloot would have a temporary extradition, allowing a temporary release a person for prosecution.

According to the UK Daily Mail, van der Sloot could delay his extradition into August with a habeas corpus petition, which would challenge the legality of his imprisonment.

The petition typically argues that the individuals constitutional rights were violated or lack of sufficient evidence to justify their incarceration.

Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Whisonant, a federal prosecutor in Alabama when van der Sloot was indicted, told Fox News Digital he was surprised Peru agreed to extradition. At the time the extortion charge was filed, he said Peru wanted van der Sloot to first finish his sentence there.

Whisonant said he could not speculate as to why Peru changed its stance more than 10 years later.
A Jackson County man has been arrested in connection with his fathers death Sunday.

Byron Heath Shaver, 48, of Section, has been charged with murder and is being held in the Jackson County Jail without bond, according to jail records.

The Jackson County Sheriffs Office said in an announcement this morning that deputies performed a welfare check at a residence on County Road 19 in Section Sunday at about 11:40 a.m.

After arriving, they found the body of Joe Bob Shaver, Jr., 74, dead in front of the residence of apparent trauma to the head.

Byron Heath Shaver was taken into custody later without incident.










English News 5G technology unleashes new potential of modern tourism

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 13 Mai 2023



Building digital tourist sites not only helps better protect and display cultural relics and improve tourist sites' capability in operation and emergency response, but also further facilitates tourists and improve their satisfaction. It is indispensable to the modernization of tourist sites.

By Ye Zi, Hou Jingyi "I just played a live action role-playing (LARP) game in the Miao village to experience the culture of the Miao ethnic group. It was so fun," said a woman surnamed Zhao while visiting Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village, a tourist site that displays an epic about the development of the Miao ethnic group in southwest China's Guizhou province.



The LARP game, launched by the tourist site, presents the ancient and traditional Miao legends through modern technologies such as 5G and mixed reality (MR), and enables tourists to see virtual sceneries and treasures in the physical world with a pair of MR goggles.



According to Luo Longbao, head of the marketing department of the company that manages the tourist site, the Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village has built a 5G platform that offers various types of services.



"On the intelligent platform, tourists can not only check the real-time map of the village, but also search for parking space, introduction to scenic spots and recommended routes," Luo told People's Daily, adding that the platform offers tourists with whole-process services.



As new information technologies are more and more employed in the culture and tourism industry, 5G intelligent tourism scenarios are emerging across China, such as 5G smart tour guide, 5G virtual reality and augmented reality tourism programs, online sightseeing and livestream tourism. These scenarios are providing tourists with richer and newer experiences.



Intelligent upgrading of tourist sites and resorts makes tours more interesting and convenient for tourists. It also leads to more efficient and smarter management of scenic areas.



Thanks to the application of 5G, internet of things (IoT) and other technologies, facilities in Kuanzhai Alley, an ancient street left over from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan province, have grown smarter.



For instance, infrared sensors are installed in public toilets to see whether they are occupied and to estimate daily foot traffic, which makes the distribution of sanitation workers more reasonable. The tourist site has built a street lamp control system that captures the status of each street lamp and identifies whether there are damaged street lamps. Besides, the trash cans in Kuanzhai Alley, assisted by IoT technology, would immediately inform relevant staff members once they are full.



The application of 5G, IoT, big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, block chain, ultra-high-definition video and digital twin technologies, as well as the building of 5G intelligent tourism real-time monitoring and emergency response platforms, can effectively strengthen the tourism industry's capability in monitoring, risk control, regulation and emergency response, and better the management of 5G intelligent tourism.



Xin Hongye, deputy director of the information center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, told People's Daily that the intelligent upgrading of the tourism industry calls for organic integration of technologies and the industry, so that technologies can practically solve the pain points in the development of the industry.



Popular tourist sites are always confronted with poor network connection during peak seasons as there are too many visitors, which seriously affects visitors' experience.



"Poor network connection used to be the biggest headache for tourist sites," said Shen Kaijun, deputy general manager of a tourism company in Bijie, Guizhou province. According to him, it is the construction of 5G intelligent tourism platforms that has helped scenic spots achieve full network coverage of 5G and wifi, attract more tourists and gain higher recognition.



Professor Li Xinjian with the School of Tourism Sciences, Beijing International Studies University, told People's Daily that the digitalization helps upgrade traditional tourist sites and represents an inexorable trend of digital economy contributing to the high-quality development of the tourism industry.



Building digital tourist sites not only helps better protect and display cultural relics and improve tourist sites' capability in operation and emergency response, but also further facilitates tourists and improve their satisfaction. It is indispensable to the modernization of tourist sites.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > China, Central Asia to jointly build cooperation belt for high-quality development China successfully launches Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft China's national project of millennial significance demonstrates historical foresight Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)










English News Chinese excavators welcomed in global market

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 13 Mai 2023



Over the past decade, the Belt and Road Initiative has been widely welcomed in countries along its route and other regions, and the close Belt and Road cooperation has created a sound external environment for the exports of Chinese excavators, Wan added.

By Wang Junling The exports of excavators can indicate the development of the engineering machinery industry and even the manufacturing industry. Since this year, the exports of Chinese excavators have been on a constant rise, becoming a highlight of the sluggish world economic recovery.



According to a survey that covered major Chinese manufacturers of excavators launched by the China Construction Machinery Association, China exported 28,643 excavators in the first three months this year, up 13.3 percent year on year. In particular, the exports of some leading players doubled, and the number of orders they receive is still rising.



The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said that China is currently able to produce 22 categories of engineering machinery, and is one of the countries with the widest range of products. It is the world's largest producer of excavators, cranes, loaders and other major engineering machinery.



What has contributed to the rapid growth of China's exports of excavators is the high-quality development of Chinese manufacturers.



Wu Yuanfeng, vice general manager of an earthmoving machinery company under Chinese machinery manufacturer Zoomlion, told People's Daily that the exports of Zoomlion's flagship excavator model jumped over 200 percent from a year ago in Q1 this year, and this great performance was attributed to the company's strong investment in R&D and manufacturing techniques.



"We have built the first whole-process intelligent excavator manufacturing base in Changsha, central China's Hunan province, which lifts the average production capacity by nearly 70 percent and reduces the production cycle by 65 percent when compared with the traditional plants," Wu noted.



He said medium- and large-sized excavators produced by Zoomlion have won high recognition from overseas clients thanks to these machines' great performance in operating power, construction efficiency, energy conservation and adaptability.



In Q1 this year, the excavator exports of Guangxi LiuGong Machinery Co., Ltd., headquartered in south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, increased 16 percent year on year. In particular, the exports of heavy-duty excavators above 30 tons surged 80 percent, he added.



The company's improved customer service is an important reason for its success with clients from abroad, said Lin Shencai, international business director of the company's excavator department.



According to Lin, LiuGong Machinery has seven sales divisions that cover 102 countries globally, and every division has its own sales channels and after-sales service system. These divisions all offer 24/7 services.



"Our excavators have an average trouble-free time of more than 1,700 hours. We also sell graders, bulldozers, loaders and other earthmoving products and boast a worldwide after-sale network that provides comprehensive support for customers," Lin told People's Daily.



As the world faces downward economic pressure, economies in North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and other regions are enhancing their investment in infrastructure and mining to stabilize economic growth, which is an important reason for the rise in the overseas demand of excavators and other engineering machinery, said Zhou Minliang, a researcher with the Institute of Industrial Economics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.



Chinese enterprises have seized the opportunity from overseas markets thanks to their reliable technological capability, good reputation and quality service system, Zhou added, to achieve the growth of domestic excavators and other products exports.



Wan Zhe, a research fellow at the Belt and Road School of Beijing Normal University, believes that the popularity of Chinese excavators overseas mirrors the worldwide recognition of Chinese manufacturing, as infrastructure is a foundation for a region's economic and social development.



Over the past decade, the Belt and Road Initiative has been widely welcomed in countries along its route and other regions, and the close Belt and Road cooperation has created a sound external environment for the exports of Chinese excavators, Wan added.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > China, Central Asia to jointly build cooperation belt for high-quality development China successfully launches Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft China's national project of millennial significance demonstrates historical foresight Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
If, in 1984, an inventive New Yorker set his time travel machine to the year 2023, the city in which he arrived would confound him. Although the New York City of today looks much like that of 1984, our time traveler would have a hard time understanding the people, almost as hard a time as H.G. Wells's "Time Traveler" did when his machine arrived in the year 802,701.

The public response of the average New Yorker to the arrest of former Marine sergeant Daniel Penny calls to mind the "Eloi" response to Wells's Traveler. The Eloi were the little, pretty people of the future whom the Time Traveler encountered. "Once the favored aristocracy" says the Traveler, "the Eloi, like the Carolingian kings, had decayed to a mere beautiful futility."

The passivity of the Eloi allowed the subterranean Morlocks, once their servants, to become their masters. "Already the Eloi had begun to learn one old lesson anew," says the Traveler. "They were becoming reacquainted with Fear." Unfortunately for their future, the Eloi had lost their spines. Eloi males no longer had even the instinct to rescue one of their own from peril or to defend themselves from the creeping cannibalism of the Morlocks.

Enter the Time Traveler. Writing The Time Machine in 1895, Wells endowed his protagonist with those many virtues expected of an Englishman in the age of Victoria and Kipling. Tempted to leave behind the chaos he found in the future, the Traveler feels honor-bound to intervene; to save the Eloi from extinction; and, in the process, to show them how to save themselves.

After serving four years in the Marines, the 24-year-old Daniel Penny arrived in New York City almost as innocent as Wells's hero and likely as brave. "I have always been inspired by the ambition and grit," he posted on social media. "After high school and unsure of my future, I enlisted in the Marine Corps in search of adventure." In the Marines, Sergeant Penny served as squad leader on two deployments.

Unlike most young men of this era, Penny pulled his inspiration from Cervantes's Don Quixote, a novel that at its most literal interpretation would have reinforced his Marine Corps values. As Penny learned during this past week, if not before, his values and those of his fellow New Yorkers were as out of sync as those of Wells's hero and the Eloi.

In subterranean New York, Penny came face to face with a modern Morlock, Jordan Neely by name. Neely had been arrested 42 times in the past 10 years and had a well documented mental health history. The NYPD knew he was dangerous. They had arrested Neely most recently in November 2021 on felony assault charges after he punched a 67-year-old female stranger in the face.

Two years later, Neely was roaming free. After 20 years of good governance, the left took over New York's City Hall with the installation of Bill de Blasio in 2014. Since then, the Morlocks of New York, armies of them, have been emboldened to terrorize the Eloi on the streets and on the subways. Hardly a day passes without some new video surfacing of a Morlock striking or threatening an Eloi while the other Eloi pretend not to see.

It seems somehow appropriate that Neely died on May 1, the ultimate feast day on the revolutionary calendar. Eleven days later, the Morlocks' enablers got their way. Manhattan's district attorney, Alvin Bragg, feeling the need to sacrifice a white man to the woke gods, charged Penny with manslaughter.

Penny clearly did not intend to kill Neely. He expected to restrain him until the police arrived. I suspect that from what he learned in the Marines and in the books he read, Penny had been trained to intervene when a madman threatens to kill the innocent people around him.

Penny's response was measured. According to witnesses, he did not leap into action until after Neely started issuing death threats. "I would kill a m-----------," said Neely. "I don't care. I'll take a bullet. I'll go to jail." However unintentionally, Penny helped Neely fulfill his death wish.

Penny certainly did not expect to be called a murderer, but he misjudged New York circa 2023. "Jordan Neely was murdered," tweeted Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. "While many in power demonize the poor, the murderer gets protected w/ passive headlines + no charges. It's disgusting."

This was not the New York of 1984. That was the year that the nerdy Bernard Goetz shot four teenage thugs on a New York City subway car. In watching news from that era, I am reminded of just how shabby New York City had become before the 20-year renaissance overseen by Mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg. I am reminded too of just how much New Yorkers have changed over the past 40 years.

Unlike the soft and spineless New Yorkers of today, everyday New Yorkers of 1984 were often bold and outspoken. I would encourage readers to search YouTube for "Bernie Goetz" and watch the news clips from that era. Although the white Goetz shot four black teenagers, New Yorkers, black and white, were not afraid to speak out in Goetz's defense. These were real New Yorkers, toughened by a life riding subways. They cared more about justice than race.

In 2023, radicals have no hesitance about speaking out, but everyday New Yorkers certainly do. Beaten down by years of oppressive political correctness, they come off as feckless as their Wellsian counterparts. That said, I suspect that the great majority of them, certainly the subway riders, are pulling quietly for Penny.

Like the Eloi, they are "becoming reacquainted with Fear." If that fear does not motivate them to champion Daniel Penny and acquit him, the Morlocks will own the city until it dies.

Jack Cashill's Untenable: The True Story of White Ethnic Flight from America's Cities is available for pre-order in all formats.

Image: Billie Grace Ward via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
If you're like me, the news cycle is one smack to the face after the next. It's not even a "cycle" at this point; it feels more like crawling out of bed under relentless machine-gun fire of bad news and trying to survive the day without getting hit.

In this sense, getting "hit" is letting the bastards get you down (excuse my French). It's not easy, and it's not for the faint of heart. I look at it as a special challenge that all normal, non-woke, patriotic Americans must accept as part of living through this period of great change.

Can you witness all the cultural chaos and national hara-kiri, take a deep breath, give an affirmative nod to the Almighty, and say, "Lay it on me; let's have it; I can take more"? Because, at the end of the day, this spiritual contest for the West's future will not be won by those with the most money, power, or spy toys at their disposal. It will be won by those who take everything in stride and continue to stand. In a battle of wills, strength of character alone determines who will prevail.

Now, that's a pretty simple truth that we all often ignore, is it not? It is easy to look at the vast array of forces set against us  a corrupt central government dedicated to censorship, political persecution, and open borders; a corporate oligarchy intent on eliminating private property for all but the reigning few; a new world order where Marxist globalism trades freedom for servitude  and conclude that there is little else to do but grab the nearest cardboard sign and scrawl a final, lamentable warning: "The End Is Nigh."

To surrender and accept defeat just as things get tough, though, is almost like giving away our principles for free. Surely, that doesn't make sense. Let me ask you this: "Who are more committed to their beliefs  faithful servants of God who know that family, friends, fellowship, and freedom are worth the cost of any fight, or an army of woke foot soldiers who just learned yesterday what they claim to believe today and will decide tomorrow that what they believe today should be outlawed?" Beliefs made from sand soon blow away; those toughened through pressure and time become as resilient as diamond. Should that answer change just because the woke foot soldiers are backed by central bank thieves, corporate propagandists, Machiavellian politicians, and an ocean of Marxist bureaucrats? Or do those social pressures only further strengthen time-tested truths? I would say that the more concern you have for your immortal soul, the less worried you need to be about those who sold their souls long ago.

From that standpoint, this ensuing cultural struggle is important because it allows those who know the difference to once again separate the wheat from the chaff. The more highly we value our principles, the more vexed those with great wealth and power but no principles will become. The more we embrace struggle as a necessary part of life, the more astounded those who choose physical comfort over spiritual salvation will be. The more we dedicate ourselves to the preservation of truth and virtue, the more invulnerable we become to the machine-gun fire of State-sanctioned lies.

The vital thing to remember is this: don't panic. Things are never as good or as bad as they seem. This world has a funny way of pulling the rug from underneath your feet just when you feel most secure and throwing you a lifeline just as you begin to sink. History is imbued with the same effervescence. Few expected the American colonies to subdue the eighteenth century's undisputed global superpower...until they did. Few expected the Soviet Union's Iron Curtain to collapse...until it did. Few expected America's Cold War victory to take us down a thirty-year march toward Marxist globalism and a deepening loss of personal freedom...until it did. Few expected the World Economic Forum's New World Order to go belly-up...until it did?

Strange things happen when people with character and perseverance stand in the road and tell History, "This is where you will fork." The beneficiaries of those salubrious course corrections tend to look back at great epochal shifts and think, "That was to be expected." But for the people who lived through those moments of volatile change, the only thing certain was that a growing tide of people chose to stand in History's way. In hindsight, those present consistently record that they did not know what would happen but that they did have faith.

It is faith that steadies the doubters. It is faith that readies the strong. It is faith that shields against dangers. It is faith that settles past wrongs. In the end, one thing remains indubitably true: faith wins the day.

So we won't panic. We will keep our faith. And when enough of us choose to stand in History's way, any mountains before us will move. I believe that, and I hope you do, too.

Many who work against us are shallow and cruel, and those deficiencies do not win hearts and minds. Whips and chains enslave, but they do not rally people to action. No punishment has ever stirred the soul. These people with power today are, in many ways, just as artificial as the A.I. systems they wish to build for our maintenance. They fear free thought, so they criminalize dissent as "hate." They fear free speech, so they make sure that only some people can be heard. They fear free will, so they build more elaborate prisons to keep us under their control.

Notice, though, that it is they who fear the people who think and speak and act freely. Because those who "rule" us are shallow, they are afraid, and because those who "rule" us are afraid, they are cruel. People with those character flaws cannot lead; they can only use force to control how others behave. That kind of unnatural system does not last.

I am reminded of a political cartoon showing a feudal king gazing worriedly at an angry mob of townspeople outside the castle gates. A Machiavellian-like adviser says nonchalantly, "Oh, you don't need to fight them  you just need to convince the pitchfork people that the torch people want to take away their pitchforks." Maybe no other cartoon so incisively describes government's inherent rottenness. Irrespective of century, region, or political system, every ruling faction's hold on power ultimately depends upon its capacity to successfully divide and conquer its own people. When people appreciate this truth, they demand personal freedom and limited government. When they fail to see that government is a parasite and that they are its host, the people are drained of their vitality and wither away.

It is no surprise, then, that the only political language today's ruling factions know is social division. People are divided by their race, sex, ethnicity, religion, class, ideology, citizenship, body weight, family history, attractiveness, health, fetishes, gender fantasies, "vaccination" status, and a smorgasbord of other traits that bureaucratic manipulators can use to divide us all. While the "trans" kids are fighting the biological realists and the race-obsessed are fighting the colorblind, the ruling class smiles because it knows that no one will contest its power.

What if this centuries-long psychological operation is finally starting to fail? What if government control mechanisms are kicking into higher gears not because the ruling factions have become more powerful, but rather because they are becoming more vulnerable? What if, hidden behind the censorship, propaganda, and surveillance, a real movement for change is taking hold? The future always seems certain...until it isn't.

Image: Pashi via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
In Mary Shelleys novel, Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus, the title doctor who acted Creator teaches a valuable lesson. Driven by intense curiosity, ship captain and explorer Robert Walton presses Dr. Frankenstein for the secret behind his science. The doctor pleads:

Are you mad, my friend? ...or whither does your senseless curiosity lead you? Would you also create for yourself and the world a demoniacal enemy? Or to what do your questions tend? Peace, peace! learn my miseries, and do not seek to increase your own.

Over two hundred years ago, the gothic novel warned of medical hubris, a warning lost among progressive fanatics who have hijacked the modern medical profession. Today, that hubris manifests as Gender-Affirming Care (GAC), a monster created by woke Frankensteins with serious god complexes.

The World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH) defines Gender-Affirmation as recognizing the gender identity of an individuals choosing in the social, legal, psychological, or medical contexts. According to WPATH, Gender-Affirmation is a term used in lieu of transition. In providing Gender-Affirming Care, one delivers services to transition a persons identity (including minors) away from his or her own biological sex, be it social, medical, or otherwise.

Last week, the story broke that three major medical centers with medical schools (UNC, Duke, and ECU) in North Carolina are transitioning children as young as two-four years old. All three institutions published coordinated statements denying transition surgeries in minors; however, all admit to following current standards and/or providing gender-affirming care to all ages. For these institutions to play God while buffeting blowback, their PR teams engaged in serious semantic games.

Generic statements from hired hands obscure the deity dysphoria plaguing gender-affirming medical professionals. In February 2023, Duke experts disparaged NC legislation addressing GAC in pediatrics. Duke psychologist Dane Whicker believes he can choose the correct puberty for children:

Listen to co-director of research at Duke with a specialty in sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation.



Says parents are in the way of doctors selecting the "right puberty" for a child. pic.twitter.com/NpZ6D2nRbk  Sloan Rachmuth (@SloanRachmuth) May 8, 2023

Using a combination of psychological and medical treatment with off-label drugs, Duke practitioners exchange natural puberty for an engineered gender-affirming one. In one clinical study, Duke experiments with 12-year-olds placed on hormones if the kiddos (as Dr. Whicker likes to say) identify as transgender. This is not gothic horror fiction, but real life.

Dr. Whicker also argues the Duke Gender Clinic should support activism and impose top-down edicts across all classes in primary schools regarding child sex-changes:

Listen to @DukeHealth activist running the trans clinic @drwhicker explain why having access to school children is CRITICAL to its mission. Says they work w/ teachers & principals to create LGBTQ "edicts." Do you doubt they are coming for our children behind our backs?? pic.twitter.com/vKnKk2UPcV  Sloan Rachmuth (@SloanRachmuth) May 8, 2023

ECU director of Pediatric Research Cierra Buckman advocates replacing parents in providing gender-affirming care for confused adolescents. ECU leadership sat a few feet away, listening with approval while she promised minors could attend the clinic behind the backs of parents:

ECU researcher says @ECUHealthNC offering sex change care to adolescents behind the backs of parents. pic.twitter.com/APSNZGd3qE  Sloan Rachmuth (@SloanRachmuth) May 9, 2023

That the Gender-Affirming medical industry targets kiddos as clients is easy to believe. Schools and activists prime young children for medical services. To obtain a child-care license in NC, applicants watched a documentary purporting that four and five-year old children understand the concept of non-binary (being outside the binary of male or female). It was a huge testament to how much weve been talking about it in the classroom. it was a child who brought [non-binary] up because it is constantly in conversation, says one panelist in the film.

North Carolina school officials encourage small children to learn that male and female identities are not biologically based. Former chair of the Orange County, NC School Board stated in a meeting, [Kids] are not too young to lead this work, and they are not as attached to things as us adults are. If you talk to kids about genderfluidity, theyre ready. The NC Department of Education Section Chief for Healthy Schools gave a formal 2015 talk describing a picture of a toddler boy holding a doll as Trans-Positive.

If schools need indoctrination materials in gender ideology for elementary students, ECU provides them through its Safe Zone training. The same institution that wants to revolutionize pediatric primary care with gender-affirming services trains K-12 school staff in such fundamentals as, Heterosexism and cissexism are forms of oppression, with goals, [t]o reduce heterosexism and cissexism in our schools.

Gender-affirming mania in medicine, schools, and culture correlates with the explosion of pediatric referrals for treatment. In the U.S., the number of kids (ages 6-17) diagnosed with gender dysphoria rose from 15,172 in 2017 to 42,167 in 2021: nearly triple the diagnoses over four years. During this period approximately 15,000 minors started hormones. In an article for the Free Press about the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Childrens Center, whistleblower Jamie Reed wrote:

The centers working assumption was that the earlier you treat kids with gender dysphoria, the more anguish you can prevent later on. This premise was shared by the centers doctors and therapists. Given their expertise, I assumed that abundant evidence backed this consensus.

The little evidence these clinicians may have used to reassure Ms. Reed is critically flawed. Yet clinicians proceed anyway.

Schools and daycares preach gender-affirmation and gender ideology throughout all grades including pre-K. Major medical schools and health systems support transition treatments and pediatric gender clinics, sending their doctors to testify against legislation that protects parental rights. Telling young children that they can be any sex they want leads to experimentation with life-altering drugs and surgeries. One poignant story from a progressive parent who thought her young child was transgender describes the transition pathway as follows:

I now see this in a shockingly different light: this was an intentional process of concretizing transgender identity in children as young as 3 years old -- the age of the youngest child in this group. When identity is concretized at this young of age, children will grow up actually believing they are the opposite sex. How could medicalization not follow?

GAC has been identified as a huge money maker by at least one hospital system. The younger the transitioned patient, the greater the likelihood that he or she will require lifetime course of psychiatric visits, drugs and -- in all likelihood -- irreversible surgeries. No matter the rationales corporate and university hospitals provide in offering GAC, the attendant income for GAC centers cannot be ignored.

Mary Shelleys tragic figure warned of the diabolical results from playing God. Just like Victor Frankensteins creation, Gender-Affirming Care will haunt society by creating generations of confused kids trapped by activist medical institutions and ideological teachers. To save them, institutions like ECU, Duke, and UNC must be exposed for these practices. The public cannot be misguided by serpentine PR statements. Institutional leadership needs to hear from alumni and stakeholders that experimenting on children will not stand.

Author Michael Malice wrote a book about 20th-century Eastern European communism -- a political period known for its state-justified interference between parent and child. In The White Pill, Malice provides us with hope when facing evil, and calls out those who think of themselves as gods:

Evil people surrender all the time. At a certain point the costs -- in every sense of the term -- simply become too high. They are not all-knowing -- far from it. They are often not even particularly bright. They are not all-powerful. They are men and women far closer to snakes than they are to gods. They can, and have been defeated, many times.

The venomous ideology of gender-affirmation corrupts the medical ethos of Do No Harm. The time for these clinicians to drop their godlike charade and surrender is long overdue.

Nancy Andersen, MD, is a board member of Education First Alliance, the organization that broke the Transgender Toddler story. She also volunteers as the NC Chapter Head of No Left Turn in Education.

Image: Pixabay sergeitokmakov
Spectral evidence has not been permitted at trials since Governor William Phips of Massachusetts banned it in October of 1692 from being used in the Court of Oyer and Terminer during the Salem witch trials. However, history seems to have repeated itself.

In the Manhattan sexual assault civil suit brought by writer E. Jean Carroll against Donald Trump, not one speck of physical evidence was presented that showed they were ever together at the Bergdorf Goodman department store almost 30 years ago. Is this not spectral evidence? Of course, it could be argued that after almost 30 years, there would be no evidence left except for a few friends who were told by Carroll that he attacked her back then. Again, is that not spectral evidence?

Does this not mean anyone can be charged at any time, and it will be done in the name of righteousness, just as it was in 1692?

"Follow the money," Deep Throat supposedly told Bob Woodward long ago, and this being Bob Woodward should immediately create suspicion about the veracity of the quote. Nevertheless, it made for a good story back then, and it does yield some important insights.

Follow the money. In 2019, E. Jean Carroll published a misandrist book called What Do We Need Men For? A Modest Proposal. The memoir would probably have sold fewer than twenty copies except for the claim that Donald Trump raped her. The book was published during the #metoomovement, a misandrist movement if ever there was one that continues to this day with the elite media's incessant promotion. Of course, Trump vehemently denied the allegations, saying, "I've never met this person in my life," Carroll is "not my type," and the incident "never happened."

Carroll then sued Trump for defamation because of his comments in November 2019, alleging that the then-president's reaction to her allegations caused her "emotional pain and suffering at the hands of the man who raped her, as well as injury to her reputation, honor and dignity."

Follow the money. Michael Bloomberg, the 14th richest man in the world, a known Trump-hater and notorious global oligarch, contributed five million to Governor Kathy Hochul's campaign for governor of New York, according to the New York Times. On May 22, 2022, Hochul signed the Adult Survivors Act.

"Today, we take an important step in empowering survivors across New York to use their voices and hold their abusers accountable," Hochul said.

This certainly sounds like a genuine pursuit of justice; however, Hochul and Bloomberg were certainly aware of Carroll's defamation suit and her lurid claims of rape. Then, on November 24, 2022, Carroll filed a second suit under the Adult Survivors Act against Trump. This act took a critical step to change the statute of limitations to allow survivors to legally pursue a civil suit and hold the individual(s)/institution(s) who hurt them accountable for their actions.

In other words, anyone could claim anything at any time with only spectral evidence. Although Carroll's rape claim is astonishingly similar to an episode from Law & Order: SVU, she seems unconcerned that she will be sued for copyright infringement.

To put it another way, much as it appears to be a genuine pursuit of justice, the Adult Survivors Act was always intended to get Trump and hurt him politically and make people wonder if he really did it. The point has always been to get Trump with no physical evidence, which is exactly what has happened.

Image: Public Domain.
(Photo : Allison Joyce/Getty Images)

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announces a veto of the state's 12-week abortion ban, setting up a legal battle between him and Republican lawmakers.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announces veto for state's 12-week abortion ban

The legislation passed last week with support from Republican lawmakers

The bill was the GOP's response to last year's Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade's protection of abortion rights

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper vetoes the state's 12-week abortion ban, passed last week, in what many see as the start of a contentious legal battle.

The Democratic lawmaker announced in front of a crowd of supporters on Saturday. The situation sets up a legal battle for the GOP-led General Assembly, which is expected to attempt an override vote against Cooper's veto.

Roy Cooper Vetoes 12-Week Abortion Ban

The 12-week abortion ban legislation was the Republican lawmakers' response to last year's Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade's protection of the procedure. In a statement in front of the crowd, Cooper said, "We're going to have to kick it into an even higher gear when that veto stamp comes down," as per NPR.

Cooper argued that even if only one Republican House or Senate lawmaker keeps their commitment to protecting women's reproductive health, they could prevent the abortion ban.

A 42-year-old mother of three, Andrea Long, from Cary, said she was honored to have been part of the crowd watching Cooper. She said it was a "historic day for freedom" in the state.

Long added that she could not cry joyfully after seeing Cooper hold up the veto stamp. She said that she knew the situation was an uphill battle to keep momentum to curb the legislation.

If the situation where Cooper issued a veto against the 12-week abortion ban happened a few weeks ago, it would have been simpler. However, one state representative switched parties, giving over Republicans in North Carolina a veto-proof supermajority, according to ABC News.

Read Also: US Debt Default Threatens Global Economy, Warns World Bank President

Fighting Against the Veto

The official is state Rep. Tricia Cotham who was previously a member of the Democratic Party and supported abortion rights. In early April, she announced that she was moving to join the GOP and favored the new abortion bill.

Republican leadership has continued to push back on the North Carolina governor's criticism of the 12-week abortion ban, calling it a "mainstream abortion compromise." in a statement on Saturday, Senate Leader Phil Berger said that Cooper spent the last week lying to the public regarding Senate Bill 20.

Ahead of the veto, Cooper tried to pressure four Republicans and visited their respective districts, namely, state Reps. Ted Davis, John Bradford, Cotham, and Republican State Sen. Michael Lee. They are lawmakers who previously committed to protecting abortion rights.

The 12-week abortion ban will become law if both chambers approve the override by a three-fifths majority. A spokesperson for Republican House Speaker Tim Moore, Demi Dowdy, said that she was confident officials could override Cooper's veto and dismiss the North Carolina governor's efforts to "press these Republican members into voting his way," said CNN.

Related Article: Southern California Mothers Call On Assault-Style Weapon Prohibition

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With Joe Biden's catch-and-release policies incentivizing millions of migrants to cross illegally, take a look at who's gotten in this past week.

According to Fox News:

Border Patrol agents arrested an Afghan national on the FBI's terror watchlist after he crossed into the U.S. illegally Wednesday in California, multiple sources at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) told Fox News. The Afghan national crossed the border with a group of migrants near Otay Mesa, California, the sources said. Border Patrol agents took the migrants to a processing station, where a fingerprint scan determined the Afghan was a match on the Terrorist Screening Database. The FBI was then notified, confirmed the results, and began an investigation.

Lucky us. As if we don't have enough problems coming from run-of-the-mill illegal border-crossers, now we've got him.

Sure, they caught him, and one hopes he won't be allowed to apply for "asylum" the way the majority of them are, released into the interior of the country to await their court dates several years down the road.

But how did he get this far? Who traveled with him, and how many of them were there? How many more have been let in undetected as "asylum seekers"? How many more have gotten in as "getaways"? How many more are being let in who somehow didn't get placed on the watchlist and should have been?

These are the ugly implications of this one collar of this creep who has no love for America.

He may even have even been up to something nefarious. San Diego, after all, where this character crossed, is the spot where the 9/11 hijackers planned their dastardly actions, in a little apartment in the Clairemont area near a mosque and a Middle Eastern grocery. Could there still be active networks? It may not have been just a perception that San Diego was slack in letting all comers in. It could be that this character was looking for convenience or had a meeting to get to.

It does let us know that the global terrorist community has noticed those open borders as an open opportunity for their terrorist stock and trade.

Too bad Joe Biden hasn't.

At Howard University, where he received an honorary degree for his "analytical intellect" around the same time this Afghan terrorist was crossing in, Biden outlined what he claimed is the topic terrorist threat to America:

President Biden declared on Saturday that white supremacy is "the most dangerous terrorist threat to our homeland" and warned a predominantly Black audience that "sinister forces" embraced by his predecessor and putative challenger are trying to reverse generations of racial progress in America.

So he says, just as real terrorists are attempting to enter the country.

Image: CBS Evening News video screenshot via YouTube.
Democrats, at least in the recent past, could be counted on express umbrage when their political opponents called them "communists."

After all, communism has led to the deaths of hundreds of millions of people; a vile "-ology" comparable to Naziism in its totalitarian ideal.

Get a load of how sensitive they used to be, as recently as 2022, in this New York magazine piece by Ed Kilgore:

The day after the 2020 vice-presidential debate between Mike Pence and Kamala Harris, then-President Donald Trump did something that is hard to do: He actually shocked me with intemperate language, in this case referring to Harris as a "monster" and a "communist." The "monster" business didn't surprise me, actually, given Trump's long history of personal insults to women. But "communist?" Seriously? I hadn't heard a Republican call a Democrat a commie since the high tide of McCarthyism  and even back then, the rare slur was associated with specific (if lunatic) allegations of subservience to an international Marxist-Leninist conspiracy operating out of Moscow. Sure, for a generation, Republicans have been imprecisely calling Democrats "socialists," though no more than a handful of Donkey Party members answer to that appellation, which in itself is as imprecise as "conservative" or "liberal." But "communist" is actually pretty precise  and wildly inappropriate for anyone in either major U.S. party.

Really?

These days, Democrats are different, and the appellation "communist" for some is all perfectly real.

According to the New York Post:

A ex-aide to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is now working as a senior official in the New York State Communist Party. Justine Medina, 33, spent a year employed by "The Squad" leader as a political organizer in 2020 and was paid more than $35,000 between February and November of that year, Federal Election Commission records show. Almost immediately after the election, Medina began working as a full-blown Marxist. In July 2021, she was identified as "co-chair of the New York Young Communist League" by the Communist Party newspaper People's World. The same publication today identifies her as a member of the "Executive Committee of the New York State Communist Party." Social media records show Medina's Marxist proclivities were in full bloom before and during her employment with Rep. Ocasio-Cortez. "Well, I am a Communist, but work for AOC," she said proudly in a tweet from October 2020.

That's communist, the CPUSA kind, the ones who carry little red cards and go to party cell meetings, which they now call "clubs." Medina is the old gray character on the top of the Kremlin wall for New York telling the clubs what they will "think."

That she has a "political" position and can make what the communists call "political decisions" as a member of the "executive committee" means she was a very trusted nomenklatura operative in their organization for a very long time. She held other leadership positions, such as that of the Young Communist League, another critical position of trust, meaning she was in deep.

What's more, the New York state organization is a very large and important entity in the CPUSA, often a springboard for future national leadership positions. CPUSA national chair John Bachtell who now holds the position Gus Hall once held, was a former New York state party leader, according to KeyWiki, a database of communist activists, as well as his official biography. Like Medina, Bachtell was also a chief of the Young Communist League.

So basically, Medina is following Bachtell's path to the top.

That's no casual campus closet communist. Medina's the real thing. And there she was, working for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a sitting U.S. congresswoman legislating U.S. law, which included refusing to condemn Hugo Chavez (a guy who proudly called himself a communist even as he rammed Venezuela into the ground) and performing other tasks, even as AOC preened for the cameras with makeup lessons in order to seem, as a far-left socialist, "human," as well as attract the youth to the movement as their social media "influencer."

AOC has always seemed pretty communist herself to me, even if she was a Democratic Socialists of America member, which is a closely aligned organization. Her "Tax the Rich" pricey Met gala gown slogan certainly came from the CPUSA dating from the late 1980s  they were using that phrase then  and her other stances are pure communism too. There is no daylight between AOC's views and the CPUSA's views, which is why she was so comfortable with having Medina on her staff reading all her correspondence and watching her votes.

It's creepy stuff, given how at odds the communists are with American ideals. What it shows is how far the Democrats have skidded into the CPUSA orbit, with AOC's office being literally run by them. The CPUSA, owing to its Soviet sponsorship in its past and the fact that many old communists from the 1930s on have died off and left the party their fortunes, still has a lot of money in its organization. Now we learn that with AOC winning office, they also have had people in high positions of power, forcing communist views onto an unwilling American public, and oddly calling these iron-fisted rules and political correctnesses "democracy," the same way the Castroite Cuban nomenklatura does in that communist hellhole.

Communism has wrought misery for millions every single time it has ever been tried. It's one reason among many as to why our borders are flooded with fleeing migrants. It has brought murder, war, enslavement, and forced atheism wherever it has been practiced and should be as shameful as Naziism to embrace.

Yet it isn't. It's casually ensconced within the U.S. government through the Legislative Branch and perhaps other branches, with nary an embarrassed look. Who else does she have in there, working for the Party? Someone should ask.

Yes, the Democrats have changed as they've moved to the fringe left. With this revelation about Medina, they seem to have merged with the actual communists, and that, not Trump's statement of the obvious, should be cause for umbrage among them.

Image: Logo, fair use, via Wikimedia Commons.
New York City's district attorney Alvin Bragg's message in charging Marine Daniel Penny for the death of Jordan Neely has come across loud and clear.

Suppose I have the misfortune to be in Bragg's pay-more-get-less sinkhole (NYC) for some reason or other, and I see a thug assault Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (who demanded that Penny be prosecuted), Al Sharpton (who also called for charges against Penny), or Bragg. In all cases, also assume I am at least the aggressor's size and, even though I am not as young as I once was, I can more likely than not stop him with my fists or an improvised weapon. What do you think I should do?

The first and most obvious consideration is that the thug might hurt me. Our society, however, once defined a gentleman as a man who will in fact risk his safety to protect others, which is exactly what Daniel Penny did. Colonel Jeff Cooper made this quite clear in To Ride, Shoot Straight, and Speak the Truth. "The press, academe, and the law enforcement establishment preach: Do not fight back! ... You may be hurt. Of course you may be hurt. You may be killed. As my daughter put it just last week, 'Big deal. You expect to live forever?'" I regard myself as a gentleman, so I cannot just ignore the situation.

Alvin Bragg, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Al Sharpton have, however, created a second problem for me. Suppose I deliver a solid punch to the aggressor's head and, even though a punch is not reasonably expected to result in death or serious injury unless it is directed at a smaller and weaker person, he falls the wrong way, hits his head on the pavement, and dies. Then, even though I've just stopped a violent crime, I get charged with a felony in response to demands from leftists who think criminals have the right to do whatever they want to whomever they want. Now my freedom is at risk for trying to do the right thing, and I am likely to incur six figures in legal costs. Maybe I'll lose my life savings to defend myself from politically motivated criminal charges whose purpose is to help Bragg, Ocasio-Cortez, and/or Sharpton appeal to their left-wing constituencies. This means I cannot intervene physically on Bragg's, Ocasio-Cortez's, or Sharpton's behalf.

This does not mean I can turn my back, do nothing, and still call myself a decent human being. I almost always carry a cell phone, and I will call 911 and tell the New York Police Department what is happening. I know how to use the phone's camera, and I will try to get a picture of the assailant. When the NYPD arrive, probably not in time to save the victim (when seconds count, police are minutes away), I will give them my evidence and assure them I will testify under oath against the assailant. If they ask me why I did not do anything myself, I will tell them they should look to their city's district attorney, member of Congress, and professional race-hustler for the answer. If these individuals and others like them wanted to send a message by charging Daniel Penny, that message is fully understood. What the rest of our society thinks of that message needs to be reflected in the 2024 elections.

Civis Americanus is the pen name of a contributor who remembers the lessons of history and wants to ensure that our country never needs to learn those lessons again the hard way. The author is remaining anonymous due to the likely prospect of being subjected to "cancel culture" for exposing the Big Lie behind Black Lives Matter.

Image: PxHere.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, a politically partisan higher education publication and lobby platform headquartered in Washington, D.C., recently sought to report on how law school rankings may have changed due to a handful of progressive institutions led by Yale, Harvard, and Berkeley, which protested the U.S. News & World Report rankings methodology: the law schools claimed that these rankings undermined minorities by overemphasizing the schools' elitist status, and thereby alienated many students from applying. The Chronicle tried to spin the new rankings as reflecting some improved outcome.

It should be pretty obvious, however, that there is nothing new about the "new" rankings: it is more or less business as usual, as the celebrated "T-14," or the top 14 law schools, all stayed the same with a few minor rank order adjustments. The various protests over the USN&WR ranking methodology, instigated by a small group of "elite" law schools, were simple showboating over themes favored by the current DNC political party. Those themes are centered in race and wealth and aimed at advancing various ways to re-order their weighted representation and distribution, respectively.

The elite law schools are considered elite for a reason  they participate in a closed network of reciprocal economic favors that exclude, with the exception of a few token gestures, the many minorities, and much of the lower economic classes, who may otherwise aspire to attend such law schools. Yale and Harvard, especially, also enjoy a monopoly in the Supreme Court (eight out of nine justices). It is in their self-interest to deflect criticism of their exclusionary status and relationships by taking on an apparent advocacy posture on behalf of the disadvantaged.

It is vital to the elite law school sector that they maintain a favored relationship with political power because that power is the corridor to the judiciary and corporate law sectors and the revolving door between them, even if that means dropping their qualification criteria, and indeed, modifying the nature of law itself in order to appeal to the background and interests of groups who have an activist agenda outside law proper (Barack Obama may be among the poster candidates, as his university records remain sealed.) All the other lower-ranked schools are largely filler for the U.S. News media publication and are otherwise completely detached from the elite law school market: students don't apply to Yale or Chicago with Nevada and South Dakota as backups (equally fine law schools as they are).

What is revealed about the new rankings is that ordered power is now even more stable and consolidated, and the law schools and the legal industry are just fine with that. Change is unsettling and disruptive, and law especially is a cultural phenomenon that thrives on authority, obedience, and predictability. It is all an illusion, of course, but the illusion must be sustained if perceptual dominance is the objective. Higher education functions through symbols of elitism and prestige, and the lower-ranked law schools will obligingly remain in the lower decks, rowing for the legal ship captains and crown. The progressive left is just fine with that too, as leftists fancy themselves class elitists, and a fragile authority and control is their temporary currency.

Matthew G. Andersson is a graduate of the University of Chicago and the author of the upcoming book Legally Blind, which discusses how ideology affects the law industry.

Image: US News & World Report.
What's a doctoral degree from Howard University worth?

Well, Joe Biden got one, honorary at least...based on his "sound analytical intellect" and "illustrious reputation."

According to Fox News:

President Joe Biden was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from Howard University on Saturday for his "analytical intellect" and "popularity on both sides"  claims mocked by conservatives on Twitter and contradicted by recent polls. Dr. Wayne Frederick, the president of Howard University, introduced Biden with high praise at the school's 155th commencement on Saturday. "Admired for your sound analytical intellect and open embrace for all, your popularity on both sides of the aisle of the United States led to your illustrious reputation and outstanding service of 36 years as a Democratic senator from Delaware beginning at a tender age of 29," Frederick said of Biden.

This kind of raises questions as to whether a degree from that school is worth anything at all. Biden can't recall what day of the week it is, let alone analytically analyze anything more critical than lining his family's pockets. He cannot speak in public without a teleprompter and at times reads even the cues on it. He dodges the press. He campaigned from his basement  to keep any unscripted moment out of the public eye. He wanders off and gets lost at the buffet table. Our enemies smile and make the most of it.

If this is what passes for "analytical intellect" at Howard, it would be interesting to find out what they consider "stupid."

Kamala Harris, after all, got a real degree from this place  in economics, of all things, as well as political science. She later flunked her bar exam.

The school has a reputation as a top-flight historically black college, but with guys like Biden getting degrees for their intellect, it's a matter of how much they honor real intellect at the school. If I were a Howard University doctoral candidate in a non-gut major, and I heard they were handing out an honorary degree to an old white clown who can't even remember the name of his black defense secretary, I'd be pretty insulted to be lumped in with him.

The decision to award Biden an honorary degree while praising his intellect puts us well into emperor's new clothes territory.

It might just explain why black voters are moving in large numbers to Republicans and the Democrat party has never been more unpopular.

Image: Screen shot from LiveNOW video via YouTube.
According to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the border is secure. It was, it is, and it will always be. Unfortunately, reality is getting in the way. Let's check this out:

Border Patrol agents arrested an Afghan national on the FBI's terror watchlist after he crossed into the U.S. illegally Wednesday in California, multiple sources at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) told Fox News. The Afghan national crossed the border with a group of migrants near Otay Mesa, California, the sources said. Border Patrol agents took the migrants to a processing station, where a fingerprint scan determined the Afghan was a match on the Terrorist Screening Database. The FBI was then notified, confirmed the results, and began an investigation. The arrested subject crossed the border a day prior to the end of Title 42 -- a COVID-19 emergency policy that allowed border agents to turn away migrants. Thousands of migrants have flooded to the border since the policy expired.

Good work in stopping this one. However, am I the only person who suspects that others got away? Is it unreasonable to think that?

Here is the problem. Open borders are exactly that. Yes, most of these people crossing the border are just men and women and children looking for a better life. It takes just a few to come in and do some real harm in an open and free country like ours. Do you remember 9/11? How many men did it take to pull that off? A dozen? Do you think we've had more than a dozen released by Border Patrol? How about drugs?

Biden has failed big time and opened the country to bad people. And the worst part is that we probably don't know where they are. Even worse than that is that the president doesn't do questions.

It's more than impeachable. It's a dereliction of duty. I guess that's impeachable, too.

PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.

Image: Picryl.
The left obviously thinks that "white supremacy" is the boogeyman to scare the public into voting Democrats into permanent power. President Biden just told an overwhelmingly black audience that white supremacy is the "most dangerous terrorist threat" facing the country.

But I am unaware of white supremacists burning down cities the way that BLM-incited rioters did after George Floyd's death of a drug overdose while in police custody. Nor have I ever met a white supremacist, at least none who would admit to such views, which are extremely unpopular even among the overwhelming majority of Caucasians.

But if you are in the business of whipping up racial fears while demonizing a demographic slice that votes Republican, I guess it makes sense in an amoral way. However, the gravest possible danger to this evil plan is the trend among Hispanics, a much larger demographic slice than blacks and faster growing, too, to vote Republican. It's been gospel among Democrats for a couple of decades now that whites are on the way to becoming a minority in this country, and that a coalition among blacks, Hispanics, and Asians  along with self-hating whites and those brainwashed by leftist-run schools into antagonism toward their own group  would create a new majority keeping them permanently in power.

Thus, it becomes a vital task to rein in Hispanics, keep them on the plantation, so to speak, hostile to "Anglos" and shunning conservative ideas, forever aggrieved.

Over the weekend, on her MSNBC show, host Katie Phang had as a guest Kristofer Goldsmith (who lists his pronouns as he/him), a military veteran who describes himself on LinkedIn as "the nation's most recognized authority on the targeting of American troops and veterans with disinformation and extremist recruiting efforts by hostile foreign and domestic entities."

Phang began the interview by instructing us that "there's a misconception that all white nationalists have to be white."

It went downhill from there. Watch the one-minute video below and try not to giggle:

Transcript via Grabien:

PHANG: "There's a misconception that all white nationalists have to be 'white. But let's look at Hispanic white nationalists like Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and online political activist Nick Fuentes. What have you seen in regards to non-white people becoming advocates for white supremacist ideas?"

GOLDSMITH: "Thanks, so much for having me, Katie, on  having me on, Katie. It's great to be back. The Latino identity, the Hispanic identity, the Latinx identity is incredibly complex. It is not exclusively a race, it is not exclusively an ethnicity. It creates a lot of room for extremist views like white supremacy. One of the phenomena that we've seen over  over especially recent years is misinformation, disinformation and radical narratives being pushed into Spanish-speaking communities."

Photo credit: Grabien video screen grab.
According to a TIPP Poll of nearly 1,500 Americans  that was conducted after Hunter Biden's recent appearance in an Arkansas court to determine how much child support the First Son should pay  U.S. voters are split over whether President Joe Biden should publicly acknowledge his granddaughter.

Wow.

Hunter had the girl, now four, with beautiful ex-stripper Lunden Roberts. Yet neither Hunter nor his dad, "The Big Guy," is willing to welcome Navy Joan Roberts into America's First Family. The president has six other grandchildren, all of whom he recognizes, and all of whom had their names written on Christmas stockings hanging from a White House mantle this past holiday season. But not Navy.

It is no surprise that Americans are divided over whether or not the little girl should be publicly claimed by the Biden family that is responsible for her. We are divided over everything else as well. And it is no surprise that the majority of Democrats, liberals, and those without children consider it a private family matter that the Bidens should handle however they deem best.

On the other hand, Republicans, conservatives, those with children, and religious Americans overwhelmingly believe that the president should at least publicly acknowledge the existence of Navy Joan Roberts  the granddaughter that neither he nor his son has ever met.

It is reprehensible and repugnant that the Biden family has essentially not even acknowledged the existence of this little girl. Perhaps they wish she would have been aborted. On the other hand, given Joe's and Hunter's historical interactions with females of nearly all ages, maybe it is for the best.

It should have been easy to guess which (roughly) half of "Americans" are cool with the Bidens abandoning this little girl, regardless of how it makes her feel or what it does to her psyche and well-being.

Democrats are frauds, charlatans, hypocrites, and gaslighters who performatively virtue-signal while channeling their inner Beelzebub.

They care about one thing and one thing only: power.

Here's hoping that Navy's mom properly cares for her. Someone has to.

And it's apparently not going to be the Bidens.

Image: Hippopx.
Elon Musk has defended Twitter's decision to limit access to "some tweets" in Turkey as critics slammed the ultra-billionaire over online censorship.

The decision of the Twitter boss comes as the country is on the brink of an intensely contested presidential election race.

Twitter Restricts Tweets in Turkey Ahead of Intense Elections

According to the New York Post, Twitter has taken a controversial step by restricting access to some tweets in Turkey, a country widely known for its vibrant political landscape, gearing up for a tightly fought election.

The Global Government Affairs of Twitter tweeted that they "have taken action to restrict access to some content in Turkey today" to ensure that the social network "remains available to the people of Turkey." Furthermore, the Global Affairs unit disclosed that the move is in response to a legal process in the country.

In the same Twitter thread, the Global Government Affairs department assures everyone that the affected tweet will still be available elsewhere except for Turkey users. It emphasized that these restricted posts will be present in various parts of the world.

However, as per Engadget, the giant social network failed to disclose which tweets the restrictions affect.

Critics slammed the decision and the big boss of the platform at the moment's notice. And as such, Elon Musk emerged as the staunch defender of Twitter's actions.

Read Also: Elon Musk Warns NPR Twitter Account Could Be Reassigned: Which 'Company' Might Take Over?

Elon Musk Defends Twitter 'Censorship' in Turkey

A Bloomberg columnist Matthew Yglesias went on to slam Musk for the recent move of Twitter that limits access to its users in Turkey.

The New York Post notes that the columnist, Yglesias, has raised serious allegations against the tech magnate, claiming that the Twitter owner is actively silencing critics on behalf of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Turkish leader reportedly has close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Musk responded to the columnist's tweet with this question: "Did your brain fall out of your head, Yglesias?" He then defended the recent move, saying he only had two choices. Either Twitter gets throttled altogether in the country, or it limits "access to some tweets."

Meanwhile, Business Insider reports that some critics accused Musk of caving into the political pressure in Turkey.

The news outlet points out that the space exploration firm recently extended a helping hand to Turkey to launch a satellite to orbit through the Falcon 9 rocket. A flight in the rocket is to the tune of $62 million, Space.com estimates.

Related Article: Elon Musk Says Tucker Carlson's Twitter Show Still Subject to Fact-Checking





@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Over the past few years, TikTok has been under a slew of controversies surrounding its data privacy practices, which has led to several states banning the app and calls for a nationwide ban. However, it looks like the companys troubles continue as Yintao Yu, a former executive of TikToks parent company ByteDance, has filed a lawsuit claiming that the platform artificially inflated its engagement with bots and stolen content.

According to the lawsuit, when Yu first joined the company back in 2017, he discovered that ByteDance engaged in a worldwide scheme to profit from copyrighted work of other platforms, including Instagram and Snapchat and fabricated users to boost engagement metrics that potential investors relied upon.

Propaganda tool for the CCP?

Yu claims that ByteDance was also acting as a propaganda tool for the Chinese Communist Party and that Chinese employees had access to US user data. Additionally, the complaint describes a special unit of Chinese Communist Party members in the companys Beijing office, which monitored ByteDances promotion of communist values. Furthermore, Yu alleges that ByteDance manipulated Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, to suppress content related to the Hong Kong protests and spread content that expressed hatred towards Japan.

Although the lawsuit refers to the companys practices years ago, since Yu was terminated from ByteDance in 2018 after he raised his concerns, it could still mount troubles for TikTok as the FBI is already investigating the company for allegedly spying on US journalists and lawmakers are calling for a nationwide ban.

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TikToks response

In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for ByteDance stated that they plan to vigorously oppose what we believe are baseless claims and allegations in this complaint. The spokesperson further asserted that ByteDance respects the intellectual property of other companies and obtains data according to industry practices and global policy.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is shaping up to be a massive upgrade over the Flip 4. Along with a new hinge and a lot bigger cover display, the new clamshell foldable may also get DeX support. If the latest rumor turns out to be true, it will be the smallest Galaxy device ever to run Samsung DeX.

Samsungs Flip series clamshell foldables have never been true-blue flagships. The devices do come equipped with the latest flagship processor, industry-leading display, and many other high-end specs. But they lack big time in several areas. Cameras arent as good as the ones you get on the Galaxy S series flagships. On the software side of things, they lacked Samsung DeX, one of the best features of flagship Galaxy devices.

However, sources have told SamMobile that the Galaxy Z Flip 5 will finally address the software limitation. This years Flip model will support Samsung DeX. With better cameras, the device may finally be counted in the same bracket as other Galaxy flagships. The Fold lineup of book-like foldables already supports DeX. The software tool isnt also available for Galaxy A series mid-range devices, though.

For the uninitiated, Samsung DeX is a built-in tool that lets you use your Galaxy device as your computer CPU. You can connect it to an external display, like a smart TV or monitor, for a desktop-like interface. Depending on the device model and the display, you can connect wirelessly or use an HDMI adaptor/USB-C port. You can also connect mice and keyboards to this Galaxy-powered computer.

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Samsung also offers a DeX app for Windows and Mac. If you have a compatible device, all you need is a USB-C cable to get started. Moreover, on supported Galaxy tablets, you dont even need an external screen. You can enable a desktop-like interface on the device itself. Thats not possible on phones due to small screens.

Samsungs Galaxy Z Flip lineup is finally getting DeX support

Its unclear what kept Samsung from offering DeX support on the Flip lineup. The devices certainly are capable of running a desktop setup on an external screen. But after omitting the feature for several years, the company is finally adding it to the Galaxy Z Flip 5. It remains to be seen if older Flip models also get the feature with a software update once the latest Flip arrives on the market. We will let you know when we have more information. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is expected to go official in late July alongside the Galaxu Z Fold 5.
Samsung could be the next tech giant to launch a generative AI tool like ChatGPT and Google Bard. The Korean conglomerate is reportedly working with domestic tech firm Naver on the project. The duo plan to debut the service as early as October this year. The initial solution may be private to Samsung but Naver may also release a public version of the tool.

According to the Korea Economic Daily, Samsung plans to use the new AI tool to enhance its semiconductor business. It will optimize the service for this purpose from the development stage. The company will supply Naver with the necessary data about its business and semiconductors for training the tool. It may not share confidential data during the development phase but may train the service internally later on with added information. The long-term plan is to use AI to boost its other businesses as well, including smartphones and home appliances.

Samsung is developing an in-house generative AI tool because using third-party services for business purposes has proved to be a risky move. It recently found that employees have inadvertently leaked confidential data through ChatGPT after it granted access to the tool to speed up some internal processes. The company has now banned the use of all such services in company-owned devices as well as internal networks. Employees are also advised to not share company information when using AI tools on their personal devices.

Naver, on the other hand, plans to enter the global enterprise AI market through this project. The idea is to develop a ChatGPT-like service tailored to non-English-speaking people, such as Koreans. It is already gearing up to launch a new hyper-scale AI platform called HyperCLOVA X in a few months. It has reportedly learned 6,500 times more Korean words than ChatGPT. So it will better understand prompts in Korean and give more accurate responses. Naver is also readying an AI-powered search engine.

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Samsung and Naver are also working on new AI chips

The collaboration between Samsung and Naver doesnt end with the development of a new generative AI tool. The two Korean firms also plan to launch new AI chips later this year. Naver currently uses Nvidia chips in its AI platforms. It wants to take Samsungs help in replacing those with in-house solutions. Samsung, the worlds largest memory chip maker, may also use the new AI chips in its products. The global AI chip market is forecasted to grow to $70 billion by 2025 from $23 billion in 2020.
TCL is one of the top TV manufacturers in the market going head to head against the likes of Samsung, Sony, and LG. During CES 2023, the company unveiled its lineup of 2023 smart TVs set to launch. These are the TCL Q Class and the more affordable TCL S Class smart TVs, according to The Verge.

TCL is really emphasizing multiple options with these TVs with a wide range of prices and screen sizes. Its Q Class of TVs are the more premium options while the S Class is for people who want to save a bit of money.

TCL is rolling out its 2023 smart TVs

So, lets start off with the more affordable options.

TCL S Class

As stated, these are the more affordable TVs, so they will be your first choice if youre looking to save some money. Starting off with the most affordable model, we have the TCL S2 TV. Weighing in at $169.99, this is certainly for those on a tight budget.

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This 32-inch TV has a 720p resolution, but it still manages to have a FullView display with a metal bezel-less design. It has three HDMI ports (one of which has ARC), game mode, and it runs on the Roku TV smart operating system. This TV works with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple homekit.

Moving up to the TCL S3, starting at $30 more, youll have a full HD screen that supports HDR. It also has the bezel-less design with game mode, a voice remote, Chromecast built-in, and a display backlit by LEDs. This TV comes with Google TV rather than Roku. It comes in between 32 inches and 43 inches.

If you want to break into 4K, the TCL S3 comes with a screen between 43 inches and 85 inches with the price increasing as you go up. This TV has the most impressive display with HDR Pro, Dolby Vision, the same bezel-less design, Google TV, Dolby Atmos, three HDMI ports (one with e-ARC), and other features. This one starts at $249.99.

TCL Q class

Now, lets get into the premium TVs. The Q Class TVs have QLED technology, and it starts with the 55-inch TCL Q6. This one comes between 55 inches and 85 inches, and it starts at $499.

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This TV has a 4K QLED display with HDR Pro Plus, a game accelerator for a 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Atmos, Google TV with a voice remote, Bluetooth, 4K upscaling, Chromecast built-in, and many other features.

The TCL Q7 comes in between 55 inches and 85 inches, and it starts at $749.99. This TV has all the features of the Q6, with the addition of IMAX enhanced certification, Motion rate 480 with MEMC frame insertion, four HDMI ports, Apple AirPlay 2, and more features. You can expect the viewing experience to be better overall

At the top of the pack, we have the TCL QM8. This is the biggest TV of the bunch coming in between 65 inches and 98 inches. It starts at $1,699, and its for people who want the absolute most from their viewing experience. It comes with all of the features of the other Q series TVs with the addition of HDR Ultra, Wi-Fi 6, a peak brightness of 2000 nits, an Ultrawide color gamut, and more.

These TVs are rolling out, and some may not be available at this moment. So youll want to check back if any of these TVs tickle your fancies.

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Check out the TVs here
The sister of an Irishman released from an Iranian prison has described the unbelievable moment she greeted him off an aeroplane in Paris.

Bernard Phelan, a 64-year-old Irish-French national originally from Clonmel in Co Tipperary, was detained in a jail in north-east Iran for seven months.

Mr Phelan and another French national, Benjamin Briere, who was in custody for two years, were released on humanitarian grounds at the end of last week and flown to Paris.

Caroline Phelan, Mr Phelans sister, and officials from Irelands Department of Foreign Affairs were at the airport to welcome him on arrival.

Bernard Phelans sister Caroline Phelan and their father Vincent Phelan at a recent vigil outside the Iranian Embassy in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

It was an unbelievable moment, she told RTE Radio One.

Just couldnt believe it, couldnt believe it. To see him walking off the plane in France after such stress and such a long time and huge hugs, and also the members of the Department of Foreign Affairs that has helped us in Dublin had flown over to be with us, so we were all in tears.

So it was an amazing moment. And then the French team were there as well. And weve all bonded over these seven months. Just to welcome him home. And of course then we rang my father in Dublin. So, my father (Vincent) is 97 and he thought hed never see his son again. So it was a very special moment for him too.

Mr Phelan, a Paris based travel consultant, was arrested for allegedly taking photos of police officers and a burned mosque following an anti-regime protest in Iran last autumn.

He was accused of providing information to an enemy country  charges he denied.

Mr Phelan experienced significant ill health while in custody.

Caroline Phelan said her brother would now spend time in hospital in France recovering. She said the family was over the moon to have him back safe.

He looked weak, but just still overjoyed, she said.

So I think that joy was boosting him. So he is in hospital. I saw him yesterday (Sunday).

He cant get over the peace and quiet, the silence after being in a cell with 16 other people, having a bathroom.

And the day before he had his bare feet in the grass because he hasnt seen grass for seven months. They had a courtyard with big high walls and they were only allowed out for 45 minutes a day. So just to put bare feet in the grass on the Saturday afternoon was heaven.

Ms Phelan rejected claims from the Iranian authorities that her brother was cared for appropriately in prison.

We wouldnt consider that he was well looked after, she said.

He did see a doctor, there was a doctor in the hospital, he was given tests in the last month. He was given a chair and a table in the last month, but he was sitting on the floor for six months.

Maybe in Iranian standards they think that a prison like that is OK but not in our standards to treat people like that. We would not agree that he was well looked after. But hes home safely and thats what counts.

She said her brother was looking forward to a fried breakfast and a cup of tea on his return to Ireland.

Ms Phelan added: I think hes also very conscious of the other Europeans he left behind, its something he raised with me, hes very conscious that himself and Benjamin got home but there are a lot of other Europeans in Iran today. I dont know when they will come home, but he is very thankful to be one of the first home.
A British expat accused of murdering his terminally-ill wife told a Cypriot court he ended her life after she cried and begged.

David Hunter took to the witness box to tell the Paphos District Court judge he felt helpless and hopeless during the last weeks of Janice Hunters life, adding: I didnt want to do it. I said no.

The 75-year-old retired miner said he eventually decided to grant his wifes wish after she became hysterical and unable to take care of herself.

Janice, 74, died of asphyxiation in December 2021 at the couples retirement home near the coastal resort town of Paphos.

The defendant, who held back tears as he gave evidence on Monday, said his wife, who had blood cancer, did not attempt to stop him as he put his hands over her mouth and nose.

He said: I just kept my hands there.

Family handout file photo of David Hunter, 74, and Janice Hunter 75, on their wedding day

Hunter, from Ashington in Northumberland, described his marriage as perfect, adding: After 57 years together, I really didnt want to do it.

As he recounted Janices final few weeks through an interpreter, he said: She cried. She couldnt do nothing. She couldnt move.

She was sleeping in the leather chair downstairs and for the last week we slept down on those chairs together.

I felt so helpless and hopeless that I couldnt do anything for her.

For five or six weeks before she died she was asking me to help her. She was asking me more every day.

In the last week she was crying and begging me. Every day she asked me a bit more intensely to do it.

The last week, she started crying. She started crying and begging me.

She said, I cant go on. This life isnt for me. We just go to the hospital and stay at home. I dont have any quality of life and Im totally bored of this. I cant go on.

She started becoming hysterical so I said, Yes, Ill help you.

I just told her that to calm her down.

Hunter continued to recall his wifes last few days, saying: She was crying, crying, crying. Begging, begging, begging.

His defence lawyer Ritsa Pekri asked: Could she take care of herself?

Hunter replied: No.

He added: She wasnt taking care of herself.

The last two or three days, she said she couldnt move her arms and had trouble with her legs. She couldnt balance.

Ms Pekri asked: Did she eat?

Family handout file photo of David Hunter, 74, and Janice Hunter 75.

Hunter said: She was only eating soup. She couldnt hold anything down. She lost a lot of weight.

She lost so much weight that there was no flesh to put her injections in.

Hunter said Janice felt shame for around three years as she was forced to wear nappies  leaving her unable to move and stuck in the house.

Turning to the day his wife died, the defendant told the court: I dont remember a lot of the last day.

I went to make a cup of coffee and she started crying.

I remember that I had my hand on her mouth and nose.

I dont even know how I thought about it.

I dont know how long I kept my hands there for. She did not attempt to stop me.

In my statement I said that she was resisting but she wasnt.

She was moving her head. I dont even think she opened her eyes.

Hunter added: I would never have helped her end her life if she had not begged me.

The defendant told the court he tried to kill himself after his wifes death.

When the police arrived to quiz him after his suicide bid failed, he said he was interested in nothing.

Custody vans arrive at Paphos District Court in Cyprus on Monday (Joe Giddens/PA)

In his cross-examination, state prosecutor Andreas Hadjikyrou said to the defendant: I put it to you that you had decided to kill her and there was no common consent and that you had to decide what day to kill her on.

Hunter replied: No. I never intended to kill her.

I had hoped for eight or nine days that she would get better, that she would change her mind.

She was lying down. She was in pain, suffering.

I would do anything to help her.

The last thing on my mind was to take her life. The last thing. Thats his (the prosecutors) idea, not mine.

The trial continues.
China, Central Asia to jointly build cooperation belt for high-quality development

09:12, May 15, 2023 By Gong Ming, Zhou Hanbo ( People's Daily

Photo shows the Turgusun hydropower plant in Kazakhstan built by China Three Gorges Corporation. (Photo provided by China Three Gorges Corporation)

China has developed strategic partnerships with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan since it established diplomatic ties with the five Central Asian countries 31 years ago, blazing a new path of good-neighborliness, friendship and win-win cooperation, thereby setting up a paradigm for a new type of international relations.

Under the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy, China has deepened practical cooperation with the five countries and achieved fruitful results in bilateral and multilateral cooperation in agriculture, trade, investment, infrastructure and other fields.

From May 1 to 12, a number of featured products from Central Asian countries were displayed at an e-commerce exhibition held in Qingdao, east China's Shandong province, including fruit puree and juice from Kazakhstan, natural mineral water from Uzbekistan and traditional handbags from Tajikistan. The exhibition showcased the strong vitality of China-Central Asia economic and trade cooperation.

Trade between China and the five Central Asian countries set a record high last year. In the first two months this year, the trade volume saw year-on-year growth of 22 percent, maintaining strong momentum of development.

By the end of 2022, China's direct investment stock in the five Central Asian countries reached nearly $15 billion, with a number of cooperation projects launched in fields such as oil and gas exploration, processing and manufacturing, connectivity and digital technologies, bringing tangible benefits to people in these countries.

On April 26 in 2023, foreign ministers from China and the five countries jointly pushed the lever, launching the Chang'an Train from Xi'an to Central Asia commemorating the 10th anniversary of the China-Europe Railway Express and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), at the Xi'an International Trade & Logistics Park in northwest China's Shaanxi province.

Chinese and foreign engineers work at the construction site of the A380 highway in Uzbekistan, which is contracted by China Railway Construction Corporation. (Photo provided by China Railway 20 Bureau Group Corporation)

Over the past ten years, the Chang'an China-Europe freight train service has operated over 16,000 trips, including over 4,250 trips to Central Asian countries. These trips witnessed the rapid development and remarkable results of the BRI in Central Asia.

Central Asia is where the BRI was initiated and has grown into a model area that sees tangible results of BRI cooperation. All relevant parties have actively pursued synergetic development between the BRI and their own development strategies and launched efficient cooperation projects.

A large batch of mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation have been completed under the framework of the BRI, such as the China-Kazakhstan crude oil pipeline, the China-Central Asia gas pipeline, a China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan highway, the Pengsheng Industrial Park and a China-Tajikistan-Uzbekistan highway, bringing tangible benefits to the people in the region.

China and the five Central Asian countries have constantly deepened and expanded BRI cooperation. Together, they promoted the construction of the China-Central Asia transport corridor and the fourth line of the China-Central Asia gas pipeline project. They also strengthened cooperation on artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing and other high technologies.

Uzbek Ambassador to China Farhod Arziev noted that Uzbekistan attaches high importance to strengthening cooperation with China in various fields and will continue promoting the synergetic development between Uzbek strategies and the BRI for better development.

China and Tajikistan have jointly built a textile industrial park in Tajikistan, which employs advanced digital and intelligent agricultural machinery and textile equipment. Products produced in the industrial park have gained a foothold in the global high-end market.

A train commemorating the 10th anniversary of starting the Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe freight train service departs from Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang province, for Central Asia, carrying 100 twenty-foot equivalent units of goods, April 23, 2023. (People's Daily Online/Gong Xianming)

A dairy factory jointly built by China and Kazakhstan in southern Kazakhstan's Turkistan Region has been put into operation. Its camel dairy products are very popular among Chinese consumers.

In the Sirdaryo region of Uzbekistan, a China-Uzbekistan demonstration park of modern agricultural technology has been put into use. It has introduced a number of new varieties of high oleic peanuts, oil sunflowers, soybeans and corn.

From capacity cooperation to sci-tech exchanges and talent training, China and the five Central Asian countries have continuously deepened agricultural cooperation and built an agricultural partnership that carries rich connotations and brims with strong vitality.

Agricultural trade between the two sides continues to expand. More Chinese enterprises have settled in the five Central Asian countries for investment and development, whose cooperation projects cover many fields including the processing of wheat flour and vegetable oil, cotton planting and textile. They are contributing to the local agricultural development.

A training program on advanced and applicable agricultural technology for Central Asia was launched by China this April. More than 80 trainees from the five Central Asian countries joined the program and learned about China's experience and application of water-conservation technologies, facility agriculture technologies and environmental protection in agricultural production.

Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Kuchkarov said China's achievements and experience in poverty alleviation, as well as agricultural rural development, are worth learning from. Uzbekistan is willing to work with China to promote poverty alleviation cooperation, so as to achieve win-win results and bring more benefits to the two peoples, he added.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming)
Apple iPhone 14 satellite emergency SOS feature began rolling out to Australian and New Zealand users after debuting in the United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) last year.

The rollout expansion enables more iPhone 14 users to reach emergency services in far-flung places wherein phone cellular signal is unavailable.

Apple iPhone 14 Satellite Feature Expands Roll Out

As per a report by 9to5 Mac, the Cupertino-based tech giant has officially rolled out its highly anticipated iPhone 14 satellite feature, soaring to new heights in connectivity for more users. Your iPhone is about to become an even more powerful tool, allowing users to stay connected even in the most remote areas in Australia and New Zealand.

The much-awaited release covers the entire flagship lineup, including the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, as well as the higher-end options, the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max. It gives Apple fanboys more reason to upgrade as older versions skip the satellite feature.

Apple Insider reports that the emergency SOS via satellite function initially debuted in countries like the US, the UK, Canada, and Germany. Besides these regions, it is also available to iPhone 14 users in the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, France, Italy, Portugal, and Germany.

And this time, the satellite feature is now available in 14 countries as iPhones in New Zealand and Australia receive the cutting-edge satellite feature. Gone are the days of worrying about being stranded in far-flung corners without means of communication.

Read Also: Apple Watch Series 9 Might Finally Upgrade Processor: Same Chip as iPhone 13?

How Apple's iPhone Satellite Feature Works

According to The Guardian, a long-time myth tells phone users to search for cellular signals by pointing their mobile devices in various directions in the air. That is exactly how the new emergency feature works since it connects to satellites orbiting roughly 1,000 kilometers (km) away from our home planet.

The new feature is crucial when users are stranded in the rural wilderness of Australia and New Zealand, wherein cellular signal and WiFi connection are unavailable. In this dire situation, the best thing folks could do to stay connected is to send distress signals using satellite.

iPhone 14 users have varying ways to use the feature in Australia and New Zealand. For the latter, they must call 111 and select the Emergency SOS button to contact the authorities. On the other hand, users in Australia may use the service by dialing 000 or Triple Zero.

Once that is out of the way, the satellite function gives away your emergency details, such as iPhone battery level, Medical ID, and approximate location, to help responders find your whereabouts.

For the first two years since the feature debuted, Apple vows to offer the emergency SOS via satellite option free of charge. The feature has since saved a couple of lives.

Related Article: Apple Watch Series 9 Might Finally Upgrade Processor: Same Chip as iPhone 13?

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The reputational damage done to the UK by the high level of fraud involving Covid-19 support schemes was a blip, a senior civil servant has told MPs.

A recent report by the National Audit Office (NAO) said the latest Transparency International survey of perceptions of corruption showed the UK had fallen from eighth out of 180 countries in 2017 to 18th in 2022.

Cabinet Office permanent secretary Alex Chisholm told the Public Accounts Committee he expects the UKs reputation to improve due to steps taken by the Government to improve how Whitehall departments and national bodies handle fraud.

He said it is right that the Government considers international ratings, but stressed the findings were based on peoples perception rather than findings.

Mr Chisolm added: I think that probably will have been affected by some of the noisy reporting over the time of Covid about some of the expenditures.

The press obviously would report, for example, claims made which have gone to court in most cases and havent been held up in court but will certainly have created an atmosphere where people will be asking questions about that, at the very least.

Lord Agnew (PA)

I would hope and expect that our rating will recover from that blip.

Lord Agnew, the Treasury minister responsible for departmental efficiency, resigned in January 2022 over the Governments handling of fraudulent Covid business loans.

Asked whether there had been dramatic changes to processes since Lord Agnews resignation, Treasury permanent secretary James Bowler said: Not necessarily triggered by that but we are investing 1 billion in counter-fraud.

We require impact assessments on all major Government spending. We have the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) that we have set up. So I think dramatic would be a good word to describe the change since then.

The NAO report warned that historical experience shows that it takes a long time to rebuild trust when it is diminished.

It added that the impact of fraud and corruption affects perceptions and levels of trust in government, markets, public services and country.

The PSFA, set up by the Government in response to concerns about the level of fraud involving public money during the pandemic, estimated there was between 33.2 billion and 58.8 billion of fraud and error across Government spending in 2020-21.

Details provided in annual reports of Government departments and arms-length bodies show an estimated 21 billion was specifically lost to fraud in 2020-21 and 2021-22, compared with 5.5 billion in the two years before the pandemic.

Of the 21 billion lost to fraud, 7.3 billion related to temporary Covid-19 schemes and was in addition to an estimated 10 billion a year lost to tax evasion and other tax crimes.

The NAO said these figures are likely to be underestimates due to limits to the way fraud and corruption are recorded.

The report also said Government departments detected fraud totalling 243 million in 2020/21 and recovered 29 million.

Challenged on why detection levels were low compared with the overall estimated cost of fraud, PSFA chief executive Mark Cheeseman said performance was improving.

He said: Those figures are generally rising. Youre quite right, there is a gap there between the estimate and the detected levels. That is something we need to look into and do more to understand that gap and the nature of it.
Concern has been expressed around any potential impact of the Governments legacy bill on a fresh probe into the La Mon bomb attack.

Twelve people were killed and scores more injured when the Provisional IRA exploded a bomb at the hotel on the outskirts of Belfast in 1978.

The Police Ombudsman started a new investigation into the atrocity last year.

Victims group Ulster Human Rights Watch (UHRW) has expressed concern this probe could be impacted by the legacy bill.

The Governments bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament, would provide immunity for people accused of crimes during the Troubles, as long as they co-operate with a new truth recovery body known as the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (Icrir).

It would also halt future civil cases and inquests linked to killings during the conflict.

The bill has been widely criticised by Northern Irelands political parties, the Irish Government and victims groups.

UHRW advocacy service manager, Axel Schmidt said the group has written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak seeking assurances the Ombudsman investigation will be able to continue.

This is a straightforward matter for relatives and survivors of La Mon: can the Ombudsmans Office proceed with the investigation it started in 2022 and expects to have completed in April next year, he said.

The sole major obstacle that could jeopardise the completion of this investigation is the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, which may come into force in the near future.

For this reason, taking into account the seriousness of this case and the length of time the victims have been waiting for this investigation to be carried out, I have asked that the Prime Minister urgently intervene so as to ensure that this investigation can be continued by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland until its conclusion.

Survivors and relatives will take great comfort if the Prime Minister agrees.

If, on the other hand, he refuses the request, then those who are left with the traumatic injuries of that awful night will be denied access to the truth and feel left behind, abandoned and betrayed by their Government.

It would be a shocking disregard of their suffering and resilience over many years if they were to fail to get this all-important assurance from the Prime Minister.

A UK Government spokesperson said: The UK Government is determined to deliver better outcomes for those most affected by the Troubles, while helping society to look forward.

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Bill will establish an Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) to conduct reviews into Troubles-related deaths and serious injury, with the primary objective of providing information to families, and victims and survivors.

It will have all the necessary powers to conduct criminal investigations as part of any review.

The Government tabled a number of amendments during committee stage in the House of Lords that seek to address a number of key issues raised by stakeholders.

We will continue to engage constructively with all interested parties, and to carefully consider how their concerns might be addressed as the Bill proceeds through Parliament.
The author of a biography on the Duke of Sussex has denied having a vested interest in helping Harry, the High Court has heard.

Omid Scobie, co-author of the biography Finding Freedom about Harry and the Duchess of Sussex, entered the witness box on Monday as part of a trial in claims brought by several high-profile individuals, including Harry, against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).

MGN  publisher of The Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People  is accused of unlawful information-gathering including voicemail interception, securing information through deception and hiring private investigators for unlawful activities.

The publisher is contesting the cases and has also said there is no evidence, or no sufficient evidence, of voicemail interception in any of the four claims chosen as representative cases.

The court heard that as a journalism student, Mr Scobie spent a week at the Sunday People where he claims he was given a list of mobile numbers followed by a detailed verbal description of how to listen to voicemails, as if it were a routine newsgathering technique.

In his witness statement, Mr Scobie continued: I was taken aback by what seemed completely immoral and I never carried out the task.

Mr Justice Fancourt was told that in spring 2002, Mr Scobie did work experience at the Daily Mirror and allegedly overheard then-editor Piers Morgan being told that information relating to Kylie Minogue and her boyfriend had come from voicemails.

The High Court in London was also told there is an invoice from a private investigator firm for 170, addressed to a showbiz journalist at the paper, for K Minogue.

The royal commentator continued in his written evidence: I recall that during one of those days in the office  which housed the 3AM team and some showbiz journalists in the same section  the editor of the newspaper, Piers Morgan, came over to talk with someone, I do not recall who, about a story in the works on Kylie Minogue and her, on-off, at the time, boyfriend James Gooding.

Mr Morgan was asking how confident they were in the reporting and was told that the information had come from voicemails.

I recall being surprised to hear this at the time, which is why it stuck in my mind.

Mr Scobie added he was not totally shocked by this, following his experience at the Sunday People.

Mr Morgan, who was the Mirrors editor between 1995 and 2004, has previously denied involvement in phone hacking.

He recently told the BBC: I think phone hacking is completely wrong and shouldnt have been happening, and it was lazy journalists being lazy.

At the start of his cross-examination, Andrew Green KC, for MGN, described Finding Freedom  Mr Scobies book written with fellow journalist Carolyn Durand  as favourable to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

It was fair, Mr Scobie replied.

The barrister later asked whether the reporters career is to some extent linked to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Mr Scobie said: I would say that a lot of that would be due to factors out of my control.

Nikki Sanderson is among those taking action (Suzan Moore/PA)

The royal correspondent later said he was a journalist trying to do my job amid claims he was a cheerleader or mouthpiece for the couple.

Mr Green said: Do you have a vested interest in helping the Duke of Sussex if the opportunity arises?

No. What I am doing right now is giving ammunition to the tabloids to continue calling me his friend, Mr Scobie replied.

The royal correspondent said he did not have Harrys mobile number, adding he was wrongly described as Meghans mouthpiece and cheerleader for the couple.

He continued: I am a member of the press trying to do my job  what I am doing today is making my life more difficult.

Ex-Sunday Mirror reporter Dan Evans  who was described as the papers former in-house hacker  also entered the witness box on Monday.

Mr Evans  who later joined the now-defunct News of the World, subsequently admitted phone hacking and was given a 10-month suspended prison sentence  alleged there was endemic criminality at both the News of the World and MGN.

He alleged that many people at MGN titles were involved in what I today honestly believe to be one of the longest and most developed corporate/criminal conspiracies in British history.

In written submissions, Mr Green previously said there was some evidence of third parties being instructed to carry out other forms of unlawful information-gathering, except in the case of actor Michael Turner  known professionally as Michael Le Vell.

He told the court: Where that is so, MGN has made admissions but for many of them, there is simply no evidence they engaged in unlawful information gathering at all.

Mr Evans later alleged that journalists at the Sunday Mirror would stand up stories from legitimate stories by looking to hack the phones of the individuals involved, or their friends, so that we could verify the truth of the information given to us by the source.

As well as Harry, Coronation Street actors Mr Turner and Nikki Sanderson, and comedian Paul Whitehouses ex-wife Fiona Wightman are named as representative cases for the trial.
A white-supremacist podcast host is to be sentenced after stirring up racial hatred on his vile show Radio Aryan.

James Allchurch, 51, from Pembrokeshire, Wales, was convicted by a jury in March following a trial at Swansea Civic Centre.

The self-proclaimed avowed racist and Adolf Hitler supporter will appear in court on Monday after he was found guilty of 10 out of 15 counts of distributing audio material to stir up racial hatred over a two-year period.

He was warned he faces years in prison over the recordings by Judge Huw Rees who described them as a stain on humanity.

James Allchurch was convicted after a trial at Swansea Civic Centre (Benjamin Wright/PA)

Each charge related to a separate episode uploaded by Allchurch between May 17 2019 and March 18 2021 to a public website called Radio Aryan, which was later renamed Radio Albion.

Guests on the show included convicted National Action co-founder Alex Davies, from Swansea, who was jailed at Winchester Crown Court in June last year for being a member of a banned far-right organisation.

A number of other known extremists from the UK and US also featured on the podcast talking to Allchurch, who went by the alias Sven Longshanks  a reference to King Edward I who was also known as Edward Longshanks and was responsible for expelling Jewish people from England in 1290.

During the trial, the jury listened to a total of around nine hours of recordings in which Allchurch and his guests can be repeatedly heard using extreme racial slurs and propagating racist ideology while discussing topics such as grooming gangs, immigration, slavery and crime.

Prosecutor Jonathan Rees KC described the audio files as highly racist, antisemitic and white supremacist in nature.

Mr Rees said: The very purpose of Radio Aryan was to spread his propaganda about racial conflict.

Allchurch denied the podcast had encouraged hatred or racial violence.

Giving evidence, Allchurch told the jury his use of racial slurs was not intended to cause offence, and that he believed he was using accurate terminology.

He also claimed his audience was other nationalists who, at the time, used similar or worse terminology.

The court heard how Allchurch was arrested by officers at his home on December 17 2019.

He told the police he was disabled and unable to work, and that he spent up to 12 hours a day creating the podcast episodes and maintaining his website, which accepted donations via a Bitcoin link.

He claimed not to be a member of a proscribed far-right organisation.

After the jury returned their verdict, Judge Rees said: The language the jury has had to put up with is vile language, and it is unacceptable in my view that anybody should wish to express themselves in this way.

What I have heard over the last fortnight I regard as a stain on humanity.

He told Allchurch, who has remained on bail until his sentencing hearing, that he should expect a sentence of immediate imprisonment.
Jacob Rees-Mogg has attacked the Governments decision to scale back post-Brexit plans to scrap EU laws as pathetically under-ambitious.

The former cabinet minister used a speech at the National Conservatism conference on Monday to criticise Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for breaking his promise to complete a bonfire of remaining EU-era laws by the end of the year.

The three-day gathering in London will also feature speakers including Home Secretary Suella Braverman, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, outspoken Conservative deputy chairman Lee Anderson and former Brexit negotiator Lord Frost.

Mr Rees-Mogg, whose speech was interrupted early on by a protester warning about fascism, said the Governments U-turn over scrapping EU laws was a defeat of ambition, prosperity and democracy.

Rishi Sunak made a specific promise to scrap thousands of EU laws, the Tory MP for North East Somerset said.

Hes broken that promise. This is very unfortunate as one of his virtues is his trustworthiness and the surrender to the blob risks exposing the Government to ridicule.

Brexit-backing Tory MPs were angered by a move to revoke around 600 retained EU laws, rather than the 4,000 pledged.

The Government had originally promised a sunset clause on all laws carried over from the trade bloc by the end of 2023 under its Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.

If you want strong, enduring families, you need economic policies that make family formation financially attractive.  MP Miriam Cates at #NatConUK pic.twitter.com/U3FzZaXR0E  National Conservatism (@NatConTalk) May 15, 2023

Mr Rees-Mogg said that while the Government needs to be more ambitious, it was essential to support it because the alternative is far worse.

The loyalist of former prime minister Boris Johnson also appeared to describe the introduction of voter ID as gerrymandering.

As a minister, Mr Rees-Mogg defended the introduction of voter IDs in Parliament.

He also railed against high taxes and the quango state, condemning the snooty House of Lords Appointments Committee for rejecting former Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre for a peerage.

On Monday afternoon, Ms Braverman will argue that there is no good reason the UK cannot train its own workforce of lorry drivers and fruit pickers, in a speech that will stress the need for overall immigration to the UK to come down.

Her speech, which will be seen as a warning to Cabinet colleagues against relaxing immigration visa rules in a bid to boost growth, comes as Mr Sunak grapples with signs of discontent and division with his partys ranks.

Ms Braverman will say: I voted and campaigned for Brexit because I wanted Britain to control migration. So that we all have a say on what works for our country.

High-skilled workers support economic growth. Fact.

But we need to get overall immigration numbers down. And we mustnt forget how to do things for ourselves.

There is no good reason why we cant train up enough HGV drivers, butchers or fruit pickers. Brexit enables us to build a high-skilled, high-wage economy that is less dependent on low-skilled foreign labour.

That was our 2019 manifesto pledge and what we must deliver.

Miriam Cates opened the conference with a call for families to be encouraged to have more children.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing unrest within the Tory ranks (Kin Cheung/PA)

The MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, who is on the right of the Conservative Party, told the conference in Westminster that falling birth rates were the one overarching threat to British conservatism and indeed the whole of Western society.

She also claimed cultural Marxism was destroying our childrens souls.

There has been speculation of a split in Mr Sunaks Cabinet on immigration, with some members  including Chancellor Jeremy Hunt  more keen than others to stress the benefits of migration for economic growth.

It comes ahead of official figures released later in May that are expected to show net migration of between 650,000 and 997,000.

It comes as The Times newspaper reported that Education Secretary Gillian Keegan recently blocked proposals  backed by the Home Secretary  that would have reduced the time foreign students can remain here after finishing a course.

A Government source told the PA news agency that the Education Secretary and the Chancellor had been robust on the benefit of foreign students.

The conference comes only days after a similar gathering of Tory MPs and grassroots members in Bournemouth, and after a difficult set of local elections that saw the Conservatives lose nearly 1,000 councillors.

But Mr Sunak is planning his own charm offensive on Monday evening, with Tory MPs invited to a Downing Street reception that will see pies served from the PMs own North Yorkshire constituency.

Billed as an event to celebrate the coronation, it nonetheless comes amid calls from some Tory MPs for party unity ahead of an anticipated general election next year.
The star of Disneys new live-action remake of The Little Mermaid has hailed the films diverse cast as a beautiful melting pot.

Halle Bailey, who plays Ariel in the film, said being an inspiration for other black and brown children was spectacular.

The film, set for release on May 26, also stars Javier Bardem and Melissa McCarthy.

Speaking at the London premiere of the film on Monday, Bailey told the PA news agency: Its so important.

I mean, the fact that Im able to represent for Ariel and for my community  for all the black and brown little girls and boys to be able to see themselves as a Disney princess  is spectacular.

Then theres the rest of the amazing diverse cast  Javier and Melissa  its a beautiful melting pot of what we all represent.

Melissa McCarthy and Halle Bailey (Ian West/PA)

Its stunning. Im just so excited that people are going to be able to see it.

McCarthy, who plays the evil sea-queen Ursula, said it was necessary to embrace diversity and realise that our differences are actually what can bring us together.

Its the world we live in, she told PA.

People want to see stories that represent them.

Javier Bardem (Ian West/PA)

This is what our world looks like (and) thank goodness. How incredibly boring if we all looked like carbon copies.

We need to embrace it, and not be afraid of it, and then realise that our differences are actually what can bring us together.

Bardem, who plays Ariels father King Triton, also acknowledged the responsibility of bringing out a different side to a classic story without losing the original flavour.

(left to right) Jonah Hauer-King, Jacob Tremblay, Melissa McCarthy, Halle Bailey, Rob Marshall, Javier Bardem and Daveed Diggs (Ian West/PA)

You are creating this story that lives in so many peoples hearts and memories after all these years from the classic. So this is a different responsibility, he told PA.

You dont want to upset anyone, but at the same time you have to do what you are asked to do, which is bringing a different side of it, a different colour to it, without losing the original flavour.

British actor Jonah Hauer-King also appears in the remake in the role of Prince Eric, alongside Daveed Diggs and Rob Marshall.

Scores of famous faces descended on Leicester Square in London on Monday for the premiere, including Guy Ritchie, Stanley Tucci, Laura Whitmore, and rapper Stormzy.

The Little Mermaid is due to arrive in UK cinemas on May 26 2023.
Ministers are facing the possibility of fresh industrial unrest, as teachers and senior doctors prepare to ballot for strike action and hundreds of nurses gather for the Royal College of Nursing annual congress.

It comes as RCN general secretary Pat Cullen called on Health Secretary Steve Barclay to restart pay negotiations with a proposed rise in double digits.

Members of RCN, one of the two unions to turn down the recent Government pay offer to NHS staff, will gather in Brighton as the long-running dispute continues.

Union members will begin a new ballot for strike action on May 23 after the existing six-month mandate ran out at the start of the month.

But a Department of Health spokesperson said that the Governments pay offer was fair and said that there were no plans to reopen negotiations on this deal.

General secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Pat Cullen (Lucy North/PA)

Senior doctors and teachers unions were also being urged to think carefully before taking strike action, as they prepared to ballot.

Members of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and National Education Union (NEU) rejected the Governments recent pay offer, with ballots for members to vote on industrial action opening on Monday.

The NEU said it will be re-balloting teacher members working in Englands state-funded schools, with the current mandate for industrial action ending on July 13.

The NAHT ballot will close on July 31, with education unions agreeing to co-ordinate strike action in the autumn term.

NEU joint secretaries Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney blamed a lack of engagement from the Government for the decision, but said it was never too late for the Education Secretary to come to the negotiating table and make an improved offer.

NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said that the union had been left with no other choice but to seek this mandate for industrial action.

A Department for Education spokesperson said the move was bitterly disappointing.

Senior doctors in England also start voting on Monday on whether to strike in the continuing dispute over pay.

Dr Vishal Sharma, who chairs the BMA consultants committee, said talks had been held with the Government to try to resolve the long-running row, but it remains deadlocked.

Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

He said the union simply could not accept a deal that continued this downward trend and have been left with no option but to proceed today with the ballot for industrial action.

A Department of Health spokesperson said: We hugely value the work of NHS consultants and they received a 4.5% pay uplift last financial year increasing average earnings to around 128,000.

They will also benefit from generous changes to pension taxation announced at budget and are eligible to apply for additional financial awards worth up to 40,000 a year as part of the NHS consultant contract.

We urge the BMA to carefully consider the likely impact of any action on patients.
Kemi Badenoch is flying to Switzerland for talks aimed at modernising the UKs trade agreement with the country as the Government continues its attempts to forge post-Brexit economic ties outside the EU.

The Trade Secretary will meet her counterpart, Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, in the capital Bern to discuss what a services-based deal might look like.

The UK Government hopes to update its current agreement, which is effectively a rollover deal from when Britain was an EU member, to make it easier to export services  financial, legal and architectural, among others.

Guy Parmelin will hold talks with Kemi Badenoch (Phil Noble/PA)

Most of Britains services exports to Switzerland are delivered electronically but the existing deal was signed in 1972, before the advent of the internet, and does not cover investment, digital or data, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) said.

Ms Badenoch said: As two of the worlds leading service economies, theres a huge prize on offer to both the UK and Switzerland by updating our trading relationship to reflect the strength of our companies working in areas ranging from finance and legal, to accountancy and architecture.

The UK and Switzerland are natural trading partners and todays launch will play to our strengths as services superpowers, while also boosting investment in emerging technologies, data innovation, and digital trade.

A scoping assessment, which will give more detail on specific trade opportunities to be focused on, is due to be given later.

During her visit, Ms Badenoch will go to the SIX Swiss Exchange, Europes third biggest stock exchange, and meet female business leaders at Advance, a network of around 140 Swiss companies committed to increasing the number of women in management positions in the country.

The DBT hopes the new deal could lower tariffs on UK exports to Switzerland, which it says could reduce annual duties for British businesses by around 7.4 million.

It comes after Britains accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a major Indo-Pacific trade bloc, earlier in the year.

That represented the UKs biggest trade deal since leaving the EU, cutting tariffs for British exporters to a group of nations which  with Britains accession  has a total gross domestic product (GDP) of 11 trillion.

However, critics have said the impact will be limited, with official estimates suggesting it will add just 1.8 billion a year to the economy after 10 years, representing less than 1% of UK GDP.
Regulator Ofcom said it has launched an investigation into Royal Mails failure to meet its delivery targets in the past year  and could hand out a fine.

The British delivery firm fell short of its performance targets across the 2022 to 2023 financial year for first and second class mail and deliveries.

Some 73.7% of first class mail was delivered within one working day across the year. The target was 93%.

For second class mail, 90.7% was delivered within three working days, compared with the target of 98.5%.

And 89.35% of delivery routes were completed on the required day, well behind the 99.9% target.

(PA Graphics)

Ofcom said it takes quality of service very seriously and could fine Royal Mail if it cannot reasonably explain why it missed the targets.

It added: In deciding whether the company is in breach of its obligations, we will consider if there were any exceptional events  beyond the companys control  that may have explained why it missed its targets.

The pandemic can no longer be used as an excuse for poor delivery performance, Ofcom said.

Last year, an investigation into its missed targets was closed after the regulator ruled that greater staff absences and social distancing regulations resulting from Covid had impacted service.

It also decided not to open an investigation into Royal Mails service levels during the 2020 to 2021 financial year because of the uniquely difficult circumstances of the pandemic.

But Ofcom dished out a 1.5 million fine for not delivering first class mail on time during the financial year ending 2019.

The probe follows last weeks news that boss Simon Thompson will step down by the end of the year.

His departure was announced weeks after a lengthy dispute with the main postal union came to an end.

Grant McPherson, chief operating officer of Royal Mail, said: Improving quality of service is our top priority.

We are committed to accelerating Royal Mails transformation and restoring service levels to where our customers expect them to be.

Were sorry to any customers who may have been impacted by our performance during a year that has been one of the most challenging in our history.

With the plans we have in place to drive service levels and reduce absence, we hope and expect to see further progress in the coming months.

Ofcoms probe follows last weeks news that boss Simon Thompson will step down by the end of the year (Royal Mail/PA)

Royal Mail also stressed that its service improved over the first three months of the year, where 94.5% of second class mail was delivered within three working days and 78.9% of first class mail delivered within one.

Furthermore, 18 days of strike action organised by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) materially impacted the quality of service, it argued.

It also blamed a high level of staff absences affecting operational performance.

Last month, Royal Mail agreed a deal with the CWU which would see staff get a 10% salary increase and a 500 one-off payment.

The firm said it hopes the agreement will reduce absences, spread out workloads, and rapidly improve quality of service.

The proposed deal will be put to a ballot of union members in the coming weeks.
(Photo : Ezequiel BECERRA / AFP) (EZEQUIEL BECERRA/AFP via Getty Images)

Scientists conducted a study that suggests sodium selenate could be a potential dementia treatment capable of slowing brain shrinkage.

Scientists find sodium selenate as a potential treatment for dementia

The latest study found that the drug is capable of slowing down brain shrinkage in affected individuals

The trial comes amid other research that is analyzing the effects of various medications on neurodegenerative diseases

Scientists conducted a study that suggests sodium selenate could be a potential treatment for dementia, specifically behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia, the condition's second-most common form in people under 60s.

They found that the drug is capable of slowing down the condition, resulting in the stabilization of otherwise escalating behavioral issues. It is also capable of slowing brain shrinkage in patients that are affected by the condition.

Sodium Selenate Could be Potential Dementia Treatment

The latest study is only the second clinical trial that shows sodium selenate could be useful in slowing cognitive decline and preventing or limiting neurodegenerative damage. These factors are the hallmark of many dementias, including Alzheimer's Disease.

Scientists note that behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is a rapidly progressing destructive disease. They said that it occurs in people as young as 35 years old and is characterized by behavioral disturbances and changes in an individual's personality, as per SciTechDaily.

Experts argue that the condition is highly disruptive and distressing to patients and their families. Currently, no treatments or cures are available for bvFTD, and scientists note that typical survival is five to seven years from diagnosis.

Scientists who conducted the Phase 1 trial, which was run in conjunction with the Royal Melbourne Hospital, discovered that sodium selenate was safe and that it was well-tolerated by the majority of patients involved in the study over a period of 12 months.

Furthermore, most of the patients who received the drug did not show any change in their cognitive or behavioral symptoms. The trial, led by Dr. Lucy Vivash from Monash University's Department of Neuroscience, had its results published in the journal Alzheimer's and Dementia: Transnational Research and Clinical Interventions.

The study comes alongside other research looking into the effectiveness of other popular drugs in preventing cognitive decline and dementia. These include drugs used for diabetes and weight loss, according to Healthline.

Read Also: Scientists Unveil More Accurate Structure 'Pangenome'

Other Research

A team of researchers is analyzing the effects of semaglutide drugs, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, on cognitive decline. These drugs belong to a class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists.

They work by altering an individual's metabolic system and lowering inflammation. Scientists have suspected that this phenomenon could help slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease.

While trials analyzing these drugs' effectiveness on neurodegenerative conditions are underway, results are not expected to come until 2025. However, given the treatments' ability to curb inflammation, health experts argue that they could be helpful in protecting people's cognition.

Dementia occurs when previously-healthy neurons in a person's brain stop working, lose connections with other brain cells, and die off. Signs and symptoms of the disease vary and include memory loss, poor judgment, difficulty in speaking, repeating questions, and hallucinations.

Scientists are also trying to determine just how the underlying disease processes in the various forms of dementia begin and start to influence one another. Experts are also trying to analyze the different kinds of disorders and disease processes that are known to be capable of contributing to dementia, said the National Institute of Health.

Related Article: Pancreatic Cancer Vaccine Shows Early Promise During Trials

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A murder-accused nurse photographed a thank you card from the parents of two of her alleged victims as something to remember.

Lucy Letby, 33, said it was not unusual for her to take photos of cards she had sent and received.

She is on trial at Manchester Crown Court accused of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of 10 others.

Two of her victims at the Countess of Chesters neonatal unit are said to be newborn twin boys, Child E and F.

It is alleged she murdered Child E with a fatal injection of air into his bloodstream and attempted to murder his brother, Child F, by insulin poisoning in August 2015.

Jurors have heard the boys parents brought in a hamper and a thank you card to the unit some three months later.

Images of the card were recovered from Letbys phone following her arrest, the court heard.

Giving evidence on Monday, Letby said she was working a night shift in the early hours of November 20 2015 when she decided to photograph the card at the nurses station.

Her barrister Ben Myers KC asked: Why did you take a photograph of a thank you car from the (Child E and Fs parents)?

Letby replied: It was something I wanted to remember. I quite often take photographs of cards I have sent and received.

Mr Myers said: Anything unusual in you doing that?

Letby said: No.

The Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester where Lucy Letby worked (Peter Byrne/PA)

Jurors were told Letby searched the name of the twins mother on Facebook a total of nine times between August 2015 and January 2016.

Letby said: Searching for people on Facebook is something I would do. Quite often (the twins mother) was on my mind following (Child E and Child F).

Mr Myers said: Is there anything unusual for you looking more than once on Facebook for someone on your mind?

Letby said: No, thats a normal pattern of behaviour for me.

The defendant, from Hereford, denies all the alleged offences said to have taken place between June 2015 and June 2016.

Letby was next asked about Child G, an extremely premature-born girl, who she is said to have attempted to murder on three separate occasions.

The defendant said she was at the nurses station with a colleague in the early hours of September 7 2015 when they heard Child Gs monitor alarm.

Letby said: We also heard quite a loud retching noise which we thought was unusual so we both went quite quickly into nursery one.

She was vomiting from her mouth and nose, and struggling to breathe.

We were quite shocked as looking around the scene there was vomit adjacent to the cotside and on the floor. That is something we had not seen before.

Breathing support was given immediately via a face mask, she said, and the infant was stripped off to see her abdomen.

Letby said: The abdomen was quite firm, distended and red.

Mr Myers asked: Had you been asked to look after (Child G) before the vomiting?

No, said Letby

Letby was Child Gs designated nurse on the day shift of September 21 when two more attempts at her life allegedly took place, the court heard.

During the morning Child G had two projectile vomits and briefly stopped breathing, the court heard.

Letby said she heard Child Gs monitor sound while she was in the room with two other babies.

The youngster stabilised when she went over, she said, and there was no need for an emergency crash call or a shout for help.

Care of Child G was transferred to a more senior nurse because she required a high level of care from that point and Letby had other babies to care for in the same nursery room, the court heard.

Later in the day Child G was behind a screen for her privacy after numerous attempts to insert a cannula, Letby said.

Letby went on: I happened to catch sight behind the screen and saw that (Child G) was on her own.

She was dusky, blue and not breathing.

Mr Myers asked: What did you do when you found her in that position?

Letby said: At this point (Child G) was on the procedure trolley, which is a flat bed with no sides, and I put her into the cot and immediately started Neopuffing (breathing support).

Mr Myers said: Should she have been left on the procedure trolley?

Letby said: No, thats not the style of practice at all

I was very concerned about it.

Three issues really  we would never leave a baby unattended on a procedure trolley, unattended behind a screen or without a monitor on.

And those three things had happened.

Letby told the court the neonatal unit was busy around the time when she is said to have made two attempts to murder Child H, a baby girl, on September 26 and 27 2015.

Jurors were reminded that she messaged colleagues on September 24 to say the unit was completely unsafe.

Mr Myers asked: What was that referring to?

Letby said: The staffing that was on the unit. We had got 18 babies, which is over-capacity. We had capacity for 16. There was a lot going on.

Mr Myers said: Had the unit been as busy as this in all the years you worked there?

Letby said: No. It was increasingly busy at this period.

A lot of staff were drained physically and emotionally. The unit was very busy, lots of people were doing additional shifts and changing shifts at the last minute and it did start to have an effect on everybody.

Letby is said to have murdered Child I, a baby girl, on October 23 2015, at the fourth attempt.

During a night shift on October 13, Letby said she noticed Child I looked pale in her cot.

Letby said fellow nurse Ashleigh Hudson was at the workbench in nursery two with her back to the cot while she was stood in the doorway talking to her.

Ms Hudson previously gave evidence that the main light was off in the room and Baby Is canopy was covering her face.

Letby said: I could see clearly enough to say that (Child I) was pale in the cot.

The room was lit by the corridor and (Child I) was in front of that room.

At no point is any nursery in complete darkness. It is important that you are able to see them visually.

I was stood in the doorway of the nursery. I could see her face and her hands. She just looked very pale.

I said to Ashleigh that she looked pale and we both went over and we put more lighting on.

We pulled back her blankets and started to take her clothing off. She was not breathing properly. She was gasping.

Asked why a breathing monitor had not gone off, Letby said: They are programmed to go off if a baby doesnt breathe for 20 seconds.

(Child I) was shallow breathing and gasping so I believe she was breathing during that 20-second period. We called for help.

The trial continues on Tuesday.
Nurses are living in poverty and many are leaving the profession because they can no longer afford to stay in it, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has said as it called on the Government to reopen talks about pay.

Pat Cullen, chief executive and general secretary of the RCN, said the Governments revised pay offer was rejected by nurses because it isnt sufficient to address those really critical issues.

She urged ministers to prevent nurses from going into the winter months on strike action again.

Speaking ahead of the RCNs annual congress in Brighton, Ms Cullen told Good Morning Britain: Well hear many debates over the next week, just about the conditions that our nursing staff are working in  they are harrowing to listen to, its harrowing for our nurses, its harrowing for our patients.

We need to address the absolute crisis that were in within the health service and the crisis that our nursing staff find themselves in.

Our nurses, and well hear from them this week, many of them (are) living in poverty and having to leave the profession simply because they can no longer afford to stay in it.

We cant continue on with this. So the 9% that has been given by the Government over the two years isnt sufficient to address those really critical issues.

And we need to do something urgently and thats what our thousands of members are urging this Government to do.

Nursing leader Pat Cullen has urged the Government to reopen negotiations (PA)

Meanwhile, Ms Cullen insisted that her position was not confusing for nurses on the ground.

She had initially urged members to accept the Governments revised pay offer of 5% for this year and a one-off payment for last year.

Members of the union rejected the offer and the RCN is planning to ballot nurses to see whether they are prepared to stage further strikes.

Asked about remarks by Energy Secretary Grant Shapps, who said her stance was confusing, Ms Cullen told BBC Radio 4s Today programme No, its not confusing.

Tens of thousands of my members voted to tell the Government their last offer was not good enough, thats very clear.

What was the offer? It was basically a consolidated 9% over a couple of years, and thats a really important point. And were saying to government, lets negotiate further and add to it.

Unable to join #RCN23 in person but still want to be involved? RCN members can watch debates and main hall events via our Congress 2023 livestream. Tune in at 5.30pm today for the opening ceremony. https://t.co/FqeE6Otzqg  The RCN (@theRCN) May 14, 2023

And she told Good Morning Britain: I work with ruling council  our ruling councils elected members, many of them frontline nurses  and weve been over this many times to say at that point in time in those negotiations, we took everything off the table that we could possibly get from the Government.

Our members spoke loud and clear  one of the highest turnouts in the ballot so far  and they said to us, its not enough, it will address short-term measures within the health service but it will not address the long-term challenges that we have got.

And Im listening to them and they obviously have spoken up very loud, 300,000 of them, and they want to get back round the table with Government and reopen negotiations.

Thats what Im focused on.

The RCN ballot is set to open on May 23.

Ms Cullen added: Thats when the Royal College of Nursing will open that ballot and then our members will have their voice again.

But we can stop that, we do not need to be going into the winter months on strike action again with our members.

We actually should be able to resolve this now  get around the table and do it for nursing and do it for patients.

At the conference in Brighton, members debated the issue of pay, with Karma McKeefery, nurse and RCN steward from the Lancashire East branch, saying members did not think the Governments pay offer was final.

She said: We should feel proud that it was our historic strike action in the numbers we had that eventually forced the Government talks leading to the slightly improved final offer.

Our members do not agree that this is the final offer. Once the lump sum they tempted us with has gone directly to the energy companies, what we are left with still amounts to a pay cut and will do nothing to aid recruitment and retention of nursing staff.

She said a proper restorative pay rise will pay for itself as recruitment and retention of nurses into the NHS would save the billions of pounds spent each year on expensive agency nursing fees.

She added: We will ballot again and get a fresh mandate for strike action and we will win.

The Governments anti-strike legislation is designed to make it as difficult as possible to fight back but we we will show them that we can overcome this.

Lets make the voice of nursing even louder this time. Its time for us to stand up for ourselves as a profession. Stand up for our patients and our precious NHS.

Anna Pichierri, a healthcare assistant from south-west London, who works in child and adolescent mental health, said the NHS strikes are part of a social and political struggle against this Tory racist and anti-working class Government.

She added: We are not striking to get back to the negotiating table. We are striking to win.

We cannot call off the action just because we are called to negotiation. Thats when we need to keep the pressure up.

She said nurses should be striking with other unions such as the British Medical Association, adding: There shouldnt be any competition. This is what this Government wants  divide and rule to undermine our fight.

Lyndsey Curtis-Dawson, an emergency department staff nurse from the north of England, told the conference: RCN we all need to use our voices and our vote and make them count.

Rishi Sunak, and youre listening? We arent going away. This is not the end of the nursing strike.

Jason Warriner, from the RCNs public health forum, added: Get out there, get voting. Weve got to bring this Government down and get a fresher vote, not just around pay, but about safe staffing, and why we are here as nursing  for our patients, and fight for the best for our patients.
The host of a highly antisemitic and white supremacist podcast called Radio Aryan has been jailed for more than two years.

James Allchurch, a self-avowed racist and Hitler supporter, was found guilty in March of stirring up racial hatred.

The 51-year-old from Pembrokeshire, Wales, is said to have recorded the vile show to spread his propaganda about racial conflict.

Guests of the platform included extremists such as jailed National Action co-founder Alex Davies.

On Monday, Allchurch was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court to two and a half years in prison by Judge Huw Rees.

The judge also ordered forfeiture and deprivation orders in relation to recordings and materials including Allchurchs laptop.

Judge Rees said: During the playing of these podcasts, it was immediately apparent that the recordings were plainly insulting or abusive, and that your sole intention was to stir up racial hatred, or at least racial hatred was likely to be stirred up as a result.

The content of these podcasts were vile. Listening to them, as the jury had to, was a disturbing experience.

It beggars belief, or at least it should be, that someone would want to speak these words at all, let alone feel the need to publish them for the consumption of others.

That would be the case for right-thinking people at any time, leave alone currently in an enlightened age of diversity and inclusivity.

Your offending amounts, in my view, to a stain on our humanity for our fellow human beings.

Your ideology based on race, being pro-white and anti non-white, has been expressed by you as having some form of basis for protection of our society  it is no such thing.

It is a concerning ideology, by reason of its consequences for communities and for parts of those communities.

James Allchurch leaving Swansea Crown Court in June last year (Bronwen Weatherby/PA)

The judge said he did not believe Allchurch had expressed remorse for his actions and the jury saw through him despite him seeming to have an answer for every challenge under cross-examination.

At trial Allchurch claimed he had not intended to cause offence and believed he was using accurate terminology to describe different races. He also claimed the podcast was only intended for those who already subscribed to nationalist ideology.

Allchurch was convicted of 10 out of 15 counts of distributing audio material to stir up racial hatred between May 17 2019 and March 18 2021.

Each charge related to a separate episode uploaded by Allchurch to a public website called Radio Aryan, which has since been renamed Radio Albion.

The jury listened to each of the recordings, totalling around nine hours of audio.

Episode titles included Rivers Of Blood, Banned From The UK, The Foreign Aid Scam, Where The Jews Fit In and The Strawman Nationalist.

In the clips, Allchurch and his guests repeatedly used extreme racial slurs and propagated racist ideology while discussing topics such as grooming gangs, immigration, slavery and crime.

In one episode, he suggested creating safe spaces outside cities for indigenous Britons and questioned whether gas chambers were really used by the Nazis during the Holocaust.

Each episode was accompanied by often racist and insulting cartoons.

Allchurch, who created the website in November 2015 and was the proprietor, producer and main host, told the jury that each episode attracted around 4,000 listeners.

He went by the alias Sven Longshanks  a reference to King Edward I, who was also known as Edward Longshanks and was responsible for expelling Jewish people from England in 1290.

A number of co-hosts also went by pseudonyms including American neo-Nazi Daniel Kenneth Jeffries, who was known as Grandpa Lampshade  a reference to the skin of Jews being made into lampshades  and Laurence Nunn, also known as Max Musson.

Alex Davies (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Davies, from Swansea, who was jailed at Winchester Crown Court in June last year, appeared on the show under his own name.

The court heard that Allchurch was arrested by officers at his home on December 17 2019 and questioned by counter-terror investigators.

He is said to have continued to display the offensive material on his website for sometime after he was interviewed.

He told police he was disabled and unable to work and that he spent up to 12 hours a day producing podcast episodes and maintaining his website, which accepted donations through a Bitcoin link.

During the hearing, Allchurchs defence counsel Emily Baxter said her client became disabled after an assault in 2009, and due to his isolation became involved in online echo chambers with people including those with far-right views from the US.

Ms Baxter said Allchurch had since taken down the offensive material from his website and had produced content discouraging violence, claiming he wanted to promote lawful protest.

A number of the podcasts listeners wrote to the judge and claimed the website was not hateful, but Judge Rees said he had been unimpressed by some of the letters because they had referred to the defendant by his alias Sven Longshanks.

Ms Baxter urged the judge to suspend Allchurchs sentence on the basis that he had serious health conditions and had been deemed to have a low risk of reoffending.

She also asked that his legal representatives be allowed to retrieve account details relating to his Bitcoin account from his laptop so he could access his money.

Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, of Counter-Terror Police North East, said the podcasts had threatened the safety of the public and the stability of our communities.

We will not accept any action which attempts to undermine or divide our communities and will continue to work to counteract the intentions of individuals who seek to do this, he added.
The Prime Minister will warn European leaders during a gathering in Iceland that the international system for policing human trafficking is not working.

Rishi Sunak will tell the Council of Europe meeting in Reykjavik that both European communities and the worlds most vulnerable are paying the price for the failure to prevent unlawful migration.

It comes as Mr Sunaks Conservative administration attempts to pass into law measures designed to stop asylum seekers crossing the English Channel in small boats.

The Illegal Migration Bill aims to send asylum seekers who arrive in Britain via unauthorised routes back home or to a third country such as Rwanda, as well as cutting the daily 5.5 million cost of housing migrants who make it to the UK.

During his time in the Icelandic capital, Mr Sunak will hold talks with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) over reforms to how Rule 39 works  an order that prevented the inaugural deportation flight taking asylum seekers to Rwanda last year.

Speaking ahead of his trip, the Prime Minister said: Every single point on each route used by people traffickers to smuggle people across our continent represents another community struggling to deal with the human cost of this barbaric enterprise.

It is very clear that our current international system is not working, and our communities and the worlds most vulnerable people are paying the price.

We need to do more to co-operate across borders and across jurisdictions to end illegal migration and stop the boats.

I am clear that as an active European nation with a proud history helping those in need, the UK will be at the heart of this.

The trip comes as migration tops the political agenda, with Home Secretary Suella Braverman arguing in a speech at Mondays National Conservatism conference that Britain must not lose sight of the importance of controlling legal migration, as well as preventing people from entering via unauthorised channels.

The Daily Telegraph reported that the Home Office has privately shared figures with No 10 suggesting more than 1.1 million foreign workers and students could arrive in Britain in 2024/25, just as the Tories face a general election test.

Official figures to be released later this month are expected to show net migration of between 650,000 and 997,000 in 2022.

The 2019 Conservative Party manifesto pledged overall migrant numbers would come down.

Ahead of Mr Sunaks diplomatic efforts in Iceland on the topic of human trafficking, a Downing Street official said the challenge of unlawful migration was not only a UK issue.

The Illegal Migration Bill has come in for criticism and sparked demonstrations (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

They argued that the scourge of illegal migration was placing unbearable pressures on countries throughout Europe, citing that cases had risen by 50% in the past year.

Mr Sunak and Mrs Braverman have unveiled a host of measures to tackle the flow of asylum seekers using unofficial routes to come to Britain, as part of the Illegal Migration Bill which is currently at its committee stage in the House of Lords.

The plans have come in for fierce criticism, with Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby using a speech in the Lords last week to label the Bill morally unacceptable and politically impractical.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister will argue during his trip to the Council of Europe that individual measures, such as his policies designed to stop the boats, must go hand-in-hand with international co-operation to establish a global asylum framework fit for purpose.

The Council of Europe was established following the Second World War to uphold democracy and freedom throughout the continent.

Tuesdays gathering is only the fourth time the institution, which counts 46 countries as members, has met since its founding in 1949.

Mr Sunak is due to address the summit before holding bilateral meetings with individual European leaders.

No 10 said the Conservative Party leader intends to discuss ECHR reform, including on Rule 39, when he meets court president Siofra OLeary.

The councils meeting, which Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is due to join virtually, will also focus on the situation in Ukraine and how international allies can hold Russia to account for breaches of international law since the invasion of Kyiv.

The Prime Minister will sign the UK up to the Register of Damages to ensure the people of Ukraine are compensated for the losses incurred as a result of Russian president Vladimir Putins war, No 10 said.

The register is a mechanism to record and document evidence and claims of damage, loss or injury as a result of Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Two teacher unions have opened new ballots for strike action after rejecting the Governments recent pay offer.

Members of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and National Education Union (NEU) rejected the pay and working conditions offer and ballots for members to vote on industrial action opened on Monday.

The NEU said it will be re-balloting teacher members working in Englands state-funded schools, with the current mandate for industrial action ending on July 13.

The NAHT ballot will close on July 31, with education unions agreeing to co-ordinate strike action in the autumn term.

Members are being asked: Are you prepared to take part in industrial action consisting of a strike?

Ballot papers sent from the NEU will ask members: Are you prepared to take part in strike action in furtherance of this dispute?

Mary Bousted said the Governments pay offer is not good enough (PA)

The NEU ballot will run until July 28.

NEU joint secretaries Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney said: Due to the lack of engagement from Government, the NEU has been put in the position of re-balloting its members to continue the dispute, seeking a fully-funded pay offer which meets their expectations.

The pay and funding offer made by (Education Secretary) Gillian Keegan following six days of talks in March was simply not good enough, and teachers branded it an insult.

Our members rejected it by 98% on a two-thirds turnout, a very clear message to Government that they must try far harder.

Indeed, with four education unions balloting members for strike action in the autumn term this should be a wake-up call.

Our re-ballot would allow the NEU to co-ordinate action with other teacher unions in the autumn term if Government does not provide a settlement to the dispute.

It is never too late for the Education Secretary to come to the negotiating table and make an improved offer.

Paul Whiteman said the education system is in a mess (PA)

NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said: After our members overwhelmingly rejected the previous inadequate offer, which was not properly funded, we appealed to the Government to get back round the table.

So far we have had no further meaningful talks and instead the Government has dropped its offer of a 1,000 cost-of-living payment as an apparent punishment for not accepting its deal.

We have been left with no other choice but to seek this mandate for industrial action.

Nobody working in education wants to have to go on strike.

But it seems this is the only way to open the Governments eyes to the mess our education system is in, and the recruitment and retention crisis fuelled by years of real-terms pay and funding cuts, unsustainable workload and high-stakes inspections which harm staff wellbeing.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: It is bitterly disappointing that unions continue to pursue strike action, despite having already cost children almost a week in school.

Whether it was delivering the 2 billion funding uplift that unions asked for in the autumn or making a fair offer on pay, our priority has been finding a solution to end this dispute and the disruption children and families are facing as a result.

Just last week thousands of schools received significant additional funding, as part of the extra 2 billion of investment we are providing both this year and next. As a result, school funding will be at its highest level in history next year, as measured by the IFS.
Liz Truss branded China the largest threat that we face to the free world as she accused the UK along with other western countries of being too dependent on Beijing.

Britains shortest-serving prime minister  who was widely expected to adopt a more hawkish stance towards the nation during her premiership  warned against capitulating to rhetorical bullying from authoritarian regimes.

Appearing at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit ahead of a high-profile visit to Taiwan, Ms Truss said: Theres no doubt that the entire western world including the United States, including Europe, including the UK, has become too dependent on China, and thats a problem because its given China leverage over us, and its also a problem economically.

Yes, the UK needs to take more action but its not just the UK, its the continent of Europe, its the United States.

Ms Truss said the issue of Beijing was also inherently linked to the war in Ukraine, drawing parallels between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

And following a meeting between Rishi Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier on Monday, in which the Prime Minister stopped short of promising fighter jets for the country, Ms Truss renewed calls for the UK to provide warplanes.

Asked whether she thought the UK Government was doing enough to support Ukraine, she said: I think we are sending extra long-range weapons  that is very welcome.

Ive said I want to see us sending fighter jets to Ukraine  I know were supplying training on that but weve got to focus on Ukraine, we also need to focus on the threat from China.

That is my message  that these things are inherently linked. If we take our eye off the ball on China, well be facing a very, very serious problem down the road.

Rishi Sunak met Volodymyr Zelensky at Chequers (Carl Court/PA)

Asked about her own stance on Beijing compared with the less hawkish position of her successor, she said: I stand by my assertion that we should designate China as a threat. I think theyre a very clear threat. I think theyre the largest threat that we face to the free world.

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 a disastrous market reaction to her mini-Budget  meant her update to the UKs foreign policy position did not have time to materialise.

Instead, her successor Mr Sunak adopted less hard-line language, using the UKs integrated review on foreign and defence policy in March to describe China as representing an epoch-defining and systemic challenge.

Ms Truss will meet Taiwanese government officials during her trip  an opportunity afforded to her by her newfound freedom, she said, as she would not have been able to do so as prime minister.

The visit comes during a sensitive time for relations between the West and and an increasingly assertive Beijing.
WhatsApp users will be able to guard their most intimate conversations with a new password protected feature to hide messages, parent company Meta has said.

Chat Lock will allow individuals to lock and hide private exchanges by removing them from the main inbox into a folder only accessible by password or biometric security, such as a fingerprint.

Meta announced the development on Monday as the global launch began.

 privacy feature just dropped  With Chat Lock, now you can keep your most private and personal conversations under lock and key with a password. pic.twitter.com/NsM5NOka9A  WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) May 15, 2023

Chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post: New locked chats in WhatsApp make your conversations more private.

Theyre hidden in a password protected folder and notifications wont show sender or message content.

However the new privacy measures may intensify the stand-off between Meta and the UK government over the Online Safety Bill.

In April, Meta protested against the legislation, which it said would undermine the end-to-end encryption used by WhatsApp where only the sender and intended recipient of a message are able to read it.

The Government has denied the Bill would outlaw encrypted messaging, saying it aims to target child abuse content while retaining privacy online.

Tech companies who refuse to comply with the Governments demands to identify and remove such content from their platforms could face large fines.

In response to this, Meta threatened to withdraw WhatsApp from the UK last March rather than submit to the proposed policies.
Volodymyr Zelensky is due to meet Rishi Sunak in the UK on Monday in the latest stop on a tour of European capitals by the Ukrainian president.

Mr Zelensky said the two leaders will conduct substantive negotiations amid the Russian invasion.

The Prime Minister will welcome him to Chequers in Buckinghamshire as the UK continues sustaining our support for the war-torn country, Downing Street said.

It follows meetings in Paris, Berlin and Rome, and comes three months after his first trip to London since the start of the war.

That occasion saw the Ukrainian leader attend an audience with the King and address Parliament in February.

Today  London. The UK is a leader when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air. This cooperation will continue today. I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations.    (@ZelenskyyUa) May 15, 2023

The Prime Minister said: This is a crucial moment in Ukraines resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke.

They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year.

We must not let them down. The frontlines of Putins war of aggression may be in Ukraine but the fault lines stretch all over the world. It is in all our interest to ensure Ukraine succeeds and Putins barbarism is not rewarded.

That is why the UK is sustaining our support to Ukraine  from tanks to training, ammunition to armoured vehicles. And this message of solidarity will ring loud in all my meetings with fellow world leaders in the days ahead.

Mr Zelensky tweeted: Today  London. The UK is a leader when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air.

This cooperation will continue today. I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations.

The latest visit comes days after Liverpool hosted Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine.

It also comes after Mr Sunak and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace announced that the Government had agreed to authorise the donation of long-range cruise missiles after continued Russian attacks.

That decision was warmly welcomed by Mr Zelensky as a significant enhancement of Ukraines efforts in the war.

The visit by Mr Zelensky comes ahead of a G7 gathering in Hiroshima, Japan, later this week which will be attended by Mr Sunak.
NEW YORK (AP)  The Iranian writer, journalist and human rights activist Narges Mohammadi will be honored at this week's PEN America Literary Gala. Mohammadi, currently jailed for spreading propaganda," is to receive the 2023 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award.

Narges Mohammadi inspires awe across the world for her unflinching courage and resistance to the Iranian governments determined campaign to silence her," PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel said in a statement released Monday. The sacrifices that she and her family have made are heartbreaking. She is a beacon for free expression in one of the most harsh places in the world for writers, journalists, and artists.

Mohammadi's husband, the journalist and activist Taghi Rahmani, will accept the prize on her behalf. The PEN gala will take place Thursday night at the American Museum of Natural History, with fellow honorees including Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels, winner of the PEN/Audible Literary Service Award.

The PEN/Barbey prize is given to writers persecuted for their work. Previous recipients include Ukrainian freelance journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko and Chinese activist Xu Zhiyong.

The 51-year-old Mohammadi has a long history of imprisonment and harsh punishment, including torture and solitary confinement. In 2020, she was released after serving 8 1/2 years on charges ranging from planning crimes against Iran to forming an illegal organization. At one time, Mohammadi was vice president of the banned Defenders of Human Rights Center.

Earlier in May, she was one of three imprisoned Iranian journalists to receive the United Nations' World Press Freedom Prize.
LONDON (AP)  China slapped sanctions on several British politicians and organizations Friday after the U.K. joined the European Union and others in sanctioning Chinese officials accused of human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region. The U.K. responded by accusing China of violating human rights on an industrial scale.

In the latest salvo in its full-bore response to Western criticism, China sanctioned four British institutions and nine individuals, including prominent lawmakers who have criticized the treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority in Xinjiang. It said they would be barred from visiting Chinese territory and banned from having financial transactions with Chinese citizens and institutions.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the censure imposed earlier this week by the EU, the United States, Britain and Canada was based on lies and disinformation, flagrantly breaches international law and basic norms governing international relations, grossly interferes in Chinas internal affairs, and severely undermines China-U.K. relations.

China does not stir up trouble, but China is not afraid when others do, Yang Xiaoguang, Chinas charge daffaires in London, said at a news conference.

China is not the first to shoot, neither will we be passive and submissive to threats from the outside," he said. "Todays world is not the world of 120 years ago. The Chinese people will not be bullied."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned Beijings move, saying the sanctioned individuals are performing a vital role shining a light on the gross human rights violations being perpetrated against Uyghur Muslims.

Freedom to speak out in opposition to abuse is fundamental and I stand firmly with them, he tweeted.

The latest sanctions and the harsh tone of comments from Beijing officials reflect China's increasingly tough diplomacy under nationalist leader Xi Jinping, who has pledged to uphold China's interests at any cost. Over recent days, China has blocked already highly limited BBC broadcasts into the country and put two Canadians on trial in apparent retribution for that country's detention of an executive of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei.

At a daily news briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying accused the U.S., the U.K., allied nations and portions of the Western media of collaborating to subvert Chinas unity and development.

For a lengthy period of time, the U.S., U.K and others have felt free to say whatever they like without allowing others to do the same, Hua said. Those days are over and the West will have to gradually get used to it, Hua said.

China has rejected all criticism over its policies in Xinjiang, along with its crackdown on opposition figures in Hong Kong and threats against Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy China claims as its own territory. It has shrugged off U.S. sanctions against officials accused of squelching democracy in Hong Kong and angrily denounced a British plan to offer a path to residency and citizenship to millions of citizens of its former colony.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said China's sanctions were not going to stop the British government from speaking up about the industrial-scale human rights abuses taking place in Xinjiang.

He urged Chinese authorities to allow United Nations representatives into Xinjiang to verify facts if it wants to rebut claims of rights abuses. China says diplomats are welcome in the region but only under Beijing-imposed conditions.

The sanctions list names U.K. legislators Iain Duncan Smith, Tom Tugendhat, Neil OBrien, Tim Loughton and Nusrat Ghani, House of Lords members David Alton and Helena Kennedy, lawyer Geoffrey Nice and academic Joanne Nicola Smith Finley. It also includes a British parliamentary research group, a think tank and a law firm that have criticized Chinese policies in Xinjiang.

Conservative lawmaker Tugendhat said the sanctions on British politicians were a violation of our sovereignty.

He said Britain wanted to to business with China but accused Xi and a small cabal of leading their country in the wrong direction.

I really do want Chinas voice in the world," Tugendhat told The Associated Press. "But the reality is, Chairman Xi isnt interested in that. What hes interested in is his own pocket.

Ghani, a Conservative member of Parliament who is of Muslim heritage, said she would not be intimidated by Beijing's move, which she called a wakeup call for all democratic countries and lawmakers.

China's sanctions are the latest move in an increasingly bitter row over Xinjiang, where Beijing is accused of detaining more than 1 million members of Uyghur and other Muslim minority groups, using forced labor and imposing coercive birth control measures.

Chinese state TV called Thursday for a boycott of Swedish retail chain H&M as Beijing lashed out at foreign clothing and footwear brands following Mondays decision by the 27-nation European Union, the United States, Britain and Canada to impose travel and financial sanctions on four Chinese officials blamed for abuses in Xinjiang. Cotton and other agricultural products form a major component of the local economy in vast but thinly populated Xinjiang.

Companies ranging from Nike to Burberry that have well-established presences in China were also targeted online, with some Chinese celebrities saying they were severing endorsement deals.
(Photo : JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images)

China has sentenced an American citizen to life in prison on espionage charges as Beijing prioritizes eradicating national security threats.

A Chinese court has sentenced an American citizen, 78 years old, to life in prison on espionage charges.

According to a statement on the court's social media account, John Shing-Wan Leung, a permanent resident of Hong Kong, was convicted of espionage and granted a life sentence on Monday.

China Jails American on Espionage Charges

State security authorities in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, arrested Leung on April 15, 2021. The court also confiscated personal property valued at $70,000.

On Leung's detention and the court proceedings that led to his conviction, Chinese authorities, and state media have not previously disclosed any details. State security-related cases are typically conducted behind closed doors in China, as per CNN.

The US Embassy in Beijing confirmed on Monday that it was aware of the reported sentencing of Leung. Leung's sentencing occurs when relations between Beijing and Washington are at their lowest point in half a century due to escalating competition over trade, technology, geopolitics, and military supremacy.

It also coincides with the resumption of high-level engagements between American and Chinese officials after a dispute over a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon derailed efforts to restore ties earlier this year. Leung is one of an increasing number of foreign nationals caught up in China's intensifying crackdown on espionage under the leadership of Xi Jinping.

In March, Chinese authorities detained a Japanese employee of Astellas Pharma in Beijing on suspicion of espionage, marking the seventeenth Japanese national detained in China since the anti-espionage law was enacted in 2014.

Two Canadians, former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor were detained by China for nearly three years in another high-profile case.

China had closed its borders and implemented stringent domestic travel restrictions and social controls to combat the spread of COVID-19 before his arrest. Such investigations and prosecutions are conducted behind closed doors, and only vague accusations of infiltration, amassing secrets, and endangering state security are made public.

Read Also: Migrant Crisis: 60,000 Migrants Waiting Near US-Mexico Border as Biden Administration Faces New Hurdles

US-China Relationship

Relations between Washington and Beijing are at their lowest point in decades due to disagreements over trade, technology, human rights, and China's increasingly aggressive territorial claims regarding Taiwan and the South China Sea. Due to Beijing's contradictory messages, high-level government visits have been postponed, and US companies are delaying significant investments.

The sentencing occurs as US President Joseph Biden travels to Hiroshima, Japan, for the Group of Seven summits, followed by a visit to Papua New Guinea. China has sought to increase its economic, military, and diplomatic influence in this Pacific island nation.

After China's gains in the region, the United States and its Asia-Pacific allies increased their regional presence by providing investments and financial aid comparable to China's. According to AP News, China is expanding its presence in ports, railways, and other infrastructure from Europe to Southeast Asia and beyond as the world's second-largest economy.

While the Suzhou court did not indicate a connection to China-US relations, espionage charges are highly selective, and supporting evidence is withheld. This is standard procedure for most nations seeking to protect their personal connections, networks, and information access.

However, China's authoritarian political system and the Communist Party's absolute control over legal matters, civil society, and the freedom of information thwart requests for additional information and court appeals. The Chinese Communist Party has total control over the Chinese judicial system, Daily Express reported. Earlier this year, US and Chinese relations also suffered when a Chinese court upheld the death sentence of an American citizen.

Mark Swidan, a businessman from Texas who was detained in 2012 on drug-related allegations, had been incarcerated for over a decade. In 2019, he was found guilty of narcotic manufacturing and trafficking by the Jiangmen Intermediate People's Court in southern Guangdong province.

Related Article: G7 Summit Targets China's Economic Coercion; Beijing Displays Military Power Around Japan

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  The Oregon Senate voted Thursday to advance a bill banning guns at the Capitol and other state facilities and letting cities, counties, schools and commercial airports decide whether to allow people carrying licensed, concealed handguns into their buildings.

Despite four hours of discussion and overwhelming opposition by gun owners and Republicans, the bill passed, 16-7, and will be move to the House. Four GOP senators were absent from the floor, an increasingly common occurrence by the minority party in attempts to block Democratic priorities by denying quorum.

Besides exacerbating tensions between the parties, the bill gained lots of attention from Oregonians  more than 2,000 people sent written testimony, most of which criticized the bill.

People in the eastern part of our state and in the southern part of our state  some of the rural areas  may have a different view of guns than we have in the urban area, said Sen. Ginny Burdick, a Portland Democrat. Senate bill 554 gives (local jurisdictions) the option of whether to continue concealed license handgun holders to bring loaded guns into schools and public buildings. The school board gets to decide. That means the community gets to decide. Not just the gun owner.

States have been split about allowing Capitol visitors, legislators or employees to carry guns. But the issue has drawn increased attention after the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol.

About 50 far-right protesters also breached the Oregon Capitol on Dec. 21, during a one-day special session that was closed to the public. They had gathered outside to oppose statewide COVID-19 restrictions, and some toted guns and broke glass doors.

The events of 2020 are a red flashing light that we need to do something, Burdick said.

She also cited a U.S. Department of Homeland Security bulletin on Jan. 27 that warned extremists may be emboldened by the breach of the U.S. Capitol to target elected officials and government facilities.

However, others argued that licensed concealed handguns  which about 300,000 Oregonians have  could save lives and protect people.

It appears as though the supermajority and others believe that you only have the right to possess a gun if you are in your home, and that would be terrific if you lived your entire life in your home. But we dont. We live our lives in our communities, said Sen. Tim Knopp, a Bend Republican.

We go to the store  not normally thought to be a dangerous act, to go to the grocery store, yet as we have seen recently it can be deadly, he said, noting this weeks mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado.

Under current Oregon law, a person with a concealed handgun license can possesses a firearm or other weapon while in a public building, including the Capitol.

Guns are allowed in statehouses in some form in 21 states, according to a February review by The Associated Press. Eight states allow only concealed firearms inside their capitols, while two states allow only open carry. In addition, at least 13 states, including Oregon, do not have metal detectors at the entrance to their capitols.

A Michigan panel banned open the open carry of guns in the state's Capitol just one week after the U.S. Capitol riot and following a plot last year to storm the statehouse. In Montana, a law signed last month allows anyone with a permit to bring a concealed firearm into the state Capitol, while Utah passed a law allowing people to carry concealed weapons in its Capitol and elsewhere in the state without a permit.

Oregon's proposed bill authorizes any city, county, commercial airport, school district, college or university to limit or preclude a concealed handgun licensee from possessing firearms in public buildings.

Republicans proposed that the bill be re-referred to a committee for further public hearings, arguing one four-hour hearing is not a fair process for such a controversial bill.

GOP lawmakers floated at least eight motions, including postponing the bill, but all failed.

Republicans in the Oregon House likely will echo the remarks of those in the Senate, where tensions have risen as lawmakers debate several gun control measures introduced this year. Democrats hold a majority in both chambers.

If the bill takes effect, anyone caught with a weapon in a prohibited public space could be found guilty of a class C felony. In addition, the measure would increase the fee for applying for a concealed handgun license from $50 to $100. The fee for renewing a license would go from $50 to $75.

Proponents continuously noted that jurisdictions would be able to decide how to proceed.

The emails we have been getting make it seem like we are imposing some draconian new provisions  we are not, Burdick said. We are simply, for state buildings, putting concealed licensed handgun owners on the same basis as other gun owners. And for local governments and schools, we are allowing those communities to decide for themselves  not us  to decide.



Cline is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The oil and gas industry's top lobbying group on Thursday endorsed a federal price on carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming, a reversal of longstanding policy that comes as the Biden administration has pledged dramatic steps to address climate change.

The American Petroleum Institute, whose members include ExxonMobil, Chevron and other oil giants, announced the shift ahead of a virtual forum Thursday by the Interior Department as it launches a months-long review of the governments oil and gas sales.

API also called for fast-tracking commercial deployment of long-sought technology to capture and store carbon emissions, as well as federal regulation of methane emissions from new and existing oil and gas wells, after strongly resisting such regulations proposed by the Obama administration.

Confronting the challenge of climate change and building a lower-carbon future will require a combination of government policies, industry initiatives and continuous innovation, API President and CEO Mike Sommers said in a statement.

The reversal comes as President Joe Biden has made tackling climate change a top priority, moving in his first days in office to suspend oil and gas lease sales from federal lands and waters and cancelling the contentious Keystone XL oil sands pipeline from Canada.

Biden said during the campaign he supports an enforcement mechanism that targets carbon pollution, and the White House has left open use of a carbon tax to help lower U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has spoken in favor of the idea, telling the Senate Finance Committee, We cannot solve the climate crisis without effective carbon pricing.

While industry critics expressed suspicions over the sincerity of the move, Sommers emphasized that oil companies want market-based solutions such as a carbon tax or a cap-and-trade policy, rather than "heavy-handed government regulation.'' The oil industry played a key role in the defeat of proposed cap-and-trade legislation in the Senate a decade ago, and its endorsement of a carbon price and other federal action marks a turnaround after years of opposition to federal legislation to address climate change.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on Thursday kicked off a broad review of the governments oil and gas program that could lead to a long-term ban on leases or other steps to discourage drilling and reduce emissions.

Industry representatives and Republican lawmakers have sharply criticized the leasing suspension and warn that widespread job losses are likely in energy-producing states should it become permanent.

But Haaland, the nations first Native American cabinet member, said it was time to take a longer view just as her ancestors did as they farmed the same land for centuries. In order to tackle the climate crisis and strengthen our nations economy, we must manage our lands and waters and resources, not just across fiscal years, but across generations, she said.

Ahead of the forum, the White House hosted a videoconference meeting Monday with industry executives, including ExxonMobil and Royal Dutch Shell. The White House said climate adviser Gina McCarthy made clear that the administration is not fighting the oil and gas sector."

The meeting came after weeks of friction over moves the administration made to halt new oil leasing on federal lands and to review Trump administration deregulation efforts aimed at helping U.S. oil and gas producers.

During a Thursday press conference, Biden pitched an emerging $3 trillion proposal to upgrade U.S. infrastructure and other needs as an opportunity to create new jobs without making global warming worse.

"We have over 100,000 (oil and gas) wells that are not capped, leaking methane. We can put as many pipefitters and miners to work capping those wells at the same price that they would charge to dig those wells, Biden said.

The White House declined comment Thursday, but the industry turnaround on carbon pricing was met with doubt among some environmentalists and scorn from congressional Republicans.

Were deeply skeptical, said Joshua Axelrod, senior advocate for the Natural Resources Defense Council.

API has not specified what price should be put on carbon, and a tax alone would not directly address other environmental problems caused by drilling, such as groundwater contamination from fracking or air pollution from oil refineries, Axelrod said.

Louisiana Rep. Garret Graves, top Republican on a special House committee on climate change, said a carbon tax would increase the cost of everything from food for our families to fuel for our cars, while costing jobs and harming the economy.

We need serious American solutions that are based on American innovation ... not a cop-out approach to appease the radical left, Graves said.

Biden has already postponed lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and western states and suspended leasing in Alaskas Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Interior officials say the fossil fuel program has failed to consider climate impacts and that irresponsible leasing practices carve up wildlife habitat, threaten Native American cultural and sacred sites and lock up public lands that could be used for recreation or conservation.

After what they call a fire sale of public energy reserves under former President Donald Trump, Bidens team argues that companies still have plenty of undeveloped leases  almost 14 million non-producing acres in western states and more than 9 million acres offshore. Companies also have about 7,700 unused drilling permits  enough for years.

Despite the moratorium on new leases, the Biden administration has continued to issue permits for existing leases, including more than 200 in March, records show.

Environmentalists want that to stop, but an outright drilling ban would raise thorny legal issues. Companies could claim they have the right to extract oil and gas after spending years and millions of dollars to secure leases.

Thirteen states sued the Biden administration Wednesday to end the leasing suspension. The Republican-leaning states, led by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, seek a court order ending the moratorium imposed by Biden in a Jan. 27 executive order.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  A fuel tank at an oil facility in Saudi Arabia caught fire after being struck in an attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels, officials said Friday, an attack that came on the sixth anniversary of the kingdom's entry into Yemen's yearslong civil war.

The assault at Jizan in southwest Saudi Arabia near the border with Yemen came came during what Saudi defense officials described as a barrage of eight bomb-carrying drones launched by the Houthi rebels.

A Houthi military spokesman later claimed a series of attacks on several Saudi military sites and oil facilities, some acknowledged by the kingdom and others not.

The kingdom has faced an increasing number of such assaults and the tempo hasn't slowed since it offered a cease-fire deal to the Houthis on Monday.

The attack in Jizan, some 970 kilometers (600 miles) southwest of Riyadh on the Red Sea, struck a distribution facility just after 9 p.m. Thursday, the Saudi Energy Ministry said in a statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency.

The attack resulted in a fire in one of the terminals tanks, the statement said, without elaborating. The attack left no casualties.

Saudi Arabia did not specifically identify the area struck. However, Jizan is home to a new refinery and port facilities for the energy giant Saudi Arabian Oil Co. The refinery, with a capacity of 400,000 barrels a day, sent its first shipment abroad last year. Jizan also is transliterated from Arabic as Jazan by Aramco.

Jizan and its new refinery long have been targeted by Yemen's Houthi rebels in their campaign against the kingdom. However, satellite pictures from Planet Labs Inc. taken Friday morning and analyzed by The Associated Press did not immediately appear to show any damage at that facility.

In a televised speech, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yehia Sarie claimed that the rebels targeted several Aramco sites in the cities of Jizan, Ras Tanura, Yanbu and Rabigh with 18 drones and eight ballistic missiles. Sarie also claimed the rebels launched another salvo of 12 drones and eight ballistic missiles at King Abdulaziz Air base in Dammam, as six drones also struck military sites in Asir and Najran provinces.

The operation has successfully fulfilled its objectives, Sarie said. We affirm that we are ready to carry out a more severe and more cruel military operation in the coming period.

The kingdom did not acknowledge a wave of attacks at the scale. Claims and counterclaims between the kingdom and the rebels have been common throughout the war.

Benchmark Brent crude rose to over $63 a barrel in early trading Friday after the attack. Energy prices have risen recently off growing demand as coronavirus vaccinations increase and Egypt's Suez Canal remains closed due to a massive container ship wedged across the vital waterway.

The Saudi-led coalition entered Yemens war on March 25, 2015, as the Houthis threatened to take Yemens port city of Aden and completely overrun the countrys internationally recognized government. The Saudis promised that the offensive  the brainchild of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman  would be over in short order.

Six years later, the fighting rages on. The war has killed some 130,000 people, including over 13,000 civilians slain in targeted attacks, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Project. Tens of thousands of children have died of starvation and disease.

The war also has turned into a regional conflict, with the Saudis using U.S.-made weaponry in internationally criticized airstrikes killing civilians, and Iran being linked to weapons used by the Houthis to target the kingdom.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia offered a new cease-fire proposal to the Houthis. It made two concessions to the Houthis in the plan while not offering everything the rebels previously wanted. The first involves reopening Sanaa International Airport, a vital link for Yemen to the outside world that hasnt seen regular commercial flights since 2015. Officials did not immediately identify what commercial routes they wanted to see resume.

The second would see taxes, customs and other fees generated by the Hodeida port while importing oil put into a joint account of Yemens Central Bank. That account would be accessible to the Houthis and Yemens recognized government to pay civil servants and fund other programs, officials said.

The Saudi government and the Yemeni government it backs have accused the Houthis of stealing those funds in the past.

The Houthis did not outright reject the offer, though its officials said they wanted both the airport and Hodeida port reopened without restrictions. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday praised the arrival of four fuel ships to Hodeida on a call with the Yemeni Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed as a way to mitigate the fuel shortage facing the country and get much needed help to the people of Yemen.

___

Associated Press writer Noha ElHennawy in Cairo contributed to this report.

___

Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.
Editors note: This file has been corrected to reflect party control of the state legislature in Pennsylvania.

Kentucky Republicans looking to dethrone Gov. Andy Beshear (D) in November are competing in a contentious primary. Nine contenders are facing off to helm Philadelphia. And candidates in the Pennsylvania House race are gaining national attention in a special election that could potentially flip control of the states lower chamber.

These are just a few of the colorful races on tap Tuesday, which could offer clues into the key issues on voters minds and how both parties may fare in 2024.

Heres a look at five races to watch in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Florida this Tuesday:

Kentucky GOP gubernatorial primary

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, former U.N. ambassador Kelly Craft and state Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles are leading a crowded Republican primary field to take on Gov. Andy Beshear (D).

Polling and strategists alike see Cameron as the front-runner, but given that turnout is estimated to be around 10 percent, it could be anyones race. Former President Trump has endorsed the state attorney general, while Craft enjoys a clear financial edge through her familys wealth  shes married to coal magnate Joseph Craft. Meanwhile, Quarles boasts a slew of grassroots endorsements.

Quarles may also benefit from the fact that hes largely stayed out of the sniping thats taken place between Cameron and Craft. The candidates campaigns and groups supporting them have launched attack ads and mailers against each other, turning up the heat in a bitter primary.

Ultimately, taking down Beshear will be no easy feat  he has a 63 percent approval rating in Trump country, evidence of his crossover appeal with independents and Republicans.

Philadelphia Democratic mayoral primary

Nine Democrats are running to replace Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney (D), whos term-limited, but polling shows its a likely five-way race.

An Emerson College Polling/PHL17 survey released last week found former City Council member Helen Gym at 21 percent, with former City Council member Cherelle Parker and former City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart tied at 18 percent, former City Council member Allan Domb at 14 percent and grocery store magnate Jeff Brown at 10 percent.

A separate 15 percent of respondents said they were undecided, and the margin of error is roughly plus or minus 4 percentage points, making the race largely a tossup.

Gym has the backing of high-profile progressives such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) in addition to the highest support among Hispanic/Latino and Asian voters of the five candidates, according to the Emerson College Polling/PHL17 poll.

Parker, who is Black, has the highest support among Black voters of the five candidates. Rhynart has the backing of former Gov. Ed Rendell (D), who is also a former Philadelphia mayor.

Pennsylvania State House District 163 special election

State House elections tend to be sleepier affairs, but one special election in the Pennsylvania state House has caught national media attention  and President Bidens endorsement.

Katie Ford (R), an Army veteran and special instructor for early intervention for young children, is going head-to-head with Heather Boyd (D), former district director to Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.), for the Pennsylvania State House District 163 in Delaware County, situated in Philadelphias western suburbs. Theyre seeking to replace former state Rep. Mike Zabel (D) who stepped down following sexual harassment accusations.

Democrats control the state House and the governors mansion in Pennsylvania while Republicans have a majority in the state Senate. If Ford wins, the state House would flip to Republicans.

President Biden has thrown his support behind Boyd, underscoring the local and national implications of the race.

Pennsylvania State Supreme Court primary

Two Republicans and two Democrats are vying for a vacant seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court after former liberal Chief Justice Max Baer died last September.

The states high court has a 4-2 liberal majority, but the general election scheduled for November will be consequential, given that Republicans will be looking to notch a win in hopes of ultimately flipping the partisan tilt of the state Supreme Court down the line.

Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Carolyn Carluccio and Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Judge Patricia McCullough are going head-to-head in the Republican primary, while Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge Daniel McCaffery and Superior Court Judge Deborah Kunselman are running against each other on the Democratic side.

McCaffery and Carluccio have received the state Democratic Partys and state GOPs endorsements, respectively.

The mayoral runoff in Jacksonville, Florida

Over in Jacksonville, Fla., voters will be heading to the polls to pick their next mayor.

Former local news anchor Donna Deegan (D) is running against JAX Chamber CEO Daniel Davis (R). They were the two top vote-getters during the March 21 primary, in which none of the candidates in the crowded field yielded more than half the vote.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) waded into the race and backed Davis, and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) has also stumped for the Republican challenger. Former state Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried backed Deegan.

Polling from the University of North Florida released last month found that the matchup will be tight, with Deegan receiving 48 percent support while 47 percent supported Davis. The polling falls well within the margin of error, which is plus or minus 3.8 percentage points, effectively showing the two candidates tied.

The mayoral race comes against the backdrop of changing political dynamics in Duval County, where Jacksonville sits. Democrat Andrew Gillum won Duval County against DeSantis in the 2018 gubernatorial race by 4 points. But four years later, DeSantis won the county against Democrat Charlie Crist by 12 points.

Updated on May 16 at 10:25 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP)  Mere miles from Brazils presidential palace, the bodies of COVID-19 victims were laid on floors of hospitals whose morgues were overflowing. Lawmakers fielded calls from panicked constituents across the country, where thousands awaited intensive care beds, and they had no effective health minister to turn to Sunday.

Meanwhile, a smiling President Jair Bolsonaro met hundreds of supporters to pass out pieces of green-and-yellow cake in celebration of his 66th birthday. The mood was jubilant even as the country approached a bleak coronavirus milestone.

Brazil was in political disarray as it surpassed 300,000 deaths from the virus Wednesday evening. Foes and even some allies are pleading with the president to change course to stem a recent surge of daily deaths accounting for almost one-third of the total worldwide.

Bolsonaro this month began shifting rhetoric on the value of vaccines but continues to refuse restrictions on activity he paints as infringement on personal freedom and still promotes unproven COVID-19 cures.

Should I change my narrative? Should I become more malleable? Should I give in? Do what the vast majority is doing? Bolsonaro said Monday during a ceremony at the presidential palace. If I am convinced to do otherwise, I will. But I havent been convinced yet. We must fight against the virus, not against the president.

Lawmakers have been seeking ways to prevail upon Bolsonaro. As hospital systems collapse and crucial supplies run dry, four lower house lawmakers told The Associated Press their constituents are calling them his accomplices. Two are members of allied parties and spoke on condition of anonymity in order to speak freely.

There is a lot of solidarity, but everything has its limit. Everything, the house's speaker, Bolsonaro ally Arthur Lira, said Wednesday afternoon in Congress. Congress' political remedies are known, and they are all bitter. Some, fatal.

Opposition Sen. Alessandro Vieira, who is recovering from COVID-19 at home, said the Senates president wont be able to hold back a congressional investigation into the government's handling of the pandemic much longer. Another prominent senator from a centrist party, who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to speak freely, anticipates the chamber opening an investigation next month. That could further damage Bolsonaros popularity ahead of his 2022 reelection bid.

Bolsonaro has made some overtures to show he is taking the pandemic seriously -- one year after he first declared it a little flu. Tuesday night, hours after Brazil posted a single-day record, he delivered a national address to blame variants for the viruss more aggressive spread and to defend his administrations actions to ink deals for more than 500 million vaccine doses.

We will make 2021 the year of vaccination, said Bolsonaro, who until recently cast doubt on some vaccines efficacy while outright rejecting offers from some producers. Most vaccines his health ministry has secured will only reach Brazilian arms in the second half of 2021. His address was met with pot-banging protests in major cities, including capital Brasilia.

Earlier the same day, the nations fourth pandemic health minister was sworn in, a week after he was named. Marcelo Queiroga secured the spot once the original nominee, Ludhimila Hajjar, declined the job.

When interviewing for the position, Bolsonaro and one of his lawmaker sons peppered Hajjar with questions not just about contentious pandemic lockdowns, but also topics of concern to their conservative base, like abortion, according to two ministers present at the meeting, who spoke on condition of anonymity because theyre not authorized to speak publicly. Avid Bolsonaro supporters also launched an aggressive defamation campaign against her, issued death threats and tried to sneak into her Brasilia hotel.

The choice of Queiroga, a Bolsonaro loyalist, convinced some lawmakers that the president still fails to grasp the gravity of the situation.

On Wednesday, Bolsonaro held the first-ever meeting with leaders from all branches of the federal government to coordinate efforts. Once more, he advocated for malaria drugs that have shown no effectiveness in treating COVID-19 and didnt propose any policies to deal with the pandemic.

He also offered no update on imminent risks to oxygen supply in several states, dwindling stocks of sedatives for intubating COVID-19 patients, nor whether the federal government will resume timely reimbursements to governors for expanding hospital bed capacity. Among Brazils 26 states and federal district, 18 are reporting at least 90% intensive care unit occupancy.

Mato Grosso states health care system already collapsed. Dr. Maria Auxiliadora Rosa, director of the Hospital Evangelico in the small city Vila Bela, said in a video that went viral on social media that she fears there will be no oxygen for patients by the weekend.

We need help, Rosa pleaded.

One of the few governors who attended Wednesdays meeting, Alagoas Renan Filho, of the centrist Brazilian Democratic Movement party, was nonplussed by Bolsonaros performance.

The president is trying to change, he is making an effort, but he still has a lot of doubts and not much conviction, Filho told journalists afterward. This looks like survival instinct. He is trying to build some national strategy, but it isnt easy for someone who was so vocal with his narrative.

Political scientist Luciano Dias, a consultant at Brasilia-based CAC, said Bolsonaro is at his weakest since his administration began in January 2019. A poll by Datafolha published March 17 says 54% of Brazilians disapprove of his pandemic response, up six percentage points from two months earlier.

The drop in his popularity made him review some of his behavior, such as his interest in vaccines and talking to other authorities, Dias said. The president had to bow to reality. The continuation of this crisis raises the risk he starts losing hardcore supporters and sees his reelection chances disappear.

Opposition lawmaker Alexandre Padilha, a former health minister, highlighted another factor forcing Bolsonaro to adapt: the return of his nemesis, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The leftist leader who governed between 2003 and 2010 had his political rights restored this month by Brazils Supreme Court and is a likely contender in next years election.

He will push debate forward in Brazil. He is trying to understand the problems, offer solutions, Padilha said.

Da Silva has already presented himself as a counterpoint to Bolsonaro: donning face masks, backing restrictions on activity to slow the viruss spread, expressing empathy for victims families and reaching out to foreign leaders to boost vaccine supply.

The meeting Wednesday also ostensibly sought to mend fences between Bolsonaro and the Supreme Court, which the president has often accused of undermining his authority during the pandemic by upholding governors and mayors jurisdiction to impose restrictions on activity.

During the courts session after the meeting with the president, Justice Luis Roberto Barroso offered a snide review.

After one year of delay, they decided to create a commission of experts and doctors, Barroso said. That was very good. After one year of delay and 300,000 deaths.

___

Savarese reported from Sao Paulo. AP reporter Marcelo Sousa contributed to this report from Rio de Janeiro.
AUSTIN, Texas  A Texas judge is allowing the City of Austin to continue to require face coverings in local businesses weeks after Gov. Greg Abbott ended a statewide mask mandate and other COVID-19 safety measures.

The ruling Friday by state District Judge Lora Livingston is at least a temporary victory for local leaders in the liberal state capital who have repeatedly clashed with Abbott over his handling of the pandemic.

Face coverings have only ever been loosely enforced in Texas, which earlier this month became the biggest state to drop COVID-19 restrictions.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is expected to appeal the ruling.

The roughly 3,400 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Texas is the lowest number since October. On Monday, Texas will begin making all adults eligible for coronavirus vaccinations.

___

THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:

VACCINES: More than 89.5 million people, or 27% of the U.S. population, have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some 48.6 million people, or 14.7% of the population, have completed their vaccination.

CASES: The seven-day rolling average for daily new cases in the U.S. increased over the past two weeks from 55,516 on March 11 to 58,617 on Thursday, according to Johns Hopkins University.

DEATHS: The seven-day rolling average for daily new deaths in the U.S. decreased over the past two weeks decreased from 1,371 on March 11 to 967 on Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University.

 China outlines COVID-origin findings, ahead of WHO report

 Mexico's pandemic death toll passes 200,000

 Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic, https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

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HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

GENEVA  A leader of the U.N.-backed program to ship coronavirus vaccines to needy people in low- and middle-income countries has expressed disappointment about supply delays from a key Indian manufacturer, but says he hopes the United States can begin sharing shots soon.

Dr. Seth Berkley is the CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and he says doses for health care workers and other high-risk groups in such countries to be delivered through the COVAX program will be set back weeks.

He was elaborating Friday on an announcement a day earlier from Gavi and partners that as many as 90 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India will be delayed through the end of April as Indias government grapples with a spike in cases.

Berkley says that "we had hoped to reach all health care workers and high-risk groups by the end of March.

He says talks continue with Indias government and SII with the hope that we can get some of those doses freed up and be able to then move back into full swing scale-up later, in perhaps May.

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PRAGUE  The Czech Republics lower house of Parliament has voted to extend the state of emergency in one of the hardest hit European Union countries till April 11. The houses approval enables the government to keep in place a tight lockdown through Easter that ends on April 5.

Among the restrictions that became effective on March 1, people have been banned from traveling to other counties unless they go to work or have to take care of relatives. They are part of the measures that are believed to contribute to slowing down the spread of a highly contagious virus variant first found in Britain.

The day-to-day increase of new cases reached 7,853 on Thursday. It was the lowest number for a week day since Feb 8, and about 25% less than the same day a week ago.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the 14-day case notification rate of new cases per 100,000 inhabitants was 1,328 in the Czech Republic, still the second highest in the EU after Estonia. The nation of 10.7 million had 1.5 million confirmed cases with 25,639 deaths.

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JUNEAU, Alaska  The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported that the state had 22,300 fewer jobs last month than it did in February 2020, citing an ongoing economic toll from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The department said the biggest losses were in the leisure and hospitality sector, which had 7,300 fewer jobs last month than in February 2020. Oil and gas had 3,900 fewer jobs, and the transportation, warehousing and utilities sector had 1,800 fewer jobs.

The report showed 2,000 fewer local government jobs last month compared to February 2020, with losses primarily tied to K-12 education. There were 200 more jobs in state government compared to February 2020, which the report says is largely due to pandemic-related hires for work such as contract tracing and processing unemployment insurance claims.

The department says job losses remain historically large, with unemployment claims during the second week of last month nearly four times higher than the same week a year earlier.

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PHOENIX  Health officials in Arizona announced an outdoor state-run COVID-19 mass vaccination site in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler will be replaced April 5 by a drive-thru operation inside a large business warehouse in Mesa in advance of approaching hot weather.

The Department of Health Services announced the vaccination site now run at Chandler-Gilbert Community College will use 30,000 square feet (2,787 square meters) of a 500,000-square-foot (46,451-square-meter) distribution center belonging to Dexcom Inc.

Republican Gov. Doug Ducey said the site switch will maintain the states vaccination programs presence in southeastern Maricopa County while protecting staff, volunteers and people getting vaccinated.

The department said the 24-hour site at State Farm Stadium in Glendale will convert to overnight operations only and additional indoor sites are being sought in preparation for summer heat.

Department officials say people who received first doses at the Chandler-Gilbert facility on or after March 14 have been scheduled for their second doses at the Dexcom site, which will operate 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week.

___

ATHENS, Greece  Authorities in Greece said students and teachers will have to use self-test kits for COVID-19 in order to attend classes when schools reopen.

Greece is planning to make the test kits freely available on a weekly basis to every resident of the country with a social security number, starting next month. The program is designed to allow for the reopening of schools as well as restaurants and retail businesses which have remained mostly closed since the lockdown was imposed in early November.

Vassilis Kontozamanis, the deputy health minister, said a legislative amendment in parliament would be needed to make testing mandatory for school attendance.

Greece is currently grappling with a surge in coronavirus infections which has seen many hospitals run by the state health system reach capacity. The countrys center-right government says it plans to launch the tourism season in mid-May but has not yet given a date for schools and retail businesses to reopen. School children of all ages are currently attending compulsory online classes.

___

NICOSIA, Cyprus  Cyprus Health Ministry says the spread of the U.K. variant of the coronavirus throughout the east Mediterranean island nation has marked an alarming increase, making up 95.5% of all new infections from Feb. 16 through Mar. 6.

The Ministry said statistics show that cases of the U.K. variant have more than doubled from the two-week period covering Feb. 1-Feb. 15.

It said various studies completed within several European countries have indicated that the U.K. variant is 50% more contagious. In Cyprus, its also appearing in younger COVID-19 patients which has resulted in more hospitalizations of younger people.

Between Mar. 10-Mar. 23, 5,093 new COVID-19 cases have been diagnosed. The 14-day cumulative diagnosis rate is 573.5 per 100,000 population.

As of Mar. 23, a total of 42,028 COVID-19 cases have been diagnosed on the island nation of around 900,000 people, of which 248 died due to COVID-19.

___

COLUMBIA, S.C.  The governor of South Carolina has opened up COVID-19 vaccination to all of the states residents ages 16 and up, saying the state could begin scheduling appointments next week and receive the vaccine starting March 31.

Gov. Henry McMaster's decision moves ahead to an all-inclusive vaccination eligibility, which the state had been anticipating to implement in May. South Carolina joins at least a dozen states who have either opened vaccination eligibility to all residents age 16 and older.

As of this week, more than 1.1 million in South Carolina had gotten at least one vaccine dose, or about 27%, according to public health officials. Nearly 618,000 had been fully vaccinated, or about 15%.

___

TOPEKA, Kan.  The governor of Kansas has announced that the state is making everyone over the age of 16 eligible to get the coronavirus vaccine starting Monday.

With the anticipated increase in supply from the federal government, we must get every dose of vaccine into arms quickly, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said in a statement.

She added: I strongly encourage every Kansan to get the COVID-19 vaccine so we can get back to school, back to work, and back to normal.

Several other states also have made the vaccine available to all adults, including Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Utah, and West Virginia.

As of Friday, 35.1% of the adult population in Kansas had received at least one dose of the vaccine.

___

SALEM, Ore.  The governor of Oregon has said she will accelerate the state's vaccine eligibility timeline by two weeks for residents over age 16 with underlying medical conditions, frontline workers and those living in multi-generational homes.

Democratic Gov. Kate Brown said those groups will now be eligible to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine on April 5. Those over age 45 with underlying conditions become eligible for the vaccine on Monday and are already eligible in 22 counties that have already inoculated most of their older population.

Brown said all residents over the age of 16 will become eligible for vaccination no later than May 1. Brown said the number of counties ahead of schedule on vaccinating their population and increased vaccine supply from the federal government made it possible to speed up the timeline.

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GENEVA  The head of the World Health Organization is asking rich countries to donate at least 10 million coronavirus vaccines so the U.N. health agency can reach its goal of vaccination in all countries within the first 100 days of 2021.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says supply problems faced by the U.N.-backed effort COVAX, which aims to provide vaccines to all countries, means that about 20 countries are still awaiting their first doses of vaccines from the program.

Tedros says hes also asking manufacturers to scale up their production so extra vaccines could be donated to poorer countries. He slammed the numerous private deals countries have struck with pharmaceuticals that have meant fewer vaccines for developing countries and warned COVAX would need many more hundreds of millions of vaccines in the coming months.

On Thursday, WHOs COVAX partner Gavi, announced supply problems meant it would have to delay the delivery of about 90 million vaccines until about May.

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BUFFALO, N.Y.  The latest federal coronavirus relief package includes $81 billion to help schools reopen quickly.

However, some parents want to keep their children home, and social distancing guidelines determined by states may mean schools cant bring all students back at once.

Oregons Hillsboro district plans to introduce limited in-person learning for some students this month. Ohios Youngstown district doesnt expect the money to change its numbers before the school year ends. And surveys in Virginias Fairfax County indicate many families in the states largest district may not want more time in classrooms.

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PHOENIX  Arizona on Friday reported 571 new coronavirus cases and 24 deaths as the number of virus-related hospitalizations remained fairly stable.

There were 626 COVID-19 patients occupying hospitals on Thursday, down from 628 on Wednesday and only a fraction of the pandemic high of 5,082 on Jan. 11, according to the states coronavirus dashboard.

The daily new cases rolling average dropped from 1,364 on March 10 to 483 on Wednesday. The daily deaths rolling average dropped from 46 to 33, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

The states pandemic totals increased to 838,558 confirmed cases and 16,898 confirmed deaths.
BUCHAREST (AP)  Romanian authorities announced Thursday that Easter celebrations in the deeply Christian country will go ahead in person this year, even though Romania is battling a surge of COVID-19 infections that is threatening to overwhelm its hospitals.

The announcement came after Prime Minister Florin Citu of the National Liberal Party met with religious representatives to discuss potential solutions for worshipers to observe Easter celebrations and attend church during the pandemic.

The solution that we are going with is to adapt the timeframe of restrictions so believers can physically attend the Resurrection Service or the holidays of each religious group and still respect health and safety rules, Citu said.

Romania is one of Europes most religious countries. About 85% of its more than 19 million people identify as Orthodox and around 4.5% are Catholic. Easter this year falls on May 2 for the Orthodox and April 4 for Catholics.

The Easter Service is one of the most important dates in the Christian calendar. On the night of the Resurrection, Romanian Orthodox worshipers attend a service at midnight when they receive the Holy Light.

The Easter announcement came as Romania this week reported its highest number of daily COVID-19 infections in three months and hospital intensive care units recorded their highest numbers of patients since the start of the pandemic. Romania has recorded over 22,700 deaths in the pandemic.

There is a limited amount of political battles any government can pick during COVID-19 times in order to stay popular, Radu Magdin, a Bucharest-based political analyst, told The Associated Press. Preventing physical Easter in an Orthodox country in times when people need safety but also hope is not one of those."

Last year social distancing rules were enforced during Easter and Romanians could not attend church. To allow the services to go ahead this year, social distancing and mask-wearing will be required, authorities said.

Romania currently has a nationwide curfew from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. and on Friday tighter lockdown measures will take effect.

The prime minister also said he used Thursday's meeting to urge religious authorities to support Romanias vaccination campaign, which has delivered more than 2.6 million vaccines shot so far.

Vasile Banescu, a spokesman for the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Patriarchate Daniel, said that social distancing measures will be strictly followed during the Easter services.
Former prime minister Liz Truss (PA) (PA Wire)

Liz Truss has branded China "the largest threat that we face to the free world" following criticism of her planned visit to Taiwan.

The former prime minister was blasted for "Instagram diplomacy" by her own Tory colleagues over the weekend amid concern her planned trip could upset the delicate political balance in the region.

But the ex-PM hit back on Monday and accused the UK along with other western countries of being "too dependent" on Beijing and not being tough enough.

Ms Truss had been widely expected to adopt a more hawkish stance towards China during her premiership, which was cut short following economic turmoil unleashed by her policies.

But her successor Mr Sunak adopted less hard-line language, with a review on foreign and defence policy in March describing China as an "epoch-defining and systemic challenge".

Speaking at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit Ms Truss said the West should not capitulate to "rhetorical bullying from authoritarian regimes".

"There's no doubt that the entire western world including the United States, including Europe, including the UK, has become too dependent on China, and that's a problem because it's given China leverage over us, and it's also a problem economically," she said.

"Yes, the UK needs to take more action but it's not just the UK, it's the continent of Europe, it's the United States."

Ms Truss also drew parallels between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, arguing Chinese policy was "linked" to the war in Ukraine.

"I stand by my assertion that we should designate China as a threat. I think they're a very clear threat. I think they're the largest threat that we face to the free world," she said.

The visit comes during a sensitive time for relations between the West and and an increasingly assertive Beijing.

China views Taiwan as a breakaway province that will eventually be under its control and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve "reunification".

But Taiwan has its own government and considers itself independent from the People's Republic of China.

Relations deteriorated sharply following US house speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the island in August last year, and there are fears Ms Truss's trip could escalate things further.

Alicia Kearns, Tory chair of parliament's foreign affairs select committee, said last week that Ms Truss only wanted to visit the country to boost her profile.

The trip is performative, not substantive. It is the worst kind of example of Instagram diplomacy," she said.

It is deeply unhelpful because it escalates the normal situation in Taiwan."

The government has not commented on the matter, other than to say it would not get involved with independent travel decisions of a private citizen who is not a member of the government.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Sunday that the number of encounters along the southern U.S. border has dropped by half since Covid restrictions were lifted last week.

Over the past two days, the United States Border Patrol has experienced a 50% drop in the number of encounters versus what we were experiencing earlier in the week before Title 42 ended at midnight on Thursday, Mayorkas said on CNN's "State of the Union."

Still, he cautioned that it's "too early" to tell whether the migrant surge has peaked.

Guatemalan migrants walk along the U.S. side of the Rio Grande after crossing over from Mexico on May 13, 2023, to El Paso, Texas. (John Moore / Getty Images)

It is still early. We are in day three, but we have been planning for this transition for months and months. And we have been executing on our plan. And we will continue to do so, Mayorkas said. It is too early. But the numbers that we have experienced over the past two days are markedly down over what they were prior to the end of Title 42.

On Monday, Blas Nunez-Neto, the assistant secretary for border and immigration policy at DHS, told reporters that despite the drop in numbers he was mindful that smugglers would still look for ways "to take advantage of the change in border policies."

Nunez-Neto also said more than 2400 Mexican migrants have been sent back into Mexico since the lifting of Title 42.

Since Friday, he said, hundreds of other non-citizens including Venezuelans, Cubans and Nicaraguans have been returned to Mexico and DHS has sent thousands of migrants, including single adults and families, back to their home countries.

He also noted that actions by some Latin American countries may have contributed to the decline in numbers. In recent days," said Nunez-Neto, "we have seen Mexico and Guatemala have deployed large numbers of law enforcement and military personnel to their southern borders and Panama and Colombia undertaking an unprecedented joint effort to attack smuggling networks operating in the Darien [Gap].

The Covid border restrictions known as Title 42 were implemented by the Trump administration in 2020 and continued into the Biden administration until they expired late Thursday. The restriction allowed both administrations to expedite expelling migrants without asylum hearings.

The Biden administration had tried three times to lift the restrictions in recent years, but it was thwarted by legal challenges from Republicans, who argued that lifting Title 42 would increase the flow of migrants, strain the immigration system and pose national security risks.

In the weeks leading up to the lifting of Title 42, the Biden administration braced for what was widely expected to be a record influx of migrants across the U.S.-Mexico border.

Mayorkas said Sunday that Border Patrol had about 6,300 encounters along the border Friday and about 4,200 on Saturday  a significant reduction compared to the number of undocumented migrant crossings that were stopped before Title 42 ended.

Two DHS officials also indicated Saturday that daily migrant crossings had roughly halved since the pandemic restrictions ended. There were roughly 11,000 on Tuesday and Wednesday and 10,000 on Thursday, the officials said.

Before Title 42 was lifted, some Democrats expressed skepticism about whether the administration was prepared for an increase in the number of asylum-seekers.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said Sunday that Title 42 had to be lifted by law because the pandemic is over: The president doesnt have discretion to keep Title 42 in place."

In an interview on NBC News' "Meet the Press," Murphy also defended President Joe Biden's handling of the border issue and criticized Republicans who had complained that he didn't do enough to manage it.

The only Covid restriction Republicans seem to want to keep in place is the one that keeps people that dont look like them from coming into the United States," Murphy said.

Mayorkas last month called for congressional support to fix the broken immigration system before Title 42 was lifted, demanding legislative reform to assist the administrations efforts to secure the border.

We need resources for it all. Remember, the resources will enable us to move more quickly, more efficiently, within a broken immigration system, he said.

The House passed a GOP-backed bill to address immigration at the border last week, the day Covid restrictions at the border were lifted.

The legislation, known as the Secure the Border Act of 2023, would mandate that Customs and Border Protection hire enough Border Patrol agents to maintain a staff of 22,000 and develop a plan to upgrade technology to make sure agents are well-equipped. It also would require the homeland security secretary to resume construction of the border wall, a centerpiece of former President Donald Trumps administration.

The bill is unlikely to become law. Democrats, who oppose it, hold a slim majority in the Senate, and the White House issued a veto threat this month.

Democrats argued that it would go beyond the scope of border security and punish all noncitizens, including legal residents, trafficking victims and refugees.
Its been nearly four months since Tyler Doyle went missing when his boat sank while duck hunting in Little River in January.

Coastal law enforcement with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources continue to search for the 22-year-old Loris man.

Our officers, when on routine patrol, continue to look for Tyler Doyle, according to an officers statement provided by text Thursday from Greg Lucas with the SCDNR. Tactics have not changed.

Those tactics include both water and land searches by the SCDNR, Brunswick County, North Carolina, Sheriffs Office and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Family and friends have also continued to search.

However, there appears to be no additional physical clues to his whereabouts since items belonging to Doyle were found Jan. 31 near Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina.

Those items included duck decoys, waders and Doyles wallet, which were found about two miles offshore.

The SCDNR has ruled that no foul play is suspected in Doyles disappearance and that it was a boating/hunting accident.

Officers used location data from Doyles Life360, a location-sharing app, which was provided to investigators by his family, as well as phone records with the data location information, witness interviews, a boat inspection and recovered items for the ruling, according to department reports.

Wife gives birth to couples child since disappearance

Doyle was a soon-to-be dad when he went missing. His wife, Lakelyn, gave birth to the couples child last month, according to social media posts.

The little girl was to be named Paisley, according to Lakelyns Facebook posts.

Tyler Doyle was described by a friend earlier this year as a person who loved everybody, as well as duck hunting and racing.

Attempts to reach family members by possible phone numbers were unsuccessful.

Missing boater added to national database

Family and friends continue to spread hope through social media that Doyle will be found.

The family announced earlier this month that they were able to get Doyle on the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, a national public clearinghouse for missing people.

Doyle is described as about 5 foot 9 inches or 5 foot 10 inches tall, weighing about 200 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. He was wearing tan khaki pants, white T-shirt and a camouflage float coat.

Tyler was hunting at the Mouth of the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean in Little River South Carolina Jetty Rocks when his boat began taking on water and capsized causing Tyler to have to abandon his boat and jump into the Atlantic Ocean. Tyler did have his Life Jacket on and he was wearing a Camouflage Float Coat. The Surface Currents were 23 mph with a West Southwest wind and Tyler was swept away to an unknown location, according to the description of his disappearance.

Police have reported that Doyle went missing after duck hunting in a 16-foot jon boat with a friend at the Little River jetties on Jan. 26. Doyle dropped the friend off on the north jetty and then went to scout out ducks, according to the SCDNR.

Doyle had called his friend, stating that the boat was taking on water. The water temperature that day was 50 degrees and the air temperature was 39 degrees, according to the SCDNR.

911 calls from the friend launched the multi-agency search that included the SCDNR, U.S. Coast Guard, Horry County Fire Rescue and North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue.
(Photo : PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

A Florida teacher faces an investigation after she showed a Disney movie featuring a homosexual character to her students.

A Florida teacher is being investigated by the state Department of Education after what she believes was a targeted assault by a school board member who objected to the showing of a Disney movie in her classroom.

At a meeting of the Hernando County School Board, fifth-grade teacher Jenna Barbee alleged that school board member Shannon Rodriguez reported her to the Florida Department of Education for showing the 2022 Disney film 'Strange World' to her students. It is the first Disney film to feature an overtly homosexual character.

Florida Investigating Teacher for Showing Disney Film to Students

During public comment, Barbee, a teacher at Winding Waters K-8, stated that the Disney film was relevant to her students' Earth science lesson and lacked sexually explicit material. The Parental Rights in Education Act, which was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis last year, prohibits gender and sexual identity instruction in Florida schools.

Critics have dubbed the law 'Don't Say Gay,' and teachers have expressed concern and perplexity over the law's ambiguous language out of fear of losing their teaching licensure or facing criminal penalties for noncompliance.

According to USA Today, opponents of the law argue that the vague language unjustly targets books and classroom materials with homosexual and transgender themes and characters. The school district in Hernando County has verified that a fifth-grade teacher is being investigated for showing the inappropriate movie 'Strange World' to students after a parent complained to the principal.

Read Also: China Jails Senior American Citizen for Life Over Spying Charges

Florida Teacher Defends Her Action

Barbee stated in her TikTok post that she decided to present 'Strange World' to her fifth-grade class as a respite from morning exams. She viewed the film as directly pertinent to the earth science and ecosystems curriculum they were studying, Guardian reported.

She had permission papers signed by the parents of every student in the class authorizing the showing of PG films. Last year, Disney released 'Strange World.' The fictional narrative revolves around a group of explorers seeking a rare energy-producing plant.

Ethan Clade, a main character in the animated film portrayed by comedian Jaboukie Young-White, is homosexual. He has a fleeting attraction to another masculine character. Barbee stated that, as part of the investigation by the state's education department, her students were being taken out of class individually to be questioned by officials. She added that, ironically, parental consent was not required.

Barbee emphasized that she would never force anyone to adopt her viewpoints. She stated that her goal was to disseminate "the message of benevolence, positivity, and compassion for everyone." This is essential to ensuring the safety of our offspring.

Sunday, the Tallahassee Democrat identified Shannon Rodriguez as the parent and board member who had reported Barbee. Per NY Post, Rodriguez, a member of the right-wing group Mothers for Liberty, has pushed for the removal of books she deems "smut" and "porn" from library and school shelves.

Last week at a school board meeting, Rodriguez allegedly accused Barbee of violating school policy. She stated Barbee's predicament placed her in the crosshairs of the cultural battles in Florida. DeSantis, who is expected to run for president in 2024, has made educators the focal point of his attack on "wokeness."

As a result of Disney's opposition to his "don't say homosexual" legislation, he has also made Disney a prime target. He has attempted to revoke Disney's self-governing status in Florida, while the company has filed a federal lawsuit alleging a violation of their First Amendment right to free speech.

Related Article: Texas Man Kills Girlfriend in Parking Lot After Getting Abortion

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A three-year study that was recently completed shows that elk calves in Pennsylvania survive at a much lower rate than previously thought. This new discovery will likely affect future elk management decisions.

The research was the work of former elk biologist aide Avery Corondi, now in a masters degree program at Penn State. It was done in cooperation with and fully funded by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Game Commission blood test data suggested that elk were being bred later than expected, Corondi said. Late-bred cows mean later-born calves, which could potentially affect calf survival. The study was started to document what blood tests were showing about late breeding and to assess if that affected calf survival.

Data was collected between 2020 and 2022 with a target of 50 elk calves per year. According to Corondi, Pennsylvanias elk population was divided into a dozen subgroups for the study. One of those subgroups lives in and around State Game Land 100 in northern Centre County, with elk ranging as far south as Yarnell. Different elk were used from each subgroup each year.

Most field work was a cooperative effort, often done in pairs for safety reasons, Corondi said. I was assisted by Commission elk biologist Jeremy Banfield, his aide Makayla Whaling or retired Commission land manager Colleen Shannon, who volunteered many hours to help with the study.

Cow elk were captured early each year by darting, or using large Clover traps baited with alfalfa. Once a cow was captured, Corondi used ultrasound, as well as other means to verify pregnancy. If pregnant, the cow was fitted with a GPS collar and a vaginal implant transmitter (VIT) was inserted into the cows birth canal.

A VIT is expelled when a calf is born and sends out an alert, allowing researchers to get to the location quickly. Once located, calves were GPS collared so that they could be tracked for a year to determine survival.

We trapped 200 elk to arrive at the 150 pregnant cows  50 each year  that we needed for the study, Corondi said. The technology failed a few times, and we dealt with spontaneous abortions, still births and other complications, but still ended up with 127 calves fitted with GPS collars over the three years.

Avery Corondi collars a new-born elk calf.

Elk calves were born between May 12 and August 10, with one outlier being born on September 18  five weeks later than any calf in the study. Fifty percent of the calves were born during the first two weeks of June.

We looked at calf sex, birth weight and time of birth, Corondi said. Although time of birth was a factor, it appeared to be biologically insignificant to mortality.

An earlier study (2005-2009) of Pennsylvania elk showed an 82% survival of calves, with no deaths at all from predation. All documented deaths in that study were of calves less than one week old.

The scope of Corondis study broadened as new facts were learned.

The first things that stood out in the current study were the number of calf deaths, as well as the timing and the causes of those deaths, Corondi said. We had spontaneous abortions, five calves dead at birth  one of those appeared to be accidental trauma, and in two additional cases, the cow died while giving birth. These types of calf deaths are relatively undocumented in free ranging elk.

Collared calves were tracked for one year. If a calf died or was killed, the GPS collar sent out a mortality notice and they rushed to the scene. Corondi and helpers attempted to determine the cause of death. Known causes of mortality in this study included predation, harvest, trauma, disease, malnutrition/tick infestation, starvation due to lack of nursing, and perinatal complications.

Quite different from the results of the previous study, only 63% of the calves survived through their first year, and predation was the leading cause of mortality, with most of it occurring when calves were three to seven weeks old.

Corondi used field evidence, bite marks, necropsy and even DNA analysis to determine what the predator was. As with whitetail fawns, the two major predators on elk calves were bears and coyotes.

I think it significant that better technology, specifically the VITs, allowed us to document still births, intrauterine deaths and predation, Corondi noted.

Corondis research is likely impacting elk management decisions for 2023. David Stainbrook, Game Commission Deer and Elk Section Supervisor, commented on elk season changes for this fall and beyond.

The 2023 elk antlerless allocation was lowered from what were record high allocations over the past four years. This was to allow the herd to grow slowly and to better balance our bull to cow ratio, Stainbrook said. The reduction would also account for what may potentially be a change in calf survival, based on recent research. If further changes are needed in the future, they can be made after reviewing population trends and harvest data over the next few years.

Mark Nale, who lives in the Bald Eagle Valley, is a member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association and can be reached at MarkAngler@aol.com .
WASHINGTON (AP)  The person who operates the Twitter account claims to be an Islamic fundamentalist living in Spain, empathizing with violent extremists and longing for the days, more than six centuries ago, when Muslims ruled the country.

The views are as fake as the account, part of a loose and informal effort by far-right nationalists in Spain to use social media to stir up anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant fervor and to undermine faith in Spain's multicultural democracy. In some cases, they exploit Twitter's loose rules to spread hateful messages and threats of violence, while in others they pose as Muslims as a way to disparage actual followers of Islam.

By harnessing the power of social media to communicate, coordinate and evangelize, those behind the so-called Reconquista movement are relying on the same playbook used by far-right extremists in the U.S., Brazil and other countries who have used social media to expand their power and recruit new followers.

Reconquista also borrows the same rhetoric used by far-right groups in the U.S., and even some of the same online memes, including Pepe the Frog, a crudely drawn amphibian who has become a mascot for white supremacist and antigovernment groups in the U.S. In one Reconquista meme, Pepe is shown wearing the garb of a 16th century Spanish conquistador.

As in the U.S. and other countries, the Spanish nationalists have seized on debates over trans rights, spreading misleading claims about the exploitation of children and supposed conspiracies to eradicate the idea of gender. They've also criticized COVID-19 vaccines, feminism, efforts to address climate change and support for Ukraine following Russia's invasion.

The remarkable overlap of tactics and interests isn't a coincidence, but reflects how far-right groups in many countries are learning from one another, copying each other's successes, said Joel Finkelstein, co-founder of the Network Contagion Research Institute, a Princeton, N.J. group that partners with Rutgers University on the Network Contagion Lab, a training and educational center focused on cyber threats.

The institute published a report on Reconquista this week. The findings were first reported by The Associated Press.

This is a recipe for disaster, Finkelstein told the AP. All over the world were seeing different manifestations of the same kind of problem. The flags are all different, but its remarkable how similar the memes are.

One concern, Finkelstein said, is that the rhetoric could lead to real-world violence.

Reconquista takes its name from the successful effort by Christian leaders to reconquer vast parts of the Iberian peninsula from its Islamic rulers and expel Muslims during the Middle Ages. It's a term embraced by some on the far-right, who see their opposition to Islam and immigrants as a divinely ordained sequel of sorts to that bloody, centuries long conflict.

Anti-Muslim rhetoric from accounts linked to Reconquista soared after a Moroccan man attacked two Catholic churches in the southern city of Algeciras in January, killing a church officer and injuring a priest. The man, an unauthorized immigrant, is now jailed in the psychiatric ward of a Spanish prison awaiting the results of a judicial probe; authorities believe he acted alone.

Many of the violent threats against Muslims that spread on Twitter following the attack violated the platforms rules, and in some cases the platform did act to remove the content or suspend the author. But often those behind the content simply created a new account days after they were suspended.

The far-right party Vox helped popularize Reconquista online, using the term repeatedly in Tweets ahead of the 2019 election. Vox, whose members express strongly anti-immigrant views, now holds 52 seats, or the third largest number, in Spain's 350-member lower legislative chamber. The party's Twitter account was briefly suspended in 2020 for accusing its critics of promoting pedophilia, and again in 2021 for inciting hatred against Muslims.

The party's leader, Santiago Abascal, has made several references to the Reconquista, as he did last year in a Tweet. Today is the anniversary of the reconquest of Granada, an indelible memory of the day the recovery of the entire national territory was completed after eight centuries of Islamic invasion, he wrote.

Supporters of La Reconquista often display Spanish flags in their profiles and some openly praise Francisco Franco, the fascist dictator whose rule ended more than 40 years ago. They often refer to Muslims as Moors, an outdated historical term for Muslims from North Africa. One uses a photo of ex-U.S. President Donald Trump as their profile picture.

If loving Spain is very facha, well, I am very facha, reads the Twitter bio of one supporter of La Reconquista, using a Spanish term for fascism.

Reconquista style, but we won't only remove the moors but also those who opened their doors to them, wrote another.

Spain has responded to the effort to rehabilitate Francos legacy by passing a law last year that made it a crime to glorify the dictator. In 2019 Francos body was exhumed from a tomb at a grandiose memorial complex built by the fascists. He was reburied in a nearby cemetery.

Far-right groups in several countries have sought to reshape public understanding of events like the holocaust, slavery and, more recently, the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. By ignoring the details of the historic Reconquista or Franco's dictatorship, La Reconquista seeks to legitimize its own anti-immigrant views as traditional Spanish values, according to Marc Esteve Del Valle, a professor at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands who has studied Reconquistas use of the internet.

In that sense, the internet isn't just a place where Reconquista supporters find each other and share information, but a method of shaping public opinion and politics.

The social networks are tools to organize, to mobilize. It's where the movement lives, Esteve Del Valle said.

Twitter has drastically reduced its staff focused on ferreting out misinformation, hate speech and extremist content since it was bought by Elon Musk. The company did not respond to messages seeking comment about La Reconquista.

In recent years a number of informally organized far-right groups have used social media in similar ways.

In Italy, an anti-vaccine group known as V_V (after the movie V for Vendetta) has used Telegram to threaten nurses, doctors and others involved in efforts to save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Germany, a similar group known as Querdenken used Facebook to encourage violence against vaccine supporters until it was kicked off the site. In Brazil, supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro plotted on social media ahead of January's violent attack in Brasilia.

And in the U.S., social media played a critical role in spurring the deadly Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol, and is now being used by supporters of Trump in an effort to whitewash the events of that day.

Trump himself has helped build bridges between some of the groups, as when he praised the Spanish Vox Party during a video message played at a rally last year.

We have to make sure that we protect our borders and do lots of very good conservative things, Trump told the crowd. Spain is a great country and we want to keep it a great country. So congratulations to Vox for so many great messages you get out to the people of Spain and the people of the world.
A former aide to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is now a senior official within the New York State Communist Party.

Records, first reported on by The New York Post, show 33-year-old Justine Medina worked for Ocasio-Cortezs campaign for much of 2020, earning around $35,000.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez was critical of CNN for doing a town hall event with former President Trump.

After working for the congresswoman, Medina was named "Co-chair of the New York Communist League" by the Peoples World, a publication of the Communist Party.

The publication now lists Medina as serving on the Executive Committee of the New York State Communist Party who is also active in the Amazon Labor Union at JFK8.

CUBAN ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS BREAK OUT NEAR INFAMOUS US BASE

As an aide to Ocasio-Cortez, Medina said she was responsible for "organizing and writing policy language with Anti-War Veterans & the Peace Movement."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Medinas years-old tweets highlighted by The Post show her unapologetically proclaiming her alignment with communism.

"[W]ell, I *am* a Communist, but work for AOC & helped start Queens DSAs Electoral WG, so I def see utility in working on the Dem ballot line!" Medina tweeted in October 2020.

In another tweet, she described communism as being about "equality, democracy, peace, the advancement of workers, the oppressed and humanity in general."

She ominously added that the path to communism will be "unkind" to those who "block progress."

HISTORICAL MARKER HONORING COMMUNIST LEADER COMES UNDER FIRE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

"[B]ut communism is good and shouldnt scare you," she said.

Medina later appeared to capitalize on The Post article.

"Friends, I have an announcement to make," she quoted in a re-post of The Post.

In response to a reply questioning whether she adhered to the Maoist or Leninist variety of Communism, Medina said she subscribed to "Marxist-Leninist-Robesonist" thought, a reference to Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, and Paul Robeson.

While modern-day adherents of communism have tried to water it down, the ideology has been the driving force behind many political movements throughout the 20th century, killing upwards of 100 million people. The Soviet Union's communist dictator Joseph Stalin starved millions of Ukrainians in the 1930s. China's communist dictator Mao Zedong led the Cultural Revolution and Great Leap Forward, the death toll from which is estimated to have been above 40 million. Cambodia's Khmer Rouge communist leader, Pol Pot, imposed brutal programs during his brief rule in the 1970s that are estimated to have killed about one-fourth of his own country's population.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Medina and Ocasio-Cortezs office for additional comment.
Elzbieta Cajzer, head of the museum's collections department, shows a collection of shoes that belonged to child victims of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau at the conservation laboratory on the grounds of the camp in Oswiecim, Poland, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. A two-year effort has been launched in 2023 to preserve 8,000 childrens shoes at the former concentration and extermination camp where German forces murdered 1.1 million people during World War II. (AP Photo/Michal Dyjuk)

OSWIECIM, Poland (AP)  In a modern conservation laboratory on the grounds of the former Auschwitz camp, a man wearing blue rubber gloves uses a scalpel to scrape away rust from the eyelets of small brown shoes worn by children before they were murdered in gas chambers.

Colleagues at the other end of a long work table rub away dust and grime, using soft cloths and careful circular motions on the leather of the fragile objects. The shoes are then scanned and photographed in a neighboring room and catalogued in a database.

The work is part of a two-year effort launched last month to preserve 8,000 childrens shoes at the former concentration and extermination camp where German forces murdered 1.1 million people during World War II. Most of the victims were Jews killed in dictator Adolf Hitler's attempt to exterminate the Jews of Europe.

The site was located during the war in a part of Poland occupied by German forces and annexed to the German Reich. Today it is a memorial and museum managed by the Polish state, to whom the solemn responsibility has fallen to preserve the evidence of the site, where Poles were also among the victims. The Germans destroyed evidence of their atrocities at Treblinka and other camps, but they failed to do so entirely at the enormous site of Auschwitz as they fled the approaching Soviet forces in chaos toward the war's end.

Eight decades later, some evidence is fading away under the pressures of time and mass tourism. Hair sheered from victims to make cloth is considered a sacred human remain which cannot be photographed and is not subjected to conservation efforts. It is turning to dust.

But more than 100,000 shoes of victims remain, some 80,000 of them in huge heaps on display in a room where visitors file by daily. Many are warped, their original colors fading, shoe laces disintegrated, yet they endure as testaments of lives brutally cut short.

The tiny shoes and slippers are especially heartrending.

Children's shoes are the most moving object for me because there is no greater tragedy than the tragedy of children, said Mirosaw Maciaszczyk, a conservation specialist from the museums conservation laboratories.

A shoe is an object closely related to a person, to a child. It is a trace, sometimes it's the only trace left of the child.

Maciaszczyk said that he and the other conservation workers never lose sight of the human tragedy behind the shoes, even as they focus on the technical aspects of their conservation work. Sometimes they are overcome by emotion and need breaks. Volunteers working with adult shoes in the past have asked for new assignments.

Elzbieta Cajzer, head of the Collections, said conservation work always turns up some individual details of those killed at the camp  suitcases, in particular, can offer up clues because they bear names and addresses. She expects that the work on children's shoes will also reveal some new personal details.

They also open a window into a bygone era when shoes were a valuable good passed from child to child. Some have traces of mended soles and other repairs.

The museum is able to conserve about 100 shoes a week, and has processed 400 since the project began last month. The aim is not to restore them to their original state but to render them as close to how they were found at war's end as possible. Most of the shoes are single objects. One pair still bound by shoelaces is a rarity.

Last year, workers conserving adult shoes found an Italian 100 lire banknote in a lady's high-heeled shoe that was also imprinted with the name Ranzini, which was a shoe manufacturer in Trieste. The owner was likely Italian, but nothing else is known about her.

They also found the name of Vera Vohryzkova on a child's shoe. By coincidence, a museum worker had noticed that family name on a suitcase and the museum was able to piece together details about the family. Vera was born Jan. 11, 1939, into a Jewish Czech family and was sent to Auschwitz in a transport from the Theresienstadt ghetto in 1943 with her mother and brother. Her father, Max Vohryzek, was sent in a separate transport. They all perished.

Cajzer described the shoes as powerful testimony also because the huge heaps of shoes that remain give some idea of the enormous scale of the crimes, even though what is left is only a fraction of what was.

Before the SS men sent people into the gas chambers, they ordered them to undress and told them they were going into showers to be disinfected.

We are able to imagine how many people came here, hoping that they would be able to put those shoes back on after a shower. They thought they would take their shoes back and keep using them. But they never returned to their owners," Cajzer said.

In most cases, the shoes and other possessions were collected and the material used to help the Third Reich in its war effort. The 110,000 shoes in the museum's collection  while massive  most likely came from only the last transports to the camp, Cajzer said.

The project's cost of 450,000 euros ($492,000) is funded by the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, to which Germany has been a key donor, as well as the International March of the Living, a Holocaust education program.

Both Cajzer and Maciaszczyk said that it is impossible to save the shoes forever, but the goal is to preserve them for more years to come.

Our conservation today slows down these processes (of decay), but for how long, it's hard to say," Maciaszczyk said.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
CONCORD, N.H. (AP)  Politically active pets are out of luck in New Hampshire, where some lawmakers say they have been told to keep their cats and dogs out of the room when they log on for remote hearings.

Rep. Anita Burroughs, a Democrat from Glen, said her cats, Yoshi and Jack, have made appearances during several recent House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee hearings  including Wednesday, when Yoshis fluffy black-and-white face partially obscured her own as he moved in for some attention. No one objected at the time, but a colleague later passed along a message from the committee chair, Republican Rep. John Hunt of Rindge.

The chair talked to her and said no animals in the room, Burroughs said. I can try to keep the cats off the screen. Keeping them out of the room is going to be impossible.

Hunt, however, denied issuing a ban.

I simply asked the ranking Democrat: Do we really want to have cats parading in front of the legislator's computer? Let alone stopping and getting petted so that someone may assume the cat is sitting in for the legislator? he said in an email Thursday night.

Burroughs said at least one other lawmakers cat attended the hearing, and anothers dog barked briefly in the background. Lawmakers children also have popped up, she said.

Thats part of the life were living right now, and pets are part of it, too, she said. For me personally, its just calming having my animals sit next to me so I can pet them, and it doesnt distract me in any way. Im fully attentive to whats going on.

Lawmakers have been conducting much of their business remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic. The House speakers office did not respond to a request for comment on whether other committees have prohibited pets.
President Joe Biden speaks to members of the media as he goes on a bike ride in Gordons Pond State Park in Rehoboth Beach, Del., Sunday, May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. (AP)  President Joe Biden and congressional leaders will likely resume talks on Tuesday at the White House over the debt limit, the president said Sunday, as the nation continues to edge closer to its legal borrowing authority with no agreement in sight.

The meeting was initially supposed to be Friday, but was abruptly postponed so staff-level talks could continue before Biden and the four congressional leaders huddled for a second time. Administration and congressional officials said Sunday that a meeting has not been finalized, although Tuesday was the likeliest option as Biden returns to Washington on Monday and is scheduled to leave for the Group of 7 summit in Japan on Wednesday.

Biden did not detail much progress in the talks, but said he remained hopeful that an agreement could be reached with Republicans to avoid what would be an unprecedented debt default, which could trigger a financial catastrophe.

"I remain optimistic because Im a congenital optimist," Biden told reporters while out for a bike ride in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. "But I really think theres a desire on their part as well as ours to reach an agreement. I think well be able to do it.

Aides said talks had continued throughout the weekend. But at least publicly, there was little indication that either the White House or House Republicans had budged from their initial positions. Biden has called on lawmakers to lift the debt limit without preconditions, warning that the nations borrowing authority should not be used to impose deep spending cuts and other conservative policy demands.

Weve not reached the crunch point yet, Biden told reporters Saturday before flying to his beach home for the weekend. Theres real discussion about some changes we all could make. Were not there yet.

On Sunday, senior administration officials said the talks among staff had so far been productive after Biden and the leaders  House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky  ended their first meeting last Tuesday without a breakthrough.

The president described that Oval Office session as productive even though McCarthy said later he didnt see any new movement toward resolving the stalemate. White House and congressional aides have been in talks since Wednesday.

The staff is very engaged. I would characterize the engagement as serious, as constructive, Lael Brainard, head of the White Houses National Economic Council, said on CBS Face the Nation.

McCarthy has insisted on using the threat of defaulting on the nations debts to wrangle spending changes, arguing that the federal government cant continue to spend money at the pace it is now. The national debt now stands at $31.4 trillion.

An increase in the debt limit would not authorize new federal spending. It would only allow for borrowing to pay for what Congress has already approved.

The Treasury Department has said the government could exhaust the ability to pay its bills as early as June 1. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office gave a similar warning Friday, saying there was a significant risk of default sometime in the first two weeks of next month.

But federal estimates still remain in flux.

The CBO noted Friday that if the cash flow at the Treasury and the extraordinary measures that the department is now using can continue to pay for bills through June 15, the government can probably finance its operations through the end of July. Thats because the expected tax revenues that will come in mid-June and other measures will give the federal government enough cash for at least a few more weeks.

Ultimately the stakes are, the United States has never defaulted on its debt, Wally Adeyemo, the deputy treasury secretary, said on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday. And we can't.

And Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, told ABC's This Week: "I think defaulting is not the right path to go down. So I am an eternal optimist.''

He added, this is always a game we play, every Congress, you know, in daring each other to jump off the cliff. Its a dangerous game.
U.S. border patrol agents make contact with migrants hoping to cross into the United States from Tijuana on Thursday. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Biden administration officials said Monday that the number of migrants crossing the southern border had dropped dramatically over the weekend, following a significant increase early last week in the lead-up to the expiration of Title 42.

Some speculated that the end Thursday of Title 42, a policy used amid the COVID-19 pandemic to turn back migrants at the border without giving them access to asylum protections, would bring about an influx of crossings. But the Biden administration has long said it was prepared for the moment and had been planning for the change, despite attacks from Republicans who argued that border policy was being mismanaged.

The worries about increased migration were reflected in recent court filings from border officials who said that encounters could reach upward of 14,000 a day after Title 42 was lifted. Instead, the numbers have dropped.

Blas Nunez-Neto, a lead Department of Homeland Security official, said there had been a 50% decrease in crossings over the weekend, compared to the more than 10,000 a day they had seen early last week. He said that, over the weekend, they had averaged below 5,000 encounters a day.

Still, he warned that it was too early to draw any conclusions and that smugglers would continue to try to take advantage of the moment by spreading disinformation that encouraged migrants to cross.

Nunez-Neto added that Mexican and Guatemalan officials had stepped up enforcement in recent days and that the U.S. had already deported thousands to their home countries. He reiterated that DHS would continue speedy deportations and was enforcing a policy limiting asylum for those who cross without authorization. Nunez-Neto warned that those who are deported face a five-year reentry ban and could face prosecution if they attempt to cross again.

It is too early, but the numbers that we have experienced over the past two days are markedly down over what they were prior to the end of Title 42, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on CNN on Sunday, adding that there had been 6,300 crossings Friday and around 4,200 on Saturday.

On Monday, Raul Ortiz, head of the U.S. Border Patrol, said the agency had apprehended 14,752 migrants in the previous 72 hours.

In the meantime, the administration is facing two lawsuits that could have big impacts. The American Civil Liberties Union sued DHS late Thursday over its new policy limiting asylum at the border, calling it unlawful and seeking a federal court order blocking it.

The policy limits asylum access from those who cross through a third country and do not seek protections on their way to the United States. The ACLU said it resembles a Trump administration policy that barred asylum access for those who crossed through a third country and did not apply for asylum there.

At the same time, the administration is facing a lawsuit from the Florida attorney generals office, which won a temporary block on a policy that allowed border officials to release migrants from custody without court notices. Migrants were told they were required to check in with immigration officials in the United States.

Judge T. Kent Wetherell, who was appointed to the district court by then-President Trump, issued the temporary restraining order on Thursday. The Biden administration sought an emergency stay from the judge. On Monday, Wetherell denied the stay. The government had previously said it would go to the the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals if denied.

In filings last week, they warned that without the power to quickly release people, there could be overcrowding at border facilities.

At the current operational pace, and without any additional measures such as Parole with Conditions, USBP would have over 45,000 individuals in custody by the end of the month. Further, the [U.S. Department of Homeland Security] Chief Medical Officer has concluded that current conditions pose an increased risk of adverse health outcomes, the filing from the Department of Justice lawyers read.

In a Monday filing, Florida officials argued that Wetherell should not stay his order and pointed to the recent advertised drop in crossings.

DHS claims that this relief is necessary 'to address the skyrocketing number of encounters at the southwest border, the filing read. Yet, Secretary Mayorkas told ABC News yesterday that, 'over the past two days, the United States border patrol has seen an approximately 50% drop in the number of people encountered at our southern border.'

Migrants are being told by officials that they should seek appointments at ports of entry and apply for asylum in the United States. The Biden administration has also continued a program that allows migrants from Nicaragua, Cuba, Venezuela and Haiti to fly into the U.S. if they have a financial sponsor and can pass certain background checks.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Editors note: This story originally published Feb. 1, 2022. It has been updated slightly as part of our Oddly Idaho series.

Whether your family has lived in Boise for four generations or you just got out of the U-Haul from California, youve no doubt heard the debate on how to pronounce Idahos capital city.

In a nutshell: Those not from Boise tend to pronounce it Boy-zee, while many locals favor calling it Boy-see.





And with thousands moving to Boise and across Idaho over the past decade, how one pronounces the word is often used as a way to distinguish whos local and whos a recent arrival.

Oddly Idaho explores curious quirks and nostalgic moments in the Gem State.

But the debate of Boy-see versus Boy-zee is nothing new. It goes back nearly as long as Boise has been established as a city, nearly 160 years.

And during that span, news articles show that residents and visitors alike have hardly ever agreed on a uniform pronunciation for the City of Trees.

Longtime residents will be familiar with the names origin story: French-Canadian fur trappers in the early 19th century traveling through Southern Idaho came upon a valley lined with tall cottonwood trees, exclaiming Les Bois!

Its unclear how accurate that story is, but Boise  French for wooded  appears to refer to the many trees that lined the Boise River.

Boise, as a city, was founded in 1863, and it didnt take long for questions about the pronunciation to pop up.

One of the earliest examples was an 1864 article in the Gold Hills Daily News, located just south of Reno, Nevada, which discussed the pronunciation of the recently founded town.

But the pronunciation wasnt Boise as many longtime residents might say it today.

The celebrated mines up north, Boise, usually pronounced as a monosyllable, is a word of two syllables, the article said. The correct pronunciation is: Boizy, the s having the sound of a z. 

A short article published on January 20, 1864 in the Gold Hill Daily News in Nevada, in which the writer discussed the pronunciation of Boise.

The article then goes on to ask readers how Idaho, then just a territory, is pronounced.

There have also been a series of articles, particularly in the early 20th century, across the nation written almost as geography quizzes, telling East Coast residents what the far-off capital of Idaho is called.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the writers offer a few different answers: Boy-zee, Boy-say, Boosee, Bossy, Bwa-say and Bwaz to name a few.

And for nearly as long, those outside Idaho have long feared the supposed backlash for pronouncing the name incorrectly.

In 1919, Dr. William Brady, a popular health columnist at the time, was invited by the Idaho Statesman to deliver a health talk in Boise. In a preview of the talk, he said he had heard several different pronunciations for the city and was greatly concerned about getting it wrong. He developed a solution, of sorts.

I am just going to buy my ticket to Nampa and hang around there until I hear someone give away the true secret, Brady said.

All this raises the question: Why is Boise pronounced Boy-see?

For that, there appears to be no clear answer. Mariah Devereux Herbeck, a French language professor at Boise State University, told the Statesman there appears to be little connection between todays pronunciation and the original French word.

For example, Les Bois does not include any s sound; its pronounced lay bwah. Additionally, the French word boise is pronounced with a z sound at the end, as in bwah-zay.

The modern-day pronunciation most likely stems from a local adaptation of the pronunciation, she said.

Clearly the residents of Boise have made Boise their own by choosing to pronounce the s as an s,  Devereux Herbeck said.

It seems unlikely, though, that explanation will quell any sort of debate about the pronunciation. And the debate isnt even restricted to Idaho. In Boise City, Oklahoma, locals pronounce their town as Boys City.

But well save the history on that for another article.

You asked: Why are Five Mile and Ten Mile roads 6 miles apart? Heres the answer.

Whats in a name? From Black Cat to Frozen Dog, area roads provide history, mystery
FILE - The flags of the U.S. and Chinese are displayed together on top of a trishaw in Beijing on Sept. 16, 2018. Furious at U.S. efforts that cut off access to technology to make advanced computer chips, Chinas leaders appear to be struggling to figure out how to retaliate without hurting their own ambitions in telecoms, artificial intelligence and other industries. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

BEIJING (AP)  China sentenced a 78-year-old United States citizen to life in prison Monday on spying charges, in a case that could exacerbate the deterioration in ties between Beijing and Washington over recent years.

Details of the charges against John Shing-Wan Leung, who also holds permanent residency in Hong Kong, have not been publicly released.

Leung was detained April 15, 2021, by the local bureau of China's counterintelligence agency in the southeastern city of Suzhou, according to a statement posted by the citys intermediate court on its social media site. His detention came after China had closed its borders and imposed tight domestic travel restrictions and social controls to fight the spread of COVID-19.

Such investigations and trials are held behind closed doors and little information is generally released other than vague accusations of infiltration, gathering secrets and threatening state security.

Relations between Washington and Beijing are at their lowest in decades amid disputes over trade, technology, human rights and Chinas increasingly aggressive approach toward its territorial claims involving self-governing Taiwan and the South China Sea. High-level government visits have been on hold and U.S. companies are delaying major investments amid mixed messaging from Beijing.

The sentencing comes as President Biden is traveling to Hiroshima, Japan, for the Group of Seven major industrial nations summit, followed by a visit to Papua New Guinea, a Pacific island nation in a region where China has sought to increase its economic, military and diplomatic influence. After Beijing's gains in the area, the U.S. and its Asia-Pacific partners stepped up their regional presence, offering investments and financial support rivaling those furnished by China.

Now the world's second-largest economy, China is expanding its footprint in ports, railways and other infrastructure from Europe to Southeast Asia and beyond.

While the Suzhou court offered no indication of a tie to overall China-U.S. relations, spying charges are highly selective and evidence backing them up is not released. That is standard practice among most countries, who wish to secure their personal connections, networks and access to information.

U.S. Embassy in Beijing is aware of the case

However, Chinas authoritarian political system and the ruling Communist Partys absolute control over legal matters, civil society and freedom of information forestalls demands for further information, as well as court appeals.

The U.S. Embassy in Beijing said it was aware of the case, but could not comment further due to privacy concerns. The Department of State has no greater priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas, the embassy said in the emailed statement.

The government of Hong Kong, a former British colony that reverted to Chinese control in 1997, had no immediate word on Leung's sentencing.

When it was returned to China, Hong Kong was promised it would retain its financial, social and political liberties, but Beijing has essentially scuttled that commitment since cracking down on pro-democracy protesters and imposing a sweeping national security law in 2020.

Chinese national security agencies have also raided the offices of foreign business consulting firms in Beijing and other cities as part of a crackdown on foreign businesses that provide sensitive economic data.

Prosecutors have broad powers to detain people

Foreign companies operating in China have come under increasing pressure as Xi Jinpings government tightens control over the economy. That stands in stark contrast to efforts to lure back foreign investors after draconian COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were lifted at the beginning of the year.

Long pretrial detentions are not unusual in China and prosecutors have broad powers to hold people charged in national security cases, regardless of their citizenship status.

Two Chinese-Australians, Cheng Lei, who formerly worked for Chinas state broadcaster, and writer Yang Jun, have been held since 2020 and 2019 respectively without word on their sentencing.

Government suspicion is particularly focused on Chinese-born foreign citizens and people from Taiwan and Hong Kong, especially if they have political contacts or work in academia or publishing.

Under Xi, the party has launched multiple campaigns against what it calls foreign efforts to sabotage its rule, without showing evidence. Universities have been ordered to censor discussions of human rights, modern Chinese history and ideas that could prompt questions about total Communist Party control.

Xi's government has also taken a hard line on foreign relations, most recently ordering outa Canadian diplomat in retaliation for Ottawa's expulsion of a staffer at the Chinese embassy accused of threatening a member of the Canadian parliament and his family members living in Hong Kong.

That meshes with Xi's confrontational global stance that has seen China partner with Russia in accusing the West of provoking Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and seeking to overthrow the U.S.-led liberal dominance of global affairs.
(Photo : SAI AUNG MAIN/AFP via Getty Images)

Approximately 1,000 people were rescued in Myanmar, where a cyclone Mocha had injured hundreds and severed communications.

On Monday, rescuers evacuated approximately 1,000 people stranded by seawater 3.6 meters (12 feet) deep along the western coast of Myanmar, after a powerful cyclone caused hundreds of injuries and severed communications.

In one of Asia's least industrialized nations, six fatalities have been reported, but the true impact is not yet known.

Cyclone Mocha Batters Myanmar, Bangladesh

A leader of the Rakhine Youths Philanthropic Association in Sittwe reported that more than 700 of the approximately 20,000 people who were sheltering in monasteries, pagodas, and schools on the highlands of Sittwe township were injured by strong gusts.

As cyclone Mocha made landfall in Rakhine state on Sunday afternoon, seawater rushed into more than ten low-lying districts close to the coast, he reported. As the wind and storm surge precluded immediate rescue, residents fled to roofs and upper floors, AP News reported.

Monday evening, water levels in flooded areas were approximately 1.5 meters (five feet) high, but rescues were being conducted as the wind died down and the sun ascended. He requested that civil society organizations and authorities send aid and assist with the evacuation of residents.

Myanmar media and rescue agencies have reported six fatalities. In neighboring Bangladesh, which was spared the predicted direct impact, several injuries were reported.

Cyclone Mocha made landfall near the township of Sittwe with winds of up to 209 kilometers per hour, according to the Myanmar Meteorological Department. The India Meteorological Department reported that by Monday midday, it had weakened to a tropical depression.

One of the strongest cyclones to ever strike Myanmar has severed communications with coastal areas, and aid organizations warn that initial reports indicate "extensive" damage.

A video from the conflict-torn Rakhine state showed strong surges of wind uprooting trees.

People can be seen huddled in makeshift shelters, but the full extent of the storm's damage is still unknown due to communication difficulties in the region.

Landfall visuals of Cyclone Mocha from sittwe, Myanmar 



TELEGRAM JOIN  https://t.co/9cTkji5aZq pic.twitter.com/7TDXlbdcwu  Disaster News (@Top_Disaster) May 14, 2023

4

If you dont like climate protesters tactics, wait till you learn about natures tactics.#CycloneMocha pic.twitter.com/OHgGOTHSoL  Jack Lowe (@MrJackLowe) May 14, 2023

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that due to the ongoing severe weather in Rakhine and disruptions in telecommunications, it has not been feasible to assess the entire scope of the disaster.

Early reports, however, indicate that the damage is extensive and that the needs of already vulnerable communities, especially displaced people, will be great.

Prior to the storm, assistance organizations in Myanmar and neighboring Bangladesh initiated a massive cyclone Mocha would strike Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, where approximately one million stateless Rohingya reside.

Per CNN, the last cyclone of comparable intensity to make landfall was tropical cyclone Giri in October 2010. It made landfall as a Category 4 cyclone with maximal winds of 250 kilometers per hour (155 mph).

Over 150 people were killed by Giri, and approximately 70 percent of the city of Kyaukphyu was devastated. According to the United Nations, the storm destroyed approximately 15,000 dwellings in the province of Rakhine.

In neighboring Bangladesh, which was spared the predicted direct impact, several injuries were reported.

Read Also: Migrant Crisis: 60,000 Migrants Waiting Near US-Mexico Border as Biden Administration Faces New Hurdles

Cyclone Mocha Cuts Myanmar Communications

According to ABC News, high winds collapsed cell phone towers, but local media captured footage of deep water rushing through streets and wind ripping off roofs before communications were lost.

The military information office of Myanmar reported that residences and electrical transformers in Sittwe, Kyaukpyu, and Gwa townships were damaged by the typhoon. It was reported that roofs had been torn off structures on the Coco Islands, located approximately 425 kilometers (264 miles) southwest of Yangon, the main city in Myanmar.

Volunteers previously stated that shelters in Sittwe lacked sufficient sustenance due to the influx of more individuals seeking assistance. Early reports after Sunday's Category 4 landfall of cyclone Mocha in Myanmar's Rakhine state indicate "extensive devastation," according to the UN office for humanitarian aid.

Per AXIOS, the UN aid office added that "the needs of already vulnerable communities, notably displaced persons, will be great."

Before communications channels were disabled, online videos and photographs depicted structures and residences being battered by winds, roofs being torn off of buildings, and heavy rains. There were reports of storm surge inundation in low-lying areas of Rakhine state.

The UN estimated that more than 6 million people in Myanmar, including hundreds of thousands of displaced people in Rakhine state, were in need of humanitarian assistance before Sunday's typhoon.

The UN is urging the international community to finance its Myanmar humanitarian response plan, which was less than 10% funded prior to the cyclone. Coastal regions in the southeast of Bangladesh also experienced destructive winds and torrential rainfall.

Related Article: Cyclone Mocha Barrels Bangladesh, Myanmar, Threatens World's Largest Refugee Camp

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), shown speaking to reporters after meeting with President Biden and Democratic leaders at the White House last week, is trying to keep his finger on the fiscal nuclear button. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

On April 19, in introducing House Republicans' stillborn proposal for negotiations to raise the government's debt ceiling, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) said this:

"You know, if you gave your child a credit card, and they kept maxing it out to the limit, you wouldn't blindly just raise the limit. You'd change their behavior. The exact same thing is true with our national debt."

It's hard to imagine a more profoundly ignorant take about our irredeemably stupid federal debt ceiling. Perhaps McCarthy knows the truth, in which case he's a liar. Perhaps he doesn't know, in which case he doesn't belong anywhere near where fiscal policy is made.

The validity of the public debt of the United States ... shall not be questioned.

14th Amendment to the Constitution

McCarthy doesn't seem to understand that the debt ceiling isn't about limiting future spending. It's about paying bills already incurred, just as a credit card statement reflects purchases already made.

He and his House GOP colleagues, by refusing to raise the federal debt ceiling to accommodate the spending they've already incurred, would be tantamount to his fictional family's refusing to pay their existing debts.

If they persisted in this refusal, they'd end up in bankruptcy, or perhaps in jail for fraud. To repeat his words, "the exact same thing is true with our national debt."

Refusing to pay the bills that Congress has rung up would put the United States in an analogous position: The value of its debts would plummet because creditors would fear getting paid less than they were owed (as with bankruptcy).

The punishment would be severe  higher prices for goods and services, mortgage rates soaring, creditors such as Social Security recipients, Medicare providers and businesses with government contracts going unpaid.

McCarthy knows these are among the consequences if the federal government reneges on its debts, something that could happen if the debt ceiling isn't raised. He knows this outcome would be unprecedented and unacceptable to almost all Americans; that's why he thinks that refusing to raise the ceiling is an effective bargaining chip to force spending cutbacks throughout the federal budget.

Monday morning saw glimmers of hope that McCarthy and President Biden would reach an agreement resulting in an increase in the debt ceiling in return for some modest, relatively harmless budget cuts. But as of this writing, no deal has been sealed. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the ceiling would have to be raised by June 1 to obviate any chance of a government default.

To be perfectly accurate, the government technically breached the debt ceiling back on Jan. 19; the Treasury has staved off default since then through accounting maneuvers termed "extraordinary measures," which essentially involve moving money around. Yellen's June 1 "X-date" is supposedly when that flexibility runs out  though the Congressional Budget Office places the date in mid-June, and says that if the government makes it that far, forthcoming corporate and personal tax payments could provide breathing room "at least through the end of July."

So it's timely to take a look at the latest legal commentary about the debt limit  specifically, whether it's even constitutional, and if not, whether Biden should simply ignore it.

Before I delve into that, a quick primer on what the debt ceiling is and how it came about. As I've written too many times to count, the debt ceiling is a federal law that sets a limit on how much debt the Treasury can sell. At this moment, the limit is $31.381 trillion, a level set by Congress in December 2021.

The debt ceiling has been raised by congressional votes more than 91 times since 1960, generally without debate, by Democratic and Republican majorities and under Democratic and Republican presidents. When Republicans took majority control of the House of Representatives in 2011, they turned the debt ceiling into the raw material for political posturing, a fiscal nuclear bomb in the hands of willful children.

The debt ceiling was not originally meant as a limit on the Treasurys authority to issue federal debt, but rather as a way to give it more latitude to borrow. It came into being in 1917, when Congress grew weary of having to vote on every proposed bond issuance, which it considered a pain in the neck. So it chose instead to give the Treasury blanket authority to float bonds, subject to a stopgap limitation.

In other words, the limit was never designed to keep Congress from enacting any spending bills or deficit-building tax breaks it wished. Obviously, it has never had that effect, since Congress routinely has approved spending that it knew, by simple math, would require more borrowing.

The Republican threats to enforce the debt ceiling have caused no end of fiscal mischief. That included the sequester, a sheaf of budget cuts enacted to settle a debt ceiling fight in 2011. The cuts were so draconian that Republicans and Democrats would have to come to the negotiating table for a budget deal.

That didnt happen, so the cuts went into effect. They were estimated to have pared 1.2 percentage points from economic growth in 2013 and 2014, costing as many as 1.6 million jobs over that time frame.

The mandated budget cuts hit child care, Head Start and early education especially hard. The spectacle of Congress being unable to avoid the damage from a gun it placed at its own head led Standard & Poor's to downgrade the credit rating of U.S. Treasury securities for the very first time.

The increasing obstinacy of the GOP House caucus, which is under the thumb of a right-wing extremist cadre, has prompted a reconsideration of the legality of the debt ceiling itself. As constitutional scholar Garrett Epps has written, even if Congress refuses to raise the debt ceiling, "default on the debt ... is flatly forbidden by the Constitution."

The basis for that conclusion is the 14th Amendment, a Reconstruction-era measure that abolished slavery, provided that all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. were American citizens, including former slaves and decreed that federal debts could not be repudiatedspecifically that "the validity of the public debt of the United States ... shall not be questioned."

Only once was that clause brought before the Supreme Court  in 1935, when the plaintiff was an investor demanding that the government redeem his Treasury bonds in gold, as had been promised when the bonds were issued.

Franklin Roosevelt had repudiated the so-called gold clauses in private and government bond indentures, aware that upholding payment in gold would have provoked widespread bankruptcies and devastated the federal budget. Congress had followed with a joint resolution nullifying all gold clauses.

The financial markets were "on the verge of nervous prostration" awaiting the court's ruling, as Joseph P. Kennedy, then chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, recounted. Roosevelt had prepared a statement nullifying by executive order a ruling upholding the gold clauses; Kennedy stood by an open phone line, ready to order the temporary closing of all U.S. stock exchanges on FDR's signal to guard against financial chaos.

In the event, the court upheld the sanctity of federal debt by deeming the congressional resolution unconstitutional as it applied to Treasury securities. In a plurality decision that cited the 14th Amendment, Chief Justice Charles Evan Hughes rejected the notion that "the Congress can disregard the obligations of the government at its discretion, and that, when the government borrows money, the credit of the United States is an illusory pledge. We do not so read the Constitution."

The court, however, denied plaintiff John Perry the right to be repaid in gold; he had to accept repayment in dollars, the only legal tender at that time.

Many legal scholars have come around to the conclusion that the 14th Amendment and the gold clause ruling would allow President Biden to pay Treasury obligations even in excess of the debt ceiling.

President Clinton felt the same way. In 2011, when his successor, Barack Obama, was grappling with a recalcitrant GOP Congress over the issue, he said in an interview that if facing default, he would pay the government's debts "without hesitation, and force the courts to stop me."

Obama then expressed concern about the consequences of protracted litigation in such a case. Biden has raised the same doubt.

Yet it's unclear if a lawsuit challenging a breach of the debt ceiling could be brought. Who would have standing to sue, Epps asked. Any plaintiffs would have to show a particular harm to themselves from a presidential order defying the ceiling.

Who could that be? Not Treasury bondholders  they would be guaranteed their principal and interest. Social Security recipients? Defiance of the debt ceiling would ensure they got their benefit checks. Would the GOP House minority be harmed? It's hard to see how, other than in their amour-propre, since Chief Justice Hughes ruled nearly nine decades ago that Congress had no right to disregard the fiscal obligations it enacted.

It is possible, of course, that the current court's conservative majority might "manufacture standing for some red state attorney general or right-wing advocacy group to challenge Bidens upholding the full faith and credit of the United States," Epps observed.

A ruling forcing a default might provoke Biden simply to defy the court, as FDR was prepared to do. Does this court really want to provoke such a confrontation  especially since a ruling upholding the debt ceiling would disadvantage the wealthy investor class that some of the majority's members have reportedly relied on as patrons?

Nothing would please me more than to have Biden relieve me of the duty of writing about the incredibly stupid maneuvering the debt ceiling regularly provokes in Washington. The path is clear. It's long since time that a U.S. president treated the debt ceiling not as an instrument of sound fiscal policy but as a pointless obstruction in the way.

If McCarthy and his minions refuse to honor their own fiscal obligations, Biden should disregard them; that's his most valuable bargaining chip. If past is precedent, the Constitution and the Supreme Court would have his back.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A man told his niece hed divorce her aunt to marry her before sexually assaulting her on a road trip from Tennessee to New Mexico, federal prosecutors said.

The uncle, 56, of Sunbright, is a registered sex offender previously accused of sex crimes against other children, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee.

His niece told investigators he drove her away from Tennessee and coerced her into sexual acts in his truck during the trip between Dec. 29, 2019, and Jan. 2, 2020, prosecutors said.

In the cases latest development, the man was sentenced on May 11 to life plus 120 months in prison on charges of enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, transportation of a minor to engage in sexual activity, a felony offense involving a minor by an individual required to register as a sex offender and escape, prosecutors announced on May 15.

McClatchy News is not naming the man to protect the victims identity.

Following his arrest, he unsuccessfully tried escaping a hospital where he underwent a heart procedure while in federal custody, according to officials.

McClatchy News contacted his attorneys for comment on May 15 and didnt immediately receive a response.

The case dates to July 2019, when the mans minor niece, whose age wasnt specified, was living with him and his wife, prosecutors said. Officials didnt say why the niece was living with them.

At some point, the man began secretly messaging his niece hundreds of times on a secret cell phone he bought her, according to officials. Her mother had no idea he gave her a phone and that they exchanged nearly 3,000 texts, according to an earlier news release.

The man told the girl he loved her and only wanted to be with her and promised hed divorce his wife so they could get married, prosecutors said.

Then, he took her on a road trip to New Mexico to sexually assault her, according to the release.

The Morgan County Sheriffs Office was tipped off that he was driving a child out of state, the earlier release said.

He was eventually caught and accused of rape, according to prosecutors.

His life sentence is to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release and he must register with state sex offender registries, officials said.

Sunbright is about 135 miles east of Nashville.

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Elk Grove will fight a state lawsuit alleging the city violated California affordable housing law, council members decided last week.

The 5-0 city council vote in closed session Wednesday sets the stage for the legal battle ahead with state officials.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta made good earlier this month on past threats to sue after Elk Grove leaders rejected the Oak Rose affordable housing project planned for Elk Grove Boulevard and Kent Street in the citys historic Old Town.

Theyve resisted the law time and time again. They have left us no choice, Bonta said in announcing the lawsuit. Everyone deserves to have a place to call home, Bonta said adding the Elk Grove lawsuit sends a strong message to local governments: if you violate fair housing laws, we will hold you to account.

How the case of Bonta v. Elk Grove will pan out is not clear. City officials declined to discuss details Thursday citing the pending suit, but said in a statement that they hoped for a resolution, saying Elk Grove will continue to work with its partners in the region to address housing needs.

The path toward resolution of the case could take various routes. Given the variables inherent in litigation, and the fact that the case is in its early stages, the city is not in a position to address details of the case at this time, officials said. The city does, however, look forward to a resolution of the case.

Elk Grove leaders continue to defend the citys record on affordable housing pointing to new projects including Bruceville Roads 387-unit Poppy Grove Apartments.

The city of Elk Grove is not a bad actor, Singh-Allen said earlier this month in response to the states lawsuit. Elk Grove has a strong track record for supporting affordable housing projects.

Bonta in 2021 created a team within the California Department of Justice dedicated to enforcing state housing laws. Gov. Gavin Newsom said holding local governments to account for reducing the states homeless crisis and increasing its affordable housing stock would stand atop his list of priorities in his second term. Bonta sued the city of Huntington Beach in April after years of skirmishes between the state and the Orange County city over housing enforcement.

State housing officials initially sounded the alarm last October in a scathing report that charged the city broke state law, employed double standards and failed to fulfill its own goals of promoting and providing affordable housing stock when it rejected plans for the low-income apartments.

Oak Roses developers, who had filed their own lawsuit against Elk Grove before the states October report to compel the city to approve the project, said their planned 67-unit, three-story development would be the first permanent housing project in Elk Grove for the homeless.

Housing officials in the October report said Elk Grove should at a minimum, (provide) a specific plan for corrective action, including allowing the project to move forward.

Elk Grove leaders maintained that they continue to work with Oak Roses developers to find an alternative site even as they bitterly complain that state law wrests away local governments control to make decisions on affordable housing projects.
After the World Health Organization ended the COVID-19 global health emergency and Illinois officials ended the statewide disaster declaration in May, changes are expected regarding access to testing, treatments and data.

Several large insurance companies have announced changes to COVID-19 testing coverage. Some will no longer cover at-home tests, and access will likely depend on an individuals plan.

Heres what to know about COVID-19 in Illinois now that federal and state emergency declarations have ended.

Whats changed in Illinois?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will no longer update its COVID-19 community levels across the U.S. as of May 11. Information about which counties are at low, medium or high levels will no longer be available in Illinois or other states.

Test positivity rates will also no longer be available in Illinois. Hospitals are no longer required to report the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care units or on ventilators, so that information will also become unavailable.

COVID-19 vaccinations and treatments, such as Paxlovid, will shift from a public health care model to a private insurance model. Access to these will generally not be affected, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced a program to provide people who do not have health insurance with access to COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.

Access to COVID-19 testing, especially at-home options, may change depending on your health insurance provider. Illinois Blue Cross Blue Shield will no longer cover at-home COVID-19 testing, the Chicago Tribune reported in April, and coverage for polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, tests and Paxlovid will depend on each individuals plan.

What data will be available in Illinois?

The Illinois Department of Public Health will continue reporting COVID-19 vaccination data, deaths, lab data, genomic sequencing, waste water surveillance data and the number of people with COVID-19 admitted to the hospital from emergency departments.

The state health department will release updates every other week, according to a May 12 press release, with the next update set for May 26.

It was not immediately clear whether weekly case rate data would still be available from the state, as the CDC will no longer be reporting case numbers.

Latest COVID-19 data

As of May 11, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported St. Clair County had a weekly case rate of 5 per 100,000 people. Intensive care unit availability was at 19% there.

Across Illinois, 21% of ICU beds were available. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,729 new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases and 20 deaths for the week ending May 7.

The preliminary statewide weekly case rate was 29 cases per 100,000 residents, according to the state health department.
More than 100,000 people are waiting for a life-saving organ in the United States, with a new name added to the list every nine minutes.

So, how does the U.S. organ transplant system work? To find out, we spoke with Anne Paschke, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit that runs the countrys organ transplant system.

Heres what we learned:

Who oversees the U.S. organ transplant system?

The countrys organ transplant system  the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network  is managed by the United Network for Organ Sharing, or UNOS, the Richmond-based nonprofit that has a contract with the federal government to operate the national organ wait-list system. (The nonprofit has a $6.5 million annual contract with the U.S. government, according to the Washington Post.)





We match organs to patients, not to transplant centers, said Paschke.

READ MORE: Jackson overhauls top staff at heart transplant program, amid patients deaths, investigations

How many transplant centers are there in the U.S? How many are in Florida?

There are more than 250 active transplant centers in the United States and 12 of them are in Florida. Keep in mind that not every transplant center has a program for every organ.

Here are the transplant centers in South Florida:

 Miami Transplant Institute, located in Jackson Memorial Hospital and staffed by University of Miami medical school physicians. The institute has transplant programs for a variety of organs, including kidneys, lungs, pancreas, intestines and livers. It also does heart transplants, but its adult heart transplant program is currently suspended and undergoing an overhaul amid multiple investigations involving patient deaths and infection rates. The institute is still performing pediatric heart transplants.

 Memorial Transplant Institute, at Memorial Regional Hospital and Joe DiMaggio Childrens Hospital in Hollywood, offers adult and pediatric transplants for hearts and kidneys. It also recently opened a pancreas transplant program.

 Cleveland Clinic Weston offers heart, kidney and liver transplants.

Memorial Healthcares Dr. Basit Javaid (left), chief of Abdominal Transplant Medicine, and Dr. Seyed Ghasemian (right), chief of the Abdominal Transplant Surgery Program, will lead Memorial Transplant Institutes new pancreas transplant program, the hospital announced on April 25, 2023.

How can people become organ donors?

Generally speaking, in order to donate organs  heart, lungs, kidney, liver, pancreas and intestines  the patient would have to die in the hospital and be on a ventilator so the organs can continue to receive oxygen.

This accounts for less than 2% of the eligible population, said Paschke. Someone who dies at home may still donate their eyes and tissue.

You dont have to wait until death to donate certain organs. Healthy adults can become living donors for kidneys, livers and in rare cases, uterus or segments of other organs, according to the organ transplant network. You have two kidneys and can generally live with one; you can donate a section of a healthy liver as it regrows within weeks.

If you want to become an organ donor, enroll in your states donor registry. Family members can donate a loved ones organs, even if they never registered to do so. But this can be a difficult end-of-life decision to make, so its best to make those decisions ahead of time.

Its also worth noting that while family can choose to donate organs of a loved one, they cant override your decision to donate organs if you have registered to do so.

How do patients find an organ match?

Medical information from donors and patients are input into the nationwide organ transplantation system.

When an organ becomes available, the electronic system will rule out everyone on the wait list who is incompatible, and rank the remaining patients based on the systems allocation policies. Then, offers are sent out to the transplant centers that have patients at the top of the list, according to Paschke.

Its then up to the patients transplant surgeon to accept or reject the organ offer. They have an hour to make a decision before the system sends out the organ offer to another patient, she said.

READ NEXT: This heart pump can be a better option than a transplant. But its not for everyone

Doctors look at a variety of factors to determine if an organ is a match, including age, lab test results and pictures of the donors organ(s). Some of this information, such as blood type, is from testing done through histocompatibility laboratories. These labs analyze the blood of donors and recipients so that doctors can assess whether a patients body will likely reject or accept an organ.

There are five labs in Florida: One is at Jackson Memorial Hospital/the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in South Florida. The other labs are in the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville; Shands Hospital in Gainesville; AdventHealth Orlando; and LifeLink Florida in Tampa.

Does age play a role in transplant eligibility?

Paschke said the countrys organ transplant network doesnt restrict organ transplants based on age and lets hospitals and their doctors decide which patients are good candidates for a transplant. Some hospitals accept sicker, older patients while some may not.

For example, Cleveland Clinic Weston, a privately owned hospital, and Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, one of Browards public hospitals, accept patients age 70 and older on a case-by-case basis for heart transplants. Jackson also accepts patients age 70 and older.

Some patients may seek to join the wait list at multiple transplant centers, but a transplant centers physician decides who will be on a wait list.

How does a patient move up on the wait list?

A persons position on the wait list depends on how urgently they need a new organ, and can go up or down depending on changes in their health or treatment. Generally speaking, the sicker you are, the closer you get to the top of the list for a new organ.

While blood type, height, weight and other medical factors are automatically screened, every organ type also has its own individual distribution policy.

For a person who needs a new heart, for example, certain factors  distance from the donors hospital and whether a patient has a heart pump or other support device helps determine their urgency status, according to the heart allocation policy of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.

The organ networks website has a breakdown of what factors contribute to organ allocations.

How are organs delivered to the patients?

There are 56 nonprofits in the country that operate as organ procurement organizations; they are under contract with the federal government. Their job is to retrieve organs and tissues from donors in hospitals, evaluate the organ to see if it could potentially be usable, put the donors information into the system, and if there is a match, deliver the organ to the transplant center.

Some organs, such as hearts, lungs and livers, wont be recovered from the deceased donor unless a match is found, Paschke said. Organs can stay healthy only for a short period of time outside the body. Once removed from a body, they are placed on ice or connected to a machine that pumps blood through them. Hearts and lungs can survive four to six hours, livers, 8 to 12 hours, and kidneys 24 to 36 hours.

One of the nonprofits tasked with recovering organs, Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency, is a division of the surgery department at the University of Miami medical school. There are three other organ procurement organizations in Florida: LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services, part of the University of Floridas Shands Teaching Hospital in Gainesville; Our Legacy in Maitland, Central Florida; and LifeLink of Florida, a division of LifeLink Foundation, located in Tampa.

How to find, compare transplant programs?

If youre looking for a transplant program, or want to see how your transplant center compares to others, theres a way to do so.

Visit SRTR.org. You can search for programs by organ, ZIP code, state or by the hospitals name to see how they fare with wait list times, survival, the speed of transplantation and other key measures.
For teddy bears and all other stuffed toys in Pennsylvania, its not easy being green. In fact, its impossible.

Under a 62-year-old law, all stuffed toys distributed and sold in this state are required to be made from new material.

But now a state senator is looking to lift a restriction that hamstrings manufacturers and retailers in the toy business.

Sen. Devlin Robinson, R-Allegheny, along with Democratic Sens. John Kane of Delaware County and Art Haywood of Montgomery County, are proposing legislation that would allow toys to be stuffed with recycled materials.

Many manufacturers and retailers have set sustainability goals for their products which can only be met by using recycled materials, the senators wrote in a memo to Senate colleagues seeking their support. Many consumers prefer to purchase items made from recycled materials to lessen their environmental footprint.

Updating this little known law will bring Pennsylvania in line with all other global stuffed toy requirements, enabling manufacturers and retailers to make and sell stuffed toys with recycled materials in the state as they do throughout the rest of the country, the memo states.

Pennsylvania is one of only three states  Ohio and Massachusetts are the others  that imposes restrictions on the use of recyclable materials in the manufacture of stuffed toys. But the New York-based Toy Association, a trade association for the industry, regards Pennsylvania as by far having the strictest rules on when it comes stuffed toys.

Since 1961, a state law has required new materials to be used in the making of stuffed toys. Additionally, the state has a regulation requiring labels be placed on stuffed toys that state they were made with new material.

Limiting the materials that can be used makes life difficult for toy manufacturers because it requires them to make all stuffed toys with new material or have a separate line using only new material for toys to be sold in Pennsylvania.

We know that fill made from recycled material can meet all safety and cleanliness standards that new, virgin material meets and is just as safe for consumers, said Charlotte Hickcox, director of state government affairs for the Toy Association. Further the Toy Association is not asking for safety standards to be changed, just for recycled materials to be allowed to be used.

The Department of Labor & Industrys Bureau of Occupational and Industrial Safety administers the stuffed toy law in Pennsylvania.

Manufacturers who intend to sell or distribute a new stuffed toy in Pennsylvania must send a sample to the department for inspection to ensure it meets the safety requirements, not only for its contents but also choking and other hazards. Toys that pass inspection are given a registration number that goes on the label of those sold in the state.

Judging by the vast collection of toys that the department accumulates over the course of a year, which are distributed through the Department of Human Services Holiday Wish program, this is no small task.

According to the department, it received stuffed toys for inspection last year from 1,618 U.S.-based manufacturers/importers with 65 of them from Pennsylvania  the famed Crayola LLC, along with Curto Toy and BJ Toy Co., all in Northampton County to name a few  and an additional 829 from foreign manufacturers/importers.

Eric Kratz, executive director for the Senate Labor & Industry Committee, is familiar with the law from his years of working in the Department of Labor & Industry.

It is a pretty obscure law and people say wait, what? We have a stuffed toy law? In fact, we do, he said Obviously in 1961, they did not particularly contemplate people using recycled materials in stuffed toys.

But given that recycled material goes through the same extensive testing and safety review to ensure it meets all of the current industry standards that new materials do and couple that with peoples desire to be environmentally conscious, he said it may well be time to update the law as the Toy Association has requested.

Hickcox said her association would like to see this law updated by the end of this year.

Toy association members want to be good stewards of the environment while following all state laws and regulations, Hickcox said. This update will allow manufacturers and retailers to ensure a global supply chain while producing safe, sustainable stuffed toys.
A baby orangutan has joined the Kansas City Zoo, officials announced on Mothers Day.

The baby, a male Bornean orangutan, was born May 8 to mother Josie, who was also born at the Kansas City Zoo, but 20 years ago. Josies mother, Jill, is also still at the Kansas City Zoo, officials said in a news release Sunday.

Both mom and son appear healthy and are doing well, zoo officials wrote.

Josie and the baby, whose name has not yet been announced, arent currently on exhibit for zoo-goers to view, but will likely be in the public habitat soon, as Josie teaches her baby her orangutan ways, official said.

Orangutan infants have long-lasting relationships with their mothers, so Josie will spend the next several years showing the new baby vital orangutan skills like how to build nests, where to find food, how to interact with others, and how to use tools to forage, the release read.

The species is native to the island of Borneo in Asia and is classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, mainly as the result of deforestation.

The Kansas City Zoo partners with APE Malaysia as part of the CREATE Project, which works to restore habitat in Borneos Kinabatangan rainforest, home to numerous species, including the Bornean orangutan.

The project has planted more than 7,000 tree saplings across 38 acres since July 2017, according to the zoo.
In March the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department arrested Akingbiwaju Opadele, a Fort Mill paramedic alleged to have sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl in the back of an ambulance two months before.

He was charged with felony sexual contact under pretext of medical treatment, according to a news release.

About 37 minutes after he was booked, Opadele was released on a $15,000 unsecured bond, and walked out of the jail, police say. That frustrated family members and detectives on the case, said CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings.

What message are we sending to the community when this individual gets out in just 37 minutes? Jennings said. That was very frustrating, all around, for many people, to know that we didnt even get the opportunity for a judge to hear this (and to) set that bond.

Concerns over bonds being either too low or too high are a constant topic of discussion across the state, University of North Carolina School of Government Professor Jeff Welty said in an email to the Charlotte Observer.

A new bill supported by multiple Charlotte-Mecklenburg officials could ensure more accountability and consistency from court officials setting bonds, Jennings and others say.

North Carolina House Bill 813, dubbed the Pretrial Integrity Act, passed in the N.C. House on May 3. signed into law, elected judges  not appointed magistrates  would set pretrial release conditions for a slew of more serious charges, including statutory rape and sexual offense, arson and human trafficking.

It would also ensure that judges receive a copy of repeat offenders criminal histories before setting pretrial release conditions, which can include everything from written promises to appear in court and bonds to referrals to mental health services.

If a judge failed to weigh in after 48 hours, the responsibility would fall back to a magistrate.

North Carolina judges already set pretrial release conditions for defendants charged with first-degree murder.

The bill is sponsored by multiple legislators, including Mecklenburg County Republican Rep. John Bradford, who said it came from discussions with local criminal justice leaders.

If someone is raped  and, granted, these people are accused and not found guilty at a pretrial review  but the idea that they could be quickly released with no bond or very little bond because a magistrate quickly does it doesnt seem to be fair, he said. It needs to get a true review. We cant forget about the victims here.

A direct line of accountability

In North Carolina, magistrates are independent judicial officers who are overseen by chief district court judges. They set conditions of release and issue warrants, among other responsibilities.

Unlike with judges, there is not a direct line of accountability to the performance of a magistrate, Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather told the Charlotte Observer.

Every single person can go in and know that Im the DA of Mecklenburg County, and they can go in and look up my name and hold me directly accountable for the things that happened in court, he said. The same thing is true for our district court and superior court judges. But for some reason, its not true for the magistrate component of our system.

My sense is that magistrates try hard to follow the law and to exercise sound judgment, Welty wrote. Of course, sometimes they make mistakes, but often a decision that seems like a mistake in hindsight  because a defendant was released on bond and did something terrible  was a perfectly reasonable decision based on the information available to the magistrate at the time.

Carolina statute says that a judicial official must consider a wide range of information when deciding whether and how long to hold a defendant, including the nature of the offense charged, a defendants family ties and financial resources, length of residency in a community and more.

Magistrates have some discretion when setting bonds, though they are expected to set an amount that will ensure a defendant shows up to court.

Concerns over wait times

Giving the job of setting more bonds to judges would be one more setback for criminal justice reform, said Emancipate North Carolina Executive Director Dawn Blagrove. It could result in more people stuck in North Carolina jails longer than they should be, she said.

Dawn Blagrove, executive director of Emancipate NC, speaks during a press conference in Raleigh, N.C. on Monday, Jan. 30, 2023, about a 2020 incident in which Raleigh police officers served a no-knock raid at the wrong address.

In many jurisdictions across North Carolina, there may be weeks upon end when there is no district court judge available, she said.

Someone forced to sit in jail for two days might lose their job, custody over their children or their housing, she added. People of color are at greater risk, she said

The arbitrary nature of holding people in jail for any prescribed amount of time has a disproportionately harmful effect on poor Black and brown communities, she said.

The bill passed in the House by a vote of 92-25. If it is approved in the state senate and made into law, it will go into effect Oct. 1.
EL PASO, Texas  The end of Title 42 came and went without an immediate influx of migrants here, defying predictions of local and federal officials. More than a day after the pandemic-era law lifted, it remained to be seen what lay in store for many migrants and the border towns where they reside, however temporarily.

In total, Border Patrol apprehended just over 6,200 undocumented migrants crossing the border on Friday, the first day after Title 42 was lifted, two Homeland Security officials told NBC News on Saturday. That figure was lower than the 11,000 apprehended each day on Tuesday and Wednesday, as well as the 10,000 apprehended on Thursday.

The mayor of El Paso said Friday that "We have not seen any big numbers" when compared with last week.

Multiple migrants still in El Paso said that the reason for the decrease on the numbers of those crossing could be attributed to rapidly spread online rumors and a whisper network in Juarez, Mexico, saying that the time to cross was before Title 42s end. They said they feared their best chance to come to the U.S. was about to expire.

Migrants wait be processed by U.S. Border Patrol agents in El Paso, Texas (John Moore / Getty Images)

"There was a lot of talk that after the end of Title 42 it was going to be very difficult to come into the United States," said Rosa, 30, who had traveled from Venezuela.

Rosa, her husband and their three young children had recently arrived at the Rescue Mission shelter, where about 220 migrants were staying as of Thursday night. The family had turned themselves in to immigration authorities to seek asylum about a week earlier.

As she spoke, Rosa's 6- and 9-year-old sons played around circular tables where dozens of migrants had gathered to eat dinner together. The brothers ran over to explore a piano, their experimental music and laughter filling the air. In a nearby room, her 2-year-old daughter slept under her father's watchful eye.

Rosa, who asked that her full name not be used for fear of immigration reprisal, said she and other migrants were very fearful of possible punishments under Title 8, the section of U.S. law that was in place before Title 42 and is now being enforced again in its absence.

Rosa looks out of the window of the Rescue Mission of El Paso in El Paso with her six and nine year old sons (Adria Malcolm for NBC News)

Under Title 8, those who repeatedly attempt to enter the U.S. illegally face penalties, including a potential five-year ban and criminal prosecution. Title 42 had suspended those penalties, which led to an increase in the number of people who repeatedly crossed the border after they had been expelled.

"At the end of Title 42, that would be eliminated, and so that was the fear, not being able to come and turn yourself in," she said.

Juan Jose Rivera, 25, a Colombian migrant staying in the area outside Sacred Heart church, said fear of deportation and punishment "motivated a lot of people to turn themselves in."

"Sadly, a lot of us were still turned away. But thank God we were allowed to come legally," said Rivera, who wore sneakers with bright turquoise laces and carried a clear plastic bag containing his immigration documents.

Juan Jose Rivera (Adria Malcolm for NBC News)

Around the church on the morning after Title 42 ended, migrants discussed the fate of others who turned themselves in to authorities earlier in the week as they ate donuts handed out by a fellow migrant and lined up along a wall to use portable toilets.

In Juarez, there were a lot of murmurs that we would get deported after May 11, said Elienny Mavarez, a 20-year-old Venezuelan who was staying at the Opportunity Shelter for the Homeless. A lot of people were scared because it cost us a lot to get here.

In recent days, there were as many as 3,300 migrants outside the center and a local church. That number has largely dissipated after hundreds turned themselves in for processing this week before the end of Title 42, urged by authorities who handed out flyers in areas where the migrants were camped.

Migrants in El Paso, Texas (Adria Malcom for NBC News)

El Paso countys Migrant Support Services Center processed some 528 migrants on Friday, with 28 needing shelter in the city, county spokesperson Laura Gallegos told NBC News on Saturday. On Thursday, 715 migrants were processed there, and 115 of those went to shelters, she said. The center had scaled up operations to process 800 people a day starting Friday, compared with 650 previously, according to Irene Valenzuela, executive director of the county of El Pasos Community Services Department.

Still, some nongovernmental organizations in the city said their facilities were at or very near capacity on Friday. Overnight, there were probably about 750 to 900 in the wider shelter system in the city, which includes a school, hotel rooms and NGO-run facilities. That number includes migrants and local people in need of shelter.

'Do I turn myself in or not?'

Mavarez fled political instability and extreme poverty in Venezuela, where she was forced to go through garbage to eat or rely on her 4- year-old daughter's leftover oatmeal.

Its a horrible situation, said Mavarez, who wore a large white T-shirt bearing a silhouette of Texas and the words "Hey, y'all." Around her, other migrants looked through bins of donated clothes, holding them out to see if they would fit.

Mavarez said her daughter is waiting in Colombia with her grandmother because the trip through the jungle to the U.S. was too dangerous. She said she almost died three times along the way, nearly drowning in rivers.

I questioned, do I turn myself in or not? she said, about her decision ahead of Title 42s end. But I had to do it because of the fear.

Elienny Mavarez. (Adria Malcolm for NBC News)

Multiple migrants also said others stayed across the border in Mexico, determined to secure an appointment through CBP One, an online application from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which federal officials have urged migrants to use to make official appointments at ports of entry.

Many have said they struggled to get the application to work, and immigration authorities have since expanded the app's capability.

Tony David Mujica Micett, a 26-year-old Venezuelan at Rescue Mission, said he and his family were able to apply for an appointment through CBP One about six weeks ago after a difficult process of trying. He was at the shelter with his wife, Rotsy Lopez Martinez, 24, and their son Emmanuel, 3.

We did it with faith. Each time we got turned down we kept building more faith and then we accomplished it, said Mujica Micett, who was wearing a black T-shirt with New York written in blue. His wife held their smiling son, who held on tightly to a small green toy truck.

Mujica Micett said as a father to a young child he was desperate for the app to work because he did not want to cross illegally after being robbed and threatened by cartels.

Migrants from Venezuela eat in the dinning hall at the Rescue Mission of El Paso in El Paso, Texas (Adria Malcolm for NBC News)

He described large groups of migrants gathering in a plaza in Juarez, attempting over and over again to use the app.

The people who tried the most constantly accomplished getting an appointment, he said.

While Mujica Micett and his family await their appointment, some migrants who had turned themselves in were now desperately searching for their loved ones after being separated during processing.

Two Venezuelan brothers outside the Sacred Heart faced the same agony as they waited to hear from their wives.

Geryensen Renial Castro Marin and Davier Pulido Penaranda. (Adria Malcom for NBC News)

Im very worried because yesterday I heard they were deporting a good percentage of people, said Geryensen Renial Castro Marin, 22. I havent spoken to her, I havent heard anything about her.

Castro Marin said he still held out hope because a fellow Venezuelan told him that morning that she finally heard from her husband after she was released before him.

His brother Davier Pulido Penaranda, 28, was separated from his wife and 3-year-old twin daughters.

Im very worried, he said, adding that his sister-in-law had been sent back to Juarez overnight. We did things the right way and turned ourselves in.
Germany has placed an order for 50 Puma infantry fighting vehicles with Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) worth 1.087 billion euros.

According to Rheinmetall, 574 million euros will go to KMW and 501 million euros to Rheinmetall Landsysteme, GmbH.

The Puma is slowly replacing the country's old Marker infantry fighting vehicles. Delivery is set to begin in December 2025 and will be complete by the start of 2027, as reported by Reuters.

Boosting Defense in Response to Russia's Ukraine Invasion

Germany approved the purchase last week, which will boost its defense in response to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

The Puma is a modern and highly capable infantry fighting vehicle that will enhance the German military's ability to defend itself and its allies.

This includes increasing defense spending, expanding its military presence in Eastern Europe, and working with NATO allies to strengthen collective defense.

By investing in advanced military equipment like the Puma, Germany is sending a strong message to Russia that it will not tolerate aggression towards its neighbors and will do what it takes to protect its interests and those of its allies.

Read also: Germany Allows Poland to Send MiG-29 Jets to Ukraine in Effort to Fight Russia's Full-Scale Invasion

The Puma

The Puma is not just a replacement for the aging Marker infantry fighting vehicles but also represents a significant upgrade in terms of its capabilities.

The Puma can handle even the most challenging combat situations with enhanced armor protection and advanced weapon systems, including anti-tank missiles and 30mm automatic cannons.



Germany's decision to boost its defense capabilities comes at an important time when tensions between Russia and Ukraine are high.



The recent Russian military buildup near Ukraine's border has raised concerns about another potential conflict in Eastern Europe. Germany's increased investment in defense will provide reassurance to its allies that they have strong support against any hostile aggression from neighboring countries.Furthermore, this move by Germany demonstrates its commitment to NATO's collective security efforts, where all member states work together towards peacekeeping missions around the world while maintaining deterrence against any threats or conflicts that may arise.



Investing in modern military equipment like the Puma shows that Germany recognizes both regional threats as well as global challenges facing our international community today.



Overall, the Puma represents a significant upgrade in Germany's defense capabilities and underscores their commitment to NATO's collective security efforts.



With tensions high in Eastern Europe, Germany's investment in modern military equipment like the Puma will help deter potential threats and reassure their allies.



As we navigate an increasingly complex global security landscape, nations must work together to strengthen their defenses and promote peace and stability around the world.



Related article: Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine Forces Face Increasing Pressure in Bakhmut; US, Germany Pledge Sanctions on Russia

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
While a new School of Civic Life and Leadership would be established at UNC-Chapel Hill and receive millions in state funding under a budget proposal released Monday from the state Senate, two other schools at the university would see their budgets cut.

As in the House budget released last month, the Senate budget would allocate $2 million in state funding in each of the next two fiscal years to the School of Civic Life, which the UNC Board of Trustees proposed in January and has been a topic of controversy and contention at the university ever since.

Meanwhile, the Senate budget appears to reduce state funding to both the universitys School of Law and the School of Government in each of the upcoming fiscal years.

Those provisions to cut funding were not included in the House budget, and the Senates proposal seems to echo similar cuts proposed by the chamber in previous years, which ultimately were not as severe under the budget deals reached those years.

The Senates budget bill is expected to be voted on by the end of the week. A final compromise budget between the two chambers could pass in June.

Proposed funding for UNC School of Civic Life

Funds allocated in the Senate budget would be used to create and operate the School of Civic Life, per the Senates committee report on the budget, including hiring faculty and staff.

Both the Senates and the Houses budget proposals for the School of Civic Life, which has yet to be formally established at the university, fall short of the funding amounts UNC provost Christopher Clemens suggested in a budget planning document drafted earlier this year.

That document, reported by The News & Observer, included a potential request for $5 million in recurring funds for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. The document stated that the university expects any state-appropriated funds to the school will be matched with private support. Specific donors or sources of that financial support were not listed in the planning document.

As in the House budget bill, the Senate bill states that if the funds provided in the budget are insufficient to establish the school, the university shall expend sufficient additional funds to achieve that purpose.

The bill would officially establish the school, which would offer courses on the development of democratic competencies informed by American history and the American political tradition, with the purpose of fostering public discourse and civil engagement necessary to promote democracy and benefit society.

The school would house the universitys Program for Public Discourse, which was criticized in its planning stages over alleged conservative leanings, influences and funding sources. In describing the need they see for establishing the School of Civic Life, the universitys trustees have said the school would make the Program for Public Discourse more robust.

Since the Board of Trustees adopted a resolution supporting the development of the school in January, university faculty have criticized both the school and its proposed purpose, as well as the process by which the trustees introduced it.

Board of Trustees chair David Boliek appeared on the Fox and Friends morning show shortly after he introduced the resolution, saying the school would remedy the universitys lack of right-of-center views.

Faculty at the university say they were not informed of the boards plans to propose a school, nor consulted on the proposal, which many believe contradicts typical governance structures at the university, in which new academic programs traditionally come from faculty  not the trustees.

UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz wrote in a Jan. 27 campus message that any proposed degree program or school will be developed and led by our faculty, deans, and provost.

Funding cut to schools of government, law

As the School of Civic Life would receive millions in funding under the Senates proposed budget, two existing schools at the university would lose funding.

The Senate would cut funding to both the School of Government and the School of Law by $2.5 million in each of the next two fiscal years.

Those provisions, which were not in the Houses proposed budget, appear similar to previous cuts to the law schools funding proposed by the Senate in prior years, including 2015 and 2017.

In 2015, The N&O reported, the Senate proposed a $3 million funding cut to the school, which was ultimately not approved. In 2017, the Senate proposed a $4 million cut, which was negotiated down to a $500,000 cut.

Amid the proposed cuts in 2017, alumni of the law school rallied against the provisions, reaching out to legislators in droves to make their case against the cuts, The N&O reported.

In both years, as is the case this year, the House did not include cuts in their proposed budgets.
State Rep. Donna White had a secret to share Monday with a class of first-grade students at Riverwood Elementary School in Clayton.

White told the class she prefers reading to children instead of other lawmakers because sometimes big boys and big girls are not easy to read to. White was among 66 lawmakers who signed up for Mondays inaugural Bring Your Legislator To School Day co-sponsored by the Public School Forum of North Carolina and members of the NC Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year Network.

White has prior firsthand experience because the Johnston County Republican served on the school board for 12 years.

Its just an opportunity to be here, be involved and to know what the needs are and see what they are doing great, and theyre doing a lot of great things, White said in an interview.

State Rep. Donna White watches as Christine Duan reads her weekend journal to her first-grade classmates at Riverwood Elementary School in Clayton, N.C., on May 15, 2023. It was a statewide Bring Your Legislator To School Day.

Experience day-to-day realities of schools

Organizers of Bring Your Legislator to School Day say its meant to help lawmakers experience the day-to-day reality of North Carolinas elementary and secondary schools and to gain a better understanding of what works well for students and educators, and the challenges they face.

We talk about our civic responsibilities and being global citizens, said Jane Armbruster, principal of Providence Spring Elementary in Charlotte. So students understand the role of a lawmaker. We hope the lawmakers see the realities of public education and the challenges we have.

Invitations were extended to all 170 state lawmakers. The event was bipartisan, but 40 of the 66 lawmakers who registered were Democrats.

How much money for public schools?

Mondays statewide event comes amid a heated debate about how and how much state leaders should fund education and public schools.

State Senate GOP leaders are releasing Monday their budget plan for the next two years. Theyll negotiate with the House GOP, which approved its own budget plan that includes increases in education funding, including a 10.2% average raise for teachers over the next two years.

White noted that education spending represents 59% of the state budget.

Im not sure that money is the answer to everything, White said. I think theres a lot of collaboration that needs to be taken.

Weve got great teachers and weve got principals and they need to be able to do that and not feel like theyve got to be pressured into taking another leadership role like the central office.

Jenn Botterell (left), a special-education teacher assistant at Riverwood Elementary School in Clayton, N.C., talks to state Rep. Donna White (right) on May 15, 2023. It was a statewide Bring Your Legislator To School Day.

At the same time, GOP lawmakers are planning to pass legislation this year that would allow any North Carolina family, regardless of income, to get state funding to help cover the cost of attending a K-12 private school.

Democratic lawmakers have urged the GOP majority to fully support the Leandro plan, which would help fund programs to try to provide every child with a sound, basic education. The plan is up in the air after the new Republican majority on the state Supreme Court blocked an order transferring hundreds of millions of dollars into public schools.

Students fears

At Providence Spring, Rep. Laura Budd, a Mecklenburg County Democrat, listened Monday to a group of students talk about their fears of moving on to middle school.

I hear you  it is scary when your world opens up and gets bigger, said Budd, mom to three teens. When it happens to me I make new friends, but I make sure and keep my old friends.

Laura Budd speaks to students at Providence Spring Elementary in Charlotte, N.C., on Monday, May 15, 2023.

Providence Springs chorus sang for Budd during lunch, and then Budd was introduced to a snapshot of the school, including an outdoor classroom school officials created.

I love the fact we can take them on a field trip without putting them on a bus, Budd said of the outdoor classroom.

Mikayla Beverly, a fourth-grade student at Providence Spring, was part of a group that went to Raleigh earlier this year to watch lawmakers do their job.

Now its good that they can come to see our school, Mikayla, 9, said. They can see that were a great school, we have fun and have strong friendships.

How great our school systems are

At Riverwood Elementary in Johnston County, White toured first-grade classrooms to see how theyre using phonics to teach reading. She read the book Three Hens And a Peacock to one class.

State Rep. Donna White watches as Christine Duan reads her weekend journal to her first-grade classmates at Riverwood Elementary School in Clayton, N.C., on May 15, 2023. It was a statewide Bring Your Legislator To School Day.

White also toured two special-education classrooms to talk with staff and give hugs to the students.

I just feel like theyre special human beings on this Earth and theyre here for a very special purpose, White said of the special-needs students.

As White prepared to leave, school and district staff encouraged her to make the case to her fellow lawmakers for supporting public schools.

What I hope comes out of it is she goes back and talks with her colleagues, especially ones that are on different education committees, and shares with them and stresses to them how great our school systems are and how hard are staff and students are working on a daily basis and how much they are learning, Leigh White, the principal of Riverwood Elementary, said in an interview.
Last year, 15 sworn officers in North Carolina received damning letters declaring that prosecutors found them too untrustworthy to testify in court, according to the first full-year tally released by the state.

For years, reporters and criminal justice advocates have been working to bring some transparency to the process and the letters, which district attorneys and others have said for years arent public records.

A 2021 bipartisan criminal justice reform bill that sought to better track bad cops and excessive use of force by officers, however, for the first time required officers to report the designation to state officer standards commissions, which now submit annual reports to the General Assembly.

The 2022 reports provide few details. They dont include officer names, employers or reasons for the distrust. They do note whether officers were disciplined by a state standards and training commission.

The reporting and disclosure, however, could be going away once again.

A bill working its way through the General Assembly seeks to repeal the requirement for officers and others to report such letters to state officer training commissions

Flagging unreliable cops

Police officers credibility is essential. Often they are the only witnesses for charges that can range from traffic tickets to felony charges.

A typical defense for severe felony charges involves attacking the police investigation itself, yet another reason that prosecutors need a trustworthy officer on the stand.

So when district attorneys issue what is known as Giglio letters labeling an officer no longer trustworthy to testify, it is often career-ending designation.

There is no greater badge of infamy for law enforcement officers than a Giglio letter, Jeff Warren, a private attorney who represents law enforcement officers across the state, wrote in a Wake Forest Law Review article last year.

The North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission, which oversees police officer certifications, reported 11 notifications in 2022.

Instructor is Arron Stevens, top, trains law enforcement officers in compliance and control techniques related to use of force at the North Carolina Justice Academy in Salemburg Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022.

Eight of the individuals are no longer employed by the departments, and were still under review to determine whether officers violated statewide rules and should face sanctions, such as a suspension or revocation of their certification, according to the report.

The North Carolina Sheriffs Education and Training Standards Commission, which oversees deputies, reported that four individuals working for sheriff offices received the letters.

Two officers remain employed, the report states. All of the cases are under review.

Both reports were dated Feb. 28.

Death letters

U.S. Supreme Court rulings since 1963 have required prosecutors to disclose relevant evidence that could raise questions about witnesses credibility, bias or motivation.

In some cases, district attorneys issue Giglio letters to an officers employer that says the officer has been deemed not credible and is barred from testifying in that jurisdiction.

A section of a 2021 criminal justice reform law required that such letters be reported to the states two training and standards commissions that oversee the certification of police officers, deputies and others across the state.

The respective commissions review Giglio letters looking for violations of their rules, which can lead to suspension or revocations of officers certification.

The law also required agencies to report annually the total reported violations to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety.

Virginia Bridges covers criminal justice in the Triangle and across North Carolina for The News & Observer. Her work is produced with financial support from the nonprofit The Just Trust. The N&O maintains full editorial control of its journalism.
This story was originally published by the Border Belt Independent.

State Sen. Danny Britt, one of the most powerful Republicans in North Carolina, said he does not plan to run for state attorney general next year.

Political insiders have speculated that Britt, a Robeson County defense attorney who has served in the General Assembly since 2017, would vie for the seat.

But Britt told the Border Belt Independent on Monday that he decided the timing wasnt right for his family, including his 11-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son.

I want to. Ive got a lot of people that want me to, Britt said. But I want my kids to be a little bit older before I run for anything statewide.

Britt, 43, said he also wanted to pay down his student loan debt before running for attorney general. He has previously told the BBI that he owed about $185,000 when he finished law school in Oklahoma.

A lot of folks who went to law school had somebody kind of paying their way for them, he said. I didnt have that. It kind of put me in a different place financially for a little while.

Britt said Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Bishops potential run for attorney general was not a factor in his decision.

Andrew Murray, a former U.S. attorney who had been considered an early frontrunner in the Republican primary, opted out when Bishop expressed interest.

Britt said he encouraged Bishop to run for attorney general. If Bishop were to win and serve two four-year terms in the job, Britt said he would be well set up to succeed him in the 2032 election.

If he stays for at least eight years, my kids will then be 21 and 19, he said. So I can do about what I want to at that point.

Jeff Moore, director of communications for the North Carolina Republican Party, declined to comment for this story.

We love Sen. Britt, but (we) want to avoid weighing in on hypotheticals like this due to our duty of neutrality when it comes to primary elections, Moore said in an email.

Britt and abortion vote

Britts rise to power once seemed unlikely in Robeson County, where generations of voters had picked Democrats for office. But in recent years the GOP has gained major momentum in southeastern North Carolina, where many people were already aligned with socially conservative views.

Joining fellow Republicans, Britt voted this month in favor of a ban on most abortions after 12 weeks  which would further restrict the current ban after 20 weeks.

Britt said he wanted something longer than 12 weeks, noting that his wife did not know she was pregnant with their son until she was 11 weeks along. But, he said, the legislation was absolutely better than what we have in current law.

N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, vetoed the bill in a public ceremony over the weekend, but Republicans have a slim supermajority to override the veto.

As for the 2024 election, Britt said he will support Mark Robinson in the Republican primary for the governors race. Robinson, who currently serves as lieutenant governor, has come under fire for numerous comments he has made, including speaking out against transgender athletes and criticizing survivors of a school shooting.

There are some things that Mark Robinson said that I dont necessarily agree with, Britt said. But I think hes the best shot our state has to have somebody thats going to represent what the majority of people think.

Looking ahead to a future run for attorney general, Britt said, I think its something I would be good at. I think its something I would enjoy.
Planned Parenthood called for court packing and term limits for Supreme Court justices in its latest judicial reform package on Sunday.

Planned Parenthood's proposals come nearly a year after the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey in June 2022, allowing states to ban abortion. In addition to court packing and term limits, the group is also calling on Congress to establish a code of ethics for SCOTUS, expand the size of lower courts and end single-judge divisions.

While the group's proposal calls for an expanded Supreme Court bench, or court packing, it does not specify how many justices should be added.

"Planned Parenthood refuses to accept that our courts can only exist as they do now, and understands that reforms are integral to building the publics trust that the courts can and will function to uphold hard-won freedoms and advance justice for future generations," the group's president, Alexis McGill Johnson, said in a statement. "PPFAs expanded position is a continuation of our commitment to ensure that everyone, no matter where they live, has the freedom to make their own decisions about their own bodies, lives, and futures."

WHAT IS MIFEPRISTONE? ABORTION MEDICATION IN FOCUS AFTER SUPREME COURT ROE V WADE DECISION

Planned Parenthood has released a new platform to call for court packing and term limits for the Supreme Court, among other priorities.

AG GARLAND CLAIMS FBI HAS PUT FULL RESOURCES INTO TRACKING ATTACKS ON PRO-LIFE CENTERS DESPITE FEW ARRESTS

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"As we continue to face unrelenting attacks on our basic freedoms, our courts must be one backstop to protecting our rights. Instead, the courts have been used as a vehicle to advance a dangerous agenda against abortion rights, voting rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and so much more," she wrote.

Democrats and pro-choice groups have widely espoused the idea of court packing in the months since the fall of Roe v. Wade.

Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, unveiled a new suite of judicial reform priorities on Sunday, court packing among them.

PPFA's opposition to single-judge divisions comes in the same vein. The group argues that allowing just one or two judges to preside over a division within a federal district allows for "judge shopping" by interest groups.

The group also argues that the federal judiciary is "overburdened" and ought to be expanded in keeping with the growing U.S. population.

Planned Parenthood is calling for major reforms to the Supreme Court and the rest of the federal judiciary.

"Its been more than 30 years since Congress last comprehensively expanded the number of lower court seats  the longest period of time between expansions in the history of district courts and courts of appeals," PPFA wrote in a statement.
FILE - Special counsel John Durham, the prosecutor appointed to investigate potential government wrongdoing in the early days of the Trump-Russia probe, leaves federal court in Washington, May 16, 2022. Durham ended his four-year investigation into possible FBI misconduct in its probe of ties between Russia and Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign. The report Monday, May 15, 2023, from Durham offers withering criticism of the bureau but a meager court record that fell far short of the former presidents prediction he would uncover the crime of the century. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  A special prosecutor has ended his four-year investigation into possible FBI misconduct in its probe of ties between Russia and Donald Trumps 2016 campaign with withering criticism of the bureau but a meager court record that fell far short of the former presidents prediction he would uncover the crime of the century.

The report Monday from special counsel John Durham represents the long-awaited culmination of an investigation that Trump and allies had claimed would expose massive wrongdoing by law enforcement and intelligence officials. Instead, Durham's investigation delivered underwhelming results, with prosecutors securing a guilty plea from a little-known FBI employee but losing the only two criminal cases they took to trial.

The roughly 300-page report catalogs what Durham says were a series of missteps by the FBI and Justice Department as investigators undertook a politically explosive probe in the heat of the 2016 election into whether the Trump campaign was colluding with Russia to tip the outcome. It criticized the FBI for opening a full-fledged investigation based on "raw, unanalyzed and uncorroborated intelligence," saying the speed at which it did so was a departure from the norm. And it said investigators repeatedly relied on confirmation bias, ignoring or rationalizing away evidence that undercut their premise of a Trump-Russia conspiracy as they pushed the probe forward.

Again, the FBIs failure to critically analyze information that ran counter to the narrative of a Trump/Russia collusive relationship exhibited throughout Crossfire Hurricane is extremely troublesome, the report said. Crossfire Hurricane was the FBI code name for its investigation.

The impact of Durhams report, though harshly critical of the FBI, is likely blunted by Durhams spotty prosecution record and by the fact that many of the seven-year-old episodes it cites were already examined in depth by the Justice Departments inspector general. The FBI has also long since announced dozens of corrective actions. Still, Durhams findings are likely to amplify scrutiny of the FBI at a time when Trump is again seeking the White House as well as offer fresh fodder for congressional Republicans who have launched their own investigation into the purported weaponization of the FBI and Justice Department.

The FBI released a letter to Durham outlining changes it has made, including steps to ensure the accuracy of secretive surveillance applications to eavesdrop on suspected terrorists and spies. It also stressed that the report focused on prior leadership.

Had those reforms been in place in 2016, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented. This report reinforces the importance of ensuring the FBI continues to do its work with the rigor, objectivity, and professionalism the American people deserve and rightly expect, the FBI said in a statement.

Durham, the former U.S. Attorney in Connecticut, was appointed in 2019 by Trumps attorney general, William Barr, soon after special counsel Robert Mueller had completed his investigation into whether the 2016 Trump campaign had colluded with Russia to move the outcome of the election in his favor.

The Mueller investigation resulted in roughly three dozen criminal charges, including convictions of a half-dozen Trump associates, and concluded that Russia intervened on the Trump campaigns behalf and that the campaign welcomed the help. But Muellers team did not find that they actually conspired to sway the election, creating an opening for critics of the probe  including Barr himself  to complain that it had been launched without a proper basis.

The original Russia investigation was opened in July 2016 after the FBI learned from an Australian diplomat that a Trump campaign associate named George Papadopoulos had claimed to know of dirt that the Russians had on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the form of hacked emails.

But revelations over the following months laid bare flaws with the investigation, including errors and omissions in Justice Department applications to eavesdrop on a former Trump campaign aide, Carter Page, as well as the reliance by the FBI on a dossier of uncorroborated or discredited information compiled by an British ex-spy, Christopher Steele.

Durhams team delved deep into those mistakes, finding that investigators did not corroborate a single substantive allegation in the so-called Steele dossier and ignored or rationalized what it asserts was exculpatory information that Trump associates had provided to FBI confidential informants.

Durhams mandate was to scrutinize government decisions, and identify possible misconduct, in the early days of the Trump-Russia probe. His appointment was cheered by Trump, who in a 2019 interview with Fox News said Durham was supposed to be the smartest and the best. He and his supporters hoped it would expose a deep state conspiracy within the top echelons of the FBI and other agencies to derail Trumps presidency and candidacy.

Durham and his team cast a broad net, interviewing top officials at the FBI, Justice Department and CIA. In his first year on the job, he traveled with Barr to Italy to meet with government officials as Trump himself asked the Australian prime minister and other leaders to help with the probe. Weeks before his December 2020 resignation as attorney general, Barr appointed Durham as a Justice Department special counsel to ensure that he would continue his work in a Democratic administration.

The slow pace of the probe irked Trump, who berated Barr before he left office about the whereabouts of a report that would not be released for several more years. By the end of the Trump administration, only one criminal case had been brought, while the abrupt departure of Durhams top deputy in the final months of Trumps tenure raised questions about whether the team was in sync.

Despite expectations that Durham might charge senior government officials, his team produced only three prosecutions. A former FBI lawyer pleaded guilty to altering an email the FBI relied on in applying to eavesdrop on an ex-Trump campaign aide. Two other defendants  a lawyer for the Clinton campaign and a Russian-American think tank analyst  were both acquitted on charges of lying to the FBI.

_____

Follow Eric Tucker at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office has filed a motion seeking to free Christopher Dunn, who prosecutors say has spent more than three decades behind bars for a crime he did not commit.

Evidence proves Dunn, 51, is innocent and should not remain in custody a day longer, a special assistant to Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner wrote in the motion to vacate Dunns convictions. They are asking the courts to end this injustice.

Arrested at age 18, Dunn was convicted during a two-day trial of first-degree murder and other crimes in the May 18, 1990, fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy named Ricco Rogers in St. Louis. His conviction was based on the testimony of two boys, 14-year-old DeMorris Stepp and 12-year-old Michael Davis, both of whom have since recanted and admitted they lied at trial.

For months, lawyers and activists have urged Gardner to seek to overturn Dunns convictions. His case has drawn national attention for the legal conundrum in which he has been trapped: Dunn remains incarcerated at the South Central Correctional Center in Licking despite the fact that a judge, William Hickle, in 2020 agreed a jury would now likely find him innocent.

With the recantations and evidence of Dunns alibi, Hickle wrote, he did not believe any jury would now convict him.

Hickle declined to free Dunn, though, because he is not on death row. Legal precedent in Missouri restricts freestanding innocence claims  ones made without constitutional violations  to prisoners who have been sentenced to die. It meant Dunn would have been better off had he been awaiting execution, as opposed to his sentence of life in prison plus 90 years.

In the motion, Gardners office called that legal limit inexplicable.

We have an ethical duty to work to correct this injustice, Gardner, who is resigning June 1, said in a statement Monday. We are hopeful his wrongful conviction is set aside for the sake of Mr. Dunn, his family and the people of the City of St. Louis.

On the left, Christopher Dunn can be seen as a teenager. On the right, he poses for a photograph taken in a Missouri prison. Kira Dunn

Dunns legal team, including attorneys with the Kansas City-based Midwest Innocence Project, thanked the circuit attorneys office for their efforts. In a statement, they noted Missouri is the only state that limits innocence claims based on a prisoners sentence.

Until the legislature changes the law, only a prosecutor can petition a court to free an innocent defendant sentenced to anything less than death, Dunns attorneys said.

The states witnesses recant

The shooting that sent Dunn to prison unfolded at night outside 5607 Labadie Ave. in the citys Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood.

In their motion, prosecutors laid out their evidence of Dunns innocence.

For one, no physical evidence tied him to the killing.

The first witness recantation came in 2005, when Stepp signed an affidavit saying he committed perjury when he testified that Dunn was the shooter. He identified Dunn because he did not like him and because the police told him to do so, he said.

A prosecutor also cut Stepp a deal in an unrelated robbery case in exchange for his testimony. He ultimately got probation instead of a potential prison term of 30 years to life.

Im willing to come forward after all these years, because my conscious has been eating a way (sic) at me for all these years, Stepp wrote in an affidavit, adding that he was a scared kid who didnt know better. I just want to do what is right now and tell the truth.

Meanwhile, Davis provided a reason for his lies: He and Stepp were Bloods gang members, and he said it was rumored that Dunn was part of the rival Crips in their neighborhood  an accusation that Dunns wife has called false. Prosecutors also note that no gang ties were brought up at Dunns trial, which was devoid of a motive.

Davis was initially uncertain about his identification, but detectives showed the pre-teen gruesome photos of Rogers corpse, according to Gardners office. They pushed him.

Are you gonna let them do this to your friend? he recalled the police telling him.

Adding to the pressure, detectives also had Rogers mother call Davis. She cried, asking him to help get this monster off the streets.

Judge: Dunn is innocent

When Dunns attorneys took his new evidence to court in 2018, Dunns wife thought they brought far more to the table than what prosecutors used to convict him.

It was so apparent that after the hearing, she said, a sheriffs deputy apologized to Dunns mother.

Their evidence included testimony from a prisoner who said he overheard Stepp admit he didnt know who killed his friend, as well as two of Dunns friends who said they were on the phone with him around the time of the murder.

One of those friends, Catherine Jackson, who was 16 at the time, said she told a public defender about the call, but that her mother did not want her to testify at a murder trial.

I remember Chris Dunn was happy and acting normal, Jackson wrote in a 2016 affidavit, later adding: It has always bothered me that this boy  was arrested for a murder he supposedly committed on the night I was talking to him for almost an hour on the phone.

Another witness, Eugene Wilson, has swore that it was so dark, there was no way Stepp or Davis could have seen the shooter.

During Dunns prior attempts to overturn his convictions, the Missouri Attorney Generals Office has argued he is guilty. The office called the recanting witnesses repeat criminal offenders  Stepp is doing life in Missouri for killing a girlfriend and Davis did not testify at the 2018 hearing because he escaped from a California drug treatment center, making him a fugitive from justice.

The AGs office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Gardners effort to free Dunn.

Dunns mother and sister have also testified he was home around the time of the shooting.

In a call from prison, Dunn previously told The Star he was outside with his mother, uncle and siblings when they heard the gunshots three blocks away. His mother said, these fools out here shooting, lets go, and rushed them inside.

After he heard evidence at the 2018 hearing, Judge Hickle was convinced.

Coupled with the evidence in the record that (Dunn) had an alibi, this Court does not believe that any jury would now convict Christopher Dunn under these facts, he wrote.

But in denying Dunns petition, Hickle cited an appeals court decision in Lincoln v. Cassady, which lawyers say is a significant barrier to freeing innocent prisoners in Missouri. It was in the case of Rodney Lincoln that the appeals court in 2016 said the state supreme court had not recognized actual innocence as a reason to free a prisoner who was not facing death.

The Missouri 3

Dunn has dubbed himself a member of the Missouri three  a group of prisoners who, while they served time in separate cases, had the support of public officials in their fight for exoneration.

The other two, Lamar Johnson and Kevin Strickland, have been exonerated through the legal path Gardner is now taking to free Dunn.

Johnson spent more than 28 years in prison for a murder he did not commit in St. Louis. Strickland, whose case was the focus of a Star investigation, spent more than four decades in prison for a triple murder in Kansas City that he did not commit.

Earlier this month, Gardner announced she will resign June 1.

She agreed to step down after cutting a deal with lawmakers who agreed to no longer pursue legislation that would have allowed Missouris governor to strip prosecutors of their ability to handle violent crimes.
If the Rip Van Winkle story was set in Raleigh, Rip wouldnt have had to sleep for 20 years to awaken to a place transformed.

In Raleigh, 10 years would do it.

North Carolinas capital city is at the center of the second-fastest growing metropolitan area in the nation.

Now a post-pandemic development surge is accelerating change as apartment buildings multiply, office towers rise and home prices and rents soar.

The change has also brought regret for lost landmarks and nostalgia for a Raleigh that is disappearing beneath the construction cranes.

The neighborhood group Livable Raleigh is pushing against the rapid development that its members think is changing the citys character for the worse.

Stef Mendel, a former Raleigh City Council member and a leader of Livable Raleigh, said the citys culture is breaking down as development intrudes into established neighborhoods and gentrification renders parts of the city too expensive for low- and middle-income people.

Its harder to have that community feeling when you start building high-rises everywhere that are for wealthy people, she said. Its becoming an enclave for the very wealthy and thats sad to me. Its just not friendly the way it used to be.

But Livable Raleighs concern raises a question: What exactly was  or is  Raleighs character? Did it ever have one to lose?

When I presented this question to Dudley Price, a Raleigh native now retired after a long career as a News & Observer reporter, he suggested a lead sentence for a column about Raleighs character: This is for all you insomniacs out there.

Raleighs always been boring, he said.

But that may be its charm. Raleigh is safe, predictable and still  at least for some newcomers  affordable.

A 2015 Charlotte Observer column by Mark Washburn made light of Raleighs supposed dullness, calling it a suburb of Cary.

That dig prompted a response from people who like the citys lack of drama.

John Pugh, owner of House of Swank, a store selling southern-themed T-shirts, made one that played on a slogan popular in Texass capital: Keep Austin Weird. Pughs version reads: Keep Raleigh boring. They go for $25.

We sold a ton of them when they first came out, Pugh said. Theyve been consistent sellers for years.

Smedes York, a former Raleigh mayor who wrote the book Growing Up With Raleigh, said his hometown isnt boring. I think I would describe Raleigh as upbeat, friendly and successful. He said its a place where strangers still say hello when they pass on the street. Its a culture we have and its a vital culture to protect, he said.

Growth is surely transforming Raleigh. In 2000, its population was 276,000. Today its approaching 500,000 and the growth momentum, largely fueled by expansion of tech industries, is getting stronger.

Patrick Young, Raleighs planning director, said, Since the pandemic, were seeing global capital flooding the market.

Young said the average home price has climbed from $155,000 in 2017 to $276,000 in 2022, an almost 80 percent increase in just five years.

Raleighs growth in the early 2000s was on its margins and not as noticeable. Now its happening at its core.

A dozen office towers are eligible to be built in Raleighs downtown and its North Hills section. More than 11,700 apartments are in the development pipeline. Raleighs downtown, once mostly empty after office hours, has a residential population of 12,000, a number that is expected to double in the next decade.

Young said growth is changing the city, but restricting it would drive up land prices and housing costs even faster. The trick is to let Raleigh grow without outgrowing the qualities that make it appealing.

Weve got to do this in a way that preserves the quality of life and the character that people moved here for, he said. Its a delicate and difficult balance.

Theres plenty to be excited about in Raleigh  especially how to keep it boring.

Associate opinion editor Ned Barnett can be reached at 919-404-7583, or nbarnett@ newsobserver.com
Ukrainian servicemen are seen after a fight near the front line city of Bakhmut

(Reuters) -Russia's Defence Ministry said on Sunday that two of its military commanders were killed in eastern Ukraine, as Kyiv's forces renewed efforts to break through Russian defences in the embattled city of Bakhmut.

In a daily briefing, the ministry said that Commander Vyacheslav Makarov of the 4th Motorized Rifle Brigade and Deputy Commander Yevgeny Brovko from a separate unit were killed trying to repel Ukrainian attacks.

It said that Makarov had been leading troops from the front line, and that Brovko "died heroically, suffering multiple shrapnel wounds". The defence ministry rarely announces the deaths of military command in its daily briefings.

It also said Ukrainian forces waged attacks in the north and south of Bakhmut over the past 24 hours, but that they had not broken through Russian defences. "All attacks by units of Ukraine's armed forces have been repelled," it said.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner mercenary force which has spearheaded much of the Russian advance on Bakhmut, said his forces had advanced up to 130 metres (400 feet) over the past 24 hours.

Prigozhin, in an audio statement on Telegram, said his forces controlled 28 multi-story buildings in western districts of Bakhmut where Ukrainian troops were still operating.

Ukrainian forces, he said, were holding 20 buildings and a total area of 1.69 square km (0.65 square miles).

Reuters was not able to independently verify Russia's account.

Ukrainian deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar confirmed on Sunday that Ukrainian forces "continue to move forward in the Bakhmut sector in the suburbs."

"Our units captured more than ten enemy positions in the north and south of Bakhmut and cleared a large area of forest near Ivanivske. Enemy soldiers from different units were captured," she said on the Telegram messaging app.

Neither Ukraine nor Russian forces have been able to take full control of the city, despite months of grinding warfare that has inflicted heavy losses on both sides.

Moscow acknowledged on Friday that its forces had fallen back north of Bakhmut amid a surge of Ukrainian attacks, but Kyiv has played down suggestions a huge, long-planned counteroffensive has officially begun.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Ros Russell, Ron Popeski and Lisa Shumaker)
A woman and dog camping along the Rogue River are feared drowned after going missing in the water, Oregon firefighters reported.

A bystander pulled the womans husband from the river at Indian Mary County Park near Grants Pass at about 5 p.m. Friday, May 12, Rural Metro Fire said in a news release.

The rescue followed an incident at the parks boat ramp, firefighters said. The bystander and rescuers performed CPR on the man until his pulse was restored.

He was taken to a hospital, the release said. No further information on his medical condition was available.

Firefighters and sheriffs deputies used a drone to search for the woman and dog, who were believed to also be in the river, but could not find them, the release said.

They called off the search at 8 p.m., and the woman and dog are feared drowned, firefighters said.

Water levels are very high and move deceptively swift below the surface, firefighters warned. Melting snowpack keeps the water colder than expected, and will quickly affect muscle function.

Grants Pass is a city of 39,000 people about 245 miles south of Portland near the California border.

At least 4,000 people die from drowning every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and drowning is a leading cause of death for children.

Some factors can make drowning more likely, including not knowing how to swim, a lack of close supervision, not wearing a life jacket and drinking alcohol while recreating near or in water.

The National Drowning Prevention Alliance said there are tips to help keep you safe in the water, including checking local weather conditions, never swimming alone and choosing the right equipment.

Dont hesitate to get out of the water if something doesnt feel right, the group said on its website. Whether its that the current is getting rough, rain has started to fall, or your body is just not responding like you would like it to due to fatigue or muscle cramps, then just leave and return to the water another day. Its always a good thing to trust your instincts.

Dog playing fetch falls off cliff chasing ball  but gets lucky, Washington rescuers say

Man killed when his pistol fires during struggle with police, California cops say

Empty tent, ski tracks found in search for missing climbers at Denali National Park
NASA has ended the Lunar Flashlight project to locate ice sources on the moon. The agency struggled for several months to get the craft to reach its intended destination due to an issue with generating enough thrust. Experts believe that debris buildup in the fuel lines prevented the CubeSat from performing at its best.

A small flashlight called Lunar Flashlight, created by Georgia Tech students, was supposed to embark on a four-month mission to the moon to search for water ice. However, despite attempts to fix the issue, the craft will continue past Earth and potentially come close to the sun.

NASA is looking at the bright side of the project's failure and highlighting the successful components. The principal investigator, Barbara Cohen, acknowledged that it was disappointing but emphasized that the mission demonstrated the effectiveness of various tools used on the satellite, according to Engadget.

Additionally, the researchers were able to gather valuable data on the instrument's performance during the flight, which will be useful for future versions of the project.

A Silver Lining Still

NASA's Lunar Flashlight project was part of the agency's larger initiative to explore and eventually establish a permanent presence on the moon. The search for water ice is crucial in this effort, as it can be used not only for drinking but also as fuel and building materials.

While disappointing that the craft could not reach its intended destination, NASA recognizes the importance of learning from failures in order to improve future missions. This setback will undoubtedly inform future designs and developments aimed at exploring our solar system.

Moreover, projects like Lunar Flashlight highlight the power of collaboration between government agencies such as NASA and academic institutions such as Georgia Tech. By working together, they created innovative technology that pushes boundaries while advancing scientific knowledge.

The cancellation of Lunar Flashlight does not mean an end to NASA's lunar exploration efforts; instead, it underscores their commitment to continuing research into one of humanity's nearest celestial neighbors, which has been intriguing us since ancient times with its mysterious beauty.

Read also: NASA, SpaceX Launch TEMPO Satellite To Monitor Earth's Air Pollution

The Search for Water Ice

NASA's lunar exploration program has been fascinating and inspiring for generations. From the first landing on the moon in 1969 to current efforts aimed at establishing a permanent presence, humans have long dreamed of exploring our closest celestial neighbor.

The search for water ice is one of the key objectives of NASA's lunar exploration program. This valuable resource can be used as drinking water, fuel, and building materials - essential for future human settlements on the moon.

Despite setbacks like that experienced by Lunar Flashlight, scientists remain undeterred in their quest to unlock new discoveries about Earth's satellite. The cancellation has allowed researchers to assess what went wrong with this particular mission so they can improve its design or develop alternative methods altogether.

In addition to scientific research, NASA's space programs are also driving innovation across various industries, such as medicine, agriculture, and energy production, through spin-off technologies developed from space missions.

Moreover, collaborations between government agencies like NASA and academic institutions demonstrate how partnerships within different sectors could lead to significant advancements that benefit society while inspiring younger generations into science fields.

With renewed enthusiasm emerging around colonizing other planets, including Mars, today we stand closer than ever before toward achieving mankind's dream - becoming an "interplanetary species."

Related article: [LOOK] NASA Telescope Detects Brightest Explosion from Space as Star Collapses Into Black Hole

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Smoke rises above Khartoum, Sudan, amid fighting between warring factions. Hundreds of thousands have fled the city. (Maheen S. via Associated Press)

It took a bullet for Ashraf Malik to start panicking. For the first three days of Sudans latest eruption of armed conflict, the 23-year-old dental student bunkered in his apartment in Khartoum, watching the fighting rage close to his neighborhood in the Sudanese capital but feeling relatively unconcerned.

I didnt take it seriously. I thought it would be a minor conflict and resolve itself within a couple of days, as usual, he said in an interview via WhatsApp.

But then a .50 caliber slug smashed through a window, chomping out an iPhone-sized chunk in the wall above where his cousin was sleeping.

Thats when we decided to leave, he said.

There was just one problem: Malik couldnt get his passport. Two days before the fighting began, he had handed it over to the Spanish Embassy to obtain a visa to attend a dentistry conference in Madrid. Now, Khartoum's diplomatic quarter was experiencing some of the hardest fighting in the battle for supremacy between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The embassy was closed.

Days later, when it posted an emergency phone contact, he finally managed to reach someone.

When she knew I wasnt Spanish, she hung up. I called again, and she said, Youre not Spanish. I cant help you, and hung up again. I called again and told her the embassy has my passport, but she said it didnt matter and that they couldnt help me, Malik said. Then she blocked my number.

Almost a month into the fighting, hundreds  potentially thousands  of passport-holding Sudanese like Malik remain stranded because their documents are stuck in embassies whose international staff has long since been evacuated.

They're unable to flee the country as the fighting rages, despite ongoing negotiations and cease-fires that are broken almost as soon as they are set. Khartoum, a city of roughly 5.4 million people, has seen hundreds of thousands escape as streets become battlegrounds and fighter jets hunt in the skies above. Some 600 people have been killed, and thousands more have been wounded.

Fighting in Khartoum, Sudan's capital, has gone on for nearly a month, and at least 600 people have been killed. (Marwan Ali / Associated Press)

On Tuesday, the United Nations' senior aid envoy Martin Griffiths said the number of people internally displaced by the violence had topped 700,000.

It's a race against time to provide life-saving assistance to those in need. The fighting needs to stop now, he tweeted.

By April 24, nine days into the fighting, foreign embassies had managed to evacuate thousands of their nationals, including about 1,000 from the European Union. But there had been no action for people like Rasha Omer, 37, an Amsterdam-based social media manager who has permanent residency in the Netherlands but whose mother, Nafisa, and brother, Abdulrahman, were in Khartoum. They had submitted their passports to the Dutch Embassy early last month to get visas to visit her in Amsterdam after Ramadan.

We tried calling and emailing multiple times but got no response," Omer said. "I also asked if they could send me a letter detailing what happened in case my family could use this as a supporting document. They never responded.

The Twitter account of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded April 25 to a Sudanese journalist asking how to retrieve passports by saying it deeply regrets the current situation youre in but that the embassy was closed and we advise to apply for a new passport with your local authorities.

But that was clearly an impossibility with Khartoum virtually a war zone and no passport-printing facilities available outside the capital.

What local authorities? There is NO WAY that the Dutch ministry of foreign affairs could be so detached from the reality of what's happening in Sudan that they don't know that there seems to be NO local authorities in Sudan capable of processing any formal documents, one Twitter user wrote in reply.

Other Sudanese compared their treatment with the travel facilities offered to Ukrainians when their country plunged into war. Thousands signed a petition asking the British Parliament to set up a mechanism allowing Sudanese affected by the conflict to join their families in the U.K., just as it had for Ukrainians.

"The [British] Government should aim to treat all people equally, a war is a war, and people affected by war should be treated and helped equally," the petition said.

Initially, Reem Abbass, 33, a writer in Khartoum, was sure the fighting would end within a week; she even assured organizers of a workshop in France that she would attend. But as the violence spun on, she found herself in limbo, unable to make any plans with her parents to flee because her passport was at the Spanish Embassy (she had planned a visit to Spain after the workshop).

My family didnt know what to do. I was afraid my moms medicine would run out, and my father is also sick; I didnt know what our plan was as a family, she said.

Though she understood embassies prioritized staff and their nationals, she expected some level of responsibility toward visa applicants.

Sudanese refugees arrive at a camp in South Sudan. (Peter Louis / World Food Program)

OK, youre safe, youre evacuated. Now please help us, she said. These are embassies. They have protection from the authorities. Open it an hour and give us the passports. And then its our responsibility.

Instead, the response has been ad hoc. Some embassies gave people a few hours to pick up passports before shredding them. Others said they would provide a letter certifying that the passport was in the embassys possession.

Ahmad Mahmoud, a Sudanese filmmaker, had submitted his passport in late March to the Swedish Embassy to attend a film festival in April in the city of Malmo. After pleading for days via email and WhatsApp to get his passport back, even without a visa, he was told to look for a Plan B, and that the embassy would not be able to furnish any kind of supporting documentation. Eventually, the embassy staff member with whom he was communicating stopped responding.

That left Mahmoud enraged.

Theres no need to leave a passport at the embassy," he said, citing electronically issued visas. "I know they do this for some nationalities. But some of us are not worthy of keeping our passport with us, it seems."

Mahmoud finally decided to escape to Port Sudan, a 13-hour drive from Khartoum. Hes staying in a friends apartment with his wife, but is still unsure what to do.

My wife wont leave the country without me, and it feels like shes stuck because of me, he said.

Omer, the social media manager, and her family also gave up on their passports. On April 26, they headed to the Egyptian border, where the Sudanese government had set up a limited consular office. They arrived two days later, and two days after that, Omers parents crossed into Egypt.

Her brother, Abdulrahman, found an expired passport of his whose validity he extended, but two weeks later, hes still waiting for permission to cross.

Malik, the student, and his family also wanted to escape to Egypt, but they waited for him to get his passport back from the Spanish Embassy. When the fighting came close to their home, they decided they had to leave right away.

While the others headed for the Egyptian border, Malik and his brother went to Port Sudan. When evacuations began from there, his brother boarded a ship bound for Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia, then went on to Dubai. But Malik remains in Port Sudan.

"Im still trying to get the passport, but no response, he said.

Im just stuck here. All my family escaped. Im the only one still here.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Former President Trump is pushing back on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantiss (R) remarks calling on the GOP to reject a culture of losing in 2024, saying Ron is not a winner.

First of all, Im not at all caught up in the past. And second of all, Im doing much better against [President] Biden than he is in the polls, and Im doing much better against him, Trump told The Messenger. I mean, Im beating [DeSantis] by 40 points in some polls, so he can talk about what he wants. And third of all, I did very well in the midterms.

Rons not a winner because Ron, without me, wouldnt have won, Trump added. If I would have left it alone, he would have lost by 30 points or more.

DeSantis, who is mulling a bid for the White House, said at an event over the weekend that Republicans would win if they provide a positive alternative to President Biden.

But theres no substitute for victory, he said. We must reject the culture of losing that has infected our party in recent years.

Trump has repeatedly taken credit for DeSantiss win in the 2018 Florida gubernatorial race. He said in the new interview that DeSantis was as dead as a doornail before receiving his endorsement.

I revived him.  Im a loyal person, Trump said. If that happened to me, I would never run against the guy that did that. Hes got plenty of years left. And I think if he runs, hes gonna lose MAGA votes forever. Thats my opinion. And the MAGA votes are almost everything in the Republican Party, far bigger than you think.

When asked if he would ever endorse DeSantis, who was overwhelmingly reelected in 2022, Trump said its too early to say. So far, Im not a fan of the way that hes running.

He also said that DeSantis is not doing well in the polls because he has no personality and does not have a lot of political skill.

Trump has maintained a significant lead lead over DeSantis and others in hypothetical polls about the 2024 election. DeSantis has consistently polled in second place in these surveys, with announced GOP candidates such former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy trailing the governor.

Updated at 9:00 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
J. Marie Bailey, left, a former teacher, and Will Larkins, 18, a high school senior, speak up against book banning and repression of LGBTQ+ students at an April 11 protest during an Orange County school board meeting in Orlando, Fla. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

The tattoos on Jen Cousins arms speak to literacy and how books can take on us on trips across strange and extraordinary universes: an owl for wisdom, a drawing from the novel Wonder, multicolored glasses from Harry Potter and a saying from one of her children: The world is only what you shape it to be.

But as any Hogwarts wizard knows, and as Cousins, a mother with a defiant streak, was quick to discover, many forces are conspiring to shape the world.

At a school board meeting here two years ago, her ideas clashed with those of conservative parents and a Proud Boys member who called for Gender Queer, a graphic memoir by Maia Kobabe about sexual identity, to be pulled from library shelves.

"This is the 21st century. We dont ban books, right? said Cousins, recalling that day when school board members freaked out over the memoir's depictions of sexual acts that she said were taken out of context. It was even more personal to me because my child, who was 12 at the time, had just come out as non-binary. I gave them Gender Queer after that so they could find acceptance and confirmation and know they were not alone.

Jen Cousins, center, co-founded the Florida Freedom to Read Project. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Cousins said she grew incensed at the encounter, the way she did when she was 10, watching the first Gulf War on CNN. "We were latchkey kids," she said. "My mom worked nights at a drugstore, and I'd call her and say, 'I can't believe this war is happening. We shouldn't be there. Stop it.'"

The mother of four is still at the center of an inflamed culture war that has pitted teachers, librarians and parents against conservative parental rights groups and powerful politicians, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who are pressing school boards to remove hundreds of books on gender identity, race, sex education and LGBTQ+ issues. Cousins was back in front of her Orange County, Fla., school board last month, protesting against censorship.

In 2022, a record 1,269 demands were made to forbid books and other materials in schools and libraries nationwide, according to the American Library Assn., up from 156 in 2020. But the book-banning opponents are gaining momentum.

Red Wine & Blue, a national, politically active "sisterhood" founded in Ohio, helps people speak out against censorship at public meetings. A librarian who was threatened and harassed for condemning book bans started Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship.

Texas teacher Frank Strong publishes the "Book-Loving Texan's Guide", a report on state school board races that rates candidates with a color chart.

"These conservative groups show up like clockwork to school board meetings," said Strong, a high school English teacher in Austin. "It's clear to me that if you want to combat them, you have to organize, get out early and be disciplined."

He said resistance to book bans was significant in November, when only eight of the 38 "pro-censorship" school board candidates he tracked were elected.

"Anti-censorship people are building a network in Texas," he said. "They're savvier and more aware now of what the other side is doing."

Texas state Rep. James Talarico challenged conservatives' literary tastes in March, saying proposed restrictions could mean censoring "Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurtry. The book, beloved by liberal and conservative Texans alike, contains sex scenes, including rape. A Democrat and former teacher, Talarico told a committee meeting that it would be a "travesty" to ban "the greatest novel, I think, in Texas history."

Some of the books that have been banned from schools in certain Florida counties. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times )

The passion around book banning in public schools underscores the dangerous rancor in the nations politics.

Many of the debate's most potent issues  parental rights, gender identity, race and the future of schools  are emerging as campaign themes in next years presidential election. DeSantis, a likely Republican candidate for president, has drawn praise from conservatives and parental rights groups for leading one of the most aggressive states in policing library shelves and the teaching of racial history.

"It blows my mind," said Cousins, who tucks her disdain into a half-smile and travels across Florida rallying against what she sees as an attempt to narrow the minds of children. This goes hand in hand with right-wing groups wanting to destroy public education."

The political action committee EveryLibrary is tracking more than 100 proposed bills nationwide that would limit what people can read and, in some states, could lead to criminal charges against educators. Teachers have been vilified as groomers, librarians have been cursed, and school administrators have been harassed to get rid of evil and pornographic books.

I never thought Id be a president who is fighting against elected officials trying to ban and banning books, President Biden told a gathering of teachers April 24 at the White House. Ive never met a parent who wants a politician dictating what their kid can learn and what they can think or who they can be.

Larkins, a senior at Winter Park High School, said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state legislators "are terrified of us. They know that Gen Z is on the side of freedom. They're afraid, and they know in a few years they won't have any power." (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Book banning is being weaponized to harm LGBTQ+ students and students of color, said Will Larkins, a senior at Winter Park High School in Florida, who was draped in a Pride flag while protesting alongside Cousins at the Orange County school boardmeeting. He said DeSantis and Florida legislators know that Gen Z is on the side of freedom. Theyre afraid, and they know in a few years they wont have any power.

::

Students, teachers and parents attend the school board meeting in Orlando to voice their concerns regarding the move by the board and the Florida Legislature to remove books from school libraries and limit education on race and LGBTQ+ issues. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Wearing green-tinted glasses and carrying a water bottle, Cousins, who has an art history degree, walked the lines of the protest. LGBTQ+ students handed out fliers and rainbow flags as older couples held umbrellas against the sun. A girl with peace-sign earrings danced not far from a man wearing an Ask me about Jesus T-shirt.

A New Jersey native who studied for a time in England, Cousins said she is alarmed at what is happening in her adopted state. A charter school principal in Tallahassee resigned in March under pressure for not informing parents of sixth-graders that a picture of Michelangelo's nude statue "David" would be shown in class.

Talk of such cultural skirmishes was in the air as Cousins, with about 300 others, filed past metal detectors and into the board meeting. She watched as emotionally charged students and parents took to the microphone. One mother said she didn't want books in school exposing children to "anal sex" and LGBTQ+ themes: "We want math, biology and education."

"I'm hated for existing," said an LGBTQ+ student, noting that she lives near Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, where a gunman killed 49 people in 2016.

Cousins listened and shook her head.

We vacationed in Florida and liked the people and the weather," she said after the meeting. When she and her husband, a software architect, decided to move here from Pennsylvania in 2014, "it was still the Florida of Florida Man and alligators in hurricanes. Just weird stuff, she said. But now its a fascist hellscape. With all the laws theyre passing, my family essentially isnt safe here anymore. Its a nonstop attack on human rights. We are considering moving.

Cousins and Stephana Ferrell founded the Florida Freedom to Read Project after meeting at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to support mask-wearing in schools. They confronted conservative parental rights groups, including Moms for Liberty, that opposed COVID-19 restrictions and would later challenge "liberal indoctrination" on the teaching of racial equality and gender. Those protests have resulted in attempts to remove more than 1,100 titles from Florida school libraries, including TheBluest Eye by Toni Morrison, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood and 20 books by Jodi Picoult.

Stephana Ferrell co-founded the Florida Freedom to Read Project. (Inspired Storytellers)

I didnt know it would lead to any of this when I was sitting in a school board meeting two years ago, said Ferrell, a mother of two elementary students who shut down her photography business to concentrate on fighting censorship. We chose public schools because of diversity. But diversity is under attack. Theyre targeting minority communities whose stories are only just getting out there on the shelves.

Cousins and Ferrell track school board votes and the fates of books across the states 67 districts. They file public records requests, travel to Tallahassee to appear before the Legislature (Ferrell was once given 15 seconds to speak), enlist volunteers and try to find wins in a state firmly in the hands of a conservative Republican Party.

This is seven days a week, said Ferrell. I feel guilty at spending less time with my family. But Id feel completely lost as a parent if I wasnt doing this work. Someone has to push against the pendulum. Its exhausting and empowering.

She added: Its a David-and-Goliath situation. But we are having wins. A school district [in Pinellas County]recently reinstated The Bluest Eye to its shelves.

With its 2,000 members, the Florida Freedom to Read Project is outnumbered by Moms for Liberty, which claims 115,000 members across 280 chapters in 45 states. Last year, Moms for Liberty endorsed 500 candidates in school board elections nationwide, and 275 of them won. The group has grown into a political force. DeSantis spoke at the organization's conference last summer in Tampa, which was also attended by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Betsy DeVos, who was Education secretary in the Trump administration.

Moms for Liberty criticizes what it regards as an agenda-driven education system that emphasizes race, gender and diversity at the expense of core subjects. The group notes that millions of U.S. children cannot read at grade level.

American parents should not be villainized for asking any questions about their childrens education, said Tiffany Justice, a former school board member and co-founder of Moms for Liberty. But that is whats happening.

Justice said she wants to reform an "education system that is failing and an educational industrial complex that is working to hide that failure.

The meeting of the Orange County school board. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Sonia Ledger, an Orange County high school resource teacher who works with families to prevent students from dropping out, stood near Cousins at the protest. Public education," she said, "has been under attack for so long, and now theyve found something they can use to get rid of public schools.

Ledger added: My biggest concern is that students will not have access to books that represent everyone. Were going to send these kids out into the world, and theyll be competing against students in other states that have not banned books. Theyre going to sound ignorant."

A student at the protest. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

::

Conservative fervor around book removal stems largely from stories about racial inequality and graphic novels, memoirs and sex education books aimed at LGBTQ+ students, including Gender Queer, Flamer and This Book Is Gay. Members of Moms for Liberty and other groups have held up explicit illustrations  depictions of sex and nudity  from these books at school board meetings.

A PEN America study found 1,477 individual book bans affecting 874 unique titles during the first half of the 2022-23 school year. Of those titles, 30% dealt with racial themes or characters, while 26% featured LGBTQ+ story lines.

From left, Stephen Nagy, Rick Johnson and Steven Wade pray together before the Orange County school board meeting. "I believe in free speech, but it has to be tempered with common sense," says Wade. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

I think books need to be regulated more," said Rick Johnson, who wore the Ask me about Jesus T-shirt at the school board protest. "We as a community have dropped the ball by not paying attention to whats being brought into our schools.

He couldnt name the books he wanted taken off shelves but said theyre of extreme sexual content. Some of the things even at an adult level are extreme, crude, ugly and pornographic in nature.

While Johnson spoke, Cousins carried a bag of banned books, handed out flags and talked to students and a few adults wearing T-shirts that read Moms demand action for gun sense in America. Cousins has been an activist for years, canvassing for candidates and tracking issues, particularly those pertaining to the LGBTQ+ community. She recently attended a drag queens march in Tallahassee and believes Florida's book restrictions are part of a broader effort to discriminate against non-binary and gay children like hers.

The Florida Board of Education recently expanded the states Dont Say Gay law by forbidding the teaching of gender identity and sexual orientation in any grade.

My kids know exactly whats happening, said Cousins, who scrolled to a picture on her phone of her 9-year-old son marching in a Pride parade. I want them to be aware that their rights are being attacked. They definitely feel it. This state is trying to put these kids in a bubble and force everyone else who isnt white or straight out of it.

One of her favorite books is George Orwell's dystopian novel "1984," which she noted is eerily relevant to the times. Her encounters with conservatives often border on the surreal: One guy yelled at me for my gay shoes because I had rainbow stringsin them. He was up in my face, mad about my gay shoes. Its insane.

When the protest was over, Cousins praised the students and headed home to her flags and banned books. She had to make phone calls and post on social media. Another trip to the state capital was in the works.

L.A. Times Book Club: State of Banned Books

What: Actor, author and "ReadingRainbow" founder LeVar Burton joins the L.A. Times Book Club to discuss the "State of Banned Books" with Times editor Steve Padilla.

When:May 24 at 7 p.m. Pacific.

Where: ASU California Center, 1111 S. Broadway, Los Angeles. This book club event also can be attended virtually. Get tickets.

Join us: Sign up for the Book Club newsletter for the latest books, news and events.

Cousins, right, gets a hug from a supporter. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Update: A federal judge on Monday delayed again the case of William Chrestman.

Kansas City-area Proud Boy William Chrestman just keeps popping up in connection with Jan. 6.

In scenes of an angry mob outside the U.S. Capitol that day, wielding an ax handle and chanting Whose house? Our house! before breaching the building. On video clips shown last year during a prime time televised hearing of the special House panel investigating the attack.

And now, dressed in orange attire and singing The Star-Spangled Banner with the J6 Prison Choir inside the District of Columbia jail. The song has been turned into a track called Justice for All, interspersed with the voice of former President Donald Trump reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. In early March, the single rose to No. 1 on the iTunes chart, and Trump used it on March 25 to open the first rally of his 2024 presidential campaign in Waco, Texas.

On Tuesday, Chrestman will be making another appearance. This one, in federal court.

After a string of continuances  the judge in his case was also handling the sedition trial of five Proud Boys leaders that just wrapped up after nearly four months  Chrestman is scheduled for a status conference in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The former sheet metal journeyman from Olathe is expected to attend the hearing via video conference from the jail.

Unlike the five other Proud Boys charged along with him, Chrestman is incarcerated, held without bond since his arrest on Feb. 11, 2021. Dubbed #axehole on Twitter, the Army veteran was captured on numerous videos alongside other Proud Boys during the insurrection, dressed in tactical gear, carrying an ax handle and stirring up the crowd with raucous chants.

A man identified as William Chrestman of Olathe uses what was described as an ax handle to prevent a metal barrier from being lowered to keep the crowd back in the Capitol.

Chrestman, 49, is among the Capitol riot defendants incarcerated the longest  even though he hasnt been convicted. He and the roughly 20 other Jan. 6 inmates in the D.C. jail, many of them charged with serious crimes including assaulting police, are referred to as political prisoners by Trump and other GOP hard-liners.

During a CNN town hall with Trump on Wednesday night in New Hampshire, the former president called Jan. 6 a beautiful day and was asked whether if re-elected, he would pardon the Capitol rioters convicted of federal crimes.

I am inclined to pardon many of them, Trump said, drawing applause from the heavily Republican-leaning audience. I cant say for every single one, because a couple of them, probably, they got out of control.

The Justice Department declined to comment on Trumps remarks.

Some Republicans, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, had harsh words for Trump.

Cheney, who was vice chairwoman of the House select committee that investigated the Capitol riot, narrated a 60-second ad that ran on CNN in New Hampshire before and during the town hall. The ad, funded by Cheneys political action committee, showed clips of the pro-Trump mob invading the Capitol and attacking officers.

Rather than accept defeat, he mobilized a mob to come to Washington and march on the Capitol, Cheney said, adding that Trump was warned repeatedly that his plans for January 6th were illegal.

He didnt care, and today he celebrates those who attacked our Capitol.

On March 24, about a dozen Republican lawmakers, led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, and two Democrats went on a tour of whats been dubbed the D.C. Gulag to examine conditions and visit the Jan. 6 defendants, who say they are being mistreated.

Afterward, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, one of the Democrats on the tour, told MSNBC that the inmates were allowed outside of their cells for much of the day and had tablets to watch movies and communicate with families and attorneys. He said the GOP lawmakers treated the inmates like celebrities, shaking their hands and slapping them on the back.

It was completely shameful to see these are people that tried to overthrow our government, and theyre being treated like rock stars and heroes by Marjorie and others, Garcia said.

As the lawmakers left, he later tweeted, the prisoners chanted Lets Go Brandon  a slogan that has become conservative code for f Joe Biden.

Greene described a much different scenario. She tweeted that the jail looked better than the last time she was there because it had inmates/defendants clean, scrub, and paint the week before we got there so conditions would look good for our visit. She also said that other inmates had educational and job opportunities that the J6ers didnt have and that while the inmates were now allowed to be out of their cells, theyd previously been in solitary confinement for months.

She said the Democrats who were on the tour didnt care about J6ers complaints about the courts and judges and how they are being treated like political prisoners.

No, they just praised the jail after our tour, she said. Either they like jails and approve of the two-tiered justice system or are easily fooled by fresh paint.

Chrestman was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2021 along with three other Kansas City-area Proud Boys  Christopher Kuehne, of Olathe; Louis Colon, of Blue Springs; and Ryan Ashlock, of Gardner  and Arizona siblings Felicia and Cory Konold.

The indictment alleged that they planned with each other, and with others known and unknown, to forcibly enter the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and to stop, delay, and hinder the Congressional proceeding occurring that day.

Chrestman also was charged with threatening to assault a federal law enforcement officer. All except Chrestman were released on personal recognizance bonds pending trial.

Colon pleaded guilty in April 2022 to one count of civil disorder, a felony, and awaits sentencing. Ashlock pleaded guilty to one count of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, a misdemeanor, and was sentenced in November to 70 days in jail and 12 months of supervised release.

Kuehnes case is ongoing, and like Chrestman, he is scheduled to be in court Tuesday. Last fall, after the judge granted his request to move out of state, he sold his house in a southern Olathe subdivision and relocated to Arizona.

William Billy Chrestman of Olathe (left to right), Louis Enrique Colon of Blue Springs, Ryan Keith Ashlock of Gardner and Christopher Kuehne of Olathe were indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia on conspiracy charges and other offenses.

The far-right Proud Boys have been at the forefront of the federal investigation into the attack.

Just this month, jurors found four leaders  including former national chairman Henry Enrique Tarrio  guilty of seditious conspiracy and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, among other charges. A fifth was found guilty of charges that included assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and robbery involving government property.

A sixth defendant pleaded guilty on April 8, 2022, to conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers. Another Proud Boys leader pleaded guilty in October to seditious conspiracy and cooperated with the prosecution, testifying as the Justice Departments star witness in the recent trial.

The organization of self-described Western chauvinists known for street-level violence and confrontations with anti-fascists at protests received national attention in September 2020 when, during the first presidential debate, Trump was asked if he was willing to condemn white supremacists and militia groups. Trump responded that the Proud Boys should stand back and stand by.

At last Wednesdays CNN town hall, Trump was asked whether the pardons he talked about granting if he was re-elected would include the four Proud Boys just convicted of seditious conspiracy.

His response: I dont know. Id have to look at their case. But I will say in Washington, D.C., you cannot get a fair trial. You cannot.

Chrestmans mother doesnt see much chance her son will get out of jail any time soon unless Trump pardons him. In an April 14 interview on The Political Prisoner Podcast, a show produced by Look Ahead America, Susan Moser said his situation has been absolutely horrendous.

She noted that after Chrestmans arrest in 2021, a federal magistrate judge in Kansas City, Kansas, decided to grant him bond. But before he could be released, a judge in Washington, D.C., reversed the Kansas judges decision and ordered him to be held without bond until his trial.

We were all ready to go down there, post his bail, get him out, Moser said. And a judge in D.C. overrode it, and he was whisked away.

Moser acknowledged that Chrestman was a Proud Boy but said he did nothing wrong on Jan. 6.

He went there to listen to President Trump speak  very patriotic, she said. We all, as well as him, were devastated by the election results...He got kind of caught up with the crowd and, you know, walked to the Capitol.

He broke no windows, no doors, he didnt do any damage. He didnt hurt anybody, he just walked in. And because he was a Proud Boy, they targeted him. Now, its not illegal to be a Proud Boy, you know. I mean, he was a Boy Scout. Is it illegal to be a Boy Scout?

But U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly said in a July 2021 court hearing that Mr. Chrestman was much more  much, much more  than someone who merely cheered on the violence or who entered the Capitol after others cleared the way.

Kelly denied Chrestmans request to be released from custody, going through a laundry list of Chrestmans alleged actions on the day of the riot that he said were captured by dozens of photos and videos. The actions, Kelly said, included Chrestman wielding an ax handle, encouraging the crowd to storm the Capitol and confronting law enforcement, telling an officer that You shoot and Ill take your f------ ass out!

In a world in which January 6 has passed but yet the notion in our politics that the 2020 presidential election was stolen and is still a live issue, those statements do not reflect someone for whom the fight is over...they reflect someone who is focused on the future and for whom the fight continues, Kelly said.

On the April podcast, Susan Moser praised Greene and others who she said have supported the Jan. 6 defendants.

Every Friday night, Moser said, supporters hold a vigil outside the D.C. jail. When she visited Chrestman in February, she attended the vigil.

The detainees, they all get together every night at nine oclock and they say the Lords Prayer and they sing the national anthem, she said. So everyone at the vigil at nine oclock gathers in a circle. They say the Lords Prayer and they sing the national anthem. I was in tears. I was a complete mess, I was so touched.

Moser said her son told her he would not agree to any plea deals with the government.

If they take the plea deal, they have to confess to the horrible crimes theyre accusing them of and write a statement that they did it at President Trumps urging, she said. Billy said absolutely no way is he doing that...He said no, he did not go there at the urging of President Trump.

But after Chrestmans arrest in February 2021, his federal public defenders argued that he should be released on bond because he was not a danger to his community and that Trump  not the rioters  was responsible for the Capitol breach. (He has since retained new counsel.)

It is an astounding thing to imagine storming the United States Capitol with sticks and flags and bear spray, arrayed against armed and highly trained law enforcement, his public defenders wrote in a court filing. Only someone who thought that they had an official endorsement would even attempt such a thing.

And a Proud Boy who had been paying attention would very much believe he did.

That endorsement, Chrestmans defense contended, came from Trump.
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP)  Cyprus is working together with Irish and U.S. military experts to help train two groups of Ukrainian personnel in clearing an untold number of unmarked minefields in their homeland, the island nation's defense minister said Friday.

Replying to an Associated Press query, Minister Michalis Georgallas said a first group of 24 Ukrainians was currently undergoing training in Cypriot military installations, with another group expected to arrive next month.

The training was under the auspices of a European Union Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM Ukraine) that was launched last October to meet Ukraines calls for support, he said.

As the situation on the ground in Ukraine now stands, a 5,000-strong team of demining experts would need at least 30 years to clear all mines from unmarked minefields across the front lines, Georgallas said.

He said Cypriot officers are also taking part in training of Ukrainian personnel in Germany.

Cyprus has much experience in demining as many thousands of the deadly munitions remain. The mines are a vestige of defenses set up in the wake of the 1974 Turkish invasion triggered by a coup that aimed to unite Cyprus with Greece.

The United Nations have for years assisted in demining efforts, particularly inside a buffer zone it controls that separates a breakaway, Turkish Cypriot north and an internationally recognized, Greek Cypriot south.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was delaying its long-awaited counteroffensive against Russias occupying forces because it lacked enough Western weapons to succeed without taking too many casualties.

A Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russias more than 14-month-old invasion has been expected since warmer weather improved battlefield conditions. But Zelenskyy told European broadcasters in an interview aired Thursday that a counteroffensive now would result in too many casualties and that would be unacceptable.

The Ukrainian president said more time was needed since not everything has arrived yet in terms of equipment.

Ukraines troops are receiving Western training, as well as advanced weapons, as they gear up for an assault.

Cyprus has said it won't transfer its Soviet-era tanks, armored personnel carriers and anti-aircraft missile batteries to Ukraine because it continues to face off against 35,000 Turkish troops deployed in the north.
EXCLUSIVE: British Foreign Minister James Cleverly, in an interview with Fox News Digital, underscored the need for the U.K. and U.S. to remain united on key issues, including the potential nuclear threats of Russia and Iran.

"Preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon remains an absolute priority in U.K. foreign policy," Cleverly said. "Weve worked very, very closely with the members of the Quad, France, Germany, the United States  in imposing sanctions, and obviously we know very closely what we're doing in conjunction with the International Atomic Energy Agency to prevent Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon."

Cleverly stressed that it "will always be a U.K. foreign policy priority" to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon." He also criticized Russia, insisting that "nobody is threatening nuclear weapons use against Russia" and that "the rhetoric is only coming from Vladimir Putin himself."

Cleverly visited Washington, D.C., last week to reaffirm the U.K.s commitment to Ukraines defense and spoke with Secretary of State Antony Blinken to ensure cooperation between the two long-time allies. He said after the meeting, the U.S.-U.K. partnership "continues to make life better for our people and the world."

Ukrainian servicemen ride atop an armored fighting vehicle Tuesday as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues at an unknown location in Eastern Ukraine.

SIX RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT INTERCEPTED NEAR ALASKA AIRSPACE DURING US MILITARY TRAINING EXERCISES: NORAD

He reiterated the point in an interview with Fox News Digital, labeling the dynamic an "excellent working relationship" that relies on how the two allies work through their disagreements.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"What we have seen both through our departure in the European Union, the resolution of the Windsor framework, is that the United States has been honest with us about our concerns," Cleverly said. "In return, we've always been honest with the United States about our concerns. We listen to each other. We address these concerns where we are able to."

British Foreign Minister James Cleverly spoke with Fox News Digital in an inclusive interview.

Cleverly did not dwell on those differences, instead highlighting the various times that the U.S. and U.K. have pursued common interests and goals, including the response to Iraq, the recent evacuation efforts from Sudan and mutual support of Ukraines self-defense.

The U.K. was able to evacuate more than 2,000 people, including U.S. citizens, from Port Sudan as violence continues to ravage the region. Blinken said that over 1,300 Americans were evacuated from Sudan.

RUSSIA, CHINA COZY UP AS MILITARY POWERS THREATEN THE EXISTING ORDER, OFFICIAL WARNS

Russian President Vladimir Putins nuclear rhetoric and posturing, which has repeatedly put countries on edge throughout the Ukraine conflict, has remained a top concern for the U.K., and Cleverly urged Putin to act with more responsibility.

"As a P5 member of the U.N. Security Council, Russia has an enhanced responsibility to act in a reasonable manner: That's what it signed up to," Cleverly argued.

United Kingdom Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, left, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken hold a joint news conference at the Harry S. Truman Building on May 9, 2023 in Washington, D.C.

"Now, we always expect that as he finds himself under more pressure in this conflict, he will start using a rhetoric of escalating rhetoric, so this is not a particular surprise," he continued, adding that the international community has "made it absolutely clear" that not just the use but even merely talking about or threatening to use nuclear weapons is "completely unacceptable."

China remains a particular concern as an increasingly close ally of Russia, with tensions rising after the European Union revealed it might follow the U.S. and impose sanctions against Chinese companies accused of selling weapons to the Russian military.

UKRAINE'S ZELENSKYY PAYS VISIT TO POPE FRANCIS, ITALIAN OFFICIALS IN ROME BEFORE GERMANY TRIP

Foreign Minister Qin Gang said China would "take the necessary response to firmly protect the legitimate interests of Chinese companies" following the news, but Cleverly downplayed any further tensions that might arise by claiming he had "assurances" from the Chinese that they do not intend to supply Russia.

"We have received assurances from them that they do not intend to do so. We intend to hold them to those assurances," Cleverly said. "Russia is the clear aggressor in this instance, and arming the aggressor to perpetrate such a brutal invasion would be completely unacceptable, and whatever country has done it has really gone beyond the pale."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets British Secretary of State for Foreign Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Cleverly in Kyiv, Ukraine on Nov. 24, 2022.

While the U.K. has maintained hard stances against China and Russia, it has had one clear point of divergence with the U.S. The U.K. has not yet declared Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist group, despite continued sanctions against the group and the U.S. placing the IRGC on the State Departments list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations in 2019.

Members of the Iranian revolutionary guard march during a parade to commemorate the anniversary of the Iran-Iraq war.

Cleverly noted that only the U.S. government has declared the IRGC a terrorist group, and that the U.K. continues to assess and determine "the most effective way of curtailing the IRGC and indeed the Iranian governments malign activities."

"We, of course, keep these decisions under constant review, but the decisions that we make within the U.K. will always be based on our, you know, the primary commitment, which is to keep British nationals safe, to keep people in the region safe."
Four years after it was in a state budget that never became law, the Senate budget proposal again calls for funding of a monument to African Americans on the North Carolina state Capitol grounds.

If the Senates budget proposal becomes law, the stalled project would receive $3 million in funding for the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to complete the planning, design, and construction of the African American Monument, led by the African American Heritage Commission.

Senate leader Phil Berger told The News & Observer earlier this legislative session that he supported the project.

The long-planned project has been on hold for several years. It was in the 2019 state budget that Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed over raises and tax cuts, and smaller budget bills did not include funding. Another project honoring the African American experience in North Carolina, Freedom Park, was funded, however, and will open this summer. Freedom Park is located on the downtown block between the Legislative Building and the Executive Mansion, a few blocks from the Capitol.

A 10th-grade honors civic literacy class from Wake Early College of Information and Biotechnology in Morrisville tours the construction site of the North Carolina Freedom Park in downtown Raleigh on Wednesday, March 8, 2023. The new park will honor and celebrate the African American experience in North Carolina.

There is no monument at the historic Capitol in the center of downtown Raleigh that recognizes the contributions of African American people in North Carolina. Plans for the African Americans monument call for it to be built on the southeast corner of the grounds, and keep in mind the most frequent visitors, who are schoolchildren.

The Capitol grounds projects funding stalled in legislation after protesters tore down some Confederate statues, and others were removed, at the Capitol in 2020.

Republican lawmakers said previously that it was not the time to put something back up there of any type, while Democratic lawmakers called the lack of inclusion an insult.

In March, Berger noted that Senate Republicans have supported the monument in the past, adding that the budget committee members had not yet discussed it.

But I think its known that I have supported that in the past, and will continue to support it, Berger said then.

The N&O has asked lawmakers about the project on and off for years. Sen. Dan Blue, the Senate minority leader and a Raleigh Democrat, told The N&O in February that the project needs to move forward more urgently now than before, and referenced all the springtime field trips students make to the Capitol complex.

There is no experience on the Capitol grounds of Black existence in North Carolina, Blue said.

Coopers budget proposal also would allocate $3 million for the project. It was not in the House budget, but does have bipartisan support there.

The project is led by the African American Heritage Commission within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

The African American monument on the Capitol grounds has been a priority of Gov. Coopers and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources for several years, department spokesperson Schorr Johnson told The N&O on Monday. Were hopeful that it soon becomes a reality.
Daniel Penny is escorted from the 5th precinct Manhattan station house on May 12, 2023, in New York. (Barry Williams/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

An online crowdfunding page has raised nearly $2 million for the legal defense of Daniel Penny, the former Marine charged last week with second-degree manslaughter in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely on the New York City subway earlier this month.

A GiveSendGo page titled Daniel Pennys Legal Defense Fund listed that $1,883,357 had been raised as of late Sunday night. According to the page, it was created by the law firm Raiser & Kenniff, P.C., and the funds are to cover legal fees from any criminal charges filed and any future civil lawsuits that may arise, as well as expenses related to his defense.

The Manhattan District Attorneys office arraigned and charged Penny with second-degree manslaughter last week over the death of 30-year-old Neely, who died after Penny put him in a chokehold during an incident on the subway.

Neely lost consciousness while in the chokehold and was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

From right, attorney Donte Mills; Jordan Neely's father, Andre Zachery; attorney Lennon Edwards; and Neely's aunt Mildred Mahazu appear at a news conference in New York City on Friday, May 12, 2023. (Ted Shaffrey/AP)

Neely, who was Black, had reportedly struggled with homelessness and mental illness and had been shouting at passengers on the subway and was tackled by some. Attorneys for Penny, who is white, have claimed the former Marine never intended to harm Neely and was acting to protect himself and other subway passengers.

The city chief medical examiners office ruled Neelys death was caused by compression of the neck, but noted that the legal system would determine any criminal culpability.

Neelys family has said Penny needs to be in prison.

Penny voluntarily turned himself in to authorities on Friday to face his second-degree manslaughter charge. He did not enter a plea to the charge. Penny could face up to 15 years in prison if he is convicted of the charge.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
With the odds of a U.S. debt default increasing, Social Security advocates warn beneficiaries they should be prepared in case their payments are interrupted.

Negotiations around whether the nation's ability to borrow money should be expanded have been ongoing, but Congress and the White House have yet to reach an agreement on the path forward.

The impasse has placed the U.S. in a precarious financial position, and leaves some of the most vulnerable Americans at risk.

Dan Adcock, director of government relations and policy for the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, said there is a "good chance" that in the event of a default, millions of Americans' benefits would be disrupted.

"Seniors should be prepared if they're financially able," Adcock said, adding they should consider putting off discretionary purchases "so they have enough to tide them over."

But millions of beneficiaries have no financial room to maneuver, Adcock said, noting that about 40% of Social Security recipients, which include Americans who are disabled and those who are widowed, receive 90% of their income from the safety net program. That equates to nearly 27 million people.

"Even though we're a few weeks before a default, they won't have enough to squirrel away to cushion for not getting their payments," Adcock said.

Not a foregone conclusion

Analysts suggest it isn't certain that the government will miss payments to Social Security recipients in the event of a default. The matter would likely depend on how much cash is on hand if or when the debt ceiling is breached.

The staggered schedule of Social Security payments, which relies on an individuals birthdate to determine which part of the month they receive them, means not all beneficiaries would be equally affected in a missed or partial-payment scenario.

The White House and House Republicans remain at odds after meeting on Wednesday to discuss a resolution to the impasse. NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Ali Vitali reported the meeting was tense. Led by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the GOP seeks spending cuts from President Joe Biden in exchange for an agreement to raise the debt ceiling and avoid a default.

On Thursday, the White House said a scheduled follow-up meeting had been postponed.

President Biden hosts debt limit talks with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 9, 2023. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned a default could come as soon as June 1. When asked for comment, a department spokesperson pointed to Yellen's recent remarks in which she said the Treasury might not be able to pay bills that come due on the day of a default, including payments to Social Security recipients and Medicare providers.

"This would be really the first time in the history of America that we would fail to make payments that are due," Yellen said.

A McCarthy spokesperson did not respond to multiple requests for comment submitted Thursday. Following Tuesday's meeting, he told reporters there was no "new movement in negotiating positions.

Everybody in this meeting reiterated the positions they were at, before the meeting, McCarthy said outside the White House.

Mary Johnson, policy analyst with the Senior Citizens League, a nonpartisan advocacy group, said she is far more pessimistic about a resolution this time around compared with 2011, the last time a debt-ceiling crisis unfolded.

By law, Johnson said, the Social Security Administration cannot spend more money than it has on hand, which she said appears to pre-empt any other possible workaround, absent an agreement between Republicans and the Biden administration.

"We are so extremely divided, and there is such a big chance of a stalemate," Johnson said.

"And the longer we wait and get close to default, the greater the risk to Social Security benefits being held up and delayed, or not paid in full."
Rishi Sunak, right, meeting Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky at Chequers (PA)

To celebrate the coronation of King Charles, the Ukrainian defence ministry issued a version of the song London Calling by The Clash.

The accompanying video, a typically sleek Kyiv production, included images of Charles, Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer meeting Volodymyr Zelensky, and of the weapons Britain has sent to Kyiv, including Challenger 2 tanks. It ended with the question: Wonder what our British friends will send us next? A clip of the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth followed, with the caption (Only joking).

The UK has been the second-largest provider of military assistance to Ukraine behind the United States, offering 30bn worth of equipment. It was also among the earliest of the allies to start training and arming the countrys forces, after the overthrow of the pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych in 2013 and the subsequent Russian-backed separatist war in the east.

When the Ukrainians say that President Zelenskys visit to Britain as part of his current European tour has very special meaning, it is not just PR rhetoric. There is a deep underlying gratitude for the solidarity shown to their nation in its darkest hour.

Those of us reporting from the ground saw the effectiveness of the British-supplied next-generation light anti-tank weapons (NLAWs) as Russian forces sought to storm Kyiv in the early days of the invasion. We similarly witnessed British and American artillery turn the tide of battle in the Donbas last summer. And now the UK is the first ally to send long-range Storm Shadow missiles, as well as hundreds of attack drones, as Ukraine launches its long-planned counteroffensive against Russia.

Britains willingness to step first unto the breach in its significant contributions to Ukraines defence effort has spurred wider Western support.

The supply of the Storm Shadow missiles, with their 155-mile range, may persuade the Biden administration to send the long-range MGM-140 army tactical missile system (ATACMS)  unless Kyiv breaches its agreement with London to use Storm Shadow solely for attacks inside Ukrainian sovereign territory. The Challenger 2s will not be the main battle tanks for Ukraine, although they have been allocated to one of the best armed brigades being deployed. That role will be filled by German Leopards, because of their prevalence among Nato armies, meaning there is an established supply chain. It was, however, the initial British tank offer that, to a large extent, unlocked the supply of Leopards by other partners.

The UK has offered to train Ukrainian pilots to use modern fast jets. Kyiv wants US-made F-16s  the aircraft equivalent of Leopards thanks to their prevalence among Nato forces  saying they are necessary for carrying out the combined air and ground operations that will be needed for the coming counteroffensive.

Washington remains unwilling to provide F-16s, giving as one of its reasons that it will take up to 18 months to train pilots to fly the planes. Ukraine, supported by some Western military officers, insists that the training needed for its experienced air personnel would actually take no more than a few months.

The provision of advanced jets was discussed by Mr Sunak and Mr Zelensky during the visit. Afterwards, the Ukrainian president stressed that it was a very important topic for us, because we can't control the sky.

He continued: We spoke about it, and I see that in the closest time you will hear some, I think, very important decisions, but we have to work a little bit more on it.

Mr Sunak, while he said that providing fighter jets was not a straightforward thing, pledged that the UK would be a key part of the coalition of countries that provides that support. He added: This is a crucial moment in Ukraines resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke. They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year.

Ukrainian military commanders, according to their counterparts in Britain and other Nato countries, are precise in detailing what they need from their allies. But it is Mr Zelensky, in his military fatigues, who has been the face of Ukraine since this war started, becoming one of the most recognised public figures in the world.

Mr Zelensky is the first foreign dignitary Mr Sunak has met as prime minister at Chequers. This room that we are standing in, Winston Churchill made many of his famous speeches in World War Two from this room, pointed out Mr Sunak. Your leadership, your countrys bravery and fortitude are an inspiration to us all.

This was not the first time the Churchill comparison had been made. Presenting Mr Zelensky with the Sir Winston Churchill Leadership Award last summer, Mr Johnson told him: I can imagine [Churchills] spirit walking with you ... In that moment of supreme crisis, you faced a test of leadership that was, in its way, as severe as Churchills challenge in 1940.

In a speech to parliament during his last visit to Britain in February, the Ukrainian president spoke of how moved he had been when he was taken to the Cabinet War Rooms, Churchills war headquarters, three years previously, and felt the special atmosphere of the place, knowing of the momentous decisions made there.

Mr Zelensky had already visited Italy, France and Germany in recent days, ahead of his visit to the UK and the meeting with Mr Sunak. In Germany he received the highly prestigious Charlemagne Prize for promoting European unity.

Chequers is a place of great resonance for such a meeting at such a time. Its walls echo with the history of war and peace. Neville Chamberlain went there for solitude as the Munich Agreement collapsed and the countdown to the Second World War began. Churchill was dining there with the American ambassador when the news came of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Chequers was also the place where a future of peace was celebrated at the end of the Cold War, with Margaret Thatcher welcoming Mikhail Gorbachev and John Major hosting Boris Yeltsin. The hopes that came with detente have faded in recent years, and ended with Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. Mr Zelenksys visit is an important part of shaping what happens next, at a crucial stage in the devastating war unfolding in the heart of Europe.
Protests from Extinction Rebellion activists disrupted a right-wing conference organized by the US-based National Conservatism movement in London.

During the event, Jacob Rees-Mogg was unexpectedly joined on stage by a man warning about fascism, while Home Secretary Suella Braverman was interrupted as she began her speech on conservatism and immigration.

The protesters were ejected from the hall, with Extinction Rebellion claiming that they were protesting against "increasingly dangerous rhetoric" from senior politicians.

Braverman later joked that the Extinction Rebellion protests were an "audition day for the shadow cabinet," the BBC reported.

Jacob Rees-Mogg spoke at London's Emmanuel Centre's three-day National Conservatism conference.

Jacob Rees-Mogg interrupted at NatCon by a protester who grabbed the microphone to warn about the characteristics of fascism



JRM; He can have his national loony convention next week pic.twitter.com/L2SvuB4gCq  Dominic Penna (@DominicPenna) May 15, 2023

Rees-Mogg seemed unconcerned by the protestors' interruption and even made light of it by joking that they support free speech, according to Daily Mail. Later, Extinction Rebellion claimed on Twitter that they had interrupted the meeting by criticizing key Cabinet members and MPs for their fascist ideas.

Read Also: Thailand's Election Results Spark Concerns

Jacob Rees-Mogg Blasts PM Rishi Sunak

Rees-Mogg called Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's intentions to remove hundreds of remaining EU legislation by the end of this year "pathetically under-ambitious" in his address and attacked them. He also mentioned Sunak's failed pledge to get all remaining EU regulations taken off the UK's statute book by the end of December, which he referred to as a capitulation to the "blob."

 The moment Suella Bravermans speech at NatCon was interrupted by XR protesters  more to follow @Telegraph pic.twitter.com/VjJS97jNCy  Dominic Penna (@DominicPenna) May 15, 2023

In a later part of his address, the former cabinet minister underlined the need to be "aggressive in promoting free trade," in light of the recent softening of the anticipated elimination of European Union laws.

Moreover, he questioned how a Conservative-led administration could have the highest tax rates as a proportion of GDP in 70 years, per The Telegraph. He argued that this was due to deliberate actions taken and a prior trend in that direction.

Rees-Mogg called Rishi Sunak's decision to backtrack on his vow to eliminate hundreds of pieces of European Union legislation by year's end "a defeat for ambition, prosperity, and democracy."

Related Article: UK's Low Birth Rate Poses Serious Threat

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
YEREVAN, MAY 15, ARMENPRESS. Most of the people who came to Armenia from Russia are dual citizens. have both Russian and Armenian citizenship, ARMENPRESS reports, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview with the Czech "Respekt" magazine.

Answering the question of how many people from Russia arrived in Armenia as a result of the military operations in Ukraine and what effect this had on Armenia, the Prime Minister noted that approximately 30 thousand people who only have Russian citizenship came to Armenia.

"They have contributed to our economic growth because most of them are highly qualified and often work in the field of innovative technologies, which leads to economic activity. We are happy for their presence," Pashinyan stressed.
Today's headlines: elections in Turkey, the challenge between Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu on the ballot; In Thailand clear assertion of opposition movements; Record CO2 emissions from China in the first quarter of 2023; Manila placed buoys in the EEZ around the Spratlys; First polio case of the year in Afghanistan;. In Russia there is psychosis over possible drone attacks.

BANGLADESH - MYANMAR

A powerful cyclone, estimated to be close to Nargis, which caused 140,000 deaths in 2008, hit the coasts of Myanmar and Bangladesh. Mocha brought rain and winds of 250 kmh, flooding part of the Bay of Bengal and hitting Sittwe hard. At least six were killed, hundreds injured, tens of thousands isolated, over 800,000 evacuated, but the toll is set to rise.

TURKEY

Turkey hangs in the balance: in the parliamentary and presidential elections Recep Tayyip Erdogan is ahead, but below the 50% of the votes needed to be elected in the first round. Pending final results, it should be a runoff on 28 May. With counting at 98.55%, the situation sees the outgoing leader ahead with 49.34% of the votes, Kilicdaroglu 45% and the third challenger Sinan Ogan with 5.23%.

THAILAND

Tough defeat for the military in Thailand, in power for almost a decade, in yesterday's parliamentary elections. Two different opposition parties triumphed, which will have to mediate to form a government. In the lead was Move Forward, the expression of the 2020 anti-monarchy protests, behind it Paetongtarn Shinawatra's Pheu Thai. Big loser is the outgoing premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha.

CHINA

China, the world's most 'polluting' nation, emitted record levels of carbon dioxide in the first quarter of 2023, with figures set to hit an all-time high. Studies by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea) report CO2 up 4%, or three billion tonnes. Driving the spike is the post-Covid economic rebound, stimulus measures in manufacturing and construction, and low hydroelectric production due to the prolonged drought.

PHILIPPINES

Manila placed navigation buoys within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea to assert its sovereignty disputed by Beijing. The Philippine Coast Guard (PNG) placed five of them, with national flags, between 10 and 12 May, including Whitsun Reef where hundreds of Chinese ships had moored in 2021.

AFGHANISTAN

Afghanistan recorded its first polio case of 2023 at the weekend, after a four-year-old boy was diagnosed with the disease. Unicef's Kamal Shah reports that the infection occurred in the eastern province of Nangarhar. There were two cases last year. Pakistan is the only country in the world where polio is endemic and vaccination campaigns are under attack.

RUSSIA

After repeated drone attacks, on the Kremlin and numerous other targets, 'drone psychosis' has now set in in Russia. The drones are searched everywhere with meticulous 'ground' searches, on means of transport, subways, airports and stations, and also on private cars, by order of the Ministry of the Interior. So far, about ten have been found.

UZBEKISTAN

Fewer Russians have moved to Uzbekistan in the past year than to any other Central Asian country, the Rbk agency reports. This is considered a considerable advantage by the relokanty (Russians abroad) themselves, as it positively affects the real estate market, the banking sector and the Uzbek economy in general.
by John Ai

The former engineering development manager of ByteDancen in the US has filed a lawsuit against the company. In the complaint, TikTok is accused of stealing content from other platforms and of censorship. On Douyin, the Chinese version, the algorithm promotes anti-Japanese content and criticism of the Hong Kong protests. The company lobbies in the US and Europe against the adoption of regulatory measures.

San Francisco (AsiaNews) - In Beijing, inside the headquarters of ByteDance, the technology giant that owns TikTok, there is a special committee of the Chinese Communist Party that monitors the company's apps. This is claimed by Yu Yintao, a former company executive, in a wrongful dismissal complaint filed against the company in San Francisco. In his indictment, the Chinese technician - who was responsible for ByteDance's engineering development in the US from August 2017 to November 2018 - claims that the Party committee would even control a device capable of completely shutting down Chinese apps and would have unlimited access to the database, including data stored in the US.

Yu Yintao claims he was fired for raising concerns about a worldwide scheme to steal other companies' intellectual property. The executive accused ByteDance of copying content from other platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram in its early stages without consent, then publishing it on its own app, as well as 'systematically creating invented users' to increase engagement.

TikTok is now one of the most important social networks globally, but the app in Europe and the US is raising concerns about national security, privacy, disinformation and Chinese propaganda.

A state-owned company in Beijing holds one per cent of ByteDance's shares, but has one member on its board of directors. In recent years, the Chinese government has acquired the shares of Internet giants and appointed board members to strengthen control.

TikTok is launching a costly plan to build data centres abroad, in the US and Ireland, to comply with US and European regulations and demonstrate that the company operates independently of Beijing's influence. But some incidents show that China still has access to data abroad. Earlier this year, for instance, ByteDance admitted that some of its employees, including two in China, tracked journalists to the US.

This month, TikTok censored a documentary about Hong Kong activist and Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai, who was jailed on National Security Act charges. After the media report, TikTok restored the removed content, claiming that 'TikTok does not moderate content based on political sensitivities'.

In March, ByteDance CEO Shou Zi Chew had defended the company during a US Congressional hearing, dodging questions about the company's ultimate ownership, control of the Chinese Communist Party, and privacy concerns raised by lawmakers.

In his complaint, however, Yu reveals that the Chinese version of TikTok, Douyin, is being tamed as a propaganda tool by the Chinese authorities. He also accused the company's engineers of using the algorithms to promote hate content against Japan and to make criticism of the Hong Kong protests on Douyin appear more blatant.

Yu claimed that TikTok founder Zhang Yiming allegedly bribed Lu Wei, the deputy head of the Chinese Communist Party's Propaganda Department who was nicknamed the 'internet czar' because he was responsible for regulating the network. Lu Wei was sacked in 2017, but the official media never indicated who it was that paid for the bribery episode for which he was charged.

ByteDance responded to Yu Yintao's complaint by calling it based on "unfounded allegations and allegations".

The United States and the European Union have banned TikTok on civil servants' work devices for security reasons. ByteDance has stepped up its lobbying efforts in the US and has poured in a huge amount of funds, million since 2019, to convince lawmakers and avoid further restrictions.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

Astana has extended the period of visa-free stay for Chinese citizens, Bishkek is preparing to do the same. On May 18 and 19, Xi Jinping will meet in Xi'an with the presidents of the former Soviet republics. Beijing points to the revitalization of the Belt and Road Initiative, which is in danger of stalling. But local activists protest repression in neighboring Xinjang, with which there are deep ties.

Astana (AsiaNews) - Initiatives to encourage the flow of people, for commercial, tourist and cultural purposes, between China and Central Asia have been multiplying in recent weeks. Kazakhstan has extended the period of visa-free travel for Chinese citizens, who can now stay for 30 days, and Kyrgyzstan is gearing up to follow Astana's example. Many wonder what consequences this turn of events may have for the future of the entire region.

China is trying to open up its economy and diplomacy to the world, after three years of major restrictions due to Covid-19, and the Central Asian region appears to be one of the favoured areas of Beijing's new policy.

Trade with the five former Soviet states is recovering to pre-pandemic levels, and on 18-19 May in Xi'an Xi Jinping himself will personally welcome their presidents. On that occasion, the visa-free entry regime will be approved on a much broader level.

Beijing and Astana are finalising an articulated agreement to this effect even before the summit, exceeding the 14-day limit for Chinese tourists, a condition that also exists in Uzbekistan.

Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Minister Zeenbek Kulubaev informed the Zogorku Kenes, the parliament of Biskek, that he had in turn broached the subject in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang, 'and now we want to finalise this commitment'.

China needs to inject new life into the 'One Belt, One Road' project, the Silk Road in which it has invested many billions of dollars, which is in danger of running aground. As a result, it also needs to normalise the situation in Xinjiang, the geographical and ethnic border region with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Symbolic signs, even before economic investments, point to a resumption of progress at all levels.

As Raffaello Pantucci, a research associate at Singapore's 'S. Radjaratnama' School of International Research, puts it in a commentary on Ozodlik, 'China's image and its trade relations have suffered greatly in recent years, when the borders were closed, and now it feels the need to open its doors wide'. In addition to the pandemic, the strong repression of the Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities, such as the Kazakhs and Kyrgyz, has greatly complicated the dialogue with these countries, even to the point of accusations of 'genocide' echoed in several parliaments.

Many Central Asian activists have reiterated their protests against the Beijing government, also and above all on the strength of their many family ties with the persecuted in Xinjiang, some of whom have managed to escape and recount the violence they suffered. Hoping for benefits from the resumption of trade, the government of Kazakhstan tries to silence these anti-Chinese demonstrations as much as possible.

"A lot depends on the ductility of Kazakhstan's business, on its ability to guarantee the necessary flows not only for its domestic needs, but for all Central Asian, Eurasian and Chinese markets, multiplying the possibilities for growth and investment," notes Adyl Kaukenov, an expert at the Kazakh Institute for Strategic Research in Astana.

According to official statistics, 40% of Kazakh-Chinese trade is developed in Xinjiang. If at the end of 2020 China was investing around USD 40 billion in Central Asia, by the end of 2022 this sum had increased to over USD 70 billion.

Kazakhstan serves as the main communications and transport hub between China and Europe, and is now increasingly trying to fill the void left by Russia's exclusion from trade routes, which was previously the main directive, due to sanctions. Together with other countries such as Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, it seeks to make the 'Middle Corridor', by which the Transcaspian route, the current hinge between Europe and Asia, is called.
by Purushottam Nayak

Over 5,000 faithful at the opening of the Marian place of worship. An occasion of joy for a community still scarred by the 2008 anti-Christian pogroms unleashed by Hindu fundamentalists. A way to heal the wounds and traumas especially for the little ones.

Kandhamal (AsiaNews) - Christians celebrated in the diocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, in the Indian state of Orissa, for the opening of a new shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima. At least 5,000 faithful, four priests and as many nuns attended the opening of the place of worship on 13 May. It stands in the area where many had found shelter during the 2008 pogroms in Kandhamal, with over 100 dead and 50,000 displaced.

Bijay Mallick was among those who animated the novena of prayer and meditation that preceded the opening from 4 to 12 May. He points out to AsiaNews that the Marian shrine at Sugadabadi, is "an occasion of great joy".

"If we are safe and sound," he continues, "it is because the Virgin Mary protected us from fundamentalists and persecutors during the violence of 2008" and because Our Lady "is stronger than the threats of Hindu fundamentalists".

Today, adds Sagar Digal, begins "the feast of Our Lady of Fatima whose intercession has brought us closer to God and strengthened our faith in Jesus". The Christians in the area, Peter Digal continues, have experienced a time of "psychological pain, agony, trauma especially for the little ones" and the horror is a reminder of how "cruel Hindu fundamentalism is towards Christians".

The Catholic village of Sugadabadi consists of 120 families and the drama experienced in August almost 15 years ago is still etched in the memory, with fires, devastation, death and over 50,000 people fleeing into the forest, despite the threat of wild animals.

Today, however, it is a time of celebration with priests and nuns leading the community to the new Marian shrine, accompanied by dancing, singing, hymns and prayers. Fr Pradosh Chandran Nayak, vicar general of the archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, blessed the shrine. "The celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Fatima in the new shrine," the priest emphasised, "reveals our deep faith in God and Mary's power of intercession.

"We gain peace of mind, enlightenment, direction and guidance when we pray in the shrine. God is one but the paths are different. We need,' concludes Jharana Pradhan, the lady who has worked tirelessly and fearlessly to make this mountain a shrine, 'each other, despite our differences in faith."
The Move Forward Party led by Pita Limjaroenrat won the most seats, but will need allies to rule, probably the For Thais Party, which came second. The high turnout (75-80 per cent) shows that voters trust the youth-led anti-military movement. According to some observers, The Senate will probably not oppose the election results. Real opposition will come when attempts will be made to curb the military and write a new constitution.

Bangkok (AsiaNews)  With yesterday's vote, Thais have rejected almost a decade of military-dominated governments, showing a way to "move forward.

Led by Pita Limjaroenrat, 42, the Move Forward Party (Phak Kao Klai in Thai) won 151 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives (lower house) with 14 million votes, followed by For Thais Party (Pheu Thai) with 141 seats and 10.6 million votes.

The two opposition parties have already indicated that they might form a coalition against the most conservative and pro-monarchist parties.

The Thai Pride Party (Phak Phumchai Thai or Bhumjaithai party) won 71 seats, the conservative People's State Power Party (Phak Phalang Pracharat), which had backed outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, won 40 seats. The new party founded by the latter, the United Thai Nation Party (Ruam Thai Sang Chart), won only 36 seats.

Inspired by progressive ideas and in favour of a new constitution that limits the power of the monarchy and the military, the Move Forward Party (MFP) is the de facto successor of the Future Forward Party (Phak Anakhot Mai), which was dissolved by Thailands Constitutional Court in 2020.

The MFP embodies the ideals of the protest movement that in 2020 and 2021 opposed the government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, a former army general. At the time, protesters, many of them very young, called for a reformed monarchy and the abolition of the crime of lese-majeste, which punishes insults to the royal family with up to 15 years in prison.

Human rights advocates have pointed out that this law is often used against activists and political rivals, some of whom are underage and currently in prison awaiting trial.

According to local sources, the voter turnout was around 75-80 per cent, an important sign that people still have faith in democracy to push forward the demands of the protest movement repressed by the military.

The For Thais Party, which is closely connected to the Shinawatra family, came on top at every general election since 2001, and until a few weeks ago was given as the favourite.

Its leader, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. According to some observers, she was penalised for not clearly distancing herself from conservative and pro-military parties, keeping an ambiguous position.

Less than 10 days before the vote, Pita Limjaroenrat took the lead in opinion polls. During the campaign, he promised younger voters, who had been through coups in 2006 and 2014, that he would curb the military and draft a new constitution.

According to local sources, Thailands various coups are hard to understand in the West since they are usually supra-constitutional rather than anti-constitutional.

Thailands Armed Forces in Thailand depend on the king, not the Ministry of Defence. "The generals led the coups with the monarchs permission, and so stand by the monarchy and the current constitution. King Rama X is the reigning monarch.

The MFP leader looks set to become the next prime minister, but the road to reform is littered with obstacles.

Growing up in a family of politicians and officials (his father was an adviser to the Ministry of Agriculture and his uncle was an associate of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra), Pita said he got into politics when, as a teenager, he went to study in New Zealand.

After graduating from Thammasat University in Bangkok, he earned Master's Degrees from Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

He ran the family rice oil business and was executive director of Grab Thailand, a ride-hailing and food delivery app before joining the political fray.

Two weeks ago, a complaint was filed against him, claiming that he owns undeclared shares in a media company. Since the Election Commission has 60 days to certify election results, Pita and other candidates could still be disqualified.

But the strongest opposition is likely to come from the Senate. After the 2014 coup led by Prayut quit the army to run in the 2019 elections. Under the 2017 constitution, the Armed Forces appoint all 250 members of the upper house, who voted as one for the retired general as prime minister four years ago.

To be picked by parliament, the next prime minister needs at least 376 votes from Thailands National Assembly (House of Representatives and Senate).

For some, The Senate will probably not oppose the election results because it is clear that the MFP was not voted only by young people.

People are tired of coups and want radical change compared to the past. Pita has already said publicly that it would be a very undemocratic to oppose the peoples choice.

Thus, it is likely that difficulties will arise later, when the individual bills are discussed in parliament. The MFP is not only in favour of progressive policies, but also curbs on the countrys military."

To move forward, it remains to be seen to what extent the monarchy and the military will be willing to make concessions.
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I own, but I'm feeling the pinch on my mortgage with other inflation costs

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Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labor Party, has said that he thinks it is wrong to deny general election voting rights to EU residents who have lived in the UK for a long time and paid taxes there.

While the party has not yet established an official position on the topic, Starmer said in an interview with LBC radio that the party is presently debating several voting-related matters.

Approximately five million EU nationals over the age of 18 would have the right to vote if established immigrants who have been residing and working in the UK for decades were given that right, according to The Guardian.

Additionally, Starmer said that he supported decreasing the general election voting age to 16 years old.

It was made clear by Starmer that there was no set policy to increase voting rights but that it was being considered, along with the possibility of reducing the voting age to 16, per UPI.

He argued that the notion was less improbable since 16 and 17-year-olds could do important things like "having babies," enlisting in the military, and working. However, he declared that the economy and the NHS would take precedence over proportional representation as Labor's primary priorities.

My Labour government will be bold and mission-driven.



We'll grow our economy, deliver clean power by 2030, cut crime, break down the barriers to opportunity, and ensure our NHS is fit for the future. pic.twitter.com/oS1klrdvyx  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) May 15, 2023

Read Also: Deadly Cyclone Mocha Lashes Myanmar, Bangladesh



Labor Party Accused of Trying to Rig UK Elections

The Conservatives said that Labor is trying to manipulate future elections since immigrants and younger people are more inclined to support the party.

Greg Hands, the head of the Tory Party, said that no other EU nation allows non-national EU people to participate in parliamentary elections, Sky News reported.

Despite expectations that a hung parliament is more likely, Starmer stressed that Labor is on pace for a majority in Westminster after some significant gains in this month's municipal elections.

Starmer said he had disregarded the idea of joining forces with the Scottish National Party and was not interested in doing so. He did not directly rule it out but gave the impression that he was not opposed to an agreement with the Liberal Democrats.

Related Article: UK's Low Birth Rate Poses Serious Threat

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Honda unveiled the sixth generation of the European CR-V version in the spring of 2023 and it was different than its American sibling.

The Japanese automaker was one of the few to create specific versions of the same car on both sides of the Pond. Thus, even though at first sight it looked identical to the one sold on the North American continent, it was different in many aspects, especially on the exterior and on its mechanical underpinnings.

With the sixth generation of the CR-V, Honda completed the cycle of a unitary design language. The SUV's headlights were slim and angled upwards on their outer sides, resembling those installed on the Civic. The main grille sported a 3D hexagonal pattern that tried to conceal the diminished cooling area the car needed. On the lower side of the bumper, the European version featured a broad trapezoidal air intake flanked by air intakes meant to divert the airflow on the car's sides. While the profile showed a similar look, with an ascending line at the bottom of the third row of windows, the taillights were specific for the EU market, with red LEDs and red lenses. The American version, on the other hand, featured clear lenses.

Inside, the main difference could be noticed in the center console. The EU version boasted buttons for the gear selector, while the U.S. model received an actual shifter. Maybe it was more comfortable for Honda's customers or just a matter of taste. Still, both versions were fitted with a standard infotainment unit placed atop the center stack.

But the most crucial difference was for the drivetrains. The U.S. model was powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine. On the other hand, the European version boasted a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter running in the Atkinson cycle. There were two versions available: a mild-hybrid and a plug-in hybrid.
The SS obviously attracted the love and money of customers particularly interested in the performance appetite of an Impala, especially as it included special goodies, such as wheel covers and Strato bucket seats.On the other hand, the SS package could be ordered with any engine option, though it goes without saying that not too many people picked it for the lazy six-cylinder units.The Impala SS that you're looking at here was born with a 396 (6.5-liter) under the hood, and the same unit is still in charge of putting the wheels in motion today. The engine starts and runs using a separate fuel source, so it comes in working condition despite spending way too many years in storage.This Impala SS was recently found in a barn in Virginia, and the current owner says they immediately moved it into dry storage.A car that's been sitting for years typically has metal issues, and this Impala is no exception. We have the usual rust suspects, and the floors and the trunk require particular attention. On the other hand, it doesnt look like the rust went through, so regular patching should do it this time. Of course, any potential buyer should inspect the vehicle thoroughly before committing to a purchase.This car's only mission is a full restoration , and given it checks most essential boxes, it's likely to catch the attention of many people on this side of the automotive business. The working matching-numbers engine is a huge selling point, especially when mixed with decent metal.On the other hand, we know nothing about how complete the car continues to be today. Old Impalas typically end up serving as donors for other projects, but given that this 1968 SS spent most of its time in hiding locked in a barn, chances are it escaped untouched.Time will tell if the car eventually finds a new home, but the battle to buy it is already pretty fierce. This Impala received no more, no less than 13 bids in just a few hours online, and at the time of writing, the top offer is a little over $1,500. Of course, eBay seller allaboutdaloot has also put a reserve in place, so unless someone is willing to bid more, the Impala will stay where it is.Anyone who wants to secure the Impala SS without a fight can just pay $17,000 to buy it right now.
EV

SUV

kW

Ford is playing catch up with Tesla in thearena, and it's now got a new weapon to help it win the duel. Ford designed the E-Tourneo Courier from the ground up to be compact yet offer plenty of space and practical features. Ford graced the E-Tourneo Courier with an-like design to appeal to Europeans. It has short overhangs and clear lines, conveying a sense of toughness, while the front-end design is unique to the battery-electric variant.This includes a light bar and Ford's signature chrome diamond grille, which the carmaker says adds exclusivity and instantly identifies the new EV as part of the Ford lineup. The E-Tourneo Courier offers plenty of space for five passengers and their belongings. Ford claims the new model offers 44% more trunk space than the outgoing Tourneo Courier. Occupants also benefit from more shoulder room and headroom and many storage options throughout the cabin. Being an electric vehicle, the E-Tourneo Courier also has a frunk with a capacity of 44 liters (1.55 cu-ft). The new model features a "digiboard" that unites a digital instrument cluster and a SYNC 4 infotainment screen. The latter is a 12-inch touch-sensitive surface controlling all the aspects of the fully-connected cabin. Ford has remained a supporter of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, so the E-Tourneo Courier features wireless support for both smartphone integration standards. A phone charging pad will also be offered, and Ford promises that over-the-air updates will render dealership visits unnecessary.The electric version of the Tourneo Courier features a 100-(134-horsepower) electric motor. Ford offers a selectable one-pedal driving mode and a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems, some unique in the segment. Three drive modes-Normal, Eco, and Slippery-can be selected to match the road conditions or preferences.The new EV offers support for 11-kW AC and 100-kW DC charging options, with Ford's end-to-end home charging solution taking care of the former. The accompanying app provides a scheduling capability, taking advantage of cheaper energy tariffs where available. The Ford E-Tourneo Courier needs less than six hours to charge from 10 to 100% overnight and can add up to 87 km (54 miles) of range in 10 minutes using a DC fast charger. The charge from 10 to 80 percent takes less than 35 minutes.The all-new E-Tourneo Courier will start sales in late 2024 in Europe, complementing the gas-powered Ford Tourneo Courier, which will be available later this year. The new model will start production in Craiova, Romania, in the second half of 2024, alongside the Puma crossover. Since Puma will also turn electric by 2024, it's fair to assume it will share many technical details with the E-Tourneo Courier. This is one of the 10 EVs Ford plans to offer in Europe by 2024 and is instrumental to the carmaker's plans to reach a 2-million production capacity by the end of 2026.
Over the weekend, a professor from the United States eclipsed the record for the longest period of surviving underwater without depressurization at a scuba diving resort in the Florida Keys.

Dr. Joseph Dituri, popularly known as "Dr. Deep Sea," has been dwelling at Jules' Undersea Lodge since March 1. On his 74th day, he carried out his regular daily activities, which included a protein-rich supper of eggs and salmon, strength band workouts, pushups, and an hour-long snooze, per Daily Mail.

His 100-square-foot pod lies 30 feet beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. It does not employ technology to adapt to the higher underwater pressure, unlike submarines.

Two academics from Tennessee, Bruce Cantrell and Jessica Fain, who remained in the same place in 2014, previously held the record with a stay of 73 days, two hours, and 34 minutes.

Dr. Dituri, a former US Navy officer with a degree in biomedical engineering, doesn't feel pleased with just breaking the record. He intends to stay down until June 9, when he hits 100 days, as part of an underwater exploration named Project Neptune 100.

The Marine Resources Development Foundation's objective mixes ocean and medical research with community outreach and education.

Press Release: April 1, 2023

Mutations Discovered by Researcher Living Underwater

Dr. Joseph Dituri, the aquanaut researcher living underwater for 100 days revealed the development of pre-gills on his neck and webbing between his fingers," says his doctor

~Dr. Patrick Duffy pic.twitter.com/RlM4gBGu4F  Joseph Dituri, Ph.D. (@drdeepsea) April 1, 2023

Read Also: FDA Approves New Drug for Menopausal Hot Flashes

Dr. Deep Sea's Mission is Not Yet Done

Dr. Dituri acknowledged the accomplishment but expressed that setting a new record is "a minor bump." Though thankful for the achievement, he noted that there "still have more science to do," Al Jazeera reported.

Since he started his underwater stay, Dr. Dituri has been updating his followers on his life underwater through his social media channels, including his YouTube channel, according to The Straits Times.

Dr. Deep Sea gives a tour of his environment and demonstrates how his friends and relatives visit him while donning scuba diving gear. Moreover, his medical professionals make home visits.

Dr. Joseph Dituri also teaches biomedical engineering courses online at the University of South Florida, per the Florida Keys News Bureau. He misses the sun, though, and says it has been a significant part of his life.

Related Article: NASA's Lunar Flashlight Mission Comes to an End

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
If you've been part of the Android Auto community for more than a minute, you should know already that cords are a major annoyance for users.Finding the right cable for Android Auto is quite a challenge, sometimes causing connection problems in the middle of the drive. In theory, sticking with the cable that comes in the box of the phone is the best way to go, but many users found out the hard way that everything can change overnight. All without any modification on their sides, that is.As such, sticking with Android Auto wireless is theoretically the more reliable alternative.But a bug that seems to become widespread these days proves this isn't always the case. The wireless connection between the phone and the head unit happens only on the first launch, with the next attempts failing with absolutely no error.Users have been complaining of this awkward behavior for several weeks already, but the whole thing now appears to impact more users.In all cases, the phone connects to the head unit and launches Android Auto wireless correctly after starting the engine. However, after the engine is shut down and the phone is reconnected to the same head unit, Android Auto fails to load for a reason that nobody can determine. More often than not, rebooting the mobile device brings everything back to normal, while others claim that simply turning Bluetooth off and then back on restores the Android Auto wireless connection.The issue appears to primarily impact Google's Pixel lineup of phones regardless of the car model and the media receiver. On the other hand, similar bug reports have been posted by Samsung owners, and this might suggest the issue isn't a compatibility issue with a specific phone model.Google has yet to acknowledge the problem , so for now, nobody knows if an investigation is already underway. However, given the bug is becoming more widespread as we speak, possibly as more users receive a recent update causing the connectivity issue, Google is very likely to start looking into reports sooner rather than later.In the meantime, the search giant is busy shipping Coolwalk to more Android devices. The rollout should be complete by the end of the summer, so devices that haven't yet received the new interface should get it in the coming weeks and months. Coolwalk allows users to run multiple apps side by side on the same screen no matter the screen size, the aspect ratio, or the display resolution. It supports both landscape and portrait dashboard screens.
SUV

ICE

PHEV

Back then, cars that had come to define the intermediate market, like the Ford Taurus or Toyota Camry, were more than alive and well. Most of them are extinct today, and only the Chevy Malibu still keeps the banner up for Detroit automakers. Meanwhile, Asian carmakers seek to ensure the survival of the segment in an age of crossovers, SUVs, and trucks.Well, at least they are doing a great job  even if traditional sedans are not what they used to be in terms of sales. The eighth generation Hyundai Sonata has already reached its mid-life cycle refresh moment, and even if there is no ninth iteration, it will surely go out with a Sensuous Sportiness bang provided by the full-width LED light bar at the front. The eternal Toyota Camry, now also in its eighth international iteration, eagerly awaits the Japanese automaker to finally reveal the all-new 2024 Tacoma and 2025 4Runner mid-size truck andsiblings to get its own chance at shining brightly in new generation attire.As for the Honda Accord, that one is like an 'old goat' indeed  now in its eleventh generation but still clinging firmly to the side of the four-door sedan mountain peak. It is the freshest option currently on the market, and production is well underway at the Marysville, Ohio-based Honda Marysville Auto Plant in-powered and hybrid form. But what if a returning Japanese mid-size sedan adumbrated its novelty? And one that stems from Mitsubishi , of all places!The latter Rising Sun carmaker is but a pale shadow of its former self, considering the bland roster of $16k to $40k models formed of the 2023 Mirage, Mirage G4 sedan, Outlander Sport, Eclipse Cross, and the latest Outlander plus Outlander. Gone are the days when Mitsubishi was selling cars inspired by racing monsters, and so are the times when Mitsubishi fans treated the automaker as the king of rally racing. Instead, all we have is stuff like Renault lookalikes now.And no matter how much we sob about the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution , chances are it may never reappear to show Subaru who is both a dirt and tarmac boss  especially since the latter also abandoned the cool ways of the WRX STi just recently. Anyway, maybe there's another chance at redemption  this time in the sector of mid-size four-door sedans. Or at least that is the opinion of the imaginative realm of digital car content creators.More precisely, a virtual automotive designer, better known as a.c.g_design on social media, tried to imagine how to bring back the Galant nameplate for a tenth generation, complete with the current Mitsubishi design language. Alas, this is definitely a traditional sedan, and it's pretty interesting to see how the pixel master quickly tamed the company's quirky styling to make it feasible for a proper four-door passenger car reinvention. So, do we give it our CGI hall pass?Or is the traditional sector  especially in America  too far gone into the endangered zone to even consider the opportunity of relaunching a nameplate that bowed out of the market in 2012, right when mid-size sedans were still thriving, and crossover SUVs were only distant seconds in the sales charts?
kW

During the 11-year production run of the Lamborghini Aventador , multiple tuners have had their way with it. Some keep introducing special builds based on this modern-day classic exotic machine, like Liberty Walk. The Japanese company's latest proposal, with images of it shared on social media recently by its founder, looks like a race car for the road.Featuring the usual exterior add-ons that Liberty Walk is famously known for, this Aventador has a new chin spoiler, large side blades, and a few canards. The front and rear fenders were widened, and the side skirts are simply massive. It appears that the front hood came from the aftermarket world, and you can bet that the ginormous rear wing, and likely the diffuser that's not visible in these images, were also signed by the tuner based in the Land of the Rising Sun.Finished in bright yellow, with a few black accents for a more serious look, this Italian supercar has several decals to emphasize its reworked nature. Those six-spoke alloys with wide lips send motorsport vibes like the rest of the exterior design. It also rides closer to the asphalt, and this was likely achieved thanks to the adjustable air suspension. Elsewhere, it's the same model overall, including inside, as Liberty Walk is not really known for reupholstering the cockpits of its builds.They don't normally give power boosts to their projects either, so in all likelihood, you're still looking at the stock naturally aspirated V12. The sonorous 6.5-liter unit was offered in multiple states of tune, with the final one that left production at the Sant'Agata Bolognese facility boasting 769 hp (780 ps/574). It has 531 lb-ft (720 Nm) of torque available at a push of a throttle, and despite being a rather big boy, it is neck-snapping fast. The official spec sheet of the Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae shows 2.8 seconds required to hit 62 mph (100 kph) from zero and a top speed of 221 mph (355 kph). Due to the weight penalty, the Aventador Ultimae Roadster is one-tenth slower, though it does have an identical top speed.So, if you could have any Aventador you wanted, would you opt for a touch of personalization? And if so, would Liberty Walk be your first choice? Let us know in the comments section below what you think of the pictured one.
Photo: Bergen Police Department

BEV

Photo: Paris Police

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

NHTSA

Photo: Jerome Coumet

All reports I have seen so far failed to describe something crucial about the situation: there is a taxi stop close to Lille Bar. The Model Y driver was probably preparing to park there, which is the same situation that precedes all sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) cases involving Tesla vehicles. Costas Lakafossis discovered that Autopilot could brake and accelerate themaker's products when they are parking. One owner even told the accident investigator that he did not have to brake for the car because it did that on its own. That "convenience" breaks the feedback loop sequence on which open-loop controls rely. In other words, it lets the driver without the necessary reference of where the pedals are. If the car does not stop as expected, the driver may rush and step on the accelerator pedal instead of the one that controls the brakes. If you ask them, they'll tell you they were stepping on the correct pedal.The video shot by Olsen seems to show the Model Y with the brake lights working, but that is not correct. The taxi sign in Norway has a red light in the back that resembles a third brake light. The Tesla taxi did not activate its brake lights a single time in the footage. According to Dan Erik Johannessen , the West police district's operations manager, the driver still told police officers that "there was something wrong with the vehicle," but he did not elaborate on what. Although he was awakened and conscious, the taxi driver was taken to the Haukeland Hospital in an ambulance. The case is still under investigation, but the driver was already (weirdly) charged with careless driving.Lakafossis wrote a petition to the) to ask for all Tesla vehicles to be recalled. He proposed for the BEV maker to adopt Brake Transmission Shift Interlocks (BTSIs) in its cars, which would force drivers to step on the brakes before shifting from drive (D) to reverse (R). Right after that information became public, China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) started investigating the issue. Tesla moved fast there and proposed to issue a recall for 1,104,622 BEVs . They will now warn drivers when the accelerator pedal is pressed to 100% for a long time and allow them to select the "energy regenerative braking strategy" that these vehicles will follow.Could these measures have spared the Norwegian taxi driver from this crash? If he thought the Model Y would stop on its own, and it didn't, he may have mistakenly stepped on the accelerator instead of on the brakes. Would a warning about the accelerator pedal give him enough time to react, considering this crash took only a few seconds to happen? I asked Lakafossis what he thought about the changes the recall would make."My proposal for a shift interlock is not the only solution. It is the simplest and most straightforward that I could think of, but there are other, more complex software solutions to the issue. When the details of the OTA update come out, we will know more."The accident investigator also talked about how the Chinese authorities described the issue."I think that the wording is careful in order to prevent people from understanding the connection between this recall and older cases (and, of course, my petition). There is a possibility that they will do more in order to prevent the issue but not openly admit it. The very important point is that they are forced to recognize the issue. If the issue is recognized and accepted as valid, it will be addressed eventually (and I trust the NHTSA to solve this once the cat is out of the bag)."According to my sources at NHTSA, the safety regulator is aware of the Chinese recall and is now talking to Tesla to understand the measures and to decide if they should also be applied to cars in the US. Considering American units sold in China will receive the safety updates, there is no reason for them not to be pushed into those sold in the US, Europe, and anywhere else where customers purchased them.
EV

AWD

WLTP

Model 3 LR RWD now in ???????? $TSLA inventory! available soon



MIC

Price fr 46,970 (-4K vs LR AWD)

WLTP est 620km

LG Chem 79kWh NMC batt

3D7 600A base motor, 5.9s 0-100

Vmax 233 km/h

No subwoof., oth. speakers deact.

Warranty up to 160K km

New tire T38S

Diff. options/colours https://t.co/PSpvu9QcUc pic.twitter.com/0CNjpxm4Ry  Berlinergy (@Berlinergy) May 14, 2023

Tesla sales and production data from the past two quarters suggest that themaker has a bigger production capacity than it can sell. Tesla throttled Giga Shanghai and its factory in Fremont to accommodate the production ramp-up at Giga Texas and Giga Berlin. Still, this hasn't solved the issue of Giga Shanghai production exceeding local demand. In a surprising and unprecedented move, Tesla started to export more of Shanghai's output to other markets, including North America.At the end of March, Tesla started exporting the Model Y RWD to Canada, and weeks later, Model 3s with North American plates were spotted at Giga Shanghai . The Model Y RWD features an LFP battery pack, and the Model 3 would likely use the same chemistry. At about the same time, Tesla introduced an intriguing Model 3 Long Rangein the US. This certainly isn't built in China because it can still claim a $3,750 IRA tax credit. But its battery pack is rumored to be made with LGES cells imported from China, which explains the reduced tax credit. A new report indicates that Tesla has already moved to export more of Giga Shanghai production. A new Model 3 variant is imported into Europe and could become a new best-seller. The Model 3 Long Range RWD is built in China with LGES cells and sells in Europe at a more affordable price than the LR AWD version. The Model 3 LR RWD was first offered in March to UK fleet customers and is now also offered to retail customers in other European markets. It cannot be configured in Tesla's Design Studio yet, and the only way to buy the new model is from the inventory. This usually happens when Tesla has a limited number of cars available.At 46,970 euros ($51,079), the Model 3 LR RWD costs 4,020 euros ($4,370) less than the LR AWD variant in Germany. The price is 46,478 euros ($50,544) in Italy, making the Model 3 LR RWD 2,000 euros ($2,175) more affordable than the LR AWD version. The range is 620 km (385 miles) on 18-inch wheels according to the Europeanstandard, although this is somewhat optimistic. Surprisingly, it's less than the Model 3 Long Range AWD, which offers a 626-km (390-mile) range when equipped with the same wheels.The LR RWD variant has the same top speed as the standard-range car, at 233 kph/145 mph, but 0-100 kph (0-62 mph) acceleration takes longer, at 5.9 versus 4.4 seconds. This is slightly faster than the LFP-powered Model 3 RWD (6.1 seconds).
EV

FSD

$TSLA annual meeting tomorrow front and center. Topics likely to come up in mgmts comments and Q&A.

- Cytruck launch 3Q timing

- $25K compact 2024 timing

- M-3 Highland refresh

- Pricing strategy/why 2Q margins could be trough

- FSD/autonomy 11.4.1 beta

- Will Tesla  Gary Black (@garyblack00) May 15, 2023

After taking it slow in the post-pandemic years, Tesla is finally stepping on the accelerator with many projects moving fast simultaneously. Without a public-relations department and with a secretive corporate culture, Tesla loves keeping people in the dark about its plans. This makes its events all the more exciting, as it's the only occasion fans and investors have to see what's cooking inside Tesla's kitchen.Tesla already had an Investor Day in March, but the Annual Shareholder Meeting planned for May 16 should be a more technical event. The Investor Day was geared more toward people who might consider investing in Tesla, offering them general cues about the company's plans. On the other hand, the Shareholder Meeting is expected to brief people already invested in Tesla on what's going on with their money. Stockholders hope Tesla will share many details about ongoing operations, and sometimes themaker uses these events to share detailed insider information that geeks love.A lot is going on at Tesla, considering the EV maker is building a new gigafactory in Mexico, developing a new EV model, and readying production of the Cybertruck, among many other things. People are curious about all this and many more, and they fully expect to get answers to their questions.On the other hand, Tesla is not always open about its plans. Notably, investors who shared confidential information after the March Investor Day were banned from attending the upcoming shareholder meeting. This is one good reason that many details shared with stockholders at the event might not make it into the public space this time.Among the most pressing matters likely to be discussed during the 2023 Annual Shareholder Meeting are the new EV models Tesla is working on. The Cybertruck production is probably high on the list, but talks about the next-gen compact EV that Tesla will build in Mexico will trump that. Next on the list is the Project Highland update to the Tesla Model 3 and the corresponding Model Y refresh, Project Juniper. Ultimately, people would also want to know what's up with Tesla's pricing strategy.Tesla Full Self-Driving software will most certainly be on the event's agenda, and we'll probably see Tesla software kahunas talking about artificial intelligence and neural networks. It's not yet clear what are Tesla's plans with the Hardware 4 computer and sensors, and people will undoubtedly ask questions about that. As you probably know, the refreshed Model S and Model X shipped with HW4 can still not useBeta software.Tesla has many lines of business, so EVs and automated driving will not be the only topics discussed during the event. The Megapack expansion and Tesla Energy plans will also interest investors. Although not closely related, Elon Musk's Twitter adventure would also come under scrutiny. Shareholders would also want to know Tesla's succession plans, as revealed by a Tesla shareholder on Twitter.
We're generally speaking about ships smaller than we're used to, deployed for, as the name says, military operations near shores. The American Navy has two classes of these ships in its arsenal, the Freedom and Independence  that's right, just like the spaceships Bruce Willis & co used to travel to a killer asteroid in Armageddon.The former will eventually grow to a fleet of 16 ships (probably as soon as this year), while the latter will have 19 of them. It's the Independence class that's closest to completion, with just two of them left to be delivered now that the 17th in the fleet, USS Augusta (LCS 34), just did that.Just like the others in its family, the USS Augusta is a high-speed, shallow draft weapons platform. It comes with an aluminum trimaran hull, has a displacement of 2,307 metric tons, and can carry a crew of up to 75 people. It is powered by two gas turbines, two diesel engines, and four diesel generators, and can travel at sea for distances of 4,900 miles (7,900 km) and at speeds of up to 46 mph (74 kph).The ship is armed with a 57 mm gun, several .50 cals, and a number of missile launchers. Two helicopters can be carried on its deck, but also the new MQ-8 Fire Scout drone helicopter.The Augusta was christened in December last year, and this week its maker, Austal, announced its delivery to the Navy. Its home port is that of Naval Base San Diego, from where it will depart on missions of surface, mine, and anti-submarine warfare. The ship is presently being fitted with all the required hardware for these missions.The Navy started taking delivery of Independence LCS ships back in 2006, when the USS Independence entered service. Since then, sixteen others have done that, and two more are left, the USS Kingsville (LCS 36) and USS Pierre (LCS 38).The same company that makes these ships, Austal, also delivered to the U.S. Navy earlier this year the USNS Apalachicola . That would be a platform meant for V-22 Osprey operations, and at the same time the American Navy's largest ship with the capability to operate as an unmanned surface vessel (USV)."What that means is the thing can stay at sea completely uncrewed for up to a month, thanks to the technologies that went into it: a perception and situation awareness suite, an autonomy controller, and an autonomous machinery control system.
Azerbaijani troops seized chunks of what Armenia regards as its internationally recognized territory during border clashes in 2021 and 2022. Speaking shortly after the deadliest of those clashes that broke out in September, the EUs foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, acknowledged that they occupied part of Armenias territory and demanded their withdrawal from those border areas.

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovannisian said on Monday that Yerevan expects to get back a total of 139 square kilometers of land as a result of mutual recognition by the two South Caucasus of each others territorial integrity reaffirmed by their leaders during weekend talks in Brussels.

European Council President Charles Michel, who hosted the talks, said Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, agreed, among other things, to revive joint efforts to demarcate the heavily militarized border.

Andrea Wiktorin, the head of the EU Delegation in Armenia, essentially equated Armenia with Azerbaijan when she commented on the matter during a joint news conference with Hovannisian.

It is really important to come to an agreement, she said. Actually it is our hope that both sides will withdraw their troops and embark on the work of the delimitation and demarcation.

Asked to elaborate on her comment, Wiktorin said: It was clearly stated [at Brussels] that there are one or two spots where also Armenian forces are, lets say, in border areas and there needs to be a very clear delimitation and demarcation.

The diplomat did not specify those spots, saying that she is not aware of further details of Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks.

Hovannisian seemed bemused by Wiktorins remarks. I also find it hard to tell what this is about, he said.

Andranik Kocharian, the chairman of the Armenian parliament committee on defense and security, countered, for his part, that it is Baku that occupied Armenian territory after the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

What I know is that Armenian troops are where they must be at the moment, he said. What I know is that Azerbaijani troops violated Armenias sovereign territory. Again, what is ours is ours.

In further comments to the press made after his news conference with Wiktorin, Hovannisian suggested that the EU envoy referred to several small enclaves inside Armenia which were controlled by Azerbaijan in Soviet times and occupied by the Armenian army in the early 1990s. Baku wants to regain control over them but has yet to clarify whether it is ready to give up a bigger Armenian enclave occupied by Azerbaijani forces in 1992.

It is clear to everyone that at this stage we are talking about [Azerbaijani] troop withdrawal from Armenian territory, stressed Hovannisian.
Peskov described bilateral ties as advanced partnership and a special relationship that has deep historical roots.

We are convinced that they also have a bright future, he told Russian state television.

Of course, there are certain sensitive points, he added without elaborating.

Russian-Armenian relations deteriorated in the last several months mainly because of what Yerevan sees as lack of Russian support in the conflict with Azerbaijan.

In an interview with the Russian opposition newspaper Novaya Gazeta published on Sunday, the secretary of Armenias Security Council, Armen Grigorian, accused Russia of not honoring security obligations to Armenia enshrined in bilateral and multilateral treaties.

Moscow is also not supplying Yerevan with weapons despite several defense contracts signed by the two sides, he said without going into details. The Armenian military has to look for alternative sources of arms supplies because we are not receiving what we ordered from Russia and what we paid for, added Grigorian.

The rift between the two nations deepened further in March after Armenias Constitutional Court gave the green light for parliamentary ratification of the International Criminal Courts founding treaty. The ruling followed an arrest warrant issued by the ICC for Russian President Vladimir Putin over war crimes allegedly committed by Russia in Ukraine.

Moscow warned that recognition of The Hague tribunals jurisdiction would have extremely negative consequences for Russian-Armenian relations. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians government appears to have refrained from sending the treaty to the Armenian parliament for ratification.

Pashinian was among the leaders of several ex-Soviet states who joined Putin in attending the May 9 military parade in Moscow that marked the 78th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. Peskov said afterwards that Putin and Pashinian held a separate meeting during the celebrations.
Michel, who hosted the talks between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, made no mention of the five-month blockade that has caused serious shortages of food and medicine as well as an energy crisis in Karabakh.

Instead, he urged Baku to embark on a dialogue with Armenians living in the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast for the purpose of guaranteeing the rights and security of this population.

This fact shows that the president of the European Council not only does not hinder but actually encourages Azerbaijan to use the sufferings of the people of Artsakh as a political tool, the Karabakh foreign ministry charged in a statement.

It said Michels remarks also demonstrate that the EU leadership continues to ignore the legal rights and interests of the people of Artsakh and is guided only by its own geopolitical and short-term interests in the region to the detriment of the values of democracy and human rights proclaimed by the EU.

The statement added that only international recognition of the Karabakh Armenians right to self-determination can be the basis for a sustainable settlement of the conflict.

The Armenian government stopped championing that right a year ago. Pashinian subsequently declared that it recognizes Azerbaijans territorial integrity.

Michel implied after Sundays summit that Yerevan is now also ready to recognize Azerbaijani sovereignty over Karabakh. The Armenian opposition expressed serious concern over this declaration, renewing its allegations that Pashinian is forcing the Karabakh Armenians to live under Azerbaijani rule.

By contrast, the strongly-worded Karabakh statement contained no criticism of Pashinian.
Kenyan trade lobby hails China-Africa expo as platform to share lessons on growth

Xinhua) 09:35, May 15, 2023

NAIROBI, May 14 (Xinhua) -- The third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo presents a platform for attracting investments and sharing knowledge that could stimulate Africa's growth, a Kenyan official has said.

Patrick Nyangweso, the chief executive officer of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), a trade lobby, said the expo is significant to African economies amid their quest for new markets, capital flows, and innovations from China to revitalize key sectors like manufacturing, agro-processing, and digital economy.

The third edition of the expo, under the theme "Common Development for a Shared Future," will run from June 29 to July 2 in central China's Hunan Province. First launched in 2019, it is a major platform for strengthening economic and trade cooperation between China and African countries.

"The expo will be an opportunity for us to learn about product development as Kenyan businesses," Nyangweso told Xinhua during an interview on the sidelines of a promotional forum for the expo held in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on May 11.

In attendance at the forum is a high-profile delegation from Yiyang City in Hunan Province. Yang Zhihua, the deputy mayor of Yiyang, said the expo, which will feature seminars, matchmaking negotiations, and outdoor commodity pavilions, will culminate with the release of the inaugural China-Africa trade index.

The expo will be an opportunity for Kenyan entrepreneurs to network with their Chinese counterparts, and exchange ideas and best practices that are crucial to fueling the growth of local start-ups, Nyangweso said.

Nyangweso, who will lead a group of Kenyan entrepreneurs to the expo, said African countries will acquire knowledge on establishing industrial parks, cottage industries, and packaging of products to meet international standards.

In addition, the expo presents an opportunity for Kenya and other African countries to gain insight into digitizing their businesses, upgrading workforce skills, and accelerating value addition to boost the competitiveness of agricultural products in the overseas markets, Nyangweso added.

He also disclosed that the KNCCI plans to open an office in Hunan Province this year to facilitate interaction between its members with Chinese entrepreneurs and investors.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Bangladesh is rapidly becoming a central regional tech hub, with a growing number of startups and a focus on digital innovation. With over 6,500 startups and over 300,000 new jobs created, the IT sector has contributed 1.3% to Bangladesh's GDP. It has already become South Asia's second-largest source of IT freelancers and is considered the region's second most promising technological hub.

According to the President of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services, Russel T. Ahmned, the country's IT-Information Technology Enabled Service (ITES) sector could grow to $30 billion by 2031. To accelerate this growth, the government has approved building nine new high-tech parks; six more are currently under construction.

While Bangladesh has some catching up regarding blockchain and crypto, the government has identified infrastructure document verification, land expertise finance, food agriculture, health supply chain, and smart city judiciary as critical areas where industry, businesses, and government can implement blockchain.

The government has plans to provide different governmental services under these ministries using blockchain technology. And in July 2022, the Minister of Finance Mustafa Kamal announced the start of research and exploration of Central Bank Digital Currencies. However, Bangladesh has banned cryptocurrencies, despite which 2.4% or 4 million people own cryptocurrency.

A Smart Vision 2041

Bangladesh has also laid out its Smart Vision 2041, a plan to transform the country into a knowledge-based economy. The ambitious project includes goals such as 0% poverty, 100% high-speed internet accessibility, and a 100% inclusive, circular, and cashless economy. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has emphasized that education and learning, such as e-education, e-health, e-businesses, e-economy, and e-governance, will be technical knowledge-based.

One of the key drivers of Bangladesh's tech revolution is its young and educated population, with 64% under 30. The country's low cost of living and business makes it an attractive destination for tech startups and investors, with affordable real estate and office space.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has laid out her country's Smart Vision 2041, a plan to accelerate Bangladesh's progress and transform it into a knowledge-based economy. Her ambitious project includes 0% poverty, 100% high-speed internet accessibility, and a 100% inclusive, circular, and cashless economy, among other milestones.

"Our education and learning such as e-education, e-health, e-businesses, e-economy, e-governance will be technical knowledge-based," the prime minister said when announcing her 2041 vision for a fully developed Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina explained children will be the driving force toward 2041. "We will develop our children to cope with the coming days that will be technology driven and prepare them to be the skilled manpower for the upcoming fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)."

Furthermore, the government is creating an enabling environment for tech startups by offering various incentives, such as tax exemptions and access to funding. Bangladesh has also been improving its ease of doing business ranking, making it easier for startups to register and operate.

Challenges that need addressing

Despite these positive developments, Bangladesh still faces challenges that could hinder its progress as a tech hub. Weak intellectual property laws, enforcement mechanisms, and a digital divide in rural areas are among the most significant obstacles.

Nevertheless, Bangladesh can become a significant global tech industry player. With its large and young population, low living costs, supportive government policies, and thriving digital ecosystem, the country is well-positioned to become a significant tech hub in the coming years. If it can address its challenges and continue its current trajectory, the future looks bright for Bangladesh's tech sector.
15 May 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with President of the European Council Charles Michel in Brussels in his visit to the Kingdom of Belgium.

Having welcomed the restoration of the Brussels format of the process of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, both Azerbaijani and EU Council leaders first discussed the developments related to Azerbaijan-Armenia relations in recent months, the Washington negotiations, the situation on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border, as well as the agenda of the trilateral meeting held with the participation of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the European Council Charles Michel and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.

In fact, in this meeting, the disappointment of the Prime Minister of Armenia was of a clear manifestation of his failure; for some reason, Pashinyan, who has been dreaming for France's participation in the meeting for a long time, was looking destitute and hopeless. This meeting shows that the Brussels format is being restored, and after the meeting in Prague there were some problems in the implementation of the Brussels format. So, as a result of France's intervention, France and Armenia purposefully wanted to hold a meeting in a quadrilateral format and worked in this direction.

This time, the political power of Azerbaijan defeats the French-Armenian duo and waters down their dreams; as a result, thanks to Azerbaijan's will and firm position, a meeting is held in the Brussels format, and this meeting takes place without France.

As a matter of fact, both Pashinyan and his entourage did not want to come, insisting that they would not participate in this format. But in the end they had to come

In general, in the Brussels format, Azerbaijan feels completely comfortable in the meetings held in the trilateral format and does not see any hostile attitude in this meeting. On the whole, relations between the EU and Azerbaijan are normal, but France's intervention has given the process a completely different content.

In general, a country like France, which has taken a pro-Armenian position and publicly demonstrates it, should not interfere in the peace processes between the two countries. Such a move could have seriously undermined the transparency of the Brussels format. The fact that France did not participate in this meeting, the gaps in both the internal and foreign policy of France are of great importance here. The influence of France, for example, within the EU itself has dramatically decreased in recent times. This is a direct result of the reforms that Macron wants to implement in France and the resistance of the French people and so on, as well as the failed policies of France itself in Africa and in various countries around the world. As a result, Pashinyan came again, and here the Brussels peace agenda and Azerbaijan's will is to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region. In other words, it is the Armenian side that prevents the peace process to realise.

Besides, it should be noted that the next meeting is expected in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova - also with the participation of France. However, the fact that Germany and France will participate in the upcoming meeting of the European Political Union in Chisinau will be purely informal. Within the framework of this forum, as a whole, various external events and meetings are expected to be held within the framework of every international event. In the framework of such an external meeting, the participation of Germany and France can be ensured and they can participate in an informal way.

As regards the Germany's participation, it is of course, very normal for Azerbaijan. Germany is a friendly partner state with Azerbaijan which was tangible with its unequivocal position against Armenia's policy of occupation. In the sense that Germany has always said that we recognize the territorial integrity of all countries, Azerbaijan. Moving borders by force is not acceptable for Azerbaijan, and Germany's intervention in this process aims to partially neutralize this position of pro-Armenian France. Germany itself understood very well that French intervention could lead the process in a negative direction.

In a nutshell, the Brussels format is restored. This meeting is directly an example of it, and it has a trilateral nature, EU-Azerbaijan-Armenia. There is no question of mediation here. Charles Michel simply acts in a supporting role and function in the proceedings. The basis of the Brussels peace agenda is the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the signing of a peace treaty and the restoration of communications. In this meeting, humanitarian issues, the problem of landmines, and the problem of missing persons were of a very urgent nature. Although Armenia spoke against holding the meeting in this format, in the end, Pashinyan still gave his consent to participate in this format and he came and participated at the meeting. As regards the fourth party, i.e, France's participation, as we have seen, was feasible. So, this means that Brussels meeting is the total expression of Azerbaijan's political power, where Azerbaijan has shown its will again.

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Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews deputy editor-in-chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
15 May 2023 13:30 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

Turkiye started presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14. These elections, organized at the highest level in the 100-year history of the Republic, also became a great example for the world in terms of holding democratic elections.

It should be noted that the Republic of Turkiye has faced great struggles in the last couple of decades. The country, which is always in the center of attention of the world community, has always been under focuses of interests of other forces due to its strategic aspects.

In addition, the Turkish people's free expression of their national will in the elections frustrated the intentions of some anti-Turkish circles at the international level.

It should be recalled that Turkiye has faced many coups, chaos and many pressures against democracy since the 1960s. In addition, Turkiye saved the country from being divided and turned into a place of terrorism by actively fighting the PKK terrorist organization for about 40 years. FETO's coup attempt in 2016 was one of the most heinous attempts to break up the country. However, the fact that Turkiye is in good hands and especially the strong resistance of Erdogan's government against the enemies was able to overcome all these obstacles. It is for this reason that Erdogan's 21-year rule was able to win the trust of the majority of the people. The ongoing elections are also an indicator of the Turkish society's trust in the current political elite in power in Turkiye.

Thus, the Turkish people once again showed their trust in their political leader, and according to the vast majority of experts, Erdogan's brilliant victory is inevitable, even if the elections go to the second round.

It should be noted that Recep Tayyip Erdogan collected 49.4% votes among the 4 candidates in the first stage, with a 4.4% advantage over his political rival Kemal Klcdaroglu, thanks to 99.4% local and 84% foreign votes. One of the most interesting moments was the Kahraman Marash region, which was affected by the heaviest earthquake in Turkiye, where the votes for the AKP leader passed 70/100.

Despite how transparent and democratic the elections were held in the first phase, some anti-democratic attempts of the rival parties were also memorable. For example, the fact that the supporters of the main opposition congratulated CHP (RPP) leader Kemal Klcdaroglu when the results of the elections were still unclear showed once again that anti-democratic forces are always active in trying to interfere in the elections. However, the strong control of the state and maximum protection of democratic principles could play an important role in the successful completion of the elections.

At the same time, the elections held in Turkiye were also followed with great interest by Azerbaijan. Of course, this interest was a manifestation of love for the Turkish government, which supported the right voice of Azerbaijan in the Second Karabakh War, and Azerbaijan-Turkiye brotherhood. Undoubtedly, the history of the Turkish-Azerbaijani brotherhood does not reckon on the last two decades. However, the work of Erdogan's government is invaluable in strengthening this brotherhood.

For this reason, the fact that the President of Azerbaijan was the first among the world's political leaders to congratulate his Turkish counterpart and the Peoples' Alliance (Cumhur Ittifaki) on the occasion of the first results of the elections revealed the manifestation of the unshakable and sincere brotherly relations of the two peoples of the same nation.

Today, many political scientists and experts, as well as the leading think tanks of the West, confirm in advance that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will win the next round unequivocally. Because in the last 10 years, it is inevitable that there is no alternative political leader who can lead Turkiye to the top both in the political arena and in the field of technological development. The people of Turkiye trust their leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and they will trust him with the destiny of Turkiye even in the next round.

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Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews deputy editor-in-chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
15 May 2023 18:17 (UTC+04:00)

On 11 May 2023, the American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan hosted its Members May Luncheon.

Mr. Taleh Kazimov, the Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan (CBA) was a guest speaker of the event. He provided a brief overview of the current trends in the macroeconomic environment and financial sector of the country, highlighting the critical role of the banking system in facilitating economic growth.

Thereafter, presentations on company portfolio and activities were delivered by member companies, including Legalize Law Firm.

Fuad Gashamov, a founding partner of Legalize Law Firm, gave a brief speech and stated that he wanted to convey a message as to how the legal services are important, through the video called the Earthquake. He stressed that recent earthquakes in Turkiye deeply influenced him which made him to conclude: complying with laws always saves: either our lives or our businesses.

Please click the link below to watch the video:

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
15 May 2023 17:00 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Baku Museum Center has opened a personal exhibition by Abulfaz Farajoglu themed "Starting point".

Nearly 16 graphic works and 91 paintings were on display as part of the exhibition, Azernews reports.

In their remarks, Secretary of the Azerbaijan Artists' Union, Honored Art Worker Ziyadkhan Aliyev, deputy of the Azerbaijani parliament, member of the International Association of Artists under UNESCO, chairman of the Nakhchivan Artists' Union, Honored Artist Ulviya Gamzayeva praised the artist's masterpieces, distinguished with original style. His avant-garde paintings feature unique motifs, images and landscapes.

The 67-year-old artist was born in Nakhchivan. He is a graduate of the Azim Azimzade State Art School. Since 1984, he has been a member of the Azerbaijan Artists` Union. In 2005 he was elected a member of the International Association of Plastic Arts.

In 1981-1994, he was a teacher at the Nakhchivan School of Arts. In 1997-2020, he taught at various educational institutions in Turkiye.

His personal exhibitions have been successfully held in Ukraine, Germany, Turkiye, Russia, UAE, USA, Japan, Denmark, Bulgaria, France, Poland, Italy, Belgium, China, Iran, etc.

Since the aesthetics of the artist's paintings and graphic works are being updated, his works in various genres have always been in the center of public attention.

The exhibition "Starting point" in the genre of modern expressionism reflects the traditional image of reality. Instead of depicting reality as it is, it is important for an artist to show his inner world. The exhibition also calls to stop rushing through life and focus on what is really important.

The distorted lines, contrasting colors, abstract forms and other elements in paintings left a deep impression on the viewers.

Photo Credits: Vugar Imanov

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az, Milli.Az.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
15 May 2023 04:33 (UTC+04:00)

On May 15, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev made a phone call to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Azernews reports.

The President congratulated President Erdogan and the Peoples Alliance on the occasion of winning the majority of votes in the presidential and parliamentary elections held in Turkiye.

President Ilham Aliyev noted that the Republic of Turkiye has made great progress under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and as a manifestation of this, the fraternal Turkish people have shown their trust in their leader in these elections as well.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan thanked the President of Azerbaijan for the attention and congratulations.

During the phone conversation, the heads of state once again underlined that friendly and brotherly relations between the two countries are permanent and unbreakable.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
15 May 2023 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

Following the recent positive talks held in the United States on the peace treaty, the momentum should be maintained to take decisive steps towards the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, President of European Council Charles Michel told in a statement for media, Azernews reports.

The EU Council head also expressed his satisfaction of the meeting through which he said both Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders supported the 1991 Almaty Declaration and mutual respect to each other's territorial integrities.

"On border issues, we reviewed progress and the next steps regarding the delimitation of the border. In this context, the leaders agreed on the resumption of the bilateral meetings on border issues. The leaders confirmed their unequivocal commitment to the 1991 Almaty Declaration and the respective territorial integrity of Armenia (29,800 km2) and Azerbaijan (86,600 km2). The ultimate delimitation of the border will be agreed through negotiations."

Charles Michel also touched on Zangazur corridor which will connect Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan, and achievements on negotiation between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"On connectivity, the sides made clear progress in their discussions aimed at unblocking transport and economic links in the region. Positions on this topic have now come very close to each other in particular on the reopening of the railway connections to and via Nakhchivan. Their respective teams have been tasked to finalize an in principle agreement on the modalities for the opening of the railway connections and the necessary construction works together with a concrete timetable. They also agreed to draw upon the support of the World Customs Organization in supporting this work," he said.

It should noted that the statement by President of European Council Charles Michel follows the humanitarian issues, such as the recently missing Azerbaijani soldiers in the Nakhchivan direction who are imprisoned in the Armenian side.

"On humanitarian issues, there has been an understanding that further detainees would be released in the coming weeks. I also stressed the need to safeguard the mutual understanding that soldiers who have simply got lost and crossed to the other side would continue to be released through a speedy procedure. We also discussed the importance of stepping up work on addressing the fate of missing persons and on demining," EU Council head added.

To recall, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who has been on a working visit to Brussels, has met with President of the European Council Charles Michel and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
15 May 2023 12:50 (UTC+04:00)

The parliamentary delegation of Kyrgyzstan headed by speaker Nurlanbek Shakiev had a working visit to Azerbaijan.

Azernews reports, citing the press service of the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) that during the visit, the speaker will take part in events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the National leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev, and will also hold a number of high-level meetings.

Among other events, the delegation of the Jogorku Kenesh will visit the head office of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States and get acquainted with its activities.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
15 May 2023 22:25 (UTC+04:00)

Kazakhstan's Samruk-Kazyna, the national welfare fund, has launched a new underground high-pressure gas pipeline with a length of 60 km in the Mangystau region, Azernews reports via Trend.

The pipeline connects the village of Kuryk with Sarsha and the "Warm Beach" resort area near Aktau. The work on the pipeline was carried out by the KazTransGas Aymak company, which is part of Samruk-Kazyna.

In the near future, the construction of a gas pipeline is expected to lead to the installation of a desalination plant, agricultural greenhouses, hotels, residential buildings, and an amusement park. This pipeline is set to provide clean fuel not only to the new resort area but also to the regional center.

In addition, gas supply to the seaside areas will help develop their resort potential and ensure year-round operation. This is especially important given the ever-growing tourist flow to the Mangystau region.

Also, the gas supply will contribute to such areas as water desalination and agriculture.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Car accidents can upend a person's life in many ways, from massive property damage to injuries and even death. NHTSA data shows that nearly 6 million car crashes happen annually in the USA. Knowing what qualities to prioritize in a car accident lawyer could be what you need to bring some sense of normalcy back into your life following the crash.

Experience comes first

The first thing to consider is whether the lawyers have experience dealing with car accidents. Look at factors such as how many years they have been representing crash victims and whether they have courtroom experience.

Reliable law firms have top lawyers that fight for your rights and help seek fair compensation. Auto collision lawyers from Rawlins Law APC, one of several reputable law firms, have represented several clients - car accident victims and helped them get the biggest settlements in and out of court. The best-experienced attorneys are updated with federal and state traffic laws and understand how to navigate legal backrooms to get you the justice you deserve.

Ask your attorney how they go about the entire process of representing you. How do they gather evidence? How do they prove negligence, and what strategies do they use to speed up the case and get you the highest compensation?

Integrity and honesty

Car accident lawsuits are unpredictable. You want a lawyer that can be as agile and dynamic as the case demands. Further still, they should be honest and communicative about the progress of the case and the best recommendable approaches for you.

You don't want a big talker who never delivers results. They should tell you exactly the strengths and weaknesses of your case and provide answers to your questions and answers.

Client service

The right attorney for your car accident case should excel in client service. That means they must treat you as a priority and help you navigate the difficult times. They should spend more time understanding your needs and helping you get justice for the crash.

Some green flags include responsiveness on emails and calls, in-depth knowledge about the case and accident, emotional support, and overall proactiveness.

Communication

Beyond experience, it's critical to assess the communication abilities of a potential car accident lawyer. How they communicate with you and express ideas directly connects to how well they would argue your case before a judge or insurance lawyers.

Listen closely and assess their verbal and nonverbal skills. Do they speak and write clearly? Do they keep their communications organized and relevant? Car accident lawsuits often involve mountains of paperwork and endless email threads. The best lawyers will keep everything organized, clear, and concise.

Interpersonal skills

Successfully prosecuting a car accident lawsuit requires people skills. You can benefit from working with a lawyer who relates well with people and can find a guy for anything, be it case research, investigation, or expert testimony.

If the lawyer doesn't connect well or efficiently collaborate with others, they will have difficulty building/winning your case. On the other hand, lawyers with strong people skills will accelerate your case's success.

Legal creativity

When it comes to the law, nothing is etched in stone - the rules can be interpreted in many different ways. The best lawyers will go the whole hog, presenting new evidence, finding precedence, crafting compelling arguments, collaborating with other lawyers, and exploring novel ways to get you the compensation you deserve.

No two cases are similar. Find a lawyer who personalizes their approach for every case. Find a zealous attorney who is all about winning for you by any legal means necessary. They should be ingenious, knowledgeable people, loyal to you from start to finish.

Assertive delivery

Sometimes car accident lawsuits drag on and on - and insurance lawyers have been known to use delay tactics to avoid paying torts. In many other cases, the defendant may have a barrage of lawyers who turn the tides and make the accused look like the victim.

Therefore, the best lawyer to hire must be a tough professional who will stop at nothing within legal boundaries to deliver the best outcomes for you. They should be ready to uncover hidden evidence, create connections and prove causation, go to court, and even get biased judges removed from the case.

Car accidents can lead to painful experiences and traumatic memories. They lead to financial destabilization and continuous and prolonged anguish. The best lawyers understand high stakes and will do everything they can to alleviate your worries and get you just compensation for damages. You will know who the best lawyers are by the above qualities when you meet them.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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As the home of some of the most dramatic flights in the history of commercial aerospace, Mojave Air and Space Port in eastern Kern County has 
Now that the public is allowed to know the truth regarding the Hunter Biden Laptop Scandal, after more that 2 1/2 years of deception by the corrupt Corporate Media Kabal, propropagandidats all, and the discredited Deep State, we have NOW learned that the infamous laptop is far less about the Biden Boy's fetish for pornography, narcotics and Russian whores, and far more about Hunter's pivotal role in the Biden Crime Syndicate's selling of deep access to our foreign adversaries, and to what extent it has compromised our national security: What is your opinion about this possible coordinated Treason?

It is imperative that we know the truth of what may be the greatest scandal in our Republic's history, and all aforementioned parties prosecuted for their crimes against the People.

Currently, our Two Tiered Justice System is constructed to protect all Democratic Socialists, their corrupt "Journalist" spokes-sheople, and their Deep State enablers ... so why bother.

It is Donald Trump's fault.
Several recent legislative proposals aim to expand North Carolina's Opportunity Scholarship Program to serve more students and families

The program has survived multiple lawsuits and has expanded to serve more than 25,000 students

Polling results show that the program continues to enjoy high levels of support

This post appears here courtesy of the John Locke Foundation . The author of this post is Kaitlyn Shepherd The recent introduction of several legislative proposals aimed at expanding access to North Carolina's Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) shows that support for school choice is growing in the Tar Heel State.A biennial budget proposal that passed the House last month would add $25 million in ongoing funding to support scholarship awards for students beginning in fiscal year 2024-2025. It would also expand eligibility by removing a public-school attendance requirement for students in third through eighth grade.Policymakers also presented a bill that would allow certain homeschool students to participate in the OSP and receive awards of up to $1,000 initially. Over time, award amounts would increase until eligible homeschool students could receive up to 45% of state per-student spending. Identical proposals recently introduced in the House and Senate would remove household income eligibility restrictions and open the program to students from all economic backgrounds while prioritizing families with the greatest financial need.The continued growth of and interest in the Opportunity Scholarship Program demonstrate its ongoing success and the need for similar opportunities for all students in North Carolina. Considering these developments, a brief history of the program may be helpful.Simply stated, the OSP gives parents of eligible students a voucher to help cover the cost of tuition and fees at the private school that best serves their child's needs.Lawmakers created the program in 2013 and launched it the following year. During the 2014-2015 school year, the first year of operation, only one income level determined eligibility. Students had to live in a household that met the income requirements needed to qualify for the federal free or reduced-price lunch program. In practice, this meant that a family of four making up to $44,123 would meet the requirement. During the 2014-2015 school year, 1,216 students were awarded scholarships worth up to $4,200 each and totaling more than $4.6 million dollars.In every subsequent year, eligibility has been determined based on two income levels. For the 2015-2016 school year, children in households making anywhere from 100% to 133%met the requirement. Students in a family of four whose household income was $59,667 or less could apply. Eligible students whose household incomes satisfied the lower income-eligibility guideline could receive a voucher worth up to $4,200 per year, which represented 75% of the average private school tuition in North Carolina. Students whose household income rose to the level of the higher income-eligibility guideline could receive the lesser of $4,200 or 90% of their private school's required tuition and fees.The program faced lawsuits almost immediately. In a pair of cases, the North Carolina School Boards Association, the North Carolina Association of Educators, multiple school boards, and their allies claimed that the OSP violated the state constitution. One of their main allegations was that the constitution required the General Assembly to spend state funding only on the public school system. The trial court agreed and halted implementation of the program.Fortunately for students and families, in July 2015, the North Carolina Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the OSP. The court found that the OSP served a valid public purpose. It also explained that the state constitution did not prevent the General Assembly from appropriating money for educational initiatives other than the public schools. In the opinion for the court, then-Chief Justice Mark Martin summarized the court's reasoning:Despite the decision by the North Carolina Supreme Court, parents and policymakers were still worried about the future financial stability of the program. In 2016, lawmakers sought to respond to those concerns when they created the Opportunity Scholarship Grant Fund Reserve. The reserve was meant to hold money appropriatedKnowing that program funding would be available for the upcoming year filled parents with confidence and certainty.The OSP survived another lawsuit two years later. Gov. Roy Cooper had challenged budgetary provisions that added $10 million annually to the OSP over a 10-year period and required theJudges ruled that the provisions did not infringe upon Cooper's authority.In recent years, the pace of change has increased for the OSP. For the spring semester of the 2020-2021 school year, lawmakers empowered more families to apply for the OSP by raising the upper income limit to 150% of the amount needed to qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. This meant that a family of four making up to around $73,000 a year would meet the requirement.In 2021, policymakers raised the upper income limit to 175% of the amount needed to qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. During the 2022-2023 school year, this change allowed families of four who made up to $89,842 to apply. Lawmakers also increased award amounts to up to 90%or around $5,900 for full-time students.In 2022, legislators raised the income eligibility cap to its current level, 200% of the amount needed to qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. Students in a family of four with an annual income of up to $111,000 could qualify during the 2023-2024 academic year.Students whose household income does not exceed- $55,500 for a family of four - could receive scholarships worth up to $6,492 for the 2023-2024 school year. Students who live in households with higher incomes could receive up toMore than 25,000 students now use the OSP to access the private schools that best meet their needs.Lawmakers are considering expanding the program further to allow even more families to participate. House Bill 823 and Senate Bill 406, companion bills aptly named thebills, wouldto ensure that the largest awards go to the families with the greatest financial need.Despite some fluctuations, public support for the OSP remains high. Polling data from 2015 showed that 68% of respondents supported the program, while the latest Civitas Poll released by the John Locke Foundation in January 2023 revealed that more than two-thirds of respondents approved of the program, an increase of six percentage points over the previous year.Lawmakers could meet continued demand and empower more families to choose the educational option that best fits their child's needs by expanding the OSP to serve all K-12 students.
By Rev. Mark Creech

Christian Action League

May 11, 2023

In his book, Laugh Again, Charles Swindoll tells this fabulous story about a three-year-old, freckled-face boy in a hallway. The little guys pajamas are unsnapped, his diaper sagging, and he has a little teddy bear dangling from his hand. Hes standing in front of his parents bedroom door, which is closed. On the door is a sign written by a weary mother: Closed for Business. Motherhood Out of Order.

That brings a chuckle because every mother sometimes feels that way. However, when motherhood truly closes for business and is out of order, its not a laughing matter. Its a travesty.

If you want to contemplate what Motherhood Out of Order looks like, consider something happening in Raleigh on Mothers Day Weekend this year.

Last week, the North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation that lowers the limit for elective abortions in the state from 20 to 12 weeks. It includes exceptions for rape, incest, and the mothers life.

Because North Carolinas current restrictions on abortion are more lenient than most Southern states, the Tar Heel state has become a destination point for abortion. Yet the legislative proposal by North Carolina lawmakers that bans abortion after the first trimester is still less rigid than certain neighboring states, which prohibit abortions at six weeks or when an unborn childs heartbeat can be detected.

Democratic Governor Roy Cooper has been traveling the state and trying to drum up support for his expected veto of the legislation. Supported by groups like Planned Parenthood and the Democratic Socialist of America, Cooper tweeted that he would hold a rally on the Bicentennial Mall in Raleigh to veto the bill and encourage legislators to sustain his veto.

Now pause and think carefully for a minute. Hundreds of women, many of which, possibly most, have had an abortion, gathered together to rally around the Governors veto for killing unborn babies on the eve of Mothers Day.

If this isnt a picture of Motherhood Out of Order, I dont know what is. It is a sign of our spiritually decadent culture. If it is true the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world, then without a wholesale change of heart about the incomparable meaning and joy of motherhood, our society is facing an inevitable collapse from within.

Hyperbole? I think not!

In describing the marks of the last days before Christs return, the apostle Paul used a phrase in his second epistle to Timothy, where he writes:

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection , [authors emphasis] trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away (2 Tim. 3:1-5).

Note the phrase without natural affection. This expression describes a callousness or coldness towards ones relatives, including parents, siblings, and children. It suggests disregarding the natural bonds of kinship and failing to fulfill the basic obligations of love and care to ones family.

Its natural for a mother to want to draw her baby to her breast to nurture and nourish it. The physical contact experienced is the way mothers bond with their babies. Skin-to-skin contact provides warmth and comfort to the child. It helps regulate the babys breathing, body temperature, and heart rate. Its also been shown to promote better sleep and calmer babies.

Mothers naturally want to hold their babies close and cuddle with them. Cuddling releases hormones like oxytocin, which promotes bonding and attachment between mother and baby.

When babies cry, mothers naturally want to comfort and soothe them. They will use various methods to calm their little one down, such as rocking, singing, and shushing.

Its entirely natural for a mother to gaze lovingly into her babys eyes, smiling and speaking baby talk as they respond. This exchange is an essential aspect of the social and emotional development of the child.

Its natural for a mother to be tuned to her babys cues. Whether changing a diaper, feeding, or comforting, mothers characteristically demonstrate a natural instinct for responding to their babys cues.

Its natural for mothers to often kiss and hug their babies as a way of showing affection. Hugs and kisses release feel-good hormones, promoting an essential attachment between the mother and the baby.

What isnt natural is for a mother to kill her baby. Abortion is to be without natural affection.

No doubt, this is why a 2018 literature review found abortion negatively impacts womens mental and emotional health. The study found:

The association between abortion and higher rates of anxiety, depression, substance use, traumatic symptoms, sleep disorders, and other negative outcomes is statistically significant in most analyses.

According to a study by the Guttmacher Institute, the most common reason women seek an abortion is they say they cant financially support a child. Other reasons included concerns about how a child would negatively impact their lifes goals, feeling unprepared for parenting, and feeling they have completed their childbearing.

These may be considered legitimate reasons for an abortion, but for each one, there is a better alternative than the purposeful taking of an innocent, helpless human life.

When we trust God, he always provides for what he orders. Abortion is not a natural choice but an unnatural one. Abortion is to be without natural affection.

Mothers rallying in protest and cheering for the death of children on the eve of Mothers Day? Thats a prime example of Motherhood Out of Order.
"Hate speech" is an Orwellian term used by totalitarians who hate FREE speech, but that term is now being used to try to censor conservative members of the European parliament. The left has filed complaints against three conservative members for their political comments that the left deems "hate speech" and demands penalties for it. All are for comments made in debate on the floor of the parliament.

An MEP of Forza Italia, the traditional conservative party in Italy led by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlosconi had a complaint filed against her for making reference to a Muslim "honor killing" that happened in Italy of a young woman who refused an arranged marriage. Mentioning that incident was deemed "hate speech".

An MEP of the Danish Peoples Party, a populist / nationalist anti-immigration party had a complaint filed against him for citing official statistics on migrants and sex crimes. He denounced the move as an attempt to censor discussion of the problem of migrants and crime. Denmark's Social Democatic Justice Minister confirmed the statistics cited were accurate.

An MEP from Romania's National Christian Democratic Party has a complaint filed against him for stating in debate that "civilized society needs to put female safety over and above that of dangerous gender ideology."

https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/hate-speech-at-the-eu-parliament/

Democracy in Europe, even among its elected officials seems to be on thin ice with these challenges to freedom of speech of elected officials in their parliamentary debate.

As George Orwell wrote. "freedom of speech is your right to say what I don't want to hear".
From his childhood in San Antonio to his years as a middle-school science teacher in Houston, Shea Serrano is a quintessentially Texas talent. Having made a name for himself in sports, music, and culture writing, Serrano is now adding "television showrunner" to his resume with Primo, a new series premiering this week on Amazon Freevee that offers a semi-autobiographical take on his experience growing up in Alamo City. But to hear Ignacio Diaz-Silverio describe it, no oneleast of all Serrano himselfwas asking the shows young star to play a version of the creator on screen.

He was just incredible about empowering me to take ownership of the character, to make it my own, Diaz-Silverio explains. The show is inspired by and rooted in something real, but we're not in any way trying to play the real-life versions of these characters.

In Primo, Diaz-Silverio stars as Rafa, a high school student in contemporary San Antonio. Rafa grows up sharing a home with his mothera standout Christina Vidaland her five brothers, each offering a version of what Rafa might become with time. Like many shows associated with Michael Schur (here an executive producer), Primo quickly establishes itself as a gentle comedy rooted in relationships and resolvable conflicts. But while Primo may center on a Mexican American family, Diaz-Silverio quickly points out that the show avoids many of the sitcom tropes you may expect.

It's a show about family, and that family happens to be Hispanic, the actor explains. But its not any more a show about Hispanic people than Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a show about Irish people. For Diaz-Silverio, the fact that this familys narrative is not defined by hardship is a welcome step in the right direction. I think it's important for us and for other minority groups to get to just live and exist and not have to make it about that sort of struggle specifically, he adds.

Much of Rafas experiences in the first season will feel relatable to any audience. As a high school junior, Rafa juggles the possibility of college against the prospect of full-time work and struggles to maintain an identity for himself separate from his multigenerational household. Each episode moves the show forward throughout his junior yearsometimes weeks, sometimes monthsand as Rafa begins to explore his options, his relationship with his friends (and the girl he likes) evolves alongside him. Throughout it all, his uncles remain endlessly supportive while still expecting a lot from him; some of the shows best moments come from Primos familial shorthand for long-simmering arguments and tensions.

Jeff Neumann/Amazon Freevee

Diaz-Silverio, who's taking on his first starring role after some one-episode TV appearances and a supporting part in this spring's A Good Person, is in his early 20s. So what's it like for him to be playing a high school student now? I find that a lot of actors my age are a little bit pretentious about playing teenage characters, Diaz-Silverio explains, adding that actors sometimes infantilize their teenage characters. If I'm honest with myself, he adds, I don't know that I feel that incredibly far removed from the experience of being a confused, disoriented teen.

The actor is also quick to praise the chemistry between Rafa and his family as the natural offshoot of a cast that showed up ready to throw itself into the work. For almost all of us, it's our first series regular role, it's the most responsibility we've ever had in a project in most of our careers, he adds. Even if you dont yet recognize the names of the cast, youll recognize the faces: Rafas uncles come from a rich history of prestigious and high-profile shows, ranging from Better Call Saul to The Purge to Gentefied.

And while the connections to San Antonio may be subtlea Spurs poster here, a Whataburger story arc therethe show comes with many memories for Diaz-Silverio, who spent two years in the city as a child. Primo serves as something of a bittersweet bookend for the actor: The childhood dog he convinced his parents to get while in San Antonio passed away during the shows first week of shooting. San Antonio gave me that, he says. And that might seem like a silly or cheap thing to bring up, but thats a massive part of my childhood.

Whether or not the show gets picked up for a second season, the first season of Primo is well worth your time; the finale weaves together a handful of narrative threads and shows the full depth of the creators empathy for these characters. Diaz-Silverio just hopes people will connect to this unconventional tale of a Texas family. Its just a story about family, he adds. Hopefully, audiences of any background, of any ethnicity, will be drawn to it.

Primo premieres on Amazon Frevee on Friday, May 19.
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You probably didn't think about it at the time, but the yearbook photo you took your freshman year of high school that you weren't prepared for (and are maybe slightly embarrassed by) is a historical artifact.

The yearbooks that your parents probably forced you to buy in middle and high school that might be collecting dust are history captured. With current technology, you might think there isn't much of a need for a book of photos.

But for the moments captured before the invention of the internet or digital archives, those photos -- and yearbooks -- are sometimes the only evidence of a particular moment in time.

And the Tyrrell Historical Library would like you to share your moments in time at Southeast Texas schools with them.

An annual affair

In a Facebook post Tuesday, the library asked for Southeast Texas residents, current and past, to help complete its collection of yearbooks from local schools.

"Yearbooks are one of our biggest draws to people, apart from genealogy," Tyrrell Library archivist Sarah Grimm told The Enterprise Thursday. "We get a lot of people that come in wanting to view yearbooks."

The library has up to 300 yearbooks in its collection from high schools including French, Stephen F. Austin, Monsignor Kelly Catholic, South Park and Forest Park. But there are some gaps in its collection that the community would like to visit, Grimm said.

In the Facebook post, the library said it is seeking yearbooks from the following schools and years in particular:

Beaumont ISD's Central High School -- all years

Beaumont High School -- 1919; 1929; 1972; 1974; 1975

Charlton-Pollard High School -- 1940s; 1960s; 1970s

Hebert High School -- 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School -- 1970s

Port Neches High School -- 1925 to 1949

Nederland High School -- 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

"Charlton-Pollard in the 70s is a big one -- we have people that frequently come and ask (to view yearbooks from that time)," Grimm said. "We would very much like to fill our gaps."

The library welcomes yearbooks from all over Southeast Texas, not just those in Beaumont, Grimm said.

However, if you're not quite ready to part with the physical book but would still like to contribute to the collection, you can loan your yearbook to the library for it to be digitized and then returned back to you.

Some yearbooks, such as those from South Park High School in the late 1910s to early 1920s, that are kept away for preservation are available to view online at the Tyrrell Historical Library Digital Collection.

To learn more about the donation process or inquire about the collection, call 409-833-2759. The library is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and is located at 695 Pearl St. in Beaumont.
Why?

Thats the question that advocates for Texas children who are neglected, abandoned, abused and in need of a safe place to live ask almost daily. Thats the question children themselves ask. Its a question every single Texan should be asking.

Why does one of the wealthiest states in the nation, a state with a huge budget surplus to work with, find it almost impossible to take care of these children?

Why, over the years, has Texas so vigorously resisted a long-running, class-action lawsuit designed to radically reform a foster care system that not only has failed to meet the most basic needs of these children but has actually placed them in harms way?

Why, nearly two-and-a-half years after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered two state agencies that are his co-defendants in the class-action case to fully comply with a federal judges orders, are the agencies still balking, still resisting? Why, by the end of this legislative session, this bountiful session, is the foster care system expected emerge relatively unchanged?

One more question: Why do Texas lawmakers worry more about drag shows, transgender medical care and books about being gay on school library shelves than they do about the needs of abused and neglected children in their own custody  the custody, that is, of the State of Texas?

Were talking about roughly 20,000 young Texans, from infants to older teenagers, who, through no fault of their own, have been removed from their parents homes and are now in the foster care system.

We are well aware that countless state employees with the Department of Family and Protective Services and the Health and Human Services Commission, go to work every morning with the well-being of these children uppermost in their minds. Their job is difficult, often heart-wrenching. Caseloads are intolerably high, and turnover is at crisis stage.

The state employees have their counterparts in the private sector and among volunteers dedicated to caring for children desperately in need of a safe and healthy home.

U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack  who at this point should be eligible for sainthood after 12 long years of poking, prodding and trying to pull the state into compliance with best practices and at the very least, constitutionality  is equally dedicated. During a hearing last month in a federal courthouse in Corpus Christi, she noted that Texas has made improvements in recent years but has fallen back into its old bad habits in some areas.

Threats to childrens safety are growing, not receding, she said, noting that too many foster children  including children 3 years of age and younger  are being prescribed four or more mental-health drugs at one time without the necessary evaluations and assessments.

The State cant ignore the glaring issues with misuse and abuse of powerful drugs on young children, said Paul Yetter, the Houston business attorney who has represented the plaintiffs pro bono since the case was filed in 2011, in an email to the editorial board. Providers are violating state regulations without any consequences or, apparently, oversight. This is a huge health and safety risk in the system.

The judge also chided the state for not moving fast enough to reduce the number of children living in hotels and churches because they dont have families or shelters to take them in. And she charged that foster children who have been victims of sexual abuse are being placed in bedrooms alongside youth with histories of sexual aggression.

Now 76 and on senior status, Jack has presided since 2011 over the suit filed by two New York-based nonprofit groups asserting that Texas operates an unsafe, long-term foster care system. These days, plaintiffs are concerned that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is trying to pressure the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to rein in Jack, if not replace her.

So whats the problem? Why do we tolerate a system thats chronically broken, to quote Austin foster parent Kristin Finan. She and her husband Patrick Badgley are parents of six children, four of them foster children. She also co-founded Carrying Hope, a non-profit that serves foster children in Austin and more recently in Houston  Houston, she says, because the need is so great.

State Rep. Gene Wu, a Houston Democrat who serves on the House Committee on Juvenile Justice and Family Issues, has at least a partial answer to the question of why. Everyone says ... Im very concerned about kids in foster care and all the bad things that happen, but dont ask me what to do about it, Wu told the Texas Tribune recently. And dont ask me to take away my funding priorities to pay for that. They wont ever say that publicly. But thats what is going through members minds.

In the waning days of this legislative session, the proposed budget would give DFPS $300 million out of the budget surplus, money that would be used to increase pay for some foster care providers. Under the current system, relatives who take in children get paid much less than other foster parents. Legislation sponsored by state Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, and Rep. Lacy Hull, R-Houston, would equalize the payments. A bill sponsored by Rep. Armando Walle, D-Houston, would lower the caseloads for DFPS staff, some of whom have been carrying more than double, some more than triple, the standard caseload of 20.

At this point, those bills are either dead or dying, even though as attorney Yetter notes, There are critical reforms waiting to be done, and all we hear from the state is We dont have the money. Wed prefer for the state to work cooperatively with us. But innocent children are still at risk.

This year, of course, we have had the money. With an unprecedented surplus of nearly $33 billion, the Legislature could fund foster care like never before. DFPS still needs more money for family or friends who take in foster children, for staff raises and for foster children aging out of the system (far too many who, in Wus words, end up in prison, sex-trafficking or dead.) Additional funding wouldnt fix every problem, but it could go a long way toward addressing the complications that perpetually make it difficult to take care of our most vulnerable children. Of course, to get that done, we would have to distract lawmakers from guys in dresses and alleged smut in the stacks.

Wu concedes that the state has made some progress since 2017. In an interview last week, he mentioned a 2021 bill sponsored by Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls, that revised the requirements for when a child could be moved out of the home.

Frank has been a foster parent himself. His bill was based on the premise that keeping the child in the home if at all possible both avoids the inevitable trauma of separation and reduces the number of children who need an often difficult-to-locate place to live. Wu, an attorney who specializes in representing children in Child Protective Services cases, believes the new approach is working. Its one small step in a long, difficult journey.

One other thing: Jack, unimpeded, needs to stay on the job.

In the words of plaintiffs attorney Yetter, Judge Jack has been a godsend for Texas foster children. I think the 5th Circuit expects her to continue to give careful and close guidance to the reforms needed to ensure safe homes for these vulnerable children. The judge is determined to fix this broken system, and we plan to be there with her every step of the way. The children deserve no less.

Wu echoed Yetter. The people involved have no voice, he told us. Theyre either children or theyre parents, usually poor, who have no political power. I have appreciated having the court there to speak for them.

We should all appreciate Jack. Shes doing the Lords work, which, apparently, Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and other powerful people running the state of Texas have no intention of doing willingly.

That brings us back to a somewhat more spirited version of our original question: Why the hell not?
Ohio Gastroenterology Group has purchased a medical office building near its Columbus headquarters for $1.5 million, according to a May 15 report from Columbus Business First.

The 10,576-square-foot building is in a business park with several other medical offices, according to the report.

Ohio Gastroenterology will move into the building in two and a half years when its current tenant's lease expires. It will also continue to occupy its headquarters nearby.
A jury on March 10 convicted pain physician Frederick Gooding, MD, for a $5 million healthcare fraud scheme, the Department of Justice said.

Dr. Gooding, president and CEO of Gooding Medical Corp., based in Wilmington, Del., was initially indicted in 2019 of Medicare fraud. Now, he is convicted of 11 counts of healthcare fraud.

Dr. Gooding billed Medicare for medically unnecessary procedures that he didn't perform or have equipment for, including spinal injections. He submitted fradualant claims from 2015 to 2018.

He faces up to 10 years in prison for each count. Dr. Gooding is expacted to be sentenced June 26.
Here are 11 supply chain updates for ASC leaders to know reported by Becker's since Nov. 16:

About two weeks after the American Red Cross issued a warning about a severe flu season hindering blood supply, multiple states, including Hawaii and Georgia, are facing critical shortages.

The University of Miami Health System recently debuted its distribution center and will feature Tecsys software to bolster its supply chain resiliency. The 20,000-square-foot warehouse is tailored "with self-distribution for a select group of critical items" to better prepare for emergencies, such as when hurricanes disrupt the supply chain.

As the number of Tamiflu prescriptions increased amid a flu season that's shaping up to be the worst in 13 years, its manufacturer told Becker's it has "sufficient supply" of the common flu drug. In early November, the fill rate for Tamiflu was 11.5 times higher than it was last year, and by the next week, that amount doubled. As of Nov. 9, 13 Tamiflu generics were in short supply among six pharmaceutical companies.

SafeSource Direct's chemo-rated nitrile gloves were given 510(k) clearance by the FDA. The company has the potential to manufacture 108,000 gloves per hour, and by January 2024 the company plans to be able to produce more than 2 billion gloves per year.

More than a year after Philips Respironics recalled 3.5 million ventilators due to a risk of the foam used in the products breaking down and forming black debris that could be ingested, the devicemaker told the FDA two new potential issues have appeared in reworked ventilators. The FDA said it is working with the company to "better understand the cause of the issues."

GE Healthcare invested $80 million into its supply plant in Lindesnes, Norway, in an effort to increase its contrast media production by 30 percent. The company planned the investment because of the predicted surge in global demand.

New York City's Mount Sinai Health System, Fountain Valley, Calif.-based MemorialCare, and eight other hospitals and health systems are seeking supply leaders as of Nov. 17.

Mark Cuban shared his planned next steps for his growing pharmacy, the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Co., which has its sights set on disrupting the pharmaceutical industry.







Motz Feinberg, vice president of supply chain at Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai Health System, answered questions from Becker's about his supply chain priorities, his biggest accomplishments and more.

In response to a surge in pediatric hospitalizations, pediatric healthcare groups urged Medicaid agencies to mitigate supply and drug shortages; prioritize rental and excess equipment to pediatric providers; and provide pediatric providers with visibility into supplies and equipment in the national stockpile.

Ozempic, a prescription drug intended to help people with diabetes and help with long-term weight management, is experiencing shortages because of its popularization as a weight loss drug on TikTok. The drug was popularized by celebrities on the app, leaving people who need the medication to manage diabetes unable to find it.






A Massachusetts dentist was sentenced to two years in prison for embezzling more than $1.2 million from his employer and fraudulently obtaining government benefits in his employers name.

Jack Massarsky, DDS, worked as a dentist and bookkeeper for a practice in Hyannis, Mass., between 2015 and 2021. During that time period, he opened a secret bank account under the dental practice's name and deposited insurance reimbursement checks into that account, embezzling more than $1.2 million. He also submitted a fraudulent application to the Health Resources and Services Administration Provider Relief Fund using the dentistry practice's name and fraudulently obtained more than $52,000 in pandemic relief funds, which were deposited into the secret bank account.

Dr. Massarsky pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of wire fraud in January.

He was sentenced to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. He also paid more than $1.2 million in restitution prior to sentencing, according to a May 15 news release.
Leaders and community members in Carrollton, Ala., are calling for the reopening of Pickens County Medical Center after a woman believed to be suffering a heart attack died May 10 en route to a hospital more than 30 minutes away, WVUA reported May 12.

Carrollton Mayor Mickey Walker said the town's ambulance service was tied up transporting a different patient to Regional Medical Center in Anniston, Ala., so the woman's family attempted to drive her to an emergency room in Tuscaloosa. The woman stopped breathing on the way, and the family had to pull over on the side of the road to perform CPR. An ambulance from Tuscaloosa showed up about 30 minutes later, but the woman had died.

"This is what we are faced with every day. We are sitting right here with a hospital 3 minutes away," Ms. Walker told WVUA. "If that hospital was open, we could have put her in the back of a truck. We could have gotten her to the hospital."

Pickens County Medical Center closed in March 2020, citing reduced federal funding, lower reimbursement from commercial payers and declining patient visits. Pickens County leaders have since been lobbying to reopen the hospital.

On March 27, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey set aside $10 million to reopen the hospital, though the funding still needs to be approved by the state legislature.
VA Roseburg (Ore.) Health Care System is one of the few VA medical facilities to go live with the Cerner EHR system, but due to its ongoing troubles, it will reset the system to fix its issues, The News-Review reported May 12.

Only five VA facilities have rolled out the VA's Cerner EHR systems, with VA Roseburg being one of them. VA Roseburg began using the new system in June but said it needs improvements as it has not been meeting expectations.

"There have been challenges with performance, such as latency and slowness, problems with patient scheduling, referrals, medication management and other types of medical orders," Nikki Hansen, spokesperson for VA Roseburg, told the publication.

According to Ms. Hansen, VA Roseburg has a list of issues with the new EHR that need to be fixed and will use the reset period to resolve those issues.

This news comes after the VA said it would halt all future deployments of its Cerner EHR system until it can address problems with the system at facilities already using it.

The facilities using the new system are Spokane (Wash.) VA Health Care System, VA Walla Walla (Wash.) Health Care, Roseburg (Ore.) VA Health Care System, White City-based VA Southern Oregon Health Care and Whitehall-based VA Central Ohio Health Care System.
Greg Wood is retiring as CEO of Laurinburg, N.C.-based Scotland Health after more than 30 years with the health system.

Mr. Wood has served as the health system's CEO for most of his career, according to his LinkedIn profile. He took the helm in 1990 and will exit the role Dec. 31.

Scotland Health's board will work with its managing partner, Charlotte, N.C.-based Atrium Health, to conduct a national search for Mr. Wood's successor, according to a news release from the health system.
When emergency situations arise in hospitals that threaten the health and safety of individuals and patients, CMS can place a facility in "immediate jeopardy" and threaten to pull funding for programs such as Medicare or Medicaid in an effort to address any issues.

Here are 10 hospitals or health systems that have been at risk of losing CMS funding over the last year due to noncompliance with the agency's policies:

Brynn Marr Hospital in Jacksonville, N.C., may lose Medicare funding following a federal investigation that found the facility violated safety measures, Carolina Public Press reported May 12. The investigation, which took place from December 2022 until March, was spurred by complaints that alleged mistreatment of patients and sexual assault of a minor.

St. Michael Medical Center in Silverdale, Wash., has regained compliance with CMS regulations following investigations into staffing issues, patient rights and quality assessment issues that began last fall. The issues came to a head in October, when an emergency department charge nurse called 911 to get patient care assistance from the fire department. After a follow-up investigation in February and further corrective actions, the facility is back in compliance and was notified of the new status by CMS, the Kitsap Sun reported May 14.

Wilson (N.C.) Medical Center has been at risk of losing its Medicare contract three times in the last year. The medical center received its first immediate jeopardy citation last summer following three safety incidents in early 2022, two of which resulted in patients' deaths. By August, the hospital was no longer in danger of losing its Medicare contract. In October, the hospital received a second immediate jeopardy citation for potential violations of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. In March, the hospital received its third immediate jeopardy citation from CMS after the agency identified numerous care deficiencies, including "inappropriate encounters" between a nurse and a patient. On April 6, CMS rescinded the facility's immediate jeopardy status, the hospital confirmed with Becker's.

Saint Francis Health System in Tulsa, Okla., was threatened with the loss of Medicare and Medicaid/CHIP funding in April after the five-hospital system refused to put out a sacred candle burning in a hospital chapel, which is in accordance with its Catholic faith. The Joint Commission said the flame violated patient safety policy in February and told the health system to extinguish it, a decision later affirmed by CMS. Following the threat of a religious liberties lawsuit from the system in May, CMS is no longer pursuing the matter.

The University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City was notified by CMS in April that two major incidents with patients last year caused "immediate jeopardy conditions," which led to it "placing the health and safety of all patients at risk." CMS launched the investigation after it had received reports that the health system and its facility in Joplin, Mo., may have violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. The health system has taken steps toward coming into compliance and no further enforcement measures are being taken, according to CMS.

John Muir Health's Walnut Creek (Calif.) Medical Center saw four preventable pediatric patient deaths since 2014 in the intensive care unit, prompting a surprise visit from state investigators in January. A CMS statement of deficiencies found the hospital failed to define certain conditions and procedures that would require a patient to be transferred for more intensive care. The hospital implemented a corrective action plan in April and no longer faces disruption to its Medicare funding.

Oregon Health and Science University Hospital in Portland was placed in immediate jeopardy status after a fire broke out in an operating room in December, causing minor patient injuries. The incident prompted a CMS investigation in January and a corrective action plan from the hospital, which was approved and validated by the agency on Jan. 23, thereby lifting the jeopardy status.

New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C., was at risk of losing Medicare funding in June after state inspectors identified deficiencies regarding patient rights, nursing services, emergency services, quality assessment and performance improvement. Many of the care issues were related to nursing shortages at the hospital, which caused long wait times in the emergency room. CMS accepted Novant Health's plan of correction in August and the hospital was in compliance shortly after.

University of North Carolina Medical Center in Chapel Hill was threatened with the loss of Medicare funding in June after state inspectors found the hospital failed to meet four conditions of participation in the Medicare program, including infection control and patients' rights. UNC was required to submit a plan of correction to CMS by July 23 and is now in compliance with regulations.

Eleanor Slater Hospital in Cranston, R.I., was at risk of losing Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements for putting patients in "immediate jeopardy," according to CMS in May 2022. The agency said it had received acceptable plans for correction for many deficiencies cited in a January report, but unannounced visits in March and April 2022 found additional noncompliance issues. Details of those incidents were not disclosed, but previous issues included failure to complete required observation and safety checks for 17 patients, failure to provide necessary supervision to maintain safety, and failure to monitor patients placed in restraint devices to ensure physical and psychological needs were met. In August, CMS found that the deficiencies had been corrected, according to the Providence Business Journal.



This report was updated May 16 to include an additional hospital.
Members of the Committee of Interns and Residents at Jamaica and Flushing hospitals in New York City have reached a tentative agreement, averting a planned strike.

The union represents about 300 physicians, according to an May 15 CIR news release. The hospitals are part of MediSys Health Network.

Union members voted to authorize a strike in April. On May 1, workers submitted notice for a three-day strike and provided their employer with a second notice on May 7 for a two-day strike, for a total of what would have been a five-day strike beginning May 15, according to the union release. The tentative deal averts the strike.

"This agreement is one that will ensure that our class and future generations of resident doctors at MediSys are protected in the event of a public health emergency, while prioritizing both the community's healthcare needs and our training," Neha Ravi, DO, a first-year family medicine resident at Jamaica Hospital, said in the union release.

According to the CIR, the three-year tentative deal includes 18 percent salary increases over the life of the contract as well as "wins on the physicians' core demands on patient loads and out-of-title work."

The hospitals shared the following statement with Becker's: "As a network that has successfully graduated thousands of residents and fellows, many of whom have gone on to hold prestigious positions across the nation, we understand and value the important role they play in our organization and the future of healthcare. Reaching a resolution without a work stoppage taking place is a great step forward in our continued focus on quality patient care."








A group of emergency medicine physicians is planning to continue a federal lawsuit against Envision Healthcare, even as the company files for bankruptcy, KFF Health News reported May 12.

The American Academy of Emergency Medicine Physician Group sued Evision in December 2021, claiming the private equity-backed physician services company is violating a California law that bans corporations from practicing medicine.

"I anticipate that we would ask the bankruptcy judge to let our case proceed," David Millstein, an attorney representing the Milwaukee-based physician group, told KFF before Envision officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy May 15. "Among other things, Envision's practices violate the law, are continuing, and need to be addressed."

The emergency medicine physicians' lawsuit does not ask for monetary damages. Instead, the plaintiffs are seeking a court to rule that Envision's alleged use of shell business structures to retain de facto ownership of ED staffing groups is illegal. The trial was slated to start in January 2024, though that date has been delayed.

Envision declined KFF's request for comment on the case.
Patrice Wilson, a Detroit Medical Center nurse, was kidnapped while leaving work May 13, Detroit Free Press reported May 14.

The 29-year-old was seen being abducted in the parking lot where a man entered her vehicle and forced her to leave, police said.

"He approached our victim just as she was getting into the driver's side of her vehicle. He then got inside the vehicle and forced her over and fled with her inside," Captain Donna McCord, with the Detroit Police Department, told ABC affiliate WXYZ.

The search for Ms. Wilson began shortly after, and her body was found Sunday morning in an SUV outside of an apartment complex, Click On Detroit reported. Ms. Wilson suffered a gunshot wound, according to reports.

The suspect in the case, Jamere Miller, 36, has not been apprehended and is considered armed and dangerous, according to the reports. Officials said that Mr. Miller and Ms. Wilson knew each other and this could be a domestic violence case.

Ms. Wilson's mother, Rosalyn Livingston, told WXYZ that Mr. Miller was her daughter's ex-boyfriend and "a bit obsessive."

"The more she pulled away...he was sending flowers. If you go by her house there are things at her door that she kind of like left there to let him know I am not accepting things from you," she added.

A Detroit Medical Center spokesperson released the following statement:

"It is with deep sadness that we offer heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and DMC colleagues of cherished nurse leader Patrice Wilson, as well as Patrices mother, another dedicated DMC team member. Patrice was not just a co-worker but a loving friend to many at the DMC. Grief counseling is available for all staff at our Adult Central Campus hospitals."
President Biden will nominate Monica Bertagnolli, MD, to lead the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Bertagnolli is the first woman to lead the National Cancer Institute and is a world-renowned surgical oncologist, cancer researcher and educator, according to a May 15 White House news release. The Senate will need to confirm Dr. Bertagnolli's nomination; a timetable for when she might be confirmed has not been released.

Her nomination will end a 17-month search to replace Francis Collins, MD, PhD, who retired from the post in December 2021. The White House considered other candidates for the job, but at least two backed out, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Drugmaker Novartis announced 10 members to its newly formed Sandoz board of directors May 15 ahead of its previously announced biosimilar spinoff. The Sandoz spinoff is an effort the company is making to keep a competitive pace with rising costs of brand name drugs.

According to the company's press release, 40 percent of its newly announced board members are women. The board will have three subcommittees that oversee science, innovation and development, human capital and environmental, social governance, and audits, risks and compliance.

"I am delighted to see our new board members join Sandoz," Gilbert Ghostine, chairman-designate of Sandoz said in a statement. "The composition of this new world-class board and the capabilities of its leaders is in line with the Sandoz aspiration as a market leader in its industry. I am looking forward to working with the new board to help set the strategic direction for Sandoz and support its future development."

In addition to the chairman-designate, Sandoz's other appointed board members are:

Aarti Shah, PhD, former chief information and digital officer and senior vice president at Eli Lilly

Maria Varsellona, chief legal officer at Unilever

Remco Steenbergen, CFO of Deutsche Lufthansa

Yannis Skoufalos, former global product supply officer at Procter and Gamble

Shamiram Feinglass, MD, former chief medical officer for Life Sciences and Diagnostics

Urs Riedener, former CEO of EMMI Group, a Swiss consumer goods company

Francois-Xavier Roger, CFO of Nestle S.A.

Karen J. Huebscher, former CEO of Solvias Group, a Swiss contract research firm

A final, unnamed member has also been pre-selected and will reportedly be nominated for election to the board at Sandozs' Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in 2024.
This live episode from the Beckers Hospital Review 13th Annual Meeting in Chicago features Dr. Stephen Parodi, Executive Vice President of the Permanente Federation and Associate Executive Director of the Permanente Medical Group. Here, he discusses the opportunities for care in the home through their cutting-edge program, the major issue of burnout in the healthcare space, and more. This episode is sponsored by Insight Global Health.

Summary

Dr. Stephen Parodi Talks Home Care and Burnout in Healthcare

Introduction

Dr. Stephen Parodi, Executive Vice President of the Permanente Federation and Associate Executive Director of the Permanente Medical Group, recently spoke at the Beckers Hospital Review 13th Annual Meeting in Chicago about the future of healthcare. In this live episode, he talked about the potential of care in the home, burnout in the healthcare industry, and other important topics. The episode was sponsored by Insight Global Health.

Care in the Home and Social Determinants of Health

Dr. Parodi is excited about the possibilities of care in the home, especially when it comes to addressing social determinants of health. He believes that a person-centered approach is key to providing effective healthcare. As the population ages and healthcare needs change, he sees a shift towards value-based care as inevitable.

Burnout in Healthcare

One of the major issues facing the healthcare industry is burnout among healthcare providers. This is a problem that Dr. Parodi is acutely aware of, and hes working to address it within his organization. He believes that effective healthcare leaders need to be adaptable, embrace technology, and have a person-centered approach. To ease staffing burdens, he recommends investing in their own workforce through nurse residency programs.

Career Pipeline for Physicians

During the episode, Dr. Parodi discussed his organization's efforts to provide physicians with a career pipeline. This includes creating residency and fellowship slots, as well as marketing the opportunities to potential candidates. He believes that investing in the future of healthcare and providing opportunities for growth and development is essential to the success of the industry.

Conclusion

Dr. Stephen Parodis insights into the future of healthcare provide valuable information for healthcare providers and leaders. As the industry moves towards value-based care and addresses issues like burnout and care in the home, there is a need for adaptable and person-centered leaders. By investing in their own workforce and creating opportunities for growth and development, healthcare organizations can provide better care for patients and create a more successful and sustainable industry.

Note: This is an AI generated transcript, not edited by a staff writer and is solely intended for educational purposes. If you have any questions/concerns, reach out to podcasts@beckershealthcare.com

This episode aired on 05/02/2023 and can be listened here.

Subscribe to Beckers Healthcare Podcast here.
In this episode Jamie Samath, Chief Financial Officer at Intuitive, discusses what hospital CFO partnerships, financial investment strategies, and trends to follow in the future. Don't miss this exciting episode. This episode is sponsored by Intuitive.

Summary

Improving Hospital CFO Partnerships with Intuitive CFO Jamie Samath

Intuitive CFO Jamie Samath sits down to discuss the ways Intuitive is improving hospital CFO partnerships, financial investment strategies, and future trends.

Introducing Jamie Samath, CFO of Intuitive

Intuitive's Chief Financial Officer Jamie Samath has been with the company for over a decade. Jamie regularly engages with hospital CFOs to better understand how Intuitive's technology is perceived and how to create better partnerships. In addition, Jamie stresses the importance of high-quality data and analytics to improve robotic-assisted surgery, a field where Intuitive excels.

Financial Investment Strategies

Intuitive partners with third-party leasing entities to help hospitals finance the acquisition of its robots. By refining its leasing program and adding a usage-based leasing model, Intuitive has given hospitals more options for financing. The usage-based model allows hospitals to match the cost of their Da Vinci program with their ramping and procedure volumes, allowing for quicker expansion of the program.

Trends to Follow

Intuitive expects to invest between 800 million and a billion in capital expenditures in 2023. They are also closely watching the trends in data and analytics to improve surgeries. Intuitive has seen significant growth in US general surgery, particularly in bariatrics, cholecystectomy, hernia repair, and colorectal surgery. Jamie is focused on continuing to improve minimally invasive approaches through imaging, applying machine learning and digital technologies, and expanding disease states and countries that have clearance for their newer single port and ion platforms.

Conclusion

Intuitive CFO Jamie Samath's insights showcase the ways in which Intuitive is moving forward in creating better hospital CFO partnerships, investment strategies, and trends to follow. With a focus on improving minimally invasive surgeries and investing in innovation and R&D, Intuitive plans to continue to revolutionize the field of robotic-assisted surgery.

Note: This is an AI generated transcript, not edited by a staff writer and is solely intended for educational purposes. If you have any questions/concerns, reach out to podcasts@beckershealthcare.com

This episode aired on 05/02/2023 and can be listened here.

Subscribe to Beckers Healthcare Podcast here.
Health regulators in California have ordered John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek to stop treating children in its pediatric intensive care unit after documenting dozens of deficiencies, the San Francisco Chronicle reported May 12.

The Department of Health Care Services flagged 47 deficiencies in the Stanford affiliate's PICU that "call into question the qualifications and competency of the unit's doctors and nurses, as well as the care they were providing to children," according to the report. The violations prompted DHCS to take an unprecedented move and prohibit the hospital from admitting patients covered by California Children's Services.

The news outlet has published several stories regarding quality issues  including four potentially preventable patient deaths  within the hospital's PICU, which prompted the state's review. John Muir executives created and implemented a corrective action plan in April, after a CMS visit found the hospital failed to define certain care conditions and procedures that would require a patient to be transferred for more intensive care. The corrective plan was accepted by the agency, which said it would make an unannounced visit to ensure implementation this summer.

The investigation and recommendations from DHCS are separate from CMS. Among the violations cited in DHCS' review were that the hospital's PICU did not adequately outline how to treat certain major illnesses, did not appear to be tracking whether basic procedures such as intubations were being done competently, and that some clinicians lacked documentation required to care for children in the California Children's Services program.

State regulators made 62 recommendations. If they are not fixed, John Muir risks permanent loss of its CCS certification, officials told the Chronicle. A spokesperson for the hospital told the news outlet that all recommendations have been addressed and a full plan of correction would be submitted by the state's May 16 deadline. In the meantime, state officials have instructed other hospitals in the area not to transfer CCS patients to the hospital's PICU.

"Our pediatric intensive care unit, which is operated in partnership with Stanford Medicine Children's Health, is staffed by highly qualified and skilled physicians, nurses and staff who are dedicated to caring for sick children and supporting their families," John Muir said in a statement emailed to Becker's, adding that state regulator's findings were "administrative" and did not pertain to quality of care. "We are confident that our Corrective Action Plan, which will be submitted by May 16, will be approved, and we will continue to operate our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit as a CCS certified program."
Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic has doubled down on its stance against Minnesota's Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, potentially spurring changes to the bill that would treat the health system differently.

The legislation is one of many safe staffing bills up for consideration in state governments. If passed, it would require hospitals to form nurse staffing committees to set staffing levels. The state would evaluate hospitals' compliance with those staffing levels.

Another bill raising hospitals' alarms would establish the Health Care Affordability Board to monitor costs and set targets to limit them.

CEOs and other leaders from the state's hospitals and health systems have pushed back against the bill, alleging it would negatively affect care by "mandating new committees to determine the day-to-day management of [their] hospitals" and "handing decision making authority for care delivery to external lawyers." Among those on the front lines was Mayo Clinic CEO Gianrico Farrugia, MD, who is considering pulling billions in investments in Minnesota over the legislation.

Mayo Clinic doubled down on its stance in a statement released May 13, stating the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act would "severely limit Mayo Clinics ability to deliver world-class care" by limiting its flexibility and autonomy.

"We implore legislators and the Governor to consider the voice of highly skilled, experienced health care providers like Mayo when determining the final versions," the statement said. "Our position is about patients."

The following day on a local Sunday morning news program, House Speaker Melissa Hortman said representatives would likely agree to a compromise in Mayo Clinic's favor.

I believe there is a compromise that we will be agreeing to either today or tomorrow that does treat Mayo differently because Mayo is different," Ms. Horman said. "Mayo is an asset that is known all over the world  there are not other hospitals in the state that have kings and princes flying in to stay to get treatment  and Mayo has a very good acuity tool that they use."

The Minnesota Hospital Association followed with its own statement shared with Becker's, challenging special exemptions for only Mayo.

"The problem with the Speaker's comments is not that there will be an alternative for the Mayo Clinic, but rather that there would be an alternative for ONLY the Mayo Clinic," the statement says. "Many health systems across Minnesota have acuity tools like those at the Mayo Clinic, and to leave the Minnesotans they serve behind is unacceptable."

We again want to be unequivocal: any alternative that works for any hospital or health system in Minnesota must work for every hospital and health system in Minnesota," the statement continued. "An alternative that benefits only one health system is not a solution at all."
CGI street view of what the proposed development on Linenhall Street will look like. Image courtesy of Hester Architects.

Planning permission has been granted for a new 10m office development on Belfasts Linenhall Street, after seeming set to be turned down a few years ago.

The Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) has given the designs the go-ahead, with its approval stating that the redevelopment provides an opportunity to enhance the character of the [Linen Quarter] conservation [area].

Proposals for the Grade A office space came from Domus UK, a British specialist development company that acquires property for both development and investment.

The new city centre building is set to reach seven stories and over 54,000 sq ft.

A statement from the PAC reads: The development by the Domus UK group signals strong support for office focused development in the city centre and provides a great opportunity to develop what is currently a surface-level carpark and a number of small commercial units.

In 2021, Ulster Business revealed that the office space was initially intended to be 63,000 sq ft, and that planners recommended the development be refused permission at a Belfast City Council planning committee.

According to planners, the reasons included the scale, height, massing, alignment and form of the building will have a detrimental impact upon the setting of a number of listed buildings.

That included the nearby Ulster Hall.

The application had also previously been deferred before that, and a site visit was carried out.

Speaking about the development when it was first announced in 2019, Domus UK said: Belfast's Clarence Street and Linenhall Street collectively have a strong legacy as a leading business district in Belfast as enterprises continue to be attracted to the area due to its prime location as a connectivity hotspot.

This redevelopment proposal, along with other exciting plans such as the BBC's well-known plans to transform its Broadcasting House headquarters, will help contribute to enhancing the Linen Quarter's position as a thriving urban landmark network to both regular and visiting users of the area alike."

On Monday, the PAC accepted that the site, as it currently sits, does not make a positive contribution to the Conservation Area and subsequently granted the demolition of the existing buildings there.

Investment director for Domus UK, Ian Layford, said: We are delighted to receive this positive decision from the PAC which paves the way for work to begin on the site.

"Domus UK is committed to this project along with the 10m investment that it brings to Belfast as were keen to support the continued demand for high-quality office space for in the city.

We have put significant effort into bringing development forward on this site and whilst is was regrettable that we had to seek our permission via a planning appeal, it is positive that we can now move forward with a scheme we view as being transformative for this part of the city centre. We continue to remain committed to progressing further development in Belfast.

Philip Stinson, director at Turley planning consultants added: We welcome this decision by the PAC and their recognition that the proposal will enhance the conservation area whilst respecting the setting of Ulster Hall.

"It will be a great addition to the area transforming a site that has partly lain derelict for 50 years with a high-quality building providing Grade A office space.
Ministers are facing the possibility of fresh industrial unrest, as teachers and senior doctors prepare to ballot for strike action and hundreds of nurses gather for the Royal College of Nursing annual congress.

It comes as RCN general secretary Pat Cullen called on Health Secretary Steve Barclay to restart pay negotiations with a proposed rise in double digits.

Members of RCN, one of the two unions to turn down the recent Government pay offer to NHS staff, will gather in Brighton as the long-running dispute continues.

Union members will begin a new ballot for strike action on May 23 after the existing six-month mandate ran out at the start of the month.

But a Department of Health spokesperson said that the Governments pay offer was fair and said that there were no plans to reopen negotiations on this deal.

General secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Pat Cullen (Lucy North/PA)   Lucy North

Senior doctors and teachers unions were also being urged to think carefully before taking strike action, as they prepared to ballot.

Members of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and National Education Union (NEU) rejected the Governments recent pay offer, with ballots for members to vote on industrial action opening on Monday.

The NEU said it will be re-balloting teacher members working in Englands state-funded schools, with the current mandate for industrial action ending on July 13.

The NAHT ballot will close on July 31, with education unions agreeing to co-ordinate strike action in the autumn term.

NEU joint secretaries Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney blamed a lack of engagement from the Government for the decision, but said it was never too late for the Education Secretary to come to the negotiating table and make an improved offer.

NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said that the union had been left with no other choice but to seek this mandate for industrial action.

A Department for Education spokesperson said the move was bitterly disappointing.

Senior doctors in England also start voting on Monday on whether to strike in the continuing dispute over pay.

Dr Vishal Sharma, who chairs the BMA consultants committee, said talks had been held with the Government to try to resolve the long-running row, but it remains deadlocked.

Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union (Stefan Rousseau/PA)   Stefan Rousseau

He said the union simply could not accept a deal that continued this downward trend and have been left with no option but to proceed today with the ballot for industrial action.

A Department of Health spokesperson said: We hugely value the work of NHS consultants and they received a 4.5% pay uplift last financial year increasing average earnings to around 128,000.

They will also benefit from generous changes to pension taxation announced at budget and are eligible to apply for additional financial awards worth up to 40,000 a year as part of the NHS consultant contract.

We urge the BMA to carefully consider the likely impact of any action on patients.
The star of Disneys new live-action remake of The Little Mermaid has hailed the films diverse cast as a beautiful melting pot.

Halle Bailey, who plays Ariel in the film, said being an inspiration for other black and brown children was spectacular.

The film, set for release on May 26, also stars Javier Bardem and Melissa McCarthy.

Speaking at the London premiere of the film on Monday, Bailey told the PA news agency: Its so important.

I mean, the fact that Im able to represent for Ariel and for my community  for all the black and brown little girls and boys to be able to see themselves as a Disney princess  is spectacular.

Then theres the rest of the amazing diverse cast  Javier and Melissa  its a beautiful melting pot of what we all represent.

Melissa McCarthy and Halle Bailey (Ian West/PA)   Ian West

Its stunning. Im just so excited that people are going to be able to see it.

McCarthy, who plays the evil sea-queen Ursula, said it was necessary to embrace diversity and realise that our differences are actually what can bring us together.

Its the world we live in, she told PA.

People want to see stories that represent them.

Javier Bardem (Ian West/PA)   Ian West

This is what our world looks like (and) thank goodness. How incredibly boring if we all looked like carbon copies.

We need to embrace it, and not be afraid of it, and then realise that our differences are actually what can bring us together.

Bardem, who plays Ariels father King Triton, also acknowledged the responsibility of bringing out a different side to a classic story without losing the original flavour.

(left to right) Jonah Hauer-King, Jacob Tremblay, Melissa McCarthy, Halle Bailey, Rob Marshall, Javier Bardem and Daveed Diggs (Ian West/PA)   Ian West

You are creating this story that lives in so many peoples hearts and memories after all these years from the classic. So this is a different responsibility, he told PA.

You dont want to upset anyone, but at the same time you have to do what you are asked to do, which is bringing a different side of it, a different colour to it, without losing the original flavour.

British actor Jonah Hauer-King also appears in the remake in the role of Prince Eric, alongside Daveed Diggs and Rob Marshall.

Scores of famous faces descended on Leicester Square in London on Monday for the premiere, including Guy Ritchie, Stanley Tucci, Laura Whitmore, and rapper Stormzy.

The Little Mermaid is due to arrive in UK cinemas on May 26 2023.
Response has been great, says 79-year-old who did same thing in Belfast in 2021

Brian with his artwork near the Derry Girls mural

Brian Ballard with his artwork on the Derry Walls

A Belfast artist has been leaving some of his original paintings scattered around Derry to brighten peoples days.

Brian Ballard and his wife Kate had never got the train to Derry before, but hit the rails towards the north west last Tuesday, with a mission to share six pieces of his artwork, which usually sells for thousands.

In 2021, Mr Ballard, who is widely known on the Irish art scene, placed seven of his creations in various locations throughout Belfast to lighten up things a wee bit.

Brian with his artwork near the Derry Girls mural

This time, he said he was inspired to go to the Walled City after someone on his Instagram page suggested he do something similar there.

I thought, right enough, why not? Mr Ballard told the Belfast Telegraph.

The 79-year-old, whose work includes still life, landscapes and coastal scenes, said the reaction has been very positive, with some getting in touch on social media to say they had found his art.

Ive had a response from a guy already who found a painting on the Derry walls and hes sent me a photo of himself holding it; hes chuffed.

A painting on the Peace Bridge

We also put one on a charity shop window that my wife had suggested I put in. It fitted right in.

Normally we just put the paintings down and walk away. We gave one to a guy in a shop that sold ecological paint and craftwork.

I bought a paintbrush and he was doing a nice painting and was fiddling around using some non-toxic paints.

It was sort of a green shop selling nice bits, so we decided to give him the painting. Generally, we just left them sitting outside shopping centres.

A piece in a shop window

The couple also left one near the famous Derry Girls mural, as well as on the peace bridge, where they then walked a safe distance away to watch if anyone noticed.

Eventually we were back on the city centre side and a couple picked it up and looked pretty chuffed.

The woman was from Cuba and the guy was from Columbia, he said.

Im very fond of Derry and its people. Both sides [Protestants and Catholics] seem to get on well and I get the feeling theyre getting it together pretty well.

Brian Ballard's artwork

While many of his paintings sell for prices up to 12,500, Mr Ballard previously told this newspaper that making money from art was secondary to the happiness he gets from sharing his work with the world.

People like my paintings. Whenever they come to the studio, I sort of work out how much they can afford, he said.

When it comes to me, I pay about 20 for the canvas and I paint quite quickly. Its easy for me to give it away.

Im not trying to make a kind of publicity thing out of it. I think that artists should step back a bit and be humble.

You can follow Brian on Instagram @brianballardartist or Twitter @BrianBallardart.
The defendant, with an address in south Belfast, appeared in court on Monday.

A 37-year-old man was remanded into custody today accused of overseeing an illicit operation to distribute cannabis through Northern Irelands postal service.

Police claimed Jianwen Chen held a pivotal role in the crime gang responsible and manipulated others used to collect the drugs packages.

The Chinese national, with an address at Lindsay Street in Belfast, was arrested as part of an operation last Friday.

PSNI officers searched three properties in the city and recovered cannabis with a potential street value of 60,000.

Chen appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court charged with conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, possessing criminal property, and encouraging or assisting an offence by arranging the distribution of drugs.

An investigating detective said the case was part of a wider probe into an organised crime gang responsible for the large-scale cannabis supply in Northern Ireland.

When Chen was detained in the Newtownards Road area he had 2,500 in cash stored in his jacket, the court heard.

A phone seized from him contained alleged evidence of drug-dealing, with cannabis-related photos and slang terms in the messages.

We believe the defendant is actively involved in this crime gang at a high level, playing a pivotal role in the distribution of cannabis throughout Northern Ireland, the detective said.

The alleged operation involved using the postal system to move vacuum-packed consignments from the UK to addresses obtained in the region.

So-called runners were then used to collect the multi-kilo packages and take them to store houses or customers.

Despite police successfully intercepting some parcels, the majority are believed to have been delivered to their intended destinations.

It was claimed that Chen forwarded and shared screenshots of the delivery tracking system to other associates.

Opposing his application for bail, the detective said: Police believe hes the organiser of the operation here in Northern Ireland, operating a large network of runners and distributors.

These individuals are often vulnerable and controlled by the crime gang, exploited and paid the minimum amount for the maximum risk while those furthest up the chain enjoy a lavish lifestyle.

We believe hes a high-ranking member of the gang, and that he manipulates and directs those below him.

Defence barrister Declan Quinn argued there is only a circumstantial case against his client.

He is not directly linked to any of the addresses and he was not caught with any of the drugs, counsel insisted.

Mr Quinn also disclosed that Chen came to the UK in 2000 as a suspected teenage victim of human trafficking.

He now has strong family ties and actively tried to stay here, the barrister added.

Chen was refused bail, however, and remanded in custody to appear again on June 12.
A construction company and a district council have been ordered to stand trial accused of offences arising from the tragic death of an electrician who was killed during a storm.

Lawyers for Lagan Construction Ltd and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council had previously said they intended to dispute that the defendants had a case to answer, but conceded today at Newry Magistrates Court that there is a prima facie case.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Lagan Construction Ltd were each charged with two offences of breaching health and safety legislation on September 19, 2018.

The council, which has its head office at Downshire Civic Centre in Downpatrick, and Lagan Construction Ltd, with offices on the Sydenham Road in Belfast, are both charged with failing to make appropriate risk assessments for non-employees and employees respectively.

They are also charged with failing, so far as would be reasonably practicable, to ensure the health and safety of employees and non-employees.

The charges arise following the tragic death of 24-year-old electrician Matt Campbell, who was working for Lagan Construction Ltd at Slieve Gullion Forest Park, Co Armagh, as strong winds lashed Northern Ireland during Storm Ali in September 2018.

Just the week beforehand, Matt and his fiancee, Robyn Newberry, had sent out Save the date cards in preparation for their wedding, scheduled for August the following year; on the day of the tragedy, Ms Newberry had collected the couples wedding rings.

In court today, District Judge Eamon King said he was satisfied there was a case to answer and, although the defendants were afforded an opportunity to comment on the charges or to call evidence on their own behalves, they declined.

Judge King, freeing the representatives on 1,000 bail, returned the case to Newry Crown Court for trial, scheduling the arraignment to be heard on June 13.
'Forzan' artwork located in Gresham Street, Belfast  Courtesy of the artist SANCHO (Sebastian Medina B.) from Colombia

The Northern Ireland artist who created a local mural which was shown during this years Eurovision final, says he is pleased that the painting is continuing to be symbolic for the people of Ukraine.

Belfast-based Eoin McGinn, who goes by the name Emic produced the sunflower street art last March, in tribute to Ukrainians displaced due to the invasion by Russia.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, he said that Eurovision organisers contacted him a few months back and asked his permission to use footage of the mural for their visual postcard to introduce Ukraines entry on stage.

The international music show took place at the M&S Bank Arena Liverpool on Saturday night, after the city was chosen to host the competition on behalf of 2022 winners Ukraine following the Russian invasion.

Read more Large numbers tune in to watch Eurovision as Mae Muller finishes second-bottom

Its nice that they thought to include my artwork, said Emic.

I think they were keen to link the UK with Ukraine because obviously they werent able to host the Eurovision.

The art is still relevant. The war is still going on. If people see it as symbolic of whats happening or its keeping it to the forefront of peoples minds a year and a bit into the war, its going to be beneficial for the people that are over there, having to suffer because of it.

Loreen of Sweden makes history as first woman to win Eurovision twice

He added that the concept for the mural itself came around quite fast, and his unveiling of it coincided with a fundraiser for Concern, the global rapid emergency response charity.

It was all very quick. I knew artwork would get attention and I wanted to direct some of that attention towards helping the people of Ukraine out.

We wanted the money to go towards the humanitarian effort to get people out of the east side of the country.

It is painted on the side of a home on Harrow Street in the Holyland area of south Belfast and the fundraising effort was a joint collaboration with a group of the neighbourhood's occupants.

Brid Ruddy, spokesperson for the local residents association there, added that she was thrilled the sunflower piece was included in the Eurovision coverage, which was broadcasted to 160 million people worldwide.

Belfast Holyland hits the headlines for all the right reasons!! she continued.

Thanks to Emic for working with us to support Ukraine peace in this way.

'Forzan' artwork located in Gresham Street, Belfast  Courtesy of the artist SANCHO (Sebastian Medina B.) from Colombia

Other Belfast-based art featured in the Eurovision footage was a piece called Force by Sancho Medina, a Columbian creator that has added a splash of Latin America colour to the car park in the citys North Street.

His mural features a young woman and parrot overlooking the urban landscape, and he painted it in 2018 during an international art exchange, in which he came to NI and Emic travelled to South America.
A lorry stuck at a junction in Derry is causing delays in the city.

Police are currently in attendance at Spencer Road at the junction with Fountain Hill, due to a lorry getting stuck at the bottom of Fountain Hill/Spencer Road.

The PSNI have advised all motorists to avoid the area until the vehicle is recovered.
Activists warn economic benefits of peace have not filtered out to many, mostly Catholic, communities

Some of Northern Irelands most deprived areas are facing levels of poverty worse than 25 years ago, teachers and community activists have warned.

The Good Friday Agreement was expected to bring more jobs and opportunities, as part of the much-discussed peace dividend.

But for Joseph McNeill, who runs Ardoyne Youth Club in north Belfast, now is the worst that Ive seen in the community in terms of deprivation.

Ardoyne, a predominantly nationalist area, is still one of the poorest districts in Northern Ireland.

The youth club works with more than 100 children and young people every day, including those from the unionist-dominated Shankill area of west Belfast.

Mr McNeill told investigative website The Detail that although community workers are doing all they can to combat poverty the infrastructure and the support from the government is definitely not here at the minute.

Around 70% of pupils in the area are in receipt of free school meals.

We will always make sure a young person doesn't leave this place hungry, even if it is just a bit of toast, Mr McNeill said.

But is it our responsibility to do that? I think the government is getting away with a lot at the minute, in terms of looking after people, especially in working class communities.

He said Northern Ireland is a brilliant place in some middle class and upper class areas.

Kids in Ardoyne, kids in New Lodge (in north Belfast), kids in Shankillthey have so much more trauma than kids in Malone Road do, he said.

But they don't have the same support mechanisms.

General view of north Belfast   Getty Images

According to the latest available figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, most of the regions most deprived areas - districts with high unemployment and crime and poor access to services - are in the constituencies of North Belfast, West Belfast, and Foyle in Londonderry.

Nine of the 10 most deprived areas are predominantly Catholic.

Dr Ian Shuttleworth from Queens University said some areas have not benefitted economically from peace.

In terms of the broad macro structure, the Falls, or Short Strand (in east Belfast), or the Lower Newtownards Road (in east Belfast), or places like that, they are still pretty much deprived now, and they were still pretty much deprived 25 years ago, he said.

Nancy Magrath, is principal of Edenderry Nursery School in Woodvale, north Belfast - the only unionist area to be in the top 10 most deprived districts.

The school is based on Lanark Way, an interface between the loyalist Shankill Road and republican Falls and Springfield roads, which was the focus of violence throughout the Troubles.

When riots broke out close to the school in April 2021, Ms Magrath said teachers had to pick up rubble in the school grounds.

She said some of her pupils were too frightened to sleep and would not get on buses after one was hijacked and torched on the Shankill Road during the disturbances.

For every year that there is violence and war, it takes something like seven years to make up for that one year, she said.

So we will be living with the legacy of what went on in Northern Ireland for a long time to come.

The school carries out cross-community work with children and parents from neighbouring Ardoyne.

Ms Magrath said the economic downturn has been just devastating for everybody, right across the board, adding that many parents are struggling.

Headmaster Kevin McArevey

Kevin McArevey, principal at Holy Cross Boys Primary School in Ardoyne, said working-class communities are still facing huge social issues.

Is poverty still a big issue here? Is transgenerational trauma, which is a legacy of the troubles, still an issue here? Yes, they certainly are, he said.

They are much the same now as they were then, if not maybe more so.

Alcohol, drugs, gambling and domestic violence, which seems to be much more on the increase. A lot more deaths, a lot more suicides in the area.

He said he has seen positive changes over the last 25 years.

The two communities have been separated by a peace line at Flax Street between Ardoyne and the Shankill for the last 40 years.

In November, the gates of the barrier were opened to traffic during the day for the first time in decades.

Mr McArevey said it was heartening that the move did not spark any disturbances.

What I've seen here is this strengthening of the bond between ourselves and people across the interface, he said.

Holy Cross Boys was the subject of critically-acclaimed 2021 documentary Young Plato, which showed how Mr McArevey used philosophy lessons to help children deal with issues including bullying.

What we're trying to do is we're trying to bring that message of hope, he said.

To show that education is a way out, education will unlock doors for you.

Peace walls in north Belfast   Getty Images/iStockphoto

Community workers on both sides of the divide in north Belfast said poverty remains a huge issue.

Gordon McDade, from Forthspring Inter Community Group which is based on the Woodvale and Springfield interface, said relations between communities have improved since 1998.

But I don't know if there's anybody who would say that the actual quality of life is massively different from 1998 economically, he said.

Peace is about prosperity. Peace is about jobs, about hope, about collaboration, about investment.

It has to be better. It can't just be the same without the violence. Thats not peace as I understand it.

These communities are still struggling, but there's real hope here. There is optimism here. People wouldn't want to be written off. They're not places to be forgotten about or deserted.

Elaine Burns, centre manager of the Ardoyne Association, said her area is still suffering from high levels of unemployment, low educational attainment.

Ardoyne area of North Belfast   AFP via Getty Images

The association is part of the north Belfast advice partnership which has worked across the community for 20 years.

In the early days of our partnership, we used to have two chairs, one from the green side of the house and one from the orange side of the house. Now there's one chair, we all meet together, she said.

She said groups like her own urgently need more government funding.

People in the sector are very unsure where their funding is coming from, she said.

If that sector goes and we are still living in difficult times, where do people go for that help?

We still have to do our jobs because we are born and reared and live in these communities - these are families, we can't just walk away.

She said although she is grateful that mothers are no longer burying their children, the economic benefits of peace has really not filtered out to communities like Ardyone, or (predominantly loyalist) Ballysillan.

Rowan Davison, from community regeneration project the Greater Shankill Partnership, agreed.

He has been working with BUILD Shankill, a group which is calling for social and affordable housing to be built on derelict sites in the area.

They mapped over 80 sites, who owned the sites, what the acreage was, what the planning designation was on them, and started a campaign, he said.

He said although residents and community workers had a positive vision, funding cuts as a result of Brexit mean there's a danger of all that work coming undone.
A British expat has broken down in a Cypriot court as he recalled the moment he took his terminally-ill wifes life.

David Hunter wiped tears from his eyes as he told the District Court in Paphos that he would never in a millions years have taken Janice Hunters life unless she had asked him to  adding: She wasnt just my wife, she was my best friend.

The 75-year-old retired miner, who denies murder, said his wife of 52 years had cried and begged him to end her life in December 2021 as she suffered with blood cancer, and that after she died it was the first time I cried after many years.

David Hunter is accused of the pre-meditated murder of his wife Janice (Joe Giddens/PA)   Joe Giddens

Hunter demonstrated to the court how he held his hands over Janices mouth and nose during the incident at the couples retirement home near the coastal resort town of Paphos.

After the court hearing concluded on Monday, the defendant told reporters that his time in a Cyprus prison was nothing compared to the last six months of Janices life.

Speaking about having finally given evidence, he added: I got my say, this is what I wanted. To tell them things that they never even thought about.

Under cross-examination from state prosecutor Andreas Hadjikyrou, the defendant vehemently denied he had pre-meditated killing his wife.

It was her decision that she wanted to die  not mine, hers, Hunter said.

It was her decision, she didnt want any more treatment.

I cant tell her, shes got her own mind and she asked me.

I would never in a millions years take my wifes life if she hadnt asked me to.

She wasnt just my wife, she was my best friend.

You havent seen the strain of the last six years, what shes gone through.

The situation, the pressure. I wouldnt like anyone to go through the last six months we both went through.

Describing the day of his wifes death, Hunter told the court: I dont remember a lot of the last day. I went to make a cup of coffee and she started crying.

The next thing I knew I put my hands on her and when it finished she was a grey colour.

She didnt look like my wife at all and it was the first time I cried after many years.

Before Mondays proceedings came to a close, Hunter asked to address the judge, telling him: My wife was suffering and she actually said: I dont want to live any more, and I still said no.

Then she started to become hysterical. I was hoping she would change her mind. I loved her so much. I did not plan it, I swear to God.

During the morning session, Mr Hadjikyrou said to the defendant: I put it to you that you had decided to kill her and there was no common consent and that you had to decide what day to kill her on.

Hunter replied: No. I never intended to kill her.

I had hoped for eight or nine days that she would get better, that she would change her mind.

She was lying down. She was in pain, suffering.

I would do anything to help her.

The last thing on my mind was to take her life. The last thing. Thats his (the prosecutors) idea, not mine.

The grave of Janice Hunter at the cemetery in Tremithousa, Cyprus (Joe Giddens/PA)   Joe Giddens

Under questioning from his defence lawyer Ritsa Pekri, Hunter told the court he felt helpless and hopeless during the last weeks of Janices life, adding: I didnt want to do it. I said no.

The defendant said he eventually decided to grant his wifes wish after she became hysterical and unable to take care of herself.

Hunter, from Ashington in Northumberland, described his marriage as perfect, adding: After 57 years together, I really didnt want to do it.

As he recounted Janices final few weeks through an interpreter, he said: She cried. She couldnt do nothing. She couldnt move.

She was sleeping in the leather chair downstairs and for the last week we slept down on those chairs together.

I felt so helpless and hopeless that I couldnt do anything for her.

For five or six weeks before she died she was asking me to help her. She was asking me more every day.

In the last week she was crying and begging me. Every day she asked me a bit more intensely to do it.

The last week, she started crying. She started crying and begging me.

She said, I cant go on. This life isnt for me. We just go to the hospital and stay at home. I dont have any quality of life and Im totally bored of this. I cant go on.

She started becoming hysterical so I said: Yes, Ill help you.

I just told her that to calm her down.

Hunter added: I would never have helped her end her life if she had not begged me.

The defendant told the court he tried to kill himself after his wifes death.

When the police arrived to quiz him after his suicide bid failed, he said he was interested in nothing.

The trial, which was adjourned until May 23, continues.
A group of 24 climate activists protested against the arrest of a fellow activist for showing this message to jurors (Zoe Broughton/PA)

Climate activists have called a crown court judge an unprincipled bully during a protest against the arrest of a fellow activist for contempt of court.

Trudi Warner, 68, was detained on March 29 after she allegedly showed jurors in a trial involving Insulate Britain members a placard with the words: You have an absolute right to acquit a defendant according to your conscience.

The message references a plaque at the Old Bailey commemorating a trial in 1670 where jurors were locked up and fined for giving a not guilty verdict for two preachers  which established the right of juries to give their verdict according to their convictions.

Judge Silas Reid had told jurors in the trial, at Inner London Crown Court, to decide the case according to the law and evidence, and to leave aside any of their own views about climate change or property insulation.

Ms Warner, from Walthamstow, east London, has been referred to Attorney General Victoria Prentis KC for a decision on whether to press ahead with a contempt of court charge.

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On Monday morning, 24 activists from Extinction Rebellion sat outside Inner London Crown Court carrying placards with the same message borne by Ms Warner.

The activists said they also handed in a letter to the court stating their intentions.

Lawyer Tim Crosland, who was disbarred for leaking a draft judgment about the building of a third runway at Heathrow Airport, said the protesters had chosen to be outside the court during another Insulate Britain trial to test Judge Reid.

He said: Hes backed off, hes left us alone. Hes exposed himself as an unprincipled bully. Because if he really believed that those signs were interfering with the courts of justice, it was his duty to stop us. And he didnt.

Think about what it means for Trudi and others whove been arrested. Those prosecutions are completely unsustainable, assuming we dont get arrested now.

The protesters, made up of doctors, lawyers and Quakers as well as a rabbi and a former police officer, sat in a row along the pavement outside the court premises showing their placards to passers-by.

Extinction Rebellion activist Angie Zelter outside Inner London Crown Court (Handout/Zoe Broughton/PA)

Angie Zelter said: Weve been here about half an hour and jurors have been going in most of them not looking very carefully at the placards, but some of them definitely, and Ive had a couple of smiles from a few jurors.

Then there was one guy who looked like he was a lawyer with his little funny white things on him coming along, taking a picture of every single one of us  that was interesting.

Its very quiet. But the most important thing is that were here in solidarity with other people who are trying to inform jurors of their rights.

Olympian Etienne Stott, who retired from slalom canoeing and is now a prominent climate activist, said: For juries to be able to acquit a defendant on the basis of their conscience, they have to know the whole truth.

At the moment, some judges are stopping that from happening by making it impossible for a defendant to tell the jury why they did what they did.

This to me is very, very dangerous because it means that this right no longer has the power, no longer has the teeth that it needs.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ruled Turkey as prime minister or president since 2003 (DHA via AP)   Uncredited

By Suzan Fraser and Zeynep Bilginsoy, Associated Press

By Suzan Fraser and Zeynep Bilginsoy, Associated Press

Turkeys state-run news agency says voter support for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dipped below the majority required to win re-election outright, making a May 28 run-off presidential election more likely.

With almost 91% of ballot boxes counted, Mr Erdogan had 49.9% of the vote, according to the Anadolu Agency.

His main challenger, opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, had 44.4% as the gap between the two shrank.

Votes from Sundays election are still getting counted across Turkey.

Republican Peoples Party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu with supporters at a polling station in Ankara (Ali Unal/AP)   Ali Unal

Meanwhile, the opposition-leaning Anka news agency reported that with nearly all votes counted, Mr Erdogan had 49% and Mr Kilicdaroglu 45%.

If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters will face a run-off on May 28.

Turkeys election authority, the Supreme Electoral Board, said it was providing numbers to competing political parties instantly but would not make the results public until the count was completed and finalised.

Mr Erdogan has governed Turkey as either prime minister or president for two decades.

In the run-up to the election, opinion surveys had indicated the increasingly authoritarian leader narrowly trailed his challenger.

The race, which largely centred on domestic issues such as the economy, civil rights and a February earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people, had appeared to be shaping up as the toughest re-election bid of the Turkish leaders 20-year rule.

With the partial results showing otherwise, members of Mr Kilicdaroglus centre-left, pro-secular Republican Peoples Party, or CHP, disputed Anadolus numbers, contending the state-run agency was biased in Mr Erdogans favour.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan casts a ballot at a polling station in Istanbul (Umit Bektas/Pool Photo via AP)   Umit Bektas

We are ahead, tweeted Mr Kilicdaroglu, 74, who ran as the candidate of a six-party opposition alliance.

Pre-election polling suggested he faced the toughest re-election battle of his two decades leading the Turkey, which has grappled with economic turmoil and the erosion of democratic checks-and-balances in recent years.

Polls closed in the late afternoon after nine hours of voting in the national election that could grant Mr Erdogan, 69, another five-year term or see him unseated by Mr Kilicdaroglu, who campaigned on a promise to return Turkey to a more democratic path.

If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the winner will be determined in a May 28 run-off.

Voters also elected lawmakers to fill Turkeys 600-seat parliament, which lost much of its legislative power under Mr Erdogans executive presidency.

Cevat Cinar is carried on a stretcher to cast his ballot at a polling station in Ankara (AP)   Uncredited

If his political alliance wins, Mr Erdogan could continue governing without much restriction.

The opposition has promised to return Turkeys governance system to a parliamentary democracy if it wins both the presidential and parliamentary ballots.

More than 64 million people, including 3.4 million overseas voters, were eligible to vote in the elections, which come the same year as the country will mark the centenary of its establishment as a republic  a modern, secular state born on the ashes of the Ottoman Empire.

Voter turnout in Turkey is traditionally strong, reflecting citizens continued belief in democratic balloting.

People wait outside containers to vote in earthquake-hit Malatya (IHA via AP)   Uncredited

Yet Turkey has seen the suppression of freedom of expression and assembly under Mr Erdogan, and it is wracked by a steep cost-of-living crisis that critics blame on the governments mishandling of the economy.

The country is also reeling from the effects of a powerful earthquake that caused devastation in 11 southern provinces in February, killing more than 50,000 people in unsafe buildings.

Mr Erdogans government has been criticised for its delayed and stunted response to the disaster, as well as a lax implementation of building codes that exacerbated the casualties and misery.

Internationally, the elections were being watched closely as a test of a united oppositions ability to dislodge a leader who has concentrated nearly all state powers in his hands.
Polish soldiers look at a vehicle carrying one of the US-made rocket launchers (Czarek Sokolowski/AP)   Czarek Sokolowski

Poland has received its first shipment of US-made Himars rocket launchers as part of a defence upgrade amid security concerns due to the war in neighbouring Ukraine.

Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak and military officials attended an acquisition ceremony at a Warsaw air base on Monday.

Mr Blaszczak said that combat in Ukraine has proven the value of the Himars and that Nato member Poland was seeking to procure additional launchers, with a goal of acquiring some 500 units.

We are watching the developments in Ukraine, and we know that artillery has a key role in the war, in repelling the Russian invasion, he said.

Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak speaks during the ceremony (Czarek Sokolowski/AP)   Czarek Sokolowski

Under a 2019 contract, Poland is spending some 414 million dollars (380 million euros) to buy 18 advanced combat Himars launchers and two Himars training launchers, with ammunition and related equipment. The deal includes logistics and training.

The launchers will go to the 1st Artillery Brigade in north-eastern Poland, Mr Blaszczak said.

Their task will be to deter (an) aggressor and strengthen Polands armed forces on the nations and Nato eastern flank, the minister said.

A Himars academy is to be launched in the city of Torun to provide logistics, servicing and training, including for troops from other Nato countries that have or plan to get the launchers.

Produced by American aerospace company Lockheed Martin, the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System is a multiple rocket launcher with a range of up to 190 miles developed in the late 1990s for the US armed forces.

A soldier is seen through a window of a vehicle carrying a Himars launcher (Czarek Sokolowski/AP)   Czarek Sokolowski

Poland is buying billions of dollars worth of weapons, chiefly from the US and South Korea, including fighter jets, to modernise its armed forces.

Some of the equipment will replace weapons  including over a dozen Soviet-made MiG-29 jet fighters  that Poland agreed to give Ukraine for its defence against Russia.

Polands right-wing government, which will be seeking a third term in an autumn parliamentary election, is giving the purchases wide publicity, seeking to reassure Poles amid a military conflict across their eastern border.

Last year, Poland received a number of US Patriot missile systems, and deliveries of another battery are expected this year. The first deliveries of Abrams tanks have also arrived from the US, as well as deliveries of tanks and howitzers from South Korea.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made a surprise visit to Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, extending a multi-stop European tour that has elicited fresh pledges of military support as his country gears up for a counteroffensive against Russian occupation forces.

In a tweet on his arrival, Mr Zelensky said: With each visit, Ukraines defense and offensive capabilities are expanding. The ties with Europe are getting stronger, and the pressure on Russia is growing.

He said he and Mr Macron will talk through the most important points of bilateral relations.

The French leaders office said they will discuss Ukraines military and humanitarian needs and the more long-term perspectives for a return to peace in Europe, and that Mr Macron will reaffirm France and Europes unwavering support for Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky walks past Republican Guards as he arrives at the Elysee palace in Paris (Michel Euler/AP)   Michel Euler

France has supplied Ukraine with an array of weaponry, including air defence systems, light tanks, howitzers and other arms and equipment and fuel.

Mr Macron and Mr Zelensky did not speak to waiting reporters as they greeted each other at the French presidential palace.

France dispatched a plane to pick up Mr Zelensky in Germany, where he met Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier on Sunday and discussed his countrys planned counteroffensive.

Mr Zelensky said Ukraine will aim to liberate Russian-occupied areas within Ukraines internationally recognised borders, and not attack Russian territory.
Dont suffer in silence, surgeon tells people battling addiction

Ian's partner left him at the height of his addiction

Dr Ian Walsh is a man of many talents. The respected urologist and skilled surgeon is also known for his work in the field of psychosexual medicine.

When he isnt treating patients, the classically trained musician (60) is busy writing songs, recording albums or performing live with his band, RagBone.

By his admission, hes the happiest hes ever been, but life wasnt always so good.

Addicted to alcohol, he lost everything. A severe seizure and a blood clot on his brain proved the turning point that offered him a second chance at life.

I started drinking when I was around 18 or 19, he says. I was a medical student, and back then alcohol was part of the social scene. I also played in a band, so I was very immersed in the drinking culture.

Initially, it wasnt a problem. I wasnt drinking excessively, at least no more than anyone else.

Ian in his scrubs

As the years passed, Ian realised his relationship with alcohol wasnt as benign as it appeared.

Somehow, I crossed the line into dependency, he says. Believe me, thats a bleak landscape. Its a hard, lonely place. Once there, not everyone can escape.

I was still working, but I realised I was becoming unsafe. My patients had to come first, so I decided it was time to put my hand up and admit I had a problem.

When I contacted the General Medical Council to step back, I thought theyd come down on me like a ton of bricks. But as it turned out, they were incredibly supportive and did their best to help.

After his resignation, Ian spiralled out of control. Ironically, leaving the job I loved was the worst as well as the best decision I could have made, he recalls.

Being unemployed meant there were no restraints. I could drink as much as I wanted. That first year, I really lost control. My partner rightly left and took her children with her.

I was declared bankrupt, lost my home and ended up living in a wee box room at my mothers assisted living facility. With no family, no income and nothing to look forward to, there was nothing to do but drink.

I was a mess. My health suffered and I could barely walk. People who knew me thought I was nearing the end, that one day Id overdose and that would be that.

But there was also a positive side. Although leaving my job set me hurtling toward rock bottom, it was where I needed to be. You have to reach rock bottom before you can begin the climb back to health.

Ian's partner left him at the height of his addiction

Everyones rock bottom looks different. Ian knew he had arrived when he woke up in hospital, having suffered a severe seizure and a blood clot on the brain.

Alcohol had taken a massive toll on my health, but the seizure and clot on my brain left me on the brink of death, he explains.

I remember waking up in hospital and thinking, Thats it, I cant do this anymore. From that moment, I never touched another drink. I had reached my rock bottom and the only way was up.

Had Ian experienced some kind of epiphany?

Im not sure Id describe it as an epiphany, but I was a close as you could get, he says.

Some people take decades to hit bottom. Sadly, others never arrive at all. Fortunately, I hurtled toward it at an amazing speed. Even today, I cannot believe I escaped with so little physical damage.

I didnt have to fight the terrible cravings others experience but, then again, recovery is different for everyone.

One of the most important aspects of making it back to health is to have a network of support. I had many amazing people who helped and encouraged me.

Ian is now 15 years sober

Now 15 years sober, life couldnt be better.

My career is back on track, Im working at Kingsbridge Hospital, in Belfast and Sligo, Im also writing music and weve just released our latest album, Sunday Night. Getting married last year was the icing on the cake, Ian says.

He has also written a book, The Belly of the Whale, an autobiographical account of his struggle with alcoholism.

Has he any advice for people battling addiction?

Put your hand up, Ian says. Admit you have a problem. Theres no shame in addiction, its just another illness. You cant do it alone, but there are many people ready and willing to help. Just ask.

For more, see www.ikwconsulting.net
Letter thanks reading group for knitted miniatures, and hints at visit to NI by monarch soon

The King and Queen on the balcony at Buckingham Palace   Jordan Pettitt

Elaine Munn with her knitted dolls of King Charles and Queen Camilla

A Co Antrim grandmother got the surprise of her life in the post  a letter from the Queen thanking her for her charming knitted dolls of the newly-crowned royal couple.

The miniatures of Charles and Camilla proved so popular they popped up at coronation celebrations across the UK.

The detailed dolls of the King and Queen come complete with crowns and royal cloaks and were the brainchild of Elaine Munn, a retired teacher from Carnmoney.

The gran created the fun figures for Kilcooley Womens Centre in Bangor, where a reading group was established in 2019 and named in honour of the then Duchess of Cornwall.

A letter from Queen Camilla

The Camilla Club got the royal seal of approval two years later from the royal herself.

Kilcooley Womens Centre sent the knitted dolls to the royals as a coronation gift and given the worldwide focus on the event, didnt necessarily expect a reply.

So when one came they were over the moon. A personal letter of thanks from Camilla, who referred to the dolls as the charming knitted us, made it extra special.

The brief note also hinted at a royal visit to Northern Ireland soon.

Knitted dolls of the newly-crowned royal couple

The Queen wrote: I remember with great pleasure my visit to the Camilla Club and my husband and I hope it wont be too long before we are next in Northern Ireland

As well as appreciation from the new Queen, Elaine, who is known throughout knitting circles across the world for her unique doll patterns, was thrilled that her royal dolls featured so prominently in the coronation celebrations.

I make the dolls to please myself and if other people like to knit them then thats great, but it is just a hobby, she said.

I created the King and Queen just after Christmas because I knew the coronation was coming up, but it has just skyrocketed.

I have sold hundreds of copies of the pattern to people from as far away as Australia, America and France. The dolls were absolutely everywhere during the coronation and even made it onto TV here and in Malta and Brussels.

There is a knitting group in England who knit postbox toppers and they got the pattern and the dolls appeared on the toppers in postboxes all over the country.

The then Queen Consort visiting Bangor in 2021

Elaine (65) ran a weekly knitting group at Kilcooley Womens Centre for eight years until funding ran out at the end of April.

The women at the centre asked if she could create the royal dolls as a coronation gift.

She said: Camilla visited the centre to help launch the book club and the director Alison Blayney asked if I would knit the figures as a coronation gift.

Everyone was really delighted when Camilla wrote back to say thanks.

Elaines fame for her knitted doll patterns sees her receive regular commissions, and among a wide range of well-known figures that she has created are mini versions of rock stars Ossie Osborne and Prince as well as Elvis and many of the main characters from Harry Potter.

She adds: It isnt really a business, just something I do for fun, and it is a great stress reliever.

I am happy for the challenge to create something new from scratch. It was a surprise to see the King and Queen all over the country.

I have a few new ideas up my sleeve for later this year.

You can check out Elaines unique patterns at www.ecdesigns.co.uk
Widow of agri-food boss killed in Co Down crash brands refusal to tighten law as scandalous

Denis Lynn died after being crushed by a quad bike in 2021

The government has been branded heartless after it said there are no plans for compulsory roll bars on farm quad bikes.

Thats despite pleas from Christine Lynn, the widow of Finnebrogue founder Denis Lynn, who died after he was crushed by an overturned quad bike.

Mrs Lynn has described the current regulations on the death trap vehicles as scandalous.

Politicians have backed her calls for a change in the law, with Baroness Foster asking the government if there were any plans to make roll bars compulsory in a farm environment.

Viscount Younger of Leckie said: The Health and Safety Executive and Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland have no plans to make operator crush prevention devices compulsory on sit astride all-terrain vehicles used on farms in UK.

Both UK regulators continue to monitor and review available technology and the regulatory approaches employed in other countries.

Their approach remains to drive employers to select the most suitable machine for the task based on their assessment of workplace risk, and to provide adequate training and helmets for users.

Denis Lynn died after being crushed by a quad bike in 2021

Baroness Ritchie, a neighbour of the Lynn family in Downpatrick, Co Down, said the response was heartless.

Thats a push back response when they have no intention of doing anything, but we just have to take them on, ask what the rationale is for that decision, and present the contrary evidence, she told Sunday Life.

We have now got this answer so we have to go back to the Northern Ireland Office and say: Please look at this again.

We have local examples where it could have saved lives if quad bikes had been fitted with them.

Baroness Ritchie

Strangford DUP MP Jim Shannon also backed the calls and said he had raised the issue with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Jim Shannon MP

He told Sunday Life he was disappointed when told of the governments response to Baroness Fosters question.

Not to consider it at all is a very wrong decision and I would urge them to review it based on the evidence  lets get it done, he said.

Mr Lynn (63) died after he became trapped under a quad bike on the family estate near Downpatrick when its back wheel reared up, overturning the vehicle.

Mrs Lynn said her husband was a regular user of quad bikes and the accident happened at low speed. The inquest report stated his death occurred due to internal injuries caused by crushing of the chest.

I deem it my responsibility to do what I can to stop an accident like this happening again. Denis was a loving husband and father, she said.

He left behind me and his four daughters, including Ciara, who was 17 on that evening on the farm when she witnessed her dad have his accident.

Nothing will bring Denis back; not to us, or the Finnebrogue family he left behind.

But one thing we would all like to ensure is that nobody else suffers Deniss fate.

I know if Denis were still here today, and it was one of his daughters who had been in an accident, he would not rest until we strengthened health and safety rules for quad bikes and increased public awareness into the risks they pose.
People cross a broken bridge at the Khaung Dote Khar Rohingya refugee camp in Sittwe, Myanmar, on May 15, 2023, after Cyclone Mocha made a landfall.

Cyclone Mocha may have been less deadly than predicted, but it inflicted heavy damage on Myanmars Rakhine state, including the capital of Sittwe.

The Category 5 storm made landfall along the coast between Rakhine and Coxs Bazar, a district in southeastern Bangladesh where about 1 million Rohingya refugees are sheltering in camps.

Some areas of Bangladesh sustained damage from the storm, including downed trees and homes that were damaged, including in makeshift shelters in refugee camps, but no casualties were reported.

On the other side of the border, however, Sittwe was hit hard.

On Monday, a day after the storm slammed into the coast, images from the city and surrounding area showed flattened homes, roads blocked by fallen electricity pylons, splintered remains of trees and widespread flooding. Power was cut off to Sittwe, a city of about 150,000.

Ninety percent of Sittwe township  is damaged or under debris, aid and relief groups told Radio Free Asia, a news service affiliated with BenarNews.

A precise death toll was hard to nail down. At least 30 people are believed dead, based on reports by local media and residents of the affected regions. Myanmars junta had said three people died, while the shadow National Unity Government  made up of opponents of the junta  put the figure at 18.

Those figures are far lower than feared. Cyclone Nargis, which hit the same area in 2008, left nearly 140,000 dead or missing.

Damaged boats are piled up next to a broken bridge in Sittwe, in Myanmar's Rakhine state, May 15, 2023. [AFP]

Mocha hit the coast on Sunday with sustained winds reaching over 220 kilometers per hour (137 mph).

Buildings have been badly damaged, said a woman who lives in the Sittwes Lanmadaw (South) ward, asking not to be identified. The monastery in front of my house is completely destroyed. Not one house is left undamaged.

The low-lying areas of Sittwe were inundated with flooding, she said, leaving residents to contend with brackish and, in some places, chest-deep water from the Bay of Bengal.

Piles of mud have been left inside the buildings, she said. Since there is no electricity, we havent been able to clean them  The roof of my house is almost gone and there is water downstairs. We dont know what to do to clean them up.

A Sittwe firefighter told RFA that floodwaters in the city were still as high as 1.5 meters (5 feet) in the low-lying areas and that evacuated residents were waiting for word from the Rakhine state government to return to their homes.

Impact in Bangladesh

Meanwhile, in Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar to the west, Rohingyas living in refugee camps after fleeing a military offensive in Rakhine state in 2017 remained largely unscathed by the cyclone, despite earlier fears that the mostly unprotected camps lay directly in the storms path.

But while no casualties were reported in the aftermath of the cyclone, Rohingya refugees told RFA that thousands of homes were damaged in the sprawling camps due to strong winds, landslides, and flooding.

About 500 homes were damaged in our camp alone, said Aung Myaing, a refugee at the Kutupalong camp in Coxs Bazar. About 10,000 homes in all refugee camps combined have been damaged. Some houses have been completely destroyed while others have been partially damaged.

He said camp residents are in need of bamboo and tarps to help shore up the damage.

An area near a temple in Bagan, central Myanmar, was flooded in the aftermath of Cyclone Mocha, May 15, 2023. [Military True News Information Team via AP]

RFA-affiliated BenarNews reported that Mocha had destroyed more than 2,800 shelters, learning centers, health centers and other infrastructure in refugee camps in the neighboring sub-districts of Teknaf and Ukhia, citing Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, refugee relief and repatriation commissioner. He noted that landslides were also reported at 120 spots in the Rohingya camps.

Rahman said there were no casualties because we relocated them at an appropriate time.

Trail of devastation

In a flash update on Monday, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) called Mocha one of the strongest cyclones ever to hit the country and said the storm had left a trail of devastation in Rakhine state, which is also home to tens of thousands of people displaced by conflict in the aftermath of the militarys Feb. 1, 2021, coup detat.

Few houses have escaped damage in Sittwe and there is widespread destruction of flimsy bamboo longhouses in displacement camps, UNOCHA said.

Health, relief items, shelter, and water, sanitation, and hygiene needs are already being reported. Explosive ordnance risks are high in conflict-affected rural areas where landmines may have been shifted during flooding and where people have been on the move to safer areas.

Damage to telecommunications towers has severely hampered the flow of information in Rakhine, while water and power services were disrupted throughout the day on Monday, forcing residents to rely on generators for electricity.

Relief efforts underway

UNOCHA said humanitarian partners were starting assessments to confirm the magnitude of the damage in Sittwe and the Rakhine townships of Pauktaw, Rathedaung, Maungdaw, Ponnagyun, and Kyauktaw. It called for an urgent injection of funds to respond to the impact of Mocha and subsequent flooding in the region.

In a response to emailed questions from RFA, the World Food Program said it was mobilizing emergency food and nutrition assistance to 800,000 people affected by the cyclone, many of them already displaced by conflict.

Before the cyclone, the U.N. had estimated 6 million people were already in humanitarian need in Rakhine state, and the regions of Chin, Magway and Sagaing. Collectively, the states host 1.2 million displaced people, prompting OCHA to warn of a nightmare scenario.

However, Mocha had weakened by Sunday evening and moved toward Myanmars northwest, where it was downgraded to a depression on Monday over the countrys Sagaing region.

A woman stands amid fallen trees in Kyauktaw in Myanmars Rakhine state, May 14, 2023. [AFP]

RFA was able to document the deaths of at least a dozen people. They included a 30-year-old woman from Rakhines Ramree township, two men in their 20s in Ayeyarwady regions Yegyi township and Rakhines Toungup township, and four men of unknown ages in Rakhines Kyauktaw township.

Others killed included a resident of Sittwe, a man in his 50s from Mandalay regions Pyin Oo Lwin township, a young couple from the Shan state city of Tachileik, and a 70-year-old woman from Magway regions Sinphyukyun township.

Attempts by RFA to contact Hla Thein, the juntas spokesperson for Rakhine state, about recovery efforts in the region went unanswered Monday.

On Sunday, junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing pledged that all citizens of Myanmar will be provided assistance as part of the countrys rescue and rehabilitation efforts.

Thet Thet Khaing, the juntas minister for relief and resettlement, did not respond to repeated calls for comment on Monday.

This report was produced by Radio Free Asia, a news service affiliated with BenarNews.
A woman stands inside her home, which was damaged by Cyclone Mocha, on St. Martin's island, Bangladesh, May 15, 2023.

Thousands of refugees flimsy shelters were flattened by the weekends powerful Cyclone Mocha in sub-districts of Cox Bazar in southeastern Bangladesh that hosts about 1 million Rohingya in sprawling camps.

Many residents dwellings in nearby St. Martins, an island in the Bay of Bengal isolated from mainland Bangladesh, suffered the same fate, although the government said no fatalities were reported as the storm hit between 3 and 5 p.m. Sunday. On the mainland, the Category 5 storm spared the city of Coxs Bazar but caused damage in Teknaf, a town to the south that borders Myanmars Rakhine state, which absorbed the brunt of the cyclone.

Mocha destroyed more than 2,800 shelters, learning centers, health centers and other infrastructure in refugee camps in the neighboring sub-districts of Teknaf and Ukhia, according to Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, refugee relief and repatriation commissioner. He noted that landslides were also reported at 120 spots in the Rohingya camps.

Rahman told BenarNews there were no casualties because we relocated them at an appropriate time.

In Teknaf, people in six villages saw their homes destroyed by the storm.

I have lost everything in the cyclone. I have not eaten a handful of rice since yesterday. I have come here to search for relief, Sufia Khatun, a woman in her 60s who lost her home on the Naaf River in Teknaf, told BenarNews on Monday.

I have been waiting for relief since morning.

A man fixes his houses roof which was destroyed by cyclone Mocha, in Shahpori island on the outskirts of Teknaf, Bangladesh, May 15, 2023. [Munir uz Zaman/AFP]

Nur Kalima, mother of seven children, said her house was located on top of a hill in Teknaf.

The roof, the tarpaulin was blown away while the frame of the house was washed away by run-off from the hills, she said while noting she was waiting for government relief.

Muhammed Jubair, chairman of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights, described the shelters.

The houses of the Rohingya are made of four bamboo pillars at four corners with a cover of tarpaulin, he told BenarNews.

A general view of Kutupalong Rohingya refugee camp in Ukhia, Bangladesh, a day after Cyclone Mocha made landfall, May 15, 2023. [Munir uz Zaman/AFP]

About 1 million refugees live in the camps in and around Coxs Bazar district, including around 740,000 who fled a brutal military crackdown in Myanmars Rakhine state in August 2017.

One refugee described to BenarNews where the Rohingya had sheltered from the storm.

Many of the Rohingya people took shelter at the mosques, madrassaa and NGOs offices. We have been preparing a list of the affected people as instructed by the authorities, Mohammad Alam, of the Leda camp in Teknaf, told BenarNews.

Abdul Alim, who with his family operated a tea stall on St. Martins island, lost almost everything.

My tea stall, thatched house, everything was blown away, Alim told BenarNews.

Saint Martins island, with a blue water natural coral beach, is cut off from the mainland. The nearest mainland spot, Teknaf, is about 25 km. (15.5 miles) away.

Korban Ali, another Saint Martins resident, recounted how he spent the night before the cyclone made landfall at a shelter praying that his home would be spared, but it wasnt to be.

Mocha totally obliterated my home. Even the cooking utensils have been washed away, he told BenarNews.

We are a seven-member family. What will we do now?
Members of the Muslim community hold a protest on the use of the word Allah by non-Muslims, outside the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya, Malaysia, June 23, 2014.

The Malaysian government has decided to withdraw its appeal against a High Court ruling that allowed non-Muslims to use the word Allah to refer to God, the Attorney Generals office confirmed Monday, about a highly divisive issue in the Muslim-majority country.

Those against people of other religions using the word Allah say it could lead to confused Muslims renouncing Islam and causing them to convert or embrace pluralist thinking.

The Anwar Ibrahim government did not give a reason for withdrawing the appeal. But two Muslim lawyers associations expressed disappointment, with one saying the well-being of the majority community was at stake.

The appeal had been filed in 2021 by an earlier government against the High Courts ruling that ended a decades-long ban and allowed Malaysian Christians to use Allah to refer to God, as they said they had been doing for centuries.

On April 18, the current government filed a notice to terminate that appeal, Senior Federal Counsel Shamsul Bolhassan told BenarNews.

[T]he Home Ministry and Malaysian government have no intention of continuing with the appeal notice filed on March 12, 2021, and have terminated the entire appeal, said the notice.

Back then, according to media reports, High Court Judge Nor Bee Ariffin had described a 1986 Home Ministry directive to bar the use of four Arabic words, including Allah, by non-Muslims as illegal and irrational. The judge said Christians in the states of Sabah and Sarawak had used the words in their church for hundreds of years.

The ruling was made in a 2008 case between a Christian woman from Sarawak named Jill Ireland Lawrence Bill, and the Home Ministry, after the latter seized from her eight religious CDs containing the word Allah at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.



Despite the 2021 High Court ruling, the Sultan of Selangor issued a decree which said that the ban on the use of Allah and the three other words by non-Muslims remained applicable in Selangor state. The Sultan of the northern state of Kedah, had previously decreed that the use of Allah as an exclusive right of Muslims.

Such overruling by sultans is permitted in Malaysias dual legal system, where the ruler of the state is also its religious leader.

Well-being of Muslims

Association of Sarawak Churches Chairman Danald Jute welcomed the government decision to withdraw the appeal.

However, I shall reserve further comments for now since the Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution has said he would call for a press conference to elaborate further on the matter, Jute told BenarNews.

Saifuddin told media after an event in Selangor on Monday that he would give further details about the government decision to withdraw the appeal the next day.

Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar, president of the Federal Territories Sharia Lawyers Association, however, expressed concern about the governments decision to withdraw the appeal.

A full explanation is needed regarding this action and why was there no communication with the Muslim community? he asked in a statement.

Another group, the Malaysian Islamic Lawyers Association, said the decision to withdraw the appeal could affect the well-being and balance of the countrys multiracial and multireligious society.

We hope that the Malaysian Government will review the matter and continue with the appeal to the highest court in the country, taking into account various aspects, particularly the interests and well-being of Muslims in this country, association President Musa Awang said in a statement.

[In] any action taken by the government, state laws should be considered, particularly those that prohibit the use of certain words [by non-Muslims], such as the word Allah, which has been approved by the State Legislative Assembly and the states Sultans, and avoid any action that could undermine the power of the rulers.
A group of people, described by police as former combatants of the militant group Abu Sayyaf, swear an oath of allegiance to the government following a ceremonial surrender of their weapons in the town of Jolo, Philippines, July 30, 2022.

The Philippine military on Monday said it was verifying reports that the most senior leader of the Abu Sayyaf militant group, for whom Washington is offering a U.S. $1 million bounty, has died of natural causes.

Radullan Sahiron was among the militants who made the Abu Sayyaf a byword in international terrorism for helping carry out cross-border abductions, which on one occasion in the early 2000s included the murders of American citizens.

The police and military were also looking for confirmation after some residents from the far-southern Sulu Islands posted on their social media site that the one-armed Sahiron had died.

A Joint Task Force Sulu (JTFS) official would not confirm or deny Sahirons death unless there is an eyeball confirmation, but said he had received similar reports. The official did not want to be named because he is not authorized to speak about the matter.

The JTFS is a military anti-terror unit that was formed to address the Abu Sayyaf and terrorism- related problems in Sulu.

Little has been heard of Sahiron since 2017, when he was widely reported to be suffering from age-related illnesses.

A native of Sulus Patikul town, Sahiron was originally among the fighters of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Sulu, according to military dossiers. He was later acknowledged to be among the original members of the Abu Sayyaf after the MNLF signed a peace treaty with the government in the 1990s.

Sahirons fierce command of militants on the battlefield aboard his white horse earned him the nickname, Commander Putol (one arm). His right arm was injured in the 1970s during a fight with Philippine security forces, and it was amputated above his elbow.

Officials say Sahiron was among a group of Abu Sayyaf bandits who in 2000 launched a daring cross-border raid at a diving resort in Sabah, Malaysia, and snatched 21 tourists  10 Europeans, 9 Malaysians, and 2 Filipino resort employees.

The captives were taken by speedboat to Abu Sayyaf jungle camps in Sulu. The victims were freed in batches after almost half a year in captivity, after ransoms of millions of dollars were paid.

The following year, officials say, Sahiron was again involved in kidnappings initiated by another group of Abu Sayyaf fighters, who seized 17 tourists, including three U.S. citizens, from an upscale resort off Palawan. Two of the American hostages were later killed  one of them was beheaded.

It was his involvement in the kidnapping of American nationals that placed Sahiron on the U.S. most wanted criminals list with a bounty of $1 million, through the U.S. Reward for Justice Program.
Philippine Coast Guard crews prepare to locate navigational buoys in the nations exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, in this handout image obtained May 15, 2023.

Philippine authorities warned China on Monday of serious repercussions if buoys installed last week within Manilas exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea are removed from contested waters.

The Philippine Coast Guard deployed five navigational buoys near Patag island, Balagtas reef, Kota island, Panata island and Juan Felipe reef in the West Philippine Sea  Manilas name for territories it claims in the South China Sea.

Vice Adm. Joseph Coyme, the coast guards Maritime Safety Services Command chief, noted that an aerial survey indicated the buoys remained where they were installed between May 10 and 12.

If we have evidence that they deliberately take out our installed buoys, which we believe are legitimate, there will be serious repercussions, Coyme said. We need to discuss this thoroughly of course in consultation with the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea.

What we need to do is to produce necessary evidence and forward them to the [task force]. ... Its up to them to take action as far as diplomatic concerns, he said without elaborating.

The Philippine-flagged buoys signify the countrys sovereign rights and jurisdiction over our exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the coast guard said.

The development comes amid ongoing military engagements between the Philippines and its ally, the United States, which has been granted access to more Filipino bases.

The government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has also been vocal about Chinas actions in the South China Sea. Beijing claims nearly the entire sea as its own based on historical grounds.

Apart from China and the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan have overlapping claims in the waterway. Indonesia, which is not a party to the dispute, has a separate territorial dispute also with China over the Natuna Islands.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to BenarNews request for comment.

More markers

On Monday, National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano, chairman of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, said six more buoys were expected to be installed this year.

A year ago, the coast guard installed buoys at military-occupied Lawak, Likas, Parola and Pag-asa islands. Pag-asa serves as the seat of government of Kalayaan town, in Palawan province.

These cardinal buoys will indicate the direction of safe waters to prevent passing ships from running aground in these shallow areas, Ano said.

Consequently, the installation of buoys with the Philippine flag further signifies the countrys sovereign rights and jurisdiction over our EEZ, he said.

Ano said the buoys underscore our adherence to global status, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides coastal states such as the Philippines the right to manage its 200-mile EEZ.

As a responsible coastal state, we are fulfilling our commitment under international law to install and maintain these aids to navigation that assist vessels in safe passage in our waters, he said.

More significantly, utilizing the PCG ships in dropping buoys in the contested waters reinforces the Philippines commitment to promoting peace, stability, cooperation and the rule of law in the region, Ano said using an acronym for the Philippine Coast Guard.

He said national government agencies, including the armed forces, were supporting the coast guard in navigating a highly volatile and ever-complex security environment, scaling up its operations in various efforts and ultimately in making certain that we continue to sail on to more serene seas and sunnier horizons.

Jeoffrey Maitem and Jojo Rinoza in Manila contributed to this report.




South Korea's top nuclear envoy denounced North Korea on Monday for harboring an "empty dream" in using nuclear threats as the means to be recognized as a nuclear state from the international community, Seoul's foreign ministry said.







South Korea's top nuclear negotiator, Kim Gunn, made the remarks Monday during a discussion session on nuclear anxieties in the Indo-Pacific region, as he attended the Munich Leaders Meeting in Tokyo, according to the ministry.







Kim criticized the North for seeking to be recognized from the international community with nuclear threats, and establishing relations with nations in the region to "suit its taste," the ministry added.







The nuclear envoy appears to refer to the geopolitical situation, in which the North is striving to strengthen nuclear capabilities and seeking closer ties with China and Russia vis-a-vis the United States' push to bolster trilateral cooperation with South Korea and Japan.







Kim also urged the international community to closely cooperate in blocking the North from illegally earning foreign currencies, as the North has sent its workers abroad and engaged in illicit cyber activities to fund its nuclear and missile programs.







On the sidelines of the international conference, Kim met with his Japanese counterpart, Takehiro Funakoshi, to discuss the North's nuclear issues, the ministry added. (Yonhap)


Move Forward Party leader and prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat (in white shirt), and other members of the party celebrate election results as their caravan passes the Democracy Monument in Bangkok, May 15, 2023.

Updated at 5:33 p.m. ET on 2023-05-15

Thailands two largest opposition parties agreed Monday to enter a coalition after inflicting a resounding election defeat on the pro-military establishment, though analysts say it is far from certain they will be able to take power.

The progressive Move Forward Party won the highest number of seats in Sundays vote, beating expectations and edging out the more favored Pheu Thai Party  the populist vehicle of the billionaire Shinawatra family.

Because they lack a parliamentary majority between them, the two parties will need the support of several smaller parties and some senators to overcome election rules enshrined in the constitution that, critics say, gives the military-backed ruling bloc an upper hand in forming a government.

Speaking on Monday, Pita Limjaroenrat, the 42-year-old leader of Move Forward, said he had invited five opposition parties to form a coalition, including Pheu Thai, and he was ready to be prime minister.

The six parties together could muster about 309 out of 500 seats in Parliaments lower house, he said  well short of the number needed to govern in the bicameral legislature, but giving them a box seat in post-polls negotiations.

Pita said he was not worried but not careless about forces including in the upper house Senate that may try to get in the way.

It would be quite a hefty price to pay for someone who is thinking of abolishing the election results or forming a minority government, he said at a press conference in Bangkok.

To minimize economic and political risk, a transition team would be formed to ensure a new government as soon as possible, Pita said.

Pheu Thai Party prime ministerial candidates Paetongtarn Shinawatra (left) and Srettha Thavisin address the media at the partys headquarters in Bangkok, May 15, 2023.[Manan Vatsyayana/AFP]

The ruling Palang Pracharath Party and the United Thai Nation Party were trounced in Sundays election. For many Thais, the question now is whether the military-backed establishment will accept the opposition mandate.

Theoretically speaking they have legitimacy  but this is Thailand, said Titipol Phakdeewanich, a political scientist at Ubon Ratchathani University. We have to wait and see what kind of reaction will come from the current coalition.

After coming to power in a 2014 coup, and prior to the 2019 general election, the junta led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha changed the countrys constitution to allow 250 senators appointed by the ruling party to vote for the next prime minister.

As a result, a party must be able to win at least 376 seats out of 750 to secure a majority in both houses.

The identity of the next prime minister might not be known until weeks or months after the vote, as Thailands electoral system allows up to 60 days for the release of official results, and parliament convenes two weeks later to vote for the nations leader.

On Monday, a group of Southeast Asian lawmakers appealed to the Thai Senate to clear a path for pro-democracy parties to take power after nearly a decade of military-backed rule.

The Royal Thai Military must open their eyes and ears to what the Thai people are demanding. For years, protesters have taken to the streets, calling for democracy and human rights. They have now backed this up in the ballot box, Charles Santiago, a Malaysian MP and co-chair of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, said in a statement.



Subverting the election results and blocking the formation of a new government by the winning parties would be an unconscionable betrayal that would only result in unrest and instability. We, therefore, urge the military and incumbent government to do the right thing and abide by the will of the people.

However, experts say some of Move Forwards liberal campaign promises, including reforms to the constitution, military conscription and Thailands strict royal defamation law, known as Lese-Majeste, could prove a problem with conservative-minded senators.

Given Move Forwards position on issues such as the Lese-Majeste law, it remains to be seen whether conservative senators can stomach voting for a Move Forward prime minister, said Ken Mathis Lohatepanont, a Thai political science researcher at the University of Michigan.

Amending the Lese-Majeste law, which human rights groups say that the current government has used to silence dissent, could be divisive even within the opposition coalition.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 36-year-old daughter of self-exiled former PM Thaksin, said on Monday that Pheu Thai did not support changing the law, only discussing it in Parliament.

Her party also congratulated Move Forward on its win.

"[We] support Move Forward, who won the biggest votes, in forming a coalition government, Paetongtarn said.

We together as a party wish Khun Pita the best of luck in becoming PM of Thailand and forming the coalition government, said Srettha Thavisin, one of the Pheu Thais three prime ministerial candidates, who sat alongside Paetongtarn at a press conference in the capital Monday.

The people believe in democracy and they want major change  that is the message that the people have given to all of us.

As of Monday morning, 99.18% of the vote had been counted with a record turnout of 75.22%, the Election Commission said.

The election signaled an appetite not just for a change of government, but also political reform in Thailand after nearly two decades of military dominance that included two coups, in 2006 and 2014.

In Sundays polls, Move Forward rewrote the electoral map in Bangkok, winning all but one district and scoring victories around the northern city of Chiang Mai, the political stronghold of the Shinawatra dynasty.

The victory of Move Forward has a lot to do with its ability to communicate with people, and not just young people, Titipol, the analyst, said.

But if we look at their policies, they have been speaking in the same language as peoples demands. That is why they won in this election.

Nontharat Phaicharoen and Wilawan Watcharasakwej in Bangkok, and Kunnawut Boonreak in Chiang Mai contributed to this report.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.
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.
This May 24, 2018 photo shows the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in North Korea. Seoul has started conducting radiation exposure tests on North Korean defectors who came from areas adjacent to the test site, as concerns grow over their health as well as potentially contaminated food products smuggled in from the North. Korea Times file



Effects of nuclear weapons tests on residents, food and water supply put under microscope



By Jung Min-ho



Seoul has started conducting voluntary radiation exposure tests on North Korean defectors who hailed from areas adjacent to the regime's Punggye-ri nuclear test site, as concerns grow over risks to their health as well as the possibility of food products smuggled in from the North being contaminated.



Speaking to The Korea Times Tuesday, an official at the Ministry of Unification said it started radiation testing on 89 individuals who used to live near the facility, in which all of North Korea's six nuclear weapons tests in the past were carried out.



The tests come three months after the Transitional Justice Working Group, a human rights group, released a report suggesting that tens of thousands of North Koreans may have been exposed to radioactive materials spread through groundwater from the underground facility. The group also said the populations in neighboring countries are not safe from the hazard as some agricultural products imported here from China were later found to have originated from the North.



The medical test includes whole-body counting, the measurement of radioactivity within the body, and chromosome analysis. Those volunteering for the project will also be asked about the source of their drinking water while in North Korea.



In total, 796 former residents of Punggye-ri and nearby areas have defected to South Korea since Pyongyang's first nuclear test in October 2006, according to the ministry.



Shin Hee-seok, a legal analyst at the Seoul-based rights organization, welcomed the decision to look into the important human rights issue.



"North Korea is where the world's latest nuclear weapons tests were conducted. It is critical to collect data on what those tests did to human bodies," Shin said. "Moreover, the South Korean government is responsible for finding out and informing the public about where the North's products, like mushrooms, are grown and how they are consumed across borders."





This Sept. 20, 2018 photo shows a box of pine mushrooms sent to South Korean separated families for the Chuseok holiday by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. There are pine mushroom farms near the nuclear test site. Korea Times file
Pownal officials are urging the state to move more quickly to deal with the former Green Mountain Race Track grandstand building, which was gutted by fire in September 2020. Local officials would like to see the prominent structure demolished.
NORTH ADAMS  Steeple City Plaza, home to a number of downtown businesses and the now shuttered North Adams Movieplex 8, is under new ownership.

First Hartford Realty Corp. sold the plaza to another Connecticut realty company for $2 million in late April, according to records filed with the Northern Berkshire Registry of Deeds. Efforts to reach the new owner, NRT Realty, and its attorney were not successful Monday.

The parcel includes Burger King, a strip mall building with Planet Fitness and a liquor store, and an L-shaped building on American Legion Drive and Main Street thats home to businesses like Papa Ginos, Label Shopper and T-Mobile. In between the buildings is a 500-space parking lot. In total, the shopping center is 131,000 square feet, according to First Hartford Realtys website.

At one time, the plaza was being considered as a location for the Extreme Model Railroad and Contemporary Architecture Museum, according to city leaders, but the museum declined earlier this year to comment. Efforts to reach EMRCA Monday were not successful.

John Toic, First Hartford Realtys president, declined to comment early this year when asked if it had been talking to the museum about a potential sale.

NRT Realty does not own other property in the Berkshires, according to the registries of deeds. The company is based in Avon, Conn., and paperwork filed with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth list its principal as N. Robert Trigg.

The downtown property is worth more than twice the recent sale price  the most recent assessment totaled $5.4 million, according to Jessica Lincourt, the city assessor.

Some businesses in the plaza have struggled. Gordmans, a department store which occupied a large storefront at the plaza, opened in February 2020 only to close a few months later, partly due to some of the financial pressures brought on by the pandemic.

That space is now vacant. More recently, many residents mourned the loss of the North Adams Movieplex 8, the movie theater in the plaza, when it closed at the end of January. Before it closed, First Hartford Realty Corporation, owned the movie theater business.

This story may be updated.
Replacement of a plow was the largest capital item approved by voters, but they also voted to spend money to develop more cemetery space and to make repairs to Old Town Hall and St. Andrews Chapel.
After a four-month national search, the Boston Symphony Orchestra has announced Chad Smith as its new president and chief executive officer.

The BSO announced Monday that Smith, 51, is leaving his post as chief executive officer of the Los Angeles Philharmonic to begin his new role in Boston and at Tanglewood, arriving officially in early fall.

You can count on seeing me here this summer, Smith said in a phone interview. He plans on spending time with Music Director Andris Nelsons, the staff, and getting to know the community, the towns and the people who are so devoted to Tanglewood, and understanding even more deeply what the Berkshires community represents. Hell also be visiting Boston to search for a home.

His appointment follows the abrupt departure of Gail Samuel last December, only 18 months into the top leadership position at BSO, Inc.

Innovation, diversity and broader, wide-ranging programming at Tanglewood, along with supporting the work of living composers while preserving 400 years of tradition, are part of Smiths stated mission when he takes the helm.

According to the orchestras announcement, Smith is a visionary credited with advancing the orchestral music tradition through cutting-edge programming and cultivating industry-defining partnerships. Smith brings strategic expertise, commitment to musical excellence, and a tested ability to expand audiences and generate revenue.

Smith, a native of Gettysburg, Pa., was a vocalist at the Tanglewood Music Center summer institute for young musicians in 1994 and 1997. He earned an undergraduate degree in European history at Tufts University in a joint program with the New England Conservatory of Music, where he was a voice major. Then he earned a masters in opera from the conservatory, where he has served as a trustee for the past seven years.

As the LA Philharmonics CEO, Smith worked closely with superstar conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the next music director of the New York Philharmonic. But Smith said his decision to seek new horizons was unrelated.

Ive always had this deep, abiding care and love for the BSO; it was the first orchestra I connected with when I was a student, Smith said. But, he acknowledged, its extremely difficult to leave the LA Phil, its such a remarkable organization. Its an incredibly difficult decision to make.

However, Smith added, with that orchestras finances strong and post-pandemic audiences returning, I feel very comfortable making this decision to move to Boston. I couldnt be more excited to join this storied, wonderful institution.

Smith spent 21 years in various creative and leadership roles at the LA Philharmonic, the past four years as CEO. He championed living composers, up-and-coming conductors and soloists, and developed new performance venues for expanded repertoire, a showcase for new talent and for attracting broad audiences.

In the phone interview from Los Angeles, Smith elaborated on his new assignment. Answers have been lightly edited for clarity.

Q: What do you recall about your two summers studying at Tanglewood?

A: I have very fond memories  some concerts I recall so vividly  and the whole ethos of being a student on that campus and the rapport that existed between the professional musicians of the BSO and the young artists performing. Its absolutely unique in our world.

Q: Any first thoughts about changes there?

A: In my career, Ive learned you listen first, you learn and thats extremely important for any new executive. Its understanding the elements that need to be celebrated and preserved, and what are the elements hungry for reimagining. That balance between preservation as well as exploration and innovation makes arts organizations fundamentally healthy. We continue to ask questions about who we are and where we want to go.

Q: What made you especially receptive to the offer from the Boston Symphony?

A: I know the BSO. Its a small world in some ways, the orchestral world, so I knew the leadership and the things that make it a special place. Conversations emerged, [we were] getting to know one another. Interest and excitement is not enough. It has to be whether the skill sets I bring are those that are most valuable, and for the organization, the same question  is this the right match? We spent a lot of time talking and Im very pleased with the outcome, while Im incredibly sad to be leaving LA. The BSO is a great orchestra and so is the LA Phil. Im very lucky.

Q: How do you broaden audiences and deepen the BSOs community involvement in the Berkshires and Boston?

A: Every musical and arts organization has the responsibility to invest in future audiences that will ultimately support it  getting people to understand and appreciate arts and culture. The health of arts organizations is about the continuing expansion and replenishment of audiences going forward. Everything we do is about connecting the highest level of orchestral music-making to the widest possible audience. That will play out in so many different ways, but its all fundamentally back to the preservation and expansion of this art form that we love.
It was the little things that riled voters in Otis  not the $100,000 appropriations for a police cruiser or the historic East Otis Schoolhouse, or the nearly $6.4 million budget.
David French is a New York Times columnist. Previously, he was a senior editor and founder of The Dispatch.
A news program shows an image of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, on a TV screen at Seoul Station in Seoul, April 11. AP-Yonhap



Pyongyang expected to resume armed provocations targeting S. Korea-US joint drill set for May 25



By Lee Hyo-jin



North Korea seems to be caught in a dilemma on how to respond to a landmark nuclear deal between the United States and South Korea signed recently, which could be a reason why the reclusive regime has refrained from military provocations in the last few weeks, according to analysts.



However, the experts viewed that the North is likely to break its silence and stage a major show of force later this month, targeting the largest-ever joint live-fire drills between Seoul and Washington slated for May 25 to June 15.



In recent months, the Kim Jong-un regime has been ramping up the development of nuclear weapons and missiles, launching a barrage of missile tests including its first solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on April 13.



But the North has refrained from additional military provocations for over a month since then.



It was widely anticipated that Pyongyang would stage military actions during President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to meet U.S. President Joe Biden at the end of April. During the summit held on April 26, the two leaders inked the Washington Declaration, with the U.S. promising stronger extended deterrence and "overwhelming response" in the event of North Korean attacks.



Other than issuing commentaries and statements through its state media condemning the Washington Declaration, the North has not shown any military provocations so far.



Cho Han-beom, a senior researcher at the state-run Korea Institute for National Unification, viewed that Pyongyang seems to be caught in a dilemma following the stronger-than-expected measures promised between the allies, which includes regular deployment of U.S. strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula.





North Korea launches a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile from the Sunan area in Pyongyang, March 16, in this photo carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Yonhap
Pioneer file photo

BIG RAPIDS  Congressman John Moolenaar (R-Midland) is hosting a benefits and resources fair for Michigan veterans and military personnel Friday at Michigan Works! in Big Rapids, 14330 Northland Drive.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, representatives will be available from Moolenaar's office, the Department of Veterans Affair medical center and regional office, Mecosta County Veterans Services and the Mecosta Osceola Transit Authority to assists veterans with resources.
Tonight's rundown:

 Talking Points Memo: Joe Biden continues to decline with the world watching and remains out of the press reach

 Presidential Historian Larry Cook weighs in on how Bidens relationship with the press compares to past presidents

 US Special Forces have been confirmed to be in Ukraine

 OReilly describes Democrats hosting the DNC in Chicago as Crazy Arrogant

 The trial of Fox News gets underway

 58% of Americans are now living paycheck to paycheck even as inflation begins to cool off

 Smart Life: Utilizing Kelly Blue Book when searching for a new car

 This Day in History: FDR dies in office

 Final Thought: what to do when someone is disrespectful to you

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To strengthen the existing and new medical device clusters

Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), under Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India, has announced the scheme for Assistance to Medical Device Clusters for Common Facilities (AMD-CF).

This scheme aims to strengthen Medical Device clusters by providing financial assistance and to strengthen and / or establish more testing laboratories for Medical Devices to improve quality and sustainable growth.

For Common Infrastructure Facilities (CIF) for the Medical Device (MD) clusters, the limit of support will be 70% of the approved project cost or Rs 20 crore, whichever is less, as per the approval of Scheme Steering Committee (SSC).

In the case of Himalayan States and States in the North East Region, the grant-in-aid would be Rs 20 crore per cluster or 90% of the project cost

of the CIF, whichever is less.

While Medical Devices Parks as planned clusters with shared common manufacturing & testing or warehousing & clearing facilities were being encouraged to help reduce the CAPEX (capital expenditure) of manufacturers, it is also important to strengthen the existing manufacturing natural clusters that existed in different parts of the country.

"FFP2 Masks (commonly referred to as N95 masks) needs a test laboratory that can cost a few lacs for each factory but in Covid times manufacturers were allowed sharing of these facilities until they put up their own. Now hopefully they can explore this avenue and not be burdened by cost of lab as they struggle to survive in a falling demand market, said Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator of Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD).
Dose suitable for majority of Indian patients with iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia

Pune-based Emcure Pharmaceuticals has announced the launch of Orofer FCM 750, a new extension of its parenteral iron brand containing Ferric carboxymaltose (FCM).

The new dosage variant is designed to provide a more effective and convenient option for patients with iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia (IDA). DCGI-approved FCM is indicated for treatment of iron deficiency when oral iron preparations are ineffective or cannot be used. It is already available in dosage forms 1000mg/ 20ml and 500mg/ 10ml single-use vials.

With this latest launch, Orofer FCM will also be available as a 750mg/15ml dosage form recommended for treatment of patients with Hemoglobin less than 10 g/dl & bodyweight between 35 kg to 70kg. Orofer FCM can only be obtained through a prescription from a registered medical practitioner.

IDA is a significant burden for women, especially during later trimesters of pregnancy and secondary to postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). Approximately 36% of maternal deaths are attributed to PPH as per Indian studies; whereas anaemia during pregnancy is reported among 45.7% and 54.3% of pregnant women in urban and rural areas, respectively, hampering post-partum maternal and early child health outcomes.
The mindset and the mentality of the African diaspora to be able to create innovative technologies indigenously, based out of their values, has never been new.

"Building and creating has never been new to them. They've always been building and creating innovative systems that they understand to be necessary for them." This was the core message of Kevin Imani's talk at this year's Blockchain Africa Conference, where he proposed the idea that Web3 needs Africa as much as Africa needs Web3.

He is the founder and chief executive officer of Sankore 2.0, which operates in Kenya as Near Regional Hub, dedicated to blockchain innovation, education and talent development throughout the African continent.

He is also the director of Open Forest Protocol Hub (Kenya), which uses blockchain to monitor forest projects end-to-end and offers carbon financing to organisations that might otherwise be excluded from the existing accreditation industry.

Open access to quality education

Founded by Imani, Sankore 2.0 is an open e-learning platform that onboards Africa's youth on Web3 and provides funding and incubation for blockchain projects.

Consequently, Sankore's graduates stand to have a meaningful impact on both traditional and non-traditional financial systems in Africa - providing remittance-, microfinance and crowdfunding solutions, and banking the unbanked through crypto. They also stand to benefit the global blockchain community with their unique approaches to blockchain development, which can help to spur new ideas and solutions.

 @sankore2_0's @imani_kevin on stage at #CVSummitAfrica, providing his perspective on the importance of Web3 on the African continent, calling it Africa's Digital Renaissance"!#CVSummitAfrica pic.twitter.com/RIAKSFEfn7  CV Labs (@CV_Labs) May 5, 2023

By integrating Near protocol that has been conceived and built by local developers in Kenya, Sankore 2.0 is leveraging a decentralised blockchain platform that is designed to support decentralised applications (dApps) and smart contracts. It is similar to other blockchain platforms such as Ethereum, but it aims to address some of the scalability and usability challenges that have been associated with earlier blockchain technologies.

"We were the first ones who practically brought Near into Africa," he said. "Today, Near has become the top 15 blockchain company in the world, with a market cap of $12bn," Imani said.

"It is arguably one of the best techs that we have here in terms of Layer One." And this approach has the potential to be transformative. This is because a Layer One blockchain ecosystem involves developing the underlying blockchain infrastructure and protocol layer, rather than just building applications or services on top of existing blockchains.

Furthermore, it enables Africans to build decentralised applications and services that are tailored to their specific needs and challenges, rather than relying on solutions built for other regions or use cases.

Sankore's early beginnings

Sankore 2.0 draws its inspiration from the ancient original Sankore centre of learning - a prestigious learning centre started in Western Africa eight centuries ago, known for its innovative technologies in fields such as chemistry, physics, and medicine.

"It was founded by a wealthy leader who also developed trade routes across the Sahel region and was known for his assets, including gold. The centre was so renowned that lecturers from other parts of the world had to study and gain competency for 20-plus years before being allowed to lecture there," Imani said.

Sankore was considered to be the first university in the world and played a significant role in African culture and history.

"Part of our identity and value at Sankore stems from this specific history. My understanding was if I were to do anything related to blockchain technology, it would have to be based out of African values and fundamentals passed through time," Imani added.

Source: Twitter/@BlockchainZA

Sankore 2.0 kickstarted its first pitch competition in Kenya in January 2022. The tour started in Nairobi and was a hybrid event targeting 5,000 people by means of a webinar and an in-person pitching session a week later.

"We wanted to cast the net for projects from Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret. We did a lot of different road shows and bootcamp hackathons. Ten projects out of the 175 applications received were approved to participate in the competition," Imani said.

"Three out of the 10 projects that pitched at the event qualified for funding and are currently getting incubated and nurtured by Sankore. Add to this, we have basically provided grants-based support to about 26 founders' projects across Africa, in different countries, and we have 70 projects on the course."

Solving for unemployment in Africa

"This speaks to meeting one of the biggest demands that we have [for jobs in Africa]. Unemployment is a big problem. The numbers that we read online are not true. There are way more people who do not have a stable income in Africa [than we realise], and it's a really big problem," Imani said.

"Add to this, Africa's labour market is characterised by the prevalence of short-term contracts or freelance work, as opposed to permanent jobs. To this end, we built the first ever African on-chain gig economy platform, [which links in to] East Africa's largest developer studio. We're really incentivising more and more and builders and innovators to look at talent overseas."

"This again is an opportunity for us to tell a new story that goes beyond developing products. I feel as innovators, and especially African innovators, that we are doing our thing, but we aren't looking above the surface of the water and asking ourselves where it is that we are heading. What is the story that we want to share with the next generation, and do we actually have the ability to do that?"

Empowering the youth

"At Sankore, we want to empower - and the keyword is 'empower' - young Africans to become role models in tech over the next 50 years," Imani said.

"I'm encouraging companies to think about the narrative upon which they're building their products, upon which they're building their community, upon which they're investing. Because I think that's quite essential. I think there's a special opportunity for us today to start thinking specifically about upskilling Africa's youth.

"By offering the youth in Africa Web3 training, you're helping to level the playing field for African learners and providing them with the tools they need to succeed. This, in turn, translates into the growth of the global blockchain industry. We have an ability to contribute to that, to change the narrative that we get to tell. Because if we don't do it, somebody else will."
U.S. should immediately stop creating humanitarian disasters in Syria

10:01, May 15, 2023 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily

Two pieces of news about Syria recently gave mixed feelings to the international community.

Arab foreign ministers decided in an Arab League (AL) extraordinary meeting to restore Syria's membership in the league, which was welcomed and supported by many countries.

However, the United States criticized Syria's readmission into the AL the next day, and declared to extend the regime of unilateral sanctions against Syria for another year, starting from May 11.

Reluctant to see Arab countries unite with each other, the United States blatantly disagrees with the world. This is a result of its habitual practice of seeking interests by provoking separation in the Middle East, and once again exposes its hypocritical double standards.

The restoration of Syria's membership in the AL after 12 years of suspension is an important measure of Arab countries to seek strength through unity. The international community believes that it is another milestone in the reconciliation process among Middle East countries after the Saudi Arabia-Iran talks in Beijing. The move is believed to be conducive to promoting peace and stability in the Middle East and the vitalization of the Arab world, as well as the long-term interests of Arab countries.

However, this heartening message for the people in Syria and the Middle East has bothered the United States. Some American politicians called the restoration of Syria's AL membership a serious strategic mistake, saying the United States would not promote the normalization of its ties with Syria and hoping its allies to follow.

This marks a second time of the United States blatantly impeding the trend of reconciliation in the Middle East after it expressed "disappointment" toward the restoration of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Countries in the Middle East have a strong desire to independently seek peace and development, and they have the ability to do so. The remarks and practices of the United States are against the trend of history.

Just as American journalist Fareed Zakaria put it, the United States is still addicted to its diplomatic achievements during the Cold War period, unaware of the changes happening to the world.

Twelve years of turbulence in Syria has created severe humanitarian crises, and the United States is to blame for this.

According to statistics released by the UN, U.S. military intervention has claimed at least 350,000 lives in Syria, displaced more than 12 million people, and left 14 million civilians in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

The World Food Programme said that 90 percent of Syrians now live under the poverty line, and 2/3 of the country's population rely on humanitarian aid. Over 12 million people in Syria are grappling with food insecurity.

Apart from military intervention in Syria, the U.S. forces are still occupying the major oil producing areas in the country and stealing 80 percent of Syria's oil production, which even worsened the economy and livelihood in Syria.

Syrian expert of international politics Mohammad Omari noted that the United States bears unshirkable responsibility to the chaos in Syria, citing Washington's military intervention, plundering of oil and food, as well as sanctions that throw Syria into long-term predicament.

The long-term illegal unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States on Syria have further exacerbated the latter's humanitarian disasters.

Alena Douhan, UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, said the unilateral coercive measures imposed on Syria have shocking impacts on human rights and humanitarianism.

In February this year, a heavy earthquake in the northwest of Syria caused massive casualties. It was under the pressure of global public opinion that the United States temporarily relaxed some sanctions on Syria 72 hours after the earthquake took place, which is considered the golden period for rescue. The unilateral sanctions by the United States have significantly weakened Syria in disaster response. Without heavy-duty equipment and searching devices, Syrian people had to dig in the ruins with bare hands, and many innocent civilians lost their lives because of insufficient rescue.

Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad condemned that U.S. sanctions have "made the disaster all the worse."

Today, when Syria has restored its AL membership and other Arab countries have agreed to help Syria get rid of crises, the United States has arbitrarily decided to extend its illegal unilateral sanctions on Syria.

It fully proves that the United States is still not willing to take its hegemonic hands off Syria, fully proves the hypocrisy of the United States in its commitment to safeguarding human rights, and fully proves that the United States places its hegemony above other countries sovereignty and human rights.

It is the Syrian people who own their future. The United States should put aside its geopolitical calculation, immediately lift its unilateral sanctions on Syria, immediately end its troops illegal occupation and plundering in Syria, and stop creating humanitarian disasters. It should practically obey the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, respect other countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity, and return human rights, wealth, freedom and dignity to the Syrian people.

(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 22nd annual Board of Healthcare Funders' (BHF) conference kicked off at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) today (15 May).

A stagnant medical-scheme growth environment, coupled with rampant inequality, the ever-rising high cost of care, and a system that is structurally skewed around profits rather than patient-centricity were just some of the sobering insights shared on this first day.

This years conference, themed: Convergence to a person-centric health ecosystem  leaving no health citizen behind, has seen the medical scheme industry turn the spotlight on itself in reflection; and the picture painted is dire.

The conference is one of the continents largest convenings in the healthcare ecosystem, this year bringing together 350 organisations that represent over 18 countries and with over 1,000 in-person delegates.

Providing an economic perspective on issues pervasive within the industry, Azar Jammine, director and chief economist of Econometrix explained: The proportion of society (South African) which is covered by medical aid has had the increase from 15.9% in 2002, to 16.1% in 2021. In other

words, hardly any change... the proportion of South Africans who are not covered has remained at 83.7% and we cannot carry on that way indefinitely.

Today, less than 10% of the Black population in the country has access to medical-aid cover, further entrenching inequality over racial lines. However, at the heart of patient coverage is also the patient journey  which too is often diminished in the way patients are treated within the ecosystem.

Breast-cancer survivor, Margo Riley provided a poignant account of her journey navigating her daunting journey through the industrys continuum of care over the past 12 years since her diagnosis.

Health professionals conduct criticised

Despite her acknowledged privilege of having access to quality diagnostic care and treatment  her despair at the often cold and dismissive care she experienced at both the levels of the health professionals conduct, and the frustration of the tiresome administrative processes, were evident.

...what am I paying a premium for? Am I just a policy number? God forbid anyone goes through this experience. Right now my monthly medical bill is R30,000... what do we do about the 84% of people who dont have medical aid? she said.

Having detailed her exhaustive experiences of being directed from pillar to post through faceless scheme case-management agents, she recounted that it was only nurses and one doctor in all the years who, treated me like a human.

When you have health, you have hope. And when you have hope, you have life. When you have life, you have everything, she declared, in a veiled challenge to the sector representatives present to increase accessibility to life-saving health services and improve patient treatment.

Dire need for regional access to medical treatment

This point was underscored heavily as well by award-winning political journalist and anti-corruption activist, Hopewell Chinono who spoke about Zimbabwes dire and failed health state to provide a regional perspective. Many Zimbabweans are dying because of a lack of access to treatment and diagnostics... it costs as much as $150 to see a physician... two state hospitals dont even have paracetamol to provide patients.

"There are no X-ray machines, no radiotherapy machines  and if you have cancer (in Zimbabwe) without this critical diagnostic equipment, you will die. Most Zimbabweans have a funeral policy over a medical aid as though they are just preparing to die.

He continued, There is only one working maternity theatre in the country. Every year, 2,500 women die giving birth in Zimbabwe and this has resulted in the mass exodus of local women who run to Messina Hospital in Musina (in Limpopo) out of fear. The post-colonial government has failed to create just one maternity theatre in all these years, and this has created some of the tensions we see between SA and Zim.

Rajesh Patel, BHF head of health systems strengthening said the following when reminding the medical-scheme industry that the business is meant to be patient-centric, The business of medical schemes is not simply that of a health short-term insurer and should not be mistaken for one. The business of medical schemes is to ensure the health of their beneficiaries. It is to protect, promote, maintain, and improve their health.

The conference continues until Wednesday.
The renowned Caravela Festival, brought to you by the Portuguese Forum of South Africa, returns to Gauteng from 2-4 June 2023, outdoors at Casa dos Poveiros, 177 Dayan Rd, Dayanglen, Boksburg.

Famous for its food, world class music and lifestyle events in 2017 and 2018, the Caravela Portuguese Festival promises another three days of unrivalled fun for the whole family. In keeping with the generous community spirit of Portuguese South Africans. This year, the festival will be supporting the SPCA Boksburg & Hospice.

Over the three days there will be star studded live concert performances from the likes of Prime Circle, Jesse Clegg, Karen Zoid, Lee Cole as well as Afrikaans superstars Riana Nel and Bobby van Jaarsveld whilst Mi Casa, Goodluck and DJ Luis Almeida will keep the dancefloor pumping well into the night. More artist information to follow.

American writer Victoria Moran once opined Enjoy your food, enjoy your life and thats exactly what you can expect at the Caravela Festival - a wide range of delectable and mouthwatering food awaits every palate including delicious prawns, espetada, chourico, grilled chicken and many other delicacies that only the Portuguese know how to cook! Youll be able to wash this down with the famous Caipirinha or tangy vinho verde.

Come paint the town red and green Portuguese style, and make a date with the Caravela Portuguese Festival from 2-4 June 2023. Bookings are now open at Computicket: www.bit.ly/CaravelaTickets2023.

Price: Friday: R120



Saturday: R180



Sunday: R160



Kids 6-12 yrs (all days): R60



Kids 0-5 yrs (all days): Free

Facebook: caravelafestival / Instagram: caravelaportuguesefestival
The International Youth Foundation (IYF) handed over a roadmap to the Department of Higher Education (DHET) in February this year, detailing the way forward in strengthening digital and IT in the PSET (Post-School Education and Training) System in South Africa.

Photo by Christina Morillo via www.pexels.com

The roadmap, which was developed after months of meticulous research identifies new models of how the IYF can further scale its influence in developing IT skills in the country and, more importantly, create more feasible job opportunities for students in the sector.

Funded by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation (MSDF), the research will be imperative in providing DHET with viable solutions for expanding, strengthening, and streamlining digital and IT education and funding in the PSET System.

IYF SA country director, Anusha Naicker, highlighted how the research findings would allow the countrys PSET Systems and students to keep up with the accelerated speed of global technological innovation, providing them with the opportunity for more meaningful and sustainable employment in the sector.

The research, conducted by JET Education Services under the direction of the IYF, was officially handed over by Naicker to DHETs chief director of TVET Programmes and Qualifications, Aruna Singh.

4IR is not just about technology

Singh made the important distinction that 4IR is more than just technology-driven change; it is an opportunity to help everyone, including leaders, policy-makers and people from all income groups and nations. Speaking on the significance of the research conducted, Singh reaffirmed that it is integral to understand that the digital revolution is intrinsically connected to unemployment, education and job creation in South Africa.

DHET Deputy Minister, David Modiba, noted the knock-on effect the implementation of this research could have, highlighting how a strengthened ICT sector would undoubtedly benefit South Africas economy, positioning the country as a competitive force in the industry.

The IYF has worked closely with TVETs and other tertiary institutions for many years, and this is just another important step in the foundations quest to strengthen the PSET system and create more sustainable avenues of employment for graduates. Most notably, the IYFs Skills for Success programme, in collaboration with Google.org, is giving students across Africa the opportunity to complete the Internationally recognised Google Professional Career Certificates. Singh highlighted the efficacy of this project noting that since the projects inception in 2021, over 600 students have successfully graduated with about 70% of graduates securing employment.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is not a constant. Instead, it is constantly evolving. At the rate of global technological and digital development, the overall employment landscape is set to change drastically year by year. According to the World Economic Forum, 65% of children entering primary school today will end up working in completely new jobs that don't exist yet. The research handed over not only outlines a practical way forward, but prepares the existing landscape for continued radical change in the ICT sector.

While MICT SETA already plays a pivotal role in funding 4IR initiatives, the new roadmap details how the IYF, DHET and TVETs can better leverage off the entitys funding processes in order to ensure financial feasibility for both students and the colleges themselves. In the months following the handover, IYF and its partners are already in the process of securing funding to execute the models suggested, and value the continued support of SETAs in ensuring the model becomes a reality.

Ultimately, the research conducted will allow the IYF to better leverage its existing partnerships, secure mutually aligned collaborators, and action the necessary logistical and economic processes that will contribute to strengthening South Africas Digital and IT sector.
Eskom has welcomed the arrest of a former short-term contract employee stationed at Tutuka Power Station on allegations for fraud and corruption. This is in relation to colluding with employees and a supplier.

Image source: Kindel Media  123RF.com

Zandile Rosemary Ngcobo appeared in court alongside co-accused Jessie Phindile Kubeka, who is a shareholder of an Eskom supplier company called Mnandi (Pty) Ltd; Eskom employees Sarah Nomsa Sibiya (senior technician: operating) and Bhekizizwe Solomon Twala (senior store person), who are all facing the same charges at the Middleburg Commercial Crime Court.

These arrests continue to demonstrate Eskoms pursuit to ensure that perpetrators face the full might of the law and zero tolerance towards crime, Eskom said on Saturday.

Ngcobo, who was employed as a procurement officer, first appeared before the Standerton Magistrate Court on Wednesday and was granted bail of R5,000.

She appeared again alongside co-accused on Thursday. They will appear again in the Middleburg Commercial Court on 8 June 2023.

The accused allegedly colluded with two Eskom employees and a supplier in purchasing a shipping container at an inflated price of R939,550. The container was delivered on site, however, it did not meet the specifications and was only valued at R20,000. As a result, Eskom suffered a loss of R919,550.

Eskom will continue to provide the required support to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to ensure that the suspects are successfully prosecuted and that a stiff sanction is meted out as a favourable outcome that will serve to deter other would-be offenders, the power utility said.

Eskom has urged the public to report information regarding theft of coal, fuel oil, diesel, infrastructure and fraudulent acts to the Eskom Crime Line: 0800 11 27 22.
Gold miner AngloGold Ashanti will move its primary listing to New York from Johannesburg in a bid to access a deeper pool of investors and reduce risks associated with South Africa, it said on Friday, 12 May.

The company has shifted its focus to more lucrative mines in Ghana, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as Australia and the Americas as mining in South Africa becomes more difficult and costly due to geological challenges posed by mining some of the world's deepest gold deposits.

AngloGold, whose forerunner was founded by industrialist Ernest Oppenheimmer a century ago, completed the sale of its South African mines in 2020. The company will also move its corporate base to the United Kingdom, but will maintain the South African office.

"There are strategic reasons why we did this. By far the largest pool of gold capital is in the US and it was clear that a secondary listing incorporating South Africa was restricting access to that pool of capital," CEO Alberto Calderon told Reuters in an interview.

He added that two-thirds of AngloGold stock volumes were already being traded in New York, where the company has listed depository receipts.

Development of greenfield projects

"We have outgrown South Africa," he said, adding that a primary listing in the United States was aligned to its development of four greenfield projects in Nevada, which will take AngloGold's annual output close to 3 million ounces.

Calderon said rating agencies linked AngloGold's credit rating to that of South Africa, which is struggling with severe power cuts that are souring investor sentiment in Africa's most industrialised economy.

Shares in Anglogold, which plans to keep a secondary listing in Johannesburg and another in Ghana, were down 5.8%, with analysts citing disappointment with its first-quarter results reported earlier and outlook for 2024, which shows marginal growth on 2023.

"The fall in share price today, in my opinion, is primarily being driven by the weaker operational data for Q1/23 and 2024 outlook," said BMO analyst Raj Ray, adding the guidance for next year was "lighter on production and higher on costs".

Shareholders to vote on planned move

The plan to move the primary listing will be put to a shareholders' vote and requires at least 75% support from investors, Calderon said on a conference call.

Responding to Reuters questions, state-owned asset manager Public Investment Corporation (PIC), which is AngolGold's single largest shareholder with a 15.73% stake, said investors "will continue to be able to invest locally". It did not directly answer queries on whether it will vote for the move.

Arnold Van Graan, analyst at Nedbank Group, said the move was unlikely to lead to an immediate re-rating of AngloGold's valuation.

"This move should, however, benefit the company in the longer term if its full asset potential initiative delivers operational improvements and the company continues to meet its operational and cost guidance," Van Graan said in a note to clients.
It is easy to cynically regard Mother's Day as an invented holiday and a capitalist way of getting the sentimental and the gullible to part with their money.

A mother is suprised by her son for Mother's Day.

It is all thatbut it is also an opportunity to celebrate the people who really hold society together and for families to reconnect across the miles and even the oceans.

Loving phone call

I was reading somewhere that when surveyed, most mothers were not really interested in gifts on Mothers Day. Most of them wanted some real me time, to be able to relax from the everyday grind of running a household (go on  tell me how many men run homes..) and raising kids.

Even more important, for those mums whose kids are living or working far away, the greatest gift is simply to chat to them. It was thus in our house over the weekend, when the phone calls from Cardiff and Oxford made up for the lazy husband who was, in any event, working

Our daughter and son often send us gifts ordered online from South African outlets  obviating the risk of having a precious item bought overseas stolen somewhere on its route to, or in, South Africa. We do likewise with them on occasions like birthdays, when excellent sites in the UK  the ones which accept SA debit cards, that is  can deliver presents within days.

That is the thinking behind the Checkers Sixty60 ad for Mothers Day, which I initially missed but then had to look up because so many women on social media were praising it.

Full experience

The reason for that is plain to see: The ad gets the emotion in the bond between child and mother exactly right.

We see three women sitting in a plain room in Cape Town , obviously unaware why they have been summoned. Their faces transform into joy as they are given phones and connected to their kids far away  from Sydney in Australia to Joburg in Gauteng.

They are all video calls, so the mums get the full experience. And then, to emphasise the love, each one is given a gift bag from Checkers Sixty60, obviously ordered from them by their children.

The reactions, because they are unscripted, are priceless.

Its a great ad because it is sentimental without being over the top and it makes the point that you dont only have to use Checkers Sixty60 to get groceries for yourself; you can use it to send someone else a little special giftand have it delivered within 60 minutes.

Apart from putting out the call to action message for Mothers Day, the ad also further burnishes Sixty60s reputation as the go-to quick grocery delivery service. Checkers really does own that space  partly because it offers good service and partly because it doesnt stint on marketing and advertising.

Orchids to Checkers Sixty60, it agency 99c and Juan Visser from Human Studio, who directed the spot.

Lets move with the times

Staying on the subject of Mothers Day, it is plain that mothers just want a day off and a lazy man like me basically ignored that using the mans old excuse to his wife: Well, youre not my mother.

My shortcomings as a husband notwithstanding and, at the risk of sounding hypocritical, I dont think it is particularly clever for any brand  even one specialising in kitchen appliances  to remind a mum that she should be slaving over a hot stove.

Yet, that is what Defy chose to do.

Its Mothers Day execution features a mother and her child getting together to bake a special cake for her mother and the kids granny. In other words, what happens every single day in most houses.

How much better it would have been to show the Defy high-tech stove standing idle while Dad takes everyone out for lunchor even with Dad himself using the Defy recipe to produce a stunningly surprising cake for his wife and her mother. Opportunity lost.

So, Defy, you get an Onion for not breaking the mould and, even unintentionally, reinforcing the belief that a womans place is in the kitchen.
Veteran journalist and anti-apartheid activist Enoch Duma and young community journalist Athule Mazulu died last week.

The South African National Editors forum (Sanef) said in a statement that Duma died after a long illness at the age of 88.

Stalwart

Veteran journalist, Ike Segola, described Duma as a stalwart of black journalism in this country. He said Duma was among a band of trailblazing black journalists of the bygone years who truly put a stamp on the ability of black newsmen - who operated under overwhelming odds.

Duma can be remembered as one of the pioneers in the former The World and The Golden City Post. He was among the first black journalists to work for the newly launched Rand Daily Mail Extra and later The Sunday Times Extra editions. His reports always featured prominently in these papers, said Segola.

Duma, the son of a Baptist minister, born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, worked his way from reporting the courts in his hometown to working on a national newspaper. He started working for The Post in Durban and later moved to join the City Post in Johannesburg where he focused on crime reporting, especially the plague of gangsterism in the city.

Approachable and gifted

Thami Mazwai, a researcher on small business, a former newspaper editor, and an anti-apartheid activist said he remembered Duma as a very approachable senior journalist who always guided young journalists like himself most of the time. He was one of the gifted and graphic writers. The youth of today should look up to him for his role in journalism, he said.

Duma worked with legendary writers such as Can Themba, Henry Nxumalo, Nat Nakasa, Doc Bikitsha, Casey Motsisi, Joe Thloloe, Phil Mthimkhulu, Jubi Mayet, Sophie Tema, Nomavenda Mathiane, Stanley Motjuwadi, Benjamin Pogrund, Patrick Mackenzie and many other celebrated journalists.

He was arrested numerous times and ended up spending nine months in prison. He went into exile in the United States with his wife, Kitty. He was a prime mover in the divestment campaign  encouraging US firms to pull out of South Africa  that helped usher in the end of apartheid.

Hard worker

Sanef said it is also distraught to hear of the passing on of a young community Cape TV journalist, Athule Mazulu, at the young age of 32.

According to her sister Zintle, she was taken to a hospital complaining about stomach pain. On Monday they took her to Tygerberg hospital, she passed away on Wednesday.

She was a mother to us as we grew up without parents, she was a hard worker, said Zintle.

Siphiwo Nkonki, news manager for Cape Town Daily News said: The Cape Town Daily News team and Cape Town TV are devastated by the loss of someone so young with so much life and living ahead of her. May her soul rest in peace.
Note: Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigan gave this live video address to the Founding Congress of the International Movement of Russophiles on March 14th, 2023. Vigano called for an international anti-globalist alliance to stop the Davos lobby and the World Economic Forum crowd.

Dear Friends, it gives me great joy to be able to address a brief message to you on the occasion of the establishment of the International Movement of Russophiles. The Manifesto of this association begins with a word that seems to have disappeared from Western vocabulary: friendship. In this case, it is friendship for the Russian people, shared by so many people throughout the world, and the friendship of the Russian people towards other peoples, in that spirit of brotherhood which finds its foundation in recognizing ourselves as children of the one Eternal Father and as brothers and sisters in Our Lord Jesus Christ.

When the Western Roman Empire lost its political role under the pressure of the barbarian invasions, the baton passed to Constantinople. And when the Eastern Roman Empire also fell with the conquest of Byzantium by Mahomet II, it was Moscow that saved its religious and political legacy, with its Saints and Holy Kings. The present crisis shows us the collapse of a corrupt West, in which there is no Pope Leo the Great to save its fate, but which still has a destiny, if it can recover its providential mission and recognizes what unites it to the mission of Russia.

Recent events have shown us that the materialist atheism that devastated the Russian Empire and the world since 1917  as the Most Blessed Virgin Mary announced at Fatima  has today joined liberalism in the globalist ideology which underlies the delirious project of the New World Order. An infernal project, as President Vladimir Putin rightly pointed out in a recent speech, in which hatred for Christian civilization wants to create a society of slaves subservient to the Davos elite. A dystopian society, without past and without future, without faith and without ideals, without culture and without art, without fathers and mothers, without family and spirituality, without teachers and spiritual guides, without either respect for the elderly or hopes for our children.

We cannot be surprised that, after de-Christianizing the Western world, this elite considers Russia an enemy to be overthrown. The Russian Federation undeniably stands as the last bastion of civilization against barbarism, and gathers around it all those nations that do not intend to submit to the colonization of NATO, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and that heap of foundations that have as their purpose the indoctrination of the masses, the manipulation of information, the creation of colored springs to destabilize governments legitimately elected and sow chaos, wars and misery as instrumentum regni. The recent pandemic farce  conducted with criminal methods that I have not hesitated to denounce since the beginning of 2020  has been followed by new emergencies  including the Ukrainian crisis  deliberately provoked with the aim of destroying the social and economic fabric of nations, decimating the world population, concentrating control in the hands of an oligarchy that no one has elected and that has perpetrated a real world coup detat, for which sooner or later it will be called to answer before the world.

The theorists of this coup have names and faces, starting with George Soros, Klaus Schwab, and Bill Gates. Those who today declare that Russia is an enemy consider Europeans, Americans, Australians and Canadians as enemies and treat them as such, persecuting and impoverishing them. But while World Economic Forum emissaries in Western governments can legislate against the good of their own citizens and hold world leaders in the palm of their hands, regime change that has been successful in other nations has stopped at Russias borders. On the other hand, the electoral fraud of 2020 in the United States of America was also indispensable to prevent the confirmation of President Donald Trump, just as in 2013 the deep state and the deep church managed to get Pope Benedict XVI to resign and to elect a person pleasing to the New World Order, the Jesuit Jorge Mario Bergoglio.

Your commitment must certainly promote Russias friendly relations with all peoples, according to that principle of multipolarity which, in a wise long-term political vision, is the best way to combat globalist monopolarity. But this friendship, these relations of concord and mutual cooperation, cannot disregard the denunciation of the coup detat perpetrated against humanity by dangerous subversives whose declared purpose is the establishment of an infernal tyranny, in which hatred of God as well as hatred of man created in His image, as well as illness, death, ignorance, poverty, violence, selfishness, and corruption reign supreme. It is the kingdom of the Antichrist.

This Leviathan must be identified and combated, with an action that involves all free peoples, first of all by rejecting the programmatic points of the Agenda 2030 and the Great Reset with shared initiatives. We need an Anti-Globalist Alliance that returns to citizens the power that has been taken from them, and to nations the sovereignty eroded and ceded to the Davos lobby. The Russian Federation will play a decisive role in this effort, as will the message that the International Movement of Russophiles will bring to the peoples of the West, which needs to return to being proud of its Faith and proud of the civilization to which Saints Cyril and Methodius also contributed.

We are fighting an epochal battle: we shall remain under the mantle of the Most Blessed Virgin, the glorious Nikopeia, together with the Archangel St. Michael. The victory belongs to Christ, and to those who choose to align themselves under the holy banner of the Cross.
A new journey on the Niobrara National Scenic River

A desire to make a difference, a love for the outdoors and little help from her mentors helped Kate Danziger 23 find her dream job.

Photo/Dan Holmes Kate Danziger '23 poses in her element in the Charles River.

A desire to make a difference, a love for the outdoors and little help from her mentors helped Kate Danziger 23 find her first job after graduating from Brandeis  working for the National Park Service at the Niobrara National Scenic River in Valentine, Nebraska. Shell be working as a biological science technician, collecting water quality samples, surveying endangered species, and assisting with other research monitoring throughout the rivers system.

When she first arrived at Brandeis, Danziger chose to major in e nvironmental studies because of her distress around climate change, but she also felt overwhelmed and unsure of how to make her own impact.

I felt like I couldnt just sit there and do nothing, said Danziger. The best way to get over the anxiety for me was to get involved.

Danziger dedicated her time to learning as much as she could, taking as many environmental studies courses as she could, working as a teachers assistant, and applying to internships outside of the classroom. After taking Ecology and Conservation Biology with professor Colleen Hitchcock, Danziger decided to pursue an internship in field work.

She spent the summer of her junior year participating in a World of Work Fellowship at EarthWise Aware, a conservation-based nonprofit organization in Somerville, Massachusetts. It was here that she realized she could find a career that brought her outdoors. She spent the summer studying phenology, the annual cycles of plants and animals, and entomology, the study of insects.

I have always loved being outdoors, said Danziger. I grew up spending a lot of time in nature, running, biking, hiking, and taking pictures. I knew this was what I wanted to do after I learned how much time I could spend outdoors.

Danziger continued to work at EarthWise Aware throughout her senior year, analyzing the impact of climate change on the phenology of oaks and the arthropod (insect) communities living inside of them. Under the mentorship of Hitchcock and Claire ONeill, president of EarthWise Aware, she was able to apply her field work to her senior thesis project.

As Commencement approached, Danziger found herself going back and forth with the choices for her future. With some help from professor Hitchcock, she was able to narrow down her choices. Professor Hitchcock sent me job postings whenever she saw roles that seemed like a good fit, she said. She was super helpful in guiding me through it all.

After applying to more than 45 positions, she found her unique role in Valentine, Nebraska. Shell begin her position as a biological science technician this summer. With the field work experience from her internship and skills learned within her Brandeis courses, shes confident in her ability to take on this role.

It was so cool to see that I was really wanted somewhere, said Danziger. [The hiring manager] offered me the job on the spot, so I called professor Hitchcock to get her opinion on it. I knew in my gut that it would be the right fit for me.

With her experiences at Brandeis enabling her to find her first job, Danziger is ready to grow her skills. Im excited and ready to learn new things, she said. My advice to environmental studies majors at Brandeis is to take as many classes on different topics and in different areas as you can while you're here. Experiment. If you really go for it you can find where your passion is.
Emily Maitlis has said she will run a million miles away when the Netflix film adaptation of her Newsnight interview with Britain's Prince Andrew is released.

The journalist, who grilled Andrew over his relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, will be played by Sex Education star Gillian Anderson in the dramatic retelling of the explosive interview.

The Man In The High Castle actor Rufus Sewell will appear as Andrew.

Gillian Anderson will play Emily Maitlis (Ian West/PA)

Arriving on the red carpet at the Bafta TV awards, Maitlis told the PA news agency it was highly exciting and very weird that the interview was being dramatised.

She added: Ive been completely hands-off actually and I think its better that way because if I was the actress, Id slightly want to have my own space to interpret it as I saw fit.

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I know that there must be a difficulty with playing real, living people and so Ive just sort of stepped back from it and said, This is the Netflix film of that, its not my life and its not me. Its whatever Gillian does with it.

And I think Gillian is just a fantastic actress and I think shes amazing, so Im very happy to be completely hands-off and just allow her space to do something fabulous.

Rufus Sewell will play the Duke of York (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Asked if she would watch the film as soon as it was released, she replied: No, I think I will run a million miles away.

Following the Newsnight broadcast in November 2019 and the furore over Andrews friendship with Epstein, the duke stepped down from public life.

Maitlis has already served as an executive producer of a Channel 4 documentary about the interview.

Asked how she felt about the interview following her for the rest of her career, she replied: I feel incredibly grateful that it all came together in the way it did for that interview. And if it follows me, you know, there are worse things to live with.
Kate Winslet has called on the people in power to criminalise harmful content as she picked up the leading actress gong at the Bafta TV awards.

The Oscar-winning actress, 47, starred alongside her daughter Mia Threapleton in I Am Ruth which chronicles the relationship between a mother and child who is dealing with mental health pressures coming from the online world.

On Sunday, Winslet told the ceremony: I Am Ruth was made for parents and their children, for families who feel that they are held hostage by the perils of the online world, for parents who wish they could still communicate with their teenagers, but who no longer can.

And for young people who have become addicted to social media and its darker sides, this does not need to be your life to people in power, and to people who can make change, please, criminalise harmful content.

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Please eradicate harmful content, we dont want it.

"If I could cut this in half, I would give the other half to my daughter" 



Kate Winslet accepts her Leading Actress BAFTA!#BAFTATVAwards with @pandocruises pic.twitter.com/x3tWx9k5Pw  BAFTA (@BAFTA) May 14, 2023

We want our children back.

We dont want to lie awake, terrified, by our childrens mental health and to any young person who might be listening, who feels that they are trapped in an unhealthy world.

Please ask for help.

There is no shame in admitting that you need support.

It will be there just ask for it.

Her comments came as the House of Lords continued its scrutiny of the Online Safety Bill, which aims to tackle illegal and harmful content online.

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Winslet stars as Ruth, a concerned mother who witnesses her teenage daughter Freya, played by 22-year-old Threapleton, retreating into herself as she becomes more consumed by the pressures of social media in the two-hour programme.

It is an instalment of the female-led drama anthology series I Am, created by filmmaker Dominic Savage, which also picked up a Bafta on the night for the programme with Winslet.

Each of the films followed the experience of women in particularly raw, thought-provoking and personal moments.
Sinn Fein TD for the Dublin Bay South constituency has said that the protests in Sandwith Street at the weekend had no place in society and had dismayed the people of the area who felt such actions did not represent them.

The area where the belongings and tents of asylum seekers were set on fire was a forgotten and neglected community. Mr Andrews told RTE radios News at One.

The accommodation standards in nearby apartment blocks were completely unacceptable and had been earmarked for regeneration for five years. How much neglect can one community put up with? he asked.

The Government needed to get the finger out to ensure that people had access to decent conditions.

While everyone had the right to protest, doing so outside anyones home, even if it was a tent, was not right, he said.

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It was unacceptable that asylum seekers had been left to fend for themselves. Nobody should have to live in a tent especially while buildings like the former Baggot Street hospital and Jurys hotel, which are in the same constituency, were lying derelict.

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Talking about accommodation flotillas  thats madness.

Without doubt extreme right wing groups had been involved in the protests at the weekend, said Mr Andrews. Such groups were on the rise in parallel with the neglect of inner city communities, he warned.

The Government needs to invest in communities.

The responsibility for what was happening lay with those in Government, he said. The Gardai had to pick up from the Governments mess. The people in the area felt that the gardai had done a good job professionally in a difficult situation.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed appeals brought against a 94,000 damages award made to a Ryanair cabin supervisor who slipped on greasy de-icing fluid trekked into one of the airline's planes by passengers.

Ryanair DAC had claimed as part of its appeal against a High Court decision that it was prejudiced by what it claimed were constant interjections by the judge, Mr Justice Alexander Owens, during the hearing of the action.

Fiona Nangle (41), Latt Hills, Cavan, successfully sued Ryanair over the accident when she fell on the vinyl floor surface in the forward cabin section shortly after take-off of a Dublin-Warsaw bound flight on February 11th 2018.

As a result of the fall, she claimed she suffered a spiral fracture to her right humerus, required surgery, was incapacitated for a number of months and needed assistance in daily tasks like looking after her children.

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Ryanair denied her claims and argued she did not slip on de-icing fluid but had tripped.

In his judgement last year Mr Justice Owens found against the airline and awarded Ms Nangle a total of 70,000 general damages and 24,000 in special damages.

The airline appealed against that decision on liability, and the quantum of damages awarded to the Court of Appeal.

Its appeal was brought on grounds including that during the hearing Mr Justice Owens interjected excessively to the prejudice of the airline.

It also cubmiitted that the judge was wrong to rule out the evidence about DAA cleaning up operations and the associated cross-examination or to accept the evidence of the plaintiffs expert over that of the defendant.

Ryanair also claimed that there was no evidence that there was de-icing fluid on the floor of the aircraft, and the judge was wrong to conclude that the plaintiff needed to be reminded of the hazard from de-icing fluid.

In her cross-appeal Ms Nangle argued that the quantum of general damages was inadequate.

She also claimed that the defendants duty was incorrectly found by the High Court to be limited to issuing a warning to staff of the risks of de-icing fluid being tracked onto aircraft.

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The plaintiff also argued in her cross appeal that Mr Justice Owens had erred by failing to determine that the defendant owed a duty to the plaintiff to take appropriate steps to address the hazard.

In its decision the CoA comprised of Mr Justice Seamus Noonan, Mr Justice Robert Haughton and Mr Justice Senan Allen dismissed all grounds of both appeals. and upheld the High Court's findings.

Giving the court's decision Mr Justice Noonan said the CoA could not see where the trial judge had erred.

The judge said that Ryanair had claimed that it was prejudiced in its defence of the proceedings by virtue of an unreasonable and excessive number of interjections by the trial judge.

The authority relied upon related to criminal case heard in the UK which suggests that a judge should refrain from excessive questioning which could give the impression to a jury that the judge does not believe what the particular witness is saying when that is solely and exclusively a matter for the jury.

Mr Justice Noonan said It was "difficult to see how that can have any relevance to a civil trial before a judge sitting alone."

Ryanair appeal

The judge said that he had "difficulty in comprehending" this ground of Ryanair's appeal.

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"It is certainly true that the judge in this case was very proactive and asked a lot of questions of witnesses, all of which were clearly designed to enhance his own understanding of the evidence."

However, at no stage was Ryanair's counsel "precluded from asking any question he wished to ask", and more tellingly, counsel was unable to point to any particular prejudice to the defendant said to have arisen from the interventions of the judge."

He added that no objection was taken during the trial to the judges interventions.

It was clear that the judge reflected carefully on the transcript of the evidence after the hearing before giving his considered judgment.

"In conducting a trial of this nature, judges ought not be expected to stay mute and maintain a lofty silence." Mr Justice Noonan said adding that lawyers often say they would "far prefer an interactive judge to one who is inscrutable."

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Mr Justice Noonan added that having read the transcript and the CoA was satisfied that while the judge asked many questions of the witnesses on both sides, he was scrupulously fair in doing so and both sides were entirely uninhibited in the manner in which they were permitted to present their cases as they wished.

In respect of the issue of quantum Mr Justice Noonan said that nothing in his view had been advanced by either side in this appeal to suggest that the High Court erred in awarding the plaintiff 70,000 in general damages.

After dismissing the appeals Mr Justice Noonan said that Ms Nangle was entitled to her legal costs of Ryanair's appeal.

The Judge said the CoA was making no order as to costs in the cross-appeal.




By Kim Se-jeong







A funeral was held on Sunday for an eight-year-old boy killed by a bus in front of his school in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, last week.







The vehicle carrying his body was flanked by almost 300 people  school friends and parents  when it stopped by the school during the funeral procession. They waved white handkerchiefs at the vehicle as a show of grief. The parents couldn't stop crying during the funeral.







The incident happened on May 10 when a city bus struck Cho Eun-gyeol at a crosswalk in front of the school. The boy had right of way as the crosswalk signal was green, and the bus drove through to make an

reportedly without seeing the boy.







The driver was apprehended immediately. Police tested him but they didn't find any alcohol in his blood.







Under the current law, violators of school zone traffic regulations can face up to life imprisonment if they kill a pedestrian.







Separately, the victim's father filed an online petition to the National Assembly, calling for additional school zone regulations to prevent additional deaths from happening.






The High Court has approved a Personal Insolvency Arrangement (PIA) which allows a Galway-based secretary to write-off approximately 3.6 million of debt she owes to financial institutions.

Under the terms of the PIA approved on Monday by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, 59-year-old Winifred Swaine will retain her home at Athena Lodge, Knocknacarra Lodge, Salthill in Co Galway.

The court heard Ms Swaine, who works as a secretary at the solicitor's firm owned by her estranged husband, had total secured and unsecured debts of over 4.16 million.

Her financial difficulties stem from the collapse of the property market some years ago and her creditors include Bank of Ireland, Pepper Finance, Everyday Finance and Mars Capital.

Arising out of her insolvency she obtained the services of a Personal Insolvency Practioner Mr Tom Murray of Friel Stafford, who formulated a PIA with her various creditors.

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At the High Court on Monday, barrister Keith Farry Bl for the PIP told the court that Ms Swaine's creditors would fare better under the proposed PIA, which is to be six months in duration, compared to if she was adjudicated a bankrupt.

Counsel said 404,000 remains due to Mars Captial on the mortgage of her home, worth an estimated 530,000.

Counsel said, under the PIA, Ms Swaine's former husband will contribute 200,000 in a lump sum payment to Mars Captial in respect of the mortgage.

Over the next 10 years, Ms Swaine, with the assistance of her husband, will continue to service and make repayments on the remaining 204,000 due on the mortgage, until that loan is repaid in full counsel added.

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Counsel said Everyday Finance held a second charge on part of Ms Swaine's home. It was owed 1.81 million by Ms Swaine and held a 15 per cent share in the property.

Under the PIA, Ms Swaine's former husband will also contribute a further 72,000 in a lump sum payment to Everyday Finance, which will then remove the charge it holds on part of Ms Swaine's home. The remainder of what is owed to Everyday will be treated as unsecured debt, counsel said.

Counsel said Ms Swaine will also provide a lump sum of 9,150 to cover her PIP fees and as a dividend to her unsecured creditors who are owed just over 3.6 million.

In approving the PIA, which will allow Ms Swaine to return to solvency, Mr Justice Owens said that he was satisfied that the necessary criteria had been met.
The Government has said emergency accommodation for most of the 500 asylum seekers who are currently without a place to live  some of whom are living in tents in Dublin city centre  will be provided in the coming days.

Minister for Integration Roderic OGorman said on Monday that a significant offer of accommodation will be made to 480 international asylum applicants who at present have no housing.

The move comes after a small group of homeless foreign nationals were forced to leave a makeshift camp of tents in Dublin 2. On Friday night, a line of gardai stood between anti immigration protesters and an opposing group who had gathered in support of the refugees. Some time after the two-hour stand-off had ended, emergency services were alerted to a fire at the site.

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The Government has been under major pressure to accommodate more than 60,000 Ukrainian refugees who fled to the Republic since the Russian invasion of Ukraine last February, as well as 20,000 asylum seekers from other countries.

The surge in the numbers of refugees and asylum seekers have put huge strain on the States ability to accommodate those seeking shelter, with hotels and tourist accommodation heavily relied upon to meet the demand.

Speaking on RTEs Morning Ireland, Mr OGorman said that a couple of hundred beds came online last Friday and that in the next few weeks more offers will be made.

The Minister said that no matter how robust the system was, the pressures of the past year had put a strain on the system, which he acknowledged was not working as it should. At the beginning of 2022 there were 8,500 people requiring assistance, there were now 84,000, he said.

We are looking at all the options, he added.

Mr OGorman said 5,000 additional beds had been provided within the system in the past year, 2,500 of which were for people who had already been in the system in hotel rooms where the contracts had ended.

It is a difficult situation, we are bringing more accommodation online.

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Mr OGorman and the Minister for Justice, Simon Harris, will be meeting with An Garda Siochana this week to discuss a response to escalating protests by the far right. While there was a right to protest there was no right to intimidate, he said.

When asked when and if he would direct the Dublin Regional Housing Executive to provide services to international asylum applicants, Mr OGorman said he and his department would continue to engage with the Executive about providing night services.

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Modular homes for displaced Ukrainian people would begin to come on stream in June, with 300 of the planned 700 completed by the end of the summer, he said. Work on the remaining 400 was continuing with the OPW. There were seven sites where work was under way and a further 11 sites had been identified by local authorities, working with the Department of Housing with the OPW to undertake the construction.

Responding to a question about the establishment of a specific agency to coordinate accommodation for displaced persons, Mr OGorman said he agreed there should be such an agency and the Cabinet was looking at how such an agency would operate and under which Government departments remit.

This was a medium to long term project, he said.

There were increased migration trends across Europe and Ireland needed to put in place the infrastructure to deal with the issue, he said.
A lack of resources and training means gardai are not equipped to deal with situations like the attacks on asylum seekers in Dublin at the weekend, the president of the Garda Representative Association has warned.

On Saturday public order gardai responded to an anti-migrant protest outside the International Protection Office in Dublin  a day after a migrant camp was dismantled and set alight.

Brendan OConnor told RTEs Today with Claire Byrne that the level of preparedness and resources available when there is a problem is putting additional stress on the force.

He said better plans and better resources should be developed because the current lack of preparedness was due to underinvestment and under training.

An Garda Siochana has a fundamental obligation to protect life and property, he said. Every person was equal in the eyes of the law, and officers had a duty to protect and investigate any incidents regardless of the circumstances.

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Ireland Gardai on high alert for further violent protests... Read More

However, Mr O'Connor said the public order unit, which should be called to police events like the protest at the weekend, was under-resourced and needs time to scramble to respond. There was also the issue of the lack of training. He said policing was all about being prepared for the unexpected, but the force at present did not have the capacity to do that.

Mr OConnor said every garda should be aware of changes to the situation with immigrants, that they should be better informed on what to expect.

Were being told heres a new situation, go out and do your best, thats not good enough. We need better resources and training.

When asked about the possibility of copy cat attacks, Mr OConnor said there was always the danger of repeat incidents. An Garda Siochana needed to have a level of preparedness should such an incident occur, he said.
There are "glaring inconsistencies" in the different approaches by Government departments to using artificial intelligence (AI), Fine Gael TD Ciaran Cannon has said.

Mr Cannon asked all Government departments about their use of AI and ChatGPT and from the responses received, he said it is clear that there is no consistency from different departments.

Both the Transport and Agriculture departments confirmed their use of ChatGPT to Mr Cannon.

"From the answers I've received from all government departments, it's apparent that there's a complete inconsistency in regulating and monitoring the use of ChatGPT, he said.

Some departments have already banned the use of the platform, some haven't. Some are awaiting advice from the National Cyber Security Centre and others have already used ChatGPT on a trial basis without any solid expert guidance being in place.

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"In light of this, and what we've seen happening with one national newspaper over the weekend, I'm calling for a complete ban on the use of ChatGPT across all government departments as and from today, until such time as the NCSC has had time to assess all of the implications of using the platform and has issued the appropriate expert guidance."

Mr Cannon sais he asked the parliamentary question because he believes there may be national security issues "arising from the use of ChatGPT",

Right now we have no idea where that data, some of which could be highly sensitive, is ending up and who exactly has access to it.

I'm not suggesting for a moment that we need to permanently ban the use of ChatGPT and other AI platforms which may emerge in the coming years, in fact I've always been a strong advocate of the use of technology to improve outcomes. I readily acknowledge that in a few years time, AI will form a major part of the technology platform used by all governments, but right now we're flying blind."

He added: It's not safe to have this inconsistency of approach. It's not fair to our officials to expose them to this technology without having the support of expert guidance. With all of the expertise available to us in Ireland as a global digital hub, there's every reason why our Government should lead the way in using this technology safely and effectively."
A man caught spying on a woman in a toilet cubicle during an "unpleasant experience" at a Burger King in Dublin has been spared jail.

Joseph Locke (36), of Myra Close, Emmet Road, Dublin 8, was fined 200 after he pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to offensive conduct of a sexual nature in connection with the incident at the fast-food restaurant on Lower Connell Street on September 14th, 2022.

Court Sergeant Maire McDevitt outlined the evidence on behalf of the investigating garda. She said gardai received a call at 9.40pm that the defendant had entered the female toilets and "interacted with a female using the other cubicle".

The woman did not have to come to court to testify due to the guilty plea. However, she had told gardai that Locke had "proceeded to peer over into her toilet".

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CCTV footage confirmed he had gone into the toilets. However, when questioned by gardai, Locke claimed he did not know it was the female toilets.

He had 13 prior convictions but none of a similar nature. All were public order and "drink-related" offences.

Pleading for leniency, defence counsel Kevin McCrave said his client had an alcohol problem. He had been intoxicant-free for about nine months but relapsed after learning the identity of his biological father and that he had died a few years earlier, he told the court.

A family member and a support worker from a homeless centre where Locke lives accompanied him to the hearing.

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Counsel said his client has mild to moderate intellectual difficulties and was also on medication for anxiety. Efforts are being made to find him a permanent residence and cognitive behaviour therapy, the court heard.

He asked the judge to note Locke had no history of this type of crime, which, at District Court-level carries a potential six-month sentence.

Judge Smyth described the matter as a "very unpleasant experience for the lady in the adjoining cubicle," but noted the difficulties Locke had been facing.

The judge gave him five months to pay the fine.
A father-of-two who was a teenager when he repeatedly sexually assaulted a young boy has been jailed for 18 months.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to six counts of sexual assault on dates between September 2007 and July 2010 at a number of locations in Co Wicklow.

Paul Greene SC, prosecuting, told Justice Karen O'Connor that the defendant was a friend of the victim's family and would sometimes take the younger boy out in his car.

The offender was aged 17 when he first sexually assaulted the then 14-year-old victim by masturbating the victim and getting the child to masturbate him, a garda witness told Mr Greene.

The victim told the older boy that he didn't want to do this, and he made his feelings clear, the court heard.

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The victim was aged 15 when the offending escalated to the offender getting the child to perform oral sex on him. The victim said he didn't want to do this and made his feelings clear.

When the victim went to gardai in 2018, he told them that the abuse went on for just short of three years and occurred around 200 times. The offender was aged up to 20 for some of the offending.

Victim impact report

In his victim impact report, the survivor told the court that because of the actions of the accused he felt worthless for years and was plagued by self-doubt.

I have to make sure this man can't make anyone else feel this way, he said. He said he never thought anyone would believe him and he was glad now to be able to put this in the past and move on.

Roisin Lacey SC, defending, said her client feels ashamed for betraying the trust placed in him by the victim. She said at the time he didn't think what he was doing was wrong, but he now sees all the harm he has done.

Citing the report of a psychological assessment, Ms Lacey said that her client's behaviour at that time may have been rooted in sexual experimentation and confusion about sexual orientation.

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Ms Justice O'Connor said the aggravating factors include the breach of trust and the significant and ongoing impact of the offending. She noted that three year age difference and said there is a notable difference between the maturity of a 17-year-old and a 14-year-old.

She noted in mitigation the defendant's significant level of shame and remorse and the fact that he accepts full responsibility for the pain and suffering experienced by the victim. She said she also took into consideration the guilty pleas although she said these could not be considered as early pleas of guilty.

She imposed concurrent sentences of two and a half years on a number of counts. She suspended the final year on condition that he come under Probation Service supervision for one year and engage with counselling to address his sexual offending.

Ms Justice O'Connor told the victim that by coming forward he provided encouragement to other survivors that they might find the strength to make a complaint.

I sincerely hope you will be able to move on, she said.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/, or visit Rape Crisis Help.

In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112.
People must unequivocally reject the violent targeting of migrant camps by far-right activists, the Taoiseach has said.

Leo Varadkar said he was shocked and horrified at scenes in Dublin in recent days when anti-immigration protesters descended on makeshift refugee camps.

Tents were dismantled and later set on fire at one of the sites in Dublin city centre on Friday night.

Mr Varadkars comments came as Minister for Integration Roderic OGorman pledged to make available hundreds of extra beds to asylum seekers who have no accommodation and are sleeping rough.

As of Friday, around 480 international protection applicants were without accommodation in the State.

Minister for Integration Roderic OGorman (Niall Carson/PA)

Many of those migrants are sleeping in tents in makeshift camps on city streets.

Two of the camps in Dublin city centre were targeted by anti-immigration protesters in recent days, with parts of tents and furniture burned at one of them.

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Mr OGorman and Minister for Justice Simon Harris are due to meet Garda representatives this week to discuss the policing response to the protests and associated violence.

Im really shocked and horrified to see what happened in Dublin the last couple of days, Mr Varadkar told reporters in Limerick on Monday.

Whatever peoples views are about immigration or asylum seekers or anything like that, these are human beings and no human being should be treated in the way that people were treated with those protests and the fires the other night and I condemn it unreservedly.

I know the Garda Commissioner (Drew Harris) is involved in carrying out a full investigation so we find whos responsible and make sure theyre brought to justice so they cant harm anybody else.

Mr OGorman acknowledged the accommodation system was under real pressure right now.

And as long as people are being left unaccommodated, its not working as it should, he told RTE Radio One.

The Minister said the Government was responding to an unprecedented situation and was currently accommodating 84,000 people, including Ukrainian refugees and international asylum applicants, compared with 8,500 people at the start of last year.

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So irrespective of how robust the system you have, when you have that kind of increase youre going to put a strain on it, he said.

And we see that same strain on systems across Europe, but we have to do better in terms of meeting our obligations to international protection applicants, so thats why weve been looking at all options in terms of bringing additional beds into the system.

Were accommodating people in hotels and former barracks, in refurbished offices. And its through this work that over the next week well be in the position to make a significant amount of offers of accommodation to people who up to this point have been unaccommodated and that will provide them with accommodation, with relevant services and with safety.

One mid-to-longer-term option the Government is considering is the use of floating accommodation, such as cruise ships or so-called floatels.

The remains of a camp in Sandwith Street, Dublin, following a protest on Friday night (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr Varadkar said the Government is doing all it could to source accommodation for international protection applicants who are currently sleeping rough.

He added: Lets not forget the bigger picture here. You know the last year or so weve taken in 100,000 people from other parts of the world, mainly from Ukraine, but from other parts of the world as well, and almost all of those have been provided with accommodation.

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But its a refugee crisis on the scale that weve never experienced in our history and, yes, we are at a point where were finding it difficult to provide accommodation to everyone who comes here, but well certainly turn nobody away.

Mr Varadkar said he was worried about the far-right protests.

Ireland is a country like any other country, there is always going to be an element of people who have far-right views or racist views and an element of people who will turn to violence, but I think we as a society have to reject that unequivocally, he said.

No human being should be burned or attacked or have to face this kind of hatred, no matter where theyre from or what their backstory is. No human being should be treated in that way.

Echoing the Taoiseach's sentiment, Mr O'Gorman said: Obviously people have the right to disagree with government policy, people have the right to protest.

But they dont have a right to intimidate people, they dont have a right to commit acts of violence.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of Russia's Wagner private militia, on Monday dismissed a report in the Washington Post, sourced to a US intelligence leak, that he had offered to reveal the position of Russian troops to the Ukrainian government.

Wagner's soldiers have been at the forefront of a bloody Russian offensive to take the city of Bakhmut.

The Post reported that Prigozhin in January offered to tell Ukrainian intelligence the positions of Russian forces, with which his militia has frequently been at loggerheads, in exchange for Ukraine pulling back from the area.

The paper said Ukraine had rejected the offer.

In an audio message posted by his press service on Telegram on Monday, Yevgeny Prigozhin called the allegations "nonsense", and suggested that unnamed residents of Moscow's Rublyovka suburb, home to many of the business and political elite, were orchestrating an attack on him.

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Prigozhin also denied having met Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukrainian military intelligence, in an unnamed African country, saying he had not been in the continent since the start of the Ukraine conflict and portraying the idea of a phone call with him as laughable.

Prigozhin last week publicly threatened to withdraw his mercenaries from Bakhmut, where they have led the Russian offensive for months at enormous cost in casualties, unless they receive more ammunition from the defence ministry. But he also said he and his men would be seen as traitors if they did so.

He has also accused the regular army of failing to defend Wagner's flanks as it had promised, and has repeatedly suggested that top Russian defence officials and business elites are undermining the military effort in Ukraine.

The Post reported that Prigozhin's offer had come through his contacts with Ukraine's intelligence service.

A White House spokesman declined to comment on the report, which was based on secret US documents leaked to the group-chat platform Discord.
The UK will provide Ukraine with air defence missiles and attack drones, Downing Street has announced, as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy met British prime minister Rishi Sunak at Chequers.

In the latest leg of his tour of western allies, Mr Zelenskiy said the two leaders would have substantive negotiations on the response to Russias invasion.

Downing Street said Mr Sunak would welcome Mr Zelensiy to the country retreat in Buckinghamshire as the UK continues sustaining our support for the war-torn country.

Mr Zelenskiy is the first world leader Mr Sunak has hosted at his grace-and-favour country residence.

It follows meetings in Paris, Berlin and Rome and comes three months after Mr Zelenskiys first trip to London since the start of the war.

The Ukrainian leader attended an audience with Britain's King Charles III and addressed the British parliament in February.

Mr Sunak said: This is a crucial moment in Ukraines resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke.

They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year.

Today  London. The UK is a leader when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air. This cooperation will continue today. I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations.    (@ZelenskyyUa) May 15, 2023

We must not let them down. The frontlines of (Russian president Vladimir) Putins war of aggression may be in Ukraine but the fault lines stretch all over the world. It is in all our interest to ensure Ukraine succeeds and Putins barbarism is not rewarded.

That is why the UK is sustaining our support to Ukraine  from tanks to training, ammunition to armoured vehicles. And this message of solidarity will ring loud in all my meetings with fellow world leaders in the days ahead.

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At the start of the meeting, Mr Zelenskiy thanked the British government, the king and the British people for their support.

We are thankful from all our hearts, from Ukrainians, from our soldiers, we are thankful, he said.

The president said his talks with the Prime Minister would cover very important issues, urgent support for Ukraine.

The crisis was a matter of security not only for Ukraine, it is important for all of Europe.

The visit comes days after Liverpool hosted Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy last visited the UK for talks with Rishi Sunak in February (PA)

The latest package of military assistance will see hundreds of air defence missiles and further unmanned aerial systems including long-range attack drones with a range of more than 200km.

The new equipment will be delivered over the coming months.

The UK has also recently promised long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Kyiv after continued Russian attacks.

The meeting between the two leaders comes at the start of a week of intense diplomatic activity on the Ukraine crisis.

Mr Sunak will attend a Council of Europe summit in Iceland  with Mr Zelenskiy joining virtually  before heading to Japan for the G7 gathering in Hiroshima.
A British man accused of murdering his terminally-ill wife told a Cypriot court he ended her life after she cried and begged.

David Hunter took to the witness box to tell the Paphos District Court judge he felt helpless and hopeless during the last weeks of Janice Hunters life, adding: I didnt want to do it. I said no.

The 75-year-old retired miner said he eventually decided to grant his wifes wish after she became hysterical and unable to take care of herself.

The grave of Janice Hunter at the cemetery in Tremithousa, Cyprus (Joe Giddens/PA)

Janice (74) died of asphyxiation in December 2021 at the couples retirement home near the coastal resort town of Paphos.

The defendant, who held back tears as he gave evidence on Monday, said his wife, who had blood cancer, did not attempt to stop him as he put his hands over her mouth and nose.

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He said: I just kept my hands there.

Hunter, from Ashington in Northumberland, described his marriage as perfect, adding: After 57 years together, I really didnt want to do it.

As he recounted Janices final few weeks through an interpreter, he said: She cried. She couldnt do nothing. She couldnt move.

She was sleeping in the leather chair downstairs and for the last week we slept down on those chairs together. I felt so helpless and hopeless that I couldnt do anything for her.

For five or six weeks before she died she was asking me to help her. She was asking me more every day. In the last week she was crying and begging me. Every day she asked me a bit more intensely to do it.

The last week, she started crying. She started crying and begging me.

She said, I cant go on. This life isnt for me. We just go to the hospital and stay at home. I dont have any quality of life and Im totally bored of this. I cant go on.

She started becoming hysterical so I said, Yes, Ill help you. I just told her that to calm her down.

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Hunter continued to recall his wifes last few days, saying: She was crying, crying, crying. Begging, begging, begging.

His defence lawyer Ritsa Pekri asked: Could she take care of herself?

Hunter replied: No.

He added: She wasnt taking care of herself.

The last two or three days, she said she couldnt move her arms and had trouble with her legs. She couldnt balance.

Ms Pekri asked: Did she eat?

Custody vans arrive at Paphos District Court in Cyprus on Monday (Joe Giddens/PA)

Hunter said: She was only eating soup. She couldnt hold anything down. She lost a lot of weight.

She lost so much weight that there was no flesh to put her injections in.

Hunter said Janice felt shame for around three years as she was forced to wear nappies  leaving her unable to move and stuck in the house.

Turning to the day his wife died, the defendant told the court: I dont remember a lot of the last day.

I went to make a cup of coffee and she started crying. I remember that I had my hand on her mouth and nose.

I dont even know how I thought about it. I dont know how long I kept my hands there for. She did not attempt to stop me.

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In my statement I said that she was resisting but she wasnt. She was moving her head. I dont even think she opened her eyes.

Hunter added: I would never have helped her end her life if she had not begged me.

The defendant told the court he tried to kill himself after his wifes death.

When the police arrived to quiz him after his suicide bid failed, he said he was interested in nothing.

In his cross-examination, state prosecutor Andreas Hadjikyrou said to the defendant: I put it to you that you had decided to kill her and there was no common consent and that you had to decide what day to kill her on.

Hunter replied: No. I never intended to kill her. I had hoped for eight or nine days that she would get better, that she would change her mind.

World No plea deal for Briton on trial for killing wife... Read More

She was lying down. She was in pain, suffering. I would do anything to help her.

The last thing on my mind was to take her life. The last thing. Thats his [the prosecutors] idea, not mine.

The trial continues.
France pledged additional military aid for Ukraine on Sunday as French president Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy met in a surprise meeting in Paris.

Mr Macron has offered light tanks, armoured vehicles, training for soldiers and other assistance as the Ukrainians gear up for a counteroffensive against Russian forces.

Mr Zelenskiy and Mr Macron met for about three hours at the French presidential Elysee Palace  an encounter kept under wraps until shortly before the Ukrainian leaders arrival in Paris from Germany on a French government jet which extended his multi-stop European tour.

With Ukraine planning to go on the offensive hoping to retake Russian-occupied territory, military aid was a top agenda item.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy walks past Republican Guards as he arrives at the Elysee palace in Paris (Michel Euler/AP)

Mr Macrons office said France will supply dozens of light tanks and armoured vehicles in the weeks ahead, without giving specific numbers.

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Also promised were more air defence systems, but again details were not made public.

More Ukrainians will also be made battle-ready, with France aiming to train about 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers in France this year and nearly 4,000 others in Poland as part of a wider European effort, Mr Macrons office said.

In a statement, France described its support for Ukraines independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as unwavering and promised that its political, economic, humanitarian and military aid will continue for as long as necessary.

In a tweet on his arrival, Mr Zelenskiy said: With each visit, Ukraines defence and offensive capabilities are expanding. The ties with Europe are getting stronger, and the pressure on Russia is growing.

A Gendarme shows the way to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy as he arrives at the Elysee Palace on Sunday (Michel Euler/AP)

He said he and Mr Macron will talk through the most important points of bilateral relations.

The French leaders office said they will discuss Ukraines military and humanitarian needs and the more long-term perspectives for a return to peace in Europe, and that Mr Macron will reaffirm France and Europes unwavering support for Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion.

France has supplied Ukraine with an array of weaponry, including air defence systems, light tanks, howitzers and other arms and equipment and fuel.

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Mr Macron and Mr Zelenskiy did not speak to waiting reporters as they greeted each other at the French presidential palace.

France dispatched a plane to pick up Mr Zelenskiy in Germany, where he met chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier on Sunday and discussed his countrys planned counteroffensive.

Mr Zelenskiy said Ukraine will aim to liberate Russian-occupied areas within Ukraines internationally recognised borders, and not attack Russian territory.
The killer of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel will not have his 42-year jail term increased, the UK Solicitor General has said.

A number of requests were made for the sentence for Thomas Cashman, 34, to be increased after he was jailed for life for shooting Olivia dead at her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, on August 22nd last year.

He was chasing convicted drug dealer Joseph Nee, who tried to run into the little girls home in a bid to escape.

Olivia was shot as Cashman chased a convicted drug dealer who tried to escape by running into her home (Family handout/PA)

Cashman opened fire, hitting Olivias mother Cheryl Korbel in the wrist as she tried to keep the door shut on Nee, with the same bullet killing her daughter.

Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson KC said: Olivia Pratt-Korbels senseless murder at the hands of Thomas Cashman shocked and sickened the nation.

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Because of the strong feelings this case evokes, it was little surprise that I received several requests under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, to consider the sentence of life imprisonment with a minimum term of 42 years that was handed down to him.

My duty as a Law Officer in considering whether sentences may be unduly lenient is to act independently of government, even when it is not easy or popular.

Having received detailed legal advice and considered the issues raised very carefully, I have concluded Cashmans case cannot properly be referred to the Court of Appeal.

Cheryl Korbel (left), mother of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, outside Manchester Crown Court after Thomas Cashman was sentenced (Peter Byrne/PA)

Such a referral can only be made if the rigorous legal test is met, irrespective of the seriousness of the crime or the emotions the offending may evoke. The threshold for referral is a high one, and that was not met in this case.

The test is only met if the sentencing judge made a gross error or imposed a sentence outside the range reasonably available in the circumstances of the offending.

My thoughts remain with Olivias family and friends who have shown such immeasurable strength during this devastating time.

Father-of-two Cashman, a high-level Liverpool drug dealer, has launched his own appeal against his sentence, with lawyers arguing the penalty is too harsh.
A Nigerian Afrobeat star has been arrested after being accused of assaulting a police officer in the commercial hub of Lagos.

Seun Kuti was detained at the Lagos State police headquarters after turning himself in, according to police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin, who tweeted photos of the celebrity in handcuffs.

The son of Nigerian musical hero and political agitator Fela, who himself was serially detained by Nigerian military regimes, Kuti was captured on video assaulting a police officer in uniform, the police said.





SERIOUS ASSAULT ON POLICE OFFICER: SEUN KUTI TURNS SELF IN



Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, in the early hours of today turned himself in at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja, in company of his lawyer and family representative. He has been placed under arrest 1/2 https://t.co/KDvQIWHupz pic.twitter.com/nRQn0yLmLh Advertisement  SP Benjamin Hundeyin (@BenHundeyin) May 15, 2023

Videos posted online appeared to show an agitated Kuti pushing a police officer as the officer stood beside a police vehicle along a major road in Lagos on Saturday.

It was unclear what led to the confrontation, though Kuti tweeted that the officer in question tried to kill me and my family. He suggested the officer tried to ram their car.

Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali Baba ordered an investigation into the incident.

The inspector general assures Nigerians that acts of contempt/disdain for symbols of authority will not be tolerated while offenders of such hideous crimes will be surely brought to book, the police said.
A murder-accused nurse in the UK photographed a thank you card from the parents of two of her alleged victims as something to remember.

Lucy Letby (33) said it was not unusual for her to take photos of cards she had sent and received.

She is on trial at Manchester Crown Court accused of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of 10 others.

Two of her victims at the Countess of Chesters neonatal unit are said to be newborn twin boys, Child E and F.

It is alleged she murdered Child E with a fatal injection of air into his bloodstream and attempted to murder his brother, Child F, by insulin poisoning in August 2015.

Jurors have heard the boys parents brought in a hamper and a thank you card to the unit some three months later.

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Images of the card were recovered from Letbys phone following her arrest, the court heard.

Giving evidence on Monday, Letby said she was working a night shift in the early hours of November 20th, 2015, when she decided to photograph the card at the nurses station.

Her barrister Ben Myers KC asked: Why did you take a photograph of a thank you car from the (Child E and Fs parents)?

Letby replied: It was something I wanted to remember. I quite often take photographs of cards I have sent and received.

Mr Myers said: Anything unusual in you doing that?

Letby said: No.

The Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester where Lucy Letby worked (Peter Byrne/PA)

Jurors were told Letby searched the name of the twins mother on Facebook a total of nine times between August 2015 and January 2016.

Letby said: Searching for people on Facebook is something I would do. Quite often (the twins mother) was on my mind following (Child E and Child F).

Mr Myers said: Is there anything unusual for you looking more than once on Facebook for someone on your mind?

Letby said: No, thats a normal pattern of behaviour for me.

The defendant, from Hereford, denies all the alleged offences said to have taken place between June 2015 and June 2016.
People in Thailand have voted for change after nine years under a former general who took power in a coup, with the main opposition parties easily beating other contenders in the general election.

The opposition Move Forward Party outperformed even optimistic projections and appeared poised to capture almost all 33 House seats in the capital Bangkok.

Along with the Pheu Thai Party, another opposition group, Move Forward campaigned for reform of the military and the monarchy.

Move Forward put those issues closer to the heart of its platform, earning a more radical reputation.



Move Forward leader Party Pita Limjaroenrat addresses the media (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

Its outspoken support for minor reforms of the monarchy, while winning younger voters, antagonised conservatives committed to the royal institution.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who came to power in a 2014 coup, was blamed for a stuttering economy, pandemic response shortcomings and thwarting democratic reforms  a particular sore point with younger voters.

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This is people saying that we want change, said Saowanee T Alexander, a professor at Ubon Ratchathani University in north-eastern Thailand. They are saying that they could no longer take it. The people are very frustrated. They want change, and they could achieve it.

With more than 99% of ballots counted, Move Forward appeared to have a small edge over Pheu Thai, whose leaders conceded on Sunday they might not finish on top following voter turnout of about 39 million, or 75% of registered voters.

Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat tweeted that he is ready to bring about change should he be the countrys 30th prime minister.



Supporters of Move Forward cheer as they watch the counting of votes on television (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

Whether you agree or disagree with me, I will be your prime minister. Whether you have voted for me or not, I will serve you, he wrote.

Sundays winner is not assured the right to form the new government.

A joint session of the 500-seat House of Representatives will be held with the 250-member Senate in July to select the prime minister, a process widely seen as undemocratic because the military appointed the senators, who will vote along with elected lawmakers.

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Move Forward captured just over 24% of the popular vote for the 400 constituency seats in the House of Representatives and nearly 36% for seats allocated in a separate nationwide ballot for 100 members elected by proportional representation.

Pheu Thai lagged slightly behind with just over 23% for constituency seats and about 27% for the party list.

The tally of constituency votes gave 113 House seats to Move Forward and 112 to Pheu Thai, according to unofficial results on Monday from the Election Commission.

Mr Prayuths United Thai Nation Party held the fifth spot in the constituency vote with almost 9% of the total but placed third in the party-preference tally with close to 12% and 23 House seats in the constituency vote.

Ubon Universitys Prof Alexander cautioned that the situation remains very unpredictable and the results could be unilaterally affected by the Election Commission, which previously disqualified opposition parties or otherwise undermined challenges to the conservative establishment.

She noted the Bhumjaithai Party, which came in third, could be a swing vote since the combined Move Forward and Pheu Thai seats may not be enough for a majority coalition. Bhumjaithai controls a large bloc of votes in the north east and helped put the military-backed coalition into power.
Tucker Carlson is taking his talents to Elon Musks Twitter. We should have seen it coming. The pairing, the peanut butter and chocolate of right-wing, edgelord provocation, makes perfect sense: two great trolls that could troll great together, heaven help us.

Sure, what Carlsons Twitter show will look like  and whether itll be anywhere close to as influential or remunerative as the Fox News gig from which he was recently ousted  is an open question. But Id be lying if I said I wasnt worried.

With his racist claptrap, including promoting hateful conspiracy theories like the great replacement, Carlson is a singularly malign media personality. As I wrote in 2019, Ive had a recurring nightmare that he might escape the echo chamber of Fox and become a much larger cultural and political force; Carlson is among the few people I can think of whod be a more dangerous president than Donald Trump.

Had he joined Newsmax, The Daily Wire, Rumble, One America News Network or another murkier corner of the right-wing mediasphere, Id have breathed a small sigh of relief at the almost-certain diminishment of his mainstream influence. But the bird app still affords Carlson a pretty lofty perch from which to spew his particular brand of hate.
Opera Australia will bring its production of controversial musical Miss Saigon to Her Majestys Theatre in Melbourne in October, following the conclusion of the shows Sydneys season.

Set during the Vietnam War, Miss Saigon tells the tragic story of Vietnamese woman Kim and her relationship with an American soldier. The original by Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil premiered in 1989, but it is the 2014 revival by Cameron Mackintosh that is hitting the Australian stage this year.

Kerrie Anne Greenland and Abigail Adriano play Ellen and Kim respectively in Miss Saigon. Credit: Simon Schluter

The recently announced cast is a strong showing of local talent, with the role of Kim played by 18-year-old Abigail Adriano, who has already built an impressive resume. She appeared on The Voice Kids aged nine, and took part in her first professional production at age 11 with a role in Tim Minchins Matilda the Musical.

Adriano first came across Miss Saigon when she was in her early teens when her sister played her a recording of the West End production with Lea Salonga in the role of Kim.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he wanted an end to the political games over Labors housing policy, following internal criticism of its substance.

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There is a move to rewrite Labors housing platform at the partys national conference in Brisbane in August amid fears the party is ceding ground to the Greens among younger voters in capital city seats.

Conference delegate, Julijana Todorovic, a senior member of the Socialist Left and convenor of internal party group Labor for Housing has described the partys housing policy as five lines of fluff and has called for it to be overhauled.

Speaking to journalists today, Chalmers said he disagreed with Todorovic and defended Labors housing policy as broad and comprehensive.

We want to see the Housing Australia Future Fund pass the parliament, we want to see an end to the political games over that, so that we can build 30,000 social and affordable homes, including for women and children fleeing violence, he said.
James Packer will donate $7 million to the University of NSW to expand mental health research and establish a group of new academic positions within the medicine faculty.

The gift from the former casino mogul comes on the back of a record philanthropic year for the university, which raised $81.2 million in donations in 2022.

James Packer, pictured in 2017, said it was no secret he had previously struggled with mental health problems. Credit: Getty

UNSW chancellor David Gonski said the endowment would accelerate mental health research at the university by funding a new professorial chair position that would lead a research team focusing on mood disorders and bipolar disease.

The significance of the donation is enormous, and it is a critical time for these roles to be set up in the area of psychiatric research, Gonski said.
Criminal syndicates are pouring fake students into Australia to work in their illegal operations  including the sex industry  by exploiting the nations weak education visa and migration systems.

A scathing review by former Victorian police chief Christine Nixon has found migration linked to vocational education should be immediately reviewed and was so widely misused that it could warrant an overhaul of the working-visa system.

Sources briefed this masthead about the conclusions of Nixons still secret review, set up by Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil in response to the Trafficked series by The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes, which exposed how criminals exploited flaws in Australias border security and immigration system.

If the real, unstated reason that Australia has such a generous and poorly regulated education visa system was to bring in low-skilled workers, a broader review of Australias working visas is needed, Nixon says in the review.
Standing in front of the Sydney Opera House sails next Wednesday, Anthony Albanese is set to host three of the worlds most important leaders: US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Not since the APEC leaders meeting in 2007 has the prime ministers home town hosted such an important geopolitical gathering.

In a pleasing piece of circularity for Albanese, the summit coincides with the first anniversary of his government. Albanese jetted to Japan to meet his fellow Quad leaders just a day after being sworn into office last year, kick-starting a diplomatic debut most foreign policy experts have rated as surprisingly successful.

Donald Trump received a rapturous reception from Republican voters at a CNN town hall last week. Credit: CNN

Not all prime ministers have started off in the same relaxed and confident way in foreign affairs, Lowy Institute executive director Michael Fullilove told me last year, noting Albanese was not regarded as a foreign policy guru before his election victory.

Albaneses Opera House triumph, however, could be derailed by squabbling over the United States debt ceiling. The US government is due to run out of money within weeks, and Biden has indicated he may have to stay in Washington for negotiations with congressional Republicans. Biden wants to make the trip, but there are troubling precedents for a withdrawal. Bill Clinton and Barack Obama both pulled out of Asian summits at the last minute during similar crises.
Latest News FBAA calls for tough government action to relieve mortgage pressure Community, lenders and government must work together to address financial and mental health emergency, the industry body says

University debts to become bigger factor in homebuyer planning Borrowers often unaware of HECS effect

Australian Broker, in partnership with Liberty, is looking for the fastest-growing brokerages in Australia.

The previous list of Fast Brokerages saw winners rack up more than 30% combined settlement volume and revenue growth over the last two years.

The broker channel is at the heart of the Australian mortgage and finance industry and has been central to the Liberty Group since day one, said John Mohnacheff, group sales manager at Liberty.

Were proud to sponsor the Fast Brokerages 2023 Special Report and acknowledge those contributing to the bright future of this industry.

To be considered for a place on the list, complete the online form and provide your companys settlement volume, headcount and revenue figures from the past two calendar years. All figures provided must relate to a brokerages operations across Australia only.

A special section of the report will highlight new brokerages in business for three years or less and making their mark in the mortgage landscape.

Entries can be submitted through this brief online form, free of charge. The deadline to enter is Friday, June 9.

The Fast Brokerages 2023 report will be published on the Australian Broker website in September.

ENTER NOW.
Latest News FBAA calls for tough government action to relieve mortgage pressure Community, lenders and government must work together to address financial and mental health emergency, the industry body says

University debts to become bigger factor in homebuyer planning Borrowers often unaware of HECS effect

Lender Salt&Lime has announced the appointment of Mark Woolnough to spearhead its broker and distribution strategy.

Woolnough has more than 30 years of experience in sales strategy and leadership. Prior to joining Salt&Lime, Woolnough served as executive head of sales for CoreLogic in Australia and as chief sales officer at Plenti.

Salt&Lime was founded in 2021 by Will Kiln, a former colleague of Woolnoughs at ING. Woolnoughs appointment marks a step forward in Salt&Limes commitment to the broker space, the company said.

Were thrilled to welcome Mark, a deeply experienced and talented leader, to our team, Kiln said. His unrivalled experience and proven track record in building forward-thinking broker distribution strategies spanning residential mortgages and consumer lending, including asset finance, align perfectly with our vision.

Salt&Lime said in a news release that Woolnoughs drive for growth and commitment to community service mirror the companys goal to provide Australians with a socially responsible lending product.

Marks addition to our team signifies our unwavering commitment to the broker industry, and his passion supports our vision to support all Australians on their journey to financial success and wellbeing, Kiln said. His contribution will be instrumental as the company continues to deliver socially responsible lending to Australian consumers through broker partners.

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The largest volunteer initiative in Bulgaria "The good example | Let's clean up Bulgaria together", won first place at the annual awards for the most successful communication campaigns in Bulgaria - BAPRA Bright Awards 2023. The gold prize in the competition organized by the Bulgarian Association of PR Agencies was awarded in the "ESG Communication Campaign" category.

126 are the projects that competed in 17 categories of the BAPRA Bright Awards competition this year. This figure represents an increase of over 20% compared to 2022. The number of agencies and companies that joined the competition is even greater  this year they are 28.

The special category "ESG communication campaign or project" distinguishes the communications of companies or agencies that have achieved sustainable development in the past year. bTV Media Group, with its large-scale initiative "Let's clean Bulgaria together", won the prize in the competition out of 7 other competing projects. The prestigious international jury recognized the long-term efforts of the media group in support of Bulgaria's nature and the overall idea of bTV to show a good example, to inspire people and companies that the change for a better environment is in the hands of all of us.

We are delighted with the BAPRA Bright Awards in the "ESG Communication Campaign or Project" category. bTV Media Group, as part of the large family of Central European Media Enterprises (CME) and the international company PPF Group, continues to show commitment to important social causes and civic initiatives that form our concept of a sustainable media and public presence in Bulgaria. We focus long-term on social and environmental challenges, through which we can contribute to better development of society, and the eleventh edition of the campaign "Let's clean Bulgaria together" will once again show the strength and good example of volunteerism in the country," says Janeta Diadovska, Marketing and Corporate Communications Director of bTV Media Group.

"We are thrilled with this recognition because it means a lot to the efforts of hundreds of thousands of volunteers and companies across the country, as well as to the entire bTV Media Group team. Our responsible goal as a company is to stimulate and promote good practices in caring for society and the environment that surrounds us, and the campaign "Let's clean Bulgaria together" embodies exactly that - how to think and act consciously and rationally when it comes to our way of life, for the development of young people and for the creation of a sustainable public environment. We look forward to this year's edition of the initiative to join forces once again with our extensive partner network and show how together we can achieve a lot." - adds Maria Lazarova, Marketing Manager "Television Projects" of bTV Media Group.

The tenth edition of the campaign "Let's clean Bulgaria together" mobilized the activity of the partner network and brought back the scale of the activities. The response of the initiative in society and the media contributed to its successful results in 2022. Nearly 280,000 volunteers and 575 schools joined the campaign. In total, 2,832.25 tons of waste were collected, 412 landfills and 3,457 polluted areas were cleaned, 282 recreation places in parks and cultural and historical monuments were renovated. The campaign also focuses on places affected by natural disasters, such as the community center in the village of Karavelovo and the area around the Rila Monastery. The eleventh edition of "Let's clean Bulgaria together" is coming in 2023.
Pulitzer Prize winner Marcus Yam to receive Norton Medal at UB commencement

BUFFALO, N.Y.  University at Buffalo alumnus Marcus Yam, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer and foreign correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, will receive the Chancellor Charles P. Norton Medal, UBs highest honor. Norton Medal recipients, along with the Presidents Medal and SUNY honorary doctorate awardees, are announced as part of commencement season at UB, which this year began April 28 and concludes this weekend. Yam will receive the Norton Medal on Saturday, May 20, at the first of two School of Engineering and Applied Sciences graduate commencement ceremonies.

Yam came to UB from his home in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and graduated in 2006 with a bachelors degree in aerospace engineering. Although he aspired to become a NASA astronaut, he discovered his passion for photography during a stint at UBs student newspaper, The Spectrum, and an internship with The Buffalo News. In 2022, Yam won the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news photography for images documenting the U.S. departure from Afghanistan. In 2016, he was part of the L.A. Times Pulitzer Prize-winning news team that covered the San Bernardino, Calif., terrorist attack. In 2015, as a photojournalist for the Seattle Times, he shared the Pulitzer for breaking news reporting of the deadly landslide in Oso, Washington. His conflict reporting is widely recognized. In 2023, Yam was named a recipient of the Robert Capa Gold Medal for his courage and enterprise while photographing the devastation of the war in Ukraine with nuance and poetry. Yam is also a two-time recipient of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Journalism Award, including in 2019 for his unflinching photos documenting the everyday plight of citizens during deadly clashes in the Gaza Strip. His work has also earned him an Emmy Award for News and Documentary, a World Press Photo Award, a DART Award for Trauma Coverage, a Scripps Howard Visual Journalism Award, Picture of the Year Internationals Newspaper Photographer of the Year Award, the Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi Award, National Headliner Award, the Society of Publishers in Asia Award and the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award. Throughout his career, Yam has brought his viewers to the frontlines of conflict, struggle and intimacy. He credits his analytical, technical approach to photography to his UB education in engineering.

Oren Lyons to receive Presidents Medal

Oren R. Lyons, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of American Studies, will receive the Presidents Medal in recognition of extraordinary service to the university during the College of Arts and Sciences graduate ceremony on Friday, May 19. The UB Presidents Medal, first presented in 1990, recognizes outstanding scholarly or artistic achievements, humanitarian acts, contributions of time or treasure, exemplary leadership or any other major contribution to the development of the University at Buffalo and the quality of life in the UB community. A member of the Onondaga Nation Council of Chiefs of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, Lyons was a UB faculty member for nearly 40 years and was a founder and director of the Native American Studies Program. As an artist, author, environmentalist and activist, he has dedicated most of his life to advocating for the rights of Indigenous peoples. He was a leader in the Trail of Broken Treaties, the 1972 caravan to Washington, D.C., to convince the Bureau of Indian Affairs to honor federal treaties. In 1977, he was part of the Haudenosaunee delegation of Iroquois representatives to the first World Conference on Racism. In 1982, he helped establish the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations. Ten years later, he addressed the General Assembly of the U.N., opening the International Year of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples. In 1993, Lyons was inducted into the Lacrosse Hall of Fame. In 2022, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, one of the countrys most prestigious honorary societies.

SUNY honorary doctorate awarded to Agnes Williams

Also during the College of Arts and Sciences graduate ceremony on Friday, UB alumna Agnes Williams, an internationally regarded advocate for Indigenous rights and environmental justice, will be awarded a SUNY Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. From assisting youth impacted by the Indian Relocation Act to helping organize the Longest Walk, Williams has remained a steadfast voice for Indigenous communities. A citizen of the Seneca Nation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, Williams earned her BA, BSW and MSW from Syracuse University. From there, she directed the Urban Indian Child Resource Center in Oakland, Calif., becoming involved in issues including the occupation of Wounded Knee, the forced sterilization of Indigenous women and the encroachment of nuclear waste on sacred land. In 1983, Williams called for the halt of nuclear weapon development at the World Conference Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs. Returning to Western New York in 1985, Williams served as a family counselor with Child and Family Services of Buffalo, a correction counselor with the Department of Corrections, education director for the Seneca Nation of Indians, family counselor for the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation Health Center and coordinator of Buffalos Indigenous Womens Initiatives. She also served on the founding Central Committee of Women of all Red Nations, helped found the Indigenous Womens Network and was appointed to the Seneca Nation of Indians Climate Change Task Force. Her participation in the delegation to the United Nations started the course that would lead to the 2007 Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Williams, MA 91, has been closely affiliated with UB for decades, particularly with the Native American Studies program and its founders. A graduate of the program, she has participated in activities including UBs Haudenosaunee Native American Research Group and was instrumental in the development of UBs new Department of Indigenous Studies.

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The pilots body has written to the minister seeking his intervention to help Go First pilots facing hurdles in leaving the airline. FIP has urged the government to issue orders to the airline to support such pilots. Pilots from financially stressed airlines should be allowed to leave their jobs without any coercive action, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has said in a representation to Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.



Where notice periods are applicable, employers must deposit the salary due to pilots well in advance in an escrow account or issue postdated cheques to ensure no default in salary payments occurs, it added. There should be no impediment to their exit from airlines that are distressed and unable to meet the financial obligations to pilots. Those not in a position to pay salaries to pilots must immediately release all affected pilots who tender their resignations without any coercive action, FIP said in its letter on Monday.



Most pilots in India have to serve notice periods of six months or more in line with their work contracts. According to regulatory norms, commanders and co-pilots are required to serve one-year notice and six-month notice, respectively. This rule was challenged by three pilot bodies and the matter is pending before the Delhi High Court. Go First temporarily suspended its flights on May 2 and filed for insolvency. The airline management informed pilots that salary would be paid without any cuts but not provided any date. As such, Go First pilots are scouting for opportunities elsewhere.

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In a notice to the stock exchanges, Dish TV said its shareholders, who own 45 per cent in the company, want appointment of K Badri Narayanan, Satish Kumar Yanmandra and Jeet Sen Gupta on the board. At the same time, the shareholders sought removal of Rashmi Aggarwal and Shankar Aggarwal as directors from the board. The date of the EGM has not been fixed as yet. Institutional shareholders of satellite broadcaster Dish TV India have sought removal of two directors who are said to be Essel group-affiliates in an extraordinary shareholders meeting (EGM). They have also sought the nomination of three of their nominees on the Board.



Explaining the move, the shareholders said the present board is not acting in line with good corporate governance standards and is not a fair representation of the incumbent significant shareholders of the company holding about 45 per cent stake of the company. In early March, shareholders of the company had rejected the candidature of four independent directors, and left it with only two independent directors, Rashmi Aggarwal and Shankar Aggarwal.

The notice said the Board is acting at the behest of certain minority shareholders holding 4 per cent.

"Dish TV made a significant investment of Rs 1,218 crore (20 percent of total net block of fixed assets, intangibles, investments and capital work in progress of Rs 6,012 crore) in Watcho, its flagship OTT platform in FY 2020. ''The Investments were qualified in FY2020 (year of investment itself) and FY2021. Upon lenders and investors questioning the investments, the Company had made an impairment of Rs 203 crore in FY2022, it said.

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The notice said the Independent Directors, who now constitute the majority of the Board, have also failed to perform their statutory duty to bring an unbiased and independent judgement, especially on matters of key appointments on the Board in the interest of the company and the public shareholders have lost complete faith over the credibility of the Board as reflected from shareholders voting against all proposals of the company in the last 14 months. During FY 2020, the Essel group companies defaulted with multiple lenders including Bank loans to Essel group companies secured by pledge of Dish TV Shares. "It is our apprehension that anticipating loss of majority shareholding due to invocation of pledged Dish TV shares from Bank and other lenders, the aforesaid funds may have been diverted by the promoters for other purposes, " the notice said.


Interim resolution professional (IRP), Ritesh Prakash Adatiya, said that the appellate tribunal has taken on record the settlement between the promoters of McLeod Russel and IL&FS and closed the CIRP. The order was not uploaded at the time of publishing the article. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Monday allowed withdrawal of the countrys largest bulk tea producer, McLeod Russel India, from corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) following an out-of-court settlement between the promoters of the company and IL&FS Infrastructure Debt Fund.



Sources close to the development indicated that the settlement between McLeod promoters and IL&FS included a combination of payment of an amount and land. According to the terms of the settlement about 75-80 per cent will be recovered by the financial creditor but it will be contingent on the sale of land, they said. It may be mentioned that on February 10 the NCLT Kolkata Bench had admitted an application by IL&FS Infrastructure Debt Fund for initiating CIRP against McLeod Russel in connection with a default in payment going back to 2019. The amount as on November 12, 2019 was Rs 347.47 crore, of which the principal amount was about Rs 252.66 crore.



Even with the stay, operations of McLeod continued to be under the IRP. Closure of CIRP would put control of the firm back in the hands of the Khaitans. Though CIRP had been initiated against McLeod Russel, it didnt progress much as the NCLAT had passed an interim order on an appeal filed by promoter, Aditya Khaitan, staying further steps in the process. The appeal was against the NCLT order admitting the insolvency application from IL&FS.

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In August 2021, the NCLT, New Delhi Bench, had admitted an application by Techno Electric & Engineering Company under Section 7 of the IBC. But the application was withdrawn after a settlement with the promoters. The largest tea producer, McLeod Russel, is the most important asset in the Brij Mohan Khaitan group currently. But debt issues had the company in a spot the past few years.

Once out of insolvency, debt restructuring with banks that has been under discussions is expected to pick up pace. McLeod's bank debt is understood to be in the range of Rs 1,600 crore.


Aircraft lessors challenged the order of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Delhi admitting the cash-strapped airlines plea for voluntary insolvency. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Monday said it will pass an order on the plea challenging the admission of Go Firsts insolvency on May 22.



At the start of the argument, the bench of Chairperson Justice Ashok Bhushan and Member(Technical) Barun Mitra asked Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for Go First, What is of the hearing? Either we interfere or we dont interfere (with the NCLT order). The appellate tribunal told all the parties in the matter to file their written submissions regarding the case in 48 hours.



On the other hand, the counsel for Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) said that the lessors of the airline terminated their leases after Go First announced its plans to declare insolvency. He said that as per the Civil Aviation Requirements, the Corporate Debtor (in this case Go First) is responsible for flight operations, including maintenance. The termination was to defeat the purpose of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). Singh said that the deregistration process of aircraft is not completed. Even if deregistration takes place, it is my occupation(to operate aircraft), he told the tribunal.

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An IRP is a professional who is the whole and sole of the firm after the insolvency application is admitted. He said it was the duty of the IRP to look after the airlines. If allowed to operate, 80 engines (from Pratt & Whitney) will change the fortunes of the company, he said.



He also questioned the intentions of the lessors, arguing that the lessors had not terminated the leases when the dues to them increased, but they terminated the leases immediately after the airline announced insolvency plans. The airline had told the NCLT that it had won an arbitral award in Singapore against Pratt & Whitney (P&W), directing P&W to supply 10 serviceable engines by April 27 this year and 10 serviceable engines each month till December 2023.



Meanwhile, Senior Advocate Arun Kathpalia, appearing for SMBC Aviation Capital, said that Go Firsts insolvency application should not have been admitted by the NCLT, Delhi on the first day itself. He said it was a brutal denial of opportunity for the lessors to not allow them to file their objections in the case. He also took an expectation to the arguments by the lessors saying the IRP would cannibalise the aircraft when it is under their case. The lessors were not concerned about the cannibalisation of the aircraft when it was under the care of Go Air but they now fear for it under the care of the IRP?



The lessors also said that Go First created a 'sense of false urgency by suddenly halting its operations and approaching the NCLT for insolvency, even when the aircraft were flying. I came to the court at the inception. NCLT has denied me an opportunity to file a Section 65 application (malicious intent for filing insolvency application) under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code against the airline. No notice was given to me, he said.



Replying to this, Kathpalia said, I terminate the leases for my aircraft, he wants to hang on to them. Is it not malicious? At this juncture, the court asked Kathpalia, Can mere termination (of leases) and filing of insolvency application (by Go First) be termed as malicious? It might indicate that there was a default.



When the Jet Airways case was brought up, he said that in the case of Jet Airways, it was a financial lease, meaning that Jet owned the assets. SMBC Aviation Capital told the court in a submission on May 11 that the Indian aviation sector is being seen as a risky jurisdiction in light of the fate of Kingfisher and Jet Airways. "Due to such difficulties, lessors and international aircraft owners see India as a risky jurisdiction for aircraft leasing. Therefore, Indian operators have to pay a premium to take aircraft on lease. Thus, the admission of the petition (of Go First) will further shake the confidence of the International Aviation Industry," SMBC told the appellate tribunal.



NCLT on May 10 accepted Go Firsts insolvency plea, resulting in the airline being put under moratorium as per the IBC. He said it is different from the leases of Go First. How can they fly my assets when they cant even operate them? Everyday the value of assets is deteriorating?
The move comes at a time when overall sales volumes of smartphones in the country witnessed a sharp decline of 19 per cent year-on-year in the January-March quarter (Q1 2023), the third consecutive quarterly decline according to the Counterpoint dat

Rajen Vagadia, president, Qualcomm India & SAARC, told Business Standard that the mid- and entry-level phones in India were the main volume drivers. Consumers targeting these segments are awaiting availability of affordable 5G smartphones. Our road map will enable OEMs to design products in these segments, and we expect 5G handsets to breach the Rs 10,000 and below price points, he said.
India's merchandise and services trade deficit narrowed to a 21-month low in April as imports dropped partly due to some slackening in demand for discretionary items and oil in the Asian economy.

The merchandise trade deficit in April stood at $15.24 billion, according to a Reuters calculation based on export and import data released by the government on Monday.

The merchandise and services deficit fell to $1.38 billion compared with $8.37 billion in the same period last year. In March the overall trade deficit was $6.04 billion.


"Party leadership will take a decision. I can't replace my judgement with Kharge Sahab's judgement. He is our senior, and as you all know him. He is the son of the soil of Karnataka, and I'm sure he will not take very long," he said after the meeting of newly elected members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) in Bengaluru. After the party's victory in the Karnataka state Assembly elections, Indian National Congress (INC) leader Randeep Surjewala, late night on Sunday, said that the name of the next chief minister (CM) will be out soon. The decision will be taken by INC chief Mallikarjun Kharge.



On Saturday, the INC emerged victorious in the state securing 135 out of 224 seats. BJP and JD(S) came second and third in the race with 66 and 19 seats respectively. "Entire process of meeting individual legislators of Congress party has been completed with great bohemia. The observers met all the MLAs separately and recorded their views and now they will submit a report to the Congress leadership and after that, we will announce the next leader of the Congress Legislature Party," AICC in-charge of Karnataka elections said.

Karnataka election results 2023: Congress gets the highest vote share in 34 years

The Congress party created history by registering the biggest vote share in the Karnataka Assembly polls in the last 34 years. In the 2023 Assembly elections, the grand old party won 135 seats and recorded a vote share of 42.88 per cent. This is seen as the biggest victory for any party in Karnataka since 1989.

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So far, Karnataka had 23 chief ministers since 1952. Basavaraj Bommai served as the 23rd chief minister since 2021. In the 2018 Assembly polls, BJP emerged as the single largest party with 104 seats, Congress won 80 seats and JD(S) got 37 seats. It was in 1989 during Veerendra Patil's regime when the INC had won 178 seats with a vote share of 43.76 per cent.



The next task for the Congress is to choose a chief ministerial candidate with both state Congress Chief DK Shivakumar and former chief minister Siddaramaiah aspiring for the post. Pertinent to mention, the Karnataka election was a major victory for Congress after Kharge became party president. The Congress victory has come at a time when it is seeking momentum ahead of assembly polls later this year in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Telangana and the Lok Sabha polls next year.



After the results, outgoing CM Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday tendered his resignation to governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot. On Sunday, the Congress party said in its resolution that the decision of selecting the Chief Minister has been left in the hands of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge.



"Congratulations to the Congress Party for their victory in the Karnataka Assembly polls. My best wishes to them in fulfilling people's aspirations," PM Modi said in a tweet. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Congress over its victory in assembly polls. He appreciated the hard work of BJP workers and said that the party will serve Karnataka with even more vigour in the times to come.



Karnataka went to the polls on May 10 for the 224-member state assembly and saw a record polling of 72.68 per cent. A party needed 113 seats to get the majority. He added, "I thank all those who have supported us in the Karnataka elections. I appreciate the hard work of BJP Karyakartas. We shall serve Karnataka with even more vigour in the times to come".

Karnataka election results 2023: Region-wise tally

Six regions are considered key to winning an election in Karnataka. These are Bengaluru, Central Karnataka, Coastal Karnataka, Hyderabad Karnataka, Mumbai Karnataka and Southern Karnataka.





Bengaluru

Congress- 19 According to the data available on the website of the ECI, the results in these regions stood as follows:

JD(S)- 2 BJP- 15

Central Karnataka

Congress- 24

JD(S)- 3 BJP- 7

Coastal Karnataka

BJP- 14

JD(S)- 1 Congress- 6

Hyderabad Karnataka

Congress- 16

JD(S)- 3 BJP- 10

Mumbai Karnataka

Congress- 31

JD(S)- 2 BJP- 17

Southern Karnataka

Congress- 25


With an eye toward the future, Kanugolu is now prepared to supervise the party's election management preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In the assembly elections held in Karnataka on May 10, the Congress achieved a stunning victory, winning a total of 135 assembly seats out of 224. The grand old party had roped in poll strategist Sunil Kanugolu, who has been working with the Congress party since last year.

Who is Sunil Kanugolu?

Described a "man of ideas, with a handle on the big picture", Kanugolu maintains a low profile and does not interact much with media houses or leaders, reports said.



Sunil Kanugolu was born in Karnataka's Ballari district, where he completed his middle school education. Later, he lived in Chennai before relocating to Bengaluru, as reported by The Quint. "He has a personality that is calm but firm. He is low-profile, attention-hating, and because he always comes armed with data from field surveys, he cannot be bulldozed, and politicians find a lot of value in him in their everyday political work," a Congress insider told news channel NDTV.

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He has formerly worked for the BJP, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). He was also behind aspects of Tamil pride and the Dravidian model during the 2017 Jallikattu protests, assisting the DMK in countering the aggressive BJP. According to local media, although being a Telugu speaker, Kanugolu has roots in Karnataka and now resides in Bengaluru.



Sunil Kanugolu's history with Congress He was previously a member of Prashant Kishor's team, which played an important role in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election campaign in 2014. The poll strategist was also influential in the BJP's election campaigns in the past in various states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, and Karnataka, which the BJP won.



Kanugolu was made a member of Task Force 2024, a committee formed by Congress to carry out the Nav Sankalp (New Resolution) declaration approved in Udaipur in May 2022. In addition to Kanugolu, the team includes P Chidambaram, Mukul Wasnik, Jairam Ramesh, KC Venugopal, Ajay Maken, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Randeep Singh Surjewala. Last year, Sunil Kanugolu was brought on board to help with the party's electoral strategy for various elections across India after the party's talks with Prashant Kishor fell through.
Sharing an update with her fans, she guaranteed everybody that the entire group is fine and nothing major occurred. The actress wrote, "I'm fine guys. Thank you for your concern." Getting a lot of messages as a result of the news about our accident that is going around. The entire group, we all are fine, nothing serious, nothing major but thank you for the concern."

Adah Sharma, an actress in The Kerala Story is fine. While she and the director Sudipto Sen of her movie were supposed to attend an event together and reportedly had an accident. They met with an accident and were taken to a nearby hospital.


In March, Vanguard and Norwegian Norges Bank picked up stake in Equitas SFB. Meanwhile, FPIs picked up a large portion of the 20.5 per cent stake divested by private equity major Blackstone in Sona BLW. Equitas Small Finance Bank, or SFB and Sona BLW Precision Forgings saw the highest increase in holding by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) in percentage terms during the 2022-23 January-March quarter.



Share prices of six of the 10 companies which saw the highest reduction in FPI stake fell more than 20 per cent during the March quarter. These include Dixon Technologies (India) and HDFC Asset Management Company. Overseas investors slashed their stake by most in PVR, Pricol, and Dixon Technologies (India), reveals an analysis by PRIME Infobase.



By and large, FPI holdings rose 32 basis points on-quarter in the National Stock Exchange-listed firms in the March quarter. On the flip side, shares of Marksans Pharma and Jindal Stainless rose over 20 per cent each, while FPIs hiked stake in these companies by 10 percentage points.

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Admit cards for CUET UG 2023 will be distributed three days prior to the exam, in accordance with the official schedule that was previously made available at cuet.samarth.ac.in. The undergraduate examination will be held this year from May 21 to May 31. The tests will be directed in two shifts. The first shift will run from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., while the second shift will run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Today, at cuet.samarth.ac.in, the city intimation slips for the Common University Entrance Test, Undergraduate (CUET UG) 2023 were made available by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Students can check slips for CUET UG 2023 from the official site at cuet.samarth.ac.in. According to the standard, students will receive an Advanced City Intimation Slip from NTA at cuet.samarth.ac.in indicating the city of their exam centre well in advance.
Aryan Khan spent 22 days in jail before the NCB cleared him, citing a lack of sufficient evidence. Afterward, a separate investigation began into the allegations against Wankhede.

According to the FIR filed by the CBI against ex-narcotics official Sameer Wankhede, Shah Rukh Khan was threatened that his son Aryan would be framed in a narcotics case unless he paid Rs 25 crore.Wankhede who lead the Narcotics Control Bureau in Mumbai at the time of Aryan Khan's arrest and was transferred to the Directorate General of Taxpayer Services in Chennai in May last year.Wankhede was caught in a web of controversies after the arrest of Aryan Khan and others in an alleged drug bust on a cruise ship off Mumbai in October 2021 and is now facing allegations of corruption and criminal misconduct.Sameer Wankhede is accused of engaging in buying and selling expensive watches without disclosing this information. He also allegedly concealed details of his expenses during his foreign trips, the FIR states, according to media reports.Inquiries into the allegations against Wankhede and then intelligence officer with Narcotics Control Bureau Ashish Ranjan, "could not sufficiently justify their acquired assets as per their declared income", the FIR states. Wankhede, the FIR adds, has "not properly explained his foreign visits and had apparently mis-declared the expenditure on his foreign travels".The FIR names four accused other than Wankhede- Vishwa Vijay Singh and Ashish Ranjan, then senior officers with the NCB, and NCB witnesses KP Gosavi and his aide Sanville D'Souza.In the FIR, the CBI mentioned that while some individuals caught on the cruise were released, Aryan Khan was arrested. The FIR mentions that Gosavi, who appeared as an NCB official, was responsible for Aryan Khan's arrest.The FIR notes that Gosavi "was allowed to be present in the company of accused persons and even allowed to come to the NCB office after the raid which is against the norms for an independent witness".A demand for Rs 25 crore from the family members of Aryan Khan was made by threatening them with accusations. This amount was finally settled down to Rs 18 crore. A token amount of Rs 50 lakhs was initially taken by KP Gosavi but later a part of this amount was returned due to the case getting stuck, the FIR says.NCP leader Nawab Malik, currently in jail on corruption charges had made many of these allegations earlier.The CBI had conducted searches at the Wankhedes premises on Friday. After the CBI raids at his home, Wankhede said he "was being punished for being a patriot". "I am getting rewarded for being a patriot, yesterday 18 CBI officials raided my residence and searched it for more than 12 hours while my wife and children were present in the house. They found Rs 23,000 and four property papers. These assets were acquired before I joined the service," he said.The CBI has sent Wankhedes phone to a forensic lab to retrieve data. A team of specialists has been assigned this task.
Cotton farmers will take out a rally in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra on May 18 to demand a subsidy of Rs 5,000 per quintal and financial assistance for the crop growers who suffered losses due to "excessive" rains, a farm activist said on Monday.

In a press release, farm activist Kishore Tiwari said that cotton has been cultivated in record 10.2 million hectares this year as the price of the key textile component had touched Rs 14,000 a quintal last year.

However, prices dropped to Rs 7,500 per quintal which has forced many debt-trapped cotton farmers to end their lives, he said. This year, 40 per cent of cotton crops got damaged due to "excessive" rains, he said.

Tiwari claimed that 3,300 cotton farmers committed suicide in Maharashtra this season.

To call the attention of the central and state governments, a protest rally of cotton farmers is being organised on May 18 in Pandharkawada (Yavatmal) which is an epicentre of farmer suicides, where unsold cotton will be put on fire, he said.

The protesting farmers want the government to announce a subsidy of Rs 5,000 per quintal and an economic package, he said. Farm activist Vijay Jawandhia will lead the protest, said Tiwari.

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Demanding government intervention, he said cotton is the main cash crop of Maharashtra and it controls the rural and agriculture economy of the state's backward regions.

According to Tiwari, cotton export dropped to 2 million bales from 6 million bales of last year due to the central government's wrong policy and lack of concern for over 2 crore cotton farmers in India.

Attributing the fall in exports to attempts to protect the the interest of textile mill owners, he claimed that there has been a record import of 3 million bales of cotton.
The special court in Pune on Monday extended till May 16 the police custody of DRDO scientist Pradeep Kurulkar, arrested on charges of providing confidential information to a Pakistani agent.

Seeking an extension of Kurulkar's custody, the prosecution said his mobile phone needs to be analysed. "Police had to open the mobile phone with the help of the accused as they couldn't do so on their own," the prosecution told the judge.

The defence counsel argued that no new information has been found though the mobile phone was seized earlier. Kurulkar, a director at one of the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) labs in Pune, was arrested by the Maharashtra police's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on May 3.

The scientist was allegedly in touch with an agent of a Pakistan Intelligence Operative through WhatsApp and video calls, an ATS official said last week, adding it was a case of a honeytrap.

After his arrest, an offence under relevant sections of the Official Secrets Act was registered against Kurulkar.

The prosecution had informed the court that they had seized a phone on which the PIO (Person of Indian Origin) agent had messaged the accused using an Indian number. Kurulkar had allegedly travelled to five to six countries on a diplomatic passport and the prosecution wanted to know whom he met during these trips.

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Delhi government has issued a show cause notice to IAS officer and services department secretary Ashish More for not complying with its direction to replace him with a new officer, threatening disciplinary action against him.

More was removed by the Delhi government from his post on Thursday last week, hours after the Supreme Court gave the AAP dispensation control over the transfer and posting of officers in the state.

No reply from More was received on the show cause notice issued to him by Services Department Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj on May 13, said a Delhi government official.

More was unavailable for his comments on the development related to his transfer.

Bhardwaj in a memo to More had sought his reply within 24 hours, over charges against him that he refused to comply with the SC verdict and direction to transfer him.

The Services minister also cited that various attempts to communicate with the officer through phone calls as well as WhatsApp messages did not bore any results and he was "absconding" without informing about any leave availed by him.

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The AAP government had on Friday approached the Supreme Court alleging that the Centre was not implementing the transfer of services secretary More. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud had said a bench would be constituted to hear the matter.


The airstrip was upgraded from category 2C to 3C to enable the operations of 70-72-seater aircraft under the UDAN scheme. Work on airstrip upgrade at Mahamaya airport in Ambikapur has been completed, at ~48 crore, and commercial flights can start.



The first test flight landed on May 4 when a team of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was inspecting the place. Ambikapur, the divisional headquarters of Sarguja, has rich coal reserves, and the airport will be the fourth public-serving one in Chhattisgarh -- after Raipur, Jagdalpur, and Bilaspur.



Ambikapur airport is one of the oldest in the country. It was built in 1950 after independence. Indira Gandhi as Prime Minister landed in the airstrip in 1974. After approval from the DGCA, the state government will send a proposal to the Ministry of Civil Aviation to start flights to Delhi, Varanasi, and Raipur, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said after inspecting the airstrip.

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The length of the airstrip has increased to 1,800 metres, which is sufficient for commercial flights. The area is spread over 374 acres and the state government has asked the aviation authorities to make action plans to accommodate larger aircraft, Baghel said. The tourism of Sarguja will grow rapidly with better air connectivity, Baghel said.



We took up the issue with the aviation ministry from time to time and finally got the desired results, he added. The chief minister said the state government had been campaigning for a long time at state and national levels for the upgrade.

Located in the northern pocket of Chhattisgarh, Sarguja has commercial importance. The Hasdeo-Arand coalfield is located in the region. Besides, the region has rich tourism potential. The hill station of Mainpat is known as the Shimla of Chhattisgarh. But it failed to find a place in national and international tourism maps because of poor connectivity.


According to a report in The Hindu citing data from Schengen Visa Statistics 2022, the five most popular and sought-after destinations for Indian travelers include France (138,000 visa applications), Switzerland (106,000), Spain (80,098) Germany (76,352), and The Netherlands (52,616). Among Schengen states, France is the most preferred destination for Indian travelers. However, it also has the highest number of visa rejections.



Some other countries with the lowest rate of rejection include Iceland (5.5 per cent), Hungary (12.1 per cent), Belgium (12.2 per cent) and Norway (14.5 per cent). However, the total number of applications was much lower for some of these countries with Iceland receiving only 1,861 applications and Belgium 4,824.

At 20.12 per cent, France has the highest visa rejection rate and 27,681 applications were rejected, the report suggests. It was followed by Spain with 18.5 per cent or 14,852 visas rejected. Even though Switzerlands rate of rejection was at 13.2 per cent, a total of 13,984 visas were denied due to the volume of applications received was high. Germany has the lowest visa rejection rate at 11.3 per cent, which amounted to 8,615 visas being denied.

What is a Schengen visa?

It is a short-stay visa that allows a person to travel to any member of the Schengen area for a period of 90 days for tourism or business purposes.

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What is the Schengen area? According to the report, the Schengen visa is issued by the appropriate authorities. It is worth noting that one cannot enter these countries without a visa.
The Gujarat International Finance Tec-City in Gandhinagar presents an unprecedented ecosystem for crucial economic development, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said on Monday.

Khandu, who is currently visiting Gujarat, said the Sardar Sarovar Dam is an engineering marvel of modern India that is progressing at a "scorching speed" under the "visionary leadership" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Glad to have visited Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) in Gandhinagar district of Gujarat. It is being developed as a state-of-the-art financial hub. It is a pre-eminent, futuristic city built on the foundation of sustainability. GIFT City presents an unprecedented ecosystem for crucial economic development," he said on Twitter.

The Arunachal Pradesh chief minister also visited the automatic waste collection and sewage treatment and the utility tunnel at GIFT City.

He said the tunnel will accommodate all the utilities, including power cables, raw water supply pipeline to the water treatment plant as well as treated water supply pipeline, chilled water supply from district cooling pipe, automated waste collection pipeline.

The tunnel is divided into wet and dry sections to ensure safety, he added.

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"Kudos to the vision of Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji for turning his vision of making India's first operational greenfield smart city a reality," he said.

Khandu on Sunday visited the Sardar Sarovar Dam along with ministerial colleagues Wangki Lowang, Alo Libang and a 50-member delegation of Arunachal Pradesh's community-based organisations.

"Also visited the 1,450 MW power plant of the dam. We were explained how the dam has transformed people's lives and local economy by generating employment opportunities, addressing irrigation and power needs of the people. Indeed, an incredible asset has been created for the people of Gujarat and the nation," he said.


Additionally, this number will be linked with the offender's Aadhaar number in the case of an individual and PAN in the case of a company. The government is planning a unique code for each entity that is accused of economic offences, reported The Times of India (TOI). The identification number will be called the 'Unique Economic Offender Code' which will be unique for each company or individual.



Moreover, this will help facilitate a smoother probe by multiple agencies. At present, one agency has to conclude its investigation and share its findings with other investigations agencies before they can begin their probe. The Central Economic Intelligence Bureau under the finance ministry has created a repository of about 250,000 such offenders. The government believes that having a unique code for each of these offenders will ensure faster and more effective action against these entities.



The mechanism will identify economic offenders of all types. From fugitives like Vijay Mallya to prominent personalities like former Finance Minister P Chidambaram or former Deputy CM of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, details of all these people will be recorded in the database. All of them will be identified with a unique Economic Offender Code. Quoting sources, TOI reported that this unique code will be alpha-numeric in nature and carry PAN and Aadhaar details to tag cases of economic offences. The code will provide the government with a 360-degree profile of such offenders.

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National Economic Offence Records (NEOR) will serve as the central database for information on all the economic offenders. It is being developed at a cost of Rs 40 crore and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is responsible for coordinating and completing the project with the help of the National Informatics Centre (NIC).


Some of the other important cases by the apex court are: The Supreme Court on Monday heard some crucial cases, during which the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) told the SC that it was not investigating the Adani group since 2016 and termed such claims factually baseless".



- The Supreme Court deferred to August 14 its hearing on CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat's plea related to the non-registration of FIRs against BJP MPs Anurag Thakur and Pravesh Verma for their alleged hate speeches in connection with the anti-CAA protests. - The NIA opposed a plea by activist Gautam Navlakha, who is under house arrest in a public library in Mumbai in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, that he be shifted to a house in the Alibag area of Maharashtra's Raigad.



- The court refused to entertain a plea challenging the Bombay High Court order which had dismissed a petition against Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju over their remarks on the judiciary and the collegium system for appointment of judges. - It said it will hear on Tuesday a plea challenging the Kerala High Court order refusing to stay the release of the movie "The Kerala Story" which hit theatres on May 5.

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- It also refused to entertain a plea seeking directions to clean rivers Ganga and Yamuna and monitor the action plan for their rejuvenation, saying there is a specialised tribunal for this. - The apex court turned down a plea seeking directions to include details of missing persons from every household in the census.



- The High Court reserved its order on a PIL seeking to direct police to ask complainants if they are willing to undergo scientific tests such as narco analysis, polygraph, and brain-mapping, a provision the plea claimed would help control "fake cases". Here's a list of some important cases heard by the Delhi High Court:



- The high court has directed the Delhi government and the DMRC to explore the possibility of installation of advanced cardiac life support facilities at the three major interchange stations in Kashmere Gate, Rajiv Chowk, and Hauz Khas. - Former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain approached the HC seeking to quash an FIR registered against him for alleged rioting in relation to the violence that erupted here in February 2020.
Delhi High Court has directed the city government and the DMRC to explore the possibility of installation of advanced cardiac life support facilities at the three major interchange stations in Kashmere Gate, Rajiv Chowk and Hauz Khas.

A bench of Justice Manmohan and Justice Saurabh Banerjee also asked the city government and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to file a fresh status report before the next date of hearing.

The high court, in 2018, initiated a PIL on its own on the requirement of basic life support systems at various public places.

During the recent hearing, the counsel for the Delhi government submitted that it is in the midst of talks with the district authorities of Tis Hazari courts and Rouse Avenue courts to install the advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) service on the premises.

The government counsel further said it has provided three ACLS ambulances at the three major interchange metro stations -- Kashmere Gate, Rajiv Chowk and Hauz Khas -- as of now.

The counsel for the DMRC said there is space available at these three interchange stations for installation of ACLS facilities.

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In its May 8 order, the bench said, "In view of the statement, counsel for the DMRC and the Delhi government are directed to explore the possibility of installation of ACLS facility at the three major interchange metro stations forthwith. Let a fresh status report be filed before the next date of hearing."



The court listed the matter for further hearing on August 1.

Earlier, it had directed the city government to ensure the installation of ACLS service on the high court premises before December 2022.

The high court had also asked the Delhi government to explore the possibility of either stationing ACLS ambulances at district courts or erecting porta cabins for the service.

In 2018, it asked various authorities, including the Centre, Delhi government, Railways, DMRC and the courts, to inform what steps had been taken to establish centres providing basic cardiac life support (BCLS) and ACLS.

Last year, in pursuance to its query on if BCLS as well as ACLS facilities were available at the high court and the district courts here, the counsel for the high court handed over a status report on behalf of the registrar general.

According to the status report, ACLS facility is not available at Patiala House, Karkardooma, Dwarka and Rouse Avenue courts.

The report had said Patiala House and Rohini courts do not have the physical infrastructure for setting up an ACLS centre and the Tis Hazari court has one ACLS ambulance stationed daily to transport patients to nearby Delhi government empanelled private hospitals.

It had further said that the Rohini court has one Centralised Accident and Trauma ambulance with essential equipment, a driver and an emergency medical technician to provide 24-hour service.


The centre was inaugurated on April 27 and conducted its first workshop on Monday. The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has established a Centre for Responsible Artificial Intelligence (CeRAI) to promote the ethical and responsible development of artificial intelligence (AI)-based solutions. Google has contributed $1 million to the centre.



The primary objective of CeRAI will be to produce high-quality research outputs, such as publishing research articles in high-impact journals/conferences, white papers, and patents, among others. It will work towards creating technical resources such as curated datasets (universal as well as India-specific), software, toolkits, etc, in the domain of responsible AI. "To help build a foundation of fairness, interpretability, privacy, and security, we are supporting the establishment of a first-of-its-kind multidisciplinary Center for Responsible AI with a grant of $1 million to the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras," said Sanjay Gupta, country head and vice president (India), Google.



"It is very important that those at the policymaking level and those who are working at the cutting-edge of developing technologies are aware of the risks and challenges that remain while we are using the same technologies for solving societal problems, ensuring access to healthcare, making healthcare more affordable and making education more inclusive and making agriculture more productive. There is a need for a non-biased and non-discriminatory AI framework as we have unique requirements that require customization as per our requirements," said Abhishek Singh, managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of Digital India Corporation. The centre will also provide sector-specific recommendations and guidelines for policymakers related to generative AI. It will also conduct training and sensitisation programmes for the ethical and responsible use of generative AI.

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In the initiative, CeRAI will engage with Nasscom, Vidhi Legal, and CMC Vellore among others.
India is committed to promoting cultural dialogue, encouraging shared learning, and strengthening cooperation among G20 members, while also giving due consideration to the unique cultural contexts and heritage of each nation, said Union Culture and Tourism Minister G. Kishan Reddy here on Monday.

Reddy was addressing the inaugural session of the G-20 second Culture Working Group meeting here. Reddy, along with Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai attended the inaugural session of the meeting.

Addressing the delegates, Reddy said culture plays an important role in global policymaking, as it leads to more inclusive and sustainable solutions to address contemporary challenges.

In this light, the G20 Culture working group plays a pivotal role in fostering collaboration and promoting dialogue among members, he said.

"By pursuing a collective vision, we aim to create a more equitable and culturally aware global policy landscape that acknowledges the immense value of cultural diversity. The role of culture in promoting social cohesion, fostering intercultural dialogue, and promoting mutual understanding cannot be overstated," the Minister pointed out.

"The ancient Indian philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (Whole world is a family) beautifully connects with the concept of unity in diversity, as it promotes the idea that despite our differences in culture, religion, language, or ethnicity, we are all a part of one global family", he opined.

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Highlighting the importance of cultural exchange, Reddy said that it can contribute to sustainable development by promoting local economies, preserving cultural heritage, and supporting community development. "It is our duty to build upon the foundation laid by previous presidencies, to ensure that culture remains a key focus in the G20 agenda," he said.

The Culture Minister further said that local traditions and knowledge can teach about caring for the environment and using resources wisely. People who have lived close to nature for many years know how important it is to live in balance with the environment. "By incorporating their knowledge and practices into modern sustainable development strategies, we can create a more resilient and sustainable future," Reddy stated.

Emphasizing culture as a vital component in creating a pro-planet society, he said the G20 Culture Working Group can significantly advance the current efforts to put culture at the center of global policymaking. "By working towards this goal, we can foster a more inclusive, equitable, and environment-friendly global community", he added.

Rai underlined the co-timing of India's G20 presidency and the beginning of its journey of "Amrit Kaal" and said India is moving towards making itself a futuristic, prosperous, inclusive and developed nation by the time it completes 100 years of its independence.

Referring to the Prime Minister's vision of only one world instead of any First World or Third World, the MoS said India envisions collective effort of the entire world to ensure a better future. This meeting is not just a diplomatic meeting, but a new responsibility of India- a country that has generated unforeseen inquisitiveness across the globe to be known and to be understood, he added.

Culture Secretary Govind Mohan described the theme of G20 as exuding a powerful message of pursuing a just and equitable growth for all globally.

Delegates from the G20 members, guest nations, and international organizations participated in the deliberation on two priority areas as outlined by the CWG over three sessions today.

A set of cultural experiences have been curated for the delegates through the course of their visit. These include a visit to heritage sites like the Konark temple and the Udayagiri Caves. The delegates will also experience special dance performances native to the State of Odisha such as Singari (tribal), Sambalpuri, Odissi and Gotipua dance.

Besides, an exhibition titled aSustain: The Craft Idiom' has been organised at Kala Bhoomi - Odisha Crafts Museum in Bhubaneswar.

--IANS

bbm/shb/
A free trade agreement between India and four-nation bloc EFTA will help enhance two-way commerce, investment flows, job creation and economic growth, an official statement said on Monday.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who is in Brussels, has discussed modalities of engagement for working towards a comprehensive Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with representatives of European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states - Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

On April 26 here, both sides discussed ways to resume negotiations for the agreement.

India and the EFTA statesdiscussed the modalities of engagement for working towards a comprehensive TEPA, a press communique issued after conclusion of the talks said.

It said the delegations agreed to ramp up their efforts and continue discussions at a steady pace, with several more meetings planned over the coming months, to arrive at a common understanding on critical issues pertaining to TEPA.

Both sides emphasised on the importance of building their discussions on principles of trust and respect for each other's sensitivities to achieve a fair, equitable and balanced agreement, it added.

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Indeed, a TEPA between EFTA and India could bring significant economic benefits, such as integrated and resilient supply chains and new opportunities for businesses and individuals on both sides leading to increased trade and investment flows, job creation, and economic growth, it said.

Goyal held meetings with Guy Parmelin, Swiss Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research; Einar Gunnarsson, Ambassador, Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission of Iceland in Geneva; Kurt Jger, Ambassador, Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission of Liechtenstein to EFTA; and Erik Andreas Underland, Specialist Director at the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Fisheries.

A free trade agreement between the two regions is officially dubbed as TEPA.

Under such pacts, two trading partners significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties on the maximum number of goods traded between them, besides easing norms to promote trade in services and investments.

EFTA countries are not part of the European Union (EU).

EFTA is an inter-governmental organisation for the promotion and intensification of free trade. It was founded as an alternative for states that did not wish to join the European Community.

India's exports to EFTA countries during April-February 2022-23 stood at USD 1.67 billion as against USD 1.74 billion in 2021-22. Imports aggregated at USD 15 billion during the 11-month period as compared to USD 25.5 billion in 2021-22. The trade gap is in favour of the EFTA group.
A 39-year-old Indian money lender has been allegedly shot dead by a policeman over a 2.1 million shillings (Rs 46,000) loan in Kampala, Ugandan media reports said.

Police constable Ivan Wabwire, 30, who has been arrested, opened fire with an AK-47 at Uttam Bhandari inside Raja Chambers along Parliamentary Avenue in Kampala on May 12, according to the Kampala Metropolitan Police.

The Police Flying Squad Unit and the local police in Busia arrested Wabwire on May 14 as he tried to cross to neighbouring Kenya, Kampala-based newspaper Daily Monitor, reported.

According to the police, Bhandari was the director of TFS financial services and Wabwire a client. The two met and developed a misunderstanding about the amount of money the cop owed to the firm.

Wabwire has reportedly been servicing two loans since 2020.

The first loan was deducted directly from his salary, while the second one was not, Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango said.

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When he was told the loan repayment amount on May 12 for the second loan, he got incensed and reportedly started arguing, dismissing the figure claiming that it was inflated.

"One of the workers who was inside said the officer first shot at the CCTV cameras inside the office. Everybody who was inside took off. We still don't know what happened thereafter. We have called our CCTV team to come and retrieve the footage and analyse to see what happened," Onyango told Daily Monitor.

He added that after shooting, Wabwire jumped on a boda boda bike and rushed to Central Police Station in Kampala where he abandoned his murder weapon, an AK-47, and fled.

Detectives who visited the gunfire scene in the aftermath of the shooting recovered 13 cartridges.

Police further said that Wabwire has a history of mental instability and he was banned in 2018 from possessing a firearm for six years after being admitted to a hospital twice over the mental breakdown.

Wabwire, who is now being held at Busia police station in eastern Uganda, stole the gun from a fellow policeman and roommate, Steven Mulambo, also in police custody.

Bhandari's body has been kept at Mulago city mortuary as investigations continue.

Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Geoffrey Tumusiime Katsigazi, met the Indian community in Uganda and assured them of their safety and security, according to online news portal, Nile Post.

Uganda has seen a spurt in gun violence in the month of May alone with outspoken vlogger Ibrahim Tusubira alias Jjaja Iculi shot dead with multiple pistol gunshots in the capital on May 6.

A 26-year-old private security guard Peter Ochoroi shot and killed his colleague on May 13 over a disagreement.

On May 2, a bodyguard rained at least 28 gunshots on his boss, Charles Engola, a state minister for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations.

--IANS

mi/ksk/
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conducted a series of high-level discussions including at the India Trilateral Forum on Monday as part of his first visit to Sweden, which currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Along with his Swedish counterpart Tobias Billstrom, Jaishankar covered a wide range of issues during the inaugural session of the Trilateral Forum which includes India, Europe and the US.

"Jointly participated in the India Trilateral Forum with FM @TobiasBillstrom in Stockholm this morning," tweeted Jaishankar.

"An energetic conversation on a wide-range of contemporary issues," he said.

Earlier during a meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, the minister said that he conveyed the personal greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Value his commitment towards strengthening the India-Sweden relationship, he said.

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He also tweeted after a "good discussion" with Henrik Landerholm, the National Security Advisor of Sweden, during which the duo exchanged strategic assessments of Europe and Indo-Pacific. This followed a meetings with Dr Andreas Norln, Speaker of the Riksdag of Sweden on Monday morning, during which Jaishankar said he welcomed contacts between our two Parliamentary democracies; also exchanged perspectives on our respective regions.

On Sunday, Jaishankar held wide ranging discussions with his Swedish counterpart and exchanged views on Indo-Pacific, European strategic situation and de-risking the global economy.

Jaishankar is on a three-day visit to Sweden to participate in the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum (EIPMF).

"Wide ranging discussions with FM @TobiasBillstrom as India and Sweden mark 75 years of diplomatic ties. Committed to taking bilateral cooperation to a higher level. Exchanged views on Indo-Pacific, European strategic situation and de-risking the global economy, he tweeted.

Jaishankar's visit to Sweden is his first as the external affairs minister. The trip comes at a time when India and Sweden are celebrating 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations.

He also met Sweden's Defence Minister Pal Jonson and the two leaders had "useful exchange of views on regional and global security."



On Sunday evening in Stockholm, the minister expressed his delight following an interaction with the Indian community in Sweden.

"Apprised them of the progress in our bilateral relationship as we mark 75 years of diplomatic ties. Sweden is valued as a member of the EU, a Nordic partner and a fellow multilateralist. Spoke about the transformations underway in India that enhance our global profile and create opportunities for Indians abroad, he said.

From Sweden, Jaishankar will head to Brussels for the first meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council, where he will be joined by Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Textiles Piyush Goyal and Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday rejected demands made by 10 MLAs including 7 from his own party, for a separate administration for the Kuki-dominated districts of the northeastern state, stating, "the territorial integrity of Manipur will be protected".

The chief minister, who had made an air-dash to Delhi on Sunday to confer with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, said measures are being taken to ensure that militants, who had signed a peace pact dubbed suspension of operations', return to their designated camps.

Singh also appealed to people not to hold dharnas or rallies in view of the sensitive phase the state has been witnessing since race riots between the majority Meiteis and the Kukis earlier this month.

He also said no force would be used to break the blockades imposed by some groups on highways in the state in the wake of the rioting, and instead efforts would be made to reason with these demonstrators.

The chief minister, who was speaking to reporters at a press conference here, said, "I assure the people that the territorial integrity of Manipur will be protected at all costs".

"Measures are being undertaken with the supervision of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to make the SoO (Suspension of Operations) groups return to their camps and strengthen efforts to bring normalcy back to the state," he added.

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Singh said that he and his ministers, who had travelled to Delhi with him, had briefed Shah about the prevailing situation in the state and "conveyed to him the sentiments of the people of Manipur on the situation" as also intelligence "on the involvement of armed militants in the recent violence".

Clashes broke out in Manipur after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

The violence was 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.

Some 10,000 army and para-military personnel the had to be deployed to bring back normalcy in the northeastern state.
A medical student suffered head injuries in a scuffle between two groups over 'The Kerala story' movie at a hostel here, sparking protests in Government Medical College (GMC) with participants demanding an inquiry and appropriate action against culprits.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jammu Chandan Kohli said an investigation into the matter is underway.

"There has been an incident of scuffle between some students and outsiders in GMC hostel Jammu. Cognisance of the matter has been taken and investigation is going on," the SSP said.

The protesting students said the scuffle took place after late Sunday night when a student shared a link of the controversial film in the official group of the first-year students, which was objected by one of his batchmates, stating that the group is meant for academic purposes only.

The student, who had objected to the sharing of the link, was later confronted and assaulted inside the hostel, leading to a scuffle as more and more students along with some outsiders joined the ruckus.

The students alleged that members of a right-wing group were brought into the hostel from outside, who shouted religious slogans and attacked one of the students with a sharp-edged object, injuring him in the head. Two more students also sustained injuries in the assault.

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The outsiders fled after police rushed to the scene to control the situation.

A group of students boycotted their classes and assembled outside GMC hospital this morning to press for an inquiry and demand appropriate action against the culprits.

"It was a deliberate attempt to disturb the peaceful atmosphere. The Kerala story movie is not some holy sculpturePeople have different opinions with regard to the controversial film," a student said, demanding that culprits be identified and appropriate actions be taken against them as a deterrent to ensure a peaceful atmosphere on the campus.

He said the CCTV footage is available to nail the culprits.

Principal GMC Shashi Sudhan Sharma visited the protesting students and assured them that action will be taken as per the law of the land.


Mumbai metro officials say they are aiming to start phase-1 of the project between Aarey Colony and Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) by this December and the second phase by next June. The service trials of trains in phase-1 will start by this October and operations by December, said an MMRCL official. With the Maharashtra government setting a new deadline of March next year to complete the entire Rs 33,400 crore Mumbai Metro line 3 project, Indias leading construction companies, led by L&T and Tatas, are racing against time to finish the construction work before the new deadline.



Construction major L&T, which won two of the seven contracts, has already started giving finishing touches to the four metro stations in South Mumbai and three in the Marol-Aarey stretch. Both of L&Ts projects, monitored daily by the firm's MD and CEO S N Subrahmanyan at the corporate headquarters, were among the first to finish the tunnelling work, laying of tracks and construction of stations. In a visit to the site on May 11, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde surveyed the project and asked the contractors to complete the project by next March instead of the earlier deadline of June 2024.



The entire section was divided into seven packages and construction contracts were awarded to five consortiums so as to minimise construction time. In 2016, L&T, HCC, Soma Enterprises, Tata Projects, Kumar Infrastructures won the contracts to build the projects along with their overseas partners. Of this, L&T won two packages between CST and three stations (Marol Naka, MIDC and Seepz) and associated tunnels. We used first-of-their-kind tunnelling methods in South Mumbai to ensure there is no damage to heritage structures even as we complete the project on time, Palwinder Singh, project manager of L&T, said at the site near Nariman Point. "The Mumbai metro project was extremely complex due to the proximity of sea and marshy land of the metropolis," he added.

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But the project, which was originally planned to start by 2021 end, was delayed after the previous government led by Uddhav Thackeray stopped work at the Aarey depot, citing environmental concerns and lack of labour due to Covid pandemic. The work between BKC and CST is slower than the other sections, risking the March deadline to start phase-2 of the project, said a source. Ashwini Bhide, MD of MMRC said over 87 per cent of phase-1 construction of Mumbai Metro is completed. Multiple small works are to be completed before integrated testing begins, she said.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president D K Shivakumar, a strong contender for the Chief Minister's post, said he has not received any call from the party's central leadership to discuss the issue.

When asked whether he will be appointed the Chief Minister, he said: "I don't know. I have done whatever job was given to me. We have sent a one-line resolution to Delhi."



He also said the government will be formed at an auspicious time.

Amid speculation that he has been asked to come to the national capital by the high command, he said: "I have not received any call yet. Let's see."



On when the new government would be formed, Shivakumar said, "We will see an auspicious day of the week, auspicious moment and auspicious 'muhurta'."



Shivakumar is engaged in an intense competition with senior party leader Siddaramaiah for the Chief Minister's post.

The Karnataka Congress Legislaure Party at its meeting on Sunday unanimously passed a resolution authorising AICC President M Mallikarjun Kharge to choose the new Chief Minister of the state.

In the May 10 Assembly polls to the 224-member House, the Congress won 135 seats, the BJP 66 and the JD(S) 19. The results were declared on May 13.

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A senior government official told the newspaper that the team will have three members. Two officials will be from the IT ministry, while the third will be an independent member with expertise in law and public policy. The three-member body will be responsible to coordinate with other government departments for fact-checking. The Government of India is planning to constitute a fact-checking team under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to verify any published information regarding the government on social media, an Economic Times (ET) report said.



Putting aside the criticism, government officials said that the proposed MeitY-led fact-checking body would verify news items for the facts and information they carry. It will not analyse or screen opinions published by news platforms. Notably, the government was previously planning to appoint the Press Information Bureau (PIB) as the agency responsible for fact-checking. The decision drew harsh criticism from the supporters of free speech in the country. Speaking on the government's decision, the Editors Guild of India had said that this could lead to "censorship of free speech in the country."



Previously, Kunal Kamra, a comedian, had filed a plea in the Bombay High Court to challenge the proposed changes in the Information Technology Rules of 2022. His petition said the set-up of the fact-checking unit makes it "a judge and prosecutor in its own cause, thus violating one of the most fundamental principles of natural justice." Quoting govt officials aware of the developments, the report added that it would be mandatory for the three-member team to justify their decision as they issue take-down orders publicly. This mechanism will ensure that everybody understands the reason behind any removal orders.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday flagged off the maiden flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here.

A total of 174 travellers aboard the first direct flight from Dubai to Bhubaneswar, which landed at 4 pm, were welcomed by state ministers Aswini Kumar Patra and Tukuni Sahu.

A total of 170 passengers boarded the Dubai-bound flight from Bhubaneswar. They were presented with 'Uttariya' (traditional stole), sweets and flowers, before the flight took off at 6 pm.

Speaking on the occasion, Patnaik said aligning Odisha with a global tourism destination such as Dubai will bring in industrial development by facilitating investments, promote tourism and increase connection with the Odia diaspora.

He said Dubai being a major tourism junction in West Asia, provides a gateway to European and American markets.

Besides people who had booked their tickets after Utkal Dibasa on April 1, various sportspersons and delegates from Mission Shakti, World Skill Centre, Special Development Council and Panchayati Raj, who were felicitated at Naveen Nivas, the CM's house, earlier in the day, boarded the Dubai-bound flight.

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A one-side trip will cost Rs 10,000 per person, and the return journey will be at Rs 20,000, an official said.

The flight services will be run by IndiGo Airlines thrice a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The flight will depart Dubai at 11.25 am and reach Bhubaneswar at 5.20 pm. In the return journey, it will depart the Odisha capital at 6.30 pm and reach the city in the United Arab Emirates at 9.45 pm, the official said.

The state government is also working to start direct flights to Bangkok and Singapore from next month to boost connectivity with southeast Asia, he added.
Lashing out at the Shehbaz Sharif government on Monday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson and former Prime Minister and Imran Khan issued a call for peaceful protests against a 'threat' to the sanctity of the Supreme Court and the Constitution of Pakistan, media reports said.

"All citizens be ready for peaceful protests as once again Constitution and SC destroyed, it is the end of the Pak dream", he said in a tweet, Express Tribune reported.

The former Prime Minister condemned the arrests of PTI workers and protesters in the aftermath of his arrest and subsequent rioting last week.

"So without any investigation into who was responsible for arson on government building or dozens of deaths of unarmed protesters by bullet wounds, around 7,000 PTI workers, leadership and our women have been jailed with plans to ban the largest and only federal party in Pak (sic)," he said.

The deposed Prime Minister has further called out the country's security forces for colluding with the federal government in what he described as subversion of the Constitution. "Meanwhile these goons are being facilitated by our security agencies to take over the SC and subvert the constitution [sic]," he said as he shared clips of people climbing over a gate and entering the Red Zone at the Pakistan Democratic Movement's (PDM) protest outside the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday.

On May 9, personnel of the paramilitary Rangers barged into the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises, where Imran Khan had appeared in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case to face graft proceedings against him, and whisked the former premier away in a whirlwind raid carried out on the National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) behalf.

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--IANS

san/d
A case has been registered against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut in Maharashtra's Nashik for allegedly creating discord between the police and the public by his statement, said a police official.

"A case registered in Mumbai Naka Police Station u/s 505(1)(b) of IPC against Uddhav faction leader and MP Sanjay Raut for allegedly creating discord between the police and the public by his statement," Nashik City Police said.

IPC Section 505 (1) (b) deals with the 'intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility'.

Officials said that Police have taken suo moto cognizance of Raut's remarks and an FIR was registered at Nashik's Mumbai Naka police station.

"Sanjay Raut in a statement against the state government said that the present government is illegal and their orders should not be followed," they said.

"Further investigation is underway," they added.

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The Rajasthan government on Monday transferred and posted a total of 74 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers and six district collectors.

According to a transfer list of 59 officers issued by the personnel department, the districts whose collectors were changed include Barmer, Alwar, Ajmer, Jhunjhunu and Bharatpur. Along with this, the divisional commissioner of Kota and Ajmer has also been changed.

Senior IAS officer Veenu Gupta has been posted as Additional Chief Secretary Industries and Commerce. Dr. Subodh Agrawal as Additional Chief Secretary, Public Health Engineering, Delhi and Shubhra Singh as Additional Chief Secretary, Medical and Health Department.

IAS Kunjilal Meena has been removed from the post of Principal Secretary, Urban Development and Housing Department after his name came up in the bribery case. He has been posted as Director General at Indira Gandhi Panchayati Raj Institute.

IAS Alok Gupta will now be the Principal Secretary to the Governor. The responsibility of the post of Commissioner of Jaipur Development Authority has been handed over from Dr. Jogaram.

Dr. Pratibha Singh has been appointed as the new Divisional Commissioner of Kota and Chauthi Ram Meena as the new Divisional Commissioner of Ajmer.

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In another order, 15 IAS Officers have been posted as special officers in the newly formed districts.
The Supreme Court on Monday deferred to August 14 its hearing on CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat's plea related to non-registration of FIRs against BJP MPs Anurag Thakur and Pravesh Verma for their alleged hate speeches in connection with the anti-CAA protests.

Karat has challenged a Delhi High Court's order dismissing a petition against a trial court's refusal to order registration of FIRs against the two BJP leaders.

A bench headed by justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna posted the matter for further hearing in august after advocate Rajat Nair, appearing for the Delhi Police commissioner, sought time to file his response on the plea.

The top court on April 17 had issued a notice and sought the response of the Delhi Police.

The apex court had then observed that prima facie the magistrate's stand that sanctions under section 196 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) was required for lodging FIRs against the two BJP leaders was not correct.

On June 13 last year, the Delhi High Court had dismissed the petition filed by Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Karat as well as her party colleague KM Tiwari against the two BJP MPs for their alleged hate speeches.

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The high court had refused to interfere with the trial court's order, saying under the law, sanction is required to be obtained from the competent authority for registration of FIRs in the present facts.

The petitioners had claimed in their complaint before the trial court that Thakur, a Union minister, and Verma had sought to "incite people as a result of which three incidents of firing took place at two different protest sites in Delhi".

The petitioners alleged that at a rally in Rithala here on January 27, 2020, Thakur egged on the crowd to raise an incendiary slogan -- "shoot the traitors"-- after lashing out at anti-CAA protesters of Shaheen Bagh.

They claimed Verma, too, made inflammatory speeches against the Shaheen Bagh protesters on January 28, 2020.

The trial court had on August 26, 2021, dismissed the petitioners' complaint on the ground that it was not sustainable as the requisite sanction from the central government, which was the competent authority, had not been obtained.

In their complaint, Karat and Tiwari had sought FIRs against the two BJP leaders under various Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections, including 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc.), 153-B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs).

They had also sought action under other IPC sections, including 298 (uttering, words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation).

The maximum punishment for the offences is a jail term of seven years.
Karnataka state Congress president D K Shivakumar will reach Delhi on Tuesday for discussion with the party leadership on the government formation in the state, his brother and party MP D K Suresh said.

Amid intense lobbying for the chief minister's post, the Congress leadership called Shivakumar and former chief minister Siddaramaiah -- the two frontrunners -- to Delhi for discussions on Monday. Siddaramaiah reached Delhi Monday afternoon, but Shivakumar cancelled his visit at the last minute citing health issues.

Later in the evening, D K Suresh, the Congress MP from Bengaluru Rural, met party chief Mallikarjun Kharge at the latter's residence and thereafter told reporters that his brother will be visiting Delhi on Tuesday.

"Yes, he will be coming tomorrow," D K Suresh said in response to a question from reporters.

After the Congress made a spectacular comeback in Karnataka winning 135 of the 224 seats, the party is now faced with the challenge of picking the chief minister.

The Congress Legislature Party, which met in Bengaluru on Sunday, authorised party president Kharge to pick its leader, who will be the chief minister.

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The feud between the two became public on Sunday when Afghan media published a letter from Afghans living in India accusing the present ambassador and other officials of corruption. The Taliban regime in Afghanistans move to recall Afghan Ambassador to India Farid Mamundzay and name the current Trade Counsellor, Qadir Shah, as the Charge DAffaires (acting ambassador) in his place has presented a difficult choice for the governments approach to the countrys situation and its engagement with the Taliban.



However, unrest has been simmering within the embassy for the past month, after the Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA)s human resources director sent a letter on April 25, summoning Mamundzay and directing him to report to it in Kabul. In response, Mamundzay, the ambassador in India since 2020 and now based in Delhi, released a letter dismissing the charges as one-sided, biased, and untrue. He also blamed the collapse of the democratic system in Afghanistan for the extreme problems that Afghans face outside their countries.



The decision appeared to resemble what the Taliban did in China in April 2022, when the current ambassador resigned after the Taliban chose another senior diplomat to serve in the Beijing Embassy. On the same day, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi issued an order directing Trade Counsellor Shah to supervise affairs at the Afghanistan Embassy in Delhi, India and report to the Kabul government.

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The Tihar Jail administration has issued a show cause notice to the superintendent of jail number 7 for transferring two inmates to former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain's cell, officials said on Monday.

Jain had submitted an application to the jail administration requesting that two inmates be lodged with him as he was feeling depressed and lonely, they said.

The superintendent transferred the inmates without informing or discussing the matter with the administration, a senior official said.

When the jail administration came to know about it, a show cause notice was issued to the concerned officer who then transferred the inmates back, he said.

"A show cause notice has been issued to the superintendent of jail no 7 of Tihar Jail by Director General Sanjay Beniwal seeking an explanation for transferring the inmates to the former Delhi minister's cell without following certain guidelines and for not informing the jail administration before taking the step," the official said.

Jain was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case on May 31, 2022.

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Missed opportunity: India far behind in race for electronics exports to US

Unlike competing nations such as Vietnam, Malaysia and Mexico, India has failed to push electronics exports to the US by exploiting the latters imposition of a punitive 25 per cent duty on key Chinese electronics imports from 2018 .





Lobbying by lessors, faulty Pratt & Whitney engines hurt India: Go First As China saw its electronics exports fall by $29 billion in the last four years as a direct result, the punitive duty created an opportunity for other countries to replace China in the US. Read more...



Asking Aviation Working Group (AWG)  an association of aircraft lessors, engine makers, and plane makers  to pressure P&W to meet its obligation to supply engines, they claimed its members via the lobby group were trying to influence the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). Read more... The Indian aviation sector has suffered huge losses due to faulty engines supplied by American firm Pratt & Whitney, with nearly 75 aircraft currently grounded across the nation, top executives of Go First Airlines said. The grounding of aeroplanes due to issues with P&W engines has led to a spike in airfare, they said.

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Premium smartphone sales soar as Amazon India bets on 5G, tier-2+ markets

While overall smartphone shipments in India slowed down, e-commerce giant Amazon India recorded a 1.7-fold year-on-year (YoY) increase in sales of premium handsets in the first quarter of calendar year 2023. The performance rode on the coattails of skyrocketing 5G device sales and increasing demand from tier-2 and beyond markets. Read more...

Semiconductor chip prices are up 50%: Bajaj Auto EV head Eric Vas

The semiconductor chip supply for the electric two-wheeler industry has normalised but the prices are up by nearly 50 per cent compared to pre-pandemic period, said Eric Vas, President, Urbanite, the electric vehicle (EV) business of Bajaj Auto.



Vedanta's record dividend to parent strains company's balance sheet "It (the supply) has improved greatly. It has pretty much normalised. The problem is the cost. The costs remain very high. Hopefully, the costs will start correcting themselves over this fiscal year," he said in an interview with Business Standard. Read more...


At present, the Purvanchal, Lucknow-Agra, and Yamuna Expressways make it possible for a traveller to cover the Delhi-Varanasi journey in just over 10 hours. The proposed Varanasi-Kolkata greenfield expressway could make a Delhi-Kolkata trip possible in just 17 hours, according to a Times of India report. Currently, it takes several more hours to cover the route.



The project is expected to connect several key cities and towns and reduce travel time significantly. The expressway will pass through Mohania, Rohtas, Sasaram, Aurangabad, Gaya, Chatra, Hazaribagh, Ranchi, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Ramgarh, Purulia, Bankura, Paschim Medinipur, Hooghly, and Howrah. The Varanasi-Kolkata expressway is expected to become operational by 2026, officials said. It could cut the travel time between the cities to 6-7 hours. The structural layout of the Rs 3,000-crore expressway was approved in September 2021 led by the union road transport and highways secretary.



Travellers from Varanasi to Kolkata have to travel through NH-19 which forms a part of the Golden Quadrilateral. The NH-19 is six-lane, with many four-lane stretches. The demarcation of land for the project has been initiated in Chandauli, but a detailed project report is awaited, the report said.

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The expressway from Varanasi to Kolkata will start from Varanasi Ring Road in Chandauli district and meet NH-16 near Uluberia, a town in West Bengal's Howrah district, The National Highways Authority of India said.
With SEBI telling the Supreme Court that it was not investigating the Adani Group since 2016, the Congress on Monday cited a Union minister's reply in the Lok Sabha to challenge the claim and asked whether Parliament was misled or the market regulator was "fast asleep" as investors were "duped".

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) told the Supreme Court that it was not investigating the Adani Group since 2016 as claimed. The probe pertained to the issuance of Global Depository Receipts (GDRs) by 51 Indian firms and no listed company of the Adani Group was among them, it said.

The fresh rejoinder affidavit was filed by the market regulator before a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud which adjourned to Tuesday the hearing on PILs and a separate plea of the SEBI seeking extension of six months to complete a probe into allegations of stock price manipulation by the Adani Group.

Reacting to the development, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted, "The Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, told the Lok Sabha on 19th July 2021 that SEBI was investigating the Adani Group. Now SEBI tells the Supreme Court that they have not been investigating any of the serious allegations against Adani!"



"Which is worse -- misleading Parliament, or being fast asleep as lakhs of investors are duped by alleged money-laundering and round-tripping using offshore shell companies? Or even worse, was there a restraining hand from above?" he said, sharing a copy of the minister's reply in Parliament.

To a question by TMC MP Mahua Moitra as to whether Adani entities were under investigation by SEBI, Income Tax Department, Enforcement Directorate, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs for suspicious transactions, the minister had said, "Yes Ma'am. SEBI is investigating some Adani Group companies with regard to compliance with SEBI Regulations. Further, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) is investigating certain entities belonging to the Adani Group of Companies under laws administered by it."



"As far as investigation under Income Tax Act, 1961 is concerned, disclosure of information regarding specific taxpayer is prohibited except as provided under Section 138 of Act. No such investigation is going on in the Enforcement Directorate," the minister had said in the reply.

The SEBI, in its fresh affidavit, said the "investigation" referred to in the earlier reply affidavit has "no relation and/or connection to the issues referred to and/or arising out of the Hindenburg report... The matter referred to in paragraph 5 pertains to the issuance of Global Depository Receipts (GDRs) by 51 Indian listed companies in respect of which investigation was conducted. However, no listed company of Adani group was part of the aforesaid 51 companies. Pursuant to completion of investigation, appropriate actions were taken in this matter."



The Congress has been demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the allegations against the Adani Group by US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research. The Adani Group has dismissed the allegations as baseless.

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Djibouti Luban Workshop cements China-Africa friendship

People's Daily Online) 10:07, May 15, 2023

Africas first Luban Workshop, a Chinese program designed to provide technical and vocational training around the world, was launched in Djibouti in 2019. The program is named after Lu Ban, a Chinese woodcraft master from ancient times who epitomized the Chinese tradition and spirit of craftsmanship.

Photo shows the Djibouti Luban Workshop. (Photo courtesy of Tianjin Railway Technical and Vocational College)

The Djibouti Luban Workshop, together with other Luban Workshops in Africa, has cemented the China-Africa friendship.

The Djibouti Luban Workshop was jointly built by Tianjin Railway Technical and Vocational College and Tianjin First College of Commerce based in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Djibouti Industrial and Commercial High School and China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation (CCECC).

One of the aims of establishing the workshop was to cultivate local talents for the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway constructed by China Railway No. 2 Engineering Group Co., Ltd. and CCECC, the first trans-boundary electrified railway in Africa and a mega infrastructure project under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) .

Guests pose for a group photo at the launching ceremony of the Djibouti Luban Workshop, March 28, 2019. (Photo courtesy of Tianjin Railway Technical and Vocational College)

The workshop offers four majors: railway operation and management, rail engineering technology, business and logistics, all certified by local education authorities. It is blazing a trail in Djibouti's higher vocational education and railway majors, and provides three years of intensive railway skill training.

The Djibouti Luban Workshop has helped turn the dreams of young people in the country into reality.

A teacher from Tianjin Railway Technical and Vocational College (third from left) instructs teachers and students in Djibouti in April 2019. (Photo courtesy of Tianjin Railway Technical and Vocational College)

Osman, a young man in Djibouti who has had a special affection for the long rails since childhood, became one of the first 24 students at the Djibouti Luban Workshop. After graduating from the Djibouti Industrial and Commercial High School, he had difficulty finding work and decided to further his studies when he learned that the workshop offered railway majors.

"It was like a dream when I learned that there were railway majors in my country," said Osman.

Students from the Djibouti Luban Workshop take part in a training session in September 2020. (Photo courtesy of Tianjin Railway Technical and Vocational College)

As the Chinese often say, it is better to teach people how to fish than to just give them fish. The workshop trains local teachers first to promote cooperation in nurturing local railway operation and maintenance talents and transferring technologies, thus injecting vitality into the sustainable cultivation of local talents. So far, it has trained 69 local teachers and 148 students.

The first 24 students from the Djibouti Luban Workshop became interns for the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway.

"I am eager to work for the railway. It is also the dream of all students from the workshop," Osman, who will graduate this year, told People's Daily Online.

The workshop has cultivated skilled talents for the railway industry in Djibouti and significantly increased local youths' employment competitiveness.

Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh delivers a speech at the launching ceremony of the Djibouti Luban Workshop, March 28, 2019. (Photo courtesy of Tianjin Railway Technical and Vocational College)

The Djibouti Luban Workshop will contribute significantly to the cultivation of talents for Djibouti's transport industry, and is of great importance for its railway construction and industrial development, said a senior official at the country's Ministry of Education at the launching ceremony of the workshop in 2019.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI and the fifth anniversary of the operation of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway. Luban Workshops have helped countries along the Belt and Road develop a diversified pool of talents, obtain transfer of technologies, and improve employment rates, providing talent and intellectual support for local economic and social development while strengthening the China-Africa friendship.

Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh writes an inscription for the Djibouti Luban Workshop, March 28, 2019. (Photo courtesy of Tianjin Railway Technical and Vocational College)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Indian carmakers have agreed to eliminate import tax on a limited number of vehicles in a trade deal with Britain "if the need arises", according to a document seen by Reuters, offering better access to the world's third-largest automobile market.

India currently levies 70% and 100% tax on car imports which will be reduced in a phased manner to 10% by year five but only for a maximum of 46,200 vehicles, according to a proposal made by the country's leading auto lobby group to the government.

"As a fall back, 0% would also be acceptable, if the need arises during the negotiations," the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said in a submission to the commerce ministry which was seen by Reuters.

Outside of this limited quota, SIAM has proposed reducing the import tax on cars to 30% over a 10-year period, a move Reuters has previously reported. SIAM is now also willing to explore more cuts after the fifth year depending on how the overall import volume from Britain grows, it said.

SIAM, which groups car makers from India's top-seller Maruti Suzuki, to majors such as Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra, and the commerce ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

India is one of the most protected automobile markets where import taxes are among the highest in the world of any major car making nation. This has drawn the ire of companies like Tesla which shelved its entry plans last year.

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The import tax reductions are aimed at opening up the Indian market, some experts say it might not do much as the number of vehicles proposed under the scheme is small.

India sold a record 4 million cars in the country last fiscal year ending March 31, 2023. SIAM's proposal for zero duties is limited to 26,400 cars in the first year, increasing to a maximum of 46,200 over a decade.

"The number of units that will benefit from this quota should also be seen in the context of the Indian market size," said an industry source aware of the proposal, which applies only to combustion engine cars with electric, hybrid, hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles excluded.

Britain has only a handful of car factories run by the likes of Nissan, BMW and Tata's Jaguar Land Rover. SIAM's proposal on zero duties, however, is more geared towards cars with smaller engines which could provide greater benefit to companies like Nissan.

This is the first time Indian car makers have agreed to such cuts, caving to pressure from a government that wants them to give up their protectionist position.

The companies have previously argued that such a move would dry up investment in domestic manufacturing by making imports cheaper and easier for global automakers.

They also fear this could set a precedent in negotiating deals with others like the European Union (EU), Japan or South Korea, sources have previously said.

India and Britain started negotiations in January last year for a trade pact that could double trade to $100 billion by 2030.

The two countries previously missed an October 2022 deadline to conclude the deal and continue talking through the proposed deal.


The chief executives of select Urban Banks, who met RBI governor Shanktikanta Das last week, also urged the Central bank to enhance the ceiling on gold loans from Rs two lakh to Rs five lakh under the bullet repayment scheme. Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) have sought an upward revision in the ceiling for housing loans from the current limit of 15 percent of net liabilities and the creation of an independent limit for commercial real estate exposure.



As a result, most banks have not been able to benefit from the enhanced individual limit as many have already reached the sector exposure ceiling including the 5 per cent additional allocation. About the revision in norms for home loans, the National Federation of Urban Cooperative Banks and Credit Societies (NAFCUB) said the existing limits on individual housing loans have been doubled for tier-I and tier-II banks. But the sectoral exposure limit of 15 per cent to housing and commercial real estate has remained unchanged.



There could be flexibility for using the limit prescribed for (5.0 per cent) also for housing (including Prime Minister Awas Yojana). This would enable the banks to benefit from the recent enhancement in limit of individual housing loans, it added. Further, the sector has been requesting for two independent exposure limits--one for housing, the other for commercial real estate. NAFCUB suggested that the limit of 20 per cent be set for housing and a separate limit of 5 per cent for commercial real estate.

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36-year-old Hemlata, on the other hand, says that her customers have been very supportive and even want to click pictures when they see a woman delivering their parcels. 33-year-old Santoshi, who works at Ecom Express and has always had a field job, believes in greeting her customers before handing them their parcels. She says it makes them and her feel good.



Commenting on why there are fewer female delivery partners than men, Rashi Rao, director at Even Cargo, said that ignorance and stereotypes are the primary reason for women not entering the field. She added that "most women from poor resource communities were unaware of job opportunities in the logistics sector." And this is how women are making their presence felt in the otherwise male-dominated logistics industry. According to Neelesh Gupta, Director, Deloitte India, the current female workforce participation in blue-collar space is at nine per cent, whereas, for the logistics industry, it is less than one per cent.



Even though the number of women joining the industry is low, their participation in the field steadily grows. The sentiment was echoed by Liju Thomas, director of people experience and technology (PXT), India operations, Amazon, who said, "With an increasing need for manpower, efficiency, discipline, and a focus on improving diversity, companies have taken on the responsibility to hire more women across all areas of the organisation." Whereas, Mehernosh Mehta, chief human resources officer at Gati Ltd, believes that not owning a vehicle is a primary roadblock which stops women from entering the industry. Some other constraints include - a lack of supporting infrastructure at the workplace, such as women-only restrooms and secure and hygienic accommodations.

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Apart from this, Ecom Express has onboarded nearly 1,500 women delivery partners in the last five years and has the highest number of women bikers in five metro cities- Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Kolkata. Even Cargo, on the other hand, is an all-women e-commerce logistics company which has employed nearly 170 women delivery partners since its inception in 2016. Logistic companies are also launching multiple initiatives to increase the participation of women. From Amazon's "I Have Space" and "Flex Partner" programmes to Ecom Express' "all women delivery centres" and BlueDart's "Each One Refer One" programme, companies are now putting the onus on gender diversity to create a shift in the industry.



Manju Dhawan, co-founder of Ecom Express, stated that they conduct regular training on road safety, fire safety, self-defence, prevention of sexual harassment (POSH), and gender sensitisation to provide a comfortable working environment for our associates. With the steady increase in the number of women in the logistics sector, organisations are now also focusing on creating a safe working environment to ensure no gender biases or discrimination. Sonia Nair - National Head of Customer Service at Blue Dart, said that they try to set examples of inclusion by providing equal opportunities, awarding women delivery partners, and giving them a chance to be brand ambassadors.


The platform, which helps users make systematic investment plans (SIPs) with crypto, is a registered virtual asset provider with the European Central Bank (ECB). In a bid to expand its footprint to foreign countries, the crypto investment platform Mudrex has launched its platform in the European Union (EU). Mainly due to clearer regulations and investors being more aware of the crypto assets there, the company has decided to roll out its platform in Italy and then expand to other EU countries, its chief executive officer (CEO) and co-founder Edul Patel told Business Standard.



Notably, last month, the EU Parliament passed the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) act, the first comprehensive crypto regulation for digital assets to date. Patel said that the main reason they chose the EU was that there was more regulatory clarity there as compared to the other regions. The other reason was that the investors there have been exposed to crypto assets for a longer period as compared to elsewhere, especially in India.



After Italy, the company will likely launch the platform in Spain, the Netherlands and Germany. "From the perspective of asset allocation, users in Italy already perceive crypto at the same level as mutual funds or shares. The users in Italy is on an average 10-15 years older than that in India, and the majority of them are looking for safer investments," Patel said on why the company chose Italy.

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He said that India would remain the company's primary focus as it was moving in the "right direction" in terms of regulations. "Users in the EU had an early exposure to crypto as compared to Indians. So, users there have seen multiple cycles of fall and rise in crypto prices and they have a higher belief in the long-term holding of the crypto assets," Patel added.



India currently levies a 30 per cent tax on selling crypto assets and a 1 per cent tax deducted at source (TDS) on every crypto transaction. "The intention of the government is to help users understand where they are putting their money and then also set up a framework for taxation...In the next few years, we see tax rates going down leading to higher adoption among users," Patel said.

On being asked why Mudrex didn't launch in North America first, he said it was mainly due to the regulatory ambiguity in the region. However, the company has applied for licenses in Canada and may soon roll out its platform there too.


Typically, state elections have little bearing on the markets but the Congress strong showing embolden BJP opponents in the run-up to the 2024 general elections, say experts. Equity markets could be put through the wringer, following the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJPs) pounding in the Karnataka state elections.



Markets may look expensive, given that the general elections are within reach. Election years are generally not good for the markets, he adds. After the results, people might start believing that there could be a change in regime, says U R Bhat, co-founder, Alphaniti Fintech.



A clear majority in Karnataka is happening after a decade. That is likely to be interpreted as a setback for the BJP. Markets are likely to turn volatile. Investors will now wait for the next round of Assembly elections to gather cues on whether there will be continuity at the Centre, says Bhat. The scale of Congress victory in the Karnataka Assembly elections was a record in terms of both seats and vote share in nearly three decades.

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States vote differently than when you go as one nation. Maybe there could be volatility for a day or two, says Andrew Holland, chief executive officer, Avendus Capital Public Markets Alternate Strategies LLP. In the run-up to the general elections in 2024, states such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh (MP), and Chhattisgarh go to polls. However, extrapolating from state election results to national elections is fraught with risk.



If there is a change of guard, then the central government is most likely to be led by a coalition of disparate parties who might work at cross purposes, says Bhat. In 2018, the Congress won the maximum number of seats in Rajasthan, MP, and Chhattisgarh. Yet, it suffered a blow in the 2019 general elections. Experts say investors may not view a regime change positively as they favour continuity in policymaking. Also, a new government could raise concerns about higher government spending and the politics of appeasement.



The Karnataka election results may have a sentimental negative impact on the market. However, it is unlikely we will witness significant reaction from the market in response to this development, says Santosh Meena, head-research, Swastika Investmart. The market mood is bullish amid strong inflows from foreign portfolio investors. The benchmark National Stock Exchange Nifty is less than 3 per cent shy of new all-time highs.
A day after holding discussions with newly-elected MLAs in Bengaluru, Congress' three central observers met party chief Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence here on Monday evening and held deliberations over government formation in Karnataka.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, party General Secretary Jitendra Singh and party leader Deepak Babaria met Kharge at his residence along with party General Secretary, Organisation, K.C. Venugopal and General Secretary in-charge for Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Shinde, Singh and Bawaria were deputed as observers for the Karnataka CLP meeting by Kharge on Sunday afternoon. The observers had returned from Bengaluru on Monday afternoon, after they had held discussion with the party MLAs in the state on Sunday evening. They had taken the views of the newly elected MLAs in Bengaluru in one-on-one interactions late on Sunday night.

The party sources indicated that the observers informed Kharge of the views of MLAs on the new Chief Minister and the government formation in Karnataka.

Earlier in the day, senior Congress leader B.K. Hariprasad said that 'secret ballot' was used for voting in the CLP meeting and soon a decision on the Chief Minister will be taken on that report.

"Yes, secret ballot was used for polling in Karnataka during the CLP meeting. And then a one line resolution was passed authorising Kharge to take a call on CLP leader."

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He said that all the observers have gone to Delhi as the process to elect the new Chief Minister needs to be completed. "The report will be submitted with Congress President and on basis of that report, Khargeji will need to appoint the future Chief Minister of the state," Hariprasad said.

The Congress leadership has called both top contenders Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar for further discussions. Siddaramaiah has arrived in the national capital but is yet to meet Kharge.

--IANS

aks/vd
Reacting to the Karnataka election results, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday said that the results herald a positive future for the country and the people gave a befitting reply to the BJP.

"Now there is no BJP rule in any state in south India. The people of Karnataka gave a befitting reply to the BJP," the Chief Minister said.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigned in Karnataka for 10 days and conducted half a dozen road shows. This shows how desperate was BJP for winning the election. People also took the election seriously. This is the verdict that people gave after being fed up with the BJP's rule," Pinarayi Vijayan added.

According to the Election Commission of India, Congress won 135 seats pushing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) out of power in the only southern state it ruled. BJP managed to win 66 seats. Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) bagged 19 seats.

"Congress should learn from its past. BJP will not remain content in being in opposition. The BJP had tried to come to power despite losing the election. In the past, Congress MLAs have supported their attempt. Congress leadership should be careful not to repeat this," The CM said.

He claimed that there is a strong feeling prevailing in the country that BJP should not come to power again. Mentioning that Congress is not what it used to be in the past when it ruled the country with an absolute majority in the Parliament, He said: "Congress ruled the country alone for a long time. The current political situation is not like that. The aim should be to remove the BJP from power. Congress should also play a part in it."

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"In all the neighbouring states of Kerala, parties different from the Congress are in power. Congress should accept that reality," he added.

He said that if the BJP comes to power again at the centre, it will be a complete disaster for the country"

"In view of that, anti-BJP votes should be consolidated from each state. In this. context, currently good efforts are being undertaken in the country. The election result in Karnataka is a boost to all such attempts," Vijayan said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday offered to extend support to Congress in states where the latter is strong, provided her Trinamool Congress is reciprocated in the same manner by Congress in the state.

However, the state Congress leadership has snubbed the proposal from her end and said that the Chief Minister's reluctance in acknowledging the impact of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra nationally actually validates her actual impression about Congress.

"Since the beginning, I had been saying that the parties having strengths in respective regions should directly take on BJP there... like AAP in Delhi, RJD-JD-U in Bihar, Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh and DMK-Congress in Tamil Nadu and Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. We supported Congress in Karnataka, now they should reciprocate the same to us in West Bengal. It is not right that in Karnataka they will enjoy our support and oppose us in West Bengal," Banerjee said.

However, the state Congress President Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had totally rejected her claims of supporting Congress in Karnataka.

"She is claiming to raise the slogan of no vote to BJP in Karnataka. But even for once did she issue an appeal to the people of Karnataka to vote for Congress? Our fight against Trinamool Congress in West Bengal will continue," Chowdhury said.

On Saturday, after the Karnataka election results were announced, the Chief Minister, through a Twitter message as well as through her statements made to media persons, congratulated the people of Karnataka for the results. However, she remained silent about Congress even when media persons questioned her on this matter.

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"I have said whatever I had to say," she said.

Chowdhury immediately reacted and said that Trinamool is actually against a united opposition alliance. "Her (Mamata Banerjee's) party MPs abstained from voting when we fielded a united opposition candidate against Jagdeep Dhankhar in the polls for Vice President. Trinamool is also disinclined to any floor coordination within the Parliament," he said.

--IANS

src/vd


Siddramaiah landed in Delhi earlier in the day, but Shivakumar deferred his visit, attributing the delay in reaching Delhi to his birthday celebrations. By evening, Shivakumar cancelled his Delhi visit, stating that he had an upset stomach. I have some problem in my stomach. A doctor is coming in ten minutes. Its burning. It looks like some infection, and I have fever... please let me be free Shivakumar told reporters. With the Congress central leadership likely to pick Siddaramaiah as the Karnataka chief minister, the partys state unit chief D K Shivakumar on Monday cancelled his Delhi visit, conveying to the party leadership that he was upset that they reneged on the promises made to him and sent his best wishes to his rival.



In Delhi, party leaders wracked their brains at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharges residence, trying to work out a way to appease Shivakumar, considered by many in the party to have been instrumental in its dominant performance in the Old Mysuru region. Later, he told a private news channel that he felt betrayed. Sonia Gandhi told me, I have confidence in you that you will deliver Karnataka. I am sitting here, doing my regular responsibility, he told NDTV.



According to another camp in the Congress, at least 80 of the MLAs supported Siddaramaiahs leadership when the partys central observers took their view on Sunday. The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting in Bengaluru on Sunday later authorised the party president to decide on the CM nominee. Amid speculations about the number of MLAs supporting him and Siddaramaiah for the CMs post, Shivakumar said earlier on Monday that his strength is 135, as under his presidency, the party won these numbers of Assembly segments.

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Nicosia [Cyprus], May 15 (ANI): Syrian President Bashar al-Assad emerged victorious, after being shunned by Arab and Western governments for more than 12 years, as most Arab governments, realizing that he would not be toppled and would not accept their conditions, have grudgingly accepted him back to the Arab fold.

Apparently, most Arab governments see that they have to recognize Assad's rule as a reality and as a means to avoid further destabilization in the region.

In March 2011, the Arab League and the majority of Arab governments, reacting to the hard repression of Syrian people and Bashar al-Assad's massacre of protesters and use of chemicals against civilians, as well as his close relations with Iran, suspended Syria's membership and imposed sanctions on his regime.

During that time more than half a million people were killed, and 12 million became refugees, while the rest of the population - with the exception of those close to the regime - were facing famine, do not have safe drinking water or electricity, or were in dire economic straits. 90 per cent of the people live under the poverty line.

At a meeting in Cairo on May 7, the Foreign Ministers of the Arab League - ignoring the objections of Qatar, Kuwait, Morocco and some other states which did not participate at the meeting - voted to reintegrate Syria into the organization, but left individual member states to decide whether they will restore full diplomatic ties with the regime in Damascus.

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The decision was made in advance of the Arab League Summit in Saudi Arabia on May 19 and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud last Wednesday sent an invitation to the Syrian President to participate in the 32nd Regular Session of the Arab League Council Meeting.

Sameh Shoukry, the Foreign Minister of Egypt, justified the decision for the return of Syria to the Arab League, saying that "all the stages of the Syrian crisis have proven that there is no military solution to it and that there are no winners and losers. The decision taken by the Arab League would mark the start of a revived political process in the country."

The devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria gave Arab governments a good excuse to have contact with the Syrian regime concerning the provision of relief to the earthquake victims, while a major role in the rapprochement was played by the re-establishment of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran (that had supported opposite sides in the conflict) which removed one of the main obstacles to the restoration of relations.

Although at the beginning of the Syrian crisis, the Bashar al-Assad regime, was expected to collapse, as several Arab countries supported the various factions trying to topple him, the critical assistance he received from Iran and Russia made it possible for the Damascus regime to regain a large part of the country it lost initially and now the regime controls about two-thirds of Syria.

Gradually, the governments of the Arab states supporting the anti-regime factions began to realize that Bashar al-Assad would not be defeated and that they should try to stop the further destabilization of the region.

Moreover, countries like Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan have provided shelter to millions of refugees, in the expectation that the Assad regime would fall in a matter of months, and want to send them back to Syria, as their populations see the refugees as competitors for jobs and state resources.

The change in the stand of Turkey, which has been hosting some 3.5 million Syrian refugees, is quite indicative of this. The Turkish people initially welcomed the refugees in the name of Islamic solidarity, but now see them as a big problem. A poll shows that 85 per cent of the voters want them out of Turkey.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that last year that about half a million Syrians returned to the "safe zones" created by Turkey in northwest Syria and vowed that 1 million refugees would soon return to their country.

Opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu in his election campaign has stated that one of his top goals is to return all Syrians to their country within two years.

Lebanon, a country facing economic meltdown last year has started forcibly sending refugees back to Syria.

The Arab League's decision to welcome Bashar al-Assad back to the Arab fold is undoubtedly a major victory for Assad. This is because the Syrian President was admitted back to the League without agreeing to any prior conditions, for example, a firm commitment not to persecute or victimize further Syrian refugees returning to their country.

Assad also avoided undertaking any commitment to stop the production of the Captagon drug, which creates tens of thousands of drug addicts in the countries of the region and is currently the biggest foreign exchange earner of his regime.

Furthermore, the restoration of relations between the Syrian regime and Arab governments represents a major success also for Iran and Russia, whose support allowed Bashar al-Assad to stay in power, although, at the beginning of the crisis in Syria, the collapse of the regime seemed to be inevitable.

At the same time, it is a minor defeat of the US Administration and Western governments that repeatedly expressed their condemnation of the Damascus regime. Now, with the decision of the Arab League, Arab countries appear to be publicly backing an important ally of Russia and Iran, without securing any concessions from Damascus.

Reuters has reported that a bi-partisan group in the US Congress introduced last Thursday a bill prohibiting the US government from recognizing or normalizing relations with any Syrian government led by Assad and expanding an Act that imposed tough sanctions on Syria in 2020.

Gilles Kepel, of the Institute of Political Studies, Paris, points out: "The Arab League's decision to readmit Syria is a game changer in the Middle East, a clear success for Saudi diplomacy and an apparent win for Russia. It is another sign of the strengthening of the illiberal bloc which challenges the West's democracy agenda. It draws the curtain for good on what remained of the dreams of the Arab Spring a decade ago.
By Maria Castillo Fernandez





Ambassador of European Union to Korea Maria Castillo-Fernandez
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday laid out a warm welcome for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a surprise visit to the UK and reiterated his support for the war-torn European nation by offering further military support, including air defence missiles and armed drones.

Downing Street said Zelenskyy updated Sunak on his meetings with European leaders over the weekend as Ukraine prepares for an intensified period of military activity.

The visit also comes ahead of the Council of Europe Summit in Iceland, which Sunak is due to travel for this week ahead of a visit to Tokyo for the G7 Summit in Japan.

This is a crucial moment in Ukraine's resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke. They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year, said Sunak.

We must not let them down. The frontlines of [Russian President] Putin's war of aggression may be in Ukraine but the fault lines stretch all over the world. It is in all our interest to ensure Ukraine succeeds and Putin's barbarism is not rewarded, he said.

The British Indian leader said the UK is sustaining its support to Ukraine with tanks, training, ammunition and armoured vehicles.

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And this message of solidarity will ring loud in all my meetings with fellow world leaders in the days ahead, he added.

Downing Street said Sunak will use his tour of Iceland and Japan to continue to push for sustained international support for Ukraine, both in terms of military aid and long-term security assurances.

Last week, the UK confirmed that that it had provided Storm Shadow precision missiles to Ukraine. This is the first long-range cruise missile in Ukraine's arsenal and will be critical in helping the country defend against the relentless bombardment of their critical national infrastructure.

On Monday, Sunak confirmed the further UK provision of hundreds of air defence missiles and further unmanned aerial systems including hundreds of new long-range attack drones with a range of over 200km. These will all be delivered over the coming months as Ukraine prepares to intensify its resistance against Russia, Downing Street said.

During their meeting, both leaders discussed what support Ukraine needs from the international community, in terms of immediate military equipment and long-term defences.

Zelenskyy held talks with Sunak at his countryside retreat of Chequers, marking the first world leader the British Prime Minister has hosted at the residence.

The Prime Minister outlined the new package of support the UK has announced today, including further air defence missiles and drones. This builds on the confirmation last week that the UK has become the first country to provide long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, Downing Street said in a readout of their meeting.

Sunak is said to have reiterated that the UK will continue its support to ensure Ukraine secures a just and lasting peace, which includes both immediate military support and providing long-term security assistance to guarantee Ukraine's ability to deter aggression.

Sunak later tweeted that the UK will give them the "training they need to handle different types of aircraft" and "better defend their citizens against Russian aggression".

The visit this week follows Zelenskyy's visit to the UK in February, which was only the second time the leader had left Ukraine since Putin's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

According to the UK government, Britain has provided GBP 2.3 billion worth of military support to Ukraine in 2022 more than any country other than the US.
Until two months ago, Cartier's website showed Yanomami children playing in a green field.

The French luxury jewellery brand said it was working to promote the culture of the Indigenous people and protect the rainforest where they live, in a vast territory straddling Brazil and Venezuela.

But the project that the site described protecting the Amazon never took place. And Cartier published the photo without the approval of Yanomami leadership, violating the beliefs of a people who had been living in almost total isolation until they were contacted by outsiders in the 1970s.

Some of the Yanomami and their defenders praise Cartier's promotion of Yanomami causes. However, advertising by one of the world's biggest jewellers with images of an Indigenous people devastated by illegal gold mining has some complaining of greenwashing, a corporation promoting its own image by supporting a cause.

How can a gold jewellery company, which we, the Yanomami people, are against, use the image of the Yanomami? asked Jnior Hekurari, a member of the Indigenous group and head of the Yanomami's health council.

Disease, killing and prostitution, fuelled by the drugs and alcohol imported by thousands of illegal gold miners, have devastated traditional Yanomami life, and 570 Yanomami children died from malnutrition, diarrhea, and malaria between 2019 and 2022, according to Brazilian statistics. The poisonous mercury used in illegal mining causes birth defects and ravages ecosystems.

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Cartier says it does not buy illegally mined gold, but Yanomami leaders have urged people not to buy gold jewellery at all, regardless of its source, because demand for the precious metal drives gold prices up and draws miners into their territory.

Cartier and other jewellery brands that are part of the Swiss conglomerate Richemont had combined sales of 11 billion euros (USD 11.7 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, according to its annual report. Some of the pieces advertised on its US website cost as much as USD 341,000.

Cartier's connection to the roughly 40,000 Yanomami goes back 20 years, primarily through Fondation Cartier, a corporate philanthropy created and funded by the company in 1984.

In the past, few Yanomami or their advocates have publicly criticised Cartier or the foundation, but a growing number have begun expressing concerns.

Cartier's foundation recently sponsored a finely curated exhibit displaying photographs of Yanomami, along with works by Indigenous artists, in an elegant non-profit Manhattan arts centre.

The exhibit, previously in Paris, was praised by outlets ranging from The New York Times to Luxury Daily, an influential industry publication whose headline read, Fondation Cartier continues push for indigenous justice through art sponsorship.

Barbara Navarro, a French multimedia artist, saw something very different, as did several other artists, including some Yanomami.

In the multimedia show Pas de Cartier, or Not Cartier, in the village of Nemours, France, Navarro and others critique the luxury brand and the devastation caused by illegal miners in an exhibit that includes sculptures and drawings. In one photo montage, a large gold mine surrounded by the Amazon forest is seen next to a Cartier store.

The Yanomami are paying the price with their health and their very lives for our society's relentless avidity for gold, said Navarro. For Cartier, sponsorship of the Yanomami represents an opportunity to burnish their brand.

For many Indigenous groups, a corporation or philanthropy using a photo of them requires formal permission. The photo of the children on the website violated the Yanomami's right to prior, free, and informed consent, according to the Roraima Indigenous Council, a grassroots umbrella organisation, citing the International Labour Organisation's Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, which Brazil signed.

Hekurari said his people need international cooperation, but his organisation would never accept money from a jewellery company.

In his trips along the Yanomami territory, an area the size of Portugal, the Yanomami leader has encountered scores of skeletal children in communities under siege by thousands of illegal miners.

In March, his organisation, Urihi, launched an online campaign to raise awareness against the gold trade and in a video the Yanomami leader calls on Oscar winners to replace the famous gold-plated statuettes with wooden figures of Omama, a mythical entity.

When someone buys gold in a jewellery store, he is financing more invasions to destroy Indigenous lands, he said. It is not just a matter of extracting gold. It is a matter of reaping lives.

Cartier declined to comment on the Yanomami's appeal for people to stop buying gold jewellery but, when contacted by The Associated Press in late March, Cartier removed the picture and the project description.

Funds had been allocated to a forest-preservation project but ended up being used to acquire medical equipment to fight COVID-19 among the Yanomami, the company said. A donation worth USD 74,200 was made in June 2020.

The inaccurate description was a regrettable oversight on our part, and it was addressed immediately after it was brought to our attention, the company said.

But the problem is bigger than poor image choices, many say. Drio Kopenawa, vice-president of the Hutukara Yanomami Association, said he believes that, anyone who buys a gold ring is part of the crime.

Cartier and its foundation describe their relationship as arms-length. Kopenawa also made a distinction between Cartier and its namesake foundation.

We know that Cartier buys gold all over the world ... but the foundation is different. It is another coordinator, another branch. It supports the protection of the Yanomami, he said.

In February, Kopenawa even flew to New York to attend Yanomami Struggle - Art and Activism in the Amazon, the exhibit sponsored by the Fondation Cartier with photographic portraits of Indigenous people alongside works by Yanomami artists.

Kopenawa and other Yanomami participated in the opening ceremony, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres among the guests.

Fondation Cartier has a collection of nearly 2,000 works at its Paris headquarters. The foundation is run by an independent dedicated team of professionals from the art world in charge of defining and implementing the artistic programme, it said.

The foundation is led by Alain Dominique Perrin, a prominent figure in the luxury industry who previously served as Richemont's top executive. In a 2018 interview with French business magazine Entreprendre, he emphasised the corporate value of arts patronage.

Patronage is similar to sponsorship: You help an artist to exhibit, to gain recognition and to develop, but in return, the Fondation receives praise from the press, the media and social networks, which necessarily benefits the company, he said.

The foundation, will become a focal point for the management and the image of the Cartier brand, Richemont wrote in its 1994 annual report, when the headquarters was inaugurated with 12,000 square feet of exhibition space.

French anthropologist Bruce Albert has been engaged with the Yanomami for decades, participating in a campaign in the 1990s that secured the tribe's land demarcation. He connected Fondation Cartier with the Yanomami in 2003. That year, Albert curated the first photo and art exhibit about the Yanomami sponsored by the foundation.

In early February, Albert attended the opening ceremony of the New York exhibition after working on it as a paid consultant, together with Kopenawa and Yanomami artists.

Responding to questions in writing, Albert in February praised Fondation Cartier as independent, and said better control from Brazilian authorities would be more efficient than a gold boycott. Still, Albert criticised the use of the image on Cartier's website, saying by email in April that the Yanomami hadn't granted permission for its use, and the jeweller wasn't funding any reforestation projects.

When it comes to acquiring gold, Cartier says the vast majority is purchased recycled and the company conforms to standards of the Responsible Jewellery Council, which describes itself as the world's leading sustainability standard-setting organisation for the jewellery and watch industry.

With gold, however, it is next to impossible to prove provenance, as much illegal material seeps into global supply chains. And Yanomami leaders have made clear that they believe that gold is at the root of the group's troubles.

Is there is a responsibility in the purchase of this gold? Ivo Makuxi, the lawyer from the Indigenous council, asked about Cartier's role in an industry that has hurt the Yanomami.
Farah Master

China will launch pilot projects in more than 20 cities to create a new-era marriage and childbearing culture to foster a friendly child bearing environment, the latest move by authorities to boost the countrys falling birth rate. Chinas Family Planning Association, a national body that implements the population and fertility measures, will launch the projects to encourage women to marry and have children, state backed Global Times reported on Monday.



Promoting marrying, having children at appropriate ages, encouraging parents to share child-rearing responsibilities, and curbing high bride prices, and other outdated customs are the focus of the projects, Global Times said. Cities included in the pilot include the manufacturing hub Guangzhou and Handan in Chinas Hebei province. The association already launched projects in 20 cities including Beijing last year, Global Times said.



The projects come amid a flurry of measures Chinese provinces are rolling out to spur people to have children, including tax incentives, housing subsidies, and free or subsidised education for having a third child.



China implemented a rigid one-child policy from 1980 until 2015  the root of many of its demographic challenges. The limit has since been raised to three children.


Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan on Monday appeared before the Lahore High Court, which fixed his bail hearing on Tuesday in the terrorism cases registered against him following his arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case that sparked violent protests by his supporters.

Khan was accompanied by his wife Bushra Bibi, who was granted pre-arrest bail till May 23 by the high court in the Al-Qadir Trust case.

"The LHC granted pre-arrest bail to Bushra Bibi till May 23 in the Al-Qadir Trust case. The court, however, fixed Khan's bail plea for Tuesday in the terrorism cases registered against him after May 9 violence. The LHC Registrar's Office has raised an objection for not attaching the arrested copies of Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court orders," a court official told PTI.

Justice Safdar Saleem Shahid had fixed May 16 for the hearing of Khan's plea after his counsel assured provision of the court's orders.

The former first lady appeared before the LHC for the first time seeking pre-arrest bail in the Al-Qadir Trust case.

Khan and Bushra Bibi reached the LHC amid high security as none of his party workers accompanied the couple. Before boarding the bomb and bulletproof vehicle, it was covered with white sheets so that Bushra Bibi could maintain her 'pardah'.

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As Khan is facing over 100 cases, Bushra is nominated in two cases -- Toshakhana (gifts) and the Al-Qadir Trust case.

In a tweet on Monday, Khan said that they (the government and military establishment) have planned to arrest his wife to humiliate him. He claimed that the establishment plans to keep him in jail for 10 years in a sedition case. There are reports that Khan might be booked under the Army Act for instigating attacks on military installations.
France has promised to deliver many additional light tanks and armoured vehicles to Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia and also to train Ukrainian forces how to operate them, Al Jazeera reported.

This came right after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy flew into France late on Sunday and joined French President Emmanuel Macron for a working dinner at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

"In the coming weeks, France will train and equip several battalions with tens of armoured vehicles and light tanks including AMX-10RC," the two leaders announced following almost three hours of talks in a joint statement on Monday, according to Al Jazeera.

The trip to Paris was part of Zelenskyy's weekend-long whirlwind tour of several major European allies, ahead of an expected major Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russia.

Zelenskyy stated in Berlin on Sunday that Kyiv and its allies might make a Russian defeat "irreversible" as early as this year after getting a new USD3 billion military package from Germany, according to Al Jazeera.

In Paris, Macron reiterated that France will continue to support Ukraine with political, monetary, humanitarian, and military aid for as long as it is required.

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Apparently, French AMX-10RCs vehicles can move quickly across the battlefield and switch positions due to their fast speed and mobility.
This week's summit of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies in Hiroshima will include eight other guest nations, part of a complicated, high-stakes diplomatic gambit meant to settle the world's most serious crises.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has invited South Korea, Australia, India, Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, Comoros and the Cook Islands.

Kishida hopes this mix of countries will help efforts to stand up to China's assertiveness and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to analysts. He also wants stronger ties with US allies and with developing nations and to make progress on working toward a nuclear-free world, something that looks increasingly difficult amid North Korean and Russian nuclear threats.

Here's a look at what to expect as the rich world leaders welcome these guest countries:



PUSHBACK ON CHINA, RUSSIA



As their top diplomats did last month in a meeting in Nagano, Japan, the leaders of the G-7 nations -- the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Italy and the European Union -- will try to form a unified front against Chinese threats to Taiwan and Russia's war on Ukraine.

"The G-7 is committed to upholding the international order, and most of its members are in Europe, so supporting Ukraine against Russia's invasion is a top priority," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

"As the pillar of the G-7 in Asia, Japan is particularly focused on updating the international order to cope with the rise of China," Easley said. "The Kishida government's agenda and special invitations for the Hiroshima summit reflect an effort not to contain China but to expand the international coalition defending standards for state behaviour."



The eight guest nations have complex political and economic ties with China and Russia.

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India is part of the Quad group of four Indo-Pacific nation, which also includes the United States, Japan and Australia. China has accused that group of representing an "Asian NATO". On the Russia-Ukraine war, India has abstained several times from voting on UN resolutions against Moscow, though it has stressed the need for diplomacy on ending the war. It has boosted its imports of Russian oil.

Brazil is a member of the so-called BRICS group of developing nations, including China, Russia and India. Brazilian President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva recently visited China to strengthen ties with its biggest trade market. He has also irritated Ukraine and some in the West with his position on the war, recently suggesting that Ukraine cede Crimea to forge peace.

Japan is courting Vietnam because it also has territorial disputes with China, according to Kim Yeol Soo, an expert at South Korea's Korea Institute for Military Affairs.

'GLOBAL SOUTH' NATIONS



Kishida has said his list of guest nations reflects the importance of the so-called "Global South" countries. That is a term used for developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The G-7 nations account for about 40 per cent of the world's economic activity, a decrease from an estimated 80 per cent of global gross domestic product in the 1970s.

"When the UN adopts resolutions, you see a considerable number of its 190 or so member states are Global South countries," said Choi Eunmi, a Japan expert at South Korea's Asan Institute for Policy Studies.

Indonesia's importance for Japan, for instance, is linked to its abundant natural resources and economic potential, said Kim, the expert.

India is this year's president of the G-20, which is seen as a crucial bridge between G-7 economies and the Global South. Japan has traditionally had close ties with India, where Kishida visited in March for a summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In response to questions by The Associated Press, Japan's Foreign Ministry said the G-7 and other nations need to cooperate with the Global South to deal with energy, food security, climate change, health and development issues.

US ALLIES



Japan's invitation of South Korea reflects the neighbours' role as staunch US allies with a shared security threat from North Korea's advancing nuclear arsenal.

In recent weeks, Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol have taken major steps to boost security and economic cooperation and to move beyond historical grievances stemming from Japan's 1910-45 colonisation of the Korean Peninsula.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry's response to an AP query praised Yoon for an "active diplomacy showing commitment to the peace and prosperity of the region, including announcing the Indo-Pacific strategy".

Kishida, Yoon and US President Joe Biden are expected to meet on the margins of the G-7 summit to discuss North Korea's nuclear ambitions, China's growing influence and the Russia-Ukraine war.

Australia, also a key US ally, has already been closely cooperating with Japan, including on efforts to achieve a "free and open Indo-Pacific", according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, which called Australia a "special strategic partner".

Last year, the two countries signed a new security agreement covering military, intelligence and cybersecurity cooperation to counter the deteriorating security outlook driven by China's increasing assertiveness. It was the first such agreement Japan has struck with any country other than the United States.

OTHER ISSUES



Some of the guest nations lead regional and other bodies.

Brazil takes over next year for India as president of the G-20. Indonesia is chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Comoros leads the African Union and the Cook Islands chairs the Pacific Islands Forum.

Japan is stepping up its security and economic ties with the 18 Pacific Forum countries, partly to counter growing Chinese influence there. Observers say the invitation of the Cook Islands is an expression of Japanese respect to the Pacific nations, where there has been worry about the planned release of treated but still radioactive wastewater into the Pacific from Japan's tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Kishida is from Hiroshima, one of the two Japanese cities hit with US atomic bombs at the end of World War II. Holding the summit in his hometown will give him a chance to outline his determination to build a nuclear-free world.

Because of North Korea's pursuit of nuclear missiles meant to target the US mainland, "it would be a bit awkward if Japan did not include South Korea, which faces North Korea's nuclear threats on its doorstep," said Choi, the expert.
By Samuel Stolton

Microsoft Corp.s $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard Inc. won European Union approval, just weeks after the UKs merger regulator delivered a shock decision to veto the gaming industrys biggest ever deal.





EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager on Monday described the deal as pro-competitive and that it would kickstart the cloud streaming market, which represents just 1% to 3% of the entire gaming market. The European Commission said its own analysis showed the deal wouldnt hurt competition after Microsoft vowed to let cloud rivals offer blockbuster titles such as Call of Duty on their own platforms for 10 years. The approval means the fate of the deal now hinges on the firm winning legal challenges in the US and UK  likely an uphill task.



The EUs Vestager said the difference in conclusions between EU and UK regulators centered on how quickly the cloud gaming market would develop in the future. The EUs blessing flies in the face of negative decisions by the UKs Competition and Markets Authority, which last month showcased its post-Brexit emergence as a global watchdog, and the US Federal Trade Commission, which sought to block the deal last year.

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While the EU decision offers a glimmer of hope, it probably doesnt change much for Microsofts chances of success in legal challenges to the FTC and CMA, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Jennifer Rie. We agree that the cloud streaming market is a promising market. We may disagree about the speed at which it will develop, Vestager said, adding that the EU sees a longer development period for cloud gaming than the UK.



The European Commission defended its findings, saying that the commitments will empower millions of European consumers to stream Activisions games using any cloud gaming services operating in the EU region. Thats because each jurisdiction has made its decision based on the market conditions in their own region, she said. These conditions may differ, which can lead to a different conclusion on the antitrust impact of a deal.



By contrast, the CMA said that the deal would reinforce Microsofts advantage in the cloud gaming market by giving it control over a number of leading games also including Overwatch and World of Warcraft. The UK watchdog found that without the merger Activision would be able to start providing games on cloud platforms in the future. The commitments will unlock significant benefits for competition and consumers, by bringing Activisions games to new platforms, including smaller EU players, and to more devices than before, a statement from the commission said.

Microsofts proposals, accepted by the European Commission today, would allow Microsoft to set the terms and conditions for this market for the next 10 years, said Sarah Cardell, the CMAs head, said. While we recognize and respect that the European Commission is entitled to take a different view, the CMA stands by its decision.
Over a thousand youths and students participated in a anti-corruption rally here on Monday, demanding action against those involved in the fake Bhutanese Refugee scam.

The rally was held as former deputy prime minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and former home minister Bal Krishna Khand among several others were arrested last week in connection the scam, under which Nepali nationals were sent to the United States by forging fake documents of them being Bhutanese refugees.

On Monday, the student organisations and youth bodies belonging to the ruling Nepali Congress, CPN Maoist Centre, CPN-Unified Socialist and CPN-Maoist Centre took out rallies at Bhrikutimandap area in Kathmandu.

Holding placards with slogans "We know nothing but action against corrupt", "Investigate property of those in public post", "Zero tolerance to corruption", "Control price rise", "Our future is corruption free Nepal", the participants demanded fair probe in the Bhutanese Refugee scam.

"A group of around 1,500 youths chanted anti-corruption slogans and took rallies around Bhrikutimandap area in Kathmandu against the fake Bhutanese Refugee scam," a participant said.

So far, governments of USA, Canada and some European countries have received more than 100,000 Bhutanese refugees sheltering in Nepal under UNHCR facilitated resettlement programme over the past one decade.

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There are around 5,000 Bhutanese refugees residing in different camps across Nepal are still awaiting for third country resettlement.
Pakistan's Supreme Court on Monday urged the federal government and the opposition to resume dialogue for restoring peace in the country as the apex court adjourned for one week the hearing on the election commission's plea on the impasse over holding elections in Punjab province.

The apex court had previously ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold elections in the politically crucial province on May 14.

A three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar, heard the matter on Monday as the May 14 deadline for holding the polls expired on Sunday.

The chief justice noted that the election commission's stance was that it would conduct elections if given the resources. He continued that the ECP had now opened the Pandora's Box.

Justice Bandial maintained that he had asked the government and the opposition to find high moral standards.

Further hearing of the case was adjourned till next week, the Express Tribune newspaper reported.

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PTI lawyer Ali Zafar argued that one week was too much, however, the CJP stated that the court had another important matter tomorrow.

According to Justice Bandial, the court would have hurried if it knew that election time had come. He added that the manner in which political forces were working was not right.

Bandial also told the PTI lawyer to inform the party's leadership of how elections could be held in a polarised manner. You will have to create a high moral ground, he said, adding that holding elections in 90 days was the main matter.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed deep concern over reports of random arrests and cases filed against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers across Pakistan.

Imran Khan's political outfit, PTI, saw arrests of over 564 workers for violence after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan's arrest and more arrests are being made, according to Dawn.

Raising concerns over the same, HRCP has made a series of tweets, and has termed the incident against all "democratic norms."

HRCP has tweeted, "HRCP is deeply concerned by reports of random arrests and cases filed arbitrarily against PTI workers across Pakistan. A distinction must always be made between those resorting to violence and nonviolent political workers."

"No one must ever be penalised for their party affiliations. This goes against all democratic norms," the tweet added.

Earlier on Sunday, the Islamabad police said that 564 people have been detained for violence as government property worth Pakistani rupees (PKR) 25 crores was damaged during the violent protests.

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Protests erupted in Pakistan after Imran Khan was arrested in Islamabad on May 9. PTI workers held protests in cities across the country, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala, Peshawar, and Mardan.

According to Islamabad Police, the protesters burnt 12 vehicles and 34 motorcycles. Taking to its official Twitter handle, the Islamabad police said that armed protesters targeted Tarnool police station, Sangjani police station and Ramna police station. The police said 11 Frontier Corps personnel and 71 police officers were injured during the protests, Dawn reported.

Islamabad Police in a tweet said, "Government property worth Rs 25 crore was damaged during the violent protests. The protesters set ablaze 12 vehicles and 34 motorcycles, including the SP Industrial Area office. Armed protestors attacked Tarnool police station, Sangjani police station and Ramna police station. 11 FC personnel and 71 police officers and jawans were injured in the violent protests. 26 cases have been registered against the evil elements. Islamabad police detained 564 people involved in violence. More arrests are being made."

On Saturday, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday ordered authorities to arrest all culprits and attackers responsible for the vandalism and arson at the Jinnah House and military and civil installations within 72 hours, ARY News reported.

Shehbaz Sharif gave the instructions while chairing a meeting at the Punjab Safe City Authority Headquarters in Lahore. He said, "All the culprits, planners, instigators, and attackers involved in the vandalism should be arrested in the next 72 hours," ARY News reported.

He further said, "This is a critical task that requires swift action to ensure the safety and security of our citizens." Shehbaz Sharif said, "I am deeply disturbed by this situation, and I would like to request the chief minister to take immediate action."

Sharif said that he made it clear to Punjab's caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi that any act of sabotage is unacceptable and those behind wrongdoing will be arrested and brought to court for justice, as per the ARY News report.

He tweeted, "I have given law enforcement apparatus a target of 72 hours to arrest all those involved in facilitating, abetting and perpetrating the disgraceful incidents of arson, ransacking, sabotage & damaging public & private properties. All available resources including technological aid & intelligence are being deployed to chase down these elements. Bringing these people to justice is a test case for the government. Their cases will be tried by the anti-terrorism courts.
The violent protests and arson that broke out all across Pakistan following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan posed damage of as much as PKR 250 million to both private and public property, reported Dawn.

According to a report issued by Islamabad police, armed miscreants set the office of the DPO Industrial Area, and opened fire at Ramna Tarnol and Sangjani police stations during the three days of violence.

According to a report published in Dawn, the Rawalpindi police have arrested as many as 76 suspects involved in attacking the General Headquarters of the Pakistan military.

Meanwhile, Punjab's caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday said that 23 buildings were damaged and 108 vehicles were gutted in the province during the protests, ARY News reported.

Naqvi said, "In Lahore, police vehicles, 12 buses, motorbikes, six Wasa vehicles, eight rescue vehicles and a car in a showroom were set on fire," as per the ARY News report.

He further said, "Protesters damaged 23 buildings including Corps Commander's house in Lahore." Punjab's caretaker CM Mohsin Naqvi said that military installations and government properties were attacked under a plan.

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Naqvi said that around 34 attackers were involved in the attack on Jinnah House in Lahore. He said that the rioters and arsonists set ablaze safe city cameras on May 9 and two metro stations in Lahore, according to an ARY News report.

Mohsin Naqvi said, "Each and every attacker is being pointed out and all will be brought to justice," as per the news report. He said that a loss of around six billion has been estimated in rioting incidents so far.

Punjab's caretaker CM said that an Army check post and a private building were gutted in Gujranwala, as per the news report. He further said that buses and police coasters were burnt in Multan. He claimed that they have pictures and videos of each person and added that "everyone is being followed."

Furthermore, he said that they will not arrest the wrong person and asserted that bringing attackers to the book will remain their priority. He further stated that an investigation is being carried out for arrested people and accused Yasmeen Rashid of being the main character of the incident.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed deep concern over reports of random arrests and cases filed against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers across Pakistan.

Imran Khan's political outfit, PTI, saw arrests of over 564 workers for violence after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan's arrest and more arrests are being made, according to Dawn.

Raising concerns over the same, HRCP has made a series of tweets, and has termed the incident against all "democratic norms."

HRCP has tweeted, "HRCP is deeply concerned by reports of random arrests and cases filed arbitrarily against PTI workers across Pakistan. A distinction must always be made between those resorting to violence and nonviolent political workers."

"No one must ever be penalised for their party affiliations. This goes against all democratic norms," the tweet added.
The motion  moved by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Shazia Sobia  was unanimously adopted by the house, the Express Tribune newspaper reported.



Pakistans National Assembly on Monday unanimously adopted a motion seeking the formation of a special committee to file a case against Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial in the Supreme Judicial Council for his misconduct and deviating from oath, escalating the tension between the government and the top judiciary.
Pakistan's top military brass on Monday dropped a clear hint that former Prime Ninister Imran Khan could be proceeded against under Pakistan Army Act and Official Secret Act over the ransacking of military installations in the wake of his arrest on May 9, media reports said.

Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir presided over a Special Corps Commanders Conference (CCC) meeting at GHQ in Rawalpindi to discuss the situation arising out of violent protests by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against the arrest of its Chairman Imran Khan, Express Tribune reported.

The meeting took place ahead of the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting to be held on Tuesday that would take the final decision on how to proceed against former Prime Minister and his other party leaders for their alleged involvement in instigating their supporters to ransack the residence of Lahore Corps Commander, attack the GHQ and other military installations.

In an unusual detailed statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that forum took comprehensive stock of the law and order situation in the past few days that was created to achieve vested political interests, Express Tribune reported.

The forum was briefed that a well-coordinated arson plan involving desecration of martyrs pictures, monuments, burning down of historical buildings, and vandalism of military installations was executed to malign the institution and provoke it towards giving an impulsive reaction.

The forum condemned, in the strongest possible sense, these politically motivated and instigated incidents against military installations and public and private properties, Express Tribune reported.

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The ISPR stated that the commanders also communicated the anguish and sentiments of the rank and file of the army on these unfortunate and unacceptable incidents.

"Based on the irrefutable evidence collected so far, armed forces are well aware of the planners, instigators, abettors and perpetrators of these attacks and attempts to create distortions in this regard are absolutely futile," the military's media wing noted.

The forum expressed firm resolve that those involved in these heinous crimes against the military installations, personnel and equipment will be brought to justice through trials under relevant laws of Pakistan including Pakistan Army Act and Official Secret Act, Express Tribune reported.

It resolved that restraint will no longer be exercised against perpetrators, spoilers and violators who attack military installations and setups under any circumstances, Express Tribune reported.

The forum also showed concern over externally sponsored and internally facilitated, orchestrated propaganda warfare, unleashed against the army leadership, meant to create fissures between armed forces and people of Pakistan, and within rank and file of the armed forces.

--IANS

san/d
Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman J Y Lee and Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk met in the US last week, according to Yonhap News Agency, which cited people in the industry as saying the two companies are exploring partnerships to develop next-generation technologies.

The global market for automotive chips is expected to rise to $400 billion by 2024 and to jump to $700 billion by 2028, according to Yonhap, which cited Strategic Analytics and Research & Markets.



Lee and Musk held the meeting at Samsungs semiconductor research center in Silicon Valley on Wednesday, South Koreas Yonhap said on Sunday. The two companies are looking at possibly joining forces to develop chips for fully autonomous vehicles among other things, the report cited people in the industry as saying.
Samsung Electronics will reportedly build a chip development facility in Yokohama as part of a highly symbolic initiative that will spur collaboration between the Japanese and South Korean chip industries, the media reported.

According to Nikkei Asia, the new facility will cost around $222 million and will be built in Yokohama, southwest of Tokyo, where the South Korean company already has a presence.

The development hub will be a separate unit.

Although the details remain unclear, Samsung plans to construct a production line for a prototype semiconductor chip device. The company will prioritise the backend of chip production.

The new facility will employ several hundred people and is expected to open in 2025.

Moreover, the report said that the tech giant plans to capitalise on the semiconductor investment subsidies offered by the Japanese government, which are projected to exceed 10 billion yen (around $73.6 million).

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The report further mentioned that, since Japan produces most of the materials and equipment required for manufacturing semiconductor chips, Samsung wants to collaborate closely with them to make a breakthrough in the chip production process.

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics has reported its worst quarterly profit in 14 years, as global economic woes dented demand for consumer electronics and a chip glut battered its core business.

The world's largest memory chip and smartphone maker reported an operating profit of 640.2 billion won ($478 million) during the January-March period, falling 95 per cent from the 14.12 trillion won it posted a year ago.

--IANS

shs/vd
By Alex Morales and Kitty Donaldson

UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman warned that unfettered immigration poses a risk to the UKs national character, ramping up the pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to slash arrivals and positioning herself for a future Conservative Party leadership contest.





Its not racist for anyone, ethnic minority or otherwise, to want to control our borders, said Braverman, whose parents are of Indian origin and emigrated to Britain from Kenya and Mauritius in the 1960s. She said Britain couldnt have immigration without integration, adding we have a national character to conserve. With official statistics next week expected to show record net arrivals in the UK last year, Braverman said numbers must come down. Britons should be trained up to fill roles currently being filled by immigrants, she told NatCon UK, a conference of the Tory right organized by the Washington-based Edmund Burke Foundation, a public affairs institute.



There is no good reason why we cant train up enough truck drivers, butchers or welders, Braverman said. She also said that rapid migration is unsustainable in terms of housing supply, public services and community relations. The remarks by Braverman  who oversees immigration policy and is seen as a standard-bearer for the Tories populist right  point to a split in government between those on the right who want to deliver on Brexit promises to greatly reduce immigration  and others who see the need for foreign arrivals to fill jobs in agriculture and road haulage that Britons wont take.

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Instead, net immigration rose to a record 504,000 in the year to June 2022, and Office for National Statistics data due on May 25 is expected to eclipse that. The Centre for Policy Studies estimates it could be as high as 997,000, a figure thats likely to heighten criticisms that the government is failing to deliver on its Brexit problems. Conservative governments for years have struggled to rein in immigration, despite a long-standing pledge through the 2010s to get it down to the tens of thousands.



While Sunak has said that he wants to get immigration down over time, his focus has been on reducing the number of people arriving on Britains shores in small boats. Energy Secretary Grant Shapps on Sunday said that he didnt think the figure would hit a million, and pointed out that British programs to accept Ukrainian refugees and UK nationals from Hong Kong accounted for about 300,000 people. Thats a record the country should be proud of, he told Sky News.







Legislation to deliver on that is working its way through Parliament, and during a debate in the House of Lords last week, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the head of the Church of England whose position affords him a seat in the UKs upper chamber, described it as morally unacceptable. The government says criminal gangs and people smugglers are at the root of the problem. Ministers are trying to end the crossings through deterrent policies including sending arrivals to Rwanda and banning them from ever claiming asylum or citizenship in Britain.

Nevertheless, Sunak remains undeterred by the opposition, telling the Mail on Sunday that he was leading meetings of a special panel twice weekly to discuss the immigration crackdown as the legislation progresses. A month after contracting the first barge to house people who cross the English channel, he promised to use as many as it takes to reduce the current bill for housing arrivals in hotels.







Ending small boats crossings is one of Sunaks five core pledges that hes asked voters to judge him on as he tries to turn around the flagging fortunes of the governing Conservatives, who have trailed the opposition Labour party by a double-digit margin in national polling for months. Sunaks preparations for the incoming law mean that from the moment that we have the green light we can crack on and deliver it, he told the paper.

But after the Tories lost more than 1,000 seats in local elections this month, the right of the party is increasingly emboldened to speak out against the governments direction. Recent disquiet has also centered on housing policy and the high burden of taxation.



Last week, other right wingers slammed Sunak for retreating from a pledge to scrap all legislation inherited from Britains membership of the European Union by year-end. Former Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg compared him to the Borgias, a renaissance Italian family that became a byword for immorality. He sought to clarify that remark on Sunday, telling Sky News that Sunak broke a promise, that was the point. Many blame him for the ouster last year of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson  the darling of the party grassroots. That gave way to a calamitous 7-week tenure as premier by Liz Truss, before Sunak took over in a contest decided by Tory Members of Parliament.



Former Home Secretary Priti Patel on Saturday blamed bad decisions and Tory infighting for the poor election results. Without naming Sunak, she lamented that his ascent to power without a vote of the party grassroots had undermined trust. Rees-Mogg is due to speak again the same conference as Braverman. Housing Secretary Michael Gove and Conservative Party Vice Chairman Lee Anderson are also due to address the three-day event.

Some parts of Westminster and colleagues have done a better job at damaging our party than the opposition, Patel told the meeting of the Conservative Democratic Organisation, which seeks to expand the powers of rank-and-file Tory members. Weve got to stop this decline.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is currently on a visit to Germany, said that KIev had no plans to attack Russian territories.

He made the remarks on Sunday after talks in Berlin with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, reports the BBC.

"We are not attacking Russian territory," he said, adding: "We are preparing a counterattack to de-occupy the illegitimately conquered territories," Zelensky added.

On his part, Scholz vowed to back Ukraine "for as long as it is necessary", promising 2.7 billion euros worth of weapons, which includes the advanced German Leopard tanks and more anti-aircraft systems.

President Zelensky described the new tranche as "the largest since the beginning of the full-scale aggression" by Russia in February 2022.

Later on Sunday, he travelled to the western city of Aachen to receive the prestigious Charlemagne Prize awarded this year to him and the Ukrainian people.

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The honour is given for efforts to foster European unity, the BBC reported.

"Ukraine incarnates everything the European idea is living for: the courage of convictions, the fight for values and freedom, the commitment to peace and unity," EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the award ceremony.

Previous winners include Winston Churchill, Pope Francis and Bill Clinton.

Zelensky's remarks came amid Moscow's continued accusations that Ukraine has repeatedly hitting targets inside Russia, including a reported drone attack on the Kremlin earlier this month.

Although Ukraine has denied the accusations, it also stressed that it has a legitimate right to use force and other means to fully de-occupy its territories currently under Russian control.

--IANS

ksk/
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Britain on Monday, as the staunch ally of Ukraine prepares to give more military aid in an effort to change the course of the war.

It will be the fourth European country Zelenskky has visited in the past few days. He made an unannounced visit to Paris on Sunday evening to meet French President Emmanuel Macron, after trips to Germany and Italy, where he met those countries' leaders and Pope Francis.

A message posted Monday on Zelenskyy's official Telegram Channel said: "Today London.

The UK is leading the way when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air. This cooperation will continue today. I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations.

Sunak's office confirmed the two leaders would meet at Chequers. the prime minister's country retreat outside London.

The U.K. has become one of Ukraine's major military allies. Last week Britain announced it was sending Ukraine Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which have a range of more than 250 kilometers (150 miles) the first known shipment of the weaponry that Kyiv has long sought from its allies.

Also Read Zelenskyy arrives in Berlin day after Germany announces military package Ukraine is not attacking Russian territory, says President Zelenskyy Poland sends diplomatic note on request for WW II reparations from Germany Poland asks for UN intervention to secure WWII damages from Germany Hockey World Cup final, Germany vs Belgium: Germans out to stop Red Lions Macron to build back factories, boost France's economy shaken by protests International tourism reaches pre-pandemic levels, doubles in Q1FY23 Bushra Bibi will be arrested to humiliate me: Former Pak PM Imran Khan Turkey Elections: Prez Erdogan, Opposition prepare for runoff poll phase France to send more tanks, armoured vehicles to Ukraine amid Russia war

Zelenskyy toured European capitals over the weekend to seek more aid as Ukraine prepares a long-anticipated spring offensive to retake territory seized by Russia.

Zelenskyy and Macron met for about three hours at the French presidential Elysee Palace an encounter kept under wraps until shortly before the Ukrainian leader's arrival in Paris.

Macron's office said France will supply dozens of light tanks and armored vehicles in the weeks ahead, without giving specific numbers. Also promised were more air defense systems, but again details weren't made public.

More Ukrainians will also be made battle-ready, with France aiming to train about 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers in France this year and nearly 4,000 others in Poland as part of a wider European effort, Macron's office said.

France has supplied Ukraine with an array of weaponry, include air defense systems, light tanks, howitzers and other arms and equipment and fuel.

France had dispatched a plane to pick up Zelenskyy in Germany, where he met with Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier Sunday and discussed his country's planned counteroffensive.

It was his first visit to Berlin since the start of the invasion and came a day after the German government announced a new package of military aid for Ukraine worth more than 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion), including tanks, anti-aircraft systems and ammunition.

After initially hesitating to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons, Germany has become one of the biggest suppliers of arms to Ukraine, including Leopard 1 and 2 battle tanks, and the sophisticated IRIS-T SLM air defence system.

Modern Western hardware is considered crucial if Ukraine is to succeed in its planned counteroffensive.

In the western German city of Aachen, Zelenskyy also received the prestigious International Charlemagne Prize, awarded to him and the people of Ukraine.

On Saturday. he met Francis and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni in Rome.

On the European trip, Zelenskyy said it will aim to liberate Russian-occupied areas within Ukraine's internationally recognised borders, and not attack Russian territory.

The Washington Post cited previously undisclosed documents from a trove of U.S. intelligence leaks suggesting that Zelenskyy has considered trying to capture areas in Russia proper for possible use as bargaining chips in peace negotiations to end the war launched by Moscow in February 2022.

This would put him at odds with Western governments that have insisted that weapons they provide must not be used to attack targets in Russia.

Asked about the report, Zelenskyy said: We don't attack Russian territory, we liberate our own legitimate territory.

We have neither the time nor the strength (to attack Russia), he said, according to an official interpreter. And we also don't have weapons to spare with which we could do this.

We are preparing a counterattack for the illegally occupied areas based on our constitutionally defined legitimate borders, which are recognised internationally, Zelenskyy said.

Among areas still occupied by Russia are the Crimean peninsula and parts of eastern Ukraine with mainly Russian-speaking populations.
By Tarso Veloso and Kim Chipman

Honeywell International Inc. and Summit Agricultural Group are partnering to build the worlds largest plant making ethanol-based aviation fuel  a project thats likely to become a $1 billion facility and expected to open in 2025.





The global aviation market demands more than 100 billion gallons of jet fuel annually, with Summit estimating that figure will double in the next 20 years. Meanwhile, airlines across the globe are coming under increasing pressure to decrease their carbon emissions. The Biden Administration has announced a goal for SAF to meet 100% of aviation fuel demand by 2050. Annual production in the US was 15 million gallons in 2022. The plant will eventually produce enough jet fuel to power thousands of flights per year, according to Summit Agricultural, run by entrepreneur Bruce Rastetter. The facility will be located in the US Gulf Coast and will utilize Honeywells technology to transform ethanol into sustainable aviation fuel, known as SAF, the companies said in a statement Monday.



Alden, Iowa-based Summit founded FS Bioenergia, the largest corn-based ethanol platform in Brazil, Amber Wave, a food ingredients and biofuel plant in Kansas, and Summit Carbon Solutions, a CO2 pipeline network that will connect more than 30 ethanol plants in the Upper Midwest. Summit said its in talks about providing SAF supplies to major airlines and freight companies.

Also Read Govt gives in-principle approval to nine ethanol blending projects Ethanol blending in petrol hiked from 1.5% to 10% since 2013-14: Govt Jet airways revival hits new snag as banks push back on funding Jet Airways revival hits new snag as more employees quit amid uncertainty Jagatjit Ind to invest Rs 210 cr to set up grain-based ethanol plant WeWork co-founder buys a hip clothing brand, starts a senior center China launches projects to build 'new-era' marriage, childbearing culture Samsung Electronics chief meets Elon Musk on possible hi-tech alliance Washington is determined to govern artificial intelligence, but how? Pakistan's Lower House unanimously adopts motion against chief justice



The SAF plant will be in a unique position given its location in the US Gulf to utilize a variety of ethanol feedstocks from different locations. Alternative biofuels that are made from soybeans or fats have seen tighter feedstock supplies. The project is a natural extension for the partner plants in the US that are using the other arm of the company, Summit Carbon Solutions, to de-carbonize the ethanol production, said Summit Ag Investors President Justin Kirchhoff.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will make a surprise visit to Paris for talks o Sunday night with French President Emmanuel Macron, extending a multi-stop European tour that has elicited fresh pledges of military support as his country gears up for a counteroffensive against Russian occupation forces.

Macron's office announced the Paris leg of Zelenskyy's trip, and France dispatched a plane to pick up Zelenskyy in Germany, where he met Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier on Sunday.

Macron's office said the two leaders will hold talks over dinner and that Macron will reaffirm France and Europe's unwavering support to reestablish Ukraine in its legitimate rights and to defend its fundamental interests.

They'll also discuss Ukraine's military and humanitarian needs and the more long term perspectives for a return to peace in Europe," Macron's office said.

France has supplied Ukraine with an array of weaponry, include air-defense systems, light tanks, howitzers and other arms and fuel.

Before flying to Paris, Zelenskyy discussed his country's planned counteroffensive with Scholz in Berlin. Zelenskyy said it will aim to liberate Russian-occupied areas within Ukraine's internationally recognized borders, and not to attack Russian territory.

Also Read Biden hosts his french counterpart Macron amid friction over US climate law Strikes, protests test French govt's plan to raise retirement age to 64 Ukraine Prez Zelenskyy seeks weaponry in surprise trips to London, Paris France's Macron calls for 'European sovereignty' during Netherlands visit French President Emmanuel Macron may visit India in first half of 2023 Family with disabled children among Gaza's homeless after fight with Israel IBM employee on sick leave for 15 years sues company for no pay rise UAE: SCC approves draft laws for Aviation Department, Airport Authority Nearly $196-million jewellery auctions in Geneva set world record Pakistan's former PM Imran Khan calls for nationwide 'freedom' protest

The Washington Post cited previously undisclosed documents from a trove of US intelligence leaks suggesting that Zelenskyy has considered trying to capture areas in Russia proper for possible use as bargaining chips in peace negotiations to end the war launched by Moscow in February 2022.

This would put him at odds with Western governments that have insisted that weapons they provide must not be used to attack targets in Russia.

Asked about the report, Zelenskyy said: We don't attack Russian territory, we liberate our own legitimate territory.

We have neither the time nor the strength (to attack Russia), he said, according to an official interpreter. And we also don't have weapons to spare, with which we could do this.

We are preparing a counterattack for the illegally occupied areas based on our constitutionally defined legitimate borders, which are recognized internationally, Zelenskyy said.

Among the areas still occupied by Russia are the Crimean peninsula and parts of eastern Ukraine with mainly Russian-speaking populations.

The Ukrainian president is visiting allies in search of further arms to help his country fend off the Russian invasion, and funds to rebuild what's been destroyed by more than a year of devastating conflict.

A Luftwaffe jet flew Zelenskyy to the German capital from Rome, where he had met Saturday with Pope Francis and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni.

It was his first visit to Berlin since the start of the war and came a day after the German government announced a new package of military aid for Ukraine worth more than 2.7 billion euros (USD 3 billion), including tanks, anti-aircraft systems and ammunition.

Zelenskyy thanked Scholz for Germany's political, financial and military support, saying the country is now second only behind the United States in providing aid to Ukraine and joked that he is working to make it the biggest donor.

German air defense systems, artillery, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles are saving Ukrainian lives and bringing us closer to victory. Germany is a reliable ally! Together we are bringing peace closer! he wrote on Twitter after the meeting.

Scholz said Berlin has so far given Kyiv some 17 billion euros in bilateral aid and that it can expect more in future.

We will support you for as long as necessary, he said, adding that it is up to Russia to end the war by withdrawing its troops.

After initially hesitating to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons, Germany has become one of the biggest suppliers of arms to Ukraine, including Leopard 1 and 2 battle tanks, and the sophisticated IRIS-T SLM air-defense system. Modern Western hardware is considered crucial if Ukraine is to succeed in its planned counteroffensive against Russian troops.

Zelenskyy said one reason for his latest visit to allied capitals was to forge a fighter jet coalition that would provide Ukraine with the combat planes it needs to counter Russia's air dominance.

Germany has said in the past that it doesn't have the F-16 jets Ukraine needs and Scholz responded to questions about possible plane deliveries by referring to the anti-aircraft system it has provided to Kyiv.

That's what we as Germany are now concentrating on, he said.

In Ukraine, officials on Sunday denied that the country had anything to do with the downing of two Russian helicopters close to the border the day before.

In a joint statement after their meeting, Scholz and Zelenskyy said they support efforts to bring those responsible for atrocities in Ukraine to justice and noted the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

They also pledged to ensure sanctions against Russia aren't circumvented and to explore possibilities for using frozen Russian assets to pay for damage caused in Ukraine.

Germany said it supports Kyiv's efforts to join the European Union and backed a 2008 vow by NATO members to pave the way for Ukraine to eventually join the military alliance.

Zelenskyy first met with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany's head of state, who was snubbed by Kyiv last year, apparently over his previous close ties to Russia, causing a chill in diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Germany. Since then, both Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz have visited Ukraine.

After meeting Scholz and other senior officials at the chancellery, the two leaders flew to the western city of Aachen for Zelenskyy to receive the prestigious International Charlemagne Prize, awarded to him and the people of Ukraine.

In her congratulatory speech, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen compared the war in Ukraine to the fall of the Iron Curtain more than 30 years ago.

Every generation has its moment when it has to stand up to defend democracy and what it believes in, she said. For us, that moment has come.

Zelenskyy accused Moscow of trying to turn back the clock of European history in its attack on Ukraine.

Modern Russia waged war not just on us, as a free and sovereign state, not just against united Europe as a global symbol of peace and prosperity, he said in his acceptance speech. This is Russia's war for the past.

French media reported that Zelenskyy planned to travel on to Paris late Sunday, but officials at the president and prime minister's office wouldn't confirm.

In other developments:



Zelenskyy's chief aide, Andriy Yermak, said Sunday that five civilians died in Ukraine's southern Kherson region when an unexploded Russian shell blew up.

Overnight, Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine with Iranian-made Shahed explosive drones, which left more than 30 people wounded, according to the Ukrainian military.

Eighteen of the 23 drones were shot down, but those that got through, and wreckage from those intercepted, damaged 50 apartment buildings, private homes and other buildings, the military said without providing further details.

Russia also hit the western city of Ternopil and southern city of Mykolaiv with rockets, wounding an unspecified number of civilians.

Shelling by Russian forces killed two people -- a 59-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man -- in the Chuhuiv district of Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv province on Sunday, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov reported on Telegram.

Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry reported Sunday that Ukrainian forces had killed two of its colonels in the Bakhmut area.
Workers pose for a group photo at Doosan Enerbility's main factory in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Monday, during a ceremony celebrating the start of the manufacturing of major components for Shin Hanul reactors 3 and 4. Courtesy of Doosan Enerbility



By Park Jae-hyuk



CHANGWON, South Gyeongsang Province  A 17,000-ton forging press, 23 meters high and eight meters wide, was operating on Monday at Doosan Enerbility's main factory in the southeastern industrial city.



The world's largest four-pillar type forging press was processing 200 tons of alloy steel from the company's blast furnace, in order to produce materials for the manufacture of steam generators that will be 23 meters in height and weigh 775 tons.



Doosan Enerbility said the work is part of the manufacturing process for major components to be installed in Shin Hanul reactors 3 and 4, which will be built in Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province, by 2032 and 2033, respectively.



The power plant equipment supplier showcased this work to the media, during Monday's ceremony to celebrate the beginning of the manufacturing of components for the two reactors.



Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee Chang-yang and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) CEO Whang Joo-ho attended the ceremony, along with South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-soo, Changwon Mayor Hong Nam-pyo and lawmakers representing the city's residents.



Lee, who announced a 5.3 percent electricity rate hike earlier that day, criticized the previous Moon Jae-in administration's nuclear phase-out policy for causing fundamental problems that cannot be solved by a couple of rate hikes or the Korea Electric Power Corp.'s (KEPCO) self-rescue plans.



"To solve the problem, urgent restoration of the ecosystem for Korea's nuclear power industry, as well as efforts to secure global competitiveness, have become more important than anything," the minister said.



Doosan Enerbility Chairman Park Gee-won said in a press release that he would like to thank the central and municipal governments, as well as all stakeholders including the project owner and subcontractors, for supporting the manufacturing of major components for Shin Hanul 3 and 4.



"While making efforts to accelerate the revitalization of Korea's nuclear power industry, we will do our best to contribute to enhancing Team Korea's competitiveness in exporting nuclear reactors," he said.



In March, Doosan Enerbility signed a 2.9 trillion won ($2.1 billion) contract with KHNP to supply equipment for the new reactors.



In addition to steam generators, the Doosan Group subsidiary will provide the state-run energy firm with 14.8-meter nuclear reactors weighing 533 tons, 70-meter turbine generators weighing 3,110 tons, man-machine interface systems and reactor coolant pumps.



For the project, Doosan Enerbility decided to join hands with over 460 subcontractors in Korea. It finished making 32 billion won worth of orders last year and plans to make an additional 220 billion won worth of orders this year.


Policymakers and business leaders from around the world are deliberating over how to tackle obstacles to sustainable development during the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Groups Annual Meetings underway in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230513005002/en/

Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) President and Group Chairman, H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser (Photo: AETOSWire)

Held under the theme, Partnerships to Fend off Crises, the 48th edition of the annual meetings has brought together high-ranking government officials and senior business executives to discuss a range of topics such as poverty alleviation, healthcare, education, women and youth empowerment, food security, and climate change.

The four-day event includes both high-level plenary sessions and technical symposiums, to identify effective solutions for economic and development issues faced by the IsDB Groups 57 member countries (MCs) and its partners.

On the opening day on Wednesday, the IsDB Group Boards Meeting approved financing valued at more than US$558 million for six projects in member countries. The projects focus on supporting inclusive growth and infrastructure development in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The day also witnessed the launch of the IsDB Group Integration Report for Arab Region, which measures the progress of economic integration within the Arab region and provides a framework to strengthen trade between the Banks MCs.

While the side events of this major event are well underway from 10 May, the official opening ceremony of the event was held on Thursday. Delivering the keynote address, H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, President and Group Chairman of IsDB, reaffirmed the Bank Groups commitment to promoting resilience and providing financing within MCs to help overcome challenges in the backdrop of shifting monetary conditions.

To support its member countries in tackling crises, the IsDB Group has launched several ambitious initiatives, including a program to address the effects of the pandemic with an amount of USD 4.3 billion, which we have fully implemented, and the Food Security Response Program valued at more than USD 10 billion over the next three years, in addition to committing to contributing to climate finance with an amount of at least USD 13 billion until 2030.

Meanwhile, the IsDB Group Private Sector Forum, which is taking place from 11-13 May on the sidelines of the annual meetings, is paving the way for stronger public-private partnerships that drive inclusive development and support innovative, sustainable financing.

*Source: AETOSWire

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230513005002/en/
From the NY Fed: Total Household Debt Reaches $17.05 trillion in Q1 2023; Mortgage Loan Growth Slows



The Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Center for Microeconomic Data today issued its Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit. The Report shows an increase in total household debt in the first quarter of 2023, increasing by $148 billion (0.9%) to $17.05 trillion. Balances now stand $2.9 trillion higher than at the end of 2019, before the pandemic recession. The report is based on data from the New York Fed's nationally representative Consumer Credit Panel.



Mortgage balances rose modestly by $121 billion in the first quarter of 2023 and stood at $12.04 trillion at the end of March. Credit card balances were flat in the first quarter, at $986 billion. Auto loan balances increased by $10 billion in the first quarter, bucking the typical trend of balance declines in first quarters. Student loan balances slightly increased and now stand at $1.60 trillion. Other balances, which include retail cards and other consumer loans, increased by $5 billion. In total, non-housing balances grew by $24 billion.



Mortgage originations, which include refinances, dropped sharply in the first quarter of 2023 to $324 billion, the lowest level seen since 2014. The volume of newly originated auto loans was $162 billion, a reduction from pandemic-era highs but still elevated compared to pre-Covid volumes. Aggregate limits on credit card accounts increased by $119 billion, representing a 2.7% increase from Q4 2022 levels. Limits on home equity lines of credit were up by $9 billion in the first quarter.



The share of current debt becoming delinquent increased for most debt types. The delinquency transition rate for credit cards and auto loans increased by 0.6 and 0.2 percentage points, respectively approaching or surpassing their pre-pandemic levels.

emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

Aggregate household debt balances increased by $148 billion in the first quarter of 2023, a 0.9% rise from 2022Q4. Balances now stand at $17.05 trillion and have increased by $2.9 trillion since the end of 2019, just before the pandemic recession.

Aggregate delinquency rates were roughly flat in the first quarter of 2023 and remained low, after declining sharply through the beginning of the pandemic. As of March, 2.6% of outstanding debt was in some stage of delinquency, 2.1 percentage points lower than last quarter of 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States.

Mortgage originations measured as appearances of new mortgages on consumer credit reports, dropped sharply in the first quarter of 2023 to $324 billion, the lowest seen since 2014Q2, a quarter that was unusually low due to the taper tantrum. ... Limits on home equity lines of credit (HELOC) were up by $9 billion, or a 1% increase. ... The median credit score for newly originated mortgages decreased slightly to 765.

Here are three graphs from the report The first graph shows aggregate consumer debt increased in Q1. Household debt previously peaked in 2008 and bottomed in Q3 2013. Unlike following the great recession, there wasn't a decline in debt during the pandemic.From the NY Fed: The second graph shows the percent of debt in delinquency.The overall delinquency rate increased slightly in Q1. From the NY Fed: The third graph shows Mortgage Originations by Credit Score.From the NY Fed:There is much more in the report
Employees greet consumers ahead of the official opening of Apple Gangnam in Seoul, March 31. Newsis



By Kim Hyun-bin



Samsung Electronics is preparing to open a flagship store near Gangnam Station in southern Seoul, in response to Apple's fifth domestic Apple Store, Apple Gangnam.



"Gangnam Station is a hot place for Generation MZ (Millennials and Generation Z) and a communications hub." a Samsung Electronics official said. "Samsung Electronics plans to operate the store in a playground concept."

The official added that the store will be named Samsung Gangnam, and it is expected to open by the end of June.





Models pose in front of Samsung Electronics' offline store in southern Seoul's Gangnam District, Tuesday. The company said it has decided to change the name of its offline store to Samsung Store from Samsung Digital Plaza. Courtesy of Samsung Electronics
The wait is finally over for over 5 lakh students who appeared for the Haryana Board Class 10th and 12th exams in 2023. The Haryana Board of School Education (HBSE) has announced the results for both classes on the official website, bseh.org.in,today, May 15, 2023.

According to reports, a total of 5,59,738 students registered for the Haryana Board exams this year. Out of them, 2,96,329 students appeared for the Class 10th exam, while 2,63,409 students took the Class 12th exam.

Students can check their HBSE 10th and 12th Class results 2023 by entering their roll number and date of birth on the official website. The provisional mark sheet can also be downloaded for future reference.

How to check Haryana Board Class 10th, 12th Result

Visit the HBSE official website, bseh.org.in 2023.

Click on the 'HBSE 10th OR 12th result 2023' download link.

Enter the roll number and date of birth as on the Haryana Board exam admit card.

Click on the 'Submit' button to enter details.

HBSE 10th, 12th Class results 2023 will be displayed on the screen.

Download the Haryana Board provisional mark sheet for future use.

It is worth noting that the board conducted re-exams for both classes for subjects cancelled in some exam centers due to the use of unfair means. The Haryana Board re-exams were held from March 29 to 31.
The Chandigarh Welfare Trust and the UT Administration are Partnering up to Compete for the Best Spot in School Education in Chandigarh

The Chandigarh Welfare Trust (CWT) and the Chandigarh administration will collaborate on continual improvement in the Chandigarh school education sector. Satnam Singh Sandhu, founder of Chandigarh Welfare Trust and Chancellor of Chandigarh University (CU), announced this during the first-ever Chandigarh Schools Excellence Awards (CSEA) held at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration (MGSIPA) in Sector 26, Chandigarh.

The awards were established to recognize and acknowledge the work of educational institutions and faculty members, as well as to reflect on methods to propel Chandigarh to the forefront of school education. The event was organized on Saturday at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre in Sector 26, Chandigarh, and the principal guest was Punjab governor and UT administrator Banwarilal Purohit. CWT founder and Chancellor Chandigarh University Satnam Singh Sandhu, director of school education Harsuhinder Pal Singh Brar, and District Education Officer (DEO) Bindu Arora were among the dignitaries in attendance.

The first edition of the Chandigarh Schools Excellence Awards received a massive response, with over 200 schools from throughout Chandigarh taking part. A total of 237 prizes were given out over 21 categories, including 4 categories for principals, 7 categories for teachers, and 10 categories for schools. Satnam Singh Sandhu, speaking on the occasion, stated that Chandigarh has always been a model city in the country in terms of education. "Due to the high quality of education, the city has produced many distinguished personalities in various fields, including two prime ministers, chief justices, and others." "It is the only city in India where the quality of education in government schools is comparable to that of private schools," Satnam Singh Sandhu stated.

Regarding the latest results of classes 10 and 12 announced by CBSE on Friday, Satnam Singh Sandhu said that although Chandigarh has performed very well in the region, there are still some areas that need improvement. "The results show a decrease in the pass percentage in both classes 10 and 12." According to CBSE data, the pass percentage for Class 12 has decreased this year compared to 2022. Similarly, the pass rate for class 10 has decreased this year," Satnam Singh Sandhu remarked. Furthermore, Satnam Singh Sandhu stated that Chandigarh is currently ranked second in the Performance Grading Index 2020-21, while the city was ranked first in the country in PGI Rankings in 2017-18 and 2018-19. "Even though Chandigarh improved its PGI Index 2020-21 scores from 912 to 927, we fell to second place."

Furthermore, we will engage with the UT administration to enhance the score on some categories in the PGI ranking in order to reclaim the #1 spot in PGI for Chandigarh. "We must work on parameters such as improving access to education, providing equity, and implementing governance processes, which includes the use of digital technology," Satnam Singh Sandhu stated. On the occasion, Satnam Singh Sandhu launched two new certificate programs for school principals and teachers to convey cutting-edge teaching-learning skills. A leadership and training course for principals will be offered, as will a diploma course for teachers.

"The two courses will be offered free of cost by Chandigarh University to principals and teachers to improve their skills and impart new-age teaching-learning pedagogy," Satnam Singh Sandhu said, adding that Chandigarh University will also offer scholarships to UT Chandigarh school teachers to pursue higher education, particularly Ph.D. and research. Banwarilal Purohit, Punjab governor, and UT administrator, complimented the Chandigarh Welfare Trust (CWT) on the establishment of the Chandigarh School's Excellence Awards, which he stated will aid in recognizing the best schools, teachers, and principals in UT Chandigarh. He also applauded the CWT and CU for establishing two certificate courses to help city school teachers and principals improve their skills.

Banwarilal Purohit also congratulated all award recipients, calling it a celebration of the remarkable achievements and unwavering dedication displayed by these outstanding individuals and educational institutions from the public and private sectors of UT in Chandigarh. "We should be proud of our great culture," remarked Banwarilal Purohit. Since the time of the Vedas, the value and importance of education have been recognized throughout India. Respect for teachers is ingrained in our diverse culture.

Technology is influencing the future of education. We recently improved the ICT infrastructure at 56 government schools and installed 201 smart classrooms in schools." Chandigarh University is an NAAC A+ rated university with a QS World Ranking. This autonomous educational institution is certified by the UGC and is located in the state of Punjab, near Chandigarh. It is India's youngest institution and the first private university in Punjab to receive an A+ rating from NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council).

CU provides over 109 undergraduate and graduate programs in engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and other fields. The WCRC named it "The University with the Best Placements."
Subaru plans to roll out more hybrid and EV offerings between now and 2026. This, as the carmaker plans to catch up in the electrified vehic...
Forum to Address Updates of Georgia Dept. of Behavioral Healths Priorities, Georgias Implementation of Mental Health Parity Act, and Mental Health Programs for Children

ATLANTA (May 15, 2023)  The Carter Center will convene its 27th Rosalynn Carter Georgia Mental Health Forum on May 18, 2023. This free in-person and virtual event explores pressing mental health issues in Georgia and the rest of the country. (See below for agenda and how to participate in person or online.)

Following the historic passage of the Mental Health Parity Act needed to improve adults and childrens access to mental health services in Georgia, were excited to provide an update on the status of implementation and next steps needed by a variety of Georgia stakeholders, said Eve Byrd, Carter Center Mental Health Program director. We are particularly focused on the dire need for prevention, early intervention and the services needed by children. Our children and families are in crisis.

Expert panelists will discuss the status of the implementation of Georgia House Bill 1013 (HB1013), The Mental Health Parity Act Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law on April 4, 2022. Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Kevin Tanner will provide an update on the states priorities to expand access to behavioral health services throughout the state.

In Georgia, suicide is the third-leading cause of death among youth ages 10-17, and in 2020, 45% of Georgias children aged 3-17 had difficulty accessing or were unable to access needed mental/behavioral health treatment and counseling. However, Georgia does not have a statewide behavioral health primary prevention plan for its youth. A panel will address the importance of a statewide prevention plan for children and adolescents and the initial steps being taken to create that plan.

Another panel of Georgias behavioral health advocacy organizations will present the 2024 mental health policy priorities and how the public can become engaged. It will be moderated by WABE Radio host and reporter Rose Scott.

The Rosalynn Carter Georgia Mental Health Forum, established in 1995, is held each May to address timely mental health policy issues facing the state. Consumers, service providers, policymakers, advocates, and media from across Georgia are invited to participate in open discussions on diverse, pressing topics.

How to View and Participate in the May 18 Georgia Mental Health Forum:

In person at The Carter Center from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET | Click here to register

| Click here to register Address: The Cecil B. Day Chapel, The Carter Center, One Copenhill, 453 John Lewis Freedom Parkway NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

One Copenhill, 453 John Lewis Freedom Parkway NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 View online from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET | Click here to view

| Click here to view Viewers are encouraged to join the conversation on Twitter using #GeorgiaMentalHealth and tag @CarterCenter.

More about the Centers Mental Health Program is here, and a timeline of Rosalynn Carters 50 years of mental health advocacy is here.

Note: During May, Mental Health Awareness Month, the Center has partnered with the makers of No Time to Fail, a documentary film about the daily activities and challenges faced by election workers, to provide free and on-demand viewing for election workers on May 18, Mental Health Action Day. Election workers who sign up to view will receive A Well-being Resource Guide for Election Officials, produced by the Carter Center's Democracy and Mental Health Programs. On Wednesday, May 31, The Carter Center will co-host a webinar with No Time to Fail film producers and partners. Information on timing and registration will be available soon on cartercenter.org.

Media: Media wishing to attend the Rosalynn Carter Georgia Mental Health Forum must RSVP to Rennie Sloan at rennie.sloan@cartercenter.org.

Resources: If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or is in crisis, call or text 988 for assistance in accessing support and services.

Contact: In Atlanta, Rennie Sloan, rennie.sloan@cartercenter.org

Agenda is here.

###



The Carter Center

Waging Peace, Fighting Disease, Building Hope



A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide. Visit our website CarterCenter.org | Follow us on Twitter @CarterCenter | Follow us on Instagram @thecartercenter | Like us on Facebook Facebook.com/CarterCenter | Watch us on YouTube YouTube.com/CarterCenter
German Federal Minister of Finance Christian Lindner takes a selfie during a group photo session of the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Niigata, northern Japan, May 12. EPA-Yonhap



Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations plan to tighten sanctions on Russia at their summit in Japan this week, with steps aimed at energy and exports aiding Moscow's war effort, said officials with direct knowledge of the discussions.



New measures announced by the leaders during the May 19-21 meetings will target sanctions evasion involving third countries, and seek to undermine Russia's future energy production and curb trade that supports Russia's military, the people said.



Separately, U.S. officials also expect G7 members will agree to adjust their approach to sanctions so that, at least for certain categories of goods, all exports are automatically banned unless they are on a list of approved items.



The Biden administration has previously pushed G7 allies to reverse the group's sanctions approach, which today allows all goods to be sold to Russia unless they are explicitly blacklisted.



That change could make it harder for Moscow to find gaps in the sanctions regime.



While the allies have not agreed to apply the more-restrictive approach broadly, U.S. officials expect that in the most sensitive areas for Russia's military G7 members will adopt a presumption that exports are banned unless they are on a designated list.



The exact areas where these new rules would apply are still being discussed.



"You should expect to see, in a handful of spaces, particularly relating to Russia's defense industrial base, that change in presumption happen," said a U.S. official who declined to be named.



The precise language of the G7 leaders' joint declarations is still subject to negotiation and adjustment before it is released during the summit. The G7 comprises the United States, Japan, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.





Police officers go up the station stairs depicting the logo of the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting, in Niigata, Japan, Wednesday, May 10. AP-Yonhap
Buzzi Unicem posts 1Q23 consolidated net sales of EUR955.9m

15 May 2023

Consolidated net sales for Buzzi Unicem in the 1Q23 reached EUR955.9m, a rise of 19.5 per cent compared to EUR8000.1m the 1Q22. However, Buzzi Unicem reported to a decline in sales volumes for the group in the first three months of 2023, both for cement (-8.8 per cent) and ready-mix concrete (-12.2 per cent).

The strengthening of cement prices offset lower volumes in sales. Cement sales totalled 5,803,000t in the 1Q23 compared to 6,363,000t in the 1Q22. Ready-mix sales totalled 2,364,000Mm3 in the 1Q23, down from 2,693,000Mm3 recorded in the 1Q22.

Regional 1Q23 performances

In Italy net sales increased by 24.8 per cent from EUR163.3m to EUR203.7m, while in the USA net sales reached EUR375m, up 24 per cent compared to EU301.9m in the 1Q22. Central Europe saw less demand with net sales in Germany totalling EUR195.1m up 11.5 per cent from EUR175.4m in the 1Q22. Net sales in Luxembourg and The Netherlands amounted to EUR53.9m, up 3.7 per cent from EUR52m in the 1Q22.

Net sales rose for the most part in eastern Europe. In the Czech Republic net sales reached EUR40.6m up nine per cent from EUR37.3m in the 1Q22 and in Poland net sales rose by 13.8 per cent to EUR33.2m. Russian net sales stood at EUR60.1m, up 57.3 per cent compared to EUR38.2m in the 1QQ22. But in the Ukraine, net sales fell by 26.1 per cent to EUR9.7m from EUR13.1m in the 1Q22.

Mexican net sales totalled EUR242m, up 45.2 per cent from EUR166m in the 1Q22. Brazilian net sales were also strong reaching EU75.2m, up 23.1 per cent from EUR92.5m in the 1Q22.

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A Citizens Town Hall on the city's adoption of a Climate Action Plan will be held on June 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Calvary Chapel, 3415 Broad St.

It is sponsored by Glenda Pappu, Dean McGhan and Harriette Reid representing NoogaVoices, described as a non-partisan grassroots organization of concerned citizens.

The group said, "On March 28 the Chattanooga City Council voted in favor of Mayor Tim Kellys plan to transform our beautiful Scenic City into a surveillance monitored 'Smart City' by enacting the Climate Action Plan (CAP). The CAP is full of surprises that will definitely increase costs, stymie new road infrastructure, change zoning, building codes and more."

Additional town hall meetings will be held in Collegedale and Hixson in the next two months.

The group stated, "These are must-attend meetings that will not only be informative and educational but will offer possible solutions to hopefully prevent Tennesseans from giving up our privacy, personal information, and our city as we know it. Help us preserve the Scenic City of Chattanooga before its too late."
photo by Tennessee Aquarium/Doug Strickland photo by Tennessee Aquarium/Doug Strickland photo by Tennessee Aquarium/Doug Strickland photo by Tennessee Aquarium/Doug Strickland Previous Next

Parents everywhere have it tough, but for Four-eyed Turtle moms, life in the wild is especially harrowing.

Found in forests and wetlands along a crescent-shaped arc range spanning China, Laos, and Vietnam, this critically endangered species is in steep decline thanks to a host of threats ranging from damming and habitat loss to the collection for the pet trade and harvesting their shells.

With prospects for wild Four-eyed Turtles so dire, the Tennessee Aquarium is celebrating the recent hatching of two Four-eyed Turtles in its Turtle Nursery. These eggs, which hatched May 1 and 2, were laid by a female who was, herself, hatched and raised at the Aquarium, a first for the Chattanooga institution.

This was one of a clutch of two, and both have hatched. These are the first hatchlings we have from a female who hatched here in 2013, says Bill Hughes, the Aquariums herpetology coordinator. Its taken her about 10 years, which is about the right time for this species to achieve reproductive maturity.

Moms everywhere probably wish they had eyes in the back of their heads. In the case of Four-eyed Turtles, their name is in reference to the presence of a pair of distinctive, ringed eye spots  also known as ocelli  on the top of their heads. Rather than detecting misbehavior by their offspring, however, these eye spots are designed to confuse and misdirect would-be predators.

These eggs were laid by the off-exhibit female earlier this spring. They hatched after 68 and 69 days, respectively, in line with the 70- to 75-day incubation period that is typical for this species.

The newly hatched Four-eyed Turtles emergence from their eggs was a lengthy, tiring ordeal. Using an egg tooth  a special, temporary spur on its beak  the hatchlings created a hole called a pip in the eggshell. Widening out this initial exit point and finally emerging from the shell can take hours.

This process is physically exhausting, Hughes says. The turtle has to take frequent breaks to build its energy back up.

After spending a few additional days in the Aquariums incubation facilities and eating their first few meals, the turtles will be relocated to nursery habitats. Guests can view these new arrivals, and dozens of other baby turtles, in the Aquariums working turtle nursery in the River Journey buildings Turtles of the World gallery.

Hughes is responsible for maintaining the official Four-eyed Turtle studbook, an official record tracking the parentage of all babies of a particular species. The Aquarium has seen much success contributing to the population of this species in human care, an important step to forestalling the possibility of this rare turtle disappearing from the wild.

Since 2007, the Aquarium has hatched 54 Four-eyed Turtles, whose classification by the International Union for Conservation of Nature was downgraded from endangered to critically endangered in 2021. During this same period, the Aquarium also hatched 25 Beales Four-eyed Turtles, a closely related species.
Battle Academy students learning with Honey Seed executive chef Eric Wood Battle Academy students learning with Honey Seed executive chef Eric Wood Battle Academy students learning with Honey Seed executive chef Eric Wood Battle Academy students learning with Honey Seed executive chef Eric Wood Battle Academy students learning with Honey Seed executive chef Eric Wood Previous Next

Honey Seed has been working with two Battle Academy teachers, Caitlin Campbell and Tarah Kemp, to help students learn about starting a business. Students have been imagining opening a food truck. Groups created their own special bagel and cream cheese flavors, which will be judged on Monday.

To date, students have worked worked with Honey Seed owner, Robert Werk, to learn about what it takes to start a business. They spent time learning about different ingredients and how to pair them together with their teacher, Mrs. Kemp, who started the Cooking Up Learning program, the first of its kind in Hamilton County. They worked with Executive Chef Erick Wood to create their own bagels and cream cheese flavors, then came to the restaurant to bake their bagels with one of the bakers, Emmanuel Cabrera. All aspects of the project applied the 4th grade math concepts taught to students by Mrs. Campbell.

The judging panel includes Chopped Challenge winner, Kenyatta Ashford, Current Miss Tennessee, Claire Portilla, Hoff & Pepper's own "Hoff," and KZ 106's Keely Wheeler.

Honey seed will sell the winning bagel and cream cheese flavors Tuesday-Friday, with a portion of proceeds going to directly benefit the classrooms of Mrs. Campbell and Mrs. Kemp.






Criminal Court Judge Boyd Patterson has taken over a capital murder case in Hamilton County that dates back to May 2016.

He did so after Judge Amanda Dunn in Division II recused herself in the case in which Courtney High and Andre Grier are charged with carrying out the slaying of a state witness. Charles Shelton was also charged, but he died while incarcerated at Silverdale in September of 2021. He was 31.

Judge Dunn, a former criminal defense attorney, had a conflict in the case.

Former District Attorney Neal Pinkston opted to seek the death penalty against those charged.

Attorney Steven Moore, who formerly represented High, could not remain on the case after he was named deputy District Attorney by new DA Coty Wamp.

The new prosecutor in the case is Jennifer Nichols, an assistant district attorney from Gallatin. After the Hamilton County District Attorney's Office recused itself, Sumner County DA Ray Whitley was given the case. He assigned prosecutor Nichols to handle it.

Judge Patterson held a WebEx hearing in the case on Monday morning with most attorneys appearing remotely.

The prosecutor was not on the call, and officials said it might have been due to an issue over the time difference. Gallatin is on Central Daylight Time.

Attorneys involved in the case involving High and Grier have to be death penalty certified. Judge Tom Greenholtz, who previously oversaw the case before being elevated to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, at one court hearing said he did not know of any Chattanooga lawyers so certified.

One of the lawyers involved in the case is Cleveland, Tn.'s Jimmy Logan.

The victim, Bianca Horton, had been set to testify against Cortez Sims in a Jan. 17, 2015, mass shooting at College Hill Courts. Ms. Horton was grazed by a bullet and her young daughter, Zoe, was left paralyzed. Talitha Bowman was killed. Marcel "Baby Watts" Christopher was shot, but survived.

The testimony that Ms. Horton gave at a Juvenile Court hearing was allowed in the criminal court trial of Cortez Sims. Sims was convicted of first-degree murder and is serving a life prison sentence.

Judge Patterson said he was advised "there are several terabytes of discovery in this case."

He said the new prosecutor "has quite a handful to deal with. She may wind up moving to Chattanooga to handle all of these cases."
The City of Chattanooga is enhancing its ability to help residents make critical home repairs with the relaunch and expansion of an initiative that had paused during the pandemic.The Home Assistance Repair Program (HARP), part of Mayor Tim Kellys One Chattanooga Relief and Recovery Plan, will provide financial assistance to residents and will be administered by the citys Neighborhood Services Division. Plans are in place for HARP to assist 90 or more low-to-moderate income families with essential home repairs over the course of two years.Every Chattanoogan should have a safe and stable place to call home, and this is one more tool in our toolkit to help make that possible, said Mayor Kelly.Eviction prevention is a critical variable in the affordable housing equation, and finding ways to apply focused leverage to make that one degree of change is often the difference between homelessness and stability  and thats what this program is about.The City is accepting applications beginning today. Residents interested in the program can obtain an application here The programs design and goal is to improve housing conditions for owner-occupied residents of Chattanooga in efforts to reduce existing and potential code violations that could lead to possible condemnation and/or displacement, said Andreana Moore, neighborhood relations specialist. Many of Chattaoogas homeowners do not have the means to address the various repairs their homes may need, which is why the program is so important. It provides that little helping hand during their time of need and allows individuals or families to age in peace and keep their homes for generations to come.The City managed a similar program for more than 14 years before stopping due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, more than 750 Chattanooga city residents received assistance to remain housed in safe and decent living conditions. All recipients were low-to-moderate-income individuals and families.With a name change and a $425,000 increase in funding through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, HARP will provide improved purchasing power for each project, giving more opportunities to complete moderate home repairs, such as interior and exterior painting, porch and step repairs, siding and deck repairs and other similar projects. The City of Chattanooga will continue to partner with nonprofits with new funding and for-profit entities in carrying out activities under this program.To be eligible for HARP, applicants must reside within the Chattanooga city limits and be the primary homeowner with a low to moderate income. Learn more about eligibility here The City will accept applications for 30 days beginning Monday. Applicants can submit their completed applications by mail or in person. Applications will be accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis. Apply here Additionally, the Neighborhood Services team will be stationed at designated community centers at the following dates and times to help interested residents apply for the program:HARP Application Pick-Up Events:Wednesday, May 24 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.South Chattanooga Community Center1151 W 40th St., Chattanooga, Tn. 37409Monday, May 29 from noon-3 p.m.Chris L. Ramsey Sr. Community Center1010 N Moore Road, Chattanooga, Tn. 37411Thursday, June 1 from 2-5 p.m.Avondale Community Center1305 Dodson Ave., Chattanooga, Tn. 37406
The Tennessee Historical Commission has announced the recipients of this years annual Certificate of Merit. These awards are presented each May during National Preservation Month. Since 1975, THCs Certificate of Merit Program has recognized exemplary work by individuals, groups, organizations, corporations, or governmental entities to further promote historic preservation or the study of history in Tennessee. Nominations are solicited from the public in December of the preceding year and judged by category.

Our state benefits greatly from individuals, businesses, and organizations who work to protect and enhance our treasured heritage, said Executive Director and State Historic Preservation Officer Patrick McIntyre. From a distinguished professional who worked for decades in support of historic preservation-- to the transformative adaptive reuse of a former hosiery mill in Cleveland into housing--we are honored to recognize this inspiring group of recipients.

The Historic Preservation category recognizes excellence in the preservation, restoration, or rehabilitation of a historic or archaeological site, preservation leadership, preservation planning, publications related to historic preservation, public programming, or research. 2023 recipients in this category include:

 Belmont Mansion in Nashville for the restoration of the 19-foot barrel-vaulted ceiling in the Grand Salon to its former appearance.

 Bill Taylor for his extensive research and role in the restoration of the box tomb and obelisk in the William Ewing Cemetery in Nashville.

 Emily Williams for the completion of her Eagle Scout Project, mapping and documenting the Brewers Chapel Cemetery in Chapmansboro.

 J.N. Oliver and Stewart Buildings in Memphis for the completion of a rehabilitation project of two buildings within a National Register of Historic Places District for commercial and residential use.

 John McKamey for playing an integral role in the acquisition of 15 acres of the original Cobb Farm of Rocky Mount State Historic Site in Piney Flats.

 Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park in Manchester for their Cemetery Cleaning Workshop at Hickerson-Wooton Cemetery.

 Sanda Hosiery Mills for the rehabilitation of the National Register of Historic Places property into residential lofts in Cleveland.

The Book or Public Programming category recognizes notable achievements toward advancing the study of Tennessee history through certain types of books or public programming. The recipient in this category is Katatra Vasquez for her children's graphic novel about the history of Oak Ridge before it became the Secret City during the Manhattan Project and through the eyes of African Americans. Josies Hope: A Secret City Revealed also points out landmarks that are still extant related to the pre-Secret City history of Oak Ridge.
The recent announcement that Hawk Hill is in the running for a replacement for the Art Deco Joel Soloman Temple of Justice across the street from the popular gathering spot of Miller Park is encouraging news.

With the federal government eager and willing to absorb the cost (a few hundred million or billion) to provide a safer and more attractive locale, a tremendous opportunity now exists to solve two major problems in Gig City.

1.) With a granite marble facade the building is much more secure than the tent cities in the Bailey Avenue to Main Street corridor presently accommodating the less fortunate citizens;

2.) The project can be re-designed by one of the out of town architects to be comparable to one of the hotels in Chicago, New York City, San Francisco, etc. that have been commissioned (with federal state and local taxes) to provide show places for new residents and immigrants under the Welcome To Scenic City banner; and,

3.) With four full floors overlooking beautiful Miller Park, two penthouse possibilities and a basement readily adaptable to full health club and workout facilities soon to be surplus government property, the situation is ideal.

The preservation of two almost adjoining historical landmarks from the past (Patten Hotel and Federal Courthouse) should also quiet down those crazy elder citizens who opposed the demolition of the outdated Cameron Hill area based upon the strong political influence of a figure who allegedly was the owner of several tracts in the urban renewal Golden Gateway project.

The May 12, 2023 announcement that the former Cornerstones organization, now Preserve Chattanooga, has completed a feasibility study for establishing a historic preservation focused revolving fund in Gig City is a good assurance(?) that the massive building of the future will be joined with remaining treasures of the past.

(Rather than raze the old unsafe, broken down and possible homeplace for non-paying members of the rodent family an upgrade at minor taxpayer expense would also be a progressive step forward for the community)
Meghan Markle Has New A-List Friends Now That She and Prince Harry Have Settled Down in California  Including a Billionaire

Meghan Markle was born and raised in California, but she spent several years in Toronto, Canada (to film her former show Suits) before moving to the United Kingdom after a whirlwind relationship with Prince Harry. Meghan and Harry wed after two years of dating, then spent two additional years in the U.K. before eventually moving back to California in 2020.

Since Meghan has settled back into her home state, shes made all new friends; the duchess was recently spotted dining with her husband and plenty of A-listers, including Gwyneth Paltrow and Cameron Diaz.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in 2018 | Victoria Jones/AFP via Getty Images

Meghan Markle was spotted out with Cameron Diaz, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Whitney Wolfe Herd

Harry and Meghan have seemed to settle in nicely to their new lives in Montecito, California. The two were recently spotted joining a slew of A-list friends for dinner at Sushi Bar, a restaurant in Montecito. Surprisingly, they werent joined by their usual posse. Rather, Page Six first reported that the two actually stepped out on a quadruple date with actor Gwyneth Paltrow and her husband, Brad Falchuk, actor Cameron Diaz and her husband, Benji Madden, and billionaire Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd and her husband, Michael Herd.

Photos of the couple show Meghan and Harry walking into the restaurant with a security guard just a few steps behind them.

Wolfe Herd and her husband recently purchased a home in the Montecito area, so its possible the Harry and Meghan are just getting to know them. Diaz and Madden, as well as Paltrow and Falchuk, have all lived in the surrounding are for quite some time. However, its unclear how Meghan and Harry know them or how long they have all been friends.

Meghan Markle steps out in New York City with Prince Harry in December 2022 | Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry stepped out for the first time since King Charles coronation

The outing marks the first time Harry and Meghan have been spotted in public since King Charles coronation. On May 6, Harry was in the U.K. to attend his fathers ceremony, where he watched his father and step-mother, Camilla Parker Bowles (now known as Queen Camilla), officially get crowned. Meghan passed on the event, opting to stay in Montecito with the couples two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Harry didnt spend too much time in the U.K. He supposedly flew out just in time for the ceremony and left shortly after it ended. He did not attend the post-coronation celebration at Windsor Castle later that night, and he was also absent from the coronation concert the following day.

Harry and Meghan have been at odds with the royal family for years. Things reportedly started going south before the couple even wed in 2018, and five years later, it doesnt look like there has been much improvement. Harry and Meghan did attend two royal events in 2022, though. They flew to the U.K. for Queen Elizabeth IIs Platinum Jubilee back in June 2022, and they returned later that year to attend the queens funeral in September. The two stepped out alongside Prince William and Kate Middleton, which many saw as a possible olive branch, though the relationship still appears cold.
Prince William and Kate Middleton are reportedly taking the lead with royal fans, leaving King Charles in the dust. A commentator claims Kate and Williams actions smell suspiciously like a power play. Most apparent, following Charles coronation, the couple took center stage and used their skyrocketing popularity to their advantage.

Kate Middleton and Prince William at King Charles coronation on May 6, 2023 | Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage

Prince William and Kate Middletons team used a blatant marketing effort

The eyes of the world were on King Charles III at his May 6 coronation. Millions worldwide watched his ascension to the highest seat in the United Kingdom.

However, Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis apparently stole the show from the 74-year-old king. As a family unit, the Cambridges were a study of elegance and a display of the monarchys future.

Moreover, William and Kates presence at the event was showcased with a series of slickly produced social media videos. This led royal commentator Daniela Elser to call the clips a self-promoting marketing effort.

Whats crucial here is not just what the William and Kate videos show but what they dont. They are a self-promoting marketing effort that is so blatant yet effective they should be studied by science, Elser wrote in her column for News.com.au.

She referred to six expertly produced clips featuring William, Kate, and their three children at the coronation and in the days after. Elser stated, No normal, edited on an iPhone video, mind you, but a high-sheen, high-gloss, exquisitely professional trailer full of behind-the-scenes moments that had all the pacing, build-up and atmosphere of a Michael Bay trailer.

Elser continued, Aside from a few shots of His Majesty doing some waving from the Buckingham Palace balcony, he is entirely missing from the Wales cinematic universe. This muscular Wales effort to sell, sell, sell themselves over the coronation even though it was the Kings big day looks and smells suspiciously like a power play.

The future of the monarchy rests on Prince William and Kate Middletons shoulders, says royal commentator

Royal commentator Daniela Elsers essay deduced the couple is clearly setting up their future as king and queen of the United Kingdom. However, this shift demonstrates how vital the couple is to the familys continuity.

The why here is understandable. Its imperative that William and Kate are built up, and their star is polished as energetically as possible, given they are the monarchys One Great Hope. The future of the whole outfit rests on them being crowned and proving so popular that the institution surges into the 22nd century on a wave of popularity not seen since the Restoration.

She continued, What these coronation videos also suggest is that William and Kate are not content to patiently wait and play the docile understudies for the next couple of decades. But are looking to build up their own power base.

Royal fans agree William and Kate are playing a strategic game

Related Prince William Admits King Charles Dealt With a Painful Issue After Coronation

The series of videos received a very warm reception from royal fans. They appear to agree with the royal commentators beliefs that these social media clips hold a bigger meaning for William and Kate.

What happened after Charles became king? Finally, William and Kate use social media the best way, and nobody is scared anymore. They steal the showbecause we all know they ARE the show, wrote one fan.

The social media manager of this account should have a raise. They have been posting some amazing content lately, claimed a second Instagram user.

Someone has upped their social media game! This is fantastic, penned a third social media user.

Less than one week after King Charles coronation, Kate Middleton made a surprise cameo at the Eurovision Song Contest finale on Saturday, May 13. She gave a pre-recorded piano performance filmed in the Crimson Drawing Room of Windsor Castle. Kate played an instrumental version of the Ukrainian group Kalush Orchestras song Stefania, which won last years contest.
HGTV is headed to Africa. Renovation Wild is the networks first series set on the worlds second-largest continent. It follows resort owners Grant and Lynsey Cumings as they transform two remote resorts in Zambia into one-of-a-kind travel destinations.

What is Renovation Wild about?

Lynsey and Grant Cumings of Renovation Wild | HGTV

Over eight episodes, Renovation Wild will follow the Cumings as they renovate a pair of sister properties in Lower Zambezi National Park, with help from their project manager, Ngoli, and their resort manager, Juliet. The Cumings and their team will confront an array of logistical problems that come from undertaking a renovation in a remote location, including weather challenges, supply chain issues, and wildlife encounters.

In the first episode of Renovation Wild, Grant and Lynsey will start renovating the run-down villas at Old Mondoro camp, just as the regions rainy season begins. Theyll develop plans to update the reed villas, update the ensuite bathrooms, and install a unique outdoor washroom. Later, the pair will head to Chiawa Camp, where they focus on a game plan for its high-end renovation.

Theres nothing more challenging than creating beauty when Mother Nature seems to be out to get you with every move you make, Grant said in a statement. I was born here in Zambia, our safari lodges are here and were raising our family here, so everything is on the line. And its survival of the fittest out there.

Meet Grant and Lynsey Cumings

Renovation Wild seems inspired by HGTVs hit series Renovation Island, which follows a Canadian couple who transformed a dilapidated hotel in the Bahamas into a luxurious resort. But unlike Brian and Sarah Baeumler, who had no ties to the Bahamas when they started the Caerula Mar project, the Cumings are not newcomers to Zambia.

On their resorts website, the Cumings describe themselves as fifth-generation Africans who pioneered tourism into the Lower Zambezi National Park when they established the first version of Chiawa Camp more than 30 years ago.

Grant Cumings family moved to Africa in the late 19th century, during the British colonial era. His ancestors were involved in gold and diamond mining (his grandfather was a diamond buyer for DeBeers) before they settled on the Lower Zambezi to put down their safari roots. Eventually, they established Chiawa Camp, which began welcoming guests in 1991.

Today, Grant and his wife Lynsey oversee the day-to-day operations of Chiawa Camp. Lynsey has a degree in hospitality management and a background working with major hotel and airline brands. Grants experience is in guiding, conservation, and the safari industry. They have two children, Scott and Lauren.

The Renovation Wild resorts offers an escape for travelers

Elephants in the Zambezi River, Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia | Getty Images

Both Chiawa Camp and Old Mondora are situated in the middle of prime wildlife and habitat zones, according to the resorts website. That means theres no shortage of opportunities for guests to spot elephants, leopards, hippos, and other wildlife. But thats not all that visitors get out of a stay. According to Cumings, the familys resorts offer something different from the typical safari experience.

We try to do more for our guests than just tick off animal sightings, Grant told The Telegraph earlier in 2023. People are on holiday, and what they need is an escape from the busy schedules theyve left at home.

Our ethos is to take a step back. To look, smell, listen, breathe, and even taste. We try to touch on all the senses, not just the visual, he added. We have had people come here and say that this trip has changed their lives and the way they look at the world and themselves.

Renovation Wild premieres Monday, May 15 at 9 p.m. ET on HGTV.

Source: Chiawa Safaris

For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheets YouTube channel.
China successfully launches Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft

10:48, May 15, 2023 By Liu Shiyao, Yu Sinan ( People's Daily

A Long March-7 Y7 rocket, carrying the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft, blasted off at 9:22 p.m. (Beijing Time) on May 10 from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan province.

After around 10 minutes, the spacecraft separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. This marked a complete success of the first launch mission after China's crewed space station program entered the stage of application and development.

A Long March-7 Y7 rocket, carrying the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft, blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan province, May 10, 2023. (People's Daily Online/Liu Guoxing)

Tianzhou-6 is the first spacecraft to visit China's space station supporting its new operation phase. It is also the first of a modified batch of the Tianzhou cargo ships - from Tianzhou-6 to Tianzhou-11.

The cargo spacecraft is tasked with ferrying supplies for the space station, providing in-orbit support, and sending multiple payloads for space scientific experiments.

Greater loading volume and larger carrying capacity is the most important feature of Tianzhou-6. With a loading capacity of more than 7 tons, Tianzhou-6 has emerged as the world's largest cargo spacecraft in service and also the most versatile of its kind in terms of supporting capability in orbit.

In the recent mission, Tianzhou-6 transported supplies including daily supplies for six astronauts of the Shenzhou-16 and Shenzhou-17 spaceships to be launched, propellants, and experiment-related items.

A Tianzhou cargo craft has two parts - a cargo cabin for transporting supplies and a propulsion section. The propulsion section ensures power, energy and communication and replenishes propellants for China's space station.

The improved carrying capacity of Tianzhou-6 provides more goods for astronauts to sustain a longer stay in space. This reduces the launch frequency of cargo spacecraft from twice a year to three times every two years, which will substantially reduce transportation costs.

After the upgrade, the cargo capacity of the airtight cabin increased by 24 percent from 5.5 tons to 6.7 tons, and that of the whole spacecraft rose from 6.9 tons to 7.4 tons, said Dong Shengran, chief designer of the cargo spacecraft system at the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). Dong added that the spacecraft's payload ratio went up from 0.51 to 0.53.

China's cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-6 docks with the country's combination of the space station Tiangong, May 11, 2023. (Photo from the website of China Manned Space)

Another highlight of this launch mission is that the proportion of the number of domestic components in Tianzhou-6 and its successors has increased significantly, and 100 percent localization of key components has been realized.

The research team has promoted the optimization of the spacecraft's configuration to improve its reliability while reducing its costs. The spacecraft meets the requirements for remote control from the ground station and transmission of images and data to the ground.

Since China began the construction of its space station with the launch of the Tianhe core module in 2021, four cargo spacecraft, from Tianzhou-2 to Tianzhou-5, had been launched until the completion of the space station in 2022.

They delivered supplies between the space station and ground station, and verified key technologies for the space station during their in-orbit operations, such as the first transposition test of the Tianzhou-2 cargo craft using a robotic arm, the first in-orbit refueling, and a fast automated rendezvous and docking in about two hours for the first time.

Tianzhou-6 delivered 98 experiment-related items with a total weight of some 714 kilograms, including research samples and supporting equipment, to China's space station, according to Lyu Congmin, deputy chief designer of the China Manned Space Program's space application system and research fellow with the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Astronauts would transfer these supplies into the space station modules after the docking of the cargo craft with the space station, Lyu said.

As scheduled, these supplies will be used to carry out 29 scientific experiments and application tests in four fields: space life science and biotechnology, fluid physics and combustion science in microgravity, material science in space, and new technology tests for space applications, according to Lyu.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming)
Hydrogen, seen as the ultimate energy for the 21st century, boasts benefits such as being clean and renewable, and is 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 the KeAi journal 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 PhD 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, expressed Lu.
Cherokee Immersion School second grader Malena Holcomb is the winner of the 4th annual Cherokee Phoenix art contest.
Pexels/Ron Lach

An ancient Hebrew lead tablet discovered in the 1980s on Mount Ebal, close to Nablus, has been successfully deciphered by an international team of experts using cutting-edge X-ray tomographic equipment. The hidden text, a formulaic curse, is written in a proto-alphabetic script that is thought to have been used in the Late Bronze Age, more than 200 years before any known Hebrew inscriptions in Israel.

'You Are Cursed by God'

According to the article in Jerusalem Post, Prof. Gershon Galil of the University of Haifa, a specialist in Jewish history and biblical studies, Scott Stripling of the Archaeological Studies Institute in Katy, Texas, Ivana Kumpova, Daniel Vavrik, and Jaroslav Valach of the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics at the Czech Academy of Sciences, and Pieter Gert van der Veen from the Department of Old Testament at the University of Twente conducted the research, which was published in

An excursion to Mount Ebal in 2019 led to the finding. The group wet-filtered debris from earlier excavations directed by the late Adam Zertal, a well-known but divisive archaeologist from the University of Haifa. From the east trash pile, the team discovered a small, folded lead tablet that included a waste matrix from two constructions that were thought to be altars and dated to the Late Bronze II and Iron Age I.

The inscription "You are cursed by the God," which has been decoded, provides an intriguing window into the religious and cultural customs of the area's early occupants. This critical discovery advances the timeline of previously discovered Hebrew inscriptions, giving scholars a more thorough grasp of the emergence of early Hebrew culture and language.

Also Read: Unearthed Tiny Gold Bible Mistaken For A Gift Shop Trinket Turns Out To Be 600-Year Piece Of History

How They Deciphered The Text

An Israeli-European study team's use of X-ray tomography has allowed them to decipher buried writing on a tiny, old Hebrew tablet. According to another source, US Today, unbelievably, the team was able to uncover the text using this non-intrusive technique without harming the artifact.

The tablet, which is a folded lead defixio measuring 2 by 2 cm and 0.3 cm thick, is thought to have come from an altar on Mount Ebal. It is believed that Joshua, Moses' successor, built an altar here when the Israelites were driven out of Egypt, giving this place a major place in biblical tradition.

The tablet, which had indentations and signs of writing on both the inside and outside, is thought to have been a component of the altars' infill. The relic was found after soil that had been dug up by the group led by the late archaeologist Adam Zertal was examined again. The crew also discovered pottery sherds, diagnostic flints, animal and floral remains, and other minor objects near the tablet.

The tablet's 48-letter inscription is thought to have been written somewhere in the late 13th century BC. However, other scholars contend it may be even older. According to the Jewish News Syndicate, the tablet's use of the Hebrew word for God also predates the oldest known instance in Israel by 500-600 years. The discovery might suggest an earlier date for the Exodus from Egypt. Further analysis and an international conference are expected.

Related Article:Extraordinary Discovery Made at Ancient Burial Site: Jesus' Midwife's Tomb Unearthed With Hundreds of Artifacts
Pexels/Pixabay

A pregnant mother from Myanmar has found Marisol Dela Cruz, a former OB-GYN aspirant and current volunteer doula at the University of North Carolina Medical Center, to be a steadfast source of support while sipping tea and navigating the intricate system of American healthcare. In Dela Cruz's kind care, the mothera refugee coping with unfamiliarity and insecurity in a strange landfound comfort.

Dela Cruz and the expecting mother formed a friendship based on trust and understanding despite language and cultural limitations. The two spent countless hours in each other's company, exchanging personal stories and experiences with the help of a translator.

Helping Mothers Say Yes to Life

According to the article in Ave Maria Radio, Dela Cruz recounted many private tea parties at her residence where she had discussed her experiences as a refugee. Dela Cruz claimed that their lengthy, intimate discussions fostered a strong sense of trust between them.

Dela Cruz conducted in-depth research on Myanmar's culture as part of her dedication to delivering care that is sensitive to cultural differences. She also educated the expecting mother on the complexities of the US healthcare system. She introduced her to terms used in medicine, possible treatment options, and what to expect from an American birth.

Beyond merely disseminating information, Dela Cruz's strategy was driven by a strong desire to empower the expectant mother and make sure she was aware of her right to make healthcare decisions, including whether to opt for an epidural or schedule a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean section).

She made it clear that her main objective was to ensure she understood that she had the freedom to accept or reject any options presented to her. Dela Cruz claimed that this was a way to empower her and uphold her dignity in light of the trauma and difficulties she had faced.

Also Read: North Carolina Governor's Eleventh-Hour Appeal to Halt Stricter Abortion Restrictions

The Mission of the Doulas

According to the article in National Catholic Register, Doulas, like Dela Cruz, represent the Catholic pro-life movement by helping at-risk moms and their unborn children, especially those who belong to marginalized groups like jailed women, adolescent mothers, refugees, and low-income families. Dela Cruz views this effort as an act of justice, particularly in light of the high incidence of child and maternal mortality among women of color. In spite of the social and psychological obstacles they encounter, the aim is to offer these women the self-assurance and support they need to say "Yes" to having children.

Dela Cruz received her training from Doulas of North America and volunteered in the Birth Partners program at the University of North Carolina. Dela Cruz considers her work as a doula to be her vocation, juggling it between customers who can pay her in full and others who can only contribute what they can. Dela Cruz is dedicated to using her talents for the benefit of others, motivated by the struggles her own mother had as an immigrant.

Further Understanding of What Doulas Are

A doula is a non-medical practitioner who offers pregnant women and their families emotional and physical assistance throughout pregnancy and childbirth. According to Web MD, Doulas come in various varieties, including labor doulas who support expectant mothers throughout labor, antepartum doulas who support women during bed rest, and postpartum doulas who support new mothers following delivery.

Doulas collaborate closely with expectant parents, providing advice, answering queries, and assisting in the creation of birth plans. Doulas offer constant support when a woman is giving birth, delivering comfort measures, facilitating communication, and integrating the spouse. Doulas offer support, information, and assistance with breastfeeding after birth. According to studies, doulas can contribute to easier deliveries, less interventions, and shorter labors.

Related Article:Women's Perspectives on Abortion Should Be Taken into Account by US Bishops, Say Catholic Mothers, Scholars
Pixabay/succo

A Christian organization is always volunteering to assist those homeless in Southern California. However, the city's law enforcement authorities have recently threatened the group for what they believe to be a violation of the zoning regulations.

Authorities Threatened Fines at Christian Group for Violating Zoning Law

Based on an article from Rocket, the term "zoning laws" refers to the specific guidelines and laws that apply to land partitioned into different "zones" by a state or a municipality. Real estate inside zoning districts must adhere to whatever land use practices are sanctioned by local zoning laws, sometimes known as zoning ordinances.

Different branches of a local government, a municipal corporation, or a county can be responsible for drafting zoning regulations. When a region is given the status of a zoning district, restrictions will dictate precisely how property owners can utilize land within that district. Moreover, over time, the ambitions for one particular neighborhood will shift, or the homeowners will ask for an exemption for a specific project. For example, a property owner intending to begin a home-based business can request an exemption, which, if granted, would permit the operation of the company within a residential zone.

On the other hand, a recent report from USA Today stated that Micah's Way is a nonprofit organization that assists homeless and low-income households in Santa Ana, California, located southeast of Los Angeles. The organization helps these individuals acquire identification documents, mail, and, on certain occasions, a hot cup of coffee and a muffin.

As mentioned, they are distributing food and drink in an area zoned for professionals, which the city claims are against the zoning regulations and could result in a punishment from the city. The United States federal government has finally decided to weigh in on the issue. In addition, the Department of Justice submitted an announcement of interest on Wednesday, May 10, in support of Micah's Way. The letter said that distributing food and drink to the homeless and poor as part of a "religious exercise" could be a legally protected action under federal law.

Also Read:Christian Lawyers Foundation Files Lawsuit Against Artists for Allegedly Mocking Christian Faith

Lawsuit Filed by Christian Organization

According to Yahoo News, Micah's Way has initiated legal action against Santa Ana, claiming that the city is placing a "substantial burden" on the congregation's ability to practice their religion by refusing to issue a leasing certification. The Christian group was informed that it could no longer give meals to homeless persons in breach of the city's zoning regulations after the town rejected the certificate the organization had applied for.

Accordingly, the Department of Justice (DOJ) released a statement that the city threatened to punish the organization and investigate the possibility of prosecuting them criminally if they continued their behavior. Micah's Way noted in its complaint that it is obligated by its religious beliefs to assist those in need, including giving them food and water.

Additionally, Deputy Assistant Attorney General in Charge of the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ, Kristen Clarke, said it is against the law to place discriminatory limitations on property use or establish barriers that target religious organizations. "Many faith-based organizations across the country are on the front lines serving the needs of people experiencing homelessness. The Justice Department is committed to enforcing federal civil rights laws to ensure that all religious groups can freely exercise their religious beliefs," she asserted.

Related Article: Wilson County Government Filed Lawsuit Against Pastor Greg Locke For Zoning Violation, Excessive Noise at Global Vision Bible Church
Pixabay/Bruce Emmerling

During a recent event called the Pro-Trump ReAwaken America Tour, Christian groups warned the people in attendance since the event allegedly discussed 'false prophet.' Consequently, Christians have initiated a petition to boycott the tour.

Pro-Trump ReAwaken America Tour

Newsweek reported that the ReAwaken America Tour is a conservative gathering that moves across the United States in support of former President Donald Trump. The convention includes several prominent traditional lecturers, such as the former national security adviser Michael Flynn, the CEO of MyPillow, Mike Lindell, and columnist Charlie Kirk. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has described the tour as a controversial far-right gathering since it promotes Christian nationalism and right-leaning conspiracy theories. However, this tour has been criticized due to these issues.

The most recent leg of the tour was in Miami, which drew objections from more liberal Christian organizations. These Christian groups have raised concerns about the emergence of Christian nationalism in the United States. As mentioned, Thursday, May 11, marked the beginning of the Miami conference, scheduled for Saturday evening, May 13. The program contained speakers on several topics, including criticism of the COVID-19 vaccination, as indicated by the online schedule. At the ceremony, Eric Trump, the son of the previous president, also gave a speech.

Also Read:Church Leader Asks Srilankan Christians to Join Human Chain Protest, We are Watching Until Justice is Done

'Toxic' Christian Nationalist Conference at ReAwaken America Tour

A group of Christian leaders affiliated with Christians Against Christian Nationalism, Faith in Public Life Action, and Faithful America released a warning to their parishioners against the risks that are brought about by ReAwaken events, as well as the broader threats that are given to religious groups and democracy by Christian nationalist movements, Independent reported. Thousands of Christians, particularly leadership within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Episcopal Church, have submitted motions and comments opposing Christian nationalist views and the ReAwaken America Tour.

According to a report from Baptist News Global, a live-streamed event was arranged by Christians Against Christian Nationalism and Faithful America as a response to the "Pastors for Trump" reception that took place on Thursday, May 11, and the ReAwaken America Tour rally that took place on Saturday, May 12 at the Trump Doral property in Miami. Director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, Amanda Tyler, and primary organizer of Christians Against Christian Nationalism, stated that the group was horrified to witness their revered religion used to propagate violence, lies, and authoritarian theocracy. Moreover, Nathan Empsall of Faithful America, James Golden of Pastors for Florida Children, Jennifer Butler of Faith in Public Life Action, Russell Meyer of the Florida Council of Churches, and Charles Toy of The Christian Left came to support Tyler at the All-Angels Episcopal Church in Miami Springs.

As mentioned, both days' meetings were packed with prominent members of the "Make America Great Again" movement (MAGA), as well as conspiracy theorists, January 6 insurrection organizers, and Christians who preach a violent brand of "America First" Christianity. Tyler stated that witnessing the "Pastors for Trump" gathering gave her a "full dose" of that toxic environment. On the other hand, Empsall believes that Christian nationalism, such as that promoted by the ReAwaken America Tour, may pose the most significant danger to democracy and the church in the United States. ".We are tired of seeing our faith twisted, abused, and hijacked for a hateful, authoritarian political agenda and abused and hijacked by Christian nationalist leaders like Michael Flynn, Eric Trump, and their far-right pastor allies," he noted.

Related Article:Christian Leaders Begin to Distance Themselves from Trump, Turn Attention to DeSantis
Pixabay/David Mark

A gang of thieves broke into the Lady St. Mary Church and stole some historic artifacts. It is believed that they utilized explosives to breach the church.

Historic Treasures Stolen Inside Lady St. Mary Church

According to BBC News, authorities said that the Lady St. Mary Church in Wareham, located in the county of Dorset, was broken into by a gang on April 14. Simon Everett, the rector of the team, stated that it appears the perpetrators utilized explosives to gain access to the safe, which held chalices, plates, and other items. He explained that very few individuals knew that the church kept the valuables.

"How people knew they were there, whether they just took potluck, we really don't know. It is quite mysterious. I'm not sure they knew where to go in the church because all the locked doors had been forced open until eventually, they found the safe and then blew it open," Everett added.

As per Mail Online, the church's 25 pieces of communion silver were taken in their secured vault. Among the stolen items was an Elizabethan chalice that was 450 years old and valued at 30,000 or around $38,000. In addition, to gain entry into the Grade I listed structure from the 10th century, the thieves shattered a lead window and used angle grinders to crack apart the thick oak doors. They started by drilling a hole in the door of the three-foot-tall safe. After that, they positioned explosives within the safe to unlock the door.

Moreover, the attacker reportedly sabotaged the electricity to ensure the church had surveillance cameras. Then they forced their way through each closed door within the church to finally locate the safe hidden away in one of the storage rooms. Their haul consisted of an Elizabethan chalice that was 7 inches tall and a chalice that dated back to the time of Charles II. Several valuables that belonged to churches in the surrounding area were being stored there since those churches did not have personal vaults were also seized. To avoid having their fingerprints found, the criminals employed a lubricant, most likely WD40. On the other hand, the church's concern is that the precious items may now be destroyed by being melted down.

Also Read: Man Found Guilty With 18 Charges of Theft for Stealing Lead Roof from Several Churches in England

Incidents of Theft on Churches in England

In a string of crimes that the police in Nottinghamshire suspect are connected to, the perpetrators have been breaking into local churches. On March 1, intruders broke into two churches: St. Leodegarius in Church Road, Basford, and St. Mary the Virgin and All Souls in Highbury Road, Bulwell. The broken windows and doors were found the day after the break-ins. It is thought that a third church, St. Wildrid's, located on Church Drive in Wilford, was targeted during the nighttime hours of the previous evening.

On each occasion, valuable silverware was taken, including six candlesticks from the All Souls at Bulwell church. On March 1, in the middle of the night, another church, St. Mary's in Plumtree, was vandalized. The police suspect the crimes are related and are pleading with anyone with information to speak out. They are also communicating with churches around the area to alert the congregations there about the offenses committed.

Related Article:Historic Bell Stolen At Malden Bridge Community Center, Offers $3,500 Reward
Flickr/ Rob Olivera

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is alleged to have acquired a fortune of over $100 billion, making it arguably the greatest treasure owned by any religious fund in the United States, according to David Nielsen, a former manager at the investment firm. Nielsen asserts, however, that this money was utilized in ways that he says were potentially illegal rather than for charity purposes.

Nielsen worked as a senior portfolio manager for the church's investment division, Ensign Peak Advisors. In 2009, the church hired him off Wall Street with the expectation that he would use his expertise to grow the charity. But he asserts that the company more closely resembled a covert hedge fund, amassing cash and giving churchgoers false information.

LDS Church Exposed by Whistleblower

According to the article in CBS News, the church's 17 million members, who are supposed to tithe around 10% of their income, contribute an estimated $7 billion annually. The levies are intended to support church activities, initiatives, and physical assets like buildings and utilities. Ensign Peak invests its $1 billion annual surplus into a reserve fund, where it grows tax-free thanks to the company's non-profit status.

Nielsen said that the reserve fund has expanded above $100 billion since its founding in 1997, dwarfing the amount of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation or Harvard's endowment. He draws attention to the potential benefit of such money in resolving critical global problems.

In another source, ABC 4 Utah said that one of his superiors stated in 2013 that $600 million was used to promote Beneficial Life, a for-profit insurance firm owned by the church, and $1.4 billion from the church's fund was used to build a mall on property that belonged to the church. As charitable organizations cannot bail out for-profit corporations and keep their nonprofit status, Nielsen claims this violates the law.

There was a revelation in 2018 that church members were connected to fictitious companies holding enormous sums of money in equities, and bonds are thought to have been the tipping point for Nielsen. Ensign Peak, in fact, had control over these resources. Nielsen claims that the company conducted an emergency meeting where it was acknowledged that these firms were put up to conceal the assets from church members. The chief investment officer also reportedly issued a warning that if the firm's activities were brought to public notice, its tax-exempt status might be lost.

Also Read: LDS Church Donates Millions to Humanitarian Organizations Benefiting Millions Worldwide

Church Leader Defends Financial Practices Amid Accusations from Former Employee

In response, Nielsen resigned in 2019 and reported Ensign Peak for allegedly violating its tax-exempt status by diverting funds to for-profit companies in a 74-page whistleblower complaint to the Internal Revenue Service, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

A Presiding Bishopric member named W. Christopher Waddell defended the church's financial procedures in response to allegations made by David Nielsen, a former employee. Nielsen had voiced concerns over the financial dealings of the church's investment arm, Ensign Peak. Nielsen's accusations were refuted by Waddell, who claimed that Ensign Peak served as the church's auxiliary and supplied the resources required for its operations.

Although it wasn't mentioned in the broadcast, Nielsen also demanded that Congress look into the church's financial methods. He highlighted the value of honesty and the necessity to improve the world by following the right procedures.

A former IRS employee named Phil Hackney doubted the prospect of a thorough investigation of Nielsen's concerns, noting serious political dangers. He emphasized that the value of the following law and the risk taht could occur if the requirement are to be ignored.

Related Article:Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Donates $8.7M to Red Cross, Upholds Status as Top Blood Drive Supporter
Unsplash/Ninno JackJr

According to sources, Muslim radicals in eastern Uganda severely assaulted Shaquru Ndifuna, a 33-year-old former Islamic teacher, and admitted him to the hospital on May 2 for converting to Christianity. At a hospital in Iganga town, Ndifuna was receiving treatment for blood loss.

Ndifuna, a former instructor of Islam at the Noor Islamic Mosque in Mayuge District, made the decision to follow Christ in January at an outdoor evangelistic gathering in Namutumba. A preacher at the Noor Islamic Mosque started keeping an eye on his whereabouts as word of his conversion spread, and in April, three Islamic officials paid him a home visit.

Persecution of Christians Continues in Uganda Despite Legal Protections

In the article in Christian News, on May 2, four Muslim men broke into Ndifuna's home and demanded that he deny that Jesus is the Son of God and acknowledge that Allah is the only true God and that Muhammad is His prophet. When Ndifuna refused, they began to beat him. The incident brings to light the dangers Muslims face when deciding to convert to Christianity in regions where extremism is a problem.

Ndifuna reportedly had a shattered right hand, a significant cut on his forehead, and a neck injury. He has trouble breathing and eating solid food, and his vision has been compromised. At a hospital in Iganga town, Ndifuna is receiving blood loss treatment.

Ndifuna's wife and three kids hid in a bedroom during the onslaught. His wife made a call to a family friend for assistance, who came over later and transported Ndifuna to the clinic in Iganga after receiving first aid at a nearby pharmacy. Ndifuna revealed to Morning Star News that the Muslims who injured him aimed to coerce him into reverting to Islam, but he refused.

According to the shared article in Christian Headlines, despite the fact that Uganda's constitution and other laws provide religious freedom, including the right to practice one's religion openly and convert to another, discrimination still exists in some regions.

Only 12% of Uganda's population identify as Muslims, with concentrations in the east of the country. There are still concerns over the efficiency of legislative safeguards and the difficulties experienced by religious minorities in the area as cases of religious persecution persist.

Also Read:Muslim Extremists Blow Up Fuel Bomb During Good Friday Service in Uganda

Christian College Student in Uganda Murdered for Converting Muslims to Christianity

In the article in Morning Star News, Jeremiah Mwanga, a 24-year-old Christian college student at the Uganda Christian School of Professionals in Lira, was killed because he tried to convert Muslims to Christianity. Before Mwanga was discovered dead in his dorm on April 14 with evidence of abuse, it was claimed that he had complained about receiving threatening letters from a Muslim student.

Later, Chengalat, the suspect, was caught and transported to Lira to stand trial for murder. Despite Uganda's constitution and laws protecting religious freedom, this episode is only the most recent in a string of instances where Christians have been persecuted in the nation. Only 12% of Ugandans identify as Muslims, with concentrations higher in the east of the country.

Related Article:Ugandan Pastor Attacked with Acid Following Sermon
Pixabay/ Jacques GAIMARD

In a startling turn of events, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) grapples with the steepest membership drop it has experienced in over a century. Recent statistics reveal a significant decline in the number of individuals identifying as Southern Baptists, sparking concerns within the denomination and triggering a call for introspection.

Decrease in Church Membership

According to a report from Christianity Today, the SBC, which has long been regarded as one of the largest Protestant denominations in the United States, has witnessed a substantial decrease in membership figures. This decline marks a significant departure from the convention's historical growth trajectory. The report cites several factors contributing to the fall, including a substantial drop in baptisms and a longstanding measure of vitality within the SBC. The declining number of baptisms is an alarming indicator of waning engagement and interest among potential new members.

As mentioned, Bart Barber, the pastor of First Baptist Church in Farmersville, Texas, and the SBC president expressed his concern over the current situation. He stated that the decrease in membership is a wake-up call for them to reevaluate their approach and ensure that they effectively reach out to their communities. In addition, to address the crisis, the SBC leadership plans a series of initiatives to revitalize the convention and attract new members. These initiatives include a renewed focus on evangelism, enhancing church planting efforts, and investing in robust discipleship programs.

Also Read:President Bart Barber of Southern Baptist Convention Talks About Denomination Scandal and More

The Decline of SBC Membership

A report from The Gospel Coalition stated that the SBC membership had experienced a steady decline over the past decade; however, in three years, the SBC has experienced a significant loss of over 1.3 million individuals. The decline can be attributed to changing cultural values, internal challenges and controversies, competition from other denominations, and the rise of non-denominational churches. With concerted efforts and a willingness to adapt, the convention has the potential to revitalize its presence and continue its mission of spreading the Gospel. The future of the SBC reportedly hinges on its ability to navigate these challenges and regain its position as a prominent religious institution in the United States.

Moreover, the Daily Mail highlighted a significant factor contributing to this decline: a sex abuse scandal that has rocked the SBC. The revelation that numerous pastors and church leaders within the denomination have been involved in cases of sexual misconduct and abuse has profoundly impacted the faith and trust of many members. The scandal has led to disillusionment and a subsequent exodus of congregants seeking solace and spiritual guidance elsewhere. The leadership of the SBC has acknowledged the gravity of the situation and has committed to taking decisive action.

Efforts to address the sex abuse scandal have been initiated, including implementing stringent policies and procedures to prevent future occurrences. Additionally, a renewed focus on transparency and accountability within the denomination is emphasized to regain the disillusioned members' trust. While the road to recovery may be arduous, the SBC is determined to reverse the decline and rebuild its reputation. The institution recognizes the need for an unwavering commitment to addressing the issues at hand, ensuring justice for the victims of abuse, and restoring the faith of its remaining members.

Related Article:Southern Baptist Convention Cut Ties with Saddleback Church Over Decision of Ordaining Three Women Pastors
A vital component of church life is youth ministry because it gives young people a place to develop their faith and make connections with others. However, youth ministry may be difficult and demands a lot of effort and commitment. In this post, we'll look at several crucial tools and resources that youth leaders need in order to be successful in their work.



Understanding Youth Ministry

Understanding youth ministry and why it matters is crucial before we go into the tools and resources. Youth ministry is a branch of the church that focuses on young people, usually aged 12 to 18. Youth ministry is to foster young people's spiritual development and foster relationships with like-minded individuals.

Pexels/Sharefaith

Youth ministry can be done in a variety of ways, including through traditional Sunday school sessions, youth groups, and retreats. While some ministry leaders may choose to focus on certain concerns or themes that are important to young people, others may approach youth ministry from a more all-encompassing perspective.

Essential Tools for Youth Leaders

To be successful in youth ministry, leaders need access to a variety of tools and resources. Here are some essential tools for youth leaders:

1. Bible and other resources. The Bible serves as the cornerstone of youth ministry, thus in order to successfully teach it, leaders must have access to a range of translations and resources. Study aids, devotionals, and other resources made especially for young people can fall under this category.

2. Curriculum and lesson planning. Planning the curriculum and lessons is an essential component of youth ministry. Access to engaging lesson plans and high-quality content should be available to teachers.

3. Event planning and organization. Youth ministry frequently include arranging and coordinating events, including retreats, mission trips, and social outings. The tools and resources that can be used to properly plan and carry out these events should be available to leaders.

4. Communication and social media. Youth ministry leaders should have access to resources that can help them communicate with young people and their families in an effective manner. Email, text messages, and social media websites like Instagram and Facebook are examples of this.

Also Read:Young People Prayed And Read Bible The Most During the Pandemic, Survey Says

Online Resources for Youth Leaders

There are many online resources available for youth ministry, providing a wealth of information, tools, and ideas to support your work with young people. Here are some popular ones:

Youth Specialties: Youth Specialties is a well-known organization that offers resources, training, and events for youth ministers. They provide books, curriculum, articles, and online courses to support various aspects of youth ministry. Download Youth Ministry: This website offers a vast collection of downloadable resources, including curriculum, games, videos, graphics, and more. They have a subscription service called DYM Gold Membership that provides unlimited access to their library. Ministry to Youth: Ministry to Youth offers free and affordable youth ministry resources, including curriculum, lesson plans, games, Bible studies, and discipleship materials. They also provide a blog with helpful articles and tips for youth ministers. The Source for Youth Ministry: This website provides resources, ideas, and training for youth ministry. They offer games, lessons, videos, and other tools to engage and teach young people effectively. They also have a podcast and blog to address common issues faced in youth ministry. LifeWay Students: LifeWay Students, a division of LifeWay Christian Resources, offers a range of resources for youth ministry. They provide curriculum, Bible studies, books, and online articles focused on spiritual growth and discipleship for teenagers. YouthWorker: YouthWorker offers a collection of resources and articles designed to equip youth workers with practical tools and insights. They cover topics such as leadership, programming, discipleship, and spiritual formation. YM360: YM360 provides curriculum, devotionals, and other resources for youth ministry. They offer a variety of options for different age groups, including middle school and high school. They also have training resources and a blog with helpful articles.

These are just a few examples of the many resources available online for youth ministry. Remember to review the materials and adapt them to your specific ministry context and the needs of the young people you serve.

Best Practices for Youth Ministry

Finally, there are some best practices that youth leaders should follow to ensure that their ministry is successful. Here are some best practices for youth ministry:

1. Creating a safe and inclusive environment. Young people require a secure and welcoming environment where they may speak freely and ask questions. Regardless of their history or beliefs, leaders should take action to establish a secure and inclusive environment for everyone.

2. Building relationships with youth and families. Developing relationships with young people and their families is the foundation of youth ministry. Leaders need to invest in the lives of young people by spending time getting to know them personally and investing in their families.

3. Encouraging spiritual growth and discipleship. The ultimate purpose of youth ministry is to assist young people in developing their faith and making disciples of Jesus Christ. Leaders should deliberately establish venues for spiritual development, such as Bible study groups and prayer gatherings.

4. Addressing challenging topics and issues. Addiction, mental illness, and social justice are just a few of the difficult problems that young people must deal with. When necessary, leaders should be ready to confront these issues and offer direction and assistance.

An essential component of church life is youth ministry, which calls for leaders to put in a lot of effort and commitment. Youth leaders can succeed in their ministry and have a good effect on young people's lives by having access to crucial tools and resources. Youth ministry may be a life-changing experience for everyone involved by adhering to best practices and investing in connections with youth and families.

Related Article:Church Community Importance in Finding Support and Encouragement
Shells rocked the Sudanese capital of Khartoum on Sunday, with no signs of abating even after a full month of fighting. Across the Nile, gunmen attacked a church in Omdurman, injuring a Coptic priest and four others. Each side of the conflict blamed the other, according to Reuters, and the fighting continued.

Representatives of the warring factions have been brought to the negotiating table in Saudi Arabia to discuss a ceasefire. So far, neither side seems willing to accept concessions.

According to Christopher Tounsel, a historian who writes about Christianity in Sudan and South Sudan, the churches in the capital are praying fervently for an end to the violence. Even for believers used to living in political peril, navigating the current conflict will be no easy task.

Are Christians taking sides in this conflict in Sudan?

Theres an African proverb that says when elephants fight, the grass gets trampled. This is one of those situations.

Throughout Sudans modern history, Christians have been faced with governments that have tried to impose Islam as the state religion and not allow them the freedom to worship. So the Christians there have thought a lot about what it means to be good citizens and faithful citizens in tough situations, what Christian duty to an oppressive state looks like.

But now theyre faced with this problem, what does it mean to render to Caesar what is Caesars when its not clear if there is a Caesar, if there are two Caesars, or none that have any legitimacy? What is the Christian obligation? To wait it out? To leave? To fight for a third option? Its a classic question that has been posed in a range of contexts in church history, but its urgent in the Sudan right now.

How have Christians in Sudan answered that question in the past? What do the range of theological options look like?

Sudan became an independent state in 1956 and tried to forge itself as an Arab and Islamic nation. The Anglican Church took the position that God calls us to be good citizens and the state is put there by God, almost as an extension of the sovereignty of God, and that doesnt mean it cant do anything wrong, but our duty really is to be good citizens.

The Catholics took the position that when the state contradicts the will of God, we are called to open resistance to the state. Catholics participated in antigovernment speech, printed newspapers and pamphlets, got involved in strikes, and in some case even joined armed resistance movements.

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Today, you have lots more groups, including Pentecostals, Jehovahs Witnesses, and the Egyptian and Ethiopian Coptic churches. That means there are more people who have developed different approaches.

During the Second Sudanese Civil War, you had people using a martial theology against Omar al-Bashir, who was in power from 1989 to 2019. Spiritual warfare was completely infused in the discourse and the Exodus story became very important to people. The idea of a Moses who leads us out of Egyptoppressionwas essential to the way many people thought about the separation and independence of South Sudan.

There was also this very deep fascination with Isaiah 18, because of a connection Christians made to the prophecy concerning Cush. In this prophecy Isaiah talks about people in Cush experiencing a period of trial and tribulation, but God would ultimately deliver them, and they would present gifts to God on Mount Zion. Many Sudanese Christians believe this prophecy was explicitly talking about Christians in South Sudan. This became a biblical framework and even impetus for the civil war.

In the north, though, you didnt hear Christians calling publicly for the removal of Bahir. The focus was on human rights, and this kind of became the main theme for Christians in the public discourse. It was human rights and the issue of the freedom of religion as a human right that must be protected.

So far, in this conflict, I havent seen a lot of theology or any specific partisan readings of Scripture. Mostly people are asking for prayer.

For those who have been watching closely, is the current conflict surprising?

Unfortunately, it is not completely surprising. Sudan has been independent since 1956, and its had a military government for over half of that history. There have been a lot of coups. Off the top of my head, Sudan had a coup in 1958, a revolution in 1964, a coup in 1969, an attempted coup that failed in 1970, a coup in 1983, and Omar al Bashir came to power in a coup in 1989. Then he was overthrown in a coup in 2019, then there was a coup in 2021, and now this in 2023.

The only thing that makes this moment kind of different for Christians is the level of destruction and formalized violence within the capital Khartoum itself. For Christians this is especially concerning because Christians are a tiny minority within the Sudanonly 5.4 percent of the entire populationbut Khartoum is home to most of the countrys Christians. From that perspective, Sudanese Christians are right in the middle of this conflict.

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When Bashir was forced out in 2019, did it seem, for a moment, like there was another option? Something besides more military men, more authoritarian control?

It did. For Christians in particular it was a hopeful moment. Sudans civilian cabinet marked Christmas as an official holiday for the first time in 10 years. So that was pretty big. After the civilian-led transitional government was installed, the new constitution that was signed technically included protections of the right of freedom of belief and worship. That was just on paper, but it did raise some hopes.

By 2023, even before this conflict, the reality for Christians was very bad. CT reported earlier this year that Sudan ranked as No. 10 on Open Doors World Watch List.

For Sudanese Christians, the specter of oppression always looms. Both of these men leading the two factions in this current conflict, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Hemedti Dagalo, have historical ties to Bashir. Hes gone, but the specter is still there.

Both of the contending leaders are different versions of the same thing?

Right. Thats why some Christians are upset the US and the UN are pushing them to negotiate, because that can give them a certain level of legitimacywhich might end the conflict but not leave the Sudanese Christians in a better position.

The negations that are going on right now seem really focused on how to keep the doors to humanitarian aid open. How can we avoid a catastrophic human rights crisis? But the talks going on in Saudi Arabia now are not aiming at, like, what would we like to see Sudan be like in the long term?

The one option that has not really been tried in recent Sudanese history is a civilian-led government where theres a free and fair election and theres religious freedom. The best possible road ahead is for the civilians to have a chance to run things.

Does that feel like a real possibility?

We do have very recent precedent of civilians taking the streets in an organized way and saying, no more. So while 2019 seems, in some ways, ages ago now, its still just four years ago. Its not ancient history.

The US, in the long term, is invested in the well-being of Sudan because of what that would mean for the region that has really struggled to establish functioning democracies, and what it would mean for international politics, too. Sudan and Ukraine are part of the same story. Russia has sought to insulate itself from the impact of sanctions by accessing the gold in Sudan, so theres a way in which Sudan plays a key role in the war in Ukraine.

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Theres also a Sudanese diaspora worldwide. Theres a big Sudanese community in Australia, in Saudi Arabia, and even Omaha, Nebraska. The more that these voices can be heard, the better.

I think theres also a glimmer of hope today because there are still civilian organizations in Sudan. Despite the fact these two strong men are at war, civil society is not dead within the country.

Is there a way Christians can play a role in building a better Sudan, a society thats not only not at war with itself but also flourishing?

Being complete real, where I think Christians can play a rolefrom Christianity Today to all the Christians who pray and churches in Sudan and Christian nonprofits thereis to just not accept that it has to be this way. Shine a light on what is happening, but never accept that this is just the way it is in Africa.

I do worry the mainstream reporting is very much framing this conflict as another example of Africa as a place of corruption and chaos that is beyond redemption. As believers, we dont have to accept that.

[ This article is also available in Francais. ]
Carol Bremer-Bennett loved her adoptive parents. And the Dutch Reformed family in Michigan was intentional about studying and celebrating her Navajo culture and history from the time they welcomed her into their family in 1969.

But when Bremer-Bennett grew up and moved to New Mexico and went to work at a school near the Navajo Nation, she learned she couldnt become a Navajo citizen because of the adoption. She found relatives through genealogy websites and DNA tests and got a little documentation from the facilitation agency, Bethany Christian Services. But she wasnt able to find her father to establish what clan she was from to complete her tribal enrollment.

Then the loss really sinks in, she told CT. I didnt have the language. I didnt have the culture. I did not know my Navajo clans. I had no relatives. I just wept.

In 1978nine years after Bremer-Bennetts adoptionCongress passed a law sharply restricting the separation of Native children from their families. The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) sought to address the long history of Native American children who were separated from their families and sent to boarding schools or to white Christian families, obliterating tribal cultures and connections. The ICWA prioritized placement with extended families, then with families in the Native childs tribe, and then with a family in another tribe. Adoption by outsiders became a last resort.

The United States Supreme Court is currently weighing whether that law is constitutional. The court heard arguments in Brackeen v. Haaland in November and is expected to rule this summer.

The Brackeens are a white evangelical family who adopted a Navajo boy. They have been trying to adopt his half sister, who was removed from her mother at birth after testing positive for methamphetamine. But priority goes to extended family, and a great-aunt on the Navajo reservation wanted custody of the child.

The Brackeens and their fellow plaintiffs say the law should consider the best interests of the child and not make the decision on the basis of race. They argue the ICWA is discriminatory, since it disfavors nonAmerican Indian adoptive couples and denies children the best-interests determination they otherwise would receive.

Native children might be shuttled around the system for longer periods of time because of the requirements of ICWA, they argue, or they might be placed in worse situations just to maintain tribal connections.

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Christian adoption agencies largely did not weigh in on the case.

The National Council For Adoption, which is not a Christian organization, supported the challenge to the law, arguing that it is not in the best interest of children, and puts tribal security over parental decisions.

But in practice, an adoption of a Native child might not be so different from other adoptions with their own hurdles. Gladney Center for Adoption general counsel Heidi Cox, whose organization has facilitated Native American adoptions, told CT that any child custody case is complicated when there are multiple jurisdictions. Even working out an adoption where a child moves between states is complicated. Adoption facilitators need experience with the different placement rules in different jurisdictions, whether state or tribal.

There are also 497 tribes that support the law, along with the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and others. They have told the court that prioritizing family and tribal connections is in the best interest of the children.

The case hits many raw nerves in American culture, from tribal sovereignty to child abuse to historic Christian racism. The Supreme Court justices hearing the case seemed, based on the questions they asked, most concerned with what welfare of the child means. Is keeping a child in a tribal community important for that childs welfare, or should finding a stable home be the priority over any cultural connections?

Answers to those questions can be quite complicated.

Charles Robinson, who is Choctaw, and Siouxsan Robinson, who is Lakota and Blackfoot, care for 11 Native childrensome biological, some adopted, some under guardianship. Both have parents who were forced into boarding schools, so the couple felt called by God to create an alternative for children in need. They lead a Christian ministry to Native communities called The Red Road. But theyve also helped non-Native families adopt Native children in a way that preserves cultural ties.

Different parts of society have different ideas of what is best for a child, Charles Robinson said. Children that go to a non-Native family may get more opportunities for education. But they will lose their tribal connections.

Thats the rub, Robinson told CT. There are values that are more important than being a scholar. Theres tribal values and culture.

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ICWA, Robinson said, has good and bad aspects, but Im weighing it more on the side of good.

For some white Christians, adoption has seemed like a quick fix for the systemic, generational problems in Native American communities, providing children with an exit from cycles of poverty, addiction, and violence. But some evangelicals are pushing for more believers to get involved in the hard work of helping whole communities.

Mary Granberry and her husband, for example, have lived on the Yakama Indian Reservation in Washington State for 20 years while leading a church and community development program called Sacred Road Ministries. They have been around long enough that children from their kids club in the early days are now working for the ministry.

The Granberrys became enmeshed in the reservation community and let neighbors know their door was open to people in need. Their home became a refuge. Mothers fleeing domestic violence would come stay for a few days or drop their children off. Those emergency stays sometimes extended months or years.

They get reminded that theyre loved and the Lord loves them, and they go back in where theyre from and they can make it a little longer, Granberry told CT.

Eventually the Yakama Nation officially approved the Granberrys to house the tribes foster children. The couple currently has one Yakama foster daughter, and they still get emergency placements and help children who would otherwise be lost between jurisdictions. When local and tribal law enforcement disagree about responsibility, the Granberrys door is open.

The open-door approach also had problems, according to Morgan Johnson, the Granberrys biological daughter who grew up on the reservation and is now a social worker. Some of the informality was unsafe, she said. The couple got stricter with more experience.

But people dropping kids off at the Granberrys home always knew the couple would keep the children connected to family and the tribe, Johnson said. That made them a better option than the alternatives. However long children ended up at the Granberrys, Yakama families could count on the children making it to tribal gatherings where they would learn about ceremonial rules and preparing traditional foods.

[Parents] seek kinship care, community care, and then go outside, Johnson said, which is similar to a lot of other placement systems. The ICWA reflects those priorities and doesnt prevent white Christians from coming alongside Native communities.

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A Yakama family working with the ministry recently brought a bag of wild celery they harvested to share with the Granberrys and some staff from Sacred Road Ministries. Its a first food, with a long Yakama tradition. They cleaned, prepared, and ate it together.

To share that food is to treat someone as if they are your blood relatives. That food was shared by your peoples, put there by God, Granberry said. I want the kids in my house to crave that taste and see the love in that community. It overrides the dysfunction and abandonment they have experienced.

Emily Belz is a CT news writer.

Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here.
132 North Alabama United Methodist churches leave denomination

More than 130 congregations in Alabama have voted to leave the United Methodist Church, joining thousands of other churches that have left the denomination in the past few years.

The UMC North Alabama Conference voted last Thursday to approve the disaffiliation votes of 132 congregations, with the departing churches expected to join more theologically conservative Methodist denominations.

Combined with the 198 churches that left last December, the regional body has seen its number of member congregations drop by more than half, going from 635 at the start of 2022 to 305 as of last week.

In a statement released after the disaffiliation vote, the conference had an optimistic outlook on the situation, stating that it was a time to give thanks, reflect and dream together.

Our 305 North Alabama congregations are a connected body of faith. Just as different parts come together to form a fully functional body, so it is with the North Alabama Conference. Each of our congregations is an important part of who we are, stated the regional body. Our prayer is that together we United Methodists can reclaim our common purpose and strengthen our connection so that all of us are reinvigorated in our calling to make disciples of Jesus Christ.

Vaughn Stafford, an elder in the North Alabama chapter of the Global Methodist Church, a recently created theologically conservative alternative to the UMC, posted an update to Facebook in which he thanked the gracious way conference leaders handled the May 11th, called conference in North Alabama.

All 132 churches were released from the UMC with one ballot. There were only 25 no votes out of nearly 500 total votes. This is a gracious model for other conferences to consider following, Stafford wrote.

Last December, the conference held a special session in which the regional body approved the disaffiliation votes of 198 congregations, with the number of churches in the conference dropping to 440.

North Alabama Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett said in a statement last year that despite the large number of congregations leaving her conference, we are hopeful about our future.

The session was set in the context of worship as an opportunity to say goodbye well and to honor each other and God and as our witness to Christs grace and love. We wish those departing congregations well and want them to succeed, stated Wallace-Padgett.

We move into 2023 continuing our ministry as a Conference with almost 70 percent of our churches and members remaining United Methodist. This includes persons and congregations across the theological spectrum.

According to the most recent numbers from UM News, a little over 3,200 congregations have left the UMC since 2019, with more than 1,200 churches disaffiliating thus far this year.

The wave of departures is being driven by the UMCs ongoing debate over homosexuality, in which many theologically progressive leaders refuse to follow or enforce the denominations prohibitions on blessing same-sex unions and ordaining noncelibate homosexuals.
Rick Warren appointed first-ever chancellor of Spurgeon's College in London: 'Deep, personal connection'

Rick Warren, pastor and author of The Purpose Driven Life, has been announced as the first-ever Chancellor of Spurgeon's College, a London-based Baptist institution founded by Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon.

Spurgeons College is pleased to have installed Pastor Rick Warren as its first honorary Chancellor, the school said in a statement.

The office of Chancellor in a university or higher educational institution is held by a distinguished individual; they are the honorary and ceremonial head of the institution. It is an official and ambassadorial role, in which the chancellor will serve as a vital advocate for the vision, gospel mission and values (nationally and internationally) of Spurgeons College, as together the chancellor and the college serve Almighty God by seeking to further the Great Commission in the U.K. context and beyond, following the example of our founder Mr. Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Spurgeon founded the college in 1856 as a Pastors College. Today, the school is the leading Evangelical college in the U.K., with more than 5,000 men and women trained in Christian mission and ministry every year.

According to a statement to The Christian Post, Warrens great-great-grandfather studied at Spurgeons and was "led to faith, commissioned to Christian service and sent to America to plant churches by Mr. Spurgeon himself.

I am delighted to have officially joined Spurgeons College as its first chancellor at this important time in its development and mission, said Warren. "I have a deep, personal family connection over four generations to Charles Spurgeon and the ministry of the College he founded, and he is responsible for my family moving to America. Further, my understanding of the meaning of ordination and conviction from Scripture on ministry leadership are identical to Charles Spurgeons published views. I am grateful to God and the College for this opportunity to give back to this community.

As Chancellor, Warren will play a key role in supporting the vision of the college to train men and women for Christian mission, ministry and leadership in the contemporary world, it said. He was officially installed as chancellor in April.

Warren, the founder of Saddleback Church, a Southern Baptist megachurch in southern California with a weekly attendance of more than 15,000, recently stepped down from his role as senior pastor of the church.

Pastor Andy Wood, who formerly led Echo.Church in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Stacie, took over the leadership of the global church operation in September.

The church was recently expelled from the Southern Baptist Convention for having a woman fill the office of teaching pastor. The church reportedly plans to appeal the decision at SBC's Annual Meeting on June 13-14 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

In addition to his role at Spurgeon's, Warren is leading the Finishing the Task Coalition, which aims to fulfill "Jesus' call to make disciples of all nations" by mobilizing the global church to ensure everyone has access to God's word. He also recently released a book, titled Created to Dream, which walks readers through God's process for helping people fulfill their dreams.

The 69-year-old author recently revealed hes been in a two-year-long battle with an autoimmune disease and said the illness is "debilitating" and causes him constant pain.

"It leaves all my major muscles in pain, pretty much, 24 hours a day," he said. "It's debilitating. It's tough walking, working. But it hasn't changed the way that I think. The problem is sometimes I feel like I am this brain on fire, and I'm like in a wheelchair. I'm not in a wheelchair, but the bottom line is it's difficult to move around."

"Nothing could come into my life without the heavenly Father's permission," Warren added, "But in all situations, I need to relax because God is God, and I'm not. I've had many ups and downs in 50 years of ministry, and God is faithful."
Trump bashes DeSantis for signing heartbeat abortion ban: It's 'too harsh'

Former President Donald Trump has denounced Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recent signing of a law that bans most abortions after a baby's heartbeat is detected, which is often around six weeks into a pregnancy, claiming that many believe it was too harsh.

In an interview with The Messenger, Trump, who is seeking the Republican Partys presidential nomination in 2024, was asked to comment on potential Republican primary rival DeSantis signing of a heartbeat abortion ban.

He has to do what he has to do, Trump asserted. If you look at what DeSantis did, a lot of people dont even know if he knew what he was doing. But he signed six weeks, and many people within the pro-life movement feel that that was too harsh.

When asked if he supported the idea of a heartbeat abortion ban, Trump replied that he was looking at all alternatives, and boasted of being key to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the controversial 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide.

When the Supreme Court overturned Roe last year via the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization ruling, three of the justices who formed the majority opinion  Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch  were appointed by Trump. The Dobbs decision declared that the U.S. Constitution does not contain a right to abortion and enabled each state to craft its own laws pertaining to abortion.

I was able to get us to the table by terminating Roe v. Wade. Thats the most important thing thats ever happened for the pro-life movement, Trump told The Messenger.

The Trump campaign has faced criticism from pro-life leaders for suggesting that abortion policy should be decided solely at the state level following the Dobbs decision. Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser denounced the implication that bans on elective abortion should only be at the state level.

Life is a matter of human rights, not states rights. Saying that the issue should only be decided at the states is an endorsement of abortion up until the moment of birth, even brutal late-term abortions in states like California, Illinois, New York and New Jersey, stated Dannenfelser.

The only way to save these children is through federal protections, such as a 15-week federal minimum standard when the unborn child can feel excruciating pain, she added. Dannenfelsers organization launched a $52 million campaign to help reelect Trump in early 2020.

Weighing on his potential rivalry with DeSantis, Trump contended to The Messenger that DeSantis would be very disloyal if he ran in 2024 since the former president had endorsed DeSantis in the Republican primary when he was running for governor in 2018.

He was dead, dead as a doornail. And I revived him, Trump said. Im a loyal person. If that happened to me, I would never run against the guy that did that.

Hes got plenty of years left. And I think if he runs, hes gonna lose MAGA votes forever. Thats my opinion. And the MAGA votes are almost everything in the Republican Party, far bigger than you think.

Although DeSantis has not officially announced his campaign, the RealClearPolitics average of polls sampling voter preferences in the Republican presidential primary shows DeSantis as the second most popular candidate or potential candidate seeking the Republican nomination. An average of polls taken from April 21 to May 5 shows Trump with 55.0% support and DeSantis securing 20.7%, with all other declared and potential candidates listed failing to make it out of the single digits.
Republicans make life a states issue at their peril

Theres a reason men like Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) are so popular: they lead without apology. After years of timidity from the Republican Party, they've been a refreshing change from the hand-wringing GOP who wilted under cultural pressure. For a while, it looked like Republicans had really leaned into this warrior mentality, refusing to be intimidated in the toughest of debates. Then Dobbs happened  and the old reflex of cowardice is back, threatening to undo every pro-life stand the party has ever taken.

If voters can smell fear, then Republicans stink. Doubt and hesitation have crept into the camp, prompting key leaders to step back from an issue thats defined them for four decades: abortion. Almost a year into their mangled messaging, the GOP still hasnt found the spine to articulate their position on life  or the Democrats position on death. Terrified that their platform will sink Republicans in 2024, strategists have been frantically advising candidates to ignore abortion after last summers Dobbs decision.

Unfortunately for the pro-life movement, the GOP has listened, collectively wussing-out on a humanitarian crisis thats defined them for a half-century. Its a states rights issue now, they dodge. No, its a human rights issue, pro-lifers argue.

Caring more about their careers than innocent lives, weak-kneed moderates like New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu (R) are telling Republicans to clam up, claiming (wrongly) that any conversation about banning abortion or limiting it nationwide is an electoral disaster 

And that toxic line of thinking hasnt just affected the partys squishes but the more conservative wing too. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley told voters that abortion is a personal issue that should be left to the states  a dramatic change from the days when she was addressing SBA Lists annual gala. Senators like John Cornyn (R-Texas) tried to explain that he was proud of the votes he cast on life in Congress, but quickly pivoted that he didnt think its appropriate now after Roe has been overruled to do this from Washington, D.C.

In the pro-life movement, the shock over the GOPs desertion has turned to outrage. If you dont understand killing children is a federal issue, you shouldnt be running for federal office, said Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life of America. Live Actions Lila Rose piled on, Imagine supporting a candidate who said that slavery was a states rights issue, she tweeted.

Even GOP stalwarts seem to be walking an unnecessary tightrope on an issue that Americans would agree with them on, if they bothered to talk about it. Fortunately, the head of the Republican National Committee doesnt share those misguided views, telling her party to buck up and start leading again. Polling shows that when the choice is between a Democrat who wants zero abortion restrictions and a Republican who supports protecting life, at 15 weeks, we win by 22 points, Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel pointed out in late April. A 15-week national pro-life standard wins over 72% of voters, including 60% of Democrats [who] support protecting unborn children.

We are the pro-life, pro-woman, pro-family party, and we can win on abortion. But that means putting Democrats on the defense and forcing them to own their own extreme positions, she argued.

Others, like Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) are urging congressional Republicans to compromise on abortion, to find middle ground. To that, Family Research Councils Mary Szoch fired back, You can kill a baby, or you cant. There is no middle ground. Democrats arent negotiating on their position  taxpayer-funded abortion right up the moment of birth  we shouldnt either, she argued.

To leaders like FRC President Tony Perkins, the fact that the GOP is even having this conversation is infuriating. After all, he pointed out, theyve taken almost two dozen votes on federal bills to limit or regulate abortion in the last two congresses alone. Whats changed?

Absolutely nothing, FRC Action Vice President Brent Keilen insisted. The science hasnt changed. And so the policies that the Republican Party has stood for over the last decades that  are based off of the science, those positions should not change either. Just the past five years alone, he noted, weve had 21 votes at the federal level on pro-life policy. The majority of those were votes explicitly to protect unborn children at some level in the pregnancy. Some of them were to prohibit taxpayer funds from being used to subsidize abortion, and then a few others were related to the pro-life cause in other ways  And those who voted for these said, We do believe that the federal government does have a role to play in this. And theres no reason that needs to change.

When the Supreme Court struck down the bloody legacy of Roe v. Wade, they put the decision in the hands of Americas elected officials. But nowhere in the ruling did the justices limit that action to state leaders. Ill be very candid, Perkins said. It makes it sound as if its a political issue  that theyre concerned about the political fallout of this.

For months, the GOP let the Democrats define their position of protecting life as extreme. But, as McDaniel warned, When you dont respond, the lies become the truth. Its time, she and so many other party leaders have said, to put the Left on the defensive. We want to protect unborn children when they can feel pain. Where will you draw the line? Once conservatives have the guts to do that, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said, They will stumble all over themselves, or the Left will get mad if they have limits. So its a winning issue only if you fight back.

Fighting back was never a problem before Dobbs, Perkins pointed out. Just a few years ago, the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act that would have stopped abortions after 20 weeks got 53 votes from GOP senators. So the question again is: Whats changed in this post-Roe world? Were talking about a federal law [which] would not usurp state laws that could be more conservative. Florida, he reminded people, just passed a six-week threshold for abortion. Others have gone farther. But when you look at where the American people are, he continued, 67% of Americans believe that when a child feels pain  we should not have abortion beyond that.

Of course, the irony of the Republicans punting abortion to the states in the name of electability is that life is one of the driving issues for their base. If we do go down this path and say its completely a states rights issue, Keilen warned, what could it do to key voting blocs? You know, there are these groups of people that have been faithful supporters of the Republicans because of where they have stood on this issue.

Conversely, he said, [T]he standard position of the Democrat Party is only supported by about one in five Americans. So you have 80% of the country, according to recent polling, that opposes abortion for any reason up until the moment of birth at taxpayer expense  So if you message on this, well, the vast majority of Americans are with you on this issue.

Abandoning abortion isnt the answer. Turning the tables on Democrats is. Back in the day, Szoch told The Washington Stand, protecting life was often a bipartisan effort, with even current pro-abortion activist President Joe Biden supporting legislation like the Hyde Amendment, which protected taxpayer dollars from abortion. Now, she says, congressional efforts to protect the unborn have been completely one-sided, with Republicans leading the charge to stand up for the most vulnerable. The GOP has even had to introduce legislation protecting babies from the evil of infanticide, and incredibly, almost no Democrats have joined them. But what Democrats have supported, time and time again, is legislation to kill an unborn child up to the moment of birth  paid for with taxpayer dollars.

Now that the Dobbs decision has given Republican legislators at the state and federal level the opportunity to defend life, the GOP cannot back down from this fight. The unborn cannot speak for themselves, Szoch insists, so those in Congress must be bold enough to speak for them. Republicans need to be brave, she said, and call for the executive branch to enforce all existing laws protecting unborn childrens lives  this includes the distribution of the abortion drug, mifepristone, by mail. They need to call for the reinstatement of every executive action protecting life that President Biden has undone.

They need to fight until the day when people are no longer voting on which innocent human beings have the right to live and which ones can be killed. The Republican Party cannot become the party of not in my state, but still legal.

Originally published at The Washington Stand.
Understanding why God gave the Church the gifts of the Spirit

The earliest mention in Scripture of the gifts of the Spirit is when Isaiah prophesied of the Messiah: The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. He shall delight in the fear of the Lord, and he shall not judge by what his eyes see, nor reprove by what his ears hear (Isa. 11:2-3).

It amazes me that so many Christians reject the gifts of the Spirit and say they are not for today. Yet when people are dramatically healed, prophecies come true, people are ignited by the Word of God as they learn about it, and specific prayers are prayed for people without previously knowing them or their circumstances, its puzzling as to why these gifts are not approved by the Church.

However, an even better question we should ask is: What are the gifts of the Spirit, and why does God give them to us in the first place? It is a big focus of my new book, Spirit-Led Living in an Upside-Down World, which releases May 16.

The reason we receive these gifts, all embodied in Jesus, is so the body of Christ will function with diverse gifts, each according to the grace that is given to us, as Paul tells us, if prophecy, according to the proportion of faith; if service, in serving; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with generosity; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Lets take a look at these gifts and what they each mean for the body of Christ.

Word of knowledge

According to the FireBible, a word of knowledge is a statement inspired by the Holy Spirit that reveals knowledge about people, circumstances or biblical truth that likely would not have been known or understood apart from God. Its aim is usually to provide guidance, to help confirm a decision, or to expose something that is important for a persons spiritual development.

I remember seeing this in action when I attended one of Kathryn Kuhlmans crusades in Lakeland, Florida, in 1975. I wrote about the experience in Florida magazine, the Sunday magazine of the Sentinel Star (now called Orlando Sentinel), where I worked at the time.

Kathryn Kuhlman was well-known for calling out miracles with a word of knowledge, but Id never personally seen her do it before attending that crusade. My article described what I saw:

Then, suddenly, she pointed toward the back of the arena. Someone with varicose veins has just been healed. Before that person can respond she says an ear has been healed, then that bursitis has been healed. Christians call this a Word of Knowledge  one of seven New Testament gifts given by the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul said this gift gives knowledge to a person about something that has just happened. The announcements of healing in this manner continue off and on for an hour.

The gift of faith

What about the other gifts? One of the most powerful is the gift of faith. The Bible says every believer is given a a measure of faith. The writer of Hebrews tells us, Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. And Jesus told us that if we have faith as tiny as a mustard seed, we can speak to mountains, and they will be removed and cast into the sea.



This type of faith is available to all believers.

But the gift of faith is something more. Its not saving grace but an extraordinary faith to see the impossible done.

The gifts of healings

Another spiritual gift is the gifts of healings. These gifts (plural) are given to the Church to restore healing in a miraculous manner. Not every believer may operate in this gift, but its for the Church as a whole.

The working of miracles

The gift of miracles is the gift to display signs and wonders that give credibility to Gods Word and the gospel message and overcome the work of Satan.

The gifts of healing and miracles often are almost interchangeable. If Im sick and pray for healing, and then am healed, I give glory to God. But sometimes healing is so enormous it can be explained only as a miracle.

Heidi Baker, who has ministered powerfully all over the world, has based her outreach in Mozambique, and in her book Birthing the Miraculous, she shares a powerful story of how she lived in the slums and worked with the poorest of the poor in that nation.

Because so many were sick and some were blind, she prayed for the gift of healing for many years and eventually received the Lords promise that the blind would see. For a year she prayed for every blind person she could find, but no one gained their sight. Then one day she was in a dark little mud-hut church in central Mozambique, laying hands on an old blind lady. Suddenly the woman said she could see.

The gifts of the Spirit arent reserved for a select few who are super-anointed. If we are filled with the Holy Spirit and are led by Him, the gifts should manifest in our lives. In fact, Paul tells us to follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit.

God wants His gifts flowing through you; all He needs is your availability. If you surrender to Him, He will jumpstart His power in your life.
ERLC President Brent Leatherwood urges Congress to end border crisis Over 3.7 migrant encounters since 2022; Cartels facilitating human trafficking, drug operations

The leader of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention is calling on federal lawmakers to take action to address the border crisis, as border agents have been overwhelmed by over 3.7 million migrant encounters since the beginning of fiscal year 2022.

In a letter sent to members of the United States Congress on Friday, ERLC President Brent Leatherwood stressed the need to take steps toward desperately needed immigration reform. Leatherwoods message to lawmakers came on the same day that Title 42, a Trump-era policy that allowed border officials to quickly turn away most illegal immigrants seeking entry into the U.S. due to the public health concerns posed by the coronavirus pandemic, expired.

Leatherwood noted that with the ending of Title 42, we are already beginning to see devastating levels of humanitarian needs and troubling reports of buckling immigration systems. He characterized the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border, which has worsened because of Title 42s expiration, as self-inflicted chaos and catastrophe as well as an ongoing humanitarian emergency and a disaster.

I urge you to take up meaningful, bipartisan legislation that can actually take steps toward addressing the crisis, he wrote. The principles of safety, compassion, justice, refuge, and the rule of law are not in tension  we are able to most effectively and compassionately serve the vulnerable and keep our communities from being overwhelmed when we have strong border security paired with robust, navigable legal pathways for those who need them most.

Leatherwood added: Our convention has called for legislation that includes an emphasis on securing our borders and providing a pathway to legal status with appropriate restitutionary measures, maintaining the priority of family unity, resulting in an efficient immigration system that honors the value and dignity of those seeking a better life for themselves and their families.

The ERLC president also recalled the Southern Baptist Conventions adoption of a resolution proclaiming the value and dignity of immigrants, regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity, culture, national origin, or legal status. Highlighting how Southern Baptists have consistently called for immigration reforms that secure our border and also respect the dignity of migrants as human beings made in the image of God, Leatherwood lamented that this call has only been met with decades of partisan posturing that have brought us to this moment of crisis.

The Republican-controlled U.S. House passed legislation along party lines last week that calls for the resumption of construction on the border wall separating the U.S. from Mexico, which the Biden administration halted upon taking office in 2021. It would also re-establish the Remain in Mexico policy implemented by the Trump administration that requires migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. to wait in Mexico while their claims are adjudicated and orders the reopening of ICE detention centers closed or repurposed during the Biden administration.

The White House released a statement ahead of the passage of the Secure the Border Act of 2023 indicating that President Joe Biden would veto the measure if it reached his desk.

The Biden administration condemned it as an attempt to cut off nearly all access to humanitarian protections in ways that are inconsistent with our nations values and international obligations as it expressed a desire to enact immigration policy expanding legal pathways while increasing consequences for illegal pathways.

As passage of the Secure the Border Act of 2023 remains unlikely because Democrats control the U.S. Senate and Biden has already vowed a veto, a bipartisan group of Senators has introduced a bill that would expand the protections of Title 42 for two more years.

While Sen. Krysten Sinema, I-Ariz., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., have teamed up with Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina to craft the legislation, it remains to be seen whether the bill will be able to secure the 60 votes needed for passage in the Democrat-controlled Senate. Even if the measure were to pass the Senate and the House, it might still be subject to Bidens veto pen.

As most of the calls for immigration reform are directed at the federal government, a group of concerned citizens recently held a rally outside the Texas State Capitol seeking action from the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature on the border crisis. The How Many More event, which took place in Austin on April 29, called on state lawmakers to declare an invasion on our southern border and create a state-funded Border Protection Unit.

In an interview with The Christian Post ahead of the event, organizer Mark Meckler elaborated on the consequences of the border crisis by asking, How many more members of American families will we say its OK to die of [a] fentanyl overdose or fentanyl poisoning as promoted by the international cartels before taking action to address the situation at the border?

Meckler also discussed the epidemic of sexual slavery young girls and women face when making the journey to the U.S., estimating that between 30% and 60% of women trafficked into the U.S. experience sexual assault, sometimes numerous assaults and abuse.

Other questions posed by the group were, How many more  Texas communities must see their hospitals and schools overrun by non-citizens? and How many more  American dollars must flow to Mexican cartels and their Chinese money launderers?
More than 40% of black churchgoers want to keep hybrid church model in wake of pandemic: study

Black churchgoers have adapted so well to online church amid the pandemic some 41% of them now favor a hybrid model of in-person and online services, even after COVID-19 is no longer deemed a threat, and 7% say they would rather their church services remain digital going forward, a new study has revealed.

The study, Trends in the Black Church conducted in partnership with the Rev. Brianna K. Parker of Black Millennial Cafe, Gloo, Urban Ministries, Inc., LEAD.NYC, American Bible Society and Compassion, examined how the pandemic affected black faith communities. The data was gathered through follow-up with a group of 1,083 U.S. black adults and 822 black churchgoers who had participated in an online survey conducted April 22May 6, 2020, according to Barna Research.

Data show that the pandemic pushed black church pastors to innovate and challenged their ability to disciple people digitally during the pandemic. Even now, as churches emerge from COVID-era regulations, pastors and their people wonder if or how these shifts will continue to shape the trajectory of their ministry strategy, Barna Research noted.

The follow-up data showed that as of September 2020, three in five black adults had watched services online during the pandemic. Some 47% of black adults who participated in church during the pandemic said the experience made them more open to digital church, while an equal percentage who attended church online in the past six months said they favored in-person gatherings going forward.

At the height of the pandemic, many black and Hispanic churches were more likely to close due to the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on their communities. Data released by New York City showed how the coronavirus killed black and Latino people at twice the rate that it killed whites and nationwide data also reflect a similar trend. The situation forced many congregations of color to adapt quickly as a result out of necessity and congregants felt they adjusted well.

The vast majority of black church congregants, (64% strongly agree) feels their church responded well to the pandemic. Across the board, larger churches were more likely to be ready and resourced to embrace the digital and hybrid space, compared to smaller churches, Barna Research noted.

The Rev. A.R. Bernard, leader of New York City's 40,000-member Christian Cultural Center, which caters to a strong African American audience, told The Christian Post in a recent interview that coupled with the age of convenience he has seen a strong appreciation for online church in his own congregation.

The culture right now, were in a culture of convenience when it comes to church. Thats real. We surveyed our people (congregation)  and the larger percentage of our people are enjoying service at home, he said.

Carey Nieuwhof, a former lawyer and founding pastor of Connexus Church, suggested in an op-ed earlier this year that its likely the hybrid church will stick around even after the pandemic because a post-modern cultural shift has taken place.

Perhaps the deepest threat to in-person attendance comes from a cultural possibility , that we might be entering into a relatively selfish me-centered behavior that might relegate churches even farther to the sidelines than they were pre-pandemic, he wrote.

Among the many characteristics of post-Christian, postmodern spirituality, three stand out when it comes to future attendance trends. Postmodern spirituality is: self-directed, anti-institutional, selective, he wrote.

In other words, people will pick and choose what they want to do. That goes from choosing a favorite preacher to listen to, to deciding to watch from home or on the go, and even (youve already seen this) tenets of the faith they are inclined to embrace and tenets theyre inclined not to, he added.
Tim Keller's wife requests prayers as pastor faces 'complications' from cancer treatment

Kathy Keller, the wife of pastor and author Tim Keller, has requested prayers for her husband after he suffered complications from his cancer treatment.

In a social media update Saturday, Kathy Keller shared an update on her husbands health: Tim is out of the hospital and recovering at home after complications from his treatment. Please continue to pray during this slow recovery," she wrote.

Keller, the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, was initially diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer in May 2020.

In March, the 72-year-old pastor revealed that new tumors had developed, requiring him to undergo a repeat of the immunotherapy treatment he received last year in Bethesda, Maryland.

Last years immunotherapy was successful in eradicating 99% of the tumors, he wrote at the time. However, new tumors have developed. They are unfortunately in some fairly inconvenient places, so the doctors encouraged us to go through the treatment again, this time targeting a different genetic marker of the cancer.

Since then, he has continued to write and teach, sharing biblical wisdom on the topics of race, social relationships, systemic injustice and sexuality.

His latest book, Forgive, examines why society is hesitant to forgive and outlines why forgiveness is an essential part of the Christian life.

In a 2021 interview with The Christian Post, Keller revealed he received his cancer diagnosis about a fourth of the way through writing a book on the resurrection, titled Hope in Times of Fear: The Resurrection and the Meaning of Easter.

Suddenly, were in lockdown, and then I found out I had cancer, and the book completely changed, Keller recalled.

Here I am, writing a book about the resurrection, and I realized I only half-believed I was going to die. I went back and realized that in some ways, I also only half-believed in the resurrection  not intellectually so much, but all the way down deep in my heart. I realized I needed to have a greater, a deeper faith in the resurrection, both intellectually and mentally, he continued.

While undergoing treatment for cancer over the next several months, Keller said he did both intellectual and emotional work to take my abstract belief down into my heart to existentially and experientially know it and grow in assurance, and it worked.

If you are willing to embrace the truth of God's Word and immerse yourself in it day in and day out, and then ask the Holy Spirit to make it real to your heart, He will.

Keller is also a survivor of thyroid cancer, which he had in 2002.

Collin Hansen, vice president of content and editor-in-chief for The Gospel Coalition and author ofTimothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation, told CP that Keller has plenty of other things he wants to write.

We've been praying all along for another decade of energetic ministry, Hansen said.

It seems as though the spiritual work that God has done in his life through the cancer has been a kind of personal revival of sorts, he said.

So, there's sort of a combination of hopefulness and eagerness and planning for another decade ahead, Lord willing, but at the same time a sense that nothing is promised. And in that sense, Tim's just getting a concentrated dose of really all of our situations, no different for any of us, because, as Jesus tells us, we're not promised tomorrow either, he said.
2 ways that relativism falls flat

I recently saw the preview for the new Indiana Jones movie, scheduled to come out later this year. Im a huge Indy fan, so I was excited to see this. At one point in the preview, Indy claimed, Ive come to believe its not so much what you believe. Its how hard you believe it!



I thought, well thats rubbish!

What we believe isnt at all validated because we strongly believe in it. Things are validated because they are true. Some things are objectively true no matter what our opinion is about them.

What is relativism?

Relativism is the idea that everyone is right, or that morality is subjective  a matter of personal taste, or preference. Whats true for you is true for you, and not for me, and we shouldnt tell anyone that they are wrong because there is no right and wrong. Nor are there any objective rules. Anything goes, and nothing is either good or evil. In other words, You do you. Morally everything is permitted, and tolerance is the highest virtue.



However, this expectation of tolerance is self-refuting. Why? Because if there are no rules, and no right or wrong, then how can there be a rule requiring tolerance?

Contrary to the popular narrative in todays culture, relativism doesnt work in the real world. There are several reasons why. But here, we will discuss two.

Why religion is not relative

Religion is a perfect example of why what Indiana Jones said is not true. Some may say that all religions are the same, that it doesnt matter what one believes as long as their beliefs are sincere, because we are all going to Heaven anyway, and all roads lead to God. But this is relativistic, and wrong thinking. Heres why.

There are vast differences between religions in five main areas.

1. Ones view of God.

2. Ones view of sin.

3. Ones view of Jesus Christ.

4. Ones view of salvation.

5. What happens to a person when they die.

Lets take number five for example. Atheism says that when one dies, they are just gone. There is no life after death. Its game over. Mormonism says that when one dies, one can become a god. Catholics say that when we die, most of us go to Purgatory. Hinduism says we get reincarnated, and then are born into a different body. A Bible-believing Evangelical Christian who is a genuine Christ-follower will say that when one dies, you either go to Heaven or Hell. There is nothing in between.

Heres my question for you to consider.



When you die, can you be in all these places at once? Can all these worldviews be true at the same time? Of course not. The fact is, that by the law of non-contradiction, all these different worldviews cant all be right because they all contradict each other. When one dies, they can only be in one place at a time. Now, this doesnt mean that one of these views cant be true. Christianity is true. We know this not by feelings, but by scriptural, historical, and archeological evidence. No other religion can claim this. Christianity is testable.

Ones own sense of subjective confidence that theyre right about their religion is not good enough. One can say that they have an unshakeable faith. But if what you believe in is false, then what you really have is an unshakeable delusion. One needs to have more than just feelings, or good psychological confidence. One must have good reason to believe that their confidence is well-justified. If different people believe different things about God, and they cant all be right, then they are not being faithful to God, even though they think they are.

Faith should be more than about feelings. In Christianity it is. Christianity is not a blind leap of faith as some like to think. Its about what is reasonable to let your heart believe based on what we know. Your head will inform your heart.

When it comes to religion, ones worldview comes down to one thing: authority. From where does one get their authority? There are two kinds of people. Those who know they are not God, and those who think they are. Christians look to God as our authority and His view of reality. The relativist sees himself as the authority in his own life, and the decisions he makes will reflect this.

Why morals are not relative

There was a professor teaching an ethics class at a major university in Indiana. He gave his students an assignment. They were to write a paper on any ethical topic of their choice. Of course, there were certain requirements for the assignment. One young man wrote on the topic of moral relativism. In his thesis, he argued that morals are relative and that we shouldnt push our views on anyone else. Anything goes, he said, You like chocolate, and I like vanilla, he contended.

After fulfilling all the requirements for the assignment, this young man turned his paper in with a beautiful blue folder. Days later, when he received his grade, he saw a big F at the top of his paper. He stormed into the professors office claiming, This isnt fair! You didnt grade this paper on its merits! The professor held up his hand to silence the young man, and said, Arent you the one who wrote on the topic of moral relativism? Yes, that was me, the young man admitted. Well, sorry, but I dont like blue folders. You get an F. Suddenly this young man realized that he really did believe in objective morality, and this lesson defeated his entire thesis on moral relativism.

The moral to the story is that we know ones belief about objective morality not by seeing how they treat others, or by what they tell us, but by watching how they want to be treated. It will be plainly evident.

Romans 2:15 tells us that we have the Lords requirements written on our hearts, with our conscience bearing witness. What that is saying is that we know what is right and wrong because God made everyone that way. No amount of rationalizing can change what is objectively right and wrong.

Relativism is an attempt at rationalization, and relativism doesnt make sense in religion or in any everyday living no matter how hard one thinks they believe in something. When relativism bumps into reality it falls flat as its adherents scream for justice.
Christian teacher who challenged school's trans policy takes legal action after losing job

A Christian teacher is taking legal action after she lost her job following a dispute over the local council and school's transgender policy.

The teacher disagreed with the approach taken towards a transitioning pupil at her school - named only as Child X.

The local council instructed all staff at the school to refer to Child X by their chosen name and pronouns, and allow them to use facilities for the opposite sex.

None of the parties involved in the case can be identified for legal reasons.

The teacher challenged the policy, arguing that it was not based on medical evidence and went against safeguarding procedures, putting the child's health and welfare at risk.

The school and council disagreed with her concerns, prompting her to seek a judicial review.

She was later dismissed by the school for allegedly divulging confidential information to her lawyers and the court.

The school reported the teacher to the Information Commissioner but it found no evidence of a criminal offence and decided that no further action would be taken.

She was also reported to the teaching regulator for an alleged confidentiality breach, and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), both of which are still investigating.

Supported by the Christian Legal Centre (CLC), the teacher has brought a claim in Employment Tribunal against the school for allegedly victimising her for whistleblowing, unfair dismissal, and religious discrimination.

A hearing is expected to be held in August 2024.

Commenting on her decision to take legal action, she said, "Teachers are being bullied not to question trans affirming policies when evidence shows that the actual result of the approach is to put the welfare of children at serious risk.

"I am determined to pursue justice over how I have been treated, but my number one concern and motivation is to protect this child and other children in this country from harm."

CLC chief executive, Andrea Williams, said that many schools and teachers were "terrified" of being labelled 'transphobic' and criminals, or reported to regulators, while parents' concerns are being "ignored".

"If a teacher raises a safeguarding concern about a gender confused child, they are bullied, labelled transphobic, sacked, reported as a potential criminal and face never being able to teach again," she said.

"Society has lost its moral compass. How did we ever decide that it would be helpful for children to be taught that they might be born in the wrong body? How is it helpful for distressed children to encourage them down a path of 'changing gender' with all the associated medical intervention?"

She added, "The Department for Education must look closely at this case and take appropriate action to protect teachers, who often hold Christian beliefs on these issues, from being hounded out of the profession for opposing or even questioning transgender ideology."
Justin Welby fined for speeding

The Archbishop of Canterbury has been fined more than 500 for speeding in London.

The Evening Standard reports that Archbishop Justin Welby was caught speeding on 2 October while driving 25mph in a 20mph zone along the Albert Embankment towards his official residence, Lambeth Palace.

He was convicted last week, days after crowning King Charles III in Westminster Abbey and on the same day as he delivered a speech in Parliament condemning the government's Illegal Migration Bill.

He was given three penalty points and fined 300 for the speeding offence as well as 90 in costs and a 120 victim surcharge.

He was convicted by Lavender Hill Magistrates' Court but was not required to appear in person at the hearing.

A Lambeth Palace spokesman told The Telegraph that the Archbishop was unaware that the case "had gone to court".

"He has tried to resolve this and pay the fine three times," the spokesman said.

"He has all the paperwork to prove that he has tried to pay. Admin errors seem to be causing problems."
Zelensky meets Pope at Vatican

The Pope and Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky met at the Vatican on Saturday.

In the private meeting, which lasted around 40 minutes, the pair discussed the humanitarian and political situation in Ukraine, which has been at war with Russia for over a year.

The Pope and Zelensky exchanged gifts, with the Ukrainian president receiving a bronze sculpture of an olive branch representing peace.

Zelensky gifted the Pope with two works of art, one called "Loss", representing the children who have died in the conflict, and the other made from a bulletproof plate.

During the meeting, the Pope said he was praying for Ukraine and spoke of the importance of "gestures of humanity" towards the most vulnerable, Vatican News reports.

In a tweet after the meeting, Zelensky said he had spoken to the Pope "about the tens of thousands of deported (Ukrainian) children".

"We must make every effort to return them home," he wrote.

Zelensky also thanked the Pope for "his personal attention to the tragedy of millions of Ukrainians".

The meeting took place during Zelensky's visit to Rome where he met with Italian Premiere, Giorgia Meloni, and President Sergio Mattarella.
Less than two months into his $44 billion purchase of Twitter, Elon Musk declared that whoever took over as the company's CEO  must like pain a lot. Then he promised he'd step down as soon as he found a replacement foolish enough to want the job.

That person, Musk announced Friday, is Linda Yaccarino, a highly-regarded advertising executive from NBCUniversal. She'll start in six weeks. How long she'll last might depend on her pain tolerance.

When Musk tweeted on Thursday that he's found a new CEO but didn't say who, one word stuck out: she. Some of his more extreme Twitter followers took immediate issue with the new CEO's gender, but the fact that Musk hired a woman is actually notable simply because it is so rare  in business overall and especially in the tech industry  to see female chief executives.

Her appointment renewed questions about the glass cliff, a theory that women  as well as underrepresented minorities  are more likely to be hired for leadership jobs when there's a crisis, which sets them up for failure. The term was coined in 2005 by University of Exeter professors Michelle Ryan and Alex Haslam, and there have been plenty of famous examples since then, from Yahoo's Marissa Mayer to the U.K.'s Theresa May.

Could Yaccarino be headed toward it?

Her credentials are impeccable and shes been extremely successful so far. But shes also been in settings where her success was achievable, said Jo-Ellen Pozner, a business professor at Santa Clara University who studies corporate governance. I mean no disrespect to her or to diminish her in the least. I just think that this is an impossible situation for basically anybody.

Whether or not she succeeds depends in part on how much Musk is willing to step back from Twitter's day-to-day operations. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO said he will continue to serve as Twitters executive chairman  Yaccarinos boss  as well as its chief technology officer, reporting to her. He added that Yaccarino will focus primarily on business operations."

From the moment Yaccarinos name was confirmed, advertising industry experts hailed the decision as a good one  perhaps the only one  to steer Twitter toward stability and profitability. Yaccarino oversaw NBCUniversals market strategy and advertising revenue for its broadcast, cable and digital assets, which totaled nearly $10 billion. In comparison, Twitters final quarterly revenue as a public company, reported in July, was just $1.17 billion.

She is exactly what Twitter needs to start rebuilding advertiser trust, bring back big advertisers and really start improving Twitters ad business, said Jasmine Enberg, an analyst at Insider Intelligence who follows Twitter. That said, there are still a lot of challenges and Yaccarino is going to have her hands full from day one.

Musks tenure at Twitters helm has been chaotic at best. He began his first day firing the companys top executives, followed by roughly 80% of its staff. This has meant that Twitter has far fewer engineers to ensure that the site is running smoothly and far fewer content moderators to help rid it of hate speech, animal cruelty and graphic violence.

Hes upended the platforms verification system and has scaled back safeguards against the spread of misinformation. Its been some of these changes  along with Musks own penchant for spreading misinformation and engaging with prominent conspiracy theorists and far-right figures  that analysts say soured many advertisers on the platform.

"Elon Musk has been telling us for months repeatedly that Twitters problems are the result of advertisers pulling away. But thats not the source of his problems. Advertisers pulling away are a symptom of the problems at Twitter. Hes created chaos. Hes eliminated internal controls. Hes eliminated critical functions like content moderation. Hes made the user experience very unpredictable. Hes allowed dangerous voices to flourish," Pozner said. Nobody  man, woman, alien  is going to be able to right this ship given these circumstances.

The glass cliff theory holds up in business as well as politics, and, according to a 2011 Harvard Business Review report, does not seem to apply to organizations with a history of female leaders.

Twitter, like most tech companies, does not have a strong history of female leaders. Its founders were all men, as were all five of its CEOs, including Musk. While female chief executives are rare across industries, they are exceptionally rare in tech. Of the 340 CEOs in a recent survey of S&P 500 companies, 18 were women, up from 16 in 2020. In tech, prominent female CEOs include Oracle's Safra Catz and chipmaker AMD's Lisa Su.

Yaccarino seems ready to go head-to-head with Musk, though it's not clear how that'll play out. In a recent on-stage interview with him, she asked Musk if he could commit to not tweeting after 3 a.m. Agreeing that he's gotten myself in trouble a few times with late night/early morning tweets, he responded with a noncommittal I will aspire to tweet less at 3 a.m.

She also asked Musk if he's open to let advertisers influence his vision for Twitter, in product development, ad safety, content moderation" so they could get more excited about investing in the platform.

Musk quickly shut her down.

Its totally cool to say that you want to have your advertising appear in certain places in Twitter and not in other places, but it is not cool to to try to say what Twitter will do, he said. And if that means losing advertising dollars, we lose it. But freedom of speech is paramount.

Regaining advertisers' trust will require stabilizing Twitter and ensuring that key product decisions are made thoughtfully and deliberately and not, as Musk has often been known to do, on the spur of the moment, inspired by a fan's tweet or a passing thought. Industry insiders describe Yaccarino as extremely capable, with a proven track record and impressive resume.

But if she's to succeed on the business side, she'll need Musk's buy-in on the product side.

"It is really debatable whether or not hes going to hand the reins over entirely to Yaccarino," Enberg said And a lot of Twitters success from here on out really depends on what he decides in terms of that.
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP)  A Nigerian Afrobeat star was arrested Monday after being accused of assaulting a police officer in the commercial hub of Lagos.

Seun Kuti was detained at the Lagos State police headquarters after turning himself in, according to police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin, who tweeted photos of the celebrity in handcuffs.
The FBI may take over an investigation into organized thieves who are suspected of home burglaries in the Farmington Valley and other high-income enclaves across the nation.

An organized crime group from South America is linked to nine residential burglaries in Avon from Jan. 30 to Feb. 15, a relative torrent of break-ins in a town that averages 9.5 annually, Police Chief Paul Melanson wrote recently in a crime update to the town manager. The same thieves are suspected in home burglaries in Simsbury and Farmington.

Avon police spokesperson Lt. John Schmalberger said the FBI's Indianapolis office was interested in possibly assuming control of the nationwide investigation into the group. Agent Spencer Brooks, a spokesperson in the office, said he could not confirm nor deny the agency's role in the investigation.

News reports show group members are suspected or charged with burglaries and other crimes in Indiana, California, Virginia, New York and other states. Typically, they target unoccupied homes of wealthy people, stealing cash, credit cards, jewelry and other items that can be fenced easily.

The thieves cash in quickly. Someone in Chile tried to use a stolen credit card (either the actual card or the number) from one of the Avon break-ins the day after the burglary was discovered, Schmalberger said.

Avon detectives are working with the FBI and other police departments to track down the suspects, Melanson wrote. He said police expect to seek arrest warrants, but did not offer a timeline. Simsbury police are investigating a break-in from April 20, Deputy Chief Chris Davis said. Stolen items included purses and jewelry, Davis said, and Simsbury police also are working with the FBI and other agencies.

News reports say many of the theft group members come to the U.S. from Chile on tourist visas. They fan out into gated communities and other wealthy neighborhoods, scout target homes and often break in, as in the Avon burglaries, through rear doors. Avon police believe the thieves watched houses for activity in the evenings, when many people return from work, Schmalberger said. If they saw no one, the home was marked as a target. Many of the local victims were on vacation, Melanson wrote, creating significant delays in reporting the break-ins.

Once inside, Shmalberger said, the thieves "made a beeline for the master bedroom," where they pilfered jewelry, expensive handbags, cash and credit cards. A suspect vehicle in one of the Avon break-ins was spotted in West Hartford, he said. Also, Farmington police have a video of three or four males wearing hooded sweatshirts, masks and gloves breaking into a home, Melanson wrote in his crime update. A Farmington police spokesperson could not be reached.

"It's a big business down there," Schmalberger said of proceeds from the U.S. loot that ends up in South America. The more successful thieves inspire others to become traveling burglars while also gaining prestige in South American crime circles, Schmalberger and other law enforcement officials say.

A Vanity Fair article published last year says "scores of upscale communities in the U.S. have been raided." Members of the organized theft group, which originated in 2014, also have committed burglaries in Europe, the magazine reported. The international thieves use fake IDs, so when they are arrested, police cannot find their names in any databases. Frequently, those arrested post bail and flee with little trace, according to the article.
If you scream for ice cream, it's perhaps because you haven't tried booza. The frozen treat, also known as stretchy ice cream, originated in Syria and is commonly served in Palestine, Israel and Jordan. Thanks to the Rukab family, long-time Palestinian ice cream producers, it's now available in a variety of flavors in Houston at the family's first U.S. shop, simply named Booza.

Making the move to America 25 years ago, the Rukabs chose Houston because they had relatives here. "We loved the city so much, so we moved here," said Booza owner Fadi Rukab. Over the years, they operated multiple locations of Murphy's Deli, which they have since sold, and also run a vending machine business. They opened their booza shop in a strip center at Richmond and Fountainview in 2019. It's a family effort, but Rukab calls it "his baby."

"My family was scared to open a booze ice cream shop, since it was a new concept here," said Rukab. "But I wanted to do it with all my heart, so I decided to take the gamble."

It proved to be a good idea. The Galleria-area shop has gained a loyal following in its first three years. "Some people who haven't had the chance to go back home to Palestine love to have it here," Rukab said. "And Houstonians who have just tried it for the first time go crazy over it."

Booza's unique, stretchy texture is one of the dessert's main draws. The elasticity comes from mastic gum, an ingredient commonly used in Mediterranean desserts. The mixture lacks air, resulting in a dense ice cream that remains intact, in lieu of melting, for longer periods.

Booza 1941

The Rukab family may have had their reservations about bringing booza to Houston, but they do so with a mountain of knowledge and experience. Rukab's grandmother, Sarah, obtained a recipe for booza in Palestine during the final days of the Ottoman Empire. When her husband passed away, she made small batches, enlisting her children's help after school and selling it on the street to make ends meet. In 1941, the family opened a shop called Rukab Brothers Ice Cream & Refreshments on Main Street in Ramallah, Palestine, touting five flavors of booza.

The creamery became wildly popular, attracting tourists from around the world. Sarah's children eventually took over the family business, and in the late 1960s shortened the name to Rukab's Ice Cream. Today, the shop is run by Fadi Rukab's father's cousin and continues to operate at the original location. While more flavors have been added, the recipe remains unchanged, and it's the very same one used at Booza in Houston. "My family has been doing this for 80 years," said Rukab. "It's in our blood."

Booz 1941

There are 24 flavors at Booza, including some gelato and sorbet varieties, but Rukab says they tend to stick to traditional choices like chocolate, strawberry, and cookies 'n' cream. You can have your booza in a cup or a cone, but toppings are not an option. "My grandfather always said: 'You add toppings in order to cover up a bad ice cream,'" said Rukab. "It takes away from the flavor if you add M&M's or chocolate chips."

For ice cream lovers who like a bit of a bite to their velvety dessert, one of Booza's most popular flavors is the ashta with pistachio, with nut pieces already blended in.

The opening of Booza may be just the beginning of stretchy ice cream slowly entering the mainstream ice cream market in Houston. Rukab says despite staffing challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the last couple of years, he hopes to open more locations around the city.

Booza

Find it: 5922 Richmond Ave. Ste A, Houston, TX 77057; (832) 831-3176

Hours: Daily, noon-9:30 p.m.
Title 42 is gone as migrants continue to seek a new life by coming to the area, with Laredo receiving some of those individuals as the city serves as a decompression zone for the border sectors of Brownsville and El Paso along with Yuma, Arizona.

LMT spoke exclusively to several migrants who shared their journeys, how Title 42 motivated them to come and what they expect to do if allowed to stay in the country.

Although most of the migrants came from Venezuela, there were some from Peru and even India and China at Laredo shelters. All of these migrants are in the country legally and are waiting for their court dates as they seek asylum.

Why they came to the U.S.?

Vanessa Sano -- traveling from Peru with her teenage son, her sister and her nephews -- cited security as one of her top motivations.

I came to this country because the situation in Peru is really unstable and the security situation is delicate, and that country does not offer the security that this country can offer, Sano said. Lawlessness has thrived over there, and many people do not respect the word of law as they should. Nobody can walk safe at night anymore, and if you have a business, these bad men -- or bandoleros -- come to your business, as in the case of my son. They put a grenade at his workplace as they wanted to target his boss who is the owner of various restaurants.

Alfredo Bermudez began his journey on April 10 from Venezuela and took about a month to cross jungles, countries and other landscapes to reach the United States. He traveled with his wife and two of their children while two of his other children stayed back in the country.

In Venezuela, the very same government threatens you daily, and you cannot work over there in peace and make a living, Bermudez said.

Jorge and Zuley Gutierrez came with their two children. In their journey from Venezuela, they did not have any problems until they arrived to Tapachula, which is a southeastern city in Mexico located near the Guatemalen border. They said they were stripped of their money by local cartel members and that the police asked for bribes.

At this moment, we are actually calling some friends we made on the way that are already here in the U.S. to see if we could get any money for our transportation out of Laredo, as in Tapachula they robbed us of everything, Gutierrez said in a shaking voice. They took away from us the only $700 to $800 we had between us, and this included everything from corrupt police officers to the very same drivers of the buses and cartel members that would board the buses as well. We made it here as some friends deposited small amounts along the way in efforts to make it through Mexico.

They said one of the bus drivers charged them to travel northbound and at one point told them to get down so they would not have to cross a checkpoint, then they were left stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Clinton Mendez and Adriana Quinto began their journey out of Venezuela on Jan. 28, 2023 and suffered tragedy as they arrived to Panama. Quinto saw her mother and stepfather die in an accident on Feb. 15 along with 40 other migrants.

In that accident, both of my in-laws died and my brothers-in-law were also left very hurt by the accident. And so since my brother-in-law was very ill, the government of Panama gave Quinto the custody of his children, Mendez said. So we spent a couple of months there finding small jobs in efforts to make it while we continued the journey just suffering like everybody else does.

Quinto said one of her brothers had to undergo stomach reconstruction surgery, and what little money they took with them was used for the cremation services of her parents. They also asked a relative in the United States to wire some money, and several Panama television stations helped them raise money.

It has been very hard, and just with pure luck we are here as we dont have a single cent to get to the destination that we aim to go to as we are heading for Denver, Quinto said.

Title 42

The expiration of Title 42 motivated these migrants to come to the United States before it was removed, many said.

Im not going to lie to you, we are here because of it, Sano said. We knew that under Title 42 we could have the possibility to cross into the United States and have some form of temporary visa, and that they would allow us that if we came before it expired. Whereas, we knew that with the end of Title 42 we could expect for the laws to be more severe and much easier to punish people. But under Title 42, we had a better opportunity to remain and stay in the country.

Multiple people said they constantly checked any updates regarding the end of the policy and hurried their journey in order to make it on time.

I was always checking the latest news regarding Title 42 and also reading any updates on it to see how the process worked if one crossed before it was lifted, Bermudez said. Once they said that people had until the 11th to turn themselves in, I hurried up quickly with my family to get to the border and turn ourselves in.

The Gutierrez family also followed Title 42 news and knew what it meant when it was lifted.

I did not come to this country because of one law or policy as I never truly focused on the laws as I do respect and do follow through with them, Gutierrez said. I knew very little or understood Title 42 very little, but I will not lie to you that on Thursday I was really worried because we already had six days that we arrived to the U.S. and they had not told us anything, and the last thing that we wanted was to get deported after suffering so much in the two-month journey. I presume that the only law that we truly follow and the reason why we are here is thanks to the law of God.

Gutierrez said he saw several friends get deported even when they arrived prior to the expiration date of Title 42.

For Mendez and Quinto, the law was something they really took into account when coming to the United States.

Yes, Title 42 and its expiration was a reason why we and all of this mass of people came, as now we are waiting to see what happens with the people that did not make it before expiring, Mendez said.

Treatment

All the migrants interviewed in Laredo's NGOs attested that they have been treated really well during the process.

Everything has been great, and I have felt secured all the time. As I told everybody, we did not expect to come to a five-star hotel, but we have all gotten the basic needs met which is having something to eat, where to sleep, and we have been overall good, Sano said.

Bermudez said the treatment by CBP officers and people at shelters has been excellent, and that in each step of the process, people have talked to them and provided them tips and advice on how to get their process settled quicker.

Mendez said he feels they have been treated normal as he has grown accustomed to any kind of treatment, whether good or bad, outside of his native country.

In ones own country, one might be OK, but once outside your borders, then things changed for sure, Mendez said.

Their future hopes

All of the migrants interviewed said they have been provided a court date and additional steps to continue their immigration proceedings. Most said they have their court dates within the next 60-70 days.

They allow us to choose our court day in a city close to where we are going, Bermudez said. We just provide that address, and then they assigned us a date, time and location of the court date. Here, they have helped us get some form of transportation to Chicago, but our final destination is Atlanta.

Bermudez said he is looking for any job from cleaning to carpentry in efforts to make some money in the United States.

I have a cousin that has helped us a lot in Washington, and we are going to be over there with her as we wait, Sano said. All I can say to the United States is thanks for this opportunity. I do consider three months very much a short timetable to process everything, as I would have thought it would be six months, but I hope that within that timeframe we are able to demonstrate that we can stay here and we are people that mean well.

Sano said in Peru she worked in business administration, but she understands that it could take time for her college degree credits to transfer or that she could need additional courses to complete her studies. In the meantime, she said she will seek any kind of work she can find.

Mendez said he and Quinto had already been given a court date in Denver, Colorado in two months. They are worried about how they will be able to survive until the court date.

Quinto said she and Mendez hope they are allowed to work in the country and provide a better life to their children as they came to the United States with good intentions to work and make a living. She also hopes to regain the custody of her nephews because once they arrived to the United States.

For Gutierrez, the court date is less than a month away.

In 30 days, we have to present ourselves to a court in Chicago, and I am really worried about that because we first have to find a way to get to Chicago and become a bit stable as the friend who is going to receive us already told us that it will be only temporary, but I hope to find any kind of job just to get some money, Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez said he specialized in forklift and handling heavy machinery, which he brought his certificates to demonstrate his training, and he wants to showcase that to any potential future employer.

As plans for the future, we have a lot and they are here in the United States. We dont have any plans of returning to Venezuela because there are so many bad things going on with the government, corruption, extortion, violence and heightened crime, Gutierrez said. In my criteria, I tell everybody that says that they came to the United States to save some money and return in a year or two over there, then why come in the first place? Even if you save $20,000 in that short time, you will only spend it three ways in Venezuela: spend it quickly as you feel you have a lot; you get extorted or you get killed for that money. No reason to return if allowed here.
Montgomery County commissioners are again looking at whether the pay system for court interpreters is wasteful after setting a daily rate of $650 in December.

Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack, who was the lone nay vote against the $650 a day payment, has maintained the rate is insane pay.

On YourConroeNews.com: Montgomery County gives raises to attorneys on staff to address retention issues

The issue surfaced during the courts meeting last Tuesday during the payment of statements.

Once again I have issues with the court interpreter pay, Noack said, pointing out an invoice before the court to pay one person $650 for 20 minutes of work.

Office of Court Administration Director Wendy Little said the reason an interpreter was paid $650 for 20 minutes of work was because a case was rescheduled.

She said the county is required to have an interpreter available and there is no way to know if a case will be rescheduled resulting in the interpreter still receiving their full pay.

We do have something (in the policy) that states even if a trial is canceled, the interpreter must remain on site for the rest of the day and work rotations in the courthouse, Little said. If we have no dockets and they have no work, then they might not stay.

Noack said the daily rate is higher than any rate paid to other county employees. The need is understood, he said. Its how we go about paying them.

Montgomery County Budget Officer Amanda Carter said last year the county spent $240,071 on the services and to date this year has spent $207,411.

Court interpreters work within the Montgomery County judicial system as state-licensed foreign-language interpreters for any language. As officers of the court, their function is not much different than a court reporters since they must achieve accuracy in the service of delivering fair judicial treatment, specifically to those with limited English proficiency.

During trials, they talk into a microphone transmitting an interpretation into headsets worn by plaintiffs or defendants who don't speak English. They are contracted by law enforcement agencies and regularly hired on by law firms.

Noack has pushed for the county to hire staff interpreters.

Little said a position for a staff interpreter has been listed for nine months on the countys website with only one qualified applicant applying.

Little said the pay for the staff interpreter would be set at $74,000. The county has budgeted for two staff interpreters.

It might be a good idea to post that in other places where people may find it a little more easily, Noack said.

County Judge Mark Keough asked Little to bring back some alternatives for providing interpreter services at a future meeting.

During a Nov. 8 meeting, commissioners approved the pay at $65 per hour for work during jury trials and $55 per hour for non-trial work for interpreters who work at least half a day. The commissioners did not set a flat day rate.

In the weeks after setting the $65 per hour fee, Keough misspoke about the fees and told Little the pay was a flat $650 a day. Little then sent that information out to all interpreters in the Houston area.

Because of that miscommunication, the court in December amended its Nov. 8 action and agreed to pay interpreters a flat rate of $650 per day for more than four hours of services. The fee would remain at the $65-per-hour rate for anything under four hours.
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WASHINGTON - Over a year since busloads of migrants began arriving from Texas and Arizona, D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser's administration faces a costly predicament: housing and feeding those families at a time when city resources are strained, and an expected surge of border crossings probably means more of those chartered buses coming.

More than 170 buses have arrived in the District from the two states so far, including two from Texas last week, in what began as a protest in April 2022 by Republican governors over President Biden's border policies. The resulting images of families seeking U.S. asylum sleeping on city streets jolted the immigration debate.

While the pace of arrivals has slowed in recent months, illegal border crossings are expected to surpass 10,000 per day after the Biden administration lifted the pandemic-era Title 42 border policy Thursday. And migrants in search of aid are now also arriving in the District on their own by car, plane or commuter bus after failing to find stability in other U.S. cities.

Meanwhile, efforts to find long-term housing for families temporarily housed in three hotels contracted by D.C. have sputtered in the region's pricey housing market, with many of the migrants unable to find steady work, immigrant advocates say. As a result, the problem that D.C. officials initially believed to be temporary has only gotten more complicated.

"Primarily, there is just a lack of finding affordable housing in the area," said Sharlet Ann Wagner, director of the Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Washington's Newcomer Network. "You've also got a population that may not have a bank account, doesn't have a credit history, may not have the IDs, and so it could be hard to rent a place without all of that documentation."

With expenses for lodging, food and other services climbing well past the $10 million that Bowser (D) initially set aside for the agency she formed last fall to help the migrants, her administration temporarily closed the hotels to new arrivals late last month, saying there was no more room.

The move deepened uncertainty over how the District and other U.S. cities facing similar pressures can manage the continuing influx - a situation breeding resentment far from the border. In New York, for example, Mayor Eric Adams (D) came under fire from leaders of surrounding counties earlier this month after announcing plans to send as many as 300 willing migrants to their communities in anticipation of the surge.

"I don't think anybody could tell you where we're going," D.C. Council member Robert C. White Jr. (D-At Large) said, noting that the city is facing budget cuts to programs designed to serve its existing poor and homeless population.

"Our job is to do the best we can to serve them and to remember that there are also a lot of folks already here who are struggling," he said. "That's a tough balance, but that is where we are."

- - -

The hotels

For families who arrive in D.C. and want to stay in the area, "home" has often become one of the hotels in the city, or another one in Montgomery County that houses about 16 families. As the District's hotel population climbed toward 1,250, with 340 children enrolled in D.C. public schools, the city in February added a third hotel to the mix.

Meant to be a stopgap measure to keep the migrants from sleeping on the streets, city officials estimate the average stay is 126 days at the courtyard buildings clustered on New York Avenue in Northeast.

So far, the city's new Office of Migrant Services has spent more than $15.1 million on hotel lodging, food and other services, according to the Department of Human Services (DHS), which oversees the agency.

The expenses are projected to climb to $52.5 million by October amid expectations of another surge, DHS said, undermining the city's efforts to close an estimated $1.7 billion budget gap over the next five years caused largely by the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

"The number gets bigger every month, the longer people stay," Laura Zeilinger, the city DHS director, told D.C. Council members during a March 31 budget hearing.

A contract with a soul food restaurant to provide three meals a day for the hotel families is budgeted for $3.6 million, while an agreement with SAMU First Response, a D.C. nonprofit, to coordinate mental health counseling and other services in the city is expected to cost $1.7 million, DHS said. Laundry at the hotels, covered by another contract, costs about $1.1 million, while security to keep outsiders out of the areas of the hotels where the migrants stay is budgeted for $4.5 million.

The cumulative hotel bill alone is projected to reach $12 million by October, DHS said.

Zeilinger told D.C. Council members that the city is seeking reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. But less than half of what has been spent so far is eligible, she said, noting that FEMA covers only 30 days of temporary housing for the migrants.

"And people stay much longer than 30 days," she said.

DHS, which declined an interview request, said in a statement that eventually D.C. employees will provide most of the services now provided to migrants, though the statement didn't say how.

Montgomery County has spent $5 million so far, officials there said. Despite county aid with security deposits and first month's rent, contractors there have also found it challenging to locate permanent homes for hotel residents, limiting the space available for newcomers.

The rising expenses are "a very legitimate concern," D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D) said during a media briefing two weeks ago - particularly if a surge of border crossings means more migrants arriving to the city. An estimated 12 percent of migrants who come to D.C. indicate they plan to stay in the city.

Mendelson said Bowser's office has not asked the council to approve more funding for the Office of Migrant Services, which has been operating on contingency funds and does not have an appropriated budget amount.

While the governors of Texas and Arizona have said that the migrants sent to the city volunteered to come, and many of the migrants themselves say they've found the free bus trips helpful, Mendelson nonetheless accused those states of treating the asylum seekers "inhumanely by just putting them on buses, sending them north."

"This is a problem of humanity that the District wants to be responsive to but is not of our making," he said.

Abel Nunez, executive director of the Central American Resource Center, or Carecen, a D.C. nonprofit that helps the migrants with legal services and other matters, said assistance providers are walking a fine line between offering the migrants help and housing, while also encouraging them to leave that support behind.

"It's a tricky thing because in one sense you want them to begin to integrate, but you don't want them to integrate in a way where they don't want to leave where they're at, because that's temporary housing," said Nunez, who has participated in discussions with city officials and other nonprofits about the issue.

"You can push them out, but they'll just end up back in the government system, whether that's the shelters or any of the other resources the city has for the unhoused or the poor," Nunez said.

- - -

Eager to leave

As days turn to weeks, then months for the migrants living at the D.C. hotels, a makeshift community has taken root there.

At one hotel, salsa rhythms poured from car stereos as clusters of men and women chatted in the full parking lot one recent night. Nearby, in the hotel's asphalt courtyard, teenage boys played a loud game of stickball, as smaller children wobbled around the perimeter on donated bicycles.

And inside a banquet room at the Panda Gourmet restaurant, which sits in the same building complex, about 30 Latin American migrant children and teenagers practiced their English between bites of sesame chicken and shrimp fried rice.

"Ninos, where are we going? We're going to do 'up,'" Mariajose Morales, 19, among the students at Georgetown University's DC Schools Project who tutor the group, said in Spanish to her table.

She prompted the children to show that they understood which direction meant where in English. They pointed to the ceiling, pronouncing the word "up," then demonstrated "down," "left" and "right" while saying those words.

Despite the shelter and resources, some of the migrants are eager to leave, concerned about violent crime in the area and eager to begin their lives on their own. They said in Spanish that they felt the city hasn't done enough to help them get out of the hotel and find another home.

"Nobody has said anything to us about that," said Arianmi Ramirez, whose family of three has shared a hotel room with another family since arriving in October from Peru, where they lived for several years after leaving Venezuela.

DHS denied that assertion, saying in its statement that city contractors are "helping families identify pathways for long-term sustainability and self-sufficiency based on their needs, both inside and outside the region."

Ramirez said that with help from volunteers from the Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network, she and her husband have tried finding a place. So far, none of the rents have been within their reach.

"I would love to live in a house, but even an apartment with at least two rooms would be better," said Ramirez, who supplements the income her husband receives from his temporary construction job by selling the Venezuelan snacks she prepares in the room's tiny kitchenette to other hotel residents.

Plus, conditions at the hotels haven't always been ideal. In late February, a group of residents complained to the D.C. Council about mold growing on the walls, bed bugs in the mattresses and the quality of the food they're served, which they said has sometimes arrived spoiled.

"We're suffering from poor nutrition, bites, irritation," a resident who identified herself as Viviana M. told council members in Spanish during a Housing Committee hearing.

Those conditions have improved since that hearing, during which several council members expressed concern. White, who chairs the Housing Committee, said the improvements were evident when he recently visited the site.

"I have no doubt that they needed feedback and made adjustments," White said, about city contractors.

He co-sponsored legislation approved by the council last month that requires the city to step up long-term resettlement efforts if the migrants choose to stay in the city and to grant them access to services available to other unhoused residents, such as baby formula for children.

"At the core of it, we have to recognize the folks who are coming here are people who are making the same decisions that we would make for ourselves and our families if we were in their position," White said.

Bowser, whose office declined an interview request, allowed the emergency bill to go into effect late last month without signing it. Two weeks ago, the D.C. Council approved amendments to that law that, among other things, clarified the migrants' eligibility for city services.

- - -

A last resort

The changing, unpredictable manner in which migrants are now arriving is another complicating factor.

Illegal border crossings dropped after the Biden administration imposed restrictions under Title 42 that have kept Venezuelans, Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans seeking legal entry inside encampments in Mexico.

As a result, the number of buses coming to D.C. also went down. But with border crossing again picking up, Texas recently resumed sending its buses after a four-month lull, with two - carrying a total of 84 people - arriving at the Naval Observatory on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, local advocates said.

On Wednesday night, Abbott tweeted a statement about the state-charted buses, saying, "We will continue to provide this critical support to overwhelmed Texas border towns until Biden secures the border."

Arizona, where Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) continued the busing program after taking office this year, sends about one bus per week, city officials said.

"Our border communities can't handle this influx, and Texas will continue busing migrants to sanctuary cities to provide relief to our overwhelmed border towns," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's (R) spokesman Andrew Mahaleris said in a statement sent before the state's busing program restarted this month.

Meanwhile, migrants who either stayed in border towns after crossing or were bused to other U.S. cities are now arriving in D.C. through other means, after learning about the District's system of support from friends or relatives who came earlier, immigrant advocates say.

On Monday, Bowser blamed some of the immigrant advocates, saying they've invited migrants to the city while misleading them about the amount of aid available. "They shouldn't be communicating to Texas or anywhere else that there is unlimited space here because that is just not the case," Bowser said when asked about the issue during a news conference.

But, those advocates say, many migrants are simply arriving at area churches or shelters without prompting from them.

In an increasing number of cases, families have turned to D.C. after struggling to find work and housing in other cities where they were bused, said Amy Hammond, a spokeswoman for SAMU First Response, which has become the city's primary contact for the migrants. "They're, you know, bouncing from one location to the next, trying to get that permanency that is a bit challenging to achieve," Hammond said.

That was the case for Mandi Buada Rivera, who arrived in the District in December with her two sons - aged 7 and 9, with plane tickets from San Antonio bought by a D.C. church she found through a friend already in the city.

She picked D.C. randomly, while still traveling through Costa Rica. Another acquaintance who had arrived earlier told her about the city's services in a text, said Rivera, who fled Venezuela in 2020 and lived in Colombia for three years.

"They were telling me that I would be taken care of," she said of her friends' messages about D.C.

Rivera - who has not yet applied for U.S. asylum after being granted humanitarian parole for a year - now sells Venezuelan snacks she also makes in her hotel room kitchenette as well as herbal shampoo she mixes in the sink in hopes of earning enough for a larger home. She also takes free English classes near her son's school in Petworth, where they were placed amid a crush of migrant enrollments at schools closer to the hotels.

During a lunch break at the class, Rivera, 32, pulled from a bag the warm arepas she had made that morning - wrapped and filled with ground beef and cheese - and offered them to her classmates for $5 each.

She also took out large bottles of her shampoo, decorated with a "Mandi creations" label she designed and printed at a neighborhood library. "It's how I got my hair like this," Rivera said in Spanish to one woman, fluffing her long black hair. The classmate paid $15 for the mixture of ginger, aloe and coconut oil.

Such initiative helps but is no guarantee in a region that can be forbidding to new immigrants, particularly those without an established support network of compatriots in the area to lean on, advocates say.

Many migrants will probably need to rely on government aid for several more years, Nunez said, adding that the influx will continue, particularly by Venezuelans, regardless of whether the border buses keep coming.

"The genie is out of the bottle," he said. "We need to be comfortable with that. Now it's about: Okay, so what do we do if we know they're coming?"
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden has made it a mission for the U.S. to build friendships overseas  and the next few weeks will offer a vivid demonstration of the importance he's placing on a relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The two are both scheduled to attend this week's Group of Seven summit in Japan, a subsequent gathering of Pacific island leaders in Papua New Guinea, and a later meeting of Indo-Pacific leaders in Australia. Those travels will be followed by a June 22 state visit by Modi to Washington, a sign that both seem willing to deepen their bonds.

But like many geopolitical friendships, things are complicated between the world's largest economy (the U.S.) and its most populous nation (India).

The personal outreach has a clear strategic calculus as both countries respond to China's economic rise and increased global prominence. Yet while Biden champions democratic ideals and openly opposes Russia for invading Ukraine, Modi has offered tepid criticism of Russia and opponents say he is eroding India's democratic traditions.

That means the future of the alliance depends on a degree of patience.

Its a long game of steady forward movement in defense relations and some fairly rapid intensification of business ties  with the pace of both determined by the speed of movement on the Indian side, said Kurt Tong, a former ambassador for the U.S. who is now managing partner of The Asia Group, a consultancy.

Biden last year publicly called Indias response to the war in Ukraine shaky. India abstained from voting on U.N. resolutions condemning Russia and refused to join the global coalition against Russia. Modi had a relatively warm relationship with Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, and has made some efforts to forge a connection with Biden, who is known to focus on his Irish roots even when meeting with leaders of other nations.

When Modi came to Washington in September 2021, he brought with him documents about people with the last name Biden in India.

Are we related? Biden asked.

Yes, Modi joked.

While visiting Canada in March, Biden said he's made it a strategic goal to improve relations with the rest of the world as he feels that America's leverage against China and Russia is through its alliances.

I have now met with 80% of the world leaders just since Ive been president, he said. Were the ones expanding the alliances. The opposition is not.

Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, a biographer of Modi, said the Indian leader's connection with Biden is not personal  and has its limits. But it is necessary for the U.S. to keep India on its side as tensions with China have accelerated over Taiwan, the federal government's ban on exporting advanced computer chips to China and human rights issues.

To what extent can India be part of the U.S.-led alliance, that is for Modi to decide," Mukhopadhyay said. At some point or the other, the Americans would realize that Modi is not really going the whole hog as much as they would like India to be. But Modi will not get swayed by meeting Biden several times.

Nirupama Rao, a retired diplomat who served as Indian ambassador to the U.S., said India has its reasons for not joining the condemnation of Moscow.

"The country wants Russia to maintain some distance from China, and it worries that isolating Moscow would just push it closer to Beijing, she said. Relations between India and China are strained, with the two sides embroiled in an intense three-year standoff involving thousands of soldiers stationed along their disputed border in the eastern Ladakh region.

Rao said U.S. policymakers should not mistake Indias involvement in the so-called Quad  whose other members are the U.S., Japan and Australia  for an alliance. India is also in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a group dominated by Beijing and Moscow. It routinely attends trilateral meetings with China and Russia. It also continues to participate in the forum known as BRICS, which stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

So far, India has done an impressive job of maintaining its balancing act," she said. Whether it can continue to do so in the years ahead is an open question. Beijing has become increasingly belligerent, and it may eventually decide it will not deal with India if New Delhi strengthens its security ties to Washington.

Both the U.S. and India have been emphasizing technology partnerships, including defense, clean energy and space. During Modis visit to the U.S. in June, the two leaders are also expected to discuss common challenges, including climate change and health security.

Russia is India's largest supplier of military hardware. But India has been reducing its dependence on Russian arms by diversifying its purchases, buying from the U.S., France, Germany and other countries. The U.S. defense trade with India has risen from near zero in 2008 to over $20 billion in 2020.

The U.S. imported about $86 billion in goods from India last year, according to the Census Bureau. That figure has steadily increased, but it has room to grow as the U.S. still gets more goods from Taiwan and Vietnam than India. With more than 1.4 billion people, India is about 14 times the size of Taiwan and Vietnam combined.

There are some risks for Biden as he devotes more time to Modi, with advocates for human rights wary of the Indian leader's track record. The freedom of the news media in India has been challenged after Modi became prime minister in 2014. Political rivals of Modis governing Hindu nationalist party have accused him of stifling dissent and introducing divisive policies that discriminate against Muslims and other minorities.

Modi's Hindu nationalist party also suffered a political setback as Indias main opposition Congress party won control of the southern Karnataka state, according to a near complete vote count Saturday. The victory could help unite the largely divided opposition in next year's general election, in which Modi will seek a third consecutive term as prime minister.

Yet for Biden, developing a personal rapport out of public view might be critical for overcoming any differences with Modi.

In this case, the investment is worth it, said Lisa Curtis, director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, a think tank. There are a lot of things that President Biden can say privately to Prime Minister Modi that could end up having a favorable impact on U.S.-India relations.

___

Sharma reported from New Delhi, India.
BAO LOC, Vietnam - For decades, the world of coffee has had one star: the arabica bean. It is "complex" and "deliciously refined," according to companies such as Starbucks that have refused to use any other bean. It has engendered obsession among Java aficionados.

But climate change, as it tends to do, is shifting fortunes.

The sophisticated arabica is hypersensitive to fluctuations in temperatures and faces dim prospects in a warming world. Once spurned as its "ugly stepsister," the bulkier robusta plant - so named because it grows robustly in tough conditions - is mounting its revenge.

Vietnam is responsible for more than half of the global robusta supply, government data shows, and it plays an increasingly vital role in efforts to rescue coffee from the effects of climate change. The robusta farmed here, on the rolling hills of Vietnam's central highlands, is more resilient and has higher yields than virtually anywhere else, scientists say, with some varieties producing two or three times more beans than varieties in other parts of the world.

"Arabica is no longer enough to satisfy appetites," Nguyen Nam Hai, chair of Vietnam's Coffee and Cocoa Association, said one recent afternoon in a Ho Chi Minh City neighborhood crowded with trendy coffee shops. "And Vietnamese robusta, everyone knows, is number one in the world."

Much of the pivot to robusta is by necessity. In 2021, a severe frost in Brazil damaged up to 200,000 hectares (494,000 acres) worth of predominantly arabica coffee crops, leaving behind scars that may take years to heal. Back-to-back hurricanes have battered arabica coffee fields in Honduras, while unpredictable changes in rainfall have devastated coffee farmers in Colombia.

"Climate change has made many issues, mostly for the arabica-producing countries," said Vanusia Nogueira, executive director of the International Coffee Organization, a London-based intergovernmental association of coffee-producing countries.

Last year, low output from Brazil, the world's biggest producer, helped to drive Vietnamese coffee exports to a record $4 billion, more than 30 percent higher than the year before, according to Vietnamese officials. More than 93 percent of the coffee Vietnam produces is robusta.

The robusta plant isn't insulated from the effects of climate change - it's sensitive to drought, for example - but agronomists generally agree that it has evolved to be more tolerant of temperature fluctuations than arabica. Significant research is being poured into robusta, widely understudied until recently.

In Bao Loc, a quiet agricultural town two hours from the tourist city of Dalat, Vietnamese and European researchers are experimenting with ways to replicate the phenotype of native robusta varieties that have proved exceptionally resilient to pests and heat.

Communities are "preparing," said Toi Nguyen, a local farmer. "Because the future of coffee," he added, "is here."

Using new farming and processing techniques, Nguyen, 48, has produced some of the first robusta coffee accepted by international judges as high-quality. His beans, which he sells for three times the market price of regular robusta, deliver brews with a clean taste and none of the bitter, rubbery flavor that have typically relegated robusta to instant coffee, he said. He's found fans in Vietnam, France and Japan, and is part of a small but buzzy movement to remake the reputation of robusta.

"Vietnam will play a significant role not only in producing robusta but in educating the rest of the world on how to do it," said Sahra Nguyen, the Vietnamese American founder of Nguyen Coffee Supply, which has pushed retailers such as Whole Foods and Blue Bottle Coffee to begin embracing the bean. Farmers and roasters in Vietnam are "the most educated and the most innovative" when it comes to robusta, Nguyen said by phone from Brooklyn. They've refined methods of processing it with natural substances like honey and pioneered ways of fermenting it in oxygen-free conditions to release new flavors.

Producers elsewhere are increasingly interested in learning these techniques, including in Latin America, where countries that have long focused on arabica are beginning to test their ability to grow robusta, said Nogueira of the International Coffee Organization.

Arabica still has its faithful - even in Vietnam, specialty coffee shops largely serve it, and many are proud to say they serve only arabica - but "more now, what people are realizing is they will need another option, in addition to the arabica, for the future," said Nogueira, who is Brazilian.

In Bao Loc, this effort has arrived at the stumpy feet of a native variety of robusta that locals call the "green dwarf."

Its technical name is "Truong Son 5" after the farmer who first debuted it at a local pageant for coffee trees. Thick and stocky, it earned its nickname, locals said, because of its stubborn resistance to environmental threats, from parasites to coffee leaf rust, a fungus that has devastated farms in Central America.

The Vietnamese government recently approved TS5 as a specialized variety, worthy of being studied and replicated. And last year, the European Union greenlighted a project with the commodities trader ECOM Agroindustrial to examine how to graft rootstock from TS5 and other hardy varieties onto weaker robusta plants and, potentially, onto other coffee species.

The goal, said lead researcher Thuan Sarzynski, is to create a kind of "super coffee" that withstands all manner of climate threats. Apart from robusta, the project is experimenting with other species of coffee, including liberica, which has deep roots that make it hardy against drought. Liberica accounts for less than 2 percent of global production but has long been grown in small quantities in this part of Vietnam. Many local farmers have tried on their own to graft robusta onto liberica, and one of the project's aims, Sarzynski said, is to study that process to see if it can produce a drought-resistant, high-yield coffee of the future.

One afternoon under the blazing sun, Nguyen Trung Than bent over a row of TS5 trees, nearly all of a consistent height and size. "Look," said Than, the plants' caretaker, as he held up a dense cluster of coffee cherries just beginning to bud. Come harvesting season, he explained, they would each produce as much as 30 kilograms (66 pounds) of coffee cherries, or about twice as much as some other varieties.

Vietnam's central highlands are cooler than the rest of the country, but the start of the summer meant that temperatures were still climbing past 85 degrees. Than wiped his brow.

How did the green dwarves fare under the heat?

"Well," he said, smiling proudly, "they're not scared."

Researchers are confident there are other varieties of robusta in Vietnam with qualities worth studying. But to protect them, experts say, farmers need to stop overtaxing their land in pursuit of more production, a difficult ask in a part of the country that has traditionally lagged in development and poverty reduction.

Decades of intense fertilizer use and monoculture - the cultivation of a single crop to maximize its production - have degraded growing conditions in the central highlands, said Bui Dac Hao, a Vietnamese program manager for IDH, a nonprofit focused on sustainable trade. Coffee distributors are pushing smallholder farmers to cut back on their use of fertilizer and grow other plants - a method called intercropping - to avoid exhausting their land.

In 2018, IDH launched a pilot program in Di Linh, a district bordering Bao Loc, that gave farmers incentives to plant avocado, durian and other fruit trees on their plantations. "It took us a long time to convince them," Hao said, but by last year, the percentage of farmers engaging in intercropping had jumped from 7 to 62 percent.

Organic farming isn't just good for the land; it's good for the bean, said Toi Nguyen, the Bao Loc farmer. For the past five years, Nguyen has been restoring an old, exhausted coffee farm to a more natural state, introducing native trees and letting weeds and vines of black pepper crowd over the trunks of the coffee plants. Farming this way makes stronger robusta and eventually, Nguyen said, tastier coffee.

At his warehouse, he opened a sack of the past season's cherries, colored dark red because, unlike most robusta farmers, he only picks ripened cherries. He scooped a handful to his nose.

"Smells like candy," he said, his eyes crinkling.

The youngest child of rice farmers, Nguyen grew up in poverty and, not too long ago, made his living selling corn by the roadside, he recalled. His entrance into specialty coffee has been unexpected even to him. But he's just getting started, he said.

"I want to go deeper, higher into quality," Nguyen said, "I want to find the limit."

In a few days, he was set to travel to Portland, Ore., where he would show off his beans at the largest coffee event in North America. He was nervous about the long flight and about talking to people because he spoke almost no English. But he wasn't nervous at all, he said, about the coffee.

He tapped on his cup, swirling with the final dregs of a fresh brew. It spoke for itself, he said.
Four Connecticut police officers who died in the line of duty, including a pair of Bristol officers killed in an ambush last year, were among the more than 550 law enforcement officials nationwide honored Saturday at an annual candlelight vigil in Washington, D.C.

The names of Bristol police officers Sgt. Alex Hamzy and Lt. Dustin DeMonte, who were killed in October, were read aloud along with the names of other fallen officers from across the country during the two-hour ceremony.

The event recognized New Haven police officer Diane Gonzalez, who died early last year after an illness, and Norwich Lt. Josip Peperni, who died due to COVID-19 in late 2021.

The vigil was organized by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, a nonprofit organization that maintains a memorial honoring officers killed in the line of duty by chiseling their names into a 304-foot-long limestone wall in the nations capital. The event marks the start of National Police Week.

The annual vigil, widow, Laura, were among the event's attendees.

These men are true heroes, said Marcia Ferranto, the memorial funds chief executive officer. We promise your sacrifice  Laura and Katie  and theirs will never be forgotten.

DeMonte, 35, and Hamzy, 34, were fatally shot on the night of Oct. 12 as they responded to a reported domestic dispute at a home on Redstone Hill Road, according to state investigators. While standing outside the home, officials have said, DeMonte, Hamzy and a third officer, 26-year-old Alec Iurato, were ambushed from behind by 35-year-old Nicholas Brutcher.

Iurato, who suffered a leg injury during the shooting, ended the attack when he fatally shot Brutcher after taking cover behind a police cruiser. He was the only one of the three officers to survive.

New Haven's Gonzalez, 60, died in January 2022 after suffering a traumatic brain injury and subsequent coma after an on-duty car crash in 2008. Peperni, a veteran Norwich officer, died in late 2021 while hospitalized with COVID-19.

The names of each Connecticut officer were read by Bristol Police Chief Brian Gould. The vigil was attended by police chiefs from across the county as well as federal law enforcement officials, including U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.

This is an evening when we set aside time to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives so that others could live safely and securely, Mayorkas said. It is a time when we also pay tribute to you: their families and loved ones who sacrificed so much too.

More than 23,000 names, some associated with people who died centuries ago, have been added to the memorial since it was dedicated in 1991 The oldest names date to 1786, according to the nonprofit.

Starting on April 10, stoneworkers with the company Rugo Stone began the painstaking process of engraving 556 new names, including DeMonte, Hamzy and Gonzalez, according to the memorial fund. Video clips shared on Facebook by the organization depicted portions of the task.

Located in the 400 block of E Street Northwest, the memorial sits close to attractions such as the National Portrait Gallery and the International Spy Museum.

"The memorials beauty and tranquility make it a special place for reflection, contemplation or just a quiet moment away from the hustle and bustle of city life," the organization said.
BOGOTA, Colombia - From his small town in rural Colombia, Jose Antonio Potes watched the videos with interest. A foreign leader claimed he had defeated the violent gangs that had terrorized a country considered one of the world's most dangerous.

The 27-year-old welder saw photos of alleged gang members massed into crowded prisons. He heard the murder rate had dropped - cut by more than half, the government said. And he watched a smiling Nayib Bukele, the millennial president of El Salvador, announce in a video broadcast worldwide in January that his country would host next year's Miss Universe pageant.

"El Salvador is a country full of beauty," Bukele said, walking along a red carpet. "It has the best beaches in the world for surfing. Imposing volcanoes. Exquisite coffee.

"And now it has been converted into the safest country in Latin America."

Potes was convinced. Within days, he joined a friend in El Salvador, hoping to find work, earn in dollars and build a life in Bukele's crime-free paradise.

Then they got arrested. A day after his arrival, Potes and his friend, fellow Colombian Manuel Fernando Castrillon, were stepping out of a shopping mall when they were stopped by soldiers. They wanted to see their tattoos, the men recounted. The friends were accused of being members of a criminal gang and detained for months, they said, sudden victims of the iron fist they had so admired.

"We let ourselves fall for this propaganda," Potes told The Washington Post. "And the reality is totally different."

Bukele's crackdown on violent, gang-driven crime, launched last year with a "state of exception" that suspends key civil rights, has resulted in the arrests of tens of thousands of mostly young men - many of them, their defenders say, for simply violating new curfews or having tattoos.

The approach has drawn condemnation from international rights advocates. It's also made Bukele wildly popular in his country, even among some family members of people who have been detained, and one of the most admired leaders in Latin America.

The face of the 41-year-old president appears on magazine covers and in widely shared WhatsApp memes. His name has been invoked by political leaders from Guatemala to Colombia to Peru. Governments in Ecuador and Jamaica, watching his example, have declared states of emergency of their own.

In a country with just over 6 million people, human rights groups say, more than 66,000 have been stuffed into overcrowded prisons. El Salvador has become the country with the highest incarceration rate; to accommodate the surge, the government has opened a new mega-prison that could become the largest in the world.

The U.S. State Department has warned citizens to reconsider travel to El Salvador, due in part to the risk of arbitrary arrest.

The Bukele administration did not respond to requests for comment on Potes and Castrillon.

At a time when crime rates are surging throughout Latin America - including in ordinarily peaceful countries such as Costa Rica, Chile and Ecuador - Bukele is being heralded by the right as a sort of savior. Polls consistently show him the most popular leader in the region, by a wide margin.

He might also be benefiting from the wave of anti-establishment sentiment across the region that has seen a succession of incumbents voted out of office.

"There's this match made in heaven between the image and the brand Bukele has been cultivating for a decade now and this particular moment in Latin American politics," said Manuel Melendez-Sanchez, a Salvadoran political scientist and PhD candidate at Harvard.

That image has been carefully crafted by Bukele's powerful public relations apparatus, an operation with wide reach on social media and growing control of state-owned news outlets.

In Colombia, it's resonating with critics of Gustavo Petro, the country's first leftist president, amid a lack of popular domestic leaders on the right. Petro and Bukele have fought publicly on Twitter. A candidate for mayor in Cali is running on promises to bring the Bukele model to Colombia's third-largest city.

Bukele's approach has also drawn admirers among U.S. Republicans. "For decades, the Central American nation was little more than a playground for ruthless gangs ... until President Nayib Bukele cracked down hard against the criminal element," Sen. Marco Rubio said last month. "In the words of local news media, the gangs now "do not exist."

With rights suspended, police and military presence boosted and media coverage restricted, killings in El Salvador last year dropped to the lowest level since the country's civil war ended in 1992, Bukele's government says.

But human rights advocates report widespread violations of due process, severe prison overcrowding and deaths in custody.

"This is where his story of progress and security is threatened," said Juan Pappier, acting deputy director for the Americas at Human Rights Watch. "Any person, any working Salvadoran or foreigner can be arrested any day with little to no evidence."

At least 29 Colombians have been detained in El Salvador since the start of the government's emergency order, according to the Colombian embassy in El Salvador. At least 19 of them have been accused of links with illegal groups.

It took Potes one day in El Salvador to experience it firsthand.

He arrived months after his friend. Castrillon was in Guatemala when he heard Bukele describe neighboring El Salvador as the best country in the world, "one free of robberies, of theft, of murders." With its dollarized economy, Castrillon saw an opportunity, and asked Potes to join him.

The pair were leaving a cosmetics store outside San Salvador, the capital, when the soldiers asked to see their documents - and any body art.

Potes showed them his chest, illustrated with a rosary, hands in prayer, and the name of his grandmother. The soldiers said the tattoo was similar to one associated with a local gang, according to Potes; they later told Potes and Castrillon to strip down to be searched and confiscated their phones, both men said.

The Colombians were in the country legally, they said, under the 180 days allowed for tourists. But they were detained in the Ilopango prison, their heads shaved and their communications with the outside world cut off.

The friends were held in a cell with more than 500 other people, they said, packed so densely they had to sleep on their sides on the floor. They were told they would be detained for at least six months while their case was investigated. They were not given a hearing, they said.

It wasn't until mid-February that Potes and Castrillon were able to speak with someone outside the prison. The call came from the Colombian embassy in San Salvador. The men shared contact information for relatives in Colombia and abroad and asked that they be told "that they are all right" and "that they love you a lot and God bless you," the embassy wrote in an email to at least one relative.

The men were accused of association with criminal groups under the state of exception, the embassy wrote.

After months went by, Potes's wife pleaded for help on the Colombian news network Noticias Uno. The story quickly went viral in the friends' home country. And soon, the men said, a group of three Salvadoran officials, including at least one from the presidential press office, was escorting them around San Salvador, taking them to a medical clinic and a barber, treating them to meals and hotel rooms, and directing them to record videos telling the world it was all a big misunderstanding.

The three officials did not respond to a request for comment. Bukele this month retweeted a video of Potes and Castrillon dancing to Colombian music at a Salvadoran restaurant with their minders after their release.

Potes said he was asked to refute reports that he had been detained for alleged links to criminal gangs. He was not told how the video would be used, he said, but only that it would help let his family know he was okay.

In the video, Potes says his detention had been "misunderstood"; he had been held for immigration issues because he had been working in the country without a proper permit. (Back in Colombia, Potes told The Post his statement was untrue; he said he felt obligated to record it.)

Once they were given cellphones, Potes and Castrillon saw the video had been published in Semana, a right-leaning news outlet in Colombia, which used it to deny claims that Potes had been ensnared by Bukele's crackdown on gangs.

Potes and Castrillon grew suspicious of their hosts. They contacted the Colombian Embassy for help returning home.

They landed April 30, less enamored of Bukele's paradise.

"They told us a thousand times over that we should stay in El Salvador, that it's the safest country in the world ... that they have the support of 90 percent of people," Potes said. "But what if the people inside don't have any way to speak?"
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LOS ANGELES (AP)  Gloria Molina, a groundbreaking Chicana leader in state and local California politics for more than 30 years, has died after a three-year battle with cancer, her family announced. She was 74.

Molina died Sunday evening at her Mount Washington home, surrounded by her family, her daughter, Valentina Martinez, said in a statement.

Molina, a Democrat, was the first Latina to serve in the state Assembly, on the Los Angeles City Council and on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

Molina paved the way for future generations of leaders, said Karen Bass, who was elected last year as the first woman mayor of Los Angeles.

In a statement, Bass called Molina a force for unapologetic good and transformational change in Los Angeles who "advocated for those who did not have a voice in government through her pioneering environmental justice work, her role as a fiscal watchdog, and her advocacy for public health."

Molina was born to working-class parents on May 31, 1948, in Montebello, California, and was the oldest of 10 children.

She was elected to the state Assembly in 1982 and then to the Los Angeles City Council, where she served from 1987 to 1991, when she was elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. She served on the board until she was termed out in 2014.

Molina revealed her terminal cancer battle in a Facebook post on March 14.

You should know that Im not sad, she wrote. I enter this transition in life feeling so fortunate. I have an amazing and caring family, wonderful friends, and worked with committed colleagues and a loyal team.

The Board of Supervisors subsequently voted to change the name of downtown's Grand Park to Gloria Molina Grand Park.
Since Title 42 expired, hundreds of migrants are still camped out at the border for their chance to apply for asylum and make it into the U.S.

Tens of thousands of people are believed to be massed in northern Mexico, but according to the Homeland Security secretary, Title 42's lapse doesn't guarantee that it'll be easier to come into the U.S. unlawfully.

With Title 42 gone, Title 8 is back in effect, allowing migrants to seek asylum.

Although it can be a lengthy process, many like Diana Rodriguez are willing to stay as long as necessary. She left Colombia 11 days ago for fear of her safety but left her family and her child back home.

Rodriguez is one of the hundreds of people who have been arriving daily at the border at a stretch located between two barriers that divide San Diego and Tijuana.

Title 8 could also potentially bring more severe consequences to migrants entering the country without a legal basis.

"There's a lot of talk from the administration confirming that they will be prosecuting anybody who re-enters unlawfully, they will be criminally prosecuting them so we are going to see a big uptick in criminal prosecutions," said immigration attorney, Priscilla Higuera.

New measures rolled out by the Biden administration discourages people from migrating and making the journey to the U.S.-Mexico border.

"The administration is really pushing or really wanting everybody to use the CBP One app and so, thru that app, you download it onto your phone and you schedule an appointment at one of eight ports of entry," added Higuera.

Several attorneys pointed out to sister station KCRA that migrants have encountered multiple issues with the CBP One app including the information not being available in many languages, a limited number of appointments, and a problem for those who are not literate.

Migrants will also have to prove that they sought asylum from one of the countries to which they were coming through and that they were denied.

But as the U.S. government ramps up its efforts, it's unknown if people will stop coming to the border, as many say that they fear for their safety if they stay any longer in their countries.

People from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba, and Haiti could potentially receive a humanitarian parola, as long as they have a sponsor living in the country and they are outside of the U.S. when they apply.

The Biden Administration is also working on establishing 100 regional centers in several countries to encourage asylum seekers to start their application process from home.
By Deepak Chopra, MD, FACP, FRCP and Salman Ahmad, MD

The surprise arrest of Imran Khan when he appeared on Tuesday at the High Court of Islamabad appears to the outside world like the replay of a familiar scenario. A reformer with modern ideas confronts a privileged political class that now angrily seeks retribution for such an outrage. In keeping with this scenario, rioting broke out in Pakistani cities, quickly followed by a media crackdown from the regime that Imran Khan had opposed.

After becoming a national hero as a cricketeer, leading Pakistan to its one and only world championship, Imran used his enormous popularity in the risky business of opposing the military forces that empower and depose regimes at will. Like his predecessors Khan had courted the military to become prime minister in 2018 and was ousted in a thinly veiled coup in 2022 when he turned on them. Inflammatory charges are hurled by both sides, and (again fulfilling the familiar scenario), Khan is being accused of corruption, the charges that led to his arrest, by a regime that feeds on corruption to remain in power.

World opinion will be firmly on Khans side, whatever happens in various trials and repressive measures he and his supporters go through now. An assassination attempt already occurred when a gunman wounded Khan at a rally in Punjab last November.

Khan rose to power at the head of his own political party in Pakistan by championing democratic reforms, and anyone who is historically minded will hear an echo of traitor to his own class that was aimed at Franklin D. Roosevelt when he was a populist President. Reactionary social forces are short-sighted. They seek and often attain victory today with no regard for failure tomorrow. Entrenchment never looks to the future, a fatal flaw in the long run.

But the long run looks to be very far away in Pakistan and in the dogmatic, fearful entrenched, and medieval forces that identify as Islam but are not true to its teachings of mercy, compassion, and love. These same forces have lagged behind the trends that have shaped the modern world for more than a century. These include democratic governments, voting rights for women and minorities, civil law replacing religious law, the fall of despots and dictators, universal education, tolerance of minorities, and economic justice for the poor.

In one way or another, Khan stood for the emergence of these trends in Pakistanas a graduate of Oxford in 1975, he was keenly aware of the disparity between Western democracies and the prevailing politics at home. The legal hurdles and corruption charges being hurled against him, no matter what the courts adjudicate, serve as a smokescreen for resisting meaningful social change. Khan will probably find himself forced into an anti-Western stance, given that the U.S. and other nuclear powers bow to Pakistans possession of nuclear arms and the perceived threat that is being held in check by the military. This was true during the Afghani war when Osama bin Laden had safe haven in Pakistan, as did Al-Qaida thanks to the all-powerful intelligence services in Pakistan.

Looking the other way has led to many disasters in U.S. foreign policy, with the grim shadow of Rwanda and Sarajevo hanging over American inaction and the inaction of Western Europe as well. Imran Khan isnt asking for intervention, and armed conflict isnt in the offing. But important as he is, the values that Khan stands for, which can and should reshape the modern Pakistan, need to be defended as loudly as possible. In this case, compassion, justice, and reform go hand in hand.

The wound is the place where the Light enters. Rumi

DEEPAK CHOPRA MD, FACP, FRCP, founder of The Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism, and Chopra Global, a whole health company at the intersection of science and spirituality, is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation. Chopra is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego and serves as a senior scientist with Gallup Organization. He is the author of over 90 books translated into over forty-three languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. His 91st book, Total Meditation: Practices in Living the Awakened Life explores and reinterprets the physical, mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual benefits that the practice of meditation can bring. For the last thirty years, Chopra has been at the forefront of the meditation revolution. His latest book, Living in the Light co-authored with Sarah Platt-Finger. TIME magazine has described Dr. Chopra as one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century. www.deepakchopra.com

Salman Ahmadis a Pakistani-American physician, filmmaker, humanitarian & musician. Salman Founded South Asias biggest rock band, Junoon ( www.Junoon.com ) He has been a U.N. goodwill ambassador, HIV / AIDS, COVID-19, and Polio Eradication. Along with his wife, Dr. Samina, Salman founded SSGWI www.ssgwi.org which provides interfaith dialogue, education to girls, homes to the homeless, peace & rehabilitation He is the author of the book, Rock & Roll Jihad ( Simon & Schuster ) Dr. Salman Ahmad is a close aide of former PM Imran Khan & his focal person on arts and culture.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)  Police are investigating the death of a small baby whose body was found in a field in eastern Kansas City.

Kansas City police were notified Saturday evening that a dead body was found in the field in open, uninhabited area, police spokesperson Sgt. Jacob Becchina said.

Becchina told Kansas City media Sunday that the medical examiner will determine the baby's age, gender and cause of death. No new information was available on Monday, police said.

The area where the baby was found is near woods frequented by homeless people, neighbors and police said.

The case is currently a death investigation because so little is known about the circumstances.

Becchina urged anyone with information on the baby's death to contact police. He said Kansas City police currently have no reports of missing babies that match this case.

I know every one of these investigators, they want to know what happened and what led to this, whatever the explanation is," Becchina said. "We pray that somebody didnt intentionally hurt this baby, that maybe theres someone out there that panicked; a situation came up and they didnt know how to deal with it.
It's been a rough stretch for Rodanthe, N.C., a scenic sliver of the Outer Banks where houses are crumbling into the ocean, owners are paying to move properties farther from the pounding surf and residents are pushing officials to do more to protect the fast-eroding shoreline.

At a town meeting early this year, Dare County's manager, Bobby Outten, explained that the local government couldn't begin to fund the type of extensive beach nourishment that would buy Rodanthe more time from the encroaching sea. But he did promise to undertake an engineering assessment so residents would know just how much it might cost to dredge offshore sediment and add a new expanse of beach.

In recent days, the county published those figures in a 35-page report, and they underscore the unenviable predicament facing Rodanthe - a quandary that scientists say other imperiled communities like it are sure to confront as seas rise and storms intensify.

A one-time beach nourishment in the area would cost as much as $40 million, the report found - roughly double the amount a similar study found a decade earlier. Maintaining that beach over 30 years would cost more than $175 million. The report details other potential options, such as installing structures to help slow erosion, but every path comes with a massive price tag.

"It's a big number and it's a lot of money, and we don't have that amount of money," Outten said in an interview. "We don't have a method to fund a project of that scale."

The balance in Dare County's beach nourishment fund, which comes from a tax on hotels and vacation rentals and must go toward multiple projects in the sprawling county, stood at $6 million earlier this year.

Outten said that for nourishment to become a reality in Rodanthe, "there's going to have to be some kind of a funding source somewhere, other than locally." And yet, no significant influx of money from the state or federal government seems likely in the short term.

Around the time the county's latest estimate was released, Rob Young, a Western Carolina University professor and director of the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, was finishing a different kind of estimate about Rodanthe.

In a Raleigh ballroom, Young told attendees at an Association of State Floodplain Managers conference that to buy out all the houses in Rodanthe within 300 feet of the high-tide line, using their current assessed tax value, would cost roughly $43 million, while avoiding repeated beach nourishments.

It amounts to about 80 structures, the vast majority of which are vacation homes and which, according to Young, make up only a small fraction of the county's tax base. Meanwhile, his study found, "by removing these properties Rodanthe will likely have a viable beach for 15 to 25 years."

As with beach nourishment, there is no funding for such an undertaking, and there is limited appetite among homeowners or elected officials. And Young is clear that his study isn't intended to recommend any one approach.

But his point is that as sea levels rise and flooding plagues a growing number of places along U.S. coasts, communities should consider taking a step back in thoughtful ways - and at least do the math about what such an option would cost, especially when taxpayer money is at stake.

"There will be retreat," Young told the Raleigh audience. "The question is, do you want that retreat to managed or unmanaged? Because right now, it is largely unmanaged."

Young is among those who say Rodanthe's struggles embody the thorny environmental, economic and emotional challenges that more and more coastal communities will face as increased flooding forces hard choices about what to protect along the nation's shorelines and when to take a step back.

In Rodanthe, where four houses have collapsed since early 2022 and at least a dozen others remain in serious danger, erosion rates have hit a dozen feet per year in certain spots. As seas continue to rise and some property owners pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to move houses inland as far as possible, Young sees a place that should at least be pondering retreat.

"If we can't have a rational discussion about relocation and buyouts of structures in a place like Rodanthe . . . then how can we do it anywhere?" Young said in an interview.

Outten, the county manager, said buyouts are an unlikely option for multiple reasons, among them the unlikelihood that property owners - many of whom rely on rental income during the summer months - would walk away. Buying scores of homes would also mean a hit to local property and occupancy taxes. And eventually, he said, officials might still need to take measures to safeguard nearby Highway 12, the main artery through the Outer Banks.

"At some point, you're going to [have to] do a nourishment anyway," Outten said. "Protecting the houses becomes secondary."

Cynthia Doughty, who has lived in her oceanfront home on South Shore Drive for more than two decades, is holding out hope that the state or federal government will see fit to help fund a beach nourishment in Rodanthe.

Doughty has been out of her house since a storm last May sent the surf under her foundation and the county deemed it unsafe. She has since had the house relocated to a new foundation roughly 75 feet farther from the intruding sea, and she plans to move back in soon.

"I'm not going anywhere," she said about the prospect of buyouts. She spoke of wildfires in California, tornadoes in the Midwest and other hazards that people in different parts of the country face. "I'll deal with the ocean."

Just to the north, on Seagull Street, Gus Gusler feels the same. He is among the dozen property owners on the street who are planning to move their homes farther from the sea, and to pay a significant amount out of pocket, to buy more time.

Gusler has steered clear of the arguments about beach nourishment and who should fund it, but he also has little interest in a buyout. He has his house booked by vacationers this summer, and he plans to continue using it the rest of the year.

"People just like being on the oceanfront. There's just something about it," Gusler said. "It would take a lot of money for me to give that up."

Given the price tags of the options detailed in the recent studies, as well as the lack of obvious funding sources, Rodanthe seems destined to remain as vulnerable as ever for the moment. Even folks who agree on little else seemed to agree that isn't a good thing.

"The absolute worse option is to do nothing," said Young, noting that the status quo is the least desirable and most environmentally harmful path. "What we can't do is just say, 'Let's let all those houses slowly but surely fall into the sea over the next two decades.' That's absurd."

Outten said officials at different levels of government continue to look for ways to help coastal communities such as Rodanthe. But the fixes probably won't be fast, or cheap.

"If there was an easy answer," he said, "we'd already have done it."
The Supreme Court on Monday said it will consider South Carolina's attempt to reinstate a congressional redistricting plan that a lower court found had "exiled" 30,000 Black voters to create a district safer for a White Republican candidate.

South Carolina has asked the court to schedule oral arguments at the beginning of its new term in October and issue a decision by Jan. 1 so the 2024 elections can proceed smoothly.

A three-judge panel in January said the plan by the Republican-led legislature split Black neighborhoods in the Charleston area to create a "stark racial gerrymander." After the changes, Rep. Nancy Mace (R) coasted to victory over a Democratic opponent, securing what has become a Republican-dominated 6-to-1 congressional delegation in the state.

The judges found that South Carolina's mapmaker tried to keep the African American population below a certain target in the district, treating Charleston County "in a fundamentally different way than the rest of the state."

"The strategies he employed ultimately exiled over 30,000 African American citizens from their previous district and created a stark racial gerrymander of Charleston County and the City of Charleston," said the panel, which was composed of two judges nominated by President Barack Obama and one by President Biden.

The judges, quoting from testimony at trial, found that the changes "were 'dramatic' and 'created tremendous disparity' in the placement of African Americans" in two congressional districts, including the district represented by Rep. James E. Clyburn, the House assistant Democratic leader.

After the panel rejected the map, South Carolina asked the Supreme Court to step in, saying that maintaining Republican dominance was the reason for the changes, not race. And it said the changes were partly to protect Clyburn, whose district had lost population over the past decade. The state's petition quoted one Republican legislator as saying: "Jim Clyburn has more influence with the Biden Administration perhaps than anyone in the nation, because he probably wouldn't be president if it weren't for Jim Clyburn." The state senator added, "I'm tickled to death that Jim Clyburn represents Charleston County."

South Carolina said the three-judge panel's "thinly reasoned order" rejecting the map unlawfully presumes bad faith on the part of the legislature and confused the racial effect of the changes with intent to discriminate.

The Supreme Court has said that partisan gerrymandering is not an issue for federal courts to decide but that attempts to discriminate on the basis of race are unconstitutional. The fact that Black voters lean dramatically toward the Democratic Party often makes for legal battles after the redistricting that follows every decade's new census.

Redistricting challenges are heard by special three-judge district court panels, usually made up of a combination of district and appellate judges. Any appeal of a decision by those panels goes directly to the Supreme Court. In South Carolina's case, the three-judge panel rejected racial gerrymandering challenges to two of the state's seven congressional districts, and agreed with one.

The Supreme Court in such redistricting cases is obliged to either affirm the decision of the special three-judge panel, overturn it, or schedule it for full briefing and argument, as it did in this case.

The justices are separately considering a case that challenges a lower court's decision that Alabama must create a second congressional district, out of seven, in which an African American candidate would have a good chance of being elected. The charge there is that the Voting Rights Act is violated when minority voters are packed into one district and then spread in small numbers among other districts so that their voting power is diluted.

A decision in the Alabama case should come before the court adjourns for its summer recess at the end of June.

The new case is Alexander v. The South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP.

Also on Monday, the court added to its caseload for next term a dispute between members of Congress and executive branch agencies about demands for information, an argument arising from requests for documents related to the former Trump International Hotel.

The case involves a 1928 law that allowed a minority - seven members - of the House Oversight and Reform Committee to request and receive information from executive agencies. But the General Services Administration turned down the request from a group of Democrats for details of the 2013 deal that allowed Donald Trump's company to lease the Old Post Office building to turn it into a hotel.

Much of the lawsuit is now moot: The hotel has been rebranded as a Waldorf Astoria, and the most inquisitive lawmakers are no longer in Congress.

But the Biden administration asked the court to take up the case to wipe out a ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit that said the lawmakers had the right to sue for the information.

The decision "conflicts with this Court's precedents and contradicts historical practice stretching to the beginning of the Republic," U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar wrote in her petition to the court. She said the law's "ostensible purpose is to facilitate the work of the Committee and the whole House, not to provide a perquisite to individual Members."

The case is Carnahan v. Maloney.
In 2019, when the chef and musician Denai Moore was operating a stall at the London Jerk Festival, a celebration of that cherished Jamaican cooking tradition, people looked askance at her, as if they were wondering what she was even doing there. She was the only vegan vendor that day, hawking her plant-based jerk ribs to stares of bewilderment.

"A lot of people just didn't get it, or didn't understand what I would be cooking," Moore, 29, said one day in April from her home in Margate, the seaside hamlet in southeast England. Perhaps they thought that vegan food was bland by design, that it couldn't be flavorsome. That the Jamaican food she'd been eating all her life couldn't possibly be malleable to vegan interpretations.

This impulse - to challenge expectations, sometimes even from within her own community, of the stereotypes bracketing Jamaican cooking - forms the lifeblood of Moore's debut cookbook, "Plentiful: Vegan Jamaican Recipes to Repeat," out now in the United States from Hardie Grant. No matter where a cook is on the spectrum of plant-based eating, Moore makes room for everyone. Some recipes lean on supermarket simulacrums of meat and dairy: A jerk "pork" gyoza incorporates store-bought vegan minced pork, for example, while patty recipes call for vegan chicken and vegan beef; vegan cheddar is also an abiding presence in these pages, slipped between those flaky patty crusts.

Yet many of Moore's recipes imaginatively take advantage of the bounties of Jamaica. She pounds the silky flesh of ackee with nutritional yeast and miso paste and threads it into a carbonara so that the fruit mimics the feel of egg yolks. She blitzes lagoon-green leaves of callaloo into a pesto. She puckers a glossy hoisin glaze with sorrel, a hibiscus-forward drink common in the island nation.

Moore's cooking is, in many ways, aligned with her life's other artistic practice, music. Her third and most recent album, 2020's "Modern Dread," earned praise from critics for the way it wandered between R&B, electro-pop, and folk influences without sacrificing cogency. She describes her music as "genre free," a label that might apply as readily to her food. One sees that allergy to categorization quite clearly in a dish like her new potatoes with herby crema and cashew chile nori oil. It's a recipe she feels best embodies the book's vibrancy, with its careful harmony of sweetness, salt and spice. "I ask myself the same questions when I wrote this book [as] when I'm making an album," she said. "I just want to be myself."

Moore was 9 when she and her family moved to England 20 years ago from her birth country. (She is matter-of-fact about the reason for this migration: "My family wanted to move out here to expand the possibilities of what me and my siblings wanted to do.") But she still remembers the mango trees, the ackee trees, the coconut trees of her Jamaican youth; she remembers de-seeding tamarinds so her mother could make juice to serve with Sunday dinners. Music ran through her veins - her father was a musician, and she picked up her first guitar at 12 - but so, too, did food. She savored the pleasures of rice drenched in oxtail gravy. As she grew older, though, she gravitated toward vegetarianism, keeping eggs and dairy in her rotation, until, one day, she started to feel even those weren't "necessary," as she put it.

It wasn't until Moore was closer to adulthood that she really started to cook for herself with conscious intention. Transitioning to veganism forced her to become a more agile cook. She began to nimbly reimagine foods that had ferried her through her childhood. Her experiments to preserve her taste memories began with perfecting a patty, veganizing the Jamaican snack she'd enjoyed as a kid with cartons of chocolate milk. "I think a lot of people fear that they'll kind of leave behind all the cultural foods that they had, or the things they had growing up, but you don't have to miss out on that when you go vegan," she said. Soon enough, her experiments grew more ambitious, and the thought of taking on intricate cooking projects consumed her. She was waking up every day wondering what she'd cook next. She started devising menus; she started hosting elaborate dinners for her friends.

Her first trip back to Jamaica as an adult, not long after she flipped over to veganism, kindled something in her: Moore came back to the United Kingdom and began a pop-up and supper club, Dee's Table, a way of "revisiting my childhood tongue in a modern-day context." She was nervous about this endeavor. "I guess I didn't really feel like it was accessible to me, because sometimes restaurant culture and food culture feels quite alien," she said. Entry into that world seemed to require access to gobs of capital; it was as if everyone but her was in on some secret. But she worked her way through this agita by just throwing herself into the work, full tilt.

Miraculously, being in a kitchen and cooking for a throng of people "didn't feel insane," she said. (If she had to hazard a guess, her first dinner probably had about 40 guests.) The act of feeding others came naturally to her. "It felt like I've done this before," she said of that initial night, "and I want to do this forever."

As she daydreamed of where to take Dee's Table in the years that followed, she began to write an early proposal for "Plentiful," sheepishly showing the draft to her music managers. But the business of generosity was also taxing. She didn't get to concentrate much on feeding herself. "I'd make these elaborate dishes and specials for people and then end up eating some toast at the end of service," she remembered. Those supper clubs came to a halt in 2020 due to the tremors of the pandemic, a time during which Moore became reacquainted with the romance of cooking for herself. With that solitude, the book's purpose came into sharper view.

"Plentiful" belongs to a wave of recent cookbooks that honor the cooking traditions of Jamaica while also reframing the country's cuisine. The past year alone has seen the emergence of such spiritually simpatico titles as Riaz Phillips' "West Winds" and Melissa Thompson's "Motherland," whose recipes are both Jamaican in provenance.

In an email to The Washington Post, Phillips, who devoted an entire chapter to vegan Jamaican food in his cookbook, said he admires what he calls Moore's "inventive dishes" that surpass most plant-based offerings at Jamaican spots in the United Kingdom. The very existence of Moore's cookbook reflects changing industry tail winds. Not every house Phillips met with for his cookbook was as enthusiastic as his eventual publisher, Dorling Kindersley Limited. "Often you got the thought that if they already had a Jamaican book on their slate or one was scheduled then they didn't want to take on another," he said. He isn't sure that he could've found a cookbook like Moore's on shelves, say, five years ago.

Yvonne Maxwell, a London-based writer and documentary photographer, agrees. Moore's book "is among a number of truly groundbreaking bodies of work that have been released by Black food writers and authors in the past year," she said in an email. But Maxwell, whose work focuses on migration, identity and culture (including food) within Black communities in the United Kingdom and the African and Caribbean diasporas, tempers any optimism with caution. "However, while it is important to celebrate these wins, it is not lost on me that five years ago, perhaps even less, seeing a book like "Plentiful" come out of a major publishing house would be almost unheard of," she said. "Prior to this period, publishers were still unconvinced by the desire for and interest in works depicting Black foodways and culture."

In a food publishing landscape that has, in Maxwell's view, long been overwhelmed with worn narratives - like touristic travelogues of the Mediterranean - such books as "Plentiful" and "West Winds" strike her as a tonic. She hopes that the industry's newfound confidence in a wider array of Black voices in food isn't a mere flash in the pan. "Ultimately, U.K. publishers should be as open and willing to support more Black food writers in bringing these stories and recipes to life in the same way that they have been committed to re-telling time and time again of the story of pasta and caprese salad," she said.

What distinguishes "Plentiful," after all, is its decidedly personal slant. That's how Moore sees cooking: It's a way to let people hear who you are. Traditions may vary from family to family, from person to person; not everyone's Jamaican mother will make a dish of rice and peas the same way, she noted. That sort of variation is worth lauding. "I think that's where food is headed, genuinely," she said. "I think food is like breaking down the walls of those boundaries of what, how these things should exist. And just telling your story on a plate."

She hopes that her book might gently push back on the distorted view some might still have of veganism as drab and joyless, or of Jamaican food as uniformly spicy and meaty. Veganism changed the way she cooked; it changed the way she saw where she came from. "So I feel like I've opened up a door," she said. "A portal to a different world."

- - -

Sen is the author of "Taste Makers: Seven Immigrant Women Who Revolutionized Food in America."
BRIDGEPORT  More than 2,800 students graduated this weekend from Sacred Heart University, earning undergraduate and graduate degrees.

The university's 57th undergraduate commencement was held Sunday afternoon at the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater, where Jeffrey A. Flaks, president and CEO of Hartford HealthCare delivered the keynote address to the 1,484 graduates. Earlier in the day, Richard A. Robinson, chief justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court, spoke to the 1,341 graduate students at their commencement.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott warned lawmakers he would call a special session or veto House Representatives' latest version of the state's school voucher bill seeking to give families $8,000 in taxpayer money to pay for their children to go to private schools.

The House's newest version of Senate Bill 8, authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, would open eligibility to the program for students with disabilities and students in F-rated school districtsa total of around 800,000 students, or far fewer than the five million the governor sought to subsidize with his preferred legislation.

"The latest version does little to provide meaningful school choice, and legislators deserve to know that it would be vetoed if it reached my desk," Abbott said in a statement Sunday night. "Parents and their children deserve the time and effort this will take. My staff and I will continue to work around the clock with the legislature to reach that goal. However, failure to expand the scope of school choice to something close to the Senate version or the original House version of the Senate will necessitate special sessions."

Abbott's warning comes when the Texas Public Education Committee meets Monday to hear testimony on SB 8, which has been stalled in the House due to a lack of support.

The Senate's version, supported by Abbott and passed in April, opens eligibility to most K-12 students in the state. The House's original bill version applied to around five million students, specifically students with disabilities, considered "economically disadvantaged," and students who attended a campus with a D-rating or lower for two or more years. According to the state, "economically disadvantaged" applies to students eligible for free or reduced price lunch. Students who have a sibling in the program could also apply.

SB 8, designated as a priority for Abbott and Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick, has seen an uphill battle to passage in the House. Last month in an 86-52 vote, House Republicans and Democrats voted to ban school vouchers from the state budget and denied Public Committee Chairman Rep. Brad Buckley's, R-Killeen, request to meet to discuss the legislation.

Houston Independent School District alone, with almost 190,000 students, has over 79 percent of students considered economically disadvantaged. After listening to the invited testimony Monday, lawmakers are scheduled to vote again on the bill. Representatives have two weeks until the regular session ends.
Security cameras or a suicide prevention program? Bulletproof glass or a staff mental health counselor?

Those are the difficult, heartbreaking choices Texas school officials say they will have to make when billions of dollars in federal emergency COVID-19 funding evaporates next year.

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the federal government sent money to states from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, also known as ESSER.

Texas schools received more than $19 billion and have been spending the money on everything from improving air ventilation systems to summer school to hiring more teachers.

However, of the 714 school districts that participated in a statewide survey, over 73% reported using ESSER funds for mental health, primarily to help with rough transitions for students who faced numerous classroom disruptions because of the pandemic. Now districts are worried that when those funds expire at the end of 2024, little will be available to replace them.

Its hard for us to predict great outcomes when this fiscal cliff is coming at the end when the ESSER dollars dry up, said Adrian Kohler, policy director at Texans Care for Children. Overall, the expiration of ESSER funds will absolutely put at risk many of the innovations for mental health.

While it is true that hundreds of millions of dollars have been poured into Texas school districts these past few years to address school safety and student mental health in the wake of a series of mass shootings, much of that was spent on reinforcing doors and entrances to schools to obstruct shooters.

What schools would like to see is a dedicated funding source for mental health needs that isnt tied to school safety spending. So far, thats not been the case.

School safety and mental health services

In 2019, the first legislative session after the deadly Santa Fe High School shooting where a 17-year-old killed 10 people and injured 13 others, lawmakers passed a sweeping school security bill.

That measure created the school safety allotment, a funding mechanism to help schools upgrade their security and help with programs to better identify students at risk of suicide or suffering from other mental health problems.

Several bills have been introduced this legislative session in terms of school safety, but House Bill 3, authored by Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, is specifically meant to address funding for school safety and mental health.

But again, school officials and mental health advocates believe that the bill, which could roughly bring $1.6 billion more to schools, will be used mostly for school security instead of helping to sustain services created during the pandemic with ESSER funds.

We think its critically important that our campuses are safe, but we also want to make certain that legislation moves forward that has mental health in mind so we dont miss the resources needed to continue mental health initiatives at a school level, said Seth Winick, director of the Texas Coalition for Healthy Minds, a mental health advocacy group.

The problem has become that most schools will choose locks and cameras over suicide awareness programs and counselors.

Last week, 36 Texas health and wellness organizations wrote to the Texas Legislature, urging the creation and funding of a separate student mental health allotment in the remaining weeks of the session.

The Legislature is taking important, positive steps this session to address childrens mental health  but there is a major gap in the bills that are moving, the letter stated. The Legislatures mental health plan needs to reach a much larger number of children and include support for prevention and other strategies that reach children before a crisis.

HB 3 has several funding mechanisms that add money to the school safety allotment, as well provide funding in the ways of grants and other means. But a final decision on exactly how those funds will work is being debated as the bill is pending in the Senate education committee.

New safety requirements baked into HB 3 worries school officials and mental health advocates because just meeting those requirements will mean most schools will spend the money to comply.

Under the current funding legislation being considered, theres really not a way to fund mental health support because districts are going to have to get those safety standards before they can spend dollars on anything else, said Brian Woods, superintendent of the Northside Independent School District in San Antonio.

Following the Uvalde shooting, where 19 children and two adults were killed by an 18-year-old gunman, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, wrote a letter to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick requesting the state take a multifaceted approach to school safety that included adding millions to telemedicine services, creating pediatric crisis stabilization and response teams across the state and yearly funding for multisystemic therapy teams.

Patrick responded favorably to many of Phelans requests, agreeing to add five to seven multisystemic therapy teams in the fall of 2022 and two new coordinated specialty care teams (with one in San Antonio available to serve the Uvalde area), as well as providing additional funding for technology systems if needed.

Any requests would have to be approved by Phelan and Patrick, as well as the leaders of the budget-writing committees in each chamber: Rep. Greg Bonnen, R-Friendswood, and Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston.

This has been an issue for multiple years as a Texas School Safety Center report has found only 8.4% of districts used a portion of their school safety allotment funds for behavioral health services and 12.2% used some funds on providing mental health professionals.

Typically, any dollars, whether they be local dollars or state dollars have been prioritized to physical safety, you know, hardening buildings, and so forth, said Woods, the Northside ISD superintendent. What were realizing now is that we need a greater priority on mental health supports and there just simply arent enough dollars to do both of those things.

Alvia Baldwin, director of guidance and counseling at Alief Independent School District in Houston, said this is particularly problematic for school districts like Alief which has used ESSER funds for emotional awareness training for students, the hiring of mental health counselors and contracts with community mental health vendors.

I have been looking at some of the language this legislative session and they are talking about an additional $100,000 for mental health, she said. For us, that is one salary for a master-level clinician. These are licensed professional counselors, and so theyre gonna come in $65,000 plus. By the time you add tax that is pretty much the entire $100,000.

The Alief district was able to hire four mental health counselors with ESSER funds, she said.

Mental health experts are now hoping for a last-minute amendment to HB 3 to add dedicated funding to mental health programs.

Funding cliff

Gary Patterson, interim superintendent at Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, said after a gunman entered Robb Elementary nearly a year ago that Communities In Schools, the largest provider of school-based behavioral health services for students in Texas, was there in a matter of hours.

Now, we are very fortunate that CIS is providing mental health professionals to serve UCISD throughout the district, Patterson said in an emailed statement.

This mental health assistance might be coming to an end in Uvalde and over 400 other campuses in Texas in the very near future as additional funds for these services have not been approved by the Legislature.

After seeing how impactful their work has been this past school year, I strongly encourage the Legislature to increase funding for CIS so they can serve more schools and students in need in Uvalde and beyond, Patterson said.

Communities In Schools requested an additional $25 million per year be added to their budget. Its already received $35 million to help maintain the services they have already made available to 1,500 campuses. Yet with less than a few days left in the session, dedicated funds from mental health services have yet to materialize as two budget riders have been left on the wishlist in the House.

I felt like we moved into the session with a strong sense of mental health in schools being a priority and supporting that effort and it has gotten kind of lost towards the end. I think the language has kind of gotten lost within the discussion around school safety, said Jessica Weaver, CEO of the Communities In Schools affiliate in San Antonio. I think the language has kind of gotten lost within the discussion around school safety.

The idea of a school mental health allotment was an idea pitched in this legislative session in House Bill 2451 and Senate Bill 948 as a solution to addressing behavioral health while also allowing schools to focus on security.

Neither bill has progressed, but Winick, the director of the Texas Coalition for Healthy Minds, said he hasnt given up hope.

Its going to be key in these last few days to make sure [the] Legislatures intentions are matched with actions, he said. We can do both. We have the resources to fund both school safety and mental health. We can do both and we should do both.

Uneasy relationship

School safety and student mental health have found themselves in an uneasy relationship that goes beyond funding for many years now as the perpetrators of school shootings are often viewed through the lens of mental illness.

Chris Bryan, a senior staff member at Clarity Child Guidance Center, said this is unfortunate because mental health advocates work hard to separate mental health from violent acts.

When it comes to gun violence and mental illness, the numbers arent there unless you are talking about suicides, Bryan said.

Mental health experts say a safe and supportive school environment is much broader than tragic school shootings. Mental health resources can be used to help students who are not only going through a mental crisis but also those who are going to class every day dealing with bullying, suicidal thoughts, anxiety and depression.

Bryan Mares, government relations director for the Texas chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, agreed.

Safety really does extend beyond a bulletproof door or armed school officers. Its about a student feeling secure and surrounded by caring adults and healthy peers, he said.

Mental health advocates and school leaders say school mental health should have its own funding but it has been connected to school safety measures because of mass shootings.

As we know, hardening schools is about external safety of schools, but the mental health of our students and staff is also as important to maintaining a safe environment and culture, said Mary Libby, director of guidance and counseling at Northside ISD. The concerns that we hear frequently with mass shootings and so forth is if only this individual had mental health support when they were younger. And although school counselors provide mental health support, we need that additional support to provide more intensive mental health services like individual counseling.

Libby said that after the Uvalde shooting, there was a sense of fear surrounding students as they attended summer school. She said her school district was able to lean on the mental health resources it had built up during the pandemic.

The school counselors went in and taught some of the baseline skill-building by helping students learn how to express their feelings, and then referrals to Community In Schools went up because the students knew how to talk about what they need, she said.

For reasons like this, Libby said student mental health and school safety share an unfortunate relationship.

When something happens, as what happened  in Allen, our kids come to school fearful. Our adults come to school fearful. And we have to address that or learning doesnt happen, Libby said. Its not because people dont want to learn, its because the brain is always wondering if theyre safe.
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JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  A Mississippi judge has dismissed one lawsuit that challenges a new law dealing with appointment of judges in the majority-Black capital city of Jackson and the surrounding county, but a separate lawsuit remains alive in federal court.

In the ruling Monday, Hinds County Chancery Judge Dewayne Thomas wrote that appointing judges does not violate the Mississippi Constitution.

Three Jackson residents testified to Thomas last week that the new law tramples their rights because most Mississippi judges are elected.

Thomas wrote that a 1989 state law allows appointment of judges in some circumstances and that disappointment and frustration with the legislative process does not create a judicial right to relief.

While the Court is sympathetic to the Plaintiffs feelings, it cannot find that the same constitutes irreparable harm, Thomas wrote.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs said they will appeal Thomas' dismissal of the case and his decision last week to remove Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Randolph as a defendant.

Republican Gov. Tate Reeves signed laws last month to expand state policing in the capital city of Jackson, establish a court with an appointed judge in part of Jackson and authorize four appointed judges to work alongside the four elected judges in Hinds County Circuit Court.

Members of the majority-white and Republican-led Legislature who pushed for the changes said they were trying to curb crime in the capital city. Local residents protested that state officials were usurping power in Jackson and Hinds County, which are majority-Black and governed by Democrats.

The national NAACP, its Mississippi chapter and its local chapter filed a federal lawsuit hours after Reeves signed the new laws. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate temporarily blocked the appointment of four judges for Hinds County Circuit Court. Wingate set a May 22 hearing to consider extending his order.
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MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Minnesota Democratic leaders will convene an emergency meeting Thursday evening to respond to the chaos that broke out during a convention to endorse a candidate for a Minneapolis City Council race.

Video circulating on social media shows the disturbance Saturday after supporters of incumbent Aisha Chughtai took the stage to seek the delegates' backing for the Ward 10 council seat. That sparked an uproar among backers of her challenger, Nasri Warsame. Some jumped on stage, shouting, banging on tables and waving signs. At least two people were injured, and the convention broke up with no endorsement.

Ken Martin, chair of the state Democratic Party organization, tweeted that he would use the upcoming meeting to propose a bylaw change to ban individuals engaged in violent assaults from the party and take immediate action to remove the folks involved in Ward 10.

Martin also said in a separate statement late Saturday that it was clear that the conflict was instigated" by Warsame supporters.

We expect candidates and their campaign teams to work hard to curb such behavior when it comes from their supporters, staffers, or volunteers, Martin said. Warsame and his team took the opposite approach ... by escalating the situation and encouraging conflict.

Both candidates are Democrats in an overwhelmingly Democratic city when campaigns for party backing are often heated. Warsame, a political newcomer, is a Somali immigrant.

Chughtai is a longtime activist who managed U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar's 2018 campaign. She's the daughter of Pakistani immigrants and has support from some prominent Somali American politicians, including Omar and state Sen. Zaynab Mohamed, and other Muslims including Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

Some of their biggest differences are ideological. Chughtai has endorsements from a long list of progressive and labor groups, including the Democratic Socialists of America.

Warsame has campaigned on a law-and-order message, saying on his website that hes committed to reducing crime and addressing issues such as car theft, organized crime, human trafficking, and the opioid crisis, while also dedicated to working collaboratively with law enforcement to reform policing practices and address issues of racial bias and discrimination within the department.

A sergeant-and-arms for the convention, Quentin Wathum-Ocama, said there was a lot of jeering as Chughtai and her supporters went on stage. At some point, he said, a small number of Warsame supporters started making their way to the front and scuffles broke out. One Warsame supporter was "particularly aggressive." At the same time, he said, some Warsame supporters tried their best to de-escalate the situation, but others tried to instigate trouble and it devolved into chaos.

The widely-seen video was shot by John Edwards, editor and publisher of the Wedge LIVE! local news website, named for the Wedge neighborhood in the ward. He was there as an uncommitted delegate. He said it was clear from early procedural votes that Chughtai had the 60% support she needed to win the endorsement, and that that appeared to leave Warsame's supporters frustrated.

Other factors appeared to be language barriers and unfamiliarity with the procedures, Edwards said. Many Warsame alternates could not get upgraded because the seats for their precincts were already filled with full-fledged delegates, he said.

Edwards compared the chaos to the kind of melee that can erupt at a sporting even where a couple people fight, and others join in with little thought.

It seemed like there was a total lack of anybody from Warsame's campaign stepping in to settle people down as it was happening, Edwards said. By the time Warsame got on stage and called for calm, he said, most people were already leaving.

The Chughtai campaign issued a statement denouncing the incident as horrifying, unacceptable, and indicative of the growing threat to progressive, pro-people candidates and movement leaders.

At least one person was treated at a hospital for injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. A second person was treated at the scene. But the campaign said more than a dozen of her supporters or party volunteers were assaulted.

"The Warsame campaign punched multiple women of color on our campaign team, and shoved and harassed LGBTQIA2S+ delegates and supporters," the statement said.

Chughtai spokesman Akhi Menawat said Monday that the campaign had little to add to the statement, but he said he didn't think the dispute had anything to do with ethnicity or race.

Warsame said Sunday night he regretted the unexpected and unfortunate events ,,, I do not condone violence and I do not condone yesterdays events. The incident should have never happened. I apologize to those who were impacted, and I pray for all who were injured."

One person who participated in the violence was a volunteer, not a member of my campaign staff," Warsame said in a statement. "This person was appropriately and immediately removed as a volunteer and should be permanently banned from any future conventions.

Neither Warsame nor his campaign responded to messages seeking comment Monday.

Police said Sunday that they made no arrests because officers didnt see anyone fighting when they arrived and the crowd was already dispersing. Police spokesman Sgt. Garrett Parten said Monday that the incident was still under investigation and that he had no further information to release.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Wisconsin's budget forecast dipped slightly Monday, but the latest projection still calls for the state to collect about $6.9 billion more than anticipated by the end of June.

The projection from the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates that taxes collected over the next two years will be down about $755 million, or about 1% less than the previous forecast made four months ago. Taking into account other short-term cost savings, the surplus shrank from $7.1 billion to nearly $6.9 billion.

The new projection comes as lawmakers, Gov. Tony Evers and others are trying to strike a deal on a new, multibillion-dollar aid plan for local governments ahead of a vote Wednesday in the state Assembly.

The new forecast also comes ahead of votes in coming weeks over tax cuts, funding for K-12 schools and the University of Wisconsin System and a host of other priorities and programs as lawmakers piece together the next two-year state budget.

Republicans who control the Legislature have tried to temper excitement over the surplus. The Republican co-chairs of the Legislature's budget-writing Joint Finance Committee said the latest downward estimate confirms that the Legislature is on the right track in creating a cautious budget.

The re-estimates reflect the current economic environment we are in and the reality we face over the next three years, Sen. Howard Marklein and Rep. Mark Born said in a joint statement. "In response to this reality, we will continue to craft a responsible budget that is made for Wisconsin.

No matter the spin, the surplus is jaw-dropping and more than the state has ever seen before.

Both Evers and Republicans have proposed tax cuts that would cost billions of dollars, but they have yet to agree on what exactly to cut and by how much.

Republicans want to move toward a flat income tax, while Evers has proposed tax cuts targeting the middle class. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has said he wants to cut taxes by significantly more than $3.4 billion, while the Evers proposed cutting about $1.5 billion in taxes.

Evers has also called for $2.6 billion more for K-12 education, an amount that Republicans have dismissed as unrealistically large. Republicans have already voted to kill more than 500 parts of the $104 billion two-year budget Evers proposed, including measures to start a paid family leave program and expand Medicaid coverage.

Budget negotiations have been ongoing behind closed doors. The Legislature's budget-writing committee is meeting this month to take votes on the next spending plan, which will likely be passed in late June or early July.
Around Naples in English

Jeff Matthews & napoli.com  by

This part of Napoli.com is NOT a translation of anything you may read on the Napoli.com main page, nor is it related to the English-language items under "Cultural Routes" in the side-bar on the left of your screen. This is my own English-language page about Naples. There are five parts, linked below, of Around Napoli in English. The first is my "personal encyclopedia," approximately 400 entries, about Naples and the area. It is purposely an idiosyncratic, eclectic presentation of my own observations on the general culture of Naples. The link (below) will take you to an alphabetical index. Second, a collection of maps. Third, a selection of articles by Jeanne Manfredi. Fourth, "Through the Eyes of..., historical items by authors who have written about Naples. Fifth, recent items about Naples today. I shall try to add to that section at the rate of one or two items a week.I am responsible for the contents of Around Napoli in English, and the views expressed are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of napoli.com. I welcome your comments. Here, then, is Around Napoli in English:

NEW ARTICLES
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DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)  Syria on Monday called on Arab countries to invest in the war-torn nation, now again a member of the Arab League. The appeal from Syria's economy and trade minister came during an economic conference in Saudi Arabia ahead of a league summit in the kingdom.

The 22-member Arab League agreed earlier this month 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.

However, crippling Western sanctions against Assads government remain in place and could prevent oil-rich Arab countries from rushing to invest in Syria  or lead to a quick release of reconstruction funds in the war-battered country.

We invite you to participate in investing in Syria, where there are important opportunities and promising horizons, said the Syrian minister, Mohammed Samer al-Khalil, as he addressed the opening session of the conference Monday in Jeddah.

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan also spoke, welcoming Syria's return to the Arab League and saying he looked forward to working together "to achieve what we aim for.

Syria earlier this month opened regional talks with Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Egypt in Amman, as part of an Arab-led initiative to resolve the Syrian conflict. Analysts say investments will likely be limited until Syria reaches a political solution to the conflict and resolves a host of other pressing issues  millions of Syrian refugees, a flourishing illicit drug trade and extremist militant groups.

It is unclear if Assad, who has been formally invited to the Arab League summit on Friday, will take part in it.

On Monday evening, Syria's Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad arrived in Jeddah to attend meetings that precede the summit, Syria's state news agency, SANA, reported.

This is a new opportunity to tell our Arab brothers that we don't look to the past but to the future, Mekdad told reporters upon arrival, according to SANA. There are many challenges that we should discuss and gather our force as Arabs to face them. They include the Arab-Israeli conflict and climate change.

Syria was suspended from the league over Assad's brutal cracking down on mass protests against his rule in 2011. The uprising quickly turned into a civil war that has killed nearly a half million people and displaced half of the countrys pre-war population of 23 million.

Saudi Arabia had been a key backer of armed opposition groups attempting to overthrow Assad, but in recent months Riyadh had called for dialogue. Last month, Mekdad visited Riyadh and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, visited Damascus and met with Assad. Last week, the two countries agreed on reopening their embassies.

In his speech, al-Khalil also thanked Arab countries for sending aid to Syria following the February earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria, killing over 50,000 people, including more than 6,000 in Syria.

In addition to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt have also renewed ties with Damascus, following normalization efforts from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain years ago.

Still, Kuwait, Morocco, and Qatar, remain opposed to normalizing relations with Syria and Qatar continues to be a key backer of Syrian rebel groups fighting Assad.

____

Mroue reported from Beirut.
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NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP)  Cyprus and Israel are working on a deal to build a pipeline that will convey natural gas from both countries to the east Mediterranean island nation, where it will be liquefied for export by ship to Europe and potentially elsewhere, the Cypriot energy minister said Monday.

Minister Giorgos Papanastasiou said Monday he would soon visit Israel to hammer out a formal agreement. Once the deal is signed, the pipeline could be completed in 18 months.

It will take 2  years to build a liquefaction plant on Cyprus once investors are secured.

So far, five sizeable gas deposits have been discovered off Cyprus southern coastline. Israel has 11 such fields: the biggest, named Leviathan, contains an estimated 22 trillion cubic feet (623 billion cubic meters) of gas.

Papanastasiou said he would meet later this month with energy companies licensed to explore for oil and gas inside Cyprus exclusive economic zone - include French Total, Italys Eni, ExxonMobil and Chevron - to scope out ways of collaborating on projects that would expedite getting their gas discoveries to market.

The minister said Israel agreed to the proposal pitched by the Cypriot government for the pipeline and liquefaction plant, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disclosed on Sunday.

The eastern Mediterranean has enough (gas) deposits. Most are inside Israels exclusive economic zone, but Cyprus has sufficient quantities as well for this project to materialize, Papanastasiou told reporters.

The minister explained that this project was a truncated version of the EastMed pipeline idea. That proposal  for a 1,900-kilometer (1,300-mile), $6 billion pipeline designed to convey regional gas directly to Europe - has in recent years fallen out of favor.

Instead of a direct pipeline connection to Europe, processed gas from Cyprus could reach international markets by ship.

When you have liquefied natural gas, it can go in any direction  Europe now needs it more, but markets can also be found in Asia, said Papanastasiou.

In December, the previous Cypriot government said it was weighing a proposal for a similar plan as Russias war in Ukraine compounded an energy crisis, the AP reported.

Papanastasiou said Cypriot and Israeli authorities would need a few more months to negotiate a separate agreement on how much gas from the Cypriot Aphrodite gas field fell within neighboring Israeli waters.

A proposal for a pipeline to convey Cypriot and Egyptian gas to liquefaction plans in Egypt for export remains separate from the Israeli-Cypriot plan, the minister said.
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LONDON (AP)  Volodymyr Zelenskyy set off across Europe with a long shopping list. Ukraines president will head home with much of what he wanted  though not the Western fighter jets he seeks to defend against Russian air attacks.

European leaders promised Zelenskyy an arsenal of missiles, tanks and drones during a whirlwind three-day visit to Italy, the Vatican, Germany, France and the U.K. that sought to replenish Ukraines depleted weapons supplies ahead of a long-anticipated spring offensive aimed at turning the tide of the war.

The trip was also about shoring up European political and military support for the longer term, to ensure Ukraine can hold any ground it takes back and press for a favorable peace.

Theyve got to show  theyre in this conflict for the long term and that theyre able to keep sustaining this effort, said Justin Crump, a former British tank commander who heads security consultancy Sibylline. Its not going to be one shot and done.

Zelenskyys energetic international diplomacy over 15 months of war has persuaded Ukraines Western allies to send ever more powerful weapons, from German Leopard tanks to U.S. Patriot missile systems and Storm Shadow cruise missiles from the U.K.

Pressing his case to European leaders in person shows Zelenskyys growing confidence about traveling abroad. Its also an attempt to get his ducks in a row as Ukraine prepares a push to reclaim territory seized by Russia, said Patrick Bury, senior lecturer in security at the University of Bath.

Bury said that if Ukraine launches an offensive and it doesnt go well, there might be a drop off in support and more pressure to negotiate. I think hes just trying to bind in for as long as he possibly can as much support as he can from the West.

On Monday, the U.K. pledged hundreds more air defense missiles, as well as attack drones with a range of more than 200 kilometers (120 miles).

France, where Ukraines leader met President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday, said it would supply Ukraine with dozens of light tanks and armored vehicles, along with unspecified air defense systems.

Zelenskyy also visited Germany for talks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose initial reluctance to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons was a source of frustration in Kyiv. Now, Germany has become one of the biggest arms suppliers to Ukraine, including battle tanks and the sophisticated IRIS-T SLM air-defense system.

During Zelenskyys visit Germany announced another 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion) worth of equipment, including tanks, anti-aircraft systems and ammunition.

But Zelenskys aim of forming an international fighter jet coalition to supply Ukraine with planes has run up against NATO concern about escalating the alliances role in the war. Ukraine wants U.S.-made F-16s to supplement its Soviet-era jets, but Washington has resisted calls to send them.

We want to create a jet coalition and I am very positive about it, Zelenskyy said Monday after meeting British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. But, he added: We have to work a little bit more on it.

Sunak said Britain wants to help Ukraine acquire jets, but its not a straightforward thing.

The U.K. does not have any F-16s, but says it will give Ukrainian pilots basic training on Western-standard jets starting this summer.

Germanys Scholz was evasive when asked about planes, referring instead to the anti-aircraft system it has provided to Kyiv.

Thats what we as Germany are now concentrating on, he said.

The flurry of announcements from Europes capitals is part diplomatic theater. Ukraine gets a steady flow of equipment from the West, and some of the weapons announced this week may already have been on the way. Zelenskyys trip was about securing supplies for the long term, as well as the imminent offensive.

They should be able to carry out the offensive with what they already have, but thats not enough to sustain it over the long term, said retired French Vice Adm. Michel Olhagaray, a former head of Frances center for higher military studies. And theyll need the long term to make the Russians crack.

Zelenskyy began his European tour Saturday in Rome, where he received a hearty commitment from Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni  and a more nuanced and less welcome message from Pope Francis.

Calling Zelenskyy her friend and emphasizing their personal rapport, Meloni promised to provide Ukraine with whatever it needs to win the war and said any compromise to accept an unjust peace was unacceptable for Ukraine and Italy, and dangerous for the rest of Europe.

We cannot call peace something that could resemble an invasion, she told reporters, as Zelenskyy nodded along in agreement.

Zelenskyy also visited the Vatican to meet Pope Francis, who stressed the need for gestures of humanity toward the most vulnerable and innocent victims of the conflict.

While Francis has frequently prayed for the martyred Ukrainian people, he has also lamented the Russian mothers who have lost their sons. The equivalence, and Francis reluctance to outright condemn Russia, is part of the Vaticans tradition of neutrality in conflicts.

Zelenskyy made clear he didnt appreciate Francis emphasis on both Russian and Ukrainian victims of the war, tweeting: there can be no equality between the victim and the aggressor.

It was a reminder that Ukraine faces a political as well as a military battle. In Africa and Asia, especially, many are reluctant to take sides in what is seen as a regional European conflict.

Francois Heisbourg, a French analyst on defense and security questions at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said Zelenskyys European trip was part weapons shopping tour, thats clear enough, and it seems to be working very well.

But the other aspect, of course, is what you would call shaping the political battlefield, he said. The politics are no less important for Zelenskyy than the purely military stuff.

___

Associated Press writers John Leicester in Paris, Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin, Nicole Winfield in Rome and Danica Kirka in London contributed to this report.
HARTFORD  After an extensive debate on the long-simmering disparity of Connecticut's local tax rates - where affluent towns have substantially lower mill rates than cities - the state Senate last week approved legislation that would be a first step toward eliminating the levy while still providing towns and cities the revenue needed to help run local government.

The bill, approved unanimously and which heads next to the House of Representatives, would create a task force with a February 2024 deadline to study and make recommendations on ways to repeal the motor vehicle property tax, and possibly replacing the lost local revenue through ways including a new 8-percent tax on insurance premiums.

"This bill is a great bill and will support millions of Connecticut residents," said first-term Sen. MD Rahman, D-Manchester, co-chairman of the legislative Planning and Development Committee, who introduced the legislation for debate, noting that residents of 18 states do not pay local taxes on their personal vehicles, including New York, Pennsylvania and Maine.

It set off an 80-minute discussion on local government and the inequities of high rates in cities, where much of the state's regional social and medical services are located and where large amounts of untaxable properties, including hospitals and institutions of higher learning are located, place an added tax load on homeowners.

"This is an issue that impacts every community, especially cities and poorer communities because they happen to have higher mill rates than some of their suburban counterparts," said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, who in recent years has proposed eliminating the tax, drawing the ire of municipal officials. "If it's our policy here in the state of Connecticut to invest in our cities and to reinvest in our cities and have people move into our cities, then one of the impediments of that is the car tax. That is a tax that gets people right on July 1, when they are least expecting it."

In remarks toward the end of the debate, Duff said he thought that bipartisan negotiations came close to ending local car taxes in 2017. Last year, a law was approved capping 32.46 mills on car taxes in 72 towns and cities along with accompanying reimbursements for lost municipal revenue.

"I'm glad to see this renewed enthusiasm for eliminating the car tax once and for all, because I think that that is an important step that this body can take, finally, finally, to talk about this at all," Duff said. "We have a number of things in Connecticut that other states don't have and for that I am proud, and for that, I think people are willing to pay a little bit more to have those things."

"Unlike the income tax, which is based upon income, your property tax is not adjusted by a sudden downturn in your income," said Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, D-New Haven. "A car is a car is a car and yet we have 169 different mill rates. We have to recognize that if we are going to be fair, if we are going to recognize some of the deficiencies that our system of government of 169 completely, jealously self-protective municipal fiefdoms have, we pay a price for that in many ways and one of those prices is the car tax and how it is unfairly applied."

"We all know that property taxes are quite high here in Connecticut," said Sen. Ryan Fazio of Greenwich, a top Republican on the planning panel. "We are one of a couple dozen, maybe 20 states that has the property tax for motor vehicles, so that's a double whammy to our residents in this state. Not only are you among the minority of states that has to pay property tax on a motor vehicle, but the rate at which you are paying it is among the highest in the country."

Greenwich's mill rate is 11.28, while Bridgeport's, prior to last year's cap, was at 43.45 dollars of tax on every thousand dollars of a motor vehicle's value. First-term state Sen. Herron Gaston, D-Bridgeport, said that his hometown, the state's largest city, has huge gaps between the wealthier residents and those with lower incomes.

"Time and time again when I knocked on doors as I was campaigning, people kept saying we need to eliminate this car tax," Gaston said. "It is a burden. It is standing in the way of people who are on fixed incomes who are barely making it, and for a long time we have had the foot on their neck. It's time that we gave them some level of reprieve."

Members of the task force would include representatives from non-profit advocacy agencies including residents over the age of 50 such as the AARP; statewide municipal organizations; the insurance industry; higher education; and the General Assembly.

"For this task force to really begin its work, I would make a couple of suggestions," said Sen. Tony Hwang, a Republican from Fairfield, where the mill rate is 27.24, according to recent state data.

"I think one is to understand that the motor vehicle tax has a direct impact on our municipalities, otherwise it would not be so stubbornly maintained for all of these years," Hwang said. "I remember back in the distant past that the motor vehicle tax was supposed to be temporary. And that's a challenge when we look at taxes: once a tax is put in place it's awfully hard to take it out. But we need to understand that we need to live within our means. We have created a dependency of our municipalities on this motor vehicle tax, and its inequities, based on mill rate that has created such havoc and impact on communities, and the disparity."
Taylor Swifts Eras Tour is making its way across the country, and though she does not make any stops in Connecticut, she will be stopping at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, about 30 miles outside Boston, on May 19, 20 and 21. The music mogul has long outgrown Connecticut stadiums, having last played in the Nutmeg State in 2011, when she performed at Hartford's XL Center during her "Speak Now" Tour.

Other cities Eras Tour shows have brought city-wide traffic and even tripled public transportation ridership during concert dates. At Swifts Atlanta leg, one TikTok went viral, racking up over 11 million views as it captured a scene of of hundreds of Swifties piling into a train car after the concert had ended. In Nashville, thousands of concert-goers were suck indoors at Nissan Stadium due to a lightning storm that caused a three-hour delay. After the lightning passed, Swift went on to play her first rain show of the tour.

Since Connecticut residents have to travel to get to their selected Eras Tour shows, we have put together a guide of all things Taylor Swift that you need to know about getting to a show, what you can bring and what to expect. Heres what to know about heading to the Boston-area show from Connecticut:

When is Taylor Swift performing the Eras Tour at Gillette Stadium?

More for you What songs will Taylor Swift play at Gillette Stadium

Taylor Swift will be playing three shows at Gillette Stadium: May 19, 20 and 21. Doors to Gillette Stadium will open at 6:30 p.m, and swift has been starting each show around 8 p.m.

How can I get to the Eras Tour at Gillette Stadium from Connecticut?

Swifties can drive to Gillette Stadium, taking I-84 through Hartford or I-95 and I-495 along the coast through Providence.

Connecticut residents attending the Eras Tour can also take the Amtrak direct from Stamford, Bridgeport, New Haven, Old Saybrook, New London or Mystic to Bostons South Station or Back Bay. Prices for Amtrak trains are subject to change based on demand and can be seen online.

From South Station, concert-goers can take the T commuter rail to Foxboro station, home of Gillette Stadium. Round trip event "T" tickets are $20 and can be purchased up to two weeks before the concert. The commuter train servicing the Eras Tour will depart South Station at 4:05 p.m. and Back Bay station at 4:10 p.m. and arrive at Foxboro one hour later at 5:05 p.m.

After the show, trains will depart Foxboro 30 minutes after the concert ends.

What is is the parking like at Gillette Stadium?

Prepaid passes for stadium-side parking at Gillette are sold out. Stadium parking passes are being sold on resale sites, but it is important to make sure tickets are legitimate before purchasing a pass.

The stadium also offers general parking on the opposite side of Route 1 that is included in the price of the ticket; there is no parking pass required for general parking.

What is Gillette Stadium's bag policy for the Eras Tour?

Eras Tour attendees will only be allowed to bring a clear bag that complies with Gillettes bag policy to the show. Fans are allowed one of the following:

One-gallon clear, plastic freezer bag that does not exceed 11 X 11

Bag that is clear plastic vinyl or PVC that does not exceed 12 X 12 X 6

Small wristlet or handheld wallet, with or without handle or strap that does not exceed 6.5 X 4.5

Additionally, signs or banners larger that 11" X 17" will not be permitted into the concert.

How long is an Eras Tour show?

Swift will play tracks from 10 of her albums (all of them minus her debut album), or eras, totaling 44 songs and racking up over three hours of singing, dancing and elaborate costume and set changes.

Who are the openers for the Eras Tour Gillette shows?

For the May 19 and 20 shows, Phoebe Bridgers and GAYLE will be opening for Swift. On May 21, GAYLE will be swapped out for Gracie Abrams.

What are the 'surprise songs' that Swift sings on the Eras Tour?

Swift plays two surprise songs during each show of the Eras Tour. The songs can be from any of her albums, and once a surprise song is played, she will not play it again, with the exception of songs from her latest album, Midnights, which she may play more than once.

While Swifts Eras Tour does not include her debut album, songs from that album may be included in the surprise songs.

What do people wear to the Eras Tour?

Swifties have made it a trend to dress in elaborate, eras-themed outfits for Swifts shows. People have dressed up as lyrics from her songs, like outfits resembling a disco ball for her song Mirrorball, or in Swifts past outfits from music videos or concerts.

Additionally, fans have initiated a friendship bracelet swap trend, inspired from a lyric from her song titled, "You're on Your Own, Kid":

"So make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it/ You've got no reason to be afraid"

Fans have been coming to to concerts wearing homemade bracelets stacked to their elbows, donning Swifts lyrics or catchphrases, and they exchange them with other fans at the show.

What is the Eras Tour merch like?

Swifts Eras Tour merchandise includes t-shirts ($45), hoodies ($75), mugs ($20), posters ($30) and sweatpants ($65), to name a few. The merchandise truck has been pulling up to venues a couple days ahead of the concert to mitigate lines. But in Houston, demand was still overwhelming, and Swifities began lining up at 3 a.m. the day before the concert.

Are tickets to the Eras Tour at Gillette Stadium still available?

Only in fans Wildest Dreams. Tickets to the Eras tour sold out almost immediately back in January. Now, Eras Tour hopefuls can get only resale tickets, which are going for $2,000+ on sites like VividSeats and SeatGeek.
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

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A Ghanaian national was arrested on arrival at Robert Mugabe International Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle heroine worth over $7 million into the country over the weekend.

Frank Adjei, 23, appeared before magistrate Stanford Mambanje on Saturday.

He was busted by customs officials after they detected a suspicious package in his suitcase.

He was referred to CID Drugs and Narcotics Airport Base who seized 1.8kgs of heroine from his black suitcase.

It was established that Adjei was using a Ghanaian passport and had come to Zimbabwe aboard an Ethiopian Airways.

The heroine had an estimated street value of $7 560 000. H Metro
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FIGO welcomes CEO

The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstretrics (FIGO) has appointed Frances Longley as its next chief executive. She will join in July and take over from Mary Ann Lumsden, who led the charity for two years.

Longley was previously chief executive of ActionAid UK and was the first woman to lead the charity in its history. Formerly, she was chief executive of Amref Health Africa. She has worked at charities including Unicef UK, Care International UK, and more. She is currently a member of BBCs charity appeals advisory committee.

On her appointment, Longley said: I am delighted to be joining FIGO at such a critical time for the status of womens health and rights around the world. As a committed advocate for this work, I am proud to be taking up the CEO position at FIGO  an organisation with a unique global role in improving the health and wellbeing of women, girls and newborns and advocating for their rights.

National Voices announces CEO

Jacob Lant has been appointed as chief executive of National Voices after Charlotte August stepped down in October 2022.

Lant joins from Healthwatch where he was head of policy, public affairs and research and insight. Before that, he was Healthwatchs media manager. In previous roles he was senior press officer for Local Government Association and a press officer for the British Library.

Helen Buckingham, chair of National Voices, said: We are delighted to welcome Jacob to the National Voices team. As we navigate some of the most challenging times any of us have ever experienced, ensuring that the voices of people with lived experience are listened to by decision-makers has never been more important. Jacobs passion to make a real difference to people who use health and care services shines through everything he does, and we know he will lead National Voices from strength to strength. Sarah Sweeney has been a fantastic interim chief executive and we are very pleased that she will be staying with us in her new role.

New CEO for the Cares Family

Nicola Upton has been announced as the next chief executive of the Cares Family, a charity that works to reduce loneliness. Upton will succeed the charitys founder Alex Smith, who is stepping down after 12 years as chief executive.

Upton has two decades of experience in of leading in the charity sector. She joins from Age UK Sutton where she was chief executive. Before this, she worked for National Deaf Childrens Society, Stonewall and more.

Iana Vidal, chair of The Cares Family said: The board are delighted to welcome Nicola to The Cares Family. In a strong field of candidates, Nicola was the unanimous choice. Throughout the recruitment process she showed that speaks our language, understands the issues and the unique moment that The Cares Family is at.

Our society is experiencing a crisis of social disconnection. The work The Cares Family does in bringing people together has never been more important.

Safe Passage announces chair

Safe Passage, a charity that works to help child refugees in Europe reach safety, has appointed Magid Magid as its new chair.

Magid was formerly Lord Mayor of Sheffield and was a member of European Parliament. He is a Somali-British activist who came to the UK as a refugee aged five. He is founder and director of Union for Justice, an independent organisation focused on racial and climate justice.

He said: It's a real pleasure and privilege to be taking on this role at such a crucial time. Safe Passage International is an exceptional charity that has been playing an integral role in improving access to safe routes for refugees as well as creating an environment where they thrive.

We have a great team and an excellent vision, and I look forward to playing my part in carrying out vital work and helping build on the amazing effort that has already been happening, especially at a pivotal time when we are witnessing the dehumanisation of refugees in the UK and across Europe."

Dogs Trust appoints chair and chief operating officer

Dogs Trust UK has appointed Louisa Simons as its new chief operating officer and as chair of Dogs Trust Ireland.

She joins from the Money and Pensions service where she was chief operating officer for nine months. Before that, she held the same role at Innovate UK and Corsham Institute.

Simons said: Ive joined Dogs Trust at a very busy time for the animal welfare sector as it experiences an unprecedented demand on services. I am excited to be able to combine my skills and experience with my passion for dogs, and I look forward to helping create a better life for our furry best friends.

Turn2us appoints first head of equity

The anti-poverty charity Turn2us has appointed Thesia Kouloungou as its first head of equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging. Kouloungou will be responsible for the charitys long-term diversity strategy.

She joins from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) where she worked as a diversity, inclusion and policy manager. Before that, she was in several senior inclusion roles for Independent Age, London South Bank University, and the National Lottery Community Fund. Previously, she was a charity sector advisor for Nyar KOdero Group.

She said: I am happy to be joining Turn2us, and I look forward to working together to drive forward EDIB in our workplace culture and in the services that we provide. I want to do all I can not only to raise awareness about issues like social mobility, but to do the work that reduces barriers for underrepresented groups of people.

Bond announces director of policy

Bond, the umbrella body for aid charities, has appointed Gideon Rabinowitz as its director of policy and advocacy. He will take up the role in July and succeed Simon Starling who left the role after almost four years in post.

He joins from Agulhas Applied Knowledge where he led reviews for the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI). Before that, he was policy and advocacy manager at Oxfam. He led the UK Aid Network for almost four years rom 2008-2012.

Stephanie Draper, chief executive of Bond, said: Gideon will be a fantastic addition to the Bond team. His vast experience from across the sector will be invaluable in leading on pressing policy issues and shaping the future of international development. We look forward to welcoming Gideon in July.

New chief people officer for Guys & St Thomas Foundation

Cynthia Duodu has been appointed the hospital charitys first chief people officer. She will lead the foundations equity, diversity and inclusion is at the heart of the organisations culture.

She has over 20 years of experience in senior leadership roles. She joins the foundation from Low Carbon Contracts Company, where she worked for over eight years. Currently she is a trustee and non-executive director of Roffey Park Institute.

On her appointment, Duodu said: Im absolutely thrilled to join Guys & St Thomas Foundation. In this role Im committed to putting diversity, equity and inclusion at the centre of culture, so that everyone can thrive and work towards our health equity mission. I look forward to working alongside the talented people at the Foundation to realise this shared vision.

Joseph Rowntree Foundation announces new chief economist

Alfie Stirling has been appointed as JRFs new chief economist and associate director for insight and analysis.

He joins from the New Economics Foundation, where he was director of research and chief economist for almost three years. He also worked for the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) for four years.

On his appointment, Stirling said: I am delighted to be joining such an exciting team, at a crucial time for tackling economic insecurity in the UK. JRF is well placed to make a decisive contribution alongside our partners, with both the knowhow to help bring about urgent change today, as well as the resources to help build a lasting alternative for tomorrow. There is much to be done, and I am very much looking forward to playing a part.

Youth Music appoints six trustees

Youth Music has appointed six new trustees to its board. The charity works to make it easier for young people to access music. A spokesperson for the charity told Civil Society that after having to turn down 77% of funding applications, the charity is appointing these trustees to address the funding gap in grassroot organisations.

Andrew Lansley  is innovation manager for Cheltenham Festivals

Berkeley Edwards  is head of music and a principal at Clintons

Bre McDermott-King  is international product manager at AWAL

Hanna Chalmers  is senior research practitioner

Paul Bonham  has a background in public funding, diversity and inclusion, music management and professional development

Sarah Brown - is the national programme lead for children and young peoples mental health at NHS England

sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
AHEAD of this years harmonised elections whose dates will be proclaimed soon, President Mnangagwa has invited foreign countries interested to come and observe the polls.

President Mnangagwa, who is the Head of State and Government, told a High-Level Debt Resolution Forum on Zimbabwe Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution Process, which opened in Harare yesterday, that his Government has put everything in place to ensure the election is free and fair, without any blemishes.

A champion of peace  the President has used every platform to call on Zimbabweans, regardless of political persuasion, to commit to peace and preach the message of non-violence.

Yesterday he told diplomats, mostly drawn from Western nations, that his doors remain open for dialogue and that his administration is committed to entrenching peace.

As you are aware, Zimbabwe will be holding the 2023 Harmonised General Elections. I want to assure you all that my Government has put in place the requisite mechanisms to guarantee peaceful, free, fair, and credible elections. International observers are welcome and will be invited through the relevant channels at the appropriate time in accordance with our laws, President Mnangagwa said.

One of the benchmarks for debt clearance is good governance and political reform and the Second Republic has made progress in enhancing and entrenching the rule of law.

My Government stands committed to consolidating Constitutionalism, the rule of law, good governance, and protecting Constitutionally enshrined rights and freedoms, said the President.

Before the dawn of the Second Republic, Western nations that imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe were often barred from observing the countrys polls but that has since changed as Zimbabwe engages and re-engages.

Under the Governance Pillar, the Second Republic has been unwavering in its adherence to Constitutionalism, the rule of law, and the tenets of good governance and democracy.

Laws are being applied consistently, without fear or favour and the elections will be held consistent with the Constitution and electoral laws.

In addition, human rights concerns are being addressed in line with the countrys laws and international conventions. Herald
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP)  Bangladesh and Myanmar braced Sunday as a severe cyclone started to hit coastal areas and authorities urged thousands of people in both countries to seek shelter.

The outermost band of Cyclone Mocha, with winds of 180-190 kph (112-118 mph), and gusts of up to 210 kph (130 mph) per hour, reached the coast of Myanmars Rakhine state on Sunday morning. By afternoon, the center of the storm was expected to make landfall near Sittwe township, which was under the highest weather alert, Myanmars Meteorological Department said Sunday.

More than 4,000 of Sittwes 300,000 residents have been evacuated to other cities since Friday and more than 20,000 people are sheltering in sturdy buildings such as monasteries, pagodas and schools located on the citys highlands, said Tin Nyein Oo, who is helping people in shelters in Sittwe.

Many local people live in areas more than 3 meters above sea level, where residents believe the storm surge cannot reach, he added.

The storm has not yet entered, so we dont have much difficulty. However, there are too many people in the shelters and not enough toilets, he added.

Lin Lin, the chairman of a local charitable foundation, said earlier there was not enough food in the shelters in Sittwe after more people arrived than expected.

On Sunday morning, several deaths caused by wind and rain were reported in Myanmar. A rescue team from the countrys eastern Shan state announced on its Facebook social media page that they had recovered the bodies of a couple who were buried when a landslide caused by heavy rain hit their house in Tachileik township. Local media reported that a man was crushed to death when a banyan tree fell on him in Pyin Oo Lwin township in the central Mandalay Region. In Sittwe, a cell phone tower collapsed under high wind and other buildings were damaged, local media reported.

In most of Bangladesh, the weather remained sunny and humid on Sunday morning.

U.N. agencies and aid workers in Bangladesh prepositioned tons of dry food and dozens of ambulances with mobile medical teams in sprawling refugee camps that house more than 1 million Rohingya who fled persecution in Myanmar.

Titon Mitra, the U.N. Development Program representative in Myanmar, tweeted: Mocha has made landfall. 2m people at risk. Damage and losses are expected to be extensive. We are ready to respond and will need unhindered access to all affected communities.

Bangladesh issued the highest danger signal for the city of Coxs Bazar, home to the camps. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department warned the cyclone could cause severe damage to lives and property in eight coastal districts.

No heavy rainfall had been reported in Coxs Bazar as of Sunday morning. Authorities said some 1.27 million people have been evacuated in the district.

The sea was rough.

Fisher Jamal Uddin in Coxs Bazar said local elected officials and volunteers were helping at the cyclone shelter. We are asking people to move to safe places. We are trying to stay safe, he said.

The weather isnt good. We are following the instructions of the Meteorological Department. We are now thinking about what to do, he said.

Bangladesh, with more than 160 million people, has prepared more than 1,500 cyclone shelters. The navy said its keeping ready 21 ships, maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters for rescue and relief operations.

Authorities in Bangladesh said heavy rains from the cyclone could trigger landslides in Chattogram and Coxs Bazar and three other hilly districts  Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari.

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ordered officials to prepare for evacuations and rescues.

The Junior Minister for Disaster Management, Enamur Rahman, said Saint Martins Island in the Bay of Bengal may face greater risk, and that the government has prepared 37 cyclone shelters to accommodate 8,500 people there.

In May 2008, Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar with a storm surge that devastated populated areas around the Irrawaddy River Delta. At least 138,000 people died and tens of thousands of homes and other buildings were washed away.

Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune city, said cyclones in the Bay of Bengal are becoming more intense more quickly, in part because of climate change.

Climate scientists say cyclones can now retain their energy for many days. Cyclone Amphan in eastern India in 2020 continued to travel over land as a strong cyclone and caused extensive devastation.

As long as oceans are warm and winds are favorable, cyclones will retain their intensity for a longer period, Koll said.

Cyclones are among the most devastating natural disasters in the world, especially if they affect densely populated coastal regions in South Asia.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A movement to establish professional standards for public adjusters gained ground this year, with lawmakers in five states passing bills that impose new controls over a trade that already requires a license in 46 states.

Brian S. Goodman, general counsel of the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters, says his organization welcomes the new rules.

I dont view licensing as the government getting involved in our business, he said. Its a recognized legal profession. Its a way to protect the profession and a way of protecting the public.

A major scandal involving Mitchell Adjusting International in Texas  which is accused of stealing $7.9 million from policyholders that include several churches  brought negative publicity for public adjusters.

Lawyers go bad sometimes, or doctors, Goodman said. You cant root out every possible bad actor just by having licensing in place.

There is no indication that elected officials have any interest in abolishing the public adjuster trade. In fact, the Texas Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved House Bill 1706, a measure that would prohibit insurers from writing polices that bar the use of public adjusters. The bill now goes to Gov. Greg Abbott for final approval.

The Louisiana state Senate passed a similar bill on May 2. Senate Bill 156 awaits a vote in the state House of Representatives.

Goodman said his organization has been pushing for many years to impose licensing requirements and professional standards for public adjusters. He said in 2005 his group supported the National Association of Insurance Commissioners when it adopted the Public Adjuster Licensing Model Act.

Back then, Goodman said, only 33 or 34 states required public adjusters to be licensed. Now, only Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas and South Dakota have no licensing requirement.

State legislatures in Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana passed bills this year establishing more controls on public adjusters.

Floridas House Bill 1185 prohibits public adjusters from contracting with anyone other than the named insured without the insureds written consent. If the public adjuster does contract with a third party, the third party must pay the fee and not the insured. The bill also allows policyholders to cancel a public adjuster contract within 30 days of the loss if the loss was caused by a declared emergency, or within 10 days of signing the contract. The Florida House of Representatives gave final approval to the bill on May 4, but it has not yet been signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Georgias House Bill 222 requires that public adjuster contracts be in writing and contain a statement that the adjuster will not have an interest in any firm that performs any work as a result of the loss. Gov. Brian Kemp signed the bill into law on May 3.

Illinois Senate Bill 1495 caps public adjuster fees for residential properties to 10% of the loss, mirroring the requirement for commercial properties. The bill also requires public adjusters to give insureds a copy of the contract. The Illinois House of Representatives voted 113-0 to give final approval for the bill on Thursday. It has not yet been signed into law.

Indianas HB 1329 requires public adjusters to disclose any financial interest they have in parties that are involved in a property claim and prohibits public adjusters from acting as a restoration contractor on the same claim. The bill also prohibits public adjusters from charging percentage-based fees if an insurer pays a claim within five days of receiving notice of a loss. Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the bill into law on May 4.

Kentuckys House Bill 232 prohibits public adjusters from owning any interest in salvage companies that obtain business from a claim. The bill also requires adjusters to use specific contract forms approved by the Department of Insurance and increases the required surety bond to $50,000 from $20,000. Gov. Andy Beshear signed the bill into law on March 23.

The American Property and Casualty Insurance Association applauded passage of the public adjuster legislation.

This year APCIA has continued its work with lawmakers to protect consumers from being re-victimized by bad actors who sometimes target storm victims in the aftermath of disasters, Ron Jackson, vice president for state government relations in the Southeast region, said in a statement. Insurers strongly support legislation that helps ensure consumers are aware of their protections under the law and are provided the necessary tools to help spot potential fraud.

Insurance defense attorney Steven Badger, a partner with the Zelle law firm, said he also supports adoption of professional standards for public adjusters and also supports the Texas bill that would prohibit insurance policies that bar policyholders from hiring them.

He said a May 2 decision by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals illustrates what can go wrong. Thirteen Investment Co. sued Foremost Insurance Co. after the public adjuster it hired, Paramount Restoration Group, pocketed a $150,601.33 settlement check. Paramount had acted as both the adjuster and the public adjuster. That violates a central tenet of the model public adjuster act adopted by NAIC.

A District Court judge said it appeared that Paramount forged endorsement signatures on Thirteens check in order to deposit the money into its own account. Even so, Thirteen had no recourse against the insurer because its contract with Paramount allowed Paramount to receive the settlement check. Foremost had paid what was owned.

The 7th Circuit affirmed the decision.

It would be odd if a wronged insured could pursue the insurerwho had no participation in the selection of the public adjuster/agentfor the agents alleged wrongs, the panels opinion says. It would be stranger still if an insurer would bear a drawee banks possible negligence in disbursing funds without ascertaining proper endorsement by joint co-payees.
LAGUNA HEIGHTS, Texas (AP)  One person was killed and a curfew was imposed after a powerful tornado tore through a community near the southern tip of Texas before dawn Saturday, damaging dozens of residences and knocking down power lines, authorities said.

At least 10 others were hospitalized, including two people who were listed in critical condition, said Tom Hushen, the emergency management coordinator for Cameron County. Many residents also suffered cuts and bruises.

A nighttime curfew for those 17 and under was issued by Eddie Trevino Jr., the Cameron County judge, and is expected to end May 16 to mitigate the effects of this public health and safety emergency. The order also forbids non-residents of Laguna Heights from entering its residential areas.

The tornado hit at about 4 a.m. as most people were in their homes asleep in the unincorporated community of Laguna Heights, located on the mainland across from South Padre Island, off the Gulf of Mexico. The county has among the highest poverty rates in Texas and is dotted with substandard housing.

There was no advance warning. Instead, the first warning of a tornado went out at the same time it was touching ground, said Barry Goldsmith, a warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Brownsville.

With hurricanes we have the benefit of getting some advance warning; we know its probably on its way, Trevino said during a Saturday press conference. With a tornado, like Barry mentioned, its not a common scenario unless we have a hurricane/tropical cyclone in the area. So, we didnt have the benefit of a warning.

The hour didnt help, Trevino added.

Roberto Flores, 42, died after being basically crushed as a result of the damage to his mobile home, Trevino said.

The storm was clocked with wind speeds of 86-110 mph (138-177 kph) and was categorized as an EF1 tornado, according to the weather service. It lasted only about two to four minutes but it ravaged the area.

As many as 60 homes were damaged. The county judge signed a disaster declaration, and a temporary shelter in the nearby city of Port Isabel was providing help to 38 people.

Apparently it went straight through that community, said county sheriff Eric Garza. Individuals dont want to leave their houses because theyre afraid that somebody will go in there and start stealing stuff.

Garza said his department is helping provide security for the area.

Laguna Heights is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of the U.S.-Mexico border at Brownsville and is not prone to having tornados, although this spring has been active, said weather service meteorologist Angelica Soria. The area is also gearing up for the start of hurricane season.

The Texas tornado follows an outbreak of dozens of twisters in Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado that caused damage but no reported deaths.

Gonzalez reported from McAllen, Texas, and Miller reported from Oklahoma City.

Top photo: Damage is seen after a tornado hit Saturday, May 13, 2023, in the unincorporated community of Laguna Heights, Texas near South Padre Island. Authorities say one person was killed when a tornado struck the southernmost tip of Texas on the Gulf coast. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
AKRON, Ohio  Its been approximately two weeks since Phoenix, a 2-year-old yellow lab, joined the Akron Fire Department. The pup has already earned his keep  sniffing out accelerants used in arson fires, according to his handler and partner, Gabriel Cotrufo.

Its the first time the department has had a dog among its ranks in its 187-year history, Cotrufo, a fire investigator, told cleveland.com.

Though Phoenix has just recently joined the fire department, he has been training for most of his life. Born in Florida, the canine was originally intended to be a certified guide dog. But his energy was deemed a bit too high for the role, so instead he became an accelerant detection dog.

He was born into service work, Cotrufo said.

Phoenix received training in Colorado and imprint training in North Carolina, which teaches dogs to identify 60 types of accelerants commonly used in arson fires. From there, Phoenix and Cotrufo went to Maine and trained as a team for 200 hours.

We were certified through Maines Criminal Justice Program, Cotrufo said. We were certified as a team  I cant work without him and he cant work without me. Hes trained to alert for accelerants if there are any present by sitting and pointing with his nose. And that helps us in our criminal investigations by allowing investigators to collect evidence to send to the state laboratory to confirm whether or not an accelerant was used.

The training, which was funded by State Farm, costs about $25,000-$35,000 per arson dog team, which includes the cost to purchase the dog, imprinting classes, care costs and food, lodging and training costs for handlers. Phoenix and Cotrufo were one pair of 14 dogs and handlers that recently completed the State Farm program, according to Heather Paul, a public affairs specialist for State Farm who serves as the national coordinator for the State Farm Arson Dog Program.

State Farm Arson Dog Program

The State Farm program is available to fire departments and law enforcement agencies across the country. There are currently 87 certified teams working across North America, according to Paul.

Hands down its the greatest community program that we have  thats why we have been funding this for 30 years, Paul said.

Its a worthwhile investment, according to Paul, who said the average cost of a residential fire is $47,000.

So the team pays for itself almost immediately, she said.

Teams work together for 5-10 years and typically investigate 90 fires a year, on average, she said.

Many fires go uninvestigated because the fire departments dont have the resources to be able to investigate them all, Paul said. So the dog is able to help efficiently and effectively identify where there may be evidence. Now the dog wont be able to tell you, this is gasoline or this is diesel fuel, but they can very quickly identify locations of where there are accelerants, which can be confirmed, or not, at a laboratory.

Detecting accelerants in fires also increases the chances of arsonists being prosecuted, she said.

The dogs are also used frequently at fires even if arson isnt suspected because they can quickly rule out arson, which saves time and resources for investigators, Paul said.

Part-time partner, full-time friend

Phoenix works with Cotrufo, riding with him to and from work each day. Phoenix trains twice a day at a minimum, and occasionally naps in a bed near Cotrufos desk. During training and at fires, Phoenix is rewarded with his food for his work.

Cotrufo calls the experience of being a canine handler fantastic.

Hes a great dog, hard worker, he has a great temperament and is very obedient, he said. He listens well. He fits into my work life and my private life great. I couldnt be happier with him.

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WASHINGTON  General Motors has recalled nearly 1 million crossover vehicles for a potentially life-threatening airbag defect, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall affects models of Buick Enclave, Chevy Traverse and GMC Acadia vehicles that were made between the 2014 and 2017 model years, the federal safety administration said.

A manufacturers defect could cause the airbag inflater for the drivers airbag to explode. Such an explosion could result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death, the NHTSA said.

Out of an abundance of caution, GM opted to recall 994,763 vehicles in the model years 2014 to 2017 that may have received a suspect airbag inflator, the company said, according to USA Today.

A filing with the government agency from GM on Friday said the manufacturer learned that a 2017 Chevrolet Traverse was involved in a crash in March, and that the front-driver airbag inflator ruptured during deployment, Car and Driver reported. A later inspection confirmed the front-driver airbag inflator ruptured in the vehicle.

GM dealers already have been notifying dealers of the issue, Car and Driver said. Notification of owners was estimated to begin in later June.

According to NHTSA, dealers will replace the drivers air bag unit for free. Concerned owners can type in their vehicle identification number at the NHTSA recalls site to confirm if their vehicle is involved and get further details.

General Motors recall is just part of a much larger action involving air bag inflators, USA Today said. As part of that action, NHTSA wants ARC Automotive Inc. of Knoxville, Tennessee  the company that made the inflator used in air bag modules in the GM recall  to recall 67 million inflators across the United States for similar problems.

Documents released by NHTSA show that ARC denied the request, Car and Driver said. The ARC airbag inflators affect the GM products being recalled, as well as Stellantis, BMW and Hyundai Motor Group vehicles.
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- A temporary ban on new charging points for electric vehicles is being introduced in Independence.

At its May 9 meeting, City Council members agreed to a six-month moratorium on installing such charging stations while the administration creates a dedicated ordinance to cover them.

City Building Official Michael Gero said: We have been getting a lot of inquiries (about) these and what restrictions we may have. We have started working with the fire department and economic development director to develop a new ordinance.

He said he hopes to bring the legislation to the Independence Planning Commission shortly, then to council for approval by July.

It would provide guidelines and safety restrictions so that we have something to work from and not just shoot in the dark. We want to make sure we have a handle on them.

Any new ordinance would look to cover issues such as where charging points could be installed and how near buildings they could be.

Economic Development Officer Jessica Hyser was asked if the moratorium would send the wrong message to people wanting to use electric vehicles.

It is a short-term delay, she said. The idea is we can get something on the books in a short time so as not to impede the business community.

Added Gero, We are talking primarily about exterior setbacks, along with the electrical equipment that must go with them and the dedicated parking spaces and how that affects the business and property.

He said there no current applications would be affected, but that he wanted to see rules in place before any more are submitted.

The Ohio Revised Code does not cover electrical charging points. Gero said he was unaware of any other cities with an ordinance in place, adding that the legislation could be a model for others.

Council members heard that there are plans to install charging points in the development of a municipal parking lot at the Cbiz building. There also are charging points installed in the Cleveland Clinic parking deck, but they are not yet connected to power.

Councilman James Trakas said: There is certainly a danger for electricity flowing through the ground in proximity to buildings and water. We have state codes on gas stations, and we would be able to create legislation for others to look at.

There is the danger of the unknown. I do not think there is any more of a danger with electric than gas stations, but there are dangers to both, he said.

Putting them up willy-nilly is not something we want to see, and with the residential perspective we should have some type of permitting process with an inspection and guidelines. We do have an older housing stock.

I know it would not work in my garage, as I would have to put extra juice in. I am very in favor of what we are trying to accomplish here.

Read more from the Parma Sun Post.
WASHINGTON  A Catholic priest in Northwest Ohio is facing a minimum of 15 years in prison after he was convicted by a federal jury of five counts of sex trafficking.

A federal judge could sentence Michael Zacharias, who is a priest in the Toledo Catholic Diocese, to a maximum of life in prison, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

The acts of which Rev. Michael Zacharias, 56, has been found guilty are reprehensible, morally deplorable, and manifestly contrary to the dignity due to each human person and the dignity of the priesthood, Toledo Bishop Daniel Thomas said in a statement. The Church cannot and will not tolerate any such behavior and takes any sexual abuse or misconduct on the part of a cleric with the utmost seriousness.

According to prosecutors, Zacharias met his three victims and began grooming them when they were young boys and he was a seminarian at St. Catherines Catholic Parish school in Toledo, prosecutors say. He first gained the trust of the boys and their families, but then gradually started sexualizing his conversations with the victims.

Prosecutors say the victims eventually became addicted to heroin as they grew to adulthood and Zacharias used this to his advantage. He convinced the victims, who were unable to maintain a stable life because of their drug use, to let him pay them to engage in sex acts, authorities say.

The victims testified they submitted to Zacharias because they feared the psychological harm of losing him as a father figure and friend, losing their connection to the Church and God, and suffering from opioid withdrawal if they couldnt purchase the drugs with money from Zacharias. Prosecutors say the older brother of a victim said he feared Zacharias would sexually abuse his minor brother and others if he did not continue to comply with Zacharias requests for sex.

This defendant betrayed the victims in the most inhumane way, assistant attorney general Kristen Clarke said in a statement. He robbed them of their childhood, their dignity and their faith.

Zacharias has been on administrative leave since his arrest in August 2020. Bishop Thomas said the case will be presented to the Holy See, who will decide on Zacharias status as a priest.

Considering all that victims have suffered, all that the Church has endured due to the acts of her own members, all that we have done to protect children, to ensure a safe environment and to guard the integrity of the priesthood, still, sometimes, evil has its way, Thomas said. Our society and Church together must bring evil into the light, wherever it is found.

Federal sentencing for Zacharias has not been scheduled.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has signed a law that protects gun and ammunition dealers, manufacturers and sellers against lawsuits  legislation that Republican lawmakers passed shortly after a deadly school shooting in March.

Lee, a Republican, quietly signed the bill on Thursday, The Associated Press reported Monday. The governors decision to sign the bill comes while he is pressing for the same lawmakers to pass a proposal that aims to keep guns away from people who could harm themselves or others.

Republicans hold supermajorities in the Tennessee House and Senate. Lee intends to call lawmakers to an August special session that aims to strengthen public safety and preserve constitutional rights after they adjourned last month without taking up his temporary mental health order of protection proposal, AP said.

The state Senate gave final passage to the bill in mid-April, just weeks after the March 27 shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville that killed six people, including three 9-year-olds. The House had passed it before the shooting.

Democratic lawmakers have blasted the move to prioritize legal protections to the gun industry in the wake of the shooting.

Just three Senate Republicans voted against the legislation, which came amidst weeks of public pressure, protests and marches to pass gun control reforms. Only Democrats opposed the bill in the House vote before the shooting.

With regards to the law, the GOP supermajority is more focused on protecting firearms and manufacturers and dealers than protecting our children and communities, Rep. John Ray Clemmons, the House Democratic caucus chairman from Nashville, told AP in an interview Monday.

During floor debate, Sen. Joey Hensley, a Republican and the bill sponsor, said that his legislation doesnt prevent any other changes in gun laws from being approved. He said the bill aims to help out businesses in Tennessees booming firearms industry.

The Tennessee bill spells out a half-dozen situations in which gun and ammo companies could be held civilly liable in Tennessee state courts, exempting others.

Federal laws already provide a shield for the firearm industry from liability. And just 17 states do not have their own special immunity for the gun industry, too, AP said.

Tennessee already had some protections in place for the gun industry, even before the bill was approved, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun control advocacy group.
Rotunda Rumblings

See you in court: The campaign opposing a proposal to make it harder to amend the Ohio constitution has sued in a bid to block the Aug. 8 election that Republican lawmakers set earlier this week to decide the issue. Andrew Tobias reports that One Person One Vote says the General Assembly illegally scheduled the election through whats called a joint resolution, rather than passing a law change to undo a vote last December that outlawed most August special elections. Republican lawmakers initially introduced a bill dealing with the August election issue to accompany a joint resolution advancing the proposal to voters. But they abandoned the bill during the legislative process. The lawsuit, filed by prominent Democratic elections lawyers on Friday, is before the Ohio Supreme Court.

Getting down to business: The Ohio Chamber of Commerce voted to endorse the 60% constitutional amendment proposal on Thursday mostly due to lesser-known component of the proposal, according to its CEO, Steve Stivers. Per Tobias, Stivers said the chamber likes the part of Senate Joint Resolution 2 that makes it harder for proposed amendments to quality for the ballot, including by doubling the counties in which ballot campaign must collect voter signatures. The chamber and three other prominent business groups, including the Ohio Restaurant Association, also cited pending minimum wage and anti-vaccine mandate ballot issues in their reason for supporting the proposal. The Ohio Business Roundtable however, is neutral, with the group saying it doesnt get involved in social issues.

New interim: Chris Woolard, the Ohio Department of Educations chief program officer, was named the interim superintendent of public instruction. Hell take over for outgoing Interim Superintendent Stephanie Siddens. Its been 20 months since the state has had a permanent superintendent of public instruction. Laura Hancock reports on how the state board for now is waiting to begin a search for the permanent role.

Mark your calendar: A federal court has scheduled sentencing dates late next month for Ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and former Ohio Republican Party Chair Matt Borges, who were convicted in March of participating in a $60 million bribery scandal to secure the passage of the House Bill 6 energy law. As Jeremy Pelzer reports, Householder and Borges each face up to 20 years in prison.

Art support: Ohio is giving more than $23 million in federal coronavirus relief money to help nearly 140 performing arts organizations and cultural arts museums that lost revenue during the pandemic. Pelzer has the list of grant recipients, which includes the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a number of other Northeast Ohio institutions.

Everyones not aboard: U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, of Ohio criticized a fellow Republican this week while defending his bill tightening safety regulations on the railroad industry following the recent train derailment in East Palestine. As David Skolnick writes for the Youngstown Vindicator, Vance sharply pushed back on criticism from Sen. Ted Cruz, the Texas Republican who chairs the committee reviewing the legislation.

Shaved down: Gov. Mike DeWines science of reading proposal in his budget recommendations to lawmakers was $162 million over the next two years. But the version of the state budget passed by the House trimmed it down to $105 million over the next two years, Ohio Capital Journals Megan Henry reports. The science of reading is a literacy approach that focuses on phonics and vocabulary over the three cueing approach that has recently been popular in education, which used story context and pictures to teach kids to read.

Abortion rights across the states: Ohio is the next state thats likely to have an abortion rights ballot initiative, followed by South Dakota next year, write the New York Times David Leonhardt and Lyna Bentahar. Abortion rights supporters in Missouri, Florida and Arizona are also organizing to possibly put initiatives on the ballot after that.

Full Disclosure

Five things we learned from the Feb. 9 financial disclosure of state Rep. Tom Young, a Dayton-area Republican.

1. Young earned $100,000 or more last year as a financial advisor for UBS Financial Services, in addition to the $75,400 he earned in the Ohio House and the $25,000 to $49,999 in Social Security retirement.

2. Young reported having 53 investments in 2022. That includes Berkshire Hathaway, Adobe, Boeing Co., Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, United Healthcare, Nokia, Amazon, Apple, BlackRock, Costco, Comcast, Lowes, Estee Lauder, TJ Maxx, among dozens of others.

3. The House reimbursed him $2,614 for mileage between home and Columbus.

4. He reported having six licenses with the state to sell financial products, plus a life and health insurance license.

5. He didnt report receiving any gifts, food or beverages.

On The Move

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval is joining the Biden-Harris National Advisory Board, along with U.S. Reps. Joyce Beatty, of Columbus, and Shontel Brown, of Warrensville Heights, according to the Dayton Daily News.

Former congressman Tim Ryan has been named to Coinbases new global advisory council which the company says will help navigate the complex and evolving landscape of the crypto industry, and strengthen relationships with strategic stakeholders around the world.

Straight From The Source

Usually you wouldnt commit in advance to litigate. In this case we both committed to litigate in advance.

-Kroger Chief Executive Officer Rodney McMullen said in an interview with Bloomberg about the Cincinnati-based companys promise to sue, along with Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Cos apparent intention to sue, if the Federal Trade Commission doesnt approve the merger of the grocers.

Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. Subscribe to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free.
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
China, Netherlands vow to jointly tackle climate change

Xinhua) 11:09, May 15, 2023

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands in The Hague, the Netherlands, May 11, 2023. At the invitation of the Dutch government, Han visited the Netherlands from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

THE HAGUE, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and leaders of the Netherlands have agreed to jointly tackle climate change and strengthen green and low carbon cooperation.

At the invitation of the Dutch government, Han visited the Netherlands from Wednesday to Friday, where he met with King Willem-Alexander and held talks with Prime Minister Mark Rutte in The Hague.

When meeting with King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Han first conveyed the cordial greetings and best wishes from Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Professor Peng Liyuan to the King and Queen.

Han said that under the strategic guidance of President Xi and the King, China-Netherlands relations have maintained healthy and stable development.

The bilateral trade volume has grown against the trend and the cooperation in agriculture, water conservancy, transportation, logistics and sustainable development has made steady progress, said the vice president.

It is hoped that through this visit, the important consensus reached by President Xi and King Willem-Alexander will be further implemented and the open and pragmatic partnership for comprehensive cooperation between China and the Netherlands will achieve greater development, Han said.

He pointed out that the current economic globalization has encountered some difficulties, but the general trend is irreversible.

There is great room for China and the Netherlands to cooperate in the fields of green and low carbon development, as well as climate change, Han said, calling on the two sides to work together to meet challenges.

He also called for mutual respect, mutual understanding and mutual support between countries of different civilizations, so that they can seek consensus in exchanges and promote win-win results in cooperation.

King Willem-Alexander asked Han to convey his and the Queen's cordial greetings and best wishes to President Xi and Professor Peng.

The most important issue facing mankind in the 21st century is the environmental issue, the King said, praising that China's achievements in solving the water resources and sanitation problems faced by its huge population are obvious to all.

Noting that the Netherlands and China have played an important role in sustainable development and environmental protection, the King urged joint efforts to further strengthen cooperation and promote global carbon neutrality and emission reduction.

The King stressed that the international community should pay more attention to consensus, respect each other's civilizations and identify with each other's identities. It is precisely because of the diversity of these civilizations and identities that every nation and country becomes unique, said the King.

During his talks with Rutte, Han said that in recent years, by upholding the spirit of mutual respect and mutual trust, China and the Netherlands have joined hands to meet challenges, jointly ensure the stability of the global production and supply chains, contributing to the economies of the two countries and the world.

Currently, China's economic stabilization and recovery momentum is better than expected, which will definitely help the global economic recovery and provide a broader space for pragmatic cooperation between China and the Netherlands, Han said.

China is willing to communicate extensively with the Netherlands, consolidate mutual trust, jointly explore the direction of cooperation under the new situation, so as to promote the healthy development of China-Netherlands relations, and jointly promote world peace, security and prosperity, Han said.

He pointed out that the key to tackling climate change lies in action, which requires the joint attention and efforts of the international community.

There is no conflict of fundamental interests between China and Europe, but instead, they have more complementary advantages, Han said, voicing China's willingness to promote the better development of China-Europe relations through pragmatic cooperation.

Rutte welcomed Han's visit, saying that China is an important trading partner of the Netherlands.

The relationship between the two sides is strong and powerful, and there is great room for pragmatic cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, green and low carbon, as well as climate change, he said.

There are many problems in today's world, and China's role is indispensable, Rutte said, expressing hope for the rapid recovery of Dutch-Chinese exchanges.

He also expressed the willingness to deepen pragmatic cooperation between the two sides, strengthen scientific and technological cooperation in the field of climate change, and help achieve the global goal of coping with climate change.

After the talks, Han and Rutte visited the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague.

During his visit to the Netherlands, Han also met with the heads of Dutch chip equipment company ASML and Dutch paints and coatings giant Akzo Nobel respectively, and visited the headquarters of Philips Company in Amsterdam.

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng holds talks with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in The Hague, the Netherlands, May 11, 2023. At the invitation of the Dutch government, Han visited the Netherlands from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng holds talks with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in The Hague, the Netherlands, May 11, 2023. At the invitation of the Dutch government, Han visited the Netherlands from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng visits the headquarters of Philips Company in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, May 12, 2023. At the invitation of the Dutch government, Han visited the Netherlands from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with the head of Dutch chip equipment company ASML in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, May 11, 2023. At the invitation of the Dutch government, Han visited the Netherlands from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with the head of Dutch paints and coatings giant Akzo Nobel in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, May 11, 2023. At the invitation of the Dutch government, Han visited the Netherlands from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Amazon is increasingly using robotics in its fulfilment centers to carry out repetitive tasks such as lifting heavy packages.

Amazon is focusing on using artificial intelligence to speed up deliveries  by minimizing the distance between its products and customers, a top executive told CNBC.

Stefano Perego, vice president of customer fulfilment and global ops services for North America and Europe at Amazon, outlined how the company is using AI when it comes to logistics.

One area is in transportation, such as mapping and planning routes, taking into account variables like the weather, Perego said.

Another area is when customers search from products on Amazon to help them find the right goods.

But a key focus right now for Amazon is using AI to figure out where to place its inventory.

"I think one area that we consider key in order to lower cost to serve is on inventory placement," Perego said.

"So now, I'm pretty sure you're familiar with the vast selection we offer to our customers. Imagine how complex is the problem of deciding where to place that unit of inventory. And to place it in a way that we reduce distance to fulfill to customers, and we increase speed of delivery."

Amazon has been focusing on a so-called "regionalization" effort to ship products to customers from warehouses closest to them rather than from another part of the country.

But doing so requires technology that is capable of analyzing data and patterns in order to predict what products will be in demand and where.



That's where AI comes in. If a product is nearer to customers, Amazon will be able to make same-day or next-day deliveries, like what its Prime subscription service offers.

Perego said the efforts are progressing well. In the United States, more than 76% of the products customers order are now from fulfilment centers within their region, according to Amazon.
A signboard mentions the plot number of Foxconn India production unit at SIPCOT (State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamilnadu) a special economic zone (SEZ) in Sriperumbudur on the outskirts of Chennai on December 28, 2021. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP) (Photo by ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Taiwan-based Foxconn has broken ground on a new $500 million factory in the Indian state of Telangana just under a month after Apple CEO Tim Cook met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Foxconn is one of Apple 's largest suppliers and directly produces a reported 70% of the world's iPhone supply. The new Telangana factory will employ 25,000 workers "in the first phase," according to a tweet from the government of Telangana.

Foxconn's concerted push comes as China actively courts outside investment and attempts to rebuild industrial output after lengthy Covid lockdowns sent production numbers plummeting.

As geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China mount, however, global companies like Apple have begun to push their suppliers to diversify out of the country, which had long been a hub for affordable and dependable production.

Foxconn's chairman and CEO Young Liu toured India in February and March. At the time, Foxconn told local outlets that it didn't enter into any "binding, definitive agreements for new investments during this trip."

Despite those comments, Foxconn entered into an agreement with the Telangana government on Mar. 2, according to a tweet quoting Telangana's IT minister K.T. Rama Rao. Foxconn did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the discrepancy on when a deal was reached.

Bloomberg previously reported on Foxconn's effort to build another factory in the Indian state of Karnataka, just outside of Bengaluru.
Michael Burry, known for calling the subprime mortgage crisis, bought shares in a number of regional banks last quarter, betting the industry could weather the crisis, according to a new regulatory filing. Burry's hedge fund, Scion Asset Management, picked up New York Community Bancorp , Capital One Financial , Western Alliance , PacWest Bancorp and Huntington Bancshares during the first quarter. The famed investor said in mid-March, after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank , that he expected the banking crisis to be over soon without severe damage. "This crisis could resolve very quickly. I am not seeing true danger here," Burry said in a now-deleted tweet in March. However, on May 1, First Republic was seized by regulators to become the biggest bank collapse since the 2008 financial crisis. The institution suffered a deposit flight as its long-term assets fell in market value after a series of rate hikes, triggering worries about unrealized losses on the balance sheet. Burry bought $2 million worth of First Republic Bank shares last quarter, the filing, which reflects Scion's holdings as of March 31, showed. The stock has lost nearly all of its value after its collapse. To be sure, Burry could have sold his stake before the bank met its demise. JPMorgan this month acquired all of First Republic's deposits and a "substantial majority of assets." Money managers with more than $100 million in assets under management are required to disclose long positions with the Securities and Exchange Commission 45 days after a quarter ends. It's possible that Burry, an active trader, has already adjusted his other bets between the filing date and now. It's also likely that he was covering his short positions in banks. Burry shot to fame by betting against mortgage-backed securities before the 2008 crisis. Burry was depicted in Michael Lewis' book "The Big Short" and the subsequent Oscar-winning movie of the same name. The famed investor also drastically increased his bets on Chinese e-commerce leaders JD.com and Alibaba , making them his two-biggest holdings at the end of March. He also built new stakes in Signet Jewelers , Zoom Video , Sibanye Stillwater as well as Cigna .
Relations between Washington and Beijing are at their lowest in decades amid disputes over trade, technology, human rights and China's increasingly aggressive approach toward its territorial claims involving self-governing Taiwan and the South China Sea. Jason Lee | Reuters

China sentenced a 78-year-old United States citizen to life in prison Monday on spying charges, in a case that could exacerbate the deterioration in ties between Beijing and Washington over recent years. Details of the charges against John Shing-Wan Leung, who also holds permanent residency in Hong Kong, have not been publicly released. Leung was detained April 15, 2021, by the local bureau of China's counterintelligence agency in the southeastern city of Suzhou, according to a statement posted by the city's intermediate court on its social media site. His detention came after China had closed its borders and imposed tight domestic travel restrictions and social controls to fight the spread of Covid-19. Such investigations and trials are held behind closed doors and little information is generally released other than vague accusations of infiltration, gathering secrets and threatening state security.

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Relations between Washington and Beijing are at their lowest in decades amid disputes over trade, technology, human rights and China's increasingly aggressive approach toward its territorial claims involving self-governing Taiwan and the South China Sea. High-level government visits have been on hold and U.S. companies are delaying major investments amid mixed messaging from Beijing. The sentencing comes as U.S. President Joe Biden is traveling to Hiroshima, Japan, for the Group of Seven major industrial nations summit, followed by a visit to Papua New Guinea, a Pacific island nation in a region where China has sought to increase its economic, military and diplomatic influence. After Beijing's gains in the area, the U.S. and its Asia-Pacific partners stepped up their regional presence, offering investments and financial support rivaling those furnished by China. Now the world's second-largest economy, China is expanding its footprint in ports, railways and other infrastructure from Europe to Southeast Asia and beyond.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping leave after a reception in honor of the Chinese leader's visit to Moscow, at the Kremlin, on March 21, 2023. Grigory Sysoev | Sputnik | via Reuters

China has been eager to position itself as a peace broker to end the war between Russia and Ukraine since the invasion began, offering to mediate between the countries soon after Russian troops pushed over the border. But Beijing has remained conspicuously close to Russia as the war has progressed, refusing to condemn or criticize the ongoing armed aggression against Ukraine. It also remains ideologically aligned with Moscow in an anti-Western stance, with both professing their wish to see a more "multipolar world." And despite a number of calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and even a visit to Moscow in March, Chinese President Xi Jinping only called his Ukrainian counterpart for the first time in recent weeks. During the call, Xi said he would send special representatives to Ukraine and hold talks with all parties on reaching a cease-fire and a peaceful resolution to what Beijing describes as a "crisis." Attempts to broker a peace deal step up a gear this week with China's special representative on Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, set to visit Ukraine, Russia and several other European countries for talks "on a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis," China's foreign ministry said Friday. There's little doubt that China wants the war between Russia and Ukraine to end, and soon. Beijing is widely believed to perceive the war's unpredictable nature, unknown endpoint and the global economic instability caused by the conflict as very undesirable side-effects. But as it attempts to position itself as a honest broker that could bring about an end to one of the most bloodiest conflicts in Europe for decades  and one that has pitched Russia (and indeed, China, at times) against the wider West  there are question marks over China's perceived neutrality, diplomatic skills and, ultimately, its endgame as a mediator. Political analysts and China watchers note that, ultimately, Beijing doesn't really care who "wins" the war  or what form a peace deal takes. What matters to Beijing, they say, is that it becomes the international partner that brings Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table and brokers an end the war.

China's key focus

"China is more focused on winning the peace than on who wins the war between Russia and Ukraine," Ryan Hass, a China expert at the Brookings Institution and previously a senior Asia director in the Obama administration's National Security Council, told CNBC. "Beijing would like to have a voice in determining the contours of any future European security architecture. Beijing also would like to be seen as vital to Ukraine's reconstruction and as a key actor in Europe's broader recovery from the conflict." China is keen to build on recent successes in global diplomacy, particularly the mediation between Iran and Saudi Arabia that led the regional rivals to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies in each other's countries. Another attempt by China at a round of global diplomacy between Russia and Ukraine is not without self-interest, analysts note. "Of course, China is not stepping into this diplomatic foray out of altruistic concerns," Cheng Chen, professor of political science at the University at Albany, State University of New York, told CNBC Wednesday. "As China increasingly positions itself as a superpower, it has every incentive to showcase its diplomatic strength as a global mediator, especially following its recent success in mediating between Iran and Saudi Arabia. In addition, China could further bind Russia to its side if it manages to broker a deal that saves Russia's face," she added.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping via phone line, in Kyiv on April 26, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service | Reuters

Another happy byproduct of China's intervention would be that it could appeal to the Global South, a term generally used to identify developing countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia and Oceania, "which has largely not taken a side in the conflict, as well as some European powers that are unwilling to see a protracted war festering in Europe," Chen said. "To gain support from these countries, China wants to burnish its image as a peacemaker as opposed to the U.S.' approach of 'adding fuel to the fire'."

Can China do it?

China's bid for peace broker is not a first in the war; Turkey has also positioned itself as a mediator between the warring sides, helping to broker a vital grain export deal and attempting early in the war to hold talks. These broke down, however, with both sides having territorial "red lines"  essentially the giving up of lost (or gained) territory  that they could not cross. Since then, China has proposed a "peace plan" for Ukraine but it was seen to be lacking substance and concrete steps toward a cease-fire and settlement. Whether China now has the diplomatic skills needed to bring both Russia and Ukraine back to the negotiating table is uncertain. China's general support of Russia won't have gone unnoticed in Kyiv, with analysts saying this damages the perception of Beijing as an "honest broker" from the start. "There is a huge asymmetry between China-Russia and China-Ukraine relations," Alicja Bachulska, policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told CNBC Tuesday. "It took 14 months for Xi Jinping to have a phone call with Zelenskyy, while at the same time China's top leadership had over 20 high-level interactions with Russian leadership," she noted. "China hasn't recognized the aggressor  Russia  and keeps on blaming the U.S. and NATO for the war. Any kind of meaningful 'help' on China's side would require Beijing to recognize Ukraine's perspective on this war and Ukrainian agency, and this is highly unlikely given China's strategic interests in this war  namely to weaken the U.S.-led international system and discredit liberal democracies more broadly." CNBC contacted China's foreign ministry for comment and is yet to receive a response.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at a signing ceremony after their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21, 2023. Vladimir Astapkovich | AFP | Getty Images

While China's approach to the warring parties has been imbalanced, its apparent closeness to Moscow can still be leveraged to benefit both sides, analysts note. The war afforded China "an opportunity in global diplomacy," Ian Bremmer, founder and president of the Eurasia Group, said in emailed comments, noting that "Xi has more leverage over Putin than anyone else." The University of Albany's Chen agreed that while China's perceived lack of neutrality could be a weakness, it could actually be its trump card. "China is widely perceived as being too friendly to Russia to be truly 'neutral' when it comes to potentially mediating the conflict. However, exactly because China is one of Russia's few remaining international partners and has provided Russia with vital diplomatic and economic support since the invasion, it has the ability to bring Russia to the negotiating table and influence Russia's position in ending the conflict," Chen said. China's foreign ministry said in a statement last Friday that since the beginning of the war, which it characterizes as a "crisis," China has held "an objective and just position and actively promoted talks for peace" and said its peace plan "takes into account the legitimate concerns of all parties." "This upcoming visit by the Chinese representative again reflects China's commitment to promoting peace talks and staying on the side of peace," it said. The world continued to experience the "spillover effects of the crisis," the ministry said, adding that it aimed to "continue to play a constructive role and build more international consensus on ending hostilities, starting peace talks and preventing escalation of the situation."

Any peace will be hard-won

No-one is underestimating the challenges any would-be peace broker has before them. Fifteen months of war have hardened Ukraine and shown that it won't roll over to Russia, and for President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, the stakes are too high for him to concede territorial gains, particularly when it comes to areas where Russia is more ensconced like Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. Ukraine says that it will not settle for anything less than the complete withdrawal of all Russian forces from occupied territory and the reinstatement of its territorial integrity, including Crimea and four other regions Russia declared it had annexed last year, although it still doesn't fully occupy any of them.

Ukrainian soldiers of the 80th brigade firing artillery in the direction of Bakhmut as the Russia-Ukraine war continues in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on April 13, 2023. Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Major players are hoping that the SEC and Washington takes, what crypto watchers see as bluffs, seriously and soften the hard line that regulators have taken on the industry. Roman Strelchenko | 500Px Plus | Getty Images

Cryptocurrency companies are playing a game of poker with the Securities and Exchange Commission, making bold threats to leave the U.S. as the regulator steps up pressure on the industry to toe the line. Major players are hoping that the SEC and Washington takes, what crypto watchers see as bluffs, seriously and soften the hard line that regulators have taken on the industry. Executives at firms including crypto exchange Coinbase and blockchain services company Ripple have piled on with comments laying into the SEC and signaling plans to shift business overseas, in a bid to rally support and send a message to U.S. politicians concerned that the country may miss out on a key technological innovation. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said last week that the SEC was on a "lone crusade" with its tough actions against certain crypto companies. He added that Chair Gary Gensler had taken an "anti-crypto view," despite earlier being a supporter of the industry during his time as an economics professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management. "The SEC is a bit of an outlier here," Armstrong told CNBC's Dan Murphy in an interview in Dubai. "I don't think [Gensler is] necessarily trying to regulate the industry as much as maybe curtail it. But he's created some lawsuits, and I think it's quite unhelpful for the industry in the U.S. writ large." Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, also tore into the SEC this week. When asked for his message to Gensler as the company announced an expansion into Dubai, he quipped, "Who?" before later saying Ripple will have spent $200 million defending itself against a lawsuit initiated by the regulator by the time it is over. "I find it as a company that started in the United States and as somebody who is a U.S. citizen, it's sad. I have sadness about this. The U.S. is getting passed not just by a little bit but by a lot," Garlinghouse said. "The tough thing about this is you have a country that I think has put politics ahead of policy and that's not a good decision if you're trying to invest in the economy."

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Dubai and Europe have proven to be much more favorable markets with their virtual asset regulatory frameworks, Garlinghouse said, adding: "The United States is definitely stuck." Garlinghouse, Armstrong and other crypto bosses have made threats to leave the U.S., highlighting concern from the industry that the SEC's crackdown is becoming too harsh. The regulator has taken strong enforcement actions against companies including Ripple, Coinbase, Kraken and Paxos, accusing each of flouting securities laws. The SEC's contention is that most tokens in the market may qualify as securities, which would subject them to much stricter requirements around registration and disclosure. Crypto firms, naturally, have denied assets they issue or list on their platforms should be treated as securities.

Will they stay or will they go?

The question is: could they actually leave? It looks pretty unlikely. "The U.S. is one of the largest markets for crypto, and hence it is highly unlikely that they will leave," Larisa Yarovaya, associate professor of finance at Southampton University, told CNBC via email. "The biggest fear of crypto companies is that regulation will cause panic among crypto investors and prices will go down. To look confident (even arrogant) is a common tactic of crypto company CEOs. They think this will translate into investors' confidence, overconfidence in some cases, and will encourage further irrational behaviour among investors, e.g. HODL [hold on for dear life] even when markets are falling." Ripple's Garlinghouse has been threatening to move his company's headquarters overseas since 2020. In October that year, he said the U.K., Switzerland, Singapore, Japan and the United Arab Emirates were under consideration for Ripple's potential move abroad. That hasn't happened yet. Coinbase's chief, meanwhile, suggested at a London fintech conference in April that the firm would consider options of investing more abroad, including relocating from the U.S. to elsewhere, if the exchange doesn't get regulatory clarity in the U.S. A month later, Armstrong said Coinbase "is not going to relocate overseas."

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"We're always going to have a U.S. presence ... But the U.S. is a little bit behind right now," he told CNBC. The U.S. is a huge market for the industry, with over 50 million Americans saying they own some crypto, according to a survey conducted by Morning Consult for Coinbase. "There's a much greater focus on the international markets for those firms. But at the top end of the market, personally I just can't see that ever happening that you leave the United States market completely," Jonathan Levin, co-founder of Chainalysis, told CNBC in an interview in London. "It's more about how much do you invest in new international expansion where maybe that wasn't as high up on the agenda, but now it's let's look at France, let's look at the U.K." On top of this, the practicalities of moving these already large companies out of the U.S. would be tough. "Although these industries are virtual by their nature, they still need people, and people have families, mortgages, and preferences on where they live. Replacing them with local talent in the new place may be easier said than done," George Weston, a partner at global offshore law firm Harneys, told CNBC via email.

Regulatory certainty outside the U.S.

Crypto bosses are playing up to some officials' concerns that the U.S. has become shrouded in regulatory uncertainty while other jurisdictions, like the European Union and U.K., have charged forward with proposed regulatory frameworks for digital assets. Hester Peirce, a commissioner at the SEC, said at a Financial Times conference last week that the U.S. was "shooting ourselves in the foot by not having a regulatory regime in the U.S." She praised the EU on its progress with waving through laws for the crypto industry. The EU is expected to bring in the first comprehensive set of regulations for digital assets, known as Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA), sometime in 2024. "It's really commendable that Europe was able to get that done so quickly," Peirce said, according to Reuters. "If we built a good regulatory regime, people would come. I think you will see that with MiCA." Diego Ballon Ossio, a partner at law firm Clifford Chance, said other jurisdictions including the U.K. and EU are changing their legislative frameworks to create clear regulatory regimes for exchanges.

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U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Ukraine Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal speak to the press after holding a bilateral meeting at the U.S. Treasury Department Building in Washington, D.C., U.S. April 13, 2023.

WASHINGTON  Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen reaffirmed to Congress on Monday that the United States could default on its debt as early as June 1.

"With additional information now available, I am writing to note that we still estimate that Treasury will likely no longer be able to satisfy all of the government's obligations if Congress has not acted to raise or suspend the debt limit by early June, and potentially as early as June 1," she wrote.

The guidance came as the White House and congressional leaders prepared to meet Tuesday to continue negotiations over potential spending cuts in exchange for House passage of a debt ceiling hike. The Democratic-majority Senate is expected to back whatever the White House negotiates with the GOP-controlled House.

In recent days, conflicting reports have emerged about whether negotiators are making progress.

President Joe Biden sounded optimistic this past weekend about reaching a deal with Republicans to raise or suspend the debt limit in time to avoid economic fallout from even a potential U.S. debt default.

"I really think there's a desire on their part, as well as ours, to reach an agreement, and I think we'll be able to do it," Biden told reporters Sunday in Delaware. He added, "I remain optimistic because I'm a congenital optimist."

But that optimism wasn't matched on the other side of the table.

"I still think we're far apart," McCarthy told NBC News on Monday outside the Capitol. "It doesn't seem to me yet that they want a deal."

As she has in prior letters to Congress, the Treasury secretary underscored the urgency of the situation.

"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.

"In fact, we have already seen Treasury's borrowing costs increase substantially for securities maturing in early June," she wrote.

The Tuesday meeting between Biden, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was initially scheduled for Friday, but postponed until Tuesday to give aides more time to talk.

The new letter also came just days after guidance from the Congressional Budget Office that said tax revenues and emergency measures after June 15 "will probably allow the government to continue financing operations through at least the end of July."

"If the debt limit remains unchanged, there is significant risk that at some point in the first two weeks of June, the government will no longer be able to pay all of its obligations," said the CBO report.
Privately held companies have been left to develop AI technology at breakneck speed, giving rise to systems like Microsoft-backed OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Bard. Lionel Bonaventure | AFP | Getty Images

A key committee of lawmakers in the European Parliament have approved a first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence regulation  making it closer to becoming law. The approval marks a landmark development in the race among authorities to get a handle on AI, which is evolving with breakneck speed. The law, known as the European AI Act, is the first law for AI systems in the West. China has already developed draft rules designed to manage how companies develop generative AI products like ChatGPT. The law takes a risk-based approach to regulating AI, where the obligations for a system are proportionate to the level of risk that it poses. The rules also specify requirements for providers of so-called "foundation models" such as ChatGPT, which have become a key concern for regulators, given how advanced they're becoming and fears that even skilled workers will be displaced.

What do the rules say?

The AI Act categorizes applications of AI into four levels of risk: unacceptable risk, high risk, limited risk and minimal or no risk. Unacceptable risk applications are banned by default and cannot be deployed in the bloc. They include: AI systems using subliminal techniques, or manipulative or deceptive techniques to distort behavior

AI systems exploiting vulnerabilities of individuals or specific groups

Biometric categorization systems based on sensitive attributes or characteristics

AI systems used for social scoring or evaluating trustworthiness

AI systems used for risk assessments predicting criminal or administrative offenses

AI systems creating or expanding facial recognition databases through untargeted scraping

AI systems inferring emotions in law enforcement, border management, the workplace, and education Several lawmakers had called for making the measures more expensive to ensure they cover ChatGPT. To that end, requirements have been imposed on "foundation models," such as large language models and generative AI. Developers of foundation models will be required to apply safety checks, data governance measures and risk mitigations before making their models public. They will also be required to ensure that the training data used to inform their systems do not violate copyright law. "The providers of such AI models would be required to take measures to assess and mitigate risks to fundamental rights, health and safety and the environment, democracy and rule of law," Ceyhun Pehlivan, counsel at Linklaters and co-lead of the law firm's telecommunications, media and technology and IP practice group in Madrid, told CNBC. "They would also be subject to data governance requirements, such as examining the suitability of the data sources and possible biases." It's important to stress that, while the law has been passed by lawmakers in the European Parliament, it's a ways away from becoming law.

Why now?

Privately held companies have been left to develop AI technology at breakneck speed, giving rise to systems like Microsoft -backed OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Bard. Google on Wednesday announced a slew of new AI updates, including an advanced language model called PaLM 2, which the company says outperforms other leading systems on some tasks. Novel AI chatbots like ChatGPT have enthralled many technologists and academics with their ability to produce humanlike responses to user prompts powered by large language models trained on massive amounts of data. But AI technology has been around for years and is integrated into more applications and systems than you might think. It determines what viral videos or food pictures you see on your TikTok or Instagram feed, for example. The aim of the EU proposals is to provide some rules of the road for AI companies and organizations using AI.

Tech industry reaction

The rules have raised concerns in the tech industry. The Computer and Communications Industry Association said it was concerned that the scope of the AI Act had been broadened too much and that it may catch forms of AI that are harmless. "It is worrying to see that broad categories of useful AI applications  which pose very limited risks, or none at all  would now face stringent requirements, or might even be banned in Europe," Boniface de Champris, policy manager at CCIA Europe, told CNBC via email. "The European Commission's original proposal for the AI Act takes a risk-based approach, regulating specific AI systems that pose a clear risk," de Champris added. "MEPs have now introduced all kinds of amendments that change the very nature of the AI Act, which now assumes that very broad categories of AI are inherently dangerous."

What experts are saying
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during an Iowa GOP reception on May 13, 2023 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appears to be putting the final pieces in place before he announces a bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

The governor's political operation started moving out of its Tallahassee offices and into a new location Monday, a source familiar with the situation told CNBC.

The cost of the move will likely exceed $5,000, a threshold that will trigger a 15-day countdown for the operation to file a so-called Statement of Candidacy form with the Federal Election Commission. The move, which NBC News reported Friday, is expected to essentially kick off DeSantis' final sprint before he publicly announces his presidential bid.

Also on Monday, DeSantis' press secretary, Bryan Griffin, announced he was leaving the governor's office to "pursue other avenues of helping to deliver the governor's success to our country." Griffin is becoming the press secretary for the DeSantis political operation, according to Fox News, which first reported the move.

"If I can be even a small part of the revival and restoration of our great nation, then I am prepared to give it my all," Griffin wrote in his resignation letter.

A spokeswoman for the governor's office said in a statement that Griffin "has been a valuable member of the communications team and worked tirelessly to serve Floridians, and we know he will continue to serve the Governor well in his new role."

The moves are among the clearest yet that DeSantis is gearing up to step into the primary arena that former President Donald Trump has so far dominated. Long seen as Trump's top Republican rival, DeSantis has seen his standing decline in early national polls of the potential primary field, even as he tours key states and touts a spate of recent legislative victories.

Trump, meanwhile, appears to have surged in the same polls despite recently being criminally charged with falsifying business records and being found liable for sexual abuse and defamation by a New York jury. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges and vowed to appeal the jury's verdict.

The polling gap between the frontrunners has widened even as super PACs backing DeSantis and Trump have each spent a comparable amount  more than $10 million  on advertising in the primary so far, according to data from ad-tracking firm AdImpact.

The pro-DeSantis political efforts could soon reap a major windfall if the governor's allies are able to transfer nearly $86 million from the state GOP to a federal super PAC that can use it to boost his national campaign. Some experts expect the Florida governor's supporters to make that move around the same time DeSantis announces his White House bid.

DeSantis has met with major donors in recent weeks to make his case as a presidential contender. Some of those potential benefactors have since extolled the governor's abilities, though Bloomberg reported that one wealthy GOP donor, Steve Schwarzman, is holding off after meeting with him.

Meanwhile, DeSantis has continued to use his office to tee up his campaign platform. The governor earlier Monday signed multiple education-focused bills, including one barring funding for diversity, equity and inclusion programs in public colleges. Supporters and critics of those programs have each accused the other of stifling academic freedom.

The anti-DEI bill is part of a wide-reaching, frequently politically divisive agenda that recently passed through Florida's heavily Republican state Legislature.

"If you want to do things like gender ideology, go to Berkeley," DeSantis said at the signing event Monday.

DeSantis and Trump were both set to hold events in Iowa over the weekend, but the former president backed out, citing concerns about severe weather.

After ducking that head-to-head moment, Trump turned back to repeatedly bashing DeSantis in the media.

"He doesn't have the goods," Trump said of DeSantis in a multipart Truth Social post Monday that railed against Fox News for allegedly covering the potential GOP challenger too favorably.

"Without my Endorsement, he was a dead man walking. Even with Fox, he's already pretty close to that again!" Trump wrote.
An oversupply of summer rentals in the Hamptons is spurring price cuts of 20% or more, as affluent Wall Streeters and tech workers cut back on their summer spending.

There are now about 5,700 seasonal rentals available for this summer on the South Fork peninsula in New York, which includes most of the Hamptons, according to Judi Desiderio, CEO of Town & Country Real Estate in East Hampton. That's twice the number of homes that would typically be available for a summer before the Covid pandemic shifting vacationing habits, she said.

"There's just too much inventory, at every level," she said.

The glut of rentals in one of America's richest beach communities has started to lead to price cuts. Brokers say many homeowners have started trimming prices for their rentals by 10% to 20%, and prices are likely to drop further as homeowners race to fill their rentals before the start of Memorial Day.

"We're choked with supply," said Enzo Morabito, a Hamptons broker with Douglas Elliman. "And it's throughout the Hamptons."

Granted, "bargains" are all relative in the Hamptons, where a typical 3-bedroom house rents for between $60,000 and $100,000 for the summer, depending on the location. Homes on the ocean can rent for over $1 million for a month.

Yet the after-effects of the pandemic have led to a record number of available rentals, and brokers say it could take a few more summers for prices and demand to normalize. In the spring of 2020, throngs of wealthy New Yorkers fled the city for the Hamptons and many bought homes. That led to a sales boom where volume and prices soared. The median sales price jumped more than 40% to over $1.2 million.

Now, many of those new homeowners are trying to rent their homes, either because they want to travel for part of the summer or because they want the income to help pay home expenses. The surge in supply has upended a market that traditionally had a limited number of rentals and consistently high prices.

"We had a balanced market before Covi

d," Desiderio said. "Demand wasn't out of control and prices held for years."

Many of the new homeowners also decided to rent because they expected the boom-time rental prices of 2020 and 2021, which are now unrealistic, brokers say.

"I get clients coming to me saying, 'I want to rent my house for $250,000,'" said Gary DePersia of the Corcoran Group. "I tell them it's not realistic anymore. The market has changed."

DePersia is advising his rental clients to offer more flexible leases  perhaps for two weeks or a month rather than the whole summer  and to lower prices.

The other big problem is falling demand. Since the Hamptons is still highly dependent on the Manhattan economy  and specifically finance and tech  it's starting to feel the chill of a falling stock market and shrinking IPO and capital markets. Wall Street bonuses fell 26% last and several of the large Wall Street firms and banks, including Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, Bank of America and Lazard, have announced job cuts.

"The Hamptons is tied to Wall Street with an umbilical cord," Desiderio said. "When Wall Street is doing well, we do well. When they pull back, we pull back."

The one bright spot in the rental market, at least for owners, is at the very high end, especially oceanfront. Brokers say one oceanfront home in the Hamptons has already rented for $2 million per month this summer, although the brokers declined to give details.

There are at least three other homes being offered for rent at $2 million or more for the summer, they say.

DePersia has a 12,000-square-foot oceanfront rental in Bridgehampton that's being offered for $600,000 for two weeks. The newly built house, with 10 bedrooms, over a dozen bathrooms, multiple kitchens, a pool overlooking the ocean and a rooftop deck with a hot tub, has already attracted a number of potential renters.

"When you talk about oceanfront, new build, all the amenities for entertaining and families, there just aren't that many," he said. "And the kind of people who would rent a place like that aren't as affected by the stock market or job cuts."
Special Counsel John Durham, who then-United States Attorney General William Barr appointed in 2019 after the release of the Mueller report to probe the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation, arrives for his trial at the United States District Court for the District of Columbia on May 17, 2022 in Washington, DC.

The special counsel who spent four years investigating the Trump-Russia probe accused the FBI of acting negligently by opening the investigation based on vague and insufficient information in a sweeping 300-page report made public Monday.

Special Counsel John Durham, named by attorney general Bill Barr to examine the origins and conduct of the investigation into whether former President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign colluded with Russia, criticized the FBI at length in the report.

"The (Justice) Department and the FBI failed to uphold their important mission of strict fidelity to law," the conclusion section of Durham's report says. "Senior FBI personal displayed a serious lack of analytical rigor toward the information they received, especially information received from politically affiliated persons or entities."

The FBI responded to the report, indicating that the missteps identified by Durham have already been addressed.

"The conduct in 2016 and 2017 that Special Counsel Durham examined was the reason that current FBI leadership already implemented dozens of corrective actions, which have now been in place for some time," the statement said. "Had those reforms been in place in 2016, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented. This report reinforces the importance of ensuring the FBI continues to do its work with the rigor, objectivity, and professionalism the American people deserve and rightly expect."

Durham lost the only two prosecutions he brought to court. But the report released Monday appeared to be an appeal to the court of public opinion  an argument that Trump was treated unfairly by FBI officials who were too quick to unleash the bureau's investigative powers.

Trump allies have been eager to see the report, arguing that Durham would make clear what the former president has been saying all along  that his campaign did nothing wrong but that the Obama administration was using the power of the federal government to try to influence the 2016 election.

Durham's central conclusions were previously contradicted by a 2019 report by the Justice Department's internal watchdog, which found that while the FBI made a series of mistakes, the decision to open the Trump Russia probe was justified as a matter of law and policy  and untainted by any evidence of political bias.

Durham, who issued a statement disagreeing with the Justice Dept. inspector general's report at the time, expanded his dissent in the report released Monday.

Durham, a former U.S. Attorney in Connecticut, submitted his report on Friday to Attorney General Merrick Garland, who read it over the weekend and ordered it released without changes, according to a DOJ spokesperson.

Durham's report examines in painstaking detail various aspects of the now infamous FBI investigation code-named "Crossfire Hurricane," which led to the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Mueller ultimately did not establish any coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia, but he found a series of contacts between campaign officials and Russians and a campaign that was willing and eager to accept help from Moscow. A bipartisan Senate intelligence committee report went further, saying the Trump campaign posed a counterintelligence risk to the United States by opening itself to foreign influence.

But Durham argues that the FBI acted too hastily when it opened the Crossfire Hurricane investigation in July 2016, after a Trump campaign aide told an Australian diplomat that the Trump campaign had received an offer from Russia to help Trump by releasing damaging information on his opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Durham's investigation found that at the time, neither the FBI nor CIA had any intelligence suggesting an improper relationship between Trump and Russia. But it also noted that it was known by then that Russian intelligence had hacked the Democrats, and Trump had made his infamous comment publicly beseeching Russia to find emails that were missing from a server used by Clinton.

Durham says the FBI opened a full counterintelligence investigation of the Trump campaign "based on raw, uncorroborated information," and the key agent involved in the decision, Peter Strzok, was later found to have excoriated Trump in private texts to a companion.

Durham says the FBI took a much different approach with other counterintelligence matters that had the potential to affect the election. For example, when it learned that an unnamed foreign government was seeking to influence the Clinton campaign with political contributions, the FBI moved cautiously and ultimately provided fact-specific "defensive briefings," warning Clinton campaign officials  something the FBI decided not to do with Trump.

The Durham report also discusses intelligence gathered in 2016 that suggested that the Russian government believed Clinton had a plan to vilify Trump "by stirring up a scandal claiming interference by the Russian security services." Durham appears to suggest that the intelligence information should have given the FBI pause in its pursuit of allegations involving the Trump campaign. A former senior intelligence official told NBC News that the intelligence in question was never verified.

While the report is the first time Durham makes sweeping conclusions, much of the lengthy documents summarizes well-known history, including examining the veracity of the so-called dossier gathered by former British intelligence operative Christopher Steele, which the FBI relied on in part to get a national security warrant to conduct surveillance on Trump aide Carter Page.

The FBI was not able to substantiate most of the dossier, which appeared to be gathered in large part by a Russian named Igor Danchenko.

Durham prosecuted Danchenko on charges he lied to the FBI, but a jury acquitted him. Another jury absolved Michael Sussmann, a lawyer that Durham also charged with lying.

Durham secured a guilty plea from an FBI lawyer, Kevin Clinesmith, who admitted falsifying an application for a national security warrant for Page. Clinesmith got probation and his law license was suspended for a year. The FBI overhauled the way it deals with FISA warrants.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wears safety glasses as he attends a tour of the Stellantis Windsor Assembly Plant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. January 17, 2023.

Automaker Stellantis has stopped all construction at a more-than C$5 billion ($3.74 billion) electric vehicles battery manufacturing plant in Windsor, Canada, over a disagreement with the federal government about subsidies, a spokesperson for the company said on Monday.

"Effective immediately, all construction related to the battery module production on the Windsor site has stopped," the spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for Canada's Innovation Minister, Francois-Philippe Champagne, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The move comes days after the carmaker and South Korea's LG Energy Solution Ltd (373220.KS) said they were implementing "contingency plans" related to a more-than C$5 billion ($3.74 billion) battery plant investment in Canada.

Champagne, who described the deal as Stellantis's largest ever in the Canadian auto sector when it was announced, on Friday said the "auto industry is crucial to the Canadian economy and to the hundreds of thousands of Canadian workers".

LGES and Stellantis announced their battery plant investment in the country last year, aiming for an annual production capacity in excess of 45 gigawatt hours (GWh) and expected to create an estimated 2,500 new jobs in the Windsor area.

In April, Canada had also agreed to provide up to C$13 billion in subsidies and a C$700 million grant to lure Volkswagen AG into building its North American battery plant in the country.

Canada's deal with the German automaker for a battery gigafactory, announced this year, is the biggest single investment ever in the country's electric-vehicle supply chain.

($1 = 1.3372 Canadian dollars)
SpaceX, Twitter and electric car maker Tesla CEO Elon Musk meets with France's President Emmanuel Macron (L) at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris on May 15, 2023.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk sent an email to "everybody" at his electric vehicle maker on Monday, expressing concern over the company's current hiring practices.

"I would like to gain a better understanding of our hiring," Musk wrote in the email. "VPs should send me a list of their department hiring requests once a week."

Tesla staffers read the email as either a soft hiring freeze, or a signal that Musk is renewing his focus on the car company now that he's named a CEO for Twitter, according to an employee, who asked to remain unnamed in order to speak candidly.

On Friday, Musk said NBCUniversal ad chief Linda Yaccarino would be Twitter's new CEO, about six months after he purchased the social media company for $44 billion.

Last month, Tesla reported a more than 20% drop in first-quarter net income from a year earlier, contributing to a 10% drop in the company's stock price. Musk at the time suggested the company would prefer higher volumes to higher margins, a comment that prompted some concern from analysts.

"Think carefully before sending me a request," Musk wrote in Monday's email. "No one can join Tesla, even as a contractor, until you receive my email approval."

Musk has generally been involved in new hire and budget approvals at Tesla since he took over as CEO in 2008.

Electrek, a publication focused on EVs, previously reported on the email. Tesla didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

On Tuesday, Tesla is slated to host its annual shareholder meeting in Austin, Texas. Stakeholders must decide whether to approve of new and old board appointments, including the addition of ex-Tesla technology chief JB Straubel.

Proxy advisory Glass Lewis recommended last month that shareholders vote against Straubel, because they didn't view him as an appropriate independent director given his history with the company from its early years through 2019, when he resigned.

A separate consortium of environment, social and governance-focused funds also urged shareholders to reconsider who they appoint to Tesla's board. Some admonished the company's current board to rein in an "over-committed" CEO in an open letter.

Musk sold billions of dollars worth of Tesla shares to finance his Twitter takeover, and has courted controversy ever since.

Under Musk's watch, Twitter restored the accounts of previously banned and divisive figures, including neo-Nazi website founder Andrew Anglin. In recent days, the company bowed to demands to throttle some content and users on the app in Turkey, ahead of an important election there.

Here's Monday's email from Musk:

To: Everybody From: Elon Musk Subj. Hiring Date: May 15, 2023 I would like to gain a better understanding of our hiring. VPs should send me a list of their department hiring requests once a week. Think carefully before sending me a request. No one can join Tesla, even as a contractor, until you receive my email approval. Thanks, Elon

WATCH: Tesla has major growth behind it
Small businesses have new incentives to help their employees plan for retirement, thanks to Secure 2.0, a sweeping retirement reform bill signed into law late last year.

The incentives, which include tax credits that are especially attractive to businesses with 50 or fewer employees, are designed in part to encourage small companies to create retirement plans for their employees  especially the smallest firms, among whom less than half (48%) offer a retirement plan, according to research by Anqi Chen and Alicia Munnell of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, which uses 2019 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

But that's changing, in part inspired by more attractive tax breaks and a highly competitive labor market in which every benefit matters more in the war for talent. Among companies not offering a 401(k) or similar plan, 42% say they are likely to begin sponsoring a plan in the next two years, according to a new survey report published May 2 by nonprofit Transamerica Institute and its Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies. Among those that are not likely to sponsor a plan in this time frame, 31% cited cost concerns.

Before discounting plan sponsorship  especially for cost reasons  small businesses should consider the potential financial benefits Secure 2.0 has to offer. There are eligibility requirements and specific variables that can affect these benefits, so it makes sense to consult a tax advisor to help weigh the various options.

But as a general rule, these credits "add up to sizable benefits for employers looking to start plans," said Amy Vaillancourt, senior vice president of workplace product, strategy and architecture at Voya Financial.

Here are some basic features of the legislation and points to consider in balancing costs and benefits  to both employer and employee.

A big tax credit can cut down on plan setup costs

Secure 2.0 created a souped-up credit to offset administrative costs associated with starting a qualified retirement plan. For businesses with between one and 50 employees, the legislation increased the percentage of coverage up to 100% of qualified start-up costs, up from 50%. There's a $5,000 per year cap that's available for three years. Larger businesses  those with 51 to 100 employees  are still eligible to receive up to 50% of plan start-up costs.

Employer contributions also generate tax advantages

Additionally, Secure 2.0 offers a new tax credit for five years to businesses with up to 100 employees who make employer contributions to a new defined contribution plan. This credit is designed to encourage small businesses to contribute to their employees' retirement savings. The exact amount of the credit depends on factors such as the number of eligible employees and the number of years since the plan began.

The credit is especially beneficial to employers with 50 or fewer employees. For these businesses, the credit is up to $1,000 per year for each employee earning less than $100,000, and the amount of the credit reduces 25% each year starting in the third year, said Marc Scudillo, managing officer of EisnerAmper wealth management and corporate benefits.

For larger businesses  those with 51 to 100 employees  the tax credit is based on a sliding scale.

Small businesses using the credit should talk to their tax preparer to understand how deductions for employer contributions will be reduced, said Kelly Gillette, a partner with accounting firm Armanino.

A smaller auto-enrollment credit can offset some costs

A $500 tax credit is available to small companies that add an automatic enrollment feature, available for the first three years, to a new or existing 401(k) plan. While this feature isn't required until 2025, small businesses could choose to do it now and get the credit earlier, Gillette said. While auto-enrollment tends to increase participation, and thus add costs for a small business, the credit could help offset these added costs.

Starter 401(k) plan doesn't require an employer match

Employers can now offer a starter 401(k) plan that allows them to take advantage of the applicable administrative tax credits even though they aren't making contributions on their employees' behalf, Scudillo said. Many small businesses don't want or can't afford to offer an employer match, but having this option can be a significant boon for employees.

Seventy-one percent of respondents said they expect their primary source of income in retirement to come from what they save on their own in an employer-sponsored defined contribution plan, according to a recent survey from Natixis Investment Managers.

This new type of plan can be useful for recruiting purposes and for helping employees prepare for retirement, Scudillo said. The option is available to small businesses that do not have a plan in place.

Military families receive extra attention in legislation

Military spouses often lose out on the ability to save for retirement because they may not stay at a job long enough to qualify for retirement benefits or become vested. Secure 2.0 offers eligible employers a credit of up to $500 credit per military spouse that participates in the company's defined contribution plan, provided certain conditions are met.

For instance, military spouses must be immediately eligible to participate in the plan within two months of hire. Also, upon plan eligibility, the military spouse must be eligible for any matching or nonelective contribution that he or she would have been eligible for otherwise at two years of service.

The credit applies for three years and does not apply to highly compensated employees.

New Roth IRA options for small businesses

Secure 2.0 allows business owners to offer a Roth version within SEP IRAs and SIMPLE IRAs. These are often used by small businesses because they tend to have less administrative responsibilities than a 401(k)," said Eric Bronnenkant, head of tax at Betterment. The ability to offer a Roth option in these plans could benefit the owner directly, but it is also helpful for recruiting and retention purposes, Bronnenkant said.

The self-employed are not left out of legislation

The retirement legislation also has multiple benefits available for all individuals, including the self-employed. One of these benefits is the increased ability to contribute more money to retirement after age 50. For 2023, the catch-up contribution limit is $7,500, compared with $6,500 in 2022 for people ages 50 and above. Under Secure 2.0, the catch-up contribution limit will increase even more for participants between the ages of 60 and 63 starting in 2025, Gillette said.

Additionally, the age at which people must take required minimum distributions from their traditional 401(k) or traditional IRA has increased. Beginning in 2023, Secure 2.0 raised the age that a person must start taking RMDs to age 73. What's more, starting in 2024, there is no RMD requirement for Roth 401(k) and Roth 403(b) plans, so it puts them on par with a Roth IRA, which can also be a significant benefit, Gillette said.
Coatue Management's Philippe Laffont significantly hiked his bets on Big Tech in the first quarter while doubling down on a slew of chipmakers, according to a new regulatory filing. Laffont, one of the so-called Tiger Cubs who previously worked under the late Julian Robertson at Tiger Management, revealed in a filing on Tuesday that Coatue Management more than doubled its stake in Meta , Netflix , Microsoft and Alphabet last quarter. Meta became Coatue's biggest holding at the end of March, with a stake worth $1.7 billion, the filing showed. The Facebook parent has been one of the biggest winners in the tech sector this year, rising nearly 100%. Investors have been focused on its artificial intelligence potential and the company's cost-cutting story. Chip giant Nvidia was Coatue's second -biggest holding at the end of March after the hedge fund raised the stake slightly. Nvidia, viewed by many as the biggest AI enabler, is up 97% year to date. The New York-based fund also upped its AMD stake dramatically last quarter, making it its seventh-largest holding. The hedge fund also picked up Taiwan Semiconductor , building a new stake worth more than $500 million. The semiconductor sector enjoyed its best quarter since 2020 in Q1 as investors rotated back into the beaten-down industry. The iShares Semiconductor ETF has gained about 20% this year amid the AI craze on Wall Street. The fund also owned sizable stakes in Lam Research , Applied Materials and NXP Semiconductors . Correction: Moderna was Coatue's fourth-largest holding, according to the filing. An earlier version misstated the company name.
Beijing's special representative on Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, is visiting Europe for talks "on a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis," China's Foreign Ministry said Friday, with the envoy set to visit Ukraine and Russia as well as Poland, France and Germany for talks "on a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis."

China's attempts to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia step up a gear this week, with Beijing's special envoy set to visit both countries on a peace mission.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at a signing ceremony after their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21, 2023.

There is skepticism over Beijing's ability to manage and resolve a conflict as complex, bitter and deeply entrenched as the one between Ukraine and Russia. Its neutrality has also been questioned because of its closeness to Moscow.

Meanwhile, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is visiting the U.K. on Monday as Kyiv tries to drum up more military support ahead of a highly anticipated counteroffensive.

Ukraine claimed more gains in the besieged and largely ruined town of Bakhmut in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, this weekend. Fighting has been raging there for months between Ukrainian forces and mainly mercenary fighters belonging to the Wagner Group.

The town holds little strategic value to either side, but after nine months of intense combat there, winning back the town has a deep symbolic importance for Ukraine.

The Wagner Group's leader has complained of a lack of ammunition supplies for his troops in Bakhmut amid a very public dispute with the Russian Defense Ministry.
The push for legal, recreational marijuana is sweeping across America. Delaware just became the 22nd state to legalize recreational cannabis  and four more states could join the party in the coming years.

In the densely populated Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, the rollout of legal weed has been called slow and cumbersome, allowing for the proliferation of "gray" market storefronts and businesses to sell marijuana without going through the regulatory process. In New York City, for example, the mayor's office estimates the city is home to 1,400 illicit businesses selling marijuana without a license.

"Those legitimate businesses face stiff competition from shops that are not following the rules," said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg during a Feb.7 news conference. "It is time for the operation of unlicensed cannabis dispensaries to end."

At the same time, state officials are trying to right the historical wrongs brought about by the decades-long "War on Drugs." New York, Connecticut and New Jersey all have social equity components in their recreational marijuana programs, focusing on granting licenses to applicants with previous marijuana-related criminal convictions.

"Every cannabis company should be focusing on hiring people who have had previous cannabis charges and people who have come from communities that have been impacted by the war on cannabis," said social equity applicant Tahir Johnson, who's about to open Simply Pure Trenton, in New Jersey's capital city.

The recreational marijuana market is a high-stakes affair. The national cannabis market is estimated to reach $71 billion in sales by 2030, according to data from research firm New Frontier. And the New York state market alone could make up 10% of that, the data forecasts.

Watch the video above to find out how the legal cannabis rollout is going in the most populous metropolitan area in the United States, how the push for legal weed is attracting a new class of entrepreneurs and how anti-marijuana activists are trying to slow the fast pace of legal cannabis adoption.








Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway made a slew of changes to its massive equity portfolio last quarter, including adding a financial stock during the latest banking crisis, according to a new regulatory filing. The Omaha-based conglomerate built a new stake in Capital One Financial in the first quarter, worth more than $950 million, the filing showed. The McLean, VA.-based financial institution fared relatively well during the recent banking chaos with shares rising more than 3% in the first quarter. Capital One shares jumped more than 5% in afterhours trading following the news. It's unclear if it was Buffett who purchased the stock or one of his investing lieutenants, Todd Combs and Ted Weschler, who oversee about $15 billion each for Berkshire. At the same time, Berkshire dumped its remaining stakes in Bank of New York Mellon and U.S. Bancorp . The "Oracle of Omaha" recently struck a pessimistic tone about the health of banks, saying we were not through with bank failures and American banks could face more turbulence ahead. The recent tumult has led to the collapse of three mid-sized institutions since March. Activision and Paramount The conglomerate continued to trim its merger arbitrage play Activision Blizzard last quarter, but the stake was still worth more than $4 billion at the end of March. Microsoft's $69 billion takeover deal on Monday won the approval from the European Union, but it was opposed by the U.S. and the U.K. regulators. Berkshire kept its Paramount stake relatively unchanged at the end of the first quarter. The stock slid more than 30% this month alone after an earnings miss and a big dividend cut. Buffett said at Berkshire annual meeting that "it's not good news when any company passes its dividend, or cuts its dividend dramatically." He also called streaming a tough business. Berkshire's stakes in its two biggest holdings - Apple and Bank of America - increased slightly in the first quarter. That's because Berkshire combined the equity holdings of its Gen Re insurance subsidiary in the regulatory reporting for the first time. Berkshire acquired Gen Re in 1998 and previously reported securities owned by Gen Re's subsidiary, New England Asset Management, separately. The increase in Berkshire's HP stake also stemmed from Gen Re. Correction: A previous version misstated Berkshire's adjustments to its Apple, Bank of America and HP stakes. The changes were a result of the inclusion of Gen Re's equity holdings in the 13F filing.
The winds of change are blowing in Thailand, with the nine-year military rule following the 2014 coup, coming to an end. Opposition parties have emerged victorious in what is being termed as Thailand's most pivotal election in decades. The Move Forward Party, led by 42-year-old Peter Lim Jarad, has emerged on top and is looking to form an alliance with other progressive and like-minded parties.

Thailand's progressive and reformist Opposition parties have won the most number of seats in the general elections striking a body blow to pro-military parties which have ruled the South Asian state for close to a decade.

However, the road to power for the reformist parties may not be easy  Sundays winner is not assured the right to form the new government. A joint session of the 500-seat House of Representatives will be held with the 250-member Senate in July to select the prime minister, a process widely seen as undemocratic because the military-appointed senators will vote along with elected lawmakers. A candidate should get at least 376 votes to sail through as prime minister.

Anil Wadhwa, former Indian ambassador to Thailand, said he had sensed "a tremendous amount of disenchantment with the military, led parties" and that the two main military-led parties had fallen out of favour as, after COVID-19, "day-today living problems" are on voters' minds.

Speaking on CNBC-TV18's Newscentre, Wadhwa said Sunday's (April 14) election result was a culmination of several problems. "Expenses and unemployment have gone up in Thailand. Tourism has not been doing well. All these problems have compounded and have come together," Wadhwa said.

The result notwithstanding, Wadhwa says the military and the conservatives could have a trick or two up their sleeves.

"Thailand has had a history of military and the conservatives always using the constitutional institutions, especially the judiciary, and, similar institutions which are dominated by their nominees, to disqualify the Opposition parties and that is the main fear here," he explained.

Also read: Opposition parties win big in Thailand election on promises of reform

He further said there is some doubt on whether the Move Forward Party and Pheu Thai Party  two of the biggest winners on Sunday  can work together "because they were unlikely to come together before the elections.

But I think they've both seen what has happened in the past and at the moment, they are firmly together, they declared support for each other, he said.

Wadhwa added that one of the planks Move Forward Party had run on was including plans to weaken the military's political role and amend a strict law on royal insults that critics say is used to stifle dissent.

"The misuse of the law (have seen) a number of people languishing in high jails for many, many years. The students don't like this at all. The young population does not like this at all. They feel it's an outdated law which must be done away with and obviously the monarchy, with the help of the military and the conservative parties, will try to thwart this as much as possible," Wadhwa said.

He said India's bilateral ties with Thailand will not be affected by this outcome.

"A number of governments have come and gone and we have always maintained good bilateral relationship with any kind of government in Thailand, which exists essentially on the business side of Thailand. The cooperation that India has received from Thailand over the past two or three decades in terms of counterterrorism efforts and making sure that fugitives from law are repatriated back to India  that cooperation is doing very well. I'm sure the Indian and the Thai governments, whichever Thai government is in place, will continue to make sure that the cooperation is kept up, trade is doing pretty well and so are investments."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 15)  Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly will be traveling to the Philippines from May 18 to 21 to boost the bilateral cooperation between Ottawa and Manila. During the visit, the Canadian minister is also expected to discuss their Indo-Pacific Strategy which varies from economic, people to people ties to security cooperation.

Joly is the second Canadian minister to visit the Philippines this year. She is the fourth minister to travel to Manila since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office last year.

A statement released by Global Affairs Canada said Canadas top diplomat will be meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and other key Cabinet officials to discuss regional security and stability, and maintenance of a rules-based international order.

The Canadian minister will also be meeting with government officials, academics, non-governmental organizations, and civil society leaders to tackle key challenges facing the Philippines today.

The two countries will seek ways to enhanced cooperation in combating climate change, protecting marine environments and building more resilient and inclusive, prosperous societies.

Canadas Indo-Pacific strategy priority during PH visit

Minister Joly is also expected to expound on Canadas Indo-Pacific Strategy and partnership with ASEAN during her discussions in Manila.

The Indo-Pacific is the global center of economic dynamism and is of strategic importance to our security. What brings our countries together is our unwavering commitment to democracy, prosperity, and a free, open and sustainable Indo-Pacific, rooted in the rule of law. Canada continues to deepen relationships in the region with key partners, including Korea and the Philippines, Joly said in a statement.

Canada says that the Indo-Pacific region will play a crucial in its future in the next half-century.

The Indo-Pacific region is composed of 40 economies with over four billion people and an estimated $47.19 trillion in economic activity.

The Philippines is one of the fastest growing economies in the Indo-Pacific region creating commercial, development and climate finance opportunities for Canada, the statement read.

Canadas Indo-Pacific strategy also revolve on strategic objectives and initiatives on promoting security, expanding trade, investment and supply chain, investing in and connecting people, building a sustainable and green future and Canada being an engaged partner in the Indo-Pacific.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 15)  Former Senator Leila de Limas camp on Monday lambasted former President Rodrigo Duterte for authoring her persecution following her acquittal in one of her two remaining drug cases filed against her by the previous administration.

Mahilig talaga magsinungaling si former President Rodrigo Duterte (President Rodrigo Duterte really likes telling lies). Hes revising history. Everyone knows for a fact that he authored this. He said De Lima, you are finished. He said You will rot in jail, De Limas legal counsel Dino de Leon told CNN Philippines The Source.

On Saturday, Duterte said the decision of a Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) to acquit De Lima in her second drug case should be accepted. He maintained that he had nothing to do with the drug cases filed against one of his staunchest critics.

De Lima has been in detention since February 2017 for allegedly benefitting from the illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison, and using the money from the trade to fund her 2016 senatorial campaign.

In August 2016, Duterte said in a news conference Tapos ka na (you are finished) when asked about the De Lima-led inquiry into the killings of drug suspects.

The former chief executive also said he was validating a matrix showing De Limas connection with drug lords in the national penitentiary. The Department of Justiceled by then led by Duterte appointee Vitaliano Aguirre IIsaid there were witnesses who would testify against De Lima

In October 2016, Duterte said during his state visit to China that based on the testimonies, De Lima will rot in jail.

Lets not fool the Filipino people. It was Rodrigo Duterte and his cohorts during his administration who authored this. He has everything to do with the persecution of Leila de Lima, De Leon said.

According to De Lima's lawyer Boni Tacardon, the recantation of former Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos, who claimed he was coerced by Aguirre, was vital in the acquittal.

Prior to this, one of De Limas drug charges was dismissed in 2021.

A third case is pending before Muntinlupa RTC Branch 256.

The camp of De Lima is waiting for the courts decision on their application for bail, which was supposed to be released last week, but was postponed due to problems during the prosecutions marking of evidence.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 15)  Former senator Leila de Lima will make sure that all those responsible for pressuring witnesses to speak against her will be held liable, her legal counsel said Monday.

All of these people should be held into account that has always been the stand of Sen. Leila de Lima, Dino de Leon, legal counsel of De Lima, told CNN Philippines The Source.

On May 12, the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 204 acquitted De Lima in one of her two remaining drug cases filed against her by the Duterte administration.

She was allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison, which she used to fund her 2016 senatorial bid.

The recantation of former Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos was vital in the acquittal, De Limas camp said.

Ragos claimed he was coerced by former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, who was appointed by former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Aquirre denied the allegation.

Aside from Ragos, self-confessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa, De Lima's former bodyguard Ronnie Dayan, and another government witness Marcelo Adorco have recanted their allegations against De Lima.

For Sen. Leila de Lima, the battle is bigger than her political career, the battle is bigger than herself. And that is the reason why despite the fact that she already forgave all her persecutors, she will have to hold them into account, De Leon said.

Following her acquittal and the dismissal of another case in 2021, De Lima is just waiting for the decision of Muntinlupa RTC Branch 256 regarding her plea for bail in her third drug case. She has been in detention for six years.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 15)  Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo is in Tokyo, Japan to participate in the Munich Leaders Meeting (MLM) and engage in a number of policy discussions until May 16.

In a statement released by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Manalo will join policymakers and experts in sharing insights on a range of issues, including the Indo-Pacific security architecture, nuclear security, and new partnership opportunities arising from the shifting geopolitical landscape in the region and beyond.

Manalo is also set to meet with Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa to discuss developments on the agreements reached by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio last February.

The DFA chief will also hold discussions with Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid of the Maldives to discuss the bilateral ties of the two countries and possible cooperation in addressing climate change.

Manalo will also deliver a policy address at the Japans National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) to promote rules-based order.

The foreign affairs chief noted that the Philippines and Japan have a remarkable journey of friendship, cooperation, and mutual respect.

From the ashes of war, we have forged a comprehensive and largely outcomes-based Strategic Partnership that is anchored on shared values, Manalo said in a statement.

As the world undergoes profound transformations, driven by new technologies, power dynamics, and societal changes, the Philippines and Japan must continue to work together to ensure that the principles enshrined in the UN Charter and the rules-based order that has been the bedrock of international peace and stability these past decades, are upheld and strengthened, he added.

The Philippines, Japan and the United States are eyeing potential trilateral cooperation in order to address maritime issues in the region.

The Japanese Embassy in Manila says no official discussions on possible joint patrols in the South China Sea have been made so far with the Philippines and the United States.

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 however said that 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-U.S. Trilateral Defense Policy Dialogue, and participation of the Japan Self-Defense Forces in Philippines-U.S. joint exercises, the Embassy said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 15)  The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday said thousands of skilled workers in Kuwait may be affected by the Gulf states suspension of issuance of entry and work visas for Filipinos.

Ang sabi ng DMW sa akin [the Department of Migrant Workers told me), we send about two or three thousand workers every year who are not household workers, mga (theyre) skilled workers. So they will be affected, DFA Usec. Eduardo de Vega told CNN Philippines The Source.

Last week, Kuwait halted the issuance of entry and work visas for Filipinos.

Representatives from the Philippine government are set to fly on Monday night to meet with their counterparts in the Middle Eastern country to know the reason behind their move, and to hopefully come up with solutions.

De Vega said it was likely that the grounds behind the suspension may be related to a 2018 agreement on the management of a shelter by the Philippine embassy for overseas Filipino workers who have escaped from their abusive employers.

DFA Assistant Secretary Paul Cortes has committed to resolving the issue in an amicable manner.

According to the DFA, there are around 290,000 Filipinos in the Gulf state.

In February, the DMW halted the deployment of first-time household workers bound for Kuwait until more safeguards are in place for them.

The ban was instituted after the horrible death of 35-year-old Filipino household worker Jullebee Ranara in a Kuwaiti desert.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 15)  The National Police Commission (Napolcom) said it is still looking deeper into the alleged involvement of 32 high-ranking officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who failed to hurdle the review made by the five-man advisory group.

"We are still waiting doon sa response at update ng Napolcom," PNP spokesperson PCol Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing on Monday. "We have to understand nasa Napolcom na yung bola with respect doon sa further evaluation and investigation dito sa 32 PNP personnel and antayin natin. Ang sabi ng DILG it will take at least two to three weeks bago sila makapagbigay sa atin ng update."

[Translation: We are still waiting for the response and updates of the Napolcom. We have to understand the ball in now in Napolcom's court with respect to the further evaluation and investigation of the 32 PNP personnel and we have to wait for that. The Department of the Interior and Local Government said it would take two to three weeks before they can give us an update.]

It can be recalled that the Napolcom has released the initial findings of the investigation made by the five-man panel.

The panel, headed by former PNP Chief Rodolfo Azurin, recommended the acceptance of the courtesy resignations of two generals and two colonels, and the filing of criminal and administrative charges against them.

Meanwhile, 917 officials were cleared from any involvement in illegal drugs.

According to Fajardo, these senior officers are now eligible for promotion, which was halted by the review process.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 15)  The recall of operatives assigned to different special operation units (SOU) in the Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group (PEDG) is now in the works.

In a press briefing on Monday, PNP spokesperson PCol Jean Fajardo said the PDEG is now preparing the transfer of more than 700 SOU operatives from different regions to headquarters.

Fajardo said this is prior to the finalization of the complete dissolution of SOUs.

"On the part of the PDEG ay kausap ko kanina yung kanilang director si General Faro Olaguera, na according to him while enroute yung dokumento ay they are now preparing for the possible transport nitong kanilang mga tao dito sa NHQ (national headquarters)," said Fajardo.

[Translation: I spoke earlier with PDEG director General Faro Olaguera, and according to him while the documents are enroute, they are now preparing for the possible transport of their personnel to the NHQ.]

Fajardo added that billeting areas and programs spearheaded by the Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development are being prepared to help refresh personnel on the dos and don'ts with respect to the implementation of anti-illegal drugs operations.

According to Fajardo, the matter on the abolition of SOUs is still being reviewed by different directorates.

Once they have submitted their inputs, the PNP will forward the matter to the National Police Commission for another set of review and recommendation.

"As soon as maaprubahahan ni Chief PNP yung recommendation ng mga concerned directorates ay ifo-forward natin yan sa Napolcom for review and recommendations, and once ma-deactivate yun ay doon sisimulan yung transfer and transport ng mga PNP personnel affected," she explained.

[Translation: Once the PNP Chief approves the recommendations of concerned directorates, this will be forwarded to the National Police Commission for review and recommendations, and once deactivated, the transfer and transport of PNP personnel will begin.]

It was PNP Chief PGen Benjamin Acorda who recommended the deactivation of all PDEG SOUs in the country following the involvement of some of its operatives in the pilferage of 42 kilograms of shabu from a massive drug haul in Tondo Manila last year.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16)  Economic managers of the Marcos administration seek the approval of the Senate bill establishing the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) on third and final reading before session adjourns on June 2

"The Maharlika Investment Fund bill is making significant progress in the Senate, and we hope to see it signed into law before the President's second State of the Nation Address on July 24," Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said in a statement Monday.

Diokno, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan attended the Senate plenary session on the MIF bill on Monday to show their full support for the measure.

During the interpellation, Senator Grace Poe sought clarification on the qualifications and standards for the nine members of the Board of Directors, which bill sponsor Senator Mark Villar said would be elaborated in the implementing rules and regulations of the measure. Other details, however, were not discussed during the interpellation as Poe said her questions were only "a prelude" to the questions she will ask next week.

Meanwhile, Senator Ronald Dela Rosa only asked questions on the MIF's difference from a sovereign wealth fund and the need for it given the existence of government financial institutions.

This was already discussed in the House of Representatives, which passed their version of the MIF bill in December 2022 after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. certified it as urgent.

Dela Rosa ended his interpellation with a banter directed to Villar. Dela Rosa asked: "Did you find my interpellation a friendly one?"

READ: The proposed Maharlika Investment Fund: What you need to know

The period of interpellation and debate for the MIF bill will resume on Tuesday.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16)  Filipino and Australian troops on Monday launched their joint drills in Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal as part of Exercise Kasangga 2023.

In the opening ceremony, Manila and Canberra traced its long-standing defense ties back to World War II and said the joint training is about "interoperability and keeping our region safe."

"This is only for defensive posture, if our country will be attacked by any threat groups in the future," Philippine Army BGen Jose Agusto Villareal said.

As part of the AUKUS (Australia-United Kingdom-United States) Defense Agreement, Australia also backs freedom of navigation in the South China Sea  a move China has denounced.

A second batch of Australian troops is set to arrive in the Philippines in June for the continuation of the joint exercises.
(CNN)  The expiration of a COVID-related border restriction policy known as Title 42 has so far brought fewer migrant arrivals than expected, but US southern border communities still worry about overcrowded migrant processing and detention facilities.

US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Sunday the number of migrants at the US southern border "are markedly down over what they were prior to the end of Title 42."

Title 42, a controversial Trump-era policy from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, allowed authorities to swiftly turn away migrants encountered at the US-Mexico border. The policy ended Thursday night along with the national coronavirus public health emergency.

The mayor of Laredo, Texas, told CNN's Jim Acosta that even though the number of people coming in may be lower than what federal officials were bracing for, his community is still on "high alert."

"The unfortunate reality is that we were already at near capacity in our hospitals before Title 42 expired and without a pediatric intensive care unit," Mayor Victor Trevino, who is a physician, said. "We wouldn't be able to care for some of the arriving children and family groups."

His community received about 700 migrants on Saturday, the mayor said.

"We're still on high alert because Brownsville and El Paso still have a high number there with them so we have to be cognizant of that," he added.

Officials had warned the end of Title 42 could result in a migrant surge that would exacerbate an already challenging humanitarian crisis at the southern border. Federal and local authorities prepared for an influx, with thousands of personnel from federal agencies dispatched to the border to support local authorities.

Authorities had projected migrant encounters to surge to an average of 2,000-14,000 a day, said one official, Matthew J. Hudak, deputy chief of the US Border Patrol.

"It's not the numbers we initially expected, and we hope it keeps that way," said Mayor Javier Villalobos of McAllen, which sits along the US-Mexico border in South Texas.

In El Paso  which has seen hundreds of migrants sleeping on sidewalks after a recent spike in arrivals  Mayor Oscar Leeser said the city has so far seen a "smooth transition" out of Title 42 but is still preparing for what the future may hold.

"We know that we still need to prepare for the unknown because we don't know what's going to happen next week and continue to happen day in and day out," Lesser said.

His community is currently getting the resources it needs from the state and federal government, he said on "Face the Nation" on Sunday.

"We all know the immigration process is broken, there's no ifs and buts about it, but we are getting the resources that we need because our city and the southern border couldn't do it without federal aid," Leeser said.

While border officials did not see a substantial influx of migrants Friday, US authorities warn that detention facilities could still become dangerously overcrowded. As of Friday afternoon, about 23,400 migrants were in Border Patrol custody, slightly lower than earlier in the week, according to a Homeland Security official.

What the migrants say

Many who head to the US make long and dangerous journeys in hopes of finding better, safer lives. Experts say migrants could be fleeing violence, immigrating for economic opportunities or to reunite with family members.

Thousands of migrants for weeks took refuge around El Paso's Sacred Heart Church ahead of the expiration of Title 42. Father Rafael Garcia, the pastor at the church, said the numbers of migrants have dwindled in the past few days.

"The numbers have really gone down," Garcia told CNN's Jim Acosta on Saturday. "I don't have answers, but the fact is around our church and even within our shelter, our numbers have gone down and we're taking it day by day. "

The majority of migrants his church has encountered recently had traveled from Venezuela, where some described struggling to survive on the equivalent of $5 to $10 a month, the pastor said.

"It's not an easy decision for them to come, but they all believe they cannot survive back home," he added. "Their desire, typically from everybody, they say 'I want to work. I want to be able to start a new life. I want to send money back to family still in Venezuela.' That's pretty much the common theme."

Migrants arriving at the El Paso church also describe a dangerous journey to get there, Garcia said.

"Some have been kidnapped, some have been harassed in different ways," he said.

Those arriving at his church include injured people who need emergency care, Garcia said, as well as pregnant mothers in their third trimester of pregnancy, who have made the arduous trek through Mexico for a chance to immigrate to the US.

"It's a real crisis. It's a real human crisis," he said.

"To do this, it must be a real serious need to say, 'I have to leave my country. I can no longer be there,'" the pastor said. "That has to be taken into account."

Those who make it to a border checkpoint arrive not knowing whether they will qualify for asylum or be sent back to Mexico or their home countries.

What happens next

With Title 42 now expired, US authorities are leaning more on Title 8, a decades-old protocol for asylum seekers which could carry lengthier processing times and more severe consequences for those crossing unlawfully.

The federal plan was dealt a setback Thursday when a federal judge in Florida temporarily blocked the Biden administration from releasing migrants from Border Patrol without court notices. The ruling impedes a key administration tool for managing the number of migrants in US custody.

Hudak warned in the filing that without measures to conditionally release some migrants, Border Patrol could have over 45,000 migrants in custody by the end of the month.

"Noncitizens held in overcrowded facilities are not only vulnerable to communicable diseases, but this vulnerability is likely to be compounded by some aspects of the noncitizens' journey including poor health and nutrition, lack of access to health care, and/or inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene services while migrating to the Southwest border," the filing says.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "End of Title 42 immigration policy brought fewer migrants than expected, but communities are still on high alert"
Generative AI is catching on extremely quickly in the corporate world, with particular attention from the C-suite, but its still new enough that there arent any well-established best practices for deployment or training. Preparing for the technology can involve several different approaches, from conducting pilot projects and lunch-and-learns to forming centers of excellence based around experts who teach other employees and act as a central resource.

IT leaders may remember how, in the past 10 years or so, some user departments ran off to the cloud and made their own arrangements for spinning up instances of software  then dumped the whole mess into ITs lap when it became unmanageable. Generative AI can make that situation look like childs play, but there are strategies for starting to manage it ahead of time.

Its remarkable how quickly this set of technologies has entered the consciousness of business leaders, says Michael Chui, a partner at consulting firm McKinsey. People are using this without it being sanctioned by corporate, which indicates how compelling this is.

Ritu Jyoti, group vice president of worldwide AI research at IDC, says the drive to adopt generative AI is coming from the top down. The C-suite has become voracious AI leaders. Its now mainstream, and theyre asking tough questions of their direct reports. Her bottom line: Embrace generative AI, set up a framework for how to use it, and create value for both the organization and employees.

Getting all that done wont be easy. Generative AI comes with plenty of risks  including incorrect, biased, or fabricated results; copyright and privacy violations; and leaked corporate data  so its important for IT and company leaders to maintain control of any generative AI work going on in their organizations. Heres how to get started.

Decide which use cases to pursue

Your first step should be deciding where to put generative AI to work in your company, both short-term and into the future. Boston Consulting Group (BCG) calls these your golden use cases  things that bring true competitive advantage and create the largest impact compared to using todays tools  in a recent report. Gather your corporate brain trust to start exploring these scenarios.

Look to your strategic vendor partners to see what theyre doing; many are planning to incorporate generative AI into software ranging from customer service to freight management. Some of these tools already exist, at least in beta form. Offer to help test these apps; it will help teach your teams about generative AI technology in a context theyre already familiar with.

Much has already been written about the interesting uses of todays wildly popular generative AI tools, including ChatGPT and DALL-E. And while its cool and fascinating to create new forms of art, most businesses wont need an explainer of how to remove a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich from a VCR written in the style of the King James Bible anytime soon.

Instead, most experts suggest organizations begin by using the tech for first drafts of documents ranging from summaries of relevant research to information you can insert into business cases or other work. Almost every knowledge worker can have their productivity increased, says McKinseys Chui.

In fact, McKinsey ran a six-week generative AI pilot program with some of its programmers and saw double-digit increases in both code accuracy and the speed of coding.

Jonathan Vielhaber, director of information technology at contract-research firm Cognitive Research Corp. (CRC), is using ChatGPT-3 to examine security issues including how to test for different exploits and the advantages, challenges, and implementation guidelines for adopting a new password manager. He does some wordsmithing to make sure the result is in his own style, and then drops the information into a business case document.

This approach has saved him two of the four hours needed to create each proposal  well worth the $20/month fee, he says. Security exploits in particular can get technical, and AI can help you get a good, easy-to-understand view of them and how they work.

Let your users have at it

To help discern the applications that will benefit the most from generative AI in the next year or so, get the technology into the hands of key user departments, whether its marketing, customer support, sales, or engineering, and crowdsource some ideas. Give people time and the tools to start trying it out, to learn what it can do and what its limitations are. And expect both sides of that equation to keep changing.

Ask employees to apply generative AI to their existing workflow, making absolutely sure nobody uses any proprietary data or personally identifying information about customers or employees. When you supply data to many generative AI tools, they feed the data back into their large language models (LLMs) to learn from it, and the data is then out in the ether.

Track whos doing what so teams can learn from each other and so you understand the bigger picture of whats going on in the company.

Now that CRCs Vielhaber is a paying ChatGPT customer, he plans to implement lunch-and-learn sessions in his company to help introduce generative AI to others and allow them to see what the possibilities are.

Start training your employees

Depending on what your long-term goals are for the technology, you might need to plan for more formal means of spreading the knowledge. IDCs Jyoti is a big fan of the center-of-excellence approach, where a central group can train different employees or even embed in various business units to help them adopt generative AI most effectively.

New types of jobs might be needed down the road, from a chief AI officer to AI trainers, auditors, and prompt engineers who understand how to create queries tailored for each generative AI tool so you get the results you want.

Hiring generative AI experts will not be easy as they become more in demand. You will need to look to recruiters and job boards, attend AI-focused conferences, and build relationships with local colleges and universities. You might decide its in your companys best interest to create your own LLMs, fine-tune ones already available from vendors, and/or host LLMs in-house to avoid security problems. All those options will require more technical experts as well as additional infrastructure, according to the BCG report.

Geetanjli Dhanjal, senior director of consultancy Yantra, is expanding her firms AI practice. Shes focusing on cross-skilling existing employees, hiring external resources, and putting recent college grads through enablement programs that include data science, web-based training, and workshops. Shes building out centers of excellence in both India and California and says that makes it easier to hire local talent in both regions.

And remember to talk to your employees about how their careers may change as a result. Even now, AI can conjure up fears about specific jobs going away. One analogy McKinseys Chui uses is to spreadsheets. We still use them, but now we have analysts who are modeling data instead of calculating, he says. Programmers using generative AI, for instance, can concentrate on improving code quality and ensuring security compliance.

When AI creates first drafts, humans are still needed to check and refine content, and seek out new types of customer-facing strategies. Track employee sentiment, the BCG report advises. Create a strategic workforce plan and adapt it as the technology evolves.

Its a two-way street, Dhanjal says. We have to support employees with training, resources, and the right environment to grow. But individuals also need to be open to change and to cross-skilling in new areas.

Be careful out there

As important as it is to jump in, its also critical to maintain some perspective about the risks of todays tools. Generative AI is prone to a phenomenon known as hallucinations, where, in the absence of enough relevant data, the tool simply makes up information. Sometimes this can yield amusing results, but its not always obvious  and your corporate lawyers may not find it so funny.

Indeed, generative AI can be wrong more than its right, says Alex Zhavoronkov, CEO of Insilico Medicine, a pharmaceutical and AI firm that has based its business model around generative AI. But unlike most companies, Insilico uses 42 different engines to test the accuracy of each model. In the broader world, you can sacrifice accuracy for snappiness with some of todays consumer-oriented generative AI tools, he says.

In February, Insilico received Phase 1 approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for an AI-generated molecule used as the basis of a medication to treat a rare lung disease. The company cleared that first phase in under 30 months and spent around $3 million, versus traditional costs of around 10 times that amount, Zhavoronkov says. The economic benefits of using generative AI mean the company can target other rare illnesses, also called orphan diseases, where most pharma companies have been reluctant to invest, as well as conditions endured by broader segments of society.

The company uses its own highly technical tools, in the hands of chemists and biophysicists and other experts. But interestingly, were still cautious about using generative AI for text generation because of inaccuracy and intellectual property issues, Zhavoronkov explains. I want to see Microsoft and Google introduce this into their software suites before I start relying on it more broadly, he says.

Vendors and researchers are working on ways to identify and bar copyrighted content from AI results, or at least alert users about the sources of the results, but its very early going. And thats why, at least until the tools improve, humans still very much need to be in the loop as auditors.

Get your guidelines on

In this world, ethical AI is more important than ever, says Abhishek Gupta, founder and principal researcher at the Montreal AI Ethics Institute. He also serves on Microsofts CSE AI Ethics Review Board and as an ethical AI expert for the Boston Consulting Group.

Responsible AI is an accelerant to give you the ability to experiment safely and with confidence, he explains. It means youre not constantly looking over your shoulder, and its well worth the time to develop controls about what employees may and may not do.

Set some broad guardrails, he suggests, based around corporate values and goals. Then capture those into enforceable policies that you communicate to staff.

Going forward, creating guidelines for AI will be on his agenda, CRCs Vielhaber says. The company is in the process of rewriting its IT- and security-related policies anyway, and AI will be a piece of that.

I think weve crossed a threshold in AI that will open up a lot of things in the next few years, he says, and people will come up with really ingenious ways to use it.
Its not just retail stores Apple is opening in India. One of the nations biggest industrial giants, Tata Group, has joined the worlds exclusive group of iPhone manufacturers and is expected to begin building iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus series devices in India later this year.

India takes a seat in the iPhone club

Beyond smaller components, this is the first time Apple has begun working with an India-based company on iPhone manufacturing at this level. Existing partners Foxconn Technology Group, Pegatron Corp, and Luxshare Precision Industry are based outside the nation.

The move follows Tata Groups acquisition of Taiwanese firm Wistron Corps factory in India following months of negotiation. The decision to sell up may reflect a difficult event in 2020 when violence broke out at the Wistron factory in India over working conditions.

However, the intensity with which Apple is focusing on diversifying its supply chain extends to all the companys suppliers, with Foxconn recently announcing plans to invest $500 million in Telengana, India. (Apple and partners are also investing in manufacturing facilities elsewhere in Southern Asia, including Thailand, Vietnam, and elsewhere.)

The aim is to build a multi-point supply chain that becomes more resilient to shocks such as COVID-19 and continued political turmoil.

Citing a claim from TrendForce, the South China Morning Post tells us the new manufacturer will be contracted to build a small number of Apple smartphones initially, with that number set to increase in future years.

Production at a global scale

Shifting a supply chain at this scale has a profound impact. Foxconns investment, for example, is expected to create 25,000 jobs at first, a number that will increase as the quantity of Apple devices made in India grows.

JP Morgan has predicted that India may account for as much as 25% of all iPhone production by 2025. At present, Indias iPhone manufacturing sector makes around 7% of iPhones and employs roughly 63,000 workers.

The effort has taken years and even now Apple, Indias government, and local states are negotiating hard to introduce new working rules to enable changes such as womens on-site factory dormitories and 12-hour workdays. Thats not possible under current regulations, which seek to protect workers against exploitation.

Many of these rules were recently changed in a national Factories Act, but local states including Tamil Nadhu appear to want to withdraw from those amendments under pressure from unions and political parties.

Given the resistance to those rules, its possible the Act may be revised to cover only certain sectors, specifically iPhone assembly. Apple vendors employ around a million workers in China, so theres a plenty of economic motivation to strike that balance between multinational profit and local human need.

Indias economy is growing quickly

India is a growing economic powerhouse that already eclipses the UK as the worlds fifth biggest economy. The analysts at Wedbush recently said Apple could generate an additional $20 billion each year in revenue through its work in India by 2025, anticipating further growth after that.

Speaking to the depth of the relationship between Indias government and Apple, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said, We are in regular touch with them. We hand-hold them because in a way, the eyes of the whole world are fixed on Apple.

All of these things bode well for Indias future, and we want to be a part of it, Apple CEO Tim Cook said during his most recent trip to India. We want to be a part of it for all of ourselves, not not just a part of it, from a marketing point of view. I cant stress enough. We are all in. India over time will be one of Apples largest markets, the scale will be enormous. India is at a tipping point."

Investment beyond manufacturing

Apple confirmed record results in the nation during its most recent fiscal call.

Supporting this growth, Apple is investing in new office space in Indias Silicon Valley in Bengaluru, and recently changed its global sales structure to help prioritize and accelerate local decision-making there. Apples India leadership is now two phone calls away from Cook, and the company has also begun investing in environmental and social projects in the country to help meet its target for a carbon neutral supply chain.

With so much in play, its of little surprise that big manufacturing companies such as Tata Group are seeking to take space in Apples business.

Please follow me on Mastodon, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe.
Workers will accept digital tools that monitor them as long as the oversight helpd them be more productive, according to a new survey by research firm Gartner.

A whopping 96% of digital workers indicated they would be willing to accept electronic monitoring of their online work in exchange for training opportunities or career development (34%); learning more about their job (33%); or gaining proactive help from IT (30%).

Interest in employee productivity monitoring has grown since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a second Gartner survey released in March.

One big reason workers appear accepting of the use of monitoring software is because theyre overwhelmed by the staggering amount of information and applications flooding their digital workspaces, according to Gartner.

Knowledge workers, on average now use about 11 applications compared to just six in 2019. Forty percent of digital workers are using more than the average number of applications and 5% use 26 or more applications at work, according to Gartner.

Gartner

Any employee is dealing with digital acceleration, staff departures, having to adjust to various working models, and many more workplace disruptions, and they are exhausted, Daniel Sanchez-Reina, a vice president analyst at Gartner, said in a statement. When unmanaged, employee fatigue is impacting the success of technological initiatives.

Employee monitoring systems are used to see whether employees are active on devices and in applications, and can be used to determine which employees are most productive and whether business outcomes are being met.

Gartner defines a digital worker as an employee who uses digital technology, including any combination of devices (laptops, smartphones, and tablets), applications, and web services for communication, information, or productivity. (More recently, the term digital worker has also been used to describe AI-driven chatbots that tackle mundane, repetitive tasks human workers once performed.)

Although digital workers are putting in an effort to try to efficiently manage this content to try reduce duplication and/or improve knowledge sharing and retention, finding the information needed to do their jobs can often be a challenge, Tori Paulman, a senior director analyst at Gartner, said in a statement. Digital workplace leaders need to create a process for their employees that enables them to agree on applications they use to accomplish work.

Shutterstock

The productivity monitoring software and services market consists of vendors that ingest location information from IoT and other devices, process that information, provide analytics of location information, and provide APIs and software development kits (SDKs) to enable business applications to leverage location data.

Not all monitoring types and tools are welcome, however. Monitoring employees to check up on whos working and whos not working or whos showing up at the office through badge reporting or sensors is widely distrusted and disliked, Paulman said.

Conversely, monitoring technology that informs workers on whether expected outcomes and goals are being met is highly accepted, according to Paulman.

The Gartner survey was conducted from September through November 2022 among 4,861 full-time employees that use digital technology for work at organizations with 100 or more employees in the US, UK, India, and China.

Lane Severson, a Gartner senior director analyst researching digital employee experiences, said digital monitoring can help IT leaders recognize where digital friction might be hindering productivity.

There are three types of friction monitoring data can expose:

Application friction, when an app isnt working and the worker is stuck;

Skills friction, when an app works but the employee doesnt know how to use it;

Process friction, where the app and the skills are in place, but a business process requires the employee leave the app or print out information to get sign off, for exmaple.

About 66% of the respondents indicated that better business outcomes could be achieved if IT provided universally accepted and supported applications and devices for work.

When digital transformation moves aim to solve every challenge with a new application, the result is that digital workers struggle to find information, make the wrong decisions due to lack of awareness, get irrelevant notifications, and miss important updates amid the noise, according to Gartner.

In 2019 much of our work still had physical aspects to it, and since then every piece of work has been digitized  the good and the bad, Paulman said. Much of work has been digitized in haste, and CIOs and their teams had to make early tactical decisions to support the sudden shift to distributed work without a lot of planning.

Employees spend most of their time in their work hub  a set of five or more personal and team productivity apps they routinely use for work, such as Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or best-of-breed combinations.

Gartners clients also report an ever-increasing portfolio of attention hubs  applications focused primarily on internal business operations, HR systems, or service desk tools.

Additionally, internal-facing roles in organizations have their own attention application hubs, such as procurement databases and finance systems, and externally facing employees have their own hubs for CRM or customer interaction tools, Paulman said.

Just to illustrate one example, the average monthly active users in Microsoft Teams 2019 was 20 million, he said. Today, it is 300 million.

With an ever-increasing number of applications being used, IT expectations are that tech problems can be solved proactively, instead of workers having to reach out for help.

When employees do need assistance, Gartner found the top six preferred ways to solve issues are all through internal IT support, with the top three being live phone, chats, and email conversations. Those findings shifted from 2020, when workers preferred to find answers on the internet or ask a co-worker.

Digital workers are now demanding IT support be more proactive, solving problems with computers and applications before they are reported or even noticed, Paulman said. Digital employee experience (DEX) tools can help IT teams achieve this by continuously improving device and application performance.
Crime in the media is a complicated subject. On the one hand, its human nature to be curious about the darkest, most depraved side of itself. On the other hand, tons of people are driving increasingly convoluted routes home after work and completely failing to learn karate because theyre convinced violent weirdos lurk around every corner. On the freakish, mutant third hand, there really are some violent weirdos out there drawing inspiration from what they see on the news and the big screen alike, and most of them are idiots.

5 People Tried to Kill Their Spouses and Blame It on Medicine Tampering The early 1980s were a more innocent time. We didnt know what AIDS was yet, Madonna still had her original face and just anybody could open up a bottle of over-the-counter medication, spit in it and put it back on the shelf. We probably should have seen the Tylenol murders coming, but someone still managed to kill seven people in the Chicago area with cyanide-laced pain reliever before we made that specifically a crime and mandated tamper-proof packaging. We say someone because they were never caught, largely because the random nature of the attacks made it all but impossible to tie them to a suspect. Following widespread media coverage, light bulbs went off over the heads of unhappy spouses across the country. Most of them just rolled over and hate-stared themselves to sleep, but at least two people tried to kill their spouses and blame it on medicine tampering. Stella Nickell would have gotten away with it (at least until her daughter ratted her out) because her husbands death was initially attributed to emphysema, but after another person died from poisoned Excedrin, she was like, Hey, um, I think thats what killed my husband, too, no reason, just a hunch. After that, police tied the Excedrin back to her pretty easily because it was also tainted with a substance Nickell used to kill algae in her fish tanks. Always wash your mortar and pestles between crushings, future poisoners. Meanwhile, Joseph Meling planted five poisoned packages of Sudafed on store shelves in addition to the one in his own home, which killed three people. Unfortunately for him, none of them were his wife, so he just killed three people for no reason. That doesnt usually happen outside of a Black Mirror episode.

4 A Fight Club Fan Bombed the Wrong Coffee Shop In the early morning hours of May 25, 2009, a homemade bomb shattered the windows of a New York City Starbucks in an attack that quickly confused investigators. The coffee shop hadnt even opened yet, and those things exploit thousands of employees before you even get out of bed, so no one was around to be hurt. Was it a disgruntled ex-exploitee? An insurance scam? A customer enraged by the discontinuation of the Apple Chai Infusion? They found out soon enough that it was a local Fight Club fan because said fan still couldnt resist breaking the first two rules of Fight Club. According to friends of 17-year-old Kyle Shaw, who they said ran his own fight club, hed been bragging about the attack as the beginnings of his own Project Mayhem, and police confirmed that he picked Starbucks because it was targeted in the movie. Theres only one problem with that: Starbucks wasnt the coffee shop destroyed in the movie. It was practically a sponsor. Director David Fincher hid Starbucks cups all over the film, and you can bet your ass he wouldnt do that if Starbucks representatives hadnt read and approved of the script because it turns out 20th Century Fox is also a corporation that doesnt want to get sued, not an underground terrorist movement. That scene isnt even in Chuck Palahniuks novel, which contains zero mentions of Starbucks or franchise coffee shops. Police initially thought the attack was part of a series of bombings that took place around the same time at various foreign consulates and a military recruiting office, which would have been much more in line with Tyler Durdens philosophy, but no, it was just another Fight Club fan who didnt understand Fight Club. Shaw ended up serving three-and-a-half years in prison, during which time he learned actual martial arts and presumably read better books. Dont worry, Kyle. We all misunderstood Fight Club when we were 17.

3 A Backdraft Fan Never Got to Be a Hero, Just an Arsonist Technically, Glen Jones didnt duplicate the arsons portrayed in Backdraft, which were intended as murderous revenge on a city councilman who got on the wrong side of the fire department, but he did look up to the movies valiant characters and decided to do something about it in 2003. We know what youre thinking: People were still watching Backdraft in 2003? Apparently, yes. We know what else youre thinking: So he went out and became a volunteer firefighter? Apparently, no. That would have made too much sense. What Jones did instead was hatch a scheme to set his girlfriends familys apartment on fire so he could make like Kurt Russell and be a big damn hero. One night, he waited until they were all asleep, lit a chair on fire and went to bed to wait a plausible amount of time to smell the smoke and launch into action. Unfortunately for him but to the great benefit of the familys rental insurers, they beat him to it. No one was hurt and the apartment wasnt damaged much, but he was still charged with and convicted of second-degree arson. So suffice it to say they were unimpressed.

2 A Thief Inspired By Frances Best Fictional Burglar Wound Up With an Orange Soda and Stitches If youve never watched Lupin despite it being one of Netflixs most globally popular series, dont worry: Youre just one of countless Americans who doesnt fuck with subtitles. The French thriller follows a Senegalese orphan inspired by the literary anti-hero Arsene Lupin to get revenge on those who wronged his family by becoming the slickest thief in all of France, so this is a copycat of a copycat. After watching the series in 2021, an unnamed Italian man claimed he studied the protagonists methods before mapping out a plan to rob a church, but he clearly half-assed his homework. After donning a leather jacket similar to the one worn by his hero, he smashed through the door of the church oratory right as the bells rang to cover the sound of shattering glass, he then made off with about 20 bucks and an orange soda. Were not Catholic scholars, so maybe someone else can explain why this church was carrying the same stock as a 7-Eleven. What he failed to realize was that in real life, when you barrel into a glass door, not even the coolest leather jacket is going to save you from being sliced into ribbons. His injuries were so bad that he eventually had to call for help, initially telling authorities that he was the one whod been robbed before admitting the truth. What mostly got him, though, was the fact that hed robbed the same church a few years earlier, forcing us to assume that church and/or its orange soda killed his parents.

1 The New York Zodiac Actually Used Astrology The Zodiac Killer has never been identified even though hes obviously Ted Cruz, and that, combined with the cryptic series of letters he sent to local newspapers, has made him an object of worship to weirdos who likewise think of themselves as brilliant, violent pains in the ass. One of those people was Heriberto Seda, who attempted to kill several people (and occasionally succeeded) between 1990 and 1996 in New York City after watching a documentary about the Zodiac Killer. But there was a lot Seda didnt understand about the original. For one thing, he appears to have wildly misinterpreted his nickname. Seda targeted his victims and timed his attacks based on astrology. Its unclear how Seda knew his victims astrological signs; investigators believe he scouted them out through discarded mail and other personal items, but in some cases, he straight-up asked them, resulting in a legitimate excuse for New Yorkers to refuse to acknowledge cheesy pick-up lines. Letters left at the scenes of his crimes and sent to newspapers contained unhinged declarations like This is the Zodiac the twelve sign will die when the belts in the heaven are seen, but they were also conveniently covered in his fingerprints and DNA, and most of his victims survived, leaving them perfectly capable of describing their attacker. This didnt get him caught as quickly as youd think, since Seda was previously an unknown quantity to New York police, but it was pretty sloppy for a guy claiming to be the most elusive killer of the 20th century. What eventually brought him down was an attack much closer to home  on his sister and her friend. The handwriting on his statement to the police made them go Hey, wait a minute, and it was smooth sailing from there. Seda was sentenced to multiple lifetimes in prison for three murders and eight more attempts, because make no mistake, people died here. And they died for the absolute dumbest possible reason.
Ted Lasso star and creator Jason Sudeikis gave us a mouthful about how he knows exactly what Tobias Funke felt when he blue himself.

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At the turn of the millennium, Sudeikis was an up-and-coming improv comic at Second City Las Vegas, a fledgling branch-off from the iconic Chicago institution. It was in Sin City where Sudeikis fell in love with The Blue Man Group, an all-male silent performance group that is not to be confused with an all-male support group. In 2001, Sudeikis hatched the same dream that Arrested Developments premier analrapist (psychoanalyst/therapist) would chase just a few years later.

As Sudeikis revealed on The Rich Eisen Show this past Thursday, Tobias Blue Man Group arc in the show was shockingly true to Sudeikis own experience auditioning for the troupe, down to the nooks and crannies where blue paint buries itself for weeks. Sadly, despite Sudeikis devotion to the group and willingness to go blue, he, too, never got past the audition stages  he prematurely shot his wad on what was supposed to be a dry run.

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The UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the UKs data protection regulator the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) have published a rare joint article dispelling several myths about cyberattack reporting to tackle the problem of unreported data breaches. The pair argued that, while businesses may be tempted to hide data breaches to avoid negative scrutiny, cybercriminals enjoy greater success when attacks are not reported.

In contrast, greater transparency and open discussion around cyberattacks is a positive for everyone, giving victims access to support and advice, sharing lessons learned to help improve awareness and cyber resilience, and breaking the cycle of crime to prevent others from falling victim. Its also likely to be viewed more favourably by data protection regulators.

The misconceptions include the belief that reporting cyberattacks to the authorities makes it more likely incidents will become public, and that paying ransoms automatically makes incidents go away.

Last year, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from Veritas Technologies found that self-reported breaches to the ICO rose 29% to 12,314 in 2021/22, up from 9,535 in 2020/21. Meanwhile, nearly half of British companies (43%) have been the victim of a cyberattack in the past three years, with over a third of them more than once (17%), according to a new report from security awareness and training firm SoSafe.

The NCSC and ICO identified six myths that are not only generally inaccurate but also discourage organisations from reporting breaches.

Myth 1: Its OK to cover-up a cyberattack

The first myth dispelled is the belief that covering up an attack will positively serve an organisation. Every successful cyberattack that is hushed up, with no investigation or information sharing, makes other attacks more likely because no one learns from it. For example, every ransom that is quietly paid gives criminals the message that these attacks work and its worth doing more, the article read.

If attacks pass by without full investigation and information sharing, particularly with those who can help mitigate it, everything definitely wont be OK. Keeping your cyber incident a secret doesnt help anyone except the criminals.

Myth 2: Reporting an attack to authorities makes it more likely it will go public

The next myth dispelled is the notion that reporting an attack to the authorities will increase the chance of the incident going public, with no positive outcome for the reporting business. If your organisation experiences a cyberattack, reporting it to the NCSC or law enforcement means you can access the wealth of support available, the pair wrote. One of the responsibilities of NCSC Incident Management is to provide direct support to affected organisations where there is a national impact, working with the appointed incident response provider. The NCSC also has extensive communications support available to help companies navigate incidents and manage media coverage and active communications.

As the UKs data regulator, the ICOs role is to provide guidance and support to the organisations it regulates, as well as to monitor and enforce the regulations it oversees. When it comes to deciding any regulatory response, the ICO considers how proactive an organisation is about getting the right support, which includes engaging with the NCSC and implementing any advice, the article read. In our next process review, were [the ICO] even considering making explicit the amount saved in a fine when an organisation has positively engaged. Where information about an incident does need to be made public  not always the case  we will usually be in dialogue with a company about this so there arent any surprises.

Its important to remember that there may be a regulatory requirement to report an incident.

Myth 3: Paying a ransom makes the incident go away

In the event of a ransomware attack, organisations may be tempted to pay the ransom quickly to get the decryption key and restore services, but this is a misconception that can cause further problems for victims, the NCSC and ICO stated.

Paying a ransom is basically accepting a pinky promise from criminals that they will decrypt your network or not leak stolen data. Nothing is guaranteed and bear in mind that organisations that pay the ransom are likely to be targeted again. Estimates vary but its suggested that around one-third of all organisations affected by ransomware are attacked again.

Its basically rewarding criminals for their efforts and makes it more likely theyll carry out more attacks against other organisations, ultimately making the broader threat landscape worse. From the ICOs point of view, paying ransoms doesnt reduce the risk to individuals  its not a mitigation under data protection law, and isnt considered a reasonable step to safeguarding data.

The NCSC, along with law enforcement, do not endorse, promote, or encourage the payment of ransoms, but recognise that an unprepared organisation, in the aftermath of an attack, may take the view that paying a ransom is the only way out. If thats the case, businesses should still stay in touch with the NCSC and its law enforcement partners so they can understand the full picture.

Myth 4: Offline data backups mean theres no need to pay a ransom

The next myth debunked is the belief that offline data backups mean a business will never need to consider paying a ransom. Unfortunately, the data extortion angle adds a whole new level of complexity. If the attackers have access to sensitive data, they could threaten to leak it unless you pay the ransom.

Organisation must carefully address the data they hold and how they protect it, the article read. Its a bit like storing someone elses valuables in your house in a cardboard box with the words valuable stuff in here! on it, and your window left unlocked for the thieves to get in. You are responsible for protecting the valuable items you hold  except in this case, its other peoples personal data."

Myth 5: Theres no requirement to report an attack if theres no evidence of data theft

A lack of evidence that data has been stolen should not prompt businesses to assume theres no need to report an attack. You might not be able to see in your logging data whether or not data was stolen, but if there is any suggestion that the actor has accessed the systems holding your data, you should start from the assumption that it has been taken.

There have been many examples of organisations affected by ransomware that were convinced no data had been taken, only to find it in a dark web data leak weeks or months later, the article said. With early support and open communication, businesses can reduce the risk of an unpleasant surprise of future data leaks. Remember that point about lack of evidence  poor situational awareness isnt an adequate technical control. You could be living in blissful ignorance while also being in breach of data protection law.

Myth 6: Youll only get a fine if your data is leaked

The last myth dispelled by the NCSC and ICO is the belief that data breach regulatory fines are only handed out if data is leaked, but this is not always the case. A data leak isnt the only reason for a fine, and you wont always be fined if data is leaked. A personal data breach is more than just a loss of data; it also includes its destruction, alteration, and unauthorised disclosure or access to it. The ICO looks at the context of each individual case  its not just about whether data was leaked.

If the ICO finds serious, systemic, or negligent behaviour that puts peoples information at risk, enforcement action may be an option, but this isnt a blanket approach. If your organisation has raised the incident with the NCSC, and you can show youve followed guidance and support, it could positively impact our response, the article read.

Whats more, cybercriminals can prey on the misconception that a data leak is the source of a fine, stating that if a company pays a ransom, they will avoid a hefty fine. Dont succumb to their techniques! Seek support and communicate early to avoid an investigation later into an incident you tried to hide.

Cyberattack reporting breaks cycle of crime

The NCSC supports victims of cyber incidents every day, but it is increasingly concerned about the organisations that decide not to come forward, said Eleanor Fairford, NCSC deputy director for incident management. By responding openly and sharing information, organisations can help mitigate the risk to their operations and reputation, as well break the cycle of crime to prevent others from falling victim.

Its crucial that businesses are aware of their own responsibilities when it comes to cybersecurity, but transparency is more than simply complying with the law, added Mihaela Jembei, ICOs director of regulatory cyber. Cybercrime is a borderless and global threat and its through knowledge sharing that we can help organisations help themselves.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  Investor Warren Buffett recommitted to his favorite bank stock, Bank of America, during the first quarter while dumping two other banks as part of a number of moves in Berkshire Hathaway's stock portfolio.

Berkshire provided a quarterly update on its U.S. holdings Monday in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Many investors follow the companys moves closely because of Buffetts remarkably successful investing record over the decades.

Berkshire slightly increased its 179.4 million share stake in Bank of America stock while eliminating long-time stakes in US Bancorp and the Bank of New York Mellon. Buffett has eliminated a number of bank investments in recent years, but he continues to back Bank of America.

Berkshire also picked up nearly 10 million shares of Capital One stock.

The quarterly filings dont identify which investments Buffett made and which ones were done by one of Berkshires two other investment managers, but Buffett generally handles all of Berkshires biggest investments worth $1 billion or more. Buffett doesnt regularly comment on these stock filings.

Berkshire continued to reduce its Activision Blizzard stake in the quarter down to 49.4 million shares from 52.7 million at the start of the year. Buffett has said he bought that stock as a way to bet that Microsofts acquisition of the video game maker will ultimately go through. That deal is in doubt after British regulators rejected it and U.S. regulators sued to block it although the European Union did endorse Microsofts purchase Monday.

Berkshire also cut its General Motors investment down to 40 million shares from the previous quarter's 50 million.

Mondays report doesnt include the biggest investment move Berkshire has made over the past year to sell more than half of its stake in Chinese electric carmaker BYD. Those sales, which have generated several billion dollars for Berkshire, are reported separately on the Hong Kong stock exchange. At the last update on that investment, Berkshire held about 108 million BYD shares worth roughly $3.3 billion.

Until last August, Berkshire held 225 million shares that it bought in 2008 for $232 million. The value of that BYD investment had ballooned to more than $9.5 billion last summer before Buffett began selling.

One of the biggest other moves Berkshire made in the quarter was selling some 35 million Chevron shares to leave it with 132.4 million shares of the oil producer, but Berkshire had already disclosed that move in its quarterly earnings report.

And Buffett remains bullish on oil stocks.

One of Buffetts biggest purchases over the past year has been billions of dollars worth of Occidental Petroleum stock. Berkshire picked up another 17.4 million shares during the quarter, as it previously reported, to take control of nearly 24% of the oil producers stock or some 211.7 million shares. Berkshire does hold warrants to buy another 83.9 million Occidental shares, but Buffett told shareholders at Berkshires annual meeting earlier this month that he has no plans to try to buy the entire company.

Berkshires biggest singe investment in Apple shares remained essentially unchanged at 915.6 million shares. The Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate did pick up 16.5 million shares of HP Inc. to give it nearly 121 million shares of the printer maker.

Berkshire eliminated nearly all of the rest of its 8.3 million shares of chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor. Just last fall, Buffett bought 60 million shares in that company but he has said he quickly reconsidered that investment based on geopolitical concerns about China.

In addition to investments, Berkshire owns dozens of companies outright, including Geico insurance, BNSF railroad, several large utilities and an assortment of manufacturing and retail businesses such as Precision Castparts, Sees Candy and NetJets.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  The White House on Monday said Russia is looking to buy additional advanced attack drones from Iran for use in its war against Ukraine after using up most of the 400 drones it had previously purchased from Tehran.

The Biden administration last year publicized satellite imagery and intelligence findings that it said indicated Iran sold hundreds of attack drones to Russia. And for months, officials have said the United States believed Iran was considering selling hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia, but Washington did not have evidence a deal was consummated.

Iran also continues to provide Russia with one-way attack UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles). Since August, Iran has provided Russia with more than 400 UAVs primarily of the Shahed variety, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

Russia has expended most of these UAVs, using them to target Ukrainian critical infrastructure inside Ukraine. By providing Russia with these UAVs, Iran has been directly enabling Russias war of aggression in Ukraine, Kirby told reporters.

The Shahed drones that Russia has already purchased are packed with explosives and programed to loiter overhead until they nosedive into a target  unmanned versions of World War II kamikaze pilots who would fly their explosives-laden planes into U.S. warships in the Pacific.

Kirby said the Russians are now looking at acquiring even more advanced drones "capable of more lethality

The latest revelation is part of a persistent drip of intelligence findings from the administration to detail what U.S. officials say is a deepening defense partnership between Russia and Iran. The U.S. allegations are part of a broader effort to declassify and publicize intelligence findings concerning Moscows prosecution of its nearly 15-month war in Ukraine in hopes of furthering global isolation of Russia.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks office announced Monday it was sending Ukraine hundreds more air defense missiles, as well as long-range attack drones with a reach of more than 200 kilometers (120 miles). The announcement came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Britain and unsuccessfully pressed Sunak to provide Ukraine with fighter jets as Ukraine prepares for a long-anticipated spring offensive to retake territory that Russia has seized.

The Biden administration says the Kremlins reliance on Iran as well as North Korea countries largely isolated on the international stage for their nuclear programs and human rights records shows desperation. That's in the face of Ukrainian resistance and the success of the global coalition in disrupting Russian military supply chains and denying replacements for weapons lost on the battlefield. The White House says Russia has turned to North Korea for artillery.

U.S. officials say Iran has also provided Russia with artillery and tank rounds for its invasion of Ukraine.

This is a full scale defense partnership that is harmful to Ukraine, to the region in the Middle East and to the international community, said Kirby, who added that Iran has been Russias top military backer since the start of the Ukraine invasion.

Kirby said the administration is looking to further tighten export controls to prevent Western components from making their way to Iran for use in manufacturing drones. He also said further sanctions against Iran and Russia could be coming.

Iran has said it provided drones to Russia prior to the start of the war, but not since. North Korea has denied it has provided Russia artillery.

The White House has said for months that it has seen troubling signs that the military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran could flow both ways.

Iran is seeking to purchase additional military equipment from Russia, including attack helicopters, radars, and YAK-130 combat trainer aircraft, according to the White House. And Iran last month announced that it had finalized a deal to buy Su-35 fighter jets from Russia.

The White House has also previously said Russia and Iran were considering starting a drone assembly line in Russia for the Ukraine conflict.

In total, Iran is seeking billions of dollars worth of military equipment from Russia, Kirby said.

The new allegations come as Biden is headed to Hiroshima, Japan, later this week for the Group of Seven summit, where the U.S. president is expected to make a call to fellow leaders of some worlds biggest economies to further tighten export controls and sanctions on Moscow.
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CHICAGO (AP)  Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson began his first term of office Monday, asking Chicagoans to set aside deep differences, confront challenges together and build a city that works for everyone.

Johnson, 47, whose victory was touted by progressives as evidence that bold stances lead to victory, must immediately confront an influx of migrants in desperate need of shelter, pressure to build support among skeptical business leaders, and summer months that historically bring a spike in violent crime. His first term leading the nation's third-largest city will test the former union organizer's ability to turn his proposals into solutions for stubborn problems worsened by the coronavirus pandemic, including public safety, economic growth and housing affordability.

Let's show the world, Chicago, where our heart is, Johnson said in his inaugural address before a cheering crowd. Let's build a Chicago that is the economic marvel of our the state, the Midwest and this nation. Let's build a Chicago that means our economy gets to grow by rerouting the rivers of prosperity to the base of disinvestment. So that no one goes thirsty."

The former organizer for the Chicago Teachers Union was little known when he entered the mayoral race in 2022 and has no experience within city government. But the two-term Cook County commissioner gradually climbed atop a crowded field with the support of the influential union he once worked for, endorsements from Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and local progressives to knock off the incumbent mayor, Lori Lightfoot, and win a tough runoff in April.

Trying to appeal to those who didn't back him in the election, he has stocked his transition team with familiar names from Chicago corporations and philanthropies beside leaders of organized labor and progressive groups. He selected a veteran of Chicago's emergency management agency as his chief of staff and a retired police commander who is popular among rank-and-file officers as interim leader of the Chicago Police Department.

There is little doubt that public safety will remain the citys top concern and Johnsons response will shape his relationship with business leaders, elected officials, his progressive activist base and residents of every Chicago neighborhood.

A safe Chicago means a safe Chicago for all, no matter what you look like, who you love, or where you live, Johnson said Monday, promising a strategy rooted in more mental health care, violence prevention programs and police accountability.

Asiaha Butler, co-founder of the Resident Association of Greater Englewood on the South Side, said she hopes Johnson stays committed to his wholesale approach to crime  and that Chicagoans give it an opportunity to make a difference. Butler said improving safety on her block took up to 15 years of cooperation with neighbors and other community groups.

Knowing the despair that our city sometimes faces, it will take a while to take that cloud away, Butler said. I wouldnt put anyone up to that job in one term.

Chicago has a higher per-capita homicide rate than New York or Los Angeles, but the most recent federal data shows its lower than other Midwestern cities, such as St. Louis and Detroit. Still, the number of homicides in Chicago hit a 25-year high in 2021 with 804, according to the Chicago Police Department.

That number decreased last year while other crimes, such as carjackings and robberies, increased.

Chicago business leaders overwhelmingly endorsed Johnson's opponent, former Chicago schools CEO Paul Vallas, typically swayed by his pitch to strengthen policing, or Johnson's various tax proposals affecting large companies and the wealthy.

The mayoral race was dominated by questions of how to address crime, and Johnson argued that a policing-first approach has failed.

Instead, he proposed increased mental health treatment, hiring more detectives, expanding youth jobs programs and increasing taxes on the sale of properties over $1 million to support more affordable housing. Johnson will also have the final say on naming the citys next police superintendent, though for the first time an appointed citizen commission will select three finalists.

Andrea Saenz, president and CEO of the Chicago Community Trust foundation, said she's hopeful that Johnson can bring philanthropies, businesses, police and activists together to create a wide-ranging strategy to prevent violence now and chip away at the conditions that let it flourish.

It feels like this is a moment  the moment  to have those conversations, for a mayor to bring everybody to the table, Saenz said.

Johnson has shown no sign of backing away from his campaign strategies. When violence broke out as teens flooded Chicago's downtown streets in mid-April, he issued a statement asking that people not demonize youth who have otherwise been starved of opportunities in their own communities.

Paying for his campaign promises, including the public safety response, hinges on a number of tax increases aimed at high earners and large companies likely to put up a political fight. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the state's most influential Democrat, declined to back Johnson's proposal to tax financial transactions, which would require sign-off from state lawmakers.

Johnson is also taking on a growing migrant crisis. Chicago is among the U.S. cities already struggling to provide shelter and other help to hundreds arriving from the southern border, with families sleeping in police station lobbies. The flow of arrivals is expected to increase now that pandemic-era restrictions on migrant crossings have ended.

Johnson said Monday that he is committed to welcoming all who arrive here, saying the strength of a city depends on how it treats the vulnerable. He provided no new details about his administration's strategy.

Illinois state Rep. Kam Buckner, a Chicago Democrat who also ran for mayor, said Johnson will have to use the same strategy that won him the mayor's office to achieve his many priorities.

What Lori Lightfoot learned is that in Chicago, your defenders can very quickly become your detractors, Buckner said. We want our leaders to be authentic, have conversations with us about the future. As long as he continues to do that, I think people will give him an opportunity.
BEIJING (AP)  China sentenced a 78-year-old United States citizen to life in prison Monday on spying charges, in a case that could exacerbate the deterioration in ties between Beijing and Washington over recent years.

Details of the charges against John Shing-Wan Leung, who also holds permanent residency in Hong Kong, have not been publicly released.

Leung was detained April 15, 2021, by the local bureau of China's counterintelligence agency in the southeastern city of Suzhou, according to a statement posted by the citys intermediate court on its social media site. His detention came after China had closed its borders and imposed tight domestic travel restrictions and social controls to fight the spread of COVID-19.

Such investigations and trials are held behind closed doors and little information is generally released other than vague accusations of infiltration, gathering secrets and threatening state security.

Relations between Washington and Beijing are at their lowest in decades amid disputes over trade, technology, human rights and Chinas increasingly aggressive approach toward its territorial claims involving self-governing Taiwan and the South China Sea. High-level government visits have been on hold and U.S. companies are delaying major investments amid mixed messaging from Beijing.

The sentencing comes as U.S. President Joe Biden is traveling to Hiroshima, Japan, for the Group of Seven major industrial nations summit, followed by a visit to Papua New Guinea, a Pacific island nation in a region where China has sought to increase its economic, military and diplomatic influence. After Beijing's gains in the area, the U.S. and its Asia-Pacific partners stepped up their regional presence, offering investments and financial support rivaling those furnished by China.

Now the world's second-largest economy, China is expanding its footprint in ports, railways and other infrastructure from Europe to Southeast Asia and beyond.

While the Suzhou court offered no indication of a tie to overall China-U.S. relations, spying charges are highly selective and evidence backing them up is not released. That is standard practice among most countries, who wish to secure their personal connections, networks and access to information.

However, Chinas authoritarian political system and the ruling Communist Partys absolute control over legal matters, civil society and freedom of information forestalls demands for further information, as well as court appeals.

The U.S. Embassy in Beijing said it was aware of the case, but could not comment further due to privacy concerns. The Department of State has no greater priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas, the embassy said in the emailed statement.

The government of Hong Kong, a former British colony that returned to Chinese control in 1997, gave no further information about Leung's sentencing. Asked about the case Monday, Secretary for Security Chris Tang said Chinese authorities had reported the arrest to the city through a notification mechanism in 2021. Tang offered no other details about the case.

When it was returned to China, Hong Kong was promised it would retain its financial, social and political liberties, but Beijing has essentially scuttled that commitment since cracking down on pro-democracy protesters and imposing a sweeping national security law in 2020.

Chinese national security agencies have also raided the offices of foreign business consulting firms in Beijing and other cities as part of a crackdown on foreign businesses that provide sensitive economic data.

Foreign companies operating in China have come under increasing pressure as Xi Jinpings government tightens control over the economy. That stands in stark contrast to efforts to lure back foreign investors after draconian COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were lifted at the beginning of the year.

Long pretrial detentions are not unusual in China and prosecutors have broad powers to hold people charged in national security cases, regardless of their citizenship status.

Two Chinese-Australians, Cheng Lei, who formerly worked for Chinas state broadcaster, and writer Yang Jun, have been held since 2020 and 2019 respectively without word on their sentencing.

Government suspicion is particularly focused on Chinese-born foreign citizens and people from Taiwan and Hong Kong, especially if they have political contacts or work in academia or publishing.

Under Xi, the party has launched multiple campaigns against what it calls foreign efforts to sabotage its rule, without showing evidence. Universities have been ordered to censor discussions of human rights, modern Chinese history and ideas that could prompt questions about total Communist Party control.

Xi's government has also taken a hard line on foreign relations, most recently ordering outa Canadian diplomat in retaliation for Ottawa's expulsion of a staffer at the Chinese embassy accused of threatening a member of the Canadian parliament and his family members living in Hong Kong.

That meshes with Xi's confrontational global stance that has seen China partner with Russia in accusing the West of provoking Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and seeking to overthrow the U.S.-led liberal dominance of global affairs.
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TOKYO (AP)  This week's summit of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies in Hiroshima will include eight other guest nations, part of a complicated, high-stakes diplomatic gambit meant to settle the world's most serious crises.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has invited South Korea, Australia, India, Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, Comoros and the Cook Islands.

Kishida hopes this mix of countries will help efforts to stand up to Chinas assertiveness and Russias invasion of Ukraine, according to analysts. He also wants stronger ties with U.S. allies and with developing nations and to make progress on working toward a nuclear-free world, something that looks increasingly difficult amid North Korean and Russian nuclear threats.

Here's a look at what to expect as the rich world leaders welcome these guest countries:

___

PUSHBACK ON CHINA, RUSSIA

As their top diplomats did last month in a meeting in Nagano, Japan, the leaders of the G-7 nations  the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Italy and the European Union  will try to form a unified front against Chinese threats to Taiwan and Russias war on Ukraine.

The G-7 is committed to upholding the international order, and most of its members are in Europe, so supporting Ukraine against Russias invasion is a top priority, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

As the pillar of the G-7 in Asia, Japan is particularly focused on updating the international order to cope with the rise of China, Easley said. The Kishida governments agenda and special invitations for the Hiroshima summit reflect an effort not to contain China but to expand the international coalition defending standards for state behavior.

The eight guest nations have complex political and economic ties with China and Russia.

India is part of the Quad group of four Indo-Pacific nation, which also includes the United States, Japan and Australia. China has accused that group of representing an Asian NATO. On the Russia-Ukraine war, India has abstained several times from voting on U.N. resolutions against Moscow, though it has stressed the need for diplomacy on ending the war. It's boosted its imports of Russian oil.

Brazil is a member of the so-called BRICS group of developing nations, including China, Russia and India. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva recently visited China to strengthen ties with its biggest trade market. He has also irritated Ukraine and some in the West with his position on the war, recently suggesting that Ukraine cede Crimea to forge peace.

Japan is courting Vietnam because it also has territorial disputes with China, according to Kim Yeol Soo, an expert at South Koreas Korea Institute for Military Affairs.

___ GLOBAL SOUTH NATIONS

Kishida has said his list of guest nations reflects the importance of the so-called Global South countries. That's a term used for developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The G-7 nations account for about 40% of the worlds economic activity, a decrease from an estimated 80% of global gross domestic product in the 1970s.

When the U.N. adopts resolutions, you see a considerable number of its 190 or so member states are Global South countries, said Choi Eunmi, a Japan expert at South Koreas Asan Institute Policy Institute.

Indonesia's importance for Japan, for instance, is linked to its abundant natural resources and economic potential, said Kim, the expert.

India is this year's president of the G-20, which is seen as a crucial bridge between G-7 economies and the Global South. Japan has traditionally had close ties with India, where Kishida visited in March for a summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In response to questions by The Associated Press, Japans Foreign Ministry said the G-7 and other nations need to cooperate with the Global South to deal with energy, food security, climate change, health and development issues.

___ US ALLIES

Japans invitation of South Korea reflects the neighbors' role as staunch U.S. allies with a shared security threat from North Korea's advancing nuclear arsenal.

In recent weeks, Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol have taken major steps to boost security and economic cooperation and to move beyond historical grievances stemming from Japans 1910-45 colonization of the Korean Peninsula.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry's response to an AP query praised Yoon for an active diplomacy showing commitment to the peace and prosperity of the region, including announcing the Indo-Pacific strategy.

Kishida, Yoon and U.S. President Joe Biden are expected to meet on the margins of the G-7 summit to discuss North Koreas nuclear ambitions, Chinas growing influence and the Russian-Ukraine war.

Australia, also a key U.S. ally, has already been closely cooperating with Japan, including on efforts to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, which called Australia a "special strategic partner.

Last year, the two countries signed a new security agreement covering military, intelligence and cybersecurity cooperation to counter the deteriorating security outlook driven by Chinas increasing assertiveness. It was the first such agreement Japan has struck with any country other than the United States.

___

OTHER ISSUES

Some of the guest nations lead regional and other bodies.

Brazil takes over next year for India as president of the G-20. Indonesia is chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Comoros leads the African Union, and the Cook Islands chairs the Pacific Islands Forum.

Japan is stepping up its security and economic ties with the 18 Pacific Forum countries, partly to counter growing Chinese influence there. Observers say the invitation of the Cook Islands is an expression of Japanese respect to the Pacific nations, where there's been worry about the planned release of treated but still radioactive wastewater into the Pacific from Japan's tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Kishida is from Hiroshima, one of the two Japanese cities hit with U.S. atomic bombs at the end of World War II. Holding the summit in his hometown will give him a chance to outline his determination to build a nuclear-free world.

Because of North Korea's pursuit of nuclear missiles meant to target the U.S. mainland, "it would be a bit awkward if Japan didn't include South Korea, which faces North Korea's nuclear threats on its doorstep, said Choi, the expert.

___

Kim reported from Seoul, South Korea.

___

Find more of APs Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific
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CAIRO (AP)  Sudans military chief ordered the freezing of all bank accounts belonging to a rival paramilitary force, the latest step in a fight for control of the resource-rich nation.

The two sides have battled for weeks across Sudan, pushing the troubled country to the brink of all-out war.

The decree, issued on Sunday by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, will target the official accounts of the Rapid Support Forces in Sudanese banks, as well as the accounts of all companies belonging to the group, the state news agency SUNA reported.

It remains unclear what immediate effect the freezing would have on the RSF and how Burhans orders are to be enforced. Over the past decade, the paramilitary force has amassed great wealth through the gradual acquisition of Sudanese financial institutions and gold reserves.

Burhan on Sunday replaced Sudans Central Bank governor. On Monday, he removed the country's police chief and sacked two ambassadors at the Foreign Ministry. Burhan did not elaborate on his moves.

Since mid-April, the Sudanese army, led by Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, have been locked in a power struggle that has forced tens of thousands to flee to neighboring countries.

Chaos has taken over much of the country since the conflict broke out. The capital, Khartoum, has been reduced to an urban battlefield and the western Darfur region is rocked by deadly tribal clashes. The violence has also killed over 600 people, including many civilians, according to the World Health Organization.

A two-day outbreak of fighting in Geneina, the capital of West Darfur province, killed scores of people last week, said the Sudan Doctors' Syndicate, a group that tracks civilian casualties. It said the fighting began when RSF fighters and militiamen entered the city on Friday and clashed with other armed groups and residents.

Meanwhile, explosions resounded in a southern neighborhood of Khartoum on Monday while videos posted online show a hospital in the East Nile area, a neighborhood just east of Khartoum, being bombed.

Human rights organizations have accused the RSF of looting and attacking civilians, and the military of indiscriminately bombing residential areas. The two sides agreed to several short cease-fires since the fighting started, but all were violated. Both have also traded blame and exchanged heated accusations of human rights abuses.

The Emergency Lawyers, a Sudanese legal group focusing on human rights cases, said two women were raped Sunday by armed men who stormed a women's university in Omdruman, Khartoum's twin city.

According to the lawyers, the attack took place inside a dormitory for teachers at Ahfad University, which falls within RSF-controlled territory. The news comes amid a string of alleged sexual assault incidents involving the paramilitary.

Last Thursday, the military and the RSF signed a pact in the Saudi city of Jeddah, promising safe passage for civilians fleeing the conflict and protection for humanitarian operations in the East African nation. International efforts  led by Saudi Arabia and the United States  are underway in an attempt to turn Thursday's agreement into a lasting truce.
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UNITED NATIONS (AP)  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged the United Nations on Monday to suspend Israels membership unless it implements resolutions establishing separate Jewish and Arab states and allows the return of Palestinian refugees.

Abbas spoke during the first official U.N. commemoration of the flight of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from what is now Israel following the U.N.s partition of British-ruled Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states 75 years ago.

Israels U.N. ambassador, Gilad Erdan, had sent letters to General Assembly ambassadors condemning the commemoration and urging them not to attend what he called an abominable event and a blatant attempt to distort history. He said those who attended would be condoning antisemitism and giving a green light to Palestinians to continue exploiting international organs to promote their libelous narrative.

Israel and the United States were among those that boycotted the commemoration of what is known as the Nakba, or catastrophe.

In an hourlong emotion-charged speech, Abbas asked the worlds nations why more than 1,000 resolutions adopted by U.N. bodies regarding the Palestinians had never been implemented. He held up a letter from Israels foreign minister, Moshe Sharett, after the resolutions were adopted in 1947 and 1948 promising to create a Palestinian state and allow the return of refugees and said: Either they do fulfill these obligations, or they stop becoming a member.

The General Assembly, which had 57 member nations in 1947, approved the resolution dividing Palestine by a vote of 33-13 with 10 abstentions. The Jewish side accepted the U.N. partition plan and after the British mandate expired in 1948, Israel declared its independence. The Arabs rejected the plan and neighboring Arab countries launched a war against the Jewish state.

The Nakba commemorates the estimated 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were forced from their homes in 1948.

The fate of these refugees and their descendants  estimated at over 5 million across the Middle East  remains a major disputed issue in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Israel rejects demands for a mass return of refugees to long-lost homes, saying it would threaten the countrys Jewish character.

The Nakba commemoration comes as Israeli-Palestinian fighting has intensified and protests over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus right-wing government and its plan to overhaul Israels judiciary show no sign of abating. Israels polarization and the Netanyahu governments extremist positions have also sparked growing international concern.

Abbas specifically blamed Britain, as Palestines ruler before the 1947 partition, and the United States, Israels most important ally, for the flight of the Palestinians, saying they bear political and ethical responsibility for evicting Palestinians and implanting Israel in our historic homeland.

And Israel would not have continued its hostility and aggression without the support it receives from these two countries, he said.

Abbas strongly criticized Israel for calling itself the only democracy in the Middle East, saying it is the only state in the world that occupies another people. And he rejected Israel's insistence that it made the desert bloom, saying Palestine pre-1947 was very civilized, green, with lakes and rivers, and exported oranges to Europe.

The Palestinian leader said the most important right Palestinians are demanding now is self-determination and an independent state based on June 1967 borders. He reiterated that the Palestinians have agreed to accept 22% of the 1947 territory as part of a two-state solution to the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict, not the 44% they were given in the partition.

But he said the two-state solution is being destroyed, pointing to Israeli ministers publicly calling for another nakba against the Palestinians and Israelis calling for the killing of Palestinians, insisting defiantly that the Palestinians will never leave or give up East Jerusalem, which they want as their capital.

Abbas said Palestinians are not against Jews, but I am against those who occupy our land. He was born in Safed in the Galilee, now part of Israel, and said like other Palestinian refugees he wants to go home.

He said Israel should recognize and apologize for the Nakba, which has created the world's longest refugee crisis, and pay compensation to the refugees and for land it now occupies. And he said that if these root causes are not addressed, the Palestinians will continue to pursue its rights and take legal action, especially at the International Criminal Court, which was greeted by loud applause from the large audience in a U.N. conference room.

Israel has remained defiant.

We will fight the Nakba lie with full strength and we wont allow the Palestinians to continue to spread lies and distort history, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said in a statement.

As the 75th anniversary approached, the now 193-member General Assembly approved a resolution last Nov. 30 by a vote of 90-30 with 47 abstentions requesting the U.N. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to organize a high-level event on May 15 to commemorate the Nakba. The United States was among the countries that joined Israel in voting against the resolution.

Abbas called for the General Assembly to establish May 15 every year as an international day to commemorate the Palestinian plight and to call for Palestinians achieving their rights to an independent state.

Israels foreign ministry said dozens of countries canceled or downgraded their participation in Mondays event in response to an Israeli campaign. But among the many groups supporting the Nakba commemoration and an independent Palestinian state whose representatives spoke on Monday were the Group of 77, a U.N. coalition of 134 mainly developing nations and China, and the 120-member Nonaligned Movement.

Speaking at the commemoration, U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo expressed deep concern that prospects for restarting negotiations toward a two-state solution continue to diminish.

DiCarlo pointed to the rapid expansion of Israeli settlements, which is illegal under international law, pervasive violence including by Israeli settlers, and Israels unabated evictions, demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned property.

She also cited the record number of Palestinian civilians killed last year since the U.N. started recording deaths in 2005, and the highest number of Israeli civilians killed since 2015, warning that this year is on track to match or surpass those numbers.

Palestinians deserve a life of justice and dignity and the realization of their right to self-determination and independence, the undersecretary-general for political affairs said. The U.N. position is clear. The occupation must end.

In a speech to the U.N. Security Council on April 25, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Malki renewed his call for countries that havent yet recognized the state of Palestine to do so as a means to salvage the moribund two-state solution.

To hurt Israel economically, Malki urged countries to ban products from Israeli settlements and trade with settlements, to sanction those who collect funds for settlements and those who advocate for them and those who advance them, and to list settler organizations that carry out killings and burnings as terrorist organizations.

And he urged the international community to take Israel to the International Court of Justice, the U.N.s highest tribunal. The General Assembly asked the court in December to give its opinion on the legal consequences of Israels occupation of Palestinian territories, a move denounced by Israel.

___

Ilon Ben Zion contributed from Jerusalem.
MERIDEN  A 15-year-old was flown to Connecticut Children's Medical Center Sunday afternoon after being struck by an SUV while riding their bike, according to police.

Meriden police said Sunday the teen was seriously injured in the collision, which was reported around 3:15 p.m. near Brownstone Ridge and Oregon Road.

Investigators believe the teen was heading east on Brownstone Ridge when they collided with a Toyota Highlander SUV, Meriden Police Sgt. Vasco Lacerda said in a news release Sunday night.

The car had been heading south on Oregon Road, but police did not specify exactly how the car and bicycle struck one another.

"The juvenile sustained serious injuries and members of Meriden Fire Department and Hunters Ambulance rendered immediate medical care," Lacerda said.

He said the teen was later flown to Connecticut Children's Medical Center.

Police said the helicopter landed at Platt High School.

The three people in the Toyota "did not require medical treatment," Lacerda added. He said the driver of the SUV is "cooperating with the investigation."

The Meriden police accident reconstruction unit is investigating the crash, Lacerda said.

Anyone with information can contact Investigator Giambrone at 203-630-6201.
BRIDGEPORT  A North Carolina man was sentenced to 48 years in prison for sexually assaulting twin Stratford girls.

In February a six-member jury deliberated a day and a half before finding 39-year-old Adam Palmer guilty of seven counts of first-degree sexual assault and eight counts of risk of injury to children.

Superior Court Judge Tracy Lee Dayton said Friday that she has been haunted by the facts of the case ever since she presided over the trial.

She sentenced Palmer to 48 years in prison followed by 35 years of special parole.

The judge also ordered Palmer to register as a sex offender.

No amount of time will undo the damage the defendant has inflicted on this family, Senior Assistant States Attorney Edward Lee Miller told the judge, urging her to impose a significant period of incarceration on Palmer.

Police said Palmer raped the two 5-year-old girls, daughters of his former girlfriend, in their Stratford home in 2013.

Palmer lured the two girls into a bedroom while their mother was out, telling them he wanted to play a game, police said. He then showed them a pornographic video and took turns raping them, police said.

Police said the girls later told a counselor what Palmer had done to them.

Palmer was arrested in 2018 at his North Carolina home and extradited here.

The two victims told the judge that despite the trauma Palmer caused them by his actions they have worked to move on with their lives.
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WESTON  Former town police commissioner Richard Phillips will avoid jail after pleading guilty Monday to owning an illegal silencer in connection with a 2018 arrest when he was found with about 150 firearms and high-capacity gun magazines in his home, including some stowed behind a bookcase that led to a secret staircase.

In exchange for the plea, Phillips will receive a three-year suspended prison sentence and three years of conditional discharge. He is prohibited from possessing firearms and his guns, which were seized when he was arrested, will be sold through a licensed federal dealer, court officials said. Phillips will receive the profits of the gun sales, officials said.

Phillips is also required to register on the state's deadly weapons registry even though he now lives in New Hampshire, Assistant State's Attorney Michael Nemec said Monday in state Superior Court in Stamford.

He is slated to be sentenced on July 11.

Nemec opted to nolle or dismiss 15 counts of illegal possession of an assault weapon and dozens of counts of illegal possession of a large magazine after Phillips' attorney, Bruce Koffsky, provided documentation that his client purchased the items legally before Connecticut's ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines went into effect in 2013.

When police seized the guns and magazines in 2018 after Phillips was involved in a domestic dispute, "they weren't aware of when the weapons were purchased," Nemec said.

"He was lawfully in possession of those weapons before the law changed," Nemec said. "So it looks like we are nolling a large number of cases, but this is an appropriate result."

But Phillips was in possession of several handmade silencers fashioned out of oil cans that "clearly were used," Nemec said.

Weston police seized the weapons and silencers after Phillips' former wife reported he had thrown a gun at her during an argument in March 2018, court documents show. The woman, who divorced Phillips in 2019, told police where he was hiding a large stash of weapons and reported he had hidden some items behind a bookcase that concealed an entrance to a spiral staircase, Nemec said Monday.

During the argument, Phillips, a former Weston police commission chair, threw a gun to his then wife and said, "go ahead, kill me," Nemec told the court. The charge of disorderly conduct connected with the incident was also dropped as part of the plea agreement.

Attorney Mark Sherman, representing Phillips' ex-wife, did not return a call requesting comment on the case.

Phillips had not been arrested on any other charges in the five years the case was pending, Nemec said. If he is arrested prior to July 11, or fails to show up for the sentencing, he could face a three-year prison sentence, court officials said.
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STRATFORD  The South End Community Center has been a mainstay in town for generations, and its location in a former factory building dating to 1959 is showing its age  but change will soon be coming.

The structures faded facade was the backdrop Monday for an announcement from Gov. Ned Lamont of a $2.4 million grant from the states Community Investment Fund 2030 for interior and exterior renovations, as well as program expansion that the community centers leaders said would give it a new lease on its long life as a bulwark of support in the working class neighborhood.

We have kids whose grandmothers have come here, said Program Coordinator Ty Sims, noting a public housing development nearby and Section 8 housing scattered throughout the area. Just to continue to have these young people have places in their neighborhood that they can walk to, that they can come to for homework support or whatever it is, thats so exciting for us.

The money was also applauded by Chris Dina, chairperson of the South End Community Council, a nonprofit founded in 1969 that operates the center.

This grant is phenomenal, Dina said. I am so overjoyed.

In addition to after school and daycare programs, the center is also home to a community food pantry and a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site that helped 285 residents file returns, as well as a new program that will help high school students filling out financial aid forms, Dina said.

Thank you to those friends who have never forgotten about the South End Community Center, Sims said, singling out Mayor Laura Hoydick and state Rep. Joseph Gresko, D-Stratford. They always come through somehow, some way."

Those families here in the South End who over some time felt like have felt like What do we have here, for us? and now children will continue to be able to walk across the street to this center, she added.

The mayor noted prior commitments of Community Development Block Grant funds of $195,200 for a new roof on the building and $118,279 for exterior paint, thanking the Town Council and the towns legislative delegation.

Weve been at this for a long time, Hoydick said, acknowledging town Constituent Services Coordinator Molly Ryan for writing the grant with a lot of help from a lot of people.

Gresko credited state House Speaker Matthew Ritter for coming up with the idea for the community investment fund, a state grant program that supports economic development in historically underserved communities across Connecticut and committing money to finance the program.

State Department of Economic and Community Development Deputy Commissioner Rob Hotaling said the grant would double the capacity of the community centers after school program, which currently has space for 17 students.

The food pantry, which typically serves about 40 people per week, will be able to serve about 50 percent more, Hotaling said, while a summer program capacity will increase from about 30 to between 40 and 50.

State Sen. Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford, who serves on board of the Community Investment Fund, said the $2.4 million commitment exemplified the purpose of the program.

This is an investment in really the boots on the ground, he said. We can talk about policies in Hartford all the time in the legislature, but those policies dont really get put into action without the people who show up here every day, put the key in the door and open as a resource to the community.

The governor echoed the sentiment, referencing the political impasse in Washington over the debt ceiling while calling on the countrys leaders to compromise for the sake economic growth.

Its really important to keep our economy growingbecause a growing economy only makes a difference if it works for everybody, regardless of Zip code, regardless of background, the governor said.
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WASHINGTON (AP) 

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a Biden administration appeal to limit lawsuits filed by members of Congress against the federal government, in a case that stems from disputes over what was the Trump International Hotel in Washington.

The justices said they will review a federal appeals court ruling that allowed a suit by Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee to continue. They filed their complaint in 2017 over the Trump administration's refusal to turn over information about the Trump Organization's lease of the hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue, between the White House and the Capitol.

The family no longer owns the hotel, now a Waldorf Astoria, much of the information eventually was provided and six lawmakers who were part of the case no longer serve in the House.

The Biden Justice Department, however, told the court that it is important to wipe the appellate ruling from the books because it otherwise could lead to a flood of lawsuits from individual members of Congress.

The case will be argued in the fall.

The hotel drew criticism from the start of Donald Trump's presidency for taking money from Republican politicians, companies and foreign governments eager to curry favor with him. The hotel is in the federally owned Old Post Office and Trump's family business held a lease with the General Services Administration.

Trump, while president, refused to sell off his stake in the hotel despite a prohibition in the lease on elected officials obtaining any benefit that may arise from the lease. Democrats alleged that Trumps ownership of the property created a conflict of interest.

Separately, Trump faced lawsuits over whether he illegally profited off his presidency by owning the hotel in violation of the Constitutions emoluments clause.

In 2021, the Supreme Court eventually brought an end to those suits, saying the cases were moot once Trump left office.

In the lawmakers' case, the only documents still at issue are legal opinions. The Supreme Court only is looking at whether the lawmakers have the legal right, or standing, to sue.

Members of Congress ordinarily cannot march into federal court as individuals or in small groups and assert that their status as lawmakers gives them the right to sue when the administration in power refuses to comply with their demands for information.

But a 95-year-old law allows any seven members of the House Oversight Committee or five senators on that body's similar committee to request and be provided certain information from federal agencies.

Negotiations have almost always resolved any disputes. But the question of how to enforce the law when efforts at compromise fail has never been resolved. Since the law's enactment in 1928, lawmakers sued only twice previously and those cases ended without significant legal rulings.
Mount Pisgah is home to approximately 100 species of bees, most of which are native to Oregon and North America, according to August Jackson, the interpretation coordinator at Mount Pisgah Arboretum and an instructor for Oregon Bee Atlas. Jackson has worked at the Arboretum for 12 years teaching visitors about the nature around them.

During a visit to Mount Pisgah Arboretum, Jackson said he hopes people gain a connection to the place and their neighbors.

And that is your human neighbors, but also everything else, he said referring to the many plants and animals people live their life among. Through connection and appreciation, Jackson said people will hopefully be more inclined to preserve nature.

Jackson said the Arboretum works to preserve and enhance native habitats. This means caring for both bees and the natural world around them. Jackson said bees and plants co-evolved and rely on each other for successful reproduction.

Bees are significant to aspects of everyday life. Jackson said bees pollinate food that many people eat regularly, including nutrient rich fruits and vegetables. According to the Bee Conservancy, Bees pollinate 1/3 of the food we eat.

The most common bees visitors to Mount Pisgah Arboretum can see are small carpenter bees, bumble bees and mason bees. The arboretum offers a variety of educational programs and festivals, to help visitors identify and better understand the insects and flowers they see. These include an annual Wildflower & Music Festival and Mushroom Festival.

Mount Pisgah Arboretum is located 7 miles from the University of Oregon campus and open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. Those who want to learn more about the area and its rich nature can participate in programs on site or visit the website for more information.
Between Sept. 7 - Oct. 29, 2020, the Holiday Farm Fire burned through over 173,000 acres of northeast Lane County communities from Rainbow to Vida, destroying 517 homes in the process according to Lane County Public Information Officer Devon Ashbridge.

We're almost three full years out and still haven't even been able to break ground on our business, Melanie Stanley said.

Stanleys home was one of those 517. Shes been able to rebuild it, but hasnt been able to do the same for her store.

Stanley recalled a recent conversation with a friend where they talked about her progress toward rebuilding her business. For her, it makes it hard to come through Blue River because my store's not here, Stanley said.

According to Lane County Public Information Officer Devon Ashbridge, 136 of the 517 homes lost have been rebuilt, for a recovery rate of 26%. Stanley said this recovery rate is lower than the other areas hit by Oregons 2020 fire season.

Fire survivors navigate strict land use rules, rising construction costs, limited assistance from government, insurance and loan providers; and a shrinking community as they work to rebuild theirs.

Legal Barriers: County bureaucracy

Many people want to rebuild their homes, but local land use laws put in place after they were built the first time make it difficult for people to recreate their previous lives.

Every single strict and stringent rule that could be applied to building in the state of Oregon, Lane County went, sure, well take that one, Stanley said.

When Stanley rebuilt her home, her original plan included a garage three feet too close to the road. She chose to shorten the garage by three feet rather than pay $5,000 to go through the three month process of applying for a variance.

But many residents cant make these adjustments. The most extreme example of this is the riparian zone, an area around a river where construction is not allowed to protect wildlife and drinking water. Many homes are located on land zoned for forest or agriculture. In these areas, the riparian zone is 100 feet from the high water mark, which can be as far as 140 feet from the river, a limit that used to be 20 feet, meaning when the fire came, it was illegal for residents close to the river to rebuild.

We've got these people who have nowhere to build on their property because we added 120 feet to this boundary line, Stanley said.

Stanley said while the land use regulations developed by the county were done with good intentions, the barriers those rules have placed upon her neighbors rebuilding efforts have been unnecessarily burdensome on those whose property was destroyed.

I think that a lot of people are just stuck on what's best for the environment and the ecological side of things, which I don't disagree with because Eugene needs our water and we need our water, but we also can't keep people from coming home, Stanley said.

The county has taken some action to reduce these barriers. People can apply to build inside the riparian zone, but its a lengthy process that has mostly been undertaken by those with the most resources, who tend to be rebuilding second homes.

Another one of these barriers is the Blue River Drive right-of-way setbacks. Right-of-way setbacks include a road and the area next to it where building isnt allowed so the road can be widened or utilities can be added later if needed.

When most of Blue River was constructed, these setbacks were 40 feet in downtown Blue River and 60 feet in the surrounding area. But the county has since increased them to 50 and 80 feet, limiting the space home and business owners have to rebuild.

In Stanleys case, she and her architect realized they would have room to rebuild her store but not its parking lot. We were joking about zip lines and tuck-and-roll as you drove by and all those other things and Im like, that's not going to be really conducive to a good customer service experience.

County employees recognized this hurdle and held a community meeting to discuss it at McKenzie High School on Jan. 14, but it took until April 25 to get a public hearing with county commissioners.

Our building has already totally been designed, Mary Sherman, secretary for the OBrien Memorial Library told commissioners at that hearing. Taking away any of the space that we have now will definitely impact our plans that have already been developed, and we really would like to start building now. So any delay in that by having to redesign and start over would be very counterproductive.

Commissioners granted the exception at the meeting, but the over three month process shows how long it takes to get these barriers removed.

We still have a ton of people that are not even sure that they can rebuild or will rebuild because they're just tired, Stanley said. They can't fight with the county anymore.

Financial Barriers: Construction costs and stingy insurance

Even for people who overcome the legal barriers, the financial ones are just as prohibitive.

Brandi Ferguson is the board secretary for McKenzie Community Land Trust, a new nonprofit looking to build affordable housing in the McKenzie River Valley, which Stanley is also a board member of.

Ferguson estimated that on average, construction now costs 40% more than it did when the people who lost their homes built them. Insurance, for those who had it, usually only covers that original cost.

Stanley added that insurance is also usually limited to just the house. Exterior costs like redrilling a well to replace one contaminated in the fire are rarely covered, Stanley said.

Stanley described herself as one of the most well insured people in the 97413 zip code. Every year she would call her insurance agent and re-up coverage for her home and business. But according to her insurance, it wasnt enough to keep up with rising construction costs.

I was insured for half-a-million dollars on the building, but it's going to cost a million and a half to rebuild it, she said.

As a result, most of the people rebuilding in the McKenzie Valley are ones that can afford those major costs, Ferguson said.

What were not seeing is that kind of working class and middle income housing coming back, Ferguson said. And as were trying to rebuild a community  we need housing for everybody.

So far, McKenzie Community Land Trust has secured funding for six homes in downtown Blue River. It plans to add projects throughout the McKenzie corridor, but like all affordable housing nonprofits, its limited to the money it can get from governments and in donations.

Community Barriers: A lack of people and businesses

Stanley said her friend told her Blue River will feel more like home and people will be encouraged to return once Stanley's store is back.

Stanley feels the same way, but has had trouble finding the money to rebuild. Governments including Lane County have stepped in to provide some of the money for rebuilding homes and infrastructure, but theres no fund like that for businesses.

Instead, shes been exploring private-sector loans, but those arent much easier to access.

We have half the people who we don't even know what their income looks like anymore because most of them have had to take half their retirement and put them into their rebuilds because their insurance didn't cover everything, Stanley said. And the other half of the people we've lost because they had to move or they have not chosen to come back. Stanley said.

This makes her and other McKenzie Valley business owners unattractive loan prospects, she said.

As people like Stanley work to rebuild their businesses, people who are looking to hire struggle to fill those spots. Darren Cross is the district ranger for the forest services McKenzie River Ranger District and another member of the McKenzie Community Land Trust.

Since many people left the McKenzie Valley after the fire and there are few homes for people who would like to move there, hiring is difficult for people like Cross. We have people either not apply, or they do apply and then once they figure out what the cost of living is and/or how far they would have to drive  they turn it down, he said.

This goes both ways. Its kind of a chicken and the egg when youre talking about recovering a community. You have to have housing and people so that you can have an economy, Cross said. Without the people, you don't have the recovery. Without the recovery, you don't really have the people.

Lane Tompkins, president of the McKenzie Community Land Trust and superintendent of the McKenzie School District has had the same challenge. Even with an administrators salary, he couldnt afford a home in the school district and commutes an hour from Eugene, a commute he recognizes not everyone can make.

Its been a challenge to attract and retain staff members when getting into the area home market is tough, Tompkins said. Theres just no starter homes in the area.

For Holiday Farm Fire victims, the road to recovery continues.

Its always interesting to find out how many folks in Eugene think everything should be rebuilt and get right back to normal. Itll be five to ten years before that happens, Ferguson said.
Candlestick patterns are important tools in technical trading. Understanding them allows traders to interpret possible market trends and form decisions from those inferences. There are various types of candlestick patterns which can signal bullish or bearish movements. This article will briefly touch upon what candlestick patterns are and introduce the top 10 formations all traders should know to trade the markets with ease.

Try out our interactive trading quiz on forex patterns !

What are candlestick patterns?

A candlestick is a single bar which represents the price movement of a particular asset for a specific time period. The information it displays includes the open, high, low and close for that time period.

Candlestick patterns take into account one or more candlesticks to assist technical traders in developing inferences about future movements and price patterns of the underlying asset. These are displayed graphically on a chart, which is utilized for market analysis. Our guide to reading candlestick charts is a great place to start to learn how to interpret candlesticks for trading.

Candlestick Patterns can be Bullish or Bearish

In order to recognize and apply the most commonly used candlestick patterns to a trading strategy, traders need to understand how the inclination of these patterns can affect the market direction (trend). The tables below summarize the two main categories of price movement that candlesticks can indicate. Many of these patterns are featured in our top 10 list below.

Bullish Candlestick Patterns:

Candlestick Pattern Direction Morning Star Bullish (Reversal) Bullish Engulfing Bullish (Reversal) Doji Bullish/Bearish (Indecision) Hammer Bullish (Reversal) Bullish Harami Bullish (Reversal) Piercing Pattern Bullish (Reversal) Inside Bars Bullish (Continuation) Long Wicks Bullish/Bearish (Reversal)

Bearish Candlestick Patterns:

Candlestick Pattern Direction Evening Star Bearish (Reversal) Bearish Engulfing Bearish (Reversal) Doji Bearish/Bullish (Indecision) Bearish Harami Bearish (Reversal) Dark Cloud Cover Bearish (Reversal) Inside Bars Bearish/Bullish (Continuation) Long Wicks Bearish/Bullish (Reversal) Shooting Star Bearish (Reversal)

Top 10 Candlestick Patterns Traders Should Know

1 - EVENING STAR AND MORNING STAR

The evening and morning star candlestick patterns occur at the end of upwards/downward trends respectively and tend to indicate reversal patterns.

The names come from the star shaped formation of the arrangement.

As you can see from the image below, the first candlestick is in the direction of the trend, followed by a bullish or bearish candle with a small body. The third candlestick is seen in the direction of the reversal, ideally closing passed the halfway point of the first candlestick.

Trading this candlestick pattern will require a confirmation candle in the direction of the respective reversal  for example, traders will look for a bearish candle after the evening star.

2 - BULLISH & BEARISH ENGULFING

A bullish or bearish engulfing candlestick pattern may indicate reversal patterns.

or engulfing candlestick pattern may indicate A bullish engulfing candlestick formation shows bulls outweigh bears. As the pattern below shows, the green body (bulls) covers completely the first candlestick (bears).

A bearish engulfing candlestick pattern is small green (or bullish) candle followed by a larger red (bearish) candle immersing the small green candle.

3  DOJI

The Doji candlestick chart pattern is associated with indecision in the market of the underlying asset. This could mean potential reversal of the current trend or consolidation.

chart pattern is associated with of the underlying asset. This could mean potential reversal of the current trend or consolidation. This pattern can occur at the top of an uptrend, bottom of a downtrend, or in the middle of a trend.

The candlestick itself has an extremely small body centered between a long upper and lower wick.

4  HAMMER

The Hammer candle is viewed as a bullish reversal usually occurring at the bottom of a downward trend.

is viewed as a bullish reversal usually occurring at the bottom of a This candle formation includes a small body whereby the open, high, low and close are roughly the same. There is a long lower wick beneath the body which should be more than twice the length of the candle body. The body may be bullish or bearish, however bullish is considered more favorable.

5  BULLISH & BEARISH HARAMI

A Bullish or Bearish Harami may indicate reversal patterns .

. The word Harami means pregnant in Japanese, and the name has been given to this candlestick pattern because it resembles a pregnant woman. The second candle in the pattern must be contained within the body of the first candle as seen in the images below. This holds true for both bullish and bearish Haramis.

A downtrend precedes a bullish Harami and an uptrend precedes that of a bearish Harami.

6  DARK CLOUD COVER

The Dark Cloud Cover pattern is seen as a bearish reversal pattern .

. This candlestick pattern must occur during an uptrend. As seen in the image below, the bullish candle is followed by a bearish candle.

This bearish candle must confirm certain criteria to validate the Dark Cloud Cover pattern:

1. The opening price must by higher than the previous days close.

2. The closing price must close below the midpoint of the previous bullish candle.

The Dark Cloud Cover pattern looks similar to that of the Bearish Engulfing pattern. The difference between the two relates to the second candlestick. Bearish Engulfing pattern has the second candlestick opening above the close of the first, whilst the Dark Cloud Cover opens above the high of the first candle and closes below the midpoint of the first candlestick body.

7  PIERCING PATTERN

The Piercing Pattern is viewed as a bullish candlestick reversal pattern, at the end of a downtrend or during a pullback within an uptrend, or at the support.

at the end of a downtrend or during a pullback within an uptrend, or at the support. There are two components of a Piercing Pattern formation:

1. Bearish candle

2. Bullish candle

A Piercing Pattern occurs when a bullish candle (second) closes above the middle of bearish candle (first) in a downward trending market.

The open price of the second candle should gap down at market open and ensue by closing above the mid-point of the previous candle as indicated below.

Both the Piercing and Dark Cloud Cover patterns have similar characteristics. The difference is that the piercing line is a bullish reversal pattern as mentioned above, whilst the Dark Cloud Cover pattern is a bearish reversal pattern.

8  INSIDE BARS

The Inside Bar pattern is utilized in trending markets whereby the high and low of the Inside bar is within the parameters of the previous candle or mother bar.

Inside Bars are traded within the direction of the trend  if the market is in a downtrend, the trader would look to continue with a short position with the presence of an Inside Bar. The same principal is applied in an uptrend.

 if the market is in a downtrend, the trader would look to continue with a short position with the presence of an Inside Bar. The same principal is applied in an uptrend. Trading in the direction of the trend is not always a given as key levels of support/resistance can indicate a reversal. Classically, the entry points for traders is positioned above or below the high or low of the mother bar depending on the direction of the trade.

An inside bar is also similar to a bullish or a bearish harami candlestick pattern. The main difference being that with an inside bar, the highs and lows are considered while the real body is ignored.

9  LONG WICKS

Long Wicks candlestick patterns often indicate a reversal in the trend .

. Long Wicks occur when prices are tested and then rejected. The wick indicates rejected prices.

Identifying the trend is important to interpret the significance of the Long Wick.

Identifying key levels and price action is often used in conjunction with Long Wick patterns.

10  SHOOTING STAR

A Shooting Star is a bearish candle with a long upper wick, little or no lower wick and a small real body near the day's low. It comes after an uptrend, and potentially indicates a trend reversal to the downside .

is a bearish candle with a long upper wick, little or no lower wick and a small real body near the day's low. It comes after an uptrend, and potentially indicates a . The distance between the high and opening price of the candle must be more than twice as large as the Shooting Star's body. The distance between the lowest price for the day and the closing price must be very small or nonexistent.

Recommended by Warren Venketas Seeking success? Do what successful traders do! Get My Guide

Further tips to trade using candlestick patterns
Japanese Yen, USD/JPY, US Dollar, PBOC, Yellen, Biden US Debt Ceiling - Talking Points

The Japanese Yen dipped after rising domestic PPI today ahead of CPI

Chinas PBOC added liquidity, but equity markets did little in response

The US debt ceiling is creating anxiety in markets. Will it drive USD north?

Recommended by Daniel McCarthy How to Trade USD/JPY Get My Guide

The Japanese Yen slid again today while the Aussie and Kiwi Dollars are firmer after large gains were seen by the US Dollar last Friday.

Japanese PPI came in above expectations at 5.8% year-on-year to the end of April rather than the 5.6% anticipated. National CPI is due for release this Thursday and a Bloomberg survey of economists is forecasting the annual headline number to be 3.5%, up from 3.2% previously.

Rising price pressure may call into question the Bank of Japans continuing its loose monetary policy stance.

Elsewhere today, the Peoples Bank of China (PBOC) left the medium-term lending facility (MLF) rate unchanged at 2.75% but injected 25 billion Yuan of liquidity.

Despite the measure, APAC equity markets were little moved on Monday, and futures are pointing toward a flat start to the Wall Street session. Having said that, Japans TOPIX index is trading near its 30-year peak.

The US debt ceiling issue appears likely to be a key focus for markets this week. Over the weekend US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen made it clear that if Congress is unable to lift it, there will be damage to the economy and financial markets.

President Joe Biden is optimistic a deal will be done, and he is expected to be meeting the Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday.

The US Senate and the House of Representatives are both in session until Thursday. According to the Presidents schedule, he will be in Washington until Wednesday before leaving.

If a deal isnt done by Thursday, the logistics to achieve a satisfactory outcome could become more difficult.

Trade Smarter - Sign up for the DailyFX Newsletter Receive timely and compelling market commentary from the DailyFX team Subscribe to Newsletter

Crude oil is languishing again today after sliding last week. The WTI futures contract has dipped under US$ 69.50 bbl while the Brent contract is near US$ 73.50 bbl at the time of going to print.

Gold is holding ground above US$ 2,010 an ounce and the rest of the metals complex has started the week on a positive note.

Looking ahead, there will be several speakers from the BoE, ECB and Fed crossing the wires while the Empire State Manufacturing survey will be a notable data point for markets.

The full economic calendar can be viewed here.

USD/JPY TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

USD/JPY has added to last weeks gain today as it remains above a couple of ascending trend lines.

While it broke above several short and medium-term daily simple moving averages (SMA), the 200- and 260-day SMAs lie above the price. This may suggest that short and medium-term bullish momentum could be evolving while longer-term momentum signals are yet to confirm this.

Resistance might be at the previous peaks at 137.77, 137.91 and 138.18. On the downside, support lay lie near the recent lows of 133.75, 133.50 and 133.00

Chart created in TradingView

--- Written by Daniel McCarthy, Strategist for DailyFX.com

Please contact Daniel via @DanMcCarthyFX on Twitter
US Dollar, DXY Index, USD, EUR/USD, Federal Reserve, Biden, Yellen, - Talking points

The US Dollar has rallied with support from Treasury yields

The debt ceiling is circling as a key issue this week with uncertainty remaining

While USD has gained across the board, EUR/USD might be vulnerable

Trade Smarter - Sign up for the DailyFX Newsletter Receive timely and compelling market commentary from the DailyFX team Subscribe to Newsletter

The US Dollar reclaimed the ascendency last week with the DXY index notching up its largest weekly gain since September last year.

The DXY index is a US Dollar index that is weighted against EUR (57.6%), JPY (13.6%), GBP (11.9%), CAD (9.1%), SEK (4.2%) and CHF (3.6%).

EUR/USD and GBP/USD saw the larger falls while USD/JPY also gained but to a lesser extent. Treasury yields finished higher on Friday and are steady so far through the Asian session with the benchmark 2-year bond near 4%.

Concerns remain around the US debt ceiling, but President Joe Biden expressed some optimism over the weekend that a resolution might be found. He will meet again with the speaker for the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday.

The Senate and the House of Representatives are both in session until Thursday. According to the Presidents schedule, he will be in Washington until Wednesday before leaving.

If a deal isnt done by Thursday, the logistics to achieve a satisfactory outcome could become more difficult.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen made it clear over the weekend that raising the debt ceiling is the job of Congress and that if it is not forthcoming, there will be damage to the US economy and financial markets.

US DOLLAR (DXY), US 2- AND 10-YEAR YIELDS

EUR/USD TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

EUR/USD remains within an ascending trend channel but looking closely at the price action on Friday and it closed below the 21-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) based Bollinger Band.

The breakout of volatility might indicate that potential bearish momentum could be emerging. A close back inside the band may signal a pause in bearishness or a possible reversal.

Support may lie at the prior lows of 1.0831, 1.0788 and 1.0713. Amongst those levels are the 100-day SMA and the ascending trend line currently at 1.0800 and 1.0760 respectively, which might lend support.

On the topside, resistance could be at the previous peaks in the 1.1075  1.1095 area ahead of the March 2022 high of 1.1185.

Recommended by Daniel McCarthy How to Trade EUR/USD Get My Guide

Chart created in TradingView

--- Written by Daniel McCarthy, Strategist for DailyFX.com

To contact Daniel, use the comments section below or @DanMcCathyFX on Twitter
Backstage at This Morning, cast and crew have known for months that Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby's once-close friendship is well and truly over.

But, aside from a few awkward moments on air where he has arrogantly spoken over her, prompting Holly's understandable fury, the fracturing of the partnership has remained hidden from viewersuntil today.

With the feuding friends broadcasting live to the nation on ITV, we had all the awkwardness of a secretly divorcing couple having to attend a dinner party together while pretending they're still madly in love.

For a painful two-and-a-half hours, poor Holly's eyes were darting left to right, as they were forced to read scripted lines like: 'Making working with your partner look easy.'

But, as the body language experts have already sussed out, nothing about this morning's working partnership on This Morning was easy.

Holly and Phil were back on screen together this morning amid claims of their faltering relationship

As the body language experts have already sussed out, nothing about this morning's working partnership on This Morning was easy, writes Dan Wootton

The fake laughter was more excruciating than usual, knowing Phillip has hired high priced lawyers and crisis PR experts to find a way to save the day.

The dire performance prompted one ITV celebrity to message me: 'This farce cannot go on.'

Indeed, there is a major growing revolt brewing backstage at the broadcaster from some of its biggest stars  and a truckload of production staff  about the seeming double standards at play.

How can ITV continue to stand by Phillip, despite a succession of scandals and complaints from highly credibly fellow presenters, given the brutality with which its discarded other stars, including Jeremy Kyle, Piers Morgan and Jeremy Clarkson?

Comedian Dapper Laughs, whose ITV series was cancelled in 2014, became one of the first to go on the record today, tweeting: 'Sat thinking about how ITV dropped me over a joke and Schofield's still on there.'

So too did Eamonn Holmes, who was axed as This Morning's Friday presenter after standing up to Phillip.

Now a colleague of mine on GB News, where he presents the fast-growing breakfast show, he said on air today: 'I think there should have been a special award for Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby for best actors.

There had been questions about whether the TV duo would appear on air together today

The fake laughter was more excruciating than usual, knowing Phillip has hired high priced lawyers and crisis PR experts to find a way to save the day. Pictured: Phillip Schofield works out on the show

'He's brought in lawyers, she's brought in a PR team. The public surely will suss that there's no chemistry, that it's a broken fit between the two of them and that This Morning does not depend on who presents it.'

Privately, the outrage is growing, too.

One of Phillip's former co-presenters told me: 'It's ridiculous how he's so protected. He is not loved by the viewers and adds nothing. People are scared of him. But why does ITV stand by him?'

I am also aware of at least two A-list This Morning regulars who have made it clear to bosses that they will not return to the show while Phillip remains in his job.

One star explained: 'It is absolutely disgusting that ITV takes the moral high ground over lots of issues, but then continues to give their major daily presenting slot to Phillip, despite the tonne of complaints that have been made against him.

'Lots of us have now told our agents that we will not be appearing on This Morning while he is still there.'

A boycott of major stars would further heap the pressure on ITV bosses to take action sooner rather than later.

The duo laughed repeatedly during today's show - but some viewers thought it was forced

Comedian Dapper Laughs, whose ITV series was cancelled in 2014, became one of the first to go on the record today to call out double standards

It also undermines attempts by the show to attract major newsworthy interviews, including members of the Royal Family.

'No major name is going to involve themselves in this s*** show, so you're going to see a succession of stars appearing on This Morning who are already connected to ITV,' one TV source said.

While Holly is the ultimate professional, she has now made clear to executives that she no longer feels her long-term future is presenting beside Phillip.

Last week a source close to her told me: 'For Holly there's also a degree of her becoming concerned that some of the scandals connected to Phillip are damaging her reputation.'

Following my column, Phillip released a statement to The Sun, insisting the pair remain 'the best of friends' but admitting 'the last few weeks haven't been easy for either of us'.

It seemed like he hoped the public pledge would push Holly into making a similar pronouncement, but the silence from her camp has been deafening.

One of Phillip's former co-presenters told me: 'It's ridiculous how he's so protected. He is not loved by the viewers and adds nothing. People are scared of him. But why does ITV stand by him?' Pictured: Phillip leaves his west London home for This Morning today

In reality, the tensions between Phillip and Holly have been growing since 2019.

At the time, I revealed how Phillip's PA and personal runner  a male in his twenties left This Morning to work on Loose Women.

The Mail on Sunday's Katie Hind reported yesterday that the move came 'amid unsubstantiated claims of a falling out with Schofield', even though ITV insist he was promoted.

'Some of the network's biggest names expressed their surprise at the time, he was very popular. He never really spoke about it,' a source told her.

I remember working at ITV Daytime at the time and was aware the job move made many of the stars of Loose Women uncomfortable.

The individual in question has now left the broadcaster altogether.

Later in today's car crash episode of the ITV flagship show, the clearly desperate production team gifted Phillip and Holly This Morning branded shot glasses as they interviewed Myleene Klass.

It felt like an exasperating bid to recreate the glory days of their friendship when the pair would turn up on the TV sofa hungover after a boozy awards night.

But Phil had to admit the vessels were only filled with water, somewhat defeating the purpose, as they went through the motions and downed the 'shot'.

This felt like the daytime TV equivalent of the last days of Rome.
Labour's sinister plot to rig our elections

Winston Churchill once commented: 'If a man is not a socialist by the time he is 20, he has no heart. If he is not a conservative by the time he is 40, he has no brain.'

His remark reflects the belief that the young  idealistic and hopelessly naive  are innately Left-wing. It is blatantly obvious this is why Sir Keir Starmer wants to give voting rights to 16 and 17-year-olds if Labour wins the next general election.

He calculates that if schoolchildren gravitate to the political left, bringing them on to the electoral roll would maximise his party's chances at the ballot box.

Superficially, Labour's argument may seem compelling. With their adult lives ahead of them, youngsters will be most affected by the decisions of those in power.

True, but by that logic, why shouldn't 14-year-olds get the vote? Or those aged 12?

Surely if people are deemed too immature at 16 to decide whether or not they should drink alcohol, smoke or drive, they shouldn't be entrusted with voting  a decision that will affect the future of millions of their fellow citizens?

DAILY MAIL COMMENT: It is blatantly obvious this is why Sir Keir Starmer wants to give voting rights to 16 and 17-year-olds if Labour wins the next general election

Equally, minors have no property, no dependants, no tax liabilities, none of the responsibilities that impel electors to vote with their heads rather than their hearts.

If extra proof were needed of its attempts to gerrymander the electoral process, consider Labour's grubby plan to let millions of EU citizens living here vote in general elections. This is not a privilege Brussels offers to UK expats. And rightly so.

Voting is a basic democratic right. Granting it to those without a permanent stake in our country devalues the very notions of citizenship. Sir Keir, though, is concerned only with creating new blocs of reliable Labour voters: Enough to swing an election  or another EU referendum.

Labour says these measures will 'strengthen democracy'. Hogwash. Radically extending the franchise would be a cynical and sinister ploy to rig future elections  making it harder to ever prise the party away from the levers of power.

Keir bashes business

Sir Keir has made great efforts to seduce the City and schmooze corporate bosses, pitching Labour as 'the party of business'.

That's not true. Documents show if he won power, Labour's leader would make it even easier for the militant unions to hold the country to ransom with strikes  a reward for donating millions to the party.

Employers would get the right to work from home and bosses would be barred from contacting employees outside work hours  even by email.

With our economy in the doldrums, the upshot of such policies would be perpetual industrial strife, suffocated growth and crippled productivity. Pro-business? Labour would be the exact opposite.

A taxing situation

A cornerstone of traditional Tory thinking is that cutting tax can stimulate economic activity which leads to an increase in revenue for the Exchequer.

DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Rishi Sunak should listen to dozens of his Parliamentary colleagues  including ex-Cabinet ministers  who are urging him to restore duty-free shopping for foreign visitors

So Rishi Sunak should listen to dozens of his Parliamentary colleagues  including ex-Cabinet ministers  who are urging him to restore duty-free shopping for foreign visitors. Far from saving 2billion, as the Treasury claims, axing the perk will more likely result in a net loss, as high-spending tourists choose to do their shopping in Paris, Milan or Berlin rather than here.

The hated tourist tax is not only harming Britain's economy. It is damaging our global reputation as a magnet for tourism.

n BRITAIN'S prisons are squalid, violent cesspits, with drugs smuggled in too easily. So what are woke bosses at HMP Gartree, which holds 450 lags serving life, doing? Absurdly, warders must take 'banter classes' to avoid upsetting inmates. This is UK justice. Soft on crime, soft on criminals.
Given that Tory donor Richard Sharp was forced to step down as BBC Chairman over undeclared dealings with Boris Johnson, the chances of a card- carrying Conservative taking over at the Beeb seem low.

But how about a respected Labour Party figure?

Step forward David Blunkett. In a thinly disguised job application published by the Yorkshire Post last week, the first blind Cabinet minister wrote: In my younger days I fancied the idea of becoming the Chair of the BBC.

He added: I still believe I have a major contribution to make in the public arena.

Blunkett argues that its a mistake to think that he cant judge whether programmes are good or not because he is unable to watch them.

ANDREW PIERCE: Step forward David Blunkett (pictured). In a thinly disguised job application published by the Yorkshire Post last week, the first blind Cabinet minister wrote: In my younger days I fancied the idea of becoming the Chair of the BBC'

ANDREW PIERCE: Given that Tory donor Richard Sharp was forced to step down as BBC Chairman over undeclared dealings with Boris Johnson, the chances of a card- carrying Conservative taking over at the Beeb seem low

On the issue of his impartiality, he cites his independent spirit, a quality to which Sir Keir Starmer and Jeremy Corbyn, who have been on the receiving end of Blunkett broadsides, could testify.

Most important, says Blunkett, is whether the next chairman has enough vision and competence to be able to chair the existing governance arrangements and understand how to guide the BBC at a time when its future is in danger.

But is he too old at 75? Certainly not, his allies would say. Lord Grade, the chairman of broadcast regulator Ofcom, is 80.

So come on and throw your hat in the ring, Lord Blunkett.

In TV interviews Labour rising star Wes Streeting refused to apologise for party leader Sir Keir Starmer ditching his promise to abolish university tuition fees. He took a different view as president of the National Union of Students when he backed a campaign calling out liar Lib Dem MPs for breaking their pledge to abolish tuition fees.

As the official biographer of Margaret Thatcher, Lord Moore knows a thing or two about female Tory leaders. Writing in The Spectator, Moore says Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt is the only conceivable challenger for the Tory leadership before the next General Election thanks to her sterling display of pageantry at the Coronation. There is something about a handsome woman on the warpath which excites the fealty of traditional Tory supporters, particularly men, he wrote. Under the power of this atavism Conservative MPs backed Margaret Thatcher against Ted Heath for the leadership in 1975.

But Mrs Thatcher had more to offer than the ability to hold a ceremonial sword for an hour or so.

Former Labour Cabinet minister Ed Balls speaks for many concerning this years Eurovision winner: Very unconvinced by this Swedish entry. . . lots of writhing about and nail-action, but is it a good song? Really? It was, however, far better than the UK entry by Mae Muller, who seems to loathe Britain and is applying for German citizenship. Fittingly, the German entry was the only song to get fewer votes than hers, finishing rock-bottom.

The subtitle of But What Can I Do?, a new book by Alastair Campbell, Tony Blairs brutish former communications chief, reads: Why Politics Has Gone So Wrong And How You Can Help Fix It.

The answer, surely, is not to go on BBC2s Newsnight and insult ex-Brexit Party MEP Alex Phillips and host Victoria Derbyshire.

After Phillips noted the irony of being lectured on honesty by a key figure in the Blair government making the flawed case for war against Iraq, Campbell sneered: I think you may have lost the argument there, my dear, if I may patronise you even more.

The subtitle of But What Can I Do?, a new book by Alastair Campbell, Tony Blairs brutish former communications chief, reads: Why Politics Has Gone So Wrong And How You Can Help Fix It

Turning to Derbyshire, he said: You bring these people on and never challenge them.

Derbyshire coolly replied: Im not going to take that from you, with respect, Mr Campbell. To which Campbell huffed like a sulky adolescent.

If he was still in Labour, would he face a bullying allegation?
When he was just 16 years old, Matthew Ineson was raped by a Church of England priest in Bradford.

The priest took his own life on the very day he was due in court to face charges of serious sex offences.

In 2012, some 28 years after the rape, Matthew, who has waived his right to anonymity, told the then Bishop of Sheffield, Dr Steven Croft (now Bishop of Oxford) about what hed endured  in writing and by phone.

A year later, he tried again. Nothing happened.

Earlier this month, a report commissioned by the Church found that Croft and the then Archbishop of York, Lord Sentamu, had failed to act on Matthews reports.

Matthew, now 55, says the impact on his life was devastating. He had been abused and then he was ignored.

Mr Ineson said the abuse began in 1984 when, following a family breakdown at the age of 16, he was sent to sit with Trevor Devamanikkam (pictured), who at the time was vicar at St Aidan's Church in Buttershaw

Lord Sentamu, former Archbishop of York pictured here in 2008, will step down from his Church of England role over a review into how he handled a child sex abuse allegation

His story resonates strongly with me. In 2014, I wrote my first novel, The Four Streets, in which, through a character called Kitty, I detailed my own experience of child sexual abuse at the hands of an Anglican priest.

At the time, I thought it was a cathartic process, my way of processing something I could not talk about. I had no intention of naming my abuser.

But by the time I got to the third book in the trilogy, The Ballymara Road, I wanted his name out there.

I thought he would have heard about my books and be anxious that I would name him  and I did. It was then it dawned on me that writing the books had been an act of revenge. I wanted him to know that I remembered what he had done to me.

In my book, the priest is murdered and his penis hacked off in a churchyard. I was clearly venting deep anger.

The books received some attention and I plucked up the courage to make a complaint to Lambeth Palace. I was invited to the House of Lords, where I was told two bishops would hear my complaint and commence an investigation.

Yes, they took the details from me, but neither took notes.

There they sat, draped in their vestments of authority and trust, and looked down at their hands clasped on their knees as I spoke. So uncomfortable were they that I imagine they wanted the ground to swallow me up.

But I continued because I had to. I outlined what had happened to me and what I knew to be strong evidence that the priest had abused others.

I remembered him driving into the car park at our youth club and going inside, leaving a young girl aged around 12 in the front seat of his car. He had, I noted, locked her in from outside.

I can still recall her terrified face as our eyes met  and I just knew.

Several weeks later he left our parish, telling everyone he was emigrating to the U.S.

The two bishops told me they would conduct a full investigation and come back to me.

'I continued because I had to. I outlined what had happened to me and what I knew to be strong evidence that the priest had abused others.'

A secretary at Lambeth Palace assured me they took allegations like this very seriously and offered me counselling. I refused it. Kitty had been my therapist.

What followed, from that day to this, was silence, despite my following it up and requesting a further meeting.

Later, with the assistance of Mail on Sunday journalist Amy Oliver, I discovered that my abuser, the Rev Jim Cameron, had died.

Hed never gone to America, but had been transferred by the Church to a rural Norfolk parish with an elderly congregation and no youth club.

How many more of us  people like Matthew Ineson and myself  are there out there? People who were abused as youngsters and then ignored.

The Roman Catholic Church has, with good cause, been the focus of much of the historic child sex abuse in recent decades, and that has suited the Church of England.

But it cannot escape the evil that lurks within its own cloisters any longer.

Until the Church takes appropriate action on all cases reported to it and adopts a zero-tolerance approach to safeguarding, that evil will continue to haunt it for years to come.

Naked truth on cut-price beach homes

A word of warning to those who think a coastal bolt-hole or retirement home may be within reach after a report that properties close to nudist beaches are up to a third cheaper than in other seaside locations.

The question why? always leaps to mind whenever I see a sign for a nudist beach, prompted by thoughts of sand and where it can lodge in a human body.

A swimming costume or shorts are worn for comfort as much as modesty, and removing them is an act of pure exhibitionism.

Move if you must but keep your eyes averted when walking the dog. Some sights really are best left unseen.

Scroll for flattery...

Japanese scientists have discovered our brains can distinguish between genuine and fake compliments.

When a recipient believes praise is deserved, areas that control feelings of reward and pleasure in the brain are more fired up than when it is judged to be insincere or undeserving.

This fascinates me. When I arrived at the House of Commons in 2005, I was stunned by the blizzard of compliments that came my way from fellow MPs almost every time I uttered a word in the chamber.

Amazing speech!; Excellent points; Well said, indeed etc. I regarded it all with a healthy dose of suspicion and it had zero impact on my brain or mood.

But, today, it makes me smile to watch an MP, after delivering the dullest of speeches or asking the most anodyne question, sit down and immediately pick up their phone to check Whats-App or Twitter, flushing with pleasure as they scroll through and get their dopamine hits.

The Japanese researchers should consider conducting a new study drawing on Westminsters 650 MPs. They may find they have to report an entirely different result!

Mae should change her tune

At the risk of sounding off key, if we dont want to be humiliated in the Eurovision Song Contest, the very least we need is a good tune.

The ditty from the United Kingdoms Mae Muller  I Wrote A Song  ended up where it deserved . . . second from the bottom.

Mae Muller performs during dress rehearsals for the Eurovision Grand Final in Liverpool

The ludicrous claim this weekend by Simon McDonald, the former Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Office, that he helped bring down Boris Johnson was almost enough to make me laugh out loud.

McDonald was a bad actor, an ardent Remainer, a suspected leaker to the media and an envious man who apparently took exception to a Foreign Secretary  Boriss first job in government  who knew his brief possibly better than the veteran mandarin did.

That he is now giving interviews claiming to be Boriss nemesis gives you a measure of the mans ego. There are many who can legitimately claim to have helped defenestrate our former prime minister  the BBC, Sky, ITV, the entire Remain establishment, and many of Boriss own MPs, just for a start.

But one thing is for sure  it really wasnt you, Mr McDonald.

I spent part of the weekend in a seaside town myself, and my attire was an issue. Id picked up the wrong suit carrier as I left home and arrived in Bournemouth for a conference to discover Id brought my Coronation Day party outfit  a pink and white ballgown. I took to the stage to speak in sparkles and chiffon and, in true British style, no one batted an eyelid.

Today's literary gem

'Jealousy is both reasonable and belongs to reasonable men, while envy is base and belongs to the base, for the one makes himself get good things by jealousy, while the other does not allow his neighbour to have them through envy.' -- Aristotle
There are few more closely watched families than the Royal Family and its distinctive constellation of characters and stars.

Each is subject to the extraordinary strains of life in the public eye, with history, duty and the contradictory wishes for privacy and self-expression all bearing down upon them.

But their lives are defined and elevated, also, by their unique astrological charts, which combine the circumstances of their birth with the progress of the planets, stars and asteroids as the years progress.

Here, leading astrologer Patrick Arundell explains how these powerful forces are playing out in the most intimate sphere - shaping the key relationships which not only sustain the lives of the individual royals, but help hold the Monarchy together.

The Royal Family has its own constellation of characters and stars who continue to intrigue. So what does their Natal astrology tell us, asks Patrick Arundell? Pictured: The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in November 2007

Harry's Sun Moon Mid-Point is 'Conjunct Meghan's Descendant'. Ring a cosmic bell? This is exactly the same combination that the Queen and Prince Philip shared

The key ingredients in each person's Natal Birth Chart The Sun - Energy and Drive The Moon - Security and Nurture The Ascendant - Physical Self - how others see us The Midheaven - Work and Worldly Role The Sun Moon Mid-point - Our overall Personality The Venus Mars Mid-Point - Our key way of relating Advertisement

The Queen and Prince Philip

The late Queen and Prince Philip's relationship really was a match made in Heaven, which is why their devotion to one another was so long-lasting.

By comparing their Celestial Connections, we can reach a number of quite incredible conclusions.

Prince Philip's understanding of The Queen's needs is likely to have been very, very strong. This is because Prince Philip's Sun Moon Mid-Point was Conjunct (side-by-side) the Queen's Descendant - in other words the point in her chart where she related to others most acutely.

The Queen's Sun Moon Mid-Point was also Conjunct Philip's Sun and Mars - in her sector of romance. Therefore, it is likely that she likely saw him as dashing, charismatic and exciting to be with.

Their Moons were both in the people-pleasing 7th House, in Leo. Many have said that beyond Prince Philip's bluster, he was a very kind man, and this would make sense as 7th House Moon people like to be attuned to the needs of others. Prince Philip's Venus, the planet of love, was also Conjunct the Queen's Sun.

This again, is one of the best combinations in a romantic chart analysis. Whilst the Queen's Venus was in Pisces, which is a very positive location for this planet, it was also Conjunct Prince Philip's Eros, the asteroid of romance and desire.

The late Queen and Prince Philip's relationship really was a match made in Heaven, which is why their devotion to one another was so long lasting. Pictured: The Queen and Prince Philip at a banquet in the British Virgin Islands in October 1977

Charles and Camilla

Their two Ascendant's in Leo are almost side by side, less than a degree apart. This would give them an instant feeling of comfort and ease with one another. A lovely combination.

Further, Charles' Sun Moon Mid-Point or the balance of his being, is in her 7th House of relating, a great location for a relationship.

Their Suns are almost exactly in Trine, one of Astrology's most enabling links, and both in Water Signs, Scorpio and Cancer respectively, and thus mutually receptive.

Charles and Camilla's two ascendant's in Leo are almost side by side which gives them an instant feeling of comfort and ease with one another

Camilla's Jupiter, which can be an uplifting, jovial and positive energy, Conjunct Charles' Sun, and I would imagine that her sense of fun. But her innate encouragement has also been of great support to the King, who can perhaps be more on the introspective side.

The King's Sun in Scorpio also forges a helpful and enabling angle to Camilla's Sun Moon Mid-point in Cancer.

Camilla's Ceres, an Asteroid noted for the principles of mothering, nurture and love of food (not surprisingly, given that her son Tom Parker-Bowles is The Mail on Sunday's food critic) is in the earthy, sensuous Taurus, almost exactly side by side Charles Moon. A lovely and very encouraging combination.

Charles has Venus and Neptune Conjunct in Libra, but in the tender 4th House, a very Cancerian vibe. This combination may be dominated by the Element of Air (the need to communicate) but is intensely sensitive, and picks up on all the Cancerian energy in Camilla's chart positively.

Their Mars positions are, though, opposite by sign. Yet crucially Camilla's Uranus is opposite Charles' Mars, the planet of gratification, and perhaps this is the aspect which kept them apart for many years.

This is because Uranus creates a need for space and freedom.

Charles and Camilla's respective horoscopes and combined relationship analysis shows high mutual support. They are instinctively comfortable and at ease.

William and Kate

Having the Moon in the same sign of Cancer as the couple do, is very helpful for instincts around home and children can align comfortably.

William likely greatly appreciates the location of Catherine's Jupiter to support his worldly role and they have some very good links around shared values.

Catherine's Moon and North Node (her life journey) are in William's 7th House, a favourable location for him as Catherine's placements are very supportive.

William and Kate's astrology shows that their relationship has a tremendous sense of a shared mission, friendship and co-operation

Swapping the charts around sees none of William's planets in Catherine's own 7th House, which could in some cases point towards a lack of sympathy, but he has so many placements in his own 7th House, he is not lacking the astrological the assets required to tune into other people skillfully.

What is a natal birth chart? Astrology's innate power comes from the Natal Birth Chart - the exact moment that an event occurs or a person enters the world. This blueprint provides an incredible amount of information, that along with our biological influences, early environment and life experiences, shapes who we are, but crucially provides a fantastic base of knowledge that can help us navigate challenges, but also firmly seize opportunities. We all experience the power of planetary gravitational forces, and most obviously during the Moon's cycles. The location of the Sun by Zodiac Sign, is just one part of this complex but fascinating framework. Every single planet and celestial relationship between them, known as Aspects, creates a unique set of influences, some enabling and some more challenging. Further, the 360 degree Chart Wheel, is divided into twelve Houses or segments. The location of the planet, and then its House position, provides a sharper more detailed characterisation. So, as much as our Sun Sign and our Daily Horoscope can provide a very helpful celestial pit stop in an otherwise busy schedule, it is this deeper, more forensic cosmic Map which is so incredibly illuminating. Further, in serious Astrology timing is everything, and the clock, governed by Old Father Time, Saturn (or Chronos in Greek Mythology), never stops ticking. Why? Well, from the moment we are born the Astrology, just like our personal life story, evolves, and the Natal Birth Chart moves over time, known as the Progressed Chart, and so do our attitudes, aptitudes and skills. The Natal Birth Chart remains at the core of our being, but the task of professional astrologers is to mesh all these moving parts together, and give clients a cohesive joined up understanding of who they are, where they are heading, and the timings of when its best to make bold moves or to work on our inner selves. Advertisement

There is, however, a paradox in William's chart: the Ascendant in Sagittarius, Conjunct Black Moon Lilith (a part of the Chart to do with what we desire) suggests he could find himself going backwards and forwards from a need for freedom, independence and thrills, to the more family, emotionally orientated energies of Cancer.

Their relationship does, though, appear to have a tremendous sense of a shared mission, friendship and co-operation.

Harry and Meghan

The wonderful thing that Harry and Meghan share is that their Ascendants are in opposite signs. So, the self (1st House) has the counterpoint of the partner (7th House).

Also, Harry's Sun Moon Mid-Point is conjunct Meghan's Descendant. Ring a cosmic bell? This is exactly the same combination that the Queen and Prince Philip shared.

This is really delightful, and means that both Harry and Meghan feel the other has their back. Also, his Sun links in a lovely angle to her Ascendant so he receives the way she comes across with enthusiasm and acceptance.

Meanwhile, Meghan's Sun Moon Mid-Point links perfectly to Harry's Mercury in its home sign of Virgo, and also to his Natal Jupiter in Capricorn.

All this will give them a lot to talk about, and a lot about how they can help others through their good causes.

Harry's Venus connects to Meghan's Pluto, suggesting a power of attraction which runs all the way to karmic.

Harry's freedom-loving planet angles perfectly to Meghan's Sun, giving him the permission to be playful, uninhibited and himself.

Catches? Well, there are a couple of notable ones, but few couples' charts are perfect.

Harry's Saturn (the planet of limitation) is on Meghan's 4th House Cusp in Equal House Astrology. This could at times see her feel somewhat reserved around him, but the 4th House can also mean family, so perhaps that is where this aspect comes through.

The other (like in his chart) is that the swirling, mysterious and sometimes confusing energies of Neptune (this time hers) Square his Sun. This can be a very subtle but powerful influence and affect people's reality.

Prince Andrew and Sarah

Both Andrew and Sarah have Mars featuring powerfully in their charts. Mars is about action, desire, impulse, ego, restlessness and drive.

This comes from Mars being the traditional ruler of Scorpio (his Moon, her Ascendant, Mercury and Neptune) and the only ruler of Aries (her Moon).

Mars is Exalted (or given extra uplift) in Capricorn (his Mars), but less so in Libra (her Sun and Mars), where it is 'debilitated', or weakened.

Why are Andrew and Sarah seemingly such great friends? Simple, their Sun Moon Mid-Points are exactly Conjunct in Capricorn at 12 and 13 degrees respectively. Therefore, they feel very comfortable with one another.

Both Andrew and Sarah have Mars featuring powerfully in their charts. Mars is about action, desire, impulse, ego, restlessness and drive

The relating part of their two charts is however more complex. Their Venus Mars Mid-Points (romance) align well, but the parts of the two charts where couples need to support and nurture each other have little planetary support at all.

In fact, Andrew's chart applying to Sarah's sees Chiron, the comet which is said to be our inner wound, jointly in their 7th Houses of relating.

This suggests that they are both people who need to lead, or at least follow their own paths and their astrological connectivity is strong as friends and parents, but not as long-term partners.

Zara and Mike Tindall

Mike's Sun at 24 degrees Libra is very close to Zara's Moon at just under 20 degrees.

This is one of the loveliest of connections in astrology that couples can enjoy. The Sun protects and the Moon nurtures.

Zara's Sun Moon Mid-Point at 7 degrees Leo, is Conjunct Mike's at 4, 8 or 11 degrees. This is absolutely wonderful stuff, and of course he has the uplifting Jupiter in the mix, which means he likely cheers Zara or makes her laugh a lot.

His Eros, the Asteroid of romance, is Conjunct Zara's Moon - also a very nice combination.

Mike and Zara have one of the loveliest connections in astrology that couples can enjoy. It suggests they understand each other well, keep it light where possible, enjoy lots of events and interests together. From a celestial viewpoint this appears to be a quite beautiful relationship

Who is leading astrologer and analyst Patrick Arundell? Patrick Arundell has been a full time, professional astrologer for nearly three decades. His sharp, incisive analysis and personal consultations bring clarity and insight to a worldwide following. He was 30 million YouTube Views, 111K Subscribers and many personal clients. Please go to here to here to order your Personal Horoscope or to for a one to one consultation with Patrick. Patrick Arundell - a leading astrologer Advertisement

Their Venus Mars Mid-Points (romance) are exactly opposite one another - Mike's is in Scorpio and Zara's is in Taurus. Therefore, they provide the perfect foil for one anothers needs around intimacy and closeness.

Mike's Venus is also opposite Zara's Sun - perfect for a love relationship as this confers great attraction between the partners.

It is likely that Zara doesn't enjoy being crowded, though, with Uranus opposite her Sun. Mike would understand this too, with his Venus so close to her planet of freedom. She may need space occasionally but so will he, with his Mars so close to his own planet of independence.

Their Cupidos, another Asteroid of passion, are side by side in Scorpio. Sweet!

Their Mars position are though opposite, so they may be competitive at times. It could get fiery too. Never a dull moment in the Tindall household!

Mike's Moon also applies to Zara's Sun, so the reverse of her Moon to his Sun. We can't say exactly how closely as the time of his birth is not in the public domain. But whatever the degree the Moon was at, there was a very favourable connection on the day he was born.

Mike and Zara are very fortunate with these set of influences. It suggests they understand each other well, keep it light where possible and enjoy lots of events and interests together. From a celestial viewpoint this appears to be a quite beautiful relationship.
A dermatologist has taken to TikTok to reveal what she wished she knew about hair care in her twenties.

Dr Aamna Adel, from London, shared a video on the social media platform to discuss the dos and don'ts when it comes to hair care.

The skin expert often makes videos where she helps her followers understand how to take care of the body's largest organ.

Dr Adel speaks about skin, hair and nails on her account, which has a whopping 1.3 million followers.

She also makes important videos about skin cancers and changes in moles which help raise awareness of symptoms.

Dr Aamna Adel , from London, took to TikTok to discuss the dos and don'ts when it comes to hair care

1. Avoid tight hair styles

While it may be tempting to sweep hair back into a ponytail or bun, Dr Adel actually said this could be damaging for hair.

Dr Adel said: 'Stop wearing your hair in tight hairstyles so frequently.

'Tight ponytails, tight buns, tight braids, they need to go.

'Repeated tension and pulling on the hair follicles can lead to hair loss, also known as traction alopecia, which can be irreversible.'

2. How to properly apply dry shampoo

Meanwhile she also revealed how applying dry shampoo incorrectly could also damage hair.

Dr Adel said: 'This one I wish I'd known sooner, this is the correct way to use your dry shampoo.

'If you're trying to freshen up your hair between washes using dry shampoo, the key is to actually leave it there for a couple of seconds.

'It gives the dry shampoo time to absorb all the excess oil, it is game changing, you will find that your dry shampoo works so much better.'

3. SPF on your scalp

Dr Adel also advised applying sunscreen to the top of the hard to avoid damaging it - pointing out it's an area which is often forgotten about

Dr Adel also advised applying sunscreen to the top of the hard to avoid damaging it.

She said: 'Don't forget, your scalp is like your skin, you need to protect it.

'You would not believe the amount of sun damage and skin cancers that I've seen along the hair parting.

'So make sure you protect it and apply some SPF. I love using SPF spray just to my hair parting.'

4. Never rub your wet hair with a towel

While many might quickly rub their wet hair with a towel in order to get it dry as quickly as possible, Dr Adel warned this could actually damage the hair.

Dr Adel said: 'Your hair is actually the most fragile when it's wet.

'So rubbing it with a towel can actually lead to more breakage - you don't wanna do that.

'Instead rub your hair in a micro-fibre hair towel. This just helps to absorb all the excess moisture without damaging your hair.'

5. Shampoo is only for your scalp

Meanwhile she also advised you should always 'always' follow a shampoo with a conditioner (pictured)

Dr Adel said: 'Wash down the shampoo from your scalp and that is more than enough clean the rest of your hair.'

Meanwhile she also advised you should always 'always' follow a shampoo with a conditioner.

She explained: 'This helps seal the hair cuticle, which means that your hair looks smoother and shinier.

'It also helps to improve the strength of your hair and also provides some protection against UV rays.'

The two videos she made racked up more than 45,000 likes together, and people took to the comment section to express their thoughts.

One user wrote: 'Your hair is beautiful!'

Another said: 'Such good tips!'
Commentary: Washington should demonstrate genuine sincerity to stabilize ties with Beijing

Xinhua) 13:12, May 15, 2023

BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- On Wednesday, Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in the Austrian capital of Vienna.

Their discussions were candid, in-depth, substantive and constructive, and have been the highest-level encounter between the two sides in recent months.

Communication is necessary when China-U.S. relations are growing increasingly precarious, particularly after the United States shot down a stray Chinese weather balloon earlier this year. Prior to the Vienna meeting, a string of senior U.S. officials like Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen have expressed their desire to either visit China or to keep lines of communication open with Beijing. And according to some media reports, Washington is complaining that their willingness to talk was met with China's cold shoulders.

To set the record straight, China and the United States have maintained contact. In addition to Wang Yi's meeting with Sullivan, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao have lately met respectively in Beijing with U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns.

Yet talk for the sake of talk will do little to remove the obstacles in the path of a sound relationship, which entails Washington's concrete steps to demonstrate complete sincerity, and deliver on its promises.

In recent years, Washington's duplicitous practice of double-dealing in key areas concerning China's core interests has been draining mutual trust.

Take the Taiwan question, which is at the very core of China's core interests, and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations. On various occasions, U.S. President Joe Biden and many other senior officials of his administration have publicly pledged to stay committed to the one-China policy and not to support "the Taiwan independence."

But Washington has been bent on stirring up tensions across the Taiwan Straits, not least by sending warships and fighter jets to the region, boosting arms sales to the Chinese island and, most recently, arranging the so-called "transit" of Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen through the United States. Those deliberate provocations are eating into the political foundation of the China-U.S. relationship, and turning the region into a dangerous flashpoint.

How Washington deals with China's rise also attests to its two-faced ploy. The United States, on the one hand, claims that it is not seeking to decouple from China and has no intention of obstructing China's development, while on the other it squeezed its tech ties with China by imposing many rounds of chip bans on Chinese firms under the pretext of national security, rushed to encircle China in the Asia-Pacific by mustering such Cold-War style groupings as the AUKUS and the Quad alliances, and coerced regional countries into picking sides.

Washington's duplicity stems largely from the mounting anxieties over China's rise among many of the decision-makers in the United States. Burning in their self-centered paranoia, they stubbornly believe that China must be brought down in order to keep America ahead. They call it "competition."

History is the best textbook. The past 50 years of exchanges between China and the United States have testified that the duo gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. And the world as a whole has largely profited from sound and stable China-U.S. ties.

And in this age of hyper-interdependence, a steady China-U.S. relationship is even more imperative for the world's collective fight against pandemics and climate change.

China-U.S. relations should not be a zero-sum game where one side out-competes or thrives at the expense of the other, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Biden in their meeting in Indonesian island of Bali late last year. Xi also urged the two countries to have a sense of responsibility for history, for the world and for the people, explore the right way to get along with each other in the new era, and put the relationship on the right track.

Beijing, as always, welcomes exchanges with Washington and has no intention of breaking down what is broadly recognized as the world's most important bilateral relationship.

But if the United States is obsessive about playing its Janus-faced game, then no means of communication can call a halt to the downward spiral of its relations with China.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A plastic surgeon has weighed in on the popular new beauty trend known as 'traptox,' which has taken the internet by storm recently and involves women getting Botox injections in their trapezius muscles.

The treatment has gained immense attention online over the last few months, with tons of TikTok users from all over the globe giving it a go and sharing their results to the video streaming platform - and they can't stop raving about it.

The process sees patients inserting botulinum toxin - AKA Botox - into the muscles that are located on the back of their shoulders, and many have vowed that it not only made them look 'slimmer,' but it also helped ease 'tension' and feel more 'relaxed.'

Now, an expert has spoken exclusively to DailyMail.com about whether or not the viral procedure is actually effective - as well as the risks behind it.

A plastic surgeon has weighed in on the popular new beauty trend known as 'traptox,' which involves women getting Botox injections in their trapezius muscles

Before and after: The treatment has gained immense attention online over the last few months, with tons of TikTok users from all over the globe giving it a go and sharing their results

The process sees patients inserting Botox into the muscles located on the back of their shoulders, and many vowed that it not made them look 'slimmer' and helped ease 'tension'

Now, an expert (seen) has spoken exclusively to DailyMail.com about whether or not the viral procedure is actually effective - as well as the risks behind it

Dr. David Shafer, a New York-based double board certified plastic surgeon, explained that while most people associate Botox with 'FDA approved areas like the crow's feet, forehead, and frown lines of the upper face,' there are many other places that can benefit from it.

Dr. David Shafer, a New York-based double board certified plastic surgeon, said: 'Botox works by blocking the signal between the nerve and muscle. When injected into the trapezius muscle, the muscle shrinks from decreased stimulation, giving the neck a thinner, more contoured appearance'

'Botox can be used almost anywhere,' he explained. 'A new trend is to inject the trapezius muscles in the posterior neck.

'Botox works by blocking the signal between the nerve and muscle. When injected into the trapezius muscle, the muscle shrinks from decreased stimulation, giving the neck a thinner, more contoured appearance.'

According to the doctor, wanting to change their appearance is not the only reason people undergo the treatment.

'The main use is for aesthetic reasons to help the contour of the neck. However, Botox can also be used to target muscle pain or trigger points, which gives patients significant relief,' he added.

When it comes to potential dangers and side effects, Dr. Shafer said the risks are 'minimal.'

He shared: 'In fact, as far as medications go, Botox Cosmetic is one of the safest treatments and most effective treatments that someone can have.

'Additionally, Botox lasts three to five months, so if a person does not like the results (which is rare), it is not a permanent effect and they will go back to their baseline.

The 'traptox' hashtag on TikTok has more than 128.5 million views and is filled with hundreds of clips shared by patients and beauticians alike

One woman, named Stacie Loidolt, went viral earlier this week after she revealed she had gotten 'traptox' ahead of her upcoming wedding

The bride-to-be, from Denver, Colorado, explained that she's going to be wearing a strapless dress for the big day, and wanted to ensure that her shoulders looked perfect

'However, it's more common for patients to come back and say, "I love the result. Where else can we inject Botox?"'

PlasticSurgery.com reported that there are a few complications that can arise when getting the injections, including bruising and pain at the injection site, flu-like symptoms, headache, nausea, redness, and temporary facial weakness or drooping.

Despite praising 'traptox,' Dr. Shafer warned against getting swept up in popular beauty trends that you see on the internet, and reminded people to 'do their homework' before undergoing any cosmetic procedures.

'It's important for patients to not be swayed by "Insta-famous" or savvy Instagram doctors who may be good at marketing, but not so skilled with injecting,' he said.

'It is good advice to seek a board certified plastic surgeon or board certified dermatologist.'

The 'traptox' hashtag on TikTok has more than 128.5 million views and is filled with hundreds of clips shared by patients and beauticians alike.

Another TikToker, named Michelle Schimanski, from New Zealand, also gained a lot of traction online when she admitted that she too had tried out the new beauty trend

'I just got Botox in my traps and I'm so excited for it to kick in,' she explained . 'It's meant to help with posture and unevenness. I have such raised traps, [and mine are] super uneven'

Many beauticians have gushed over the process on the video streaming app, while sharing some of the benefits that can come with it

One woman, named Stacie Loidolt, went viral earlier this week after she revealed she had gotten 'traptox' ahead of her upcoming wedding.

'Botox can effectively relax key points in the muscle group, reducing tension and pain, and contouring the neck and shoulders,' a medical spa in San Diego wrote in a video

The bride-to-be, from Denver, Colorado, explained that she's going to be wearing a strapless dress for the big day, and wanted to ensure that her shoulders looked perfect.

'The most controversial cosmetic thing Im getting done for my wedding in September is Botox, and I'm not talking a little sprinkle [on my face]m I'm talking trap Botox,' the bride-to-be, from Denver, Colorado, revealed in the TikTok.

'I don't want to hear these arguments, "Your traps aren't that big, no one's gonna notice, no one's gonna care, it's a waste of money."

'If the option is on the table for me to delete my traps from the equation with my strapless dress on my wedding day, I am taking that option all day.'

Another TikToker, named Michelle Schimanski, from New Zealand, also gained a lot of traction online when she admitted that she too had tried out the new beauty trend.

The price for the treatment ranges depending on what city you're in, but it can cost an upwards of $1,050 for one session. One patient is seen before (left) and after (right) the injections

Lina Colleli, an aesthetic injector from Arlington, Virginia, said in another TikTok , 'It can relieve upper shoulder tension and create the appearance of a slimmer/elongated neck'

Lina recommends you get 40-50 units per side, which should last four to six months

'I just got Botox in my traps and I'm so excited for it to kick in. I have been wanting to get it done for literally months now,' she explained.

'It's meant to help with posture and unevenness. I have such raised traps, more-so on one side than the other, it's super uneven. Whenever I put my shoulder back, they're so round because my traps are so tight. I'll keep you guys updated.

'When injected into the trapezius, Botox can effectively relax key points in the muscle group, reducing tension and pain, and contouring the neck and shoulders,' a medical spa in San Diego, called Beauty Lounge, wrote in a video.

Lina Colleli, an aesthetic injector from Arlington, Virginia, said in another TikTok, 'It can relieve upper shoulder tension and create the appearance of a slimmer/elongated neck. It also helps with posture.'

She recommended getting 40-50 units per side, explaining that you should see results in four to six weeks and will feel 'relief' in only two weeks.

As for the price of the treatment, it ranges depending on what city you're in, but it can cost an upwards of $1,050 for one session.
An heiress and her property developer husband have hosted a lavish gender reveal at a palatial home in Sydney's eastern suburbs - with their baby's sex laid bare with a tower of blue silken bows.

Sydney socialite Lou O'Neil, the daughter of the founder of international cleaning manufacturer Hayco, and husband Jake O'Neil threw an intimate and classy do in Centennial Park at the weekend, featuring bouquets of brown roses, a banquet of food and an 'ethereal' tablecloth.

The 34-year-old took to Instagram recently to share that the newly married couple were expecting their firstborn and to show off their extravagant gender reveal party, held at in-law Ned O'Neil's property on Sunday.

Lou and Jake O'Neil (pictured) have announced they're expecting a baby boy

Tower of blue velvet bows signified that the couple have a baby boy on the way

The gender reveal was styled by creative studio The Make Haus, with guests given blue and pink bows in order to guess the baby's gender prior to the reveal.

Lou shared footage of the moment she and Jake learned the sex of their newborn, surrounded by family.

She pulled open some bi-fold doors to find a tower of blue bows signifying that the couple have a baby boy on the way.

The couple's pregnancy comes a year after the couple tied the knot at the heritage-listed Carthona mansion in Darling Point, surrounded by their close family and friends.

The couple spared no expense for their gender reveal soiree

The mum-to-be chose an an 'ethereal' tablescape theme

The nuptials were a coming together of two of the country's wealthiest families.

Jake, who works for family business Addenbrooke, is the second-eldest son of millionaire superyacht broker and Rose Bay marina owner, Denis O'Neil and Charlotte ONeil.

While, Lou is the daughter of Bi and the late Donald Hay, brush pioneer and founder of Hayco.

Jack and Lou originally dated in high school before reuniting in 2020.

Lou, a beauty and fashion content creator, isn't the only wealthy outsider to marry into the ONeil family.

Aussie Home Loans heiress Deborah Symond O'Neil tied the knot to eldest son Ned in 2018 in a lavish ceremony in the Whitsundays.

Sister-in-laws Lou, Deb and Poppy at the gender reveal

The couple booked out Hamilton Island's exclusive Qualia resort for the three-day long celebration.

Meanwhile younger sister Poppy wed billionaire freight heir Anthony Tzaneros whose family founded giant port logistics firm ACFS.
Kate Middleton 'will always overshadow' King Charles with her 'beauty and youth' - even though she has no desire to 'eclipse him like Diana', a royal expert has claimed.

The Princess of Wales, 41, released a number of behind-the-scenes videos on social media over the past week during the King's Coronation, showing her family preparing for the historic events.

Meanwhile she also opened the final of the Eurovision song contest in spectacular fashion on Saturday night, with a touching piano performance tribute to Ukraine.

It appears to mark a new era for the royal mother-of-three, who seems to grown in confidence and is fast becoming The Royal Family's not-so-secret weapon.

But royal experts questioned whether her star might be shining a little too brightly - and told FEMAIL she could be at risk of overshadowing King Charles.

Kate Middleton, 41, needs to be wary because she 'will always overshadow' King Charles, 74, in certain ways - despite being 'horrified' by the thought, a royal expert has claimed

Royal expert Ingrid Seward noted there are clear differences between Kate and her late mother-in-law Diana

Royal expert Ingrid Seward said: 'The Princess of Wales will always visually overshadow a 74-year-old man with her youth and beauty.'

However the Editor in Chief Majesty magazine noted there are clear differences between Kate and her late mother-in-law Diana, writing: 'She would never attempt to eclipse him as Diana once did and would be horrified to think that is what is being said.

'She is extremely respectful of her father-in-law and would not have done dreamt of doing anything that would take the limelight from him over the coronation weekend.'

She continued: 'He probably asked her to play the piano from Windsor Castle as an opener of Eurovision.

'She would not have done it without clearance and probably plenty of persuasion from the King.'

Meanwhile Ingrid added: 'Charles is a past master of wordage and delivery especially whenever he makes a pronouncement.

'He is not the helpless bystander he was in the early days of his marriage to Diana.'

Fellow royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams agreed, saying: 'There is no doubt of the national and international fascination with the Waleses, and especially with Catherine.

'A great deal of coverage has contrasted this with the fact that Charles is 74 and the oldest monarch in history to ascend the throne.

'The Waleses five minute video featuring the highlights of the Coronation weekend and concentrating on their activities and those of their children has been a huge success.

'Catherines appearance at the opening of Eurovision was sensational, sending a pro-Ukrainian message in a way no one else could.

'Charles will undoubtedly have been delighted at this. As a pragmatist at heart, he knows how short the working royal family is of younger members and how important such photo opportunities are.

'He is also aware of the steep decline in support for the monarchy among the young.

'The Waleses use of social media are a way of combating this and reaching where he and Queen Camilla cannot. This will be invaluable in his attempts to keep his Commonwealth realms too.'

As the Princess of Wales, Kate has stepped right out into the limelight and appears happy to embrace her power.

On recent walkabouts, she appears relaxed, talking to the public and readily posing for selfies, hugging a crying child.

Ingrid said despite Kate's repeated appearances over the last week, she would 'never attempt to eclipse the King' like Diana

The Princess released a number of behind-the-scenes videos on social media over the past week during the King's Coronation, showing her family preparing for the historic events

Royal experts questioned whether her star might be shining a little too brightly - and told FEMAIL she could be at risk of overshadowing King Charles

A source told Mail On Sunday this weekend: 'The Princess has grown in confidence and that comes with time and experience of doing the job.

'It's apparent in her public speaking and by branching out with her own projects like the Shaping Us early years project.'

Last year, experts said Kate had become 'more confident' on solo royal trips because she finds it easier to relax without Prince William by her side.

Describing the Princess' engagements last spring, Robert Jobson said: 'She was all smiles, very confident. Kate seemed more relaxed without William, who can be a bit fussy when hes on royal jobs.

'Probably more confident than when shes alongside William. She spoke very well. I thought she really came out of herself when she was there...She didnt have to refer to William.

'When you see them together, shes always double-checking whether its the right thing to do, even now.'

Meanwhile, experts said she has appeared to be 'sharing more' about her family because she 'needed to raise the bar' following Megxit.

Royal biographer Sarah Gristwood said the mother-of-three's candid confessions showed she has opened up, telling People: 'The changing times have required Kate to start to share a bit more.

'She's done it carefully enough to be relatable  nothing that would cause controversy and nothing that could be considered oversharing.'

On Saturday, Kensington Palace released a stunning behind-the-scenes video of the Prince and Princess of Wales at the King's Coronation.

The video, released by the Wales's official YouTube account, shows William and Kate meeting crowds of royal fans on the Mall outside Buckingham Palace the evening before the coronation.

It then shows William and Kate getting ready at Kensington Palace along with Charlotte and Louis the following morning.

The royal couple can be seen wearing their stunning Royal Victorian Order Mantles, while Kate wowed with her white Alexander McQueen dress.

Ingrid said while Kate would be 'horrified' at the thought, she will 'always overshadow' Charles in certain areas

The family then leave the palace to travel to Westminster Abbey in a gold carriage, alongside thousands of armed forces personnel and Buckingham Palace household members.

William, Kate and their children are then spotted standing on the Buckingham Palace balcony along with other members of the Royal Family after the Coronation ceremony.

The royals and the tens of thousands of people gathered outside the palace were then treated to a flyover by the Red Arrows despite the poor weather.

The following day, the family can be seen in the film pitching in for the Big Help Out - a volunteering event held across the country to celebrate the King's years of public service.

Prince Louis can be seen helping out with a digger while his brother George has a go at archery before the family join in a group photo with the other volunteers.

The video ends with clips taken at the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle which starred Katy Perry, Lionel Ritchie and Take That before William makes a speech in honour of the King.

He told his father: 'We are all so proud of you.'

Hours later, the Princess opened the final of Eurovision in spectacular fashion, with a touching piano performance tribute to Ukraine.

Kate played piano alongside last year's Ukrainian winners, the Kalush Orchestra, in a stunning opening sequence for the grand final, shown to an estimated worldwide audience of 160 million.
A woman who takes care of patients when they're nearing the ends of their lives has revealed some of the biggest 'deathbed regrets' that people have disclosed to her right before passing away - from putting things off and never getting around to them to focusing too much on material goods.

Hadley Vlahos, 30, from New Orleans, Louisiana, has worked as an at-home end-of-life carer for eight years.

Now, the nurse has opened up about some of the things that her clients have told her that they wished they could change - as well as the important lessons that she has learned from working alongside so many terminally ill people.

According to the hospice worker, one of the biggest regrets that people often have at the end of their lives is that they wish they spent less time working and more time with their loved ones.

A woman who takes care of patients when they're nearing the ends of their lives revealed some of the biggest 'deathbed regrets' that people have disclosed to her right before passing away

Hadley Vlahos, 30, from New Orleans, Louisiana, has worked as an at-home end-of-life carer for eight years

According to the hospice worker, one of the biggest regrets that people often have at the end of their lives is that they wish they spent less time working and more time with their loved ones

'A lot of people feel like they don't know their kids at all,' she explained. '[They realize that] what they thought were necessities weren't actually necessities. Maybe they could have worked 40 hours instead of 60.'

The biggest 'deathbed regrets' that Hadley has seen her patients have as they approach the end of their lives Focusing too much on material objects

Putting things off and then never getting a chance to do them

Trying to impress others rather than doing things for yourself

Working so hard you don't get to see your family as much as you'd like

Not voicing how much you care about your loved ones Advertisement

Hadley - who has written a book about her encounters, called The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life's Final Moments - said that others have voiced remorse over caring so much about physical objects.

'I remember leaving this ginormous mansion, and [the patient] was in her hospital-style bed, and she realized that you can't take things with you when you go,' she continued.

'I left her home to go to another house, where the walls were falling down, and she was in the same hospital bed.

'All that mattered in the end was the people around caring for her. They were both dying no matter what their money situation was.'

Hadley recalled a different patient who regretted not taking time to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor, adding that he told her to 'stop waiting for that perfect time, and start now.'

Another client admitted to Hadley that she wished she didn't spend so much time trying to impress others, but instead, 'did more things for herself.'

'This woman was always concerned about what her friends thought and the end of her life, she was the only one alive and realized she didn't do what she wanted to do,' the 30-year-old revealed.

'I asked her what she wanted to do, and she said she didn't want to have to keep up and impress others.

She recalled one patient who regretted not taking time to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor, adding that he told her to 'stop waiting for that perfect time, and start now'

'She said she was buying cars and houses to impress others, but she wished she'd [used that money to] g on trips for herself.

Hadley's job has forced her to reflect on her own life - and she said she now tries hard to ensure that she's living every day to its fullest.

'[I get] a lot of patients who are in their 50s and 60s, and they worked their whole life and they didn't even get to retire,' she continued.

Hadley's job has forced her to reflect on her own life - and she said she now tries hard to ensure that she's living every day to its fullest

'I spoke to my husband, and said it's important to think about retirement but that now is just as important. My family and I try to take a trip now every year instead of waiting for the future.

'I have [patients that are] young kids, and a lot of time they reinforce how fast it goes by. It's such a good reminder, which is always amazing.

'Every single person can teach you something. They've lived these entire lives. They can teach you so much.'

The New Orleans-native said that another regret that people often have is not getting a chance to say goodbye to their loved ones - which has inspired her to be much more vocal with her friends and family about how much they mean to her.

'I've had a lot of people tell me that they quickly said bye to someone, and then they suddenly died,' she said.

'Or it would be the last time they would speak to friends or family. They say that they wish they would have told people how much they loved them.

'I might text a friend that I haven't seen for years and tell them that they still mean a lot to me, and I send those multiple times throughout the week.

The New Orleans-native said that another regret that people often have is not getting a chance to say goodbye to their loved ones

The end-of-life care encouraged others to listen to the experiences of those who came before them, since their advice can be very 'valuable'

'Some people don't reply to me, and I don't take offence to it, but I know if something happens, I know that they know how much they mean to me.'

The end-of-life carer, who has gained more than 181,000 followers on Instagram for sharing her stories, encouraged others to listen to the experiences of those who came before them, since their advice can be very 'valuable.'

'I think they feel forgotten about a lot. I think they have very valuable stories and lessons,' she said.

Hadley insisted that her job isn't as 'depressing' as you'd think, and that she is thankful it's taught her so much.

'I've learned over the years how to ask questions to get people to talk to you, and sometimes it then gets the family to talk more when I leave, which I think is great,' she concluded.

'I don't see my job as depressing - yes, they are dying, but they're dying on their own terms.

'It's not as depressing as people would think. There's a lot of happy moments in people's home when you're caring for them. I love my job - I think that it makes a big difference.

In the end, she wants people to remember: 'Tomorrow is not promised.'
A Midwestern teen who became a major player in New York City's high society in the 2000s after starting an anonymous blog that documented the lives of Manhattan's elite has come out as a trans woman.

Morgan Olivia Rose, who was designated male at birth and was known as James Kurisunkal, talks about her time running Park Avenue Peerage, which she started in 2007, in Hulu's Queenmaker: The Making of An It Girl and reveals her transition after after years of 'pain,' according to Page Six.

'Now that I'm older, I see how two different people existed. One that was James, and one that was me,' she says in the documentary as per the publication.

On her Facebook account, Morgan wrote after the news emerged: 'The cat is out of the bag! Or shall I say, I am finally free to be me.

In 2007, Morgan Olivia Rose (pictured now), who was designated male at birth and was known as James Kurisunkal, started Park Avenue Peerage in 2007 as a college student

The blogger is pictured here with Tinsley Mortimer in 2007

'Years and years ago I lived in constant pain, turmoil and loathing - to the point that suicide was a daily desire because living in my skin as someone who was not "me" - through years of transition I emerge as Morgan Olivia Rose.

'It was not a transformation per se, but a transition from being dead yet living... to now, fully alive and truly myself.'

Earlier on her Instagram stories, she also shared a memory from May 14, 2021, of her time filming Queenmaker.

After she was revealed as the blogger behind Park Avenue Peerage, she went onto work as a paid summer intern for New York magazine, according to a 2007 story in The New York Times.

During that period, Morgan was a student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and was a sophomore who was weighing up an English or sociology major.

'I really am a freshman at the University of Illinois updating this Web site from my dorm room,' she wrote on her blog at the time after her identity was discovered by a New York magazine reporter.

'I live next to fields of corn and soybeans and my desktop is open with party pictures from Anchor and Marquee. I know.'

Along with Morgan, former Real Housewives of New York City star Tinsley Mortimer and socialite-turned-fashion influencer Olivia Palermo also appear in Queenmaker.

On her Facebook account, Morgan wrote after the news emerged: 'The cat is out of the bag! Or shall I say, I am finally free to be me'

Morgan (pictured) appears alongside Tinsley and socialite-turned-fashion influencer Olivia Palermo in the documentary

In the documentary, Tinsley breaks down in tears as she talks about the dark side of early 2000s socialite culture.

'At the time, New York felt very thriving, and it was just this crazy, over-the-top world,' she recalls. 'All of these photographers, I just remember thinking, "I want to be part of this. This looks cool."'

Tinsley, now 47, followed in the footsteps of heiresses Paris and Nicky Hilton, who were just teenagers when they were dubbed the 'littlest socialites in town' in a profile published by The New Yorker in 1999.

In the documentary's trailer, famed photographer Patrick McMullen takes partial credit for turning the socialite sisters into celebrities.

'I kind of invented the Hilton sisters,' he says, clarifying: 'Well, I taught them how to pose. People realize the power of image.'

During her time running Park Avenue Peerage (pictured is a screenshot of the blog), Morgan was a student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

A number of socialites, photographers, gossip bloggers, and publicists were interviewed for the documentary, including celebrity publicist R. Couri Hay.

'When I met Tinsley Mortimer, we were at a party,' he recalls.

'I said, "It's all about being in the right dress at the right time."'

In a 2017 Town & Country profile, the publicist details how he helped her become an It Girl by having her quit her job as an event planner and join committees at the American Museum of Natural History and the Central Park Zoo.

Tinsley, who was married to oil heir Topper Mortimer at the time, is described as '[dropping] on the scene like a bombshell' by one interviewee in the documentary.

'It was fun until it just became not fun,' she says of her socialite status.

By 2007, Tinsley was being photographed in New York City constantly. She had designed a handbag line for Samantha Thavasa and had her own lip gloss shade for Dior: Tinsley Pink.

Queenmaker: The Making of an It Girl premieres on Hulu on May 17.
Britain's worst-performing pharmacies are today named and shamed by a forensic MailOnline audit  with an interactive map allowing you to check if yours is one of the offenders.

Our investigation reveals 108 high street chemists were reprimanded for failing to meet basic standards over the past year.

Ten were subject to enforcement action for breaching strict regulatory guidelines.

One - Chemipharm, in Birmingham - was said to be 'unclean and unhygienic', with its standards not meeting those 'expected of a healthcare environment'.

Another, Osbon Pharmacy in east London, would 'regularly' order 'unusually large volumes of liquid codeine preparations'.

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Chemipharm in Birmingham was found to be 'unclean and unhygienic'. The regulator noted its standards of cleanliness and maintenance 'do not meet the standards expected of a healthcare environment'

Osbon Pharmacy in east London is reported to 'regularly' order 'unusually large volumes of liquid codeine preparations'. But it is 'unclear why these medicines are needed as there is little evidence of them being sold or supplied', the watchdog said. The pharmacy was also found to be failing to protect patients' private information sufficiently

But it is 'unclear why these medicines are needed as there is little evidence of them being sold or supplied', the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) said.

The pharmacy was also found to be failing to protect patient's private information sufficiently.

MailOnline has flagged all of the offending pharmacies on an interactive map.

Every pharmacy is also listed in a table below, with its registration number, location and postcode, allowing you to read how they are judged by the regulator on their website.

Worst rated areas for pharmacies The areas with the highest proportion of community pharmacies that failed to meet all required standards by the GPC in the last 12 months: 1. London: 14 2. Nottingham: 5 3. Birmingham: 4 4. Bolton: 4 5. Bournemouth: 4 Advertisement

It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last week gave new powers to chemists to prescribe drugs for common ailments under a plan to free up millions of GP appointments.

The GPhC carries out regular inspections of every pharmacy in the country.

It rates them with one overall outcome  either 'standards met' or 'standards not all met'  based on five sections.

These are governance, staffing, premises, services and equipment.

All of the standards will need to be met for a pharmacy to receive a standards met outcome. Around 85 per cent of pharmacies meet all the standards when inspected.

When guidelines are breached, pharmacies are given an action plan ordering them to improve.

Further enforcement action can then be made on chemists who fail to overhaul their services after six months.

This can include imposing conditions on premises dishing out drugs.

In extreme circumstances, pharmacies can be forced to stop selling prescription-only drugs.

MailOnline's probe found that close to 150 pharmacies across the UK were ruled to have not met all their standards during the last 12 months.

Of these, 108 were bricks and mortar chemists. They are marked orange on our map, which can be zoomed in and out.

Many have since overhauled their services, to the satisfaction of the GPhC.

Eleven of the total  marked red on our map  were subject to enforcement action by the GPhC.

This total, however, accounts for only 1 per cent of all the 11,000-plus community pharmacies in the UK.

All inspection reports included in MailOnline's analysis were published between May 12, 2022 and May 11, 2023.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last week gave new powers to chemists to prescribe drugs for common ailments under a plan to free up millions of GP appointments. Pictured, Mr Sunak outside his parents' former pharmacy premises in Southampton

Under the measures unveiled last week, the Government revealed a pharmacy common ailments scheme in England would be launched before the end of 2023. Under the service, patients will be able to get a prescription from their pharmacist for seven minor illnesses including earache and urinary tract infections without having to see their GP first. The pharmacy contraception service that launched last month and existing pharmacy blood pressure services will also be expanded

Gareth Jones, director of corporate affairs at The National Pharmacy Association, told MailOnline: 'There are over 14,000 pharmacies in the UK, the vast majority of whom provide very high-quality health care services.

'As in any other regulated sector, the regulatory system exists to check performance and target the relatively small number that need to improve their service in some way.'

He added: 'Numerous surveys have found that the public has a positive experience of using pharmacies, and trust in pharmacists and their teams is very high for very good reason.'

A GPhC spokesperson said: 'Pharmacy inspections are intended to help pharmacies improve their systems and services, the quality of care and the outcomes for patients and the public using their services.

Read more: Warning over string of fatal overdoses from online pharmacies selling dangerous slimming pills and opioids Advertisement

'Any pharmacy not meeting all of the standards has to complete an improvement action plan.

'Improvement action plans are published alongside the report our inspections website.'

It comes after the Government last week unveiled its long-awaited GP 'recovery plan' that aims to ease pressure on overstretched family doctors  partly by handing new powers to pharmacists.

Policymakers hope the scheme, which will take effect by winter, will free up millions of appointments and end the '8am scramble'.

It will enable pharmacists to prescribe drugs for conditions including ear infections, sore throats, sinusitis, shingles and minor urine infections.

The move will be backed by 645million in funding.

MailOnline excluded online-only and hospital-based pharmacies from its analysis.

GPhC's concerns around internet-based pharmacies are growing.

In March its director of insight, intelligence and inspection revealed almost a third of all online pharmacies are failing to meet regulatory standards.

'Overprescribing' and a lack of 'appropriate checks in place' were mentioned among the list of 'failures'.

The watchdog also issued a safety alert last summer over concerns that drugs were being dished out by too many online pharmacies without proper oversight.

The regulator said a 'disproportionate' 30 per cent of the fitness-to-practice cases it was investigating concerned internet-based pharmacies.

This was despite these pharmacies accounting for a small fraction of the sector.

Earlier this year, MailOnline also performed an audit on the worst-performing GP surgeries in England.

The pharmacies failing to meet the GPhC required standards Pharmacy name GPhC registration number Location Postcode A.D. Phillips 1029498 Trimdon Village TS296PY Amadis Chemist 1040710 London SE13NP Anglesea Healthy Living Centre 1097324 Orpington BR54AD Ashton Road Pharmacy 9010342 Oldham OL83HF Asif Iqbal Pharmacy Ltd 1033188 Bolton BL33NP Astill Lodge Pharmacy 1034014 Leicester LE41EF Badham Pharmacy Ltd 1116985 Cheltenham GL504BJ Badham Pharmacy Ltd 1102783 Tewkesbury GL205EN Barons Pharmacy 1041445 London W68RL Bhogal Dispensing Chemist 1028686 Bristol BS56HX Bilton Pharmacy 1111785 Bradford BD88JT Bin-Seena Pharmacy 1092477 London W22HZ Birches Head Pharmacy 1037016 Stoke-On-Trent ST16RS Boots 1039006 Skipton BD231JP Bromham Pharmacy 1105565 Bedford MK438JT Burwash Pharmacy 1107887 Hove BN38GP Buzz Doctor Pharmacy 1038394 Solihull B903AH Central Pharmacy 1106929 Margate CT92QN Chemipharm 1038057 Birmingham B192TR Chesterton Pharmacy 1031527 Cirencester GL71XQ Cohens Chemist 9011607 Huddersfield HD75JN Consult Pharmacy 1103724 Aylesbury HP201JR Day Lewis Pharmacy 1031631 Andover SP101HF DB Raval Ltd 9010626 Nottingham NG138BD Derix Healthcare Pharmacy 1092675 Leigh-On-Sea SS93JP Dock Pharmacy 1091481 Tilbury RM187BJ Eclipse Pharmacy 1040213 London E177JH Globe Pharmacy (Chiswell) 1032348 St. Albans AL23EB Halliwell Midnight Pharmacy 1099351 Bolton BL13QS Hallmark Chemists 1037900 Birmingham B66HT Haydon Bridge Pharmacy Ltd 1095023 Hexham NE476JG Health Lines Pharmacy 1035406 Corby NN171LJ Herrington Medical Centre Pharm. 1037495 Houghton Le Spring DH44LE Hill Top Pharmacy 1088561 Knottingley WF110LA HMI Pharmacy 1033836 Preston PR42AU Hollington Pharmacy 1036268 St. Leonards-On-Sea TN377AN Horsley Hill Pharmacy 1037648 South Shields NE346RF Jade Pharmacy (Heston Road) 1034943 Hounslow TW50QU Jardines Pharmacy 1095741 Biggleswade SG188AT Jardines Pharmacy 9011760 Milton Keynes MK81EQ Jayplex Dis.Chts 1035681 Nottingham NG53FW Jhoots Pharmacy 1091161 Stratford-Upon-Avon CV376PP Jhoots Pharmacy 1028827 Dunstable LU61LN Jhoots Pharmacy 1090714 Stevenage SG16NH K K Mistry Pharmacy Limited 1038299 Coventry CV49HS Karsons Pharma 1090819 Rochester ME12BA Keencare Ltd. 1040988 London SW1W0LJ Late Night Columbia Chemist 1030490 Bournemouth BH104DZ Lawrence Weston Pharmacy 1028709 Bristol BS110QB Liverpool Road Pharmacy 1034714 St. Helens WA101PQ Lloydspharmacy 1029075 Aylesbury HP270AX Lloydspharmacy 9010570 Bedlington NE226JX Lloydspharmacy 1100088 Dumfries DG14EJ Lloydspharmacy 1031584 Stroud GL60DU Lloydspharmacy 1097483 Ayr KA73PR Lloydspharmacy 1041949 Dollar FK147DA Lloydspharmacy 1041999 Annan DG125AS Lloydspharmacy 1040718 London SE16AD Lloydspharmacy 9010237 Livingston EH549JZ Lloydspharmacy 1074193 Cheltenham GL504DP Lloydspharmacy 1040934 London SE229ET Longfield Pharmacy 1084910 Maldon CM95DF Lyoncross Pharmacy 1123845 Glasgow G535UW Malpas Pharmacy 1043425 Newport NP206WB Manns Pharmacy 1035762 Nottingham NG35QQ Marcus Jones Pharmacy 1041400 London W37DA Medicentre (Newcastle) Ltd 1037546 Newcastle Upon Tyne NE22SX Medicines + Pharmacy 1093357 Lincoln LN50DZ Medina Chemist Netherfield Ltd 1106123 Nottingham NG42NN Minal Pharmacy 1035156 Twickenham TW27LA Murrays Healthcare 1074813 Dudley DY11RN My London Pharmacy 9011790 London W1T1QE Nabbs Lane Pharmacy 1095582 Nottingham NG156NT Newbridge Pharmacy 9011609 Wolverhampton WV60JZ Newburn Pharmacy 1037570 Newcastle Upon Tyne NE158LX Newport Pharmacy 1093367 Saffron Walden CB113QY Nutan Pharmacy 1031339 Rochford SS43ET Osbon Pharmacy 1040233 London E181AN Osbon Pharmacy 1040297 London N12SN Phillips Chemist 1035188 West Drayton UB77DS Pickfords Pharmacy 1116066 Mexborough S649RB Primed Pharmacy 1039469 Bradford BD134BL Prince Pharmacy 1112006 London W22HX Rana Dispensing Chemist 1097587 Birmingham B191HS Shelf Pharmacy 1039541 Halifax HX37QY Skye Pharmacy 1093157 Sheffield S25FY Smart Pharm Ltd 9011292 London NW105PA Superdrug Pharmacy 1030494 Bournemouth BH14AN Tesco Instore Pharmacy 1108486 Leigh WN74PG Tesco Instore Pharmacy 1029261 St Neots PE192SA Tesco Instore Pharmacy 1029209 Cambridge CB246AY Tesco Instore Pharmacy 1029071 Aylesbury HP199AG Tesco Instore Pharmacy 1093395 Ryde PO331QS The Chief Cornerstone 1034910 Greenford UB69RA The John Preddy Co. Ltd. 1028560 Bath BA23PN The Pharmacy 1108932 Billingham TS232DG The Private Pharmacy 9010737 London E174QH The Reading Pharmacy 1029006 Reading RG61LN Ticehurst Pharmacy 1036282 Wadhurst TN57AA Tilehurst Pharmacy 1028995 Reading RG315AR Treated Pharmacy 9010946 Bolton BL22HH Trustmed Pharmacy 1088231 Leicester LE15WW Well 1090810 Preston PR41RY West View Pharmacy 1091585 Hartlepool TS249LA Whitefield Pharmacy 9010332 Bury M458NE Whites Pharmacy 1030717 Exmouth EX81HA Willington Pharmacy 1119949 Derby DE656QT Winton Pharmacy 1030529 Bournemouth BH92AB
A soldier was able to see the world 'backwards' after being shot in the back of the head during battle.

The man  known only as 'Patient M'  was injured while fighting on the Valencian front during the brutal Spanish Civil War in May 1938.

Found lying on the floor, the wounded soldier was transported to hospital where he somehow survived without needing any operations or special care.

But, upon regaining consciousness two weeks after the blast, doctors noticed that his sensations were off-kilter.

He discovered he saw the world both upside down and backwards.

Tests revealed the missile had partially destroyed the outer back layers of patient M's brain on the left-hand side. Photograph A depicts the entrance and exit of the bullet to the back of the head. The numbers in diagram B correspond to the lacerated areas of the brain, where the bullet punctured the brain

As the doctor who treated him described in his book  published in two volumes between 1945-1950  Patient M found it strange, for example, that he saw men working upside down on a scaffold.

He could also read letters and numbers printed normally and back-to-front, without his brain being able to see any difference between the two.

Thorough details of the fascinating case have now been shared in a medical journal.

It was published by Isabel Gonzalo, who met Patient M during his trips to their family home to see her father, who originally treated him.

The patient's identity has never been shared. The Spanish-language daily newspaper, El Pais, claimed he was born in a village in the province of Ciudad Real.

It is believed Patient M, a soldier fighting for the Republican army, was shot by an enemy Francoist soldier.

The conflict began in July 1936, when a group of right-wing officers attempted to overthrow the left-wing Popular Front government in a military coup.

It resulted in a three-year battle between the republicans, who were loyal to the Popular Front, and nationalists, resulting in the nation being torn apart and Francisco Franco claiming a 36-year long dictatorship until his death in 1975.

In August 1938 'Patient M' was admitted to the Godella Military Health Hospital in Valencia, where Justo Gonzalo Rodriguez Leal (pictured) worked as a war doctor

The soldier was initially taken to the Provincial Hospital of Valencia, where he was kept for around three months.

In August 1938, he was admitted to the military-controlled Godella Military Health Hospital in Valencia, where neurologist Justo Gonzalo Rodriguez Leal worked as a war doctor.

Tests at the time showed the missile had partially destroyed the outer back layers of Patient M's brain on the left-hand side.

As well as the other symptoms, Dr Gonzalo also discovered Patient M saw objects in triplicate  triple vision of a single object  and experienced colour blindness.

His sensory function was also impacted, with his hearing and sense of touch inverted.

Writing in the journal Neurologia, neuropsychologist Alberto Garcia Molina and Dr Gonzalos daughter Isabel said: 'Surprisingly, the patient manages his daily life without difficulties.'

Isabel, a physicist and professor emeritus at the Complutense University of Madrid, uncovered hundreds of documents and photos relating to Patient M in her father's archives.

Based on clinical observations of the soldier throughout the 1940s, Dr Gonzalo had developed new hypotheses on brain dynamics.

He proposed the effects of brain damage depended both on its size and position of the injury.

Therefore, brain damage does not destroy one specific function of the brain, it impacts the balance of the functions  a theory new for its time, now widely established.

Dr Gonzalo identified three syndromes: central (where multiple senses are disrupted), paracentral (where the effects of disruption to multiple senses is not evenly distributed), and marginal (where only specific senses are affected).

'Patient M helps lay the foundations of Justo Gonzalo's unique theory of brain dynamics,' the scientists wrote.

Patient M continued visiting Dr Gonzalo until the doctor's death in 1986.
Two-thirds of kids say they were taught that sex was 'assigned' to them at birth

A third of British schoolkids have been taught that a woman can have a penis, it was claimed today.

A survey of more than 1,000 kids aged 16-18 also revealed one in five were told men can get pregnant  even though it is biologically impossible.

Two-thirds were taught that biological sex was 'assigned' by medical professionals at birth. This meant, by their logic, that it could be changed later in life.

The same poll found that one in ten schoolchildren want to change their gender  or have already done so. A third know a classmate who does, according to Civitas, the thinktank which carried out the report.

Tory MPs today blasted the damning findings, claiming that children are being used as a 'psychological and social experiment'.

A survey of more than 1,000 kids aged 16-18 also revealed one in five were told men can get pregnant  even though it is biologically impossible. Two-thirds were taught that biological sex was 'assigned' by medical professionals at birth. This meant, by their logic, that it could be changed later in life

Concerns over the rise of woke gender lessons in education echoes similar worries over trans-friendly language being used in the NHS.

All of the teenagers were asked what teachers, or a speaker invited to their school, had taught them about a variety of gender and sex related issues.

However, schools were not asked to confirm the students' answers, meaning pupils could also have learnt of such topics from another source, such as social media.

A total of 32 per cent of teenagers said they had been told a woman could have a penis, the male reproductive organ, with an additional 6 per cent saying they were unsure.

And 20 per cent said they had been taught that men could get pregnant, which, at least currently, only biological females can. An additional 4 per cent were unsure if men could give birth to babies.

Furthermore, 67 per cent said they had lessons on how a person's sex, whether that are male or female, is 'assigned' by medics at birth.

The idea of sex being 'assigned' at birth is controversial as it opens the door to the prospect such an assignment of male or female can be mistaken, and therefore changed.

Such language has been harshly criticised by some midwives, who argue they don't assign a baby's sex but simply observe and record a biological fact.

Another aspect of the poll asked students if they or any of their classmates, want or have wanted to change their gender.

A shocking 10 per cent said yes, while an additional 29 per cent said while they did not, one of their classmates had questioned if they really were a boy or girl.

Transwomen, biological males who identify as women, can still have their male sexual organs despite their new gender identity.

However, some opt to get their penis and testicles removed as part of feminisation surgery.

Almost a third are being taught that a 'woman can have a penis'. While one in five had been told that 'a man can get pregnant', the report by think-tank Civitas found (stockimage)

Tory MP Miriam Cates, a former teacher and member of the Commons education committee, said: 'What is happening in our schools under the guise of sex education is a population level psychological and social experiment on our children'

While biological males and females can sometimes have some or part of the sexual organs of the opposite sex naturally, this is very rare and occurs in the womb as the baby develops.

People with such conditions are sometimes called intersex or having differences in sex development.

But only biological females can get ever pregnant as biological males do not have either the eggs to conceive a child, nor a womb to carry a baby to term.

This remains true for trans individuals, with only transmen, biological females who identify as men, capable of getting pregnant.

EXCLUSIVE: Womb transplants for TRANS women are 'very likely in the near future', claim top fertility experts... so here's how world-first op would be carried out This graphic shows the potential way a person born a biological man could have a womb surgically inserted into the body, paving the way for first ever male pregnancy Advertisement

The report also found that of 1,097 parents of 12-to-16-year-olds polled, 77 per cent want a legal right to see all sex and relationships education materials.

Jo-Anne Nadler, author of the Civitas report said: 'Parents need full access to RSHE (relationships, sex and health education) materials to restore confidence, although the problem isnt just limited to stand alone lessons.

'Governments need to come clean about their role in embedding politics throughout the curriculum and sometimes the wider school culture as well.'

Tory MP Miriam Cates, a former teacher and member of the Commons education committee, said: 'What is happening in our schools under the guise of sex education is a population level psychological and social experiment on our children. This cannot go on.'

A Department for Education spokesman said: 'The Education Secretary is working with the minister for women to support schools in relation to children who are questioning their gender.

'This guidance will clarify schools' legal position and the importance of involving parents when making decisions relating to their child.'

Gender neutral or sex-erasing policies and language has also sparked controversy in the NHS.

The health service has previously come under fire for using terms like 'chestfeeding' instead of breastfeeding, 'human milk' instead of breast milk as well as and 'birthing parent'.

Some NHS organisations have also been criticised for advising that 12-year-old boys should be asked if they are pregnant before some scans.
Blood tests that spot Alzheimer's could be rolled out on the NHS within six years, experts have claimed.

Influential voices in the field believe such a test will be a 'genuine game-changer', ending the 'diagnostic odyssey' sufferers currently face.

Currently the cruel, memory-robbing disorder is only detected through a series of mental tests, scans and appointments in an arduous process which can take up to four years.

It comes as two major charities today launched an ambitious new project intended to overcome hurdles experimental Alzheimer's blood tests have so far faced.

The trial, announced by the Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer's Research UK, was made possible by a 5million donation from People's Postcode Lottery.

Experts say the 5million donation could help provide a genuine gamechanger for how Alzheimer's is diagnosed in the UK

Fiona Carragher, the Alzheimer's Society's director of research and influencing, told MailOnline the gift was 'really exciting'.

The goal is to assess a number of Alzheimers blood tests, which have been used in clinical trials to identify patients to test new breakthrough treatments on, for use in the real world.

Ms Carragher said this will involve seeing which tests work best for different people, such as men and women, as well as other practical factors such as which are easiest for NHS labs to analyse and transport, and which are the most cost effective.

Tests in question vary in technology. However, they all analyse a patient's blood for tell-tale proteins indicating Alzheimer's, the most common type of dementia.

If one is found to be successful, it could allow patients worried about possible signs of dementia to go straight to their GP to be tested.

Read more: A third of people who notice signs of dementia in themselves or a loved one keep their fears hidden for more than a month The charity learned 11% of people who had detected their first dementia symptom had still not discussed it with anyone else at the time of filling out the survey [File image] Advertisement

If it comes back positive, the patient can then be streamlined for a brain scan at an NHS hospital in a matter of weeks to confirm a diagnosis.

Accelerating any diagnosis opens the door to get patients treated quicker, slowing the progression of the devastating disease.

Ms Carragher said this stands in huge contrast to the current grim reality many dementia patients face, with some never getting diagnosed at all.

'Our diagnosis rates are only about 63 per cent, which means that 37 per cent don't get a diagnosis at all,' she told MailOnline. 'It takes up to two years to get a diagnosis of dementia.

'If you have early onset, so below the age of 60, with more complex and subtle signs, it can take up to four years.'

Ms Carragher added that, with new Alzheimers drugs in the pipeline which have the potential to halt the disease's advances, finding an effective way to identify patients in the early stages, who would benefit the most, is crucial.

'We're really on the cusp of breakthroughs for Alzheimer's,' she said.

'But we need to revolutionise the diagnosis pathway to have any hope of getting those drugs to the right people in the future. And that's where this program is so important.'

Even for patients who might not get those treatments, an earlier diagnosis could give them time and knowledge.

Ms Carragher said this could take the form of ensuring you had arrangements made for your care to ensuring you lived your life to fullest while you were still able.

She added the project will now be seeking an academic partner and will also likely feature trials involving thousands of Brits.

After this groundwork is done, any successful test could then be rolled out locally  before potentially being made available nationwide.

'We're aiming to have, at the end of a five to six year period, a blood test being introduced to at least one region across the NHS with the evidence being there to roll it out to other places,' Ms Carragher said.

She added another aspect of the project is to break down stigma in seeking help with dementia to ensure once the test is available people know to seek help from their GP early.

'Many people think that memory loss and the symptoms that they have are just a normal part of ageing,' she said.

'It's not called getting old, it's called getting ill.'

People's Postcode Lottery's donation was announced in saying it was announced in Edinburgh today and was made as part of its Dream Fund and is the biggest single award of its kind in the the lottery manager's history.

The fund gives organisations and charities the chance to deliver a project they have always dreamed of, but never had the opportunity to bring to life.

A study by researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine revealed that global dementia cases are set to nearly triple by 2050, from 57.4million to 152.8. But the rate of illness is expected to increase varies between different parts of the world. In Western Europe, cases are expected to rise by just 75 per cent, mainly due to an ageing population, while they are expected to double in North America. But the biggest increase is expected to be seen in North Africa and the Middle East, where cases are projected to rise by 375 per cent. Alzheimer's disease is the leading cause of dementia

Kate Lee, Alzheimers Society chief executive, said: 'With diagnosis rates at a five-year low, we need to act now to help end the devastation caused by dementia.

'We could not be more grateful to players of Peoples Postcode Lottery for helping us make this dream a reality.'

Hilary Evans, chief executive of Alzheimers Research, added: 'Anxiously waiting months and months for a diagnosis is simply not good enough. People with Alzheimers and other forms of dementia deserve better.'

'Making sure future generations wont have to go through this lengthy worry by bringing a quick, simple blood test to the NHS is a wonderful legacy from Peoples Postcode Lottery players all over the country. If we can fix diagnosis, we open the door for a cure.'

Clara Govier, managing Director at Peoples Postcode Lottery, said: 'We believe this new collaboration between two of the countrys leading Alzheimers charities has the potential to transform dementia diagnosis in the UK.

'Its a bold ambition but, with one person in Britain developing dementia every three minutes, we must aim high. This is a condition which devastates lives and I know our millions of players will join me in wishing our charity partners every success.'

Around 850,000 Britons and 5.8million Americans have Alzheimer's disease.

The disease is the leading cause of dementia, a condition where suffers have an impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes with doing everyday activities.

Dementia affects 900,000 people in the UK and an estimated 7million in the US.

Dementia is also a rising health problem in ageing societies where people are living for longer, like Britain's, with one in three people born today now expected to receive a dementia diagnosis in their lifetime.

Treating and caring for patients with Alzheimer's disease and dementia is estimated to cost Britain 25billion each year, according to Alzheimer's Research UK, the vast majority of that being in social care spending.
The new strain, called Trichophyton indotineae, is drug-resistant, the CDC said

The patients, aged 28 and 47, had scaly, ring-like rashes on their thighs and neck

At least two women in New York have been diagnosed with a new, highly contagious fungal infection skin infection that has reached 'epidemic proportions' in South Asia.

These are the first known cases of drug-resistant ringworm, also known as tinea, in the US., which can cause large, itchy red rashes anywhere on the body.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials reported that the unnamed patients, ages 28 and 47, suffered lesions on their neck, abdomen, buttocks and thighs, and further cases are being reviewed.

Fungal infections are becoming more common in America, particularly drug-resistant strains, due to changing climates, experts suggest.

The 28-year-old woman (pictured above), pregnant when dermatologists examined her, had symptoms since the summer of 2021

The 47-year-old woman (pictured) had the rash on her thighs and buttocks

A dermatologist first reported two women with the virus at the end of February.

The 28-year-old reported rashes appearing in the summer of 2021 and sought medical attention in December of the same year while in her third trimester of pregnancy.

The dermatologists found large, ring-like, scaly rashes on her neck, abdomen, pubic area and buttocks.

She was diagnosed with tinea and given antifungal treatment in January 2022 after her baby was born, which did not work.

A four-week course of the antifungal itraconazole eventually cleared the rash.

She had not been abroad recently, leading CDC officials to say it could have been transmitted locally.

The second woman developed an extensive rash while traveling in Bangladesh.

Topical creams failed to help and upon her return to the US, she went to the emergency department on three separate occasions in the fall of 2022.

In December last year, she was seen by dermatologists who noted she had a widespread, scaly, ring-like rash on her thighs and buttocks.

Different topical treatments and two four-week medication courses improved the rash by 80 percent.

The 47-year-old lives with her husband and son, who are also experiencing similar symptoms, and the CDC said it is investigating their cases.

Scientists tested the strain of ringworm, which came back as Trichophyton indotineae, which is currently ripping through India and other parts of South Asia.

The fungus Trichophyton rubrum causes ringworm. The strain recently found in the US is drug-resistant

This is probably due to medication overuse, like antifungals to treat them.

There have been previous cases in Europe and Canada, but never before in America.

Health officials said they were 'concerned' because the infection has not responded to normal treatments prescribed by dermatologists.

Ringworm is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact and can cause rashes all over the body. The infection is usually found in children but anyone can contract it.

It is not caused by a worm, but is a fungal infection.

Cases are usually treated with antifungal creams, but sometimes oral antifungal medication is needed as well.
On any given work day, 1,000 people in the UK are told they have cancer  a devastating diagnosis for anyone.

All too often, rather than passing quickly into line for first-class treatment, in many cases there is a lengthy delay  and even then the best treatment isn't always on offer.

This is the view of a world-leading cancer specialist, who also believes that the British way of passively taking your spot in a queue not only for treatment but also for diagnosis in the first place is costing lives.

In a provocative new book, he is urging people to take a different approach altogether  and given the scale of the delays now facing NHS patients, many may think he has a point, with official data released last week showing that in March more than a third of people with possible cancer failed to get a diagnosis or start treatment within two months of their GP giving them an urgent referral.

Two months is the maximum time patients should wait for their first treatment under NHS targets.

Professor Karol Sikora (pictured) has written a new book encouraging people to be pushy patients in order to save their lives

The professor warns that 'postcode lotteries' in funding and medical technology mean your local NHS hospitals may not offer you the most effective treatments (file image)

Yet a report from the spending watchdog, the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, warned that in March, cancer waiting times were at their worst recorded level, with more than 66,000 patients being forced to wait more than two months for their first treatment last year after a referral.

Some patients waited as long as six months.

All this is even more reason, suggests Professor Karol Sikora, that we should push ourselves to the forefront of the NHS cancer lists and to argue for the very best treatments that today's health service can provide.

Karol Sikora, 74, is a professor of cancer medicine, a Cambridge University fellow, a former chief of the World Health Organisation's cancer programme and an NHS oncologist for 42 years.

He has written 300 scientific papers and 20 books, including Treatment Of Cancer, which remains the standard British postgraduate textbook after 30 years in print. In other words, there is little he doesn't know about the disease and its treatment.

Professor Sikora chooses an alarming example to underpin his controversial argument.

This is the 1985 Manchester Airport disaster, where a British Airtours plane caught fire on take-off, killing 53 people in the back.

He explains: 'The passengers who died were overcome by fumes, but the exception was a young man so driven to survive that he jumped over many in front of him to reach the exit.

'Ethicists can debate forever if this was reasonable. But maybe if you've been trapped inside the NHS cancer maze, you just need to put yourself first to survive.'

To a nation of people which prides itself on queuing patiently, this might seem shocking.

Yet Professor Sikora is adamant.

The 12 key questions you need to ask Take a screenshot of this guide and take it with you to your appointments: 1. What type of cancer is it and what tissue is it coming from? 2. How big is the cancer? Sometimes a number will be used to express this. T1 (T is for tumour) implies a small tumour, T4 is a large tumour. 3. Has it spread outside the primary tissue to anywhere else in the body? 4. Has it spread to lymph nodes? When cancer spreads, it travels first from the tissues into the lymphatic channels, and then into the nearby lymph nodes  which are small, bean-shaped clusters of cells  then into the bloodstream and beyond into other organs. 5. What stage is the tumour? Staging refers to how far your cancer has spread. The stage is given as a Roman numeral, ranging from stage I (no spread) to stage IV (spread to other organs). 6. What grade is the tumour? The grade represents the speed or aggression with which your cancer is growing  it is usually determined by the appearance under a microscope and is sometimes given as a number; 1 is low grade and generally has a better outcome than grade 3, for instance. 7. What is the proposed treatment? 8. Are there other options? 9. Where will this treatment be done? 10. When will I start treatment? 11. What are the chances of the cancer being cured completely? 12. Can I have a copy of the biopsy and the most important imaging reports such as X-rays, CTs or MRIs? Advertisement

'You need to get out of your head the idea that it's impolite or simply not British to push yourself forward,' he says. 'You have got to make things the best for you.'

He warns that 'postcode lotteries' in funding and medical technology mean your local NHS hospitals may not offer you the most effective treatments  but if you do your homework and discover that better care is available in a nearby authority, it is your right to request to be treated there.

What's more, he adds, pushing to receive the best, most modern treatment available on the NHS and to have it delivered in the best way can help to improve the system by pushing the service to offer only the optimum care available. 'By contrast, just being a passive, unengaged patient simply won't change anything for the better,' he argues.

Professor Sikora repeatedly calls the NHS system a 'cancer maze'.

Why? As he explains: 'The system is not particularly user-friendly and it simply doesn't have enough time to help people through it properly.

'In my career I've increasingly realised that what people need is something to help them to negotiate the system.'

Ultimately this 'something' is in the patients' hands. Learning to be proactive, knowledgeable and assertive is something millions of us must learn to do, he adds, saying: 'One in three will get cancer and the incidence is rising dramatically as our population ages. This is because cancer predominantly affects the over-60s, although it can strike at any age.'

But how can we become proactive, knowledgeable and assertive in the shadow of cancer?

And how can we do it without getting ourselves labelled as the type of troublemaking patient that NHS staff and medical professionals would prefer to avoid?

Professor Sikora says that when it comes to how we get the best care, the secrets lie in polite persistence, medical self- education and even light bribery of the right people.

In his new book, he explores how to acquire the plain and often surprising skills that are needed, and how to use them to save your own life or that of a loved one  as he explains below.

SWOT UP AND GET INVOLVED

As a patient you need to learn how the system works. You need to learn how to make sure it works for you all the time.

Informed and engaged patients survive much better than ones who just passively let things happen to them. Data shows the difference between informed patients and those who fail to engage with the system, who are intimidated and don't participate in their care by learning everything they can about the cancer that they have, their scans and tests, and how this all affects their bodies.

Studies suggest that this can make up to a 20 per cent reduction in their chances of survival.

Don't be afraid of looking at the prognosis (the outlook for your cancer). Survival rates for some cancers are quite high, and for others unfortunately very low.

It may come as a shock to learn that the chance of your living through the next two years is perhaps as little as 30 per cent.

But bear in mind that doctors are always too cautious in their assessments. Just because the chances of survival are low, there is no reason why you shouldn't be the one who pulls through, especially if you are engaged and proactive.

Equipping yourself with the maximum amount of information possible and taking control of your treatment by discovering all the options and deciding which are best for you, are the two key factors to beating your cancer.

Don't be put off by the medical terminology  use Google to clarify anything you don't understand. With the right information you can create a level playing field between you and your doctors. They won't be able to simply fob you off.

PRACTISE POLITE PERSISTENCE

Being treated for cancer inevitably means you have to keep going back into the system multiple times.

So it's important that you always interact pleasantly with all the healthcare staff you come across, even if things aren't going well, in order to maximise your chances of them getting you the best and most timely care.

This is especially true with the people you might consider the underdogs in the system.

You probably think of the cancer system as run by a consultant, with junior doctors, and then a layer of nurses and other clinical specialists. You probably imagine that if you get on well with the consultant, you'll get the whole system working for you.

Actually it's better to get the people at the bottom of the hierarchy on your side, such as the clinic receptionist and the consultant's secretary. In most cancer centres, receptionists and secretaries have a power that most patients don't really understand.

They control the flow of appointments. They organise the agenda. They can make sure that everything happens at the correct time with your treatment.

These people will all go the extra mile to ensure the best, most timely treatment, if they like you.

Should you get a second opinion? Your chances of getting an effective second opinion through the NHS before you start treatment are nowadays negligible. The capacity just isnt in the system. The only way is to get a private appointment. This will cost between 250 and 350. It may be worth doing just to give you and your family peace of mind. You could persuade someone to give it you as an early birthday present. Make sure youve got all your clinical data  the imaging and biopsy reports, together with the proposed NHS treatment plan. As for who you should see for a second opinion, theres no point asking the consultant thats going to treat you. They are likely to refer you to one of their chums. There are patients who have the money to go to one of the big U.S. cancer hospitals such as Memorial in New York or MD Anderson in Houston for a second opinion, but its prohibitively expensive  it will set you back 100,000 or so plus travel and hotel costs. But theres no real need to leave your home country, because news travels fast in oncology. Its vital you see someone who specialises in your type of cancer and is bang up to date. Not too young and not too old. The ideal age is 45 to 60 years. They should be taking part in clinical trials, work in a large cancer centre and publishing academic literature. Most such consultants do private work. Doctors are not allowed to advertise their services directly but if you look on the websites of large private hospitals and clinics you will very likely find them listed there. Try these websites by searching for your type of cancer. The other way is to ask around, but I cant stress enough how important it is that the expert you choose specialises in your type of cancer. Once youve identified who you think could give a good opinion, check out their publications over the past five years on Google Scholar. Put in their full name and see how productive theyve been in areas associated with your cancer type. One further trick: some older doctors may not see you without a referral letter  but this may be difficult to obtain. Get an appointment and say youll sort out the letter. You can ask your GP just for the letter or you can ask the consultant who first saw you. In truth, if youve got all your clinical information on hand, then the referral letter is not important. The whole charade is a throwback to a different age of medicine when the system held all the cards, and you were just an ignorant nuisance. Times have changed. Make sure that the doctor youre consulting for a second opinion has as much clinical information as possible sent to them in advance of the appointment. Take along your partner or a close friend and, if you like, ask if they mind you recording their recommendation on your phone. Good doctors wont mind. People often ask me whether a second opinion is really worthwhile. In my experience, the initial diagnosis is very rarely wrong. In less than 5 per cent of cases will the assessment be radically changed. Advertisement

This will transform your whole experience and dramatically improve your chances of living through the cancer.

There's nothing wrong with showing your appreciation of their efforts through gift-giving.

It's got to be small, rather than offering tickets to Wimbledon. And give it to the people who are the backbone of the service, such as the receptionists and the nurses, rather than senior consultants.

Start with the receptionist  a bunch of flowers, a bottle of wine or a box of chocolates.

Wait until the third or fourth appointment so you already know them a bit, and at that point make a gesture of thanks for their help.

At my hospital, we treated a woman for many years who ran a greengrocery shop. Every few months when she came for follow-up visits after her cancer had been treated, she would bring in a fabulous box of fresh fruit for all the staff. They loved it. And the whole team felt good.

When our patient developed symptoms suggesting a possible recurrence of her cancer, she was sorted out instantly.

Conversely, I have seen a lot of unpleasantness over the years. As patients get increasingly bitter, the staff turn against them. Such patients get labelled 'heartsink patients', people to be avoided. Staff are not saints. If you seriously harass someone, what are they going to do? Might they quietly move your file to the back of the system and silently hope that you die before you come back to harass them again?

UNDERSTAND THE PLAN

What's the plan for your care? You need to know what is going to happen so that you can keep checking whether you are on the right situation on the clinical pathway (the standardised plan of care) that's set out for treating your cancer.

The world's best cancer treatment guidelines come from the U.S. National Comprehensive Cancer Network and can be found in detail at nccn.org  and they apply here just as much as they do in the U.S. Go to this site and register as a health professional.

It will give you gold-plated care pathways for almost every type of cancer. You also need to understand exactly where your cancer is and to where it has spread.

Having all this detail allows you to take control and ask the right questions about your options  such as which types of surgery might be available for your particular tumour and what are their success rates and risks.

Start with getting the biopsy and the medical imaging on your cancer. A biopsy is a sample of your tissue taken from an area of your body suspected of being a cancer. It holds the key to your diagnosis.

This, along with the results of your medical imaging, such as scans and X-rays, are recorded in your notes. Ask and you should be given a printed copy.

Those directly involved in your care  doctors and nurses  are the first port for information.

Older and more senior doctors sometimes think these things are none of your business.

Remain charming but explain that you want to understand as much as possible about your illness so you can help contribute to the healing process.

Remember that you are fighting for something that you need to survive. It is every patient's job to be their own best advocate. Negotiate calmly and usually locked doors will simply open and a mutually satisfactory solution found.

THINK ABOUT GOING PRIVATE

Given the delays that can dog the NHS system, sometimes it is worth spending your own money to unblock any hold-up in either your assessment or treatment, by getting things such as tests done privately.

Private hospitals are notoriously opaque about their charges.

But it is easy to shop around online for private clinics' prices to find a computerised tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan that can often be done for you tomorrow for around 300, and then be sent to your NHS doctor.

Unless you have private insurance or are very well-heeled, it is best to use the NHS for your main cancer treatments.

After all, you've paid the price for them already in your taxes. Indeed some of the new cancer drug schedules would set you back over 200,000 for a year's treatment.
A man managed to ward off Alzheimer's disease thanks to his natural immunity, despite having a gene that made him more susceptible - making him the second known case.

A team of international scientists found the Colombian man, who was predicted to have dementia in his 40s, also carried a rare genetic variation that helped protect him from the debilitating memory condition.

The man died at the age of 74 with only moderate dementia.

Researchers hope their findings could lead them to specific areas in the brain where the disease can be stopped or delayed from progression - bringing hope to 6.7 million Americans who have Alzheimer's.

It comes as scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) discovered a new way to reverse Alzheimer's, using a string of amino acids to interfere with an enzyme in mice that is typically overactive in the brains of people with the disease.

The Colombian man was found to have a mutation in a gene named reelin which could explain his ability to stay dementia free for an extra 20 years

The man, a former mechanic from Colombia, inherited the Paia gene mutation when he was born, which predicts the disease would have killed him in his 60s.

This mutation is the most common cause of the early onset of Alzheimers and is commonly found among those living in Colombia.

Mild cognitive impairment sets in around age 45 and dementia by age 50.

Instead, the man studied by the scientists sustained resilience and retired in his early 60s before dying at 74 in 2019.

The man was first examined by neurologists at aged 67, who found he was cognitively normal, and he nor his family were worried about his memory.

He is only the second patient ever to resist the powers of the Alzheimer's gene, a team of scientists in the journal Nature Medicine said.

Researchers looked through his genome to find a different mutation that might have helped protect him from the disease.

The team found that the man had a mutation in a gene coding for a protein called reelin, which is associated with brain disorders, including schizophrenia and autism.

However, the protein may have been what saved the man from dementia, as his brain looked like someone riddled with the disease.

The team found that the man had a mutation in a gene coding for a protein called reelin, which is associated with brain disorders, including schizophrenia and autism

He had the hallmark signs of Alzheimer's, including amyloid plaques and tau tangles in his brain, but he had a limited number of tau tangles in his entorhinal cortex, which is vital for memory.

Joseph Arboleda-Velasquez, an associate scientist at Mass Eye and Ear, a Harvard teaching hospital, and one of the leaders of the study, told the Washington Post: 'I think it's important that we listen to the patients. And I think what the patients are telling us is there is a pathway for protection.'

He said: 'The genetic variant we have identified points to a pathway that can produce extreme resilience and protection against Alzheimer's disease symptoms.

'These are the kinds of insights we cannot gain without patients. They are showing us what's important when it comes to protection and challenging many of the field's assumptions about Alzheimer's disease and its progression.'

He added: 'The possibility that just by protecting the entorhinal cortex, even if you have a lot of Alzheimers pathology elsewhere, you can have that protection? Wouldnt that be amazing? Thats whats very tantalizing.'

In 2019, researchers discovered a woman, Aliria Rosa Piedrahita de Villegas, who avoided dementia until her 70s.

She was found to have a different genetic mutation which kept Alzheimer's at bay, known as Christchurch.

While her brain did exhibit lots of amyloid plaques typically found in Alzheimers patients, it did not have the tau tangles also linked to the condition.

Physicians hope the cases will allow for the creation of new treatments for the disease but recognize that there could be multiple contributing factors to extending the lifespan of one's memory rather than a single explanation.
At first sight, it seems the Government might finally have acted to solve the crisis that is bankrupting our High Street community pharmacies.

Last week, Amanda Pritchard, the chief executive of NHS England, declared that community pharmacists will get 645 million extra money over the next two years to boost staffing and resources.

For the past six months, the Daily Mail's Save Our Local Pharmacies campaign has highlighted how financial crises have shut hundreds of our vital independent community pharmacies in the past few years, with thousands more set to follow them into extinction.

Their plight is due to a massive funding shortfall in the NHS contract with pharmacists which punishes them financially every time they serve us with vital medicines.

At the same time, they're also dealing with spiralling overhead costs such as staffing and energy bills.

The 645 million is to fund England's independent pharmacies to prescribe, for the first time, certain medications, including antibiotics, and offer routine tests without the patient needing to see a GP first (file image)

Last week, Amanda Pritchard (pictured), the chief executive of NHS England, declared that community pharmacists will get 645 million extra money over the next two years

So while the announcement of hundreds of millions in NHS cash might seem a victory, pharmacy leaders have told Good Health that it isn't.

This is because the new money is for pharmacists to provide extra services, rather than to pay them properly for what they do already.

The 645 million is to fund England's independent pharmacies to prescribe, for the first time, certain medications, including antibiotics, and offer routine tests without the patient needing to see a GP first.

The medications that pharmacists will now be able to prescribe are for seven common ailments: earache, sore throat, sinusitis, impetigo (a type of skin infection), shingles, infected insect bites and urinary tract infections (in women). In addition, women will be able to get contraceptive pills from pharmacies without having to speak to a GP or practice nurse.

The new money is also intended to double the number of blood-pressure checks that community pharmacists currently provide, to 2.5 million a year.

However, this new money doesn't tackle the funding shortfalls that have forced 160 community pharmacies in England to close in the past two years alone, according to new figures from the NHS Business Services Authority.

In motoring terms, it's as if your car fuel gauge shows empty, and then you're given a caravan to hitch to the back.

That is why Tim Gibbs, who owns and runs the Yarmouth Pharmacy on the Isle of Wight, was both surprised and disappointed by the news.

'I'd heard nothing about this money before the NHS England announcement last week,' he told Good Health.

'There's no real detail. There's supposed to be a consultation process about where the money's going to go and how it will be spent, so until that's done we know very little.'

Good Health first featured 58-year-old Tim in November last year when we launched the Save Our Local Pharmacies campaign. Back then, he was having to work 85-hour weeks to keep his business going.

Today, he is still working 85-hour weeks  and he can't see how the newly announced funds will help.

'I understand that the money won't be rolled out until the end of this year,' he says. 'Regardless of when it comes, it won't help my plight because it doesn't address the crisis facing me and my fellow community pharmacists.

'The crisis is that the basic payments we get for prescribing medicines are insufficient to pay for the core work of what we do  prescribing essential medicines to people in our communities.

'The costs of all the basics have gone up  including the cost of the medicines we dispense. Often, though, the Government won't reimburse us fully for spiralling drug prices, and so we lose out.

'In their rush to add extra services to what we do, ministers have forgotten to address the fundamental problems that are driving community pharmacies into the ground.

'This isn't about helping pharmacies anyway: it's about helping GPs by trying to get us to take on some of their workload.'

Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies, agrees. She told Good Health: 'The 645 million doesn't address our biggest problem. The basic core NHS funding we need just to function is currently short by 1.1 billion a year.

'This is why we're still seeing pharmacists going out of business.

'We are on our knees, and we are not even sure that the new money will cover the new things that the Government is asking us to do.'

Under the measures unveiled last week, the Government revealed a pharmacy common ailments scheme in England would be launched before the end of 2023. Under the service, patients will be able to get a prescription from their pharmacist for seven minor illnesses including earache and urinary tract infections without having to see their GP first

She points out that while the new system empowers community pharmacies to provide new care, it may, for example, take between 20 and 40 minutes for a pharmacist to assess a patient's suitability for a prescribed drug for, say, a urinary tract infection.

'Will the new money be enough to pay for a locum pharmacist to cover for the shop's pharmacist while they're busy with that?'

If the shop has only one pharmacist and they are busy assessing a patient, then by law the other customers can't get their prescriptions dispensed until the pharmacist is free to supervise this.

Meanwhile, the cost of locums is spiralling.

According to the recruitment company Reed, the average pay for a locum pharmacist in the UK is 64,571 per year  which is why community pharmacists have told us that they can't take proper holidays  they just can't afford the locum cover.

Taiwo Owatemi, a qualified pharmacist and Labour MP who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Pharmacy, told Good Health: 'Poor pay and conditions at community pharmacies are causing thousands of qualified pharmacists to leave the sector, which means that these extra services are going to be very hard to deliver.'

Furthermore, Malcolm Harrison, chief executive of the Company Chemists Association, the trade association for large pharmacy operators in England, Scotland and Wales, highlights the fact that much of the newly announced 645 million won't be funding new patient services.

'For instance, some of it is going to be used to update the IT systems needed to communicate between GPs and pharmacies to update patients' records when pharmacists treat them,' he told Good Health.

The additional money is 'certainly not a magic wand that will make everything fine', adds Janet Morrison, chief executive of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC), which represents England's 11,000 community pharmacies in funding talks with ministers.

'We have been suffering under systematic funding cuts of 30 per cent since the current NHS contract with community pharmacies was introduced in 2015  and this is the first injection of money since then.'

She says the PSNC had been asking ministers for 875 million extra funding to get the sector through the next two years  so considerably more than the 645 million that has been announced.

'From our perspective, the pressures on our sector means that the ballpark figure for underfunding is actually around 1 billion,' she says.

Nevertheless, community pharmacists remain broadly positive.

Leyla Hannbeck says: 'At the end of the day, it is still a step in the right direction. It does show that government ministers know the value community pharmacies can bring to the table.'

And Mark Lyonette, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, told Good Health: 'The injection of funds is a welcome vote of confidence, even though the underlying position remains extremely challenging.

'We tip our caps to the Mail's campaigning on this issue, which has backed us all the way by keeping the public aware of the plight of neighbourhood pharmacies.'

Janet Morrison says: 'The Daily Mail has done a great job in raising public awareness of the crisis, which has had a big impact. Now we feel more valued and understood by Government  and that has helped us to make the case for adequate funding.'

Malcolm Harrison added: 'Thank you for what you are doing by telling the truth of our story and the challenges that we have to face every day. We need the Mail to carry on campaigning.'
Every time my 18-year-old daughter leaves the house, I check where she is going, to work out if it's safe for her to go.

This isn't 'just' parental concern: Sophia has a medical condition which means she might suddenly pass out unconscious, perhaps for several minutes. Once she fell unconscious into a road; and, on another occasion, beside a railway track.

For a parent, it is the stuff of nightmares. Part of my mind is now always ready for the next phone call telling me Sophia has had another episode (she now has a smart watch programmed to call me automatically if she passes out).

I've had calls from railway station attendants, college teachers, air cadet leaders and strangers in the year since Sophia was diagnosed with dysautonomia, a condition that means her autonomic nervous system (which controls unconscious everyday functions such as heart rate, blood pressure and digestion) doesn't work properly.

People with dysautonomia have trouble regulating these functions, causing a variety of symptoms.

Sophia (right) has a medical condition which means she might suddenly pass out unconscious, perhaps for several minutes

Sophia (right) has blacked out countless times and in ever scarier places. One of the most recent episodes occurred at around 11.30pm as she was walking to our home in Penrith, Cumbria

For Sophia, the list includes postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS), a significantly raised heart rate when you stand up. Normally your heart rate rises on standing by ten to 15 beats per minute (bpm)  Sophia's rises by 70 bpm, sometimes higher.

It's not known what causes PoTS, but it can develop suddenly or gradually, and potential triggers include pregnancy, major surgery or a viral illness. It affects around 150,000 people in the UK and is most common in women aged 15 to 50.

Sophia's list also includes vasovagal syncope (or fainting due to a sudden drop in blood pressure), orthostatic intolerance (which triggers symptoms such as palpitations, fatigue, light-headedness and chest pain when you move to standing from sitting, or stand for prolonged periods) and inappropriate sinus tachycardia (which means her heart rate rises even without exertion).

All this amounts to one thing: she could black out at any moment, without warning. At the time when others her age are discovering new freedoms, Sophia has had to stop driving lessons.

The first time she blacked out, in September 2021, was at a joint party for her 17th and her sister Elena's 12th birthdays. One minute she was laughing with friends, the next she was unconscious on the ground.

Initially I thought it was a prank. But the shocked look on her friends' faces and the amount of time Sophia was unconscious made it clear this was no joke. When she revived several minutes later, she couldn't lift her arms or legs and kept screaming about a pain in her head  it was terrifying.

I called an ambulance, but by the time it arrived, 45 minutes later, Sophia was over the worst of it and her blood pressure, heart rate and temperature were normal, so she didn't go to hospital.

Afterwards, we tried to rationalise it  was it perhaps a reaction to the excitement of the party? The party was good, I thought, but not that good.

Since then, Sophia has blacked out countless times and in ever scarier places. One of the most recent episodes occurred at around 11.30pm as she was walking to our home in Penrith, Cumbria, with her dad from the restaurant where he is a manager and Sophia works as a waitress. She blacked out and fell into the road. A kind stranger helped to manoeuvre her safely into a shop doorway, then waited until further help arrived.

'I'm not being funny, mate, but she looks drunk, and you could be anybody,' he told her dad.

It's true. When she's in the middle of an episode, she does look drunk  she becomes disorientated and her speech slurs.

While we've learned to deal with these episodes at home, keeping her lying down and drinking plenty of water until she starts to feel better, it's heartening to know there are people who will look out for a young woman in trouble.

Last December, I got a phone call from an attendant at the train station near Sophia's college in Kendal. Sophia had blacked out near the tracks on her way home, hitting her head, which is a major worry. Several passengers had stopped to help and an ambulance was called.

I am grateful for these extraordinary kindnesses but also acutely aware of how vulnerable Sophia's condition makes her.

Our GP first mentioned PoTS to us following Sophia's first faint  but it was 18 months before we got a formal diagnosis from a cardiologist at Lancaster Hospital. In fact, we were lucky; the charity PoTS UK estimates it takes an average of five to seven years to get the diagnosis  largely, they say, because many GPs are 'unaware of PoTS' and its symptoms.

Sophia has endured countless nights on a trolley in hospital corridors as doctors Google it.

There have even been accusations that she was making the whole thing up. I'll never forget the paramedics who loaded her into the ambulance after a particularly gruelling episode in October 2022.

Sophia had fainted while sitting watching TV, and I called an ambulance because her eyes were rolling back in her head and she was gasping for breath. One of the paramedics took me aside to ask: 'Has anyone told you this is all in her head?'  because Sophia had predicted she would pass out when they stood her up.

I felt frustrated, because Sophia is one of the calmest, most level-headed teenage girls I've met.

But this kind of scepticism is not unusual. When we finally got an appointment with a specialist in January 2023, she told Sophia that she mustn't hesitate to stick up for herself. 'I often get emails from female patients who are being told their symptoms are all down to anxiety. Don't listen,' she said.

But none of this is easy at 18. Even when she's not fainting, Sophia has to regularly endure constant chest pains, palpitations, tingling in her arms and legs, headaches, brain fog, fatigue.

Imagine experiencing all that and then having to defend yourself to a medical professional.

Yet we have received some incredible care from doctors who know about PoTS.

We finally received Sophia's diagnosis in December 2022, just after she blacked out at the train station  the acute dangers she faced made me insist hospital doctors look more carefully at what was going on. She spent a week in hospital with her heart constantly monitored, which included several 'positive active' stand tests (where a doctor monitors the heart rate response from sitting to standing, looking for the characteristic drastic rise). The results came back positive for PoTS.

This was comforting because Sophia could no longer be accused of fabricating the whole thing and she was prescribed ivabradine, to reduce her heart rate rises.

We are still experimenting with dosage as the effect hasn't been as marked as we'd hoped, but there are other medication options; a diagnosis means Sophia has access to them.

Sophia has also made friends with other sufferers through PoTS UK and social media.

They share their views on recommended therapies. They are keen on 'front loading' fluid  drinking a pint of water before standing; adding 2tsp of extra salt a day to food, plus little exercises such as tensing and relaxing the leg muscles regularly to avoid a surge in heart rate on standing.

They seem less keen on yoga, which is suggested as it can increase the body's ability to tolerate changes in posture  frustrating for me as a yoga teacher.

Unsurprisingly, none of them seems keen on compression hosiery  thick black tights that grip from the toes to above the waist and compress the lower limbs, causing an increased blood flow to the heart from the veins in the legs, thus reducing the risk of fainting.

PoTS is a life-long, incurable condition (although symptoms do improve in some) and while we understand more of what to do when Sophia has an episode (letting her stay lying down after a faint for as long as it takes to feel better), it's impossible not to worry.

She now has a medical emergency lanyard which explains her condition to strangers and the smart watch that calls me when she passes out. Meanwhile, I'm still working on getting her to wear those compression tights.
A baby formula made by one of America's 'big four' manufacturers has been recalled for a second time  after companies continued to sell the tainted powder.

Michigan-based Perrigo Company urged Americans to stop using certain batches of Gerber Good Start SoothePro formula in mid-March when tests spotted a bacteria that can be fatal to children under two months old lurking in the formula.

But on Sunday, the product had to be recalled again after discovering that the powder had been sent to independent grocery stores in eight different states even after the alert was sent.

Americans who bought the powder have been urged to throw it in the trash immediately and contact Perrigo for a refund.

While no illnesses have been reported, the Food and Drug Administration urges parents to look out for fever, poor feed and excessive crying if their child consumes the formula.

Pictured above is the baby formula that is being recalled for a second time. It is being recalled again because retailers were still distributing and selling the product

The notice was re-released on May 14 by food distributor Associated Wholesale Grocers, which admitted that it was still selling the product.

'Any consumer who purchased a product... should discontinue use and dispose of the product,' they said.

Batches that had been recalled were sent to eight states. These were: Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

On March 17, Perrigo issued a recall notice for nine lots of its Gerber Good Start SootheProTM Powdered Infant Formula.

They said the move was out of an 'abundance of caution' after tests showed the formula was contaminated with Cronobacter sakazakii.

This bacteria is naturally found in the environment and is particularly adept at surviving in low-moisture, dry foods  such as baby powder.

It is harmless for most people, but in rare cases can prove deadly for infants younger than two months because it can infect the blood or cause swelling in the lining around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).

It was not clear how the bacteria got into the baby powder, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says this can happen if formula comes into contact with a contaminated surface or if the ingredients used have already been contaminated.

Perrigo also had a recall due to the bacteria in 2019, when the contamination was spotted in its formula sold at Walmart.

All the affected baby formula was manufactured between January 2 and 18.

Gerber Good Start is targeted at babies up to a year old, with marketing claiming the formula can help with excessive crying, fussiness and gas.

It is currently out of stock on the Gerber website.

There are only four companies that manufacture baby formula in the US: Abbott Laboratories, Mead Johnson, Perrigo Company PLC and Nestle.

This incident brings back terrible memories of the horrific baby formula shortage that struck the US last year.

The formula shortage was sparked in February when Abbott Laboratories closed its plant in Sturgis and initiated a recall while food-safety regulators investigated possibly deadly contamination.

The plant had been responsible for producing roughly one-fifth of US formula and is a major supplier of specialty formulas that babies with special needs rely on to survive.

This led to parents hoarding formula, thus making the shortage even worse.

Nine months after the crisis began, about a third of U.S. households said they still had trouble obtaining baby formula, according to a Census Bureau survey conducted in mid-November.

And empty shelves continued to linger into March of this year, but reports of parents struggling to feed their children have subsided.
A garage owner is claiming the crown of 'King of the Pumps' because he believes he is selling the cheapest fuel available anywhere in Britain.

Vijay Jaganathan is advertising both petrol and diesel at 129.9p per litre at his rural forecourt - compared to the UK average of 145p for petrol and 154p for diesel.

Vijay, who runs the Eastgate Garage filling station in Narberth, Pembrokeshire, says his low prices will remain 'for the next few weeks' after recently making a decision that will benefit motorists who visit his forecourt.

Vijay Jaganathan is currently advertising both petrol and diesel at less than 1.29 per litre at his rural forecourt in Wales - that's far cheaper than the UK average

Vijay says he can offer the affordable prices for both fuel types after recently switching his supplier to Texaco - and buying petrol and diesel in bulk while wholesale prices were low.

And he says the offer of petrol at 15p less per litre than the current UK average - and diesel 24.4p less - is already attracting drivers from far and wide as they hope to fill up cheaply.

Compared to the UK price of both fuels recorded on Sunday 14 May, drivers filling an average family car's 55-litre tank with unleaded at his petrol station in Pembrokeshire will save around 8.30, while diesel drivers will save just over 13.

Vijay said: 'We had our first delivery yesterday and the queues have been really long, but luckily we serve our customers very quickly.

'These prices are an opening offer, but they will definitely continue with our aim of being the cheapest around.

'We are currently the cheapest in the UK - this has been confirmed to me by Texaco.'

Vijay says he can offer the 129.9p per litre prices for both fuels after recently switching his supplier to Texaco - and buying in petrol and diesel in bulk while wholesale prices were low

The current average UK prices for fuel, according to the RAC, are 145.95p for unleaded and 154.31p for diesel.

Both petrol and diesel have fallen almost 50p a litre since they peaked at record levels last summer, but are still far higher than they were in 2021.

However, retailers are pocketing far larger profits from both fuel types than they were before the pandemic.

In 2019, the average margins were just 6.5p for every litre of petrol and 6.9p for diesel, the RAC says. The calculation on current prices shows retail margins on unleaded almost twice as high (12p per litre) and diesel more than three times bigger (23.7p per litre).

The weekend's UK average prices are well below the peak of 191.55p for petrol and 199.22p for diesel recorded last summer, but is also considerably higher than the 126.53p and 130.43p respective prices in early May 2021.

Despite the recent decline, the RAC has cautioned that fuel prices could rise in the near future, due to an uplift in oil prices.

Last week, the organisation's fuel spokesman, Simon Williams, said: 'The big question is whether retailers will raise their pump prices, and if so how quickly.'

He added that, while the average cost at the pump should not increase immediately following the spike in oil prices, it could creep upwards if they remained elevated 'for several days'.

The interactive chart below shows how petrol and diesel prices have changed over the past decade - and how much this has impacted your fuel bills.
A vintage Rolls-Royce that was owned by The Streets frontman Mike Skinner is set to be sold at auction for more than 17,000.

The heavily modified luxury car featured on the cover of the band's 2006 album The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living. The 1974 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow is now set to be sold at auction this Thursday, with current bids having already reached heights of 17,250.

Skinner commissioned major modifications to the vintage car in 2006, fitting it out with striking 22-inch wheels and tan leather seats.

The Streets frontman was forced to abandon plans to use the car to go on tour, due to troubles installing a stereo system.

The 1974 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow is set to be sold at auction for more than 17,000

The heavily modified Rolls-Royce featured on the cover (pictured) of the Streets 2006 album 'The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living'

The vintage car was heavily modified by British hip hop artist Mike Skinner and refitted with tan leather seats from a Porsche 928

Mike Skinner had intended to use the car for a UK tour but was forced to abandon the plans due to troubles installing a sound system

Under Skinner's ownership, the Silver Shadow, which originally had a Caribbean Aqua body and contrasting white roof, was sprayed entirely gloss black.

The London born musician also fitted the Rolls-Royce with 22-inch dish-style wheels and a twin exhaust pipe positioned in the middle of the low-slung motor.

The car was entirely stripped of its interior and fitted with figure-hugging front seats from a sporty Porsche 928.

A custom pair of tan leather seats, designed to match those from the Porsche, were also fitted in the back in place of the traditional bench.

The car was also fitted with a range-topping Pioneer CD stereo head unit, Alpine screens in the back of the front seat headrests, and additional speakers - as you might expect from a vehicles owned by a platinum-selling artist.

Plans to use the car for a British tour, however, collapsed due to problems finishing off the sound system.

The car is fully drivable and passed an MOT checkup in May 2023

Mike Skinner repainted the 1974 car in gloss black from its original Aqua Caribbean colouring

The Streets frontman installed a double pipe exhaust onto the 1974 Rolls Royce

The car's engine was also upgrade to include an Edelbrock air cleaner

In a 2006 posting on his official blog, Skinner explained: 'I was propa (sic) looking forward to caning it through England and Scotland on 3 wheels.

'If anyone wants to buy a Silver Shadow without sound-system I'm up for offers to be honest.'

UK auction house Collecting Cars say the ride is being offered with no estimate, but they 'would expect the provenance of the car to mean it would be selling above 10,000 - which looks like great value for such a recognisable piece of modern era British music history.'

'This Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow is described by the seller as being a true head-turning creation, with the lowered stance and mirror-finish wheels giving it huge road presence, and the plush interior re-trim adding a more contemporary feel,' the auction house added.

'This is a stylish classic with fantastic music industry provenance; and with a fresh advisory-free MOT certificate under its belt, it would make an intriguing and very usable addition to any collection.'
This Postman Pat-looking van is set to become Ford's least expensive passenger car after it kills off its best-selling models in the coming months.

The new second-generation Tourneo Courier will go on sale later this year and will become the cheapest vehicle in showrooms once Fiesta production ends this summer and the larger Focus hatchback is culled in early 2025.

The entry petrol version will start from just over 20,000 in the UK and feature a turbocharged 1.0-litre engine, with order books opening in the summer.

And a fully-electric E Tourneo Courier will follow in 2024 as the US brand looks to accelerate its shift to electric-only cars.

Ford's soon-to-be least expensive car: New Tourneo Courier family model has been unveiled and will go on sale in 2023. It will then become the most affordable vehicle in Ford showrooms

Ford bosses today confirmed that the Tourneo Courier will be on sale shortly and first deliveries are due to arrive with UK customers before the end of the year.

It shares a platform with the Puma SUV and will be built at the same plant in Craiova, Romania.

It will take the vacant slot in Ford's model line-up relinquished by the soon-to-be-terminated Ecosport.

And with other - very popular - cars set be axed from Ford's line-up in the coming months, it will soon become the company's least expensive car.

The current cheapest car sold by Ford dealers is the Fiesta, starting from 19,350.

However, Britain's most-owned motor is due to cease production next month, bringing to an end 47 years of availability.

Some 1.5million Britons drive a Fiesta today and it was the best-selling motor in the UK for a 12-year period spanning from 2009 to 2020.

And it's not just the Fiesta that's soon going to disappear.

The larger Focus is also due to be discontinued from 2025 as Ford has a huge shake-up of its vehicle range as it pushes ahead with its electrification strategy.

The latest vehicle ownership stats show that almost 1.1millions Focuses are registered in the UK, making it the second most-driven model behind the Fiesta.

Almost 5million Ford Fiestas have been bought by Britons over the last 37 years, but the US brand has confirmed it will cease production of the popular supermini next month

Ford bosses have also confirmed that the Focus will be axed from 2025 as the company looks to ramp-up its EV availability

The Tourneo Courier will then become the cheapest car to sport the blue-oval badge, with prices expected to start at just over 20,000.

A spokesperson for Ford told us it will sit under the Puma in the pricelist, with the compact SUV today priced from 24,940.

When order books for the Tourneo Courier open, the first available with be powered by a 123bhp 1.0-litre turbo petrol Ecoboost engine - the same one fitted to the last-off-the-line Fiestas.

It can be ordered with the choice of a six-speed manual gearbox or - for a slight premium - seven-speed automatic transmission.

What it will lack in style and aerodynamic sleekness it makes up for with loads of cabin space, with plenty of head, shoulder and leg-room for all five occupants.

The boot should be capacious too and the interior featuring a number of practical features, include a pair of sliding rear doors for easy entry and exit in the back.

It even has a storage compartment for muddy shoes.

The Tourneo Courier will then become the cheapest car to sport the blue-oval badge, with prices expected to start at just over 20,000

This Postman Pat-looking van is set to become Ford's least expensive passenger car after it kills off its best-selling models in the coming months

When order books for the Tourneo Courier open, the first available with be powered by a 123bhp 1.0-litre turbo petrol Ecoboost engine - the same one fitted to the last-off-the-line Fiestas

Ford confirms there will be no diesel variants... but there will be an all-electric version from 2024.

Full details of the battery-only E Tourneo Courier remain under wraps until closer to its launch, though bosses say it will use a 134bhp motor on the front axle, have a limited top speed of 90mph and be fast charged from 10 to 80 per cent in less than 35 minutes.

READ MORE: Ford to reintroduce the Capri name for a new electric SUV model

Ford adds that a 10 minute boost of electricity will add some 54 miles of range, which hints at a battery capacity of around 55kW. That should offer a range of around 230 miles.

A typical 7kW overnight domestic charge from 10 to 100 per cent takes 7.8 hours, it claims.

Speaking at the unveiling in Copenhagen on Monday, Jim Farley, Ford president and chief executive, said: 'Exciting new products like E Tourneo Courier are the future of Ford in Europe  electric, fun, and fuelled by a restless need for adventure.

'Our new all-electric multi-activity vehicle is the latest demonstration of our multi-billion dollar global push to scale EV production and deliver connected, must-have vehicles for our customers.'

The E Tourneo Courier will count towards Ford's quota of 10 EVs on sale in Europe by 2024.

What it will lack in style and aerodynamic sleekness it makes up for with loads of cabin space, with plenty of head, shoulder and leg-room for all five occupants

Despite sharing looks with the Transit Courier, the Tourneo Courier uses the same front-wheel-drive platform as the current Fiesta and Puma SUV

There looks to be heaps of rear head, shoulder and leg room thanks to the boxy proportions of the car

 Slide me  The boot should be very capacious for a family motor. The 66:33 folding rear seats will add to the practicality

Full details of the battery-only E Tourneo Courier remain under wraps until closer to its launch, though bosses say it will use a 134bhp motor on the front axle, have a limited top speed of 90mph and be fast charged from 10 to 80 per cent in less than 35 minutes

It will join the recently-unveiled Explorer SUV - which is the first model built on Volkswagen's existing electric car platform - as well as a yet-to-be-revealed fully-electric Puma, full-size E Transit, E Transit Custom and E Transit Courier.

The seventh EV - which will be the second to use VW's platform - should also be confirmed soon, and will be a sportier SUV that will reportedly see the reintroduction of the Capri nameplate that was shelved 37 years ago.

The company is investing $50billion globally through 2026 to achieve a targeted run rate of more than two million all-electric vehicles by the end of that year.

The first cars with internal combustion engines go on sale soon - and be delivered before the end of the year. One can be ordered with a six-speed manual gearbox or seven-speed auto

The Tourneo Courier is so practical that it even has a storage compartment where you can store muddy shoes and trainers
European regulators have approved Microsoft's 55billion mega-merger with Call Of Duty maker Activision Blizzard  weeks after it was blocked by the UK's competition watchdog.

The European Commission green lit the tie-up on condition that Microsoft ensures Activision's game catalogue will be freely available on other cloud game-streaming providers over the next ten years.

The decision marked a dramatic split from the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which last month suffered a barrage of criticism after rejecting the merger.

Approved: The European Commission has green lit Microsoft's 55bn mega-merger with Call Of Duty maker Activision Blizzard

The CMA argued that it would lead to 'reduced innovation and less choice for UK gamers over the years to come'.

Activision attacked the CMA's findings and said the decision showed that the UK was 'clearly closed for business'.

Activision and Microsoft are planning to appeal the decision.

By contrast, the European Commission said the commitments offered by Microsoft and Activision to maintain competition 'unlock significant benefits for competition and consumers'.

Responding to the decision, Microsoft vice chairman and president Brad Smith said: 'The European Commission has required Microsoft to license popular Activision Blizzard games automatically to competing cloud gaming services.'

The decision presents fresh questions about the future of the deal, which requires approval from the UK, European and US regulators to succeed.

Microsoft and Activision are already putting together a legal team to challenge the UK ruling, while over in the US, the Federal Trade Commission is suing to block the merger with a court hearing due in August.

But time is running out to get the deal over the line.

Microsoft has until July 18 to complete the merger before owing Activision a termination fee, which could be as much as 2.4billion.
He was once caught in a sex act with a visiting nun

Triple killer, rapist and armed robber John Ernest Cribb was so 'world weary' after 40 years behind bars he asked not be resuscitated if found unconscious in jail.

Described as an 'end-of-the-line psychopath', Cribb got his final wish when Corrective Services officers stopped trying to revive him on February 21, 2018.

Cribb's last hours in the maximum security Goulburn Correctional Centre in the NSW Southern Tablelands have been detailed in a coroner's findings made five years after he died of natural causes.

Apart from two brief periods of freedom after escaping from prison the 67-year-old had been in custody since being sentenced to three life terms of imprisonment in May 1979.

Triple killer, rapist and armed robber John Cribb was an 'end-of-the-line psychopath' according to criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro. He died alone in a prison cell at Goulburn Correctional Centre in February 2018 and a coroner's reporter has now been released

Cribb's criminal history dated back to 1968 for property offences, armed robberies and escaping lawful custody but his infamy stemmed from one series of appalling crimes.

The habitual drug user kidnapped Valda Connell, 39, and her children Sally, 10, and Damien 4, from their Baulkham Hills home, in Sydney's north-west, on August 11, 1978.

He drove the 300km to Elands, on the mid north coast, where he stopped at a picnic ground near Ellenborough Falls.

There he raped Mrs Connell in front of the children, tied them all up and stabbed each to death. He put the bodies in the boot of the car and dumped it at Swansea, near Newcastle.

Cribb was captured after a 10-hour siege in which he held a woman at knife-point inside her home at Islington in inner-city Newcastle.

While on remand Cribb was transferred to Morisset hospital for the criminally insane, from where he escaped with another armed robber and rapist, William John Munday.

The pair travelled to Sydney and kidnapped two 17-year-old schoolgirls who they held in a Bondi hotel for two days and repeatedly raped.

Cribb was pronounced dead at 10.40am on February 21, 2018 in Cell 3 of Unit 2 at Goulburn Correctional Centre. Police found no evidence of foul play, self-harm or external injuries. A cell at Goulburn Correctional Centre is pictured

While in custody, Cribb again displayed his depravity when he was caught in a sex act with a nun in a visiting room at Parramatta Gaol.

Coroner David O'Neil, who on April 28 heard an inquest into Cribb's death, outlined some of the killer's background in his findings delivered on May 5.

Mr O'Neil said Cribb, who had a 'troubled youth', grew up in Sydney's Baulkham Hills and was educated by the Marist Brothers at Parramatta.

He began smoking cannabis and drinking alcohol at age 14 and by 17 was using LSD.

In the early years of his last long stint of imprisonment Cribb was regularly reviewed by psychiatrists due to 'violent outbursts and possible psychosis'.

He was treated with anti-psychotic medications and prescribed lithium for manic depressive order, as well being provided with psychiatric consultations and anti-depressants after expressing suicidal thoughts.

'Over time, it appears that with the acceptance of his situation, Mr Cribb's mental health conditions improved, and his medications were ultimately ceased,' Mr O'Neil found.

Cribb was diagnosed with moderate non-obstructive coronary disease, coronary artery insufficiency, aortic regurgitation and hypertension in February 2012.

In July 2017, he was transferred to Goulburn Correctional Centre where he was housed for his own protection in a 'one-out' cell.

Cribb kidnapped Valda Connell, 39, and her children Sally, 10, and Damien 4, from their Baulkham Hills home, in Sydney's north-west, on August 11, 1978. He drove them to the state's mid north coast where he raped Mrs Connell then killed her and the children

In August that year Cribb was referred to Justice Health and examined by a medical officer due to his age and existing heart problems.

'Mr Cribb was described as "world weary" and clearly indicated that he did not wish for his life to be prolonged with medical intervention,' Mr O'Neil found.

In accordance with Cribb's wishes a not-for-resuscitation plan was signed.

'Mr Cribb thereafter declined to be transferred to other correctional centres where his heart issue and other medical issues could be better managed,' Mr O'Neil found.

On February 19, 2018, Cribb complained about vomiting and diarrhoea. A nurse gave him Panadol for his stomach cramps and he was to be assessed the next day.

There was a heatwave on February 20 and about 10.15am Cribb was seen lying down in one of Goulburn's yards. He was sent to the medical clinic, given a medical certificate and escorted back to his cell.

Officers who observed Cribb in Cell 3 of Unit 2 at 2.34pm reported no issues with the prisoner and that was the last time he was seen alive.

At 8.28am the next day the door of Cribb's cell was briefly unlocked but not opened by an officer who then secured the door to attend to other duties.

Cribb, who had a 'troubled youth', grew up in Sydney's Baulkham Hills and was educated by the Marist Brothers at Parramatta. He began smoking cannabis and drinking alcohol at age 14 and by 17 was using LSD. He is pictured in a police mugshot aged 24

While on remand Cribb was transferred to Morisset hospital for the criminally insane, from where he escaped with another armed robber and rapist, William John Munday (above)

About 10.25am another inmate found Cribb unresponsive and alerted officers who attended his cell. Cribb was lying on his side on the floor, slightly under a set of storage shelves with his feet to the rear of the cell.

Despite Cribb's body being cold and stiff officers commenced CPR until his not-for-resuscitation plan was confirmed.

Cribb was pronounced dead at 10.40am. Police were called to the jail and no evidence of foul play, self-harm or external injuries was located.

Mr O'Neil declared the cause of death was haemopericardium - a build up of blood in the sac that surrounds the heart - arising from a ruptured aorta.

The coroner ruled that while Cribb should have been observed when his cell door was unlocked there was no need to make any recommendations.

'I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the failure to observe Mr Cribb at the "let go" did no play any role in his passing, given he suffered a ruptured aortic dissection and given his desire not to be resuscitated,' Mr O'Neil found.

Forensic psychologist Tim Watson-Munro has assessed some of Australia's most notorious criminals and once described Cribb as the worst of the lot.

'He was universally loathed by the crooks and the screws,' Mr Watson-Munro wrote in his book Dancing with Demons.

'His crimes breached all the codes. It was a real-life horror story.'

Forensic psychologist Tim Watson-Munro (above) has assessed some of Australia's most notorious criminals and once described Cribb as the worst of the lot

Mr Watson-Munro said Cribb was one of the few genuinely evil men he had met in the prison system.

'When I worked at Parramatta Gaol, I was surrounded by end-of-the-line psychopaths,' he wrote. 'Johnny Cribb was one of them.

'Convicted of three counts of murder, three counts of kidnapping, as well as false imprisonment and a raft of other serious crimes, his tale of evil still chills my spine.

'He was kept in solitary confinement as the authorities recognised that he would last mere minutes if he was released into the mainstream prison community.'

While serving his three life sentences for murder Cribb was befriended by a nun at Parramatta Gaol.

Mr Watson-Munro revealed the nun wrote a lurid letter to Cribb in which she said she would perform a sex act on him 'until your eyes pop out' during a scheduled contact visit.

'As a final demonstration of the power of evil, Cribb was befriended by a nun,' Mr Watson-Munro wrote.

'She had felt sorry for him and with the liberal exchange of letters allowed at the time, she fell under his satanic spell.'

Prison officials decided to let the visit go ahead and burst in while the nun was performing the sex act.

'Cribb was banned from future contact visits and God only knows what happened to the nun,' Mr Watson-Munro wrote.

In 1993 Cribb unsuccessfully sought a non-parole period for his life sentences. He had claimed to be reformed and was supported by priests, psychiatrists and psychologists.

But Mr Watson-Munro had no doubt where Cribb belonged.

'I firmly believe that some of the men and women I have assessed are purely evil. They were born that way and they have no redeeming features. They deserve to be in jail and, in my view, should never be released.'
In texts to the emergency management director, he admitted feeling 'defeated and useless' and called FEMA's leaflet campaign a 'ginormous s*** show'

The desperate fire chief of East Palestine, Ohio, said he felt 'defeated, useless and so angry,' in the wake of the train derailment, texts and emails obtained by DailyMail.com reveal.

Keith Drabick vented his frustration privately in messages following the February 3 crash which saw a toxic soup of carcinogenic and corrosive chemicals released into the community, resulting in an environmental and health crisis.

Text message exchanges show Drabick becoming increasingly aggravated, at one point expressing: 'Why does this have to be so hard?'

He admitted to having to take a moment because he was getting 'overwhelmed' with the conflicting responses to the disaster by officials, particularly, a leaflet campaign by the Federal Emergency Management Agency that he dubbed a 'ginormous s*** show'.

He also said he felt abandoned by Ohio's Republican governor Mike DeWine after he was left to 'sit by and watch s*** fall apart', and admitted he had 'lost faith' in the city's health department after it told him to treat the crash like a normal house fire.

Emails and text messages obtained by DailyMail.com reveal East Palestine fire chief Keith Drabick's frustration over officials' poor handling of the February 3 train wreck that sparked an environmental and health crisis in the community

Drabick became disgruntled with Ohio governor Mike DeWine's apparent lack of communication with local officials after he failed to inform the fire chief about a press conference on the derailment

The site of the disastrous Norfolk Southern derailment (pictured on February 19)became ground zero where a mixture of six highly toxic chemicals leached into the soil and water

The messages, released as part of a FOIA request, paint a vivid picture of how first responders handled the derailment of 38 carriages of the Norfolk Southern train as it made its way through the city.

Eleven of them were carrying hazardous chemicals like vinyl chloride and half of the 5,000 residents were evacuated as Norfolk Southern conducted a 'controlled burn'.

But according to a lawsuit filed by residents, this ended up releasing a chemical that had been banned after World War I and left them with headaches, coughing and burning feelings on their skin.

Dozens of fish were killed and residents fled the area amid fears their drinking water had become contaminated.

The accident led to Congressional hearings, calls for tighter freight safety laws, and an ongoing investigation into the crash by the National Transportation Safety Board, which is also investigating Norfolk Southern's safety practices.

The messages show the frustration of local officials who were overwhelmed by emails from cranks who sent conspiracy theories, well-wishers sending donations, and requests from the media for interviews.

As the weeks went by, federal agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency flooded officials' inboxes with contact sheets for their departments and demands for meetings.

Drabick had only been East Palestine's fire chief for a year when the crash occurred, though he has worked as a firefighter for decades.

The messages portray him as a straight talker who cares deeply about his community and was grappling with unimaginable conditions.

On February 7  four days after the accident  Drabick addressed requests by residents to be allowed into the one mile evacuation zone that had been set up around the burn site to feed their pets.

He wrote: 'With the unknown level of contaminants I, with a heavy heart, made the decision to not allow any residents to enter or be escorted into the evacuation area to gain access to the pets they left behind'.

On February 7 - four days after the accident - Drabick was forced to give pets a death sentence when he refused to allow residents return home to feed them

Just days after the derailment, Drabick expressed empathy for Rick Gorby, a volunteer firefighter in East Palestine who had apologized for leaving a meeting early as he had 'a lot on my mind

The fire chief became increasingly frustrated with the poor communication among local and state officials. On February 14, Drabick said he 'wasn't aware' of a press conference by Governor DeWine that was taking place later that day

Drabick said he was contacted by an animal rescue organization, Angels For Animals, but he decided to 'stand firm' on the decision.

Two days later, Rick Gorby, a volunteer firefighter in East Palestine, apologized to Drabick for leaving a meeting early as he had 'a lot on my mind.'

Drabick replied: 'Please don't ever apologize for that, my friend. I went back down for a little bit after the news report and had to leave myself because I was starting to get overwhelmed. We all need a break'.

When Gorby says that he saw people on TV picketing the sheriff's office, Drabick replied: 'It's only gonna get worse.'

On February 14, Drabick said he 'wasn't aware' of a press conference by Governor DeWine that was taking place later that day.

It was the first sign of tensions with other agencies that became even worse as the weeks went on.

Two weeks later, Drabick and East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway expressed their shock at who was speaking for their city in Congress during the testimony of Norfolk Southern chief executive Alan Shaw.

Conaway shared a link to a Facebook post which talked about Jami Cozza and her partner, Chris Wallace, both residents of East Palestine, going to Washington.

Drabick wrote: 'That's what the village gets to represent us in DC. Isn't that just wonderful'.

Conaway replied: 'What the f***'

Residents had grown desperate and frustrated with the lack of guidance from authorities after many requested to be allowed into the one mile evacuation zone that had been set up around the site to feed their pets. Pictured: Local pet owner Donna Mineard

In an interview with local news station News 5 Cleveland, Mineard said she was willing to take the risk her health and safety to get her two cats that had been left behind at home

Drabick said he had been contacted by an animal rescue organization, Angels For Animals, that had offered to remove and rescue pets, but he decided to 'stand firm' on the decision

Drabick wrote: 'I can't believe that Brown is doing this', apparently referring to Democratic Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, who spoke at the hearing.

He added: 'And not a damn thing we can do but sit by and watch s*** fall apart'.

Drabick also vented about the EPA, the federal agency which handled the cleanup and testing of air, water and soil quality.

In a February 25 message to a colleague he wrote: 'This is just bull****'.

Referring to one official Drabick said: 'Is it just me or is this guy so smart he's stupid?'

Later messages reveal he appears to be talking about Ralph Dollhopf, who was the EPA's On-Scene Coordinator.

In one message Drabick quipped: 'He is amazing at talking in circles and avoiding answering my questions'.

On March 3, Peggy Clark, the Columbiana County Emergency Management Agency Director, texted Drabick to say there was 'still no direction from anyone in health on how to advise the firefighter from West Point'.

Drabick asked what his symptoms were and Clark said: 'New diagnosis of asthma and bronchitis. Dr (doctor) told him definitely related to exposure. Never had breathing problems before'.

Drabick replied: 'Why does this have to be so hard', adding that they needed to 'nail down this soil sampling plan'.

An exasperated Drabick went on: 'I honestly don't even know what to say anymore Peggy. I truly feel defeated and useless'.

In a February 25 message to a colleague he wrote: 'This is just bulls***', and referred to one official, believed to be EPA on-scene coordinator Ralph Dollhopf, as 'so smart he's stupid'

A text exchange from March 3 shows Peggy Clark, the Columbiana County Emergency Management Agency Director, messaged Drabick to complain about the lack of help from the health department about a fire fighter who became sick from exposure

In the days to follow, Drabick expressed his frustration, saying 'why does this have to be so hard,' and later admitted to feeling 'defeated and useless'

Messages show tensions flared between local and federal agencies over the conflicting approaches in handling the disaster, with Drabick referring to FEMA's campaign as a 'ginormous s**t show'

He also expressed apprehension about a meeting he had to attend that day was going to be 'absolutely horrible'.

'I can't even. I am so angry. Traci is ready to explode like you,' Drabick wrote, apparently referring Traci Spratt, the finance director of East Palestine.

As the conversation continued, Drabick wrote: 'Unbelievable'.

Addressing tensions with other agencies, he wrote: 'At what point are we going to be a unified command?'

Clark replied: 'Please say that' in an upcoming meeting to which Drabick responded: 'Oh I'm going to'.

After being sent the invitation to the meeting, Drabick wrote: 'Was that just basically a F@*k you from Ralph'.

Another argument blew up the next day in a message with Spratt.

Drabick wrote that FEMA, another federal agency that responded to the crash, was trying to take control of efforts to send leaflets to residents.

The agency was asking Clark to 'provide people to do this door to door along with civic groups from the village', Drabick said, adding: 'Exactly what we said not to do'.

He added: 'This ginormous s*** show over this handout has officially begun'.

The day before, Drabick was so frustrated about not getting adequate health advice for his fire crews from the East Palestine Health Department that he went straight to the CDC, the federal agency which handles pandemics and disease outbreaks.

Two weeks later, Drabick and East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway expressed their shock at who was speaking for their city in Congress during the testimony of Norfolk Southern chief executive Alan Shaw

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, left, on May 2

Norfolk Southern Corporation President and CEO, Alan Shaw, testified before a US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works hearing on the environmental and public health on March 20

He also contacted the National Development and Research Institutes USA, a nonprofit that specializes in federal research into public health.

In an email to the NDRI, Drabick wrote that during his last conversation with his local health department he was told to 'have my members treat this exposure the same I would as any other house or barn fire'.

He wrote: 'I have lost all faith in our local health department. I would prefer not to deal with the local health department any further.'

Drabick added that he had 'purposely' not put one official from the health department on the email to leave him 'out of the loop'.

NDRI official Sara Jahnke replied: 'I'm sorry this has been your experience'.

The frustration continued into the next week and on March 12, Drabick was discussing soil samples.

He wrote that the governor of Oklahoma had 'refused to accept the soil so we are back to square one'.

Reports at the time said that Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt blocked the EPA's plan to ship 3,640 tons of toxic waste to a hazardous waste facility in the state.

It has now been nearly four months since the accident and East Palestine is still recovering  with the fallout showing no signs of slowing down.

The frustration continued into the week of March 12, as Drabick was discussing soil samples. He wrote that the governor of Oklahoma had 'refused to accept the soil so we are back to square one'

Photos and firsthand accounts shared previously with DailyMail.com lay bare the devastating impact of the East Palestine train derailment disaster that saw a toxic soup of carcinogenic and corrosive chemicals light up the night sky on February 3

Vinyl chloride is known to migrate through soil and has been linked with various forms of liver cancer, lymphoma, leukemia as well as brain and lung cancer

On Wednesday a Senate committee voted in favor of train safety legislation that would set new standards for the freight rail industry.

Sen. Maria Cantwell said: 'No community should have to go through the trauma and evacuation and environmental damage that East Palestine had to go through, especially when you can prevent these from happening'.

This week Norfolk Southern reiterated its pledge to pay homeowners near the affected area.

The company says it has accrued charges of almost $400 million for the derailment, but that amount doesn't include expected costs for funds tied to falling property values, long term health care or water treatment.

And on Wednesday several railcars from a Norfolk Southern train derailed in New Castle, Pennsylvania, about 30 minutes from East Palestine.

None of them were carrying hazardous materials and nobody was injured.
The health of Rolf Harris has taken a turn for the worse and he is 'very sick and unwell', a private investigator and author has told MailOnline.

The disgraced TV star, 93, has been struggling to talk or eat and has been living as a near recluse at his 5million home in Berkshire since he was freed from jail in 2017.

But what did Rolf Harris do? Why was he jailed? What was he convicted of?

Read on below for everything you need to know about why Rolf Harris was jailed.

Rolf Harris' is pictured with a dog at the RSPCA Animal Hospital in Putney, UK

What did Rolf Harris do?

In March 2013, as part of the British police investigation into sexual abuse allegations known as Operation Yewtree, Harris was one of 12 people arrested for questioning regarding historical allegations of sex offences.

Harris appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on 24 September 2013, where he was charged with nine counts of indecent assault and four counts of making indecent images of children. Harris pleaded not guilty to these charges and was bailed.

Three months later, in December 2013, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed that Harris was facing three further counts of sexual assault.

The CPS said that the new charges were of alleged assault against females aged nineteen in 1984, aged seven or eight in 1968 or 1969, and aged fourteen in 1975. Once again, Harris pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The allegations were not linked to the offences committed by Jimmy Saville, with Harris maintaining his innocence at the time. He was subsequently bailed without charge.

However, in August 2013, he was arrested again as part of the operation, and was found guilty of nine counts of indecent assault during the 1980s.

Was he convicted of child sex offences?

Harris underwent trial at Southwark Crown Court, on 6 May 2014. Seven of the twelve charges involved allegations of a sexual relationship between Harris and one of his daughter's friends.

Harris refuted the allegations, claiming that he had not entered into a sexual relationship with the girl until she was 18.

Rolf Harris (pictured arriving at Southwark Crown Court with daughter Bindi and niece Jenny in 2014) was found guilty on 12 counts of indecent assault

Three charges related to the assault of a 15-year-old Australian girl visiting the UK in 1986. One charge was that he sexually assaulted an eight-year-old girl who asked for his autograph at a community centre in Hampshire in 1968 or 1969.

When questioned by police about this allegation, Harris replied 'I would simply never touch a child inappropriately.'

When did he go to jail?

After undergoing a lengthy trial at Southwark Crown Court in 2014, Harris was convicted of 12 counts of indecent assault and sentenced to five years in prison.

Commenting on his sentence, Mr Justice Sweeney said to Harris: 'You have shown no remorse for your crimes at all. Your reputation now lies in ruins, you have been stripped of your honours but you have no one to blame but yourself.'

Following his conviction, Harris served his sentence at HM Prison Stafford, which began in 2014.

Harris later released a statement in the book Rolf Harris: The Defence Team's Special Investigator Reveals the Truth Behind the Trials by William Merritt.

'I understand we live in the post truth era and know few will want to know what really happened during the three criminal trials I faced  it's easier to condemn me and liken me to people like Saville and Glitter,' Harris said.

'I was convicted of offences I did not commit in my first trial. That is not just my view but the view of the Court of Appeal who overturned one of my convictions. I had already served the prison sentence by the time of the appeal.

'I changed my legal team after the first trial, and I was told that if the truth was out there, William (Merritt) would find it and he did.

Is he still in jail?

After serving nearly three years of his five year sentence, Harris was released on licence in 2017.

Since being released from jail, Harris has resided in his hometown of Bray, Berkshire.

The Harris family solicitor lawyer Daniel Burke told MailOnline he has had no contact with the immediate family.

Rolf Harris (pictured during the pandemic) can no longer talk or eat and requires around the clock care after being diagnosed with neck cancer

He said he had not spoken to Rolf's only daughter Bindi and had no instructions to prepare or issue statement concerning his failing health.

Mr Merritt told MailOnline he saw Harris in late 2022, and that the disgraced Australian was suffering from severe ill health due to neck cancer.

He said: 'Rolf has been very sick. When I saw him he was able to speak to me. He was with it, but he was obviously unwell'.

Mr Merritt said Rolf has had neck cancer and there have been serious concerns about his health, although he was 'getting on with things'. Due to the cancer, Rolf is said to 'gurgle' when talking and is hard to understand.
An ex-Navy JAG officer has been charged with murdering his 40-year-old wife after DNA experts finally discovered her identity six months after her dismembered body was found at a Georgia hunting lodge.

Nicholas Kassotis, 40, was arrested in Pennsylvania Friday following the gruesome discovery of the remains of Mindi Mebane Kassotis by hunters last December.

It is believed by the time her remains were found in the grounds of Portal Hunting Club in Riceboro, Georgia, she had already been dead for a month.

But it took another five months before her identity was finally able to be confirmed as the missing woman.

Mindi Mebane Kassotis came from New Orleans and was a writer and business owner

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation created an artists impression of the woman whose body they found because there was no way of identifying her at the time she was found

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has now charged Kassotis with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, tampering with evidence, and removal of body parts from the scene of death or dismemberment.

Mindi's body was found by hunters on December 2, 2022, in Liberty County, Georgia.

The GBI determined she had been placed there sometime after November 18 although her identity was a mystery at the time.

After her family provided DNA samples her identify was finally confirmed last Thursday. Kassotis was arrested the following day.

The FBI used a lab specializing in advanced DNA testing and received results that furthered the investigation. The GBI also interviewed family members and obtained DNA swabs for comparison to the profile created through genealogy DNA.

Her remains had been found in Georgia woods in the grounds of Portal Hunting Club in Riceboro, Georgia. The clubhouse is pictured

The dismembered remains of Mindi Mebane Kassotis, 40, was found by hunters last December in Georgia

Another artist impression of the woman now known to be Mindi Mebane Kassotis who was finally identified as the victim on May 11

Mindi and Nicholas had been married for six years and lived together in Savannah. The motive for her murder is not known.

Mindi, who hails from New Orleans, was a writer and owned a business while her husband served in the U.S. Navy's Judge Advocate General Corps.

Currently, Kassotis is in custody at the Lancaster County Prison but the plan is to extradite him back to Georgia to face the charges.

Friends of Mindi who went to school with her posted online how they were shocked at her untimely end.

'She touched so many lives. I hope she knew how many loved her and how many have missed her for so long. I also pray she didn't suffer. She was such a special person, a true friend to all,' wrote one.

'So sad and horrific! She was a good friend! Her parents and siblings are in my thoughts and prayers. I found out about this a couple of hours ago and my heart sank,' added another.
Harris, now 93, leered over two schoolgirls after driving past them on street

Paedophile Rolf Harris told his 'adopted son' and music promoter how he wanted to have sex with two 14-year-old schoolgirls they had just driven by, a shocking new documentary reveals.

The disgraced entertainer, 93, was being taken back from the BBC at the height of his 90s fame when he lusted after the two children on the street.

It was a world away from the wholesome persona he affected for television, which was beloved by millions across the UK.

Chris Brosnan, who has previously described himself as 'like an adopted son' to the Harris family, had been driving the star home.

Mr Brosnan, also a member of Harris's band who performed rock covers and known as 'Bear', said: 'I remember I was driving Rolf back from the BBC, and there were two schoolgirls in uniform walking along. I'm driving the car and Rolf out of the blue just says, "Jesus, couldn't you just f*** the pair of them?"

Chris Brosnan, who has previously described himself as 'like an adopted son' to the Harris family, revealed the depraved remarks

The public face (left) of Harris was that of a family man, but in private (right) he was a secret sex offender

'Andwhen he said it, I mean, I'm driving along and he, and he said it and it was, it was shocking to hear him say it. And I looked at him, I said, "What?" And he said, "well, just look at 'em. Aren't they just f***ing lovely?"

'I'm driving a car, Rolf's looking out of the window and he's thinking about f***ing two 14-year-olds, two little girls.'

Speaking on the documentary Rolf Harris: Hiding In Plain Sight which airs on ITVX this Thursday, Mr Brosnan added: 'So for me, the impact of that, and not only was I furious, I was, not only was I angry about it, I fully expressed the anger that I felt, and I pulled the car over and I said, "I can't f***ing believe that you've just said what you've said."

'And he immediately went into, "I'm so sorry Bear, I shouldn't have said that in front of you."'

The Rolf Harris Show, which ran from 1967 to 1971, helped propel Harris to huge UK fame

Over a decade on from his arrest, many of Harris's accusers have waived their right to anonymity to reveal how his assaults impacted them

The clip is among two released by ITV ahead of the broadcast, the second is testimony from Australian TV producer Anita Jacoby.

She claims: 'Rolf suddenly came in, walks straight over, said, I need a hug. And then he immediately grabbed me into a bear hug.

'He pulled my whole body, including my, my lower body onto his groin, and pulled me right against his body. And I immediately recoiled and I pushed him away.

'And I said, that's not a hug, that's a grope. And I looked at him, there was no remorse, no reaction, no apology.'

It comes just days after MailOnline told how a private ambulance was seen outside the riverside home of Harris, who has been 'very sick' with neck cancer since leaving prison.

Rolf Harris leaves Southwark Crown Court as his niece Jenny Harris lifts her hand in front of cameras

He has been struggling to talk or eat and has been living as a near-recluse at his 5million home in Berkshire since he was freed from jail in 2017 for a string of sex offences.

His wife Alwen, 91, a jeweller and sculptor, is in a wheelchair because of Alzheimer's disease but the couple, who married in 1958 and have one child, live together with the help of around the clock care.

A private ambulance was parked outside the property on Wednesday, leaving at around 6pm. MailOnline asked Harris' spokesman to comment.

Private investigator and author William Merritt told MailOnline he saw him in late 2022, and he was gravely ill. He said: 'Rolf has been very sick. When I saw him he was able to speak to me. He was with it, but he was obviously unwell'.

Mr Merritt said Harris has had neck cancer and there have been serious concerns about his health, although he was 'getting on with things'. Due to the cancer, Rolf is said to 'gurgle' when talking and is hard to understand.

His wife Alwen is also 'very frail', Mr Merritt added.
In 2003 and 2013 thousands watched a vintage Lancaster fly over the British reservoirs that were the testing ground for the famous Dambuster raids of the Second World War.

The flypasts were staged to honour the RAF's 617 Squadron which in 1943 unleashed bouncing bombs on reservoirs in Nazi Germany, dealing a fierce blow to Hitler's war machine.

Tomorrow, however, when events are held in Britain to mark the 80th anniversary of the raids, there will be no such aerial tribute over the dams where the crews trained.

And the Derwent and Howden dams themselves are under threat as part of plans for a super-reservoir in the Derbyshire Peak District, which could see them disappear beneath rising waters.

The lack of a flypast  instead, a Lancaster from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will fly over the RAF Museum in north London and former Bomber Command bases in Lincolnshire  and the threat to the dams has been met with concern from Dambusters' families.

The only operational Lancaster in Europe passes the Derwent Dam to mark the 70th anniversary of the Dambusters raid in 2013

Flypasts on May 16 will not be taking place over the Derwent and Howden dams where crews trained

RAF Avro Lancaster bomber pictured flying over Derwent Dam (undated)

Geoff Gosling, 75, whose late father Cyril was part of ground crew for the German missions and was on board test flights over Derbyshire, said: 'It would have been nice for them to fly over the testing dams. It's tragic the fly-over won't be there for the 80th anniversary.'

Mr Gosling, whose father died in 2019 aged 96, added: 'My dad would be heartbroken if the dams were damaged or lost. The water company need a rethink. We can't lose them. They're part of our history. I stood with him for one of the last anniversaries before he died. It was thrilling when the Lancasters went over.'

Felicity Rowbotham, 76, whose uncle was Dambusters hero Wing Commander Guy Gibson, also called for the reservoirs to be saved. She said: 'I wouldn't be happy about this because it would be a loss. It's unlikely the bomber training could have gone ahead without the dams.

'There needs to be greater consideration of whether it is necessary or whether the water company could look at alternatives.

'The story of the Dambusters, whatever one feels about war, is part of our national heritage.'

Charles Johnson  whose father, Dambusters Squadron Leader George 'Johnny' Johnson, died last December aged 101  said: 'The one thing that the raid did was to raise the country's morale to enormous heights.'

Squadron Leader George "Johnny" Johnson, who was Britain's last surviving 'Dambuster' before his passing in 2022, poses for a photograph during an event to mark the 75th anniversary of the raids in 2018

Squadron Leader Johnson was taken on a Lancaster flight over the dams shortly after the 75th anniversary of the raids in 2018.

It is unclear why tomorrow's flypast does not include the dams.

The RAF, of which the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) is part, said: 'As we do not have control over events on the ground in Derbyshire and an event has not been externally organised to facilitate large crowds gathering that we could then organise a flypast for, it would not be practical to draw a crowd to the area.'

But Severn Trent spokesman said: 'The decision to undertake any commemorative event would be at the discretion of the BBMF. Neither the National Park Authority nor Severn Trent have been approached by the BBMF to support such a flight in 2023.'

The water company is looking at creating a new reservoir on moorland, or a new, higher dam downstream of the Derwent and Howden dams, which would then disappear as the waters rise. It will submit proposals in July.
A woman in Warrington saw off a 'flasher' after she 'burst out laughing' as he exposed himself and told him that both of her dogs had a bigger penis than him.

The woman was approached by Dana Mustapha for a cigarette back in September before he began to perform a sex act on himself, a court has heard.

Apparently unfazed by the incident, she told Warrington Magistrates Court that if she saw him again she would have 'launched him'.

Mustapha, a 34-year-old Iraqi national, was accused of committing a series of disturbing acts aimed at members of the public, including exposing himself in front of children.

He pled not guilty to three counts of exposure as well as accusations of threatening behaviour, assault and two of harassment but was convicted and handed a prison sentence.

Dana Mustapha, a 34-year-old Iraqi national, was accused of committing a series of disturbing acts aimed at members of the public

The exposer will now spend time behind bars with the court handing him a 46 week sentence on Thursday.

Mustapha, who was helped in court by a Kurdish interpreter, was said to have engaged in a wide range of threatening behaviours around the Latchford area.

In another instance, he dropped his trousers in front of school children in the area of Knutsford Road, Warrington Guardian reports.

A further incident saw him pull his trousers down and squat as if he was 'having a poo' at a children's play area in Victoria Park in front of a man and his toddler stepson.

The witness described a look of 'evil excitement' on Mustapha's face as he then 'reached around as if he was aiming to grab hold of what he had passed to throw it'.

The victim left and the defendant was identified through a social media appeal, with the police contacted.

On another occasion, he unbuttoned his jeans and exposed him for 'sexual thrill' and urinated in the street, in full view of the business, twice.

The owner had to upgrade CCTV and lock the door so he could not get in, as well as reduce opening hours, causing a loss of income.

In a statement, she said: 'I have thought about selling the business as I no longer feel comfortable.

'It was once my happy place, but the stress and anxiety he has caused means I no longer enjoy my work.

'I have put my heart and soul into the business and he has destroyed it for me.'

Mustapha, who was helped in court by a Kurdish interpreter, was said to have engaged in a wide range of threatening behaviours around the Latchford area

In defence of his client, Peter Green said: 'Someone with poor mental health, as this defendant has, will struggle and will cope badly in a custodial setting.

'The easy option is to sentence him to immediate custody.

'It would dispense justice and keep him off the streets for a few months, but it does nothing to address any of the issues underlying his behaviour.

'I would ask you to impose a suspended prison sentence along with requirements.'

This plea was rejected by chair magistrate Anthony Graham, who said: 'This is a serious matter, and it has passed the custody threshold.

'We are going to send you to custody today.'

Mustapha has since been charged with three counts of exposure.

As well as flashing, Mustapha was said to have made threats to members of the public and on one occasion assaulted a man.

Angela Blackmore, prosecuting the case, told the court how in September last year, a man was walking his down down Knutsford Road in the town.

The victim saw that Mustapha was walking towards him and shouting threats including: 'I'm going to f**k you up.'

The victim ignored him but Mustapha followed and continued to shout, before walking away.

Days later, Mustapha threatened the same man outside a Co-op store.

Mustapha then dropped his trousers and exposed his penis and started laughing - while a number of school children were in the area.

In another incident with the same victim, he threatened to kick his dog, cut his throat and used vile homophobic insults.

Dana Mustapha being arrested. The 34-year-old, of New Road, Latchford, was sentenced to 46 weeks in prison and handed a 48 month criminal behaviour Order

The final incident saw the complainant call a friend who attended and confronted the defendant, who claimed not to understand English.

He detained Mustapha until the police arrived and suffered severe bruising from being kicked, punched and almost headbutted by him.

In an impact statement, the victim said he no longer wants to walk his dog in the area in case the defendant approaches him with further unprovoked threats.

Dana Mustapha appeared at a Warrington Magistrates Court on Thursday 11 May where he was found guilty of a number of offences, including three counts of exposure, threatening behaviour, assault by beating and two of harassment, one of which put the victim in fear of violence.

The 34-year-old, of New Road, Latchford, was sentenced to 46 weeks in prison and handed a 48 month criminal behaviour Order.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for ten years and handed a number of restraining orders.

As well as being sentenced to 46 weeks behind bars, Mustapha was ordered to pay 200 compensation to the man he assaulted.
Authorities in the UK will advise Ghanaian police on the damage of so-called 'romance scams' in a bid to tackle the 90mn problem of children abroad being groomed into catfishing and defrauding people in Britain.

Nik Adams, leading the UK police's response to fraud, told The Telegraph that a joint effort would deliver preventative measures to combat 'schools' set up to teach children how to find and target wealthy single women online.

He said: 'It is about trying to build the moral courage for people to choose not to engage in that type of criminal behaviour. There are multiple approaches [to tackling fraud] - hard-edge law enforcement and some really powerful prevention work.'

The scheme is part of a bid for law enforcement agencies in the UK to share intelligence and training with their equivalents in Ghana to clamp down on scams.

Scammers often target older and more vulnerable internet users in 'romance scams'

Through the scheme, officers in Britain have shared information with authorities in Ghana to build a better picture of the experiences of victims, which they hope can be used to deter would-be scammers from causing harm.

Adams told The Telegraph he had seen Ghanaian police deliver Prevent-style training, aimed at teaching young people about the consequences of scamming victims.

Meanwhile, in the Volta Region of southeast Ghana, 35,000 high school students have been taught how to avoid a range of common scams.

The partnership is hoped to shape future collaboration with authorities across Africa and Asia.

Prevent training has been rolled out in the UK as a legal requirement for specified authorities where there are risks of radicalisation.

The training aims at stopping terrorist attacks happening and strengthening the UK's protective against extremism through intervention.

It was part of the CONTEST counter-terrorism strategy introduced in 2003 under the Blair administration and since revised several times.

In 2020, the City of London Police's National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) launched a campaign to tackle romance fraud through awareness raising and greater enforcement activity, after incidence shot up 26% year-on-year.

The campaign led to the identification of 38 victims of romance fraud, leading to arrests.

The Irish Garda National Economic Crime Bureau - working with the City of London Police - raised similar concerns and also made arrests.

The start of cooperation with Ghanaian authorities led to 115,000 being repatriated with victims of such scams in the UK.

The United States' embassy in Ghana has also issued warnings about romance scams from Ghana, urging citizens to 'be alert' to attempts at fraud by people seeking friendship or romantic interest online.

The embassy said that a 'quick transition to discussion of intimate matters' could be a warning sign of 'fraudulent intent'.

They note scammers may even build a relationship over several months before asking for money - but 'eventually they will ask for it'.

Many Americans, they wrote, have reported losing thousands through scams and are generally unlikely to be able to recoup their losses.
Man stabbed in the face during home invasion

Police are hunting four men after a terrifying home invasion saw a man viciously stabbed in the face and two women assaulted.

The men, who were armed with a gun and wore balaclavas, arrived at a property on Fraser Street in Melton South, in Melbourne's west, during the early hours of April 24.

In CCTV footage, the men are seen kicking the front door open before entering the home, allegedly firing gunshots and demanding drugs, cash, and a safe.

The armed men, who also wore balaclavas, arrived at a property on Fraser Street in Melton South, in Melbourne's west, during the early hours of April 24 (pictured is CCTV footage)

Victoria Police said the residents, a 31-year-old man and two women aged 44 and 67, were assaulted by the group after refusing their demands.

The man received a significant knife wound to his face and was later rushed to hospital, while the women only suffered minor injuries.

The men stole jewellery from a safe inside the home before fleeing in a white Volkswagen Polo, also stolen from the address.

CCTV footage appears to show the men reversing the car out of the driveway.

The vehicle was later found burnt out on the North Shore, about 40 minutes away.

In new CCTV footage, the men are seen kicking the front door open before entering the home and allegedly firing gunshots and demanding drugs, cash and a safe (pictured)

Detectives have identified another vehicle used by the group, a Mazda CX-5, by using a sticker on the back windscreen.

Police have released CCTV and images of the Mazda in the hopes the car will be identified by someone who knows its current whereabouts.

Anyone with information on the incident has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

Police believe the incident was targeted.
Dave Chappelle has slammed San Francisco's rampant homeless crisis during a surprise gig in the Golden Gate City last week.

'What the f*** happened to this place?' the comedian said as he told the audience at the Masonic Auditorium how he saw a homeless person defecating outside an Indian restaurant he was about to eat at.

Chappelle, 49, said the city had turned into a 'half 'Glee,' half zombie movie,' according to SFGATE's review of the show, adding the whole city had turned into the Tenderloin.

'Y'all [expletive] need a Batman!' Chappelle declared. The Tenderloin district of San Francisco is notorious for its crime, homelessness and drug problems.

Shocking images show addicts openly smoke drugs on the sidewalks in the area, where overdose deaths have rocketed upwards in recent months.

Comedian Dave Chappelle, 49, slammed San Francisco's rampant homeless crisis during a surprise gig at the Masonic Auditorium in the Golden Gate City last week

Addicts openly smoke drugs on the sidewalk of the Tenderloin area of San Francisco, where overdose deaths have rocketed upwards in recent months

Chappelle performed the last-minute show in the city - which he referred to as his second home - without any special guests.

Last time he was in San Francisco, he brought Twitter scion Elon Musk onstage to a chorus of boos.

Chappelle drew a backlash in 2021 for material in his Netflix comedy special 'The Closer' that some in the LGBTQ+ community said ridiculed transgender people. His supporters viewed it as a cry against cancel culture.

But in Thursday's performance, he steered clear of any segments about transgender people and instead focused on the city's homelessness and crime problem.

It is estimated that 38,000 people in San Francisco are homeless any given night, which represents a 35 percent increase since 2019, SFGATE reported.

San Francisco's decline has been spotlighted once again by a sharp uptick in overdose deaths among the city's homeless population.

The city saw a staggering 41 percent surge in the number of drug-related deaths in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same time last year, as fentanyl ravaged the city's homeless population.

San Francisco saw a staggering 41 percent surge in the number of drug-related deaths in the first quarter of 2023

It is estimated that 38,000 people in San Francisco are homeless any given night, which represents a 35 percent increase since 2019, SFGATE reported

Shocking images show addicts openly smoke drugs on the sidewalks in the area, where overdose deaths have rocketed upwards in recent months

The Californian coastal hub saw 200 people die due to overdoses between January and March, compared to 142 deaths in 2022, according to recent data from the city's medical examiner.

That amounts to one overdose death every 10 hours in a city that has seen its reputation as a coastal gem ravaged by worsening crime, drugs, and, homelessness rates, even as it remains home to tech billionaires.

The overdose victims were disproportionately black and Latino men, and frequently based in the Tenderloin area, a gritty downtown neighborhood, where a drug treatment center was shuttered in December.

Scenes of rampant open-air drug use and squalid homeless encampments also remain tragically common in the Golden Gate City.

Those living on the streets were particularly hard hit  with the number of homeless people dying from drug overdoses doubling.

Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that's frequently trafficked from Mexico and can kill in even tiny quantities, was detected in 159 of the 200 deaths.

The drug is 50-100 times stronger than morphine.

It is cheap, packs down small, is relatively easy to smuggle into the US, and is mixed into pills that then claim the lives of users, who are often unaware they are taking something so powerful.

Methamphetamine and cocaine were also present, although to a lesser extent.

The sharp increase in deaths started in December and continued into a record-breaking January.

This followed the shuttering of the Tenderloin Center, where addicts were allowed to use drugs and where the overdose reversal treatment, Narcan, was available for those who had taken too much.

Open use drug addicts in the Tenderloin District.Fentanyl is the leading driver of drug overdose deaths in the United States, as well as San Francisco

Chappelle speaks at De La Soul's The DA.I.S.Y. Experience at Webster Hall March 2023 in NYC

About a half an hour into the show last week, patrons started yelling questions at Chappelle.

Some wanted to know what he thought of the homeless person who got sprayed with a hose in San Francisco earlier this year. Others yelled for him to repeat lines from his old Comedy Central show.

SFGATE reported that instead of yelling back, he engaged with the audience and even asked for details about the incident with the homeless person.

Chappelle generated anger last year after the October release of The Closer, which included remarks about the transgender community and prompted swift backlash from offended onlookers and even staffers at Netflix, which in recent years aired a slew of the comic's specials.

The backlash included a staged walkout from employees at Netflix's LA HQ, after the streaming giant's CEO Ted Sarandos defended Chappelle's jokes as artistic expression and nothing more than an example of the comedian's 'creative freedom.'

The special even spurred a response from transgender star Caitlyn Jenner, who also defended the comedian for his comments.

In the special, Chappelle joked that women view trans women the same way black people might view white women wearing blackface.

He also joked women are entitled to feel anger toward trans women, since Jenner won Glamour magazine's 2015 Woman of the Year award.

'I'd be mad as sh*t if I was a woman,' Chappelle sarcastically says in one bit that had been deemed problematic.

When Chappelle appeared on SNL in November, he declined to discuss is controversial jokes, but instead spent the first part of his monologue on Kanye West's recent anti-Semitic remarks

The comedian's show in Minneapolis last summer was forced to change venues because of the backlash and instead held at the Varsity Theater

This increasingly politically correct climate has since become a pronounced topic in Chappelle's material - though, notably, his sets, while still rife with his trademark tongue-in-cheek observations, have become markedly more toned down since The Closer.

When he appeared on SNL in November, he declined to discuss anything related to his jokes which drew controversy - but seemed to allude to them somewhat heavy-handedly with his material, which largely focused on topics that underpin enduring stereotypes - anti-Semitic and otherwise.

The appearance was Chappelle's third-ever on the show, following a 2016 appearance and return to the show in 2020, during an episode that saw him lambaste a then ousted President Trump following that year's presidential election.

Ahead of that performance, SNL staff members, seemingly still irate over the comic's past material, threatened to boycott the episode - but ultimately did not make good on those threats.

One took to Instagram to argue 'transphobia is murder and it should be condemned' after Chappelle's slot was announced, while others were rumored to be furious the showrunners chose the controversial comedian.
The Australian Taxation Office has vowed to crack down on dodgy tax returns after revealing 90 per cent of rental property owners were making false declarations.

With the 2022-2023 tax year ending in just over six weeks, the ATO has warned it will be focusing on rental property deductions, work-related expenses and capital gains tax.

The ATO claimed that 'nine in 10 rental property owners are getting their return wrong', prompting the tax office to get tough on landlords this time around.

An astonishing 90 per cent of rental property tax declarations are wrong, the Australian Taxation Office has revealed. Tenants are pictured in a rental property

Assistant commissioner Tim Loh labelled it 'a really unacceptable rate.'

'The ATO is increasing its scrutiny to ensure rental property owners and their tax agents understand their obligations,' he said.

The ATO said a lot of landlords were making the same mistakes over and over again.

Rental income being left out, or mistakes being made with property related deductions were among the common errors being made.

'We encourage rental property owners and their registered tax agents to take extra care this tax time and review their records before lodging their return,' Mr Loh said.

The ATO has urged landlords correctly apportion loan interest expenses where part of the loan was used for private purposes.

'You can only claim interest on a loan used to purchase a rental property to earn rental income  don't forget, if your loan also includes a private expense, such as for a new car or a trip to Bali, you can only claim an interest deduction for the portion relating to producing your rental income,' Mr Loh said.

Residential properties with rooms let out through platforms such as Airbnb could be liable for capital gains tax, the ATO said, warning owners to declare them.

The tax office uses data-matching technology to spot gains on property, shares, cryptocurrencies and other assets.

'Generally, your main residence is exempt from CGT (Capital Gains Tax), however if you have used your home to produce income, such as renting out all or part of it through the sharing economy, for example Airbnb or Stayz, or running a business from home, then CGT may apply,' Mr Loh said.

'Don't fall into the trap of thinking we won't notice if you sell an asset for a gain and don't declare it  you can't hide anymore.'

Last week's federal budget papers showed that Treasury will crack down on compliance and aims to get back $9.1billion in unpaid tax over the next five years.

The end of the Low and Middle Income Tax Offset may lead to some people getting an unexpected tax debt, rather than the refund they got in recent years.

Workers earning less than $126,000 a year will be affected by the end of the offset with up to $1,500 less in their pockets.

With the 2022-2023 tax year ending in just over six weeks, the ATO has warned it will be cracking down on rental property investors. A property for rent sign is pictured

Australians who work from home have been required to keep a diary of every hour on the job since March 1 - with accountants predicting new rules will leave them $629 a year worse off (stock image)

People earning $100,000 will be $1,200 worse off while those earning $90,000 will be earning 2.1 per cent less.

Residents on a $50,000 salary will be 3.4 per cent worse off which equates to about $29 a week less in their after-tax income.

The low and middle income tax offset was introduced for the 2018-2019 financial year, with the offset originally set at $530.

The value was then increased to $1,080 before the 2019 election before it was raised to $1,500 in March, 2022.

As workers face more tax scrutiny than ever before, another area being cracked down on is working from home expenses.

Since March 1, as Australia emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic, every worker has been required to keep a diary of all the hours they spend working from home.

The ATO will no longer accept estimates of how many hours someone worked from home or even a four-week summary at the end of each month.

The ATO has advised workers not 'to just copy and paste' last year's working from home claims.

Accountants H&R Block predicted the new rules will leave workers $629 a year worse off.
Police have charged a man with the alleged stabbing murder of a 69-year-old man after his lifeless body was discovered in a home when he failed to attend dinner.

Christopher Gwin, 69, was found dead inside his home on Kilcoy Lane in Conondale, about 100km north of Brisbane, just before 4.00 pm on Saturday.

A concerned friend entered the property after Mr Gwin had not been seen in the tight-knit Crystal Creek community for a few days and failed to meet with friends for a weekly dinner.

Police allege a 68-year-old man from Maroochydore, known to Mr Gwin, went to his home between 10am and 1pm on Thursday and allegedly stabbed him in an unprovoked attack.

Christopher Gwin, 69, (pictured) was found dead inside his home on Kilcoy Lane in Conondale, about 100km north of Brisbane. Police allege Mr Gwin was stabbed in an unprovoked attack by someone he knew

Police allege Mr Gwin was stabbed by the man and died soon after.

Sunshine Coast Criminal Investigation Branch detectives arrested the 68-year-old man at 11.00am on Sunday.

By midnight, the man was charged with one count of murder and one count of interfering with a corpse.

Police have declared multiple crime scenes across the Sunshine Coast including two vehicles and three properties.

Locals described Mr Gwin (pictured) as a 'kind, gentle and peaceful' man

Mr Gwin was a former teacher's aide who had lived in in Crystal Waters for more than 20 years.

Sunshine Coast Detective Inspector Christopher Toohey said Mr Gwin was a 'well-liked' member of the community.

'Christopher is a well-liked member of the Crystal Waters community, who are shocked and saddened over his death,' Mr Toohey said.

'His family have been notified and are distraught with the circumstances of his death.

He has been a victim of a violent offence ... at this time we're trying to piece together all parts of Chris's life, we're speaking to all friends and relatives to assist us.'

Tributes flowed for Mr Gwin, with locals describing him as a 'kind, gentle and peaceful' man.

Long-time resident Debra 'Froggie' Fogarty said news of Mr Gwin's death came as a shock and is devastating for the community.

'Ive been here for over 20 years and Chris was here before me so Ive known him quite a while,' Ms Fogarty told The Courier Mail.

A 68-year-old man from Maroochydore has been charged with the alleged murder of Mr Gwin. Police have declared multiple crime scenes across the Sunshine Coast including two vehicles and three properties (pictured, Mr Gwin's Conondale property)

'It's quite a shock for all of us,' Ms Fogarty said.

'He's just quite a gentle, harmless guy and for something to be so big here is quite scary in our community.'

Anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage recorded over the past week near the Conondale property are urged to come forward.

The 68-year-old was denied bail and will face the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday.
A truck driver was told to drink more water by her GP after suffering unexplained bloating before giving birth to a baby she didn't know she was pregnant with.

Ashlee Wilson, 34, from Banksia Grove, in Perth's north-east, was home alone last week when she rang triple zero complaining of severe stomach pains.

Little did she know, she was pregnant with her daughter Marley-Rae, who was born just six minutes after paramedics arrived.

'I said to (the paramedic), ''No I'm not (pregnant)'', and she said, ''Yes you are'',' Ms Wilson told Sunrise.

Ms Wilson could be heard wailing in agony in audio of the phone call she made to emergency services.

'The pain is coming right now, ugh!' she was heard crying out.

'Oh my God! I'm just sitting on the toilet because it feels like something's trying to come out but there's nothing there and it hurts!'

There was no time to rush to the hospital once paramedics arrived and Ms Wilson ended up giving birth to little Marley-Rae in her living room.

'I was in complete denial, I did not want to believe (the paramedic) at all,' she said.

'I was scared about what was happening to my body at the time and I was just in big denial.'

The 34-year-old had gone to her doctor complaining of a bloating issue but was bizarrely told just to drink more water and eat peanuts.

'Visually it was really hard to see, a lot of my family have been going through photos and saying ''even there you don't look pregnant'',' she said.

Ms Wilson admitted that because she had no idea she was pregnant, she was 'kind of in party mode'.

Ashlee Wilson, 34, from Banksia Grove, in Perth's north-east, was home alone last week when she rang triple zero complaining of severe stomach pains

'Of course there were things I was doing that I shouldn't have been doing that now I look back and think, ''Oh my God I'm so sorry if anything happens to you because of that'',' she added.

Both Ms Wilson and Marley-Rae are doing well one week on, with the mother saying the birth of her little girl is one of the best things that has ever happened to her.

'Here I was thinking I wanted to be an interstate truck driver a week-and-a-half-ago, now I want to give her the world and take it over with her,' she said.

St John Ambulance paramedic Melissa Gardiner said she felt lucky she was called out to the house.

'I feel like I was literally made for meeting Ashlee and Marley-Rae helping her into the world,' she said.

'Everything that I've done in my career has pretty much I think led me to Saturday morning.'
Labour said it would repeal a law that makes it harder for trade unions to strike

Sir Keir Starmer would drag Britain back to the 1970s if he became prime minister by giving trade unions far more power, his critics fear.

A future Labour government would repeal a law that makes it harder for unions to stage strikes.

It would also repeal the legislation that requires teachers, rail workers and the NHS to provide a minimum level of service during industrial action.

Leaked policy documents obtained by the LabourList website show that Sir Keir wants to simplify the process of union recognition and ensure reasonable access within workplaces in order to boost membership.

He also wants to create new rights and protections for shop stewards and ensure they have enough time to represent and defend workers, negotiate with employers and train.

Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) would drag Britain back to the 1970s if he became prime minister by giving trade unions far more power, his critics fear

A future Labour government would repeal a law that makes it harder for unions to stage strikes. Pictured: RMT general secretary Mick Lynch

But business leaders and Conservative MPs have warned that the radical manifesto will damage the economy.

Business minister Kevin Hollinrake told The Sun on Sunday: If ever we needed further proof the Labour Party is anti-business and can never be trusted with the economy, this is it.

And Conservative MP Brendan Clarke-Smith warned: Labour would drag Britain back to the 70s with their anti-business policies.
A Labour MP has called for a four-day working week to be introduced across the public sector.

Nadia Whittome argued that she would rather be operated on by a 'well-rested' doctor who had enjoyed a three-day weekend.

She claimed the radical move would improve staff retention as well as reduce sick days and mistakes  but would mean employing more staff.

Her demand is not official Labour policy, after Sir Keir Starmer dropped a Corbyn-era call for the average working week to be cut to 32 hours with no loss of pay.

But major trade unions including the PCS which represents civil servants are calling for a four-day week.

Nadia Whittome (pictured) argued that she would rather be operated on by a 'well-rested' doctor who had enjoyed a three-day weekend

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner has called for a 'right to switch off' that would ban bosses from contacting staff out of working hours.

The party's election manifesto will also include making flexible working the default, which for desk-based staff would give them the right to work from home.

And it comes as the first town hall to try the four-day week prepares to press on with the experiment for another year despite concerns about the service received by taxpayers.

Lib Dem-run South Cambridgeshire District Council's cabinet will meet today to approve the continuation of the trial for all desk-based staff as well as extending it to cover caretakers and binmen.

In an article for a website called LeftLion based in her Nottingham East constituency, backbench Labour MP Ms Whittome pointed out that this May has brought three bank holidays  and so four-day weeks for many workers.

She wrote: 'Imagine what you would do if you had an extra day off every week of the year, without losing any pay.'

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner (pictured) has called for a 'right to switch off' that would ban bosses from contacting staff out of working hours

The possibilities were endless, she said, from spending more time with friends and family to enjoying more art and culture or 'catch up on sleep'. She cited a recent six-month trial by 61 companies that found revenue increased along with staff wellbeing when they tried out the four-day week.

Ms Whittome admitted the change could not happen overnight and that in some workplaces it would require a 'creative approach' involving automating tasks.

'In others, including many public services, it would be necessary to create more jobs,' she acknowledged.

'In turn, it could improve staff retention, reduce the number of sick days, and lower the risk of dangerous mistakes. I know I'd rather be operated on by a well-rested doctor than an exhausted one.'

She added: 'Despite any challenges it may pose, the case for a four-day week is too strong to be dismissed.

'After all, there's so much more to life than work, and we'd all be better off in a society that recognises this.'

But last night Elliot Keck, investigations campaign manager at the TaxPayers' Alliance, warned: 'Taxpayers are rightly sceptical about the four-day working week.

'While the private sector is entitled to experiment, Brits worry this will be used to justify a part-time government. The public sector's focus should be on delivering high quality services at value for the taxpayer.'
Elon Musk has been spotted mingling with festivalgoers at a trance music event in downtown Los Angeles.

The billionaire was seen watching Mladen Solomun, a Bosnian-German DJ, along with a 10,000-strong crowd.

The DJ played a five-hour set from 7pm until midnight on Saturday evening, as fans danced to his music late into the night.

Musk is known to be a fan of EDM, having written and released a track himself in January 2020 entitled 'Don't Doubt Your Vibe'.

It came days after he announced NBCUniversal Linda Yaccarino would take over as CEO of Twitter.

Twitter CEO Elon Musk is seen attending the historic Exposition Park in downtown Los Angeles for a trance music event on Saturday night

Musk seemed to be enjoying himself as he let the trance music wash over him at the event

Last week the Twitter boss revealed how he's hired her to take over from him as the social media network's chief executive officer.

Musk, who bought Twitter in October 2022, tweeted: 'Excited to announce that I've a new CEO for X/Twitter. She will be starting in ~6 weeks!

'My role will transition to being exec chair & CTO (chief technology officer), overseeing product, software & sysops.'

The newly appointed CEO Linda Yaccarino said in a tweet on Saturday that she has been inspired by owner Elon Musk's vision to create a brighter future and is excited to help to transform the social media platform.

It was the first time Yaccarino has spoken publicly since the news broke Thursday that she was in talks to become the next CEO of Twitter.

Musk, who has served as CEO since his $44 billion buyout of Twitter last October, announced her appointment on Friday.

'I've long been inspired by [Musk's] vision to create a brighter future. I'm excited to help bring this vision to Twitter and transform this business together!' Yaccarino tweeted.

Musk is known to be a fan of EDM, having written and released a track himself in January 2020

Mladen Solomun, a Bosnian-German DJ, played for the crowd that was 10,000-people strong.

The DJ played a five-hour set from 7pm until midnight on Saturday evening

Videos showed the crowd, including Musk, enjoying the music and dancing late into the night

Bright lights and music kept the crowd entertained at Los Angeles' Exposition Park during Solumun 2023

Yaccarino, who as advertising chief for Comcast Corp's NBCUniversal spent several years modernizing its ad business, said she is committed to Twitter's future, and said user feedback is vital to build Twitter 2.0.

Yaccarino will take over a social media platform that has been trying to reverse a plunge in ad revenue and is beset with challenges, along with a heavy debt load.

Since Musk acquired Twitter, advertisers have fled the platform, worried that their ads could appear next to inappropriate content after the company lost nearly 80% of staff. Musk earlier this year acknowledged that Twitter had suffered a massive decline in ad revenue.

While Musk said Yaccarino would help build an 'everything app,' which he has previously said could offer a variety of services such as peer-to-peer payments, his selection of an advertising veteran signaled that digital ads would continue to be a core focus of the business.

Musk has long said he intended to find a new leader for Twitter.

Musk, who is also the CEO of Space X and electric-vehicle maker Tesla, on Friday said that bringing Yaccarino on as Twitter's new chief will help him devote more time to Tesla.

Immediately following the announcement, Tesla's shares jumped more than 2 percent, in a sign that investors were pleased about the move.

The newly appointed CEO Linda Yaccarino said in a tweet on Saturday that she has been inspired by owner Elon Musk's vision to create a brighter future and is excited to help to transform the social media platform

Tesla shares jumped following Musk's announcement on Twitter on Thursday

Musk immediately made his mark after taking over as CEO of Twitter on October 28, 2022

When Musk took over Twitter on October 28, he immediately made his mark - but his tenure has not been without controversy.

Changes such as the Twitter Blue subscription and bringing back previously banned users to the platform have been met with widespread backlash.

He has also laid off thousands of the company's workforce in an effort to significantly cut costs.

He attempted to develop the site's subscription feature as a means of supplementing its advertising revenue.

However Twitter appeared to partially backtrack on its new model by reinstating some legacy accounts including LeBron James and William Shatner.

Under the new system, users would have to pay an $8 monthly fee in order to have their account verified - and receive the site's signature blue tick.

Previously, the site would award a verified account to notable figures such as politicians, celebrities and journalists.

Musk's announcement came months after he pledged in December to step down as the head of Twitter as soon as he found someone 'foolish enough to take the job.'
Los Angeles officials are trying to stop the spread of the flesh-eating drug xylazine that has taken over the city.

The 'zombie drug', a veterinary tranquilizer approved in the US for cows and horses, is now flooding the illicit US drug market, with dealers often cutting it with cocaine and heroin.

But it is most often used to cut fentanyl, the lethally potent synthetic opioid that already kills tens of thousands of Americans every year.

The drug has spread to Los Angeles of late, with news crews capturing people hunched over and on the ground, strung out on the drug.

The problem, Los Angeles County Sheriff's officials say, is that the drug is technically a legal substance.

The county is now desperately trying to track xylazine's presence throughout the city, according to KTLA.

Los Angeles officials are trying to stop the spread of the flesh-eating drug xylazine - also known as 'the zombie drug' - that has taken over the city, with the sick truth that the drug is technically legal there

The DEA and the county's health department have both issued urgent warnings against the use of the drug.

'When combined with opioids like fentanyl, as is frequently the case, xylazine enhances the life-threatening effect of respiratory depression (slowing or stopping breathing) caused by opioids, increasing the risk of overdose and death,' county officials said.

Tracking the drug, officials say, will allow them to get a sense of just how bad the problem is and the best practices to cut it out.

Nurses have described the wounds caused by xylazine as appearing as though something is 'eating away your flesh from the inside out'.

Various liberal politicians and city leaders have attempted to implement numerous policies to curb the many issues that have arisen due to the swelling homeless and drug-addicted population.

One specific harm reduction policy that failed was the opening of the Tenderloin Center in San Francisco last year - a facility that was meant to help alleviate the city's drug and homelessness crisis.

It cost taxpayers a whopping $22million and was meant to be a 'safe place' for addicts to 'get high without getting robbed' and without fear of fatally overdosing.

Users were also meant to be directed to help centers, though during its first four months of operations, it referred just 18 people of the more than 23,000 who were welcomed to the site.

Xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer approved in the US for cows and horses, is now flooding the illicit US drug market, with drug dealers cutting everything from cocaine to heroin with the powerful sedative

The drug has spread to Los Angeles of late, with news crews capturing people hunched over and on the ground, strung out on the drug. The problem, Los Angeles County Sheriff's office officials say, is that the drug is technically a legal substance

Hamstrung by the city's laws, the county is attempting to do something to alleviate the problem by trying to track xylazine's presence throughout the city

The DEA and the county's health department have both issued urgent warnings against the use of the drug

There are mounting concerns that xylazine will spread across the US. A study published in December and involving 60,000 US adult drug tests showed xylazine was detected in samples from states across the country. Experts say there is concern that it is spreading in the Midwest

Overall, less than 1 percent of visits to the Tenderloin Center ended in a 'completed linkage' to behavioral health programs.

Despite their efforts, 2022 saw upward of 500 people die from overdoses in San Francisco. In 2021, that figure was 641.

Officials had also hoped the site would offer a place to deal with the homeless crisis the city has faced in recent months and years.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed had originally allocated just $10million for the project but it quickly ballooned to more than double that estimate.

In total, some 400 individuals were provided with assistance each day at the center, according to the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

A large portion of those who took advantage of the site used it specifically for shelter or food.

The homelessness crisis in San Francisco is bolstered by the ongoing fentanyl crisis. The synthetic drug is taken by a significant portion of the city's homeless population and had worked its way into the public drug stream, imperiling teenagers and others across the city.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid many times more powerful than heroin, is often mixed with cocaine and other stimulants and consumed unknowingly by recreational drug users.

After the number of US deaths related to overdoses linked to synthetic opioids climbed to 70,000 last year, public health officials continue to sound the alarm over the extremely potent nature of the drug.

Homeless people are seen in Tenderloin district of San Francisco

Summer 2022 in San Francisco. Homelessness has increased markedly in SF over the last few years

A massive skin lesion caused by xylazine. Users often exacerbate the problem by injecting the painkiller into their festering wounds. This image was published in a journal in 2021 and shows the lesion stretching from the hand up the forearm

Overdose deaths have skyrocketed over the last three years, rising by 50 percent from 52,000 in 2016 to 106,000 in 2021.

The White House attributed the majority to fentanyl poisoning or overdose, and say the drug comes almost entirely from China via Mexico, with a handful of cartels responsible for bringing them across the border.

Six out of 10 fake prescription pills tested by the DEA in 2022 contained fentanyl, and the 'vast majority' came from the Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels.

For years, the synthetic drug had been used as a cheaper, more readily available substitute for heroin. Now though, it is being chopped up with cocaine, MDMA and packed into pills too.

The problems are deeper than simply drugs, of course, as California is by far the worst hit by the nation's homelessness crisis.

It has about a third of all the country's homeless people, and Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland and other Golden State cities have among the largest numbers of unsheltered people in the country.

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development says 582,462 people did not have a permanent home on a single night in January last year when researchers carried out their most recent snapshot survey.

Some 60 percent of the destitute were in shelters, crashing with friends or relatives, or had other temporary digs. The rest were 'unsheltered'  sleeping in cars, on the streets or in derelict buildings.

About a third of the entire US homeless population  171,521 people  are in California. That includes more than half of the country's unsheltered homeless population, 115,491 people.

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

Sights like this, a homeless person's belongings scattered on the street next to a bank in Los Angeles, California, have become a common sight at ATMs across the country

A view of a homeless encampment on a street in West Oakland, California, last month, as local officials made moves to clear out the structures

To capture the scale of the problem, DailyMail.com analyzed the department's data, which was released at the end of last year, to show which US states and cities have the worst homelessness rates.

They show that about a third of the entire US homeless population  171,521 people  are in California. That includes more than half of the country's unsheltered homeless population, 115,491 people.

California also added 9,973 homeless people between 2020 and last year's survey.

The Golden State has the country's highest rate of homelessness, with 44 non-housed people out of every 10,000 residents. It is followed closely by Vermont, Oregon, and Hawaii.

Los Angeles is the state's hotspot, with 65,111 homeless people.

But five other metropolitan hubs  San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco  also feature in the top 10 of America's worst-hit cities, each with their roughly 10,000 homeless.

Some 70 percent of Californians say homelessness and the cost of housing are a 'big problem' for the state, according to a survey last month by the Public Policy Institute of California, a think tank.

A similar share of residents say the problem had got worse this past year. Another 60 percent were 'very concerned' that their children would be priced out of buying their own home in the Golden State.

LA Mayor Karen Bass said this week she's set to move some 4,000 people off the streets in her first 100 days, making a small dent in a homeless crisis that billions in spending has failed to quell.

Bass says she's teamed up with government agencies and service providers to cut through the bureaucracy that's eluded progress in the past.

The 'game changer is the coordination across city and county departments,' she said.

Homeless tents are seen along a sidewalk near the City Hall of San Francisco in California

Lux Leigh feeds her cat in front of the RV where she lives along a two block makeshift encampment in Seattle, Washington

Trash and personal belongings strewn across a street beside a shabby homeless encampment in West Oakland, California

Two men share cigarettes and water with a homeless person who struggles to stay cool during the humid Oregon summer

Los Angeles city council member Joe Buscaino has complained that kids in his city have to 'step over needles' and 'human waste' on their way to school due because of those crashing out in residential areas.

'No child in America should be afraid to walk to school, and what we have found in Los Angeles is kids are afraid to walk to school,' the Democrat said in a television interview late last year.

'They tell their parents they have to step over needles, human waste, and deal with individuals unfortunately suffering from psychotic behavior  right next to their playground area.'

In Culver City, California, the homeless crisis has got so bad that officials this month voted to clear out and ban homeless encampment tents, as several of them had spilled across sidewalks in the area.

When that ordinance goes into effect, police can tell homeless residents they can't camp out on the streets if other housing options are available, in a move designed to get people off the streets.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has acknowledged that the state was 'failing to meet the urgency' of the crisis, and last November vowed to reduce homelessness by 2 percent statewide by 2024.

He was set to meet residents this week in Sacramento, which has some 9,278 homeless people.

The crisis is a blight along the West Coast. Oregon has one of the highest homelessness rates in the country and 17,959 people without a permanent place to call home.

Residents of Portland are selling their homes due to the homeless epidemic that is ravaging the city.

Some homeowners say they are 'scared' to leave the house due to untreated mental among the homeless people kipping nearby.

The crisis has revived a debate between liberals and conservatives about how to solve the homelessness problem.

Democrat officials often blame rising rents, greedy landlords and evictions for forcing people onto the street. Their solution is to share the nation's wealth more evenly and build more homes that people can afford.

Culver City officials want to bar tents and other structures in the streets. Pictured: homeless man Roscoe Billy Ray Bradley Jr

Culver City's ordinance, which has no enforcement date, would let homeless people stay on the streets with only sleeping bags and blankets

Tents line the streets as the crisis grows, worsened by a drug crisis that was caused partly by Oregon becoming the first state in the country to decriminalize many hard drugs
A ship that capsized and killed three crew members has been found at the bottom of the ocean 50 years after the tragic incident.

The MV Blythe Star was making a routine trip from Hobart to King Island when it suddenly capsized and sank off the Tasmanian coast.

Three crew members died in the days after the October 13, 1973, incident as the seven survivors waited nearly two weeks to be rescued from an inflatable raft.

A ship that capsized and killed three crew members has been found at the bottom of the ocean 50 years after the tragic incident

No trace of the vessel was found for decades, despite a significant maritime search.

Researchers from the CSIRO and the University of Tasmania uncovered the MV Blythe Star shipwreck about 10.5 kilometres west of Tasmania's South West Cape.

The group were studying a submarine landslide when they made the discovery last month, using mapping data and video imagery to confirm it was the MV Blythe Star.

Algae and seaweed was found wrapped around the vessel, with some damage to the ship and the wheelhouse missing.

The CSIRO said it was pleased to confirm the vessel's final resting place, bringing closure to the 50-year mystery.

The tragedy led to important maritime laws in Australia, which has significantly improved safety at sea.

The MV Blythe Star was a small freighter vessel that operated around Tasmania, the surrounding islands and along the Bass Strait.

It had been carrying fertiliser and kegs of beer and was headed towards King Island on the day of its ill-fated voyage.

Water began to flood the boat to the surprise of crew before the vessel sank to the bottom of the ocean.

Ten crew members on board managed to escape on an inflatable life raft but three of them died before they were found 12 days later.

George Cruickshank, Kenneth Jones, John Eagles, John Sloan, Stan Leary, Malcolm McCarroll, Cliff Langford, Lenton Power, Alfred Simpson and Michael Doleman were the men onboard.

The MV Blythe Star was making a routine trip from Hobart to King Island when it suddenly capsized and sank off the Tasmanian coast

Mr Doleman was the youngest crew member on board at the time and was only 18.

He is the last surviving member of the wreckage and recalled the moment he heard the ship had been found.

'When I heard they found it, I was just blow away,' he said.

'Overall it was pretty intact, especially the propeller and the rudder. It is in pretty good nick actually, considering its journey.'

Mr Cruickshank was the captain of the vessel and said shortly after the incident the sinking of the ship was totally unexpected.

'All seemed well, with nothing out of the ordinary. It was fine weather - beautiful weather. Suddenly there was a lurch,' he said.

'I thought, "That's funny". Next thing I knew she was lying over on her starboard side".'

It is understood the vessel had been overloaded with cargo, which prompted it to sink in the water.

The sinking of the ship prompted the largest maritime search operation ever conducted in Australia at the time.
The Labour party leader also wants to reduce Britain's voting age from 18 to 16

Keir Starmer is planning to allow Europeans in UK to choose MPs for first time

Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of a cynical plot to 'rig' elections by giving millions of EU citizens and teenagers the right to vote.

Labour's leader is planning the biggest increase of the franchise in a century by allowing Europeans who have settled in Britain to choose MPs for the first time.

He also wants to reduce the voting age from 18 to 16, and senior opposition figures and potential coalition partners are calling on him to scrap the first-past-the-post electoral system.

Labour MPs defended the plans by saying the opposition wants to 'strengthen our democracy'.

But ministers pointed out that expats do not have the right to vote in EU countries' polls and said the changes would damage the status of British citizenship.

Sir Keir Starmer (pictured at Progressive Britain Conference on Saturday) was tonight accused of a cynical plot to 'rig' elections by giving millions of EU citizens and teenagers the right to vote

Labour MPs defended the plans by saying the opposition wants to 'strengthen our democracy'. Pictured: Sir Keir chairs a meeting with deputy Labour Party leader Angela Rayner, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves and shadow levelling up, housing and communities secretary, Lisa Nandy

They accused Sir Keir of wanting to 'drag Britain back into the EU by stealth' as well as guaranteeing Labour a majority at general elections.

Some MPs fear that a Labour government propped up by the Liberal Democrats or the Scottish National Party would also bring in proportional representation (PR) and hold another independence referendum in Scotland.

Polling experts pointed out that younger people and migrants are much more likely to vote Labour than Conservative, and so the moves could lose Tories including Boris Johnson their remaining seats in London.

Conservative Party chairman Greg Hands said: 'Labour's plan to give foreign nationals the vote at parliamentary elections is laying the groundwork to drag the UK back into the EU by stealth.

'Sir Keir spent years trying to block Brexit and overturn the largest democratic vote in this country's history. This is an attempt to rig the electorate to rejoin the EU.'

He added: 'The right to vote in parliamentary elections and choose the next UK Government is rightly restricted to British citizens and those with the closest historical links to our country. No other EU country allows EU citizens who are not their nationals to vote in parliamentary elections.'

Tory MP Henry Smith, who sits on the foreign affairs committee, told the Daily Mail: 'Clearly this is an attempt by Labour if they get into power to rig future elections by extending the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds, as all the evidence shows that until they start paying taxes that age group tends to vote Labour.

Conservative Party chairman Greg Hands (pictured) accused Sir Keir of wanting to 'drag Britain back into the EU by stealth'

Labour would also give the vote to about 3.4million EU nationals who have lived permanently in the UK and paid tax here for a number of years, according to the Sunday Telegraph. Pictured: Sir Keir at an anti-Brexit protest in 2019

'What is more concerning is extending the franchise to EU citizens. If it was a Labour government propped up by the Liberal Democrats or SNP we would have pressure to introduce PR and probably a second referendum on Scottish independence. It's a cynical attempt by the Labour Party to secure electoral advantage rather than addressing the issues that matter to people, and I hope people see through it.'

The voting age for parliamentary elections was lowered to 18 from 21 in 1969, although devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales have reduced it to 16 for local polls.

And British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens can vote for MPs, while EU citizens who have lived in the UK since before the end of 2020 can take part in council elections. But Labour's manifesto for the general election will include a long-standing pledge to lower the voting age to 16, enfranchising an estimated 1.4million young people.

Labour would also give the vote to about 3.4million EU nationals who have lived permanently in the UK and paid tax here for a number of years, according to the Sunday Telegraph, while a further 2.6million with 'pre-settled status' who have lived here for less than five years could eventually be included.

Sources at Conservative campaign headquarters said the policy could mean that citizens of countries yet to join the EU could one day get the vote in the UK.

One insider said: 'Keir Starmer wants to relegate the status of British citizenship by giving the vote to foreign children. There are currently eight countries recognised as candidates for EU ascension, so in time Serbs, Moldovans, Bosnians and Albanians would acquire the same rights as British citizens to decide who is in government.'

Analysis suggests that EU citizens who have long lived in the UK are predominantly based in London and the South East, and if given the vote would increase Labour's predominance in cities. Leading polling expert Sir John Curtice said: 'London is already so overwhelmingly Labour  there are some Tory constituencies left, but not that many of them, and they are the ones that will be particularly on the line.'

A major increase in Labour voters could lose Boris Johnson his west London seat as well as fellow former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith in the east of the capital.

A major increase in Labour voters could lose Boris Johnson (pictured) his west London seat

Labour's business spokesman Jonathan Reynolds said extending the franchise was 'not our final policy position' but added: 'We do want to strengthen our democracy.

'We believe if people make a contribution to this country, if they live here, there's an argument for having them involved in that process.' Told by Sky News that the changes would make it easier for Labour to win a majority, he said: 'I don't think that any changes to how the British state works, how democracy works, should be ever considered through any kind of party political lens.'

Sir Keir is reportedly opposed to proportional representation, the system under which people vote for parties rather than individual candidates and where seats are distributed in line with total ballots cast.

But as polls suggest that Labour may fall short of an outright majority, many in Westminster believe that the Lib Dems may insist on its introduction as the price for its support in a coalition government.
More than 40 Tory MPs and peers have written to Rishi Sunak demanding he scrap the much-criticised 'tourist tax' holding back Britain.

They warn that the UK's economy and global reputation is being damaged by the Government's refusal to reinstate tax-free shopping for overseas tourists.

Hundreds of leading figures from across the retail, hospitality and tourism sectors have already backed the Daily Mail's campaign to Scrap the Tourist Tax.

Now the Prime Minister is facing demands from his own MPs  including several former Cabinet ministers  to think again.

In an open letter, they urge Mr Sunak to commission an independent assessment of the full impact of tax-free shopping on the economy. The MPs, led by backbenchers Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown and Damian Green, demand the PM 'seriously consider reinstating the scheme'.

More than 40 Tory MPs and peers have written to Rishi Sunak (pictured), demanding he scrap the much-criticised 'tourist tax' holding back Britain

Signatories include 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady, and ex-Cabinet ministers Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Sir Robert Buckland, Dr Liam Fox, Karen Bradley and Lord [Ed] Vaizey.

Many more Tory MPs are privately supportive, but were unable to sign the letter because they are on the Government payroll. Pointing to data highlighted by the Mail, the letter says the UK is losing out to France, Spain and Italy as international tourists 'divert their spending away from Britain'.

The MPs also say that  far from the Treasury's claim that scrapping the tourist tax would cost 2billion a year  there would be a net gain of around 350million. An Oxford Economics study suggests the move would bring a 4.1billion boost to GDP and support 78,000 jobs.

The MPs also say that reintroducing the scheme would help the regions.

A letter to the Chancellor (pictured), organised by hotelier Sir Rocco Forte, has now been signed by 200 top firms  including Marks & Spencer as well as the bosses of the Ritz London and Selfridges

They write: 'Most regional airports fly only to EU destinations and, by making Britain the only major European country where the 450million EU residents can shop tax-free, we would open-up a whole new tourist market.

'Already Britons can shop tax-free in the EU and we understand that there were over 520,000 tax-refund claims made last year.'

READ MORE: Now 200 firms say the tourist tax should be taxed: Bosses of Selfridges and The Ritz join our fight to get UK booming Advertisement

The MPs refute the Government's claim that scrapping the tourist tax would have 'limited behavioural effect on decisions to visit, or spend, in the UK'.

'The actual data is proving the Treasury's forecast to be wrong,' the letter to Mr Sunak states.

'We ask you to look again, commission an independent assessment of the full impact of tax-free shopping on the UK economy and tax revenues, and seriously consider reinstating the scheme.'

A Government spokesman said last night: 'While we want to continue to attract tourists to the UK and boost business competition, we are committed to an approach to the public finances that is responsible.'

A separate letter to the Chancellor, organised by hotelier Sir Rocco Forte, has now been signed by 200 top firms  including Marks & Spencer as well as the bosses of the Ritz London and Selfridges.

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said last night: 'The data which shows the decline in high-spending international visitors compared to other countries is startling, with 2022 spending by American visitors in Britain at 101 per cent of 2019 levels compared to 226 per cent in France.'
Catholic priests in France will be made to wear traffic-light coded identification tags to allow the public to check whether they may have faced sexual abuse charges.

Cards will feature a QR code, scannable by mobile phone, that will flag a red, orange or green light depending on whether its holder had been stripped of clerical status.

The scheme, announced by the Bishop's Conference of France on Wednesday, will allow easier identification of priests able to lead mass and hear confessions.

But it also aims at protecting worshippers from sexual abuse, an issue made more pressing by revelations in November that 11 former or serving French bishops had been accused of abuse or had failed to report cases.

French bishop Alexandre Joly shows his ID card during a press conference as part of the Conference des Eveques de France (French Bishops' Conference) in Paris, on May 10, 2023

Members of the public will see either a red light, an amber light or a green light upon scanning one of the new cards.

Red lights indicate that a priest has been stripped of their status and cannot perform various clerical duties.

The database will be updated as standard once a year, or immediately in cases of serious misconduct.

Orange lights will indicate that a priest has limited powers due to experience or sanctions.

Green lights will indicate that a priest is authorised to perform a full range of sacraments.

The system is designed to support existing paper documents used by the Catholic church in France as it tries to clamp down on sex abuse in its ranks.

In November 2022, 11 bishops were accused either of sexual abuse or cover-up within the French Catholic Church.

Among those facing either criminal or canonical prosecution was the former Archbishop of Bordeaux, Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard.

He admitted to having 'behaved in a reprehensible manner towards a 14-year-old girl' when he was a priest, more than three decades ago.

On the back of a two-and-a-half year investigation, an independent report published 4 October 2021 detailed an extensive history of abuse within the church, estimating 330,000 had been victims of abuse over a period of 70 years.

Under the new system, the public will be able to scan the QR code to verify a priest's status

The scheme was voted for by Bishops in November 2021 in light of the findings of the damning Sauve Report, named after its lead.

Some 17,000 will be issued the identity documents called 'Celebrets' through the scheme.

Despite the efforts, not all are swayed. Olivier Savignac, co-founder of Parler et revivre, an organisation collecting the words of victims, said: 'The Catholic Church in France is ageing. There are many people of a certain age who oversee religious ceremonies.

'Do they have the skills and training? Because you have to flash a QR code - it's quite technical.'
The Prince and Princess of Wales will travel to Singapore later this year for the final of William's environmental award.

The couple will travel to the south east Asian country in November after it was selected as the destination of the third annual awards ceremony for the Prince's Earthshot prize.

During the event the five winners of The Earthshot Prize 2023 will be awarded 1million.

The ceremony will also feature performances by world-renowned musicians and artists.

The Prince and Princess of Wales teased today's announcement on their official Twitter page yesterday, writing: 'Where's The #EarthshotPrize heading to in 2023?' followed by two eyes and a poll in which the answers spelled out 'We'll tell you tomorrow'.

The Prince and Princess of Wales will travel to Singapore later this year for the final of William's environmental award. Pictured: The couple visiting Boston to attend the second annual Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony

Founded by Prince William in 2020, The Earthshot Prize aims to find solutions to help address climate change issues

Kate greeted Ellie Goulding at last year's ceremony with a friendly kiss on the cheek, as they were pictured smiling and catching up at the Earthshot Prize in Boston

Announcing the destination today, Prince William, 40, said: 'The Earthshot Prize is all about showing the world that solutions to some of the biggest environmental challenges we face are out there. After two years of discovering impactful ideas and innovations, I am delighted that The Earthshot Prize is travelling to Singapore, where the ground-breaking solutions of our 2023 Finalists will be celebrated.'

Founded by Prince William in 2020, The Earthshot Prize aims to find solutions to help address climate change issues.

Last year's ceremony took place in the US in Boston, when guests arrived in hybrid vehicles and were encouraged to wear vintage, recycled or reusable clothing. Kate, who presented an award, wore a rented lime green Solace London dress from fashion platform Hurr and teamed it with an emerald choker worn by Princess Diana.

William has said that Earthshot was inspired by John F Kennedy's Moonshot programme which challenged America to put man on the moon and helped launch the Moon landing in 1969. Last year's winners included a British start-up, Notpla, which uses seaweed to make packaging.
Pat Cullen previously advised her union's members to take five per cent pay rise

A nursing union leader is demanding a double-digit pay rise amid the threat of more strikes lasting until Christmas.

Pat Cullen, head of the Royal College of Nursing, previously advised her union's members to accept a pay rise of five per cent offered by the Government  before 54 per cent of them voted against it.

Now, in a U-turn on her earlier position, Ms Cullen says fresh talks on a percentage pay rise need to 'start in double figures'. Her call for Health Secretary Steve Barclay to reopen negotiations comes as senior doctors in England start voting today on whether to strike in the continuing dispute over pay.

Yesterday Cabinet minister Grant Shapps said: 'Pat Cullen just recently was encouraging her members to settle for the pay rise that was put on the table, that would see 5,000 go into the pockets this year of hard-working nurses.

'It is confusing that she seems to now be coming back and saying the opposite.'

Nursing union leader Pat Cullen (pictured) is demanding a double-digit pay rise amid the threat of more strikes lasting until Christmas

Ms Cullen previously advised her union's members to accept a pay rise of five per cent offered by the Government. Pictured: Ms Cullen joining striking nurses on May 1

Speaking ahead of the annual RCN congress in Brighton, which began yesterday, Ms Cullen told The Sunday Times fresh negotiations were needed to prevent six more months of industrial action.

She said: 'They [ministers] owe that to nursing staff not to push them to have to do another six months of industrial action right up to Christmas.'

The majority of unions making up the NHS Staff Council voted earlier this month to accept the five per cent pay deal and a one-off bonus of up to 3,789 for last year.

But RCN members voted against the recommendation to accept it, so will keep pushing for a higher wage rise.

The union is set to reballot its members on May 23 for further strike action.
Aussies have been left in shock after a photo re-emerged showing the iconic Bunning sausage sizzle on sale in Bali.

The photo shows a woman standing at a stall on the island, with the banner 'Charity Bunnings Sausage Sizzle' flying above it.

Another message on the stall explains how the sizzle was organised by the Botanica Bar in Bali - which is run by Aussies.

The photo caused a stir on social media, with Aussies left scratching their heads over the surprise appearance of the Bunnings sausage sizzle in Bali.

However, it can be revealed that the image dates back to a fundraising appeal from January 2020 to raise money for Australians affected by bushfires that year.

The photo shows a woman standing at a stall on the island, with the banner 'Charity Bunnings Sausage Sizzle' flying above it

The sausage sizzle emulates the Bunnings snag with onions and sauce but integrates Indonesian beer

The bar, based in Seminyak, hosted the appeal for several days with all proceeds going to the Red Cross Fire Relief Fund.

The sausages were supplied by an Australian butcher and paid homage to the warehouse fry-up with onions, tomato sauce and mustard.

Australian Brenton Banner, 30, the executive head chef and general manager of Botanica Bali, came up with the concept.

Originally from Warrnambool in Victoria, Mr Banner said he felt helpless over the situation back home and wanted to help.

He said the stall has drawn both locals and tourists, but had been particularly popular with Australians.

'I just wanted to help out back home. It's so far away. I wanted to be able to do something.'

The Bunnings warehouse sausage sizzle is a national icon, which is operated by various organisations outside stores on weekends

'It's been really good, people are happy with it and coming down with us putting in donations into our tin.'

'Hopefully we can get a few more people down this week and get a few more donations.'

Reacting to the photo on Monday, Aussies hailed the move.

One asked: 'Why can't they sell beer at the Bunnings here?'

Another added: 'They have figured out that Aussies have the gene that instantly makes them crave a Bunnings sausage sizzle, and will inevitably part with a few dollarydoos to soothe the savage beast.'

While a third joked: 'Bali being gentrified.'

The Bunnings warehouse sausage sizzle is a national icon, which is operated by various organisations outside stores on weekends
The parents of Idaho quadruple murder victim Madison Mogen forced back tears as they accepted her posthumous degree - six months after she was butchered along with three other students at their off-campus home.

Posthumous bachelor's degrees were awarded to the families of Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, who were both seniors at the time of the November 13 slayings. Certificates were provided for junior Xana Kernodle and freshman, Ethan Chapin.

Mogen's heartbroken parents tried to hold it together as they walked the stage to accept the posthumous bachelor's degree in marketing on their daughter's behalf at the school's spring commencement ceremonies on Saturday, NBC News reported.

The bodies of Mogen, Goncalves, Kernodle and Chapin were found on November 13, 2022, at their off-campus house near the University of Idaho campus in Moscow.

Bryan Kohberger, 28, was arrested after a six-week manhunt and charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 26.

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The parents of Idaho quadruple murder victim Madison Mogen (left) forced back tears as they accepted her posthumous degree on Saturday

Posthumous bachelor's degrees were awarded to the families of Madison Mogen (pictured) and Kaylee Goncalves, who were both seniors at the time of the November 13 slayings

The four students were recognized during the university's May 13 graduation ceremonies, along with another student who recently died in a car accident, and nearly 3,000 new graduates.

'Madison's family will always be members of the Vandal family,' University President Scott Green said during the ceremony.

'So, thank you for joining us today to celebrate her academic achievements and contributions to the University of Idaho.'

Goncalves' family received a posthumous bachelor's degree in general studies on behalf of their daughter during the second commencement ceremony later in the day on Saturday.

Chapin, who was a freshman, was awarded a certificate in recreation, sport and tourism management, and Kernodle, who was a junior, was awarded a certificate in marketing. Certificates acknowledge credit toward degrees in progress.

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

Bryan Kohberger was arrested was arrested after a six-week manhunt and charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 26

'The University of Idaho continues to amaze us with its unwavering support,' Stacy and Jim Chapin said in the statement.

'We appreciate the school awarding a posthumous degree to Ethan. We also want to recognize the thousands of kids graduating and the hard work they've put in to earn their diplomas. Our family wishes them all the best.'

The four students were found dead on November 13 at a house where Mogen, Goncalves and Kernodle were roommates. Kernodle's boyfriend, Chapin, was staying overnight at the time.

Green announced in February that the residence will be demolished as a 'healing step' for the community.

'We will never forget Xana, Ethan, Madison and Kaylee, and I will do everything in my power to protect their dignity and respect their memory,' Green said in a statement at the time.

Scholarships at the University of Idaho have been established and the school is also working to create a memorial.

Mogen's posthumous bachelor's degree in marketing was accepted by her parents

The four University of Idaho students stabbed to death in their off-campus home will be awarded posthumous degrees and certificates. Goncalves, 21 and Mogen, 21, were months away from receiving their degrees. They will receive a general studies and marketing degree

Xana Kernodle (right), who was a junior, will be issued a marketing certificate. Meanwhile, Ethan Chapin (left), a freshman, will be granted a recreation, sport and tourism management certificate

Kohberger, who was pursuing a PhD in criminal justice, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary in connection with the stabbing deaths. Prosecutors have yet to reveal if they intend to seek the death penalty.

He is due to make an appearance for this preliminary hearing on June 26.

Last week, the suspect's lawyers filed a motion to delay a May 22 hearing on the media gag order in place. The attorney's argue that they won't to bring in an expert witness for the hearing but that he won't be available on the scheduled date.

The Goncalves family has also asked the lower court judge to lift the gag order, saying their attorney should be allowed to speak about the family's opinions on the case on their behalf. A hearing on the Goncalves' request has been set for May 25.

Media organizations have argued that a gag order enforced in the case violates the First Amendment rights of a free press.

The order prohibits attorneys, prosecutors, law enforcement agencies and others involved in the case from talking to the news media unless they are quoting directly from a court document.

The university where Bryan Kohberger worked was only a little over eight miles from the scene

Kaylee Goncalves' family leaves Latah County Court after Kohberger's first court appearance

But last week the Idaho Supreme Court unanimously denied the request, saying the news groups should have first asked the lower court to have the order lifted.

The Supreme Court justices did not weigh in on whether the gag order violates First Amendment rights.

'This Court has long respected the media's role in our constitutional republic, and honored the promises in both the Idaho Constitution and First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,' Justice Gregory Moeller wrote in the high court's decision.

Still, Moeller wrote, the balancing act between the First Amendment protections afforded to the press and the Sixth Amendment fair trial rights promised to defendants has become increasingly difficult with the advent of the internet and social media.

High-publicity cases often present a conundrum for judges, who work to protect the defendant's right to a fair trial.

Courts sometimes feel that controlling the flow of information around the case  by forbidding those involved from talking about it  is an effective way to limit publicity.

But gag orders can infringe on the First Amendment rights of the public and of the people involved in the case. News organizations that cover the courts serve a watchdog role, keeping the public informed about how the judicial branch operates.

During the investigation into the University of Idaho students' slayings, news organizations' interviews with investigators and law enforcement officials often worked to quash misinformation spread online by people who styled themselves as sleuths on social media sites.
Dangerous criminals convicted of the most serious crimes will be kept behind bars 'for as long as necessary', the new Justice Secretary vowed yesterday.

Alex Chalk will today unveil Parole Board reforms in Parliament, introducing safeguards to prevent depraved killers being released early from prison.

He admitted yesterday that public confidence had been knocked in the wake of the Colin Pitchfork and John Worboys cases.

Black cab rapist Worboys, 65, was jailed indefinitely in 2009 for public protection with a minimum term set of eight years after he was found guilty of 19 offences involving attacks on 12 women.

He was cleared for release in 2018, but the decision was overturned by the courts after a furious public backlash.

Alex Chalk (pictured) will today unveil Parole Board reforms in Parliament, introducing safeguards to prevent depraved killers being released early from prison

Mr Chalk admitted yesterday that public confidence had been knocked in the wake of the Colin Pitchfork (left) and John Worboys (right) cases

Subsequently Worboys received a life sentence when more victims came forward.

In another shocking case, Pitchfork, 63, was jailed for life after raping and murdering two girls in the 1980s, but was released in 2021 after the Parole Board deemed he didn't pose a risk.

Just two months later he was back in jail for breaching the terms of his licence.

'We all want to know that depraved criminals convicted of the worst violent and sexual crimes will be kept behind bars for as long as is necessary.

'But unfortunately this confidence in our justice system has been knocked in recent years because of the decision to release two evil men - the black taxi rapist John Worboys and the child murderer and rapist Colin Pitchfork,' Mr Chalk said.

'Letting even one offender out of prison who is not safe to be on the streets means they can go on to commit a violent or sexual crime, shattering lives in the process.'

Under the new Victims and Prisoners Bill, ministers will be able to block the release of the most violent criminals who have been convicted of murder, rape, terrorism or killing a child.

It will also make it clear in law that prisoners must not be released if they pose a threat to the public.

In addition, Mr Chalk wants to stop the 'ridiculous farce' of murderers sentenced to whole life orders like Levi Bellfield, getting married behind bars.

The former barrister who prosecuted murderers and terrorists wrote in the Sun on Sunday: 'Serial killers like Levi Bellfield robbed his victims of the chance to ever walk down the aisle.

Mr Chalk wants to stop the 'ridiculous farce' of murderers sentenced to whole life orders like Levi Bellfield (pictured), getting married behind bars

'It is grotesque for victims' families to think of killers enjoying their big day while in prison. So we are putting a stop to it.

'Through this Bill we will also stand up for victims, ensuring that they are listened to, supported and treated with dignity as their case progresses through the justice system.' Under the reforms, more police officers will be recruited to sit on parole boards, using their experience to assess offenders and ensure those who still pose a risk stay behind bars.

For the first time, victims will have a legal right to know how their cases are progressing, if their attacker is due for release or parole and when foreign offenders will be deported.

Mr Chalk acknowledged: 'Too often victims have been treated as spectators rather than placed at the heart of the justice process.'

He promised the reforms will 'place victims at the heart of the process, so people have confidence in our courts and law enforcement and they will ensure attackers like Worboys and Pitchfork are not released if they are still a threat to the public.'
The boyfriend of Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has caused outrage after likening Charles's coronation to Harry Potter in 'highly insulting' social media posts.

Matt Barrett was accused of 'embarrassing' his country in the posts made on his private Instagram account during the historic service.

In one post, Mr Barrett put up a photo of a newly crowned Charles wearing the St Edward's Crown and compared it to the Sorting Hat in Harry Potter.

'Was genuinely half expecting it to shout ''GRYFFINDOR'' ', he wrote.

A week after the event, Irish designer Paul Costelloe, who has links to the royal family, condemned the social media posts as 'very embarrassing' and 'highly insulting' for the Irish, according to The Telegraph.

Matt Barrett (right), the boyfriend of Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar (centre) has caused outrage after likening Charles's coronation to Harry Potter in 'highly insulting' social media posts

In one post, Mr Barrett put up a photo of a newly crowned Charles wearing the St Edward's Crown and compared it to the Sorting Hat in Harry Potter. 'Was genuinely half expecting it to shout ''GRYFFINDOR'' ', he wrote

The posts included a photo taken from inside the Taoiseach's car while in the VIP motorcade to the Coronation ceremony, alongside which he wrote: 'Holy s---, I think I'm accidentally crowned King of England.'

While in Westminster Abbey, Dr Barrett also made posts that referenced the official Order of Service and mocked the wording.

One entry explained what happened between the Queen's crowning and her enthronement, during which she would be presented with regalia.

Mr Barrett quoted the liturgy, before adding the comment: 'Sounds like the script to a good night, tbh.'

Mr Costelloe, who worked as a personal designer for Princess Diana from 1983 until her death in 1997, told the Sunday Independent that Dr Barrett needs to publicly apologise.

Mr Barrett was accused of 'embarrassing' his country in the posts made on his private Instagram account during the historic service

King Charles was crowned with St Edward's Crown by The Archbishop of Canterbury

'They should have turned their phones off before they went in and Leo should have told him to put his phone away,' he said.

Talking with the Sunday Independent, he said: 'For people living over here, it puts you in a very embarrassing situation.

'I think it's terribly hard to make excuses for that sort of behaviour. You can say it's amusing and all, but you can't do that type of thing.'

Sinn Fein's First Minister Designate for Northern Ireland, who was also invited to the ceremony, said before the event that she intended to build 'good relations between the people of these islands'.
Up to 200mm expected to fall overnight in south east QLD

Winter's early arrival is set to stay as possible flooding hits the north east overnight and multiple cold fronts bring gusty winds and showers for the rest of the week.

Parts of south east Queensland are likely to see flash flooding this evening into tomorrow as meteorologists predict up to 200mm could fall overnight.

This brief burst of wet weather will affect parts of Qlds Darling Downs, South East Coast and Wide Bay and Burnett Districts, and some eastern areas of the Maranoa and Warrego District.

Some Western Australia residents woke up to the coldest May morning in 24 years

Syndeysiders have been experiencing the biggest Autumn cooling in 12 years, with temperatures plummeting by 10 degrees over just 60 days

Yoska Hernandez, meteorologist at Weatherzone, told Daily Mail Australia there was even the chance of flash flooding.

'We are expecting a trough to develop over southern Queensland and north east New South Wales which is going to bring very heavy rainfall to places like Brisbane,' she said.

'It will fall during the rest of Monday and overnight into Tuesday, expecting a maximum 200mm in isolated parts over these areas.'

While the rain will ease from late tomorrow, a southerly change moving along the eastern coast will bring gusty winds of up to 75km/h to parts of Tasmania, South Australia and central NSW into Wednesday.

'The rest of the country is generally settled but there will be another cold front crossing the south east on Thursday into the weekend,' said Ms Hernandez.

'Multiple fronts will bring showers and possible isolated storms, mainly affecting Tasmania, Victoria and parts of south east South Australia.'

Ms Hernandz said more wintry weather was to be expected with possible snowfall in alpine regions.

Residents in Victoria and New South Wales are set for a frosty start to the week, with conditions on Monday and Tuesday in particular predicted to be cold and windy

Meanwhile, residents in Broome, Western Australia, shivered through the coldest May morning in 24 years.

They woke up to a frosty 11.5 degrees on Monday - a pre-winter plunge has not been seen since 1999.

On Thursday, Darwin recorded a minimum of 17.5 degrees, also their coldest May morning in 8 years.

Meteorologists are warning that the cold front is set to linger across most of Australia.

'Residents of northern parts of WA and the NT may have broken out the extra doonas a bit earlier than usual this year, as the cold air taking hold of much of the country lately has also made its way across northwestern Australia,' Weatherzone said.

They said a persistent ridge of high pressure had brought settled but cold weather across large parts of northern Australia.

Strong winds are expected to batter northern New South Wales and southern Queensland, as well as Tasmania and South Australia over the coming days

'In addition, clear skies and calm-to-light southeasterly winds have allowed overnight temperatures to plummet in recent days,' they said.

Residents in Victoria and New South Wales are set for a frosty start to the week, with conditions on Monday and Tuesday in particular predicted to be cold and windy.

Meanwhile, heavy rain will soak parts of southeast Queensland on Monday night into Tuesday morning, with some places at risk of flooding.

Many Sydneysiders have been griping about the plummeting mercury over the past week and the statistics appear to back up their complaints.

In just 60 days, the city has cooled by 10 degrees making it the biggest Autumn cooling in 12 years, according to Weatherzone. Typical 60-day cooling is between 5.5 and six degrees.

The week ending Thursday 11th May had an average temperature of a chilly 14.7 degrees, compared to a balmy 24.7 degrees in the week ending 12th March.

'This year's cooling has been largely due to the breakdown of La Nina and a few strong cold fronts,' explained Weatherzone's Brett Dutschke.

'A winter-like cold front a week ago delivered as much as 10cm of snow as far north as the NSW Central Tablelands.'

Previous years with more autumn cooling were 2011 (10.4 degrees in 60 days), 1968 (10.5 degrees in 60 days, 1926 (10.7 degrees in 60 days), and 1861 (a record 10.9 degrees in 60 days).
A British tourist who escaped a Poseidon Adventure-style shipwreck has told of his 'deep feeling of dread' as he watched the boat capsize in the Red Sea.

The Carlton Queen yacht, a 42-metre liveaboard vessel, sank on April 24 after rolling on to its side off the coast of Hurghada, Egypt.

David Taylor, 53, a tourist on the boat, told The Telegraph: 'I knew something was wrong when I could see fish swimming outside my cabin room's window.'

He described the 'horrendous' realisation that the vessel had capsized, adding: 'We were shouting for help and heard crashing above us and had this deep feeling of dread that something terrible was happening.'

Incredibly, all 26 guests and nine crew on board the Carlton Queen managed to escape the wreckage, with three taken to hospital for minor injuries.

The vessel was en route to the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt when it sank in late April

Terrified crew are seen clinging to the side of the yacht

Image shows the vessel on its side as guests successfully escaped with help from the crew

A diving team stands by near the sinking boat in Egypt

Mr Taylor described the terror of realising he and his son, Christian, 21, could not escape by the stairwell and that nobody had come to help them.

As the ship sank, they met Fernando Suarez Meilla, an experienced diver who moved with them from room to room checking for anybody else trapped in the boat.

Without panicking, Mr Suarez Meilla helped Mr Taylor and his son out of the hold on to the top deck after finding the handle on an emergency hatch was broken.

Unable to hoist himself out, the diver told the others to go on as he looked for another way out.

He eventually found a way out through an open hatch at the bottom of the boat after finding all other routes impossible to get through.

Mr Taylor expressed concerns as to why a recently refitted boat would sink on calm waters.

Reports suggested the boat, built in 2002 and launched in 2022 after refurbishment, was 'listing' - or tilting to one side - from the moment the guests boarded, getting worse until it capsized.

Christian Hanson, a diver from the UK also on the sinking ship, said he noticed upon boarding on April 22 that the boat was listing by 'a couple of degrees'.

He said it had reached 20 to 30 degrees a couple of days into the trip as he woke up for an early dive.

When the vessel sank, guests were stranded without passports or their belongings.

The Carlton Queen carried two 20-person life-rafts and two Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs).

One of the rafts was launched, the other reportedly deployed automatically and swept away.

Witnesses also one of the RIBs had crushed the other when the vessel capsized.

Hanson said there were more than 30 people in the remaining raft at one point, and the group was fortunate that two RIBs from another ship came to evacuate them.

Families had to be rescued from the side of the sinking yacht

The Carlton Queen carried two 20-person life-rafts and two Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs)

Tourists who survived the sinking of the Carlton Queen near Hurghada in Egypt in April

The Carlton Queen was said to have sunk on calm waters despite being recently refitted

Speaking to Divernet, the Carlton Queen said it would not comment on the cause of the accident until the investigation was over.

They did praise the 'crew members' effective management of the situation, which spared the lives of all passengers'.

They said in a statement they were working with the Egyptian authorities to determine the cause of the accident.

Divers have organised a fundraiser to replace lost possessions, as well as medical and legal expenses.
Family doctors say they should no longer be expected to treat patients based on results from private home blood-testing kits.

Concerned about a rise in fashionable private health kits, which people can easily buy while doing their weekly shop or online, leading doctors say the NHS should not have to pick up the pieces when test users get the results.

It is not acceptable for doctors to have to 'interpret, explain, discuss or give feedback' on the private tests, it says in a new position statement from the Royal College of GPs (RCGP).

Surgeries will not turn patients away, but are fearful of being inundated by the 'worried well', seeking answers to tests which have not been arranged by their GP.

So the RCGP has issued a stern warning to the manufacturers of blood tests, which can cost up to 800, and include products sold to check cholesterol, test for the risk of various conditions, detect genetic abnormalities or tell people how many 'healthy years' they have left.

Family doctors say they shouldn't have to treat patients based on home blood-testing kit results [Stock photo]

These private companies should no longer expect the NHS to step in and explain people's results, according to Professor Kamila Hawthorne, Chair of the Royal College of GPs.

She said: 'More and more people are trying out these tests, because they are so well advertised and easy to buy, and people persuade themselves they need them.

'But some of these tests have not been tested themselves, have no accredited 'kite-mark' or badge to show they are reliable and can be trusted, or if they could produce a falsely positive result, or tell a patient they are negative when they are not.

'People can put a lot of faith in something which has a medical-sounding name and a nice label, but the advice from GPs is don't buy these tests unless you feel you have a very good reason to do so - for example, a family history of the condition being tested for.

'We are seeing patients in our surgeries, who are distressed because of misleading or inaccurate results from self-testing, which they could have been spared.'

In 2018, a survey of 500 doctors found 91 per cent had seen a patient for an NHS appointment in the past 12 months to discuss the results of a private health screening.

In three-quarters of cases, this led to further NHS resources being used, such as a follow-up scan, blood test or appointment.

In 2019, the RCGP issued a statement saying private screening firms should not 'assume' that GPs will deal with their results.

But as the tests have surged in popularity, the Royal College's language has become much stronger.

Its new position statement says: 'All providers of self-testing kits must make expert advice on interpretation available and monitor the impact of their test on GP workload.

'It is not acceptable for providers to expect GPs to interpret, explain, discuss or give feedback on non-evidenced screening tests, especially if they are not in routine use in general practice.'

In October, the British Medical Journal published the results of an investigation showing dozens of UK companies are offering private blood tests for a range of conditions and deficiencies, with some making misleading claims, not backed by evidence, and leaving an already overworked NHS to follow up 'abnormal results'.

Bernie Croal, president of the Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, pointed out that five per cent of test results would be expected to lie outside the normal range, so very few people would have no 'abnormal' results, even if nothing was wrong with them.

The RCGP was especially worried about private companies offering tests for sore throat strep A infections, particularly at the end of last year, as many parents panicked over rising numbers of cases and deaths in young children.

In most cases, strep A gets better on its own, and will only cause serious illness in relatively few cases when it gets into the bloodstream or deep into the body, so test results would have been likely to have put extra pressure on GPs, with little benefit for patients.

The Royal College is calling for people to 'take care' when it comes to blood tests, and would like to see a 'kite-mark' or accreditation introduced for privately bought tests to make clear which are reliable and based on good scientific evidence.

As well as causing unnecessary anxiety, the RCGP is worried 'normal' results from tests which have been bought rather than ordered by a GP could falsely reassure people, so that they no longer think they need to seek help for worrying symptoms because they believe they are not ill.

The organisation also wants test kits to tell people if the test is available at their GP surgery for free, so that they do not spend money unnecessarily, and can ask their GP if they really need the test.

Professor Hawthorne said: 'We actively encourage patients to take an interest in their health - but if they need a test for something, we'll tell them.'
Canberra is the first city to be freed from the rental vacancy crisis as tenants in the rest of Australia continue to suffer.

New SQM Research data showed the home of commonwealth public servants was the only capital city market where house rents have fallen during the past year.

In April 2023, Canberra's rental vacancy rate stood at 2 per cent - a level significantly higher than the national average of 1.2 per cent.

SQM Research managing director Louis Christopher said Canberra's rental vacancy crisis was easing as fewer people who could work from home moved to smaller cities and regional areas.

'I believe there has been a population exodus back to our larger cities, driven by a return to office requirement set by many office employers,' he said.

'The rental crisis is easing in the nation's regions as well as some of our smaller capital cities, including the nation's capital, where we are now confident in calling the rental crisis over.'

Canberra is the first city to be freed from the rental vacancy crisis as tenants in the rest of Australia continue to suffer (pictured is the Telstra Tower)

Canberra's median house rent during the past year has fallen by 0.6 per cent to $757.84 a week, making it Australia's only capital city market where rents are cheaper than a year ago.

Sydney, by comparison has seen its mid-point house price surge by 21.5 per cent to $963.18 a week, making it by far Australia's most expensive capital city market.

The rental vacancy rate here is 1.4 per cent.

Melbourne's median house rent has risen by 20.8 per cent to $671.53, in a city where the rental vacancy rate is 1.2 per cent.

Australia's two big cities, Sydney and Melbourne, are also absorbing most of the new overseas migrants.

Sydney by comparison has seen its mid-point house price surge by 21.5 per cent to $963.18 a week, making it by far Australia's most expensive capital city market (pictured is a rental queue in Bondi)

Treasury Budget papers forecast Australia taking in a record 400,000 new migrants in 2022-23 following by another 315,000 in 2023-24.

Over five years, 1.495million people are expected to arrive in Australia from skilled migrants to international students.

For that reason, Mr Christopher is expecting the rental crisis to continue in the bigger capital cities.

'Going forward, it is way too early to call the rental crisis over in our larger capital cities,' he said.

'The building slump, combined with extremely strong population growth rates, will see to it there will remain an overall shortage of rental properties.'
A third of people who notice signs of dementia in themselves or a loved one keep their fears to themselves for longer than a month.

Just 15 per cent speak to someone else about the issue straight away, despite the benefits of early diagnosis for managing the condition, which leaves them facing fears for the future alone.

Alzheimer's Society surveyed 1,137 adults up to the age of 85, who had diagnosed dementia, were carers for someone with a dementia, or were worried they or someone they loved may have the condition.

The top reason people stayed silent after noticing the first signs of dementia, or detecting them in a loved one, was that they confused the symptoms with simply getting older.

But 44 per cent of people surveyed said they were worried they or a loved one would be talked down to or treated like a child if they were diagnosed with dementia.

The charity learned 11% of people who had detected their first dementia symptom had still not discussed it with anyone else at the time of filling out the survey [File image]

Kate Lee, chief executive of Alzheimer's Society, said: 'We can't continue to avoid the 'D-word'  we need to face dementia head on.

'This Dementia Action Week we want everyone to know there is support out there if you're confused about symptoms, or don't know how to have that first tricky conversation.'

The charity learned 11 per cent of people who had detected their first dementia symptom, or the first symptom of someone close to them, had still not discussed it with anyone else at the time of filling out the survey.

This delay in addressing the problem has a knock-on impact on how soon people can get help.

The survey found 23 per cent of people waited longer than six months after the first dementia symptom before speaking to a medical professional.

While 64 per cent of people who kept quiet about dementia symptoms did so because they confused them with normal ageing, a third said they did not want to worry a loved one.

Meanwhile, 16 per cent were concerned about how it would affect their relationships, according to the survey, conducted by the firm Yonder Data Solutions for Alzheimer's Society to mark Dementia Action Week.

Alzheimer's Society has launched a new campaign  with the title 'it's not called getting old, it's called getting ill'  to encourage people worried about their memory, or the memory of someone close to them, to seek support in getting a diagnosis, including by using the charity's online symptoms checklist.

Kate Lee, chief executive of Alzheimer's Society, has said we 'need to face dementia head on'

Dementia diagnosis rates hit a five-year low during the pandemic, and have stagnated ever since - leaving tens of thousands of people living with undiagnosed dementia.

In the UK, one person develops dementia every three minutes  meaning that by 2040, 1.6 million people will be living with the condition.

Kate Lee said: 'At Alzheimer's Society we're dedicated to providing help and hope to everyone affected by dementia  nine in 10 people told us they benefited from getting a diagnosis, helping them access the treatments, support and advice a diagnosis unlocks.'

The promising potential Alzheimer's drugs lecanemab and donanemab, which slow down memory loss and may in future be widely available to people in the UK, rather than just in clinical trials, are shown to work better in people who are diagnosed earlier.

Dr Amir Khan, television doctor on ITV's Lorraine, said: 'A third of us will go on to develop dementia in our lifetimes.

'We need to change the idea that getting dementia is inevitable as we age - it's not called getting old, it's called getting ill.

'Reaching out to ask for help can feel a scary prospect but it's better to know. 'Patients I've seen getting a timely, accurate diagnosis have had the chance to benefit from treatments and support from organisations like Alzheimer's Society they'd have otherwise missed out on.'
Bruce Adamson said people are no better off than when his tenure began in 2017

Nicola Sturgeon 'absolutely' failed young people during her time as First Minister, the Children's Commissioner has said.

In a 'devastatingly brutal' assessment of her record in office, Bruce Adamson laid bare a litany of 'real failures'.

Opponents also said that the former SNP leader has 'failed a generation of Scottish children'.

Outgoing commissioner Mr Adamson said that children are no better off than when his six-year tenure began in 2017.

There were 'real questions', he said, around why promises made by Ms Sturgeon's government to tackle inequality and close the attainment gap between pupils from affluent and deprived areas had not been kept.

Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon arrives in the lobby of the Scottish Parliament

Bruce Adamson, Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland, appears before the Equalities and Human Rights Committee

He added he has 'not seen anything' to suggest the new First Minister Humza Yousaf will improve Scots children's rights.

Ms Sturgeon stated she wanted to be judged on her record of eradicating the gulf in attainment between the richest and poorest pupils.

She said it was her 'defining mission' and promised to close it 'completely' by 2026. But the Scottish Government's own figures revealed the gap was growing before she stepped down. Asked yesterday if he thought Ms Sturgeon had failed, Mr Adamson said: 'Absolutely.'

Asked by the BBC if children were better off now than when his tenure began, he replied: 'No, they're not. We need to do a lot better.'

He added: 'We have to focus on the children's right to all of the things they need to thrive. So things like an adequate standard of living: do all children in Scotland have a safe warm home, good nutritious food, the right clothes to wear? Do they have access to the highest attainable standard of health, including mental health?

'There are really big questions around that and education, which develops you to your fullest potential.'

'When the Government's making decisions around things like funding  and we've had discussions about things like free school meals, we've had discussions around mental health counselling in schools  there's some real failures there.' The latest figures on attainment show the gulf between S3 pupils from the wealthiest and most deprived backgrounds has grown from 12.2 per cent in 2018-19 to 14.7 per cent.

Mr Adamson was also scathing about Mr Yousaf's opposition to universal free school meals in favour of a more targeted approach.

First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf in the main chamber during First Minster's Questions at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood

The commissioner said: 'Making it universal is a really powerful way of ensuring that all children can come and there's no stigma about who's getting it and who's not, who's paying for it and who's not, and we ensure that all children get that one good nutritious meal a day that we know is so essential.

'The fact we've got children in Scotland going hungry at the moment is hugely concerning.'

He added: 'The new First Minister made some big promises before becoming First Minister, but we've not seen anything on delivering those and I'm really disappointed he didn't mention children's rights in his big vision for Scotland statement to parliament.'

The 'year and a half of prevarication and delay' from the Scottish Government about incorporating the UN's Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into Scots Law was also condemned by Mr Adamson.

Tory children and young people spokesman Meghan Gallacher said: 'It's clear from the commissioner's testimony Nicola Sturgeon has failed a generation of Scottish children. This was a devastatingly brutal assessment.'

Labour MSP Martin Whitfield, a former teacher, said: 'Humza Yousaf needs to stop patting his broken party on the back and start working to improve the lives of young people.'

Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: 'The new First Minister must completely reboot the SNP's agenda and acknowledge that from the age of criminal responsibility to the attainment gap, his party has comprehensively failed children and young people.'

A Scottish Government spokesman said ministers are 'committed to making Scotland the best place in the world to grow up'.

The spokesman added: 'The UNCRC Bill is a critical piece of legislation that will help respect, protect and fulfil children's rights and ministers are determined to bring the Bill back to parliament for reconsideration as soon as practicable.'
READ MORE: The NHS is set to MISS key health service recovery targets

The Scottish government standard says treatment should begin within 62 days

A cancer patient was forced to wait 13 months for treatment amid the crisis engulfing Scotland's NHS.

Figures have shown the patient, with colorectal cancer, waited 397 days to begin treatment, while an oesophageal cancer patient waited 286 days.

The Scottish Government standard says treatment should begin within 62 days from an urgent referral with a suspicion of cancer.

But the figures for 2021/22 revealed the scale of the waiting times crisis facing NHS Scotland.

The longest prostate cancer treatment wait was 277 days. Waits of more than 100 days were recorded for patients with breast, cervical, head and neck, lung, ovarian cancer, lymphoma and melanoma.

A cancer patient was forced to wait 13 months for treatment due to 'horrifying' Scottish NHS delays [File image]

Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, gives a media interview in the lobby of the Scottish Parliament

Scottish Labour said Health Secretary Michael Matheson must deliver a new, patient-focused cancer strategy as a matter of urgency.

Scotland is currently awaiting a new Cancer Plan after the latest one expired in March 2023.

Scottish Labour health spokesman Jackie Baillie said: 'We have the grotesque and horrifying fact people are languishing on cancer waiting lists for well over a year. This is a national scandal.

READ MORE: DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Save our pharmacies to help save the NHS Advertisement

'Cancer remains Scotland's biggest killer but the SNP has failed time and time again to produce a Cancer Plan that is capable of helping our hardworking clinicians and our NHS tackle the cancer crisis. Michael Matheson has a chance to draw a line under the failures and missed opportunities of former SNP health ministers.

'That's why today I am sending a direct message to Michael Matheson  end the neglect of cancer care, bolster our NHS and act to save lives now.' The NHS Scotland 62-day standard says 95 per cent of eligible patients should wait no longer than 62 days from urgent suspicion of cancer referral to first cancer treatment.

The latest figures show that standard was not met by any health boards in the last three months. Of the patients who began cancer treatment in December, 71.7 per cent started within the 62-day standard, compared with 75.1 per cent in the previous quarter, and 83.7 per cent in the quarter ending December 31, 2019.

Meanwhile, a survey by the GMB union found 82 per cent of care staff have considered quitting in the last 12 months. Poor pay and conditions have led to misery across the sector, the study said.

It also found 80 per cent of social care staff fear work stress is damaging their health and 84 per cent said pay levels make it unaffordable for them to continue. Kirsty Nimmo, the GMB union's lead organiser in private care, said: 'Ministers were happy to applaud the commitment of care workers during the pandemic and they should not abandon them now.'

A survey by the GMB union found 82 per cent of care staff have considered quitting in the last 12 months [File image]

Scottish Social Care Minister Maree Todd said: 'We are looking at how we can plan for, attract, train, employ and nurture the workforce.'

A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'Our NHS, despite the impact of the pandemic, is treating more cancer patients than ever before. Despite this increase in numbers, the median wait from decision to treat to first treatment is five days.

'The Scottish Government has invested 10million to support boards in improving cancer waiting times in 2022/23. Cancer remains a national priority for the NHS and Scottish Government, which is why we will publish a new ten-year strategy soon.'
A fragile ceasefire between Israeli forces and militants in the Gaza Strip appeared to be holding yesterday after a five-day clash that killed 33 Palestinians and two people in Israel.

Fishermen took to their boats in the coastal Palestinian enclave, as Gazans emerged from sheltering in their homes during the fierce exchange of fire.

The latest round of fighting was sparked last Tuesday when Israeli jets killed three commanders from the Islamic Jihad group in response to earlier rocket launches from Gaza.

The killings set off a barrage of militant fire and the conflagration threatened to drag the region into another war until an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire took hold late Saturday.

It was the latest in a series of battles between Israel and Palestinian militants since Islamic militant group Hamas seized control of the territory in 2007.

A fragile ceasefire between Israeli forces and militants in the Gaza Strip appeared to be holding yesterday after a five-day clash that killed 33 Palestinians and two people in Israel. Pictured: Children stand amidst the rubble of a building hit by an Israeli air strike in Deir al-Balah in the centre of the Gaza Strip

Fishermen took to their boats in the coastal Palestinian enclave, as Gazans emerged from sheltering in their homes during the fierce exchange of fire

As the skies fell silent, residents were left to mourn the 33 people killed in Gaza, as well as the two in Israel - a Palestinian labourer from the blockaded territory and an elderly Israeli.

More than 50 homes were destroyed and around 950 people displaced in Gaza, said the United Nations, citing local officials.

'We're on the street. There's no home for my children or their children,' said Mohammed al-Louh, whose house was destroyed by Israeli strikes.

Medics said 190 people were wounded in Gaza and, in Israel, seven received injuries directly resulting from Palestinian rocket fire.

Authorities on Sunday lifted movement restrictions imposed on Israelis living near the Gaza border.

Sunday also saw Israel re-open its two crossings with Gaza for Palestinians with work permits or permission to access essential medical treatment. This has paved the way for supplies of medicine, food and fuel to reach the territory.

In the coastal Israeli city of Ashkelon, resident Michelle Weiss warned the fighting is 'not finished'.

'Now I'm free, now I can go out... but I know it will begin again,' she told AFP by the beach.

As the skies fell silent, residents were left to mourn the 33 people killed in Gaza, as well as the two in Israel. Pictured: Palestinians walk at the Kerem Shalom border crossing in Rafah as Israel gradually reopens Gaza crossings

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday welcomed the ceasefire agreement and offered his 'deepest condolences' to victims' families, according to a statement from his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

The secretary-general also commended Egypt for its 'key role in bringing the hostilities to an end,' and the efforts of Qatar, Lebanon and the United States, Dujarric said.

Guterres 'calls on all sides to observe the ceasefire,' the statement added.

Gaza, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, has been plagued by poverty and unemployment since Israel imposed a crippling blockade 16 years ago when Hamas took control.

The territory has seen numerous wars between militant groups and Israel since then, and this week's fighting was the worst in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since an August flare-up that killed nearly 50 Gazans.

While Israel and Islamic Jihad committed to the ceasefire, both warned they would not hesitate to resume fire if the other side violated the agreement.

'Quiet will be met with quiet,' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

Israeli security forces fire tear gas to disperse Palestinians during a raid in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (pictured) on Sunday welcomed the ceasefire agreement

'Today Israel's enemies in Gaza and far beyond know that even if they try to hide, we can -- and will -- get to them,' Netanyahu said at the start of Sunday's cabinet meeting, calling the military operation 'perfect'.

The Israeli strikes on Gaza killed at least six top figures from Islamic Jihad, which is considered a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union.

At least six children and multiple civilians were also among the dead in Gaza.

Tariq Salmi, an Islamic Jihad spokesman, said if Israel 'commits any foolish act or any assassination... the resistance will resume where it left off'.

Islamic Jihad had responded to the Israeli strikes with volleys of rocket fire, prompting sirens to blare.

An army official said Sunday that militants fired 1,468 projectiles at Israel, of which 1,139 crossed into Israel's air space, with the army intercepting more than 430 rockets.
Britain's most senior black police officer, who was in charge of stamping out racism in the ranks across all English and Welsh forces, has left his job after facing bullying and discrimination allegations.

Deputy Chief Constable Tyron Joyce, who headed the Police Race Action Plan - which aims to tackle discrimination within forces and by officers towards the public - has retired following a complaint.

The allegations came from his second in command, The Telegraph reported, a senior female civil servant who has been named as Liz Unwin. She was a previous lead of the action programme.

Sources close to Mrs Unwin told the newspaper that she had accused Mr Joyce of professionally undermining her in front of their colleagues, leading to a decline in her mental health.

Mrs Unwin was reportedly of equal rank to Mr Joyce and had decades of experience in police force teams and at the Foreign Office, but left her post in January and lodged a formal complaint.

Deputy Chief Constable Tyron Joyce, who headed the Police Race Action Plan - which aims to tackle discrimination within forces and by officers towards the public - has retired following a complaint

Prior to his appointment as the head of the race action plan, Mr Joyce was Assisstant Chief Constable at West Yorkshire Police.

There he ran the National Police Air Service, where in 2019 an internal inquiry reportedly took place after multiple members of staff raised concerns about discrimination and bullying.

The number of complainants who alleged Mr Joyce bullied them could exceed six, according to The Telegraph.

Allegations were said to include intimidation, making offensive and lewd comments in the workplace, and discriminatory comments about a disabled employee.

A senior manager at the air service who complained told reporters that issues around diversity and Mr Joyce's role made it more 'complex' for accusations against him to be adequately dealt with.

'The organisational and personal fall out was too great', said David Howell, a senior manager.

The National Police Chief's Council (NPCC) confirmed that Mr Joyce was no longer in his role and his social media accounts were updated, describing him as the 'former' temporary Dep Chief Constable at the race action plan.

Prior to his appointment as the head of the race action plan, Mr Joyce was Assisstant Chief Constable at West Yorkshire Police

Allegations made by the civil servant who worked with Mr Joyce on the race plan were sent to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) watchdog.

The IOPC said it is unable to comment on the most recent allegation, but a spokesperson said of the allegations about Mr Joyce's conduct at West Yorkshire Police: 'We received a mandatory conduct referral from West Yorkshire Police in April relating to allegations of bullying and discrimination by a senior officer.

'After careful consideration of the available information, we determined the matter should be subject to a local investigation.

'We have also advised the force that any additional conduct matters identified during the investigation should be referred to the IOPC for further consideration.'
The Vatican has received a report on a 'miracle' at a Connecticut church

The Vatican is reviewing parishioners' claims that a miracle occurred at a Connecticut church where the number of wafers handed out multiplied.

The Communion-centered event reportedly happened during a March mass at St. Thomas Catholic Church - and the Holy See in Rome received word last week.

The incident was first investigated by the Archdiocese of Hartford after Rev. Joseph Crowley said: 'God duplicated himself in the ciborium.'

But author Michael O'Neill, who goes by the name 'The Miracle Hunter,' says it will be difficult without physical evidence to prove a real miracle occurred.

'I'd be highly surprised that they were able to have enough evidence to declare it a true eucharistic miracle,' O'Neill told the Hartford Courant.

The incident was first investigated by the Archdiocese of Hartford after Rev. Joseph Crowley said: 'God duplicated himself in the ciborium'

The Vatican is reviewing parishioners' claims that a 'miracle occurred at a Connecticut church where the number of wafers handed out multiplied

Author Michael O'Neill, who goes by the name 'The Miracle Hunter,' says he believes it will be difficult without physical evidence to prove a real miracle occurred

During the March 5 service, Rev. Crowley claimed the Communion hosts, often referred to as wafers, had multiplied in the ciborium.

The 'miracle' occurred inside the Thomaston church and was witnessed by one person assisting with Communion.

Afterward, Rev. Crowley addressed the crowd and spoke through tears.

'One of our eucharistic ministers was running out of hosts and suddenly there were more hosts in the ciborium. God just duplicated himself in the ciborium,' he said.

'It's really, really cool when God does these things, and it's really, really cool when we realize what he's done,' the shocked reverend said.

According to the Courant, afterward, Hartford Archbishop Leonard Blair told reporters he appointed a priest well-versed in church law.

The priest was tasked with looking into the 'miracle' and would decide whether or not the Vatican should be informed.

A spokesperson for the Archdiocese told the Courant that 'reports such as the alleged miracle in Thomaston require referral to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome.'

'The Archdiocese has proceeded accordingly, and will await a response in due time,' spokesman David Elliot said.

The Dicastery was founded to defend the Catholic Church from heresy, according to the Vatican's website.

'The Archdiocese has proceeded accordingly, and will await a response in due time,' Elliott told the Courant.

The so-called eucharist miracles are exceedingly rare, with only 152 of them ever being recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. Pictured: St. Thomas Church in Thomaston

'The Archdiocese has proceeded accordingly, and will await a response in due time,' spokesman David Elliot said

During the March 5 service, Rev. Crowley claimed the Communion hosts, often referred to as wafers, had multiplied in the ciborium

Archbishop Leonard Blair issued a statement to the Couran, confirming the investigation

Despite the loud testimony from Rev. Crowley and the parishioners, O'Neill said the church faces an uphill battle in order to have the incident considered a real miracle.

'I'm guessing they have the testimony of numerous people who would have been able to say that they saw something and understood that this had to have been miraculous,' O'Neill said.

'So I'm guessing they're caught in the middle a little bit not having the hard evidence but having good testimony,' he added.

The 'Miracle Hunter' added he thinks the Archdiocese is looking to the Vatican for 'guidance' on this going forward and that it.
He was attacked by a shark shorty after

A teacher who is feared dead in a shark attack had warned nearby swimmers of the predator before he was pulled under the water.

Simon Baccanello, 46, went missing after he was reportedly attacked by a shark while surfing at Walkers Rock, on the Eyre peninsula in South Australia, on Saturday.

Emergency services continued to search for his remains on Monday with tributes pouring in from his family and loved ones.

Details of his final moments have since emerged revealing Mr Baccanello had warned swimmers and surfers, including a 13-year-old boy, about the shark.

46-year-old teacher, Simon Baccanello (pictured), reportedly urged other swimmers and surfers to rush ashore when he spotted a shark just moments before being attacked on Sunday

He urged them to swim back to shore before he then disappeared.

Neither the shark or Mr Baccanello have been found, however pieces of his wetsuit and his surfboard with a bite mark have been recovered.

The area where he went missing is sandwiched between two known shark breeding areas in Venus Bay and East Island.

Jaiden Millar, 22, was in the water at the time of the attack and recounted the horrifying scene.

'It was such a confronting incident. There were 15 or 20 people out there today. It could have been anyone,' Mr Millar told The Advertiser.

He saw the teacher's surfboard 'tombstoning' around 500m off shore, which is when the surfer is pulled down and their board stands upright in the water like a headstone.

'He was gone. (We) saw the shark just thrashing around out the back. The shark's obviously let go and come back and got him for a third time,' Mr Millar said.

A search for his remains will continue until the end of the day, with the operation to be reassessed if his body cannot be found.

Mr Baccanello had only moved to the nearby town of Elliston in January to teach maths, science and health and physical education at Elliston Area School.

He was surfing at Walkers Rock, on the Eyre peninsula in South Australia (pictured), when he was attacked, his body is yet to be found

In that time he had become well loved by students, staff members and the local community.

'Ive known this guy for five months and I feel like weve been mates for 10 years,' Chad Fleming, Elliston Area School principal, told 7News.

'Were all a bit numb at the minute ... he was just an absolute gem of a bloke, an absolutely dedicated teacher.'

'He's just been a good teacher for the kids,' another local said.

'In a small town like this everyone gets affected by it.'

Mr Baccanello's family released a statement following the disappearance of their loved one.

'The family are grateful for the support of the Elliston community, family and friends, and would appreciate their privacy as they process this tragic loss,' it read.
An Afghan national on the FBI's terror watchlist has been captured trying to sneak into the US at the southern border near San Digeo - as border patrol agents continue to slam Joe Biden for letting Title 42 expire.

Multiple officials in the region have confirmed the arrest, as the FBI has begun an investigation on the attempt, where he tried to get in with a group of migrants near the town of Otay Mesa.

Border Patrol agents discovered the Afghan national via a fingerprint scan that connected him to a terrorist screening database.

The suspect crossed the border just one day before the Biden administration allowed Title 42 to end.

Title 42 was activated by the Trump administration to stem the spread of COVID-19. It is a public health measure that allows border authorities to immediately expel arrivals before they could even claim asylum.

Multiple officials in the region have confirmed the arrest, as the FBI has begun an investigation on the attempt, where he tried to get in with a group of migrants near the town of Otay Mesa

Congressman Darrell Issa - who represents Otay Mesa in Washington - slammed President Biden upon hearing of the arrest.

'Biden's open borders aren't just a gateway to five million illegals, record human and child trafficking and the deadliest drug crisis in our history,' he said.

Issa has confirmed with local CBP representatives the arrest was made, according to Fox News.

'Biden's reckless policy is also an open invitation to even the most wanted terrorists in the world to come to America. They know they'll never have to leave. The nation knows what's going on and this president has only begun to be held accountable for what he has done.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Border Patrol for further comment.

Title 42 expired at midnight eastern time Thursday.

The Biden administration rushed through new restrictions, effectively restoring Trump's 'transit ban,' which allows for the deportation of arrivals who did not seek asylum in countries through which they traveled.

A view of the United States-Mexico border in Otay Mesa, California, where the Afghan national attempted to sneak in

An Afghan national on the FBI's terror watch list has reportedly been captured trying to sneak into the United States at the southern border near San Digeo, as many continue to slam President Joe Biden for ending Title 42 .

Migrants can legally present themselves at the border if they used a mobile app, CBP One, to register in advance.

But there were snags. An eleventh-hour legal challenge blocked plans to more quickly release migrants from Border Patrol detention.

The quick drop in numbers will help alleviate pressure on detention facilities that were running way beyond capacity.

Almost 300 newly arrived migrants were released by officials in Yuma, Arizona, on Friday, illustrating how border cities are struggling to cope with a huge surge in arrivals in the past week.

On Thursday, the mayor of Yuma announced that CBP was planning releases in the city of migrants who had not undergone full processing, although he insisted they had been 'vetted.'

And on Friday afternoon, three white buses with blacked-out windows pulled into the Yuma Public Safety Training Facility close to the city's airport.

The location was a closely held secret, but DailyMail.com was on hand to witness the release. A briefing document said 141 were being freed.

Streams of people could be seen climbing out of the buses and being directed to a shaded holding area, where there was at least some shelter from 96F temperatures.

Almost 300 newly arrived migrants were released by officials in Yuma, Arizona, on Friday illustrating how border cities are struggling to cope with a huge surge

Migrants were seen boarding buses in Yuma, Arizona and coincided with the end of Title 42, and the lifting of a Trump-era restriction designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19

On Friday afternoon, three white buses with blacked out windows pulled into the Yuma Public Safety Training Facility close to the city's airport

From there, it is understood they will be put on buses to take them to Phoenix.

It followed a similar release of about 140 people at a separate location in Yuma and at nearby San Luis in the morning.

Yuma County Supervisor Jonathan Lines said the process was an admission that federal authorities simply could not cope.

'This is decompressing and the federal govt is relying on the local and state government to do its job,' he said.

'It's another failure of the Biden Administration to manage a problem they created with their open border policy.'
The head of the Wagner mercenary forces offered to help Ukraine by giving up Russian troop locations if Kyiv withdrew its forces from Bakhmut, leaked Pentagon documents suggest.

Yevgeny Prigozhin in January said he would tell the intelligence service the positions of Vladimir Putin's soldiers, the Washington Post reported, citing the leaked 'Jack the Dripper' papers. Ukraine rejected the offer amid distrust of Prigozhin.

Prigozhin has repeatedly threatened to pull Wagner out of Bakhmut unless Russia's regular armed forces send more ammunition. Last week, he said his troops were receiving only 10 percent of the shells they needed.

The leaked documents also revealed that in January Volodymyr Zelensky plotted to 'conduct strikes in Russia' while moving ground troops into enemy territory to 'occupy unspecified Russian border cities'.

Prigozhin has repeatedly threatened to pull Wagner out of Bakhmut unless Russia's armed forces send ammunition. He said his troops were receiving only 10% of the shells they needed

In a February meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Yuliya Svrydenko, Zelensky also suggested that Ukraine 'blow up' the Soviet-built Druzhba pipeline that provides oil to Hungary, the Post reported.

'Zelenskyy highlighted that  Ukraine should just blow up the pipeline and destroy likely Hungarian [Prime Minister] Viktor Orban's industry, which is based heavily on Russian oil,' according to the document.

In an interview with the Post, Zelensky dismissed claims as 'fantasies' but defended his right to use unconventional tactics in the defense of his country.

'Ukraine has every right to protect itself, and we are doing it. Ukraine did not occupy anyone, but vice versa,' Zelensky said. 'When so many people have died and there have been mass graves and our people have been tortured, I am sure that we have to use any tricks.'

Since last week, Wagner group boss Prigozhin has repeatedly threatened to pull his soldiers out of Bakhmut unless Russia's regular armed forces send more ammunition.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Wagner private mercenary army, rages about the recent losses of Russian soldiers in Bakhmut

Mercenary chief ranks at the Russian military leadership as reports continue over Russian forces abandoning their frontlines

Ukrainian soldiers fire a cannon near Bakhmut, an eastern city where fierce battles against Russian forces have been taking place, in the Donetsk region, May 3, 2023

Wagner's soldiers have been at the forefront of a bloody Russian offensive to take the city of Bakhmut.

Prigozhin, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has publicly threatened to withdraw his mercenaries from the area around Bakhmut, where they are at the vanguard of the Russian offensive, unless they receive much-needed ammunition.

He said Tuesday in an audio message that he and his men would be regarded as traitors if they abandoned the area.

The Post reported Prigozhin's offer came through his contacts with Ukraine's intelligence service.

It was not made clear in the leaked document which Russian troop positions Prigozhin had offered to disclose.

But Kyiv rejected it because officials don't trust Prigozhin and thought his proposals could have been disingenuous, the Post reported.

The report, which is based on secret U.S. documents leaked to the group-chat platform Discord, does not make clear which Russian troop positions Prigozhin offered to disclose.

The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the offer.

Last week, video footage captured the moment fleeing Russian troops were blown up with their own weapon as they tried to escape from the Ukraine frontline.

The giant explosion is thought to take out all but three of Putin's men in the unknown location

Smoke rises after an explosion where a missile is fired at the escaping troops which appears to take out all but three of them

The battlefield video evidently films the strike by Ukrainians using one of the deadly weapons abandoned by Putin's deserting soldiers.

A smoke trail is seen as the missile is fired at the escaping troops, followed by a giant explosion which appears to take out all but three of Putin's men.

While the location of the strike is unknown, it is thought that the Russian forces were hit by one of their own Kornet man-portable anti-tank guided missiles which had been left behind and then seized and deployed by Kyiv's forces.

It comes as reports continue to surface over Russians ceding hard-won ground and fleeing their positions in the fiercely contested bloody battleground of Bakhmut.

Pro-Kremlin Ukrainian blogger and politician Anatoly Shariy posted the footage to his one million plus Telegram subscribers, declaring: 'This is what happens when the Russian army runs away, leaving Kornets behind.'

Since last week, Prigozhin has repeatedly threatened to pull Wagner out of Bakhmut unless Russia's regular armed forces send more ammunition. In his latest remarks on Wednesday he said his troops were receiving only 10% of the shells they needed.

As well as clashing repeatedly with Russia's defense ministry, Prigozhin has also expressed concerns about a long-promised Ukrainian counter-offensive to recapture some of the territory that Russia occupied after the 2022 invasion.
A Sydney chief executive officer has blasted those working from home as 'selfish'.

CR Commercial Property Group CEO and managing director Nicole Duncan called in to 2GB Mornings on Monday to comment on people's ability to work from home.

'This generation is just selfish,' Ms Duncan told host Ben Fordham, describing herself as someone 'passionate about people returning to work'.

A Sydney chief executive officer has blasted those working from home as 'selfish' (stock image)

'In our younger days we caught trains, buses, ferries to get to work,' she said.

'Yes it did take two or three hours, but you've got to be in the office.

'You don't know what you don't know, and until CEOs make a decision ... it's not going to change.'

She went on to describe how she believed companies allowing employees to work from home was hurting businesses in busy city centres like Sydney's CBD.

'Hotels are suffering ... there's less business travel, they do it all on (Microsoft) Teams ... cleaners, people who make your coffee, lunches, all of those sorts of things.

'We want a vibrant city for visitors to come to, and it needs to look busy, it needs to look vibrant, it doesn't need to look as slow and rambling.'

Ms Duncan pointed out there were distractions when working from home.

Fordham argued there were distractions at work too before agreeing that Sydney's CBD had reduced foot traffic.

Working from home became a regular part of life during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The directive to work from home turned city centres into ghost towns with cafes and restaurants forced to close down for good due to reduced business.

CR Commercial Property Group chief executive and managing director Nicole Duncan called in to 2GB Mornings on Monday to comment on people's ability to work from home

Hectares of city centre office spaces were left vacant, with commercial office vacancy rates reaching double-digit figures two years after the pandemic broke out.

Since then many companies have changed their policies, allowing employees to continue working from home.

Sydneysiders have slowly been returning to the office but many businesses allow hybrid work routines.

Some employees have agreed to come into the office for a certain number of days a week and work from home on the remaining days.
Police have begun a homicide investigation following the deaths of two young children in the New Zealand town of Ruakaka.

Northland police attended a property on Peter Snell Drive on Monday morning, finding two bodies without specifying their age.

Local media have reported the two deceased are aged one and four, while a local school has acknowledged the 'sad loss of two children' on social media.

Various emergency services were in attendance including police, who confirmed officers had attended a 'sudden death incident'.

'Our investigation is still in the early stages and we are currently speaking with a person as part of our inquiries,' Detective inspector Bridget Doell said.

Northland police attended a property on Peter Snell Drive on Monday morning, finding two bodies without specifying their age (pictured is police at the scene)

'There will be an increased police presence in the area, and we will provide further updates as our investigation progresses.'

Detective Inspector Bridget Doell said nobody else was being sought in connection to the incident.

Police were seen speaking with neighbours on the quiet residential street.

Local news outlet Stuff reports the house was managed by Kainga Ora, New Zealand's social housing provider.

Kainga Ora regional director Jeff Murray said police had described the deaths as a 'sudden death incident at one of our properties'.

Whangarei Mayor Vince Cocurullo described the incident as 'tragic and shocking'.

'The family and community will be reeling and will need support,' Mr Cocurullo told the Northern Advocate on Monday.

Local media have reported the two deceased are aged one and four, while the local school has also posted on Facebook of the 'sad loss of two children' (pictured is Peter Snell Drive)

The principal of One Tree Point School sent her love to the Ruakaka community and said support was available to students.

'We are aware of the sad loss of two children in Ruakaka this morning,' principal Shirley Winters wrote on Facebook.

'Our sincere aroha and thoughts are with the whanau and everyone concerned. We have support systems in place for any of our tamariki who need it.'

Bream Bay College principal Wayne Buckland said staff had been reassured that students were safe to attend school and that support was available to them.

'We have informed our board of trustees. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide support as and when needed,' Mr Buckland told Stuff.

Ruakaka, a small beachside community, is located about 135km north of Auckland on New Zealand's North Island.
'We are everywhere' the threatening note from an unidentified person read

A Jewish professor at the University of Delaware found a swastika on her door

A Jewish professor at the University of Delaware received a 'threatening message' that included a swastika drawn on the back of a poster for a drag show she organized.

Journalism Professor Dawn Fallik found the symbol and message 'we are everywhere' on the back of the flyer for a 'Martha Graham Cracker' performance, according to Delaware Online.

Fallik told the local outlet she believes she was the intended target of the note and that no suspect nor motive has been discovered.

She offered that she had just completed a unit on 'how the media covers race and marginalized communities' and that she had mentioned her own religion.

Journalism Professor Dawn Fallik found the symbol of hate along with the message 'We Are Everywhere' on the back of a poster

A Jewish professor at the University of Delaware received a 'threatening message' that included a swastika drawn on the back of a poster for a drag show she organized

According to reports, Fallik's office is located in Memorial Hall.

The journalism professor noted the hallway where her office is does have other Jewish professors nearby.

Fallik said the others 'didn't receive any hateful messages.'

Despite her having just recently mentioned her faith in a lecture, she claimed she has 'no reason to suspect any of her students.'

The professor who has worked at the school since 2007 told the Delaware Online she believes anyone could have been 'listening in' to her classes as they had been held virtually.

Whoever defaced the poster had an abundance of opportunity, Fallik said, as the hallway doesn't have a security camera.

She also said the corridor is empty '95 percent of the time.'

After the defacement, faculty in the school's English department put up fliers in the hallways to remind students that all are welcome.

'All faiths, sexualities, genders, modes of self-expression, races, abilities are welcome here,' a poster reads.

The poster was advertising a performance for drag queen Martha Graham Cracker

The journalism professor noted that the hallway where her office is does have other other Jewish professors nearby

In a statement released after the incident, the University of Delaware's President said he is 'appalled and deeply disturbed' by the threat.

'On behalf of the entire University, we unequivocally denounce this incident, which is in direct opposition to our institutional values supporting diversity, equity and inclusion,' President Dennis Assanis wrote.

'At UD, people of all faiths, ethnicities, race, genders and sexualities are welcome, and every member of our community must be free to teach, work, learn and live on our campus while having all aspects of their identity respected,' he said.

The professor said she is now trying to move on from and focus on the good she has done, rather than one person or party's 'hateful' actions.

'College is where you come to meet people who are not like you and change those ideas,' Fallik told local outlets.

'But I guess you just have to keep teaching because for every person who wants to hate, I have taught thousands of students who have learned to see the world in a different way and be curious about different people,' she said.
A judge has ruled that an Adelaide man who dragged a 13-year-old girl into bushes and tried to rape her has been found not guilty due to mental incompetence.

Anthony James Stengewis, 53, was found not guilty of assault with intent to rape, and a second count of assault by reason of mental incompetence at Adelaide's District Court on Monday.

Judge Geraldine Davison determined Stengewis committed the acts beyond a reasonable doubt, but was unfit to stand trial.

Judge Davison imposed Stengewis with a limiting term - which is a period under medical supervision equal to the prison sentence he would have received if found guilty.

AnthonyJames Stengewis, 53, (pictured) was found not guilty of attempting to rape a 13-year-old girl by reason of mental incompetence at Adelaide's District Court

Judge Geraldine Davison determined Stengewis committed the acts beyond a reasonable doubt, but was unfit to stand trial.

Stengewis appeared in court via video link and objected loudly to the term which is set to begin in August.

'August, You are kidding, right? Oh no,' he said, according to The Advertiser.

The 53-year-old from Medindie, was arrested in February last year after allegedly trying to rape a young girl in Walkerville Terrace, Gilberton.

Prosecutors alleged Stengewis approached the 13-year-old girl while she was waiting for a bus home at about 4.30pm and asked her 'do you have a boyfriend?'.

When the young girl responded by telling him to 'go away', he allegedly dragged her into nearby bushes.

It was further alleged Stengewis tried to pull down her shorts and 'did not stop' despite the girl repeatedly shouting 'assault' and 'help'.

The prosecution said the girl allegedly 'started kicking him in the stomach and groin' for 'about one minute before he got up and left'.

The court heard the entire ordeal was allegedly witnessed by the girl's sister, who was on the phone to her during the assault.

Following his first court appearance, Stengewis was remanded to South Australia's high-security mental health facility James Nash House.

He told James Nash House staff he had multiple charges and 'just doesn't care anymore' after refusing to attend court via video link, according to The Advertiser.

Prosecutors alleged Stengewis approached the 13-year-old girl while she was waiting for a bus home in Walkerville Terrace, Gilberton (pictured). The 53-year-old allegedly dragged the young girl into the bushes and tried to rape her

Counsel presented two reports detailing Stengewis' current mental state and prognosis.

They requested Stengewis serve his limiting term at James Nash House, where he has remained since his arrest.

Prosecutors will determine whether the young girl will provide a victim impact statement to the court.

Stengewis was remanded in custody.
The prime suspect in the case of Natalee Holloway could delay being extradited to the US for months if he deploys a habeas corpus petition.

Joran van der Sloot, who is facing charges in connection with the 2005 disappearance, could remain in a Peruvian prison until at least August if he challenges his detention.

Van der Sloot is currently in prison in Peru for the 2010 murder of Stephany Flores and is awaiting his extradition to the US to face extortion charges related to Holloway's case.

Peru has agreed to temporarily send van der Sloot to the US to face trial, but how speedily things move along will depend on whether he deploys a habeas corpus petition.

A habeas corpus petition is a legal action through which an individual can challenge their detention or imprisonment.

Col. Carlos Lopez Aeda, the chief of Interpol in Lima, Peru, has described van der Sloot, who is a Dutch citizen as having 'psychopathic traits', a 'murderous attitude' and of being an 'unruly person'.

Dutch citizen Joran van der Sloot walks inside the courtroom after being sentenced to 28 years in prison by a Peruvian court for killing Stephany Flores in Lima in 2010. He is facing extradition to the US to be tried in the disappearance of 18-year-old Alabama native Natalee Holloway

18-year-old Natalee Holloway disappeared while on holiday in Aruba in 2005 after spending time with van der Sloot

Natalee is seen in casino security footage at a table with van der Sloot shortly before her disappearance

If filing a petition, it would see a court to review the legality of his confinement and consider whether there are grounds for his release. The petition typically argues that the individual's constitutional rights have been violated, they are being unlawfully detained, or there is a lack of sufficient evidence to justify their imprisonment.

More than a decade ago, Van der Sloot told a Peruvian judge that he would fight efforts to be extradited to the U.S.

'Taking this background into consideration, we as policemen could presume that he could also have killed [Natalee Holloway],' the colonel said to Fox News. 'That is not ruled out in any way because of the way he acts, those psychopathic traits, that murderous attitude.

'We assume that the U.S. authorities will have enough evidence about his crimes, and if they find him guilty and he is sentenced after he has served here in Peru, he will be transferred so that he can also be sentenced in the United States,' Lopez Aeda explained.

Joran van der Sloot is pictured in this mugshot

Aruba police are seen arresting suspect Joran van der Sloot in July 2005, before releasing him due to lack of evidence

Van der Sloot is in a maximum-security prison in the Andes, in Challapalca prison, a maximum-security facility located in Puno, Peru. Its conditions are said to be so bad that even his lawyer has suggested some relatives believe he may be better off in U.S. custody

How long it takes for Van der Sloot to be extradited will depend on a number of factors including arranging transportation to fly him to the States and an agreement from the U.S that he will be returned to Peru to complete his sentence there.

A 2001 treaty between Peru and the U.S. allows a suspect to be temporarily extradited to face trial in the other country.

It requires that the prisoner 'be returned' after judicial proceedings are concluded 'against that person, in accordance with conditions to be determined by' both countries.

Van der Sloot would either flown to Alabama on a U.S. government plane or accompanied by U.S. marshals on a commercial flight.

The U.S. now has 30 days to agree to Peru's terms, and once an agreement is in place, he could be extradited within a matter of days or weeks - with some estimating it will happen in July or August.

The governor of Alabama praised the extradition decision and commended the persistance of Beth Holloway.

Natalee is pictured with her mother Beth shortly before her disappearance in 2005

Natalee Holloway and her mother Beth in photos from a memorial Facebook page

Holloway was a cheerleader while at school

Five years to the day that Natalee disappeared, on May 30, 2010, Stephany Flores was reported missing in Lima, Peru. She was later found dead in a hotel room in van der Sloot's name and he was found guilty of her murder. Pictured: Flores at a casino with van der Sloot, left, and right

'Joran van der Sloots extradition to Birmingham, Alabama - Natalees home for her 18 years - is significant,' Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement. 'Criminals like him are deceptive and vicious. Alabama moms like Beth Holloway are stronger.'

The time that van der Sloot ends up spending in the U.S. 'will be extended until the conclusion of the criminal proceedings,' including the appeal process should there be one, according to the published resolution. The resolution also says U.S. authorities agreed to return the suspect to the custody of Peru afterward.

The extradition request indicated 'that an additional delay in the prosecution of the case that is being pursued in the United States of America could significantly reduce the possibility of conviction, that the ages and health conditions of the key witnesses in the case would make the prosecution would be extremely difficult if it is not carried out soon,' according to a March order from Peru's top court.

In a statement, the young woman's mother, Beth Holloway, said she was blessed to have Natalee in her life for 18 years.

'She would be 36 years old now. It has been a very long and painful journey, but the persistence of many is going to pay off. Together, we are finally getting justice for Natalee,' Beth Holloway said.

Van der Sloot is in a maximum-security prison in the Andes, in Challapalca prison, a maximum-security facility located in Puno, Peru. Its conditions are said to be so bad that even his lawyer has suggested some relatives believe he may be better off in U.S. custody.

'She would be 36 years old now. It has been a very long and painful journey, but the persistence of many is going to pay off. Together, we are finally getting justice for Natalee,' Beth Holloway, pictured, said in a statement

In an ABC documentary on her daughter's disappearance, Beth Holloway returned to Aruba 15 years later

Van der Sloot married a Peruvian woman, Leidy Figueroa, in July 2014 in a ceremony at a maximum security prison

Van der Sloot married a Peruvian woman in July 2014 in a ceremony at a maximum security prison. He has been transferred from prisons in response to reports that he enjoyed privileges such as television, internet access and a cellphone, and accusations that he had threatened to kill a warden.

Wherever he will serve time, he will be in jail for the foreseeable future.

Van der Sloot's Peru sentence extends lasts until 2038 while he faces an additional 40 years in the United States for the $250,000 extortion plot and wire fraud charges related to Holloway's case.

The federal charges filed in Alabama against van der Sloot stem from an accusation that he tried to extort the Holloway family, promising to lead them to her body in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

A grand jury indicted him that year on one count each of wire fraud and extortion, each of which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

An FBI agent wrote in an affidavit that van der Sloot reached out to Holloways mother and wanted to be paid $25,000 to disclose the location and then another $225,000 when the remains were recovered. Van der Sloot requested that an agreement be drafted and signed by the mother and him.

A New York attorney representing Beth Holloway traveled to Aruba with the agreement and gave van der Sloot $10,000 in cash during a recorded meeting, according to court records.

Wherever he will serve time, Joran Van der Sloot will be in jail for the foreseeable future

Joran van der Sloot is pictured near his parents house in 2007 when he was 20

The indictment says both men then went to a site where the student's remains were purportedly buried, and Beth Holloway made a wire transfer for $15,000 to van der Sloot's bank account in the Netherlands.

In the affidavit, the FBI agent wrote that van der Sloot in later emails to the attorney admitted to lying about the location.

Also in 2010, van der Sloot was arrested in Peru for the murder of 21-year-old Stephany Flores, who was killed five years to the day after Holloways disappearance.

Peruvian prosecutors accused van der Sloot of killing Flores, a business student from a prominent family, to rob her after learning she had won money at the casino where the two met.

They said he killed her with 'ferocity' and 'cruelty,' beating then strangling her in his hotel room. He pleaded guilty in 2012.

Natalee Holloway was last seen on May 29, 2005

Van der Sloot was the prime suspect in Natalee Holloway's disappearance but he has never formally charged in connection with her death.

In 2005, Holloway, an Alabama teen, who lived in suburban Birmingham, went missing during a high school graduation trip to the Caribbean island of Aruba.

She vanished after a night with friends at a nightclub, leaving a mystery that sparked years of news coverage and countless true-crime podcasts.

She was last seen leaving a bar with van der Sloot, who was a student at an international school on the island, but no conclusive evidence has been found regarding her fate.

Van der Sloot was identified as a suspect and detained weeks later, along with two Surinamese brothers. Holloway's body was never found, and no charges were filed in the case. A judge later declared Holloway dead.
A boss of one of Australia's biggest fashion brands was left shocked after receiving a foul-mouthed email from a job applicant she had rejected.

Jane Lu, the founder and CEO of Showpo, has shared the 'rudest email' the company has ever received after rejecting an applicant for a casual warehouse position.

The email chain, dating back to January, stemmed from Showpo asking to keep the details of unsuccessful candidates on file for any potential jobs in the future.

The founder and CEO of Showpo, Jane Lu (pictured), has been left floored by 'the rudest email' the company has received after asking a job applicant to keep their details on file for future

Ms Lu started the company out of her parent's home in Balmain, in Sydney's inner-west, in 2010 and the business has since become an international fashion empire.

Revealing the email to fans on TikTok, Ms Lu captioned the video 'we definitely dodged a bullet'.

Ms Lu explained the job vacancies had been filled up quickly through an existing talent pool, and an email was sent out to all unsuccessful applicants.

'We were luckily able to the fill the positions very quickly, however, we do hire for these roles throughout the year so we hope you dont mind if we keep your details and reach out when we have positions available,' the email reads.

The harmless request did not sit well with one rejected applicant prompting them to respond with a foul-mouthed message.

'I do not give permission to store my details if u don't give me a chance first time, delete immediately u c***s (sic),' it read.

'F**k you sincerely.'

'What?' a shocked Ms Lu exclaimed after reading out the email.

Showpo sent an email saying they would 'definitely' not be saving their information before the applicant responded with a 'thumbs up' emoji.

Social media users expressed their shock saying Ms Lu had dodged a bullet with the rejected employee.

The applicant's email (pictured) tells Showpo to 'delete' their information 'immediately u (sic) c***s'

'I bet you kicked yourself for not hiring this gem of a person,' one user wrote in a tongue-in-cheek message.

'Quality candidates wouldnt act a damn fool like that - good on you,' a second wrote.

'Red flag!!!! It's such a small world and this is so unprofessional,' another added.

Some social media users took pity on the rejected applicant.

'Ur (you'r) team thinks its nice to say we filled the role quickly? Simply say the role was filled,' one wrote.

'Obviously what he did was wrong. But I also dont think that including phrases like "luckily we were able to fill this role quickly",' a second wrote.

'Will consider what youre suggesting but I don't think thats whats triggered him,' Ms Lu replied.

'Anyway if thats triggered him then probably worth finding out early.'
Peter FitzSimons has called out a young Aussie teen for campaigning for nuclear energy.

Year 11 Brisbane boy William Shackel, 16, has drawn national publicity in recent months with his Nuclear for Australia campaign group.

Nuclear for Australia is an independent, non-registered information campaign that advocates for the ban on nuclear energy in Australia to be lifted.

William posted a video on social media on Sunday documenting a trip to Canberra, where he is hoping to present a petition to parliament.

FitzSimons praised the young activist's passion but claimed it had been 'misplaced' as he addressed the video in a Twitter post on Monday.

Peter FitzSimon praised the young activist's passion but said it was 'misplaced'

'Onya for your passion, young man, as misplaced as it is. I stand to be corrected, but is nuclear energy not most expensive to produce?' he wrote.

'Why do that, when renewables are blooming, and cheap? Takes 10 years to build? ANYONE out there, who would welcome big or mini-reactor nearby?'

William outlined his support for nuclear power in an interview last Tuesday.

'Nuclear is a really unique solution because unlike fossil fuels, nuclear is safe and it is clean,' he told 6 News.

'Unlike renewables, it is reliable and that's really, really important.

'So that's why I support nuclear energy because I do think it's the solution that Australia really needs.'

More than 30 countries worldwide are effectively using nuclear energy, with nuclear reactors in the United States providing 20 per cent of electricity needs.

Despite being emissions free, nuclear power has been banned in Australia since 1998 under Commonwealth laws.

The Liberals are considering introducing it but Labor remains opposed, insisting that solar, wind and hydro-electric power are cheaper and faster forms of low emissions energy.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged to almost halve Australia's emissions by 2030 hoping to drop it by 43 per cent from levels recorded in 2005.

Nationals MP David Gillespie claimed Australia would have 'no chance' of reaching net zero if the country did not embrace nuclear power.

'Overreliance on renewables has huge consequences, it makes energy very expensive,' he told Sky News on Monday.

Labor also wants to increase the share of renewables in Australia's National Electricity Market to 82 per cent, up from about a third today.

William Shackel, 16, posted a video on social media on Sunday documenting a trip to Canberra, where he is hoping to present a petition arguing for the use of nuclear power to parliament

But Mr Albanese wants to achieve these aims by expanding solar, wind and hydro power without needing nuclear.

Key National Party figures such as former leader Barnaby Joyce and leader David Littleproud have been vocal about the benefits of nuclear power.

Peter Dutton also advocated for 'small-scale nuclear power' in his recent response to the federal budget.

Earlier this year, 2GB host Ben Fordham called on Australia to embrace nuclear power in March.

He said Australia is either 'too timid or too stupid' to embrace it and now was the time to reconsider nuclear energy as the government acquires nuclear submarines.

The 2GB radio host said Australia was 'stuck in the dark ages' when it came to nuclear power but that harnessing the power source would be a 'game-changer'.

'I wonder if the nuclear subs will provide that catalyst,' he said.

Fordham made the comment after the landmark AUKUS security arrangement was announced, which will see Australia command a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

Canberra will acquire three US Virginia-class nuclear submarines as a stop-gap from 2033 before a new-generation hybrid sub comes into production in a bid to deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific.
China sentenced a 78-year-old US citizen to life in prison on spying charges

China has sentenced a 78-year-old United States citizen to life in prison on spying charges.

John Shing-Wan Leung, who holds permanent residency in Hong Kong, was arrested by the National Security Bureau in Suzhou, China, on April 15, 2021.

The city's intermediate court announced Leung had been 'found guilty of espionage, sentenced to life imprisonment, deprived of political rights for life.'

The elderly American citizen also had his personal property of 500,000 yuan - roughly $72,000 - confiscated.

Chinese officials did not specify what they believed Leung had done and such trials are held behind closed doors with little or no information made public.

On Monday, China sentenced 78-year-old United States citizen John Shing-Wan Leung to life in prison on spying charges after he was arrested in April 2021

The sentencing of the elderly man comes as China and the U.S. continue down a rocky path

Relations between Washington and Beijing have hit a low in recent years.

The relationship has seen major disputes over trade, technology, human rights and Chinas increasingly aggressive approach toward its territorial claims.

The sentencing comes as U.S. President Joe Biden is traveling to Hiroshima, Japan, for the Group of Seven major industrial nations summit.

That visit is followed by a stop in Papua New Guinea, a Pacific island nation in a region where China has sought to increase its economic, military and diplomatic influence.

The city's intermediate court announced Leung had been 'found guilty of espionage, sentenced to life imprisonment, deprived of political rights for life'

While the Suzhou court offered no indication of a tie to overall China-U.S. relations, spying charges are highly selective and evidence backing them up is not released.

That is standard practice among most countries, who wish to secure their personal connections, networks and access to information.

However, Chinas authoritarian political system and the ruling Communist Partys absolute control over legal matters, civil society and freedom of information forestalls demands for further information, as well as court appeals.
Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson will take office Monday, facing an influx of migrants in desperate need of shelter, pressure to build support among skeptical business leaders, and summer months that historically bring a spike in violent crime.

Progressives viewed Johnson's election as evidence that bold stances lead to victory at the ballot box. Now, his first term leading the nation's third-largest city will test the former union organizer's ability to turn those proposals into solutions for stubborn problems worsened by the coronavirus pandemic, including public safety, economic growth and housing affordability.

'There's no honeymoon in mayoral politics or city governments,' said Dan Gibbons, CEO of the City Club of Chicago and a former staffer for the city's longest-serving mayor, Richard M. Daley. 'Everyone has your phone number, you get the blame and you don't get the credit.'

Johnson, 47 and a former organizer for the Chicago Teachers Union, was little known when he entered the mayoral race in 2022 and has no experience within city government.

But the two-term Cook County commissioner gradually climbed atop a crowded field with the support of the influential union he once worked for, endorsements from Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and local progressive groups to knock off the incumbent mayor, Lori Lightfoot, and win a tough runoff in April.

Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson, 57, will take office on Monday facing an influx of migrants in desperate need of shelter, pressure to build support among skeptical business leaders, and summer months that historically bring a spike in violent crime

The mayoral race was dominated by questions of how to address crime, and Johnson argued that a policing-first approach has failed. Pictured, a crime scene from this weekend

Johnson is also taking on a growing migrant crisis. Chicago is among the U.S. cities already struggling to provide shelter and other help to hundreds arriving from the southern border. Pictured, a migrant couple from Venezuela sit with their children on the playground at Brands Park in Chicago, Illinois

He has since tried to appeal to those who didn't back him in the election, stocking his transition team with familiar names from Chicago corporations and philanthropies beside leaders of organized labor and progressive groups. He selected a veteran of Chicago's emergency management agency as his chief of staff and a retired police commander who is popular among rank-and-file officers as interim leader of the Chicago Police Department.

There is little doubt that public safety will remain the city's top concern and Johnson's response will shape his relationship with business leaders, other elected officials, his base of progressive activists and residents of every Chicago neighborhood.

'Mayor-elect Johnson's top priority remains building a better, stronger, safer Chicago where all residents can live and work free from the threat of violence,' spokesman Ronnie Reese said in a statement.

Asiaha Butler, co-founder of the Resident Association of Greater Englewood on the South Side, said she hopes Johnson stays committed to his wholesale approach to crime - and that Chicagoans give it an opportunity to make a difference. Butler said improving safety on her own block took 10 or even 15 years of cooperation with neighbors and other community groups.

'Knowing the despair that our city sometimes faces, it will take a while to take that cloud away,' Butler said. 'I wouldn't put anyone up to that job in one term.'

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

Police in Chicago are seen looking over the scene of a police shooting last month several miles west of downtown

Chicago has a higher per-capita homicide rate than New York or Los Angeles, but the most recent federal data shows it's lower than other Midwestern cities, such as St. Louis and Detroit. Still, the number of homicides in Chicago hit a 25-year high in 2021 with 804, according to the Chicago Police Department.

That number decreased last year while other crimes, such as carjackings and robberies, increased.

Chicago business leaders overwhelmingly endorsed Johnson's opponent, former Chicago schools CEO Paul Vallas, typically swayed by his pitch to strengthen policing or Johnson's various tax proposals affecting large companies and the wealthy.

Key corporate groups or individuals have been impressed by the mayor-elect's quick outreach following his victory, said Farzin Parang, executive director of the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago.

The trade group represents the commercial office industry that drew 600,000 people downtown daily pre-pandemic but now reports at most 40% of that number. Efforts to draw new tenants are regularly hampered by Chicago's 'headline weaknesses' - particularly public safety and real estate taxes, Parang said.

There is little doubt that public safety will remain the city's top concern and Johnson's

Last month, one hundred rowdy teenagers gathered to cause anarchy and run wild

The rowdy group torched cars and got into fights before gunfire ended the night

'You really just lose out on a bunch of people that don't even consider Chicago,' he said. 'So I think even small movements towards addressing some of those weaknesses, they have big returns.'

The mayoral race was dominated by questions of how to address crime, and Johnson argued that a policing-first approach has failed.

Instead, he proposed increased mental health treatment, hiring more detectives, expanding youth jobs programs and increasing taxes on the sale of properties over $1 million to support more affordable housing. Johnson will also have the final say on naming the citys next police superintendent, though for the first time an appointed citizen commission will select three finalists.

Andrea Saenz, president and CEO of the Chicago Community Trust foundation, said she's hopeful that Johnson can bring philanthropies, businesses, police and activists together to create a wide-ranging strategy to prevent violence now and chip away at the conditions that let it flourish.

'It feels like this is a moment - the moment - to have those conversations, for a mayor to bring everybody to the table,' Saenz said.

Johnson has shown no sign of backing away from his campaign strategies. When violence broke out as teens flooded Chicago's downtown streets in mid-April, he issued a statement asking that people not 'demonize youth who have otherwise been starved of opportunities in their own communities.'

Mayor Lori Lightfoot finally left office on Friday after losing election in April. She is pictured declaring a state of emergency last Tuesday over the arrival migrants to Chicago

Paying for his campaign promises, including the public safety response, hinges on a number of tax increases aimed at high earners and large companies likely to put up a political fight. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the state's most influential Democrat, already declined to back the mayor-elect's proposal to tax financial transactions, which would require sign-off from state lawmakers.

Johnson is also taking on a growing migrant crisis. Chicago is among the U.S. cities already struggling to provide shelter and other help to hundreds arriving from the southern border, with adults and young children sleeping in police station lobbies. The flow of new arrivals is expected to increase now that pandemic-era restrictions on migrant crossings have ended.

Illinois state Rep. Kam Buckner, a Chicago Democrat who also ran for mayor, said Johnson will have to use the same strategy that won him the mayor's office to achieve his many priorities.

'I think what Lori Lightfoot learned is that in Chicago, your defenders can very quickly become your detractors,' Buckner said. 'We want our leaders to be authentic, have conversations with us about the future. As long as he continues to do that, I think people will give him an opportunity.'
Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby both looked solemn as they set off for work today where they will be together on the This Morning sofa despite their degenerating relationship.

61-year-old Phillip, wearing jeans, a casual shirt and boots, strode out of his West London home at around 6.30am and into a waiting BMW. Holly left her south-west London house in jeans, wax jacket and sunglasses at around 7am.

At 10am millions will be watching This Morning as the TV couple appear on screen following crisis talks between ITV and the embattled pair over whether one of them, both or neither would be on air today.

Phil is trying to 'tough out' the ongoing row after it emerged he had called in his own lawyers over the fallout with his co-presenter, sources have revealed. He has also employed a new PR man to help improve his press coverage.

It comes as ITV confirmed that the pair will host the show this morning, after more than 48 hours of crisis talks. Those close to the pair said today's programme will continue to run smoothly, despite the feuding behind the scenes.

Former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes said on GB News today that the Holly and Phil deserved special nominations for the 'best actors' at the BAFTAs last night. He said: 'He's brought in lawyers, she's brought in a PR team. The public surely suss that there is no chemistry, that it is a broken fit between the two of them.

'This Morning doesn't depend on who presents it. It's an institution. It will carry on no matter who presents it. And anybody can check the viewing figures. There is no difference between when they present it, or whenever anybody else does'.

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby head to work today amid rows and claims they no longer speak

Phil is trying to 'tough out' the ongoing This Morning row after it emerged he had called in his own lawyers over the fallout with his co-presenter Holly

Phil has said that Holly is his 'rock' but sources have claimed their relationship has broken down

The broadcaster has brought in Gordon Smart, a former Sun showbiz columnist and occasional Good Morning Britain host, to manage the crisis and ensure favourable press coverage

Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield (pictured during their last show together on Thursday) will both host This Morning after he called in lawyers over their falling-out

There had been talk that they may not appear together today - but crisis talks appear to have sorted a short term resolution.

One source told The Sun: 'Holly and Phil are professionals and they can turn it on like no one else.

'Although behind the scenes their relationship is nothing like it was, they are both dedicated to This Morning and keeping it together for viewers.'

Bosses from the broadcaster were allegedly furious after Schofield, 61, broke his silence with a shock statement about the fall out with his co-host of 14 years admitting 'the last few weeks haven't been easy for us'.

Despite this, Schofield believes he can weather the ongoing storm but even those close to him have said it is down to whether the audience believes the pair still have on-screen chemistry.

The feud kicked off in September when the pair were criticised after failing to queue for the Queen's Lying in State, a situation which those close to him have dubbed 'Queue-gate'.

One source said 'he will think he can tough it out, like he has previous controversies, such as Queue-gate' but added if one of the stars had to go it would be Schofield.

'But to be honest, it's out of his hands. If the viewers don't believe in him and Holly, something's got to give - and that will most likely be Phil.

'It's a massive week for them both', the source told the Mirror.

They added that it was down to broadcasters to decided whether to wait until the end of the year to make any immediate changes.

Sources at the broadcaster described the situation as a 'quandary' for its bosses because both of the former friends were determined to get their own way.

Schofield, 61, has consulted lawyers over the situation, which has been spiralling out of control for months.

The Daily Mail revealed last night that he has also hired Gordon Smart, a former Sun showbiz columnist and occasional Good Morning Britain host, to manage the crisis and ensure favourable press coverage.

It is a clear sign, say sources, that he is 'taking this very seriously' and is 'keen to come out of the situation quickly'.

The feud began in September when the pair (pictured in August 22) were criticised after failing to queue for the Queen's Lying in State

It follows crisis talks between ITV and the embattled pair over whether one of them, both or neither would be on air. Pictured: Holly in Hampshire on Saturday

Schofield has previously used ex-News of the World bosses Phil Hall and Phil Taylor to deal with his crises.

Other ITV stars are said to be 'fascinated' by the situation, with one telling the Mail: 'This has been going on for some time. Everyone has been talking and now we are all rubbing our hands waiting to see what happens next.'

The feud began in September when the pair were criticised after failing to queue for the Queen's Lying in State.

Things have become so bad that it is said they no longer speak when the cameras stop rolling. Ms Willoughby, 42, has now cut all ties with Schofield other than her This Morning commitments.

It is understood that producers had several options for how to tackle today's show. At the centre of the decision was editor Martin Frizell, who backs Ms Willoughby.

It will be the first time the pair will appear together since Schofield released a statement about their friendship last Thursday without consulting her first. While on air that morning they failed to convince viewers they were still friends, with Ms Willoughby apparently unable to look her co-star in the eye.

Insiders predict a battle between ITV and Schofield. He has been a powerful figure there for more than 20 years, but his influence is waning. Bosses want to keep Ms Willoughby happy, and staff on This Morning expect the tense atmosphere in the studio to become more difficult.

While the co-hosts' return is expected to boost ratings, executives fear that reviving their partnership will make viewers suspicious of any forced bonhomie. One insider said: 'This will seriously undermine the show and its reputation. How can they pretend to joke together?

Schofield disappeared off TV during his brother Timothy's (pictured together in 2015) trial over sexually abusing a teenage boy

It will be the first time the pair will appear together since Schofield released a statement about their friendship last Thursday without consulting her first

Schofield (pictured with Willoughby in 2019) has previously used ex-News of the World bosses Phil Hall and Phil Taylor to deal with his crises

'Their friendship used to be genuine, but it isn't any more, so surely they will be making fools of their audience. But neither will back down. How can you just tell one of them they are to stay at home?

'The headlines that will come from them being on together could really damage the show and its brand.'

Schofield disappeared from the airwaves for more than a fortnight last month while his brother Timothy, 54, was tried at Exeter Crown Court of sexually abusing a teenage boy. After he was convicted, the TV star said: 'I no longer have a brother.'

Meanwhile, it has emerged that a runner on This Morning who struck up a friendship with Schofield quit suddenly. The man, in his 20s, moved to ITV's Loose Women before leaving the network amid claims of a rift.

ITV and Schofield insist the Loose Women job was a promotion. But a source said: 'He and Phil were close, then he just went off to Loose Women, which is a rival show. It was odd. Some of the network's biggest names expressed surprise. He was popular. It was mysterious.'
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The Kremlin issued a chilling warning of 'retaliatory actions' today as Rishi Sunak pledged more support for Ukraine during talks with Volodymyr Zelensky at Chequers.

Moscow lashed out after the PM committed to supplying air defence missiles and drones, and vowed to push for more international aid when he attends the G7 gathering in Japan and Council of Europe in Reykjavik this week.

Mr Zelensky and Mr Sunak greeted each other with a hug after the president arrived at the PM's country retreat in Chinook helicopters for his surprise visit this morning.

As the teams sat down in the historic Hawtrey Room, Mr Sunak pointed out that Winston Churchill had made many of his inspirational wartime speeches from that spot.

Last week it emerged the UK had become the first country to provide long-range precision missiles to Ukraine.

The Storm Shadow cruise missiles, accurate to beyond 150 miles, are expected to be at the heart of the much anticipated counter-offensive against Russian occupiers.

But the prospect of the UK supplying fighter jet has effectively disappeared, despite Mr Zelensky visiting in February and presenting Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle with a pilot's helmet in a not-so-subtle hint of what he wanted from the UK.

Instead the RAF will help train Ukrainian forces to use Western jets, with No10 insisting Kyiv has 'decided' to focus on F-16s - which Britain does not use. Mr Sunak is expected to urge other countries to provide the airframes that Ukraine wants.

Mr Zelensky said his people are grateful 'from our hearts' for the support the UK had provided.

Rishi Sunak and Volodymyr Zelensky held talks in the historic residence along with their close teams

Mr Sunak pointed out that the room they were using had been the scene of some of Churchill's war speeches

The British and Ukrainian teams perched on sofas as they took stock of the situation in the war against Russia

Mr Sunak and Mr Zelensky seemed delighted to see each other as they discussed progress against Russian forces

The two leaders greeted each other with a hug after the Ukraine president landed in Chinook helicopters

Mr Sunak pointed out Mr Zelensky was the first world leader he had entertained at Chequers and suggested it will be a 'crucial' week in the struggle against Russia

Mr Sunak tweeted a picture of the pair meeting with the message 'welcome back'

Volodymyr Zelensky has jetted in to the UK to meet Rishi Sunak ahead of a 'crucial' week in the struggle against Russia

Mr Zelensky revealed he was visiting London in a message on Twitter this morning

Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said of the latest pledge from the UK: 'We feel extremely negative about this.'

Peskov raised the prospect of 'retaliatory actions' and said Ukraine was making the situation 'more difficult'.

'We repeat once again, this cannot have any significant and fundamental impact on the course of the special military operation, but, of course, it leads to further destructions, it leads to further retaliatory actions. That is, it makes this story much more difficult for Ukraine,' he said.

Mr Zelensky was in Paris for talks with Emmanuel Macron yesterday following a summit with EU commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, Poland's PM Mateusz Morawiecki and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Aachen over the weekend.

Mr Sunak told the Ukrainian president today: 'You are actually the first foreign leader I have had the privilege of welcoming here as Prime Minister and there's a lot of great history here.

'In fact this room that we are standing in, Winston Churchill made many of his famous speeches in World War Two from this room.

'And the same way today, your leadership, your country's bravery and fortitude are an inspiration to us all.'

Mr Zelensky said he discussed western fighter jets with Mr Sunak and that he was anticipating 'very important decisions' being made soon.

He said: 'Today we spoke about the jets. Very important topic for us because we can't control the sky.'

He stressed that Ukraine and the UK were 'real partners', with Mr Sunak aware of details of developments on the battlefield.

'We want to create this jets coalition and I'm very positive with it.

'We spoke about it and I see that in the closest time you will hear some, I think very important decisions but we have to work a little bit more on it.'

Mr Sunak vowed to send a 'message of solidarity' as Ukraine tries to kick out Vladimir Putin's invading forces, saying it is in 'all our interests' that Mr Zelensky succeeds.

He said the talks covered the 'security arrangements we should put in place among allied countries for Ukraine for the long term to ensure it can defend itself and provide effective deterrence against future Russian aggression'.

Chequers has been the country residence of the PM of the day for decades

The two leaders took a stroll around the grounds at Chequers during their discussions this morning

The UK confirmed today that it will supply hundreds of air defence missiles and new long-range attack drones with a range of over 125 miles.

Mr Zelensky last came to the UK in February, when he addressed both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall.

Mr Zelensky tweeted: 'Today  London. The UK is a leader when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air.

'This cooperation will continue today. I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations.'

Mr Sunak said the UK will be 'sustaining our support' for Ukraine.

The PM said: 'This is a crucial moment in Ukraine's resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke.

'They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year.

'We must not let them down.

'The frontlines of Putin's war of aggression may be in Ukraine but the fault lines stretch all over the world. It is in all our interest to ensure Ukraine succeeds and Putin's barbarism is not rewarded.

'That is why the UK is sustaining our support to Ukraine  from tanks to training, ammunition to armoured vehicles. And this message of solidarity will ring loud in all my meetings with fellow world leaders in the days ahead.'
The federal government has settled a $132.7m class action lawsuit over a toxic firefighting foam which contaminated water tables at seven sites across Australia.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, were used to fight fires on Australian Defence Force (ADF) bases until the early 2000s.

The class action claimed landowners were exposed to the poisonous material after it leached into groundwater near bases at Wagga Wagga and Richmond in New South Wales, Wodonga in Victoria, Darwin in the Northern Territory, Townsville in Queensland, Edinburgh in South Australia, and Bullsbrook in Western Australia.

The $132.7m settlement will be split between about 30,000 complainants. It came after midnight ahead of the trial which was due to begin in the Federal Court on Monday.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said while he would leave the government's response to the settlement to Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, his biggest concern remained the health outcomes of people affected by it.

Firefighters use a foam to contain a bushfire with the variant of suppressant used by the defence force found to be toxix

'People have, across a range of communities, suffered from the use of this,' Mr Albanese said.

'It's another example of where we have to get occupational health and safety right.

'We need to get it right in the first place that would avoid these sort of actions.'

The claimants were represented by Shine Lawyers and the firm's representative Craig Allsopp said while the news was positive, the outcome is still subject to approval by the Federal Court.

'It is always a good outcome when group members reach an agreement ahead of a trial to avoid incurring the extra costs and risks of complex litigation through the court,' Mr Allsopp said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government has to get occupational health and safety right

'The settlement money, if approved, will go some way to compensate the seven communities in this class action for their losses, however, many are still stuck on contaminated land.

The next step in our negotiations is to present our in-principle agreement to the Federal Court. If the proposed settlement is found to be fair and reasonable, the court will approve it.'

Despite the settlement, it should be noted the payout is not an admission of liability.

An eighth site - Wreck Bay, in NSW - will be the subject of a separate class action on May 29, in which the complainants will also be represented by Shine Lawyers.

Foam that found its way into the water tables has caused previous massive government payments

The term PFAS covers about 4700 different chemicals which don't degrade, and instead accumulate in soil, water, and even in people.

The government previously paid out a $212.5million settlement to residents in Katherine, Northern Territory, Oakey in QLD, and Williamtown NSW in early 2021, also over Defence PFAS contamination.
Russian forces were attacked in the occupied Ukrainian city of Luhansk early today in a suspected strike by British Storm Shadow long-range missiles.

The target was a former aviation school believed to be housing a contingent of Vladimir Putin's troops, early reports suggest.

Two explosions sounded at 8am local time at the makeshift barracks, with videos from the aftermath of the strike showing the building on fire and trailing thick plumes of smoke into the sky.

Windows in nearby residential buildings were reported to have been shattered by the intensity of the blast's shockwave.

There was no immediate information about victims.

The aftermath of an early morning strike on a Russian barracks in the occupied Luhansk region of Ukraine can be seen on the horizon

Britain recently sent a shipment of Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine, enabling Kyiv's forces to strike deeper into Russian-held territory

Pro-Russian military expert Andrey Marochko suspected the strike was carried out using a Storm Shadow missile

Witnesses reported the sound of a plane, then a rumble and explosions.

Rodion Miroshnik, an official for tje Luhansk People's Republic, suggested the target was the former aviation school, while pro-Russian military expert Andrey Marochko, a retired lieutenant-colonel, said he suspected Storm Shadow missiles had been used.

The Storm Shadow missiles, accurate to beyond 150 miles, allow Ukrainian forces to strike deeper into Russian-held territory than was previously the case, and will play a key role in the country's much anticipated counter-offensive against its occupiers.

On Friday, the British-supplied missiles were used to hit the former academy of the internal affairs ministry and the Polipak Machine Building Plant in Luhansk.

Russian MP Viktor Vodolatsky, 65, sustained minor injuries in the strikes.

On Saturday at least two Russian warplanes and two military helicopters were downed in Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine, in one of the worst days for Putin's air force.

Accounts were divided on whether the planes were downed by Ukrainian strikes, or friendly fire by Russian air defences, or even sabotage.

The Storm Shadow missiles, accurate to beyond 150 miles, allow Ukrainian forces to strike deeper into Russian-held territory than was previously the case. Pictured: A Eurofighter jet carrying two Storm Shadow missiles

On Friday, the British-supplied missiles were used to hit the Polipak Machine Building Plant in Luhansk

Pro-Putin Russian MP Viktor Vodolatsky, 65, sustained minor injuries in the strikes.

A pair of Russian Mi-8 helicopters were shot down over Russia's Bryansk region on Saturday, close to the Ukrainian border

Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky jetted into the UK this morning to meet Rishi Sunak ahead of a 'crucial' week in the struggle against Russia.

The Ukrainian president has arrived for a surprise visit that will see him hold 'substantive negotiations' with the PM at his Chequers country residence.

Zelensky was in Paris for talks with Emmanuel Macron yesterday following a summit with EU commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, Poland's PM Mateusz Morawiecki and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Aachen over the weekend.

Sunak is set to push for more support for Kyiv when he attends the G7 gathering in Japan and Council of Europe in Reykjavik later this week.

The premier vowed to send a 'message of solidarity' as Ukraine tries to kick out Putin's invading forces, saying it is in 'all our interests' that Zelensky succeeds.

The discussions came after the UK became the first country to provide long-range precision missiles to Ukraine.
The bodies of a baby and child have been discovered inside a property in what police suspect is a horrific double murder.

Officers in Northland, New Zealand, were confronted by the grisly scene at a home on Peter Snell Drive in Ruakaka at 7:30am on Monday, following reports of problems at the home.

A homicide investigation into the deaths of the one-year-old and four-year-old has been launched and detectives are now speaking to a woman, 1News reported.

'Our investigation is still in the early stages and we are currently speaking with a person as part of our inquiries,' Detective inspector Bridget Doell said.

'There will be an increased police presence in the area, and we will provide further updates as our investigation progresses.'

The bodies of a baby and a child have been discovered inside a property in what police suspect is a horrific double murder (scene pictured)

Detective Inspector Doell said nobody else was being sought in connection to the incident.

Police have also spoken with neighbours on the quiet residential street.

Local news outlet Stuff reports the house was managed by Kainga Ora, New Zealand's social housing provider.

Kainga Ora's regional director for Northland, Jeff Murray, said in a statement this morning: 'Our thoughts are with the whanau and with the small Ruakaka community who will all feel the impacts of this tragedy.'

'We will be checking in with our customers in the area to see what support they may need.

'Due to the ongoing police investigation, we are unable to comment further.'

Officers in Northland, New Zealand, were confronted by the grisly scene at a property on Peter Snell Drive in Ruakaka at 7:30am on Monday, following reports of problems at the home (scene pictured)

A homicide investigation into the deaths of the one-year-old and four-year-old has been launched and detectives are now speaking to a woman who was at the address (scene pictured)

Whangarei Mayor Vince Cocurullo described the incident as 'tragic and shocking'.

'The family and community will be reeling and will need support,' Mr Cocurullo told the Northern Advocate on Monday.

The principal of One Tree Point School sent her love to the Ruakaka community and said support was available to students.

'We are aware of the sad loss of two children in Ruakaka this morning,' principal Shirley Winters wrote on Facebook.

'Our sincere aroha and thoughts are with the whanau and everyone concerned. We have support systems in place for any of our tamariki who need it.'

Ruakaka, a small beachside community, is located about 135km north of Auckland on New Zealand's North Island.
This is the terrifying moment landing gear snapped off a plane bound for the United States after it was forced to turn back and carry out an emergency landing.

The Boeing 747 was bound for Chicago O'Hare International Airport, but had to return to the Luxembourg Airport runway when its landing gear failed to retract.

Cargolux, the company that operates the plane, described it as a 'significant landing incident' in a statement, saying the plane also had to dump fuel.

The Luxembourgian company added that the aircraft was able to come to a complete stop, and that no one was injured in the Sunday evening incident.

Dramatic footage shows the plane touching down on the tarmac, with the heavy landing causing one of its wheel bogeys to detach and bounce into the air.

Pictured: A video grab shows the moment before landing gear snapped off a plane bound for the United States after it was forced to turn back and carry out an emergency landing

Pictured: Smoke is seen billowing out from behind the Cargolux Boeing 747 after it landed on Sunday. One of its four rear wheel bogeys ripped off as they hit the tarmac

Pictured: One of the aircraft's rear wheel bogeys is seen bounding into the air on Sunday

The video shows the plane coming in to land before its rear wheels hit the tarmac, causing smoke to billow out from the friction.

At this point, one set of four wheels is seen tearing off and flying into the air behind it as it barrels down the tarmac.

Smoke continues to streak out from under the wheels as a fire engine springs into action, driving past the camera en-route to the runway.

The camera pans away from the plane and follows the detached wheel bogeys as it spins at speed, bouncing off the tarmac and high into the air.

Pictures of the aftermath show a gaping hole in the plane's undercarriage, as well as a second large dent where it appears the wheels had bounced up and into.

The damaged landing mechanism is seen under the aircraft, with mangled pieces of metal and loose wires seen jetting off where the wheels had been.

Away from the plane, the four wheels lay on the grass adjacent to the runway.

The aftermath of the 'significant landing incident' is pictured on Sunday. Left: The damaged landing gear is seen hanging underneath the plane. Right: The detached wheel bogey

The damaged landing mechanism is seen under the aircraft, with mangled pieces of metal and loose wires jetting off where the wheels had been

In a statement, the airline said: 'Cargolux would like to confirm that one of its aircraft, B747-400F bearing registration mark LX-OCV, suffered a significant landing incident at Luxembourg airport on Sunday evening at 18:52.

'The aircraft was unable to retract its landing gear on take-off from Luxembourg. As a result, it was forced to safely dump fuel in order to return to land at the airport. On its landing role its right body landing gear detached from the aircraft.

The aircraft however came to a controlled stop and was attended to by the emergency services. 'No persons on board nor on the ground suffered any injuries. The relevant authorities have been informed of the incident.

'The aircraft remains on the runway and recovery efforts are underway,' it added.
A Met policewoman who quit the force after setting up an OnlyFans account called 'Officer Naughty' failed to report Wayne Couzens for flashing three days before he murdered Sarah Everard, a misconduct hearing heard today.

Former police constable Samantha Lee is said to have failed to make 'the correct investigative inquiries' over two incidents when Couzens exposed himself to female members of staff at a restaurant in Swanley, Kent, on February 14 and 27, a police disciplinary hearing was told.

Ms Lee attended the restaurant on March 3, interviewing the branch's manager hours before Ms Everard was kidnapped by Couzens in Clapham, south west London.

She is also said to have lied about her actions when questioned, claiming that she believed that the CCTV at the restaurant deleted automatically, the hearing heard on Monday.

According to a statement given by Sam Taylor, the manager of the McDonald's drive-through, on both occasions Couzens was seen by female members of staff to have his pants open and his penis on display.

PC Sam Lee has posted a number of raunchy pictures to her Instagram account

Lee outside outside Palestra House in Southwark, south London, for a disciplinary hearing today

Miss Lee, pictured in uniform, is said to have failed to make 'the correct investigative inquiries' in March 2021 over a flashing allegation against Wayne Couzens

Mr Taylor's statement said: 'On both occasions the customer was sitting in his car with his trousers fully down and his penis out on display.'

Opening the case on behalf of the Met Police on Monday, Paul Ozin KC told the hearing that after Mr Taylor reported the incidents to the Met Police on February 28, the matter was triaged and recorded as 'less urgent' than other matters the force have to deal with.

Mr Ozin said that a computer check was done after Mr Taylor made the call, and the check confirmed that the black Seat Exeo had been registered to Wayne Couzens since January 2018.

He added: 'There is no standard check that takes place to see whether a suspect in criminal police cases are police officers.'

Ms Lee attended the restaurant on the afternoon of March 3.

It was her last appointment of the day.

'We suggest that the work carried out was a rushed job,' Mr Ozin said.

Mr Ozin said that Mr Taylor claims to have explained to Ms Lee that while the drive-through CCTV deletes automatically, other CCTV footage showed Couzens' car.

He claimed that he showed her the other CCTV. He also showed her receipts which recorded the last four digits of Couzens' card on both occasions, as well as witness statements taken from two members of staff.

He told the hearing that Ms Lee's case is that she spoke to Mr Taylor when she attended the McDonald's, but he did not show her any CCTV footage of the incident.

Ms Lee is said to have breached force's standards on duties and responsibilities as well as honesty and integrity

'Pc Lee said that he showed her the CCTV system and how it worked, but did not show her any footage or anything about the incident,' he said.

He said that she accepted that she did indeed take possession of receipts and witness statements from Mr Taylor.

In a report made after attending the restaurant, Ms Lee recommended that Couzens be arrested and questioned.

Mr Ozin said that Ms Lee claims that she believed that the report would be allocated to a different team to follow up on.

However, Mr Ozin said that she did not put the witness statements and the receipts in a sealed evidence bag, instead keeping them in a pocket in her body armour.

Mr Ozin said: 'One of the central issues of this case is whether there has been some horrible misunderstanding.'

He said that Ms Lee's behaviour 'suggests that she was more intent in getting away quickly than in performing her duties properly'.

In March of this year, Couzens was sentenced to 19 months in prison after admitting three counts of indecent exposure.

He added: 'It is supportive of the unpalatable conclusion that that Pc Lee just did not bother to get the CCTV, even though she knew it was important, instead relying on others to do that instead of her.

'And that she later lied to others when she knew that the stakes had escalated astronomically.'

In March of this year, Couzens was sentenced to 19 months in prison after admitting three counts of indecent exposure.

He was already serving life behind bars for kidnapping Ms Everard as she walked home through Clapham, south London, on March 3 2021 and then murdering her.

The third indecent exposure incident relates to when Couzens exposed himself to a female cyclist on a Kent country lane in November 2020.

Ms Lee is said to have breached force's standards on duties and responsibilities as well as honesty and integrity.

If she is found to have committed gross misconduct, she could be banned from serving in the force again.

She denies both allegations.

The misconduct hearing at Palestra House in Southwark is expected to last seven days.
A British boy beaten to death by a drug dealer in Thailand was laid to rest today in a moving Buddhist ceremony.

Woramet Ben Taota, 16, was lured to his death by a friend who had come under the spell of Chaitwat Boogarin, a convicted child-sex offender.

His father, Steven Graham, angrily confronted the murderer last week as police staged a reconstruction of the brutal killing in the jungle outside Lampang, in the north of the country.

He screamed: 'Look me in the eyes, you b*****d!'

Today the successful businessman from East Sussex, and Ben's Thai mother Ooy, broke down in tears as they led mourners at a traditional Buddhist cremation in the lush countryside where he grew up.

A British boy beaten to death by a drug dealer in Thailand in a honeytrap murder was laid to rest today in a moving Buddhist ceremony. Pictured: The boy's father Steven Graham (second-right) holds hands with Ben's mother Ooy (seen squatting down and being comforted), who broke down in tears during the funeral

Steven Graham, whose son Woramet Ben Taota was killed on May 6, is seen with his hands on his head during the funeral for his son today

The funeral procession for Ben led by Buddhist monks in Lampang, Thailand today

Ben, 16, was found in a grove in Lampang, Thailand on May 7, after being brutally murdered by a drug dealer a day earlier

Dozens of mourners joined Ben's devastated parents to pay their respects to the popular 16-year-old in an emotional funeral procession through the rural village of Banjua, near Lampang.

Dressed all in black, Steven appeared lost in his grief as he walked alone surrounded by friends and family on the two-mile march to the temple.

Ben's mother Ooy walked at the front of the cortege surrounded by her sisters.

The youngster's remains were carried in a brightly-coloured Thai funeral carriage, some 25ft tall.

Ben's friends from the Sop Prop Motorcycle Club led the way, revving the engines of the motocross bikes that he loved to ride in the surrounding countryside.

Storm clouds gathered around the Buddhist temple as the mourners reached their destination.

In the days following Ben's death Steven and Ooy received hundreds of well-wishers at their country home that offers views to jungle covered mountains and is surrounded by paddy fields.

Buddhists monks led prayers for two nights, chanting for up to an hour in karmic rhythm.

MailOnline were invited to attend the funeral and record the huge esteem he and his family are held in the village of Banjua, where the drew up.

Struggling to hold in his emotions, Steven said: 'There's a part of me that hates all of this. But in another way it helping me with my grief.

'All this is causing me is immense pain. I can't eat and I can barely sleep. It's pain beyond description.'

Ben's heartbroken girlfriend Tansiri Inchoy, known as Yam, broke down in tears just before the funeral cortege set off.

Ben's friends from the Sop Prop Motorcycle Club lead the funeral procession, revving the engines of the motocross bikes that he loved to ride in the surrounding countryside

Ben's parents Steven and Ooy are seen during the funeral for their son In Lampang, Thailand today

Ben's grieving father Steven at the funeral

Ben's mother Ooy wept during the service

Ben's girlfriend Tasiri Inchoy, know as Yam, is comforted by Ben's father Steven today

Ben's father Steven and mother Ooy

Steven and Ooy at their son's funeral

Ben's coffin was place at the cremation site amid lush trees and surrounded by paddy fields, before a short Buddhist ceremony with monks chanting and prayers.

READ MORE: Body of 15-year-old girl accused of luring British boy to his death in Thailand is found in woods Advertisement

Ooy and Steven broke down in tears as they said goodbye to their beloved son for the last time. His devastated mother had to be lifted to her feet after green smoke rose from the chimney.

Ben was last seen riding a blue moped away from the village with his friend Suraphitchava Khamsa, known as Pong, on the back, last Saturday night.

His lifeless body was discovered the next day (May 7) in woods some three miles from by a rubbish collector who saw his legs sticking out of some woods.

Days later Pong, who had been missing, was also discovered murdered in the jungle.

Police believe she had lured Ben to his death in a twisted honeytrap after she became hooked on the powerful methamphetamine pills the killer was dealing.

The 15-year-old had suffered devastating head injuries and had been buried in a shallow grave close to the main north-south highway.

MailOnline travelled to Lampang to visit Ben's devastated parents at the spacious home where Ben grew up. Steven divides his time between Thailand and UK.

Steve, 60, and Ooy, 50, spoke of the agony of losing their only child and the mystery surrounding his brutal death.

While 44-year-old Wat has confessed to murdering Ben, he denies having any part in Pong's death, and Thai police continue to investigate.

Ben's parents Steven Graham and Ooy are guided by other mourners during the traditional Buddhist funeral for their son

Steven and Ooy walk down the stairs of the temple which hosted the funeral for their son

The funeral procession for Ben makes its way through Lampang, Thailand today

Mourners walk the heart-breaking two-mile funeral march to the temple

Ben's coffin is seen ahead of his funeral

The coffin is loaded onto the funeral carriage, some 25ft tall

Steven, who runs a business insuring thatched-roof properties, told MailOnline: 'Ben was lured to meet his killer in some kind of honeytrap set by this young girl.

'She was only 15. She and Ben had known each other since they were young. But she is believed to have been in a relationship with this man Wat.

'He had recently been released from prison and it is clear he was a prolific drug dealer. A very evil man.'

Ooy added: 'Ben was everything to me. I don't know what I will do without him.'
Just Stop Oil eco zealots have ignited fury by taking to the streets of London for a second time today, just hours after their first protest was 'swiftly' stopped by police.

Some 25 activists, wearing hi-vis jackets and armed with orange banners and megaphones, slowly marched through Hammersmith towards Kensington.

The protest was the group's second of the day, following a rush-hour demonstration that caused traffic mayhem in the City of London financial district and triggered outrage from exasperated motorists.

As climate change campaigners slowly strolled through the city surrounded by about a dozen police officers, one white van driver vented his fury and bluntly demanded: 'Move them out the way, I've got money to make.'

Police were scrambled shortly after 8.15am to break up the first march, as eco zealots - some from as far as Glasgow and Fife, in Scotland - strolled from the Barbican. The demonstration ended by 9.15am.

Just Stop Oil brought traffic to a standstill twice in London, with protests in the City of London, pictured, and in Hammersmith and Kensington

One furious driver in a white fan was left outraged by the protest and demanded Just Stop Oil activists to be moved from the road

Just Stop Oil protesters marching through the centre of London , holding up rush hour traffic. They are pictured surrounded by police during their first protest

But minutes later, Just Stop Oil issued a further threat to carry out protests elsewhere - with police now confirming eco campaigners are on the move in Hammersmith Road, central London, about six miles east of the first march. They have since arrived in Kensington High Street.

A spokeswoman from the group told MailOnline: 'The Government is clamping down on our legitimate rights to protest. But we will not die quietly. We will continue to do whatever is nonviolently possible to end new oil and gas.'

Today is the fourth week of action by protesters which has caused misery for frustrated commuters across the capital.

It started with activists slowly marching through Aldersgate Street, in the City of London, at 8am.

Officers were alerted to the second march at 11.06am. By 11.36am, the demonstration had moved from Hammersmith into Kensington.

Pensioner Julie Redman, 72, a grandmother-of-seven from Fife, Scotland, was involved. She added: 'Im in despair about the climate crisis.

'It is accelerating at an alarming pace and yet our government is still giving out new licences for oil, gas and coal.

'It is my grandchildren who will bear the brunt of climate breakdown and I want to be able to tell them that I did everything I could to prevent climate catastrophe.'

Eco zealots marched through Aldersgate Street, near the Barbican, in the City of London holding up buses and causing misery for frustrated motorists. This protest ended at 9.15am

Just Stop Oil campaigners marching through Hammersmith in their second rally of the day. Pictured are officers from the Met Police surrounding the protesters during the first march

A police officer arrives at the scene of Monday's protest as traffic begins to build

Protesters armed with banners and in hi-vis jackets march through London

And leading from the front was another Scottish campaign called Ruth, who shouted into a megaphone: 'I have travelled from Glasgow because my Government is not listening to me.

'This project is called Rosebank and it is a death sentence to everyone on this planet.'

Just Stop Oil confirmed a number of campaigners had travelled from Scotland to take part in a 'week of protests'.

But some people online blasted the group for allowing protesters to travel hundreds of miles to join its rallies in the capital.

A spokeswoman for Just Stop Oil told MailOnline: 'Why should they not travel from Scotland to protest in the capital about new oil and gas?

One Just Stop Oil campaigner called Ruth (pictured with a mega phone, centre) travelled more than 400 miles from Glasgow to London to join Monday's protest

Police andJust Stop Oil protesters during the eco group's rally in London on Monday morning, which brought traffic to a standstill

Protesters during the Just Stop Oil march shortly after 8am in London on Monday

'It is the UK Government, not the Scottish Government, that has the power to make the decision to end new oil and gas.

'Our supporters from Scotland have the same rights as everyone else living in the UK to resist the Government's genocidal plans.'

This morning's protest follows a similar one on Friday, where activists marched through Cromwell Street, Kensington - which led to an angry exchange with a frustrated Met Police officer, who demanded one eco-fanatic 'get off the road'.

More than 20 protesters caused misery for rush-hour drivers during their 8am protest, before police arrived on the scene 20 minutes later to break up the campaigners.

In video footage of the encounter, one officer can be heard ordering activists to 'get off the road, you're obstructing the highway' before a woman appears to stroll forward, narrowly avoiding being hit by a car.

The action comes days after a frustrated Met Police officer was filmed shouting at one Just Stop Oil activist to 'get off the road - you're going to get knocked down' during a slow-march protest in Kensington on Friday

The officer shouted: 'Madam, get off the the road, you're going to get knocked down,' as he puts his arm out to stop her moments before a car passes within inches of her.

One of those taking action on Friday, Paul Barnes, 43, a father-of-two from Derbyshire, said: 'I will continue to do all I can to protect my loved ones. I hear my children talk about what they want to be when they grow up, so I am taking action now to protect them, before it's too late.'

No arrests were made during the Friday clash between protesters and police, which came amid heightened tensions over public demonstrations and a clamp down by the authorities.

Last Monday, the Met was forced into an embarrassing U-turn following the arrests of protesters at the King's Coronation.

Six activists from Republic, the anti-monarchy group, became the first people in Britain to be arrested under the wide-ranging Public Order Act, under suspicion of being equipped to 'lock-on'  a tactic sometimes employed by campaigners to make harder for police to remove them.

But despite being held by police for hours, the Met announced last week that an investigation had been unable to prove intent to disrupt the event.

Officers from the Met arrived within 20 minutes of last Friday's march and by 9am were seeking to block activists from marching any further into central London

Officers are pictured redirecting the Just Stop Oil campaigners on Friday morning

'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,' the Met said in a statement last week.

On Saturday, Just Stop Oil supporters took part in another demonstration in Parliament Square, near the House of Commons.

The group marched through Whitehall and gathered outside the BBC HQ as part of a rally in support of Palestine, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

Since February 2022, Just Stop Oil claimed its activists have been arrested more than 2,100 times, with 138 protester spending time in prison.
A British expat locked up with the Northumberland miner accused of murdering his wife in Cyprus has branded the island's justice system 'disgusting'.

Owen Williams, 27, spent 16 months with David Hunter and 11 hardened criminals in one cell before he was released last month.

He said 75-year-old Mr Hunter spoke only lovingly of his wife, Janice, who he killed to end her suffering from terminal leukaemia in December 2021.

Speaking ahead of Mr Hunter finally giving evidence at his trial at Paphos District Court today after more than 20 court appearances since his arrest, Mr Williams pleaded with prosecutors to show mercy.

'They are trying to make out that David is a danger to society  but the only person that he would ever be a danger to is himself,' the marine engineer who was jailed for petty arson said.

David Hunter, 75, smothered his wife, Janice, 74, at their retirement home near Pathos in 2021

Owen Williams shared a prison cell with David Hunter and spoke highly of the former miner

'Saying that he's going to encourage other people to do it is also a load of rubbish. It's disgusting to target someone of his age in that way.

'Premeditated murder carries a life sentence  that is a death sentence to somebody of his age.

'I shared a cell with him for over 16 months and it is very clear whenever you spoke to him that he loved his wife. There is no doubt about it.

'I would ask that the prosecutors show a little bit of compassion and mercy. Think of their grandparents if they were in David's position.'

Mr Hunter smothered his 74-year-old wife after she 'begged' him to kill her before taking a drugs and alcohol overdose at their retirement home in Tremithousa, near Paphos.

But medics managed to revive him before he was arrested on suspicion of pre-meditated murder  and he has since languished in a high-security jail in Nicosia.

His other cellmates include thieves, drug addicts and a Romanian convicted of manslaughter for killing his drug dealer  a lesser charge than that levelled against Mr Hunter.

Mr Williams, who was sentenced for two years for arson for starting a fire without a permit when he hadn't taken his bipolar medication, remembers the moment Mr Hunter walked into the block.

'I remember thinking, "What is this guy doing in jail? He is not a danger to society."

'I think he eyed me up as being English  we were the only English guys in there  and he introduced himself saying where he was from.

'I just said, "Well, what are you doing in here?" He came out with it straight, said what he had done and why he did it.

'He said how his wife was suffering from leukaemia for four or five years, how she wanted him to help her commit suicide.

'From the way he described it, it wasn't malicious at all. When he told me I didn't feel angry with him, or that he'd done something wrong. He helped somebody that he loved.'

Mr Williams, who moved out to Cyprus 16 years ago to live with his elderly grandparents, added: 'It took courage to do what he did. You wouldn't do that for any old person  you wouldn't make that sacrifice for anyone.

'I think it was something that was done out of love, not out of malice. He is just a man who wouldn't bear to see his wife in the condition she was in any more.'

Mr Hunter spent his days sharing stories of how he met Janice when they were teenage sweethearts, remembering their wedding and recalling how proud he was of their daughter, Leslie, 50.

'By the way he talks about her, when they were younger, you can tell he loved her. He was a good husband and a good father to Leslie.'

Mr Hunter is due to give evidence today after making more than 20 court appearances

Custody vans arrive at Paphos District Court in Cyprus today where David Hunter, from Northumberland, is appearing accused of murdering his terminally ill wife, Janice Hunter

He also told Mr Williams of his life down the pit while the marine engineer shared scuba diving stories to beat the monotony of prison life.

But now he fears for Mr Hunter's wellbeing following his release as there are no other English people in the block.

The 13 cellmates sleep on seven bunk beds and share two toilets  one of which is just a hole in the ground.

They must rise at 8am for a breakfast of boiled eggs and halloumi, before receiving meat and rice for lunch, and the same again for dinner at 3pm.

'The chicken was always slimy and horrible,' said Mr Williams. 'The food quality is terrible and it's always cold.'

Beyond the cell they have a small yard for exercise surrounded by huge brick walls topped with razor wire.

'It's no place for a man of his age,' Mr Williams said. 'We would be rotaed to clean out the toilets ourselves.'

Mr Williams, who is fluent in Greek, also helped the pensioner apply to go church for the anniversary of his wife's death, for Christmas and for her birthday  but it was rejected every time.

Mr Hunter was taken back to his home by police as part of the investigation on the day of his wife's funeral just yards from the property. When he asked to have five minutes by her grave, officers refused and dragged him back to prison.

'He's a tough man, but that got him down,' said Mr Williams.

But despite the grim existence in prison, Mr Hunter would try to make the best of it, teaching his cellmates how to grow vegetables in the yard.

'He was giving us advice because he used to own his own allotment in the UK. He taught us how to make compost for tomatoes.

'When we get breakfast, sometimes we get hard boiled eggs for breakfast. He would keep the egg shells. We get salad with most meals, so he told us to keep the lettuce that we don't eat, put it in a container and leave it outside in the summer. And in the winter, we've got compost.'

When Mr Williams was told he was up for release last month, it was bittersweet. 'I didn't want to leave him there,' he said. 'I'm not allowed to visit. I suspect he'll just have his head in his books all the time now.'
The benefits of flexible working are being skewed towards higher earners, new research has found.

Only half of those earning less than 20,000 have flexible working, compared with 80 per cent of those on a salary of more than 50,000 a year, the study found.

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, many people retained flexible start and finish times or continued to work from home.

Nikki Slowey, director and co-founder of Flexibility Works, which carried out the research and supports companies to develop flexible working, said: Were concerned that while the pandemic has increased flexible working in Scotland overall, the benefits are skewed towards workers on higher incomes where good flexible working keeps getting better, while little changes for workers on the lowest incomes.

Many companies have been operating a hybrid system since the lockdowns of the pandemic

Ms Slowey said a lack of trust is likely to be part of the problem, adding that some employers still expect workers to earn the right to work flexibly.

The research, conducted with the support of the Scottish Government and the Hunter Foundation, questioned more than 1,000 workers, 248 employers and 200 unemployed Scots who are looking for a job.

It was found that salary was often the key difference when it comes to flexible working, with Ms Slowey adding: Higher earners always have significantly more flexibility than lower earners.

Fair Work Secretary Neil Gray said the research underlines that more can be done to continue encouraging employers to unlock more vacancies to flexible work... and to support workers in lower-paid roles into better and more flexible work.

Around half of civil servants are still working from home nearly two years after the end of Covid lockdown, figures revealed last month.

The number of workers going into an office is as low as a third, the government data for each civil service department from March 2023 shows.

The department with the fewest staff in the workplace in March was Defra, which saw 29 per cent of workers attend the office in the week commencing March 13.

The Home Office also scored among the lowest for staff working from the office last month. In the first week of March, 56 per cent worked from the HQ at Marsham Street, London, followed by 44 per cent the next week, 58 per cent the week after that and 54 per cent in the final week of the month.

The Home Office saw around half of staff working from home last month. Jacob Rees-Mogg took this picture in the Cabinet Office to highlight the issue of WFH civil servants last year

In the first week of March, 56 per cent of Home Office staff worked from the Marsham Street HQ in London. Defra, which is also based there, saw just 29 per cent in the office in the week commencing March 13

Other departments which had some of the lowest turnouts at their headquarters for March included HMRC, the Foreign Office, and the Department for Education.

In the second week of March, HMRC recorded 39 per cent of staff in their HQ.

By contrast the Ministry of Defence had 91 per cent of staff in the office during a couple of weeks last month - the highest turnout.

The Department of Health and Social Care also had among the highest percentage of staff in the office, with 79 per cent of workers at the HQ for half of March.

A government spokesperson said: 'There is agreement across government on there being clear benefits from face-to-face, collaborative working and departments remain committed to having staff working in offices at pre-pandemic levels.'

DEFRA said it has a broad range of employees who work across a variety of sites, from fieldworkers and vets, to laboratory workers and policy teams.
A special Mother's Day weekend outing turned to tragedy when a horrific car crash claimed the life of a doting mum.

Jodie Russell, 41, was making the three-hour trip from Tinana to Brisbane with her seven-year-old daughter Matilda when their MG GS wagon smashed into a Ford Ranger towing a caravan about 3.45pm on Friday.

Ms Russell died at the scene on the Bruce Highway while Matilda, who normally goes by her nickname of Tilly, sustained minor injuries and was taken to Gympie Hospital where she is recovering.

Chris Paterson, Tilly's father, said 'there was never a stronger connection between a mother and her daughter than the one Jodie shared with Tilly'.

Jodie Russell, 41, was making the three-hour trip from Tinana to Brisbane with her seven-year-old daughter Matilda (pictured together) when their MG GS wagon smashed into a Ford Ranger towing a caravan about 3.45pm on Friday

'Jodie was so empathetic and understanding with everyone around her,' he told The Courier Mail.

Friends and family are rallying to provide a future for the bereaved girl.

A GoFundMe has been set up by family friend Jo Howie to raise money for Matilda and her father Chris Paterson.

Ms Russell and Matilda were heading down to Brisbane for a 'Mother's Day weekend but sadly never made it'.

'While we are so very grateful to have Tilly safe and well, this tragedy has left her without her mum and hero,' the fundraiser reads.

The devastated family has issued a statement about the passing of Ms Russell, who worked as a Centrelink call operator.

Ms Russell and Matilda were heading down to Brisbane for a 'Mother's Day weekend but sadly never made it'

'We are heartbroken by her sudden passing and she will be deeply missed by all who loved her dearly,' a statement said.

'She had a smile for everyone and a heart of gold.

'She has left behind treasured memories that we will always hold'.

A group of freinds  Sammi, Kel, Alanna and Zoe - who dubbed themselves 'The Pools Sharks/The Squad' also issued a joint statement.

'Life will not be the same without you in it but we are so grateful for the times and memories we shared together,' their statement read

'You will be remembered for so many wonderful traits; infectious laugh, ability to make time for absolutely everyone, and for living in the moment.

'The love you showed for your friends and family was only ever outweighed by the adoration and devotion you gave to your daughter, Tilly.

'Your loving presence will endure forever in our hearts and souls.'

Ms Russell's family has described her as 'having a smile for everyone and a heart of gold'

Close friend Emileigh Kruger said Ms Russell loved to hunt down bargains in op-shops and enjoyed days on the beach.

Ms Kruger's children, Lily and Wyatt also expressed how much they would miss Ms Russell, and promised to 'look after our cousin Tilly.'

Following the accident the Ford Ranger's driver, a 76-year-old man, was taken to Gympie Hospital with minor injuries while a 72-year-old female passenger was taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a serious condition with chest injuries.

Police were investigating.
A homeless camp that mushroomed into a sea of tents neighboring Beverly Hills has finally been broken up after disgruntled residents complained for weeks that the tent-dwellers were using and selling drugs at the site.

Furious residents of the upscale enclave of Beverly Grove watched in horror as scores of homeless people set up camp on San Vicente Boulevard last month.

They have described how the tent-dwellers are fighting 'all hours of the day' while also using and selling drugs at the encampment.

But now, the highly controversial camp is being cleaned up and its residents are moving into more permanent housing as part of Beverly Hills' Inside Safe Program, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass told KTLA 5.

It came after several homeless people at the camp had claimed the cops had told them to move to San Vicente Boulevard - a claim strongly denied by the LA Sheriff's Department.

Furious residents of the upscale enclave of Beverly Grove watched in horror as scores of homeless people set up camp on San Vicente Boulevard last month (pictured)

In the center of junction in Beverly Grove, near Beverly Hills, tents and tarpaulins were set up by some of LA's homeless population (pictured on April 11). The site is now being cleaned up by city officials

The tent-dwellers are now being moved into converted housing as part of Bass' Inside Safe Program, where the homeless are moved from the streets into temporary or long-term housing in an effort to address the crisis.

'We brought 26 people into motels,' L.A. City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, who represents the district where the homeless camp was set up, told the news site.

'Connecting them with services, getting them storage for some of their stuff, making sure they have access to transportation to get to appointments, jobs' will help them in the long-term and mean that they will not return to set up another camp at a later date, Yaroslavsky said.

'We'll provide them also with long term support in the way of rental assistance, and making sure they have a path to more permanent housing,' she added.

The city mayor responded after Beverly Grove residents complained about the homeless camp and the impact on the local community.

'They're fighting at all hours of the day,' one resident told KTLA last month. 'They're doing drugs. They're selling drugs. It's out of control.

'We pay so much in property tax and do much in income tax, it is not fair for us to live like this.'

One woman who owns a beauty salon nearby said her customers were intimidated by the now dismantled encampment.

'I have a nice clientele, but now my clientele is getting to the point where they just don't feel comfortable,' she told Eyewitness News last month.

The most recent survey conducted by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority found approximately 69,000 people experiencing homelessness in LA County, and 41,000 in the city in 2022.

About half the homeless population of the city struggles with drug or alcohol addiction, and about a third have serious mental illnesses. Homeless deaths average five a day.

Bass, who was elected in November after promising to take on the city's out-of-control homeless crisis, said the homeless camp in Beverly Grove is now being cleaned up and the residents are being moved to shelters.

Furious residents had described how the tent-dwellers are fighting 'all hours of the day' while also using and selling drugs at the encampment (pictured last month)

A homeless person is seen napping on a patch of grass in a park on the corner of Santa Monica Blvd. and Crescent Dr.

The mayor recommended last month spending what she called a record $1.3 billion next year to get unhoused people into shelter and treatment programs.

The funding to be included in the mayor's upcoming budget could be used in part to buy hotels or motels that would be converted to housing, while the city combs through its inventory of properties for those that could be used for sheltering homeless people.

Governor Gavin Newsom has promised to deliver 500 units of temporary housing to the city, while the Biden administration has sent the city and county more than $200 million for homeless programs, Bass said last month.

The city has expanded spending on homeless programs for years  then-Mayor Eric Garcetti signed a budget in 2021 with nearly $1 billion in homeless spending  but the unhoused population has continued to increase.

Bass' challenge is in plain sight in just about any neighborhood: homeless people living in trash-strewn encampments or rusty RVs along streets, below underpasses and clustered around freeway exits.

Critics of her Inside Safe Program argue that not enough resources are made available to the homeless people once they are relocated.

Bass, the first black woman to serve as LA's mayor who was on President Joe Biden's short list for vice president, defeated billionaire businessman Rick Caruso in the November election.

She anchored her campaign to getting homeless people off the streets and into shelters, reversing spiking crime rates and developing housing that working-class families can afford.
Keir Starmer has proudly boasted he is on track to be PM in the wake of local elections.

And, with Labour consistently recording double-digit poll leads, attention has been turning to what a government under Sir Keir might do.

The party has so far been carefully avoiding setting out many policy details, with senior figures arguing that the Tories would merely steal the best ideas.

But the shape of some key plans are emerging, with Sir Keir admitting that many things are 'going into the mix'.

He has argued that the party must be New Labour 'on steroids' to transform the country.

Keir Starmer has argued that his government must be New Labour 'on steroids' to transform the country

Closely-watched projections by academics Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher found that Labour would have 298 MPs if Thursday's local election results were replicated - raising the prospect they would need to make concessions to the Lib Dems on voting reform

Electoral shake-up

Sir Keir confirmed today that he backs giving the vote to millions of EU citizens residing in the UK - who are currently able to take part in only local elections.

That would extend the general election franchise to 3.4million EU nationals who have lived permanently in the UK and paid tax here for a number of years.

A further 2.6million with 'pre-settled status' who have lived here under five years could eventually be included.

But ministers pointed out that expats do not have the right to vote in EU countries' polls and said the changes would damage the status of British citizenship.

They accused Sir Keir of wanting to 'drag Britain back into the EU by stealth' as well as guaranteeing Labour a majority.

Polling guru Professor John Curtice suggested Sir Keir would end up piling up votes in cities where EU nationals frequently live, evicting the Tories from seats such as Uxbridge & South Ruislip where Boris Johnson is MP.

Tories have accused Sir Keir of wanting to 'drag Britain back into the EU by stealth' with voting reforms as well as guaranteeing Labour a majority

Labour's manifesto for the general election will include a long-standing pledge to lower the voting age to 16, adding around 1.4million young people to the electoral roll. That is expected to benefit Labour as it has far stronger support in that age band.

The voting age for parliamentary elections was lowered to 18 from 21 in 1969, although devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales have reduced it to 16 for local polls.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir has refused to rule out ditching the first-past-the-post system altogether and moving to proportional representation (PR), where people vote for parties rather than candidates.

Supporters of PR say it would ensure that every individual's vote carries the same weight, rather than rewarding parties whose support is concentrated into Commons constituencies.

However, critics have warned that it would mean fringe parties holding disproportionate power, as they would need to be appeased in order to form a stable government. It could also break the traditional connection between MPs and their constituencies.

Sir Keir's allies insist he is not a supporter of PR. But Lib Dems have been hinting they would demand it as the price of propping him up in government if there is a hung parliament.

Workplace rights

Labour sources have been briefing that a 'new deal for working people' will be a key part of the manifesto.

That could include a 'right to switch off' based on legislation in France, where companies with more than 50 workers have been obliged since 2017 to set out the hours when staff are not supposed to send or answer emails. Italy, Spain, Portugal and Belgium have followed suit.

Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner told the Financial Times that 'constant emails and calls outside of work should not be the norm' because they are 'harming the work-life balance for many'.

Under Labour's plans, companies would also be expected to offer flexible working  including working from home and staggered hours  as the default option from the first day of employment, 'except where it is not reasonably feasible'.

But business chiefs and Tories have dismissed the proposals as 'unbelievable' and 'bizarre', warning that they will tie the country up in more red tape.

Four-day week

At the 2019 general election, Labour promised in their manifesto to 'tackle excessive working hours' with the introduction of a four-day week for all workers.

They pledged, if Jeremy Corbyn were to become PM, that they would 'reduce average full-time weekly working hours to 32 across the economy, with no loss of pay'.

The party claimed this would be 'funded by productivity increases'.

Since taking over from Mr Corbyn, Sir Keir's stance on a four-day working week has been less clear  although he confirmed last year he was ditching all the party's promises from 2019.

Yet, as he drafts the next Labour manifesto, backbench MPs have been pressuring the Labour leader to again pick up the four-day week proposal.

In October, Bootle MP Peter Dowd  a staunch supporter of a four-day week  introduced his Working Time Regulations (Amendment) Bill to the House of Commons.

He told MPs: 'Long working hours and low wages is no way to live.'

Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome has also recently called for a four-day week to be introduced across the public sector.

She argued that she would rather be operated on by a 'well-rested' doctor who had enjoyed a three-day weekend.

'After all, there's so much more to life than work, and we'd all be better off in a society that recognises this,' she added.

Ban on smoking

Labour's shadow health secretary Wes Streeting is exploring plans to introduce a New Zealand-style ban on smoking to Britain.

He has revealed Labour will consult on the measure and insisted there is an 'appetite' among the public to take action on smoking rates, with a ban being 'desirable'.

In what is thought to be the first such legislation in the world, New Zealand is set to make it illegal for anyone born after 2008 to be sold tobacco.

This will amount to an annually rising legal smoking age, which is aimed at preventing the country's next generation from ever taking up smoking.

Mr Streeting has hailed Labour's consultation on phasing out the sale of cigarettes in Britain as part of 'fresh radical thinking' to ease pressures on the NHS.

Labour's shadow health secretary Wes Streeting is exploring plans to introduce a New Zealand-style ban on smoking to Britain

'The question for me on the New Zealand-style smoking ban isn't whether it's desirable,' the shadow health secretary said this month.

'Because I think in policy terms, and in terms of public opinion, interestingly, I think there is an appetite and a policy driver there to do it

'In practice, is it going to work? Because it would be a great headline, and certainly a great signal of intent from the Labour Party.

'But as with everything else, not just in terms of money, but whether we can actually deliver in practice, we are stress testing all of the potential policies we might put in our manifesto against how much would it cost, can we pay for it, and then can we deliver it, is it going to work?'
Criminal gangs are invading Britons' second homes in Spain and taking advantage of lax housing rule that prevent squatters from being evicted to sell their possessions and charge ransom money.

A movement of squatters, known as Los Okupas, has long advocated for those who are struggling to find and pay for proper housing to move into unoccupied properties on a semi-permanent basis.

But opportunistic gangs have carved out a business model whereby they enter unoccupied holiday homes, change the locks and effectively 'sell' the property to squatters.

With the new occupants able to remain in place for months or years at a time, the gangs collect money from the squatters while selling off the real owner's possessions.

A Crown Prosecution Service lawyer, who recently travelled to Ibiza with his wife and two young children to find squatters inhabiting their holiday home, described the issue as a 'legal vacuum' which sees homeowners almost powerless to regain access to their properties.

People hold a banner that reads 'no to squatters' as they demonstrate against squatters living in the Bonanova neighbourhood of Barcelona this month

Squatters celebrate from a barricaded property in Barcelona

Opportunistic gangs are taking advantage of lax Spanish housing laws by entering unoccupied holiday homes, changing the locks and effectively selling the property to squatters

Article 47 of the Spanish Constitution states that 'all Spaniards have the right to enjoy decent and adequate housing' - a sentiment which has caused a legal loophole, making it extremely difficult for homeowners to remove squatters who have entered their properties.

Under Spanish law, squatters who have occupied a home for more than 48 hours and are deemed to have no other adequate housing in which to live cannot be evicted without a court order.

This process takes an average of 18 months, and can prove particularly costly with plaintiffs having to shell out for legal representation and bailiffs.

Have you been affected by Spanish squatters? Email david.averre@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement

In the interim, the only way to remove squatters is to pay squatter removal firms, many of whom charge thousands of pounds to forcibly evict them.

A recent investigation by iNews discovered that the gangs operating the scam have drawn up a 102-page manual, described as an 'anarchist manifesto', which offers Okupas advice on how to successfully invade someone's home and legal tips for how to extend their stay for as long as possible.

British lawyer and head of the CPS extradition unit Marc Robinson is one of several Brits embroiled in legal battles over squatters.

He is trying to recover the family's holiday home after flying to Ibiza during the Easter holidays to find that the locks had been changed, Spanish outlet The Objective revealed.

The Robinsons flew to the Spanish island with their daughters on April 4 and found the lights were on and somebody was at their property in the municipality of San Antonio.

The couple called police who spoke to a man inside who allegedly admitted he was squatting there with his wife and two children because he 'didn't have anywhere else to live'.

British lawyer and head of the CPS extradition unit Marc Robinson is just one of several Brits embroiled in legal battles over squatters

Mr Robinson's property in Ibiza was taken over by squatters and he is now launching a legal battle to remove them

Mr Robinson's wife Sophie told The Objective: 'It appears they've been selling our belongings. We're certain an expensive bicycle we had in the house is not there any more.

'When we finally gain access we'll have to see if we end up accusing them of theft or criminal damage.'

A month on from their upsetting discovery, Mrs Robinson said their legal filing to have the squatters evicted had not even been admitted for processing.

'The police report hasn't reached the court yet and preliminary proceedings to evict them from our house still haven't been opened,' she added.

'The Civil Guard told us they couldn't do anything because when they arrived, there was only a man, a woman and two children they couldn't evict without a court order because they say they're a family and don't have anywhere else to live.

'But we know there are more people in the house and it should be easy for the police to prove it.

'We don't understand how it's possible that there's a legal vacuum when it comes to squatters in Spain.'

Keith Harvey, a former property owner near La Zenia in Costa Blanca, told MailOnline: 'We had four houses permanently taken over by squatters. It was a nightmare for all 100 residents and many have sold up their properties, including myself in order to get away from the hostile environment.

'The local solicitors are really expensive and getting your case through court does take two years. Even with an eviction order there is still no guarantee that the squatters will leave.'

Meanwhile, Londoner Michael Reagan told The Daily Express he found his Barcelona home invaded by squatters in 2021.

He hired a squatter removal agency to evict them and was forced to shell out 1,750.

'You're stuck between a rock and a hard place,' Mr Reagan said. 'The law is very ineffectual.'

Others have taken matters into their own hands, resorting to violence.

Last summer, a group of men were caught on video storming their house in the Spanish region of Murcia, threatening to beat the squatters their with iron bars if they did not leave.
The Labour party leader also wants to reduce Britain's voting age from 18 to 16

Keir Starmer is planning to allow Europeans in UK to choose MPs for first time

Keir Starmer defied fury at a bid to 'rig' elections today as he insisted it is 'common sense' to give millions of EU citizens the right to vote.

The Labour leader said it 'feels wrong' that Europeans who have settled in Britain are not able to choose MPs - even though Brits do not have equivalent rights on the continent.

He also hinted that he would cut the voting age from 18 to 16, saying during an LBC phone-in that it was 'not such an outlandish idea'.

Sir Keir even stopped short of completely ruling out ditching the first-past-the-post system in favour of PR, something that critics fear would put power in the hands of smaller parties and break the link between politicians and constituencies.

He merely said that was 'not a priority'.

Keir Starmer hinted that he would cut the voting age from 18 to 16, saying during an LBC phone-in that it was 'not such an outlandish idea'

Sir Keir insisted it is 'common sense' to give millions of EU citizens the right to vote

Sir Keir said it does not pass the 'common sense test' that settled migrants who have worked in the UK for decades do not have full voting rights.

Referring to EU migrants who have lived and worked long-term in Britain, the Labour leader said that 'feels wrong and something ought to be done about it'.

'These are some of the ideas that are going into the mix, but they're not policy  we're just looking at them,' he added.

Labour MPs have defended the plans by saying the opposition wants to 'strengthen our democracy'.

But ministers pointed out that expats do not have the right to vote in EU countries' polls and said the changes would damage the status of British citizenship.

They accused Sir Keir of wanting to 'drag Britain back into the EU by stealth' as well as guaranteeing Labour a majority at general elections.

Some MPs fear that a Labour government propped up by the Liberal Democrats or the Scottish National Party would also bring in proportional representation (PR) and hold another independence referendum in Scotland.

Polling experts pointed out that younger people and migrants are much more likely to vote Labour than Conservative, and so the moves could lose Tories including Boris Johnson their remaining seats in London.

Sir Keir insisted today: 'There's no plan to reverse Brexit. I don't know how many times I've said, there's no case for going back in. We're going to make Brexit work.'

But Tory chairman Greg Hands said: 'Labour's plan to give foreign nationals the vote at parliamentary elections is laying the groundwork to drag the UK back into the EU by stealth.

'Sir Keir spent years trying to block Brexit and overturn the largest democratic vote in this country's history. This is an attempt to rig the electorate to rejoin the EU.'

He added: 'The right to vote in parliamentary elections and choose the next UK Government is rightly restricted to British citizens and those with the closest historical links to our country. No other EU country allows EU citizens who are not their nationals to vote in parliamentary elections.'

Tory MP Henry Smith, who sits on the foreign affairs committee, told the Mail: 'Clearly this is an attempt by Labour if they get into power to rig future elections by extending the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds, as all the evidence shows that until they start paying taxes that age group tends to vote Labour.

Labour would also give the vote to about 3.4million EU nationals who have lived permanently in the UK and paid tax here for a number of years, according to the Sunday Telegraph. Pictured: Sir Keir at an anti-Brexit protest in 2019

'What is more concerning is extending the franchise to EU citizens. If it was a Labour government propped up by the Liberal Democrats or SNP we would have pressure to introduce PR and probably a second referendum on Scottish independence. It's a cynical attempt by the Labour Party to secure electoral advantage rather than addressing the issues that matter to people, and I hope people see through it.'

The voting age for parliamentary elections was lowered to 18 from 21 in 1969, although devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales have reduced it to 16 for local polls.

And British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens can vote for MPs, while EU citizens who have lived in the UK since before the end of 2020 can take part in council elections.

But Labour's manifesto for the general election will include a long-standing pledge to lower the voting age to 16, enfranchising an estimated 1.4million young people.

Labour could also give the vote to about 3.4million EU nationals who have lived permanently in the UK and paid tax here for a number of years.

A further 2.6million with 'pre-settled status' who have lived here for less than five years could eventually be included.

Sources at Conservative HQ said the policy could mean that citizens of countries yet to join the EU could one day get the vote in the UK.

One insider said: 'Keir Starmer wants to relegate the status of British citizenship by giving the vote to foreign children. There are currently eight countries recognised as candidates for EU ascension, so in time Serbs, Moldovans, Bosnians and Albanians would acquire the same rights as British citizens to decide who is in government.'

Analysis suggests that EU citizens who have long lived in the UK are predominantly based in London and the South East, and if given the vote would increase Labour's predominance in cities.

Leading polling expert Sir John Curtice said: 'London is already so overwhelmingly Labour  there are some Tory constituencies left, but not that many of them, and they are the ones that will be particularly on the line.'

A major increase in Labour voters could lose Boris Johnson his west London seat as well as fellow former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith in the east of the capital.

Sir Keir is reportedly opposed to proportional representation, the system under which people vote for parties rather than individual candidates and where seats are distributed in line with total ballots cast.

But as polls suggest that Labour may fall short of an outright majority, many in Westminster believe that the Lib Dems may insist on its introduction as the price for its support in a coalition government.
He miraculously walked away with minor injuries

An allegedly disqualified driver has miraculously survived after his SUV slammed into the back of a semi-trailer, crushing the roof of his vehicle.

Jackie Chand, 37, was driving a Nissan Murano on Hassall Street at Wetherill Park in Sydney's west, when he struck a Nissan Navara about 5.30pm on Sunday.

The Navara driver, 66, tried to swerve out of the way of Chand but was clipped by his SUV, sending the vehicle spinning with his niece and nephew inside.

After clipping the ute, Chand's SUV careened into the back of a parked semi-trailer.

The impact of the collision completely destroyed the roof of his SUV.

An allegedly disqualified driver has been lucky to walk away with his life after the Nissan Murano he was driving slammed into the back of a semi-trailer

Jackie Chand, 37, was driving the Murano on Hassall Street at Wetherill Park, when he clipped a Nissan Navara before careening into the back of the semi-trailer

But Chand shockingly survived the crash with minor injuries.

He was treated at the scene before being taken to Liverpool Hospital as a precaution.

The ute driver and his niece and nephew were uninjured.

Witnesses expressed their surprise that Chand came away from the crash alive.

A Nissan Nivara driver, 66, tried to swerve out of the way of Chand but was clipped by his SUV, sending the vehicle spinning

Chand (pictured left) walked away from the crash with minor injuries. He was treated at the scene and taken to Liverpool Hospital as a precaution

'I'm shocked he's actually walked away from that, I really am, after seeing the footage it's unbelievable,' local mechanic Jason Kouroukas told 9News.

Luke Frendo saw the collision with the truck and helped pull Chand from the wreckage.

'The truck come through and hit him on the head because he had a real deep cut right on his head,' Mr Frendo said.

'He was asking me to get him out, so I pulled him out of the car.'

One witness, Luke Frendo, pulled Chand out from the wreckage after seeing the sickening collision

Chand has been issued with a court attendance notice for driving a motor vehicle during a disqualification period and allegations of negligent driving

Chand is allegedly a disqualified driver and police claim this is his second offence committed without a licence.

He has been issued with a court attendance notice for driving a motor vehicle during a disqualification period and allegations of negligent driving.

Chand will face Fairfield Local Court on June 13.
Rishi Sunak is under attack over his legal immigration policy today - including from one of his most senior ministers - as the Tory right demands he clampdown on the number of foreign workers allowed into Britain.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman will use a speech to a free-market conservative conference later to criticise the number of people allowed into the UK to work by the Government she is part of.

She will say it is 'not xenophobic' or 'bigoted' to say that 'mass and rapid migration is unsustainable', and that the country should focus on creating greater opportunities for its own people.

She is due to tell the National Conservatism Conference that Brexit means Britain no longer has to be so reliant on foreign workers.

It comes amid fears that net migration into the UK could hit a million people this year, when figures are released next week, fuelled by an influx of refugees from Ukraine and Hong Kong.

Sir John Redwood, the former minister, joined the fray this morning. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme 'big changes' were needed to the policy.

Asked whether he supported the Prime Minister he said he was focused on 'policy not on people'.

Number 10 today said that the Home Secretary was representing the UK Government and that the PM remained committed to reducing 'overall net migration'.

A spokesman added that 'there are more Britons who have been trained up for various roles', citing growth in the ranks of domestic lorry drivers.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman (pictured) will use a speech to say Brexit means Britain no longer has to be so reliant on foreign workers

In the year to June 2022, net migration hit a record 504,000, said the Office for National Statistics. Pictured: Migrants travelling in an inflatable boat across the English Channel last year

Sir John Redwood, the former minister, joined the fray this morning. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme 'big changes' were needed to the policy.

Trade minister Nigel Huddleston earlier said the UK occasionally needs 'more people to come into the country' but that immigration should be reduced in 'the long term'.

He told Times Radio: 'For certain periods of time, sometimes it goes up and sometimes it goes down, but the key thing is having control ourselves and certainly in the long term, we need immigration to come down because that's what has been causing some challenges in local areas for a long period of time.

'But every now and again we also need more people to come into the country.'

Sir Keir Starmer has said the Government's handling of the asylum backlog is 'pathetic', urging Suella Braverman to cancel her planned speech on immigration and 'get back to the office'.

The Labour leader said between 1 per cent and 3 per cent of applications from those who arrive on small boats have been processed from last year, calling on the Home Secretary to make the logjam her priority.

Speaking on LBC, he said he agreed with the Archbishop of Canterbury that the Illegal Migration Bill was 'impractical' and 'wrong'.

He told listeners: 'Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, is today making a speech about what she thinks ought to happen on immigration. She is the Home Secretary.

'They've been in power for 13 years. This is like (Mikel) Arteta... doing a speech this afternoon on what Arsenal ought to do.'

Sir Keir added later: 'This is pathetic. I'd say to the Home Secretary: stop the speech, cancel that, get back to the office and sort out the processing of these claims.'

At least one Cabinet minister reportedly wants to see the salary threshold for skilled workers to become eligible for visas rise from the current level of 26,200.

Ministers are also drawing up plans to restrict visas for dependants of overseas students after official figures showed some brought in six last year.

In the year to June 2022, net migration hit a record 504,000, said the Office for National Statistics (ONS). But estimates suggest it has rocketed to between 650,000 and 997,000 for the year to December. Official ONS figures will be published on May 25.

Germany slams door on liberal border policies By Inderdeep Bains Germany's Left-wing rulers plan to abandon their liberal refugee policies and crack down on asylum seekers. The move by chancellor Olaf Scholz follows complaints by local authorities of being overwhelmed by arrivals. He said tighter controls will be introduced at borders as 'controlling and limiting irregular migration' is now a priority. Measures include modernising IT systems to fast-track expulsions, extending maximum detention from ten to 28 days and deals with third countries. Federal police will also be given new powers to increase surveillance and track migrants' phones. The action is a radical move away from the open door policy which marked the era of former chancellor Angela Merkel from 2015. This year over 100,000 asylum applications have already been made. One million Ukrainian refugees fled to Germany last year. Advertisement

In their 2019 manifesto, the Tories pledged 'overall numbers will come down' thanks in part to Brexit and introducing a points-based immigration system.

Mrs Braverman will make her comments at the NatCon conference in London, run by a Right-wing Conservative think-tank.

'High-skilled workers support economic growth. Fact,' she will say. 'But we need to get overall immigration numbers down.

'And we mustn't forget how to do things for ourselves. There is no good reason why we can't train up enough HGV drivers, butchers or fruit pickers.

'Brexit enables us to build a high-skilled, high-wage economy that is less dependent on low-skilled foreign labour.

'That was our 2019 manifesto pledge and what we must deliver. It's not xenophobic to say that mass and rapid migration is unsustainable in terms of housing, services and community relations. Nor is it bigoted to say that too many people come here illegally and claim asylum, and we have insufficient accommodation for them.

'I'm not embarrassed to say that I love Britain. No true conservative is. It's not racist for anyone, ethnic minority or otherwise, to want to control our borders.'

She will also reject Left-wing arguments that it is 'hypocritical' for people of ethnic minority backgrounds like herself 'to speak these truths'.

Yesterday Energy Secretary Grant Shapps said on Sky News that refugee arrivals from Ukraine and Hong Kong had added possibly as many as 300,000 to UK migration figures.

This is something Britain should be proud of, he added.

Mr Shapps stressed that this issue must be treated separately to plans to stop small boat Channel crossings, which relate to illegal rather than legal migration.

Yesterday Energy Secretary Grant Shapps said on Sky News (pictured) that refugee arrivals from Ukraine and Hong Kong had added possibly as many as 300,000 to UK migration figures

Yesterday the Prime Minister pledged to procure as many barges 'as it takes' to house Channel migrants coming to Britain illegally. Pictured: The newly arrived barge in Falmouth, Cornwall

Yesterday the Prime Minister pledged to procure as many barges 'as it takes' to house Channel migrants coming to Britain illegally. He told The Mail on Sunday it was 'not fair' for British taxpayers to foot the multi-million pound bill for housing arrivals in hotels.

Moves to limit the number of overseas relatives joining Master's students at universities come after arrivals under that rule soared from 12,806 in 2018 to 135,788 in the year to December.

Whitehall sources say that this month's ONS figures will show net migration  the difference between those arriving and leaving  at 700,000 rather than close to one million for the year to December.
Ukraine must defeat Russia this year or risk losing Western support, the former head of the British Army Sir Richard Dannatt has warned.

Speaking on Times Radio on Monday, the former chief of the general staff said the Russian military 'might crumble' in an anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive later this year.

He said: 'The major counter-offensive which we are all expecting and which the Ukrainians are preparing for has not begun yet but probably is not that far away. If Ukraine is going to succeed in its stated objective of freeing its territory from Russian occupation this is the year they've got to do it.'

Sir Richard's comments come as Ukraine's military on Monday hailed recent advances around Bakhmut as its first successful counterattack in the battle against Russian forces fighting for control of the eastern city.

But Kyiv also said the situation in Bakhmut was difficult, and said that Moscow had not changed its goal of capturing the city and was sending assault troops to its outskirts.

A Ukrainian serviceman gives water to a captured Russian soldier near Bakhmut on Thursday

Ukrainian soldiers regroup after an offensive against Russia around Bakhmut last week

Sir Richard added: 'There is a danger that western support will wane. There is also a danger that [Vladimir] Putin will see that time is on his side, so it is really important that the Ukrainians do mount this offensive effectively at the right time.

'If there are decisive blows struck against the Russians there is a chance that Russian military morale might crack and the Russian army might crumble in the way that we saw around Kharkiv last September.'

The Ukrainian military said last week it had started to push Russian forces back in and around Bakhmut after months of heavy fighting, and Moscow acknowledged that its forces had fallen back north of the city.

'The advance of our troops along the Bakhmut direction is the first success of offensive actions in the defence of Bakhmut,' Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander of Ground Forces, said in a statement posted on the Telegram messaging app.

'The last few days have shown that we can move forward and destroy the enemy even in such extremely difficult conditions,' he said. 'We are fighting with fewer resources than the enemy. At the same time, we are able to ruin its plans.'

Kyiv is expected to launch a major counteroffensive soon to try to retake Russian-occupied territory, but Ukrainian officials have indicated that the gains around Bakhmut do not signal that the broader counterattack has begun.

Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said heavy fighting continued in and around Bakhmut, and that 'everything' was difficult there.

'The Russians have not changed their goals. They are sending assault troops to the outskirts of Bakhmut,' she wrote on Telegram.

The battlefield reports could not be independently verified.

Moscow, which launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly 15 months ago, sees Bakhmut as a stepping stone to attacking other Ukrainian cities. Kyiv has said previously that keeping up the defence of Bakhmut allows for the military to prepare its expected counteroffensive.
George Soros has taken to Twitter to confirm he is alive and that hasn't had a heart attack, despite internet rumors.

'Rumors that I had a heart attack are completely false. I am alive and healthy,' he posted on Monday morning.

The bizarre claim that billionaire George Soros had died began trending on Twitter overnight - despite the fake story coming from an account with only three followers.

Illustrating just how rife fake news can be on Twitter, a since-deleted tweet by Politics For All Ireland said the 92-year-old had died. The tweet snowballed and went viral after it was repeatedly shared.

But Soros, who has used his wealth to reshape America in his liberal vision by bankrolling campaigns for woke district attorneys across the country, is alive and well, a spokesperson also told DailyMail.com.

Here, DailyMail.com takes a look at who Soros is and why fake rumors that the billionaire had died were trending.

George Soros has taken to Twitter on Monday morning to confirm he is alive and that hasn't had a heart attack - despite internet rumors

A bizarre rumor that billionaire George Soros (pictured with his son Alex) has died began trending on Twitter overnight - despite the fake story coming from an account with three followers.

Who is George Soros?

Billionaire and philanthropist George Soros, 92, made his fortune in hedge funds and is now known as a pro-democracy campaigner who has founded Open Society Foundations.

This has made him a favorite target of conservatives. Since the Jan. 6 attack on Congress, he has used his extensive wealth to back candidates he says are promoting democracy and the rule of law.

But Soros, a Hungarian-born businessman, has been criticized for throwing millions behind woke district attorneys who support his leftist agenda.

The billionaire's DAs have stripped away bail laws and opted to forgo prosecuting crimes like theft and reckless driving, effectively giving criminals a free pass and leading to the breakdown of law and order across the United States.

Soros has long backed liberal politics. The billionaire is pictured above with Nancy Pelosi and his son Alex

As a direct result, crime has skyrocketed in major cities overseen by Soros's DAs. In 2021 under Kim Foxx's reign, Chicago had the most murders it's seen since 1994. And in Philadelphia, drug use and violent crime has seen a surge since Larry Krasner took office.

Soros has long backed liberal politics. In the 2000s he was an outspoken opponent of President George W. Bush and donated millions to hinder his reelection, and later donated heavily to the presidential campaigns of Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton.

The billionaire is known in the UK as 'the man who broke the Bank of England' on Black Wednesday in 1992, when he turned a billion-dollar profit by making currency bets that forced the UK out of the Exchange Rate Mechanism.

Soros has been wed three times and divorced twice and is currently married to 51-year-old health care consultant Tamiko Bolton, who is 42 years his junior.

In the past three decades, Soros has given away more than $7billion to promote democracy, foster free speech, improve education and fight poverty around the world.

Why is 'Is George Soros dead?' trending on Twitter?

Last night, Twitter account Politics for All Ireland, which had three followers at the time, tweeted that Soros' family had confirmed the billionaire had passed away.

The since deleted tweet was quickly picked up by conspiracy theorist Twitter user Cillian who claimed that Soros had died of a 'violent heart attack'.

Cillian's tweet was viewed more than 745,000 times and quickly went viral, with many users believing that Soros had died.

However, it was confirmed that Soros has not died and is alive and well.

A spokesperson for the Open Society Foundations said: 'George Soros is alive and healthy. Rumors on social media that he suffered a heart attack and died are false.'

It was confirmed that Soros (pictured in 2019 in Vienna, Austria) has not died and is alive and well.

Is this the first time Soros has been rumored to have died?

This is not the first time that rumors of Soros' 'death' has made headlines.

In 2013, Reuters news agency was left red-faced after it accidentally published his pre-written obituary.

The obituary, which was online for 30 minutes before being deleted, read: 'George Soros, who died XXX at age XXX, was a predatory and hugely successful financier and investor, who argued paradoxically for years against the same sort of free-wheeling capitalism that made him billions.'

Reuters apologized for the mistake at the time. It said in a statement: 'Reuters erroneously published an advance obituary of financier and philanthropist George Soros. A spokesman for Soros said that the New York-based financier is alive and well. Reuters regrets the error.'
Ramaswamy's support came soon after Ron DeSantis also got behind Penny

Penny has been charged over the chokehold killing of a man on the subway

Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy has donated $10,000 to a legal defense fund for Daniel Penny, the former Marine charged with second-degree manslaughter for the death of Jordan Neely on the New York subway.

As of Monday morning an online crowdfunding campaign set up by attorneys for Penny, 24, had received around 40,000 donations, amounting to more than $1.9million.

Support for the former Marine has grown quickly, nearly doubling in less than a day. On Sunday the campaign page hit the $1 million mark soon after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis shared a link to it in a tweet.

Neely, 30, was killed on May 1 after Penny placed him in a chokehold on a train in a New York City subway station. In the following days when a video emerged of Penny holding Neely in the hold for around three minutes, protests erupted across NYC calling for criminal action against Penny.

Days later Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg announced that his office would be prosecuting Bragg with manslaughter without calling a grand jury.

Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy (pictured last Thursday) donated $10,000 to a crowdfunding effort for Daniel Penny, the former Marine that killed Jordan Neely after putting him in a chokehold

Former Marine Daniel Penny, 24, was charged with second-degree manslaughter of Jordan Neely, 30, after he placed him in a chokehold in the New York City subway

Daniel Penny (center) is transported to an arraignment on Friday after surrendering himself at a New York City police precinct to face charges in the death of Jordan Neely

As of Monday morning an online crowdfunding campaign set up by Penny's attorneys had received around 40,000 donations, amounting to nearly $2million

Vivek Ramaswamy donated $10,000 to a legal defense fund for Penny

DeSantis threw his support behind Penny by also promoting the crowdfunding campaign on his Twitter profile on Friday.

'We must defeat the Soros-Funded DAs, stop the Left's pro-criminal agenda, and take back the streets for law abiding citizens.

'We stand with Good Samaritans like Daniel Penny. Let's show this Marine America's got his back,' DeSantis tweeted Friday.

Ramaswamy offered his public support to Penny just days after Neely's death.

On May 5, he tweeted that Neely was a 'habitual offender' and that it should not have been the responsibility of citizens to keep members of the public safe.

He went on to list a series of crimes which Neely had allegedly been arrested for in the past eight years - some of which were reported on more widely than others.

Ramaswamy mistakenly said Neely had been arrested 44 times when it is in fact widely reported that he had been arrested 42 times.

He wrote: 'The moral of the Jordan Neely story isn't complicated: he was a habitual offender who should've been behind bars or in a mental institution, not free to terrorize New Yorkers. If local police had been allowed to do their jobs, that man would still be alive today - in custody.

'In 2015, Jordan Neely kidnapped a 7 year old girl. In 2019, Jordan Neely punched a 64 year old man in the face. In 2021, Jordan Neely slugged a 67 year old woman in the face as she exited the subway, breaking her nose and fracturing her orbital bone.

He was arrested in 2015 for attempting to kidnap a seven-year-old girl after he was 'seen dragging [her] down an Inwood street,' the New York Daily News reported.

'Neely was arrested 44 times, but never faced real justice for terrorizing New Yorkers. The @ManhattanDA shares responsibility for his death for creating an anti law enforcement culture. Habitual felons like Neely should not roam freely to terrorize & prey on innocent members of our communities.'

On Friday, Penny was freed pending trial hours after turning himself in at a police precinct and appearing in court to answer criminal charges. He did not enter a plea.

This image, provided by Mills & Edwards, LLP, in New York, Friday, May 12, 2023, shows Jordan Neely

Neely had been a Michael Jackson impersonator on the subway. His family have said that after the death of his mother when he was 14, his mental health deteriorated

DeSantis threw his support behind Penny by also promoting the crowdfunding campaign on his Twitter profile on Friday

Penny looks on as he is taken from a New York City Police precinct under arrest on Friday

Daniel Penny, ex-Marine who placed Jordan Neely in a chokehold on the subway leading to his death, turns himself into the NYPD 5th Precinct on Friday

US Marine veteran Daniel Penny, 24, is escorted in handcuffs by the NYPD after turning himself into the 5th Precinct in Lower Manhattan

Many of those who have donated large sums to Penny's cause are anonymous, including another who also made a $10,000 pledge.

They left a comment which read: 'Thank you for protecting the citizens that day.'

The third highest giver, who pledged $5,000, is also anonymous.

That person wrote: 'Do the right thing. Dan did. It's not that tough.'

Following his arrest, Bail bondsman Ira Judelson told DailyMail.com Penny was 'very quiet and nervous' and was 'respectful'.

While Penny was charged in the aftermath - the other two men seen in the video holding Neely down were never named nor charged with any wrongdoing.

Now, Penny's family says the Marine vet is being 'railroaded' by the legal system.

'It's disgusting,' Justine Baldwin, Penny's cousin, told the New York Post. 'Here's a young man who served our country.'

'What about the other two gentlemen on the subway who were helping him [restrain Neely]? They haven't even been named.'

While footage of Penny restraining Neely sparked controversy, his relatives have described him as 'calm' and a 'fun kid'.

Some have attempted to depict the veteran as a privileged individual in the aftermath of the incident, but those that knew him revealed he grew up in a middle-class military family in Long Island.

Jordan Neely, 30, was killed on May 1 after Penny placed him in a chokehold on a train in a New York City subway station

Marine veteran Penny (pictured) who put homeless man Jordan Neely in fatal chokehold is named as sergeant Daniel Penny who completed tour in Europe before leaving service two years ago

'He was always there for his family and his sisters,' added Baldwin. 'Danny has always been calm, he comes from a calm family.'

Neighbors reportedly added that he even lived out of a van at one time, while he previously shared a three-bedroom home with his three sisters and parents.

'Danny was always fun and goofy and never harmed anyone,' said the Marine's friend Devin Marino.

'He was always super inclusive,' he added. 'His family was really nice and had an open door policy.'

Neighbors who knew Penny and his family in West Islip also praised the veteran, with Marcia Mulcahy, who lived across the street from him for four years, describing him as 'a lovely kid.'

'The family could not have been nicer,' she added. 'Just look at the fundraiser to see how people feel about him.

'We're all contributing to it. He was just trying to help on the subway. It was obviously a scary situation and it all went wrong. But he didn't go in there trying to hurt anyone. He was trying to help.'

Penny's lawyer, Thomas Kenniff, revealed the veteran had been deployed twice over four years of service with the Marines, where he rose to the rank of sergeant before he was honorably discharged in 2021.

A protester calling for justice for Jordan Neely is seen on Monday evening being wrestled to the floor by NYPD

The protester is seen being escorted away from the scene by members of the NYPD Monday

Neely's death earlier this month has raised questions about homelessness and racism in America - some have branded him a murderer while others consider him a hero.

Some protests in the city turned violent. A week after his death demonstrators calling for justice for Neely took to the streets, rallying near the Broadway-Lafayette station in lower Manhattan where he was killed.

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.

Penny is currently out on bail and due to appear in court on July 17.
A hotline set up for whistleblowers to reveal what the BBC knew about allegations of sexual misconduct against DJ Tim Westwood has received 'significant' new information.

The confidential 24-hour phone line was opened as part of an inquiry into what the corporation had been told at the time about one of their top radio stars.

Barrister Gemma White KC set it up to 'expand the ways in which people can come forward' to report information.

Ms White announced today the line would close as planned on May 19 after she received a 'significant amount of important new information'.

The barrister was appointed by the BBC Board last August after an internal review found that the corporation should have further explored a string of sexual assault allegations against the hip hop DJ.

Hip-hop DJ and ex-BBC star Tim Westwood has been interviewed under caution by the police

Barrister Gemma White KC set up the hotline to 'expand the ways in which people can come forward' to report information

The inquiry, which has already seen more than 50,000 BBC documents, is expected to publish its findings in the summer.

Ms White said: 'We would like to thank everyone who has contacted us via the review phone line.

'We know that taking the decision to call was not easy for many of you and that speaking to us has taken courage.

'Your evidence will assist me in my task of independently establishing whether the BBC knew of concerns and responded appropriately to them.

'If you have been thinking of contributing but have not been sure about whether to do so, please do get in touch now.'

MailOnline broke the news that Westwood, who left the BBC in 2013, had been interviewed under caution by the Metropolitan Police in March and April this year.

He was spoken to in relation to five sexual offences alleged to have taken place in London between 1982 and 2016.

The time period covers his career at the BBC and Capital FM.

The 65-year-old, who stepped down from his show on Capital Xtra in April last year, strongly denies the allegations.

A spokesman for the Met told MailOnline in April: 'Police are investigating five reports relating to allegations of non-recent sexual offences allegedly committed by a man.

The Former Radio 1 star has previously vehemently denied any wrongdoing or illegality

'The offences are alleged to have occurred in London between 1982 and 2016.

'A 65-year-old man was interviewed under caution on March 15, 2023, and April 4, 2023.'

Last year, a statement from a representative of Westwood read: 'Tim Westwood strongly denies all allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

'In a career that has spanned 40 years, there have never been any complaints made against him officially or unofficially.

'Tim Westwood strongly rejects all allegations of wrongdoing.'

The hotline will be available on 08000 121 838 until May 19 and will be answered during the working day and on certain evenings. Outside of these hours an answering system will be available to take messages.
A former Bachelorette star has avoided prison after he was caught driving a van carrying almost 150kg of cannabis to Queensland.

Samuel Colin Minkin fronted Sydney's Downing Centre District Court on Monday after pleading guilty to one charge of possessing a prohibited drug and taking part in supplying a prohibited drug, namely cannabis, larger than a commercial quantity.

Judge Warwick Hunt told the court Minkin, 30, was found with an encrypted device which had the platform An0m, which criminals used to communicate.

The court was told Minkin was provided with the An0m device on May 26, 2021, which he used to communicate with another man, who asked him to pick him up from a property in Sunshine, Victoria by 8am the following day.

On the drive back, the van broke down on the Hume Highway and Minkin was told to get it towed to an address in Minto, in Sydney's southwest.

The former reality contestant was booted out early on in season six of The Bachelorette.

Judge Hunt told the court a 'substitute van' was organised and Minkin met with the man on May 28, where they began driving to Queensland.

NSW Police noticed the van about 5am entering the M1 Motorway travelling in a northerly direction and quickly pulled it over at Crabbes Creek.

Police found nine neatly wrapped boxes in the back.

When asked about the boxes, the court heard Minkin said they were 'extra household stuff he picked up from Bondi', saying it was 'basically rubbish'.

He gave police the excuse he had moved to Queensland and needed to sort out the final things left at his Bondi house and sort out the bond.

'(Police) formed reasonable suspicions the vehicle may have contained drugs,' Judge Hunt told the court.

Both Minkin and the man driving the van said they didn't know what was contained in the nine boxes, which the judge described as being 'packed neatly'.

It was revealed the boxes contained 322 vacuum sealed bags of cannabis leaf, with a total combined weight of 144.247kg.

Police also found .035g of ketamine in a bag belonging to Minkin.

He was arrested and relied on his right to silence until he could speak to a lawyer.

Minkin was among 20 men vying for the hearts of sisters Elly and Becky Miles on the reality show

Minkin later conceded he did not know the amount of drugs exceeded 100kg, but that he did know they weighed more than 25kg.

'The agreed facts indicate this was the first time Mr Minkin had experience in couriering drugs on behalf of the syndicate,' Judge Hunt said.

The judge said there was a level of sophistication in the offence through the use of the encrypted devices.

He said Minkin's role could be characterised as an 'important role, but a role that could be replaced'.

'He is not indispensable in terms of his personal characteristics; he had the role of being a courier driver and there's nothing to indicate he had any pre-existing involvement in the syndicate,' Judge Hunt said.

'(He had) a lack of naivety or lack of sophistication.'

Minkin was sentenced to a two-year Intensive Corrections Order at a Sydney court on Monday

Judge Hunt said Minkin is a contributing member of the community, who had glowing references from patients who he treats as a musculoskeletal therapist.

He told the court Minkin has 'limited social and media notoriety' after he appeared in season six of the Bachelorette Australia, before being booted off the show early on while trying to court sisters Elly and Becky Miles.

'I am persuaded to have one's reputation perhaps irretrievably linked to criminal misdeeds does more of the work of specific deterrence,' the judge said.

Judge Hunt convicted Minkin on both counts and sentenced him to a two-year Intensive Corrections Order, which is essentially a prison sentence to be served in the community.

He ordered him to be of good behaviour, with Minkin having to undertake 400 hours of community service.
Jacob Rees-Mogg was today forced to deal with an eco-activist stage invader jibing about 'fascism' during his speech to the National Conservatism conference in Westminster.

The former Cabinet minister's address was interrupted by an Extinction Rebellion demonstrator shortly after he began speaking this morning.

The man, dressed in a shirt, tie and blazer, joined Mr Rees-Mogg at the lectern and told the audience: 'Ladies and gentlemen, you all look very nice people and I'm sure you are fantastically nice people.

'But I would like to draw your attention to a few characteristics of fascism.'

At this point, Mr Rees-Mogg then covered the microphone in front of him and the protester was bundled off stage by men in suits as the audience booed.

Jacob Rees-Mogg was forced to deal with a stage invader jibing about 'fascism' during his speech to the National Conservatism conference in Westminster

The man, dressed in a shirt, tie and blazer, joined Mr Rees-Mogg at the lectern and told the audience: 'I would like to draw your attention to a few characteristics of fascism.'

One person shouted as the man was led away: 'Get back to work!'

Mr Rees-Mogg is among a number of speakers on the Right of the Conservative Party who are appearing at the three-day National Conservatism conference.

He quickly shrugged off the interruption, telling the event at London's Emmanuel Centre: 'Well there we go, our jolly good fellow has had to leave.

'We believe in freedom of speech, so he can have his national loonies conference next week and he can see how many people he gets to come along.'

Extinction Rebellion later boasted on their Twitter account that they had 'disrupted' the conference by 'calling out the fascist ideologies of senior Cabinet members and MPs'.

Mr Rees-Mogg then used his address to continue his attack on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for scaling back plans to scrap thousands of leftover EU laws by the end of this year.

The former business secretary claimed the repeal so far of retained Brussels legislation was 'pathetically under-ambitious'.

He branded it 'very unfortunate' that Mr Sunak had breached a pledge to scrub all remaining EU laws from the UK's statute book by the end of December.

'The surrender to the blob risks exposing the Government to ridicule,' he added.

He was then bundled off the stage by men in suits as the audience booed, with one shouting: 'Get back to work!'

In his speech the former business secretary appeared to lash out at the Government's introduction of voter ID for this year's local elections in England

Extinction Rebellion boasted on their Twitter account that they had 'disrupted' the conference by 'calling out the fascist ideologies of senior Cabinet members and MPs'

Mr Rees-Mogg also appeared to lash out at the Government's introduction of voter ID for this year's local elections in England.

'Parties that try and gerrymander end up finding their clever scheme comes back to bite them, as dare I say we found by insisting on voter ID for elections,' he said.

'We found the people who didn't have ID were elderly and they by and large voted Conservative, so we made it hard for our own voters and we upset a system that worked perfectly well.'

It comes after Labour's plans to give millions of EU nationals, as well as 16 and 17-year-olds, a vote in UK general elections were revealed.

Tories have accused Sir Keir Starmer of 'laying the groundwork for a referendum to rejoin the EU' with his proposal to significantly wider the voting franchise.

As a minister, Mr Rees-Mogg defended the introduction of voter ID in Parliament.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today met Rishi Sunak who pledged 'hundreds' of air defence missiles and long-range attack drones to fend off Russia's invasion.

Dressed in his trademark military fatigues, Mr Zelensky gave the Prime Minister a bear hug when they met at Chequers, Mr Sunak's official country retreat.

'The frontlines of Putin's war of aggression may be in Ukraine but the fault lines stretch all over the world,' Mr Sunak said.

'It is in all our interest to ensure Ukraine succeeds and Putin's barbarism is not rewarded.'

At Chequers, Mr Sunak confirmed 'the further UK provision of hundreds of air defence missiles and further unmanned aerial systems including hundreds of new long-range attack drones with a range of over 200 kilometres'.

The latest shipment comes after Britain last week became the first Western country to offer long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, with its Storm Shadow rockets.

Now, as Mr Sunak moves to ramp up the provision of military support to Ukraine, MailOnline takes a look at what the UK has sent to Kyiv's troops so far.

Rishi Sunak greeted Volodymyr Zelensky with a hug at his Chequers residence today after the Ukraine president landed in a Chinook helicopter

Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky today

Storm Shadow long range missiles

Storm Shadow missiles were among the most recent tools of war to be provided to Ukraine by the UK.

The missiles, jointly developed by the UK and France and costing roughly 2.2million each, have a firing range of more than 155 miles, allowing Kyiv to strike deep into Russian-held territory in eastern Ukraine where the fiercest battles are ongoing.

Ukrainian forces have reportedly deployed the missiles already with lethal effect - one allegedly hit the former academy of the internal affairs ministry in Luhansk this month where Russian troops were stationed.

The second target in the strike was the former Polipak Machine Building Plant 100, reportedly used as a supply point and repair base by the Russian armed forces.

Britain had received assurances from the Ukrainian government that these missiles would be used only within Ukrainian sovereign territory and not inside Russia, multiple senior Western officials said.

The long range Storm Shadow missiles will allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russian held territory

A Eurofighter Typhoon jet is seen carrying a pair of Storm Shadow missiles

Challenger 2 tanks

In January, Britain announced it would send a contingent of 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine.

Tanks were one of the key armaments requested by Kyiv in its efforts to repel the Russian invasion.

The Challenger 2 tank has been in service since 1994 and weighs 62.5 tonnes, with a 120mm rifled gun and 7.62mm chain gun.

The armoured vehicles have a maximum speed of 37 miles per hour and can operate for 340 miles without refuelling.

The British Army boasts that the Challenger 2's strength 'lies in its ability to shock the enemy by placing them under pressure by a rapid and fully-committed advance, causing them to break and retreat'.

In January, Britain announced it would send a contingent of 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine

M270 multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS)

Britain last summer announced it would deliver six M270 multiple-launch rocket systems to Kyiv.

Long-range missile systems, such as MLRS or high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) can fire a salvo of rockets in quick succession.

Such weapons have been used to strike military bases, ammunition depots and columns of armoured vehicles from distance, crippling Moscow's capability to properly equip its soldiers and advance any further west.

Each M270 system can fire up to 12 MLRS rockets in less than 60 seconds, with each rocket containing hundreds of smaller bombs that are dispersed in the air before falling onto the target.

The rockets' effective range is set at 20 to 50 miles, but can strike at targets at closer range.

Soldiers in the British Army's 1st Royal Horse Artillery stand in front of an armored, self-propelled, Multiple Launch Rocket System (M270 MLRS)

AS-90 self-propelled artillery guns

Britain's defence chiefs caused furore when they announced this year that they had donated all 30 of their AS-90 self-propelled artillery guns to Ukraine.

But according to reports the British Army ordered more than 170 new AS-90s from its manufacturer BAE Systems to account for the losses and ensure there are additional stocks which can be donated to Kyiv.

The weapon is highly effective on the frontlines in eastern Ukraine because Russian and Ukrainian battalions are facing off in WWI-style trench warfare where artillery fire provides a significant advantage.

The AS-90 weighs 44 tons and has a range of 15 miles, meaning it can be deployed close to the frontlines and manoeuvre into position before launching its devastating shells.

When operated by a five-man crew, the AS-90 can fire three shells every ten seconds.

Other kinds of artillery weapons provided to Ukraine by Britain include the M109 long-range howitzer, which can strike targets at up to 25 miles.

Starstreak air defence missiles

The Starstreak high-velocity surface-to-air missile is designed to defend against conventional air threats like fixed-wing fighter planes and helicopters, and is one component of several different air defence systems sent to Ukraine from the UK.

Made in Belfast by the company Thales Air Defence, the missile has a range of up to 5 miles and can be launched from lightweight land, sea or air platforms. They can also be used in some man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS).

It is a highly capable missile that can be unleashed as soon as a target is detected - there is no wait for 'lock on' as the missile uses a laser beam guidance system which the manufacturer says is 'immune to all known countermeasures'.

The projectile accelerates to a speed of more than Mach 3 - approximately 2,300mph - in a 'fraction of a second', before releasing three separate projectiles that impact the target.

The Starstreak missile travels at more than three times the speed of sound to take down low-flying enemy aircraft

A Starstreak high velocity surface-to-air missile system

AMRAAM air defence missiles

While Starstreak missiles are used to down enemy aircraft, advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles are cutting-edge weapons designed to take out enemy cruise missiles mid-flight.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace in October announced the UK decision to provide Ukraine with a series of AMRAAM missiles which are vital in aiding Kyiv to protect its key infrastructure and civilian centres targeted by Russian missile strikes.

The rockets are compatible with the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) provided by the US, meaning Ukraine can fire US and UK-provided AMRAAMs from the same platform.

The missiles use onboard active radar to lock on to the cruise missiles and guide themselves to intercept their targets at Mach 4 speeds - in advance of 3,000 miles per hour.

Armoured personnel carriers (APCs)

Britain has provided hundreds of armoured vehicles to Ukraine since the war began.

Among the most effective of these are the Stormer armoured personnel carriers.

Stormer APCs are highly manoeuvrable platforms which can carry four crew members and travel at speeds of up to 50mph with a range of up to 400 miles.

Several Stormers have been converted to come equipped with the Starstreak air defence platform, enabling them to take down enemy aircraft.

Each Starstreak-enabled Stormer carries eight ready-to-fire missiles, with a further nine stowed inside.

The Bulldog APC platform meanwhile has been in service since the 1960s but has received a slew of upgrades to enable it to perform well on a 21st century battlefield.

Bulldogs can carry up to ten troops and its thick steel armour offers protection against small arms and artillery fire.

Stormer armoured vehicles can carry eight ready-to-fire Starstreak missiles, with a further nine stowed inside

Harpoon anti-ship missile systems

Ever since Ukrainian forces sank the Moskva - the jewel of Russia's Black Sea naval fleet - the effectiveness of anti-ship missiles has been evident.

The Harpoon is a sub-sonic anti-ship surface-to-surface missile accurate to 70 miles - though the maximum effective range can be extended to up to 150 miles.

Fitted with a 500lb high explosive blast warhead, the system is carried by 600 Nato warships and 180 submarines around the world and has been in use in Ukraine since April 2022.

Brimstone anti-tank missiles

Brimstone missiles are among some of the UK's most effective tank-busting systems operational in Ukraine since last April.

The 175,000 Brimstone came into service in 2005, with an updated version supplied to the RAF seven years ago.

As a 'fire and forget' missile, it strikes its target after being launched - without further intervention - using laser-seeking guidance or autonomous targeting.

The weapon is typically launched from an aircraft or fixed launcher, but has been converted to enable portable launch systems to fire the missile to maximum effect in Ukraine.

In November, Britain sent a shipment of the upgraded Brimstone 2 missiles to Kyiv which offer greater range and a more advanced targeting system.

NLAW anti-tank and Javelin anti-air systems

The next-generation anti-tank weapon, or NLAW, was one of the first pieces of equipment sent to Ukraine by Britain, and thousands of units are now in service on the frontlines.

The shoulder-launched missile system has proven to be extremely effective as it can be carried an operated by one single soldier, meaning infantry units carrying NLAWs pose a significant danger to enemy armoured vehicles and tanks.

NLAW is a fire and forget system, meaning that once the soldier has locked onto the target and fired the missile, the projectile will guide itself to the target, allowing the soldier to take cover.

They allow a single soldier to take out a heavily protected modern main battle tank from 20 to 800 metres away.

A Ukrainian serviceman fires an NLAW anti-tank weapon during an exercise in the Joint Forces Operation, in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, in February 2022

Rishi Sunak looks at an NLAW anti-tank launcher supplied to Ukraine

Javelin missiles meanwhile are one of the UK's most effective MANPADs.

Working similarly to the NLAW, Javelin missiles can be carried and operated by a single soldier and are highly effective at knocking out enemy aircraft at close range.

They have proven particularly effective in downing Russian Mi-8 helicopters which are used by Moscow to deploy troops and provide close air support.

Drones

Rishi Sunak today pledged to send hundreds more missiles to Ukraine, but also said Britain would provide Ukraine with new long-range attack drones with a range of over 125 miles.

Drone warfare has been a determining factor in the conflict, with Ukrainian forces using everything from military-grade UAVs to store-bought consumer drones to deliver strikes on Russian infantry and armour, as well as to direct troop movements and artillery fire.

The Russian use of drones for battlefield warfare has been comparatively limited, but Moscow has sent hundreds of Iranian-made Shahed-136 'kamikaze' drones to compliment missile strikes on key infrastructure targets and urban centres.
A young learner driver is likely to be jailed after she drunkenly sped through an intersection and killed a beloved grandfather.

Alisha Fagan pleaded guilty to speeding through an intersection and failing to give way on June 9, 2022 when she crashed into a car near Sunshine in Melbourne.

The 22-year-old was driving drunk in an Audi with a suspended licence when she collided with the side of a Honda sedan and killed local grandfather Sedat Hassan.

The court previously heard she had been driving at 'excessive speed' when she ploughed into Mr Hassan's car, which was forcefully pushed 25m from the point of impact.

Fagan lied to police when they arrived, telling them she had not been driving, the court was told.

Learner driver Alisha Fagan was drunk and speeding when she crashed into another car and killed Melbourne grandfather Sedat Hassan

She gave officers a false name and tried to blame the deadly crash on four African males, who she claimed had fled the vehicle after the impact.

The court heard police subsequently searched her handbag and found the keys to the Audi, four xanax tablets and a kitchen knife.

On Monday, the County Court of Victoria heard it was highly likely Fagan would be jailed over the charges of dangerous driving occasioning death and drug possession.

'This really is a question of when Ms Fagan will return to custody,' Judge Scott Johns said.

He said sentencing principles and recent rulings pointed to a non-parole period of six months as an appropriate outcome for the 22-year-old.

Ms Fagan falsely blamed the fatal accident on four African males that she claimed had fled from the scene

While the Judge reminded the court he would never 'pre-judge' the matter or 'rule out' other sentencing options, he had a clear message for the learner driver and her family.

'Don't hold out false hope,' he said.

Fagan was released on bail last year after 76 days behind bars on remand.

The court heard her driving record revealed 'very concerning driving behaviours in the past'.

Only hours before the fatal crash which killed Mr Hassan, the court previously heard the learner driver had been drinking with a friend near the Maribyrnong River.

Judge Johns said Ms Fagan has shown 'good progress' with her rehabilitation, but noted it was 'still early days'.

He determined to delay her sentencing for three months until August.

Prosecutor Kristie Churchill opposed the adjournment, arguing further delays would cause undue distress to Mr Hassan's grieving family.

Police fond four xanax tablets and a kitchen knife in Fagan's handbag after her Audi was involved in the fatal crash

'These proceedings are now at a third hearing of the plea ... which in my submission is unfortunate,' she said.

'(The family's) distress at having the matter prolonged would be self-evident.'

Judge Johns acknowledged the stress of the 'prolonged process' but assured Mr Hassan's family that justice would prevail.

'The enormity of the loss of the deceased (to his) family cannot be overstated,' he said.

'Deferral of sentence doesn't mean that those concepts of accountability or giving weight to general deterrence and denunciation and just punishment are being displaced; they're simply being deferred.'

Fagan will return to court to be sentenced for the fatal crash on August 18.
The British pensioner accused of murdering his terminally ill wife in Cyprus has told how she 'cried and begged' him to kill her for weeks.

David Hunter, 75, was overcome with emotion as he described his agonising final months with Janice, 74, before he took the heartbreaking decision to end her suffering.

He told how his teenage sweetheart was reduced to wearing nappies, was covered in skin lesions and could no longer stand from her devastating blood cancer.

The retired miner was forced to treat her himself at home due to Covid restrictions as she deteriorated in front of his eyes.

He told the court his wife was left crying out in agony 24 hours a day.

David Hunter smothered his wife, Janice, in 2021 at their retirement home in Cyprus

David Hunter said he and Janice, pictured on their wedding day, had the 'perfect' marriage

Mr Hunter is pictured leaving court in Cyprus on Monday to finally give evidence

He broke down in tears as he told the court how he killed his wife after she 'begged' him for six weeks.

He said: 'I don't remember a lot of the last day. I went to make a cup of coffee and she started crying.'

He described how he went to the kettle and gripped the bench for support as his wife sat sobbing next door.

'The next thing I knew I put my hands on her,' he said, wiping tears from his eyes. 'When it was finished, she was a grey colour. She didn't look like my wife, and it was the first time I cried in many years.'

He described how he stood by her side and put his left hand on her nose and right hand over her mouth to smother her.

When prosecutor Andreas Hadjikyrou suggested that Mrs Hunter struggled and scratched him as he smothered her, Mr Hunter told him: 'She never struggled, she never moved. You are talking nonsense.'

Mr Hadjikyrou then suggested Mr Hunter had planned to kill his wife and did not tell her, to which he replied: 'I would never in a million years take my wife's life if she had not asked me.

'She wasn't just my wife, she was my best friend.' He added: 'She wasn't crazy, you haven't seen the strain of the last six years, what she's gone through.

'The situation, the pressure. I wouldn't like anyone to go through the last six months we both went through.'

The prosecutor responded: 'Mr Hunter, there are people that go through much worse pain.'

Mr Hunter said he didn't tell the doctors of his wife's suicidal wishes because she asked him not to, fearing they would take her into hospital. He didn't tell their daughter because he didn't want to 'worry' her.

After the cross examination finished, Mr Hunter asked to address the judge. He told him: 'My wife was suffering and she actually said, 'I don't want to live anymore,' and I still said no.

'Then she started to become hysterical. I was hoping she would change her mind. I loved her so much. I did not plan it, I swear to God.'

David Hunter with his wife Janice and daughter Lesley (left)

The grave of Janice Hunter at the cemetery in Tremithousa, Cyprus

Janice Hunter, whose grave is pictured above at the cemetery in Tremithousa, Cyprus, was in 'agony' before she died, the court has heard

On Monday morning he told the court of the events leading up to the day he smothered his wife. 'I would never have helped her end her life if she had not begged me,' he said, giving evidence for the first time after over 20 appearances in 18 months. 'For six weeks she asked if I could help her. For six weeks I refused.'

Describing her agony, he told Paphos District Court: 'She was lying down, she was in pain, suffering. I would do anything to help her. The last thing on my mind was to take her life. The last thing.'

He said she was 'stuck in the house' and couldn't move because of her diarrhoea  a side effect of her medication that saw her wear nappies for her last three years.

'She cried, she couldn't do nothing, she couldn't move,' he said. 'She was sleeping in the leather chair downstairs and for the last week we slept down on those chairs together.

'I felt so helpless and hopeless that I couldn't do anything for her. For five or six weeks before she died she was asking me to help her, she was asking me more every day.

'In the last week she was crying and begging me. Every day she asked me a bit more intensely to do it. I didn't want to do it after 57 years together. I really didn't want to do it.'

Mr Hunter said he repeatedly told her he couldn't bring himself to kill her, but she implored him, telling him: 'I can't go on, this isn't life for me.'

In the last few days she went from just crying to being more emotional. He said: 'She started becoming hysterical, so I told her, 'Yes, I'm going to help you'. I just told her that to calm her down.'

Asked how the last few days were, Mr Hunter said: 'She was crying, crying, crying, begging, begging, begging.

'She wasn't taking any care of herself. The last two or three weeks she could not move her arms and had trouble with her legs, she couldn't balance.

'She was only eating soup, she couldn't hold anything down. She lost a lot of weight. She lost so much weight that there was no flesh to put her injections in.'

He said in those final days he was 'thinking about what to do 24/7' before finally taking the decision to go through with it when she once more started crying out in pain.

Mr Hunter (pictured in March, 2023) made his first statement in court today and was visibly shaking as he gave evidence

Mr Hunter told how he worked seven days a week in the mine to pay for their only child, Leslie (pictured), to become the first member of the family to go to university

Mr Hunter said: 'I remember that I had my hand on her mouth and nose. I don't even know how I thought about it. I don't know how long I kept my hands there for.

'She did not attempt to stop me I don't even think she opened her eyes.'

After she died, he kissed her forehead and told her he loved her, before confessing to his brother who alerted the police. He said he cannot remember being arrested or giving interviews to police.

In cross examination, prosecutor Andreas Hadjikyrou said: 'I put it to you that you had decided to kill her and there was no common consent, and that you just had to decide what day to kill her on.'

Mr Hunter replied: 'No, I never intended to kill her. I had hoped for eight or nine days that she would get better, that she would change her mind.'

He added: 'The last thing on my mind was to take her life - the last thing,' before pointing to the prosecutor and saying: 'That's his idea, that's not my idea.'

Earlier he told how he met his wife when she asked him for a dance at a miners' hall party in Northumberland.

'She came up to me and said, 'You're sitting in my seat.' I hadn't ever seen such a beautiful woman,' he said.

From there, they were always together, he said, and they married in St John's Church in Ashington in 1969.

Asked how their marriage was, he said: 'Perfect.' He told how he worked seven days a week in the mine to pay for their only child, Leslie, to become the first member of the family to go to university.

Police custody vans arrive at Paphos District Court on Monday where David Hunter is on trial

He and his wife would visit Cyprus on holidays and bought a property there in 1999 before moving across two years later to retire there.

Mr Hunter said: 'The first 16 years before she got sick, apart from a few operations, it was absolutely fantastic.'

But Mr Hunter suffered a stroke in 2015 and it was on regular trips to the hospital for his treatment that a doctor noticed his wife was looking very pale.

She was diagnosed with blood cancer and had to go to the capital Nicosia every week for procedures and injections.

As her condition deteriorated she asked to go to Paphos General Hospital because she couldn't face the journeys, but when Covid hit it was closed and so they kept her injections in their fridge and self-medicated.

Mr Hunter told how he called the hospital five times a day but there was no answer, and he was forced to travel to centres further away for help and supplies.

She had two 125 euro injections per week but started suffering side effects including diarrhoea, headaches, dizziness and nose bleeds.

Mrs Hunter's haemoglobin levels were such that she was unable to take painkillers and was left in agony at home, unable to move.

In her last months she underwent a series of operations for skin lesions on her face and hands, as well as a knee operation and another for her collarbone.

Speaking after his hearing, Mr Hunter told the press he was happy to finally give his account after waiting for 18 months.

'I got my say, this is what I wanted,' he said. 'To tell them things that they never even thought about.

'For six weeks when she was asking me, it was 24 hours. She was my wife, my best friend.

'The last six months, I wouldn't like anyone to go through that. Prison is nothing compared to what we went though.'
Andrew 63, is said to be refusing to move out of Royal Lodge on the estate

Prince Andrew was pictured grinning as he drove his Range Rover at Windsor

Prince Andrew was pictured grinning as he drove his Range Rover through the grounds of Windsor Castle this morning and appeared riding his horse.

The Duke of York appeared to be in jovial spirits as he was stopped from progressing on his horse ride by barriers erected for the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

Andrew, 63, is said to be at loggerheads with the King over plans for him to move out of the 30 million Royal Lodge on the estate. He was granted the residence by his late mother and has resided there for more than 20 years.

The King has let it be known that Andrew should leave the house, where he lives with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, and downsize to Prince Harrys empty former home, Frogmore Cottage.

It is widely understood that Royal Lodge, once occupied by the Queen Mother, has been earmarked for Prince William and his family.

Prince Andrew was spotted grinning as he drove his Range Rover around the grounds of Windsor Castle this morning

Prince Andrew appeared to be in jovial spirits as he was stopped from progressing on his horse ride by barriers erected for the Royal Windsor Horse Show

The King is also progressing with plans to cut the 250,000 subsidy that the late Queen gave to Andrew, which could leave him without the means to pay for the upkeep of the premises.

The duke has allegedly requested a face-to-face summit with his brother.

Sources close to Andrew insist he is refusing to budge from Royal Lodge, claiming he has been in low spirits and reclusive.

One friend said: He is so fragile. Hes refusing to see anybody. This has been his family home for the past 20 years. Is it really sensible to kick him out?

Hes concerned that now the Coronation is over, the knives are out. Hes worried that the Royals might even turn off the utilities to get him out of there. But were dealing with human beings, not real estate.

The Duke and Duchess of York's daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are regular visitors to the lodge.

It is widely understood that Royal Lodge, once occupied by the Queen Mother, has been earmarked for Prince William and his family

Friends of the Yorks say Andrew, who was forced to step back as a front-line Royal because of his association with paedophile millionaire Jeffrey Epstein, is refusing to budge from Royal Lodge

Another friend said: Eugenie is heavily pregnant and her parents expect to have the new grandchild there this summer.

Dont forget that Sarah has been the glue holding the family together through this nightmare.

It is understood that the Palace had initially said the Yorks must leave the property  which they lease  by September, but that the authorities now accept such a tight timetable is unrealistic.

Frogmore Cottage, renovated to a high standard, became free after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, left to live in California.

Negotiations over Royal Lodge which began under the reign of the late Queen  are continuing. Andrew is understood to be frustrated that talks are between officials instead of between brothers  and wants that to change.

As first revealed in The Mail on Sunday, the King is cutting the annual 250,000 subsidy that the late Queen gave to Andrew  meaning he can no longer afford the upkeep for the mansion

Frogmore Cottage, renovated to a high standard, became free after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, left to live in California

Friends suggest that he might consider a compromise deal if Charles does the decent thing and talks to his brother face to face.

One said: If Charles wants Andrew to play ball and help the family through these difficult times, arent there better ways of going about it?

Why not do the decent thing, sit down and talk?

If they need the house for William, perhaps Andrew should be told. Perhaps William should invite his uncle for tea and explain.

Or why doesnt Charles invite his brother for a meeting and ask him if hed leave Royal Lodge to help his nephew and the future of the monarchy? And agree a schedule acceptable to both sides.

Is a little decency so difficult? There are real people at the heart of all this.

Hes just lost his mother. Who, straight after that, would want to be evicted by his brother?
Rebekah Vardy is being tipped to become the 'next Stacey Dooley' as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie affair behind her with a new hard-hitting documentary - amid hints there could be more in the pipeline.

The wife of Leicester City star Jamie Vardy and a mother-of-five has documented her painful childhood as a former Jehovah's Witness in a Channel 4 documentary.

The 41-year-old has taken on the role of reporter in front of the camera, as she interviews other former members and attempts to confront the movement at their 150 million UK headquarters in Essex.

In it, she returns to her home city of Norwich where she recalls growing up as 'fearful', and alleges that the religion failed to support her through sexual abuse as a child.

Speaking for the first time about her experience growing up as a Jehovah's Witness, she reveals she was the victim of sexual abuse at the age of 12, which was 'hushed up' by church elders who forced her to stay silent so as not to 'bring shame' on her family.

Rebekah Vardy is being tipped to become the 'next Stacey Dooley' as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie affair behind her with a new hard-hitting documentary

Rebekah Vardy pictured outside the Royal Courts of Justice, where the Wagatha Christie trial played out

She finally left at the age of 15, after she was 'shamed' for the sexual abuse and was shunned by the community alongside family members following her parents' divorce.

In the documentary Mrs Vardy says: 'I was brought up in a strict and controlling religious organisation. What happened to me during my childhood still affects me every single day.

'From the age of around 12 years old I was being abused and instead of being supported I was blamed, manipulated into believing it wasn't the best thing to take it to the police.

'I told my mum about the abuse that I was experiencing. She cried, but didn't believe me.

'I told numerous members of my family, Jehovah's Witness community, and they called a meeting, I think I was about 15, it was suggested that I had misinterpreted the abuse for a form of affection.

Rebekah Vardy has revealed her painful childhood growing up as a Jehovah's Witness in a Channel 4 documentary

Rebekah digs into these controversies with the help of one former Witness who has spent a decade collecting evidence against the organisation after he was disfellowshipped for having sex before marriage

'I knew that I hadn't, I was well aware of what was right and what was wrong, and it was explained that I could bring shame on my family, and I was basically manipulated into believing it wasn't the best thing to do to take it any further and take it to the police.

'It's hard to see how I survived that.'

Mrs Vardy recalls a childhood without Christmas or birthday celebrations, in line with the religion's beliefs, with bible studies and visits to the Kingdom Hall, the religious centre of worship for Jehovah's Witnesses.

As a child Mrs Vardy said she believed she would die at Armageddon if she was not 'perfect' and recalls 'upsetting' images shown to her depicting the end of the world, which still cause her nightmares as an adult.

There are more than eight million Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide and 130,000 in the UK, using their glossy magazine The Watchtower and online videos to promote their message

Visiting the Kingdom Hall where her congregation gathered, and where her grandfather was an elder, Vardy said: 'You would have to do things to keep Jehovah happy, because he was always watching.

'Who you spoke to, how you spoke, how you dressed, how you held yourself, how you conducted every part of your whole life, and we were told if we didn't pray enough, bad things would happen to us.'

Mrs Vardy said she always knew her family was different, from an early age, their faith causing her to be bullied and picked on at school.

At home her parents' relationship was difficult, with elders regularly called to their home to 'calm down' arguments.

When she was 11, she said her family were shunned by the community after her parents' divorce.

Mrs Vardy said relatives and friends were forbidden from associating with her family, which contributed to her 'resentment' of religion and her parents.

'I told my mum about the abuse that I was experiencing, and she cried. But she didn't believe me'

'I think that's where my real resentment to religion started, was being made to feel so bad, so different.'

The documentary is her first foray into the public eye since last year's 'Wagatha Christie' High Court libel case in which she sued fellow WAG Coleen Rooney after being accused of leaking secrets from Coleen's private Instagram account, which she denied.

But the court found that Coleen's statements were 'substantially true', leaving Mrs Vardy with a legal bill estimated at 3 million.

The public affair was turned into a sell-out stage play, a TV drama and a two-part documentary.

She has since trademarked the phrase 'Wagatha Christie' which covers broadcasting, clothing, non-alcoholic beverages, education and beauty.

One reviewer for the Evening Standard said Mrs Vardy's Channel 4 documentary, which airs tomorrow at 10pm, could see her 'reinvent herself as the new Stacey Dooley'.

Hailing her as a 'good and professional interviewer', they add: 'Can Rebekah Vardy really pull off this most unlikely reinvention and become the new Stacey Dooley? I honestly wouldn't put it past her.'

Meanwhile, a PR expert told MailOnline that the documentary was 'a great way for her entering into making documentaries on a whole range of gripping topics'.

Mayah Riaz, a celebrity manager and PR to the stars, said: 'The documentary is done in a clever way as it involves others to share their experiences too and not just about Rebekah.

'This is a shrewd move as it makes her an advocate for those in a similar situation.

'This could be a great way for her entering into making documentaries on a whole range of gripping topics.

'Its a great way for her to move away from the Wagatha Christie debacle.'

It comes amid hints there could be more documentaries fronted by Mrs Vardy on the way, on issues that are close to her heart.

Describing her revisiting her past as an 'emotional rollercoaster', she said: 'I went into this thinking this was going to be quite easy and actually, wow, it was a real challenge.

'It was an emotional rollercoaster.

'I have never been so open and personal about my experiences but also to discover other people who had been through similar experiences, witnessed similar things, if not worse, and to hear their stories, I just think they're incredibly brave for being prepared to speak out.'

Asked whether making the documentary had given her closure on what she experienced as a child, Vardy said: 'Definitely. I think this chapter has closed.

'It already really was, but I really wanted to do this when Channel 4 approached me, because I was fascinated by it.

'Knowing that I had a voice, knowing that my voice could help and hopefully there will be more people who come forward to share their experiences.'

Documentary maker Stacey Dooley has enjoyed a successful career in TV since starring in a BBC Three series in 2008

Following last year's high-profile legal battle, she told the Daily Mirror that she plans to use her voice to speak out on more issues close to her heart.

She said: 'I think being in the public eye I have a voice. That voice will be used to generate awareness of issues others may shy away from.'

The TV personality, who has also appeared on ITV's Dancing on Ice and I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, said she hopes to continue working with Channel 4 and is 'discussing a number of subjects' with them.

She added: 'Channel 4 have been brilliant to work with, I'd love to build on my relationship with them.

'We're currently discussing a number of subjects which are close to my heart.'

Documentary maker Stacey Dooley started her career as a participant in the TV series Blood, Sweat and T-shirts in 2008, which looked at sweat shops in India.

She then she made social-issue themed TV documentaries for BBC Three, including on sex trafficking in Cambodia and former child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

But despite earning her own TV programme, Stacey Dooley Investigates, she was still relatively unknown until she starred on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018 with partner Kevin Clifton.

As well as carrying on with her film-making, including investigations on stalking, the war in Ukraine and homelessness, she has published her first book, which became a Sunday Times bestseller and was honoured with an MBE in 2018 for her services to broadcasting.

Mrs Vardy's representatives were contacted for comment.

Rebekah Vardy: Jehovah's Witnesses and Me, is on Channel 4 at 10pm on May 16.
The killer of Olivia Pratt-Korbel who shot the nine-year-old girl at her home in Liverpool will not have his 42-year jail term increased, it was confirmed today.

Requests had been made for the sentence of Thomas Cashman, 34, to be increased after he was jailed for life for murdering Olivia on August 22 last year.

Father-of-two Cashman was chasing convicted drug dealer Joseph Nee, who tried to run into the girl's home in a bid to escape.

Cashman opened fire, hitting Olivia's mother Cheryl Korbel in the wrist as she tried to keep the door shut on Nee, with the same bullet killing her daughter.

But Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson KC confirmed today that the case 'cannot properly be referred to the Court of Appeal' after taking 'detailed legal advice'.

Olivia Pratt-Korbel was shot dead at her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, on August 22 last year

He said: 'Olivia Pratt-Korbel's senseless murder at the hands of Thomas Cashman shocked and sickened the nation.

'Because of the strong feelings this case evokes, it was little surprise that I received several requests under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, to consider the sentence of life imprisonment with a minimum term of 42 years that was handed down to him.

'My duty as a Law Officer in considering whether sentences may be unduly lenient is to act independently of government, even when it is not easy or popular.

'Having received detailed legal advice and considered the issues raised very carefully, I have concluded Cashman's case cannot properly be referred to the Court of Appeal.

Thomas Cashman, a high-level drug dealer, has launched his own appeal against his sentence

'Such a referral can only be made if the rigorous legal test is met, irrespective of the seriousness of the crime or the emotions the offending may evoke. The threshold for referral is a high one, and that was not met in this case.

'The test is only met if the sentencing judge made a gross error or imposed a sentence outside the range reasonably available in the circumstances of the offending.

'My thoughts remain with Olivia's family and friends who have shown such immeasurable strength during this devastating time.'

Cashman, a high-level Liverpool drug dealer, has launched his own appeal against his sentence, with lawyers arguing the penalty is too harsh.

Cheryl Korbel, Olivia's mother, reads a statement outside Manchester Crown Court on April 3

He was branded a 'coward' for his refusal to come into court to be sentenced and face Olivia's family after he was found guilty by the jury at Manchester Crown Court.

It has prompted calls for a change in the law to force criminals to attend their sentence hearing or face extra years in jail.

Cheryl Korbel, Olivia's mother, joined a chorus of voices, including former justice secretary Dominic Raab, and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, calling for a change in the law.

Cashman's trial heard how he 'lay in wait' with two guns to attack Joseph Nee, 36, a convicted drug dealer.

An artist's sketch of Thomas Cashman in the dock at Manchester Crown Court on March 30

After shooting Nee, his victim tried to escape, running towards the Korbels' front door, opened by Cheryl who had gone outside to see what was happening.

As she tried to block the door on Nee, frightened Olivia ran from her bed to the stairs, shouting, 'Mum, I'm scared!'

Cashman fired again, hitting Cheryl in the wrist as she tried to keep the door shut on Nee. The same bullet hit and killed her daughter, who was hiding behind her.

Jailing him, Mrs Justice Yip said the killer was 'not of previous good character', had made it clear he was a criminal and had 'demonstrated no remorse' during his trial.

She added: 'His failure to come into court is further evidence of that.'
Former CIA director John Brennan has admitted the infamous letter signed by 51 former intelligence officials falsely saying Hunter Biden's laptop was Russian disinformation 'was political'.

Brennan, the CIA chief during Obama's administration made the admission during his four-hour testimony to House Judiciary Committee investigators behind closed doors last week', Fox News reports.

Brennan's deposition comes as former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper is expected to give testimony on May 17.

Both Brennan and Clapper signed a letter by 51 former intelligence officials who claimed Hunter's laptop had 'all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation'.

An email shows Brennan agreeing to have his name added to the letter of signatories by the then acting CIA Director Mike Morell.

John Brennan's deposition comes as former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper (pictured together in 2014) is expected to give testimony on May 17

One email seen by New York Post shows Morell asking Brennan to add his name to the signatories on the letter. Brennan emails back with his intention to sign the letter

Hunter's laptop included explicit photos of the troubled Hunter Biden naked, with prostitutes, and taking drugs, as well as multiple emails and texts between the 53-year-old and his father.

It comes as a bombshell Republican report has claimed that the CIA was actively involved in getting the 51 signatures on the letter, which the House Judiciary Committee allege was part of a 'political operation to help elect' Joe Biden in November 2022.

It alleges that a CIA employee 'may have helped in the effort to solicit signatures for the statement' and accuses former Deputy CIA director and Acting CIA Director Mike Morell and the Biden campaign of conspiring to quickly get the letter approved.

One signer of the statement, former CIA analyst David Cariens, 'disclosed to the Committees that a CIA employee affiliated with the agency's Prepublication Classification Review Board (PCRB) informed him of the existence of the statement and asked if he would sign it,' the House investigative report notes.

The CIA employee allegedly 'asked' Cariens if he would sign the statement, to which he agreed.

'The Committees have requested additional material from the CIA, which has ignored the request to date,' the report continues.

It came after Morell admitted to the House Judiciary Committee last month that he was asked by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken - who at the time was a senior member of Biden's campaign - to coordinate the letter.

Morrell said he was asked by Blinken to rally former intelligence chiefs to agree that the laptop looked like a smear campaign.

On October 19, 2020, Morell allegedly sent the CIA the final version of the letter to the Prepublication Classification Review for review and called it a 'rush job' so it could be approved.

One email seen by New York Post shows Morell asking Brennan to add his name to the signatories on the letter. Brennan emails back with his intention to sign the letter.

On October 18, emails included in the report also showed Clapper emailing Morrell his intention to sign onto the letter.

Both Brennan and Clapper signed a letter by 51 former intelligence officials who claimed Hunter's laptop had 'all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation'. Pictured: Hunter Biden and Joe Biden in Washington DC in 2016

Photo of laptop computer reportedly owned by Hunter Biden

He also offered a key phrase to include, writing: 'I have one editorial suggestion for the letter: I think it would strengthen the verbiage if you say this has all the classic earmarks of a Soviet/Russian information operation rather than the 'feel' of a Russian operation.

Morrell replied that Clapper's suggestion was accepted and 'It was a good one.'

The letter was ultimately signed by 51 former intelligence officials, including himself and four other former CIA directors, including John Brennan and Leon Panetta.

The letter was published by Politico five days after The New York Post first reported on the contents of the laptop.

The headline for Politico's story, on October 19, 2020, was: 'Hunter Biden story is Russian disinfo, dozens of former officials say.'

The letter alleged that The New York Post story 'has all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.'

Several media outlets, including DailyMail.com, have since confirmed the contents of the laptop and that it belonged to Hunter Biden.

Joe Biden used the letter during the October 22 debate against Donald Trump, saying he thought the reporting around his son's abandoned computer was the work of Russia.

Morell was thanked for his work in coordinating the letter, with Steve Ricchetti, chairman of the Biden campaign, telephoning him after the debate to say thank you.

He was then said to be in consideration for the role of CIA director - a job that ultimately went to William Burns.

Hunter Biden's abandoned laptop made for bombshell reports just before the 2020 presidential election

Hunter's laptop is brimming with files that give a shocking glimpse into his debauched life during which he engaged in drug use and prostitution

Morell, who has been a consultant, strategist, lecturer and author since his resignation almost a decade ago, said he was never formally in talks for the role.

Morrell recently testified before the House Judiciary Committee that an Oct. 17 call with Biden's current Secretary of State Antony Blinken had 'absolutely' triggered his interest in coordinating the letter.

However, Blinken insisted two weeks ago that he was not behind the infamous letter, insisting that he doesn't 'do politics.'

'One of the great benefits of this job is that I don't do politics, don't engage in it,' the secretary of State said. 'But with regard to that letter -it wasn't my idea, I didn't ask for it, didn't solicit it,' Blinken said on Fox News.

At the time he was allegedly behind the letter Blinken was not secretary of state but a Biden campaign adviser.

Asked by Fox News on if he accepted the laptop's legitimacy after most major news organizations have verified it, Blinken said he would not talk politics.

'I'm not not engaging in politics. I've got a lot on my agenda. Some things that we just talked about, trying to help the Russian aggression against engaging with our allies, partners around the world and dealing with some of the challenges posed by China. We have a situation now in Sudan, this has fully occupied my time.'

Biden and his campaign at the time cited the letter to discredit Hunter Biden's laptop as a 'Russian disinformation campaign.'

The then-presidential candidate cited it during a debate with Trump just a few days after its publication on October 22, 2020 to deflect scrutiny of his son's alleged foreign influence peddling schemes.

Mike Morell was acting CIA director for several months in 2011 and again in 2012-13. He was asked by the Biden campaign in October 2020 to help recruit other former intelligence chiefs to discredit reporting on the contents of Hunter Biden's laptop

Then-Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said at the time that Hunter's laptop was actually 'not part of a Russian disinformation campaign' and had made that clear to the FBI and the larger intelligence community.

The Republican report also detailed how the CIA coordinated with the Biden campaign to shop the letter around and gain press coverage.

Former CIA senior adviser Nick Shapiro drafted a media pitch that he sent to a number of outlets including Politico - which ended up writing the initial story - the Washington Post and the Associated Press.

Current White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates, who was serving as Biden campaign rapid response director at the time, was included on emails from Shapiro regarding the push to disseminate the letter to the media.

House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan and House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner sent a letter to Blinken last week telling him that they were examining the letter.

'As part of our oversight, we have learned that you played a role in the inception of this statement while serving as a Biden campaign advisor, and we therefore request your assistance with our oversight.'

The Biden campaign 'took active measures to discredit the allegations about Hunter Biden by exploiting the national security credentials of former intelligence officials,' the report also states.
Missing mom Suzanne Morphew's daughters and husband Barry have broken their silence three years after she vanished and murder charges were dropped against him.

Barry Morphew, 55, was charged in May 2021 with the murder of his wife Suzanne, 49, who vanished while on a bike ride in Salida, Colorado, on Mother's Day 2020.

Her body has never been found.

Last year, prosecutors dropped all charges against Morphew after a judge sanctioned the district attorney's office for discovery violations.

Now, he and his daughters have spoken out about their plight - and Barry explained to ABC News' Good Morning America how Suzanne had made 'bad decisions' because she was struggling with drugs and chemotherapy while battling Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Barry Morphew sits with his daughters Mallory (right) and Macy (left) as they break their silence following the disappearance of their mom and murder charges being dropped against the dad

Barry Morphew, 55, the husband of Suzanne Morphew (right) has since filed a civil rights lawsuit seeking $15M claiming he was wrongfully charged with Colorado mom's disappearance and murder

"It's very hurtful to lose your reputation and your integrity."



Barry Morphew and his daughters speak out for the first time since filing a $15 million lawsuit after murder charges against him were dropped. @eriellereshef has more. pic.twitter.com/v0Fh9LD4Ri  Good Morning America (@GMA) May 15, 2023

When asked about Suzanne, Barry told ABC News on Monday morning: 'We had a wonderful life, a wonderful marriage. She was just so loving and giving, and such a good mother.

'I know that she was going through chemotherapy for the last couple years before her disappearance.

'I know she was going through some hard things and made some bad decisions. She was really having trouble with the chemotherapy and the drugs.'

Barry said that his heart was 'broken' when he found out his wife was having an affair with a man who she went to high school with.

Holding back his tears, he told ABC News: 'My heart was broken. I didn't believe it.'

When asked how the ordeal has left them, her daughters Mallory and Macy told ABC: 'Very very sad. Very confused. So traumatic. Literally our worst nightmare.'

Defending himself when asked if he had anything to do with the disappearance of his wife, Barry said: 'Absolutely not. It's very hurtful to lose your reputation and your integrity.'

Standing with their father, the women were asked if they ever questioned if their dad was not innocent. Mallory responded: 'I've never had a shred of doubt.' Macy added: 'Not one.'

The family huddled together and hugged amid their tears during the interview.

The family huddled together and hugged during their interview with ABC. As they were asked if they ever questioned if their dad was not innocent, Mallory said: 'I've never had a shred of doubt.' Macy added: 'Not one'

Barry said that his heart was 'broken' when he found out his wife was having an affair - and admitted that she made some mistakes while she was having cancer treatment

Slamming the prosecutors, who believed that Barry was involved with his wife's disappearance, he reiterated: 'They're wrong. They've got tunnel vision.

'They looked at one person and they've got too much pride to say they're wrong and look somewhere else.'

When asked what the hardest part has been, Macy told ABC News: 'Just not having mom.

'Its really difficult especially because of the lack of closure we have.'

After Barry was charged with murder and the case against him progressed, authorities revealed intimate details about their married life.

Suzanne had been having an affair with someone she met in high school, Jeff Libler, while Barry was signed up to online affair websites.

When the case was still active, it was revealed that Suzanne, Barry and Libler appeared in the local paper together in 1985.

Both men attended the same high school as Suzanne, with Barry two grades ahead of his wife and Libler at the Alexandria-Monroe High School in Alexandria, Indiana.

At a preliminary hearing in 2021, law enforcement officials presented to the court Suzanne's text message exchanges with her lover, in which she told him she had a fine night and was looking at houses for sale.

When her husband came home from work that day, he found Suzanne sunbathing in the yard. She was sending pictures of herself to Libler via LinkedIn, which the couple had been using to communicate behind her husband's back.

The court was then shown a photo of Suzanne that she had sent to Libler that day, which depicted her laying on her front in a bikini and smiling.

Barry would later tell investigators his wife looked 'drunk' in that photo, which officials said was Suzanne's last proof of life.

Morphew was charged with his wife's murder in 2021 - the charges were later dropped

Barry Morphew with his two daughters on April 19 2022, after murder charges against him were dropped

The following day, Libler wished Suzanne Happy Mother's Day and said he knew it would be a hard day for her because she missed her mother. Suzanne never replied.

His last known text to Suzanne was sent on May 11, 2020, in which he offered her well wishes for her cancer treatment. That message also went unanswered.

Suzanne had survived two battles with Hodgkin's lymphoma decades apart.

The hearing in 2021 also revealed that just days prior, Suzanne texted her husband and apparently signaled to him her intention to end their rocky marriage, which was marked by accusations of infidelity and abuse.

'I'm done,' Suzanne wrote to Barry on May 6. 'I could care less what you're up to and have been for years. We just need to figure this out civilly.'

It has been revealed that Suzanne suspected her husband of being unfaithful to her and even purchased a spy pen to snoop on him.

Barry insisted to his wife that he was not cheating on her, writing in one text: 'I promise you, you are wrong about all the crazy thoughts about me. Why would I want another, only a fool would stray from an angel like you.'

Police said the pair had a tumultuous marriage, with the suggestion being that he might have killed her out of jealousy or to stop her from filing for a divorce.

But last year, the charges were suddenly dropped without prejudice by Assistant District Attorney Linda Stanley.

This comes after Morphew filed a $15million federal civil rights lawsuit against more than 20 prosecutors and law enforcement officials for 'irreparably' tarnishing his 'name and reputation' with a 'conspiracy to violate his state and federal constitutional rights.'

The 185-page complaint claims that the authorities conspired to wrongly arrest Morphew, that they fabricated evidence, concealed exculpatory evidence and conducted a reckless investigation, all which led to Morphew being wrongly prosecuted.

Alexandria-Monroe High School 1987 yearbook reveals Suzanne Morphew was classmates with Jeff Libler - the same man she is reported to have had a two-year affair with before she vanished on Mother's Day 2020

Suzanne and Jeff were in the same grade, while her husband Barry Morphew was two years ahead

'As result of the Defendant's conduct Barry was charged, arrested, and prosecuted, and his property seized, for a crime he did not commit,' the lawsuit says.

'As result of the Defendants' conduct Barry spent five months in jail, approximately 6 more months wearing a GPS ankle monitor with severe restrictions on his movement, and almost a year defending against the criminal charges. To this date, Barry's property remains in the CCSD's possession.'

The lawsuit claims that Morphew's 'name and reputation has been irreparably tarnished in Colorado and all around the country.'

Those named in the lawsuit including Chaffee County, the sheriff's office and board of commissioners, 11th Judicial District Attorney Linda Stanley and her staff, and Colorado Bureau of Investigation and FBI agents.

Suzanne was 49 years old when she vanished, sparking a huge search and rescue effort.

At the time, Barry Morphew issued a series of tearful pleas for her return but soon became embroiled in the police investigation, with DailyMail.com reporting that Colorado Bureau of Investigation officials had descended on the home just three days after she went missing.

He had claimed to be on a landscaping job in Broomfield, Colorado, when his wife vanished but as DailyMail.com revealed in September 2020, co-workers were suspicious of his movements and said he had left his Holiday Inn hotel room stinking of bleach.

Suzanne and her husband had two daughters together. She vanished on Mother's Day in 2020

Suzanne vanished without a trace on May 10, 2020 after setting off from her home on a Mother's Day bike ride

The lawsuit claims investigators and prosecutors withheld evidence of DNA from an alleged sex offender found in Suzanne's property. Pictured, FBI and CBI officials at the scene in 2020

Barry's defense team previously filed a lawsuit against 26 individuals in the investigation and prosecution of the case, alleging they intentionally with held evidence found at the crime scene

The area where police think Suzanne's body may be is thought to be near the abandoned mine that was previously searched. Police say they are waiting for the snow in the area to melt before they can excavate it

He also left a trash can filled with shredded correspondence that was later turned over to the CBI.

Morphew began the legal process of having Suzanne's assets and their joint property transferred to him shortly after she vanished.

In November 2020, he cast a vote for Donald Trump in her name claiming she would have done it anyway.

Investigators later said Morphew had told them he did it 'just because I wanted to vote for Trump to win. I just thought, 'Give him another vote.'

'I figured all these other guys were cheating. I figured she (Suzanne) was going to vote for Trump anyway.'

In May 2021, a year after Suzanne disappeared, Morphew was arrested and charged with her murder  despite police not having found a body.

A hearing in September 2020 shredded Morphew's description of his marriage to Suzanne as being a happy and loving one, with investigators revealing she had been having a long-running affair with married dad-of-six Jeff Libler.

Morphew is accused of murdering his wife, Suzanne, right, who went missing on Mother's Day in 2020. Her body has never been found

Libler, who has never spoken about Suzanne, was due to testify at Morphew's trial and received Suzanne's final photo  a bikini selfie taken on May 9, 2020 in the garden of her $1.3m home.

The court also heard how spent tranquilizer cartridges were found inside the laundry room at the Morphew home, that Morphew had scratches on his arms in the days after Suzanne's disappearance and that she had complained of his controlling behavior to her family.

A series of text messages revealed how anguished Suzanne had discussed ending her marriage in conversations with friends and called Morphew 'a Jekyll and Hyde character'.

His defense attorneys spent most of the hearings attempting to pick holes in the prosecution case  pointing to unknown male DNA discovered in the glove box of her car and suggesting a link to a sex offender arrested in Arizona.

Morphew's case was then scheduled for a full trial beginning May 1 but it was dramatically halted a week before it was due to start when prosecutors announced they were tossing the case.

The move came after the judge due to preside over the trial banned the prosecution from using a series of witnesses on the grounds of discovery violations, while police said they were close to finding Suzanne's remains and were waiting for the snow to melt.

The case was then dismissed without prejudice, despite objections from the defense, which means it could still be re-filed should new evidence come to light.

Suzanne Morphew's body has still not been found.
Samoan ambassador to China: "If I have the opportunity, I would like to visit all parts of China"

13:16, May 15, 2023 By Wu Huimin ( People's Daily Online

Luamanuvae A. Mariner, Ambassador of Samoa to China (Lu Ningyuan/People's Daily)

Located in the South Pacific, Samoa is known as the 'first place to see the sun rise' and boasts a long history, beautiful scenery, and unique culture. Recently, Luamanuvae A. Mariner, the Samoan ambassador to China, said in his recent interview with Peoples Daily Overseas Edition that China and Samoa enjoy time-honoured friendship, and the bilateral relationship is a prime example of the friendly cooperation between China and Pacific Island Countries (PICs). He welcomed friends from China to visit Samoa.

Im learning new things every day in China.

Mariner came into office in China in July 2022. Since then, he has visited many places in China, such as Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, to name but a few. As he set foot in more cities, he developed a better understanding of China, and was struck by the beauty of the mountains and rivers of China and fascinated by Chinese cuisine and impressed by the hospitality of Chinese people. Chinese people are very friendly, very helpful. Its a very interesting thing to have conversations with people here. If I have the opportunity, I would like to visit all parts of China, Mariner said, adding that it is one of his major agendas as the Samoan ambassador to China to visit more and see more .

Mariner was impressed most by Chinas rapid growth. He said that what China has achieved in the last decades is remarkable. China has become the second largest economy in the world and its development and contribution marvel him.

In the eyes of Mariner, understanding China is for learning from China. China has its unique development path, namely, the Chinese path to modernization. This is based on the history, culture and national conditions of China. Everyone benefits from the outcomes of Chinas modernization. And China strikes a balance between economic growth and ecological protection, he said, I am learning new things every day in China. Samoa can carefully look at the elements in the Chinese path to modernization and learn experiences from it.

In the Samoan capital of Apia, Samoan women dressed in traditional attire prepare to present floral garlands to guests who have come from afar. (Xinhua/Guo Lei

Speciality products become a hit on Chinese e-commerce platforms

Chinas growth provides huge market space for Samoan products. Via the platforms of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) and China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair), many Samoan agricultural products have travelled all the way to China and become familiar to Chinese people by being sold and eaten here. Mariner said that many Samoan products are very popular on Chinas e-commerce platforms. For example, the noni juice has secured a foothold in Chinese market. China has a huge market, and I hope Samoan products could secure more market in China, he said.

Signs of bilateral cooperation and development can be seen everywhere in Samoa, and the China-Samoa demonstration farm is one of them. Since the implementation of China-Samoa Agricultural Technical Aid Project 12 years ago, the largest and most complete demonstration farm of PICs has been developed in Samoa, with which 9 major farming techniques were promoted and over 100 model farming households were created. Mariner believed that this has not only helped local farmers, but also promoted the modernization and diversification of local agricultural products, raised the efficiency of growing vegetables, and met the domestic demand for fresh fruits and vegetables.

In 2022, the China-Samoa Friendship Park and Samoa Art & Culture Center, built with assistance from Huizhou of Guangdong Province, were successfully delivered. This new landmark of China-Samoa friendship left a deep impression on Mariner. He said that the Friendship Park and Art & Culture Center have become increasingly important places for Samoan people to relax and enjoy themselves. When I was in Samoa, I would go for a walk in the large park almost every morning. People really enjoy leisurely strolls and chatting in the beautiful surroundings, he said.

View of the coastal road in Samoa. (Photo/Samoa Tourism Authority)

Samoan students fluent in Chinese

The bilateral economic and trade cooperation are on the rise, so it is with the bilateral cultural exchanges.

By making full use of the teaching resources of the Confucius Institute, Samoan children can learn Chinese, obtain new knowledge and techniques, and have a better understanding of China. The Chinese government provides scholarships to Samoan students each year, giving them the opportunity to receive education in China. "Samoan students who have studied in China can speak fluent Chinese and contribute to our national development when they return to Samoa," he noted.

Mariner believed that the ever closer people-to-people exchanges between the two countries are built on time-honored historical ties. More than 100 years ago, Chinese came and settled in Samoa, and contributed their wisdom and strength to the development of Samoa together with local people. Supermarkets and restaurants run by Chinese are prevalent in Samoa. Mariner said that many descendants of Chinese migrants have become famous local businessmen.

Chinese travel agencies and online tour operators restarted providing pilot outbound group tours to selected countries (the second batch) and Samoa was on the list. Mariner hoped more Chinese tourists would visit Samoa in the future, get to know the beautiful country and promote the two way flow of personnel and culture. Mariner said, With the pure beach, delicious food, passionate people, we warmly welcome Chinese tourists to take Samoa as their destinations when travelling to the Pacific Region.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Call for strategy to 'focus on housing people'

The Local Housing Strategy should focus on housing people rather than on building houses, the Peninsula Residents' Association has told Central Coast Council.

The council should do a study of the current needs of people on the Peninsula and address those before it seeks to increase the Peninsula's population.

"What is missing is consideration for the lives and well-being of the current members of our community," said the association in its submission about the draft Strategy.

"Indeed, current residents are specifically excluded from the No. 1 aim of the Strategy: 'Set out a strategy for meeting the housing needs of the future population.'

"There are no recommendations or discussion of what is valued in our community and how, in practical terms, it will be protected and enhanced.

"Our community includes people who are living below the poverty line (17 per cent of the Peninsula's population) and a greater number paying more than 30 per cent of their income for housing.

"These people are not interested in making money.

"They are just wanting somewhere pleasant to live that they can afford.

"This is achievable on the Peninsula, if the council is willing to put in the necessary effort."

As well as research "on the ground at a personal level", the association said the Strategy should include an assessment of "the effectiveness of the current housing strategy, the Peninsula Urban Directions Strategy".

"This should include a review of its implementation through the (planning) provisions of the Development Control Plan (DCP), and their effectiveness in implementing the strategy as changes have been made to the DCP."

The association opposed plans for higher density rezoning to allow residential flats on the Peninsula.

"Clusters of multi-storey residential flats do not have the character or provide the kind of housing that the Peninsula community wants or needs," the association said.

"The Residents' Association believes that a more effective housing strategy could be implemented through changes to the DCP, without requiring rezoning or other changes to the LEP."

In other recommendations, the association said: "An open space policy and strategy should be prepared, exhibited and adopted that formalises minimum requirements and targets for both public and private open space.

"Along with this, heat island provisions should be formulated to align with the Greater Cities Commission tree canopy target of 40 per cent, and to require conformity with a minimum solar reflectance index in areas where the tree canopy target is not met."

The association quoted the State Government's Local Housing Strategy Guideline which stated a housing strategy should "describe the community's priorities and aspirations for housing over the next 20 years".

The association's submission said: "The draft Strategy currently does not contain the Peninsula community's priorities and aspirations for housing over the next 20 years."
A megaphone-wielding Just Stop Oil eco zealot travelled hundreds of miles from Scotland to lead a climate change march in London.

Ruth Lanser was one of 25 fanatics causing mayhem in the capital this morning and has now come under fire after journeying some 400 miles to join two slow marches in the city.

The campaigner, who claims to have studied at the Glasgow School of Arts, was one of several Scots known to have made the trip south today, with others including a grandmother-of-five from Fife.

Ms Lanser, who was cleared in January of obstructing lawful activity after sitting on a lorry at a fuel depot in Birmingham last year during another eco protest, was filmed leading a march through the City of London financial district.

Armed with her megaphone, the eco-activist in her twenties shouted: 'I have travelled from Glasgow because my Government is not listening to me.

One Just Stop Oil campaigner called Ruth Lanser (pictured with a megaphone) travelled more than 400 miles from Glasgow to London to join Monday's protest

Ms Lanser, who was cleared earlier this year of obstructing lawful activity after she and other protesters sat on top of a lorry at a fuel depot during a protest in Birmingham in 2022, was filmed leading a march through the City of London financial district.

Ms Lanser (pictured) was one of about 25 Just Stop Oil activists who took part in a series of slow-march protests in London on Monday morning, having travelled from Scotland

'We are looking at recent IPCC reports that tell us we are not on track to meet our goals and yet the Government is about to license a new oil project that is the equivalent of 28 lower-income countries' emissions.

'This project is called Rosebank and it is a death sentence to everyone on this planet.'

She was joined by pensioner Julie Redman, 72, a grandmother-of-seven from Fife, Scotland - which is about 450 miles away from London.

In a statement released by Just Stop Oil, the retired NHS worker added: 'Im in despair about the climate crisis. It is accelerating at an alarming pace and yet our government is still giving out new licences for oil, gas and coal.

'It is my grandchildren who will bear the brunt of climate breakdown and I want to be able to tell them that I did everything I could to prevent climate catastrophe.'

Just Stop Oil confirmed a number of campaigners had travelled from Scotland to take part in a 'week of protests' - but officials declined to comment on whether the activists had journeyed by car or public transport.

People online have since blasted the group and accused zealots of making the cross-country trip to join the fossil fuel protest in petrol-guzzling cars.

One Twitter user said: 'How did Ruth get from Glasgow to London? Did she walk?'

Just Stop Oil protesters pictured marching through the centre of London on Monday, holding up rush hour traffic. They are pictured surrounded by police during their first protest

Another asked: 'Wouldn't have been better for the environment if Ruth had done her march in Glasgow.'

While a third quipped: 'She must have left before Christmas if she strolled all the way at that pace.'

However, a spokeswoman for Just Stop Oil hit back, telling MailOnline: 'Why should they not travel from Scotland to protest in the capital about new oil and gas?

'It is the UK Government, not the Scottish Government, that has the power to make the decision to end new oil and gas.

'Our supporters from Scotland have the same rights as everyone else living in the UK to resist the Government's genocidal plans.'

Others took aim at the number of people involved in today's rally, with Jamie MacDonald saying: '26 People. Smashing it guys. Think your beginning to blend into the background now, this daily approach isn't working.'

A third protester, named only as 'Kat', aged 20, also travelled from Scotland to march in London.

In a video released on social media, she said: 'I'm here because I realised that my inaction was going to make me completely unable to live with myself... the climate crisis was getting worse and I was sitting there thinking "that someone else would do something about it" and I realised that no-one else was going to change this.'

Today's mayhem began at 8am when about 25 protesters, wearing hi-vis jackets and armed with orange banners, began slowly marching through the City of London.

The rush-hour demonstration caused carnage for commuters, with bumper-to-bumper traffic that triggered outrage from exasperated motorists.

As the climate change campaigners slowly strolled through the city surrounded by about a dozen police officers, one white van driver vented his fury and bluntly demanded: 'Move them out the way, I've got money to make.'

Just Stop Oil brought traffic to a standstill twice through London, with protests in the City of London and now in Hammersmith and Kensington (pictured is the first march of today)

One furious driver in a white fan was left outraged by the protest and demanded Just Stop Oil activists to be moved from the road

A police officer arrives at the scene of Monday's protest as traffic begins to build (pictured)

Eco zealots marched through Aldersgate Street, near the Barbican, in the City of London holding up buses and causing misery for frustrated motorists. This protest ended at 9.15am

Police were scrambled shortly after 8.15am to break up the first march, as eco zealots strolled from the Barbican. The demonstration ended by 9.15am.

But minutes later, Just Stop Oil fanatics issued a further threat to carry out protests elsewhere - with protesters later marching for a second time along Hammersmith Road, central London, towards Kensington High Street shortly before 11.40am.

A spokeswoman from the group told MailOnline: 'The Government is clamping down on our legitimate rights to protest. But we will not die quietly. We will continue to do whatever is nonviolently possible to end new oil and gas.'

This morning's protest follows a similar one on Friday, where activists marched through Cromwell Street, Kensington - which led to an angry exchange with a frustrated Met Police officer, who demanded one eco-fanatic to 'get off the road'.

More than 20 protesters caused misery for rush-hour drivers during their 8am protest, before police arrived on the scene 20 minutes to break up the campaigners.

In video footage of the encounter, one officer can be heard ordering activists to 'get off the road, you're obstructing the highway' before a woman appears to stroll forward, narrowly avoiding being hit by a car.

The action comes days after a frustrated Met Police officer was filmed shouting at one Just Stop Oil activist to 'get off the road - you're going to get knocked down' during a slow-march protest in Kensington on Friday (pictured) Now Just Stop Oil campaigners marched through Hammersmith in their second rally on Monday. Pictured are officers from the Met Police surrounding the protesters during the first demonstration this morning 'Madam, get off the the road, you're going to get knocked down,' shouts the officer as he puts his arm out to stop her moments before a car passes within inches of the woman. One of those taking action on Friday, Paul Barnes, 43, a father of two from Derbyshire, said: 'I will continue to do all I can to protect my loved ones. I hear my children talk about what they want to be when they grow up, so I am taking action now to protect them, before it's too late.' No arrests were made during the Friday clash between protesters and police, which came amid heightened tensions over public demonstrations and a clamp down by the authorities. Last Monday, the Met was forced into an embarrassing u-turn following the arrests of protesters at the King's coronation earlier this month. Six activists from Republic, the anti-monarchy group, became the first people in Britain to be arrested under the wide-ranging Public Order Act, under suspicion of being equipped to 'lock-on'  a tactic sometimes employed by campaigners to make harder for police to remove them. But despite being held by police for hours, the Met announced earlier last week that an investigation had been unable to prove intent to disrupt the event. Just Stop Oil activists set off shortly after 8am armed with banners and wearing hi-vis jackets. Pictured are campaigner marching through the City of London on Monday Police are pictured with Just Stop Oil protesters during the eco group's latest rally in London on Monday morning, which brought traffic to a standstill Protesters pictured during the Just Stop Oil march shortly after 8am in London on Monday

'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,' the Met said in a statement last week.
Sir Keir Starmer today warned Londoners they risk getting lung cancer without the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

The Labour leader gave his full backing to London mayor Sadiq Khan's controversial plan to widen ULEZ to the whole of the capital from late August.

Mr Khan's determination to push ahead with the expansion to all London boroughs - which will see a 12.50 daily fee for vehicles not meeting minimum requirements in all parts of the capital - has infuriated many drivers.

But, despite admitting it was 'a lot of money' for vehicle owners to pay, Sir Keir this morning warned that politicians 'can't sit out' as people living in urban areas develop lung cancer.

His comments suggested, if he becomes PM after the next general election, he could pursue a range of 'clean air' policies.

The Labour leader has proudly boasted he is on track to lead a majority government in the wake of this month's local election results.

With his party consistently recording double-digit poll leads, attention has been turning to what an administration led by Sir Keir might do.

Labour has so far been carefully avoiding setting out many policy details, with senior figures arguing that the Tories would merely steal the best ideas.

But the shape of some key plans are emerging, with Sir Keir admitting that many things are 'going into the mix'.

He has argued that the party must be New Labour 'on steroids' to transform the country.

Sir Keir Starmer has proudly boasted he is on track to lead a majority Labour government in the wake of this month's local election results

The Labour leader gave his full backing to London mayor Sadiq Khan's controversial plan to widen ULEZ to the whole of the capital from late August.

Mr Khan's determination to push ahead with the expansion to all London boroughs - which will see a 12.50 daily fee for vehicles not meeting minimum requirements in all parts of the capital - has infuriated many drivers

Closely-watched projections by academics Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher found that Labour would have 298 MPs if this month's local election results were replicated - raising the prospect they would need to make concessions to the Lib Dems on voting reform

ULEZ

Sir Keir today suggested that politicians must be 'prepared' to take radical action to tackle air pollution.

Asked on LBC Radio whether he was fully behind Mr Khan's expansion of London's ULEZ, the Labour leader admitted: 'There's many people who will look at the scheme and say "that's a lot of money for me to pay".'

But Sir Keir went on to recount his visit last week to the Francis Crick Institute in his north London constituency, where he was shown an image of someone's lung affected by air pollution.

'They blew up up for me an incredibly detailed photograph of a lung with very dark marks on it, which were all the air pollution from our roads which were causing cancer in that and many other patients,' he said.

'It think it's worth us all just asking ourselves, if we are not prepared to do these sort of schemes what are we going to do?

'If increasing numbers of people, and young people as well, are getting cancer. I have to say, I took an intake of breath when I saw the photgraph.

'They said there are the dark areas that are lung cancer because of it (air pollution).

'We can't just sit that out. But I'm not saying I don't understand that paying money to use your vehicle for people who are already up against it is a big ask.

'But I don't think we can sit this one out.'

Electoral shake-up

Sir Keir confirmed today that he backs giving the vote to millions of EU citizens residing in the UK - who are currently able to take part in only local elections.

That would extend the general election franchise to 3.4million EU nationals who have lived permanently in the UK and paid tax here for a number of years.

A further 2.6million with 'pre-settled status' who have lived here under five years could eventually be included.

But ministers pointed out that expats do not have the right to vote in EU countries' polls and said the changes would damage the status of British citizenship.

They accused Sir Keir of wanting to 'drag Britain back into the EU by stealth' as well as guaranteeing Labour a majority.

Polling guru Professor John Curtice suggested Sir Keir would end up piling up votes in cities where EU nationals frequently live, evicting the Tories from seats such as Uxbridge & South Ruislip where Boris Johnson is MP.

Tories have accused Sir Keir of wanting to 'drag Britain back into the EU by stealth' with voting reforms as well as guaranteeing Labour a majority

Labour's manifesto for the general election will include a long-standing pledge to lower the voting age to 16, adding around 1.4million young people to the electoral roll. That is expected to benefit Labour as it has far stronger support in that age band.

The voting age for parliamentary elections was lowered to 18 from 21 in 1969, although devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales have reduced it to 16 for local polls.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir has refused to rule out ditching the first-past-the-post system altogether and moving to proportional representation (PR), where people vote for parties rather than candidates.

Supporters of PR say it would ensure that every individual's vote carries the same weight, rather than rewarding parties whose support is concentrated into Commons constituencies.

However, critics have warned that it would mean fringe parties holding disproportionate power, as they would need to be appeased in order to form a stable government. It could also break the traditional connection between MPs and their constituencies.

Sir Keir's allies insist he is not a supporter of PR. But Lib Dems have been hinting they would demand it as the price of propping him up in government if there is a hung parliament.

Workplace rights

Labour sources have been briefing that a 'new deal for working people' will be a key part of the manifesto.

That could include a 'right to switch off' based on legislation in France, where companies with more than 50 workers have been obliged since 2017 to set out the hours when staff are not supposed to send or answer emails. Italy, Spain, Portugal and Belgium have followed suit.

Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner told the Financial Times that 'constant emails and calls outside of work should not be the norm' because they are 'harming the work-life balance for many'.

Under Labour's plans, companies would also be expected to offer flexible working  including working from home and staggered hours  as the default option from the first day of employment, 'except where it is not reasonably feasible'.

But business chiefs and Tories have dismissed the proposals as 'unbelievable' and 'bizarre', warning that they will tie the country up in more red tape.

Four-day week

At the 2019 general election, Labour promised in their manifesto to 'tackle excessive working hours' with the introduction of a four-day week for all workers.

They pledged, if Jeremy Corbyn were to become PM, that they would 'reduce average full-time weekly working hours to 32 across the economy, with no loss of pay'.

The party claimed this would be 'funded by productivity increases'.

Since taking over from Mr Corbyn, Sir Keir's stance on a four-day working week has been less clear  although he confirmed last year he was ditching all the party's promises from 2019.

Yet, as he drafts the next Labour manifesto, backbench MPs have been pressuring the Labour leader to again pick up the four-day week proposal.

In October, Bootle MP Peter Dowd  a staunch supporter of a four-day week  introduced his Working Time Regulations (Amendment) Bill to the House of Commons.

He told MPs: 'Long working hours and low wages is no way to live.'

Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome has also recently called for a four-day week to be introduced across the public sector.

She argued that she would rather be operated on by a 'well-rested' doctor who had enjoyed a three-day weekend.

'After all, there's so much more to life than work, and we'd all be better off in a society that recognises this,' she added.

Ban on smoking

Labour's shadow health secretary Wes Streeting is exploring plans to introduce a New Zealand-style ban on smoking to Britain.

He has revealed Labour will consult on the measure and insisted there is an 'appetite' among the public to take action on smoking rates, with a ban being 'desirable'.

In what is thought to be the first such legislation in the world, New Zealand is set to make it illegal for anyone born after 2008 to be sold tobacco.

This will amount to an annually rising legal smoking age, which is aimed at preventing the country's next generation from ever taking up smoking.

Mr Streeting has hailed Labour's consultation on phasing out the sale of cigarettes in Britain as part of 'fresh radical thinking' to ease pressures on the NHS.

Labour's shadow health secretary Wes Streeting is exploring plans to introduce a New Zealand-style ban on smoking to Britain

'The question for me on the New Zealand-style smoking ban isn't whether it's desirable,' the shadow health secretary said this month.

'Because I think in policy terms, and in terms of public opinion, interestingly, I think there is an appetite and a policy driver there to do it

'In practice, is it going to work? Because it would be a great headline, and certainly a great signal of intent from the Labour Party.

'But as with everything else, not just in terms of money, but whether we can actually deliver in practice, we are stress testing all of the potential policies we might put in our manifesto against how much would it cost, can we pay for it, and then can we deliver it, is it going to work?'
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been spotted leaving a Michelin-star sushi restaurant in Montecito with celebrity couple Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex smiled as they walked out of Sushi Bar Montecito in California with actress Diaz and her musician husband, who was the lead guitarist in the band Good Charlotte.

Harry and Meghan were also thought to have been joined by Gwyneth Paltrow and her husband, TV producer Brad Falchuk - as well as Bumble chief executive Whitney Wolfe Herd and her husband Texas oil heir Michael Herd, according to Page Six.

The Sussexes were seen outside the restaurant with Diaz, Madden and their bodyguard Dave Langdown last Friday - but there were no pictures of Paltrow, Herd or their spouses.

It marked the first time Harry and Meghan have been seen in public since the Duke flew back to London to watch his father King Charles III's Coronation on May 6.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (centre) are seen leaving Sushi Bar Montecito in California last Friday with Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden (right) and bodyguard Dave Langdown (left)

Prince Harry and Meghan leave Sushi Bar Montecito last Friday with Cameron Diaz (right)

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex smile as they walked out of Sushi Bar Montecito last Friday

The Sussexes are seen outside the eatery with their bodyguard Dave Langdown last Friday

Meghan, 41, wore a brown long-sleeved dress, with matching open-toed sandals and a slicked-back low ponytail - as well as a white bucket bag and gold earrings.

What is Sushi Bar Montecito? Sushi Bar Montecito is a One Michelin Star restaurant in Montecito, California. The exclusive spot proves to be extremely popular with reservations being released on the first of each month at 10am for the following month's availability. The bar only has ten seats where customers will sit right next to the chef's table while sushi is prepared. The restaurant serves 17 courses of sushi made from 'delicacies from both land and sea'. It has a five star rating on Tripadvisor with reviewers raving about the 'amazing experience'. Others claim it is 'one of the best dining experiences you can have in Santa Barbra'. Sushi Bar Montecito from Scratch restaurant group Advertisement

Harry, 38, followed his wife to the car at around 7pm that evening, wearing white jeans, a black T-shirt and sand-coloured shoes.

The couple are then said to have turned the corner and left in a SUV, which was waiting for the couple outside the Montecito Inn on Coast Village Road.

Any friendship between the Sussexes and Diaz was previously unknown until the pictures were released, with Harry denying claims he had dated Diaz in his controversial biography Spare earlier this year.

There had been claims circling in 2011 that they were dating after meeting at an exclusive 3,500-a-year gym in South Kensington, west London.

But Harry, writing about how his dating life was referred to in books, said in Spare: 'I seem to recall one detailing my flirtation with Cameron Diaz. "Harry just couldn't see himself with her", the author reported.

'Indeed I couldn't, since we'd never met. I was never within 50 metres of Ms Diaz, further proof that if you like reading pure b*****ks then royal biographies are just your thing.'

As for Paltrow, again there has been no previous indication that she is friends with the Sussexes - although Meghan was said to have been inspired by her Goop brand when producing her lifestyle website The Tig, which shut down in 2017 when her relationship with Harry was announced.

Their chosen restaurant to meet was Sushi Bar Montecito, which is described on its website as: 'Chef Phillip Frankland Lee's Omakase Restaurant that serves up a whimsy of its namesake fare in 17 courses.

'Behind the door lies an intimate counter housing ten prized seats where you will sit right up to the chef's cutting boards.

The exclusive restaurant in Montecito only sits ten people at a time

An example of the menu at Sushi Bar in Montecito serving sushi for up to $32 (25) a piece

Cameron Diaz with her husband, Good Charlotte guitarist Benji Madden (pictured in 2016)

Harry and Meghan were also claimed to have been joined by Gwyneth Paltrow and her husband, TV producer Brad Falchuk (pictured together in September 2019)

Bumble chief executive Whitney Wolfe Herd and her husband Texas oil heir Michael Herd (pictured in April 2018) were also reported to have been at the sushi restaurant in Montecito

'Relax and enjoy as the chefs prepare a playful reverie on new wave nigiri and other delicacies from both land and sea in a free form interpretive take on the traditional sushi counter experience where you can expect unexpected riffs on beloved standards.'

The sushi restaurant will set you back $165 per person if you eat from their omakase menu - and diners have to pay a $25 deposit to secure a booking.

'Your time here is bound to pass in a blissful haze of convivial chatter,' the Michelin guide reads.

Their appearance comes after it emerged that the King raised a glass to toast the fourth birthday of Harry's son Archie at Buckingham Palace in a moving tribute to the grandson he has barely seen.

Despite the ongoing acrimony with Harry, who was on a plane back to the US within hours of his father being crowned, emotional Charles made a point of mentioning his absent grandchildren as well as those present on his big day.

The poignant moment came at a private family gathering at the palace following his Westminster Abbey crowning and appearance on the balcony with Queen Camilla.

It is understood that an invitation had been politely extended to Harry to join the family lunch but he decided to return to California to celebrate Archie's big day.
A massive search is underway for a 4-year-old boy with autism who has gone missing on Castle Island in South Boston.

Family members said Mohemed Fofena disappeared at around 7pm on Mother's Day during a visit to the park with his grandfather and older sister.

Massachusetts State Police, Boston police and fire, and the US Coast Guard looked on land and in the water until around 1am on Monday morning - before resuming the search at around 8.30am.

His mother Macenjay Fofane said he has sickle cell disease and autism and is nonverbal.

She made a distraught plea this morning for anyone who might know where her son is to come forward with any information.

Family members said Mohemed has sickle cell disease and autism and is nonverbal

Mohemed's mother made a desperate plea for help as the search resumed this morning

'If you saw Mohemed, please help me,' she said. 'Help me to give it to me, my little baby, please. Please. He doesn't have a daddy here. I'm here with my kids. Please, please people, help me find Mohemed for me.'

Castle Island is a peninsula on the shore of Boston Harbor, which is connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land.

Mohemed's grandfather Soleymane Fofane said he was on the phone for 10 to 15 minutes while the children were in the playground, which looks out over Pleasure Bay.

When it was time to leave he could not find the 4-year-old.

Mohemed's mother told 7 News Boston that she was finishing up work when her father called and told her he had lost sight of him and was calling 911 for help.

'My father called me and he said, "Im not seeing Mohemed, I checked everywhere, Im not seeing Mohemed",' she told the outlet.

The boy was reported missing at around 7.30pm.

According to the Boston Globe, the Coast Guard was alerted of the missing child at around 8pm and a small boat was dispatched to assist in the search.

A helicopter also participated in the search from above with a light shining down on the land and water.

The Massachusetts Environmental Police, emergency medical services, the Marine Unit and a Dive Team were also present at the scene.

Mohemed disappeared at around 7pm on Sunday during a visit to the park with his grandfather

Authorities are searching on land, in the water and in the air for the missing 4-year-old

Onlookers told the outlet they were worried for the child and his family.

Tyler Dooley and Matthew Liquori, both 28, were out on a run along the coastal parkway when they saw the firetrucks and ambulances out by the island.

'My first thought was heartbreak for the families, and on Mothers Day no less,' Dooley told the outlet. 'I know were probably not allowed to take part in the search but we want to help.'

Witness Vinny Nallagatla told 7 News Boston: 'I was hoping they would find the child somewhere in the island not in the water, so we'll hope and pray for that.'

Mohemed was last seen wearing blue Crocs shoes, blue pants, and a gray hooded sweatshirt.

Anyone with any information about his whereabouts is urged to contact the authorities immediately.
A Michigan schoolboy, who saved his classmates by taking the wheel of their school bus when the driver passed out, has credited the heroic act with not being distracted by a cell phone.

Dillon Reeves, 13, realized that the woman driving the bus taking him and his classmates home from Carter Middle School in Warren had lost consciousness.

He quickly sprang into action, grabbing the wheel and pumping the brakes, managing to guide the bus to a stop away from traffic while telling his frightened classmates to call 911.

The seventh-grader's father Steve told CBS: 'What else are you going to do when you dont have a phone? Youre going to look at people, youre going to notice stuff.

'Youre going to look out the window. Its a very powerful lesson, maybe a change-the-world kind of lesson.'

The schoolboy has also spoken out for the first time since the incident on April 26, telling the program: 'I just knew what to do at that moment. The bus was swerving off the road.'

The moment heroic Dillon Reeves told control of the school bus after the driver lost consciousness

Reeves and 66 other students were on their way home from Carter Middle School when the heroic teen jumped into action

Steve told a press conference after the event that he and his wife, Ireta, were 'very, very proud' of their son, 'he is very attentive to his surroundings.'

Ireta added on Facebook: 'Jesus had everything to do with the bravery and swift action Dillon displayed today.

'To Dillon, its just another day. He has no idea the amount of people who are so proud of him today,' she wrote.

Classmates that were inside the vehicle during the scary episode told CBS how they were distracted by their electronic devises when Dillon had already taken control of the situation.

'I had my AirPods in,' one student explained.

'I was looking on my phone' another said, with a classmate adding 'I was on my phone playing a little game.'

Their son's efforts have given his parents more cause not to give Dillon a cell phone.

This may seem unjust to some teenagers, but Dillon simply shrugged and said: 'Whatever. My parents are old school.'

Footage of Dillon's courageous actions were captured by the security camera on the bus which was taking children home from Carter Middle School in Warren, Michigan.

Dillon's proud parents Steve and Ireta Reeves say his efforts are more cause to deny him a cell phone

Proud parents Steve and Ireta Reeves described how Dillon is 'very attentive to his surroundings'

In a green hoody and jeans Dillon is seen rushing to the wheel and searching for the break after noticing the driver was unconscious.

He managed to park the bus on Masonic Boulevard and told his friends, who can be heard screaming on the recording, to call 911.

The bus driver, who had only been in the job since July 2022 and has not yet been named, was transported to a local hospital for an unspecified medical condition.

No passengers were injured.

Commissioner Dwyer of the Warren Police Department praised Dillon for his actions

Dillon quickly sprung into action guiding the bus to a stop away from traffic at the side of the road

Dillon has been praised by his school's superintendent for his 'extraordinary act of courage'

Robert Livernois, Superintendent of The Warren Consolidated School said: 'He stood up, he assessed the situation and saw that the driver had passed out. This was an extraordinary act of courage.'

Adding: 'He jumped up from his seat, threw his backpack down, ran to the front and grabbed the wheel and brought the bus to a stop.'

Commissioner Dwyer of the Warren Police Department also praised Dillon for his actions, inviting him down to the police station accompanied by his proud parents.

Carter Middle School were contacted for comment.
Advertisement

Elizabeth Holmes is the picture of an adoring mom as she celebrated Mother's Day with her two young children and partner.

DailyMail.com spotted the convicted fraudster several times over the weekend, playing with son William, 2, on the beach and walking through San Diego cradling her newborn daughter Invicta.

She was showered with gifts for the holiday, as these exclusive photos show partner Billy Evans holding several Mother's Day balloons, a bouquet of flowers and gift bags.

Holmes, 39, is soaking up as much of her freedom as she can after managing to temporarily avoid prison when she was granted a last-minute reprieve just a day before she was scheduled to start her 11-year sentence.

Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show Holmes carrying newborn daughter Invicta on Mother's Day in San Diego

Holmes was showered with gifts for the holiday, as these exclusive photos show partner Billy Evans holding several Mother's Day balloons, a bouquet of flowers and gift bags

On Sunday, Holmes wore a camel sweater, jeans and sun hat as she held her newborn who was swaddled in a blanket with giraffe patterns

Partner and father of her children Billy Evans walked ahead of Holmes holding their toddler along with her gifts

Holmes walked along the beach with William and the family dog in front of their $9million oceanfront home San Diego

Evans joined Holmes and William later on and the doting parents were seen smiling as their son played in the sand

Holmes is enjoying her freedom after temporarily after being granted a last-minute reprieve just a day before she was scheduled to start her 11-year sentence

Holmes was seen picking up seaweed with her toddler William and playing with a bucket and shells

On Sunday, Holmes wore a camel sweater, jeans and sun hat as she held her newborn who was swaddled in a blanket with giraffe patterns.

Partner and father of her children Billy Evans walked ahead of them holding their toddler along with her gifts.

A day earlier, DailyMail.com spotted Evans, who stood by Holmes during her trial, leaving a grocery story with the oversized Mother's Day balloons and two bouquets of flowers.

And on Friday, Holmes walked along the beach with William and the family dog in front of their $9million oceanfront San Diego home.

Holmes was seen picking up seaweed with the toddler and playing with a bucket and shells.

Evans joined them later on and the doting parents were seen smiling as their son played in the sand.

Holmes was scheduled to leave her beachside home and give herself up to federal authorities by April 27 to begin her sentence at a federal lock-up 1,800 miles away in Bryan, Texas.

The convicted fraudster, who had been holding out hope that her jail stint would be delayed after making several attempts to overturn her conviction, finally scored a legal victory last month when the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to stay her prison reporting date.

Holmes's lawyers filed a motion challenging District Court Judge Edward Davila's April 11 decision to deny her release while she appeals her guilty verdict, citing 'numerous, inexplicable errors' in the ruling.

The 11th-hour move means the Theranos founder remains free on bail while the court considers her case.

In the meantime, Holmes has given a series of interviews to the New York Times in an attempt to rehabilitate her image.

Pictured above is the $9million beachside mansion in San Diego where Elizabeth Holmes and partner Billy Evan have been staying with their children before her prison sentence

On Saturday DailyMail.com spotted Evans leaving a grocery story with the oversized Mother's Day balloons and two bouquets of flowers

Evans and Holmes met in 2017 and got engaged in 2019. 'To say we immediately fell in love isn't an overstatement,' Evans told The New York Times during a joint interview

Evans stood by Holmes's side during the trial. Ahead of her sentencing, Evans pleaded with the court to give her a lesser sentence

The interviews are significant because it is the first time she has spoken to the media since 2016, with this latest outreach an attempt to portray herself in a more relatable light while defending her actions and promoting her future as a health-tech innovator.

In a lengthy profile piece published last week, Holmes revealed how she spent some of the past year volunteering at a rape crisis hotline, working 12-hour shifts.

Speaking about Theranos, Holmes acknowledged she made numerous mistakes due to her lack of knowledge and understanding at the time.

'I made so many mistakes and 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,' Holmes said as she walked around the San Diego Zoo with her baby and a reporter from the New York Times.

She expressed a deep sense of personal responsibility for the failures, acknowledging the impact it had on her but still appeared to be of the mindset that her company, despite being exposed as a fraud, could have changed the healthcare industry for good.

'We would've seen through our vision,' she insisted and revealed she's 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.'

The former Theranos CEO and her partner Bill Evans, right, are seen leaving federal court in San Jose on March 17. She was convicted of four counts of wire fraud and conspiracy

Holmes set up Theranos in 2003 conning investors out of hundreds of millions of dollars for blood testing hardware that didn't work as advertised

The judge recommended Holmes serve her more than 11-year sentence in Bryan, Texas  1,800 miles away from her family in California

Stanford dropout Holmes founded Theranos, when she was still a teenager in 2003, claiming she could revolutionize blood testing.

Holmes's fall from grace came after journalist John Carreyrou exposed the claims made by her health-tech startup, Theranos, as false in the Wall Street Journal.

At the time, Theranos was valued at $9billion after it touted blood-testing technology that only required tiny amounts of blood and capable of detecting dozens of health issues from a single drop.

But by 2015 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, and Holmes was banned from operating a blood-testing service for two years.

The WSJ's report triggered regulatory investigations and a lawsuit by the SEC, ultimately leading to Holmes' conviction in January 2022 on four counts of fraud and conspiracy.
One of Britain's best-loved cinema chains has announced plans to close five branches in coming weeks.

Odeon cinemas states it has taken the decision 'after a thorough assessment of all available options

The company says that five branches will be closing on June 5, including Magdalen Street, Oxford; Rigby Road, Blackpool; Weston-super-mare; Ayr and Banbury.

An Odeon spokesman said: 'We have made the very difficult decision to close a small number of our cinemas.

'We know this will be disappointing news for our guests and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.

'We would like to thank them for their choosing Odeon to enjoy the magic of cinema.

Odeon cinemas says it has taken a 'difficult decision' to close five of its branches in the coming weeks

'Looking after our people is our number one priority and we are looking to secure jobs for as many team members as possible in one of our 116 other cinemas across the UK and Ireland.'

WHICH ODEON BRANCHES WILL BE CLOSING? Odeon announced five branches will be closing on June 5, including: Magdalen Street, Oxford

Blackpool

Weston-super-mare

Ayr

Banbury

Already a petition has been launched to save the branch in Ayr, attracting over 700 signatures.

Petition organiser Lynda Hind said the building, which opened in 1938, is the last purpose-built art deco cinema in Scotland, 'with only six other examples in Britain'.

She stated: 'Ayr will be left with yet another empty high street building due to the closing of the Odeon cinema on June 5, due to the venue no longer being viable to run.

'Losing this cinema will not only be another blow to our dying high street, but to the architecture and history of film... With less than a month until closure, Ayr should do all it can to keep one of its last remaining high street attractions.'

The 1,000-seater Odeon building in Magdalen Street, Oxford, is Grade II-listed and was built by famed theatre constructors Frank Matcham & Company.

Its first showing was the silent film The Four Horsemen and the Apocalypse on January 1, 1924, the BBC reports.

Screenwriter Frank Connelly worked at the venue in the 1990s and credits his career to a chance encounter with an editor of Orbit magazine in the building's foyer.

He said: 'That cinema - it was like magic. It was like stepping into another world, the music playing before the film, the beautiful raised curtains. Everything felt like an event.'
President Joe Biden cheered a drop in border crossings since the end of Title 42 with a swipe at the media  as new strains in the government's capacity to administer the surge of migrants is just beginning to come into view.

Asked over the weekend about how things were proceeding after the expiration of Title 42 authority, which ended at midnight Thursday, Biden told a group of reporters: 'Much better than you all expected,' with a chuckle.

He also spoke about the reduced number of crossings, which are down about 50 percent, as migrants  and smugglers who prey on their status  assess the new regulatory regime.

But while the border looks relatively clearer than in recent months, migrants are filling processing centers to capacity and being released into the streets with dates with immigration judges as far away was 2023.

'They have gone down my hope is that theyll continue to go down, and we have a lot more work to do,' Biden said while biking near his Rehoboth, Delaware beach house.

President Biden said things at the border were going 'much better than you all expected,' in his first comments since the end of Title 42 Sunday

His remark came after Vice President Kamala Harris said at a fundraiser that things were 'going rather smoothly' despite problems with processing and border state governors bussing migrants to northern cities, passing on administrative headaches to those jurisdictions.

'And we need some more help from the Congress as well in terms of funding and legislative changes,' Biden said.

Biden was referencing the stark new data.

Border Patrol agents have seen a 50 percent drop in the number of migrants crossing from Mexico into the U.S. since Title 42 expired at midnight Thursday, according to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Numbers had surged during the run up to the end of the pandemic-era restriction, topping more than 10,000 a day.

But as they make their way through the system, some new migrants are being given court dates far into the future.

One Venezuelan told the Washington Examiner he faces an Oregon court date a year away  and his mother 'was told to wait 10 years before she can see a judge.'

A 39-year old Venezuelan man was told to appear in court on March 11, 2027.

Migrants reach through a border wall for clothing handed out by volunteers, as they wait between two border walls to apply for asylum Friday, May 12, 2023, in San Diego. The number of migrants crossing the border dropped by about 50 per cent since the end of Title 42 authority. Biden said things were going 'better than you all expected'

New images of crowding in processing centers reveals the extent of the challenges U.S. officials must confront

Some migrants have presented documents indicated they have court dates for their cases years into the future

Venezuelans are among migrants from a handful of countries who are able to qualified for special parole status, where people can apply ahead of time and obtain two-year work permits while they remain in the country.

It all comes amid a backlog in court cases of a stunning 2 million.

After daily border encounters hitting 10,000 each day for several days in a row last week, Mayorkas said the number dropped to 6,300 encounters on Friday and about 4,200 on Saturday.

'Over the past two days, the United States Border Patrol has experienced a 50 percent drop in the number of encounters versus what we were experiencing earlier in the week before Title 42 ended at midnight on Thursday,' he told CNN's 'State of the Union' program.

'It is still early. We are in day three. But we have been planning for this transition for months and months.'

Border Patrol agents have seen a 50 percent drop in the number of migrants crossing from Mexico into the U.S., according to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas

 Slide me  This was the scene on Friday morning close to the border wall outside Yuma, Arizona. It was deserted. Some 24 hours earlier the line of migrants waiting to be process was 300-strong

He also appeared on ABC's 'This Week' to push the message that the Biden administration had succeeded in advertising that the nation's borders were not open.

DailyMail.com was at the border in Yuma, Arizona, on Thursday night when hundreds of people raced to cross into the U.S. before Title 42 ended.

But the following morning the place was all but deserted. Experts said they believed migrants and people smuggling gangs were trying to get to grips with a new set of immigration policies.

Mayorkas admitted it was still too early to say that numbers had peaked, but he said Washington's message was getting through.

'We have communicated very clearly a vitally important message to the individuals who are thinking of arriving at our southern border: There is a lawful, safe and orderly way to arrive in the United States,' he said.

'That is through the pathways that President Biden has expanded in an unprecedented way.

'And then there's a consequence if one does not use those lawful pathways, and that consequence is removal from the United States, deportation and encountering a five-year ban on reentry, and possible criminal prosecution.'

Title 42 was activated by the Trump administration to stem the spread of COVID-19. It is a public health measure that allows border authorities to immediately expel arrivals before they could even claim asylum.

Immigrants seeking asylum in the U.S., who are stuck in a makeshift camp between border walls between the U.S. and Mexico, sit as a Customs and Border Protection officer keeps watch while other migrants are lined up to be transported on May 13, 2023

But with the pandemic over, it finally expired at midnight eastern time on Thursday.

The Biden administration rushed through new restrictions, effectively restoring Trump's 'transit ban,' which allows for the deportation of arrivals who did not seek asylum in countries through which they traveled.

Migrants can legally present themselves at the border if they used a mobile app, CBP One, to register in advance.

But there were snags. An eleventh hour legal challenge blocked plans to more quickly release migrants from Border Patrol detention.

The quick drop in numbers will help alleviate pressure on detention facilities that were running way beyond capacity.

Almost 300 newly arrived migrants were released by officials in Yuma, Arizona, on Friday illustrating how border cities are struggling to cope with a huge surge in arrivals in the past week.

Almost 300 newly arrived migrants were released by officials in Yuma, Arizona, on Friday illustrating how border cities are struggling to cope with a huge surge

Migrants were seen boarding buses in Yuma, Arizona and coincided with the end of Title 42, and the lifting of a Trump-era restriction designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19

On Friday afternoon, three white buses with blacked out windows pulled into the Yuma Public Safety Training Facility close to the city's airport

On Thursday, the mayor of Yuma announced that CBP was planning releases in the city of migrants who had not undergone full processing, although he insisted they had been 'vetted.'

And on Friday afternoon, three white buses with blacked out windows pulled into the Yuma Public Safety Training Facility close to the city's airport.

The location was a closely held secret, but DailyMail.com was on hand to witness the release. A briefing document said 141 were being freed.

Streams of people could be seen climbing out of the buses and being directed to a shaded holding area, where there was at least some shelter from 96F temperatures.

From there, it is understood they will be put on buses to take them to Phoenix.

It followed a similar release of about 140 people at a separate location in Yuma and at nearby San Luis in the morning.

Yuma County Supervisor Jonathan Lines said the process was an admission that federal authorities simply could not cope.

'This is decompressing and the federal government is relying on the local and state government to do its job,' he said.

'It's another failure of the Biden Administration to manage a problem they created with their open border policy.'
Clare Moseley, founder of refugee charity Care4Calais, has stepped down following claims she used pepper spray on a refugee in self-defence and threatened to drag a female volunteer out of a room by the f*****g hair.

It comes after a series of complaints from whistleblowers, with one claiming that there was a 'culture of bullying' at the organisation.

The charity has denied the allegation.

Separately, Care4Calais is already under investigation by the Charity Commission over regulatory issues.

Clare Moseley announced she was stepping down from her role after seven and a half years at the weekend

Clare Moseley is leaving Care4Calais after a number of allegations were made against her

Refugee charity Care4Calais collecting donations to hand out to migrants in France

Ms Moseley, 53, has been the charitys figurehead since it was founded in 2015.

However, in May 2020, Care4Calais received a formal complaint from a volunteer who said Ms Moseley had threatened her 'with physical violence while helping in the Calais camp.

The complaint said that, during a row about journalists photographing refugees, Ms Moseley shouted at the volunteer: I will drag you out by your f***ing hair.

Responding to the claims, Ms Moseley told MailOnline: With regard to the volunteer who was threatened, this followed a period of issues with this volunteer. I acknowledge that the comment, made in the heat of the moment, was entirely inappropriate and I have apologised.'

Earlier in 2020, the charity also investigated accounts from two people about an occasion in Brussels when Ms Moseley allegedly used pepper spray during an incident while distributing goods to refugees.

Ms Moseley said that she used the spray in self-defence after threatening behaviour from someone else at the distribution site, documents show  a position supported by other witnesses.

She added: 'With regard to the pepper spray incident this was in self defence as other witnesses have acknowledged, and at the time I was unaware of the different legal position in Belgium as compared to France - on becoming aware of it, I of course ceased to carry it in Belgium. 

Responding to accusations of bullying in the organisation, she said: I can only say that, in a position of leadership of a young and fast growing organisation, I have been placed in many positions where I had to make difficult and high pressured decisions.

If I made mistakes or upset any of our volunteers, I am sorry for that. I have devoted the last seven and a half years to serving the charity as an unpaid volunteer working long hours to do everything in my power to help and advocate for refugees who often have little or no other support.

She also insisted that her resignation had nothing to do with the complaints, and that a statement by the charity suggesting she had resigned after allegations were made public was misleading.

Ms Moseley, who set up the charity Care4Calais, pictured in Calais, France

A volunteer for refugee charity Care4Calais in a camp in northern France

In 2017 married Ms Moseley started up a romance with a refugee after she promoted her charitys no sex with migrants policy.

She had a relationship with Tunisian migrant Mohamed Bajjar, a fact which was reportedly well known among both migrants and volunteers.

It was claimed at the time that she ended her relationship with 27-year-old Bajjar after she raised financial concerns.

Friends of Ms Moseley claimed that Bajjar had threatened to tell her husband of the affair and send him photos of the couple while they were together.

Care4Calais announced Ms Moseleys departure two days after the magazine Third Sector contacted them with the catalogue of complaints.

Ms Moseley has stepped down she used pepper spray on a refugee

Ms Moseley (pictured) said that she used the spray in self-defence after threatening behaviour

Care4Calais told the Charity Commission in January 2021 that Ms Moseley still carried pepper spray in France, where it is legal, but no longer carried it in Belgium.

A Belgian charity complained in 2017 that someone working with Care4Calais had threatened some of its volunteers with a knife and said it would not send people to help again because they felt unwelcome and unwanted.

Care4Calais said it had not been able to establish what happened but apologised for the poor experience of their Belgian colleagues.

The charity received a complaint in 2018 about another member of staff who was alleged to have been rude, unwelcoming, abrupt, argumentative and generally very unpleasant towards volunteers, leading Care4Calais to say it was concerned and upset to hear the reports.

Clare Moseley (pictured with pop star will.i.am in Calais) allegedly had a year-long affair with a 27-year-old migrant

In 2019, Care4Calais apologised to another volunteer who complained that another person at the charity had been rude and might be speaking to and treating others in this manner.

In 2018, a volunteer said he had stopped making donations to Care4Calais because avoidable mistakes in allocating jobs in one refugee camp had inadvertently caused problems on the ground.

The charity explained it had been short of staff at the time and said it was sad to lose your support as a volunteer.

Care4Calais acknowledged that a volunteer was not treated well and offered to cover the costs of counselling after he complained in 2020 that he had been sexually harassed by someone from the charity.

The alleged harassment was off-site and outside working hours.

Two trustees during this period raised concerns about how Care4Calais was run, although emails seen by Third Sector showed they left the organisation on good terms.

One stepped down from the board in 2019 in part because there is a clash between my ideas for how the organisation should be run and Clare [Moseley]s, while a second trustee urged remaining board members to correct a lack of trustee meetings when they quit in 2018.

The Third Sector dossier relates to eight separate complaints sent to Care4Calais between 2017 and 2020, the period immediately before the Charity Commission first raised regulatory concerns with its trustees.

The commission initially opened a compliance case but escalated that to a statutory inquiry after identifying serious governance concerns.

Asked about the complaints this week, Care4Calais apologised and acknowledged that it had got things wrong in the past. It said safeguarding and volunteer management has improved in the years since.

The charity also said it appointed Steve Smith, an experienced voluntary sector leader, as its chief executive last month, as part of reforms to the charitys governance and management structures.

Care4Calais supports refugees in camps in Belgium and France as well as in the UK.

It raised 1.6m for its work in 2020/21, the last year for which there are published accounts.

Many of the complaints made against Care4Calais also stressed the importance of its work. Experts say the refugee camps in northern Europe can be very difficult environments for charities to operate in.

A spokesperson for Care4Calais said: Since its foundation in 2015, Care4Calais has grown significantly to help many thousands of people who are fleeing conflict and persecution and are seeking asylum across the UK and in France

As a new charity, we didnt always have the right internal systems and processes in place to support this growth and we acknowledge that we got things wrong. We are sorry for those mistakes.

The spokesperson said the complaints were small in number relative to the thousands of people who had volunteered with the charity, but stressed that they have always been taken seriously and we learn from each one.

They said: In response, over the last 18 months we have been working hard to put in place a thorough approach to safeguarding and volunteer management.

Ms Moseley told Third Sector in a statement: When I first arrived in Calais I had no intention of setting up a charity; I could not have imagined one which now supports thousands of people seeking asylum in the UK as well as refugees in northern France.

Over the last few years I have been proud to volunteer alongside so many fantastic people who support some of the most vulnerable in our society. I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart.

I am now leaving Care4Calais to focus on campaigning for safe routes for refugees and I will be working alongside our incredible trade union partners to ensure safe passage becomes a reality.
The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group on Monday slammed reports that alleged he offered information on Russian troop positions to Ukraine as 'laughable' and a result of a possible smear campaign.

Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin has in recent days sharpened his rhetoric against the Russian defence ministry, issuing scathing videos about Moscow's generals.

Wagner fighters have spearheaded Moscow's fight for the east Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and Prigozhin's influence has skyrocketed since Moscow's offensive.

The Washington Post published a story Sunday based on unverified US intelligence leaks on Prigozhin having contact with Ukrainian intelligence in January.

According to US documents, the newspaper said, Prigozhin had offered to Kyiv information on Russian army positions in exchange for Ukrainian troops to withdraw from areas near Bakhmut.

AFP could not verify the information reported by the Washington Post.

Prigozhin laughed off the report in an audio message posted on Telegram.

'Reading this is of course nice. It means I am not only fighting for Russia but Zelensky is also fulfilling my orders,' Prigozhin said.

Prigozhin has repeatedly threatened to pull Wagner out of Bakhmut unless Russia's armed forces send ammunition. He said his troops were receiving only 10% of the shells they needed

Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Wagner private mercenary army, rages about the recent losses of Russian soldiers in Bakhmut

Mercenary chief ranks at the Russian military leadership as reports continue over Russian forces abandoning their frontlines

Ukrainian soldiers fire a cannon near Bakhmut, an eastern city where fierce battles against Russian forces have been taking place, in the Donetsk region, May 3, 2023

'This is laughable.'

He said 'people from Rublevka' - a luxurious Moscow suburb home to the Russian elite - could be behind the allegations.

'Of course they will pour as much s*** on me as they can,' he said.

The giant explosion is thought to take out all but three of Putin's men in the unknown location

Smoke rises after an explosion where a missile is fired at the escaping troops which appears to take out all but three of them

Last week, Prigozhin accused Moscow's conventional army of 'fleeing' positions around Bakhmut.

He has repeatedly claimed that the Russian defence ministry was refusing to deliver ammunition to his soldiers.
An unemployed mother who relies on Centrelink benefits has burst into tears while pointing out a crucial flaw in Treasurer Jim Chalmers' Federal Budget promises to parents.

Jessica Blowers explained on the ABC's Q&A program on Monday that she will be forced off the Single Parent Payment when her daughter turns eight in August, leaving her unable to cope with an impending rent increase.

Under current rules, single parents can claim the Parenting Payment of $949.30 a fortnight until their youngest child turns eight. In September, the age limit for the payment will rise to when the youngest child is 14, as part of Dr Chalmers' Budget.

Ms Blowers falls into a cruel gap and will lose the payment for a month as her daughter's 8th birthday is four weeks before the new rules kick in.

To make matters worse, she will also be hit with a rent increase during that period from $900 a fortnight to $960.

An unemployed mother who relies on Centrelink benefits has burst into tears while pointing out a crucial flaw in Treasurer Jim Chalmers' (pictured) Federal Budget promises to parents

'What am I going to do? What is my choice, other than I am doing my best to get a job so that I can keep a house over my daughter's head,' she pleaded with the Treasurer on Q&A.

'When I'm applying for the jobs, I am faced with being told that more than 100 other candidates have applied for the same jobs - I'm not sure how I am supposed to compete against 100 other people for one job.'

Ms Blowers said she 'would like to know what measures the government has in place to bridge the gap that I and other parents in similar situations will find ourselves in'.

'I don't have anywhere to go because I am paying my entire pension in rent. Everywhere else in Sydney is comparable to that.'

A sympathetic Dr Chalmers said that people like Ms Blowers were 'the reason why we are lifting the age from eight to 14'.

'This is something we were really keen to do in the Budget because we recognise the pressure that you are under as a single mum,' he said.

But the Treasurer was adamant that the new system could not be introduced anytime sooner than September 20.

'We've tried to do is bring that change in as soon as possible. We think September is the soonest that we can do it,' he said.

Ms Blowers falls into a cruel gap and will lose the Parenting Payment for a month as her daughter's 8th birthday is four weeks before the new rules kick in

'I understand that that means a few weeks for you going from the current payment onto JobSeeker and (then) back onto the single parenting payment.

'I would love to avoid that if we could, but what we're trying to do is provide this extra assistance ... that you need and deserve. If we could avoid those couple of weeks, we would, but September is the best we can do.'

In total, some 57,000 single parents - 90 per cent of whom are women - will eventually benefit from the new scheme.

Previously they would have been moved onto the lower JobSeeker rate when their youngest child turned 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,' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said when the policy was announced.

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.

The PM spoke about the decision on Nova radio in Perth last week, saying he knew 'firsthand what it's like to grow up with a single mum doing it tough'.

'We want to look after single parents because we know that the role that they play in raising their children is such a priority for them and theyre deserving of more support,' he said.
A '20ft wide' sinkhole has appeared over a tunnel which was built for HS2 - sparking backlash from campaigners.

The high-speed railway project has drawn criticism from protesters since it was launched.

One self-proclaimed activist, Mark Keir, wrote on Twitter saying it is 'time to stop digging' after the hole was discovered above part of the Chiltern tunnel near Little Missenden, Buckinghamshire.

A spokesperson for HS2 Ltd confirmed that a ground movement had occurred within a field above a stretch of railway in Bazzards Field, south west of the lake.

'Investigations are ongoing, but this is likely to be linked to pre-existing ground conditions above the tunnels. The site has been sealed off and there is no risk to the public,' the statement read.

The ten-mile Chiltern tunnel is the longest on the project, which is understood to have cost more than 40billion, and is being built to improve transport links between the north of the country and London.

The hole was discovered by campaigners who have called on the project to be halted

Workers sealed off the '20ft' hole after they were alerted to the incident

Construction staff were seen inspecting the site after the hole appeared

Local residents were told of the incident in an email from HS2 Ltd's contractor Align on Saturday evening, which read: 'It's quite sizeable  around six meters in diameter and five meters deep. These are approximate measurements.'

HS2 confirmed that the location in question is above a portion of completed tunnel and tunnelling operations are ongoing.

Large excavation equipment has been paving the way for the project's route under the Chiltern hills for the past 21 months.

The sinkhole is located close to Shardeloes Lake near Amersham

Ariel views show the depth of the hole, which as been sealed off and is of 'no risk to the public'

There are two tunnels located between the M25 and South Heath, and both have a total of five shafts which can be used for emergency access or ventilation near the location of the sinkhole.

Both tunnels are an integral part of the first phase of the route linking London to the West Midlands.

The line is expected to be operational between 2029 and 2033.

One complete, the line will stretch to Manchester and potentially further.

Campaigners have been battling against the project's plans to build on woodland for months.
Bob Lee's death has exposed the antics of the upper echelons of Bay Area society - where members' sexual partners often crossed over during cocaine-fueled lascivious parties.

Tech exec Nima Momeni, 38, is accused of stabbing Cash App founder Bob Lee, 43, in the heart with a four-inch black blade kitchen knife after quizzing him about his alleged casual, sexual relationship with his married party-girl sister.

Momeni and Lee also allegedly slept with the same woman, it's now emerged.

Lee and Momeni's sister were part of the crowd of affluent San Francisco partygoers known as 'The Lifestyle' who attended debauched events where swingers and cheaters would gather for casual, drug-fueled sex.

Speaking to a series of insiders who knew Lee and partied among members of The Lifestyle, Wall Street Journal has painted a picture of the fringed, underground scene Lee was a part of before his death on April 4.

Friends say Cash App founder Bob Lee was a regular at underground sex and drug parties with other San Francisco elites including the sister of the man accused of killing him

Khazar - who allegedly had casual sex with Lee - also played in the same San Francisco circles

Dana Wagner, the former general counsel of payments company Square, revealed: 'He was also hanging out with people who weren't great people, and that was part of what happened in the end. 'There are a lot of swingers, cheaters and liars in that crowd'

Lee, who was known for being creative, adventurous and loyal to his friends, started to change in the months before his death, according to friends speaking to WSJ.

He was allegedly 'getting in over his head' due to 'The Lifestyle' circles that he got himself into.

Khazar Momeni was allegedly also part of 'The Lifestyle'

Dana Wagner, the former general counsel of payments company Square, revealed: 'He was also hanging out with people who weren't great people, and that was part of what happened in the end.

'There are a lot of swingers, cheaters and liars in that crowd.'

But the people within The Lifestyle were also known for being incredibly talented, smart people - seeking something new because there's 'not much in our world for them to do.'

Lee's friend Devon Meyers described the crowd that Lee would frequent with as: 'Highly functioning, very intelligent people, incredibly talented, and there's not much in our world for them to do.'

According to WSJ, Lee, who was separated from his wife, would often sleep with multiple women, including Khazar Momeni, the sister of his alleged killer.

It was at one of these parties on April 3, when Nima  who sources say was a recluse, often standing in the corner  confronted Lee.

Nima was allegedly more quiet, and stood on the sidelines watching others indulge in excess - including his wealthy and glamorous sister, who engaged in the fun.

Despite the ambiance of the parties, there were still boundaries within the community, according to insiders speaking to WSJ.

Meyers, a friend of Lee: 'There is still an understanding of consent and boundaries.' If someone crosses the line, getting too drunk and feely with others, 'they get excommunicated very quickly.'

The suspect, 38-year-old Nima Momeni

Khazar Momeni and her husband, plastic surgeon Dr. Dino Elyassnia at her brother's arraignment. Prosecutors laid out part of their case and she is at the center of her brother's alleged motive

On April 4, Lee was filmed on surveillance cameras staggering into an apartment building in downtown San Francisco at 2.35am after being stabbed

The groups of people involved in The Lifestyle in San Francisco did more than just engage in lusty sexual experiences with different partners. Instead, the term loosely described the underground, countercultural party scene in the city.

It used to be for hippies - but when wealthy men and women in the tech sector became more and more involved, it was 'gentrified' and the so-called clientele became less 'playful' and more 'rough around the edges,' WSJ reports.

Alongside his involvement in the underground scene, Lee was also known for splashing the cash he earned in the lucrative tech industry - which sometimes meant he could be naive and trusting of people who didn't deserve it.

According to friends and former lovers, he bought a Tesla for a woman he was seeing, took friends on all-expenses-paid trips to Tulum, Mexico on a whim, and would fork the bill for Ubers and meals for those he loved.

When one of his ex girlfriend's iPhone was stolen during a trip, Lee hired someone to secure a new one for her.

He was known for having a circle of around 20 close friends - whom he would attend all-night raves with across the world.

Lee would allegedly take ecstasy, ketamine, cocaine during the benders, and also jumped at the opportunity for fun and frivolousness, according to those who knew him.

One time, at a nightclub where a discounted $5 entrance was set for people who went in with no pants, Lee obliged and went in wearing his underwear.

Lee was seen on surveillance footage near the apartment building clutching his wound

He was known for having several girlfriends at the same time - as well as a handful of other women that he would sleep with.

But Lee would always be respectful towards them, his friends said.

Lee was attracted to the underground lifestyle scene, because he was someone who loved new experiences and bonding with people from all walks of life.

Lee's wife, who he was separated from, disputed that Lee was a 'party boy' - and said that she had never heard of 'The Lifestyle.'

She admitted that he would microdose ketamine as a treatment for depression, but apart from that, Ms Lee described him as a 'dedicated, mature father.'

But Lee was found with a cocktail of drugs in his system when he died, including cocaine and ketamine.

Friends of Lee said he told them that he was casually sleeping with Khazar Momeni, 37, another San Fran elite who frequented the parties Lee attended, before he was killed.

Before that, about three years ago, Lee, 43, was also with a woman that Mr Momeni, 38, had previously dated, according to WSJ.

Momeni has been described as insecure about the women he saw and dated - and gave the allure that didn't want other men stealing them.

According to one of Momeni's ex girlfriends, he was problematic: 'He was not nice behind closed doors,' she told Mission Local. 'Called me probably the worst names I've ever been called.'

She also said he would be threatening and possessive and did not like when spoke to other men. She suspected he would eventually physically abuse her.

Nima Momeni (left) vowed 'came down way hard' on Lee hours before the stabbing. Prosecutors say it was a planned attack in which he used a kitchen knife to stab Lee in the heart

Friends of tech exec Nima Momeni have previously said his life was 'unraveling' in the weeks and months leading up to the alleged stabbing

In fact, police records show, he did become physically abusive, allegedly pushing a woman at his California home in August 2022.

'I honestly think that he's scary, and I always thought he was scary - after I got to know him,' the ex-girlfriend said.

'She believes that he may be bipolar, because one minute he will be fine and the next he will go off for no reason,' a police report said as he was cited by never charged with battery.

Others have described him as a 'boundary pusher,' with one source accusing him of having 'snatched me by the hair after I said not to.'

Another review corroborated his cocaine use and called him 'heavily armed,' with others accusing him of owning ghost guns, the outlet reported.

'He loved his guns. He talked about his guns all the time,' said another former ex-girlfriend of Momeni, who also said he kept many knives. 'He was a fan of violence.'

When one of his girlfriends eventually broke up with him, she later starting seeing Lee.

It has also emerged that the San Francisco condo where Lee and his alleged killer met at a party on April 3 was owned by a man who was previously criminally charged with drugging and sexually assaulting an individual.

Jeremy Boivin also had charges surrounding the possession for sale illegal party drugs including ketamine and MDMA.

In a text message to Lee earlier in the day, Khazar gushed: 'Just wanted to make sure your doing OK because I know Nima came wayyy down hard on you and thank you for being such a classy man handling it with class. 'Love you Selfish pr***s.'

At the party, Momeni confronted Lee and asked if his sister was doing drugs or 'anything inappropriate.' According to a witness, Lee told Momeni that nothing inappropriate had happened.

Authorities now say that Nima and Lee met up again later that night at Khazar's luxury apartment in Millennium Tower.

Surveillance footage showed the two getting into Nima's white BMW at around 2am on April 4 and leave the scene.

He is believed to have drove Lee to a secluded area several streets over, where he stabbed the Cash app founder multiple times with a kitchen knife.

Nima then allegedly left Lee to bleed out in the middle of the street.

Lee was seen stumbling and was begging for help that night before collapsing near the Bay Bridge, just 16 minutes from Khazar's apartment.

Police have said Khazar was texting Lee around the time he died.

'Just wanted to make sure your doing ok Cause I know nima came wayyyyyy down hard on you,' she wrote in one of these messages.

'And thank you for being such a class man handling it with class. Love you Selfish p****s.'

Khazar has previously showed up to court with her plastic surgeon husband, Dr. Dino Elyassnia, wearing designer sunglasses. She and her brother immigrated to the US from Iran as children.
Just 17 days before June 1, President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy are at odds even over how they believe debt ceiling negotiations are progressing.

'I really think there's a desire on their part, as well as ours, to reach an agreement, and I think we'll be able to do it,' an optimistic Biden told reporters on Sunday in Delaware.

'I remain optimistic because I'm a congenital optimist.'

Biden refused to detail the status of talks. 'I've learned a long time ago, and you know as well as I do: It never is good to characterize a negotiation in the middle of a negotiation,' he said.

McCarthy characterized the talks as 'still far apart.'

'It doesn't seem to me yet they want a deal, it just seems like they want to look like they are in a meeting but they aren't talking anything serious,' he told reporters Monday morning.

'I really think there's a desire on their part, as well as ours, to reach an agreement, and I think we'll be able to do it,' an optimistic Biden told reporters on Sunday in Delaware

'It doesn't seem to me yet they want a deal, it just seems like they want to look like they are in a meeting but they aren't talking anything serious,' McCarthy told reporters Monday morning

'Seems like they want a default more than a deal,' the speaker said, adding they need a deal by 'this weekend' in order 'to have a timeline to be able to pass it in both houses.'

Biden and congressional leadership are supposed to sit down again on Tuesday after their staff have been leading negotiations throughout the past week. They were originally slated to meet on Friday but those talks were canceled as staff-level negotiations had not made enough progress.

In a surprise development, Biden expressed an openness to tougher work requirements for welfare programs, a top priority in the House GOP's debt limit bill.

Biden said that he'd voted for the 'tougher work requirements' as a senator in the past but 'for Medicaid it's a different story, so I'm waiting to hear exactly what their proposal is.'

The House Republicans' debt limit bill, the Limit, Save Grow Act, included stricter work requirements for Medicaid, SNAP and TANF.

Biden also said he planned to attend the G-7 in Japan later this week - a trip he previously said he could attend virtually if debt limit talks required him to remain in Washington.

McCarthy said the president 'hasn't taken it serious' but stopped short of criticizing him for leaving the country amid negotiations.

The federal government reached its $31.4 trillion borrowing limit in January, prompting the Treasury to take 'extraordinary measures' to move money around and buy more time for Congress to work out a deal.

The Treasury now says the nation could run out of funds to pay its bills by June 1, though the exact date is unknown.

Biden has long insisted Congress must present him with a 'clean' debt ceiling bill and can talk about spending cuts after the limit has been raised. McCarthy has long insisted he won't do that - using the debt ceiling as leverage to demand cuts to the federal budget.

Talks between staff continued throughout the weekend and Treasury Sec. Janet Yellen said she thought the two sides could find agreement.

The president, meanwhile, spent the weekend at his Rehoboth home and is spending Monday attending the graduation of his granddaughter Maisy from the University of Pennsylvania.
Speaking roughly 24 hours before a ceremony that will see Johnson succeed his similarly aligned predecessor, Terry Duffy said CME Inc. is set to leave the city

On a podcast, the CEO of the country's foremost financial derivatives exchange voiced distaste over taxes planned by the 47-year-old former union organizer

Companies are already vowing to leave Chicago over additional taxes promised by its new mayor - a progressive newcomer tasked with addressing the city's dwindling image under predecessor Lori Lightfoot.

Sworn in early Monday, Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson beat out more moderate Chicago schools CEO Paul Vallas earlier this month to earn the hallowed spot - something business leaders like CME Group Inc are already peeved about.

Appearing on a podcast Sunday, the chief executive of the country's foremost financial derivatives exchange, Terry Duffy, voiced his distaste over additional taxes planned by the ex union organizer, whose upset win was endorsed by Bernie Sanders.

Intended to dig the city out of its current financial hole, the increases are aimed at high earners and companies headquartered in the Windy City - whom, as CME is already proving, are likely to put up a political fight.

Apart from the array of tax increases, Johnson - a relative unknown in a heated mayoral race - has his hands full after taking the reins Monday, facing an influx of migrants in need of shelter and summer months that historically breed violent crime.

Companies are already vowing to leave Chicago over additional taxes promised by new mayor Brandon Johnson - who is tasked with addressing the city's dwindling image see under Lori Lightfoot. The pair are seen at Johnson's inauguration at Michele Clark Magnet School Monday

Set to be sworn in a matter of hours, Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson beat out more moderate Chicago schools CEO Paul Vallas earlier this month to earn the spot - something business leaders like CME Group Inc in the city's Downtown have taken issue with

Speaking to the Odd Lots podcast about 24 hours before the ceremony that will see the former Chicago schoolteacher succeed his similarly aligned predecessor, Duffy made it clear his firm is willing to join several businesses like Tyson, Caterpillar, and Boeing in relocating, if Johnson does not heed his and others' warnings.

'Mr. Johnson has no legal authority to impose a transaction tax on my business,' said Duffy, adding that the relatively green politician should focus on the gargantuan task of fighting the city's crime epidemic instead of putting the squeeze on businesses.

Duffy - whose firm is worth an estimated $66billion and is responsible for both Chicago and New York's mercantile exchanges - sarcastically sniped Johnson should not 'get too bogged down on how hes going to short-term think' the slipshod plans.

He added of Johnson, who for the past four years served as a commissioner in crime-ridden Cook County: 'Hes going to raise taxes on certain people in order to fit his agenda.'

That aside, Johnson already has a full agenda ahead of himself Monday, after arriving at Michele Clark Magnet School in Austin to be inaugurated, with the ceremony kicking off at 10:30am.

At that point, the Democrat - accompanied by a tight security detail - made his way to UIC's Credit Union One Arena, where Lightfoot and others were in attendance.

Having beat out Lightfoot and a host of other less progressive Democrats earlier in the month, Johnson takes the reigns as his predecessor continues to face ire from fed-up citizens over the city's current state, which deteriorated during the pandemic to crisis levels and has since failed to recover.

Officials from both parties have slammed 'lawlessness' seen in the city under Lightfoot, after she made the controversial decision to slash $59million from the Chicago Police Department budget in 2020 during protests for Defund the Police - a movement that Johnson supports.

Lightfoot, meanwhile, instead of addressing the city's notorious gun violence, made it a point during her time in office to give herself a 5 percent raise, despite having a salary well over $200,000.

She also raised salary thresholds for not only her position, but the city clerk and treasurer as well, shortly after performing an abrupt about-face on the Defund the Police policy she campaigned on in August of 2021, amid increasing crime and walkouts by the city's peace officers.

Compounding the unrest at the time were riots by Black Lives Matter and Defund the Police supporters - movements that both Lightfoot and more recently Johnson had touted during their respective campaigns.

At the time, the city recorded its deadliest year in decades, with 2021 seeing 797 murders - the most recorded since the mid-1990s. Crime, particularly shootings, has since persisted, with overall crimes up by more than 43 percent from last year.

The city of Chicago's police department, meanwhile, had also been increasingly at odds with Lightfoot, whose championing of progressive policies have also put her in the crosshairs of conservative critics across the country.

'Mr. Johnson has no legal authority to impose a transaction tax on my business,' said CME's CEO, adding that the relatively green politician should focus on the task of fighting the city's crime instead. Recent crime figures show that in the year to date crime is still up by 43 percent

Apart from the array of tax increases, Johnson - a relative unknown in a heated mayoral race - has his hands full after taking the reigns from Lightfoot Monday, facing an influx of migrants in need of shelter and summer months that historically breed violent crime

Apart from the array of tax increases, Johnson - a relative unknown in a heated mayoral race - has his hands full after taking the reigns from Lightfoot Monday, facing an influx of migrants in need of shelter and summer months that historically breed violent crime

Compounding the unrest at the time were riots by Black Lives Matter and Defund the Police supporters - movements that both Lightfoot and more recently Johnson had touted during their respective campaigns

Moreover, 700-page Safety, Accountability, Fairness, and Equity-Today law, championed by Lightfoot in January instituted a host of criminal justice reforms in Illinois, including an end to cash bail in January.

Lightfoot has also since denounced the 'defund the police' movement, unveiling a new plan to - ironically - 'refund the police.'

It came as part of a plan that saw $16.7 billion of spending, provided by the federal government, funneled into the embattled police department, lifting its annual budget to $1.9 billion from $1.7 billion.

The plan heavily relied on money from Washington to dig the city out of a deficit that reached new heights under Lightfoot, and outlined prospective funding for new community programs the mayor asserted will help the troubled city pull through the ongoing pandemic while addressing prevailing issues of gun violence and crime.

Nearly two years later, violent crimes are still up across the board in Chicago, especially when compared to prior to the pandemic - around the time Lightfoot was sworn into office, in May 2019.

Murders are up 11 percent since 2019, on pace with rates seen during the peak of the pandemic, when officials recorded a record 644 murders,

That marker was subsequently surpassed as Lightfoot cut funding for the city's police force in 2021, when there were 676 slayings - the most seen since the mid-1990s.

Since then, murders have trickled down slightly, but theft, robbery, and overall crimes are still on the rise - all experiencing double-digit increases during some of the city's worst years, crime-wise, in history.

Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson, 57, took office Monday - and is already facing an influx of migrants in desperate need of shelter, pressure to build support among skeptical business leaders, and looming summer months that historically bring a spike in violent crime

It comes as business owners have voiced distaste over additional taxes planned by the ex union organizer, whose upset win this month was achieved thanks to support from figures like Bernie Sanders

Johnson is also taking on a growing migrant crisis. Chicago is among the U.S. cities already struggling to provide shelter and other help to hundreds arriving from the southern border. Pictured, a migrant couple sit with their children on the playground at Brands Park in Chicago

Police in Chicago are seen looking over the scene of a police shooting last month several miles west of downtown. Prior to being sworn in Monday, Johnson

Shootings in the Windy City, meanwhile, remain the city's most pressing issue - as figures like Johnson promise to get guns off Chicago's streets.

That effort, however, has for the most part fallen flat, with at least 14 people shot over the weekend alone, three of them fatally, in an era where 50 shootings in a two-day span are now not far from the norm.

Johnson's victory this month over candidates including Lightfoot and Vallas - who Chicago business leaders overwhelmingly endorsed due to his more free market policies - showed the so-called 'Blue Wall' built by progressives in the Democrat-led city is still strong, despite waning confidence in Lightfoot during her brief tenure.

Upon being inaugurated Monday, the former union rep touted values such as 'hard work' and the Windy City's inherent 'soul.

That said, the speech did not address the potential mass migration of of prominent business owners out of the city, which includes Chicago 's richest billionaire Ken Griffin, who in the fall relocated hedge fund Citadel to Miami.

After a shooting outside the firm's Downtown offices, Griffin bought a record-breaking $106.9 million waterfront estate in the Sunshine State - an increasinfly popular destination for jilted blue staters - upon announcing his plans to move his more than 1,000 staffers out of the crime-ridden metropolis.

It is not yet clear if CME will follow suit, but as crime continues to persist, it remains a possibility.
Another officer could later be seen leading a group of students through the hallway, pretending they were on a train, as he tried to get them to safety

One clip shows a police officer praying as he approached Richneck Elementary School on January 6

Footage shows Newport News police officers responding to the scene of an elementary school where a student shot his teacher

Never-before-seen body camera footage shows police responding to a Virginia elementary school where a six-year-old student shot his teacher in January.

In the footage, one officer could be heard praying for the children stuck inside Richneck Elementary School on January 6.

Another officer could later be seen leading a group of students through the hallway, pretending they were on a train, as he tried to get them to safety.

Police have said an unnamed schoolboy stole his mother's legally purchased handgun and snuck it into the school, before firing a single round into his teacher, Abigail Zwerner, striking her in the hand and chest.

The boy's mother has since been charged with child neglect and endangering a child by reckless storage of a firearm.

Newly-released body camera footage shows Officer Clark Carter leading a group of children down the hallway of Richneck Elementary School with a big smile on January 6

He could later be seen high-fiving the students as he got them to safety following a shooting at the school

Another clip shows Officer Watkins driving towards the school, praying

On Friday, police in Newport News gathered at a local church to honor fallen officers and demonstrate their efforts in the community.

They then played a photo montage, releasing the body camera footage for the first time.

It started off with a clip of Officer Watkins driving to Richneck Elementary School as he responded to a call about a shooting.

'Heavenly Father, keep our officers safe, keep our students safe, let us make decisions we need to make,' he says as he heads toward the school building.

'It's hard to talk about without getting choked up,' Police Chief Steve Drew told WRIC. 'I know that officer, Officer Watkins, he's been here for a while, he has a family of his own.'

'I thought it was very fitting to see him exit his vehicle and run towards the school,' Drew added. 'I think that's what officers do every day.'

Other footage included in the montage showed Officer Clark Carter leading a group of children down the hallway with a big smile.

'We're doing great, keep marching,' he encourages the children. 'Alright, we're turning this train left  beep, beep.'

As the children exit the hallway to get to safety, Carter could also be seen high-fiving them.

'You can't pay somebody enough for that,' Drew said. 'You can't train that  that comes from what you feel inside. You have to have a heart for service.'

Police have said an unnamed schoolboy stole his mother's legally purchased handgun and snuck it into the school

Newport News police are pictured at the scene of the Virginia elementary school on January 6

Speaking of the experience with WTKR, Carter said he remembered it like it was yesterday.

'Our goal was to give [the kids] something that would take their mind off of what just occurred,' he explained. 'My idea was to pretend we were riding motorcycles, and I got all the kids to put their hands up and pretend they were riding motorcycles.

'We were revving our engines and rolling down the hallways.

'It seemed to help, it took their minds off what occurred, and they were just playing a game.'

He said it took him and his fellow officers hours to lead the students to the gym.

'It was nerve-wracking and we knew we had to get there, so we can protect the kids.'

And, Carter said, the response was 'personal to me because I have kids who go to school in this city and I want somebody to respond the way I would respond to save their child to save mine.'

Deja Taylor, 25, the mother of the student accused of shooting his first-grade teacher, is facing several criminal charges

Abigail Zwerner, 25, suffered gunshot wounds to her hands and chest. She has since filed a lawsuit against the Newport News School District and Richneck Elementary officials claiming they ignored multiple warnings about the student's behavior, as well as concerns he may have a gun

Police have said the unnamed boy used a legally-purchased gun to shoot Zwerner, 25, on January 6.

He was apparently having issues in school, and in a statement, his parents said the child was 'under a care plan that included his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day.'

The week of the shooting, they said, was the first week a parent was not with the student.

Zwerner has since filed a $40million lawsuit against the Newport News School District and Richneck Elementary officials claiming they ignored multiple warnings about the student's behavior, as well as concerns he may have a gun.

Lawyers for the school board have filed a motion to dismiss the suit, claiming her injuries are covered under the state's worker's compensation law  for which she was approved to receive benefits, but which she turned down.

She has described the child in interviews as violent and said he 'slammed the cellphone to the ground so hard it cracked and shattered.'

She also alleges in the lawsuit that the child had a 'history of random violence' and 'attacked students and children alike.'

But in an interview with ABC News last week, Deja Taylor, 25, the mother of the boy accused of shooting the first-grade teacher, blamed her son's ADHD diagnosis.

She said her son is a 'great kid' but is 'very energetic' due to his condition.

'He's off the wall,' she said, noting he 'doesn't sit still, ever.'

Taylor also claimed her son 'actually really liked' Zwerner, but 'felt like he was being ignored' in class.

The cellphone incident, she said, happened after Zwerner said she told the boy to sit down when he was asking her a question.

'You know, most children, when they are trying to talk to you, and if you easily just brush them off or you ask them to sit down, or you're dealing with something else and you ask them to go and sit down at six [years old], you in your mind would believe that "somebody's not listening to me" and you have a tantrum,' Taylor claimed.

'He threw his arms up,' she said of the incident. 'He said, "Fine," and then when he threw his arms up, he knocked her phone out of her hand on accident.'

She said only the screen of the phone had broken, and she tried to offer to pay for its replacement.

Taylor blamed her son's ADHD diagnosis for the shooting in an interview with ABC News last week

The boy is now in her grandfather's care, and her attorney argues that the ultimate responsibility for the shooting should fall on the school officials

Taylor's attorney, James Ellenson, also argued that the ultimate responsibility for the shooting should fall on the school officials who prematurely enrolled the boy in first grade, despite knowing he had only attended two months of kindergarten and two months of preschool.

They were also aware of the boy's ADHD diagnosis, he claimed.

But, Taylor's family said the school informed her that she is no longer required to be present in the classroom.

'He had started medication and he was meeting his goals academically,' Taylor's grandfather, Calvin Taylor, said.

He now has custody of the boy and agreed that the child's 'behavior had changed [for the better] in the classroom prior to the incident.

'He was more attentive, he tried to follow along, he tried to do the coursework,' Calvin said. 'But in all fairness to the other kids in the class, sometimes it was too much for him.'

The boy is now in another school and is getting therapy, Calvin added.

It remains unclear how the boy acquired the gun, which was legally purchased. Students are pictured here returning to the elementary school on January 30

It remains unclear how the boy acquired the gun, which was legally purchased.

Deja has said the gun was secured on a top shelf in her closet and had a trigger lock.

But at the time, she now admits, her mental state was frail as she was suffering from postpartum depression following a string of miscarriages. She was even hospitalized for a week.

Taylor now says she feels regret for what happened.

'I just truly would like to apologize that... she did get hurt,' the mother told GMA. 'We were actually kind of forming a relationship with me having to be in the classroom. And she is really a bright person.'

Taylor is facing felony charges of child neglect, which is punishable by up to five years in prison.

She has also been charged with a misdemeanor offence of endangering a child by reckless storage of a firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of one year behind bars.

But her attorney, Ellenson, said that if she is found guilty she should instead be sentenced to probation or community service.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Newport News school district for comment.
The BBC cut part of a winning speech by Derry Girls actress Siobhan McSweeney at the Bafta TV Awards on Sunday in which she criticised the Government.

The 43-year-old actress from County Cork plays Sister Michael, the eye-rolling principal of Our Lady Immaculate College in the Channel 4 programme.

McSweeney won the first Bafta TV award for best female performance in a comedy programme and talked very fast in her speech given the short time available.

She used the speech to criticise the 'indignities, ignorance and stupidity of your so-called leaders in Dublin, Stormont and Westminster' - but this was cut on BBC One.

Watch the relevant sections from Siobhan McSweeney's speech - firstly the edited BBC version, and then the full version from the Baftas YouTube channel:

This is the full version of McSweeney's speech on the Baftas YouTube channel:

McSweeney plays Sister Michael, the eye-rolling principal in the Channel 4 show Derry Girls

Siobhan McSweeney accepts the Female Performance in a Comedy Programme Award for Derry Girls at the 2023 Bafta Television Awards at the Royal Festival Hall in London on Sunday

She started her speech by saying: 'Oh my God, sorry, hello, right, so I've been warned not to do a political statement or to be like really boring or sad and stuff, so I'm going to start with a funny bit.

How Siobhan McSweeney's speech was cut by the BBC ORIGINAL VERSION 'To the people of Derry - thank you for taking me into your hearts and into your living rooms, I am daily impressed with how you encompass the spirit of compromise and resilience, despite the indignities, ignorance and stupidity of your so-called leaders in Dublin, Stormont and Westminster. In the words of my beloved Sister Michael, "it's time they started to wise up". Thank you so much.' BBC VERSION 'To the people of Derry - thank you for taking me into your hearts and your living rooms... thank you so much.' Advertisement

'As my mother lay dying at the Bon Secours Hospital in Cork, one of the very last things she said to me was would I not consider retraining as a teacher. If she could see me now, getting a Bafta for playing a teacher. Joke's on you, mam.'

McSweeney also thanked Derry Girls writer Lisa McGee 'for not listening to me when I said I could play all the girls parts' and she paid tribute to Channel 4, adding: 'You have my devotion'.

She also then said: 'To the people of Derry - thank you for taking me into your hearts and into your living rooms, I am daily impressed with how you encompass the spirit of compromise and resilience, despite the indignities, ignorance and stupidity of your so-called leaders in Dublin, Stormont and Westminster.

'In the words of my beloved Sister Michael, "it's time they started to wise up". Thank you so much.'

While the full stream of her speech was uploaded to Bafta's YouTube channel, the BBC's coverage had a shorter version.

The clipped version on the BBC - which is still available on iPlayer today in the same form - showed McSweeney saying: 'To the people of Derry - thank you for taking me into your hearts and your living rooms... thank you so much.'

Asked about this difference, a BBC spokesman said today: 'As in previous years, due to the nature of the show it is broadcast with a short delay, and while we always aim to keep the core sentiment of acceptance speeches, edits have to be made due to time constraints.'

Sir Lenny Henry presents the award to Siobhan McSweeney at the Bafta TV Awards on Sunday

McSweeney accepts the Female Performance in a Comedy Programme Award on Sunday

McSweeney smiles at her table attends the 2023 Bafta Television Awards in London on Sunday

MailOnline also understands that the live event was three hours long and had to be reduced to two hours for its on air slot. Other speeches made during the night were also cut  with edits made to ensure the programme was delivered to its time slot.

Derry Girls, a comedy about a group of teenagers growing up in Londonderry in the 1990s, was a sleeper hit that built a large and committed following across its three series.

READ MORE Daisy May Cooper shows off her incredible weight loss at Bafta TV Awards Advertisement

Set during the Troubles, the show was praised for offering a new perspective on the period of the IRA and loyalist ceasefires through the eyes of a group of young girls.

Later in the ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall in London yesterday, Derry Girls won the Bafta TV award for best scripted comedy.

Creator Lisa McGee thanked Channel 4, asking it to 'please never change' and thanking 'our first home, Derry'.

Bafta presenters Rob Beckett and Romesh Rangathan made a few references to BBC impartiality throughout the show.

Beckett said: 'As we all know this year, there have been one or two issues with the subject of the BBC and balance.'

He added: 'It's not easy for comedians to host an award show on the BBC. We need to be funny. We need to be professional and also offer balanced views.'

Beckett also joked: 'A few months back we were left hoping that The Traitors would be making a swift return to BBC One. Well that's what some of the papers called the Match Of The Day presenters anyway.'

And Ranganathan then said: 'Are we edgy? I think we might be edgy.'

It came after Gary Lineker was briefly suspended as presenter of Match Of The Day in March after criticising the Government's immigration policy on Twitter.
Top CNN media correspondent Oliver Darcy is reportedly worried he will be fired over his response to the Donald Trump town hall last week.

The senior media reporter was allegedly 'summoned' to a meeting with CEO Chris Licht and other top executives where he was told his coverage of the controversial TV event had been 'too emotional.'

According to Puck News, the meeting 'put the fear of God' into Darcy and he was left 'visibly shaken', as the network continues to grapple with the fallout from the town hall on May 10.

It is the latest round of infighting at the network, which has been trying to shake up its image in a bid to boost ratings.

Licht pledged that he would cleanse the network of its left-wing bias when he took over as boss last year, and said he 'absolutely unequivocally' believes 'America was served very well' by the event.

Chris Licht (left) reportedly called media reporter Oliver Darcy (right) into a meeting which left him 'visibly shaken'

Trump's appearance at the CNN town hall has caused widespread controversy, with many journalists at the network reportedly disgusted at the event

During the television event with the former president - which raked in a huge 3.3 million viewers for the network - Darcy live tweeted his reactions.

He wrote: 'I've lost count of how many times Trump has lied about the election. Collins keeps fact-checking him, but he keeps lying.'

Following the town hall, he took to his newsletter Reliable Sources to share his response: 'It's hard to see how America was served by the spectacle of lies that aired on CNN Wednesday evening,' he wrote.

'Trump lied about the 2020 election. He took no responsibility for the January 6 insurrection that those very lies incited. And he mocked E. Jean Carroll's allegations of sexual assault, which a jury found him liable for on Tuesday.

'And CNN aired it all. On and on it went. It felt like 2016 all over again. It was Trump's unhinged social media feed brought to life on stage.'

He said Licht, who took over from Jeff Zucker last year as CEO, was now facing 'a fury of criticism  both internally and externally'.

'How Licht and other CNN executives address the criticism in the coming days and weeks will be crucial.

'Will they defend what transpired at Saint Anselm College? Or will they express some regret?' Darcy asked.

'A spectacle of lies' is how Darcy characterized the event in his Reliable Sources newsletter

Moderator Kaitlan Collins was given 'an impossible task' according to her colleagues, who are now furious with bosses

Collins tried to fact check Trump in real-time. The audience was mostly comprised of his own supporters

According to Puck News, Licht called in Darcy and his editor to a meeting at 9am on Thursday, where he admonished him for the newsletter and reminded him to remain 'dispassionate' with his coverage.

Darcy allegedly stood by his work and said that he was reflecting the internal sentiment at the network.

However, according to Semafor, in the aftermath of the meeting and coverage, 'Darcy has wondered to colleagues whether he should resign or if he will be fired.'

Licht also reportedly laid down the law with staffers during an editorial call on Thursday morning - the day after the town hall.

The boss heaped praise on moderator Kaitlan Collins, and warned detractors: 'You do not have to like the former president's answers, but you can't say that we didn't get them.

'While we all may have been uncomfortable hearing people clapping, that was also an important part of the story because the people in that audience represent a large swath of America.

'The mistake the media made in the past is ignoring that those people exist just like you cannot ignore that President Trump exists.

'I absolutely unequivocally believe America was served very well by what we did last night.'

'Covering Trump is tricky and messy and it will continue to be messy and tricky, but it's our job,' he said, according to former staffer Brian Stelter, who sensationally left the network last year when his show was canceled after nine years.

After Licht took over as CEO in May 2022, there has been lots of change at the network, including star Don Lemon being ousted in April after nearly 17 years at CNN.

The Trump town hall, filmed with an audience of his supporters in New Hampshire, has also drawn criticism from journalists from other networks.

CNBC's Alex Sherman slammed Licht for giving Trump a platform.

'CNN CEO Chris Licht said he wouldn't allow anyone on his network that said it's raining when it's not,' he said.

'But he's let someone on now who says it's raining when it's not, and he added hundreds of people to applaud when he does it.'

A CNN spokesperson told DailyMail.com Darcy does not intend to resign and his newsletter will be out per usual this evening.
The truck that was pulling the trailer was missing from the site; the driver had not been located as of Monday morning

All of the victims in the van were killed; at least 24 of them were burned

A crash between a van and a tractor-trailer left 27 people dead in Tamaulipas, Mexico, on Sunday

At least 27 people were killed after a van and a tractor trailer crashed on a highway in the northern Mexico.

The accident occurred Sunday morning near Ciudad Victoria, the capital of the state of Tamaulipas.

At least 24 of the 27 victims were found burned inside the van.

A preliminary report released by the Tamaulipas Public Security Minister indicated that the van and the cargo box caught fire just moments following the crash.

Police have not said what led to the wreck. The driver of the trailer was not accounted for after the wreck as some speculated they fled, while others say he might have died in the wreck.

At least 27 people - including children - were killed after their van crashed with a tractor trailer on a highway in Tamaulipas, Mexico, on Sunday

Firefighters investigate the site of Sunday morning's tragic accident in northern Mexico that left 27 people dead after their van crashed with a tractor-trailer. The truck hauling the cargo box was missing from the scene. It has been suggested that the driver sped off

A van and a trailer are on fire following a crash on a highway in Tamaulipas, Mexico, on Sunday

Authorities found the truck that was pulling the trailer was missing from the crash site.

It has been suggested that the driver fled in it.

El Pais newspaper reported that the victims were all residents of the state to the southern state of Veracruz when their van crashed head on with the truck. None of the names of the victims have been released.

A woman and a child were found dead lying next to the their vehicle.

A firefighter tries to extinguish a fire at the site of Sunday's crash that left 27 people dead

Members of the State Guard gather at the site of a crash in the Victoria-Zaragoza highway

Investigators found identification documents that confirm that all of the victims are Mexican nationals

The prosecutors office source said investigators recovered identification documents that confirmed that all of the victims are Mexican nationals.

Previous crashes with high death tolls in Mexico have been often blamed on crammed vehicles tied to the smuggling of migrants headed to the countrys northern border region with the United States.

In February, 14 migrants were killed when the pickup truck transporting them to the U.S. border plunged into a canal in the northern state of Nuevo Leon.

In December 2021, 56 U.S.-bound migrants were killed and 106 were injured when the tractor-trailer they were being ferried in collided with a bridge in the southern state of Chiapas.
Double Island in QLD's Far North has fallen into disrepair

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The Queensland Government has launched forfeiture action against the Hong Kong owner of a once luxurious island resort, now derelict and abandoned.

Double Island, about 30 minutes north of Cairns in Far North Queensland, was purchased by billionaire Benny Wu for $5.68m in 2012.

A resort he built there once entertained the likes of Jennifer Aniston and Keanu Reeves, but in the years since has fallen into disrepair.

Double Island, about 30 minutes north of Cairns in Far North Queensland

The QLD Government has now moved to begin forfeiture proceedings against Fortune Island Holding Company (pictured, Double Island)

Double Island lessee Benny Wu failed to meet a March 31 deadline to have day use facilities for the public open and for the resort to be operational

The state government gave Mr Wu an ultimatum to fix up the resort, and a deadline of March 31.

That's now passed, and last Monday the Department of Resources notified Fortune Island Holding Company it would ask the Land Court to determine whether its lease over the island should be forfeited.

'Lessees on government property are required to meet the conditions on their leases,' said Queensland Resources Minister Scott Stewart.

'Where lessees don't meet their obligations, we will not hesitate to take action to protect these islands and the interests of all Queenslanders.'

Pictures from the island show abandoned furniture, buildings, and facilities like a pool

Double Island is about 30 minutes north of Cairns in Far North Queensland, about 1.5km from the coast

'I expected action to be taken against the Double Island leaseholder so I welcome this important step in beginning the process of forfeiting the lease,' said Member for Barron River Craig Crawford.

'Double Island was a jewel in Far North Queensland's tourism crown but has been left for too long so this news will be appreciated by the community.'

Images from the 17.8ha island show abandoned boats and furniture among the safari-style accommodation, with paving thick with grime and paths overgrown with weeds.

Mr Wu and his Fortune Island Holding Company holds the lease to Double Island until 2099.

The deal was struck in 2012 for $8million with the understanding the island would continue to be maintained as tourist destination.

Two inspections of the island in 2017 and 2019 found the condition of the pristine land had deteriorated and the resort was largely abandoned.

Double Island was purchased by Mr Wu for $5.68m in 2012, and leased until 2099

Assistant Tourism Minister and Cairns MP, Michael Healy, said last year that residents in the region were entitled to the island and resort being maintained as a tourist drawcard.

'The leaseholder of Double Island Resort was to work on reopening the facilities on the island... This is a fair and reasonable expectation from the people of Cairns.'

A spokesperson for Mr Wu in 2022 said improvement work on the island was being done but it would remain closed to the public for the foreseeable future.

'Due to the impact of the pandemic, the improvement plan has encountered obstacles (including) shortage of manpower and the supply of goods... we are aiming to complete the improvement plan then make a further plan according to the market' the spokeswoman, from the Double Island head office, said.

Mr Wu has a number of investments in North Queensland including De Brueys Boutique Wines at Mareeba and Acacia Court Hotel on the Cairns Esplanade, which was earmarked for a redevelopment but has not gone ahead.

When the deal for Double Island was struck in 2012, Mr Wu said he planned to spend $10million upgrading the resort to cater to the 'top end of the market' in wealthy Chinese holidaymakers and businessmen.

n its heyday, the island was a luxury destination featuring Polynesian inspired villas, eco-tourism glamping tents, and luxury apartments.

Hollywood A-lister Keanu Reeves leased the island back in 2001 when he was in Australia filming The Matrix and had a gym built especially for him.

Friends star Jennifer Aniston and her then husband Brad Pitt were his guests when the actor threw a lavish and infamous New Year's Eve party there.

The bash reportedly cost $200,000 (US$150,000) and was also attended by a host of famous faces including Matt Damon, Drew Barrymore and Kiefer Sutherland.

The celebrity party featured a huge firework display on New Year's Eve which shocked locals, who had no idea the island was packed with Hollywood stars.
Before Taylor Swift had even stepped foot on stage for her much-anticipated 'Eras' mega-tour, it had already broken records.

Nearly 2.4 million tickets were snapped up on the first day of pre-sale alone - the most amount sold in a single day.

Now experts expect the 52-night, 20-city megatour will rank among the highest grossing of all time, with Forbes estimating the songstress could net anywhere between $500 million and $1.5 billion.

It has led to a phenomenon called 'Swiftonomics' due to its infectious effect on local economies, as fans spend thousands of pounds on hotels, travel, food and drink and costumes in preparation for the event.

So-called 'Swifties' have paid as much as $42,000 resale tickets, $200 on costumes sold through Etsy and countless dollars travelling across the country for shows.

Experts estimate Swift's 52-night, 20-city 'Eras' megatour will rank among the highest grossing of all time

And local outlets reported that many hotels had increased their prices in time for the influx of concert-goers descending on their cities.

In Nashville, the La Quinta Inn & Suites hotel was charging $1,150 for one night on the first Friday Swift arrived in town.

In Foxborough, Massachusetts, the price of a room in the Renaissance Hotel trebled during the weekend Swift played at the city's Gilette Stadium. The fee increased from $250 a night to $750, according to WBZ.

A slew of local restaurants and bars are also cashing in on the trend: in Arizona a bar called The Lola offered a pre-party to both of her tickets offering Eras-themed cocktails and food - for a $20 entrance fee.

In Philadelphia, a 'Tay-Gate' party at the venue Xfinity Live was selling tickets for $50.

On TikTok, fans have described paying as much as $4,000 in total for the one night

Meanwhile in Tampa Bay, local newspaper The Tampa Bay Times reported that car parking charges at the concert venue where Swift performed had swelled to $53 for the event.

Official Eras Tour merchandise includes $75 hoodies, $65 crewnecks and $45 T-Shirts.

But many fans have instead been turning to Etsy for costumes to wear to the event.

A search for 'Taylor Swift Eras Tour' on the crafts site reveals nearly 40,000 results, including outfits designed on costumes Swift has worn in the past.

Some are selling for as much as $200.

The amount of cashing in on Swift's tour is so rife one fan even jokingly tried to sell their used contact lenses for $10,000 - claiming they were 'contacts that have seen Taylor Swift's Era's tour.

Economists say the popularity of the tour has been in part sparked by the pandemic which has given fans a newfound appreciation for live concerts and experiences. Fans are pictured at Swift's Atlanta show

Experts have coined the term 'Swiftonomics' to describe the infectious effect the Eras tour has had on local economies, as

The term 'Swiftonomics' is a reimagining of the concept 'Rockonomics' which was coined in the early 2000s and was used to refer to the booming economy of rock music.

On TikTok, fans have described paying upwards of $4,000 in total for the one night.

In one video posted by finance influencer Tyler Wright, three concert-goers explain they spent $385 for their tickets - or $128 for each.

On top of that they splurged $1,000 on flights, $1,200 on hotels, $700 on drinks and food and $500 on their outfits.

In another clip, a user called Jilly explained she had spent $3,000 on a front-row ticket before complaining she had to listen to a nearby fan scream for the whole concert.

A search of 'Taylor Swift Eras Tour' on crafts website Etsy reveals nearly 40,000 results, including outfits designed on costumes Swift has worn in the past.

Fans are happy to spend hundreds of dollars on cosumes based on Swift's previous outfits

Economists say the popularity of the tour has been in part sparked by the pandemic which has given fans a newfound appreciation for live concerts and experiences.

When tickets first went on sale last November Economics professor Melissa Kearney, from the University of Maryland, told Bloomberg: 'The pandemic in general changed the way people think about what's really important to them, and what brings them joy.'

Other outlets have reported the extreme length that fans will go to save up for a ticket.

In November, 27-year-old superfan Lindsey Morris told Buzzfeed that she had a separate savings account dedicated to saving for Taylor Swift tickets.

The term 'Swiftonomics' is a reimagining of the concept 'Rockonomics' which was coined in the early 2000s and was used to refer to the booming economy of rock music

She had been depositing into the account for three years - ever since she missed out on Swift's last tour, Reputation.

Hysteria around Swift's tour first broke out in November when tickets went on sale through Ticketmaster and the site instantly crashed.

The chaos led to an out-of-control resale market which saw passes to the concert go for tens of thousands of dollars.

Resale site StuHub was offering seats to a show in Florida ranging from $500 to $42,000 each.

By comparison, initial tickets were initially priced between $73 to $666.

Some 320 fans then filed a lawsuit against the ticketing giant and its parent-company, Live Nation, for 'intentionally' charging 'sky high fees' and selling the 'tickets to scalpers.'
Adams says he will use historic Roosevelt hotel in Manhattan to house migrants

NYC mayor Eric Adams has announced many of the city's closed hotels - including the historic Roosevelt hotel in Manhattan - will be reopened and turned into migrant shelters to deal with an anticipated influx of asylum seekers in the coming weeks.

Adams said New York City will use the Roosevelt hotel, which was shuttered three years ago, to eventually provide as many as 1,000 rooms for migrants who are expected to arrive because of the end of the pandemic-era rule Title 42.

Across the city, hotels like the Roosevelt that served tourists just a few years ago are being transformed into emergency shelters after the end of Title 42, which had allowed federal officials to turn away asylum seekers from the border with Mexico.

Many of the hotels are within walking distance from Times Square, the World Trade Center memorial site and the Empire State Building.

A legal mandate requires the city to provide shelter to anyone who needs it. Even so, Adams says the city is running out of room for migrants and has sought financial help from the state and federal governments.

NYC mayor Eric Adams has announced many of the city's closed hotels - including the historic Roosevelt hotel (pictured) in Manhattan - will be reopened and turned into migrant shelters to deal with an anticipated influx of asylum seekers in the coming weeks

The Watson Hotel on West 57th Street, which used to receive rave reviews for its rooftop pool and proximity to Central Park, is now being used to house migrant families. PicturedL: Migrants were living outside the hotel in January 20, 2023

Mayor Eric Adams (pictured on 6 May) said New York City will use the Roosevelt hotel, which was shuttered three years ago, to eventually provide as many as 1,000 rooms for migrants who are expected to arrive because of the end of the pandemic-era rule Title 42

The Roosevelt hotel (main lobby pictured in 1924) near Grand Central Terminal served as election headquarters for New York Governor Thomas Dewey, who in 1948 was said to have wrongly announced from the Roosevelt that he had defeated Harry Truman for president

'New York City has now cared for more than 65,000 asylum seekers - already opening up over 140 emergency shelters and eight large-scale humanitarian relief centers in addition to this one to manage this national crisis,' the mayor said in a statement announcing the Roosevelt decision.

The storied hotel near Grand Central Terminal served as election headquarters for New York Governor Thomas Dewey, who in 1948 was said to have wrongly announced from the Roosevelt that he had defeated Harry Truman for president.

As the city faces growing pressure to expand its shelter system, it is turning to vacant hotels for those who need a roof and a place to bunk down as they sort out their lives.

One of them is the Holiday Inn, located in Manhattan's Financial District. A few months ago, signs in the lobby windows of the 50-story, 500-room bankrupt hotel said it was closed.

In February, US Bankruptcy Judge Philip Bentley approved the hotel's application to sign a contract which will see the establishment house migrants to the tune of $190 a night - a fee that will total $100,000 a day for taxpayers.

Scott Markowitz of Tarter Krinsky & Drogin, attorneys for the hotel's owner, said reopening as a city-sponsored shelter made financial sense. The deal will bring in around $10.5 million into the Holiday Inn's coffers over the next 14 months, reports Bloomberg.

If migrants are still in the hotel after the contract expires, the city will be required to pay Holiday Inn a whopping $750 per night.

As the city faces growing pressure to expand its shelter system, it is turning to vacant hotels for those who need a roof and a place to bunk down as they sort out their lives. Pictured: The lobby of the Roosevelt Hotel, which will now house migrants

This bankrupt Holiday Inn in Manhattan's Financial District is being paid over $10 million by the city to house migrants

Typically, the city has been paying hotels that have been converted for use for migrants anywhere between $115 and $190 per night. Pictured: Immigrants arrive in New York City in September

Immigrants lie on the sidewalk with their belongings as they talk to city officials in front of the Watson Hotel in New York on January 30

'They rent out every room at the hotel at a certain price every night,' Markowitz said, adding that it is bringing 'substantially more revenue' than normal operations would have brought in.

It's not new for the city to turn to hotels for New Yorkers without homes when shelters and other options weren't available.

During the pandemic, group shelters made it difficult to comply with social distancing rules, prompting the city to rent out hundreds of hotel rooms as quasi COVID wards. As the pandemic eased, the city became less reliant on hotels.

That changed as thousands of migrants began arriving by bus last year. And that will continue to happen after the end of Title 42.

The Watson Hotel on West 57th Street, which used to receive rave reviews for its rooftop pool and proximity to Central Park, is now being used to house migrant families.

'It is our moral and legal obligation to provide shelter to anyone who needs it,' the city's Department of Social Services said in a statement.

'As such, we have utilized, and will continue to utilize, every tool at our disposal to meet the needs of every family and individual who comes to us seeking shelter.'

Before the surge in asylum seekers, the city was dealing with increased homelessness, packed shelters and a dearth of affordable housing. New York even announced a plan to send hundreds of migrants to hotels in suburban Orange and Rockland counties across the Hudson River, angering local leaders.

Rockland has issued a state of emergency, which means that migrants traveling to the cities in the area will be banned from housing migrants. Pictured: A bus, carrying the migrants from Texas, arrives in Port Authority bus station of New York on May 3

Republican Ed Day, the County Executive of Rockland, said he wants to 'grab Adams by the throat' for his decision to bus people out of the Big Apple last week.

Rockland has issued a state of emergency, which means that migrants traveling to the cities in the area will be banned from housing migrants  with Day threatening to fine hotels $2,000 per day per migrant.

And yesterday, it emerged that a couple's wedding plans are in chaos after an Upstate New York hotel hosting their guests abruptly canceled their rooms to make way for the migrant influx.

Gary Moretti, 37, and Deanna Mifsud, 35, slammed The Crossroads Hotel in Newburgh after discovering it had canceled 30 rooms they had booked just weeks before their nuptials.

'It was absolutely devastating,' Moretti told DailyMail.com. 'It really just hit us hard, despite having contracts and thinking we were locked in - it's disrespectful.'

Moretti said the move, which comes after the end of Title 42 sparked a rush of migrants across the southern border, could end up costing the couple upwards of $20,000 as they scramble to find new accommodation for their 160 guests.

'It's absolutely upsetting how they're treating American people. How do tax paying people have to deal with this?' he asked.

The large number of migrants in Upstate New York is the result of Mayor Eric Adams' decision to bus the asylum seekers north to alleviate the pressure on the Big Apple, as more than 10,000 people a day crossed the southern border in record numbers.

Gary Moretti, left, and Deanna Mifsud, right, had their upcoming wedding thrown into chaos when the hotel hosting their guests cancelled their booking to house migrants

The Crossroads Hotel just days earlier booted more than a dozen homeless veterans from their rooms to make way for the migrant influx.

Vijay Dandapani, the president and CEO of the Hotel Association of New York City, said the city needs to come up with long-term solutions - rather than placing migrants in hotels.

'Hotels are not the solution for these situations,' he said, adding that the optics posed problems for taxpayers who might think migrants are living in luxury at their expense.

But some advocates for the homeless say the private quarters that hotel rooms provide are a better choice than the barracks-style accommodations the city usually provides.

Kassi Keith, 55, one of the city's homeless residents, welcomed the hotel arrangement.

'Having your own room, what it gives you, it gives you peace of mind,' Keith said. 'I can go to sleep with both eyes closed, you dont have to keep one eye open.'

Earlier this year, dozens of migrants staged a protest after being evicted from hotel rooms and forced into barracks set up at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, which has poor access to public transportation. They complained about the cold, the lack of privacy and not having enough bathrooms.

The Roosevelt Hotel will first open this week as a welcome center providing legal and medical information and resources, officials said.

It also will open 175 rooms for families with children, then expand the number of rooms to 850. The city said another 150 other rooms will be available to other asylum seekers.

'When you offer people something like a hotel room, youre much more likely to get a positive response to it,' said David Giffen, executive director of the Coalition for the Homeless, adding that the rooms provide 'privacy and dignity.'

But Giffen said hotels won't address the greater problem of a lack of affordable, permanent housing.

'What's behind all of this (is) that we have such a failed housing system that people who have lower incomes end up using the shelter system as the de facto housing system,' he said.

'And then the shelter system doesn't have enough beds so were using the hotels as a de facto shelter system.'
'The zombie drug' as it is known has been sweeping across America and leaves users with gaping wounds that take months heal

The streets of America are being flooded by a new terrifying drug that leaves users in a zombie-like state and rots their skin from the inside, causing gaping sores.

Xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer approved in the US for cows and horses, is now flooding the illicit US drug market, with drug dealers cutting everything from cocaine to heroin with the powerful sedative.

But it is most often used to cut fentanyl, the lethally potent synthetic opioid that already kills tens of thousands of Americans every year.

According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), xylazine is readily available for purchase on internet sites in both liquid and powder form for as little as $6.

The drug is currently sweeping across the country and is readily available online for as little as $6

The agency say that sites are frequently showing no association to the veterinary profession or any requirements to prove a legitimate need for it.

The DEA said that prices varied between $6 and $24 from overseas suppliers.

DailyMail.com found numerous sites situated in both the US and China which would ship out the drug in powder of liquid form.

According to listings on Chinese sites, 'crude' quality Xylazine powder can be safely delivered to your home address from a biotech company based in Hebei province.

Other US based sites, primarily pet pharmacies, also have the drug available for prices starting at $27.

In a public safety alert, DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said: 'Xylazine is making the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, fentanyl, even deadlier.

'DEA has seized xylazine and fentanyl mixtures in 48 of 50 States.

'The DEA Laboratory System is reporting that in 2022 approximately 23% of fentanyl powder and 7% of fentanyl pills seized by the DEA contained xylazine.'

DailyMail.com has found listings from suppliers in China which have the drug available for as list as $10 per kilogram

According to the supplier, the quality of the drug is 'crude' and comes in a yellow color

The drug has now saturated the streets of Los Angeles, causing local authorities to issue warnings against the use of the drug

What is xylazine?

Xylazine is an animal tranquilizer developed in the 1960s to help vets working to treat cows, horses and sheep among other animals.

It is commonly sold under brand names including Rompun and Anased.

The drug works by stimulating animals' muscles to relax, and also as an analgesic  relieving pain. It does this by prompting less norepinephrine and dopamine to be released into the central nervous system.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved xylazine for use in animals. There have been few studies on its effect on humans.

In the drug supply, it is often cut with fentanyl and other drugs and reduces the number of times an addict needs to get a shot.

Emma Roberts, a senior director at the National Harm Reduction Coalition in New York, previously told DailyMail.com that adding xylazine had allowed drug users to go from injecting themselves six to eight times a day on average to get a high, to three to four.

The drug is not an opioid but is often mixed with opioids  such as fentanyl  when it is used to augment it. Because of this, people who take it are more difficult to treat with the overdose-reversing drug naloxone.

Los Angeles officials are trying to stop the spread of the flesh-eating drug xylazine - also known as 'the zombie drug' - that has taken over the city

Los Angeles county is attempting to do something to alleviate the problem by tracking the drugs presence throughout the city

The drug has spread to Los Angeles of late, with news crews capturing people hunched over and on the ground, strung out on the drug

A massive skin lesion caused by xylazine. Users often exacerbate the problem by injecting the painkiller into their festering wounds. This image was published in a journal in 2021 and shows the lesion stretching from the hand up the forearm

What happens if I take xylazine?

The Drug Enforcement Administration says xylazine takes a few minutes to kick in with effects lasting for up to four hours in animals. It is not clear how long these would last in humans.

In many cases, it leaves users 'knocked out' on street corners and at bus stops for hours. When these people come to, they discover the high from heroin has subsided and start looking for their next hit.

Menacingly, the drug is also causing open wounds to appear on the body  often away from the injection site.

FDA warns cocaine, meth and heroin are being cut with deadly animal sedative 'xylazine' The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about xylazine in November after the drug began to show up in a growing number of toxicology reports after fatal overdoses. Xylazine is not approved for human consumption and is typically used as a sedative or painkiller for cows and horses in veterinary medicine. The FDA warns in people it can cause 'serious and life-threatening side effects that appear to be similar to those commonly associated with opioid use'. Yet xylazine is increasingly being used by drug dealers as a cutting agent in heroin, meth, cocaine and opioids, the federal agency told stakeholders in a letter Tuesday. The alert warned that it can be 'difficult to distinguish' a xylazine overdose from opioid overdose  both drugs cause the lungs to start failing. But unlike opioids, xylazine overdoses cannot be curtailed with naloxone, the emergency opioid overdose reversal drug. Advertisement

Ms Roberts, who has worked with xylazine patients in Puerto Rico, told DailyMail.com: 'What we are seeing is very large lesions, sometimes at the site of injection and sometimes in the body.

'If left, they can cut right through and you can see people's bones and tendons.

'One man I was working with couldn't bend his wrist properly anymore because the wound had got very deep so that you could see his tendons.'

Asked how large the wounds are, she added: 'I saw someone whose lesions were as big as their forearm, just above the wrist up until close to the elbow.'

Nurses have described them to STAT News as appearing as though something is 'eating away your flesh from the inside out'.

Medics are still unsure what triggers the lesions in those taking the drug. One theory gaining ground is that the drug triggers a high level of inflammation in the body, which makes it harder for wounds to heal.

It can also damage blood vessels and weaken the immune system, leaving people more open to infections.

Other effects from the drug include blurred vision, disorientation, drowsiness and staggering. It can also lead to a coma, problems breathing and high blood pressure.

Many patients are left disfigured by the drug.

In cases where the wound becomes infected and spreads to the bone, doctors may have no choice but to amputate a limb.

The drug can also cause the 'progressive and extensive' appearance of skin ulcers full of dead tissue.

Is xylazine more deadly than fentanyl?

The Drug Enforcement Administration warns that when combined with fentanyl or other opioids, xylazine can increase the risk of a fatal overdose.

Experts say patients die after taking xylazine because it can slow breathing as well as heart rate and lower blood pressure, compounding the effects of other drugs.

A record nearly 107,000 Americans die from overdoses every year, but estimates on how many are down to xylazine are not available because this data is not routinely collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Experts say the drug may contribute to a rise in overdose fatalities.

Dr Chelsea Shover, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, told NPR: 'If you have an opioid and a sedative, those two things are going to have stronger effects together.'

The drug prolongs the highs felt from heroin, but results in users passing out for hours at a time, while injection points ulcerate and lead to grisly wounds that spread across the body, Pictured: Homeless people on the streets of Kensington, Philadelphia

How is it treated?

There is no approved antidote for xylazine overdoses in humans, with treatment instead focused on easing symptoms.

Patients who have overdosed are still given naloxone because this will treat other drugs they may also have taken like fentanyl.

But the naloxone itself will not be able to address the impact of xylazine on effects such as breathing problems and blood pressure.

This has led to concerns among experts that the growing prevalence of xylazine in the drug supply may render naloxone less effective.

Medics say that care teams should focus on supporting a patient's breathing and ensuring their blood pressure is not too high.

Wounds linked to the drug can be treated with antibiotics.
A German nurse who murdered two patients and tried to kill others by injecting them with a cocktail of sedatives so he could be 'left in peace' while hungover on his shift was jailed for life today.

A Munich court sentenced the 27-year-old male nurse to life in prison for murdering two patients by deliberately administering unprescribed drugs so he could be 'left in peace'.

The nurse, identified only as Mario G, was also found guilty on six counts of attempted murder, a spokesman for the Munich District Court in southern Germany said.

During his trial, Mario G admitted injecting patients with sedatives and other drug cocktails while working in the recovery room at a Munich hospital.

He told the court: 'I wanted to be left in peace.'

The nurse administered the drugs because he wanted to be 'left alone'

Three of the attempts targeted the German intellectual and writer Hans Magnus Enzensberger in November 2020. He survived all three attempts and died two years later of natural causes, at the age of 93.

The two patients who died as a result of Mario G's actions were 80 and 89 years old.

According to prosecutors, the nurse administered the drugs because he wanted to be left alone during his shift, when he was often hungover.

The case recalled that of notorious German nurse Niels Hoegel, who was sentenced in 2019 to life in prison for murdering 85 patients in his care.

Hoegel, believed to be Germany's most prolific serial killer, murdered patients with lethal injections between 2000 and 2005, before he was eventually caught in the act.

In 2020, a Polish healthcare worker was sentenced to life in prison in Munich for killing at least three people with insulin.
Mocked Starmer over gender recognition: 'He could be Labour's first female PM'

She said people being 'blamed for things that happened before they were born'

White people should not feel any sense of 'collective guilt' over their historic role in slavery, the Home Secretary claimed today.

Suella Braverman lashed out at people today being 'blamed for things that happened before they were born' as she gave an incendiary and wide-ranging speech to a right wing conference.

Ms Braverman, the daughter of immigrants, lashed out at the legal immigration policy of Rishi Sunak's government - in which she is a senior minister - and demanded it be tightened to favour domestic workers.

And in comments that will further fuel suggestions she is maneuvering to eventually replace Mr Sunak as a right wing challenger, she used her London speech to fire heavy artillery in the culture war.

To a receptive audience - apart from two protesters who interrupted her - she mocked Keir Starmer over gender recognition, saying he could be 'Labour's first female prime minister'.

She also said that multiculturalism was 'a recipe for communal disaster' and doubled down on controversial remarks last month about grooming gangs being 'all almost all British-Pakistani'.

Addressing the renewed focus on the UK's role in slavery since the start of the Black Lives Matter campaign, she told the National Conservatism Conference: 'I think the left can only sell its vision for the future by making people feel terrible about our past.

'White people do not exist in a special state of sin or collective guilt.'

Suella Braverman lashed out at people today being 'blamed for things that happened before they were born' as she gave an incendiary and wide-ranging speech to a right wing conference.

Ms Braverman, the daughter of immigrants, lashed out at the legal immigration policy of Rishi Sunak's government - in which she is a senior minister - and demanded it be tightened to favour domestic workers.

Addressing the renewed focus on the UK;s role in slavery since the start of the Black Lives Matter campaign, she told the National Conservatism Conference: 'I think the left can only sell its vision for the future by making people feel terrible about our past. 'White people do not exist in a special state of sin or collective guilt.'

She added: 'Nobody should be blamed for things that happened before they were born.

'The defining feature of this country's relationship with slavery is not that we practised it, but that we led the way in abolishing it. We should be proud of who we are.'

She argued 'you cannot have immigration without integration', adding

The Home Secretary told the National Conservatism conference: 'People who come here should embrace and respect this country. They must not commit crimes. They may practise any faith or none, and they need to respect everyone else's right to do the same.

'They need to learn English and understand British social norms and mores, which is not to say that they cannot enrich and add to our culture. Above all, they cannot simply turn up and say: ''I live here now, you have to look after me''.

'My parents came here through legal and controlled migration. They spoke the language. They threw themselves into the community. They embraced British values.'

She continued: 'The unexamined drive towards multiculturalism as an end in itself, combined with identity politics, is a recipe for communal disaster.'

Her attack on immigration came amid fears that net migration into the UK could hit a million people this year, when figures are released next week, fuelled by an influx of refugees from fighting in Ukraine and the Chinese represssion in Hong Kong.

She said it is 'not xenophobic' or 'bigoted' to say that 'mass and rapid migration is unsustainable', and that the country should focus on creating greater opportunities for its own people.

Number 10 today said that the Home Secretary was representing the UK Government and that the PM remained committed to reducing 'overall net migration'.

A spokesman added that 'there are more Britons who have been trained up for various roles', citing growth in the ranks of domestic lorry drivers.

In the year to June 2022, net migration hit a record 504,000, said the Office for National Statistics. Pictured: Migrants travelling in an inflatable boat across the English Channel last year

Sir John Redwood, the former minister, joined the fray this morning. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme 'big changes' were needed to the policy.

It comes Sir John Redwood, the former minister, joined the fray this morning. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme 'big changes' were needed to the policy.

Asked whether he supported the Prime Minister he said he was focused on 'policy not on people'.

Trade minister Nigel Huddleston earlier said the UK occasionally needs 'more people to come into the country' but that immigration should be reduced in 'the long term'.

He told Times Radio: 'For certain periods of time, sometimes it goes up and sometimes it goes down, but the key thing is having control ourselves and certainly in the long term, we need immigration to come down because that's what has been causing some challenges in local areas for a long period of time.

'But every now and again we also need more people to come into the country.'

Sir Keir Starmer has said the Government's handling of the asylum backlog is 'pathetic', urging Suella Braverman to cancel her planned speech on immigration and 'get back to the office'.

The Labour leader said between 1 per cent and 3 per cent of applications from those who arrive on small boats have been processed from last year, calling on the Home Secretary to make the logjam her priority.

Speaking on LBC, he said he agreed with the Archbishop of Canterbury that the Illegal Migration Bill was 'impractical' and 'wrong'.

He told listeners: 'Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, is today making a speech about what she thinks ought to happen on immigration. She is the Home Secretary.

'They've been in power for 13 years. This is like (Mikel) Arteta... doing a speech this afternoon on what Arsenal ought to do.'

Sir Keir added later: 'This is pathetic. I'd say to the Home Secretary: stop the speech, cancel that, get back to the office and sort out the processing of these claims.'

At least one Cabinet minister reportedly wants to see the salary threshold for skilled workers to become eligible for visas rise from the current level of 26,200.

Ministers are also drawing up plans to restrict visas for dependants of overseas students after official figures showed some brought in six last year.

In the year to June 2022, net migration hit a record 504,000, said the Office for National Statistics (ONS). But estimates suggest it has rocketed to between 650,000 and 997,000 for the year to December. Official ONS figures will be published on May 25.

Germany slams door on liberal border policies By Inderdeep Bains Germany's Left-wing rulers plan to abandon their liberal refugee policies and crack down on asylum seekers. The move by chancellor Olaf Scholz follows complaints by local authorities of being overwhelmed by arrivals. He said tighter controls will be introduced at borders as 'controlling and limiting irregular migration' is now a priority. Measures include modernising IT systems to fast-track expulsions, extending maximum detention from ten to 28 days and deals with third countries. Federal police will also be given new powers to increase surveillance and track migrants' phones. The action is a radical move away from the open door policy which marked the era of former chancellor Angela Merkel from 2015. This year over 100,000 asylum applications have already been made. One million Ukrainian refugees fled to Germany last year. Advertisement

In their 2019 manifesto, the Tories pledged 'overall numbers will come down' thanks in part to Brexit and introducing a points-based immigration system.

Mrs Braverman will make her comments at the NatCon conference in London, run by a Right-wing Conservative think-tank.

'High-skilled workers support economic growth. Fact,' she will say. 'But we need to get overall immigration numbers down.

'And we mustn't forget how to do things for ourselves. There is no good reason why we can't train up enough HGV drivers, butchers or fruit pickers.

'Brexit enables us to build a high-skilled, high-wage economy that is less dependent on low-skilled foreign labour.

'That was our 2019 manifesto pledge and what we must deliver. It's not xenophobic to say that mass and rapid migration is unsustainable in terms of housing, services and community relations. Nor is it bigoted to say that too many people come here illegally and claim asylum, and we have insufficient accommodation for them.

'I'm not embarrassed to say that I love Britain. No true conservative is. It's not racist for anyone, ethnic minority or otherwise, to want to control our borders.'

She will also reject Left-wing arguments that it is 'hypocritical' for people of ethnic minority backgrounds like herself 'to speak these truths'.

Yesterday Energy Secretary Grant Shapps said on Sky News that refugee arrivals from Ukraine and Hong Kong had added possibly as many as 300,000 to UK migration figures.

This is something Britain should be proud of, he added.

Mr Shapps stressed that this issue must be treated separately to plans to stop small boat Channel crossings, which relate to illegal rather than legal migration.

Yesterday Energy Secretary Grant Shapps said on Sky News (pictured) that refugee arrivals from Ukraine and Hong Kong had added possibly as many as 300,000 to UK migration figures

Yesterday the Prime Minister pledged to procure as many barges 'as it takes' to house Channel migrants coming to Britain illegally. Pictured: The newly arrived barge in Falmouth, Cornwall

Yesterday the Prime Minister pledged to procure as many barges 'as it takes' to house Channel migrants coming to Britain illegally. He told The Mail on Sunday it was 'not fair' for British taxpayers to foot the multi-million pound bill for housing arrivals in hotels.

Moves to limit the number of overseas relatives joining Master's students at universities come after arrivals under that rule soared from 12,806 in 2018 to 135,788 in the year to December.

Whitehall sources say that this month's ONS figures will show net migration  the difference between those arriving and leaving  at 700,000 rather than close to one million for the year to December.
Police arrested a man who they say broke into two dormitories on the campus of Pacific Lutheran University and groped young students as they were sleeping.

The suspect, Dylan Robinson, was taken into custody on Sunday just before 6pm by officers at the Pierce County Sheriffs Department.

Robinson, broke into two dormitories on the private Lutheran university campus located in Parkland, Washington, according to police. After officers received an anonymous tip, the serial groper was nabbed at Sixth Street and North Jackson Avenue.

He is facing charges of first-degree burglary and assault and is being held without bail.

It is unclear if Robinson was a student at the school.

Robinson gained entry into two different on-housing campus units, stood over the female students while they were sleeping and began groping them.

The suspect, Dylan Robinson, was taken into custody on Sunday just before 6pm by deputies at the Pierce County Sheriffs Department after receiving an anonymous tip

A student talks about the suspect that had broken into two dorms on the campus at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington

The first incident occurred early Sunday around 4:15am when a young woman woke up to find Robinson standing over her bed.

The woman fought back yelling and hitting the suspect before he fled, KIRO 7 TV reported.

Robinson surfaced again, this time at another dormitory. As the suspect was running from the scene in the campus parking lot, one of victims used pepper spray before snapping a picture of him in, according to reports.

Before Robinson was caught by the authorities many of the students at the private university were on edge and woke up to an early morning alert by campus security.

'It was really crazy,' one terrified female student told the television station upon hearing the news of the string of assaults at her college.

Another student called the whole ordeal, 'really creepy.'

Before Robinson was caught by the authorities, many of the students at the Christian university were on edge and woke up to an early morning alert by campus security.

The campus of Pacific Lutheran University is private Lutheran university campus located in Parkland, Washington and has approximately 2,700 students

A first year student whose friend was one of the victims groped by Robinson told the KIRO 7 News, 'Obviously she was very shaken up and they were posting about it.'

'I mean it is not really a good place to be as a young girl.

She added. 'It is still unsettling that someone was able to get into the girls dorm. I can never imagine waking up to a man in my room.'

Pacific Lutheran University officials were unavailable for comment when contacted by DailyMail.com.
Liz Truss today branded China the 'largest threat we face in the free world' as she warned Beijing must be convinced there will be a 'severe reaction' for invading Taiwan.

Ahead of her visit to the island state this week, the former PM repeated her view that the West has become too reliant on the Asian superpower.

In a rebuke to successor Rishi Sunak, she told the Copenhagen Democracy Summit that continuing with the same level of trade with China was sending 'mixed messages'.

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.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has threatened to annex the island by force.

Liz Truss today branded China the 'largest threat we face in the free world' as she warned Beijing must be convinced there will be a 'severe reaction' for invading Taiwan

In a rebuke to successor Rishi Sunak, she told the Copenhagen Democracy Summit that continuing with the same level of trade with China was sending 'mixed messages'

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.

Ms Truss's high-profile trip in the coming days will increase Tory pressure on Mr Sunak to take a tough line against China.

Asked about how her own stance on Beijing compared with her successor's, Ms Truss said: 'I stand by my assertion that we should designate China as a threat. I think they're a very clear threat. I think they're the largest threat that we face to the free world.'

Ms Truss has said the West needs to make clear that there will be 'a very serious and severe reaction' to any escalation of Chinese aggression in Taiwan.

'I don't think Vladimir Putin believed the West was serious about sanctions before we put them on, and we have to be absolutely clear that if there is any kind of escalation in Taiwan there would be a very serious and severe reaction,' she said.

Ms Truss added: 'There's no doubt that the entire western world including the United States, including Europe, including the UK, has become too dependent on China, and that's a problem because it's given China leverage over us, and it's also a problem economically.

'Yes, the UK needs to take more action but it's not just the UK, it's the continent of Europe, it's the United States.'

The former PM added: 'We send mixed messages if we continue with the same level of trade and investment with China, but just put messages out that are different. We have to show we are serious.'
The British Film Institute is embroiled in a court action against an anti-racism entrepreneur over an alleged 216,000 sponsorship debt.

Alisha Hall, 41, and her Hall Media Group Limited are subject of a winding-up petition launched by the BFI over the large sum it says is missing.

The money was for the London Film Festival in October 2021, which was attended by Hollywood stars, and was due from Hall's The Liberation Initiatives, it is claimed.

Such was the significance of the donation she was even mentioned in the BFI's annual report.

Alisha Hall, 41, and her Hall Media Group Limited are subject of a winding-up petition in court

Hall founded The Liberation Initiatives after the death of George Floyd at the hands of police

At the time BFI announced of the 65th festival: 'This year we were joined for the first time by The Liberation Initiatives as Main Partner, who supported a number of key programmes and helped in our continued efforts to make LFF more inclusive to underrepresented communities.'

The Liberation Initiatives calls itself 'a force for systematic change against the social & economic disadvantages faced by marginalised communities'.

It was founded in the aftermath of George Floyd's death in America.

BFI announced of the 65th festival: 'This year we were joined for the first time by The Liberation Initiatives as Main Partner, who supported a number of key programmes and helped in our continued efforts to make LFF more inclusive to underrepresented communities.'

Hall Media Group has told the Metro it does not believe it owes any money to any parties.

A spokesperson said: 'We are extremely proud of the work we do for marginalised communities in the UK, and the support we have provided over the years to a variety of community groups, Black entrepreneurs, and creatives.

'In light of the legal process underway, it would be inappropriate to comment further other than to say we do not believe the BFI's complaint has merit and we look forward to making our case in court.'

The BFI told MailOnline: 'Proceedings against Hall Media Group Limited in respect of sums owed to the BFI are ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment whilst those proceedings remain live.'
A Dutch man has been left fighting for his life after a petanque ball exploded when it was left near a fire pit.

The man was part of a 14-person bachelor party in the Belgian region of Walloon Stavelot, and had been enjoying some drinks when the boule exploded.

It is understood that the young man suffered severe shrapnel wounds to the head in the incident at a holiday home near the Ambleve river on Saturday night.

While the exact circumstances are still being investigated, initial reports said the petanque ball was either in or under a fire pit when it exploded due to the heat.

According to the police, the effect was comparable to the explosion of a grenade, Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported today.

A Dutch man has been left fighting for his life by an exploding petanque ball (pictured) which was left near a fire pit, according to local reports

As a result of the blast, one of the men present at the party took a metal shard to the head and was rushed to the hospital in a critical condition.

'As it exploded, someone got pieces in the back of the skull. His days are endangered,' Belgian publication Sudinfo quoted a police source as saying.

Sudinfo implied that someone at the party had the 'stupid idea' of putting the metal petanque balls in a brazier at their gite, or holiday cottage.

Petanque, one of the most popular games in France and Belgium, is a form of boules that involves tossing metal balls as close to a smaller wooden ball as possible.

Competition boules are hollow, made by welding two steel half-spheres together before they are heated to around 900 degrees and then finished.

However, cheap boules with metal walls tend to be filled with a sand-like mixture to give them the weight steel-made equivalents would have, and are at risk of exploding when heated to high temperatures.

The tragic incident is not the first time someone has been either seriously injured or even killed in such circumstances.

In 2018, a Frenchman was killed when a petanque ball exploded and sent shrapnel into his skull. The ball was left near a barbecue. At the time, it was reported that paramedics rushed to the scene but were unable to save the 31-year-old.

And in 2009, a new unsold set of leisure boules sitting on a shelf in a shop's storeroom in Switzerland spontaneously exploded.

An investigation was launched into the explosion, with the Swiss department store chain Co-op - which sold the sets - issuing an urgent recall.

The incident prompted the German government to issue a statement warning people of the danger of cheaply made boules reaching high temperatures.

The German Petanque Federation (DPA) recommended buying certified boules, and shopping for them in specific petanque shops, as opposed to supermarkets.

The Swiss Federal Laboratory for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) analysed the remaining set, and found they were cheaply made.

EMPA found they had poorly welded seams, and were filled with a sand-like mixture (referred to as 'mortar' in some news reports at the time).

The organisation found the sand was damp and contaminated with metal filings, which had become corroded over time. This chemical reaction produced hydrogen gas, which built up inside one of the boules - creating a great deal of pressure.

Finally, the seam failed, and the ball dramatically exploded, the EMPA reported.

It is understood that the young man suffered severe shrapnel wounds to the head in the incident at a holiday home near the Ambleve river on Saturday night when a metal ball exploded, sending shrapnel flying into his head. He is in a critical condition

There have been other reported incidents. In 2016, in a German town near Dusseldorf, a petanque ball exploded in the middle of a marquee. The explosion ripped a hole on the tent's roof, and left a crater in the ground.

A German bomb squad responded, removed the remaining seven boules in the set, and safely detonated them.

A year later, in 2017, a Thai man became the first known person to be killed by an exploding boule. Reports suggested the players thought soaking the boule in water and then heating them up would help with their performance.

It is understood the man was heating boules when one exploded, sending a metal shard flying that pierced his skull and instantly killed him.
'Cult mom' Lori Vallow has been pictured in her mugshot with her dyed blonde hair fading and a smug grin on her suddenly aged face.

The image came in stark contrast to the coiffed, blonde-haired and wrinkle-free mother she has presented herself to be during the course of a five-week trial.

Vallow, 49, was found guilty last week of murdering her two children  seven-year-old JJ and 16-year-old Tylee  in 2019.

Authorities have said their mother, newly-in-love with Doomsday-cult enthusiast Chad Daybell, avoided questions and evaded authorities after the children disappeared that September.

She then fled to Hawaii, refusing to tell the police where her children were, or answering any kind of questions about not only her children but the vast web of death and deceit that seemed to engulf her family.

Vallow now faces life in prison, while the trial for Daybell remains paused.

She has also been extradited to Arizona to be charged with conspiracy to murder her fourth husband, Charles Vallow.

Lori Vallow, 49, is pictured in a mugshot from the Madison County Jail. She was found guilty last week of murdering her two children

The image came in stark contrast to the coiffed, blonde-haired and wrinkle-free mother she has presented herself to be in previous mugshots. Vallow is pictured in mugshots from 2018, left, and 2020, right

Vallow was previously pictured in mugshots from 2022, left, and 2023

Vallow killed seven-year-old Joshua (JJ), left, and 16-year-old Tylee, right, and avoided authorities in the aftermath

In 2020, police discovered JJ and Tylee's remains in shallow graves in Chad Daybell's yard

Vallow had come under scrutiny shortly after her children disappeared in September 2019.

In the aftermath, local authorities had started to look into all the deaths that were connected to Vallow and Daybell.

Tammy Daybell was Chad's wife when he met Lori and the mother of their children. She died suddenly in October 2019.

Initially, her death was ruled as the result of natural causes.

After attention turned to Lori and Chad, she was exhumed and reexamined.

An autopsy - which Daybell had refused the night she died - shows she had died of asphyxiation, the same cause of death which would later be determined for JJ.

Vallow was eventually arrested in Hawaii in February 2020 - five months after JJ and Tylee were last seen alive.

The children would not be found for another four months, in shallow graves in Daybell's backyard.

JJ had been suffocated with a plastic bag, while Tylee's corpse was so badly burned and dismembered that it is still not clear how she was killed.

The 49-year-old was emotionless as the verdict was read aloud in Boise, Idaho. Her defense team did not call a single witness nor did they put forward any kind of explanation for how the children died

In court, prosecutors argued Vallow was motivated by 'money, power and sex' and that she used all three of those things to achieve her twisted ends.

Lori and Chad Daybell met in October 2018 at a religious conference

Jurors heard how they saw her children and Daybell's wife as 'obstacles' to the romantic life they envisioned for themselves in Hawaii.

Prosecutors said Vallow and Daybell believed - or chose to believe - that those who stood in their way were 'dark' possessed individuals who they referred to as 'zombies.'

'Remember, the defendant will remove any obstacle in her way to get what she wants, and she wanted Chad Daybell,' prosecutor Lindsey Blake told jurors.

'The defendant used money, power and sex to get what she wanted.'

The couple had planned to use life insurance money from Tammy's death, and that Vallow kept collecting and spending the children's social security and benefits after they died, the state argued in court.

'Tylee had money. Lori wanted it and because of that, Tylee is gone,' Blake said.

She described JJ as a 'vibrant, happy-go-lucky'. But caring for JJ, who had autism, required 'time, effort and energy'.

Caring for JJ 'took away from the defendant doing what she wanted to do - devoting her time to Chad Daybell,' said Blake.

Lori was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Chad's wife, Tammy, who died from asphyxiation in October 2019

Blake also said that Vallow and Daybell felt they needed to destroy the bodies because the children were 'dark' and 'zombies.'

The couple had believed they could rate people 'light or dark' and getting 'rid' of evil spirits from dark people, jurors heard. They were convinced the second coming of Christ was imminent and only 144,000 people could be saved.

'She was here on a religious mission to gather the 144,000, so she needed to spend her time and energy there,' the prosecutor said.

'What she did on earth no longer counted for her,' Blake added. Vallow and Daybell used their warped religious ideas to 'justify' their actions.

'The common theme was the body has to be destroyed,' Blake said. 'The defendant and Chad used their self-proclaimed religious teachings to justify their actions to others  their actions from affair to murder.'

When the children's bodies were ultimately found, authorities said, JJ's body was wrapped in trash bags with duct tape binding his arms in front of him and wrapping around his head.

He had been suffocated inside a plastic bag.

All that was left of Tylee, meanwhile, was charred remains.

'You will hear it explained as a mass of bone and tissue,' Blake said. 'That's what was left of this beautiful young woman.'

Tylee's DNA was later found on a pickaxe and shovel in a shed on the property.

The last known photograph of Tylee, center, during a family trip to Yellowstone National Park with JJ, left, her uncle Alex Cox, right, and her mom Lori, in September 2019

However, Vallow's defense attorney pointed the finger at her doomsday preacher husband in a last ditch attempt to sway the jury.

Jim Archibald attempted to paint a picture of Vallow as a loving mother who was seduced by Daybell and lied to protect him.

Outlining the defense case, Jim Archibald said Vallow 'believes in life after death' and 'believes she will see her deceased children'.

He accepted she had an interest in the 'end times', adding: 'In this country we get to worship how we choose. The evidence will show that once Lori and her friends met Chad Daybell - an author on religious subjects - her beliefs began to morph, to change.'

Archibald told jurors 'that's where you come into this story'.

'What happened? How did these children die? Who was involved? When did it happen? Where did it happen? Why did it happen?' he said.

He said Vallow was a 'good, responsible mother' and that's what motivated Kay Woodcock to ask Vallow to adopt JJ with Charles Vallow in 2014.

'The evidence will show that people were attracted to her,' said Archibald, including her 'pretty smile, her vivacious personality, her fun-loving, happy go luck personality. People wanted to be around her.'

He claimed she had no idea Daybell and her brother Alex had 'stuffed her kids' bodies in Chad's backyard'.

But the jury was not convinced, and she faces life in prison.

Charles Vallow (left, with wife Lori) was shot dead in July 2019 in Arizona by Alex Cox, his wife's brother. Cox died in December 2019. In July 2021, Lori Vallow was charged by a grand jury with conspiracy to murder her husband

In the meantime, Vallow has been extradited to Arizona to face conspiracy to murder charges in the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, who died in July 2019.

Her brother Alex Cox fired the fatal shot, but a grand jury in June 2021 found Vallow should be charged with one count of conspiracy to commit first degree murder.

They argued that before Charles Vallow died, he had filed for divorce.

Cox was never charged after shooting him dead, and argued self-defense.

Allister Adel, Maricopa County Attorney, said that the two-year gap between the crime and the decision to charge Lori Vallow was due to the complexity of the case.

He said in July 2021 that 'complex, difficult cases of this nature take time to properly investigate and solve.'
A teenage girl today admitted to beating two male police officers at a sexual health clinic before striking a policewoman with a book while in custody.

Honor Sophia Whyte, 18, kicked, spat at and tried to bite the officers when they were called to Monkgate Sexual Health Clinic in York after she refused to leave.

She was taken to a local police station where she hit a female officer with a 342-page code of practice paperback book.

The case was listed for a one-day trial before JPs in York today despite defence pleas that Whyte should be spared prosecution.

But after Crown lawyers pressed ahead with the charges, she changed her pleas and admitted three counts of assaulting emergency workers by beating.

Honor Sophia Whyte, 18, kicked, spat at and tried to bite the officers when they were called to Monkgate Sexual Health Clinic in York after she refused to leave

PC Smith, PC Tuffts, and PC Garside were all assaulted by Whyte

Whyte spoke only to confirm she understood what was happening and to whisper 'Thank you' as she was freed on unconditional bail to await sentence.

Crown lawyers said the guilty pleas were accepted on the basis Whyte acted with recklessness during a mental health episode.

Prosecutor Angela Terenzini said: 'Officers were called to the Monkgate Sexual Health Clinic because a non-compliant patient was refusing to leave the clinic, which was shutting, despite being asked by a member of staff.'

Two male officers, referred to only as Pc Tuffts and Pc Garside, tried to calm White down by asking what they could do to help, the court heard.

But she was not willing to listen and resisted attempts by the medical staff to get her to leave, the court heard.

Miss Terenzini added: 'She became aggressive - shouting and screaming. She threatened to attack members of staff. She began to kick out at both officers in the room and attempted to bite them.

'She kicked out. She threatened to kick both officers in the head and threatened to attack them if she saw them on the street.

Crown lawyers said the guilty pleas were accepted on the bases Whyte acted with recklessness during a mental health episode

'She was coaxed into a (police) van by the officers. She sat down on a bench in the van and spat out at the officers through the open door, hitting Pc Garside on the forearm.

'She was arrested again for spitting at Pc Garside and continued to behave in an aggressive and violent manner.'

It was while being held at a local police station that the third officer, a female referred to only as Pc Smith, was assaulted by the defendant.

Miss Terenzini continued: 'While in custody she was placed on cell watch. She attempted to spit at Pc Smith and struck Pc Smith across the shoulder with the Code of Practice Book.'

Whyte, who was living in Scarborough, at the time of the incident on June 20 last year, had been said at previous hearings to be living with her mother in the family home in Harrogate.

The disturbance is alleged to have taken place at the Monkgate Health Centre in York on June 20 last year

She said today she was of no fixed address.

The teenager was bailed to appear back at the same court for sentence on June 9 to allow for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

Nothing was said about the options the report would explore but the charge sheet states the maximum penalty on each charge is six months custody.

Philip Brown, mitigating, said: 'There is a complex personal history which impacts on Miss Whyte and goes directly to her level of culpability of the offences.'
Nurse Lucy Letby took a photograph of a thank you card sent to nurses from the parents of a twin boy  four months after she allegedly murdered him, a court heard.

The neonatal nurse told her murder trial she had taken the picture because it was something she wanted to remember.

But she insisted there was nothing unusual about taking the image in the early hours of the morning during a night shift because she quite often took photographs of cards she sent and received.

Ms Letby was in the witness box at Manchester Court Crown earlier as she gave her third day of evidence.

The 33-year-old nurse is accused of murdering five boys and two girls and trying to kill 10 others at the Countess of Chester Hospital from June 2015 to June 2016.

She denies all the charges against her.

Lucy Letby, 33, (pictured) originally from Hereford, is accused of carrying out a spree of murders between June 2015 and 2016. She denies all the charges against her

Manchester Crown Court has heard the photograph was discovered by police on Letbys mobile phone following her arrest.

The prosecution say she kept it as a souvenir, along with more than 250 nursing shift handover sheets also recovered during a raid on her home.

Ms Letby is accused of murdering the premature twin boy, known as Baby E, by ramming a piece of medical equipment down his throat, causing him to bleed, and injecting air into his bloodstream, in August 2015.

She also allegedly tried to kill his identical brother, Baby F, the following day by poisoning him with insulin.

He survived and, the jury was told, his parents were so grateful to nurses at the Countess of Chester Hospital, in Chester, that they sent in a hamper with the thank you card for staff.

Inside the card, the couple wrote: Thank you for looking after us all and for getting [Baby F] strong enough to get home. We will never forget what you did for us, you are all amazing.

Letby took a photograph of the card, which was pinned up beside the nursing station on the unit, around eight days after it was received, at 3.40am on November 20, while she was on duty.

Asked by Ben Myers KC, defending, why she took the picture, Letby told the court: It was something I wanted to remember.

I quite often take photographs of cards I have sent and received. Anything unusual about you doing that? her barrister probed. No, she replied.

The jury also heard about bitchiness between nurses on the unit who resented Letby being frequently allocated babies in intensive care, known as nursery one, to look after, just six months after she qualified to care for the sickest infants.

They were shown text messages exchanged between Letby and shift leader, Nurse Yvonne Griffiths, who complimented her on the way she handled the care of a very poorly baby girl, who needed chest drains after suffering a punctured lung soon after birth.

In her reply, Letby wrote: Thats really nice to hear as I gather you are aware of some of the not so positive comments that have been made recently regarding my role which I have found quite upsetting.

Our job is a pleasure to do & just hope I do the best for the babies & their family.

Asked by Mr Myers to explain the message, Letby said: Some of the existing staff members werent overly happy about people like myself having babies in nursery one.

The neo-natal nurse sent a WhatsApp message to a work colleague saying staffing levels at the neo-natal ward where she worked were 'completely unsafe', he a court has heard.

Quite often when you are newly qualified and just done your intensive care course you are encouraged to go into nursery one to get experience and some other staff felt they wanted that experience.

The neo-natal nurse sent a WhatsApp message to a work colleague saying staffing levels at the neo-natal ward where she worked were 'completely unsafe', the court has heard.

Her barrister, Ben Myers KC, asked Ms Letby, who is originally from Hereford, about an incident relating to Baby H on September 26, 2015.

She recalled a colleague, who cannot be named for legal reasons, joining her as she cared for the child.

It was the busiest period had ever known the unit since starting work there in January 2012, and she was concerned that on occasion it was 'over capacity', the jury heard.

Mr Myers questioned his client about her request to have her friend and colleague join her in the infant's nursery.

He said: 'The prosecution say you tried to kill (Baby H). Didn't you want her on your own so you could kill her?'

Ms Letby replied: 'No. I wanted support from senior staff'.

Lucy Letby in a court sketch taken on May 2. The nurse wept in the witness box at her trial last week as she repeatedly denied murdering seven babies and attempting to murder a further ten while working as a neonatal nurse at the Countess of Chester Hospital

The court heard that Baby H had only been given surfactant to help her lungs 41 hours after her birth on September 22.

In a WhatsApp message sent to her best friend on the unit at 9.15am on September 24, Letby said: 'It's completely un safe (sic)'.

When asked what that was referring to by Mr Myers, she said: 'The staffing that was on the unit. We had got 18 babies, which is over-capacity. We had capacity for 16. There was a lot going on.'

Mr Myers said: 'Had the unit been as busy as this in all the years you worked there?'

Letby said: 'No. It was increasingly busy at this period.

'A lot of staff were drained physically and emotionally. The unit was very busy, lots of people were doing additional shifts and changing shifts at the last minute and it did start to have an effect on everybody.'

Later the same day she messaged another colleague, Sophie Ellis, to say: 'Oh Soph it was pretty bad  18 babies, intubating on handover & a baby with a sugar of 0.1!'.

The neonatal nurse said she specifically asked for a colleague to help her with Baby H because the infant had three chest drains and she feared she might not be able to cope.

She had previously only come across chest drains while working at Liverpool Women's Hospital, and even then her experience had been a maximum of two.

At the Countess of Chester Hospital neither she nor the rest of the nurses on the unit were familiar with the devices, she told the court.

'The doctors weren't familiar either,' she told the jury at Manchester Crown Court.

'Quite often they would have to look things up, and quite often there would be discussions on how to deal with them'.

At one point during the night Baby H was thought to be so unwell that John Gibbs, a paediatric consultant, asked her parents if they wanted her baptised.

The nurse who cannot be named began to make the arrangements, but then had a disagreement with Ms Griffiths, who felt they did not need to be made in the middle of the night.

Ms Griffiths later commended Letby for her efforts, telling her: 'You composed yourself very well during a stressful situation'.

She added: 'It's nice to see your confidence grow as you advance through your career'.

The 33-year-old nurse is accused of murdering five boys and two girls and trying to kill 10 others at the Countess of Chester Hospital from June 2015 to June 2016

Lucy Letby, 33, said it was not unusual for her to take photos of cards she had sent and received. Pictured: A court sketch taken on May 2

The alleged killer replied: 'Thank you. That's really nice to hear as I gather you are aware of some of the not so positive comments that have been made recently regarding my role which I have found quite upsetting.

'Our job is a pleasure to do & (I) just hope I do the best for the babies & their family'.

Ms Letby was also asked about Child G, an extremely premature-born girl, who she is said to have attempted to murder on three separate occasions.

Ms Letby said: 'We also heard quite a loud retching noise which we thought was unusual so we both went quite quickly into nursery one.

'She was vomiting from her mouth and nose, and struggling to breathe.

'We were quite shocked as looking around the scene there was vomit adjacent to the cotside and on the floor. That is something we had not seen before.'

Breathing support was given 'immediately' via a face mask, she said, and the infant was stripped off 'to see her abdomen'.

Ms Letby said: 'The abdomen was quite firm, distended and red.'

Mr Myers asked: 'Had you been asked to look after (Child G) before the vomiting?'

'No,' said Ms Letby.

Mr Myers also asked about Child G, who she was the designated nurse for on the day shift of September 21 when two more attempts at her life allegedly took place, the court heard.

During the morning Child G had two projectile vomits and briefly stopped breathing, the court heard.

Ms Letby said she heard Child G's monitor sound while she was in the room with two other babies.

The youngster 'stabilised' when she went over, she said, and there was no need for an emergency crash call or a shout for help.

Care of Child G was transferred to a more senior nurse because she 'required a high level of care from that point' and Ms Letby had other babies to care for in the same nursery room, the court heard.

Later in the day Child G was behind a screen for her 'privacy' after numerous attempts to insert a cannula, Ms Letby said.

Ms Letby went on: 'I happened to catch sight behind the screen and saw that (Child G) was on her own.

'She was dusky, blue and not breathing,' she said. 'The monitor was not on, and at this point she was on the procedure trolley.

'I immediately picked her up, put her into the cot and started to Neopuff her.'

Ms Letby said she needed help, but when the baby's designated nurse came in she 'froze, went out and got someone else to assist me'.

'I was very concerned because there were three issues. You never leave a baby unattended on a trolley, you never leave a baby behind a screen, and you never leave a baby with no monitor.'

The trial continues.
The blowback from Sen. John Kennedy's comment about Mexicans eating 'cat food' continues, after Mexico's ambassador to the U.S. called the language 'vulgar and racist' and demanded an apology from the Louisiana Republican.

The top diplomat also tried to turn the tables by pointing out how much Louisiana gains through trade with its southern neighbor, in a trade relationship where the large U.S. economy has been a driving force.

Kennedy's comment had already prompted an angry diplomatic spat, when Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador blasted the comment just days after his phone call with President Biden amid sensitive discussions over migration and fentanyl.

The diplomatic pushback followed Kennedy's remark during a Senate hearing that 'without the people of America, Mexico, figuratively speaking, would be eating cat food out of a can and living in a tent,' Kennedy said.

'As I was listening, my initial reaction was to answer you in the same low, uninformed, and arrogant tone as the one you used,' Mexico's Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma wrote Kennedy.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) sparked outrage in Mexico when he said without the U.S., people in Mexico 'would be eating cat food out of a can and living in a tent'

He said the Louisiana Republican was 'obliged to offer an apology to your citizens because what you asserted is not worthy of the state of Louisiana, known for being a cultural melting pot.'

He called Kennedy's language 'vulgar and racist,' in a May 11 letter provided by the embassy.

He also took issue with Kennedy's inference about living behind an Outback Steakhouse.

'However, speaking of those who actually 'live under a tent behind an outback' in Louisiana, you owe them an apology indeed since they don't live like this because they want to but as a consequence of social, economic and health problems that deserve to be considered. Those are issues that a Senator should be focused on.'

He went on to call the comment 'racist and xenophobic insults'  and said they prompted many in Mexico to wonder 'How can a Kennedy say that?'

Lopez Obrador had hailed President John F. Kennedy's 'New Frontier' during Biden's trip earlier this year.

'But it didn't take long to learn that John Neely Kennedy is not from the Kennedy family of Massachusetts,' the ambassador wrote in his letter in language meant as a slap.

Mexican Ambassador to the United States Esteban Moctezuma blasted Kennedy's comments in an angry letter where he called the senator's tone 'uninformed and arrogant'

The comment came during testimony by DEA Administrator Anne Milgram before a Senate subpoanel

The letter demanded an apology and took issue with the 'live under a tent behind an Outback' comments

Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrado blasted the comments and even urged Hispanics in the U.S. to vote out Republicans like Kennedy who he said hold 'very offensive' views

He went on to call for 'collaboration' rather than 'offenses and threats.'

Kennedy had made the comment while discussing the need to confront fentanyl streaming across the border, and used a famous line from 'The Godfather' to suggest the U.S. demand to send U.S. military assets to confront drug cartels.

'So why don't you and the president get on the phone and call President Lopez Obrador and make him a deal he can't refuse to allow our military and our law enforcement officials to go into Mexico and work with his to stop the cartels,' he asked Drug Enforcement Agency Administrator Anne Milgram.

'Make him a deal he cant refuse, said Kennedy. 'Without the people of America, Mexico, figuratively speaking, would be eating cat food out of a can and living in a tent behind an Outback.

'Our economy is $23 trillion. Mexico's economy is 1.3 trillion. Ours is 18 times bigger. We buy $400 billion every year from Mexico,' Kennedy said, brandishing economic power in the trade relationship. Mexico's economy ranks in the top 15 in the world, amid a push to try to locate manufacturing in nearby or allied nations.

Kennedy's office did not respond to a request for comment Monday morning.

The ambassador said Kennedy's home state 'greatly benefits' from its trade relationship, and said Louisiana had a $25 billion trade surplus with the country.

Lopez Obrador blasted Kennedy's comments in remarks last week.

'Tell our countrymen, Hispanics, our American friends, not to vote for people with this very arrogant, very offensive and very foolish mentality,' he said.

Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard also teed off on the comments.

Its a fallacy to argue in favor of sending an armed force to Mexico when in the United States you have fentanyl circulating everywhere, said Ebrard.

'What is behind these ideas and those who promote them,' Ebrard said. 'Racism against Mexicans, and in general all Spanish-speakers.'

Kennedy made his comments after fuming about the thousands of U.S. overdose deaths attributed to fentanyl and counterfeit versions of the drug that often makes its way from China and across the border to the U.S. through Mexico.
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko was seen struggling to speak in a video shared today amid rumours about his ailing health.

Appearing hoarse and struggling to breathe, he rambled to military chiefs on the shooting down of four combat aircraft in Russia on Saturday, apparently unsure of how long his own forces had been on high alert.

He said: 'The troops are on high combat alert for the fourth day, or the third day.'

Lukashenko, whose disappearance from the public eye on 9 May prompted rumours of ill-health, was seen for the first time in nearly a week this afternoon, posing in a military uniform in what the Pul Pervovo Telegram channel says is a central air force command base.

The 68-year-old appeared to have a bandage or IV catheter on his left wrist.

His office has refused to comment on mounting health concerns.

Alexander Lukashenko is seen for the first time late in the afternoon on 15 May 2023 after rumours of his illness, surgery, and even death, with a thick bandage on his left wrist

Belarus autocrat Alexander Lukashenko, 68, struggled to walk at Putin's Red Square parade and flew back to Minsk early, missing a meal with the Russian dictator, amid suspicions of serious back and knee problems.

On a visit to Moscow on Tuesday last week, a bandage was seen on his right wrist.

Rumours suggest he was rushed to hospital in Minsk after returning from Moscow where he appeared at Vladimir Putin's Red Square military parade marking Victory Day.

The autocrat appeared unable to walk a distance less than a quarter of a mile on Red Square after the parade - and was seen pleading with Putin to provide him a buggy over the cobbled stones to lay flowers at the Time of the Unknown Soldier.

Lukashenko was said to be working today 'at the central command point of Belarussian Air Forces, and Air Defence forces'.

He was quoted as telling officers: 'Let's go without big reports. Let's have a look at what's happening around our country.'

But he also said: 'Three days past after the events near us - I mean what happened in the Bryansk region [of Russia], when four aircraft were shot down.

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko (C) attends a Victory Day military parade on Red Square in Moscow, Russia, 09 May 2023

'We are forced to react. Since then, we have been on high alert, our troops.'

Many believe Russian air defences shot down their own planes in the Bryansk region which borders both Belarus and Ukraine.

Multiple theories had emerged over Lukashenko ranging from heart trouble to a serious viral infection or even poisoning.

Putin's former speech writer Abbas Gallyamov said it was possible the Kremlin leader's secret services had sought to assassinate him because he was not sufficiently supportive of the war.

The Belarus exiled opposition was preparing a plan in case of his death, said leading foe Pavel Latushka.

BneIntellNews reported: 'The Belarus strongman is clearly seriously ill and some are asking if he is already dead.'

Yet other sources had reported he was ill and required surgery but would recover.

He required assistance from specialists from Moscow's prestigious Bakulev Center for Cardiovascular Surgery who flew to Minsk, said one version.

His office refused to comment until today's single photograph, causing rumours to escalate.

An unconfirmed account was that Lukashenko came through "unpleasant" surgery unrelated to his heart and is stable.

Belarus expert, Russian pro-war academic Andrey Suzdaltsev, said: 'Lukashenko came well through the surgery. He is feeling not badhe is recovering.'

The operation 'was not on the heart. There was another unpleasant, but common diagnosis'.

If today's picture is genuine, it showed no obvious sign of major surgery.
Russian forces were attacked in the occupied Ukrainian city of Luhansk on the morning of Monday 15 May 2023 in a suspected strike using British Storm Shadow long-range missiles.

The target was a former aviation school believed to be housing a contingent of Vladimir Putin's troops.

Two explosions sounded at the makeshift barracks, with videos from the aftermath of the strike showing the building on fire and trailing thick plumes of smoke into the sky.

But what exactly are Storm Shadow missiles? How many Storm Shadow missiles does the UK have? How much does a Storm Shadow missile cost?

Here is everything you need to know about the British-owned long-range missiles.

Britain have sent a shipment of Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine, enabling Kyiv's forces to strike deeper into Russian-held territory

What are Storm Shadow missiles?

The Storm Shadow missile was first developed in 1994, but was actually used by the French Ministry of Defence before also being used by Britain, with the French ordering 500 missiles in 1998.

The missile weighs approximately 1,300 kilograms (2,900lb), with a conventional warhead of 450 kilograms (990lb).

It has a maximum body diameter of 48 centimetres (19in) and a wingspan of three metres (120in).

The missiles were used for the first time operationally by UK forces in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, where they were tested by the Royal Air Force's 617 Squadron.

Also known as SCALP-EG missiles, they were used during the NATO intervention of the Libyan Civil War in 2011.

Saudi Arabia were also supplied with Storm Shadows by the UK government as part of their involvement in the Yemen conflict.

How many Storm Shadow missiles does the UK have?

Most recently, Storm Shadow missiles have been recognised for their use by Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.

The supply of the missiles to Ukraine was confirmed by the UK government - which holds an estimated 700-1,000 Storm Shadows - in May 2023. It means Ukraine is the only country to be publicly supplied by the UK with these missiles.

The Storm Shadow missiles, accurate to beyond 150 miles, allow Ukrainian forces to strike deeper into Russian-held territory than was previously the case. Pictured: A Eurofighter jet carrying two Storm Shadow missiles

The Storm Shadow missiles, accurate to beyond 150 miles, allow Ukrainian forces to strike deeper into Russian-held territory than was previously the case.

As a result, these missiles will play a key role in the country's much anticipated counter-offensive against its occupiers.

This comes as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to push for more support for Kyiv when he attends the G7 gathering in Japan and the Council of Europe in Reykjavik.

The premier vowed to send a 'message of solidarity' as Ukraine tries to kick out Putin's invading forces, saying it is in 'all our interests' that Zelensky succeeds.

The discussions came after the UK became the first country to provide long-range precision missiles to Ukraine.

How much does a Storm Shadow missile cost?

A Storm Shadow missile costs about 2.54million (US$3.19 million) per unit.

As a result of the attacks on Monday 15 May 2023, Russian MP Viktor Vodolatsky sustained minor injuries.

In its daily briefing, Russia's defence ministry responded to the attacks by claiming its forces have managed to shoot down a Storm Shadow missile.

Pro-Putin Russian MP Viktor Vodolatsky, 65, sustained minor injuries in the strikes

Volodymyr Zelensky travelled to the UK that same day to hold 'substantive negotiations' with the PM at his Chequers country residence.

Zelensky has already held talks with French president Emmanuel Macron following a summit in Aachen that saw EU commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, Poland's PM Mateusz Morawiecki and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz all present.

Speaking to other MPs regarding the UK's decision to send the long-range missiles to Ukraine, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace stated: 'The use of Storm Shadow will allow Ukraine to push back Russian forces based within Ukrainian sovereign territory,'

'Russia must recognise that their actions alone have led to such systems being provided.'
Royal Mail is facing a major investigation by an industry watchdog after failing to meet its delivery targets over the past year.

The British postal giant fell short of its performance targets across the 2022 to 2023 financial year for first and second class mail and deliveries, following 18 days of strike action by thousands of workers last year.

Regulator Ofcom claimed it would consider whether any 'exceptional events' explained why the company fell short.

But if there was no 'satisfactory explanation', the communication watchdog warned it could slap Royal Mail with a fine, with the service previously having been hit with a 1.5million in 2019 for failing to meet targets.

The post service delivered only 73.7 per cent of first class mail within one working day across the year. The target was 93 per cent.

Royal Mail is facing a major investigation by industry watchdog Ofcom after failing to meets its delivery targets over the past year (file photo)

The news comes after a turbulent period for the postal service, which last year saw workers walking out during 18 days of strikes. Pictured is a protester with a flare outside Westminster in December

Royal Mail has failed to meet its delivery targets for first class and second class post for the past year. Pictured is a breakdown of its targets and what the postal service achieved

Meanwhile for second class mail, 90.7 per cent was delivered within three working days, compared with the target of 98.5 per cent.

And 89.35 per cent of delivery routes were completed on the required day, well behind the 99.9 per cent target.

Ofcom warned the impact of Covid was no longer 'an excuse for poor delivery performance'.

If the Royal Mail is fined, it would be the second penalty since 2019, when the postal giant was forced to shell out 1.5million for failing to deliver first-class letters on time.

Ofcom said: 'In deciding whether the company is in breach of its obligations, we will consider if there were any exceptional events - beyond the company's control - that may have explained why it missed its targets.'

Last year, an investigation into its missed targets was closed after the regulator ruled that greater staff absences and social distancing regulations resulting from Covid had impacted service.

It also decided not to open an investigation into Royal Mail's service levels during the 2020 to 2021 financial year because of the 'uniquely difficult circumstances' of the pandemic.

The probe follows last week's news that boss Simon Thompson will step down by the end of the year.

Simon Thompson, the former chief executive of Royal Mail quit with a six-figure payoff in the wake of strike chaos that hit millions of customers. He last week claimed it was the 'right time to go' and is expected to step down at the end of the year

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. Pictured is a rally by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) in Westminster on December 8, 2022

His departure was announced weeks after a lengthy dispute with the main postal union came to an end.

Grant McPherson, chief operating officer of Royal Mail, said: 'Improving quality of service is our top priority.

'We are committed to accelerating Royal Mail's transformation and restoring service levels to where our customers expect them to be.

'We're sorry to any customers who may have been impacted by our performance during a year that has been one of the most challenging in our history.

'With the plans we have in place to drive service levels and reduce absence, we hope and expect to see further progress in the coming months.'

Royal Mail also stressed its service improved over the first three months of the year, where 94.5 per cent of second-class mail was delivered within three working days and 78.9 per cent of first-class mail delivered within one.

Furthermore, 18 days of strike action organised by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) 'materially impacted' the quality of service, it argued.

It also blamed a high level of staff absences affecting operational performance.

Last month, Royal Mail agreed a deal with the CWU which would see staff get a 10 per cent salary increase and a 500 one-off payment.

The firm said it hopes the agreement will reduce absences, spread out workloads, and rapidly improve quality of service.

The proposed deal will be put to a ballot of union members in the coming weeks.
The widow of late scandal-hit Fox News boss Roger Ailes has paid tribute to her husband on his birthday by slamming the Murdoch family.

Elizabeth Ailes posted on Twitter about her husband's 'heavenly birthday' on Monday morning, blasting Rupert Murdoch and his family for wreaking 'havoc' at the helm of the media giant in the six years since his death.

Ailes tweeted: 'Happy Heavenly Birthday Roger Ailes.

'It took you 20 years to build Fox News into the powerhouse that it was and only 6 years for the Murdochs to wreak havoc.

'Rupert thought he could do your job. What a joke. He has the checkbook but could never come close to your genius. RIP.'

Widow Elizabeth took to Twitter to share a birthday message for her late husband, and slammed the Murdoch family in the process

Alongside here tweet, Ailes shared the above picture of her and her late husband

Ailes, who had been the former chairman and CEO of Fox News, died at the age of 77 eight days after falling and hitting his head at his Florida mansion in 2017.

Less than a year previously, Ailes had been ousted from the company over claims he sexually harassed several female employees.

The allegations were first reported by author Gabriel Sherman in his 2014 book on Ailes, but the story didn't gain traction until 2016.

In 2016, former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Ailes.

Carlson claimed that Ailes cancelled her show when she rebuffed his advances.

Just a few days later, Sherman published a story including reports from six other women who had similar experiences with Ailes.

Fox News' parent company 21st Century Fox then hired a law firm to independently investigate the claims.

In that time period, star anchor at the time Megyn Kelly came forward to say she was harassed by Ailes early on in her career at the network.

Pictured: Ailes takes questions during a panel discussion at the Television Critics Association tour in Pasadena, California, 2006

Pictured: Rupert Murdoch who specifically came under fire in a tweet by Ailes' widow Elizabeth

The two are pictured here in January of 1996 after Murdoch named Ailes as the head of Fox News

In July 2016, Ailes resigned from the network and took a $40 million payout in the process.

It was reported at the time that Rupert Murdoch had wanted to keep Ailes while his sons James and Lachlan turned against him after seeing the reviews conducted.

Earlier this year, former Fox employee Laurie Luhn spoke out about the abuse she suffered at the hands of Ailes, claiming he had sexually harassed her and pressured her into performing sexual acts on him.

She said that the CEO demanded that she perform oral sex on him, and that he used photographs and recordings he took of her to make sure she kept quiet about their relationship.

Luhn received more than $3 million an agreement with the network in 2011.

Luhn decided to file a new lawsuit at the beginning of this year against Fox News under New York's Adult Survivors Act.

The new legislation allows the lifting of the statute of limitations for survivors and allowing them to sue alleged abusers regardless of when it occurred for a year.

Pictured: Megyn Kelly on set of America Live at Fox News Studios New York

Laurie Luhn (pictured) spoke on the Today Show earlier this year about the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of Ailes

Ailes had been chairman and CEO of Fox News before he stood down from his post

Last month, the network was forced to pay out $787.5 million after settling with Dominion Voting Systems.

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.

In the wake of that payout, the company fired their most-watched anchor Tucker Carlson from his role as presenter of Tucker Carlson Tonight.

Since then, a litany of text messages sent by Carlson and other presenters at Fox have been leaked in the wake of the lawsuit.

One of which includes a text sent by Carlson the day after the January 6 storming of the Capitol, where he recalls a mob of three white men attacking an 'Antifa kid' and wanting the victim to be killed.

Since then Carlson has launched his own show on Twitter, while still under contact with the corporation.
Cash App founder Bob Lee and his alleged killer Nima Momeni both dated the same woman around three years ago, friends have now claimed.

Momeni, 38, is accused of stabbing Lee, 43, in the heart with a four-inch black blade kitchen knife after quizzing him about his causal, sexual relationship with his married party-girl sister, Khazar.

It's now emerged, according to the Wall Street Journal, that Momeni and Lee also slept with the same woman at one point.

Keith Kraft, a friend of both the woman and Lee, confirmed that there was cross over with the girl. Momeni allegedly dated her first, and when she dumped him, she moved on to Lee.

Kraft had once hung out with Momeni when he was dating the woman, and described that he felt Momeni was territorial over her - despite Kraft not being a threat because he is gay.

Friends say Cash App founder Bob Lee was a regular at underground sex and drug parties with other San Francisco elites including the sister of the man accused of killing him

Momeni (pictured) and Lee also dated and slept with the same woman at one point, friends say

This comes as insiders told WSJ about how Lee, and his alleged killer's sister, were part of the crowd of affluent San Francisco partygoers known as 'The Lifestyle' who attended the debauched events - where swingers and cheaters would gather for casual, drug-fueled sex.

Lee, who was known for being creative, adventurous and loyal to his friends, started to change in the months before his death, according to friends speaking to WSJ.

He was allegedly 'getting in over his head' due to 'The Lifestyle' circles that he got himself into.

Dana Wagner, the former general counsel of payments company Square, revealed: 'He was also hanging out with people who weren't great people, and that was part of what happened in the end.

'There are a lot of swingers, cheaters and liars in that crowd.'

Lee's friend Devon Meyers described the crowd that Lee would frequent with as: 'Highly functioning, very intelligent people, incredibly talented, and there's not much in our world for them to do.'

According to WSJ, Lee, who was separated from his wife, would often sleep with multiple women, including Khazar Momeni, the sister of his alleged killer.

It was at one of these parties on April 3, when Nima  who sources say was a recluse, often standing in the corner  confronted Lee.

Khazar - who allegedly had casual sex with Lee - also played in the same San Francisco circles

On April 4, Lee was filmed on surveillance cameras staggering into an apartment building in downtown San Francisco at 2.35am after being stabbed

Lee was seen on surveillance footage near the apartment building clutching his wound

Alongside his involvement in the underground scene, Lee was also known for splashing the cash he earned in the lucrative tech industry - which sometimes meant he could be naive and trusting of people who didn't deserve it.

According to friends and former lovers, he bought a Tesla for a woman he was seeing, took friends on all-expenses-paid trips to Tulum, Mexico on a whim, and would fork the bill for Ubers and meals for those he loved.

When one of his ex girlfriend's iPhone was stolen during a trip, Lee hired someone to secure a new one for her.

He was known for having a circle of around 20 close friends - whom he would attend all-night raves with across the world.

Lee would take ecstasy, ketamine, cocaine during the benders, and also jumped at the opportunity for fun and frivolousness, according to those who knew him.

One time, at a nightclub where a discounted $5 entrance was set for people who went in with no pants, Lee obliged and went in wearing his underwear.

He was known for having several girlfriends at the same time - as well as a handful of other women that he would sleep with.

But Lee would always be respectful towards them, his friends said.

Friends of Lee said he told them that he was casually sleeping with Khazar Momeni, 37, another San Fran elite who frequented the parties Lee attended, before he was killed.

Mr Momeni has been described as insecure about the women he saw and dated - and gave the allure that didn't want other men stealing them.

According to one of Momeni's ex girlfriends, he was problematic: 'He was not nice behind closed doors,' she told Mission Local. 'Called me probably the worst names I've ever been called.'

Tech exec Bob Lee, who died from his stab wounds in April

In a text message to Lee earlier in the day, Khazar gushed: 'Just wanted to make sure your doing OK because I know Nima came wayyy down hard on you and thank you for being such a classy man handling it with class. 'Love you Selfish pr***s'

Khazar Momeni and her husband, plastic surgeon Dr. Dino Elyassnia at her brother's arraignment. Prosecutors laid out part of their case and she is at the center of her brother's alleged motive

At the party before Lee's death, Momeni confronted Lee and asked if his sister was doing drugs or 'anything inappropriate.' According to a witness, Lee told Momeni that nothing inappropriate had happened.

Authorities now say that Nima and Lee met up again later that night at Khazar's luxury apartment in Millennium Tower.

Surveillance footage showed the two getting into Nima's white BMW at around 2am on April 4 and leave the scene.

He is believed to have drove Lee to a secluded area several streets over, where he stabbed the Cash app founder multiple times with a kitchen knife.

Nima then allegedly left Lee to bleed out in the middle of the street.

Lee was seen stumbling and was begging for help that night before collapsing near the Bay Bridge, just 16 minutes from Khazar's apartment.

Police have said Khazar was texting Lee around the time he died.

'Just wanted to make sure your doing ok Cause I know nima came wayyyyyy down hard on you,' she wrote in one of these messages.

'And thank you for being such a class man handling it with class. Love you Selfish p****s.'
An Army dentist who faces trial accused of using revenge porn against an SAS hero who single-handedly fought terrorists in a hotel siege has been granted bail.

Major Jennifer Wilson is charged with disclosing private sexual photos and footage of Special Forces sergeant Christian Craighead, 47, with the intent to cause distress.

Wilson, 42, is also accused of stalking Mr Craighead's girlfriend, Tobi-Jayne Cadbury, 36, the great-great-great-granddaughter of chocolate baron Richard Cadbury.

Appearing via video link from jail at Aylesbury Crown Court today, the Royal Army Medical Corps employee had been expected to enter a plea to the charges.

But Judge Catherine Tulk adjourned the case.

Major Jennifer Wilson (pictured) is charged with disclosing private sexual photos and footage of Special Forces sergeant Christian Craighead, 47, with the intent to cause distress

It is alleged that married Wilson released private sexual photographs and films of Mr Craighead (pictured) last year

Wilson, who has been held in custody at Bronzefield women's prison in Surrey since her arrest in July last year, was granted bail provided that she makes no contact with any of the named witnesses or the complainant.

The court heard that Wilson will be living in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, and will have to make every device in her possession with an internet connection, available to the police.

Judge Tulk told her: 'It is absolutely essential, not just that you stick to the bail conditions but that you demonstrably abide by them.'

It is alleged that married Wilson released private sexual photographs and films of Mr Craighead last year.

The Who Dares Wins legend earned a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross award after fighting Al-Shabaab terrorists who attacked the DusitD2 hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2019 - saving dozens of lives.

The off-duty former SAS fighter rushed to the scene of the attack and, armed with an assault rifle he kept in his car boot, spearheaded the rescue alongside local security forces.

Wilson, 42, is also accused of stalking Mr Craighead's girlfriend, Tobi-Jayne Cadbury (pictured), 36, the great-great-great-granddaughter of chocolate baron Richard Cadbury

Mr Craighead earned a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross award after fighting Al-Shabaab terrorists who attacked the DusitD2 hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2019 - saving dozens of lives

She was represented in court by counsel, Brent Martin. Nigel Ogborne was the prosecutor.

The hearing was adjourned to July 28.

The judge was told that the charges that Wilson presently faces may be amended.

A formal indictment will be delivered at the next appearance and Wilson will be able to enter pleas.
A white New York City hospital worker is accused of trying to steal a Citi Bike from a black man who had already paid for it.

In a now viral video, the female hospital employee  donning blue scrubs emblazoned with 'NYC Health + Hospitals  could be seen screaming for help and accusing a black man of assault, even tearing up as a crowd gathers around.

But the man's friends say in the video that that he was the one who bought the rental bike, and say she is trying to steal it from him.

The video has gained the attention of famed civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who tweeted that the Bellevue Hospital employee 'grossly tried to weaponize her tears to paint this man as a threat.

'This is EXACTLY the type of behavior that has endangered so many black men in the past!' he wrote on Sunday.

It remains unclear what transpired prior to the minute-thirty-second-long video, and Bellevue Hospital says it is now investigating the incident.

A viral video purports to show a white woman trying to steal a Citi Bike from a black man who had already paid for it

In the video, the unidentified Bellevue Hospital employee could be seen screaming for help

The video, posted on TikTok and Twitter, shows an unidentified woman arguing with a black man outside of New York City's Bellevue Hospital over the weekend near a Citi Bike rack.

One of the men's friends tells the woman that he is recording the situation as the black man has his hand on the bike.

The woman then screams for help, saying: 'Help! Help me! Please help me!'

But the man's friend, offscreen, tells her: 'This is not your bike.'

The hospital employee then cries out for help again, and asks the black man to 'please get off.'

She then takes off her hospital badge in an apparent effort to hide her identity, as one of the men could be heard asking her: 'You know you're not getting this bike?'

The woman only screams for help again and tries to get onto the rental bike, before swiping the black man's phone.

'Why are you taking his phone?' one of the man's friends asks the woman. 'What's wrong with you?

'Do not touch his phone, do not touch his phone,' he tells the hospital employee.

She then tells the man that he's 'hurting my unborn baby,' to which the black man replies: 'You put your stomach on my hand.'

The woman then turns around and starts to once again scream for help, at which point one of her coworkers approaches.

The black man tries to explain: 'This is my bike, it's on my account' and tells the woman to 'please move.'

At that point, the woman can be seen apparently crying  though the black man's friends say they are fake tears.

At one point, the woman accuses the black man of assault saying he's 'hurting my unborn baby,' though the man says she put his stomach on his hand

The woman also grabs the black man's cellphone at one point in the video

The woman could even be seen crying in the video as she hopped onto the disputed bike

The black man's friends accused the hospital employee of 'fake crying' saying she did not even shed a tear

She then continues to climb onto the bike, hysterical with tears, as her coworker suggests they just 'reset the bike.'

But the man's friends continue to defend him, saying, 'It's his, it's his.'

One of the friends then again accuses the woman of 'fake crying,' telling her to stop, while the black man asks her to 'stop touching me.'

The woman then steps off the bike and apparently stops crying as she pulls but her phone.

'Not a tear came down miss,' the friend says as the video ends.

Under Citi Bike's policies, anyone who keeps a bike out for longer than 45 minutes at a time will be charged $0.17 for each additional minute, and may have their account suspended.

If a customer does not return a bike within 24 hours, the account holder will be charged a lost or stolen bike fee of $1,200 plus tax.

Bellevue Hospital has announced that it is investigating the incident involving its employee

DailyMail.com has reached out to Lyft, which operates the Citi Bikes, for comment.

A spokesperson for the New York Police Department said it did not receive any 911 calls or reports about the incident, but is aware of the video.

Meanwhile, Bellevue Hospital said in a statement it is investigating the incident.

'We have recently become aware of an incident that occurred off campus over the weekend and appears to involve one of our employees,' it said.

'We are sorry this happened, and we are reviewing the incident.'

The hospital added that it is 'committed to providing the highest quality of care to all New Yorkers with dignity, cultural sensitivity and compassion.'
Center Parcs UK, the holiday village chain beloved by millions of British families for its water parks, bike trails and log cabins, has been put on sale for 5billion by its Canadian owners.

The move could net a huge windfall for Canadian private equity firm Brookfield, which purchased the holiday village chain for about 2.4bn in 2015.

The firm is seeking to raise between 4bn and 5bn from the sale of the popular theme park, and is already sizing up potential buyers, according to the Financial Times.

There are six Center Parcs holiday villages across the UK and Ireland and they attract more than two million visitors every year.

It comes after Center Parcs, which first opened its doors in the UK in 1987, scrapped plans to build a brand new resort in West Sussex earlier this year.

Center Parcs UK has been put on sale for 5billion by its owners, Canadian private equity firm Brookfield

The entrance to one of the Center Parcs holiday villages in Longleat Forest, Wiltshire

The 5bn price tag is double what the resort was bought for in 2015, and could make the sale the biggest real estate deal this year.

After weathering the storm of the pandemic and being forced to close through lockdowns, the company bounced back to a healthy profit thanks to a boom in domestic tourism.

Known for its tropical-themed water parks, spas and offering a wide range of outdoor activities, the holiday villages have been a popular holiday destination for British families for decades.

Center Parcs has been operating in the UK since 1987, with its first location opening in Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire.

A site in Elveden Forest in Suffolk came in 1989 and villages were since established in Longleat Forest, Whinfell Forest and Woburn Forest.

Center Parcs resorts are known for their tropical-themed water parks

It opened its first site in Ireland in 2019, with Center Parcs Longford Forest close to the town of Ballymahon in County Longford.

Center Parcs was started in 1967 by Dutch entrepreneur Piet Derksen, who brought it to the UK in 1987. Two years later, brewer Scottish & Newcastle bought the business.

It sold it in 2001, splitting the business in two. The villages on the Continent were snapped up by a French firm, and the UK business was bought by Deutsche Bank for 670million which it floated on AIM in 2003.

US private equity firm Blackstone took it private in 2006, before selling it to Brookfield in 2015.

Center Parcs resorts are known for their family-friendly water parks and spas

Blackstone chairman Gerry Murphy said at the time: 'Having bought Center Parcs in 2006 and invested in its growth, it has been an excellent investment for us. We are sure that it will go on to even greater success under new ownership.'

Last year, the holiday chain faced backlash after it said its five UK sites would close from 10am on Monday September 19 'as a mark of respect' following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Center Parks and Brookfield were contacted but declined to comment on the sale.
Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of killing four near the University of Idaho campus, has received more than two dozen 'handwritten' love letters as he awaits trial for the brutal killings.

The accused killer, who is being held without bond at the Latah County Jail, has a horde of female fans smitten by the 29-year-old criminology grad student turned suspected murderer who is awaiting a preliminary hearing trial on June 26.

An employee at the jail, who did not reveal their name, but has frequent contact with the inmate told The Messenger 'it's disturbing.'

'He gets these letters a couple of times a week...they're usually handwritten with hearts and stars...colored envelopes,' he said. 'Everyone in the jail talks about how weird it is.'

It is unclear what these letters exactly say, but it appears that many are confessing their love to Kohberger and believe he is innocent in the brutal slayings, a source told the news outlet.

It also remains unclear if Kohberger is responding to these letters.

The Idaho quadruple murder suspect Bryan Kohberger has received more than two dozen 'handwritten' love letters as he awaits trial for the brutal killings of four innocent college students

Bryan Kohberger, 29, pictured in court was arrested after a six-week manhunt and charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary

On Nov. 13, 2022, Kohberger allegedy stabbed to death University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20 and Kernodle's boyfriend, Ethan Chapin , 20

On November 13, 2022, Kohberger allegedy stabbed to death University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20 and Kernodle's boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20.

The students were living at an off-campus house near the university campus in Moscow.

Kohberger was arrested after a six-week manhunt and charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary.

The case captivated the nation as police hunted for the killer. Internet sleuths tried to help police solve the crime until Kohlberger was arrested in Pennsylvania.

Kohberger is set to appear in court in the coming weeks, and in a recent interview with Good Morning America, Gonclaves' father said he would be in attendance.

'I can't wait to see the evidence. ... And then I'm gonna bring it. And he's gonna realize that this... is the family that's gonna make sure he doesn't get away with it,' Steve Goncalves said.

Kaylee's mother, Krisi, said the family wanted to show they were strong and united as they attended the hearing. But she admitted she would prefer not to be present for the most gruesome moments of the trial.

'I've never been to a preliminary trial before. ... I have no idea what to expect, I have no idea what we're going to hear. ... But I know that I've got my son, and my daughter will be there, and my sister, and my husband,' Kristi added.

On Sunday, the University of Idaho honored Mogen and Kaylee with Posthumous degrees. They were both seniors when they were killed. Certificates were given to junior Kernodle and freshman Chapin.

'We appreciate the school awarding a posthumous degree to Ethan. We also want to recognize the thousands of kids graduating and the hard work they've put in to earn their diplomas. Our family wishes them all the best,' Chapin parents, Stacey and Jim, said in a statement.

The four young adults had their lives cut short in the killings that rocked the Moscow, Idaho, community. Some students said the killings have changed the feeling around campus.

Kohberger's arrest ended the hunt for the killer, though plenty of lovesick women have reached out to him or commented on social media.

Brittney Hislope, a 35-year-old single mother from Kentucky, previously penned letters and sent revealing photos to Kohberger.

Hislope called Kohberger her 'divine masculine counterpart' and 'twin flame,' and would often express her infatuation with him on her Facebook page.

In her last post, on February 19, she wrote:

'I don't want to say disrespectful things about my love interest when I hold him in high regard like I do as being my divine masculine counterpart, but it's understandable how without me personally knowing him that I'd not know if he would, in fact get with a female that just wants to steal my wish fulfillment, although if he is like that I definitely wouldn't hold him in high regard anymore since I'd think a lot less of him, and I have a strong faith that my true love wouldn't ever do that.

A undated photo of Brittney Hislope from her Facebook page who has written Kohberger and describes him as her 'divine masculine counterpart'

A recent post that revealed Hislope's fixation on the accused Idaho killer

She continued: 'I've already been down that road with my son's dad as well, who definitely showed signs of how he's not my twinflame considering the toxicity from him that doesn't exist within the twinflame connection, and the wrong ways he did me.

'I just want to remember the emotional ways I've felt about my love interest Bryan and how they've been authentic in terms of loving and caring him and his well-being.

'I want to remember how I felt when I seen his first mugshot from the jail he's currently in, as well as how I felt seeing him at his last court appearance, which were both loving and caring ways, as well as concern for his well-being.
Chuck Arnold reveals that Murdaugh accepts responsibility for financial crimes and is trying to 'make amends'

Notorious murderer Alex Murdaugh has been writing to friends from prison denying that he killed his wife and son despite jury's double conviction.

Murdaugh's friend Chuck Arnold, who has received one of the letters, told The Messenger that Murdaugh admits to financial wrongdoings but still claims he is innocent in the fatal shootings of his wife Maggie Murdaugh and their 22-year-old son Paul in 2021.

The former lawyer from South Carolina's low country is serving two consecutive life sentences after a jury found him guilty of murdering his wife and son in March. His lawyers have filed an appeal against the conviction.

Murdaugh, 63, has also been charged of 99 counts of financial crimes relating to allegedly defrauding his law firm and its clients of $8.8million.

Alex Murdaugh was found guilty of murdering his wife and son by a jury in March

A friend says Murdaugh is 'broken' and denies responsibility for the murders

Paul, left and Maggie, second from the right, were shot dead in the grounds of their family home

'He is a broken man,' Mr Arnold told The Messenger.

'He's trying to make amends for the financial crimes he admits that he committed, but he insists he did not kill Maggie and Paul.'

One unnamed partner at Murdaugh's former firm was less sympathetic, telling the publication that Murdaugh 'caused us all untold distress.'

'He stole money from our clients, and he stole money from the firm,' the former colleague continues.

'This is a family law firm, and he took money from people who loved him and who he professed to love. It's a betrayal that I don't think I can ever get over.'

The murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh shocked South Carolina, where the family were well known as a political and legal dynasty.

Members of the family had served as solicitor and district attorney for the Low Country region for 85 consecutive years.

The tradition dates back to Murdaugh's great-grandfather Randolph Murdaugh Sr who was an elected solicitor and even died mysteriously when his car stopped on railway tracks and he was hit by a train in 1940.

Randolph's son, Alex Murdaugh's grandfather, then became the new solicitor.

His son, Randolph Murdaugh III  Alex Murdaugh's father  succeeded him as solicitor from 1987 to 2005.

The Murdaugh scandals soon hit international headlines as the investigation pieced together several conjoining scandals including the death of teenager Stephen Smith in 2015, the death of the Murdaugh's housekeeper Gloria Satterfield in 2018 and the death of 19-year-old Mallory Beach in a boating accident in 2019.

A photo of a smiling Buster, left, and Paul, right, with friends around Christmas 2018

Police believe Murdaugh attempted an assisted suicide framed as a murder so his surviving son Buster, right, could collect a $10 million life insurance payment

Mr Arnold claims his friend is 'broken' by his son and wife's murder and denies responsibility

Smith was found dead by the side of the road, and his death was recorded as a hit-and-run accident.

His mother claims that he was killed in a homophobic hate crime, and case notes revealed that Smith was in a relationship with Buster Murdaugh, Alex's son.

The papers also revealed that Buster was named several times in the investigation and in a deposition years later one of Smith's friends claimed the Murdaughs had 'covered' the killing up.

Another suspicious death occurred in 2018 when the family's housekeeper Gloria Satterfield fell down the stairs on the family's property.

A financial settlement for wrongful death was reached between Murdaugh and Satterfield's family.

The next year tragedy appeared to strike again when Murdaugh's younger son Paul crashed a boat he had been driving while drunk and his friend Mallory Beach was killed at just 19-years-old.

Paul crashed a boat he had been driving while drunk and his friend Mallory Beach was killed at just 19-years-old

Murdaugh has also been charged of 99 counts of financial crimes relating to allegedly defrauding his law firm and its clients of $8.8million

One of the six teens on board testified that they were scared to speak about the Murdaugh family because they knew how to 'cover things up'.

In June 2021 Paul and Maggie were shot dead on the family's property.

It was revealed that Murdaugh had waited an hour to call 911 about their deaths, and claimed that it had been a revenge killing by another party for Paul's involvement with Mallory Beach's death.

Just after 10pm on June 7, 2021, Murdaugh called 911 sobbing that he had discovered his wife and son gunned down outside the kennels of their estate.

However, as the jury found, Murdaugh had fired five shots at his wife with an automatic rifle before shooting his son in the head and chest with a different weapon to make it look as though his barbaric murders were an ambush.

Video evidence from Paul's phone placed his father with his family minutes before prosecutors say he killed them  contradicting his previous insistence to police that he didn't get home until much later and hadn't seen the pair that evening until he found their bodies.

Maggie's body was found a few yards to the right of a doghouse, while Paul's was by the doorway at the end of the kennels

WHERE MAGGIE DIED: A pool of blood outside the kennels where Maggie Murdaugh was shot dead with two AR bullets to the head

WHERE PAUL DIED: Blood spatters on the floor inside the storage room at the kennels where Paul Murdaugh was shot dead. He was killed with a shot to the chest and a second to the head

At some point on the night of the murders, Murdaugh changes his clothes.

A Snapchat video taken by Paul at 7.56pm shows Murdaugh wearing a blue polo shirt, khaki pants and brown loafers.

When cops arrived he was wearing a clean white t-shirt, shorts and sneakers.

The Murdaughs' housekeeper Blanca Simpson testified that she never saw the shirt or shoes he was wearing ever again. She found his pants by a puddle on the bathroom floor the following day.

Authorities said Paul was shot twice with a shotgun, each round loaded with different sized shot, while Maggie was struck with four or five bullets from a rifle.

A crime scene report suggested that both victims were shot in the head after initially being wounded near dog kennels on the Murdaughs' sprawling rural property.

Police body cam footage shown to the jury showed the bloodsoaked bodies of Maggie and Paul meters from the kennel.

A few month later in September 2021 Murdaugh attempted an assisted suicide framed as murder, designed so his surviving son could collect a $10 million life insurance payment, according to the police department.

Alongside the murders and financial fraud charges regarding his own business Murdaugh has been accused by the South Carolina attorney general's office of bilking the state out of about $490,000.

Several documentaries have been made on the matter including Netflix's 'Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal' and HBO Max's 'Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty'.

The trial for Murdaugh's alleged financial crimes is scheduled for later in the year.
A six-month-old infant has died after suffering 'breathing difficulties' while with her British parents on holiday in Antalya, Turkey.

The couple, who were staying in a five-star hotel in Serik, called for emergency assistance on 13 May when their daughter started having trouble breathing.

Local media reported that despite the efforts of hospital staff, the child could not be saved.

An investigation is underway at the Antalya Forensic Medicine Institute to determine the exact cause of death.

Serik, a region of Antalya in the south of Turkey, where the child was reported to have died

Reports have said it is believed the girl choked on food after struggling to breathe at the hotel near the town of Serik.

A hospital official was reported to have said: 'Hotel staff called paramedics when the baby was having trouble breathing.

'She was brought to the hospital by the first responders. Despite the doctors' efforts, she couldn't be saved.

'The doctor who treated her said good or something similar had got lodged in the baby's throat and she couldn't breathe.'

It was unclear whether the child had any other underlying health complications.

Last week, an 18-month old British child died after tragically drowning in a swimming pool in Alicante, Spain.

Despite desperate attempts, paramedics were unable to save the child.

Emergency responders including medical staff and police raced to the villa in La Nucia near Alicante where the tragedy occurred around 10am.

A helicopter was also sent to the scene but all efforts to resuscitate the toddler proved unsuccessful.

The Civil Guard confirmed an investigation was underway.

A British toddler drowned in a swimming pool on Spain's Costa Blanca. File image shows a typical housing development in La Nucia

La Nucia is a municipality just north of Benidorm and a 15-minute drive inland from the popular resort of Altea.

The child victim was not named.
The XR protester who interrupted a speech by Jacob Rees-Mogg to warn about fascism is former prog-rocker Dirk Campbell, MailOnline can reveal.

The 72-year-old invaded the stage at the National Conservatism conference today and joined Rees-Mogg at the lectern.

He told the audience: 'Ladies and gentlemen, you're very nice people and I'm sure you are fantastic. I would like to draw your attention to a few characteristics of fascism.'

At that point, Mr Rees-Mogg then covered the microphone in front of him and Campbell, a prominent film composer, was bundled off stage by men in suits as the audience laughed and jeered.

Father-of-seven Campbell, who formed the progressive rock band Egg in 1968 with Dave Stewart and Clive Brooks, was quickly led away by security staff.

The Egyptian-born eco warrior later claimed he was let into the conference, which reportedly barred left-wing media organisations, because he is 'an elderly white man without a social media presence'.

The 72-year-old told the audience: 'I would like to draw your attention to a few characteristics of fascism'

Campbell gained entry, according to openDemocracy, to the exclusive event by telling administrators that he didn't have a social media presence.

He is known as a successful film score writer, having composed the score to David Anderson's BAFTA-winning animated film Dreamland Express in 1983.

The composer has since written scores for BBC documentaries and Land Rover and Hyundai car adverts.

The XR activist is an alternative energy specialist and founding director of the Ouse Valley Energy Services Company (Ovesco), which provides solar power.

He has been involved with XR since 2019 and attended numerous protests in London and his hometown of Lewes, East Sussex.

His partner Adrienne died in 2012 and one of his six daughters, Anna Campbell, was killed in 2018 fighting for the Kurdish Women's Protection Units in Syria.

Anna, one of three sisters, was killed in the town of Afrin during a fierce bombardment by Turkish forces.

Dirk Campbell invaded the stage at the National Conservatism conference today and joined Rees Mogg at the lectern

Campbell's daughter Anna, 26 was killed fighting for the Kurds in Syria in 2018

After her death Mr Campbell said his privately-educated daughter was a 'dedicated idealist' who was 'passionate' about the Kurdish cause.

He said she grew up with a keen love of nature and the environment and later became interested in radical left-wing politics.

Mr Campbell, a former member of Egg, was born in 1950 in Ismailia, Egypt, and lived in Kenya till 1962.

A renowned folk musician, his film credits also include Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and The Mummy.
The first student at a UK university has been caught using ChatGPT after they cited a book on 'Leadership Insights for Wizards and Witches' to write an essay on leadership theories.

In what is believed to be the first known case of its kind, the University of Bolton student was failed for using the AI-chatbot to cheat their way through the assessment.

It comes amid warnings that the revolutionary AI has created a cheating epidemic across higher education establishments.

As well as citing the mythical leadership book, the student also referred to a dissertation that had been written 71 years ago in 1952 and a journal article from 1957, only referring to two texts provided by the university.

The student was caught by the university's standard and enhancement office who found the 'essay-writer had used ChatGPT in places' and forced the student to rewrite the essay.

The University of Bolton (pictured) student had been caught using the AI bot ChatGPT to write an essay on leadership theory

The student was caught by the university's standard and enhancement office who found the 'essay-writer had used ChatGPT in places'

The university quickly questioned whether the bot had been used to write the essay after the student cited the Leadership Insights for Wizards and Witches: Exploring Effective Leadership Practices through Popular Culture in an essay about leadership theories

The university outlined how it had discovered the student had used ChatGPT in an FOI published in The Tab.

The investigation found that the student's 'style of writing' was different from practice sections of the essay with parts of the assessment not making sense.

It added: 'A number of statements in section links and in the practice, section do not make sense.'

One of the red flags within the essay was the student's reference to Aditya Simha's book Leadership Insights for Wizards and Witches: Exploring Effective Leadership Practices through Popular Culture.

The book, which was published in May, 'outlines various leadership styles, theories, and concepts through the imaginative lens of J.K. Rowlings magical world'.

Since its launch, ChatGPT has worried schools and universities across the world.

The software allows users to ask any question and receive an AI-generated answer in seconds which mimics the style and syntax of a human response.

Students in America have been banned from using the software in schools and UK universities are 'scrambling' to review how they can detect its use.

The University of Bolton has been contacted for a statement.
Authorities in Argentina rescued a man who was left chained inside a bedroom by his girlfriend over fears that he would cheat on her.

The former couple had been dating for six months, but the 30-year-old woman increasingly became jealous of her 29-year-old beau, the victim told police.

Fearing that he could potentially leave her for someone else in the neighborhood, the woman locked him inside one of the bedrooms at her residence in the Buenos Aires southern town of La Plata.

On Saturday, the man managed to grab her cellphone and text a friend who alerted authorities.

The names of the girlfriend and the victim have not been released.

A 30-year-old woman was apprehended Saturday in Buenos Aires, Argentina, after police rescued her 29-year-old boyfriend, whom she allegedly left chained for three days in one of her home's bedrooms because she feared he would leave her for another woman. She has been charged with kidnapping

Cops in the southern Buenos Aires of La Plata rescued a 29-year-old man who was left by his girlfriend chained in a bedroom for three days

The man told police that their relationship started to deteriorate over the last couple of weeks when she started to impose a curfew on him.

The woman had set a time for him to arrive home whenever he went out with his friends and coworkers.

'She had gotten worse in the last few months,' he told authorities.

On one occasion, the woman disconnected his WhatsApp application from his cellphone and later broke his phone, leaving in incommunicado.

The woman was taken into custody and charged with kidnapping.

In a similar incident, Brenton Bell, of Dyersburg, Tennessee, was arrested in March for allegedly locking his 40-year-old girlfriend in a closet at a vacant home for two months.

The woman managed to escape the residence, where she was only allowed to leave the closet for an hour a day.

She told police she was barely fed and had no access to a bathroom.
Harry and Meghan biographer Omid Scobie claimed yesterday that he was shown how to hack phones while on work experience at a red-top newspaper.

He said he was also given a list of celebrities mobile numbers - but never accessed their voicemails because it seemed completely immoral.

Mr Scobie also angrily insisted that he is not the Sussexes friend, mouthpiece, cheerleader as he gave evidence at the High Court for the prince.

In a dramatic clash, he denied having a vested interest in the Duke of Sussexs case against a newspaper publisher for alleged phone hacking.

As he took to the witness box, the author of gushing biography Finding Freedom repeatedly dismissed suggestions that his sympathies lay with Harry.

Harry and Meghan biographer Omid Scobie angrily insisted yesterday that he is not the couples friend, mouthpiece, cheerleader as he gave evidence at the High Court for the prince. Pictured: Mr Scobie arriving outside the High Court in London today

Prince Harry (pictured with his wife Meghan) and others are suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), publisher of the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and The People, over stories they claim were the result of phone hacking or other illegal information gathering. The paper denies the claims

The duke and others are suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), publisher of the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and The People, over stories they claim were the result of phone hacking or other illegal information gathering. The paper denies the claims.

The court heard that when he was a journalism student in 2002, Mr Scobie did work experience at the Daily Mirror, where he claimed he witnessed then-editor Piers Morgan being told that a story about Kylie Minogue had come from voicemails.

Mr Scobie claimed he overheard the conversation between the editor and the women who ran his 3am Girls showbiz column, with whom he was captivated.

The royal journalist also said that when he did work experience at The People a few weeks earlier, he had been given a list of celebrities mobile phone numbers and shown how to access voicemails.

He had been taken aback by what seemed completely immoral and I never carried out the task, the judge was told.

Mr Scobie rejected suggestions he had either innocently created a false memory or knowingly fabricated one.

The newspapers KC Andrew Green put it to him: Mr Scobie, this incident didnt happen did it? No journalist would have asked you, a student intern during one week, to hack phones.

Mr Scobie, author of gushing biography Finding Freedom (pictured), repeatedly dismissed suggestions that his sympathies lay with Harry

Mr Scobie told the court he had 'never socialised' with Prince Harry adding he is 'literally a member of the press' doing his job

Mr Scobie said: You would be surprised at what happens, adding that he took offence at the suggestion.

Mr Green said Mr Scobie was close to Harry and Meghan and that his career had benefited from his unrivalled access to the couple, who were the subject of his relentlessly flattering 2020 book Finding Freedom.

Mr Green said: You have a vested interest in helping the Duke of Sussex, if the opportunity arises, dont you?

Mr Scobie, editor-at-large at magazine Harpers Bazaar and a royal contributor to ABC News and Good Morning America, hit back: No. Because what I am doing now is giving ammunition to tabloids to call me his friend.

I have never socialised with him. I am literally a member of the press doing my job.

I am called friend, mouthpiece, cheerleader - when my approach is no different to any other royal correspondent having an area of focus.

Mr Scobie was challenged over how closely he worked with Harry and Meghan on Finding Freedom.

In a witness statement he gave to the High Court in 2020, during a case fought by Meghan against The Mail on Sunday over a letter she had written to her father Thomas Markle, Mr Scobie insisted the duke and duchess had not directly cooperated with his book.

Mr Green suggested Mr Scobie had deliberately omitted from his witness statement that Harry and Meghan had collaborated on the book via their press spokesman, to which the author retorted: Are you saying the Royal Family is collaborating with the press every time a question goes to a communications aide?

In the first week of the seven-week trial, the court was told Prince Harry is a very long way from proving outlandish allegations he was the victim of hacking by Mirror publisher.

The newspaper group branded parts of the Duke of Sussexs case as ambitious and unrealistic and beset with utterly non-existent evidence.

Harry and three others allege they were targeted by journalists at the Mirror titles during an industrial-scale period of unlawful information gathering including phone hacking in the 1990s and 2000s.

The case continues.
The suspect was shot and killed on the scene, police said

At least two officers were injured but were said to be in a stable condition

At least three people were killed in a shooting in Farmington, New Mexico

Police in New Mexico have said the suspected mass shooter who killed three people and injured two cops was just 18 years old.

The suspect, who has not been named, was reported to have two pistol-type weapons and an AR-15-style rifle, according to The Journal.

One witness told the local newspaper they saw the gunman fire 100 rounds within 20 minutes during the horrific attack.

Meanwhile Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said in a video message on Monday night that the suspect had 'roamed' the neighborhood before randomly spraying bullets at cars in houses in the 'random' attack.

At least three people were killed and two officers were injured in a shooting in Farmington, New Mexico on Monday morning. A suspect was fatally shot on the scene. Pictured is are police attending the scene

The shooting happened in the area south of Brookside Park in Farmington soon after 11am on May 15. Labeled on the map are four nearby school buildings that were placed on lockdown immediately after the shooting at around 11.15am. By 1pm Farmington Municipal Schools announced that all lockdowns were lifted

Multiple civilians and officers were involved in the shooting, which happened at around 11am on Monday morning, the department said in a statement.

Two officers were shot, one from the Farmington Police Department and one from New Mexico State Police. Both were taken to San Juan Regional Medical Center and treated for their injuries but said to be in stable condition.

It is not clear yet how many civilians were injured.

At around 2pm Farmington Police Department dismissed early reports that there was more than one suspect and said that all lockdowns had been lifted.

The shooting happened in the area south of Brookside Park in Farmington soon after 11am on May 15.

Multiple vehicles and houses were reported to have been struck by bullets.

Four nearby schools were placed under lockdown at the request of the Farmington Police Department within around 15 minutes, according to Farmington Municipal Schools.

Farmington is a town around 150 miles north west of Albuquerque and around 10 miles south of New Mexico's border with Colorado. It has a population of around 50,000 people.

One victim was reported to be a 35-year-old male who had been shot in the arm.

A person claiming to work at the San Juan Regional Medical Center described on Facebook the moment an injured officer arrived at the facility.

'I know, we saw the first police cars come in and one pulled an officer out of the back seat and dragged them inside,' they wrote.

'The ambulance entrance is right by my window. Many ambulances came in and out. Several ems personnel hugging and crying. Whole hospital on lockdown. Made me very sad,' they added.

A view north along Dustin Avenue, where the mass shooting took place

Police are responding to the scene, according to the ATF in Phoenix

Four schools were placed under lockdown at the request of the Farmington Police Department around 11.15am on Monday

Some lockdowns were lifted, but on Monday afternoon Apache and McKinley elementary schools, Central Kitchen, and the CATE Center remained locked down.

The San Juan Regional Medical Center was also reportedly under lockdown.

Officers from the Farmington Police Department, San Juan County Sheriff's Office and the New Mexico State Police were investigating the shooting.

In an unrelated incident four weeks ago, Farmington Police attended the wrong address and shot dead an innocent man.
Miller Lite has apologized for its history of advertisements featuring women in bikinis with a woke commercial.

In the one minute and 30 second spot posted online, comedian Ilana Glazer says 'It's time beer made it up for women,' as she touted women's role in the brewing process  going all the way back to early civilization.

She explained in the commercial that Miller Lite created a campaign for Women's History Month in March to buy up old marketing materials to turn them into compost, which could be used to make fertilizer.

That fertilizer would then be donated to female hops farmers, and the hops grown from the recycled materials would be sent to female brewers.

The 'Bad $#!T to Good $#!T' campaign came ahead of its rival Bud Light's disastrous Dylan Mulvaney ad, featuring the transgender TikTok star drinking out of a beer can with her face on it.

The company has since lost more than $6million in market capitalization, and a marketing executive criticized Bud Light for losing touch with its audience.

Now, some are saying the same about Miller Lite.

In a commercial from March, Miller Lite apologized for its history of advertisements featuring women in bikinis

Comedian Ilana Glazer touted female brewer's history, and claimed 'without us, there would be no beer'

The ad came ahead of Bud Light's disastrous Dylan Mulvaney ad, featuring the transgender TikTok star drinking out of a beer can with her face on it

In Miller Lite's commercial, which debuted on March 7, Glazer rips the company for its history of campaigns featuring scantily-clad women.

'Here's a little known fact, women were among the very first to brew beer ever,' she begins. 'Centuries later, how did the industry pay homage to the founding mothers of beer? They put us in bikinis.'

The comedian showed off some of the company's old posters and cardboard cutouts, with the females' faces now pixelated, saying: 'Look at this s***! Wild!'

'It's time beer made it up to women,' the Broad City star continued. 'So today, Miller Lite is on a mission to clean up not just their s*** but the whole beer industry's s***.'

Glazer noted that the company had been busy buying up some of its old marketing materials online to convert them into compost for female hops farmers to grow more than 1,000 pounds of hops that would then be sent to female brewers.

But, she said, 'There's definitely more s*** out there, in your attic, in your garage, in your parents' basement.

'Send any s*** you have to Miller Lite and they'll turn that into good s*** too,' Glazer pledged.

'So here's to women, because without us, there would be no beer.'

As part of Miller Lite's campaign, the old marketing materials would be composted

That compost would be used to make fertilizer, which would be used to grow hops  which would then be sent to female brewers

OutKick founder Clay Travis hit out at the company for the new ad, saying it has no idea who actually consumes its products

The advertising campaign was spearheaded by an all-female team, the company announced in a press release, and 'continues the brand's work empowering women in beer.'

Last year, the company released a new can featuring Mary Lisle, the first-known female brewer, for July 4.

The campaign was the brainchild of Elizabeth Hitch, the senior director of marketing for Miller Lite (pictured)

Instead of its typical slogan 'A Fine Pilsner Beer,' the Mary Lisle cans read: 'Theres No Beer Without Women.'

'This Women's History Month, Miller Lite wanted to recognize that without women, there would be no beer,' Elizabeth Hitch, the senior director of marketing for Miller Lite, said in a statement announcing the launch of the 'Bad $#!T to Good $#!T' campaign.

'To honor this, we wanted to acknowledge the missteps in representation of women in beer advertising by cleaning up not just our s*** but the whole industry's s***.

'Last year, we launched our Mary Lisle cans to celebrate women's achievements in beer,' she continued. 'This year, we're going further in our commitment to supporting the women who love beer and the women who brew beer, helping them make their own mark in history... and their own good s***.'

As part of the campaign, Miller Lite also promised to donate more than five times the amount it spends on the project to the Pink Boots Society, a nonprofit that 'aims to assist, inspire and encourage women and non-binary individuals in the fermented/alcoholic beverage industry to advance their careers through education,' according to its website.

Miller Lite made a name for itself in the 1990s and early 2000s with ads featuring women in bikinis, including this famous 'Cat Fight' ad featuring Playboy models Tanya Ballinger and Kitana Baker

After getting into a fight in the commercial, Ballinger falls into a hotel room where Pamela Anderson is sitting in a crop top, left. She then asks if she could join, and the girls start a pillow fight

Actress and model Sofia Vergara is pictured in an advertisement for Miller Lite

Miller Lite girls are pictured during Playboy's Annual Super Saturday Night Event

Miller Lite had made a name for itself in the late 1990s and early 2000s for its commercials and advertisements featuring bikini-clad women.

It all started with a 1993 commercial featuring a girl sitting on the beach in a yellow bikini, which was followed up just three years later with Miller Lite's 'Bikini Girls' commercial, in which a group of women in bikinis walk past men on the beach.

Another ad featured a group of women in crop tops and bikini bottoms standing on the beach, asking: 'Can you find the bottle of Miller Lite in this picture?'

The most well-known, however, came in 2003.

Another ad featured a group of women in crop tops and bikini bottoms standing on the beach, asking: 'Can you find the bottle of Miller Lite in this picture?'

In an ad entitled 'Cat Fight,' Playboy models Tanya Ballinger and Kitana Baker are sitting at a poolside drinking the beer, when Ballinger asks: 'Doesn't Miller Lite taste great?'

Baker then replies: 'I thought we settled this.'

The two women then start fighting over whether the beer 'tastes great' or is 'less filling,' pushing each other with Ballinger about to fall in the pool when it cuts to men sitting in a bar.

One says, 'Wait, I have an idea,' and the commercial rewinds so that instead of pushing Ballinger into a pool, Baker pushes the model into a hotel room, where Pamela Anderson is sitting in a cropped shirt.

Anderson then lowers her glasses, and asks, 'Mind if I join in?'

Naturally, a pillow fight ensues and Pamela Anderson takes off her shirt, revealing a bikini underneath.

Eventually, the stuffing from the pillows gets caught on a sprinkler, causing it to go off.

That all seemed to end in 2006, when Erv Frederick, the then-vice president for marketing at Miller Brewing, said the company 'wanted to move beyond that stereotype of men as sophomoric' or as 'the lowest common denominator.'

Later commercials, including one featuring Meghan Markle, no longer had women in bikinis. Rather, Markle appeared in a tight tank top as she sold a man a beer at a bar and made fun of his tight jeans.

Meghan Markle appeared in a commercial for the beer company in 2010

The company is now facing backlash for its March ad, with OutKick founder Clay Travis tweeting on Monday: 'Miller Lite saw the Bud Light disaster and decided they needed their own woke beer ad.

'These companies are broken & have no idea who actually consumes their products.'

But the 'Bad $#!T to Good $#!T' campaign actually came out before transgender TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney posted a video saying she was partnering with Bud Light to celebrate her first full year as a transgender female.

Almost immediately after Mulvaney posted her video in early April, Anheuser-Busch lost more than $6billion in market capitalization.

In total, sales fell 26 percent in the second quarter of 2023 after earning $1.65billion in the first quarter, Doukeris announced in an earnings call last week.

He said 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.

Still, sales volumes of all Anheuser-Busch products fell more than 12 percent last month, with Bud Light sales falling a staggering 21.4 percent.

That decline in Bud Light sales could be felt in every region of the country, according to new data from Beer Business Daily.

Sales in the Rocky Mountain states dipped the most significantly, down by 29 percent, with the South Atlantic, West North Central and East South Central all dropping 25 percent.

The Tumbleweed, a cowboy bar in Wyoming, ditched Bud Light after the controversy  instead plumping for Guinness.

Sales in the East North Central area - which includes Michigan and Illinois, both of which have seen a backlash against the beer - were down 23.5 percent in the week ending April 22.
A children's play park in Kent has been placed on lockdown after a teenage boy was stabbed in broad daylight.

Armed police, along with paramedics from South East Ambulance Service, descended on Mill Hill Road in Gillingham following reports of a stabbing.

Officers wearing white forensic suits were seen taking photographs and collecting samples in the children's play park which remains closed off.

Approximately eight police vehicles, including two armed response vehicles, arrived on Mill Road at around 5pm.

One witness said that the teenager had been taken away in air ambulance.

A children's play park in Gillingham, Kent, has been closed off after a teenage boy was reportedly stabbed

Approximately eight police vehicles, including two armed response vehicles, arrived on Mill Road at around 5pm

The Medway children's play park remains on lockdown following the stabbing

One witness told KentOnline: 'The air ambulance landed on the park off Mill Road.

'There were a bunch of police units there, including two armed police vehicles and armed officers.

'There was also an ambulance and a critical care paramedic. It looked like a patient was flown to hospital.'

A Kent Police spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Kent Police was called to a report of an assault in Mill Road, Gillingham at 5.05pm on Monday 15 May 2023.

'Officers attended along with South East Coast Ambulance Service and a teenage boy was taken to a London hospital with injuries consistent with a stab wound.

'Enquiries to establish the full circumstances are ongoing and anyone with information who has yet to speak to officers should call the Medway appeal line on 01634 792209, quoting reference 15-1098.

'You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or by completing the online form on their website.'

South East Coast Ambulance Service have been contacted for a statement.
It then burgeoned into one of the most recognizable brands in all of digital media, reaching a peak evolution of $6billion, before its bankruptcy on Monday

Vice Media has filed for bankruptcy - almost 30 years after a group of friends started the magazine as an alternative punk publication with a distinct voice.

Started in 1994 by Canadians Suroosh Alvi, Shane Smith, and Gavin McInnes - the far-right, fringe mind behind the Proud Boys - the magazine began in print before burgeoning into one of the most recognizable brands in all of digital media.

Along with its website Vice News, other big name's under the Brooklyn-based firm's umbrella included the tech-centered Motherboard, female-geared Refinery29, and the cable channel Vice TV.

However, in the time since, the online empire's house of cards has slowly fallen - in a phenomenon indicative of the more general problems currently facing web-based publishing.

Years of financial difficulties and top-executive departures - including that of McInnes in 2018 over creative difference with - culminated in the collapse seen Tuesday.

Started in 1994 by thee Canadian friends, the magazine began in print before burgeoning into one of the most recognizable brands in all of digital media. It declared bankruptcy Monday after years of speculation and financial turmoil in the digital news sphere

Executive Chair and founder Vice Media Shane Smith and co-founder Vice Media Suroosh Alvi are two of the thee minds behind the media brand, with Smith still retaining a prominent part of the company

After weeks of speculation, brass at the Brooklyn-based firm finally stoked rumors it was on borrowed time by filing for Chapter 11 - bankruptcy protection, and engineering a quick $225million sale to a group of deep-pocketed lenders.

The maneuver is meant to protect the little assets still held by the empire once valued at $6billion, while cutting losses it has already incurred.

The lender consortium is comprised of entities including Fortress Investment Group, Soros Fund Management and Monroe Capital, whom will provide the sum in the form of a credit bid that will assume Vices 'significant liabilities'.

Under the the deal, creditors can swap their secured debt rather than pay cash for the companys remaining assets - which could see founders Smith and Alvi, as well as members of the board, garner a windfall to the tune of millions of dollars.

In a statement Monday, Vice Media said it 'expects to emerge as a financially healthy and stronger company' when the process is completed, likely in two to three months,

Meanwhile, the deal further stipulates that Vice could still be sold to someone else if a higher big emerges, and requires the group lenders - which includes George Soros - are also providing more than $20m to fund Vice throughout the sale process.

The planned transaction comes after years of financial difficulties and executive shuffles at the publicly traded company, a fifth of which is owned by Smith - who dreamed up the mag with his childhood friend at the time, the polarizing McInnes.

Who owns Vice Media?

The Headquarters of Vice is pictured on the day it is reported the media company is headed towards bankruptcy, May 2, 2023

The magazine third founder is the far-right, fringe mind behind the Proud Boys, Gavin McInnes - who was forced out in 2018 over creative difference with Alvi and Smith, with the latter being his childhood friend

Currently, Smith, 53, still controls 20 percent of the company, after reaching an agreement with his two fellow founders that saw McInnes, 52, reportedly forced out in 2018 over 'creative differences', and Alvi given a more free-form, leadership role.

Other owners include the Walt Disney Company, which owns 27 percent of the media group. A&E Networks also bought a portion of the publication, spending $500million in a deal that transpired in 2014.

The transaction, by itself, saw Smith paid out an eye-watering $100million - a payout he joked made him post-economic.' at the time.

Rupert Murdoch's son James also bought a portion of the media company in 2019.

What is Shane Smiths net worth?

Currently, Smith, 53, still controls 20 percent of the company, after reaching an agreement with his two fellow founders

At the peak of his publication's success, Canadian Business placed Smith - who served as the company's CEO until 2018 when he assumed the post of executive chair - on 'Canada's Richest People', with his net worth well over a billion.

Today, his wealth his less than a tenth of the $1.7billion Forbes once credited him with, as Vice's market evaluation has fallen from its $5.7billion height to well under a billion.

Not including assets, the Ottawa native could be worth as little as $85million when the deal is said and done. As of Monday, the bid provided by the lending coalition stands as the only offer for the embattled company as is.

The sale is poised to complete in the coming months.
The probe has cost taxpayers over $6million over four years

Special Counsel John Durham released a scathing report Monday finding the FBI 'failed to uphold their mission of strict fidelity to the law'

Special Counsel John Durham found that the FBI did not have enough 'factual evidence' to investigate allegations of Trump-Russia collusion, in scathing report obtained by DailyMail.com Monday.

Durham's report, which is over 300 pages, is a comprehensive summary of findings related to whether the then-Trump campaign in 2016 colluded with Russia to meddle with the election outcome.

It found that the the Department of Justice and the FBI 'failed to uphold their mission of strict fidelity to the law' when launching the Trump-Russia probe.

The special counsel transmitted the report on his four-years-long investigation costing over $6 million in taxpayer dollars to Attorney General Merrick Garland on Friday. The attorney general provided a copy Monday to top members of Congress including Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin, Ranking Member Lindsey Graham, House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, who is investigating the FBI's political 'weaponization,' and Ranking Member Jerry Nadler.

Durham writes in the report: 'Based on the evidence gathered in the multiple exhaustive and costly federal investigations of these matters, including the instant investigation, neither U.S. law enforcement nor the Intelligence Community appears to have possessed any actual evidence of collusion in their holdings at the commencement of the Crossfire Hurricane investigation.'

Special Counsel John Durham released his highly-anticipated report Monday

Crossfire Hurricane was the internal code name for an investigation by the FBI that began in 2016 to look into possible links between the then-Trump campaign and Russia. However, it has since been exposed that the entire basis for the investigation was founded on false information.

As a result, Special Counsel John Durham was appointed in 2019 by then-Attorney General Bill Barr to look into misconduct related to the Crossfire Hurricane probe.

'The speed and manner in which the FBI opened and investigated Crossfire Hurricane during the presidential election season based on raw, unanalyzed, and uncorroborated intelligence also reflected a noticeable departure from how it approached prior matters involving possible attempted foreign election inference plans aimed at the Clinton campaign,' the report continues.

'FBI records prepared by Strzok in February and March 2017 show at the time of opening Crossfire Hurricane, the FBI had no information in its holding indicating that any time during the campaign anyone in the Trump campaign had been in contact with any Russian intelligence officials.'

The document goes on to detail many missteps by the FBI in its initial opening of the probe, which was predicated on an unvetted dossier created by British spy Christopher Steele.

'Our investigation determined that the Crossfire Hurricane investigators did not and could not corroborate any of the substantive allegations contained in the Steele reporting.'

The report mentions Igor Danchenko - Steele's primary sub-source - saying that Danchenko was also 'unable to provide any corroborating evidence to support the Steele allegations.'

Durham blasts the FBI for failing to interview Charles Dolan - a Democratic public relations operative who was connected to Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin's press secretary and who was a 'definite source' for at least one of the allegations contained in the Steele report.

The report includes blistering language saying that Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) applications opened by the FBI as part of Crossfire Hurricane were not created out of a mission of 'strict fidelity to the law.'

FBI personnel working on the FISA applications 'displayed, at best, a cavalier attitude towards accuracy and completeness' and 'disregarded important requirements' on multiple occasions, says Durham.

He says it is evidence that the FBI officials 'did not genuinely believe there was probable cause to believe that the target was knowingly engaged in clandestine intelligence activities on behalf of a foreign power.'

The FBI at the time of Crossfire Hurricane's opening was led by former Director James Comey and former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe.

Although the report does not recommend any 'wholesale changes' in guidelines or policies of the Department of Justice, it says there is a 'continuing need' for the agencies to recognize the lack of 'analytical rigor' and apparent 'confirmation bias.'

The FBI responded to the report in a statement Monday saying that there are 'corrective actions' in place now that would have prevented 'missteps in 2016.'

'The conduct in 2016 and 2017 that Special Counsel Durham examined was the reason that current FBI leadership already implemented dozens of corrective actions, which have now been in place for some time,' the FBI told DailyMail.com.

'Had those reforms been in place in 2016, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented. This report reinforces the importance of ensuring the FBI continues to do its work with the rigor, objectivity, and professionalism the American people deserve and rightly expect.'

Special Counsel John Durham was appointed in 2019 by then-Attorney General Bill Barr to look into misconduct related to the Crossfire Hurricane probe

Special Counsel Durham transmitted the report on his four-years-long investigation costing over $6 million in taxpayer dollars to Congress Monday

Weve reached out to the Justice Department to have Special Counsel John Durham testify next week.  Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) May 15, 2023

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan confirmed to DailyMail.com that he will be requesting Durham appear before his committee next week. He has already reached out to DOJ regarding his demand, sending a letter requesting Durham to be on Capitol Hill next Thursday, May 25 at 9 a.m. ET.

Former President Trump celebrated the findings in the report in a post to his Truth Social account Monday afternoon.

'WOW! After extensive research, Special Counsel John Durham concludes the FBI never should have launched the Trump-Russia Probe!'

'In other words, the American Public was scammed, just as it is being scammed right now by those who don't want to see GREATNESS for AMERICA!' the former president continued.

Trump had repeatedly railed about the Russia probe, blasting it as a 'witch hunt' over the years.

In 2019, Special Counsel Robert Mueller released a report finding that there was no collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign in 2016.

Three individuals have been indicted by Durham throughout his four-year probe including Clinton attorney Michael Sussmann, Igor Danchenko and former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith.

Durham has only successfully obtained one conviction out of his years-long investigation - Clinesmith.

Clinesmith pleaded guilty to illegally altering an email that was then used as the basis to obtain a 'surveillance warrant' on Carter Page, who was serving as a Trump campaign staffer in 2016.

This is a breaking news report and will be updated.
A San Francisco kindergarten teacher managed to hatch three chicks from a regular box of fertile eggs she bought at Trader Joe's after putting them in an incubator.

Alice Bowie, who lives in the Bay Area, claims she managed to hatch three yellow chicks from an ordinary carton of nine fertile Trader Joe's eggs.

The project took place in Bowie's classroom as part of a science experiment for her kindergarten class, where they were stunned to find three little chicks had hatched after 21 days of waiting.

Bowie's viral TikTok explaining the process and showing the adorable newborns has wracked up 116k likes on the platform and thousands of comments from interested viewers.

Trader Joe's and other brands such as Whole Foods label eggs 'fertile' if the hens that laid them are known to have had possible contact with a rooster.

The finished product: the Trader Joe's chicks wandering around their pen

Bowie teaches Kindergarten in the Bay Area of San Francisco

Bowie claims that she managed to hatch three yellow chicks from an ordinary carton of nine fertile Trader Joe's eggs

Commenting on result of her experiment, Bowie said: 'I'd say that's still pretty good, since we don't know how long they were refrigerated or where they even came from.'

Bowie said in the video, 'can you believe these guys came from a carton?'

However, some viewers were left feeling uneasy.

'Im about two seconds away from taking eggs out of my life' one commented.

'Now Ill never eat eggs again,' another added.

It is considered rare for grocery store eggs to be fertilized as hens on commercial farms tend to be housed separately from roosters.

Furthermore if fertilization does take place, refrigeration often kills the embryos before they become viable.

Trader Joe's was contacted for comment.

This is not the first example of grocery store eggs producing chicks.

In 2019 a nine-year-old girl from the UK hatched a duckling and two quail from store-bought eggs.

The duck eggs were the Clarence Court variety and the quail came via Ocado from The Traditional Free Range Egg Company.

Bowie's viral TikTok video shows the cute fruits of her labor

Holding the eggs up to a light to check for signs of life

A camera in the incubator shows the chicks breaking free of their shells

Documenting the process: Bowie takes viewers through the experiment she did with the children

A Clarence Court spokesman said at the time: It is possible that our flocks occasionally and accidentally have a drake among the ducks.

'The separation of males from females relies wholly upon the skill of a very few qualified people  the sexer who examines the day-old duckling in the hatchery. Inevitably, the odd sexing error is made.

Dan Wood, managing director of the Traditional Free Range Egg Company, whose eggs hatched the quail, said: 'We as a farm concentrate on high welfare birds and it does mean that to reduce the stress of the flock we do sometimes put males in there with them, he said.

Quail are easily scared and if having a fellow wandering around helps keep them calm then that is a good thing.
President Joe Biden thinks America's migrant crisis is one big joke.

When asked by reporters on Sunday how 'things were going' on the U.S. Southern border, he just grinned and laughed.

'Much better than you all expected,' he scolded a scrum of journalists waiting on the side of a Rehoboth Beach, Delaware bike path.

Then, he chuckled.

Sorry, I don't get it.

Just a few days ago, up to 11,000 migrant men, women and children were fighting and clawing their way into America on a daily basis. And that's not even counting the number of migrants who got in illegally.

In just the last 8 months, an estimated 530,000 migrants are known to have snuck across the border. The number rises to 1.2 million since Biden became president.

Last week, northern Mexico cities looked like something out of a Mad Max movie.

Stinking, garbage-strewn tent encampments popped up along the Rio Grande. Pictures and videos of migrants carrying infants across the river were splashed on our TV screens.

Some desperate people crawled under barbed wire fences and others overran hapless Mexico border guards.

El Paso, Texas looked like a refugee camp, with single migrant men, side-by-side with families, sheltered under tarps on city streets.

Just a few days ago, up to 11,000 migrant men, women and children were fighting and clawing their way into America on a daily basis. And that's not even counting the number of migrants who got in illegally. (Above) Migrants cross the Rio Grande as seen from Matamoros, state of Tamaulipas, Mexico, on May 11, 2023

Stinking, garbage-strewn tent encampments popped up along the Rio Grande. Pictures and videos of migrants carrying infants across the river were splashed on our TV screens. (Above) A massive migrant encampment is set up along the Rio Grande in Matamoros, Mexico

There were reports that food and water were scarce. Everyone was bracing for the worst.

Yes, over the last few days border apprehensions are down, but that's meaningless. Even Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said it is 'too early to tell' whether the migrant surge has peaked.

And our president thinks it's funny, mocking the traveling White House reporters, as he rode by on his 12-speed.

The problem, Mr. President, is that the media isn't responsible for putting the nation on edge. You are!

'It's going to be chaotic for a while,' Biden told reporters last Tuesday, as his administration lifted Title 42, the Trump-era border policy, which allowed agents to quickly expel illegal migrants.

'We've had chaos at the border for a number of years,' he said Wednesday, setting the groundwork for blaming someone else if the situation really deteriorated.

One could feel the tension rising in the White House, as tens of thousands of migrants rushed to northern Mexico.

It was chaotic. And the president is now laughing?

Taking her lead from her boss, Vice President Kamala  the 'border czar'  was just as flippant about the border disaster.

'I hear that everything in the last couple days is going rather smoothly, given what the concerns were,' she said at a Democratic fundraiser in Atlanta on Friday, just hours after Title 42 was lifted, and even as busloads of migrants were dropped off outside her residence in Washington D.C.

'Smoothly'? Is that what you'd call it? Is this level of cluelessness an impeachable offense?

Here's your border reality check.

On Sunday, a Texas congressman released video of 6,000 male migrants packed into a border patrol facility built to hold 1,000. No doubt, it's a scene repeated across the Rio Grande.

The immigration system is completely overwhelmed. And the Biden Administration's only answer is to release these people into the country  with little more than their promise that they'll show up to a court date.

President Joe Biden thinks America's migrant crisis is one big joke. When asked by reporters on Sunday how 'things were going' on the U.S. Southern border, he just grinned and laughed.

On Sunday, a Texas congressman released video of 6,000 male migrants packed into a border patrol facility built to hold 1,000. No doubt, it's a scene repeated across the Rio Grande.

In fact, the U.S. immigration system is so incredibly swamped by this unparalleled flow of human beings that migrants seeking asylum will be waiting a decade to see a judge to evaluate their claims.

Yes, that's right.

Migrants will be living in the America for 10 years before it's determined whether or not they'll be allowed to stay.

And, of course, it gets worse.

On Wednesday, a yet-unidentified Afghan national on the U.S. terror watch list was arrested while illegally crossing into southern California.

Last week, a 17-year-old migrant from Honduras, who arrived without parents, died in government custody in Florida.

It's the second death of an unaccompanied minor in two months. He was among more than 220,000 such minors apprehended by Border Patrol since October of 2022.

You'd think the President and the 'border czar' would be slightly more concerned. But here's why they're not  they've washed their hands with this whole affair.

If you haven't noticed, we're heading into another election season.

On Sunday, Biden was asked if he has any 'plans to visit' the southern border and our happy-go-lucky president suddenly got very serious.

'Not in the near term, no,' he said. 'It would just be disruptive.'

Right  it's the same reason why Biden didn't visit with the resident of East Palestine, Ohio when a toxic train crash devastated their city.

He wouldn't want voters to think that he's taking any responsibility.

So, who is charged with securing America's sovereignty?

Border czar Kamala Harris knows: 'The bottom line is that the issue of immigration falls squarely within the responsibility of the United States Congress,' she told reporters.

We've abandoned addressing the 'root causes' of the migration crisis, Mrs. Vice President?

Taking her lead from her boss, Vice President Kamala  the 'border czar'  was just as flippant about the border disaster.

El Paso, Texas looked like a refugee camp, with single migrant men, side-by-side with families, sheltered under tarps on city streets.

The administration reportedly raised more than $4.2 billion in 'private sector commitments' to fix the underlying issues convincing men, women, and children to risk their lives and trek hundreds of miles from Central America to the U.S. border.

Are you telling us that didn't work? I'm shocked.

No, Biden and Harris are punting the problem to Congress, because they've given up.

It's all politics from here on out.

In fact, they likely never intended to solve the problem in the first place. It was just too hard. And if I sound cynical, it's because I am.

The crisis is only going to explode once again and real people -- both Americans and migrants -- will suffer.

Worst of all, it's another sign that America's political leaders are incapable of leading.

Don't forget that President Donald Trump won the 2016 election in no small part because of his hard-line stance on illegal immigration.

This is the recipe to put him back in power.

Mark my words  Trump's campaign team is cutting a political ad showing President Joe Biden in his bike helmet and aviators, giggling about the border crisis, before riding off to get ice cream with his grandkids.

The joke's on us, America.
The lifeless body of a 4-year-old autistic boy who went missing on Mother's Day was pulled from the water near Boston's Castle Island.

The boy, Mohamed Fofana, had gone to the park with his grandfather and his older sister around 7pm Sunday when he disappeared.

Mohamed and his sister were playing near the coastline near Castle Island, located on the northern tip of a stretch of beaches overlooking Boston Harbor, when the youngster wandered off.

The boy's frantic grandfather called 911 to report his grandson missing. He then called the boy's mother, Mantenjay Fofana saying, 'I see your daughter but I'm not seeing Mohamed.'

A massive search was underway by state and local police, a marine unit, a dive team and an air wing. The boy's body was located on the shoreline of Spectacle Island, directly across from Castle Island around 12:30am, as per state police.

The Massachusetts State Police posted the tragic news in a tweet Sunday night.

Mohamed Fofana, 4, went to the park with his grandfather and his older sister around 7pm Sunday when he disappeared

'Yesterday they come with grandpa for the playground,' said the boy's distraught mother, Mantenjay Fofana (pictured). 'He called me, 'I see your daughter but I'm not seeing Mohamed'

Massachusetts State Police, Boston police, fire, and emergency medical services, and the Massachusetts Environmental Police assisted in the harrowing search on Mother's Day

'With much sadness we report that we located Mohamed's body at 12:29 PM today on the shoreline of Castle Island,' the tweet read.

'Our detective unit for Suffolk county will conduct the follow up death investigation. We express our deepest condolences to his family.

The body will be transferred to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, NBC News reported.

The boy's distraught mother told NBC News that she was at work when she learned that her young son was missing. She said that her son and daughter were with their grandfather.

She said her son was autistic and didn't speak well. He also suffered from sickle cell anemia.

A representative at the scene said the mother and grandfather were in shock.

'She is in shock and keeps on calling out his name,' they said. 'The grandfather feels very guilty.'

The boy's devastated grandfather looks on in disbelief after his grandson, Mohamed, 4, wandered off the park at Castle Island in the South Bronx, and was later found dead

For hours marine units and dive teams from several law enforcement and public safety agencies were searching for the young boy in an area known as the Western Way, which connects Dorchester Bay to the south and the Boston Main Channel to the north, according to state police

For hours marine units and dive teams from several law enforcement and public safety agencies were searching for the young boy in an area known as the Western Way, which connects Dorchester Bay to the south and the Boston Main Channel to the north, according to state police.

A side-scan sonar was deployed off three boats, providing a sonar image of the ocean bottom and that divers were investigating any anomalies detected by the side-scan sonar, state police stated.

They also conducted what amounts to an underwater search along the length of the Castle Island sea wall out to a distance of 150 yards off-shore, according to state police.

State Polices Air Wing and the U.S. Coast Guard conducted aerial searches along the coastline, which was also searched by a drone with the Boston Fire Department, state police said.

Detectives reviewed camera footage with the goal of determining Mohameds potential route of movement from the playground area, as per state police.

Those who learned the horrific news on Mother's Day shared their condolences on Twitter.

'Heartbreaking. I was hoping for a good outcome. Devastating. My bestie & I were door dashing when I got the notification he was missing. I wish we could have helped search or done something,' they wrote.

Another person noted: 'Precious child. May he rest in peace.'
Police are hunting for the last of the eight illegal immigrants who escaped from a Bedfordshire detention centre during a riot at the end of last month.

A major manhunt was launched after 13 foreign criminals, all in their 20s and 30s, escaped from Yarl's Wood immigration removal centre in Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire, following a row over access to a gym late on April 28.

Five were detained by Bedfordshire Police shortly after the breach, while eight others - including seven Albanian men - were being urgently tracked down.

Seven men have since been found, charged and remanded into custody, but officers have not been able to track down 20-year-old Ervin Morati who is the last still on the run.

Police have appealed for Mr Morati to hand himself in and to remind people that helping him to evade the authorities is a criminal offence.

Police are hunting for 20-year-old Ervin Morati (pictured) - the last of the eight illegal immigrants who escaped from a Bedfordshire detention centre during a riot at the end of last month

13 foreign criminals, all in their 20s and 30s, escaped from Yarl's Wood immigration removal centre (pictured) in Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire

Bedfordshire Police and the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit worked together across the country to track the men down.

'This has been an intense operation in which we have located and arrested seven out of eight of the escapees,' Detective Chief Inspector Nick Gardner said.

He added: 'We are confident that we will locate the final outstanding suspect and are doing everything we can to track him down.'

It comes after Bedforshire Police appealed last week for help in tracking down Mr Morati and two others - Arnold Lleshaj, 27, and Luftim Hallaci, 20, who have since been found.

The April riot is said to have started when 40 detainees - who are held at the centre while awaiting deportation - were prevented from using the gym.

It is believed that some of those who fled are convicted drug dealers.

A team of prison staff and a tactical response group were sent to restore order as the detainees used gym equipment to damage the property and grounds.

The April riot is said to have started when 40 detainees - who are held at the centre while awaiting deportation - were prevented from using the gym (pictured)

It comes after Bedforshire Police appealed last week for help in tracking down Mr Morati (left) and two others - Arnold Lleshaj (bottom right), 27, and Luftim Hallaci (top right), 20, who have since been found

At the time, Bedfordshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Karena Thomas said: 'During the incident, 13 people made off from the premises through the outer fencing.

'Five of these have been detained but eight others, seven Albanian men in their 20s and one in his 30s, are still being looked for.

'We are continuing to investigate their whereabouts to ensure the safety of the detainees as well as the wider public and wish to reassure people that none pose any risk to the wider community.'

Serco, who runs the Yarl's Wood centre, handed the incident over to Bedfordshire Police following the breach.
Up to 10 people have died in a huge blaze at a four-storey hostel in the New Zealand capital of Wellington overnight, with 11 guests still unaccounted for in what authorities have described as 'our worst nightmare'.

The fire, which broke out at the Loafers Lodge Hostel in the central suburb of Newtown at 12.30am on Tuesday, is suspected to have been deliberately lit.

The 92-room hostel was home to hospital staff, Kiwis who have been deported from Australia, meat workers, pensioners and former prisoners on community release.

Emergency crews rescued 52 people from the inferno, with five people needing to be rescued from the roof and one person jumping from a third-storey window.

At least five people have been rushed to hospital, one in a serious condition and four in a stable condition. Fifteen others were treated at the scene.

At least 20 fire trucks were on the scene by 4am local time, with up to 90 firefighters battling what Wellington Fire and Emergency District Manager Pyatt has declared a 'once-in-a-decade fire'.

By 11am Wellington time (9am AEST), fire crews said that anyone still alive had been rescued from the building.

Police will enter the charred hostel to investigate on Wednesday, and are yet to compile a full list of the people who were inside the building on Tuesday night.

State Coroner Anna Tutton said the bodies of the those lost in the fire would be treated with the utmost care and respect during the identification process.

Authorities confirmed the bodies of six people had been located inside the hostel and that the cause of the fire is still unknown.

Up to 90 firefighters fought the blaze at the Loafers Lodge during the early hours of Tuesday. Above, an anguished firefighter after the blaze was extinguished

A survivor, who appears to be clutching a bag of medication, speaks to National Party leader Christopher Luxon outside the Loafers Lodge

Up to 10 people have died in a huge blaze at a hostel in the New Zealand city of Wellington overnight, with 11 still unaccounted for

Fire and emergency crews were called to the Loafers Lodge Hostel on Adelaide Road just before 12:30am to battle a fire on the top floor

'This is our once-in-a-decade fire for Wellington,' Mr Pyatt said.

'I can sadly report that this will be a multi-fatality incident. Our thoughts at this time are with the families of those who have perished and with our crews who valiantly rescued those and attempted to rescue those that they couldn't.

'This is our worst nightmare. It doesn't get worse than this.'

Terrifying video and images captured by locals at the scene show large plumes of smoke and flames spewing from the hostel's roof.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand Deputy National Commander Brendon Nally told local radio there were no sprinklers in the building.

'Building codes aren't our business, but if it [the hostel] was sprinkled we wouldn't be in the same situation as we are right now,' he said.

He said 'several dozen people' are alive because of firefighter's efforts.

A resident who lives on the third floor said two fires erupted at the hostel during the early hours of Tuesday morning.

During the second, he opened his door to find thick plumes of smoke and people yelling for help. He grabbed his phone and vape, but escaped without any shoes.

Loafer's Lodge property manager Marie Murphy said a 'real variety' of people lived at the hostel, but tourists did not generally stay there.

'We've got everyone living there. We have nurses. We've had doctors, nurses, unemployed people, meat workers, hospital staff. All sorts of people. A real variety of people,' she told the NZ Herald.

A resident who lives on the third floor said there were two fires which broke out at the hostel during the early hours of Tuesday morning

It is understood there were no sprinklers in the hostel, which caught flame just before 12:30am

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau is pictured at the scene of the fatal hostel fire on Tuesday. She became emotional as she spoke of the impact of the fire on her city

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins (pictured) said it was a 'really tragic situation'

Emergency services are seen dampening down hot spots at the site of the fatal fire at the Loafers Lodge hostel building

Many residents escaped from the hostel wearing only their pyjamas (crews at the scene)

By 11am Wellington time (9am AEST), fire crews said that anyone still alive had been rescued from the building (firefighters stand outside the hostel)

'This is very sad for a lot of people. Not only the ones who've lost their lives, but those who've lost their homes. There's a lot of full time people. A lot have been there longer than I've been there.

'It just feels surreal. It doesn't feel real. It's very hard. It was a pretty bad fire. I'm feeling very sad at the moment. I really have no information about what has happened yet.'

Deportee advocate Filipa Payne said the hostel was used by the government and Prison Aid and Rehabilitation to accommodate returned '501 deportees' - a local term used to describe Kiwis who have been kicked out of Australia.

'There was quite a family unit. This is a horrible tragedy that will affect people that have been placed there through a traumatic and barbaric system,' she told Stuff.

'The people left behind who are already vulnerable and disconnected.'

A number of residents were under the care of the Wellington City Mission, which provides temporary accommodation for people with nowhere to live.

Community Corrections staff are working with FENZ and police to determine the safety of people on a community sentence and living at Loafer's Lodge, Brittany McNamara, Lower North Deputy Regional Commissioner said in a statement.

'Right now we can confirm we manage two people at the address on Extended Supervision Orders (ESO). Both of these people are accounted for and staff are moving them to suitable alternative accommodation.'

Wellington City Council said up to 50 people have been temporarily rehomed at the Newtown Park stadium, where they have received loaves of bread, clothes, towels and hygiene products.

Many residents escaped from the hostel wearing only their pyjamas.

At least six people have died in a horror hostel fire, with fears dozens could be unaccounted for

Wellington Fire and Emergency said 20 fire trucks were on the scene by 4am

The 92-room hostel was home to hospital staff, Kiwis who have been deported from Australia, meat workers, pensioners and former prisoners on community release

A number of residents were under the care of the Wellington City Mission, which provides temporary accommodation for people with nowhere to live

New Zealand Police Wellington Area Commander Inspector Dean Silvester is pictured speaking to media in front of the Loafers Lodge

Onlookers reported on social media that the fire had appeared to be under control, before starting up again. The fire was put out just after 6am local time.

The roof of the hostel is caving in and is at risk of collapse, with the presence of asbestos adding to the danger at the scene.

The hostel, which is believed to have 92 rooms, had no vacancies at the time except for a number of rooms being treated for bedbugs.

Residents in the area were told to stay inside and to close their doors and windows due to the smoke plume.

People in the Wellington CBD have been advised to wear a mask to protect from the asbestos with traffic between the central city and southern suburbs likely to be diverted for several hours.

Wellington mayor Tory Whanau became emotional as she described the impact of the fatal blaze on her city, saying she was 'devastated'.

At least one person was injured as they tried to jump from a third-floor window, while five people were rescued from the roof with an aerial appliance (crews at the scene)

The hostel has capacity for 92 people, however it unclear how many people were inside when the fire broke out just before 12:30am

'I dare say it's been a shock to the system - a very emotional few minutes with the crew here,' she told TVNZ's Breakfast.

'I'm feeling a lot of pain and emotion at those who have been lost.'

Mayor Whanau acknowledged the courage of the 20 fire crews who fought the blaze and said she was 'feeling the emotion' at the scene.

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said it was a 'really tragic situation'.

He said the cause of the blaze would be investigated after crews had made sure everyone had been removed from the building and the fire had been put out.

'Our thoughts will be with all of the firefighters involved and all the victims of today's tragedy,' he said.

'It's a really tragic situation.

'For now I want to particularly acknowledge the firefighters who have put themselves in harm's way over past hours to get people out of the building and put the fire out.'

Deportee advocate Filipa Payne said the hostel (pictured before the fire) was used by the government and Prison Aid and Rehabilitation to accommodate returned deportees

Terrifying video and images captured by locals at the scene show large plumes of smoke and flames spewing from the hostel's roof (pictured)

Wellington Central MP Grant Robertson said the fatal blaze was 'absolutely devastating news to wake up to'.

'My heart goes out to everyone who has been hurt and to the friends and families of the victims,' he said.

'Obviously there will be thorough investigations of what has happened here, but for now the most important thing is that everyone stays safe and we look after those who has been affected.'
The extradition of the prime suspect in Natalee Holloway's disappearance could take up to 18 months, experts are warning, as her murder case in Aruba remains 'open'.

Joran van der Sloot is wanted in the US on charges connected to Natalee's disappearance on the Caribbean island of Aruba in 2005.

He is currently in a maximum-security prison in Peru for the 2010 murder of Stephany Flores, but is set to appeal his removal to the US - prolonging the agony for Natalee's family almost 20 years after she disappeared.

Natalee's mother, Beth, last week welcomed the news of van der Sloot's pending extradition, saying the family was 'finally getting justice for Natalie'.

But the killer's attorney, Maximo Altez said he has already prepared a petition that could 'paralyze' the process, sparking fears that Beth and her family could be subjected to months of legal wrangling as they seek justice almost 20 years after she disappeared.

Joran van der Sloot, the prime suspect in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, is facing extradition to the US over charges in connection to the case

The public prosecutor of Aruba, the Caribbean island where Natalee disappeared in 2005, has said her murder case was 'still open' and they would investigate any new leads

Her mother, Beth, (right) recently welcomed news that van der Sloot faced extradition to the US, saying the family was 'finally getting justice for Natalie'

Extradition lawyer Joshua Dratel told DailyMail.com that extradition battles from South America to the US could take 'between a year and 18 months'.

He suggested a protracted legal fight would delay Natalee's family achieving 'accountability' of some kind - even though van der Sloot would be unlikely to win an appeal.

'The odds are stacked against the appellant,' he said. 'There are just so few options that are available in these situations.'

The federal charges against van der Sloot stem from an accusation that he tried to extort the Holloway family, promising to lead them to Natalee's body in exchange for $250,000 in 2010.

A grand jury indicted him that year on one count each of wire fraud and extortion, each of which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Peru has agreed to temporarily send van der Sloot to the US to face trial, but Altez has indicated he would file a habeas corpus petition opposing the move.

He said he didn't 'trust the judicial system in the United States at the moment' and that he was 'asking for due process'.

'Joran is receiving a media trial,' he told Fox News.

Van der Sloot maintains his innocence.

Natalie was 18 when she visited Aruba on a trip to celebrate high school graduation with friends

Beth speaks during the opening of the Natalee Holloway Resource Center (NHRC) at the National Museum of Crime & Punishment in Washington, June 8, 2010

Natalee is seen in casino security footage at a table with van der Sloot shortly before her disappearance

Aruba police are seen arresting suspect Joran van der Sloot in July 2005, before releasing him due to lack of evidence

But Dratel said that - based on these remarks - van der Sloot's team was pushing a 'hybrid' argument that would take 'a little bit of movement' to be upheld.

'There are a limited number of defenses to extradition,' he said. 'Due process issues are not viable if the requesting state has a functional criminal justice system that can afford the minimal standard of a fair trial.

'You could appeal based on whether the prosecution is politically motivated - or whether the media had pressure in the US in terms of bringing someone to justice.'

Dratel added that other grounds for appeal, such as mistaken identity and conditions of confinement in the requesting country, didn't appear relevant in this case.

It came as the office of Aruba's Public Prosecutor told DailyMail.com on Monday that the the investigation into her disappearance 'still open' and would 'follow up on any serious leads that could solve this case'.

After a trial in the US, van der Sloot would be returned to Peru to finish his sentence for Flores' murder and a separate charge of trafficking drugs in prison.

He is due for release in 2038.

Natalee was 18 when she disappeared from Aruba during a visit to the island with a large group of friends celebrating high school graduation.

She vanished after she left a nightclub with van der Sloot and two of his friends, Satish and Deepak Kalpoe, on the last night of the trip.

All three were arrested but charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence.

How long it takes for Van der Sloot to be extradited will depend on a number of factors, including arranging transportation to fly him to the States and an agreement from the US that he will be returned to Peru to complete his sentence there.

Joran van der Sloot is pictured in this mugshot

Five years to the day that Natalee disappeared, on May 30, 2010, Stephany Flores was reported missing in Lima, Peru. She was later found dead in a hotel room in van der Sloot's name and he was found guilty of her murder. Pictured: Flores at a casino with van der Sloot, left, and right

A 2001 treaty between Peru and the US allows a suspect to be temporarily extradited to face trial in the other country.

Van der Sloot would either flown to Alabama on a US government plane or accompanied by US marshals on a commercial flight.

The governor of Alabama praised the extradition decision and commended the persistence of Beth Holloway.

'Joran van der Sloot's extradition to Birmingham, Alabama - Natalees home for her 18 years - is significant,' Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement. 'Criminals like him are deceptive and vicious. Alabama moms like Beth Holloway are stronger.'

The time that van der Sloot ends up spending in the US 'will be extended until the conclusion of the criminal proceedings,' including the appeal process should there be one, according to the published resolution.

The extradition request indicated 'that an additional delay in the prosecution of the case that is being pursued in the United States of America could significantly reduce the possibility of conviction, that the ages and health conditions of the key witnesses in the case would make the prosecution would be extremely difficult if it is not carried out soon,' according to a March order from Peru's top court.

An FBI agent wrote in an affidavit that van der Sloot reached out to Holloway's mother and wanted to be paid $25,000 to disclose the location and then another $225,000 when the remains were recovered. Van der Sloot requested that an agreement be drafted and signed by the mother and him.

A New York attorney representing Beth Holloway traveled to Aruba with the agreement and gave van der Sloot $10,000 in cash during a recorded meeting, according to court records.

The indictment says both men then went to a site where the student's remains were purportedly buried, and Beth made a wire transfer for $15,000 to van der Sloot's bank account in the Netherlands.

Dutch citizen Joran van der Sloot walks inside the courtroom after being sentenced to 28 years in prison by a Peruvian court for killing Stephany Flores in Lima in 2010. He is facing extradition to the US to be tried in the disappearance of 18-year-old Alabama native Natalee Holloway

Natalee Holloway was last seen on May 29, 2005

In the affidavit, the FBI agent wrote that van der Sloot in later emails to the attorney admitted to lying about the location.

Van der Sloot is in a maximum-security prison in the Andes, in Challapalca prison, a maximum-security facility located in Puno, Peru.

Its conditions are said to be so bad that even his lawyer has suggested some relatives believe he may be better off in US custody.

The 35-year-old Dutchman married a Peruvian woman in July 2014 in a ceremony at a maximum security prison. He has been transferred from prisons in response to reports that he enjoyed privileges such as television, internet access and a cellphone, and accusations that he had threatened to kill a warden.

In 2010, van der Sloot was arrested in Peru for the murder of 21-year-old Stephany Flores, who was killed five years to the day after Holloways disappearance.

Peruvian prosecutors accused van der Sloot of killing Flores, a business student from a prominent family, to rob her after learning she had won money at the casino where the two met.

They said he killed her with 'ferocity' and 'cruelty,' beating then strangling her in his hotel room. He pleaded guilty in 2012.
A British diver who found himself escaping a catastrophic shipwreck after a 137ft yacht capsized in the Red Sea has revealed he did not know if his wife had made it out alive.

The Carlton Queen yacht, a 42-metre liveaboard vessel, sank on April 24 after rolling on to its side off the coast of Hurghada, Egypt.

Dr Christian Hanson, 49, was amongst the holiday goers that had jumped aboard the boat from a diving club in Moraira but later faced a race against time as the vessel sunk into the waters known as the Egyptian Bermuda Triangle.

He told of the horrendous ordeal he faced when the boat suddenly 'tipped to about 40 degrees' while he remained trapped inside the boat with two other divers as the windows began to crack and water began to seep in.

Incredibly, all 26 guests and nine crew on board the Carlton Queen managed to escape the wreckage but Dr Hanson knew 'if the boat turned over' they would have been 'dead'.

Dr Christian Hanson was one of the divers aboard the boat when it sank in an area of the Red Sea known as Egypt's Bermuda Triangle

The boat turned on its side while divers were still trapped aboard

Incredibly all 26 on board manage to escape the wreckage with just three being taken to hospital for minor injuries - but Dr Hanson warned that if all those on board had not been experienced divers or instructors, there would have definitely been casualties.

'It was going to be a nice easy crossing  we were discussing the dive then all of a sudden there's a massive sway in the boat and the tables move towards us and we have to lift our legs up to avoid it crashing into us,' he told The Mirror.

'Then the boat sways a long way the other way  very significantly the other way  it kind of jolts and shudders and we were thrown off the chairs backwards onto the windows.

'The boat's tipped to about 40 degrees, you can see the bubbles in the water whizzing past the windows that we're now stood on, the pressure of the water was jetting water through the cracks around the window too.'

Trapped with two other divers, Helen Merchant and Rob Janssens, were only able to escape after the furniture was displaced, allowing him to climb up and reach the door.

They eventually managed to flee the boat as water filled up around them.

Dr Hanson added: 'All the time we must've been thinking if this boat turns over, we'll be dead  the windows could've shattered, there were so many ways that could've trapped us in there.'

Once free he sawm across the sinking ship towards his wife, eventually making it the lifeboat rafts.

Throughout his whole escape the software engineer from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, had no idea whether his wife Michelle had escaped safely or not.

Terrified crew are seen clinging to the side of the yacht

The vessel was en route to the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt when it sank in late April

A diving team stands by near the sinking boat in Egypt

Another tourist on the boat, David Taylor, 53, told The Telegraph: 'I knew something was wrong when I could see fish swimming outside my cabin room's window.'

He described the 'horrendous' realisation that the vessel had capsized, adding: 'We were shouting for help and heard crashing above us and had this deep feeling of dread that something terrible was happening.'

Mr Taylor described the terror of realising he and his son, Christian, 21, could not escape by the stairwell and that nobody had come to help them.

As the ship sank, they met Fernando Suarez Meilla, an experienced diver who moved with them from room to room checking for anybody else trapped in the boat.

Without panicking, Mr Suarez Meilla helped Mr Taylor and his son out of the hold on to the top deck after finding the handle on an emergency hatch was broken.

Unable to hoist himself out, the diver told the others to go on as he looked for another way out.

He eventually found a way out through an open hatch at the bottom of the boat after finding all other routes impossible to get through.

Mr Taylor expressed concerns as to why a recently refitted boat would sink on calm waters.

The Carlton Queen carried two 20-person life-rafts and two Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs)

Image shows the vessel on its side as guests successfully escaped with help from the crew

Reports suggested the boat, built in 2002 and launched in 2022 after refurbishment, was 'listing' - or tilting to one side - from the moment the guests boarded, getting worse until it capsized.

When the vessel sank, guests were stranded without passports or their belongings.

The Carlton Queen carried two 20-person life-rafts and two Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs).

One of the rafts was launched, the other reportedly deployed automatically and swept away.

Witnesses also one of the RIBs had crushed the other when the vessel capsized.

It added in a statement to Divernet: 'While we are deeply saddened about the accident, we are relieved by the safe return of all guests and crew-members to shore, the Egyptian authorities are currently investigating the incident, and our staff-members and crew are co-operating with them to identify the reasons for the boat's capsizing.

'The Carlton Fleet team emphasises that Carlton Queen, which was recently renovated, had undergone all required maintenance works, passed all inspections, and was fit for operations as confirmed by technical reports.'
Will King Charles wear the Scottish crown when he visits Edinburgh in July to receive the Honours of Scotland? In 1953 the Queen attended the ceremony but wasnt crowned to prevent talk of a Scottish coronation. This time, with Scotland having its own parliament, there is pressure on the King to don the diadem. Some fear this would play into the hands of nationalists, while others suggest it would show respect to Scotland. At least HM is honouring his Scottish roots by wearing a kilt.

King Charles III pictured arriving for a service at St Mary Magdalene Church on Sandringham Estate, Norfolk

Was the late Queen envious of her mothers relationship with Poet Laureate Ted Hughes? When he died his replacement, Andrew Motion, met the monarch and was told: Ted Hughes and my mother did see quite a bit of each other. Actually, Id like to have a poet laureate who paid attention to me.

Motion, who relinquished the job in 2009, admits that he deliberately omitted from his Philip Larkin biography a claim that Larkins shyness and neuroses were attributed to his abnormally large penis. Its the only thing that I deliberately left out, he says. I decided not to mention that precisely because I thought everybody would just write about that and not about the poems.

Does Matt Hancock believe he owns the copyright of all his WhatsApp messages? Westminster venue the Emmanuel Centre seems to think so, having cancelled The Lockdown Files, Isabel Oakeshotts dramatisation of his Covid messages. She claims he warned the venue that it should not be profiting from stolen material. She wails that his adoption of the moral high ground when it comes to money-making is a fresh reminder of his brass neck. And to think they used to be chums!

Kate Winslet and her daughter Mia Threapleton pose with the Single Drama award for 'I Am Ruth'

Krish Majumdar, producer of Bafta winner Kate Winslets film I Am Ruth, is grilled awkwardly by Radio 4s Mishal Husain on the casting of Kates daughter Mia Threapleton, pictured. Said Mishal: We do have a lot of children of actors who get breaks and succeed. Majumdar insisted Mia had to audition separately to Kate, adding: Mia was there completely on merit and her performance was terrific. Nothing to see here!

The last thing Phillip Schofield needs is a rant from Lady Colin Campbell, whose pals call her Georgie, describing him as a jerk of the highest order. Her ladyship, 73, is settling scores, claiming he upset her at the 2016 National Television Awards. He tried to push me over, she wails. What man tries to push over a woman, almost an elderly woman, as I was 66? Whatever else she is, Georgie is no pussy!

Responding to reports that one in ten schoolchildren want to change gender, Gyles Brandreth, 75, recalls: When I was nine I wanted to be Brigitte Bardot. I remember walking down the street, looking at models [in department store windows] and thinking, That would suit me. Had she known, Brigitte, then 22, would surely have opted to be trainee polymath Gyles rather than a sex symbol!
Michael Gove last night told Keir Starmer to answer claims that he wants to undermine Brexit by granting EU citizens the vote.

In a strongly-worded letter, the Cabinet minister challenged Labour's leader to respond to the charge that the policy would 'rig' future elections.

He said Sir Keir was seeking to 'downgrade the ultimate privilege of British citizenship' by letting migrants help decide who runs the UK.

Mr Gove also accused him of hypocrisy for planning to lower the voting age to 16 despite having argued only recently that adulthood should begin at 18 when it came to changing gender.

And he pointed out that the last Labour government increased to 18 the legal age for everything from buying cigarettes to leaving school.

The Cabinet minister challenged Labour's leader to respond to the charge that the policy would 'rig' future elections (pictured on May 2)

In a strongly-worded letter, the Cabinet minister challenged Labour's leader (pictured) to respond to the charge that the policy would 'rig' future elections.

Sir Keir yesterday defended the idea of giving EU nationals and 16-year-olds the vote and rejected Tory warnings that this would pave the way to rejoining the EU.

In his letter to the Labour leader, Levelling Up Secretary Mr Gove asked: 'Why do you think it's right to downgrade the ultimate privilege of British citizenship  the right to vote in a general election?

'What do you say to those who say that your approach is designed to undermine Brexit  and 'rig' the voting system for national elections and referendums?

'Is it still your view that the 'age of adulthood in most cases' is 18, or is this another area where you have changed your approach?'

The minister's intervention came after it emerged at the weekend that Labour's next manifesto could promise to hand the vote to an estimated 3.4million EU citizens who have lived and paid taxes in Britain for a long time, along with 1.4million 16- and 17-year-olds.

After senior Tories lined up to accuse Sir Keir of a cynical plot to secure a majority from people who are more likely to vote Labour, he was put on the spot about the policy yesterday morning.

He told LBC radio it was 'common sense' that people who had lived in the UK for decades should be allowed to choose their MP, even though British expats do not get to vote overseas.

'Let's just take someone who's been here for 30 years, has literally put down their roots here, as I say, married to a Brit, their kids are here. This is their country, this is where they live, this is where they contribute,' he said. 'It's very hard to say 'Well, you should really be voting back in your country of origin' when you've been living here for 30 years. That just doesn't pass the common sense test for me.'

Asked why under-18s should be allowed to vote when they cannot legally smoke, drink or get married, Sir Keir replied: 'They can have babies, they can work, they can join the Army.

'So there are big things you can do at 16 and 17. And again, it's not such an outlandish idea. In Wales, it already happens. In Scotland, it already happens. There's a big policymaking forum and these are some of the ideas that are going into the mix. But they're not policy, we're just looking at them.'

Sir Keir told LBC radio it was 'common sense' that people who had lived in the UK for decades should be allowed to choose their MP

Asked if that would include scrapping first-past-the-post in favour of proportional representation Sir Keir replied with 'not really'. He refused seven times to say whether he would seek such a deal with the Lib Dems to secure their support.

'An incoming Labour government needs to be laser-focused on fixing the things that need fixing and PR isn't one of my priorities,' he said.

Sir Keir also insisted his ideas for electoral reform were not linked to a desire to rejoin the EU.

'I don't know how many times I've said there's no case for going back in. We're going to make Brexit work. And that is our absolutely firm position,' he told LBC. But Conservative Party deputy chairman Lee Anderson warned: 'Be in no doubt what this will lead to. A second referendum and then grovelling to rejoin the EU.'

Tory backbencher Brendan Clarke-Smith said: 'Whilst I welcome people who have settled in this country and made a contribution to British society to apply for full citizenship, I think it is wrong to grant the right to vote in national elections until they have done so.'

The voting age for parliamentary polls was lowered to 18 from 21 in 1969, although Scotland and Wales have reduced it to 16 for local polls.

British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens can vote for MPs while EU citizens who were living in the UK before the end of 2020 can take part in council elections.
The FBI should have done more to look into Russian intelligence analysis suggesting that 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton had personally approved a plan to 'vilify' her opponent Donald Trump by claiming foreign interference in the election, according to the Durham report.

Special counsel John Durham's findings, published Monday, represents the long-awaited conclusion of a probe that Trump and his allies claimed would show massive wrongdoing by law enforcement agencies.

Durham concluded that claims about Clinton's attempts to smear Trump received less scrutiny than allegations about her opponent, even though they were serious enough to be taken to President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.

Durham admitted that the claims were not corroborated or verified, but compares it with the now-discredited Steele Dossier, outlining Trump ties to Moscow, which formed the basis of further investigations.

'For example, [an FBI intelligence analyst] stated that he could not recall anything that the FBI did to analyze, or otherwise consider the Clinton Plan intelligence, stating that it was "just one data point," he concluded.

US intelligence obtained Russian analysis suggesting that 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton had personally approved a plan to 'vilify' her opponent Donald Trump, according to the Durham report which was published Monday

The CIA considered the information sufficiently important that President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and other top officials were briefed on it in the summer of 2016

'This stands in sharp contrast to its substantial reliance on the uncorroborated Steele Reports, which at least some FBI personnel appeared to know was likely being funded or promoted by the Clinton campaign.'

Durham was charged with investigating the basis for probes into Trump and his campaign.

The roughly 300-page report catalogues what Durham said were missteps by the FBI and Justice Department as investigators undertook a potentially explosive probe during the 2016 election into whether the Trump campaign was colluding with Moscow.

It criticized the FBI for opening a full-fledged investigation based on 'raw, unanalyzed and uncorroborated intelligence.'

In contrast the report suggested information harmful to Clinton went nowhere.

'In late July 2016, U.S. intelligence agencies obtained insight into Russian intelligence analysis alleging that U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton had approved a campaign to stir up a scandal against U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump by tying him to Putin and the Russians' hacking of the Democratic National Committee.

'The [Intelligence Community] does not know the accuracy of this allegation or the extent to which the Russian intelligence analysis may reflect exaggeration or fabrication.'

It goes on to describe how CIA director John Brennan briefed Obama and his top national security officials on the intelligence, including the 'alleged approval by Hillary Clinton on July 26, 2016, of a proposal from one of her foreign policy advisers to vilify Donald Trump by stirring up a scandal claiming interference by Russian security services.'

Special Counsel John Durham released his highly-anticipated report Monday. It said the FBI's Crossfire Hurricane investigation should have looked into the Clinton intelligence

Special Counsel John Durham was appointed in 2019 by then-Attorney General Bill Barr to look into misconduct related to the Crossfire Hurricane probe

An 'investigative referral' was then sent to the FBI Director James Comey and Deputy Assistant Director of Counterintelligence Peter Strzok.

It was relevant information, said Durham, because it was part of a 'mosaic of information' that the Steele Dossier and other allegations were part of an anti-Trump smear campaign.

His office found that the details of the intelligence were circulated to key figures on the FBI's Crossfire Hurricane team  the codename for the probe of Trump's alleged ties to Moscow  in an email by August 22. However, 'the office did not identify any replies or follow-up actions taken' in response.

Durham also said that FBI personnel who agreed to be interviewed could not recall receiving the referral memo or that it triggered action.

Durham said it made for a 'rather startling and inexplicable failure' to incorporate what he termed the 'Clinton Plan intelligence' into the FBI's investigation

Crossfire Hurricane investigators also said they were not aware of the intelligence.

Durham said it made for a 'rather startling and inexplicable failure' to incorporate what he termed the 'Clinton Plan intelligence' into the FBI's investigation.

'CIA Director John Brennan and other intelligence officials recognized the significance of the intelligence by expeditiously' briefing Obama and other key figures, he continued.

'Whether or not the Clinton Plan intelligence was based on reliable or unreliable information, or was ultimately true or false, it should have prompted FBI personnel to immediately undertake an analysis of the information and to act with far greater care and caution when receiving, analyzing and relying upon materials of partisan origins,' such as the Steele dossier and other allegations.

But that failure did not rise to the level of provable criminal wrongdoing, he added.

The report said investigators repeatedly relied on 'confirmation bias,' ignoring or rationalizing away evidence that undercut their premise of a Trump-Russia conspiracy as they pushed the probe forward.

House GOP Chairwoman Elise Stefanik blasted the report, calling it 'criminal abuse of power' on the part of then-sitting President Obama.

'This criminal abuse of power went all the way up to the Oval Office where President Obama and then Vice President Joe Biden were in on it from the very beginning. This was an unlawful attempt by the politicized FBI and DOJ to meddle in our elections,' she said in a statement to DailyMail.com.
He has gone from one of Putin's most trusted lieutenants to a thorn in his side

The shaven-headed man spits obscenities into the camera. Thrusting his head forward and glaring at the viewer, he unleashes a volley of abuse at Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov and Minister of Defence Sergey Shoigu. The man is Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of brutal Russian mercenary outfit the Wagner Group  and he is desperate.

Prigozhin is at war on two fronts. On the ground, his forces are dying in ever greater numbers on the frontline in the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. On video and in print, he is taking on the Russian elites he so despises.

And last week he escalated his campaign to an unthinkable level in a new video. We have a happy Grandpa, he says, snarling into the camera. But how do you win a war, he asks sarcastically, if it turns out that this Grandpa is a complete d***head?

Yevgeny Prigozhin on Friday 5 May threatened to pull out Wagner forces from the embattled Ukrainian city of Bakhmut amid a dispute over ammunition with the regular military command

Prigozhin (L) assists then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin during a dinner with foreign scholars and journalists at the restaurant Cheval Blanc outside Moscow on November 11, 2011

Grandpa is a name Russians often give to their president, Vladimir Putin. Prigozhin, it seems, is now turning his fire on his own modern-day tsar. It is astonishing behaviour from a man who, until recently, was seen as one of Putins most trusted lieutenants. But who exactly is he?

Yevgeny Prigozhin has been a malignant part of my life for almost a decade. I first encountered his work in 2014, after Russias invasion of Crimea, when I was reporting from a position near the occupied city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. Russian news reports claimed the Ukrainian army had tortured and then publicly crucified a three-year-old boy in a square in Sloviansk.

READ MORE: Wagner chief dismisses 'laughable' Washington Post story that he offered to provide Ukraine with Russian troop positions Advertisement

It was all lies of course. But the consequences were real enough.

The Russia-backed separatists who controlled much of the region were outraged and visited punishment on local populations in response: real atrocities in retaliation for a fake one. Ukraine was then, as now, a land blanketed in Russian lies. Scrolling through Facebook and Twitter on my phone, my feeds were full of Russian reports about the situation on the ground that I knew to be utterly false. There was so much disinformation and it was all so regimented that I knew it had to be orchestrated.

It was. As I revealed in my book War In 140 Characters: How Social Media Is Reshaping Conflict In The Twenty First Century, much of this propaganda or disinformation came from an organisation called the Internet Research Agency that ran so-called troll farms, the most notable of which was in an office block in St Petersburg where rows of laptop warriors pumped out disinformation 24/7.

It was a factory of lies and its owner was Yevgeny Prigozhin. When I asked around about him, everyone was a bit vague. As one source told me: Prigozhin is the man from nowhere, he is part of no institution or agency. Its just strange.

Prigozhins story is fascinating because it mirrors almost perfectly the story of post-Soviet Russia, and the rise of its most powerful man, Vladimir Putin.

Like Putin, Prigozhin comes from St Petersburg. He grew up a street thug and, after being convicted of robbery and involving minors in criminal activity in the 1980s, he served around nine years of a 12-year sentence.

Polina Prigozhina, 30, the daughter of Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin

As Concord catering company owner Yevgeny Prigozhin attends a meeting with foreign investors at Konstantin Palace June 16, 2016 in Saint Petersburg, Russia

It must have been a horrifying experience. In 2022, a video circulated on social media showed a man claiming that Prigozhin had been his prison b***h.

The fellow inmate claimed Prighozin had been a member of a community called The Shamed, who live appalling lives being raped and brutalised by their fellow prisoners  often on camera.

Even if this account was part of a smear campaign by his enemies, the reality would have been almost as grim. Russian prisons are notoriously brutal and the 29-year-old man who came out of prison would have been a very different individual to the youth who had been locked up nine years earlier.

But over almost a decade of untold misery, he will have learned what he would most need to thrive: the will to survive at any cost.

If Prigozhin was changed, so was his country. Post-USSR Russia was opening up to the world with a vengeance. As Russia embraced hypercapitalism, it was nicknamed the Wild East and, as a prison-hardened hustler, Prigozhin was well-equipped to exploit the many and varied opportunities it offered.

He set up a hotdog stand in St Petersburgs Aprashaka flea market and gravitated towards the grocery and restaurant business.

In 1990s St Petersburg you couldnt run a business without involving the Mafia, who worked hand-in-glove with politicians and the security services: three arenas in which Putin  at that time based in the city as an officer in the FSB, the successor to the KGB  was becoming a figure of importance.

Prigozhin branched out into running a chain of restaurants and fast-food joints, which he would use to launder dirty money.

According to Ukraines former Deputy Minister of Information Policy, Dmytro Zolotukhin, Prigozhins restaurants often served as venues for Mafia meetings and parties. At one of his restaurants Putin regularly conducted meetings, with Prigozhin in attendance as his personal chef and waiter.

St Petersburg has always been important to Putin. The people he trusts most are his cronies from his hometown and, after he moved to Moscow, many of them went with him. One was Prigozhin, who used the opportunity to further expand his catering business.

He hit the big time when he was awarded a contract to supply meals to the Russian military, which was worth a staggering $1.2 billion for one year. He is alleged to have used part of this booty to fund the Internet Research Agency.

He also won a contract to supply food to Moscows schools. In 2019, a dysentery outbreak was tracked back to his produce. By all accounts, Prigozhin was siphoning off so much money hygiene standards were sacrificed.

His pathological desire for cash trumped the health of children.

However, there was one thing the man from nowhere wanted more than cash and that was to rid himself of the stain of the streets.

When his businesses also began to cater for state visits to Moscow, Prigozhin got what he most craved: the chance to mix with the global elite.

Presidents and heads of state, including former French president Jacques Chirac, were entertained on his floating restaurant New Island. In 2002, he hosted U.S. President George W. Bush there. It was a dream come true.

His rise continued when Putin asked him to become the Kremlins chef. The Russian leader is notoriously paranoid  and one who has seen many enemies die by poisoning. By entrusting Prigozhin with his food, the president made clear that his chef was now a member of his innermost circle.

Businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin shows Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin his school lunch factory outside Saint Petersburg on 20 September 2010

Prigozhin's yacht - St Vitamin - has six bedrooms, a dining room, a terrace, a kitchen, rooms for the staff, two decks and a terrace

It was Russias first incursion into Ukraine in 2014 that provided Prigozhin with his chance to diversify into the mercenary business.

With the Kremlin keen to have plausible deniability when it came to the presence of armed men on Ukrainian territory, Prigozhins private army Wagner  named after Hitlers favourite composer  was the perfect cover.

In the early days, the group took great care to recruit professionals. It hired from the cream of the Russian special forces and paid well.

During the illegal annexation of Crimea in February that year, Wagner troops were among the so-called little green men, soldiers wearing green uniforms without identifying insignia, who walked in and took the peninsula with barely a shot being fired.

Having tasted wealth and glamour and earned a place in the corridors of power, Prigozhin was now the leader of a group at the very centre of Russian foreign policy.

With that came even more riches. By now, Prigozhin was thought to have a net worth in excess of $1 billion. His wife, Lyubov Prigozhina, described as a pharmacist and businesswoman, owned many companies that have now expanded to a chain of boutiques in St Petersburg, as well as a wellness centre in the Leningrad region and a boutique hotel.

He was living on a $105 million St Petersburg estate, which included a house for his daughter Polina, who boasted on social media that the familys yacht  named St Vitamin  had six bedrooms, a dining room, a terrace, a kitchen, rooms for the staff, two decks and a terrace. Selling hot dogs was a distant dream.

And his mercenary operation was continuing to expand, with forays as far afield as the Middle East and Africa. In Syria, Wagners forces helped to prop up genocidal dictator Bashar al-Assad, while in Africa the group hoovered up mineral resources in countries such as Sudan, Central African Republic and Mali.

Then came the all-out Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24 last year. And Wagner was at its very heart. Indeed, the worse the war got, the better things went for Prigozhin. The more Russian troops the Ukrainians killed, the more Moscow needed Wagners mercenaries. Things got so bad that Prigozhin even went back to the institution that formed him more than any other: prison.

In a now famous video, Prigozhin can be seen telling prisoners  including The Shamed  to sign up to fight in Ukraine. If they serve six months, they will be pardoned but, he warns them, most wont survive that long.

Yevgeny Prigozhin told inmates they would be pardoned if they survive six months in the war against Ukraine. They should take their own lives instead of being taken prisoner, he said

Bakhmut was where Prigozhin calculated he would win his ultimate glory. Handing the eastern city to Putin would be his lasting triumph. The street boy would, finally, deal with his tsar almost as an equal. But the Ukrainians had other ideas. For almost a year they held out as the Russian army and Wagner pounded the city.

Recently, they have even begun to take back ground. As they have advanced, Prigozhin has imploded  in real time and on video.

His growing battle with Shoigu and Gerasimov  members of the hated elite that has never accepted him  has become an obsession that verges on monomania. He now rages against anyone and everyone: the Russian army whom he accuses of cowardice; those in the Russian state he holds responsible for not adequately supporting his mercenaries; and now even Putin, whom he mocked after his derisory Victory Day parade last week.

After two Russian jets and two helicopters were shot down on Saturday in Russian territory in what appeared to be a spectacular military coup for Kyiv, Prigozhin said they were in fact victims of friendly fire. And according to a sensational U.S. intelligence leak on Sunday, Prigozhin is reported to have said that if Ukraines commanders withdrew troops from Bakhmut, he would give them information about Russian army positions elsewhere.

This claim he has, understandably, vigorously denied because to have done so would have been an unforgivable act of treason.

Is the puppet finally turning against his master? Its hard to say, but its clear Prigozhin is trying to position himself as the only person brave enough to tell Russians including Putin  the truth from the front.

In so doing he is becoming for the Kremlin what many of Russias elite have always sniffly said about him: a vulgar embarrassment.

What we are seeing is a desperate man facing ruin. Prigozhin is desperate to get the attention of the tsar who made him everything he is today; desperate for the recognition that his men are dying in the field for Mother Russia.

Modern Russia is a gangster state and Putin is its top gangster. Putin holds the Obshchak  the gangs budget  to which those underneath contribute. But when the top gangster starts to make mistakes, the others start to worry about the Obshchak and think about seizing their chance.

Prigozhin is now implying that, through his disastrous invasion, Grandpa has made a terrible error. The Obshchak is under threat. And only he is strong enough to tell Grandpa the truth and solve the problem  if only he had the tools.

But Prigozhin may have miscalculated  badly. If the Kremlin believes he has become a liability, things are likely to get nasty. In recent months, there have been several terror attacks on far-Right bloggers with links to Prigozhin, including one bombed in a cafe he owns. The Russian government blamed Ukraine; Prigozhin claimed it was intra-Russian warfare.

It may now be safer for him to stay in Bakhmut than return to Moscow. For Prigozhin, who has made it his lifes mission to escape the poverty of his youth and enter the Kremlins inner circle, it must be devastating to think everything he has stolen and murdered for may be coming to an end.

His attacks on Grandpa must be seen as the outbursts of a man terrified that its all falling apart. And if he thinks he can topple Putin, he has almost certainly lost his mind. There is only one rule to observe if you want to take on a tsar: win. If not, you are finished.

Another video appeal from 10 May saw Prigozhin (centre) threaten to leave the frontline city

Putin (right) and his 'Chef', Yevgeny Prigozhin, pictured together on 20 September 2010

If his words are sincere and not yet more lies from the master of disinformation, and his relationship with Putin is truly over, his options are both limited and bad.

Returning home would be a death sentence. Staying in Bakhmut could be fatal, too. He could fly to Mali or the Central African Republic to join his soldiers there. But there will be no more luxury yachts or floating restaurants.

As it stands, things look bleak. Unless he can deliver on his promise to take Bakhmut, he looks finished. The man from nowhere may finally be heading back to oblivion. But if that is to be his fate, one thing is clear: he will fight it every step of the way.

David Patrikarakos is UnHerd's foreign correspondent and the author of War In 140 Characters.
Suella Braverman warned yesterday that multiculturalism is a 'recipe for communal disaster' as she hailed Britain's role in leading the abolition of the slave trade.

The Home Secretary said the UK should not be afraid of its own 'Britishness' and reiterated a vow to control migration better.

In a wide-ranging speech, intended to appeal to the Tory Right, Mrs Braverman also poked fun at Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's bungled attempts to define a woman.

Mrs Braverman received a rapturous applause from delegates at the National Conservatism Conference in London yesterday, where she spoke of her desire for migrants to integrate into British society.

She said: 'The British identity isn't simply interchangeable with liberal values. Britishness is so much more than that  some of it unquantifiable, but all of it to be celebrated and cherished.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman (pictured) said the UK should not be afraid of its own 'Britishness' and reiterated a vow to control migration better

'The unexamined drive towards multiculturalism as an end in itself, combined with identity politics, is a recipe for communal disaster.'

Mrs Braverman spoke movingly as she described her mother and father's journey to the UK as young adults from Mauritius and Kenya respectively, through 'legal and controlled migration'.

She said: 'They spoke the language, they threw themselves into the community, embraced British values.'

Net migration to the UK was estimated to be at 504,000 in the year to June last year, an increase of 331,000 on the previous 12 months, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The latest figures are expected to be published next week, and may show net migration has reached a million, including large numbers of refugees from Ukraine. The Home Secretary said she was a 'proud Spartan' for Brexit because she 'wanted Britain to control migration'.

She said high-skilled workers support economic growth, but added: 'We need to get overall immigration numbers down.'

In a wide-ranging speech, intended to appeal to the Tory Right, Mrs Braverman also poked fun at Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's bungled attempts to define a woman

Mrs Braverman said: 'We cannot have immigration without integration. And if we lack the confidence to promote our culture, defend our values, and venerate our past, then we have nothing to integrate people into.'

In a clarion call to patriotic Tory voters, she said: 'We have a nation, but more than that, we have a national character to conserve.'

The Home Secretary also referred to the UK's previous involvement in the international slave trade, which has seen statues toppled and protests across the country in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement in recent years.

The former Tory leadership candidate, who is among the bookies' favourites to eventually replace Rishi Sunak, said: 'The defining feature of this country's relationship with slavery is not that we practised it, but that we led the way in abolishing it. We should be proud of who we are.'

She added: 'White people do not exist in a special state of sin or collective guilt. Nobody should be blamed for things that happened before they were born.' Mrs Braverman's speech was twice interrupted by environmental activists, who were swiftly bundled out.

Undeterred, the Home Secretary joked: 'It's audition day for the shadow cabinet.'

She mocked Sir Keir, who has come under pressure to define his party's position on gender identity and recently claimed that 99.9 per cent of women 'of course haven't got a penis'.

Mrs Braverman spoke movingly as she described her mother and father's journey to the UK as young adults from Mauritius and Kenya respectively, through 'legal and controlled migration'

Mrs Braverman joked: 'Given his definition of a woman, we can't rule him out from running to be Labour's first female prime minister.'

Fellow Tory MP Danny Kruger echoed Mrs Braverman's comments on migration. He told delegates: 'I want the UK to be the most genuinely generous country in the world. The basis of that generosity is that we control our own borders.' It came as Labour described the Government's handling of the asylum backlog as 'pathetic'.

Sir Keir said between 1 and 3 per cent of applications by those who arrive on small boats have been processed from last year.

Rishi Sunak will warn European leaders at a gathering in Iceland that the international system for preventing unlawful migration is 'not working'.

He will tell the Council of Europe meeting in Reykjavik today that both European communities and the world's most vulnerable are 'paying the price'.
A man and woman have been killed after a horror collision in Melbourne.

The male driver of a black BMW sedan allegedly collided with a another vehicle while travelling along North Road in Caulfield South about 10.45pm.

The impact forced the other car to roll, police allege.

A man and a woman who were inside that car died at the scene.

The scene of the crash in Melbourne's south-east. Picture: Sunrise

They are yet to be formally identified.

The driver and passenger of the BMW sedan sustained serious injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.

The area was cordoned off while the scene was assessed overnight.

Detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or anyone with dashcam footage is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
A video of the incident shows the boy approaching the girl and stabbing her in the face and back with a pen

The student was participating in a science presentation when a girl sitting in the first row laughed at him for mispronouncing a word

This is the horrifying moment a 14-year-old boy stabbed a female classmate who laughed at him mispronouncing a word during a presentation.

Shocking footage out of Amazonas in Brazil showed the youngster holding up a poster alongside five other classmates.

But suddenly he targeted the little girl and attacked her with a pen at the Dom Jacson Damasceno Rodrigues Municipal School in Manaus on May 8.



The victim, who was sitting in the first row, can be seen placing a sweater over her face, when she was stabbed multiple times in the head and on her arm.

Shocked classmates can be heard shouting as one of the boys who was part of the science project stepped forward to restrain his classmate.

A 14-year-old boy (third from left to right) is being investigated for attempted murder after he was stabbed a student with a pen after she laughed at him for mispronouncing a word during a science project at the Dom Jacson Damasceno Rodrigues Municipal School in Manaus, Brazil, on May 8

Several other students also helped keep the boy restrained until a Military Police unit arrived to arrest him.

Police chief Juliana Tuma said the boy would be investigated for attempted murder.

Jhon Barreto, the boy's father, released a video to Brazilian news outlet Radar Amazonico claiming he had to move his family to a different neighborhood because they had received death threats.

He said his son was the victim of constant bullying at the school and that 'he has never been arrested.'

The student can be seen on video stabbing a classmate with a pen after she laughed at him during his science project because he had mispronounced a word at the Dom Jacson Damasceno Rodrigues Municipal School in Manaus, Brazil. on May 8. The attacker's father said he had to move his family because of death threats

A student approaches a classmate before he stabbed her with a pen at a school in Brazil on May 8. There have been 24 violent attacks at schools in the country since 2002

According to a study done by Campinas State University, there have been 24 violent attacks at schools across Brazil since 2002.

Criminals have launched at attacks at more than 10 schools since 2011.

The most recent attacks prior to the May 8 incident took place in a span of nine days.

On March 27, a 13-year-old student stabbed a teacher dead. He also wounded three teachers and one student.

On April 5, a 25-year-old man broke into a daycare center in Sao Paulo and attacked children with a hatchet. He killed four children and wounded five others.
Elon Musk on Monday night said attempts by prosecutors in the U.S. Virgin Islands to subpoena him over financial advice from Jeffrey Epstein were 'idiotic', insisting he never sought the billionaire pedophile's counsel.

The legal team in the US Virgin Islands want to request from Musk any files related to Epstein and potential efforts by the pedophile to recruit him as a client of JPMorgan.

They have sought similar documentation from Google co-founder Larry Page, who they believe Epstein also sought to sign up as a client of JPMorgan.

The US Virgin Islands is seeking unspecified damages from the largest U.S. bank for Epstein's alleged abuse of young girls and women on Little St. James, a private island he owned in the territory.

Musk said the request was absurd. 'This is idiotic on so many levels,' he said. '1. That cretin never advised me on anything whatsoever.

'2. The notion that I would need or listen to financial advice from a dumb crook is absurd. '3. JPM let Tesla down ten years ago, despite having Tesla's global commercial banking business, which we then withdrew. I have never forgiven them.'

Musk is seen on Monday meeting Emmanuel Macron in Paris. He later tweeted that attempts to subpoena him were 'idiotic'

He did not say whether he would comply with the subpoena, if the prosecutors succeed in finding a way of issuing it to him.

What do the USVI prosecutors want from Elon Musk? 1. All Documents reflecting or regarding Communications between You and JPMorgan regarding Epstein or Epstein's role with respect to Your accounts, transactions, or financial management. 2. All Documents reflecting or regarding Communications between You and Epstein regarding JPMorgan and/or Your accounts, transactions, or relationship at JPMorgan. 3. All Documents concerning Communications or meetings between You, Epstein, and/or JPMorgan regarding Your accounts, transactions, or relationship at JPMorgan. 4. All Documents reflecting or regarding fees You paid to Epstein and/or JPMorgan in connection with Your accounts, transactions, or relationship at JPMorgan. 5. All Documents reflecting or regarding Epstein's involvement in human trafficking and/or his procurement of girls or women for commercial sex. Advertisement

The request to seek an alternative means of serving the subpoena was issued on Monday, with prosecutors saying they had failed since April to serve Musk with the paperwork in person. Musk was in Paris on Monday, meeting Emmanuel Macron.

The prosecutors are now seeking permission to use a different way of subpoenaing him - either through his lawyers, or via mail.

They want to know whether Epstein 'may have referred or attempted to refer' Musk as a client for the bank.

The prosecutors are seeking documentation from January 1, 2002 onwards.

They want any paperwork relating to Epstein's role in Musk's finances, if any.

They also want documents detailing any meetings or communications between Musk and JPMorgan.

'The Government contacted Mr Musk's counsel via email to ask if he would be authorized to accept service on Mr Musk's behalf in this matter but did not receive a response confirming or denying his authority,' the filing said.

The US Virgin Islands asked Judge Jed Rakoff to authorize the government to serve Musk with the subpoena through so-called alternative service, which can includes taking out an advertisement alerting him to legal the demand for documents.

Musk and Epstein are known to have both attended a March 2011 dinner in Long Beach, California.

The event, according to BuzzFeed News, was one of a number hosted New York literary agent John Brockman, who ran an exclusive intellectual club, called Edge: Other guests included Jeff Bezos, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, and Salar Kamangar, then CEO of YouTube.

Epstein, 66, died in a Manhattan jail in August 2019, awaiting trial for sex trafficking.

His accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced in June 2022.

Musk and Maxwell were seen together at a 2014 Vanity Fair party. But Musk denied knowing Maxwell and said she had 'photobombed' him at the event.

'Don't know Ghislaine. Real question is why did VF invite her?" he tweeted in July 2020.

Elon Musk is seen on Monday in Paris, meeting the French finance minister (right), Bruno Lemaire. Prosecutors in the U.S. Virgin Islands have been attempting to serve Musk with legal papers connected to their investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's activities since April. They want to know whether Musk was ever targeted by Epstein for recruitment as a client of JPMorgan

Tallulah Riley, Musk's second wife and an actress who starred on HBO's Westwood, also denied knowing Maxwell in a statement on Twitter

Maxwell, currently serving her sentence at Florida's FCI Tallahassee prison, was reportedly overheard asking Musk if there 'were a way to remove oneself from the internet,' according to the New York Times.

She then, supposedly, encouraged Musk to 'destroy the internet.' Musk allegedly demurred.

Musk has not commented on the attempts to serve him with a subpoena.

The attorney general of the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he had a home on a private island, is overseeing distribution of funds from a compensation scheme set up to help his dozens of victims.

Denise George has requested that Jamie Dimon, the JPMorgan CEO, testify about his bank's dealings with Epstein, and sources close to the enquiry confirmed to CNN on that Dimon will testify on May 26 and 27.

George is also seeking testimony from Larry Page, who co-founded Google.

Epstein reportedly sought to recruit Page as a client of JPMorgan.

Jamie Dimon (left) has agreed to testify about Epstein, while Larry Page (right) is being sought for questioning

Jeffrey Epstein died in August 2019 while awaiting trial. He was a client of JPMorgan's until 2013 - despite his 2008 guilty plea for sex with a minor

The subpoena, obtained by The Daily Beast, also requests correspondence between Page and Epstein, and Page and JPMorgan; documents showing fees Page paid to Epstein or JPMorgan; and records touching on 'Epstein's involvement in human trafficking and/or his procurement of girls or women for commercial sex.'

George earlier this month sought permission to subpoena Page by 'alternative service' - usually mail, or via a public notice - because they had spent the last month unsuccessfully trying to track him down and subpoena him in person. George said they had hired private investigators, but still couldn't find him.

In 2021 the reclusive billionaire was said to be living off-the-grid in Fiji; some reports said he had since moved to New Zealand.

Last month, Page's Google co-founder Sergey Brin was subpoenaed by George, along with billionaires Mortimer Zuckerman and Thomas Pritzker.

Dimon has for several years faced questions about his bank's dealings with Epstein.

Last month, a complaint filed in New York alleged that JPMorgan Chase executives were aware of numerous sex abuse and trafficking allegations against Epstein, and overlooked them for years.

Epstein was investigated over his sexual abuse of children in 2005, by prosecutors in Miami.

Epstein owned this private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The territory's attorney general is seeking to unravel his financial web

The main house on Epstein's private island, Little Saint James

In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to a felony charge of solicitation of prostitution involving a minor, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison; he served 13, under extremely lenient conditions.

JPMorgan did not severe ties with Epstein for five more years, until 2013.

'JPMorgan's relationship with Epstein in allowing his sex-trafficking venture to access large sums of cash each year went far beyond a normal (and lawful) banking relationship,' the filing said.

The complaint detailed internal warnings that the financier 'should go,' that there was 'lots of smoke. Lots of questions,' and that anti-money laundering officials asked that the bank 'exit this relationship.'

The complaint added an additional count alleging that JPMorgan obstructed federal law enforcement and prosecuting agencies that were pursuing Epstein.

Dimon, asked last month whether his bank should have cut off Epstein sooner, told CNN: 'Hindsight is a fabulous gift.'
Special Counsel John Durham dropped his final report into the origins of the Trump-Russia collusion after three years of investigations.

The damning conclusion was that the FBI did not have enough credible evidence to begin probing links between the former president's campaign and the Kremlin in the run-up to the election.

It condemned the discredited dossier compiled by former MI5 spy Christopher Steele, the handling of the allegations and laid out links to Hillary Clinton's campaign.

Durham, 73, was appointed in 2019 by then-Attorney General Bill Barr, summarized that no 'wholesale changes' needed to be made as a result of his report.

But it has led to serious questions for the FBI - facing mounting accusations it is political - and the intelligence community.

He stated that the bureau 'failed to uphold their important mission of strict fidelity to the law'.

Real the full report BELOW and the timeline that extends to the Mueller investigation below.

May 17, 2017  Then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appoints Robert Mueller as special counsel. Among other things, Mueller is directed to investigate 'any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with' Trump's presidential campaign.

January 15, 2019  Bill Barr first alluded to what would become the Durham investigation in his Senate confirmation hearing. He promised then-Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham he would examine the FBI's counterintelligence investigation against Donald Trump.

On March 22, 2019  Mueller closed his special investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and submitted his final report to Barr.

March 24, 2019  Attorney General Barr issued his summary of the report.

March 25, 2019  Barr met with then-Connecticut Attorney General John Durham. Justice Department records show the two had 18 more meetings and three calls that year.

Bill Barr (pictured in 2022) first alluded to what would become the Durham investigation in his Senate confirmation hearing in January 2019. He promised then-Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham he would examine the FBI's counterintelligence investigation against Donald Trump

April 10, 2019  Barr testified before a Senate Appropriations panel where he announced a review on 'the genesis and the conduct of intelligence activities directed at the Trump campaign during 2016.'

April 12, 2019  A top Barr aide spoke with DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz to explain what appeared to be the start of Durham's probe.

May 13, 2019  It became public that Barr tapped Durham to probe issues related to the origins of the FBI's Trump-Russia investigation.

May 23, 2019  Trump said Barr asked him to direct intelligence officials to cooperate with the probe into surveillance during the 2016 election.' Trump authorized Barr to declassify and downgrade information related to the probe.

July 25, 2019  Trump held his infamous phone call with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, revealing Trump may have referred to the Durham probe when he asked Kyiv for help and insisted Zelensky speak with Barr and Rudy Giuliani.

October 19, 2019  Two articles came out indicating Durham interviewed two dozen FBI officials.

October 24, 2019  The New York Times broke the news that the Durham inquiry was now a criminal investigation.

December 2019  Durham was revealed to be examining the role of the Obama-era CIA director John Brennan in how the intelligence community assessed Russia's 2016 election interference.

April 2020  Durham's probe proceeded despite the pandemic.

April 10, 2020  Barr said Durham's 'primary focus... is looking to bring to justice people who are engaged in abuses if he can show that they were criminal violations.'

April 24, 2020  Probe shifted to looking at leaks within the Trump administration that prompted chaos in his early years.

May 18, 2020  Barr said during a press conference that neither Obama nor Biden was the focus of Durham's criminal probe.

September 2021  Durham issued new set of subpoenas, including to a law firm with close ties to Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign.

In February 2022, Durham filings revealed Hillary Clinton's campaign paid to have Trump Tower and White House servers hacked to 'fabricate' ties between Trump and Russia

September 17, 2021  Cybersecurity lawyer Michael Sussmann pleaded not guilty in federal court. He was indicted for lying to the FBI in a 2016 meeting where he shared information related to ties between the Trump Organization and Russia's Alfa Bank. He said he wasn't working for a client but was hired by Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign.

November 2021  Durham charged Russian-born analyst Igor Danchenko with lying to the FBI in fabricating a source for the Steele dossier. He pleaded not guilty to five counts of making false statements to a federal agent.

February 11, 2022  Durham filing reveals Clinton paid to have Trump Tower and White House servers hacked to 'fabricate' ties between Trump and Russia.

February 2022  Trump-era Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe reveals Durham thinks there is 'enough evidence' to indict 'several more people.' He also said Obama and Biden were briefed on the Clinton revelations in 2016.

May 2022 - Jury finds Sussmann not guilty of lying to the FBI about misrepresenting himself when he provided debunked claims of a secret backchannel between Trump and the Kremlin-linked Alfa Bank.

October 2022 - Danchenko is acquitted of four counts of lying to the FBI after he provided most of the research into the discredited Steele Dossier.

May 2023 - John Durham concludes in his final report that the FBI did not have enough credible evidence to launch the full Trump-Russia probe.
San Francisco's DA has released graphic footage of a Walgreens security guard shooting dead a transgender shoplifter - and said she will not charge him because he was in 'mortal danger'.

Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony, 33, was working at the drugstore in the downtown area on April 27 when he shot unarmed Banko Brown, 24. A murder charge against Anthony was dropped after the DA ruled the killing was self-defense.

Graphic surveillance footage released on Monday shows Brown holding a bag as he walks toward the store exit. Anthony steps in his path, confronts him about allegedly stealing from the store, which leads to a scuffle before Brown is shot.

His death sparked outrage across the Bay Area, but despite this, DA Brooke Jenkins' office announced on Monday they were not pressing charges against Anthony.

Graphic surveillance footage released on Monday appears to show Brown holding a bag as he walks toward the store exit. Anthony steps in his path, confronts him

Newly-released video shows the moment a Walgreens security guard shot and killed Banko Brown (pictured), but the San Francisco DA has refused to charge him

The surveillance footage shows Brown in a white T-shirt and gray sweatpants, walking out of the store, when the confrontation between him and the security guard unfolds.

Anthony is able to pin Brown to the ground, but then lets him go and Brown walks out of the store, still clutching his bag.

More words are exchanged and then Brown appears to move slightly forward with his arms out, then backs up just as Anthony shoots him.

Brown collapses on the sidewalk outside the store and a crowd of people gather around him. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he later died.

Anthony was originally booked on suspicion of murder the day after the shooting, but then released without charge after the District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said Anthony was in 'mortal danger' and 'acted in self-defense.'

In the report released on Monday, the DA citied 'insufficient evidence' that his actions equated to a murder or manslaughter charge. Instead, the evidence showed Anthony was 'sincerely afraid,' the DA's office said.

His death sparked outrage across the Bay Area, but despite the many demands to charge Anthony, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins' office said Monday they would not be charging him

The surveillance footage shows Brown in a white T-shirt and gray sweatpants, walking out of the store, when the confrontation and tussle between him and the security guard unfolds

Brown and Anthony are in a violent tussle before Brown is fatally shot

Anthony is able to pin Brown to the ground, but then lets him go and Brown walks out of the store, still clutching his bag

.More words are exchanged and then Brown appears to move slightly forward with his arms out, then backs up just as Anthony shoots him. He collapsed on the sidewalk outside the store

'All of this evidence strongly suggests that Anthony firing at Brown in self-defense was objectively reasonable,' the office's report reads.

The report also notes that that Anthony claimed Brown had repeatedly threatened to stab him. However, investigators found no knife at the scene or on Brown, the SF chronicle reported.

Protests had already began following the decision to drop the charges against Anthony last week and at a meeting of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, activists held up signs reading 'Justice for Banko Brown'.

One protestor, who identified herself as Lia McGeever, erupted into a scream over the death of Brown, who was homeless and an intern with the Young Women's Freedom Center.

She said: 'I hate a lot of people on this board for the reasons that led up to Banko Brown's death.

Attendees light candles in honor of Brown during a vigil

Floral tributes and candles where left in memory of Banko

Speaking to The San Francisco Standard , Anthony said: '[I'm] still dealing with it, still don't understand and don't have the time to reflect.

'It's not like I go through this many times. This is a very life-changing matter.'

Anthony pointed to the pressure that security guards are under during these types of confrontations, saying: 'This is important for more people to be more aware of,' he said. It was happening too frequently.

'It's a lot to deal with. It's a lot of pressure. A person can only take so much. When you are limited to certain options, something will happen.'

'Who has my back? Nobody. You are left with no support. It's a frightening feeling with a lot of people around you.'

Last week, a group of community activists gathered outside the Walgreens in downtown San Francisco for a vigil to honor Brown's memory.

Pictured: Protestors at the vigil on Monday

Many local residents have since left floral tributes and candles in memory of Brown.

In a social media post, the Young Women's Freedom Center wrote: 'Our community stands strong together in the face of tragedy.

'In times like these, we show up for each other and we fight for our folks, especially for our siblings that are taken from us way too soon.

'Thank you to every voice that has spoken, every foot that has marched, and every fist raised in solidarity.'

The incident comes after a number of major chains announced they would be shuttering stores in San Francisco due to soaring crime figures.

Retailers including Nordstrom, Whole Foods, Office Depot and Anthropologie have all said they would be pulling out of the city.

Nordstrom chief stores officer Jamie Nordstrom blamed the state of San Francisco in recent years for reducing foot traffic 'and our ability to operate successfully.'

Remaining stores like Target have been reduced to locking up their entire stock behind glass to deter shoplifters.
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The shooting claimed the lives of nine and injured nearly a dozen others

'Good Samaritan' who claimed to provide first aid during Allen, Texas, mall shooting is 'not a credible witness,' according to police

The man who claimed to be a Good Samaritan during the Texas mall massacre has been accused of lying and branded 'not a credible witness' by cops.

Allen Police Department said they believe former Army officer Steven Spainhouer has spent the week since the shooting spreading misinformation.

Spainhouer had claimed in multiple interviews he ran into the Allen Premium Outlets after his son - who worked at the mall - called him about the shooting.

An investigation into his claims one victim 'had no face' and he had located a young boy hiding under his dead mother showed 'inconsistencies,' police said.

'Allen Police Department wants to inform the public of discrepancies with statements made by a witness to several media outlets,' police said.

The man who claimed to be a Good Samaritan who arrived on scene at the Texas mall massacre and provided first aid to victims has been called 'not a credible witness' by police

The shooting happened at the Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, Texas - a small suburb north of Dallas, and saw at least eight people killed

The gunman, Mauricio Garcia, was dressed in SWAT gear with a semi-automatic rile at his side. He is seen laying dead outside another Allen store, a dozen feet from the H&M shop

The Allen Police Department has urged media outlets to stop sharing his story over the 'discrepancies' in his tale.

'Inconsistencies between these public accounts and investigative facts led Allen Police Department to conduct a follow-up interview. During this interview, detectives determined that Mr. Spainhouer is not a credible incident witness,' police said.

Following his interviews, Spainhouer was hailed as a hero for his actions. He later went on to call for gun reform in Texas despite being 'someone who loves guns.'

In their new statement, police said Spainhouer was at the scene on the day of the mass shooting but that he arrived after an officer had already shot and killed gunman Mauricio Garcia.

Spainhouer 'did not perform CPR or administer first aid' and 'did not move a deceased mother who was covering a live child,' police said.

In response to the allegations from Allen Police, the veteran has doubled down on his claims.

Spainhouer said he believes both police's timeline and his own story can be true.

Spainhouer (right) with his son who he says was inside the H&M on the day of the shooting

Officials with the Allen Police Department have stated they believe former Army officer Steven Spainhouer has spent the week since the shooting spreading misinformation

'I know what I did and did not do while waiting on the Allen Police and Fire Departments,' Spainhouer (right) wrote in a Facebook post over the weekend

Alexa Keith, facing, gets a hug from a passing stranger outside the mall a day after a mass shooting at Allen Premium Outlets

In his lengthy Facebook post on Monday, the Army veteran explained his own timeline and attempted to clear up any 'inconsistencies.'

'When I arrived at the H&M store, there was one person there asking for my help,' Spainhouer wrote.

'If there were other first responders there before I showed up, I would have no way of knowing it.'

'If the Allen Police were at the mall before me, I would have no way to know it, because they were not at the H&M Store location where most of the shooting victims were located,' he continued on Facebook.

'I know what I did and did not do while waiting on the Allen Police and Fire Departments,' he continued.

'I know that there were individuals who were deceased and could not be treated with CPR. I know because I was there.'

'I did not move any victims, except the first one I found to check on her. A small child pulled himself from under a victim and I assisted him to a safe space away from the area.

'Instead of targeting me on what I did or didn't do, perhaps the Allen Police can explain why it took 20 minutes to get to the front of the H&M store, where there were injured victims, if they were already on site, before I got there,' he wrote.

The battle of words between Spainhouer and the Allen Police Department comes nearly two weeks after the May 6 massacre at the mall.

Nine people - including the gunman - were killed and 10 were injured.

Multiple victims have been reported after an active shooter opened fired at an outdoor outlet mall - with one of the gunmen now reportedly dead and another still at-large

During the shooting, Garcia reportedly used an AR-15-style rifle, a civilian adaption of the military's M-16 and M-4 rifle platforms.

A social media account that appears to belong to Garcia is littered with photos of Nazis, guns and ammunition as well as extremist rants about Jews, women and racial minorities.

In an interview with MSNBC, Spainhouer advocated for gun control.

'It wasn't mental health that killed these people,' he said. 'It was an automatic rifle with bullets.'

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.
A Republican lawmaker has accused senior U.S. intelligence officials of abusing their power to quash stories about the disgraced first son's laptop.

Congressman Mike Turner, who represents Ohio in the House of Representatives and is the chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said some of the country's top spies wrongly branded reporting by the New York Post as the work of the Kremlin.

The 2020 article broke the news that the 53-year-old appeared to be using his connections to his father to land lucrative business deals abroad.

Congressman Mike Turner, on the right, has been one of the GOP's most vocal critics of Hunter Biden's alleged influence-peddling

Joe Biden's relatives are accused of using their influence and access to the president to land business and donations from abroad

Turner was speaking to Fox News about a letter signed by 51 former intelligence officials signed to discredit the reports on Hunter's leaked emails.

'Joe Biden knew that he was lying to the American public, and he used these 51, who had past credentials in intelligence, to claim that something was Russian misinformation' Turner said.

The head of the House's intelligence committee said there had been 'unexplained infusions of money into the Biden family that really has no cause and understanding.'

'The FBI is -- should be looking at these as evidences of a crime. But, in fact, that appears the FBI is being less than helpful, if not obscuring the congressional -- obstructing the congressional investigation,' he added.

The 63-year-old has alleged that Secretary of State Antony Blinken, at the time serving as a Biden campaign adviser, helped to organize the intelligence officials' public statement.

Turner's comments came Tim Burchett, a Republican Congressman from Tennessee, said GOP officials had been unable to 'track down' one of their key witnesses.

Burchett said the FBI and DOJ have 'turned a blind eye' to both the missing informant and the Biden family's alleged corruption.

'It's of the utmost importance that the FBI work with us to be able to try to identify what research they've done, what investigations they've done, because we have people that want to come forward, but honestly, they fear for their lives,' he told Fox News.

Burchett sits on the House of Representatives oversight committee, which is headed by James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, and it is the elected body's main investigatory panel.

James Comer (R-Kentucky) heads the House of Representative's main investigatory panel and has vowed to delve into Hunter Biden's business dealings

The 53-year-old denies exploiting his family connections in order to win contracts abroad

Leaked files from Hunter Biden's laptop contained a series of lewd phots as well as emails about his business deals

Comer has already opened an investigation that alleges as many as ten Biden family members benefitted from their connections to the commander-in-chief.

Biden's business dealings have long irked members of the GOP, who accuse the president's son of exploiting his family ties to land lucrative contracts abroad.

An anonymous IRS whistleblower, via his lawyer, has said he is willing to testify he is also receiving preferential treatment in a federal investigation into his tax affairs.

He has previously had business interests in China and Ukraine, although the long-time lobbyist denies any wrongdoing.

Leaked files from Hunter Biden's laptop contained a series of lewd phots as well as emails about his business deals

Leaked files from Hunter Biden's laptop contained a series of lewd phots as well as emails about his business deals.

The 53-year-old denies exploiting his family connections in order to win contracts abroad

The ex-Navy reservist, booted out of the military in 2014 for testing positive for cocaine, was in the spotlight again last week.

He appeared on the president's recent trip to Ireland, despite White House officials insisting he would not attend any official events.

Since Joe Biden took office, the administration has insisted the president never speaks to his son about his business dealings and has no involvement in them.

Sources close to the president also say he has never discussed investigations into members of his family with the Justice Department.
Google's claims about the value it creates for UK news publishers are 'disingenuous', a leading academic who specialises in the digital economy has found.

While the news sector is estimated to drive up to 850million in revenue to the tech giant, Professor Annabelle Gawer estimates it delivers less than 75million a year in return.

In a paper published by the News Media Association today, she argues that a far higher figure previously cited by Google was unreliable because it was based on out-of-date research.

Professor Gawer, director at the Surrey Centre of Digital Economy, said it was also likely to be substantially lower because the quality of web traffic the search engine brought to news publishers had become increasingly less valuable.

The findings come as laws to empower a new online regulator to rein in the dominance of tech giants such as Facebook and Google return to Parliament tomorrow.

The Google logo is seen during the Google I/O annual developers conference at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California on May 10, 2023

Google CEO Sundar Pichai speaks on-stage during the Google I/O keynote session at the Google Developers Conference in Mountain View, California, on May 10, 2023

One of the purposes of the new Digital Markets Unit is to ensure media companies receive fair and reasonable compensation from platforms for the distribution of their content.

Calculating this payment will rely on accurate estimates of exactly how much value news publishers and tech platforms bring to each other, Professor Gawer said.

READ MORE: Google will now write your emails for you as Gmail is set to use generative AI to compose detailed messages with just a simple prompt Advertisement

Owen Meredith, chief executive of the NMA, which represents local, regional, and national publishers, said: 'For years, publishers have had to operate in completely unjust circumstances in which they are forced to accept unfair and unequal payment terms from the tech platforms.

'It is time for this to end. With the publication of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill, we have an opportunity to correct the scales and deliver fair reward for news publishers, paving the way for a truly sustainable future for high quality journalism.'

Tory MP Damian Collins said similar measures introduced in Australia had helped 'save smaller news title and allowed publishers to hire more journalists'. The former online safety minister, who is standing to be chairman of the Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport, added: 'We need to see these reforms enacted in the UK as soon as possible.'

Last year, Cambridge University professor of economics Matt Elliott found the value of news content to tech platforms was around 1billion a year  of which Google received between 60 to 85 per cent.

In return, Google has cited research by Deloitte in 2019 suggesting web traffic delivered to news publishers by third parties, including itself and Facebook, was worth 370million a year.

Professor Gawer has disputed this figure. Firstly, she said it was based on estimates that web traffic delivers half a billion pounds a year to news publishers  whereas this was now 400million.

Secondly, news websites' own apps are now driving an increasing proportion of traffic, with referrals from Google now contributing at most 140million a year.

Thirdly, this direct traffic is far more valuable to publishers, with visitors reading less than a quarter as many pages when they arrive through Google, reducing its value to around 75million.

Google worker Shaquille holds a sign at a demonstration against alleged union busting and layoffs risk outside the Kings Cross headquarters in London, Britain, April 4, 2023

Google workers hold signs, including a reference to the company's 'Don't be evil' code of conduct phrase, as they demonstrate outside the Kings Cross headquarters in London, April 4

Professor Gawer found that many users only used Google as a navigational tool, simply entering the news publisher's name in the search bar, in which case Google delivered little value.

She also estimated further value would be lost because some users would only read snippets in the search results and not continue on to the website, or they would look up a topic using the news publishers' name in the search bar but click on a link taking them to another site instead.

A lack of research, however, means it is too difficult to quantify these effects, but it is likely to be substantially reduce the 75million figure, she found.

Google said it was 'proud to be one of the world's largest financial supporters of journalism', adding that it supported 285 UK news outlets through its news showcase feature and had supported projects that drove readers directly to news websites.

A spokesman said: 'Both publishers and readers gain real value from the presence of links to news sources on Google search.'
A Wetherspoon superfan who has spent more than 20,000 on a mission to visit every UK branch is going on a cruise to Ireland to tick off the remaining nine pubs.

Ever since his partner Una Cooper, 63, bought him a Wetherspoon directory, retired forklift driver Dave Bingham has been inspired to frequent every branch in the UK and Ireland.

So far, the 60-year-old from Burton, Staffordshire, has stepped foot in 866 Wetherspoon venues in the UK, including 14 in one day, and only has The Flying Horse at Gatwick Airport left.

But Mr Bingham will cross borders next week to ensure that Ireland's nine Wetherspoons are not missed off his list.

They are The Tullow Gate, The Linen Weaver, The Forty Foot, The Great Wood, Keavan's Port, The Old Borough, The Silver Penny, The South Strand and An Geata Arundel.

Wetherspoon superfan Dave Bingham has spent more than 20,000 on a mission to visit every UK branch

The retired forklift driver is going on a 10-day cruise to Ireland to tick off Ireland's nine branches

On Sunday May 21, he and Ms Cooper will set off on a 10-day Norwegian Cruise Line excursion around the Emerald Isle which is going to set the couple back 2,176.

Mr Bingham and Ms Cooper will be sailed from the UK to Waterford and then up along the stunning west coast of Ireland.

They will spend two nights in Dublin, where the majority of Ireland's Wetherspoons can be found.

Although Ms Cooper does not drink and is 'not really a pub person', she loves travelling and often jets away with Mr Bingham during his trips.

Speaking to Metro, Mr Bingham said: 'We will be stopping in all the right places around Ireland so I should get it all done.

'If not I'm going to book a flight from Gatwick to Ireland as soon as possible, visit the pub at the airport and then go to the final ones. I've got the drinks package and my suitcase is packed.'

Last year, the couple went on a British Isles cruise which docked in Belfast.

Ever since his partner Una Cooper, 63, bought him a Wetherspoon directory, Mr Bingham has been inspired to frequent every branch in the UK and Ireland. (file image)

Keavan's Port (pictured) in Dublin, which is one of nine Irish Wetherspoon branches that Mr Bingham will attempt to go to

The only UK Wetherspoon pub which Mr Bingham has not been to yet is The Flying Horse (pictured) in Gatwick Airport

'My partner went to the giants causeway, and I went to the three Wetherspoon pubs,' Mr Bingham told The Sun.

He said: 'There's never a dull moment. It's a great way to see the country.'

They often rely on public transport and have even used a hovercraft to access the Wetherspoon pubs on the Isle of White.

Some of Mr Bingham's trips to the branches have lasted a matter of minutes and on one occasion, he even booked a flight to Poland - which he did not get on - in order to get through security and access the airport Wetherspoon.

On one of his other excursions, Mr Bingham and his partner spent 69 each on flights from Heathrow to Manchester to tick off the airport pub before getting a train straight back.

Aside from Mr Bingham playing his part in funding Wetherspoon, the Watford-based company said last week that it is forecasting record annual sales after the pub chain had its busiest ever Saturday on the May Day bank holiday weekend.

Wetherspoon said like-for-like sales for the 13-week period ending April 30 rose 9.1 per cent from pre-pandemic levels, and it is now expecting record full-year sales.

Mr Bingham's love for Wetherspoon is also matched by Neil Wesson - who in November had visited 736 branches across the UK.

When asked about his love for the chain, he said: 'I'm a railway enthusiast trying all of the different railways around the country and it seems a lot of Wetherspoon fans do both things at once.

'It's all about building up your collection and I've always liked collecting things.'
It's 'chilling' to think about the number of terrorists who are crossing into the U.S. through the southern border due to President Biden's policies, the top Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee tells DailyMail.com following a recent arrest of an Afghan national on the FBI's watchlist.

The blistering statement from Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn., comes after an Afghan national on the FBI's terror watchlist was captured trying to sneak into the U.S. at the southern border near San Diego, California.

Border Patrol agents discovered the Afghan national via a fingerprint scan that connected him to a terrorist screening database.

The terrorist's arrest came the day before the Biden administration allowed Title 42 to end - a pandemic-era rule that allowed for the quick expulsion of illegal migrants from the country.

Border agents apprehended over 10,000 migrants per day in the days leading to Title 42's end

Border agents apprehended over 10,000 migrants per day in the days leading to Title 42's end, which put immense strain on capabilities.

Of the 10,000, there were at least 3,000 'gotaways,' meaning migrants who escaped without being processed by border patrol.

Border agents told a group of senators visiting the Texas stretch of the border that it marked a 441 percent increase over the last two years under the Biden administration.

'As I have said over and over againunder Secretary Mayorkas and President Biden's reckless policies, we have no idea who is entering this country and being released into the U.S. interior,' Green said Monday.

The chairman praised the 'good work' of Border Patrol agents, who arrested the individual before he was released into American communities.

However, he cautioned that 'bad actors' worldwide, including those on the terrorist watchlists, are 'confident they will be able to enter the country illegally' because of the Biden administration's relaxed border policies.

Texas sends THIRD convoy of migrants to Kamala Harris' DC home - as shelters in Lone Star State run at SIX TIMES capacity.

A busload of migrants from Texas was unloaded at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, where Vice President Kamala Harris's home is located

Chairman Green called on the Senate to take up the 'Secure the Border Act,' which passed the House last week

'It's chilling to think how many more known or suspected terrorists are among those 1.4 million known gotaways who have evaded Border Patrol under President Biden,' he continued.

It has been confirmed that since Biden took office in 2021, there have been 1.4 million known gotaways, which is a huge security threat for the country if there are more individuals who slipped through on the terrorist list.

The chairman called on the Senate to take up the 'Secure the Border Act,' which passed the House last week.

The House package would bring back a number of Trump-era immigration policies - including Remain in Mexico, which requires those claiming asylum to wait in Mexico while their U.S. asylum claim is processed.

President Biden has already promised to veto the legislation - although it has no chance of passing in the Democrat-led Senate.

Biden's Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas has pushed back in recent days, reiterating that the border is closed and that there will be consequences for those who enter the U.S. illegally.

'I want to be very clear, our borders are not open,' he said at the White House Thursday.
If you weigh 150 lbs, near Hudson Bay, the scale would read about 149.994 lb

Maybe the real weight loss secret is moving to the tundra?

Surrounding Canada's Hudson Bay region, far to the northeast, researchers in the 1960s discovered that everything weighed just slightly less,

In an area of upwards of 500,000 square miles, you lose around 1/25,000 of your body weight.

Scientists first discovered this anomaly back in the 1960s, while mapping variations across Earth's gravitational fields for the first time. But it has taken them decades to understand why.

The cause? Reduced molten magma under the surface of the region, squished out by pressure above-ground from two gigantic glaciers during the last ice age.

This map of Earth's gravity field, published from work by joint NASA-German Aerospace Center Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission on July 30, 2003, shows in deep blue the unusual gravity anomaly surrounding Canada's salty northeastern Hudson Bay

Many polar bears make their home around the Hudson Bay's ice flows and sandy shores. Each bear weighs just slightly less, about 1/25,000 of what their weight would be at a zoo elsewhere

Say you weighed 150 lbs. Near Hudson Bay, the scale would read about 149.994 lb.

The simple answer to this mystery begins with the fact the gravitational pull any object exerts on another is directly proportional to its mass.

But, since an object entering into Hudson Bay isn't necessarily shedding any mass on the way in, that doesn't explain the mystery of Canada's 'missing' gravity.

To solve that, researchers turned to NASA's twin Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites, which they used to map two gravity anomalies surrounding Canada's large saltwater bay in 2007 and how those anomalies are changing over time.

'The Canadian anomaly has been known for a long time and is the result of crustal deformation during the last ice age,' physicist Dan Britt, director of the Center for Lunar and Asteroid Surface Science at the University of Central Florida, told the DailyMail.com via email.

Back then, around 20,000 years ago, Canada and much of North America lay in cold storage underneath the Laurentide Ice Sheet, an expansive glacier about two miles thick in the regions near Hudson Bay.

'A couple of miles of ice is heavy enough to depress the crust,' said Britt, whose own work has, on occasion, involved fine-tuning lunar gravitational models based on the geological differences between different types of moon rocks.

'The same process is playing out in various places that have had thick ice sheets,' Britt said.

'The details have to do with the viscosity of the mantle.'

Under the crushing weight of the Laurentide Ice Sheet, Earth's crust around Hudson Bay began to compress and sink.

In the process, it shifted away some of the hot magma in the semifluid mantle layer beneath it, like a squished sandwich pushing away peanut butter and jelly.

This compression was most severe on either side of Hudson Bay, where two gigantic domes had formed on the ice sheet.

The gradual recession of the Laurentide over the next 10,000 years was responsible for many North American landmarks, including the Great Lakes.

Some theorists predicted that all that displaced molten mass had reduced Earth's gravitational pull around Hudson Baybut NASA's GRACE satellites showed that was only part of the story.

While the Laurentide Ice Sheet theory and data from GRACE account for some of the reasons there is missing gravity over Canada, they only explain roughly 25-45 percent of the gravitational difference.

Scientists estimate that the remaining 55-75 percent is down to a theory to do with convention.

Way below the Earth's surface, a sheet of molten rock, known as magma, produces convection currents because of the natural rising and falling of the bubbling substance.

This drags the Earth's continental plates inwards, which causes a drop in the mass and gravity of the Hudson Bay area.

The gravity is forecast to return to Canada, but gradually.

Geophysicist Mark Tamisiea of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts told the journal Science that that it will take up to 300,000 years for the regions' gravity to even out to the global average.
Holidaymakers will be able to fly from London to Sydney in as little as two hours within ten years - but they will have to go through space.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is funding medical studies into the effects of suborbital space flights, in which travellers could be thrown into space for a short time period before descending to their destination much quicker than via airplane.

Suborbital flights, such as those offered by Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, currently cost more than 350,000 per seat.

But regulators have predicted they will soon be less expensive, eventually becoming intercontinental travel option 'accessible to anybody'.

According to The Sunday Times, a CAA-funded study found that most people handled the G-forces of suborbital space flights well.

Holidaymakers will be able to fly from London to Sydney in as little as two hours within ten years - but they will have to go through space

Published in the journal Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, it said: 'Commercial suborbital space flights are now available for tourism and scientific research, and are ultimately anticipated to mature into extremely fast point-to-point travel, e.g. London to Sydney in less than two hours.'

Flights from London to Sydney currently take around 22 hours.

The research, conducted with King's College London and facilitated by the RAF, found that those taking such flights would not need to be fit or young - with older people possibly better at dealing with space travel.

Suborbital flights, such as those offered by Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, currently cost more than 350,000 per seat

The CAA is funding medical studies into the effects of suborbital space flights, in which travellers could be thrown into space for a short time period before descending to their destination much quicker than via airplane

Dr Ryan Anderton, the CAA's medical lead for flight, said: 'Physiological responses are likely to be benign for most passengers,' adding that older people usually have slightly 'stiffer arteries', which would lessen the pooling of blood away from the brain.

A failed attempt in January to launch satellites from UK soil has not stopped plans to turn Britain into a spaceforming nation.

Spaceport Cornwall has signed a memorandum of understanding with US firm Sierra Space for spaceplanes to land in Newquay, while six more UK spaceports are in the works.
Pairing white wine with fish is a golden rule going back decades for anyone hosting a dinner party.

Those really looking to impress also know oysters must always be served with champagne.

But pairing food and drink is largely a marketing ploy, according to Professor Charles Spence, a psychologist and expert in the sensory qualities of food from the University of Oxford.

There is just as much reason to serve pilchards with champagne as oysters, he says, based on the theory that the seafoods contain the same amino acid which can boost their savoury 'umami' flavour in combination with a bottle of bubbly.

He has also questioned the popular suggestion that people should pair things from the same geographical region, like Spanish paella with Rioja, and beer with sauerkraut, because of a lack of evidence their flavours work particularly well together.

Those really looking to impress also know oysters must always be served with champagne. But pairing food and drink is largely a marketing ploy, according to Professor Charles Spence

Formula for the perfect G&T REVEALED - READ MORE The expert's perfect gin and tonic must be served in the right glass at the perfect temperature Advertisement

People who like to talk about complementary molecules in food and drink overlook the fact that these molecules and amino acids often make very little difference to the actual flavour, according to the expert.

He says several red wines are perfectly fine to drink with fish, if their iron content is reasonably low.

The only possible reason to pair a certain wine with a certain food, in his view, is to enhance the fatty texture of meat by having a glass of red wine which feels more tingly in the mouth as it goes down.

In a scientific paper on food pairings, published in the journal Nature Food, Professor Spence writes: 'On occasion, specific food and drink products are paired for no other reason than the idiosyncratic whimsy of the person who happens to be recommending the match in the first place.'

While pairing may be popular, he concludes: 'It can be argued that our preference for specific foods, drinks and their combinations relies as much on trends, tradition, price and availability as it does on the underlying flavour chemistry.'

The academic told the Mail: 'People like to have knowledge of food pairings, and it adds to their enjoyment of a meal, while perhaps allowing them to show off to their friends if they have prepared the magical combination of champagne and oysters or a particular wine with their cheese board.

'But this is just storytelling about food, because the volatile chemicals in specific wines and food aren't necessarily dominant when it comes to flavour.

There is just as much reason to serve pilchards with champagne as oysters, he says, based on the theory that the seafoods contain the same amino acid which can boost their savoury 'umami' flavour in combination with a bottle of bubbly

'A pairing menu in a restaurant, with specific wines matched to different courses, is often more expensive, and I don't think it wouldn't make much difference if you switched the combinations around.'

The article on pairings says champagne and oysters may be put together simply because they are both now seen as 'luxury' and high-status items.

But consuming them together, according to some experts, leaves an unpleasant metallic taste in the mouth.

Pairing has become so popular that even beer companies have got in on the act, recommending various craft beers to be consumed with particular pizzas or burgers.

More sophisticated types opt to serve trout with watercress in the UK, because the banks of the chalk streams where fishing for trout took place would likely have also been home to watercress, growing in much the same conditions as the fish.

But Professor Spence argued in a previous paper from 2019 that: 'At first blush, this match does not seem in any sense based on a perceptual affinity between the flavours found in trout and watercress from a flavour, or flavour pairing, perspective.

'Rather, it would merely appear to be a match of convenience/availability that has become conventional, and hence increasingly familiar to those within the relevant food culture.'

Pairing wine with a cheese board, he says, is haphazard, because the cheeses have so many different flavours.

He told the Mail: 'The only pairing which makes any sense to me in terms of flavour is to avoid drinking orange juice after brushing your teeth, because that goes very badly indeed with toothpaste.'

Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal is well known for his love of unusual flavour pairings, like caviar and white chocolate, but he has suggested certain approaches to combining them do not work, telling the Times in 2010: 'Looking back at my younger self I'm almost embarrassed at my bumptious enthusiasm, not least because I now know that a molecule database is neither a short cut to successful flavour combining nor a failsafe way of doing it.

'Any foodstuff is made up of thousands of different molecules - that two ingredients have a compound in common is a slender justification for compatibility.

'If I'd known then what I know now, I would probably never have tried this method of flavour pairing: there are simply too many reasons for it not to work.'
They could travel in specially-designed 'spaceplanes' such as the Dream Chaser

Jetsetters could reach port of call faster by entering space for part of the journey

Commercial flight times could be cut more than 20-fold with a decade, following ambitious plans to transport passengers to other countries via space.

Aviation experts are researching how ordinary citizens would cope with short periods in zero gravity during long haul travel, like between the UK and Australia.

Typically, a flight from London to Sydney on a commercial plane takes more than 22 hours, but suborbital flights would cut this to a mere two hours, breaking the record set by Concorde in 1985.

However, passengers would face G-forces during take-off and landing, while zero-gravity mid-flight would mean they'd have to keep their seatbelts buckled.

Travellers could also be advised to keep their seat tilted back during launch and 'clench their buttocks' as they leave and re-enter the Earth's atmosphere.

Holidaymakers will be able to fly from London to Sydney in as little as two hours within ten years - but they will have to go through space to cut the journey time. For most of the journey they will experience microgravity, meaning people and objects will appear to be weightless

How would the flights work? A flight would take off from a specially adapted launch site at an existing airport (such as London Heathrow) or one that's more suited to space launches (such as Spaceport Cornwall). Passengers would be blasted into space aboard a suborbital craft similar to Dream Chaser, a spaceplane that's being developed by US firm Sierra Space, or VSS Imagine from Virgin Galactic. Those aboard would experience G-forces four times the force of the Earth's gravity, known as 4G. This period would last for the 20 to 30 seconds after the moment of blast-off, but would then subside. Not too long after lift-off, the vehicle would enter a period of microgravity, meaning travellers may have to be strapped to their seats to stop them from floating. As the vehicle reaches its destination, G-forces would peak at six times (6G) during the descent for around 10 to 15 seconds. Advertisement

According to the Times, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has conducted a study that looks at the effects of suborbital space flights on the human body.

Published in the journal Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, it found that most people can cope with the G-forces of suborbital space flights, although there can be potentially problematic 'physiological responses'.

'Commercial suborbital spaceflights are now available for tourism and scientific research, and are ultimately anticipated to mature into extremely fast point-to-point travel  e.g. London-Sydney in less than 2 hours,' they say.

'Just as for air travel, a strong foundational knowledge of fundamental flight-related physiology is required to inform medical decision-making and maximise safe access to suborbital flights.

'Suborbital acceleration profiles are generally well tolerated but are not physiologically inconsequential.'

Dr Ryan Anderton, CAA's medical lead for space flight, told the Times that it was 'definitely not science fiction' and would happen 'a lot sooner than people think... certainly less than 10 years'.

It follows a report that says space tourists should be banned from having sex in space as we enter a new era of 'space tourism' involving both suborbital and orbital flights.

Suborbital flights are defined as those that enter space but do not have sufficient velocity to stay there, meaning suborbital vehicles come back to the ground.

They contrast with orbital flights, which have a more powerful trajectory so they can stay in space and orbit the Earth at least once  such as the case with space stations or satellites.

Suborbital flights, such as those already offered by Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, currently cost more than 350,000 per seat.

Holidaymakers will be able to fly from London to Sydney in as little as two hours within ten years - but they will have to go through space. Virgin Galactic introduced its second piloted suborbital space plane, VSS Imagine, in 2021, but it is yet to fly

READ MORE: Dream Chaser spaceplane can carry seven people and cargo to space Dream Chaser is a reusable lifting-body spaceplane being developed by a US firm Advertisement

But regulators have predicted they will soon be less expensive, eventually becoming an intercontinental travel option accessible to anybody.

Experts think commercial suborbital flights between countries could take place 'within the decade', even though the research is still ongoing  but exactly how much they would cost is unclear.

So how would these flights work?

A commercial suborbital flight would take off from a specially adapted launch site at an existing airport (such as London Heathrow) or one with more space that's more suited to space travel launches (such as Spaceport Cornwall).

Passengers would be blasted into space aboard a suborbital craft similar to Dream Chaser, a spaceplane that's being developed by US firm Sierra Space, or VSS Imagine from Virgin Galactic.

Dream Chaser  which was showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show last year  is designed to carry up to seven people to and from low Earth orbit.

But the chosen vehicle could have a greater capacity than this, more in line with the capacity of today's commercial liners, to make the project cost effective.

Those aboard would experience G-forces four times the force of the Earth's gravity, known as 4G  not to be confused with the mobile communications standard.

This period of 4G would last for the 20 to 30 seconds after the moment of blast-off, according to the study, but would then subside.

A commercial suborbital flight would take off from an specially adapted launch site at an existing airport (such as London Heathrow) or one with more space that's more suited to space travel launches, such as Spaceport Cornwall (pictured) which was officially opened in September 2022 and is located at Cornwall Airport Newquay

Sierra Space is showcasing a life-size replica of its Dream Chaser spaceplane at CES 2022, which that will one day take people and cargo to low Earth-orbit

What are G-forces? G-forces are felt when an object or person accelerates rapidly, such as in a race car or fighter jet 1G is the equivalent of the force that the Earth exerts on you while standing still on the ground. Above 5G and pilots are at risk of blacking out if the forces cause blood to drain out of their heads. Forces of over 100G would be enough to violently squash internal organs and crush bones. Advertisement

Not too long after lift-off, the vehicle would enter a period of microgravity, meaning travellers may have to be strapped to their seats to stop them from floating around.

As the vehicle reaches its destination, G-forces would peak at six times (6G) during the descent for around 10 to 15 seconds.

This could be an issue because above 5G, pilots and passengers are at risk of blacking out if the forces cause blood to drain out of their heads.

The new research, conducted with King's College London and facilitated by the RAF, tested the limits of normal, healthy citizens.

The scientists put 24 healthy people of various ages inside a human centrifuge at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire.

Human centrifuges are large spinning chambers that simulate the effects of high acceleration, memorably depicted in the 1979 James Bond film Moonraker.

When exposed to space launch-style G-forces, researchers found participants showed 'highly dynamic changes' in heart rate, blood pressure and cardiac output, as well as hypoxemia  a low level of oxygen in the blood.

Although increased age was associated with greater hypoxemia and reduced cardiac output, it did not have detrimental cardiovascular effects.

However, respiratory and visual symptoms were common, with 88 per cent of subjects reporting 'greyout'  a dimming or haziness of vision.

One participant out of 24 experienced G-force induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC) although they recovered once G-force reduced.

Image from the new study shows arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) during suborbital acceleration during each launch and re-entry phase, as simulated by the human centrifuge. Black bars denote breathing air, while grey bars are breathing 15 per cent oxygen

This suggests that a suborbital traveller could lose consciousness during take-off and landing but would otherwise be fine during the flight.

Researchers also found that physiological effects were generally reduced when the seat was titled (it's already know that sitting at an angle can increase G-force tolerance).

Study author Dr Ross Pollock at King's College London told MailOnline: 'By changing the position of the chair you change the direction the G goes through the body.

'When the chair is upright you get a lot off G-force going from the head to the feet.

'This in effect pushes the blood away from your head and eyes down towards your legs, therefore, you do not have enough oxygen reaching those parts of the body and your vision changes and potentially you can lose consciousness.'

Tilting the chair has less effect on the cardiovascular system but more effect on the respiratory system, so passengers would be 'more breathless', although not too severely, Dr Pollock said.

Human centrifuges are large spinning chambers that simulate the effects of high acceleration, memorably depicted in the 1979 James Bond film Moonraker (pictured)

The team of authors conclude that suborbital acceleration is 'generally well tolerated' but 'not physiologically inconsequential'.

'Marked hemodynamic effects and transient respiratory compromise could interact with predisposing factors to precipitate adverse cardiopulmonary effects in a minority of participants,' they say in their paper.

Before going on such a flight, people may benefit from 'centrifuge familiarization' and physiological evaluation, especially if they are 'medically susceptible'.

Dr Pollock said it's 'very hard to say' how much such a passenger flight would cost, although it will likely be 'very expensive' to start with before the price comes down as it becomes a feasible means of mass transport.

Alternatively, they may prefer to stick to more traditional and cheaper forms of travel, even if it does take much longer than a super-fast suborbital flight.

Such a flight would shatter the record journey time between London and Sydney of 17 hours, three minutes, 45 seconds, that was set by Concorde in February 1985.

Concorde was the world's first supersonic airliner and operated for 27 years, but it was grounded in October 2003.

Dr Pollock also thinks it would take 'at least 15 to 20 years' before suborbital commercial flights become a means of mass transport.

'There would need to be some spacecraft development to allow it to achieve the relevant altitudes and speed required to travel,' he told MailOnline.

'For it to be commercial for a realistic means of travel the aircraft would also need to be much bigger.'
The idea of living alone underwater for 74 days may sound like an obscure form of torture for many people.

But a US university professor has voluntarily done just that - and even broken a world record in the process.

Professor Joseph Dituri, who has become widely known as 'Dr Deep Sea', has broken the record for the longest time living underwater without depressurisation at a Florida Keys lodge for scuba divers.

His cramped pod is 30 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean and measures just 100-square-feet.

But while the lodge is small, he's managed to squeeze in a work area, kitchen, bathroom, two bedrooms, and even a small 'swimming pool' that acts as the exit and entrance.

The idea of living alone underwater for 74 days may sound like an obscure form of torture for many people. But a US university professor has voluntarily done just that - and even broken a world record in the process

Professor Joseph Dituri, who has become widely known as 'Dr Deep Sea', has broken the record for the longest time living underwater without depressurisation at a Florida Keys lodge for scuba divers

Scientist living in a bunker at the bottom of the Atlantic ocean for 100 days as part of NASA study gives DailyMail.com a tour of his pod - READ MORE Joseph Dituri is spending 100 days 30 feet below the surface Advertisement

Professor Dituri's 74th day in Jules' Undersea Lodge was not much different to his previous days there since he submerged on March 1.

He ate a protein-heavy meal of eggs and salmon prepared using a microwave, exercised with resistance bands, did his daily push-ups and took an hour-long nap.

Unlike a submarine, the lodge does not use technology to adjust for the increased underwater pressure.

The previous record of 73 days, two hours and 34 minutes was set by two Tennessee professors  Bruce Cantrell and Jessica Fain  at the same location in 2014.

But Professor Dituri is not just settling for the record and resurfacing - he plans to stay at the lodge until June 9, when he reaches 100 days and completes an underwater mission dubbed Project Neptune 100.

The mission combines medical and ocean research, along with educational outreach and was organised by the Marine Resources Development Foundation, owner of the habitat.

'The record is a small bump and I really appreciate it,' said Professor Dituri, a University of South Florida educator who holds a doctorate in biomedical engineering and is a retired US naval officer.

'I'm honoured to have it, but we still have more science to do.'

Professor Dituri's home away from home is located at Jules Undersea Lodge in Key Largo

His research includes daily experiments in physiology to monitor how the human body responds to long-term exposure to extreme pressure.

'The idea here is to populate the world's oceans, to take care of them by living in them and really treating them well,' he said.

The outreach portion of Professor Dituri's mission includes conducting online classes and broadcast interviews from his digital studio beneath the sea.

During the past 74 days, he has reached more than 2,500 students through online classes in marine science and more with his regular biomedical engineering courses at the University of South Florida.

While he says he loves living under the ocean, there is one thing he really misses.

'The thing that I miss the most about being on the surface is literally the sun,' Professor Dituri said.

There is a toilet and small shower inside the pod. Dituri sleeps on a twin-size bed with a small bunk on top, which is the same setup in an adjacent room for scientists who visit him

'The sun has been a major factor in my life  I usually go to the gym at five and then I come back out and watch the sunrise.'

Professor Dituri gave DailyMail.com a tour of his 'home away from home' in March.

'There is a TV, although I really do not know how to turn it on. I have a small freezer like in a hotel room,' he said, while also noting he keeps a stash of chocolate in the pod.

There is a small microwave on a shelf, the only thing that can be used for cooking.

'Every good hotel has to have a pool, and my hotel has a teeny little pool outside,' said Dituri.

'This is how we enter and exit from the habitat. So when I go for a scuba dive with all my scuba diving gear, I get it on. I go out of the hole, and then I dive around. So that's how people come in and come out.'

Dituri sleeps on a twin-sized bed with a small bunk on top, which is the same setup in an adjacent room for scientists who visit him.
The idea of an asteroid the size of London's Big Ben zooming past our planet may sound the plot of the latest science fiction blockbuster.

But it's set to become a reality tomorrow, when a space rock will come within 3.4 million miles of Earth.

While that might sound far, NASA classes it as a 'near Earth' approach, and even says that this asteroid is 'potentially hazardous'.

Named '2023 JD2', the asteroid is estimated to measure up to 360ft (110 metres) in diameter.

To put that into perspective, it's bigger than both London's Big Ben and New York's Statue of Liberty, which measure 315ft (96 metres) and 305ft (93 metres) respectively.

Named '2023 JD2', the asteroid is estimated to measure up to 360ft (110 metres) in diameter. To put that into perspective, it's bigger than both London's Big Ben and New York's Statue of Liberty, which measure 315ft (96 metres) and 305ft (93 metres) respectively

What is a 'potentially hazardous' asteroid? A potentially hazardous asteroid is an asteroid whose orbit comes nearer than 0.05AU (about 7.5 million km) to the Earth. It also is at least 100 metres (300 feet) in diameter. The International Astronomical Union claims there are around 1,500 potential hazardous asteroids. Although these are not a risk to Earth as of yet, asteroids this large have the potential to cause devastation if they were to land on our planet, especially in highly-populated areas. It is believed one hits Earth once every 200-300 years. Advertisement

The asteroid will make its closest approach to Earth tomorrow at 19:52 GMT.

At that point, it will be around 0.03au (3.4 million miles) away from us, and travelling at dizzying speeds of up to 29,000mph, according to NASA.

'Near-Earth objects are asteroids and comets with orbits that bring them to within 120 million miles (195 million kilometers) of the Sun, which means they can circulate through the Earths orbital neighborhood,' NASA explained.

'Most near-Earth objects are asteroids that range in size from about 10 feet (a few meters) to nearly 25 miles (40 kilometers) across.'

While the chance of this asteroid hitting Earth is extremely low, NASA hasn't ruled out the risk of an asteroid collision in the near future.

NASA discovers around 30 new 'near-Earth objects' (NEOs) every week, and at the start of 2019 had discovered a total of more than 19,000 objects.

However, the space agency has warned its NEO catalogue isn't complete, meaning an unpredicted impact could occur at 'any time.'

NASA explained: 'Experts estimate that an impact of an object the size of the one that exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia, in 2013  approximately 55 feet (17 meters) in size  takes place once or twice a century.

While the chance of this asteroid hitting Earth is extremely low, NASA hasn't ruled out the risk of an asteroid collision in the near future (stock image)

'Impacts of larger objects are expected to be far less frequent (on the scale of centuries to millennia).

'However, given the current incompleteness of the NEO catalogue, an unpredicted impact  such as the Chelyabinsk event  could occur at any time.'

To help prepare for such an impact, NASA recently launched its first ever 'planetary defence' mission to deflect an asteroid 6.8 million miles from Earth.

A small spacecraft successfully deflected a space rock by ramming into it as part of the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission.

The craft's target was a moonlet called Dimorphos circling its parent asteroid, Didymos.

On September 26, DART soared 15,000 miles per hour (24,000 kph) toward Dimorphos to push it off its orbit.

And on March 1, 2023, NASA confirmed the mission was a smashing success.

The refrigerator-sized satellite managed to shave 33 minutes off the orbit of a 520-foot-wide asteroid - nearly five times greater than what was predicted, according to Cristina Thomas and her colleagues at Northern Arizona University.

They concluded: 'To serve as a proof-of-concept for the kinetic impactor technique of planetary defense, DART needed to demonstrate that an asteroid could be targeted during a high-speed encounter and that the target's orbit could be changed.

'DART has successfully done both.'
Anonymity is over, as DNA in the air and water means people could in future be tracked wherever they go.

Scientists have issued a warning after discovering complex human DNA can be detected from the air, water and even a footprint on a sandy beach.

This could be a vital breakthrough for when murderers refuse to reveal where they have buried their victims, allowing DNA-seeking drones to find human remains in remote locations.

It could help to find missing people, and help place criminals at the scene of a crime.

But researchers have warned it could also be used to profile an individual based on their DNA and potentially see if they have been in certain areas.

Scientists have issued a warning after discovering complex human DNA can be detected from the air, water and even a footprint on a sandy beach (stock image)

Drunk witnesses are no less accurate at recalling details of crime than sober people - READ MORE Drunk witnesses to crime are no less accurate when recalling details of what they have seen than sober people, a study has suggested (stock image) Advertisement

The scientists behind the warning are more used to informing the public about sea turtles, normally using DNA in the environment to learn about turtle diseases.

But they found a huge amount of human DNA in their samples, so decided to investigate further.

It emerged it is possible to remove DNA in the air from a veterinary hospital building, the water in rivers and oceans, and even the sand on a beach.

This DNA reveals people's genetic ancestry, like whether they are European, and genetic mutations which show someone's risk of diseases from diabetes and autism to heart disease, based on the results of six DNA samples from water and two from the air.

But, worryingly, the researchers said enough DNA was available from the air in a room or footprints on a beach to show if an individual person had been there - if that person's DNA profile was known.

There are already concerns that millions of people voluntarily providing their DNA for family tree research, or to find out if they are descended from Vikings, risks creating a massive genetic database, which could in future be misused by insurance companies with an interest in knowing people's risk of future illness.

But DNA captured from the air and water, without the knowledge of the people it belongs to, could have even worse consequences for privacy.

It emerged it is possible to remove DNA in the air from a veterinary hospital building, the water in rivers and oceans, and even the sand on a beach. Pictured: Fiona Duffy and D. Duffy filtering a water sample, Wicklow, Ireland

Dr David Duffy, who led the DNA project from the University of Florida, said: 'We've been consistently surprised throughout this project at how much human DNA we find and the quality of that DNA.

'In most cases, the quality is almost equivalent to if you took a sample from a person.

'There is enough DNA in the environment to potentially track people in the future, if you had information about their DNA.

'That raises concerns about surveillance and privacy.'

Human DNA is exhaled and coughed into the air, flushed into waterways from the toilet, and left in the natural environment as we walk through it.

DNA in sewage works from household toilets is already used to track the spread of diseases such as Covid, monkeypox and tuberculosis.

But the evidence that DNA in the environment is such high-quality means it could be used to find archaeological sites if importance containing graves or human sacrifices.

The researchers did not test whether someone's DNA could be found in a room after they have recently left it, but previous studies suggest this is possible, which could help criminal investigations.

Human DNA was also found in rivers in Ireland and Florida, as well as a beach in Florida.

The concern from the findings, published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, is that the breakthrough could mean certain ethnic groups could in future be found in areas by authoritarian governments who are persecuting them.
Killer solar storms could knock out the internet and power for hours - and you would only have 30 minutes to prepare, according to a NASA study.

The American space agency developed a new artificial intelligent-powered system to predict when destructive events will strike Earth.

While the system is the most advanced warning, 30 minutes may not be enough time for the world to prepare for complete darkness.

However, people can now take steps to prepare for an extreme solar event - such as creating a survival kit and having printed copies of digital documents.

While the system is the most advanced warning, 30 minutes may not be enough time for the world to prepare for complete darkness

NASA announced the development of its computer model called DAGGER (formally, Deep Learning Geomagnetic Perturbation) in March, but the research is now gaining public traction.

An international team of researchers at the Frontier Development Lab  a public-private partnership that includes NASA, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the US Department of Energy  have been using AI to look for connections between the solar wind and geomagnetic disruptions or perturbations that cause havoc on our technology.

The researchers applied an AI method called 'deep learning,' which trains computers to recognize patterns based on previous examples.

And the team used the technology to identify relationships between solar wind measurements from heliophysics missions.

These missions are probes in space carefully placed throughout space to create a vast array of sensors, which work together to study the sun.

The team tested DAGGER against two geomagnetic storms in August 2011 and March 2015.

The system could quickly and accurately forecast the storms impacts worldwide in each case.

Lead author Vishal Upendran of the Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics in India, said in a statement: 'With this AI, it is now possible to make rapid and accurate global predictions and inform decisions in the event of a solar storm, thereby minimizing  or even preventing  devastation to modern society.'

READ MORE: Amazing ultraviolet image of the sun appears to show a friendly expression The sun hasn't got his hat on here. But we can still cry hip hip hip hooray  because he's wearing the broadest, warmest of smiles. Advertisement

Solar storms can also make global positioning systems less accurate, which is primarily a problem for precision drilling and other technologies. There also could be GPS outages.

The storm also can cause communication problems and add radiation around the north and south poles, which will probably force airlines to reroute flights. Some have already done so.

In 1859, a massive geomagnetic super-storm known as the Carrington event sent powerful coronal mass ejections toward Earth, disrupting communications on the ground.

If such an event were to happen in today's world, the effects would be catastrophic.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has shared ways to prepare for an extreme solar storm.

The agency suggests filling plastic containers with water and placing them in the freezer, which can then be used to keep refrigerated food cold in the event of a power outage.

The public should keep their car tank at least half full because gas stations rely on electricity to power their pumps.

And if you own a garage, locate the manual release button.

NOAA also urges people to make backup copies of important digital data and information and to keep money somewhere in the home because banks will not be available due to power outages.
Ronnie Wood proved he is every inch the loving husband and father as he took to his Instagram to shout out his wife Sally on Mother's Day.

The Rolling Stone rocker, 75, who shares twin girls with Sally, 45 posted a heartfelt statement on Sunday, accompanied by some very sweet images.

He penned: 'Happy Mother's Day to all the mums, moms, mamas and mothers who celebrate it today! And Happy Mother's Day to my @sallywood1'.

In one of the images his partner can be seen cradling the new born babies as they cuddle close to her.

The second image is seemingly a few years later as the girls are bit older and the family are away on holiday.

Doting dad: Ronnie Wood, 75, posted a set of candid images of his wife Sally and their twin girls to celebrate Mother's Day

So cute: Ronnie and Sally welcomed their twin girls in May 2016, just before Ronnie's 69th birthday in June. They named them Gracie Jane and Alice Rose

Ronnie looks happy and relaxed in a pair of floral shorts, an unbuttoned pink shirt and bare feet.

Sally can be seen in a white sundress, beaming from ear to ear, whilst both girls are stood close to their famous parents.

This isn't the first time Ronnie has gushed over his wife and her parenting skills.

He captioned another post that was equally as sentimental back in March when it was Mother's Day in the UK.

Ronnie married Sally, the owner of a theatre production company, 31 years his junior in 2012.

Their twin girls, named Gracie Jane and Alice Rose were born in May 2016, just before Ronnie Wood's 69th birthday in June.

The candid messages come after Sally revealed her and Ronnie have opted for some colourful interiors inspired by their six-year-old twins, Gracie and Alice.

So sweet: This isn't the first time Ronnie has gushed over his wife and her parenting skills as he captioned this picture (above) with the below words

Pretty in pink: Ronnie Wood (pictured), 75, and wife Sally  who have been working on their Maida Vale home  have opted for some colourful interiors inspired by their six-year-old twin daughters Gracie and Alice

She told MailOnline: 'We asked the twins to pick a colour for the kitchen and that's the colour they chose. So, we painted the kitchen pink, and that pink was also used in the pink room.'

Ronnie has been through a few romantic rollercoasters of his own, but his marriage to Sally has been notably calm and settled.

The guitarist quit smoking after undergoing treatment for lung cancer in 2017 and has been sober since 2010.

Wood has four other children  Jesse, 46, with first wife Krissy Findlay, and 44-year-old Leah and Tyrone, 39, with ex-wife Jo. He also adopted Jo's son Jamie, 48.
Travis Barker jumped to his Instagram stories on Sunday and uploaded a slew of adorable photos in tribute to wife, Kourtney Kardashian, for Mother's Day.

The Blink-182 drummer, 47, and the Poosh founder, 44, will soon celebrate their first wedding anniversary on Monday, May 15, after officially tying the knot last year in 2022.

The musician sweetly added an assortment of throwback photos that showed the TV personality posing with their children: sons Mason, 13, and Reign, eight, as well as daughter Penelope, 10, whom she shares with ex, Scott Disick.

Upon marrying, the reality star also became stepmother to Barker's two children, Landon, 19, and Alabama, 17, whom he welcomed with ex-wife, Shanna Moakler. He still remains close to the actress's other daughter, Atiana De La Hoya, 24.

In the first snap added to his Instagram stories, Travis added a photo that was taken during the Christmas season at the Kardashian/Jenner annual holiday bash.

Mother's Day tribute: Travis Barker, 47, jumped to his Instagram stories on Sunday and uploaded a slew of adorable photos in tribute to wife, Kourtney Kardashian, 44, for Mother's Day

Motherhood: He also shared a selfie that his wife had taken with Penelope and Reign, who wrapped his arms around his mother's waist to get into the quick photo

Kourtney donned a figure-hugging, red lace dress while relaxing on a spacious white couch. Sitting next to her was her daughter Penelope, as well as Alabama and Atiana on both ends.

Behind the star was Travis, who donned a sleek, black suit as well as a black dress shirt, while son, Landon, contrasted with an all-white ensemble. At the very top of the photo, the drummer wrote, '@Happy Mother's Day @kourtneykardash.'

He also shared a selfie that his wife had taken with Penelope and Reign, who wrapped his arms around his mother's waist to get into the quick photo. Barker sweetly added, 'Not a better mama bear thank you @kourtneykardash.'

Another showed the media personality resting outside on a lounge chair with Alabama and Atiana all dressed in comfortable, white robes.

Travis added a family photo that had been taken during an exciting trip to Disneyland, with the Blink-182 member writing at the top, 'Our crazy family.'

Kourtney could be seen riding a bike with her son standing up in the back, prompting the music artist to humorously add, 'Best BMX bike rider @kourtneykardash.'

He lastly added another family photo as he posed with his wife, along with Reign, Penelope and Landon, and concluded with a picture as he and Kourtney were about to share a romantic kiss in Milan.

At the top, he wrote, 'I love you @kourtneykardash' with the star herself reposting the snap and adding, 'I love you more' at the bottom.

Quality time: Another showed the media personality resting outside on a lounge chair with Alabama and Atiana all dressed in comfortable, white robes

Family: Travis added a family photo that had been taken during an exciting trip to Disneyland, with the Blink-182 member writing at the top, 'Our crazy family'

Making memories: Kourtney could be seen riding a bike with her son standing up in the back, prompting the music artist to humorously add, 'Best BMX bike rider'

Happy times: The drummer lastly added another family photo as he posed with his wife, along with Reign, Penelope and Landon

The beauty gave a glimpse of the lovely surprise she had woken up to on Sunday, and shared a clip on her own Instagram stories to show a staircase completely covered with red rose petals.

Candles were placed on each step while an assortment of family photos were also hung up next to the steps on the wall leading to a homemade breakfast. 'I feel so blessed with the most thoughtful daughter,' she penned.

Kourtney filmed a fully set table with yellow being the main color scheme. Plates and napkins with lemon embellishments as well as vibrant yellow flowers covered the long table. 'Happy Mother's Day to all the mommies,' she wrote.

A bowl of fresh fruit as well as an Armenian specialty was made and ready to be eaten. 'Armenian beeshee in pajamas,' she captioned the snap.

She lastly uploaded a photo of a gift that had been given to her from mother, Kris Jenner. A short note on the gift tag read, 'Happy Mother's Day Kourtney. I love you, mommy.'

Along with Mother's Day, Kourtney and Travis will soon have another reason to celebrate. The two lovebirds will ring in their first wedding anniversary on May 15, after saying 'I do' during a smaller ceremony in Santa Barbara last year.

Later that same month on May 22, a religious ceremony was held and took place in Portofino, Italy with numerous guests in attendance.

Beforehand, the couple had gotten unofficially married in Las Vegas directly after the Grammy Awards in April of last year.

Romantic: Travis concluded with a throwback photo as he and Kourtney shared a romantic kiss in Milan and wrote, 'I love you @kourtneykardash' with the star herself reposting the snap and adding, 'I love you more' at the bottom

Surprise! The beauty gave a glimpse of the lovely surprise she had woken up to, and shared a clip on her own Instagram stories to show a staircase completely covered with red rose petals

Yummy breakfast: Kourtney filmed a fully set table with yellow being the main color scheme and wrote, 'Happy Mother's Day to all the mommies'

Special treat: A bowl of fresh fruit as well as an Armenian specialty was made and ready to be eaten

Thoughtful: She lastly uploaded a photo of a gift that had been given to her from mother, Kris Jenner

A source recently gave an update to Us Weekly in an article published on Thursday about Kourtney and Travis' plans to have a baby of their own.

'Kourtney and Travis have wanted to have a baby since day one and she got pregnant so easily with the other three,' the source stated, referencing to her children with Scott Disick. 'I think she didnt even think about it this time.'

'But since they had it in their mind that the most romantic thing they can do is have a baby together, even when it got tough they never wavered,' the insider added.

The reality has been open about her journey to try to conceive with husband, Travis, and has talked about IVF on The Kardashians, and in September 2022, revealed that she had taken a break from IVF during an interview with The Wall Street Journal.

The source added that Kourtney isn't one to give up, despite facing challenges. 'She sees everything through, and this is no different. She also doesnt take no for an answer. She is excited at the prospect of having a baby with Travis just as much as she was on day one.'

'The longer process doesnt change that for her. Its a silver lining actually,' the insider stated.

Baby plans: A source recently gave an update to Us Weekly in an article published on Thursday about Kourtney and Travis' plans to have a baby of their own

Being honest: Earlier this month, the star uploaded a snap to wish her close friend a happy birthday, and donned a skimpy black bikini and added the caption, 'A little IVF body'

Hitting back: Back in March, the TV personality clapped back at a social media user who asked if she was pregnant in behind-the-scenes photos from a Lemme campaign

IVF 'effects': 'The after effects of IVF,' she explained in response and added, 'I only acknowledge this comment bc I do think it's important to know how IVF affects women's bodies and it's not spoken about much'

'As such a public figure she can talk about IVF and normalize any stigmas for anyone with her platform. Shes happy to be the face of IVF if it means she can help just one person.'

Earlier this month, the star uploaded a snap to wish her close friend a happy birthday, and donned a skimpy black bikini. In a short caption added near her, Kourtney wrote, 'A little IVF body.'

Back in March, the TV personality clapped back at a social media user who asked if she was pregnant in behind-the-scenes photos from a Lemme campaign. 'The after effects of IVF,' she explained in response.

'I only acknowledge this comment bc I do think it's important to know how IVF affects women's bodies and it's not spoken about much. Also are we still asking women if they're pregnant?'
Kylie Jenner rang in Mother's Day by sharing a collection of sweet photos with her kids and celebrating with momager Kris Jenner and beloved grandma Mary Jo Campbell.

The cosmetics queen, 25  who recently channeled the Matrix in a black leather coat  posted a slideshow on Instagram that showed her cuddling daughter Stormi, five, and son Aire, one.

Jenner's post included a touching snap of Kris, 67, and Mary Jo, 88, holding little Aire on the couch  giving social media one of the cutest Mother's Day photos from Hollywood.

'Happy Mother's Day,' wrote Kylie in the caption, wishing her 390 million followers a very special weekend.

Throughout her slideshow, the makeup mogul looked like the ultimate mom as she cradled her little boy and doted on her daughter.

Happy Mother's Day! Kylie Jenner, 25, rang in Mother's Day by sharing a collection of sweet photos with her daughter Stormi, five, and son Aire, one

Three generations: The makeup mogul's post included a touching snap of momager Kris Jenner, 67, and beloved grandmother Mary Jo Campbell, 88, spending some quality time with little Aire on the couch

Mary Jo is extraordinarily close to the Kardashian-Jenner clan, serving as a 'rock' for Kris and her children.

Kris gushed about her mother in 2021 when she penned a heartfelt birthday tribute on Instagram.

'Happy birthday mom!!' wrote the reality TV matriarch. 'You have always been my greatest inspiration, the one I can come to for anything. And if it weren't for your love, support and guidance, I wouldn't be the woman or the mother I am today.

'Thank you for being our rock,' Kris continued. 'You are the greatest mother, grandmother, friend and mentor. I thank God every day for choosing you to be my mom.

'Thank you for all you do for me and for our family. I love you more than you'll ever know. Xo.'

This is the first Mother's Day that Kylie has celebrated since her split from on-again/off-again partner Travis Scott, 31.

In early January it was reported that the former couple decided to call it quits for the second time after the two stars rekindled their romance in 2020.

A source close to the TV personality and the Texas-born rapper informed Us Weekly: 'Kylie and Travis are off again' and 'were supposed to spend the holidays together.'

Special moments: 'Happy Mother's Day,' wrote Kylie in the caption, wishing her 390 million followers a very special weekend

Doting mom: Jenner included various snaps of her holding Aire in a loving embrace

Tight-knit siblings: Stormi looked like the perfect big sister as Kyle posted a few photos that showcased the close bond between her children

Close bond: Throughout her slideshow, the cosmetics queen looked like the ultimate mom as she cradled her little boy and doted on her daughter

Memories: The bombshell included a gorgeous shot from when she was pregnant

Recent heartbreak: This is the first Mother's Day that Kylie has celebrated since her split from on-again/off-again partner Travis Scott, 31. In early January it was reported that the former couple decided to call it quits for the second time after the two stars rekindled their romance in 2020; seen in 2022

Walk in nature: Also on Sunday, Kylie shared a lovely TikTok video of herself and Aire exploring her sister Khloe Kardashian's garden after meeting up for a Mother's Day brunch

Too cute: Little Aire walked alongside his mother on the gravel and tried to be independent before reaching up a hand to hold hers

Taking it easy: He looked cute in a white graphic T-shirt with khaki pants, while his mother wore black jeans that hugged her curves and a matching dark T-shirt

But Kylie's latest Mother's Day post comes amid rampant speculation that she is currently in the middle of a whirlwind romance with Timothee Chalamet, 27.

The Kardashians star's new dalliance with Chalamet took the world by complete surprise, especially since the pair have reportedly been dating for months.

Kylie and Timothee met up for a secret date night in Los Angeles at Titos Taco stand last month, just days after she was seen parking in the driveway of his Beverly Hills home.

The duo first fell to relationship rumors in early April after a tipster claimed to the gossip blog DeuxMoi that they have been secretly dating since January.
She recently underwent a body transformation, losing an impressive 18kg over just a few months.

And Jackie 'O' Henderson showed off her slimmed-down figure as she posed for a sweet photo with her lookalike daughter Kitty on Sunday to celebrate Mother's Day.

The mother-of-one, 48, went on to share a collage of photos Kitty had posted, which included several of the pair travelling to Fiji.

'Happy Mother's Day to the best mum in the world,' the 12-year-old captioned the images.

Kitty is usually kept out of the limelight, but has recently made more and more appearances on Jackie's social media and at events with her mum.

Jackie 'O' Henderson showed off her slimmed-down figure as she posed for a sweet photo with her lookalike daughter Kitty on Sunday while celebrating Mother's Day

The radio shares her daughter with her photographer ex-husband, Lee Henderson.

Jackie has stunned her fans with her makeover after dropping almost 20kg.

The star shared her day on a plate last month.

The mother-of-one went on to share a collage of photos Kitty had posted, which included several photo of the pair travelling to Fiji

She revealed on The Kyle and Jackie O Show she regularly skips breakfast, a practice known as intermittent fasting.

She also avoids carbohydrates, and satiates her hunger throughout the day by snacking on pre-cut pieces of steak.

'I cook steak and slice it, and then I'll just have a little sliver of steak if I'm hungry,' she told her co-host Kyle Sandilands.

Jackie shares daughter Kitty with her photographer ex-husband, Lee Henderson

Jackie, who is an ambassador for weight loss program WW, resists splurging on high-calorie foods for lunch, opting to eat just 'three little slivers of steak' and a few Vietnamese rice paper rolls containing fish and cabbage.

Kyle was shocked by her small portion size, telling her: 'A dog would eat more!'

For dinner, Jackie usually eats vegetables and a protein such as chicken or red meat.

In between meals, Jackie treats herself to smoothies and Starbucks Frappuccinos, a type of blended ice coffee drink.
Real Housewives of Miami star Lisa Hochstein slammed her estranged husband Lenny Hochstein amid their contentious divorce in a series of Instagram Stories posts on Sunday, to coincide with Mother's Day.

Lisa, 40, claimed the 56-year-old plastic surgeon had been looking 'to hurt, humiliate, disparage, and shame' her on the weekend coinciding with the holiday.

'Thank you to everyone for the Mothers Day messages!' she said. 'Also, thank you for forwarding me all the already debunked lies my ex is spreading on his public platform this weekend.

'What type of man goes out of his way to further escalate conflict and disparage the mother of his children on the special day and weekend?'

Said Lisa: 'I was left. I was cheated on, I feel like Im living in hell.'

The latest: Real Housewives of Miami star Lisa Hochstein, 40, slammed her estranged husband Lenny Hochstein amid their contentious divorce in a series of Instagram Stories posts on Sunday, to coincide with Mother's Day. Pictured last week in Miami

Lisa said she's 'still being bullied, lied about and provoked now by' Lenny and his girlfriend Katharina Mazepa (pictured together in March) amid the tumultuous split

Lisa said Lenny's actions seemed 'so mean and calculated' and noted that with her platform, she 'could say so much more' about him, but she doesn't.

Lisa said Lenny's 'recent narrative of trying to convince anyone that Im such a horrible person is pure deflection,' noting that he was 'caught cheating on [a] mic' and left her 'for someone 30 years younger.'

Lisa, who is mother to two kids - Logan, seven, and Elle, three - with Lenny, said she's 'still being bullied, lied about and provoked now by' Lenny and his girlfriend Katharina Mazepa, his mother and their friends amid the tumultuous split.

She said that since a recent court ruling went in her favor, the bullying is amped up ... to a new level.'

Lisa said Lenny and Katharina have hired a publicist 'to get news stories for themselves ... otherwise no one would care,' and that her only responses come in defense.

She said of Lenny, 'He had a two-year-old and was asking for a third kid, just with friends at our table days before getting caught,' adding that Bravo 'doesnt edit anything or anyone to look a certain way.'

Lisa said of their split: 'I had no idea two days later he was leaving me to start a relationship with someone I suspect he has had something with for a long time, was around us, and in my home for years.

'Yes, we were still sleeping in the same bed. We had nannies and housekeepers here and the kids came in to see us every morning so his narrative is bold.'

Lisa claimed the 56-year-old plastic surgeon had been looking 'to hurt, humiliate, disparage, and shame' her on the weekend coinciding with the holidat

Lisa said Lenny was 'caught cheating on [a] mic' and left her 'for someone 30 years younger'

Lisa said Lenny and Katharina have hired a publicist 'to get news stories for themselves ... otherwise no one would care,' and that her only responses come in defense

Lisa, who is mother to two kids - Logan, seven, and Elle, three - with Lenny, said she is home for their kids almost 150 hours a week while hes there about five

She said that since a recent court ruling went in her favor, the bullying is amped up ... to a new level'

Lisa said she is home for their kids almost 150 hours a week while hes there about five. She wrapped up by saying, 'Please leave me and the kids to have a nice Mothers Day weekend. Im hurting and I need peace.'

Lisa's statement Sunday came weeks after a judge in South Florida ruled she would receive $8,000 monthly in temporary support from Lenny Hochstein amid their divorce, has ruled.

Judge Abby Cynamon last week ordered Lenny to pay Lisa the monthly sum beginning in May via direct deposit, Page Six reported Thursday, citing legal docs in reviewed.

Lenny was ordered by the court to 'maintain the status quo' for Lisa and their two kids by providing funds for medical insurance, schooling, activities, camp and other needs.

Lenny is on the hook for $60,000 of Lisa's court expenses for her lawyer, the judge ruled, as the outlet previously reported that she was in arrears to the tune of $85,000 to her legal team.

The payment orders will remain in effect until the court issues an updated order in the case, or the former couple reach a settlement in the split, the outlet reported.

Lisa previously told the court that the amount of money she earns from appearing on the Bravo series - $30,000 an episode - was 'woefully insufficient' to support her and her children in the quality of life they are accustomed to.

Lenny filed to divorce Lisa last May; they are parents to two kids, Logan and Elle

Lisa was seen at an event in support of her Bravo series in Miami Beach in December

Lisa's legal team previously said that Lenny 'has significant and substantial assets and earns millions of dollars a year as [a] successful plastic surgeon.'

They said that without his remuneration, Lisa was unable to 'provide the needs and necessities of life as they were established during the marriage.'

Lisa for months has been pursuing the court to award temporary support, telling the court that she was unable to purchase essential items such as food and diapers when he deactivated her credit cards.

Lenny denied the claims, saying Lisa could have bought both with an Insta-Cart app he has linked to his bank account, while calling her financial demands 'excessive.'

Lenny - who wed Lisa in October 2009 and filed to divorce last May - began dating the Austrian model Mazepa in the wake of the parting.

Late last year, he claimed in court docs that Lisa was out of control with her spending, running up a $9,000 tab for designer clothes in a single week.

On the Real Housewives of Miami fifth season reunion that aired in March, Lisa conceded that her spending habits were a factor in her split from Lenny.
Candice Warner, Jasmine Stefanovic and Kyly Clarke are just three high-profile women who could be on the Real Housewives of Sydney reboot.

According to a report in Woman's Day on Monday, a list of women who have been approached for the show has been leaked.

Currently the confirmed cast includes Sally Obermeder and Terry Biviano along with original cast members Krissy Marsh and Nicole Gazal O'Neil.

Candice has reportedly jumped at the chance to appear on the show with an insider saying she wanted to capitalise on her memoir.

'Candice is keen to capitalise on all of the publicity her memoir Running Strong has and with her Sydney connections, Candice has a great chance to be a star of the show,' one insider said.

WAG Candice Warner (pictured) is one of the big names being thrown around for the Real Housewives of Sydney reboot, according to a Woman's Day report on Monday

The publication, however, went on to say Candice was looking for $500,000 to do the show - which may exceed the network's budget.

Producers have also brainstormed putting Kyly Clarke on the show for her 'normal' persona.

'Kyly has what it takes to bring a bit of normal into the line-up - she's also no pushover and would come a whole lot cheaper than Candice,' they added.

Jasmine Stefanovic's name has also been thrown around with producers aiming to get more gossip on Karl and the pair's A-list friends.

'Kyly has what it takes to bring a bit of normal into the line-up - she's also no pushover and would come a whole lot cheaper than Candice,' an insider said of Kyly Clarke. Pictured

Producers also had an eye on Jackie 'O' Henderson for the show, provided she can balance it with her radio commitments.

Skincare queen Zoe Foster Blake was approached but reportedly turned it down as it wasn't on brand for her other projects.

Rumours circulated at the end of last year that RHOS was getting a reboot with it confirmed via Binge last month.

Binge has remained tight-lipped about possible stars of the show with a number of names of Sydney identities thrown around.

Producers had an eye on notoriously private Jasmine Stefanovic who is married to Today show host Karl Stefanovic. Both pictured

Skincare queen Zoe Foster Blake was approached but reportedly turned it down as it wasn't on brand for her other projects. Here with husband, Hamish Blake

The Real Housewives of Sydney first aired on Foxtel in 2017, but it never made it to air in the U.S. after network executives at Bravo deemed it too extreme.

'A lot of the women in this show were nasty for nastys sake and had no redeeming features,' Foxtel's head of television Brian Walsh admitted at the time.

The series was cancelled by Foxtel - who own Binge - after one season in early 2019.
Steve Irwin's father Bob is reportedly set to enter into a heated battle with his daughter-in-law Terri as he fights to reclaim Australia Zoo.

The 83-year-old conservationist built the iconic Queensland zoo from the ground up in 1970 and passed it on to his late son Steve and his wife Terri in 1992.

Terri, 58, has stayed on as owner and operator of the world-famous attraction since Steve's death in 2006 - but Bob is reportedly not happy about it.

'Bob's genuine passion for the environment and all creatures great and small has given him the courage to push Terri to hand back the keys,' a source told New Idea.

The Australia Zoo founder is said to take issue with Terri apparently commercialising the wildlife park, thereby shifting its original focus.

Steve Irwin's father Bob is reportedly set to enter into a heated battle with his daughter-in-law Terri as he fights to reclaim Australia Zoo. Pictured: Bob with his son Steve in 2005

'The final straw for Bob was a recent announcement they were opening up the grounds for rock concerts, with Terri's mate Russell Crowe and his band set to be one of the first rowdy gigs,' they added.

'Bob finds it insulting that this conservation haven he was the brainchild of is now attracting thousands of partygoers  next thing you know they'll be hosting Schoolies!'

Daily Mail Australia reached out to Australia Zoo for comment.

The 83-year-old conservationist created the iconic Queensland zoo from the ground up in 1970 and passed it on to his late son Steve and his wife Terri in 1992. Pictured: Bob with Terri, Bindi and Robert Irwin in 2007

Steve Irwin died in September 2006 aged 44, after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming a wildlife documentary in Batt Reef, Queensland.

Bob Irwin is said to be estranged from the Irwin family with Terri and her children Bindi, 24, and Robert - who was named after his grandad - refusing to speak to him.

Back in September, it was reported Bob was 'devastated' he had not yet met his great-granddaughter, who is the first child of his estranged granddaughter Bindi.

Terri, 58, has stayed on as owner and operator of the world-famous attraction since Steve's death in 2006 and Bob is said to not be happy about it

Bindi welcomed her daughter, Grace Warrior Irwin Powell in March 2021, and she has not yet met her 83-year-old great-grandad, Woman's Day claimed.

'He still talks about Steve and the kids, but it's with sadness. I'm sure he's devastated not to know his great-grandchild,' an alleged insider told the magazine.

The report goes on to claim that all photos of Bob have been stripped from the Irwin family home at Australia Zoo.

The magazine additionally claimed that Bob would like to make peace with Bindi, amid the pair's public feud.

Bob Irwin is said to be estranged from the Irwin family and with Terri and her children Bindi, 24, and Robert - who was named after his grandad - refusing to speak to him
Hasht-e-Subh Daily, May 2, 2023



Abdul Qodos a Taliban commander attempted to sexually assault a young girl named Zarmina in Saad Siah village of Firozkoh, the center of Ghor province. When Zarmina resisted he shot and killed her. The news and photo of the victims was widely published by Afghans in the social media. (from social media by RAWA) Abdul Qodos a Taliban commander attempted to sexually assault a young girl named Zarmina in Saad Siah village of Firozkoh, the center of Ghor province. When Zarmina resisted he shot and killed her. The news and photo of the victims was widely published by Afghans in the social media. (from social media by RAWA)

Numerous reports have surfaced over the past two years about extramarital relationships and sexual assault by Taliban commanders on young women and girls during their rule in the country. Recently, in Ghor province, a Taliban militant named Abdul Qodos attempted to sexually assault a young girl named Zarmina in her fathers house in the Saad Siah area of the city of Firozkoh, the center of Ghor province. When Zarmina resisted, Abdul Qodos shot and killed her. Reliable sources in Ghor province have confirmed these details.

According to reliable sources, on Thursday night of April 27, Abdul Qodos and another Taliban militant visited the home of his brothers fiancee in the city of Firozkoh as guests. It was reported that Zarmina, who was the sister of Abdul Qodoss brothers fiancee, had a familial relationship with him for several years. Due to their close bond, Abdul Qodos considered Zarmina his foster sister.

A reliable source who did not want his name to be mentioned in this report told the Hasht-e-Subh Daily that these people had been relatives and had dealings with each other for years. When Abdul Qodos comes and eats dinner, he goes out of the house as an excuse and goes to his foster sister Zarmina. He gropes her, but Zarmina raises her voice and resists the sexual assault that was supposed to take place. When Zarminas voice gets louder and she screams, Abdul Qodos shoots her in the chest with a gun and kills her. The source adds, After this event, Zarminas family members, including her father and brothers, learn about the incident, severely beat Abdul Qodos, and hand him over to the Taliban.

The video footage that the Hasht-e-Subh Daily received shows a chest wound on Zarmina that caused her death from being shot. The footage also reveals Abdul Qodoss bloodied face, and those present in the scene interrogate him about why and how he killed Zarmina.

Locals reported that Abdul Qodos, due to his position as a Taliban militant, had become arrogant and believed he could act with impunity. He attempted to sexually assault Zarmina, resulting in her murder. After the incident, other Taliban militants arrested Abdul Qodos. Zarminas family is now demanding justice.

Abdulhai Zaeem, the Taliban Director of Information and Culture in Ghor province, has confirmed the murder of Zarmina in Firozkoh City. He stated that the victim was a 25-year-old young woman who was killed under mysterious circumstances. However, Abdulhai Zaeem did not provide any further details.

Meanwhile, Taliban officials have warned local media outlets in Ghor province against reporting on the case. A local media owner in the province confirmed to Hasht-e-Subh Daily that the Taliban have prohibited the coverage of this issue by their news networks.

Recently, the media reported a case of sexual assault and murder of a young girl by a Taliban militant in Ghor province. Over the past two years, there have been numerous reports of sexual assault by commanders, fighters, and even affiliates of the Taliban in various provinces of the country. In the latest case, the brother-in-law of the Taliban governor for Badakhshan province reportedly sexually assaulted a married nurse named Shukria, who eventually committed suicide. Another case involved an 18-year-old girl in Charikar, the center of Parwan province, who was sexually assaulted by a Taliban member named Fazal-ur-Rehman after she rejected his marriage proposal. Despite dozens of other cases being reported, the Taliban authorities have always attempted to prevent the dissemination of news regarding sexual assault by members of the group.
Jennifer Lawrence stepped out with her mom Karen over the weekend for a casual Mother's Day afternoon in New York City.

The Oscar winner, 32  who recently rang in summer by wearing a leggy floral dress  wore white for the outing while her mother rocked a long-sleeved black minidress.

The pair spent some quality time together by getting their nails done before linking up with Jennifer's dad Gary.

Later in the afternoon, Lawrence underwent an outfit change and was seen running to catch her ride.

She looked effortlessly stylish in a crochet knit camisole teamed with baggy denim jeans and black sneakers.

Quality time: Jennifer Lawrence, 32, stepped out with her mom Karen over the weekend for a casual Mother's Day afternoon in New York City

Keeping it casual: The Oscar winner wore white for the outing, rocking a breezy pair of cargo pants, crisp white T-shirt and a bucket hat

Lawrence has alluded to having a complicated relationship with her mother in the past, calling Karen 'a wonderful person' while conceding that she is still working on some 'things' from her childhood.

Speaking to Vogue last year, the Silver Linings Playbook star said: 'My mother is a wonderful person, but that doesn't mean that there arent still things from my childhood that I'm working out.'

The A-lister went on to connect her career as an actress to the complicated relationship she has with her mother.

'Art more often than not is about ones mother,' said Jennifer. 'I hesitate to say that because I would hate for somebody to go back and watch my movies, or watch this movie in particular, and think that that is the way that I'm painting my mother.'

Jennifer grew up in Indian Hills, Kentucky, where her father owned a construction company and her mother managed a summer camp.

As the little sister of two older brothers, Jennifer was reportedly raised to be 'tough' by her mother, who has a complicated track record when it came to supporting her daughter's teenage dreams of acting.

Karen allegedly favored the path of modeling for her daughter, but Jennifer insisted on pursuing auditions and making it in Hollywood.

The new mom  who shares a one-year-old baby boy named Cy with husband Cooke Maroney  eventually came full circle and spoke to Vogue about how her craft could be affected by motherhood.

Family outing: The pair spent some quality time together by getting their nails done before linking up with Jennifer's dad Gary

Complicated: Lawrence has alluded to having a complicated relationship with her mother in the past, calling Karen 'a wonderful person' while conceding that she is still working on some 'things' from her childhood

Outfit change: Later in the afternoon, Lawrence underwent an outfit change and was seen running to catch her ride. She looked effortlessly stylish in a crochet knit camisole teamed with baggy denim jeans and black sneakers

She said: 'So many of my films in the past have been about my mother, my childhood. I wonder what will happen now that I'll be witnessing somebody else's childhood.

'And I wonder what he's going to be talking about with his therapist. She wouldn't put me down. She kisses me on the mouth. She asked me not to go to college.'

But the Hunger Games star isn't letting her fears get in the way of enjoying life as a mother and wife, as she is relishing her family.

Gushing about her husband and young son, Jennifer said: 'My heart has stretched to a capacity that I didn't know about. I include my husband in that.

'And then they're both just, like, out there, walking around, crossing streets. He's gonna drive one day. He's gonna be a stupid teenager and be behind the wheel of a car. And I'm just gonna be like, good night! You know? Like, who sleeps?'
Amber Davies sent pulses racing as she took to her Instagram Story on Monday during her sun-soaked Mexico getaway.

The former Love Island winner, 26, looked incredible in a sheer black dress featuring a plunging neckline and giant floral prints.

She toted her essentials around in a small pink handbag, which she showed off while posing seductively against a mirror.

Later on in the night, the West End actress pushed open a drinks cabinet to reveal a secret nightclub, titled The Gypsy Club.

She couldn't conceal her surprise while being filmed wandering into the lavish-looking hotspot.

Hot stuff: Amber Davies sent pulses racing as she took to her Instagram Story on Monday during her sun-soaked Mexico getaway

Wowzers! The former Love Island winner, 26, looked incredible in a sheer black dress featuring a plunging neckline and purple prints

Earlier this year, Amber fumed about her encounter with Kim Kardashian during the superstar's London city break.

The stage star had been performing in the Back To The Future West End musical when the SKIMS mogul, 42, had been in the audience.

Having posed for a sweet cast shot with Kim and her son Saint, seven, Amber wrote: 'Thank you for coming to watch @bttfmusical. Ermmmmmm...... My life is made. @kimkardashian.'

But she was soon left mortified after realising she had met the fashion icon while wearing 1970s attire, as well as bags under her eyes and a padded suit.

Giving her followers a full-length view of her outfit, which included a brown wig, Amber penned alongside a video, 'Bags under my eyes & a padded suit.

Amber - who joined the cast as Lorraine Baines in July - added: 'It's the fact that Kim Kardashian saw me dressed like this. Ready for the met gala.'

Kim had spent her St. Patrick's Day on a pub crawl around before going to the musical - sending local pub-goers and fans into a frenzy.

The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star celebrated the Irish holiday with several of her friends as she made her way around the city and ended the night at the show.
Nicky Hilton Rothschild celebrated Mother's Day by escorting her two daughters - six-year-old Lily-Grace Victoria and five-year-old Theodora 'Teddy' Marilyn - to lunch in Manhattan on Sunday.

The 39-year-old designer - who recently brought her girls to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show - bared her shoulders in a pink floral frock and strappy sandals selected by her stylist Sammy K.

Nicky (born Nicholai) accessorized her spring attire with brown sunglasses and a yellow Hermes Birkin bag - created 1984 in honor of Jane Birkin - which can cost between $5K-$500K.

Missing from the all-female family function were Hilton's second husband James Rothschild and their 10-month-old baby boy, whose name has not been publicly disclosed.

The native New Yorker and the 37-year-old financier tied to knot in 2015 after four years of dating.

Quality time: Nicky Hilton Rothschild celebrated Mother's Day by escorting her two daughters - six-year-old Lily-Grace Victoria (L) and five-year-old Theodora 'Teddy' Marilyn (R) - to lunch in Manhattan on Sunday

Spring time: The 39-year-old designer bared her shoulders in a pink floral frock and strappy sandals selected by her stylist Sammy K

'Wishing a Happy Mother's Day to my amazing family of strong, caring, and loving mothers,' Nicky - who boasts 2.7M social media followers - captioned her Instagram slideshow on Sunday.

'You inspire me every day. I love you endlessly.'

Hilton just took a red-eye flight back from California where she and her famous big sister Paris Hilton spent the past two days celebrating their gal pal Whitney Davis' bachelorette festivities ahead of her wedding to Luke Graham White.

On Saturday night, the hotel heiresses joined sister-in-law Tessa June Hilton at the For the Bride Tribe Dinner catered by Plates by Lisa in Malibu followed by live band karaoke.

On Friday night, Paris and Nicky donned glam golden mini-dresses to party with Beacher's Madhouse founder Jeff Beacher and his crew at SHOREbar Santa Monica.

Hilton also got to spend some quality time with her four-month-old nephew, Phoenix Barron Hilton Reum, over the weekend, gushing: 'Sweet baby. Miss him already!'

The 42-year-old DJ-socialite and her husband of 18 months - Carter Reum - went through the IVF/egg-harvesting process during the pandemic and their fraternal twins (daughter London and son named after mystery city) will be the next to arrive.

Meanwhile, VH1 Secrets of Aspen alum Laura Bellizzi told Page Six in 2021 that the 42-year-old M13 Ventures founder has only seen their 10-year-old daughter 'once since she was born.'

Pricy purse! Nicky accessorized her spring attire with brown sunglasses and a yellow Hermes Birkin bag - created 1984 in honor of Jane Birkin - which can cost between $5K-$500K

Men of the family: Missing from the all-female family function were Hilton's second husband James Rothschild (R, pictured May 7) and their 10-month-old baby boy (M), whose name has not been publicly disclosed

The native New Yorker captioned her Instagram slideshow on Sunday: 'Wishing a Happy Mother's Day to my amazing family of strong, caring, and loving mothers. You inspire me every day. I love you endlessly'

Jet setters: Hilton just took a red-eye flight back from California where she and her famous big sister Paris Hilton (R, pictured Saturday) spent the past two days celebrating their gal pal Whitney Davis' bachelorette festivities ahead of her wedding to Luke Graham White

'Let's go girls!' On Saturday night, the hotel heiresses joined sister-in-law Tessa June Hilton at the For the Bride Tribe Dinner catered by Plates by Lisa in Malibu followed by live band karaoke

'Celebrating our bride!' On Friday night, Paris and Nicky donned glam golden mini-dresses to party with Beacher's Madhouse founder Jeff Beacher and his crew at SHOREbar Santa Monica

Hilton also got to spend some quality time with her four-month-old nephew, Phoenix Barron Hilton Reum, over the weekend, gushing: 'Sweet baby. Miss him already!'
Billie Lourd is remembering her late mother and Star Wars icon Carrie Fisher in honor of Mother's Day.

The actress, 31, took to her Instagram page and shared a photo of the pair sharing a zen moment together, along with a lengthy caption where she reflected on dealing with grief and what the holiday means to her as a mother of two.

'Even though Ive been a mom for almost 3 years and now have 2 kids of my own the first thing I think of when I hear happy Mothers Day is her,' the American Horror Story star began.

She continued, 'Even though its been over 6 years since she died, when I first wake up, this still feels like her day - not mine. But as the day goes on I remember it is my day too now.'

Lourd proceeded to share about her two children - son Kingston, two, and daughter Jackson, five months - that she shares with husband Austen Rydell, 31.

Mother's Day: Billie Lourd paid tribute to her late mother Carrie Fisher in honor of Mother's Day by reflecting on grief and what the holiday means to her as a mother of two

'I am a mother to two magical little creatures that I adore to my core and there is nothing that brings me more joy than being their mother. And even though shes not here, its still her day. Its our day now. And that is both sad and weirdly beautiful at the same time,' she shared with obvious emotion to her words.

Sounding both philosophical and spiritual, Lourd wrote, 'With the magic of life comes the reality of grief. It is all intertwined,' when thinking of her mother, who passed away in December 2016 after suffering a heart attack at the age of 60.

She concluded, 'So like I say every year. Happy Mother's Day but also griefy / sad / lonely / estranged / frustrated / etc Mother's Day! Mixed Emotions Mother's Day!!! (Hallmark or whoever else makes cards out there - y'all should make that a card!!!) sending my love to anyone and everyone out there who needs it. You are not alone.'

Earlier in the month, Lourd stood in for her mother when she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

And in a homage to her beloved mom's most iconic role, her daughter attended the festivities wearing a black and white dress with the image of Princess Leia on the front of it.

The plunging number featured a scene from the original 1977 Star Wars, which was retroactively titled Star Wars: Episode IV  A New Hope.

A teary-eyes Lourd would share how grateful she felt that her two young children will be able to see their late grandmother in the iconic film franchise.

Emotional: 'Even though Ive been a mom for almost 3 years and now have 2 kids of my own the first thing I think of when I hear happy Mothers Day is her,' the American Horror Story star began, wile reflecting on her late mother and Star Wars icon

Family matters: Lourd proceeded to share about her two children - son Kingston, two, and daughter Jackson, five months - that she shares with husband Austen Rydell, 31

One year and counting: Lourd and Rydell have been married since March 12, 2022

'I feel so lucky that even though they won't get to meet my mom, they will get to know a piece of her through Leia,' Lourd said, as reported by People . 'And I will get to tell them that the little lady in the TV is my momby, their grandmomby. Leia has become a family heirloom, and not just for my family.'

She shared the star unveiling with longtime friend and Star Wars co-star Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), 71, who appeared to be as excited as Lourd.

There was also a slew of adoring fans on hand to witness the well-deserved honor that included C-3PO and R2-D2 stand-ins.

Ahead of Lourd's special day accepting her mother's honor, a family feud erupted when Fisher's brother Todd Fisher, and her two half-sisters Joely and Tricia Leigh Fisher were excluded from the 30-seat guest list.

Just days earlier, Todd, 65, claimed family had 'frozen him out' of the ceremony, and then the following day Joely, 55, and Tricia Leigh, 54, took to Instagram to launch a blistering attack on Lourd for the 'bizarre' decision to bar them from the event.

Lourd would confirm it was her who choose not to invite her mother's siblings to the ceremony, and then she hit back and claimed the siblings had 'capitalized on her mother's death', in a statement to DailyMail.com that included her saying they had 'hurt her deeply' with their actions in the wake of her mother's loss.

After apologizing to people who had to read about the family squabble, Lourd went on to share how she felt 'the need to defend myself publicly from these family members. But unfortunately, because they publicly attacked me, I have to publicly respond. The truth is I did not invite them to this ceremony. They know why.'

Family feud: Fisher's sisters Joely (R) and Tricia Leigh (L) have publicly accused the late star's daughter Lourd of 'deliberately' excluding them from the Hollywood Walk Of Fame ceremony

The way they were: Fisher's brother Todd Fisher has also publicly fumed at not being invited to see her posthumously get a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame; they are pictured in 2014

In his statement Todd disputed the accusation saying, 'We made every attempt to speak with Billie's team regarding the invitation prior to making any public comments.'

'Billie saying that she was publicly attacked by me is not the case, I simply expressed my hurt and disappointment in not being invited. And to further say that we were NOT invited and "we know why!" I had no idea what her reasons were.'

Fisher's star, which is the 2,754th on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in the category of Motion Pictures, was placed on Hollywood Boulevard near the El Capitan Theatre, not far from Hamill's and her late mother Debbie Reynolds.

Born into Hollywood royalty, as the daughter of Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, Fisher would follow in the footsteps of her famous parents and make her film debut in Shampoo (1975).

Her role as Princess Leia in Star Wars (1977) and the sequel The Empire Strikes Back (1980) came in just her second and third films of her career.

The third of the the original series of films Return of the Jedi (1983) would come just three years later.

Bittersweet: And even though shes not here, its still her day. Its our day now,' Lourd said of Fisher, in reference to also being a mother. 'And that is both sad and weirdly beautiful at the same time'

Legendary: Fisher is best known for playing Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise; she's pictured with her co-stars Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford

The force is with them: Hamill, 71, was by Lourd's side whe her mother was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame on May 4

She went on to star in a number of popular movies that includes The Blues Brothers (1980), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) and When Harry Met Sally (1989).

She would reprise her role as Princess Leia in the sequel trilogy in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), and then appear posthumously in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) through the use of archive video.

Along with her acting credits, Fisher also had a successful writing career, publishing three novels and two memoirs, including Postcards From The Edge, a semi- autobiographical novel that garnered her the Los Angeles Pen Award for Best First Novel. It would be turned into a comedy drama film written by Fisher that received two Academy Award nominations for Best Actress for Meryl Streep and Best Original Song.

Known to many fans for her role on American Horror Story (2017-present), Lourd's Hollywood resume also includes playing the role of Lieutenant Connix in the Star Wars sequel trilogy (2015-2019) and Scream Queens (2015-2016).
Rebel Wilson enjoyed her very first Mother's Day on Sunday, and she celebrated by sharing several never before seen photos of her baby daughter Royce.

The Aussie star posted three throwback images of the little girl on Instagram, all which revealed the bub's face.

In one sweet snap, Rebel, 43, is seen bouncing Royce on her knee as they cuddled up to her fiancee, Ramona Agruma.

Little Royce looked adorable in a pink knitted jumper teamed with tiny grey pants and a hat with bunny ears.

She also posted one of Royce learning how to walk around the deck of a luxury yacht and another of her crawling on a towel.

Rebel Wilson revealed her daughter Royce's face again in sweet never before seen photos of her baby girl as she celebrated her first Mother's Day with fiancee Ramona Agruma on Sunday

Rebel joked in the caption of the post: 'Happy Mothers Day! (Just woke up at 5:30am and changed a big (poo emoji how about you?)'

The actress first revealed her daughter's face last month when she enjoyed a tropical holiday with Ramona.

She shared a drone video as she stood on the beach cradling her.

Makeup free, Rebel unveiled her natural beauty in the clip as she showed off her slimmed-down figure in a pair of baggy trousers and a striped T-shirt.

Meanwhile, Rebel recently revealed she was 'dumped' by a famous woman before

She told the U Up? podcast the woman she previously dated was 'in the public eye'.

She also posted on of Royce learning how to walk around the deck of a luxury yacht

Rebel joked in the caption of the post: 'Happy Mothers Day! (Just woke up at 5:30am and changed a big (poo emoji how about you?)'

She did not name the female celebrity to 'respect' her privacy, but said she looked back fondly on their time together.

'I met a woman and had, like, feelings for her, which totally came as a blindside,' Rebel told hosts Jordana Abraham and Jared Freid.

'It wasn't what I was expecting,' she added.

The actress first revealed her daughter's face last month when she enjoyed a tropical holiday with Ramona

Rebel recently revealed she was 'dumped' by a famous woman before meeting her fiancee Ramona

Rebel revealed she struggled to articulate her feelings for the woman when they first started dating.

'I said the words, "I don't want to offend you, but are you interested in women?"' she said.

'I've never had a conversation like that [before] because I was dating dudes and never had to talk about sexuality. She was like, "I have feelings for you as well."'

She told the U Up? podcast the woman she previously dated was 'in the public eye'. She did not name the female celebrity to 'respect' her privacy, but said she looked back fondly on their time together. (Pictured: Rebel and Ramona in a recent Instagram selfie)

While things 'didn't end up going anywhere' and she ultimately 'got dumped', the comedian said the relationship opened her 'heart up for a same-sex' romance.

She added that Ramona, 37, was 'the next woman' she had a connection with.

Rebel announced last month she had proposed to her girlfriend at Disneyland.

Rebel revealed she struggled to articulate her feelings towards the woman when they first started dating. 'I said the words, "I don't want to offend you, but are you interested in women?"' she said

She posted sweet snaps of the moment on Instagram, which showed her getting down on one knee with a Tiffany & Co. ring for her future wife.

The couple were first introduced to one another by a mutual friend in late 2021.

Rebel previously told People magazine Ramona had made an effort to establish a genuine connection prior to their first date.

Rebel announced last month she had proposed to her girlfriend at Disneyland (pictured)

'We spoke on the phone for weeks before meeting. And that was a really good way to get to know each other. It was a bit old-school in that sense, very romantic,' she said.

They went Instagram official with their relationship in June last year.

It wasn't long after this announcement that Rebel shocked the world when she welcomed her baby daughter Royce Lillian via surrogate on November 7.
Nineties It Girl Chloe Sevigny was blown away when whistleblower and transgender trailblazer Chelsea Manning attended her closet 'Sale of the Century' event in Manhattan's NoHo neighborhood on Sunday.

The 48-year-old Oscar nominee planted a kiss on the cheek of the 35-year-old security consultant as she clutched a pink garment beside a rack of clothing from her storage unit.

Chelsea (born Bradley) was working as a US Army intelligence analyst when she shared nearly 750K classified/sensitive military and diplomatic documents with WikiLeaks, which led to her receiving a 35-year prison sentence in 2010.

President Barack Obama commuted Manning's sentence to seven years in 2013, but she was imprisoned again from 2019-2020 for contempt of court for refusing to testify in the US government's case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Chloe - who boasts 1M Instagram followers - Instastoried a snap of the pair captioned: 'Just wow.'

'Sale of the Century': Nineties It Girl Chloe Sevigny (L) was blown away when whistleblower and transgender trailblazer Chelsea Manning (R) attended her closet sale in Manhattan's NoHo neighborhood on Sunday

'Just wow!' The 48-year-old Oscar nominee (R) planted a kiss on the cheek of the 35-year-old security consultant (L) as she clutched a pink garment beside a rack of clothing from her storage unit

Vogue.com senior fashion writer Liana Satenstein helped organize Sevigny's massive sale featuring everything from '#neverworns to everyday staples, Victorian to indie sleaze, designer and tons of denim.'

The New Englander showcased her eccentric style at the sale in a black puff-sleeved T-shirt dress featuring a sporty No. 5 with a matching purse and sandals.

Chloe - who designed the costumes in her ex-boyfriend Harmony Korine's 1997 film Gummo - wore her highlighted blonde locks down for the fashion festivities and kept her make-up minimal behind her nude-frame shades.

And as it was Mother's Day, Sevigny made sure to bring along her Gummy Bear-loving three-year-old son Vanja from her three-year marriage to Karma Art Gallery director Sinisa Mackovic.

The Poker Face guest star's stylist Haley Wollens Instastoried a video of the long line wrapped 'twice around the block' full of people desperate to get on the second floor of 676 Broadway before 5pm.

'So much joy and love! Will post more highlights when I recover and land in France Tuesday,' Chloe wrote via Instastory.

'Thanks to all the staff and people who came for the craziness, apologies about the line, we had no idea it would be so bonkers.'

One lucky fan got Sevigny to autograph a pair of her Chloe x Opening Ceremony clogs.

'Something for everyone!' Vogue.com senior fashion writer Liana Satenstein helped organize Chloe's massive sale featuring everything from '#neverworns to everyday staples, Victorian to indie sleaze, designer and tons of denim'

Leggy look: Sevigny showcased her eccentric style at the sale in a black puff-sleeved T-shirt dress featuring a sporty No. 5 with a matching purse and sandals

Fresh faced: The New Englander wore her highlighted blonde locks down for the fashion festivities and kept her make-up minimal behind her nude-frame shades

Gummy Bear time! And as it was Mother's Day, Chloe made sure to bring along her three-year-old son Vanja from her three-year marriage to Karma Art Gallery director Sinisa Mackovic

Two girls got there at 6am: Sevigny's stylist Haley Wollens Instastoried a video of the long line wrapped 'twice around the block' full of people desperate to get on the second floor of 676 Broadway before 5pm

The Poker Face guest star wrote via Instastory: 'So much joy and love! Will post more highlights when I recover and land in France Tuesday. Thanks to all the staff and people who came for the craziness, apologies about the line, we had no idea it would be so bonkers'

'Signed!' One lucky fan got Chloe to autograph a pair of her Chloe x Opening Ceremony clogs

Fans can next catch the Proenza Schouler FW/23 catwalker as real-life fashion icon C. Z. Guest in the second season of Ryan Murphy's decade-hopping Feud: Capote and the Women, which premieres later this year on FX.

The socialite (born Lucy Douglas Cochrane) was a muse to many having been painted by Diego Rivera, Salvador Dali, Kenneth Paul Block, and Andy Warhol.

Legendary author Ernest Hemingway was best man at C. Z.'s 1947 wedding to polo champ Winston Frederick Churchill Guest, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor were godparents of their two children.

Guest - who died, age 83, in 2003 - also happened to be friends with novelist and playwright Truman Capote.

'Finally! I've been wanting to play a glamorous character since The Last Days of Disco and she was only like halfway glamorous. This was so much fun,' Chloe told W Magazine last Thursday.

'I read George Plimpton's Truman Capote book. Slim Keith's book. The Capote's Women book, which the series is based on. Obviously Truman's own books. I looked at endless photos of C. Z. online and different things people had written about her. There wasn't a lot of video footage of her, strangely, but at first I was doing her accent to a tee.

'I worked many hours. Ryan Murphy calls me up and says, "No one is going to believe that anyone talks like this." She would switch between a British, Boston and New York accent in one breath. He was like, "I think this is too challenging." So I ended up having to water it down a little bit.'

All eight episodes of the anthology series were directed by two-time Oscar nominee Gus Van Sant with Pulitzer Prize finalist Jon Robin Baitz serving as showrunner.

Grieving in Givenchy! Fans can next catch Sevigny (pictured November 7) as real-life fashion icon C. Z. Guest in the second season of Ryan Murphy's decade-hopping Feud: Capote and the Women, which premieres later this year on FX

It Girl: The socialite (born Lucy Douglas Cochrane) was a muse to many having been painted by Diego Rivera, Salvador Dali, Kenneth Paul Block, and Andy Warhol (pictured in 1955)

'This was so much fun!' All eight episodes of the anthology series were directed by two-time Oscar nominee Gus Van Sant with Pulitzer Prize finalist Jon Robin Baitz serving as showrunner

Baitz also adapted Laurence Leamer's 2021 book Capote's Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era.

The miniseries will cover the deadly 1976 fallout over Esquire publishing chapters from Truman Capote's unfinished novel Answered Prayers - specifically a tell-all about his wealthy 'swan' gal pals titled La Cote Basque 1965.

Feud: Capote and the Women also features Tom Hollander, Naomi Watts, Treat Williams, Demi Moore, Diane Lane, Calista Flockhart, Molly Ringwald, and newcomer Ella Beatty.
Travel Guides star Victoria Fren, 29, and Nathan Moran, 30, have tied the knot at a stunning ceremony in the Kangaroo Valley.

The couple said 'I do' on May 6th at the Kangaroo Valley Bush Retreat in the NSW Southern Highlands.

Victoria was walked down the aisle by father Mark who told Woman's Day he was overcome with emotion during the ceremony.

'When I saw Victoria I was bawling my eyes out,' Mark said.

'I didn't know whether it was because I saw my little girl was getting married, she was all grown up, or I was thinking of my bank account,' he joked.

Travel Guides star Victoria Fren has tied the knot with Nathan Moran in an intimate ceremony at a stunning bush retreat in the Kangaroo Valley earlier this month. Both pictured

But Victoria was less pleased with the impromptu outburst, saying: 'It actually p*ssed me off,' she said. 'Everyone was looking at him instead of me. It's about me.'

The ceremony celebrated Nathan's indigenous culture with his cousin delivering a 'Welcome to Country' and playing the didgeridoo for guests.

Guests dined on black Angus sirloin with miso, beetroot-cured ocean trout and butternut dauphinoise with sage butter.

The nuptials included guests gathering around a fire pit.

Victoria was walked down the aisle by father Mark who told Woman's Day he was overcome with emotion during the ceremony. Here: Nathan and Victoria

The pals celebrity friends from The Block, Mitch and Mark, acted as emcees for the lovebirds at the ceremony.

The newlyweds admitted they would like one or two children soon to add to their family which includes pet dog, Zeus.

The pair will honeymoon in Thailand but Victoria added the pair would like to check out The Maldives and Spain.

Victoria used the couple's celebrity friends, Mitch and Mark, as emcees for the night. All pictured

The stunning ceremony had a bush theme to it

Victoria travels alongside her mum Cathy, dad Mark and brother Jono on the Nine hit Travel Guides.

She announced her engagement only four months ago with her clearly excited about her happily ever after.

'And Just Like That I just said Yes to my partner of 12 years Nathan #poppedthequestion We are so excited ,' she captioned the post.
Residents living around 'The Block' are upset after a makeshift McCafe erected across the street suddenly stopped serving them free coffees - and complaints are growing over tradies parking in front of their driveways.

The McDonald's McCafe has been built on the verandah of a home directly across the street from the homes being renovated for the popular Channel Nine reality series on Charming Street in Melbourne's Hampton East.

The stall has been in place for the past seven weeks, dishing out free beverages to both tradies and residents up until last week when the Macca's goodwill to neighbours suddenly ended.

The controversy comes hot on the heels of reports neighbours are still angry about access being blocked to their homes by those working on the show.

Umbrellas and tables have been erected for tradies working on The Block . Locals are now banned from free coffees

Tradies enjoy a cool drink from the McCafe on Charming Street across the road from The Block

A source within McDonald's told Daily Mail Australia workers had been told by Bayside Council staff to immediately stop serving members of the public.

'The council said McDonald's is not allowed to serve the neighbours because someone snitched to council ... so one person has effectively closed it down for everyone,' the source said.

On Monday McCafe staff were busy dishing out drinks to a sea of orange vested tradies.

Neighbours told Daily Mail Australia they were disappointed at the decision to ban them from the McCafe.

'It was a great meeting point to not only catch up with other neighbours, but to talk to the workers and find out what was happening with The Block,' one neighbour said.

Another neighbour claimed no-one had any issues with the McCafe and were shocked to hear they could no longer be served there.

'So someone has ruined it for us all. That's a real shame,' the resident said.

Scott Cam is host of The Block

The Block as it looks from the McCafe across the road

The neighbour at the centre of the McNightmare told Daily Mail Australia he had complained to Bayside Council after learning McDonald's had erected the McCafe without any form of permit.

The neighbour claimed he was told by council staff the McCafe did not require a permit because it was not charging anything for its products.

In correspondence seen by Daily Mail Australia, a Bayside Council staffer stated the McCafe did not fall within the definition of a food and drink premises.

'This is because (as we currently understand) they are not selling coffees to customers. If there is a monetary exchange, a planning permit may be required,' the staffer stated.

'In addition to this, the signage would not fall within business identification signage and would therefore not require a permit.'

Tradies have come under fire for parking illegally around The Block in Hampton

This letter sent by Channel Nine to Charming Street residents went down badly

A truck helping out construction on The Block parked in front of a fire hydrant

The disgruntled neighbour said Bayside Council had opened the floodgates for other like minded corporate giants to pull similar stunts within the municipality.

'So seems fair game I can rent out my front yard for a few months to a corporate entity for their advertising. Give away specials for free, erect signage and corporate branded umbrellas and not have to supply any insurances for the general public coming on my land in case they hurt or injure themselves,' he said.

'Would be a good side income for any Bayside resident knowing they can do this with their property.'

Bayside Council did not respond to Daily Mail Australia in time for publication and Channel Nine did not wish to respond.

On Sunday, a resident close to the filming site shared their fury after one of 'The Block' stars 'illegally' blocked entry to their private driveway. The member of the community shared a snap of the incident on the Facebook page 2023 Charming St 'The Block'.'

The photo showed scaffolding and fences around 'The Block' site, along with multiple tradie vehicles parked on the street.

The Block creator and executive producer Julian Cress under fire over parking his $500,000 Porsche 911 Turbo S on the street

'This is moments after I had a go at The Block guys because a certain star had parked his car illegally again in the no standing zone, and because there was a car parked on our side of the street it was impossible for me to get in the driveway,' the resident stated.

'If you know the area you'll note the car was moved to another part of the no standing area. This was all after I sent an email a few days [ago] to the builders and [executive producer] Julian Cress asking them to tell people not to do it. Come on guysdo better!'

In March, Daily Mail Australia reported residents were angry with Cress himself after parking his $500,000 Porsche on the street.

Some residents were also upset when asked by Channel Nine to move their cars so a 1950s-themed commercial for the hit reality-TV program could be filmed.

'The Channel Nine producers handling of it has been nothing short of a joke,' one resident said.

'He literally told residents to move our cars but was okay for him to park wherever he liked.'
Nicole Kidman's niece Lucia Hawley stole the show in a midriff-baring red ensemble at Australian Fashion Week on Monday.

Lucia ensured all eyes were on her when it came to her daring day one look.

The 25-year-old, who recently became a red carpet reporter for 7Bravo, looked sensational in the tailored cropped shirt and matching longline skirt.

The journalist paired the ensemble with white heels and an expensive tan-hued handbag she wore slung over her shoulder.

She opted for minimal makeup and wore her brunette tresses coiffed in a sleek straight blowwave.

Nicole Kidman's niece Lucia Hawley stole the show in a midriff-baring red ensemble at Australian Fashion Week on Monday

Lucia was joined by NRL WAG Zoe Marshall at the event, who flaunted her fantastic figure in a lime green ensemble.

She looked sensational in a high-neck top paired with pleated tailored trousers.

Zoe finished her look with a white mini-bag and semi-transparent heels.

The 25-year-old, who recently became a red carpet reporter for 7Bravo, looked sensational in the tailored cropped shirt and matching longline skirt

Lucia was joined by NRL WAG Zoe Marshall at the event, who flaunted her fantastic figure in a lime green ensemble

She looked sensational in a high-neck top paired with pleated tailored trousers

Melbourne influencer WAG Rozalia Russian meanwhile opted for a grey suit adorned with green embellishments.

The brunette beauty added a touch of flair by flashing a hint of her black bra from under the blazer.

She finished her look with tinted cat-eye sunglasses and a white designer bag.

Melbourne influencer WAG Rozalia Russian meanwhile opted for a grey suit adorned with green embellishments

The brunette beauty added a touch of flair by flashing a hint of her black bra from under the blazer

Racing royalty Kate Waterhouse flaunted her trim pins in striped jacket and matching mini skirt.

She paired the designer outfit with a Gucci handbag and strappy heels.

The socialite finished her look with a pair of semi-transparent sunglasses and wore her blonde tresses out.

Racing royalty Kate Waterhouse flaunted her trim pins in striped jacket and matching mini skirt

She paired the designer outfit with a Gucci handbag and strappy heels

Elsewhere, Married At First Sight star Olivia Frazer turned head over at the event's main location, Carriageworks.

The reality TV favourite-turned-OnlyFans star slipped into a tight-fitting nude-hued frock which hugged her curves.

Elsewhere, Married At First Sight star Olivia Frazer turned head over at the event's main location, Carriageworks

Bondi Born is inspired by contemporary Australian style and a passion for excellence.

It was founded by Dale McCarthy and is a majority female owned and run business based in Sydney.

The label creates elegant, sophisticated swimwear and apparel using quality, sustainably-produced fabrics and premium local craftsmanship.
She always turns heads at Australian Fashion Week with her extreme and unique outfits.

And it was no different for Imogen Anthony on Monday, when she made her grand entrance at the annual event.

The model and influencer, 32, showed off her abs and legs in a light green prairie-inspired crotchet ensemble.

The ex-fiancee of radio king Kyle Sandilands teamed a knitted skirt and matching headpiece with a white tank.

She accessorised with a pair of chocolate knee-high boots, a leather belt and a tan handbag.

Imogen Anthony showed off her abs and legs in a prairie-inspired crotchet ensemble as she attended Australian Fashion Week in Sydney on Monday

Imogen completed the look by tucking leaves into her pigtails and her boots.

She rocked a flawless makeup palette, and proudly showed off her unique engagement and wedding ring from her husband, whose identity is yet to be revealed.

Imogen was seated in the front row of the Yousef Akbar show, watching the models strut down the runway through her sunglasses.

The saucy star recently returned from her honeymoon in Thailand, where she didn't wear many clothes either.

The ex-fiancee of radio king Kyle Sandilands teamed the knitted skirt and headpiece with a white tank

She accessorised with a pair of chocolate knee-high boots, a matching belt and a tan handbag

Last week, she shared 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 hiked up her skirt as she ran through the wet streets of Sydney to Carriageworks

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.

She rocked a flawless makeup palette, and proudly showed off her unique engagement and wedding ring from her husband, whose identity is yet to be revealed

Imogen showed off her extensive tattoo collection in her tank

Imogen was seated in the front row of the Yousef Akbar show

She watched the models strut down the runway through her sunglasses

The show featured some stunning and very unique designs

'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.

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

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

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.
Feature: Kenyan youth showcase language, culture skills in Chinese language proficiency contest

Xinhua) 13:29, May 15, 2023

NAIROBI, May 13 (Xinhua) -- When he took to the podium to deliver a speech in Mandarin extolling the virtues of friendship and the pursuit of shared dreams, Amos Michira received thunderous applause from the audience thanks to his eloquence and stage presence.

The 21-year-old was declared the overall winner in the Kenyan division finals of the Chinese language proficiency contest for foreign college students held at the University of Nairobi on Friday.

Sharply dressed and with a glow on his face, Michira's oratory skills captured the attention of judges and audiences as he made a speech about enhanced Sino-Kenya cooperation in various fields.

Michira, who was born and raised in a farming town in northwestern Kenya, said that his passion for studying the Chinese language developed after he joined the University of Nairobi in 2021.

As a Chinese language major student at Confucius Institute in the University of Nairobi, Michira plans to learn the Chinese language up to postgraduate levels, as he believes that it will open doors for him to work in a cross-cultural environment.

Kenya held the contest against a backdrop of blossoming Sino-Kenya cultural ties. The 17 young contestants showcased their mastery of Chinese language, dance, and classical music during the contest.

During the first round of the competition, the contestants made speeches in Mandarin, elaborating on their views about the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

In the second round that focused on talent shows, the contestants, clad in Chinese traditional regalia, demonstrated their prowess in Chinese dance and classical music.

Deborah Mukiri, an economics and statistics major at Egerton University, became a star attraction thanks to her splendid performance of a Chinese dance.

Currently pursuing the Chinese language as an optional course, Mukiri said that adequate preparation and confidence were behind her thrilling performance.

"Initially, I had some anxiety, but my teachers cheered me on, enabling me to deliver a performance that was well received by the audience," Mukiri said.

Impressed by the contestants' wonderful performances, Julius Ogeng'o, deputy vice-chancellor in charge of academic affairs at the University of Nairobi, said that grasping Mandarin has become crucial for securing well-paying jobs for the youth in a highly globalized workforce.

Bilshan Tamaha Keranga, a 25-year-old contestant from the University of Nairobi, said he looks forward to leveraging his proficiency in the Chinese language to venture into management consultancy, helping link up local youth with potential employers.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
UN News, May 5, 2023



Abdul Qodos a Taliban commander attempted to sexually assault a young girl named Zarmina in Saad Siah village of Firozkoh, the center of Ghor province. When Zarmina resisted he shot and killed her. The news and photo of the victims was widely published by Afghans in the social media. (from social media by RAWA) Abdul Qodos a Taliban commander attempted to sexually assault a young girl named Zarmina in Saad Siah village of Firozkoh, the center of Ghor province. When Zarmina resisted he shot and killed her. The news and photo of the victims was widely published by Afghans in the social media. (from social media by RAWA)

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.
Hailey Bieber opened up to the Sunday Times this week and got very candid about starting a family with her husband Justin Bieber.

The 26-year-old supermodel  who recently flaunted her flat abs in New York City  shared that she wants children 'so bad,' but that she gets 'scared' about raising kids in the public eye.

'I literally cry about this all the time!' confessed Hailey. 'I want kids so bad but I get scared. Its enough that people say things about my husband or my friends.

'I cant imagine having to confront people saying things about a child. We can only do the best we can to raise them. As long as they feel loved and safe.'

The influencer also tackled a variety of other hot topics, discussing her mental health and that infamous 'nepo baby' T-shirt.

Candid: Hailey Bieber, 26, opened up to the Sunday Times this week and got very candid about starting a family with her husband Justin Bieber, 29; pictured at the Met Gala in 2021

Nepo princess: The influencer also tackled a variety of other hot topics, discussing her mental health and that infamous 'nepo baby' T-shirt

As a member of the prominent Baldwin acting family, Hailey spoke about being born into fame and embracing the 'nepo baby' label.

Referencing her father Stephen and Uncle Alec, the privileged stunner said that she is 'very aware' of her own nepotism and wanted to lean into it by wearing her T-shirt.

'When youre out and about and people are stopping your dad or uncle and asking for pictures, you start to understand whythat was me being, like, "Im very aware of the situation  Im going to wear it loud and proud because you are already labeling me as such and its true."'

The beauty didn't shy away from discussing her mental health, saying that 2023 has already given her some of her 'saddest, hardest moments.'

Last month, Hailey hinted at the social media uproar surrounding her and Selena Gomez when she admitted to 'having a hard time' and being emotionally 'fragile.'

'I just felt like I was going through a lot of uncomfortable growth,' she told the Sunday Times. 'Whenever youre transitioning from one time of your life to another, its really uncomfortable and it can be really sad 

'[I was] just trying to connect with other people who might feel that way[People say], Oh, you think we feel bad for you? And I get it. Its just sad sometimes that that would be how people feel about you wanting to express your emotions.'

The Rhode Skin founder went on to reference her mini stroke last year and not being 'silenced.'

Fear of fame: The supermodel shared that she wants children 'so bad,' but that she gets 'scared' about raising kids in the public eye because she 'cant imagine having to confront people saying things about a child'

Leaning in: Hailey spoke about being born into fame and embracing the 'nepo baby' label. The privileged stunner said that she is 'very aware' of her own nepotism and wanted to lean into it by wearing her T-shirt

Tough year: The beauty didn't shy away from discussing her mental health, saying that 2023 has already given her some of her 'saddest, hardest moments'

Hailey told the Sunday Times: 'The day after I was hospitalized, it was on the internet. I wanted to talk about what happened in my own words because so many people were making assumptions.

'If you let things like that silence you, youre allowing people to dictate how you live your life. Sometimes I do just want to curl up and be a hermit, like, "If this is how people feel maybe I should just stay home." But Im really not that kind of person.'

On a lighter note, Bieber spoke about her private life in Beverly Hills with her pop star husband: 'The Biebers love to host. We had a Super Bowl party this year. I really love to cook.

'I like to do some sort of pasta and a protein  whether its salmon or chicken. Theres something really joyful about people consuming your food. I like to take care of people.'
Cravings CEO Chrissy Teigen showed some refreshing transparency while paying tribute to the team of four nannies she employs to care for her three children in honor of Mother's Day.

'Grateful for all the people who make it possible for me to be the best mother I can possibly be,' the 37-year-old reformed cyber-bully  who boasts 54.8M social media followers  wrote on Sunday.

'I am endlessly thankful for your presence in this home and all our lives. We love you.'

Chrissy's Instagram slideshow included many candid snaps of her devoted staffers happily posing with her daughter Luna, 7; son Miles, 4; and daughter Esti, 4 months.

However, Teigen did not name or tag any of the nannies in order to keep their identities private.

Nice gesture! Cravings CEO Chrissy Teigen (L) showed some refreshing transparency while paying tribute to the team of four nannies she employs to care for her three children in honor of Mother's Day; seen at Bravo Studios in Manhattan last Tuesday

It takes two: She opened with a photo of two of her nannies joining forces to care for her three children

The 37-year-old reformed cyber-bully wrote on Sunday: 'Grateful for all the people who make it possible for me to be the best mother I can possibly be. I am endlessly thankful for your presence in this home and all our lives. We love you'

Most famous women never shine their considerable spotlights on the integral assistants and minders behind the scenes, aside from a glam squad here and there.

But it clearly takes a village for celebrities to 'have it all' so to speak, with large families and thriving careers.

For once, the half-Thai Utah native's comments section was full of surprised and happy people thanking her for respectfully recognizing her helpers, including another career nanny.

Chrissy also gave a cute shout-out to her live-in mother Vilailuck 'Pepper Thai' Teigen, who was still on her trip to Thailand: 'We miss you and can't wait for you to come back!'

Teigen's husband John Legend shared a montage of never-before-seen pictures and videos set to his new song Wonder Woman.

However, the 44-year-old EGOT champ's 'love letter to our Supermom' was basically a glorified post promoting his new skincare company, LOVED1.

The married couple of nine years - who are no fans of Megyn Kelly - will next celebrate the fifth birthday of their son Miles Theodore Stephens this Tuesday.

Esti is technically Chrissy and John's fourth after aborting their son Jack, at 20 weeks gestation, in 2020 when their doctor informed them that she and the baby would not survive otherwise.

Nanny #1: Chrissy's Instagram slideshow included many candid snaps of her devoted staffers happily posing with her daughter Luna, 7; son Miles (2-L), 4; and daughter Esti (2-R), 4 months

Nanny #2: However, Teigen did not name or tag any of the nannies in order to keep their identities private

Nanny #3: Most famous women never shine their considerable spotlights on the integral assistants and minders behind the scenes, aside from a glam squad here and there

Nanny #4: But it clearly takes a village for celebrities to 'have it all' so to speak, with large families and thriving careers

'Very generous of you': For once, the half-Thai Utah native's comments section was full of surprised and happy people thanking her for respectfully recognizing her helpers, including another career nanny

Chrissy also gave a cute shout-out to her live-in mother Vilailuck 'Pepper Thai' Teigen, who was still on her trip to Thailand: 'We miss you and can't wait for you to come back!'

Memories! Teigen's husband John Legend shared a montage of never-before-seen pictures and videos set to his new song Wonder Woman

Chrissy did not comment: However, the 44-year-old EGOT champ's 'love letter to our Supermom' was basically a glorified post promoting his new skincare company, LOVED1

$5 tickets! Last Friday, Chrissy's family attended the grand opening of her first-ever Cravings pop-up bakery for her two-year-old lifestyle brand, which fans can stop by at Shopify LA at ROW DTLA from May 18-21 between 11am-5pm

Will you tune in? The Untold executive producer is next scheduled to appear on this Thursday's episode of Bravo's Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Last Friday, Teigen's family attended the grand opening of her first-ever Cravings pop-up bakery for her two-year-old lifestyle brand, which fans can stop by at Shopify LA at ROW DTLA from May 18-21 between 11am-5pm.

The Untold executive producer is next scheduled to appear on this Thursday's episode of Bravo's Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.

Chrissy wore a cleavage-boosting pink mini-dress and silver platform heels to pre-tape her appearance on the ironically-titled talk show at Bravo Studios in Manhattan last Tuesday.

Teigen currently voices Miss America Lucy Suwan in Robert Carlock and Sam Means' 20-episode, post-apocalyptic adult animated sitcom Mulligan, which premiered last Friday on Netflix.

Mulligan also features the voice talent of Nat Faxon, Tina Fey, Daniel Radcliffe, Dana Carvey, Ronny Chieng, Sam Richardson, and Phil LaMarr.

Meanwhile, Legend (born Stephens) is next scheduled to perform a two-night stand at Virginia's Wolf Trap in Vienna on June 2-3.
The Kid Laroi sparked rumours last week he was about to propose to his teenage girlfriend Katarina Deme after he was spotted shopping for engagement rings.

And on Friday, Katarina, 19, suspiciously covered her left hand with her jumper sleeve when she was spotted enjoying a day out with Laroi in Los Angeles, California.

The brunette beauty looked effortlessly stylish in a loose-fitting grey jumper which she paired with blue exercise pants and white sneakers.

Elsewhere, Laroi, 19, whose real name is Charlton Howard, rocked a bold statement black t-shirt emblazoned with the words 'Leave Me Alone' in capital letters.

He completed his outfit with blue jeans and sneakers and added a touch of sophistication to his look with a stylish gold necklace.

The Kid Laroi sparked rumours last week he was about to propose to his teenage girlfriend Katarina Deme after he was spotted shopping for engagement rings. And on Friday, Katarina, 19, suspiciously covered her left hand with her jumper sleeve when she was spotted enjoying a day out with Laroi in Los Angeles, California. Both pictured

Laroi also sported a new bleach blond haircut seemingly inspired by his close friend Justin Bieber.

The lovebirds were inseparable as they made their way back to their car after a fun day of shopping in the gorgeous Beverly Hills sun.

It comes after The Kid Laroi was pictured looking at diamond engagement rings at a Tiffany & Co. store in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

The brunette beauty looked effortlessly stylish in a loose-fitting grey jumper which she paired with blue exercise pants and white sneakers. Elsewhere, Laroi, 19, whose real name is Charlton Howard, rocked a bold statement black t-shirt emblazoned with the words 'Leave Me Alone' in capital letters

He has been dating 19-year-old model Katarina for almost three years.

The Sydney-born musician said in March last year the couple was already talking marriage despite their young age.

'We're just taking life how it goes. But sure, I would love to get married to Kat one day,' the Without You star told Vogue Australia.

The Sydney-born musician said in March last year the couple was already talking marriage despite their young age

During an earlier interview with The Kyle and Jackie O Show, Laroi revealed how he first met his girlfriend.

The Indigenous Australian hip-hop star said he never expected to fall in love so young, but did so soon after relocating from Sydney to LA, where Katarina is based.

'We met through a mutual friend that I had when I came around here,' he said.

'Around the time that I met her, I just put out the whole F*ck Love project and was not in the vibe of love. But you can't control that type of stuff. It was so ironic.'
Eamonn Holmes launched a blistering attack on his former This Morning co-stars Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on Monday morning.

Amid crisis talks at ITV over the future of its two top stars, Eammon called the partnership 'a broken fit' as he discussed the fallout on his GB News show.

Referring to Sunday night's BAFTA TV Awards, at which neither Phil nor Holly made an appearance, Eammon quipped: 'I think there should have been a special award for Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby for best actors.'

'They may or may not be together on the telly today. He's brought in lawyers, she's brought in a PR team. The public surely will suss that there's no chemistry, that it's a broken fit between the two of them and that This Morning does not depend on who presents it.'

'Broken': Eammon Holmes launched a blistering attack on his former This Morning co-stars Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on Monday morning

Continuing, the ex This Morning star insisted: 'It's an institution, it will carry on no matter who presents it and anyone can check the viewing figures, there's no difference between whether they present it or anyone else.'

Eamonn co-hosted the ITV daytime show with his wife Ruth Langsford from 2006 until August 2021, until being 'dropped' by ITV and replaced by Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary.

Meanwhile Phil and Holly both looked solemn as they set off for work early on Monday where they will be together on the This Morning despite their degenerating relationship.

The 61-year-old, wearing jeans, a casual shirt and boots, strode out of his West London home at around 6.30am and into a waiting BMW.

At 10am millions will be watching This Morning as he appears on screen with Holly following crisis talks between ITV and the embattled pair over whether one of them, both or neither would be on air today.

Phil is trying to 'tough out' the ongoing row after it emerged he had called in his own lawyers over the fallout with his co-presenter, sources have revealed. He has also employed a new PR man to help improve his press coverage.

It comes as ITV confirmed that the pair will host the show this morning, after more than 48 hours of crisis talks. Those close to the pair said today's programme will continue to run smoothly, despite the feuding behind the scenes.

One source told The Sun: 'Holly and Phil are professionals and they can turn it on like no one else.

On air attack: Amid crisis talks at ITV over the future of its two top stars, Eammon called the partnership 'a broken fit' as he discussed the fallout on his GB News show on Monday morning

'Although behind the scenes their relationship is nothing like it was, they are both dedicated to This Morning and keeping it together for viewers.'

Bosses from the broadcaster were allegedly furious after Schofield, 61, broke his silence with a shock statement about the fall out with his co-host of 14 years admitting 'the last few weeks haven't been easy for us'.

Despite this, Schofield believes he can weather the ongoing storm but even those close to him have said it is down to whether the audience believes the pair still have on-screen chemistry.

Sources at the broadcaster described the situation as a 'quandary' for its bosses because both of the former friends were determined to get their own way.

Schofield, 61, has consulted lawyers over the situation, which has been spiralling out of control for months.

The Daily Mail revealed last night that he has also hired Gordon Smart, a former Sun showbiz columnist and occasional Good Morning Britain host, to manage the crisis and ensure favourable press coverage.

Ex colleagues: Eamonn co-hosted the ITV daytime show with his wife Ruth Langsford from 2006 until August 2021, until being 'dropped' by ITV

It is a clear sign, say sources, that he is 'taking this very seriously' and is 'keen to come out of the situation quickly'.

The feud began in September when the pair were criticised after failing to queue for the Queen's Lying in State.

Things have become so bad that it is said they no longer speak when the cameras stop rolling. Ms Willoughby, 42, has now cut all ties with Schofield other than her This Morning commitments.

It is understood that producers had several options for how to tackle tomorrow's show. At the centre of the decision was editor Martin Frizell, who backs Ms Willoughby.

It will be the first time the pair will appear together since Schofield released a statement about their friendship last Thursday without consulting her first. While on air that morning they failed to convince viewers they were still friends, with Ms Willoughby apparently unable to look her co-star in the eye.

Insiders predict a battle between ITV and Schofield. He has been a powerful figure there for more than 20 years, but his influence is waning. Bosses want to keep Ms Willoughby happy, and staff on This Morning expect the tense atmosphere in the studio to become more difficult.

On screen: Monday will be the first time the pair will appear together since Schofield released a statement about their friendship last Thursday without consulting her first

While the co-hosts' return is expected to boost ratings, executives fear that reviving their partnership will make viewers suspicious of any forced bonhomie. One insider said: 'This will seriously undermine the show and its reputation. How can they pretend to joke together?

'Their friendship used to be genuine, but it isn't any more, so surely they will be making fools of their audience. But neither will back down. How can you just tell one of them they are to stay at home?

'The headlines that will come from them being on together could really damage the show and its brand.'

Schofield disappeared from the airwaves for more than a fortnight last month while his brother Timothy, 54, was tried at Exeter Crown Court of sexually abusing a teenage boy. After he was convicted, the TV star said: 'I no longer have a brother.'
Sarah Harris and Dr Chris Brown have been at the centre of dating rumours for weeks.

The 41-year-old Project host, who announced her split from ex-husband Tom Ward in March 2021, is said to have a 'crush' on the celebrity vet, 44, according to a new report.

'Sarah has confessed to her close friends that she has had a crush on Dr Chris for years,' an alleged insider told Woman's Day.

'And they are telling her to go for it. They are both single at the same time for the first time since they met. So it is now or never to make a go of it.'

The alleged source goes on to say that the pair have been sending one another 'playful and flirtatious text message exchanges for months now'.

Sarah Harris and Dr Chris Brown have been at the centre of dating rumours for weeks. The 41-year-old Project host, who announced her split from ex-husband Tom Ward in March 2021, is said to have a 'crush' on the celebrity vet, according to a new report

The television stars have 'tried to set up multiple dates' the report goes on, but have been prevented from doing so due to their busy schedules.

Sarah was quizzed by the Channel 10 show's panel recently about their relationship.

Julia Morris, who appeared on The Project as a guest and worked alongside Chris on I'm A Celebrity, threw Sarah into the spotlight after saying she was shocked that she herself had never been 'romantically linked' to the hunky TV vet.

'How have I never been?!' she asked the panel. 'I know, recently, you [Sarah] have been.'

Sarah was quick to quash the rumours, cheekily adding that she was dating another TV vet.

The 41-year-old Project host, who announced her split from ex-husband Tom Ward in March 2021, is said to have a 'crush' on the celebrity vet, according to a new report. Pictured together on The Sunday Project

'Well, they got it wrong,' she replied.

'I'm actually... I am dating a vet, but it's Dr Harry Cooper.'

Harry Cooper is best known for hosting Channel Seven lifestyle program Harry's Practice, which aired between 1997 and 2003.

He is happily married to his longtime partner Sue Sheean. The pair tied the knot on their property on the NSW Mid North Coast in 2022.

It comes after Sarah was forced to deny rumours she was dating Chris on The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

Radio presenters Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson weren't convinced by the reports so called up Sarah live on air to get answers.

The alleged source goes on to say that the pair have been sending one another 'playful and flirtatious text message exchanges for months now'

'Oh, my God, you two!' said a surprised Sarah after picking up the phone.

When asked if she was 'sleeping with' the Bondi Vet star the journalist said, 'No!'

She then revealed members of her family had been calling her ever since The Sunday Telegraph reported she was dating him.

'You know my aunt called and checked as well. No, it's hogwash,' she said, adding that she had 'no idea' where the tabloids got the story from.

'I haven't even had my second coffee yet, you two,' Sarah laughed. 'I'm too busy and boring [for this].'

The 41-year-old Project host was quizzed on The Project regarding the reports

Chris is yet to comment on the rumours. Kyle and Jackie O did attempt to call him on air on Monday, but he didn't pick up.

The I'm a Celebrity host, who previously dated TV presenter Roz Kelly in 2012 and actress Kassandra Clementi in 2014, is known to keep his love life under wraps.

His last relationship was with influencer Brooke Meredith from 2020 to 2022.

Back in April, Chris told the Something to Talk About podcast he prefers not to open his love life to public scrutiny.

'The challenge is that it's hard enough to meet the right person anyway,' he said.

When asked if she was 'sleeping with' the Bondi Vet star the journalist said, 'No!'

'That extra layer of speculation and interest once you're actually in a relationship it's easy, but it's meeting that person at the start that's really hard.'

Chris, who has quit Channel Ten and will join the Seven Network in July, said that media speculation about his romantic interests is 'funny' to him, but can be a lot to handle for his loved ones.

Meanwhile, Sarah announced her split from IT specialist husband Tom Ward in March 2021, after seven years of marriage.

The former couple share custody of sons Paul, seven, and Harry, five.
Margot Robbie has been enjoying time with family in her native Australia.

The actress continued her NSW vacation on Monday with a visit to the trendy The Butler eatery in Sydney's Potts Point.

The 32-year-old was accompanied by Vogue Australia Editor-In-Chief Christine Centenera, as well as her husband Tom Ackerley and brother Cameron Robbie.

The Barbie star looked sensational in a black, sleeveless bandeau top that showed off her toned figure.

She paired it with a bright green parachute skirt in a maxi length, the flowing, shimmering fabric making for an eye catching fashion statement.

Margot Robbie (pictured) has been enjoying time with family in her native Australia

The actress continued her NSW vacation on Monday with a visit to The Butler eatery in Sydney's Potts Point

The 32-year-old was accompanied by Vogue Australia Editor-In-Chief Christine Centenera, as well as her husband Tom Ackerley and brother Cameron Robbie

Margot completed the look with a pair of kitten heels with fine black straps, and designer sunglasses.

The blonde opted for a clean makeup look with a nude matte lipstick and wore her locks in a half-up do.

Her husband Tom kept things casual in a pale grey polo shirt and black trousers, along with Nike sneakers.

Christine looked as chic as ever in a long black trench coat and knee high white leather boots, as well as trendy sunglasses.

Christine (pictured) looked as chic as ever in a long black trench coat and knee high white leather boots, as well as trendy sunglasses

Her husband Tom (pictured) kept things casual in a pale grey polo shirt

He added black trousers, along with Nike sneakers

Margot's brother Cameron chose a fitted white T-shirt under a dark green, striped jacket

He added black and white sneakers and dark blue jeans

Margot's brother Cameron chose a fitted white T-shirt under a dark green, striped jacket and blue jeans.

On Sunday, Margot joined her loved ones for Mother's Day.

The Australian actress was joined by her mum Sarie Kessler, brother Cameron and husband for the festive outing.

The family gathered at Mavis's Kitchen in the Tweed Valley, a picturesque part of north-eastern NSW.

The Barbie star looked sensational in a black, sleeveless bandeau top that showed off her toned figure

She paired it with a bright green parachute skirt in a maxi length, the flowing, shimmering fabric making for an eye catching fashion statement

The blonde opted for a clean makeup look with a nude matte lipstick and wore her locks in a half-up do

Margot had on some fine gold accessories including dangling earrings and a ring

Margot completed the look with a pair of kitten heels with fine black straps, and designer sunglasses

On Friday, the Hollywood star and her British film producer spouse, 33, enjoyed a fun day in Byron Bay before inspecting a stunning property.

After enjoying a meal, they were seen visiting the renowned Lord Byron Distillery.

The pair then inspected the luxurious Cedar Hill home dubbed by real estate agents as 'Australia's most beautiful property'.

It's situated in the Newrybar area which actors Chris and Liam Hemsworth also call home.

On Sunday, Margot had joined her loved ones for Mother's Day

The Australian actress was joined by her mum Sarie Kessler, brother Cameron and husband for the festive outing

The family gathered at Mavis's Kitchen in the Tweed Valley, a picturesque part of north-eastern NSW

It features eight bedrooms and eight bathrooms, and boasts incredible ocean as well as hinterland views.

The property also has spacious open plan kitchen, living and dining areas.

The outdoor space is perfect for entertaining, with a large infinity pool, an outdoor dining area and bonfire.

Margot and Tom are reportedly searching for a permanent home in Byron Bay just a month before the release of her anticipated Barbie movie.

On Friday, the Hollywood star and her British film producer spouse, 33, enjoyed a fun day in Byron Bay before inspecting a stunning property
Alesha Dixon was one of the Eurovision hosts on Saturday night and fans have called the gig a 'boss move' on her part.

That is because in 2015, her ex-husband's mistress Javine opened the show as an act for the UK, with the song Touch My Fire, but finished in 22nd place.

Alesha, 44, was left heartbroken when her then husband So Solid Crew star Harvey, 44, and Javine, 41, admitted they'd been having an affair in November 2006.

The revelation came just over a year after Alesha and Harvey tied the knot.

Javine and Harvey had met while starring in West End musical Daddy Cool and got caught when Javine's ex Karl 'KG' Gordon noticed Harvey's car outside her house and alerted Alesha.

'It's a BOSS move': Alesha Dixon fans praise her for CO-HOSTING Eurovision after they claim her ex-husband's mistress Javine's career highlight was performing at the event in 2015

Popstars: The Rivals! In 2015, Javine opened the show as an act for the UK, with the song Touch My Fire, but finished in 22nd place

Old love: Alesha, 44, was left heartbroken when her then husband So Solid Crew star Harvey, 44, and Javine, 41, admitted they'd been having an affair in November 2006, (pictured in September 2006)

Mis-Teeq star Alesha confronted her husband about it and he admitted the truth.

Harvey left their home in Hertfordshire and decided to be with Javine. That following year, Javine fell pregnant with their daughter Angel, who was born in February 2008.

Javine and Harvey split in 2009.

Alesha's fans said on Twitter over the weekend: 'Nobody has talked about how Alesha Dixon is now HOSTING the show that was the highlight of her husbands mistresses short lived career. A boss move. Absolutely queen.'

'Oh, you came 22nd? Yeah, I hosted.'

'Cant beat this level of class. Shes a queen.;'

'Alesha Dixon is the ultimate queen of redemption, taking over the show that once caused her heartache and turning it into a boss move. Check my pin tweet bro.'

'Alesha Dixon proves she's a boss by taking over and owning the show that once symbolized her husband's infidelity. That's how you turn lemons into lemonade.'

Rollercoaster: Harvey left their home in Hertfordshire and decided to be with Javine. That following year, Javine fell pregnant with their daughter Angel, who was born in February 2008 - they split in 2009 (pictured in 2017)

you go, girl! Alesha's fans went wild for the significance of the appearance

Alesha is now happily married to dancer and creative director Azuka Ononye, who has worked with artists such as Madonna and Whitney Houston.

They got married in 2017 after meeting on tour.

The couple welcomed their first child Azure Sienna Ononye in October 2013 and their second child Anaya Safiya was born in August 2019.
Millie Court and Liam Reardon have confirmed their romance is back on by passionately kissing following a week-long holiday together.

The 2021 Love Island winners, who split in July last year, were seen travelling back to the UK at Barcelona airport on Sunday, sharing their love for each other by smooching at security.

MailOnline revealed that the couple had reconciled in April but were taking things slowly after they were spotted on a weekend away together in the Lake District.

But now their relationship appears to be hotting up after they enjoyed a Mediterranean cruise together last week, which included an overnight stay in Ibiza.

A source told MailOnline: 'There's no denying that Millie and Liam's romance is very much back on.

Millie Court and Liam Reardon have confirmed their romance is back on by passionately kissing following a week-long holiday together

The 2021 Love Island winners, who split in July last year, were seen travelling back to the UK at Barcelona airport on Sunday, sharing their love for each other by smooching at security

MailOnline revealed that the couple had reconciled in April but were taking things slowly after they were spotted on a weekend away together in the Lake District

'They wanted to keep their relationship private for as long as possible because problems between them happened when they were put under pressure by fans.

'But now they have got to know each other again away from the cameras and spotlight and have reignited the love they first found in the Love Island villa.

'Soon enough they will go public on Instagram but for now they have been enjoying holidays together and keeping their romance off social media.'

Sharing an array of Instagram photos following their trip, Millie said: 'A week of travelling around the Mediterranean on a beautiful cruise, good food, belly laughs, and hungover mornings. Oh, and nearly missing getting back on the ship from Ibiza.'

She also said she 'didn't want to leave' alongside pictures of her wearing an orange bikini posing on board the vessel and a blue and white two-piece in front of a palm tree backdrop.

The couple were spotted strolling together in Ibiza with Millie wearing a denim pair of shorts and a hoodie while Liam opted for a T-shirt.

At one point, Liam was seen yawning as Millie looked at her phone during the couple's stop off at the party island.

Millie and Liam met on Love Island in 2021, winning the 50,000 prize fund after viewers voted them favourites ahead of runners-up Chloe Burrows and Toby Aromolaran.

The couple were spotted strolling together in Ibiza with Millie wearing a denim pair of shorts and a hoodie while Liam opted for a T-shirt

At one point, Liam was seen yawning as Millie looked at her phone during the couple's stop off at the party island

Millie and Liam met on Love Island in 2021, winning the 50,000 prize fund after viewers voted them favourites ahead of runners-up Chloe Burrows and Toby Aromolaran

During their time on the ITV2 show, Liam played away with Casa Amor bombshell Lillie Haynes, later having to win back Millie once she discovered the betrayal

Millie looked gorgeous during the couple's cruise, baring her stomach in a striped two-piece with white sandals and shades

During their time on the ITV2 show, Liam played away with Casa Amor bombshell Lillie Haynes, later having to win back Millie once she discovered the betrayal.

Liam's behaviour in Casa Amor has since led fans to believe that he would cheat on the outside world, which inevitably caused trust issues in his relationship with Millie.

The reality star revealed the reason she and Liam split was because of continuous rumours surrounding his faithfulness, which put pressure on their romance.

Speaking on YouTube, she said: 'Am I dating? There's been a lot of rumours and a lot in the press, but I am going to confirm that I am dating someone but I'm not ready to tell you guys yet

'I love you guys and I love your support but it's early doors and you experienced a whole, full blown, meeting someone, relationship on TV like my whole thing, and then everything afterwards.

'As much as that was the best experience of my life genuinely it is a lot when you have all eyes on you and your relationship, lots of judgements, lots of people sending you messages because they've seen the other person out and it means absolutely nothing just talking to another person and they're like 'they're cheating on you' when they're just having a chat, I chat to boys on a night out, making friends.

'I struggled with that a lot because it wasn't nice, and I don't really want people to be involved in my personal relationship. It ruined things and was a big part of why my last relationship ended.

'It's been a while since then this next chapter, I'll be keeping secret for a little bit just to see how it goes but I will tell you guys because I'm sure we will get pictured together.'

Sharing an array of Instagram photos following their trip, Millie said: 'A week of travelling around the Mediterranean on a beautiful cruise'

Millie showed off her curvaceous figure in an orange bikini on board the ship, cooling off in the swimming pool between stop offs

Liam also posed up for Instagram during the couple's holiday, holding a cocktail as he cheered to his romantic getaway

After splitting in July, the couple moved out of the Essex home they shared together and Millie now lives with her former co-star and best friend, Chloe Burrows.

Fans believed they heard Liam's voice during a phone call with Millie where the star was ordering a Chinese takeaway, as speculation surrounding their reconciliation mounted earlier this month.

During filming of Celebs Go Dating, Liam discussed his breakup with Millie, saying he had 'instigated' the end of their relationship.

He told the show's experts that he needed to 'love himself' to care for Millie, admitting 'the past few months have been a bit you know I need to find myself again.'

Liam hinted the pair could get back together, adding 'never say never, I feel like in the future we could rekindle.'
Holly Willoughby has been happily married to her husband Daniel Baldwin for 16 years after meeting at work.

While Holly is one of TV's biggest names, her talented husband is a force to be reckoned with on the other side of the camera.

The couple have spent years working together while they also share three children.

How long have Holly and Dan been together?

Marriage: Holly Willoughby has been happily married to her husband Daniel Baldwin for 16 years after meeting at work

The This Morning presenter, 42, has been married to the TV producer, 48, since 2007.

They exchanged vows on August 4 2007 in a romantic church wedding near the presenter's childhood home in Sussex.

The couple had been together for three years before tying the knot.

Dan proposed in 2006, surprising Holly while she was in the bath tub on the day they moved into their first London home together.

What is Dan's job?

Dan is a TV producer who has worked on shows with Holly including Celebrity Juice.

When the pair first met in 2004 he was working on the hit children's show Ministry of Mayhem as a producer, while Holly presented.

Dan also launched his own independent media company in 2014 named Hungry Bear.

Alongside his company, he works as a development executive for Talkback Thames.

Loved-up: The This Morning presenter, 41, has been married to the TV producer since 2007 and the couple have children Harry, 13, Belle, 11, and Chester, eight (pictured in 2012)

How did they meet?

In a Valentine's post for her Wylde Moon Instagram account, Holly gave some rare insight into the early days of the couple's relationship after they met at work in 2004.

She recalled that when they first met they embarked on an 'intense friendship' for several months, before it turned into love.

She said: 'We met while I was doing Saturday morning kids' telly and he was the producer and I was the presenter.

'I'd already been there around eight months I think, and then he came in as our new producer and we started this real intense friendship - it was mad actually.

'There was sort of two other guys that started at the same time, and we just became inseparable.

Love story: Holly has recalled how the couple first met they embarked on an 'intense friendship' for several months, before it turned into love (pictured in 2022)

'We'd rehearse, and then we'd go out afterwards, and then we'd end up... We were filming down in Maidstone Studios and we used to stay in a hotel there.

'And you know everybody would go to the bar and then everybody would come back into either my room or their room and we'd all sit round just talking and laughing, and I just remember it just being such a fun time. I always describe that time as sort of my university years, really.'

She continued: 'And this must have been six months of real intense friendship and I remember this one night we were in the bar.

'I cheers'd Dan, and I remember my eye just caught him for a little bit longer than it should have done, and I looked at him, and thought oh my god, I fancy Dan Baldwin.

'And it took me by complete surprise, and then the rest is history.'

Holly admitted: 'Looking back on it now I think what I was thinking was an intense friendship was probably me falling in love.'

Sweet: The couple share three children Harry, 14, Belle, 11, and Chester, eight. Holly posts updates about family life on her Instagram account

Do they have children?

The couple share three children Harry, 14, Belle, 11, and Chester, eight. Holly posts updates about family life on her Instagram account, including sweet birthday posts.

Where do they live?

Holly and Dan have lived in their London family home for over ten years. The 3 million house features five bedrooms and an outdoor pool.
Nadia Bartel was turning heads at the Michael Lo Sordo show at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week on Monday.

The designer wore a long, sleek black frock but had trouble controlling the maxi dress as she strutted into the Sydney venue.

The length of the gown made walking comfortably hazardous, with Nadia repeatedly trying not to trip over the fabric.

She leaned down to adjust the dress multiple times, freeing it from her towering stilettos, before finding her footing.

Nadia looked stunning in the high fashion look which featured cut-outs at the hips flaunting a hint of skin.

Nadia Bartel (pictured) was turning heads at the Michael Lo Sordo show at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week on Monday

The semi-sheer dress had long sleeves and the excessive length meant some of the fabric trailed on the ground

The semi-sheer dress had long sleeves and the excessive length meant some of the fabric trailed on the ground.

Nadia opted for a glamorous makeup look with a defined, highlighted eye and pale nude lipstick.

She wore her caramel locks down in waves and skipped the accessories to let the dress do the talking.

After recovering from her wardrobe malfunction, Nadia strutted to the venue alongside Erin Holland.

The designer wore a long, sleek black frock but had trouble controlling the maxi dress as she strutted into the Sydney venue

The length of the gown made walking comfortably hazardous, with Nadia repeatedly trying not to trip over the fabric

She leaned down to adjust the dress multiple times, freeing it from her towering stilettos, before finding her footing

After recovering from her wardrobe malfunction, Nadia strutted to the venue alongside Erin Holland (far right)

Erin stunned in a one shoulder dress with a puffy sleeve detail in a textured fabric.

She added a pair of strappy black heels and carried a small clutch, skipping other accessories but for petite earrings.

The model chose a glowing makeup look with a pink lipstick and wore her dark hair slicked off her face.

Simone Holtznagel was pretty in pink, donning a Barbie inspired look in a woolen striped two-piece crop top and mini skirt under a darker pink shag coat.

Erin stunned in a one shoulder dress with a puffy sleeve detail in a textured fabric

She added a pair of strappy black heels and carried a small clutch, skipping other accessories but for petite earrings

Simone Holtznagel (pictured) was pretty in pink, donning a Barbie inspired look in a woolen striped two-piece crop top and mini skirt under a darker pink shag coat

Kate Waterhouse (pictured) showed off her slim physique in a cream silk slip dress

The back of the gown featured a bedazzled strap and she added black shoes with unusual wooden heels

The leggy model added a pair of loose cream, pointed boots and carried a Prada purse on a chain strap that matched her outfit.

Francesca Hung kept things chic in a silver turtleneck crop top that showed off her trim midriff.

She added a maxi skirt in a slinky sequin material that reached floor length, and added strappy black heels.

The model chose a rosy makeup look with a mauve lipstick and wore her dark locks down in soft curls.

Francesca Hung (pictured) kept things chic in a silver turtleneck crop top that showed off her trim midriff

She added a maxi skirt in a slinky sequin material that reached floor length, and added strappy black heels

Jessica Gomes (pictured) opted for a high fashion look in a glittering rhinestone crop top with a black bra underneath

Model Jordan Simek (pictured) brought the drama in a barely-there bandeau top and a flowing maxi dress paired with a long neck tie in the same fabric

Jessica Gomes opted for a high fashion look in a glittering rhinestone crop top with a black bra underneath.

The model added a pair of wide legged satin trousers in black, and a pair of matching heels, while wearing a retro leather jacket over the top.

She chose a warm makeup palette with a dark pink matte lipstick, while opting to style her dark hair into a trendy wolf cut.

Model Jordan Simek brought the drama, posing in a barely-there bandeau top and a flowing maxi dress paired with a long neck tie in the same fabric.

Isabel Lucas kept (pictured) things simple but chic in a tight black mini skirt under a sheer white blouse, over which she also wore a loose, light coat

The actress completed the look with a pair of black socks worn up to her knees and a pair of smart leather boots

Married At First Sight co-stars Ella Ding and Domenica Calarco channelled the 1920s jazz age with hair styles in neat finger waves. Both pictured

Dom opted for a simple black, long sleeved dress paired with sparkling pantyhose and strappy heels. Her podcast partner Ella wore a black blazer dress with a crisp white shirt and Prada tie

Isabel Lucas kept things simple but chic in a tight black mini skirt under a sheer white blouse, over which she also wore a loose, light coat.

The actress completed the look with a pair of black socks worn up to her knees and a pair of smart leather boots.

Married At First Sight co-stars Ella Ding and Domenica Calarco channelled the 1920s jazz age with hair styles in neat finger waves.

Dom opted for a simple black, long sleeved dress paired with sparkling pantyhose and strappy heels while carrying a compact leather bag.

Her podcast partner Ella wore a black blazer dress with a crisp white shirt and Prada tie, as well as patent Mary Jane heels and a rhinestone purse.

Actress Sarah Ellen (pictured) chose a high fashion look in a black velvet jumpsuit with a plunging neckline

Natalie Roser (pictured) was a lady in red, showing off her model figure in a textured, fitted mini dress

Samantha Harris (pictured) chose a black wrap skirt with striped stitching under a camel midi coat

Twin models Jordan and Zac Stenmark made a fine pair, each opting for loose fit suits and thatched shirts. Both pictured

Samantha Harris chose a black wrap skirt with striped stitching under a camel midi coat.

The model carried a white purse and black satin wedges, while opting for a glowing makeup look with a pink lip stain.

Twin models Jordan and Zac Stenmark made a fine pair, each opting for loose fit suits and thatched shirts.

Actress Sarah Ellen chose a high fashion look in a black velvet jumpsuit with a plunging neckline.

Actor Josh Heuston accentuated his smoldering looks in a navy blue silk shirt worn partially unbuttoned and paired with black trousers.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Margot Robbie and her husband Tom Ackerley are eyeing up a stunning property in Byron Bay.

The pair inspected the luxurious Cedar Hill home dubbed by real estate agents as 'Australia's most beautiful property' on Friday.

It's situated in the Newrybar area which actors Chris and Liam Hemsworth also call home.

It features eight bedrooms and eight bathrooms, and boasts incredible ocean and hinterland views.

The property also has retractable glass walls, high ceilings, exposed timber beams and polished concrete floors.

Inside the 'most beautiful home in Australia' as Margot Robbie looks to snap up the incredible Byron Bay property

It features eight bedrooms and eight bathrooms, and boasts incredible ocean and hinterland views

It features a spacious open plan kitchen, living and dining areas.

The outdoor space is perfect for entertaining, with a large infinity pool, an outdoor dining area and bonfire.

The 'barn-style' property was last sold in 2019 for $2.415million, but it has been significantly renovated since then and is expected to fetch around $20million.

According to realestate.com.au, development records show around $3million have been spent on the redevelopment of the home.

The outdoor space is perfect for entertaining, with a large infinity pool, an outdoor dining area and bonfire

It was last sold in 2019 for $2.415million, but it has been significantly renovated since then

Margot and Tom are reportedly searching for a permanent home in Byron Bay just a month before the release of her anticipated Barbie movie.

Chris Hemsworth purchased a property in the area five years ago before building a $20million mega mansion.

His brother Liam Hemsworth also owns a $13million home in the area.

Meanwhile, Zac Efron also bought a $2million block in the Tweed Valley - a town on the Tweed River in north-eastern New South Wales.
Trinny Woodall stepped out looking glum on Monday, days after her ex-partner Charles Saatchi enjoyed a cosy lunch date with model Martha Sitwell.

The entrepreneur and fashion and makeover expert, 59, donned a blue blazer and matching trousers as she strolled in West London.

Underneath, she sported a white T-Shirt and complemented her ensemble with a pair of trainers, toting an orange bag and her phone.

Her outing comes after she returned from a trip to New York last week and her ex-partner of 10 years was spotted having lunch with Martha.

Charles, 79, went to Scott's with Martha, 43, a haunt where he has previously taken Trinny and his ex-wife Nigella Lawson, 63.

Pensive: Newly single Trinny Woodall stepped out looking glum on Monday after ex-partner Charles Saatchi enjoyed a cosy lunch date with model Martha Sitwell last week

Stroll: The entrepreneur and fashion and makeover expert donned a blue blazer and matching trousers as she strolled in West London

Out and about: Charles was pictured dining a deux with vivacious model Martha, who, at 43, is almost half his age

'He was canoodling with Martha in his usual corner table. He's still got it at 80,' an impressed fellow diner told the Daily Mail's Richard Eden.

Lady Sitwell confirmed: 'Yes, we met for lunch', telling Richard: 'Charles is a very clever, very funny man.'

The former 'face' of Royal Ascot, she takes issue with her fellow diner's use of the word 'canoodling', insisting: 'We were not "canoodling"; we were making each other laugh.'

Charles is understood to have split earlier this year from Trinny, who made her name giving style tips on the hit BBC show What Not To Wear before becoming a successful beauty entrepreneur.

The couple had been together for a decade.

Last month, Trinny fuelled speculation that the relationship was over by revealing, in an emotional post online, that she had 'moved house'.

The couple had lived together in London. Sources close to the pair claimed that the 20-year age gap was problematic, with Charles favouring quiet evenings while Trinny preferred to be more sociable.

Nigella divorced him 10 years ago on the grounds of 'unreasonable behaviour' following an argument at Scott's, where he was seen 'tweaking' her nose and holding his hands around her throat.

Age difference: Charles is understood to have split earlier this year from Trinny after a 10-year relationship

The Domestic Goddess, who was his third wife, reportedly did not seek any financial settlement, merely requesting to take her cooking appliances.

Martha, the daughter of late gastronome Justin de Blank, married film-producing baronet Sir George Sitwell in 2007 and they lived at his family's 3.25 million Grade II-listed home, Weston Hall in Northamptonshire.

She held a 'divorce party' in 2017 to mark the end of their marriage.

She once described matrimony in general as 'pure misery', explaining: 'It sucks all the energy from you, sucks your youth and all the fun from your life.'

Elsewhere, make-up and beauty mogul Trinny said on Instagram last month that she was moving forward after her split from Charles.

She posted: 'It's a new day, it's a new dawn, it's a new life.' She added: 'I have been moving but now I have moved.'

An emotional sounding Trinny said: 'I have looked out at this view for the last 30 years of my life. It's the one consistent view I have ever had.'

'Recently with the big life change and moving house it was important for me to come back here with (daughter) Lyla and family just to have that moment, listen to the birds, be at one with nature. Very healing.'

Ex: Nigella divorced Charles (pictured together) 10 years ago on the grounds of 'unreasonable behaviour' following an argument at Scott's, where he was seen 'tweaking' her nose and holding his hands around her throat

Charles, an ad-man turned art collector, is said to be worth around 100 million. Trinny's net worth isn't known but her beauty and skincare brand is said to be worth 180million and rising. He declined to comment yesterday.

In an interview in 2021, Trinny said that she had 'grown up a lot' in the relationship saying: 'I don't let myself get away with stuff, so if I have a kind of outrage he'll go: 'Really, are you kidding?' And then I'll go upstairs and think: 'OK, let me grow up now.'

'I think that's what happens when you are with somebody who has been through a lot in their life, and there is nobody who is more supportive of my business and jobs in terms of being my champion.'

The couple started dating in 2013 after Saatchi's first wife, Kay Hartenstein, reportedly drew up a short list of women who he might like to date.

He had been single since splitting from food writer Nigella Lawson, soon after photographs were published which showed Saatchi holding her by the throat during a lunch at Scott's in Mayfair.

He explained at the time that it was a 'playful tiff' and accepted a police caution.
Jim Chapman's pregnant wife Sarah displayed her baby bump as the couple attended the British Academy Television Awards on Sunday night.

The couple, who welcomed their first child Margot 20 months ago, looked more loved up than ever as they stepped onto the red carpet at London's Royal Festival Hall.

Sarah, 29, looked sensational as she cradled her growing baby bump in a figure-hugging blue silk gown with a ruffled halter neckline.

The model added inches to her frame in a pair of open toe heels and applied a flawless palette of makeup.

The beauty styled her long dark tresses in a neat up-do leaving strands to frame her face in loose waves.

Amazing: Jim Chapman was all smiles as he posed with his glamorous pregnant wife Sarah at the annual British Academy Television Awards with P&O Cruises on Sunday night

Loved-up: The couple, who welcomed their first child Margot just 20 months ago, looked more loved up than ever as they both stepped onto the red carpet at London's Royal Festival Hall

Former YouTube star Jim, 35, cut a dapper figure in a white blazer, black trousers and a dark bow tie.

The couple were in high spirits as they cosied up together during the champagne reception at the star-studded event.

Jim revealed his wife Sarah was pregnant with their second child in February with a sweet clip shared to Instagram.

To announce the news, Jim showed himself and Sarah baking biscuits with their daughter that spelled the words 'Big Sister.'

Captioning the post, Jim wrote: 'Margots going to be a big sister! We are so happy and excited to have a little boy coming this summer.'

In the clip, Jim and Sarah prepared the biscuit dough with little Margot's help, dubbed to the Taylor Swift hit Sweet Nothings.

After helping the tot prepare the ingredients, Jim and Sarah cut out the letters before placing them in the oven.

Removing the biscuits, the bakes spelled out the words 'Big Sister,' with the camera then panning up to show Sarah cradling her growing bump.

Bumping along nicely! Sarah looked sensational as she cradled her growing baby bump in a figure hugging blue silk gown which boasted a ruffled halter neckline

Exciting: The couple were in high spirits as they cosied up together ahead of the Champagne Reception at the star studded event

Baby on the way! Jim revealed his wife Sarah was pregnant with their second child in February with a sweet clip shared to Instagram

In March 2022, Jim and Sarah announced that they had married in a low-key ceremony at Santa Barbara Courthouse .

The former YouTube star shared he and Sarah decided to get legally married ahead of their wedding celebration in Spain, and they had the 'loveliest evening' marking the occasion with their loved ones.

Jim and Sarah captioned their post: '28.3.2022, Santa Barbara Courthouse, Mr and Mrs Chapman.

'Before our wedding celebration in Spain we decided to do the paperwork and get hitched. The happiest day together and the loveliest evening celebrating with friends and family in LA.'

In September 2021, the couple welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Margot Grace Alba.

Sharing the first picture of their baby girl, Sarah wrote on Instagram: 'Margot Grace Alba Chapman. 5/9/2021. Special. Thankyou to my midwives Aika and Sarah - you are superwomen.'

The couple confirmed they were expecting their first baby in March 2021 in an exclusive interview with MailOnline.

At the time, the vlogger insisted he wanted to 'shout the news from the rooftops' and said the update had already brought them 'unmeasurable joy.

Jim told MailOnline at the time: 'We're super excited to finally share our news. I've wanted to shout it from the rooftops since Sarah took the pregnancy test!

Mr and Mrs! In March 2022, Jim and Sarah announced that they had married for the second time in a low-key ceremony at Santa Barbara Courthouse

Sweet: In September 2021, Jim and Sarah welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Margot Grace Alba

Getting married! Jim and Sarah got engaged in July 2020, 16 months after the influencer announced his split from wife Tanya Burr

Former flame: Jim split from his first wife Tanya Burr in March 2019, after three years of marriage (pictured in December 2018)

'The joy this little person has brought us already is immeasurable. We can't wait to proudly show our baby off to friends and family, and when we're ready, the world.'

Jim went public with Sarah in June 2019, three months after announcing his split from YouTuber Tanya Burr who he was with for 12 years, and married to for three.

In November 2020, actress Tanya spoke of her split from Jim for the first time, saying there was 'no drama' and she hoped to always be in his life.

She said: 'I've been there, where I've seen someone saying, "Ooh, have you heard so-and-so and so-and-so have split?" and then thought, "Let me look that up," it's what people do.

'I'm not angry with anyone. People are just being people. It's hard and horrible. I'll never google myself again.

'All that matters is what Jim and I think, it's boring  he's still my best friend. We've been best friends for 12 years, people will want some drama from it. We're always going to be in each other's lives, hopefully.'

Tanya and Jim had been in a relationship since December 2006 after meeting at sixth form college in Norwich.

They got engaged in 2012 in New York, before tying the knot at Babington House, Somerset, in September 2015.

The former couple were last pictured together at The British Fashion Awards in 2018, before announcing their separation a year later.
Climate advocate Cara Delevingne looked stunning in a series of incredible looks as she posed for a new clean energy campaign on Monday.

The model, 31, was working with Swedish energy company Vattenfall in a campaign to promote fossil free hydrogen as a solution to reducing climate emissions.

Clad in a silver corset for one look before changing into a blue thigh-split gown, she sprayed on a face mist made from industrial wastewater to show the emissions of fossil free hydrogen are 'clean enough to put on your face.'

For her first look she posed up a storm in the busty silver corset which was teamed with a matching choker as she held up the spray.

She then changed into the flowing leggy gown that showed off her toned physique as she strutted her stuff.

Wow: Climate advocate Cara Delevingne looked stunning in a series of incredible looks as she posed for a new clean energy campaign on Monday

Beauty: The model, 31, was working with Swedish energy company Vattenfall in a campaign to promote fossil free hydrogen as a solution to reducing climate emissions

Clever: Clad in a silver corset for one look before changing into a blue thigh-split gown, she sprayed on a face mist made from industrial wastewater to show the emissions of fossil free hydrogen are 'clean enough to put on your face'

The campaign video shows her getting sprayed with the face mist before taking the plunge from a diving board into the water below.

She wore her brunette tresses slicked back and opted for a radiant makeup look to show off her pretty features.

Cara said: 'Throughout this project, I have learned so much about fossil free hydrogen, working with Vattenfall has allowed me to see first-hand how this fuel works and how it can transform entire industries.

'I'm thrilled to be part of this project and raise awareness about an initiative that demonstrates the huge potential of fossil free hydrogen in replacing fossil fuels.

'If it takes applying the emissions on my face to spread this message, I am willing to do it.'

Fossil free hydrogen is a fuel that emits water instead of carbon dioxide when used, with Vattenfall aiming to highlight its potential as an alternative to fossil fuels and a shift towards a more sustainable future.

The refreshing face mist is made from actual waste water from a factory using fossil free hydrogen - but is still clean enough for Cara to spray on her famous face.

Vattenfall says fossil free hydrogen has the potential to decarbonise entire industries and reduce carbon emissions significantly - especially in industries like steel production, which is responsible for seven per cent of the world's total carbon dioxide emissions.

Clean energy: The campaign video shows her getting sprayed with the face mist before taking the plunge from a diving board into the water below

Idea: The refreshing face mist is made from actual waste water from a factory using fossil free hydrogen - but is still clean enough for Cara to spray on her famous face

Looking good: She then changed into the flowing leggy gown that showed off her toned physique as she strutted her stuff

Stunning: She wore her brunette tresses slicked back and opted for a radiant makeup look to show off her pretty features

Involved: Cara said: 'Throughout this project, I have learned so much about fossil free hydrogen, working with Vattenfall has allowed me to see first-hand how this fuel works and how it can transform entire industries'

Important: Fossil free hydrogen is a fuel that emits water instead of carbon dioxide when used, with Vattenfall aiming to highlight its potential as an alternative to fossil fuels

It says the fuel also has the potential to power a broad range of heavy industries.

The Vattenfall face mist is not available for sale, with only a limited number of bottles produced especially for the campaign.

It comes after it was revealed that Cara and Shailene Woodley are set to costar in a horror-tinged biopic centered on the life of the legendary thriller author Patricia Highsmith.

According to Deadline, Delevingne  who has previously labeled herself bisexual  will star as a lover to Highsmith.

Their relationship, which will be featured in The Murderous Miss Highsmith, was one of two romances Highsmith carried on with other women that reportedly inspired one of her most successful novels, The Talented Mr. Ripley.

The film will be directed by Alexandra Pechman, who will be making her feature directorial debut with the project.

Woodley  who will next be seen in a sci-fi rom-com  stars as Highsmith, who died in 1995 at 74.

The feature will examine the author's frame of mind and attempt to expand on how her penchant for violent crime brought her inspiration for her novels.

Portrait Of A Lady On Fire star Noemie Merlant will costar with Woodley as the other woman she had a relationship with in the 1950s before penning the hit thriller.

Production on the feature will commence in Italy this fall.

Cara previously revealed to Vogue in March that she spent part of December and January in rehab after seeing photos published exclusively by DailyMail.com of her disheveled state after attending Burning Man prompted her to get help.

'I've had interventions of a sort, but I wasn't ready. That's the problem,' she explained.

'I hadn't seen a therapist in three years. I just kind of pushed everyone away, which made me realize how much I was in a bad place.'

She also admitted that she had previously sought quick fixes for her substance abuse issues, but now that she was focused on the 12 step program it was easier to commit to sobriety.

'Before I was always into the quick fix of healing, going to a weeklong retreat or to a course for trauma, say, and that helped for a minute, but it didnt ever really get to the nitty-gritty, the deeper stuff,' she said.

But as she puts her struggles behind her, the model is looking to revive her career, starting with her latest major role in the Highsmith biopic.

The author, who suffered from an alcohol addiction throughout much of her life, published her first novel, Strangers On A Train, in 1950, and Alfred Hitchcock directed a classic film of the story the following year, which helped to cement Highsmith as a top writer of literary thrillers.

Two years later, she published The Price Of Salt under a pseudonym.

The novel, later reprinted as Carol under her own name, and posthumously adapted into an acclaimed film starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, detailed a doomed lesbian romance that was inspired by Highsmith's own life.

Several of her other novels have also been adapted for the screen, including Deep Water, which was made into a film last year starring Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas, and her Ripley novels, which have spawned multiple adaptations, including the 1999 film starring Matt Damon.

Although Highsmith did have relationships with men, she is often described as a lesbian, as her romances with women were reportedly much more fulfilling.

World: Vattenfall says fossil free hydrogen has the potential to decarbonise entire industries and reduce carbon emissions significantly

Special: The Vattenfall face mist is not available for sale, with only a limited number of bottles produced especially for the campaign

The writer, who had a reputation as a misanthrope, cycled through romances and apparently only stayed with partners for a few years at most.

'This is such a unique way to explore someones legacy, while implementing their world into their life story. The script goes from idyllic Italian settings to gruesome murder fantasies with a strong inspiration from her work,' said the Paris-based production company Memento in a statement.

'This is a new take to the biopic genre that will definitely leave a mark on the audience,' it added.

The Murderous Miss Highsmith's release date has not been announced yet.
Pip Edwards always knows how to make a fashion statement.

On Monday, the designer attended the launch of Margot Robbie's Papa Salt Coastal Gin in Sydney in a chic ensemble.

The P.E Nation founder opted for a pale green camo style dress with long sleeves and exaggerated shoulders.

The mini skirt portion clung to her fit figure, and Pip's dress also had cutouts at the midriff that flashed a hint of skin.

She added a pair of baby blue heels with a large floral embellishment and layered straps.

Pip Edwards (pictured) knows how to make a fashion statement. On Monday, the designer attended the launch Margot Robbie's Papa Salt Coastal Gin in Sydney in a chic ensemble

The P.E Nation founder opted for a pale green camo style dress with long sleeves and exaggerated shoulders

The miniskirt portion clung to her fit figure, and Pip's dress also had cutouts at the midriff that flashed a hint of skin

Pip matched her designer handbag to her shoes, choosing a muted blue purse with chain straps.

For makeup, she went with a high gloss look, with lots of bronzer and highlighter and a soft pink lipstick, while wearing her hair in a half-up do.

Also making an arrival was Margot's husband Tom Ackerley who kept things casual in a black T-shirt and matching jeans.

The Australian star's brother, Cameron Robbie, likewise made an appearance, choosing fetching satin black leisurewear that resembled pyjamas.

Also making an arrival was Margot's husband Tom Ackerley (pictured) who kept things casual in a black T-shirt and matching jeans

The Australian star's brother, Cameron Robbie (pictured), likewise made an appearance, choosing fetching satin black leisurewear that resembled pyjamas

The event was hosted by Vogue Australia Editor-In-Chief, Christine Centenera (pictured), at the Maybe Sammy bar in The Rocks

Elsewhere, actress Gabriella Brooks (pictured) looked chic in a black top covered in white polka dots and a knee-length black skirt

The girlfriend of Liam Hemsworth completed her look with a longline black coat and a dainty purse slung over one shoulder

The event was hosted by Vogue Australia Editor-In-Chief, Christine Centenera, at the Maybe Sammy bar in The Rocks.

Christine was as chic as ever on the night, choosing a dark coat with pointed shoulder pads and lucite heels.

Elsewhere, actress Gabriella Brooks looked chic in a black top covered in white polka dots and a knee-length black skirt.

The girlfriend of Liam Hemsworth completed her look with a longline black coat and a dainty purse slung over one shoulder.

Model Jordan Barrett layered a long, light trench coat over a sheer shirt and loose satin trousers.

The new Australian liquor brand, called Papa Salt, was created by Margot Robbie along with her husband Tom Ackerley.

The famous married couple worked on the label with their friends Charlie Maas, Josey McNamara and Regan Riskas.
Netflix fans have admit they're having 'nightmares' after watching one particular movie.

Taking to social media, viewers of South Korean horror film, The Call, branded it 'disturbing' and 'mental madness.'

The psychological thriller - which was initially released on 27 November 2020 - follows two women from different time who connect through a phone call.

Set in 2019, 28-year-old Kim Seo-yeon loses her mobile phone while traveling to visit her sick, estranged mother in a rural area.

Arriving at her rundown childhood home, she finds a decades-old cordless phone, and through it receives calls from a distressed woman who says she's being tortured.

Nightmares! Netflix fans have admit they're having 'nightmares' after watching The Call, branding it 'disturbing' and 'mental madness'

Terrifying: The psychological thriller - which was initially released on 27 November 2020 - follows two women from different time who connect through a phone call

After investigating, Seo-yeon figures out that the woman on the phone, Oh Young-sook, is living in the same house but in 1999, twenty years earlier.

Taking to Twitter, viewers voiced their feedback on the film for others to read, with one person stating: 'The call on netflix is nuts.'

Another added: '#TheCall on #Netflix is a good - bats**t crazy - scary movie,' while a third tweeted: 'The Call on Netflix is crazy as hell. I may have to rewatch that bc wtf.'

One fan wrote: 'If you haven't seen #TheCall on #Netflix then you're missing out on a phenomenal movie. You are also missing Jeon Jong-seo's outstandingly disturbing performance.'

Another person tweeted: 'Alright this movie was scary af and now i am gonna be having nightmares because of her.... #TheCall.'

'The Call on Netflix is a mental madness film 10/10 movie,' insisted someone else, while another viewer told their followers: 'If you are looking for the most twisted psychological thriller on Netflix right now, watch The Call!'

'Wouldn't doubt it if I had nightmares tonight watching The Call,' someone else confessed.

The 2020 South Korean movie is based on the 2011 British and Puerto Rican film, The Caller.

Filming began on the latest version in January 2019 and finished in April 2019, but the worldwide coronavirus pandemic changed the plans for its release.

OMG! 28-year-old Kim Seo-yeon figures out that the woman on the phone who says she's being tortured, Oh Young-sook, is living in the same house but in 1999, twenty years earlier

Fan reaction: Taking to social media, viewers of South Korean horror film,

However, the Covid-19 outbreak caused its Korean release date to be postponed and then ultimately the film was released on Netflix in November 2020.

Rotten Tomatoes gives the movie an impressive 78% audience score, while it has an IMDb rating of 7.1.

Around the globe, The Call has five award wins and twelve nominations in total, including a Best Actress gong for Jeon Jong-seo in the 2022 Director's Cut Awards.
A man who is said to have often left gifts at Lady Gaga's home was confronted by police at her Malibu estate.

Law enforcement rushed to the home of the 37-year-old hitmaker - who is one of many A-listers who utilizes exclusive bodyguards - on Thursday night according to TMZ.

Her security on the premises called the police to report a man who was on the property.

The security had detained the man and when law enforcement arrived, he had explained that he was there to just drop off flowers.

The unnamed man had only made it to the base of the pop star's - born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta - driveway before being stopped.

A man who is said to have often left gifts at Lady Gaga's home was confronted by police at her Malibu estate on Thursday according to TMZ; she is pictured at The Oscars in March

Sources for TMZ said that police had informed him that it was not a good idea to attempt to give Gaga anything.

They also claim that Gaga's security told law enforcement that they have seen the same man on the property before as he has often dropped off small gifts for her.

Perhaps most alarmingly was that the Bad Romance hitmaker was actually home when police rushed over, however, she had no contact with the man bearing flowers.

TMZ reports that the man ultimately was not arrested over the incident.

No doubt security is of the utmost importance to Gaga as she has enlisted in the services of some of the top bodyguards.

Her most high-profile security detail is professional bodyguard to the stars Peter Van der Veen who has worked with many A-listers including Iggy Azalea and Adele.

He set many Adele fans' hearts aflame when he burst onto the scene as her protection, towering over most fans and rarely being absent from her side.

It's little wonder so many big names have turned to him for bodyguard services, as the former bodybuilder was crowned Mr Europe in 2005.

The publication claims that Gaga's (pictured in Venice back in August 2018) security told law enforcement that they have seen the same man on the property before as he has often dropped off small gifts for her.

In good hands: Her most high-profile security detail is professional bodyguard to the stars Peter Van der Veen who has worked with many A-listers including Iggy Azalea and Adele, seen with him here in Paris in 2018

The star is currently working on Joker: Folie a Deux alongside Joaquin Phoenix as she will be portraying iconic baddie Harley Quinn in the highly-anticipated drama; pictured on the New York set back in March

Born in the Netherlands, he has even appeared on backing tracks for Gaga including her 2011 hit Government Hooker.

He worked with her from 2010 to 2015, before rejoining team Gaga in 2018.

The star is currently working on Joker: Folie a Deux alongside Joaquin Phoenix as she will be portraying iconic baddie Harley Quinn in the highly-anticipated drama.

The plot touches on the origin of Quinn from the Batman cartoons.

Her life as an Arkham Asylum psychiatrist, assigned to study the Joker, turns upside down when she falls in love with him instead.

Fans have to wait for the film's release until October 4 2024.
Strictly Come Dancing's Katya Jones has revealed that she is on the hunt for a new husband.

The dancer, 34, spoke exclusively to the Mail Online at the Sport Industry Awards at Evolution in London where she told how she has booked an island hopping holiday in Greece where she hopes to meet someone.

During the chat she also lifted the lid on what she thinks about her ex husband Neil having a baby with his fiance Chyna Mills - saying she was 'happy for him'.

Speaking about her husband-hunting holiday she said: 'I've booked an island hopping holiday in Greece in search of a new husband.

'I'm after natural human interaction and a connection!'

Looking for love: Strictly Come Dancing's Katya Jones has revealed that she is on the hunt for a new husband

Candid: She has also lifted the lid on what she thinks about her ex husband Neil having a baby with his fiance Chyna Mills - saying she was 'happy for him'

She also spoke about how she has been finding online dating, saying: 'They're just experiences like you probably experience. Everyone is nice on them, until you meet them.'

Speaking about the social media messages she gets she added: 'I must say - and maybe I'm lucky, but my Insta messages are pretty clean  there's no d**k pics that's for sure, which is a shame.'

She went on to speak about her ex Neil and Chyna's baby news, and when asked if she is happy for him she sweetly said: 'Yes, I am. I've already spoken about it, so you can google it. It's all good.'

Chyna and Neil revealed last month that she was 13 weeks pregnant and the parents-to-be are set to welcome their newborn in the autumn.

Katya, who still works alongside Neil as a professional on BBC ballroom dance contest Strictly, married Neil in 2013 before they split in 2019.

Television personality Chyna took to Instagram to share a sweet snap of the pair to reveal she was pregnant.

Neil popped the question to Chyna as they enjoyed a romantic getaway in Bali recently.

Ex: Neil was previously married to his Strictly pro co-star Katya for six years before calling it quits in August 2019 following her kiss with her 2018 Strictly partner Seann Walsh (pictured in 2018)

Love: Chyna and Neil revealed last month that she was 13 weeks pregnant and the parents-to-be are set to welcome their newborn in the autumn

He told Hello!: 'I'd already planned to ask Chyna to marry me before we knew she was pregnant. Then we found out and I was like, "Oh, this is brilliant, everything is coming together".'

Chyna admitted it took her a moment to accept the proposal as she wasn't 100 per cent sure if it was genuine.

She said: 'At first, I thought he was joking because we play jokes on each other all the time. I feel like I'm dreaming.'

Neil and Chyna took their relationship public in August last year when they enjoyed a romantic trip to Paris.

Happy ending: Neil popped the question to Chyna as they enjoyed a romantic getaway in Bali recently

Exciting: Speaking about her husband-hunting holiday Katya said: 'I've booked an island hopping holiday in Greece in search of a new husband'

The reality star first caught Neil's eye when she appeared on ITV2's Love Island last summer.

The pair have since stepped out together at a number of red carpet events and share a number of loved-up posts to Instagram.

It comes two years after Neil's previous relationship with South American dancer Luisa Eusse came to an end.

His split from Katya came after her kiss with her 2018 Strictly partner Seann Walsh.
Actor and filmmaker Murphy Afolabi has died aged 49.

The Nigerian actor, writer and filmmaker died in the early hours of Sunday at his Lagos home according to the Daily Post in Nigeria.

Director and producer, Tunde Ola-Yusuf confirmed the news with a post on his Facebook page on Sunday afternoon.

Yusuf wrote: 'REST IN PEACE...May God give the family and close associates the fortitude to bear the loss. Good night Muphy Afolabi.'

Loss: Actor and filmmaker Murphy Afolabi has died aged 49. The Nigerian actor, writer and filmmaker died in the early hours of Sunday at his Lagos home according to the Daily Post

Fellow filmmaker, Fidelis Duker, wrote, 'What is really happening? I am just watching him in a movie now.'

On Instagram, actor Yomi Fabiyi described the late actor as 'talented, creative, hardworking, so soft, humble and supportive,' adding 'Rest on Warrior!'

The late actor was reportedly a father of three - two boys, and one girl.

Afolabi celebrated his birthday just over a week ago on May 5 and wrote an Instagram post detailing his hopes for the future.

'Dear God, on this day which is my birthday, I ask for your blessings and grace,' the actor wrote on his birthday.

'May I have your strength and courage to continue to serve you faithfully. Almighty God, I come to you on this day and ask for your favour.'

'May you grant me wisdom and knowledge to do your will and to live a righteous life. HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY TO ME.'

Afolabi appeared in over 60 movies, including popular films Ifa Olokun Omowunmi, and Blackout. He first shot to famefollowing his role in the movie Omo Rapala.

He was also a scriptwriter and filmmaker, and the CEO of Fatuns Films Production.

Tributes: Director and producer, Tunde Ola-Yusuf confirmed the news with a post on his Facebook page on Sunday afternoon
Arnold Schwarzenegger defended his stance on climate change and got the chance to school some of his detractors on social media.

It began Sunday when the 75-year-old actor and activist whose life is explored in the new Netflix documentary Arnold, posted a photo of himself on board a flight headed to Vienna for his annual Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative summit.

'En route to @ArnoldSCI for this years summit in Vienna,' he wrote on social media next to the snap as he looked comfortable in what appeared to be a first class seat.

Climate change deniers quickly responded to the post.

'There is no climate emergency and all the private jets prove they all know it,' one commented on Twitter.

Defense: Arnold Schwarzenegger defended his stance on climate change and got the chance to school some of his detractors on social media after posting this photo with the caption, ''En route to @ArnoldSCI for this years summit in Vienna'

The strongman politely responded.

'This is a commercial flight - I truly hope you dont go around making things up to be angry about all the time. I dont want you to be that miserable.'

Another detractor made a similar comment, asking, 'How much do you get paid to promote the hoax?'

This time, the Terminator star used reason in his retort.

'Please dont make things up to be angry about,' he said, 'Just be logical.'

He then asked a couple of questions of his own.

'If anyone is paying people off to change how they talk about pollution, who has more money than oil companies? Are you acting anti-establishment while you do the bidding of a bunch of rich fossil fuel execs?'

The action hero kept his cool when he was called a hypocrite for allegedly traveling in a private jet.

Private jet: One Twitter user accused Arnold of taking a private jet to his annual Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative conference in Vienna. The strongman replied he was traveling on a commercial flight

Advice: The Kindergarten Cop star offered some advice to another detractor who accused him of flying private admonishing him to look 'in the mirror and figure out the real reason you're upset'

Climate Initiative: The former California governor created the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative in his native Austria in 2017 to further his work on creating a 'clean and sustainable future,' according to the organization's website

Goals: The Austrian World Summit has since become one of the largest environmental gatherings in the world, bringing together global decision-makers who share goal of de-carbonizing the planet by 2050

'So that private jet of yours... running on solar power, huh? It's the hypocrisy that's pissing people off. Get it?'

'Once again. This is a Lufthansa commercial flight,' the Kindergarten Cop star replied.

He then offered some advice.

'Before you spend all day on Twitter looking for fake reasons to be mad, spend a few minutes looking in the mirror and figuring out the real reason youre upset. Work on it. Do the reps. Be uncomfortable. One day youll thank me.'

The former California governor created the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative in his native Austria in 2017 to further his work on creating a 'clean and sustainable future,' according to the organization's website.

The Austrian World Summit has since become one of the largest environmental gatherings in the world, bringing together global decision-makers who share goal of de-carbonizing the planet by 2050.
Hollyoaks star Kieron Richardson has teased whether Ste Hay and Brendan Brady could get back together after his former onscreen love interest made a recent return to set.

'Stendan' fans went wild after village bad boy Emmett J Scanlan made a surprise appearance on set in March amid filming for Ste and James Nightingale's wedding.

The Irish actor, 44, who lives in Chester, happened to be passing by hen he was spotted by a make-up artist and headed to the set to say hello to his former co-star.

The picture left Hollyoaks fans swooning at the time with many hoping that the former couple could reunite 10 years after they were ripped apart following Brendan's prison stint.

And with the hype still surrounding the fan favourite couple, especially in the run-up to Ste's upcoming nuptials with lawyer James (Gregory Finnegan), Kieron has dished on whether there is a future for Stendan.

Back on? Hollyoaks star Kieron Richardson has teased whether Ste Hay and Brendan Brady could get back together after his former onscreen love interest made a recent return to set

Reunion: 'Stendan' fans went wild after village bad boy Emmett J Scanlan made a surprise appearance on set in March amid filming for Ste and James Nightingale's wedding

Speaking to Metro.co.uk, he said: 'It was amazing to see [Emmett], and obviously I'd love for a Stendan reunion to happen, but I don't think that will be any time soon, but who knows what the future hold?

Though he didn't confirm a reunion, Kieron, 37, didn't exactly rule it out either, meaning there is still hope for stalwart Stendan supporters.

Meanwhile Kieron opened up on what it was like to have Emmett briefly back on set, over a decade since the dodgy character departed.

He said: 'Emmett actually lives in Chester and was randomly walking past. One of our makeup artists spotted him and was like, 'Your little Ste's getting married over there' so he came to say hello.

'There's a scene actually where Ste's tied to a lamppost and a passerby takes pictures of him because he finds it funny, and we were thinking wouldn't it be amazing if we actually got Emmett to play the passerby.

'It would work because he looks so different at the minute  he's in another show and he's got to shave his beard, so he looks a bit unrecognisable, really young actually.'

He continued: 'It was so weird on the day because there were fans watching and crew members so when we were stood together, I think people were expecting something to happen but we just had a little catch up.'

It comes as this week's Hollyoaks episodes will see the drama reach breaking point as Ste and James are set to marry while Juliet wrestles with a shocking revelation about her health.

Here he is: The Irish actor, 44, (pictured last year) who lives in Chester, happened to be passing by hen he was spotted by a make-up artist and headed to the set to say hello to his former co-star

Stendan forever? The picture left Hollyoaks fans swooning at the time with many hoping that the former couple could reunite 10 years after they were ripped apart following Brendan's prison stint

Tease: With the hype still surrounding the fan favourite couple, especially in the run-up to Ste's upcoming nuptials with lawyer James, Kieron has dished on whether there is a future for Stendan

James Nightingale will wear a rainbow tracksuit as he ties the knot with Ste Hay in a romantic ceremony.

But the wedding will not go through without a hitch - as one soon-to-be newly-weds is faced with doubts throughout the week, while Juliet (Niamh Blackshaw) wonders if she can make it through the day.

Kieron described the upcoming nuptials as 'camp, meaningful and sad' as he hinted that a shocking incident that happens towards the end.

First look: It comes as this week's Hollyoaks episodes will see the drama reach breaking point as Ste and James are set to marry while Juliet wrestles with a shocking revelation about her health

Tying the knot: Ste and James prepare to marry... but will their wedding come off without a hitch?

He added that the upcoming marriage would 'cement them in each other's lives.'

Viewers will also get to witness their very different stag dos as James opts for a fancy wine and cheese night while Ste chooses a wild party.

However throughout the week's episodes, Juliet will be shown wrestling with news she receives from the hospital - as actress Niamh revealed fans will get to see her 'inner strength'.

Hollyoaks airs Mondays to Fridays at 6:30pm on Channel 4, and first look episodes at 7pm on E4.
It is a genre-defining romantic comedy that tells the story of a woman whose whole life unbeknowingly hinges on whether she catches one particular train journey.

And as Sliding Doors celebrates its 25th anniversary since its release, we take a look at the behind the scenes secrets from when the film was shot in the late nineties.

After shooting to stardom following her breakthrough role in Peter Pan spin-off Hook, Gwyneth Paltrow was lined up as the leading lady in the cult classic.

The actress, who was 24 at the time, starred as Helen opposite John Hannah as her love interest James, who comes into her life when they meet on a London Underground tube during a chance encounter.

In one reality, Helen catches the train and sits beside James, before heading home to discover her boyfriend Gerry in bed with his American ex-girlfriend, Lydia.

Iconic: Sliding Doors celebrates its 25th anniversary since its release, we take a look at the behind the scenes secrets from when the film was shot in the late nineties

Helen packs her bags and moves in with her friend Anna, before striking up a romance with James, despite her reservations about it being too fast.

In an alternate reality, Helen misses the same train and is then mugged when she gets off the next one, leaving her in hospital and ultimately missing catching Gerry and Lydia in the act.

The film then follows the two narratives as viewers watch how Helen's life pans out after the 'sliding doors' moment alters her future.

Speaking of his experience of working with Gwyneth at a recent Sliding Doors 25th Anniversary screening, director Peter Howitt suggested the star has been headstrong from a young age.

He admitted some of the filming - it was his first time directing - had been fraught and at one point, Gwyneth, then aged just 24, had told him, 'Just let it go, Pete.'

The event was hosted by Jennie Becker, founder and host of the Sliding Doors podcast which discusses life-changing moments.

She has recently released a new mini-series on the podcast called SD25, which features interviews with the cast and director of the film.

During a segment with John Hannah, the actor described the hilarious behind the scenes moment when Gwyneth discovered what a British 'chip butty' [a bread roll with chips] was, while shooting in London.

Gwyneth's horror will come as no surprise to her fans, as she has since gone on to found health and wellness lifestyle brand, Goop.

John said: 'Before we started shooting, you know how the crew all go and do reccys, they check out various locations and stuff.

Starring role: After shooting to stardom following her breakthrough role in Peter Pan spin-off Hook, Gwyneth Paltrow was lined up as the leading lady in the cult classic

'So we had a little mini bus one day and we did a reccy of the locations, that doesn't sound much but I don't think I've ever been invited onto a reccy on any other job that I've done.

'We went round and looked at places and said that's where we'll do that and this, then we said let's go and get some lunch.

'We got some fish and chips from some famous chippy on Marylebone Road, I remember I had a bread roll with my fish and chips and I made a chip butty.

'Gwyneth was just like "what? what are you doing? that's carbs on carbs!" I was like, "it's a roll of chips, it's brilliant."

Offering his opinion on co-starring with Gwyneth, he said: 'It was terrific. I thought she was great. She was fun, she was present, she was great, her accent was great.

'She played two characters with an accent.'

He went on to give another nugget of information about what went on behind the scenes, revealing that they previously considered another male lead before him.

Chance meeting: The actress, who was 24 at the time, starred as Helen opposite John Hannah as her love interest James, who comes into her life on a London Underground tube

John said they wanted someone taller, but explained that they eventually fixed the logistical issue by giving him a 'Tom Cruise' height boost.

He said: 'She [Gwyneth] was taller than me, but they can always put lifts in my shoes. I got Tom Cruise lifts, I felt like I'd made it you know.

'At first they were going to get a taller actor, but then they got me and just made me taller. But it was great, it was a great feeling and Pete was lovely. It was a good experience.'

Elsewhere during episode two of the podcast series, director Peter revealed how they helped the audience work out which timeline they were watching.

Peter said: 'We had so many conversations in preproduction about how we would make the audience know where they are. How will we make it not confusing?

'We didn't want it to be confusing, what's the point in that? You want it to be watchable and fun, so we did decide one story is on the left and the other is on the right.'

What will it be? The film then follows the two narratives as viewers watch how Helen's life pans out after the 'sliding doors' moment alters her future

'I don't need you to know that, I just hope that maybe somewhere subconsciously, the fact we were moving from story G to J [Gerry and James]. We'd move from left to right.

'For example, when they are both drunk at the end of the first night and Anna is bringing Helen into the bedroom, she brings her in from the left to right.

'And Gerry brings her home and puts her on the bed and he brings her in from right to left. We had no idea if that was going to help but subconsciously we hoped it would place the story on another side of your brain.

'We didn't want the audience to say "oh I know what they are doing", look ones on the left and ones on the right. It wasn't meant to be that specific.

'But we wanted to help the audience, because we didn't want them to be lost, because if they are lost they'll just stop watching.'

Another key - and likely the most noticable - difference between each narrative is Gwyneth's hairstyle.

The film's producer, Phillipa Braithwaiste, revealed the eye-watering cost of the haircut, because Gwyneth insisted on flying out her own hairdresser.

She said: 'We decided the hairstyle quite early on because when we went to pitch to all these film companies, most people really liked it to be fair, but couldn't quite understand how we were going to do it.

'I think early on, Peter and I decided well we will just cut her hair and in the other have it long, her real hair was the short hair.

'It was probably the most expensive haircut in history because Gwyneth quite rightly - she had lovely hair - wanted her hairdresser to come over from New York, so we had to fly him over by concord.

'It ended up costing 5,000 that haircut. Then we had a wig made, the long hair was the wig.'

You can listen to the podcast on

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/sliding-doors/id1546497838

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ulGR6xXrVXABE1kfbxtm4
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It is the hotly-anticipated live action remake of the Disney classic.

And as the Little Mermaid premiere rolled into town in London, as did its star-studded cast, as they took to the red carpet at the at Odeon Luxe Cinema in Leicester Square on Monday to celebrate the film's release.

The films leading lady Halle Bailey, who plays mermaid Ariel, looked nothing short of sensational as she graced the screening alongside her glamorous co-stars Melissa McCarthy and Simone Ashley.

The premiere also actracted a host of glamorous celebrities, including actress Sabrina Elba, former Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore and new Big Brother host AJ Odudu.

Actress Halle, 23, slipped into a deeply plunging white dress which was the perfect choice for the evening, due to being inspired by a shell and featured dazzling diamante detailing all over.

Screening: Little Mermaid premiere rolled into town in London, as did its star-studded cast, as they took to the red carpet at the at Odeon Luxe Cinema in Leicester Square on Monday to celebrate the film's release

Aw! The American star was joined by her onscreen love Jonah Hauer-King, who plays Prince Eric, as the co-stars were pictured in a sweet embrace on the red carpet

Glam: She styled the outfit with a pretty sparkling headpiece and a pair of drop earrings, while she was sporting a flawless coat of make-up which only enhanced her natural beauty

Cast: (L to R) Jonah Hauer-King, Jacob Tremblay, Melissa McCarthy, Halle Bailey, Rob Marshall, Javier Bardem and Daveed Digga line up together for a snap at the premiere

She styled the outfit with a pretty sparkling headpiece and a pair of drop earrings, while she was sporting a flawless coat of make-up which only enhanced her natural beauty.

Halle appeared in high spirits as she waved and smiled in front of cameras, while stood against an incredible Little Mermaid themed seascape backdrop.

The American star was joined by her onscreen love Jonah Hauer-King, who plays Prince Eric, as the co-stars were pictured in a sweet embrace on the red carpet.

Jonah, 27, looked seriously smart for the occasion in a smart beige double-breasted suit jacket, which he styled with matching trousers and a cream shirt with a tie.

Every Disney classic needs its villain, which this time comes in the form of Melissa's seawitch character Ursula.

Howeveer Melissa, 52, looked anything but villanous as she took to the red carpet in an incredible frilled fuschia floor-lenth gown, teamed with a selection of silver chain necklaces.

In one image, Melissa was offered a helping hand as she arrived at the event by an unknown gentleman - who was possibly a member of her security team.

The Bridesmaid star's look was given a very edgy finish with a pair of towering platform boots, which were covered in an eye-catching metallic pink print all over.

Wow! Halle was every inch the modern day Disney princess as she worked her magic for the paparazzi

Elegance: Halle and Jonah held hands as they posed for pictures together before the screening

Dapper: Jonah, 27, looked seriously smart for the occasion in a smart beige double-breasted suit jacket, which he styled with matching trousers and a cream shirt with a tie

Aw! A photographer caught the moment Halle spoke to a young fan with an Ariel doll on the red carpet

Looking villanously good! Every Disney classic needs its villain, which this time comes in the form of Melissa's seawitch character Ursula

These boots are made for walking! The Bridesmaid star's look was given a very edgy finish with a pair of towering platform boots, which were covered in an eye-catching metallic pink print all over

Easy does it! Melissa was offered a helping hand by an unknown gentleman - who was possibly a member of her security team

Cast: (L to R) John Dagleish, Alan Menken, Art Malik, Emily Coates, Jacob Tremblay, Martina Laird, Jonah Hauer-King, Nathalie Sorrell, Simone Ashley, Melissa McCarthy, Halle Bailey, Rob Marshall, John DeLuca, John DeLuca, Jessica Alexander, Javier Bardem, Kajsa Mohammar, Karolina Conchet, Daveed Diggs, Christopher Fairbank and Marc Platt

Good vs evil! Villanous Ursla actor Melissa stood beside the film's heroine Ariel

Also in attendance was Simone, 28, who plays one of Ariel's mer-sisters, looking incredible in a slinky blush dress with sexy sheer panels revealing the star's toned legs.

The Sex Education actress wore her raven locks loose and styled them in beachy waves, complemented with a full face of make-up, including a grey smokey-eye with a slick of maroon lipstick.

She boosted her already statuesque frame with a pair of silver platform heels.

Directed by Rob Marshall, whose previous films include Chicago and Memoirs Of A Geisha, the new remake of The Little Mermaid boasts a glittering cast.

Hamilton alum Daveed Diggs, former child star Jacob Tremblay, Crazy Rich Asians actress Awkwafina and comedy icon Melissa McCarthy are all part of the project.

The Little Mermaid is the beloved fairytale of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure, based on the classic story by Hans Christen Anderson.

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.

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.

Sleek and sexy: Also in attendance was Simone, 28, who plays one of Ariel's mer-sisters, looking incredible in a slinky blush dress with sexy sheer panels revealing the star's toned legs

Glam squad! The Sex Education actress wore her raven locks loose and styled them in beachy waves, complemented with a full face of make-up, including a grey smokey-eye with a slick of maroon lipstick

Blush: Kajsa Mohammar, who plays a mer-sister named Karina, looked etheral in an elegant pink gown

Elegance: Kajsa went braelss in the stunning pink number which boasted a thigh-slit

Queen! Elsewhere, Sabrina Elba, 34, went braless as she slipped into a plunging green gown with ruched detailing for the star-studded event

Stunning: Sabrina, attending without husband Idris, 50, posed up a storm in the figure-hugging frock which clung to her gorgeous curves

Smashing it: Also at the screening was AJ Odudu, who pulled out all of the stops in an incredible gold bust, which she styled with a black maxi skirt, complete with a daring thigh-high split

Dapper dudes! Stanley Tucci and Guy Ritchie were both in attendance at the premiere

Elsewhere, Sabrina Elba, 34, went braless as she slipped into a plunging green gown with ruched detailing for the star-studded event.

Sabrina, attending without husband Idris, 50, posed up a storm in the figure-hugging frock which clung to her gorgeous curves.

Sporting a radiant palette of make-up she wore her raven tresses in loose curls as they tumbles past her shoulders.

Sabrina, who wed the Luther actor in 2019, completed the look with large gold earrings and bracelet but forwent a necklace to let the stunning outfit speak for itself.

Also at the screening was AJ Odudu, who pulled out all of the stops in an incredible gold bust, which she styled with a black maxi skirt, complete with a daring thigh-high split.

She styled the outfit with a pair of gold strappy heels and a simple choker in the same tone. Her dark locks were worn in loose mermaid-style waves.

Chic: Laura Whitmore looked great in a strapless dress with an assymetric scalloped hem

Under the sea: The stunner, 38, nailed the theme as she toted a stylish 'What The Shell' seashell micro crossbody bag by luxury brand kate spade new york, retailing for 275

Family: Rochelle and Marvin Humes made their appearance at the screening a family affair, as they were joined by their daughtera Alaia-Mai, nine, and Valentina, six. Their little boy Blake, two, did not attend

Denim duty! TV personality Rochelle, 34, looked typically stylish in a denim blue strapless dress, teamed with green heels

Beaming: Stormzy cut a typically cool figure as he posed for snaps at the screening

She got the memo! Jourdan Dunn wowed in a blue knit dress with a daring slit

Not holding back! Love Island star Tasha Ghouri attempted a show-stealing moment in a flowing white dress

A moment for the dress! Tasha looked amazing as she worked her model prowess for the camera

Meanwhile former Love Island host Laura Whitmore put on a very leggy display in a a black strapless dress with an asymmetric scalloped hem.

The stunner, 38, nailed the theme as she toted a stylish 'What The Shell' seashell micro crossbody bag by luxury brand kate spade new york, retailing for 275.

Rochelle and Marvin Humes made their appearance at the screening a family affair, as they were joined by their daughtera Alaia-Mai, nine, and Valentina, six. Their little boy Blake, two, did not attend.

The picture perfect family were spotted cosying up for pictures as doting dad Marvin lifted their youngest daughter off the ground to give her a cuddle in one of the photos.

TV personality Rochelle, 34, looked typically stylish in a denim blue strapless dress, teamed with green heels.

Rochelle opted for a flawless bronzed makeup palette with a swipe of glossy nude lipstick, while her brunette locks were styled in loose waves.

Meanwhile Marvin, 38, donned a chocolate brown varsity jacket and matching trousers, teamed with a black t-shirt and trainers.

Bless! Pregnant Janette Manrara shared a sweet moment on the red carpet with her husband and baby daddy Aljaz Skorjanec

Glowing: Janette looked amazing in a floral sequin dress which she styled with a silver clutch bag

Gorgeous: Fellow mama to be Montana Brown showcased her baby bump in a blue and red print dress as she attended the event with her fiance Mark O'Connor

Green goddess! Stefflon Don didn't hold back with her choice of attire for the screening

Grace: Alex Scott stunned in a textured one shoulder gown with strappy heels

Low-key glam: Louise Redknapp looked effortlessly stylish in a blazer and black lace skirt

Work it! Former TOWIE star Jessica Wright wore a plunging gold dress and platfrom heels

Mermaid vibes: Saffron Barker had clearly taken inspiration from the film with her satin green look

Glowing: Influencer and TikTok star GK Barry looked sensational in a glamorous blue gown which boasted a daring thigh high split

Glamour: Influencer Hana Martin looked gorgeous in a white gown which she teamed with a seashell bag, coral earrings and star necklace from luxury brand kate spade new york
Jacob Tremblay, the actor who voices Flounder in Disney's live-action version of The Little Mermaid, said he is lucky he worked on the role before puberty.

The 16-year-old star - who defended his character's makeover - told People he recorded the part 'right before the pandemic. I think I was about 13.'

He added, 'Luckily, I hadn't fully hit deep-voice puberty yet. That made singing easier.'

The performer explained, 'It was still quite easy for me to do a higher range. If I were to try to do that now, it would not sound very good.'

The child star, who has also appeared in Doctor Sleep and The Smurfs 2, continued, 'I find it hard to not have voice cracks in regular conversations. I couldn't imagine.'

Growing up: Jacob Tremblay, the actor who voices Flounder in Disney's live-action version of The Little Mermaid, said he's lucky he worked on the role before puberty

Then; The 16-year-old star - who defended his character's makeover - told People he recorded the part 'right before the pandemic. I think I was about 13'

Jacob told the outlet, 'What's funny is that we did a little bit of re-records not too long ago, and this was when my voice had changed a little, and I had to pitch my voice up high.

'Luckily, they didn't have me doing any songs, but if they did, oh boy, I probably wouldn't have been able to do it.'

Before joining the star-studded cast of the highly-anticipated film, Tremblay said he was nervous about lending his voice to the production.

'It was definitely a learning curve for me because I had never sung before for anything,' he admitted. 'So I was kind of learning the ropes of it.'

One day he showed up to sing for what he thought was a rehearsal, but actually turned out to be a real recording.

'I was just like, "Okay, well since everyone's watching, I better just give a hundred percent anyway, even though it's just rehearsal." And thank God I did that because it turns out that was real,' he recalled.

Tremblay also explained that he leaned on costar Halle Bailey, who stars as Ariel, for support.

'[She] actually gave me some really good advice because this was obviously my first time singing and I was very nervous about it,' he told People.

'I remember talking to her. I was like, "Oh, I'm so nervous about it. I don't know why." And she gives me the advice to just pictureshe says that she pictures everyone naked. At first thought, I was like, "That's really weird." But honestly, it works and it definitely helped me."'

Transformation! Jacob (seen left in 2013 and right in 2023) left fans stunned last week when he attended the Little Mermaid premiere - and looked very different

What also helped the entertainer was a feeling a sense of community and safety while working on the project.

'Just being in a safe place where it's okay to mess up and everyone's just having a good time and the energy is just so positive and happy and joyful definitely helped,' he added.

For the remake of the 1980s animation, the actor noted, 'They are changing a few things, adding more details.

'What's really cool about doing a live-action [is] the creators are able to just see the original and then kind of question, "Okay, what can we improve here? What can we do different? Is there anything we should take out? Anything we should add?"

'I think that's just how it should be now. I think we, obviously moving forward as a new generation, have to make sure things are more sensitive. So that's always cool to be a part of that change.'

Last week Jacob left fans stunned when he attended the Los Angeles premiere of The Little Mermaid looking very different.

The star, who is originally from Vancouver, Canada, began his career when he was just a toddler - appearing in a slew of commercials - and by the time he was seven, he made his feature film debut in The Smurfs 2.

He went on to star in a series of highly acclaimed movies - including 2015's Room, alongside Brie Larson, and 2017's Wonder with Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson.

Coming soon: Jacob can be heard voicing the beloved character Flounder when the film comes out on May 26

At last Monday's Los Angeles premiere many people could not believe how much Jacob has changed since he first entered Hollywood as a youngster.

Twitter user @mmdisney200 posted the two images - one of the actor when he was making The Little Mermaid two years ago, and another of him at the premiere - and it quickly went viral.

The post gained thousands of retweets, likes, and replies from people who were surprised over his major glow up.

'This tweet needs a trigger warning,' one person joked, while another asked, 'Why can't time just walk like a normal person?'
Anna Nicole Smith died from an accidental drug overdose in February 2007 aged just 39 - leaving behind her infant daughter Dannielynn.

The blonde bombshell had endured a devastating few months leading up to her untimely death - welcoming her longed-for daughter on September 7 2006, before her only son Daniel tragically died aged 20 three days later in her hospital room from an accidental overdose of methadone and antidepressants.

In the wake of her son's death, Smith further descended into a spiral of depression, mental illness and drug abuse, culminating in her passing away in a Hollywood, Florida hotel room with a cocktail of drugs in her system.

Her ex partner and father of her child, Larry Birkhead testified at her inquest in 2008 that Anna preferred Daniel take drugs when she was present rather than 'running around experimenting with his friends - and had once given him an ecstasy pill.

Daniel also took a bottle of his mother's methadone in April - with Birkhead saying he could not be sure if Daniel had taken it to prevent his mother using it.

A new documentary - Anna Nicole Smith: You Dont Know Me - set for release on May 16 on Netflix - is set to explore the star's rise to fame, family and untimely death through the eyes of the people closest to her.

Read on below for everything you need to know about Anna Nicole Smith's cause of death:

Anna Nicole Smith died from an accidental drug overdose in February 2007 aged just 39 - leaving behind her infant daughter Dannielynn (pictured 2004)

RIP: The blonde bombshell has endured a devastating few months leading up to her untimely death - welcoming her longed-for daughter on September 7 2006, before her only son Daniel tragically died aged 20 three days later (pictured with Daniel in 2004)

LAST DAYS - FEBRUARY 5 - FEBRUARY 8 2007

Smith had nine prescription drugs in her system when she died, including methadone, valium diazepam and lorazepam and chloral hydrate.

Her security guard Maurice Brighthaupt alleged that he had seen her often slurp chloral hydrate - a strong sedative used in the short term treatment of insomnia - from a bottle.

At the time of her death she had stomach flu and an 105 degree fever brought on by a pus-filled infection on her buttocks from repeated injection of other drugs.

A hotel employee testified that Smith had seemed 'out of it' as she leaned on boyfriend Howard K.Stern while checking in at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on February 5, 2007 - just three days before her death.

She was also accompanied by psychiatrist Dr. Khristine Eroshevich - who would later become embroiled in legal drama over prescribing drugs to Smith under a false name - she would ultimately be sentenced to a year of probation in 2015.

Baby Dannielynn had stayed behind in the Bahamas where Smith had been living after the death of her son - while Smith and Stern had traveled to Florida to buy a new boat.

Eroshevich said the model had the flu and asked for help getting a prescription - with a doctor sent to Smith's room to treat her.

However the doctor was turned away by Stern due to fears over negative press coverage - which was reaching fever pitch due to Smith's recent tragedies, birth of her daughter and ensuing paternity battle.

Smith also refused to go to a hospital to be treated and decided to remain in her hotel room filled with Tamiflu tablets, pill bottles, SlimFast and soda. She would also take an ice bath to bring her fever and sweating under control.

Fall of an icon: Smith had nine prescription drugs in her system when she died, including methadone, valium diazepam and lorazepam and chloral hydrate

Last love: A hotel employee testified that Smith had seemed 'out of it' as she leaned on boyfriend Howard K.Stern (pictured together) while checking in at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on February 5, 2007 - just three days before her death

RIP: Smith is pictured with her daughter Dannielynn

Smith was said to be so weak when she arrived at the hotel that she was drinking Pedialyte out of a baby bottle.

Her final days were spent semi-conscious under a comforter on a bed - before she was found lifeless by a family friend on February 8.

Her staff gave her CPR and dramatic footage was taken of her last moments as paramedics continued to work on her as they wheeled her to an ambulance.

She was pronounced dead in the hospital that afternoon.

She obtained 44 different medications before her death, many of them strong prescription medicines.

Smith's death was ultimately ruled an accidental drug overdose of the sedative chloral hydrate that became increasingly toxic when combined with other prescription drugs in her system, specifically four benzodiazepines: Klonopin (clonazepam), Ativan (lorazepam), Serax (oxazepam) and Valium (diazepam).

Smith was buried wearing a beaded gown and tiara. She was laid to rest alongside Daniel.

ADDICTED TO PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION

Dr. Eroshevich and Anne Nicole's lover and manager Stern were convicted in 2010 of two counts of conspiring to obtain prescriptions under a false name and acquitted of several other charges.

They were not charged with causing the death of the Playboy model.

The doctor allegedly wrote prescriptions for opiates, muscle relaxants and other drugs which were found in the Florida hotel room where Anne Nicole died.

Under the spotlight: Smith's doctors found themselves in legal turmoil after her death for obtaining prescriptions under a false name (Smith above in 2000)

Down and out: Former doctor Sandeep Kapoor (left in 2009 booking photo, right in 2010 in court) was charged with illegally prescribing Smith with medication and while he lost his medical license he was acquited of criminal charges

However in 2011, Judge Robert Perry tossed out the convictions after the trial, saying it was not unusual in the celebrity world for fake names to be used to protect privacy.

An appeals court reversed his ruling leading to 2015's resentencing.

This time, Judge Perry decided the doctor was guilty of only a misdemeanor conspiracy saying she had no criminal record and did not have ill intent. Felony charges against Stern would later be dismissed again.

Another of Smith's doctors, Sandeep Kapoor found himself on trial in 2009 after being accused of contributing to Smith's death by providing her with illegal prescriptions.

He had begun treating Smith around 2004, at which time he provided her with prescriptions for Valium and methadone.

Their relationship was professional until Smith invited Kapoor to attend a Gay Pride event with her in Los Angeles in 2005, which reportedly ended with a shirtless Kapoor nuzzling Smith at a West Hollywood gay bar.

Kapoor continued to treat Smith after that, prescribing her medication under the name Michelle Chase for 'privacy reasons.'

He also said that Smith was particularly careful to not abuse any of her prescriptions during her 2006 pregnancy.

Close bond: Larry Birkhead, 50 was proven to be Dannielynn's biological father via paternity test in 2007, with the photographer moving to Kentucky to raise his daughter away from the spotlight (pictured together in 2022)

'She followed what she needed to follow, especially during her pregnancy. She had very strict guidelines on how to manage the medicine during the pregnancy, which she followed,' said Kapoor.

Two years after Smith's passing, Kapoor was charged with eight felonies including unlawfully prescribing controlled substances, obtaining fraudulent prescriptions and conspiring to furnish controlled substances.

Kapoor did lose his medical license but was ultimately acquitted by a jury.

Smith rose to fame as a nude model for Playboy then became a model for Guess. She later starred in her own E! reality series The Anna Nicole Show.

Anna, who was born Vickie Lynn Hogan, married 89-year-old oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II in 1994 after she met him while performing at a strip club.

Following Anne Nicole's death Howard fought for custody of her daughter Dannielynn, believing he was the father however a paternity suit later found the child was fathered by part-time celebrity photographer Birkhead.
Janette Manrara exhibited her growing baby bump as she attended the UK premiere of The Little Mermaid on Monday.

The pregnant Strictly pro, 39, looked radiant in a thigh-split floral dress while posing with her husband and co-star Aljaz Skorjanec, 33, outside the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London.

She elevated her height with nude heels and toted her essentials around in a glittery clutch, having flawlessly applied a full face of make-up.

Aljaz cut a dapper figure in a light blue suit which he layered above a white shirt.

He completed his look with a pair of light brown leather shoes, which he had coordinated to his belt.

Stunning: Janette Manrara exhibited her growing baby bump as she attended the UK premiere of The Little Mermaid with her husband and co-star Aljaz Skorjanec on Monday

Gorgeous: The pregnant Strictly pro, 39, looked radiant in a thigh-split floral dress while posing with Aljaz, 33, outside the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London

Janette looked adoringly at Aljaz as he cradled her stomach.

The Little Mermaid remake received mixed reviews from critics, following its world premiere in Los Angeles earlier this month.

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.

'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.

Suave: Aljaz cut a dapper figure in a light blue suit which he layered above a white shirt

In her element: Janette couldn't have looked happier

Out of this world: She elevated her height with nude heels and toted her essentials around in a glittery clutch, having flawlessly applied a full face of make-up

'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.

'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.

Divided: The Little Mermaid remake received mixed reviews from critics , following its world premiere in Los Angeles earlier this month (Halle Bailey pictured as Ariel)

Wow! Current projections show the blockbuster pulling in $110 million (87m) over its four day opening weekend, according to Deadline

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.'

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.
Jess Wright attended The Little Mermaid UK premiere at Odeon Luxe, in London's Leicester Square on Monday.

The former TOWIE star, 37, put on a glamorous display in a shimmering champagne gown with exaggerated sleeves.

Thanks to her frock's daring thigh-high split, Jess showed off her bronzed pins and boosted her height with the help of a pair of barely-there heels.

The mother-of-one commanded attention as she played with the excess material while posing on the blue carpet, with her raven tresses tied up into a chic wavy ponytail.

The Little Mermaid remake received mixed reviews from critics, following its world premiere in Los Angeles earlier this month.

Glam: Jess Wright, 37, attended The Little Mermaid UK premiere at Odeon Luxe, in London's Leicester Square on Monday

Sensational: The former TOWIE star put on a glamorous display in a shimmering champagne gown with exaggerated sleeves

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.

'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.'

Gorgeous: Thanks to her frock's daring thigh-high split, Jess showed off her bronzed pins and boosted her height with the help of a pair of barely-there heels

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.

'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.

Divided: The Little Mermaid remake received mixed reviews from critics , following its world premiere in Los Angeles earlier this month (Halle Bailey pictured as Ariel)

Wow! Current projections show the blockbuster pulling in $110 million (87m) over its four day opening weekend, according to Deadline

'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.'

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.
On Monday the show begins as usual with Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby hosting a review of the newspapers, although there is one major breaking story that is not, ahem-ahem, mentioned. For it is no secret that at least one front page declares 'Furious Phil Calls in Lawyers'.

Elsewhere there are prominent headlines about 'crisis talks' between the couple and their ITV paymasters, but not a whisper of this calumny is mentioned. Instead, guest Gyles Brandreth is invited to comment on a news story about the increasing number of schoolchildren identifying as transgender. He is having none of it.

'Children will be children,' booms Gyles, revealing that as a small boy he went through a period when he wanted to be like Brigitte Bardot and wear women's clothes. 'It was just a phase,' he cries.

Phil puts on his Most Serious Face to rebuke this outrageous outburst of common sense. 'We have had children on here and it is not a phase for them,' he says. Moving on, Phil also mentions that 'young people who don't have sexual education are more likely to take risks with their sexual health'.

All nod and agree that sex education among the young is important, very important. Next up, an item about flying to Australia in only two hours, something Holly and Phil would probably quite like to do right now, but on separate flights of course.

Feud: Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield hosted the hit show This Morning today after Phillip called in lawyers over their falling-out

'I wouldn't want to be the first,' says Phil. He looks at Holly and this is the first time she looks back at him. Her expression is a beautiful blank, but what is new about that? For most of this item, Holly keeps her gaze trained straight ahead as if she were piloting that rocket flight to Sydney all by herself and the runway had just hoved into view.

Yet Phil keeps gazing at her, scrunching his features into something he perhaps fondly imagines is an expression of benign brotherly affection. I am reminded of Kermit trying and failing to appease Miss Piggy on countless Muppet Show capers, always ending in froggy disaster. It doesn't bode well for the future.

By 10.26 we have moved on to a discussion about online security and the suffocating atmosphere on set continues to be freighted with innuendo and the terrible unsaid. We're only half an hour in  how can this possibly work in the long term? But still, Holly and Phil plough on, as if nothing were happening and no one's reputation was teetering on the brink of oblivion.

'The more personal information the scammer has about someone, the more likely they are to bring them in and do that con,' the security expert explains.

'Scammers play on curiosity,' says Phil, folding his hands, leaning forward and looking super earnest. Holly takes this Holly-opportunity to impart some Holly-wisdom, which is perhaps just as relevant to her own Holly-circumstances as to the wider This Morning audience.

'Be a little bit private and a little bit picky,' she says. My darling, Holly! If only you had listened to your own advice.

Next up is an item with a really marvellous guest, Alan Menken. He is the musical genius behind so many of the hit songs for a generation of Disney films, including The Little Mermaid and its new live-action adaptation. What is he going to play for us?

The TV couple are said to have held crisis talks with ITV bosses before today's show

'A new song called Scuttlebutt,' says Alan. Well that is unfortunate, isn't it children?

By now, Holly and Phil are sitting on two stools alongside Alan's piano in the studio and I hate to sound like a concerned gastroenterologist, but are those stools further apart than usual?

I think they are, but never mind, Alan begins his medley.

'You ain't never had a friend like me,' he sings, a prescient number from Aladdin. He then performs a snatch of Poor Unfortunate Souls from The Little Mermaid, and then a song from Tangled.

'At last I see the light, it is like the fog has lifted,' he sings, and it is almost as if Holly has written the lyrics herself.

But before we can digest the social and professional awkwardness of this interlude, the farrago of fakery continues with a keep-fit item about strengthening your core for summer.

'The core, that literally is your centre, the centre of everything,' explains Holly and really, thank goodness she is there to keep us all enlightened.

'What is your core?' asks Phil the dolt, even though Holly has just told him.

Never mind, all get on their mats to engage their cores. 'I know Phil is an expert,' says Simon the keep-fit pro, urging the television star to 'keep your knees on the ground'. He won't need to be told twice.

The show rumbles on in a miasma of cringe. There is a holiday item about a seaside destination in Croatia, but Holly fails to grasp its name.

'What was it called, the Golden Horn beach?' she wonders. Phil apparently doesn't know anything about a Golden Horn, so we move on to a cooking segment, where lovely chef Marcus Bean is making his creamy chicken traybake.

Phil puts on his Most Serious Face to rebuke this outrageous outburst of common sense, writes Jan Moir (pictured)

Phil and Holly sit side by side at the counter. Two little blonde heads, two little angels, butter wouldn't melt, talking animatedly about chicken salt because Holly had some on holiday last year and she loved it.

'Can you get it here?' asks Phil. This is the nearest they come to a proper conversation in the entire show, including a tiny chat about whether or not to eat the skins of broad beans. By my reckoning, this was also the first and only time they properly looked each other in the eye. Both seemed to be anti bean skin-eating.

Let's move on to sunscreen, for God's sake! 'Growing up in Cornwall, our local sun cream was probably just lard,' said Phil, who looked over at Holly for the usual hammy nourishment of her showbiz laughter. In the olden days, Holly would have undoubtedly found this lardy aside hilarious. Now she is treating Phil with the polite but chilly tolerance of someone sitting next to an utter pest on a long journey, perhaps to Sydney.

Holly and Phil were back on screen together amid claims of their faltering relationship

Still, you've got to hand it to them. For the duration of their award-winning, 150-minute show, the old pros gritted their teeth and got on with it, smiling fit to burst through the usual slick cavalcade of lifestyle items and showbiz grot.

Yet viewers didn't have to look far to see the crack in the vase of their relationship, nor the pulsing blue vein of discord running through their showbiz cheese.

If the pair of them last the week, it will be a miracle. For you can't build an entire television franchise on the special on-screen chemistry between your two major stars and then expect the public to be fooled when that relationship spectacularly implodes. It's obvious, it's insulting, it's untenable. Despite their best efforts, it is going to be a long, long time before Holly and Phil jump a queue together again.
Jourdan Dunn turned heads while attending the UK premiere of The Little Mermaid on Monday at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London.

The model, 32, flashed her legs in a semi-transparent blue knit dress with a daring thigh-split as she posed for gawking photographers.

She added inches to her enviable frame with a pair of silver lace-up heels while sporting a collection of coordinating necklaces.

Having flawlessly applied a full face of make-up to enhance her natural beauty, Jourdan wore her brunette tresses in beachy waves.

The Little Mermaid remake received mixed reviews from critics, following its world premiere in Los Angeles earlier this month.

Hot stuff: Jourdan Dunn turned heads while attending the UK premiere of The Little Mermaid on Monday at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London

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.

'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.'

Stunning: Having flawlessly applied a full face of make-up to enhance her natural beauty, Jourdan wore her brunette tresses in beachy waves

Gorgeous: The model, 32, flashed her legs in a semi-transparent blue knit dress with a daring thigh-split as she posed for gawking photographers

Wow! She added inches to her enviable frame with a pair of silver lace-up heels while sporting a collection of coordinating necklaces

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.

'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.

Divided: The Little Mermaid remake received mixed reviews from critics , following its world premiere in Los Angeles earlier this month (Halle Bailey pictured as Ariel)

Wow! Current projections show the blockbuster pulling in $110 million (87m) over its four day opening weekend, according to Deadline

'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.'

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.
Terminator 2 star Edward Furlong looked unrecognizable as he showed off his new teeth on a date with ex Monica Keena more than a decade after she had filed a restraining order against him.

The 45-year-old actor was recently seen with his 43-year-old ex - who he was seen with on a similar outing last month - in exclusive photos obtained by DailyMail.com.

As he famously had his teeth fixed months ago after they were rotted from his own years of meth use, he proudly showed off his new pearly white as he smiled big on the outing.

The outing came over a decade after she filed a restraining order against the former child actor, the on-off couple have seemingly reunited following a series of turbulent years.

Furlong shot to fame in 1991 after starring alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger aged just 13 in blockbuster Terminator 2: Judgement Day.

All good now: Terminator 2 star Edward Furlong looked unrecognizable as he showed off his new teeth on a date with ex Monica Keena more than a decade after she had filed a restraining order against him

Back in the day: The former couple are seen at a premiere in LA back in January 2011

Furlong was just 13 years old when he was plucked from obscurity and cast in 1991 action film hit, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger

Now, six years after his 2016 drug conviction, his last brush with the law, Furlong has appeared to reconnect with his longtime love interest, three months after celebrating five years of sobriety.

Keena was granted a restraining order against the actor in 2013 after multiple domestic violence accusations, which have continued to plague his attempts at landing film roles in recent years.

But the pair have seemingly reconnected as Keena was spotted arriving at his apartment last month.

On their latest outing the two grabbed a salad at Sweetgreen in Los Angeles before enjoying a romantic stroll together.

Following a successful child acting career that included a starring role in Oscar-nominated flick American History X, Furlong spiraled into a crippling meth and heroin addiction that led to multiple arrests.

After first visiting rehab in 2000 for his drug addiction, Furlong struggled through years of relapses that led to several scrapes with the law.

In April 2001, a 23-year-old Furlong was hospitalized with a suspected drug overdose as he built his reputation as a Hollywood party animal.

This was followed by years of embarrassing arrests, including for one bizarre incident that saw him attempt to free lobsters from a storefront display.

The 45-year-old actor was recently seen with his 43-year-old ex - who he was seen with on a similar outing last month - in exclusive photos obtained by DailyMail.com

As he famously had his teeth fixed months ago after they were rotted from his own years of meth use, he proudly showed off his new pearly white as he smiled big on the outing

The outing came over a decade after she filed a restraining order against the former child actor, the on-off couple have seemingly reunited following a series of turbulent years

Now, six years after his 2016 drug conviction, his last brush with the law, Furlong has appeared to reconnect with his longtime love interest, three months after celebrating five years of sobriety

Years of addiction struggles persisted through the birth of his son in 2006, as his career continued to careen downhill despite previously working with icons including Meryl Streep and Liam Neeson.

A failed three-year marriage with actress Rachael Bella ended in 2009, which saw him slapped with a restraining order after allegedly punching her in the face in a drug-fueled rage.

His subsequent relationship with Dawson's Creek starlet Monica Keena again captured headlines after Furlong was arrested multiple times for alleged domestic violence.

He was later handed another restraining order from Keena, and after he was arrested on domestic battery charges against her in 2013, Furlong seemingly hit rock bottom amid his third arrest in four months.

Years of meth abuse had rotted his teeth, and striking images sparked concern as the child star's descent became clear for all to see.

Following decades of struggle, the actor has turned his life around in recent times, revealing to DailyMail.com last year that he had re-launched his career as he celebrated his 'second chance'.

'It feels great to be back on set and sober too,' he said.

'I didn't feel hungover when I went to work. There's other sober people at work which is weird because if you're not sober, you're not hanging out with the other sober people. It was cool.'

Keena was granted a restraining order against the actor in 2013 after multiple domestic violence accusations, which have continued to plague his attempts at landing film roles in recent years

But the pair have seemingly reconnected as Keena was spotted arriving at his apartment last month

On their latest outing the two grabbed a salad at Sweetgreen in Los Angeles before enjoying a romantic stroll together

Following a successful child acting career that included a starring role in Oscar-nominated flick American History X, Furlong spiraled into a crippling meth and heroin addiction that led to multiple arrests

Monica and Edward are seen in Las Vegas back in May 2013 months before the restraining order

Despite his teeth rotting out due to years of horror drug abuse, the then-44-year-old admitted that it took him some time to agree to having his teeth 'ripped out' and replaced.

'It sounds weird for me to be talking about teeth because I don't live and breathe the way I look but every time I looked in the mirror, it just bummed me out as a reminder of what I had done for all those years,' he said.

'It's nice to get a second chance. It was a no-brainer, I'm super glad I did it.'

Taking to Instagram last month to celebrate his return to work, Furlong posted images from the premiere of his latest film, horror flick Forest Hills.

The month prior, he shared a poignant image of his five-years sober landmark, admitting that he feared posting the image could be 'jinxing' himself.

'From what I've seen sobriety is not something you win it's something you continuously fight for,' he continued in the post.

'But making five years blows my mind, especially since I had never even made it a year before. If you're struggling with sobriety just know, if I can make it this far anyone can.

'All you need to do is decide you want to live and be willing to do anything to survive. Life can be really f****** hard sometimes but if you keep marching forward to make it to the greatest parts it's all worth fighting for. Don't give up.'

The actor previously shared before and after photos of his smile and described his new pearly whites as being part of his 'second chance'

The child actor won praise for his turn in 1998 Oscar-nominated film American History X

Speaking about being unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight after being cast in the role of John Connor in Terminator 2: Judgement Day in 1991, Furlong said the role came as 'a shock'.

'I don't know if I ever completely absorbed it. Picked up from nowhere, just auditioned for it and before I knew it, I was doing it. I was in the movie.

'When I look back on it, I'm like damn, that's pretty crazy. When I was younger, I was pretty driven and somehow manifested that into my life.

'It was pretty awe-inspiring. I loved movies and I'd seen Terminator but had no idea how it was made.

'I remember the first day like it was yesterday  getting up at four in the morning and really hating life.'

Behind the instant success, Furlong said he always felt like 'I was pulling something over on everyone' and was terrified people might find out who he really was.'

'I had a lot of awesome things happen but everything comes with a price, nothing is free,' he added.

'When I was younger, I didn't have too many people looking out for me and I was left to run wild. I didn't know how to manage my money. If I was older, I wouldn't have made so many bad decisions.'
AJ Odudu attended The Little Mermaid UK premiere at Odeon Luxe, in London's Leicester Square on Monday.

The new Big Brother host, 35, looked statuesque in a metallic gold breast plate and fitted black maxi skirt.

AJ showed off her posing skills as she struck fierce stances on the blue carpet, whilst displaying a glimpse of her lengthy pins thanks to her skirt's bold side split.

The Brummie star slipped on a delicate gold pair of barely-there heels, which perfectly matched her necklace and bracelets.

The Little Mermaid remake received mixed reviews from critics, following its world premiere in Los Angeles earlier this month.

Wow! AJ Odudu, 35, attended The Little Mermaid UK premiere at Odeon Luxe, in London's Leicester Square on Monday

Gorgeous: The new Big Brother host looked statuesque in a metallic gold breast plate

Incredible: AJ showed off her posing skills as she struck fierce stances on the blue carpet, whilst displaying a glimpse of her lengthy pins thanks to her skirt's bold side split

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.

'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.'

Finishing touches: The Brummie star slipped on a delicate gold pair of barely-there heels, which perfectly matched her necklace and bracelets

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.

'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.

Divided: The Little Mermaid remake received mixed reviews from critics , following its world premiere in Los Angeles earlier this month (Halle Bailey pictured as Ariel)

Wow! Current projections show the blockbuster pulling in $110 million (87m) over its four day opening weekend, according to Deadline

'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.'

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.
Katherine Kelly Lang is living her vita migliore (best life) while filming The Bold and The Beautiful in Italy.

The soap star, 61, is in Rome with co-starts Annika Noelle, Matthew Atkinson, Thorsten Kaye and Jacqueline MacInnes.

Katherine looked lovely in a vibrant blue and white wrap top with a tie around her waist and white slacks.

She carried a white handbag and wore white sandals as she walked with her arm around Thortsen's shoulders.

The actors were spotted in front of the iconic Colosseum in Rome on Sunday.

Italian getaway: Katherine Kelly Lang is living her vita migliore (best life) while filming The Bold and The Beautiful in Italy

Earlier this month, the actress reflected on the early days of playing Brooke Lang on the CBS soap.

She has played the chemist and fashionista with blue collar roots since the show's beginning in 1987.

The Los Angeles native described the origins of her character with Daytime Confidential, saying Brooke is: 'a girl from the other side of the tracks that falls in love with the young socialite, Beverly Hills guy.

'She comes from a hard-working family in the Valley. I liked that its kind of how I grew up. I grew up in Encino in a hard-working family. I didn't grow up with money, and it was kind of interesting to have that excitement of falling in love with the rich family,' she said.

She said she had been offered some soap opera roles on New York based shows, but wanted to stay in Southern California.

When The Bold and the Beautiful came along, 'it was a brand-new show and it was half an hour, so you could kind of create your character. It was in L.A. and I thought, "What do I have to lose?" It was very interesting to me.

'So I signed the contract. At that time, four years seems like a long time, because when you're young, time seems longer. Four years really goes by like that. So, it went by so fast and I just decided to re-sign, and re-sign, and re-sign,' she added.

And her first day almost didn't happen as she recounted to the outlet that some men tried to pull her into a van to rape her earlier that day but thanks to her brother's quick thinking, she escaped.

Co-stars: Katherine looked lovely in a vibrant blue and white wrap top with a tie around her waist and white pants

36 years: Katherine has played Brooke Lang on the CBS soap since it debuted in 1987

And 36 years later, she's thrilled to still be playing Brooke Lang.

'I'm so happy I stayed on the show, she said. 'It's something that I'm proud of, actually, to be somewhere for a long period of time.'

'It still makes me happy to come to work every day. It feels like family,' she gushed.

'It feels like home going into my dressing room, and it's such a good feeling. I really honestly do love it as much as I always have. So, it's an amazing job and I can't even call it a job because its more like play,' she added.
Look out for some new content from Jenelle Evans on OnlyFans.

The Teen Mom alum, who recently went on a getaway to Florida, teased new footage Monday as she shared a screenshot of her OnlyFans account onto her Instagram - and the thousands of unread messages awaiting her.

'Catching up on all my messages today then new content later tonight,' she wrote, along with a fire and devil emoji.

On her OnlyFans bio, Jenelle, 31, describes herself as a 'popular social media influencer' who is best known for being on MTV.

It costs $20 a month to subscribe to Jenelle's account, but that unlocks hundreds of posts.

'New content later tonight': Jenelle Evans teased new OnlyFans content Monday as she shared a screenshot of her account onto her Instagram - and the thousands of unread messages awaiting her

Jenelle also shared some family friendly content capturing her Mother's Day on Monday.

She shared snaps of her with her mom Barbara Evans, her sons Jace, 13, Kaiser, eight, daughter Ensley, six, stepdaughter Maryssa, 15, and husband David Eason, 34.

Seemingly referencing a rift she had with her mother, she captioned the post, 'It's nice when we can all get along.'

David also shared a photo of them all out to lunch together, noting he was 'happy' to see both Jenelle and Barbara spending the special day together.

'Happy day after mothers day to my beautiful wife! You're the best mom ever! I was so happy to see @j_evans1219 and Barb celebrate #mothersday2023 together!' he captioned the post.

Jenelle was finally granted full custody of her son Jace in March after relinquishing parental rights to her mother many years ago.

The new custody arrangement became official after the MTV reality star and her mother Barbara signed the papers on March 16 after more than a decade.

She wrote in the caption of a video of herself signing the documents and shedding tears of joy: 'Words can't describe how happy I truly am. Our family is complete now! Thank you mom.'

The North Carolina native  who welcomed Jace, now 13, in 2009 with ex-boyfriend Andrew Lewis  had signed over custody of her eldest son to Barbara just shortly after his birth.

Happy Mother's Day! Evans also shared photos capturing her Mother's Day onto her Instagram account on Monday

All together! She shared snaps of her with her sons Jace, 13, Kaiser, eight, daughter Ensley, six, stepdaughter Maryssa, 15, and husband David Eason, 34

Previously, Jenelle had stated that she regained custody of Jace while speaking in a candid TikTok video posted in January 2021.

Over the years, Jenelle continued with a long battle in court with her mother over custody of her firstborn child, due to battling a drug addiction and having been arrested a number of times in her preteen years.

'My mom and I decided together to grant full custody back to me because we want to build our relationship back as mother and daughter,' Jenelle told Us Weekly in a statement.

'We have officially signed the papers on Thursday, March 16th at the courthouse,' she stated. 'It's a done deal!'

'It's nice when we can all get along': Janelle referenced a rift she was once embroiled in with her mother Barbara as she celebrated the special day with her

Family: Jenelle was finally granted full custody of her son Jace in March after relinquishing parental rights to her mother many years ago

She went on to explain that her mother wishes for Jace to live with his family and be around a proper father figure.

'My mother agrees it's time for Jace to be back with his siblings and living with a mother and father,' she said.

'She also thinks it's important for Jace to be around a father figure to learn "boy things" and have "men talk",' she added, nothing that Barbara 'has seen the way David parents [her] children'.

'She knows we're able to handle it,' Jenelle continued. 'We want to all get along for the sake of the children and - like I said before - building back our relationship as mother and daughter.'

Her manager, August Keen, also told Us Weekly despite disputes in the past, Jenelle and her husband have patched things up and are in a stable, healthy relationship.

Cheers! She appeared to be enjoying a beer during her family Mother's Day lunch

Strike a pose: She included a close-up shot of her, beaming with joy

'Jenelle and David are definitely together,' Keen said. 'Things between them are great.'

'They're a happy family, and they are completely fine,' he said in the statement.

Jenelle was 17 at the time of Jace's birth and had her entire pregnancy documented on MTV's 16 And Pregnant.

Jenelle also shares an eight-year-old son named Kaiser with her ex-boyfriend Nathan Griffith as well as daughter Ensley with her husband David.

Good times: David also shared a photo of them all out to lunch together, noting he was 'happy' to see both Jenelle and Barbara spending the special day together

David also has two children  Maryssa and Kaden  from previous relationships.

In the past, Jenelle and David had lost custody of all of their children after a scary incident involving their dog in April 2019.

Eason killed their French bulldog, Nugget, after the dog allegedly attacked and bit Ensley.

Following the tragic event, their children were removed from their custody, and the couple separated for around a year.

Despite their rocky history and having both been fired from the MTV program, they ended up rekindling their relationship and reconciling their issues.
Phoebe Bridgers and Bo Burnham's new romance appears to have been accidentally confirmed by Keith Urban in a clip captured by the country music star at a Taylor Swift the weekend.

Urban, 55, and Kidman, 55, filmed themselves bopping along to Swift's Blank Space at her concert in Philadelphia - but all eyes swiftly went to Swift's support act Bridgers, 28, who was seen sharing an apparent kiss with Burnham, 32 in the background.

Bridgers - who famously split from rumored fiance Mescal in December 2022 - looked typically glamorous as she cozied up to the comedian and film-maker.

The pair danced together in the VIP area before they turned around to face each other and leaned in for a kiss.

OMG: Phoebe Bridgers and Bo Burnham's new romance appears to have been accidentally confirmed by Keith Urban in a clip captured by the country music star at a Taylor Swift the weekend (Phoebe and Bo pictured center)

Normal People: Urban, 55, and Kidman, 55, filmed themselves bopping along to Swift's Blank Space at her concert in Philadelphia - but all eyes swiftly went to Swift's support act Bridgers, 28, who was seen sharing an apparent kiss with Burnham, 32 in the background

Fans quickly went wild on social media with one humorously commenting: 'Keith is is in his DeuxMoi era' while another added: Keith having the time of his life with Nicole not knowing the chaos he just put out on the internet.'

Rumors of the pair's romance began circulating in early January when a bizarre photo of them with The 1975 frontman, Matty Healy, was posted on his Instagram.

Bridgers placed a kiss on Healy's mouth as Burnham stood behind them with his eyes closed.

There were also several reports of Bridgers and Burnham 'making out' and 'canoodling' around Los Angeles, according to the Deux U podcast.

A few weeks ago, Paul Mescal broke his silence on the 'difficult' split between him and Bridgers.

The Oscar-nominee, 27, opened up to Vanity Fair about the end of his romance with the Kyoto hitmaker.

'Sometimes I can drown it out and then other times it makes me really mad and upset,' he shared.

'People are going to write and say things because theres a certain interest with any person whos in the public eye in how that person lives their life, and who theyre living up with, and what theyre doing and how theyre going about doing it.

A kiss? Bridgers - who famously split from rumored fiance Mescal in December 2022 - looked typically glamorous as she cozied up to Burnham

Long-time love: Bridgers dated actor Paul Mescal for several years before their breakup; Bridgers and Mescal at The Met Gala in 2022

Heartbreak: Mescal broke his silence about the breakup while talking to Vanity Fair

Starting out: Mescal became a household name in 2020 after starring in Hulu's adaptation of Sally Rooney's best-selling novel Normal People; Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones in Normal People

'And look, a lot of the time people are really kind about their support for me. Thats my predominant experience.'

Mescal began dating the talented musician in 2020 - shortly after the remarkable BBC drama Normal People turned him into a household name.

He said: 'I definitely feel the temptation to say the status of my whateverthat will always be there. But I dont think thats a wise thing to do.

'When Normal People came out, I was very forthright in interviews, and it didnt actually serve me. But the temptation still exists to be like, Shut the f*** up. This is my life. This is whats going on. Or this is whats going on.'

He continued: 'But moving forward as much as I can, thats going to be my life that is private. Thats a difficult thing to achieve. But giving strangers an answer about my life doesnt actually help me.

'Its like a quick boost of serotonin, being like, Ive said what I need to say. And then its just Twitter fodder.'
Jamie Foxx has moved cities as he is currently in Chicago with his family by his side according to a new report.

The 55-year-old Oscar winner - who is said to have been out of the hospital for weeks - is now a a facility touted as the top physical medicine and rehabilitation center in the country according to TMZ on Monday.

According to the site his daughters, Corinne and Annalise, as well as the younger sibling's mother Kristin Grannis, were all in the Windy City over the weekend to spend time with him during his recovery from a health scare which took place while filming in Atlanta last month.

It still remains unclear what happened to Foxx - born Eric Marlon Bishop - but the site reports that the facility specializes in 'stroke recovery, traumatic brain injury rehab, spinal cord injury rehab and cancer rehabilitation.'

An insider told the site that the talented multihyphenate arrived at the facility in late April and that he is 'recovering well' after first getting treatment at a hospital in Atlanta.

Jamie Foxx has moved cities as he is currently in Chicago with his family by his side according to a new report from TMZ on Monday; he is seen in London back in February

His 13-year-old daughter Annalise was seen bringing her guitar to visit her father to no doubt pick up his spirits with the power of music as her 29-year-old half sister Corinne was also seen there.

Annalise's mother and Jamie's ex Kristin, 46, was seen leaving the facility with flowers and a balloon for Mother's Day.

Days ago it was revealed that the A-lister has been out of hospital for weeks and has been recuperating at home, his older daughter revealed.

Corinne took to Instagram on Friday denying reports that her 55-year-old father was still in hospital - and even claimed the actor has been active and playing pickleball.

A spokesperson for Foxx also confirmed to DailyMail.com that the actor is out of hospital.

It is still unclear what the actor has been in hospital for, with his family reluctant to release any specific information.

'Update from the family: Sad to see how the media runs wild,' Corinne wrote, alongside a report that claimed his loved ones had been 'preparing for the worst.'

'My Dad has been out of the hospital for weeks, recuperating. In fact, he was playing pickleball yesterday! Thanks for everyone's prayers and support!'

Days ago Foxx's daughter claimed actor has been out of hospital for WEEKS and even played PICKLEBALL at home - as she thanks fans for support (Pictured above last August)

Statement: Corinne Foxx took to Instagram on Friday denying reports that her 55-year-old father was still in hospital

The shock update comes amid conflicting reports about his condition following his recent hospitalization.

Foxx resides in a lavish $10.5 million mansion in Hidden Valley, California.

The movie star, born Eric Bishop, was filming the action-comedy Back In Action with Cameron Diaz in Atlanta, Georgia, in April when he was admitted to hospital although little is known of the intricacies of the situation.

He had believed to be currently seeking treatment in a medical facility in the state undergoing tests - however, his daughter claims he has now been released.

His daughter appeared to be taking aim at a report by the gossip site Radar that claimed his family were 'preparing for the worst.'

That report mentioned his daughter Corinne and that she had not given any specifics over his current state of health.

Sources claimed to the site that Foxx suffers from high blood pressure and that he was 'lucky to be alive,'

Last week, sources told Page Six that 'nothing had changed' and the actor was 'still in the same condition', after his health scare. MailOnline has contacted representatives for Jamie for comment.

Road to recover? Foxx is pictured above in March this year at the 2023 Miami Open

Speaking out: Corinne Foxx (Pictured above in 2020) has taken leave from her role as a DJ on popular game show Beat Shazam

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, his family posted on his profile said: 'Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed' followed by praying hands, heart and fox emojis.'

It's unclear if Foxx himself made the post. At that point, no further details on his condition had been shared, leading to speculation about how serious his illness is.

The Oscar winner's account also gave a shout-out on Instagram to friend Nick Cannon who has filled in hosting duties for him on popular game show Beat Shazam.

Celebrities including AJ McLean, Ludacris and DJ Khaled had sent messages of support in response to Foxx's Instagram post.

Sources close to the comedian recently told TMZ he 'needs all the prayers and well-wishes his fans can muster'.

'He's OK, thank God,' the source said. 'He's still in the hospital and doctors are running tests but he's awake and alert. They're keeping him under observation.'

Speaking out: Corinne, 29, has taken leave from her role as a DJ on popular game show Beat Shazam (Pictured; 2022)

Grave: Fans were initially alerted about the health scare when his daughter Corinne shared a grave statement on social media on April 12

Fans were initially alerted about the health scare when his daughter Corinne shared a grave statement on social media on April 12.

The 29-year-old actress wrote, 'We wanted to share that, my father, Jamie Foxx, experienced a medical complication yesterday.

'Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery,' she continued.

'We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers. The family asks for privacy during this time,' the statement concluded.

Since then, the family has shared limited details, and it's unclear what symptoms the comedian may have been suffering from.
Rapper Shy Glizzy was arrested over the weekend for allegedly pulling a gun on his girlfriend and threatening to harm her, TMZ reports.

The musician, real name Marquis Amonte King, 30, was arrested on Saturday following a 'verbal altercation' with his on-off girlfriend.

The row is said to have escalated when Shy grabbed a gun and made a threat towards his girlfriend on a public street around 9am.

Shy is said to have left after the argument - with West Hollywood Sheriff's Deputies becoming involved and a criminal report filed.

Shy was later arrested at 6pm. He was booked on a felony charge of making criminal threats - he was released on on a $50,000 bond after four hours behind bars.

Rapper Shy Glizzy was arrested over the weekend for allegedly pulling a gun on his girlfriend and threatening to harm her, TMZ reports (pictured 2018)

Sources told the publication police did not find a gun on Shy and that he denied threatening his girlfriend of four months,

DailyMail.com has contacted a representative for Shy Glizzy for comment.

Glizzy shot to fame with the release of his first studio album Fully Loaded in 2018 - which charted at 35 on the Billboard 200.

His sophomore effort Flowers was released in February 2023.

His last single Fools Fall N Love (featuring YoungBoy Never Broke Again) was released in 2023.

The star has also collaborated with artists such as Tory Lanez, A$AP Rocky and 2Chainz.

He was nominated for a 2018 Grammy in the Best Rap/Sung Performance category for his song Crew (with GoldLink and Brent Faiyaz).

Alleged: The musician, real name Marquis Amonte King, 30, was arrested on Saturday following a 'verbal altercation' with his on-off girlfriend (pictured February 2023)
Hollyoaks' Juliet Nightingale (Niamh Blackshaw) received the heart-breaking news her Hodgkin's Lymphoma was terminal during Monday's episode.

With girlfriend Peri (Ruby O'Donnell) at her side, doctors told her her cancer had spread and, due to how weak her body is, there are no further treatment options.

Upon hearing the news, Juliet thought back to happier times as she remembered her recent trip to Brighton and, in moving scenes, she asks to go home.

And in line with the heartbreaking episode, Hollyoaks will launch a new social media campaign, titled Ode To My Juliet, and fronted by actress Niamh Blackshaw.

Juliet had been receiving treatment for cancer since her diagnosis in late 2022. After reconnecting with her ex-partner Peri Lomax, the loved-up pair quickly moved in together, making every moment count.

Heartbreak: Hollyoaks' Juliet Nightingale (Niamh Blackshaw, right) received the heart-breaking news her Hodgkin's Lymphoma was terminal during Monday's episode (pictured with co-star Ruby O'Donnell)

Campaign: And in line with the heartbreaking episode, Hollyoaks will launch a new social media campaign, titled Ode To My Juliet, and fronted by actress Niamh Blackshaw (pictued)

In upcoming scenes , her family and friends will go through their own journeys as they try to process the news, and support Juliet during her last days.

The soap have worked with the charity Teenage Cancer Trust to accurately portray Juliet's cancer storyline.

The campaign invites viewers to share their own cancer stories, memories, and bereavement journeys.

A video detailing the campaign following the episode with Niamh Blackshaw saying: 'Juliet's Hodgkin's Lymphoma is now terminal. Over the next few weeks, you'll see Juliet tell loved ones, live out her last days, and then she is going to die.'

'In a way to commemorate Juliet as a character, and to do something positive, we want to come together and share stories of loved ones who may have been touched by cancer.'

Using the hashtag #OdeToMyJuliet, the soap invites members of the public to share their stories on TikTok, where they can greenscreen, duet and stitch the videos. Or they can share a picture, video, or even a poem on Instagram.

It comes after Hollyoaks star Kieron Richardson teased whether Ste Hay and Brendan Brady could get back together after his former onscreen love interest made a recent return to set.

'Stendan' fans went wild after village bad boy Emmett J Scanlan made a surprise appearance on set in March amid filming for Ste and James Nightingale's wedding.

Sharing: The campaign invites viewers to share their own cancer stories, memories, and bereavement journeys

The Irish actor, 44, who lives in Chester, happened to be passing by when he was spotted by a make-up artist and headed to the set to say hello to his former co-star.

The picture left Hollyoaks fans swooning at the time with many hoping that the former couple could reunite 10 years after they were ripped apart following Brendan's prison stint.

And with the hype still surrounding the fan favourite couple, especially in the run-up to Ste's upcoming nuptials with lawyer James (Gregory Finnegan), Kieron has dished on whether there is a future for Stendan.

Speaking to Metro.co.uk, he said: 'It was amazing to see [Emmett], and obviously I'd love for a Stendan reunion to happen, but I don't think that will be any time soon, but who knows what the future hold?

Though he didn't confirm a reunion, Kieron, 37, didn't exactly rule it out either, meaning there is still hope for stalwart Stendan supporters.

Back on? It comes after Hollyoaks star Kieron Richardson teased whether Ste Hay and Brendan Brady could get back together after his former onscreen love interest made a recent return to set

Reunion: 'Stendan' fans went wild after village bad boy Emmett J Scanlan made a surprise appearance on set in March amid filming for Ste and James Nightingale's wedding

Meanwhile Kieron opened up on what it was like to have Emmett briefly back on set, over a decade since the dodgy character departed.

He said: 'Emmett actually lives in Chester and was randomly walking past. One of our makeup artists spotted him and was like, 'Your little Ste's getting married over there' so he came to say hello.

'There's a scene actually where Ste's tied to a lamppost and a passerby takes pictures of him because he finds it funny, and we were thinking wouldn't it be amazing if we actually got Emmett to play the passerby.

'It would work because he looks so different at the minute  he's in another show and he's got to shave his beard, so he looks a bit unrecognisable, really young actually.'

He continued: 'It was so weird on the day because there were fans watching and crew members so when we were stood together, I think people were expecting something to happen but we just had a little catch up.'

Hollyoaks airs Mondays to Fridays at 6:30pm on Channel 4, and first look episodes at 7pm on E4.
Eurovision champion Loreen has joked she would love to move to Liverpool after her historic win in the city on Saturday.

The Swedish songstress, 39, who became the first woman to take home the trophy twice, gushed she 'loved' Merseyside before praising the local's 'creativity' and 'trendsetting'.

She joked to The Sun: 'I'm like, "My God, I need to get the f**k out of Sweden".'

Loreen then went on to admit she had genuinely thought about about a move to Blighty and despite having visited numerous times, her latest award-winning visit made the option a real possibility.

Elsewhere she told the publication how she almost flashed the city's M&S Arena audience as well as the 180M viewers at home during her performance.

Congratulations: Eurovision champion Loreen, 39, has joked she would love to move to Liverpool after her historic win in the city on Saturday

Loving it: The Swedish songstress, who became the first woman to take home the trophy twice , gushed she 'loved' Merseyside before praising the local's 'creativity' and 'trendsetting'

Loreen explained her futuristic and skin-tight trousers split minutes after she came off the famous stage and had wowed with her very physical routine.

Admitting: 'I think it must have been the glute exercises I was doing'.

'I was so high on adrenaline that I walked the corridors after and I was like, "It feels so cool", then I saw my pants'.

However luckily her stylist had another pair in which she slipped into before she was crowned winner.

It comes after Eurovision fans have accused the Song Contest of rigging the result to allow Sweden to win.

Viewers claim that organisers orchestrated Loreen's victory so that Sweden would host next year coinciding with the 50th anniversary of ABBA's win.

One person said: 'Look I'm not saying it's rigged but... Sweden winning the year before the anniversary of ABBA's win seems entirely too convenient to me'.

A second tweeted: 'No way they rigged the entire thing so Sweden can host it on the 50 year anniv of ABBA's win bro. I'm SALTY'.

Oops: Elsewhere she told the publication how she almost flashed the city's M&S Arena audience as well as the 180M viewers at home during her performance

Rip! Loreen explained her futuristic and skin-tight trousers split minutes after she came off the famous stage and had wowed with her very physical routine

A third echoed: 'this whole ABBA anniversary and Sweden winning seems a bit too coincidental to me idk'.

A fourth agreed, writing: 'I'm not a conspiracy theorist but the idea that this was rigged so Sweden can host on the fiftieth anniversary of the Abba win makes lots of sense right now.'

While a fifth added: 'I'm loving the instant conspiracy theory that #EUROVISION2023 was rigged so that next year could be in Sweden for the 50th Anniversary of ABBA & Waterloo.'

And a sixth penned: 'they wanted sweden to win so ABBA perform their 50th eurovision anniversary in sweden next year'.

Swedish group ABBA entered into the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo and Bjorn, Benny, Agnetha and Anni-Frid were catapulted into stardom after winning.

2024 marks exactly 50 years since their decisive victory, with many expecting the group to perform at next year's contest.

Sweden was hit by more fix accusations after fans also spotted that Loreen's microphone had been left on.

One fan said: 'Did they already give Loreen the head mic for her performance? Or is this just for the interview, do they normally double-mic people?

Fixed? Eurovision fans have accused the song contest of rigging the result to allow Sweden to win

Anniversary: Viewers claim that organisers orchestrated Loreen's victory so that Sweden would host next year coinciding with the 50th anniversary of ABBA's win

Deflated: The UK's Mae Muller looked crestfallen as the scores for her performance were read out, and she ended the night with just 24 points despite being among the top ten favourites going in

On Saturday night, Loreen won with a staggering 583 points, followed closely by Finland. Ukraine meanwhile scored an impressive 243 points after rocketing up the leaderboard thanks to the public vote.

But the UK's Mae Muller looked crestfallen as the scores for her performance were read out, and she ended the night with just 24 points despite being among the top ten favourites going in.

Liverpool hosted the competition on behalf of war-torn Ukraine, which won the contest last year, and fans around the UK proudly showed their support for both countries.

Eurovision fans went wild for hosts Graham Norton, Hannah Waddingham, Alesha Dixon and Ukrainian rock star Julia Sanina.

Hannah Waddingham was forced to calm booing crowds in Liverpool, reminding them that everyone was 'friends' as it was revealed that the UK entry received just a handful of points in the public vote.

Following the individual country jury votes, Sweden were on top with 277 points, and they topped the leaderboard again when the public vote came through.
Noel Gallagher has broken his silence on shock split from music publicist wife Sara MacDonald.

The Oasis star, 55, has been spotted on a string of dates since the split with model Charlotte Carter-Allen and author Dorothea Gundtoft.

Noel has now opened up about the end of his 12-year marriage. He told the Big Issue magazine: 'When you get to your mid-50s you do come to some kind of crossroads in your life.

'It's not uncommon for people who have been in long-term relationships to go their separate ways in their 50s.

'I know a lot of people in the same boat as me and Sara. Particularly after the pandemic.'

'I know a lot of people are in the same boat': Noel Gallagher has broken his silence on shock split from music publicist wife Sara MacDonald

Noel reportedly enjoyed a 'double date' with model Charlotte, who has appeared in music videos for Kanye West and a record with Eurythmics star Dave Stewart.

Speaking of the night out, a source told The Sun: 'Noel and James are close mates  and both recently single  and were with two very attractive women when they arrived at Chiltern Firehouse.

'It looked very much like a double date and everyone was clearly having a great time.

'There's no getting away from it, Charlotte is absolutely stunning, so if they are close, it's not hard to see the instant attraction.'

It comes after it was revealed in January that Noel is set to divorce his wife Sara after nearly 12 years of marriage.

Noel is said to have moved out of their 8million South Downs mansion in Hampshire - and now fans are wondering if the Oasis brothers will heal their feud and reform, after Liam previously claimed Sara was the one stopping them reunite.

Noel and Sara are parents to two sons, Donovan, 15, and Sonny, 12. The rocker is also father to his eldest daughter Anais, 22, from his previous relationship with ex-wife Meg Mathews.

A spokesperson for Noel and Sara confirmed the split to MailOnline with a joint statement, sharing: 'Noel Gallagher and Sara Macdonald has confirmed that the couple are to divorce.

'Noel and Sara will together continue to look after their children who remain their priority. Noel and Sara ask the media to respect their privacy and that of our family at this time.'

While a source told The Sun: 'It is a great shame but they are trying to keep it civilised.'

'Noel has moved out, but in time Sara might want to move back to London. They're working everything out steadily to minimise the disruption.'

Noel and Sara have been living in an 8M South Downs mansion near Hampshire's town of Petersfield since 2019, with their two young children.

The Oasis star, 55, has now opened up about the end of his 12-year marriage. He told the Big Issue magazine: 'I know a lot of people in the same boat as me and Sara. Particularly after the pandemic.'

Once blossoming romance: Musician Noel was said to have enjoyed a date with the Danish writer (pictured) last month at London's Chiltern Firehouse

But the Don't Look Back In Anger hitmaker is now said to be living apart from his wife in North London.

Noel met Sara back in 2000 at an Ibiza club named Space - a year before his divorce from his first wife Meg.

The rocker was married to Meg for four years.

The former couple were notorious for a party-hard lifestyle as they lived it up during rowdy nights with Kate Moss and Sadie Frost.

But following their split, it was reported the rocker had an affair with Sara during his relationship with Meg.

But Noel and Sara have strongly denied this claim, with the star releasing a statement in 2001 which shared that he didn't cheat and 'left Meg because I could no longer tolerate her behaviour.'

Noel and Sara tied the knot in 2011 at the Lime Wood Hotel in the New Forest in a 60,000 ceremony, with guests including Russell Brand watching on - but Liam said he wasn't invited.

'He goes on about how he wasn't invited to my wedding. No one was at my wedding but Nic's [wife Nicole Appleton] mum and my mum. Get over it, mate. I've not been invited to his wedding,' Liam told the Chicago Sun Times.

Liam famously doesn't get along with Sara and has had a slew of public rows with the PR exec in the past.

He even hinted that she was the reason that an Oasis reunion wouldn't be happening, with Noel furious over Liam's name-calling about Sara.

It's over! The pair (pictured in October 2018) issued a statement to MailOnline in January announcing their split, saying that their two sons 'remain their priority'

Back in 2020, a fan tweeted him, asking: 'Hi Liam, do you know why Noel hates oasis reunion so much??????'

While he responded suggesting that it was her fault, penning: 'I've told you before he's rite up for it but you know who won't let him as she doesn't like oasis music [sic].

The brothers themselves have had little contact in the last ten years, after Noel publicly quit the band in 2009.

But fans are now wondering if there may be hope in the future for the band to get back together again.
ITV bosses called a crisis meeting following Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofields return to This Morning today after seeing a wave of negative social media feedback about the show.

The pair, who are embroiled in one of the biggest fallouts in television, did not address their rift during the show.

But viewers described them as awkward and embarrassing, and sources on the set said staff working on the programme found it painful.

After seeing the reaction on Twitter, with viewers panning both Ms Willoughby, 42, and Schofield, 61, ITV bosses are pondering what to do next.

One source told the Daily Mail: Social media is used as a barometer to see what the public think. Those in charge were left no under no illusion that it was a total disaster.

It was painful for the This Morning team to work on and it was just as painful for them to watch.

ITV bosses held crisis talks today after Holly and Phil's return to This Morning was met with a wave of negative feedback from social media users

Phillip Schofield seen leaving his west London home heading to work today before his show

There was a meeting afterwards to discuss how it went that went on for some time. To be honest, everyone was just so relieved to get it over with, but even if the show does continue to go on for some time, it will continue to be a massive headache.

One viewer posted: Phillip Schofield thinks he can fool us with this fake nice everything is fine act when Holly looks visibly uncomfortable being there.

Another said: How fake is this? Wow, couldnt trust these two actors.

A third wrote: This is cringe. It feels awkward knowing theses two people dont get along with each other. Fake friends.

Adding to the theme, a fan commented: Well this is awkward! All a bit dead behind the eyes with fake smiles.

The feud began in September when the pair were criticised after failing to queue for the Queens Lying in State.

Today, former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes laid into the pair during his GB News show, saying there should have been a special award for them at the Baftas for best actors.

Holmes, who fell out with Schofield years ago, added: The public will surely suss that theres no chemistry, that its a broken fit between the two of them. This Morning does not depend on who presents it.

Today, former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes (pictured) laid into the pair during his GB News show, saying there should have been a special award for them at the Baftas for best actors

The TV couple are also said to have held crisis talks with ITV bosses before today's show

Phillip Schofield works out on the show. Body language expert Judi James said he was full of bravado

The This Morning hosts did a paper review with Gyles Brandreth and Camilla Tominey - but the front page stories about them were not touched upon

It is understood that Ms Willoughby was nervous about having to join Schofield on the sofa just days after he released a statement about their friendship without telling her first.

She is being supported by fellow presenter Alison Hammond, who has become a close friend.

This Morning editor Martin Frizell is also said to be furious that the show is making headlines about his presenters feud rather than its content.

However, there is a silver lining for bosses at the channel as viewing figures may be up.

There was also good news away from the studio for Ms Willoughby, whose Marks & Spencer clothing collection has received a boost.

A number of her items have been trending on its website all weekend, with an insider at the retailer saying that sales are rising.

Meanwhile, on Friday Schofields brother Timothy, 54, is due to be sentenced after being found guilty of sexually abusing a teenage boy.

Following his conviction at Exeter Crown Court last month, Schofield said: I no longer have a brother.

The sentencing hearing falls on the TV stars day off, so Ms Hammond and Dermot OLeary will host the show.
The Netherlands has emerged as India's third largest exports destination after the US and UAE during 2022-23 on account of a surge in shipment of goods such as petroleum products, electronic items, chemicals, and aluminium goods, according to the data of the commerce ministry.

India's trade surplus with the Netherlands has also increased from USD 8 billion in 2021-22 to USD 13 billion in 2022-23. The Netherlands has taken over major destinations such as the UK, Hong Kong, Bangladesh and Germany, the data showed. India's exports to the Netherlands rose by about 48 per cent to USD 18.52 billion during 2022-23 as against USD 12.5 billion in 2021-22. In 2021-22 and 2020-21, the outbound shipments to the European country stood at USD 12.55 billion and USD 6.5 billion, respectively. The exports are registering healthy growth continuously since 2000-01, when India's exports to that nation was USD 880 million.

Further, in 2021-22, the Netherlands was the fifth largest destination for Indian exports as against ninth in 2020-21.

Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai said the Netherlands has emerged as a hub for Europe with efficient port and connectivity with the EU through road, railways and waterways. In the calendar year, India's exports to the country increased to USD 18.1 billion in 2022 from USD 5.5 billion in 2017.
AgriTech platforms provide high-quality input for farmers which has proven to be instrumental in driving up crop yields

TThe screen flashes, and Bimal Roy's 'Do Bigha Zameen' comes to life with an opening scene of farmers anxiously looking at the sky. As the clouds gather, so do the farmers, expecting the rains to bestow their fields. It has been 70 years since Roy's classic, and this scene is as true of Indian farmers today as it was just after Independence, looking upward for innovations to empower them.

Agriculture has been the backbone of sustenance and livelihood in India, marking a significant aspect of the country's socioeconomic landscape. With 55% of our population dependent on agriculture, it remains one of India's primary industries.

Traditionally, farmers in India have encountered restricted access to credible information concerning the quality of agricultural input, including seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. The farm-to-fork food value chain is extremely protracted and is riddled with multiple stakeholders who might not necessarily prioritize the welfare of farmers. This compels them to depend on local suppliers and intermediaries to procure such input, resulting in low valuation. Increasing intermediaries and other factors in this chain engender a reduction in transparency. As we head into our Amrit Kal, accompanied by their innovative digitized designs, AgriTech platforms emerge as the much-needed relief clouds, safeguarding farmers against unadulterated input.

AgriTech platforms enable farmers to procure dependable and superior quality input by harnessing technological advancements such as data analytics and machine learning.

These platforms safeguard farmers against the aforementioned malpractices by bridging the last mile between the suppliers and farmers via doorstep delivery, providing input from the factory to the farmer. Directly working with peer partners, retailers, and farmers, negotiating prices and dispatching goods, these platforms circumvent the involvement of intermediaries and local suppliers.

Often classified under disruptive tech for having revolutionized the agriculture sector and existing procurement arrangements, AgriTech platforms procure high-quality input for farmers, including high-yielding varieties (HYV) seed, which has proven to be instrumental in driving up crop yields. In addition to providing farmers access to authentic and high-quality input, Agritech startups offer knowledge support by connecting them to experienced agronomists from the industry. By leveraging their expertise, AgriTech platforms guide farmers on the optimal selection of seed and agro-practices suitable for Indian and specifically regional farming conditions, thereby improving the likelihood of a successful harvest.

The accessibility to such expert advice has been crucial in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of farming practices, enabling farmers to make informed decisions and optimize their crop yields.

Amidst a considerable emphasis on technology adoption in our contemporary era, Agritech Platforms have emerged as a catalyst in the endeavour to neutralize the effects of substandard inputs on farming.

The potential for growth in the Indian Agrotech markets has become increasingly apparent, with an increasing number of startups entering the industry and building seamless digital platforms that can fully integrate value chains and fruitful harvests.

With government support and the introduction of cutting-edge technologies such as 5G, these platforms have ripened a fertile ground for disruptive innovation in the agriculture sector. We may have come a long way from Do Bigha Zameen but aided with these platforms, the relief clouds may not be far away, and we might be looking at another revolution in India: one bought about by AgriTech

(The writer is the Founder and CEO, of Gramik)
Imran Khans confrontation with the army may end his political career and endanger his life

Pakistan is witnessing multiple levels of confrontations like the supreme court and president, Arif Alvi versus Shehbaz Sharif government and former prime minister, Imran Khans head-on collision with the powerful army which may create a civil war-like situation leading to the imposition of either emergency or take over by the army.

Pakistan is heading towards chaos and a civil war-like situation which can be attributed to the confrontation between former prime minister, Imran Khan and the army which rules the roost and commands the authority to create or destroy any government or political leader in this country. Imrans supporters went on a rampage and the police could do nothing which is allowing the army to step in and control the violence.

IMPACT ON INDIA

The existing turmoil in Pakistan immensely affects India as instability may give an impetus to terrorist groups that are being given shelter by the Sharif government and army. Second, chaos in Pakistan may also give a fillip to the terrorists activities in Kashmir and China can exploit such a grim situation to harm India.

ARMY MAY TRY TO REGAIN ITS PRESTIGE

It happened for the first time in the history of Pakistan when a politician like Khan dared to challenge the authority of the army which has endangered his life besides taking a hundred percent risk of ending his political career. Army chief, Asim Munir is playing safe though the present prime minister got full support from the army which may be called if the civil administration collapses. Army is confronting the terror attacks which have increased and people are feeling unsafe. It is a fact that such incidents of terror attacks have been gradually lowering the confidence of the public. Imran Khans onslaught on the army was an error of judgement as he may certainly face a vicious type of retaliation in future though the Shehbaz Sharif government may be kept at the forefront. Khan took on ISI which oversees the internal security and is known for infamous tactics to crush even political rivals.

IMRANS BIGGEST POLITICAL BLUNDER

The biggest blunder committed by Khan pertains to his assessment of undermining the powerful army which was accused of hatching a plot to kill him. It has been solely responsible for the storming of rangers in the courtroom to arrest him though in a case related to a corruption case involving an allegation of earning billions of rupees through illegal land transactions. National Accountability, an anti-corruption body, arrested Imran with the help of rangers who whisked him away thereby resulting in violence by Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) workers who went on a rampage in several parts of the country.

THE POLITICAL FUTURE OF IMRAN IS UNCERTAIN

Analysts opine that entry into the army may endanger the political career of Imran who may be tried and jailed to keep him away from general elections. Khan may go Nawaj Sharif's way which will create a void in his Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) and new leadership will be required. Shehbaz Sharif seems to be scared of the popularity of Imran after he was ousted from premiership last year with the help of the army. But Imran Khan forgot that the army rules the roost in Pakistan and he undertook a misadventure of lambasting army officials (ISI)for ensuring his defeat in parliament and later conspiring to kill him.

Imran had also accused America of helping Shebahz in snatching the power from him and it had irked the army which keeps in touch with the US administration. Imran Khan was the creation of the army and former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa played the main role but ex-Pm turned against Bajwa and tried to have a say in promotions of the army which was unacceptable hence lost his prime ministers post.

Khan has been demanding elections in Punjab province and the supreme court had fixed May 15 as a date to hold polls but the Shebhaz government refused to honour the verdict which led to open confrontation. Second, Imran is facing more than 140 cases including Toshakhana's expensive gifts of millions of rupees and a case was filed against him in August 2022 Third, EX PM stands disqualified by the Pakistan election commission on the charges of corrupt practices on Oct 21, 2022.

PAKISTANS WOES DO NOT END HERE

It is irony of circumstances that common people in Pakistan are fighting for survival as prices of essential commodities have gone sky high including 20 Kg Atta for Rs 2,100-Rs 2,599, Milk for Rs 120-Rs 130 per litre etc. but the Shebaz Sharif government and main opposition led by former PM, Imran Khan are bloodthirsty of each other one former wants to stick to Chair and latter wants to snatch power which may force the public to come on the streets like Sri Lanka.

Pakistan is facing a serious crisis thereby endangering the survival of democracy which has been compounded owing to the confrontation between executive and judiciary besides the head-on collision of President Arif Ali with the Shehbaz Sharif government thereby putting the future of countrymen at stake. While helping bankrupt and economically depressed Pakistan, IMF has forced it to accept yet another retreat hence Shehbaz Sharif government had to agree to impose a 1 per cent poverty tax on firms earning Rs 15 crore, 2 per cent on those earning Rs 20 crore, 3 per cent on over Rs 25 crore and 4 per cent on Rs 30 crore and above. In the original budget, the government had set a 2 per cent poverty tax only on those earning Rs 30 crore and above. Pakistans negotiating team led by Finance Minister, Miftah Ismail, agreed on an understanding on the 2022-23 budget after the authorities committed to generating Rs 43,600 crore more taxes. Moodys Investors Service has downgraded Pakistans credit rating outlook to negative from stable due to its sinking economy and lack of resources mobilization. The IMF has not signed an agreement with Pakistan to restart a $6.5 billion loan which has been stalled since Nov 2022 and has endangered economic survival.

Experts say that Pakistan is in deep soup and arson and looting by ex-PM, Imran Khans supporters may push the country into anarchy which is not good for the entire region everything will depend upon the role of the army which needs to adopt restraint to save democracy in this troubled nation.

(Writer is a political analyst and a senior journalist)
Giving a push to Indian public sector undertakings (PSUs) and the industry to attain self-reliance quickly, the Government has banned import of 928 items thereby saving Rs 715 crore. These items will be procured from the Indian industry.

This was the fourth such list of items to be issued in the last two years restricting import of weapons and or systems or sub-systems, Defence Ministry officials said here on Sunday. Giving details of the latest ban, they said the fourth list is in continuation of the previous three that were released in December 2021, March 2022 and August 2022 respectively. These lists contain 2,500 items which are already indigenised and 1,238 (351+107+780) items which will be indigenised within the given timelines.

Of 1,238, some 310 items (1st list- 262, 2nd list- 11, 3rd list - 37) have been indigenised, so far. They said in order to promote Aatmanirbharta in Defence and minimise imports by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), the Ministry of Defence has approved fourth Positive Indigenisation List of 928 strategically-important Line Replacement Units (LRUs)/Sub-systems/Spares & Components, including high-end materials and spares, with import substitution value worth Rs 715 crore.

The DPSUs will undertake indigenisation of these items through different routes under Make category and in-house development through the capabilities of MSMEs and private Indian industry, thereby providing impetus to the growth in economy, enhanced investment in Defence and reduction in import dependence of DPSUs. In addition, this will augment the design capabilities of the domestic defence industry by involving academia and research institutions. The DPSUs will soon initiate procurement action for these notified items.

The four lists restricting imports covers sensors, ammunition, towed artillery guns, short-range surface-to-air missiles, cruise missiles and offshore patrol vessels, next-generation corvettes, airborne early warning systems, tank engines and radars.

The government wants to reduce dependence on imported military platforms, and has decided to support domestic defence manufacturing.

The defence ministry has set a goal of a turnover of USD 25 billion ( Rs 1.75 lakh crore) in defence manufacturing in the next five years which includes an export target of USD 5 billion ( ?35,000 crore) worth of military hardware.
Underlining the importance of Asia in global affairs, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said a multipolar world is feasible only by a multipolar Asia. He also said the more the European Union (EU) and Indo-Pacific deal with each other the stronger will be their respective appreciation of multi-polarity.

Addressing the EU-Indo Pacific Ministerial meeting at Stockholm, Jaishankar called on the leaders to consider six points, which include globalisation, Indo-Pacific and leveraging of market shares. On globalisation, he said, the EU has major stakes in Indo-Pacific developments, especially as they pertain to technology, connectivity, trade and finance and it has to, in respect for, and observance of (the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) UNCLOS. The Minister said India and EU need a regular, comprehensive and candid dialogue, especially with regard to the Indo-Pacific. He stressed that talks are not just limited to the crisis of the day. He said transformations underway in India will merit the EUs attention. Highlighting that Indo-Pacific is increasingly central to the direction of global politics, Jaishankar said, The EU and the world is better off with additional drivers of production and growth.

Noting that the leveraging of market shares, production capacities and resources are issues that can no longer be overlooked, he said a strategically more aware Europe should not limit its consciousness geographically.

Calling Indo-Pacific a complex and differentiated landscape, the Minister emphasised that the EU and Indo-Pacific will become stronger if they deal more with each other. In such an engagement with the Indo-Pacific, the External Affairs Minister hoped that the EU would naturally seek like-minded partners. India is certainly among them, he added.

Stating that India is also rapidly expanding its global footprint and will intersect with that of the EU more in the coming years, Jaishankar highlighted that transformations underway in India, like digital public delivery or green growth Initiative, certainly merit the EU's attention.

The External Affairs Minister said any evaluation of the Indo-Pacific will naturally factor in the Quad as a platform for global good. Jaishankar arrived in Sweden for a three-day visit to participate in the EU-Indo-Pacific Ministerial meet on Saturday. He met his Swedish counterpart Tobias Billstrom and his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi in Sweden.

He met with his Indonesian counterpart partner Retno Marsudi and Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan at the EU-Indo-Pacific Ministerial.
The Government is set to make an equity infusion of Rs 300 crore in regional carrier Alliance Air, which is facing financial headwinds, according to a senior official. Alliance Air, earlier part of Air India, is now owned by AI Assets Holding Ltd (AIAHL), a special-purpose vehicle formed by the central Government.

The disinvestment-bound Alliance Air operates around 130 flights daily. In recent months, there have been instances of strikes by pilots to protest against non-restoration of salaries to the pre-Covid level and non-payment of allowance, among other issues. The Finance Ministry has approved an equity infusion of Rs 300 crore into Alliance Air, the senior Civil Aviation Ministry official said. Specific details could not be immediately ascertained. Flights under Alliance Air brand are operated by Airline Allied Services, which changed its name to Alliance Air Aviation Ltd. The companys authorised capital is Rs 2,000 crore and the paid-up capital is Rs 402.25 crore, as per the latest data available with the Corporate Affairs Ministry.

Alliance Air, which saw its net loss widen to Rs 447.76 crore in fiscal 2021-22, has been grappling with financial woes. The carriers cash loss widened to Rs 224.18 crore in the financial year ended March 2022.

Four companies that were earlier part of Air India are now under AIAHL. These are Air India Air Transport Services Ltd, Air India Engineering Services Ltd, Airline Allied Services Ltd and Hotel Corporation of India Ltd. All the four companies are proposed to be divested by the Government in due course.

The Expression of Interest (EoI) for Air India Air Transport Services and Air India Engineering Services are likely to be floated soon. Loss-making Air India along with Air India Express was taken over by Tata Group in January 2022.
Having decided to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly polls as a grand alliance, the three constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)  Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress  will be holding seat-sharing talks soon. At a joint meeting held at NCP chief Sharad Pawars south Mumbai residence the leaders of the three MVA constituents decided to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly polls as an alliance. Also, they decided to initiate seat-sharing talks among them in the coming weeks.

Interacting with media persons along with State Congress president Nana Patole and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, State NCP chief Jayant Patil said at the meeting that the leaders discussed the Congress victory in Karnataka, the Supreme Court verdict on the crisis in Shiv Sena in June last year and future plans of the three MVA constituents in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls in the State.

Patil said the three MVA parties would hold seat-sharing negotiations for the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in the coming weeks. As it happened in Karnataka, we expect to perform well in both the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in Maharashtra, Patil said. While the Lok Sabha polls will be held in May next year, the State Assembly will in the normal course be held in October 2024. Patole said there is a lot of anger against the ruling BJP among the people. The people vented their anger against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Assembly polls in Karnataka... We intend to hold a fourth Vajramuth (iron fist) rally in Pune where we intend to felicitate the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Patole said. Raut denied that there is any rift within the MVA and said, The Karnataka Assembly poll outcome should be seen as a victory of the Opposition parties in the country.

The Congress victory will have a positive impact on polls in Maharashtra. The BJP will suffer a massive debacle in Maharashtra as well. The MVA constituents will soon arrive at seat-sharing arrangements for both Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.
The massive defeat of BJP in the Karnataka Assembly elections is just the beginning of the fall of BJP in the country, said BJD leader and former Deputy Speaker of Odisha Legislative Assembly Rama Chandra Panda here on Sunday.

He congratulated the people of Karnataka for giving a landslide victory to the Congress ahead of the 2024 general elections.

Panda said the people of Karnataka have rejected the divisive and religious politics. The Karnataka result would have a great and significant impact in the upcoming elections in the country quite for a long time. The parties which dream of fighting elections based on religion would meet disastrous consequences like in Karnataka.

The political parties should, instead, concentrate on youths employment, welfare of the farmers and safeguarding of the security of citizens and controlling the prices of the essential commodities, Panda opined.
After a favourable judgement by the Supreme Court last week pertaining to their political status and jurisdiction, the leaders of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Shiv Sena (UBT) on Monday met to develop a bonhomie to confront the BJP on all issues including the forthcoming sessions of Parliament as well the next year Lok Sabha elections.

Both the Arvind Kejriwal led AAP and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena UBT are in talks separately with other non-BJP parties including JDUs Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and overall the Congress. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray accompanied by party colleague and a Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi called on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at his Civil Lines residence in the national Capital.

Thackeray also met Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and newly elected Jalandhar MP Sushil Kumar Rinku. The Shiv Sena also complimented AAP leaders for being recognised as a national party by the election commission recently, sources said.

While several political connotations are being talked about this altogether in a different and separate meeting of the two political entities, sources in AAP said after the Karnataka Assembly elections, the Opposition parties have realised that Prime Minister Narendra Modi can be shaken in 2024 if they are united.

Kejriwal took to Twitter and posted pictures of his meeting with Thackeray. "I got an opportunity to host Aaditya Thackeray at my residence today. I held a detailed conversation with him on the current political developments", the AAP national convenor tweeted.

Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi and AAP MP Sanjay Singh were also present in the meeting along with Aditya Thackeray.

Earlier on Saturday evening, Thackeray attended the ring ceremony of AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chaddha and actor Parineeti Chopra at Kapurthala house in the national capital where Kejriwal was also present where the meeting was first decided.

According to sources, the meeting lasted over an hour and the discussions revolved around BJPs hate politics, their misuse of Central probing agencies and the trend observed now decimation of BJP in maximum number of States.

The meeting of Kejriwal and Shiv Sena UBT leader Thackeray can also be a part of this episode. It is also believed that Shiv Sena can do something big by taking the Aam Aadmi Party together in UBT Maharashtra.

Recently, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Kejriwal government that services will be under the state government in Delhi.

On the same day,the top court ruled that it cannot restore the Uddhav Thackeray government as Thackeray had resigned on his own, has come as immediate relief to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

For Uddhav Thackeray, the Supreme Court decision contained a morale booster as it heavily criticised the Governors conduct in the political battle. The bench said that the Governors decision to order a floor test for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government as well as his decision to appoint the whip nominated by the Shinde group were wrong.

Kejriwal had supported the Uddhav Thackeray when Eknath Shinde faction got separated from the Shiv Sena and claimed the party and its symbol. In February this year, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann had met Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray at his Mumbai residence Matoshree. Rajya Sabha MPs Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha were also present.

The meeting came days after the Election Commission allotted the Shiv Sena name and bow and arrow symbol to the faction headed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with his deputy Tejaswi Yadav had recently met with his counterparts in Jharkhand and Odisha to discuss opposition unity. Kumar and Yadav had also met Thackeray in Mumbai last week.
A social activist was shot dead by unidentified miscreants in the Gunupur area of Rayagada district on Saturday night while he was travelling by his bike.

The deceased was identified as Gauri Mishra, a director of NGO ASHA.

The body of Mishra was recovered from the Vansadhara Bridge. As a bullet injury mark was found on Mishra's body, it was suspected that he was shot from a close range.

Though the exact motive behind the murder was yet to be ascertained, police have started an investigation into the incident.

A team of forensic experts also visited the spot, from where Mishra's body was recovered, for a detailed investigation.
Governor Mangubhai Patel has said that the "One week-one laboratory" programme is a worthwhile initiative to build a self-reliant India. The programme will inspire the future generation to contribute in the efforts of nation building.

He said that CSIR-Ampri should become the engine of innovation in the state by developing meaningful and equal partnership between research, academia and industry.

Governor Patel was addressing the educationists, researchers, industrialists, entrepreneurs, start-ups, school and college students and the general public at the launch of "One Week-One Laboratory" at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research's Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (CSIR AMPRI) auditorium today. Film focusing on the activities of AMPRI was screened and One Week One Lab booklet was released. The document for technology transfer was also exchanged by the institute with the enterprise.

Governor Mangubhai Patel has said that today only that nation and society will be ahead in the world, which will be ahead than others in technical knowledge. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made multi-pronged efforts to make the thinking of our citizens and the atmosphere of the society scientific. Taking forward Jai Jawan-Jai Kisan-Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan has created a strong environment for science and research in the country. He has done revolutionary work of promoting holistic, research, discussion and analysis based education system through new education policy.

In the new education policy, applied science subjects like artificial intelligence and robotics have been linked to other branches of knowledge. In the National Education Policy, work is being done to promote the childrens inclination towards scientific education from childhood by making science enjoyable, interesting and full of information through interactive laboratories. He said that the coming forward of institutions like CSIR and scientists in developing scientific outlook and rational thinking is a commendable initiative.

Governor Patel said that the Amrit Utsav of Independence is a pledge to acquaint the youths with the glory of the nation's past and prepare the future generation committed to building the future of the nation on the completion of 100 years of independence. In this context, CSIR Ampri should record the journey of the past years and develop a vision for the year 2047.

CSIR-Ampri Director Dr. Avnish Kumar Srivastava told that 10 different types of programmes will be organised during the week from May 14 to 18. Its purpose is to make laboratory research accessible to the general public. He told that the institute was established in New Delhi on May 14, 1981 as Regional Research Laboratory, which was shifted to Bhopal in the year 1983. The institute was restructured in the year 2007 with a futuristic outlook. The team of 100 scientists and technicians of the institute is continuously doing research and exploration work for effective discharge of its role in digital and green changes.

Mohammad Akram Khan, Chief Scientist, CSIR Ampri proposed vote of thanks. Initially, Governor Patel visited the exhibition focused on the research and exploration works of the laboratory at the venue. He received information about practical use and commercial possibilities of researches at the stalls.
The body of a CBSE Class 12 student, who went missing after being placed in the compartment category in two subjects in the board examination, was recovered from a drain in Delhis Aman Vihar area, police said on Sunday.

The victim went missing from her home around 3.30 pm on Friday after the CBSE examination results were declared, they said. Her father had informed the police that the girl was depressed after being placed in the compartment category in two subjects and left a suicide note before running away from home, a senior officer said.

The Police Control Room was informed and an extensive search operation launched to find the girl. Wireless messages were also flashed to all SHOs but the girl could not be traced, he said. On Sunday, the police received information about the body of a girl lying in a drain in Aman Vihar. The police pulled out the partly submerged body with the help of locals and shifted it to the Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital for post-mortem, the officer added.

The body was later handed over to her parents. No foul play was found in the inquiry conducted so far, the police said. Inquest proceedings have been initiated, the police said.
A 26-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a case of dacoity and murder in North Delhis Civil Lines area, police said on Sunday. The accused, Mohit Chauhan of Loni, is a sharpshooter of the Chenu Gang, they said.

The arrest was made in connection with the incident of murder-cum-dacoity that took place in the Civil Lines area on May 8 in which a person was shot dead, police said, adding that the accused was previously involved in 19 criminal cases, involving robbery, dacoity and murder.

Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Singh Yadav said information was received by police that Chauhan was the main shooter in the case and was living in Bhogpur village in Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh.

Our raiding party laid a trap near Rajputana Dhaba along the Bulandshahr-Aligarh Highway. The suspect came on a motorcycle to meet his uncle and was apprehended, he said.
Screening for cancer is known to reduce mortality by early detection and treatment. First, screening must advance the time of diagnosis of cancers that are destined to cause death. Second, early treatment of these cancers must confer some advantage over treatment at clinical presentation. Unlike other cancer types, cervix cancer can be subjected to screening for early diagnosis and treatment.

Based on this Govt of India criteria, Department of Health Research (DHR) under the prestigious Grant-in-Aid (GIA) (Project ID: 2022-1988) research grant is sanctioned to Dr Rashmi Chowdhary (PI), Additional Professor AIIMS Bhopal and her team for testing of developed Mass-screening Cervical Cancer Device; KayaCervi in collaboration with her USA research partner Dr Sulatha Dwarkanath, CEO Kaya 17, USA.

This grant will be for three years. Research team of eminent clinicians and scientists will conduct study in the community settings of Bhopal. There are 36 villages (clusters) to be selected using Probability proportionate to size sampling (PPS) method according to the study's inclusion and exclusion criteria. KayaCervi device has produced encouraging results in its pilot study in the AIIMS Bhopal hospital setting (2019-2020).

Researchers believe that this study will be a mile-stone in the early diagnosis of the cervical cancer especially through mass- screening in the rural area; device can be kept at the primary healthcare center, easy to perform test, it can work with the USB mode as well. Results of the test will be generated within 30 minutes once sample is collected.
Renowned anthropologist and former dean Social Science of Ranchi University, Dr. Karma Oraon passed away at the age of 72 at Medanta Hospital on Sunday at 7 am. He was admitted to the hospital a week back due to kidney ailments. He died while undergoing dialysis at hospital.

Karma Oraon was born in Mahua Toli village of Bishunpur block of Gumla district. His elder son Dharmesh Oraon died in 2021 from Corona. He was associated with Reliance. Second son Sunny Oraon works in Dhanbad. The elder daughter-in-law lives in Mumbai. She will come by this evening. Daughter and son-in-law live in Ireland. His last rites will be performed on Monday at 9 am in Ranchi itself.

Dr. Karma Oraon was also the Head of Department of Anthropology in Ranchi University. He had also been a member of the Public Service Commission in the integrated Bihar. Along with this, he was also associated with a dozen social organizations. Chief Minister Hemant Soren has expressed deep condolences on Dr Karma Oraons death.

Soren in his tweeter message said, received the sad news of the demise of Dr. Karma Oraonji, a great educationist and always alert and thinking about tribal upliftment. Guidance was available on many subjects from Dr. Karma Oraon ji. His death has caused me a personal loss today. May God give peace to the departed soul. Also give strength to the bereaved family members to bear this difficult time of grief.

Dr. Ajit Sahai said that we both studied together since childhood. Did post graduation together and also did a job. Karma was very emotional in nature. The Corona epidemic took away his elder son. This was a big blow to him. Since then he had been a little ill. He also wrote many books and also visited the country and abroad.

Former Assembly Speaker Dr. Dinesh Oraon said that he had taught us in college and PG as well. He was also associated with the Jharkhand movement. He was vocal on the question of Jharkhand. He always worked in the interest of the state and also made people aware for the development of Jharkhand. Dr. Abhay Sagar Minj said, we have lost a true guardian.

Expressing condolences, State BJP President and MP Deepak Prakash said that Dr Oraon had devoted his entire life for the upliftment of the tribal society. His untimely demise is an irreparable loss to the state.

Prakash prayed to God for the peace of the soul. He said that God should give patience and courage to the family members in the hour of grief.

Expressing condolence, leader of the Legislature Party and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi said that the work done by Oraon language, culture and welfare of the tribal society is remarkable, which will always inspire the people of the state.

Former minister, member of coordination committee of Jharkhand government and working president of Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee, Bandhu Tirkey has said that the demise of Dr. Karma Oraon, a great scholar, brilliant educationist and successful leader, is such an irreparable loss for Jharkhand that cannot be compensated. . He said that as former Dean of Ranchi University and Head of Department of Anthropology, he gave a new direction to Ranchi University.
The Department of School Education in Chhattisgarh will grant bonus marks to guest teachers during recruitment of teachers in the state.

The district education officers have been told to issue certificates to guest teachers.

The School Education Department has issued orders to fill up 12,489 vacant posts through direct recruitment. Already, a large number of guest teachers are working in the schools against vacancies, an official communication said.

The district education officers have been asked to give 2 bonus marks for every year of service to the guest teacher. The maximum marks to be given is 10. The Education Department has to issue them certificates citing the details.

In case of the guest teacher having served the school for less than one year in any academic session, zero marks will be marked. Two marks have to be given for teaching if the teacher completes a full academic session.

It further states that certificates should be issued by DEOs only to those candidates who have been appointed as guest teachers according to the letter issued by the School Education Department on June 24, 2019.
Jharkhand Haj Committee Chairman and Jamtara MLA Dr Irfan Ansari has accused the Central Government of giving step-motherly treatment to Haj pilgrims. He said that Ranchi was made an embarkation point after long efforts and fighting so that our Hajis do not face any difficulty but, now information is coming that Haj pilgrims will fly from Kolkata.

In such a situation, Ansari said that he is going to Delhi and will tell the BJP government at the Center that he will not tolerate playing with our pilgrims in this way. I will play brick by brick and meet both the Union Ministers, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Smriti Irani and demand that under any circumstances, flight arrangements should be made for the Hajis from Ranchi itself so that our Hajis do not face any kind of problems, he added.

Former Haj Committee Chairman Rizwan Khan said that Hajis from different areas of Jharkhand have come to Ranchi for departure from the pre-decided Ranchi Embarkation Point. Go Air was pre scheduled from Ranchi invocation point but one week back Go Air declared bankruptcy. The State Government, considering the pain of the Hajis of Jharkhand and understanding their problems, should make some alternative arrangements so that the Hajis here do not face any kind of trouble, he added.

Irfan Ansari is busy in his politics and by giving press conferences in the media, he is telling that he has made a lot of effort for the Ranchi embarkation point. I want to tell Irfan Ansari that in 2018 and 2019, Hajis from Jharkhand went for Haj under my leadership from Ranchi embarkation point. But today Haj pilgrims from different areas of Jharkhand are facing trouble in Ranchi, said Khan.

Khan said that the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, the State Government and the Haj Committee should decide that their problems should be resolved. There are two options, one should consider another airline. Otherwise, proper arrangements should be made to go to Kolkata from here and arrangements should also be made to stay there. Significantly, if the Hajis going on Hajj from Jharkhand face problems, then the name of Jharkhand will be defamed in the whole world. That's why the Jharkhand Government should do the work of sending the Hajis from Ranchi airport to Jeddah airport in time because the Hajis have tickets from Ranchi to Jeddah. It is the responsibility of the State Government and the Haj Committee that Hajis should not be cheated, he added.
In protest against the five Naxalites killed in Chatra, the CPI Maoist organization has announced a North India shutdown on May 15. The detention of Naxalites will start from Sunday midnight. In view of the shutdown of Naxalites, an alert has been issued in the whole of Jharkhand. In this regard, the Jharkhand Police Headquarters has instructed to take special vigilance in Naxal-affected districts.

Special vigil is being maintained in Lohardaga, Chatra, Latehar, Chaibasa, Khunti, Palamu and Garhwa. All the jawans have been instructed by the SP of these districts to be vigilant and intensify patrolling in the most sensitive areas.

The intelligence department has received information that a conspiracy has been hatched by the Maoists to attack the police forces during the bandh. The SP of the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) of the Special Branch of the State Police has instructed the SPs of all the districts of the state to exercise special vigilance in the whole matter.

Significantly, Sanket, spokesperson of the Eastern Regional Bureau of CPI-Maoists, has issued a press release and announced the North India Bandh on May 15. A letter has also been issued by the CPI Maoists regarding the bandh. It has been said in the letter that five comrades were murdered in the Chatra forest of Jharkhand by feeding them intoxicants. And in Chhattisgarh, comrades are being killed by drone bombings. In protest against this, a bandh has been announced in entire North India on 15th May. Maoists have appealed to all people to support the bandh.

In Jharkhand, a continuous campaign is being conducted against the Naxalites and extremist organizations. During this, many Naxalites were killed in the encounter, while many surrendered due to the pressure of the police. At present there are only 92 prize Naxalites left in Jharkhand. For whose search, a campaign is being run by the security forces.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the construction of Luv Kush Temple and Dharamshala at a cost of Rs 10 crore at the divisional conference of Kushwaha Samaj in Sagar on Sunday. Rs 5 crores for the temple and Rs 5 crores for dharamshala will be given by the state government.

The Chief Minister handed over the responsibility for site selection to the Kushwaha Samaj. A hostel will also be built at the same place which will be selected. Along with this, Chief Minister Chouhan also announced the formation of Kushwaha Samaj Welfare Board in Madhya Pradesh. He said that the chairman of the board will be given the status of a minister. Chief Minister Chouhan attended the divisional level conference and felicitation ceremony of All India Kushwaha Samaj in Sagar today.

Chouhan said that places are being fixed for such youths who have not got employment after studies, to learn work, so that they can get engaged in some industry after learning work. They will be given Rs 8,000 per month while learning work.

The Chief Minister performed bhoomi-pujan of 3 tap-water schemes worth Rs 865 crore 91 lakh for Sagar district during the Sammelan. Through the Nal-Jal group scheme, water will be delivered to every house by laying pipelines in 520 villages. These include Rs 202 crore 99 lakh Sanaudha-Madhiya water supply scheme, on completion of which 77 villages will be benefited. Houses of 56 villages will be benefited from the Sanaudha-Banda water supply. The cost of the scheme will be Rs 166 crore 67 lakh. 387 villages of the area will be benefited by the Deori-Kesli water supply scheme, whose cost is Rs 496 crore 25 lakh.

The Chief Minister said that the Kushwaha community is hardworking and laborious and work really hard to earn their livelihood. The history of the community is glorious. There were many empires of this community, who worked with the spirit of service for the welfare of all communities. Apart from contributing to the freedom struggle, they also got rid of Britishers.

The community left no stone unturned in sacrificing everything in the service of the country. In fact, Kushwaha community is a patriotic community, which has also worked for the welfare of other communities.

Chouhan said that our government has taken initiative to open a Horticulture College in Rahli, the process of which is going on. He called upon the Kushwaha community to make efforts towards better education of their talented children.

The state government is paying the fees of talented poor children for admission in medical and engineering colleges. Medical and engineering studies have also been started in Hindi.

Now CM Rise Schools better than private schools are being built in Madhya Pradesh. The government has now decided to reserve 5 percent seats for the children passed out from government schools for admission in medical colleges.

The government has also done many things in the direction of the upliftment of women.
The BJP should learn from its defeat in the Karnataka assembly elections that politics of hate does not work forever, the AAP said on Sunday.

Addressing a press conference here, AAP Rajya Sabha MP and national spokesperson Sanjay Singh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also have to understand that the time of contesting elections on non-issues, playing politics of hate and throttling opposition is going to end.

Such a result is bound to come when you wont talk about price rise, unemployment, Adani scam, Agniveer and farmers issue and contest election on fake and non-issues, Singh added.

The AAP leader said the Congress won the Karnataka assembly polls as people found it an alternative in view of the 40 per cent commission regime of the BJP in the state.

Karnataka polls result is a big indication and warning to the BJP that politics of hate and efforts to make non-issues as issues of election wont continue for long and meet the same fate, he said.

Singh accepted the AAP candidates defeat in all the 209 assembly seats from where they contested, maintaining that it was a direct contest between the Congress and the BJP, and in such a situation there is hardly any scope left for any third party in elections.

Definitely, Karnataka polls result is not good in our favour, he said.

But there is no need to be disappointed about that, he added.

Singh said AAP leaders and workers in Karnataka will continue to remain in touch with the people.

They will keep doing their work and take (Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor) Arvind Kejriwals policies to the masses, then definitely in future good results will come, he added.

When asked if the Congress victory in Karnataka poses a challenge to the AAP, Singh said,  In Gujarat, it was said that the BJP won in the assembly polls due to AAP joining the fray. In Karnataka, people were saying the BJP will gain as the AAP is contesting the election. Then how did the Congress win?.
Solution Dynamics Limited (SDL or Company) is pleased to announce it has received co-funding from New Zealand Trade and Enterprises (NZTE) International Growth Fund (IGF). The IGF is a contestable fund that aims to enable and accelerate international growth projects. The IGF co-funding will support a range of SDLs market development activities in North America. The IGF provides 50:50 co-funding for eligible project costs up to a maximum of $600,000 from NZTE over a three-year period.

A condition of the co-funding for SDL is that SDL cannot make distributions that exceed 50% of net profit after tax (NPAT), without NZTEs prior consent. The Directors have determined that it is in the best interests of the Company to utilise the IGF co-funding and have amended the dividend policy to operate with the lower dividend payout ratio cap of 50% for the duration of the co-funding period (November 2022  November 2025). At the conclusion of the IGF co-funding period, the Directors will further review SDLs dividend policy.

SDL thanks NZTE for its assistance, including direct in-market support, which has proved invaluable in the Companys international development.

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In order to avoid congestion due to illegal parking of trucks along different highways of the State, the Government has decided to construct truck terminals in 10 districts in the first phase.

Commerce and Transport Principal Secretary Usha Padhee has asked the Department of Works to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and plan and estimate for construction of the truck terminals.

In her letter, Padhee said the State Government has decided to construct 10 truck terminals in the first phase during the current financial year,2023-24, as a measure of road safety in order to avoid congestion along different national and State highways in the State due to illegal parking of trucks.

The truck terminals will be set up in districts of Sundargarh, Kendrapada, Angul, Baleswar, Bhadrak, Nabarangpur, Jajpur, Ganjam (Brahmapur), Keonjhar and Jagatsinghpur.

The Collectors of the districts have identified the required land in the 10 locations, she said.

Rs 300 crore will be provided by the Finance Department out of the special assistance received from Government of India for the purpose. Each terminal will be constructed over a huge land of 10 acres. It will have a parking area, a dormitory with toilets and water facilities for the rest of drivers/helpers, a food plaza/ canteen, a garage for repair of trucks, a guard room, an office room, separate entry and exit gates besides a boundary wall etc.

The terminals will be built with an aim to reduce accidents and fatalities due to on-road parking, make the best and most effective use of resources and provide the best of its class facilities for parking heavy vehicles. In 2021, out of 5,081 accident fatalities, nearly 25 per cent were due to collision of vehicles with illegally parked trucks on the highways.

Besides, the move will also fulfill one of the major demands of the Drivers Ekata Mahasangha, which staged a State-wide strike in March this year. While meeting the representatives of the drivers association, Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena had assured them to positively consider their demands. This apart, the Government is also planning to constitute a welfare board to provide social security to the drivers.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday said Sadguru Kabir was a great saint who strongly attacked superstitions and worked to unite the society.

He was addressing the Sant Samagam organized at Sadguru Kabir Ashram in Selud village of Durg district. Baghel pledged for the construction of a dome in the ashram.

He said Kabir spread love and dedicated his life to connect humans beyond caste and religion. Even after 650 years, his words, through couplets, continue to guide the society.
Due to the heat in Jharkhand, the condition of the common people is miserable. The effect of heat wave is visible for the last ten days. The temperature has increased by three to four degrees Celsius. Indian Meteorological Center (IMC), Ranchi informed that it will be partly cloudy from May 15 to May 20.

The Chief Scientist, IMC Ranchi, Abhisek Anand informed that no major change is expected in the maximum temperature in the State during the next 24 hours. There may be a gradual (2-3)C increase in the next two to three days, he added.

Anand said that on the other hand, there is a possibility of light rain with thunder at some places in the north-eastern parts of the State on May 16. There is a possibility of light rain with thunder at some places in the eastern parts of the State on May 18, he added.

The Chief Scientist further said that the weather remained dry in the State during the last 24 hours. The highest maximum temperature of 41.6 C was recorded in Daltonganj while the lowest minimum temperature of 24.2 C was recorded in Chaibasa. At the same time, the maximum temperature of the State Capital was recorded at 35.2 c and the minimum temperature was 24.4 c, he added.
The Special Task Force (STF) of the Odisha Police, based on intelligence inputs about OTP sharing to anti-national elements and criminals, conducted raids and arrested three persons on Saturday.

Later, the arrested accused were forwarded to the court of Bhubaneswar SDJM

The accused were identified as Pathanisamant Lenka and Saroj Kumar Nayak of Nayagarh district and Soumya Pattanaik of Jajpur district. Notably, Pathanisamant Lenka is an ITI teacher, sources said.

The STF seized 19 costly mobile phones (including Apple phone), 47 SIM cards, 61 ATM cards, laptops and 23 SIM covers from the possession of the accused trio.

The agency said the accused were fraudulently procuring huge numbers of SIM cards in the names of others and used them to sell the OTPs (linked/generated using the SIMs) to various clients, including some Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) or ISI agents in Pakistan as well as in India.

In return, they were paid by some Pakistani agents based in India. Moreover, they were found to be in touch with a woman PIO agent, who was arrested under the Official Secrets Act in a honey-trap case in Rajasthan in 2022, STF IG Jaynaryan Pankaj said.

Pankaj said the OTPs were used to create various accounts or channels on social media like WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, and Instagram and also on online shopping sites like Amazon and Flipkart. These are also used in opening email accounts. Most thought that these accounts are owned by an Indian, but actually they were being operated from Pakistan.

These social media platforms would then be used in various kinds of anti-India activities like spying, communication with terrorists, radicalisation, running anti-India propaganda, fuelling anti-India and divisive sentiments on social media, sextortion and honey-trapping,

As these accounts are registered or linked to Indian mobile numbers, people find them trustworthy. The accounts opened on online shopping platforms are also used to supply items to terrorists and other anti-India elements.

Apart from these, they were also in business of creating and selling mule accounts through social media groups which are again used in various kinds of crime, the IG said.
Chhattisgarh Police on Sunday arrested two persons here for accepting bets on IPL matches.

Kanker Superintendent of Police Shalabh Kumar Sinha told The Pioneer that Abrar Khan and Harsh Hridyanai, both from Kanker district, have been taken into custody.

Police seized two mobile phones and Rs 37,000 in cash from them.

They had accepted bets on an IPL match played between Lucknow Super Giants and SunRisers Hyderabad on Saturday night.
Ahead of the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the urban local bodies poll results are a big setback for the Samajwadi Party. The drifting of the trusted Muslim vote bank from the SP has added to the woes of the party struggling to reclaim its dominant position in Uttar Pradesh politics.

The SP, claiming to be the only viable alternative to the Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttar Pradesh, has tasted successive defeats in the last 10 years in two elections to Lok Sabha in 2014, 2019 and two to UP assembly in 2017 and 2022. The SP has also failed to retain two Lok Sabha and two assembly seats in by-elections and lost them to the BJP.

Sources in the party said successive defeats coupled with near rout in urban local bodies elections do not augur well for the future of SP, the main opposition party in UP.

The SP, under the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav, could not win even a single mayoral seat out of the 17 on Saturday and also failed to retain the Suar assembly seat that it had held for years. The SP also failed to wrest the Chhanbey assembly seat from the Apna Dal (Sonelal).

The SP has been on a losing spree since 2017 when Akhilesh took away the reins of the party from his father, late Mulayam Singh Yadav, in a much-publicised coup of sorts.

The party miserably lost the 2017 assembly polls and was left with barely 47 seats. The SP had contested the assembly polls in alliance with the Congress and both parties were decimated.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Akhilesh joined hands with Bahujan Samaj Party, a decision that was strongly disapproved of by the party seniors. While SP did not benefit from the alliance, the BSP walked home with 10 Lok Sabha seats. The alliance was broken immediately after the polls. In the subsequent months, the SP lost its Azamgarh and Rampur seats to the BJP in by-elections.

Finally, in 2022, the SP struck an alliance with smaller parties, including the Rashtriya Lok Dal, but this did not work as well and the SP was nowhere close to the majority mark. Ahead of the 2023 civic polls, Akhilesh mended fences with his estranged uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav but the effort was too late and too little.

Party workers are now questioning the leadership abilities of Akhilesh Yadav and whether he has the calibre to counter the growing influence of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. Troubles are set to multiply for the SP president as the Lok Sabha polls come closer.

Meanwhile, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday alleged that the BJP won the urban civic polls by employing unfair means and misuse of the official machinery.

He alleged that to influence the election, a large number of names of voters were deleted from the electoral rolls and the administration in all 75 districts acted as polling agents of the ruling party.

Yadav charged that in many districts the SP candidates who had won the elections were declared as losers. He said it was a matter of deep regret that the State Election Commission, entrusted with the responsibility of conducting free and fair polls, remained a mute spectator to the rampant irregularities committed by the ruling party.
A 23-year-old woman died allegedly by suicide in northwest Delhi's Jahangirpuri area on Sunday, less than a month after her wedding, police said. During preliminary inquiry, it was revealed that the woman committed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan using a saree, the police said.

The woman, who lived in Bhalswa village in Jahangirpuri, got married on April 22 and the sub-divisional magistrate of the area has been informed about the incident for necessary action, they said. Legal proceedings under relevant section of the CrPC has been initiated, the police said, adding the post-mortem reported was awaited.
The protesting wrestlers on Sunday termed the Indian Olympic Associations (IOA) decision to take charge of all the activities of the Wrestling Federation of India as the first step in their fight against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former WFI chief.

The countrys top wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat, have been protesting at the Jantar Mantar for the last 22 days demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan for alleged sexual harassment of women wrestlers.

The IOA, through its letter on May 12, asked the secretary general of WFI to hand over the official documents including financial instruments to its ad-hoc panel, making it clear the outgoing office bearers shall have no role in the running of the federation.

The WFI said it has no issues in obeying the IOA order since they were already co-operating with the authorities.

This (the dissolution of the current WFI) is the first step in our fight for justice. Our fight has begun in right earnest, its a victory for us... And we will continue or fight until we get justice, said Bajrang, the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist.

Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat rued that not a single ruling partys woman parliamentarian had met the wrestlers to extend support in our fight for the dignity of women.

She said that from Monday onwards the wrestlers will give letters by hand or via e-mail to all women parliamentarians of the ruling party to come and support them.

When they talk about the safety of women in the country, then we too are their daughters and they should come out and support us, she said.

We are writing an open letter to them (ruling partys women parliamentarians) and our fellow wrestlers will deliver those letters by hand. We will also send letters via e-mail. We feel that our voice, our grievances, have not yet reached them... We feel that after they receive the letters they will come and support us, added Vinesh.

Vinesh also requested the people gathered at Jantar Mantar to visit their respective district headquarters on May 16 and give a memorandum in support of the wrestlers.

We request the people supporting us to also launch a satyagraha andolan (nonviolent resistance) for just one day for the dignity of women, added Vinesh.

Meanwhile, the IOAs three-member ad-hoc committee has made it clear that the process to elect new WFI office bearers will be completed within the 45-day time frame and that the charge will be handed back to the elected body.

Once the elections will be held, the administrative powers will go back to the WFI. The newly elected officials will run the show. Its just a temporary move that ad-hoc is managing the affairs of the federation, an official told
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea challenging the Bombay High Court order which had dismissed a petition against Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju over their remarks on the judiciary and the collegium system for appointment of judges.

The plea came up for hearing before a bench of Justices S K Kaul and A Amanullah.

"What is this? You are for the petitioner? Why have you come here? Just to complete a circle of coming to the higher court?," the bench observed.

"We believe that the high court view is correct. If any authority has made an inappropriate statement, the observations that the Supreme Court is broad enough to deal with the same is the correct view," the bench said.

The Bombay Lawyers Association (BLA) had approached the apex court challenging the high court's February 9 order dismissing its plea on grounds that it was not a fit case to invoke the writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution.

The BLA had claimed that Rijiju and Dhankhar showed lack of faith in the Constitution with their remarks and conduct.

It had sought orders to restrain Dhankhar from discharging duty as the vice president, and Rijiju as the cabinet minister for the central government.

In an appeal, the lawyers body had said the "frontal attack not just on the judiciary but the Constitution' by the two executive officials has lowered the prestige of the Supreme Court in public.

Rijiju had said the collegium system of appointing judges was "opaque and not transparent".

Vice President Dhankhar had questioned the landmark 1973 Kesavananda Bharati judgement that gave the basic structure doctrine.

Dhankhar had said the verdict set a bad precedent and, if any authority questions Parliament's power to amend the Constitution, it would be difficult to say "we are a democratic nation".

"It is submitted that the petitioner herein filed the PIL before the High Court of Judicature at Bombay praying therein to declare the respondent no 1 and 2 as disqualified candidates to hold any constitutional posts of Vice President and Minister of the Union Cabinet, respectively, based on their behaviour, conduct and utterances made in public," the petition had said.

The two constitutional functionaries, it had submitted, showed "lack of faith" in the Constitution by their conduct and utterances made in public and by attacking its institutions, including the Supreme Court, and showing scant regard for the law laid down by the Supreme Court.

"The conduct of respondent Nos 1 and 2 appeared to have shaken public faith in the Supreme Court and the Constitution," it had submitted.

The plea had said the vice president and the Union minister have affirmed oaths that they will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution.

"However, their conduct has shown 'lack of faith' in the Constitution of India," it had said assailing the high court's order dismissing its PIL.

The BLA had quoted the statements of the dignitaries made at certain functions.

The high court had on February 9 dismissed the public interest litigation (PIL) saying, "We are not inclined to grant any relief. The petition is dismissed. Reasons would be recorded later."
The Centre on Sunday appointed Karnataka Director General of Police (DGP) Praveen Sood as the next Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Approval of the Competent Authority is hereby conveyed to the appointment of Praveen Sood, IPS (KN:86) as Director, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a period of two years from the date of assumption of charge of the office vice Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, IPS (MH-85) consequent upon completion of his tenure, reads an official order of the Personnel Ministry issued on Sunday. The incumbent CBI Director Jaiswal completes his tenure on May 24.

Fifty nine year old Sood is a 1986-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Karnataka cadre and the senior-most IPS officer in the country after Research and Analysis Wing chief Samant Kumar Goel (1984-batch, Punjab cadre) and Jaiswal.

Goel has got two extensions of one year each after his two-year tenure ended in 2021. The government is likely to name a new chief of RAW in the backdrop a series of intelligence failures like the Saudi-Arabia-Iran peace deal brokered by China, takeover of Myanmar by the army there, resurgence of neo Khalistan movement, lack of assessments on Nepal and the latest happenings in Pakistan among others. Soods name was cleared on Saturday in a meeting of a high-powered committee comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, as reported by The Pioneer on Sunday.Chowdhury, a Congress leader, had given a dissent note on the selection of Sood as the next CBI director.

Sood was on top of the list on a panel of three names comprising him and Madhya Pradesh DGP Sudhir Saxena and NIA DG Dinkar Gupta.Born in Himachal Pradesh and schooled in the national capital, Sood has an impressive educational background. He is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Delhi, Indian Institute of Management (IIM)-Bangalore and Syracuse University in New York. Sood had cracked the civil services examination in the first attempt. He was scheduled to retire in 2024 but will now have a fixed two-year tenure.

Currently the director general of police in Karnataka, Sood was earlier superintendent of police of Bellary and Raichur districts, deputy commissioner of police (law and order) and additional commissioner of police (traffic) in Bengaluru City, and commissioner of police of Mysore City. The IPS officer has also served as police advisor to the government of Mauritius. His initiatives to use technology to better traffic management and provide efficient services to citizens has earned him awards like the National E-Governance Gold Award for Most innovative use of technology for traffic management in 2011 and the Prince Michael International Road safety Award in 2006.

During his tenure as Additional Director General of Police (computer wing), Sood oversaw the implementation of Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS) in Karnataka for real-time monitoring and sharing of information by connecting police stations with Central network.
Gentrack Group Limited (NZX/ASX: GTK) invites investors to a conference call on Monday 22 May 2023 at 10.30am NZT / 8.30am AEST (duration 1 hour) to review Gentracks results for the half-year ended 31 March 2023.

This investor briefing will be available via a webcast (presentation slides and audio only) or audio only service. Please follow the instructions outlined below to access the event.

The audio recording from the briefing will be made available in the Gentrack Investor Centre (https://www.gentrack.com/investor-centre/) following the call.

Webcast Instructions

To join the investor briefing online, click on the link below to view, listen to and ask questions on the Investor presentation directly from your laptop, tablet or mobile device. Please note if you are using the Webcast option, it is not necessary to dial into the audio conference as well. Audio will stream through your selected device, so be sure to have headphones or your volume turned up. If you have technical difficulties, please click the Listen by Phone button on the webcast player and dial the number provided.

https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1611330&tp_key=018edc76f5

Audio only  Participant Access Instructions

For the audio only option, you can access the investor briefing from your phone. Please join the briefing 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. You will be asked to provide the event name, your name, and participant passcode as below:

Event Name: Gentrack Half Year Results Announcement 2023

Passcode: 754732

The dial-in numbers for available locations are listed below.

- Australia Toll Free/Free Phone  1 800 590 693

- Australia, Sydney Local - +61 (0)2 7250 5438

- Denmark Toll Free/Freephone - 80 70 16 37

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Questions can be submitted online via the Webcast platform or the audio call system when prompted. Personal information provided for the purpose of registration will not be disclosed to any third parties and will only be used by Gentrack to manage participant interaction.

ENDS

Contact details regarding this announcement:

Kerry Nickels  Company Secretary

+64 9 966 6090

About Gentrack

For over 30 years Gentrack has been partnering with the worlds leading utilities. More than 50 energy and water companies rely on Gentrack. Our g2.0 solution combines this wealth of experience with Salesforces unbeatable CRM, Gentracks leading meter-to-cash platform, and a composable architecture on AWS. g2.0 ensures high performance, security, scalability, and rapid prototyping for innovation at pace. When it comes to transformations, you can count on us. https://www.gentrack.com

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Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed concern on Saturday about Russian and Chinese military cooperation in Asia and said the security situation in Europe could not be separated from that in the Indo-Pacific region since Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking at a meeting of European and Indo-Pacific foreign ministers in Sweden, Hayashi said Russias war in Ukraine had shaken the very foundation of the international order and must face a united response by the international community.

Otherwise, similar challenges will arise in other regions and the existing order which has underpinned our peace and prosperity could be fundamentally overturned, Hayashi said.

Japan firmly backs Ukraine in the war but China says it remains neutral while declaring a no limits relationship with Moscow and blaming the US and NATO for provoking the conflict.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, in March at the same time as Chinese President Xi Jinping met Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Hayashi accused Beijing of continuing and intensifying its unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China seas by force and increasing its military activities around Taiwan.

In addition, China and Russia are strengthening their military collaboration, including joint flights of their bombers and joint naval exercises in the vicinity of Japan, Hayahshi said.

China, which claims most of the South China Sea as well as Japanese-held islands in the East China Sea, says it has the right to defend its sovereignty and development interests.

Hayashi also warned that North Korea was escalating provocations in the region by conducting ballistic missile launches with a frequency and in a manner that are unprecedented.

He joined dozens of ministers from the European Union and the Indo-Pacific region for the meeting just north of the Swedish capital. China was not invited to the talks.

Since the aggression of Russia to Ukraine, the security situation here in Europe and the security situation in the Pacific are not separable, Hayashi said as he arrived.
The detention of a mayoral candidate belonging to the Greek minority in Albania has raised tensions between the two neighbouring countries.

Greeces Foreign Ministry released a statement on Saturday demanding the release of Dionysis-Fredi Beleri, a candidate for mayor of the Albanian city of Himare, which has a strong Greek minority presence.

Greek media reported that Beleri was arrested by Albanian police early on Friday on charges of vote buying, two days ahead of local elections.

A court confirmed on Saturday that he would remain in custody.

The Greek ministrys announcement implies that the case could negatively impact Albanias application to join the European Union.

Todays decision of the Vlora District Court, if there is no irrefutable evidence, constitutes a scandal.

The arrest of a mayoral candidate two days before the elections is not within the rule of law.

The decision to detain the mayoral candidate in custody induces a full reversal of the rules of equality in the municipal elections in Himare, a significant centre of the Greek national minority in Albania, the ministrys statement says.

Such a decision will also have repercussions on the European Unions relations with Albania, as adherence to European rules and the principles of the rule of law is a prerequisite for this European path.

Decisions such as todays, which violate these principles, mean that in practice Albania is not following the European path, the announcement continues.
Pakistans former prime minister Imran Khan hit out at the countrys powerful army in his first address after an Islamabad court set him free, saying it should be ashamed of jumping into politics and could form its own political party.

Addressing the nation from his Lahore home on Saturday, Khan took strong exception to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) allegations against him and said the spokesperson of the armys military wing was not even born when he represented Pakistan in the world.

I kept Pakistans flag high world over. Never has ISPR made such a statement. You should be ashamed of yourself. You have jumped into politics. Why dont you make a political party, Khan said in an hour-long maiden speech after the Islamabad High Court gave him blanket relief in all 145 cases registered against him.

His remarks came in response to ISPR Director-General Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhrys statement in which he called Khan a hypocrite.

Listen to me Mr DG ISPRyou were not even born when I was representing my country in the world and earning a good name for it. You need to be ashamed of yourself for calling me a hypocrite and anti-Army, he said in a harsh rejoinder.

A triumphant Khan returned to his Zaman Park home in Lahore on Saturday after having locked himself in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises for hours for fear of re-arrest despite being granted bail on Friday.

Before leaving for Lahore, the 70-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief hit out at the imported government for kidnapping him despite the IHC granting him bail in all cases.

The 70-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief also tore into Pakistans Army chief General Asim Munir and blamed him for his abduction after a court set him free.

In a major relief to Khan, the Islamabad High Court on Friday granted him protective bail for two weeks in a corruption case and barred the authorities from arresting the former Pakistan prime minister in any case registered anywhere in the country until Monday.

During Khans address, video clips were shown of how army trucks dropped unidentified plainclothesmen, who joined PTI protesters and provoked them to unleash violence and ransack public property.

Khan distanced himself from violent protests that erupted in the wake of his arrest on Tuesday from IHC premises by Pakistan Rangers, asserting that violence and vandalism is not my philosophy.

Khans arrest triggered unrest in Pakistan that continued till Friday and led to several deaths and dozens of military and state installations being destroyed by the protesters. For the first time in Pakistans history, the protesters stormed the army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and also torched a corps commanders house in Lahore.
Bonterra Energy Corp. (OTCMKTS:BNEFF  Get Rating) was the target of a large decline in short interest in the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 86,800 shares, a decline of 18.5% from the April 15th total of 106,500 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 20,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.3 days.

Bonterra Energy Price Performance

BNEFF stock traded down $0.06 on Friday, hitting $4.42. 10,935 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 12,356. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $4.82 and a 200-day moving average of $5.11. The stock has a market cap of $164.43 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 2.10. The company has a current ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. Bonterra Energy has a 1-year low of $3.97 and a 1-year high of $10.94.

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Bonterra Energy (OTCMKTS:BNEFF  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 9th. The company reported $0.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of $64.20 million during the quarter. Bonterra Energy had a net margin of 22.72% and a return on equity of 17.53%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

About Bonterra Energy

Several equities analysts have weighed in on BNEFF shares. Raymond James upgraded shares of Bonterra Energy from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Monday, January 16th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on Bonterra Energy from C$9.25 to C$9.50 in a research report on Monday, March 13th.

(Get Rating)

Bonterra Energy Corp. engages in the development and production of oil and natural gas. Its operations focus on the Pembina Cardium, Shaunavon, and Prespatou properties. The company was founded by George Frederick Fink in 1998 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

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Bunzl plc (OTCMKTS:BZLFY  Get Rating) saw a significant drop in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 7,200 shares, a drop of 27.3% from the April 15th total of 9,900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 160,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on BZLFY. Societe Generale began coverage on Bunzl in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. They issued a buy rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on Bunzl from GBX 2,800 ($35.33) to GBX 2,850 ($35.96) in a report on Tuesday, March 14th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Bunzl from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a report on Monday, March 13th. 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. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $2,841.67.

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Bunzl Stock Performance

Shares of BZLFY traded down $0.03 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $39.81. The stock had a trading volume of 15,921 shares, compared to its average volume of 27,098. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $38.04 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $36.45. Bunzl has a fifty-two week low of $28.79 and a fifty-two week high of $41.00.

Bunzl Increases Dividend

Bunzl Company Profile

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 10th. Investors of record on Friday, May 19th will be issued a $0.5118 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 18th. This represents a yield of 1.79%. This is an increase from Bunzls previous dividend of $0.18.

(Get Rating)

Bunzl Plc provides distribution and outsourcing services. It supplies non-food products operating primarily in the foodservice, grocery, cleaning and safety, non-food retail and healthcare markets. The firm offers supply services, including procurement and inventory management. It supply consumable products such as food packaging, disposable tableware and catering equipment, cleaning and hygiene supplies, guest amenities, personal protection equipment, packaging and healthcare consumables to various customer markets including grocery, foodservice, cleaning and hygiene, safety, non-food retail and healthcare.

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Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:PDM  Get Rating) saw a large decrease in short interest in the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 4,350,000 shares, a decrease of 17.5% from the April 15th total of 5,270,000 shares. Approximately 3.6% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,520,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.9 days.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com downgraded Piedmont Office Realty Trust from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Piedmont Office Realty Trust

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Raymond James & Associates increased its holdings in Piedmont Office Realty Trust by 13.7% in the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 41,464 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $714,000 after purchasing an additional 5,007 shares during the period. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC increased its stake in shares of Piedmont Office Realty Trust by 15.1% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 18,036 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $311,000 after purchasing an additional 2,368 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Piedmont Office Realty Trust by 201.5% during the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 14,129 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $242,000 after purchasing an additional 9,442 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Piedmont Office Realty Trust by 56.4% in the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 64,184 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,105,000 after buying an additional 23,137 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can grew its stake in Piedmont Office Realty Trust by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 110,448 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,974,000 after buying an additional 1,550 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.88% of the companys stock.

Piedmont Office Realty Trust Stock Down 2.2 %

Shares of PDM traded down $0.14 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $6.36. 796,401 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,359,275. The firms 50 day moving average is $7.01 and its 200-day moving average is $8.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 3.63 and a current ratio of 3.63. The company has a market cap of $786.35 million, a PE ratio of 9.22 and a beta of 0.98. Piedmont Office Realty Trust has a 52 week low of $5.99 and a 52 week high of $15.57.

Piedmont Office Realty Trust (NYSE:PDM  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 8th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.61 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.50 by $0.11. Piedmont Office Realty Trust had a return on equity of 4.70% and a net margin of 15.00%. The firm had revenue of $147.21 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $151.34 million. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Piedmont Office Realty Trust will post 1.84 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Piedmont Office Realty Trust Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 26th will be issued a $0.21 dividend. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 13.21%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 25th. Piedmont Office Realty Trusts payout ratio is 121.74%.

Piedmont Office Realty Trust Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc engages in the ownership, management, development, redevelopment, and operation of office properties. It operates through the following geographical segments: Atlanta, Dallas, Washington, DC/Northern Virginia, Boston, Orlando, Minneapolis, and New York. The company was founded on July 3, 1997 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA.

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Nuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NEA  Get Rating) was the target of a large decline in short interest during the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 143,600 shares, a decline of 28.0% from the April 15th total of 199,400 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 729,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.2 days.

Institutional Trading of Nuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Advisors Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Nuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund by 16.7% during the third quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 332,648 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,526,000 after acquiring an additional 47,496 shares during the period. Robinson Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Nuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund by 83,883.3% in the third quarter. Robinson Capital Management LLC now owns 230,954 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,464,000 after purchasing an additional 230,679 shares during the last quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. increased its holdings in Nuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund by 21.4% in the third quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 126,629 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,342,000 after purchasing an additional 22,357 shares during the last quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Nuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund by 36.8% in the third quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC now owns 93,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $986,000 after purchasing an additional 25,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Citizens National Bank Trust Department increased its holdings in shares of Nuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund by 3.1% in the third quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department now owns 33,000 shares of the companys stock worth $350,000 after acquiring an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter.

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Nuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund Stock Performance

Shares of NEA stock remained flat at $11.03 during trading on Friday. The company had a trading volume of 475,771 shares, compared to its average volume of 827,815. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $11.02 and a 200 day moving average price of $11.10. Nuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund has a 1-year low of $10.22 and a 1-year high of $12.91.

Nuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund Announces Dividend

Nuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund Company Profile

The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 15th will be given a dividend of $0.035 per share. This represents a $0.42 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.81%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 12th.

(Get Rating)

Nuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments Inc The fund is co-managed by Nuveen Asset Management, LLC and Nuveen Fund Advisors LLC. It invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. The fund primarily invests in undervalued municipal bonds that are exempt from federal income taxes, including the alternative minimum tax.

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Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund (NYSEAMERICAN:EAD  Get Rating) saw a large increase in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 9,500 shares, an increase of 10.5% from the April 15th total of 8,600 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 149,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days.

Institutional Trading of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. CoreCap Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund during the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Hollencrest Capital Management bought a new position in shares of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund during the 4th quarter worth approximately $52,000. Luken Investment Analytics LLC bought a new position in shares of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund during the 4th quarter worth approximately $77,000. CWM LLC lifted its position in shares of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund by 362.9% during the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 12,562 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $80,000 after buying an additional 9,848 shares during the period. Finally, EP Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund during the 1st quarter valued at about $80,000.

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Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund Stock Down 1.1 %

EAD traded down $0.07 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $6.30. The companys stock had a trading volume of 70,322 shares, compared to its average volume of 147,589. Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund has a twelve month low of $5.95 and a twelve month high of $7.42.

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund Cuts Dividend

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund Company Profile

The business also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 12th will be issued a $0.0489 dividend. This represents a $0.59 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 9.32%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 11th.

(Get Rating)

Allspring Income Opportunities Fund is a closed-end management investment company. It seeks current income and capital appreciation through investment in below investment grade debt securities, loans, and preferred stocks. The company was founded on December 3, 2002 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA.

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StockNews.com cut shares of American Axle & Manufacturing (NYSE:AXL  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report report published on Thursday.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Barclays lowered their price objective on American Axle & Manufacturing from $10.00 to $9.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Citigroup decreased their target price on American Axle & Manufacturing from $10.00 to $9.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $10.40.

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American Axle & Manufacturing Stock Performance

NYSE AXL opened at $7.11 on Thursday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $7.53 and a 200-day moving average of $8.56. American Axle & Manufacturing has a fifty-two week low of $6.48 and a fifty-two week high of $11.96. The stock has a market cap of $832.01 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 2.25. The company has a quick ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 1.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.58.

Insider Buying and Selling

American Axle & Manufacturing ( NYSE:AXL Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Friday, May 5th. The auto parts company reported ($0.01) earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.06) by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $1.49 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.48 billion. American Axle & Manufacturing had a return on equity of 8.88% and a net margin of 0.99%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.19 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that American Axle & Manufacturing will post 0.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In other news, VP David Eugene Barnes sold 29,533 shares of American Axle & Manufacturing stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $9.00, for a total transaction of $265,797.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 104,621 shares in the company, valued at $941,589. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 2.10% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of American Axle & Manufacturing

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can lifted its position in shares of American Axle & Manufacturing by 4.6% in the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 130,689 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $1,019,000 after buying an additional 5,740 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC grew its position in American Axle & Manufacturing by 102.3% during the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 89,100 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $696,000 after acquiring an additional 45,059 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG grew its position in American Axle & Manufacturing by 132.5% during the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 110,903 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $866,000 after acquiring an additional 452,623 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. lifted its holdings in American Axle & Manufacturing by 105.5% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 53,283 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $416,000 after buying an additional 27,357 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in American Axle & Manufacturing by 8.2% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 6,465,453 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $50,494,000 after buying an additional 491,911 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.74% of the companys stock.

About American Axle & Manufacturing

(Get Rating)

American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc engages in the manufacture, engineering, design, and validation of driveline systems and related components. It operates through the following segments: Driveline and Metal Forming. The Driveline segment consists of axles, drive shafts, power transfer units, rear drive modules, and electric and hybrid driveline products and systems for light trucks, service utility vehicles, crossover vehicles, passenger cars, and commercial vehicles.

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ASOS (LON:ASC  Get Rating)s stock had its sell rating reissued by equities research analysts at Shore Capital in a research report issued on Monday, MarketBeat.com reports.

Several other brokerages also recently commented on ASC. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a GBX 950 ($11.99) target price on ASOS in a report on Friday, February 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group set a GBX 1,050 ($13.25) price objective on shares of ASOS in a research report on Tuesday, February 21st. Jefferies Financial Group set a GBX 750 ($9.46) price objective on shares of ASOS in a research report on Tuesday, January 17th. Royal Bank of Canada set a GBX 950 ($11.99) target price on shares of ASOS in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Finally, Barclays restated an equal weight rating and issued a GBX 625 ($7.89) price objective on shares of ASOS in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and two 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 GBX 926.50 ($11.69).

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ASOS Price Performance

LON ASC traded down GBX 104.50 ($1.32) during trading on Monday, reaching GBX 400.50 ($5.05). 5,545,063 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 642,130. The company has a market cap of 400.58 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1,291.94, a P/E/G ratio of -1.26 and a beta of 2.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 84.34, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a current ratio of 1.49. ASOS has a 1-year low of GBX 381.40 ($4.81) and a 1-year high of GBX 1,610 ($20.32). The stocks 50 day moving average price is GBX 749.28 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 713.72.

About ASOS

ASOS Plc operates as an online fashion retailer worldwide. It offers womenswear and menswear products. The company sells its products under the ASOS Design, ASOS Edition, ASOS 4505, Collusion, Reclaimed Vintage, Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT brands, as well as through third-party brands. It is also involved in the employer of marketing staff and payment processing businesses.

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Bank of Nova Scotia lifted its stake in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Get Rating) by 2,021.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 950,806 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 905,977 shares during the quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia owned about 0.06% of Philip Morris International worth $96,231,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in Philip Morris International by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 15,762 shares of the companys stock worth $1,308,000 after acquiring an additional 133 shares during the period. Advisor OS LLC acquired a new stake in Philip Morris International during the 4th quarter worth about $200,000. Prospera Financial Services Inc boosted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 8.3% in the 4th quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc now owns 12,912 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,307,000 after acquiring an additional 987 shares during the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 4.9% in the 4th quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 54,238 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,489,000 after acquiring an additional 2,545 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Profund Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 10.1% in the 4th quarter. Profund Advisors LLC now owns 17,092 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,730,000 after acquiring an additional 1,568 shares during the last quarter. 75.85% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Philip Morris International Price Performance

PM traded down $0.56 on Monday, reaching $94.56. 797,046 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,289,853. Philip Morris International Inc. has a twelve month low of $82.85 and a twelve month high of $109.81. The stock has a market cap of $146.78 billion, a PE ratio of 17.02, a P/E/G ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 0.68. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $97.11 and its 200-day moving average price is $98.69.

Philip Morris International Announces Dividend

Philip Morris International ( NYSE:PM Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The company reported $1.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.34 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $8.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.03 billion. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 128.55% and a net margin of 10.80%. The businesss revenue was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.56 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 11th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 23rd were given a $1.27 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 22nd. This represents a $5.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.37%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio is currently 90.88%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Philip Morris International

In other Philip Morris International news, insider Werner Barth sold 8,000 shares of Philip Morris International stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.35, for a total value of $786,800.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 87,321 shares in the company, valued at $8,588,020.35. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, insider Werner Barth sold 8,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.35, for a total transaction of $786,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 87,321 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,588,020.35. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Chairman Andre Calantzopoulos sold 80,000 shares of the firms 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 transaction, the chairman now owns 1,007,048 shares of the companys stock, valued at $101,057,266.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 108,308 shares of company stock worth $10,851,692 over the last quarter. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Philip Morris International from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the company from $86.00 to $118.00 in a report on Thursday, January 19th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. UBS Group raised Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the stock from $106.00 to $116.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Societe Generale initiated coverage on Philip Morris International in a report on Monday, January 23rd. They set a sell rating and a $90.00 target price on the stock. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the stock from $95.00 to $120.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $110.60.

Philip Morris International Profile

(Get Rating)

Philip Morris International, Inc is a holding company engaged in the manufacturing and sale of cigarettes, tobacco, and nicotine-containing products. Its products include cigarettes and reduced-risk products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: European Union, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, South and Southeast Asia, East Asia and Australia, and Americas.

Further Reading

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Cibc World Markets Corp boosted its position in Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM  Get Rating) by 284.7% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 391,576 shares of the CRM providers stock after purchasing an additional 289,779 shares during the period. Cibc World Markets Corps holdings in Salesforce were worth $51,919,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Salesforce by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 80,449,523 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $11,571,860,000 after buying an additional 1,103,556 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its stake in Salesforce by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 44,825,733 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $6,447,733,000 after purchasing an additional 585,881 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its stake in Salesforce by 9.0% during the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 13,875,409 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $1,839,741,000 after purchasing an additional 1,149,446 shares during the period. Polen Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Salesforce by 12.5% during the 3rd quarter. Polen Capital Management LLC now owns 11,057,687 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $1,590,538,000 after purchasing an additional 1,228,763 shares during the period. Finally, Clearbridge Investments LLC increased its stake in Salesforce by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 7,315,501 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $1,553,227,000 after acquiring an additional 18,581 shares during the last quarter. 75.83% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have issued reports on CRM. Wedbush lifted their price objective on Salesforce from $200.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. DA Davidson lifted their price objective on Salesforce from $150.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Salesforce from $236.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. UBS Group lifted their target price on Salesforce from $162.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Salesforce from $200.00 to $225.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating, twenty-six have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $211.76.

Salesforce Trading Up 1.2 %

CRM opened at $204.33 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $200.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 961.00, a P/E/G ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 1.24. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $192.19 and a 200-day simple moving average of $165.72. Salesforce, Inc. has a 52 week low of $126.34 and a 52 week high of $206.28. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16.

Salesforce (NYSE:CRM  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, March 1st. The CRM provider reported $1.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.36 by $0.32. The firm had revenue of $8.38 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.99 billion. Salesforce had a return on equity of 4.48% and a net margin of 0.66%. Salesforces revenue was up 14.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.24 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that Salesforce, Inc. will post 4.88 earnings per share for the current year.

Salesforce announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock buyback program on Wednesday, March 1st that permits the company to buyback $20.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the CRM provider to buy up to 10.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often a sign that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Salesforce news, CFO Amy E. Weaver sold 2,939 shares of Salesforce stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $187.96, for a total transaction of $552,414.44. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 36,176 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,799,640.96. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other Salesforce news, insider Parker Harris sold 1,250 shares of Salesforce stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $196.78, for a total value of $245,975.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 100,309 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,738,805.02. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Amy E. Weaver sold 2,939 shares of Salesforce stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $187.96, for a total value of $552,414.44. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 36,176 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,799,640.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 46,281 shares of company stock valued at $8,640,426 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 3.60% of the companys stock.

Salesforce Company Profile

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Salesforce, Inc engages in the design and development of cloud-based enterprise software for customer relationship management. Its solutions include sales force automation, customer service and support, marketing automation, digital commerce, community management, collaboration, industry-specific solutions, and salesforce platform.

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Community Bank & Trust Waco Texas boosted its stake in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA  Get Rating) by 34.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,999 shares of the credit services providers stock after purchasing an additional 513 shares during the quarter. Community Bank & Trust Waco Texas holdings in Mastercard were worth $695,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Bornite Capital Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Mastercard in the 1st quarter valued at $21,442,000. United Bank increased its position in shares of Mastercard by 34.5% during the 1st quarter. United Bank now owns 6,007 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $2,147,000 after purchasing an additional 1,541 shares in the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its position in shares of Mastercard by 30.1% during the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 272,358 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $97,335,000 after purchasing an additional 63,040 shares in the last quarter. First Western Trust Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the 1st quarter worth about $1,168,000. Finally, Bridgewater Associates LP acquired a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the 1st quarter worth about $12,926,000. 74.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Mastercard Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE MA traded up $0.24 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $382.16. The companys stock had a trading volume of 629,815 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,697,458. The company has a current ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.84. Mastercard Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $276.87 and a fifty-two week high of $390.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $362.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.15, a PEG ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.11. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $365.35 and a 200-day simple moving average of $358.14.

Mastercard Dividend Announcement

Mastercard ( NYSE:MA Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The credit services provider reported $2.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.71 by $0.09. Mastercard had a net margin of 42.33% and a return on equity of 169.12%. The company had revenue of $5.75 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.64 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.76 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 11.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Mastercard Incorporated will post 12.26 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 7th were issued a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, April 5th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.60%. Mastercards dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.78%.

Insider Activity

In related news, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 125,816 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $386.28, for a total value of $48,600,204.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 100,437,277 shares of the companys stock, valued at $38,796,911,359.56. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other Mastercard news, insider Timothy H. Murphy sold 27,417 shares of Mastercard stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $374.49, for a total transaction of $10,267,392.33. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 39,263 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,703,600.87. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 125,816 shares of Mastercard stock in a transaction on Monday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $386.28, for a total transaction of $48,600,204.48. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 100,437,277 shares of the companys stock, valued at $38,796,911,359.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 298,667 shares of company stock worth $114,105,971 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.29% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on MA shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Mastercard from $395.00 to $452.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on shares of Mastercard from $370.00 to $430.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 18th. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $410.00 to $435.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. Mizuho decreased their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $405.00 to $400.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Finally, Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $435.00 to $440.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and twenty have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Mastercard currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $418.85.

Mastercard Profile

(Get Rating)

Mastercard, Inc is a technology company, which engages in the payments industry that connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments, and business. It offers payment solutions for the development and implementation of credit, debit, prepaid, commercial, and payment programs. The company was founded in November 1966 and is headquartered in Purchase, NY.

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Donald Smith & CO. Inc. reduced its position in Korea Electric Power Co. (NYSE:KEP  Get Rating) by 2.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,960,590 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 54,321 shares during the quarter. Donald Smith & CO. Inc.s holdings in Korea Electric Power were worth $16,939,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Kopernik Global Investors LLC grew its stake in Korea Electric Power by 2.4% in the third quarter. Kopernik Global Investors LLC now owns 1,660,792 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $11,293,000 after purchasing an additional 39,326 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in Korea Electric Power by 11.7% in the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,585,494 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $10,781,000 after purchasing an additional 166,369 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its stake in Korea Electric Power by 3.9% in the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 904,359 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $8,420,000 after purchasing an additional 34,012 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in Korea Electric Power by 1.6% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 894,305 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $8,330,000 after purchasing an additional 14,363 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp grew its stake in Korea Electric Power by 4.5% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 806,626 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $7,510,000 after purchasing an additional 34,488 shares during the last quarter. 1.45% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Korea Electric Power Stock Down 2.6 %

Shares of KEP stock traded down $0.19 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $7.25. 65,705 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 219,903. Korea Electric Power Co. has a 1 year low of $5.76 and a 1 year high of $9.50. The stock has a market cap of $9.31 billion, a PE ratio of -0.49 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a current ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.34. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $6.98 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $7.37.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Korea Electric Power ( NYSE:KEP Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, March 13th. The utilities provider reported ($4.46) earnings per share for the quarter. Korea Electric Power had a negative return on equity of 48.33% and a negative net margin of 34.31%. The business had revenue of $14.37 billion for the quarter.

Separately, StockNews.com upgraded Korea Electric Power from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, March 30th.

Korea Electric Power Company Profile

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Korea Electric Power Corp. engages in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. It operates through the following Businesses: Sale of Electric Power, Development of Electric Power Resources, Investment, and Real Estate. The company was founded on July 1, 1961 and is headquartered in Naju, South Korea.

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Elequin Securities LLC acquired a new stake in Rayonier Inc. (NYSE:RYN  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 44,473 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock, valued at approximately $1,466,000. Rayonier accounts for about 0.4% of Elequin Securities LLCs holdings, making the stock its 29th biggest position.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Rayonier by 97.5% in the 3rd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 883 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 436 shares in the last quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Rayonier by 50.3% during the 4th quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 938 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 314 shares during the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Rayonier by 39.3% during the 3rd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 1,699 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $51,000 after acquiring an additional 479 shares during the last quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Rayonier during the 4th quarter valued at about $73,000. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors acquired a new position in shares of Rayonier during the 2nd quarter valued at about $105,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.87% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. StockNews.com lowered Rayonier from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Wednesday, May 10th. Citigroup lowered their price objective on Rayonier from $39.00 to $36.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 6th. Finally, TheStreet lowered Rayonier from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Thursday.

Rayonier Stock Performance

RYN traded up $0.07 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $29.75. The companys stock had a trading volume of 69,880 shares, compared to its average volume of 427,549. The stock has a market cap of $4.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 51.17 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $32.05 and a 200 day simple moving average of $33.69. The company has a current ratio of 1.94, a quick ratio of 1.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82. Rayonier Inc. has a twelve month low of $27.81 and a twelve month high of $42.05.

Rayonier (NYSE:RYN  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The real estate investment trust reported $0.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.08 by ($0.07). The business had revenue of $179.10 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $210.13 million. Rayonier had a net margin of 9.94% and a return on equity of 3.44%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 19.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.20 EPS. Research analysts expect that Rayonier Inc. will post 0.36 earnings per share for the current year.

Rayonier Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 17th were issued a dividend of $0.285 per share. This represents a $1.14 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 16th. Rayoniers payout ratio is presently 196.55%.

About Rayonier

(Get Rating)

Rayonier, Inc is a real estate investment trust, which engages in investment in timberlands. It operates through the following business segments: Southern Timber, Pacific Northwest Timber, New Zealand Timber, Real Estate, Timber Funds and Trading. The Southern Timber, Pacific Northwest Timber and New Zealand Timber segments reflect all activities related to the harvesting of timber and other value-added activities, such as recreational licenses, within each respective geography.

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Shares of Elme Communities (NYSE:ELME  Get Rating) hit a new 52-week low during trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $16.13 and last traded at $16.14, with a volume of 174423 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $16.44.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Truist Financial increased their target price on shares of Elme Communities from $18.00 to $19.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 21st.

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Elme Communities Price Performance

The businesss fifty day moving average is $17.46 and its 200-day moving average is $18.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.86. The firm has a market cap of $1.42 billion, a PE ratio of -54.80 and a beta of 0.94.

Elme Communities Announces Dividend

Elme Communities ( NYSE:ELME Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 17th. The company reported ($0.04) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.25 by ($0.29). Elme Communities had a negative net margin of 12.32% and a negative return on equity of 2.10%. The firm had revenue of $55.59 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $55.80 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.17 earnings per share. Elme Communitiess revenue was up 24.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that Elme Communities will post 0.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 6th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 22nd will be given a $0.18 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 21st. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.45%. Elme Communitiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -240.00%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Elme Communities

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of ELME. BlackRock Inc. bought a new stake in Elme Communities during the first quarter valued at approximately $304,764,000. FMR LLC purchased a new position in shares of Elme Communities during the first quarter worth approximately $160,800,000. Thornburg Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Elme Communities during the first quarter worth approximately $42,072,000. William Blair Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Elme Communities during the first quarter worth approximately $32,115,000. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Elme Communities during the first quarter worth approximately $25,637,000. 90.45% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Elme Communities Company Profile

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Elme Communities engages in the ownership and operation of income-producing real estate properties. It operates through the following segments: Office and Multifamily. The Office segment provides office space for various types of businesses and professions. The Multifamily segment provides rental housing for individuals and families throughout the Washington metro region.

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Donald Smith & CO. Inc. trimmed its stake in shares of Genworth Financial, Inc. (NYSE:GNW  Get Rating) by 5.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 17,414,898 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,001,894 shares during the quarter. Genworth Financial accounts for 3.6% of Donald Smith & CO. Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 8th largest holding. Donald Smith & CO. Inc. owned about 3.51% of Genworth Financial worth $92,125,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Strs Ohio acquired a new position in shares of Genworth Financial during the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Prelude Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Genworth Financial during the 2nd quarter worth about $35,000. Nomura Holdings Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Genworth Financial during the 2nd quarter worth about $39,000. Private Advisor Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Genworth Financial during the 1st quarter worth about $40,000. Finally, Centiva Capital LP purchased a new stake in shares of Genworth Financial in the 3rd quarter valued at about $43,000. 75.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Genworth Financial in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company.

Genworth Financial Stock Performance

Shares of GNW stock traded up $0.16 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $5.47. 1,560,018 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,863,572. The company has a market cap of $2.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.31 and a beta of 1.03. The companys 50 day moving average is $5.44 and its two-hundred day moving average is $5.34. Genworth Financial, Inc. has a 1 year low of $3.43 and a 1 year high of $6.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 0.29 and a quick ratio of 0.28.

Genworth Financial (NYSE:GNW  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The financial services provider reported $0.17 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.20 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $1.85 billion during the quarter. Genworth Financial had a return on equity of 5.64% and a net margin of 6.99%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.29 EPS.

Genworth Financial Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Genworth Financial, Inc is a financial services company, which engages in the provision of insurance, wealth management, investment and financial solutions. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Mortgage Insurance, Australia Mortgage Insurance, U.S. Life Insurance, and Runoff. The U.S. Mortgage Insurance segment offers mortgage insurance products predominantly insuring prime-based, individually underwritten residential mortgage loans.

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Great Lakes Advisors LLC trimmed its position in Cactus, Inc. (NYSE:WHD  Get Rating) by 2.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 183,173 shares of the companys stock after selling 4,399 shares during the period. Cactus accounts for 0.5% of Great Lakes Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest position. Great Lakes Advisors LLC owned approximately 0.24% of Cactus worth $9,206,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its holdings in Cactus by 70.5% in the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 3,016 shares of the companys stock worth $172,000 after buying an additional 1,247 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its position in Cactus by 55.2% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 30,390 shares of the companys stock worth $1,724,000 after purchasing an additional 10,813 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in shares of Cactus by 2.4% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 3,987,233 shares of the companys stock valued at $226,236,000 after buying an additional 94,603 shares in the last quarter. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Cactus during the 1st quarter valued at about $268,000. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of Cactus by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 950,570 shares of the companys stock valued at $53,933,000 after buying an additional 10,327 shares in the last quarter. 83.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Cactus Trading Up 1.5 %

WHD traded up $0.51 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $35.42. 66,572 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 581,201. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $40.63 and a 200 day moving average price of $48.02. Cactus, Inc. has a 52-week low of $34.67 and a 52-week high of $58.30. The company has a quick ratio of 4.23, a current ratio of 5.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.80 billion, a PE ratio of 16.78, a PEG ratio of 0.27 and a beta of 1.94.

Cactus Announces Dividend

Cactus ( NYSE:WHD Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 9th. The company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.56 by $0.08. Cactus had a return on equity of 18.53% and a net margin of 16.00%. The company had revenue of $228.40 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $217.45 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.30 EPS. Cactuss revenue was up 56.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Cactus, Inc. will post 2.67 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 30th will be issued a $0.11 dividend. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.24%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 26th. Cactuss dividend payout ratio is 21.15%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on WHD. Benchmark started coverage on Cactus in a research report on Thursday, January 19th. They set a buy rating and a $70.00 price objective on the stock. Barclays lowered their price target on Cactus from $50.00 to $46.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. Finally, Citigroup reduced their price objective on Cactus from $52.00 to $48.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $55.60.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CAO Donna L. Anderson sold 2,985 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $47.83, for a total transaction of $142,772.55. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 3,262 shares in the company, valued at approximately $156,021.46. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 17.71% of the companys stock.

Cactus Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Cactus, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the design, manufacture and sale of wellhead and pressure control equipment. Its products include Cactus SafeDrill wellhead systems as well as frac stacks, Cactus SafeLink monobore, SafeClamp and SafeInject systems. It also offers field services for its products and rental items to assist with the installation, maintenance, and handling of the wellhead and pressure control equipment.

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Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. acquired a new stake in Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 161,108 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,397,000. Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. owned approximately 0.16% of Herbalife at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in Herbalife by 6.5% during the first quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 12,308 shares of the companys stock valued at $374,000 after acquiring an additional 747 shares during the period. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. increased its position in shares of Herbalife by 50.0% during the first quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 4,243 shares of the companys stock worth $128,000 after purchasing an additional 1,415 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Herbalife by 8.9% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 18,413 shares of the companys stock valued at $559,000 after buying an additional 1,503 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its holdings in Herbalife by 1.8% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,011,947 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,723,000 after purchasing an additional 17,482 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board purchased a new stake in Herbalife in the first quarter valued at $379,000. 98.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Herbalife Trading Up 3.6 %

Herbalife stock traded up $0.51 during trading on Monday, hitting $14.54. The company had a trading volume of 525,544 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,380,528. Herbalife Ltd. has a 1-year low of $12.04 and a 1-year high of $30.65. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $15.88 and its 200-day simple moving average is $16.48. The stock has a market cap of $1.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.63 and a beta of 1.13.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Herbalife ( NYSE:HLF Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The company reported $0.54 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.65 by ($0.11). The business had revenue of $1.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.22 billion. Herbalife had a negative return on equity of 22.11% and a net margin of 4.93%. The businesss revenue was down 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.99 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Herbalife Ltd. will post 2.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

HLF has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Bank of America began coverage on shares of Herbalife in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. They set an underperform rating and a $14.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Herbalife from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday. Finally, Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Herbalife from $26.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Herbalife currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $22.60.

Insider Transactions at Herbalife

In related news, Director Stephan Paulo Gratziani purchased 23,500 shares of Herbalife stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 8th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $14.06 per share, with a total value of $330,410.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 34,529 shares in the company, valued at $485,477.74. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, Director Sophie Lhelias bought 8,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 21st. The shares were bought at an average cost of $19.48 per share, for a total transaction of $165,580.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 17,060 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $332,328.80. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Stephan Paulo Gratziani bought 23,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 8th. The shares were bought at an average price of $14.06 per share, for a total transaction of $330,410.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 34,529 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $485,477.74. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.66% of the companys stock.

Herbalife Profile

(Get Rating)

Herbalife Ltd. engages in the provision of health and wellness products. It operates through the following geographical segments: North America, Latin America, EMEA, Asia Pacific, and China. The company was founded by Mark Reynolds Hughes in February 1980 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of NovaGold Resources (NYSEAMERICAN:NG  Get Rating) (TSE:NG) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report sent to investors on Friday.

Separately, National Bank Financial dropped their price objective on NovaGold Resources from C$11.00 to C$10.75 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th.

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NovaGold Resources Trading Up 1.5 %

NG opened at $5.38 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $1.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -33.63 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a quick ratio of 57.88, a current ratio of 57.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.94. The businesss 50 day moving average is $5.91 and its two-hundred day moving average is $5.48. NovaGold Resources has a 52 week low of $4.06 and a 52 week high of $6.98.

Insider Activity at NovaGold Resources

NovaGold Resources ( NYSEAMERICAN:NG Get Rating ) (TSE:NG) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 5th. The mining company reported ($0.03) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. On average, research analysts predict that NovaGold Resources will post -0.1 EPS for the current year.

In other NovaGold Resources news, Director Diane R. Garrett sold 14,950 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $5.58, for a total transaction of $83,421.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 22,757 shares of the companys stock, valued at $126,984.06. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other NovaGold Resources news, Director Sharon Dowdall sold 39,799 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.41, for a total transaction of $255,111.59. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 45,519 shares in the company, valued at $291,776.79. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Diane R. Garrett sold 14,950 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $5.58, for a total value of $83,421.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 22,757 shares of the companys stock, valued at $126,984.06. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 3.25% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On NovaGold Resources

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Signaturefd LLC grew its stake in NovaGold Resources by 146.9% in the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 5,469 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 3,254 shares in the last quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise bought a new stake in NovaGold Resources during the 1st quarter valued at $42,000. Verition Fund Management LLC bought a new stake in NovaGold Resources during the 2nd quarter valued at $55,000. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can bought a new stake in NovaGold Resources during the 3rd quarter valued at $64,000. Finally, Neuberger Berman Group LLC bought a new stake in NovaGold Resources during the 3rd quarter valued at $71,000. Institutional investors own 53.92% of the companys stock.

NovaGold Resources Company Profile

(Get Rating)

NovaGold Resources, Inc is a mineral exploration company, which engages in the development of the Donlin Gold project in Alaska. The company was founded by Gregory Shawn Johnson, John W. Chisholm, Macisaac G. Angus, Rick van Nieuwenhuyse, and Gerald James McConnell on December 5, 1984 and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT.

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The Russian navy never recovered from the end of the Cold War and the sharp, continuing reductions in the navy budget. Efforts to replace the aging Cold War era ships failed. At the end of the Cold War in 1991 Russia had the second-largest fleet in the world. Now it is in third place, behind the United States and China. China is now the most prolific builder of warships while Russian ship building capabilities continue to decline. This was particularly obvious in the case of major surface ships like carriers, battlecruisers and destroyers. There are only 29 large surface ships including a carrier, four cruisers, 13 destroyers and eleven frigates. The subs and large surface ships only account for 36 percent of the vessels in the fleet. The rest are smaller craft, including some amphibious warfare boats and ships. A third of the subs are diesel-electric boats. The carrier and four large cruisers are not much of a surface strike force. That task is assigned to the eleven guided missile armed nuclear subs. Only 16 of the 40 attack subs are nuclear, the rest are diesel-electric. There are eleven special purpose subs carrying a wide variety of exotic weapons. The Chinese and Western fleets keep it simple, using nuclear and diesel-electric subs with very few special purpose subs.

Since the Cold War ended, Russian warship construction and refurbishment capabilities have declined considerably. An example of this in action are the extended and problem-plagued efforts to refurbish the lone carrier and four nuclear powered battle cruisers. For example, in 2022 a Russian shipyard announced it was ready to deliver the refurbished nuclear-powered battlecruiser Admiral Nakhimov to the fleet. Work on the Admiral Nakhimov began in 2014 and was supposed to be completed by 2018. As usual, there were technical, economic and political problems that delayed delivery unto 2022. To get this done, the plans to refurbish the two oldest Kirovs (Admiral Ushakov and Admiral Lazarev) were canceled after it was discovered that these ships were in worse condition than expected and in 2021, they were officially retired and scrapped (disassembled).

Before this, shortages of cash, shipyard facilities and component suppliers led to the 2014 decision to make a $10 billion effort to refurbish and upgrade its five largest and oldest warships. These were the four 28,000-ton Kirov-class battlecruisers and Russia's last functioning aircraft carrier, the 65,000-ton Kuznetsov. Why spend all that money on five aging warships? First, its about prestige. Any of these five ships can make long range cruises and do port visits in countries Russia is trying to impress, or intimidate. Second; practicality. By installing new and improved weapons on these ships they can be sent on these long voyages with minimal escorts (usually one destroyer or frigate) plus one supply ship. Finally, the upgrades do produce some major warships that not only look impressive but have some real combat power.

These upgrade programs were first proposed in the late 1990s but proceeded spasmodically because of money and political problems. Finally in 2014 a final, well financed effort was undertaken to get the work done. In that year Russia began a four year long overhaul of the Admiral Nakhimov, one of four Kirov class battlecruisers. This overhaul was initially supposed to begin in 2005, but got delayed. The upgrade, which all four Kirovs were to eventually go through, keeps each overhauled ship in service for another twenty years. The upgrade included new electronics, upgraded weapons and refurbishment of the nuclear reactor and most mechanical components. Russia currently only has one of these nuclear- powered battlecruisers, Pyotr Velikiy (Peter the Great), in service while another, Admiral Nakhimov, was long out of service with the upgrade and is finally reentering service in 2022.

The Kirovs first entered service in 1980 with the Admiral Ushakov, initially called the Kirov but renamed after the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. Admiral Lazarev entered service in 1984, Admiral Nakhimov in 1988 and Pyotr Velikiy in 1998. The last one to enter service is the only one still in working order and capable of going to sea.

The Kirovs, in addition to their nuclear power plants, carry twenty Shipwreck (P-700) anti-ship missiles and three different types of anti-aircraft missile systems with over 250 missiles. There are also anti-submarine torpedo launchers, eight 30mm cannon for anti-missile and close-in defense, two 130mm guns and three helicopters in a below-decks hanger. There is also 76mm (3 inches) of armor around the reactor and lighter armor in other parts of the ship. The Kirovs are very vulnerable to submarine attack and, despite their formidable air defenses, are not invulnerable to a determined missile attack.

The crew of 710 has plenty of space, as the ship is 252 meters (827 feet long) and 28.5 meters (94 feet) wide. The Kirovs are fitted with additional (quite comfortable) staterooms for senior officers, so that the ship can operate as the flagship of a task force. While the upgrade can be seen mainly as a way to keep shipbuilding technicians employed, and maintain a formidable looking Russian warship in commission, a Kirov on the high seas is a warship to be reckoned with. The high speed (Mach 2) Shipwreck anti-ship missiles weigh seven tons, have a range of 500 kilometers and carry a 750 kg (1,700 pound) warhead. This missile was built to cripple an American aircraft carrier, but it would outright destroy any lesser vessels. The Shipwreck entered service in 1983, evolved into the Yakhont and currently is the Russo-Indian BrahMos. The refurbished Kirovs will receive the Yakhont and more modern anti-aircraft and anti-submarine weapons.

Currently the Russian navy has about 290 ships but most of the procurement budget goes to the 76 submarines, which get money for maintenance, upgrades and replacements.

Meanwhile Russias only aircraft carrier has more visible problems. When Admiral Kuznetzov passed through the English Channel on its way to the Mediterranean in early 2014 it displayed some alarming characteristics. The carrier had five escort vessels and non-Russian military pilots flying close by could not help but notice that there was a lot of rust on the deck of the carrier. This was not a good sign. The Kuznetzov had left its base in northern Russia a month earlier heading for the Syrian port of Tartus, where Russia has been building basing facilities for over a year. Western naval officers who have seen the Kuznetzov up close when it was in the Mediterranean during 2012 noted that the ship is long overdue for a major overhaul. The second ship of the Kuznetzov class was purchased by the Chinese a decade ago and completely refurbished. It is now in service as the Liaoning and looks, and performs, a lot better.

The Kuznetzov has had some updates since the 1990s but a lot of this work was suspect. Back in 2012 a military procurement official was prosecuted for substituting cheaper, substandard parts for new ones meant for the Kuznetzov. The corrupt official used forged documents to get away with this but members of the crew noticed the substandard parts and reported it. The Kuznetsov was sent back to the shipyard several times during the last decade to fix problems and update equipment. Much was wrong with the ship, due to poor design, sloppy workmanship, or corruption. Its gotten so bad that lackadaisical sailors are threatened with being sent to serve on the Kuznetsov as a way of motivating them.

The Kuznetsov continues to have problems with missing or malfunctioning equipment. This not only degrades the combat capabilities of the ship but also its habitability. At times there was no heat in the living quarters and many of the toilets didn't work. There was no money for a major overhaul, which would cost over half a billion dollars, at least for the Kuznetsov. So essential repairs are made and the ship continues to rust away, often quite visibly.

Kuznetsov class carriers began building in the 1980s and the lead ship was finally launched in 1985 and entered service in 1995. Originally the Kuznetsovs were to be 90,000-ton, nuclear powered ships, similar to American carriers, complete with steam catapults. Instead, because of the high cost and the complexity of modern (American style) carriers, the Russians were forced to scale back their plans and ended up with 65,000 ton (full load) ships that lacked steam catapults and used a ski jump type (STOBAR) flight deck instead. Nuclear power was dropped but the Kuznetsov class was still a formidable design. The 323 meter (thousand foot) long ship normally carries a dozen navalized Su-27s (called Su-33s), 14 Ka-27PL anti-submarine helicopters, two electronic warfare helicopters, and two search and rescue helicopters. But the ship was meant to regularly carry 36 Su-33s and sixteen helicopters, and a lack of money and facilities on the ship limits the number of aircraft that can be brought along. Other weapons include a dozen SS-N-19 anti-ship missiles and 18 vertical launch tubes for 192 anti-aircraft missiles. There are also 16 auto-cannon for anti-missile work plus some depth charges.

Officially called an "aircraft carrying cruiser", the ship carries 2,500 tons of aviation fuel, allowing it to generate 500-1,000 aircraft and helicopter sorties. Crew size is 2,500 (or 3,000 with a full aircraft load). Only two ships of this class exist, the original Kuznetsov, which is in Russian service, and the Varyag, which China bought unfinished from Ukraine and has rebuilt as the Shi Lang.

Currently Russia has no firm plans for a major refurbishment of the Kuznetsov. If that remains the case Kuznetsov will have to be retired by 2025. While senior politicians and some senior admirals want to scrounge up the billions needed for refurbishing the Kuznetsov, the admirals in charge of coast security and the submarines, especially the subs carrying ballistic missiles, make a more compelling argument that they need the money more because their ships are more in need of replacement and more essential to the defense of Russia.

Kuznetsov is currently undergoing a more extensive refurbishment that began in 2017 and it was supposed to be complete before the end of 2022. That deadline was missed because of a series of accidents. Kuznetsov finally left drydock in 2023 and is supposed to be back in service by 2024. This refurbishment is supposed to extend the useful life of the Kuznetsov into the 2040s.
PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III (NYSE:PZC  Get Rating) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 21,800 shares, an increase of 12.4% from the April 15th total of 19,400 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 43,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.5 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III by 7.0% during the 3rd quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 21,131 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $154,000 after acquiring an additional 1,375 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC grew its position in PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III by 12.4% during the 4th quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 18,138 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $151,000 after purchasing an additional 2,008 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE grew its position in PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III by 11.7% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 43,617 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $364,000 after purchasing an additional 4,552 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors purchased a new stake in PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $41,000. Finally, Intellectus Partners LLC grew its position in PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III by 25.4% during the 1st quarter. Intellectus Partners LLC now owns 33,323 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $259,000 after purchasing an additional 6,757 shares during the last quarter.

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PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE PZC traded up $0.02 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $7.71. 43,711 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 55,525. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $7.66 and a 200-day moving average price of $7.97. PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III has a 12 month low of $7.21 and a 12 month high of $9.01.

PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III Increases Dividend

PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III Company Profile

The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, May 11th will be paid a dividend of $0.03 per share. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.67%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 10th. This is a positive change from PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund IIIs previous monthly dividend of $0.03.

(Get Rating)

PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III is a closed-end investment fund. Its investment objective is to provide current income exempt from federal and California income tax. The company was founded on August 20, 2002 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

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Arbor Realty Trust (NYSE:ABR  Get Rating) had its price target trimmed by Raymond James from $18.50 to $16.00 in a research note published on Friday morning, Stock Target Advisor reports. The brokerage currently has an outperform rating on the real estate investment trusts stock.

A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on ABR. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Arbor Realty Trust in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their target price on shares of Arbor Realty Trust from $15.50 to $12.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. JMP Securities reiterated a market outperform rating and set a $17.50 target price on shares of Arbor Realty Trust in a research report on Wednesday, March 15th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Arbor Realty Trust from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and dropped their target price for the company from $15.00 to $11.00 in a research report on Monday, April 24th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $14.60.

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Arbor Realty Trust Trading Up 2.0 %

NYSE:ABR opened at $12.42 on Friday. The firms fifty day moving average is $11.56 and its 200-day moving average is $13.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.85, a quick ratio of 46.60 and a current ratio of 46.60. Arbor Realty Trust has a 52 week low of $10.10 and a 52 week high of $17.43. The firm has a market cap of $2.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.22 and a beta of 1.94.

Arbor Realty Trust Increases Dividend

Insider Activity

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 19th will be issued a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 18th. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 13.53%. This is an increase from Arbor Realty Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. Arbor Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio is currently 97.67%.

In other news, Director William C. Green bought 4,200 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 13th. The stock was bought at an average price of $12.94 per share, for a total transaction of $54,348.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 138,905 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,797,430.70. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Ivan Kaufman purchased 10,000 shares of Arbor Realty Trust stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 13th. The stock was bought at an average price of $12.43 per share, for a total transaction of $124,300.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,168,277 shares in the company, valued at $14,521,683.11. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director William C. Green purchased 4,200 shares of Arbor Realty Trust stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 13th. The shares were bought at an average price of $12.94 per share, with a total value of $54,348.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 138,905 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,797,430.70. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders bought a total of 29,200 shares of company stock worth $358,348 over the last quarter. Insiders own 3.80% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Arbor Realty Trust

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Financial Freedom LLC bought a new stake in shares of Arbor Realty Trust during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. State of Wyoming bought a new stake in shares of Arbor Realty Trust during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Sandy Spring Bank raised its stake in shares of Arbor Realty Trust by 400.0% during the 1st quarter. Sandy Spring Bank now owns 2,500 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 2,000 shares during the period. Money Concepts Capital Corp bought a new stake in shares of Arbor Realty Trust during the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Point72 Hong Kong Ltd raised its stake in shares of Arbor Realty Trust by 31.5% during the 3rd quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd now owns 4,043 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 969 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 40.52% of the companys stock.

About Arbor Realty Trust

(Get Rating)

Arbor Realty Trust, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust, which engages in the provision of loan origination and servicing for multifamily, seniors housing, healthcare, and diverse commercial real estate assets. It operates through the Structured Business and Agency Business segments. The Structured Business segment offers structured loan origination and investment services.

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Saturna Capital CORP decreased its holdings in shares of Lowes Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW  Get Rating) by 0.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 432,714 shares of the home improvement retailers stock after selling 1,844 shares during the quarter. Lowes Companies makes up 1.9% of Saturna Capital CORPs holdings, making the stock its 17th biggest position. Saturna Capital CORPs holdings in Lowes Companies were worth $86,214,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Pershing Square Capital Management L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of Lowes Companies by 1.6% during the third quarter. Pershing Square Capital Management L.P. now owns 10,374,801 shares of the home improvement retailers stock worth $1,948,491,000 after buying an additional 167,495 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its holdings in shares of Lowes Companies by 13.0% during the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 7,916,354 shares of the home improvement retailers stock worth $1,486,770,000 after buying an additional 912,518 shares in the last quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. raised its stake in Lowes Companies by 4.9% in the third quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 3,463,854 shares of the home improvement retailers stock valued at $650,546,000 after purchasing an additional 160,651 shares in the last quarter. London Co. of Virginia raised its stake in Lowes Companies by 2.9% in the third quarter. London Co. of Virginia now owns 2,071,408 shares of the home improvement retailers stock valued at $389,031,000 after purchasing an additional 58,983 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its stake in Lowes Companies by 7,952.8% in the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,586,400 shares of the home improvement retailers stock valued at $320,754,000 after purchasing an additional 1,566,700 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.62% of the companys stock.

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Lowes Companies Stock Down 1.2 %

LOW traded down $2.53 during trading on Monday, hitting $200.73. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,000,422 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,900,563. Lowes Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $170.12 and a twelve month high of $223.31. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $200.93 and its 200-day moving average price is $203.47. The firm has a market capitalization of $119.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.31, a PEG ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.09.

Lowes Companies Announces Dividend

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 (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.21 by $0.07. Lowes Companies had a negative return on equity of 82.30% and a net margin of 6.63%. The firm had revenue of $22.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.71 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.78 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Lowes Companies, Inc. will post 13.73 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 10th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 26th were given a dividend of $1.05 per share. This represents a $4.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.09%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, April 25th. Lowes Companiess payout ratio is 41.96%.

Insider Transactions at Lowes Companies

In other news, EVP Donald Frieson sold 9,411 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $197.00, for a total transaction of $1,853,967.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 17,888 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,523,936. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.26% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently commented on LOW shares. StockNews.com raised Lowes Companies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. Oppenheimer decreased their target price on Lowes Companies from $300.00 to $275.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 28th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $235.00 target price on shares of Lowes Companies in a research report on Monday, February 13th. TD Cowen decreased their target price on Lowes Companies from $220.00 to $210.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. Finally, Citigroup decreased their target price on Lowes Companies from $215.00 to $210.00 in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Lowes Companies presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $223.46.

Lowes Companies Profile

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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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Semmax Financial Advisors Inc. reduced its holdings in Lowes Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW  Get Rating) by 8.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,095 shares of the home improvement retailers stock after selling 103 shares during the period. Semmax Financial Advisors Inc.s holdings in Lowes Companies were worth $230,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Pershing Square Capital Management L.P. raised its holdings in Lowes Companies by 1.6% in the third quarter. Pershing Square Capital Management L.P. now owns 10,374,801 shares of the home improvement retailers stock worth $1,948,491,000 after purchasing an additional 167,495 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its holdings in Lowes Companies by 13.0% in the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 7,916,354 shares of the home improvement retailers stock worth $1,486,770,000 after purchasing an additional 912,518 shares during the period. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. raised its holdings in Lowes Companies by 4.9% in the third quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 3,463,854 shares of the home improvement retailers stock worth $650,546,000 after purchasing an additional 160,651 shares during the period. London Co. of Virginia raised its holdings in Lowes Companies by 2.9% in the third quarter. London Co. of Virginia now owns 2,071,408 shares of the home improvement retailers stock worth $389,031,000 after purchasing an additional 58,983 shares during the period. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its holdings in Lowes Companies by 7,952.8% in the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,586,400 shares of the home improvement retailers stock worth $320,754,000 after purchasing an additional 1,566,700 shares during the period. 72.62% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on LOW shares. TD Cowen dropped their price objective on shares of Lowes Companies from $220.00 to $210.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of Lowes Companies from $230.00 to $210.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and set a $235.00 price objective on shares of Lowes Companies in a report on Monday, February 13th. Telsey Advisory Group dropped their price objective on shares of Lowes Companies from $250.00 to $235.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Finally, Truist Financial dropped their price objective on shares of Lowes Companies from $258.00 to $235.00 in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $223.46.

Lowes Companies Stock Performance

Shares of LOW stock traded down $3.26 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $200.00. 534,684 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,894,887. The firm has a market capitalization of $119.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.31, a PEG ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.09. The firms 50 day moving average price is $200.93 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $203.47. Lowes Companies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $170.12 and a 52 week high of $223.31.

Lowes Companies (NYSE:LOW  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 1st. The home improvement retailer reported $2.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.21 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $22.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.71 billion. Lowes Companies had a net margin of 6.63% and a negative return on equity of 82.30%. The firms revenue was up 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.78 EPS. Analysts expect that Lowes Companies, Inc. will post 13.73 EPS for the current year.

Lowes Companies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 10th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 26th were given a dividend of $1.05 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, April 25th. This represents a $4.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.10%. Lowes Companiess payout ratio is presently 41.96%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Lowes Companies news, EVP Donald Frieson sold 9,411 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on 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 transaction, the executive vice president now owns 17,888 shares in the company, valued at $3,523,936. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.26% of the companys stock.

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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Shares of Trane Technologies plc (NYSE:TT  Get Rating) have been assigned an average recommendation of Hold from the twenty-two ratings firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $182.58.

A number of brokerages have weighed in on TT. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Trane Technologies from $200.00 to $201.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. 888 reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Trane Technologies in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Trane Technologies from $164.00 to $177.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, February 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price objective on Trane Technologies from $184.00 to $183.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group cut their target price on Trane Technologies from $203.00 to $178.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 14th.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, SVP Evan M. Turtz sold 2,095 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $190.83, for a total transaction of $399,788.85. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 19,601 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,740,458.83. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, SVP Evan M. Turtz sold 2,095 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $190.83, for a total transaction of $399,788.85. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 19,601 shares in the company, valued at $3,740,458.83. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Paul A. Camuti sold 7,950 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $190.78, for a total value of $1,516,701.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 89,021 shares of the companys stock, valued at $16,983,426.38. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.74% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Trane Technologies

Trane Technologies Trading Up 0.5 %

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Acadian Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Trane Technologies in the 1st quarter valued at about $178,000. Blair William & Co. IL increased its stake in Trane Technologies by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 16,727 shares of the companys stock worth $2,554,000 after acquiring an additional 495 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Trane Technologies in the 1st quarter valued at $219,000. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Trane Technologies by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 18,133,851 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,769,040,000 after acquiring an additional 77,924 shares during the period. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp grew its holdings in shares of Trane Technologies by 3.8% during the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 956,177 shares of the companys stock worth $146,008,000 after purchasing an additional 34,591 shares in the last quarter. 81.47% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Shares of NYSE TT opened at $177.73 on Monday. Trane Technologies has a twelve month low of $120.64 and a twelve month high of $196.22. The stock has a market cap of $40.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.02, a P/E/G ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The companys fifty day moving average is $180.15 and its 200-day moving average is $177.39.

Trane Technologies (NYSE:TT  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The company reported $1.41 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.33 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $3.67 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.64 billion. Trane Technologies had a return on equity of 30.11% and a net margin of 11.06%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.12 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Trane Technologies will post 8.44 EPS for the current year.

Trane Technologies Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, June 2nd will be paid a $0.75 dividend. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.69%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 1st. Trane Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 38.86%.

Trane Technologies Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Trane Technologies Plc engages in providing solutions to buildings, homes, and transportation. It operates through the following business segments: Americas, EMEA, and Asia Pacific. The Americas segment encompasses commercial heating and cooling systems, building controls, and energy services and solutions, residential heating and cooling, and transport refrigeration systems, and solutions in North America and Latin America regions.

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Trust Co. of Vermont increased its holdings in shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM  Get Rating) by 2.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 25,326 shares of the business services providers stock after purchasing an additional 579 shares during the period. Trust Co. of Vermonts holdings in Waste Management were worth $3,973,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Waste Management by 534.5% in the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 3,344 shares of the business services providers stock worth $530,000 after acquiring an additional 2,817 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL increased its position in Waste Management by 0.7% in 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. increased its position in Waste Management by 0.6% in the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 358,624 shares of the business services providers stock worth $56,842,000 after buying an additional 2,309 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its position in Waste Management by 83.8% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 680 shares of the business services providers stock worth $108,000 after buying an additional 310 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Waste Management by 44.8% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 33,030 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $5,234,000 after purchasing an additional 10,212 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.48% of the companys stock.

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Waste Management Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of WM opened at $169.24 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $68.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.00, a PEG ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.72. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $161.03 and its 200-day moving average price is $158.57. The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.21. Waste Management, Inc. has a 52 week low of $138.89 and a 52 week high of $175.98.

Waste Management Announces Dividend

Waste Management ( NYSE:WM Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The business services provider reported $1.31 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.29 by $0.02. Waste Management had a return on equity of 33.23% and a net margin of 11.33%. The firm had revenue of $4.89 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.86 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.29 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter 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 year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.70 per share. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.65%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 1st. Waste Managements dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 51.28%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently commented on WM. Citigroup boosted their target price on Waste Management from $180.00 to $186.00 in a research report on Sunday, April 30th. Truist Financial began coverage on Waste Management in a report on Monday, April 17th. They set a buy rating and a $190.00 target price for the company. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Waste Management from $179.00 to $181.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price objective on Waste Management from $157.00 to $151.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 6th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Waste Management in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating for the company. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $176.64.

Insider Transactions at Waste Management

In other Waste Management news, CAO Leslie K. Nagy sold 800 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.11, for a total transaction of $120,888.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,210 shares in the company, valued at approximately $787,283.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, 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 value of $2,357,076.12. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 95,461 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,799,318.83. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CAO Leslie K. Nagy sold 800 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.11, for a total transaction of $120,888.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 5,210 shares of the companys stock, valued at $787,283.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 30,443 shares of company stock worth $4,715,820. Corporate insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock.

Waste Management Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Waste Management, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of waste management environmental services. It operates through the following segments: East Tier, West Tier, and Other. The East Tier segment consists of Eastern U.S., the Great Lakes Region, and Canada. The West Tier segment includes the upper Midwest region and British Columbia, Canada.

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Wealth Management Solutions LLC reduced its stake in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS  Get Rating) by 24.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,908 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 610 shares during the period. Wealth Management Solutions LLCs holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $332,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. First Trust Advisors LP raised its holdings in United Parcel Service by 68.7% in the 3rd quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,919,598 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $310,092,000 after acquiring an additional 781,505 shares during the last quarter. Accredited Investors Inc. grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 461.5% during the 4th quarter. Accredited Investors Inc. now owns 784,776 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $136,426,000 after buying an additional 645,012 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 67,099,021 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $10,839,176,000 after buying an additional 601,166 shares during the period. FineMark National Bank & Trust boosted its position in United Parcel Service by 37.2% during the 4th quarter. FineMark National Bank & Trust now owns 1,722,827 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $299,496,000 after purchasing an additional 467,161 shares during the period. Finally, Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its position in United Parcel Service by 62.3% during the 3rd quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 1,038,575 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $167,771,000 after purchasing an additional 398,618 shares during the period. 58.92% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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United Parcel Service Stock Performance

UPS traded down $1.58 during trading on Monday, hitting $166.92. The stock had a trading volume of 426,318 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,169,979. The firm has a market cap of $143.37 billion, a PE ratio of 13.67, a P/E/G ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 1.09. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12 month low of $154.87 and a 12 month high of $209.39. The company has a current ratio of 1.34, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $184.99 and a 200-day simple moving average of $181.32.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

United Parcel Service ( NYSE:UPS Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The transportation company reported $2.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.19 by $0.01. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 10.90% and a return on equity of 57.68%. The company had revenue of $22.93 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.98 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.05 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 6.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 10.82 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 15th will be given a dividend of $1.62 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 12th. This represents a $6.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.88%. United Parcel Services dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 52.43%.

United Parcel Service declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program on Tuesday, January 31st that authorizes the company to buyback $5.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the transportation company to repurchase up to 3% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically a sign that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on UPS. Oppenheimer decreased their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $199.00 to $188.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Credit Suisse Group set a $203.00 price objective on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Thursday, March 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $221.00 to $205.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Melius assumed coverage on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Monday, March 27th. They issued an overweight rating and a $225.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Cowen boosted their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $187.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $193.58.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Laura J. Lane sold 14,617 shares of United Parcel Service stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $178.16, for a total transaction of $2,604,164.72. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other United Parcel Service news, insider Laura J. Lane sold 14,617 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $178.16, for a total value of $2,604,164.72. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Brian Newman sold 19,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.46, for a total transaction of $3,466,740.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 11,677 shares in the company, valued at $2,130,585.42. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 54,341 shares of company stock worth $9,848,061. Corporate insiders own 0.12% of the companys stock.

United Parcel Service Profile

(Get Rating)

United Parcel Service, Inc is a package delivery company, which engages in the provision of global supply chain management solutions. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Domestic Package, International Package, and Supply Chain Solutions. The U.S. Domestic Package segment includes time-definite delivery of letters, documents, and packages.

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Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC increased its position in shares of Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:BSV  Get Rating) by 11.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 25,779 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,624 shares during the quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLCs holdings in Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF were worth $1,952,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of BSV. OneAscent Financial Services LLC raised its holdings in Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. OneAscent Financial Services LLC now owns 6,575 shares of the companys stock valued at $492,000 after buying an additional 137 shares during the period. Shore Point Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Shore Point Advisors LLC now owns 4,543 shares of the companys stock valued at $342,000 after buying an additional 141 shares during the period. Meridian Investment Counsel Inc. raised its holdings in Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF by 2.1% in the 4th quarter. Meridian Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 6,767 shares of the companys stock valued at $509,000 after buying an additional 141 shares during the period. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its holdings in Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 9,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $678,000 after buying an additional 142 shares during the period. Finally, Signaturefd LLC raised its holdings in Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF by 11.1% in the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 1,522 shares of the companys stock valued at $114,000 after buying an additional 152 shares during the period.

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Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF Stock Performance

Shares of BSV opened at $76.55 on Monday. Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF has a 12-month low of $74.03 and a 12-month high of $77.78. The companys 50-day moving average price is $76.32 and its 200 day moving average price is $75.76.

About Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF

Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the performance of a market-weighted bond index with a short-term, dollar-weighted average maturity. The Fund employs a passive management or indexing strategy designed to track the performance of the Barclays Capital U.S. 1-5 Year Government/Credit Bond Index (the Index).

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LA Financiere DE L Echiquier decreased its stake in shares of Visa Inc. (NYSE:V  Get Rating) by 0.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 756,950 shares of the credit-card processors stock after selling 6,157 shares during the quarter. Visa comprises approximately 9.9% of LA Financiere DE L Echiquiers investment portfolio, making the stock its largest holding. LA Financiere DE L Echiquiers holdings in Visa were worth $157,264,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of V. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC grew its position in Visa by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 799,904 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $166,188,000 after purchasing an additional 9,534 shares during the period. Occidental Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Visa by 4.3% during the 4th quarter. Occidental Asset Management LLC now owns 11,195 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $2,326,000 after acquiring an additional 465 shares during the last quarter. Private Trust Co. NA boosted its holdings in Visa by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 8,208 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $1,705,000 after acquiring an additional 140 shares during the last quarter. Foster Group Inc. purchased a new position in Visa during the 4th quarter worth $210,000. Finally, Forsta AP Fonden boosted its holdings in Visa by 25.8% during the 4th quarter. Forsta AP Fonden now owns 476,286 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $98,953,000 after acquiring an additional 97,600 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.87% of the companys stock.

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Visa Price Performance

V stock traded down $0.40 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $230.98. 258,835 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,034,614. Visa Inc. has a 52-week low of $174.60 and a 52-week high of $235.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 1.50 and a quick ratio of 1.50. The company has a market capitalization of $432.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.91, a P/E/G ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $226.37 and a 200-day moving average price of $219.22.

Visa Announces Dividend

Visa ( NYSE:V Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The credit-card processor reported $2.09 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.97 by $0.12. Visa had a return on equity of 50.21% and a net margin of 50.95%. The company had revenue of $7.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.79 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.79 earnings per share. Visas revenue was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Visa Inc. will post 8.57 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 12th will be paid a $0.45 dividend. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.78%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 11th. Visas dividend payout ratio is currently 24.06%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on V shares. 22nd Century Group reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Visa in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Raymond James lifted their price objective on shares of Visa from $281.00 to $282.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Truist Financial lifted their target price on Visa from $260.00 to $270.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. KeyCorp lifted their target price on Visa from $250.00 to $260.00 in a research note on Monday, April 24th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on Visa from $262.00 to $265.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and eighteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Visa has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $260.96.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Visa news, General Counsel Julie B. Rottenberg sold 13,394 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $219.00, for a total value of $2,933,286.00. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now owns 4,583 shares in the company, valued at $1,003,677. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Visa news, General Counsel Julie B. Rottenberg sold 13,394 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $219.00, for a total value of $2,933,286.00. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now owns 4,583 shares in the company, valued at $1,003,677. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Chairman Alfred F. Kelly, Jr. sold 58,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $223.99, for a total value of $12,991,420.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 162,354 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $36,365,672.46. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 187,671 shares of company stock valued at $42,943,080 over the last quarter. 0.21% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Visa Profile

(Get Rating)

Visa, Inc engages in the provision of digital payment services. It also facilitates global commerce through the transfer of value and information among a global network of consumers, merchants, financial institutions, businesses, strategic partners, and government entities. It offers debit cards, credit cards, prepaid products, commercial payment solutions, and global automated teller machines (ATMs).

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South Africa: Nzimande condemns violent disruptions at Cape varsities

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has strongly condemned incidents of violent disruptions, arson, vandalism and intimidation at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and the University of the Western Cape.

Government cannot and will not tolerate the threat to lives and destruction of property, and requests university management to tighten up security at all campuses in order to ensure the safety of all students and workers, Nzimande said.

Nzimande said arson, vandalism and intimidation will never justify and cannot be associated with any legitimate forms of protest. He said it must be condemned unequivocally by all, including by student leaders themselves.

According to reports, a number of grievances led to the clashes that played out last week on campuses between students, campus security and the police. Chief among these are changes made to some of the terms of student funding from the State.

The Minister appealed to both the universities to work with the law enforcement agencies to ensure that perpetrators of these criminal acts are exposed, and that the necessary disciplinary actions are taken against all students who are involved.

In order to resolve genuine student concerns, Nzimande said, the Department of Higher Education and Training, together with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), has been consulting stakeholders at the universities - including the Student Representative Council (SRC) - to resolve the impasse.

The Minister also appealed for calm and for all the stakeholders to continue to participate in the consultation processes.

He said he will be awaiting a full report from the consultation processes, and a way forward.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-05-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Japanese civic groups protest against upcoming G7 summit in Hiroshima

Xinhua) 13:42, May 15, 2023

Toshiyuki Tanaka, an emeritus professor at Hiroshima City University, speaks at a rally to protest against the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit in Hiroshima, Japan, May 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Yang Guang)

HIROSHIMA, Japan, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of Japanese citizens took to the streets in the Japanese city of Hiroshima over the weekend to protest against the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit.

Protests will also be held along the streets on Sunday, starting at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, a cenotaph where an atomic bomb was dropped by the United States at the end of World War II.

About 200 citizens carrying banners reading "No G7" and "No War" gathered in Hiroshima to protest against the G7 summit on Saturday as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited the city to inspect summit-related venues.

Shigeo Kimoto, director of Japanese civic group Peace Depot, pointed out in his speech that both joint military exercises among G7 members in the Pacific region and Japan's statement that "Taiwan contingency is a contingency for Japan" are "absurd and dangerous."

Japan, once a ruthless invader in Asian countries and regions such as China and the Korean Peninsula, has deliberately concealed its ugly history as a perpetrator by repeatedly stressing that it is "the only country that suffered atomic bombings," historian Toshiyuki Tanaka said at Saturday's rally.

"Now Japan is politically using Hiroshima, the site of the atomic bombing, to hold the G7 summit. It is time for people in Hiroshima to wake up," said Tanaka, also an emeritus professor at Hiroshima City University.

The protests were launched by the executive committee of Citizen's Group Questioning the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, whose declaration was also released on Saturday.

According to the group's declaration, the G7 summit in Hiroshima seeks to advance military alliance under the name of freedom and democracy, and that the essence of the summit was a meeting where the rich bloc forces other countries to follow its rules.

The G7 consists of the United States, Britain, Italy, France, Germany, Canada and Japan. This year's G7 leaders' summit will be chaired by Japan in Hiroshima on May 19-21.

People holding banners protest against the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit at the site of the atomic bombing near the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan, May 14, 2023. Hundreds of Japanese citizens took to the streets in the Japanese city of Hiroshima over the weekend to protest against the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit. (Xinhua/Yang Guang)

People holding banner protest against the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit in Hiroshima, Japan, May 14, 2023. Hundreds of Japanese citizens took to the streets in the Japanese city of Hiroshima over the weekend to protest against the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit. (Xinhua/Yang Guang)

People hold a banner against the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit at the site of the atomic bombing near the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan, May 14, 2023. Hundreds of Japanese citizens took to the streets in the Japanese city of Hiroshima over the weekend to protest against the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit.(Xinhua/Yang Guang)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Ukraine is delaying the start of its much anticipated offensive against Russian troops occupying portions of Ukraine. The delay is caused by the growing number of Western tanks arriving in Ukraine or adjacent NATO countries where training on new equipment usually takes place. For over a year Ukrainians have asked NATO countries for Western tanks like the M1, Leopard and Challenger. The superiority of these tanks over anything Russia has is well known. For Ukraine, the more of these tanks they have, the fewer Ukrainian troops will be killed or wounded. The Ukrainian troops know as well as the largely demoralized Russian soldiers. The Ukrainians are delaying the offensive so they can incorporate as many of the Western tanks as they can.

As of early May, Ukraine had received and put into service 14 Leopard 2A6s from Germany and 14 Challenger 2 tanks from Britain. The Leopard 2A6 is a 61 ton tank with a more powerful version of the NATO standard 120mm tank gun and exceptional fire control and protection. The Challenger 2 is a 64-ton tank that has similar combat performance to the 2A6 even though the Leopard is more up-to-date. For all practical purposes these two tanks outclass anything the Russians have.

Meanwhile Canada is sending eight Leopard 2A4s while Denmark is sending a hundred Leopard 1A5s. The Leopard 1 entered service in 1961 and began getting replaced by Leopard 2s in 1979. The original Leopard 2 was first upgraded in 1984 to the Leopard A1. The A2 upgrades followed in 1984 while A3 followed less than a year later. The A4 arrived in 1992 followed by A5 in 1995, A6 in 2008, A7 in 2010. Some 3,600 Leopard 2s have been built since 1979, most of them before the Cold War ended in 1991. In the 1990s major users of Leopard 2s retired many of these tanks. Germany had 2,100 Leopard 2s and retired most of them by selling them off, at very attractive prices, to friendly countries. Despite this flood of low cost Leopard 2s, many nations kept their Leopard 1s. The 42-ton Leopard 1 and its 105mm gun could deal with any Russian tank, but not as efficiently as a 61-ton Leopard 2 and its 120mm gun. Ukrainians have been building tanks for nearly a century and know these combat vehicles quite well. A hundred Leopard 1A5s will overwhelm the Russians faster than a few dozen Leopard 2s and Challengers 2s. There are more Leopard 1A5s available from European nations that realized their values and put them in storage rather than scrapping them. Most NATO users want to hold on to most of their Leopard 2s, just in case. That means more Leopard 1s are available and Ukraine is eager to have them. About a hundred American M1 tanks wont begin arriving in Ukraine until late 2023. Meanwhile 31 are being made available to train Ukrainian crews and mechanics. The U.S. built over 10,000 M1s since it entered service in 1982. The M1 and Leopard 2 are roughly equal in capability although the M1 has more combat experience. Both cost about the same at $6 million, which is twice what a new Leopard 1 cost. Meanwhile, Ukraine believes a hundred Leopard 1A5s arriving first can get most of the work done.
Congress leader Siddaramaiah leaves his residence for Delhi to meet senior party leaders, a day after the party's newly elected legislators authorised AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge to decide on Karnataka CM pick, in Bengaluru. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: The long wait for Karnatakas new chief minister continued on Monday with both the aspirants -- state unit chief D.K. Shivakumar and former CM Siddaramaiah -- flexing their muscles. Sources say that Mr Siddaramaiah is the choice of the majority of MLAs after a secret vote took place amongst the MLAs by the central observers on Sunday night. A formal announcement is expected soon after a consultation with the Gandhis.

Mr Siddaramaiah was the first to reach the national capital on Monday. Before coming to Delhi he made it clear that he was confident of becoming the chief minister once again as he had the support of a majority of the MLAs . However, Mr Shivakumar cancelled his plans to travel to Delhi citing a stomach bug and stayed back in Bengaluru. He is expected to come to Delhi on Tuesday.

Mr Shivakumar also made it clear that he deserves the top post as he was the state unit chief under which the Congress secured a clear majority in the state. He further added that nobody can take away his strengths. He said: "I believe in one thing -- a single man with courage makes a majority. Ive proved it. I dont want to disclose what all has happened in the last five years. Ill disclose it in future. I am a single man, I believe in one thing that a single man with courage makes a majority. I have proved it."

Both the aspirants are expected to have detailed meetings on Tuesday with the Gandhis as well as with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. AICC general secretary in charge of the state Randeep Singh Surjewala will also play a key role in an amicable formula.

The AICC observers deputed for Karnataka -- Sushilkumar Shinde, Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria -- met Mr Kharge in Delhi after speaking individually to all the newly elected MLAs after dinner at a private hotel in Bengaluru on Sunday night and completed the process late at night. The MLAs were also asked to vote for their candidate. The observers also have sent their report. Randeep Surjewala and AICC general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal were also present.

At the legislature party meeting in Bengaluru, the newly elected MLAs had passed a one-line resolution authorising Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to choose the CM candidate. The supporters of both D.K. Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah shouted slogans outside the Bengaluru hotel where the meeting took place.

The party is also working on several permutations and combinations over power-sharing in the state. The power-sharing formula of rotational CMs has been comprehensively rejected by key players as they have the Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh examples in front of them. Sources say that former chief minister Siddaramaiah is the front-runner and there may be only one deputy chief minister  that is D.K. Shivakumar, who will also continue as state unit president, though the Shivakumar camp is aggressively pushing for him to become the next CM. Clarity on the issue is expected soon as the swearing-in is expected to take place on Thursday.
Manipur CM N Biren Singh speaks with the media about his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah over recent violence in Manipur, in Imphal, Monday, May 15, 2023. (Photo: PTI)

IMPHAL: Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday said territorial integrity of Manipur will be protected at all costs, reacting to a demand made by 10 MLAs for a separate administration for the Kuki-dominated districts of the northeastern state.

The chief minister, who had made an air-dash to Delhi on Sunday to confer with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, said measures are being taken to ensure that militants, who had signed a peace pact dubbed suspension of operations', return to their designated camps.

Singh also appealed to people not to hold dharnas or rallies in view of the sensitive phase the state has been witnessing since race riots between the majority Meiteis and the Kukis earlier this month.

He also said no force would be used to break the blockades imposed by some groups on highways in the state in the wake of the rioting, and instead efforts would be made to reason with these demonstrators.

The chief minister, who was speaking to reporters at a press conference here, said, I assure the people that the territorial integrity of Manipur will be protected at all costs.

Measures are being undertaken with the supervision of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to make the SoO (Suspension of Operations) groups return to their camps and strengthen efforts to bring normalcy back to the state, he added.

Singh said that he and his ministers, who had travelled to Delhi with him, had briefed Shah about the prevailing situation in the state and conveyed to him the sentiments of the people of Manipur on the situation as also intelligence on the involvement of armed militants in the recent violence.
BJP state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar places a turban on the head of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during the Hindu Ekta Yatra in Karimnagar on Sunday. (Yelabaka Radhakrishna/DC)

HYDERABAD: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that Telangana state will get rid of "Razakar Rajya" and replaced with "Rama Rajya" following the BJPs victory in the states upcoming Assembly elections led by party state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar.

After arriving at Begumpet airport, Biswa flew to Karimnagar by helicopter to take part as chief guest in the Hindu Ekta Yatra that was held in Karimnagar on Sunday evening. "I will pray to Goddess Kamakhya Devi in Assam to bless the people of Telangana state and bring the BJP government in the next Assembly elections," he said.

Further, with the simmering controversy over the film The Kerala Story, he said that there is plenty of evidence to indicate that love jihad was real and that several people in his state were victims of love jihad. "There are numerous women who fall into the trap of love jihad," he added. The Assam government, he said, has closed 6,000 Madrasas and is planning to close another 1,000 by next year, he asserted.

He accused the BRS regime of joining forces with AIMIM president Asaddudin Owaisi to pursue politics of vote bank in Telangana, while asserting that the BJP is committed to protecting and preserving 'Sanatana dharma' and will work tirelessly to bring about in 'Rama Rajyam' in Telangana to end the family's autocratic rule. "MIM leaders tried to chase me, but I am ready to come to their house," he challenged. He also slammed the BRS leaders for tarnishing Telangana's pride by being complicit in the Delhi liquor case.

He stated that the Assam government had provided 50,000 government jobs to youths in the last two years, and that another 50,000 jobs will be provided next week during the visit of Union home minister Amit Shah to Assam. According to him, the BRS government, which vowed to provide 10 lakh jobs, has only provided 50,000 jobs in the last 10 years of its rule.

He claimed that the BRS government was exploiting Telangana people by charging more on fuel prices. "Assam is a smaller state than Telangana state, with a litre of diesel costing Rs 97 as opposed to Rs 108 in Telangana state. Government employees in Assam receive their paychecks on the first of the month, but in Telangana state, it is not until the 10th of the month," he remarked.

BJP state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar cautioned people to be wary of so-called secularists, while a number of leaders and the media campaigned that Hindutva was defeated in Karnataka elections. The BJP controls 15 states, he stated while warning that anti-Hindu groups will be kept under check. "We are against four per cent reservations to Muslims as Dr B.R. Ambedkar did not favour reservations on the basis of religion. We will end the demon rule of the BRS and bring Rama Rajyam soon," Sanjay Kumar said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. (Photo: PTI)

KOLKATA: Close on the heels of the Congress victory in the Karnataka Assembly polls, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee offered her support to the grand old party in its domain of strength against the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls next year.

The Trinamul Congress chief, however, urged the Congress to give support to other regional parties in return. This is the first time she has talked about the Congress for Opposition unity after her talks with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav.

Ms Banerjee said on Monday: "Wherever the Congress is strong in their respective 200 seats or something, what we have calculated, let them fight. We will give our support to them. Nothing is wrong in it."

She added: "But the Congress has to see other parties too. It should not be the policy that while I am giving you support in Karnataka, you are fighting against me here every day. It is the same for everybody. If you want to get something good, you have to sacrifice yourself also in some areas."

On the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Ms Banerjee noted: "I am neither a magician nor an astrologer. I can't say what will happen in the future. But it is a fact that the BJP cannot fight wherever regional parties are strong and where people are very demoralised and frustrated and incumbency is there."

The TMC chief added: "If you see the verdict of Karnataka, it is against the BJP government. People are antagonised because of terrible atrocities. The economy has been ruined already. Democratic rights have been bulldozed. Even the wrestlers are also not spared."

She said: "In such a situation, whoever is strong in their own place and region, they should fight together. Suppose Bengal, we should fight here like the AAP in Delhi. Same will happen in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu. In Bihar, Nitish ji, Tejaswi will decide it with others. I cant talk about their formula. Strong parties must be given the priority."
Electronics major Foxconn Interconnect Technology on Monday laid the foundation for a new electronics manufacturing facility in Telangana as part of its $500 million investment in the state.

The foundation laying ceremony took place in the presence of Telangana Minister for Industries and Commerce K T Rama Rao, Foxconn Interconnect Technology Chairman and CEO Sidney Lu and other dignitaries, a press release from the state government said.

Also Read: Foxconn buys 300-acre site in Indian tech-hub Bengaluru

The proposed electronics manufacturing facility at Kongara Kalan near here is a milestone for the Taiwanese firm's global expansion strategy  diversifying its global manufacturing base, it said.

"Demonstrating the 'Telangana Speed', I am happy to announce the groundbreaking of first of Foxconn's plants in Telangana at Kongar Kalaan today. With an investment of over $500M it shall create 25,000 direct jobs in first Phase," Rama Rao tweeted.

Demonstrating the Telangana Speed, I am happy to announce the groundbreaking of first of Foxconns plants in Telangana at Kongar Kalaan today With an investment of over $500M it shall create 25,000 direct jobs in first Phase #Telangana #Foxconn pic.twitter.com/PHThJWxsfT  KTR (@KTRBRS) May 15, 2023

Speaking on the occasion, he said there is a need to work as per the confidence that was placed on Telangana by the Foxconn chairman. "I would like to thank Foxconn company for investing $500 million in Telangana," the minister said.

The proposed facility will serve as a hub for Foxconn Interconnect Technology's operations in Telangana allowing the firm to expand its production capacity, it said.
Indias trade deficit narrowed to 21 months low of $15.24 billion in April as import bills declined sharply due to cooling down of commodity prices and reduced demand for products considered discretionary spending like gems and jewellery.

The value of merchandise imports fell to $49.90 billion in April 2023 from $58.06 billion in April 2022, registering a decline of 14.1 per cent.

Indias merchandise exports fell to $34.66 billion in April from $39.70 billion recorded in the same month last year, recording a decline of 12.7 per cent, as per data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Also Read | India's exports to UAE may reach $50 billion by 2026-27

Director General of Foreign Trade Santosh Sarangi said the exports have declined mainly due to poor demands in the US and Europe.

For the next two-three months, I think the demand scenario does not look very optimistic, said Sarangi, adding Indias exports may get better by September.

The rise in services exports helped in offsetting weakness in merchandise exports. Services exports jumped to $30.36 billion in April 2023 from $24.05 billion recorded in the same month last year.

Indias overall exports (merchandise and services combined) in April 2023 is estimated to be $65.02 billion, showing a growth of 2 per cent over April 2022.

Overall imports in April 2023 is stood at $66.40 billion, which is 7.92 per cent lower year-on-year.

Also Read | Foxconn to invest $500 million in Telangana, sets up new manufacturing cluster

Non-petroleum and non-gems & jewellery exports in April 2023 were valued at $25.76 billion as against $28.37 billion in April 2022. Non-petroleum, non-gems & jewellery (gold, silver & precious metals) imports in April 2023 valued at $31.49 billion as against $36 billion recorded in April 2022.

Engineering exports declined by around 7 per cent to $8.99 billion in April 2023 from $9.68 billion recorded in the same month last year.

The second half of FY23 was quite challenging considering weak demand from key markets. We are still not out of the woods considering the ongoing war in Europe, slowdown in major advanced economies, high interest and geopolitical tensions, said Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) of India Chairman Arun Kumar Garodia.

These challenges are likely to continue its adverse impact on trade, Garodia added.

Textiles, plastic and linoleum exports continued to decline in April 2023 because of subdued demand due to recessionary effects in major economies, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry noted in a statement.

Imports of gold dipped by 41.48 per cent, while imports of pearls, precious and semi-precious stones declined by 18.73 per cent year-on-year in April. Petroleum and crude imports were down by 13.95 per cent during the month under review largely due to lower price of energy products in the international markets.
Amid intense lobbying for the chief minister's post in Karnataka, the three central observers deputed by the Congress on Monday returned to the national capital after speaking individually to the newly elected MLAs.

The observers will hand over the report on the views expressed by the majority of the MLAs to party president Mallikarjun Kharge later in the day.

Former chief minister Siddaramaiah and PCC president D K Shivakumar are both staking claim to the top post and are lobbying hard for it.

Track all the live updates related to Karnataka politics here

Kharge had appointed former Maharashtra chief minister Sushilkumar Shinde, party general secretary Jitendra Singh and former AICC general secretary Deepak Babaria as observers for the election of the CLP Leader of Karnataka.

The three leaders along with AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala left Bengaluru for Delhi and will meet Kharge.

The observers spoke individually to all the newly elected MLAs and sought their opinion on who should be the chief minister of the state.

They spoke to all the MLAs after dinner at a private hotel on Sunday night and completed the process.

A poster war by supporters of both leaders had also erupted soon after the party won the election.

Also Read: Not got a call to go to Delhi, govt will be formed at auspicious time: Shivakumar

Earlier, during the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party in Bengaluru on Sunday evening the MLAs passed a one-line resolution authorising the party president to appoint the CLP leader in the state who would be the next chief minister.

The Congress staged a stupendous victory in the May 10 assembly election by winning 135 seats out of a total of 224.
 United Maritime         2023      ...
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has decided to file cases against the countrys top graft buster for abducting him from the Islamabad High Court on corruption charges.

On May 9, Khan was arrested by the paramilitary Rangers in a corruption case from the Islamabad High Court and bundled into a prison van sparking massive protests across the country by supporters of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

The party has also announced registering murder cases against those responsible for opening fire on unarmed, peaceful people protesting in the wake of 70-year-old Imrans arrest.

Also Read: Pakistan's military establishment plans to keep me in jail for 10 years under sedition charges: Imran Khan

The arrest by the Pakistan Rangers triggered unrest in Pakistan that continued till Friday and led to several deaths and dozens of military and state installations being destroyed by the protesters.

For the first time in the country's history, the protesters stormed the army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and also torched the historic Corps Commander's House in Lahore.

Police put the death toll in violent clashes to 10 while Imran's party claims 40 of its workers lost their lives in the firing by security personnel.

The party will name the interior minister, caretaker chief ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, inspectors general police of the two provinces and other senior officials in its first information reports, the Express Tribune newspaper reported.

The party has also demanded an independent investigation into the incidents of vandalism and arson that took place on May 9 to be undertaken by a high-level commission comprising top court judges.

All this was decided on Sunday during a high-level meeting of the PTI leaders chaired by Imran Khan in Lahore.

In Pics | Pakistan Prime Ministers who have been arrested

The meeting was called to devise the partys future course of action in the wake of rising unrest and lawlessness in the country.

The meeting deliberated on the current political situation, open violations of the Constitution by the incumbent government, suspension of fundamental rights and illegal arrests of the PTI leaders, workers and common citizens.

It strongly condemned the abduction of former prime minister Imran Khan from the IHC. The meeting decided to register an FIR against the NAB and Rangers, the report added.

Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Khan said democracy in Pakistan is at an all-time low and the judiciary is the only hope for the country. The government is petrified of elections as it fears being wiped out by the PTI at the polls, Imran said during an interview with an international media outlet on Sunday.

The former premier claimed that the incumbent government is trying to remove him from the political scene by putting him behind bars or assassinating him before announcing polls.

Two attempts have been made on my life; my house has been raided for 24 hours and I have been detained, he said.
Syria ended over a decade of exile from the Arab League on Monday as officials participated in a preparatory session ahead of Friday's summit in Saudi Arabia.

"I... take this opportunity to welcome the Syrian Arab Republic to the League of Arab States," Saudi finance minister Mohammed al-Jadaan told the meeting, which was broadcast live by state TV channel Al Ekhbariya.

Jadaan added that he was "looking forward to working with everyone to achieve what we aspire to", as the camera panned to the Syrian delegation.

It is the first time Syrian officials have participated in an Arab League meeting since the body suspended Damascus in November 2011 over its violent crackdown on protests which spiralled into a conflict that has killed more than 500,000 people and displaced millions.

Earlier this month, the pan-Arab body officially welcomed back Syria's government, securing President Bashar al-Assad's return to the Arab fold.

Saudi King Salman has invited Assad to attend Friday's summit in the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah, which would be his first since the 2010 meeting in Libya.

Regional capitals have gradually been warming to Assad as he has held onto power and clawed back lost territory with crucial support from Iran and Russia.

The United Arab Emirates re-established ties with Syria in 2018 and has been leading the recent charge to reintegrate Damascus.

Diplomatic activity picked up after a deadly earthquake struck Syria and Turkey on February 6.

A decision in March by Saudi Arabia and Iran, a close ally of Damascus, to resume ties has also shifted the regional political landscape.

Riyadh, which cut ties with Assad's government in 2012 and had long openly championed the Syrian leader's ouster, confirmed last week that work would resume at the two countries' respective diplomatic missions.

But while Syria's frontlines have mostly quietened, large parts of the north remain outside government control, and no political solution to the conflict is in sight.

Top diplomats from nine Arab countries discussed the Syria crisis in Saudi Arabia last month, and five regional foreign ministers including Syria's met in Jordan on May 1.

But not every country in the region has been quick to mend ties with Assad.

Qatar said this month it would not normalise relations with Assad's government but also noted this would not be "an obstacle" to Arab League reintegration.
Ballots tallied Monday showed voters in Thailand wanted change after nine years under a former general who took power in a coup, with the main opposition parties easily besting other contenders in the general election.

The opposition Move Forward Party outperformed even optimistic projections and appeared poised to capture almost all 33 House seats in the capital Bangkok. Along with the Pheu Thai Party, the favored opposition group, Move Forward campaigned for reform of the military and the monarchy.

Move Forward put those issues closer to the heart of its platform, earning a more radical reputation. Its outspoken support for minor reforms of the monarchy, while winning younger voters, antagonized conservatives committed to the royal institution.

Incumbent Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who came to power in a 2014 coup, was blamed for a stuttering economy, pandemic response shortcomings and thwarting democratic reforms  a particular sore point with younger voters.

Also Read: Thailand's Pheu Thai party agrees to Move Forward alliance plan

This is people saying that we want change," said Saowanee T. Alexander, a professor at Ubon Ratchathani University in northeastern Thailand. "They are saying that they could no longer take it. The people are very frustrated. They want change, and they could achieve it,

With more than 99 per cent of ballots counted early Monday, Move Forward appeared to have a small edge over Pheu Thai, whose leaders conceded Sunday they might not finish on top following voter turnout of about 39 million, or 75 per cent of registered voters.

Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat tweeted that he is ready to bring about change should he be the country's 30th prime minister.

Whether you agree or disagree with me, I will be your prime minister. Whether you have voted for me or not, I will serve you, he wrote.

Sunday's winner is not assured the right to form the new government. A joint session of the 500-seat House of Representatives will be held with the 250-member Senate in July to select the prime minister, a process widely seen as undemocratic because the military appointed the Senators, who will vote along with elected lawmakers.

Move Forward captured just over 24 per cent of the popular vote for the 400 constituency seats in the House of Representatives and nearly 36 per cent for seats allocated in a separate nationwide ballot for 100 members elected by proportional representation.

Pheu Thai lagged slightly behind with just over 23 per cent for constituency seats and about 27 per cent for the party list.

The tally of constituency votes gave 113 House seats to Move Forward and 112 to Pheu Thai, according to unofficial results Monday from the Election Commission.

Prayuth's United Thai Nation Party held the fifth spot in the constituency vote with almost 9 per cent of the total, but placed third in the party-preference tally with close to 12 per cent and 23 House seats in the constituency vote.

The three parties were considered the most likely to head a new government. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 36-year-old daughter of billionaire former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was favored in opinion polls to be the country's next leader.

Move Forward's 42-year-old businessman leader Pita now seems a likely prospect.

Also Read: Thais reject army-backed government, Opposition to open coalition talks

Pheu Thai won the most seats in the 2019 election. But its archrival, the military-backed Palang Pracharath Party, cobbled together a coalition with Prayuth as prime minister and unanimous support from conservative Senate members appointed by the military government after Prayuth's coup.

Ubon University's Alexander cautioned that the current situation remains very unpredictable" and the results could be unilaterally affected by the Election Commission, which previously disqualified opposition parties or otherwise undermined challenges to the conservative establishment.

She noted the Bhumjaithai Party, which came in third, could be a swing vote since the combined Move Forward and Pheu Thai seats may not be enough for a majority coalition. Bhumjaithai controls a large bloc of votes in the northeast and helped put the military-backed coalition into power.

Move Forward's Pita is a possible target for what the opposition, from bitter experience, calls dirty tricks. A Palang Pracharath candidate last week filed a complaint with the Election Commission and the National Anti-Corruption Commission claiming Pita failed to list a stock shareholding on a statutory assets declaration. Pita denied any wrongdoing in the minor, technical claim.

However, the leader of the Future Forward Party, forerunner of Move Forward, lost his Parliament seat on similar technical grounds. His party, also considered a radical challenge to the military-backed royalist establishment, was dissolved.

Tyrell Haberkorn, a University of Wisconsin Thai studies scholar, said there is a chance street protests could be trigged again if Move Forward meets the same fate as its predecessor.

The time is up for the generals and their allies in the palace and the courts. The military can either listen to the voters and step down gracefully, or lead the country into chaos, Haberkorn said.
The Assam Rifles on Monday said 96 persons stranded near the Myanmar border in violence-hit Manipur were airlifted to a safe location.

The villagers were provided shelter in a camp of Assam Rifles at Phaisenjang village in Chandel district on May 4 when the ethnic clashes first erupted.

An MI-17 helicopter was used on Monday to airlift the people who had fled their homes, fearing attacks.

Also Read: Centre's priority is to restore normalcy in Manipur now: N Biren Singh

"Owing to the remoteness of the Assam Rifles camp and keeping the comfort of the locals in mind, air evacuation using AirForce MI 17 helicopters was considered inescapable. Security, medical, food, accommodation as also telecommunication needs for interaction with their kith and kin back home were met during their stay with Assam Rifles," said a statement issued by the Army on Monday.

Army and Assam Rifles were called in on May 4 when the violence first broke out in Churachandpur district and spilled over to several other parts of Manipur, including the worst hit Imphal valley. More than 128 columns of the Army and Assam Rifles, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and helicopters have been pressed into service to bring normalcy. "All have been relentlessly engaged in area domination to ensure early restoration of complete normalcy," said the statement.

At least 71 people have died, more than 1,700 houses burnt down and over 35,000 people belonging to both the Kuki and the Meitei communities have been displaced due to the ethnic clashes since May 3. The violence started following a "solidarity march" organised by tribal students' organisations opposing a move to fulfil the demand for ST status for the majority Meitei community.

Even as efforts are underway to bring normalcy, tension prevails among the people who fear further flare-ups.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued fresh summons to Maharashtra NCP president and MLA Jayant Patil for questioning in a money laundering case linked to alleged financial irregularities in the now bankrupt financial services firm IL&FS, official sources said Monday

The 61-year-old MLA from Islampur seat of Maharashtra was issued the first summons for appearance on May 12 but he had sought deferment for about 10 days citing some personal and official engagements.

The politician has now been asked to appear on May 22, the sources said.

Also read: Chhattisgarh CM Baghel says ED trying to implicate him in alleged liquor scam

Patil, a former minister of home and finance, is also the state president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and is a seven-term legislator.

He had told reporters last week that he never had any association or financial dealing with IL&FS.

Alleged payment of some "commission amount" by some accused companies to entities linked to Patil are under the scanner of the agency and it is understood he will be questioned about these transactions and his statement recorded under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The agency has recently initiated fresh action in this 2019 case after it searched the Mumbai offices of-- Deloitte Haskins and Sells and BSR and Associates, an Indian affiliate of global accounting firm KPMG--, the two former auditors of IL&FS.

The Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Limited (IL&FS) filed for bankruptcy in 2018.
The Supreme Court on Monday declined to consider a plea against Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju for their remarks on judiciary and the Collegium system for appointment of judges.

What is this? Why have you come here?" a bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Ahsanuddin Amanullah asked the lawyer for the petitioner Bombay Lawyers Association challenging the High Court's decision rejecting their plea.

The bench said that it believed that the High Court's view is correct.

If any authority has made an inappropriate statement, the top court has a broad view to deal with it, the bench said.

The lawyers body challenged the High Court's decision of February 1 rejecting its PIL against Rijiju and Dhankhar.

The organisation sought a declaration that the both were disqualified to hold the constitutional posts of Vice President and Minister of the Union Cabinet based on their behaviour, conduct and utterances made in public.

The lawyers body argued that both, the VP and law minister, were continuing their "rampage of attack upon the Constitution with complete impunity".

The association claimed that Rijiju and Dhankhar showed lack of faith in the Constitution with their remarks and conduct.

While rejecting a plea for action against Dhankar and Rijiju for their statements, the High Court had said, "The credibility of the Supreme Court of India is sky-high. It cannot be eroded or impinged by the statements of individuals."

"The constitutional authorities cannot be removed in the manner as suggested by the petitioner. Fair criticism of the judgment is permissible. It is no doubt, fundamental duty of every citizen to abide by the Constitution. Majesty of law has to be respected," the HC had said.

The court also noted both Dhankar and Rijiju had said that the government has never undermined the authority of the judiciary and its independence will always remain untouched.
Prudential PLC lifted its position in United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI  Get Rating) by 75.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,776 shares of the construction companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,057 shares during the quarter. Prudential PLCs holdings in United Rentals were worth $1,697,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Kentucky Retirement Systems boosted its position in shares of United Rentals by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems now owns 5,502 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,956,000 after acquiring an additional 24 shares in the last quarter. Sentry Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of United Rentals by 5.4% during the 4th quarter. Sentry Investment Management LLC now owns 465 shares of the construction companys stock worth $165,000 after acquiring an additional 24 shares in the last quarter. Oak Ridge Investments LLC boosted its position in shares of United Rentals by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Oak Ridge Investments LLC now owns 5,622 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,998,000 after purchasing an additional 28 shares during the period. RB Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of United Rentals by 3.7% in the 4th quarter. RB Capital Management LLC now owns 868 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $309,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares during the period. Finally, Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. boosted its position in shares of United Rentals by 62.3% in the 4th quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 86 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 33 shares during the period. 89.65% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Get United Rentals alerts:

Insider Transactions at United Rentals

In other news, CEO Matthew John Flannery sold 12,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $477.99, for a total transaction of $5,735,880.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 101,276 shares in the company, valued at $48,408,915.24. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Matthew John Flannery sold 12,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $477.99, for a total transaction of $5,735,880.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 101,276 shares in the company, valued at $48,408,915.24. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO William E. Grace sold 725 shares of United Rentals stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $359.63, for a total value of $260,731.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 6,520 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,344,787.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.53% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

United Rentals Price Performance

URI has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. UBS Group decreased their target price on United Rentals from $490.00 to $458.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Argus upped their target price on United Rentals from $360.00 to $475.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 31st. Robert W. Baird downgraded United Rentals from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $425.00 to $300.00 in a research note on Monday, March 27th. KeyCorp reduced their price objective on United Rentals from $515.00 to $475.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on United Rentals from $399.00 to $406.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $421.08.

Shares of NYSE:URI opened at $331.66 on Monday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $379.52 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $382.79. The stock has a market cap of $22.79 billion, a PE ratio of 10.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.61, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a current ratio of 1.15. United Rentals, Inc. has a one year low of $230.54 and a one year high of $481.99.

United Rentals (NYSE:URI  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The construction company reported $7.95 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $8.12 by ($0.17). The company had revenue of $3.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.17 billion. United Rentals had a net margin of 17.65% and a return on equity of 36.77%. United Rentalss quarterly revenue was up 30.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $5.73 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that United Rentals, Inc. will post 39.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Rentals Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 24th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 10th will be issued a dividend of $1.48 per share. This represents a $5.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.78%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 9th. United Rentalss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 18.99%.

About United Rentals

(Get Rating)

United Rentals, Inc engages in the equipment rental business. It operates through the General Rentals and Specialty segments. The General Rentals segment includes the rental of construction, aerial and industrial equipment, general tools and light equipment, and related services and activities. The Specialty segment focuses on the rental of specialty construction products such as trench safety equipment, power and HVAC equipment, fluid solutions equipment, mobile storage equipment and modular office space.

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The North West Community Network (NWCN) is calling for groups to come together and amplify their voices around the current community crisis.

The Network is a representative organisation of the community sector in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area.

Speaking to Derry Now, Roisin McLaughlin, manager of NWCN, said voluntary and community organisations were on the front line of the cost-of-living crisis.

She added: We are supporting people and communities, while at the same time, facing rising demand for their services, ongoing funding cuts and rising operational costs.

The sector is struggling and failure to act means the most vulnerable in our society will be affected.

The sector is already experiencing the impact of the end of the European Social Fund and the proposed funding cuts through the Department for Communities (DfC).

DfC funding for most groups has been reduced to three months, up to June 2023. Many of the groups funded through DfC provide support ranging from vital community and advice services to capacity building support through community networks, she said.

Ms McLaughlin added: As government budgets have still not been set this has an impact on other funding sources which the community depends on, such as Derry City and Strabane District Council community funding.

Despite having been successful in their applications for funding from April 2023 to March 2024, these funds are unable to be released to groups. This funding uncertainty impacts support to groups that provide a lifeline to older people, young people, women, children and families.

There is a lot of anger and despair among community workers and a lot of frustration around the lack of government leadership.

There is a feeling that the community sector has become invisible to our political representatives and that there is very much a disconnect between our sector and the political infrastructure, said Ms McLaughlin, who continued: As a representative organisation of the community sector in the Derry City and Strabane area, we are calling on all of our members to come together to amplify our voices.

Roisin McLaughlin added that despite continuing to provide frontline support services during the pandemic and cost of living crisis, the community and voluntary sector was the first to suffer when government cuts were being made.

The current situation we find ourselves in is having a major impact on mental well-being of the most vulnerable members of our community and the frontline staff working within the sector, said Ms McLaughlin.

Liam Milligan, Chairperson of NWCN and Director of North West Methodist Mission added: Our political leaders and government departments are failing our society, our communities and those most in need. The democratic deficit as a result of the collapse of Stormont is unsustainable and completely unacceptable.

In the wake of hundreds of job losses within the community voluntary sector in recent weeks and a contraction of vital services as a result of the end of the European Social Fund, it is a difficult pill to swallow to have our elected representatives continue to receive pay when they are not in government or fulfilling the function for which they were elected.

Continually when we face a public funding crisis, the government looks beyond itself to the community and voluntary sector to find savings, when in fact the sector is in many cases the glue that holds the fabric of our society together.

It is time for the sector to re-evaluate its relationship with the government to avoid the cycle of cuts, uncertainty, and poor treatment we receive every time there is a crisis.

NWCN will be meeting with members and representatives from the community and voluntary sector to respond to the current crisis.
MANZINI - Seven years after the completion of a facility built for vendors at Jubela worth E0.5 million, the structure has confirmed residents fears that it is a white elephant and thugs are helping themselves to it.

The structure was built for the empowerment of women farmers at Jubela in the Manzini Region, to display their produce for selling. It is a project that was spearheaded by Adventures Mission in collaboration with government. It was completed in 2017 and has been unused due to various factors, including the absence of a bus station and challenges with its solar system. As a result, the structure that could house about 50 vendors has been left idle and thugs having their way in stealing the roofing. According to some community members in the area, there were conflicts among community leaders, which stalled the operation of the market facility. However, these claims were disputed by the members of the project.

One resident shared with this publication that they were excited when the project was completed, with hopes that they would soon begin generating revenue near their homes. However, she said days turned into weeks, and then months, then later years.

The stalling of the market facility is killing our livelihood and stealing our childrens future. The money I would be making through selling my produce here would be far better than what I am currently making, and would be used to pay for my childrens school fees, she said. However, she said she travelled to town where there was an influx of vendors and was hardly making any money. The vendors pleaded with sponsors of the project, local authorities and government to address the matter and level the ground. A lot could be done from this facility as it is near the road and we could be making a lot of money from people travelling into Manzini from various areas, she said.

Vegetables

Another resident, who produces vegetables and sells them door-to-door, said she was hardly making any income from the sales as she suffered a knee injury. She said it was becoming difficult to go around selling and she hardly made money as she constantly made trips to the hospital. With the facility operating, I would be able to display my produce without the trouble of having to move around with an aching knee. The project facility has been stalled for too long, we urge the parties involved to address the matter, she urged. Meanwhile, according to the development officer for the project, Sabelo Mlotsa, when the facility was built, there was a proposed borehole, construction of a road to connect from the market to the main road, as well as a cold room.

All the listed projects were not effected. The communication from the main sponsors of the project was that they could only launch and would complete the other projects at a later stage, Mlotsa shared. He further mentioned that he suggested that it was not ideal as it would be left without completion. Nonetheless, Mlotsa said the sponsors approached the areas indvuna and requested for permission to launch the project, and they were given the go ahead. He further shared that going forward since then, there was no continuation of the other projects, stalling the operationalisation of the market facility.

I do not recall any conflict taking place. However, I can only confirm that thugs then started stealing the roofing of the facility because the structure had become a white elephant. Otherwise, if the facility was in good use, I dont think any of the building material would have been stolen, he said. He went on to share that of late, there were only a few of the corrugated iron sheets left and he removed them to a safe place to prevent them from being stolen. Mlotsa said the land used to build the market facility was donated by a local church.

The Ministry of Public Works and Transports Mduduzi Lukhele could not be reached for comment at the time of compiling this report, he was expected to give clarity on the role of the ministry in the project and why it was stalled.
Foyle Obon is staging a "very special concert" in the amphitheatre at Pennyburn's Playtrail.

The concert will take place on Saturday, May 20, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Gates open at 7pm. Tea and Coffee will be available to purchase from Offing Coffee.

A spokesperson for Foyle Obon said: "These are difficult times for many organisations and this year we are unable to bring you our usual larger Obon Festival event. However, we are still determined to bring some joy and Taiko Love to this wee corner of the Racecourse Road.

"The amphitheatre stage will feature performances from local Taiko drum players, including many of our community workshop participants who have been waiting for this moment to show everyone their talent.

"This concert is the highlight of our year round cultural outreach programme where participants of all ages and abilities have been learning and taking part Taiko workshops. They will come together onstage to showcase their skills and celebrate their achievements. We will also have taiko performances from our own Ibuki Taiko performance group.

"The wonderful Hannari Traditional Japanese dancers will be performing beautiful dance pieces and will also lead the audience in some Bon Odori dance, an opportunity for the whole audience to join in and no experience or technique necessary."

Lizzie Devlin, Community Arts Officer, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, commented: Thanks to funding from the National Lottery, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland is delighted to support this fantastic family event. Its a wonderful opportunity for audiences, from near and far, to come find out more about Japanese cultural traditions and see on stage some of the amazing work Foyle Obon have been doing with community groups this year.

The concert is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Lottery Project Fund and Derry City and Strabane District Council Community Festivals Fund.

Tickets are 5 (under 3s free) and are available online from https://tinyurl.com/yp6jddwh.
SDLP Fairer Infrastructure spokesperson Mark H Durkan has welcomed confirmation that funding has been secured for Phase three of the Derry railway line.

The project was previously shelved by the Department for Infrastructure but was placed firmly back on track by previous Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon who delivered the Phase 3 Feasibility Study and ring-fenced funding for vital rail expansion for the North West.

The Foyle MLA said: This is great news for the North West region. The SDLP has remained steadfast in our commitment to deliver this transformational project for the Norths second city.

"The long-promised upgrade for the Derry-Coleraine rail line had faced a stop start approach, becoming somewhat of a pipedream. Thanks to previous Infrastructure Minister Mallon, this perpetually postponed railway development was put back on track.

Derry has been kept isolated by subpar infrastructure and no deeper is the East-West divide felt than in relation to transport. This rail upgrade will go a long way to address regional imbalance and better connect communities.

Its delivery will not only make it easier for people from Derry to travel to other parts of the North but will have huge benefits in our fight to tackle the climate crisis by making it easier for people to choose to leave their vehicles at home and use public transport.

The SDLP continue to work to progress the All-Island Strategic Rail Review and deliver a fit for purpose rail network for a modern society.
Medicine shortages remain 'stubbornly high' in Ireland with a number of 'critical medicines' unavailable along with over 10 hay fever treatments as the pollen count increases.

The number of medicines currently out-of-stock in Ireland remains "stubbornly high at 241", indicating a continued level of vulnerability in the country's medicine supply, according to the latest Medicine Shortages Index.

The Index highlights persisting signs of instability in Ireland's medicine supply, with serious implications for patients who rely on medicines for their health and well-being.

The latest analysis indicates continued shortages of as many as 30 antibiotic medicines, despite the reduction in seasonal demand, and also shortages of many eye drops including those used to treat allergies just as demand is starting to peak.

13 currently unavailable medicines are listed on the World Medical Organisations (WHO) critical medicines list.

Shortages are also being encountered in treatments of allergic eye conditions including hayfever with 11 eye drops unavailable

The Medicine Shortage Index, prepared by industry experts, Azure Pharmaceuticals, analyses data made publicly available by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).

Month-on-month Index figures suggest a small improvement in the crisis in May, but feedback from pharmacists indicates the problems with medicine shortages are far from resolved.

Sandra Gannon, CEO of Azure Pharmaceuticals said: In Ireland, the medicine shortages crisis is persisting due to a lack of political interest in gaining a real understanding of the off-patent medicines industry".

"The underlying systematic problem is only going to worsen unless the issue is meaningfully addressed, said Ms Gannon.

She noted that several other European nations have taken policy measures to address the ongoing medicine shortages crisis across the continent, as it becomes further apparent that commercial reasons are one of the primary drivers of the crisis.

"The EU recently published a long-awaited proposed overhaul of laws governing the European Union's pharmaceuticals industry, but the reforms will not effectively address medicine shortages since they do not consider the rising costs and decreasing prices that affect the accessibility of older medicines in Europe," Ms Gannon said.

"The EU reforms do not fully address all the causes of medicine shortages. The proposals look set to increase the administration and reporting requirements on shortages, as well as compel manufacturers to continue to supply long after it is commercially viable," Ms Gannon said.

This could potentially lead to decreased competition within the industry. Reducing the number of suppliers will only exacerbate existing shortages, and potentially lead to further medicine discontinuations.

In the Irish context, a concern is that the unintended consequences of this long-awaited legislation could prompt manufacturers to exit smaller markets such as Ireland, turning a persisting medicine shortages issue into a chronic problem.

Irelands present cost saving approach is actually a false positive because the lower the prices and volumes, the less attractive the market is for manufacturers. This can leave few suppliers for some critical medicines, Ms Gannon said.
HAIFA, Israel -- May 15, 2023 -- proteanTecs, a global leader of deep data analytics for advanced electronics, announced that the company will participate in an Open Compute Project (OCP) educational webinar titled Addressing Silent Data Errors for Resilient Data Centers. Featuring experts from Google, IDC and proteanTecs, this webinar will be held on Thursday, May 18 at 8 am PDT/ 11 am EDT/ 5 pm CEST. To join, register here.

The webinar will be moderated by Cliff Grossner, Vice President of Market Intelligence & Innovation at Open Compute Project, and will include the following presenters:

Ashish Nadkarni, Group Vice President & General Manager, IDC

Rama Govindaraju, Director of Engineering, Google

Walter Abramsohn, Director of Product Marketing, proteanTecs

The webinar will highlight the magnitude of silent data corruption (SDC), the effects it has on the users trust of the system and the current best practices and available techniques to deal with it. In addition, the speakers will discuss innovative mechanisms that will greatly assist in reducing the magnitude of SDCs and how these solutions can optimize datacenter resilience.

Silent data errors is an issue that is only going to multiply with the increased interest in AI driving an expansion of compute infrastructure, said Cliff Grossner, Ph.D., Vice President of Market Intelligence & Innovation at the Open Compute Project. In this educational webinar, we will hear from industry experts as we explore how to meet the challenge to provide trusted computational systems at scale.

proteanTecs is a member of the Open Compute Project Foundation, established over 10 years ago by 5 founding members including Meta (then Facebook), to create a collaborative community whose mission has evolved to become taking hyperscale-led innovations to everyone, meeting the growing demands on data center facilities and IT infrastructure.

To register for the free webinar, click here.

About Open Compute Project

At the core of the Open Compute Project (OCP) is its Community of hyperscale data center operators, joined by telecom and colocation providers and enterprise IT users, working with vendors to develop open innovations that when embedded in products are deployed from the cloud to the edge. The OCP Foundation is responsible for fostering and serving the OCP Community to meet the market and shape the future, taking hyperscale led innovations to everyone. Meeting the market is accomplished through open designs and best practices, and with data center facility and IT equipment embedding OCP Community-developed innovations for efficiency, at-scale operations and sustainability. Shaping the future includes investing in strategic initiatives that prepare the IT ecosystem for major changes, such as AI & ML, optics, advanced cooling techniques, and composable silicon. Learn more at www.opencompute.org.

About proteanTecs

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What if we told you that the Indian government is rolling out a system that will let you trace and even find lost phones? Sounds too good to be true? Well, not anymore. Later this month, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) will deploy the Central Equipment Identity Registry (CEIR) system.

This CEIR system will let you trace lost phones, believe it or not. While the system was introduced across states and union territories in March, the actual deployment is to take place starting May 17.

Also read: Edit WhatsApp messages this way: Heres how to get the feature

What is CEIR?

In simple terms the initiative to let the users of the smartphones block their device in case of theft or when the device has been lost. How does this work?

You need to connect your device and add in preliminary details on the CEIR website or use the KYC application which is made available on the Apple store and Play store. The government will track down your device and retrieve it. Once you have procured your device you can simply unblock your cell phone. This system is introduced to prevent any data or privacy breach upon the loss of the device. The citizen can easily track their device and maintain security for their personal and confidential information.

To add in your details and register your smartphone with the CEIR system you can visit their website here. Whenever someone tries to operate a blocked cell phone the tracking system takes a notice of the movement and the officials are made aware of the devices location.

A statement from Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Project Board at CDoT, Rajkumar Upadhyay to PTI suggested that the system is ready for pan-India usage.

"The system is ready, and now it will be deployed across India, in this quarter. This will enable people to block and track their lost mobile phones. One of the common practices is that miscreants change the IMEI number of stolen mobile phones which prevents tracking and blocking of such handsets. It was a national security issue. The CEIR will be able to block any cloned mobile phones on the network with the help of various databases."

Also read: Google trolled Apple over SMS feature yet again: Heres why

How to block your phone on CEIR?

File an FIR (first information report)

Fill an online form with all your information and the IMEI numbers which are foremost targeted IDs

Attach a scanned copy of the FIR

Within 24hrs of the completion of the form your cell phone will be blocked

The phone will be disabled from all the networks throughout India.

You can track the status of the device traceability.

What do you think about this centralized system of tracing lost phones online? Will you be using it in the future, if your phone gets lost? Let us know in the comments below.

For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page.
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Decoding India's electric vehicle boom: insights from industry analyst

In fiscal year 2023, India's EV industry experienced a remarkable surge, with sales leaping to about 1.17 million units  a 154 percent year-on-year increase. The rapid growth in the high-speed electric two-wheeler sector, led by OLA, Hero Electric, and TVS Motors, and robust demand for high-speed electric three-wheelers, particularly for last-mile deliveries and e-commerce, have been major contributors to this trend.

In a conversation with DIGITIMES Asia, Sidhant Rastogi, the Managing Partner at Zinnov, underscored that the key catalyst for this burgeoning growth is the favorable policy environment and generous incentive schemes put forth by both central and state governments. Key initiatives like the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in India (FAME) II scheme, the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, the Scrappage Policy, and state-level subsidies have all played pivotal roles in invigorating the industry.

"Looking ahead, we anticipate that further policy measures will provide a strong impetus for EV growth," Rastogi said. "Focus areas include grid connectivity for charging stations, affordable tariffs, and battery swapping. Moreover, the establishment of special e-mobility zones, dedicated exclusively to EV operations, will play a pivotal role in accelerating this growth trajectory."

Factors contributing to the growth

A blend of crucial factors is spurring the swift uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) in India. The rise in fuel costs, along with lower operational expenses of EVs, are resonating with cost-aware consumers. Furthermore, EVs have hit a milestone by achieving Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) parity with traditional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles, providing a significant boost to EV sales and advancing the industry.

"The high-speed two-wheeler and three-wheeler segments have witnessed significant growth in EV adoption," Rastogi said. "Established original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have played a crucial role by offering a diverse range of affordable products that feature attractive designs and impressive performance. These OEMs are actively investing in brand-building initiatives to establish stronger connections with customers. Moreover, their aggressive distribution strategies have contributed to the overall growth of the EV market."

Advancements in battery technology and local manufacturing have reduced battery costs, making electric vehicles more affordable. Combined with government subsidies and incentives, EVs have become accessible to a broader consumer base, appealing to various market segments.

Charging infra and supply chain

The Indian government has laid out an audacious objective to electrify 30 percent of all vehicles on India's roads by the end of the decade. To realize this ambition, no avenue is being overlooked. A crucial element of their strategy is to stimulate investments in domestic manufacturing from key players within the ecosystem, thereby fostering a resilient and efficient supply chain for electric vehicles.

"A key emerging trend is the push toward standardization of charging pins across OEMs," Rastogi added. "Ather, a leading EV manufacturer, has already opened patents for its proprietary fast charger to achieve this goal. Currently, India has only 1,800 charging stations servicing 16,200 EVs, which is much lower than the global average. A common charging pin would enable EV consumers to leverage charging grid networks across players, making it more accessible and convenient for them."

Addressing 'range anxiety' among EV users, OEMs are focusing on battery swapping, a move supported by the Indian government's ongoing development of a battery-swapping policy. This promising trend, although in its infancy, has potential.

Moreover, the government is encouraging on-site renewables for charging stations, as seen in Delhi's residential EV infrastructure and Nagpur's solar-powered bus depot stations, showcasing its commitment to sustainable mobility.

Response from India ICE giants

India's auto sector is shifting from Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) to Electric Vehicles (EVs). OEMs are implementing strong EV strategies, with veterans like Hero Electric, OLA, and Ather leading the two-wheeler market, while newcomers like Kick-EV and Revolt join the growing sector.

"Bajaj Auto is making waves by investing in a stake in Yulu, a mobility renting platform, to manufacture EV two-wheelers for the platform," Rastogi said. "They have recently announced their entry into the retail space for personal mobility. Mahindra & Mahindra is also stepping up its EV game by partnering with Charge+Zone to set up a network of charging stations for Mahindra's range of electric vehicles, providing owners with access to more than 2,500 charging points across 25 cities and 10,000 km of highways."

Hero MotorCorp's investment in Zero Motorcycles and Ather Energy's deal with Karnataka's ESCOMs to establish fast-charging stations also highlight the industry's growth. Meanwhile, Maruti is joining the EV movement, planning to launch its first electric SUV by 2025.

What to expect now

India is on the cusp of an electrification revolution set to change mobility and lifestyle. The order of electrification will start with three-wheelers, followed by two-wheeler fleets, retail two-wheelers, buses, four-wheeler fleets, and finally, retail four-wheelers.

"Two-wheelers and three-wheelers are particularly attractive with their low total cost of ownership (TCO), and we expect up to 15% of two-wheelers to be electrified in the next few years," Rastogi said. "Four-wheeler adoption is likely to be led by fleets, with passenger cars reaching 5% penetration in the EV space in a best-case scenario."

Yet, the path to widespread EV adoption presents challenges. Insufficient charging infrastructure, raw material shortages, skilled manpower scarcity, inconsistent subsidies and incentives, and limited interest from traditional ICE players hinder progress.

Rastogi stressed the need for a robust mining policy to meet future EV demand and ensure sustainable raw material supply in India. He also emphasized the importance of investing in skilled workforce for battery, power electronics, and software manufacturing. Lastly, he highlighted the necessity of central monitoring of incentives and additional financial support for prospective EV buyers, beyond the current FAME scheme.

Sidhant Rastogi, Managing Partner, Zinnov. Credit: Zinnov.
ChenFull, a Lockheed Martin supplier, optimistic about demand recovery in 2H23

ChenFull International Co., a Taiwan-based component manufacturer serving the aerospace, optoelectronics, and display equipment market, revealed its first-quarter 2023 financial results on May 12. The company reported NT$307 million (US$9.96 million) in revenues, a 38% year-on-year decline, gross margin at 29.41%, and operating profit at NT$53.7 million.

Currently, the optoelectronics and display sector accounts for 45% of ChenFull's sales, while defense and aerospace sectors respectively account for 20% and 10% of company sales.

Despite sluggish shipments in the first quarter, the company expects shipments of optoelectronics and display equipment components to pick up in the second quarter as customers continue to expand OLED production capacities. Meanwhile, customers in the semiconductor sector also requested ChenFull to boost production capacity before third-quarter 2023. When it comes to the defense sector, ChenFull expects sales to regain momentum in the second half of 2023 as the challenge of component shortage continues to ease up. In 2022, ChenFull saw NT$1.78 billion in annual sales. For 2023, it expects a double-digit revenue growth.

Though less than 20% of ChenFull revenues, the defense sector offers the company significantly higher margins compared to other sectors. As a result of its rich experiences in Taiwan's aerospace industry, ChenFull has also developed sophisticated machining and welding capabilities that won it subcontracts from Lockheed Martin, the largest defense contractor in the US.

According to market intelligence platform HigherGov, ChenFull has been a key component supplier of PATRIOT Advanced Capability -3 Missile Segment Enhancement upgrade (PAC-3 MSE)  an upgrade undertaken by Lockheed Martin to improve the Patriot surface-to-air missile system operated by the US military. For fiscal 2021, 2022, and 2023, ChenFull has been in charge of supplying various components, including launch control units, for the PAC-3 MSE.

In the past, Lockheed Martin produced the launch control unit via its Germany-based joint venture, according to ChenFull President C. M. Lai in an interview with Taiwan's Mirror Media, but ChenFull has taken up to 70-80% of the orders owing to more competitive delivery time, production costs, and quality, claimed the manufacturer. To qualify as a Lockheed Martin supplier, ChenFull had to first undergo certification by American Welding Society and become an Accredited Test Facility. Currently, ChenFull has a production line dedicated to Lockheed Martin on site. ChenFull is also in talks with Raytheon Technologies, as reported by Taiwan's media Global View Monthly.

In reference to the recent Taiwan visit from 25 US defense industry delegates, ChenFull expects a breakthrough in cooperation in terms of products and partners, but the associated benefits won't necessarily come in 2023.
MBABANE  A man is alleged to have been shot by the police in case of mistaken identity, but the police claim he was wanted for a string of criminal activities.

It is alleged that Mthokozisi Dlamini, who had gone to fix his car at his elder brothers homestead at Madlangampisi, was shot by the police who found him in the company of his brother and another man. Bhekuyise Dlamini, who is Mthokozisis brother, was said to be the one who was wanted by the police. They were sitting behind a bakkie when police approached and the two fled, living Mthokozisi behind. This is the same vehicle Mthokosizi had brought in to be fixed.

Sibling

According to Mthokozisis relative, who preferred to remain anonymous, his sibling was shot on Friday evening. The source stated that the police were on board six different vehicles, including a Toyota Quantum, bakkie and an OSSU vehicle, among others. The relative said the police had gone to the homestead where his younger brother was fixing his vehicle, to conduct a raid. My brother was shot twice in the chest next to the heart, she claimed. She said the police later took the keys of the vehicle that his brother had gone to fix. She stated that Mliba police visited their homestead on Saturday to extend their apologies that they had mistakenly shot Mthokozisi and discovered that he was not their target after he had already been shot. She said the police informed them that the deceased was shot by Sgodvweni police and if there was any complaint they wanted to lodge, they should approach the Mliba police.

Statement

When questioned on whether there was any truth on the statement of the police that Mthokozisi was among the wanted suspects involved in copper theft, among others, the relative said it was not true. The relative added that even if he was part of the gang police wanted, they had no right to shoot him as he raised his hands as a sign of surrender. She said their relative did not run away from the police because he had no idea why the others fled. At least they should have beaten him up or arrested him, the relative said. She said the truth was that her relative had no idea on why the two fled but in the midst of them running, police emerged, meaning they may have seen the police from a distance. She said after shooting him, they went to the same homestead that they were going to raid and requested something to cover him up as they realised that he was dead and took him to Dvokolwako Health Centre mortuary.

Suspects

Reached for comment, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said they were searching for three suspects. Vilakati said the suspects committed crimes around Buhleni and Mliba. She said they were part of a syndicate involved in stealing car parts, including car engines, copper wire and electric cables and a lot more. Police had gone to survey on the day the incident happened and they came across the suspects where one was shot in the process, she said. The police spokesperson stated that two fled but were later arrested and they all have criminal records including the deceased person. Vilakati said the late Mthokozisi was not a case of mistaken identity. She said when he was shot, he was running from the police. Vilakati said another suspect had called the police with the intention to surrender himself. She said the suspects had been linked to a number of crimes and exhibits have been found.
The sister of an Irishman released from an Iranian prison has described the unbelievable moment she greeted him off an aeroplane in Paris.

Bernard Phelan, a 64-year-old Irish-French national originally from Clonmel in Co Tipperary, was detained in a jail in north-east Iran for seven months.

Mr Phelan and another French national, Benjamin Briere, who was in custody for two years, were released on humanitarian grounds at the end of last week and flown to Paris.

Caroline Phelan, Mr Phelans sister, and officials from Irelands Department of Foreign Affairs were at the airport to welcome him on arrival.

It was an unbelievable moment, she told RTE Radio One.

Just couldnt believe it, couldnt believe it. To see him walking off the plane in France after such stress and such a long time and huge hugs, and also the members of the Department of Foreign Affairs that has helped us in Dublin had flown over to be with us, so we were all in tears.

So it was an amazing moment. And then the French team were there as well. And weve all bonded over these seven months. Just to welcome him home. And of course then we rang my father in Dublin. So, my father (Vincent) is 97 and he thought hed never see his son again. So it was a very special moment for him too.

Mr Phelan, a Paris based travel consultant, was arrested for allegedly taking photos of police officers and a burned mosque following an anti-regime protest in Iran last autumn.

He was accused of providing information to an enemy country  charges he denied.

Mr Phelan experienced significant ill health while in custody.

Caroline Phelan said her brother would now spend time in hospital in France recovering. She said the family was over the moon to have him back safe.

He looked weak, but just still overjoyed, she said.

So I think that joy was boosting him. So he is in hospital. I saw him yesterday (Sunday).

He cant get over the peace and quiet, the silence after being in a cell with 16 other people, having a bathroom.

And the day before he had his bare feet in the grass because he hasnt seen grass for seven months. They had a courtyard with big high walls and they were only allowed out for 45 minutes a day. So just to put bare feet in the grass on the Saturday afternoon was heaven.

Ms Phelan rejected claims from the Iranian authorities that her brother was cared for appropriately in prison.

We wouldnt consider that he was well looked after, she said.

He did see a doctor, there was a doctor in the hospital, he was given tests in the last month. He was given a chair and a table in the last month, but he was sitting on the floor for six months.

Maybe in Iranian standards they think that a prison like that is OK but not in our standards to treat people like that. We would not agree that he was well looked after. But hes home safely and thats what counts.

She said her brother was looking forward to a fried breakfast and a cup of tea on his return to Ireland.

Ms Phelan added: I think hes also very conscious of the other Europeans he left behind, its something he raised with me, hes very conscious that himself and Benjamin got home but there are a lot of other Europeans in Iran today. I dont know when they will come home, but he is very thankful to be one of the first home.
Local Fine Gael TD, Fergus ODowd, and Ardee based Fine Gael Councillor, Dolores Minogue, have said the Ardee pop up pool has been a huge success and has shown the clear need in Ardee and Mid Louth that a permanent pool is now a necessity.

The 12 metres by 3.4 metres swimming pool was located at Ash Walk, between Supervalu and Aldi, and was timed to coincide with Sport Irelands Winter Initiative to get people exercising and taking part in physical activities.

Swim Ireland wanted to ensure that as many people as possible had the opportunity to learn how to swim and so, supported by the Department of Culture, Tourism, Arts, Media, Sport and the Gaeltacht and Sport Ireland, they rolled out the pop up pool initiative.

ODowd said: On Friday we met with Ashley Hunter, Head of Participation in Swim Ireland to discuss the level of participation at the Ardee pool and we now eagerly await the final figures on the numbers who used the facility since February.

We were delighted to see so many local people enjoying the pool over the last number of months, in particular persons with a disability and younger children learning basic water safety and having fun.

ODowd added: Louth County Council, Swim Ireland and of course the instructors have done a fantastic job in managing the project which has benefited so many in the community.

I originally raised this possibility with the Minister for Sport last May on behalf of my colleague Cllr Dolores Minogue and we pushed strongly for Mid Louth to be prioritised.

Councillor Dolores Minogue said:

This has been a really fun and welcome addition for the area and I know that many families are disappointed to see the pool leave.

Deputy ODowd and I will be doing our utmost to try and secure its return as soon as possible.

Swim Ireland outlined that the overall cost of such a pop up pool is ca. 300k so we will also be looking at the possibility of securing specific funding that might allow Louth County Council and Swim Ireland to purchase a permanent pop up pool for the area.
Another attempt is to be made to have Dunleer train station reopened.

Senator Erin McGreehan and Councillor John Sheridan have given their backing to the latest effort, recently attending a meeting with Irish Rail officials.

Also present at the meeting were stakeholders, a number of whom have agitated for a reopening over the years.

Closed in 1984 having been in service for 135 years, Dunleer station was a much-used boarding point for people in the mid-Louth area.

Its structure remains largely intact, with the old station masterss house having been utilised as a library in recent times.

The library, however, is believed to be re-housed in the former Bank of Ireland building in the towns Main Street.

The two local Fianna Fail representatives have, since the meeting, said that there wouldnt have to be a huge outlay to have it reopened.

Not only would it benefit the local community and businesses, it could ease the use of traffic on the motorway, giving those who regularly use the M50 travelling to Dublin and Belfast a viable alternative.

Senator McGreehan and Cllr Sheridan spoke with Irish Rails CEO, Jim Meade, and Manager Central Traffic Control, Darran Bowe.

They emphasised how the reopening would help promote tourism and business growth in the area.

This was a view expressed by many others present at the meeting.

The Irish Rail officials said that theres to be significant investments in the rail services, taking in the All-Ireland Strategic Rail Review.

Dunleer station is among the considerations, as well as the reopening of the line to Navan.

Nothing is off the table, said Mr Meade.

Speaking since the meeting Senator McGreehan said:

We were thrilled to have had such a positive meeting with the Irish Rail officials. Its important to have this facility, which would make a huge difference for the community that surrounds it.

It could play a big part in easing traffic congestion in Dundalk and Drogheda.

Cllr Sheridan said:

We await the publication of the All-Ireland Strategic Rail Review, which is being delayed due to there being no Northern Ireland Executive at present.

Mr Meade said the review would determine the next steps for reopening stations.

He also confirmed he was personally aware of the campaign to reopen Dunleer.

Emphasising its need, Cllr Sheridan said that according to the County Development Plan, it is projected the population of Dunleer is to increase by 2027.

Also, there is a present population of 29,209 within 10k of the town, which makes the reopening compelling.
Irish premier Leo Varadkars partner has apologised for social media posts he made about the coronation of the King, saying they reflected poor judgment.

Mr Varadkar and his partner Matt Barrett were among those in attendance at the recent coronation service for Charles at Westminster Abbey in London.

They were also present at a reception in Buckingham Palace on May 5 and spoke to Charles ahead of the coronation ceremony the following day.

The Irish Times reported this week that Mr Barrett had posted several comments about the coronation to his Instagram account while attending the event.

Tweeting from his account on Monday, Mr Barrett said: On reflection, poor judgment on my part.

Unreservedly apologise for any offence caused.

When asked about the Instagram posts on Monday, Mr Varadkar said that it would be a fair comment to describe them as irreverent.

Matt is a private individual, my partner for over seven years now, he said.

And it was some private messages sent to some friends on his private account.

He never intended for them to go public but that happens sometimes and, look, weve spoken about it and I think its fair to say it wont happen again.

When asked should he apologise, the Taoiseach said: Hes a private individual and thats obviously up to him but, like I say, private account, was never intended to be shared publicly and I dont think were going to see a repeat of it.
MANZINI  Government has recruited 11 people, who are not in the civil service, to manage the Central Medical Stores (CMS) in the interim.

The recruitment of the task team to manage the operations of the CMS follows that 11 employees of the Ministry of Healths department were suspended. The 11 people were suspended to make way for a forensic audit, which was a recommendation by the Auditor General (AG), Timothy Matsebula. The AG had, following his investigation, recommended that among other things, the Lizzie Nkosi-led Ministry of Health should investigate the missing stock and unaccounted for medicines, with the aim of recovering and report any unrecovered stock to the Losses Committee in the Ministry of Finance.

Facilities

This followed that, among his findings, Matsebula reported that when projected to the population of public health facilities, the total of missing and unaccounted for pharmaceuticals amounted to E151.6 million. He also reported that during the investigation, he observed that there was missing stock of medicines and or unaccounted for pharmaceuticals, amounting to E18 793 823.99 in the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2022. His findings were that there was missing stock of medical drugs amounting to E5 977 042.11, which was made up of E5 848 589.89 in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 and E128 452.22 in the fiscal year March 31, 2021, as reported in the trading account. It was said his findings further detailed that the financial statement disclosed the missing stock as a difference between physical count by the CMS and Government Accounting System.

Matsebula was said to have observed that pharmaceuticals amounting E12 812 281.28, which were acquired during the financial years 2020/2021 and 2021/2022, were not accounted for.

These pharmaceuticals, it was said, were either not recorded in stock record cards; had no stock cards to record the medicines on; the stock card balances and physical count balances were not tallying; and there were shortages in stock received. He said when projected to the population of public health facilities, the total of missing and unaccounted-for pharmaceuticals amounted to E151.6 million. In light of these findings, Matsebula said: The ministry should investigate the missing stock and unaccounted for medicines with the aim of recovering and report any unrecovered stock to the Losses Committee at the Ministry of Finance.

In line with this advice, the minister of Health confirmed that a forensic investigation had started. Nkosi said it started in April and as such, personnel were momentarily removed from their duty station to allow for that process. Nkosi said: Current staff is temporary appointed by civil service (Civil Service Commission), or temporarily seconded into the civil service. This publication gathered from impeccable sources that the personnel who were recruited in the interim were sourced from parastatals and also the private sector. The sources said the recruited individuals were engaged in similar tasks in their various establishments, which include procurement and or distribution of pharmaceuticals. It was gathered that the team of 11 shall be engaging in their duties at the CMS as of this week. It is on record that the CMS, among other challenges, has been experiencing shortage of medication which led to stock-outs at facility level due to a weak inventory management system. There has always been a challenge in the accountability of the medication that was eventually dispensed to patients in health facilities due to weak stock management systems.

Investigation

The AG, following his investigation, recommended that the system should then interface with the Client Management Information System (CMIS) so that the stock issued to health facilities was accounted for and medicine issued to patients was traced. It is worth noting that the weak control systems resulted in a public outcry over shortage of medication in hospitals, which led to an influx of one-room pharmacies. This publication also reported its investigation on mushrooming one room retail pharmacies which were taking advantage of the shortage of medical drugs in public health facilities. Furthermore, there were cries from members of society wherein they bemoaned the shortage of drugs as they were offered prescription letters in health facilities.
NHLANGANO  Chief Makhosikhosi of Ekwendzeni Chiefdom, has described his vote for current Mtsambama Member of Parliament (MP) Simosakhe Shongwe as a mistake he greatly regrets.

He said this in a meeting held at Shiselweni II Constituency Centre, which is situated around Mbangweni, in the Shiselweni Region. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Themba Masuku and three MPs, including Shiselweni II representative Strydom Mpanza. Chief Makhosikhosi had attended the Shiselweni II end-of-term dissemination report and sensitisation on fire outbreaks and timber theft hosted by Shiselweni Forestry Company (SFC). The chief doubles as a member of the SFC committee. Before the chief addressed the meeting, MP Mpanza had just finished delivering a report of projects that were started and completed during his term of office. When his turn to address the community came, Chief Makhosikhosi said he was encouraging people to vote. He stated that MP Mpanza had mentioned that a lot of money had been used to assist emaSwati under Shiselweni II, emphasising that the money came from government.

He even looked towards Mpanzas direction and asked him to state the government that he said was responsible for giving out the money he was talking about and in response, Mpanza said it was the Tinkhundla System of Government. The chief then proceeded to the DPM and asked him who the leader of the government was and the DPM responded by stating that the government was led by Ingwenyama. He stated that the same government was viewed not working by other people, yet it was pumping billions into projects in the country. The chief then narrated that he had a conversation with both Sigwe MP David Cruiser Ngcamphalala and Mpanza in different intervals, wherein he told them that he (Chief Makhosikhosi) was walking testimony of voting wrongly.

Voted

The chief said he voted for a person who, when he got to Parliament, changed and wanted to ride another horse. He said this was evident by the fact that none of the development projects Mpanza mentioned had been achieved by his constituency (Mtsambama Constituency). Wafika MP wetfu wayigucula yonkhe lentfo wayenta yaba ngema siliva, watsi mine hulumemde wetinkhundla ngeke ngihambe naye; wakhohlwa kutsi ungene ngaye. Wafike watsi Ngwenyama ugcilata bantfu, yena ngeke ayimele lentfo le, he said in vernacular. This can be translated to mean that; Our MP got to Parliament and changed tune, wherein he deserted the Tinkhundla System of Government and forgot he was in Parliament because of the same system. He said the King was abusing the people and he was not going to stand for that.

Chief Makhosikhosi said they never got any development thereafter, which was the reason he was telling people not to make the mistake of choosing people whom they thought would bring change yet they had other intentions. He said choosing the wrong people would be an application for poverty. He said people were supposed to vote for people who had direction and purpose, adding that everyone was clear at this point as to which side they were backing. He said different members of the national security forces had lost their lives as a result of the unrest and fires that were experienced in the country.

You should know that in the event you choose someone who will cause unrest; the lives that will be lost will be in your (electorate) hands, added Chief Makhosikhosi. He said the electorate would have had a hand in the death of those people. He said he wished the people would choose someone who had love for the communities and the country, so that the kingdom would develop. It should be noted that MP Shongwe has not been shy in his stance for advocating for a prime minister (PM) chosen by the people. He was also in full support of the incarcerated MPs, as he used to attend their court appearances. He was once quoted stating that he would rather stop getting his salary for the liberation of the people.

I was chosen by the people - MP

MBABANE - When called for comment, MP Simosakhe Shongwe said he was chosen by the people, not the chief. He said he was siding with the people through everything they were going through. I stand my ground on what I said and he can stay with his vote. I always speak my mind, which I will stand for and I cannot be stopped by him, he said. Shongwe said he would not compromise with peoples lives just to stay in Parliament. When asked if he did change camps as per the allegations by the chief; Shongwe said if that was what the chief concluded, he was fine with it. He said they never changed tune, but only spoke what would make peoples lives better. He said they wanted a prime minister who would be elected by the people and if that was what the chief meant by changing tune, so be it.

Chief didnt break law - EBC

NHLANGANO  The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) says there is no law that regulates the way the chief spoke. EBC Communications Officer Mbonisi Bhembe was asked if the chiefs comment would not be interpreted as de-campaigning Mtsambama Member of Parliament Simosakhe Shongwe. Bhembe said they were dealing with the elections and its processes. Their laws, he said, regulated how an electorate, a nominated candidate was supposed to carry themselves among other things. This is more on the national laws, than it is on ours. Ours look into when one is breaking the law when campaigning and when to campaign, he said.
MBABANE  Gebeni residents have shunned registration for the national elections and threaten to boycott the entire elections exercise, if their demands are not met.

The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC), on Wednesday, kick-started the second phase of the national elections, the registration process, which followed the civic and voter education exercise. The commission published over 500 registration sites that people could use to register for the 2023 national elections. The registration is expected to last until June 14, 2023. While emaSwati in several communities are exercising their right and registering for the elections, residents of Gebeni have opted to shun the voters registration exercise and possibly the entire 2023 elections.

This comes after a meeting the residents had this past Saturday, where the decision was taken as the community was of the view that their chiefdom was not recognised. The community is engulfed in a chieftaincy dispute. The areas Chief, Nkosini Dlamini, died in 1984 and there has not been a replacement since, but the residents maintained their chiefdom through the inner council (Bandlancane) and headman. The residents mentioned that despite the absence of a chief, they were able to partake in the national elections in the past years.

Registration

Gebeni is one of the communities under Ntondozi Inkhundla in the Manzini Region. According to published list of voter registration sites, Gebeni residents can register at their primary and high schools. However, according to the inner council members, Jerome Kunene and Paul Kunene, residents of the area opted not to partake in the entire elections process unless certain issues were fixed in the community, mainly being that they wanted their chiefdom to be recognised. According to the inner council, they felt sidelined during the entire exercise of the elections. Firstly, they stated that the EBC did not conduct the civic and voter education exercise in their community. Adding, the inner council members said they learnt during the process of selecting people who would be hired by EBC to conduct the registration that a certain chiefdom had already put in names of people who would conduct the registration.

Normally, people who conduct registration in the community are residents who work along senior members of the community, known as imisumpe.

According to the headman, the people who were conducting the registration were from Ndlinilembi, a chiefdom that they learnt recently that they were transferred to. Imisumpe yaseNdlinilembi nebantfwana bakhona bacashwe kutsi babhalise sive saseBebeni, said the headman. They said they went to EBC before the entire process started, but no one had the time to hear them out. The inner council, together with the residents, said they took a decision not to partake in the entire elections exercise until the issue was sorted. They said they wanted the people of Ndlinilembi removed from their registration sites. They said they felt that their area was being stolen right under their nose. We have decided to boycott the entire exercise, said Jerome, who is also a member of the inner council at Gebeni. EBC Communications Officer Mbonisi Bhembe, when asked about what was transpiring at Gebeni, stated that they were expecting residents of Gebeni to be also registering for elections like any other emaSwati.

When he was asked about the issue of imisumpe and registration officers from Ndlinilembi being deployed at Gebeni, Bhembe stated that there was a feeling that the residents wanted to drag EBC into issues that were outside its core business. He stated that if there were disputes in the area, the residents should take it up with the relevant structures, not EBC. As far as we know, officers and equipment were deployed and Gebeni registration should be going ahead. EBC shouldnt be dragged into chieftaincy disputes, he said. Bhembe also said if people decided to shun the national exercise, they were stripping themselves of their democratic right to choose a government they wanted.
EBRD Board of Directors approves a new five-year strategy for Croatia

Strategy to focus on private-sector competitiveness, green and inclusive economy

Policy cooperation to complement investment of more than 4.4 billion to date

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Developments Board of Directors has approved a strategy to guide investment in Croatia over the next five years (2023-28).

The Banks new strategic priorities, to be achieved in coordination with other international financial institutions and donors, include:

- supporting competitiveness through innovation, digitalisation and good governance;

- accelerating Croatias green economy transition and its Paris alignment;

- increasing resilience through inclusion and stronger stakeholder engagement.

The EBRD launched its operations in Croatia in 1993. Over the last 30 years, it has invested 4.4 billion in the Croatian economy and supported more than 850 companies with financing and advisory services. In recent years, it has stepped up its much-needed engagement in and support for policy reforms.

Victoria Zinchuk, EBRD Director for Central Europe, said: Since becoming the latest member of the EU, Croatia has made remarkable progress on its path to deeper integration and a more sustainable private-sector economy. However, the country still faces structural challenges compared with its regional peers, amid low economic diversification and modest productivity growth. The triple shock of the 2020 earthquakes, the pandemic and, more recently, the war on Ukraine has shown the need to improve the countrys overall resilience and capability to withstand external and internal vulnerabilities. Our new country strategy will support Croatia in achieving this goal through strengthened resilience and a more competitive, diversified and sustainable private sector.

Marko Primorac, Croatias Minister of Finance and the countrys representative on the EBRD Board of Governors, said before the strategys approval: I see the EBRD as a key institution that will continue to support the strengthening of the competitiveness of the private sector and the economy as a whole.

The first priority, private sector competitiveness, builds on the Banks efforts started in the previous strategy period. The EBRD will also continue to support the improvement of corporate governance and efficiency of state-owned enterprises as opportunities arise. It will assist small and medium-sized enterprises in adopting new practices and innovative products, and will build on its partnership with incubators and accelerators to step up support for start-ups.

As its second priority, the EBRD will intensify its work to accelerate Croatias green economy transition and its Paris alignment by further diversifying the energy mix and increasing renewable energy capacity, improving energy efficiency and building climate resilience. This will include further support for renewable energy projects and putting in place the preconditions for developing the countrys offshore wind and agri-solar potential.

As part of the third priority, the EBRD will provide support for green post-earthquake reconstruction and assist with urban regeneration programmes, while engaging with local municipalities and communities. The Bank will continue to promote access to skills, employment and finance, with a renewed focus on the integration of refugees and vulnerable segments of the population.

Of the EBRDs total investment over the last 30 years, more than 70 per cent has been in the private sector and more than 1 billion euro has been in sustainable infrastructure. The Bank invested 300 million in Croatia in 2022 alone.

The EBRDs technical assistance and advisory services in Croatia are supported by international donors, mainly the European Union, Taipei China and Japan, as well as multi-donor funds and the Banks own resources.
EMERGENCY services personnel and members of An Garda Siochana helped rescue a woman whose car had entered the water off a Cork harbour earlier this evening.

The incident occurred near Drake's Pool, Coolmore which is located just outside Crosshaven at around 6pm this evening.

The woman who was the sole occupant of the vehicle is believed to have escaped serious injury and has been taken to Cork University Hospital for an assessment.

Gardai and emergency services including fire crews from both Carrigaline and Crosshaven, paramedics, and Crosshaven Coast Guard attended the scene.

A Garda spokesperson told The Echo. A car drove into the river at 6pm. The female driver was taken away to Cork University Hospital (CUH) for medical treatment. She is okay.

A spokesperson for the fire brigade told The Echo that crews from Carrigaline and Crosshaven mobilised to the incident.

We got the call at 6pm from the coast guard who said that a car had gone into the river by Drakes Pool in Coolmore and somebody was inside the vehicle. The car was not fully submerged.

Fire crews from Carrigaline and Crosshaven mobilised to the incident."

"One crew from each station. When the fire crews left the scene the casualty was in the care of the HSE but all was good. Both fire crews are both back at base, the spokeswoman said.
GURRANABRAHER Credit Union held an open day tea party in the Bakers Road office recently, to celebrate the day it took its first savings deposits on May 5, 1963.

The founding committee met in 1963 in the basement of the church in Gurranabraher and decided to start a savings club to commence on May 5, 1963, with the sum of 5/- (5 shillings) being agreed as the most suitable amount for entry.

Pictured are, Linda and Owen Roche, at the Open Day to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Gurranabraher Credit Union, founded on the 05th May 1963, at Gurranabraher Credit Union, Bakers Road, Cork. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Chairperson of the credit union Michael OConnell welcomed everyone including special guest Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Damian Boylan to the event.

Mr OConnell thanked everyone for their hard work, including volunteers and staff for making the day such a wonderful success.

Pictured are Credit Union staff, Stephen Feeney, Clara Thompson, Lesley Ann Donovan, Ursual O'Donovan and Brian Neville, at the Open Day to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Gurranabraher Credit Union, founded on the 05th May 1963, at Gurranabraher Credit Union, Bakers Road, Cork. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

We were delighted to welcome so many members and friends of the credit union, as well as some relatives of our founders who attended, he said.

Mr OConnell recalled the great dedication and work put in 60 years ago to start the Credit Union.

Pictured is Emily Field with Vincent Ahern, at the Open Day to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Gurranabraher Credit Union, founded on the 05th May 1963, at Gurranabraher Credit Union, Bakers Road, Cork. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Over the 60 years since 1963, the Credit Union has gone from strength to strength with assets today of over a hundred million euro and two modern offices serving the members who live and are in employment in the northside community.

Mr OConnell said:

This is a very special day for the Credit Union: 60 years serving the community of Gurranabraher, Knocknaheeny, Churchfield, Sundays Well and Hollyhill.

Pictured holding the signed Original Minutes from the first Credit Union meeting is Marie Burke O'Sullivan, next to an image of her father Denis Burke, founding member of the credit union, at the Open Day to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Gurranabraher Credit Union, founded on the 05th May 1963, at Gurranabraher Credit Union, Bakers Road, Cork. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

He also thanked all the current members and former members of the board of directors for their valued contributions to the development of the Credit Union.

Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Damian Boylan congratulated the credit union on its 60th birthday and for their major contribution in the area, supporting the community and schools through their community and education sponsorship programme.

Pictured are, Michael O'Connell, Vice Chairperson Gurranabraher Credit Union, Rachel Hill and Niamh O'Mahony, Gurranabraher Credit Union Knocknaheeny branch and Brian Neville, CEO Gurranabraher Credit Union, at the Open Day to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Gurranabraher Credit Union, founded on the 05th May 1963, at Gurranabraher Credit Union, Knocknaheeny, Cork. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Mr Boylan added that the work of credit unions will continue to be at the heart of the local community.

Gurranabraher Credit Union has many events planned throughout 2023 for this anniversary year.
HOPE is being restored for many publicans across Cork city and county as new findings suggest promising growth in the industry.

Research for the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) revealed that 72% of publicans reported turnover at a similar level or exceeding pre-pandemic turnover, with the same number turning a profit in 2022. Almost three-quarters of publicans outside Dublin say turnover is now similar or greater than pre-Covid, with many expected to upgrade their pubs in the coming year.

This is despite spiralling energy costs, insurance and other operating expenses.

The survey of 514 members, conducted late last month by business consultants BDO on behalf of the VFI, found that 96% of those included operate standalone pubs while 4% are part of a chain.

Nearly a third or 30.8% describe their businesses as gastropubs, with the remainder being classified as traditional bars.

Cork City and County Chairperson of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland, Michael ODonovan put much of their success down to the determination of publicans.

Publicans have invested hugely in their premises, Mr ODonovan.

They know that they are not just competing against other pubs anymore. They are in competition with subscription television and home drinking. The characteristics of the pub trade have changed. People have different offerings now. Pub owners are putting more of a focus on food and assessing the best ways of attracting tourism.

He said that tourism is playing a huge part in keeping the pub trade alive. What we have seen from our research is that pubs in Ireland are an integral part of the tourism scene. They are a huge part of people coming to visit Ireland. We are asking the government for support so that publicans can have stability going forward. The 9% vat rate makes us competitive and will attract people to the country.

He described why publicans are facing even more challenges. Habits have changed. A lot of people are going out earlier and coming home earlier with the exception of the younger population.

He praised the resilience demonstrated by publicans since the Covid-19 outbreak. If you had asked any other industry to rebound, they may not have been as resilient. We have had to reinvent ourselves.

The survey was conducted as the VFI prepares to hold its 50th anniversary AGM at the Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim, Co Meath tomorrow.
A sentence of two years and three months was imposed on a man who sexually attacked a woman in Cork city - the victim having spent much of her life trying to come to terms with being sexually abused as a child.

Judge Dara Hayes said: Women are entitled to go out socialising, they are entitled to drink, they are entitled to not be hassled by men and they are most certainly entitled not to be sexually assaulted.

You saw a woman in a position of vulnerability and took advantage of her.

The accused man, 43-year-old Saadallah Ghoumrassi, who is from Algeria and living at temporary accommodation in Cork city, said in a letter for the victim, read out by a translator at Cork Circuit Criminal Court: For what I have done I ask forgiveness. It was a mistake. What I have done was wrong. I wish you a healthy and bright future. Thank you very much if you accept my apology.

The young woman, who is 21, said in a victim impact statement read on her behalf by Detective Garda Kevin Hastings that, within a week of the sexual attack on her on December 3, 2021, she attempted to take her own life.

She said the crime affected her mental health, adding: No matter if you say no, what you wear or where you go, people take advantage.

The young woman hoped that by making a complaint in this case it might help to prevent another girl being sexually assaulted.

The judge was previously told that the accused was horrified at what he saw of the crime on CCTV and at how he behaved. It was stated the accused quite shocked and that he did apologise to the injured party and gardai. He said: I am not a bad person. It is the first time in my life I did anything like this.

Judge Dara Hayes said: This is an appalling offence  to take advantage of a young woman as she walked the streets of her own city.

"She should be able to walk home (without anything like this).

Det. Garda Hastings said that the 21-year-old woman was in a vulnerable condition as she walked home from the city centre after midnight on December 3, 2021 when the sexual assault occurred.

She had drink taken and stumbled, and the defendant approached and offered to help her but she declined his help.

The detective said that following this initial encounter he sexually assaulted her twice as she made her way home.

The accused was assessed as being at low risk of sexual reoffending.
A motorist showed a contemptuous attitude to driving bans by committing multiple further counts of endangerment and dangerous driving  including the ramming of garda cars and driving the wrong way through a bore of the Jack Lynch tunnel when maintenance work was being done.

That was the view of Judge Dara Hayes in the cases against Tony Caulfield at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, as he imposed a sentence of four and a half years with the last two years suspended.

This was an appalling litany of driving offences covering large swathes of Cork city," said Judge Hayes.

"He drove the wrong way through the Jack Lynch tunnel (west through the eastbound bore) when unsuspecting maintenance workers were entitled to presume the absence of traffic.

"It is a miracle nobody was injured during either of the disgraceful episodes.

That he continues to flout disqualifications shows a contemptuous attitude on his part. He has ruined his own life.

"He is remorseful for his actions," the judge added. "He appears to be now ready to leave his destructive life behind him.

"He says he was young and stupid. The probation report puts him at a very high risk of reoffending."

Tony Caulfield of 221 Cathedral Road, Gurranabraher, Cork, admitted that on November 18, 2021 he endangered life in the early hours of the morning at the N20 Mallow Road, Killeens, Co Cork, by driving against oncoming traffic on a dual-carriageway causing risk of death or injury.

He also admitted that, on the same date, at the Skew Bridge, Lower Glanmire Road, Cork, he intentionally rammed two garda cars, endangering life.

Other counts against him at Cork Circuit Criminal Court included causing 7,000 worth of damage to a garda car at the Skew Bridge and causing 3,000 damage to another garda vehicle at Killeens on the same date. He admitted a third count of causing 6,000 damage to a patrol car at Mallow Road, Cork.

The defendant also pleaded guilty to related counts of dangerous driving at Sweeneys Hill and at Knockfree Avenue in Cork on the same date.

The same defendant was also sentenced for offences on February 25, 2021 when he sped in the wrong direction through the Jack Lynch tunnel while maintenance staff were working in the early hours of the morning.

The accused had two previous convictions for endangerment and 20 for dangerous driving.

Judge Hayes said it was a shocking litany of driving offences where garda cars were rammed, he drove through a total of eleven red lights and had no insurance for driving. In fact, he was under two different disqualification orders at the time.

Siobhan Lankford, defence senior counsel, said on behalf of the accused, who is in his mid-twenties: Clearly, he has - to say the least - a lamentable history in relation to driving. Over the last ten years he has hardly had a birthday or a Christmas that was not spent in prison. One hopes that, as often occurs when people reach a certain age, they steady up.
MANZINI - The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) has dismissed seven registration clerks, some of whom were sacked this past weekend.

The registration clerks were relieved of their short-term duties after being reportedly found participating in political demonstrations, or had political affiliations that the commission frowned upon. Since the begining of elections registration last Wednesday, approximately seven registration clerks have been dismissed by the EBC in an ongoing vetting process by the commission, though the commission did not wish to be drawn to confirm the number of clerks who have been relieved of their duties. On Saturday, a member of the Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), who was a registration clerk at Mafutseni RC Primary School in Manzini, was fired by EBC officials after being found to have participated in political demonstrations.

Dismissed

Senzo Dlamini shared that he was approached by EBC officials, who were in the company of police officers, and was told that he had been dismissed from working in the elections. He said the rationale behind the dismissal was that he subscribed to a political party, which was against the regulations of the commission. Dlamini said just like any human being, he simply applied for the job because he needed one to support his livelihood. Senzo confirmed to this publication that he was a member of PUDEMO. After being given the instruction to leave, I simply did that, he said. In another incident, one Lungelo Simelane (37), who was a Registration Clerk deployed at Mtsambama in Hlatikhulu, revealed that he together with four others, were dismissed after they were reportedly told they were involved in political demonstrations.

Narrating how this came about, Simelane said about a fortnight ago, he attended a workshop at Evelyn Baring High School at 4pm, after receiving a phone call from the commission. Subsequent to the workshop, Simelane narrated that they began working on Wednesday (May 10), from 7am until 5pm, until Saturday at 3pm, when he was approached by officials from the commission. They called me by name and requested me to step aside from my colleagues. The officers told me that angikahlobi, and I asked what they meant, Simelane said.

He mentioned that they informed him that he was found to have participated in the June-July political unrest in the country, where there was looting and burning of properties in the Shiselweni Region. Simelane revealed that he was accused of burning textile firms, peoples houses, as well as leading during protest marches. He told this publication that he informed the officials that he had nothing to do with any of the accusations levelled against him, save for fighting for change in Hlatikhulu.

Simelane said he was calling for the refurbishment of damaged roads and accountability from leaders who were expected to make change in the town. Unfortunately, according to Simelane, this resulted in chaos in town. He claimed that he was not part of the arsonists. I may have been seen walking with the (alleged) arsonists but I did not burn any structures, I wasnt even carrying any matches. I am not even a member of any political party, he said. He said he was currently home after the dismissal, as he was now without a job. Simelane said the dismissal came after some residents reportedly called the commission and complained about his participation in the elections as a clerk. His gripe was that he was neither arrested nor charged for any of the allegations levelled against him. He said he also had witnesses who could attest to this. He supposed that there was a relative who was behind his dismissal. Simelane said the relative had accused him of setting his house on fire. When drawn for comment, EBC Communications Officer Mbonisi Bhembe said vetting was still ongoing on registration clerks, as previously highlighted. Bhembe said this was not unique as it also applied to competent witnesses (imisumpe).

Provisions

He was asked to confirm the total number of dismissed elections workers, who were found to have flouted the commissions provisions. However, Bhembe said he could not reveal the figures as yet. He said the principle of those working in elections was that they should not be biased, and were required to be people who would not put the impartiality of the organisation at risk. You will recall that elections are quite sensitive and we want to be seen adhering to the principles, which not only belong to Eswatini but also are set by international bodies and other renowned election management bodies, Bhembe said. The communications officer said he would not delve into the details of what transpired to various individuals. Bhembe said this was an employer/employee issue, which the commission would not want to comment on. Nonetheless, he said the underlying principle was that if one was found having involved him or herself in other activities that would compromise the impartiality of the elections, they would be approached and dismissed.

This is especially because people were advised to declare their political involvement, which portrays ones honesty. But none had declared, he said. Bhembe was asked when the vetting process would end and he said it was ongoing. We will investigate and if we discover any elements of impartiality and those putting the elections at risk, we will rather let go of you than letting go of the elections, the communications officer reiterated. Comment from PUDEMO Secretary General (SG) Penuel Malinga could not be obtained at the time of compiling this report, as his mobile phone number was not available on the network. Meanwhile, the Political Party Assembly (PPA), which is the umbrella body of political parties in the country, through its Chairperson Nombulelo Motsa, said they got wind of the fact that some political party members were being dismissed by the EBC for affiliating with them. It is very wrong and discriminatory, a clear indication of what is currently happening in the workplaces, where employers discriminate against employees who are politically affiliated, Motsa said.

She went on to state that this was an infringement upon the rights of the people concerned and should be done away with, because employers were seen to be validating that it was wrong to be involved in political parties and wanting democracy. She said such raised eyebrows on the current system of government. During the training of the registration clerks, the EBC had advised them not to associate themselves with political parties, as such was against the EBC protocols and code of conduct.

Affiliated

The dismissal of election workers who have been found wanting is not a unique matter, as last Friday, this publication reported about a SWADEPA member who lost the elections job for reportedly being affiliated to the political party. Khaya Gina disclosed that he was dismissed after he was seen wearing a Swaziland Democratic Party (SWADEPA) T-shirt, a red beret and carrying a SWADEPA flag during Workers Day Celebrations at Mayaluka Stadium. Gina was to be stationed at the Lubombo Region. He further revealed that he received a call from EBC Lubombo Elections Officer Siboniso Nhleko, who informed him that he had been seen in his political party regalia, further reminding him about the provisions on associating with political parties. Gina said he was told that his actions proved that he was a comrade. He was reportedly replaced thereafter.
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.

New research from the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) shows half the number of farms that exist now will be gone by the end of the century, while the average farm size will double, a trend that could pose major risks for global food systems.

The study is the first to follow the size and number of farms yearly from 1969 to 2013, with projections through the year 2100, a press release from CU Boulder said.

We see a turning point from widespread farm creation to widespread consolidation on a global level, and thats the future trajectory that humanity is currently on, said Zia Mehrabi, the author of the study and assistant professor of environmental studies at CU Boulder, in the press release. The size of the farm and the number of farms that exist are associated with key environmental and social outcomes.

The study, Likely decline in the number of farms globally by the middle of the century, was published in the journal Nature Sustainability.

In the study, Mehrabi said that current development trajectories show the number of farms worldwide will likely fall from 616 million in 2020 to 272 million by the end of the century. In that time, the average farm size will double.

In some regions, such as Europe and North America, we will see a continued decline from recent history, whereas in other regions, including Asia, Middle East and North Africa, Oceania, and Latin America and the Caribbean, we will see a turning point from farm creation to widespread consolidation, Mehrabi wrote.

The study showed there will be fewer operating farms even in rural Asian and African communities that are farm dependent, the press release said.

In order to reconstruct the progression of farm numbers during the study time period and project them through 2100, Mehrabi evaluated data from the UN Food and Agricultural Organization on rural population size, agricultural area and GDP per capita for more than 180 countries.

Mehrabi found that a primary reason for the reduction in the number of farms globally was that more people migrate to urban areas as a countrys economy grows, meaning fewer people are left in rural areas to cultivate and tend the land.

This has been happening for decades in Western Europe and the U.S. According to the most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture data, there were fewer farms last year than in 2007.

Mehrabis analysis showed that, in the future, fewer people will own and farm what land is available, even if the amount of farmland remains the same worldwide, which could threaten biodiversity.

Larger farms typically have less biodiversity and more monocultures, Mehrabi said in the press release. Smaller farms typically have more biodiversity and crop diversity, which makes them more resilient to pest outbreaks and climate shocks.

This could threaten the worlds food supply. Previous research by Mehrabi showed that the smallest farms in the world harvest a third of the planets food on just a quarter of the worlds agricultural land.

The fewer farms there are, the less centuries-old knowledge exists that can be shared by Indigenous farmers. This valuable information is instead replaced by modern technology and mechanization.

Mahrabi said having a diversity of food sources has long-term benefits.

If youre investing in todays food systems with around 600 million farms in the world, your portfolio is pretty diverse, Mehrabi said in the press release. If theres damage to one farm, its likely the impact to your portfolio will be averaged out with the success of another. But if you decrease the number of farms and increase their size, the effect of that shock on your portfolio is going to increase. Youre carrying more risk.

Mehrabi hopes the findings of the study will lead to policies that preserve Indigenous knowledge, maintain climate resilience, ensure biodiversity conservation and provide improvement incentives for the planets rural economy.

This world in which significantly fewer large farms replace numerous smaller ones carries major rewards and risks for the human species and the food systems that support it, Mehrabi wrote in the study.




China considers cancelling more US corn purchases

Leading corn importer China may cancel more grain purchases from the US because it can buy more cheaply from Brazil, and some local swine feed producers are replacing corn with wheat, Taipei Times reported.

Corn futures in Chicago, Illinois, have been weighed down by Chinese cancellations of 832,000 tonnes of the grain over the last three weeks. Brazil's increased competition is highlighted by predictions that it will overtake the US as the top exporter this year.

China went on a corn buying spree in March, with the US government announcing purchases of nearly 4 million tonnes from March 14 to April 14.

However, US corn is less competitive, with Brazilian supplies about US$30 per tonne cheaper for delivery in the third quarter, according to traders.

The cancellations are also due to a lack of domestic demand for maize as animal feed.

Wang Xiaoyang, senior analyst at Henan-based Sinolink Futures, said demand for corn is extremely low, adding that feed producers are using a lot of wheat to replace corn.

Wheat prices in Henan are about CNY 180 (~US$26; CNY 1 = US$0.14) per tonne lower than corn prices, and they may fall further as a bumper harvest approaches.

Wheat also contains more protein than corn and can be used to replace some of the soybean meal used in feed.

Struggling Chinese swine farmers are doing everything they can to reduce feed costs, so traders and analysts say switching from corn to wheat is a natural choice.

The Chinese economy is also recovering more slowly than expected from COVID-19, which is affecting restaurant demand for food and corn consumption for starch.

Corn imports into the country reached a high of more than 28 million tonnes in 2021 before falling to around 21 million tonnes last year, customs officials said.

Inbound shipments were 7.5 million tonnes in the first three months of this year, up 6% from the same period last year, with the majority of cargoes coming from the US, Brazil, and Ukraine.

The cancellations occur as China anticipates a bumper corn crop.

Despite a government push to grow more soybeans, farmers in the northeast, the top production region for corn and soybeans, are more inclined to grow corn this year due to higher profits and easier management, CITIC Futures said.

- Taipei Times




South Korea' halal-certified beef anticipated to spur bilateral trade with Malaysia

With the first halal-certified Hanwoo beef exports from South Korea to Malaysia starting next month, bilateral trade between the two countries is expected to increase, and this is expected to spur the republic's export expansion to more Muslim-majority countries.

South Korean Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister (Mafra) Chang Hwang Keun said that following new export products to Malaysia, the trade figures could potentially be higher than last year's record of US$26.7 billion.

"Last year, the trade volume between South Korea and Malaysia reached US$26.7 billion, an increase of approximately US$6 billion or 30% compared to 2021," Chung said. "Although the total export value of Korean beef was about US$30 million last year, we expect positive effects in expanding our exchange as we continue to increase our trade with Malaysia.

"Given the high interest in Korean cuisine, influenced by the Korean wave, including from music and its (television) dramas, we will make efforts to further activate Korean beef exports."

Chang was in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for a three-day visit to meet government officials and import-related companies to further promote Korean Hanwoo beef exports.

He met his Malaysian counterpart, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu, and issued a joint declaration calling for expanding cooperation on food security, smart farming and food exports.

Chang said Malaysia is the first market for halal-certified Korean beef, and there is considerable space for halal beef exports to grow.

"We anticipate further expansion of exports to other countries that require halal certification, such as Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which have already completed negotiations on export inspections," he added. "We plan to make efforts to expand the export of Korean beef to other Islamic countries, including the UAE, by ensuring the necessary certifications and negotiations are in place."

Chang pointed out that after nearly five years of discussions, close monitoring and assistance by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim), the two countries have agreed on import hygiene conditions, with Mafra receiving final approval for the deal following inspections from January to February this year.

This latest development, in which Malaysia became the first country to showcase Hanwoo beef, also brought the number of countries able to import Korean beef to four, including Hong Kong, Macau and Cambodia.



Currently, only one slaughterhouse in Hongcheon, Gangwon province, has received halal certification in South Korea.



- Bernama
Zain Bahrain has deployed Ericsson's New 5G Hardware that is expected to save up to 18% more energy and weighs less than earlier generations of 5G radios, contributing to a better sustainable future.

The deployment is part of Zains commitment to creating a sustainable and greener telecom network in the kingdom. The new 5G hardware is the lightest and smallest Massive MIMO radio in the industry and is also the most energy-efficient radio of this type deployed in the region. It is also designed to accelerate 5G mid-band spectrum deployment and boost capacity, coverage, and connectivity speeds.

Ali Isa Al Yaham, Chief Technology Officer at Zain Bahrain, said: "Zain Bahrain aims to create a more sustainable future by deploying the latest energy-efficient technologies into its network and infrastructure. The new 5G hardware will improve energy efficiency and reduce the cost of operations and the impact on the environment. We will continue to provide our consumers and enterprises with the best network performance."

Continuously evolving

Zain Bahrain is committed to continuously evolving its network in the most sustainable way possible. The telco will continue to test more innovative technologies in the future as part of its sustainability strategy and the kingdom's effort to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs).-- TradeArabia News Service
Manx made rum gets Harrods boost

Rum distilled in the Isle of Man is being sold in Harrods as local distillery Outlier continues its London takeover.

The bright, art-led labels of white rum Hoolie, which were designed by local artist Megan Hindley, are now displayed alongside some of the world's most prestigious spirit brands on the illustrious shelves of Harrods.

Created by former journalist Rick Dacey and Ian Warborn-Jones, a winemaker with experience working in Portugals Valle Pradinhos vineyards, the Isle of Man rum is also being served at award-winning cocktail bar Trailer Happiness on Londons Portobello Road.

The friends set up the Outlier Distilling Company after transforming an old milking barn  in the middle of a working farm  into a distillery, with a 160-litre wood-fired still fuelled by off-cuts from a local sawmill, and using water drawn from the well of Ballakelly Farm. This is part of their pledge as a UNESCO biosphere partner to produce quality spirits in a sustainable way.

The co-founders do everything in the process by hand, from firing up the furnace to labelling the bottles.

Co-founder, Rick Dacey commented: We knew expansion into the UK market would be essential, and Harrods stocking our product is a stamp of quality that we are absolutely thrilled to receive.
On Thursday, Twitter CEO Elon Musk said he'd appointed someone to take over from him as CEO, and it didn't take long for that person's identity to be confirmed. Less than a day later, Musk confirmed NBCUniversal's head of ad sales, Linda Yaccarino, is taking on the job. Yaccarino is expected to start her new role in around six weeks and "will focus primarily on business operations, while I focus on product design and new technology," Musk wrote.

Yaccarino is known for being an "industry advocate for finding better ways to measure the effectiveness of advertising," according to The Wall Street Journal. Yaccarinos efforts at NBCU have included a close partnership with Twitter. This recently expanded for the 2024 Olympic Games, which will see Twitter host video from the event. Yaccarino tweeted at Musk around the time news emerged of the companies' renewed partnership. Hey, @elonmusk, heres an idea for our new partnership: Periscope for Paris 2024. Lets just go hi-res first," Yaccarino wrote.

Is that what we can expect from the new boss? Periscope, resurrected?

 Mat Smith

The Morning After isnt just a newsletter  its also a daily podcast. Get our daily audio briefings, Monday through Friday, by subscribing right here.

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It had been exclusive to Sonys retail site since launch.

PlayStation VR2 is now widely available after a two-month stint of exclusivity at Sonys Direct consumer storefront. The company revealed this would be happening last month but did not set an official date and didnt say which retailers would offer the headset. Well, now we know. You can pick up the PSVR2 at Amazon, GameStop, Best Buy and other smaller retailers.

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The first M3 chips will reportedly arrive later this year.

According to Bloombergs Mark Gurman, Apple is testing an M3 chipset with a 12-core processor and 18-core GPU. He speculates the M3 variant Apple is testing is the base-level M3 Pro the company plans to release sometime next year. Notably, the M3 line is expected to take advantage of TSMCs forthcoming 3nm node process. The move from 5nm to 3nm would appear to account for the increase in core density. Before we see the pro chip, however, wed first expect Apple to reveal the standard M3 chip.

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Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) has reported net income AED11.6 billion ($3.15 billion) during the first quarter (Q1) of the year, rising by AED9.6 billion, mainly from the one-off benefit of the transfer of its 5% stake in Adnoc Gas.



TAQA Group revenues reached AED13.1 billion, 6% higher than the prior-year period, primarily due to higher pass-through bulk supply tariffs and transmission use of system within the Transmission and Distribution segment.



Other financial highlights for Q1 2023:

 Adjusted EBITDA was AED5.3 billion, down 5%.

 Net income of AED11.6 billion was in part offset by a one-off AED1.2 billion deferred tax liability associated with the introduction of UAE corporate income tax from January 1, 2024. Net income excluding these one-off items was AED1.9 billion, overall in line with the prior year.

 Capital expenditure was AED1.1 billion, 26% higher than prior year.

 Free cash flow generation was AED4.3 billion, 31% higher compared to the previous year, despite the higher capital expenditure.

 Gross debt was AED59.8 billion, down from AED61.7 billion at the end of 2022, further improving the Groups credit metrics.



Strategic highlights for Q1 2023:

 Mirfa 2 RO Plant: TAQA and Engie signed a Water Purchase Agreement with EWEC for a 120 MIGD reverse osmosis (RO) plant in Abu Dhabi with financial close expected to follow shortly.

 Taweelah B IWPP: TAQA announced that it has acquired an additional 10% stake in the Taweelah B Independent Power and Water Plant (IWPP) in Abu Dhabi and a 25% stake in the plants operations and maintenance (O&M) company.

 GHG Emissions reductions in 2022: TAQA published its third sustainability report which outlined the Companys 8% reduction in GHG emissions in 2022, putting it firmly on track to achieve its 2030 targets.

 New dividend policy for 2023-2025: In view of the strategic decision to retain the Oil and Gas (O&G) business, at the AGA held in March, TAQAs shareholders approved an updated dividend policy for 2023 to 2025 based on a combination of fixed and variable dividend. Under the new structure, fixed dividends will be 3.25 fils/share in 2023, 3.50 fils/share in 2024 and 3.75 fils/share in 2025, paid quarterly. The variable dividend component will be paid annually and be based on a discretionary percentage of annual net profit from the O&G business.

 Five percent stake in Adnoc Gas: TAQA has had a long-standing strategic partnership with Adnoc, which continues to be solidified with recent transactions, such as the joint shareholding (along with Mubadala) of Masdar and the USD 3.8 billion project to decarbonize Adnocs offshore operations. In recognition of this ongoing relationship, TAQA received from Adnoc a 5% interest of the total issued share capital of Adnoc Gas, with no cash consideration paid for this stake. Adnoc Gas was listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange during Q1 2023 and represents a significant financial asset for TAQA. Furthermore, TAQAs net income is set to benefit from dividends from Adnoc Gas. Based on Adnoc Gas announced dividend policy, TAQA is expected to receive dividends worth AED298 million in 2023, rising to AED611 million by 2024.

 Expansion into EV infrastructure with Adnoc Distribution: TAQA and Adnoc Distribution has agreed to work together to establish a mobility joint venture, E2Go, to build and operate electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Abu Dhabi.



Operational highlights:

 Transmission network availability for power and water of 98.1%, compared to 98.0%, marginally higher versus the prior-year period.

 Generation global commercial availability of 98.8%, compared to 97.3% in the prior year, with the UAE plants in particular contributing to the increase.

 Oil & Gas average production volumes decreased to 119.9 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), a decrease of 5.52% on 2022. This decrease is mainly due to the natural decline in production and decommissioning activity associated with the Groups late-life UK assets.



Jasim Husain Thabet, TAQAs Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, commented: TAQA Group has closed a positive first quarter for 2023 with a significant boost to our net income from our new stake in Adnoc Gas. Outside of this, the company has made strong progress in delivering on our growth strategy alongside a steady financial performance.



On the growth front, we started the year by expanding our stake in Taweelah B IWPP and further strengthened our capabilities by expanding into the plants operations & maintenance, a key growth area for our business. We partnered with Engie to develop the Mirfa 2 RO plant, which will deliver 120 MIGD of desalinated water.



This plant is another important step in expanding energy efficient RO technology in our desalination fleet as we promised. In addition, shareholders approved a new dividend policy for 2023  2025 which is based on a combination of fixed and variable dividends and will offer attractive returns to our shareholders and is in line with our evolving business model, he added.



Upon approval of the financial results, TAQAs Board of Directors also declared a first interim cash dividend for the year of 0.65 fils per share (approximately AED731 million), in line with the Companys new dividend policy.



In addition to the Q1 2023 highlights, TAQA recently completed a dual tranche 5-year and 10-year bond offering. The successful placement of $0.5 billion 5-year and $1.0 billion 10-year senior unsecured notes was 10 times oversubscribed with demand from international investors and included TAQAs first ever company-issued green bond. These bonds were issued on the back of the Company establishing its first Green Finance Framework for the issuance of green bonds, sukuks, loans and other debt instruments. Proceeds from the issuance will go to eligible green projects.



The company also just hosted the successful second World Utilities Congress in Abu Dhabi which brought together major players across the entire utilities value chain, including ministers from over 20 countries.  TradeArabia News Service
Further education lawyers

Further education institutions have been hit hard by reductions in public funding. We know that you face the challenge of maintaining and increasing the quality of your provision while resources continue to contract.

Our experienced education lawyers can provide you with advice and support across the full spectrum of legal issues you may face, both nationally and internationally, including: corporate and commercial, charity law, employment, student/pupil matters, litigation and dispute management, real estate, intellectual property, health and safety, constitutional issues and regulatory advice.

We regularly work with colleges on collaboration projects and structural changes to increase efficiency, as well as assisting institutions to maximize the use of college estates and other resources. We also advise on the academization of sixth form colleges.

As well as working with further education colleges, we also work with a number of sector bodies and are regularly asked to speak at sector conferences and events. Our unique governance subscription service provides access to detailed commentary on college constitutions, template policies and a helpline that is accessed by governance professionals on a daily basis.

We pride ourselves on providing you with accountable, straightforward and cost-effective legal support. Our lawyers are committed to the college sector and believe in building long-term relationships with our clients. We can help you develop a strategy, consistent with your goals, to balance all of your legal and commercial needs, whether that involves looking outwards to other territories or forwards to new technologies  or minimizing risk and dealing with financial challenges closer to home. For colleges and anyone else in the further education sector, you should consider us as your strategic partners.

They have exceptional knowledge of the FE sector, are responsive and always follow up quickly."

- Chambers UK 2022 - Education: Institutions (Higher & Further Education)

Experienced further education lawyers

Our lawyers are experienced in all aspects of further education and colleges law. Our recent experience includes:

acting on some of the largest mergers in the FE sector

acting for UK colleges which set up FE institutions in Saudi Arabia as part of the Colleges of Excellence programme

acting on more than half of the Institutes of Technology recently set up

acting for a university on its establishment of a novel group structure of a university and a college in a group

acting on all the recent DfE-funded HE/FE groups

Contact our further education team

If you would like any further information or need advice related to further education, please contact our legal team.
Senior living and social care



Understanding senior living and social care

Eversheds Sutherlands Senior Living and Social Care practices comprise a multi-disciplinary team of lawyers that work together seamlessly. Our aim is to respond to your needs, wherever your business operates.

The current economic and regulatory climates represent significant opportunities and challenges for providers in the senior living and social care sector. One of the most significant is the cost of providing high-quality care for an aging population while public finances are under increasing pressure. In some jurisdictions, public scrutiny of the sector is also increasing, following recent high-profile investigations and media reports.

Experienced senior living and social care lawyers

Eversheds Sutherlands Senior Living and Social Care team has extensive experience of the issues faced by companies operating in this sector, including providers and developers. Our combination of in-depth industry and legal knowledge allows our lawyers to deal comprehensively with the issues that you face on a domestic and international level.

Our specialist services include:

funding, acquisition, development and the sale of land and properties

mergers and acquisitions, disposals, restructuring, equity and debt raising and property company structures

contractual issues with public authorities

reputation management and how to deal with issues arising from media scrutiny

employment law issues, including agency worker regulations, immigration, disclosure and barring and whistleblowing investigations

advising on the regulatory environment, for example UK organizations including the Care Quality Commission and OFSTED

criminal and health and safety legislation

commercial contracts, procurement and competition

Eversheds Sutherland works for some of the most influential players in the senior living and social care market. Our recent experience includes:

advising Four Seasons Healthcare on the acquisition of seven care homes from Majesticare and the acquisition of Optimum Care

advising a care home company in connection with the sale of a portfolio of homes to a U.S. real estate investment trust and arrangement to lease back the properties on a loan-to-own basis

advising a U.S.-based operator of senior living communities on a full-service basis in the UK. Our lawyers provided counsel on a range of high-value matters, including land acquisition, planning, construction, bank financing, regulatory, environmental and employment. We also offered legal support in a number of other operational areas

advising a number of care homes in the challenge of rate/funding proposals/contract renegotiations with local authorities

advising a home care provider on the successful challenge of a re-tender process run by a local authority for domiciliary care

Contact our senior living and social care team

If you would like any further information or need advice on senior living and social care matters, please contact our legal team.
Competition investigations



Competition authorities around the world have extensive and intrusive powers to investigate suspected competition law breaches. The focus of an investigation is usually the company itself, but in some jurisdictions authorities also have the power to investigate individuals. Competition investigations can take years, are resource-intensive, disruptive and expensive. Companies found to have breached competition law can be liable to significant fines (in the EU up to 10% of group worldwide turnover) and individuals can be imprisoned. Such investigations often result in costly litigation, as well as significant harm to a businesss reputation. Fortunately, Eversheds Sutherland is here to help you navigate this complex and critical legal area.

Experienced competition investigations lawyers

Companies under investigation need the support of lawyers who can guide them through the entire process. We deal with the relevant investigating authority and help you to implement the most effective strategy to protect your rights at each stage of an investigation and, ultimately, to minimize your liability.

Our competition, EU and trade group has extensive experience of defending clients under investigation by authorities around the world including the European Commission, individual EU member states, the US Department of Justice, the US Federal Trade Commission and US state antitrust enforcement agencies.

With teams throughout the EU, Asia, the US and other parts of the world, we provide local support combined with central coordination. Our approach ensures that the work is performed with the full benefit of our lawyers in-depth local knowledge and presented to you via one central point of contact.

Managing cartel and antitrust and competition investigations

Eversheds Sutherland has acted on many international and national cartel investigations, including some of the largest multi-jurisdictional investigations undertaken by the European Commission. In a significant number of cases we have secured non-infringement decisions, case closures, immunity or significant penalty reductions. We understand when to take a robust approach and when to build a constructive relationship with the authority. Our sole aim is to achieve the best possible outcome for your business. We advise on the best approaches to securing leniency, including handling the difficult HR issues that this may entail.

Such cases require the careful analysis of complex points of law and the review of vast amounts of data, often in multiple languages. They also involve the simultaneous management of several different work streams and strategic advice across multiple jurisdictions. Investigations can also escalate rapidly, which makes being able to predict where the process is heading crucial.

Eversheds Sutherlands in-house capability to host and review data without the need to engage external forensic IT providers allows us to manage this entire process. It also delivers savings for your business in terms of cost and time and puts us firmly in control. Our global reach and years of experience allow us to help you through the challenges of a competition investigation, wherever it arises.

Contact our competition investigations team

If you would like any further information or need advice on competition investigation matters, please contact our legal team.
EU and international trade law



Eversheds Sutherlands EU and international trade law team advises on a wide range of international trade and policy issues. Our lawyers work extensively in both the EU and US and are complemented by the on-the-ground experience of our global office network. We are active in a wide range of business sectors and have a deep understanding of their markets and business objectives.

These areas we work in include:

aerospace and defense

chemicals, oil and gas

commodities (hard and soft)

electronics

IT

industrial engineering

pharmaceuticals

semiconductors

steel

retail

technology and telecommunications

Whatever your needs, we are here to help you achieve your goals.

Experienced EU and international trade lawyers

At Eversheds Sutherland, we pride ourselves on providing practical and commercial advice in relation to trade law issues in a variety of areas. These include WTO law, export control and sanctions, tariff classification and customs regulation, anti-dumping and countervailing measures, as well as broader EU and US trade laws, including anti-bribery, anti-money laundering and anti-boycott laws. In the customs arena, we have crafted innovative solutions for a variety of companies and have extensive experience advising organizations on how to maximize the advantage of free-trade areas.

Our experience with anti-dumping and countervailing duty laws is wide-ranging and members of our team have played key roles in many of the most significant international trade disputes and proceedings. We have also helped to craft and monitor innovative settlements of such disputes.

Another aspect of our service is acting in regulatory reviews of foreign acquisitions and other investments. Our lawyers have handled major inbound and outbound transactions and have broad experience of reviews of foreign acquisitions of US firms by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). We have also assisted companies with respect to industrial security matters on acquisitions, including the design of innovative industrial security arrangements and organizational structures needed for foreign companies to invest in businesses. This area of our work includes sectors such as aerospace, defense intelligence and homeland security.

Trade negotiations post-Brexit

The precise implications for international trade of the UK referendum outcome are not yet known and will depend on the terms of any UK-EU trade agreement. There is a great deal of uncertainty as to what a post-Brexit UK will look like, with different sides of the debate continuing to offer different models for the UK to follow.

This uncertainty makes planning difficult and means that companies must keep abreast of the latest developments to inform their commercial decisions. However, there are aspects that you can begin to consider and plan for now, in order to protect your interests.

You should identify trading arrangements that are likely to be affected, review standard contract documentation and integrate Brexit risk identification and management into your operations. Key international trade law issues to consider include:

the different UK-EU relationship models that may be followed in the event of Brexit and the likely implications of each for trading relations

the consequences of falling back on the World Trade Organization model in the event that no UK-EU trade agreement is negotiated before Brexit

the potential impact of Brexit on export control and sanctions compliance, in particular trade of so-called dual-use goods

renegotiation rights or adjustment provisions to mitigate costs and management risks arising from regulatory divergence between the UK and the EU in the future, particularly where authorizations, customs formalities or licenses may change significantly on Brexit

review of pricing mechanisms that assume no tariffs, quotas or other trade barriers, or that are tailored to take account of particular savings or levels based on EU free movement of goods, services, people and capital

the impact of Brexit on the applicability of EU anti-dumping and countervailing duty measures in the UK and related risks to domestic industries

the impact of market disruption and currency fluctuations on the cost of contractual performance

an analysis of the ability to perform contractual obligations in the event of regulatory changes introduced post-Brexit

the post-Brexit evolution and terms of the trading relationship between the UK and other countries.

>

Following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the UK, EU and US have all responded by announcing significant sanctions in respect of Russia. We have also seen expanded sanctions in respect of Belarus. View the latest updates here

Contact our international trade law team

If you would like any further information or need advice on international trade law, then please do not hesitate to contact our legal advisors.
Export controls, sanctions and anti-money laundering

Export controls and sanctions are extremely complex. The consequences of non-compliance in this continuously changing area of the law can prove costly to your business. Breaches of relevant regulations come with the risk of substantial fines, loss of reputation, contractual penalties and logistical difficulties. Individuals can also face significant penalties, including criminal liability. Fortunately, Eversheds Sutherland is on hand to help your business chart its way through this challenging legal area.

Global export control advice

Our competition, EU and trade group is a one-stop-shop for advice on a wide range of import and export matters. We assist with compliance advice and audits, as well as disclosures of instances of non-compliance to national authorities. We provide training and tailor compliance policies and programs to mitigate the risk of non-compliance with applicable laws. We offer full and comprehensive coverage in all major jurisdictions, particularly in Europe and the US.

Our lawyers extensive experience on trade issues includes providing counsel on the sanctions programs administered by the US, the EU and its member states and the United Nations, anti-money laundering requirements, anti-boycott laws, anti-bribery statutes, short supply controls and other export restrictions.

Our global experience covers a variety of territories  including those of Brazil, Singapore, Japan, China and Hong Kong  and encompasses a wide range of products.

Export and import advice

We regularly counsel on customs classification, valuation and other aspects of customs duty laws and procedures, including such trade issues as rules of origin and anti-dumping and countervailing duty measures.

Our team routinely deals with large-scale projects involving multiple jurisdictions, as well as countless day-to-day compliance activities. We can also help your business to manage its operational risk on a global level.

We assist with technology-transfer regimes, helping them to obtain export licenses and structure technical assistance agreements and make other arrangements for both military and dual-use items and technologies. In the US, we have deep experience with a full range of industrial security and technology-transfer structures.

International investigations and voluntary disclosures

Our lawyers can conduct confidential internal investigations on behalf of your business. In addition to this, we will assist in the preparation and submission of voluntary disclosures to national enforcement authorities such as the US Departments of State and Commerce and the UK Export Control Organisation, with respect to violations of export controls, sanctions and other regulatory areas. Our experience includes negotiating consent decrees with such regulatory bodies to resolve violations, as well as addressing ancillary consequences including license suspension/revocation, debarments from government contracting and exporting. We have worked with a broad range of industries to resolve complex issues arising from potential export control and sanction violations.

Global export control compliance programs and training

Eversheds Sutherlands lawyers have designed and implemented customized global export control compliance programs, using a suite of different tools, including multi-jurisdictional audits, online and face-to-face training policies and guidance notes, hotlines and critical reviews of internal processes. We have a holistic approach to compliance and help to design programs that cover a full range of international business practice requirements, including anti-money laundering, sanctions, anti-bribery, anti-boycott and export control requirements. We offer an innovative online export control compliance training tool which we can customize to suit your specific needs.

Advice and solutions tailored to your business

We recognize that not all businesses have the same requirements and build our team around your needs. We draw on the experience of team members who have served in government and advised governments on these very issues. We can provide a single point of contact for global compliance and dispute resolution, ensure consistency of approach and connect you with individuals operating in the business on an international level, so that you can approach them directly on specific issues. We also understand that particular situations may require sensitive or classified issues to be disclosed only to nationals within the same country.

Experienced export control lawyers

We regularly advise on export issues affecting a range of sectors including IT, telecommunications, aerospace and defense, electronics engineering, chemical, oil and gas and pharmaceuticals. Examples of our recent experience include advising:

global commodity trading firms on the application of U.S. sanctions to their international operations.

a global leader in fuel logistics in respect of both UN and EU sanctions.

leading energy companies on the sanctions regimes against Iraq, Sudan and Libya.

China National Nuclear Corporation on EU/UK export controls in respect of investment in Hinkley Point C nuclear power station.

major multinationals on potentially unlawful export activities.

advising on and crafting voluntary disclosures to U.S. and UK authorities with respect to potential violations of applicable export control laws.

license applications to the U.S. Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to authorize activities otherwise subject to U.S. sanctions.

Contact our export control and sanctions team

If you would like any further information or need advice on export controls and sanctions, please contact our legal team.
Construction and infrastructure disputes



Eversheds Sutherland handles some of the largest and most complex construction, engineering and infrastructure disputes in jurisdictions around the world. Our international expansion, continuous innovation and investment in people over the past decade means that we are frequently called in to handle threats and disputes of the highest strategic importance for a wide range of organizations in the private, public, and non-profit sectors. Wherever you do business, our lawyers are here to provide effective advice tailored to your needs.

Experienced construction and infrastructure disputes lawyers

Eversheds Sutherlands construction and infrastructure disputes practices are experienced in construction contract drafting and negotiations. Our lawyers also have a keen understanding of risk and risk allocation. During contract execution, we counsel clients regarding performance, cost and financial issues, contract changes and delays, claims management, potential defaults, insurance matters and many other issues.

Should a dispute arise, we will protect your interests in negotiations, litigation, arbitration, mediation, adjudication and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. When a construction or infrastructure project runs into problems, we understand that you need focused and proactive legal counsel of the very highest quality. We provide essential support to your business when it needs it most. When necessary, our global network of lawyers is also on hand to fight for your interests across a wide range of jurisdictions.

Owing to the wide variety of construction, infrastructure and engineering projects we have handled, our practices also include process safety litigation, occupational health and safety litigation and industrial and construction workplace incident responses.

Our experience includes:

advising on the largest civil engineering dispute in Ireland, involving a number of parties and complex engineering and insurance issues. The dispute related to the design and construction of one of the most significant highways projects in Ireland. Issues include delay, allegations of defective drainage, piling design and payment

representing a major developer in a multi-million-pound dispute regarding the design and construction of one of the most iconic buildings in the UK

acting for a European engineering company in a dispute over the construction of the worlds largest man-made structure, designed to cover a destroyed reactor building

representing the US subsidiary of a Spanish conglomerate dedicated to the development and management of infrastructure and renewable energy in a dispute with a construction company (also a subsidiary of a Spanish company) in an ICDR proceeding arising out of the construction of the East Side Access tunnel project in Manhattan. The dispute was settled successfully before hearing

representing the subsidiary of one of the worlds leading industrial and systems manufacturers in a dispute with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The dispute concerned electrical work for a critical water filtration plant responsible for more than 10% of the citys water supply, all under the largest single construction contract in city history

representing the above client in three separate disputes with the DEP in connection to electrical work performed at waste water treatment facilities servicing the city

defending a major highway contractor in connection to EPA allegations of Clean Water Act violations related to the disposal of construction project material

Our dedicated and experienced construction and infrastructure disputes team can help you to resolve the most complex, high-value mechanical, electrical and instrumentation projects in the world.

Contact our construction and infrastructure disputes team

If you would like any further information or need advice on construction and infrastructure disputes, please contact our legal team.
Equity capital markets

Access to capital may be the single most important factor in the growth of any business, from the largest multi-national corporation to the smallest private firm. Knowing when to access the markets and how to structure additional capital issuances in an evolving regulatory environment can present significant challenges. We can advise you on successful capital markets transactions by working alongside you and your other advisers and operating in an efficient and cost effective manner to meet your growth objectives.

Legal advice in equity capital markets

We act for:

international and domestic issuers, including corporates and investment funds

investment banks and brokers

selling shareholders, including executives and other insiders

We have significant experience with:

initial public offerings

equity offerings, including overnight, bought, marketed and at-the-market deals

debt offerings, including retail notes and convertible debt

transferable and non-transferable rights offerings

private placements of debt and equity capital secondary offerings

block trades

the preparation of ongoing regulatory disclosure filings including shelf registration statements, quarterly, annual and current reports for domestic and foreign issuers

securities holdings reports by insiders and other significant shareholders

annual and special proxy filings and related proxy matters

proxy contests, activist investor engagement, and managing hostile bids

Our capital markets experience

Recent capital markets transactions include advising:

New River Retail Limited, a UK REIT specializing in value-creating retail property investment and active asset management, on its IPO, over 700m of subsequent fundraisings and its transfer to the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange

Eurocell plc on its 175m Main Market IPO

Investec Bank as sponsor and sole bookrunner on Sanne Group plcs 232m Main Market IPO

Investec Bank as nominated adviser and sole broker on Gamma Communications 165m AIM IPO

Greencore on its 80m rights issue to fund its 113m takeover of Uniq plc

Stifel Nicolaus Europe in its role as sponsor to Secure Trust Bank plc on the admission to the Main Market of the LSE

Waterlogic on its 112.5m IPO on AIM raising 41m

Guotai Junan as the sole sponsor, global coordinator and bookrunner for the China Creative Home Group Limited IPO

BOCI Asia Limited as the sole global coordinator, bookrunner, sponsor and lead manager in connection with the HK$1.09 billion IPO of leading PRC pharmaceutical group, Consun Pharmaceutical Group Limited in Hong Kong

Triangle Capital Corporation, a U.S. middle market lender, in its $119.7m follow-on equity offering

New Mountain Finance Corp, a U.S. middle market lender and investor, in its $50m senior unsecured notes offering

Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo Securities, Goldman Sachs & Co., Credit Suisse and UBS Investment Bank in TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp.'s initial public offering, raising $143.7m for this U.S.-based venture growth lender

Owl Rock Capital Corporation in connection with its $2b private placement offering to launch this New York-based private business development company

Our team includes attorneys who previously served on the staff of national securities regulators in the U.S. We routinely interact with these agencies in connection with the filing of registration statements and other securities filings on behalf of our clients and maintain strong relationships with the staff.

Whether you are issuing securities on the NYSE, LSE (Main Market and AIM), HKSE, Singapore Exchange, the Frankfurt Exchange or any other major global market, we have extensive knowledge and experience to make it successful.

Contact our equitycapital markets team

If you would like any further information or need advice on capital markets law, please contact our legal team.
Xi, Central Asian leaders announce establishment of head-of-state meeting mechanism 19 May 2023 | 11:31 AM Xian, May 19 (UNI) Chinese President Xi Jinping and leaders of five Central Asian countries announced on Friday the official establishment of a mechanism for meetings among the heads of state of China and Central Asian countries. see more..

11 killed after vehicle falls off cliff in S China 19 May 2023 | 10:59 AM Nanning, May 19 (UNI) Eleven people were killed in a road accident in Jingxi City of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region early on Friday, according to local authorities. see more..

Arab League summit to take place in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah 19 May 2023 | 10:59 AM Jeddah, May 19 (UNI) A summit of the League of Arab State (LAS) will take place in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah on Friday. see more..

G7 summit to take place in Japan from May 19-21 19 May 2023 | 10:46 AM Hiroshima, Japan, May 19 (UNI) The G7 summit will be hosted by Japan in the city of Hiroshima from May 19-21. see more..
Energy and infrastructure regulations

Eversheds Sutherland offers energy industry clients the regulatory and compliance services necessary to solve critical business challenges. Our experienced energy regulatory lawyers often appear before federal and state commissions on rate making and policy matters. These can include wholesale and retail energy markets, natural gas and crude oil pipelines and electric transmission lines and local distribution companies.

Experienced energy and infrastructure regulations lawyers

Our energy transactional attorneys understand the unique characteristics of energy industry transactions, our corporate attorneys frequently counsel energy trading companies on structured deals, mergers and acquisitions, and a variety of related transactions, and our litigation attorneys can provide you with strategic insight from the very beginning as well as aggressive advocacy when needed.

The result is a team that quickly and effectively reconciles the commercial and regulatory aspects of energy transactions with the relevant compliance and enforcement issues. For you this means minimal business complications in your dealings with regulators.

In the US, our lawyers frequently appear before FERC, CFTC, EPA, DOT, SEC, FTC, BOEMRE, DOE and state regulatory bodies. We can offer you detailed monitoring and daily notices of developments, customized analysis for individual clients, and we host working sub-groups specific to various areas of the Dodd-Frank Act.

Our lawyers also advise on EU/UK regulatory schemes, such as EMIR and MiFID II. Our international footprint allows us to advise clients from a global perspective, helping them understand how regulatory measures in the US and EU may affect their business globally.

Contact our energy and infrastructure regulations team

If you would like any further information or need advice on energy and infrastructure regulations, then please do not hesitate to contact our legal team.
Leveraged finance

Eversheds Sutherlands international leveraged finance practices advise Banks, Direct Lending Funds, Private Equity houses and Borrowers on leveraged finance transactions in primary and secondary markets. Wherever you operate and whatever your needs, we are here to assist you.

Experienced leveraged finance lawyers

Our lawyers act for all the major UK banks, Direct Lending Funds and many of the worlds top 50 banks and financial institutions. We also act for Private Equity houses and Borrowers on their leveraged finance needs. To offer advice and solutions specifically tailored to your business, they frequently collaborate with colleagues in Eversheds Sutherlands Tax, Corporate, Real Estate, Pensions and Employment teams.

Eversheds Sutherland is active in sectors including, financial services, business services, TMT, healthcare, industrials and energy and natural resources. Our wide-ranging industry knowledge means that we truly understand your business goals and are ready to help you realize them.

Our experience includes:

leveraged buy-outs and buy-ins (institutional and management) including refinancings and recapitalisations

corporate acquisitions, both public and private (including domestic and cross-border acquisitions

unitranche, super senior, mezzanine, bridge and other structured financing (including cross-border syndicated ABL facilities)

restructurings, distressed M&A and debt for equity swaps

An experienced leveraged finance legal team

Our recent work includes:

advising a direct lending fund in relation to the financing of a UK sponsors acquisition of a media software company

representing CoBank ACB as the administrative agent in a $960 million secured, syndicated revolving and term loan facility for a leveraged telecommunications acquisition and in refinancing involving three publicly reporting companies

advising the bank lender in relation to the provision of super senior revolving credit facilities alongside a 18.5m unitranche financing provided by a direct lending fund

advising a borrower client on its re-organisation, refinancing and new investment by a direct lending fund, where the financing package of 1bn+ represented one of the largest European private credit transactions to date

advising the direct lending fund in relation to a debt recapitalisation by way of HoldCo PIK bridging facilities and revolving credit facilities

advising the sponsor and newco in relation to a 100m+ first out last out financing by a direct lending fund and bank to finance an MBO in the technology sector

advising a syndicate of European banks on cross-border leveraged finance, in relation to the acquisition of an Italian engineering business

Contact our leveraged finance team

If you would like any further information or need advice on leveraged finance law, please contact our legal team.
Where activity meets creativity

Alternative legal and compliance services developed by Eversheds Sutherland

Legal, compliance, corporate secretarial and HR services that connect with you in many ways. Thats Konexo. Through creative use of emerging technology and global resources, we connect your needs with real benefits, and your challenges with transformative solutions. This is where complexity meets clarity.

Konexo is now present in the UK, US, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.

Find out more by visiting the Konexo website
Insurance M&A, reinsurance and restructurings

At Eversheds Sutherland, we understand the specialized issues that arise when insurers, reinsurers, distributors, investment advisors and insurance intermediaries are involved in mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, reinsurance or restructurings.

First and foremost, we are dedicated insurance lawyers who know the insurance industry from top to bottom, rather than generalists who work in the sector only from time to time. Our decades of insurance experience allow us to devise practical solutions to complex problems, identify fresh opportunities, head off potential pitfalls and ensure that our clients get the outcomes they hope to achieve. Our M&A lawyers are supported by a deep bench of tax, regulatory, employment, intellectual property and technology and disputes lawyers who likewise are deeply immersed in the insurance sector and help insurance clients identify and manage business and legal risks to get deals done in a timely and efficient manner.

We advise some of the largest insurance companies on:

stock/share and asset acquisitions and dispositions (including change of control laws and regulations)

business transfers, including interim and permanent reinsurance and portfolio transfers (Part VIIs etc.) and related security arrangements

bulk reinsurance and complex reinsurance transactions for acquisitions and dispositions of non-core businesses

transformative transactions such as mergers, demutualizations, mutual holding company conversions and tie-ins

transfers of renewal rights

transfers of retirement services businesses and insurance distribution businesses (broker-dealer, insurance agency, investment advisor)

formation of insurance vehicles

group restructurings, including through the use of portfolio transfers and cross-border mergers

joint ventures and strategic alliances

ordinary course reinsurance, including contract wordings.

Our thorough knowledge of virtually every form of insurance-related transaction covers the full range of issues that are likely to arise, including corporate, tax, securities, antitrust, intellectual property and employment matters, as well as the matters that are special to insurance, such as reinsurance, regulatory and rating agency capital, distribution channels and market practice. This knowledge not only makes us well suited to represent either a buyer or seller in insurance and reinsurance transactions, but also enables a laser-like focus on our clients' needs.

Recent transactional work by the firm and members of the insurance M&A team at predecessor firms includes:

acted for Capita on its 412m offer for Xchanging plc in the UK.

represented EXOR S.p.A., as insurance M&A and regulatory counsel, in its successful contested acquisition of PartnerRe Group for $6.8 billion (named 2016 Global M&A Deal of the Year: Offshore by The American Lawyer)

advised on all aspects of the creation, administration and operation of Flood Re, the innovative world first solution for flood insurance in the UK that represented unprecedented co-operation between the Association of British Insurers, the government, the UK insurance market and the global reinsurance market

represented Nationwide Group in its recent acquisition of Jefferson National Life Insurance Company

represented The Hartford in the strategic sale of all of its U.S. life insurance business to Prudential

represented MassMutual in its recent acquisition of the retail brokerage business of MetLife

represented the selling shareholders in the auctioned sale of Maxum Indemnity Company, Maxum Casualty Insurance Company and Maxum Specialty Services, Inc.

represented Unum Group in its recent acquisition of Starmount Life Insurance Company and affiliates

acted for Legal & General on the sale of Legal & General Holdings (France) S.A., a specialist player in unit-linked savings and group risk, headquartered in Paris

acted for a UK insurance company on a transfer of engagements under the Friendly Societies Act 1992

acted for a UK mutual on the sale of its 18 billion life insurance business

assisted with sales and acquisition of insurance intermediaries for Aon UK

Our M&A team provides our insurance clients with clear, strategic guidance to avoid traps that can delay or derail transactions or result in unintended consequences. We are widely acknowledged in the industry for our pragmatic business judgment and approach and creative problem-solving skills, all of which enable our clients to achieve their business and legal objectives on their most important mandates.

Contact our insurance and reinsurance industry mergers and acquisitions team

If you would like any further information or need advice on insurance and reinsurance industry mergers and acquisitions matters, please contact our legal team.
Insurance financing and capital markets

Insurance companies confront a myriad of regulatory, tax, accounting and structuring considerations when they look for financing solutions to their capital, liquidity or risk management needs. They regularly need lawyers with a broad range of practical experience and deep industry knowledge to assist them. Eversheds Sutherland lawyers have spent decades helping insurers access capital markets and pursue new financing strategies.

We advise clients on complex transactions that enable them to improve liquidity, strengthen capital, manage risks and expand businesses. Our multidisciplinary approach brings together the collective experience of seasoned professionals in finance, securities, swaps and other derivatives, tax, insurance and reinsurance to help clients find and implement the best financing solutions.

Our understanding of insurance encompasses products, distribution, operations, regulation, reserving, risk transfer, reinsurance credit, taxation and the competitive landscape. We handle onshore and offshore captives and funds, equity offerings, securitizations and insurance-linked securities (including advising on the newly developing ILS regime in the UK), catastrophe (CAT) bonds and extreme mortality bonds, equity-linked products and private placements, debt offerings, premium financing, investment grade bonds and hybrids, derivatives and industry loss warranties, bespoke insurance coverage, all forms of reinsurance, surplus notes and securities backed by funding agreements and distressed debt trading and restructuring. Eversheds Sutherland guides insurance companies and regulators through XXX and AXXX and AG 48 compliant transactions in the United States.

Recent transactional work by the firm and members of the insurance M&A team at predecessor firms includes:

Represented a large U.S. publicly traded company and its life insurance subsidiaries domiciled in various U.S. jurisdictions in their reserve financing transactions for life and annuity products through on-shore or offshore captives, funded surplus notes issuances, bilateral letter of credit facilities, note for note exchange transactions using trust notes or credit linked notes, or financial reinsurance structures

Represented a U.S. life insurance subsidiary of a large internal insurance company in its captive reserve financing transactions involving both life and annuity products.

Represented a U.S. life insurance company in its reserve financing transaction with excess of loss and monthly renewable term reinsurance facility sponsored by an unaffiliated third party reinsurer

Represented a U.S. life insurance company in connection with its reserve financing transaction backed by a credit linked note, swap and retrocession

Represented two affiliated U.S. life insurance companies in their XXX/AXXX reserve financing transactions and Rule 144A notes offering

Represented insurance holding company in Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of senior unsecured notes

Represented a mutual insurance holding company in its reinsurance of a regulatory closed block to a captive using a note for note exchange structure

Represented various companies in their cat bond issuance covering U.S. wind and earthquake risk, European wind, or Japanese earthquake risks

Our insurance know-how helps insurance clients develop solutions that enable them to manage tactical day-to-day issues as well as implement strategic, long-term plans.

Contact our insurance financing and capital markets team

If you would like any further information or need advice on insurance financing and capital markets law, please contact our legal team.
Insurance taxation

The Eversheds Sutherland Insurance Taxation group addresses the most challenging tax issues facing the insurance industry, particularly those confronting multinational insurance companies. We assist clients on taxes that affect day-to-day operations, the tax aspects of proposed acquisitions, dispositions, and reorganizations, the tax treatment of reinsurance transactions and surplus enhancement programs, product tax design, and the tax treatment of policyholders and shareholders.

We provide counsel on the full range of tax matters involving insurance products, from the design of tax-compliant life insurance and annuity products for the retail, private placement, and corporate markets to the remediation of products that fail to be tax compliant. We advise on policyholder tax matters and excise tax concerns. We also work with corporate clients other than insurance companies to assess their insurance programs, including COLI/BOLI arrangements, and with major investment banks in developing investment strategies that support variable products. Our lawyers are leading advisers on property casualty, captive insurance, and other risk funding plans, and we are at the cutting edge of tax and related business issues associated with new insurance products and their marketing.

Financial service taxation offerings include:

assisting insurance companies with tax planning and transactional work

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) compliance

handling company tax controversies at all stages

cross-border reinsurance, transfer pricing, and planning work

Recent experience includes:

advising a large international insurer on the tax implications of the sale of its U.S. insurance operations

representing two international insurers on the restructuring of their U.S. operations

representing an international insurance company in tax litigation regarding a $306 million tax refund

auditing Bermuda insurer operations for compliance with tax guidelines

Our financial products tax insurance team provides experience and knowledge with respect to all types of insurance issues. We help insurance and other financial service companies manage risk while maximizing shareholder and policyholder value.

Contact our insurance taxation team

If you would like any further information or need advice on insurance taxation matters, please contact our legal team.
Appellate



Eversheds Sutherland represents clients in appeals around the world, including the United States Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal, the Court of Appeal in London and the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong. Whatever your appellate needs, we are here to assist your business.

Experienced appellate lawyers

Since 1938, when Sutherlands founding partner Judge Elbert P Tuttle argued in the US Supreme Court to establish a Sixth Amendment right to counsel in criminal cases ( Johnson v. Zerbst , 304 US 458), our lawyers have been lead appellate counsel both in cases we have tried and in cases brought to us by other counsel after trial.

Our appellate team is distinguished by deep knowledge of a wide variety of industries and the substantive law governing them, combined with extensive experience before appellate courts. In the US, in the past five years alone, we have worked on appeals before the Supreme Court of the United States, every federal circuit and many state appellate courts.

Our lawyers also provide valuable assistance during trial court proceedings. Working closely as part of the trial team, they develop legal theories, draft complex motions and jury charges, ensure preservation of the record for appeal and handle interlocutory appeals and mandamus proceedings that arise during trial court litigation. Most are also experienced trial lawyers and all are dedicated to helping their clients win.

Our experience includes:

antitrust

bankruptcy

class actions

construction

education

employment

energy

franchising and distribution

insurance

intellectual property

land use

professional liability

real estate

securities

telecommunications

Learn more about the US federal and state appellate courts, including an appellate spotlight.

Contact our appellate team

If you would like any further information or need advice on appellate law, please contact our legal team.
Professional liability

The standards that govern professional services provided by accountants and lawyers are complex and evolving. Should you, as a company or individual, become the focus of litigation or regulatory investigations, it is vital to be able to turn to a legal team that understands your profession and is experienced in defending it.

Broad base of experience defending accountants and lawyers across industries and jurisdictions

For more than 30 years, Eversheds Sutherlands Professional Liability practice has represented international accounting and law firms in hundreds of matters, ranging from routine third-party discovery to complex, multi-jurisdictional lawsuits and regulatory actions. We pride ourselves on providing high-quality advice and a cost-effective service. We strive for efficient, favorable resolutions, but we also have a strong track record of taking cases to trial and winning.

Our team has represented accounting firms in jurisdictions including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. Our U.S. regulatory experience on behalf of accounting firms includes such organizations as the Securities and Exchange Commission, the US Department of Justice, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, state and federal agencies, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and state boards of accountancy.

We are well-versed in the range of challenges that can face your business. We have defended accounting firms with respect to nearly every category of professional service, including audit and assurance, tax, actuarial matters, and consulting. These cases have involved a wide cross-section of industry sectors including retirement and pension plans, mortgage-backed securities, sub-prime lending, banking, oil and gas, healthcare, insurance, construction, manufacturing, distribution, retail, real estate limited partnerships and computer software.

We also represent law firms in a variety of disputes, ranging from legal malpractice and fraud actions to securities arbitrations and claims under workers compensation statutes.

Our range of services for lawyers and accountants includes:

AICPA, PCAOB and state licensing board proceedings

False Claims Act

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

internal investigations

investigations and litigation brought by bankruptcy trustees, receivers and creditors

jury trials, bench trials and arbitrations

malpractice and professional negligence claims

negligent misrepresentation and fraud claims

regulatory investigations

securities fraud class actions

state and federal RICO actions

Recent professional liability experience

Defending a Big Four accounting firm in a number of negligent misrepresentation and professional negligence lawsuits arising from the bankruptcy of the firms audit client, which was formerly one of the largest privately held mortgage originators in the United States. Prior to trial, the cases were resolved to the mutual satisfaction of the parties

Representing a Big Four accounting firm in a series of related matters including a $350 million accountants' liability class action, various derivative shareholder claims, a bankruptcy-related adversary proceeding, and accompanying regulatory investigations related to audit work performed for a national jewelry store chain. The class action and adversary proceedings were settled on favorable terms and no regulatory action was pursued.

Defending a major international law firm in civil litigation alleging that the firm aided and abetted a Ponzi scheme involving sales of more than $60 million in business opportunities. A putative class of investors in the scheme and a receiver for the defunct former client also brought claims including professional negligence and breach of fiduciary duty. On motion, the federal court dismissed all class claims. The parties later resolved the former client's claims.

Representing a former Arthur Andersen partner in a broad array of litigation and investigations arising from the collapse of Enron Corporation, including several class-action lawsuits, regulatory enforcement investigations, grand jury proceedings and state licensing boards. Drawing on the skills of partners in several practice areas, we achieved satisfactory results for our client in a high-profile, politically charged representation.

Defending a US national law firm against claims by one of its former clients, who alleged that the firm took on an adverse representation when the firm added lateral attorneys. We obtained summary judgment on multi-million dollar damages claims and summary judgment on an injunctive relief claim that sought to disqualify the firm from hundreds of cases.

Contact our professional liability team

If you would like any further information or need advice on professional liability law, please contact our legal team.
Pension plan investment

Pension plans are investing in more complex ways than ever before. Without diligent and thorough legal advice delivered by lawyers who have extensive experience in the field, fiduciaries, trustees and plan sponsors could find themselves under scrutiny for failing to take appropriate legal advice, or even entering into investments on questionable terms. Our team can translate these complexities into advice that is meaningful and tailored to your needs.

Experienced pension plan investment lawyers

With extensive knowledge on the full range of investment products, we can advise you throughout the pension plan life cycle on any proposed investment. We can also advise providers on their products for pension plans, and sponsors on plan investments. Our role is to guide you through your chosen investment and the legal complexities of financial securities law and pension regulations that apply.

We have extensive experience advising on:

investment management agreements

pooled funds

investment linked life policies

liability-driven investment solutions

derivatives

structured products

buy-ins and buy-outs

stock lending and repos

custody arrangements

Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) issues

choice and integration of fiduciary managers

employer stock investments

selection of default funds

An experienced pension plan investment team

Our team is at the forefront of innovation in this area, having worked closely with government and providers to develop new products for use by pension plans. With substantial experience advising on pension investments, the Eversheds Sutherland team can deliver advice to you quickly and cost-effectively. We are passionate about building relationships with you, becoming part of your team and continually delivering practical solutions to the issues you face.

You can expect advice that is consistently:

of the highest quality

tailored to your needs

commercial and pragmatic

focused on the key legal risks you face

oriented to the implementation of your investment strategy

Contact our pension plan investment team

If you would like any further information or need advice on pension plan investment, please contact our legal team.
Funds tax

Eversheds Sutherlands funds tax practices advise on a wide range of tax issues for the asset management industry. We have a longstanding reputation for cutting-edge work that provides innovative solutions for asset managers and their investment products. Our work is based on broad experience and deep knowledge of all types of investment funds: regulated or unregulated, our dedicated lawyers are on hand to meet your needs.

Experienced funds tax lawyers

We have influenced the development of UK funds taxation for many years, playing an active role on all relevant HM Treasury and HM Revenue & Customs working groups. For our innovative work with the UK Government in creating the new tax-transparent fund, known as the authorised contractual scheme (ACS), we also won the James Bullock Award for Outstanding Achievement in a Legal Firm at the Taxation Awards 2016. Among our lawyers are active members of key industry committees.

Our team covers all types of fund structure including open and closed-ended, regulated and unregulated funds in corporate, trust, co-ownership and partnership form. We advise on funds in key fund jurisdictions including Luxembourg, Ireland, the Channel Islands, Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands, as well as the UK and U.S.. Our range extends to all asset classes and covers all taxes, acting for a broad range of managers, investors, depositaries/custodians, funds and investors.

Regulated investment fund tax

Our tax advisers are highly experienced in regulated investment funds markets including UK-authorized investment funds, U.S. mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and business development companies.

We have a long track record of achieving tax-driven industry firsts whilst acting as sole or lead adviser. These include the first London-listed closed-ended Guernsey hedge funds, the first institutional and retail property authorised investment funds (PAIFs) to convert and launch and the first securities and real estate authorised contractual schemes. We were also the sole tax adviser on the only PAIF merger to date.

With years of experience as tax advisers for business development companies (BDCs), we have represented BDCs or underwriters in many public offerings. In addition, we have been at the forefront of structuring non-traded and private BDCs, as well as conversions of private funds to BDCs.

Our fund tax advisers were instrumental in the development of the first commodity exchange-traded funds utilizing a publicly traded partnership structure. We are already working closely with clients on the next set of developments.

Unregulated and closed-ended investment funds tax

Our dedicated investment funds tax lawyers have extensive experience of acting for unregulated open and closed-ended funds of all types. These include listed investment trust companies and their offshore counterparts, UK and U.S. real estate investment trusts (REITs) and alternative and private funds, including real estate, debt, hedge and private equity funds formed in the UK, U.S., Luxembourg, Ireland and elsewhere

Contact our funds tax team

We regularly provide client updates and seminars. If you would like any further information or need advice on matters related to funds tax, please contact our legal team.
New Delhi/Suva, May 15 (UNI) India conveyed its warm greetings to Fiji on the special occasion of Girmit Day  to commemorate the day when the first batch of Indian indentured labourers arrived via ship to Fiji on May 14, 1879, under then British colonial rule.

Around 60,000 Indian labourers arrived on the South Pacific archipelago in 42 ships and 87 voyages. The Leonidas was the first ship that brought Indians, which became a historical landmark to remember and commemorate.

Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, who was present on the occasion in Suva, conveyed the greetings of the Government of India.
M&A and reorganizations

Eversheds Sutherland helps clients find their way through the increasingly complicated maze of tax obstacles that come with mergers and acquisitions and restructuring. With 160-plus attorneys across more than 20 countries, we have a robust team that delivers high-quality tax advice and tax transactional support across a large number of jurisdictions. Whatever the needs of your business and wherever you operate, we are on hand to help.

Experienced international tax lawyers in mergers acquisitions and reorganizations

Working closely with Eversheds Sutherlands corporate practices to formulate and implement strategies, we ensure that all aspects of a deal have been carefully addressed and that it is structured to be tax-efficient for all parties. Our international tax team handles transactional tax matters, including mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, spin-offs, internal restructuring and reorganizations, as well as issues related to financing such matters.

Our recent experience includes:

acting as tax counsel in a $25 billion spin-off

serving as U.S. tax counsel in $3 billion credit agreement for Altria

aiding Altria and Kraft in the $15 billion acquisition of Nabisco and subsequent Kraft IPO

serving as tax counsel to Mondelez International in the 2015 formation of the $5 billion Jacobs Douwe Egberts global coffee joint venture with DE Master Blenders

advising Horizon Pharma PLC on European tax aspects of its $800m acquisition of Reptor Pharmaceutical Corporation

providing tax transactional support on Chemturas sale of its agrochemicals business Agrosolution in 36 jurisdictions

Chambers USA has commended the practice as impressive and effective, with a wide experience base.

Contact our international tax team

If you would like any further information or need advice on international tax law, please contact our legal team.
U.S. state and local tax



Experienced state and local tax law lawyers

As state and local jurisdictions in the US evolve their tax systems and engage in increasingly sophisticated enforcement and litigation strategies, businesses need sound state and local tax (SALT) advice more than ever before. Eversheds Sutherlands SALT practice is committed to delivering innovative solutions that meet the needs of your business.

At Eversheds Sutherland, we have more than 60 years experience in state and local tax issues and maintain one of the largest SALT practices in the world. Our lawyers represent roughly one-fourth of the Fortune 100 and many top privately held companies on US state and local tax matters.

We provide advice on the full spectrum of state and local tax consulting, planning, compliance, and policy matters. These areas involve all tax types, including income, sales and use, property and telecommunications taxes. Whenever it is in your best interests, we are also prepared to fight. We represent a diverse range of clients in every facet of state and local tax controversies and litigation. Our lawyers regularly appear before state and federal courts and administrative bodies across the US.

Our SALT teams in-depth knowledge of tax policy and legislative advocacy complements our tax planning and controversy support. We are deeply involved in policy and legislative issues at every level of government across the U.S. and enjoy significant credibility with, and access to, high-level state and local tax officials.

An experienced SALT team

We have extensive economic development experience, assisting companies in a variety of indUStries to negotiate, secure and defend state and local tax credits and incentives in jurisdictions across the U.S.

Some of our recent experience includes:

winning a $50 million tax refund from Oregon in a property tax case

successfully appealing Microsofts characterization of software sales for income tax purposes

saving a Fortune 100 tech firm $70 million in potential Washington State sales tax liability

See how taxpayers are faring in the their most recent court battles with states in the latest edition of the Eversheds Sutherland SALT Scoreboard, in which we analyze and observe the latest trends in taxpayer wins and losses.

Contact our state and local tax team

If you would like any further information or need advice state and local tax law, please contact our legal team.
Health and Safety

Safety issues present an ongoing compliance challenge for all business sectors. The moral consequences of getting these areas wrong inevitably damage reputation and market value while increasing exposure to fines and litigation. Regulators continue to place new and more stringent demands upon businesses to meet enhanced standards.

We have a global team of dedicated lawyers committed to providing the security of a complete corporate defence  whatever the circumstances. We proactively advise on best practices for risk management and process safety systems and compliance with health and safety regulations. When crisis strikes, we help protect your business and reputation by offering round-the-clock support and guidance around the world to get you get back to business as soon as possible. Following crises, our team helps navigate government investigations, media inquiries, internal investigations, and resulting litigation. Proactively, we can work with you to learn lessons and ensure your management systems and procedures are both appropriate and robust. We also work closely with our colleagues in other teams, in particular environment where the legal requirements often overlap.

Our team is trusted by many of the worlds top companies to help them establish a culture of excellent environment and safety practice. We focus on the strategic importance of strong governance as well as compliance through clear workplace strategies, the successful management of critical risks and a demanding regulatory framework.

Our practice is supported by market leading training and tools to help organisations identify and manage risks themselves.

Experienced health and safety lawyers

Our market leading team provides risk management, compliance, investigation support and crisis response across all health and safety matters, inquests and investigations, food safety and environmental issues. We embrace an interdisciplinary approach and leverage the firms broad-based experience and global footprint to deliver business orientated results.

We draw on our experience of managing serious incidents and hazards to help you understand the risks you face, adopt a comprehensive and practical strategy for addressing these risks, and communicate key messages across your business to protect people and reputations. All such advice is legally privileged.

We have advised on some of the most prominent and complex cases including, the Potters Bar rail crash and the largest environmental case in the United States.

Our Environmental, health and safety experience includes:

Served as lead counsel in the BP oil spill litigation and guided the drilling contractor through crisis management and regulatory issues.

Representing a large fuel terminal and asphalt manufacturing company as lead litigation counsel in historic PCB contamination issues under CERCLA and RCR

Represented a large fuel terminal on all aspects of Clean Air Act Title V permitting, compliance and enforcement

Advising a global diversified industry company involved in two fatal incidents in UK. Our six week review programme of practices and procedures discharged the HSE notice and provided the non-UK board with a road map towards compliance.

After a serious safety incident a US-based organisation with a significant UK manufacturing footprint we were instructed to perform a review of every location and produce a comprehensive action plan to help our client reduce the likelihood of such incidents occurring again.

Contact our health and safety law team

Contact our market leading lawyers to understand how we can help prepare you to manage all facets of a crisis before the crisis occurs.
Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement Purpose of this Statement This statement is made on behalf of Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP and the employing entity of Eversheds Sutherland Legal Services Limited (together, "Eversheds Sutherland"), in accordance with Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 ("the Act"). It covers the financial year of 1 May 2021 to 30 April 2022. References in this statement to "we", "us" and "our" are to Eversheds Sutherland as defined above.

Overview of Eversheds Sutherland Eversheds Sutherland is a global top 10 law practice with over 74 offices and related entities in 36 jurisdictions around the world. It operates as a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales, owned by our partners, and employs over 4300 people worldwide. We provide legal and commercial advice and solutions across a number of sectors to our international client base, which includes some of the world's largest multinationals. To find out more about our structure, what we do and our values, please visit the about us section of our website. We are a professional services firm strictly regulated by professional regulatory bodies in the jurisdictions in which we operate, and our ongoing assessment is that we are at low risk of slavery or human trafficking occurring within our own business. This assessment is based on a number of factors, including that our business is primarily comprised of permanently employed, skilled staff, in a client-focused service sector, regulated within strict ethical frameworks. We consider there to be a greater risk of slavery or human trafficking occurring within our supply chains than within our own business.

Our Values and Business Initiatives UN Global Compact We are proud to be a participant in the UN Global Compact and to support the ten principles and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the Compact. The principles are embedded in our purpose of 'Helping our clients, our people and our communities to thrive' which is central to our firmwide strategy. Our 2022 Communication on Progress report sets out our commitment to being a responsible business and progress to date as well as our priorities for the year ahead. This report is available in our Corporate Responsibility page of our website. People We have an ongoing Wellbeing Programme which focuses on Mental Wellbeing, Physical Wellbeing and Working Well across all of our offices. The programme consists of: an Employee Assistance Programme with free guidance and support available 24/7 365 days a year to help with any personal issues such as stress, anxiety, medical concerns, financial concerns and family / relationship matters together with a Wellbeing and Ability Network to actively explore how the firm can support the wellbeing of our people. During the reporting period we have: launched our inaugural Global Inclusion Week to celebrate inclusion and difference across our firm

launched a set of wellbeing principles focused on being mindful towards one another at all times, balancing wellbeing and client service excellence and making adjustments to working practices to enhance the experience for all. We base these on the principles of the Mindful Business Charter Community Deeply ingrained in our culture is a recognition that we have a responsibility to use our skills and resources for the greater good of the communities in which we live and work. And, through our large-scale global network, we are well placed to address global challenges through local actions. We partner with social mobility charities around the globe, supporting noteworthy non-profits and serving our communities' most vulnerable citizens. Our goal is to make a positive impact on all our communities through our pro bono, volunteer and charitable activities, using our talents and time for the benefit of others. For example, in July 2022 we were highly Commended at The Lawyer Awards for our pro bono work supporting 27 former members of the Afghan judiciary with their applications for UK visas. A team of over 50 lawyers continue to work on these cases, with many thousands of pro bono hours dedicated to the project. Responsible Business Hub In November 2021 we launched our Responsible Business Working Group and a Responsible Business Portal to deliver our strategy and to provide information on our achievements, new projects and initiatives that we are working on. Our commitment to act in a professional, open and inclusive way includes our endorsement of the objectives of the Modern Slavery Act by the firm's Executive and the application of our modern slavery programme throughout the firm, as well as our continued effort to work with our suppliers to ensure the right processes, procedures and controls are in place as part of our supply chain.

Progress for the financial year ending 30 April 2022 Supplier Due Diligence During the reporting period we have created a Modern Slavery risk assessment tool and a Modern Slavery due diligence programme to enable us to assess our suppliers for risks of any human rights violations within their operations and implement steps to manage those risks. Supplier Risk Assessment The Modern Slavery risk assessment tool categorises suppliers as either a low, medium or high risk for Modern Slavery, taking into account the sector, nature of the business and its country of operation. Supplier Due Diligence Depending on the outcome of the Modern Slavery risk assessment, our Modern Slavery due diligence programme sets out the steps which are required to be taken to manage the risk of any human rights violations within the suppliers business. The due diligence steps include (depending on the level of risk): checking the suppliers Modern Slavery statement

checking any of the suppliers published policies and procedures

checking for any adverse media regarding any human rights concerns for that supplier

asking the supplier to complete a modern slavery declaration These due diligence steps are undertaken both when the supplier is being onboarded (if their annual spend is over 10k) and annually thereafter. Our standard supplier contracts also include specific obligations on modern slavery. Any breaches identified may result in us terminating our arrangements with the supplier. Supplier Due Diligence during the Reporting Period During the reporting period we used our Modern Slavery risk assessment tool to risk assess all our existing Tier 1 suppliers with an annual spend of over 50k. Once risk assessed, we completed the required due diligence steps for these suppliers as set out in our Modern Slavery due diligence programme. The quality and transparency of the responses to our Modern Slavery declaration have been assessed and we have engaged with, and fed back, to suppliers where needed. Out of over 800 suppliers, 19 suppliers were assessed as being potentially medium risk and only 4 suppliers were assessed as being potentially high risk of Modern Slavery, primarily due to the country of operation. Having completed the due diligence for these suppliers, we are satisfied they are taking appropriate action to manage any risk. We have not identified any occurrences of modern slavery in our supply chain during this reporting period. Policies We have operational policies and procedures which are relevant to our approach to Modern Slavery and these are subject to continuous review and development. These include our: Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy

Purchasing Policies and Procedures

Equality and Diversity Policy

Health and Safety Policy Statement

Whistleblowing Policy

Supplier Code of Conduct

Supplier Annual Declaration

More Detailed Supplier Annual Declaration for suppliers who are assessed as being at high risk of Modern Slavery due to their sector or country of operation Training Firmwide Mandatory Training During the reporting period we prepared and launched an updated mandatory firmwide training module on Modern Slavery. The training covers an update on Modern Slavery legislation, our firmwide policies and procedures, awareness of our new Modern Slavery risk assessment programme for suppliers and sets out the red flags to look for in the work we undertake for clients. The training is mandatory for all staff and all new starters as part of their induction training. We monitor the completion of this training module, during the reporting period the completion rate of this module for all new starters was 94%. Supplier Training In addition to the firmwide training, we recorded a podcast for our suppliers to train them on Modern Slavery. The training was aimed at improving our suppliers knowledge and understanding of what Modern Slavery is, the impact it can have, how to recognise any red flags and what the supplier's obligations are under our Supplier Code of Conduct, including how to report any concerns. This training was sent to all of our Tier 1 suppliers who were assessed as medium risk or high risk for Modern Slavery as well as to a number of Tier 1 suppliers who were assessed as low risk.
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A judge has approved a class-action settlement against Baptist Neighborhood Hospital and its operators over allegations that they overcharged for lab work to generate higher reimbursements.

The amount of the settlement could be as much as $6.4 million, plus attorneys fees. It averages about $100 for each member of the class, which numbers about 64,000, said Chet Waldman, one of its lawyers.

No class members opted out of the settlement by an April 24 deadline but will have to submit a claim by Sept. 18 to be considered for a refund. Those who havent paid for the lab work dont have to submit a claim to have their debt forgiven.

This is like winning at trial, Waldman said after a Monday court hearing where state District Judge Rosie Alvarado gave final approval to the settlement and certified the class. This is an amazing deal.  We got everything we could have wanted at trial.

Ricardo Cedillo, a lawyer for Baptist and Emerus Holdings Inc., which operates eight Baptist Neighborhood Hospitals in the San Antonio area in partnership with Baptist Health System, declined to comment other than to say that the settlement speaks for itself. The defendants deny the allegations in the lawsuit.

2020 lawsuit

The settlement stems from a 2020 lawsuit brought against Baptist Emergency Hospital-Shavano Park and Emerus by former San Antonio resident Kenneth Keslar II, who now lives in Ohio. The hospitals have since changed their names.

He accused the hospital of carrying out a scheme known as unbundling, which occurs when a facility bills separately for some or all blood tests analyzed as part of a laboratory panel rather than billing for the panel. When billed using a single code, a panel may be less expensive than if each test in the panel is billed separately.

The tests involved a basic metabolic blood test and a liver function test, both of which comprise eight separate tests that were billed separately by the hospital, according to the settlement agreement.

Class members will receive the difference between what they were charged and the cost had the tests been bundled, Waldman said. The amount each class member was charged varies.

The class comprises anyone who was treated at any of the eight San Antonio-area hospitals between Sept. 25, 2016, and Jan. 27, 2023, and was subsequently billed for at least one of the panels. Claims can be submitted online at BaptistEmergencyHospitalSettlement.com.

Waldman, a New York lawyer, said the defendants now disclose to patients that the tests can be bundled or unbundled.

If somebody says, 'Well, I want the cheaper one,' the doctor will do it  unless the physician advises otherwise, he said.

Baptist had argued that the way it conducted the tests was better for diagnosing patients in an emergency and not for the reason of generating higher reimbursements, Waldman said.

Attorneys fees

Attorneys for the class will receive $800,000 in fees and expenses, which does not come out of the settlement.

Keslar, who filed the action, will receive a class representative award of $5,000.

He went to the Shavano Park hospital at 4103 N. Loop 1604 on New Years Eve in 2018 for an undisclosed ailment. He made sure the hospital accepted his insurance before going. He was charged $350 at the time of the visit.

Nine months later, Keslar received a bill from the hospital.

He was shocked to discover that the charges for 'LABORATORY' totaled $4,526.44, the lawsuit said. The bill did not provide a detailed explanation of the charges.

Keslars wife spent 130 hours trying to get an explanation of the charges, the complaint said.

Keslar later later learned that about $3,825 of the charges were related to the blood test and the liver function test, the suit added. Reviewing the bills and a Pricing Transparency Document on the hospitals website, Keslar understood that this practice significantly increases the cost to the patient.

Emerus has billed itself as the countrys first and largest operator of micro-hospitals, which are smaller than the typical hospital and are less expensive to operate. A typical facility has eight to 10 beds. Emerus has partnered with larger hospital systems in operating the facilities, including Baptist Health System in the San Antonio area. Baptist Health System is a subsidiary of Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare Corp.
A Trump-era immigration policy called Title 42 expired last week, along with a federal emergency declaration about the coronavirus pandemic.

On the border, authorities girded for a deluge of migrants as if preparing for a weather disaster.

Light rain showed up instead.

It may be only a respite.

Ayala: Biden betrays campaign promise by emulating Trumps assault on asylum seekers

Storms will arrive as a consequences of the Biden administrations new policy, which will swell human misery and close the border to hope.

President Joe Biden's anti-asylum approach could accomplish what his predecessor merely intended.

Critics of Bidens Title 8 have likened it to Donald Trumps transit ban." Trump sought to deny asylum in the U.S. to anyone who passed through a third country on the way to our border.

Biden's policy does essentially the same thing, putting asylum beyond reach for migrants who did not apply for sanctuary in one of the countries along their journey, with exceptions for those experiencing a "medical emergency" or facing "an imminent and extreme threat" of violence.

The ACLU and others are suing to block Biden's move.

If his policy stands, it's likely to make it even harder for migrants to obtain legal asylum  and thus harder to escape desperation and hunger, criminal violence and authoritative regimes.

It will layer cruelty onto cruelty.

Yet no matter the policy, Trumps or Bidens, migration will not end.

Trumps policies along the U.S.-Mexico border went beyond Title 42, which permitted the speedy expulsion of asylum seekers on public health grounds during the pandemic. They included separating children from their parents and holding them in what looked like cages.

Biden policies may not look as bad but they're just as harsh and self-defeating.

Requiring migrants to apply for asylum while in their homelands or in other countries is just one element of the Biden approach. The president also is requiring asylum-seekers to make an appointment on an app before showing up at the border. The administration says it's an attempt to avoid chaos and limit the volume of migrants to manageable proportions.

But in the maze that is immigration law, Bidens Title 8 has changed everything while changing little about what drives human movement across the world.

It's policy-making without problem-solving.

Title 42 ended the ability of border agents to expel asylum seekers on arrival, without legal process. Title 8 may be an attempt to achieve the same result with better optics.

Asylum seekers will have their cases adjudicated more promptly, but their applications can be rejected more swiftly. The net effect: to limit access to asylum.

If migrants attempt to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally and are detained, theyll have to wait five to 10 years before they can reapply for entry. If they're caught crossing illegally again, they'll face prosecution and jail time.

Julian Castro, the former San Antonio mayor, secretary of housing and urban development, and Democratic presidential candidate, called out the Biden administration.

On Twitter, he referred to a 2020 presidential debate in which then-candidate Biden condemned Trump as the first president in the history of the United States of America that says anybody seeking asylum has to do it in another country.

With his new asylum rule, Castro said, Biden became the second president.

Promise broken.

Ayala: Another violent weekend in the United States of Anxiety

If this new anti-asylum approach is an appeal by the Biden-Harris re-election team to independent or conservative voters, it wont work  though it will risk driving off liberal Democrats and progressives whove been so, so patient with the White House.

Title 8 may deter some migrants but not all.

It may result in more human smuggling, a frightening possibility as we near the one-year anniversary of the deaths of 53 migrants in a tractor-trailer in San Antonio.

They were loaded into a rig at the border and driven north on Interstate 35 in sweltering temperatures, with no air conditioning. The driver abandoned the trailer on a desolate stretch of the Southwest Side, near Lackland AFB. Inside, rescuers found the dead and the dying.

A makeshift memorial grew up around that lonely patch of Quintana Road.

It was a tragedy that happened just one month after the Uvalde school shooting, which killed 19 children and two teachers.

It was a cruel summer.

When Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas visited San Antonio in August, he said he met with those who responded to that horrific tractor-trailer call.

He may have to prepare himself for more border visits, because we may be in for another cruel summer.

Because, as one migrant told a reporter this weekend, Were going to keep going.

Because they earn the equivalent of $5 to $10 a month in countries such as Venezuela.

Because policies may change, but the reasons for migration have not.

eayala@express-news.net
A Central Los Angeles Heights home and office space built largely without permits has been ordered to be demolished.

The Building Standards Board on Thursday deemed the structures  used as a ramshackle apartment complex and office space abutting W. Interstate 10  a public nuisance and said neither was feasible to repair.

The city pointed to major structural and electrical issues and unpermitted construction work to justify the demolition.

You might also like: An 'unsafe' S.A. home is set to be demolished. Its owner, who has mental illness, could be homeless.

San Antonio police had been called to the property along Interstate 10, just two blocks south of Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, more than 100 times in recent years. The calls were for police to recover stolen property and to respond to assault, criminal mischief and disturbances with a gun.

More recently, the San Antonio Fire Department had to put out two fires there in late April and early May. The fires were caused by arson, according to the buildings owner.

Courtesy of the city of San Antonio

The building is on two parcels and has multiple addresses.

The office building is at 5051 W. Interstate 10 and was once used by owner Adolph Pruneda, a retired real estate broker and home builder. He used it as an office for his real estate business in the 1980s and has since rented it out to other tenants.

You might also like: Criminal hot spot on the Southwest Side must be demolished, San Antonio says

Attached to the office is 1406 Lee Hall, a two-story structure initially zoned as a single-family residence. The city said Pruneda illegally made additions without permits.

Courtesy of the city of San Antonio

There are no permits at all for the construction of this building, Josh Martinez, a dangerous premises officer for the city of San Antonio, said during the hearing. You can see the roof system is worn, that there are damages to some of the windows as well as to the first floor.

Martinez also pointed to rotted and missing wood members, which were repaired simply by illegally building a door. The roof system also drooped slightly and was uneven. The parapet wall leaned into the structure, which was occupied by a tenant.

At 5051 W. I-10, city inspectors found an air conditioning unit placed on top of the roof, seemingly held there by tubes and wires.

The tile in one of the showers was crumbled, similar to the way a sidewalk looks when roots are emerging underneath. The tenant covered the tiles so they wouldn't cut their feet when they took a shower, Martinez said.

Feeding the property electricity were extension cords connected to a small city breaker box about 20 yards from the structures.

Courtesy of the city of San Antonio

Martinez pointed to photos he took earlier this month. They showed water droplets on the camera lens and a power strip lying in the mud.

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Cords ran to the strip from the breaker box and across the parking lot into units on the first and second floors.

Pruneda, 82, the propertys owner, urged the city to spare the properties and promised to make the necessary repairs.

He said he bought the properties in the 1970s and admitted to making subsequent additions. He said he received a zoning change from the city and several permits for construction.

However, the city said it had no record that either request was granted.

San Antonio recently forced Pruneda to stop doing electrical work on the property because he did not obtain permits for the work. He also had applied for a permit to build a second story, but the city denied it.

The city said he built it anyway.

timothy.fanning@express-news.net
Roaming dogs have been a problem in San Antonio for years. Two recent tragedies highlight the hazards they pose.

In one case, an elderly Air Force veteran was fatally mauled by pit bulls that broke loose from a yard on the West Side. In the other, an aggressive dog chased a pedestrian off a sidewalk and into a busy street on the Northwest Side. The pregnant woman was struck by a hit-and-run driver. She survived but her baby died.

Here's a look at the two incidents and what they reveal about the city's loose dog problem.

The attack on the Air Force vet

It happened around 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24.

Ramon Najera Jr., 81, of Leon Valley and his wife were visiting the home of a seamstress in the 2800 block of Depla Street. Najera was starting a new job as a security job in a few days, and he was bringing pants to the house to be hemmed.

Two American Staffordshire terriers, a breed of pit bull, burst out of the gated yard next door and besieged the couple.

Courtesy

Video shot by a bystander shows a bloodied Najera face-down on the ground, desperately trying to escape as one of the dogs lunged at him and bit him, tearing off parts of his clothes. During the attack, the animals tore a dialysis shunt from Najera's body.

Did anyone call 911?

Yes, but first responders could not save Najera.

He was completely bloody before (firefighters) even got out of the truck, Fire Chief Charles Hood said at the time.

Data analysis: Animals bites and complaints by ZIP code in San Antonio

Firefighters came under attack themselves and had to fend the dogs off with pickaxes and poles.

Was anyone else injured?

Yes, Najera's 74-year-old wife, Juanita, and a bystander who tried to help. The dogs also bit a Fire Department captain in the leg.

Were the dog's owners charged?

Christian Alexander Moreno, and his wife, Abilene Schnieder, both 31, were arrested on felony charges of dangerous dog attack causing death, and injury to an elderly person. Both are free on bond.

Courtesy / COURTESY BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

San Antonio Animal Care Services

What about the dogs?

Both of the pit bulls that attacked Najera were euthanized. So was a third dog that was running loose at the time of the incident and that also belonged to Moreno and Schnieder.

Has there been any other legal fallout?

Najera's widow has filed a civil lawsuit against Moreno, Schnieder and a relative who owns the house where they live. She is seeking damages of more than $1 million for the wrongful death of her husband and her own injuries. The couple were married for 45 years and had seven children, 19 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

Had the dogs attacked people before?

Yes. After Najera's death, Animal Care Services said the pit bulls were involved in three previous non-fatal attacks.

What about the attack on the pedestrian on the Northwest Side?

It happened on the night of April 22. Arggie Ford, 38, was walking on the sidewalk along Bandera Road, just south of Loop 410, when a snarling dog confronted her. She was nearly seven months pregnant.

Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer

What was Ford doing there?

She is homeless and was camping in the woods nearby. She was walking to a convenience store in the 2200 block of Bandera to buy a cup of ice. The dog, a retriever mix, charged at her, growling and drooling.

What did she do?

She backed up to escape the animal and stepped into Bandera Road.

Then what?

She was struck by a hit-and-run driver.

Ford awoke two days later at University Hospital, with a breathing tube down her throat.

How badly was she injured?

She was critically injured. The impact crushed her chest and her right leg, which is now encased in a metal brace extending to her ankle.

Worse, she lost her baby boy, Jakobi Ford. He was delivered by cesarean section that night.

Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer

The infant lived for 11 days, then died of complications stemming from his mother's injuries. Hospital officials brought Jakobi to Ford so she could say goodbye.

In an interview with Peggy O'Hare of the Express-News, Ford sobbed at the memory of holding her tiny son in her arms.

They told me to talk to him, she said. He cant hear me, you know. He dont even know Im there. And Im just sitting there looking at him.  Then Im like, This is my baby  Ive been holding him in my stomach all this time  dont be scared."

Was the hit-and-run driver arrested?

No. Police are still searching for him or her. The car is described as a white four-door sedan.

How often do these kinds of attacks happen?

Animal Care Services investigated nearly 2,900 dog bites in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.

The agency took in nearly 19,000 dogs that year. Animal control officers picked up almost 15,000 of those dogs out in the field, including 11,615 strays and an additional 872 surrendered by their owners.

ACS also confiscated 1,155 dogs from their owners for various violations.

But as O'Hare wrote in the Express-News, "the city's efforts have done little to stop packs of dogs from roaming the streets, often putting the public in danger."

In fact, when O'Hare and Express-News photographer Josie Norris were out on Bandera five days after Ford was hit, reporting a followup story, they saw a nearly identical incident unfold on the same stretch of road.

A woman walking on the same sidewalk Ford used was confronted by the same dog, which dashed from the woods and lunged at her, baring its teeth. The woman retreated and stepped into Bandera, which was filled with rush-hour traffic at 5:30 p.m. The driver of a pickup slowed down and sounded the horn, trying to stop the dog.

The woman dashed across Bandera to the safety of a Valero gas station, shaking and in tears.

What are city officials doing about this problem?

ACS officials began investigating after learning of Fords injuries on April 27. They determined that the dog involved in both attacks lives in a residence near the wooded area where Ford was camping. Its owner surrendered the dog to ACS, and it likely will be euthanized.

Also, Ford filed a formal complaint and a so-called dangerous dog affidavit with ACS. Agency officials are considering enforcement action against the owner. At a minimum, the owner will be cited for allowing the dog to roam off his property, ACS officials told O'Hare.

Is that it?

After Najera's death, city officials announced a tougher policy toward aggressive dogs.

Now, ACS will issue criminal citations instead of civil penalties to any dog owner whose unrestrained pet leaves their property and bites someone. The dog will be quarantined for 10 days to be monitored for rabies.

An owner whose dog bites someone on the owner's property will be issued a civil citation.

In addition, ACC officials will pay calls on people whose dogs have been deemed "dangerous" or have been picked up at least twice for biting someone.

Is that tough enough?

Texas is a strong property-rights state, and dogs are considered personal property. ACS has to tread carefully in seizing or euthanizing an animal.

"Theres a very high standard to remove somebodys personal property and an even higher standard to destroy that property," said ACS Director Shannon Sims.
Photo by Ken Branca/21 ProVideo

A skateboarder is in critical condition after he was struck by hit-and-run driver on the West Side.

The man, in his 20s, was in the turning lane crossing the street with the skateboard in hand about 10:30 p.m. in the 3600 block of Culebra Road, near Northwest 36th Street.
William Luther

St. Phillips College campuses were evacuated after a bomb threat was reported Monday afternoon.

An alert was sent to students, faculty and staff about 1:20 p.m. asking people to evacuate the MLK campus at 1801 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and the Southwest Campus at 800 Quintana Road.
New Delhi/Brussels, May 15 (UNI) Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, who is in Brussels, discussed the modalities of engagement for a free trade agreement with representatives of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) States  that comprise Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

During a Ministerial meeting held in Brussels on Sunday, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal; Guy Parmelin, Swiss Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research; Einar Gunnarsson, Ambassador, Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission of Iceland in Geneva; Kurt Jager, Ambassador, Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission of Liechtenstein to EFTA, WTO and the UN in Geneva, and Erik Andreas Underland, Specialist Director at the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Fisheries, discussed the modalities of engagement for working towards a comprehensive TEPA.

This second Ministerial meeting followed a series of expert meetings that took place online the previous week.
She was 4 years old the first time she ever volunteered.

It was at Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital. Her job: handing out cookies to military veterans who had served in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. She was Rodolfo and Margarita Ortas second youngest of 13 children who helped the couple tend to those in need.

The visits scared the girl  she had never seen amputees and burn victims.

But her fear didnt last. She warmed up to the men and women bringing her dolls and coloring books. She would sit and chat with them, her legs dangling from the chair. Talking to her reminded them of being with a little sister, daughter or niece. Those visits in the mid-1970s began Melinda Orta Teplitzkys years of servant leadership.

After retiring 18 months ago from the technology field, she invested more time in volunteering with nonprofits and community groups across the city. Shes worked with groups that include the San Antonio Police Department, Pastor Shetigho Nakpodias food pantry and the WestCare Foundation.

Shes also the secretary for East Side activist T.C. Calverts Neighborhoods First Alliance, a crime prevention and community resources organization. The longtime volunteer also has a consulting firm that she and her late husband Nathan Teplitzky named Adonai Yeeraheh. The name means Lord Will Provide.

READ MORE: San Antonio teen is Operation Homefronts Military Child of the Year for the Air Force

Last week, Teplitzky shared her story at Marias Cafe, a small, intimate restaurant at 1105 Nogalitos St. Its nestled in the neighborhood where she grew up and attended school. Texas Monthly and the New York Times have praised the cafe with a white brick facade for buttery flour tortillas and an eclectic list of breakfast tacos.

Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

She ordered the special, a brisket breakfast taco with guacamole and pico de gallo, served by the namesakes daughter, Leslie Beza. The waitress has known Teplitzky for years.

She is such a beautiful person, said Beza, 38. Shes out there from her heart. I appreciate what shes doing and stands for.

Giving back is a family tradition.

Rodolfo, a World War II veteran and Margarita, a homemaker, raised their children to help others and fight for the powerless.

My parents taught us to give to the community though we were poor, Teplitzky, 52, said over the clatter of dishes and diners conversations.

Her mother was the disciplinarian, the backbone of the family who made sure they were fed, clothed and loved. Teplitzky said her father was the first male PTA leader at Collins Elementary School. Both parents taught their children that education was the way to get ahead in life  a college degree was a must. Teplitzky said most of the children have advanced college degrees.

Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

It was never a matter of if, but when we would go to college, she said.

About the author A 22-year veteran of the Air Force, Vincent T. Davis embarked on a second career as a journalist and found his calling. Observing and listening across San Antonio, he finds intriguing tales to tell about everyday people. He shares his stories with Express-News subscribers every Monday morning. See More Collapse

A 1988 Wheatley High School graduate, Teplitzky has a bachelors in leadership from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a master's of marketing from the University of the Incarnate Word.

The highlight of her day is spending time with her three children and grandchildren, who keep her up to date on social media trends.

They call me Fabuela, she said. Its like a regular abuela, but more fabulous.

READ MORE: Tile artist  whose work is featured across San Antonio  wins national award

Faith and serving others have helped her overcome loss and grief. Teplitzky has lost two husbands. Eighteen months ago, her husband of 25 years, Nathan Teplitzky, died from complications of COVID-19.

In August 2021, Teplitzky, her husband, their children and grandchildren all contracted the coronavirus. The family didnt have a chance to hug Nathan before he was taken to the hospital. Teplitzky and her daughters were granted a chance to be with him at his room the day before he was intubated.

Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Their son Nathan Rodolfo FaceTimed her husband and introduced him to his newest granddaughter. Friends, relatives and congregations around the world prayed for her husband.

It deeply touched all of us that we werent in this fight alone, she said. We were truly blessed by many people.

One morning, she walked in alone and her husband said the only words he could muster that day  I love you. The last day the family was able to share precious moments with him was Aug. 31.

It was a true blessing to be there with him, Teplitzky said. When he passed on to glory, we were there with him.

A week after her husbands funeral, she had a surprise visit from a friend. Mark, a homeless man, approached her at a traffic light as she drove her husbands truck near Nogalitos Street and Kirk Place.

Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Over the years, Teplitzky has talked with him on the steps of the neighborhood supermarket. She has brought him food under overpasses and warm blankets on cold nights. When she rolled down her window, he offered condolences from the nearby homeless community. They talked at the red light for 15 minutes.

Just know that all my friends have been praying for you, he said as cars pulled around the truck. You have done so much for us, the least we could do was pray for you.

She said his grace was the best gift he could have given her.

READ MORE: Rukus gave up her life to save mine: Formerly homeless woman credits dog, angels for her recovery

Theres nothing of monetary value he could have given to me, Teplitzky said. Their prayers were priceless.

Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

This past Saturday, she taught a leadership class to students at Colossal Taekwondo, a martial arts club on Aransas Avenue on the East Side. The topic  how to be resilient. Teplitzky said her talk was inspired by lessons shes learned as a Latina working in the male-dominated field of technology.

The words she shared with students of all ages are her mantra.

I like to say, strength is looking adversity in the face, Teplitzky said, And saying this, too, I shall overcome.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  Computer engineers and tech-inclined political scientists have warned for years that cheap, powerful artificial intelligence tools would soon allow anyone to create fake images, video and audio that was realistic enough to fool voters and perhaps sway an election.

The synthetic images that emerged were often crude, unconvincing and costly to produce, especially when other kinds of misinformation were so inexpensive and easy to spread on social media. The threat posed by AI and so-called deepfakes always seemed a year or two away.

No more.

Sophisticated generative AI tools can now create cloned human voices and hyper-realistic images, videos and audio in seconds, at minimal cost. When strapped to powerful social media algorithms, this fake and digitally created content can spread far and fast and target highly specific audiences, potentially taking campaign dirty tricks to a new low.

The implications for the 2024 campaigns and elections are as large as they are troubling: Generative AI can not only rapidly produce targeted campaign emails, texts or videos, it also could be used to mislead voters, impersonate candidates and undermine elections on a scale and at a speed not yet seen.

Were not prepared for this, warned A.J. Nash, vice president of intelligence at the cybersecurity firm ZeroFox. To me, the big leap forward is the audio and video capabilities that have emerged. When you can do that on a large scale, and distribute it on social platforms, well, its going to have a major impact.

AI experts can quickly rattle off a number of alarming scenarios in which generative AI is used to create synthetic media for the purposes of confusing voters, slandering a candidate or even inciting violence.

Here are a few: Automated robocall messages, in a candidate's voice, instructing voters to cast ballots on the wrong date; audio recordings of a candidate supposedly confessing to a crime or expressing racist views; video footage showing someone giving a speech or interview they never gave. Fake images designed to look like local news reports, falsely claiming a candidate dropped out of the race.

What if Elon Musk personally calls you and tells you to vote for a certain candidate? said Oren Etzioni, the founding CEO of the Allen Institute for AI, who stepped down last year to start the nonprofit AI2. A lot of people would listen. But its not him.

Former President Donald Trump, who is running in 2024, has shared AI-generated content with his followers on social media. A manipulated video of CNN host Anderson Cooper that Trump shared on his Truth Social platform on Friday, which distorted Cooper's reaction to the CNN town hall this past week with Trump, was created using an AI voice-cloning tool.

A dystopian campaign ad released last month by the Republican National Committee offers another glimpse of this digitally manipulated future. The online ad, which came after President Joe Biden announced his reelection campaign, and starts with a strange, slightly warped image of Biden and the text What if the weakest president weve ever had was re-elected?

A series of AI-generated images follows: Taiwan under attack; boarded up storefronts in the United States as the economy crumbles; soldiers and armored military vehicles patrolling local streets as tattooed criminals and waves of immigrants create panic.

An AI-generated look into the countrys possible future if Joe Biden is re-elected in 2024, reads the ads description from the RNC.

The RNC acknowledged its use of AI, but others, including nefarious political campaigns and foreign adversaries, will not, said Petko Stoyanov, global chief technology officer at Forcepoint, a cybersecurity company based in Austin, Texas. Stoyanov predicted that groups looking to meddle with U.S. democracy will employ AI and synthetic media as a way to erode trust.

What happens if an international entity  a cybercriminal or a nation state  impersonates someone. What is the impact? Do we have any recourse? Stoyanov said. We're going to see a lot more misinformation from international sources.

AI-generated political disinformation already has gone viral online ahead of the 2024 election, from a doctored video of Biden appearing to give a speech attacking transgender people to AI-generated images of children supposedly learning satanism in libraries.

AI images appearing to show Trumps mug shot also fooled some social media users even though the former president didnt take one when he was booked and arraigned in a Manhattan criminal court for falsifying business records. Other AI-generated images showed Trump resisting arrest, though their creator was quick to acknowledge their origin.

Legislation that would require candidates to label campaign advertisements created with AI has been introduced in the House by Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., who has also sponsored legislation that would require anyone creating synthetic images to add a watermark indicating the fact.

Some states have offered their own proposals for addressing concerns about deepfakes.

Clarke said her greatest fear is that generative AI could be used before the 2024 election to create a video or audio that incites violence and turns Americans against each other.

Its important that we keep up with the technology, Clarke told The Associated Press. Weve got to set up some guardrails. People can be deceived, and it only takes a split second. People are busy with their lives and they dont have the time to check every piece of information. AI being weaponized, in a political season, it could be extremely disruptive.

Earlier this month, a trade association for political consultants in Washington condemned the use of deepfakes in political advertising, calling them a deception with no place in legitimate, ethical campaigns.

Other forms of artificial intelligence have for years been a feature of political campaigning, using data and algorithms to automate tasks such as targeting voters on social media or tracking down donors. Campaign strategists and tech entrepreneurs hope the most recent innovations will offer some positives in 2024, too.

Mike Nellis, CEO of the progressive digital agency Authentic, said he uses ChatGPT every single day and encourages his staff to use it, too, as long as any content drafted with the tool is reviewed by human eyes afterward.

Nellis newest project, in partnership with Higher Ground Labs, is an AI tool called Quiller. It will write, send and evaluate the effectiveness of fundraising emails - all typically tedious tasks on campaigns.

The idea is every Democratic strategist, every Democratic candidate will have a copilot in their pocket, he said.

___

Swenson reported from New York.

___

The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

___

Follow the APs coverage of misinformation at https://apnews.com/hub/misinformation and coverage of artificial intelligence at https://apnews.com/hub/artificial-intelligence
With 3,359 miles of shoreline, oddities are bound to wash up on Texas shores.

But in recent years, it's really gotten weird  from the creepy dolls washing ashore near Mission-Aransas Reserve to WWII-era waterlogged rubber bales.

Here are some of the oddest things to wash up on Lone Star State beaches in recent memory.

Brittany Artall | Facebook

On April 13, a "sea monster" was spotted along a Bolivar beach. The stuff of nightmares, the find was likely part of a fish cut off while someone was filleting a fish and left on the beach. It was most likely the gills and throat parts of a larger fish, likely a redfish, according to Jace Tunnell, director of the University of Texas Marine Science Institute.

Jace Tunnell/Mission-Aranasas Reserve

Speaking of sea monsters, earlier this year an endangered American eel washed ashore at Mustang Island, near the species' maximum size. The species has been nearly "wiped out" and mostly lives in rivers and estuaries.

Billy Smith II/Chronicle

Attributed to a large amount of naturally occurring oil in the Gulf, tar balls wash ashore in Texas, although the balls pose no hazard to beachgoers. They're still alarming to find, however, as a beach occasionally appears flecked with quarter-sized black dots.

Courtesy of Jace Tunnell, Mission-Aransas Reserve

Blue sea dragons may be the most recent startling discovery, but they're far from the only venomous or poisonous creatures that wash up on Texas shores. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, such poisonous creatures include Portuguese men-of-war and western cottonmouth snakes, which are especially found near coastal marshes.

Speaking of weird: Meth in pumpkins; weed in sneakers: Weird places Customs and Border Protection found drugs hidden

Mustang Island State Park | Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Two World War II-era rubber bales were found on Texas beaches in the past two years. The bales, which come from a German ship that sunk off the coast of Brazil, were found earlier in Brazil but are recently washing ashore in Texas and Florida. While the large bales look odd, sometimes described as boxes or packages, they are in fact relics of a lost cargo ship. Each bale weighs about 200 pounds and can cause obstruction to beach traffic including dune buggies.

Kim Brent

Some of the strange, miscellaneous items that were previously found on Texas beaches include a bowling ball in North Padre Island, a unopened bottle of vodka (guess Poseidon isn't a drinker) at Padre Island National Seashore, an aluminum handheld grenade launcher at Sargent Beach and a frying pan with eggs still in it along Boca Chica.

Courtesy/Mission-Aransas Reserve

Perhaps the most talked-about beach discovery in recent memory: the beached dolls found along a 40-mile stretch from Padre Island to Matagorda Island. John Oliver was willing to donate $10,000 last year in order to destroy the dolls, before feeding them to a talking trash can in the Swedish city of Malmo.

shepard.price@express-news.net
The evidence that former President Donald J. Trump posed a threat to our democracy is overwhelming. And, given that Trump is the front-runner candidate for the GOPs presidential nomination in 2024, he remains a threat.

But having Trump win the Republican nomination and lose the 2024 presidential election could rejuvenate American democracy.

Trump is the only president to have been twice impeached. First, for attempting to extort a foreign leader for dirt on Joe Biden, his presumed opponent in the 2020 presidential election. Second, for his incendiary speech, which presumably sparked the seditious, violent interruption of the certification of Joe Bidens 2020 Electoral College victory, the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.

Trump is also the first former president to be criminally indicted, as he was for allegedly paying a porn star hush money to protect his 2016 presidential election prospects. Additionally, Trump faces an array of potential criminal indictments from the U.S. Justice Department and the Atlanta district attorney, who are pursuing independent investigations of his involvement in attempts to overthrow the 2020 presidential election. Finally, the Justice Department is also investigating whether Trump obstructed justice in the governments attempts to recover from him secret documents he took when he left office.

Since Trumps capture of the Republican party, its national electoral performances have ranged from disappointing to dismal. In 2018, it lost the House. In 2020, it lost the presidency and the Senate. And, in 2022, it woefully underachieved at the midterms. The Trump effect, then, seems toxic for Republican Party electoral prospects.

Trumps election performances portend a 2024 loss. First, he has already lost the national two-party vote for president twice: to Hillary Clinton in 2016, then to Biden in 2020. With his 2020 loss margin (4.4 percent) at twice his 2016 loss margin (2.2 percent), the Trump vote is moving in the wrong direction. Second, in 2020, by varying narrow margins, Biden won back the states Clinton lost in 2016, which allowed Trump to carry the Electoral College despite having lost the popular vote. In 2020, Biden beat Trump in Michigan by 2.8 percent, in Pennsylvania by 1.2 percent and in Wisconsin by 0.6 percent. If Biden is re-nominated, hes already beaten Trump once, he should be able to again.

Finally, there is no reason to think Trumps recent falsehood-laced antics, again on full display at last weeks town hall on CNN, and his legal difficulties will ultimately play out in his favor. Lets not forget he kicked off his 2024 presidential election campaign with a rally in Waco by leading the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance back-dropped by scenes of the Jan. 6 insurrection.

There is a good chance that by November 2024, Trump will be indicted on additional criminal charges. Although Trumps dangerous rhetorical excesses and his multiple indictments will no doubt bolster his Republican presidential primary prospects, it is inconceivable that either will bolster his support in the national electorate.

Given the opportunity in 2024, Americans are virtually certain to again reject Trump. Hopefully, his defeat will be convincing enough to extinguish him as a threat to our democracy. This outcome might even embolden elements of the Republican Party now cowed by Trump to reclaim or generate anew, their moral compass. That would go a long way toward revitalizing our democracy.

David Romero is a retired political science professor who taught at the University of California, Riverside and the University of Texas at San Antonio.
After more than three years and almost 7 million deaths across the planet, a weary world recently received some good news from the World Health Organization: COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency.

The announcement should prove to be a significant landmark in the battle against the deadly scourge that has exacted both physical and psychological damage among millions throughout the world, with survivors living under the threat that took their friends or loved ones.

There have been more than 130 million COVID cases worldwide, so its more important than ever to understand how this disease may affect the brain and behavior, Maura Boldrini, a neuroscientist and psychiatrist at Columbia University, said. We know that things like isolation, financial burden and increased drug use due to the pandemic may cause anxiety and depression.

While the emergency is over, the threat remains. The WHO made the announcement with what Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director of the organization, termed great hope. The word hope indicates a long struggle remains before the plague ends, if indeed it ever does.

The emergency phase is over, but COVID is not, Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO technical lead on COVID, said.

Levels of immunity have increased throughout the world, mainly through vaccinations, WHO officials said. Statistics validate that position. COVID deaths have been dropping steadily in the U.S., with the virus playing a role in approximately 250,000 deaths last year, a 47 percent decrease from the 2021 numbers, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

It no longer possesses the same level of danger, K. Srinath Reddy, head of the Public Health Foundation in India, said. (COVID) has achieved a level of equilibrium, a certain type of coexistence with the human host.

About a month before the WHO declared the global emergency over, President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan congressional resolution that brought the national emergency to a close Thursday, three years after it was enacted.

Like the WHO announcement, the U.S. move was greeted with relief, if not joy, but it came after three years of sorrow and agony for millions of Americans.

More than 1.13 million people in the U.S. have died from COVID-19, including 1,773 people in the week ending April 5, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

COVID is going to be with us, but we know how to live with it in a way that need not cause disruption, need not put people in the hospital  or worse, Ashish K. Jha, the coronavirus response coordinator for the White House, said.

For all the optimism, however, U.S. health officials warn another COVID variant may arise.

 there is a chance that there will be a new variant that is a fundamental shift, kind of like delta to omicron was, Dan Barouch, director of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, said.  it was not an infinitesimal chance, but it also is not an 80 percent chance  my gut feeling is that itll be in the 20 percent range.

At the same time as these concerns arose, it is clear the pandemic exposed the fragile nature of our health infrastructure. The emergency may be over, but are we capable of handling a new one? Health officials fear that complacency may be an enemy as brutal as any virus; they are particularly worried, according to the Washington Post, of efforts to reclaim unspent funds dedicated to the coronavirus response.

COVIDs death toll may again decline this year compared with previous years, but it still could exceed 100,000, Dr. Robert Anderson, the chief of the mortality statistics branch at the National Center for Health Statistics, said: It looks like the number will continue to decline, but it is still not trivial.

The declaration the COVID emergency is over represents a huge triumph for science and medicine. It would be a tragedy if we allowed that victory to dissipate in a cloud of negligence. If the pandemic taught us anything, it should be that preparedness guides our response to emergencies. Has that lesson been learned?
Pay attention to the Guajolote Ranch Development Project happening in the Edwards Aquifer area off of Loop 1604 and Bandera Road.

The Lennar Homes application states that, on average, a discharge of 1 million gallons of treated effluent wastewater per day, with surges of up to 4 million gallons in two-hour intervals, will go down Helotes Creek, Culebra Creek and Leon Springs Creek.

The creeks and surrounding land are very porous. This wastewater will seep into the aquifer and contaminate our drinking water. There is no way to remove pharmaceutical and micro plastic products from wastewater and no way to prevent plant failure.

This is not just a neighborhood issue. This is a San Antonio water issue!

We all understand development will happen, but it should not forever contaminate our valuable aquifer drinking water.

Candy Rowan Berkley

Continuous nightmare

Gov. Greg Abbott says the Allen mass shooting is nothing more than a mental health issue. I agree.

Far too many Americans have a sick obsession with guns. This gun fetish has driven the country into a continuous nightmare of death. Until we snap out of this mental health crisis that is the absurd gun culture fever, more and more innocent people will die as our country is flooded with firearms.

I stopped playing with guns when I was a child; its too bad more people are not ready to grow up and walk away from guns.

Bill Celaya

Selling murderous toys

Gov. Greg Abbott is absolutely right. We have an out-of-control mental health issue.

Unfortunately, it is in the U.S. Congress and the state legislatures, like Texas. What would our Founding Fathers think of the murderous toys that are sold everywhere like candy?

Lawrence Kohler

Find the root cause

Re: A way to protect students, Your Turn, Wednesday:

The writer contends arming teachers makes sense as part of the solution to prevent mass shootings in schools.

So, those choosing to teach as a profession in our public-school systems, besides successfully completing the required coursework, will be required to take a course in firearm training, purchase a handgun, carry it to work along with teaching material and be prepared to engage in a shootout in a classroom filled with panicked students?

I wonder how many will re-think their chosen profession. Teachers select their profession to teach, not shoot.

Arming teachers is not a solution, but identifying and finding solutions to the root causes for these random acts of violence must be the focus.

Tom Staley
Gov. Greg Abbott is threatening to call state lawmakers back to Austin this summer if they dont approve private school vouchers for millions of Texas students before the close of the session May 29.

The announcement comes as the governor is rushing to bring Republicans together on a plan to subsidize private education in the sessions final weeks. Despite his campaigning, the idea is still opposed by many rural Republicans in the House whose districts depend on public school funding.

BACKGROUND: Texas House votes to block school vouchers, clashing with governor, Texas Senate

A House committee met early Monday to consider a revamped voucher plan, which would make the subsidies available to students who receive special education resources and those in F-rated districts. Thats a much narrower pool of eligible students than the one in an earlier Senate version -- about 800,000 students instead of 5.5 million.

Abbott warned late Sunday that the House plan doesnt go far enough and said he would veto it if it makes it to his desk.

Parents and their children deserve the time and effort this will take, he said in a statement. My staff and I will continue to work around the clock with the Legislature to reach that goal.

The latest House draft would also scrap the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, known as the STAAR tests -- a concession to win over holdouts, many of whom have complained about the standardized tests. And Abbott made clear he was open to other deals.

"No doubt other modifications can be made to the original House version of the Senate bill to attract even more legislators, as well as to bridge the divide with the Senate, he said.

Public education advocates long have criticized the STAAR tests, saying they give students unnecessary stress, force teachers to cater to the tests in a way thats unhealthy and are an ineffective way of measuring the success of schools and districts. Under the House plan, new assessments would be spread out over the school year and students wouldn't be required to pass them in order to graduate.

The current state of the STAAR test, especially on our younger kids, has just gone too far," Rep. Brad Buckley, a Killeen Republican and the chair of the House Public Education Committee, said of the testing reforms. Its not going to be one-test-one-day, its small touch points throughout the year, beginning, middle and end."

Public education advocates oppose vouchers in any form, warning that they will drain money from school districts. They view even limited voucher programs as a foot in the door for proponents to get more subsidies, moving potentially billions of dollars out of the traditional public school system.

"At the same time this Legislature is hammering on parental empowerment, they are trying to sneak in a massive private school coupon under the noses of the vast majority of parents who love their kids' public school, Zeph Capo, president of the Texas American Federation of Teachers, wrote in a statement.

While the House version would apply to special education students, private schools are not currently required to accept students who need special education services, and such students would forfeit their rights under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act when they leave a public school for a private one. Under the latest House plan, private schools would have to notify parents of this when they apply.

Supporters of school vouchers say they will introduce more competition among schools, leading to better outcomes. They also have argued that public schools have become hotbeds of progressive thought where children are exposed to critical race theory, inappropriate library books and anti-American ideas, among other complaints.

Abbott has toured the state lobbying for vouchers this year and included them as a priority in his annual State of the State address. But his warning over the weekend raised the stakes even higher.

Even Rep. Ken King, a rural Republican from the Panhandle who long has opposed vouchers, sounded open to the possibility of a compromise.

Im not saying theres anything good about this," he said. "I'm not saying I'm for it. Im saying political realities exist and no, no, no could be detrimental, particularly to our small schools."

MORE: Gov. Greg Abbott isn't sweating over school vouchers, despite a hot gym and a skeptical Texas House

The trouble for proponents will be hashing out a final version that satisfies all sides.

After weeks of inaction, House members began circulating initial copies of a revised voucher plan last week that would have extended the subsidies to both special education as well as low-income students. The plan quickly divided the GOP-led lower chamber, which has been opposed to vouchers for years. This initial rewrite would have applied to about 4 million students, according to the governor, which was down from universal eligibility in the Senate's original plan.

Buckley, who is leading the effort in the House, tried to hold a snap meeting late Wednesday to take up the revised proposal but was outvoted by members who complained about a lack of transparency.

Then, over the weekend, a newer version of the bill was made available, with low-income students no longer eligible. This plan would apply to about 800,000 students. It was a deal-breaker for Abbott.

"This latest version does little to provide meaningful school choice, and legislators deserve to know that it would be vetoed if it reached my desk," he said Sunday.
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Perhaps the most surprising development as the election night returns came in May 6 was the strong lead political newcomer Sukh Kaur took over District 1 Councilman Mario Bravo.

It isnt easy to push an incumbent out of office  they have name recognition and can highlight their track record and wins. Still, Bravos six challengers hoped to siphon off enough votes to pull him into a runoff.

And they were successful. So successful that Kaur, an education consultant whod never run for office before, came out 8 percentage points ahead of Bravo.

Shell battle Bravo for the seat in the June 10 runoff.

Kaur ran a strong campaign, winning key endorsements from politicos like former County Judge Nelson Wolff.

But Bravos time in office has been rough. He took the brunt of the frustration from business owners impacted by the slow-moving, disruptive street projects hed inherited.

The biggest hit Bravo took in his first two years of office was the discovery that hed berated then-District 7 Councilwoman Ana Sandoval, his former romantic partner, near the dais in council chambers Sept. 15. City Council later voted to censure Bravo.

Heres a recap of Bravos outburst and the consequences that followed, leaving his seat vulnerable.

What was the vote that preceded the outburst?

Bravo was upset because Sandoval didnt support his plan to devote the bulk of a $75 million CPS Energy surplus to weatherization, resiliency centers and expanding the citys tree canopy. The council ultimately approved $42.5 million for one-time credits to CPS Energy customers.

At the time, Bravo told the Express-News he was angry with Sandoval because he considered it a betrayal that she abstained on a council vote to delay action on the CPS Energy surplus. That vote ended in a 5-5 tie, essentially killing the prospects for Bravos alternative to the $42.5 million customer-credit plan.

What did Bravo say?

Before a council meeting on Sept. 15, Bravo talked to Sandoval about her lack of support. He told her the action illustrated why they split up and why he didnt want to have children with her, according to City Hall sources.

He accused Sandoval of selling out to the mayor on the issue and showed her a text message that he was preparing to send to business leaders, making the same point.

The incident left Sandoval distraught and in tears. Toward the end of the exchange, Andrew Solano, Sandovals chief of staff, approached Bravo and asked him not to make the policy disagreement a personal issue. As Solano began to walk away, Bravo shouted at him, She put the knives in my back! according to an eyewitness.

Bravos resentment against Sandoval spilled onto the council dais, where he repeatedly alluded to the District 7 councilwoman, prompting City Attorney Andy Segovia to reprimand him.

How did the city, mayor and council react?

City Council members voted in November to censure Bravo, declaring they had no confidence in the District 1 councilman. The censure passed 8-0, with Bravo recusing himself. Sandoval was absent.

We are not questioning or considering Councilman Bravos qualifications to be a council member or the hard work he has done in advocating for his district, said City Attorney Andy Segovia said at the time. The focus is the incident that happened on Sept. 15.

The censure followed an independent investigation by New Braunfels attorney Natalie Rougeux, who found that the councilman violated city employment standards on anti-harassment and prohibition of violence in the workplace.

Bravos parents, Katherine Bravo and Armando Gutierrez Bravo, showed up to the meeting to support their son, among more than a dozen others.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg temporarily removed Bravo from his committee assignments while the councilman was investigated.

Whats the personal history between Bravo and Sandoval?

Sandoval and Bravo were a couple from 2016 to 2020. They were both involved in the San Antonio environmental movement before running for office. Sandoval was elected to City Council in 2017, and Bravo was elected in 2021.

How did Bravo respond?

On Sept. 22, Bravo Tweeted an apology.

All members of council deserve to be treated with respect at all times, he Tweeted. In this instance I fell short of that. I regret it and I wholeheartedly apologize to Councilwoman Sandoval, the rest of my council colleagues, and the residents of District 1.

After he was censured, Bravo released a statement.

On the morning of September 15th, I became emotionally overwhelmed and betrayed my own values, the statement reads. I did not handle myself well that day and I stand by my public apology.

He added that he has since sought spiritual guidance, has reflected and is ready to grow.

I commit to holding myself to a higher standard, Bravo wrote. I fully intend to uphold my duty to serve the citizens of District 1 and I look forward to continuing to work with my council colleagues.

Bravo said he sought counseling after the incident.

It was a tough lesson to learn in public, he said leading up to the May 6 election. It was humbling.

Bravo doesnt think the issue will negatively impact his ability to serve on the council moving forward. He said he repaired relationships with council colleagues, pointing to policy proposals he has put forward with the support of several others on the dais.

Metro columnist Gilbert Garcia and former city hall reporter Megan Stringer contributed to this report.
The claim: Texas Republicans just voted to give a Republican appointee the power to single-handedly cancel election results in the states largest Democratic county.  Facebook post

The claim was posted by the the Facebook account of a podcast featuring progressive commentator Brian Tyler Cohen. The post was flagged as part of Metas efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed.

Politifact rating: Mostly true. The claim is largely correct, although it omits the inspiration for the legislation was prompted by Election Day ballot shortages in Harris County.

Discussion

Some polling sites in left-leaning Harris County, Texas, ran out of ballots on Election Day in November, inspiring Republican state lawmakers to seek to enable the state to call for redo elections  but only in one county.

CHRONICLE INVESTIGATION: GOP leaders say Harris Countys ballot shortage was targeted at Republicans. Heres what the data says.

ABOUT POLITIFACT PolitiFact is a fact-checking project to help you sort out fact from fiction in politics. Truth-O-Meter ratings are determined by a panel of three editors. The burden of proof is on the speaker, and PolitiFact rates statements based on the information known at the time the statement is made. See More Collapse

The post cites Texas Senate Bill 1993, which passed the Senate on May 2 with Republicans in support and Democrats against.

The bill says the secretary of state will order a new election if the secretary has good cause to believe that at least 2 percent of polling places ran out of usable ballots during voting hours and did not receive supplemental ballots for one or more hours after requesting such ballots. The Harris County Elections Administrators Office is responsible for operating local voting sites.

But the bill applies only to a county with a population of 2.7 million or more  which covers only Harris County, home to Houston and about 4.7 million residents. (Dallas County is next-largest with about 2.6 million residents.) Democrat Joe Biden won Harris County in 2020 and in November, Democrats won county races.

Texas secretary of state is Jane Nelson, a former Republican state senator who was nominated by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.

Harris County voters can cast their ballot at any vote center on Election Day, which means if they encounter a ballot shortage at one site, they can go to another center.

There is no reason, there is no excuse why we cant competently run our elections and have adequate ballot paper, said state Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, one of the bill sponsors.

Voting rights advocates have raised concerns about the legislation.

As written, the bill does not clearly define good cause and that is a serious problem that could easily throw our elections into chaos, said Anthony Gutierrez, executive director of Common Cause Texas, a group aiming to keep elections free, fair and accessible.

Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, a Democrat, said he will sue if the bill is enacted. Menefee spokesperson Roxanne Werner said courts sometimes permit a law to apply only to counties with populations over a certain threshold, but she added that there must be a reasonable basis for a law beyond targeting one county.

The Texas Supreme Court wrote that the state Constitution seeks uniformity of law throughout the state to avoid the advancement of personal rather than public interests.

How many Harris County vote centers ran out of ballots in November is in dispute.

KHOU-TV, a CBS affiliate, reported that it discovered 121 voting centers did not initially receive enough ballot paper to cover voter turnout. Some Republican lawmakers have cited that 121 number.

But note the word initially.

The Chronicle found a similar number of vote centers that did not initially receive enough ballots, but some of those locations received deliveries of more ballots before a shortage occurred. At least 20 of 782 polling sites ran out of ballots, some for only 15 minutes and others for up to three hours, the newspaper found.

Rice University political scientist Robert Stein, a paid consultant to KHOU and an expert witness on the countys behalf, told PolitiFact he started his own analysis by asking: Was there a disruption in voting? Stein said he identified 26 locations with voting stoppages of 20 or more minutes that could have been because of a shortage of ballots.
(The Center Square)  The former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the Trump administration says the Biden administrations border policies are creating a national security threat that are almost treasonous.

Tom Homan made the claim as U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operation agents have so far apprehended 332 known or suspected terrorists this fiscal year to date. This includes 125 caught at the southern border and 207 at the northern border.

It's the unknown that keeps Homan and others in law enforcement up at night, he said.

At a recent town hall event in El Paso organized by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Homan spoke on a panel expressing his fear that another terrorist attack against Americans could occur as a direct result of Biden administration policies.

This administration has created such a crisis that its not about immigration anymore. Its about border security, he said. When you cause a crisis this big and take 70% of agents off the line, that makes the border vulnerable.

With the public health authority Title 42s end and more people entering the U.S., more agents are pulled off the line, making the border more vulnerable, Homan said. That means more fentanyl is coming across to kill more Americans. That means more women and children will be trafficked across that border, he said. That means more migrants are going to die. That means more known, suspected terrorists are going to cross that border.

Whats happening is the greatest national security threat since 9/11, he continued. Border Patrol has arrested people from 171 countries. Many of these countries are sponsors of terrorism.

Homan also pointed to the record number of gotaways, those whove illegally entered the U.S. and evaded capture by law enforcement, which total over 1.7 million reported by Border Patrol agents since the presidents been in office.

If you dont think a single one of the 1.7 million is coming from a country that sponsors terrorism, then youre ignoring the data, he said. Thats what makes this a huge national security issue.

The Biden administration has maintained the border is closed while also expanding entry through the use of a CBPOne App, opening asylum offices overseas, and sending thousands of federal employees to the border to scale up processing efforts.

And while Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas claimed Trump administration policies were inhumane, Homan argues Biden administration policies are inhumane.

People in this administration think its policies are humane, Homan said, but theyre killing Americans in record numbers. Theyre killing migrants in record numbers. Since Joe Bidens been president, over 1,700 migrants have died on US soil.

Whats happening isnt mismanagement," he said. "This isnt incompetence. This is by design. They ran on open border policies.

This is about public safety and national security. Mark my words, I dont know how many terrorist have come across the border but some day were going to find out and it will be a bad day for this country.

Homan said the Biden administration was facilitating millions of people coming to the U.S. illegally and going to so-called sanctuary cities on purpose.

The millions of people heading to sanctuary cities will be counted in the next census, he said. When seats are apportioned for Congress, he said, thats going to create more seats in Congress for Democrats. They sold this country out. Its almost treasonous.
New Delhi, May 15 (UNI) There is no change of leadership in the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi, India, Afghan Ambassador Farid Mamundzay said in a statement.

Mamundzay, who was appointed by the ousted Ashraf Ghani government, has been operating as the Afghan envoy, after the Taliban seized power in August 2021.

In a statement on twitter, the envoy said: The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan categorically rejects the claims from an individual claiming to have taken charge of the mission in New Delhi at the behest of the Taliban.
HOUSTON, May 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Talen Energy Corporation ("TEC") announced today that Talen Energy Supply, LLC ("TES", and, together with TEC, "the Company" or "Talen"), a direct wholly owned subsidiary of TEC, has scheduled a conference call with management to discuss first quarter 2023 results on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. EDT.

John Chesser, Chief Financial Officer, will discuss TES' financial and operating results, as well as provide an update on the Company's restructuring during an investor presentation to be teleconferenced and webcast.

Qualified investors and securities analysts can access the conference call and related materials on the Investor Updates section of Talen's website at: https://talenenergy.investorroom.com/investor-updates.

Additional Information

Talen's chapter 11 cases are pending before the Honorable Marvin Isgur and are jointly administered under Case No. 22-90054. As previously reported, on December 15, 2022, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas confirmed the Company's chapter 11 plan of reorganization.

Court documents and other information are available on a website hosted by the Company's claims agent, Kroll, at https://cases.ra.kroll.com/talenenergy. The Company has also established a call center for questions at 844-721-3899 if calling from within the United States or Canada or 347-292-4080 if calling from outside these areas. Creditor inquiries can also be directed to talenenergyinfo@ra.kroll.com.

The Company has retained Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP as its restructuring legal advisor, Evercore as its investment banker, and Alvarez & Marsal as its restructuring financial advisor. The ad hoc group of unsecured noteholders has retained Kirkland & Ellis LLP as legal advisor and Rothschild & Co. as its investment banker and financial advisor.

About TEC

TEC is one of the largest competitive power generation and infrastructure companies in North America. Through its subsidiary, TES, it owns and/or controls approximately 12,400 megawatts of generating capacity in wholesale U.S. power markets, principally in the Mid-Atlantic, Texas, and Montana.

Additionally, through its Cumulus subsidiaries, Talen is developing a large-scale portfolio of renewable energy, battery storage, and digital infrastructure assets across TES' expansive footprint.

Investor Contact

InvestorRelations@talenenergy.com

Media Contact

Taryne Williams

Director Corporate Communications

610-601-0327

Taryne.Williams@talenenergy.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/talen-energy-schedules-first-quarter-2023-results-conference-call-301822795.html

SOURCE Talen Energy Corp.
Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society has announced a 1,000 bursary which is open to all qualifying students studying agriculture and related subjects.

The society's 2023 student bursary award has been launched to provide extra financial support to assist students whose family home is in the county.

The bursary is open to students studying agriculture, veterinary science, agricultural engineering, food technology, forestry or other subjects allied to agriculture.

The bursary is tax free and will be awarded to the student who, in the opinion of a panel of judges, has submitted the best dissertation on how the bursary will assist them to complete their course of study.

Last years winner was Rebecca Roberts from Camrose, Haverfordwest, who studied at Harper Adams University between 2019 and 2021 and is currently studying at Harper & Keele Veterinary School.

Whilst at university she worked on a local beef and sheep farm between her studies, where they lamb 300 ewes and she regularly fed the calves.

Brian Jones, president of the society, said has urged all Pembrokeshire students who study agricultural subjects to apply for this bursary.

"It won't only assist with your studies but will also give you great experiences, such as undertaking an interview which is a key employment skill.

"It will also assist in your future career within the agriculture industry," he said.

The society said qualifying students must not have won the bursary previously, and must be studying or has been accepted to study agriculture or allied subjects at a UK college or university at A-Level or higher.

The applicants' family home must also be in Pembrokeshire.

The winning candidate will be asked to give a short presentation at a future meeting of the society's show council.

To enter, students must submit a dissertation of 1,000 words entitled How the bursary will assist my career progression.

The closing date for applications is 1 July 2023.
The UK's accession to a trade pact which includes several countries in Asia and the Pacific will bring 'limited' benefits to British farmers, a new report says, but opportunities may grow as more countries join.

The AHDB has today (15 May) launched its trade modelling work on the UK joining the CPTPP, which consists of eleven nations, including Japan and Australia.

The report highlights population growth, economic development and the expansion of middle-class consumers as "drivers for long-term opportunities" for UK agri exports, such as red meat and dairy.

While the levy board says that "initial opportunities are limited", going forward, there could be "more expansive benefits" for the UK farming industry.

This is particularly the case in the Asian and South American markets, the report explains, driven by increased demand for red meat and dairy products.

Further opportunities for UK red meat and dairy may also be presented by other countries such as China, Taiwan, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Uruguay joining the CPTPP with the offering of preferential terms and either lowering or remove tariffs over time to other members.

Jess Corsair, AHDB trade senior analyst, said the UKs accession to the CPTPP was "very much about playing the long game" in terms of the potential benefits it would bring to UK exporters of meat and dairy.

The expansion of the middle class in Asian and South American markets is likely to be a driver for these longer-term benefits for UK exports," she added.

Consequently, while we dont anticipate any dramatic changes to trade overnight, the forecast increase in demand for pork and beef by 2031 in Japan, Vietnam, Mexico and Canada is encouraging.

"Opportunities for dairy with significant growth in Malaysia and Japan for butter and cheese, and for skimmed milk powder in Mexico will be areas that the UK can capitalise on.

The report, compiled in conjunction with Harper Adams University, also examines the strategic implications for UK agriculture of joining the CPTPP.

The CPTPP is a free trade agreement between 11 countries around the Pacific Rim - Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile, New Zealand, Australia, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Japan.

Responding to the trade agreement, which was signed in March, NFU President Minette Batters said joining the CPTPP could 'provide some good opportunities' to get more British food on plates overseas.

Compared to the deals struck with Australia and New Zealand, she said the government had negotiated 'a far more considered and balanced outcome'.

"I will continue to press government to ensure its domestic policies are aimed at improving the competitiveness of British farming and strengthening our domestic food security," Mrs Batters said.
Five men have been arrested after rural residents called the police about suspected poaching crimes occurring on North Yorkshire farmland.

North Yorkshire Police received a call on Friday 12 May, when a 4x4 vehicle in a field and a high-powered torch were being used near Kilburn.

Officers responded immediately, and found a group of five men on the side of the road with two dogs, one of which was attacking a badger.

As soon as police arrived, the men got into a black Jeep Cherokee and made off at speed, abandoning the dogs as they did so.

Officers searched the area, and soon located the car off the A170 near Felixkirk.

The five men inside were arrested on suspicion of wilfully killing a badger, an offence under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

The two dogs were taken to a secure location to be looked after, and the Jeep was also seized. A dead badger was found at the scene.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "The five suspects, who are from the Stockton-in-Tees area, remain in custody at this time while police enquiries continue.

"Anyone who is aware of suspicious activity in rural areas - for example, vehicles or high-powered torches in unusual or unexpected locations - is urged to report it to the police."

In March, two men were ordered to pay out more than 12,000 after being charged with hare coursing offences under new laws designed to curb the devastating crime.

Darren Lee, 26, and Ronnie Doherty, 21, were the first people to be convicted in Lincolnshire under new and tougher legislation introduced in August last year.
The pig sector has described a report by MPs calling for an overhaul of Defra's outdated IT systems as 'concerning' given the risk of African swine fever (ASF).

In a new report, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said Defras IT systems "feel outdated and difficult to use" for farmers, vets, scientists and other users.

The National Pig Association (NPA) said it was 'concerned' about the report's findings.

The body said Defra must address the shortfalls in its IT systems in order to be "best placed to respond quickly and robustly" to disease threats, such as ASF.

It follows recent research by the AHDB which warned that disease outbreaks were currently costing the British pig industry over 850 million a year.

This figure represents more than two times the approximate value of the industry.

MPs who sit on PAC noted that Defra systems are used by a wide range of customers, with them being critical to the countrys trade and disease prevention.

However, Defra handles around 14 million transactions per year that still involve paper forms, making them "inefficient and expensive", the report said.

It added that the department does not yet have a pro-active strategy for transforming its digital services.

MPs said the lack of overall vision means any changes made now to Defra's digital systems may not be appropriate in the longer-term and could lead instead to wasted time and money.

They also highlighted that Defra is struggling to recruit the digital, data and technology staff it needs, and so remains over-reliant on contractors, which can cost up to twice as much.

Responding to the report, NPA chief policy adviser Rebecca Veale said a key concern for the pig sector was the risk of African swine fever (ASF).

The avian influenza outbreaks over the last few years have put Defra and APHA under continued strain," Ms Veale said.

"We do question their ability to respond to more than one notifiable disease outbreak at a time given their limited resource  a concern that we as NPA have raised on numerous occasions."

She added: Our key concern is the risk that African swine fever poses to the British herd given the challenge the disease presents in mainland Europe.

The digitalisation of the movement licencing process was welcome, but this is a small step and Defra needs more resource to ensure the systems are fit for purpose.

Earlier this year, Red Tractor warned that the UK would be 'devastated' if African ASF were to reach its shores.

The chair of the pig sector of Red Tractor, Stewart Houston urged farmers to take action to help keep the deadly pig disease out of the country.
High-tech portable chambers for measuring methane emissions from sheep are being used in the UK for the first time.

New Zealand-designed Portable Accumulation Chambers (PACs) have been unveiled as the latest tool in mitigating agricultural greenhouse gases.

The trailer-mounted chambers can predict methane emissions in individual sheep from a variety of systems, including at pasture, as well as in multiple locations.

The chambers collect air samples and then analyse methane concentration, showing which genetics, feed types and systems generate the highest emission levels.

Researchers at Scotlands Rural College (SRUC) have helped roll out the PACs on a Hertfordshire farm.

In a recent blog post, Professor Wayne Powell, principal of SRUC, called for increased efforts to reduce the climate impact of ruminant livestock.

And Dr Nicola Lambe, also from SRUC who is leading the PACs project, said there was an urgent need to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from sheep.

Recent figures show there are more than 1.2 billion sheep in the world, producing around 7 million tonnes of methane into the atmosphere.

Dr Lambe said: Despite the fact resource efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions are global priorities, there are few examples around the world of research to implement breeding strategies to directly tackle these issues in sheep.

This is largely due to the difficulty in recording feed consumption and greenhouse gas emissions on an individual animal basis, especially in grass-based systems.

"The Portable Accumulation Chambers will play an important role in starting to address this issue.

Rob Hodgkins, who has 2,500 sheep on his farm in Hertfordshire, has become the first farmer in the UK to use the PACs, following a grant from Innovate UK.

He said: Not only does this make sense from an environmental point of view, but it also makes sense economically.

"It will only be a matter of time before consumers will be able to look at labels on packets of meat that shows what theyre buying has come from, for example, a carbon-zero sheep.
Agri-tech firms launching innovative machinery and technology are being sought after to demonstrate their new kits at the Royal Highland Show.

Organisers of the annual event are calling for exhibitors to apply to feature in the agri-demo arena, a new addition to the showground for 2023.

The arena will be a platform for showcasing the latest machinery and technology that is shaping the future of agriculture.

The space will feature an outdoor demonstration arena and indoor marquee, and slots are free to apply for.

The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) said businesses could choose to host either a product demonstration or an industry talk.

RHASS chief steward of technical innovation, Christo Shepherd said: We are delighted to be shining a spotlight on those companies at the forefront of agricultural innovation this year.

"As part of the RHASS mission to support and promote agriculture, this area will bring attention to the exciting products that are shaping the future of our sector.

I would encourage our exhibitors to apply and have their products front and centre on the global stage that is the Royal Highland Show.

Applications have been sent to exhibitors. For companies interested in applying, email tradestands@rhass.org.uk.
Islamabad, May 15 (UNI) The police in the Pakistani city of Lahore have arrested 340 individuals allegedly involved in the arson attack on a corps commander's house during mass protests that erupted in the country last week, Pakistani media reported on Monday.

Those arrested include the main suspect in the case who allegedly stole the commander's uniform and put it on himself during the storming of the residence, Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported.

The Pakistani police managed to identify the perpetrators using surveillance cameras, video recordings and other sources, the report said.
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko missed a major state celebration as speculation mounts about his health.

Alexander Lukashenko missed a state event in Belarus

It has been claimed that Vladimir Putin's close ally "faces paralysis without back surgery in the West" and he was absent from the annual National Flag, Emblem and Anthem Day on Sunday (14.05.23).

Lukashenko usually speaks publicly at the celebration but his prime minister Roman Golovchenko read the message on his behalf at the event in Minsk.

The tyrant had been hobbling at Russia's annual Victory Parade in Moscow last week and appeared to ask Putin and his security team to provide transport to save him from walking during the parade.

It has been claimed that Lukashenko needs surgery in the West but is unable to travel for the procedure because of sanctions placed on him for his support of Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

Nobody from Lukashenko's office has commented publicly on the leader's health and the Belarusian people have not been informed of the president's condition.

Russian Telegram channels have suggested that Lukashenko is ill with a long-running but unspecified condition that requires surgery.

The Brief channel stated: "The Belarus leader is in the hospital, he is being prepared for an operation - and maybe the operation has already been performed."
Rishi Sunak has promised to send hundreds of new long-range attack drones to Ukraine.

Rishi Sunak has met with Volodymyr Zelensky at Chequers

The UK Prime Minister met with Volodymyr Zelensky at Chequers on Monday (15.05.23) as the Ukrainian president made a surprise visit to Britain.

The politicians held "substantive negotiations" over military aid as Kyiv prepares for a major counter-offensive against Russian forces.

Sunak has confirmed that Britain will supply Ukraine with hundreds of air defence missiles and further unmanned aerial systems - including attack drones that have a range of over 125 miles.

The Prime Minister said: "This is a crucial moment in Ukraine's resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke. They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year. We must not let them down."

Sunak compared Zelensky's leadership of Ukraine to Winston Churchill's heroic efforts as Prime Minister during the Second World War.

Addressing his ally, the Prime Minister said: "You are actually the first foreign leader I have had the privilege of welcoming here as Prime Minister and there's a lot of great history here.

"In fact this room that we are standing in, Winston Churchill made many of his famous speeches in World War Two from this room. And the same way today, your leadership, your country's bravery and fortitude are an inspiration to us all."
Billie Lourd paid a heartfelt tribute to her late mom, Carrie Fisher, on Mother's Day (14.05.23).

Billie Lourd has paid a heartfelt tribute to Carrie Fisher

The 'Star Wars' actress passed away in December 2016, aged 60, and although she has a family of her own now, Billie - who has Kingston, two, and Jackson, five months, with her husband Austen Rydell - still considers the celebratory occasion to be for honouring her late mom, rather than herself.

Billie, 30, wrote on Instagram: "Even though Ive been a mom for almost 3 years and now have 2 kids of my own the first thing I think of when I hear happy Mothers Day is her. Even though its been over 6 years since she died, when I first wake up, this still feels like her day - not mine.

"But as the day goes on I remember it is my day too now. I am a mother to two magical little creatures that I adore to my core and there is nothing that brings me more joy than being their mother.

"And even though shes not here, its still her day. Its our day now. And that is both sad and weirdly beautiful at the same time. With the magic of life comes the reality of grief. It is all intertwined. (sic)"

Billie also voiced her support for "anyone and everyone" who was feeling lonely on Mother's Day.

The actress wrote: "Mothers Day can be many things. So like I say every year. Happy Mothers Day but also griefy / sad / lonely / estranged / frustrated / etc Mothers Day! Mixed Emotions Mothers Day!!! (Hallmark or whoever else makes cards out there - yall should make that a card!!!) sending my love to anyone and everyone out there who needs it. You are not alone. [heart emoji] (sic)"
Jack Whitehall and Roxy Horner were "worried" about announcing her pregnancy because the model had a miscarriage last year.

Jack Whitehall and Roxy Horner are expecting their first child

The 'Jungle Cruise' actor is expecting a baby with his 31-year-old girlfriend - who he has been dating for three years - and the blonde beauty admitted they feel "extra special" that everything is going smoothly so far after they previously suffered a devastating loss.

Roxy told Britain's HELLO! magazine: "We had a miscarriage last year and so there was a part of me that was worried to open up too soon about this baby because I was so worried something would happen again and I didnt want to have to kind of tell the world.

"I think because we did go through that miscarriage you realise how fragile the baby is, and just how common actually a miscarriage is, and that so many women go through it - I had no idea how common it actually was. It just makes this feel extra special and you're more grateful that everything's fine."

The model thinks her pregnancy is a "gift" from her late nan.

She explained: "We found out the same week my nan passed away. There's a part of me that feels like my nan knew we were trying for a baby and maybe this was her gift to us. That's how I'm seeing it."

The couple have found out the sex of their unborn baby in order to make the idea of parenthood less "scary", but they are not making the news public.

Roxy said: "We found out basically as soon as we could! There are all of these things you can't plan with pregnancy and the unknown is so scary, and so it was like 'let's find out everything we can know and go with that so it's a bit less scary."

Whether it is a boy or a girl, Roxy just couldn't be happier to be pregnant.

She said: "Having a little best friend, and also just to hold them - babies are just so cute. It's super exciting. It was a relief to finally fall pregnant - it was really magical."
Brussels, May 15 (UNI) French energy giant TotalEnergies announced on Monday that it has launched Europe's largest energy storage system in the Belgian city of Antwerp.

"TotalEnergies has launched at its Antwerp refinery (Belgium), a battery farm project for energy storage with a power rating of 25 MW and capacity of 75 MWh, equivalent to the daily consumption of close to 10,000 households," the company said in a statement.

The storage facility, which will be operational by the end of 2024, will help meet the needs of the European and, in particular, Belgian high-voltage transmission networks, the company added.
Jane Fonda is continuing to protest for the sake of her grandchildren.

Jane Fonda is continuing to protest for the sake of her grandchildren

The 85-year-old actress started her lifelong protesting by demonstrating against the Vietnam War in the 1960s and is behind the Fire Drill Fridays group that protests weekly on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, and says she doesnt plan to stop anytime soon.

She told Page Six: I dont know how you could not (protest.) I have grandchildren. I love animals, I love nature. Were going to destroy it all if we dont.

Its all hands on deck right now, its urgent, urgent and everyone has to join in right now.

Jane has grown-up kids Mary, 55, Vanessa, 54, and Troy, 49, and has her two grandchildren Malcolm Vadim, 23, and Viva Vadim, 20, through Vanessa.

Jane was arrested three times in consecutive weeks in 2019 and has also been seized by authorities with members of the group Oil Change and been handcuffed at a protest alongside actresses Rosanna Arquette, 63, and Catherine Keener, 64.

She recently told how she is trying to show up for her children after not knowing how to be a mom.

Jane added on Whos Talking to Chris Wallace? on CNN: Ive studied parenting, and I know what its supposed to be now. I didnt know then.

I have great, great children  talented, smart. And I just didnt know how to do it.

Jane  whose cancer recently went into remission  branded her former parenting style her lifes biggest regret, and added about it in 2017 in a chat with Net-a-Porter: When I die, I want my family to be around me. I want them to love me, and I have to earn that. Im still working at it.

Jane first became a mum in 1968 when she and then-husband Roger Vadim had daughter Vanessa.

She was followed by son Troy in 1973 who the actress had with her second husband, Tom Hayden, with whom she also had adopted daughter Mary.

Jane didnt have any kids with her third husband, Ted Turner.

She announced in December her cancer was in remission, and called it the best birthday present ever ahead of turning 85 that month.

It is the third time she has battled cancer.

In 2010, Oscar-winner and fitness guru Jane was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a lumpectomy in November to have it removed.

Then in January 2018 she had a cancerous growth removed from her lower lip and pre-melanoma growths taken from her skin.
Paris Hilton has found motherhood to be "the most incredible experience" of her life.

Paris Hilton is relishing her experience of motherhood

The 42-year-old star took to social media on Sunday (14.05.23) to celebrate Mother's Day, and to reflect on her own "beautiful journey" so far.

Paris - who has a four-month-old son called Phoenix, who was born via a surrogate - wrote on Instagram: "So excited to be celebrating my first Mothers Day with my little angel baby Phoenix. Being a mom is the most incredible experience I have ever had. It's a love that cannot be put into words, a feeling that I never knew existed until I held my little prince in my arms. Watching him grow and learn every single day brings me so much happiness and fills my heart with so much love. [tears and hearts emojis] (sic)"

The blonde beauty - who married Carter Reum in 2021 - has also paid tribute to her own mom in the heartfelt message.

Paris' Instagram post continued: "There is something so special about being a mom, something that I never fully understood until I became one myself.

"This Mother's Day, I can't help but feel grateful for this beautiful journey I am on. It's a day to celebrate the incredible women who brought us into this world, who have loved us unconditionally and who have shaped us into the people we are today. My mom is my biggest inspiration and the original queen of my heart. She has always been there for me, through the ups and downs, and has taught me the true meaning of strength and love.

"To all the moms out there, I want to wish you the happiest Mother's Day. You are the backbone of your families, the glue that holds everything together, and the most important person in your child's life."
You can now book a limited-seat moonlight viewing of the Taj Mahal in Agra on five days every month





There is no doubt that the Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, has an allure that makes it famous around the world. In September last year, it was ranked the second best-loved landmark in the world. This listing was released by the travel experts at Bounce after looking at factors such as annual visitor numbers, Instagram posts, TripAdvisor ratings and entry price. The Taj Mahal gets 6,532,366 annual visitors and stands as a memorial of Emperor Shah Jahans love for his beloved Mumtaz Mahal, a romance that the world is willing to travel to bask in. No wonder then that the monument grosses a revenue of $ 53.2 million a year.

Image: Instagram/@mytravelcon



And, for some time now, the Taj Mahal has been offering visitors a new opportunity to be awed. If it looks awesome in the harsh glare of the sun, it is breathtakingly stunning in the glow of moonlight. Every month, the monument is open to visitors for a night viewing on five days. These five opportunities include the two nights before the full moon, the full moon night itself, and two nights after the full moon. The dates vary by the lunar calendar, so it makes sense to check on the official websites of the Taj Mahal or the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for the exact dates.



On these evenings, you can get into the complex after sunset and marvel at the Taj Mahal in the moonlight for a 30-minute period between 8.30 pm and 12.30 am. You will find that the monument is lit by floodlights, adding to the magical atmosphere.

The tickets for these night viewings are limited in number and must be pre-booked one day before the actual date from the office of the ASI between 10 am and 6 pm.



Main image: Shutterstock



Also Read: A Road Trip With Kids: Heres How Smart Travellers Do It
During the first quarter of the current year, Cambodia exported apparel worth $2.066 billion. Most regions reported a decline in trade compared to the previous year. The largest markets, Europe and North America, recorded significant declines in Cambodian apparel exports during this period.

Cambodia's apparel exports to Europe amounted to $733.268 million, which accounted for 35.49 per cent of its total shipments from January to March 2023. The share of exports to North America was 32.16 per cent, with shipments valued at $664.494 million during the same period. The outbound shipments to the Asia-Pacific region were valued at $570.343 million, representing a 27.60 per cent share of the total. These three markets accounted for more than 94 per cent of the total exports, according to Fibre2Fashion's market insight tool TexPro. The Middle East, Central & South America, and Africa were minor markets for Cambodia's apparel.

Cambodias shipments to Europe declined by 36.62 per cent in the first quarter of the current year, compared to shipments worth $1.156 billion during January-March 2022. In the first quarter of 2021, exports were valued at $913.455 million. Shipments to North America, including the United States, dropped by 51.35 per cent to $664.494 million in the first quarter of the current year. Trade was recorded at $1.365 billion in Q1 2022 and $1.101 billion in Q1 2021, as per TexPro.

In Q1 2023, Cambodia's apparel exports amounted to $2.066 billion, with Europe and North America experiencing significant declines in trade. Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific markets combined accounted for over 94 per cent of Cambodia's apparel exports. Exports to Europe declined by 36.62 per cent and to North America dropped by 51.35 per cent.

Among the three largest markets for Cambodia's apparel exports, the Asia-Pacific region witnessed the mildest decline. Shipments decreased by 6.32 per cent to $570.343 million in the first quarter of this year, compared to $608.816 million in Q1 2022 and $601.196 million in Q1 2021.

Cambodia's total apparel exports reached $14.025 billion in 2022, surpassing the $11.098 billion worth of shipments in 2021.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
The European Union (EU) reiterated its commitment to strengthening ties and cooperation with the Indo-Pacific region at the second EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum held in Stockholm. The forum, co-chaired by EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Josep Borrell, and Sweden's minister for foreign affairs, Tobias Billstrom, aimed to foster stronger relationships and promote regional peace, security, stability, and prosperity.

In the wake of Russias aggressive actions against Ukraine, the meeting underscored the global interconnectedness and the importance of building resilient, inclusive societies. It was a significant step forward in implementing the EUs Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, which was initiated at the 2022 Paris Forum, as per an official press release.

At the second EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum, the EU highlighted its commitment to bolstering relations with the Indo-Pacific region. The meeting focused on fostering regional peace, while also addressing global issues like climate change and digital disparity. EU's efforts include FTA negotiations and climate action initiatives among others.

The EU also unveiled its Global Gateway initiative, a plan to increase the EUs engagement in the Indo-Pacific region through strategic investments in infrastructure development. This initiative supports the twin transitions towards a greener and more digital economy. Over 20 flagship projects under the Global Gateway initiative are set to be launched in the Indo-Pacific region in 2023 and beyond.

The EU has made strides towards fostering sustainable and inclusive prosperity by securing global economic recovery and resilient supply chains. Partnership and Cooperation Agreements were signed with Malaysia and Thailand in December 2022, and negotiations for a free trade agreement with New Zealand concluded in June 2022. Simultaneously, dialogue with Australia, Eastern and Southern Africa, Kenya, Indonesia, and Thailand is ongoing.

Addressing climate change is another core focus of the EU's Indo-Pacific strategy. The Green Blue Alliance for the Pacific, which includes actions for climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience, has recorded milestones this year in Fiji and Papua New Guinea. The EU also announced a 30 million Green Team Europe Initiative with ASEAN in December 2021 to support cooperation on climate action and environmental protection.

The EU demonstrated its commitment to strengthening international ocean governance, particularly through its efforts at the United Nations to reach an agreement on the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty.

The EU has been active in building digital partnerships with Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore. These partnerships aim to foster a safe, secure digital space and shape a set of standards that can be globally applied. The EU also launched the Asia-Pacific branch of the Digital4Development Hub in 2022 to support digital partnerships throughout the region, the release added.

This forum's results underlined the EU's commitment to fostering stronger relationships with the Indo-Pacific region, promoting shared prosperity, peace, and security while also addressing global challenges such as climate change and digital divide.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)
Manushi Chillar Cannes 2023 debut: Former Miss World Manushi Chhillar put India back on the map in 2017 by winning the coveted title and adding her name to the illustrious list of women who have once won the crown. The actress is all set to represent India on the international platform at Cannes Film Festival and she couldn't be happier about it.

Manushi, while interacting with a leading daily, spoke about making her debut at the prestigious film festival. She expressed her joy over seeing more representation from India at the film festival at French Riveria.

The actress said that she is elated to know that there is more interest for Indian films and actors in the other part of the world. She talked about the time when a few Indian artists attended Cannes Film Festival.

"If you talk about the film Industry, there was a time when you would only have a few Indian actors go for these festivals (like Cannes). It is good that the numbers have been growing and there is more interest in this part of the world," the Samrat Prithviraj actor was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

While Manushi is representing India at Cannes for the first time, she is equally excited for others who are marking their debut along with her. It's certainly her humbleness that allows her to cheer for others, making her a true Miss World at heart. Manushi Chhillar recently celebrated her 26th birthday and the actress was showered with love and praise from her fans, film fraternity, and close ones.

MANUSH CHILLAR UPCOMING PROJECTS

On the professional front, Manushi Chhillar has two exciting projects in her kitty. The tinsel town diva will seen sharing screen space with John Abraham in Tehran'. She also has 'Operation Valentine' with Varun Tej in pipeline.
Aishwarya Rajesh Gets Police Protection: It seems that a political party threatened actress Aishwarya Rajesh. Police protection has been provided at Aishwarya Rajesh's house in Thiagaraya Nagar, Chennai.



Farhana movie is directed by Nelson Venkatesan, who directed films like 'Monster' and 'Oru Naal Koothu'. Actress Aishwarya Rajesh is playing the lead role in it. Also, director Selvaragavan, Jithan Ramesh, Kitty, Anumol, Aishwarya Dutta and many others have played important characters.

Protests Against Farhana

Produced by Dream Warrior Pictures, Justin Prabhakaran has scored the music for the film. The highly anticipated movie 'Farhana' hit the screens on May 12, 2023. This movie is getting praise from many people. But it is said that Aishwarya Rajesh's character in this movie has caused displeasure among Muslims. Subsequently, protests also started.

Meanwhile, writer Manushyaputhran had expressed his opinion in favor of the film Farhana. Also, the film was screened separately for important Islamic celebrities and members of Islamic political parties. At that time, most people commented that there were no controversial scenes in Farhana film.

Socially Responsible Director Nelson Venkatesan

In this regard, the announcement issued by the SDPI party has informed that, "While there was a controversy that the movie Farhana is against the minority community people, a special screening was held in Chennai at the invitation of the director of the movie, Mr. Nelson, in which leaders of political parties and organizations participated.

On behalf of SDPI, the party's State General Secretary Asst Umar Farooq, State Secretary AK Karim, Chennai North Zone President Muhammad Rasheed, South Chennai North District President Muhammad Salim participated in this. At the end of the movie, State General Secretary A.S. Umar Farooq said, "Farhana movie has no controversial scenes or scandals.

He also said that the life of a woman with a simple background has only been portrayed in a realistic manner. He also expressed his gratitude to the director Mr. Nelson who put an end to the controversies by screening early to avoid unnecessary problems with a sense of social responsibility.

As there was a lot of criticism, the director of the film, Nelson Venkatesan, explained that the film was not made against Islam or in a way that could be propagated.

Police Protection For Aishwarya Rajesh

Also, it seems that a political party threatened actress Aishwarya Rajesh. Following this, police protection has been provided at Aishwarya Rajesh's house in Thiagaraya Nagar, Chennai.

Four security guards are appointed to give protection at the actress' house in rotation. Meanwhile, the name of actress Aishwarya Rajesh was featured in the Mother's Day award ceremony held at the Governor's House in Guindy yesterday morning. It is noteworthy that Aishwarya Rajesh did not attend the ceremony.
After a lot of speculation and excitement, Rohit Shetty's Khatron Ke Khiladi 13 has finally hit the floors and is being shot in Cape Town at the moment. Interestingly, the adventure based reality show is coming up an intriguing ensemble of contestants which has left everyone intrigued. The contestants include Shiv Thakare, Archana Gautam, Arjit Taneja, Nyra Banerjee, Sheezan Khan etc.

As the contestants have begun with their respective stunts, former contestant Shivangi Joshi has come up with a special advice for all the contestants of KKK13. For the uninitiated, Shivangi had participated in the adventure based reality show in the last season and had won hearts with her stint on the show.

Talking about Khatron Ke Khiladi 13, Shivangi stated that though she doesn't have any friend who is participating in the show this season, she made sure to send best wishes to all the contestants of the show and asked them to enjoy their respective journey on the show.

"Jo bhi gaye hain, sabko all the very best. Apna khayal rakhiyega, ache se saare stunts kijiyega aur enjoy kijiyega," Shivangi was quoted saying while interacting with the media during a recent fashion show.

Meanwhile, talking about the work front, Shivangi Joshi will reportedly be seen playing the lead role in Ekta Kapoor's next show opposite Kushal Tandon. According to a report published in the Times of India, a source stated, "Shivangi is now confirmed and on board for the show. She will play the female lead, a journalist. Kushal's and Shivangi's characters will be shown at loggerheads in the beginning, only to fall in love eventually. A mock shoot is expected to take place in a couple of days and the shoot will commence in 10 days".

Well, if the reports turned out to be true, this will mark Shivangi's first collaboration with Kushal. Are you excited to see this new pair? Let us know in the comment section below.
The call for young people to consider employment in the mining industry is timely, given the need for expertise in the sector to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / May 14, 2023 / The Federal Resources Minister, Madeleine King, has urged young people in Australia to consider employment in the mining industry to help the world decarbonize. Ms. King says reaching net zero emissions by 2050 would require the expertise of the resources sector and Australia's commitment to achieving this goal means that more mining, not less, is needed. Here, leading labor hire company, Techforce, weighs in.

rigger jobs, chef jobs, mining chef jobs, fifo chef jobs perth

According to Techforce, the sector is making a positive difference towards a sustainable future and young people should consider careers in geoscience, geophysics, chemistry, metallurgy and engineering to help the world decarbonize successfully.

Even as younger generations are increasingly worried about the impact of climate change, Techforce points out that gas remains a crucial component in the processing of critical minerals and the production of batteries for storing renewable energy. As such, Australia's coal and gas resources will continue to play an essential role in ensuring energy security and reliability for many years to come.

Techforce says because future prosperity depends on the resources sector, urgent action is needed to get better at telling its story to younger Australians. The mining sector is committed to environmental sustainability and is actively working to reduce its environmental footprint with significant investments in technologies such as renewable energy and minimizing impact on water resources and land use.

For young people interested in pursuing a career in mining, Techforce says there are several job opportunities available. Rigger jobs, for instance, involve setting up and maintaining equipment on mine sites. Chef jobs are also available in the mining industry, with opportunities including FIFO chef jobs Perth-wide. These jobs offer young people the opportunity to work in a dynamic and exciting industry while contributing to a sustainable future. Techforce says mining jobs offer a wide range of benefits, including excellent pay and conditions and opportunities for career advancement.

To learn more about opportunities in the sector, including mining chef jobs, visit www.Techforce.com.au.

About Techforce

Techforce Personnel is a national privately owned recruitment and workforce management company, specializing in supplying qualified employees to a range of industries across Australia and New Zealand.

Contact Information

Techforce Personnel

Marketing Manager

recruitment@techforce.com.au

(08) 6363 7040

SOURCE: Techforce

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/753502/Young-People-Urged-to-Pursue-Employment-in-Mining-to-Help-the-Environment


ASEAN strives to increase cooperation and reduce tension in the region

JAKARTA, May 13, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) chaired two of three meetings on the second day of the 42nd ASEAN Summit at Meruorah Hotel in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, on Thursday. The two meetings chaired by Jokowi are the Retreat Session and Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Summit.In his speech at the opening of the Session, Jokowi mentioned two important issues that became the focus of the discussion, namely reviews of the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and the implementation of the 5 Point Consensus (5PC) in handling the crisis in Myanmar.Indonesia, as Chair of ASEAN 2023, encourages the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its fellow ASEAN member countries to move forward together to increase cooperation and reduce tensions in the region, both in the Southeast Asian region and the wider region, including the Indo-Pacific.President Jokowi invited members of ASEAN to work in synergy to ease the rising tension in the Indo-Pacific region. According to Jokowi, one way to reduce tension in the region was by implementing the AOIP. "Concrete and inclusive cooperation is essential to ease tension in the Indo-Pacific. We can use the AOIP as a concrete platform for cooperation with partner countries," he remarked. Indo-Pacific is the world's fastest-growing region that accounts for 65 percent of the global economy.On Indonesia's initiative, ASEAN launched the AOIP in 2019 to affirm the bloc's stance in playing its role in maintaining peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the region. AOIP prioritizes the practices of open and inclusive dialogue and cooperation instead of competition and rivalry. To increase the spirit of cooperation in the region, during its 2023 ASEAN chairmanship, Indonesia will hold several main events under the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific forum as part of the efforts to implement the AOIP.The events also include an infrastructure forum, youth dialogue and digital development supporting sustainable development (SDGs), a creative economy forum, and the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit. Not only in the Indo-Pacific region, but Indonesia also encourages ASEAN to strive to reduce tensions within its own region, especially by helping Myanmar to resolve its political and humanitarian crises.ASEAN has urged the junta to implement a Five-Point Consensus peace plan agreed in April 2021 that calls for a cessation of violence, dialogue with all stakeholders, and permitting the provision of humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar.Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said on Tuesday (May 9) that the implementation progress of the 5PC had been discussed with the ASEAN Foreign Ministers ahead of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo. Indonesia, as ASEAN Chair, chose to conduct 'non-megaphone diplomacy' in resolving the Myanmar issues. Marsudi added that measures were taken to provide space for all parties to build trust and open communication.At the opening of the ASEAN Summit Retreat Session on Thursday, President Jokowi stated that Indonesia, as ASEAN Chair, continuously strives for progress in the implementation of the 5PC, and through engagements with various parties urges for an inclusive dialogue, calls for the cessation of violence, facilitates the conclusion of the Joint Needs Assessment through the AHA Centre to deliver humanitarian assistance.However, Jokowi admitted there had been no significant progress from implementing the 5PC. "Therefore, ASEAN unity is required to decide on the next steps," he said. Nevertheless, President Jokowi and Minister Marsudi have also emphasized that the lack of progress in implementing the 5 PC did not mean that ASEAN would give up on the situation in Myanmar.In fact, it means that ASEAN must be more united to help fellow member countries, especially Myanmar to get out of the crisis, so that all ASEAN members "can move forward together and leave no one behind". Furthermore, Jokowi emphasized that issues related to the current situation in Myanmar should not hinder efforts to accelerate the development of the ASEAN community.During its chairmanship, Indonesia adopted the theme of "ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth," which reflects its will to make ASEAN important and relevant as the world's center of growth. Indonesia is seeking to strengthen ASEAN's capacity and institutional effectiveness in hopes of readying the bloc to face challenges in the next two decades.The chair is also committed to escorting the Southeast Asian region towards ASEAN 2045 by making it more adaptive, responsive, and competitive through various measures that are in line with the principles found in the ASEAN Charter. In addition, Indonesia is willing to lead the ASEAN countries in efforts to strengthen economic recovery and make the region an engine of sustainable growth.By Yuni Arisandy SinagaEditor: Sri HaryatiCOPYRIGHT (c) ANTARA 2023Source: Indonesian Ministry of Communications and InformaticsCopyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Omer Celik, a spokesperson for Erdogans Justice and Development, or AK, party, in turn accused the opposition of an attempt to assassinate the national will. He called the opposition claims irresponsible.

While Erdogan hopes to win a five-year term that would take him well into his third decade as Turkeys leader, Kilicdaroglu, 74, campaigned on promises to reverse crackdowns on free speech and other forms of democratic backsliding, as well as to repair an economy battered by high inflation and currency devaluation.

Voters also elected lawmakers to fill Turkeys 600-seat parliament, which lost much of its legislative power after a referendum to change the countrys system of governance to an executive presidency narrowly passed in 2017.

With 92% of ballot boxes counted, Anadolu news agency said Erdogans ruling party alliance was hovering below 50%, while Kilicdaroglus Nation Alliance had around 35% and a pro-Kurdish party above 10%.

That the election results have not been finalized doesnt change the fact that the nation has chosen us, Erdogan said.

More than 64 million people, including the overseas voters, were eligible to vote and nearly 89% voted. This year marks 100 years since Turkeys establishment as a republic  a modern, secular state born on the ashes of the Ottoman Empire.

Voter turnout in Turkey is traditionally strong, despite the government suppressing freedom of expression and assembly over the years and especially since a 2016 coup attempt. Erdogan blamed the failed coup on followers of a former ally, cleric Fethullah Gulen, and initiated a large-scale crackdown on civil servants with alleged links to Gulen and on pro-Kurdish politicians.

Internationally, the elections were seen as a test of a united oppositions ability to dislodge a leader who has concentrated nearly all state powers in his hands and worked to wield more influence on the world stage.

Erdogan, along with the United Nations, helped mediate a deal with Ukraine and Russia that allowed Ukrainian grain to reach the rest of the world from Black Sea ports despite Russias war in Ukraine. The agreement, which is implemented by a center based in Istanbul, is set to expire in days, and Turkey hosted talks last week to keep it alive.

But Erdogan also has held up Swedens quest to join NATO while demanding concessions, contending that nation was too lenient on followers of the U.S. based cleric and members of pro-Kurdish groups that Turkey considers national security threats.

Critics maintain the presidents heavy-handed style is responsible for a painful cost-of-living crisis. The latest official statistics put inflation at about 44%, down from a high of around 86%. The price of vegetables became a campaign issue for the opposition, which used an onion as a symbol.

In contrast with mainstream economic thinking, Erdogan contends that high interest rates fuel inflation, and he pressured the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey to lower its main rate multiple times.

Erdogans government also faced criticism for its allegedly delayed and stunted response to the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that left 11 southern provinces devastated. Lax implementation of building codes is thought to have exacerbated the casualties and misery.

In his election campaign, Erdogan used state resources and his domineering position over media to try to woo voters. He accused the opposition of colluding with terrorists, of being drunkards and of upholding LGBTQ+ rights, which he depicts as threatening traditional family values in the predominantly Muslim nation.
New initiatives launched on ISV acceleration, partner training empowerment and new reselling incentives at Alibaba Cloud Partner Summit 2023

SINGAPORE, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, is set to further empower its ecosystem partners through a series of new initiatives, including the launch of an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Acceleration Program, a training empowerment program for partners, as well as new incentives to reward partner excellency.





"We are committed to growing together with our global partners and providing them with even stronger support to expand their businesses into Southeast Asia and beyond," said Edward Cai, Chief Commercial Officer, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence at the company's Partner Summit 2023 in Singapore. "All new initiatives underscore how much value we place on our partners. Together with our partners' industry know-how, technology capabilities and market insights, we can deliver significant benefits to our customers."

New Initiatives to Support Partners' Growth

Alibaba Cloud's ISV Acceleration Program was launched to provide global ISVs with new financial incentives and more robust technical support to expand their business opportunities in Southeast Asia. As part of the program, the cloud leader will help its ISV partners to optimize the marketplace listing fee on Alibaba Cloud's marketplace platform, and expand the product sales through Alibaba Cloud's sales team and its vast network of channel partners.

Alibaba Cloud also pledges to enhance technical support for global ISV partners, offering comprehensive technical enablement resources to help them build, publish and operate their solutions on the cloud platform. In addition, the company will invest to co-develop customized products and solutions with its ISV partners, in order to meet the diverse digital transformation demands from customers across Southeast Asia.

ISV partners including Neo4J (graph database provider), 6Estates (AI fintech platform), One2Cloud Pte Ltd (multi-cloud solution and blockchain services provider) and SCash Global Pte Ltd (technology innovation SaaS company) have already joined the acceleration program to get the most benefits from their partnership with Alibaba Cloud.

At the same summit, the APAC cloud leader also announced the launch of a new training empowerment portal for global partners. The Alibaba Cloud Partner Empowerment Portal provides product and service trainings and certifications, educational content on topical technology developments, as well as resources and tools to increase partners' service capabilities. The portal aims to empower 500 global partners including channel partners, Managed Service Partners (MSPs) and ISVs in the current financial year, with training topics covering cloud, AI, Web3 and more.

To bring more tangible benefits to Alibaba Cloud's partners outside China, the company also announced a series of new financial incentives including discounts and rebates for rewarding resellers and distributors as well as some joint go-to-market initiatives. This is part of the USD1 billion investment that Alibaba Cloud announced in 2022 in order to support its global partners' technology innovation and their market expansion.





"Our new initiatives showcase our unwavering commitment to helping our global partners thrive and innovate on Alibaba Cloud," said Selina Yuan, President of International Business, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence. "Partners play an essential role in enhancing and delivering Alibaba Cloud's services and offering to our global customers. Together with partners, we can bring world-class technologies, products and solutions to our customers for their greater business success."

New Partnership on Security, Blockchain and Talent Development

During the summit, Alibaba Cloud also unveiled deeper collaboration with its ecosystem partners. The cloud leader has announced its new collaboration with IBM to provide a best-in-class security solution for businesses across APAC.

The security solution integrates features of IBM's security products - QRadar SIEM and QRadar SOAR - as well as Alibaba Cloud's wide range of security capabilities. It provides services including real-time reporting and centralized visibility into the cloud environment to detect threats such as ransomware, insider threats and cloud attacks. The co-developed solution aims to mitigate mounting cybersecurity risks while creating a secure, stable and protected cloud environment for clients during their digital transformation journey.

Another collaboration unveiled is with Avalanche, a leading blockchain platform, providing a launchpad for businesses to rapidly deploy metaverses on the Avalanche public blockchain. Cloudverse is a one-stop solution for businesses to seamlessly customize, launch and maintain their own metaverse space, creating new dimensions for engaging with customers.

Alibaba Cloud also announced collaboration with training partners to bolster talent development in Southeast Asia. With the target to train 100,000 general public talents in the region by the current financial year, the SEA Talent Empowerment Program aims to attract training partners to contribute to the talent development drive. The initial training partners include Rahi Systems (information technology services and solutions provider), Solutions for Asia (security service solution provider), Lightning Cloud (multi-cloud operation solution platform) and Edu360 Cloud (digital certification service platform).

The leading cloud service provider recognized a wide range of partners for their collaboration and innovation in contributing to customers' success over the past year. The Asia Partner of the Year honors eight partners including IBM, AI Rudder (from Singapore), LGMS Berhad (from Malaysia), PT Sigma Cipta Caraka (from Indonesia), and Digital One (from Hong Kong).

Alibaba Cloud currently works with about 12,000 partners worldwide, including Salesforce, VMware, Fortinet, IBM and Neo4j.

About Alibaba Cloud

Established in 2009, Alibaba Cloud (www.alibabacloud.com) is the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group. It offers a complete suite of cloud services to customers worldwide, including elastic computing, database, storage, network virtualization services, large-scale computing, security, management and application services, big data analytics, a machine learning platform and IoT services. Alibaba maintained its position as the third leading public cloud IaaS service provider globally since 2018, according to IDC. Alibaba is the world's third leading and Asia Pacific's leading IaaS provider by revenue in U.S. dollars since 2018, according to Gartner.

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CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Japanese yen weakened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Monday, as traders cheered some upbeat domestic earnings and data that showed April producer prices in Japan rose the least in 20 months.



The Nikkei 225 moved above the 29,500 level at 18-month highs. The benchmark Nikkei 225 Index is up 143.97 or 0.49 percent at 29,532.27, after touching a high of 29,629.47 earlier.



Data from the Bank of Japan showed that the producer prices in Japan were up 5.8 percent on year in April, shy of expectations for an increase of 7.1 percent and down from the upwardly revised 7.4 percent jump in March. On a monthly basis, producer prices rose 0.2 percent versus expectations for a gain of 0.1 percent following the upwardly revised 0.1 percent increase in the previous month.



In the Asian trading today, the yen fell to nearly a 2-week low of 136.12 against the U.S. dollar and a 4-day low of 169.65 against the pound, from yesterday's closing quotes of 135.74 and 168.93, respectively. If the yen extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 137.00 against the greenback and 173.00 against the pound.



Against the euro and the Swiss franc, the yen dropped to 5-day lows of 147.85 and 151.62 from yesterday's closing quotes of 147.27 and 151.04, respectively. The yen may test support near 152.00 against the euro and 154.00 against the franc.



Against the Australia and the Canadian dollars, the yen slipped to 4-day lows of 90.63 and 100.38 from yesterday's closing quotes of 90.08 and 100.09, respectively. On the downside, 93.00 against the aussie and 102.00 against the loonie are seen as the next support levels for the yen.



The yen edged down to 84.52 against the NZ dollar, from yesterday's closing value of 83.97. The NZD/JPY pair may find its next support level around the 86.00 area.



Looking ahead, German wholesale prices for April is due to be released at 2:00 am ET.



Half-an-hour later, Switzerland producer and import prices for April is slated for release.



In the New York session, Canada housing starts for April and wholesale sales for March, U.S. NY Empire state manufacturing index for May are due.



Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Report: +40% Gewinn nur mit Aktien! +39,93% Rendite seit Januar  so lautet die Erfolgsbilanz der Aktie der Woche. Damit wurden sowohl der DAX als auch der S&P 500 deutlich outperformt. Wie das genau funktioniert, erklart Chefradakteur Lars Wiler in seiner Zwischenbilanz. Hier klicken
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2023) - Yellow Stem Tech Inc. (CSE: YY) ("Yellow Stem" or the "Company") is pleased to make the following announcements:

As disclosed in December, 2022, the Company signed both a Product Distribution Agreement (the "Distribution Agreement") and an Option Agreement with Sweet Poison Spirits S de RL de CV, a Mexican company headquartered in Guadalajara, Mexico, and Sweet Poison Spirits LLC, a California limited liability corporation headquartered in San Diego, California (collectively, "Sweet Poison"). The Distribution Agreement granted the Company the worldwide distribution rights to Sweet Poison's premium Tequila and Mezcal products under the "Sweet Poison" brand names for an initial period of ten years, renewable for a further ten years and beyond. The Option Agreement grants the Company the right to acquire Sweet Poison in the future for U.S. one million dollars.

The Company has now reached agreement with Sweet Poison, amending both the Distribution Agreement and the Option Agreement to include the acquisition of Sweet Poison's formula for one blend of Sweet Poison's tequila and four blends of mezcal. The Company can now more effectively execute its marketing plans, solidly backed by worldwide distribution rights to Sweet Poison spirits, and ownership of the proprietary formulas for the tequila and mezcal. The cost of acquiring the formulas will be deducted from the purchase price under the Option Agreement, in the event the Company exercises the option.

In consideration for acquiring the formulas, the Company will issue to Sweet Poison a total of 2,500,000 post-consolidated shares at a deemed price of $0.10, with hold periods as follows:

25% of the Shares will become free-trading four months following the date of issuance (the "Closing"); an additional 25% of the Shares will become free-trading 12 months following Closing; an additional 25% of the Shares will become free-trading 18 months following Closing; and the remaining 25% of the Shares will become free-trading 24 months following Closing.

A finder's fee of 250,000 post-consolidated shares will be issued related to this transaction for the finder's efforts in negotiating and facilitating the transaction, such shares to be restricted in the same manner as those shares to be issued to Sweet Poison.

Name Change Proposed

To demonstrate its commitment to the Sweet Poison goals and objectives, the Board of Directors has approved changing the Company's name from Yellow Stem Technologies Inc. to Sweet Poison Spirits Inc. The Company is proceeding with meeting all of the regulatory requirements related to a name change, and will confirm the effective date upon receipt of regulatory acceptance.

Private Placement

To meet the milestones and business objectives as disclosed in its Listing Statement as filed with the CSE and on SEDAR (see news release of March 28, 2023) the Company announces that it has arranged a non-brokered private placement of up to $1 million (the "Financing") through the issuance of up to 10 million units (the "Units") at a price of $0.10 per Unit. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant ("Warrant"), with each whole Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one common share at a price of $0.25 per share for a period of 24 months from closing, provided that, if after the expiry of all resale restrictions, the closing price of the Company's Shares is equal to or greater than $0.40 per share for 30 consecutive trading days, the Company may, by notice to the Warrant holders (which notice may be by way of general news release), reduce the remaining exercise period of the Warrants to not less than 30 days following the date of such notice.

The Company may pay finders' fees of up to 8% in cash and 8% in half warrants for subscriptions attributable to finders. Finders' warrants will be valid for a period of two years, with each warrant exercisable on the same terms as the Warrants sold under the Financing.

The net proceeds of the Financing will be budgeted as follows:

Use of Funds Amount (C$) Costs associated with regulatory filings and related approvals 50,000 Formulation of initial marketing and distribution plans 50,000 Costs related to signing up distribution agents in North & South America and Europe. 50,000 Purchase of initial inventory for distribution (excluding sales) 500,000 G & A expenses 164,000 Costs of financing 80,000 Working Capital 106,000 Total $1,000,000

There is no material fact or material change about the Company that has not been generally disclosed.

About Sweet Poison Spirits:

Sweet Poison Spirits are creators and distributors of premium quality spirits. The company is committed to respecting traditional and ancestral processes, sustainability and the environment. For more on Sweet Poison, visit www.sweetpoisonspirits.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

(Sgd.) "Robert Eadie"

Robert Eadie, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Telephone: 1-604-602-4935 Facsimile: 1-604-602-4936

Contact: Robert Eadie

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.

Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include but are not limited to statements or information with respect to closing of agreements and future operations.

Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. There is no assurance the Company will be able to execute its distribution plans profitably, or at all. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165978
Regulatory News:

TotalEnergies (Paris:TTE) (LSE:TTE) (NYSE:TTE) and its partners, have signed Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) on Blocks 6 8 with Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname (Staatsolie), the State-owned oil company of Suriname.

Blocks 6 and 8 were awarded to TotalEnergies in the Suriname Shallow Offshore Bid Round 2020/2021. TotalEnergies will operate the two blocks with a 40% interest, alongside QatarEnergy (20%) and Paradise Oil Company (POC), a subsidiary of Staatsolie (40%).

Located in the southern part of offshore Suriname, close to the border with Guyana and with depths between 30 meters and 50 meters, the shallow water Blocks 6 8 are immediately adjacent to the operated Block 58 where several discoveries have been made and appraisal drilling is ongoing.

"TotalEnergies is pleased to expand its operatorship position in Suriname, a world class emerging basin, exploring for low technical costs and low GHG emission oil resources" outlined Kevin McLachlan, Senior Vice President Exploration, at TotalEnergies. "This new milestone further strengthens our strategic international partnership with QatarEnergy marking its first entry to Suriname".

About TotalEnergies

TotalEnergies is a global multi-energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to energy that is ever more affordable, cleaner, more reliable and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in nearly 130 countries, TotalEnergies puts sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations to contribute to the well-being of people.

@TotalEnergiesTotalEnergiesTotalEnergiesTotalEnergies

Cautionary Note

The terms "TotalEnergies", "TotalEnergies company" or "Company" in this document are used to designate TotalEnergies SE and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by TotalEnergies SE. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" may also be used to refer to these entities or to their employees. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns a shareholding are separate legal entities. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information concerning risk factors, that may affect TotalEnergies' financial results or activities is provided in the most recent Universal Registration Document, the French-language version of which is filed by TotalEnergies SE with the French securities regulator Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF), and in the Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005324/en/

Contacts:

TotalEnergies

Media Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 99 l presse@totalenergies.com l @TotalEnergiesPR

Investor Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 46 l ir@totalenergies.com
AMSTERDAM and OSLO, Norway, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MPC Energy Solutions (MPCES) strengthens its commitment to deliver renewable energy solutions and expands its development footprint in Latin America by entering Panama. Through new developments focusing on ground-mounted solar PV, the company enhances its ambition to significantly expand its project pipeline in Latin America.

"In line with our business strategy and geographical focus, we are dedicated to developing projects located in Panama and other Latin American and Caribbean nations. It is exciting to see the continuous growth of our diversified pipeline as we take further steps towards helping to accelerate the energy transition in the region," says Fernando Zuniga, Managing Director Latin America and Caribbean of MPC Energy Solutions.

MPCES and its partners have already identified sites and grid connection capacity for combined 60-70 MWp with immediate start of development works and the aim to grow this local pipeline further through own developments and/or acquisitions. The new development projects will support the company's goal to reach 800 MW of ready-to-build projects in the region by 2025 and to achieve 1,000 MW of sustainable energy assets across Latin America and the Caribbean by 2027.

"As Panama's government looks to decentralise and diversify its energy generation, we are committed to contribute to the expansion of the country's green energy sources. Panama possesses excellent solar irradiation, a well-functioning and mature electricity market for independent power producers, PPA and spot market settlements in USD and the cheapest cost of debt financing in the region. These factors are key drivers for our decision to enter the market and develop economically attractive assets," says Fernando Zuniga.

Panama has made significant strides in developing hydropower projects, producing 54% of its electricity through hydroelectric power. To accelerate its commitment to tackling climate change, increasing the country's resilience, and meeting its growing energy demands, Panama has pledged that 50% of the country's generation capacity will come from renewables by 2050, including solar and wind.

About MPC Energy Solutions

MPC Energy Solutions ("MPCES") is a global provider of sustainable energy and primarily focuses on low-carbon energy infrastructure, including solar and wind farms, and other hybrid and energy efficiency solutions. The Company participates in the full project lifecycle of renewable solutions, from early-stage development through construction and operation. More details at www.mpc-energysolutions.com

Media contacts:



MPC Energy Solutions N.V.

Investor Relations & Public Relations

Email: ir@mpc-energysolutions.com

Norway

Mats Samdahl Weltz

Salto Advisers

Phone: +47 950 46330

Email: msw@saltoadvisers.no

United Kingdom



Judith Ugwumadu

Montieth & Company

Phone: +44 7774 985705

Email: jugwumadu@montiethco.com

Americas



Perry Goldman

Montieth & Company

Phone: +1 (646) 8643568

Email: pgoldman@montiethco.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/mpc-energy-solutions-expands-its-development-footprint-in-latin-america-signs-first-development-service-agreement-in-panama-301824293.html
Aquiline leads funding round, with Chrysalis Investments, Fidelity International Strategic Ventures and other existing strategic investors participating

Equity injection continues Smart's global expansion, taking current 5.5bn AUM to an expected 10.5bn by end Q2 2023, total growth of 123% in H1 2023

Smart, the London-headquartered fintech transforming the global retirement savings market, today announces it has closed its $95m Series E funding in a round led by Aquiline Capital Partners LLC ("Aquiline"), a private investment firm based in New York and London. Existing investors participating in the round include: Chrysalis Investments, Fidelity International Strategic Ventures, DWS, Barclays and Natixis Investment Managers.

Funds from this investment round will bolster Smart's global expansion plans, building on the company's strong performance in Europe, the US, Middle East and Asia. Proceeds from the funding round will also help finance near-term acquisitions and accelerate Smart's investment in and distribution of its proprietary retirement savings technology platform, Keystone. The market-leading growth and profitability of its UK-based Smart Pension business is underpinned by the scalability of the Keystone platform.

Smart has experienced a period of exceptional growth, with group revenue of 67m in 2022, a 65% increase on the previous year. In February 2023, Smart was ranked among Europe's fastest-growing companies by the Financial Times.

Smart today already has over 5.5 billion in Assets Under Management (AUM) on its platform and is expected to exceed 10bn by the end of June 2023 following this Series E funding. Growth has been driven by the accelerating global demand for modern, digital retirement savings technology, the success of Smart Pension in the UK and strategic M&A.

Established in 2014 by Andrew Evans and Will Wynne in the wake of the UK's roll out of mandatory workplace pension auto enrolment, Smart owns and operates one of "the big four" UK auto enrolment master trusts, Smart Pension, serving more than one million savers and 70,000 employers.

The group's ongoing and future success is underpinned by Keystone, the world's first global, cloud-native, workplace retirement savings platform. Keystone provides all the infrastructure needed to deliver modern, digital retirement savings for governments and financial services partners around the world, supporting the wave of change currently transforming the $62 trillion AUM global pensions sector.

A successful technology export story for the UK, the platform already powers numerous retirement savings solutions around the world. These include an award-winning partnership with one of Ireland's most well-known financial services institutions, pooled retirement solutions rolled out nationally across the US and a partnership with Zurich Workplace Solutions (Middle East), part of the Zurich Insurance Group, on the Dubai government workplace saving scheme.

As populations age and governments struggle with high national debt and large fiscal deficits, the responsibility to save for retirement is increasingly being pushed, by regulation, onto individuals and employees via the workplace. To help them close the retirement savings gap, governments and large-scale financial institutions are leaning on Smart's Keystone technology to ensure that people are saving more and are empowered to manage their money effectively. In pursuit of these crucial objectives, Keystone provides, at scale, a leap forward in digital experience, bringing the retirement savings sector in line with advanced technology sectors such as ecommerce and online banking.

Jeff Greenberg, Chairman and CEO of Aquiline, said:

"Smart's distinct retirement technology leadership coupled with Aquiline's deep experience in the retirement technology industry makes this a compelling investment, as does the growing global need for better retirement saving technology. Smart has consistently delivered impressive commercial growth, and is backed by an array of top-tier investors whom we are delighted to join. Under the leadership of Andrew and Will, we have every confidence that Smart is a multi-billion pound company in the making.

"The UK remains at the forefront in the digitalisation and democratisation of retirement savings and we are excited to support a UK leader in the sector as it helps to solve pressing issues facing savers, financial institutions and governments across the world."

The co-founders of Smart, Andrew Evans and Will Wynne, said:

"This investment is strong recognition of Smart's success and journey to date, and highlights the immense opportunity that lies ahead. It is also a resounding vote of confidence in the UK's fintech sector, and its leadership in financial services provision.

"We are on a mission to transform retirement, savings and financial wellbeing. We are the global leader in retirement technology and our industry-leading platform, Keystone, is being deployed by the biggest, most successful financial institutions around the world. This is a $62 trillion global sector in the early stages of being disrupted, and we are uniquely positioned to take advantage of that. We have already reached scale and profitability in the UK, with Smart Pension now serving in excess of one million savers, and this backing allows us to achieve that scale and profitability in our global markets across the group. We welcome Aquiline to our board and we're incredibly excited for the years ahead."

Smart continues to strengthen its board of directors, with Charles Janeway of Aquiline joining as non-executive director.

Lazard acted as financial adviser to Smart in relation to the Series E funding round. Perella Weinberg acted as financial adviser to Aquiline.

About Smart

Smart is a global savings and investments technology platform provider. Its mission is to transform retirement, savings and financial wellbeing, across all generations, around the world.

Smart launched in 2015, its technology platform Keystone serves the needs of retirement savers globally. Keystone is specifically designed to help governments and financial institutions (including insurers, asset managers, banks and financial advisers) deliver retirement savings and income solutions that are digital, bespoke and cost efficient. In addition to the UK, Smart is operating in the US, Europe, Middle East and Asia, with more than a million savers entrusting over 5 billion in assets on its Keystone platform.

Aquiline joins existing investors Chrysalis Investments, J.P. Morgan, the Link Group, Fidelity International Strategic Ventures, Barclays, DWS Group, Natixis Investment Managers and Legal General Investment Management.

For more information, please visit Smart.co.

We tweet as @SmartPensionUK

About Aquiline Capital Partners LLC

Aquiline Capital Partners is a private investment firm based in New York and London investing in companies across financial services and technology, healthcare and business services. The firm has $9.6 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2022. For more information about Aquiline, its investment professionals, and its portfolio companies, please visit www.aquiline.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005270/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Smart Alex Nelless, Head of PR alex.nelless@smart.co pressoffice@smart.co

Aquiline Maria Gonzalez, Prosek Partners mjgonzalez@prosek.com pro-aquiline@prosek.com

Lazard Nicholas Millar and Christopher Britton, +44 20 7187 2000

Perella Weinberg media@pwpartners.com


Joint Isuzu-Honda R&D efforts produced a fuel cell-powered heavy-duty truck that has been granted a Japanese license plate number for use on public roads

TOKYO, May 15, 2023 - (JCN Newswire) - Isuzu Motors Limited and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced that they have signed a partnership agreement based on the decision to have Honda develop and supply the fuel cell system for the fuel cell-powered heavy-duty truck Isuzu is planning to introduce to market in 2027.Isuzu and Honda believe that fuel cell technology, utilizing hydrogen as fuel resulting in no CO2 emissions, will be effective to achieve carbon neutrality of heavy-duty trucks which are required to address large load capacity, long-time use, long-distance driving and the need for quick refueling.Since the signing of an agreement in January 2020, to conduct joint research on heavy-duty trucks utilizing fuel cells (FC) as the powertrain, the two companies have been working toward the establishment of a foundation for basic technologies such as ensuring the compatibility of fuel cells and heavy-duty trucks and the development of vehicle control technologies. The two companies are currently planning to start demonstration testing of a prototype truck on public roads before the end of the current fiscal year (ending March 31, 2024). By fully leveraging experience and knowledge gained through the joint research, the two companies will continue making progress in the development of products that fulfill the performance and conditions required for heavy-duty trucks and satisfy customers.Moving forward, the two companies will take advantage of the respective strengths of each company and accelerate the development of clean, low-noise, low-vibration fuel cell- powered heavy-duty trucks. This will contribute to the shift toward the use of clean energy by the entire industry, including logistics businesses, with more proactive use of hydrogen energy, through which both companies will strive to achieve the shared goal - which is the realization of a carbon neutral society.About Isuzu Motors LimitedHead office address:1-2-5 Takashima, Nishi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, 220-8720, JapanBusiness:Production and sales of commercial vehicles, pick-up trucks,diesel/natural gas engines, parts and components.About Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Head office address:2-1-1 Minamiaoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8556, JapanBusiness:Production and sales of mobility products(motorcycles, automobiles, power products, etc.)Source: Honda Motor Co, LtdCopyright 2023 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
+39,93% Rendite seit Januar  so lautet die Erfolgsbilanz der Aktie der Woche. Damit wurden sowohl der DAX als auch der S&P 500 deutlich outperformt. Wie das genau funktioniert, erklart Chefradakteur Lars Wiler in seiner Zwischenbilanz.

NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE (dpa-AFX) - Thales Alenia Space, the joint venture between French technology firm, Thales Group (THLEF.PK) and Leonardo, said on Monday that it has won a 235 million euros contract from the Italian Space Agency or ASI to make a spacecraft for a dedicated In-Orbit Servicing or IOS demonstration mission. The demonstration mission will operate in low Earth orbit and is set to be launched by 2026. The project will test enabling technologies for future on-orbit servicing missions by performing a wide range of robotic operations on satellites already in orbit: refueling, component repair or replacement, orbital transfer and atmospheric reentry. These operations will be executed thanks to a dexterous robotic arm, developed by Leonardo in collaboration with SAB Aerospace, the Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics, and the Italian Institute of Technology. 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.
+39,93% Rendite seit Januar  so lautet die Erfolgsbilanz der Aktie der Woche. Damit wurden sowohl der DAX als auch der S&P 500 deutlich outperformt. Wie das genau funktioniert, erklart Chefradakteur Lars Wiler in seiner Zwischenbilanz.

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia, May 15, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre Berhad (Bursa: MGRC, 0155), a leading genomics and biopharmaceutical specialist, today announced a strategic cooperation agreement (SCA) with Toticell Limited for the distribution of the Group's products in Bangladesh.Toticell, which is based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, specialises in regenerative healthcare focusing on treatments for musculoskeletal conditions such as arthritis, sports-related injuries and tendinopathies.Under the SCA, the parties agree to cooperate in the distribution of Malaysian Genomics' cosmeceutical products, genetic screening tests, CAR T-cell therapy services, and other areas of mutual commercial interests.Mr. Sasha Nordin, CEO of Malaysian Genomics said, "Bangladesh represents a market with vast opportunities given its population of approximately 165 million people. The country's economy, which is the second-largest in South Asia, is growing rapidly it is identified by Goldman Sachs Inc. as one of the Next Eleven, along with the BRICS economies for potential. Malaysian Genomics is delighted to cooperate with Toticell to bring our products and services to Bangladesh."Mr. Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Malaysian Genomics, said, "This collaboration with Toticell falls in line with Malaysian Genomics' strategic expansion plan which includes diversifying geographically and globally."In April, MGRC announced that the Group has made progress in establishing partnerships following the signing of SCAs with several Dubai, United Arab Emirates ("UAE") parties, namely American Spine Center ("ASC"), a Dubai, UAE-based specialist in spinal injury and spine pathology; BALSAM Health Services ("Balsam"), a Dubai, UAE-based healthcare service provider; Wellness by Design FZ LLC ("Wellness by Design"), a Dubai, UAE-based nutrition, obesity and weight loss specialist, and Sharjah, UAE-based IAC International LLC ("IAC"), which is coordinating and developing the partnerships.MGRC also recently appointed Mr. Aswath Ramakrishnan as its new Independent Non-Executive Director. He is an experienced practising lawyer involved in commercial litigation, shipping and maritime, defamation, corporate and insolvency litigation, asset and debt recovery, intellectual property litigation, arbitration, and cross-border dispute.Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre Bhd: 0155 [BURSA: MGRC] [RIC: MGRC:KL] [BBG: MGRC:MK], http://www.mgrc.com.my/Source: Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre BhdCopyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.

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.
Almonty Industries Inc. ("Almonty" or the "Company") (TSX: AII ASX: AII OTCQX: ALMTF Frankfurt: ALI.F) is pleased to announce that plans are now well advanced to reopen the former producing mine in Spain, Los Santos.

Los Santos has been in planned care and maintenance since 2020. Since that time, Almonty has been undertaking studies into the re-commencement of production from Los Santos via the retreating of tailings, utilizing the Company's flotation technology developed for our Sangdong Tungsten Mine.

The Company estimates that re-opening will be effective from Q3 CY2023 depending on the delivery times of some floatation plant items. Under normal conditions these items are readily available. The Company intends to retreat the tails to capture the more than 800,000 MTUS of W03 contained within our sands and torta. The overall average grade of the tails is 0.14% and was published in our latest JORC report.

It is expected that earnings from reopening of the Los Santos Mine will be similar to the earnings at our existing Panasqueira production mine in Portugal. Capital expenditure is expected to be Almonty's Chairman, President and CEO Lewis Black commented: "We have spent a number of years refining our process for the Sangdong Tungsten Mine with the use of our pilot plant. What became apparent was the technology that we had developed that sat alongside the traditional flotation techniques could be adapted to our other sites, especially in dealing with finer material which is normally the inhibitor to treating tails commercially. We have now successfully established that our Sangdong process can commercially treat the Los Santos tails, and with a minimal amount of adjustment to the already existing flotation circuit at Los Santos, we will now begin to plan for bringing the Los Santos Mine back into production. This re-opening will not distract us from the build in South Korea, as all key members of Los Santos are still in place. We expect this plan, once enacted, to generate similar earnings to our existing Panasqueira production mine in Portugal and therefore will have a material effect to our current revenue and earnings as we continue to construct Sangdong."

About Almonty

The principal business of Toronto, Canada-based Almonty Industries Inc. is the mining, processing and shipping of tungsten concentrate from its Los Santos Mine in western Spain and its Panasqueira mine in Portugal as well as the development of its Sangdong tungsten mine in Gangwon Province, South Korea and the development of the Valtreixal tin/tungsten project in north western Spain. The Los Santos Mine was acquired by Almonty in September 2011 and is located approximately 50 kilometres from Salamanca in western Spain and produces tungsten concentrate. The Panasqueira mine, which has been in production since 1896, is located approximately 260 kilometres northeast of Lisbon, Portugal, was acquired in January 2016 and produces tungsten concentrate. The Sangdong mine, which was historically one of the largest tungsten mines in the world and one of the few long-life, high-grade tungsten deposits outside of China, was acquired in September 2015 through the acquisition of a 100% interest in Woulfe Mining Corp. Almonty owns 100% of the Valtreixal tin-tungsten project in north- western Spain. Further information about Almonty's activities may be found at www.almonty.com and under Almonty's profile at www.sedar.com.

Legal Notice

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published or distributed should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions.

Neither the 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.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

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. These statements and information are based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and reflect Almonty's current expectations.

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 Almonty to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: any specific risks relating to fluctuations in the price of ammonium para tungstate ("APT") from which the sale price of Almonty's tungsten concentrate is derived, actual results of mining and exploration activities, environmental, economic and political risks of the jurisdictions in which Almonty's operations are located and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, forecasts and assessments relating to Almonty's business, credit and liquidity risks, hedging risk, competition in the mining industry, risks related to the market price of Almonty's shares, the ability of Almonty to retain key management employees or procure the services of skilled and experienced personnel, risks related to claims and legal proceedings against Almonty and any of its operating mines, risks relating to unknown defects and impairments, risks related to the adequacy of internal control over financial reporting, risks related to governmental regulations, including environmental regulations, risks related to international operations of Almonty, risks relating to exploration, development and operations at Almonty's tungsten mines, the ability of Almonty to obtain and maintain necessary permits, the ability of Almonty to comply with applicable laws, regulations and permitting requirements, lack of suitable infrastructure and employees to support Almonty's mining operations, uncertainty in the accuracy of mineral reserves and mineral resources estimates, production estimates from Almonty's mining operations, inability to replace and expand mineral reserves, uncertainties related to title and indigenous rights with respect to mineral properties owned directly or indirectly by Almonty, the ability of Almonty to obtain adequate financing, the ability of Almonty to complete permitting, construction, development and expansion, challenges related to global financial conditions, risks related to future sales or issuance of equity securities, differences in the interpretation or application of tax laws and regulations or accounting policies and rules and acceptance of the TSX of the listing of Almonty shares on the TSX.

Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to, no material adverse change in the market price of ammonium para tungstate (APT), the continuing ability to fund or obtain funding for outstanding commitments, expectations regarding the resolution of legal and tax matters, no negative change to applicable laws, the ability to secure local contractors, employees and assistance as and when required and on reasonable terms, and such other assumptions and factors as are set out herein. Although Almonty has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results, level of activity, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and even if events or results described in the forward-looking statements are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Almonty. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and are cautioned that actual outcomes may vary.

Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. Almonty cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on Almonty's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events.

Almonty has also assumed that material factors will not cause any forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors.

THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF ALMONTY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD- LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE ALMONTY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005052/en/

Contacts:

For further information, please contact:

Lewis Black

Chairman, President and CEO

Telephone: +1 647 438-9766

Email: info@almonty.com
Dive Experience owner Michelle Pugh is passionate about diving. Growing up in Los Angeles, she learned to dive at age 16 and hasnt stopped since.
SHENZHEN,China, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Anycubic, a leading 3D printing technology company, is proud to launch the Photon Mono M5s, their first consumer-grade 12K resin printer offering a leveling-free solution and a fast printing scheme. This revolutionary 3D printer provides unprecedented detail and convenience for makers, enhancing the overall printing experience.





10.1-inch 12K Monochrome LCD Screen for Exquisite Detail

The Photon Mono M5s comes equipped with a 10.1-inch monochrome LCD screen featuring a stunning 11520x5120 resolution, making it the first consumer-grade 12K 3D printer in the industry. This ultra-high-resolution screen allows users to print models with microscopic precision down to 19m. With a contrast ratio of 480:1, the Photon Mono M5s breathes life into printed models, capturing even the tiniest details.

Innovative Leveling-free Solution for Hassle-Free Printing

As the first consumer-grade resin printer of its kind, the Photon Mono M5s employs mechanical sensors to automatically detect and adjust the fit between the print platform and the floating leveling module. This eliminates the need for manual leveling, which can lead to printing failures if not done correctly. This leveling-free solution not only simplifies the printing process for makers but also increases the printing success rate.

James Ouyang, Vice President of Anycubic, said: "Leveling is a common and sometimes tricky step for beginners when using a resin printer. To make the printing experience even more user-friendly and hassle-free, we have integrated the leveling-free solution into our consumer-grade resin printer."

Triple the Speed with Enhanced Printing Scheme

Anycubic has developed a printing scheme that triples printing efficiency, achieving an average printing speed of 105mm/h. The Photon Mono M5s's increased print speed is made possible by incorporating the high-speed resin and a customized 3rd Gen release film, alongside Anycubic's upgraded Photon Workshop 3.1 software. This combination reduces printing time by up to 74%.

The 3rd Gen release film, with its reduced release force, ensures a high printing success rate while minimizing release height and increasing lifting speed. Anycubic's specially developed high-speed resin features low viscosity, which contributes to decreased exposure and curing time. The Photon Mono M5s's optimized motion control ensures smoother lifting and lowering motions, further enhancing print speed.

Intelligent Monitoring System for Reliable Printing

The Photon Mono M5s is equipped with a new intelligent monitoring system designed to ensure a high printing success rate. The system features three practical modules: hardware examination, resin detection, and printing detection. Before printing, the Photon Mono M5s checks that the screen, mechanical detection module, and motor are properly connected and functioning. Additionally, the printer verifies there is enough resin in the vat for the selected model to avoid interruptions due to resin depletion. Throughout the printing process, the Photon Mono M5s monitors progress in real-time, notifying users of any incidents through the Anycubic App.

Pricing and Availability

The Photon Mono M5s 3D printer will be available starting at 10:00 AM EDT on May 22, 2023. Early bird pricing for the US begins at $399, and 399 for Europe. The early bird offer lasts for only three days, so make sure to visit the official Anycubic Store to subscribe and receive the latest notifications when the product becomes available for purchase. Early bird customers also have the chance to win free STLs as gifts.

About Anycubic

Since its establishment in 2015, Anycubic has been committed to propelling 3D printing technology to ensure that 3D printing is accessible and affordable to people from all walks of life. We are happy to see people unleash their imagination and creativity into reality. Anycubic has made its presence in over 200 countries and regions since 2015. The company has released more than 20 widely favored products, with 3 million units sold over the past 7 years. With the commitment to "For Freedom to Make," Anycubic will continue to bring the best products and technologies to all makers.





Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2076868/Photon_Mono_M5s_The_First_Consumer_Grade_Leveling_free_12k_Resin.jpg

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ATLANTA, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Habitat for Humanity and our partners around the world today launched a five-year campaign, called Home Equals, seeking policy changes at the local, national and global levels to increase access to adequate housing in informal settlements.

More than 1 billion people around the world live in slums and other informal settlements, and that figure continues to rise. These communities have very limited access to basic services such as clean water, sanitation, and electricity. People living in informal settlements lack land and property rights, often fearing eviction. They face worsening threats from climate change, including droughts and floods.

"When it comes to the places we call home, people living in informal settlements are simply not being treated as equals," said Jonathan Reckford, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. "By advocating for policy changes, our partners in the Home Equals campaign will be increasing access to adequate housing and supporting innovative solutions coming from the residents of informal settlements themselves. Join us in creating a more equitable world. Because home equals health. Home equals safety and security. And home equals an opportunity for a better future."

At the global level, Habitat for Humanity is calling on G7 member states - a group of leading industrial nations set to meet this weekend in Hiroshima, Japan - to recognize housing as a critical lever for development progress and commit to addressing housing needs in informal settlements as a way to advance international development priorities in areas such as economic growth, health and education.

The economic and human development gains from improving housing at a large scale in informal settlements would be substantial, according to a report released today in support of the Home Equals campaign. The first-of-its-kind report from Habitat for Humanity and our research partner, the International Institute for Environment and Development, or IIED, modeled the benefits that would be realized - in terms of economic production, income, health, and education - from those housing improvements.

The report found that GDP and income per capita would increase by as much as 10.5% in some countries and that more than 730,000 lives would be saved each year globally - more than the number of deaths that would be prevented annually by eradicating malaria. As many as 41.6 million additional children would be enrolled in school, according to the modeling. That's one out of every six out-of-school children in the world.

"Ensuring that people living in informal settlements have access to adequate housing isn't just the right thing to do," Reckford said. "It's the smart thing to do."

Alexandre Apsan Frediani, a researcher at IIED and one of the authors of the report, said: "Our findings show massive benefits to people's health, education and income when you make sure they live in suitable housing conditions, have access to basic services like running water and sewage systems, and are free from the threat of eviction or harassment." And the gains modeled in the report are likely an underestimation. While the researchers couldn't quantify it, the evidence is clear that environmental, political and care systems improve across entire societies when people in informal settlements gain access to better housing, leading to progress both inside and outside of those settlements, Apsan Frediani said. "There is a spill-over effect," he said, "because when people in informal settlements do better, everyone does better."

The Home Equals campaign is already active in more than 35 countries around the world. In Brazil, Habitat for Humanity and our partners are working with the new administration on housing and urban development programs to ensure residents of informal settlements have access to basic services such as water and sanitation. Habitat for Humanity Malawi is calling for enactment of a Disaster Risk Management Bill to ensure homes in the country are resilient to disasters in the face of climate change. In Vietnam, we are working with local partners on sustainable policy solutions that will enable Vietnamese returnees from Cambodia to have a secure home. And in North Macedonia, Habitat is partnering with Roma communities to ensure that they have a voice in municipal and national-level decision making.









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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/habitat-for-humanity-launches-home-equals-campaign-in-support-of-people-living-in-informal-settlements-around-the-world-301823772.html
RALEIGH, NC / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Newswire, an industry leader in press release distribution services, including content production, strategy, and planning as well as media technology, is excited to announce it has earned two Top Rated Awards from TrustRadius.





Through a combination of its award-winning SaaS platform, its expansive press release distribution network, and the experience of its team of experts, Newswire proudly earned top honors in the Public Relations (PR) and Press Release Management categories.

"Our company's main focus is helping brands around the globe get their news in front of the eyes that matter most - the media and their target audiences," said Jennifer Hammers, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Issuer Direct. "Earning two Top Rated Awards from TrustRadius is a vote of confidence that our press release distribution services help companies of all sizes and industries amplify their message and stand out in a crowded marketplace."

TrustRadius is the most trusted review site for business technology and helps buyers make better product decisions based on unbiased and insightful reviews.

Newswire provides its customers with an array of press release distribution services including:

Press Release Distribution - Newswire offers its clients 10 distribution channels to choose from including Digital, Digital Plus, State, National, Financial, Canada, United Kingdom, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Global.

Press Release Optimizer (PRO) - A full-service program that helps companies develop newsworthy content and connect with the media to create the visibility they need. There are three tiers of the PRO plan:

Content PRO is made for those who need more support with planning and crafting their messaging.

is made for those who need more support with planning and crafting their messaging. Media PRO is made for those who are looking for more visibility and outreach to the media.

is made for those who are looking for more visibility and outreach to the media. Total PRO provides both content and media support.

Media Database - A subscription to Newswire's Media Database provides access to a comprehensive repository of media contacts updated in real-time through a blend of technology and human-centered review.

Media Monitoring - Track important news, measure author sentiment, and identify industry trends with Newswire's Media Monitoring technology.

Analytics - Report campaign metrics, analyze key channels, and calculate media value with Newswire's Analytics software.

Newsrooms - Showcase your press releases, news, and social media content in a secure and customizable newsroom.

"It's an honor to earn two TrustRadius Top Rated Awards in Public Relations and Press Release Management and we look forward to building on this momentum to support our customers in distributing the right message to the right audience at the right time," added Hammers.

To learn more about Newswire's press release distribution services, visit newswire.com.

About Newswire

Newswire is a media technology company that provides its clients the Press Release Optimizer, which consists of press release distribution, media databases, media monitoring, and newsrooms that power the Media Advantage: greater brand awareness through earned media, increased online visibility through greater SEO recognition, and more sales inquiries through targeted digital marketing campaigns.

Through its disruptive Press Release Optimizer, relentless commitment to customer satisfaction, and passion for customer performance, Newswire is automating media and marketing communications for large and small businesses seeking to deliver the right message to the right audience at the right time for the right purpose.

To learn more about Newswire and its Press Release Optimizer, visit Newswire.com and discover why our customers have named us #1 for Customer Satisfaction and Ease of Use for four years in a row. For more information, visit http://www.newswire.com.

Newswire is a wholly owned subsidiary of Issuer Direct, a leading communications and compliance company, providing solutions for both Public Relations and Investor Relations Professionals. For more information, please visit www.issuerdirect.com.

Contact Information

Jennifer Hammers

Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing

jennifer.hammers@issuerdirect.com

919.481.4000

SOURCE: Newswire

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/754601/Newswire-Earns-TrustRadius-Top-Rated-Awards-in-Two-Categories--Public-Relations-and-Press-Release-Management
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Yum! Brands:

In 2023, 500+ KFC restaurant employees received a KFC Foundation Scholarship. Of those, eleven KFC restaurant employees received a $20,000 scholarship, and hundreds received a $5,000 or $2,500 award.

The eleven $20,000 scholarship winners are:

Name City/State Job Role Franchisee Haili Austin Cadillac, MI Team Member Bells & Birds Paige Trosper Demotte, IN Shift Supervisor Second Gen Brandon Partida Sun City, AZ Team Member SWF Foods Trinity Jenson Lebanon, OR Shift Supervisor The Chick Inc Marleesa May West Hartford, CT Team Member DE Foods Kaden Thomas Alma, AR Team Member KBP Foods Jaden Thompson Cincinnati, OH Team Member KBP Foods Wilfred Nazario Chicopee, MA Team Member Houston Enterprises Esha Patel White House, TN Team Member AJS Associates Valerie Vazquez Perris, CA Shift Supervisor RBD Mara Heino Marquette, MI Shift Supervisor Roubekas Enterprises

Monika Khadka, KFC team member in Warrenton, Virginia (Franchisee: Mitra QSR), was awarded the Janet L. Kuhn Scholarship, which doubled her scholarship amount to a total of $10,000.

Five KFC Foundation Scholarship winners earned their high school credential through the KFC Foundation's GED Achievement program-Brandon Gaby, Dominatrice Cantrell-Long, Rasheed Jellouli, Enrique Lavin Villanueva, and Chelora Trice.

Did you know Anyone who earns their GED through the KFC Foundation and meets minimum eligibility requirements is guaranteed a $2,500 or $5,000 scholarship for college or trade school!

"We are proud to continue the KFC Family's long history of philanthropy, inspired by Colonel Harland Sanders' passion for helping people. Providing access to educational programs and resources for this hard-working group of students is just one of the ways the KFC Foundation impacts the lives of restaurant employees," said Emma Horn, Executive Director of the KFC Foundation.

In addition to the scholarship program, the KFC Foundation also supports eligible KFC restaurant employees and their communities through the following charitable assistance programs:

Tuition-Free College - 100% tuition coverage when enrolled at Western Governor's University  (WGU), an accredited online university dedicated to making higher education accessible for as many people as possible.

(WGU), an accredited online university dedicated to making higher education accessible for as many people as possible. GED Achievement - Unlimited access to GED preparation and testing and pairs students with a personal advisor, in partnership with GED Testing Service  . Offered in both English and Spanish.

. Offered in both English and Spanish. Financial Hardship Assistance - Financial assistance to KFC restaurant employees directly impacted by a severe hardship, crisis, or catastrophic incident beyond their control.

Savings Match - $1 for $1 savings match opportunity to equip KFC restaurant employees with a short-term emergency fund and a long-term habit of saving money.

Kentucky Fried Wishes - Community non-profit organizations can apply to receive a $10,000 grant to make a project on their wish list come true.

About the KFC Foundation

The KFC Foundation, an independent 501c3 organization, has provided over $28 million to support and empower more than 9,600 KFC restaurant employees, students and community non-profits across the U.S. The KFC Foundation's charitable programs include GED achievement, college scholarships, tuition coverage, community giving, savings matching and financial hardship assistance, all made possible by at-register Round-Up donations, purchases of KFC's Secret Recipe Fries and other donations. For more information, visit kfcfoundation.org. Visit our social channels: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn,

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Yum! Brands on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Yum! Brands

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/yum-brands

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Yum! Brands

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/754865/KFC-Foundation-Awards-25-Million-in-Scholarships--The-Biggest-Award-Year-to-Date
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2023) - Laser Love's new high-growth business model has gained investor attention and has secured one million in funding before opening its doors in May 2023.





Laser Love Medical Spa Clinic in New York City



Laser Love introduces a brand-new approach to laser hair removal services that prioritizes women's comfort and experience.

The company has conducted extensive research and surveys and gained a solid understanding of women's disengagement and sentiments regarding laser hair removal services. It has invested a lot of time and resources into developing a novel solution that does away with the unpleasant and uncomfortable experience that most women associate with laser hair removal.

"Many women don't want to do laser treatments but want to be hairless. We aim to change that by offering services where no woman will have to experience these negative feelings ever again," said Laser Love Founder, David Eliyahu.

Laser Love has created a soothing atmosphere backed by effective technologies that makes it a highly satisfying experience for clients. With the company's growing popularity, it has caught the interest of investors.

"The one million investment is a testament to the high-potential growth we can bring to the table. We are thrilled about how we can maximize this investment to scale our service, satisfy the needs of those who seek hair free smooth skin, and improve the industry," said Eliyahu.

Laser Love aims to be the leading provider of advanced laser hair removal services in New York. It deploys cutting-edge equipment and technologies that apply a clinically proven laser hair removal method that is painless and safe for all skin tones and types, including dark and tanned skin. The business complements its technological advancements with highly-skilled technicians and excellent customer service.

"We consider every aspect with utmost care and passion at Laser Love. Our innovations in hair removal treatments are driven by our passion, as evident in our name, to establish high standards of satisfaction for our clients," adds Eliyahu.

With their customer-focused approach, Laser Love aims to help more women acquire hair-free silky smooth skin easily and effortlessly.

About Laser Love

Laser Love is a cutting-edge laser hair removal center in New York City founded by David Elliott. The company is committed to providing women access to hair removal treatments and ensuring effectiveness and customer satisfaction. The business continues to offer exceptional services with its tranquil environment, knowledgeable and caring technicians, and cutting-edge FDA-approved technologies.

Contact Details:

Contact Person: David Eliyahu

Email: info@laserlovenewyork.com

Website: https://laserlovenewyork.com/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165080
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / At Lenovo, community engagement and philanthropy are big parts of our company culture. We're proud to have many employees who are passionate about giving back to under-resourced communities across the globe. Last year, Lenovo Foundation announced a global partnership with Wine To Water (WTW), a non-profit organization that provides access to clean drinking water and hygiene education to communities across the world. Lenovo's multi-year agreement provides financial support, as well as technology solutions in Nepal, Colombia, Tanzania, Dominican Republic, and North Carolina. Lenovo also invited a select group of employees to volunteer in the field to see first-hand how Wine To Water is making a difference in communities.

Employees representing the Lenovo Foundation - the philanthropic arm of Lenovo - were selected to participate in Wine To Water service trips in Nepal, the Amazon, and Dominican Republic. During the service trips, team members from different backgrounds, departments, and tenure, worked alongside local community members to undertake a range of projects. Volunteers dug trenches, laid pipelines, modeled and distributed ceramic water filters, and taught women and children the about the importance of hygiene.

An important aspect of WTW's mission is to build relationships with the communities they serve and work hand-in-hand with these communities in often remote, hard to reach places. For many of the Lenovo volunteers, the experience of helping create sustainable change by creating access to clean drinking water left them with feelings of gratitude and empowerment.

"I had a lot of different feelings at the end of the trip; appreciative of the people that we met, inspired to continue service work back home, and empathetic-not sympathetic-for the communities we served. The experience with WTW keeps me grounded and wanting to still give back," said Kelly Darden, ThinkCentre Product Manager at Lenovo North America. Darden was one of 19 Lenovo employees selected to attend the WTW service trip to the Dominican Republic in January 2023.

To help bring more awareness to WTW and its impact, Lenovo funded the production of Beyond Water, a documentary about Wine To Water's work and the power of clean water, featuring stories and footage from the service trips to Dominican Republic, Nepal, and the Amazon. Lenovo is promoting the documentary and is hosting screenings across the United States to increase awareness of Wine To Water and its mission of ensuring that all people have access to clean water.

To watch the full documentary, visit https://www.wtw.org/beyond-water-documentary

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Lenovo on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Lenovo

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/lenovo

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Lenovo

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/754997/Lenovo-Employees-Support-Clean-Water-Access-Efforts-in-the-Dominican-Republic-Nepal-and-the-Amazon
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Qualcomm

OnQ Blog

Automakers, state departments of transportation (DOTs) and equipment manufacturers received good news today when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted a waiver allowing them to begin operating cellular-vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) technology on U.S. roadways.

C-V2X allows vehicles to communicate directly with each other, or vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), roadside infrastructure, or vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) to have an immediate impact on road safety. In December 2021, several entities filed a joint waiver request to deploy this safety-enhancing technology as soon as possible.

Traffic fatalities reached a 16-year high in 2021 with an estimate of more than 42,000 fatalities caused by vehicle traffic crashes.1 Many of these deaths could be preventable. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that V2V safety applications could prevent or mitigate the severity of up to 80% of non-impaired crashes.2 Qualcomm is thrilled that industry stakeholders can now move forward with early-stage C-V2X deployments that will help to address this national safety crisis.

The waiver permits C-V2X deployments in the dedicated upper 20 MHz portion of the 5.9 GHz band, allowing automakers and road infrastructure owners and operators to begin integrating the technology into vehicles and road infrastructure. Meaning, stakeholders can now begin rolling out applications that can assist in immediate enhanced safety for all road users.

The following applications use C-V2X technology. These and others can improve road safety:

Red-light violation warning (RLVW)

More than half of all fatal and injury crashes happen at intersections. 3 Drivers running red lights are the most common cause of all urban crashes, resulting in an average of seven fatalities and more than 1,000 injuries per day at signalized intersections across the country. 4

More than half of all fatal and injury crashes happen at intersections. Drivers running red lights are the most common cause of all urban crashes, resulting in an average of seven fatalities and more than 1,000 injuries per day at signalized intersections across the country. Traffic signal preemption

Aimed at shortening emergency response time to help save lives, this preemption allows vehicles like ambulances and fire trucks to remotely trigger a green light. Related V2V applications share this information with nearby vehicles so drivers can take action to move out of the way, reducing congestion along the route to improve safety for first responders and road users alike.

Aimed at shortening emergency response time to help save lives, this preemption allows vehicles like ambulances and fire trucks to remotely trigger a green light. Related V2V applications share this information with nearby vehicles so drivers can take action to move out of the way, reducing congestion along the route to improve safety for first responders and road users alike. Intersection movement assist (IMA)

Similar to RLVW, IMA safety applications can alert other drivers when there is a movement conflict at an intersection.

Similar to RLVW, IMA safety applications can alert other drivers when there is a movement conflict at an intersection. Do-Not-Pass Warning (DNPW)

Warns the driver that it is not safe to pass a slower-moving vehicle when vehicles are approaching from the opposite direction.

Next steps

The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) has committed to developing a roadmap for national V2X deployments and will convene the industry to discuss the path forward at a workshop titled "Continuing the Momentum Toward Nationwide Deployment" on April 28. In preparation for this workshop, the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITSA) prepared a National Deployment Plan that includes a call to action for state and local transportation agencies and related federal agencies, and outlines targets for OEM deployment. This is the kind of industry collaboration necessary to achieve broadscale deployment. Qualcomm looks forward to working with USDOT, ITSA, and other public and private sector stakeholders on a shared national deployment vision.

The recently announced Bipartisan Infrastructure Law also provides funding opportunities for programs geared at improving U.S. transportation infrastructure. To provide more visibility into these programs, the USDOT has published a list of upcoming notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs).

Qualcomm is committed to providing solutions that support the transportation industry with enhancing safety and traffic efficiency, learn more at qualcommm.com/automotive.

1. NHTSA announcement

2. NHTSA fact sheet

3. https://highways.dot.gov/research/research-programs/safety/intersection-safety

4. https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/signal/fhwasa11016.pdf

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Qualcomm on 3blmedia.com.



Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Qualcomm

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/qualcomm

Email: info@3blmedia.com



SOURCE: Qualcomm

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/755103/The-Road-to-Safety-Opens-in-the-US
According to Page Six reports, the couple wasnt there for the date by themselves. They were joined by celebrity friends from Hollywood, including Gwyneth Paltrow and her husband, Brad Falchuk and, Cameron Diaz and her husband, Benji Madden. The CEO and founder of Bumble, Whitney Wolf Herd, and her husband Michael Herd also joined them.

Prince Harry was seen with Meghan entering the Sushi bar on Friday. Harry looked suave in white pants, and a black T-shirt while wife Meghan opted for a mini satin dress which she paired with an off-white bucket bag. In the pictures from outside the bar, Harry and Meghan smiled as they made their way towards the entrance.

The coronation ceremony was the first time where Harry was seen with the Royal Family after the release of his controversial memoir Spare, where he had detailed his life as a royal member of the household. It was even reported that he had made 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 even refused the offer to stay back for the informal lunch afterwards. Meanwhile, Meghan, who skipped the coronation ceremony to stay in the US, was seen hiking with her close friends on the morning of May 7

Harry and Meghan were last spotted together with the rest of the members of the royal family during the funeral of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022. The pair announced in January 2020 that they would step down as senior working royals. Since then, the couple has moved to the US, where they live with their two children Archie and Lilibet.

But the big question is why such public display of affection when there are rumours about the both (Harry & Meghan) separating? Is it just an act to keep people guessing.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Former Narcotics Control Bureau officer Sameer Wankhede is under the scanner of the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Wankhede and others have been accused of allegedly demanding a bribe worth Rs 25 crore from Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan in the drugs-on-cruise case in which his son Aryan was arrested.

Lets take a look at the case against Wankhede and the other controversies he has been involved in:

Demanded a bribe

The CBI registered a case against Wankhede and three others in connection with a corruption case related to drugs-on-cruise case.

Sources said Rs 25 crore was demanded to settle the matter and Rs 50 lakh had already been delivered. CBI received a tip-off and accordingly searches were conducted

The agency on Friday raided 29 locations in Mumbai, Delhi, Ranchi (Jharkhand) and Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh).

The NCB, which had filed a charge-sheet in the drugs-on-cruise case, gave a clean chit to Aryan Khan, while an SIT set up by the anti-drugs agency claimed the probe led by Wankhede had lapses.

They said the searches were spread across 29 locations across Mumbai, Delhi, Ranchi and Kanpur.

It is alleged that IRS officer Wankhede and others had allegedly demanded Rs 25 crore bribe for not framing Aryan Khan in the alleged drug bust, they said.

The CBI received information that Rs 50 lakh was allegedly collected by the officer and his accomplice as advance, the officials said.

The details of FIR made public on Monday show that independent witness KP Gosavi and one Prabhakar Sail, now deceased, were included by the NCB in the Cordelia cruise ship drug raid on 2 October, 2021 on the directions of Wankhede.

Gosavi in conspiracy with his aide Sanvile DSouza and others had entered into the conspiracy to extort an amount of Rs 25 crore from the family members of Aryan, son of Shah Rukh Khan, by threatening them of the accusation of offences of possession of Narcotics substances.

In order to let him walk free, Gosavi and DSouza negotiated the amount bringing it down to Rs 18 crore and even collected a token of Rs 50 lakh and returned a part of the amount later, the FIR alleged.

Aryan Khan, who was formally arrested by the NCB on 3 October, 2021 after a raid on the Cordelia cruise ship a day before, was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on October 28 after he had spent 25 days in jail.

But his name was not included in the list of accused in the NCB charge sheet for a lack of evidence.

The SET in its findings, now part of the FIR, said Aryan Khan and other suspects in the Cordelia Ship drugs bust case were brought to the NCB office in Gosavis private vehicle on 2 Octobe, 2021.

Wankhede in the capacity of the immediate supervisory officer had directed to take Gosavi and Prabhakar Sail as the independent witness in the proceedings against the accused in the drug bust case, the FIR states.

He had directed then NCB Superintendent V V Singh to let Gosavi handle the accused while taking him to the NCB Office thereby allowing a freehand to him and others in order to create a visual impression that Gosavi had the custody of the accused, it says. It appeared that the presence of the independent witness Gosavi around accused persons was created intentionally in such a manner so as to give an impression that Gosavi was an NCB personnel even though there were NCB personnel to handle the custody of the accused persons, the FIR made public on Monday states.

Violating all norms of independent witness, Gosavi was allowed to be present in the company of the accused persons and even allowed to come to the NCB office after the raid and took the freedom to click selfies and recorded the voice note of an accused.

This position allowed Gosavi and DSouza to enter in the conspiracy with others to allegedly demand the bribe from Shah Rukh Khan, they officials said.

Flagging other irregularities, the SET of NCB said the names of certain suspects were dropped from the information note I-Note and certain other names of were included subsequently through modification to suit the proceedings.

The initial I-Note contained 27 names and the modified I-Note contained only 10 names, it said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) booked 2008-batch IRS officer Wankhede and four others  Vishwa Vijay Singh, Intelligence Officer Ashish Ranjan, and two private persons K P Gosavi and Sanvile DSouza  for alleged criminal conspiracy (120-B IPC), and threat of extortion (388 IPC) besides provisions pertaining to bribery under the Prevention of Corruption Act on a complaint from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

Wankhede, who headed the Narcotics Control Bureau in Mumbai at the time of Aryan Khans arrest, was transferred to the Directorate General of Taxpayer Services in Chennai last May.

Assets exceed income

According to The Print, an initial investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) determined that Wankhede has assets that exceed his income.

He owns five properties, some in his name and some in his familys name in Mumbai. Among these are residential and commercial properties including a bar that is in his own name, a source told The Print.

No officer with that salary can own such expensive real estate.

Wankhede has claimed that the four property papers that the CBI recovered were acquired before he joined the service.

No public servant can run a parallel business like he was doing. He had started thinking he was bigger than the law. It is during the inquiry that all these things came to fore, a senior NCB officer told the outlet. The CBI has conducted an enquiry of their own, following which they have registered a case against him, the officer said.

Caste certificate, bar row

In October 2021, politician Nawab Malik claimed that Wankhede was born a Muslim but forged documents including a caste certificate to get a government job.

This is the Nikah Nama of the first marriage of

Sameer Dawood Wankhede with Dr. Shabana Quraishi pic.twitter.com/n72SxHyGxe  Nawab Malik     (@nawabmalikncp) October 27, 2021

A qazi who performed Wankhedes first marriage in 2006 claimed that he belonged to a Muslim family otherwise the nikah would not have been solemnised as per Islam.

I had performed the nikah of Sameer Wankhede and Shabana Qureshi (his first wife). Her father had approached me to perform the marriage in the Lokhandwala complex area of Mumbai. The grooms name was Sameer Dawood Wankhede who married Shabana Qureshi, Maulana Mujammil Ahmed told a news channel.

The maulana claimed all the witnesses had signed the nikahnama as per Islamic customs.

Wankhede at the time said he had married according to the Muslim customs to honour the wishes of his late mother.

Fulfilling the wish of ones mother in a secular country is not a crime. I am proud of secularism in our country. My mother was a Muslim and my father is a Hindu. I love both of them very much,  Wankhede had told PTI.

Wankhede said that he never converted to Islam and he belongs to a Hindu caste.

He said his first marriage was registered under the Special Marriage Act within a month. The process of divorce was also completed as per the Special Marriage Act. I was never converted to Islam and I belong to a Hindu caste of my family, Wankhede said.

Wankhede in August 2022 was given a clean chit by the Cast Scrutiny Committee in this case, as per India Today.

According to Hindustan Times, Malik also claimed Wankhede owned a bar in Navi Mumbai and that he received the license when he was just 17 years old.

Malik had also said that despite being in a government job, Wankhede held a licence to operate the permit room which was against service rules.

Wankhede had at the time denied the ministers claims.

The state excise department had subsequently issued a notice to Wankhede in connection with the bar licence obtained by him.

In February 2022, the Thane district collector cancelling the bar license said it was obtained by misrepresentation and fraud.

Following his response and examination of the matter, the district collector concluded that Wankhede had obtained the licence on 27 October, 1997, when he was less than 18 years old, as against the permissible age of 21, an official said.

Wankhede, wife deny bribery allegations

Wankhedes wife Kranti on Sunday said that everyone knows that the allegations being levelled against former NCB officer are wrong.

Everyone knows that the allegations being levelled against him are wrong. These are just allegations and we are fully cooperating in the CBI proceedings. We have faith in law and order, and we are ready to cooperate with the investigating agency as a responsible citizen, Kranti Redkar Wankhede told ANI.

Wankhede on Saturday claimed that he was being punished for being a patriot.

Wankhede alleged that 18 CBI officials raided his house while his wife and children were present in his house.

I am getting rewarded for being a patriot, yesterday 18 CBI officials raided my residence and searched it for more than 12 hours while my wife and children were present in the house. They found Rs 23,000 and four property papers. These assets were acquired before I joined the service, said Wankhede.

Wankhede further claimed that CBI officials also took the phone of his wife Kranti Redkar in their possession.

Apart from that, CBI recovered Rs 28,000 from his sister Yasmin Wankhedes house and Rs 28,000 from his father Dnyaneshwar Wankhedes house. Rs 1,800 was also recovered from Sameer the residence of Wankhedes father-in-law.

With inputs from agencies

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Scams happen all the time  in India and across the world. There was the one where consumers were tantalised by claims that an energy-saving device could cut their electricity bills by up to 90 per cent. There was the other instance when a man in the US raised millions of dollars by telling investors that the money was going to be used to host Christian music festivals

But this one is really catty. A couple in Thamesmead, London have been caught and jailed for selling sick and dying kittens in a twisted 280,000 (Rs 2.87 crore) scam.

Heres what we know about this UK shocker.

The cat scammers

Last week, the Woolwich Crown Court found former British Transport Police officer Amy Byrne and her partner, Harry Angell, guilty of a cat scam and sentenced the former to three years and eight months to jail while the latter will have to spend the next three years and four months of his life in prison. The court has also disqualified them from owning pets with no appeal for 10 years.

The couple, it has been found, used to buy kittens for just 50 (Rs 5,154) and then sell them for 1,500 (Rs 1.5 lakh). However, when customers received their new pets, many found they were desperately malnourished, ill and covered in their own urine or faeces.

Investigations revealed that the two of them used 33 different fake names, including the genuine charity Cat Cuddles Rehoming to advertise the sale of these cats. The court was told that Byrne use to lie to buyers that she was a veterinarian and that the kittens had been wormed and microchipped. The health certificates she provided also turned out to be fake.

Complaints against Byrne and Angell date back to 2015 and in 2021, investigations were launched against them following which a search was conducted at their house. There were 17 kittens at their house and a vet judged that six of them were suffering. The six were confiscated and one died a short time later.

One of the victims told the court, Having recently lost a cat to the road, we were so looking forward to giving a home to a new kitten. We instantly fell in love with Elsa who was so sleepy and cuddly when we got her. For the two precious weeks we had her in our lives she became part of our family.

Another victim had said that she arranged to buy a male kitten from the couple as a surprise for her autistic son. However, after receiving the cat from Byrne she realised that the kitten was a female, thin and even had faeces stuck in her fur. The poor feline died a short while later.

A DailyMail report revealed that Angell confirmed that the kittens had not seen a vet as he didnt agree with veterinary practices.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) prosecutor Hazel Stevens said in court, There were human and animal victims in this. Humans were at risk of getting these illnesses from the cat.

Byrne was still employed as a British Transport Police officer while she committed these crimes. She was removed from the force in January 2023 after a misconduct investigation. That probe had revealed a hydroponics tent, two cannabis plants, bag of cannabis, half smoked joint and pack of cannabis seeds at her residence.

After the sentencing, RSPCA inspector Kirsten Ormerod was quoted as saying, Welcoming a pet into their homes should have been a positive experience, but for many of them it resulted in large vet bills to try and save their brand new, poorly kitten, and for some, having them die within hours before their eyes  which will have been a devastating experience.

We also thank the Metropolitan Police and London Borough of Bexley Council for their vital role in this investigation.

Pet scams on the rise

This isnt the first time scammers have used animals to make a quick buck. Ask people around you and theres a big chance that someone has been conned out of their money after being wooed to buy a cute pup or cat online.

In 2020, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in America reported that the number of pet scams had more than doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic. It found that in the year, victims had lost more than $3 million (Rs 24 crore). Thats more than six times greater than the total losses reported just three years ago.

In Australia too, the number of pet scams are significantly rising. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) reported in 2022 that losses from pet scams increased more than 1,000 per cent in the past two years. Losses were just over $375,000 in 2019 but rose to more than $4.2 million in 2021.

A similar trend was reported from the United Kingdom. The Nationwide Building Society, a mutual financial institution, said that the number of purchase and advance fee scams involving pets rose by 39 per cent between 2020 and 2021. Additionally, a survey carried out by them found that nearly three in ten (29 per cent) admitted they have been or know someone who has been the victim of a pet scam. This rises to 45 per cent of those aged 16 to 24 and nearly a third (31 per cent) of 25 to 34s.

Also read: Furry Worries: People are abandoning their dogs and cats. Inflation is responsible

Experts state that the pandemic provided a perfect chance for such activity to boom as more people were feeling isolated and sought pets to give them emotional connection. That meant fewer genuine pets were available at the same time as lockdown-imposed travel restrictions meant people couldnt do as they normally do, visiting pets in person before buying them.

And shockingly its not just the common man across the world that falls for these cons. In March 2017, Indias former minister and current senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid was duped of Rs 59,000 in an online pup scam. According to news agency PTI, Khurshid had tried to buy a pedigree Maltese puppy on a website that was offering them for cheap.

So, next time one thinks of buying a pet, paws for thought.

With inputs from agencies

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Pakistans Imran Khan has blamed the countrys powerful military for his arrest last Tuesday in a corruption case. The former prime minister has accused Army chief General Syed Asim Munir of ordering his arrest. Khan was granted bail by the Islamabad High Court on Friday (12 May), a day after the Supreme Court directed his release, calling his arrest illegal and invalid.

It is personal. Its got nothing to do with national interest, Khan told The Guardian in an interview.

Without any doubt, the military is behind my arrest, he said. Pakistan is now being run by the army chief. The crackdown on us is by the army chief.

But this is not the first time that Khan has hit out at a Pakistan Army chief. Lets understand the rivalry between him and General Munir and his fallout with the military.

Imran Khan vs Asim Munir

The rift goes back to when Khan was the prime minister and General Munir was the head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)  Pakistans spy agency.

Munir, who was appointed by the then Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, in October 2018 had the shortest stint as the ISI head.

Eight months after taking over as the spymaster, he was replaced by Lieutenant-General Faiz Hamid.

As per reports, this was done at the insistence of the then-Pakistan prime minister Khan.

Given his stint as head of intelligence [ISI] was shortened by Prime Minister Khan, after both reportedly fell out, PTI [Khans Tehreek-e-Insaf party] believes, Munir could be tilted against them, Muhammed Faisal Khan, an Islamabad-based security analyst, told Al Jazeera in November 2022.

An alleged audio clip of Aleem Khan, a former leader of Khans PTI, surfaced earlier last year alleged that Imran Khan was behind Munirs sacking for revealing the corruption by his wife, Bushra Bibi, reported The Hindu.

Khans PTI was also opposed to Munir becoming the next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), noted The Hindu.

Without offering congratulations, PTI had said in a statement at the time of General Munirs appointment: We hope that the new leadership of the armed forces of Pakistan will play its constitutional role and stay out of the politics of domestic affairs.

There were speculations that Munir might have been chosen as Bajwas successor because he was anti-Imran, as per Indian Express. Munirs tenure as Lieutenant General was to end on 25 November 2022, just days before Bajwas retirement. However, the Shehbaz Sharif-led government amended the rules to make him the COAS.

ALSO READ: Pakistan Protests: Why is Imran Khan so popular among the masses?

The fallout between Khan and Pakistan Army

It is widely believed that the Pakistan military propped up Khan, who became the countrys prime minister in August 2018, by rigging the polls in his favour. The PTI chief has denied this.

However, as ThePrint noted, his friendly relationship with the military did not remain rosy for too long, as things visibly began to sour between Khan and the army over issues such as mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic and corruption, among others.

The flare-up also came to light when Khan backtracked on granting a proposed 3-month extension to then Army chief General Bajwa, ThePrint reported.

Khan, who was ousted from power through a no-confidence vote last April, has also blamed the former Army chief, along with the Biden Administration in the US and Opposition parties, for his removal.

According to Indian Express, Khan views General Munir as part of the same Bajwa conspiracy that does not want him to return to power.

Speaking to The Guardian, Khan claimed that the Army chief and other senior military officers had a vested interest to ensure that I dont come back to power.

Theyre petrified. They know that we will sweep the elections, so theyve been looking for an excuse to put me in jail, the PTI chief added.

Moreover, Khan has also alleged that an ISI officer had engineered the assassination attempt on him last year. Notably, Khans arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case came a day after the military openly rebuked the former prime minister for his repeated allegations against the official.

He also accuses the army, the anti-corruption agency National Accountability Bureau (NAB), along with the Opposition leaders, of levelling false charges against him. There are more than 100 cases against the PTI chief, including defamation, terrorism and corruption.

Are there divisions within Pakistan Army?

There are reports that all pro-Imran supporters in the Army may be shunted out. As per ThePrint, while it is not officially confirmed, Lahore corps commander Lieutenant-General Fayyaz Ghani has been sacked from his post. He had stood by as Khans supporters vandalised his official residence.

The images of rioters stealing peacocks and frozen strawberries from the officials house had gone viral last week.

According to ThePrint report, leaked audio messages from one of Lieutenant-General Fayyazs relatives suggest the corps commander was against the army chiefs policy of confrontation with Khan.

Three prominent commanders  Lieutenant-General Asif Ghafoor, Lieutenant-General Saqib Mehmood, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee chair General Sahir Shamshad Mirza  also warned General Munir against a face-off with Khan, the report added.

The Pakistan Army chief has started filling key positions with hand-picked officers such as appointing Rahat Naseem Khan as Lieutenant-General to head the National Defence University.

According to ex-intelligence officer Rana Banerjee, General Munir will be able to appoint more loyalists as Lieutenant-Generals in September, reported ThePrint.

According to Indian Express, there are also rumours of a coup against Munir, with one corps commander ready to take over.

With Khans no punches pulled strategy and the unprecedented attacks on Pakistans military institutions and residences by his supporters last week, General Munir faces a tough challenge from a popular rival.

With inputs from agencies

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Who will be the next Karnataka chief minister? Two days after Congress big win over the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state Assembly election, the uncertainty remains. Veteran leaders DK Shivakumar and K Siddaramaiah, who were crucial for Cogress success in the state, are both gunning for the top job. And now a tug of war has begun.

Speculation is rife. There have been talks of a shared CM term, supporters of both contenders are doing all they can to rally support, and the BJP is already attacking the winning party over its indecision.

We take a look at whats going on, who will take the final call over the CMs post and what could be the likely outcome.

Kharge to take the final decision

MLAs from the party met Congress team of observers  party general secretaries Sushil Kumar Shinde, Deepak Babaria and Jitendra Singh Alwar and  voted for their choice of CM, according to a report by NDTV. The observers are heading to Delhi to meet senior leadership Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra and party president M Mallikarjun Kharge.

After a meeting of Karnataka MLAs at a Bengaluru hotel on Sunday evening, the party asked its national chief to take the final call. The Congress Legislature Party passed a unanimous decision authorising Kharge to pick the next chief minister of Karnataka.

We have taken the views from all the MLAs, the meeting went on till 2 am. We have prepared a report and will submit it to the Congress president, said Singh, one of the party observers in Bengaluru.

#WATCH | Karnataka: We have taken the views from all the MLAs, the meeting went on till 2am. We have prepared a report and will submit it to the Congress president: Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, AICC observer in Bengaluru, on the decision on the state chief minister#Karnataka pic.twitter.com/nwrHFWsTd3  ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2023

According to a report in India Today, Siddaramaiah is expected to be in the national capital, while Shivakumar is waiting in Bengaluru, leaving the decision to the party high command.

Still havent decided whether to go or not, Shivakumar told the media when asked if he would be going to Delhi.

Our coverage of the Karnataka Assembly Election Results:

Karnataka Results: Why Lingayats, a traditional BJP vote bank, picked Congress



Sunil Kanugolu, poll strategist as elusive as Bagheera who scripted Congress win

Voters pick Cong over BJP: Why this is no surprise

Karnataka Assembly Election Results 2023: Big winners and losers

DK Shivakumar or Siddaramaiah? Who will be Congress CM pick?

From kingmaker to distant third: How JD(S) suffered a big setback in Karnataka Assembly election

Walk to Victory: How Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra paved way for Congress win in Karnataka

Why Jai Bajrangbali has become Congress victory cry in Karnataka

King Cong in Karnataka! Dhols and dancing as party celebrates win

The possible outcomes

As a decision on the CMs post is awaited, comparisons are being drawn between Rajasthan and Karnataka. In the desert state, the tussle between CM Ashok Gehlot and his deputy Sachin Pilot has left the Congress party red-faced.

There have been talks of shared chief ministers post in Karnataka. Both both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar could be the CM for 2.5 years each, thus ensuring neither is slighted and gets rewarded for their efforts. But there is also reluctance over what has unfolded in other states in the past over similar arrangements.

Kharge had said on Saturday after the election victory, People have decided that they have had enough of turning to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will look at the people of Karnataka. We will form the government under the leadership of Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar. We have a lot of responsibility now. It is on them as well. Dubbing it a victory for everyone, he added, No one can say they did it on their own.

According to sources in the party, Siddaramaiah was at first unwilling to share the post but later gave in. However, the former CM wants the first term; he would demit office after the first two years with Shivakumar to follow in the rest of the term, reports News18. He wants to be in control until the 2024 elections.

However, Shivakumar has reportedly refused the power-sharing formula, citing the chaos in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

The other option ahead of Congress is to make Siddaramaiah the chief minister, as he has announced this would be his last election. Shivakumar, who had made his ambition clear, would then have to settle for the deputy CMs post.

This could make the Karnataka party chief unhappy. One way to convince him would be to promise the top job in the next tenure and offer him plum ministries which he had sought earlier like water resources and energy.

While Siddaramaiah is a deserving candidate and is favoured by many in the party for the CMs post, Shivakumar has played a key role in the partys win. He has commandeered party workers in the state, garnered support to the last booth, and has been reliable in times of political crisis in Rajasthan and Maharashtra, booking resorts for the party and more. He is considered a troubleshooter for the party.

But it is the 75-year-old Siddaramaiah who has a mass appeal and is said to have secured Congress 18 per cent of the votes in the state. He reportedly enjoys the support of a majority of Karnataka MLAs including the influential Lingayat community. Shivakumar is a Vokkaliga and has that community's backing. But there are only 21 Vokkaliga MLAs. The remaining 114 are likely to side with Siddaramaiah.

Siddaramaiah is truly a mass leader and he has been the only CM who has completed a full term in office after Devraj Urs. If he is named the CM now for a full five-time term, he will break records in the history of Karnataka to be the only CM to have had two full terms with a full majority in place. He is extremely popular as a CM, an excellent administrator, and his schemes have been the most impactful, a senior leader close to Siddaramaiah told News18.

If caste and numbers are kept in mind, it is Siddaramaiah who appears to be in a stronger position than his counterpart.

The tug of war

Shivakumar has worked hard to build the organisation and remained loyal to the party after his arrest in the money-laundering case. He has said time and again that he has made several sacrifices for the party.

Now today is his birthday and he is waiting for a present. We have passed the Resolution for High Command to decide the CM I dont know what gift the high command will give on my birthday but the people of Karnataka have given us the numbers, said Shivakumar.

Team Shivakumar and Team Siddaramaiah are doing all they can to drum up support for their leaders. Both their supporters were shouting slogans outside the Bengaluru hotel where MLAs met on Sunday. Earlier in the day, posters were plastered across the state capital with each side demanding that their man be picked for the top job.

Supporters of Siddaramaiah put up a poster outside his residence in Bengaluru, referring to him as the next CM of Karnataka.

The BJP attack

As Congress faces the dilemma, the BJP has slammed the winning party over the dilly-dallying.

Congress is on its way to make another Rajasthan out of Karnataka We can see the signs already Just like they broke every promise to Rajasthan ( kisan karz maafi) & fought for post not promise they will defraud Karnataka too This Congress govt will be the most corrupt, most pic.twitter.com/IY1NGRhw5L  Shehzad Jai Hind (@Shehzad_Ind) May 14, 2023

Congress is on its way to make another Rajasthan out of Karnataka. We can see the signs already. Just like they broke every promise to Rajasthan (kisan karz maafi) & fought for post not promise they will defraud Karnataka too, Shehzad Poonawalla, the national spokesperson of BJP, wrote on Twitter.

With inputs from agencies

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In Karnataka, the Congress is staring at its old dilemma again  who to pick as the chief minister? The Grand Old Party won the southern state with a thumping majority  135 constituencies in the 224-member House, defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which was reduced to 66 seats in the 10 May elections. Now, the million-dollar question is  DK Shivakumar or Siddaramaiah?

Both Congress heavyweights are chief minister hopefuls and according to reports have refused to yield. The Grand Old Party, which is in a conundrum in Karnataka, has faced this situation before in other states. Lets take a closer look at what is going on and how Congress has dealt with similar situations before.

From Karnataka to Delhi

Congress veteran and Varuna MLA Siddaramiah reached Delhi earlier today (15 May) to meet the central leadership. Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar, who was expected to be in the National Capital later in the day, has cancelled his trip citing ill health, as per an NDTV report.

When asked if this was seen as a rebellion, 61-year-old Shivakumar said, as per the report: I wont blackmail, thats not me. Dont perceive anything. I have my own presence of mind. I am not a child. I wont fall in a trap.

On Sunday, the Karnataka Congress Legislature Partys (CLP) meeting passed a one-line resolution tasking the All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge to select the new CLP leader, who will be the chief minister of the state.

According to Indian Express sources, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar want to bag the top post and have refused to budge.

Siddaramaiah who was initially hesitant to the idea of a power-sharing proposal, later agreed to rule for the first two years of the tenure and step aside for Shivakumar to take over the post for the remaining three years, as per News18 report.

However, the Vokkaliga leader rejected this plan citing the examples of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the report added.

Shivakumar, seen as Congress troubleshooter, has indicated that he has the support of Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, while Siddaramaiah  who has a pan-Karnataka appeal  is considered to be favoured by Rahul Gandhi, according to Indian Express.

As the suspense remains about who will wear the crown, the oath ceremony of the new chief minister is expected to take place on Thursday (18 May), as per media reports.

Rajasthan

The fissures in Congress Rajasthan unit continue to this day, with Sachin Pilot and chief minister Ashok Gehlot publicly attacking each other.

Their rivalry dates back to 2018 when the Congress came to power in the state. The party high command chose old warhorse Gehlot for the top post over Rahul Gandhis preference for Pilot, as per News18. The younger leader, who was also Congress state unit chief at the time, was placated by being made the deputy chief minister.

In July 2020, Pilot, along with 18 party MLAs, rebelled against the Gehlot government, plunging the state unit into a crisis. It was only after Rahul Gandhis intervention that the tussle was resolved, however, the discontent between Gehlot and Pilot never vanished.

Last September, when it was believed that the high command wanted Gehlot to replace Sonia Gandhi as the next Congress president and promote Sachin Pilot as the state chief minister, the supporters of the Sardarpura MLA staged a rebellion triggering a political crisis.

Following this, Gehlot succeeded in holding on to his job in Rajasthan and cutting Pilots ambition to size.

ALSO READ: Who will be the next Karnataka CM? The possibilities explained

Chhattisgarh

Troubles started brewing for the Congress in late 2021 when rifts in the Chhattisgarh unit emerged. As per India Today, a power-sharing formula was proposed at the time of appointing the chief minister after the party swept the state in the 2018 Assembly elections.

Under the plan, Bhupesh Baghel and the other hopeful, TS Singhdeo, were to reportedly hold the top post for two-and-a-half years each.

Charandas Mahant and Tamradhwaj Sahu were the other Congress chief minister candidates in 2018.

Like in the case of Pilot, Singhdeos supporters have alleged he has been targeted by his own partys state government, noted Indian Express.

In July last year, amid the power tussle with Baghel, Singhdeo gave up the crucial portfolio of Panchayat and Rural Development, citing non-sanction of funds under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana among other reasons.

Earlier in August 2021, Baghel camp MLAs had gone to Delhi to exert pressure on the high command to dissuade it from pursuing a leadership change in Chhattisgarh. After this show of strength, the Congress maintained the status quo with Baghel retaining his job.

Madhya Pradesh

After emerging as the single largest party in the 2018 Assembly elections and forming the government with the support of MLAs from other parties and Independents, the Congress chose Kamal Nath over the frontrunner Jyotiraditya Scindia for the top post.

However, the two remained at loggerheads, with Scindia repeatedly attacking Naths government over its failure to implement the partys pre-poll promises, as per Hindustan Times.

In March 2020, Scindia finally quit Congress and joined the BJP. Another 22 MLAs, including six ministers, loyal to him tendered their resignations, leading to the collapse of the Nath government.

The BJP came to power in the state with Shivraj Singh Chouhan returning as the chief minister.

At the time, Digvijaya Singh had accused Chouhan of making attempts to topple the Nath-led government through horse trading.

The Congress has passed the first stage by winning the elections. But from what its history has shown, keeping its flock together after picking the chief minister and forming the government will be the next challenge for the Grand Old Party in Karnataka.

With inputs from agencies

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A piece of heartbreaking news comes from Kenya, the wildlife haven of the world. One of Africas oldest lions, Loonkiito, died. Sadly, not of natural causes; he was killed. And Loonkiito was not alone. In all, 10 lions have been killed recently, including six on Saturday alone.

The deaths of the magnificent big cats are a result of rising man-animal conflict. But whats going on in the Horn of Africa, where people are known to live in harmony with lions, sharing land and resources?



The killing of Loonkiito and other lions

Loonkiito, believed to be one of the oldest African lions in the world, was killed after being speared by herders. The 19-year-old died in Olkelunyiet village, bordering the famous Amboseli National Park in southern Kenya on Wednesday.

Loonkiito was attacked after he preyed on livestock that belongs to villagers. Paul Jinaro, spokesperson of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), a government-established body that conserves and manages wildlife in the country, told the BBC that the lion was old and frail and wandered into the village from the park in search of food.

As predators age and lose their strength, cattle make for easy prey. Loonkiito was starving and he ventured out of the protected area looking for food. He entered a livestock pen and was killed by the owner.

However, Loonkiito was not an isolated case. At least nine other lions have been killed in the last week or so with six deaths reported on Saturday.

According to KWS, like Loonkiito, the other lions were also killed by herders. The pride attacked 11 goats and a dog in the village the previous night. A total of 10 lions have been killed in the Amboseli ecosystem since last week.

This is an unusually large number of lions to be killed at one go, a KWS spokesperson told CNN.

The lions were all part of Kajiado Countys Amboseli ecosystem, a UNESCO biosphere reserve site near Mount Kilimanjaro, according to the United Nations.

Lion Guardians, a Maasai-operated group that works to conserve the king of the jungle, said that the killing of Loonkiito was a tough situation for both sides, the people and the lion. It eulogised him as a symbol of resilience and coexistence.

Also read: How majestic lion king Bob Junior was killed in Tanzanias Serengeti

The biting drought

The deaths of lions have put the spotlight on the man-animal conflict in the region. In traditional Maasai society, killing lions was a rite of passage. But conservation efforts have changed attitudes and helped the economy, bringing jobs and income to the region.

The recent increase in man-animal conflict has been because of the drought. The East African nation is facing its worst drought in 40 years after five consecutive rainy seasons have failed.

The end of a drought is often marked by a rise in man-animal conflict, according to Lion Guardians. As wild prey recovers, it becomes difficult to hunt them. As lions become hungry and desperate, they tend to hunt livestock, it said.

Livestock owners are aware of this trend and hence are more vigilant in such situations.

Mans plight

But it is not lions alone. Even elephants, wild buffaloes, hyenas and other animals wander into human settlements in search of food and water amid a harsh drought. Those living around wildlife reserves complain that predators like lions, leopards and other carnivores kill livestock and domestic animals.

Locals depend on livestock for a livelihood. David Leiyan, a 41-year-old local from Samburu East in northern Kenya, called for government intervention after 33 of his sheep and goat were killed by wild animals, according to a report by Down to Earth.

Pois Lenabori, a chief in Samburu East in Kenya, told the publication in January this year, Cases of marauding elephants killing locals are now common. I have had to call officials from Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) on several occasions to recapture stray elephants, buffalo, lions, and hyenas roaming freely as they search for food and water and wreak havoc in villages.

KWS has acknowledged the rise in man-animal conflict. It said back then that the dry spell displaced wildlife from their habitat in search of pasture and water, increasing contact with the public.

The suffering in Kenya is two ways and needs to stop.

Also read: Explained: Why Gujarat is finally moving lions from Gir

A harmonious coexistence?

After the recent killings of lions, KWS held talks with locals and government officials to find solutions to save both human lives and wildlife. The discussions centered on exploring ways to minimise the risk of human-wildlife conflict, including developing early warning systems to alert communities to the presence of wildlife in their vicinity, said KWS.

KWS Board of Trustees Chair and Director General hold meeting with local community in Mbirikani Amboseli, to address Human-Wildlife Conflict in Kajiado South Sub County pic.twitter.com/IwZ4j5AJme  Kenya Wildlife Service (@Kwskenya) May 13, 2023

According to the body, it also spoke about exploring human-wildlife conflict in the context of community livelihoods and benefit sharing towards a harmonious coexistence in the open community and wildlife landscapes.

Tourism minister Peninah Malonza also met locals in the Mbirikani area on Sunday and urged them not to spear wandering lions and to instead reach out to the wildlife service. The government and conservation groups have a compensation programme for herders whose livestock is killed by wild animals.

But the herders too have become more protective after losing their livestock to drought.

After hearing about Loonkiitos death, Paula Kahumbu, a wildlife conservationist and chief executive officer of WildlifeDirect, told the BBC, This is the breaking point for human-wildlife conflict and we need to do more as a country to preserve lions, which are facing extinction.

There are an estimated 2,500 lions in Kenya, according to the countrys first national wildlife census conducted in 2021.

With inputs from agencies

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It has been a month since Sudans brutal war began, and no end is in sight.

Sudan has for the past month been gripped by intense fighting between the army and rival paramilitaries embroiled in a power struggle 18 months after a military coup derailed the countrys transition to civilian rule.

Hundreds of people have been killed and nearly a million displaced in the war between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and deputy-turned-rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Here are the main developments in the conflict:

15 April: Fighting begins

On 15 April, explosions rock the capital Khartoum. Fighting comes days after the second postponement of the signing of a final deal on returning to civilian rule, due to a disagreement over the integration of the RSF into the regular army.

The paramilitaries and army both accuse each other of attacking first.

The RSF says it controls Khartoum airport, the presidential palace and other key sites. The army, which says it carried out air strikes on RSF bases, insists it is still in charge.

Fighting also erupts in the western region of Darfur  still reeling from a brutal war that began in 2003  where three UN World Food Programme employees are killed.

Civilian leaders in Sudan call for an immediate ceasefire, as do the African Union, the United Nations, the United States and Britain, among other countries.

22 April: Rush to evacuate

In the days that follow, countries the world over rush to prepare evacuations of their nationals and those of other countries as the fighting escalates.

On 22 April, Saudi Arabia becomes the first country to announce the successful evacuation of civilians from the battle-ravaged country.

Thousands of Khartoum residents also flee the fighting along roads lined with corpses and burned-out military vehicles.

The United States military evacuates US diplomatic personnel from Khartoum. Numerous other countries follow.

25 April: Failed truces, jail break

Multiple truces are announced but none is respected.

The United States and Saudi Arabia negotiate a 72-hour nationwide ceasefire starting 25 April. The paramilitaries and the army repeatedly extend the ceasefire but continue to trade fire, accusing each other of violating it.

On the same day Ahmed Harun, a leading figure in the regime of ousted strongman Omar al-Bashir, and who is charged with crimes against humanity, announces that he has escaped from prison with other former regime members.

Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on genocide charges over the war in Darfur, had already been transferred to hospital before fighting began, the Sudanese army says.

The violence reaches a new peak on 27 April when fighter jets pound the paramilitaries positions in Khartoum and Darfur is gripped by fighting and looting.

On 4 May, US president Joe Biden says the fighting must end and authorises potential new sanctions against those responsible for the bloodshed.

5 May: 750 killed

More than 750 fatalities have been reported since battles began, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project.

UN special representative Volker Perthes says armed fortune seekers from Mali, Chad and Niger are joining the fight.

6 May: Jeddah talks

US- and Saudi-backed talks between the army and the RSF begin in the Saudi port city of Jeddah but have yet to yield a ceasefire, more than a week later.

On 11 May, both sides agree to allow urgently needed humanitarian aid to reach war-struck areas, committing to ensuring the protection of civilians.

The UN says on 12 May that the conflict has caused 200,000 people to flee the country, bringing the total number of displaced people to nearly a million.

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Thailand is set for a change. A big change. After casting its last vote on Sunday (14 May), the counting began and the results are showing that Thai voters want a change  they have rejected the military-backed government. On Monday morning (15 May), counting revealed that the opposition parties, Move Forward Party (MFP) and the Pheu Thai Party had won the most seats and the largest share of the popular vote in the countrys election.

According to the last count, the progressive MFP and the populist Pheu Thai Party were far out in front with 99 per cent of votes counted. As per an Al Jazeera report, they are projected win 286 seats of the 500, but theres uncertainty about their ability to form the government since 250 military-appointed members of the upper house also vote on the prime minister.

The Election Commission data revealed that while the MFP had won a total of 148 seats  113 directly elected and 35 from the party list, the Paetongtarn Shinawatra-led Pheu Thai Party had won a total of 138 seats  111 directly elected and 27 from the party list.

The leader of the MFP, which was formed only in 2020, Pita Limjaroenrat was ecstatic as the votes kept being counted. Speaking to the media, he said, Sensational!

He added, What we promised the public, we will be consistent after the election.

        30          pic.twitter.com/c66AMdPhpx  Pita Limjaroenrat (@Pita_MFP) May 14, 2023

The 42-year-old declared it had closed the door on any chance of the military-backed parties to form a government and said that he would seek talks with Shinawatras party to form a coalition.

We take a closer look at who exactly is this 42-year-old leader who has promised change to the kingdom and overthrown the powerful royalist-military elite.

Rise of Pita Limjaroenrat

Born on 5 September 1980, Limjaroenrat has a political pedigree. He is the nephew of Padung Limjaroenrat, a close aide of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Moreover, his late father Pongsak was an adviser to the Ministry of Agriculture.

After completing his primary schooling in Bangkok, he moved to New Zealand for his second schooling and later became the first Thai student to receive an international student scholarship from Harvard University.

In 2006 when his father passed away, bankers gave him only four months to rescue his family's debt-laden company. At the age of 25, not only did he save his late fathers company  CEO Agrifood  he also propelled it to become one of Asias top producers of rice bran oil.

He also worked at international firms, including Merrill Lynch Phatra and Boston Consulting Group.

It was in 2019 that he entered politics as a candidate from the Future Forward party. However, when the Future Forward party was dissolved, he was named the leader of the Move Forward party.

Also read: Why weed has taken centre stage in Thailands general election

Shaking up Thais politics

Limjaroenrat has quickly been able to amass popularity among the people of Thai owing to his clean image and being an articulate, straightforward and a no-nonsense speaker. In fact, the popularity he enjoys can rival that of any pop star across the world.

Limjaroenrats rise in politics also came at a time when a movement was brewing. People had begun protesting on the streets in response to the constitutional court ruling to dissolve Future Forward. By the end of 2020, this had snowballed into huge demonstrations of young people demanding prime minister and 2014 military coup leader Prayuth Chan-ocha resign and the constitution be rewritten.

Then, in a move that shocked the nation, protesters also began calling for the monarchy to be reformed, breaking a longstanding taboo not to criticise Thailands royal family.

Limjaroenrat said that these events left a legacy of anger that would propel the Move Forward vote.

During his campaigning, Limjaroenrat has offered a vision of a changed Thailand. Speaking to VOA Thai, he said that he saw a country where the cycle of military coups would finally come to an end. Furthermore, he proposed a seven-year break before a military officer can enter politics after leaving service.

He said that a new constitution should be drafted by the people with clauses preventing public servants from supporting a coup and allowing no impunity for coup leaders. His party also has spoken of providing welfare benefits from child care allowances to financial support for elders, nearly worth $20 billion.

The single father he divorced TV actress Chutima Teepanart in 2019  Limjaroenrat also featured his daughter, bringing her on stage after speeches, much to the crowds delight.

Secret to his success

Limjaroenrat can attribute much of his success in the polls to the young voters, who believe in him. Professor Siripan Nogsuan Sawasdee from the Faculty of Political Science at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University told ABC News that about 60-70 per cent of the younger generation prefer the Move Forward because of its policies  demilitarise, decentralise, and de-monopolise Thailand.

The Move Forward party also promises to reform the royal defamation law.

Professor Siripan said, Pita, the party leader, seems to be the model for the younger generation. He is good looking and he is good communicating his message to the public.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tim Pita (@tim_pita)

From his time in the US, he also saw the importance of social media and used it to his advantage while campaigning. VOA News reported that Pitas understanding of the importance of building an online base came from having accompanied his American classmates who volunteered in the Obama campaign.

Tough task for Limjaroenrat

Even though his party may have acquired the most seats, the road ahead for Limjaroenrat isnt going to be easy. First off, he is going to have to seek a coalition with Shinawatras Pheu Thai party.

Zachary Abuza, a political analyst, told Reuters, The will of the people is likely to be thwarted again. I just don't see the Senate respecting popular will; they were created and appointed to do one thing, maintain the conservative-royalist hold on politics.

I see no path forward for a 376 seat pro-democracy coalition that is needed to overcome the Senates vote for the prime minister.

With inputs from agencies

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Turkey is likely to go to polls again after none of the candidates secured 50 per cent of votes cast in the 14 May presidential elections. The runoff election between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his main Opposition rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu is expected to take place on 28 May.

Turkish currency lira, stocks and its dollar bonds fell as the presidential elections appeared to be heading for a second-round runoff, as per a Reuters report on Monday afternoon.

Why is there no new President in Turkey yet and what happens next? Lets understand.

What is going on?

Before we answer that, here is what you should know.

A candidate running to become Turkeys president requires more than 50 per cent of the polled votes. However, if any of the presidential nominees fail to meet this threshold, then the top two contenders who received the highest votes will face each other in a direct contest in a runoff election that will take place on a Sunday following the first election round.

As many as 64 million people, including overseas voters, were eligible to vote in the 14 May Turkey general elections.

Associated Press (AP) reported citing Turkeys Supreme Election Council (YSK) chief Ahmet Yener as saying that 99.4 per cent of the domestic and 84 per cent of the overseas votes were counted. At the time of writing this report, Erdogan was in the lead with 49.4 per cent of the votes, while Kilicdaroglu bagged 45 per cent votes.

The third contender, Sinan Ogan, received 5.2 per cent of the votes.

In the 2018 Turkish presidential elections, Erdogan had registered an outright majority by garnering 53 per cent of the polled votes, while the second candidate got 31 per cent of the votes, noted Indian Express.

What are the candidates saying?

Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey for two decades  first as prime minister and then as president, expressed confidence in winning the first round early Monday. However, he said he would accept a runoff.

We strongly believe that we will continue to serve our nation for the next five years, the incumbent president told his supporters late Sunday night, as per CNBC.

Kilicdaroglu was hopeful of emerging victorious in the runoff. If our nation says second round, we gladly accept it. We will absolutely win this election in the second round. Everyone will see that, the 74-year-old dubbed Gandhi Kemal for his physical resemblance to the Indian freedom leader was quoted as saying by CNN.

Earlier, the Republican Peoples Party (CHP) leader, who is the candidate of six Opposition parties, alleged Erdogans Justice and Development (AK) Party of demanding recounts in opposition bastions such as Ankara and Istanbul to delay results, reported CNN.

Right-wing Ancestral Alliance candidate Ogan alleged that he heard that overseas votes were being manipulated, without providing any proof.

Vote counting is not done in a healthy environment. I warn the YSK [the Supreme Election Council]. Take the necessary measures immediately and ensure that the vote counting processes are carried out quickly. In addition, we will not allow a fait accompli with a manipulation of foreign votes, he said, as per The Guardian.

Ogan said in a tweet that the second vote is quite possible, and that Turkish nationalists and Ataturkists are in a key position for this election, reported CNN.

The former academic who established the think tank TURKSAM could be a kingmaker in the potential runoff depending on which candidate he supports, analysts said, as per Reuters.

ALSO READ: Earthquakes, Economy, United Opposition: Why Erdogan could lose Turkish election

What next?

If a runoff election is held in two weeks on 28 May, Hakan Akbas, managing director of Strategic Advisory Services, a consultancy, told Reuters that Erdogan will have an edge.

Erdogan will have an advantage in a second vote after his alliance did far better than the Oppositions alliance.

The next two weeks will probably be the longest two weeks in Turkeys history and a lot will happen. I would expect a significant crash in the Istanbul stock exchange and lots of fluctuations in the currency, Akbas added.

Opinion polls held before the Sunday elections had indicated a tight race, giving Kilicdaroglu a slight lead with two polls showing him crossing the 50 per cent threshold.

Critics worry that Erdogan will rule more autocratically if he retains power, noted Reuters.

In case he loses by a small margin in the second round, some analysts say Erdogan is expected to challenge the results.

In the parliamentary elections also held on Sunday, the Peoples Alliance including Erdogans AKP was inching towards a majority in the 600-seat Parliament. As per Reuters, even if Kilicdaroglu, who has vowed to revive democracy in Turkey, manages to defeat Erdogan in the runoff, he would lead a split government.

With inputs from agencies

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One embraces chaos and glorifies Turkeys Islamic past. The other promises the badly divided country a slightly calmer and more prosperous future.

Voters decided to give President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu another chance Sunday to convince them which of these starkly different alternatives is better.

A close outcome in which neither picked up 50 per cent of the vote means the two will face each other again in Turkeys first presidential runoff on 28 May.

Few expect either Turkeys longest-serving leader or his 74-year-old secular rival to change their stripes in a fortnight.

Also Read: Why Erdogan could lose Turkish election

Erdogan is the man who rose from a hardscrabble part of Istanbul to become Turkeys longest-serving leader  a devout 69-year-old who has created chronic headaches for the West and become a hero for Turkeys working classes.

Erdogan is our chief and we are his soldiers, 48-year-old Sennur Henek told AFP while attending one of the presidents packed campaign rallies.

Kilicdaroglu is a bookish former civil servant from a historically repressed Kurdish group who has lost half a dozen national elections to Erdogan while leading his secular party.

His frank kitchen chats with voters have turned him into a social media star at 74.

Kilicdaroglu also promises to retire after stripping the presidency of Erdogans powers and then go spend time with my grandchildren.

Many say they are voting for Kilicdaroglu for the simple reason that he is not Erdogan.

Keeps his word

Erdogans place in history already rivals that of Ottoman sultans and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk  the revered founder of modern, secular Turkey.

He has overseen economic booms and busts while adhering to an Islamic vision of a great Turkey that is ready to go to war to defend its national interests.

Erdogan has launched offensives in Syria and jousted incessantly with Greece.

His interventions in Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh swung the outcomes of complex conflicts involving the interests of traditional great powers.

Erdogans courtship of Russia upset Washington  and his sale of weapons to Ukraine irritated the Kremlin.

But he seemed always to know how to play one off the other in order to come across as a statesman before his audience back home.

This is a person who keeps his word  a man, Russian president Vladimir Putin said of Erdogan in 2020.

If he believes it is advantageous for his country, he goes to the end.

I am not sinful

Kilicdaroglu hopes to swiftly undo what Erdogan spent more than two decades building.

Also read: Sex, lies and videotape: The scandal that shook Turkeys election

He would start by moving the presidency out of the 1,100-room marble palace that Erdogan erected in Ankara and back into the more humble abode used by Ataturk.

I will bring spring to this land. I will bring serenity, he once said.

It is a promise that has captivated the youth and a cross-section of Turks exhausted by Erdogans culture wars and polarising rhetoric.

Kilicdaroglu also pledges to release many of the popular figures jailed by Erdogans government in the wake of a failed but bloody 2016 coup attempt.

He vows to end Erdogans one-man regime and the stigmatisation of feminists and the LGBTQ community.

But he is also trying to temper his secular stance by committing himself to inscribe Erdogans removal of headscarf restrictions into Turkish law.

Kilicdaroglus defining campaign moment came when he tweeted a video in which he broke a Turkish cultural taboo by talking about being Alevi.

The group has been targeted by violent repression because it follows a more spiritual Islamic tradition that separates it from Sunni and Shiite Muslims.

God gave me my life, Kilicdaroglu said in the video. I am not sinful.

Devil you know

Some analysts are portraying the vote in terms as stark as the difference between the two candidates.

Either Erdogan will lose, giving Turkey a chance of restoring full democracy, or he will win and likely remain in power for the rest of his life, Washington Institute senior fellow Soner Cagaptay said.

Others highlight the economic relief that would come were Kilicdaroglu given a chance to tackle Turkeys dire cost-of-living crisis with orthodox financial prescriptions.

Policy differences over the economy are the reason why markets will be watching this election closely, said Hamish Kinnear of the Verisk Maplecroft consultancy.

But veteran Turkey watcher Timothy Ash posed a contrarian question.

Will voters opt for the devil you know in Erdogan or an untested broad coalition which could easily splinter after elections? Ash asked.

And with Erdogan, they know he will strut his stuff on the international stage, batting for what he, and many of them, will view as Turkish national interests.

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The UK is reportedly planning to officially designate the Russian mercenary firm Wagner Group as a terrorist organisation. This would put Wagner on a list with 78 other groups, including ISIS, Al Qaeda and newer white supremacist organisations.

The UK has had lists of proscribed organisations for decades, previously including groups in the Northern Ireland conflict, and then creating a more global list in the early 2000s.

Once an organisation is listed, it becomes a criminal offence to belong to the group or support the group  with a punishment of up to 14 years in prison. Dozens of other countries have similar lists.

Also Read: Russia unable to defend, army deceiving Putin, claims Wagner chief

The UKs proscription of Wagner could be an important global signal  the UK would be among the first to label Wagner a terrorist group. This could encourage other countries to do the same, and possibly discourage countries from working with Wagner in the future.

The home secretary has the discretion to proscribe a group if it is involved in terrorism, defined generally as violence to influence the government or intimidate the public for some political or social goal. The minister takes into consideration both the nature of the organisation, and the need to support other members of the international community in the global fight against terrorism.

Wagner appears to have used terrorism in Ukraine and beyond.

For example, two men who reportedly worked for Wagner admitted to killing hundreds of civilians, including dozens of children.

The group is also implicated in massacres of hundreds of civilians in Mali, according to Human Rights Watch and other non-governmental organisations.

The UK and its allies are supporting Ukraine in its defence against the Russian invasion. As a result, the UK government is within its rights to proscribe the group. But should it? There are some reasons to question whether proscription is the best course of action.

It would be somewhat unusual to include Wagner  a company, a for-profit enterprise  with groups like Al Qaeda or Boko Haram, which are motivated by radical ideologies more than profits. For this reason, it seems, the US has labelled Wagner as a transnational criminal organisation, and imposed sanctions usually used on organised crime.

Wagner also stands out because it works for the Russian state, so it is less of a non-state actor (and arguably not one at all) than traditional terrorist groups.

However, the UK already proscribes a variety of groups that receive state support, such as Hezbollah. Including state actors alongside non-state actors on a terrorist list can blur the distinction of what is a terrorist, and open such lists up to endless expansion, but it has been done before.

A symbolic designation

Its questionable how much of an effect UK proscription would have on a group operating thousands of kilometres away. However, the government has expressed suspicion about Wagner transferring money from the UK after financial sanctions were placed on Russian oligarchs.

Such actions would become illegal with proscription. Any support for the group, by any person or institution in the UK, would be criminalised.

Additionally, my own research suggests that proscription can reduce terrorism when the group operates in a country (like Ukraine) aligned with the proscribing state. International cooperation on counterterrorism is essential.

Another study I worked on with Hyeran Jo and Joshua Alley shows that proscription is more likely to be effective when used on groups that depend on funding from private donations, for example from a diaspora community.

Making it illegal to associate with or fund a group means their support is quickly eroded, as are their capabilities to carry out attacks. This raises questions about how much proscription would hurt Wagner, which is mostly funded by the Russian state.

Also Read: Ammunition shortage: Chief of Russias Wagner group threatens to pull troops out of Ukraines Bakhmut

Proscription might be a helpful addition to the economic sanctions already placed on Russia. But we shouldnt expect it to have major financial effects on its own on the groups activities, since Wagner gets most of its resources from Russia.

More than direct material consequences, proscription could be important for symbolism. Declaring Wagner a terrorist organisation would further signal international disapproval of the Russian invasion, and it would be a mark of shame for Wagner, which is trying to expand its global footprint.

Countries like Mali that hire Wagner might look for alternatives if the group is widely recognised as a terrorist organisation.

Negative consequences

It is important to note that there can be negative consequences of terrorist proscription.

Scholars have shown that it can make it more difficult to end wars.

Governments become more hesitant to make a deal with a legally-designated terrorist, and third parties are slow to facilitate negotiations for the same reason. However, this might not directly matter for the Wagner case, since Ukraine would negotiate with Russia, not Wagner.

There are also reasons to believe that proscription can have negative economic effects. Humanitarian organisations have warned that proscription can create a chilling effect on charity donors, non-governmental organisations and other important actors who may want to support civilians affected by these situations, because of concern about inadvertently funding a terrorist organisation, or being accused of doing so.

The UK government should keep these concerns in mind and try to mitigate negative unintended effects of proscription.

Overall, terrorist proscription might not be the ideal policy tool for Wagner, since the group is a business and not a traditional ideological group. And its not clear proscription would affect the group much in the short term, since most of its money comes from the Russian state.

However, proscription could be an important global signal, and it could deter potential support for an entity that has clearly used terrorism.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar here on Monday held a meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. The EAM stated that he values the commitment of Kristersson toward strengthening the ties between the two nations.

Delighted to meet PM Ulf Kristersson of Sweden. Conveyed the personal greetings of PM @narendramodi. Value his commitment towards strengthening the India-Sweden relationship, Jaishankar tweeted.

He also met Swedens National Security Advisor Henrik Landerholm and exchanged strategic assessments of Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

A good discussion with Henrik Landerholm, National Security Advisor of Sweden. Exchanged strategic assessments of Europe and Indo Pacific, EAM Jaishankar said in a tweet.

Jaishankar, who is on a Sweden visit, also held a meeting with Swedish Parliament Speaker Andreas Norlen.

Met Dr. Andreas Norlen, Speaker of the Riksdag of Sweden this morning. Welcomed contacts between our two Parliamentary democracies. Also exchanged perspectives on our respective regions, the EAM said in another tweet.

On Sunday, Jaishankar met Swedens Defence Minister Pal Jonson and Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom during his three-day visit to Sweden.

Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said, Good to meet Defence Minister Pal Jonson of Sweden. Useful exchange of views on regional and global security.

A good discussion with Henrik Landerholm, National Security Advisor of Sweden. Exchanged strategic assessments of Europe and Indo Pacific. pic.twitter.com/tRVbkPXS1U  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 15, 2023

After meeting his Swedish counterpart, Jaishankar said that both countries are committed to taking bilateral cooperation to a higher level. Both nations had exchanged views on the Indo-Pacific, the European strategic situation and de-risking the global economy.

Wide-ranging discussions with FM @TobiasBillstrom as India and Sweden mark 75 years of diplomatic ties, Jaishankar said in another tweet.

After arriving in Sweden, Jaishankar attended the EU-India Pacific Ministerial Forum.

Jaishankar on Sunday (local time) interacted with the Indian diaspora in Sweden and discussed transformations underway in India. He also apprised them about the progress in the bilateral relationship with Sweden on the 75 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

During his visit to Sweden, Jaishankar will discuss India-EU relations during his visit as Sweden currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a press release noted, This will be his first visit as EAM and comes at a time when India and Sweden are celebrating 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations. Sweden currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

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Australia plans to establish "reliable" warning network after 2022 flood season

Xinhua) 17:00, May 15, 2023

CANBERRA, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has announced funding to establish a national and reliable flood warning network.

Tanya Plibersek, Minister for the Environment and Water, and Murray Watt, Minister for Emergency Management, on Monday said 236 million Australian dollars (157.2 million U.S. dollars) will be spent over the next decade on the National Flood Warning Infrastructure Network to protect communities from disasters.

The funding will be used to purchase and upgrade flood gauges, with those in Queensland - the country's most disaster-affected state - to be prioritized.

"Severe weather events, including floods, are becoming more extreme and more frequent," Plibersek said in a statement.

"Reliable flood warnings will help Australians prepare for moments of extreme weather. It will keep people safer as they happen."

It comes after much of Australia's east coast was hit by floods in 2022.

Parts of Queensland and New South Wales received more than a year's worth of rain over a matter of days in February and March, causing one of the country's worst flood disasters.

Studies had previously found that the patchwork nature of the flood gauge network would increase risk during floods.

Inquiries into the 2022 floods also recommended that the federal government upgrade and assume responsibility for the network.

Watt said the investment would guarantee the gauges are reliable.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is currently on a three-nation visit, will visit Belgium on May 15 and 16 to hold bilateral discussions with Belgian and EU officials.

Earlier during the week, Jaishankar was in Bangladesh and Sweden. He visited Dhaka from May 11-12 to participate in the sixth edition of the Indian Ocean Conference. The conference was also attended by the President of Mauritius Prithvirajsing Roopun, Vice President of Maldives Faisal Naseem, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina and several ministers from across the world.

From Bangladesh, Jaishankar went to Sweden, his first visit to the Nordic country after he became External Affairs Minister. His visit came at a time when India and Norway celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations.

India-Belgium relations

In the last leg of his three-nation visit, Jaishankar will visit Belgium to further diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Both the countries share a platform called Indias Joint Economic Commission Meeting (IndiaBLEU JCM) to discuss bilateral economic and commercial issues.

The last IndiaBLEU JCM was held in in New Delhi in 2019.

According to MEA website, The focus of our bilateral relations has traditionally been on trade and investment. India is Belgiums third largest export destination and fourth largest trade partner outside the EU.

India and Belgium also cooperate in the field of Science and Technology under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2006 when the then Belgium President visited India.

Other areas of cooperation include Renewable Energy, education and culture.

As per MEA estimates made as of 2021, there are around 23,371 members of the Indian Diaspora in Belgium  of these, 13,871 are NonResident Indians (NRI) which includes around 764 Indian students & around 2000 IT Professionals, and around 9500 are Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs).

With inputs from agencies

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New Delhi: A top cop of Delhis Tihar Jail has allegedly been issued a notice for moving two prisoners to the cell of former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) minister, Satyendar Jain, after he complained about loneliness in his cell.

Jain, who has been imprisoned in the high-security jail following his arrest last year, had written a letter on May 11 requesting the prison administration to lodge him with more inmates since he was feeling lonely.

The former AAP minister had cited depression due to loneliness and the need for more social interactions in his letter  which he said was on the advice of his doctor.

I am feeling depressed and low because of loneliness. A psychiatrist suggested to me that I should have more social interactions and so I am requesting to be lodged with at least two more persons, he wrote, asking for the company of at least two more people.

He also mentioned two names in the letter.

Two prisoners were then moved to the former ministers cell by the Superintendent of Jail no 7. Prison officials said they were immediately shifted back to their respective cells after the administration got to know about it.

Action has been initiated against the Superintendent of Jail No 7 for transferring two prisoners to the cell of former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain who requested to lodge him with at least two inmates citing depression and need for more social interaction. The inmates were immediately transferred back, said an official.

In 2022, a prison official was suspended for alleged VIP treatment meted out to the former minister. Action was taken after the Enforcement Directorate submitted CCTV footage to a court, alleging that Jain was enjoying a luxurious lifestyle in jail and influencing investigations by regularly meeting the co-accused in the case.

In the video, Satyendar Jain could be seen getting a massage by a man inside his cell, and chatting with other inmates, none of which is allowed inside the prison. He was also seen eating fruit salad, bringing his complaint on food quality within the jail under sharp focus.

In another video clip which had turned viral at about the same time, Jain could be seen relaxing in his bed as he is visited by three people in casual clothing. His party explained the massages as physiotherapy and said that home-cooked meals had been cleared by doctors and courts.

The former AAP minister was arrested on May 30 last year, by the Enforcement Directorate. The probe agency had initiated the money-laundering investigation in the case on the basis of a First Information Report or FIR registered by the CBI on August 24, 2017.

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Party chief Mallikarjun Kharge will not take long and announce the name of the next chief minister of Karnataka soon, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said.

Speaking to reporters after a late-night meeting of newly elected Congress MLAs in Karnatakas Bengaluru, Surjewala who is also in charge of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in Karnataka, said, Party leadership will take a decision. I cant replace my judgement with Kharge Sahabs judgement. He is our senior, and as you all know him. He is the son of the soil of Karnataka, and Im sure he will not take very long.

The winning party will be in the first cabinet when we implement our first five guarantees, he said while responding to a query on plans for the oath-taking ceremony after the decision on the new CM of Karnataka.

The meeting was convened after Congress Legislature Party (CLP) unanimously passed a resolution authorising party president Mallikarjun Kharge to pick the name of the Karnataka Chief minister.

The Congress Legislature Party unanimously resolves that AICC President is hereby authorised to appoint the new leader of the Congress Legislature Party, the resolution stated.

The meeting which started late on Sunday night at a hotel in Bengaluru, continued till 1.30 am. It was attended by all 135 newly elected MLAs. Former Maharashtra chief minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and party leaders Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria were present in the meeting as observers. Party leaders like Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar, KC Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh and others also attended the meeting.

Entire process of meeting individual legislators of Congress party has been completed with great bohemia. The observers met all the MLAs separately and recorded their views and now they will submit a report to the Congress leadership and after that, we will announce the next leader of the Congress Legislature Party, AICC in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala further told reporters.

When asked if there were any gifts being planned for Siddaramaiah or DK Shivakumar on the latters birthday, Surjewala said, I am not a party to those discussions as General Secretary Im a simple worker to Congress who stood out with all my legislatures. We were sitting together and planning the future of Karnataka which is more important to us. We also celebrated DK Shivakumars birthday together.

Ahead of the CLP meeting, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal had said the process of taking the opinion of MLAs will be completed by tonight itself. After that, the observers will move to Delhi to apprise the AICC president about the opinion.

This process of taking the opinion of the MLAs will be completed tonight itself. As Randeep Surjewala said, this is a unanimous resolution moved by Siddaramaiah and supported by DK Shivakumar and all the senior leaders, Venugopal said.

Earlier, a huge number of supporters gathered outside the residence of Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar in Bengaluru on Sunday and raised slogans of We want DK Shivakumar as CM.

Congress, which registered an emphatic victory defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka on Saturday, had been facing the challenge of deciding the chief minister amid speculations of Siddaramaiah being the front-runner followed by state party president DK Shivakumar.

Kharge on Sunday appointed three observers in Karnataka including former Maharashtra chief minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and party leaders Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria for the election of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader in the state.

According to the Election Commission of India, Congress won 135 seats pushing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) out of power in the only southern state it ruled, boosting its prospects for future electoral battles.

BJP managed to win 66 seats. Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) bagged 19 seats. Independents have won two seats while Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha and Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha won one seat each.

With inputs from agencies

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Over 5,800 people in violence-hit Manipur have left for Mizoram and taken shelter in different districts of the state, officials said on Sunday.

A total number of 5,822 people, belonging to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo community, have lodged in temporary relief camps across six districts of Mizoram.

The officials added that the Aizawl district currently has the highest number of displaced people at 2,021, followed by Kolasib (1,847) and Saitual (1,790).

Mizoram Lok Sabha member C Lalrosanga pressed on his demand for a separate administration for tribals. Over 10 Kuki MLAs, including seven from the BJP urged the Centre to create a separate administration in the wake of the violent clashes claiming that tribal people can no longer be considered under the ambit of the Manipur government.

Meanwhile, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, along with his four cabinet ministers, rushed to New Delhi on Sunday as the death toll of the clashes rose to 73.

Biren is likely to hold a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah to look at ways to defuse the clashes that broke out between the majority Meitei community and tribal groups on May 3.

he violence was 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 Manipurs 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.

According to the Times of India, cabinet ministers Th Biswajit Singh, Y Khemchand Singh, Govindas Konthoujam and Th Basantakumar Singh accompanied the chief minister to Delhi.

With inputs from agencies

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A 17-year-old girl from Indore failed in her annual UG examination and later escaped to neighbouring Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh after creating her own kidnapping story as she feared her parents would scold her.

The girl was doing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) course. She was later handed over to her family after being brought from Ujjain.

Indores Banganga police station inspector Rajendra Soni told PTI, The girls father lodged a complaint on Friday night stating his daughter was abducted from near a temple in Indore while she was on way home from the college, hours after the exam results were announced.

The complainant stated his daughter called him from an unknown number and informed she had been kidnapped in Indore, according to officials.

The girl told her father that a college faculty member had dropped her to a square near the temple after which she boarded an e-rickshaw.

She also told her father that the rickshaw driver took her to a secluded place and put a cloth over her mouth due to which she fell unconscious, the inspector said.

When the CCTVs footage of the area mentioned by the girl was checked, her claim was found to be wrong, according to the authorities.

In the meantime, the police got information about a girl sitting alone at a restaurant in Ujjain and her photo matched with the one provided by the complainant.

The girl was later brought to Indore and her bag was checked. An Indore-Ujjain bus ticket along with a bill of a restaurant in Ujjain was found in it, he added.

A policewoman subsequently counselled her.

Soni said the girl told the counsellor that she escaped and cooked up her kidnapping story as she was not in a position to face her parents after failing in the final examination of her first year BA course. She feared they would scold her, the official said.

The girl has been handed over to her parents, the police said.

With inputs from PTI

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Nashik police have registered a case against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut for allegedly creating discord between the police and the public by his statement, said a police official.

A case registered in Mumbai Naka Police Station u/s 505(1)(b) of IPC against Uddhav faction leader and MP Sanjay Raut for allegedly creating discord between the police and the public by his statement, Nashik City Police said.

IPC Section 505 (1) (b) deals with the intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquillity.

Officials said that Police have taken suo moto cognizance of Rauts remarks and an FIR was registered at Nashiks Mumbai Naka police station.

Sanjay Raut in a statement against the state government said that the present government is illegal and their orders should not be followed, they said. Further investigation is underway, they added.

Meanwhile, Raut on Monday alleged that the Nashik police have registered a case against him under pressure from Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and state Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Raut in a Twitter post also claimed that democracy and freedom have been severely affected in Maharashtra and said such autocracy has to be fought back.

With inputs from agencies

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday filed an additional charge sheet against a suspect over his alleged involvement in a case related to the activities of The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the banned terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

The accused, Faisal Muneer, also known as Ali Bhai and a resident of Talab Khatikan in Jammu and Kashmir, has been implicated in the chargesheet for conspiring with LeT and TRF operatives based in Pakistan.

The conspiracy involved the transportation of firearms and explosives with the intention of carrying out terrorist acts in India.

According to the NIAs investigation, Muneer collaborated with his handlers across the border to deliver weapons and explosives to active terrorist commanders and operatives of LeT and TRF, facilitating their terrorist activities in India.

Working in conjunction with other co-accused, as well as LeT and TRF handlers and operatives, Muneer actively supported these terrorist organizations and received funds from LeT operatives to further their nefarious objectives.

Muneer becomes the fourth individual to be included in the chargesheet for the case, which was registered suo moto by the NIA on November 18, 2021.

Previously, the NIA had filed chargesheets against Arsalan Feroz alias Arsalan Soub, Muzamil Mushtaq Bhat alias Hamza, and Mudasir Ahmed Dar on June 18, November 9, and December 17, 2022, respectively.

These three accused individuals, identified as Overground Workers (OGWs), were found to be operating under the instructions of LeT and TRF operatives and have been charged under various sections of the law.

According to the NIAs findings, it was revealed that Muneer actively operated as an Overground Worker (OGW) for both LeT and TRF, playing a role in the procurement, collection, and distribution of weapons, explosives, and funds.

The NIA stated, These materials were transported and delivered from Pakistan using drones in areas near the International Border in Samba and Kathua, with the intention of carrying out terrorist activities in India.

Upon receiving the shipments from his associates, Muneer would store them at his residence before arranging their delivery to terrorist operatives and fellow OGWs as directed by LeT and TRF operatives based across the border.

In the Supplementary Chargesheet submitted to the NIA Special Court in Patiala House, Muneer has been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Arms Act, and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned for August 14 the hearing of the petition filed by CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat seeking registration of FIR against BJP leaders Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma for their alleged hate speeches during in 2020 during Delhi riots.

A bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna adjourned the hearing after Delhi police sought time to file a response.

Asking the Delhi Police to file its affidavit in the petition, the bench posted the matter for hearing on August 14.

Earlier, the apex court had issued notice to the Delhi police seeking its response within three weeks.

It had then orally observed during the hearing that prima facie the Magistrates stand that sanction was required for lodging FIRs against the two BJP leaders may not be correct.

The top court was hearing a plea filed by Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders Karat and KM Tiwari challenging the June 13, 2022 order of the Delhi High Court wherein it had dismissed the plea challenging the trial courts refusal to direct the registration of an FIR against Thakur and Verma for their alleged hate speeches.

The High Court had refused to interfere with the trial courts order and said under the law, the requisite sanction is required to be obtained from the competent authority for the registration of FIR in the present facts.

The High Court took into note that Delhi Police had conducted a preliminary inquiry into the matter and informed the trial court that prima facie no cognizable offence was made out and that for ordering any investigation, the trial court was required to take cognizance of the facts and evidence before it, which was not permissible without a valid sanction.

The two leaders made the alleged speeches during the Delhi assembly elections in 2020 when the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests were ongoing in the city.

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Newly appointed US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti on Monday visited the Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat. The Ashram is located in the Sabarmati suburb of Ahmedabad and has been a witness to many important historical events.

Garcetti on his arrival was garlanded and he greeted people there with the traditional Namaste, reported ANI.

Humbled by the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. I reflected on his message of non-violence, which continues to inspire the pursuit of equality across the world. Thank you to the staff and caretakers of the Mahatma Gandhi Ashram at Sabarmati for this wonderful experience. pic.twitter.com/d7bxh1NeWS  U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti (@USAmbIndia) May 15, 2023

Ahmedabad, Gujarat | Ambassador of the United States of America to India Eric Garcetti arrives at Sabarmati Ashram. pic.twitter.com/t569kP61rf  ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2023

Mahatma Gandhi resided in a small cottage that is now known as Hridaya (Heart) Kunj while he was in Sabarmati.

It is a location of significant historical significance where visitors may still see some of the items Gandhiji used, including a writing desk, khadi kurta, yarn he spun, and some of his correspondence.

Garcetti had earlier posted a video on his Twitter recounting his visit to the Maharasthra Bhawan in Delhi.

From the bustling streets of LA to the colorful lanes of Delhi, my love of great food continues. Im at Maharashtra Bhawan, eager to explore the fascinating flavors of India. Join me on this journey as I sample the essence of India, one state at a time. Where should I go next?, the US envoy posted.

Earlier on 11 May, Garcetti and envoys of Qatar and the Principality of Monaco on Thursday presented their credentials to President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu accepted credentials from the Ambassadors of the United States of America, Qatar and Monaco at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan today, a Rashtrapati Bhavan release said.

After President Droupadi Murmu accepted the credentials, Garcetti, in a video message said, The worlds oldest and largest democracies, two nations that believe in our hearts about the power of people, have a great chapter to write together in the years ahead. Indias partnership is the key to a free and prosperous Indo-Pacific and beyond.

And Im excited to work with you to ensure we advance this defining relationship of the 21st century. Together, we will address global health challenges, confront climate change, and deliver the next generation of critical and emerging technologies to improve the lives of our people. I couldnt be more excited to be here in India and to make this our new home and to work alongside you. Together we will show the world how the United States and India are better together., he added.

Garcetti expressed his gratitude towards US President Joe Biden for appointing him as the 26th Ambassador to India.

Garcetti, former mayor of Los Angeles, was sworn in by US Vice President Kamala Harris as the new US Ambassador to India in March this year. Earlier, the Senate confirmed his appointment as the next US ambassador to India.

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Party first. This has been a guiding principle for DK Shivakumar, currently a contender for the coveted post of chief minister. But according to those familiar with Shivakumars attitude and worldview, rule out a possibility of a rebellion in case veteran Siddaramaiah is chosen ahead of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress unit chief. Perhaps the only avenue for bargaining Shivakumar may insist upon is that he alone should be sworn in as DCM [ deputy chief minister] whenever Siddaramaiahs ministry is constituted.

For 60-year-old Shivakumar, the post of deputy chief minister is not up for grabs for the first time. In a News18 Town Hall, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president had candidly told political editor Marya Shakil that he was offered the post of deputy chief minister by the BJP. The seemingly bizarre offer was reportedly made by some law-enforcing agency person when Shivakumar was booked in graft and money laundering cases. Jail or deputy chief minister was the offer made to me. I chose to go to Jail, Shivakumar said in response to Maryas lively rapid-fire question about whether he had ever received an offer to join the BJP.

Shivakumar had spent 50 days in Delhis Tihar jail after he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on 3 September, 2019 in a money laundering case. He was released on 23 October after the Delhi High Court granted him bail. During his stint in Tihar, AICC president Sonia Gandhi paid a visit to him at Tihar.

Shivakumar insists that he has proofs and records that he was sent to jail for refusing to join the BJP.

When the countdown for May 2023 assembly polls began, a political consultant made a presentation projecting Shivakumar as a central figure. The KPCC chief who is one of the richest party leaders in the entire All India Congress Committee, however, declined insisting that the party should be a central piece and seniors like Siddaramaiah should also figure in prominently. As per the Association for Democratic Reforms [ADR] NGO, the eight-time Congress MLA has assets worth Rs 1,413 crore.

In the last two decades, Shivakumar has developed a reputation of sorts in being the Congress troubleshooter in matters such as resort politics. In August 2017 when Sonia Gandhis political secretary Ahmed Patel, considered a politician among politicians, found himself cornered in his Rajya Sabha polls from Gujarat, Shivakumar, then energy minister under Siddaramaiah, had bailed out Patel, shifting the partys 44 MLAs from Gujarat to Bengaluru. When Patel got elected, he went public not only thanking Shivakumar but admitting, I owe my victory to your efforts. Sonia Gandhi too had called to personally thank Shivakumar then.

The Vokkaliga leader is a workaholic too. According to some party leaders, throughout Karnataka polls, Shivakumar seldom slept for four hours or more at a stretch. On a few occasions, his daily working hours were 20 to 22 hours. Shivakumar had been preparing for the 2023 Assembly polls since 2020. His role during the Covid pandemic saw KPCC working round the clock distributing 94 lakh medical kits and food packets, reallocating thousands of migrant labourers and donating ambulances. The digital and physical membership drive saw 78 lakh new members enrolling in the KPCC. Pada yatras, freedom march and Bharat Jodo Yatra saw the engagement of over 20 million Kannadigas. These measures perhaps explain why the Congress vote percentage and MLAs tally went up drastically surpassing expectations too.

Shivakumars journey as a top leader in the Congress has not been smooth. BK Hariprasad who was Sanjay Gandhis blue-eyed boy in Karnataka is credited to have discovered Shivakumar as a student leader in the early 1980s. Firebrand then, Shivakumar in 1985 chose to contest against HD Deve Gowda but lost. However, internal squabbling at the behest of a Union minister forced Shivakumar to leave the Congress and contest as an independent and win the Sathanur assembly constituency. He was denied a ticket in 1989 but in 1991, Shivakumar joined S Bangarappa camp to become a junior state minister looking after prison and guards. PV Narasimha Rao saw Shivakumar joining the breakaway Tiwari Congress that had ND Tiwari and Arjun Singh. Arjun Singh in fact, became his mentor of sorts. Perhaps this phase of his political career brought him to the notice of Sonia Gandhi who was keeping a close tab on those opposed to Narasimha Rao. Some sections of the Congress to date believe that Sonia was instrumental in the creation of Congress [Tiwari] in 1995 as the breakaway group of which Shivakumar was also a part. However, the breakaway group merged with the parent organisation during the Sitaram Kesri era which was immediately followed by Sonia taking direct control of the party.

In the Congress circles outside Karnataka, Shivakumars rise and his story of success and devotion have become part of party folklore.

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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My article questioning the notion of Hinduphobia appears to have unsettled an established consensus that it definitely exists as a phenomenon. It has understandably prompted some disquiet because many have been confidently suggesting it is a reality for some decades. However, the truth must prevail, supported by logical argumentation and empirical evidence. Refuting the idea of Hinduphobia is also necessary to uphold intellectual honesty and political prudence. A false narrative on Hinduphobia will also prove damaging to the very Hindus the idea of gaining official recognition for Hinduphobia is intended to safeguard. On this count, it is unclear what such official recognition for Hinduphobia will specifically amount to except empty gestures, even Hindus are usually content with such frippery. I also reiterate that the apparent official support, at this political juncture, for the notion of Hinduphobia in Britain is the product of the cynical political calculation of the Conservative Party to mobilise Hindu votes for the 2024 general elections.

There appears to be an impression, judging from Professor Vamsee Juluris article, I was mainly opposing the notion of Hinduphobia to avoid drawing a parallel with a non-existent Islamophobia. This is indeed true, but that was not my principal rationale for suggesting the unwisdom of campaigning for official recognition of Hinduphobia. My disquiet with the notion of Hinduphobia is due to entirely different reasons, as will be reiterated below. However, on reflection, some points might be reinforced since the unfortunate parallel between Islamophobia and Hinduphobia is not just about semantics. This latter imputation, made by Rajiv Malhotra, is a slothful argument that avoids engaging with the substantive issues arising out of the inevitable parallel that will be drawn between the alleged phenomena of Islamophobia and Hinduphobia.

In the first instance, the belligerent campaign to establish the non sequitur of Islamophobia, as a prerequisite for all legitimate political discourse and social deportment is covert Taqiya, as suggested by a senior academic, Dr. Prakash Shah, for imposing blasphemy through the backdoor. If accorded even greater validity than being forcefully asserted already it will forestall any questioning of Islamic verities that deny humanity of the Other, Hindus most of all. The reasonable demand that the individual Muslim should not suffer discrimination and be treated with respect is already being used an excuse to implicitly justify murder for alleged insult to Islam and implicitly endorse the sexual slavery practiced by ISIS. It is no noteworthy that the campaign against alleged Islamophobia coincided with a surge of major Islamic terrorist incidents and the chorus against it was substantially aided by the OIC.

Accusations of Islamophobia are also a form of abusive denunciation to shun debate on facts, as illustrated by a Lucknow students recent article in a London daily publication. She asserts that Muslims routinely suffer discrimination in India across the board and lynching is an everyday experience for them. The data on the extraordinarily disproportionate share of benefits gained by Muslims in every programme of the Narendra Modis government, from student scholarships and housing to government-backed loans for business is simply ignored to libel Hindus, the hated Other of Islam.

It is worth repeating that there is no phobia whatsoever against Islam, which would imply an instinctive and irrational revulsion towards it. Terrorism has become synonymous with Islam and violence has also always been associated with it, whether on the streets of India or abroad. Stone pelting, bombings, individual assassination and grooming of vulnerable young women for sexual exploitation are widespread. It is the reason why the anonymous individual across continents has a negative view of Islam. Allegations of Islamophobia seek to censor this private estimation with threats of sanctions. Besides, the constant accusations of Islamophobia, which recognition of Hinduphobia will avowedly legitimate, are ultimately directed against India, not Hindus in general everywhere. US Congresswoman, Ilhan Omars attempt to create a legal obligation on the US State Department to monitor Islamophobia globally was mainly directed against India. It was intended as an aspect of US state policy of leverage against India for entirely unrelated other US policy goals, like forcing India to support the use of Ukraine to achieve regime change in Russia.

Of course there is a phenomenon known as statistical discrimination, which means over generalization from an unrepresentative sample and negative feelings about Islam do stem to a degree from it. However, this statistical discrimination would no longer be an explanatory factor for distaste of Islam if the overwhelming majority of attempted terrorist attacks had succeeded and not been interdicted by vast expenditure on intelligence gathering and preemption. It is also relevant to note that Muslims in general have not been vociferous in denouncing terror acts committed by co-religionists though protest over Kashmir and Palestine can instantly mobilise thousands. There have been no marches to denounce the horror of the sexual enslavement of Yezidi girls and women by their devout co-religionists, who according Hugh Kennedy, a major Islamic scholar, have been meticulous in observing Islamic religious injunctions in all their actions.

There is no comparable negativity in the daily lived experience of Hindus, certainly in the UK and one very much doubts it is different in the US. Countless millions in the US practice Yoga, two-thirds believe in reincarnation and, contrary to fundamental Christian dogma, most accept religious pluralism. Accusing such ordinary white non-Hindus of Hinduphobia will be both unjust and highly provocative and might even incite the very alleged distaste for Hindus that it is intended to curb. It is also worth probing whether supposed Hinduphobia is constituted by repugnance of Hinduism the religion or antipathy towards individual Hindus as well because it converges somewhat in the case of Islamophobia. In my very long experience of the UK, I have encountered racial aversion, even in the August academic institution where I spent my entire professional life, but I cannot recall prejudice motivated by my supposed religious identity. I am sure many harboured skepticism about Hinduism and their heads were filled with the idea that Indian Hindus compulsively engaged in casteism, etc., but that perception did not affect my daily interaction with white British colleagues.

If there is any phobia about Hinduism it is Islamic in origin because Muslims are socialised from a very early age to abhor polytheism and polytheists. All the evidence points to a Muslim phobia of Hinduism that is as deep as it is subterranean. Such Muslim Hinduphobia will not be amenable to official pronouncements that Hinduphobia exists and accusing everyone else of it. The curbing of Muslim Hinduphobia is beyond the capability any government in the world to implement. It would require revision of the sacred texts of Islam if not their outright banning and the imposition of penalties on mosques and madrassas that daily spew venom against polytheists, as the principal enemies of Allah and his divine messenger.

The only other group that has always suffered such phobic hatred is Jews because it was deeply embedded in Christian cultures, of long historical provenance and given flesh in repeated mass murder. The practical expression of European Christian anti-Semitism, its historic Jewish problem, was effectively ended by physically liquidating the Jewish population in their midst altogether. Nevertheless, anti-Semitism has still not disappeared despite Jews now having become a minuscule minority in Europe. Hindus really do not encounter the same predicament abroad.

The insistence that Hinduphobia is a reality, against all the evidence, suggests an undue reputational investment of some in the idea that it is a societal phenomenon and ordinary people are culpable. It will have the extremely unfortunate and completely unwelcome consequence of diverting attention from the real purveyors of anti-Hindu hate propaganda. It is the Western political establishment, embodied in state institutions and the church, which have for centuries been virtually the exclusive source of anti-Hindu propaganda.

Christianity and its institutions became political instruments of the state very early in their history though it also has its own sordid evangelical purpose of erasing Hinduism, as it has violently done everywhere. Turning India Christian will also achieve its political enslavement to Europeans in general and Anglo Americans in particular. Christianity, though evidently not all Indian Christians, are allies of Western imperialism. Every Christian organisation allied with Jinnahs Muslim League and rebuffed Jawaharlal Nehrus overtures. They all supported Indias carve up, as instructed by British politicians, with a mere three Christian votes ensuring the partition of the Punjab. As revealed by WikiLeaks, Christian organisations acted on cue, upon instructions by the US Consulate in Mumbai, to oppose Kudankulum. Such Christian organisations also routinely invent lies about attacks on churches and sometimes instigate it themselves.

As for universities and the media, these are, have always been and will remain shameless creatures of the state in all Western countries. That is also true of a majority of their counterparts in India itself except their loyalty is also to the State in Western countries rather than their own. Universities in the US and the West more generally have always been hand in glove with the State, conducting research on weapons development and aiding intelligence gathering abroad under the guise of academic research visits. Their social science and humanities departments are mostly supine co-conspirators with the State and an overwhelming majority of Indian-origin academics in university departments of the West, are eager collaborators as well. Lucre apparently has no religion and momentary official recognition seems to be irresistible for individuals with ancient colonial heritages.

The print and visual media also do the bidding of the State automatically and the pretense of independence is increasingly forsaken with the phenomenon of embedded journalism during actual military operations, as occurred during the destruction of Iraq. The US propagandists of the national media shamelessly supported US aggression against Vietnam and are now dutifully repeating US government lies on the war in the Ukraine. In this context, Hindu supporters of the campaign for officially recognition for Hinduphobia are displaying cupidity though some, likely in the UK, act as agents of the State. They might be deliberately trying to obscure the source of anti-Hindu propaganda and absolve the Western State and its agencies of blame, which would be extremely politically convenient.

The Western State has always spewed anti-Hindu hate, mostly anti-Brahmin to be exact and its universities are obsessively focused on the issue of caste as the racism that totally defines Hinduism. The purpose is to justify religious conversion to supposedly save the majority of deluded Hindus brainwashed and oppressed by so-the called Hindu upper castes, Brahmins in the main. The rationale is obvious and crystal clear, which is because Brahmins have been chief inciters of rebellion against foreign rule though countless others have also been active in struggles to remain free.

Once empire was formally ended, the attempt to resume control of India indirectly through informal empire continued unabated and anti-Hindu hate is the principal ideological platform that is deployed to justify it. The supposed Hindu upper castes, who are held to control India, are viewed as more resistant to Western blandishments on everything petty and serious, from removing duties on the import of motor vehicles and now smart phones to reluctance to join Western imperialist ventures everywhere, from Russia to Afghanistan to Iraq. This is the reason for the anti-Hindu hate propaganda emanating from the Western State and its myriad creatures of the media and universities.

Hindu activists are condescendingly deluded to believe they can resolve this huge historic problem by persuading congenitally anti-Indian Western politicians to rescue them by legislating on Hinduphobia and taking meaningful action. Anti-Hindu propaganda really only pertains to India and activists abroad should not imagine they are more than collateral damage and that too is being exaggerated. The anti-Hindu hysteria of the Western media is invariably aimed at India, rather than Hindus living abroad. It has fused opportunistically with libeling Narendra Modi in recent years because he has been recreating India as a united people while advancing its economic transformation. There is, in fact, very little venom aimed specifically against Hindus and their religious practices abroad, with the exception of the nefarious campaigns on caste and that too has India in mind as the real objective.

Unfortunately, the politics of the entire libelous caste campaign in the UK and the US have effectively been hijacked by some suspect Hindu activists. It is abundantly clear that some of them have been working covertly on behalf of the authorities to undermine serious efforts to end all foreign intervention in the issue of caste. Specifically, opponents of all foreign judicial intervention on caste issues had sought to not only end the threat of legislation on the issue, but also remove it from the statute altogether, so that accumulating case law instances would not be used to justify proceeding eventually with the suspended legislation on caste. In any case, accusations of casteism are indeed, ultimately, directed against India, not Hindus abroad. The fabrication of claims of caste discrimination by upper caste Hindus abroad against so-called Dalits is completely cynical and demonstrably untruthful. There is no credible empirical evidence whatsoever of such discrimination in the UK though activists have foolishly focused on Shastra verities to argue against it. It is the absence of any factual evidence of discrimination on the grounds of caste that would have sufficed to destroy motivated contentions of caste discrimination.

The real purpose of the attempt to legislate against alleged caste discrimination in the UK and the US, by fabricating evidence, which has just been repudiated in the US Cisco case, is to put pressure on India. The goal is to first legislate on caste domestically, followed by ensuring its adoption in fellow Christian polities and then use equality provisions in the charters of international organisations to demand reservations for non-Hindu religious minorities in India. A corresponding nefarious legal assault was tabled in the Indian Lok Sabha by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, constructed in conjunction with an Oxford Law don, to vastly expand the reach of judicial purview in India in order to curtail most traditional societal notions of equity and dispute resolution. Evangelists have long considered the ineligibility for reservation quotas for non-Hindu minorities the major barrier to religious conversion en masse and wish to have it amended. In both California and the UK there is an attempt justify the extension of reservation quotas to non-Hindu minorities by arguing caste in India is so overpowering that it transcends the bounds of Hindu society.

Of course, reservation quotas for non-Hindu minorities have already been conceded in practice in most parts of India, through subterfuge and the complicity of Indias political establishment, contrary to Indian Constitutional provisions. As I have insisted earlier, the remedy to anti-India and any global anti-Hindu hate propaganda lies within India. Indias authorities need to seize the countrys own narrative back from foreign academies and think-tanks. They should also automatically mete out apposite disdain and boycotts against hostile foreigners, as the Chinese unhesitatingly do. But that seems like an unlikely prospect as far as India is concerned.

The writer taught international political economy for more than two decades at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Views expressed are personal

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Having helmed Turkey for two decades, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is contesting the poll of a lifetime, staking his entire career on the line. A joint Opposition and a soft-spoken challenger, though, have pushed the nation to a run-off after none of the two candidates Erdogan is in leadcould post over 50% votes.

This election is pivotal to the fruition of Erdogans meticulously crafted political life: if he loses, he would have failed to become the leader of the Muslim World.

But, will Erdogan lose? Even if the Opposition wins, Erdogan may not lose.

History is replete with instances of political rigging, tailoring of judiciary to that end, gagging Turkish press, taking out Turkish Opposition parties and challengers when the going has become tough for Erdogans Justice and Development Party (AKP).

1. In 2014, counting of votes stopped for several hours at several polling stations in the mayoral race for capital Ankara when it seemed that the vote would swing in favour of AKPs Opposition candidate. It was literally a case of cat getting out of the bag: the official explanation for the halting of counting was that a cat had entered the electrical system and caused a short-circuit. When counting resumed the AKP candidates lead grew from 3000 when the counting had stopped to 20,000 in a jiffy.

2. In 2017, according to reports, amid the crucial referendum on giving President Erdogan sweeping powers as part of a fundamental rejig of the nations constitution, judges overseeing voting (the ASK or the election board) announced that even ballots without official seal were to be counted. This removed any check and balance over fraudulent votes. Actually, the matter was a simple one. The voters were to mark yes or no on the ballot. Each ballot was given to the voters after an official seal was marked over it, qualifying it as a valid vote. Oppisition parties had back then claimed that about 2.5 million bogus votes were counted to hand over victory to Erdogan.

3. In 2022, according to magazine Foreign Policy, the Erdogan government changed Turkeys electoral law despite stiff resistance of the Opposition parties. As part of the changes, the judges on Turkeys election board (YSK), which manages and sees all elections in the country, were to be selected by lottery than by seniority.

4. This year, ahead of the Presidential elections, the YSK ruled that ministers could stay in office and yet contest as candidates for parliament despite Opposition claims that this would affect the fairness of the elections since ministers could use their powers to influence the outcome. According to Duvar English, before 2017, the practice was that ministers would resign from their positions prior to the election. The Erdogan and AKP-led government abolished this regulation the same time in 2017 when referendum turned Turkey into a presidential state. The parliamentary and presidential elections were held together on May 14.

5. According to reports, Erdogans AKP has used courts to wipe out Opposition figures. The best-known example is that of Selahattin Demirtas, the former co-chair of the Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), a pro-Kurdish rights political party and the second opposition party in Turkeys parliament. He has been in jail since 2016 allegedly on trumped up charges.

The Demirtas case is one of many in which the Turkish state is abusing the criminal law to silence political opponents and gradually dismantle democracy. By refusing to follow an explicit release order by the ECtHR, it is plainly seeking to circumvent the Convention system. The stakes could therefore hardly be higher. It is imperative that the CM takes all measures to ensure the Courts judgment is given immediate effect, Helen Duffy of the Turkey Human Rights Litigation Support Project had remarked earlier.

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Best interest of children is the fundamental principle that must remain at the centre of our choices and actions, more so where children are at the core of the consequences of such choices. India has always recognised and upheld welfare and rights of children as paramount and has exhibited this through various policies, schemes and legislations. However, the ongoing debate on same-sex marriage is an instance where the legal ecosystem of protection of children is facing uncertainty that will have huge consequences on welfare of the population below 18 years of age.

As we know, the State regulates several aspects that are inherent to the wholesome and protective rearing and raising of children. There is a comprehensive structure of statutes, rules, regulations, guidelines, and policy interventions which ensure the protection of children during their vulnerable and impressionable years, strongly connected with the ecosystem of rights such as inheritance, succession, maintenance, custody, that derive from their mothers and fathers and their respective families. A single stroke of doubt and ambiguity in this carefully designed network of rights will have direct repercussions for the effectiveness of these Laws and policies. One such legal provision that will have a direct impact on its applicability is that of adoption of a child by an individual or a couple. Merely amending the Special Marriage Act and allowing adoption will create ambiguity with reference to other legal provisions of adoption and custody of the children.

First, the much-propagated concept of gender fluidity gives an individual a right to associate themselves with the desired gender which may be something else at the time of marriage and might get different at the time of separation. This may lead to various repercussions with respect to the Law related to Custody. This would also have implications for safety of children in different settings besides at home. Related incidents have been in news wherein a male child identifying as a female allegedly assaulted a girl child in the school bathroom. The child was observed to be wearing skirt at times. This situation of uncertainty caused due to gender fluidity can also occur in the cases of parents where one of the parents will have an opportunity to disassociate themselves with the gender identity which they associate with.

Further, even if gender is seen as fluid, the idea of mother is not and hence the benefit under many of the Laws or legal provision including the Constitution of India, Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 are limited to the definition of mother which is not as certain in the relationship of same sex couple. For instance, Article 42 of Constitution of India under Directive Principles of State Policy obligates the State to mandatorily make provision for maternity relief by stating that The State shall make provision for securing just and humane conditions and for the maternity relief.

Similarly, Section 45 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 defines Sponsorship which gives a right to a widowed/divorced/abandoned mother to obtain sponsorship for her children. In the absence of a definite designation of a mother in the relationship of a same-sex couple, there will be a situation wherein the couple wont be able to avail under such provision and the right of child will again be jeopardised.

Now coming to the right to family for the orphan, abandoned and surrendered children. The United Nations Convention on the Right of Child (UNCRC) obligates the State to make sure that the adoption of the child shall be ensured by keeping various crucial safeguards. Article 4 of UNCRC mentions a safeguard wherein it specifies that the State shall undertake maximum efforts to ensure that the child when given in adoption is ensured maximum social and cultural rights. Allowing same-sex couples to adopt is neither a fundamental right, nor is it enlisted in the UNCRC, Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 or any of the principles specified in the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. The same have not been mentioned, accepted or recognised in the codified or traditional personal Laws. Similarly, a child before getting orphan, abandoned or surrendered is raised in a certain natural atmosphere which is of a distinctive socio-cultural environment and shifting the whole realm of the child by placing him/her in a completely different scenario will defeat the purpose of adoption.

Further, the purpose of adoption is to provide a child with a family which can give him the same socio-culture environment as is inherent in him. A child is naturally born by a heterosexual couples and the preference to take adoption by another heterosexual couples cannot be abrogated. This proposition is enriched in Fundamental Principle of various National and International instruments. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, in its Chapter II, lays down General Principles of Care and Protection of Children, wherein the Fundamental Principles are enriched as a guiding force for the implementation of the Act. Principle 4 of the said Act states that All decisions regarding the child shall be based on the primary considerations that they are in the best interest of the child and to help the child to develop full potential. Therefore, accepting a borrowed concept having no roots in our country and permitting the State to place a child for adoption with same-sex couples would deprive children from their social and cultural rights.

In the same way, foster care is another provision under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 that allows alternate care for a child in the domestic environment of a family. Article 20 (3) of the UNCRC also talks about the duty of the State to provide special protection and assistance to the child by providing care including foster care or as prescribed under the personal Law of such child. However, it provides for care of children with due regard to the desirability of continuity in a childs upbringing and to the childs ethnic, religious, cultural and linguistic background. It is important to emphasise here that a child born to a heterosexual pair is innately adaptable towards a similar family environment and naturally/inherently seeks out a family environment that is comparable to that of his or her biological parents. Therefore, it can be said that keeping a person in his natural familiar environment is deemed to be in the best interest of the child and is most suitable to his/her natural adaptive nature.

The National Policy for Children adopted in 2013 also recognises that all children have the right to grow in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding and considers family or family environment to be most conducive for a child calling for efforts to keep the child in such an environment. The importance of providing a child with same socio-economic and cultural status is also reflected in the Principle of Repatriation and Restoration under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 which acknowledges the that every child in the juvenile justice system have the right to be re-united with his family at the earliest and to be restored to the same socioeconomic and cultural status that he was in, unless such restoration and repatriation is not in his best interest.

Therefore, whether it is question of providing care and protection to children through mechanism such as foster care or putting them in care of a family through adoption, a child being minor is presumed to be innocent and till certain age they lack sufficient understanding to make a rational decision for themselves. It is the State that is duty bound, through the mandate of UNCRC and under the law of the land, to provide the best growing environment to the child. Making such right available to same sex married couples will not only violate the fundamental rights of children but will also open up a new and susceptible environment that is not natural to the child. The State is duty bound to impose reasonable restrictions to protect the welfare of all its children, and to ensure that each child has the best possible environment and opportunity to be born, nourished, raised, and educated in a stable, dependable, and accountable environment with the certainty of the Law.

The is Chairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), New Delhi. Views are personal.

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar here on Monday held a meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. The EAM stated that he values the commitment of Kristersson towards strengthening the ties between the two nations.

Delighted to meet PM Ulf Kristersson of Sweden. Conveyed the personal greetings of PM @narendramodi. Value his commitment towards strengthening the India-Sweden relationship, Jaishankar tweeted.

He also met Swedens National Security Advisor Henrik Landerholm and exchanged strategic assessments of Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

A good discussion with Henrik Landerholm, National Security Advisor of Sweden. Exchanged strategic assessments of Europe and Indo Pacific, EAM Jaishankar said in a tweet.

Jaishankar, who is on a Sweden visit, also held a meeting with Swedish Parliament Speaker Andreas Norlen.

Met Dr. Andreas Norlen, Speaker of the Riksdag of Sweden this morning. Welcomed contacts between our two Parliamentary democracies. Also exchanged perspectives on our respective regions, the EAM said in another tweet.

On Sunday, Jaishankar met Swedens Defence Minister Pal Jonson and Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom during his three-day visit to Sweden.

Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said, Good to meet Defence Minister Pal Jonson of Sweden. Useful exchange of views on regional and global security.

After meeting his Swedish counterpart, Jaishankar said that both countries are committed to taking bilateral cooperation to a higher level. Both nations had exchanged views on the Indo-Pacific, the European strategic situation and de-risking the global economy.

Wide-ranging discussions with FM @TobiasBillstrom as India and Sweden mark 75 years of diplomatic ties, Jaishankar said in another tweet.

After arriving in Sweden, Jaishankar attended the EU-India Pacific Ministerial Forum.

Jaishankar on Sunday (local time) interacted with the Indian diaspora in Sweden and discussed transformations underway in India. He also apprised them about the progress in the bilateral relationship with Sweden on the 75 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

During his visit to Sweden, Jaishankar will discuss India-EU relations during his visit as Sweden currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a press release noted, This will be his first visit as EAM and comes at a time when India and Sweden are celebrating 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations. Sweden currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

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An Afghan man reportedly marked as a terrorist in FBIs watch list, was apprehended while attempting to enter the United States through the southern border near San Diego.

This incident has fuelled criticism from border patrol agents directed at Joe Biden for the expiration of Title 42.

According to reports, the suspected terrorist was caught after the border guards used a fingerprint scan which linked him to a terrorist screening database of FBI. At the time, he was reportedly trying to enter States alongside a group of migrants near the town of Otay Mesa.

Interestingly, the suspect managed to cross the border merely one day before the Biden administration allowed Title 42 to expire.

Title 42, which was implemented during the Trump administration, aimed to control the spread of COVID-19.

This policy empowered border authorities to promptly expel arrivals even before they could seek asylum.

After learning about the arrest, Congressman Darrell Issa, who represents Otay Mesa in Washington, strongly criticized President Biden.

He stated, Bidens open borders not only serve as an entry point for five million undocumented individuals but also contribute to record levels of human and child trafficking, as well as the most severe drug crisis in our nations history.

Aftermath of Title 42 expiration

At midnight Eastern Time on Thursday, Title 42 finally expired. The Biden administration hurriedly implemented new restrictions that effectively reinstated Trumps transit ban.

This allows for the deportation of individuals who did not seek asylum in countries they traveled through. Migrants who registered in advance using the CBP One mobile app can legally present themselves at the border.

However, there were complications. A last-minute legal challenge halted plans to expedite the release of migrants from Border Patrol detention.

The significant decrease in numbers will help relieve the strain on detention facilities that were operating far beyond their capacity.

In Yuma, Arizona, officials released nearly 300 recently arrived migrants on Friday, highlighting the challenges border cities are facing in coping with a substantial surge in arrivals over the past week.

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After nearly 50 years since its sinking off the coast of Tasmania, a CSIRO investigation has successfully determined the precise location of the MV Blythe Star shipwreck.

On October 13, 1973, while on its routine voyage from Hobart to King Island, the vessel experienced a starboard list, leading to water ingress and eventual capsizing.

Following the incident, ten crew members managed to board an inflatable life raft and endured nine days at sea in increasingly severe weather conditions. Tragically, one crew member lost their life during this period.

The remaining nine survivors embarked on a challenging journey, attempting to trek from their landing spot at Deep Glen Bay on the Forestier Peninsula.

Regrettably, two more crew members succumbed to exhaustion and hypothermia during this arduous ordeal.

It wasnt until October 26, almost two weeks later, that the survivors were finally rescued. A small group of them managed to find their way to a road, where they successfully flagged down a passing motorist for assistance.

Despite extensive maritime searches conducted over the years, no trace of the sunken vessel had been discovered until now.

In a recent development, researchers from the CSIRO and the University of Tasmania, while studying a submarine landslide, stumbled upon the MV Blythe Star shipwreck approximately 10.5km west of Tasmanias South West Cape.

Utilizing mapping data and video imagery, the team confirmed that the wreckage they encountered was indeed the long-lost MV Blythe Star.

Solving a 50-year-old maritime mystery.  On Friday, 12 October 1973, the coastal freighter MV Blythe Star departed Hobart bound for King Island. On board were 10 crew and a cargo of beer and fertiliser. In the days that followed, the ship disappeared without a trace. pic.twitter.com/JVPLQicwUt  CSIRO (@CSIRO) May 15, 2023

The shipwreck exhibited a sparse growth of algae and seaweed, with noticeable damage to the stern and the absence of the wheelhouse. The presence of crayfish, schools of fish, and a number of fur seals swimming around the wreckage was captured on film.

The CSIRO expressed its satisfaction in confirming the definitive location of the vessels final resting place, thereby resolving the 50-year-old mystery.

As a consequence of this tragedy, significant maritime regulations were enacted in Australia. These included the implementation of a maritime position reporting system, which has significantly enhanced safety measures at sea.

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Following a night out in Stockholm, a British naval conscript who was participating in the Aurora 23 defense exercise in Sweden has been found dead, leading to the arrest of four individuals as part of a murder investigation.

According to a Swedish newspaper report, the 25-year-old serviceman, who had been on board HMS Albion, had joined another member of the Armed Forces for a night out.

Subsequently, they ended up at a residence in Solna, located northwest of Stockholm city center, where the British serviceman was later discovered deceased.

The Ministry of Defence spokesman informed MailOnline that they were aware of the incident in Stockholm and are cooperating with local authorities in their investigation.

However, they refrained from providing further comments at this time.

During the early stages of the murder investigation, Swedish police arrested four individuals, including the British serviceman who was out with the deceased.

The other three individuals in custody are Swedish citizens in their 20s and 30s.

Swedish authorities have not released additional information about the events that transpired on the night in question.

It is noteworthy that this incident occurred shortly after the conclusion of the Aurora 23 exercise.

The aim of the Aurora 23 training exercise was to enhance Swedens preparedness in dealing with an armed assault.

According to the Swedish Armed Forces, Aurora 23 marked the largest national exercise of its kind in over three decades. The Royal Air Force (RAF) and British Army were also actively involved in the drills.

Over a period of three weeks, more than 26,000 individuals participated in the exercise, representing various branches such as the Swedish Army, Swedish Navy, Swedish Air Force, Home Guard, and servicemen from 14 other nations.

HMS Albion, one of the Royal Navys amphibious assault ships, arrived in Sweden after completing Joint Viking 23 training exercises in Norway in March.

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As the worlds No 2 economy prioritises eliminating national security risks, China has sentenced a 78-year-old American passport holder to life on spying charges.

John Shing-wan Leung, 78, was arrested in April 2021 by the National Security Bureau in Suzhou, a city neighbouring Shanghai in eastern China, a South China Morning Post report said citing the citys Intermediate Peoples Court.

Leung, an American passport holder and Hong Kong permanent resident, was found guilty of espionage, sentenced to life imprisonment, deprived of political rights for life, said the statement.

Suzhou authorities took compulsory measures according to the law against Leung in April 2021, it said, without specifying when exactly he was taken into custody.

China updated its anti-espionage legislation last month to expand the definition of spying to ban the transfer of any information related to national security, including cyberattacks.

Under the law, espionage conviction that threatens national security could lead to a jail sentence from 10 years to life.

With inputs from agencies

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Expressing concern over reports of random arrests and cases filed against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers across the country, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has criticised the action and termed the incident against all democratic norms.

Imran Khans political outfit, PTI, saw arrests of over 564 workers for violence after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khans arrest and more arrests are being made, according to Dawn. Raising concerns over the same, HRCP has made a series of tweets, and has termed the incident against all democratic norms.

HRCP has tweeted, HRCP is deeply concerned by reports of random arrests and cases filed arbitrarily against PTI workers across Pakistan. A distinction must always be made between those resorting to violence and nonviolent political workers.

No one must ever be penalised for their party affiliations. This goes against all democratic norms, the tweet added. Earlier on Sunday, the Islamabad police said that 564 people have been detained for violence as government property worth Pakistani rupees (PKR) 25 crores was damaged during the violent protests.

HRCP is deeply concerned by reports of random arrests and cases filed arbitrarily against PTI workers across Pakistan. A distinction must always be made between those resorting to violence and nonviolent political workers. 1/2  Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) May 14, 2023

Earlier today, Pakistans former prime minister Imran Khan has scalated his criticism of the countrys powerful army, accusing the military establishment of planning to keep him in jail for the next 10 years under sedition charges.

Khan, in a series of tweets in the early hours of Monday, said: So now the complete London plan is out. Using pretext of violence while I was inside the jail, they have assumed the role of judge, jury and executioner. The plan now is to humiliate me by putting Bushra begum (Khans wife) in jail, and using some sedition law to keep me inside for next ten years.

The tweets came after Khan held a meeting of PTI leaders at his Lahore residence. The 70-year-old leader, who has been on bail in more than 100 cases, further said: To ensure that there is no public reaction, they have done two things  first deliberate terror is unleashed not just on PTI workers but on common citizens as well. Second, the media is totally controlled and muzzled.

Giving his message to the people of Pakistan, Khan said: My message to the people of Pakistan; I will fight for Haqeeqi Azaadi till the last drop of my blood because for me death is preferable than to be enslaved by these assortments of crooks.

I urge all my people to remember that we have pledged LA Illah ha illalah, that we bow to no one except the One (Allah). If we bow to the idol of fear there will only be humiliation and dismemberment for our future generations. Countries where there is injustice and law of jungle prevails, dont survive for long.

Khans arrest by the Pakistan Rangers at the IHC premises last Tuesday triggered an unrest in Pakistan that continued till Friday and led to several deaths and dozens of military and state installations being destroyed by the protesters.

For the first time in the countrys history, the protesters stormed the army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and also torched the corps commanders house in Lahore.

Police put the death toll in violent clashes to 10 while Khans party claims 40 of its workers lost their lives in the firing by security personnel.

Protests erupted in Pakistan after Imran Khan was arrested in Islamabad on May 9. PTI workers held protests in cities across the country, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala, Peshawar, and Mardan.

With inputs from agencies

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Following unexpected negotiations between the presidents of Ukraine and France in Paris on Sunday, France promised extra military help for Ukraine, including light tanks, armoured vehicles, training for soldiers, and other support as the Ukrainians prepare for a counteroffensive against Russian forces.

Emmanuel Macron of France and Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine held a three-hour meeting in the French presidential Elysee Palace. The meeting was kept secret until the Ukrainian leader arrived in Paris from Germany aboard a French government plane to continue his extensive European tour.

With Ukraine planning to go on the offensive hoping to retake Russian-occupied territory, military aid was a top agenda item. Macrons office said France will supply dozens of light tanks and armoured vehicles in the weeks ahead, without giving specific numbers. Also promised were more air defence systems, but again details werent made public.

More Ukrainians will also be made battle-ready, with France aiming to train about 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers in France this year and nearly 4,000 others in Poland as part of a wider European effort, Macrons office said.

In a statement, France described its support for Ukraines independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as unwavering and promised that its political, economic, humanitarian and military aid will continue for as long as necessary.

In a tweet on his arrival, Zelenskyy said: With each visit, Ukraines defense and offensive capabilities are expanding. The ties with Europe are getting stronger, and the pressure on Russia is growing.

Paris. With each visit, Ukraines defense and offensive capabilities are expanding. The ties with Europe are getting stronger, and the pressure on Russia is growing. I will have a meeting with my friend Emanuel and we will talk through the most important points of bilateral    (@ZelenskyyUa) May 14, 2023

France has supplied Ukraine with an array of weaponry, include air defense systems, light tanks, howitzers and other arms and equipment and fuel.

France dispatched a plane to pick up Zelenskyy in Germany, where he met with Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier Sunday and discussed his country's planned counteroffensive. Zelenskyy said it will aim to liberate Russian-occupied areas within Ukraine's internationally recognized borders, and not attack Russian territory.

The Washington Post cited previously undisclosed documents from a trove of U.S. intelligence leaks suggesting that Zelenskyy has considered trying to capture areas in Russia proper for possible use as bargaining chips in peace negotiations to end the war launched by Moscow in February 2022. This would put him at odds with Western governments that have insisted that weapons they provide must not be used to attack targets in Russia.

Asked about the report, Zelenskyy said: "We don't attack Russian territory, we liberate our own legitimate territory."

"We have neither the time nor the strength (to attack Russia)," he said, according to an official interpreter. "And we also don't have weapons to spare, with which we could do this."

"We are preparing a counterattack for the illegally occupied areas based on our constitutionally defined legitimate borders, which are recognized internationally," Zelenskyy said.

Among areas still occupied by Russia are the Crimean peninsula and parts of eastern Ukraine with mainly Russian-speaking populations.

A Luftwaffe jet flew Zelenskyy to the German capital from Rome, where he met Saturday with Pope Francis and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni.

It was his first visit to Berlin since the start of the invasion. It came a day after the German government announced a new package of military aid for Ukraine worth more than 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion), including tanks, anti-aircraft systems and ammunition.

Zelenskyy thanked Scholz for the support, saying Germany is now second only behind the United States in providing aid to Ukraine  and joked that he is working to make it the biggest donor.

"German air defense systems, artillery, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles are saving Ukrainian lives and bringing us closer to victory. Germany is a reliable ally! Together we are bringing peace closer!" he wrote on Twitter.

I thank Germany for the largest military aid package since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. German air defense systems, artillery, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles are saving Ukrainian lives and bringing us closer to victory. Germany is a reliable ally!    (@ZelenskyyUa) May 14, 2023

Scholz said that Berlin has so far given Kyiv some 17 billion euros in bilateral aid and that it can expect more in future.

After initially hesitating to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons, Germany has become one of the biggest suppliers of arms to Ukraine, including Leopard 1 and 2 battle tanks, and the sophisticated IRIS-T SLM air defence system. Modern Western hardware is crucial if Ukraine succeeds in its planned counteroffensive.

In the western German city of Aachen, Zelenskyy also received the prestigious International Charlemagne Prize, awarded to him and the people of Ukraine.

In her congratulatory speech, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen compared the war in Ukraine to the fall of the Iron Curtain more than 30 years ago.

"Every generation has its moment when it has to stand up to defend democracy and what it believes in," she said. "For us, that moment has come."

Zelenskyy accused Moscow of trying to turn back the clock of European history.

"Modern Russia waged war not just on us, as a free and sovereign state, not just against united Europe as a global symbol of peace and prosperity," he said in his acceptance speech. "This is Russia's war for the past."

In other developments:

 Zelenskyy's chief aide, Andriy Yermak, said Sunday that five civilians died in Ukraine's southern Kherson region when an unexploded Russian shell blew up.

 Overnight, Russia launched a "massive" attack on Ukraine with Iranian-made Shahed explosive drones, which wounded more than 30 people, according to the Ukrainian military. Eighteen of the 23 drones were shot down, but those that got through, and wreckage from those intercepted, damaged 50 apartment buildings, private homes and other buildings, the military said without providing further details.

 Russia also hit the western city of Ternopil and the southern city of Mykolaiv with rockets, wounding an unspecified number of civilians.

 Shelling by Russian forces killed a 59-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man Sunday in the Chuhuiv district of Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv province, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov reported on Telegram.

 Russia's Defense Ministry said Sunday that Ukrainian forces had killed two of its colonels in the Bakhmut area.

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With twice as many people travelling during the first quarter of 2023 in the same period last year, international tourism is well on its way to returning to pre-pandemic levels, according to the UNs World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

According to the most recent figures from UNWTO, as many as 235 million tourists travelled internationally in the first three months of this year, an increase of 80 per cent from pre-pandemic levels.

The tourism sector has shown its resilience. As many as 960 million people travelled abroad last year, representing a recovery to 66 per cent of pre-pandemic figures, said the UNWTO.

Middle east saw strongest recovery

According to the UN report, the Middle East saw the strongest recovery and was the only region that exceeded its 2019 arrivals (+15 per cent). It was also the first region to recover to pre-pandemic numbers in a full quarter.

Europe reached 90 per cent of its pre-pandemic levels, driven by strong intra-regional demand. Meanwhile, Africa and the Americas were at 88 per cent and 85 per cent of their 2019 levels, respectively, the report added.

Asia and the Pacific accelerated its recovery to 54 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, the UN agency said, adding that the upward trend is set to accelerate now that most destinations, including China, have reopened.

The start of the year has shown again tourisms unique ability to bounce back. In many places, we are close to or even above pre-pandemic levels of arrivals, said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.

Pololikashvili, however, said people should remain alert to challenges ranging from geopolitical insecurity, staffing shortages, and the potential impact of the cost-of-living crisis on tourism.

We must ensure tourisms return delivers on its responsibilities as a solution to the climate emergency and as a driver of inclusive development, he added.

The report highlighted that international tourism receipts hit the $1 trillion mark in 2022, growing 50 per cent in real terms compared to 2021, driven by the rebound in international travel.

Global visitor spending reached 64 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, it added.

Chinese tourists set to return

UNWTO foresees the recovery to continue throughout 2023 even as the sector faces up to economic, health and geopolitical challenges.

The lifting of COVID-19 related travel restrictions in China, the worlds largest outbound market in 2019, is a significant step for the recovery of the tourism sector in Asia and the Pacific and worldwide.

In the short term, the resumption of travel from China is likely to benefit Asian destinations in particular.

However, this will be shaped by the availability and cost of air travel, visa regulations and COVID-19 related restrictions in the destinations, the report added.

COVID-19 no longer a health emergency

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Covid-19 is no longer a global health emergency. The announcement, which came three years after it initially raised its highest level of warning over the virus, came as a significant step towards putting an end to the pandemic.

As of 24 April, slightly over 3,500 people had died from the illness, down from a peak of more than 100,000 per week in January 2021, according to officials.

According to the WHO director, the epidemic claimed at least seven million lives worldwide.

With inputs from agencies

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Former Prime Minister Imran Khans wife was granted bail by a Pakistani court in a graft case until May 23, a lawyer in their legal team said.

Khans wife, Bushra Bibi, was co-accused along with Khan in the case, which pertained to the alleged receiving of financial help from a land developer in the setting-up of Al Qadir University of which the former premier and his spouse are trustees.

Khan was arrested by the countrys anti-graft agency last week, prompting violent protests across the country. He was later released and received bail from a court in Islamabad for two weeks.

We had requested for a protective bail for Bushra Bibi in Al Qadir Trust Case and a two-judge bench of LHC has granted the bail till May 23, Bibis lawyer Intizar Hussain Panjutha told Reuters.

With inputs from agencies

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Migrant crossings in the US have dropped by 50 per cent since the Trump-era Title 42 expired on Thursday.

The US Homeland Security stated that after the Biden administration reinstated criminal penalties for illegal entry via the US-Mexico border, migrant crossings dropped by half.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told CNN, The numbers we have experienced in the past two days are markedly down over what they were prior to the end of Title 42.

He said there were 6,300 border encounters on Friday and 4,200 on Saturday, but cautioned it was still early in the new regime.

Mayorkas said that the criminal penalties for migrants who illegally enter the country, which resumed after the expiration of Trump-era Title 42, are the main reason behind the massive drop in crossings.

Much better

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden said that the situation at the US-Mexico border is much better than you all expected.

Biden added that he has no immediate plans to visit the border.

The migrant processing plans announced by the Biden administration require asylum seekers to book an appointment through an app or seek protection from countries they passed through on their way to the US border.

If anyone is caught crossing the border illegally, he or she will not be allowed to apply for immigration again for five years. There are prison terms for other violations.

Mayorkas added, There is a lawful, safe and orderly way to arrive in the United States. That is through the pathways that President Biden has expanded in an unprecedented way, and then theres a consequence if one does not use those lawful pathways.

Border patrol officers have confirmed that as opposed to what was expected, they have not seen large-scale crossings along the borders.

The amount of migrants we were expecting initially  the big flow  is not here yet, Victor Trevino, mayor of Laredo, Texas, told CBS News.

Republicans say surge on its way

However, Republicans have warned that the worse is yet to come and that a surge in crossings could still be on the way.

Republican Representative Michael McCaul said, I do think there are caravans going up. I think they still want to get in.

The Republican chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee said, What the secretary failed to say is, this week has seen more crossings than any time, any week, in our history.

What was Title 42?

In March 2020 when the onset of the Covid pandemic was impending, former President Donald Trump introduced Title 42, an emergency health authority to deter migrants from entering US.

The order allowed border officials to turn away migrants who came to the US-Mexico border on the grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

With inputs from agencies

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Britains second busiest airport had to keep its runway shut for an hour after a suspected drone activity was observed in the no-fly zone on Sunday.

A spokesperson for Gatwick Airport explained, At 1:44 pm, operations at London Gatwick were temporarily suspended while authorities investigated a sighting of a suspected drone near the airfield. The investigations have now concluded, and the airfield reopened at 2:35 pm.

During the investigation, twelve incoming aircraft were redirected to other airports; however, it is anticipated that most of them will return to Gatwick later today.

The airport emphasized that passenger safety was its utmost priority. Among the affected flights were a British Airways flight from Mallorca to Gatwick, which was diverted to Stansted Airport, and an easyJet flight from Venice, which was redirected to Luton Airport.

During the disruption, a total of seven easyJet flights heading to Gatwick were rerouted to nearby airports.

A spokesperson informed Sky News that arrangements were made for passengers to continue their journey to Gatwick.

According to reports, Gatwick Airport experienced a significant incident involving multiple sightings of drones in December 2018, which led to the closure of its runway for a period of 30 hours.

Gatwick reported more than 100 drone sightings around its premises over the course of three days.

This incident marked the first time a major UK airport had to be shut down due to drone activity. The resulting disruption affected over 140,000 passengers and resulted in the cancellation or diversion of approximately 1,000 flights.

Despite investigations, no individuals have been charged in connection with the incident. However, Gatwick Airport maintained that it was a deliberate, well-planned, and sophisticated attack.

Following the incident, the UK government implemented new legislation to expand the no-fly zones around airports. The updated regulations extended the restricted airspace from 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) to three miles.

In accordance with UK law, those who recklessly or negligently endanger an aircraft using a drone can face a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison.

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Despite the fact that no further negotiations are scheduled for this week, Ukraine cannot completely rule out the possibility that the agreement for the secure transport of Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea would expire on 18 May.

Olha Trofimtseva, an envoy at large for the foreign ministry, stated during a briefing that Ukraine was getting inconsistent messages regarding the deals future, the extension of which was addressed during talks in Turkey last week.

Ukrainian Black Sea ports were closed following Russias incursion last year, but access to three of them was restored in July under a deal mediated by the United Nations and Turkey between Moscow and Kyiv.

The situation overall (after talks) has not changed much, and we receive quite conflicting information about the grain deal and the possibility of its continuation, she said.

Moscow has threatened to quit the agreement on 18 May unless a list of demands is met to remove obstacles to Russias own grain and fertiliser exports.

Such a termination, (Russias) exit from the grain initiative is possible, but for everyone and primarily for the Russian side that will mean an escalation of the situation and they will complicate their future negotiation position for themselves, Trofimtseva said.

She said Ukraine had exported 2.5 million tonnes of agricultural goods in April despite a slowdown in the use of the grain corridor.

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Russias Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has denied reports suggesting that he offered to reveal positions of Russian forces to the Ukrainian military if Kyiv agreed to withdraw from Bakhmut, according to a report.

According to a Alarabiya News, in an audio message posted by his press service on Telegram on Monday, Prigozhin called the allegations nonsense, and suggested that unnamed residents of Moscows Rublyovka suburb, home to many of the business and political elite, were orchestrating an attack on him.

Prigozhin also denied having met Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukrainian military intelligence, in an unnamed African country, saying he had not been in the continent since the start of the Ukraine conflict and portraying the idea of a phone call with him as laughable.

Earlier, citing US intelligence documents, the Washington Post reported that Prigozhin had offered to bribe Ukrainian military commanders with information about Russian troops positions.

Wagners soldiers have been at the forefront of a bloody Russian offensive to take the city of Bakhmut.

According to the report, Prigozhin said that if Ukraines commanders withdrew their soldiers from the area around Bakhmut, he would give Kyiv information on Russian troop positions, which Ukraine could use to attack them.

Prigozhin conveyed the proposal to his contacts in Ukraines military intelligence directorate, with whom he has maintained secret communications during the course of the war, according to previously unreported US intelligence documents leaked on the group-chat platform Discord.

The paper said Ukraine rejected the offer.

Prigozhins feud with Russian commanders

Prigozhin has publicly feuded with Russian military commanders, who he furiously claims have failed to equip and resupply his forces, which have provided vital support to Moscows war effort.

But he is also an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who might well regard Prigozhins offer to trade the lives of Wagner fighters for Russian soldiers as a treasonous betrayal.

The leaked document does not make clear which Russian troop positions Prigozhin offered to disclose.

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dimitry Peskov saying that the Washington Post report looks like a hoax.

With inputs from agencies

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On Monday, a number of Israels largest and wealthiest cities went on strike in protest over a proposal to redistribute their tax revenue, creating a new front against the government, which is already under fire for a contentious judicial reform.

The walkout hinders efforts to adopt a 20232024 state budget by forcing the closure of schools and stopping rubbish pickup for millions of Israelis. By the end of the month, if a budget has not been approved, a new election must be held.

The issue is a proposed fund that would be financed by municipally collected commercial property taxes. The money would then be dispersed across the country to encourage the construction of new homes.

The government says it will help alleviate a housing shortage and lower costs that have soared over the past 15 years due to strong demand and limited supply. The city halls, who have not decided how long the strike will last, say it is an intrusion of federal authority that in the end will not help.

We will fight for the rights of our residents, said Haim Bibas, mayor of the city of Modiin in central Israel and head of the Federation of Local Authorities. Its not our role to come up with budget funding to solve national crises.

More than 70 cities, including commercial hubs Tel Aviv and Haifa that will be paying more heavily into the property tax fund, joined the strike. Israels largest municipality, Jerusalem, which relies heavily on state funding given its relatively poor population, did not.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he would not give in and that the property tax fund would be passed as part of legislation for the 2023-2024 budget.

Unfortunately, some of the heads of the federation and mayors are fighting you, us and whoever wants to lower the cost of housing, Smotrich said in press conference hours before the strike began.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government, which came to power late last year, already faces unending mass protests over a proposed judicial overhaul.

Tens of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets on a weekly basis in opposition to Netanyahus push to give politicians greater sway over selecting judges and to limit the power of the Supreme Court to strike down legislation. Under pressure at home and abroad, Netanyahu has temporarily put it on hold.

Parliament has already given its initial approval for the 2023-2024 budget but it still needs to pass two more votes.

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Pakistans former prime minister Imran Khan has scalated his criticism of the countrys powerful army, accusing the military establishment of planning to keep him in jail for the next 10 years under sedition charges.

Khan, in a series of tweets in the early hours of Monday, said: So now the complete London plan is out. Using pretext of violence while I was inside the jail, they have assumed the role of judge, jury and executioner. The plan now is to humiliate me by putting Bushra begum (Khans wife) in jail, and using some sedition law to keep me inside for next ten years.

The tweets came after Khan held a meeting of PTI leaders at his Lahore residence. The 70-year-old leader, who has been on bail in more than 100 cases, further said: To ensure that there is no public reaction, they have done two things  first deliberate terror is unleashed not just on PTI workers but on common citizens as well. Second, the media is totally controlled and muzzled.

He said never has the sanctity of chadar and chaar dewaari been violated the way it is being done by these criminals. This is a deliberate attempt to instill so much fear in people that when they come to arrest me tomorrow, people wont come out. And tomorrow they will again suspend internet services and ban social media (which is only partially open). Meanwhile, as we speak, houses are being broken in and shamelessly police are manhandling the women of the houses, he said.

Giving his message to the people of Pakistan, Khan said: My message to the people of Pakistan; I will fight for Haqeeqi Azaadi till the last drop of my blood because for me death is preferable than to be enslaved by these assortments of crooks.

I urge all my people to remember that we have pledged LA Illah ha illalah, that we bow to no one except the One (Allah). If we bow to the idol of fear there will only be humiliation and dismemberment for our future generations. Countries where there is injustice and law of jungle prevails, dont survive for long.

Khan returned to his Lahore home on Saturday after having locked himself in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises for hours due to the fear of re-arrest despite being granted bail on Friday.

The IHC granted bail to Khan, barring authorities from arresting him in all the cases registered against him beyond May 9, and asked him to approach the Lahore High Court for further relief on May 15.

Khan further said the JUI-F drama that is being done outside the Supreme Court is only for one purpose  to overawe the chief justice of Pakistan so that he does not give a verdict according to the Constitution.

Pakistan has already seen such brazen attack on the Supreme Court when in 1997 PMLN goons physically attacked it and had one of the most respected Chief Justices Sajjad Ali Shah removed, he said.

Khans arrest by the Pakistan Rangers at the IHC premises last Tuesday triggered an unrest in Pakistan that continued till Friday and led to several deaths and dozens of military and state installations being destroyed by the protesters.

For the first time in the countrys history, the protesters stormed the army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and also torched the corps commanders house in Lahore.

Police put the death toll in violent clashes to 10 while Khans party claims 40 of its workers lost their lives in the firing by security personnel.

With inputs from agencies

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Bushra Bibi, the wife of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, was granted bail by the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday in the Al-Qadir Trust case until May 23.

According to to a report by ARY News, Bushra Bibis attorney, Khawaja Haris, reportedly asked for a 10-day protective bail on her behalf. The high court reportedly granted the request and granted her bail until May 23. Bushra Bibi and Imran Khan came before the HC earlier in the day to request precautionary bail for the former Pakistan prime ministers wife in the Al-Qadir Trust case.

The petitioner asked the court to approve the protective bail because the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), which is investigating the case, has the authority to arrest her.

Imran Khan was instructed to participate in the Al-Qadir Trust case probe by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) last week. Details indicate that the Islamabad High Court granted Imran Khan temporary bail in the Al-Qadir Trust case in a written decision.

In accordance with the judgement, if Imran Khan obstructs the inquiry, the NAB may submit a plea to revoke his bail. Imran Khan may be brought before the investigating team whenever needed, according to the order.

Imran Khan cannot get relief due to Article 245, according to the order. This position was denounced as offensive by the Advocate General and the Additional Attorney General.

On May 9, Bushra Bibi filed a lawsuit against the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Al-Qadir Trust case at the Islamabad High Court, and the NABs chairman and director general (DG) were added as respondents.

In the petition, it was claimed that Bushra Bibis political adversaries had launched a fictitious investigation, and it was asked that the court direct the NAB to provide information about the investigation to the media.

A NAB investigation into a deal between the PTI government and a real estate mogul, which reportedly resulted in a loss to the national exchequer of 190 million pounds, is currently involving Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, and other PTI leaders, according to Geo News.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) of Britain allegedly sent the government 50 billion rupees (190 million pounds) during the time, according to the charges against Khan and the other defendants, as reported by Geo News. They are charged with receiving an unauthorised benefit in the form of more than 458 kanals of land in the Punjab provinces Mouza Bakrala for the purpose of establishing Al Qadir University.

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Days after South Africa was accused of secretly sending arms and ammunition to Russia, a military delegation has gone to Moscow, according to Russian news agencies.

South Africas Lieutenant General Lawrence Mbatha is heading a delegation that will discuss issues relating to military cooperation and interaction with their Russian counterparts.

Last Thursday the US ambassador to Pretoria Reuben Brigety said that the United States believed weapons and ammunition had been laden onto a Russian freighter that docked at a Cape Town naval base in December.

The South African President Cyril Ramaphosam, in response, said that the matter is being looked into and that he will be able to speak about it in time.

The US, in turn, has welcomed the countrys proposal to probe the issue.

South Africa has refused to condemn the conflict in Ukraine, which has largely isolated Moscow on the international stage.

The country  an African powerhouse that also wields moral clout for its victory over apartheid  says it wants to stay neutral.

But critics cite a number of recent incidents as evidence of a tilt toward the Kremlin.

On Friday, following the scandal, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone with Ramaphosa.

Both leaders agreed to intensify mutually beneficial ties according to the Kremlin.

And on Monday, Mbatha visited educational institution of the ground forces and enterprises of the military-industrial complex of Russia, agencies said.

Agreements were reached to further increase cooperation between ground forces in various fields, Russian agency Interfax said.

With inputs from agencies

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On Monday, Syrias over ten-year exile from the Arab League came to an end as representatives took part in a session to prepare for the summit on Friday in Saudi Arabia.

I take this opportunity to welcome the Syrian Arab Republic to the League of Arab States, Saudi finance minister Mohammed al-Jadaan told the meeting, which was broadcast live by state TV channel Al Ekhbariya.

As the camera shifted to the Syrian delegation, Jadaan said that he was, looking forward to working with everyone to achieve what we aspire to.

Since the Arab League suspended Syria in November 2011 due to its harsh repression of protests that turned into a conflict that has killed more than 500,000 people and displaced millions, this is the first time Syrian officials have attended an Arab League conference.

Early this month, the pan-Arab organisation formally embraced President Bashar al-Assads return to the Arab fold by publicly welcoming Syrias government.

Assad has accepted Saudi King Salmans invitation to attend the summit on Friday in Jeddah, a city on the Red Sea. This would be Assads first summit since the one in Libya in 2010.

Regional capitals have gradually been warming to Assad as he has held onto power and clawed back lost territory with crucial support from Iran and Russia.

The United Arab Emirates re-established ties with Syria in 2018 and has been leading the recent charge to reintegrate Damascus.

Diplomatic activity picked up after a deadly earthquake struck Syria and Turkey on February 6.

A decision in March by Saudi Arabia and Iran, a close ally of Damascus, to resume ties has also shifted the regional political landscape.

Riyadh, which cut ties with Assads government in 2012 and had long openly championed the Syrian leaders ouster, confirmed last week that work would resume at the two countries respective diplomatic missions.

But while Syrias frontlines have mostly quietened, large parts of the north remain outside government control, and no political solution to the conflict is in sight.

Top diplomats from nine Arab countries discussed the Syria crisis in Saudi Arabia last month, and five regional foreign ministers including Syrias met in Jordan on May 1.

But not every country in the region has been quick to mend ties with Assad.

Qatar said this month it would not normalise relations with Assads government but also noted this would not be an obstacle to Arab League reintegration.

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In an effort to propose a political settlement to the Ukraine crisis, a senior Chinese representative will start a tour of Ukraine, Russia, and other European cities on Monday, according to Beijing.

On the multi-day tour, Li Hui, Chinas special envoy for Eurasian issues and a former ambassador to Russia, will also stop in Poland, France, and Germany, the foreign ministry said on Friday without offering a schedule in detail.

The visit  is a testament to Chinas efforts towards promoting peace talks, and fully demonstrates Chinas firm commitment to peace, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a daily briefing.

He is the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit Ukraine since Russias invasion in February 2022, and his visit may signal the start of Ukraines long-anticipated counteroffensive to retake Russian-occupied territory.

The visit comes weeks after the first phone call between the two presidents since the war started, when Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in late April.

Zelenskyy described the call as long and meaningful on Twitter, while Xi said China would focus on promoting peace, although Beijings proposals to end the conflict have been met with some scepticism in the West given its ties with Russia.

However, several European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, have urged Xi to speak with Zelenskyy and play a more active role in restraining Moscows actions during a string of visits to the Chinese capital from March onwards.

Since February, Beijing has heavily promoted a 12-point proposal for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

But the plan, launched on the first anniversary of Russias invasion, was largely a reiteration of Chinas previous lines on the war. It urged both sides to agree to a gradual de-escalation and warned against the use of nuclear weapons.

Kyiv has ruled out the idea of any territorial concessions to Russia and has said it wants every inch of its land back. Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014 and since last year has claimed to have annexed four other Ukrainian regions, which Moscow now calls Russian land.

Throughout the war, China has refrained from condemning its strategic ally Moscow or referring to its actions as an invasion, leading to criticism from European countries and the United States which have questioned Chinas credibility as a potential broker in the conflict.

Whatever message Li delivers will be carefully scrutinised given the unease among Western nations over Xis meeting with his dear friend Russian President Vladimir Putin in March, and the two countries commitment to a no limits partnership less than three weeks before the invasion, which Moscow called a special military operation.

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A recent investigation into Twitter has revealed that the Erdogan-led Turkish government had requested Twitter to censor the accounts of several prominent leaders of the opposition in Turkiye, ahead of the countrys Presidential election.

Moreover, Elon Musk, being the free-speech absolutist that he claims to be, complied with the request. When confronted by journalists, Musk accepted doing so, implying it was the obvious thing to do, and attacking the journalist who took issue with the incident.

Also read: Elon Musk calls himself a free speech absolutist. Is it yet another one of his Twitter jokes?

In a late Friday evening announcement, Twitters official Global Government Affairs account stated that the platform would be limiting access to certain content in Turkiye. This decision was made in response to legal requests received by the social media site, the account Tweeted.

The announcement coincided with Turkiyes closely contested presidential election as reported by The Washington Post, which took place on May 14.

Elon Musk  the free speech absolutist

When he was in the process of taking over Twitter and was engaged in a very public battle with the people managing Twitter back then, Elon Musk had positioned himself as a free speech absolutist, and often called Twitter the internets town square. He also then went on to lambast Twitters previous management for complying with the US governments requests to take down certain tweets, and completely ban, or shadow-ban certain handles.

However, since Musk started managing the day-to-day operations of Twitter, he hasnt been able to live up to the image of the free speech absolutist that he wanted people to perceive him as. Since Musk bought and took control of Twitter, the social media platform has complied with more takedown and ban requests from governments all over the world, than the previous management.

In response to the news, California Representative Adam Schiff tweeted his concerns, suggesting that Twitters decision to restrict content on the platform in Turkiye just before a significant election seemed like an acquiescence to the demands of the countrys autocratic ruler, Erdogan. Representative Schiff also expressed scepticism about Twitters commitment to free speech, pointing out the lack of transparency from the company. He implied that Elon Musks previous promises regarding free speech may not hold true in this case.

According to a report by Rest of World, since Elon Musk assumed control of Twitter last year, the platform has shown a higher compliance rate with government requests for censorship or user surveillance.

The report states that Musks Twitter account has complied with over 80 per cent of these requests, compared to a compliance rate of approximately 50 per cent prior to his leadership. This data suggests an increase in the frequency with which Musks Twitter account complies with government demands related to censorship or user surveillance.

Which accounts were shadow-banned/restricted in Turkiye?

Dr. Tugrulcan Elmas, a postdoctoral researcher at Indiana University Bloomington who specializes in social media manipulation, has provided insights regarding the accounts that were chosen for restriction on Twitter.

According to Dr. Elmas, these accounts were often targeted by the Turkish government in the past because they had affiliations with political opposition or were associated with whistleblowers who have been critical of President Erdogan.

Also read: Sex, lies and videotape: The scandal that is shaking up Turkeys election

Dr. Elmas also highlighted that a troll account impersonating a whistleblower named Ali Yesildag, which violated Twitters terms of service by engaging in impersonation and sharing fake nude photos of politicians opposing Erdogan, had not been removed from the platform. He also believes that the account could potentially serve as a propaganda tool utilized by the government to undermine President Erdogans opponents.

This could involve discrediting them by creating a false narrative of opposition figures engaging in blackmail against each other.

Elon Musk goes on the offensive

Following Musks decision to restrict Twitter accounts upon the request of the Turkish government, observers were quick to criticize his actions, labelling him a free speech opportunist.

Matt Yglesias, a Bloomberg columnist, tweeted about the Turkish governments request for censorship and Musks compliance, writing The Turkish government asked Twitter to censor its opponents right before an election and Elon Musk complied.

Did your brain fall out of your head, Yglesias? The choice is have Twitter throttled in its entirety or limit access to some tweets. Which one do you want?  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 13, 2023



To this, Musk fired back, tweeting, Did your brain fall out of your head, Yglesias? The choice is to have Twitter throttled in its entirety or limit access to some tweets. Which one do you want?

The curious case of Wikipedia

Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, also joined the conversation, calling out Musks approach, and comparing it to Wikipedias stance on freedom of expression. What Wikipedia did: we stood strong for our principles and fought to the Supreme Court of Turkiye and won. This is what it means to treat freedom of expression as a principle rather than a slogan.

What Wikipedia did: we stood strong for our principles and fought to the Supreme Court of Turkey and won. This is what it means to treat freedom of expression as a principle rather than a slogan. https://t.co/tHkx1Wa06r  Jimmy Wales (@jimmy_wales) May 13, 2023



In response to defenders of Musk who argued that comparing Twitter to Wikipedia was a false equivalency due to their differing profit structures (Wikipedia being a nonprofit while Twitter is a for-profit business), Wales replied by stating, If Elon is now saying We dont care about freedom of expression if it interferes with making money, then he should just say that. Wales implied that if Musks prioritization is profit over freedom of expression, he should be transparent about it.

Also read: Turkey blocks all access to Wikipedia inside the country

For those who are unaware, Wikipedia was banned in Turkiye from 2017 to 2020. The ban came as a result of an article that accused the country of sponsoring terrorism, specifically mentioning its alleged support for the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda. The Turkish government deemed this content to be offensive and a threat to national security, leading to the blocking of Wikipedia within the country.

The ban persisted for several years until a legal battle ensued and eventually reached the highest court in Turkiye. In January 2020, the Turkish government lifted the block on Wikipedia, allowing access to the site once again for Turkish users following a lengthy court battle.

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Ukraine applauded its troops successes in areas near the frontline town of Bakhmut, the site of the longest and heaviest combat since Russias incursion.

The advance of our troops in the Bakhmut direction is the first success of the offensive in the course of the operation to defend Bakhmut, said the commander of the Ukrainian ground forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi.

After months of violent combat that made it the focal point of Russias invasion, the industrial eastern town, which formerly had about 70,000 citizens, has been reduced to ruins.

The last few days have shown that we can move forward and destroy the enemy even in such extremely difficult conditions, Syrskyi said.

We are fighting with fewer resources than the enemy. At the same time, we manage to destroy its plans, he added.

Syrskyis comments come after the head of Russias Wagner mercenary group, which is leading the Russian assault on Bakhmut, claimed that regular Russian troops were fleeing the flanks of the town and exposing his forces in its centre.

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Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said that Ukraine has de-facto turned into a state-sponsor of terrorism after Ukraines military intelligence chief Kirill Budanov vowed to keep killing Russians anywhere across the globe.

In an interview to Russia Today, Peskov said that Despite their explosive nature, the remarks by Budanov did not face any criticism from Kievs Western sponsors.

The statement is unprecedented in its essence. And of course, it will be strange not to hear any words of condemnation from European capitals and from Washington. Logic says its impossible to do without condemnation, Peskov was quoted as saying by Russia Today.

Peskov added that Budanovs admission was yet further proof that Kiev has been directly orchestrating terrorist attacks against Russians.

He said that Russias special services know what to do after such statements, but did not elaborate on the potential countermeasures against such activities.

Weve been killing Russians

In an interview to Yahoo News last week, when asked whether the GUR had anything to do with last years murder of Darya Dugina, a journalist and daughter of prominent Russian philosopher Aleksandr Dugin, the boss of the Ukrainian Defence Ministrys Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) had boasted that weve been killing Russians.

And will keep killing Russians anywhere on the face of this world until the complete victory of Ukraine, Budanov said.

Dismissing accusations of engaging in terrorism, Budanov stated that what Russia calls terrorism, we call liberation.

Terrorist activities picking up

The terrorist activities that Moscow has attributed to Kiev have picked up in recent months. In April, for instance, Russian military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky was killed in St Petersburg with an improvised explosive device that had been concealed in a statuette handed to him during an event.

The blast killed the blogger on the spot and injured over a dozen others. Russias Security Service (FSB) has blamed the blast on Ukrainian special services and their agents, including fugitive members of the Russian opposition.

Last week, Russian author and political activist Zakhar Prilepin was targeted in a car bombing near the city of Nizhny Novgorod. The blast left Prilepin critically injured, and killed his close associate, who was inside the vehicle at the moment of the attack.

With inputs from agencies

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Britain today to meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as part of a tour of several key European allies ahead of an expected major Ukrainian counter-offensive against Russian forces.

The U.K. government confirmed Zelenskyys arrival early Monday and said he would meet with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Its Zelenskyys second trip to the U.K. since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Sunaks office said that on Monday Britain will confirm it is giving Ukraine hundreds more air defence missiles, as well as long-range attack drones with a range of more than 200 kilometres (120 miles).

The UK, the staunch ally of Ukraine prepares to give more military aid in an effort to change the course of the war.

It is the fourth European country Zelenskky has visited in the past few days. He made an unannounced visit to Paris on Sunday evening to meet French President Emmanuel Macron, after trips to Germany and Italy, where he met those countries leaders and Pope Francis.

A message posted Monday on Zelenskyys official Telegram Channel said: Today  London. The UK is leading the way when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air. This cooperation will continue today. I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations.

Last week Britain announced it had sent Ukraine Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which have a range of more than 250 kilometres (150 miles)  the first known shipment of the weaponry that Kyiv has long sought from its allies.

Sunaks office said that on Monday Britain will confirm it is giving Ukraine hundreds more air defence missiles, as well as long-range attack drones with a range of more than 200 kilometres (120 miles).

This is a crucial moment in Ukraines resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke, Sunak said. They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year.

We must not let them down.

Russia stepped up attacks across Ukraine with drones and missiles over the weekend. On Sunday, Russia shelled two communities in the northern border region of Sumy, the regions military administration said in a statement on its official Telegram channel. It said 109 explosions were recorded.

Zelenskyy toured European capitals over the weekend to seek more aid as Ukraine prepares a long-anticipated spring offensive to retake territory seized by Russia.

Zelenskyy and Macron met for about three hours at the French presidential Elysee Palace  an encounter kept under wraps until shortly before the Ukrainian leaders arrival in Paris.

Macrons office said France will supply dozens of light tanks and armoured vehicles in the weeks ahead, without giving specific numbers. Also promised were more air defence systems, but again details werent made public.

More Ukrainians will also be made battle-ready, with France aiming to train about 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers in France this year and nearly 4,000 others in Poland as part of a wider European effort, Macrons office said.

France has supplied Ukraine with an array of weaponry, including air defence systems, light tanks, howitzers and other arms and equipment and fuel.

France had dispatched a plane to pick up Zelenskyy in Germany, where he met with Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier Sunday and discussed his countrys planned counteroffensive.

It was his first visit to Berlin since the start of the invasion and came a day after the German government announced a new package of military aid for Ukraine worth more than 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion), including tanks, anti-aircraft systems and ammunition.

After initially hesitating to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons, Germany has become one of the biggest suppliers of arms to Ukraine, including Leopard 1 and 2 battle tanks, and the sophisticated IRIS-T SLM air defence system. Modern Western hardware is considered crucial if Ukraine is to succeed in its planned counteroffensive.

In the western German city of Aachen, Zelenskyy also received the prestigious International Charlemagne Prize, awarded to him and the people of Ukraine.

On Saturday. he met Francis and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni in Rome.

On the European trip, Zelenskyy said it will aim to liberate Russian-occupied areas within Ukraines internationally recognized borders, and not attack Russian territory.

The Washington Post cited previously undisclosed documents from a trove of U.S. intelligence leaks suggesting that Zelenskyy has considered trying to capture areas in Russia proper for possible use as bargaining chips in peace negotiations to end the war launched by Moscow in February 2022. This would put him at odds with Western governments that have insisted that weapons they provide must not be used to attack targets in Russia.

Asked about the report, Zelenskyy said: We dont attack Russian territory, we liberate our own legitimate territory.

We have neither the time nor the strength (to attack Russia), he said, according to an official interpreter. And we also dont have weapons to spare with which we could do this.

We are preparing a counterattack for the illegally occupied areas based on our constitutionally defined legitimate borders, which are recognized internationally, Zelenskyy said.

Among areas still occupied by Russia are the Crimean peninsula and parts of eastern Ukraine with mainly Russian-speaking populations.

With inputs from agencies

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Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the UK on Monday to meet Rishi Sunak for substantive negotiations to secure more support for the war-torn European nation.

Britain as the staunch ally of Kyiv promised to give Ukraine hundreds more missiles and attack drones in an effort to change the course of the war.

Zelenskyy landed by helicopter at Chequers, the British leaders official country retreat, and was greeted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Its Zelenskyys second trip to the U.K. since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Downing Street said Zelenskyy will update Sunak on his meetings with European leaders over the weekend as Ukraine prepares for an intensified period of military activity.

The visit also comes ahead of the Council of Europe Summit in Iceland, which Sunak is due to travel for this week, ahead of a visit to Tokyo for the G7 Summit in Japan.

This is a crucial moment in Ukraines resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke. They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year, said Sunak.

We must not let them down. The frontlines of [Russian President] Putins war of aggression may be in Ukraine but the fault lines stretch all over the world. It is in all our interest to ensure Ukraine succeeds and Putins barbarism is not rewarded, he said.

Sunak said the UK is sustaining its support to Ukraine with tanks, training, ammunition, and armoured vehicles. And this message of solidarity will ring loud in all my meetings with fellow world leaders in the days ahead, he added.

Downing Street said Sunak will use his tour of Iceland and Japan to continue to push for sustained international support for Ukraine, both in terms of military aid and long-term security assurances.

Last week, the UK confirmed that it had provided Storm Shadow precision missiles to Ukraine. This is the first long-range cruise missile in Ukraines arsenal and will be critical in helping the country defend against the relentless bombardment of its critical national infrastructure.

On Monday, Sunak confirmed the further UK provision of hundreds of air defence missiles and further unmanned aerial systems, including hundreds of new long-range attack drones with a range of over 200km.

These will all be delivered over the coming months as Ukraine prepares to intensify its resistance against Russia, Downing Street said. During their meeting today, the Prime Minister will discuss with President Zelenskyy what support Ukraine needs from the international community, both in terms of immediate military equipment and long-term defences, it said in a statement.

Zelenskyy will hold talks with Sunak at his countryside retreat of Chequers, marking the first world leader the British Prime Minister has hosted at the residence.

The visit this week follows Zelenskyys visit to the UK in February, which was only the second time the leader had left Ukraine since Putins full-scale invasion in February 2022.

According to the UK government, Britain has provided GBP 2.3 billion worth of military support to Ukraine in 2022 more than any country other than the US.

With inputs from agencies

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New Delhi: US fighter jets intercepted six Russian aircraft operating in international airspace near Alaska, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said on Sunday.

However, NORAD said that the interception is a routine exercise and happens roughly six or seven times a year in the so-called Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone.

The Russian planes included TU-95 bombers, IL-78 tankers and SU-35 fighter jets, said a Reuters report citing a statement from NORAD.

This Russian activity in the North American ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat, the statement said, adding that NORAD tracks and positively identifies all military aircraft that enter the ADIZ, routinely monitors aircraft movements and as necessary escorts them from the ADIZ.

According to the statemen, the US aircraft involved in the incident included F-16 and F-22 fighter jets, KC-135 stratotankers and E-3 AWACS.

With inputs from agencies

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The US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti said on Monday that India and US share a relationship that is based on a common desire to have stronger economies and a peaceful Indo-Pacific region.

Garcetti added that the two countries have stood together in the face of challenges. Both India and US will strengthen defence ties and work to develop things together in sectors like space and technology, he said.

We want to see stability in the neighbourhoodthats important for India. But we also want to stand for the values that I think the Indo-Pacific region is strengthened by  freedom of movement and commerce, making sure we have a rule of law and people play by the same rules, he said.

Commenting on how electronic modes of payments helped empower Indian people from the bottom up, Garcetti said, We want to see technology as a positive thing in peoples lives.

We dont see technology as being used against people from the top down. I think there is a contrast where India and the US stand with other countries. But it is never about a third country. It is about us, and I would continue to emphasise this, he added.

On the question of visa

When asked about the status of the backlog of visas for Indian students, Garcetti assured that efforts are being made to reduce wait time and that the US Embassy will be able to process them and get to even higher numbers than last year.

He said, My goal as an ambassador is to think of five years and 20 years from now. The president of the United States is very focussed on this too. He told me he wants us to focus on reducing visa wait times for not just students but for first-time visitors and others.

He added how the wait time for visas has been brought down by 60 per cent from where they were in December.

Indian students are so great for America. They are great for our universities, they are great for our commerce. Look at the number of Indian-born CEOs of great companies based in America. It is good for the American economy, its great for the Indian economy, and its just good for civilisation too, he said.

Garcettis connection with India

Garcetti recalled how he has been connected to India for a long time. His first visit to the country was when he was 14 years old. Subsequently, he started studying the teachings and writings of Mahatma Gandhi and saw its potential to not only transform the world but to inspire and touch our hearts as a university student.

And today, while so much has changed since I was 19 years old, one thing that has not changed is the sense of connection I feel, not only to this place now and to the man who lived here with his family but to the aspirations of the Indian people and the universal aspirations of all of us to live freely and to recognise the work of every human being, he said.

He said this is an amazing moment in the US and India relations, a moment in which the two countries need to raise their ambitions.

It doesnt matter where you come from, it does not matter who your parents are, it does not matter what religion you practice, it does not matter what language you speakall that matters is the dreams in your hearts and working hard to achieve them. And those dreams of India are being realised every single day, he said.

He also explained how trade between the two countries has grown since he first came to India.

Today, it is over 100 billion dollars and it (US) is the number one trading partner with India. Back then, there were no defence cells, zero dollars, and now we are an important part of a mutual strategy to keep our people safe and protect the Indo-Pacific region together.

With inputs from agencies

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The internet is a place where youll find all sorts of weird and bizarre stuff from all over the world. People are often seen carrying out strange antics in videos, that often go viral and easily catch everyones attention. One such video has come up from Canadas Toronto, where a man was seen using a snake as a weapon to attack another man during a street fight. According to media reports, the incident took place last week in the Dundas Street West and Manning Avenue area where two men were seen fighting off against each other. A video of their fight also went viral on social media.

Shared on Twitter by a page named Crazy Clips, the video shows the duo fighting off each other in the middle of the road. As their fight escalated, one of them started swinging a snake to attack the other person, who continued defending himself. Shortly after that, a police vehicle can be spotted pulling over as officers intervened and made the men lie down on the street. The snake on the other hand can be seen slithering away.

Watch:

Dude uses his pet snake as a weapon during street fight in Toronto, the caption of the video read. The Toronto Police also released a statement informing that they received a call about a man who was reportedly threatening people with a python snake.

There was a physical altercation and the man used the python to attack the victim, the statement added.

As per the report, the accused has been identified as 45-year-old Laurenio Avila. He has been charged with assault with a weapon and causing unnecessary pain or suffering to an animal and currently remains in custody.

Reactions to the video

As soon as the video was shared, social media users took to the comment section and criticised the act. Many also called out the man for abusing the snake.

A user wrote, Every man that tells you that he wouldnt hurt an animal, does this, while another one wrote, I am not a fan of snakes but I feel bad for it. Hopefully it was ok. Also, why was he just walking around with a snake?

Animal abuse. I feel sick about people that keep snakes and birds as pets. Its sickening, and this man needs to be prosecuted for abuse of that snake. I hate people, a user commented.

The video has so far amassed over 14 million views along with thousands of likes and comments.

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Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin offered to reveal the position of Russian troops to the Ukranian government, according to a Washington Post report, citing leaked US intelligence documents.

Wagners soldiers have been at the forefront of a bloody Russian offensive to take the city of Bakhmut.

According to the report, Prigozhin said that if Ukraines commanders withdrew their soldiers from the area around Bakhmut, he would give Kyiv information on Russian troop positions, which Ukraine could use to attack them.

Prigozhin conveyed the proposal to his contacts in Ukraines military intelligence directorate, with whom he has maintained secret communications during the course of the war, according to previously unreported US intelligence documents leaked on the group-chat platform Discord.

The paper said Ukraine rejected the offer.

Prigozhin has publicly feuded with Russian military commanders, who he furiously claims have failed to equip and resupply his forces, which have provided vital support to Moscows war effort.

But he is also an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who might well regard Prigozhins offer to trade the lives of Wagner fighters for Russian soldiers as a treasonous betrayal.

The leaked document does not make clear which Russian troop positions Prigozhin offered to disclose.

Two Ukrainian officials confirmed that Prigozhin has spoken several times to the Ukrainian intelligence directorate, known as HUR.

Threatening to withdraw mercenaries

Prigozhin has publicly threatened to withdraw his mercenaries from the area around Bakhmut, where they are at the vanguard of the Russian offensive, unless they receive much-needed ammunition.

He said Tuesday in an audio message that he and his men would be regarded as traitors if they abandoned the area.

The Post reported Prigozhins offer came through his contacts with Ukraines intelligence service.

The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the offer.

With inputs from agencies

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The members of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), a key government ally, on Monday stormed the Supreme Court of Pakistan with the police allegedly acting as a mute spectator, according to reports.

Protesters stormed the apex court for allegedly providing blanket relief to former prime minister Imran Khan in a number of cases.

Many protesters, including workers and supporters of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), made an entrance into the Red Zone despite Section 144 still in effect in the federal capital, Dawn News reported.

Taking to Twitter, Hammad Azhar, Secretary General Central Punjab, slammed the police for allowing the goons attack the highest seat of judiciary.

A religious militia that is also a govt alliance party has attacked the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The police stood by and allowed the seminary students to climb the gates of the Supreme Court. There are strong clues that the arson and rioting in the aftermath of Imran Khans arrest was also perpetrated by individuals that were planted in the peaceful crowd in civilian attire. This was followed by straight shooting at the protestors leading to dozens of deaths, he wrote along with posting the video of the attack.

A religious militia that is also a govt alliance party has attacked the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The police stood by and allowed the seminary students to climb the gates of the Supreme Court.

There are strong clues that the arson and rioting in the aftermath of Imran Khans pic.twitter.com/ahIgWBpVVV  Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) May 15, 2023

In another Twitter post, Jehanzeb Paracha, a member of PTI, accused the government of fully aiding these goons.

World must see! Organised goons of a religious extremist party have entered Red Zone in Islamabad to attack the Supreme Court of Pakistan, to pressurise the judges, so they issue decision against the constitution and will of the people of Pakistan, he wrote, adding that government, police and military establishment are fully aiding these goons and have disappeared from security check posts.

World must see!

Organised goons of a religious extremist party have entered Red Zone in Islamabad to attack the Supreme Court of Pakistan, to pressurise the judges, so they issue decision against the constitution and will of the people of Pakistan. Government, Police and pic.twitter.com/QgtvVqG1Ms  Jehanzeb Paracha (@JehanzebParacha) May 15, 2023

This is what they wanted. An attack on Supreme Court by PDM and the police stands there as a silent spectator, PTI said on its official Twitter handle on Monday.

The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), headed by Maulana Fazlur Rehman and including about a dozen parties, had on 12 May announced to hold a protest rally outside the apex courts building against its alleged partiality towards 70-year-old former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan who was set free by it after arrest in a corruption case.

The protest by the largest coalition partner of the government comes as the authorities imposed a ban on political gatherings in the federal capital and also the military had been deployed to control any violence.

The protest in in Islamabads Red Zone would raise serious questions about government policy of stopping rivals like Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf from political activity in the capital and looking the other way when its own partners bring protesters.

The protest comes as a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, is set to hear a petition by the Election Commission of Pakistan to review the order of 4 April to hold elections in Punjab on 14 May.

The deadline has been missed and the chief justice already indicated that the law would take its course. There is fear that the court may launch contempt proceedings against the prime minister and other officials for failing to implement its orders.

With inputs from agencies

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Elon Musk recently confirmed that Linda Yaccarino, an ad executive from NBCUniversal, and one fo the industrys best will assume the role of CEO at Twitter. Furthermore, Musk expressed his excitement about transforming the company into an all-encompassing app called X, a concept he has cherished for a long time.

Also read: Change In Command: Elon Musk to step down as Twitter CEO, NBC Exec Linda Yaccarino to take over

Musk tweeted about his anticipation of working with Linda to make this platform into X, which he envisions as an app that encompasses everything. However, there are questions about the extent of Xs capabilities and the rationale behind choosing the name X.

Linda, on the other hand, is expected to bring advertisers back to Twitter, given how Twitter Blue isnt generating even half of the revenue that Musk had hoped it would. So how will Twitter transform under the new CEO and what will happen to Musks ambition with X?

Musks fascination with an everything app

Musks fascination with the potential of X.com dates back to the late 1990s when he, along with co-founder Greg Kouri, launched the website as an online banking startup. Kouri, a real estate developer and a friend of Musks parents, joined him in this venture.

However, Musk lost control of X.com when it merged with its fierce rival Confinity in 2000, resulting in the creation of PayPal and Musks subsequent financial success. In July 2017, Musk bought the X.com domain back from PayPal, stating that it held significant sentimental value for him.

Musk also recognizes the immense financial value in X, as he believes the symbolic significance of the versatile mathematical variable will assist him in creating the ultimate app that caters to all aspects of human interaction.

A payment platform

During the All-in Summit last year, Musk admired Tencents WeChat, an enormous social media app in China that encompasses messaging, video chatting, video games, photo sharing, ride services, food delivery, banking, and shopping.

Musk remarked that if youre in China, WeChat becomes an integral part of your daily life. He described it as a comprehensive platform that combines the functionalities of Twitter, PayPal, and numerous other services into a single app with a user-friendly interface. Musk acknowledged WeChat as an exceptional app and the need for a similar offering outside of China.

Considering Twitters recent expansions into payment features, it is evident that Musks vision for X.com aims to create an American counterpart to WeChat, providing a comparable array of internet services and features.

Taking on WhatsApp  First DMs, then voice and video calls

In a recent tweet, Musk announced that Twitter is actively developing new features that will allow users to engage in voice and video chats using their Twitter handles. Musk emphasized that this development would enable individuals to communicate with people worldwide without the need to share their phone numbers.

Also read: Elon Musk planning to replace unreliable WhatsApp with Twitter 2.0

This move by Twitter could potentially enhance its competitiveness against Meta, a major social media competitor. Meta currently offers video chat services through platforms like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, catering to its vast user base of billions of people around the world.

Musk also went on attack WhatsApp, saying that the Meta-owned messaging app cant be trusted when a Twitter engineer pointed out that the app would often listen in on him, even when the device it was installed on, was not being used. Musk clearly, is gunning for the position that WhatsApp holds globally as an IM, video call and voice call service provider

Possibly a dating and even a hiring portal?

Musk has responded to his fans suggestions of incorporating dating app features into Twitter, which was proposed by YouTuber Steven Mark Ryan as a potential solution to Musks concerns about declining birthrates. While it is unclear whether Musk was being serious or not, he entertained the idea. He responded by tweeting, Interesting and also suggested the possibility of including job-related features as well.

Also read: Elon Musk Turns Cupid? Users call on Musk to make a Twitter dating app that uses AI to make matches

Musks response indicates that he is open to exploring new ideas and expanding the functionalities of Twitter beyond its current scope. However, it remains to be seen whether these suggestions will be implemented as actual features on the platform.

Newsletters, podcasts and broadcasting  A new media destination

Under Musks leadership, Twitter has made attempts to enter the paid newsletter market, directly competing with Substack, the market leader. Twitter has introduced payment and subscription services, aiming to attract aspiring content creators to its platform.

However, Musk has larger ambitions for Twitter beyond being just a microblogging platform for discussing media happening elsewhere. He envisions transforming Twitter into a media destination in its own right.

While Musk has publicly denied striking a deal for former Fox News host Tucker Carlson to bring his show to Twitter, it is evident that he has been encouraging media personalities to join the platform independently, relying on their own funding and initiative. Musk even reached out to Don Lemon, a former CNN host who was ousted, suggesting that he consider bringing his show to Twitter, highlighting the platforms significantly larger audience as a potential benefit.

Undoubtedly, aiming to deliver everything is an incredibly ambitious and challenging goal. To succeed, X would need to outperform established competitors in various sectors, including mature markets like dating apps.

While sentimental value holds significance, X.com must transcend being solely a passion project if it is to thrive once again. It will require a strategic approach, innovative solutions, and a comprehensive understanding of market dynamics to effectively position X as a dominant player in the industry. Merely relying on emotional attachment may not be sufficient for X.com to regain its prominence.

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Teslas plans to dominate the Chinese market has hit a major trouble. Chinese regulators have announced a recall of nearly every Tesla vehicle ever sold in China due to a potentially hazardous braking and accelerating defect.

The recall includes a total of 1.1 million Tesla vehicles, including the Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y, out of the approximately 1.13 million cars that Tesla has sold in China since its entry into the market in 2014.

The reason behind the recall

Chinese regulators have highlighted that without enhanced control over Teslas regenerative braking system, which harnesses excess energy when the driver releases the accelerator, unintended acceleration may occur.

Also read: China is leading global EV race says International Energy Agency, has highest number of EV adopters

The recall in China adds to the challenges that Tesla has been facing in the Asian market. The company experienced difficulties following significant price reductions earlier this year, leading to protests from some Tesla owners in China who felt they missed out on the discounts.

How Tesla plans to resolve the issue

To address the issue, Tesla intends to resolve the problem through an over-the-air software update. This update will provide drivers with more control over the intensity of the regenerative braking system, which lies at the core of the recall.

Also read: Tesla recalls 3,470 newly made and recently delivered Model Y EVs, forgot to tighten bolts correctly

In case an OTA doesnt work, Tesla will have to ask users to visit their nearest Tesla service centre, and possibly get their ECUs tweaked.

The recall will have a major impact on Tesla and how the brands EVs are perceived in China because of the scale of the recall. The EV market in China is very competitive, with no clear dominant player. Most EV makers offer massive discounts in order to capture a portion of the EV market.

Tesla plagued with recalls

Teslas recent recall in China is not the first major recall the company has faced this year. In February, Tesla issued a recall in the United States for over 360,000 vehicles equipped with its Full Self-Driving software. The company began addressing the issue by providing an over-the-air fix starting in March.

Also read: US opens investigation into Tesla seat belts coming loose

These recalls in both the US and China signify that Tesla is maturing into a conventional car company. Safety recalls are a common occurrence for large automotive brands, especially when they produce millions of vehicles annually.

In an effort to boost sales volumes, Elon Musk has employed tactics similar to those used by traditional automakers. This includes implementing heavy discounts and the offer to pay to registration charges for customers and offering incentives like free Supercharger miles.

Also read: Tesla wreaks havoc in Chinas EV market with new price war, gives 50% discount on all cars

Musk has emphasized the importance of 2023 for Tesla, as the company aims to transition from being a niche brand for early adopters to a mass producer of vehicles. He stated to investors that Tesla plans to double its output in 2023, with a goal of manufacturing 2 million vehicles.

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Xiaomi India has announced its partnership with United Way India, a leading global philanthropy network, to empower five villages in the Palghar district of Maharashtra by providing them with effortless access to sustainable energy.

The initiative aims to provide clean and renewable energy through Solar Photovoltaic (Solar PV) infrastructure. The project will provide a consistent and reliable electricity supply and enhance the quality of life for villagers.

The project will also help to reduce carbon emissions and keep the environment clean. In addition, it will help to uplift the rural communities and create opportunities for growth.

Furthermore, the solar infrastructure will become the platform for livelihood activities and income generation, enabling solar-powered cold storage, solar-powered tailoring, and other income-generating activities.

Were proud to announce our new CSR initiative with @unitedwayindia, to implement solar electrification project in Palghar district of Maharashtra. This will ensure effortless access to sustainable energy & reduce carbon footprint to make a positive impact on the environment. pic.twitter.com/ofvsuZMb7f  Xiaomi India (@XiaomiIndia) May 15, 2023

Commenting on the partnership, Muralikrishnan B, President at Xiaomi India said:

At Xiaomi, we strive to create a brighter future for all, and were proud to join hands with United Way India to turn that belief into a reality. Our solar electrification project is a step towards promoting green energy that is not only sustainable, but also significantly reduces the impact on the environment. Besides, our latest initiative will empower rural communities and create opportunities for growth. Through this partnership, were committed to promoting sustainable solutions that benefit both society and the environment, and ultimately, to eradicate energy poverty in Palghar District.

Commenting on the collaboration, Jayanti Shukla, CEO, United Way India said:

Transformation of rural India by lighting up villages with solar power will not just impact homes, education, health, social security, and livelihood opportunities but also empower villagers to make this change sustainable to become self-sufficient. This is a perfect opportunity to give back to our community. We are delighted that Xiaomi is supporting us in this journey towards a self-reliant India with these interventions that work around our integrated community impact model and not just help to offset carbon emissions and keep the environment clean but also help in upliftment of the rural communities.
The Indian government is set to launch a new mobile tracking system on May 17, 2023, which will allow individuals to block and track their lost or stolen mobile phones throughout the country.

This initiative is aimed at enhancing the security and safety of mobile phone users, and will be implemented on a pan-India basis. A senior government official has confirmed the upcoming launch of this tracking system.

Technology Development Body Prepares for Nationwide Deployment

The Centre for Department of Telematics (CDoT), responsible for technology advancements, has successfully conducted a pilot program for the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) system in several telecom circles across India, including Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and the North East region.

As per an anonymous official from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the CEIR system is now ready for a pan-India deployment, scheduled for May 17, 2023.

Empowering Individuals to Block and Track Lost Mobile Phones

The CEIR system, set to launch nationwide, will grant individuals the ability to block and track their lost or stolen mobile phones throughout the country. The Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Project Board at CDoT, Rajkumar Upadhyay, confirmed the readiness of the technology for pan-India deployment. This significant step aims to enhance mobile phone users security and safety.

Strengthening Security Measures

CDoT has introduced additional features to counter the use of cloned mobile phones across all telecom networks. To curb unauthorized usage, the government has mandated the disclosure of the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, a unique 15-digit numeric identifier, before the sale of mobile devices in India.

Mobile network providers will have access to a list of approved IMEI numbers, allowing them to prevent the entry of unauthorized devices into their networks.

Collaboration for Effective Tracking

Telecom operators, in collaboration with the CEIR system, will possess visibility into the IMEI numbers and associated mobile numbers, enabling tracking of lost or stolen mobile phones in certain states through the CEIR system.

The introduction of CEIR serves multiple purposes, including streamlining the reporting of lost and stolen mobiles, deterring mobile phone theft, facilitating police investigations, detecting counterfeit or cloned devices, restricting the use of such devices, and safeguarding consumer interests by providing information about fake and cloned mobile phones.

Successful Results: Over 2,500 Mobile Phones Recovered

The efficacy of the CEIR system has been demonstrated recently by the Karnataka Police, who successfully recovered and returned over 2,500 lost mobile phones to their rightful owners. This accomplishment showcases the systems potential in combating mobile phone theft and fostering the return of stolen devices.

Equalizing Tracking Capabilities Across Platforms

While Apple already offers a system to track lost mobile phones through Apple ID, similar capabilities have been lacking for Android mobile phones. With the nationwide deployment of the CEIR system, the use of stolen mobile phones will become futile, effectively curbing theft and fraud.

By implementing this comprehensive mobile tracking system, the Indian government aims to enhance security measures, protect consumers, and discourage mobile phone theft.

According to Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Project Board at CDoT Rajkumar Upadhyay, said:

It is a common tactic for wrongdoers to alter the IMEI numbers of stolen mobile phones, thereby impeding their tracking and blocking. This presents a significant national security concern. The CEIR addresses this issue by leveraging multiple databases to block any cloned mobile devices on the network. Moreover, the system includes an in-built mechanism to identify instances of phone smuggling, which will aid the government in preventing revenue loss to the exchequer.

Source
by Eric Bies

I think of Pearl S. Buck and end up thinking of William F. Buckley. I think of The Good Earthof hovels unworthy of Frankensteins monster and a palace sacked in smoke, its shriveled matriarch glued to an opium pipeand end up thinking of Firing Line. Clicking over to YouTube, typing, hitting enter, clicking, watching: after the FBI Warning about unauthorized reproduction and so forth, past the Hoover Institutions little slide about same, through the twittery culture-conferring bit of Bach as theme, this is number 267, an interview with Jorge Luis Borges. I giggle a little as South Americas Titan, gazing literally blindly out past everyone in attendance that day in Buenos Aires, clips and interrupts Buckleys stately introduction, an introduction that begins with Buckley reading off words about Borges, by Borges.

Buckley: About himself he said recently, As for a message, well, I have no message. Some things

Borges: Thats right, theres no message whatever.

Buckley [places a hand on Borges arm]: Some things simply occur to me and I write them down with no aim to hurt anyone or to convert anyone. This is all I can say. I make this public confession of my poverty before everybody

Borges: Yes.

Buckley: Besides, had I not done so, you would have known

Borges: But I think you may know.

Buckley: you would have known it was true, yes thats what I said.

Borges: Yes.

Buckley: Im just going to finish this introduction, and then well exchange

Borges: Thats right, yes, thats right.

Buckley: Uh, about him others

Borges: [inarticulate]

Buckley: About him others have written that he is the greatest living writer. Still others, that he has influenced the literature of the world more than anyone alive. Jorges Luis Borges lives here in Buenos Aires, although he has traveled extensively, especially in the United States, and taught most recently at Harvard for a year. He is blind, since the late fifties. He does not mind it, he says [Buckleys brows go up], because now he can live his dreams with less distraction

Me: CLICK.

Video paused, I get up from my desk, traverse the kitchenette, use the toilet, and refill my glass with water from the tap. My apartment isnt bugged or anything, but if it were, say, with a dozen little cameras, or even if the little man in my phone were to tune in for a peep to help pass the afternoon, dangling his eye from the eye of my phone which I carry from point to point before returning to my desknothing would appear awry. On the surface, I, the walls, even the water in this glass remain totally unperturbed. But, for seventy seconds or so, those last few pre-pause words, far from the conclusion of Buckleys introduction, have been shimmering brightly inside of me.

Sitting here, staring at screen, lips a totally unperturbed line, I think a bit scatteredly: blind now live dreams less distraction. And of course my mind runs to those people, what was the term? I click open a new tab, google body dysmorphia where people feel they should be disabled, and there it is: body integrity identity disorder, BIID for short, and recall those alarming articles I read some months backone about a woman who poured acid in her eyes because shed been convinced her whole life she should have been born blindanother about the red tape barring some despairing fellow from parting ways with his limbs, and imagine it: the surgeon, seeing a man in full possession of bodily health, refuses to operate.

I think of whats to come and end up thinking of Warren Elliss Transmetropolitanof digital displays embedded in sidewalk, synthetic super-duper dope and a mainstream market for human flesh. For a long time to be alive has been to experience ones existence as providential, positively bleeding-edge, but we dont know how to feel about now now. At the tip of times spear here in the USAand where else is there?life expectancy continues to reverse its course with a headstart in the race for mediocrity. Young people are drugging themselves and killing themselves at greater rates than ever before. Then theres this timely matter of artificial intelligence. Do we pause or do we not? Is utopia or dystopia waiting for us at the other end of the next great disorderly leap? That leading AI researchers themselves cannot reliably project what will happen next if we do not (pause) does not inspire trust in their enterprise. But how can we (pause) now? And when have we ever? Rhetorical questions, says AI researcher Max Tegmark, who has indicated notable precedent in the field of molecular cloning: remember how Dolly the lamb plopped out of her surrogate mother nearly three decades ago? Though the projects next great disorderly leap has persisted within the scope of our capabilities for some time, we have yet to press the big red button on the machine labeled HUMAN CLONING.

On June 20, 1974, three years before Borges appeared on Firing Line, Roman Polanskis Chinatown opened to hard-boiled moviegoers. I mention such apparently disparate facts for no better reason than the thrill of synchronic noticing: the movie, which has less to do with LAs Chinatown district than a ploy to erect aqueducts, opened the same year that a Chinese farmer, seeking water during a drought, sunk a well and discovered the Terracotta Army.

The details of that Army are well known: at the beginning of his reign, Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, initiated the construction of an unbelievably vast tomb complex. Today, a million or more tourists visit the official Terracotta Museum each year to view a fraction of the thousands of life-size human figures produced by the Emperors artisans, who expertly crafted generals, archers, charioteers, stable boys, light infantry, heavy infantry, civil officials, even acrobats, musicians, and strongmen. They made horses and chariots, and more recent excavations have unearthed sensitively rendered cranes placed beside underground streams.

In an essay from 1950 titled The Wall and the Books, Borges attempts to reconcile two of the Emperors other notable contributions to his time: the construction of the Great Wall and the destruction of all the books that had been written before his time.

The fact that the two vast undertakingsthe construction of five or six hundred leagues of stone to ward off the barbarians, and the rigorous abolition of history, or rather, of the pasthad proceeded from the same person and had come to be regarded as expressions of his character, unaccountably satisfied and, at the same time, disturbed me.

He goes on to demonstrate past and future precedent for such glaring inconsistency, considering, too, that the two acts may have simply occurred at different points in the Emperors career. And so, depending on the order we chose, we should have the image of a king who began by destroying and then resigned himself to conserving; or the image of a disillusioned king who destroyed what he had previously defended.

Borges isnt in the business of arriving at a sweeping conclusion. The joy of his essay derives from its characteristic combination of piercing intelligence, lightly worn erudition, and unpretentious imaginative ambition. Of course, in 1950, the author of The Wall and the Books only held a fragment of the full picture.

And heres the final pause: since Chinese archaeologists broke ground on the first pit of ceramic soldiers, since the discovery of yet more pits and their populations of impressively diverse forms, for more than two millennia, the world has yet to learn whats inside the Emperors mausoleum. The tall, well-formed generals, the armored rank and file, the retinues of entertainers and servantsall of these are understood to stand, as it were, at the gates of what we all must acknowledge to be the Real Deal.

The Real Deal: in comparison to what were privy to, the central tomb, which lies dormant beneath a sprawling earthwork bristling with conifers, must be unimaginably richer in every dimension imaginable: obviously in spaciousness, but also in the cleverness of its design and the range of the artifacts it contains. Maybe, at its exact center, sleeps the mummified Emperor himself!

But why the pause? According to an article in Smithsonian, The emperors mausoleum has not been opened due to preservation concerns and the possibility of booby traps, which, though a tad irksome, sounds sound enough to me.
by Ethan Seavey

On the night that I first told someone else that I was gay, the world was held together with a single phrase which was echoed from speaker to listener and back again. My friend and I were both queer but I was the first one saying it. So for us, it was healing to say and to hear: It doesnt mean anything. I (or you) wont let it define me (or you). We repeated this wish, that someones sexuality could be considered separate from their social identity. I decided to trust that I could be gay, but not this or that kind of gay, just myself. I used the phrase like a prayer and begged that I could exist in a straight-minded Catholic world. It worked for a few months. Then I started to tell more people. Two more friends and then my parents. Siblings and more friends. And finally, everyone. Most everyone was kind and most everyone said it didnt change a thing. But it changed many things. I finally accepted that I was the Queer.

The Queer is a lonely identity. They are raised believing that they are and can be the same as everyone else, but as they grow up, they realize that they are The Queer in a space that is not made for them. They are The Only Queer in a class of three hundred, but they heard theres another Queer in the grade above. They dont speak to one another because they are afraid to be seen associating. They realize that they will never have the lives of their parents.

The Queer must reckon with the close-minded Gods that dominate the globe. They are born into a world that is not made for them and given an identity that defines them forever. This world is ruled by a strong God in the clouds who supports the structure that hurts them. With tall walls He puts each person in a room and investigates them. He studies the outliers; not to know them, but to find out ways to make them fit in.

The Queer finds themself in adulthood knowing that many of their neighbors hate them for being queer, and, as a result, many Gods do the same. A person is hard to fight alone but when they have a God on their side theyre nearly unstoppable. The human has a small sense of dignity and logic that they might appeal to. The God has no logic and very strong laws.

The Queer has been taught that there are many different Gods who exist, and certainly they do not get along, but they agree on one thing and that is hatred of queerness. In essence, a God is placed into the heart of a child it cannot love. As the child grows up, one has to buckle, one has to yield, in a long battle. For this Queer, the winner is the concrete loved person and not the abstract bundle of shapes in the clouds. For other Queers, the shapes win out.

The Queer doesnt know any Queer Gods. They didnt teach that in Catholic school. What they did teach was existentialism. It was by accident and probably by mistake. There was a new English teacher one year and the Queer was in his class. He was young and mousy and cute and he let pretty quotes fall from his mouth. He was vocally accepting of the hidden Queers in his classroom. He critiques the Church; he critiques the school.

One spring month he fed the Queer The Stranger by Albert Camus. He gave them a specific (albeit simplistic) definition which they were to commit to memory: Absurdism is the conflict between the human search for meaning and a meaningless world; but, also, that the human must rebel against this meaninglessness and create meaning for themself.

The Queer had to admit that that sounded pretty good. It was the first time that they were given a weapon to kill a God that does not lead to a blinding nihilistic void. They started calling themself an existentialist when prompted. It happened more than you would think at a Catholic school. What do you believe in, then? can be answered deftly with Nothing, but make it spicy.

In later classes, the Queer read The Outsider twice and LEtranger once. Outside of classes, they re-read their original copy of The Stranger. It is not so much taking more away from the text as it is spending time with that tone. Meursaults hollow voice lingers and lags as you read. He pulls you into a world where everything irrational makes sense. Somehow the hero of an epic can allow an old man to abuse his dog; and to allow his friend to physically abuse a woman; and to kill a man he defines by his race alone; and then to be executed under heavy external judgement but internally impervious. He receives no dignity in his deathhe steals it for himself.

If the Queer first has the ability to create an entirely new God to believe in who affirms their Queerness, and second, has the power to choose that belief over all logical explanation, why wouldnt they arm themself with a God that makes them powerful?

Why does a God need a hundred humans to make it powerful? Why cant it take one Queer who has been shoved into a mold of button-down shirts and khakis and plaid neckties?

Sartre would call it bad faith (a concept from his Being and Nothingness). Its a problem in existentialism because it denies one of the fundamental ideasof course, that no God exists. The Queer and maybe just this one Queer in particular went through a whole cycle, from loving a God, to defeating that God and the very idea of Gods, to building and loving a new God. Something itches in the Queers brain until they start finding that freshly-made divine love.

The Queers mentor is Judith Butler. Theyre in my ear telling me that gender is much more than our genitals and the clothing on our backs, but our entire social identity:

The human is understood differently depending on its race, the legibility of that race, its morphology, the recognizability of that morphology, its sex, the perceptual verifiability of that sex, its ethnicity, the categorical understanding of that ethnicity. Butler (Undoing Gender, p. 2)

Those factors explain ones social identity and change the perception of their gender. Gender theory must always be intersectional because not all people who identify as the same gender are of the same social status, or share the same ideas about their identity.

The Queer reads Butler in the subway and finds the door to ultimate freedom and expression, in the same spots where confusing gendered experiences left them wordless.

Why was the Queer always the first in the locker room and the first out? Why was there such heavy discomfort?

I think it was because I knew that I was gay and that I worried that other people would know and feel uncomfortable changing around me. But that doesnt explain why I would always stay on the girls side of the gym until the teacher told me to join the boys. That doesnt explain why I was so frozen in a locker room attached to a hot spring in Iceland, where it was required to shower nude in open showers with a handful of men nearby, why it felt like my penis had disappeared in that moment.

My gayness does not explain why I am going to the Bachelorette party and not the Bachelor party. Or my pretty painted nails and cutsie high voice along with my hypermasc Coca-Cola workshirt and white sleeveless wife-lover. Or why I have lived 23 years and can use my ten fingers to list all of the cis men I have felt truly comfortable around, with some pinkies and thumbs left over.

Confidence in my queerness is something new and so emboldening. In New York I walk fast, with determination. Before I would walk as a man, and feel angry all the time, all the time furious. Now I walk as the Queer and find my speed not in anger but genuine confidence and joy. Im proud to show my gender; Im walking with my God.

My Queer God has exactly as much power as I give them. Similarly, my queerness defines me infinitely but only as much as I feed it. As I grow, I became at my most comfortable in my space as a Queer who feels most comfortable in a space of other queer folx. In Queer spaces I am not [(adj.) strange; odd]; I am as queerly pretty as every other person in the barits usually in a bar, or a small apartmentand they look so different and they fumble over names and pronouns and they kiss and smoke and drink.

(Submitted to NYU as a preface to the authors thesis project, a novel-in-progress titled The Queer.)
Once we land in Otara were greeted with lush, green mountain tops adorned with lakes and light clouds hovering above. There are also rivers flowing heartily through the middle of dense, mossy forests. At one point the beautiful icebergs and arctic ponds of Otara are shown on screen.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the World Bank President, Mr David Malpass, to suspend any disbursement of $800m loan to the Federal Government of Nigeria and ask the incoming administration to provide satisfactory explanations before the loan should be disbursed.

However, in a new letter dated 13 May 2023 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization urged Mr Malpass to reopen a discussion on the reportedly approved $800m loan with the incoming administration to clarify the details on the rationale and use of the loan because the term of office of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari ends in May 2023.The letter reads;

Quote

"The World Bank should comply with its own Articles of Agreement in disbursing any loans. The Bank should not sacrifice international standards in the rush to disburse the $800m loan to the government.

Suspending any disbursement of the loan to the government would reduce the risks and vulnerability to corruption and mismanagement.

SERAP is concerned that the government is seeking to spend the loan when it has barely two weeks to leave office and when the project objectives and intended purposes for which the loan is reportedly approved and will be disbursed remain unclear.

The government has not satisfactorily explained or justified the need for the loan at this time, especially given the lack of clarity on its use and the crippling debt burden, and the disproportionately negative impact of these retrogressive measures on poor Nigerians.

The World Bank cannot close its eyes to this important transparency, accountability and human rights issues.

The National Economic Council on April 27 reportedly suspended the planned removal of subsidy on petroleum products by the end of the Buhari administration.

We would consider the option of pursuing legal action should the World Bank refuse to suspend the disbursement of the loan to the Federal Government and to implement the other recommendations contained in this letter, and we may join the government in any such suit.

The crippling debt burden is a human rights issue because when the entire country is burdened by unsustainable debts, there will be little money left to ensure access of poor and vulnerable Nigerians to legally enforceable socio-economic rights.
Resistance retaliates: 1,000+ rockets fired toward occupied territories

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 13, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- The Gaza-based resistance movements have continued to fire barrages of rockets toward the Israeli occupied territories, with the Zionist regime declaring that it has been targeted with 1,099 rockets and mortars as of Tuesday.

According to reports, the Palestinian resistance launched rockets from the northern Gaza Strip toward the illegal Israeli settlements.

The retaliatory strikes, which came hours after Israeli aircraft bombed targets in the coastal strip, set off sirens and sent Zionist settlers in border areas running for bomb shelters.

The Israeli military announced that as of 8 a.m. on Saturday, 1,099 rockets and mortars were launched from the Gaza Strip toward the occupied territories. This is while the occupying regime's missile systems intercepted only 340 of the rockets, as several landed within towns and caused extensive damage.

Saturday marked the fifth consecutive day of relentless Israeli onslaught against the Gaza Strip. Through the air raids, the Zionist regime assassinated several commanders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement.

**7129

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Welcoming Ceasefire Agreement in Israel and Gaza

US Department of State

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

May 13, 2023

The United States welcomes the agreement today for a ceasefire to bring an end to the hostilities in Israel and Gaza. We express our condolences to the families of civilians who were killed and those who were injured in the violence.

The United States commends Egypt's crucial role in mediating the ceasefire agreement, which will prevent the further loss of civilian lives. We also recognize Qatar's robust efforts to de-escalate the situation and end the hostilities, as well as the international community's support for the ceasefire. Our team worked tirelessly in cooperation with our partners to support these efforts.

The United States reaffirms our ironclad commitment to Israel's security, as reflected in our ongoing support for Iron Dome and other Israeli missile defense systems. We will remain engaged with our partners to promote calm in the weeks and months ahead. We also will continue our efforts to improve quality of life for Palestinians and we urge the swift delivery of fuel and other critical supplies into Gaza. The United States believes that Israelis and Palestinians both deserve to live safely and securely and to enjoy equal measures of freedom, prosperity, and democracy.



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Israel/Palestine: Statement by the Spokesperson on the ceasefire in Gaza

European External Action Service (EEAS)

14.05.2023

EEAS Press Team

The European Union welcomes the announced ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which should bring an end to the violence in and around Gaza.

The EU commends Egypt for facilitating the agreement, and the United Nations for its positive role in this context.

The EU deeply deplores the loss of civilian lives over the past days, including children, killed and injured in the Gaza Strip and in Israel. It is now crucial to consolidate the ceasefire and to reopen the crossings to allow especially humanitarian assistance and fuel, as well as workers, to enter and exit Gaza.

The EU stands ready to work with all of its partners to bring relief, assist in achieving calm for both Israelis and Palestinians and restore a political horizon.

The EU reiterates its call for all parties to work towards de-escalation, in line with undertakings made in Aqaba and Sharm El Sheikh.

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Securing borders, people's safety & safeguarding India's unity, integrity & sovereignty is Government's top priority, says Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh in Maharashtra

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

"Talks with Pakistan won't happen if it continues to support terrorism"

Our Armed Forces capable & ready to give befitting reply to anyone who tries to cast an evil eye: RM

Posted On: 14 MAY 2023 9:29PM by PIB Delhi

"Securing borders, safety of the people and safeguarding the unity, integrity & sovereignty of the nation is the Government's top priority," said Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh at an event in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra on May 14, 2023. Shri Rajnath Singh asserted that all efforts are being made by the Government to ensure that the country is protected from all kinds of threats and it moves forward on the path of development at an unprecedented pace.

"Today, Article 370 has been abrogated in Jammu and Kashmir. Effective action has been taken against terrorism, extremism and naxalism. The country is completely safe on both internal and external fronts.After the Uri and Pulwama incident, our Armed Forces gave a strong message through surgical strikes and airstrikes that they are ready to fight and eliminate terrorism within the country or across the border. There are some anti-India forces who are unable to digest our progress & strength. Since they do not have the strength to directly face India, they resort to proxy war like terrorism. Talks with Pakistan can never happen if it continues to be the safe haven for terrorists. We have learnt from revolutionaries such as Chhatrapati Shivajiand Maharana Pratap that a befitting reply will be given to those who tries to cast an evil eye on us. Our Armed Forces are capable and ready to do that," the Raksha Mantri said.

Shri Rajnath Singh shed light on the growth of the country's defence sector, on the back of self-reliance,which is strengthening the Armed Forces and equippingthem with latest weapons/equipment to effectively deal with all kinds of challenges. He listed out a number of steps taken by the Government to promote 'Aatmanirbharta' in defence, including issuance of positive indigenisation lists. He added that India is not only manufacturing defence equipment to cater to its own requirements, but is also fulfilling the security needs of friendly countries. "Our defence exports have skyrocketed in recent years. Seven-eight years ago, it was less than Rs 1,000 crore. Today, it has touched a record Rs 16,000 crore in Financial Year 2022-23," he said.

The Raksha Mantri stated that all sectors, including defence, have contributed in strengthening the country's economy and India has become the fifth largest economy in the world. He exuded confidence that India will be counted among the top three economies of the world by 2027. He emphasised that the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi wants to build a strong, prosperous, self-reliant 'New India' which taken pride in its cultural heritage & values while making its own identity in the whole world.

Stating that 'erasing all traces of servitude' & 'taking pride in our legacy' are among the five pledges listed out by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address last year for India to realise its dreams by 2047, the Raksha Mantri called upon the people to understand the country's cultural heritage and the heroes, like Chhatrapati Shivaji, Chhatrapati Sambhaji & Maharana Pratap, who made an unparalleled contribution for the motherland. He added that the country, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, is witnessing a cultural revival and moving towards a culturally safe environment.

*****

ABB/Savvy



(Release ID: 1924092)

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Hamas chief hails Iran, Hezbollah's support for resistance during Israeli onslaught on Gaza

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 14 May 2023 2:27 PM

Head of the political bureau of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has hailed Iran's support for the resistance in Palestine, during Israel's relentless onslaught against the besieged Gaza Strip.

In a statement on Sunday, Ismail Haniyeh appreciated the Joint Operations Room of the Palestinian Resistance Factions for taking control of the situation in Gaza and preventing the Israeli regime from achieving its goals, Lebanon's Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network reported.

He went on to say that the resistance fighters through the Joint Operations Room, took the initiative and carried out the "Revenge of the Free" operation, displaying their capabilities and resilience.

"The steadfastness of resistance fighters thwarted the enemy's attempt to impose new equations, whether by singling out the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement, or driving a wedge between the resistance groups," he said.

He added that the unity of resistance groups was one of the most important factors in thwarting the enemy's plans, defending the Palestinian people, implementing appropriate field tactics, and striking the occupied territories with retaliatory rocket attacks.

The Hamas official further mourned the righteous martyrs, stressing that their blood was not shed in vain and that the resistance will continue.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Haniyeh appreciated the support extended by the Islamic Republic of Iran as well as Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement to the Palestinian resistance.

He also thanked Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations for their efforts to broker a ceasefire.

Earlier in the day, Ziyad al-Nakhalah, the secretary general of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement, extended his sincere gratitude to all those that stood by the group, "particularly Iran, Hezbollah as well as brethren in Egypt and Qatar", during the latest Israeli onslaught on Gaza.

He also thanked all walks of Palestinian society who stood with their compatriots in the besieged Gaza Strip, stressing that they firmly supported Palestinians even though they were undergoing a great deal of suffering.

The Israeli regime has been continuously bombarding Gaza since May 9, assassinating several resistance commanders.

In response, Palestinian resistance factions have launched retaliatory strikes toward Israeli cities and settlements.

On Saturday, Palestinian resistance groups said a ceasefire agreement was reached with Israel to end five days of the regime's ruthless onslaught on the coastal strip.

At least 33 Palestinians, including 13 civilians, were killed and 147 others wounded in the latest round of Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip, according to Gaza's health ministry.

The conflict marked the worst episode of fighting between Gaza's resistance factions and the Israeli regime since a 10-day war in 2021.

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Vote counting underway in Thailand as pro-democracy opposition set to win big

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 14 May 2023 10:48 AM

Polls closed in Thailand's general election with pro-democracy opposition parties tipped to defeat the conservative military-backed government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha.

Polling stations closed at 5:00 pm (1000 GMT) after a smooth day of voting at the 95,000 polling stations across the country set up for the about 52 million eligible voters to cast their ballots to elect 500 members of the lower House of Parliament.

Sunday's turnout is expected to be huge, delivering big gains to opposition forces, according to the opinion surveys.

Voters are choosing between the opposition -- led by Pita Limjaroenrat's Move Forward Party alongside Pheu [For] Thai Party led by the daughter of billionaire former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, -- and the incumbent Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the army general who led the last coup in 2014, and is now seeking another term in office.

The Election Commission projects a turnout of over 80 percent, with unofficial results expected around 10 p.m. (1500 GMT), according to Chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong.

Opinion polls indicate the opposition Pheu Thai and Move Forward parties will gain the most seats but with no guarantee either will govern because of parliamentary rules written by the military after its 2014 coup and skewed in its favor.

Move Forward is banking on young people, including 3.3 million eligible first-time voters, to back its plans to dismantle monopolies, weaken the military's political role, and amend a strict law against insulting the monarchy that critics say is used to stifle dissent.

"Hopefully, the entire country will respect the results and the will of the people," Pita said after voting.

"People need change," Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 36, said after casting her vote, expressing "high hopes" for a landslide victory.

In 2006 the military toppled Paetongtarn's father, Thaksin, who fled into exile in London and Dubai. Thaksin's sister, Yingluck, suffered the same fate as her brother eight years later. Now Thaksin's daughter has taken up the mantle.

"May 14 will be a historic day. We will change from a dictatorship to a democratically elected government," Paetongtarn told crowds on Friday at Pheu Thai's final rally.

The populist approach of Pheu Thai and its predecessors has been so successful that rival forces that once derided it as vote-buying - military-backed Palang Pracharat and Prayuth's United Thai Nation - now offer strikingly similar policies.

Prayuth has campaigned on continuity, hoping to woo conservative middle-class voters tired of street protests and political upheaval.

Some analysts argue the fight for power in Thailand is more than a grudge match between the polarizing Shinawatra clan and its influential rivals, with signs of a generational shift and hankering for a more progressive government.

Ben Kiatkwankul, partner at government affairs advisory Maverick Consulting Group, said "the election is a test of the conservative roots and the future of progressiveness."

"The issue is bigger than whether people like or dislike Thaksin or Prayuth. Now it's the old system facing off against the liberalist wave."

"I hope the party I voted for can make things happen as they promised when they campaigned," said business owner Nicharee Tangnoi, 29, declining to say which party she supported. The current government "has done their best and I hope the next government can do as they promise."

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Palestinian resistance groups: We upended Israeli regime's calculations

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 14 May 2023 7:37 AM

The Joint Operations Room of the Palestinian Resistance Factions says the retaliatory rocket attacks and steadfastness of resistance fighters upset the Israeli regime's calculations during the latest aggression on the besieged Gaza Strip.

"The new round of fighting with the occupying Israeli regime further strengthened the resistance front. The Zionist enemy mistakenly believed that the time was ripe for assassination of Palestinian resistance leaders, but it was a grave miscalculation," it said in a statement on Saturday evening.

The umbrella group said that Israeli military officials had planned to wrap up the latest onslaught on the Gaza Strip in a very short span of time, but were stunned by the scope of resistance fighters' preparedness and rapid response to air raids.

The Joint Operations Room of the Palestinian Resistance Factions warned Israel against employment of the policy of targeted killings, adding that resistance fighters have their fingers on the trigger and will not hesitate to respond in case the Tel Aviv regime resorts to carrying out assassinations.

The Palestinian resistance factions also paid homage to those killed in the latest Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, saying that the fallen resistance fighters confronted the Zionist enemy's calculations and hostile strategies.

Islamic Jihad chief thanks Iran, Hezbollah

Ziyad al-Nakhalah, the secretary general of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement, has extended his sincere gratitude to anyone that stood by the group, "particularly Iran, Hezbollah as well as brethren in Egypt and Qatar", during the latest Israeli onslaught on Gaza.

He told Lebanon's Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network that Palestinians can never be defeated as they are resilient and their leaders rise up as martyrs.

Nakhalah said Israel wanted to drown Palestinians in their own blood, and drive them to despair and humiliation, but fighters from the al-Quds Brigades - the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad movement - thwarted the enemy's plots.

"Once they (Israelis) launched this aggression and escalated it, all cities in the occupied territories were defined by al-Quds Brigades members and fighters from other Palestinian resistance groups as legitimate targets," the Islamic Jihad chief said.

He also thanked all walks of the Palestinian society who stood with their compatriots in the besieged Gaza Strip, stressing that they firmly supported Palestinians even though they were undergoing a great deal of suffering.

"We will finish our battle with our weapons drawn. Our fighters are highly alert on the battlefield and ready to confront any act of aggression," Nakhalah added.

Meanwhile, Israel's so-called national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called on the administration to approve a military operation against Palestinian resistance leaders in the occupied West Bank.

Speaking at a meeting with members of his far-right Jewish Power party, Ben-Gvir emphasized that the Tel Aviv regime should employ the policy of targeted killing in the West Bank as it did in the impoverished Gaza Strip.

Palestinian officials say Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group in Gaza have agreed to a truce that officially went into effect at 10 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) on Saturday.

Egypt, which brokered the ceasefire, called on all sides to adhere to the agreement.

"In the light of the agreement of the Palestinian and the Israeli side, Egypt announces a ceasefire between the Palestinian and the Israeli side has been reached," read a text of the agreement seen by Reuters news agency.

"The two sides will abide by the ceasefire which will include an end to targeting civilians, house demolition, an end to targeting individuals immediately when the ceasefire goes into effect," it said.

At least 33 Palestinians, including 13 civilians, were killed and 147 others wounded in the latest round of Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip, according to Gaza's health ministry.

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Bosnian Serbs Chase Closer Ties With Beijing Amid Western Pressure, Looming Debt

By Goran Katic, Milorad Milojevic May 14, 2023

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Herzegovina -- Faced with growing economic pressure over looming debt payments and a lack of foreign investment, Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik is seeking a financial lifeline from China.

His administration in Republika Srpska -- Bosnia-Herzegovina's predominantly Serbian entity -- has recently inked new construction deals with Chinese companies, forged closer links between Dodik's ruling Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) party and China, and in April sent Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic to Beijing to meet with local companies and court investment.

"We are too small to be able to influence the development of any world policies and events, but at this moment we are looking for friends and partners who can help in commercial, economic, financial, and any other area," Bosko Jugovic, the mayor of Pale in Republika Srpska, told RFE/RL's Balkan Service after being part of a SNSD delegation that welcomed visiting Chinese trade officials to Sarajevo in late April.

Analysts say the warming ties between Republika Srpska and China -- which were formalized through a cooperation agreement in 2016 -- are part of a wider political play by Dodik as he grapples with a struggling financial outlook and deteriorating relations with the West over his calls for the Serbian entity to secede from Bosnia and eventually form a union with neighboring Serbia.

In particular, Dodik is hoping to borrow from Chinese financial institutions and get China to accept bonds leveraged by Republika Srpska so that it can meet a series of debt payments to Western lenders that start coming due this summer.

Dodik said in late March that Chinese institutions had agreed to accept the bonds as financial guarantees that they will be repaid for any loans, but many economic analysts are still unsure about the Bosnian Serb leader's plan, which they say lacks bargaining power and could lead to unfavorable terms.

"Securing a loan from China is one thing, but the question is under what conditions," Velizar Antic, an independent political analyst from Banja Luka, told RFE/RL. "It's about when and how those loans will be repaid [and] what happens if Republika Srpska can't repay them."

Balancing Finance And Politics

Once a favorite of the West, Dodik -- who has been a key figure in Bosnian politics for 30 years -- is no stranger to playing his warm ties with Beijing and Moscow off Europe and the United States.

When he was elected president of Republika Srpska in 2022 after finishing his tenure as the Serbian representative of Bosnia's tripartite presidency, he vowed to forge ahead with his close relations with the Kremlin and said that any sanctions or cuts to European Union funding would only force him to take up offers of investment from China.

The nationalist politician appears to have made good on that pledge, announcing recently that he plans to visit Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on May 23 despite international condemnation over Russia's unprovoked, full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Western calls to isolate the Kremlin.

"When I go to Putin there are no requests. He just says, 'What is it I can help with?' Whatever I discussed with him, I've never been cheated on it. I don't know what else to base trust upon, if not that," Dodik told The Guardian newspaper in 2021. "With [Chinese leader] Xi Jinping, he also says, 'if there is anything I can help with, I am there.'"

How this will translate into Dodik's current efforts to meet Republika Srpska's looming debt payments remains to be seen.

Republika Srpska's Finance Ministry did not respond to RFE/RL's requests for comment about its debt payments and potential Chinese loans.

Looking ahead, a 200 million-euro ($217 million) installment for bonds sold on the Vienna Stock Exchange five years ago is due in June and the Republika Srpska -- which has a population of 1.3 million people -- will need to repay more than 500 million euros ($544 million) that it borrowed from various financial institutions by the end of 2023.

According to Bosnia's Finance and Treasury Ministry, the external debt of Republika Srpska currently exceeds 2.1 billion euros ($2.29 billion).

During his trip to Beijing in April, Viskovic reportedly held talks with three Chinese lending institutions. The outcome of those talks is unknown, but Republika Srpska said that Chinese representatives would continue negotiations in Banja Luka, the entity's de facto capital.

Several commentators have noted that the lack of specifics about ongoing talks with the Chinese side highlight that Bosnian Serb officials may not be satisfied with the terms they have been offered.

Igor Crnadak, vice president of the opposition Party of Democratic Progress, told RFE/RL that governing officials have not been clear on the repayment schedule for its debt or about any talks with Chinese institutions, adding that his party was planning to call for a special parliamentary session to get information regarding the entity's finances.

"The situation is quite serious, especially considering the clauses in the contracts, which state that the holders of those bonds can enter into ownership of companies where the government has a majority stake, if the debt is not repaid," Crnadak said.

Leaning More On Moscow, Beijing

The financial pressure Republika Srpska is facing is in part due to allegations of misspending and corruption that have followed successive governments, but also because of Dodik's dramatic falling out with the West, which has limited his funding options.

Since 2017 Dodik has been banned from traveling to the United States or accessing assets under its jurisdiction after he defied Bosnia's Constitutional Court by staging a referendum on the celebration of Republika Srpska Day, marking the date in 1992 when Bosnian Serbs declared their own state.

Separatist ambitions among ethnic Serbs sparked Bosnia's devastating 1992-95 war, which killed more than 100,000 people, displaced millions, and shattered much of the country.

A U.S.-brokered peace agreement ended the war and created the predominantly Serb and Bosniak-Croat entities that make up the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Bosnia's three-member presidency is held by representatives of those three main ethnic groups.

Dodik's pro-Russian stance is well-known, but the turn toward Beijing has coincided with China's own close relationship with Serbia -- who is Republika Srpska's main ally and largest trading partner -- and the prospect of securing Chinese loans and investment with fewer strings attached than Western options.

In February, a consortium of Chinese companies sealed a 175 million-euro ($190 million) loan deal with Republika Srpska for the construction of part of a northern highway connecting the region with Serbia.

Viskovic provided few details about the bid and loan at the time of the announcement, saying only that China Overseas Engineering Group was chosen because it was the most favorable bidder after the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development withdrew its support, saying the project was not vital. Beyond that, Viskovic said the 15-year loan will have a three-year grace period for repayment.

In August 2022, another highway construction deal was signed with China State Construction Engineering to build a separate 33-kilometer-long section of the same highway in northern Bosnia.

Following the announcement of the 302 million-euro ($328 million) agreement, Dodik touted the contract as a win for his strategy of courting Chinese capital in the face of Western pressure.

"This shows that Republika Srpska has an alternative and cannot be blackmailed by some from the West who try to influence political attitudes and political solutions by banning banks from investing money," he said.

Written by Reid Standish in Prague based on reporting by Goran Katic and Milorad Milojevic of RFE/RL's Balkan Service in Bosnia-Herzegovina

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bosnia-serbs-china- debt-crisis/32411122.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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Yemen Government Delays Prisoner Swap With Rebels

Sputnik News

20230514

DOHA (Sputnik) - A new prisoner swap between the UN-recognized Yemeni government and Houthi rebels in the north has been delayed indefinitely, Deputy Human Rights Minister Majid Fadael told Sputnik on Sunday.

"The start of the new exchange will be delayed for a while. There is progress in the talks on allowing us to visit prisons in Sanaa and Magrib to check on the prisoners but nothing regarding the exchange," Fadael said.

The new prisoner exchange was initially set for Monday but the government's lead negotiator Yahya Kazman told Sputnik over the weekend that there would be no further exchanges until the rebels revealed the whereabouts of captive senior Yemeni official Mohammed Kahtan, who has been in Houthi custody since 2015.

 Sputnik

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Israeli Forces, Gaza Exchange Strikes After Ceasefire Comes Into Force

Sputnik News

20230514

TEL AVIV (Sputnik) - The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have struck targets in the Gaza Strip after the Egypt-mediated ceasefire came into force, in response to rocket fire from the Palestinian side, the IDF said.

"The IDF is now attacking the Gaza Strip," the IDF said on Twitter at around 21:00 GMT on Saturday.

Earlier on Saturday, Egyptian media reported that the ceasefire mediated by Cairo would take effect at 10 p.m. local time on Saturday (19:00 GMT). The Israeli Prime Minister's Office confirmed in a statement that the truce was coming into force and thanked Egypt for helping secure the ceasefire.

The IDF said that two rockets were launched toward Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip on Saturday night. One of the rockets was intercepted, while the second fell in an open area. After the rocket attack, the IDF began striking targets in Gaza.

Less than an hour before the announced ceasefire was expected to come into force, the IDF said that air raid sirens sounded in central and southern Israel near the Gaza Strip.

The prime minister's office said in its statement that National Security Council (NSC) Director Tzachi Hanegbi, on instruction from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for mediating the ceasefire. Hanegbi "made it clear that Israel's acceptance of the Egyptian initiative means that 'quiet will be met with quiet', and that if Israel is attacked or threatened, it will continue to do everything that it needs to in order to defend itself."

On Tuesday night, Israel launched the "Shield and Arrow" operation conducting airstrikes against Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants in the Gaza Strip. In response, militants of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad fired over 500 rockets at Israel, according to Israel Defense Forces. At least one Israeli and over 30 Palestinians have died.

As many as 139 Palestinians have been killed as a result of the Israeli operations in the Palestinian territories since the beginning of 2023, with 25 killed in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Health Ministry said on Thursday.

 Sputnik

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US Air Force F-22 Raptors deter aggression over Baltic skies

Published May 14, 2023

By Capt. Paige Skinner

U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa

AMARI AIR BASE, Estonia (AFNS) -- U.S. Air Force fifth-generation fighters supporting NATO Allied Air Command's Air Shielding mission along the Eastern Flank executed an Agile Combat Employment deployment to Amari Air Base, Estonia, May 8, to deter aggression in the Baltic Sea region.

In early April, Joint Base Langley-Eustis' 94th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron deployed 12 F-22 Raptors to Poland's Powidz Air Base in support of the critical mission, which augments the alliance's Integrated Air and Missile Defense and Counter-Integrated Air Defense System capabilities to safeguard the nearly 1,500-mile-long border along NATO's Eastern Flank.



U.S. Air Force fifth-generation fighters supporting NATO Allied Air Command's Air Shielding mission along the Eastern Flank executed an Agile Combat Employment deployment to Amari Air Base, Estonia, May 8, 2023, to deter aggression in the Baltic Sea region.

Staff Sgt. Tom Savea, 154th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron loading standardization crew member, and Senior Airman Paulo Amaya, 15th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member, prepare an AIM-120 missile to be loaded onto an F-22 Hawaiian Raptor during an Agile Combat Employment training exercise at Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands, Hawaii, Sept. 8, 2021. U.S. Air Force fifth-generation fighters supporting NATO Allied Air Command's Air Shielding mission along the Eastern Flank executed an Agile Combat Employment deployment to Amari Air Base, Estonia, May 8, 2023, to deter aggression in the Baltic Sea region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Makensie Cooper)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

By rapidly fielding forces alongside NATO allies in the Baltic Sea region, U.S. Air Forces in Europe highlight the operational readiness of the coalition forces throughout the European theater and their ability to respond to defend NATO territory.

The Baltic nations - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - are situated on a critical air, land and sea corridor, which requires a coordinated approach between allies to maintain and sustain international freedom of maneuver throughout the region.

A Spanish NASAMS air defense system currently deployed to Latvia provides ground-based air defense capabilities in close coordination with the Latvian Control and Reporting Center. Also deployed to Estonia, Royal Air Force Typhoons are conducting NATO's peacetime Air Policing mission. The ability of the U.S. to rapidly augment other deployed units with fifth-generation fighters expands the alliance's ability to integrate across all domains.

An effective IAMD structure incorporates air, land, sea, space and cyber domains to provide full-spectrum awareness of airspace faced with complex adversary threats. As a highly maneuverable stealth aircraft, the F-22 fifth-generation fighter is designed to rapidly project dominance, penetrate evolving threats, and achieve air superiority.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 14 May 2023 - Day 445

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 on paper, the Russian Combined Grouping of Forces (CGF) in Ukraine is similarly organised to the invasion force of 446 days ago. It still likely consists of over 200,000 personnel organised into around 70 combat regiments and brigades divided into five Groups of Forces. It still struggles with limited freedom to conduct air operations.

However, in February 2022 it consisted of professional soldiers; was largely equipped with reasonably modern vehicles; and had been regularly exercised, aspiring to complex, joint operations. Now the force is mostly poorly trained mobilised reservists and increasingly reliant on antiquated equipment, with many of its units severely under-strength. It routinely only conducts very simple, infantry-based operations.

Critically, it is unlikely that CGF has been able to generate a large, capable, mobile reserve to respond to emerging operational challenges. It is unlikely to be an organisation which will effectively cohere large-scale military effect along the 1,200 km front line under stress.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of May 14th, Russian forces launched 6x missile attacks, in particular on the city of Kharkiv and the village of Zolochiv. In addition, Russian forces carried out 27x air strikes and launched 20x MLRS attacks on Ukrainian settlements and Ukrainian Defense Forces. The attacks caused casualties among civilian population and damage to private houses and other civilian infrastructure.

The threat of missile and air strikes remains high across Ukraine.

Russia continues to concentrate its main efforts on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mar'inka axes. In total, up to 30x firefights occurred on specified axes. Heavy fighting continues in the cities of Bakhmut and Mar'inka.

Volyn' and Polissya axes: the operational situation has not changed significantly, there are no signs of the formation of offensive groupings.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia continues to maintain enhanced military presence in the areas bordering Ukraine. Hirs'ke, Leonivka and Popivka (Chernihiv oblast); Volfyne and Sadky (Sumy oblast); as well as Oleksandrivka and Starytsa (Kharkiv oblast) came under mortar and artillery fire.

Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces attempted unsuccessful offensives in the vicinities of Masyutivka and Synkivka. Air strikes took place near Vilshana and Kislivka. The settlements of Kam'ianka, Topoli, Krasne Pershe, Figolivka, Novomlynsk, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Kindrashivka, and Tabaivka (Kharkiv oblast); and Stelmakhivka (Luhansk oblast) were subjects to artillery and mortar fire.

Lyman axis: during the day, Russian forces did not conduct offensive operations. Russian forces carried out air strikes in the vicinities of Yampil, Biloghorivka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, and Spirne. Makiivka (Luhansk oblast); Biloghorivka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, and Berestov (Donetsk oblast) were bombarded by Russian artillery.

Bakhmut axis: Russia continues to conduct offensive operaions. The battle for Bakhmut continues. Russian occupiers made unsuccessful attempts to advance towards Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, and Predtechine.

Air strikes took place in the vicinities of Ivanivs'ke and Stupochki.

Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, Chervone, Kostyantynivka, Druzhba, Sjeverne, Torets'k, and Shumy (Donetsk oblast) were subjects to Russian attacks.

Avdiivka axis: Russian forces carried out air strikes in the vicinities of Novokalynove and Avdiivka; and shelled Stepove, Lastochkine, Avdiivka, Tonen'ke, Netaylove, Pervomais'ke, and Karlivka (Donetsk oblast).

Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled several Russian attacks in the vicinities of Mar'inka. At the same time, the settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorghiivka, Mar'inka, Pobieda, and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast) were subjects to Russian shelling.

Shakhtars'k axis: during the day, Russian forces did not conduct offensive operations. However, russian occupiers shelled Vuhledar, Novoukrayinka, and Prechistivka.

Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russian occupiers stayed on the defensive. They carried out air strikes in the vicinities of Kizomys and Stanislav (Kherson oblast).

Meanwhile, the Russian occupiers shelled about 30x Ukrainian settlements, including, Vremivka and Novopil' (Donetsk oblast); Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Biloghirya, Mala Tokmachka, and Kam'ians'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast); Nikopol' (Dnipropetrovsk oblast); Zolota Balka, Vesele, Lviv, Antonivka, Dniprovs'ke, and Kizomys (Kherson oblast) and the city of Kherson.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation continues to take measures to integrate illegal armed formations of the so-called "DPR" into its own armed forces. Thus, military personnel from the so-called "DPR" serving in the 1st army corps of the Russian Federation have been ordered to replace their military IDs with Russian military IDs, and to re-sign contracts with the Russian Federation minimum for 2-year term. In case of refusal, service members are threatened to be sent to the most dangerous segments of the front to participate in assault operations as part of advanced units.

During the day, Ukrainian Air Force carried out 12x strikes on areas where Russian personnel and military equipment were concentrated.

In addition, during this day, Ukrainian defenders intercepted 3x reconnaissance UAVs, including 2x "Orlan-10" type and 1x - "Supercam". Ukrainian missile and artillery units attacked 1x command post, 6x concentrations of Russian troops, 2x artillery units at firing positions and 1x more important Russian target.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have launched a long-range sea- and air-based high-precision weaponry strike against AFU units and the depots of Western munitions in Ternopol and Petropavlovka (Dnepropetrovsk region).

The goal of the attack has been reached. All the assigned targets have been neutralised.

In Kupyansk direction, the attacks, launched by Operational-Tactical and Army Aviation, as well as artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the enemy manpower and hardware close to Kislovka, Timkovka, Berestovoye, Tabayevka (Kharkov region), and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic).

Two Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been thwarted near Ivanovka and Dvurechnaya (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses were over 100 Ukrainian servicemen, five motor vehicles, one D-20 howitzer and one Rapira anti-tank gun.

In Krasny Liman direction, the attacks, launched by Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, as well as artillery and heavy flamethrower systems of the Tsentr Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of AFU units near Yampolovka and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic), and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

Over 60 Ukrainian personnel, one armoured fighting vehicle, two motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system have been eliminated.

In Soledar-Artyomovsk direction, the assault units supported by the Airborne Troops units continued fighting for the western neighbourhoods of Artyomovsk.

The enemy made massive attempts to break through Russian troops' defence to the north and south parts of Artyomovsk in the past 24 hour.

All the attacks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have been repelled. There has been no breakthrough in the defence of Russian forces.

The servicemen of the 4th and 200th motorised rifle brigades and the 6th Motorised Rifle Division of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation showed courage and heroism in repulsing the enemy attacks.

The units of the 4th Motorised Rifle Brigade have repulsed the attacks by AFU battalion tactical group to the south of Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic), as a result of which the enemy losses were around 200 servicemen killed and wounded.

The Commander of the 4th Motorised Rifle Brigade Colonel Vyacheslav Makarov led the battle while on the front line.

Two enemy attacks have been repulsed. The brigade destroyed three tanks, four infantry fighting vehicles and two armoured vehicles.

During the repulsion of the third attack, the brigade commander was seriously wounded and died while being evacuated from the battlefield.

Deputy Army Corps Commander for Military and Political Work Colonel Yevgeny Brovko led the actions of the personnel while in another area to repel the enemy attacks.

During the battle to repel one of the attacks, Colonel Yevgeny Brovko died heroically, suffering multiple shrapnel wounds.

The military personnel of the 3rd Battalion of the 200th Motorised Rifle Brigade repelled six attacks to the east of Bogdanovka (Donetsk People's Republic) involving over 100 Ukrainian assault unit servicemen, seven tanks, 14 infantry fighting vehicles and other military and special-purpose equipment.

The enemy losses were seven tanks, 11 infantry fighting vehicles and over 50 Ukrainian servicemen.

The 6th Division repulsed an attack by the enemy assault units supported by three tanks and four infantry fighting vehicles. The enemy losses were over 30 Ukrainian servicemen, two tanks and three infantry fighting vehicles.

In accordance with the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, distinguished Russian servicemen were presented with orders and other state awards directly at combat positions.

Russian aviation have made 24 sorties in this area during the day. The Group's artillery have performed 107 firing missions.

In total, in Soledar-Artyomovsk direction, the enemy losses were over 400 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, 12 tanks, 18 infantry fighting vehicles, two armoured fighting vehicles, as well as one D-20 howitzer.

In South Donetsk and Zapororozhye directions, aviation, as well as artillery and heavy flamethrower systems of the Vostok Group of Forces inflicted a fire damage on the enemy units near Vodyanoye, Nikolskoye, Shevchenko, Velikaya Novosyolka (Donetsk People's Republic), Poltavka and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region).

One AFU sabotage and reconnaissance group has been destroyed near Sladkoye (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were over 120 Ukrainian servicemen, four motor vehicles, one Msta-B howitzer, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were over 20 Ukrainian servicemen, six motor vehicles and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

One ammunition depot of Kherson Ukrainian army group has been destroyed near Nikolayev.

One U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-36 counterbattery warfare radar has been destroyed near Tyaginka (Kherson region).

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 102 artillery units of the AFU at their firing positions, manpower and military hardware at 114 areas.

One AFU ammunition depot has been destroyed close to Khmelnitsky.

In addition, AFU 5th assault and 44th artillery brigades' command and control posts have been hit close to Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic) and Preobrazhenka (Zaporozhye region).

Fighter Aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces have shot down one AFU Su-27 aircraft near Novogrodovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Air defence facilities have shot down six projectiles launched by HIMARS MLRS.

In addition, air defence facilities have intercepted 18 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down close to Golaya Pristan (Kherson region), Kirillovka, Spornoye, Vesyoloye, Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Novoaleksandrovka, Oborotnovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Petrovka and Zhovtnyovoye (Kharkov region).

In total, 425 airplanes, 231 helicopters, 4,135 unmanned aerial vehicles, 421 air defence missile systems, 9,159 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,100 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 4,813 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 10,193 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed since the beginning of the special military operation.





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China's first home-grown mRNA COVID vaccine rolled out in Hebei

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 14, 2023 09:05 PM

China's first domestically developed mRNA vaccine for COVID-19 was initially put into use in Shijiazhuang, North China's Hebei Province on Sunday.

Citizens can get their mRNA vaccines developed by local drug maker CSPC Pharmaceutical Group at the city's Taoyuan community healthcare center.

According to China's recent COVID-19 vaccination plan, the Central Leading Group for Novel Coronavirus Prevention and Control on April 6 recommended CSPC's mRNA vaccine and the protein subunit vaccine called SCTV01E, which was developed by Sino Cell Tech to be used as a booster as the two vaccines cover the Omicron variants.

Approved for an emergency use by the National Medical Products Administration on March 22, CSPC said its mRNA vaccine has a good cross-protection effect against the Omicron variants. Sino Cell on Saturday announced the final results of the phase III clinical trial of SCTV01E, saying that it has shown good protective efficacy against Omicron and its sub-strains.

Meanwhile, an increasing number of Chinese netizens are saying online that they were infected with COVID-19 for a second time in recent days.

On China's Twitter-like social media platform Sina Weibo, some people posted photos of their positive results of COVID-19 rapid antigen tests, saying that they still have stuffy noses and coughs, and cannot taste things after getting infected for a second time, but the symptoms are milder than the first-time infection.

Zhuang Shilihe, a Guangzhou-based medical expert, suggested Chinese people take vaccines, which contain Omicron antigen and are available in China, as booster shots, including Sino Cell's SCTV01E, CSPC's mRNA vaccine, an mRNA vaccine co-developed by German-based BioNTech and China's Fosun Pharma, and Moderna's bivalent vaccine.

"Whether they received two or three doses in the past, people could now start receiving the fourth dose. If people took the inactivated vaccine as their previous shots, the fourth shot must not be an inactivated vaccine but one from a different technology," Zeng Guang, the former chief epidemiologist from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said in December.

According to the China CDC, the Omicron variants have become the main strains in China. In late April, the XBB series of Omicron variants accounted for 97.5 percent of cases imported to China and 74.4 percent among China's locally transmitted infections.

There was a small increase of the epidemic in some areas in the past May Day holidays, but we didn't see a significant increase in the number of serious cases in hospitals across the country, said an official from the National Administration of Disease Prevention and Control at a press conference on May 8.

The official said the number of places having a cluster infection may increase after the holidays, but a regional scale outbreak is not very possible.

Wang Guangfa, a respiratory expert from Peking University First Hospital, told the Global Times in April that after a while, the number of people re-infected with the coronavirus will keep going up, but it will eventually go down. Wang predicted a larger wave may come this winter, as the weather becomes colder and most people's immunity fades away.

Considering the high-risk groups may get infected for a second time within six months after their first infection, the plan shortens the interval between shots from six months to three months, targeting people who haven't finished all their shots.

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US Homeland Security Chief: No Migration Surge at Mexican Border

By Ken Bredemeier May 14, 2023

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Sunday that the number of migrants trying to cross into the United States from Mexico since border entry rules were changed late last week has dropped nearly in half but that it was "too early" to know whether the surge in migration has peaked.

U.S. immigration officials had been expecting a huge surge in the number of migrants walking across the border when it ended a three-year policy late Thursday that called for the automatic expulsion back to Mexico based on fears of the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Now the U.S. has adopted a system requiring migrants to seek U.S. asylum before arriving at the border, either through an internet connection that has proved less than fully reliable or at migration centers in other countries they have passed through to get to the U.S.

Mayorkas told CNN's "State of the Union" show that about 10,000 migrants a day had been crossing the border before the rule change, and in many cases were quickly expelled. But he said border agents only encountered 6,300 on Friday and 4,200 on Saturday.

Still, immigration officials say thousands more are encamped in northern Mexico and could try to enter the U.S. in the coming days or weeks.

Republican Representative Michael McCaul, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told ABC's "This Week" show, "I do think there are caravans [of migrants] going up. I think they still want to get in."

McCaul said that in the last two and a half years, "We've had 5 million people enter this country illegally, 5.1 [million] get-a-ways. It's unsustainable."

Mayorkas credited the smaller numbers of migrants trying to enter the U.S. so far to warnings that the U.S. border was not open and that there was a lawful, if time-consuming, way to enter the U.S., by filing papers for asylum in the U.S., even though relatively few migrants could eventually win approval.

"We have communicated very clearly, a vitally important message to the individuals who are thinking of arriving at our southern border," he said. "There is a lawful, safe and orderly way to arrive in the United States that is through the [asylum] pathways that President [Joe] Biden has expanded in an unprecedented way."

"And then there's a consequence if one does not use those lawful pathways," he said. "And that consequence is removal from the United States, a deportation and encountering a five-year ban on reentry and possible criminal prosecution."

Mayorkas contended that by setting clear asylum rules, the U.S. will "cut out" migration smugglers charging migrants thousands of dollars to try to reach the U.S. He called it "not only a security imperative, but a humanitarian responsibility."

With the end to immediate expulsions related to the concerns over the spread of the coronavirus, the Biden administration has drawn attacks from Republicans that the new response is too weak and from some Democrats that it is too cumbersome and inhumane in that too few asylum requests are likely to be granted.

Republicans in the House of Representatives, with no Democratic support, last week approved immigration legislation calling for completion of a U.S.-Mexico border wall that was started by former President Donald Trump but abandoned by Biden. The Democratic-controlled Senate, however, is unlikely to even consider the measure.

Meanwhile, U.S. District Judge Kent Wetherell in Florida last week blocked the Biden administration from releasing migrants it has detained into the general U.S. population if detention facilities at the border are overcrowded. Mayorkas said the ruling is being appealed.

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Five Power Defence Arrangement exercise concludes

14 May 2023

Exercise Bersama Shield - a bi-annual military exercise between the five nations in the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) - concluded in Malaysia on Friday.

Approximately 250 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel spent two weeks exercising with militaries from Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

Taking place from 27 April to 12 May, the exercise focused on combined joint operations in a multi-threat environment, with training designed to enhance interoperability and strengthen professional relationships.

Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Greg Bilton AO, CSC, said Exercise Bersama Shield was an important opportunity to exercise with FPDA partners.

"For more than 50 years, Australia has exercised with our FPDA partners to support regional security and develop our professional mastery together," Lieutenant General Bilton said.

"Exercises such as Bersama Shield continue to develop and provide the ADF and FPDA partners the opportunity to exercise together in a contemporary and complex environment.

Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon and KA350 King Air tactical mobility aircraft, and the Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Anzac, were also deployed to the exercise.

The Five Power Defence Arrangements were established in 1971 as a security arrangement between Australia, New Zealand, Britain, Malaysia and Singapore.

"The Bersama series of exercises underlines Australia's steadfast commitment to investing in our regional partnerships.

"Exercises such as these promote an open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific region and make a meaningful contribution to collective security."

The next exercise for the FPDA nations is Exercise Bersama Lima, scheduled for October in Malaysia.

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Belarusian Leader Skips Official Event Amid Rumors Of Hospitalization

By RFE/RL's Belarus Service May 14, 2023

Belarus's authoritarian leader, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, on May 14 failed to attend events to mark the National Flag, Coat of Arms, and Anthem Day amid rumors of ill-health.

Prime Minister Raman Halouchanka read a speech on Lukashenka's behalf at the events in Minsk.

It is the latest in a series of public events in the past three weeks that Lukashenka has failed to attend, but there has been no official statement on the health of the 68-year-old. An unconfirmed report on May 13 said he was taken to a hospital in Minsk.

Lukashenka attended the May 9 Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, where he looked unwell, and a bandage was visible on his right hand.

A member of the Russian State Duma was quoted by Russian media on May 14 as saying that Lukashenka was ill, but it's nothing out of the ordinary and not COVID.

"Despite the fact that the man fell ill, he considered it his duty to come to Moscow, and then in the evening of the same day he held events in Minsk. He probably needs some rest, that's all," said Konstantin Zatulin, first deputy head of the Russian State Duma Committee on Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, according to the Russian publication Podyom.

Zatulin told Podyom that he knows what Lukashenka is suffering from but did not reveal the diagnosis.

Lukashenka's press service has not commented specifically about any illness, but said he continues to work "with documents."

News reports on the evening of May 13 said Lukashenka arrived at Republican Clinical Medical Center in Minsk. Roads to the hospital were blocked as his motorcade approached, and security forces stood along the route.

Lukashenka has been in power since 1994. The country's election commission declared him the winner of the 2020 election, but the results were disputed amid the widely held belief that the contest was rigged and that the true winner was opposition politician Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

Lukashenka's regime brutally cracked down on mass protests against the outcome in the months that followed, jailing opposition figures and driving others into exile.

The authoritarian leader subsequently backed Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia's war against Ukraine, allowing Russian forces to use Belarusian territory as a staging ground for Russia's intervention.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-lukashenka- rumors-health/32411147.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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China verifies far sea capabilities of Type 055 large destroyer in South China Sea, West Pacific

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Published: May 14, 2023 07:59 PM

A flotilla of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has wrapped up a month-long far sea exercise in the South China Sea and the West Pacific, a move experts said on Sunday demonstrated the Type 055 large destroyer's far sea capabilities.

The flotilla, consisting of the Type 055 large destroyer Dalian and the Type 054A frigate Huangshan under the navy of the PLA Southern Theater Command, recently returned to a naval port in Sanya, South China's Hainan Province after completing a routine exercise featuring combat alert patrols and joint drills in sea regions including the South China Sea and the West Pacific, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Friday.

During the exercise that lasted for 28 days and stretched for more than 8,000 nautical miles (14,816 kilometers,) the flotilla practiced over 20 combat-oriented training subjects, including wartime replenishment, air defense and surface-air joint anti-submarine capabilities, CCTV reported.

"We focused on verifying the exertion of the Type 055's new-type combat force in wide and new fields as we simulated many emergencies and dangerous situations during targeted practices that are close to realistic battlefield environments," Zhang Shuliang, a staff officer of the flotilla's command unit, said in the report.

At a time when the PLA Northern Theater Command has been regularly sending Type 055 large destroyers on far sea voyages beyond the first island chain into the West Pacific from the north, the PLA Southern Theater Command showed that its Type 055s are also ready do so from the south, a Beijing-based military expert told the Global Times on Sunday, requesting anonymity.

The PLA Navy has commissioned eight Type 055 large destroyers since 2020, with four in service with the Northern Theater Command and four with the Southern Theater Command, according to official media reports.

Unlike northern parts of the first island chain, which are tightly monitored and heavily guarded by Japan and the island of Taiwan, its southern parts in the vast South China Sea are relatively looser, the expert said.

With the voyage of over 8,000 nautical miles, the vessels could reach many strategically important locations where the US is stacking its forces to militarily confront China, for example, reach Guam from its south or reach waters off Australia, observers said.

Earlier this year, the Hainan, the first Type 075 amphibious assault ship of the PLA Navy, joined a flotilla and conducted a far sea exercise in the West Pacific for the first time since its commissioning in April 2021 together with the Type 055 large destroyer Dalian. It sailed for over 30 days across more than 9,000 nautical miles in the South China Sea and the West Pacific.

Such far sea drills are expected to become regular and more frequent as the PLA Navy continues to gain blue-water capabilities, experts said.

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Chinese officials' Europe trips help lead EU's policy to 'objective direction'

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Published: May 15, 2023 12:32 AM

High-level Chinese officials have concluded their Europe trips in recent days, which came at a key juncture as the continent is striving to reach a unified China policy. Experts believe that candid conversations about bilateral ties during the trips will help lead Europe's China policy to a more objective and positive direction.

At the same time, European officials are also vying to set tone on Europe's relations with China, using language such as "de-risking" and reduce economic reliance on China. Experts called such remarks vague and impractical, and that further alienating China is not in line with Europe's interest.

During his visit to the Netherlands, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and leaders of the Netherlands agreed to seek consensus, jointly tackle climate change and strengthen pragmatic cooperation, Xinhua News Agency reported on Saturday.

The Chinese vice president also called for mutual respect, mutual understanding and mutual support between countries of different civilizations, so that they can seek consensus in exchanges and promote win-win results in cooperation.

There is no conflict of fundamental interests between China and Europe, but instead, they have more complementary advantages, Han noted, voicing China's willingness to promote the better development of China-Europe relations through pragmatic cooperation.

The Netherlands is the last leg of Han's Europe visit. He visited Portugal before arriving in the Netherland.

Meanwhile, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang also concluded his visit to three European countries of Germany, France and Norway on Friday.

"China and Europe are two globally influential powers, two vast markets, and two great civilizations. I deeply felt, through the visit, a strong willingness of the European side to enhance communication, coordination, and to promote mutually beneficial cooperation with China," Qin said when asked about how to maintain sound development of China-Europe relations at a joint press conference on Friday with his counterpart Anniken Huitfeldt.

He called for the adherence to an inclusive worldview. China and Europe should respect and support different countries' development paths chosen by their people, jointly and positively respond to the universal concerns of the international community, Qin said. He warned that a "new Cold War" would only bring greater disaster, severely harm the interests of the Chinese and the European people, as well as the rest of the world, and would significantly undermine multilateralism and global governance.

The high-level Chinese officials' visits to Europe were seen by Yan Shaohua, an associate research fellow at the Center for China-Europe Relations of Fudan University, as China's reaching out to Europe to strengthen dialogue and cooperation, and express China's concerns over China-Europe relation, and achieved relatively positive result.

Cui Hongjian, director of the Department of European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times that at the key juncture when European countries are fiercely debating about a unified China policy, candid conversation with European countries can help them form a more objective perception of China, thus leading the unified policy on a more objective and positive path.

The China debate

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who met the EU's 27 foreign ministers on Friday in Stockholm to discuss how the bloc should "recalibrate" its policy towards Beijing, stressed it still important to "engage" with Beijing at the same time as they're looking into cutting the EU's reliance in the face of fundamentally different values and economic systems.

Cui said as EU leaders are set to discuss the bloc's relationship with China at a summit in June, leaders from Europe are now vying to set the tone for the topic.

Previously, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz talked about reducing risk in China relations. Cui mentioned that when those leaders are eager to lead the discussion on China, they should refrain from putting forward vague and impractical remarks.

"Reducing economic reliance on China, is in fact decoupling from China, which is neither realistic, nor is it in line with Europe's interest. Especially when China's economy is blessed with strong recovery after adopting downgraded COVID-19 management, keeping close economic relations with China will help Europe shake off current economic pothole and offset the damage caused by the Russia-Ukraine crisis," according to Cui.

Speaking at the meeting in Stockholm, Hungarian Foreign Minister PAter SzijjArtA said Hungary's government wants to avoid the EU becoming an "anti-China bloc."

"We don't agree at all with the way certain European countries want to define China as a kind of systemic rival," SzijjArtA said during a break in an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers, Daily News Hungary, a local media quoted a ministry statement as saying. "We believe that the European Union should strive for strategic cooperation with China."

Yan said due to European countries' varied stances on China, the bloc may struggle to reach consensus on a unified China policy next month, "but de-risk will be the basic tone."

On the Russia-Ukraine crisis, Borrell has warned China again to use its influence to end Russia's war in Ukraine, or their already strained relations will worsen.

Qin Gang has repeatedly talked about China's stance on the Ukraine crisis. In Norway, he emphasized that China has always stood on the side of peace and has been promoting peace and talks since the first day of the crisis, demonstrating the role of a responsible major country.

Cui believes it is best for the EU to remain pragmatic about the Ukraine crisis, and refrain from pushing China to commit any actions based on Brussels' will, "remarks and actions of such kind are inappropriate, and do not reflect the mutual respect policy between Beijing and the bloc."

The expert also said that alliance with the US is also a key point in EU's discussion with China, as some in Europe are doubling down its alliance with Washington and still willing to be marshaled under US' lead to go against China.

Washington and the EU will pledge joint action to tackle concerns focused on China about non-market practices and coordinate their export controls on semiconductors and other goods at a meeting this month, Reuters reported, quoting a draft statement.

Experts opined that such move is clearly US' coercion on the EU to join its club of cracking down on China's development. However, Cui noted that there are still growing force in Europe hope to achieve autonomy from the US, and when Europe is "recalibrating it relation with China, it is also seeking to reduce alliance on the US."

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Nearly 3.5 mln liters of smuggled fuel seized in Persian Gulf

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 13, 2023

Bushehr, IRNA -- The IRGC Navy has confiscated as much as 3.412 million liters of smuggled fuel in Persian Gulf waters in southern Iran.

The public relations department of the second zone of the IRGC Navy said in an announcement on Saturday that the confiscated cargo has an estimated value of 735 billion rials (nearly $15 million).

Based on a court ruling, the cargo was handed over to a local office of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company, the announcement added.

The IRGC performs round-the-clock patrol operations in the Persian Gulf. The force uses some state-of-the-art equipment in its fight against smuggling in the region.

9341**7129**4261

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Eight arrested for provoking worker unrests in Iran's gas region

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 14, 2023

Bushehr, IRNA -- Eight people who have had a leading role in the recent unrests in South Pars and Assalouyeh gas facilities in southern Iran have been arrested, according to a senior provincial official.

Akbar Pourat, a deputy governor general of Iran's southern Province of Bushehr, told reporters on Sunday that the eight arrested people were fueling worker unrests by posting instigating contents in social media and leading the protesting workers on the ground.

He also said that some contractors have also had a role in the unrests who have been identified and blacklisted.

The official said that allocating 50 percent of the jobs in the oil, gas and petrochemical facilities of the province is a legitimate local demand that cannot be ignored.

He added that contractors who have failed to recruit local people will be replaced.

9341**2050

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Iran Navy's 86th flotilla close to end of global tour in Oman

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 14, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- The Iranian Navy's 86th flotilla has docked at a port in Oman after a long voyage around the globe with the objective of expanding Iran's naval presence in international waters.

According to IRNA's correspondent in Salalah, after traveling 63,000 kilometers, the flotilla of warships has now docked at the Salalah port on the 236th day of its voyage.

The 86th flotilla, also known as the 360th flotilla, set sail from Iran's southern port city of Bandar Abbas on September 20 last year and has sailed in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

The flotilla has crossed the equator four times and will reach Bandar Abbas after traveling an additional 2,000 kilometers.

It is comprised of Dena, a warship equipped with anti-ship cruise missiles, torpedoes and naval cannons, and Makran, an afloat military base that can carry five helicopters and is employed for providing logistical support for combat warships.

**9417**4261

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Despite sanctions, Iran has world's largest oil pipeline building program

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 14, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran has ranked first in the world in terms of under-construction oil transmission pipelines despite the harsh regime of sanctions imposed by the US on the country's energy sector.

According to a report released by Global Energy Monitor last Monday, 1,978 kilometers of oil pipelines are being constructed in Iran, which is higher than India, Niger, and Canada.

There are 9,100 kilometers of oil transmission pipelines under construction in the world and an additional 21,900 kilometers of pipelines planned for construction.

The leading five countries in terms of in-development pipelines - both planned and under construction - are the US, India, Iraq, Iran, and Tanzania, the report said.

"The top five parent companies developing oil pipelines are state-owned enterprises and private companies, including Iran's Ministry of Petroleum, the China National Petroleum Corporation, Iraq's Ministry of Oil, India's Numaligarh Refinery Limited, and France's TotalEnergies," it added.

The United States began to impose sanctions on Iran in May 2018 after the former Trump administration unilaterally pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal.

The sanctions impose tough penalties on governments and entities involved in energy trade with Iran.

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Iran denies being paid in African currencies for China oil exports

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 14 May 2023 6:37 PM

The Iranian Oil Ministry has denied a report suggesting that it is being paid in African currencies for oil exports to China, saying the claim is just an attempt to undermine Iran's success in ramping up oil exports in recent months despite the continued pressure of US sanctions.

An unidentified Oil Ministry official told the ILNA news agency on Sunday that Iran has accepted the use of alternative currencies to settle payments related to its oil exports.

However, the official rejected claims Iran had received payments in currencies of Angola, Zambia and Kenya for oil shipments supplied to China.

The source said the claims are part of a campaign of psychological warfare against Iran to undermine the country's continued success in selling oil despite pressure on the buyers from United States.

A report earlier this week by Oil Price quoted a European Union energy security source as saying that China is using the currencies of Angola, Zambia and Kenya to pay Iran for shipments.

The source claimed China uses those currencies to pay for Iranian oil to induce Iran to buy goods from the three countries so that these countries, in turn, can service their loans to China.

Statements by Iranian government authorities suggest exports of oil from the country have nearly doubled since August 2021 when a new administration took office in Tehran.

Reports by international tanker tracking services also confirm there has been a major surge in Iranian oil exports to China in recent months.

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Technical cooperation between Iran, IAEA to witness great progress: FM

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 14 May 2023 11:31 AM

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says the course of the country's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) within technical frameworks will soon witness great progress.

He stressed that Tehran is exchanging messages with Washington through various channels on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal and the removal of sanctions.

Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in an interview with IRNA published on Sunday.

The top Iranian diplomat stated that "a good development has taken place in the course of cooperation" between the Islamic Republic and the UN nuclear agency, noting that Iran had always been critical of IAEA chief Rafael Grossi's politically-charged approach towards the country and that he has even brought up the issue in a face-to-face meeting with him.

Amir-Abdollahian underscored that President Ebrahim Raeisi has declared transparently that Iran is serious about cooperation with the IAEA, and expects the UN nuclear agency to fulfill its duties within the technical frameworks and stay away from political issues.

"The more the IAEA distances itself from a political approach and moves towards technical cooperation, the more the path for our agreements opens up," the Iranian foreign minister pointed out.

Iran, at the same time as adhering to the Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions law passed by the parliament in December 2020, is determined to settle disputes and resolve differences with the International Atomic Energy within a framework of constructive and mutual interaction and technical cooperation, Amir-Abdollahian highlighted.

The Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions law prompted the Iranian administration to restrict the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s inspections and accelerate the development of the country's nuclear program beyond the limits set by the 2015 nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

"We are close to the next IAEA meeting, and we have notified Mr. Grossi very clearly that Iran and the agency can establish a good and reassuring cooperation if certain foreign parties do not get in the way," the Iranian foreign minister said.

Amir-Abdollahian further emphasized that good progress will be made in the course of technical cooperation between Iran and the IAEA as both sides have expressed strong desire to take such a step, noting that the exchange of delegations is taking place away from any media hype.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian foreign minister noted that the exchange of messages with the US is in progress through different channels.

He stated that Iranian Foreign Ministry is continually seeking to neutralize Western sanctions at the same time as it is trying to ensure their removal during talks on the revival of the JCPOA.

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 agency to implement further appropriate verification and monitoring activities."

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Iran tops world's leading countries in oil pipeline construction despite sanctions: Report

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 14 May 2023 9:01 AM

Iran has ranked first in the world in construction of oil transmission pipelines despite US-led sanctions targeting the country's energy sector, according to a report.

In its latest report, Global Energy Monitor, which tracks energy projects across the world, said Iran tops the 20 developers of oil pipelines with over 1,900 kilometers of pipelines being constructed across the country.

The report said that Iran, in spite of being under illegal sanctions by the US, has the largest oil pipeline construction operation in the world, followed by India, Niger, Canada and Benin.

The total oil pipeline under construction in Iran is 12 times higher than that of the United States, which is estimated to be 150 kilometers, the data showed.

The world's five leading companies developing oil transmission pipelines are state-owned enterprises and private companies, including Iran's Ministry of Petroleum, the China National Petroleum Corporation, Iraq's Ministry of Oil, India's Numaligarh Refinery Limited and France's TotalEnergies.

Meanwhile, Global Energy Monitor said 9,100 kilometers of oil pipelines are under construction throughout the world, and planning is underway for the construction of additional 21,900 kilometers, adding that the total cost of construction of these pipelines stands at $131.9 billion.

According to new data from the tracker, about half of the under-construction oil pipeline, which includes 4,400 kilometers of pipelines, is located in Africa and West Asia.

The two regions are home to 49% of all oil transmission pipelines under construction globally at a cost of $25.3 billion.

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US failed to prevent Iranian Navy flotilla from crossing Panama Canal: Navy cmdr.

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 14 May 2023 8:27 AM

The United States once failed to prevent the Iranian Navy's 86th flotilla of warships from sailing through the Panama Canal, Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani recounts, as the flotilla docks at Oman's Salalah port.

Irani said that "global arrogance" tried to block the flotilla's mission through threats and sanctions, but it did not succeed.

"The [US] sanction was no more than a rant based on international law. They could not even prevent the flotilla from sailing into the Panama Canal ... This was another slap on the face of the Great Satan," he told Fars news agency on Saturday.

For the first time in Iran's naval history, the 86th flotilla, comprised of Dena and Makran warships, undertook a long voyage around the world and sailed in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans without relying on aid from shores.

It set sail from Iran's southern port city of Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf on September 20, 2022. Now, on the 236th day of its voyage, the flotilla docked at Oman's Salalah port as its last stop.

The flotilla traveled some 63,000 kilometers and crossed the equator four times. It will reach Bandar Abbas by traveling an additional 2,000 kilometers.

On February 3, 2023, the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) identified Dena and Makran warships as Iranian property for sanctions related to a wider effort to target the country's drone industry.

'France unaware of own rules, disturbed Iranian vessels'

Elsewhere in his interview, the Navy commander said France claimed that the Iranian warships had entered its waters.

However, he added, the French became speechless when the flotilla reminded them of their own shipping rules.

"The French have some islands in the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately, they were not aware of their own regulations and caused disturbances for us, to which we responded with the language of the law," he explained.

"The recent incident was a big blow to the French in the field of international shipping, and they never talked about it."

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Japan's Military Collusion with NATO under Fire

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, May 15 (KCNA) -- Kim Sol Hwa, researcher of the Institute for Japan Studies of the DPRK Foreign Ministry, issued the following article titled "What is final aim of Japan's Military Collusion with NATO" on May 14:

The unprecedented military nexus between Japan and NATO has recently aroused great concern and vigilance of the international community.

A typical example is that Japan is planning to open the NATO liaison office in Japan for the first time in Asia.

Recently, Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi officially announced that establishment of the NATO liaison office in Tokyo is under discussion, saying that Russia's "invasion" of Ukraine has direct impact not only on eastern Europe but also on the situation in the Asia-Pacific region, and that the present situation requires Japan to reconsider the regional security and, therefore, cooperation with NATO is more important in East Asia.

Matsuno, chief Cabinet secretary, said that NATO is an inevitable companion to be trusted and he is going to boost cooperation for the realization of the "free and open Indo-Pacific".

It is well known that Japan has long sought military collusion with NATO and is more zealously clinging to it with the Ukrainian incident as an occasion.

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida, who attended the NATO Summit held in Madrid, Spain for the first time last June, vowed to raise relations with NATO to a new level, talking about "historical significance".

Against this backdrop, the secretary general of NATO made public so-called "Japan-NATO joint statement," the keynote of which is to strengthen military cohesion, at the end of the talks with Japanese high-ranking officials during his visit to Japan in January this year.

Japan openly revealed its intention to build an independent governmental mission in NATO and regularly attend NATO-sponsored meetings, including the North Atlantic Council meeting, and expand the scope of security cooperation with NATO into outer space and cyberspace.

Japan is now stepping up the consultation for drafting the "individual tailored partnership plan" that stipulates security cooperation with NATO, etc., and is going to complete it before the NATO summit to be held in July.

All facts go to clearly prove that NATO's attempt to advance into the Asia-Pacific region through its military nexus with Japan has entered a dangerous phase of implementation.

What should not be overlooked is the fact that the black-hearted design of the U.S. to hold its hegemonic position in the Asia-Pacific region by fabricating "Asian-version NATO" lurks behind the worrisome Japan-NATO cohesion.

It is an open secret that the U.S., which established NATO, an exclusive military alliance under the pretext of "defending" the Western countries from "communist aggression" after the end of the Second World War, has worked overtly and covertly to create such a military bloc in the Asia-Pacific region, too.

The U.S., hell-bent on pursuing hegemony, is now working harder than ever before, for its position in the Asia-Pacific region being shaken to a great extent in recent years.

This is clearly evidenced by the fact that the U.S. seeks to turn all sorts of confrontational alliances into NATO-based ones by establishing AUKUS and expanding the "five eyes" after transforming QUAD into an anti-China security cooperation system.

Occasioned by the outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis, the U.S. is craftily moving to turn NATO into a global military alliance by encouraging the collusion and nexus between its junior allies and NATO member states, talking about the security correlation between the both sides of the Atlantic and the Asia-Pacific region.

It is the sinister intention of the U.S. to lay huge siege to China and Russia by inveigling Japan, south Korea and other vassal forces into such typical confrontational blocs for exclusive security cooperation as AUKUS and QUAD and linking them with NATO.

It is the ulterior intention of Japan to outpace the neighboring countries and turn itself into a military giant even with the backing of the U.S. and by inviting an unbidden guest called NATO.

Whenever an opportunity presents itself, Japan is loudly saying "today's Ukraine is tomorrow's East Asia" and "contingency of Taiwan is one of Japan". This is prompted by its sinister intention to justify the NATO's military intervention in the region at any cost.

Countries in the region and the international community have long seen through Japan's intention to rid itself of the "shackles" of the U.S. through military nexus with NATO and free itself from the bondage of the "Pacifist Constitution."

Japan is clearly mistaken.

Present Asia-Pacific is not the one in the past when the Japanese imperialists were pursuing their unrealistic greed for building the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere."

Japan's tightened military collusion and nexus with NATO, a pronoun of war and confrontation, will only disturb regional peace and stability and invite instability and irreversible isolation of the archipelago.

Japan should bear in mind that its military nexus with outsiders and moves for building a military giant will only lead it to the second ruin. -0-

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Six dead as Cyclone Mocha makes landfall in western Myanmar coast

U.N. had warned of 'a nightmare scenario' in Bay of Bengal region home to crowded refugee camps.

By RFA Burmese and BenarNews 2023.05.14 -- Powerful Cyclone Mocha made landfall in western Myanmar Sunday, killing six people and bringing down trees, residents said, as humanitarian agencies warned of a severe impact on "hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people."

The cyclone had earlier on Sunday intensified to a Category Five storm, with wind speeds reaching as high as 220 kilometers per hour (137 miles per hour), according to the Myanmar Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

At least six people have been reported dead across Myanmar.

Reuters reported that parts of Sittwe, the capital of western Myanmar's Rakhine state, were flooded. A video posted on social media showed the ground floors of several buildings under water, according to the news service.

"The whole northern Rakhine has suffered severe damage," said Khine Thu Kha, spokesperson for the Arakan Army, an ethnic Rakhine rebel group. "People are in trouble."

The United Nations and its humanitarian partners spent the last week preparing for a "scaled-up cyclone response" by pre-positioning supplies and personnel.

"With the cyclone now losing intensity and moving inland, humanitarian teams" will start responding to those in need on Monday, the U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Myanmar said in a statement Sunday.

"The ongoing wild weather in Rakhine and telecommunications interruptions mean it has not yet been possible to assess the full magnitude of the disaster," the U.N. statement said.

"But early reports suggest the damage is extensive and needs among already vulnerable communities, particularly displaced people, will be high."

Before the cyclone, the U.N. had estimated six million people were "already in humanitarian need" in Rakhine state, and the regions of Chin, Magway and Sagaing.

"Collectively, these states in the country's west host 1.2 million displaced people, many of whom are fleeing conflict and are living in the open without proper shelter," said OCHA, warning of "a nightmare scenario."

Earlier fears that the cyclone might directly hit Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh - where up to one million Rohingya refugees live in crowded, low-lying camps - did not materialize, reported a correspondent for BenarNews, an online news outlet affiliated with Radio Free Asia.

The cyclone made landfall at around 3 p.m. and moved on from the area after 5 p.m. It missed Cox's Bazar city but hit the sub-district and town of Teknaf, refugee camps in Teknaf and Saint Martin's Island in the Bay of Bengal, damaging houses and uprooting trees, the correspondent reported.

About 2,000 houses were destroyed - including 1,200 houses on Saint Martin's Island - and there was damage to 10,000 other homes, according to Muhammad Shaheen Imran, the head of Cox's Bazar district civil administration.

There were no reports of landslides in Teknaf, as feared by authorities.

"Thank God, we have been saved," Bangladesh's Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md. Enamur Rahman told BenarNews. "We feared for huge damage, but we have yet to get reports of major damage."

Saint Martin's Island resident Halim Ali told BenarNews that his house was flattened and his belongings were washed away.

"Saint Martin's is a devasted place: houses destroyed, trees uprooted," he said.

Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune, said that Mocha is one of the biggest storms that has ever occurred in the Bay of Bengal.

"It is stronger than Nargis," Koll told RFA, referring to the cyclone that left nearly 140,000 people dead and missing in 2008.

Cyclone Mocha formed on Thursday, causing heavy rains and a coastal surge in Rakhine state starting on Friday.

"Cyclone frequency is more or less the same in the Bay of Bengal - but once they form, they are intensifying quickly," the scientist said. "This is in response to warmer oceans under climate change."

Killed by falling trees

Mocha was weakening Sunday evening and moving toward Myanmar's northwest. It was expected to become a depression by Monday when it's over the Sagaing region, and will eventually move toward Kachin state.

Heavy rainfall and winds were expected as it moves into areas prone to flooding and landslides, according to the U.N.

In Tachileik city in northeastern Shan state, a married couple were buried in their house in a landslide caused by heavy rains on Sunday morning, according to the Hla Moe Tachilek Social Assistance Association.

Two people in Rakhine state, one man in the Irrawaddy region and another man in the Mandalay region were killed by falling trees.

In Sittwe, a telecom tower collapsed under high winds and mobile phone signals are down. Residents have been sharing images of damaged houses and roads on social media.

A large number of structures in Sittwe and Kyauktaw, another town in Rakhine, were damaged, and the schools and monasteries where people had been sheltering were left without roofs, Reuters reported.

The winds were still ravaging Sittwe as of Sunday afternoon and local authorities warned its 150,000 inhabitants to stay indoors.

Hundreds of Sittwe's residents were already evacuated to the inland town of Mrauk-U on Saturday.

The Arakan Army, an ethnic Rakhine rebel group, said more than 10,000 people had been relocated from 21 villages on the coast and in low-lying areas in the state since Thursday.

Reported by Abdur Rahman in Cox's Bazar and Kamran Reza Chowdhury in Dhaka for BenarNews, and by RFA staff. Edited by Paul Eckert and Matt Reed.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content 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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Experts: Seoul-Tokyo Detente Helps Washington Counter Beijing

By Christy Lee May 14, 2023

China's bid for dominance in East Asia appears to have achieved what years of U.S. efforts could not - prompt a reconciliation between feuding American allies Japan and South Korea.

The leaders of South Korea and Japan came together officially this week for the second time this year, emphasizing that security situations in the region compelled them to work together.

"Grave international circumstances" and a "complex set of global crises" necessitate cooperation between South Korea and Japan, said South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol without naming specific countries at his second bilateral summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on May 7-8.

After 12 years of strained relations stemming from Japan's 1910-45 colonial occupation of Korea, the two countries opted to mend fences when Yoon visited Tokyo in March.

While North Korea and its missile threats were their most immediate focus, "there is no doubt that China and [its] regional assertiveness weighed heavily on the minds of both countries," said Evans Revere, who served as acting assistant secretary for East Asia and Pacific affairs during the George W. Bush administration.

South Korea-Japan reconciliation offers a chance for them "to work together, and in conjunction with the United States, to make clear to Beijing that they will not accept [its] attempt to achieve regional dominance," he said.

China has increasingly become aggressive in the region, with South Korea, Japan and Taiwan all claiming that Beijing has been intruding into their territorial waters and airspaces.

At a meeting in January, the U.S. and Japan expressed concern about China's attempts "to reshape the international order to its benefit and employ China's growing political and economic, military and technological power to that end."

The two nations also said they opposed "China's intensified attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force in the East China Sea."

Trilateral ties

The restoration of ties between Washington's staunchest allies in Asia also provides opportunities for the Biden administration to form a united front against China, which seeks to undermine the international rules-based order in its quest to dominate the region vis-a-vis the U.S., according to experts.

"The Biden administration [has been] pushing very hard for both to restore normal functioning of their relationship to make it easier to facilitate trilateral security cooperation" on such issues as making supply chains more resilient and slowing the transfer of advanced electronics technology to China, said Daniel Sneider, a lecturer in East Asian studies at Stanford University.

"The more that the three countries can cooperate together on everything from missile defense to maritime security, the easier it is for the U.S. to be able to fulfill its broader" security goal, he said.

Soo Kim, a former CIA analyst and currently Policy Practice Area lead at LMI Consulting, said via email, "The outcome of the Yoon-Kishida summit puts the three countries one step closer towards the direction of strengthening their efforts to counter Chinese aggression in the region."

Though the leaders of South Korea and Japan did not mention China by name, the areas in which they agreed to cooperate align with U.S. goals in the region.

The Biden administration has been trying to limit the flow of advanced technologies like semiconductors into China to prevent Beijing from using the components in military applications.

Andrew Yeo, the SK-Korea Foundation chair in Korea studies at Brookings Institution's Center for East Asia Policy Studies, said, "The two sides' decision to strengthen security and economic cooperation are in part a response to greater Chinese assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region, and not just North Korean threats."

Military and economy

As Kishida said at the post-summit joint news conference on Sunday, Seoul and Tokyo have been discussing how to link their radar with that of the U.S. so all can share data on North Korea's missile activities in live time.

Derek Grossman, a senior defense analyst focusing on security issues in the Indo-Pacific region at RAND Corporation, said in a telephone interview, "They're all going to talk about how it's related to North Korea, but we know that under the surface, what you can do against North Korea, you can also try to do against China.

"So when Japan and South Korea say, 'We're going to share information on missile defense,' China immediately thinks, 'That must be about us, too.' "

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Tuesday at a press briefing that the allies' efforts to integrate their radar systems to track North Korea's missiles "hurt the strategic security interests of other countries" and criticized the trilateral military cooperation of Washington, Seoul and Tokyo.

At the meeting of the Group of Seven countries next week in Hiroshima, the leaders of the U.S., Japan, the U.K., Canada, France, Germany and Italy are expected to discuss China's economic practices. Yoon has been invited to attend.

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Russia approves agreement on supplying natural gas to China via Far Eastern Route: Tass

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 14, 2023 04:07 PM Updated: May 14, 2023 03:59 PM

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin approved an inter-governmental agreement to supply natural gas to China through the Far East Route. The move will accelerate energy cooperation between Russia and China, experts stated.

Sino-Russian energy cooperation is strategic, whereas the implementation of the agreement on gas supplies to China via the Far Eastern line is beneficial both to Russia and China, Mishustin said at a government meeting on Thursday, Tass reported.

The cooperation deal was signed on January 31, 2023 and defines the terms of cooperation for the supply of gas from Russia to China via the Far Eastern route, including the cross-border section of the gas pipeline across the Ussuri River near the cities of Dalnerechensk in Russia, and Hulin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, according to media reports.

The approval of the agreement shows that Russia's natural gas exports to China will gain pace. It also indicates that the strategic cooperation between China and Russia will deepen especially in Russia's Far East, Song Kui, head of the Contemporary China-Russia Regional Economy Research Institute, told the Global Times on Sunday.

He noted that closer energy cooperation is beneficial to both nations as China has a huge need for cleaner energy, and Russia, facing Western sanctioning, needs to develop more markets.

On February 4, 2022, Russia's state-owned energy giant Gazprom announced it had signed a long-term agreement with China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) to supply natural gas to China via the Far Eastern Route.

"As soon as the project reaches its full capacity, the amount of Russian pipeline gas supplies to China will grow by 10 billion cubic meters, totaling 48 billion cubic meters per year (including deliveries via the Power of Siberia gas pipeline)," according to a statement on Gazprom's official website.

Last year marked significant steps for China-Russia energy cooperation. Trade volume of energy accounts for 43 percent of their total trade. According to Chinese Customs data, Russia exported 86.25 million tons of oil, 15.5 billion cubic meters of piped natural gas, 6.5 million tons of liquefied natural gas and 64.07 million tons of coal to China in 2022, all setting new records.

In addition to energy trade, China and Russia are also cooperating on development of transportation and processing of scientific and technological equipment for exploration and mining -- a new avenue of cooperation in the whole industry chain, Song said.

Russia in recent years has accelerated the pace of reform, working out preferential policies in its Far East to encourage foreign investment, including Chinese investment, Song said. For example, Russia has introduced a series of major measures, including setting up advanced special economic zones in the Russian Far East with favorable conditions on foreign investments.

Chinese Customs in May agreed to let Northeast China's Jilin Province to add Vladivostok port in Russia as a cross-border transit port for trade transactions.

"The two countries have great potential in cooperation relating to energy, infrastructure, pipelines, railways and agricultural and food processing industry in the Far East," Song said.

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Russian Recruiters 'More Assertive' Toward Central Asian Migrants As Dual Citizens' Urged To Fight In Ukraine

By Farangis Najibullah May 14, 2023

In the waiting hall of Moscow's Sakharovo Migration Center that is often packed with foreign workers applying for work or residency permits, a poster -- in Tajik, Uzbek, and Kyrgyz -- hangs on the wall.

"Are you interested in obtaining Russian citizenship in a simplified way by joining the armed forces as a contractor?" it asks.

The permit center is also frequented by army recruiters who single out military-age men to try to convince them to join the Russian armed forces in Ukraine, several Tajik migrants say.

"Once you submit your application, the recruiters take you to another room for a 'consultation,' and there they start sweet-talking you into agreeing to go to the war," one migrant told RFE/RL's Tajik Service on condition of anonymity.

Military recruiters "who were somewhat discreet in the past" have become more open and assertive in approaching Central Asian migrants, many claim, as Russia scrambles to recruit more fighters for its army in Ukraine, which has suffered massive losses since its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

To enhance the "pool" of potential recruits, a Russian lawmaker this week called for legislation that would make it easier for the military to call up people from Central Asia and the Caucasus who have obtained Russian citizenship.

Mikhail Matveyev, a Duma member, criticized naturalized citizens' reluctance to fight for Moscow, while he said the "indigenous people of Russia were dying for their homeland."

More than 20,000 Russian troops have been killed and 80,000 wounded in Ukraine since the beginning of December, the U.S. National Security Council said early this month. Other estimates suggest Russian forces have suffered far greater losses. Moscow does not report its casualty figures.

Despite the losses, Russia did not announce a new call-up this year after a "partial military mobilization" in September 2022 prompted thousands of men to flee abroad.

Instead, Russian authorities intensified efforts to attract contractors -- both among Russian citizens and migrant workers -- offering them money and other enticements.

Yes To Benefits, No To War?

From the early months of Moscow's brutal invasion of Ukraine, Russian recruiters have targeted migrant laborers, approaching them in migration centers, mosques, and dormitories.

Matveyev on May 10 requested that Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu provide information about how many naturalized citizens -- the majority of whom hail from Central Asia and the Caucasus -- have been enlisted to the army since the beginning of 2022.

Matveyev has been vocal in recent days in condemning the migrants-turned-citizens' unwillingness to join what Moscow calls a "special military operation" in Ukraine, while readily collecting welfare and other social benefits from the state.

They instead join the army of taxi drivers, street sweepers, and construction workers in Russia, Matveyev wrote on Telegram. "We don't see them on the battlefield," he said. "There is a war going on, Russia needs soldiers."

The lawmaker said naturalized citizens -- most of whom are believed to have kept their original citizenship -- have been "conveniently" using their "dual-citizenship" status to avoid going to war.

Matveyev's comments -- as well as several posts he shared from other Telegram users -- also questioned whether the Russian authorities were hesitant to send the "dual citizens" to Ukraine over some legal, political, or potential security implications.

Matveyev announced that he had been studying federal laws and preparing amendments to remove any existing obstacles to the military mobilization of dual citizens. He didn't say when the bill would be presented to parliament.

In his letter to Shoigu, the lawmaker asked for proposals "for the improvement of federal legislation regarding provision for the needs of the Russian armed forces and their reserves for mobilization from the pool of individuals who have obtained Russian citizenship."

He said more than 500,000 Tajiks have received Russian passports since 2016. That is followed by 310,000 Kazakhs, 230,000 Armenians, and 170,000 Uzbeks, he added.

The wave of labor migration to Russia continues despite the war in Ukraine and its economic fallout. According to Russian government statistics, 1.3 million migrants entered Russia just in the first quarter of this year, 60 percent more than the same period in 2022.

About half of the new arrivals are Uzbek nationals, followed by 350,000 Tajiks, and just over 172,000 Kyrgyz.

'I Would Have Fought For Russia If It Hadn't Been The Aggressor'

Negmat, a former teacher from Tajikistan, works as a builder in a private construction company on the outskirts of Moscow. Negmat, who asked that his family name not be published, obtained Russian citizenship last year along with his family of seven.

As a Russian citizen, Negmat's wife received a onetime payment of about $10,000 as the so-called "maternity capital" Moscow, has introduced to tackle the sharp decline in the country's population. The family used the money as a down payment for an apartment in a high-rise building in Podmoskovye in April.

They also receive a regular child-support payment. Negmat, 37, agrees that naturalized citizens from Central Asia "who usually have large families, get more welfare benefits than ethnic Russians."

Negmat hasn't received a military summons. As the father or five children he might be spared enlistment, he told RFE/RL on May 12.

Negmat said he "likes living in Russia and calls it home." Asked if he would go to war in Ukraine if the army summoned him, Negmat unreservedly said he wouldn't.

"Maybe, I would have fought for Russia if it was attacked," he said. "But Russia is the aggressor in this war. I don't feel bad about not fighting for Russia in Ukraine."

RFE/RL's Tajik Service contributed to this report

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-migrants- recruited-war-ukraine/32411318.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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Kyrgyzstan Sees No Hurdles to Cooperate With Russia Despite Sanction Threat

Sputnik News

20230514

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKIY, Russia (Sputnik) - There is no hindrance to Kyrgyzstan's cooperation with Russia despite secondary sanctions that the West threatens to impose on Moscow's partners, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Zheenbek Kulubaev said on Sunday.

"We are strategic partners, we have no obstacles to cooperation. Our Western partners talk about possible sanctions, but we also follow our own rules, and I don't see any problems," Kulubaev told the Russian TV channel when asked if the threat of secondary sanctions may impact bilateral relations between Russia and Kyrgyzstan.

Western countries have imposed sanctions against Russia in response to its special military operation in Ukraine and increased pressure on other states cooperating with Moscow. They have also threatened to introduce secondary sanctions against the countries that allegedly help Moscow circumvent restrictions.

A Sputnik

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Iran's Amir-Abdollahian, UN special envoy exchange views on situation in Syria

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 14 May 2023 4:48 PM

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has met and conferred with the visiting United Nations' special envoy for Syria on the latest developments in the Arab country.

Amir-Abdollahian had a meeting with Geir Pedersen in the capital Tehran on Sunday, during which the two discussed the situation in Syria following a quadrilateral gathering of the foreign ministers of Iran, Russia, Syria, and Turkey in Moscow.

The top diplomats wrapped up their landmark summit on the Syrian conflict on May 10, underscoring in a final communiquA the Arab country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and setting up a roadmap to improve strained ties between Damascus and Ankara.

"Pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and official statements in the Astana process, the participants emphasized their commitment to the territorial integrity of Syria, non-interference in its internal affairs, and fighting all forms of terrorism, separatism, and extremism in the country," the final communiquA said.

"They also emphasized the importance of increasing international humanitarian aid to Syria with the aim of facilitating the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of Syrians to their homeland and post-war reconstruction," it added.

The participants at the four-way meeting also agreed that deputy foreign ministers of the four countries should undertake the task of preparing a roadmap for advancing relations between Turkey and Syria in coordination with their defense ministries and intelligence chiefs.

Ali Asghar Khaji, a senior aide on political affairs to Iran's foreign minister, also met Pedersen and exchanged views on the four-way summit aimed at reconciliation and resumption of ties between Damascus and Ankara in various dimensions as well as Iran's cooperation with the UN to help resolve the conflict in the Arab country.

Stressing the necessity of fighting terrorism and respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, Khaji welcomed the positive developments in the relations between the Arab countries and Damascus, and said the matter was in the interest of the people and the security of the region.

Turkey severed its relations with Syria in March 2012, a year after the Arab country found itself in the grip of rampant and deadly violence waged by foreign-backed militants, including those supported by Ankara.

Since 2016, Turkey has launched several military incursions in northwest Syria and captured an important enclave previously held by US-backed Kurdish forces fighting the Assad government.

The agreement on Wednesday came a week after the representatives of Syria and Arab governments met in Jordan and agreed to set up a roadmap of their own to resolve the Syrian conflict and improve ties.

Syria has been returning to the Arab fold and restoring relations with its neighbors in a slow but steady process that culminated with a decision on May 7 by the Arab League to reinstate Syria's membership after 12 years.

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First domestically manufactured submarine prepares for final tests

ROC Central News Agency

05/14/2023 09:01 PM

Taipei, May 14 (CNA) A prototype of Taiwan's first domestically manufactured submarine is set to undergo final tests in September, Cheng Wen-lon (ees), chairman of local shipbuilder CSBC Corp., Taiwan, told CNA in a recent interview.

"We have been able to build 85 components locally so far," Cheng said, after a source familiar with the program revealed in January that more than 40 percent of the submarine's main body is being manufactured in Taiwan.

This includes airtight doors, the water conversion system, hydraulic system and the silent air conditioning system, the source said.

As an example of how difficult it is to build a modern submarine, Cheng cited the need for silent toilets.

As Taiwan lacks experience in building submarines, it has had to procure 107 core technologies to build what is known as the "red zone" of the vessel, from overseas and manufacture the rest itself, he said.

Due to the high degree of silence required onboard submarines, Cheng's team initially planned to import toilets at a cost of NT$670,000 (US$21,800) each.

However, the price tag drew a public backlash and the 990-member team in charge of building the submarine instead turned to local companies to manufacture the toilets for NT$150,000 each, he said.

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) has divided the hardware and technology needed to build a submarine into red, yellow and green categories, with "red" parts needing to be imported, "yellow" parts that can potentially be made locally, and "green" parts that can be more readily made in Taiwan.

Some "red zone" technologies beyond Taiwan's submarine design and building capability such as diesel engines, torpedo tubes and other combat equipment, have been procured from overseas, the source said.

According to Cheng, the construction of the prototype has continued around the clock since work started in 2020. Other problems were overcome with the cooperation of the Naval Shipbuilding Development Center, the Navy's 256th submarine squadron, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology and a CSBC task force.

"We worked as partners rather than buyers and sellers," he said.

After CSBC completes shipyard testing of the submarine in September, Cheng said, the company will carry out further harbor and sea operations testing before delivering the submarine to the Navy.

Taiwan has allocated a NT$49.36 billion budget over seven years (from 2019 to 2025) to build the prototype, with a plan to launch an indigenous submarine building program that will make it less dependent on other countries.

It is also hoped that such efforts will help Taiwan develop a national defense industry and in the future even enable the country to become a key submarine exporter, he said.

Although it has previously been reported that Taiwan is planning to allocate a NT$300 billion budget to build an 8-submarine fleet under the Indigenous Defense Submarine program, this has not been publicly confirmed by the military, with the MND saying such a plan requires further evaluation.

(by Matt Yu, Lai Yen-hsi and Lee Hsin-Yin) Enditem/AW

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Taiwan's Han Kuang exercises to begin Monday with tabletop wargames

ROC Central News Agency

05/14/2023 03:33 PM

Taipei, May 14 (CNA) The tabletop wargames phase of Taiwan's annual Han Kuang series of military exercises will begin on Monday, simulating the nation's armed forces responses to a potential Chinese invasion based on the latest threats posed by the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

As in previous years, this year's Han Kuang will be held in two stages.

The tabletop war games phase will be held from Monday through Friday and the live-fire exercise component is scheduled for July 24-28, according to Major General Lin Wen-huang (zcs), who is in charge of planning at the Ministry of National Defense (MND), at a late April press event.

The computerized wargames will be conducted using the United States-built Joint Theater Level Simulation (JTLS) platform to simulate joint, combined, and coalition civil-military operations at the operational level, Lin said.

Those simulations will be held around the clock for five days in a row to test the ability of military personnel to coordinate and launch a response to a Chinese invasion, Lin said.

A number of potential invasion scenarios will be run during the wargames based on the latest military threats posed by the PLA which has recently sent warplanes and warships to surround Taiwan.

However, Lin stressed that whether the invaders or defenders ultimately win the invasion scenarios are not as important as what Taiwan's armed forces learn from these simulations because the JTLS is a training session.

Deputy Chief of General Staff on Training Lieutenant General Chang Chun-chih (aaSa) said at the same April 26 press event that the training session will test the military's responses to all kinds of potential invasion scenarios and how to act accordingly.

At the end of the five-day wargames, the MND will conduct a thorough review to determine whether there are ways to improve responsive measures, he added.

The Han Kuang exercises, Taiwan's major war games, have been held annually since 1984, in the form of live-fire drills and computerized war games, to test Taiwan's combat readiness in the face of a possible Chinese invasion.

This year will mark the 39th edition of the annual exercises, which are Taiwan's most important military drills that include all branches of the armed forces.

(By Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/AW

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Turkey's tight race: Polls close amid accusations of foreign interference

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 14 May 2023 6:21 AM

Polls have now closed and vote counting is underway in Turkey's momentous elections that could extend the rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the country's longest-serving leader, or end his long innings at the helm.

Parliamentary and presidential polls opened in Turkey at 8 am (0500 GMT) and closed at 5 pm (1400 GMT), with roughly 64 million people being eligible to vote, including 3.4 million overseas voters and nearly 6 million first-time voters.

The elections have posed the biggest challenge yet to Erdogan, who faces the joint opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, amid the economic downturn and the impact of the devastating February 6 earthquake.

The outcome could significantly alter Turkey's domestic and foreign policies, which have taken unpredictable turns by the NATO-member country of 85 million.

Erdogan has cast his vote at a polling station in Istanbul's Uskuda.

"My hope to God is that after the counting concludes this evening, the outcome is good for the future of our country, for Turkish democracy," he told reporters expressing hope that the outcome of the polls would be beneficial for the country.

"The most important thing was that people in the earthquake zones were able to cast their votes and this is happening now. Turning up for voting is important to show the strength of Turkish democracy. God willing, it will be a calm day for the good of Turkish democracy," Erdogan said after casting his ballot.

'We miss democracy'

Kilicdaroglu also cast his ballot in Turkey's capital city, Ankara. Polls suggest the 74-year-old secular opposition leader, who heads the Nation Alliance forming the "Table of Six", is within touching distance of breaking the 50-percent threshold needed to win in the first round.

"I promise spring will come," Kilicdaroglu said after casting his ballot.

"All of us have missed democracy, we miss being all together. You will see spring come to this country after today and spring will always continue," said Kilicdaroglu.

Also, Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who will become vice president if the opposition party wins the election, cast his ballot in the city where he won the mayoral vote nearly four years ago.

Imamoglu, who is part of CHP, won the Istanbul mayoral rerun vote in June 2019 in one of the biggest losses Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has experienced since it came into power in 2002.

In the list of officials casting, Sinan Ogan, the third presidential candidate of the nationalist Ancestral Alliance (ATA) of three parties, has voted in Ankara and Turkey's right-wing IYI Party leader, Meral Aksener, has cast her ballot in Istanbul.

If neither of the candidates gains more than 50 percent of the vote to secure an outright win, there will be a run-off on May 28.

It is the first time that Turkey's factious opposition has coalesced around a single candidate.

Kilicdaroglu has promised to fix Turkey's faltering economy and restore democratic institutions compromised during Erdogan's rule.

Erdogan has been extolling the virtues of his long rule, campaigning on a platform of stability, independent foreign policy, and continuing to bolster Turkey's defense industry.

Recently, he raised the wages of government workers by 45 percent and lowered the retirement age. His AK Party has been in power since November 2002, and he has ruled Turkey since 2003.

There are two additional candidates competing in the presidential race, including Muharrem Ince, a former CHP leader who lost the last presidential election to Erdogan in 2018, and Sinan Ogan who has the backing of an anti-immigrant nationalist party.

'Devastated but hopeful'

Voters in the Turkish quake-hit province of Hatay said they were still "devastated" but hoped the winner of the elections would help them rebuild their homes.

"I see this election as a hope for my own future. I have hope. God willing, the results will be good. We look forward to the day when our city will be rebuilt and we will return here," said Hatay resident and voter, Suheyla Azazi Gok.

Many of the survivors were displaced from homes that were either completely destroyed or deemed unfit for living after the 7.8 magnitude quake on Feb. 6, killing more than 50,000 people and leaving millions homeless.

According to local news there is anger in the quake-affected regions, as Erdogan's government has not begun reconstruction there, as most buildings were destroyed during the February quakes.

On Friday, Kilicdaroglu, paying his respects at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, in Ankara, asked tens of thousands gathered to hear his final speech to vote on Sunday to "change Turkey's destiny."

Kilicdaroglu alleged that he has concrete evidence of the Russian intervention in Turkish elections without presenting any evidence to uphold his claim.

The Kremlin's spokesman, Dimitry Peskov, said on Saturday, "We categorically do not accept the accusations of interference in the Turkish elections. This is out of the question," adding that Kilicdaroglu would not be able to provide proof of the supposed interference "because it does not actually exist."

On the other side, addressing a rally in Istanbul's Umraniye district, Turkey's president referred to comments made by Biden in January 2020, when he said Washington should encourage Erdogan's opponents to defeat him electorally, stressing he should not be ousted in a coup.

"Biden gave the order to topple Erdogan, I know this. All my people know this," Turkey's president said, adding, "If that is the case, then the ballots tomorrow will give a response to Biden too."

Erdogan also criticized Kilicdaroglu for his comments on Russia, describing Moscow as an important ally of Ankara. "Russia has been one of our most important allies regarding agriculture products," he said.

Voters will also elect a new parliament, likely a tight race between the Cumhur AttifakA (People's Alliance) comprising Erdogan's conservative Adalet ve KalkAnma Party (Justice and Development Party, AK Party), the ultranationalist MilliyetAi Hareket (Nationalist Movement Party, MHP) and other far-right groups.

Kilicdaroglu's Millet AttifakA (Nation Alliance) includes six parties. Voters will select 600 members of parliament from 87 electoral districts to represent them in Turkey's unicameral parliament for the next five years.

Polls suggest that Erdogan's right-wing alliance is edging out the opposition bloc in the parliamentary ballot. But the opposition would win a majority if it secured support from a new leftist alliance that represents the Kurdish vote.

While there has been concern about how Erdogan might react if he loses, the president said in a televised interview on Friday that he would accept the outcome of the election, no matter the result.

"If our nation decides to make such a different decision, we will do exactly what is required by democracy and there is nothing else to do," he said.

The results will carry global resonance since Turkey, a member of the US-led NATO military alliance, has played an increasingly important role on the international stage in recent years.

Turkey's footprint in both Europe and the Middle East makes the election's outcome as critical for Washington and Brussels as it is for Damascus and Moscow.

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1,500 UK troops join major NATO exercise amid expanded UK deployment to Estonia

More than 1,500 UK troops are set to train alongside thousands of personnel from NATO Alliance countries, as part of a major exercise in Estonia.

14 May 2023

Personnel from all three services of the UK Armed Forces are deployed in Estonia, carrying out exercises and operations as part of our commitment to NATO.

More than 1,500 troops have been deployed for Exercise Spring Storm, demonstrating the reinforcement of the UK-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battlegroup to Brigade-sized strength.

14,000 personnel from 11 NATO countries will demonstrate interoperability in multi-domain training scenarios as part of the exercise.

More than 1,500 UK troops are set to train alongside thousands of personnel from NATO Alliance countries, as part of a major exercise in Estonia.

Exercise Spring Storm is the largest annual military exercise involving the UK-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup, comprised of both UK and French forces, with more than 14,000 personnel due to take part from 11 NATO countries.

At last year's NATO summit, the UK committed to increase the size of its eFP commitment, with this year's exercise marking the first time the UK has conducted a brigade-sized deployment to Estonia - involving hundreds more personnel than in previous deployments.

Spread across tough and varied Estonian terrain, ground units will be tested on realistic battlefield scenarios including trench assaults, reconnaissance missions, and light infantry tactics, moving up to armoured vehicle manoeuvres and combined arms warfare.

Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, said:

Hundreds of UK troops from across our Armed Forces will again train with personnel from eleven NATO nations, demonstrating the strength of our interoperability with partner nations and our combined commitment to the NATO Alliance. While the Russian Army continues their illegal invasion of Ukraine threatening stability in Europe, the UK and our allies will continue to support Ukraine and defend our shared values and freedom.

Beyond the land-based elements of the two-week exercise, members of the RAF will carry out training exercises in reconnaissance and air-land integration, while Royal Marines Commandos will also carry out a beach assault exercise to test the UK's maritime strike capability.

The eFP provides a continuous NATO presence along its eastern border, with deployed troops acting as a deterrence against any aggression towards the Alliance's borders. Recent actions carried out as part of the UK-led eFP include air intercepts of Russian aircraft by RAF fighter jets.

Personnel from the British Army's 7th Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team (7LMBCT) HQ and Light Dragoons Battlegroup (LD BG) join the Queen's Royal Hussars (QRH) for the exercise, which will include Challenger 2 tanks, Warrior and CV90 Infantry Fighting Vehicles, Jackal, CAESAR self-propelled howitzers, and other artillery pieces, including British GMLRS and US HIMARS.

Supporting air-based exercises will be four Wildcat and five Apache helicopters, as well as three RAF Typhoon fighter jets.

The Queen's Royal Hussars Commanding Officer Lt Col Steve Wilson said:

The eFP is looking forward to the opportunities provided by Exercise Spring Storm. The chance to train over the terrain we might need to defend adds to the gravitas of the exercise. Our Battlegroup is fully integrated with 1st Estonian Brigade and brings a highly trained and capable UK and French troops to the field. We will be bringing a wide range of hard-hitting capabilities from Main Battle Tanks (MBT), anti-tank, and artillery to snipers, mortars, engineers and tactical air controllers. We look forward to demonstrating the capabilities and resolve of the NATO alliance over the coming days.

The exercise is conducted in a peer-on-peer format, allowing the reconnaissance capabilities of the LD Battlegroup to be tested against the heavy armour of the QRH Battlegroup, and vice versa.

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Zelensky pushes Germany to replace US as Ukraine's first arms provider

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 14 May 2023 7:23 PM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has met with German leaders in Berlin and pressed them for faster deliveries of advanced weapons and fighter jets, in a visit that aims to nudge Germany towards potentially replacing the United States as Kiev's most prominent supplier of arms.

Zelensky, who was escorted to Berlin by German fighter jets for his first trip, noted that Germany was now Ukraine's second-largest backer after the United States. "We are working to bring Germany to first place on that," he said at a news conference on Sunday.

"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," he wrote in the guestbook at the German president's official residence.

"Together we will win and bring peace back to Europe," he added in the entry, before heading into talks with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Zelensky "discussed the current situation and the intensive cooperation between Germany and Ukraine" with Steinmeier.

Earlier, Zelensky was greeted by Chancellor Olaf Scholz with military honors before heading into talks behind closed doors.

Speaking to journalists at the German chancellery, Zelensky and Scholz sought to highlight an improving relationship with exchanges of gratitude and praise.

Germany has become a major contributor of tanks, rockets and anti-missile systems to Ukraine.

Zelensky's trip to Germany comes as Kiev is preparing a counter-offensive against Russian forces. Ukrainian forces have been training troops and stockpiling Western-supplied munitions and hardware.

It also comes amid concerns among European and Ukrainian officials that American support for Ukraine could wane after the presidential elections in the United States next year.

On Sunday, Berlin unveiled its biggest armaments package for Ukraine yet, including tanks, missile defense systems and combat vehicles worth 2.7 billion euros.

High-tech German-made Leopard 2A6 tanks sought by Kiev have already been put to use at the frontlines, and the medium-range Iris-T missile defense system from Germany is also helping to bolster Ukraine against Russian forces.

Western allies have delivered increasingly powerful weapons to Ukraine.

Zelensky's trip to Germany aimed at shoring up support among Western allies and pushing for faster deliveries of weapons.

Britain this week announced it was sending Storm Shadow missiles, becoming the first country to send longer-range arms to Kiev.

Russia described it as "an extremely hostile step" and on Saturday accused Kiev of using the British missiles to target civilian sites in eastern Ukraine, wounding six children.

Russia accused Ukraine of repeatedly hitting targets inside Russia, including a reported attack on Moscow's Kremlin earlier this month.

Senior officials in Moscow have repeatedly accused the West of becoming directly involved in the Ukraine war by supplying the country with weapons and training its soldiers.

Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in February warned that further involvement by NATO member states in the Ukraine war would lead to "unpredictable escalation."

Russia says the operation in Ukraine was launched to defend the pro-Russia population in the eastern Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk against alleged persecution by Kiev.

Over the past year, the US and its NATO allies have supplied a large cache of advanced military equipment to Ukraine, despite Moscow's repeated warnings.

Ever since the war began, Kiev's allies, led by the United States and Britain, have been supplying Ukraine with weapons, a step that Russia says would prolong the conflict.

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Zelensky plots bold attacks inside Russia, bombing major oil pipeline, leaks show

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 14 May 2023 8:18 AM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has plotted in private to launch bold attacks inside Russia, according to leaked documents.

Zelensky, who till recently was refused long-range weapons to use in attacks against Russia, behind closed doors sketched out plans earlier this year for major military actions such as occupying cities and villages inside Russia, bombing a pipeline that transfers Russian oil to Hungary, and using long-range missiles to hit targets on the Russian side of the border.

The leaked classified US intelligence documents detailed his internal communications with top aides and military leaders cited by the Washington Post.

The documents were first leaked by Jack Teixeira, a young member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard.

The UK, this past week, became the first Western country to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles, the Storm Shadow.

The secret documents reveal that Ukraine's president has an aggressive sub-personality that is in sharp contrast to the public image he tries to portray of a comedian actor who became a seasoned politician amid political turmoil in the former Soviet state.

Zelensky, according to the leaked documents, proposed Ukrainian military brass to "conduct strikes in Russia" and deploy Ukrainian ground troops into Russian territory to "occupy unspecified Russian border cities," according to one of the documents labeled "top secret."

The goal would be "to give Kiev leverage in talks with Moscow," the document said.

According to another classified document, he suggested to General Valery Zaluzhny, Ukraine's top military commander, that "Ukraine attack unspecified deployment locations in Rostov," a region in western Russia, using drones.

Zelensky had been distraught at the time of the meeting that "Ukraine does not have long-range missiles capable of reaching Russian troop deployments in Russia," the leaked documents reported.

After Russia launched its special military operation in eastern Ukraine in February 2022, Ukraine was flooded with a raft of Western weapons and armaments.

However, other classified US military documents leaked on social media also indicate that Washington has serious doubts regarding Ukrainian forces' military strength to fight against Russia, according to an April report and documents reviewed by AFP as part of a trove of highly sensitive material that had been posted online.

Strong Russian defenses and Ukrainian deficiencies in training and munitions supplies will probably exacerbate casualties during offensives by Ukraine, reported one top-secret document.

"Enduring Ukrainian deficiencies in training and munitions supplies probably will strain progress and exacerbate casualties during the offensive," the leaked documents said.

The tragic state of Ukrainian air defenses was detailed in another secret document which specifically stated that Kiev forces' ability to provide air defenses to protect the front line against Russian airstrikes will be completely reduced by May 23.

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Zelenskiy Travels To Paris After Being Hailed In Germany For Contributions To European Unity

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service May 14, 2023

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on May 14 flew to Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, extending a tour of European capitals after accepting the Charlemagne Prize at a ceremony in Aachen, Germany.

Zelenskiy and Macron were to hold talks over dinner that Macron said would reaffirm France's and Europe's "unwavering support to reestablish Ukraine in its legitimate rights and to defend its fundamental interests."

They'll also discuss Ukraine's military and humanitarian needs and "the more long-term perspectives for a return to peace in Europe," the Elysee Palace said in a statement.

Zelenskiy said earlier it was "great honor" to receive the prize on behalf of the Ukrainian people, who have been fighting for their freedom and the values of Europe.

Zelenskiy, who was showered with accolades before he accepted the prize, said every Ukrainian "would deserve to stand here."

In his acceptance speech he stressed that Ukraine wanted nothing more than peace, but this could only be achieved with victory in the conflict, which he said would decide the fate of Europe.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz thanked Zelenskiy for defending European values and spoke the words "the president is here. We are all here" in Ukrainian, quoting Zelenskiy after the invasion began in February 2022 as he made it clear that the Ukrainian people would not yield to Russia's violence.

"Rarely in history have such brief words had such a great effect," Scholz said.

"Europe owes a lot to the Ukrainian people and personally to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy," he added. "We stand together! We belong together! And our story will continue together."

Scholz also pledged Germany's "full support" to Ukraine on its journey to become a member of the European Union.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki hailed Zelenskiy as "the most outstanding leader on an international stage in the 21st century," while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Zelenskiy and the Ukrainian people were paying with their blood and their lives as they fight for freedom, humanity, and peace.

Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the recipient of the award last year, was also present at the ceremony. She said it was an honor to meet Zelenskiy.

"We stand united with Ukraine for freedom and for democracy," Tsikhanouskaya said on Twitter.

Earlier in Berlin, Zelenskiy thanked Germany for its "powerful support" after Berlin pledged a 2.7 billion-euro ($3 billion) package of arms and discussed his country's planned counteroffensive with Scholz.

The military 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.

Ukraine is preparing to liberate occupied areas but will not attack Russia, Zelenskiy said in response to a question about a report by The Washington Post saying that he had privately asked Western partners for long-range weapons that could strike inside Russia.

"We have neither the time nor the strength [to attack Russia]," he said. "And we also don't have weapons to spare, with which we could do this."

The Washington Post on May 14 cited previously undisclosed documents from a U.S. intelligence leak suggesting that Zelenskiy had considered trying to capture areas in Russia for possible use as bargaining chips in peace negotiations. The United States and other Western governments have insisted that the weapons they provide must not be used to attack targets in Russia.

As Zelenskiy continues his tour of European capitals, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar provided an update on the situation on the battlefield.

Malyar said that Ukrainian forces had captured more than 10 Russian positions on the outskirts of Bakhmut and taken captive enemy soldiers of various units.

"Anyone who knows the real situation and is there now understands the gravity of what is happening," Malyar added.

In a rare announcement of battlefield losses, the Russian Defense Ministry said on May 14 that two of its military commanders had been killed in eastern Ukraine, as Kyiv's forces renewed efforts to take back territory near the embattled city of Bakhmut.

The ministry said in a statement that the commander of the 4th Motorized Rifle Brigade, Vyacheslav Makarov, and Yevgeny Brovko, deputy commander of the army corps for military-political work, had been killed in fighting to repel Ukrainian attacks.

It said that Makarov had been leading troops from the front line, and that Brovko "died heroically, suffering multiple shrapnel wounds."

Ukraine's General Staff said that the Russian military continued to focus its main efforts on areas around Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, and Maryinka, and that about 30 combat clashes took place during the day on May 14.

It was not possible to independently verify Russia's account of the battlefield situation.

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 Russia's 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.

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

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-germany-zelenskiy- visit-aid/32410935.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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NATO Intends to Offer Kiev Support, But No Membership at July Summit - Reports

Sputnik News

20230514

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Reportedly NATO will offer Ukraine great assistance opportunities, but hardly facilitate any progress on its membership bid at the July summit in Lithuania.

Officials and diplomats of the alliance are planning to come up with a proposal that will include immediate support measures for Ukraine, but will not give the country the so-desired member status, according to the Western media outlet.

Source familiar with the matter said the solution will be presented at the NATO summit in Vilnius from July 11-12.

Germany, unlike the United States and the United Kingdom, remains the main opponent to Ukraine's accession, the media stated. Berlin believes that a country involved in an all-out conflict with a nuclear power is far from a good candidate for NATO membership.

Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have said that it is clear Ukraine will not join NATO until the conflict is over, but the country hopes to receive an invitation to the alliance from its Western allies as soon as possible.

Last month, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Ukraine would eventually join the bloc, as all NATO members support its ambitions. Later, Stoltenberg's statement was opposed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

In September, Zelensky announced that Ukraine was applying to be fast-tracked to join NATO. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow was closely monitoring the situation and recalled that Kiev's orientation toward the alliance was one of the reasons for the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in February 2022.

A Sputnik

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Russian Forces Destroy Ukrainian Reconnaissance Group Near Maryinka

Sputnik News

20230514

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian forces have destroyed a Ukrainian reconnaissance group in the Maryinka district of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), a Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson told Sputnik.

"In the southern Donetsk direction, the advanced units of the 'Vostok' group of forces located and, with the support of artillery, destroyed an enemy reconnaissance group south of Prechystevka [village, located in Maryinka district]," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that Russian artillery units destroyed two points of Ukrainian troops' temporary deployment in the Zaporozhye region, discovered via aerial reconnaissance.

In addition, a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) attack was repelled in the Zaporozhye direction and three rockets were shot down by the Buk anti-aircraft missile systems.

The spokesperson also told Sputnik that a US-produced M777 howitzer was destroyed using the Lancet precision loitering munition.

Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, after the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics appealed for help in defending themselves against Ukrainian provocations. In response to Russia's operation, Western countries have rolled out a comprehensive sanctions campaign against Moscow and have been supplying weapons to Ukraine.

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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Europe and other parts of the world should not be a place where the ambitions of tyrants destroy the lives of nations - speech by President of Ukraine at the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen award ceremony

President of Ukraine

14 May 2023 - 22:49

Thank you so much.

A great honor to be here.

Madam Mayor, Mr. Linden,

Dear Olaf, dear Ursula, Mateusz, Roberta!

Dear colleagues!

Thank you very much for your kind words about Ukraine and our heroes, and our soldiers, and our children. Thank you very much! They are real heroes! Thank you for Europe, which is now finally able to fulfill the dream that was laid as the basis of European unity!

It is an honor for me to represent the Ukrainian people here today. And each day. Millions of people who are fighting and working for our values and freedom - and for our free Europe. All Ukrainians, each of our heroes deserve to stand here and receive this award.

But since the millions of people just will not fit in this hall, let our language which represents all our people be spoken here today.

The Ukrainian language has never been spoken in these walls - by the awardee. Now, when Ukraine is returning to its native European home, I believe that the Ukrainian language will be spoken here on many occasions from now - while recognizing special contribution to the European unity.

Ukrainians will always make Europe stronger!

All of us in this room, all who stand with us in defense of freedom and Europe, are more than leaders and politicians, civil society activists and diplomats. We are all founders of peace. Exactly the founders of peace. This is our primary duty to our countries, to our Europe, and to our history.

It is peace that we will leave to our children and grandchildren as a legacy of today. We do not have and do not want any other alternatives. But in order to leave peace as a legacy, we must reach the day when we can say that we are ending this war with our common victory.

Dear Europeans!

History is built on victories, although it also remembers defeats. There were illusions that other bricks for history than victories were possible, but such illusions resulted in the disappearance or, at best, many years of silence in history of those who professed them. Illusions turn into deaths.

The peace of our parents' generation is the peace that was left as a legacy by those who defeated the penultimate great aggression in Europe. And the peace of our children's generation is the peace that we are gaining right now in the battles against the last aggression in Europe.

The battles are taking place more than 2,000 kilometers away from Aachen - on the land of Ukraine, in our skies, in our Black Sea... and in European destiny. This battlefield is the fate of Europe.

Today's Russia has waged aggression not only against us as a free and independent state, not only against a united Europe as a global symbol of peace and prosperity. This is Russia's war for the past. By overcoming kilometers of Ukrainian territory, Russia was trying to overcome years of European history. Our history, the very 73 years when The Charlemagne Prize is awarded here.

We are faced with an aggressor who is willing to go to any lengths of cruelty and meanness to claim that history allegedly does not change... As if it was once, so it will be again. As if whoever has the power will have the territory, any territory the aggressor wants. As if the one who is capable of greater meanness has more rights to Europe. As if civilization is worth absolutely nothing - this is what Russia is manifesting with this genocidal aggression.

We are faced with an aggressor for whom our common European striving for peace and rules means nothing and who wants something for Europe that no free nation, no honest leader, no one in this room would agree with.

We are united in the belief that Europe and all other parts of the world should not be a place where the ambitions of tyrants destroy the lives of nations.

And we must become winners so that it is our view of life that will remain in Europe.

Dear Europe!

Ukraine is offering you a victory that will turn into peace and save you.

Ukraine is offering a victory not just in this war alone, but over aggressions and annexations, the burning of cities, deportations, and the catastrophe of genocide anywhere else on earth. We are offering and bringing closer a common victory over those who have taken all this old evil from the pages of the past to destroy our future, which all of us - all of Europe - dream of for our children.

Russia, of its own free will, has embarked on the path of evil. Our will is enough to cut off this path and the path of any similar aggressors who might someday try to follow Russia.

We will accomplish this task. But only together!

Dear Olaf!

I am now addressing you personally, and through you I am addressing your entire state, the powerful Germany.

Ukraine and the whole of Europe - we honor your choice to be for Europe, to be with Europe. When you saw the Zeitenwende, you acted as a defender of Europe should act.

Europe will always be grateful to you and this German government.

Grateful for your effectiveness in helping Ukraine, for your and your colleagues' effectiveness in defending your country, and for the strength you and all of Germany give to Europe.

Brilliant German IRIS-T that have already saved thousands of lives of our people from Russian missile terror. Powerful German Marders help save the lives of our soldiers as they put pressure on the Russian occupiers. Sturdy German Leopards provide us with the protection we need.

And it is very important that Germany helps not only militarily, but also with its leadership in the economy, in the humanitarian sphere, and in diplomacy.

Last year, Ukraine presented ten points of our Peace Formula, and I believe that Germany will also become one of the leaders in its implementation.

This Russian aggression takes place on our land. And it is our people who are dying every day in the confrontation with this evil, which, by striking Ukraine, strikes at the very idea of a peaceful Europe, at the very idea of a rules-based international order.

We see this evil of aggression closer than anyone, so we also see better than anyone how to defeat this evil, how to prevent its replication in other parts of the world or at other times. And we invite the world to join our just and fair principles of peace.

Everyone who joins our formula actually makes it their own. And I am sure that the Ukrainian formula for peace can become a German formula for peace, a European formula for peace, a formula for peace for the world.

The only one who does not accept it is the aggressor. And it is because he is the aggressor that he does not accept it. But what is most important is that he is alone, and we are not afraid of him. And he does not accept this because he is not interested in peace. This is it.

There were hundreds of rounds of negotiations between 2014 and 2022 in various formats with Russia after its occupation of our Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea and the incitement of a hybrid war against Ukraine in Donbas. There were all these negotiations.

And you, Olaf, Mr. Chancellor, you remember, and our ally President Emmanuel Macron, and other conscientious leaders of the world spent hours and hours talking to Putin, trying to avert this modern-day catastrophe.

But Putin has chosen catastrophe. Alone.

Now everyone understands what we understand. Putin is a catastrophe. This is the answer. Putin is an aggression, and he does not want anything else for himself and his people. His formula has become death.

How can one talk to it, explain to me, how to talk to it? In its long history, humanity has never known anyone who could reach an agreement with death.

The one who brought death, the one who embarked on the path of genocide, the one who wants to destroy us, the one who wants to destroy the Europe we value must ask for mercy. And then there will be our response - a tribunal.

Our determination will lead to the fact that we will also see Russia's interest in our efforts for peace. And it will happen. When there is no source of death there.

We can win! And we are already bringing the victory closer, as it has been repeatedly proven by the tears of joy of children and adults, women, men, young and old, whom our soldiers liberated from Russian occupation. Wherever our blue and yellow flag returns to the liberated land, Europe returns. Our Europe! The values return that you - just like us - defended on your squares and enshrined in your constitutions.

It is a fact that freedom for our people whom Russia tried to enslave is ensured by the bravery of our warriors and the weapons, including yours, of all those who help us defend ourselves. And now only weapons will stop this death. And this is a fact.

That is why it is important to be firm and resolute in helping Ukrainian soldiers with weapons.

It has often been said, including here in Aachen, during the award ceremony of this prestigious prize, that Europe must become one of the world's superpowers. Unlike other similar powers, Europe has this potential only when nothing but European Unity becomes a superpower. And we see it now: the superpower of European Unity. We see it thanks to Ukraine and thanks to each and every one of you. Thank you.

Your solidarity and leadership, dear colleagues, in particular your solidarity and leadership, Ursula, with which the European Union has responded to our courage, reflected the basic principles that Robert Schuman, Konrad Adenauer and Jean Monnet sought for Europe. They would be proud of each and every one of you who is defending Europe together with Ukraine!

Ukrainian courage and your solidarity have given Europe a unity that has never been seen before.

The time has come to enshrine this strength of our unity with the decision on Ukraine's accession to the European Union. You know that Europe is not complete without Ukraine in the European Union. And I thank you, Olaf, I thank every leader in Europe who supports the completeness of the European project.

There is no rational reason why our soldiers, who are fighting so heroically and successfully for our common freedom, our common values, are not yet in the same organization as all other soldiers of the Alliance.

Judging by the results of our actions, Ukraine is already in the Alliance, but the de jure decision has not yet been made. This decision should be made! And it is worth defining an algorithm - it motivates our soldiers. And this is important!

In addition to strengthening the entire Euro-Atlantic region with the courage of Ukrainians, our accession to the Alliance will definitely yield another historic result - NATO flags next to the flags of Ukraine on our eastern border will become a powerful lock that will keep Russian imperialism in the past forever. In the past that cannot be returned, because without control over Ukraine, Russian imperialism is dying.

And there is another prerequisite for our common victory, which Ukraine is offering.

Europe's longest-lasting peace and most reliable security have been ensured by building ties between the peoples of Europe instead of barriers.

And when we now see, instead of strengthening our ties, any fresh barriers that are so reminiscent of old mistakes, whether they are barriers in politics, or barriers in economics, or in trade, we see a threat not to one European nation, but to the whole of Europe.

Mateusz! I am very grateful for the great support from Poland to Ukraine. Thank you very much! And it is very important for us to maintain this unity.

Any seeds of misunderstanding between anyone in Europe should not give rise to conflict! And this is in the fundamental interests of our peoples. Europe gains strength and prosperity every time there is minus one barrier on the continent.

Dear participants!

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!

Today I spoke only about what is necessary for our common victory, and therefore only about what is necessary for sustainable peace for all of us.

I dream of Europe becoming victorious! I know that Ukrainians can win! I urge all of you to become winners together with us, together with Ukrainians!

This time has come! It is now being decided what the outcome of this war will be and whether this is really the last aggression in Europe.

Everything depends on our unity, on our speed, on our determination to win.

So my main appeal to you today is to be worthy of Charlemagne's character! Win!

Establish peace, which will be the fruit of our common victory and which we will leave to our children and grandchildren as our main legacy, the legacy of Europe!

And if anyone still has doubts about whether to support the Ukrainian people, please, here in Aachen or in any other city of our beautiful free Europe, please go outside, look around you, feel the main thing we strive for, the thing that is given to us all by peace and respect in Europe. Feel the freedom that is simply there!

And we are fighting for it. And we will win.

Glory to all our warriors who are in combat today for the sake of Ukraine, at combat posts and on combat missions!

Glory to all who train Ukrainian warriors!

Glory to all who help, who work, who fight!

Ukraine will win! Europe will win!

Peace will prevail!

Glory to Ukraine!

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Joint Declaration by Ukraine and Germany

President of Ukraine

14 May 2023 - 16:11

At their meeting in Berlin on 14 May 2023, the President of Ukraine and the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany issued the following declaration.

1. The President of Ukraine and the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. Ukraine has shown remarkable determination in exercising its inherent right to self-defence against this illegal, unprovoked and unjustifiable attack. Russia must immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

2. Germany remains unwavering in its commitment to Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Germany commends the determination and courage of the Ukrainian people and its armed forces in defense against Russian aggression and in securing Ukraine's free and democratic future. Germany will continue its political, financial, humanitarian and military support to Ukraine for as long as it takes - individually and through international cooperation in the European Union, the G7, in NATO, in the United Nations and in other formats.

3. Germany has provided unprecedented, substantial and robust military contributions to Ukraine, donating and acquiring a variety of weapons systems, including high value and effective air defense missile and gun systems, Leopard 1 and 2 main battle tanks, Marder infantry fighting vehicles, armoured combat vehicles, artillery systems, air surveillance and counter battery radars and tons of tank, artillery, air defence, gun ammunitions. In close cooperation with partners, Germany has also established maintenance and service hubs for systems delivered. Germany has moreover earmarked in total over 11 billion EUR for 2023 and beyond in order to continue military support for Ukraine. Through tailored new military equipment packages Germany will continue to support Ukraine in strengthening its defence capabilities. The Ramstein Ukraine Defense Contact Group is an important forum for coordinating military and defense assistance to Ukraine.

4. Germany actively contributes to the measures of the European Union in the military assistance to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility. For this purpose, the European Union has so far allocated 5,5 billion EUR for military assistance to Ukraine. Nationally and through the EU Military Assistance Mission, Germany together with its partners significantly contributes to strengthening the capacity of Ukrainian armed forces, including through the Specialized Training Command in Germany.

5. Beyond military assistance, Germany has provided Ukraine with comprehensive civilian assistance, including financial, humanitarian and emergency support, including for the reconstruction of damaged civilian infrastructure, roads and bridges, as well as helping Ukraine repair and restore damaged energy and water infrastructure. In solidarity with Ukraine, Germany has provided home and shelter for over 1 million Ukrainian refugees, as well as social benefits for those in need.

Since 24 February 2022 Germany's overall bilateral support of Ukraine amounts to 17 billion EUR, building on long-standing cooperation and in addition to support via European and multilateral channels and institutions. Germany is determined to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.

6. No country wants peace more than Ukraine. Germany supports Ukraine's initiative for a just and sustainable peace in line with the UN Charter and based on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity as stipulated in President Zelenkyy's Peace Formula, which is a basis for further discussion. Germany stands ready to cooperate with Ukraine to ensure as wide an international participation as possible in the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula and in a Global Peace Summit.

7. Ukraine and Germany underline their firm commitment to bringing to justice those responsible for war crimes and other atrocities committed in connection with Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Germany welcomes ongoing international efforts, in cooperation with Ukraine, to ensure accountability in accordance with international law through the establishment of an appropriate justice mechanism to ensure effective accountability for the crime of aggression, which is of concern to the international community as a whole. Broad international support is key in this regard.

Ukraine and Germany reiterate their support for the investigations of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, and have taken note of the court's arrest warrants.

8. Ukraine and Germany agree on the need to maintain and increase our collective pressure on Russia and those who are supporting its war efforts through further sanctions to weaken Russia's ability to continue its illegal war of aggression. Efforts to ensure the effective implementation of sanctions and to prevent and counter circumvention must be strengthened. Together with its European and international partners, Germany is moreover taking steps to counter the negative effects of Russia's war of aggression globally, especially on the world's most vulnerable groups.

9. Ukraine and Germany will continue to work together with others to develop mechanisms to provide compensation for losses, injuries and damages caused by the Russian aggression. To this end, the international register of damage, to be presented at the Reykjavik Summit of the Council of Europe on 16-17 May 2023, is an important milestone. Our efforts will continue to explore appropriate options for the use of frozen and immobilized Russian assets to support Ukraine's reconstruction and for the purposes of reparation consistent with our respective legal systems and in accordance with European and international law.

10. Germany, together with international organizations and European and international partners, is committed to participate in the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine. Already now, it is important to lay the ground for an ambitious and long-term engagement that will create opportunities and enable the Ukrainian people to rebuild their country, based on a transparent and inclusive national reconstruction architecture. Engaging all relevant partners, including the private sector as well as national and international organizations and financial institutions with the aim of securing the financial support, investments and knowledge needed, is essential to ensure a prosperous future for Ukraine. To this end, Germany remains fully committed to contribute to the work of the Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform for Ukraine that was established during the German G7 Presidency in 2022.

11. Ukraine and Germany declare their willingness to further strengthen their bilateral economic relations across all fields. German companies remain active in Ukraine, some of them planning to increase their production in Ukraine. German businesses stand ready to support reconstruction efforts with know-how and technology. Furthermore, Germany actively supports the modernization as well as reconstruction of the Ukrainian energy sector, including energy infrastructure through the bilateral energy partnership.

12. The future of Ukraine and its people lies in Europe. The European Union has recognized the European perspective of Ukraine and granted Ukraine the status of candidate country. Germany strongly supports Ukraine in its reform efforts and in meeting the requirements needed to start accession negotiations and is looking forward to the European Commission's report as part of its enlargement package in autumn 2023.

13. Germany supports the NATO-Ukraine Commission as a venue to further increase and expand the partnership between NATO and Ukraine on its path consistent with the Bucharest Declaration, thus advancing our common interest in Euro-Atlantic peace, stability and security. Ukraine and Germany look forward to addressing these issues at the NATO Summit in Vilnius in July 2023.



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President of Ukraine met with members of the German Security Cabinet

President of Ukraine

14 May 2023 - 16:05

During his official visit to Germany, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with members of the German Security Cabinet.

The meeting, which was also attended by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, was joined by Vice Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck, Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock, Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius, Minister of Finance Christian Lindner, Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Svenja Schulze and Minister of the Interior and Community Nancy Faeser.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that such a format of the meeting is unique and fully consistent with the high level of cooperation achieved between our countries. He expressed gratitude to the German government and each of the officials present for their effective comprehensive assistance to Ukraine since the first days of full-scale Russian aggression.

Having briefed the members of the German Security Cabinet on the situation on the frontline and the priority needs of the Ukrainian defense forces, the Head of State emphasized the necessity of lifting restrictions and red lines on the supply of all types of weapons to Ukraine.

Addressing the Federal Chancellor, the President noted a fundamentally new character of bilateral relations.

"Since February 24 last year, with the "change of epochs," as you so aptly put it, relations between our countries have changed profoundly. From providing Ukraine with humanitarian aid to receiving the most modern air defense systems, artillery, infantry fighting vehicles and battle tanks," he emphasized.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the Chancellor for his personal role in these transformations and expressed hope for Germany's leadership in the formation of the air coalition.

The Head of State commended the decision of the Federal Government to earmark funds for the purchase of military equipment necessary for Ukraine until 2032 in the total amount of 17 billion euros.

A full range of topical issues of bilateral cooperation was discussed. Particular attention was paid to security support for Ukraine and the development of substantive cooperation in this area; Germany's involvement in the reconstruction of our country, including the role of the private sector in this process, as well as cooperation on the path of Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

The parties considered key areas of cooperation in the international arena, including Germany's involvement in the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula and the organization of the Global Peace Summit, assistance in the implementation of Black Sea Grain Initiative and Grain from Ukraine humanitarian program.





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President of Ukraine: We are working to create a coalition of fighter jets

President of Ukraine

14 May 2023 - 15:43

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that his foreign visits are, in particular, dedicated to the creation of a coalition of partner countries within which our country will be provided with Western-type fighter jets. He said this during a conversation with media representatives following the negotiations with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.

"We are now working to create a coalition of fighter jets, and partly my visits to European capitals are aimed at this. I think we will succeed," the President said, answering journalists' questions.

The Head of State noted that he would continue discussing this issue with Olaf Scholz and would appeal, in particular, to the German side to support Ukraine.

"Today, Russia has superiority in the Ukrainian sky. But our task is to be powerful in this space," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

For his part, Olaf Scholz noted that German support is aimed at strengthening Ukraine's ability to defend its territories in order to force Russia to retreat and leave Ukrainian soil.

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy following the meeting with Olaf Scholz in Berlin: Germany's leadership in protecting peace can make the world safer

President of Ukraine

14 May 2023 - 15:33

During his official visit to Germany, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz.

The Head of State expressed his sincere gratitude to Olaf Scholz and the entire German people for every Ukrainian life that was saved thanks to the support of Germany.

"I want to emphasize that Germany's assistance is about protecting lives. The lives of our people in cities and villages, which are reliably protected, in particular, by the air defense systems you have provided. The lives of our soldiers on the battlefield, which are protected by the armored vehicles you have provided. Social life in Ukraine, which is protected by your financial support, which is very important. Ukraine knows how to be grateful and will always be grateful to your country," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a conversation with media representatives following the negotiations with the head of the German government in Berlin.

"I believe that your leadership - yours, Olaf, and that of the entire Germany - leadership in the defense of peace can make the world safer. The more we cooperate for peace, the more Germany is a leader in defending peace, the more stability international relations will have," he added.

The President of Ukraine emphasized that in order for this war to end with a just and fair peace, for Ukraine and the whole of Europe to be free, and for the territorial integrity and security of all European nations to be guaranteed, we must act now.

"This year we can make the aggressor's defeat irreversible. I am grateful for the largest security package for us since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, amounting to more than 2.7 billion euros. This is a powerful support. These are additional air defense systems and missiles to them, new guns, shells... Everything in this security package will significantly strengthen our defense against Russian terror. Thank you for this!" the Head of State said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also noted that Germany has earmarked more than 11 billion euros for the current and future years to continue its security support for Ukraine. In addition, Germany's participation in the European Peace Facility is extremely significant.

"Today, Germany is second only to the United States in terms of aid. This is very powerful," he said.

In the course of the negotiations, the President of Ukraine also informed the German Chancellor of the situation on the frontline and the ability of Ukrainian troops to restore freedom and security.

"Ukrainian active actions at the front should and will continue," Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.

The interlocutors also paid attention to preparations for international events, in particular for the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula and strengthening global coordination for the sake of stability and peace in international relations. They also coordinated positions on the eve of the Group of Seven summit to be held in May in Hiroshima, Japan.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Olaf Scholz also discussed Ukraine's membership in the European Union and NATO.

"Ukraine has always been, is and will be Europe. Therefore, as a democratic state that defends our common values with the blood of our soldiers, we deserve to be part of the European and Euro-Atlantic community. I believe we have proved it," the President of Ukraine said.

During the meeting, a Joint Statement on Comprehensive Cooperation was approved, which reflects the level of relations and cooperation between Ukraine and Germany.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also expressed gratitude to every German family, taxpayer, city and federal state for the sincere and rational support for Ukrainians who have taken refuge in Germany to flee Russian military aggression.

"Saving lives is saving the world. These words are worth saying today, on Mother's Day. I congratulate every mother, every child, every family on this day," the President of Ukraine said.

For his part, the German Chancellor emphasized that Russia's brutal aggression has major geopolitical consequences, but it primarily affects the citizens of Ukraine. He assured of further support for the Ukrainian people. This solidarity continues, it is stable and powerful, Olaf Scholz stated.

"The close relations between our countries will last for decades. Given the terrible war, we are working even more closely with you today. We support Ukraine not only in the humanitarian sphere, but also in the political sphere, we support it financially and, of course, we provide military assistance. I have repeated this many times and I say it again today: we will support you for as long as you need us," he assured.

The German Chancellor noted that as part of its military assistance to Ukraine, his country provides modern weapons for defense. In particular, Leopard tanks, Marder infantry fighting vehicles, IRIS-T air defense systems, howitzers, multiple launch rocket systems, etc. A new package worth 2.7 billion euros has also been approved recently.

Olaf Scholz emphasized that Germany is among the countries that support bringing Russia to justice for war crimes committed in Ukraine.

"We read the horrific news, and so it is clear to us that those responsible for this war must be put in the dock. No country in the world has the right to attack another country, no country has the right to kill or abduct children. That is why we stand together, together with our partners, to ensure that Russia is brought to justice for these crimes," the Chancellor summarized.

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President of Ukraine and Federal President of Germany had a meeting in Berlin

President of Ukraine

14 May 2023 - 12:42

In the framework of his visit to Germany, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks with Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The meeting was held in a tAte-A -tAte format and in the format of delegations.

The Head of State thanked Germany for its comprehensive political, financial, humanitarian and military support of Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale Russian aggression, as well as for the significant contribution of Germany to the strengthening of the international coalition in defense of our country.

The President of Ukraine highly appreciated the new defense aid package announced by the German government, the largest since the beginning of the full-scale aggression.

The Head of State expressed gratitude to Germany for sheltering Ukrainian citizens who were forced to leave their homes due to the full-scale Russian invasion.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of bringing to justice those responsible for war crimes and other atrocities committed by the Russian aggressor.

The parties specifically focused on joint work to promote the Ukrainian Peace Formula and organize a Global Peace Summit with the participation of the maximum number of states, including those from the Global South.

Special attention was paid to the issues of Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

The Head of State noted that our country counts on Germany's effective assistance in supporting Ukraine's application to join NATO.

Emphasizing the importance of continuing comprehensive pressure on the aggressor, the President of Ukraine expressed hope for Germany's leading role in the adoption of the next sanctions package by the EU.

The talks also focused on Germany's participation in Ukraine's recovery. This is facilitated, in particular, by the joint patronage over municipal and regional partnerships between Ukraine and Germany established last year by the two presidents.

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As part of the ongoing dialogue with allies Andriy Yermak held a phone call with the Advisor to the U.S. President in Rome

President of Ukraine

14 May 2023 - 12:00

Staying on a visit in Italy as a member of the official delegation, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak on the instructions of the Head of State had a phone call with National Security Advisor to the President of the United States Jake Sullivan.

As part of the ongoing dialogue with the allies, the American side was informed about the current situation on fighting the Russian invaders on the battlefield and the latest actions of the defense forces of Ukraine to de-occupy its territories.

Andriy Yermak and Jake Sullivan also discussed ensuring unity and support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression at the G7 meeting, which will take place in the middle of May in the Japanese city of Hiroshima.

The Head of the President's Office thanked the American side, U.S. President Joseph Biden, and Congress for their strong leadership in supporting Ukraine and returning a just peace to the European continent.

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President: There is no need for mediation with the aggressor, but Ukraine is interested in proposals on achieving a just peace

President of Ukraine

14 May 2023 - 09:38

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasizes that there is no point in attempts by certain countries or influential individuals to mediate between Ukraine and Russia to end the war, but our country is interested in proposals that can contribute to a just peace, primarily based on the Ukrainian Peace Formula. The Head of State said this in an interview with the Italian media during his visit to Italy, answering a question about the possible role of China or the Vatican in establishing peace in Ukraine.

"Russia started the war. Russia took lives. The war is on our land. We know all the crises that have happened, the challenges: nuclear, environmental, food, energy. Only we know what it is like. We have not proposed an artificial plan - we have proposed how to get out of this situation, to end the war - according to the law, respecting the UN Charter, international law, people, values," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

According to him, Ukraine welcomes the proposals of third parties to help overcome the crises provoked by the war and end the war. According to the Head of State, the Ukrainian Peace Formula is designed to engage those countries that really want to achieve peace in Europe.

In particular, the President emphasized that Ukraine is strongly interested in the assistance of nuclear powers in resolving the issue of nuclear safety, as they are also guarantors of the Budapest Memorandum.

"Let them come to this site, and we will talk about how to solve this. We don't want to impose anything, we just want an understanding that there can't be weapons or militants at the nuclear power plant. A nuclear power plant cannot be shut down, it cannot be flooded, and the entire European continent cannot be threatened with another Chornobyl, this time six times bigger," he said.

At the same time, Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that there is no need for mediators between Ukraine and the aggressor who has seized our territories, because Ukrainians remember well how the mediation with Russian President Vladimir Putin within the Normandy format ended.

"We have to develop an action plan for a just peace in Ukraine. And this is where we invite the Vatican as one of the leaders to this format. I said this to His Holiness," he said.

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President: Ukraine's victory means not only liberation of all occupied territories, but also fair sentences for all murderers

President of Ukraine

14 May 2023 - 00:38

Victory for Ukraine is not only the liberation of all its territories from the Russian occupiers, but also bringing to justice all those responsible for the crime of aggression against our country. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with Italian media during an official visit to Italy.

Answering the question, the Head of State noted that the de-occupation of Ukrainian territories alone would not be enough for those of our citizens who lost their children in the war.

"I know people who said to me, when I awarded their children posthumously... They said: "Not only our native land. Do not forgive it. Those who gave the orders must be held to account. We want a trial. God's judgment is not enough for us - we want real justice. We demand it, we will not be able to sleep." These are old people who buried their young children who went to war and died for the sake of the state," he said.

Therefore, according to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for these people and for him as President of Ukraine, victory is not only the return of territories.

"We are a civilized state and we want peace, but a just peace. And we want fair and just sentences for the murderers," the President emphasized.

He also noted that Russian aggression can be different - in the form of not only missiles, but also blackmail, including energy blackmail. The Head of State warned that if Ukraine loses the war, Russian aggression will go further and spread to NATO and the European Union, and then European societies will have to send their children and parents to war.

"I am ready for a pragmatic conversation. I believe that your society should be ready and should know that it is better to help Ukraine," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

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Incumbent President of the Russian Federation isolates his country with his presence in the Kremlin - Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President of Ukraine

14 May 2023 - 00:00

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy is convinced that the incumbent leader of the aggressor state, Vladimir Putin, is increasingly isolating the Russian Federation from the civilized world through his tenure as President and the continuation of his policy. The head of the Ukrainian state said this in an interview with Italian media representatives during an official visit to Italy.

"He is definitely now far from that Russia which had connections with the civilized world. Today, he is isolated. With his presence in the Kremlin, he isolates people, their economy, their history, and their language. He erased everything accumulated in them. And he erased our relations because he came to us with his aggression, an unprovoked war," Zelenskyy said.

The President of Ukraine expressed his conviction that the Russian leader does not care about people - not only Ukrainians but also the citizens of his country - that is why the Russian troops who came to Ukrainian soil were demotivated from the very beginning of this war of aggression.

"He does not have a strong army. He has millions of people whom he throws under the tanks. And he had a lot of Soviet equipment," the Head of State said.

Zelenskyy said that the head of the Kremlin has fewer and fewer excuses for his actions in Ukraine. The incumbent President of Russia is less and less trusted by his society, business, and even his entourage.

"He promised them a quick victory, but victory is nowhere near. All this is uncomfortable. No one communicates with these people anymore, serious business is leaving the Russian Federation, and businesses in Europe and the world, where Russia has a partnership, do not want to have joint contracts. All this affects many people, and they do not want it because they have difficulties every day... This is isolation," the Head of State said.

At the same time, according to Zelenskyy, Russian society is not as closed as it was during the Soviet Union and is not ready to live in isolation again, so it will put pressure on the President of the Russian Federation.

"Every day, the mood inside the state worsens. They will put pressure on him," the President of Ukraine said.

The head of state said that Ukraine is getting closer to victory, pushing the enemy out of its territory every day. In particular, he said that our country is extremely thoroughly preparing for a counteroffensive.

"We are preparing very seriously. And there will definitely be very serious steps. I know that we are all motivated - not only those who know this whole plan but also our people," Zelenskyy added.

He said that he cannot name the exact date of the start of the counteroffensive, but when it happens, "you will definitely see it, and Russia will definitely feel it."

The President said the Ukrainian people believe in victory, and the first important steps will be taken soon.

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Joint Declaration by Ukraine and the French Republic

President of Ukraine

15 May 2023 - 01:35

At their meeting in Paris on 14 May 2023, the Presidents of Ukraine and the French Republic issued the following declaration.

The Presidents of Ukraine and France reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. Ukraine has shown remarkable determination in exercising its inherent right to self-defence against this unprovoked and unjustified attack. Russia must immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. France and Ukraine call specifically on Russia to withdraw from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), of which the irresponsible seizure and militarization by Russian armed forces is causing a grave threat.

France remains unwavering in its commitment to Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. France commends the determination and courage of the Ukrainian people and armed forces and acknowledges their significant contribution to the security of the European continent and beyond. France will continue its political, financial, humanitarian and military support to Ukraine for as long as it takes - individually and through international cooperation within the European Union, NATO, the United Nations and in other formats. By defending the security of the European continent, France, Ukraine and other partners are also safeguarding the rules-based international order.

The military support provided by France since the beginning of the war in order to allow Ukraine to defend itself continues, as new packages are being prepared, constantly taking into account the most urgent and immediate needs of Ukraine to strengthen its defence capabilities. France is aiming at providing full capacities in all areas. In the coming weeks, France will train and equip several battalions with tens of armored vehicles and light tanks including AMX-10RC. Besides, France is focusing its effort in supporting Ukraine's air defense capacities in order to defend its population against Russian strikes. In addition to its national contribution, the French Republic is actively involved in the measures of the European Union and NATO in the military assistance to Ukraine and in the training of Ukrainian soldiers.

Beyond the military assistance, France has been providing Ukraine with civilian assistance, including financial, humanitarian and emergency support. In particular, France has sent to Ukraine two mobile DNA laboratories to strengthen Ukraine's capacity to prosecute war crimes. This assistance will continue to grow.

France supports Ukraine's initiative for a just and sustainable peace based on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Ukrainian Peace Formula includes a variety of important objectives, many of which France is already working on. France expresses its support to the Ukrainian Peace Formula and stands ready to cooperate with Ukraine to ensure as wide international participation as possible in a Global Peace Summit to be convened in the coming months on the basis of the Ukraine Peace Formula proposal and other possible good faith proposals.

Ukraine and France are determined to fight against impunity, and underline their firm commitment to bringing to justice those responsible for war crimes and other atrocity crimes committed in connection with Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. France is participating in ongoing international efforts, in cooperation with Ukraine, to ensure accountability through the establishment of an appropriate mechanism for prosecuting the crime of aggression. Broad international support is key in this regard, since it provides maximum international legitimacy while ensuring the prosecution of the political leadership. Therefore, while participating in the Core Group on achieving accountability for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, France encourages other countries to join and to build international support for the creation of an ad hoc tribunal. France welcomes the agreement on the new International Centre for Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (ICPA) in The Hague, and looks forward to its launch as soon as possible.

Ukraine and France reiterate their support for the investigations of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, which are a step towards accountability, and have taken note of the court's arrest warrants. France has provided additional support to the International Criminal Court in order to enhance its capacities in the framework of the war of Russia against Ukraine.

Ukraine and France agree on the need to increase collective pressure on Russia through further sanctions to weaken Russia's ability to continue its illegal war of aggression. Furthermore, they agree on the need to strengthen efforts to ensure the effective implementation of sanctions and to prevent and counter circumvention in and by third countries.

Ukraine and France will continue to work together with others to develop mechanisms to provide compensation for losses, injuries and damages caused by the Russian aggression. To this end, the international register of damage, to be presented at the Reykjavik Summit of the Council of Europe on 16-17 May 2023, is an important milestone. Our efforts will continue to explore appropriate options for the financing of a compensation mechanism, including a sound legal basis for the use of frozen and immobilized Russian assets, to support Ukraine's reconstruction and for the purposes of reparation.

Ukraine and France remain also determined to support countries suffering from the consequences of the Russian war, notably to reduce the consequences of the food crisis. In this regard, France emphasizes the importance of Ukraine's consistent efforts to continue the Black Sea Grain Initiative and launch the Grain from Ukraine Humanitarian Program, aimed at enhancing global food security. Ukraine highly appreciates France's support for the Grain from Ukraine Humanitarian Program and encourages further strengthening of the relevant support.

Ukraine welcomes the fact that France organized an international conference on December 13, which led to the establishment of the "Paris mechanism" for better coordination of emergency aid. France, together with international organizations and partners, is committed to participate in the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine after the war. Already now, it is important to lay the ground for an ambitious and long-term engagement that will create opportunities and enable the Ukrainian people to rebuild their country. Engaging all relevant partners, including private companies and internationally, with the aim of securing the financial support, investments and knowledge needed, is essential to ensure a prosperous future for Ukraine.

The future of Ukraine and its people lies within the European family. The European Union has already recognized the European perspective of Ukraine and granted Ukraine the status of candidate country. France strongly supports Ukraine in its reform efforts and in meeting before the end of 2023 the required conditions, looking forward to the European Commission's report, with a view to start accession negotiations. Ukraine and France call on the EU to continue supporting the country in all fields. Regarding military support, they welcome the recent agreements aiming at delivering more ammunition and missiles to Ukraine, notably through the expansion of the European industrial base. Furthermore, Ukraine has a key role to play within the newly founded European Political Community and will work towards the success of the Chisinau Summit, together with France and Moldova.

In the NATO framework, France continues to focus on the immediate support to Ukraine. France continues its strong support to bolster Ukraine's capacity to defend itself, and recalls that Ukraine has the right to choose its own security arrangements. France fully supports the NATO-Ukraine Commission as a venue to further increase and expand the ongoing cooperation to help fulfil Ukraine's path towards the Euro-Atlantic family, consistent with the Bucharest Declaration. Ukraine and France look forward to addressing these issues at the NATO Summit in Vilnius in July 2023.

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President of Ukraine met with President of France in Paris

President of Ukraine

15 May 2023 - 01:29

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

The meeting focused on France's military assistance to Ukraine, in particular, the priority needs of our country to strengthen its defense capabilities and protect Ukrainian skies.

The parties also discussed practical cooperation with the French Republic to strengthen the capacity of Ukraine's defense forces to launch an effective counteroffensive and liberate the occupied territories.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the President of the French Republic for his leadership and expressed hope that France would support the principled joint decision of the allies to form a "coalition of fighter jets", which Ukraine has been looking forward to for a long time.

The Presidents also discussed cooperation for the effective implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula. The Head of State expressed hope for the involvement of as many countries as possible, particularly those of the Global South, in the Global Peace Summit to be held this year. He thanked Emmanuel Macron for his diplomatic efforts aimed at ending Russia's war against Ukraine and achieving a just peace based on the Ukrainian Peace Formula.

The parties also discussed France's support for Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the French leader for his consistent support of Ukraine on its path to EU membership and expressed hope that a decision would be made to start negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU in 2023.

The Head of State also discussed with the French President further steps on Ukraine's path to NATO membership. Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that our country expects specific political decisions of the NATO Summit in Vilnius in response to Ukraine's application for membership in the Alliance.

"We expect the Alliance to make concrete decisions on a clear algorithm of Ukraine's movement towards NATO membership and on guaranteeing the security of our country for the period until membership," the President of Ukraine noted.

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Investors can contact the law firm at no cost to learn more about recovering their losses



LOS ANGELES, May 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm is investigating Star Peak Corp. II ("STPC" or the "Company") (STPC) relating to its proposed merger with Benson Hill. Under the terms of the agreement, STPC shareholders will own 20% of the combined company.

Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy , by phone 844-767-8529 or email : lesley@portnoylaw.com, to discuss their legal rights, or click here to join the case via www.portnoylaw.com . The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors options for pursuing claims to recover their losses.

Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information.

The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims against caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq.

Admitted CA and NY Bar

lesley@portnoylaw.com

310-692-8883

www.portnoylaw.com

Attorney Advertising
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, May 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mitrade has been honored with its first two awards of the year  'Best Mobile CFD Trading Platform Asia Pacific' and 'Fastest Growing Forex Fintech Broker Global' by Global Brands Magazine. These prestigious accolades are testament to Mitrade's ongoing commitment to innovation, industry excellence, and client satisfaction.

The 'Best Mobile CFD Trading Platform Asia Pacific' award underlines Mitrade's exceptional effort and commitment in providing a seamless and user-friendly trading experience to its valued clients across the Asia Pacific region. Mitrade has made remarkable progress in 2023, as these enhancements have significantly contributed to the growth of the CFD trading platform and heightened user satisfaction.

Mitrade brings its trading platform to iPads

In March 2023, Mitrade expanded its reach by launching a dedicated iPad version of its trading platform. This allows traders to engage with the market dynamically in real-time on their iPads while being able to have the flexibility to seamlessly switch between devices, ensuring traders can stay connected to the market wherever they are, and never miss out on trading opportunities. This launch underscores Mitrade's unwavering commitment to user satisfaction and its ambition to remain at the forefront of the industry.

Enhanced security measures with the two-factor authentication (2FA)

To ensure the highest level of security, Mitrade has implemented a two-factor authentication (2FA) process to enhance security measures during the login process on the app. This reduces the risk of unauthorized access, protecting users' sensitive information and enhancing overall platform security. With this, Mitrade reaffirms its dedication to providing a safe and secure trading environment for its clients.

Improved user interface for traders

Mitrade's platform offers users the ability to seamlessly switch between 'red rise' and 'green fall' options. This feature provides adaptability and personalization, catering to the traders' familiar preferences and established trading habits.

With a state-of-the-art mobile application, Mitrade empowers traders to access the global financial markets anytime, anywhere, allowing them to seize opportunities and make informed trading decisions with ease.

In addition to the 'Best Mobile CFD Trading Platform Asia Pacific' award, Mitrade has also been recognized as the 'Fastest Growing Forex Fintech Broker'. This prestigious global award recognizes Mitrade's rapid growth and its unwavering dedication to delivering an innovative trading platform, outstanding customer service, and trading education to traders all around the world.

As Mitrade continues to broaden its global footprint and strengthen its position in the industry, the company remains resolute in upholding the highest standards of customer service, security, innovation, and education. With a focus on user-centric design and a commitment to delivering a seamless trading experience, Mitrade is poised to lead the industry into a new era of online trading.

About Mitrade:

Mitrade is a leading online trading platform that provides traders with access to a wide range of financial markets, including forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. With a user-friendly interface and powerful trading tools, Mitrade empowers traders of all levels to trade with confidence and success. The platform offers a comprehensive suite of features, including advanced charting, risk management tools, educational resources, and a dedicated customer support team. Mitrade is committed to delivering an exceptional trading experience, combining cutting-edge technology with a client-centric approach.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Brand: Mitrade

E-mail: branding@mitrade.com

Website: https://www.mitrade.com/

SOURCE: Mitrade
English French

A French public limited company (societe anonyme) with capital of 1,476,302,545.00

Registered office: 1973, boulevard de la Defense  92000 Nanterre

Registered number: 552 037 806 RCS Nanterre

www.vinci.com

Shareholder relations department: actionnaires@vinci.com

____________________________________________

Issue of new VINCI shares

reserved for the employees of foreign subsidiaries of VINCI

in the context of the international Group savings plan

In its seventeenth resolution, the Combined Shareholders General Meeting of 12 April 2022 delegated to the Board of Directors, for a period of 18 months expiring on 11 October 2023, its authority to carry out capital increases reserved for the employees of certain foreign subsidiaries of the Group.

At its meeting on 19 October 2022, VINCIs Board of Directors thus set the terms of a capital increase reserved for the employees of VINCI subsidiaries located in Germany, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cote dIvoire, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Spain, Estonia, United States, Finland, Greece, Hong-Kong, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Morocco, Mexico, Norway, New Zealand, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Dominican Republic, Czech Republic, Romania, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland.

The Board of Directors has delegated full powers to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, in particular to set the opening and closing dates of the subscription periods in the countries concerned, and to set the subscription price of the new shares within the framework defined by the Shareholders General Meeting.

In his decision of 12 May 2023, VINCIs Chairman and Chief Executive Officer decided that the subscription period would run, in all the countries concerned, from Monday 15 May 2023 to Friday 2 June 2023.

In his decision dated 12 May 2023, VINCIs Chairman and Chief Executive Officer set the issue price of the new shares which is equal to the average price of the VINCI shares prices quoted on the regulated market of Euronext Paris SA on the basis of the vwap (volume-weighted average price) during the 20 trading sessions preceding 15 May 2023, i.e. 109.73 per new share to be issued.

The maximum number of shares that may be issued and the total amount of the issue will depend on the level of employees subscriptions.

The maximum number of new shares to be issued may not exceed the limit set by the Shareholders General Meeting of 12 April 2022 in its seventeenth resolution and, if this limit is insufficient, by that set by the General Meeting of Shareholders of 13 April 2023 in its twenty-third resolution. The total number of new shares that may be issued on the basis of the seventeenth resolution of the Shareholders Meeting of 12 April 2022 and on the basis of the sixteenth resolution of the same Shareholders Meeting in favor of employee shareholding in accordance with the provisions of Articles L. 225-138-1 and seq. of the French Commercial Code and L. 3332-1 and seq. of the French Labour Code may not exceed 1.5% of the number of shares comprising the authorized share capital at the time the Board makes its decision.

The new VINCI shares to be issued1 will be subscribed by employees in July 2023 through the "Castor International Relais 2023" FCPE, except in the United States, Chile, Greece, Italy and Poland where they will be subscribed by employees directly.

The admission of these new shares to trading on the regulated market of Euronext Paris will be requested immediately after their issue.

The subscribed shares will be frozen for 3 years from the date of the capital increase (except in specific cases of early release).

Subject to this reservation, these ordinary shares will not be subject to any restrictions, and will carry dividend rights from 1 January 2023.

*

* *

*

Nanterre, 12 May 2023

1 Up to the total amount of employee contributions

Attachment
YORK, Maine, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading specialty food, home goods and personal care producer Stonewall Kitchen is excited to announce the hiring of Carrie McDermott as its new Chief Executive Officer. McDermott is just the third CEO in the companys 32-year history, taking over for John Stiker, who has been in the role since 2014. The company thanks Stiker for his hard work and dedication over the last eight years in building Stonewall Kitchen into the company it is today and wishes him the best in his retirement. Stiker will continue as a consultant to the business during his retirement.



Before joining Stonewall Kitchen, McDermott served as CEO of PetPeople, an independent retailer focused on high quality, natural pet food and supplies. Prior to that, McDermott was President of Sally Beauty, where she led an overall business transformation resulting in new product lines, a customer loyalty program, and a new ecommerce platform. She also served nine years in roles of increasing responsibility with Designer Shoe Warehouse, Inc., finishing as the Chief Operating Officer where she led the companys operations, ecommerce, marketing, and customer experience.

I have had the pleasure of working with John and the team at Stonewall Kitchen for the past few months, commented McDermott. They are a talented group of leaders who love the company, are passionate about the core values, and continue to deliver on the promise of superior quality food and home goods. Over the past eight years, John has led the company through a tremendous amount of growth and acquisitions, building what has become a family of brands. Im excited to work with the entire team at Stonewall Kitchen to continue to deliver high quality products with a diverse offering of brands.

In addition to McDermotts hiring, Stonewall Kitchen is pleased to announce four internal C-suite promotions. Steve Barone, former Vice President of Manufacturing has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer; Corey Fogarty, former Vice President of Merchandising has been promoted to Chief Merchandising Officer; Kathy Gilbert, former Vice President of National Sales has been promoted to Chief Sales Officer; and Janine Somers, former Vice President of Marketing and Direct-to-Consumer Sales has been promoted to Chief Marketing Officer.

Stonewall Kitchen is in extremely good hands, stated Stiker. Carrie has spent a significant amount of time getting to know our team during this transition, and shes proving to be a great fit. She brings an entire careers worth of experience in consumer-packaged goods and retail to the company, with demonstrated success across multiple disciplines. Carrie also understands the importance of our unique culture here, which is something we strive for and take great pride in at Stonewall Kitchen.

I am also thrilled to see Steve, Corey, Kathy and Janine step into their new roles, continued Stiker. This is a group with over 60 combined years of Stonewall Kitchen experience, and they are a fundamental reason for the success of the company. Together with Carries vision and experience, the team is well-equipped to lead Stonewall Kitchen to even further growth!

About Stonewall Kitchen

Stonewall Kitchen is a leading specialty food, home goods and personal care producer headquartered in York, Maine. Founded in 1991 by partners Jonathan King and Jim Stott, the two established the Stonewall Kitchen brand by selling jams and jellies at local farmers markets with a flavorful line of distinctive and high-quality products. Over time, they expanded the brand to include sauces, condiments, crackers and baking mixes, always focusing on innovative product development, beautiful packaging, and exceptional guest service. Today, Stonewall Kitchen is the premier specialty food and home goods platform in North America, home to a family of premium quality brands including the flagship Stonewall Kitchen brand; the Michel Design Works brand of elegantly designed and crafted personal and home care products; the Vermont Coffee Company brand of high quality, non-GMO, certified organic coffee; the Urban Accents brand of globally-inspired spice mixes, seasonings, and sauces; the Village Candle brand of fragranced candles, gifts and accessories; the Tillen Farms brand of pickled vegetables and cocktail cherries; the Napa Valley Naturals brand of olive oils, culinary oils, balsamic vinegars and wine vinegars; the Montebello brand of artisan organic pasta imported from Italy; the Vermont Village brand of organic apple sauce and apple cider vinegars; and the Legal Sea Foods brand of restaurant-quality seafood sauces and condiments. The company boasts distribution in more than 19,000 stores nationwide and internationally; a thriving catalog and online division; a cafe in York, Maine; and ten retail Company Stores throughout New England. As winners of 35 prestigious awards from the Specialty Food Association and the recipient of the coveted Outstanding Product Line honors three times, Stonewall Kitchen is proud to be one of the most awarded specialty food companies in the country.

For more information about Stonewall Kitchen, please visit: www.stonewallkitchen.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/95e86c37-1212-4cd4-9faa-c37608c3f835

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3ced1507-c87a-4971-b689-f628eeccfee2
French English

2023/05/15

Cyber attack contained at LACROIX

LACROIX announces that during the night of Friday 12 May to Saturday 13 May, it intercepted a targeted cyber attack on the French (Beaupreau), German (Willich) and Tunisian (Zriba) sites of the Electronics activity. Measures to secure all the Group's other sites were immediately taken.

Prior to restarting the systems of these sites, investigations are underway to ensure that the attack is completely contained. However, some local infrastructures have been encrypted and an analysis is also being carried out to identify any exfiltrated data.

The time needed to carry out these actions and to use the backups to restart should take a few days, which is why the 3 sites are closed for the week.

Even if it is still too early to know exactly when production will resume, LACROIX is aiming for a reopening on Monday May 22nd.

Until then, partial activity measures have been taken as well as the implementation of a management and restart plan adapted to each site.

At the same time, Louis Pourdieu, General Manager of the Electronics EMEA activity, with the support of his teams, is informing customers and suppliers about the closure and the conditions for restarting these sites.

It should be noted that the activity of these three sites represents 19% of the group's total sales in 2022. Moreover, given the favourable calendar with only 3 days of effective production this week on the French and German sites, LACROIX does not envisage at this stage any significant impact on the performances announced for the Group for the whole of 2023.

About LACROIX

Convinced that technology should contribute to making our living environments simpler, more sustainable and safer, LACROIX supports its customers in the construction and management of intelligent living ecosystems, thanks to connected equipment and technologies.

As a publicly listed family-owned mid-cap, with a turnover of 708 million in 2022, LACROIX combines the essential agility required to innovate in an ever-changing technological sector with the ability to industrialize robust and secure equipment, cutting-edge know-how in industrial IoT solutions and electronic equipment for critical applications and the long-term vision to invest and build for the future.

LACROIX designs and manufactures its customers electronic equipment, in particular in the automotive, home automation, aerospace, industrial and health sectors. LACROIX also provides safe, connected equipment for the management of critical infrastructures such as smart roads (street lighting, traffic signs, traffic management, V2X) and the management and operation of water and energy systems.

Drawing on its extensive experience and expertise, the Group works with its customers and partners to build the connection between the world of today and the world of tomorrow. It helps them to create the industry of the future and to make the most of the opportunities for innovation that surround them, supplying them with the equipment for a smarter world.

Contacts







LACROIX

COO & Executive VP Finance

Nicolas Bedouin

investors@lacroix.group

Tel. : +33 (0)2 72 25 68 80







ACTIFIN

Press relations

Jennifer Jullia

jjullia@actifin.fr

Tel. : +33 (0)1 56 88 11 19







ACTIFIN

Financial communication

Marianne Py

mpy@actifin.fr

Tel. : +33 (0)6 88 78 59 99

Attachment
New York, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Boyden, a premier global talent and leadership advisory firm, has announced that for the seventh consecutive year, the firm has been highly ranked on Forbes America's Best Executive Recruiting Firms for 2023. A total of 150 firms are ranked and this is the seventh year that Forbes has published the list.

Boyden and other executive search firms on the Forbes list were selected on the basis of results from an extensive independent peer review survey, conducted and tabulated by Forbes in collaboration with analytics firm Statista. More than 5,200 nominations were collected for the final analysis.

Boyden was also recently named a top global search provider on Hunt Scanlon's Global 40 Report, recognized for capabilities in executive recruitment. Based on exhaustive research, the report captures the top global search firms that dominate the recruiting business worldwide.

We are honored to receive ongoing recognition from our clients, candidates, and industry peers as a leading firm in executive search and leadership advisory services, said Chad Hesters, President & CEO of Boyden. Our partners and teams worldwide are dedicated to delivering exceptional results, built on trust and teamwork. This recognition is a testament to their expertise, professionalism, and commitment to meeting evolving client needs as organizations navigate today's rapidly-evolving business landscape."

Boyden continues to expand globally across executive search, interim management and leadership consulting, most recently boosting board and PE/VC expertise across U.S., interim expertise in Netherlands and Germany, as well as announcing the addition of a new team in Turkey. On February 1, 2023, Boyden announced the appointment of new President & CEO, Chad Hesters.

About Boyden

Boyden is a premier leadership and talent advisory firm with more than 70 offices in over 45 countries. Our global reach enables us to serve client needs anywhere they conduct business. We connect great companies with great leaders through executive search, interim management and leadership consulting solutions. Boyden is ranked amongst the top companies on Forbes Americas Best Executive Recruiting Firms for 2023. For further information, visit www.boyden.com.

Attachments
Dublin, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "E-Learning Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global e-learning market size reached US$ 288.8 Billion in 2022. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 582.3 Billion by 2028, exhibiting a CAGR of 12.4% during 2022-2028.



E-learning refers to a learning system that relies on electronic devices and information and communication technology (ICT) to deliver information. It provides information in the form of text, image, animation, video and audio via the internet, intranet, satellite broadcast, interactive TV or CD-ROM. It saves time, offers personalization and reaches a wider audience.

Moreover, it is cost-effective and finds application in the agriculture, healthcare, and education and training industries. It is also utilized in the corporate sector for conducting training programs and collaborative activities, such as project work and assignments, using chats, discussion forums and blogs.



Due to the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), governments of a number of countries have announced complete lockdowns as a preventive measure to contain the pandemic. As a result, several educational institutions have shifted to e-learning solutions to complete the curriculum. Similarly, other organizations are also switching to virtual learning solutions to maintain social distancing. For instance, the World Health Organization (WHO) is providing online training courses to educate and train healthcare professionals about the associated risks while treating COVID-19 patients.

Apart from this, the rising sales of smartphones, along with the increasing penetration of wireless communication technologies, represent another growth-inducing factor impelling the global e-learning market growth. Furthermore, the growing adoption of precision and sustainable farming methods is escalating the demand for e-learning in the agriculture sector as it provides easy access to educational content to the farmers. Moreover, the integration of gamification techniques in e-learning modules is expected to create a positive outlook for the market in the coming years.



Key Market Segmentation:



The publisher provides an analysis of the key trends in each sub-segment of the global e-learning market report, along with forecasts at the global, regional and country level from 2023-2028. Our report has categorized the market based on technology, provider and application.



Breakup by Technology:

Online E-Learning

Learning Management System

Mobile E-Learning

Rapid E-Learning

Virtual Classroom

Others

Breakup by Provider:

Services

Content

Breakup by Application:

Academic

K-12

Higher Education

Vocational Training

Corporate

Small and Medium Enterprises

Large Enterprises

Government

Breakup by Region:

North America

United States

Canada

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Australia

Indonesia

Others

Europe

Germany

France

United Kingdom

Italy

Spain

Russia

Others

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Others

Middle East and Africa

Competitive Landscape:



The report has also analysed the competitive landscape of the market with some of the key players being Adobe Inc., Aptara Inc. (iEnergizer), Blackboard Inc., Cisco Systems Inc., GP Strategies Corporation, Instructure Inc. (Thoma Bravo), Oracle Corporation, Pearson Plc, SAP SE, Skillsoft Corporation and Thomson Reuters Corporation (The Woodbridge Company).



Key Questions Answered in This Report



1. What was the size of the global e-learning market in 2022?

2. What is the expected growth rate of the global e-learning market during 2023-2028?

3. What are the key factors driving the global e-learning market?

4. What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global e-learning market?

5. What is the breakup of the global e-learning market based on the technology?

6. What is the breakup of the global e-learning market based on the provider?

7. What is the breakup of the global e-learning market based on the application?

8. What are the key regions in the global e-learning market?

9. Who are the key players/companies in the global e-learning market?





Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 144 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $288.8 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $582.3 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 12.4% Regions Covered Global



Key Topics Covered:



1 Preface



2 Scope and Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Introduction



5 Global E-Learning Market



6 Market Breakup by Technology



7 Market Breakup by Provider



8 Market Breakup by Application



9 Market Breakup by Region



10 SWOT Analysis



11 Value Chain Analysis



12 Porters Five Forces Analysis



13 Price Analysis



14 Competitive Landscape



Companies Mentioned

Adobe Inc.

Aptara Inc. (iEnergizer)

Blackboard Inc.

Cisco Systems Inc.

GP Strategies Corporation

Instructure Inc. (Thoma Bravo)

Oracle Corporation

Pearson Plc

SAP SE

Skillsoft Corporation

Thomson Reuters Corporation (The Woodbridge Company).





For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2whp2a

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Dublin, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Haptic Technology Market by Feedback Type (Tactile, Force), Component (Hardware (Actuators, Drivers & Microcontrollers) Software), Application (Consumer Devices, Automotive & Transportation, Commercial & Industrial) and Region - Global Forecast to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.





The haptic technology market is projected to reach USD 5.0 billion by 2028 from USD 4.2 billion in 2023, at a CAGR of 3.7% from 2023 to 2028. The major factors driving the market growth of the haptic technology market include rising integration of haptic technology into consumer devices, growing use of haptic technology in automotive industry, increasing use of haptic technology in healthcare industry, and increasing adoption of haptic technology in industrial application.

Moreover, rising application of haptic technology in aerospace & defense industry and technological advancements in haptic technology are expected to provide ample growth opportunities for market players in the haptic technology market.

Tactile Feedback Segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period

Tactile feedback works on the principle of tactile sensing. It includes devices that interact with the nerve endings in the skin that feel heat, texture, and pressure. These devices are used to indicate whether the user is in contact with a virtual object. Tactile technology is being used mostly in consumer electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets that are integrated with a touchscreen. The growing usage of smartphones is a major factor driving the market growth for tactile feedback.

Actuators is expected to account for the largest market share of haptic technology hardware market during the forecast period

Actuators are embedded in the haptics-enabled devices. They are controlled by the embedded software and integrated into the device's user interface through the control software application programming interface (API). The actuators are used in different devices depending upon the requirement related to effects, design constraints, and size. The growing demand for haptics enabled devices for superior user interface is expected to drive the demand for actuators.

North America is expected to account for the second largest market share during the forecast period

The North American market is witnessing considerable growth due to the increasing haptic device deployment in consumer electronics and automobile applications. This growth is not only driven by haptic hardware but also by haptic software. Software companies such as Immersion are based in the North American region. The governments of countries in North America have taken several initiatives, such as funding and grant to universities and companies for research in haptic technology. Some of the key players in the haptic technology market in North America are Texas Instruments (US), Microchip Technology (US), ON Semiconductor (US), Cirrus Logic (US), and Immersion (US).

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Rising Integration of Haptic Technology into Consumer Devices

Growing Use of Haptic Technology in Automotive Industry

Increasing Use of Haptic Technology in Healthcare Industry

Increasing Adoption of Haptic Technology in Industrial Applications

Restraints

High Cost of Force Feedback Technology

Opportunities

Rising Applications of Haptic Technology in Aerospace & Defense Industry

Technological Advancements in Haptic Technology

Challenges

Technical Challenges Related to Product Design

High Power Consumption in Haptic Feedback

Leakage Issues Associated with Pneumatic and Hydraulic Actuators

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 214 Forecast Period 2023 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $4.2 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $5 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 3.7% Regions Covered Global



Key Topics Covered:

1 Introduction

2 Research Methodology

3 Executive Summary

4 Premium Insights

5 Market Overview

6 Types of Haptic Devices

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Active Haptic Device

6.3 Passive Haptic Device

7 Haptic Technology for Different Touchscreen Types

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Capacitive

7.3 Resistive

7.4 Others

8 Haptic Technology Market, by Feedback Type

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Tactile

8.2.1 Growing Use of Haptic Technology in Consumer Devices to Drive Growth of Tactile Feedback Segment

8.3 Force

8.3.1 Robotics and Gaming Applications to Create Lucrative Opportunities for Force Feedback Segment

9 Haptic Technology Market, by Component

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Hardware

9.2.1 Actuators

9.2.1.1 Eccentric Rotating Mass (Erm) and Linear Resonant Actuators (Lras)

9.2.1.1.1 Cost-Effective Actuator Alternatives for Mass-Market Devices

9.2.1.2 Piezoelectric Actuators

9.2.1.2.1 Offer Excellent Response Time

9.2.2 Drivers and Microcontrollers

9.2.2.1 Act as Bridge Between Controller and Actuator

9.3 Software

9.3.1 Enables Users to Interact with Devices

10 Haptic Technology Market, by Application

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Consumer Devices

10.2.1 Smartphones, Tablets, and Smartwatches

10.2.1.1 Haptic Components Find Major Applications in Smartphones, Tablets, and Smartwatches

10.2.2 Augmented Reality (Ar) & Virtual Reality (Vr) and Gaming Devices

10.2.2.1 Haptic Technology in Ar and Vr Has Evolved Significantly in Past Few Years

10.2.3 Other Consumer Devices

10.3 Automotive & Transportation

10.3.1 Growing Demand for Haptic Technology-Based Touchscreens

10.4 Education & Research

10.4.1 Developments in Haptic Educational Devices for New Teaching Techniques Using Tactile and Force Feedback

10.5 Healthcare

10.5.1 Growing Use of Haptic Technology in Medical Training, Rehabilitation, and Robotic Surgeries

10.6 Commercial & Industrial

10.6.1 Rising Use of Haptic Technology in Commercial Applications

10.7 Others

11 Haptic Technology Market, by Region

12 Competitive Landscape

13 Company Profiles

14 Appendix



Companies Mentioned

AAC Technologies

Aito Bv

Allegro Microsystems

Alps Alpine

Analog Devices

Boreas Technologies

Cirrus Logic Inc.

Hap2U

Imagis

Immersion

Infineon Technologies Ag

Johnson Electric Holdings Limited

Microchip Technology Inc.

Mplus

Need-For-Power Motor Co. Ltd.

Nidec Corporation

Novasentis, Inc.

Precision Microdrives

Renesas Electronics Corporation

Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC (Onsemi)

Synaptics Incorporated

Tdk Corporation

Texas Instruments Incorporated

Ultraleap

Vybronics

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/em2tm4

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
English French

MONTREAL, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Midland Exploration Inc. ("Midland") (TSX-V: MD) is pleased to announce the signing of a definitive option agreement with a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Barrick Gold Corporation ("Barrick") for its Patris gold property (the Property), currently wholly-owned by Midland and located about 35 kilometres northeast of the town of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec (the Transaction).

Option Agreement

Pursuant to the Transaction, Barrick has the right to acquire up to a 75% interest in the Property in consideration for cash payments totaling C$1,017,500 and exploration work totaling C$16,575,000, over an eight-year period. Barrick will be the operator of the work carried out under the Transaction.

Barrick may earn an initial 51% interest in the Property over a period of four years, by paying in cash C$392,500 to Midland and funding expenditures of at least C$4,000,000, including a guaranteed amount of C$3,000,000, at which point Barrick and Midland will form a joint venture (the JV).

In the following two years, Barrick may earn an additional 9% in the JV, for a 60% interest in consideration for cash payments totalling C$265,000 and exploration work expenditures of at least C$2,000,000 (the First JV Funding Option).

Finally, in the subsequent two years, Barrick may earn an additional 15% in the JV, for a total 75% interest in consideration for cash payments totalling C$360,000 and exploration work expenditures of at least C$10,575,000 (the Second JV Funding Option).

If Barrick does not exercise or complete the First JV Funding or the Second JV Funding Option, the JV interests will be subject to any subsequent adjustments in ownership made in accordance with the proportionate funding and dilution terms of the JV agreement. Dilution below a 10% JV interest results in conversion of the JV interest to a 2% NSR royalty with the right to repurchase 50% of the NSR royalty (1% NSR) for a payment of C$1,500,000.

About the Patris Property

The wholly-owned Patris project comprises 299 claims covering a surface area of about 117 square kilometres, located less than 10 kilometres northwest of the prolific Doyon/Westwood-Bousquet-La Ronde gold mining camp. The Patris property offers excellent gold potential as it covers the Manneville Fault over more than 8 kilometres and the La Pause Fault over more than 10 kilometres, both recognized as subsidiary faults to the well-known Destor-Porcupine Fault Zone.

Barrick will be preparing an exploration program within the next weeks.

About Midland

Midland targets the excellent mineral potential of Quebec to make the discovery of new world-class deposits of gold and critical metals. Midland is proud to count on reputable partners such as Barrick, BHP Canada Inc., Rio Tinto Exploration Canada Inc., Wallbridge Mining Company Ltd, Probe Gold Inc., Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, Osisko Development Corp., SOQUEM Inc., Brunswick Exploration Inc., Nunavik Mineral Exploration Fund, and Abcourt Mines Inc. Midland prefers to work in partnership and intends to quickly conclude additional agreements in regard to newly acquired properties. Management is currently reviewing other opportunities and projects to build up the Corporation portfolio and generate shareholder value.

This press release was prepared by Mario Masson. P.Geo., VP Exploration for Midland and Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, who also approved the technical content of this press release.

For further information, please consult Midlands website or contact:

Gino Roger, President and Chief Executive Officer

Tel.: 450 420-5977

Fax: 450 420-5978

Email: info@midlandexploration.com

Website: www.midlandexploration.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.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially from targeted results. Such risks and uncertainties include those described in Midlands periodic reports including the annual report or in the filings made by Midland from time to time with securities regulatory authorities.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/28c8bd5b-ec9f-4541-87b8-662537ff3ac7
English French

TORONTO, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, TELUS Health announced the launch of Total Mental Health - an innovative solution that provides employees with access to a team of care professionals who curate personal care journeys with unlimited mental health counselling, therapist-led iCBT programs, digital tools, assessments, and ongoing tracking and feedback. Accessible by employees through their companys health benefits, Total Mental Health leverages TELUS Healths world-leading technology to offer a one-stop app for mental health support through Canadas largest and most diverse network of counsellors.



Mental health challenges in the workplace have reached crisis levels for companies across Canada. In fact, recent research shows four in five managers across Canada are supporting at least one employee with a mental health issue, said Neil King, Managing Director, Employer Solutions, TELUS Health. Total Mental Health was designed to address the current crisis and reduce common barriers so employees can more easily access high-quality, personalized mental health care, whenever and wherever they need it - and be supported every step of the way.

Total Mental Health provides:

Immediate support so employees are free to connect with TELUS Health mental health professionals 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year if they are experiencing a mental health concern.

so employees are free to connect with TELUS Health mental health professionals 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year if they are experiencing a mental health concern. Unlimited counselling that is delivered as often as needed and however an employee chooses whether thats in person, via telephone/audio or through video or online chat.

that is delivered as often as needed and however an employee chooses whether thats in person, via telephone/audio or through video or online chat. Personalized care journeys developed in partnership with care navigators who understand the full spectrum of benefits available to ensure every employee has a care plan thats unique to them and easily adaptable if their needs change.

developed in partnership with care navigators who understand the full spectrum of benefits available to ensure every employee has a care plan thats unique to them and easily adaptable if their needs change. Easy-to-use digital tools allow employees to practice and learn on their own or between sessions, track their mental health progress and receive regular feedback from their care team.

allow employees to practice and learn on their own or between sessions, track their mental health progress and receive regular feedback from their care team. Flexibility for payment. Total Mental Health may be covered completely by an employer or extend an organizations EAP plan by allowing continuation of counselling with the same counsellor to be billable to a qualifying benefits plan.



As a clinician who has spent many years working with people experiencing mental health challenges, I can say with certainty that there is a significant benefit to services like this within the workplace, said Dr. Matthew Chow, Chief Mental Health Officer, TELUS Health. Unlimited access to personalized support at any time in many different ways is the innovative approach we need to help employees who are struggling and feeling like their mental health is vulnerable.

This launch further supports TELUS Healths mission of becoming the most trusted wellbeing company in the world and its impactful moves to introduce novel industry-leading solutions that meet users where they prefer, whether thats virtually or in person, with the goal of enabling connection between physical, mental and financial wellbeing.

The most recent TELUS Health Mental Health Index revealed that many employees are still not getting the support they need. Thirty-three per cent of workers reported having a high mental health risk and an additional forty-four per cent noted a moderate mental health risk. The Index also found that eight per cent of workers in Canada consider their mental health to be in crisis and two in five workers reported having experienced a traumatic event that has had a lasting negative impact on their mental health.

Innovative solutions are needed to address our growing mental health crisis, and employers

have an opportunity to create a stronger, healthier workforce which in turn will improve total wellbeing across the country, added Chow.

Total Mental Health also includes remarkable features of wellbeing that help employees navigate personal or work-related issues from financial counselling, legal support and nutrition to child and elder care solutions. Total Mental Health supports each employee in a unique way that improves their mental health and overall wellbeing needs. To learn more about how TELUS Health Total Mental Health can support your staff, and for a demo, please visit: telushealth.com/totalmentalhealth .

About TELUS Health

TELUS Health is a global health care leader serving people in more than 160 countries delivering both digital innovation and clinical services to improve total physical, mental and financial health and wellbeing across the full spectrum of primary and preventive care. By leveraging the power of technology to deliver connected solutions and services both in-person and virtually, TELUS Health is improving access to care and revolutionizing the flow of information while facilitating collaboration, efficiency, and productivity for physicians, pharmacists, health authorities, allied health professionals, insurers, employers and people globally, progressing its vision of transforming health care and empowering people to live healthier lives.

Our clinical team is composed of renowned and passionate health professionals around the world delivering best-in-class people-centric care to hundreds of thousands of employers, professionals and their families.

For more information please visit: www.telushealth.com .

For more information or to set up an interview, please contact:

Jill Yetman

TELUS Health

jill.yetman@telus.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6d1025ce-4e7c-4383-8e6d-1e5159503ddc
MADISON, N.J., May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs, the oldest and largest gastronomy and wine society in the world is pleased to announce that the United States National Jeunes Chefs Rotisseurs (JCR) Competition will take place on June 3, 2023 at Madison Area Technical College in Madison, Wisconsin.



The purpose of this competition is to encourage and promote the culinary expertise of young chefs in the tradition of the Chaine des Rotisseurs by exposing them to a competitive environment with their peers, said Mark Wright, Vice Conseiller Culinaire et des Professionnels des Etats-Unis.

Competitors who must be under 27 years old on September 1st of the year of the International Competition are required to plan, prepare and plate three courses in four hours using a mystery basket of ingredients plus a typically stocked pantry of items. Jones Dairy Farm based in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin is the national sponsor of the US National JCR Competition.

The JCR competition also offers the opportunity for the young chefs to showcase their talents and creativity in an international arena. The goal is to encourage cultural differences in food presentation and preparation using a traditional approach, said Chef Reimund Pitz, Conseiller Culinaire et des Professionnels des Etats-Unis.

The National winner will advance to the International Competition of which the 46th competition this year will be held in Istanbul, Turkey between October 4-8, 2023. The first International Competition was held in Switzerland in 1977. US National Competition began in 1990.

There are eight (8) provincial winners who will compete in this years national competition. These young chefs are:

Charles Carpenter (Far West Province)

Kenneth Wong (Hawaii Province)

Bryce Booth (Midwest Province)

Jedidah Gaskin (Northeast Province)

Danika Holty (Pacific Northwest Province)

Fares Fiala (Southeast Province)

Austin Adams (South Central Province)

Torian Jenkins (Southwest Province)

In conjunction to watch the JCR competition in person, Chaine US also has been hosting a Culinary Weekend since 2015. Professional seminars featuring Wisconsin flavors will take place while the competition is going on. The attendees can also watch the critiques from the judges, who are Chaines professional members. We take this opportunity to bring our members together for a good time while watching the competition. We would like to thank the involvement of local companies such as Jones Dairy Farm and Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese and many others. Their commitments further enhance the experience of this competition and culinary weekend for both our competitors and members, said Bertrand de Boutray, Bailli Delegue des Etats-Unis.

About the Chaine des Rotisseurs

The Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs is the worlds oldest and largest gastronomy and wine society with more than 21,000 members worldwide in 74 countries. There are 130 chapters and about 5,000 members throughout the United States. Important programs include annual Jeunes Chefs Rotisseurs Competition and Jeunes Sommeliers Competition held both nationally and internationally. Re-vitalized in Paris in 1950, the Chaine is founded in 1248 in France. It is dedicated to honoring the skills and practices of the masters of the culinary arts and those individuals who craft our libations.

For more information, Visit www.chaineus.org

Contact :

Betty Sasenick

Chargee de Presse des Etats-Unis

Editor-in-Chief of Cuvee, an exclusive magazine of #ChaineUS

Member of Conseil Magistral

206-310-8832

bettysasenick@gmail.com
May 15, 2023

Across East Africa, India and Latin America, Philips Foundations social impact investment vehicle supported eight health technology enterprises

Through its Knowledge Hub, Philips Foundation shares expertise and insights on delivering improved healthcare services to remote and resource-limited settings

In close collaboration with Philips, Philips Foundation and its partners continue to support the people of Ukraine affected by the war

Amsterdam, the Netherlands  Philips Foundation , with its mission to provide access to quality healthcare for 100 million people a year by 2030, today announced the publication of its 2022 Annual Report . Philips Foundation and its partners provided quality healthcare access to over 26 million people in underserved communities in 2022.

The consolidated report of Philips Foundation and its social impact investment vehicle, Philips Foundation Impact Investments B.V., highlights 21 ongoing and new projects in partnership with NGOs, government entities, universities and social enterprises. In 2022, 18 new initiatives were managed, deploying Philips expertise in healthcare technology, including initiatives supporting the people of Ukraine.

Our work to enable long-term, sustainable system change in healthcare provision for underserved communities, as well as providing support in crisis situations, has never been more relevant, said Ronald de Jong, Chairman of the Philips Foundation. The efforts of Philips Foundation and Philips Foundation Impact Investments B.V., together with our partners, have helped provide 26.6 million people with access to healthcare, an increase of 50% compared to 2021.

Philips Foundation employs technology-driven solutions, empowers local healthcare workers, and endorses healthcare delivery models that demonstrate scalability, financial sustainability, and affordability. The foundation contributes to good health for all, by addressing the rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases; improving mother and child care; and accelerating access to acute and emergency care through timely medical support, as well as disaster relief in times of crisis. Examples include:

Addressing the rise of NCDs - With more than 75% of the worlds NCD-related fatalities occurring in low-and-middle-income countries [1], their impact in these regions is immense. With a strong focus on cardiovascular disease, in partnership with Heart Healers International, Philips Foundation helped screen more than 100,000 children in Uganda for rheumatic heart disease , a condition that is easily treated and diagnosed but can lead to death in underserved young populations if not detected and addressed in a timely manner [2].

With more than 75% of the worlds NCD-related fatalities occurring in low-and-middle-income countries [1], their impact in these regions is immense. With a strong focus on cardiovascular disease, in partnership with Heart Healers International, , a condition that is easily treated and diagnosed but can lead to death in underserved young populations if not detected and addressed in a timely manner [2]. Improving mother and child care - 94% of all maternal deaths occur in low- and lower-middle-income countries [3]. In 2022, Philips Foundation embarked on a partnership with RAD-AID to promote access to diagnostic ultrasound services , aiming to provide essential prenatal care to pregnant women in ten countries on three continents.

- 94% of all maternal deaths occur in low- and lower-middle-income countries [3]. In 2022, Philips Foundation , aiming to provide essential prenatal care to pregnant women in ten countries on three continents. Accelerating effective acute and emergency care - Ensuring timely care for acutely ill and injured patients is considered one of the health interventions that can significantly reduce mortality rates and lower healthcare costs in low- and middle-income countries [4]. In Colombia, Philips Foundation joined forces with Global Neuro to develop scalable training models for diagnosing and monitoring traumatic brain injuries, which are among the primary causes of death in Latin America [5].

Philips Foundation Impact Investments B.V.

Set up in late 2021, Philips Foundations social impact investment vehicle, Philips Foundation Impact Investments B.V. , has employed a comprehensive strategy to evaluate the possible scalability of health technology enterprises through investment, and by examining their overall preparedness to create significant change within the healthcare systems they serve. During 2022 it provided early-stage investment to eight social enterprises spread across East Africa, India and Latin America. These investments, supported by Philips health technology expertise, enabled the enterprises to accelerate their potential to provide sustained access to healthcare for underserved communities.

Entrepreneurs working on providing healthcare services for underserved communities embody the essence of our commitment, driven by a mission to help bridge the vast inequality in healthcare access worldwide, said Margot Cooijmans, Director of Philips Foundation and Philips Foundation Impact Investments B.V. In the face of adversity and limited resources, they are leveraging digital technologies, performing early screening and testing, providing basic treatment or timely referral, and driving healthcare innovation for underserved populations.

Generating insights and inspiring others to act

Over eight years, Philips Foundation has amassed extensive experience and insight into the effective strategies, technologies, and services for medically underserved communities, where individuals frequently lack insurance and have limited income. To share its expertise and foster collaboration, Philips Foundation established a Knowledge Hub , which offers a repository of learnings and ideas from current and past projects, reports, publications, and other project resources. In 2022, 16 projects were made publicly accessible, featuring healthcare delivery models designed to assist those seeking to offer healthcare services in under-resourced, remote, and underserved areas around the globe.

The report also reflects on the challenges and hardships faced by the people of Ukraine and the human suffering leading to the urgent need for medical assistance in 2022. Philips Foundation, in collaboration with Philips, continues to support the people of Ukraine with its partners on the ground.

[1] WHO (2022). Non-communicable diseases

[2] World Heart Federation (2022). Rheumatic heart disease (RHD)

[3] WHO (2023). Maternal mortality

[4] WHO (2023). Advocating for emergency care: a guide for non-governmental organizations

[5] Brain Injury Association (2022). Traumatic brain injury in Latin America

For further information, please contact:

Yannick Eshuijs

Philips Foundation

Tel.: +31 6 1852 6633

E-mail: yannick.eshuijs@philips.com

About Philips Foundation

Philips Foundation is a registered non-profit organization established in 2014  with a mission to provide access to quality healthcare for underserved communities across the globe. By leveraging Philips capabilities and combining them with the experience and expertise of non-governmental organizations and other community-focused and impact-driven enterprises, Philips Foundation helps create innovative pathways to open up affordable healthcare for communities most in need. By also partnering with innovative social entrepreneurs rooted in the local ecosystem, Philips Foundation aims to increase access to healthcare for 100 million people a year by 2030. More information can be found at www.philips-foundation.com

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RICHMOND, British Columbia, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Richmond Museum Society is pleased to announce the return of the annual Doors Open Richmond (DOR) event, taking place June 3-4, 2023. This free, in-person event invites residents and visitors to explore 39 diverse cultural places and civic services of Richmond.



Doors Open Richmond is not just an event; its a distinctive occasion for individuals to explore the intriguing narratives and notable landmarks that define our city, says Bilan Hassan, Vice-Chair of the Richmond Museum Society. This year, we are thrilled to be fully back in-person. We invite everyone to partake in the festivities that celebrate Richmonds rich cultural diversity and important City services, whether it be experienced through world-class cuisine or via behind-the-scenes access to our civic landmarks and places of faith.

This years event features an array of in-person activities and guided tours that showcase Richmonds diversity alongside its civic services, providing unique experiences for the whole family.

Highlights of Doors Open Richmond 2023 include:

For more information about Doors Open Richmond 2023 and the full list of participating sites, including bus tour options, visit richmondmuseum.ca/doors-open . Please note that open hours vary for each site and may require pre-registration.

Established in 2008, Doors Open Richmond is the longest-running Doors Open event in British Columbia. The local event is part of the Doors Open Canada program and is supported by the City of Richmond, the BC Arts Council and Canadian Heritage. The event is produced by the Richmond Museum Society.

About the Richmond Museum

The Richmond Museum aims to inspire curiosity about the City of Richmonds history and its place in the world. The museum collects, documents, researches, preserves, exhibits and interprets objects of historical and cultural significance to the development of the city. Through storytelling, collections and education programs, the museums goal is to create moments of wonder and understanding.

Social Media

Facebook: @RichmondMuseum

Instagram: @RichmondMuseum

Twitter: @Richmond_Museum

YouTube: RichmondMuseum

#DoorsOpenRichmond

Media Contact:

Kirstin Richter

kirstin@thesocialagency.ca

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c126bfe0-7533-4b4c-880d-3ae7cd03d6e3



https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/95b6b56d-73bd-4c36-9d51-bb1018b2e36a
Versailles, Ky, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On June 8-9, 2023, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) will hold its annual Diversity Impact Conference. The Diversity Impact Conference brings together renowned thought leaders and speakers to increase awareness of the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the healthcare workforce, particularly for those working in underserved and rural communities. This year, for the first time, the conference will be available for attendees outside of FNU.

We are extremely excited about the 2023 Diversity Impact Conference, said FNU Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN. The Conference gets better each and every year, and we are putting the finishing touches on the plan for this years sessions. We are most excited, however, about being able to include more attendees this year. As we grow this important event, we want to invite leaders and students from some of our area universities to join us. This event is all about collaboration, learning, and growing. Im confident that it will benefit any university, department, or individual.

The 2023 Diversity Impact Conference will be conducted via Zoom. The theme of this years conference is Better Together: Advancing a Culture of Identity and Belonging in Healthcare. The two-day event will feature keynote presentations on both days from nationally recognized leaders in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Additional sessions will include panel discussions, breakout sessions, and time for reflection.

The opening keynote address will be given by Dr. Tia Brown McNair, Vice President of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Student Success and Executive Director for the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Campus Centers at the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) in Washington, D.C. On the second day of the conference, the keynote speaker will be Rebekka Eshler, National President of the Transgender American Veterans Association in Washington, D.C. All speaker bios and the full conference schedule can be found at https://frontier.edu/diversity-impact/

The learning outcomes attendees can expect to take away from the Diversity Impact Conference include:

Identify specific strategies to create a culture of belonging amongst peers and the larger community

Discuss the causes behind healthcare disparities and their effect on creating a culture of belonging

Reflect on ways to effectively engage in spaces to promote diversity in identity

Practice ways to build collaborative communities

Students attending any institution can register for the conference for free. All others can register at the registration price of $99 until the day before the event. For more information about the 2023 Diversity Impact Conference and to register, please visit https://frontier.edu/diversity-impact/.

#####

About Frontier Nursing University:

The mission of Frontier Nursing University is to provide accessible nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner education that integrates the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We transform healthcare by preparing innovative, ethical, compassionate, and entrepreneurial leaders to work with all people with an emphasis on rural and underserved communities. FNU offers graduate Nurse-Midwifery and Nurse-Practitioner distance education programs that can be pursued full- or part-time with the students home community serving as the classroom. Degrees and options offered include Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), or Post-Graduate Certificates. In 2021 and 2022, Frontier was named a Great College to Work For by the Great Colleges to Work For program. To learn more about FNU and the programs and degrees offered, please visit Frontier.edu.

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Dublin, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Vitamin D Testing Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Test, 1,25-Dihydroxy Vitamin D Test), By Indication, By Technology, By Patient, By Test Location, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global vitamin D testing market size is expected to reach USD 1.63 Billion by 2030 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.53% from 2023 to 2030.

Companies Mentioned

Abbott

Danaher Corporation

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd

Siemens Corporation

Quest Diagnostics, Inc.

bioMerieux SA

DiaSorin S.p.A.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Beckman Coulter, Inc. (BD)

Tosoh Bioscience, Inc.

The growth of the market is attributed to increased health awareness amongst consumers. The enhanced knowledge regarding the adverse effects of vitamin D deficiency such as osteoporosis, rickets, diabetes mellitus, depression, autoimmunity, cardiovascular disease, and even pregnancy complications is further escalating the demand for testing.



The vitamin D deficiency rates vary regionally as countries located around the tropic have optimum sun exposure, while the countries with high latitudes receive a limited amount of sunlight, thereby leading to a high rate of deficiency amongst the population. For instance, as per BMC Public Health Journal in 2021, over 1 billion people globally are affected by the deficiency. The highest prevalence of deficiency is reported in the U.S., Europe, and Middle East, ranging between 20-90%.



Increasing technological advancements are projected to propel market growth over the forecast period. For instance, in April 2022, Medisure announced the launch of its Health Canada-approved home testing kit. Furthermore, the company was successfully able to get pre-launch orders via pharmacies as well as online stores which demonstrates the high demand for tests. The availability of home tests is anticipated to further enhance the population getting tested for vitamin D deficiency.



Moreover, deficiency is frequently found to occur in patients with diabetes and obesity. These same conditions have been reported to show higher mortality in Covid-19. Low vitamin D levels are prevalent in populations all over the world and have been linked to a significantly increased risk of pneumonia, which highlights the significance of deficiency in cases of respiratory infection.



Furthermore, the high cost associated with testing is one of the major factors restraining market growth. However, market players operating in the market are focusing on developing products that are feasible and easy to use such as at-home testing kits is further propelling the growth of the market. For instance, in April 2022, Empower Clinics Inc. launched its first Health Canada-approved test kit within its Medisure brand, an innovative at-home vitamin D rapid testing kit.



Vitamin D Testing Market Report Highlights

By product, the 25-hydroxy vitamin D test segment held a larger share of the vitamin D testing market since it turns out to be the most accurate way to test for vitamin D levels

By indication, the osteoporosis segment is expected to show the fastest growth over the forecast period due to the increasing geriatric population

North America dominated the global market in 2022, owing to a high prevalence of indication disease and the increasing need for the vitamin D supplements

Key players are focusing on improving existing tests and developing advanced and novel testing kits to maintain their dominance and attain a competitive edge

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 80 Forecast Period 2022 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $848.8 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $1630 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 8.5% Regions Covered Global

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1 Vitamin D Testing Market: Methodology and Scope



Chapter 2 Vitamin D Testing Market: Executive Summary

Chapter 3 Vitamin D Testing Market: Industry Outlook

3.1 Market Lineage Outlook

3.1.1 Parent Market Outlook

3.2 Penetration & Growth Prospect Mapping

3.3 Market Dynamics

3.3.1 Market Driver Analysis

3.3.1.1 Increased health awareness amongst consumers

3.3.1.2 Increasing prevalence of osteoporosis, rickets, thyroid disorders

3.3.1.3 Increasing technological advancements

3.3.1.4 Developing novel drugs for the treatment of related disease conditions

3.3.2 Market Restraint Analysis

3.3.2.1 High cost of testing

3.3.2.2 Needs of supplementing testing with unnecessary supplements

3.4 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

3.5 SWOT Analysis, by Factor (Political & Legal, Economic, and Technological)

3.6 Regulatory Framework

3.7 User Perspective Analysis



Chapter 4 Vitamin D Testing Market: Competitive Landscape

4.1 Recent developments & impact analysis, by key market participants

4.1.1 Ansoff Matrix

4.2 Major deals & strategic alliances analysis

4.2.1 Joint Ventures

4.2.2 Licensing and Partnerships

4.2.3 Technological Collaborations

4.3 Company/Competition Categorization

4.4 Vendor Landscape

4.4.1 List Of Key Distributors and Channel Partners

4.4.2 Key Customers

4.5 Public Companies

4.5.1 Company Market Position Analysis

4.6 Private Companies

4.6.1 List Of Key Emerging Companies

4.6.2 Regional Network Map



Chapter 5 Vitamin D Testing Market: Product Business Analysis

5.1 Definition and Scope

5.2 Product Market Share Analysis, 2022 & 2030

5.3 Global Vitamin D Testing Market, By Product, 2018 To 2030

5.4 Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2018 to 2030

5.4.1 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Test

5.4.1.1 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Test Market 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

5.4.2 1,25-Dihydroxy Vitamin D Test

5.4.2.1 1,25-Dihydroxy Vitamin D Test Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)



Chapter 6 Vitamin D Testing Market: Indication Business Analysis

6.1 Definition and Scope

6.2 Indication Market Share Analysis, 2022 & 2030

6.3 Global Vitamin D Testing Market, By Indication, 2018 To 2030

6.4 Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2018 to 2030

6.4.1 Osteoporosis

6.4.1.1 Osteoporosis Market 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

6.4.2 Rickets

6.4.2.1 Rickets Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

6.4.3 Thyroid Disorders

6.4.3.1 Thyroid Disorders Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

6.4.4 Vitamin D Deficiency

6.4.4.1 Vitamin D Deficiency Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

6.4.5 Others

6.4.5.1 Others Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)



Chapter 7 Vitamin D Testing Market: Technology Business Analysis

7.1 Definition and Scope

7.2 Technology Market Share Analysis, 2022 & 2030

7.3 Global Vitamin D Testing Market, By Technology, 2018 To 2030

7.4 Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2018 to 2030

7.4.1 Radioimmunoassay

7.4.1.1 Radioimmunoassay Market 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

7.4.2 ELISA

7.4.2.1 ELISA Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

7.4.3 HPLC

7.4.3.1 HPLC Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

7.4.4 LC-MS

7.4.4.1 LC-MS Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

7.4.5 Others

7.4.5.1 Others Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)



Chapter 8 Vitamin D Testing Market: Patient Business Analysis

8.1 Definition and Scope

8.2 Patient Market Share Analysis, 2022 & 2030

8.3 Global Vitamin D Testing Market, By Patient, 2018 To 2030

8.4 Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2018 to 2030

8.4.1 Adult

8.4.1.1 Adult Market 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

8.4.2 Pediatric

8.4.2.1 Pediatric Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)



Chapter 9 Vitamin D Testing Market: Test Location Business Analysis

9.1 Definition and Scope

9.2 Test Location Market Share Analysis, 2022 & 2030

9.3 Global Vitamin D Testing Market, By Test Location, 2018 To 2030

9.4 Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2018 to 2030

9.4.1 Point-of-Care

9.4.1.1 Point-of-Care Market 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

9.4.2 Others

9.4.2.1 Others Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)



Chapter 10 Vitamin D Testing Market: End-use Business Analysis

10.1 Definition and Scope

10.2 End-use Market Share Analysis, 2022 & 2030

10.3 Global Vitamin D Testing Market, By End-use, 2018 To 2030

10.4 Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2018 to 2030

10.4.1 Hospitals

10.4.1.1 Hospitals Market 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

10.4.2 Diagnostic Laboratories

10.4.2.1 Diagnostic Laboratories Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

10.4.2 Homecare

10.4.2.1 Homecare Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

10.4.2 Others

10.4.2.1 Others Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)



Chapter 11 Vitamin D Testing Market: Regional Business Analysis



Chapter 12 Vitamin D Testing Market: Company Profiling

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/6cr4sc

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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Denver, Colo., May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ziggis Coffee, the innovative coffee franchise reimagining how brands connect with their communities, has announced each of the franchise locations will be participating in Mental Health Awareness Month by fundraising for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Revital Colorado.

Ziggis Coffee provides a convenient way for guests to re-energize during the day. Through its drive-thru experience, Ziggis Coffee sparks joy by offering a superior cup of coffee with a personal touch. The brand is committed to the well-being of its communities and is looking to expand its service beyond its business by supporting organizations that are actively raising awareness, providing resources, and ending the stigma of mental illness.

Mental Health is a topic that is deeply personal for many and affects every single community, said Brandon Knudsen, CEO of Ziggis Coffee. As a community-driven company, we are looking to do our part by supporting Mental Health Awareness Month by raising funds for two incredible organizations.

NAMI is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness through advocacy, education, support, and public awareness. From May 15th  31st, Ziggis customers will have the opportunity to round up their total or donate an additional amount at the time of purchase. Funds raised for NAMI will go to each locations local state chapter to support NAMIs efforts locally, including support groups, training, education classes, and advocacy work.

Revital Colorado is a non-profit organization that provides support and encouragement through a variety of services that revitalize the minds, bodies, and spirits of first responders and their families. On May 20th, $1 from every drink sold at Ziggis will be donated back to Revital Colorado to support their ongoing efforts in combatting mental illness among first responders and their families, including group outings, retreats, department training, and clinical counseling. This is the second year in a row Ziggis is partnering with Revital Colorado to fundraise for their ongoing programming.

Engaging with these organizations has opened my eyes to the stigma around mental health and shown me how important these services are to the communities they serve, continued Knudsen. Everyone should have access to the resources they need to prioritize their mental health.

Ziggis was founded by husband and wife duo, Brandon and Camrin Knudsen, who envisioned a warm and welcoming place where communities could come together and connect with one another. The pair chose coffee as the vessel to bring this idea to life, and with unwavering determination, hard work, and sheer passion for their goal, they opened their first Ziggis location in Longmont, Colorado. Since then, the brand has grown to 70 drive-thru and coffee shop locations throughout the country, bringing positivity to those they serve. Ziggis Coffee continues to stay true to the Knudsens original dream, connecting with communities in a unique, convenient way through its superior products and service.

About Ziggis Coffee

Founded in 2004 and franchising since 2016, Ziggis Coffee opened its first location in Longmont, Colorado where it became known for its innovative food and beverage menu and dedication to the communities they serve. Recently ranked on the 2023 Entrepreneur Magazine Franchise 500, the brand is known for its ever-evolving menu and inviting ambiance where customers are invited to unwind and connect with one another. The brand currently has 70 locations open across 16 states, and over 160 locations in various stages of development, with 30 set to open within the next year. For more information, please visit https://www.ziggiscoffee.com/

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Jefferson City, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jefferson City, Tennessee -

Carson-Newman University's Online Master of Science in Nursing  Family Nurse Practitioner program (MSN-FNP) and Online Post-Master's FNP Certificate (PMC-FNP) Program help address the ongoing nursing shortage in Tennessee by educating and preparing future FNPs to serve local communities.

The United States is currently experiencing a nursing shortage that has been years in the making. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the demand for registered nurses is projected to grow 6% from 2021 to 2031. Tennessee's healthcare system has been disproportionately affected by the nursing shortage, with a deficit of over 15,000 nurses following the pandemic. The Tennessee nursing shortage shows no sign of slowing down; according to the Tennessee Hospital Association, the state is projected to experience a shortage of around 12,000 registered nurses by 2025.

The reasons for the nursing shortage are complex and multifaceted. An aging population, an increase in chronic diseases, and a lack of nursing faculty are all contributing factors. One nursing shortage solution is highlighting universities that offer online FNP programs. Offering flexible online nursing programs can help alleviate the nursing shortage by making nursing programs more accessible to a wider range of individuals. Online programs are not limited by geography or capped classes in local universities, which can fill up quickly due to faculty shortages. This accessibility can attract more individuals to pursue or advance their nursing careers, ultimately increasing the number of nurses available in the workforce.

Carson-Newman University is helping address the Tennessee nursing shortage in the advanced nurse practitioner area with its Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) programs. These programs are designed to prepare nurses to become advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who can provide primary care services to patients across the lifespan. In Tennessee, NP's work alongside physicians to provide primary care. This means that our FNP programs are playing an important role in addressing the primary care gap. Across the nation, NP's now have greater opportunities to provide primary care either independently or in collaboration with doctors in family care medical centers.

Carson-Newman University offers two FNP programs: the Online MSN-FNP Program and the Post-Master's FNP Certificate Online Program. The Online MSN-FNP Program is designed for registered nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) who are seeking to become FNPs. Comparatively, the Post-Master's FNP Certificate Online Program is designed for nurses who already have a Master's degree in Nursing and are seeking FNP certification. Both FNP programs offered by Carson-Newman are unique in that the courses are delivered entirely online, allowing students from anywhere to earn their degrees without having to relocate, while providing clinical experience and placement services in sites in the students location.

Taught by expert faculty who are practicing nurse practitioners, both FNP programs are rigorous, providing students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become well-rounded family nurse practitioners. The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including pharmacology, health assessment, and pathophysiology. Students also gain hands-on experience through clinical rotations, where they work alongside experienced nurse practitioners to provide care to patients.

One of the key benefits of Carson-Newman's online FNP programs is that they are designed to meet the needs of working nurses. The online format allows students to complete coursework and clinical hours on a flexible schedule, making it easier to balance work and family obligations. This flexibility was particularly valuable during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, where many nurses faced unprecedented challenges in their personal and professional lives.

Graduates of the programs are highly sought after by healthcare providers across the state, who recognize the quality of education and training they have received. By producing more well-educated, highly skilled nurse practitioners, Carson-Newman is helping to ensure that patients in Tennessee have access to the care they need. According to U.S. News & World Report rankings, Carson-Newman University's online nursing and education programs are both ranked second in Tennessee in their respective categories. Additionally, the online nursing program at Carson-Newman University has been ranked 98th nationally.

Overall, Carson-Newman University's online FNP programs are an innovative solution to the nursing shortage facing Tennessee and the United States as a whole. By providing accessible, high-quality education to aspiring nurse practitioners, Carson-Newman is helping to create a brighter future for health care in our country.

Learn more about Carson-Newman University Onlines Master of Science in Nursing  Family Nurse Practitioner program and Post-Master's FNP Certificate Online program by visiting the official website at https://onlinenursing.cn.edu/programs

###

For more information about Carson-Newman University, contact the company here:



Carson-Newman University

Dr. Kimberly Bolton Assistant Chair, Graduate Studies in Nursing

kbolton@cn.edu

1646 Russell Ave. Jefferson City, TN
Dallas, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dickeys Barbecue Pit is honoring law enforcement officers across the country for National Police Week.

The popular, Texas-style barbecue brand will spend National Police Week, May 14th  May 20th, honoring the courageous men and women that protect and serve our communities every day. Each law enforcement officer visiting Dickeys this week will receive an iconic Big Yellow Cup for FREE with their purchase of $10 or more.

Dickeys guests also have the opportunity year-round to support local first responder heros by selecting to donate $1 to The Dickey Foundation, the charitable arm of the barbecue brand who are dedicated to supporting first responders, during check out either in store or at while ordering on dickeys.com.

Additionally, a portion of the proceeds from each Big Yellow Cup sale goes directly to the Dickey Foundation who provide grants to local law enforcement teams, such as a grant to the K9 Unit of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, operations equipment for the Snohomish County Sheriffs Department, E-Bikes for the Jacinto City Police Department, and protective armor for Gretna Police Department and Slidell Police Department.

At Dickeys we are passionate about supporting the law enforcement officers who risk their lives to protect our communities, said Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickeys Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. We value the opportunity to recognize these officers with a small token of our appreciation during National Police Appreciation Week.

Guests can also bring the barbecue home, keep your guests out of the kitchen and around the table. Dickeys is always offering catering services perfect for any size gathering, available to order now!

For more about Dickeys, follow Dickeys Barbecue Pit on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Download the Dickeys Barbecue Pit app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

For Dickeys Virtual Concepts follow Wing Boss on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok; Trailer Birds on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok ; and Big Deal Burger on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok .

About Dickeys Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.

Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the worlds largest barbecue concept, was founded in 1941 by the Dickey family. For the past 80 years, Dickeys Barbecue Pit has served millions of guests in 44 states Legit. Texas. Barbecue. At Dickeys, all our barbecued meats are smoked onsite in a hickory wood burning pit. Dickeys proudly believes theres no shortcut to true barbecue and its why our name isnt BBQ. The Dallas-based, family-run barbecue franchise offers eight slow-smoked meats and 12 wholesome sides with 'No B.S. (Bad Stuff)' included. Dickeys Barbecue 550 locations across the United States and eight other countries.

Dickeys was named to Newsweeks 2022 Americas Favorite Restaurant Chains list and USA Today 2021 readers choice awards. Dickeys won first place on Fast Casuals Top 100 Movers and Shakers list, been named a Top 500 Franchise by Entrepreneur and named to Hospitality Technologys Industry Heroes list. Led by CEO Laura Rea Dickey, who was named among the countrys 50 most influential women in foodservice in Nations Restaurant News, was recognized by Fast Casuals Top 100 Movers and Shakers list and honored by Dallas Business Journal. Dickey's Barbecue Pit has also been recognized by Fox News, Forbes Magazine, Franchise Times, The Dallas Morning News, The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine and QSR Magazine. Dickeys Barbecue is part of Dickeys Restaurant Brands which has more than 700 restaurants nationwide including brands Wing Boss, Trailer Birds, Big Deal Burger and bbqathome.com. DRB is led by CEO Roland Dickey Jr. For more information, visit dickeys.com.

# # #

Attachment
SAN FRANCISCO, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.

Class Period: Apr. 26, 2018  Mar. 13, 2023

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 19, 2023

Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/RAD

Contact An Attorney Now: RAD@hbsslaw.com

844-916-0895

Rite Aid Corporation (RAD) Securities Fraud Class Action:

The litigation focuses on Rite Aids compliance with federal regulations concerning its pharmacies prescriptions practices and its federal healthcare program reimbursement billing.

According to the complaint, Defendants made false and misleading statements or failed to disclose that Rite Aid: (1) filled hundreds of thousands of unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances that lacked a legitimate medical purpose until June 2019; (2) ignored evidence that its stores were dispensing unlawful prescriptions and intentionally deleted internal notes about suspicious prescribers written by concerned pharmacists; (3) violated the Controlled Substances Act by knowingly filling unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances; and (4) violated the False Claims Act when it sought reimbursement from federal healthcare programs.

Investors began to learn the truth on Mar. 13, 2023, when the US Department of Justice announced it filed a lawsuit against Rite Aid alleging that the company knowingly filled hundreds of thousands of unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances and knowingly submitted false or fraudulent reimbursement claims for such prescriptions to federal healthcare programs. The DOJ alleges these activities violate the Controlled Substances Act and the False Claims Act and states, in part, [w]hile making millions of dollars [Rite Aid] opened the floodgates for millions of pills of opioids and other controlled substances to flow illegally out of [its] stores.

This news sent the price of Rite Aid shares sharply lower.

Were focused on investors losses and proving Rite Aids decision to put profits ahead of safety enabled it to record illegally-generated revenues, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.

If you invested in Rite Aid and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firms investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Rite Aid should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email RAD@hbsslaw.com.

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.
TORONTO, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cleantech Power Corp. (NEO: PWWR) (OTCQB: PWWRF) (Frankfurt: E43, WKN: A3EEHV) (PWWR or the Company), a diversified investment platform developing affordable, renewable, and reliable power and cleantech, is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into a non-binding letter of intent (the Letter of Intent) with an arms length third party to acquire, directly and indirectly, certain operating combined heat and power and other assets (the CHP Assets) located in North America (the Potential Transaction).



Pursuant to the Letter of Intent, the Company may acquire the CHP Assets by making two payments. The first payment relates to CHP Assets which are past commercial operation and will consist of a payment of approx. $7.5 million (the COD Payment). The COD Payment will be made on close of the Potential Transaction. The second payment relates to CHP Assets which are currently not past their commercial operation date and will consist of a payment of approx. $5 million (the Non-COD Payment and, collectively with the COD Payment, the Aggregate Payment Amount). The Non-COD Payment will be made in the sole-discretion of the Company. The Company believes that if consummated, the transactions contemplated in the Letter of Intent have the potential to provide the Company with approximately $1.5 million annual cash flow. Certain of the projects associated with the CHP Assets are subject to contract terms between 15 to 20 years.

Cleantech Power is focused on delivering our vision of combining stable energy streams with advanced hydrogen technology to bring value to Investors, stated Frank Carnevale, Chief Executive Officer of Cleantech Power Corp. In addition to the Potential Transaction contributing towards the Company becoming EBITDA-positive, the new project pipeline associated with the CHP Assets would bring our current total on non-contracted sales leads to over $150 million in CHP projects to develop in the coming years.

Revenue Growth & Synergies

The acquisition of CHP Assets is consistent with the Companys previous acquisition dated April 22, 2023, and supports the Companys focus on the development of affordable, renewable and reliable power assets.

The Potential Transaction is synergistic and has the potential to support the Company in the following ways:

Deliver EBITDA to the Company;

Provides approx. $100 million in potential future project opportunities;

Cost of natural gas inputs and carbon taxes are covered by off-taker customers, limiting spark spread risk to the Company;

Project economics are not anticipated to be subject to government subsidies or carbon credits to be viable;

Adds project development and CHP experience to the Company;

Off-takers of CHP Asset contracts may provide future opportunities to increase integration of fuel cells; and

The CHP Assets may enable the use of other cleantech during the life-span of the contracts with customers.



The projects associated with the CHP Assets are synergistic with the Companys experience in operations of other CHP assets currently in the Companys portfolio. PWWR believes operations and generation production may be further optimized over time, providing the potential for increased returns to the Company and its shareholders. If consummated, the Potential Transaction is expected to assist the Company in funding current operations, including the development of its Fuel Cell Assets (as defined below) and other clean technology.

As announced on April 4, 2023, PWWR is currently working towards securing its Fuel Cell assets (the Fuel Cell Assets) held at Fuel Cell Power NV (FCP NV) in Belgium.

Financing

The Potential Transaction is non-binding in nature and is subject to the Company arranging suitable financing. There is no guarantee that financing will be arranged, however, the Company is exploring financing options, and may finance the Aggregate Payment Amount and the purchase of the CHP Assets through a combination of third-party secured debt, drawing down the approximately $5 million in convertible debt note financing announced on November 18, 2022 and March 14, 2023 that the company currently has access, or other financing alternatives.

The Company is currently performing financial, legal and operational diligence on the CHP Assets and will provide further update to the market if the Potential Transaction materializes.

2023 Priorities

On March 6, 2023, the Company announced 2023 Priorities, and the acquisition of the CHP Assets will contribute towards achieving EBITDA positive for the Company over the coming 5 to 7 quarters.

The Company will use this opportunity to assess and confirm financing opportunities to enable the development of sales opportunities it acquired from AI Renewables, sales pipeline within acquisition and additional project opportunities.

CLEANTECH POWER CORP. (NEO: PWWR)

PWWR is a diversified investment platform developing affordable, renewable, and reliable power assets and cleantech. We bring Power to the People today, combining a stable revenue stream with a future- forward vision to commercialize our advanced hydrogen fuel cell technology to meet the massive global market need, and ultimately generate compelling returns for investors.

PWWR is well positioned to deliver Power to the People in the global energy transition while offering a diversified cleantech growth platform for investors.

Further information is available on the Company website at www.cleantechpower.ca and the Company encourages investors and other interested stakeholders to follow it on: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Common shares are listed for trading on the NEO under the symbol PWWR, the OTC Venture Exchange OTCQB under the symbol PWWRF and on the Frankfurt Exchange under symbol E43 and WKN A3EEHV.

For further information, please contact:

Frank Carnevale

Chief Executive Officer

+1 (647) 531-8264

fcarnevale@cleantechpower.ca

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, believes or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might, occur or achieve. Forward-looking statements in this news release may include, but are not limited to, the Letter of Intent, the CHP Assets, the method of financing the Aggregate Payment Amount, the COD Payment, the Non-COD Payment, the Potential Transaction and expectations relating therewith and statements with respect to the Companys technology, intellectual property, business plan, objectives and strategy.

Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward- looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

NEITHER THE NEO EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE NEO EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
New York, United States , May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Electric Mobility Market Size is to grow from USD 164.23 Billion in 2022 to USD 1,229.47 Billion by 2032, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 22.3% during the forecast period.

Get a Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.sphericalinsights.com/request-sample/1800

Electric mobility, or E-Mobility, is the use of electric vehicles as an alternative to traditional fossil fuel-powered vehicles. EVs are powered by rechargeable batteries and emit zero tailpipe emissions, making them environmentally friendly. E-Mobility is gaining popularity as governments implement policies to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change. This trend has led to an increase in the development and production of EVs by major automakers and the growth of supporting infrastructure such as charging stations. Despite challenges such as range anxiety and high upfront costs, E-Mobility is expected to continue to grow in popularity as technology improves and costs decrease.

Browse key industry insights spread across 200 pages with 130 market data tables and figures & charts from the report on " Global Electric Mobility Market Size , Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Product (Electric Car, Electric Motorcycle, Electric Scooter, and Others), By Battery (Sealed Lead Acid Battery, Li-ion Battery, and NiMH Battery), By Voltage (Less than 24V, 24V, 36V, 48V, and Greater than 48V), By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa), Analysis and Forecast 2023  2032." Get Detailed Report Description Here:

Buy Now Full Report: https://www.sphericalinsights.com/checkout/1800

The electric motorcycle is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 24.3% during the forecast period

Based on product type, the global electric mobility market is segmented into electric car, electric motorcycle, electric scooter, and others. During the forecast period, the electric mobility market is expected to experience the fastest growth rate in the electric motorcycle segment. This is due to the increased demand for electric micro-mobility, particularly for short-distance commutes, as a result of disrupted public transport during the pandemic. Furthermore, the lower cost of electric motorcycles compared to electric cars, coupled with their significant travel range, is expected to increase their popularity in emerging economies.

The 24V segment held the largest market share with more than 27.5% in 2022

Based on voltage type, the global electric mobility market is segmented into less than 24V, 24V, 36V, 48V, and greater than 48V. The 24V segment held the largest market share in the electric mobility market, due to the increasing adoption of 24V batteries in electric scooters and bikes, which are popular modes of transportation in urban areas. 24V batteries are lightweight, compact, and offer a good balance between performance and cost, making them an attractive option for small electric vehicles. Additionally, improvements in battery technology and charging infrastructure have increased the range and charging speed of 24V batteries, making them even more appealing to consumers.

Inquire Before Buying This Research Report: https://www.sphericalinsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/1800

Europe is predicted to grow at a CAGR of around 22.5% over the projected period.

Based on region, Europe is predicted to experience significant growth in the electric mobility market during the projected period. This is due to the region's commitment to reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable transportation solutions. The European Union has implemented strict regulations on CO2 emissions, incentivizing automakers to develop electric vehicles. Additionally, European countries have implemented various policies and incentives to promote the adoption of electric vehicles, including tax credits, subsidies, and infrastructure development. The presence of major automakers in the region, such as Volkswagen, Renault, and BMW, is also expected to contribute to the growth of the market.

Competitive Analysis:

The report offers the appropriate analysis of the key organizations/companies involved within the global market along with a comparative evaluation primarily based on their product offering, business overviews, geographic presence, enterprise strategies, segment market share, and SWOT analysis. The report also provides an elaborative analysis focusing on the current news and developments of the companies, which includes product development, innovations, joint ventures, partnerships, mergers & acquisitions, strategic alliances, and others. This allows for the evaluation of the overall competition within the market. Some of the major players in the global electric mobility market include Tesla Inc., General Motors, Volkswagen AG, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., BMW Group, Ford Motor Company, Toyota Motor Corporation, Hyundai Motor Group, BYD Auto Co., Ltd., Daimler AG, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, SAIC Motor Corporation Limited, Geely Automobile Holdings Limited, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., and Audi AG.

Get Discount At @ https://www.sphericalinsights.com/request-discount/1800

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About the Spherical Insights & Consulting

Spherical Insights & Consulting is a market research and consulting firm which provides actionable market research study, quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight especially designed for decision makers and aids ROI.

Which is catering to different industry such as financial sectors, industrial sectors, government organizations, universities, non-profits and corporations. The company's mission is to work with businesses to achieve business objectives and maintain strategic improvements.

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TORONTO, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medivolve Inc. (Medivolve or the Company) (NEO: MEDV; OTC: MEDVF; FRA: 4NC) is pleased to announce that it has established Medivolve Management Services, LLC in Puerto Rico to serve as a management services organization (the MSO). The MSO has been organized by the Company in accordance with applicable rules governing the practice of medicine in the United States. The Company, through the MSO utilizing the telehealth platform currently in development, intends to coordinate physician/patient interactions, provide medical billing and practice management services, and facilitate access to diagnostic testing and pharmacy services in partnership with qualified health practitioners and in reliance on services provided by Medivolves wholly owned subsidiaries, Collection Sites and Medivolve Pharmacy. For this purpose, in late April 2023 the MSO entered into a management service and licensing agreement with a California medical corporation that is qualified to practice medicine in California (the Physician Network).



In early May 2023, the Physician Network acquired (the Acquisition) another California professional medical corporation, which is a fully licensed healthcare provider operating out of Brea, California that is duly credentialed with multiple insurance payors. The payor credentials are necessary to facilitate the reimbursement for services rendered through the telehealth platform and the Physician Network which is managed by the MSO. The US$400,000 purchase price (payable by way of an initial cash payment of US$200,000, with two additional tranches of US$100,000 payable on the 6 and 12-month anniversaries of the closing of the Acquisition) was funded by way of a loan from Collection Sites to the Physician Network.

In addition, the Company announces that it has closed all of its remaining COVID-19 testing locations in order to focus its resources on the telehealth platform rollout.

About Medivolve, Inc.

Medivolve, Inc. (NEO: MEDV; OTC: MEDVF; FRA: 4NC) is a Canadian healthcare technology company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Medivolve provides comprehensive clinical laboratory testing for COVID-19 through a distributed network of retail collection sites. The Companys mission is to improve health and lives by delivering world-class diagnostic solutionsstarting with COVID-19as well as to enable faster and better care to patients through innovative technology. Medivolve and its subsidiaries, Collection Sites and Marbella Pharmacy, operate a distributed network of six retail patient-care locations across the United States (five Collection Sites and one Marbella Pharmacy).

For investing inquiries, please contact: David Preiner, CEO, info@medivolve.ca, 702-990-3737.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the Companys future plans, particularly the establishment of the MSO and the provision of services by it through the anticipated telehealth platform in collaboration with the Companys subsidiaries and the Physicians Network. 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 information is 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, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, and competitive risks; risks resulting from the emergence of disruptive technologies that may impact the demand for the Companys products and services; the Companys inability to develop and launch the telehealth platform; risks of not achieving expected expansion and/or market penetration; risks relating to partnerships with third parties; the risk that government regulations and licensing requirements may change; the risk of defects in or loss of intellectual property rights; the risk of the Companys inability to acquire or license the intellectual property rights required to develop and launch the telehealth platform; the risk of the loss of key personnel and the Companys inability to attract and retain qualified personnel; technology and cybersecurity failure risks; and other risks of the healthcare and technology industries. 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. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
OTTAWA, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Whisky Explorer Awards, Canada's First and Only All-Inclusive Whisky Awards Event, is thrilled to announce its inaugural celebration of the finest whiskies available in Canada. This prestigious event aims to showcase the rich diversity and exceptional craftsmanship of whiskies from around the world and provide a platform for whisky enthusiasts, brands, distributors, and retailers to discover and recognize the best in the industry.



Led by Canada's esteemed Whisky Ambassador, Mike Brisebois, The Whisky Explorer Awards is proud to offer a fair and accurate selection process. A panel of experienced and knowledgeable judges, consisting of industry experts from various backgrounds, will meticulously evaluate the whiskies from Canada, the USA, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, and beyond. From single malts to blends, bourbons to ryes, and everything in between, all types of whisky will be considered for these prestigious awards.

"Our mission is to showcase the exceptional whiskies available in Canada and beyond, highlighting their unique characteristics and providing enthusiasts with a trusted source to explore and discover new expressions," said Mike Brisebois, Canada's Whisky Ambassador. "We aim to celebrate the artistry and passion that goes into crafting these remarkable whiskies, while also recognizing the outstanding brands that contribute to Canada's whisky landscape."

The Whisky Explorer Awards offers an unparalleled opportunity for brands and distributors to gain recognition and exposure within the Canadian market. Winning a Whisky Explorer Award provides a testament to the quality and excellence of a brand's whisky, establishing it as a top-performing contender in the industry. Furthermore, the awards serve as a trusted guide for whisky enthusiasts, helping them navigate the vast selection of whiskies available in Canada and discover the truly exceptional ones.

Entries for the 2023 competition opened on May 1, 2023 and will remain open until the deadline of September 15, 2023. To qualify for consideration, the whisky must be available for purchase in Canada, and entries must be available for sale in 2023. Although entries from the USA and other countries are accepted, the producers are responsible for shipping the whiskies from within Canada. Full bottles are required for submission, and sample bottles will not be accepted.

The winners of The Whisky Explorer Awards will be unveiled in February 2024 at the highly anticipated Whisky Wonderland Festival. This annual event serves as the perfect platform for Canadian whisky enthusiasts to come together, celebrate, and experience the best Canadian whiskies firsthand.

Join The Whisky Explorer Awards on an extraordinary journey of discovery as they uncover the gems of Canada's whisky scene. With their commitment to fairness, accuracy, and unbiased judgment, this remarkable event promises to be a highlight for whisky lovers, industry professionals, and brands alike.

For more information about The Whisky Explorer Awards, including entry guidelines, judging criteria, and sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.tweawards.ca

About The Whisky Explorer Awards:

The Whisky Explorer Awards is the first and only all-inclusive whisky awards event in Canada, dedicated to showcasing the finest whiskies available in the country. Led by Canada's Whisky Ambassador, Mike Brisebois, the awards celebrate the artistry, diversity, and craftsmanship of whiskies from Canada and around the world. The Whisky Explorer Awards provide an invaluable platform for brands, distributors, retailers, and whisky enthusiasts to discover and recognize the best whiskies by region and country.

Media Contact:

Mike Brisebois

Principal & Founder

The Whisky Explorer Corp.

info@thewhiskyexplorer.ca

613-769-0371

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TORONTO, May 14, 2023 - Toubani Resources Inc. (ASX:TRE) ("Toubani Resources" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointments of Mr Scott Perry and Mr Mark Strizek to the Board as Non-Executive Directors, effective today. Mr Perry and Mr Strizek are both highly experienced senior mining executives in the industry with a proven track record in corporate initiatives and advancement of development stage assets.



Non-Executive Directors Mr Jan-Erik Back and Mr Doug Jendry are retiring from the Board, effective today. Accordingly, the Toubani Board of Directors now consists of Danny Callow as Executive Chairman, Tim Kestell, Scott Perry and Mark Strizek as Non-Executive Directors, and Phil Russo as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director. Mr Callow, as previously planned, will transition to Non-Executive Chairman as of 1 June 2023.

Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Phil Russo commented:

"The addition of Scott and Mark to the Toubani Board is testament to the unlocked potential seen in the Kobada gold project. This potential is magnified when coupled with the currently ascribed market value of the Company. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Jan-Erik and Doug for their guidance in repositioning the Company and wish them well in their future endeavours. I also welcome Scott and Mark and look forward to drawing from their experience going forward. Toubani's now simplified listing structure, its continued exploration momentum and current optimisation efforts to right size the project, combined with the bolstering of our Board and management team auger positively in driving Kobada forward towards realising the value in the asset for our stakeholders."

Director Biographies

Mr Scott Perry has over 25 years of international senior executive experience in the mining industry with a track record in corporate transactions, project financing and development. Previously, Mr Perry was the Chief Executive Officer & Director of Centerra Gold from 2015 to 2022, a global intermediate gold producer where he led the US$1.1 billion acquisition of Thompson Creek Metals in 2016 and the US$240 million acquisition of AuRico Metals in 2017, amongst several other corporate initiatives. Prior to joining Centerra, Mr Perry served as Chief Executive Officer & Director of AuRico Gold, leading AuRico's US$1.5 billion merger with Alamos Gold in 2015. Prior to joining AuRico Gold, Mr Perry held increasingly senior roles with Barrick Gold in Australia, the United States, and Russia & Central Asia. Mr Perry is a former Director of the World Gold Council serving as the Audit Committee Chairman. Mr Perry holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Curtin University, a post-graduate diploma in Applied Finance and Investment and a CPA designation.

Mr Mark Strizek is a geologist and resource industry professional with over 27 years in the mining industry with experience in gold, base and technology metal projects. Mr Strizek has worked extensively as an executive with management and Board responsibilities across Australia, West Africa, Asia and Europe. Most recently, Mr Strizek was a Director and Executive Director (2017 to 2023) of ASX-listed Tietto Minerals which went from IPO in 2018 to first gold at its 4.5Mtpa gold project in Cote d'Ivoire in January 2023, and was admitted to the ASX 300 in March 2023. Mr Strizek was previously Managing Director of Vital Metals Limited, an ASX-listed company from 2011 to 2019. Mr Strizek holds a Bachelor of Science and a post-graduate certificate in Geostatistics.

In connection with the appointments, 400,000, 400,000 and 150,000 options at an exercise price of A$0.35, expiring three years from the date of issue will, subject to shareholder approval at the Company's upcoming Annual General Meeting, be issued to Mr Perry, Mr Strizek and Mr Kestell, respectively.

This announcement was authorised for release to the ASX by the Board of Toubani Resources Inc.

For more information:



Phil Russo Jane Morgan Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Investor and Media Relations

+61 (0) 478 138 627 +61 (0) 405 555 618



About Toubani Resources



Toubani Resources (ASX:TRE) is an exploration and development Company with a focus on becoming Africa's next gold producer. The Company has a highly experienced Board and management team with a proven African track record in advancing projects through exploration, development and into production.

www.toubaniresources.com




Summer Drilling to Commence Early June

Kelowna, May 15, 2023 - F3 Uranium Corp. (TSV: FUU) (OTCQB: FUUFF) ("F3" or "the Company") is pleased to announce final results from the 9 remaining drill holes of the 21 hole Winter 2023 program, including drill hole PLN23-061, drilled at the JR Zone on the Patterson Lake North (PLN) property. The analysis for PLN23-061, cored 75m grid south from the discovery hole, returned one continuous 12.5m interval averaging 4.6% U 3 O 8 , including a high-grade 5.0m interval averaging 10.9% U 3 O 8 , which further includes a 3.0m interval which assayed 16.1% U 3 O 8 .

Planning is in progress for a $12M summer exploration program, scheduled to commence early June, to continue JR Zone expansion, in addition to exploration along the A1 Main Shear Zone where previous drilling in 2014 and 2019 intersected the same structure as what is interpreted to be hosting the JR Zone. The work permits for the program have been received from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment.

Final assay results from 7 mineralized drill holes are disclosed below in Table 1, including drill holes PLN23-053 through PLN23-059, and drill holes PLN23-061 and PLN23-062.

Raymond Ashley, President, commented:

"This final release of assays from the Winter 2023 program at PLN confirms the previously reported scintillometer results that drill holes PLN23-061 and PLN23-062 that were cored furthest to the south from the discovery hole, 75m and 90m respectively, intersected the ultra-high-grade core with individual samples returning in excess of 20.0% U 3 O 8 . The JR Zone has now been defined over a total strike length of 105 meters and the upcoming summer program will aim to extend the zone in particular to the south, where assays from drill holes PLN23-060, 061 and 062 have shown that mineralization continues along strike, and up-dip towards the Athabasca Unconformity.

Drilling Highlights:

PLN23-061 (line 075S): mineralized intervals:

12.5m @ 4.6% U 3 O 8 (246.5m to 259.0m), including:

O (246.5m to 259.0m), including: 5.0m @ 10.9% U 3 O 8 (250.0m to 255.0m), further including

O (250.0m to 255.0m), further including 3.0m @ 16.1% U 3 O 8 (251.0m to 254.0m)

Main Intercepts:

PLN23-053 (line 030S): mineralized intervals:

9.0m @ 1.9% U 3 O 8 (245.5m to 254.5m), including

O (245.5m to 254.5m), including 2.5m @ 6.4% U 3 O 8 (251.0m to 253.5m), further including

O (251.0m to 253.5m), further including 1.0m @ 11.5% U 3 O 8 (251.5m to 252.5m)

PLN23-054 (line 075S): mineralized intervals:

0.5m @ 0.119 % U 3 O 8 (244.5m to 245.0m), and

O (244.5m to 245.0m), and 8.0m @ 0.118% U 3 O 8 (247.5m to 255.5m), and

O (247.5m to 255.5m), and 0.5m @ 0.222% U 3 O 8 (266.5m to 267.0m)

PLN23-056 (line 030S): mineralized intervals:

3.0m @ 0.279% U 3 O 8 (241.0m to 244.5m), and

O (241.0m to 244.5m), and 3.0m @ 2.72% U 3 O 8 (246.5m to 249.5m), including

O (246.5m to 249.5m), including 1.5m @ 5.25% U 3 O 8 (247.0m to 248.5m)

PLN23-057 (line 045S): mineralized intervals:

5.5m @ 0.065% U 3 O 8 (249.0m to 254.5m), and

O (249.0m to 254.5m), and 0.5m @ 0.25% U 3 O 8 (257.0m to 257.5m), and

O (257.0m to 257.5m), and 0.5m @ 0.078% U 3 O 8 (268.0m to 268.5m)

PLN23-059 (line 045S): mineralized intervals:

7.0m @ 0.98% U 3 O 8 (239.0m to 246.0m), including

O (239.0m to 246.0m), including 1.0m @ 5.54% U 3 O 8 (243.0m to 244.0m), and

O (243.0m to 244.0m), and 0.5m @ 0.304% U 3 O 8 (248.5 to 249.0m), and

O (248.5 to 249.0m), and 4.0m @ 0.82% U 3 O 8 (251.5m to 255.5m), including

O (251.5m to 255.5m), including 0.5m @ 5.46% U 3 O 8 (253.5m to 254m)

PLN23-062 (line 090S): mineralized intervals:

2.0m @ 0.077% U 3 O 8 (240.5m to 242.5m), and

O (240.5m to 242.5m), and 3.0m @ 5.0% U 3 O 8 (245.5m to 248.5m), including

O (245.5m to 248.5m), including 1.0m @ 15.0% U 3 O 8 (246.5m to 247.5m), and

O (246.5m to 247.5m), and 0.5m @ 0.371% U 3 O 8 (256.0m to 256.5m)

Table 1: Assay Results

Collar Information Assay Results Hole ID Grid Line Easting Northing Elevation Az Dip From (m) To (m) Interval (m) U3O8 weight % PLN23-053 030S 587697.8 6410700.7 545.1 54.5 -60.7 245.50 251.00 5.50 0.049 251.00 253.50 2.50 6.39 incl 251.50 252.50 1.00 11.5 253.50 254.50 1.00 0.519 262.50 263.00 0.50 0.058 PLN23-054 075S 587713.9 6410660.4 545.7 53.9 -58.2 244.50 245.00 0.50 0.119 247.50 255.50 8.00 0.118 266.50 267.00 0.50 0.222 PLN23-055 030N 587668.4 6410756.9 545.4 54.0 -55.5 no mineralization > 0.05% U3O8 PLN23-056 030S 587705.0 6410718.0 545.2 54.2 -59.5 241.00 244.00 3.00 0.279 246.50 247.00 0.50 0.126 247.00 248.50 1.50 5.25 248.50 249.50 1.00 0.233 PLN23-057 045S 587704.3 6410689.5 544.9 55.2 -62.3 249.00 254.50 5.50 0.065 PLN23-058 060S 587715.7 6410678.4 544.5 54.6 -64.9 no mineralization > 0.05% U3O8 PLN23-059 045S 587717.0 6410702.1 545.1 55.4 -61.1 239.00 243.00 4.00 0.275 243.00 244.00 1.00 5.54 244.00 246.00 2.00 0.111 248.50 249.00 0.50 0.304 251.50 253.50 2.00 0.124 253.50 254.00 0.50 5.56 254.00 255.50 1.50 0.202 PLN23-061 075S 587720.0 6410666.7 545.5 54.6 -56.6 246.50 251.00 4.50 1.57 251.00 254.00 3.00 16.1 254.00 255.00 1.00 2.18 255.00 259.00 4.00 0.093 269.50 270.00 0.50 0.066 PLN23-062 090S 587732.4 6410655.3 544.7 54.7 -57.7 240.50 242.50 2.00 0.077 245.50 246.50 1.00 0.054 246.50 247.50 1.00 15.0 247.50 248.50 1.00 0.105 256.00 256.50 0.50 0.371

Assay composite parameters:

1: Minimum Thickness of 0.5 m

2: Assay Grade Cut-Off: 0.05% U 3 O 8 (weight %)

3. Maximum Internal Dilution: 2.0 m

Composited weight % U 3 O 8 mineralized intervals are summarized in Table 1. Samples from the drill core are split in half sections on site. Where possible, samples are standardized at 0.5m down-hole intervals. One-half of the split sample is sent to SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories (an SCC ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 Accredited Facility) in Saskatoon, SK while the other half remains on site for reference. Analysis includes a 63 element suite including boron by ICP-OES, uranium by ICP-MS and gold analysis by ICP-OES and/or AAS. All depth measurements reported are down-hole and true thickness are yet to be determined but the Company estimates true thickness of the reported intervals in this news release to be close to reported interval widths. The Company considers uranium mineralization with assay results of greater than 1.0 weight % U 3 O 8 as "high grade" and results greater than 20.0 weight % U 3 O 8 as "ultra-high grade".

About Patterson Lake North:

The Company's large 39,946-hectare 100% owned Patterson Lake North property (PLN) is located just within the south-western edge of the Athabasca Basin in proximity to Fission Uranium's Triple R and NexGen Energy's Arrow high-grade uranium deposits, an area which is poised to become the next major area of development for new uranium operations in northern Saskatchewan. PLN is accessed by Provincial Highway 955, which transects the property, and the new JR Zone uranium discovery is located 23km northwest of Fission Uranium's Triple R deposit.

Qualified Person:

The technical information in this news release has been prepare in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and approved on behalf of the company by Raymond Ashley, P.Geo., President & COO of F3 Uranium Corp., a Qualified Person. Mr. Ashley has verified the data disclosed.

About F3 Uranium Corp.:

F3 Uranium is a uranium project generator and exploration company, focusing on projects in the Athabasca Basin, home to some of the world's largest high grade uranium discovery. F3 Uranium currently has 16 projects in the Athabasca Basin. Several of F3's projects are near large uranium discoveries including Triple R, Arrow, and Hurricane.

Forward Looking Statements

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, including statements regarding the suitability of the Properties for mining exploration, future payments, issuance of shares and work commitment funds, entry into of a definitive option agreement respecting the Properties, are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of the 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 because of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

The TSX Venture Exchange and the Canadian Securities Exchange have not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release, and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

F3 Uranium Corp.

750-1620 Dickson Avenue

Kelowna, BC V1Y9Y2

Contact Information

Investor Relations

Telephone: 778 484 8030

Email: ir@fission3corp.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Dev Randhawa"

Dev Randhawa, CEO





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VANCOUVER, May 15, 2023 - Foran Mining Corp. (TSXV: FOM) (OTCQX: FMCXF) ("Foran" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received conditional approval to list its common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") and graduate from the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV").

Final approval of the listing is subject to the Company meeting certain customary conditions required by the TSX. Foran is working diligently to satisfy such listing conditions, and further details and a timeline for graduation will be announced in due course. Upon satisfaction of the TSX listing conditions, Foran's common shares will be delisted from the TSXV and concurrently listed on the TSX.

Shareholders are not required to exchange their share certificates or take any other action in connection with the TSX listing, as there will be no change in the trading symbol or CUSIP for the common shares.

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.

About Foran Mining

Foran Mining is a copper-zinc-gold-silver exploration and development company, committed to supporting a greener future, empowering communities and creating circular economies which create value for all our stakeholders, while also safeguarding the environment. The McIlvenna Bay project is located entirely within the documented traditional territory of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. The Company also owns the Bigstone Project, a resource-development stage deposit located 25km southwest of its McIlvenna Bay project.

McIlvenna Bay is a copper-zinc-gold-silver rich VHMS deposit intended to be the centre of a new mining camp in a prolific district that has already been producing for 100 years. McIlvenna Bay sits just 65km West of Flin Flon, Manitoba and is part of the world class Flin Flon Greenstone Belt that extends from Snow Lake, Manitoba, through Flin Flon to Foran's ground in eastern Saskatchewan, a distance of over 225km.

McIlvenna Bay is the largest undeveloped VHMS deposit in the region. The Company announced the results from its Feasibility Study on February 28, 2022, outlining that current mineral reserves would potentially support an 18-year mine life producing an average of 65 million pounds of copper equivalent annually. The Company filed a NI 43-101 Technical Report for the McIlvenna Bay Feasibility Study on April 14, 2022, and filed a NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Bigstone Deposit resource estimate on February 11, 2022. Investors are encouraged to consult the full text of these technical reports which may be found on the Company's profile on www.sedar.com.

Foran trades on the TSXV under the symbol "FOM" and on the OTCQX under the symbol "FMCXF".

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, as defined under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or to the future performance of the Company and reflect management's expectations and assumptions as of the date hereof or as of the date of such forward looking statement. These statements appear in a number of places in this new release and include statements regarding our intent, including the Company's expecting listing on the TSX and delisting from the TSXV.

All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "continues", "forecasts", "projects", "predicts", "potentially", "intends", "likely", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date specified in such statement.

Inherent in forward-looking statements are known and unknown risks, estimates, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. These factors include management's belief or expectations relating to the following and, in certain cases, management's response with regard to including the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators, assumptions made with regard to the Company satisfying the requirements of the TSX's conditional approval letter, and the additional risks identified in our Annual Information Form dated March 23, 2023 and other securities filings with Canadian securities regulators available at www.sedar.com.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. Readers are cautioned against undue reliance on forward-looking statements and should note that the assumptions and risk factors discussed above do not contain an exhaustive list of the factors or assumptions that may affect the forward-looking statements, and that the assumptions underlying such statements may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the Company's securities filings and this news release. All forward-looking statements herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

SOURCE Foran Mining Corp.
Vancouver, May 15, 2023 - Gladiator Metals Corp. (TSXV: GLAD) (OTC Pink: GDTRF) (FSE: ZX7) ("Gladiator" or the "Company"), a mineral exploration company focused on the advancement of multiple high-grade copper prospects in Canada's Whitehorse Copper Belt is pleased to announce further results from the high-grade Cowley Park prospect at the Whitehorse Copper Project.

Gladiator has received assays results from an additional two holes drilled at the Cowley Park Prospect ("Cowley Park") comprising part of the approximately 10,000m of historic drill core which has never been systematically logged or assayed. Results include:

Gladiator has received assays results from an additional two holes drilled at the Cowley Park Prospect ("Cowley Park") comprising part of the approximately 10,000m of historic drill core which has never been systematically logged or assayed. Results include:



19-CP-01: 32.92m @ 2.08% Cu from 73.76m (including: 8.11m @ 5.35% Cu from 80.16m) plus 34.75m @ 0.94% Cu from 117.65m



19-CP-10: 19.08m @ 1.45% Cu from 108.94m within 81.26m @ 0.55% Cu from 108.94m



19-CP-05: 27m @ 0.68% Cu and 0.23% Mo from 97m



These results are from two holes drilled and unassayed by prior owners of the project and are between historic drill intercepts, further defining the continuity of high-grade copper skarn mineralization at Cowley Park.





Gladiator's current 3,000 meter diamond drilling program at Cowley Park that was designed to test high-grade copper skarn mineralization is expected to be completed by the end of May. The Company is advanced in its planning to complete a further 2,000 m of diamond drilling based on initial observations from diamond core drilled to date. This program is aimed at testing strike and depth extensions to mineralization providing Gladiator with a better understanding of the identified parts of the mineralized system where limited or no assaying was undertaken within the historical drilling.

Gladiator CEO, Jason Bontempo commented:

"Results from the ongoing logging and sampling of approximately 10,000m's of unassayed core from exploration drilling completed in recent years has identified further, previously unreported high-grade mineralisation. The results from Gladiators sampling continues to define the continuity and scale of high- grade copper mineralisation at Cowley Park as well as providing further definition to the potentially significant coincident Molybdenum mineralisation.

We look forward to updating the market in the coming months with results from our data compilation of historic drilling, further assays from previously unlogged and unsampled core as well as initial results from Gladiators ongoing maiden drill campaign at Cowley Park."

Cowley Park - First Time Assaying of Historic Drill Core

As noted above, Gladiator is currently logging and assaying approximately 10,000 metres of backlogged uncut core for the first time from exploration drilling campaigns completed in recent years. Gladiator has received assays results for an additional two holes drilled at the Cowley Park Prospect with results including

19-CP-01: 32.92m @ 2.08% Cu from 73.76m (including: 8.11m @ 5.35% Cu from 80.16m) plus 34.75m @ 0.94% Cu from 117.65m.





19-CP-05: 27m @ 0.68% Cu and 0.23% Mo from 97m.





19-CP-10: 19.08m @ 1.45% Cu from 108.94m within 81.26m @ 0.55% Cu from 108.94m.

The recently returned assay results from holes 18-CP-01, 19-CP-05 and 19-CP-10 (please refer to Figure 1 below for details) from the logging and assaying program continue to support Gladiators interpretation that mineralization at Cowley Park consists of multiple bodies, dipping shallowly to the southwest. Mineralization remains open at depth with the deepest intervals drilled to date, including 13.84m @ 1.26% Cu from 130.64m (18-CP-03) remaining open at depth (please refer to Figure 1 below for details). These results are in addition to the results announced on April 27th 2023 which included:

18-CP-04: 12.5m @ 8.02% Cu and 13g/t Ag from 85.04m





19-CP-03: 8.84m @ 1.59% Cu, 0.19% Mo and 14g/t Ag from 117.65m

The core was drilled by multiple project operators, including the project vendors H.Coyne & Sons with the most recent programs completed in 2020. A large proportion of this drilling is from the high-grade Cowley Park project area but core is available for multiple project areas within the 35km of prospective strike extent at the Whitehorse Copper Project. The Company will continue to announce relevant drill intercepts based on logical grouping.

A complete list of the compiled holes from Cowley Park and their significant intercepts and details can be found at:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mn25VTZ5DSvCH-NfXUYRnCmB6WxwWVE5NVYMdYKd41U/edit#gid=1204953821

High-grade copper skarn mineralization has now been traced over more than 700m strike (Figure 1) in historical drilling. Mineralization remains open in all directions with the most southeasterly hole, 19-CP-08 intersecting 43.28m @ 2.24% Cu from 93.27m and the most northwesterly hole, CP-053 intersecting 27.7m @ 2.74% Cu from 33.98m (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Plan map of the advanced Cowley Park Copper Prospect. Recently collated historical drill results with a cumulative Copper%*m of >40 highlighted as well as recent assay results from previously unassayed core from exploration drilling completed in recent years.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1930/166124_37011d8e84bb8a8f_002full.jpg

Figure 2: Section through drillholes CP-088 and 19-CP-01, Section A-A' on Figure 1 showing continuity of high-grade copper skarn mineralization.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1930/166124_37011d8e84bb8a8f_003full.jpg

The recent sample results also highlight significant zones of molybdenum mineralization coincident with the copper mineralization. Significant intervals from hole 19-CP-01 include:

19-CP-01: 10.54m @ 1.87% Cu, 0.16% Mo





19-CP-01: 19.81m @ 1.19% Cu, 0.13% Mo





19-CP-05: 27m @ 0.68% Cu and 0.23% Mo from 97m

Molybdenum was not systematically assayed for in the historical drilling and Gladiator intends to add co-product value to the project through the inclusion of this and other potentially contributing elements including silver and gold.

Holes were drilled at various dips on a nominal grid with lines oriented 011 degrees. Gladiator obtained the drill records and logs from the Yukon Geological Survey archives and have been capturing the data within an industry standard database and validated.

These recent results are in addition to the previously announced historic data compilation work at Cowley Park, which identified significant "downhole mineralization (refer Company's news releases dated February 13 2023 and April 3, 2023) including:

CP-003: 16.76m @ 2.27% Cu from Surface





CP-005: 9.14m @ 3.41% Cu from Surface and 7.62m @ 1.66% Cu from 21.34m to EOH





CP-011: 32.31m @ 1.16% Cu from 37.49m





CP-016: 32.92m @ 1.49% Cu from Surface, Including 14.51m @ 2.4% Cu from Surface





CP-018: 57.91m @ 1.27% Cu from 53.04m





CP-024: 44.19m @ 1.43% Cu from 97.54m, including 30.48m @ 1.85% Cu from 97.54m





CP-026: 41.76m @ 1.06% Cu from 95.4m





CP-028: 44.50m @ 1.18% Cu from 142.65m





CP-039: 62.49m @ 0.65% Cu from 152.4m





CP-040: 89.61m @ 1.89% Cu from 26.21m





CP-053: 27.7m @ 2.74% Cu from 8.69m, Including 7.83m @ 8.34% Cu from 23.93m





CP-063: 45.36m @ 1.26% Cu from 48.46m





CP-066: 40.27m 1.45% Cu from 23.62m, Including 15.55m @ 2.7% Cu from 23.62m





CP-081: 71.44m @ 1.10% Cu from 41.64m, Including 20.72m @ 2.64% Cu from 81.69m





CP-117: 46.94m @ 0.68% Cu from 73.46m





CP-119: 36.27m @ 2.28% Cu from 72.24m





CP-120: 33.34m@ 1.59% Cu from 72.12m, including 22.86m @ 2.05% Cu from 82.6m





CP-122: 56.17m @ 1.61% Cu from 56.91m





CP-126: 2.72m @ 14.68% Cu from 71.29m





CP-127: 62.48m @ 1.17% Cu, Including 3.05m @ 19.85% Cu from 102.72m





CP-112: 54.25m @ 1.79% Cu from 41.76m, including 10.67m @ 6.93% Cu from 85.34m





CP-125: 23.32m @ 3.53% cu from 51.51m, including 18.44m @ 4.42% Cu, from 56.39m downhole & 10.31m @ 1.41% Cu from 87.84m





CP-144: 53.38m @ 1.35% Cu from 19.17m, including 38.57m @ 1.73% Cu, 7.15 g/t Ag from 33.98m





19-CP-08: 43.28m @ 2.24% Cu from 93.27m, including 40.54m @ 2.36% Cu & 4.75 g/t Ag from 95.1m, including 13.72m @ 5.41% Cu & 19.22 g/t Ag from 109.42 m

Exploration Update

The Company's exploration Program at the Whitehorse Copper Project for 2023 is categorized into three parts which includes;

The Company's recently commenced 5,000m diamond drilling program which is focused predominantly on defining and extending mineralization at the Cowley Park Copper prospect. Cowley Park had reached feasibility stage before historical Copper mining operations were shut down in 1982. Identified mineralisation at Cowley remains open along strike and down dip.



In addition to the Company's own diamond drilling above, Gladiator will continue its program of logging and assaying approximately 10,000 metres of unassayed core from exploration drilling completed in recent years. The 10,000 metres of core mostly relates to drilling at Cowley Park (including 18-CP-01, 19-CP-05 and 19-CP-10) but also includes drilling at other prospect areas including North Star, Grafters and Verona which are situated in the Best Chance to North Star trend and includes the former Little Chief Mine.



Gladiator will also assay for molybdenum, gold, silver, and other elements which were not historically systematically assayed for, along with incorporating potentially lower grade mineralised material within or adjacent to significant mineralised widths that was often not sampled in the past to allow for future assessment of modern bulk mining potential.



The Company is also carrying out a systematic consolidation of the historic drilling and mining activity representing the first time a comprehensive review of regional datasets has been undertaken since the last mining activity in the region ceased in 1982 with the closure of the Little Chief mine. Gladiator to date has identified over 800 historical surface drill holes drilled by Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting Co Ltd., Yankee Hat Minerals Ltd., Lobo Del Norte Ltd and the Vendor H.Coyne & Sons Ltd which were logged and selectively assayed. This includes 219 holes for approximately 25,000 metres completed at the Cowley Park Prospect which were reported to the market on April 3rd. As compilation and digitisation is completed the Company will release the results of this historical drilling by prospect area along the Whitehorse Copper belt.

Regional Exploration

Work completed to date has identified more than 30, drill ready, high-grade regional targets associated with copper rich skarns at the contact between the Cretaceous age Whitehorse Plutonic Suite and the Triassic to Jurassic Lewes River Group's clastic and carbonate metasediments. Cumulatively, there is more than 35km of underexplored strike on the contact which is highly prospective for high-grade copper+/-molybdenum+/-silver+/- gold (refer to Figure 3 below).

Figure 3: Plan map of the Whitehorse Copper Project showing geology and location of key prospects within the main trend please refer to Company's news releases dated February 13 2023 and April 3, 2023 for details.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1930/166124_37011d8e84bb8a8f_004full.jpg

Gladiator's position is enhanced at Whitehorse, with the project having near year-round access for work programs, including an established road and drill access network, low capital infrastructure requirements due to the project's proximity to Whitehorse and a strong partnership with the owners of the Whitehorse Copper Project, an experienced local drilling service provider.

QA / QC

As part of the processing and capturing of the previously unassayed drill core, Gladiator is undertaking a systematic review of the available drill core after being retrieved from storage. This includes a review of the geological logging, marking up of lineal length of the core, undertaking a comparison of the physical ticketed sampling against historic documentation where noted, remarking any notations on the core box (including hole number, box number and nominal depths) and taking core photographs.

After the systematic review, if the core is required to be sampled or resampled where it is deemed to not match the historical record of the hole, it is then marked up for sampling with a new sampling ticket that matches the submitted sample for analysis at the start of the sample interval, the drill core is then cut in half (for un-cut core) or quartered (for resampled core where required) utilizing a core saw equipped with a diamond saw blade. The core samples are then sent for analysis and the remaining half (or quarter core) retained for future reference. Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) or known blank material is placed within the sampling sequence at a nominal sampling rate of 1 in 25 samples to monitor the Laboratory. Samples are submitted to the ALS Global laboratory (Canada).

Samples from 18-CP-01, 19-CP-05 and 19-CP-10 were crushed to 70% less than 2mm before pulverizing to better than 85% passing 75 microns. Samples were then analysed by ALS method ME-ICP41 (Aqua Regia with ICP-MS finish), with over limits for Cu analysed by method CU-OG46 (Aqua Regia with ICP-MS finish). As part of this process, Gladiator also captures the required sampling metadata to potentially utilize the core and analysis for any future requirements if deemed acceptable. This includes holes 19-CP-01, 19-CP-05 and 19- CP-10. Further drilling will need to be completed by Gladiator at some stage to confirm the reliability or usability of this data in the future including but not limited to twinning of reported mineralization. This may be required as Gladiator may not be able to confirm the accuracy of the stated drill collar location or be able to re-enter the holes to confirm depths and undertake directional surveys, or that the QA/QC might not meet the current required standards under reporting instruments, such as NI-43-101. At this point the Company is treating the data collected from this exercise as reliable for the purposes of identifying future exploration targets and may be used to inform future drilling and exploration campaigns.

In reference to historic drill results reported in this news release from the Company's data compilation exercise, these results are historical in nature. Gladiator has not undertaken any independent investigation, nor has it independently analyzed the results of the historical exploration work in order to verify the results. The Company believes that the historical drill results currently do not conform to presently accepted industry standards. Gladiator considers these historical drill results relevant as the Company will use this data as a guide to plan future exploration and drilling programs. The Company also considers the data to be reliable for these purposes, however, the Company's future exploration work will include verification of the data through drilling. Please refer to Company's news releases dated February 13, 2023, April 3, 2023 and April 27 2023 for further details.

ABOUT GLADIATOR METALS CORP.

Gladiator Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on the advancement of multiple high- grade copper prospects at its Whitehorse Copper Project (the "Project"), an advanced-stage copper (Cu)  molybdenum (Mo)  silver (Ag)  gold (Au) skarn exploration project in the Yukon Territory, Canada. The Project comprises 314 contiguous claims covering approximately 5,380 Hectares (13,294 acres) in the Whitehorse Mining District.

Copper mineralization was first discovered in 1897 on the Whitehorse Copper Belt, as it came to be known. The Whitehorse Copper Belt comprised over 30 copper-related, primarily skarn occurrences covering an area of 35 by 5 km in a northwesterly trending arc. Exploration and mining development have been carried out intermittently since that time with the main production era lasting between 1967 and 1982 where production totaled 267,500,000 pounds copper, 225,000 ounces of gold and 2,838,000 ounces of silver from 11.1 million tons of mineralized skarn ore were milled (Watson, 1984).

The Project is accessible through numerous access roads and trails located within 2 km of the South Klondike Highway and the Alaska Highway. An extensive network of historical gravel exploration and haul roads exists throughout the project area, providing excellent access to the majority of the claim package. Access to existing electric power facilities is available through the main Yukon power grid.

In November 2022, Gladiator executed an option agreement to acquire 100% of the Whitehorse Copper Project by incurring exploration expenditure of $12m on the project, staged payment of $300,000 in cash and the staged issue of 15m shares over 6 years. Following the exercise of the Option, the Company must pay the Optionor, or such other person(s) as the Optionor may direct from time to time, a 1.0% net smelter returns royalty on the Whitehorse Copper Project.

Qualified Person

All scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared or reviewed and approved by Kell Nielsen, a "qualified person" as defined by NI 43-101.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Jason Bontempo"

Jason Bontempo

President and CEO

For further information contact:

Dustin Zinger, Investor Relations

+1-604-653-9464

dzinger@gladiatormetals.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

Certain of the statements and information in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information". Any statements or information that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "estimates", "intends", "targets", "goals", "forecasts", "objectives", "potential" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) that are not statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information..

Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, the need for additional capital by the Company through financings, and the risk that such funds may not be raised; the speculative nature of exploration and the stages of the Company's properties; the effect of changes in commodity prices; regulatory risks that development of the Company's material properties will not be acceptable for social, environmental or other reasons; availability of equipment (including drills) and personnel to carry out work programs; and that each stage of work will be completed within expected time frames. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements or information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

The Company's forward-looking statements and information are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this news release, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements and information if circumstances or management's assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements or information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166124
Vancouver, May 15, 2023 - Lake Winn Resources Corp. (NEX:LWR.H) (OTC:EQTXF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases dated March 27, 2023, and March 29, 2023, it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.06 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Share") and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one additional Share at a price of $0.09 per Share for a period of 12 months from the date of issuance.

The Offering consisted of 4,308,334 Units for aggregate gross proceeds of $258,500.04. All securities issued in connection with the closing of the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period for four months plus a day in accordance with applicable securities legislation. The Offering remains subject to final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange").

Proceeds will be used in support of the Company's application to graduate from the NEX board of the Exchange to Tier 2 of the Exchange as a Tier 2 Mining Issuer (the "Reactivation"). With the closing of the Offering, the Company has now fulfilled all conditions required for the Reactivation. The Company expects to be transferred to Tier 2 of the Exchange and to have the ".H" symbol removed from the Company's ticker in the imminent future.

About Lake Winn

Lake Winn Resources Corp., is a Vancouver based lithium company, listed on the NEX Board of the TSX Venture Exchange (Symbol: LWR.H) focusing on exploration and development of lithium projects in Canada. The Company's Li Property which hosts the Little Nahanni Pegmatite Group (LNPG) lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatite dykes that have been traced for over 13km. The property is located in the North West Territories and is 37km northwest of the recently closed tungsten mine (Cantung). A gated road that extends northwest from Cantung passes within 5km of the LNPG property.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Lake Winn Resources Corp.

Patrick Power

CEO and Director

Lake Winn Resources Corp.

Telephone: (604) 218-8772

"Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."

Forward-looking Statements: Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" which reflect the Company's current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that it believes might affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. In some cases, these forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "might", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "indicate", "seek", "believe", "estimates", "predicts" or "likely", or the negative of these terms, or other similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Whether actual results, performance or achievements will conform to the Company's expectations and predictions is subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, including without limitation, those risks and uncertainties discussed elsewhere on the website at www.prosmartinc.com and in the Company's filings on SEDAR. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date hereof and is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Circuit de Catalunya boss Jose Luis Santamaria says he knows "nothing" about plans to get a Formula 1 race on the streets of Madrid up and running.

The current Spanish GP contract with the venue outside Barcelona runs until 2026, and plans appear to be well advanced for a potential switch to Madrid after that.

When asked about Madrid's rival bid, Santamaria said all he knows is that the Circuit de Catalunya intends to remain on the F1 grid "in the long term".

"From day 1 that we signed the renewal contract until 2026, we have already been talking about the future," he is quoted by Diario Sport.

"Our relations with Formula 1 are constant, very close and very good. And our objective is none other than the renewal of long-term contracts.

"We are immersed in a strategic plan for investment, adaptation and improvement of the facility, this always has to be linked to long-term contracts," Santamaria added.

When asked more specifically about Madrid, he insisted: "We have no knowledge of this project. We know nothing that we can speak about.

"The only objective is long-term renewal, and the facts back that up."

One potential solution, however, could be for Barcelona and Madrid to annually alternate hosting the Spanish GP.

When asked about that, Santamaria answered: "That is something that was already raised many years ago and our position has always been the same.

"We want to have the grand prix here continuously, permanently. And it is a fact that for these 33 years it has been like that."

(GMM)
Banks to transition into bigger Fintecs -John Awuah

Emmanuel Bruce Business News May - 15 - 2023 , 08:40

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Association of Banks (GAB), John Awuah, has said that banks will soon transition into bigger fintech companies in the country.

With banks in the country continuously making investments to expand their digital footprints, the CEO said he foresaw a future where banks would no longer be competing with fintechs but would become bigger fintechs themselves.

Speaking in an interview with the Graphic Business at the Money Summit, he said he also expected a paradigm shift where the digital footprints of consumers would be the driving factor in the industry.

We will get to a point, and we are approaching there, where the digital footprint of consumers will be the defining factor.

The future will see fewer human interactions, reflected in fewer mobile money agents, he stated.

Need for collaboration

The Head of Fintech and Innovation at the Bank of Ghana, Kwame Oppong, also speaking at the summit, emphasised the need for collaboration between banks, telcos and fintechs to ensure progress in the industry.

He said competition was still high in the industry but there was the need for greater collaboration as well.We can be friends in some circumstance and enemies in some circumstance but this is healthy for the overall progress of the industry. he stated.

Mr Oppong also pointed out that lots of clients were now demonstrating clearly that it was more viable to build a business where consumers were given more choices in terms of digital financial services, adding that the BoG hoped to see more of this.Our primary goal is to make sure the sector is safe and the industry is able to support the advancement of technology, he stated.

Banks adoption of technology

For his part, the Chief Executive Officer at UMB Bank, Nana Dwemoh Benneh, said contrary to the opinion that banks had displayed a high degree of inertia toward the adoption of technology, they were at the forefront of the digital finance revolution.

He said banks had always had a deep understanding of customers, and that was what they required, and as a result, over the years they found themselves at the forefront of innovation.

He noted that while the fintechs had been more nimble, traditional institutions were beginning to roll-out solutions such as banking-as-a-service (BaaS) and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) which allowed for increased third-party participation, ensuring consumers were able to access all the required products and services from the same pot.

He added that since investors  who are increasingly concerned about the safety of their funds  feel more comfortable allowing banks to administer capital, this would see banks increase their interactions with fintechs, particularly in driving access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Financial services to be democratised

The CEO of GCB Bank, Kofi Adomakoh, also noted that financial services would become more democratised as banks and fintechs collaborated to drive innovation.

We must see clearly what benefits of the synergies are and if the solutions are scalable, as a lack of clarity with these could undo all the possible benefits, he remarked.

Mr Adomako was also convinced that optimistic growth figures in the fintech space could be attained owing to measures which had been put in place to ensure growth of the domestic market.

A research by Mckinsey & Company indicates Fintech revenues in Ghana could reach US$18.6billion by 2025.That estimate might seem an aggressive number but its achievable if we continue to do the right things and implement good policies.

There is no shortage of talent, and with the introduction of things such as the Ghana Card and registration of SIM cards, we are moving into a much more organised ecosystem, and this will help us grow, he stated.

Pull quote

We will get to a point, and we are approaching there, where the digital footprint of consumers will be the defining factor
Dr John Kwakye proposes measures for stable currency, exchange rate regime - At IEA roundtable discussion

Vincent Amenuveve Business News May - 15 - 2023 , 08:05

The Director of Research of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Dr John Kwakye, has called on the government to enforce tighter monetary and fiscal rules to ensure a stable cedi and exchange rate regime in the country.

The measures, Dr Kwakye said, should include the enforcement of five per cent ceiling on the Bank of Ghanas lending to government, a progressive increase of the minimum foreign exchange cover for the cedi issued from the current 40 per cent to 70 per cent between 2023 and 2025, as well as the imposition of a ceiling of 60 per cent on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on public debt.

He made the suggestion at a roundtable in Accra last Wednesday which was held on the topic Achieving durable price and exchange rate stability in Ghana: Is a Currency Board the answer?"

Organised by the IEA, a policy think-tank, the roundtable was attended by financial consultants, bankers and politicians.

Challenge

Dr Kwakye indicated that achieving price and exchange rate stability had eluded the country for a long time due to the underlying defective structure of the economy, saying it lacked diversification and over relied on imports.

Obviously, we cannot continue to operate the same lax fiscal and monetary policy systems and expect to have different outcomes.

We need to think outside the box and seek alternative solutions, he said.

A durable price and exchange rate stability, he said, referred to stable currency that could successfully hold its unit of account or purchasing power over some time.

Dr Kwakye explained that at a basic level, a currency was stable when the international currency exchange rates did not fluctuate too much as against the consumer price index (CPI).

The CPI measures the overall change in consumer prices based on a representative basket of goods and services over time.

Other measures

The research director indicated that to ensure stable price and exchange rate sustainably, there must be what he described as scaling down of the ceiling on fiscal deficit(government spending more money than it brings in) from the current five per cent to three per cent.

This he noted would be in consonance with the Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS) and West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) convergence criteria.

It is also expected that time limits and conditions could be set for a return to the ceiling after agreed suspension in times of unanticipated economic shocks and crises.

On the central bank's lending to government, he stated that such lending should be liquidated by the end of the fiscal year to which it applied without the possibility of securitising it into a permanent debt.

Enforcement

On strengthening of enforcement and oversight of the monetary and fiscal rules, Dr Kwakye advocated the establishment of an independent Parliamentary Budget Office to be manned by professionals appointed by the Public Services Commission and not the Presidency.

The PBO, he noted, would assist Parliament with independent budget analysis, forecasts and estimates of the costs of government projects and programmes, among other functions.

Entrenching these monetary and fiscal rules and backing them with strong enforcement and oversight regime will ensure durable price and exchange stability in Ghana, while avoiding the pitfalls associated with the rigid currency board alternative" he observed.

The director was also of the view that the country had practised more liberal fiscal and monetary policy regimes with poorer outcomes therefore, the nation must not wait for a complete economic transformation before achieving an acceptable degree of stable price and exchange rate system.

Currency board

Touching on whether or not to implement a currency board regime as other experts were advocating to ensure a stringent monetary and fiscal mechanism that delivers stable price and exchange rates, he said that system had its own advantages and disadvantages.

Its disadvantages, he said, included loss of monetary independence, possibility of loss of competitiveness, vulnerability to shocks and lack of lender or last resort status.

Dr Kwakye therefore suggested that currently a full-blown currency board would not be appropriate for the country but rather a currency board-lite" tailored to suit the conditions in the country as well as to help mitigate some of the disadvantages identified in a full-blown currency board.

Pull quote:

Entrenching these monetary and fiscal rules and backing them with strong enforcement and oversight regime will ensure durable price and exchange stability in Ghana
Ghana, land of beautiful roofs

Gloria Ofori-Boadu Opinion May - 15 - 2023 , 13:23

I attended a business conference abroad early this year. I learnt that my colleague, Theresa, from Liberia had suffered a stroke and was receiving medical treatment in Ghana.

Though worried about her illness, I, nonetheless, beamed with pride at the mention of Ghana as a travel destination for health care.

The next day, another colleague from Cote dIvoire gave a beautiful speech and ended by asking that we all pray for her sister who had taken ill and was now in Ghana for medical care. Ghana again? I was amazed.

I thought everything in Ghana needed reform. Listening to diverse media, I wondered whether the world was coming to an end, with Ghana in the lead of the foray. I heard our colleague from Guinea proudly announce that her two daughters lived and worked in Ghana. For a moment, I thought she was referring to the U.S.A.

Later, during introductions, I introduced myself as coming from Ghana and one of the special guests smiled broadly at me and said Ghana, I have been to Ghana. Its a beautiful country.

Have they not heard?

I thought something was amiss. Have they not heard of the NPP and NDC rivalry? How about the National Cathedral? How about the bonds?

My investment with the Gold Coast Securities cannot be realised. The last time I attempted an investment, I was so scared, I got a fixed deposit for only two weeks.

My first port of call, in my bid to retrieve my unavailable investment with the Gold Coast Fund Management (GCFM), was to go to the Consolidated Bank Ghana Limited (CBG) Airport City branch, where I was directed to their branch opposite the Accra Technical Training Centre (ATTC) at Kokomlemle.

At Kokomlemle, I was made to register my name with details of my securities in a big notebook. I was then directed to a head office near the Scripture Union (SU), where I was directed to an office at North Ridge.

When I got there, they asked me to bring some new forms of documentation; they couldnt indicate the date on which I would obtain my investment.

Anyway, as of date, I have misplaced all those documents. I am positive I stored them at the place where I keep my important documents but they have disappeared into thin air and are nowhere to be found.

That evening, after the days conference proceedings, I switched on the TV to CNN. Russian forces had bombed an area in Ukraine. Whilst helping with the recovery of trapped persons in the building, the Russians hit the rescue team with a missile.

The CNN Team barely escaped. Gosh! Thank God for peace in Ghana. God be our helper! Indeed, no matter how much some of our youth complain on Twitter, in conformity with National Security, if we see something; we will say something and call 999.

Roofs

While flying home, I looked through my window when approaching Accra. The roofs were even more beautiful than I have seen in California  blue, green, silver, brown, red, maroon, exotic roofs.

How I wish we could export our carpenters to make colourful roofs for other countries and get some payments for Ghana. The area close to the airport was refreshing, and landing in Ghana was in sharp contrast to landing in Lome, Togo, where you could only see miles and miles of cemeteries.

So much for the lack of democratic changes in government and rule by only one Eyadema Family for almost 60 years. In Ghana, there is democracy and at least, for the past 30 years, we have had five Presidents with their governments and we look forward to many more.

This year, 2023, will be full of campaigns and Presidential primaries. At the end of next year, Ghanaians will have the opportunity to elect a new President.

Whichever party wins, it will be better, safer and a good rain-check for the winner to be sworn into office on January 7, 2025, at the National Cathedral (if the President is a Christian) or the National Mosque (if the President is a Moslem), and Ghana will continue to showcase our beautiful roofs!
Mother weeps over sons admission to PRESEC

Kofi Yeboah Opinion May - 15 - 2023 , 10:04

The Presbyterian Boys Senior High School, Legon (Legon PRESEC) is arguably one of the best senior high schools (SHS) in Ghana, and many a parent will jump in ecstasy when their sons gain admission there.

But Lydia Ofei, a resident of Suhum in the Eastern Region, burst into tears in utter dismay, when her son gained admission to Legon PRESEC.

Due to poverty, Lydia, a single parent of five, working as an attendant in a nursery school at Suhum, had advised her 16-year-old son to choose one of the three SHSs in Suhum as a day student because that is what she could afford.

However, Isaac Obeng, brilliant and ambitious, rather chose Legon PRESEC as a boarding student, and that is what generated inconsolable tears from the mother.

When the results were released, I was happy and equally sad. I dont have money and so I told him to choose a day school in Suhum. But he said that (Legon PRESEC) was the only school he desired.

And so when his admission came, I was very sad, Lydia staggers her words through heavy sobs, even three months after the school selection.

Isaac, deviant of odds

Isaac is a deviant, not only of his mothers words but also of the odds. He speaks refined English, one that defies the norm of a boy from a poor home and who attended Suhum M/A (Municipal Authority) Experimental C Basic School, which is obviously not an A-rated basic school in Ghana.

Even more defiant, Isaac, obtaining Grade 1 in all subjects except Social Studies and ICT, gained admission to Legon PRESEC, the school he describes as the best in Ghana, which school is normally dominated by children with privileged backgrounds.

He is excited about being a student of Legon PRESEC and is relishing every moment of it, thanks to the benevolence of some good-hearted people who mobilised his needs and sent him to school.

The Director of the Suhum Municipal Directorate of the Ghana Education Service, Mrs Angelina Aba Osei-Bonsu, who led that cause, says she also contacted a teacher friend at Legon PRESEC, who bought some textbooks for Isaac.

According to her, the teacher, Alidu Baba, also introduced Isaac to some of his (teacher) colleagues to take him up for extra tuition at no fee.

Mrs Osei-Bonsu is also grateful to Daniel Bekoe, an officer at the Suhum Municipal Education Directorate, who brought the case of Isaac to her attention. Mr Bekoe had been following the progress of Isaac after discovering him at an inter-school quiz competition.

The way the guy was answering questions, I knew that the guy was good, he remarked.

The Headmaster of Suhum M/A Experimental C Basic School, Paul Asumaku, says he was disappointed to see the BECE results of Isaac because he is worth more than what he got.

We were aiming at the Presidential Award.Hes an exceptional student, he adds, expressing the hope that Isaac will get the needed support to continue his education.

Future of Isaac

Mrs Osei-Bonsu is very happy Isaac is in school but she is equally worried support from the good-hearted people may not suffice for his continuous stay in school.

Her fears may vindicate the tears of Isaacs mother  that she cannot afford to take him there and also maintain him there.

And with her eyes still teary, she says that when the initial benefactors withdraw their support for Isaac, she may not hesitate to also withdraw her son from Legon PRESEC and send him to a day school at Suhum.

Meanwhile, Isaac is unfazed by the tears on his mothers face, focusing on his studies as a science student and his dream of becoming an engineer in the future.

He finds the academic competition at Legon PRESEC a perfect drive to achieve his dream in life.

Almost everybody coming to PRESEC was first in their school. That is where you meet the sharks of sharks (i.e., the most intelligent people).

So you see everybody serious with their books, he remarks.

Isaac, described by his headmaster as an excellent keyboardist, recalls meeting a Form One student who had almost completed learning the Elective Mathematics syllabi for forms One, Two and Three, and inspired by that academic zeal, he has also covered the syllabi for forms One and Two of Elective Mathematics.

From all indications, Isaac, at Legon PRESEC, is driving towards his dream of becoming an engineer in the future, but with no financial support, he may soon be driving in a different direction, in terms of school and dream.
Monarchy: Bold, beautiful, lets explore tourism angle to fullest

Vicky Wireko Reality Zone May - 15 - 2023 , 10:00

Elsewhere, the question has been asked by anti-royalists whether by accident of birth, societies should continue to set above their citizens the unelected few called royals to rule over the majority.

Whereas the question will always whisk the minds of some, especially the so-called modernists who see monarchs as waste of time and public resources, it is one institution that has defined traditions and has enriched the history of practising countries. Royalty revives and tells the traditions and customs of a people for posterity.

And so as King Charles III of Englands coronation unfolded last weekend live before millions of viewers, the rich history of the British monarchy dating back to centuries was beautifully told.

Coronation

The coronation, as one witnessed on television, captured thousands of people defying that mornings rain just to be part of the historic occasion.

Reportedly, more than 20 million people tuned in around the globe to watch the event while the country predicted over 30,000 visitors for the coronation fortnight. Definitely there were business gains here. With the millions watching the occasion live, advertisers must have had a field day with their products opened up to the world.

And so as interest heightened, so, one gathers, did also tourism revenue. The coronation opened up the country to tourism opportunities. It has been reported that about 350 million pounds windfall was expected as tourism revenue to boost the economy.

For those countries which are much into royalty therefore, some of the lessons from the coronation are worth carrying forward.

Traditional rulers

In our own country, monarchies represented by our traditional rulers are very much a part of our local development. With our Chiefs and Queen Mothers firmly in control, we can develop and escalate certain practices and traditions to an all high level.

Let us pause for a minute and think about the beautiful and historic occasions at the traditional level that communities can create never ending tourism attractions about.

We have occasions which not only positively impact on tourism but they also serve as unifying force for the people as they come under one umbrella to celebrate tradition and culture.

Across the country, we celebrate colourful festivals each year. These celebrations bring families together as well as locals living in other parts of the country. Some of the high profile festivals are already bringing in tourists but there are other avenues to make them even more glorious.

Talk about Adae Kese festival,
Ukraine war: Kyiv not attacking Russian territory - Zelensky

International News May - 14 - 2023 , 14:02

Ukraine has no plans to hit targets in Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said in Germany, where Kyiv secured a big new defence aid package.

"We are not attacking Russian territory," he said after talks in Berlin with Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

"We are preparing a counterattack to de-occupy the illegitimately conquered territories," Mr Zelensky added.

Mr Scholz vowed to back Ukraine "for as long as it is necessary", promising 2.7bn (2.4bn) worth of weapons.

This includes advanced German Leopard tanks and more anti-aircraft systems to defend Ukraine from almost daily deadly Russian missile and drone attacks.

President Zelensky described the new tranche as "the largest since the beginning of the full-scale aggression" by Russia in February 2022.

The war has transformed Germany's attitude towards Ukraine, moving from being a reluctant supplier of military hardware to virtually doubling its contribution overnight, the BBC's Jenny Hill in Berlin says.

Russia accuses Ukraine of repeatedly hitting targets inside Russia, including a reported drone attack on Moscow's Kremlin earlier this month.

Ukraine denies the accusations, while also stressing that it has a legitimate right to use force and other means to fully de-occupy its territories currently under Russian control. These include four regions in the south and east, as well as the Crimea peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014.

Later on Sunday, President Zelensky will travel to the western city of Aachen to be bestowed with the prestigious Charlemagne Prize - an honour given for efforts to foster European unity.

Previous winners include Winston Churchill, Pope Francis and Bill Clinton.

In other developments on Sunday:

- Ukraine's air force says it destroyed 25 drones and three cruise missiles launched by Russia in yet another massive overnight attack

- Six people were killed and another 16 injured in the past 24 hours in Russian shelling of Ukraine-held areas in the eastern Donetsk region, local officials said

- One person was killed in Sunday's Russian artillery attack on the southern Kherson region

- Mobile internet is temporarily suspended in the Russian-seized areas of the eastern Luhansk region because of increased shelling by Ukrainian troops, Moscow-installed officials said

President Zelensky flew to Germany from Italy overnight, his plane escorted by two German Air Force fighter jets.

In Rome, the Ukrainian leader met Italian President Sergio President Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. He also had a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican.

The Argentine pontiff said he was constantly praying for peace in Ukraine.

The Pope also stressed the urgent need to help "the most fragile people, innocent victims" of the Russian invasion.

Meanwhile, Ms Meloni assured Mr Zelensky of Rome's support for united Ukraine.
Can my business be sued?

Mirror Lawyer Life May - 15 - 2023 , 08:38

Dear Mirror Lawyer, I run my own business at the Central Business District, Makola in Accra. I sell wine and other alcoholic drinks. I have registered this business under the Registration of Business Name Act.

Quite recently, I entered into an arrangement with one of my suppliers but I was unable to follow through with the arrangement because when he brought my goods, I did not have enough money to honour the deal.

He has threatened to sue me as a result. Someone informed me that when you own a business, you do not suffer personally for any law suit from the business. How accurate is this information?

Akosua Mansa, Accra

Dear Akosua, Thank you for reaching out to me on your issue. First, the advice you received is partially accurate. There is a principle in law that says that when a company is duly formed, it becomes a person, separate from the person or people that formed it.

This principle is called the Separate Legal Personality principle and to my mind, it exists so that directors of a business can feel free to pursue legitimate business risk for profit without the fear of bankruptcy or personal impoverishment.

What this means is that any financial loss arising from a bad deal or even a law suit will usually be borne by the company and not its shareholders or directors as held by the courts in the cases of Salomon v Salomon and Morkor v Kuma.

The Companies Act 2019, Act 992, provides the procedures one must comply with to duly form a company under Ghanaian Law. When a company is formed in accordance with those rules, it becomes a juristic entity capable of suing or being sued in its own name.

This was explained in the case of Bank of West Africa v Appenteng. It can also take loan facilities from financial institutions in its own name, own or transfer property as held in the case of Macaura v Northern Assurance.

On the other hand, registering a business name under the Registration of Business Name Act 1962, Act 152 is not enough to grant a business separate legal personality.

Registering a business name merely grants you exclusive use and right to the business name as decided in Barclays Bank Ghana Ltd v Lartey and Baidoo v Sam. It does not absolve you personally from any loss incurred while you are running the business.

What this means is that, in your current situation, you may be personally liable to your supplier for damages on the grounds of breach of contract.

You should seek further advice from a lawyer. Also, endeavour to convert your sole proprietorship into a limited liability company and you will enjoy the benefits of the principle of separate legal personality.
17 Schoolchildren drowning in 5 months unacceptable - Eduwatch

Emmanuel Bonney May - 15 - 2023 , 13:30

An advocacy organisation, Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch), has described as unacceptable the death of 17 schoolchildren through drowning in a space of four months in two districts.

Eight of the pupils were killed tragically on January 25, 2023 at Atitagorme/Wayokope in the Sene East District in the Bono East Region, while nine others lost their lives last Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at Fanaa in the Ga South Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.

It is unacceptable that within a space of four months in only two districts, 17 poor children have lost their lives in their quest to claim their right to basic education.

We reiterate our call on the Ghana Education Service, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to develop a road map towards immediately providing life jackets for pupils and teachers in island communities, liaise with the relevant local authorities to strengthen health and safety compliance, and construct schools in island communities. Parliamentary oversight on this matter is very much required, the organisation said in reaction to the latest disaster in Accra.

Information

It said its preliminary information from community leaders indicated that there were no life jackets.

On January 25, 2023, when a similar tragic incident happened in Atitagorme/Wayokope (Sene East) killing eight pupils, Eduwatch issued a statement requesting the Ministry of Education and the GES to urgently mobilise and supply life jackets to all pupils and teachers in island communities, while working to establish schools in these underserved island communities.

Eduwatch also called for increased collaboration between the GES and local authorities to strengthen health and safety compliance at landing bases where students boarded canoes to and from school.

Rather, the GES supplied only 100 life jackets to Atitagorme and Wayokope, where the eight pupils had died, leaving the other island communities, it said.

Nine schoolchildren last Wednesday drowned at Fanaa, a suburb of Bortianor in the Ga South Municipality after the canoe transporting them from school capsized in a canal.

Eight of the bodies of the children aged between one-and-half and 12 were recovered at about 6 p.m. that same day of the incident, while the last one, a female named only as Victoria, was retrieved on Thursday at about 11:30 a.m.

Deceased

The deceased --three males and six females-- were part of a group of 12 children who were on board the canoe when it capsized.

However, the remaining three, including the paddler of the canoe, survived the disaster.

The children, who lived with their parents and guardians at Fanaa, Bortianor (in Ga South), are pupils of a private school at Wiaboman behind Pambros (in Weija-Gbawe).

The children were crossing a canal, which separates Faanaa from Wiaboman after school, when the incident occurred.
Attitudinal change key to natural resource management - Oppong Nkrumah

Emelia Ennin Abbey, Kester Aburam Korankye & Timothy Ngnenbe, May - 15 - 2023 , 09:21

The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has stressed that the national dialogue on natural resource management, which ended in Accra last Friday, must come with attitudinal change and responsiveness among Ghanaians towards the environment.

He said the time had come to move beyond talk, and that concrete steps were needed to protect and preserve the environment and the nations natural resources.

"Stakeholder dialogues such as this one are consequential in terms of the effective management of our lands and natural resources, the minister said.

The two-day dialogue, organised by the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), in collaboration with Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources Ministry, brought together experts, policymakers, and state and non-state actors in the natural resource sector.

It explored challenges in the land, mining, forestry and other sectors, and proffered workable solutions to the issues.

What remains now is the doing; and we must do more than what has already been done so that we can hold the line against further degradation and even recover where we have lost cover," Mr Oppong Nkrumah said at the closing session.

The little change that each of us is willing to make will go a long way to bring the change that we collectively desire," he said.

The minister urged stakeholders to look beyond the dialogue to sustain the momentum to weed out illegalities in the natural resource sector.

"The law must bite to deter people," he stressed.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah said while the government was laying a solid foundation for value addition to minerals, it was equally important for stakeholders to collectively work to halt drivers of land and forest degradation.

"We cannot talk about effective exploitation of mineral resources without talking about the need to protect our forests, lands and water bodies because these mineral resources are found beneath our lands and within our forests.

"Therefore, government officials, regulatory bodies, traditional rulers, the clergy, civil society organisations (CSOs) and the media must play their roles well and take the message on attitudinal change to everyone so that they will see environmental protection and preservation as their responsibility," he said.

Mr Oppong-Nkrumah said it was important to safeguard natural resources because they played a pivotal role in the countrys development and constituted a major pillar of economic, social and environmental growth.

"Natural resources contribute to income generation, job creation and tax receipt on minerals production, which helps the government to provide critical infrastructure services in the area of education, health care, electricity and other essential needs," he added.

He said the government was concerned about the protection and preservation of those natural resources for which reason the needed infrastructure was being established for effective exploitation and utilisation of the resources.

He said it was for this reason that the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation and the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation had been set up to ensure the retention of the full value chain of minerals, from production to other downstream activities.

The minister added that the discovery of lithium and other critical minerals in various parts of the country ought to be given serious attention.

"This remains a major priority for the government, and the needed modalities must be put in place to ensure the effective exploitation of those resources, he said.

Dialogue

The dialogue discussed the interventions the government had put in place to derive maximum value from natural resources.

Participants also discussed policies and regulations that could be pursued to ensure maximum benefit from the resources.

In the land sector, the discussants looked at the extent to which encroachment activities on state lands, multiple sale of lands, the phenomenon of land guards, registration of land titles and other challenges in the land sector could be addressed.

The forest sector discussions focused on ways of restoring the degraded forests, how to prevent illegal logging and the measures that could be adopted to curb mining in forest reserves.
Drowned schoolchildren buried

Emmanuel Bonney May - 15 - 2023 , 09:13

The nine schoolchildren who drowned in a canal at Fanaa, a suburb of Bortianor in the Ga South municipality in the Greater Accra Region, have been buried.

They were buried yesterday at the Bortianor Cemetery after a burial service at Tsokome, also in the municipality.

The event was attended by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey; the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ga South, Joseph Yarni Stephen, and the MCE for Weija-Gbawe, Patrick Kumor.

Others were the Member of Parliament for Bortianor Ngleshie-Amanfro, some security personnel and the Weija-Gbawe Municipal Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation, Emmanuel Adu-Boahen.

The solemn event also attracted members of the community who mourned the death of the youngsters and also sympathised with the bereaved families.

On behalf of the government, Mr Quartey presented GH10,000 to each of the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in the tragedy.

He urged parents in the affected communities to ensure that their children were protected before using the estuary, or in the interim, accompany them to and from school.

The minister, however, said that a canoe and an outboard motor would be provided for the community.

Incident

The nine children got drowned after the canoe transporting them from school capsized in a canal last Wednesday afternoon.

The deceased who were aged one-and- half to 12 years were part of a group of 12 children who were on board the canoe when the accident happened.

The other three, including the paddler of the canoe, however, survived the disaster.

The children, who lived with their parents and guardians at Fanaa, Bortianor in Ga South, were pupils of a private school at Wiaboman, behind Pambros in Weija-Gbawe.

They were crossing a canal which separates Fanaa from Wiaboman, after school when the accident occurred.

Survivor

One of the three survivors, Enyonam Ekpe, claimed that the paddler, a 12-year-old, ignored suggestions to reduce the number of people on board the canoe since it was overloaded.

She, however, said they did not have a choice when he refused because it was the only canoe available at the time.

Mss Ekpe said shortly after the canoe had moved, they were hit by a tidal wave causing it to capsize.

Mr Quartey has meanwhile asked that she be referred to a psychologist for support as she seemed traumatised by the incident.
GEA holds annual leadership conference in Accra

Daily Graphic May - 15 - 2023 , 09:59

The Ghana Employers Association (GEA) has held its second Annual Leadership Conference in Accra, with 83 participants graduating from the Female Future Programme (FFP).

The President of the association, Dan Acheampong, called for the involvement of women in boardroom positions.

Citing the 2021 Population and Housing Census and the seventh round of the Ghana Living Standards Survey reports, Mr Acheampong said most formal sector women were found in services and sales roles in their organisations, while the core management, professional and technical roles were dominated by men.

This means that the parties to decision-making at the apex level in our respective organisations are not balanced; a worrying trend which is making us lose valuable inputs from our cherished women who form the majority in society, he added.

The conference which brought together a number of top female executives was on the theme: Powering the Future through Balanced Participation in Decision-Making.

A seasoned journalist, the Daily Graphic columnist and the Board Chair of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Elizabeth Ohene, said women played a critical role in the society, and, therefore, must be involved in decision-making at all levels.

The Managing Director of GCB Bank Plc, John Kofi Adomakoh, said limited access to education and training, under-representation and the lack of role models, the lack of supportive policies and structures, cultural and societal norms, as well as gender stereotypes and biases, were some of the barriers that impeded women in rising to their full potential.

He suggested education and awareness, mentorship, policy changes and strengthening of collaboration, as well as recognising and celebrating womens achievements, as some useful ways to break the barriers.

He commended the GEA for leading the call to increase the percentage of women in decision-making roles and addressing gender gaps in leadership.

Conference

The Chief Executive Officer of GEA, Alex Frimpong, later told journalists that the annual leadership conference was an integral part of the associations flagship FFP, which was first organised in 2022, graduating 65 participants from cohorts one and two.

This years graduates came from cohorts three and four.

The FFP Ghana was launched in 2019 by the GEA, in collaboration with the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO), to bridge the gender gap at topic leadership positions.

The programme consists of three modules, namely: Leadership Development, Rhetoric and Board Competence aimed at ensuring the full utilisation of female talents in organisations.

The programme, which is a brain child of the NHO, is also replicated in Uganda, Kenya,Tanzania and Tunisia.
Ghana, Maltese firms broker $10 million partnership deal

Kester Aburam Korankye May - 15 - 2023 , 16:24

The Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Maltese High Commission in Ghana have helped broker a private sector partnership deal for the establishment of a $10 million factory for the production of materials and chemicals presently needed in the construction industry.

A Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Michael Okyere Baafi, and the Maltese High Commissioner to Ghana, Jean Claude Galea Mallia, last Thursday witnessed the signing of the agreement between JL Properties, a local real estate firm, and RA & Sons Manufacturing Ltd, based in Gozo, Malta.

The factory, which would be set up in Ghana, is expected to produce high grade materials and chemicals used across the various sectors within the construction industry which are usually imported.

For starters, the factory would produce specialised paints manufactured to prevent dampness in buildings, which is a major problem for the countrys housing sector, especially in Accra.

About 70 per cent of the raw materials that would be used for the factorys production, would be locally sourced.

Dampness solution

The Chief Executive Officer of JL Properties, Dr James Orleans-Lindsay, told the Daily Graphic in an interview that the idea behind the establishment of the firm was strategically conceived, to produce products tailored to solve problems peculiar to the countrys construction sector.

Dr Orleans-Lindsay said excess water or moisture in all its forms (vapour, liquid, and flooding) was still the most common problem in housing, especially in Accra which lies below sea level.

It results in visible wetting of walls, ceilings and floors, blistering paint, bulging plaster, sulfate attack on brickwork, he said, adding that it would be a big relief for the industry and a true game changer.

The Chief Executive Officer of RA& Sons Manufacturing Ltd, Ward Caldwell in a separate interview said while the dampness in buildings was a major challenge in housing construction globally, it was observed that the situation in Ghana needed immediate attention.

He warned that buildings with dampness create unhealthy living conditions, while travel of moisture through walls and ceiling may cause unsightly patches, and may cause softening and crumbling of plaster, especially lime plaster.

Cooperation

On what the partnership means to the government, Mr Baafi said it was the conviction of the government to ride on the back of such private sector partnerships to industrialise the economy and set it up as a hub for manufacturing in West Africa.

He said the governments policies, including the one district, one factory initiative was purposely set up to support the private sector to expand and partner others across the globe for accelerated development.

The government is fully behind this partnership and we will continue to support such partnership because the development of the private sector is key to the government and the Presidents agenda of a Ghana Beyond Aid, Mr Baafi said.

For his part, Mr Mallia said the government of Malta considered Ghana as an important partner for trade and would always support such partnerships that would help deepen the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
GREL supports Komanfokrom with improved KVIP

Dotsey Koblah Aklorbortu, May - 15 - 2023 , 10:08

The Ghana Rubber Estate (GREL) has provided a 10-seater Kumasi Ventilated Improved Pit (KVIP) latrine for Komanfokrom, one of its host communities in the Ahanta West Municipality of the Western Region.

The facility estimated at 284,000 was important for the community particularly, during the rainy seasons and to save the community members and schoolchildren from using the makeshift latrine, which had become a safety threat.

SDG 6

The facility will help in achieving SDG 6, which inches towards 2030 to achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation.

The Corporate Affairs Manager of GREL, Mr Perry Acheampong, said the facility was a request made to the company by members of the community.

He said the facility was a ventilated improved pit latrine with a black pipe vent fitted to the pit and a fly-screen at the top outlet of the pipe which had met the standards to provide a safe place for the community.

GREL, he said, was committed to the good neighbourliness between the hosts and the company and commended the chiefs, elders and people of Komanfokrom for their peaceful coexistence with GREL.

Social investment

The presentation, he said, was just one of many social investment programmes the company had carried out across its operational areas and that it was worth commending the people of Komanfokrom for their patience, saying We urged other communities to emulate the good example of Komanfokrom as work together as a team.

Mr Acheampong urged the community to own, help manage and maintain the facility; assuring them that there would be more engagements between GREL and its host communities.

The Paramount Chief of Lower Dixcove Traditional Area, Nana Kwesi Agyeman IX, said the days when businesses operated solely for profit were long gone, adding: Whilst this is obviously still important, many companies now focus largely on support for communities these companies operate.

Contemporary business

He said in the contemporary business environment, it was incredibly important that companies operated in a way that demonstrated social responsibility.

Support for communities, he said even though it was not a legal requirement, it was seen as good practice for companies to take into account social support and environmentally sustainable operations.

Nana Agyeman, who is also the Chairman of the Association of Chiefs on whose Land GREL Operates (ACLANGO) commended GREL for redeeming its pledge to build the facility for the community, which was one of its operational area communities.

He said the company had gained a reputation as a socially responsible company that understood and responded to the needs of its host communities.

Operational areas

He recalled some of its social interventions, which covered projects such as schools, social centres, health centres, water and sanitation, among others, across the more than 90 communities that GREL operated in Western, Central and Eastern regions.

For his part, the Chief of Komanfokrom, Nana Gyentsi Amoako X, said his people were very grateful to the company for the support.

He said the more improved KVIP for the community was important to them and that it would replace the dilapidated makeshift the community was using which he said came with a lot of risk to users, especially the young ones.

The facility was situated in a convenient location making it user-friendly for members of the community and a school nearby.
Klottey Korle clusters of schools get support

Juliet Akyaa Safo May - 15 - 2023 , 13:36

Two Clusters of Schools within the Klottey Korle Municipality have received assorted items from the Nii Noi Nortey Foundation to support teaching and learning.

The foundation, founded by the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman for the Klottey Korle Constituency, Valentino Nii Noi Nortey, presented items such as stationery, toiletries, confectionery and school uniforms to the Mantse Tackie Liberty Cluster of Schools, while four refrigerators and a cash amount of GH5000 were presented to the Nii Amugi Calvary Cluster of Schools to support the teachers.

Similarly, the team moved to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, also known as the Ridge Hospital, to foot the bills for five nursing mothers who had been discharged but were unable to pay their bills.

The team also donated GH4,000 to help the hospital complete a surgery for a baby that had been abandoned by the parents.

Donation

Mr Nortey explained that the foundations decision to donate to the schools and hospital was to support development within the municipality.

At the schools, he said the foundations 11-member committee on education would be doing similar donations to improve the welfare of teachers and students.

He said although the gesture was necessitated by the celebration of his birthday which fell on Wednesday, May 3, their priority was to alleviate the burden on teachers who sometimes had to use their monies to support some students.

The education committee of the foundation will work with the heads of schools from time to time to improve the welfare of the children, he said.

He, however, called on other benevolent institutions and organisations to frequently come to the aid of such schools, noting that the children were the future leaders of the country.

Teachers role

Presenting the refrigerators to the Nii Amugi Calvary Cluster of Schools, Mr Nortey stressed the importance of the welfare of teachers in the education sector and called on charitable organisations not to ignore them.

He promised the heads of schools that the foundations education committee would continue to liaise with them to provide them with the needed support.

We thank the teachers for the good work they render to the children and we want them to know that they are not alone. We will be supporting them, he said.

At the Ridge Hospital, Mr Nortey said the health committee of the foundation would offset the bills of more nursing mothers, adding that that would be done monthly.

Appreciation

Receiving the items on behalf of the two schools, the Municipal Education Director for the Korle Klottey municipality, Mrs Joyce Osae-Apenteng, thanked the foundation and said the items had come in handy as they would improve teaching and learning.

She, however, asked for more of such donations to enhance the learning and teaching conditions of the schools.

The Public Relations Officer of Ridge Hospital, Juliana Haruna, also thanked the foundation and called on other organisations to support social interventions at the hospital.

She indicated that social problems associated with providing health services cannot be solved by the hospital alone, stressing the need for support from organisations.

She also appealed to the public to support mothers who have been discharged but were unable to pay their bills.
Maiden science festival increases knowledge of students, other patrons

Vincent Amenuveve May - 15 - 2023 , 13:49

A maiden science festival was last Saturday held at the Ghana Museum of Science and Technology (MST) in Accra to increase the knowledge of students, other patrons on the importance of creativity and innovation in science in nation building.

Dubbed SciFest 2023 the event also created an opportunity for the 700 patrons including Senior and Junior High School students as well as community groups and families to have fun with science.

A number of organisations mounted exhibitions and gave patrons hands on scientific activities and demonstrations to spice up the festival.

They included the Practical Education Network and Terrific Science Busters. Researchers from the West African Centre for the Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) at the University of Ghana,Legon were also at the event and gave the visitors an opportunity to see what microbes look like under a microscope.

The researchers also demonstrated how common blood tests are done to the admiration of patrons.

Other organisations included VirTutor, InovTech, Galaxy International School and the Ghana Space Science Technology Institute.

There were drones, telescopes, virtual reality games, and augmented reality devices as a way of demonstrating to patrons science and technological advancements as well as career talks from renowned Ghanaian scientists.

Some of the schools that took part in the event were the Accra Girls SHS, Weija Presby JHS and Learning Skills International School.

The event was organised by G.H. Scientific, a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) based non-governmental organisation in partnership with the Ghana Museum of Science and Technology, Dext Technologies Limited with support from the International Brain Research Organisation.

Patrons excited

Some of the patrons who expressed their excitement at the event, told the Graphic Online that they were willing to attend the festival every year when it is organised. They hoped subsequent events will be expanded to cover all the regional capitals in the country.

To them, the various experiments, demonstrations, exhibitions, competitions, museum tours, poster presentations, science communication workshops and special talks by renowned Ghanaian scientists were simply apt" for the event.

Importance

The cofounder of G.H.Scientific, Dr Thomas Tagoe who opened the festival expressed the importance of having students and parents alike experience science in a way that is not daunting.

He noted that the event afforded patrons the opportunity to engage with scientists to consider science careers as rewarding.

Lastly, it was also a good opportunity to have a family day out, something different from the usual he explained.

Touching on the objectives of the event, Dr Tagoe said the organisers believe that science is not all about school, exams and work.

He said there is creativity and innovation in science, so by taking part in the SciFest in a family friendly environment, everyone can experience this fun for themselves.

The Head of the MST, Mrs Akosua Buckmann emphasised the role of her outfit in telling Ghana's story and recording progress in the areas of STEM.

She further encouraged people to visit the science museum and witness its rich scientific history which has been expertly curated.
Major Oquaye laid to rest at Military Cemetery

Nana Konadu Agyeman May - 15 - 2023 , 04:18

The remains of the wife of the former Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye, were laid to rest at the Military Cemetery at Tseadoo in Accra last Saturday.

The state burial of Major Alberta Boatemaa Oquaye, nee Asafu-Adjaye, was preceded by funeral services at the Dome of the Accra International Conference Centre last Saturday.

Draped in national colours and beautiful flowers, the casket of Major Oquaye was placed at the Dome, where people from all walks of life paid her their last respects.

The high-profile personalities who paid their respects included President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and his wife, Rebecca; the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and his wife, Samira, as well as other dignitaries.

They included the former Speakers of Parliament, Ebenezer Sakyi-Hughes, and Joyce Bamford-Addo; a former Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood; the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare; the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu and the Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Asiamah Amoako.

The rest were Members of Parliament, including the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu; ministers of state, a Supreme Court Justice, Yonny Kulendi; the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, and the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa.

Also in attendance were a member of the Council of State, Samuel Okudzeto; Alan Kyerematen and his wife, Patricia, heads of security agencies, chief executives of private and public institutions, the Adontenhene of the Asantehene, Nana Adu Gyamfi, who is also a cousin of Major Oquaye, traditional rulers, the clergy, members of the diplomatic community as well as old students of Presbyterian Boys Senior High, Aburi Girls Senior High and Achimota Senior High schools.

My wife understood me best

Soon after the dignitaries and members of the public had filed past the body, tributes were read on behalf of the widower, Prof. Oquaye, the children and the Ghana Armed Forces.

In a tribute read by his first son, Prof. Oquaye described the pain of writing in the past tense about my one and only Alberta as an excruciating pain.

He said the over four decades, he was privileged to share his life with a woman who understood him best and was ever ready to stand by his side through what he described as the changing scenes of life.

He expressed profound happiness about his wifes unprecedented zeal and sacrificial spirit to work in the Lords vineyard and being a mother of their six children.

My wife taught in the Sunday school for children and fully participated in the womens fellowship in a most unobtrusive manner, he said, recalling her support to his rise in pastoral, academia, diplomatic and political life.

I thank the good Lord for gifting me such as wonderful woman.

What a soldier! She assisted me as the spouse of the Speaker throughout my term.

She was naturally tailored for the role as was manifest in all state functions, including whenever her husband acted as President, Prof. Oquaye said fondly of his wife.

Sermon

Preaching the sermon themed: Have hope in Jesus Christ, the Head Pastor of the Baptist Church at Dzorwulu in Accra, Pastor Samuel Mohenu, encouraged the family and loved ones not to let their hearts be troubled because our mother put her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

With the Lord not allowing those who were his to die, he said Major Mrs Oquaye is just asleep.

Christians sleep because it is only those who are asleep that when someone shouts on top of his voice, we will hear that shout.

Christians are asleep because they will hear the trumpet of the archangel when the Lord Jesus Christ is coming the second time to take us home to live with him forever.

Beloved in Christ, are you part of those who will sleep when this time comes when they die?

Can it be said that you are sleeping as we are saying of our mother today? he asked.

Who was Major Oquaye?

Major Mrs Oquaye (retd) passed away soundly on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at her residence at Haatso, Accra.

She enrolled in the Ghana Army as a nurse (GH 767) after training in the UK as a nurse/midwife, and training at the Ghana Military Academy.

Her considerable experience from England, where she was trained as a nurse, impacted positively on her performance, and she served the nation in Kumasi, Sunyani, Tamale and Accra.

She worked in the theatre of the 37 Military Hospital, in the midwifery department and ended her career as the

Incharge of the Special Officers Ward where every head of state, at any given time, has a reserved suite.

On August 2, 2013, at a special military ceremony, she was given The Outstanding Military Nightingale Award for her services to the nation and the military.
Presby university engages legal council over law faculty de-recognition

Daily Graphic May - 15 - 2023 , 14:48

The management of the Presbyterian University, Ghana, says it is engaging the General Legal Council (GLC) to address issues on the de-recognition of its law faculty.

A statement issued by the university on Thursday, May 11, 2023 said the institution had taken notice of a Public Notice published in the Daily Graphic by the GLC about its de-recognition of the universitys law faculty.

The Management of the university wishes to assure the students and lecturers of the Faculty of Law and the general public that the Presbyterian University, Ghana is engaging the GLC to address all the issues raised, the statement signed by the acting registrar of the university, John Adarkwa, assured.

Recognition of GLC efforts

The university further indicated that it recognised the efforts by the GLC to improve legal education in Ghana.

As a Presbyterian higher education institution that prioritises higher standards in education, it is our resolve to work assiduously with the GLC to improve the standards at the University's Law Faculty, the statement added.

Commitment to legal education

The university indicated its commitment to contributing its quota to legal education and practice in the country and the world at large.

It said the university would build on the successes chalked by the first batch of graduates from its Law Faculty in the Ghana School of Law entrance examination.

Explaining, the statement said, 64 percent of the graduates passed the entrance examination upon the completion of their LL.B programme in 2021.

The GLC, in the public notice published in the Daily Graphic on May 10, 2023, indicated that it had with immediate effect withdrawn recognition of faculties of law of three private universities made up of the Presbyterian University, Ghana (Kumasi Campus), Wisconsin International University College (Kumasi Campus) and Greenfield College (Sunyani).

The notice said the decision was in pursuant to Section 4 of the Legal Profession Act, 1960, Act 32 [As inserted by the Legal Profession Act (Amendment) (No.2) decree, 1967 (NLCD 213) s.1 (a)] which states that With effect from the first day of January 1971, a person shall not be qualified for enrolment under any provision of the Act unless he is a holder of a degree from a university approved by the General Legal Council.
Well take advantage of fintech ecosystem  Hubtel CEO

Dickson Worlanyo Dotse May - 15 - 2023 , 17:03

The Chief Executive Officer of Hubtel, an e-commerce platform, Alex Bram, has stated that the company will not relent in its efforts to develop new products and services as part of efforts in addressing the unemployment situation in the country.



He noted that although the company had experienced a significant increase in staff numbers, from 60 employees at the time of the rebranding in 2017 to a robust team of over 270 employees across eight cities in the country, it was not satisfied with the numbers.

Addressing journalists in Accra ahead of its 18th milestone celebration, Mr Bram indicated every department had grown by more than 100 per cent in the past six years.

In her recent visit to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Director General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, urged Ghana to scale up investment in the flourishing fintec industry to take advantage of the $ 4 trillion worth of global online trade.

She said the country was performing well by providing some digital trade and professional services in businesses outsourcing, with many women involved in the trade and urged that more efforts be put in to make major inroads in the sector

Mr Bram noted that it was to take advantage of this growing industry that his company received a full licence to operate as an Enhanced Payment Services Provider in 2022 and by the end of that year, it had become the country's largest fintech company in terms of transaction turnover and revenue.

He attributed the extraordinary growth to the dedication and hard work of the team at Hubtel who remained the backbone of the company, driving its success and ensuring that goals and objectives were met.

App

Mr Bram said before the launch of the Hubtel App in 2012, the company launched MPower Payments, a complete end-to-end online and mobile payment transactions solution that enabled consumers and merchants to send, spend and receive payments.

He added that the MPower introduced the MPower Mobile Point of Sale application which allowed businesses to accept various forms of cashless payments.

However, it did not achieve the desired level of success.

Hubtel faced similar challenges when it first launched the Hubtel app in 2017.

The goal was to connect customers and businesses through the app and enhance and make the commercial experience more convenient and simpler, he added.

Mr Bram said the goal was not achieved during its initial launch.

Post launch, the Hubtel app faced numerous hiccups, system failures, and product defects. These issues ultimately led to a less than lukewarm response from the general public.

Convinced they were on the cusp of something special, the Hubtel team persevered and launched a new drive to rebuild the Hubtel app and its accompanying platform.

Within five months, the company relaunched a fully functional and refreshed product, it said.

Leaders

Acording to Mr Bram, backed by innovatively discerning leaders, a focused management team and a young and tireless workforce, things began, once again, to look up for Hubtel and in 2019, Hubtel received approval from the Bank of Ghana to operate as a Payment Services Provider (Enhanced).

By 2021, stressing that the company was processing nearly 8.3 per cent of all successful mobile money payments in Ghana, according to data from the Bank of Ghana and the Ghana Interbank Payment & Settlement Systems.

At the beginning of 2023, the company celebrated a significant milestone of over 500,000 app downloads on the Google Playstore alone, Mr Bram noted.

From its inception in 2005 as SMSGH, the CEO said, the company had undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from being the primary SMS solution-based messaging business to a fully licensed payment and digital transformation services provider.

Upon reflection, a lot has been achieved over the past 18 years.

However, it is the company's ability to embrace and overcome failure that has been crucial to its growth and success, he said.



Story

In 2005, two bright and ambitious undergraduates from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Alex Bram and Ernest Apenteng, set out to revolutionise how businesses connect with their customers through SMS messaging.
8 Arrested at NDC primaries

Daily Graphic Politics May - 15 - 2023 , 12:22

The police have arrested eight suspects across the country for allegedly committing various election-related offences and disturbing the peace during the presidential and parliamentary primaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) held last Saturday.

The suspects are Harrison Martey, Yaro Burdove, Imoro Ibrahim, Arkoli Mensah, Nyarko Richard, Prince Lomotey, Hamidu Dramani and Bejando Emmanuel.

The police said they were arrested at their various voting centres across four constituencies.

According to the police, Burdove was arrested during the elections at the Ningo Prampram Constituency in the Greater Accra Region for taking a photograph of his ballot paper in the polling booth.

He is also accused of attempting to take photographs of the ballot of other voters.

Also, Harrison Martey and Imoro Ibrahim were arrested for engaging in an unlawful fight at a voting centre in the same constituency.

Suspects Arkoli Mensah and Nyarko Richard were arrested for disturbing the peace by engaging themselves in an unlawful fight at a voting centre during the voting process at the New Juaben South Constituency in the Eastern Region.

At the Mfantseman Constituency in the Central Region, suspect Prince Lomotey was arrested at the voting centre for impersonation.

The police said at a polling station in the Atebubu-Amantin Constituency in the Bono East Region, suspects Hamidu Dramani and Bejando Emmanuel were arrested for causing violence.

Five of the suspects are currently on police inquiry bail while the three others are in custody assisting with investigation.
I will meet all incumbent MPs who lost their seats - Mahama assures

Zadok Kwame Gyesi Politics May - 15 - 2023 , 15:18

The newly elected flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), former President John Dramani Mahama says he will meet all the incumbent Members of Parliament who lost their slots in the partys just ended Parliamentary primaries.

He said the affected MPs remain assets of the party and that the party will need their rich experience and talents to win the 2024 general elections.

The NDC parliamentary primaries held across the country in 212 constituencies last Saturday saw 16 incumbent MPs losing their slots to new entrants.

Former President Mahama said, "we must flip the coin from competition to cooperation. We need cooperation to build a better Ghana and a better NDC. I am, therefore, calling for cooperation among all elected parliamentary candidates and your aspirants and supporters."

In addition, he said, "incumbent Members of Parliament who lost their primaries must also keep your heads up. You remain a hero for the good job you have done, and continue to do, for our party and country. We need your experience and talents for the onerous job that faces us when the good people of Ghana give us a mandate to steer the affairs of this country once more."

He also urged the MPs who lost their slots to use their "remaining one and half years of Parliamentary mandate to carry out your duties with dedication and commitment to safeguarding the interest of the Ghanaian people."

For Mr Mahama, "The party needs you [MPs], and we will continue to rely on you as we seek to win election 2024 and change the destiny of the suffering people of Ghana."

"I assure you of my open-mindedness, my open-door policy, and my commitment to run a government based on merit and competence. Let me reaffirm my unshaken commitment to offer the needed support to our parliamentary candidates and all Constituencies to make certain that we secure a healthy majority in the next parliament," he said.
Mahama leads NDC again

Samuel Duodu Politics May - 15 - 2023 , 12:49

The Flag bearer-elect of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has urged party faithful to remain united and keep their eyes on the ultimate prize which is to win and return to power in the 2024 elections.

He said with the partys presidential and parliamentary primaries over, it was time to look beyond the primaries and disagreements and keep their focus on winning the next election.

Last Saturday, he earned a landslide victory in the polls to represent the opposition party in the next general election.

In a brief speech posted on his Facebook page yesterday, after being declared winner of the presidential primaries, Mr Mahama told the party and all its supporters: Let us disagree to agree, but let us keep our collective sights firmly on the supreme objective of leading Ghana out of the abyss in which we find our country.

In what was expected to be a close contest, the presidential contest was reduced to a two-man race between Mr Mahama and former Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Kojo Bonsu, at the 11th hour after former Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, withdrew from the race last Friday evening.

That, however, did little to affect the election as delegates turned out in their numbers to cast their vote in the elections supervised by the Electoral Commission (EC).

At the end of it all, former President Mahama earned an overwhelming 297,603 votes representing 98.9 per cent, while Mr Bonsu garnered 3,181 votes representing 1.1 per cent.

The Director of Electoral Service at the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Serebour Quaicoe, announcing the results of the election in the early hours of yesterday at the party headquarters in Accra, said the total valid votes cast were 305,437 with 4,653 rejected ballots.

On behalf of the Chairperson of the EC, I duly declare his Excellency John Dramani Mahama duly elected with 98.9 per cent, he declared.

This attracted applause from some of the members of the party who had gathered at the party headquarters for the outcome of the election.

The partys headquarters was the centre for the final collation of the presidential primary.

Present at the party headquarters were the National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah; General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, some national executive officers and diaspora members of the party.

Formal acceptance

Reacting to he being declared the winner, former President Mahama expressed gratitude to the delegates who came out in their numbers to give him the overwhelming vote of confidence.

He said in the intra-party elections, there were no winners or losers.

He therefore urged all party members to remain united in winning the 2024 general election, asking for the cooperation of all.

"Our party is the winner because there are no individual winners and losers in the party's contest.

"I also ask for cooperation among all our elected parliamentary candidates and the respective aspirants and supporters and all the constituencies across the country."

While thanking his campaign and operations team "for keeping their focus and delivering a clean campaign," Mr Mahama also expressed his gratitude to the donors and financiers of his campaign, urging them to continue to support his campaign in the 2024 elections.

He announced that he would formally deliver his acceptance address at an event at the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale today.

Contenders

The losing candidate, Mr Bonsu, also in a Facebook post, conceded defeat.

He said he had called Mr Mahama to congratulate him on his landslide victory in the presidential primary.

I have placed a call to H.E. John Dramani Mahama to congratulate him on the landslide victory.

Just as Ive indicated throughout my campaign, regardless of the outcome of this election, Ill continue to serve the NDC party, he said in his post.

Apart from his press conference to announce his withdrawal late last Friday evening, no word was heard from Dr Duffuor after the elections.

The partys General Secretary announced that with the declaration of former President Mahama as the winner of the contest, he becomes the leader of the party for the great victory that had been chalked up.

For us this is the beginning of the journey towards 2024 and we want to assure all of our supporters across the length and breadth of the country and also the larger population of Ghana that we are definitely going to make sure that this is the first of a long journey towards ensuring that we salvage this country come December 2024, Mr Kwetey said.

We are going to do everything possible to ensure that the confidence that has been reposed not just in the leadership of the party but through these elections and the confidence that has been reposed in His Excellency President Mahama is not let to go down at all, he said.

Mr Kwetey further congratulated all the contestants in both the presidential and the parliamentary primaries and thanked the delegates, supporters and sympathisers of the party on being with them throughout the entire process that culminated in the elections last Saturday.

The National Chairman, Asiedu Nketiah, for his part, said with the calibre of the candidates produced in the elections, the party would go into 2024 and win the presidential and significant majority in Parliament and also deliver on the charges of rescuing this country.

He commended the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, and the Ghana Police Service for ensuring peaceful elections.

History

Former President Mahama, 64, began his political career as a Member of Parliament for Bole Bamboi on the ticket of the NDC from 1997 to 2009.

A communication expert, historian and writer, he served as Deputy Minister of Communication between 1997 and 1998 before becoming the substantive Minister of Communications in 1998.

Mr Mahama is the first vice-president to have taken over as president, following the death of his predecessor, John Evans Atta Mills, in 2012 and was elected to serve a full term of four years during the 2012 election.

He, however, lost in his bid to have a second term in the 2016 and 2020 elections to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party.
National Cathedral Secretariat denies MPs claims

Juliet Akyaa Safo Politics May - 15 - 2023 , 10:27

The National Cathedral Secretariat has refuted allegations of impropriety levelled against it by the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, insisting that his claims indict the United States legal and regulatory environment.

The secretariat said all the allegations made by the MP in a series of Facebook posts were false.

Mr Ablakwa, who is also the Ranking Member of Parliaments Foreign Affairs Committee, has made allegations that question the integrity of the National Cathedral of Ghana and the Bible Museum Foundation Incorporated, USA, in terms of the registration processes and documentation in the US; that the American consultant Cary Summers office was traced to a warehouse; and that a false identity and the social security number of a person was used to apply for tax exemption for the foundation.

Conference

At a news conference in Accra last Friday, the Executive Director of the National Cathedral of Ghana, Dr Paul Opoku-Mensah, said the secretariat was implementing the project with integrity and accountability.

All allegations made are false.

There is no criminality in the National Cathedral project; we are implementing the project with integrity and accountability in and outside Ghana, he said.

He said the foundation was a special-purpose vehicle created for fundraising needs of the project in the USA.

He also indicated that the foundation had already filed 2021 tax returns, adding that the tax returns for 2022 would be submitted on May 15, 2023.

Dr Opoku-Mensah said while Parliament had oversight responsibility, its duty should be done in Parliament or through statutory bodies established for the purpose.

He indicated that the accusations were affecting fundraising activities in Ghana and the US.

We need some quietness to be able to raise the resources to finish the work, he said.

National Cathedral Foundation

A New York-based Ghanaian attorney, Eric Okyere Darko, who is one of the two trustees serving the country as volunteers for the foundation, explained that the foundation used a service called Corporate Services Company to do the registration of the National Cathedral.

He explained that the Corporate Services Company was a registered company whose duty was to assist in registering and serving as agents for the companies, resulting in the agents address being listed on the registration document.

Mr Okyere Darko also explained that the clergymen were not part of the registration documentation because they were not permanent residents or citizens of the US to be able to do the registration.

Social security

On the allegation involving the social security number of the foundation, Mr Okyere Darko said the employee identification number assigned to the foundation was issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the US.

He explained that the ID number assigned to the foundation was nine figures, but the format written for all companies started with two digits followed by a hyphen and seven digits.

He added that the social security number for a person in the US was also nine digits, but that it started with three digits separated by a hyphen, two digits, separated by another hyphen followed by five numbers.

He said the hyphen was crucial in distinguishing a corporate body from an individual.

The employee ID number, which is also called the Tax ID number for the National Cathedral Foundation is 86-3859197.

Mr Okudzeto put this number in a different format, which is 863-85-9197 that automatically pulls an individuals social security number instead of a companys social security number, he said.
Prof. Alabi, Boston NDC congratulate Mahama, MPs

Daily Graphic Politics May - 15 - 2023 , 10:39

The Campaign Chairman of former President John Dramani Mahama, Prof. Joshua Alabi, and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) members in the Boston Massachusetts area, have congratulated Mr Mahama on his landslide victory in last Saturday's presidential and parliamentary elections of the party.

The two statements issued minutes after the declaration of the results also congratulated Members of Parliament (MPs) aspirants who won their seats. Prof. Alabi extended his gratitude to the Mahama team for the unwavering dedication and support that led to the victory.

Appreciation

He expressed appreciation to the regional and constituency executives, branch executives, the Woezor crew, dedicated drivers and security details. "Your tireless efforts and commitment to the cause have been instrumental in achieving this significant milestone," he said.

The statement also thanked the leadership of the various churches who offered their premises for delegate meetings during the campaign period. He also gave special mention to the teeming supporters and "the good people of Ghana" for their prayers and encouragement. Boston

On their party, said the NDC members from Boston said: "These victories are testaments to the hard work, dedication and commitment of our candidates, as well as the support and enthusiasm of our members across the country.

"Your Excellency, by this resounding victory, your hard work and unreserved commitment to serving the people of Ghana has been recognised, and we are confident that you will continue to be an effective leader in the coming years. As you embark on this new but familiar journey, please know that you have the full support and utmost confidence of NDC-Boston," the statement said.

Applauds

It applauded the MPs who were able to emerge victorious, saying: "Winning a political race is no small feat and you have demonstrated your ability to connect with the voters and earn their trust and support.

"The statement said the vision of the MPs for the future, their innovative ideas, and your unwavering desire to improve the lives of their constituents have inspired each one of them in America, it said.

It cautioned the party that as the country entered a critical phase of the election season it was incumbent on them to be reminded that the path they had chosen should be out of love for Ghana.

"As we move forward as a political party, lets take a moment to emphasise the importance of unity and collaboration among all members. Our success as a political party will only be measured by our ability to shelve individual differences and ambitions and stand together; we are strongest when we are united and working together towards a common goal," the statement added.
Lightning eMotors signed a contract with Macnab EV Sales Corp. to deliver 126 vehicles to the Canadian commercial vehicle distributor by the end of 2023.





Deliveries of Lightnings ZEV3 vans to Macnab have already begun. The full order of 126 vehicles includes ZEV3 cargo and passenger van configurations and ZEV4 shuttle buses. Macnab has been a leader in the Canadian commercial transportation industry since 1935.

The Lightning ZEV3 Transit passenger van is available in battery-electric versions offering 140-mile and 200-mile ranges. Charging is simple and quick, with both Level 2 AC charging and DC Fast Charge supported.





Lightning ZEV3 powertrain with three battery packs (shown in green).

The deal comes as Lightning ramps up production of its all-new, GM-based ZEV4 platform, featuring school bus, box truck and shuttle bus configurations. In addition, Lightnings mobile DC fast charging system, Lightning Mobile, is now in production and reaching customers in the coming months.
Simulation software specialist rFpro announced a collaboration with Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation to develop high-fidelity sensor models integrated into rFpro software. The collaboration will focus on improving the fidelity of simulation solutions to reduce significantly the requirement to collect physical data during the sensor development cycle.

It will enable perception systems for ADAS and autonomous vehicles to be developed, trained and tested in a virtual environment, rapidly accelerating development.

Sony Semiconductor Solutions has been a crucial collaborator in the development of our recently launched ray tracing technology and rFpros Multi-Exposure Camera technology, which accurately replicates what cameras see for the first time. By working closely with Sony and integrating its sensor models into our technology we have been able to achieve a high level of correlation in the simulation. As a result, together, we are helping the industry reduce its reliance on collecting real-world data, which is expensive and time intensive. Matt Daley, rFpro Operations Director

The collaboration between rFpro and Sony Semiconductor Solutions will provide an automotive-grade End2End simulation pipeline to the ADAS perception system developers. Sony has prepared a sensor model based on the internal architecture of the image sensors used in camera systems to achieve automotive-grade fidelity. Kenji Onishi, Deputy Senior General Manager, Automotive Business Division, Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation

Signal processing, LED flicker mitigation, spectral effects and image sensor control, such as motion blur and rolling shutter, are some examples of the phenomena replicated realized by Sonys sensor model. Sonys interface between the sensor model and the rendering system is very efficient and allows high-fidelity simulations to run quickly. The interface is also common across all Sonys automotive image sensors enabling users to transition quickly to a new generation of sensor models as they become available.

Simulation enables vehicle systems to be subjected to a limitless array of scenarios. The weather, time of day, amount of traffic and pedestrians can all be controlled and varied independently and automatically. In rFpro everything in the scene has been physically modeled with accurate material characteristics and the road surface recreated to within a height accuracy of 1mm.

Sony is the first partner to collaborate with rFpro on its recently launched ray tracing technology, which is the companys software-in-the-loop (SIL) solution aimed at generating synthetic training data. It uses multiple light rays to capture all the nuances of the real world accurately. As a multi-path technique, it can reliably simulate the huge number of reflections that happen around a camera. This is critical for low-light scenarios or environments where there are multiple light sources to accurately portray reflections and shadows.

rFpros ray tracing is applied to every element in a simulated scene, which has been physically modeled to include accurate material properties to create the highest-fidelity images. As this is computationally demanding it can be decoupled from real-time. The rate of frame rendering is adjusted to suit the level of detail required.

Modern HDR (High Dynamic Range) cameras used in the automotive industry capture multiple exposures of varying lengths of time. For example, a short, medium and long exposure per frame. To simulate this accurately, rFpro has introduced its multi-exposure camera API, which integrates with the sensor manufacturers sensor model and its own API. This enables the sensor model to sample the virtual world with the exact exposure periods as its physical counterpart.

With the rFpro rendering and Sonys sensor model pipeline, motion blur, rolling shutter characteristics, colour filter characteristics and signal processing of the physical sensors exist in the simulated images. It also allows the LED flicker mitigation feature in the image sensor to be replicated on the sensor model and to be fully exercised in simulation. It enables the sensor model to interact with the fast flickering LED light sources simulated on rFpros high fidelity assets and rendering system, such as traffic lights and vehicle brake lights. Accurately replicating these phenomena is critical to achieving high levels of correlation with the real world. Matt Daley

rFpro, a member of the AB Dynamics Group plc, provides a simulation environment for the automotive and motorsport industries. It is used for the development and testing of autonomous vehicles, ADAS, vehicle dynamics and human factor studies.
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Week 18 saw the official debut of a number of exciting phones and it's no wonder our trending chart looks very different from last week.

The Samsung Galaxy A54 was knocked off the lead for only the second time since it went official in mid-March. In fact it was overtaken by no fewer than four of the new phones and is now sitting in fifth position.

It was the Poco F5 that ended up on top this week, narrowly edging the Sony Xperia 1 V. The Sony flagship put up a great fight, but the fact that the Xiaomi phone had a two-day advantage proved decisive.

Poco F5 Pro got the bronze medal, while Google's new mid-ranger - the Pixel 7a - just missed on a podium position and ended up fourth.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is right behind the Galaxy A54 in sixth place, followed by the Redmi Note 12 duo - Pro in seventh and vanilla in eight.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max is the only Apple phone in the top 10, taking the ninth position, while Sony's new mid-ranger Xperia 10 V made the final spot.

This means we are losing the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, the Samsung pair of A34 and S23 as well as Tecno's and Realme's representatives from last week. Obviously, once the hype around the new announcements dies down at least some of those will return, but which ones? And does the Galaxy A54 have enough in the tank to stage another comeback to the top? We'll find out next week.
Breaking Wave Theatre Company is looking for voice actors, campers and staff for this coming summer season.

Voice actors

Interested voice actors of all ages are welcome to apply to BWTCs second season of Legends of the Pacific. Submit a one-minute recording of a story or monologue of your choice at bwtcguam.com by May 12. Experience is not required, but resumes are accepted.

Kids summer camp

Kids and teenagers ages 8 through 13 years old can join the free summer camp from June 12-July 14 at the University of Guam Fine Arts Theatre.

Campers will explore and learn theatre as they partake in different theater roles such as actors and stage crew and prepare for a staged production of Stellaluna and Other Tales: The Musical.

The camp will be led by Camp Director Dr. Troy McVey, BWTC members and UOG Theatre alumni and students. Apply at bwtcguam.com by May 20. Slots are limited and secured on a first-come first-serve basis.

BWTC job opportunities

BWTC is currently looking for summer camp interns, production assistants, podcast sound editors and more. Those interested can apply at bwtcguam.com by May 20. Stipends are available based on the position. Experience is not required as training will be provided.

For more information visit bwtcguam.com or email info@bwtcguam.com.
After months of planning, the GDOE High School Art Exhibition entitled Out of the darkness: A New Renaissance took place on April 28 to 30 in the Micronesia Mall.

The exhibit showcased different forms of teen artistic expression by incorporating a wide range of media, such as paintings, sketches and sculptures.

As the main coordinator of the exhibit, Ronald Canos stated that the shows title, Out of the darkness: A New Renaissance, is a reference to our students new creative energy coming out of the Covid-19 Pandemic. We wanted the show to have an open theme where students could explore their creativity and interpretations of their environment.

This years GDOE High School Art Exhibition 2023 was first planned in the early stages of October 2022 through discussions amongst our Guam Department of Education high school art instructors. The last time we hosted a districtwide art exhibit was in 2018, so it was important for us to bring things back post-pandemic.

Artists with various styles were displayed at this years exhibit. Canos said that the event featured the works of over 100 student art representatives from the various GDOE high schoolsThe various works also depict a variety of styles and personal perspectives.

In this years exhibit, many young artists throughout the island, students Elianna Cuevas and Jiana Pico included, had a chance to showcase their creativity. Canos hopes that through this event, the people of the island as well as the artists themselves can recognize the talent they have.

We hope the community can see the tremendous amount of talent our young people possess. We hope the audience can find at least one artwork that resonates with them and know that a student helped create that connection.

Cuevas had many of her works displayed at the event, but there was one particular painting she was proud of. The title of it is An Ode to Home, which basically is meant to represent my childhood and how thankful I am to be born on Guam, she stated.

In creating this painting, Cuevas wanted to challenge herself and try something out of her comfort zone.

This painting is the biggest artwork Ive made, and I knew that I would need to have a balance between detail and comprehension  I think I couldve done a better job when it came to the painting, but Im glad I was able to put all my art skills to the test.

Cuevas hopes that through her piece, she is able to reach out to others and send a message of her own. I hope that the audience will relate to it a little, and think about how everyone has a different story that ended up shaping them into who they are today. This piece is just a fragment of my story, and I hope that people can see how important it is to me.

Likewise, featured artist Pico, a junior at Simon Sanchez High School, tried to challenge herself and explore how well she could work with larger pieces. She stated, I tried to explore more color pencil techniques and how to color different lighting.

Inspired by gameplays of Stray, her creative process started with venturing outside her comfort zone through bright and vibrant hues. Ive never done anything like this before, let alone something of this size, so I used references and color palettes online to figure out what I could use to achieve the desired colors, Pico stated.

While it took a lot of trial and error, testing paper, and many, many layers of color to achieve her final work, Pico saw the challenge as a way to grow creatively and artistically.

Furthermore, Pico aims to stir inspiration in her audience through discomfort. She stated, Id want them to be in awe but somewhat uncomfortable because to me, its only during discomfort that the mind gets to really think and push out ideas.

While St. Johns senior Alexander Gayle didnt hear about the event prior to entering, he states that he saw some rather amazing pieces, with one titled Red being absolutely stunning.

Gayle said, I was at the mall with my friends and we all thought it would be fun to go look around [at the event]  It felt like a real microcosm of an art exhibit. Although he didnt know what to expect, he was pleasantly surprised to see a whole variety of works that all spoke to the human experience in one way or another.

He especially enjoyed pieces from various different grade levels all being given the same level of appreciation.

I think these events are important, as it allows the island to really see and appreciate the art and talent that our youth on Guam have to show, Gayle stated.
With Eagles Field no longer an option as the site for a new Guam Memorial Hospital and medical campus, lawmakers on Wednesday are scheduled to discuss the viability of other potential sites, including the former hospital site at Ypao Point, which was one of the top sites identified under the $1.48 million federally funded master plan. Ypao Point is part of the CHamoru Land Trust inventory.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero wanted to lease the 112-acre Eagles Field site to build a new 161-bed Guam Memorial Hospital and medical complex, but the attorney general would not sign off on the lease, stating it was legally flawed. Lawmakers later blocked the agreement by passing a law that requires legislative review and approval for the land deal. The Navys offer, to lease the land for up to 75 years, expired April 30.

The legislative land committee scheduled an oversight hearing for 5 p.m. Wednesday to discuss Ypao Point and alternative sites that were assessed for a new hospital.

The Guam Medical Campus Master Plan, which was prepared by Guam Economic Development Authority contractor Matrix Design Group, states Eagles Field, Ypao Point and local government land at Adacao, are the top three locations that adequately meet baseline criteria for a possible medical campus.

The Department of Land Management identified those sites as the most viable, the master plan states. The three sites were scored according to 16 different selection factors, including: size; travel distance; emergency response times; expansion capability; construction costs and compatibility with existing zoning and land use.

Eagles Field scored 38 points, Ypao Point scored 34 points and Adacao scored 30.

Adacao, which is similar in size to the Eagles Field lot, at 102 acres, got the lowest scores for accessibility to power, water and wastewater infrastructure and construction costs, and also for travel distance.

According to the master plan, one of the biggest factors in site selection is location. The site should not be too far north or south to ensure equal access for all villages cross the island, the plan states.

According to the master plan, the undeveloped Adacao site, which is near Adacao Elementary School and bordered by Route 15 and Carnation Road, is within a 10-minute drive of only 8.6% of Guams population.

Eagles Field is within 10 minutes for 10.6% of the population and Ypao Point is within 10 minutes of 24.4% of the population.

The Adacao site, which is in the inventory of the Guam Ancestral Lands Commission, is former Spanish crown land which means it was public land owned by the Spanish government, and therefore does have ancestral owners to claim it.

Site weaknesses

For Adacao: Weaknesses included the sites proximity to radar facilities, costly development constraints, longer travel distances and a sizable cost of extending and expanding utilities, the master plan states, noting a medical campus and hospital also are incompatible with existing zoning and land use restrictions in the area. Rezoning and preparing this site for a medical campus would result in significant disruption during development.

According to the master plan, Ypao Point, at 35 acres, is not large enough for a proposed medical campus. A larger area is desired to encourage future medical, medical-related commercial and mixed-used development opportunities, it states.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero has said she does not support using the Ypao Point site because she believes it is too small to allow for expansion, including a proposed new veterans clinic.

A 2021 law provides $35 million per year to build a medical campus and hospital on a lease-to-own basis, provided the facility is built on public land.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which assessed the existing Guam Memorial Hospital facility in November 2019, recommended that Guam build a replacement hospital at a cost of about $743 million instead of spending $761 million to renovate the current facility.

According to the Army Corps, the existing hospital site is too small to build a modern hospital facility without impacting the operations of the current facility.
Michael Walsh is a Senior Adjunct Fellow at Pacific Forum. He also is an affiliate of the Center for Australian, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands Studies at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service of Georgetown University. The views expressed are his own.




Haiti - Insecurity : The UN Secretary General in Jamaica to discuss the Haitian crisis





On Sunday May 14, 2023, Antonio Guterres Secretary General of the United Nations, arrived in Jamaica to meet with Prime Minister Andrew Holness.



In addition to the impact of the climate crisis in the Caribbean region, the global framework for disaster risk reduction and financing for development, the two leaders will also discuss the situation in Haiti and how to involve more strongly the international community according to the statements of Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for Guterres



Almost 2 years after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html , Haiti is in the grip of growing chaos with hunger and cholera spreading everywhere and armed gang violence and kidnappings on the rise https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39498-haiti-flash-binuh-alarmed-by-the-increase-of-more-than-28-in-violence-in-the-1st-quarter.html



There are now also mass killings and lynchings of suspected gang members by the population of which 164 cases were documented in April 2023, according to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH)



In recent days, specialized units of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) have been carrying out several anti-gang operations aimed at regaining control of certain areas, in particular in Martissant and Portail Leogane south of the capital and which are under the control of the gangs for two years and in the Village de Dieu territory of powerful armed gangs, leading violent and bloody armed clashes. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39528-haiti-news-zapping.html



During a Saturday visit to the Portail Leogane police sub-station, under heavily armed guards, police chief Frantz Elbe said that the police "[...] today find themselves at a historic crossroads where the population needs it like never before" https://www.haitilibre.com/article-39535-haiti-news-zapping.html (video)



UN officials acknowledged the efforts made by the PNH to eradicate the gangs, but noted that due to the small police force lack of equipment and firepower, they are struggling to retain control of areas once they have successfully retaken territory...



Let's recall that Guterres supported the request of Prime Minister a.i. Ariel Henry https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-37866-icihaiti-request-for-armed-intervention-letter-from-prime-minister-to-the-un-secretary-general.html for the rapid deployment of an international force in Haiti to help the National Police of Haiti https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38686-haiti-security-i-reiterate-the-urgent-need-for-the-deployment-of-an-international-specialized-armed-force-dixit-guterres.html



Jamaica, along with a few other smaller nations, have expressed their willingness to send troops to Haiti as part of a multinational force. But 7 months after Guterres' request, no major country has come forward to lead the effort. The United States, which drafted a resolution at the UN Security Council to support such a deployment, does not want to lead and hoped Canada would. Although the country has participated in several discussions with Jamaica https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38957-haiti-crisis-the-pm-of-canada-met-with-his-counterpart-from-jamaica.html , Haiti and other Caribbean countries, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent signals to the contrary.



In addition to its offer of troops hhttps://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38757-haiti-flash-jamaica-ready-to-deploy-soldiers-and-police-in-haiti.html Holness, who visited Port-au-Prince in February, also offered to host a meeting of opposition political actors in Haiti to find a broader consensus around governance, which the international community is insisting on.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39528-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39445-haiti-flash-situation-of-terror-the-black-figures-of-the-henry-government.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39386-haiti-flash-the-situation-in-haiti-comparable-to-that-of-countries-at-war-dixit-antonio-guterres.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39498-haiti-flash-binuh-alarmed-by-the-increase-of-more-than-28-in-violence-in-the-1st-quarter.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38957-haiti-crisis-the-pm-of-canada-met-with-his-counterpart-from-jamaica.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38757-haiti-flash-jamaica-ready-to-deploy-soldiers-and-police-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38693-haiti-politic-intervention-of-helen-la-lime-at-the-security-council-on-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38686-haiti-security-i-reiterate-the-urgent-need-for-the-deployment-of-an-international-specialized-armed-force-dixit-guterres.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37913-haiti-un-helen-la-lime-draws-a-gloomy-portrait-of-haiti-at-the-security-council.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-37866-icihaiti-request-for-armed-intervention-letter-from-prime-minister-to-the-un-secretary-general.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Social : End of the Strike at EDH, partial return of electricity after 25 days of blackout





After 25 days of blackout, striking employees of the Peligre hydroelectric power station ended their strike to demand the payment of five months of unpaid salary arrears



According to Pierre Michel Felix, Vice-President of the Federation of Electricity of Haiti Workers' Unions (EDH), the employees reached an agreement with the Minister of Public Works, who undertook to make the immediate payment of 2 months of salary arrears and the remaining 3 months by the end of May 2023.



Following this agreement, the Central of Peligre has started to operate again and since Friday afternoon there has been a gradual restoration of the distribution of electricity in certain neighborhoods of the metropolitan area, among others in Delmas and Port-au-Prince...



For the families who have seen back the electric light it is a huge relief after 25 days of blackout...



TB/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Diaspora : D-5 25th Edition of the Haitian Compas Festival





The 25th edition of the Haitian Compas Festival returns to Bayfront Park Miami (301 Biscayne Blvd.). In addition, this year's event will take place over two days: Saturday May 20 and Sunday May 21, 2023, so more fun and good times with family and friends.



Expect lots of music, food and drink !



This edition will see the participation of Kodak Black, KAI, T-VICE, Nu Look, Rutshelle, K-Dilak X Bedjine, Oswald, EKIP, Klass, Baky, Boukman Eksperyans, Gabel, Charlin Bato.



Children under 12 and Free

Admission from $25 to $145



GA:

Regular admission

Food and drinks available for purchase



VIP:

Premium Stage View

Food and drinks available for purchase

Seating arrangements available

Expedited Entry



Package 4 offers (Get 4 tickets for the price of 3):

Includes 3 party tickets and 1 festival ticket



Online purchase: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/25th-anniversary-haitian-compas-festival-tickets-417493633697



For more information: https://www.haitiancompasfestival.com/







HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





PNH : Success of the operation in Village Carries

Sunday May 14, 2023, during an operation of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) in the Village Carries on the RN#1 (between the localities of Ti Source and Roseaux) during violent clashes with the units of the National Police of Haiti (PNH), two bandits were mortally wounded, several others shot. Two jet skis and a boat engine were also confiscated by the PNH.



April : 150 citizens killed and 300 injured victims of gang wars

At least 150 innocent people were killed and more than 300 others injured during the month of April, collateral victims of clashes between armed gangs in Cite Soleil declared oel Janeus Mayor of the commune.



FBI Arrests Leading Ammunition Supplier

Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested one of the main suppliers of ammunition to armed gangs in Haiti, including the "Kraze Barye" gang led by Chief Vitelhomme Innocent . The identity of the trafficker has not been disclosed. The trafficker had been under FBI surveillance for 2 years...



HTC : Security Forum

The High Transitional Council (HTC) announces the organization of the forum on security on May 16 and 17, 2023. This forum should bring together all sectors of national life.



349,500 barrels of petroleum products

Of the 349,500 barrels of petroleum products expected in the country between May 11 and 16, 2023, 74,500 barrels arrived this Friday, May 12. The remaining 275,000 barrels will arrive this Monday, May 15. This represents 169,500 barrels of gasoline and 180,000 barrels of diesel.



Cap-Haitien : Day of debate and reflection

As a prelude to the great official celebration of Flag and University Day (May 18) in Cap-Haitien, the Faculty of Law, Economics and Management of Cap-Haitien (FDSEG/CH) in collaboration with Haiti Promo Jeune, will organize Wednesday, May 17, 2023, a day of debates and reflections around the theme "The Role of the university in society".



HL/ HaitiLibre


















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Fawson received the 2023 Don and Audrey Bentley Scholarship. She is the fourth recipient of the scholarship which this year awarded $20,000 and is renewable annually for up to four years.

Fawson is one of the top seniors at Watauga High School, an AP scholar and editor-in-chief of the schools newspaper. She is also an accomplished cellist and attended the Governors School of North Carolina for instrumental music in 2022. She is the first chair cellist in the Watauga High School Honors Orchestra, the Appalachian Community Orchestra, and is a member of the National Performing Arts Society. In addition, Fawson works part time at Hellbender Bed & Beverage in Blowing Rock.

Our scholarship committee was very impressed by Ms. Fawsons maturity, concern about social justice and quality of education, and desire to raise awareness of challenges facing our planet, said Bentley Scholarship Administrator and Watauga County Community Foundation Board Member David Harman.

Fawson is pursuing a degree in journalism and will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 2022 she won the North Carolina Scholastic Media Association Daily Tar Heel Scholarship.

Bovino received the inaugural Dr. Donald W. Bentley Memorial Scholarship, a one-time grant of $8,000 for students attending Virginia Tech. The scholarship honors Don Bentleys high regard for and loyalty to Virginia Tech.

An accomplished visual and vocal artist, Bovino will study visual arts at Virginia Tech. She attended Anglican Voice Study in Cambridge, England, participated in the 2022 Summer Residential Intensive at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and in the North Carolina All-State Choir, and is a member of the National Arts Honor Society. Bovino has received several awards, including a 2022 Congressional Silver Medal Award and a 2023 Visual Art Gold Key.

This new scholarship for students going to Virginia Tech honors the school that made such a difference in Dons life and reflects the loyalty Virginia Tech students show after attending that great school, said Harman. Our scholarship committee was extremely impressed by Lulas focus on the arts and on public service, and on her great desire to attend Virginia Tech.

Bovinos biweekly column in the Blowing Rocket newspaper, Literally Lula, led her to create a personal philanthropic organization that has raised more than $50,000 in contributions to fund projects such as the Watauga Medical Center Bear Project, Hunger Coalition food drives and Trashy Art, an initiative that displays found objects from Adopt-a-Highway garbage.

The Don and Audrey Bentley Scholarship and Dr. Donald W. Bentley Memorial Scholarship are two of 38 funds of the Watauga County Community Foundation, an affiliate of NCCF, and both were established from the Audrey L. Bentley Trust. For more information about each scholarship, visit nccommunityfoundation.org/BentleyScholarship and nccommunityfoundation.org/DonBentley.

About the North Carolina Community Foundation

The North Carolina Community Foundation is the single statewide community foundation serving North Carolina and has administered more than $217 million in grants since its inception in 1988. With more than $440 million in assets, NCCF sustains more than 1,200 endowments established to provide long-term support of a broad range of community needs, nonprofit organizations, institutions and scholarships.



NCCF partners with a network of affiliate foundations to provide local resource allocation and community assistance across the state. An important component of NCCFs mission is to ensure that rural philanthropy has a voice at the local, regional and national levels. To learn more, visit nccommunityfoundation.org.



About the Watauga County Community Foundation

The Watauga County Community Foundation is an affiliate of NCCF that has served the community for more than three decades. It is led by a local volunteer advisory board that helps build community assets through the creation of permanent endowments, makes grants and leverages leadership  all for the benefit of Watauga County. To learn more, visit nccommunityfoundation.org/Watauga.

Media Contacts

Hannah Hogewood, NCCF Marketing & Communications Manager

[email protected]

919-256-6901 (direct)

David Harman, Bentley Scholarship Administrator

[email protected]

828-295-7358 (home), 828-773-3746 (cell)
(Photo by Amy Bowman  CCC&TI)

CCC&TI graduates turn their tassels at the conclusion of Fridays graduation ceremony at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center in Lenoir.

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute honored more than 900 graduates from its Caldwell Campus in Hudson and Watauga Campus in Boone during ceremonies held Friday, May 12 at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center in Lenoir.

CCC&TI Board of Trustees Members Dale Hamby and Joel Carroll opened the ceremony by welcoming special guests, congratulating the graduates and listing some of the Class of 2023s accomplishments.

The Class of 2023 included:

 356 first-generation college graduates

 Graduates ranging in age from 17 to 69, with the average age being 25

 104 graduates who earned multiple credentials

 24 Dream Scholars; and

 32 TRIO/Student Support Services graduates

(Photo by Amy Bowman  CCC&TI)

CCC&TI celebrated the graduation of more than 900 students with two ceremonies Friday night at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center in Lenoir.

CCC&TI Trustee Ann Smith presented this years Trustees Student Awards of Merit to Kylee Walker and Jamilet Rou. The awards are selected based on faculty nominations for outstanding academic achievement, extracurricular activities and community service.

This years commencement speaker was 2009 CCC&TI graduate Dana Boone. She is an award-winning leader in the digital marketing space and has worked for a variety of national brands including Hendrick Motorsports, Visit North Carolina, Bojangles, the Transformers movie franchise, Lowes Home Improvement and JCPenney.

(Photo by Jackie Woodruff  CCC&TI)

CCC&TI President Dr. Mark Poarch poses for a photo with graduate Marcus Metcalf during Fridays graduation ceremonies at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center in Lenoir.

Boone came to CCC&TI after graduating from West Caldwell High School. During her time at CCC&TI, she served as president of the Student Government Association in 2008 before graduating in 2009. She went on to UNC Charlotte where she served as News Editor at the Niner Times before graduating cum laude in 2012.

She currently serves as Senior Director of Brand, Social Media, and Influencer Strategy at JCPenney where she leads a team dedicated to building brand saliency and relevancy for this iconic American brand.

Boone shared with graduates her guiding principle over the years: I dont know, but Ill figure it out. Boone reminded students that its OK to not have all the answers, as long as you keep working to find answers, get out of your comfort zone and strive to be successful. As you leave tonight and look ahead to whatever is next for you, whether its continuing your education, applying for new jobs in your field or advancing at your current workplace, never let yourself be confined to your job description. Opportunities rarely come when youre just doing what youre told to do. To make magic for your own life, you have to say yes to things that are a stretch, said Boone. You have to learn to say, I dont know, but Ill figure it out. Congratulations!

(Photo by Jackie Woodruff  CCC&TI)

CCC&TI President Dr. Mark Poarch poses for a photo with graduate Roberta Hewitt during Fridays graduation ceremonies at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center in Lenoir.

In his charge to graduates, CCC&TI President Dr. Mark Poarch congratulated the Class of 2023 on a job well done. Thank you and congratulations to each of you on your commitment, your dedication and most of all your success. You have so much to be proud of tonight. Today is your day, said Poarch. My hope is that you leave with a great sense of pride in your accomplishments and in this amazing institution as alumni you will forever be part of the Cobra Family.

Curtesy of Caldwell Community College.

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The Boone Town Council meets on Tuesday, May 8th. Photo by Zack Hill

The Boone Town Council took up two controversial pieces of state legislation at its meeting Tuesday, May 8th, voting to oppose a Senate measure that would reduce local control of housing development and agreeing to support a House bill that would remove the literacy requirement for voting from the states constitution.

Senate Bill 317 is known as the Addressing the Workforce Housing Crisis bill. Its stated aim is to address housing shortages for firefighters, law enforcement, teachers, nurses, first-responders, and other vital workers and first-time homebuyers. Critics of the bill argue that it strips oversight of planning and development from local government and places it in the hands of state regulators who are less familiar with community needs.

The council voted unanimously to pass a resolution opposing SB 317.

The bill would mean local governments like the town council or county commissioners would not be able to enforce their own zoning regulations for areas that fall under the workforce housing designation. It stipulates that a developer would need to dedicate only 20 percent of any new construction for affordable housing with the remaining 80 percent left to be built and used at the developers discretion.

By meeting the criteria, developers could bypass certain local regulations. And its that aspect of the bill that has many in N.C. local governments concerned.

As an example of how the bill could interfere with ability to regulate growth. Town attorney Allison Meade said that, from her reading, it could be understood to require a towns public utilities to run water and sewer extensions outside of town limits. It would also impede on a city or countys ability to control population density.

Talk about unregulated growth, Meade said.

Boone isnt alone in its concern.

We do have it in good faith from all the other municipalities in the county that they will in fact be joining us in approving this and sending it to the general assembly, Mayor Tim Futrelle said.

This is in no way being critical of our own representatives. Its asserting the wishes of our citizens to those representatives so that they might make a worthwhile and good decision on our behalf.

The council also unanimously passed a resolution supporting House Bill 44, which would remove the literacy requirement for voting that remains in North Carolinas constitution. The law has been negated for decades by federal legislation. But proponents of HB 44 say its a relic of the Jim Crow South that should be taken off the books.

Futrelle praised council member Dalton Georges passion pursuing for ridding the states constitution of the provision.

Thank you, Mr. George, for your work on this, Futrelle said. The foundation of what we do [as government] is based on whether or not our citizens can choose who represents them.

The town unanimously passed a resolution that makes June Pride Month in support of the local LGBTQ+ community. June is known as Pride Month across the nation and around the world.

Council member Virginia Roseman noted that already this year, 11 bills in North Carolina and 471 across the nation are trying to be shoved through that infringe on the rights of LGBTQ+ people.

Towns need to support people in their community and people around the world, Roseman said.

Let it be proclaimed we support all members of our community regardless of identity affiliation and sexual orientation, Futrelle said.

He also thank council member Todd Carter for his efforts in promoting equality.

Todd Carter has worked tirelessly throughout his life to stand up for and support everyone in his community, Futrelle said. I think its important that hes recognized for that.

Watauga County maintenance director Robert Marsh and Health and Hunger Coalition executive director Jenn Bass asked the council about helping the county and Coalition repave portions of their driveway and parking lot.

Town of Boone public works director Rick Miller said the project was likely one in which the town shouldnt and couldnt get involved. He said the town didnt have the budget for it and since it was out of town limits it could open the door to more organizations asking for funding for projects outside the scope of the town.

Were out of paving funding. I dont think we can provide anything, Miller said. Its private property, not a public street and we do not go on private property. Its cut and dry.

Meade pushed back, saying There are some things the town can do outside the city limit and I think this is a situation where it might be worth investigating. Theres nothing special about private property. The question is what the use is. She cited the Appalachian Theater as an example of the town helping with a private project.

I think more of the clients that drive through there, Carter said. A lot of times their vehicles are in really rough shape. If we can figure out a way to provide a bandaid, Im for that.

Roseman said her main concern was the community. Roseman used Coalition during times in her life when it helped provide for her family and said that experience gave her a lot of appreciation for what the Coalition does.

Its a community effort to provide for the community, Roseman said. Providing aid to the people comes first. If were not taking care of the people of the community, town and county, what are we doing? Bottom line is we should be able to entertain this thought.

Marsh didnt have completed estimates for the cost but said the project would likely cost a few thousand dollars. Marsh and Bass said they would gather more information on cost and bring it back to the council.

Consensus is, we want to do whatever we can to help, Futrelle said. It doesnt matter if were making money, it matters if were taking care of people.

AppalCart director Craig Hughes provided the council with an update including ridership numbers and how the system compares to others in N.C.

Craig Hughes of AppalCart speaks to the council. Photo by Zack Hill

He showed a graphic that demonstrated how many cars are taken off the road by a bus full of riders on AppalCart.

When I hear people say AppalCart doesnt benefit me, I like to show them this picture, Hughes said.

AppalCart averages 8,000 rides a day during the school year and projects more than 1.4 million for the year.

Thats tons of carbon emission not hitting the environment, Hughes said. And it opens up parking spaces downtown and on campus.

Hughes said ridership is moving back towards pre-pandemic levels.

More riders equals less cost per trip, Hughes said. It makes us more cost effective and appeals to other groups who might invest.

Hughes provided charts that showed how AppalCart compares to other public transit systems in the state. AppalCart trails only Durham and Chapel Hill in trips per mile, which is a standard measure of efficiency, and Hughes noted those are metro systems in larger cities with far more municipal funding.

Thank you for your presentation, mayor pro tem Edie Tugman said. I think its so important to invest in transportation, not just single passenger cars.

The council asked Hughes about the potential for developing more park-and-ride locations to alleviate traffic congestion and parking issues in Boone, especially downtown.

We would definitely be willing to look for more opportunities to work with the county to alleviate some of the stress traffic as on this area, Hughes said.

Roseman praised AppalCarts role in making the town accessible to residents without vehicles, mentioning how impactful it had been on her own children.

It opened the world up for my kids, Roseman said. I taught them to use the bus system and they showed their friends. The independence it gives a person to get from point A to point B is imperative to what it can give an individual to take of themselves. Some people wouldnt have means of transportation without it.

Jim Hamilton, director of Watauga Cooperative Extension, and Kelly Coffey, chair of the Watauga County Farmland Preservation Advisory Council, spoke to the council about a proposed meat processing facility near the site of the countys main landfill. They also asked the town to co-sign an application for grant money.

They said the project would benefit from being granted several exemptions from town ordinances. He used the possibility of the facility being able to tie into towns current water and sewer systems with a few exemptions from regular town ordinances as an example.

Meade had concerns that since the meat processing facility site does not fall within town limits, there would be issues with providing exemptions without the town annexing the site.

There are obstacles that can be overcome but the commitment to sewer and water today would not be consistent with town ordinance that property be annexed before water and sewer can be committed, Meade said. It will require analysis I have not done yet to see if this could be done on an ad hoc basis. The only quick answer to the water and sewer question is annexation.

County manager Deron Geouque said that the project, including annexation, would be worth investigation by the town.

I think its a discussion thats important to have, Geouque said. I think personally its an important project and circular food economies are good and what were trying to build here. But I do appreciate the rigid nature of that code. Its the way we control growth and plan for the future.

Miller was concerned that making exceptions for the processing facility could open the door to other projects knocking on the countys door for exemptions.

If you do waive development fees, if you waive them for one, you have people asking if youd waive them for them, Miller said. Im sorry, I hate to keep raining on the parade, but 100 dollar bills arent falling out of the sky. Its my duty to let the town know this.

Futrelle thanked Miller for his insistence on making sure decisions are made with consideration to town budget and code and his knowledge of regulations and finance.

With the grant application due at the end of the month, Hamilton and Coffey said they would try to gather more information as soon as possible. Hamilton said that their application would be withdrawn and entered again at any time without penalty.

The council was quick to say they supported the project but wanted to make sure it was done in compliance with ordinances and budget needs.

The town will do our best to support the facility, Futrelle said.

Andy Brooks of the board of adjustment receives recognition. Photo by Zack Hill.

Andy Brooks, whose tenure on the board of adjustments for the town is coming to end, was recognized with a resolution and certificate.

I had the pleasure of serving with Mr. Brooks on the board of adjustment and was always impressed by the amount of effort he put into this board, George said. Its probably the only board that has hours equal to the town council. He served excellently. We appreciate you, hate were losing you, but excited youre still in the community.

Meade said she thought you [Brooks] set a new standard in approach and patience.

Brooks thanked the council for the resolution.

I very much enjoyed my time on the board and appreciate the opportunity to serve, Brooks said.

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Over 100 people gather at a rally in front of Hope Center Sunday to protest SB 20 and practices of the center. Photo by Taylor Pitt.

By Zack Hill

Chants of Our bodies, our choice, stand up now and use your voice echoed off the walls of the Hope Center on Howard Street Sunday as over 100 people gathered at a rally organized by the Blue Ridge Collaborative to protest practices of the Hope Pregnancy Center and N.C. Senate Bill 20 which would criminalize abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy with some exceptions for rape, incest and life-threatening pregnancies.

Governor Roy Cooper vetoed the bill on Saturday but a Republican supermajority in the General Assembly is expected to override the veto this week.

Rally organizers said they gathered in front of Hope Center because it provides false and misleading advice to people seeking information about abortion in order to dissuade them from actually getting an abortion.

Hope Center is classified as a crisis pregnancy center. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, crisis pregnancy centers are run by people who operate unethically and with the intention to dissuade, deter, or prevent them [people] from seeking certain reproductive health care options.

CPC is a term used to refer to certain facilities that represent themselves as legitimate reproductive health care clinics but actually aim to dissuade people from accessing certain types of reproductive health care, including abortion care and even contraceptive options. Staff members at these unregulated and often non-medical facilities have no legal obligation to provide pregnant people with accurate information and are not subject to HIPAA or required by law to maintain client confidentiality, the ACOG said.

Many attendees held signs voicing their opposition to SB 20. Photo by Taylor Pitt.

Organizers say the term crisis pregnancy center is misleading, as the Hope Center refuses to provide real and timely information on abortion options. They said many people theyve spoken to who have been to the center tell them it only purports to give them all the options with their pregnancy.

Many reports we hear from people whove gone there is that they dont consider abortion to be an option, said Hannah Finkelstein, of Appalachian Abortion Support Collective, a group at the rally handing out stickers and brochures. They dont refer people who want abortions to clinics who can perform them, wont talk to you like it [abortion] is an option and wont talk to you about anything at all until you take a pregnancy test.

It all comes from ulterior motives, Finkestein said. Its non-scientific, non-medical, but getting money from the state.

Hope Center offers scholarships to women who decide to keep the child instead of having an abortion. To critics, that practice creates a scenario that financially incentivizes a woman to keep a pregnancy, and is akin to bribery.

The center is funded by Samaritans Purse, a Christian organization and a private foundation. The Hope Center receives taxpayer money from the N.C. budget, according to event organizers.

Prospective state house member Ben Massey was in attendance. He ran for election to the N.C. General Assembly but lost to incumbent Republican Ray Pickett in 2022. He plans on running for election again in 2024 and said that he would remain pro-choice, unlike recent Democrat-to-Republican Tricia Cotham, who switched parties this year to give Republicans a supermajority in the state.

Cotham spoke of her own abortion in a 2015 speech on the floor of the N.C. General Assembly saying, My womb and uterus is not up for you political grab, in an emotional speech. This decision was up to me, my husband, my doctor and my God. It was not up to any of you in this chamber.

Cotham voted in favor of SB 20 and is likely to vote in line with the Republican supermajority to override Coopers veto of the bill.

It is baffling that these organizations like the Hope Center are allowed to exist, event-attendee Laken Hamby said. They lure pregnant people in under the guise of providing free, unbiased educational resources regarding abortion only to try to convince those vulnerable people to carry their pregnancy to term.

Laken Hamby holds a sign she made for the rally. Photo by Taylor Pitt.

They provide intentional misinformation to people seeking their services in order to further their own agenda. Crisis pregnancy centers often have strong ties to Christian religious groups, and they somehow still receive millions of dollars from taxpayers. Its egregious.

Many at the rally spoke of separation of church and state, which is in the United States Bill of Rights, as central to the issue of many crisis pregnancy centers, like Hope, receiving taxpayer money.

Speaking about SB 20, Cathy Kramer, another participant at the rally, said It is absolute absurdity that the right to my own body can be stripped from me by the very people who are supposed to protect me. Im attending the Hope Center protest to advocate for those who may be affected by SB 20 and to show my support for those who have been negatively impacted by mistreatment from crisis pregnancy centers.

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Dr. Jeff Cox and his son Zach Cox

WILKESBORO, N.C.  The Wilkes Community College (WCC) Board of Trustees met on Wednesday, May 10, at the John A. Walker Center and bid a fond farewell to Dr. Jeff Cox, who will be transitioning to his new position as President of the NC Community College System Office on June 1, 2023. Dr. Cox has served as president for nine years.

Morgan Francis, Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration will serve as interim president until a new president has been chosen. The board approved giving the Personnel Committee authority to select a search firm for the WCC Presidential search and conduct initial screening/interviewing of applicants.

Jay Vannoy and Dr. Jeff Cox

During Dr. Coxs tenure, Wilkes Community College embarked on a bold five-year strategic plan that has since become a model for other institutions across the nation; more than doubled the colleges completion rate from 25 to 55 percent; raised a record $20 million in funds for strategic initiatives and launched a fully endowed Wilkes Community College Education Promise to guarantee the opportunity for a tuition-free college education for every graduating senior in the service area.

In appreciation for his dedication and leadership over the last nine years Jay Vannoy, Board of Trustee chair, presented Dr. Cox with an honorary Associate in Arts degree from Wilkes Community College during the graduation ceremony.

Wilkes Community College, a member of the North Carolina Community College System, is a public, two-year, open-door institution serving the people of Wilkes, Ashe, and Alleghany counties and beyond. Established in 1965, WCC continues to build on a strong history of meeting the educational needs and cultural interests of our students, community, and workforce. WCC prepares learners for success in a dynamic world.

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The outcome of this year's Eurovision Song Contest has left many fans infuriated, particularly due to the significant influence of the professional jury in determining the final results. In response to this perceived unfairness, Eurovision fans have taken to Change.org to launch a citizens' initiative demanding the complete removal of the professional jury from the competition.

The petition, which has already gathered over 2,200 signatures, highlights the concerns of loyal Eurovision fans regarding the conflicting aspects of the voting process that have compromised the fairness and integrity of the competition. The final result of the 2023 edition of the contest deeply shocked the Eurovision community, as Sweden emerged as the winner solely based on the votes of the professional jury, despite Finland receiving a significantly higher number of points from the public.

The signatories of the citizens' initiative express their dissatisfaction with Loreen's victory, as they believe Kaarija, the Finnish representative, was clearly the audience favorite. The margin between Loreen and Kaarija was a mere 57 points, with Loreen accumulating a total of 583 points, out of which 243 were awarded by the public and 340 by the professional jury. The audience bestowed Kaarija with the highest score of 376 points, while the jury only granted the artist 150 points. If the voting had relied solely on the public's voice, Kaarija would have been crowned the competition's winner. Kaarija also won the semifinals televotes clearly, receiving 177 points which was the highest of all contestants in the semifinals.

The citizens' initiative aims to emphasize the urgent need for a revised Eurovision voting system that ensures the final outcome truly reflects the audience's genuine opinion. The petition asserts that public votes should be of paramount importance in determining the winner of this beloved event. In addition to transparency and fairness in the competition, the initiative calls for a thorough investigation by expert authorities into the discrepancies in the Eurovision voting system and immediate measures to rectify the situation.

The proposed actions within the citizens' initiative include adjusting the weight of the jury's votes to prevent overshadowing the public's voice. Alternatively, they suggest considering a system where the final outcome is solely determined by public voting. Another option would be to have a jury honorary mention in addition to the winner selected by the public vote.

The Eurovision jury consists of music industry professionals selected by each participating country's national broadcaster. These professionals, including composers, songwriters, producers, and music journalists, are chosen for their expertise and impartiality. They evaluate the competing songs based on criteria such as vocal performance, composition, and originality. Their votes account for 50% of the total score, with the remaining 50% determined by public televoting. The jury's role is to provide an expert assessment and ensure a balanced voting system that combines industry expertise and popular opinion.

Plagiarism Allegations Surround Loreen's Eurovision Victory

The discontent over Loreens win extends beyond the voting process, as allegations of plagiarism have also emerged surrounding Loreen's Eurovision entry, "Tattoo."

The scrutiny intensified after videos comparing Loreen's song to an 18-year-old track surfaced on TikTok and Twitter soon after the song was selected as Swedens entry. The videos juxtaposed "Tattoo" with Mika Newton's 2005 release, "V plenu," the song representing Ukraine in the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest. Eurovision enthusiasts paid particular attention to the bridge section of "Tattoo," which shared striking similarities in chord progression with the corresponding part of "V plenu."

Mika Newton herself acknowledged the resemblance between the two songs through an Instagram story. In the video, she commented on Loreen's song, stating, "What can I say? She almost used the same idea as me. Honestly, if I inspired her to the point where she decided to go with a performance almost identical to mine, then good luck to her! What else can I say? It's funny because it looks almost identical." The video clearly highlights the striking resemblance between the two tracks.

The plagiarism allegations have added another layer of controversy surrounding Loreen's Eurovision victory. The accusations suggest that "Tattoo" bears a disconcerting resemblance to Mika Newton's song, raising questions about originality and artistic integrity.

It is worth noting that Loreen is not a newcomer to Eurovision, as she previously won the competition in 2012 with her song "Euphoria," which became a massive hit and is still remembered today. This year, Loreen returned to the Eurovision stage with "Tattoo" and once again aimed for the trophy. Her performance mirrored the music video for the song, impressing commentators not only with her attention to detail but also with her powerful vocals.

However, the emergence of a video on TikTok by user I kirill you comparing Loreen's hit to Mika Newton's "V plenu" from 2005 has raised doubts about the originality of "Tattoo." Listening to both songs side by side, it is hard to deny the striking similarities between them.

Mika Newton represented Ukraine at the 56th Eurovision Song Contest in Dusseldorf and achieved a fourth-place finish with "V plenu." The comparison between Loreen's hit and Mika Newton's song has sparked discussions among fans and online communities, with many expressing concerns about possible plagiarism.

Some even accuse Loreen of triple plagiarism, finding similarities with "Eternity" from Anyma

"Flying free" of Pont Aeri and "The winner takes it all" from Abba.

The Eurovision Song Contest has clear rules and guidelines regarding sampling and plagiarism to ensure fairness and originality in the competition. According to the official Eurovision rules, all songs submitted must be original compositions, meaning they should not contain any elements that infringe upon the copyrights of other songs or artists. This includes both melody and lyrics.

Regarding sampling, the rules state that if a participant includes any pre-recorded backing vocals or instrumental samples in their live performance, they must declare them in advance and receive approval from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organization behind Eurovision. The use of samples should be properly licensed, and participants must provide evidence of such licenses if requested by the EBU.

In terms of plagiarism, the Eurovision rules clearly state that entries must not have been commercially released before a specific date set by the EBU. This ensures that participants cannot enter songs that have been previously published or performed by other artists.

To enforce these rules, the EBU carries out thorough checks on the submitted songs before the competition. In case of suspicion or allegations of plagiarism or copyright infringement, the EBU has the authority to investigate and potentially disqualify a participant if the claims are substantiated. In case Loreen's song is disqualified, Kaarija will be announced as the winner.

HT
The Rescue Department is leading the rescue operations at the scene, while the police are directing traffic in the area.

The Central Finland Rescue Department received a report of an aviation accident south of Keuruu shortly after 2 p.m. The aircraft, an Air Force Hawk jet used for training purposes, crashed to the ground, but the pilots managed to eject using their ejection seats.

The Air Force issued a statement on Twitter about the incident after 3 p.m.

According to the Air Force, both pilots involved in the accident have been located and have been taken for further medical examinations.

Markku Piilema, a reporter for Suur-Keuruu, headed to the scene following the alarm from the Rescue Department. When Piilema arrived, the police had already closed off the road approximately one kilometer before the accident site.

"Search helicopters and a rescue helicopter arrived at the scene. Just before I left, a Border Guard or Defense Forces helicopter landed in a nearby field," Piilema recounts to Ilta-Sanomat after returning to the Suur-Keuruu office from the accident site.

"As I drove here to the office, a rescue department ATV with a trailer bed passed by. That could indicate that the pilots or pilot might have been injured. The pilots were conscious when the emergency medical services arrived."

The police closed off the road near the accident site on Heinasentie. The police patrols in the photo were monitoring traffic on Kolhontie, where Heinasentie branches off.

There were approximately six to seven police patrols, as well as emergency medical units and representatives from the defense forces at the scene. There was still limited information available about the accident situation.

"It was reportedly accompanied by a plume of smoke - a tremendous explosion sound and then a plume of smoke. That's what they were able to share," Piilema said.

There were rumors at the scene that parachutes had been used and that some parachute fragments had been seen, but Piilema emphasized that this information was "second- or third-hand."

The last time Hawk jets crashed in Finland was in 2013 when two Hawks collided in Lestijarvi. In that incident, a 30-year-old captain who worked as a flight instructor lost his life.

HT
A nurses story of a life of service to her community

Elsie McLean, who retired after serving for 44 years as a nurse at Pardee, poses with her daughter, Courtney, currently a nurse there.

Its not often you find folks who have spent their entire career at the same company. For Elsie McLean, a registered nurse, its a badge of honor to have dedicated more than 44 years serving as a nurse with UNC Health Pardee.

As we celebrate Nurses Week  were highlighting Elsies career with Pardee, from her years volunteering as a candy striper to becoming a bedside nurse and now in retirement, she has experienced and given so much of her life to Pardee.

From student volunteer to nurse



Elsies relationship with Pardee began when she was a student at East Henderson High School and joined the candy striper program. As a candy striper, Elsie volunteered more than 300 hours during her stint. She spent most of that time in the radiology department, where she formed wonderful relationships with her mentors who, along with her guidance counselor encouraged her to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse.

They were like a family and such supporters, Elsie said. I had a team behind me as I went to nursing school. After finishing school in Charlotte, Elsie returned to Pardee, this time as a registered nurse, I felt called to nursing and always knew I wanted to come back; I never thought of going anywhere other than Pardee.

It wasnt long into her new career Elsies supervisor noticed how competent she was as she watched how Elsie handled a delicate and emergent situation. Recognizing her skills, her supervisor encouraged Elsie to move to the Emergency Department  where shed go on to spend 17 years.

Though she saw her fair share of difficult situations as an emergency room nurse, Elsie said the pandemic was the biggest challenge of her career.

It was a hard time to be a nurse as these nurses were dealing with more death and dying than I had ever experienced, she said.

Though it was extremely difficult, Elsie said she was also proud to be a Pardee nurse during such a monumental time in healthcare as the organization was doing everything possible for its COVID patients.

We were rendering the most innovative care  what you saw on the news about these large hospitals is what we were doing at Pardee and we saved a lot of lives, she said.

Experiencing innovation



There is no doubt Elsie has seen her fair share of change and innovation over a career spanning four decades. She jokes that shes from the Flintstone Era as she recalls standing in line to hit a punch clock and using paper charts. Moving to an electronic health record and the computer system was the biggest change she saw during her time as a nurse.

When I think back, its unreal, she said. We used to have one sheet for patient information that used varying ink colors to differentiate the shifts  now it takes me several clicks to put in a patients height and weight. Though she saw many changes over her 44-year career as a nurse, Elsie said one thing has remained constant, my entire path I have been provided with wonderful team members who share a common goal of helping patients. Its what has made my career so great.

Leaving a legacy



It was more than just my work; my whole life centered around Pardee, from meeting both of my husbands to having my daughter, everything comes back to this place, Elsie said. While she is entering a new chapter and looks forward to the slow-paced life of retirement, her legacy at Pardee lives on through her daughter, Courtney, a registered nurse in the surgical services unit. Pardee has given me so much over the years and I am happy that she is the gift I can give back, Elsie said. She expressed that nurses like Courtney are who are going to make the hospital continue to thrive. I am proud of the care I was able to provide and to be a part of Pardees history and it feels good to still have a piece of me still there.

Nurses like Elsie are what make Pardee so unique and steadfast. When you are being cared for at Pardee, you can be assured you are in the hands of the most compassionate team of individuals. We extend our gratitude to Elsie for dedicating so much of her life to serving and caring for the community that raised her and we wish her all the happiness in her retirement.

* * * * *

Marilee Arnold is interim chief nursing officer at UNC Health Pardee.
Beloved boys camp calls off 2023 season

Camp Mondamin, set on the shore of Lake Summit, called off its 2023 season but vowed to reopen next year.

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, its hard to find an industry that was not affected by staffing issues in some way. Summer camps are no exception, and thats resulted in a heart-wrenching casualty for many families this summer.

One year after it celebrated its 100th season, Camp Mondamin publicly announced April 19 in a post on its Facebook page that it was canceling all sessions for 2023, citing a shortage of staff across all areas of the camp.

Director Andrew Bell informed camp parents of the closure in an April 13 email. Many of you are strong supporters of Mondamin and rely on camp for summer adventure, he wrote. This year we are facing a strong challenge. We are severely understaffed for the quality, safe and joyful, experience your son deserves.

Bell said the staffing issues may have resulted from a missed year of recruitment and training during the Covid-19 pandemic.

A boys summer camp on the banks of Lake Summit founded by Frank Bell Sr. in 1922, Mondamin has been family-run for all of its history. Bells children and grandchildren have continued to direct the camp and its sister, Green Cove, a camp for girls that will open as usual this season.

We know that it hurts our 102-year-old reputation to have to cancel a season, Andrew Bell wrote in the April 19 Facebook post. We hope that it was in part balanced by the fact that we did not hold out on shaky hope for so long that parents felt that we left them in the lurch beyond the point of reason.

Robert Danos, program director at Mondamin, described the staffing shortage as a kind of a perfect storm.

For several months, we could tell that the overall employment scene was significantly different, he said. We canceled when we did, in April, once we knew that it was not going to be possible to guarantee to our parents that we would be able to provide them the level of excellence and quality that they expect. We wanted to make sure they had enough time to make alternate plans if they wanted to.

Danos assures that Mondamin will open in 2024.

Were in the process of gathering a whole team of people  current, past and returning  basically looking at retooling our whole system, seeing what best practices are out there that we need to incorporate to start, a year and three months out, to make sure that the relaunch is a big, big success.

In an April 26 update posted on the Mondamin and Green Cove Facebook page, camp leaders announced that they will be offering their Alumni Camp as they have in the past, and said they are also working to plan other small-scale events around the theme of moving forward.

Peers cheer for Mondamins comeback

The news that Mondamin had called off a camp season shocked others in the close-knit world of summer camps, many of which have also operated for decades under multigenerational ownership.

Yates Pharr, with his wife Marisa, runs Falling Creek boys camp in Tuxedo. His father attended camp at Mondamin as a child and later became a sailing counselor there. In fact, it was as sailing instructors at Mondamin that Pharrs parents met.

I have always held Mondamin in high regard, he said. They certainly have been a leader in the industry with traditional summer camps and boys camps.

We are cheerleading (for Mondamin), offering whatever we can do to help in their process of, just a small transition, he added. This is certainly huge news right now, but I see this as an adjustment just like any group or company can go through, and they are going to be hugely successful again.

It was a complete shock, said Jimboy Miller, the fourth generation owner and director of Camp Greystone, a girls camp also located on Lake Summit. On the day we heard, we had a head staff meeting going on, and it just really devastated the whole group. It's a very sad thing for camps not to open. The camp directors feel that more intensely than anyone apart from the campers and the staff.

Miller added: We've been neighbors with the Bells for generations. Our camp goes back to 1920. So we were here when they started up and have celebrated that relationship for a very long time We've always supported each other and support them now.



Staffing is a challenge

Sandi Boyer, executive director of the Asheville-based North Carolina Youth Camp Association, said she is aware of staffing challenges across the state, in line with the broader issues afflicting the job market.

Since Covid, it has been harder to hire staff, she said. Camps are competing against internships and a lot of other things.

Even so, Boyer said shes not heard of serious staffing shortages at other camps this year.

Most camps arent reporting hiring issues, or if they are having issues, they are still planning on operating this year, she said.

A camps failing to open for a season is uncommon but not unprecedented.

Weve seen other camps have a season that they might not run, but they come back the next season stronger than ever, Boyer said.

The North Carolina Youth Camp Association has 72 member camps that serve more than 70,000 families, employ 11,000 individuals and generate an estimated economic impact of $639 million a year. Forty-five of the camps operate in Western North Carolina and account for an economic impact of $332 million.

Other local camp directors agreed that hiring has become harder for a variety of reasons  not just Covid.

Staffing has remained a challenge, said Pharr, of Falling Creek. I would even say before the pandemic it became more of a challenge because there are just so many things that one can do in the summer now compared to what it used to be.

As it became more difficult to find counselors, we changed our tactics a number of years ago, and it's been a struggle, but at the same time, we've gotten there. We're close right now, we're ahead of what we've been in the last couple of years.

Miller agreed. Staffing is much harder, he said. Getting the staff to apply is harder, and when the staff get here, supporting them has become harder.

An April 26 update on Facebook signed by the Mondamin leadership said that Andrew Bell, current director of the camp, will be moving on to new opportunities, and that David Bell and Gordon Grant will lead the camp going forward. David Bell the brother of Andrew Bell and Calla Bell Williamson, Green Coves director.

David grew up at the camp and served variously as a counselor and assistant director, Mondamin says on its website. He has spent much of the past couple decades working as a teacher in New York City and Taiwan.

Grant has also been involved with Mondamin for years, beginning with his time as a camper and counselor between 1969 and 1975. A lifelong educator, he is currently working at the Asheville PEAK Academy, and has past teaching experience ranging from the Nantahala Outdoor Center to UNC at Chapel Hill.

In their most recent update, camp leaders promised they would open next summer.

We are already planning our return in 2024 with a full offering of summer programs that are innovative, while still connected to the philosophies and traditions that have made the camp so influential for over a century, they said.






THE new mayor of Henley has been elected.

Sarah Miller will again take on the role of first citizen, having previously been mayor in 2021.

She succeeds Michelle Thomas, who handed over the chain of office in front of around 100 people at the town hall today. Her partner, Carolyn Ahara, will become her escort.

Former mayor Kellie Hinton was elected as deputy mayor for the first time.

Councillor Miller, who was first elected to the town council in 2015, pledged to work hard, be visible, be approachable and do her utmost for the town.

She welcomed both the new and re-elected councillors and council staff and said she looked forward to working with them. She also announced the charities she will support during her year as mayor, Henley Community Hub and the Henley branch of Parkinsons UK.

Cllr Miller said: I've had a very strong sense of deja vu today. I am hugely honoured to be elected as mayor for a second time. Henley is the town I grew up in, the town I love, the town I plan to spend the rest of my life in along with my family and Henley is and always will be in my heart.

She thanked Cllr Thomas for her incredible year as mayor and said: As well as juggling her work and family commitments, as mayor, it was a busy time for the UK: the Ukraine crisis, the death of our beloved Queen, the coronation and so much more.

All dealt with in her trademark calm and down to earth manner. I speak for many when I say what respect we have for the way she dealt with an extraordinary year. Thank you, Councillor Thomas, for all you have done.

Cllr Hinton announced her partner Ben as her consort and said: It gives me great honour to be deputy mayor of Henley on Thames and to support Sarah, my dear friend, as she takes the year on with full force. My main interest will continue to be all things green, with a particular interest in our parks and green spaces.

For the full story, pick up your copy of the Henley Standard this week.
Many new brands are succeeding in the market today thanks to their excellent product selection, high standards of quality, and environmentally friendly practices. Here's a list of the handful of Emerging Brands in India that you need to take a closer look at!

1. Aurus Jewels

It's been a 20-year journey for Puja Shah, from studying jewellery design at FIT, New York and working at Brooklyn Museum and Metropolitan Museum in New York to starting an artisanal fine jewellery brand. It is this exposure to global arts and a keen interest in culture and history that sets the tone for Aurus's designs. Aurus was founded by the husband and wife duo of Puja and Kunal Shah. It is their attempt to curate designs that are 'nicely designed' while still remaining classic and something that can become a family heirloom. The designs in Aurus' collection span from simple, time-honoured styles to layered, one-of-a-kind works of art. These pieces are created in collaboration with skilled artisans, preserving traditions that are quickly disappearing as fashionable design trends gain precedence. The brand always ensures that the slight imperfections and quirks that truly make a piece unique are not just preserved but celebrated, promising luxury and quality with hawk-eyed attention to detail. While it's fashionable to follow the latest trends, Aurus celebrates returning to one's roots to preserve history.

2. Storytellers Design Studio

The Storytellers design studio is a luxurious architecture and Interior design firm that fabricates an essence of marvellous and elegant experiences into homes, retail spaces, restaurants and or offices. Founded by Komal Rustagi, Prakash Srivastava and Tanbeer Kazi, their belief that every room and every space has a different story to tell inspires them to embody these tales in the form of intuitive contemporary spaces that entails liveliness, energy, and style resonating with their client's distinct personalities. From manufacturing furniture to executing the stylistic installation of bespoke structures, adding souls to homes is just their cup of tea. For them, it's all about breathing life and art into spaces and catering to clients every need to create a warm and comfortable experience.

3. Perenne Cosmetics

Perenne, meaning ageless, is a natural and clean skincare and hair care brand developed after extensive research and responsible innovation under the mentorship of expert cosmetologists. It is one of the first Indian skincare companies to use a natural base, serving as the foundation of its entire line of products.

To bridge the gap between customer aspirations and the realities of the Indian skincare market, Perenne was born. The brand, introduced in 2017, is firmly founded on transparency and sustainability since all its products use clinical actives with plant-based origins. By pushing the boundaries of beauty to wholesome vitality and radiance, it seeks to take radical efforts to improve our relationship with our skin, our primary means of communication. Perenne is a leader in innovation and has introduced hybrid cosmetics, which combine the benefits of makeup and skincare, bringing the brand more popularity and growth.

4. Tasuvure by Sonal Saraf

Tasuvure is a luxurious fashion brand which flaunts modern Western ensembles and contemporary fusion wear with an artisanal allure and timeless appeal. With her label, TASUVURE BY SONAL SARAF, the fashionista and designer Sonal Saraf, who has a sharp eye for detail, good visualisation skills, an innate sense of style, and strong business acumen plans, to revolutionise the fashion industry with unique designs and silhouettes.

Tasuvure's (TSV) goal is to create Timeless, Stylish, and Versatile outfits for today's independent women. The innovative designs are produced from unique micro-pleated materials and have recognisable structural elements that are stunning and appealing.

5. Attrangi Designs

ATTRANGI is an eclectic fashion jewellery brand that was founded in 2017 by Saloni Shah and Vidushi Jain. The brand aims to be a one-stop shop for all of your jewellery needs by focusing on four key elements: design, quality, variety, and affordability. Each piece is meticulously handcrafted using the finest stones and quality workmanship, resulting in a stunning fusion of elegant aesthetics and dramatic styles. The brand's love of jewellery, passion for fashion, and talent for design has resulted in a large and loyal customer base in India, as well as the US, UK, and UAE. Attrangi has not only established an online presence but has also opened two experiential boutiques, one in Chennai and the other in Mumbai, with the latter opening just two months ago. With an impressive array of Western, Indian, and bridal jewellery, the brand truly has something for everyone. Have you been Attrangi'ed yet? You can find them at www.attrangi.in and on Instagram @attrangi_designs.

6. KidTown Fair

The KidTown Fair Exhibition, which has won the award "Best Kids' Exhibition in India" four times, is undoubtedly a successful, well-liked, and successful marketing platform for kid-related goods and services.

This well-known event has had Nick Jr. as its title sponsor for over 12 editions and marks its 10th anniversary this year.

It offers parents a well-balanced and well-curated selection of kids' offerings and serves as a one-stop shop for parents. That includes clothing, books, toys, games, and kid-friendly accessories.

The brands are chosen after screening and include locally produced brands from around the nation, large establishments like Crossword Bookstores, along with international brands like Loacker India, Barilla and American Tourister. KidTown is held twice a year - The Big Spring Summer Edit and the Pre-Diwali Edit, and Mumbai-based parents wait for it every year.

Team KidTown is currently working on the famous pre-Diwali Edit, which is getting conducted on the 14th-15th of October at the World Trade Center, Cuffe Parade in South Mumbai.

7. Eti House of Silver

Eti House of Silver, a renowned brand in the world of jewellery, offers a unique service of customizing silver pieces according to your preferences. While we frequently use tailors to create clothing, have you ever thought of purchasing affordable personalised jewellery?

With over 1000 pieces of jewellery that have been painstakingly handmade by talented artisans, each offers a unique and compelling narrative.

At Eti House of Silver, each piece goes through a meticulous process that includes CAD, CAM, casting, polishing, and stone setting. They are experts in micro-setting work too, a technique that previously only applied to diamond jewellery.

Learn to enjoy wearing handcrafted silver jewellery that represents your unique style sense and individuality by scheduling an appointment with Eti House of Silver.

8. Arte Casa

Arte Casa is a modern home decor brand that seeks to enrich your living space by adding the element of luxury. Their exceptional yet simplistic interior design practices & home decor products are just what your home needs. Coming from a family that has successfully been running a home furnishing business for three decades, the Founder, Isha Jain, now extends her knowledge to home decor, curios and artefacts. She strives to empower the Artisan community with her quirky yet elegant craftsmanship. The brand's best-selling dried flowers are the best gifts for your friends and family as they brighten up the room and are there to stay for years.

9. Vigento Luxury

Vignetos tableware, with its intricately embossed signature floral patterns, boast excellent craftsmanship. The designs inspired by the monarchical opulence of the old world, invoke a vintage charm with a fusion of Indian art and aesthetics. Through partnerships with over 150 retailers Pan-India, the luxury tableware brand aims to fill the void of unavailability of trusted premium tableware and endeavours to offer luxurious as well as accessible products to Indian consumers. The products meticulously hand-crafted with the finest premium porcelain speak of a timeless classic tale, adding royalty and uniqueness to ones tableware collection while also serving as exemplary gifts.

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.
Mangalore, 15th May 2023: Nitte (Deemed to be University) is proud to announce that two of its eminent scientists, Dr. Indrani Karunasagar and Dr. Iddya Karunasagar, have been ranked #11 and #13 respectively by Research.com. They are among the top scientists in India, in the field of microbiology. This ranking is based on their research publications, citations, h-index, and i10-index.

Dr. Indrani Karunasagar is the Director (Projects & NuTEC) and Coordinator for M.Sc. Marine Biotechnology (sponsored by DBT) at Nitte University Centre for Science Education and Research (NUCSER). She has over 35 years of experience in teaching and research in microbiology, especially aquatic microbiology and biotechnology. She has published more than 200 research papers in peer-reviewed journals and has guided 25 PhD students. She is also the recipient of several national and international awards, including the prestigious Sir C.V. Raman Award for Young Scientists.

Dr. Iddya Karunasagar is a Professor Emeritus at NUCSER and a former Assistant Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. With over 40 years of experience in research and development in microbiology, food safety, and aquatic animal health, he has published more than 150 research papers in reputed journals and has mentored 20 PhD students. He has also served as a consultant for several national and international organizations, including WHO, World Bank, ADB, and ICAR.

Nitte University is one of the best universities in Karnataka, India with colleges and schools spread over three campuses offering courses in health sciences, engineering, architecture, management, communication, and humanities. It is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC), Govt. of India and accredited with A+ grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). Additionally, the University has also been ranked among the Top 100 universities in India by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2022.

Nitte University offers a two-year M.Sc program in Microbiology at NUCSER, which is designed for students preparing for a career in microbiology by providing them with knowledge and skill enhancement in basic and applied principles. The program includes core courses such as genetics, biochemistry, immunology, and biotechnology, as well as specialized courses such as medical microbiology, industrial microbiology, environmental microbiology, bioinformatics, and biostatistics. The program also includes a one-year research project with full-time research in the final semester which will enable students to gain hands-on experience in applying up-to-date scientific knowledge and develop skills in cutting-edge technologies.

Nitte University congratulates Dr. Indrani Karunasagar and Dr. Iddya Karunasagar for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the field of microbiology and hopes that their success will inspire students and researchers to pursue excellence in this domain.

For more information about Nitte University and its programs, please visit https://nitte.edu.in/.

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.
The confusion over Karnataka's next chief minister is yet to end as the Congress party did not finalise a name between the DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah. After a long CLP meeting on Sunday night, the Congress party passed a unanimous resolution authorising the party's national president Mallikarjun Kharge to select the next chief minister of Karnataka.

Meanwhile, both Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar are going to spend a busy Monday in New Delhi as the national president of Congress is set to decide the CM. They are also expected to meet Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi on Monday at the national capital. A set of observers who were at the legislature party meeting yesterday will also submit the report and opinions of all elected representatives on the CM candidate are collected.

The supporters of both Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar were seen raising the slogans and demanding the Congress party to announce their leader as the Karnataka's CM. The clarity over the final decision from Mallikarjun Kharge is expected today.

In Karnataka election results, the Congress got 135 seats and the Bhartiya Janata Party only won at 66 seats out of 224 constituencies. Meanwhile, the Janata Dal(Secular) only managed to get 19 seats. The results have washed off the hung assembly speculations and the state saw a decisive mandate after 2013.
Congress leader and All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, on Sunday late night said that party chief Mallikarjun Kharge will not take long and announce the name of next chief minister of Karnataka soon. Congress leader Randeep Surjewala addressing a press conference in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)

Speaking to reporters after a late-night meeting of newly elected Congress MLAs in Karnataka's Bengaluru, Surjewala said, "Party leadership will take a decision. I can't replace my judgement with Kharge Sahab's judgement. He is our senior, and as you all know him. He is the son of the soil of Karnataka, and I'm sure he will not take very long."

"The winning party will be in the first cabinet when we will implement our first five guarantees," he said while responding to a query on plans for the oath-taking ceremony after the decision on the new CM of Karnataka.

The meeting was convened after Congress Legislature Party (CLP) unanimously passed a resolution authorising party president Mallikarjun Kharge to pick the name of the Karnataka Chief Minister. "The Congress Legislature Party unanimously resolves that AICC President is hereby authorised to appoint the new leader of the Congress Legislature Party," the resolution stated.

The meeting which started late on Sunday night at a hotel in Bengaluru, continued till 1.30 am. It was attended by all 135 newly elected MLAs.

Former Maharashtra chief minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and party leaders Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria were present in the meeting as observers. Party leaders like Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar, KC Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh and others also attended the meeting.

"Entire process of meeting individual legislators of Congress party has been completed with great bohemia. The observers met all the MLAs separately and recorded their views and now they will submit a report to the Congress leadership and after that, we will announce the next leader of the Congress Legislature Party," AICC in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala further told reporters.

When asked if there were any gifts being planned for Siddaramaiah or DK Shivakumar on the latter's birthday, Surjewala said, "I am not a party to those discussions as General Secretary I'm a simple worker to Congress who stood out with all my legislatures. We were sitting together and planning the future of Karnataka which is more important to us. We also celebrated DK Shivakumar's birthday together."

Ahead of the CLP meeting, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal had said the process of taking the opinion of MLAs will be completed by tonight itself and after that, the observers will move to Delhi to apprise the AICC president about the opinion. "This process of taking the opinion of the MLAs will be completed tonight itself. As Randeep Surjewala said, this is a unanimous resolution moved by Siddaramaiah and supported by DK Shivakumar and all the senior leaders," Venugopal said.

Earlier, a huge number of supporters gathered outside the residence of Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar in Bengaluru on Sunday and raised slogans of 'We want DK Shivakumar as CM'.

Congress, which registered an emphatic victory defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka on Saturday, had been facing the challenge of deciding the chief minister amid speculations of Siddaramaiah being the front-runner followed by state party president DK Shivakumar.

Kharge on Sunday appointed three observers in Karnataka including former Maharashtra chief minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and party leaders Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria for the election of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader in the state.

According to the Election Commission of India, Congress won 135 seats pushing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) out of power in the only southern state it ruled and boosting its own prospects for the electoral battles ahead.

BJP managed to win 66 seats. Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) bagged 19 seats. Independents have won two seats while Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha and Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha won one seat each.
Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), Faridkot, on Monday, suspended 24 employees of the medical varsity for 24 hours for creating indiscipline in the committee room. BFUHS registrar , in an order, said that it has come to his notice that a meeting of employees was conducted in the committee room of the University. (File Photo)

BFUHS registrar Dr Nirmal Ouseppachan, in the order, said that it has come to my notice that a meeting of said employees was conducted in the committee room of the University. No permission for conducting the personal meeting was taken by the employees. The meeting resulted in disruption and indiscipline among the attendees, he said.

The specific actions that led to this situation include verbal quarrel among the employees. Such behaviour is unacceptable and goes against the principles and values that our University upholds, he said.

In light of the seriousness of this matter, the said employees are hereby suspended for a period of 24 hours. You are directed to submit your written reply within 24 hours of receipt of this letter, he added.
Farmers adopting the DSR technique for sowing to get incentive worth 1500 per acre, says CM Farmers adopting the DSR technique for sowing to get incentive worth  1500 per acre, says Mann. (HT File Photo)

Chief minister Bhagwant Mann announced on Monday that paddy sowing will be carried out in the state in four phases this year starting June 10.

Mann said the decision has been taken as per the suggestions received from the farmers during the two kisan-sarkar milni (government-farmers meeting), and the government is fully prepared for ensuring smooth and hassle-free sowing of paddy crop during the upcoming Kharif season across the state. The state has been divided into four zones, and paddy sowing will commence from June 10, 16, 19 and 21 in various parts of the state, he said in a statement.

Giving details of the sowing schedule, the chief minister said that to ensure smooth irrigation for paddy cultivation in a staggered manner, the first phase of transplantation in the areas beyond the fence across the international border will start on June 10. He said uninterrupted power from June 16 will be ensured in the second phase to seven districts of Ferozepur, Faridkot, Pathankot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurdaspur, SBS Nagar and Tarn Taran. In the third phase, paddy transplantation will be ensured from June 19 in Rupnagar, SAS Nagar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Fazilka, Bathinda and Amritsar, whereas in the remaining nine districts of Patiala, Jalandhar, Moga, Muktsar Sahib, Hoshiarpur, Sangrur, Malerkotla, Barnala and Mansa paddy transplantation will commence from June 21.

Mann said that to save groundwater, the power supply for the DSR technique will start from May 20 across the state, and a notification in this regard has been issued by the state government. Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) is a process of establishing a rice crop from seeds sown in the field rather than by transplanting seedlings from the nursery.

He also exhorted the farmers to refrain from sowing paddy before these dates. The chief minister said four hours of power supply will be made available to the farmers for routine irrigation needs, including paddy nursery transplantation and vegetables.

Reiterating the firm commitment of the state government to ensure uninterrupted power to the farmers during the paddy season, Mann said that a minimum of eight hours of regular power supply will be ensured by all means. Like the previous year, the farmers will get a regular supply of water during the paddy season. The state government has 45 days of coal stock with it to supply power to farmers, the CM added. He said that in a bid to effectively check the fast-depleting water table, DSR technology will be promoted in a big way during the current Kharif season. He urged the farmers to refrain from planting the PUSA variety of paddy and shift to the economically viable DSR technique, which will go a long way in saving the groundwater up to 15-20% and nearly 3000 per acre on input costs, including labour. The farmers opting for the DSR technique will get an incentive worth 1500 per acre from the state government, he said, adding that the farmers must adopt the PR varieties of paddy recommended by PAU.

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Nearly 10 year after the then Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh handed over the keys to a few residents of the 8,448 small flats constructed by Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) in Dhanas, the board is yet to take a call on the installation of a firefighting system in the neighbourhood  which now houses 45,000 people. In September 2013, Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) handed over possession of 8,448 flats in Dhanas to the residents of Colony Numbers 4 and 5. (HT File Photo)

In the recent meeting chaired by the finance secretary, the officials failed to take any decision and the matter was deferred to a later discussion to be held under the UT advisor Dharam Pal.

Speaking of the same, CHB chief executive officer (CEO) Yashpal Garg said, We are working on deciding whether to install the firefighting system or have a fire brigade stationed in the area. We will soon be taking the decision in this regard.

In September 2013, Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) handed over possession of 8,448 flats in Dhanas to the residents of Colony Numbers 4 and 5. The flats were constructed under the UT administrations slum rehabilitation plan. The flats have been constructed on 162.5 acres of land with a motive to remove Colony Numbers 4 and 5.

Area councillor Ram Chander Yadav said, despite several representations and requests to both UT administration and CHB, no fire fighting system has been installed in the area.

Akhil Bansal, a resident of Dhanas, said the officials were playing with fire and a major could break out any day in the absence of a proper system. We are paying the licence fee for the flats every month, he pointed out.

Another CHB official, meanwhile said, We are ready to install the system at the cost of 11 crore, but the residents are not ready to take over the maintenance of the system.

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The hike in power tariff announced on Monday evoked strong reactions from the state industry, which condemned the move and called these detrimental to the growth of the industry. Several industry associations said that the power charges for the industry in Punjab are higher than those in Haryana or Rajasthan. (HT File Photo)

Several industry associations said that the power charges for the industry in Punjab are higher than those in Haryana or Rajasthan and due to these policies, no new industry will be willing to invest in the state.

Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertaking (CICU), in a joint statement, said that PSPCLs fresh tariffs hike for the financial year 2023-24 will be a huge burden for the industry.

PSPCL has increased electricity charges by 0.30 paisa per unit for small and medium and 0.40 paisa per unit for large enterprises, said CICU president Upkar Singh Ahuja, adding, MSMEs are already reeling under huge losses. The dearth of raw materials has already escalated the cost of manufacturing, and industry is not in a situation to bear this additional burden.

CICU, in a letter, requested chief minister Bhagwant Maan to withdraw this decision and give 5 per unit to MSMEs, so they can survive in this era of cut-throat competition.

Former Punjab CII chairman Amit Thapar, who is currently head policy advocacy panel CII-Punjab said the increase in fixed tariff has come as a rude shock for industry. As per new Industrial policy clause 12.3.2, the government has committed that there will not be any increase in fixed tariff while the regulator has increased fixed tariff today. We expect the government to subsidise the fixed tariff to keep industry competitive, he said.

Federation of Industrial and Commercial Organisation (FICO) president Gurmeet Kular termed the hike announced immediately after the results of the Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll as an act of deceiving the public.

Power is one of the major raw materials for the industry, and any increase in the power cost will impact the cost of industrial products especially when the industry is working on narrow margins This is the time that the government should support the industry, said Kular.

KK Seth, FICO chairman asked the state government to immediately reverse the decision.

AAP has betrayed peoples trust: Sukhbir

HT Correspondent

letterschd@hindustantimes.com

Chandigarh Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday demanded immediate withdrawal of the hike in power tariffs in the state. Accusing the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of mastering the politics of lies and deception, Sukhbir in a statement said, AAP has penalized Punjabis for reposing faith in the party and betrayed their trust.

Sukhbir said the AAP contested the Jalandhar bypoll by showcasing its 300 units of free power scheme and that has been effectively dismantled with Mondays hike.

He claimed that chief minister Bhagwant Manns contention that the Punjab government will subsidize consumers for the additional cost borne by them was an eyewash. The government already owes 20,400 crore to PSPCL and is in no position to take on an additional burden, he added.

Hitting back, AAPs state chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang said that the scheme of 300 units of free power for domestic consumers was in no way dismantled or affected by the marginal increase in power tariffs. You (Sukhbir) must refrain from peddling lies, as while setting the record straight Honble CM@Bhagwant Mann Saab has categorically made clear that an increase in tariffs will not affect the common man adversely rather it will be borne by the Punjab government, he tweeted.

Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said the hike in power tariff has exposed the true colours of AAP after it won the Jalandhar byelection. Condemning the hike, Warring accused the AAP of cheating the people in the name of badlaav and then burning a big hole in consumers pockets by hiking the power prices ahead of summers when the power consumption rises significantly. The decision to increase power tariff in Punjab will only add to the woes of consumers, he added in a statement.
Police on Sunday booked a Kaimbwala resident for allegedly duping a Mohali resident of 13 lakh on pretext of sending him to America. When the accused didnt send any ticket to Kulbir and he fell short of money, the latter called him and asked him for the ticket. (iStock)

The accused has been identified as Harish.

The victim Kulbir Singh of Mohali, in his police complaint, stated that he met the accused at his the shop of his cousin Surender Dhull in Kaimbwala in July last year.

The accused told Kulbir that he works as an immigration consultant and has sent over 40 people to countries like Australia, Canada and America.

 Harish told me that he could send me to America where I would be able to earn in lakhs after working for a few hours. He sought 31 lakh from me. As he was a friend of my cousin, I trusted him and agreed to pay him the amount, the complainant said.

The complainant transferred 13 lakh in different instalments to the accused who later told the victim that he would have to reach America via Thailand and Mexico. The accused gave a ticket to Bangkok to the complainant following which he reached Bangkok on August 25 last year.

He stayed in Bangkok for a week waiting for his ticket to Mexico.

When the accused didnt send any ticket to Kulbir and he fell short of money, the latter called him and asked him for the ticket.

Kulbir was shocked when the accused asked him to return to India citing that he couldnt arrange his further tickets.

Kulbir borrowed money from his friend and asked him to book his return ticket to India. On returning to India, when Kulbir sought his money back, the accused failed to return the money and neither sent him to America.

Kulbir lodged a complaint against the accused at Sector-3 police station.

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Police cracked the murder of a 5-year-old girl with the arrest of a labourer within 36 hours of recovering the childs body. The child lived with her father at the rented accommodation. (iStock)

The accused, who was a friend to the victims father, had allegedly attempted to molest the girl, probe officials said. As per police, the accused allegedly thrashed the child to death when she resisted and began to cry. He later dumped her body in the agricultural fields.

The accused has been identified as a native of Bihar. He worked as a labourer at fields for a farmer in Mandialan Kalan along with the deceased childs father.

Sadar Khanna police registered a first information report (FIR) against the accused following the complaint of the deceaseds father.

Sharing details about the case, superintendent of police (SP, investigation) Pragya Jain said the girl lived with her father in a room near the agricultural fields in Mandialan Kalan. On May 11, the girl went missing and her father reached out to the police and lodged a complaint at Sadar station a day later.

A wrongful confinement had at the time been registered against unidentified accused, following which, police initiated an investigation.

On May 13, the childs body was found in the fields. Police then added sections 363, 364 (both kidnapping) and 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code to the FIR.

On Sunday, police arrested the accused, who confessed to the crime. The accused stated that on May 11, he took the girl to the fields and molested her. The girl had started crying, following which he thrashed her to death. Later, he dumped the body in the fields and returned to room, the SP said.

To avoid suspicion, the accused maintained contact with the childs father, she added.

The child lived with her father at the rented accommodation. Her mother had died due to cancer when she was still an infant.
Residents looking to obtain a learners driving licence were left in the lurch outside a closed e-sewa kendra for more than two hours, due to an error in the allotment of time slots. Department of governance reforms general manager Vinesh Kumar Gatuam admitted that the officials responsible for allocating time slots were unaware of the kendras timings (HT File Photo)

The kendra continues to operate between the original 9 am to 5 pm working hours despite the recent changes in government office timings to 7.30 am to 2 pm. Applicants, however, were allocated time slots for appearing in the test by the official portal www.parivahan.gov.in in the latter window, resulting in confusion.

Harpreet Singh, the kendra in-charge, said he will be writing to higher authorities to rectify the issue. A senior government official not wishing to be named said the kendra operating on a different timing than the government offices amounted to a major error.

Notably, the revised timings of 7.30 am to 2 pm for government officers were announced earlier last month. However, sewa kendras continue to operate between 9 am to 5 pm.

Department of governance reforms general manager Vinesh Kumar Gatuam admitted that the officials responsible for allocating time slots were unaware of the kendras timings.

The candidates had applied for their learning licence through the online portal www.parivahan.gov.in, which allotted them the 7 am time slot.

Rajiv Kumar, a resident of Mullanpur who was allotted a morning slot, said, It was sheer harassment as I left home by 6 am with the motive to reach the venue on time by 7 am only to find the office closed.

Another candidate, Himanshu Kashyap of Tajpur road, expressed his frustration, saying, I am an engineering student and missed the first three lectures due to the wrong time slot given to me on the government website.

Will look into the issue: DC

Addressing the issue, deputy commissioner (DC) Surabhi Malik said, I was not aware about the issue, I will look into the matter and direct the concerned official to resolve it as soon as possible.
Lieutenant General Devendra Sharma will take over as the Chief of Staff, Western Command, Chandi Mandir, officials said on Monday. Lieutenant General Devendra Sharma will take over as the Chief of Staff, Western Command, Chandi Mandir, officials said on Monday. (HT Photo)

Sharma, who had taken over as the General Officer Commanding, Vajra Corps, in February last year, handed over the command to Lieutenant General Vijay B Nair on Monday.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), he has an illustrious career spanning over three decades and has served in diverse operational environments, including counterinsurgency, along the Line of Control, the army said.

He commanded his regiment as part of an Independent Armoured Brigade, an Armoured Brigade as part of a Strike Corps and an Infantry Division on the Western Borders. The General officer also has rich instructional & staff experience, including appointments, both in operational and administrative domain, the statement read.
Shooting himself in the foot, both literally and idiomatically, a robber himself and admitted him to civil hospital. The miscreant had been dropped off at the hospital by his two aides after the illegal pistol that he had been hiding in his pants went off accidentally on Sunday in Transport Nagar. A case under sections 116 read with 392, 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act has been lodged against the accused. (iStock)

The two aides fled after admitting the injured at the hospital. The man was later rushed to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education (PGIMER), Chandigarh.

Moti Nagar police have since registered a first information report (FIR) against the robber, identified as Deepak of Lohara, and his two aides, Sonu of Dhuri and Billa.

Sharing details about the incident, assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Ranjit Singh, who is investigating the case, said the police received information about the incident from the civil hospital. After investigation, they found that the accused had gathered in Transport Nagar and were hatching a robbery conspiracy. The accused possessed a country-made pistol, which Deepak had tucked in his pants.

The weapon went off and the bullet hit Deepak in his left leg. His aide rushed him to civil hospital and fled after admitting him.

The ASI added that they received information about the incident from the civil hospital. Later, they reached the spot and initiated an investigation.

A case under sections 116 read with 392, 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act has been lodged against the accused. A hunt is on for their arrest.

The accused are already facing trial in multiple snatching and theft cases.
Taking action again unhygienic conditions at slaughterhouses, a municipal corporation team on Monday destroyed around 5 quintals of meat at two meat shops in Dugri. A municipal corporation team inspecting a slaughterhouse in Ludhiana on Monday. (HT Photo)

The team, led by MC joint commissioner Kulpreet Singh, comprised of officials including MC secretary Tajinderpal Singh Panchhi, chief sanitary inspector Gurinder Singh and veterinary officer Dr Harbans Dhalla, among others.

Kulpreet Singh said that the shopkeepers had been selling unhygienic meat to the residents.

The shopkeepers have been directed to get the meat slaughtered at MCs modern slaughter in Haibowal dairy complex. At the facility, meat is properly checked by veterinary doctors and certified to ensure that it is healthy for consumption.

MC Commissioner Shena Aggarwal appealed to the residents to ask for certified meat from the shopkeepers as it will put a stop to illegal slaughtering and ensure that they consume healthy meat. She added that regular awareness drives are being conducted in the city to stop illegal slaughtering.

Around 70 kg plastic bags confiscated

The MC team also confiscated around 70 kg of plastic bags from the two shops. Challans were issued to the shopkeepers for using the banned material.
The Punjab government has decided to convene its cabinet meeting at Jalandhars circuit house on Wednesday. This is for the second time, government would be holding a meeting outside Chandigarh after it convened a meeting in Ludhiana last week. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said cabinet meetings being held in different cities, is an effort under the initiative government at your doorsteps. (HT File Photo)

The decision to make Jalandhar venue for the meeting, was taken two days after Aam Aadmi Party candidate Sushil Kumar Rinku, convincingly won Lok Sabha bypoll with a margin of 58,691 votes.

Chief minister Bhagwant Mann said cabinet meetings being held in different cities, is an effort under the initiative government at your doorsteps.

The decision on approvals of new development projects in Jalandhar and other parts of Punjab will be taken, besides having discussion on resolving pending issues, Mann said.

Meanwhile, Jalandhar deputy commissioner, Jaspreet Singh said the CM will also meet people during sarkar tuhade dwar initiative, while his cabinet colleagues will be also present to address their issues. The DC asked police officials for foolproof security arrangements and other departments to complete the given tasks within set timeline.

ECI lifts Model Code of Conduct

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a letter to lift the model code of conduct (MCC) which was implemented in view of the Jalandhar byelection. In a letter issued by ECI, it has been directed to state that the provisions of MCC are enforced from the date of announcement of election schedule by the ECI and it remains effective till completion of election process. Now, that the result of Jalandhar byelection have been declared by the returning officer, the MCC has ceased to be in operation with immediate effect.
A three-time councillor Surinder Chauhan, 57, was unanimously elected as the new mayor of the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Uma Kaushal his deputy. Newly elected Congress councillors with chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and party leader Pratibha Singh in Shimla. (HT Photo)

The election was unanimous as the BJP did not nominate candidates for the posts.

Also read: HP private educational institutions regulator cuts down PhD seats at varsities

The names of the new mayor and deputy mayor were declared after the newly elected councillors took oath.

Chauhan, popularly called Guddu Bhai represents Chotta Shimla ward, which was represented twice by Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who is now the chief minister. The SMC is one of the oldest municipalities in the country.

Chauhan, who is an aide of the chief minister, shares a good rapport with councillors and residents of Shimla. With his election, the MC has a mayor from the Congress after over a decade.

The ruling party won 24 of the 34 wards that went to the polls on May 2.

Back as Congress bastion

The SMC had remained a Congress bastion for nearly three decades till the Communist Party of India (Marxist) staged an upset in 2012 when its leaders Sanjay Chauhan and Tikender Singh Panwar were elected mayor and deputy mayor in the first direct elections to the top posts.

In 2017, the BJP formed the municipal corporation for the first time with the help of independents after winning 17 seats, one short of majority.

Uma Kaushal, who was elected deputy mayor, is also an experienced hand as this is her third victory in a row. She represents Tutikandi ward. She advocates inclusive policies and worked towards enhancing civic amenities in her ward.

Women councillors dominate new House

The chief minister had met newly elected Congress councillors on Sunday to take their feedback on the choice for the mayor and deputy mayor.

While Surinder Chauhans name was certain as the CMs choice for mayor, there were other woman contenders for the post of deputy mayor.

Besides Uma Kaushal, Sushma Kuthiala, Kanta Suyal, Urmila Kashyap, Mamta Chandel, and Simi Nanda were in the race. Women are in a majority in the new House. Twenty women councillors have been elected to the SMC and only 14 are men.

Among the 24 Congress councillors, 14 are women.
Two victims, rescued from Cambodia, had paid a Ludhiana based travel agent 15 lakh each The police have also apprehended the culprits involved in this illegal travel scam. (Representational Photo (Getty Images) )

The Pathankot Police successfully rescued two individuals who were held captive in Cambodia after falling victim to an illegal travel scam.

The victims, Paramjit Saini and Sachin Saini were subjected to a harrowing experience before their safe return to India on May 13, 2023. The police have also apprehended the culprits involved in this illegal travel scam.

The investigation was initiated when Vijay Saini, son of Mangat Ram and a resident of Panjupar village in Pathankot filed a written complaint at police station division No.2. Vijay Saini revealed that his brothers, Paramjit Saini, and Sachin Saini, along with three other individuals, including Tajinder Kumar, resident of Panjupar, had conspired to travel abroad illegally. They had engaged the services of Manpreet Singh alias Mani Suro Kala, an agent from Sarih village, Dehlon in Ludhiana, to facilitate their travel to New Zealand on a work permit, with each victim paying a sum of 15 lakh.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Harkamal Preet Singh Khakh said, As per the investigation, it has been discovered that Manpreet Singh alias Mani coordinated with Tajinder Kumar, who had been residing in Greece for the past four years, to arrange the travel. The agent booked Paramjit Saini and Sachin Sainis tickets from Delhi to Thailand on April 18, 2023. The victims carried 50,000 each for the agent, with Paramjit Saini arranging the money through his aunts son in Australia and Sachin Saini obtaining it from a relative.

The situation took a dark turn when the agent Mani demanded an additional 15 lakh from each victim. Distressed by this development, Paramjit Saini and Sachin Saini informed Vijay Saini of the agents demands and mentioned that Lakhbir Singh, son of Jaswant Singh, a resident of Sarih police station, Dehlon district, Ludhiana, was supposed to receive the money in Jalandhar, the SSP said.

Upon thorough investigation, it was confirmed that Tajinder Kumar, Manpreet Singh alias Mani, and Lakhbir Singh had planned to cheat Paramjit Saini and Sachin Saini by illegally obtaining money and trapping them in Cambodia until a ransom of  30 lakh was paid for their release. Consequently, on May 5, 2023, the Pathankot Police registered a case (number 65/2023) under various sections, including 420, 346, 120-B, and Section 13 of the Punjab Travel Professional Regulation Act 2014, at Police Station Division No. 02 Pathankot.

The diligent efforts of the Pathankot Police led to the arrest of Lakhbir Singh on May 5, 2023. Following his interrogation, the police apprehended the father of agent Manpreet Singh alias Mani, based on the evidence obtained. On May 19, 2023, both accused individuals were formally charged, he added.

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Ashish More, an IAS officer and services department secretary, has been issued a show cause notice by the Delhi government for not complying with its direction to replace him with a new officer and has been threatened disciplinary action against him. Delhi cabinet minister Saurabh Bhardwaj.(ANI file)

The Delhi government had removed More from his post last week, hours after the Supreme Court gave the Aam Aadmi Party dispensation control over the transfer and posting of officers in the state.

No reply from More was received on the show cause notice issued to him by services department minister Saurabh Bhardwaj on May 13, said a Delhi government official.

More was unavailable for his comments on the development related to his transfer.

Bhardwaj in a memo to More had sought his reply within 24 hours, over charges against him that he refused to comply with the SC verdict and direction to transfer him.

The services minister also cited that various attempts to communicate with the officer through phone calls as well as WhatsApp messages did not bore any results and he was absconding without informing about any leave availed by him.

On Friday, the Delhi government had approached the Supreme Court alleging that the Centre was not implementing the transfer of services secretary More. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud had said a bench would be constituted to hear the matter.

Services Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj, instructed Services Secretary, Ashish More, to present a file for the transfer of a new officer to the post of Secretary of Services Department. However, Ashish More unexpectedly left the Secretariat without notifying the minister's office, rendering himself unreachable while his phone also remained switched off, a statement said.

"The special secretary of the services separtment sent a communication to Saurabh Bhardwaj, indicating that the Home Ministry's notification dated May 21, 2015, has not yet been set aside. Following this, it has been brought to the attention of the Services Secretary that their failure to comply with the orders of the Supreme Court would potentially be considered contempt of court," it said.

The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the Delhi government has legislative and executive powers over administration of services and only "public order, police and land" are excluded from its jurisdiction.

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A court here has deprecated the Investigating Officer in a case related to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots for his casual and unprofessional conduct, and referred the matter to Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora for appraisal of the investigation. The court was hearing a case registered by the Khajuri Khas police station under various offences, including rioting, theft, robbery and arson, against some persons. (File)

Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala was hearing a case registered by the Khajuri Khas police station under various offences, including rioting, theft, robbery and arson, against some persons.

I deem it fit to refer this matter to the Commissioner of Police in order to make an appraisal of the investigation done by SI Vipin Kumar in this case as well asconduct of misreporting the facts to his higher officer, the judge said in an order passed last week.

Ten complaints are clubbed in the case and the court had earlier on May 1 sought clarification from the Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast) regarding the time of each incident along with the relevant evidence.

Matter is referred to DCP to make an assessment of investigation done by the initial IO (Kumar), who did not place on record sufficient material to show what exact investigation was done qua each complaint and to show with reference to the admissible piece of evidence, the time of each such incident, and the basis of pointing out the finger towards the accused persons for each of these incidents, the court said in its earlier order.

During the subsequent proceedings on May 10, the judge said according to the DCP's report, the officer had called for a report from the IO and as it was not found specific, the present station house officer (SHO) and Kumar were directed to provide the court with a more specific synopsis.

Also, the assistant commissioner of police and SHO of the Khajuri Khas police station were directed to review the entire case and if required, ensure further investigation by another IO, the judge said noting the report.

The judge said SI Kumar had mentioned in his report to the superior officer that one of the complainants Sameeja had said a mob had torched houses on February 25, 2020, at 11:am.

The judge noted although 10 complaints were clubbed in the case, the charge sheet and the statement of witnesses did not mention the time of several incidents.

Though IO clubbed 10 complaints in this case, but in several other complaints and statementsof such victims, no time of the incident was mentioned, the judge said.

The ASJ said this scenario besides being an example of a casual approach to the investigation, also points to the manner in which complaints of various complainants were hushed up by Kumar.

The objectionable approach of SI does not end here. He adventured to report wrong facts to the DCP, so as to say that complainant Sameeja mentioned the time of 11:am in her complaint, the judge said.

Since SI Vipin Kumar is not working in the control of DCP (northeast) now and since his continuation of casual and unprofessional conduct is being witnessed by this court, I deem it fit to refer this matter to the Commissioner of Police, the judge added.

The judge underlined that the time of the incident was the most essential part to be investigated, and the court was unable to frame charges because of the incomplete investigation done so far.

As the time of the incidents were not investigated, the court could not look into the evidence for the incidents to find the complicity of the accused, the judge said.

The SHO and present IO are directed to take expeditious steps to ensure that further investigation is completed at the earliest possible time. During their further investigation, they must take care of questions already raised by this court, the judge said.

The matter has been posted for further proceedings on July 20.
The Tihar administration on Monday said that it will order a psychological evaluation for jailed former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain after the Aam Aadmi Party legislator, who has been lodged in Tihar since June last year, asked the prison authorities to shift some other inmates to his cell, citing loneliness. Former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain (File Photo)

Read here: Delhi court seeks ED response on Satyendar Jains plea seeking transfer of case

The Director General (Prisons) Sanjay Baniwal said since the former minister had cited a recommendation by a psychiatrist in support of his application sent on May 11, the jail authorities will get an independent verification done to asses the request.

The development comes in the wake of a row over shifting of two inmates to Jains cell without the consent of senior officials. Baniwals office has also issued a show-cause notice to the superintendent of jail number 7, where Jain is lodged, for shifting the inmates.

As the former minister has cited a psychiatrists suggestion, I will get it cross-checked from another doctor soon. If the second psychiatrist corroborates the opinion given by Jains doctor, we will provide him with the company of other inmates, who are of Jains age group, for more social interactions. But for that we will not consider any name recommended by him, Baniwal said.

He said the superintendent of jail number 7 has been asked to explain the grounds on which he shifted two inmates to Jains cell. The superintendent has also been asked to provide the antecedents of the shifted inmates. We cant take any chance with the safety and security of any inmate with such transfers as Tihar, on many occasions, had seen incidents of violence, Baniwal added.

The inmates have been moved back to their original ward, he said.

Last year, a prison official was suspended for allegedly facilitating special treatment to Jain. The action was taken after the Enforcement Directorate submitted CCTV footage to a Delhi court, alleging that Jain was enjoying a preferential treatment in jail. In the video, Jain was purportedly seen getting a massage from a man in his cell, and chatting with other inmates, none of which is allowed inside the prison.

Read here: Delhi assembly passes resolution against misuse of CBI, ED

Jain was arrested on May 30 last year by ED in connection with a money laundering case.

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Faridabad police on Monday arrested Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Dharmender Singh, for allegedly accepting a bribe of 1.10 crore in lieu of granting permission for the construction of a commercial building in Sonipat last year, when he was posted as a municipal commissioner there, said police. IAS officer arrested for taking bribe

Sube Singh, spokesperson of Faridabad police, confirmed the arrest and said they are questioning the suspect.

A case has been registered under various sections, including 420 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Corruption Act against the officer, police said.

The suspect will be produced before a court on Tuesday. A probe into the case is underway, police added.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Monday threatened to launch a statewide movement in Rajasthan if action on his demands is not taken by the month-end. Congress leader Sachin Pilot with supporters during his Jan Sangharsh Yatra, in Jaipur. (PTI photo)

Pilots five-day and 125-kilometre Jan Sangharsh Yatra from Ajmer to Jaipur culminated on Monday.

He also demanded disbanding of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and its reconstitution, a compensation for those affected by government job exam paper leak cases, and a high-level probe into charges of corruption he has levelled against the previous BJP government.

It is a common belief that here jugaad works and appointments are political. The appointments need to be done in a transparent manner, and people like scientists or lecturers need to be chosen, he said.

Also Read: Sachin Pilot steps up attack on Ashok Gehlot, announces five-day yatra

If action is not taken by this month-end on these three demands, an agitation will be launched across the state, the former deputy chief minister told a rally.

The former deputy CM said, So far, I have done Anshan and taken out a yatra. If action is not taken on these three demands in the interest of youth, I will launch an agitation in the entire state. We will walk with people in villages and hamlets and get them justice.

Pilot said his agitation was not against anyone but against corruption and for the youth.

He referred to the boycott by CM loyalists of the Congress legislature party meeting in September last year.

Pilot said whoever talks about factionalism and betrayal of the party should introspect over their betrayal and the insult to party leader Sonia Gandhi last year.

He said they should think whether we or they broke discipline.

Over 90 MLAs had signed the letters at UDH Shanti Dhariwals residence on September 25, 2022 in a bid to prevent Pilots candidature as the next CM face in case Gehlot was elected as AICC chief.

We remained in public even after being abused and worked for the strengthening of the organisation and you (Gehlot) are abusing and maligning us after eating malai this will not happen, said Pilot.

Referring to the CMs statement of praising BJP leaders including Raje and Kailash Meghwal for saving the government during the political crisis in July 2020, he said, What kind of policy is this that you malign the image of your own party leaders and praise others (BJP).

He continued that, I have never levelled charges of anyone. I have never said bad words against anyone. They left no chance to abuse me, but this does not worry me. In democracy, its the peoples blessing which matters, and no one should have a misunderstanding.

Promising to continue his fight against corruption, he said, I promise that I will continue to serve the people of Rajasthan till my last breath, even if I remain on any post or not. Nothing can scare me or suppress me. I have fought for you and will continue to do so.

He said the Jan Sangarsh is not against any leader, it is against corruption and in the favour of youth.

The meeting today was attended by over a dozen MLAs including two ministers of the Gehlot cabinet  Rajendra Gudha and Hema Ram Choudhary.

Congress spokespersons did not comment on the matter.

However, the Congress leadership that had termed Pilots Anshan anti-party activity, had called his yatra personal, and said they are keeping an eye.

Reacting on the same, BJP demanded a high-level probe on the charges levelled by the minister on its own party government.

The leader of opposition (LoP) Rajendra Rathore said Congress ministers themselves are telling the reality of the promise of Zero Discretion, Zero Corruption and Zero Tolerance made in the public manifesto regarding corruption.

Rathore said that the allegations made by Gudha on the Congress government itself regarding corruption on his own government from the public platform are serious, there should be a fair and high-level inquiry.

According to Article 164(2) of the Constitution, the cabinet works on the basis of collective responsibility and the statement of a minister is considered to be that of the entire cabinet, he said.

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BJP national vice president Dilip Ghosh's nephew was arrested on the charge of sharing intimate photos and videos of his ex-girlfriend on social media in West Bengals Jhargram district, a police officer said on Sunday. The senior BJP leader said he heard about the arrest of his nephew.(File/Representational)

The 24-year-old man also allegedly sent those photos and videos to her prospective in-laws following which her wedding was cancelled.

The woman, who claimed the accused had also refused to marry her, filed a written complaint with the Jhargram Cyber Crime Police Station. The police summoned him and arrested him after interrogation, the officer said.

The police confiscated the mobile phone of the man who was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days by a local court on Sunday.

Both the woman and the accused live in different villages under Beliabera police station area of the district.

The officer said that the woman on Saturday lodged a complaint that her former boyfriend has shared intimate photos, videos, phone records and screenshots of their chats on FaceBook using a fake account and on WhatsApp.

An FIR was then registered under Sections 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 66C (fraudulent use of the electronic signature, password of another person), 66E (knowingly capturing and publishing images of a person without consent), and under Information Technology Act.

When contacted by PTI, the senior BJP leader said he heard about the arrest of his nephew.

"So far as I know, the two were friends when they studied in college. I can't say anything more about their relationship in college and how it went afterwards. I don't know the circumstances behind her move. The law will take its course," he said.

To a question if it was a case of political vendetta by the ruling Trinamool Congress, Ghosh said he cannot comment on that as of now.
Unable to pay the ambulance charges, a migrant labourer in West Bengals North Dinajpur district had to allegedly travel 200 km by bus carrying the body of his six-month-old child in a bag on Sunday, triggering a political row between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the health infrastructure in the state. The man said he couldnt find a hearse-van and the private ambulance operators demanded  8,000. (Twitter/Dr Sukanta Majumdar)

I couldnt find a hearse-van and the private ambulance operators demanded 8,000. I am a poor migrant worker, and I was not able to pay the amount. I then put my sons body in my bag and travelled by bus from Siliguri to Raiganj and then to Kaliaganj, said Ashim Deb Sharma, a resident of Dangapatra village of Kaliaganj.

Sharma had admitted his twin sons at the Kaliaganj state general hospital a few days ago. The hospital referred them to the Raiganj Medical College and Hospital from where they were again referred to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) in Siliguri in Darjeeling district  the largest hospital in north Bengal - after their health deteriorated.

On Thursday, Sharmas wife returned home with one of the kids after he was released from the hospital. Sharma, however, had to stay back as the other child was still admitted. The child died on Saturday evening.

I had already spent 16,000 for the treatment of the children, and I have little money left. From Kaliaganj, a local BJP leader hired an ambulance for me to take the body to my village, Sharma told media persons on Sunday.

He claimed he had requested the nursing staff of the paediatric ward of NBMCH to keep the body for one night so that he may return home the next morning.

The hospital authorities, however, said that Sharma didnt approach them for an ambulance.

NBMCH superintendent Dr Sanjay Mallik said: The NBMCH does not have its own hearse, but if economically weaker families request us, we make arrangement for it through the patient welfare committee. In this case, however, the family members did not contact us.

Had he approached us, efforts would have been made to arrange for a hearse, said Dr Sanjay Mallik.

BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar, in a tweet on Sunday, said, This poor person has to carry the dead body of his child in the bag. He didnt find any Ambulance. This is the condition of the health facility in West Bengal. This case is from Uttar Dinajpur district. Sad, but this is the reality across all districts in West Bengal.

Leader of the opposition (LoP), Suvendu Adhikari also targeted the state government. Lets not get into technicalities, but is this what Swasthya Sathi has achieved? This is unfortunately the true portrayal of the Egiye Bangla model, he said in a tweet.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee doubles up as the states health minister.

Speaking to media, TMC member of Parliament (MP) Santanu Sen said, The incident is really unfortunate. The administration will definitely look into it as why and how it happened.

Hitting back at the BJP, he said, The LoP is not being able to come out of his habit of doing vulture-politics over dead bodies. He might have forgotten that just a few days back, a man was killed after being hit by his convoy. He didnt even stop the convoy. A few months ago, three persons were killed in a stampede, when he went to distribute blankets at a programme that was organised without police permission. So, such statements dont suit him. They (BJP) are just doing politics over the dead.

Earlier in January, a man, along with his son, was purportedly seen in a video, which went viral, carrying the body of his 72-year-old wife who died in the Jalpaiguri Medical College and Hospital, on their shoulder, as they were unable to pay the fare demanded by ambulance operators.

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A 45-year-old Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was killed after being hit by a CRPF bus carrying school children here on Monday, police said. The deceased jawan was a resident of Ballipur Biron in the Ghazipur district. (FOR REPRESENTATION)

Lalpur Pandeypur station house officer (SHO) Pankaj Kumar said the incident occurred when Vanshraj Singh, posted at 95 Battalion CRPF camp at Paharia Mandi here, was on guard duty at the camp gate on Monday morning.

The bus ferrying school children residing in the battalion campus lost control and crushed the jawan, after which it rammed into a pole, Kumar added. The brake of the bus failed.

Other jawans present on the spot rushed Singh to a hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead, the SHO said.

The deceased jawan was a resident of Ballipur Biron in the Ghazipur district. A CRPF official said an inquiry board would be set up to probe the incident.
Three men who were running a betting racket on the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) matches were arrested from Ashiyana locality here on Monday, police said.  44,000 cash, 10 mobile phones, two bikes and a few registers were recovered from the arrested men. (For Representation)

As per the police, 44,000 cash, 10 mobile phones, two bikes and a few registers were recovered from the arrested men. They had earned 44,000 from different sources by betting on two teams of IPL namely Chennai Super King and Kolkata Knight Riders, the police added.

The trio identified as Mohammad Shehbaz, 30, Abaad Ahmed, 47 and Mohammad Humayun, 30, all residents of Lucknow, were arrested on a tip-off. They have been booked under section 13G of the Public Gaming Act, 1867 (person found gaming or reasonably suspected).

However, one other member of the gang Nasim, a resident of Hamirpur, was still at large, said the police in a press note.
The results of the recently concluded urban local body election in Gorakhpur has scripted a new chapter of politics in the region. The victory of first Muslim BJP corporator beating his nearest rival by 1,000 votes and first Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation (GMC) with absolute majority have cleared way for formation of triple engine government here considered the home turf of chief minister Yogi Adityanath . The results of the recently concluded urban local body election in Gorakhpur has scripted a new chapter of politics in the region. (For Representation)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which won 42 seats out of 80-member carporator board in this election, has also become the first political party to form a majority board ever since the inception of GMC in 1995.Moreover, the Samajwadi Party bagged 17 seats, independent 15, BSP 5 and Congress 01 seat. The BJP had 27 members in 70-member previous carporator board of the GMC.

All BJP corporators, including the only Muslim corporator from Baba Gambhir Nath ward number 5 Haqikun Nisan, reached Gorakhnath temple on Sunday evening to take blessings of chief minister Yogi Adityanath who welcomed her.

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Under the aegis of Chinmaya Mission and Maharshi Patanjali Group of Schools, a seminar, C20 2023, was organised to celebrate the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family) at Vivekananda Auditorium of MPVM Ganga Gurukulam on Sunday. Justice Sunita Agarwal speaking at the conference (HT)

The meet chose sub-themes education, ecology/regenerative development and art, culture and literature for deliberation on the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

The event was graced by Justice Sunita Agarwal, a judge at the Allahabad High Court, as the chief guest and Prof Seema Singh, vice chancellor, UP Rajarshi Tandon Open University and Lalit Kumar Kapil, Regional Officer, CBSE-Prayagraj as the guests of honour.

Honorary secretary of MPVM Samiti Krishna Gupta, who delivered the welcome address, said C20 was a platform to voice the aspirations of the people to the world leaders.

Keynote speaker and C20 national coordinator and the resident spiritual mentor at Chinmaya Mission-Chennai Swami Mitrananda highlighted the theme of the conference. He recalled how essential oneness served as the cornerstone of Indias civilisation, underlining the principle, One Earth, One Family, One Future.

Addressing the gathering, Justice Agarwal said the theme exemplified the lifestyle both at the national and international level. She stressed on women empowerment and sustainable development. The chief guest also said the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam emphasised globalisation.

The event was held at a time when India has been entrusted the presidency of the prestigious G20 platform. Civil20 is one of G20s official engagement groups that aims to provide a platform for Civil Society Organisation (C20). The aim of the Civil 20 India 2023 is to find solutions to current world problems.
Lets face it, besides giving rise to some truly imaginative memes and jokes at his expense, King Charless coronation will be remembered (especially in these parts) as being a lightning- rod for festering anti-British sentiment. King Charles III (AFP)

In fact, it could be argued that since the days of Indias Freedom Struggle, never has anti-British sentiment been as high as it is now.

And the abiding irony of it will always be that the man who triggered it was Shashi Tharoor, one of the countrys most famous alleged Anglophiles, or that he chose to fire his salvo from the very citadel of British authority- the University of Oxford.

Ever since Tharoors rousing speech on the topic, the Indian public has become aware of the monumental loot by the British Empire of Indias wealth during its colonial rule.

From being the richest nation in the world to being beggared, depleted of its resources and famine -ridden thanks to the wilful plundering of its exchequer and beggaring of its people  the details of this plunder are heart breaking.

***

This widespread cooling off to symbols of Western - especially British culture and the heightened sense of pride and confidence in itself, that the country appears to be experiencing, is the result of many factors and though it is easy to credit the RSS long and sustained campaign to strengthen the Hindu community and promote an ideal of upholding an Indian culture and its civilisational values for much of it, its only half the story: because ironically the appreciation of Indians of their own heritage and traditions was often the result of Western appreciation: that one spotty European hippy friend in the 70s whod joined an Indian ashram and spouted Sanskrit shlokas, or that one towering American intellect who declared India to be the cradle of the human race, or that one Beatle who was crazy for sitar.

***

Above all, this appreciation of all things Indian by Indians, is the slow coming of age of a people finally shrugging off the last vestiges of their colonial mindset, a mindset that has been so insidious that it was hard to even recognise in many cases.

Take the example of the convent school in Bandra which I attended, a venerable old institute which instilled a host of admirable values in its students - along with an abiding appreciation of Shakespeare, Tennyson, Scott and Dickens. Today I realise the staggering disservice that kind of education did us by completely disregarding the output of some of Indias greatest poets, lyricists and writers - many of those who lived in the same neighbourhood- and whose daughters were students of the same establishment. The piquant poignancy that those sweet girls struggled to master alien concepts from distant lands in an alien language, while the equally brilliant canon of their fathers legacies was ignored, is something I only realise now.

Or the fact that even as we prided ourselves on being au courant and up to speed with international popular cultures many of us grew up completely ignorant of even the most basic of tenets of our own culture.

No, there is no doubt in my mind that this pride in and appreciation of all things Indian has long been overdue and augurs well for the country, especially at a time when once again the world is looking at it for its own commercial gains and political interests. Unguarded and trusting once before to our great misfortune, hopefully, this time around, our newfound confidence will alert us to any signs of imperialism, however tempting the offers.

***

But one also hopes that in this wave of national self-esteem and self-regard the baby does not get thrown out with the bath water. Because lets face it, what the BJP and the RSS have certainly been successful in doing is recognising and aligning its cause with that of an aspirational India those men and women who until now had been excluded from the dining table. The vast majority of India that had not assumed its positions of power and pelf once the colonialists had left its shores. That debt-ridden and beggared India which could not send its children to elite schools and colleges, could not afford health care or leisure time and whose every waking hour had been a struggle to survive, thanks to decades of unjust taxes and policies wrought by the colonists. The unwashed multitudes who finally feel that they have a chance to sit at the table, shop at malls and multiplexes and own a car and a home.

In its bid to woo and win the hearts and minds of this India, it had been strategic to paint the people at the top of Indias pyramid as effete, entitled and self-serving; qualities that had been successfully projected on to members of the Nehru-Gandhi family as an exercise in vilifying it as the symbol of entitled India.

Taking a leaf out of the colonialists playbook of divide and rule, the RSS successfully managed to demonise that section of India in the hearts and minds of the other (PLU) India.

And as a result, though much of the present narrative might appear to be a struggle for pole position between two political parties that adhere to divergent ideologies what it really is, is a class struggle between those allowed to occupy a seat at the table and those waiting impatiently at the door outside for their chance.

***

Which is why it would be foolish for Indias elite to deny the India that is knocking at its door its long overdue welcome and make peace with the notion that there are others who may want to occupy the sea-facing homes, send their kids to the best colleges and decide which kind of music should be played at restaurants; indeed, it would be equally foolish for the other India finally getting its chance to emerge and enjoy the spoils of its new-found wealth and status, to not appreciate what those at the top have to offer them- their scholarship, their experience and their genteel measured approach to life art and matters.

But it will take a certain amount of maturity and wisdom for both these Indias, first torn asunder by colonialism and then by political propaganda which often seem to be in an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation with each other to set aside their mutual distrust and suspicions and walk side by side in peace and harmony into what is being called the India moment and the Indian century

One can only pray that such maturity and wisdom prevails. Because the absence of it could be disastrous.
LUCKNOW To address and resolve issues being faced by investors in Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath government has appointed 105 Udyami Mitras. According to a press release, all 105 candidates will be deployed in districts, Invest U.P. office, and the offices of other development authorities. The selected candidates will work for one year though their term can be extended, if needed. (HT Photo)

The decision to recruit the Udyami Mitras has been taken by the CM to expedite the implementation of investment proposals worth 35 lakh crore that the state government received through the Global Investors Summit held earlier this year. The selection has been made based on a written examination, followed by an interview and a computer test conducted after verification of the applications. The question papers for the computer tests were prepared by prestigious educational institutions of the state like IIT Kanpur, IIM Lucknow, or AKTU Lucknow. The Statement Of Purpose was assessed in the interview.

The selected candidates will work for one year though their term can be extended, if needed.
Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Monday said that the Centre has assured there will be no compromise on the northeastern states integrity. N Biren Singh addressing media persons over the situation in his state. (ANI photo)

Singhs assertion comes in the backdrop of ten Manipur MLAs from the Kuki tribe (including seven from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party) issuing a joint statement on Friday seeking separate administration under the Constitution for areas where the Kuki, Hmar and Zomi communities reside.

The chief minister was addressing media persons in Imphal to apprise the latter about developments in the state after meeting union home minister Amit Shah in the national Capital on Sunday.

Also Read: Over 5,800 people from violence-hit Manipur fled to Mizoram: Report

Yesterday we met union home minister Amit Shah and briefed him in detail about the present situation in Manipur. He expressed sadness about the incidents and stated that the Centres priority would be restoration of normalcy in the state, said Singh.

The CM added that Shah assured that Manipurs unity and integrity will not be affected at any cost.

He informed that Shah is meeting various stakeholders from Manipur in Delhi and will also be sending officials to the state to connect between the communities so that normalcy can be restored at the earliest.

The CM stated that joint monitoring committee comprising Indian Army and Manipur Police have been inspecting the designated camps of militant groups who are under suspension of operations (SoO) and the weapons were found to be intact in the camp. He said that it has been confirmed that the SoO militants are using sophisticated weapons which are illegally brought into the state from Myanmar.

The home minister assured necessary action will be initiated by the Centre as well as state government against those who are having illegal weapons or using them to spread violence, the CM said.

In 2008, the Centre and the Manipur government signed a tripartite SoO agreement with two Kuki rebel groups, Kuki National Army (KNA) and Zomi Revolutionary Army. But in March this year, the Manipur government withdrew itself from the agreement following rallies and violent confrontations with police in Kangpokpi district.

The CM informed that Shah has asked him to submit details on what can be done for those affected by the recent violence and assured resettlement of the displaced soon.

Singh appealed to people to not carry out rallies and protests which could hamper steps taken to restore peace.

He added that paramilitary forces have been deployed at the foothills of the hill districts and essential items are being provided to those staying in shelters and relief camps.

The CM asked the public not to believe in rumours, unverified information and sought support from civil society organisations to restore peace and normalcy.

On Sunday, security advisor to the Manipur government, Kuldiep Singh had informed media persons that 73 bodies of those killed in violence have been recovered from the state.

He added that 243 people were injured in violence while 46,145 persons were evacuated to relief camps.

At present, 26,358 people are staying in 178 relief camps.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Utpal Parashar Utpal is a Senior Assistant Editor based in Guwahati. He covers seven states of North-East India and heads the editorial team for the region. He was previously based in Kathmandu, Dehradun and Delhi with Hindustan Times. ...view detail
The Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT)-Allahabad has joined hands with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)- Palakkad (Kerala) under the Yuva Sangam programme. The MNNIT campus in Prayagraj (HT File Photo)

As part of this initiative, a team of students from MNNIT-Allahabad will visit IIT-Palakkad from May 27 to June 8, even as a group of students from IIT-Palakkad will visit MNNIT-Allahabad from May 26 to May 31, Prof Ravi Prakash Tiwari, acting director, MNNIT said.

The Yuva Sangam programme is being implemented under the ambitious Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat scheme of the government of India aimed at helping students know and understand the culture and customs of other states of India.

Addressing media persons on Monday, Prof Tiwari said that this exchange programme is being organised under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi so that the youth can get acquainted with the culture and customs of India.

The programme will focus on organising exposure tours for the youth. It seeks to provide a comprehensive experience of various aspects of life, development sites, recent achievements, and youth engagement in the host state, he explained.

A group of 45 students and four teachers from IIT-Palakkad, Kerala, will reach MNNIIT-Allahabad on May 26. During the Yuva Sangam event, MNNIT-Allahabad and IIT -Palakkad will share best practices with students from Kerala to foster a sustained and structured exchange in culture, traditions, tourism, and even cuisine.

The group of 45 students from MNNIT-Allahabad will be seen off by the institutes director by showing them the green flag. The team of students going to IIT-Palakkad includes three girl students and 42 boys, four teachers, and one member of the media cell of the Institute. The nodal officer of Yuva Sangam Phase-2 is Rajesh Tripathi, associate professor, department of computer science and engineering.
Five women and a child were killed and 21 others injured when a van they were travelling collided with a truck in Chhattisgarhs Balodabazar district around 1 am on Monday, police said. Police said 21 people have been injured in the accident and all of them have been sent to the government hospital in Balodabazar. (Representative Image)

Officials said that the accident took place near Gauda Pulia under Palari police station area.

The victims, all residents of Latua village of the district, were returning after attending a function in Parsada village, a senior police official said. Police rushed to the spot after the incident and sent the injured to the government hospital in Balodabazar.

Six people died on the spot in the incident. The driver of the van is injured while the truck driver is absconding after the head-on collision, said an officer adding that five of the 21 injured are serious.

Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel expressed grief over the incident and directed the officials to provide best medical assistance to the injured persons.

In February, 11 people, including four children, were killed and 12 others were injured when a pick-up van collided with a truck in Balodabaza district.

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Eight inter-state smugglers were arrested by the Gaya police in Bihar late on Sunday night with a huge quantity of catechu wood from their possession during a raid late, police said. Police also seized a truck and two SUVs. (HT Photo)

Police also seized a truck and two SUVs.

The market value of the seized wood is worth 25 lakh, police said.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Ashish Bharti said the catechu woods, illegally cut from protected Bhaisadohar forests of Maoist dominated Imamganj area in Gaya was taken to factories in Delhi on a Uttar Pradesh (UP) registration number truck.

Also Read:Arms smugglers held in Punjabs Fatehgarh Sahib ; 5 pistols seized

A police team rushed to Dumaria turning point where they stopped a speeding truck which was escorted by the smugglers in two SUVs.

At least 180 cubic meters of catechu wood was seized from the truck and eight smugglers were arrested from the three vehicles after failing to produce valid documents.

The interrogation of the smugglers was underway, and they will be sent to jail on Monday, the SSP said.

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The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) investigation into the Pradeep Kurulkar espionage case has revealed that the Pakistani Intelligence Operative (PIO) who had contacted the senior Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientist was also in touch with an Indian Air Force (IAF) official, an official said on Monday. RDO scientist Pradeep Kurulkar (in lined shirt and wearing mask) is in police custody. (Hindustan Times)

The ATS in its submission before the court stated that their probe has revealed that the IAF officer based in Bengaluru was contacted by the PIO using the same internet protocol (IP) address traced to the neighbouring country.

The investigation agency has identified the IAF officer as Nikhil Shende but did not specify his official rank.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has not responded to emails and phone calls till the time of going to the press.

The IAF, Bengaluru unit has instituted an internal inquiry in the matter and the ATS has recorded his (IAF officer) statement, ATS inspector Sujata Tanawade told the Pune court while seeking Kurulkars custody.

Officials said the ATS has so far recovered four mobiles from Kurulkar and one had to be unlocked in the presence of the DRDO scientist.

The ATS found a OnePlus mobile with Kurulkar and it was initially sent for forensic analysis but could not be decoded. Later, it was decoded in his (scientist) presence. Once decoded, the ATS recovered a screenshot from the mobile phone in which a message was seen where the Pakistani operative asked Kurulkar why did he block her, Tanawade told the court. According to ATS sources, Kurulkar after interacting with the PIO had blocked her phone number although the operative contacted the DRDO scientist using another number.

The Additional Sessions Judge PP Jadhav extended the ATS custody of Kurulkar by another day till May 16. The court had earlier sent the DRDO scientist arrested under Official Secrets Act to custody till May 15.

According to ATS sources, a Pakistani operative using the name Zara Das Gupta was in touch with Kurulkar over mail as well besides audio and video messages through messaging app. The ATS official seeking Kurulkars custody said that the scientist had used the Mumbai DRDO guest house and the agency wants to probe why he used the facility and whether he was accompanied by anyone else.

Advocate Rishikesh Ganu who represented Kurulkar said, The DRDO authorities had seized the laptop and mobile phones back in February and there was no question for the ATS to demand extended custody of Kurulkar who has been cooperating with the investigating agency since his arrest.

Kurulkar (59), a senior scientist and director of Research & Development Establishment (Engineers), was arrested by Maharashtra ATS on May 3 for allegedly providing confidential defence secrets to a Pakistani agent. According to the ATS, Kurulkar came in touch with a Pakistani operative in September 2022. When a DRDO vigilance team in Pune started tracking Kurulkars movements and communication suspecting their scientist of being in touch with a PIO in a case of honey trap, he was playing 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.

The case file

September 2022: Pradeep Kurulkar came in contact with a Pakistani Operative

January 2023: DRDO started tracking his activities

April 2023: DRDO informed ATS about Kurulkars activities

May 3, 2023: Kurulkar arrested by ATS

May 16, 2023: ATS custody of the scientist
Parents of four students, who drowned in the backwaters of the Chaskaman Dam, a year ago, have now demanded a probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). Parents of four students, who drowned in the backwaters of the Chaskaman Dam, a year ago, have now demanded a probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) (REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE)

On May 19, 2022 a group of 32 students along with four teachers went for an outing to Chaskaman Dam after their Class 10 exams. During this visit, four students drowned.

In a statement released on Monday, the deceased parents K Dhanasekar and Devaki Dhanasekar, Kuldip Agarwal, Harshad Desai and Shamika Desai, Pradhnesh Bhonsale and Sujata Bhonsale, claimed that the dominating narrative of the school has been that the 32 minor children insisted on going to the backwaters and waded in it for some time, when a strong current suddenly pulled everyone in leading to the unfortunate drowning of four students.

Following the incident, the police had filed an FIR against the four teachers and the school authorities under section 304(II) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). However, no arrests were made, the parents stated.

According to the statement released by the parents, The chargesheet not only parrots the same narrative, but has failed to establish who were the school authorities that granted permission for the students to be taken to the backwaters.

Therefore we (parents), have filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court asking for the constitution of a SIT to conduct a complete, comprehensive, unbiased and fair investigation, with the hope for justice for our children whose hopes and dreams were cut short by this needless and completely avoidable tragedy, the parents said through a statement.

Additional Superintendent of Police, Pune Rural, Mitesh Ghatte said, The chargesheet has been submitted in the case and I will have to ask further details from the investigating officers in the case.

According to the parents, the teachers did not take permission from parents for the outing. The Chaskaman Dam is a declared as a danger zone, and students were taken there without any safety gear or equipment. The area where the incident occurred is remote  getting people, ambulances and help was difficult and time consuming, this at a time when every minute mattered. Additionally, there was an IMD warning of a stormy weather in the area was issued for May 18-20. The school as well as the site of the incident hardly had mobile coverage. Despite all this, the outing was planned by the school l that has operated in the area for almost 27 years, the parents claimed.
The leaders of the Quad  the grouping of India, Australia, Japan and the United States  have often described the grouping as a force for good with a constructive agenda that focuses on key challenges of the Indo-Pacific region such as health security, climate change, clean energy transition, infrastructure and connectivity, and critical and emerging technologies. Yet, quietly, the grouping has also found a solid footing in the realm of security and defence through cooperation and joint initiatives between its members. The original name for the grouping, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue  a formulation that is rarely used nowadays in official documents  laid out the importance of the security element in the coming together of these four key powers. Equally unstated is the manner in which the Quads initiatives were consistently aimed at countering challenges emanating from China, whether it is ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight, maintaining the rules-based order, or setting standards for critical technologies. PREMIUM In a way, focus on the security element in Quad was inevitable, given the serious challenges in the Indo-Pacific arising from Chinas increasingly aggressive and assertive behaviour. (AP)

This is why a meeting of senior military commanders from Quad member countries, including Indias chief of defence staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan, in Sunnylands in California for a high-profile meeting on Indo-Pacific security this week is significant. It is the clearest indicator yet that the grouping is seeking to take security cooperation to the next level before the Quad Summit later this month. The security aspect of the formation was already strengthened by Australias inclusion in the Malabar naval exercise, an advanced drill involving the navies of India, Japan and the US that is conducted every year. The California event, therefore, is likely to serve as a forum for increasing interoperability between the armed forces of the four countries and consolidating cooperation in a range of areas, from joint training and exercises to ways to counter challenges in the Indo-Pacific.

In a way, focus on the security element in Quad was inevitable, given the serious challenges in the Indo-Pacific arising from Chinas increasingly aggressive and assertive behaviour. Two members of the Quad  India and Japan  are grappling with serious territorial disputes with China, while Australia and the US have strained relations with China because of sharp differences in areas such as trade and maintaining the rules-based order. It is no surprise, hence, that Quad members are looking to deepen engagement with regional partners, including information-sharing and technical assistance, strengthen maritime security, uphold the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and ensure the security of sea lines of communication. For New Delhi, the meeting may also signal a potential shift in strategy at a time when Beijing is looking to exert pressure in the Indian Ocean region, and show once again that for India, the long-term strategic adversary continues to be China.
The first-ever results of the Delhi Board of School Education (DBSE) examination for Classes 10 and 12 were declared on Monday by Education Minister Atishi. Delhi Education Minister Atishi Marlena addresses a press conference regarding the first-ever results of the Delhi Board of School Education (DBSE) examination for classes 10 and 12, in New Delhi on Monday, May 15, 2023. (PTI)

Out of 1,594 students in Class 10, 1,582 appeared in both term-end assessments, and eight of them could not achieve the qualifying grade point 3, the minister said.

Those who remained below the qualifying grade will be given another opportunity to improve through a supplementary assessment after a month, she said.

Direct link to check DBSE 10th, 12th results

A total of 672 students registered for Class 12 Board exams and 667 students appeared in both term-end assessments.

Five students who could not achieve the qualifying grade point 3 will also be given another opportunity to improve their grade point through supplementary assessment, she said.

The Delhi Board of School Education (DBSE) was established in 2021. The same year, 20 schools of specialised excellence across four domains -- STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), Humanities, Performing and Visual Arts and High End 21st Century Skills -- were established by the Delhi government to encourage specialised education secondary and senior secondary classes.

Students were enrolled in Class 9 across all domains and Class 11 in STEM domain in the DBSE-affiliated schools through an aptitude test.

The DBSE Secondary Certificate Assessment (SCA) was conducted in two terms. The second term-end assessments were held between March 10 and March 29 this year.

The DBSE Senior Secondary Certificate Assessment (SSCA) was also conducted in two terms. The second term-end assessment were conducted between March 10 and March 27.

Addressing a press conference, Atishi said this is a landmark moment.

"Today those nations are called developed that gave world class education to their children. We worked on education for the last eight year. Every year, 25 per cent of Delhi's budget is allocated to education. In the last eight years, due to this budget the quality of textbooks and uniforms has seen a huge change. In the last three years, many students have moved from private schools to government schools," she said.
After being declared the brand ambassador for Gucci, Alia Bhatt was spotted at the Mumbai airport in a stylish denim on denim look. After celebrating her first Mother's Day on Sunday, the actor headed to the airport for her flight to Seoul, South Korea. She looked stunning in a white top with straight denim pants and a denim overcoat. She also carried a small leather handbag and had her hair neatly combed at the back. She paired the denim look with black block heels. Also read: Alia Bhatt gives boss lady vibes in BTS video from her first photoshoot as Gucci brand ambassador. Watch Alia Bhatt in denim-on-denim look at airport. (Varinder Chawla)

However, many thought that her look was very similar to that of Deepika Padukone. As a paparazzo shared a video of Alia from the airport, several claimed that the style of the two actors was somehow similar. Is she trying to copy Deepika? It looks like, read one of such comments.

Making a guess about her location of travel, a fan wrote, Alia was going to Seoul for first time as the global brand ambassador of Gucci to launch Gucci 2024 collection. Can't wait to see her there. One of her fan pages wrote, Proud of our girl as ambassador of Gucci wearing the brand and looking so young and beautiful and of course in her duties as ambassador attending to the Fashion Show in South Korea.

Last week, Gucci shared the news and captioned it, Alia Bhatt is the House's newest Global Brand Ambassador. To mark the occasion, the actress, producer, and entrepreneur was captured with the Gucci Bamboo 1947 bag. Her godfather and filmmaker Karan Johar had commented on the post, Proud proud proud. Alia's mother Soni Razdan had also written, Amazing news congratulations darling. Her mother-in-law Neetu Kapoor said "Amazing" in the comments section.

Alia recently also made her debut at the MET Gala. She wore a dreamy white gown designed by designer Prabal Gurung. She teamed the gown with embellished gloves, matching diamond earrings and rings and very high heels. She called the entire thing massive and a big deal.

Alia will now be seen in her debut Hollywood film Heart of Stone, alongside Gal Gadot. She also has Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani with Ranveer Singh lined up for release in July.

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On the occasion of Mother's Day, actor Dia Mirza and her mother Deepa Mirza shared a heartfelt and candid conversation where they opened up about how the actor's mother was worried because she was born prematurely. The actor's mother revealed that she was 'going crazy' because of the added anxieties and always made sure she was careful around her. (Also read: Dia Mirza says she never thought she would get best parts after 40: 'There is always this clock ticking') Dia Mirza's mother opened up about the actor's premature birth.

In a recent interview Dia and her mother Deepa Mirza opened up about a lot of things, where the Sanju actor asked her mother about having her, and supporting her decision to become an actor. During this conversation, Deepa also said that she was very critical of her performance when she saw her daughter for the first time on-screen.

In an interview for Harper's Bazaar, Dia asked her mother about her insecurities when she delivered her as a premature baby. She asked, "You were a working woman and after I was born I remember you telling me that you didnt step out of the house for the entire year because I was prematurely born. You had very heightened insecurities and anxieties about my safety. I even remember you telling me that you didnt allow anybody to enter the house, papa was not allowed to hold me until he had a bath. What were your fears and anxieties?"

Responding to this question, Dia's mother Deepa said, "Of course, I had my anxieties. I was told by my doctors and nurses out there that I have to be very careful with a premature baby and now I recall that I was very, very careful. Nobody was allowed to enter your room without having a bath. There was nothing like sanitising in those days, but washing hands was as good as that. The doctors had said that, as a premature baby your immune system is very low, so I was very particular about that and in fact, some of my friends thought that I was going crazy to be behaving that way, but honestly I didnt care. I went on being the way I was."

Dia was last seen in Anubhav Sinha's Bheed about the migrant workers' crisis during the COVID-19 lockdown. The actor will be next seen in Dhak Dhak alongside Ratna Pathak Shah, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanjana Sanghi. They play four women who set off for the highest motorable pass in the world and discover a few things about themselves on the way.

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Actor Hrithik Roshan heaped praise on Priyanka Chopra after watching her latest web series Citadel. Hrithik shared his review on Instagram and called himself proud' of Priyanka. Priyanka and Hrithik have worked together in multiple films, including Krrish franchise and Agneepath. Also read: Priyanka Chopra, Malti Marie giggle as they cross road together Priyanka Chopra in Citadel impresses Hrithik Roshan.

Hrithik Roshan shared a Citadel poster and wrote, Watching Priyanka in Citadel is such a fantastic surprise! Brilliant Work! Also, incredibly entertaining show! Excellent direction and screenplay! PC you have killed it this time too good!! Very proud.

Priyanka Chopra replies to Hrithik Roshan's post.

Responding to the feedback from Hrithik, Priyanka reposted on her Instagram Stories. She wrote, Thanks my friend. She also tagged him.

Citadel is created by Josh Appelbaum, Bryan Oh, and David Weil. Besides Priyanka, the spy series also stars Richard Madden, Stanley Tucci and Lesley Manville. Anthony Russo and Joe Russo are the executive producers of the show. It premiered on Prime Video on April 28.

The Hindustan Times review of the Citadel series read, "An espionage drama the likes of which we have seen many times before, Citadel is unable to find a distinct heart in the early parts. There is nothing specially new about the silly spy tech, the retrograde amnesia, the nuclear codes in a briefcase, or the villain barking orders to her henchmen. Of course, two episodes might be too early to judge considering this show and executive producers Russo Brothers have far bigger, universe-building aspirations that branch out to sister-shows in India and Italy. But sadly, the first impression is that Citadel has a generic network TV quality to it that kept giving me Quantico flashbacks."

The series received mixed reviews from Twitter users and the critics. However, several celebrities have praised Priyanka Chopra in the thriller series.

The second series of Citadel has been commissioned and spinoff series in Italy and India are currently underway. The Indian Citadel is helmed by Raj and DK. It stars actors Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu.

Priyanka Chopra will be next seen in Jee Le Zaraa, with Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif. The film will be yet another road-trip film of Farhan Akhtar just like Dil Chahta Hai and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, which also had Hrithik Roshan.

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India's Bhagwan Bharose has bagged the award for the best film at the UK Asian Film Festival. Directed by debutant Shiladitya Bora, the film features Vinay Pathak, Satendra Soni, Sparsh Suman, Manu Rishi Chadha, Masumeh Makhija and Shrikant Verma, among many others. (Also read: Priyanka Chopra thanks proud friend Hrithik Roshan as he reviews Citadel) Director Shiladitya Bora and Vinay Pathak on sets of Bhagwan Bharose.

Shiladitya shared a short video clip from the time when the award was announced, and he walked up to the stage to receive the award. "Thank you UK Asian Film Festival for this. This is my first film as a director, and this is my first award so this is definitely special," he said on the stage and thanked his writers, producers, cast, crew, and lead actors. He also thanked the Indian Ocean separately for creating music for his film.

Sharing the video, Shiladitya Bora tweeted, "My first feature film as Director. My first award. This one is definitely special. Bhagwan Bharose wins the BEST FILM at the 25th UK Asian Film Festival, London. Humbled and Hopeful #BhagwanBharoseTheFilm."

Bhagwan Bharose was the closing film for the 25th UK Asian Film Festival and the screening marked the film's world premiere. The story follows two impressionable kids (Satendra Soni and Sparsh Suman), struggling with their understanding of God and religion in 90s' Jharkhand.

It has been written by Sudhakar Nilmani and Mohit Chauhan. Shiladitya Bora shot his debut feature in Deogarh, Jharkhand. The film is co-produced by Sri Lankan filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage along with Shiladitya's Platoon One Films.

Ahead of the premiere, Shiladitya had said in a press statement, I feel blessed that a long cherished dream was made possible by a passionate and hardworking group of people, the best cast and crew one can have. This film is a labour of love, and I cannot wait for audiences to experience the story and the incredible performances from our talented cast. We're thrilled to start our journey with the prestigious UK Asian Film Festival in its silver jubilee edition, and hope to bring it back home to India soon.

Talking about the film, Vinay had earlier said, "Bhagwan Bharose is a sweet and special story, and I've been fortunate enough to be a part of Shiladitya's first directorial venture. May this be the start of his long illustrious cinema journey. I cant wait for the film to get completed and hit the screens."

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Meghan Markle was spotted with her husband Prince Harry on a date together for the first time after his brief trip to the UK to attend the coronation ceremony of his father King Charles III. Harry and Meghan were reportedly accompanied by celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow and Cameron Diaz. (Also read: Prince William praised by Piers Morgan for dignified silence at Prince Harry during coronation) Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were spotted together for a sushi date.(AFP File)

Prince Harry accompanied his wife Meghan at a lavish Sushi Bar in Santa Barbara as pictures of the couple entering the place emerged online. This is the first public outing for the pair together after Prince Harry attended the coronation ceremony by himself, for a brief period of time, leaving several members of the Royal Family puzzled.

As per a report by Page Six, the couple wasn't there for the date by themselves. They were joined by celebrity friends from Hollywood, including Gwyneth Paltrow and her husband, Brad Falchuk and, Cameron Diaz and her husband, Benji Madden. The CEO and founder of Bumble, Whitney Wolf Herd, and her husband Michael Herd also joined them.

Prince Harry was seen with Meghan entering the Sushi bar on Friday. Harry looked suave in white pants, and a black T-shirt while wife Meghan opted for a mini satin dress which she paired with an off-white bucket bag. In the pictures from outside the bar, Harry and Meghan smiled as they made their way towards the entrance.

The coronation ceremony was the first time where Harry was seen with the Royal Family after the release of his controversial memoir Spare, where he had detailed his life as a royal member of the household. It was even reported that he had made 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 even refused the offer to stay back for the informal lunch afterwards. Meanwhile, Meghan, who skipped the coronation ceremony to stay in the US, was seen hiking with her close friends on the morning of May 7.

Harry and Meghan were last spotted together with the rest of the members of the royal family during the funeral of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022. The pair announced in January 2020 that they would step down as senior working royals. Since then, the couple has moved to the US, where they live with their two children Archie and Lilibet.

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Kapil Sharma's three-year-old daughter Anayra Sharma walked the ramp for the first time and owned it at the Beti fashion show on Sunday. She was in a black maxi dress and blew kisses at the audience. Kapil held her hand as she walked along with him on the ramp. She looked confident and for a moment, she kept on looking at the audience while Kapil hinted her to keep walking. Also read: Kapil Sharma asks Neha Sharma if she learnt nagin dance among many dance forms: 2 peg k bad saap bante dekhe hain Bharti Singh, Krushna Abhishek with Laksh, Kapil Sharma with Anayra Sharma at Beti show on Sunday.(Varinder Chawla)

As a video of her ramp debut was shared on a paparazzo account on Instagram, many called her "cute" in the comments section. An Instagram user wrote, She looks like Ginni. Another said, She is ditto as her mom Ginni. Many also compared her to Abdu Rozik of Bigg Boss 16 fame. She looks Abdu Rozik's sister. A person also commented, Bachi kitni masoom or pyaari lg rhi h...and her smile. Kapil ki beti h isliye nhi, but bachi sach me bohut cute h (the girl looks so innocent and lovely and her smile, not because she is Kapil's daughter but she is actually very cute).  Awwww cutie, read one of many such comments.

Comedian Bharti Singh also walked the ramp along with Krushna Abhishek, who held her son Laksh in his arms as they walked together. The comedians were in black while Lakshya was in blue.

Anu Ranjan hosted her annual Beti fashion fundraiser show in Mumbai on Sunday. Through her initiative BETI, she has been working to increase women's leadership and participation at all levels of society, from increasing representation within the workforce to community-driven solutions to ethical change.

The recent show was held on the occasion of Mother's Day and sent across the message of its crusade against the perpetrators of crimes against women. The celebrities came in support of the movement and pledged to No More Fear. Among the audience were actors Aditya Seal, Anushka Ranjan, Akansha Ranjan Aparshakti Khurana and Nia Sharma.

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The high-octane poll battle in Karnataka has reinstated Congress' fate in the state, setting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to the backfoot and wrecking Janata Dal (Secular)'s hope to become the kingmaker. However, it isn't the end of the fight for all national parties in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Elections in these states are crucial. Check out(File)

Congress will have more assembly elections to prove its worth after it has seen more defeats than victories in state assembly elections and general elections since 2014. Similarly, BJP will have its chance to capture the throne in majority of these states.

Currently, Congress is in power in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka, as well as in Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand as a part of the ruling alliance.

Check out the list of upcoming assembly elections here:

Rajasthan

The current 200-member assembly in the state will dissolve on January 14, 2024, and election of next assembly is likely to be held before December.

The previous state election in Rajasthan was held in December 2018 in which Congress turned out victorious and Ashok Gehlot became the chief minister.

Madhya Pradesh

Election for the 230-member legislative assembly in Madhya Pradesh is scheduled be held in or before November 2023. The current assembly is set to dissolve on January 6, 2024.

The last assembly elections were held in November 2018 where Congress came victorious, making Kamal Nath the chief minister. However, the 5-year term in Madhya Pradesh assembly went through a rough patch. In March 2020, 22 Congress MLA defected to BJP resulting in the collapse of the state government, forcing Kamal Nath to resign. Later, the BJP formed the government and made Shivraj Singh Chouhan the CM.

Chhattisgarh

This state will go for election to elect 90 members for the assembly in or before November 2023. The current assembly is scheduled to dissolve on January 3, 2024.

The last assembly elections were held in November 2018 where Congress came victorious, making Bhupesh Baghel the CM.

Telangana

The tenure of the 119-member assembly will end on January 16, 2024 and state will go for election in or before December 2023.

The previous state election in Rajasthan was held in December 2018 in which the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), erstwhile TRS, became victorious. K Chandrashekar Rao became the CM.

Mizoram

The current 40-member assembly is set to dissolve on December 17, 2023. The state will go for vote in or before November-December 2023.

In the last election, held in November 2018, the Mizo National Front won, makin Zoramthanga the CM.

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The influx of displaced residents from violence-hit Manipur seeking shelter in neighbouring Mizoram and Assam continued on Monday, officials said, adding that 7,900 people have fled to the two northeastern states following ethnic clashes that broke out earlier this month. Clashes broke out in Manipur on May 3 following the tribal solidarity march organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei communitys demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. (File photo)

While 6,520 internally displaced people from Manipur have taken shelter in Mizoram, another 1,400 camped in Assams Cachar district, according to the official data from the two neighbouring states.

Also read: Over 5,800 people from violence-hit Manipur fled to Mizoram: Report

Clashes broke out in Manipur on May 3 following the tribal solidarity march organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei communitys demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. At least 70 people were killed in the clashes.

Till Monday, officials in Mizoram said, a total of 6,520 residents from Manipur, belonging mainly to the Chin, Kuki and Mizo communities, have been lodged at temporary relief camps across six districts in the state. Of these, nearly 700 reached Mizoram on Monday.

Maximum 2,238 displaced people sheltered in Saitual district, followed by 2,117 in Aizawl, 1,993 in Kolasib, 141 in Champhai, 17 in Khawzawl and 14 in Serchhip district, according to Mizoram governments official data till May 15. This figure stood at 5,822 till Sunday night.

Among them is a 30-year-old Kuki man, Samuel, who has been staying at a shelter home in Chawlhhmun locality of Aizawl for the last two days.

I fled to Assam Rifles camp in Imphal and stayed there for seven days. The camp was very congested, but we were given two meals a day, he recounted his ordeal, adding that his rented house in the tribal colony of Imphal was ransacked by a mob on the night of May 3.

On May 10, few people from the camp were escorted to the airport. As I could not get the flight to Aizawl, I took a flight to Guwahati, from where I boarded a night bus to Aizawl, he said.

Samuel said his siblings and parents were back at their ancestral home. Since the pandemic, I had shifted to Imphal to work from home. I am working with a Delhi-based MNC. I came down to Aizawl to resume my work. Had there been internet back home, I would have stayed there, he added.

R Lalngheta, president of the Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA), one of the biggest civil society groups in Mizoram, said that several community halls in Kolasaib district have been converted into temporary relief shelters for people displaced from Manipur.

The CYMA has donated 11 lakh to support the tribals of Manipur, who have lost their homes and belongings. We have also sent bags of rice, cooking oil, dal and onions, he said.

Also read: Manipur unrest: CM Biren Singh visits Delhi to meet Shah; fresh violence surfaces

In Cachar district of Assam, hundreds of people from Manipur have started returning to relief camps following reports of fresh clashes in their state.

Cachar circle officer Jonathon Bhaifai on Monday told HT that the number of people taking shelter at 13 camps in the district had come down to 1,000 two days ago. We are witnessing increase in number of inmates in the camps since Saturday night and by Monday evening, it will cross 1,400 as per our assessment, he said.

Earlier, around 22,00 residents from Manipurs Jiribam district arrived at Cachar on the night of May 5 following clashes.

Cachar superintendent of police (SP) Numal Mahatta said the number of Manipur residents sheltered in the district was in the range of 500 to 1,000 at present. Some of them go to Jiribam to work during the day and return to Cachar at night to stay with their families. This number is not more than 100, he said.
NEW DELHI: The Afghan embassy in the Indian capital has become the scene of a tussle between diplomats of the former republic and the current set-up in Kabul, with the Taliban choosing an individual perceived as close to Haqqani Network leaders as charge daffaires. India, like countries around the world, doesnt officially recognise the Taliban setup that assumed power in August 2021. (Facebook/AfghanistanInIN)

There has been no official word from the Indian side on the differences that emerged into the open over the weekend, and people familiar with developments described the matter as an internal affair of Afghanistan in which New Delhi has no role.

India, like countries around the world, doesnt officially recognise the Taliban setup that assumed power in August 2021.

Since the fall of the Ashraf Ghani government in 2021, the Afghan embassy has been run by a dwindling group of diplomats led by Farid Mamundzay, who was appointed ambassador in September 2020. Though the Taliban have made some 14 attempts efforts over the past two years to remove the ambassador and other officials, matters apparently came to a head in April, while Mamundzay was on a visit abroad to meet his family.

Trade counsellor Qadir Shah, who too was appointed by the previous administration and sent to New Delhi in March 2020, was named charge daffaires by Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on April 25, and another order asked Mamundzay to return to Kabul.

Qadir Shah, who till recently was clean-shaven and used to be seen in suits but has now grown a beard and discarded Western attire, sent a note verbale or unsigned diplomatic correspondence to the external affairs ministry on April 28 about the appointment, the people said. The Indian side has not said anything officially about this correspondence.

On April 29, other Afghan diplomats in Delhi refused to accept Shah as their head and evicted him from the mission. Mamundzay returned to New Delhi on May 1 and Shah has been barred from entering the mission on three occasions since then, the people said.

Shah belongs to Afghanistans Khost province, a stronghold of the Haqqani Network. His father Zahid Shah Angar is considered close to former Haqqani Network commander Mali Khan, a maternal uncle of senior Taliban leader Sirajuddin Haqqani. Khan is currently deputy chief of staff of the Taliban armed forces and Angar has lobbied for his sons appointment to a top post in New Delhi, the people said.

Mamundzay declined to comment on the developments and a statement issued by the Afghan embassy on Monday rejected claims from an individual to have taken charge of the mission...at the behest of the Taliban. The statement added that this individual was responsible for spreading misinformation and running a baseless and unsubstantiated campaign against officials of the mission, including totally fabricated allegations of corruption based on an unsigned letter.

This was an apparent reference to reports in the Afghan media citing an unsigned letter from Afghan refugees that levelled allegations of graft against Mamundzay and other diplomats.

The Afghan embassy statement further informed Afghan nationals that the mission continues functioning as normal and working for their interests in India. It also appreciated the Indian governments consistent position on supporting the interests of the Afghan people and not recognising the Taliban regime in Kabul, as it has been the case with democratic countries around the world.

The people said the episode highlights the complexities involved in Indias engagement with the Taliban. Though it doesnt recognise the setup in Afghanistan, India deployed a technical team to Kabul in June 2022 to re-establish a presence there. Indian officials have also gone to Kabul for meetings with top Taliban leaders such as Muttaqi and Sirajuddin Haqqani.

Currently, about 30 Afghan embassies in different countries are still run by diplomats appointed by the former regime but the Taliban have succeeded in appointing officials of their choice to missions in Pakistan, China, Russia, Iran and Uzbekistan.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rezaul H Laskar Rezaul H Laskar is the Foreign Affairs Editor at Hindustan Times. His interests include movies and music. ...view detail
The Afghanistan embassy in India on Monday rejected media reports claiming that the Taliban has appointed a new point man in New Delhi, alleging misinformation and unsubstantiated campaign against officials of the mission by the Taliban official said to have been named as 'charge d'affaires'. Farid Mamumdzay, the Afghan ambassador to India, appreciated New Delhi's support to the interests of the people of Afghanistan and its position on the Taliban regime. The Taliban-appointed Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.(AP)

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan categorically rejects the claims from an individual claiming to have taken charge of the mission in New Delhi at the behest of the Taliban, Mamumdzay said in a statement.

The Embassy appreciates the consistent position of the Indian government for supporting the interests of the Afghan people, while at the same time not recognizing the Taliban regime in Kabul, as it has been the case with democratic governments around the world, he added.

Several media reports have claimed that the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan has appointed its current trade counsellor Qadir Shah as Charge D Affaires (Acting Ambassador) in India. Tolo News tweeted a copy of an unsigned letter from Afghans refugees based in India that named three diplomats, including Mamumdzay, accusing them of corruption related to some rent agreement with an Indian company.

The individual who claims to have been named charge d'affaires by the Taliban has been responsible for spreading misinformation and running a baseless and unsubstantiated campaign against officials of the mission, including totally fabricated allegations of corruption based on an unsigned letter, the ambassador said.

He asserted that the mission is committed to protecting the genuine interests of the Afghan nationals, especially in these trying times and has worked closely with the Indian authorities on humanitarian efforts, including the supply of covid-19 vaccines, medicines and food supplies.

The Embassy also wishes to inform Afghan nationals that the mission continues functioning as normal and working for their interests in India, Mamumdzay added.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail
'On my birthday': DK Shivakumar on Karnataka chief minister post For birthday boy DK Shivakumar, Monday could be special for another reason - if Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge names the party's state president as Karnataka's next chief minister. In the morning, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief met with his supporters, who gathered outside his residence in Bengaluru to greet him on his birthday. Scores of Congress supporters waited for hours with cakes to wish the Congress leader who is a front-runner for the chief ministerial post. Read Here. Supporters of senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar outside the venue of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting in Bengaluru on Sunday. (PTI)

NIA raids across Jammu and Kashmir continue amid crackdown on terror funding

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday continued searches in Jammu and Kashmir in the case of terror funding by Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir-- an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Read Here.

With Zelenskyy set to meet Rishi Sunak in Britain, UK pledges long-range attack drones for Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Britain on Monday as part of a tour of several key European allies ahead of an expected major Ukrainian counter-offensive against Russian forces. Last week Britain became the first country to start supplying Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles, which will allow its forces to hit Russian troops and supply dumps deep behind the front lines. Read Here.

Cannes 2023: When Priyanka Chopra wore an actual wedding dress on Cannes Film Festival red carpet with Nick Jonas

The countdown to the prestigious 76th Festival de Cannes has already begun. Celebrities and dignitaries from across the globe will be attending the Cannes Film Festival in the French Riviera town from May 16 to May 27. Before the event kickstarts, we decided to look back at some of the most iconic fashion moments served by our favourite Bollywood divas on the red carpet. Read Here.

Meghan Markle, Prince Harry go on fun outing with Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz in first pics since coronation

Meghan Markle was spotted with her husband Prince Harry on a date together for the first time after his brief trip to the UK to attend the coronation ceremony of his father King Charles III. Harry and Meghan were reportedly accompanied by celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow and Cameron Diaz. Read Here.

Viral video shows cameraman giving belly rubs to a rhino. Watch

Many of us wish to experience wildlife up close. That's also a reason why several of us plan trips to sanctuaries and other natural reserves so that we can get to see the daily life of wild animals. But, while exploring, what if a massive wild animal approaches you? What would be your reaction? You might try to run away from the spot unless you are Garth De Bruno Austin. Read Here.

Anushka To Manushi: Celebs To Debut At Cannes 2023

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Army Chief General Manoj Pande on Monday left for Egypt for a two-day official visit aimed at bolstering defence ties between the two countries, the army said in a statement. He will interact with the commander-in-chief of Egyptian armed forces among other prominent leaders. (IADN | Twitter)

During the two-day visit on May 16-17, the army chief will meet Egypts senior military leadership and discuss avenues for further enhancing bilateral defence relations, it said.

He will interact with the commander-in-chief of Egyptian armed forces, minister of defence and military production, and chief of staff, Egyptian armed forces; and visit various Egyptian military establishments.

Also Read: Indian Army raising new units to counter China, Pak in cyber warfare: Report

The military relations of India with Egypt are on the rise which was evident during Indias 74th Republic Day parade, wherein the Egyptian armed forces contingent made its first appearance, besides the Egyptian President Abdeh Fattah El-Sisi being the chief guest for the parade, the statement said.

It added that the Indian and Egyptian Armies conducted the first ever joint exercise between the Special Forces, Ex Cyclone-I, in January.

Sisi was the first Egyptian leader to be hosted by India for Republic Day.

He also held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on ways to revitalise the bilateral relationship.

A joint statement issued then reflected the importance attached by both leaders to enhancing cooperation in defence, security and counter-terrorism.

PM Modi and Sisi agreed that terrorism posed one of the most serious security threats to humanity and condemned the use of terror as a foreign policy tool.

During that visit, Egypt offered to allocate land for Indian industries at the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) to be developed under an Indian master plan, as part of plans to ramp up bilateral trade and investment.

SCZone consists of six ports and four industrial zones located along the Suez Canal, and Egypt plans to build new cargo terminals at two ports and upgrade the four other ports.

Almost 18,000 ships a year, or 10% of world trade, pass through the canal.

The Grand Mufti of Egypt, Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam, was in India earlier this month at the invitation of a think tank under the ministry of external affairs to deepen cultural links between the two sides and for meetings with Indian interlocutors to foster interfaith understanding.

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The Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting in Bengaluru on Sunday evening was anticipated to be centered around claims of former chief minister Siddaramaiah and the partys Karnataka unit chief DK Shivakumar over the states top elected post. But it turned out to be a four-cornered power play with Lingayat and Scheduled Caste (SC) members seeking chief ministership for someone from their communities. Senior Congress leaders Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar and others during the CLP meeting in Bengaluru on Sunday. (PTI)

The Congress has more Lingayat lawmakers. The strike rate among candidates from this influential community, which has traditionally voted for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was far higher than that among its non-Lingayat ones.

The Congress made inroads into the BJPs traditional stronghold of the Bombay Karnataka sub-region and maintained its grip over the Hyderabad region, an indication that the votes within the Lingayat community may have splintered.

MB Patil, a Lingayat, is expected to be a deputy chief minister. The options for the chief ministers post remain open with Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar, and G Parameshwara as the contenders.

A briefly worded resolution was passed at the CLP on Sunday authorising All India Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge to pick the next chief minister.

Supporters of Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar shouted slogans outside the CLP venue backing them.

The CLP leader will stake claim to the chief ministers post. People aware of the matter said there was no discussion about appointing a deputy chief minister at the CLP meeting. The option is available to the Congress leadership to balance the caste equations.

A leader present at the meeting said some SC and Scheduled Tribe (ST) lawmakers argued the chief minister should be from the SC community. [They argued] a large number of MLAs, about 35, are SC and ST. One of the leaders even suggested that looking at the national picture, Congress should try to revive its earlier SC, OBC [other backward class], and minority vote bank.

As the BJP returned to power at the Centre with a bigger majority of 303 seats in 2019 compared to 282 in 2014, 10 of its additional 21 lawmakers were elected from the SC and ST reserved seats.

Out of the 131 reserved seats in the Lok Sabha, 77 are with the BJP. The Congress has just nine members of Parliament from the reserved seats.

Some of the Lingayat leaders at the CLP meeting said the party should recognise the role of their community in Congresss victory in Karnataka. The Congress has 37 Lingayat lawmakers, up from just 13 last time.

The Lingayat leaders asked for the chief minister to be a Lingayat as it would help further consolidation of Lingayat votes. They underlined the party has 37 Lingayat MLAs, said a second leader, who did not want to be named.

Supporters of Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar came in numbers to the venue of the CLP meeting but no decision was taken over the chief ministership in Bengaluru.

The three observers appointed for the meetingformer Maharashtra chief minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Jitendra Singh, and Deepak Babariaalong with other senior party leaders met the newly-elected lawmakers in Bengaluru for over four hours.

Initially, the meeting was scheduled for two hours. But the demand for the chief ministerial post from four quarters made us sit for more than three hours, said the second leader, requesting anonymity.

The observers will convey the sense of the lawmakers to Kharge, said an aide to the Congress chief. The Congress president will talk to both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar before announcing the name of the CLP leader. The Congress president will take his decision based on hard facts.

In a tweet, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh late on Sunday said the observers will submit their report to the Congress president who will then decide. This is inner-party democracy at its best. This is the Congress way of arriving at a consensus giving confidence to all that they have been heard.

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Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Monday snubbed West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee's proposal of a one on one fight in the Lok Sabha elections, saying his party's grip in the TMC-ruled state is increasing with every passing day. The Lok Sabha member from Berhampore, known for his combative stance against the TMC supremo, also questioned Mamata Banerjee's silence on Rahul Gandhi-led Barat Jodo Yatra and her lack of support for Congress during the election campaign in Karnataka. Lok Sabha MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee.(PTI)

Congress party's win in Karnataka has made Mamata Banerjee realise that she won't be able to fight the BJP without taking Congress along. Did you hear Mamata Banerjee asking people to vote for Congress to defeat the BJP in the Karnataka elections? he asked rhetorically.

When the elections were underway, she never urged the people of Karnataka to vote for Congress. Today, when the Congress emerged victorious, she realised that she can't move forward in Bengal without Congress. Because Congress' grip in Bengal is increasing with every passing day, he said, citing his party's victory in the recent by-poll for the Sagardighi assembly constituency.

To be sure, Banerjee had appealed to the people of Karnataka not to vote for the BJP.

Banerjee on Monday renewed her call for a "one on one" fight by regional satraps to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, and said she was ready to support the Congress party where it is strong.

In a state where there is a strong regional party, BJP wont be able to put up a fight. The strongest regional party must be given priority in each state. We will give support to the Congress party in states where they are strong. There is no problem with this. But they (Congress) have to support other political parties too, Banerjee said while speaking to reporters at the state secretariat.

I am giving you (Congress) the support in Karnataka, but you are fighting against me every day (in West Bengal). This shouldnt be the policy. This goes for everybody. If you want to achieve some good things you have to sacrifice in your area, she added.

Responding to Banerjee's call, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the TMC leader should stop beating around the bush and meet top Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi. He, however, asserted that Congress's fight against TMC in Bengal will continue.

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Responding to Congress party's win in Karnataka Assembly elections, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav, speaking to media, said that if the Opposition works with a united front, they can win over the Bharatiya Janata Party. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav. (ANI)

He said, Congress' had received a one-sided win and this loss is not just BJP's or Modi ji's, it is also capitalism's loss. All of their supporters, including central investigation agencies and Godi media, all of them loss with them. This has sent a message across the country that if we fight unitedly we will win. That's what CM Nitish Kumar, Lalu ji & we're all working towards, we trying to unite everyone & fight. None of us has any intention of becoming PM or CM.

He further stated, We have one motive which is that the government should work for the country, for the poor, for removing unemployment, for farmers, workers and soldiers, and for the citizens of this country. For this, all of us are working, to save the democracy and the constitution of this country.

The BJP lost control of Karnataka - the only southern state it had - to the Congress after a 2023 Assembly election billed as a close race turned into a rout. Most exit polls predicted a hung Assembly; only three - India Today-Axis My India, News24-Today's Chanakya and Times-Now ETG - predicted an outright Congress win. The Congress' performance - its first state win since Himachal Pradesh last year - suggested the saffron camp could have a tough fight in next year's Lok Sabha election.

Shortly after the BJP conceded defeat, emotional DK Shivakumar said, I assured Sonia Gandhiji, Rahul Gandhiji and Priyanka Gandhiji, and (Congress boss) Mallikarjun Khargeji I will deliver Karnataka to the fold. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi - who has been criticising the Modi government - termed the party's win as people's strength over crony capitalism.

The Congress party called Shivakumar and former chief minister Siddaramaiah to Delhi for a meeting to Delhi before party chief Kharge decided on a name for the State chief minister.

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Here are todays top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee. (Facebook | Mamata Banerjee)

Mamata Banerjee's big proposal on 2024 strategy: Will support Congress where

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Director of Rangayana, a theatre institute in Karnatakas Mysuru, Addanda C Cariappa, resigned from his post on Sunday, citing moral responsibility after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s defeat in the just-concluded Assembly elections. Addanda C Cariappa. (PTI File Photo)

The government which had appointed me as the director of Rangayana has lost the election. I respect peoples mandate and by taking moral responsibility, Im resigning from the directors post, Cariappa said in his letter addressed to the secretary of the Kannada and Culture Department, dated May 14.

During his stint as the director of the repertory, Cariappa was in the thick of several controversies including staging of the play written and directed by him - Tippu Nija Kanasugalu (Real Dreams of Tipu).

In November 2022, the play was staged at Bhoomigeeta in Mysuru and a book was also published with the same story. It said the 18th century Mysuru ruler was not killed by the British, but by Vokkaliga chieftains Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda, and showed the Muslim leader in bad light. Cariyappa also maintained that 80,000 Kodavas (native warrior clan from Kodagu district of Karnataka) were massacred by Tipu.

This was questioned by historians and experts who dubbed it fiction and an attempt to polarise communities for political gains. BS Rafiulla, the former chairman of the District Wakf Board Committee (DWBC), filed a writ petition seeking a stay on the play and the book.

Rafiulla alleged that it contains wrong information without any support or justification from history, and that it hurt the feelings of the Muslim community. Later, the additional city civil and sessions court in Bengaluru stayed the distribution and sale of the book in response to the petition.

In the run up to the Assembly elections, BJP leaders had raked up the issue in an attempt to gain foothold in the Vokkaliga dominated region of the state. Old Mysuru region, which has the largest concentration of Vokkaliga voters, has 61 seats in the state Assembly. While it had been the traditional stronghold of the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S), the BJP and the Congress tried to make inroads. The Congress bagged a big chunk of 41 seats, up from 20 in 2018, while the BJP also improved its tally to 15 from 5 seats in 2018. Meanwhile, the JD(S) was reduced to 14, from 30 seats in the 2018 elections.

Cariappa had taken charge on December 31, 2019 and was in office for three years and four months.

When I took charge, Rangayana was not economically stable. Now it has a fixed deposit of 2.09 crore and 1.57 crore in the bank account. The corpus of 4 crore given by the government to pay for the retirement benefits of 16 artistes and staff of Rangayana after retirement will earn the interest of 50 lakh, Cariappa said in his letter.
With a medical drip in his right hand, Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar on Monday wished Siddaramaiah the best as DKS skipped in Delhi visit citing a stomach infection. The Congress is yet to take a decision on the Karnataka chief minister but DK Shivakumar skipping the Delhi visit on Monday while Siddaramaiah has been in the Capital triggered speculations that Siddaramaiah raced ahead in the close competition and is likely to be the new Karnataka CM. DK Shivakumar on Monday deferred his Delhi visit plan citing stomach infection and some other commitments.

In an exclusive interview to NDTV, DK Shivakumar said he has some commitments in Bengaluru and also medical check-up. After finishing those, he will go to Delhi. Hours before, he said he will be leaving for Delhi on Monday itself.

"We should have a basic courtesy towards who helped us, who helped me to get this number...the courage, the strength..Almighty...I will offer my prayers first. Almighty has given me some other responsibilities too. I will first finish those and then go to Delhi. I have to finish my check-up. I am getting this drip (shows the injection. My family is shouting at me," DK Shivakumar said.

On a question on whether cancelling the Delhi plan at the last moment was a rebellious plan, DK Shivakumar said, "Why should I rebel? I don't rebel. I don't blackmail. That's not my culture."

"Today is my birthday, and people are very happy, they want to meet me," the Congress chief said.

Remembering the moment when Sonia Gandhi made him the president of the state unit of the party, DK Shivakumar said, "Sonia Gandhi told me 'DK, I have confidence in you'...and I delivered." "...the trust Mrs Gamndhi imposed on me with lot of odds. Some of the senior leaders supported me. Today Ahmad Patel is not there. I can't forget what faith he kept in me," DK Shivakumar said.

On Siddaramaiah's claim that he has the maximum support, DK Shivakumar said he was not aware of any such secret ballot and he only has best wishes to offer to Siddaramaiah.

The Congress Legislature Party authorised party president Mallikarjun Kharge to take a call on naming the CM. The party sent three observers -- Sushil Shinde, Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria -- to Karnataka. They spoke to the newly elected MLAs and then met Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence in Delhi. They submitted their report on which Mallikarjun Kharge will deliberate with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi with the final name to be disclosed in 24 hours.

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For birthday boy DK Shivakumar, Monday could be special for another reason - if Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge names the party's state president as Karnataka's next chief minister. Supporters of senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar outside the venue of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting in Bengaluru on Sunday.(PTI)

In the morning, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief met with his supporters, who gathered outside his residence in Bengaluru to greet him on his birthday. Scores of Congress supporters waited for hours with cakes to wish the Congress leader who is a front-runner for the chief ministerial post.

We have passed a one-line resolution. We will leave it to the party's high command. I have not decided to go to Delhi yet. I have done whatever job I have to do. I dont know what gift the high command will give on my birthday but the people of Karnataka have given us the numbers, Shivakumar told reporters.

On my birthday, I have to meet a lot of people I have rituals at my home on the occasion, the Congress leader added.

Shivakumar was given flower bouquets before he proceeded to the Shagri-La hotel in Bengaluru for a meeting of the Congress Legislative Party Meeting.

"I am celebrating the birthday of Shivakumar for 20 years. I am his close aide. Every year the cake is sported with a message that you are the future CM," news agency ANI quoted Shamsher Beig, who also waited for hours to wish his favourite leader, as saying.

After meeting his supporters, Shivakumar went to Shangri-la Hotel in Bengaluru to meet party MLAs.

On Sunday night, Shivakumar tweeted a picture celebrating his birthday with Siddaramaiah and his other party colleagues. My life is dedicated to serving the people of Karnataka. On the eve of my birthday, the people of Karnataka gave me the best birthday gift possible. Thanks to my Congress family for their warm greetings, Shivakumar tweeted.

After Congress's thumping victory (135 seats) in the assembly election, both Shivakumar and the party's senior leader Siddaramaiah are eyeing the post of chief minister.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala on Sunday late night said Kharge will not take long and announce the name of the next chief minister soon.

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Newly appointed director of the Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI Praveen Sood faced controversy in 2017 when he was transferred from his position as Bengaluru city police commissioner. The transfer allegedly took place to multiple complaints against Sood received by then chief minister and Congress veteran Siddaramaiah. Congress Karnataka president DK Shivakumar and CBI's new director Praveen Sood.

Six years later, in March this year, as the director general of police (DGP), Sood faced criticism from DK Shivakumar, Congress Karnataka president, who accused the state police of unfairly targeting Congress workers while ignoring the actions of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Shivakumar warned that if the Congress party returned to power, it would take action against Sood and labelled him as a BJP agent.

The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president even called the DGP "nalayak" and said the Congress will take a strict action against him, after coming to power.

Our DGP is one Nalayak(useless) and he is not fit for his job. He has been in service for the last three years and how many more days will he continue to be BJPs worker? He has registered around 25 cases against Congress leaders and not even a single case against BJP leaders in the state. We have also written to the Election Commission about his duty and conduct, Shivakumar had told reporters.

In the upcoming assembly election, the Congress will come to power, and the action will be serious against the DGP. A case must be filed against him for not doing his duty in a proper way, Shivakumar added.

In March, a controversy erupted when BJP workers erected an arch in Mandya, honouring Vokkaliga chieftains Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda, who are claimed by some to have killed the 18th-century Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan. However, historians dispute this claim. The arch was constructed ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Mandya.

Shivakumar criticised the 59-year-old police chief for not taking action against those responsible for the controversial arch.

The appointment on Sunday came a day after the Congress swept to power in Karnataka, winning 135 of the 224 seats.

Who is Praveen Sood?

1. The 59-year-old has been appointed as CBI director for a period of two years from the date of taking charge after Subodh Kumar Jaiswal completes his tenure on May 25.

2. Sood is a 1986-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Karnataka cadre and the senior-most IPS officer in the country after Jaiswal.

3. His name was cleared on Saturday in a meeting of a high-powered committee comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

4. Chowdhury, a Congress leader, had reportedly given a dissent note on the selection of Sood as the next CBI director. However, there was no official word on it.

5. Sood has an impressive educational background. He is an alumna of IIT-Delhi, IIM-Bangalore and Syracuse University in New York.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah appeared to surge ahead of his rival, state Congress unit chief DK Shivakumar, in the race for the southern states top job on Monday, as the scene of the action shifted from Bengaluru to Delhi where a string of closed-door meetings spilled late into the night. DK Shivakumar celebrates his birthday with party leaders Siddaramaiah and Randeep Surjewala in Bengaluru. (ANI)

Speculation swirled as the 76-year-old Siddaramaiah landed in the Capital in the afternoon. In Bengaluru, meanwhile, Shivakumar initially said he was not coming to Delhi because of ill-health but told reporters late in the evening that he will try to go to Delhi on Tuesday, indicating that the final decision may be announced the same day.

Also read: Karnataka CM likely to be announced in next 24 hours: Report

The Karnataka impasse, after a massive victory, has emerged as a test of whether the Congress has learnt from its past mistakes.On the one hand, the party will need to resolve the leadership crisis quickly if it doesnt want to lose the momentum from its biggest poll victory in nearly five years. On the other, the leadership will need to be careful to placate both sides and not let discontent simmer in a bid to avoid the situation in Madhya Pradesh, where the Congress government collapsed mid-term, Rajasthan, where an open rebellion by senior leader Sachin Pilot continues to roil the party, or in Chhattisgarh, where rivalling ambitions have led to periodic outbursts.

Mondays developments came a day after the Congress legislative party met in Bengaluru and passed a one-line resolution empowering Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge to pick the head of the legislative party  effectively the next chief minister.

On Tuesday, Congress general secretaries KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala will meet the two Karnataka stalwarts. The observers have submitted the report. Congress president will go through the report and then have extensive deliberations with state and central leaders. No decision taken yet, said Surjewala. He and Venugopal also met Kharge on Monday.

The report by the observers shows that Siddaramaiah  a former CM with nearly four decades of experience in Karnataka politics and the partys popular face  has the backing of the majority of state lawmakers, said the people cited above.

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar  two main architects of the Congresss victory in the Karnataka assembly elections, when it trounced the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on its way to the biggest win in the state since 1989  have rivalling ambitions but took care to project a united front on the campaign trail. Even on Sunday after the legislative party meeting, general secretary Surjewala tweeted a photo with Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, showing that the leaders were united.

Some of that veneer slipped on Monday. Before leaving for Delhi, Siddaramaiah said that he was confident that the members of legislative assembly (MLAs) were in favour of him becoming the chief minister.

Most MLAs voted in my favour, as my per assessment. They want me to be the chief minister. The resolution (to leave the decision on the CM post to Kharge) is a procedure, but we have taken the opinion of MLAs. Im confident of getting more votes, he told India Today.

Hours later, Shivakumar shot back. I dont need the support of any MLAs. My strength is that under my presidency, 135 MLAs were elected to the assembly there is so much I did as the party president, he said. His candidature was also backed by top seers from the Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities, two of the states most influential caste groups. Shivakumar hails from the Vokkaliga community. I have proved it. I dont want to disclose what all has happened in the last five years and at a future point of time I will disclose, he added.

But later in the evening, his tone appeared to shift.

I wont blackmail, thats not me. Dont perceive anything. I have my own presence of mind. I am not a child. I wont fall in a trap, he told NDTV in an interview.

His brother, DK Suresh, landed in Delhi later in the evening, and met party chief Kharge at the latters residence.

With several possibilities still on the table  Siddaramaiah as CM, Shivakumar as CM, a compromise formula where the latter acts as the formers deputy in addition to handling some key portfolios, or a rotational chief ministership  Kharge will take a call on Tuesday.

Also read: Karnataka villagers' refuse to pay electricity bill; BJP's 'chaos' warning

A senior Congress leader maintained that Kharge will decide after consulting Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. A second senior leader said Kharge held internal discussions on possible options to offer to the two leaders. Shivakumar, apart from becoming the deputy CM, might be also allowed to continue to be state unit chief, this leader added.

The two leaders cited above also indicated that Kharge will not take any unilateral decision without consulting Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. They are the two architects of the partys victory. No decision will be taken without talking to them, said the first leader.

The Congress on Saturday secured 135 of Karnatakas 224 seats, defeating the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which won 66. The Congresss vote share in each of the states six regions was in excess of 40% and its campaign that focused on welfare outreach and anti-corruption struck a chord with the public.

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Art is not a luxury of the well-to-do. The poor man needs it as much in his cottage-building, his pots, his floor decorations his clay-deities and in many other ways. Says Rabindranath Tagore, in his message to the village Industries Association. HT This Day: May 16, 1935 -- Westernisation menace in cultural tastes

Fostering Indian Arts

The Poet expressed to Dr. J. C. Kumarappa, his fervent wish that Gandhiji should, while concentrating his attention in forming a crafts museum, should also interest himself in founding an Indian arts Museum, to meet the danger of indigenous arts, being lost to the nation, through neglect and perverted lasts, due to opening Western fashions.

SANTINIKETAN. Mahatma Gandhi has secured the services of Sjt. Surendranath Kar of the Viswabharati Kala Bhavan in connection with the design of the All-India Village Industries Museum, proposed to be founded at Wardha.

Sjt. J. C. Kumarappa, Secretary, All-India Village Industries Association, recently came here to seek Dr. Rabindranaths advice in this connection. In the course of an interview between Sjt. Kumarappa and Dr. Rabindranath Tagore, the former was given the following message to be conveyed to Mahatmaji:

I appeal to Mahatmaji, since he is endeavouring to found a Museum for the nation not to limit it to crafts as crafts. Crafts have been the media of artists in all ages, and our artists, as printers, as architects, as decorators, have helped our folks to get increased and finer satisfaction out of the same material. The economic life of a nation is not such an isolated fact as Mahatmaji imagines, and to-day, side by side with economic poverty, we are faced with a cultural poverty, which puts us to shame -- shame, that is in no way lessened when we consider what we once were.

Pitiable Condition of Indian Arts

Our art treasures, to-day, are found in museums outside India and our village artists are dying.

Meanwhile the taste of our people is being slowly perverted by foreign fashions, ill-related to our life. Perhaps, one day we will have no art-treasure left and we will have to go visiting museums, in foreign lands, to feel a pride in our past and then in our present.

Not a Luxury

Please tell Mahatmaji to consider that art is not a luxury of the well-to-do. The poor man needs it as much, and employs it as art in his cottage building, his floor decorations, his clay-toys, and in many other ways. Mahatmaji s men go round collecting specimens of village maassries, why may they not also look for and collect specimens of the various indigenous arts, spread all over our land and waiting to be recherished?

Why Not a Museum of Arts?

A section of the Museum may be devoted to it, which will show us how our people have lived and the living, and now in diverse ways, with what material means at their disposal, they have tried to create some rasa in their life. I would do it myself, but I know only too well that I do not command the resources, nor the necessary popular confidence that Mahatmaji commands.
The Congress on Monday hit out at the BJP's reaction to the resounding defeat in the Karnataka assembly election, alleging that the saffron party was mischievously trying to disturb social harmony in the southern state. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh addresses a press conference, at AICC HQ, in New Delhi.(ANI / File)

In a tweet, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, When it wins the BJP is graceless. When it loses BJP is disgraceful. This is the only thing to be said about how it is reacting to the resounding defeat in Karnataka. The factories manufacturing hate and poison are hyperactive.

The people of Karnataka are wiser. They will remain vigilant and defeat these mischievous attempts of the BJP to disturb social harmony, he added.

His attack apparently came after BJP IT department head Amit Malviya's several claims following Congress's win in Karnataka. On Monday, Malviya stepped up the attack by tweeting a video of a group of villagers in Karnataka's Chitradurga district allegedly refusing to pay their electricity bill citing the pre-poll promise of the Congress to give 200 units for free. Among the five 'guarantees' that the party announced is the offer of 200 units of power a month to every household.

Posting the viral video, the BJP functionary said, If Congress doesnt give a CM soon, there will be chaos all around

Malviya also attacked Congress citing the comments of Karnataka Waqf Board chief Shafi Sadi demanding that the grand old party appoint a Muslim deputy chief minister in the state.

A day before, Malviya tweeted a video of a person raising a green flag with a crescent moon and star on it purportedly in Karnataka's Bhatkal.

"Bhatkal. Soon after Congress victory in Karnataka," Malviya tweeted along with the video.

In another tweet, the BJP leader posted a video purportedly from Belagavi and said, "Provocative slogans raised in Belagavi Police watches on as Congress gets ready to form government in KarnatakaFrom Bhatkal to Belagavi, this is what 'Mohabbat ki dukaan' looks like."

"Congress's politics of appeasement will rip the social fabric of Karnataka," Malviya alleged.

In a tweet, Jairam Ramesh said, "Not able to come to terms with the resoundingly decisive verdict in favour of Congress from all sections of society in Karnataka, BJP's online hate factory is working overtime to manufacture lies."

"No doubt inspired by PM's politics of hate and polarisation. Desperation of sick minds!" he said.

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Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday raked up issues like Uniform Civil Code (UCC), 'love jihad' and madrassas as he addressed a 'Hindu Ekta Yatra' organised by Telangana BJP president and Lok Sabha MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar at Karimnagar. Assam chief minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma addresses the Hindu Ekta Yatra in Karimnagar on Sunday. (ANI)

Taking a potshot at All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, Sarma said he will close 300 more madrassas this year in Assam. Telangana assembly elections are scheduled to be held later this year.

We are working to stop love jihad in Assam, and we are also working towards closing down Madrassas in the state. After I became CM, I closed 600 madrassas in Assam. I want to tell Owaisi that I will close 300 more madrassas this year, Sarma said.

In March, the Assam chief minister said he had closed 600 madrassas and intended to close all of them as he wanted to build colleges, schools and universities instead.

Addressing a rally, meant for Shiva Charithe, in Belgavi, Sarma said, People from Bangladesh come to Assam and create a threat to our civilization and culture I have closed 600 madrassas and I intend to close all madrassas because we do not want madrassas. We want schools, colleges and universities, he added.

UCC to come to the country: Sarma

Sarma said Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be implemented in the country and polygamy would come to an end.

"There are some people in India who thought they can marry four women. That was their thinking. But, I say you will not be able to do four marriages. Those days are going to come to an end. That day is not far. Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is going to come in India and time has also come to make India a true secular nation," Sarma said.

Sarma has already constituted a four-member expert committee to examine the legislative competence of the state legislature to enact a law to end polygamy.

Without naming Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader said in Telangana Ram Rajya is coming in place of Raja's rule.

"Raja has just five months left. We need 'Ram Rajya' in Telangana and that is our goal. Based on Hindu civilisation we have to make 'Ram Rajya' in Telangana," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday said that the cases related to the Hooch tragedy in the state will be transferred to the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID). The chief minister's statement comes as the death tally in the incident increased to 14. Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin(HT File Photo)

CM Stalin on Monday visited the Villupuram district where the mishap took place. He was also accompanied by State ministers Ponmudi and A V Velu.

Addressing the media after meeting those who were undergoing treatment, Stalin said, "to completely prevent use of raw materials used in industries in making illicit brew, in order to find the root cause and eliminate illicit liquor, the investigation into the two incidents will be transferred to the CB-CID." He also stated that his government would take stringent action against the culprits.

Later, a high-level meeting was also chaired by the chief minister who directed the police officials to work towards ending the sale and consumption of illicit liquor in the state.

AIADMK chief and Leader of Opposition, K Palaniswami hit out at Stalin over the issue and claimed that appropriate action by the government could have averted such incidents in the state.

"Chief Minister Stalin is fully responsible. He should resign from his post, he is an inept CM," he told reporters in Tiruchirappalli.

Stalin on Sunday announced a compensation of 10 lakh each to the families of the deceased and 50,000 each to those who were hospitalised.

(With inputs from agencies)
S Jaishankar, who is in Sweden on his first visit to the country as India's external affairs minister, on Sunday had his audience in splits, when he invoked a popular Hindi idiom while interacting with members of the Indian diaspora in Stockholm, the Nordic nation's capital and largest city. Stockholm: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar speaks during an interaction with the members of the Indian community in Sweden, on Sunday, May 14, 2023. (PTI Photo)

(I) don't know how many of you follow Hindibut you know, there is a term, which says aapke muhn mein ghee-shakkar (what you are saying, hope it comes true), Jaishankar said, as the audience laughed and clapped.

It was not clear from the video what led to the minister using the phrase. According to reports, however, Jaishankar's response came after some Stockholm-based Indians told him that India's global stature was on the up with each passing day.

The minister, meanwhile, explained the meaning of the term and continued: but I actually can see this globalisation of Indian culture, happening. And it is happening for a variety of factors. One, of course, is because of the spread of the (Indian) diaspora. The second is, we ourselves, I think, are much more confidently expressing it. It's important we try to find ways of making it (globalisation of Indian culture) more universal.

A very good example of this, he remarked, was the International Day of Yoga, introduced by prime minister Narendra Modi, and which, since its very first iteration, has been celebrated internationally on June 21 each year.

I must say, in all honesty, none of us actually could even imagine it would catch on, the way it does now. There is not a country in the world where that enthusiasm of yoga is not there. Perhaps it was there, it may have been dormantwe may have done something to awaken it and take it to another level, said Jaishankar.

S Jaishankar in Sweden

The former foreign secretary is on a 3-day visit to attend the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum (EIPMF). Also, 2023 marks 75 years of diplomatic ties between India and Sweden.

(With PTI inputs)

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New Delhi: Ahead of the G20 summit, the Union environment ministry is holding mass mobilisation events to popularise Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE), an initiative envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a focus on minimising wasteful consumption, people familiar with the matter said on Monday. Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav during the launch on Monday. (ANI)

In a build-up to this years World Environment Day, which falls on June 5, Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav on Monday launched a mobile app, Meri LiFE, which can be used by people to make various interventions in daily life to moderate their consumption patterns and lead an environment-friendly lifestyle, officials said.

The theme of this years World Environment Day will also be LiFE and Solutions to Plastic Pollution, Yadav said.

The preamble to Paris Agreement uses the world climate justice and sustainable lifestyles and sustainable patterns of consumption and production which are integral to the Paris Agreement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly in 2020 said we must look to change our lifestyles; then PM in his speech at World Leaders Summit at UN Climate Conference (COP26) in Glasgow introduced the concept of LiFE for the first time to the world, Yadav said on Monday. LiFE is an India-based mass movement to promote mindful and deliberate utilisation of resources instead of mindless and destructive consumption patterns. It is a behavioral change framework so naturally we have to involve people in large numbers.

United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (Unicef) is collaborating with the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) on implementing the mass campaign, which will culminate on June 5.

We have already held 1 lakh [100,000] events in different parts of the country under LiFE, in collaboration with UNICEF and other groups. Union ministries are also working to reduce their consumption patterns. We are focusing on simple behavioral practices, he added.

Yadav said LiFE movement or the essence of the theme has found a mention in most significant global resolution documents  including the Sharm El Sheikh Implementation Plan that came out of COP27; at the G7 ministers meeting in Japan; and at the UN Biodiversity Conference last year among others.

Blue economy, land degradation, and circular economy are some of the issues being discussed as part of G20. We are also promoting LiFE to be adopted as an integral part of the G20 decisions, said an environment ministry official, requesting anonymity. India holds the G20 presidency this year. The 2023 G20 summit is scheduled to be held in New Delhi in September.

The ministry has developed two portals for LiFE to create a structured reporting format that can track the progress being made on the campaign. The Mission LiFE Portal is open access and can be used to download the 100+ creatives, videos, and knowledge materials that have been developed by the ministry. The Meri LiFE Portal (merilife.org) has been developed for ministries and institutions to upload event reports and capture the progress of the mass mobilisation drive, officials said.

Through the Meri LiFE app, upon successful sign-up, users will be guided to participate in a series of LiFE-related tasks under five themes  Save Energy, Save Water, Reduce Single Use Plastic, Adopt Sustainable Food Systems and Adopt Healthy Lifestyle. Through a gamified experience, the app nudges people to make these behavioural changes, officials added.

As per LiFE portal, there are 75 behavioural interventions that can be made. The three phases of LiFE include  nudging individuals across the world to practice simple yet effective environment-friendly actions in their daily lives; changes in large-scale individual demand are expected to gradually nudge industries and markets to respond and tailor supply and procurement as per the revised demands; and by influencing the demand and supply dynamics of India and the world, the long-term vision of Mission LiFE is to trigger shifts in large-scale industrial and government policies that can support both sustainable consumption and production.
Expanding their multi-level engagement, India and US will hold the first meeting of Strategic Trade Dialogue on June 4-5 to implement the outcomes of the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) by streamlining export controls, enhancing high-tech commerce and facilitating tech transfer between the two countries. File photo of US President Joe Biden and Indian PM Narendra Modi

The first iCET dialogue between the National Security Advisors of the two countries took place on January 31, and the decision to hold the strategic trade meeting was taken when US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo came to India for relaunching the bilateral commercial dialogue on March 10.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra will be travelling to the US early next month to meet Under-Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Alan Estevez for the strategic trade dialogue meeting as well as to make last-minute preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modis June 22 visit to the White House to meet US President Joseph Biden.

PM Modi is expected to meet President Biden during the May 19-21 G-7 meeting in Japan, then during the QUAD summit on May 24, and the two leaders will be crossing each other at Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea on May 22 as part of critical engagement of the Far Pacific nations. While the US is expected to open up defence cooperation with PNG to counter the expanding footprint of Chinese security in the Solomon Islands next door, PM Modi will be extending a $100 million credit line to the Island nation as part of Indias comprehensive engagement with the Far Pacific.

As a part of India and the US engagement, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, Kwatra is expected to ensure that all hurdles under International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR) are smoothened for US companies to do engage in joint and production of hi-tech systems such as aircraft engines, munition technologies and armed drones in India.

According to diplomats based in Washington and New Delhi, the US is expected to clear General Electrics application to jointly produce F-414 jet engines in India for the Tejas Mark II before PM Modis visit to the US. US defence major GE is also talking to its ancillary partners in the EU to shift manufacturing for F-414 engines to India. The US is also ready to supply armed drones to India to counter the Chinese armed drone menace all along the LAC.

Apart from launching an innovation bridge that will connect Indian and US defence startups, India is also seeking US intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) technology for increased maritime domain awareness in the Indo-Pacific. Besides, the two countries are actively collaborating in establishing semiconductor-resilient supply chains in India with an eye on the Chinese military threat to Taiwan and the semiconductor industry based there.

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Hours after making a strong pitch for the chief ministerial post in Karnataka, Congress's state unit chief DK Shivakumar on Monday said he has cancelled his planned Delhi visit due to a stomach infection. He along with former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah was called to Delhi by party high command amid the duo's tussle for the top post in the southern state. (Also Read | DK Shivakumar says I am single-man majority ahead of Karnataka CM decision) Karnataka Congress Chief DK Shivakumar addresses a press conference in Bengaluru on Monday.(ANI)

Siddaramaiah arrived in the national capital in the afternoon and Shivakumar was expected to join him later in the evening to meet top party leaders ahead of the decision on the next Karnataka chief minister. Shivakumar had said he will be going late due to personal commitments. But later in the evening, the 62-year-old Congress leader said he had to cancel the visit because of a stomach infection.

I have a stomach infection and will not be travelling to Delhi today, he said.

The Congress central leadership will be deciding on the new chief minister after its observers submitted a report on the opinion of the newly-elected MLAs which they collected in the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting in Bengaluru on Sunday. In the CLP meeting, Siddaramaiah moved a one-line resolution authorising party chief Mallikarjun Kharge to pick the next chief minister, which was unanimously passed by the MLAs.

"We had made a one-line resolution, stating we will leave the matter to party high command, after that some might have shared their personal opinion. I don't have the strength to speak about other's numbers, my strength is 135, I am the party president and under my presidency, the party has won 135 seats in Karnataka, against the double engine (BJP) government, the corrupt administration and suffering of the people. People have supported us and made us win 135 seats," Shivakumar said at a press conference earlier today.

When asked if he will become the next Karnataka CM, Shivakumar said he will leave the matter to Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

"I'm a single man. Gandhi ji said one thing: Be bold hearted when you are defeated and be large-hearted when you are victorious. When all our MLAs 15-16 of them left the party (in 2019), when we had a coalition government and lost it , I did not lose my heart. With courage I had taken up the responsibility (as KPCC President)," he said.

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Karnataka director general of police (DGP) Praveen Sood was appointed as the new director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday. His name was finalised by a high-level committee comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India DY CHandrachud and leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. Praveen Sood. (PTI)

Sood will replace outgoing CBI director Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, whose fixed tenure ends on May 25. He will go on to chair the top central agency post for a period of two years.

A 1986-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Sood originally hails from Himachal Pradesh and is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Delhi, Indian Institute of Management (IIM)-Bangalore, and Syracuse University in New York.

His first posting after joining IPS was in Mysore in 1989. He returned to Mysore as Commissioner of Police between 2004 and 2007. During this sting, he along with his team had arrested Fahad alias Mohammed Koya from Karachi and Mohammed Ali Hussain alias Jahangir (both of the Al Badr group) amid exchange of fire on the night of October 26, 2006. The terrorists were later convicted for waging war against the nation under the provisions of the Explosive Substances Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

From 2008 to 2011, he was additional commissioner of police (Traffic) for Bengaluru. In 2013, he was appointed managing director of the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation, during which was credited for increasing the companys turnover from 160 crore to 282 crore in just nine months.

Apart from serving various administrative roles in Karnataka, Sood established Namma 100, an Emergency Response System, which provides 24x7 support with the help of 276 Emergency Response Vehicles (Hoysala) across Bengaluru. Sood is also responsible for the establishment of the Suraksha App and the Pink Hoyasala run by female officers, which is designed specifically for women and children in distress.

He was awarded with Chief Ministers Gold Medal for excellence in service in 1996, Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2002, and Presidents Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2011, and he is also the recipient of the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award in 2006 for his contribution towards road safety & traffic management and national E-Governance Gold Award for Most innovative use of technology for Traffic Management in the year 2011.

A couple of months ago, he was subjected to media attention when Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar accused him of harbouring a bias towards the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Shivakumar called the DGP Nalayak and said that the Congress will take strict action against him, after coming to power. He (DGP) has been in service for the last three years and how many more days will he continue to be a BJP worker? He has registered around 25 cases against Congress leaders and not even a single case against BJP leaders in the state, Shivakumar said.

According to media reports, Congress Chowdhury had submitted a dissent note against the recommendation of Sood, saying that he was not among the original panel of officers who were shortlisted for the top CBI job and his name was included at the last minute. Soods appointment came a day after the BJP faced a massive defeat in Karnataka assembly elections.
Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, two main contenders for Karnataka's next chief minister, are expected to be in New Delhi on Monday, a day after the state Congress passed a unanimous resolution authorising the party's national president Mallikarjun Kharge to pick the CM. Congress leader DK Shivakumar on his birthday eve with Siddaramaiah, Randeep Singh Surjewala and other Congress leaders.(Source: DK Shivakumar/Twitter)

The swearing-in for the chief minister will be held on May 18, to which all like-minded parties will be invited.

Top points on the Karnataka election 2023 and next CM:

1. The meeting of Mallikarjun Kharge with former chief minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar comes on the latter's birthday (May 15). On Sunday night, Shivakumar tweeted a picture celebrating his birthday with Siddaramaiah and his other party colleagues. My life is dedicated to serving the people of Karnataka. On the eve of my birthday, the people of Karnataka gave me the best birthday gift possible. Thanks to my Congress family for their warm greetings, Shivakumar tweeted.

2. With the ball now in Kharge's court, the top contenders are also expected to meet Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the national capital.

3. On Sunday evening, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), which met at a private hotel in Bengaluru, passed a one-line resolution authorising Kharge to pick its leader, who will be the next chief minister of Karnataka. The CLP meeting was attended by AICC general secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal and three central observers.

4. Randeep Singh Surjewala, who is All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Karnataka, later said Kharge will not take long and announce the name of the next chief minister of Karnataka soon. The meeting, which started late on Sunday night, continued till 1.30 am. It was attended by all 135 newly elected MLAs.

5. Former Maharashtra chief minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and party leaders Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria were present in the meeting as observers. Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar, Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh and others also attended the meeting. The team would reportedly head to New Delhi and hold discussions with Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi.

6. When asked if there were any gifts being planned for Siddaramaiah or DK Shivakumar on the latter's birthday, Surjewala said, I am not a party to those discussions as general secretary. I am a simple worker to the Congress who stood out with all my legislatures. We were sitting together and planning the future of Karnataka which is more important to us. We also celebrated DK Shivakumar's birthday together.

7. Earlier, a large number of supporters gathered outside the residence of DK Shivakumar in Bengaluru on Sunday and raised slogans of "We want DK Shivakumar as CM".

8. Sushil Kumar Shinde and party leaders Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria were present in the meeting as observers. Party leaders like Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar, KC Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh and others also attended the meeting.

9. A legislator told HT that even though several formulas were on the table, including the idea of splitting the five-year term between Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, these were not mentioned at the meeting.

10. In the May 10 elections to the 224-member assembly, the Congress scored an emphatic victory with 135 seats, while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the former prime minister HD Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) secured 66 and 19, respectively.

(With inputs from Arun Dev in Bengaluru)

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Asaduddin Owaisis All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) drew a blank in the recent Karnataka assembly election  this is despite the fact that Muslim account for 13 per cent of the state's total population. Owaisis election campaign had focused on the controversies around the hijab ban, Tipu Sultan and the removal of 4 per cent reservation for Muslims by the incumbent BJP government. (PTI)

Although the AIMIM had made inroads into the state in 2021 with a few wins in the urban local body polls, the two candidates fielded in the Karnataka assembly election failed to make a mark.

Owaisis election campaign had focused on the controversies around the hijab ban, Tipu Sultan and the removal of 4 per cent reservation for Muslims by the incumbent BJP government. Owaisi had termed as "completely illegal" former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai government's decision to scrap the Muslim reservation.

In the run-up to the elections, the AIMIM had announced that it will contest on 25 seats. However, it ended up fielding only Durgappa Kashappa Bijawad and Allahbaksh Bijapur from Hubballi-Dharwad East and Basavana Bagewadi, respectively. While Bijawad managed to poll 5,644 votes, Bijapur secured just 1,475 votes. In spite of conducting multiple public meetings and contesting only from the two seats it reportedly had a chance to win, the minority community seemed to have rallied behind the Congress in the 2023 election. Overall, the AIMIM garnered a mere 0.02 per cent of the vote share.

Rooting for JD (S) in 1028, the party had refrained from fielding candidates in the 2018 assembly polls and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka.

Accepting the Karnataka verdict, the Hyderabad MP told news agency PTI, The people of Karnataka took a decisionWe did not succeed there. But, the work on strengthening of Majlis (AIMIM) in states be it Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand and Bengal will continue. We wont be discouraged (with the poll outcome).

On the Congresss remarkable resurgence, Owaisi on Sunday said he hoped that the party will complete its poll promises, including revoking the scrapping of 4 per cent Muslim quota. While the Congress gave tickets to 15 Muslim candidates, nine of them emerged victorious.

Meanwhile, not one of the 23 Muslim candidates fielded by the Janata Dal (Secular), which enjoyed a strong backing from the community, could win in the 2023 polls as its seat share reduced to 19 from 37 in 2018.

Notably, the state is witnessing an assembly election for the first time since the hijab issue and the Centres five-year ban on the Islamist organisation Popular Front of India (PFI).

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Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar hailed the Congress party for its thumping victory in the Karnataka assembly elections and paving the path for the opposition in its fight against the BJP. Speaking to news agency ANI on Sunday, he said that the Karnataka story is proof that the unity of like-minded parties in other states could lead to BJPs defeat. 82-year-old Sharad Pawar also announced a common minimum programme (CMP) to drive opposition unity.(HT_PRINT)

He said, We have got a message from Karnataka. The state has shown a path to the opposition. If a single party like Congress in Karnataka can show their power against BJP then in other states like-minded parties should come together and defeat BJP.

A day after BJPs election rout in Karnataka, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja met Pawar at his residence in Mumbai and discussed alternatives to BJP.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Pawar announced a common minimum programme (CMP) to drive opposition unity, according to news agency PTI. We are starting this process of working on both fronts (creating a strategy like Karnataka and the CMP), he added.

Amid efforts to strengthen the opposition's unity ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar along with his deputy Tejashwi Yadav visited Pawar in Mumbai on Thursday. Kumar said that they are trying hard to form a larger coalition and there is nothing more delightful than Pawar being the face of the opposition alliance.'

Following BJPs drubbing in Karnataka which reduced its seat share to 66, Pawar, who was at the centre of the Maharashtra crisis, had tweeted, People have rejected 'Modi hai to mumkin hai. The veteran politician also praised Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Congress, which registered an emphatic win with 135 seats in the 224-member assembly, is now in the process of deciding the chief minister amid speculations of Siddaramaiah being the front-runner followed by state party president DK Shivakumar.

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Reacting to the allegations against husband Sameer Wankhede, wife Kranti Redkar Wankhede said on Monday, Everyone knows that the allegations being levelled against him are wrong. These are just allegations and we are fully cooperating in the CBI proceedings. We have faith in law and order and are ready to cooperate with the investigating agency as a responsible citizen. Sameer Wankhede(HT File Photo)

Sameer Wankhede, an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer who led the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), was charged with demanding 25 crore bribe for not framing Aryan Khan in the drugs case. According to reports, 50 lakhs out of the alleged bribe amount was obtained by Wankhede.

Reacting to the allegations against him, Wankhede said earlier, I am getting rewarded for being a patriot, yesterday 18 CBI officials raided my residence and searched it for more than 12 hours while my wife and children were present in the house. They found 23,000 and four property papers. These assets were acquired before I joined the service.

Wankhede further claimed that the officials also took away his wife's phone.

Aryan Khan drugs-on-cruise case

Sameer Wankhede, who was a 2008-batch IRS officer, raided the Cordelia cruise ship on October 2, 2021. During the raids, Wankhede arrested actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan and others on charges of the possession of drugs. However, the NCB, in its chargesheet, gave a clean chit to Aryan Khan mentioning that there was no sufficient evidence to prove the charges levelled against him.
Taking a jibe at the Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Chouhan, Congress State party chief Kamal Nath on Monday called him lie machine and announcement machine. Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath (left) and State chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan (right) . (File Photos)

At a press conference, Nath said, Shivraj ji is a lie machine and an announcement machine. I don't know if he is a chief minister or not but he definitely is Shilanayas Mantri [Foundation Minister], wherever this is a foundation stone to be laid, he is there with a coconut in his pocket.

Speaking about Congress party's manifesto for the upcoming Assembly Elections at the conference, he said, We will follow any decision that the Supreme Court takes. The Supreme Court has said that whoever, individual or organisation, practices hate or contention politics should be strictly investigated. Supreme Court has said this not once but multiple times. We are not targetting anyone, we will target what the Supreme Court has said. Why should anyone feel guilty that they would be targetted? That would just mean they are practising such politics.

In its Karnataka election manifesto, the Congress proposed a ban on organisations that promote enmity or hatred such as the Islamic outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) and Bajrang Dal. We believe that law and Constitution is sacrosanct and can not be violated by individuals and Organisations like Bajrang Dal, PFI, or others promoting enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities. We will take decisive action as per law including imposing a ban on any such organisations, the party had said.

Several Bajrang Dal workers staged a protest in Karnataka. In Hyderabad, some workers have also been detained.

The Punjab Court on Monday summoned congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge in a 100 crore defamation case filed by Hindu Suraksha Parishad (HSP) founder Hitesh Bhardwaj for allegedly making defamatory remarks against Bajrang Dal during the Karnataka election rallies.

The case stated that Congress had compared Bajrang Dal with anti-national political organisations in the country and also called for imposing a ban on the organisation.

I moved to court on Thursday after I found that on page number 10 of the manifesto, Congress has compared Bajrang Dal with the anti-national organizations and also promised to ban it if they win the election," Bharadwaj said.

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The Jabalpur bench of the Madhya Pradesh high court has directed the state government to restrict felling of Dhars Baobab trees, saying that their importance cannot be understated. HT Image

Taking cognizance of a report, about protests by tribals against the translocation of the trees by a Hyderabad businessman Ramdev Rao, published in HT on May 12, the court ordered the state to ensure not a single Baobab tree is cut for any purpose.

The importance of the Baobab trees cannot be understated. Its existence is very important to the local inhabitants. Under these circumstances, the state and its authorities are directed to ensure that not a single Baobabs tree is cut for any purpose whatsoever by any authority until further orders of this court, a division bench chief justice Ravi Malimath and judge Vishal Mishra said on Monday.

In case any tree has been cut and is in the process of being transported, the same shall be stopped forthwith, the bench said.

The court order came days after the state government decided that the forest department cannot give permission to translocate the trees in the districts Mandu city, and the same can be done only by the state biodiversity board.

Following the report in HT, which highlighted the heritage and historical value of the trees, native to Africa, but likely brought to this corner of MD by African soldiers between the 10th and 17th century, the office of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan sought a detailed explanation from the tribal affairs and forest department, and a report from Dhar district administration last Friday.

The ban on translocation was imposed by placing the trees under the Biodiversity Act, which means that permission to use them commercially will have to be taken from the state biodiversity board.

The district has around 1,000 Baobabs, some of which are centuries old.

Following the court order on Monday, an officer at the high court said, The HT report was put on record that Baobab trees situated primarily in Dhar district are being cut, sold and transported. In spite of local opposition, the transportation continued. The court asked government advocate Jhanvi Mishra to ensure strict compliance of its order.

District officials welcomed the courts intervention.

Taking cognizance of the HT report, the court has imposed the ban. It is good that we have received the support of the court. Now, we will come up with permanent solution to save the trees, Dhar district collector Priyank Mishra said.

Protests erupted in the area last week when locals stopped the Hyderabad-based firm from taking away some Baobab trees from their traditional lands.
Monday marks the twelfth death anniversary of Mahendra Singh Tikait, one of the tallest farmer leaders the country has ever seen. Born on October 6, 1935 in Uttar Pradesh's Sisauli, Tikait passed away on May 15, 2011 after a prolonged battle with bone cancer. Leaders like Mahendra Singh Tikait were capable of bringing the national capital to a standstill to make sure that farmers received higher prices for their crops or had their electricity bills waived off(Sonu Mehta/HT)

The principles you inculcated in us always help us in our fight for the farmers, labourers, exploited, and underprivileged people of the country. Your absence, however, is always felt in this fight. With moist eyes, we offer our tributes to you, tweeted farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, his son (tweet translated roughly from Hindi).

Here are 5 things to to know about Mahendra Singh Tikait:

(1.) Tikait was married to Baljori Devi. Together, they had six children, including four sons and two daughters. At a tender age of eight, he became the head of the Baliyan Khap, inheriting the post from his father after the latter's demise in 1943.

(2.) He is a former head of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), a farmers' outfit founded in 1987 by Chaudhary Charan Singh, India's fifth prime minister who held the office from July 1979 to January 1980.

(3.) BKU's current national president is Naresh Tikait, Mahendra Singh Tikait's eldest child who also succeeded the late farmer leader as and is the incumbent Chaudhary (leader/chief) of the Baliyan Khap. Rakesh, meanwhile, is a spokesperson of the BKU, and was one of the most prominent faces of the year-long agitation against the eventually revoked three central farm laws.

(4.) Though he led several farmer agitations, Mahendra Singh Tikait's most famous protest came in 1988, at the Delhi Boat Club. Then-prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's government had no option but to accept his charter of demands.

(5.) In 2008, he made alleged objectionable remarks against Mayawati, the erstwhile chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. She responded by ordering his arrest, triggering a confrontation between his supporters and the police. According to wikibio, Tikait negotiated a peaceful surrender before a court and was released after apologsing to Mayawati.

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KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday renewed her call for a one on one fight by regional satraps to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2024 Lok Sabha election and said the Congress must support other political parties in states where the regional parties are strong. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee during an administrative review meeting at Nabanna. (PTI File Photo)

In a state where there is a strong regional party, BJP wont be able to put up a fight. The strongest regional party must be given priority in each state. We will give support to the Congress in states where they are strong. There is no problem with this. But they (Congress) have to support other political parties too, Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat on Monday.

Ahead of the Karnataka assembly election, Banerjee had appealed to the people not to vote for the BJP in the southern state. I am giving you (Congress) the support in Karnataka, but you are fighting against me every day (in West Bengal). This shouldnt be the policy. This goes for everybody. If you want to achieve some good things, you have to sacrifice in your area, she said.

A meeting of non-BJP parties is likely to be held in Patna soon to give shape to a larger opposition front to take on the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha polls. At least 12 political parties are likely to attend the proposed meeting.

For example, I think we should fight against the BJP in West Bengal. In Delhi, it would be AAP. In Bihar, there is Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi Yadav and Congress. They need to decide on a formula. In Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadavs party should get the priority. I am not saying Congress shouldnt fight there. Let us decide. It (discussions) is not in the final stage. Now everybody is thinking something, she added.

In West Bengal, Banerjee has been attacking the BJP, the Congress and the CPI(M) in what she insists was a tacit understanding between the three parties to forge a Ram-Baam-Shyam (BJP-Left-Congress) alliance.

The accusation that the three parties have an understanding became louder after the TMC lost the Sagardighi assembly seat for the first time in 13 years to the Congress-Left alliance in the February 27 by-election. Banerjee had then called the alliance immoral and pledged to fight the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on its own.

To be sure, the presence of Congress leader Kaustav Bagchi on the stage with BJP legislator Suvendu Adhikari during a protest rally earlier this month did trigger a political row in Kolkata.

It is not just in West Bengal but across India, Congress is the main anti-BJP force. Even the Prime Minister has acknowledged this when he speaks of Congress-mukt Bharat. It is the TMC which has a secret pact with the BJP and this has come out in the open now, said Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said.

Senior Bengal BJP leader Rahul Sinha said: The TMC has lost its status of a national party and hence Mamata Banerjee has lost her relevance on the national front. Before every election, she speaks of a united opposition, which fades after the election when Narendra Modi comes back with more power, said.

Banerjee who had long been advocating for a united front recently met Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav at the state secretariat in Kolkata. In March she met Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik and former Karnataka chief minister and Janata Dal (S) leader HD Kumaraswamy.
In a major revelation on the poll strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said her party will support the Congress where it is strong. The Trinamool Congress supremo, however, also sought support from Congress in West Bengal, suggesting the grand old party should back regional parties where they are strong. West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee.(ANI)

"Wherever the Congress is strong, let them fight. We will give them support, there is nothing wrong (in that). But they have to support other political parties also," Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat.

However, to get support, Congress also has to back other regional parties, she said.

The TMC supremo also made it clear that she expected the seat-sharing formula to give priority to regional players in areas where they were strong.

"Strong regional parties must be given priority," she said. I am supporting Congress in Karnataka but it should not fight against me in Bengal.

Banerjee had earlier saluted the people of Karnataka after the BJP lost power there while avoiding mention of the Congress with which TMC has had run-ins in the past.

Her statement on possible strategy comes a day after HT reported that leaders from at least 12 political parties are likely to meet in Patna in the next eight to 10 days to decide on the common opposition front to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Leaders from the Congress, RJD, JD(U), TMC, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Samajwadi Party, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), DMK, AAP, CPI, CPI(M), and CPI-ML (Liberation) are likely to attend the meeting, along with a few smaller parties that are also opposed to the BJP.

As part of his efforts to forge a united coalition ahead of the national elections, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has already met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee. Nitish Kumar had already announced that the meeting would be called after the conclusion of the assembly elections in Karnataka.

(With PTI inputs)

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Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Monday said that the Union government has assured him that there is no question of splitting the northeastern state and that there can be no compromise on its unity and integrity. Army personnel help a girl onto a truck after reuniting her with her parents in Manipur. (AFP)

Singhs assertion, made in an interaction with reporters on Monday, comes after his meeting on Sunday with Union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and in the backdrop of 10 Manipur MLAs from the Kuki tribe (including seven from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party) issuing a joint statement on Friday seeking separate administration under the Constitution for areas where the Kuki, Hmar and Zomi communities reside.

Singh also said that the government would act against militant groups under the so-called SoO or Suspension of Operations agreement under the terms of which they are not expected to bear arms.

Also read: Over 5,800 people from violence-hit Manipur fled to Mizoram: Report

Manipur witnessed intense ethic violence between May 3 and 5, with at least 73 people killed in clashes between the Meitei and the Kuki, sparked by a protest march by the Kuki against a Manipur high court order that asked the state government to recommend to the Union government that the Meitei be granted scheduled tribe status.

The violence had just about ebbed when the demand for a separate administrative region came.

Yesterday, we met Union home minister Amit Shah and briefed him in detail about the present situation in Manipur. He expressed sadness about the incidents and stated that the Centres priority would be restoration of normalcy in the state, said Singh.

The CM added that Shah assured him that Manipurs unity and integrity will not be affected at any cost.

He added that the home minister is meeting various stakeholders from Manipur in Delhi and will also be sending officials to the state to connect between the communities so that normalcy can be restored.

A central government official said that Shah directed officials to take strict action against the perpetrators of violence and assured complete support and help of the central government for ensuring lasting peace. The home minister said the government will take all measures to protect various communities in the state. He urged discussion with all factions and spread the message of peace and assured that justice would be done. He also stressed on expediting process of relief and rehabilitation, added the official.

Singh said that a joint monitoring committee comprising state police and central forces have been visiting designated camps of militant groups that come under Suspension of Operations agreement to ensure that their cadres return to the camps.

The CM said that the committee is also checking whether groups possessing guns, other than the militant groups under SoO, are involved in causing violence.

The home minister assured necessary action will be initiated by the Centre as well as state government against those who are having illegal weapons or using them to spread violence, the CM said.

Also read: Manipur violence: Hit by clashes, many continue to move to neighbouring states

In 2008, the Centre and the Manipur government signed a tripartite SoO agreement with two Kuki rebel groups, Kuki National Army (KNA) and Zomi Revolutionary Army. But in March this year, the Manipur government withdrew from the agreement following rallies and violent confrontations with police in Kangpokpi district.

The CM said that Shah has asked him to submit details on what can be done for those affected by the recent violence and assured resettlement of the displaced soon.

Singh appealed to people to not carry out rallies and protests which could hamper steps taken to restore peace.

He added that paramilitary forces have been deployed at the foothills of the hill districts and essential items are being provided to those staying in shelters and relief camps.

The CM asked the public not to believe in rumours, unverified information and sought support from civil society organisations to restore peace and normalcy.

On Sunday, security adviser to the Manipur government, Kuldiep Singh, told reporters that 73 bodies of those killed in violence have been recovered from the state.

He added that 243 people were injured in violence while 46,145 persons were evacuated to relief camps. At present, 26,358 people are staying in 178 relief camps.

Meanwhile, Indian Army said on Monday that the army in consultation with Manipur government and other stake holders has worked out fresh and elaborate security measures to address the fears of members of all communities especially those staying in vulnerable areas outside Imphal.

Stringent measures are in place to ensure continuance of hard earned peace in Manipur. Over 128 army and Assam Rifles columns, unmanned aerial vehicles have been relentlessly engaged in area domination to ensure early restoration of complete normalcy, said an Indian Army statement.

Domination of Indo-Myanmar border is also being effectively undertaken to deter any misadventure from Insurgent groups. Round the clock vigil through domination patrols and employment of UAVs, quadcopters and tracker dogs have significantly contributed towards deterring various insurgent groups in taking advantage of the prevailing situation, it added.

Assam Rifles carried out air evacuation of 96 stranded people from Phaisenjang, near the Indo-Myanmar Border in Chandel District on Monday. All of them were rehabilitated at Assam Rifles camp since the onset of clashes on May 4, but due to remoteness of the camp and to ensure their proper care, they were evacuated using MI 17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army on Monday said an alternate route has been opened by security forces to allow the movement of trucks carrying medicines and other essentials to Imphal Valley.

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300 more madrassas: In Telangana, Himanta Sarma's message to Owaisi Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday raked up issues like Uniform Civil Code (UCC), 'love jihad' and madrassas as he addressed a 'Hindu Ekta Yatra' organised by Telangana BJP president and Lok Sabha MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar at Karimnagar. Read more Assam chief minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma addresses the Hindu Ekta Yatra in Karimnagar on Sunday. (ANI)

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Actor Alia Bhatt is travelling to Seoul to attend Gucci's Cruise 2024 show in Seoul at the Gyeongbokgung Palace. Alia was recently named the first Indian Global Ambassador of the luxury fashion label. Read more

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Newly appointed Ambassador of the United States (US) to India, Eric Garcetti on Monday visited the Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat. Also known as the Gandhi Ashram, the place is of immense significance. Speaking to reporters present there, Garcetti talked about the India-US relationship. He said, Our relationship is not based on anyone else. It is based on each other, it is based on a warmth of friendship, and it's based on a common desire to have stronger economies and a peaceful, prosperous Indo-Pacific region. Wherever that is challenged, we stand together. Ambassador of United States to India Eric Garcetti spins the charkha during his visit to the Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram.(PTI)

"Today, while so much has changed since I was 19 years' old, one thing that has not changed is the sense of connection I feel, not only to this place now and to the man who lived here with his family, but to the aspirations of the Indian people and the universal aspirations of all of us to live freely and to recognise the work of every human being," he said.

"It doesn't matter where you come from, it does not matter who your parents are, it does not matter what religion you practice, it does not matter what language you speak--all that matters is the dreams in your hearts and working hard to achieve them. And those dreams of India are being realised every single day," the US Ambassador added.

US Ambassador Eric Garcetti had earlier posted a video on his Twitter handle recounting his visit to the MaharasthraBhawan in Delhi.

"From the bustling streets of LA to the colorful lanes of Delhi, my love of great food continues. I'm at Maharashtra Bhawan, eager to explore the fascinating flavors of India. Join me on this journey as I sample the essence of India, one state at a time. Where should I go next?," Garcetti posted.

Earlier on Thursday (May 11), Garcetti and envoys of Qatar and the Principality of Monaco on Thursday presented their credentials to President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Apart from his visits to the old city of Ahmedabad and the Sabarmati Ashram, Garcetti is also scheduled to meet the state leadership and watch a T20 cricket match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday opposed a plea by activist Gautam Navlakha, who is under house arrest in a public library in Mumbai in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, that he be shifted to a house in Alibag area of Maharashtras Raigad citing security concerns. On November 10, the top court had put certain conditions while granting permission to remain under house arrest. (File photo)

A bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna was told by additional solicitor general SV Raju, appearing for the NIA and the Maharashtra government, that shifting Navlakha is not feasible as the house in Alibag is 110 kilometres from the trial court and it takes nearly three-and-a-half-hours to reach.

Also Read: SC seeks NIA response on shifting Gautam Navlakha to Alibaug under house arrest

The second problem is that the house in Alibag area is located in a residential area where it is very difficult to cordon off. Hence, it is not feasible keeping in mind the security aspect in mind, he said.Raju also said the petitioner had earlier sought being moved from a jail to house arrest on health grounds and saying they were not getting good health facilities, but the area they now seek to be shifted to does not have any super speciality hospital.

Navlakha had approached the top court last year for permission to be kept in house arrest on account of multiple health ailments and advanced age.

On November 10, the top court had put certain conditions while granting permission to remain under house arrest. These conditions required him not to use mobile phone, internet or any gadgets among a host of other restrictions.

He was asked to pay the security cost of having round-the-clock security personnel from Maharashtra police at the property.

Senior advocate Nithya Ramakrishnan who appeared for Navlakha told the Court that as per an earlier order in April, a sum of 8 lakh was kept ready for payment to the Maharashtra police.

The ASG said, That is not the only issue. We have inspected the place at Alibaug, it is facing the sea and it is not safe from security point of view.

The NIA had claimed that Navlakha had still not paid more than 65 lakh towards cost of maintaining his security.

The bench asked Raju to place all the facts on the affidavit.

Ramakrishnan told the court to have the next hearing in August to facilitate her client finding other suitable homes for stay in Mumbai.

Navlakha was arrested in April 2020 for his alleged role in instigating the Bhima Koregaon violence in January 2018.

The NIA accused him of having links with banned Maoist organisation  Communist Party of India (Maoist) and Pakistans ISI.
The announcement of the name of the Karnataka chief minister will take some more time as uncertainty prevailed throughout Monday with DK Shivakumar cancelling his Delhi visit plan at the last moment. Dismissing speculations over infighting between the camp of Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar -- the two tall leaders of the southern state for the CM post-- DK Shivakumar said he would try to visit Delhi on Tuesday as he had a medical check-up scheduled on Monday among other commitments. Uncertainty over who will be the next Karnataka chief minister continues.

Here are the latest updates on the Karnataka CM announcement:

1. The three observers -- Sushilkumar Shinde, Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria, deputed by the Congress to speak to the newly elected MLAs of Karnataka submitted the report to Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi.

2. Mallikarjun Kharge will consult with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi before a decision is taken. Both Siddaramaiah and DK Sivakumar were called to New Delhi.

3. Siddaramaiah reached New Delhi in the afternoon. Several Congress leaders med Siddaranauag at Hotel ITC Maurya.

4. "I don't know...Everybody knows what has happened so far," Siddaramaaih said at night when asked about any development on the front of deciding the CM name.

5. DK Shivakumar's brother Congress MP DK Suresh arrived at Mallikarjun Kharge's residence at around 10pm after DK Shivakumar cancelled his visit.

6. Though Shivakumar reiterated that there was no faction fight for the CM post and the party is united, his last-minute cancellation of the New Delhi visit is being seen as a pressure tactic for a better negotiation. DK Suresh arriving at Kharge's residence late at night also adds to the speculation.

7. Siddaramaiah, early in the day, claimed that he has the support of more MLAs for his CM-ship. DK Shivakumar said he does not have any individual number as all 135 MLAs of the Congress who won the election were led by him.

8. DK Shivakumar said he was suffering from a stomach infection and was on drip. Doctors came and checked him at his residence in Bengaluru on Monday after which he said he would try to fly to Delhi on Tuesday.

9. "I'm a single man, I believe in one thing that a single man with courage makes a majority. I have proved it. I don't want to disclose what all has happened in the last five years and at a future point in time I will disclose," Shivakumar said.

10. DK Shivakumar said he wishes the best to Siddaramaiah but he is not aware of any secret ballot based on which Siddaramaiah claimed more support.

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The biggest takeaway from the Congress's emphatic win in the Karnataka assembly elections is that the party needs to start early for any polls and put in extra hard work, a political campaign strategist who worked closely with state unit chief DK Shivakumar said on Monday. Speaking to news agency PTI, Naresh Arora, head of the political campaign management company DesignBoxed, highlighted Congress's sustained campaign for two-and-a-half years helped percolate its message to the public, especially the party's 'guarantee' pitch. (Also Read | DK Shivakumar says I am single-man majority ahead of Karnataka CM decision) Congress leaders celebrate their win in the Karnataka assembly elections, in Bengaluru on Saturday. (ANI)

"Here the campaign was started two-and-a-half years before elections... the lesson is that one needs to be amongst the people 24X7 for 365 days. It cannot be that two months prior to the election, you go and think that people will be acknowledging you, it does not happen like that," Arora told PTI when he was asked about the biggest takeaway from the polls for the Congress.

"Especially a party like the Congress which has been on the back foot, needs to do extra hard work which I think was done in Karnataka, which is the biggest takeaway," he added.

Arora conceptualised several of the party's campaigns in the run up to the May 10 assembly polls and has also run other campaigns for the Congress in the past. Congress won 135 seats in the 224-member Karnataka assembly, while the BJP and the former prime minister H D Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) secured 66 and 19 seats, respectively.

Hailing the Congress' guarantee pitch, the campaign strategist said the party could not succeed in Assam as the promises could not percolate to the people due to the lack of time.

"It takes time for people to understand what is being told...Guarantee means going beyond commitment. The AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) took it to Punjab and used it successfully, now it worked in Karnataka," he said.

The Congress promised 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), 2,000 monthly assistance to woman heads of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), 10 kg of rice free to every member of BPL households (Anna Bhagya), 3,000 every month for unemployed graduate youths and 1,500 for unemployed diploma holders (both in the age group of 18-25) for two years (Yuva Nidhi), and free travel for women in public transport buses (Shakti).

While the election results have paved the way for a Congress government in Karnataka, the power tussle for chief ministership between former CM Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar is still on. Arora said he was sure that a decision on the chief ministership will be arrived at in consultation with Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.

"I am not a stakeholder in this process. I know that the Congress has gone through its tried and tested formula of one-line resolution and talking to the MLAs. I am pretty sure that the decision will be arrived at in consultation with both the senior leaders," Arora told PTI.

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As the Congress is set to solve the Siddaramaiah-DK Shivakumar conundrum in Karnataka, a statement by the Karnataka Waqf Board chief Shafi Sadi has led to a new flashpoint between the BJP and the Congress as Shafi Sadi demanded a Muslim deputy chief minister for the state. The Congress said Shafi Sadi is backed by the BJP and BJP making it an issue to attack the Congress which wrested the southern state from the BJP in a thumping victory is "a bit too much". Read | DK Shivakumar or Siddaramaiah? Kharge's key meet today to pick Karnataka CM. 10 points Karnataka Waqf Board has demanded a Muslim deputy chief minister in Karnataka.

"Secularism of the Congress kinds comes with a price," BJP's Amit Malviya taunted sharing the video of the Waqf Board chief.

"We already said before the elections that the deputy chief minister should be a Muslim and that 30 seats be given to us... We got 15, and nine Muslim candidates have won. In about 67-72 constituencies, the Congress won purely because of the Muslims. We gave a lot to the Congress. Now it's time we get something. We want a Muslim deputy chief minister and five ministers with good portfolios like Home, Revenue, and Education," Shafi Sadi said adding that an emergency meeting of the Sunni Ulma board took place.

"No Muslim has ever become a chief minister in Karnataka. But we are not even demanding that," the Waqf Board chief said.

In a jibe to Amit Malviya, Congress's Pawan Khera said, "I understand your need to fake. But this is a bit too much. Shafi Sadi is backed by BJP."

Another BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said the prominent Muslim group is demanding their pound of flesh and spoils in Karnataka. "Congress appeasement politics to give religious reservation, to repeal anti cow slaughter law, anti conversion law & ally with SDPI is now coming to haunt them. Dont be surprised if Karnataka becomes the most unstable & corrupt administration by Congress replicating their Rajasthan Template of appeasement & political adultery and instability," Shehzad tweeted.

The new controversy surfaces as the battle for the chief minister's post in Karnataka gets intense a day after the state's newly elected MLAs authorised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to choose the CM pick. Both Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, the top two contenders for the post, will be heading to Delhi. The Congress may go for a CM-deputy CM allocation for the dup like it did in Rajasthan when Ashok Gehlot was made the chief minister and Sachin Pilot the deputy. That did not end well in Rajasthan and the Waqf Board's demand of a Muslim deputy CM also spells trouble for such a solution in Karnataka.

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Ace political strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor has suffered an injury which could keep him off his state-wide Jan Suraaj march in Bihar for about two weeks. The former political consultant told reporters that he had developed pain in his left leg during his padyatra in the Vaishali district. The doctors later diagnosed muscle tear caused by walking long distances. Kishor will be recuperating from the tear for the next 15 days before he resumes his foot march again. Political strategist-activist Prashant Kishor (PTI File)(HT_PRINT)

"I am encountering no other health problem. The muscle tear was caused by walking long distances on bad roads. I refused to take a break in order to maintain honesty of purpose", the 45-year-old IPAC chief told reporters at Morwa in Samastipur.

"It has been advised that since the padayatra will take many more months to cover every nook and corner of Bihar, I halt for some time to allow the healing process. The padayatra will resume after about 15 days from this very spot in the same format and with the same intensity," he said.

Kishor, known for his role in shaping election campaigns and strategies for various political parties, claims to have had his fill of professional consultancy and that he wants to help his home state Bihar come out of the quagmire of economic stagnation. While the former poll strategist has indicated several times that his Jan Suraaj campaign may evolve into a full-fledged political party, he has ruled himself out as the leader.

Major political formations in the state seem bewildered by his drive and the ruling 'Mahagathbandhan' as well as BJP have suspected him of being in cahoots with their respective opponents. Nonetheless, the campaign seems to have gained some traction of late, with the surprise victory of an independent candidate backed by it in a recent by-election to a legislative council seat. Kishot got a shot in the arm with many former IPS officers joining his Jan Suraj campaign in Bihar. Kishors initiative completed a year on May 2 with his padyatra covering almost 3,000 km in seven districts. He is likely to undertake padyatra in the remaining 30 districts as well.

(With PTI inputs)

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On the 30th death anniversary of Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa or KM Cariappa, who became the first Indian commander-in-chief after British general Roy Butcher in 1949, the Indian Army and several political leaders remembered Cariappa calling him a national hero, legend and epitome of courage, bravery and valour. Cariappa had joined the British Indian Army sometime after the first World War. He had been then commissioned as a temporary first lieutenant.

We salute Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa today, the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army. A national hero known for many firsts, he played a key role in the transition of the Indian military from colonial to independent India, and his legacy continues to be celebrated, the Congress tweeted.

The Indian Army also took to Twitter to pay tribute to him calling him a legend always. Union roadways minister Nitin Gadkari also tweeted in remembrance of Cariappa.

The Northern Command of the Indian Army tweeted, '            '. Remembering the legend, Field Marshal KM Cariappa, OBE, the 1st Indian Commander-in-Chief of the #IndianArmy, on his Death Anniversary. He was one of the greatest Indian Military leaders who created many structural changes & adopted the slogan 'Jai Hind' which means 'Victory to India'.

Who was KM Cariappa?

KM Cariappa was the first Indian Army commander-in-chief and was popularly known as the Kipper. His distinguished military career was spread across three decades.

Born in Karnataka on January 28, 1899, he was honoured with the King's Commission in 1919 along with the first batch of Indian cadets. In 1933, Cariappa became the first Indian officer who joined the Staff College in now-Pakistan's Quetta.

Cariappa had joined the British Indian Army sometime after the First World War. He had been then commissioned as a temporary first lieutenant. Cariappa had been transferred pin several segments and regiments before he had been put in 1/7 Rajputs, which ended up becoming his permanent regiment.

Having years of experience, Cariappa had served at various staff units and command headquarters along with the General Army headquarters in New Delhi. Not just that, before he took over as the Commander-in-Chief, Cariappa had served as the Commander of the Indian Army's Western Command and Eastern Command.

Cariappa was the first Indian officer to ever command a battalion. As per the Indian Army, In 1942, Lt Col K M Cariappa raised 7th Rajput Machine Gun Battalion (now 17 Rajput). In 1946, as a Brigadier, he joined the Imperial Defence College, UK.

He was also among the first two Indians who had been selected to undergo training at the Imperial Defence College in Camberley, United Kingdom.

Cariappa had also led the Indian Army forces on the Western Command during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1947.

However, during the Partition, Cariappa was recalled from the UK to be a member of the Army Sub Committee of the Forces Reconstitution Committee. He also aided in reaching a cordial settlement during the division of the army between India and Pakistan.

Cariappa is one of the only two Indian Army Field Marshals who have held the Five-star rank, the other one being Sam Manekshaw.

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A political row broke out on Monday after the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court calling it factually baseless that the Adani Group was being investigated by the regulator since 2016, prompting several Opposition leaders to cite a July 2021 reply by the junior finance minister to Parliament stating that Sebi is investigating some Adani Group companies with regard to compliance with Sebi Regulations. To be sure, the affidavit itself answers this in a way by saying that Sebi first approached overseas regulators on October 6, 2020, in the context of investigation into Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS) norms of some Adani companies. Indian stock market laws require a listed company to have a minimum public shareholding of 25%. The matter got adjourned to July 10 due to paucity of time. (HT FIle)

Also read: Legally untenable: SEBI warns against immature conclusions on its Adani Group probe

On Monday, Sebi submitted an additional affidavit before a bench led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, contending that no listed company of the Adani Group has been investigated by it since 2016 for suspected misuse of Global Depository Receipts (GDRs) instruments for routing black money back to India.

The top court, which is monitoring the Sebi probe into Adani-Hindenburg episode and has also set up a panel headed by its retired judge AM Sapre to look into regulatory failure and breach of laws, was expected to rule on an application by Sebi asking for at least six more months to complete its investigation.

While the matter got adjourned to July 10 due to paucity of time, Sebi brought on record an additional affidavit to refute a claim made last week by advocate Prashant Bhushan on behalf of one of the PIL petitioners that the regulator has already been looking into some complaints of alleged violation of laws by the Adani group since 2016.

Sebi said in its affidavit that its 2016 investigation had nothing to do with the Hindenburg report but pertained only to GDRs by 51 Indian listed companies. However, no listed company of Adani Group was part of the aforesaid 51 companies. Pursuant to completion of investigation, appropriate enforcement actions were taken in this matter. Hence, the allegation that Sebi is investigating Adani since 2016 is factually baseless, it added.

The Government stands by its reply in Lok Sabha on 19th July 2021 to Q. No. 72, which was based on due diligence and inputs from all concerned agencies, the finance ministry tweeted.

Attacking Sebis stance in the top court, senior Congress leader and former Union minister Jairam Ramesh tweeted a written reply by the Union minister of state for finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, on July 19, 2021, that Sebi was investigating the Adani Group.

Now Sebi tells the Supreme Court that they have not been investigating any of the serious allegations against Adani! Which is worsemisleading Parliament, or being fast asleep as lakhs of investors are duped by alleged money-laundering and round-tripping using offshore shell companies? Or even worse, was there a restraining hand from above? posted Ramesh, attaching the junior ministers reply to his tweet.

Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi tweeted: Was the junior finance minister lying to the country regarding the investigation in his answer on 19 July 2021? This smells of a cover up but at whose behest?

TMC MP Mahua Moitra had in July 2021 raised a question in Parliament: Whether the FPIs and/or Adani entities are under investigation by SEBI, IT, ED, DRI, MCA for suspicious transactions and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons.

Responding, Chaudhary said in his reply: Yes Maam. Sebi is investigating some Adani Group companies with regard to compliance with Sebi Regulations. Further, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) is investigating certain entities belonging to the Adani Group of Companies under laws administered by it. As far as investigation under Income Tax Act, 1961 is concerned, disclosure of information regarding specific taxpayer is prohibited except as provided under Section 138 of Act. No such investigation is going on in the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Hindenburgs report, released on 24 January, claimed brazen accounting fraud and stock manipulation by the Gautam Adani-led group. Though the conglomerate rejected the report as unresearched and maliciously mischievous, it triggered a massive rout of Adani Group stocks, which lost over $140 billion in days and forced the cancellation of a 20,000 crore share sale in the groups flagship.

Also read: After Sebi's legal filing in SC, Adani Group says 'no conclusions of wrong-doing'

The Adani Group, however, denied allegations of stock market manipulation and accounting fraud by Hindenburg.

Meanwhile, Sebis affidavit on Monday reiterated its request for extending the time by at least six months, maintaining that the 12 transactions referred to as suspicious in the Hindenburg report are highly complex and they have many sub-transactions across numerous jurisdictions.

A rigorous investigation of these transactions would require collation of data/information from various sources including bank statements from multiple domestic as well as international banks, financial statements of onshore and offshore entities involved in the transactions and contracts and agreements, if any, entered between entities. Thereafter, analysis would have to be conducted on the documents received from various sources before conclusive findings can be arrived at, said Sebi.

About its investigation into the minimum public shareholding (MPS) norms, the affidavit said that the regulator has already approached 11 overseas regulators under the multilateral memorandum of understanding with International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and the first request to overseas regulators was made as early as in October 2020.

The application for extension of time filed by Sebi is meant to ensure carriage of justice keeping in mind the interest of investors and the securities market since any incorrect or premature conclusion of the case arrived at without full facts material on record would not serve the ends of justice and hence would be legally untenable, it emphasised.

On Friday last week, the Supreme Court offered an additional three months to Sebi, expressing reservations about the regulators request for a six-month timeframe. The court, however, said that it would review the Justice Sapre committees report on regulatory failure and breach of laws before deciding on an extension to Sebi.

Sebi, during the proceedings on Friday, told the bench that it is yet to form a final opinion regarding the suspicious nature of transactions and alleged breach of laws by the Adani group, as pointed out by Hindenburg Research .

On that day, advocate Bhushan, appearing for PIL petitioner Anamika Jaiswal, opposed Sebis request, claiming that the regulator has been looking into similar complaints against the Adani group since 2016.

A six-member panel, led by former Supreme Court judge AM Sapre, was set up by the courts March 2 order to investigate allegations of regulatory failure and breach of laws against the Adani group and to suggest steps to bolster the statutory and supervisory regime.

At that time, the Adani Group, in a statement, had said it welcomes the investigation, which represents a fair opportunity for everyone to be heard and for all issues to be addressed.

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Supreme Court justice Mukeshkumar Rasikbhai Shah, who sat on the Constitution bench that decided on the contentious Delhi-Centre power tussle for control over the bureaucracy and the rift within the Shiv Sena, retired on Monday, delivering a record 700-plus judgments in his 54-month stint at the top court. Justice Mukeshkumar Rasikbhai Shah was elevated to the Supreme Court in 2018 and on November 9 last year

I call him Tiger Shah, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud said at his farewell function, recollecting how his brother judge, as part of the collegium, was instrumental in helping him with mature, practical advice on how to work with the government on judicial appointments.

Also read: Did not probe Adani since 2016, Sebi tells SC; row erupts

He was a solid colleague, full of practical wisdom, mature, grounded and middle of the road advice and how to tackle others, whether this side or the other side, the CJI said, speaking at the event organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association in honour of justice Shah.

Justice Shah was elevated to the Supreme Court in 2018 and on November 9 last year, when justice Chandrachud became the CJI, entered the collegium, which consists of five senior-most judges who recommend judges for the Supreme Court.

The CJI said he appreciated justice Shahs willingness to take up all work, eagerness to write judgments and ability to always learn. Even the recent constitution bench judgment was returned in less than 48 hours to me with annotations at the bottom, the CJI said.

The CJI further revealed that the decision to have paperless court proceedings in the Delhi-Centre matter led him to initiate justice Shah to the laptop. I could see justice Shah on my right and justice Krishna Murari on my left, working furiously on their laptops, he said.

Justice Shah during his stint in the Supreme Court achieved the rare feat of writing 712 judgments, with CJI Chandrachud a distant second with 552 judgments to his name, said bar association vice-president Pradeep Rai.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, justice Shah was instrumental in pursuing state governments to provide Covid compensations for families who lost their dear ones to the deadly coronavirus. It was a bench comprising justice Shah that waived off compound interest charged by banks on loans during the moratorium announced by lenders after lockdown was declared in the country in March 2020.

I have lost so many things during this journey as a judge, but I have no regrets. It is time for me to rediscover as I am just 65 years old, Justice Shah said.

Prior to my elevation to the Supreme Court, I had never entered the court except on one occasion, added justice Shah, who is the first judge in his family. He had a flourishing legal practice at Gujarat high court, his parent high court where he became a judge in March 2004. In August 2018, he became chief justice of Patna high court before his elevation to the top court.

Adorning the ceremonial bench earlier in the day with CJI Chandrachud and justice PS Narasimha, justice Shah broke down while reciting a couplet from Raj Kapoor-starrer Mera Naam Joker on his last day in office.

Also read: Can be contempt: AAP govt to SC on attempt to block secy transfer after ruling

Known as a no-nonsense judge who effected speedy disposal of cases by keeping a strict stance against grant of adjournments, justice Shah also courted controversy during his tenure for openly praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a function organized in Gujarat. He described Modi as our most loved, vibrant and visionary leader at the diamond jubilee function of the Gujarat high court in February 2021.

Justice Shah also presided over the bench that held an urgent sitting on a Saturday in October to stay the release of former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba in a case where he was arrested for alleged Maoist links. In April, the bench headed by justice Shah ordered the matter for fresh consideration by the Bombay high court.

Justice Shahs repartees and wit made his court lively. The CJI recalled his courage and fighting spirit in recovering from a heart attack last year. God helped me whenever I was in trouble, justice Shah remarked.
It is an act of intellectual dishonesty not to grant bail in suitable cases, the Supreme Court observed on Monday as it declined to grant urgent hearing to a judicial officer from Uttar Pradesh who was sent for training at the state judicial academy for denying bail, an apparent breach of the top courts guidelines. On May 2, the SC bench asked the Allahabad high court to send the Lucknow judge for upgradation of his skills in a judicial academy.

If dishonesty in granting bail is a problem, it is also a form of dishonesty not to grant bail in cases where they are due...it is intellectual dishonesty, said a bench led by justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul after the judicial officer from Lucknow requested for the courts indulgence.

Also read: Did not probe Adani since 16, Sebi tells SC; row erupts

On May 2, the bench, which also comprised justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah, had asked the Allahabad high court to send the Lucknow judge for upgradation of his skills in a judicial academy as it monitored a series of past orders aimed at curbing the tendency of trial courts to routinely order arrests of accused and lessening the burden of litigation in courts that follows as a result of their arrest. Most of these orders were passed on a batch of cases titled Satender Kumar Antil.

On Monday, senior advocate PS Patwalia, appearing for the judicial officer, presented before the bench the biggest predicament of the Lucknow judge.

The judicial officer is set to retire on June 30, and he is in the zone of consideration for being appointed as a judge in the Allahabad high court, Patwalia told the bench. The senior counsel added that the judicial officer has more than three decades of service behind him. He was appointed in 1990, emphasised Patwalia.

The bench was quick to retort: If he has been a judicial officer for 30 years, all the more reason why he should have been careful and understood the orders of this court...It will be useful for him if he goes to the academy for a few days.

Patwalia tried to persuade the bench that the judicial officer did rely on the Supreme Courts string of directives for the trial courts to grant bail to the accused, who cooperated during investigation and were not arrested once during the probe, when they are summoned at the time of filing of charge sheets. In a series of orders passed since last year, the apex court also held that even regular bail should be granted to accused who fulfil the twin criteria listed above and seek regular bail on being summoned.

Even as Patwalia read out the order passed by the Lucknow judge and repeatedly pressed that he could be considered for elevation to the high court, the bench was not moved. The approach must change. If they come to the high court, they will do the same thing. We passed several orders that the accused should not be arrested if they were not arrested during the investigation. They should be summoned at the time of consideration of the charge sheet and be granted bail. If they do not appear despite summons, bailable warrant should be issued initially and then a non-bailable warrant can be issued, it said.

The court added that the seniority of the judicial officer in question is an additional reason why it was not inclined to take a lenient view. We cannot give him a benefit of doubt. We cannot give him such a long rope...Also, we have not said in our order that he should not be considered for the high court, the bench further observed.

It told Patwalia that the judicial officers application will come up in due course on August 8 when the main matter is listed and that the court cannot grant him an urgent hearing.

The May 2 order of the bench came after it was shown an order of the Lucknow sessions judge, passed on April 26, in which he rejected the anticipatory bail pleas of several accused in a matrimonial dispute despite being informed about the top courts judgment. The accused parents in the case were not arrested throughout the investigation. The Lucknow judge cited a specious ground saying ample safeguards are available to applicants while denying them anticipatory bail.

Also read: Can be contempt: AAP govt to SC on attempt to block secy transfer after ruling

On that day, senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, assisting the court as amicus curiae, showed a similar instance of non-compliance by a Ghaziabad sessions judge in an anti-corruption case. The accused was a cancer patient who was denied anticipatory bail. The bench asked the Allahabad high court to look into the order passed by this judicial officer too.

The judgment of this court, including the one in Satender Kumar Antils case, is the law of the land. There is no question of anyone violating the principles laid down. Suffice for us to say that wherever this judgment is applicable, its principles must be followed, the court had directed on May 2.

As Luthra pointed out that scores of violations were being reported from courts in Uttar Pradesh, the bench on that day directed that its order should be placed before the chief justice of the Allahabad high court to ensure there is sufficient dissemination of information about this judgment.

The top court also asked the Allahabad high court to inform it whether the high court has identified if some judicial officers were still frequently passing orders not in conformity with the Antil judgment and whether any of such officers have been sent to judicial academies for further upgradation of their skills.

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The Afghan embassy in the Indian capital has become the setting of a tussle between diplomats of the former republic and the current administration in Kabul, with the Taliban choosing an individual perceived as close to Haqqani Network leaders as charge daffaires. Since the fall of the Ashraf Ghani government in 2021, the Afghan embassy has been run by a dwindling group of diplomats led by Farid Mamundzay, who was appointed ambassador in September 2020. (Ajay Aggarwal /HT PHOTO)

There has been no official word from the Indian side on the differences that emerged into the open over the weekend, and people familiar with developments described the matter as an internal affair of Afghanistan in which New Delhi has no role. India, like countries around the world, doesnt officially recognise the Taliban setup that assumed power in August 2021.

Also read: Afghanistan's first polio case of 2023 detected in 4-year-old: Report

Since the fall of the Ashraf Ghani government in 2021, the Afghan embassy has been run by a dwindling group of diplomats led by Farid Mamundzay, who was appointed ambassador in September 2020. Though the Taliban have made some 14 attempts over the past two years to remove the ambassador and other officials, matters apparently came to a head in April, while Mamundzay was on a visit abroad to meet his family.

Trade counsellor Qadir Shah, who too was appointed by the previous administration and sent to New Delhi in March 2020, was named charge daffaires by Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on April 25, and another order asked Mamundzay to return to Kabul.

Shah, who till recently was clean-shaven and used to be seen in suits but has now grown a beard and discarded Western attire, sent a note verbale or unsigned diplomatic correspondence to the external affairs ministry on April 28 about the appointment, the people said. The Indian side has not said anything officially about this correspondence.

On April 29, the other Afghan diplomats refused to accept Shah as their head and evicted him from the mission. Mamundzay returned to New Delhi on May 1 and Shah has been barred from entering the mission on three occasions since then, the people said.

Shah belongs to Afghanistans Khost province, a stronghold of the Haqqani Network. His father Zahid Shah Angar is considered close to former Haqqani Network commander Mali Khan, a maternal uncle of senior Taliban leader Sirajuddin Haqqani. Khan is currently deputy chief of staff of the Taliban armed forces and Angar has lobbied for his sons appointment to a top post in New Delhi, the people said.

Mamundzay declined to comment on the developments and a statement issued by the Afghan embassy on Monday rejected claims from an individual to have taken charge of the mission...at the behest of the Taliban. The statement added that this individual was responsible for spreading misinformation and running a baseless and unsubstantiated campaign against officials of the mission, including totally fabricated allegations of corruption based on an unsigned letter.

This was an apparent reference to reports in the Afghan media citing an unsigned letter from Afghan refugees that levelled allegations of graft against Mamundzay and other diplomats.

Also read: Taliban says China seeking investment in Afghanistan's oil, gas

The Afghan embassy statement further informed Afghan nationals that the mission continues functioning as normal and working for their interests in India. It also appreciated the Indian governments consistent position on supporting the interests of the Afghan people and not recognising the Taliban regime in Kabul, as it has been the case with democratic countries around the world.

The people said the episode highlights the complexities involved in Indias engagement with the Taliban. Though it doesnt recognise the setup in Afghanistan, India deployed a technical team to Kabul in June 2022 to re-establish a presence there. Indian officials have also gone to Kabul for meetings with top Taliban leaders such as Muttaqi and Sirajuddin Haqqani.

Currently, about 30 Afghan embassies are still run by diplomats appointed by the former regime but the Taliban have succeeded in appointing officials of their choice to missions in Pakistan, China, Russia, Iran and Uzbekistan.

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As many as 10 people including three women died allegedly after consuming spurious liquor in Villupuram and Chengalpattu districts of Tamil Nadu, officials said on Sunday. Villagers block a road to protest after five people died after allegedly consuming spurious liquor, in Viluppuram district,(PTI)

Six people hailing from Ekkiyarkuppam near Marakkanam in Villupuram district died on Sunday. In Maduranthagam in Chengalpattu district, two persons died on Friday and a couple died on Sunday, all caused due to illicit liquor consumption, officials said.

"Currently, more than two dozen people are undergoing treatment and are said to be doing well," they said further.

Following the incident, Inspector General of Police (North) N Kannan assured proper actions and said that all 10 victims possibly consumed spurious liquor with ethanol-methanol substances in it.

He said that two separate incidents of spurious liquor deaths have been reported in the north zone of Tamil Nadu and as of now police don't found any evidence of a link between the two incidents but police are investigating from an angle to find any possible links between both the incidents.

"Two spurious liquor incidents have been reported, one in Chengalpattu district and another one in Villupuram district. In Ekkiyarkuppam village under Villupuram district near Marakkanam, yesterday 6 were hospitalised with complaints of Vomiting, eye irritation, vomiting and giddiness. On information, a police team reached the village and admitted ill to the hospital. In this four have died as they didn't respond to the treatment while two are in the Intensive Care Unit. 33 are doing well with treatment," IG said while addressing a press conference at Villupuram on Sunday.

Meanwhile, two more people died while undergoing treatment in ICU taking the death count to six in the Villupuram district and the overall death toll to 10.

"In connection with the incident, a man identified as Amaran has been arrested and spurious liquor has also been seized from his possession. It has been sent to the lab to ascertain the presence of methanol in it," IG said further.

Detailing about the second incident in Chengalpattu district where 4 people died, IG N Kannan said, "In the morning, one case was reported from Chithamur of Chengalpattu district where two persons of a family died. While another person was undergoing treatment in the hospital. Initially, we thought this could be a suicide attempt because of a family dispute but after watching their symptom we suspected it to be a spurious liquor incident."

"Following this an alert was raised in the area. Later two more were admitted to the hospital with similar symptoms. A total of four people died while the fifth is undergoing treatment. An autopsy has been done and in connection with the incident one accused named Ammavasai has been arrested," N Kannan added.

He also mentioned preliminary investigation and found that all deceased could possibly have consumed spurious liquor with ethanol and methanol mixed substances which could be the reason for death. "In both incidents, a few accused are absconding and special teams are formed to trace and nab the accused," he said.

He said that disciplinary actions have also been taken against the officials concerned. "In the Villupuram Marakkanam, 2 inspectors and 2 sub-inspectors have been suspended. Likewise, in connection with the Chengalpattu incident, an inspector and 2 sub-inspector have been suspended," IG added.
Another round of assembly elections, followed by yet another peaceful transition of power, has been completed, proving that democracy in India is a living, thriving thing. Once again, as it has done so many times before in Karnataka, the Grand Old Party has registered a thumping win. KC Reddy fought a long fight to become the chief minister of Mysore in 1947 (HT)

It wasnt always this way, however. The transition from hereditary monarchy to a democratically elected government wasnt an easy one to accomplish, even in a princely state as liberal and benevolent as Mysore. While Maharaja Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, whom Gandhiji once hailed as a Rajarishi, had voluntarily set up a bicameral legislature with peoples representatives appointed by him, the idea of a fully elected government was difficult to digest. That anxiety was only exacerbated by the Government of India Act of 1935, which assured far greater independence in decision-making to people in British-ruled provinces.

But the Act was only the culmination of a struggle for self-determination that had formally begun with the founding of the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1885, just four years after Nalvadis father, Chamarajendra X, ascended the throne. By the 1920s, buoyed by charismatic leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, that struggle was a real force in the provinces. Naturally, that fervour began to spill into the princely states, with people viewing their kings as oppressors no different from the British. In 1930, inspired by the call for Purna Swaraj at the 1929 Lahore Session of the INC, a young lawyer called Kyasamballi Chengalaraya (KC) Reddy founded the Praja Paksha party, with the mission of installing a responsible government in Mysore. In 1937, the Praja Paksha, now the Praja Samyukta Paksha, joined forces with the INC to become the Mysore Congress.

In the same year, the Indian Provincial Elections were held for the first time, sweeping the INC into power in seven of the eleven provinces. The writing on the wall could not be clearer to Nalvadi and his Diwan, Sir Mirza Ismail, who believed implicitly that Mysore should remain a sovereign monarchy. On April 25, 1938, a large group of people who had gathered at Vidurashwatha village in Chikkaballapura district to hoist the Indian flag, flouting prohibitory orders (only the Mysore flag could be hoisted), were fired upon by police. At the end of 90 rounds of firing, 32 people were dead, and scores more injured. The government responded by giving the policemen involved a clean chit.

Mysore erupted in such anger that the national leadership, including Gandhiji himself, took note, sending Vallabhbhai Patel and Acharya Kripalani to Mysore to take stock. That led to the signing of the Mirza-Patel pact, which, among other things, gave Mysore Congress leaders representation in the Maharajas Reforms Committee, and removed all restrictions on the hoisting of the Indian flag in the kingdom. The movement towards Mysores self-determination had begun.

The Indian Independence Act of 1947 gave princely states the choice to either accede to the newly-created Dominions of India, or to continue as sovereign states. One of the first Indian kings to sign the Instrument of Accession, on August 9, 1947, was the 28-year-old Jayachamarajendra (JC) Wadiyar. Even as he sought clarity on a future course of action, KC Reddy launched the Mysore Chalo agitation with a fiery speech to a crowd of 40,000 at Bengalurus Subhash Nagar on 1st September, demanding responsible government. On September 24th, after an intense two weeks of rioting that left 20 people dead in various incidents of police firing across the state, two of them in Malleswaram, JC bowed to the will of the people.

On 27th October, 1947, KC Reddy was sworn in as the first (non-elected) Chief Minister of Mysore. Vox populi, vox Dei.

(Roopa Pai is a writer who has carried on a longtime love affair with her hometown Bengaluru)
Kathaka is not only the name of a classical dance of North India but is also the name of a community of musicians and dancers, who practice music and dance, to earn their livelihood. Based on the available records, they were spread across the sub-continent of India. Several invasions and onslaughts, mainly in the northern part of the country, not only affected the geo-political and cultural, conditions but also gave rise to a mosaic culture, which in turn led to the perpetuation of myths and stories. From the origins of Kathak to the intricate footwork and hand gestures, there is much to uncover about this beautiful dance form. Let's discover some of the lesser-known aspects of Kathak and shed light on the myths that surround it. (Also read: Famous traditional dance forms of India you should know about ) Kathak is a classical dance form that originated in northern India and has a rich cultural and historical significance. (File photo)

Myths and facts about Kathak dance

Prof Ranjana Srivastava, Former Dean Faculty of Performing Arts (FPA), BHU Varanasi, India and Head of Dance Department, FPA, shared with HT Lifestyle, some unknown facts about this famous dance form.

1. Myth: Katha Kahe so Kathaka Kahave

Fact: The subcontinent of India boasts of enormously rich, varied, and enviable traditions, in stories and storytelling- the kathas and the katha vachaks. All the classical dances of India, and yes, Kathaka Dance, included too, have kathas (stories), in their repertoire - and all the dance forms, tell stories. The exclusive status accorded to kathas (stories) in Kathaka Dance form, as per the above-mentioned myth, aka saying, becomes explicit when one reads the Nirukta of Yaska Muni, which mentions Kathakaya Acharya.

2. Myth: Kathaka was born in the temples and nurtured in the court of Wajid Ali Shah

Fact: The evolution, of what we know as Kathak dance, today, has been traced to Dhrupada Nritya, which traces a very ancient history of lineage. The reference, to the courts, is largely understood as the court of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, the Nawab of Oudh, but this is, partially true. The contribution of the courts of the Hindu Rajas, along with other regional and folk forms, cannot be ruled out.

3. Myth: Syllables taa  thei  tatta, were produced, when Lord Krishna, danced on the hood of the venomous snake, Kaalia

Fact: The myth is aligned, symbolically  giving a logical explanation to a popular belief that Lord Krishna, came out of the waters of the river Yamuna, dancing on the hood of the serpent Kalia - subduing the snake and its ego, with one foot placed on its hood and the other foot, pointing towards the sky, producing the sounds - taa  thei  tatta and suggesting that he is the Lord of the three worlds  akasha, patala and the prithivi.

However, research and findings, direct to a more logical understanding - Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as Vaman avataar, produced the three distinct sounds: taa  thei 'tatta, when he conquered the three worlds as Trivikrama -Vishnus feet, falling on three different elements: Earth. Water and Space, creating three distinct sounds which encapsulated the basic mnemonic syllables of the Kathaka dance.

4. Myth: The amada compositions, are on mnemonic syllables  taa, thei and tatta, and is performed by the dancer, as he/she enters the stage, because amada, a Persian word means  entry

Fact: The syllables  taa, thei and tatta, are the first - basic syllables of Kathaka dance, and therefore the term amada, used, to define compositions, having these basic syllables, of the Dance -Kathaka.

5. Myth: Tattkara generally understood as footwork. The sounds produced by the dancers feet along with the ghoongroos.

Fact: Etymologically tattakar, is made up of tatt + akara. In Sanskrit, tatta is also used for Brahma who is both luminous and formless and akara means form or shape. Hence, the fact - dancing is the art of giving form and shape to Brahama . aakara to the Nirakara, through the sounds and movements.

It is the art, which makes possible, the joining of the two worlds of experience. the exoteric and the esoteric, and the tattakarain Kathaka, is both the starting and the returning point.
Cannes 2023: The highly anticipated 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to commence on Tuesday, May 16, and will continue until May 27. This annual event, held in the picturesque French Riviera town of Cannes, attracts renowned figures from the international film industry who grace the red carpet. Indian celebrities also make their presence felt at this prestigious festival, contributing to the creation of unforgettable fashion moments year after year. Hina Khan, a prominent Indian celebrity, is set to attend the Cannes Film Festival once again, showcasing her presence on the international platform. Having made her debut at Cannes in 2019, the diva has been evolving her red-carpet looks ever since. Hina Khan's memorable and head-turning red-carpet appearances at the Cannes Film Festival. (Instagram )

From exquisite, sweeping gowns to form-fitting dresses, she continues to provide fashion inspiration for enthusiasts worldwide. As we eagerly anticipate the looks she will grace us with this year, let's take a moment to reflect on Hina Khan's memorable and head-turning red-carpet appearances at the Cannes Film Festival. (Also read: Cannes 2023: From Deepika Padukone to Aishwarya Rai, a throwback to the red carpet looks that stole the show in 2022 )

Hina Khan best looks from Cannes

Maxi-length thigh-high slit dress

Hina Khan made a stunning appearance at Cannes 2022, where she wore an eye-catching turquoise blue maxi-length dress with thigh-high slits. Her dress features a plunging V neckline, full sleeves, and an embellished see-through slip underneath, adding allure to her ensemble. She accessorized with silver pumps, and diamond jewellery, and opted for a sleek low bun hairstyle. Her makeup featured shimmery silver eyeshadow, mascara, a mauve lip shade, and glowing skin.

Embellished lavender gown

Who can forget Hina Khan's show-stopping appearance on Day 3 of the 75th Cannes Film Festival? The actress was a vision in a lavender gown that featured an array of stunning design elements. The strapless dress boasted a daring square neckline and delicate lace embellishments that were perfectly offset by feather adornments scattered throughout. With diamond jewelry, minimal makeup, and open side-parted tresses she completed her glamorous look. It was a truly unforgettable look that cemented Hina's reputation as a style icon at the Cannes Film Festival.

Semi-sheer mini black dress

Hina Khan showcased her glamorous side in a voguish-black ensemble during one of her appearances at Cannes 2022. The actress donned a stunning mini dress that exuded oomph, featuring a semi-sheer bodice with delicate lace details and a dramatic tulle train. Keeping the styling elegant and monochromatic, she paired the dress with black heels and minimal accessoriesa dazzling bracelet and earrings. Her makeup was flawless, featuring brown lips, radiant highlighter, shimmery eyelids, and defined brows. Hina truly stole the show with her impeccable fashion sense and glamorous presence.

Pleated red gown

Hina Khan made heads turn and owned the spotlight with her bold and stunning red strapless gown from Rami Al at Cannes 2022. The gown featured captivating pleated detailing that added depth and allure to her ensemble. Complementing her look, she accessorized with elegant dangling earrings, adding a touch of glamour. Hina's flawless makeup accentuated her natural beauty, while her stylishly left-open short hair added a chic and fashionable element to her overall appearance. She truly painted the town red with her captivating presence at Cannes.

Grey metallic gown

Radiating pure enchantment, Hina Khan stole the spotlight on the fifth day of Cannes 2019 with an absolute showstopper. Bedecked in a mesmerizing grey tulle gown by the esteemed Australian fashion house, Alin Le Kal, she left us breathless. This sheer masterpiece featured a fitted bodice, cinching her tiny waist, while the ethereal grey fabric gracefully rose from the top. But wait, there's more! With a daring thigh-high slit stealing the show, the lower part of her gown transformed into a magnificent train, turning heads at every step.

Silver see-through floor length gown

In a dazzling display of style, Hina Khan made her grand entrance at Cannes in 2019, clad in a mesmerizing silver gown by Ziad Nakad Couture. This unforgettable ensemble boasted long cape sleeves that added a touch of drama, perfectly complementing the gown's plunging back and neckline. Adorned with intricate silver embellishments, the gown sparkled and shimmered, capturing the attention of all who laid eyes upon it. Hina Khan's debut at Cannes was nothing short of breathtaking, setting the stage for a remarkable journey of fashion and glamour.
The 76th Festival de Cannes will begin on Tuesday, May 16, and end on May 27. Every year, many Indian celebrities attend the prestigious film festival on the French Riviera and walk the red carpet in exquisite ensembles. This year, Anushka Sharma is headed to the French Riviera to debut at the film festival, where she will honour women in cinema along with Oscar winner Kate Winslet. French Ambassador to India, Emmanuel Lenain, announced Anushka's attendance earlier this month. Before Anushka walks the red carpet at the festival, we decided to look back at some of her memorable and unmissable red carpet fashion moments that prove her Cannes debut will be nothing less than iconic. Scroll through to check out our favourite looks of Anushka. Anushka Sharma to debut at Cannes Film Festival: Check out her best red carpet looks. (Instagram)

Cannes 2023: Anushka Sharma's best red carpet looks

Anushka Sharma in a black double-slit gown

Anushka Sharma's love for black translates into her red-carpet glamour, serving fans with unforgettable fashion moments. Anushka wore this sleeveless black gown - featuring a round neckline, risque double thigh-high slits, a cinched waist, and a floor-sweeping train - to attend an awards show. She styled it with a statement Bulgari neckpiece, diamond rings, killer high heels, a sleek chignon bun, and minimal makeup.

Anushka Sharma's purple wonder

Anushka Sharma attended an award show with her husband, Virat Kohli, looking magnificent in a purple-coloured off-the-shoulder gown featuring ruched details, a side slit, a floor-sweeping train, figure-hugging silhouette, and a side zipper element. She styled the ensemble with high heels, shimmering earrings, open locks, and striking makeup picks.

Anushka Sharma for Dior

Anushka Sharma attended Dior's Mumbai show with Virat Kohli, and the couple made heads turn with their custom outfits from the luxury label. Anushka looked glamorous in a sunshine yellow gown featuring a structured silhouette, a bow detail on the back, and a box structure on the torso. She highlighted the colourful ensemble with minimal accessories and simple glam picks.

Anushka Sharma's metallic glam

Anushka's personal style is all about playing it safe and elegant. However, this does not stop the actor from experimenting with her sartorial picks. She wore this metallic gown to an awards night. It comes with exaggerated sleeves, a plunging neckline, an asymmetric hem, a thigh-high slit, and a textured design. Matching high heels, a sleek bun, striking makeup, and dainty earrings gave the red-carpet look a finishing touch.

Anushka in a pearl-white look

Anushka Sharma's pearl-white gown mixes Old Hollywood glamour with modern design. It features a high-rise neck, puffed sleeves, a thigh-high slit, and a cinched waistline. The high heels, dewy makeup, dainty jewellery, and side-parted open silky locks give the finishing touch to the star's elegant avatar.
The 76th Festival de Cannes is all set to begin on Tuesday, May 16, and will run till May 27. The Cannes Film Festival is an annual event that sees the biggest names from the global film industry walk the red carpet in the French Riviera town. Many Indian celebrities also walk at the event, which witnesses the display of head-turning fashion moments each year. Last year, the Cannes Film Festival announced Deepika Padukone as one of its eight-member jury. And Deepika made her debut as an esteemed jury member in a fitting saree moment that combined her Indian heritage and a Western flare for the global stage. Deepika Padukone wore a Sabyasachi saree for her debut as a Cannes Jury member in 2022. (Instagram)

When Deepika Padukone wore a Sabyasachi saree for her debut as a Cannes jury member

Though Deepika Padukone has made several appearances on the Cannes red carpet before, this moment was memorable for her fans as she walked the red carpet as a jury member. And she did not disappoint as she chose Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee, with whom she has collaborated many times before. If there's one thing Sabyasachi and Deepika know how to do, it is to create a look that captures attention. They chose a mustard and black sequin-embellished saree, a bustier blouse and bold makeup choices. Scroll through to get the details of her look.

Deepika Padukone's Sabyasachi saree for her debut as a Cannes Film Festival jury member features mustard and black sequins embellished in striped patterns inspired by the Bengal tiger. Sabyasachi created the six yards as part of his Aakash Tara collection that celebrates heritage Indian crafts and techniques through a modern lens. The stripes on the saree have been block-printed and hand embroidered by the finest karigars at the Sabyasachi's atelier.

Deepika styled the saree with a black strapless bustier blouse featuring shimmering black sequin embellishments, a plunge sweetheart neckline, and a cropped hem length. She accessorised the traditional yet modern look with a headband-style matha patti, chandelier earrings, statement rings, and Louboutin high heels.

Lastly, Deepika opted for a 60-inspired glam featuring a messy beehive-style updo, striking black graphic eyeliner inspired by pop-culture icon Julia Fox, feathered brows, heavy mascara on the lashes, nude mauve lip shade, ewy base, rouged cheekbones, and light contouring.
The countdown to the prestigious 76th Festival de Cannes has already begun. Celebrities and dignitaries from across the globe will be attending the Cannes Film Festival in the French Riviera town from May 16 to May 27. Before the event kickstarts, we decided to look back at some of the most iconic fashion moments served by our favourite Bollywood divas on the red carpet. And we cannot forget Priyanka Chopra's stellar debut at Cannes in 2019 with her husband, Nick Jonas - especially Priyanka's bride moment. Yes, you guessed it right. We are talking about Priyanka's tiered bridal gown to attend the premiere of Les Plus Belles Annees D'une Vi at Cannes. Scroll through to find all the details of this iconic moment. When Priyanka Chopra wore an actual wedding dress to Cannes with Nick Jonas.

When Priyanka Chopra wore a bridal dress on Cannes red carpet with Nick Jonas

Priyanka Chopra, accompanied by her husband, Nick Jonas, debuted at Cannes Film Festival in 2019, a few months after her wedding. The couple made heads turn as they arrived together for the first time at the Festival de Cannes red carpet, looking like they were about to tie the knot. While Priyanka wore a gorgeous bridal dress by Lebanese designer Georges Hobeika, Nick complemented her in a white suit designed by Berluti. Had Priyanka worn the gown for her wedding, it would be a striking choice, though the fairytale-like silhouette worked equally well for the red carpet.

Priyanka Chopra at Cannes Film Festival 2019 with Nick Jonas.

Priyanka's pristine white bridal gown featured an off-the-shoulder neckline with ruffled attachments and a ruched corseted design, cinched waist to define her frame, a voluminous tiered tulle skirt, and a floor-sweeping train.

Priyanka wore the extravagant bridal gown with sparkling jewels from Chopard, including a choker necklace, dainty earrings, and rings. Lastly, a sleek pulled-back ponytail, darkened brows, subtle smoky eye shadow, mascara on the lashes, mocha brown lip shade, dewy base, rouged cheekbones, and beaming highlighter gave the finishing touch.

Meanwhile, Nick complemented Priyanka in a notch-lapel blazer, matching shirt, pants and a bow tie. He styled the ensemble with black Chelsea boots, a luxurious watch, a trimmed beard, and a pulled-back hairdo.
The 76th edition of the Festival de Cannes is almost here. As celebrities get ready to walk the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, which begins on Tuesday, May 16, and ends on May 27, we look back at some incredible moments from the French Riviera. Many Indian divas walk the red carpet every year. However, two of the most anticipated stars of the event are always Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor. And without a doubt, the two stars are the deserving Queens of the Cannes Film Festival red carpet. A quick look at their past magical red-carpet sartorial choices at the event, and you would agree with us. Why Aishwarya Rai and Sonam Kapoor will always be the Queens of the Cannes.

Aishwarya Rai and Sonam Kapoor: The Queens of Cannes

Over the years, Aishwarya Rai and Sonam Kapoor have served incredible fashion moments on the red carpet in the French Riviera town. Cannes Film Festival is known for some head-turning sartorial moments, and Sonam and Aish have contributed to those iconic events - be it Aishwarya's Cinderella-esque Princess gown or the butterfly-patterned gown with an embellished train by Michael Cinco or Sonam's Anamika Khanna Couture sarees or the white and gold cape dress from Ralph & Russo. However, we do have some of our favourite (including the ones mentioned above) looks that make Sonam and Aishwarya the best-dressed celebrities at Cannes.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at Cannes Film Festival

A Cannes regular since 2002, Aishwarya Rai shares a special bond with May, marking her annual sashay down one of the most highly-anticipated red carpets in the world. She has been dressed by the most-popular designers of all time - from Sabyasachi, Michael Cinco, and Elie Saab to Roberto Cavalli and more - for the Festival de Cannes. From conversation-starting lilac and purple lip colours to frosty Disney princess gowns, her fashion journey has caught everyone's attention. Here are our favourite looks from Cannes:

Aishwarya Rai in Elie Saab

Aishwarya Rai wears an Elie Saab gown at Cannes in 2006.

In 2006, Aishwarya dazzled on the red carpet with a royal blue off-shoulder dress by designer Elie Saab that hugged her frame like a second skin. She accessorised her look with the blue and silver serpentine necklace that soon became the buzz of the town.

Aishwarya Rai in Roberto Cavalli

Aishwarya Rai's one of the most standout look at Cannes in a Roberto Cavalli gown.

2014 was a landmark year for Aishwarya Rai on the Cannes red carpet. The star wore a knockout Roberto Cavalli gilded gown with siren red lips and superstar waves. Exuding glamour and elegance, she looked every inch drop-dead gorgeous in the strapless ensemble that featured a mermaid silhouette.

Aishwarya Rai in Michael Cinco

Aishwarya Rai wears Michael Cinco gown at Cannes.

Aishwarya Rai in a Michael Cinco gown at Cannes

The two unmissable and unforgettable looks donned by Aishwarya Rai at Cannes came from the Dubai-based designer Michael Cinco - the Cindrella-esque and butterfly gowns. They were one of the most dramatic looks ever seen on the red carpet, and the fashion police did not complain. While the Cinderella gown gave Aishwarya her Disney Princess moment, the butterfly gown spoke of luxurious elegance with its 20-foot train, Swarovski crystal embellishments, and intricate multi-coloured threadwork.

Aishwarya in Gaurav Gupta

Aishwarya Rai in Guarav Gupta gown at Cannes in 2022.

Called 'The Birth of Venus', Aishwarya's blush pink Gaurav Gupta gown at Cannes in 2022 spoke of femininity and elegance. Adorned with thousands of glass beads and crystals, along with intricate embroidery all over, the sculptured and sinewed outfit highlighted the actor's timeless charm. She wore it with minimal jewellery and striking makeup.

Sonam Kapoor at Cannes Film Festival

Sonam Kapoor debuted at Cannes in 2011 and has enjoyed an undeniable reputation as a fashionista for many years with her appearances at the festival. The white Jean Paul Gaultier gown caught everyone's attention in 2011. However, there has been no stopping the actor since then - be it her Anamika Khanna couture sarees or the Elie Saab gowns or the stellar Ralph & Russo saree-inspired dress. Here are our favourite Sonam Kapoor looks from Cannes:

Sonam Kapoor in Anamika Khanna couture

Sonam Kapoor wears Anamika Khanna couture sarees at Cannes in 2013 and 2014.

Saree on the international red carpet has always earned a thumbs up from netizens. And Sonam knows it too. In 2013, Sonam draped herself in a fusion white and gold lace saree with an embroidered jacket, nath, bold wine-red lips, a centre-parted bun, and striking eye makeup. This saree look still remains one of her most memorable ensembles at Cannes.

Next year, Sonam chose Anamika Khanna again and was a beautiful sight in this pale pink net saree. She added the elegant red-carpet touch with the new-age drape, minimal makeup, and the statement neckpiece.

Sonam Kapoor in Elie Saab

Sonam Kapoor wears Elie Saab gowns at Cannes in 2017.

In 2017, Sonam Kapoor chose not one but two Elie Saab gowns for her appearance on the Cannes red carpet. The first look featured her in an embellished blush pink floor-sweeping dress with cape-like long sleeves, a wide plunge neckline, and a figure-hugging silhouette. She wore it with shimmering earrings, hand bracelets, striking makeup, and a messy bun.

The second look featured Sonam in a gold embellished Elie Saab gown featuring a deep sweetheart neckline, a belted waist, a figure-hugging silhouette, and a train at the back. She accessorised her look with diamond earrings by Chopard.

Sonam Kapoor in white Ralph & Russo looks

Sonam Kapoor in white Ralph & Russo looks

Sonam Kapoor and Ralph & Russo's collaboration has served the internet with unforgettable sartorial moments. And some of them are from her Cannes appearances in pristine white ensembles. In 2016, Sonam wore a saree-inspired gown by the designer. The cape and trail stole the show, while her simple makeup and hairdo balanced the elegance of the look.

Meanwhile, in 2018, newly-married Sonam walked the Cannes red carpet in a Ralph & Russo lehenga with mehendi on her hands and gajra in her braided hair. The new bride was the gracious style icon in the heavily-embroidered ensemble.

In 2019, Sonam and Ralph & Russo collaborated again for a plunging neck white ensemble styled with an emerald necklace. The experimental take on a tuxedo was a risk Sonam took and managed to pull off with panache.
Malaria and dengue are both mosquito-borne diseases that can cause significant health problems and are important global concerns whose prevention efforts, including mosquito control and personal protection, are essential to reduce their transmission and impact on affected populations. Malaria is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and parts of Central and South America and is caused by Plasmodium parasites, which are transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes while Dengue is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, particularly in urban areas with dense mosquito populations i.e. it is common in Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, the Caribbean and parts of Central and South America where it is caused by the dengue virus, which is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes, primarily Aedes aegypti. Is it Malaria or Dengue? Here's how to know the difference between the two mosquito-borne diseases (Photo by Pragyan Bezbaruah on Pexels)

Seeking medical attention promptly is important for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Neha Rastogi Panda, Consultant Infectious Diseases at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, explained, Malaria and Dengue are two commonly reported and widespread vector borne illness being reported especially during peak seasons. While Malaria is caused by parasite plasmodium species and Dengue fever by dengue virus both are common in mode of spread through vector - mosquito borne former by anopheles and later by aedes, respectively. Though with common seasonal trend and high-grade fever as common and index presentation they both differ in other symptoms. While Malaria causes high grade fever with chills with evening rise in temperature along with weakness, sugar fluctuations. On the other hand, Dengue causes fever with more joint, muscle pain and headache.

She elaborated, Malaria, if complicated, can lead to variable organ involvement and causes jaundice, dark urine, liver injury and even coma in frequent case scenario. Dengue in its complicated form can causes bleeding diathesis and presents as low platelets and bleeding manifestation. Diagnosis of both is done by blood test. While Malaria diagnosis relies on direct demonstration of parasite and antigen, dengue diagnosis mandates antigen/antibody testing. Management of both also differ considerably. Malaria needs early diagnosis and targeted therapy in form of antimalarials for specified duration to treat and to prevent recurrence. In dengue management is majorly supportive and conservative aiming for hydration and weakness. Though prevention of both needs mosquito control measures, vaccination is also potential tool to prevent severity and infection in both.

Echoing that Dengue is a viral illness transmitted by the bite of Aedes Aegypti mosquito whereas malaria is caused by a single celled organism called Plasmodium which is transmitted by the bite of Anopheles mosquito, Dr Tushar Tayal, Consultant - Internal Medicine at CK Birla Hospital in Gurugram, revealed that the symptoms of malaria start 10-15 days after the mosquito bite. He listed the most common symptoms as:

a) Fever preceded by chills and profuse shivering occurring in a cyclical manner

B) Headache body ache and joint pain

C) Jaundice and Low Hemoglobin

D) Low blood sugar and blood in urine

E) Seizures and coma ( especially in falciparum malaria)

Dr Tushar Tayal highlighted, Untreated malaria can be life threatening and can cause respiratory and kidney failure, convulsions, spontaneous bleeding and even death. Whereas the symptoms of dengue generally start 1 week after the mosquito bite. The initial symptoms of dengue are high grade fever, headache , pain behind the eyes, nausea and joint pain which last for approximately five days. By the end of this period is when the critical period starts where the BP falls, fluid accumulates in lungs and abdomen and rash develops and the platelets fall. Some patients may also show bleeding manifestation. It is extremely important to identify these symptoms and hospitalize the patient urgently as these symptoms may be life threatening.

He pointed out, This period is followed by the recovery phase which lasts 3-4 days. There are specific ANTI-MALARIAL medicines available for treating malaria whereas there are no specific medicines for dengue and the treatment is primarily symptomatic. Dr Tushar Tayal emphasised that the preventive measures are common for both the illnesses which are as follows-

1) Preventing accumulation of still water in houses and surroundings

2) Spraying Larvicidal insecticides and pesticides in stagnant water

3) Use of mosquito nets, aerosolised insecticides in rooms while sleeping

4) Use of DEET or Picaridin based insect repellants which can be applied to the skin and clothes.
The Delhi government's Tourism department will approach the Education department to take students on tours of places not often visited to increase footfall at unexplored sites, an official said. The Tourism department often assists schools during their tours and picnics at monuments in the national capital. Delhi government plans to organise at least one cultural event every month in the run-up to the G20 Summit to boost tourism. (Unsplash)

"We have been conducting guided tours for quite a long time but we just provide assistance to the schools at present. They do it on their own. There are certain parts in the national capital that are not visited often. "We are planning to take it up with the Education department if they can send schoolchildren to these spots," the official told PTI.

Among these unexplored places are Mirza Ghalib ki Haveli, the Mughal period Chor Minar, Bijay Mandal, Rajon ki Baoli, Adham Khan's tomb and the Bade and Chhote Khan tombs. The official said the department is also offering guided tours to "unexplored" Delhi.

"The Haunted Heritage Walk that started with guided tours of Malcha Mahal is one of the initiatives in this regard," the official added. The Tourism department will also organise guided tours in a bid to promote delicacies of the national capital. "In the Dekho Meri Delhi aap, we have mentioned all the delicacies and places to help the tours. We provide guided tours to allow people to enjoy Delhi's delicacies," the official added.

The Delhi government plans to organise at least one cultural event every month in the run-up to the G20 Summit to boost tourism, officials said last week. Preparations are underway by the Tourism department for the events, including state-level dance and film festivals.

To promote tourism, the Delhi government has taken a host of initiatives such as roping in social media influencers, upgrading the Tourism department website and teaming up with the archaeology department and cab aggregators, among others. Magazines highlighting tourist hotspots across Delhi have been made available at city hotels while brochures are also being printed.
In 1985, Parliament amended the Constitution in an apparent move to safeguard our democracy. The government of the day supported this step, saying the evil of political defections has been a matter of national concern. If it is not combated, it is likely to undermine the very foundations of our democracy and the principles which sustain it. The solution to the vexing problem of lawmakers switching parties at the drop of a hat was to prevent Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) from leaving political parties and joining hands with a rival party. The stated purpose was that it would lead to stable governments. The result was the 10th Schedule of the Constitution, popularly called the anti-defection law. PREMIUM In the last 30 years, at least four Constitution benches have examined the anti-defection law, which still doesnt work (Sonu Mehta/HT PHOTO)

A cursory look at politics since then makes it clear that political parties and MLAs have exploited the anti-defection law, leading to its spectacular failure. The latest example of this came with the 2022 unseating of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra, then led by chief minister Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena. The Supreme Court (SC) set up a five-judge Constitution Bench to examine the Maharashtra political imbroglio and the defection issues arising from the internal conflict in the Shiv Sena. On May 11, the SC delivered its verdict, finding fault with some decisions of the governor and the speaker, but refusing to reinstate Thackeray because he resigned voluntarily without facing a trust vote. The decision may have little immediate effect on the states politics. But it may have a significant impact on the office of the speaker, which is critical to the functioning of legislatures. Lets look at the facts to understand the decision better.

First, there was a rebellion among the Sena MLAs. It created two groups, one led by Thackeray and the other by Eknath Shinde. Both claimed to be the real Shiv Sena. Each groups whip also issued directions to all the Sena MLAs in the legislature. Under the anti-defection law, the political party appoints the whip, and disobeying its orders can result in MLAs losing their seat in the assembly. On non-compliance with their whips directions, both factions instituted defection proceedings against MLAs of the other camp.

Whips of political parties petition the speaker of the legislature, who decides whether to disqualify an MLA. Therefore, speakers have the power to make and break governments by their ruling in defection cases. As a result, their office comes under immense political pressure and is politicised. The Sena case presented the SC with an additional problem. The judges had to decide in a situation where there are rival groups in a political party, which one constitutes the real political party that can issue directions to its MLAs.

The apex court, in its verdict, empowered the speaker to determine the real political party under the anti-defection law. And, to make this determination, the court directed the speaker to consider the political partys constitution and leadership structure outside the legislature. It observed that such a decision was not to be based on a blind appreciation of which group possesses a majority in the legislative assembly.

Over the years, the SC and different commissions have reflected on the role of the speaker under the anti-defection law. The needle has moved from not doubting the speakers impartiality in defection proceedings to questioning their ability to remain neutral. The Dinesh Goswami Committee on Electoral Reforms in 1990 recommended taking away the powers of speakers to decide on defections. The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution, set up in 2000, made a similar suggestion. More recently, in 2020, a two-judge bench of the apex court ruled, Parliament may seriously consider amending the Constitution to substitute the speaker of the Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies as arbiter of disputes concerning disqualification which arise under the 10th Schedule with a permanent tribunal ...

The office of the speaker gets dragged into controversy due to the anti-defection law. Speakers are already required to decide whether MLAs have indulged in anti-party activities outside the legislature. Now with the current judgment, the scope of their enquiry will touch upon the domain of political parties. It will expose their office to even more political pressures, invite further criticism and further undermine the non-partisan nature of their office.

When the idea of an anti-defection law germinated in 1967, a committee of constitutional scholars observed, While the search for legal and constitutional curbs on political defections has undoubtedly its value, the more lasting solution to the problem can only come from the adherence of political parties to a basic political morality and the observance by them of certain proprietaries and decencies of public life. No law can codify such morality. It was displayed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee while replying to a confidence motion in 1996. He had said, If breaking up political parties is the only way to form a coalition that stays in power, then I do not want to touch such a coalition with a barge pole.

The anti-defection law serves the narrow purpose of helping political parties control their MLAs to stay in power. But should the Constitution and the SC be involved in solving the internal problems of a political party? In the last 30 years, at least four Constitution benches have examined the anti-defection law, which still doesnt work. So, the time has come for the top court to ask a larger question: Should the anti-defection law continue to remain a part of our Constitution?

Chakshu Roy is the head of legislative and civic engagement, PRS Legislative Research

The views expressed are personal
The end of the Covid-19 public health emergency has thrown the spotlight on the policy response to the crisis. Most governments, including that of the United States (US), bungled in their response to an unprecedented pandemic, the former White House chief medical officer Anthony Fauci said in a recent interview to the New York Times. Governments should have taken into account the economic costs of keeping schools and businesses shut, he argued. PREMIUM Why did economists have so little influence on such momentous decisions? (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Im not an economist, Fauci said in the interview. ...The surgeon general is not an economist. So we looked at it from a purely public-health standpoint. It was for other people to make broader assessments  people whose positions include but arent exclusively about public health. Those people have to make the decisions about the balance between the potential negative consequences of something versus the benefits of something.

It is not just the US that eschewed a cost-benefit analysis in imposing and extending lockdowns. Most governments across the world chose to lean on epidemiologists and doctors while ignoring contrary voices among economists. In the early days of the lockdown, one economic advisor to the Indian government complained to me about the excessive reliance on under-cooked epidemiological models. In other parts of the world, such complaints were often voiced in public but were ignored.

Why did economists have so little influence on such momentous decisions?

The answer perhaps lies in the growing disenchantment with economists across the globe. To win back public trust, economists will need to address three key issues that have eroded their influence over the years.

The first issue relates to transparency. Economists complaints about epidemiological models would have been taken more seriously if economists had been more transparent about the limitations of their own analysis. Economists involved in the business of policy making and forecasting have often been unwilling to highlight the limitations of their prescriptions and forecasts. They lead the public astray with their confident pronouncements, and are often unapologetic when they get things wrong.

If economists are to be seen as a responsible and professional tribe, they must be unafraid to outline the limited powers of economic analysis. The models that economists use to make sense of a complex world are often as imperfect as the ones that epidemiologists used to track the spread of a new virus. Hence the results of their modelling are, at best indicative in nature. This must be clearly communicated to non-economists in a language they understand, not in economists tribal jargon.

The second issue relates to the political economy of economic advice. When not advancing the interests of their particular bank or industry lobby, macroeconomists and policy economists are often found propagating their pet political agendas in the garb of scientific advice. Some do this out of genuine ideological commitment. Others do this because they are well-trained to recognise which side their bread is buttered on.

There are new inducements in the age of big data. Since access to most large datasets is tightly controlled by a few corporations and bureaucrats, such access can be weaponised to favour economists who may be willing to toe the line of the data controllers. What happened when two researchers were given access to the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) database is indicative of this. Some critical findings relating to the limitations of the database didnt come out in the public domain while publishing the results of the study. Large randomised controlled trial programmes, where economic researchers work with government bureaucrats to design and test an economic intervention, pose similar risks. Unless economists develop some kind of a self-regulatory mechanism to deal with such inducements, it may not be possible to prevent political and intellectual capture.

The third issue is excessive groupthink. Unlike in other social sciences, top economics schools across the globe use the same textbooks. Academic economists are incentivised to compete for a slot in the top five journals. So a handful of textbook writers and journal editors end up determining mainstream wisdom. Since the demi-gods of the profession use a limited toolkit  of mathematical and statistical models  to analyse the world, most economists remain unexposed to other analytical tools.

Things have changed somewhat in recent years. A growing number of economists have begun embracing other methods  including case studies and ethnographies  to study economic issues. Some are now open to collaborating with political scientists or climate scientists. But this section is still a minority in an otherwise insular profession.

All of this would not have mattered if economic ideas were inconsequential. But as John Maynard Keynes pointed out many years ago, the ideas of economists have a significant impact, both when they are right and wrong. Keynes own ideas helped bring about stability in the international economic order in the aftermath of World War II. The ideas of another economist, William Beveridge, helped establish the modern welfare State. The ideas of the economist couple Jagadish Bhagwati and Padma Desai helped sow the seeds of Indias economic reforms programme. At the same time, bad economic ideas led to the excesses of communism in China and market fundamentalism in Latin America in the 20th century. The health of the economics discipline matters a great deal. We need to pay more attention to it.

Pramit Bhattacharya is a Chennai-based journalist.

The views expressed are personal.
Planet Saturn has made a remarkable comeback to reclaim the title of the planet with the highest number of moons, surpassing Jupiter, which temporarily took the lead in February with its 12 newly discovered moons. A new study have unveiled an astonishing 62 new moons orbiting the ringed planet, bringing Saturn's official count of natural satellites to a grand total of 145. In contrast, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) has confirmed Jupiter's moon count at 95. The newly discovered moons of Saturn have currently been designated with numbers and letters. (Photo Credit: NASA/ JPL-Caltech/Spac Science Institute)

As reported by The Guardian, the newly discovered moons of Saturn have currently been designated with numbers and letters. In due course, these moons will be bestowed with names inspired by Gallic, Norse, and Canadian Inuit gods, following the established convention for Saturn's moons.

Saturn not only has nearly doubled its number of moons, it now has more moons than all the rest of the planets in the solar system combined, an astronomer at the University of British Columbia was quoted as saying. He mentioned that their team would be seeking guidance from Inuit elders to gather proposals that could subsequently be presented to the International Astronomical Union (IAU) for approval.

Also Read | NASA's Hubble captures massive black hole creating trail of new stars

According to reports from the Associated Press (AP), Jupiter and Saturn are host to a multitude of small moons. Researchers believe that these moons are remnants of larger moons that collided with each other or with comets and asteroids.

Similar processes are thought to have occurred on Uranus and Neptune as well, but due to their significant distance from Earth, the task of spotting and studying their moons becomes even more challenging.

The Guardian's report further said that Nasa's upcoming Dragonfly mission, anticipated to be launched in 2027, holds the promise of enabling close-up observations of at least one of Saturn's smaller outer moons.

Also Read | Watch Venus crossing paths with Saturn, other astronomical events lined up in January

Technique to discover moons

The study, cited in the report, mentioned an innovative technique known as shift and stack to uncover dimmer and smaller satellites. This method involves shifting consecutive images at a rate that matches the moon's motion across the sky, resulting in a brighter appearance when the data is combined.

Saturn's rings

A recent study on Saturn's rings said that the scientists have made a remarkable discovery indicating that the rings were acquired relatively recently in the grand timeline of the solar system's history.

By analysing data gathered from Nasa's Cassini spacecraft, experts have concluded that the colossal rings did not form concurrently with the planet itself. Instead, they estimate that the formation of these majestic rings took place no more than 400 million years ago.

The co-author of the research confirmed, It is natural to think that the rings have been formed together with Saturn [which is] about 4.5bn years old.

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When we think of the word storm, our minds often conjure images of dark, cloudy skies and fierce winds sweeping across coastal regions. However, have you ever considered that storms can be attributed to the tremendous heat generated by the Sun? It may come as a surprise, but the Sun's powerful ejections can indeed trigger scorching heat storms on our planet. Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation from the Sun.(Representative image)

Also Read | Nasa confirms Russia will not leave ISS until 2028

The US space agency NASA has been working on an advanced computer model that merges artificial intelligence (AI) technology with satellite data, enabling the prediction of solar storms with a lead time of 30 minutes before they impact Earth.

Know about solar storms, their causes and how can NASA predict them using AI.

What is a solar storm? How does it occur?

Solar storms occur when the Sun emits huge bursts of energy in the form of solar flares and coronal mass ejections. These phenomena send a stream of electrical charges and magnetic fields toward the Earth at a speed of about three million miles per hour.

When the solar material in the space hits Earth's magnetic environment geomagnetic storms are created. The impacts of these magnetic storms can range from mild to extreme, but in a world increasingly dependent on technology, their effects are growing ever more disruptive.

NASA earlier stated that the researchers have expressed a growing concern as we approach the imminent solar maximum, the peak of the Sun's 11-year activity cycle, projected to occur around 2025.

Previous instances of solar storms

According to NASA, the most intense storm on record was the Carrington Event in 1859, sparked fires at telegraph stations and prevented messages from being sent.

Another destructive solar storm in 1989 caused electrical blackouts across Quebec for 12 hours, plunging millions of Canadians into the dark and closing schools and businesses.

NASA says if the Carrington Event happened today, it would have even more severe impacts, such as widespread electrical disruptions, persistent blackouts, and interruptions to global communications.

How does this AI work for a prior warning?

The researchers employed an AI technique known as "deep learning," which enables computers to discern patterns by analyzing prior instances. This form of AI was utilized to establish correlations between solar wind measurements obtained from heliophysics missions such as ACE, Wind, IMP-8, and Geotail, and the observed geomagnetic disruptions at ground stations across the globe.

As a result of their research, the scientists successfully created a computer model named DAGGER (Deep Learning Geomagnetic Perturbation). This model demonstrates the capability to rapidly and precisely forecast global geomagnetic disturbances, providing a lead time of 30 minutes before their occurrence.

The predictions generated by DAGGER can be produced in less than a second, with regular updates available every minute, ensuring up-to-date and accurate information.

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A 13-year-old boy in China has asserted ownership of a company and even claimed to be responsible for paying salaries to the employees working under him, according to a report from South China Morning Post. However, the report also said that this claim contradicts the legal requirement in the country, which mandates that the designated head of a business must be at least 18 years of age. The schoolboy claimed that his company has five to six employees. (Representational Image)(Canva.com)

A video depicting a conversation about the incident has gone viral in the country, garnering 26 million views on Weibo and 10 million views on Douyin, prominent social media platforms in China, the newspaper's report said.

The video, shared on Douyin (a Chinese equivalent of TikTok) by a secondary school teacher from Chongqing municipality in southwestern China, showed an interesting classroom assignment. In the video, the teacher assigned a homework exercise to the students, tasking them with writing a summary about a classmate whom they perceive as accomplished and successful.

According to the report that quoted Red Star News, the teacher was taken aback when several students pointed out a boy named Chen and claimed that he was already running his own company. This revelation came as a surprise to the teacher.

When the teacher asked him What kind of business is your company engaged in?

Chen replied, Internet technology, and added that his company has five to six employees. When asked by the teacher if he had indeed paid his employees, Chen also confirmed that he had done so.

The report quoted several amusing comments from users, one of which stated,He can apply for the Guinness World Record now as the worlds youngest boss

When his customer asks his employees, Where is your boss?, his employees must reply, He will come after school is over at 5pm, another comment read.

This boss looks kind. I am wondering if his company has any vacancies as Id like to apply for a job there, wrote another user.

However, the video did not disclose the background or provide any details regarding how the teenager managed to establish and operate a company with paid staff while still attending middle school.

The school administration has responded to the situation by stating that they are actively investigating the boy's claims. A spokesperson from the school, quoted by Red Star News, emphasised, He is definitely not the legal head of a company, and its impossible for him to be that. We are still trying to get more details.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lingamgunta Nirmitha Rao Trainee Content Producer at Hindustan Times Digital Stream. India's regional languages attract me. ...view detail
Storm surges whipped up by a powerful cyclone inundated the Myanmar port city of Sittwe on Sunday, reported The Daily Star. Local residents check the damages after Cyclone Mocha's crashed ashore, in Kyauktaw in Myanmar's Rakhine state on May 14, 2023. (AFP)

Parts of Sittwe, the capital of Myanmar's Rakhine state, were flooded, while winds of up to 130 miles per hour ripped away tin roofs and brought down a communications tower.

Rescue services in Myanmar said two people were killed in a landslide, while local media reported the death of a man in Myanmar after a tree fell on him, reported Al Jazeera.

Streets in Sittwe were turned into rivers as the biggest storm to hit the Bay of Bengal in more than a decade surged through the seaside town.

Myanmar's military information office said the cyclone had damaged houses, electrical transformers, mobile phone towers, boats and lampposts in Sittwe, Kyaukpyu and Gwa townships. It said the storm also tore roofs off of sport buildings on the Coco Islands, about 425km (264 miles) southwest of the country's largest city, Yangon.

A rescue team from the country's eastern Shan state announced on its Facebook page that they had recovered the bodies of a couple who were buried when a landslide caused by heavy rain hit their house in Tachileik township.

More than 4,000 of Sittwe's 300,000 residents were evacuated to other cities and more than 20,000 people are sheltering in sturdy buildings such as monasteries, pagodas and schools located on the city's highlands, said Tin Nyein Oo, who is volunteering in shelters in Sittwe, reported Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, India Meteorological Department reported that "Very Severe Cyclonic Storm 'Mocha' weakened into a severe cyclonic storm over Myanmar."

The system is continuing the weakening trend and will become a cyclonic storm during the next few hours, it added.

Moreover, Mocha spared a densely-populated cluster of refugee camps in low-lying neighbouring Bangladesh.

In Bangladesh, where authorities moved around 300,000 people to safer areas before the storm hit, Rohingya refugees inside densely-populated camps in the Cox's Bazar in the southeast of the country hunkered down inside their ramshackle homes, reported The Daily Star.

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Monday in Pakistan is likely to be tense as former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party chief Imran Khan called for a nationwide freedom protest on Sunday, in the backdrop of a protest rally planned by a key government ally, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) outside the country's apex court. Activists of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party gather in support of country's judicial system at Zaman Park in Lahore.(AFP)

Imran Khan's protest call came after he was set free following his brief arrest last week triggering a deadly unrest in the country.

Freedom does not come easily. You have to snatch it. You have to sacrifice for it," he said in an address, calling out his supporters to hold protests at the end of your streets and villages.

Similarly, the official Twitter handle of Khan's political party asked its supporters to peacefully show strength in Lahore' Zaman Park, area where Khan's residence is situated.

Before we all lose communications, head to Zaman Park in Lahore to peacefully show strength there. Important steps: take face masks, salt in small quantity and water bottles with you to protect yourself in illegal teargas shelling, PTI said in the tweet.

Meanwhile, PDM's Maulana Fazlur Rahman, along with other political parties, has planned a protest rally outside the Supreme Court of Pakistan over the decision to release the ex-PM who was arrested in a corruption case. The protest call comes at a time when the authorities imposed a ban on political gatherings in the federal capital. Country's interior minister Rana Sanaullah cited security agencies and said reports about the protest in Islamabad's Red Zone, where government buildings are situated, were very alarming.

"We are scared that if the protest is held in the Red Zone tomorrow, the Islamabad police have said that it will be difficult to control the protesters. So, I and Ishaq Dar (Finance Minister) went to Fazlur Rehman and requested him to hold the protest outside the Red Zone, he said at a presser.

Notably, Khan is likely to appear before the Lahore high court to seek bail in various cases to avoid arrest after Islamabad high court's order which barred authorities from arresting him in any case till Monday.

The PTI chief has divulged about Shehbaz Sharif government's London plan which he alleged is aimed to outlaw his party, put his wife Bushra Begum in jail and charge him under some sedition law to keep him inside for next ten years.

Indicating at a complete crackdown, Khan alleged that the Pakistan government will ban the largest and only federal party of the country, Just as they banned the Awami league in East Pakistan (now, Bangladesh).

To ensure that there's is no public reaction, they have done two things, first deliberate terror is unleashed not just on PTI workers but on common citizens as well. Second, the media is totally controlled and muzzled, he said in a series of tweet.

(With agency inputs)
Controversial social media influencer and former kickboxer Andrew Tate, has recently caused a stir with his bold statements and unfiltered opinions, attracting both fervent support and vehement backlash. With claims of his tweets being a catalyst for a paradigm shift in worldview, Andrew Tate's social media presence has become a subject of fascination and debate. Controversial Influencer Andrew Tate unveils shocking altercation (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)(AP)

Known for his controversial and misogynistic views on various topics ranging from self-improvement to relationships, Andrew Tate has amassed a significant following who are drawn to his unapologetic and often confrontational style of communication.

The polarized figures tweets, characterized by blunt language and provocative statements, challenge conventional wisdom and provoke critical thinking among his followers.

In his recent tweet, Tate shared that he is conducting a Twitter Space and if you spend your valuable time with this controversial figures speech it will change your perspective of the world.

I will do a twitter spaces. But Im warning you! It will change the way you view the world forever," the tweet read.

He also claimed that he will garner at least 100k retweets. Many found it insanely hillarious.

However, it is important to approach Tate's tweets with caution and a discerning eye. While they may be thought-provoking, they also carry the risk of promoting harmful ideologies or perpetuating divisive narratives.

The controversial businessmans tweets have undeniably sparked intense discussions and debates on various social media platforms. While many applaud his fearlessness in expressing his opinions, others argue that his rhetoric perpetuates harmful stereotypes or promotes a narrow-minded worldview.

ALSO READ| Controversial influencer Andrew Tate endorses former PM Imran Khan, hails Pakistan's judiciary in latest tweet

Recently the Romanian native recounts a disturbing incident he witnessed at a local store that left him shaken. While innocently browsing the Cheetos aisle, his attention was abruptly diverted by a sudden commotion near the store entrance.

"So, they're hitting him bang, bang. One of them got a bottle, started smashing, they're beating. They're beating the sht out of him. As he was getting his as kicked, he turned to me and he went: 'Run'! To me, as he was getting beaten. He managed to get one of them and must have bitten his face. Whatever he bit, he had flesh in his mouth by the time the whole thing was done," Tate described.

Driven by curiosity and concern, Andrew felt compelled to investigate the source of the disturbance. What he witnessed next left him in disbelief and shock. It was his own father, Emory Tate engaged in a fierce struggle against four Mexican men who were launching a vicious attack.

The actual reason behind this altercation remained the scandalous Twitter personality, further heightening the intensity and confusion of the situation.

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Jewellery belonging to late Austrian billionarie and art collector Heidi Horten have become the most expensive private collection to be auctioned ever as they got sold for a whopping $196 million. Heidi had inherited a lot of her wealth from her husband Helmut Horton who was a Nazi Party member as per a report published in January 2022 by historians commissioned by the Horten Foundation Jewellery belonging to late Austrain billionarie and art collector Heidi Horten(Twitter)

The auction by Christie's, happened on Wednesday last week despite demands by Jewish groups who alleged that Heidi's husband Helmut had made wealth by buying properties and shops from distressed and fleeing Jews during Nazi rule in Germany.

ALSO READ| As Zelenskyy meets Rishi Sunak in Britain, UK pledges long-range attack drones for Ukraine

Meanwhile, Christie's highlighted that the proceeds from the sale would go towards philanthropic activities, including for "vitally important Holocaust research and education". In an online sale catalog, the auction company also said that the source of Hortens wealth was a matter of public record and that Helmuts business practices were well documented.

Despite the 'philanthropic' claim, American Jewish Committee criticised Christie's for going ahead with the auction.

"It is not enough that this sale will benefit a charitable foundation or that Christie's will make an unspecified donation for Holocaust education. Instead, the auction should be put on hold until a serious effort is made to determine what portion of this wealth came from Nazi victims," said the Committee.

Interestingly, the sale on Wednesday broke the record set by the collection of Elizabeth Taylor, whose gems had fetched nearly $116 million in New York in 2011. Heidi's collection featured over 700 jewels. Another online auction for the remaining jewels will happen in November, this year.

As per a report by Forbes, Heidi had a net worth of around $3 billion when she died in June last year. She became an art collector from a young age influenced by her father who was an engraver.

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A Pakistani court in the eastern city of Lahore on Monday granted bail until May 23 to former Prime Minister Imran Khan's wife in a graft case, a lawyer in their legal team said. Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan along with his wife Bushra Bibi. (File)

Read here: Imran Khan alleges goons to take over SC and subvert constitution as Pakistan's key government ally stages sit-in

Khan was arrested by the country's anti-graft agency last week in the same case, prompting violent protests across the country, which is already reeling from a crippling economic crisis. He was later released and received bail from a court in Islamabad for two weeks.

Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, was co-accused along with Khan in the case, which pertained to the alleged receiving of financial help from a land developer in the setting-up of Al Qadir University of which the former premier and his spouse are trustees.

"We had requested for a protective bail for Bushra Bibi in Al Qadir Trust Case and a two-judge bench of LHC has granted the bail till May 23," Bibi's lawyer, Intizar Hussain Panjutha, told Reuters.

Khan, who accompanied his wife to the Lahore High Court, had earlier on Monday expressed fears that the government was planning to arrest his wife as part of what he says is a campaign against him.

"The plan is now to humiliate me by putting Bushra Begum in jail," he said in a post on Twitter, using a Muslim honorific title common in South Asia.

Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The government denies being behind the case and says the anti-graft agency, the National Accountability Bureau, is working independently.

The case is one of more than 100 registered against the embattled Khan since he was ousted from power last year in a parliamentary vote having serving less than four of his five-year term.

Read here: Imran Khan's party PTI calls supporters to peaceful protest today

He has since campaigned across the country for fresh elections and blames the military for cracking down on him and his party - a charge the military denies. He was shot and wounded in an attack while campaigning last year.

Visuals shared by his party showed Khan's security detail surrounding the vehicle carrying Bibi - who wears the traditional Islamic face veil - and using a large white cloth curtain to cover her as she alighted.
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday reiterated his call for a peaceful protest while criticising the demonstration being carried out by the key political ally of the Pakistan government, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), outside the country's apex court. Sharing a video montage where demonstrators could be seen swarming up the entry gate of the country's Supreme Court building, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party chief said these goons are being facilitated by our security agencies to take over the SC and subvert the constitution. PDM supporters enter inside the Supreme Court of Pakistan building.

So without any investigation into who was responsible for arson on government building or dozens of deaths of unarmed protesters by bullet wounds , around 7000 PTI workers , leadership and our women have been jailed with plans to ban the largest and only federal party in Pak . Meanwhile these goons are being facilitated by our security agencies to take over the SC and subvert the constitution. All citizens be ready for peaceful protests as once constitution and SC destroyed, it is the end of the Pak dream, he tweeted.

Several protestors, including workers and supporters of ruling alliance, have reached the country's federal capital to join the sit-in amid Section 144 being in effect in the area. PDM called the protest against the judiciary for providing blanket relief to Khan after he was set free following his brief arrest last week.

According to Dawn, the protest will soon be joined by PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and chief organiser of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) Maryam Nawaz Sharif and address the protesters. Other parties including Awami National Party, Balochistan National Party-Mengal, Pakistan People's Party to take part in the protest.

Earlier, country's Interior Minister Rana Sanuallah expressed concerns over the very alarming report by security agencies on conducting protest in Islamabad's Red Zone, where government buildings are situated. Following which, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Sanaullah tried to convince Fazlur Rehman to change the protest venue, however, failed.

The protest is being held at a time when the apex court is expected to resume its hearing on a petition filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan urging to revisit its April 4 ruling that directed elections in Punjab province on May 14.

Notably, Khan is also expected to appear before the Lahore high court to seek bail in various cases to avoid arrest after Islamabad high court's order which barred authorities from arresting him in any case till Monday.

Earlier, he called PDM's protest a drama and a process to pressurise the Chief Justice of Pakistan to disrupt delivering the verdict according tot he Constitution.
Russia takes an "extremely negative" view of Britain's decision to supply Ukraine with more military hardware such as long-range attack drones, but does not believe London's help will change the course of the conflict, the Kremlin said on Monday. Britain's Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, right, greets Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after his arrival in England. (AP)

Read here: Russia's enticing up to 8 times average salary to recruits for Ukraine: Report

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Britain on Monday with a promise of long range attack drones on top of cruise missiles pledged last week, as he tours Europe to try to source new arms for a counter-offensive against Russia.

Asked about Britain's military aid, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "We take an extremely negative view of this. Britain is trying to be one of the leading countries which keeps pumping weapons into Ukraine."

He said the impact of Britain's military aid would not be significant and would ultimately only make things worse for Ukraine.

"It cannot have any significant or major impact on the course of the Special Military Operation," he said, using the phrase the Kremlin uses to describe Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.

"But it all leads to more destruction, to further military action and so on. So for Ukraine, it makes things much more complex."

The Russian defence ministry was cited on Monday by Russian news agencies as saying its air defence forces had shot down a British-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missile fired by Ukraine.

Read here: Russia launches fresh strike on east Ukraine, 4 killed

Reuters was unable to confirm the report.

Zelensky says he needs all the weapons he can get if Ukraine's long-expected counter-offensive is to meet all of its goals.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in Britain Monday on his whirlwind European tour, as the staunch ally of Kyiv promised to give Ukraine hundreds more missiles and attack drones in an effort to change the course of the war. Ukraine PM Zelenskyy meets UK PM Rishi Sunak. (Twitter)

Zelenskyy landed by helicopter at Chequers, the British leader's official country retreat, and was greeted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Its Zelenskyys second trip to the U.K. since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Zelenskyy thanked Britain for its support so far, and said his discussions with Sunak would cover very important issues, urgent support for Ukraine.

He said the war was a matter of security not only for Ukraine, it is important for all of Europe."

Sunak told Zelenskyy that your leadership, your countrys bravery and fortitude are an inspiration to us all.

This is the fourth European country Zelenskky has visited in the past few days. He is seeking more aid as Ukraine prepares a long-anticipated spring offensive to retake territory seized by Russia.

Ukraine's leader made an unannounced visit to Paris on Sunday evening to meet French President Emmanuel Macron, after trips to Germany and Italy, where he met those countries' leaders and Pope Francis.

A message posted Monday on Zelenskyy's official Telegram Channel said: "Today  London. The UK is leading the way when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air. This cooperation will continue today. I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations.

The U.K. has become one of Ukraine's major military allies, sending Kyiv short-range missiles and Challenger tanks and training 15,000 Ukrainian troops on British soil. Last week Britain announced it had sent Ukraine Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which have a range of more than 250 kilometers (150 miles)  the first known shipment of the weaponry that Kyiv has long sought from its allies.

Sunak's office said that on Monday Britain would confirm it was giving Ukraine hundreds more air defense missiles, as well as long-range attack drones" with a range of more than 200 kilometers (120 miles).

This is a crucial moment in Ukraines resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke," Sunak said. "They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year.

We must not let them down.

Sunak will also push allies to deliver more support to Ukraine at a meeting of Group of Seven leaders in Japan later this week, Downing Street said.

As Zelenskyy visited European capitals, Russia stepped up attacks across Ukraine with drones and missiles over the weekend. On Sunday, Russia shelled two communities in the northern border region of Sumy, the regions military administration said in a statement on its official Telegram channel. It said 109 explosions were recorded.

Zelenskyy and Macron met for about three hours on Sunday at the French presidential Elysee Palace  an encounter kept under wraps until shortly before the Ukrainian leaders arrival in Paris.

Macrons office said France would supply dozens of light tanks and armored vehicles in the weeks ahead, without giving specific numbers. Also promised were more air defense systems, but again details werent made public.

More Ukrainians will also be made battle-ready, with France aiming to train about 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers in France this year and nearly 4,000 others in Poland as part of a wider European effort, Macrons office said.

France has supplied Ukraine with an array of weaponry, include air defense systems, light tanks, howitzers and other arms and equipment and fuel.

France had dispatched a plane to pick up Zelenskyy in Germany, where he met with Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier Sunday and discussed his countrys planned counteroffensive.

It was his first visit to Berlin since the start of the invasion and came a day after the German government announced a new package of military aid for Ukraine worth more than 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion), including tanks, anti-aircraft systems and ammunition.

After initially hesitating to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons, Germany has become one of the biggest suppliers of arms to Ukraine, including Leopard 1 and 2 battle tanks, and the sophisticated IRIS-T SLM air defense system. Modern Western hardware is considered crucial if Ukraine is to succeed in its planned counteroffensive.

In the western German city of Aachen, Zelenskyy also received the prestigious International Charlemagne Prize, awarded to him and the people of Ukraine.

On Saturday. he met Francis and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni in Rome.

On the European trip, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would aim to liberate Russian-occupied areas within Ukraine's internationally recognized borders, and not attack Russian territory.

The Washington Post cited previously undisclosed documents from a trove of U.S. intelligence leaks suggesting that Zelenskyy had considered trying to capture areas in Russia proper for possible use as bargaining chips in peace negotiations to end the war launched by Moscow. This would put him at odds with Western governments that have insisted that weapons they provide must not be used to attack targets in Russia.

Asked about the report, Zelenskyy said: We dont attack Russian territory, we liberate our own legitimate territory.

We have neither the time nor the strength (to attack Russia), he said, according to an official interpreter. And we also dont have weapons to spare with which we could do this.

We are preparing a counterattack for the illegally occupied areas based on our constitutionally defined legitimate borders, which are recognized internationally, Zelenskyy said.

Among areas still occupied by Russia are the Crimean peninsula and parts of eastern Ukraine with mainly Russian-speaking populations.
One year ago, Ennismore, in a joint venture with Accor, announced the opening of a flagship hotel for the SO/ brand, SO/ Paris, helmed by Stefan Viard as General Manager. This hotel, which officially opened its doors September 2022, has kept its promise in becoming the newest hot destination for travelers in the French capital.

Today, Ennismore is thrilled to announce Stefan Viard's new role as Regional General Manager of the SO/ Brand in Europe. He will remain dedicated to leading SO/ Paris, while also bringing his expertise and support to the different General Managers across the European properties: SO/ Berlin Das Stue, SO/ Vienna and SO/ Saint-Petersburg.

Stefan Viard began his career in 1996 at the Hyatt Regency in Cologne, Germany. From there, he transitioned into food and beverage at the Park Hyatt in Hamburg, stepping into Hyatt Hotels Corporation's luxury brand.

In 2003, Stefan Viard moved to Dubai, "where the vision of luxury offers travelers of the world the experience of extreme quality." He continued to pursue a career in luxury hospitality with a move to Langkawi Island in Malaysia in 2007 as the Director of Food and Beverage for the Andaman Hotel, part of GHM Hotels Group. He subsequently returned to Dubai in 2009 with the opening of The Address Hotels & Resorts, from the EMAAR Hospitality Group. Stefan Viard then became the General Director and co-launched the new lifestyle hotel brand, Vida. This experience culminated in opening the Me by Melia hotel, an architectural marvel and true work of art by Zaha Hadid.

As Regional General Manager of the SO/ brand in Europe, Stefan Viard is poised to realize a new dream: an ambitious project to create, with his team, a hospitality experience that stretches far into the future and meets the evolving needs of contemporary lifestyle and travel communities.
Adagio, the European leader in aparthotels is pleased to announce Denis Mancheron as Finance and Administration Director and member of the Management Committee of ADAGIO, as of 2 January 2023.

Within this new role, Denis will aim to capitalise on the talents of the financial, administrative and legal organisation built for the specific needs of the profitable development of the network. Denis was the Finance and Administration Director for Southern Europe at the ACCOR group where he made a major contribution to the professionalisation of the Finance function to support the ambitions of this strategic area for shareholders. He developed a deep understanding of the value creation drivers in the European eco and midscale hotel industry.

Prior to this, Denis was previously CFO and member of the Executive Committee of Hertz France SAS. He accompanied the development of the car rental network in a context of transformation and more recently restructuring during the COVID period. Denis also held various positions throughout his career at Hertz: Director of Management Control, Logistics Director, Investment Planning Director, Pricing Manager and Revenue Management. Denis holds an Executive MBA from HEC and a Masters in International Business from the London Metropolitan University.

As a member of ADAGIO's Management Committee, he will support the Next ADAGIO growth plan, and in particular initiating actions of organisation, process review and tools optimisation aiming at consolidating ADAGIO's Lean model and enabling it to succeed in its bolder transformation plan.
Uber customers in the United Kingdom will soon be able to book flights directly through the app thanks to the latest travel feature the company has added beyond rides.

The new flight booking option, which is being rolled out in partnership with travel app Hopper, will allow UK customers to book both domestic and international flights right from the Uber app, according to the company. The new feature, which will be available starting this summer, is part of a host of new products first announced last year, which expanded the companys offerings in the UK to include train and bus tickets, cross-channel train tickets, and more.

Read the full article at Yahoo! News
Brussels - Radisson Hotel Group expands its portfolio of bold, art and design-inspired hotels with the inclusion of artotel in the Radisson Hotel Groups brand portfolio, growing to ten distinct brands under one overarching umbrella. Across the brand spectrum, the Group offers inspiration through travel with authentic and engaging cultural experiences that allow travelers to feel part of each local art and design community.

First announced in May 2022, Radisson Hotel Group and PPHE Hotel Group are now looking to accelerate global growth of the premium lifestyle artotel brand, bringing together PPHEs owned premium lifestyle artotel brand, with its iconic properties and attractive pipeline, and Radisson Hotel Groups powerful technology and distribution platforms, reward programs, scale and growth aspirations.

The recent opening of artotel London Battersea Power Station and our exciting artotel projects in London Hoxton, Rome and Zagreb, provide a compelling and attractive launch platform for artotel as an attractive premium lifestyle brand for guests and hotel owners alike. The artotel brand is centered around carefully designed iconic hotel properties, each with a signature artist and strong emphasis on curating exhibitions, events and launches, paired with outstanding service and destination restaurants and bars. We are thrilled to have partnered with Radisson Hotel Group, building on our 20-year partnership, providing us with access to their technology platforms, powerful reward programs and development expertise in markets targeted for artotel growth. Boris Ivesha, President and Chief Executive Officer PPHE Hotel Group

All our offerings possess some integral lifestyle elements. We are excited to add the premium lifestyle artotel brand to our brand portfolio, recognizing the strength of the current portfolio and pipeline. We aim to unlock the brands potential by leveraging our powerful distribution and support infrastructure while growing the brand in top tier markets around the globe. We increasingly provide our owners and guests with relevant opportunities and possibilities. Federico J. Gonzalez, Executive Vice Chairman of Radisson Hotel Group

Recent research by Hotels.com data reveals that lifestyle is not limited to the luxury segment. Travelers are browsing luxuriously but may be booking affordably harnessed by experiences and experiential travel. With Radisson Hotel Group, travelers can experience lifestyle brands from luxury lifestyle with Radisson Collection, upper upscale artotel, the upscale Radisson RED and the midscale urban design brand prizeotel.

Radisson Collection (luxury lifestyle):

Radisson Collection is a luxury lifestyle collection of iconic properties located in unique locations with a strong focus on art through its artist collaborations. While the character of each Radisson Collection hotel feels authentic to its location, all of them offer the ultimate template for contemporary living  united by bespoke design and exceptional experiences across dining, fitness, wellness and sustainability.

Radisson Collection has over 50 hotels in operation or under development with recent iconic openings in Milan, Vilnius, Bilbao, Riyadh and Pula.

artotel (premium upper upscale lifestyle):

A contemporary collection of premium lifestyle hotels, each inspired by a signature artist, forming a cultural, gastronomic and social hub in the most creative areas of the most interesting cities, filled with warm, welcoming, helpful team members and discerning, cosmopolitan guests, buzzing with life all year round, in buildings as striking and individual as the stunning art they host.

Hot on the heels of the recently opened and highly acclaimed artotel London Battersea Power Station, the 400m artotel pipeline consists of new openings in Zagreb, Rome and London Hoxton, and several additional exciting projects under review in key cosmopolitan cities and sought-after neighborhoods. Existing locations include Amsterdam, London Battersea Power Station and Berlin and Cologne (with the latter two both undergoing repositioning).

Radisson RED (upscale lifestyle):

Radisson RED is an (upper) upscale hotel brand that presents a playful twist on the conventional. The brand injects new life into hotels through informal services where anything goes, a social scene thats waiting to be shared and stylish public spaces with standout design, art and music to inspire guests. Radisson RED hotels are designed to fit the needs of our guests by giving them endless opportunities to tune in and out switching effortlessly between business and pleasure.

Radisson RED: 70 hotels in operation and under development with recent openings and signings in Phuket, Liverpool, Madrid, Gdansk, Oslo, Huddersfield and Belgrade.

prizeotel (midscale urban design):

prizeotel is a midscale lifestyle hotel brand, focusing on functional bold lifestyle design, sustainability and a vibrant social scene. prizeotels eclectic character combines comfortable accommodation with an informal setting and service culture. prizeotel properties feature vibrant and modern spaces that provide welcoming multipurpose social areas, but also act as a peaceful environment for travelers to get a good nights rest and balance their hectic schedules. With a focus on convenience and efficiency, every item has been designed with a functional purpose in mind that ensures guests have everything they need, in a comfortable base from which to explore the city.

prizeotel: nearly 20 hotels in operation & under development with the aim to expand the brands footprint in select European countries with a special focus on UK and Ireland over the next five years. Recent additions include Bonn, Vienna, Munster, Osnabruck and Dublin.

About Radisson Hotel Group

Radisson Hotel Group is one of the world's largest hotel groups with nine distinctive hotel brands, and more than 1,600 hotels in operation and under development in 120 countries. The Group's overarching brand promise is Every Moment Matters with a signature Yes I Can! service ethos.

The Radisson Hotel Group portfolio includes Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Radisson Individuals, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, and prizeotel brought together under one commercial umbrella brand Radisson Hotels.

Radisson Rewards is our international rewards program that delivers unique and personalized ways to create memorable moments that matter to our guests. Radisson Rewards offers an exceptional experience for our guests, meeting planners, and travel agents at over 550 hotels in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.

Radisson Meetings provides tailored solutions for any event or meeting, including hybrid solutions placing guests and their needs at the heart of its offer. Radisson Meetings is built around three strong service commitments: Personal, Professional and Memorable, while delivering on the brilliant basics and being uniquely 100% Carbon Neutral.

The health and safety of guests and team members remain a top priority for Radisson Hotel Group. All properties across the Group's portfolio are subject to stringent health and safety requirements, as outlined in the Radisson Hotels Safety Protocol.

More than 100,000 team members work at Radisson Hotel Group and at the hotels licensed to operate in its systems. For more information, visit our corporate website. Or connect with Radisson Hotels on:

LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube
A clear strategy, high flexibility and interdisciplinary know-how along the entire value chain of a hotel property paired with employee orientation - these are the cornerstones of the realignment of the previous GHOTEL Group. With the change of name to The Chocolate on the Pillow Group, it addresses its target groups in a new way and promises to deliver decisive added value with the "magic of small things".

During the pandemic, the multi-brand operator significantly increased its brand portfolio to 3,500 rooms with various operator concepts. The group operates hotels in a wide range of segments with different concepts at over 20 locations. From budget to lifestyle, from limited service to full service hotels, the range includes a multitude of options. The Chocolate on the Pillow Group sees a valuable aspect of corporate development in centrally managed development, project and asset management. These departments design individual project structures and strategically develop which brand performs best at which location. Erik Florvaag and Jens Lehmann bring two important perspectives of the hospitality industry to these decisions: the perspective of the real estate industry and on the other hand the perspective of the hotel business. Both perspectives focus on profitability and operational excellence.

In addition, The Chocolate on the Pillow Group succeeds in passing on organizational synergies as added value to business partners. As a participation of the project developer Art-Invest Real Estate, which in turn is part of the Zech Group, all services along the value chain of a hotel property can be flexibly mapped. From planning to interior design to operation and real estate investment, the entire life cycle can be accompanied. For example, the group will operate the first Tribe Hotel and one of the first Hoxton hotels in Germany. As a first mover with the hotel projects Tribe and Hoxton - both brands of the Accor & Ennismore joint venture - she sees the opportunity to make a product known on the German market that was previously unknown. Both brands have high design standards. The Tribe in Baden-Baden is very compact, has very efficient public areas and little F&B, but impresses with the quality of the facilities. The Hoxton has a different focus - namely: to establish several high-end restaurants within a lifestyle hotel with 188 rooms in a prime location in Hamburg.

In addition to Accor as the franchisor of various brands, the group also runs Marriott brands and brands from the IHG portfolio as well as its own brand GHOTEL hotel & living.

With brand strategy to the goal

How will The Chocolate on the Pillow achieve these new goals and implement the new positioning? With a concept that was developed with great emphasis on authenticity and which was therefore developed by a group of more than 650 employees. Erik Florvaag, CEO and Managing Partner, explains that Only a viable brand promise can be proven by employees on a day-to-day basis. With our teams we want to develop a special view of the small but fine things. Cultivate traditions and old virtues again, but with a modern interpretation. The Chocolate on the Pillow Group attaches great importance to the aspects that are essential for success and memorable value: the interpersonal, the emotionality, the attentions. The repositioning aims to present our solidity and quality in our corporate image. In all matters, the inner quality is central. From within, starting with yourself and involving every individual  this is how added value is created for employees and partners. Jens Lehmann, Chief Operating Officer of the group, emphasizes: We anticipate what the guest or business partner wants. That little bit more, the icing on the cake, becomes the special feature of our houses. This is where our teams can contribute their individuality. This promise can be filled with life regardless of the brand standard. The Chocolate on the Pillow Group invests a lot in the attitude and mindset of the teams, because only with a common canon of values can the team face the future in the same direction and with conviction and passion do their job.

Digitization is on the Groups roadmap for 2023. The strategy describes many measures, all of which focus on the employees. The digitization measures are built around people with the aim of relieving the burden of repetitive or formal processes through automation. For example, it is about the digital check-in of the guest, payment processes in the house and information that the guest needs. These processes are digitally simplified. The employees are relieved and equally empowered to look after the guests more and bring more personality into processes. In the end, it's a smile, humor, a "good morning" or a "thank you" that comes from the heart, what is remembered.

Sustainability is also an integral part of the strategy. The group has already certified the majority of all houses as GSTC-compliant and invests in ESG measures across the group. There is also a focus on the employer brand. Retention, i.e. binding, retaining and developing existing employees, is an essential part of the strategy.

The Chocolate on the Pillow Group will continue on its growth path within the DACH region in the coming years.

About The Chocolate on the Pillow Group

The Chocolate on the Pillow Group represents a portfolio of over 20 hotels in the DACH region. With more than 650 employees, the group operates hotels under its own brands "GHOTEL hotel & living" and "nestor" as well as other hotels under the brands of the international hotel operator Accor (Novotel, ibis Styles, ibis, ibis budget, TRIBE, the hoxton) , Marriott (Moxy) and Intercontinental (Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express).

The hotel group, which was founded in 1994 and last traded as the GHOTEL Group, has set itself the task of setting new standards for hospitality with state-of-the-art hospitality concepts and wants to revolutionize the way hotels are managed. As a competent partner for institutional investors, private investors and joint ventures, The Chocolate on the Pillow Group, in its close connection with Art-Invest Real Estate and the Zech Group, covers the entire value chain from hotel construction to planning and implementation to hotel operation.
ALL TIME HIGH EBITDA MARGINS AND PAT

RECORD YEAR OF SIGNINGS AND OPENINGS

TAJ TOPS 100 HOTELS; GINGER TURNS PROFITABLE; TAJSATS CLOCKS ALL TIME HIGH PROFIT

MUMBAI - The Indian Hotels Company Limited, Indias hospitality market leader, today reported its progress under Ahvaan 2025, a strategic plan with an objective of being the most iconic and profitable hospitality company in South Asia. Value creation has been at the cornerstone of this strategy driven by the initiatives of re-engineering its traditional business, scaling its re-imagined businesses and re-structuring its portfolio. As part of this strategy, IHCL aims to build a portfolio of 300 hotels, clock a 33% EBITDA margin with 35% EBITDA share contribution from new businesses and management fees by FY 2025-26

AHVAAN 2025 - CURRENT SCORECARD

 Source: IHCL

Ahvaan 2025, our comprehensive strategy to be an iconic and profitable hospitality ecosystem has witnessed a strong start. With four consecutive quarters of record financial performance, the company achieved an all-time high PAT of over INR 1,000 crores and maintained zero net debt status. In the last 12 months, IHCL expanded its portfolio to 263 hotels and attained an ideal portfolio mix of 50:50 between owned or leased hotels and managed properties. With its reimagined brandscape, industry-leading brands and operational excellence, strong footprint across 125+ cities, as well as the unwavering trust of guests and dedication of all colleagues guided by the ethos of Tajness, IHCL is well poised to deliver on this vision. Mr. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer

IHCL continues to Re-engineer its traditional businesses achieving a 20% plus growth in revenue, 15.2 percentage points margin expansion. It introduced the global Italian brand Papermoon in Goa; launched a new Indian restaurant concept branded Loya and expanded House of Nomad and 7 Rivers in Goa.

Scaling up its Re-imagined businesses, Ginger reached a portfolio of 85 hotels and reported at PBT of INR 48 Crores turning profitable for the first time. TajSATS, an industry leader in airline catering clocked an all-time high EBITDA margin of 19.7% and a PBT of INR 107 Crores. ama Stays & Trails, a branded offering in the homestay market, grew at a steady pace, and is now a portfolio of 114. Qmin, IHCLs culinary platform has expanded to multiple formats including as the all day diner in Ginger hotels, and has 34 outlets now

Re-structuring its portfolio, achieved a 50:50 mix between its owned or leased and managed hotels with the signing of 36 hotels. Taj, ranked as the Worlds Strongest Hotel Brand and Indias Strongest Brand as per Brand Finance reached a milestone with 100 hotels.

Sustainable and responsible tourism is the way forward. The company announced a comprehensive ESG+ framework Paathya which drives IHCLs sustainability and social impact measures. In its first year, Paathya has made significant progress in the areas of renewable energy, plastic elimination, conserving heritage, and skilling.

 Source: IHCL

The outlook for hospitality sector is buoyed by demand continuing to outpace supply. IHCL will seek to tap the strong potential for deeper penetration in emerging cities through prudent capital allocation. Mr. Giridhar Sanjeevi, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, IHCL

With culture, customer and community at its core, Ahvaan 2025 will seek to maximize stakeholder value.

About The Indian Hotels Company Limited

The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and its subsidiaries bring together a group of brands and businesses that offer a fusion of warm Indian hospitality and world-class service. These include Taj the iconic brand for the most discerning travellers and ranked as the World's Strongest Hotel Brand and India's Strongest Brand as per Brand Finance Hotels 50 Report 2022 and India 100 Report 2022, respectively; SeleQtions, a named collection of hotels; Vivanta, sophisticated upscale hotels; and Ginger, which is revolutionising the lean luxe segment.

Incorporated by the founder of the Tata Group, Jamsetji Tata, the Company opened its first hotel - The Taj Mahal Palace, in Bombay in 1903. IHCL has a portfolio of 263 hotels including 75 under development globally across 4 continents, 12 countries and in over 100 locations. The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) is India's largest hospitality company by market capitalization. It is primarily listed on the BSE and NSE.

Please visit: www.ihcltata.com; www.tajhotels.com; www.seleqtionshotels.com; www.vivantahotels.com; www.gingerhotels.com

Kirti Dhingra

IHCL
Launching in May 2023, Kinsfolk & Co. is a new hospitality management company, born in London, but created with an international perspective. The dynamic organisation, which is led by some of the best talent from across the industry, was founded with a mission to deliver enhanced performance and put triple bottom line priorities at its heart. The mindset is long-term, ensuring the operation is a conscientious, ethical business for years to come.

The privately owned hospitality management company is led by Paul Brackley, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, who was previously Managing Director of The Beaumont Hotel, Mayfair (Corbin & King) and General Manager of the Shangri-La at The Shard London. Paul has joined together a founding super-team of hospitality professionals, including:

People & Culture Director, Ninoska Leppard who spent 19 years with Corbin & King and The Beaumont Hotel and eight years at Caprice Holdings;

who spent 19 years with Corbin & King and The Beaumont Hotel and eight years at Caprice Holdings; Commercial Director, Rachel Fearon , who spent 22 years at Firmdale Hotels and prior to this worked at One Aldwych, London.

, who spent 22 years at Firmdale Hotels and prior to this worked at One Aldwych, London. Heymo Nyoni , Chief Financial Officer, who most recently worked for Standard International,

, Chief Financial Officer, who most recently worked for Standard International, Stas Anastasiades, Restaurants & Innovations Director, who is a well-known and respected hospitality figure having worked for Milsom Hotels and Restaurants for 20 years.

The Kinsfolk & Co. team has come together with a shared vision to create a new company that delivers enhanced profitability through thoughtful excellence.

We are incredibly fortunate to start a completely fresh company, where we can build a community with a shared vision  be that with our team, our partners or our investors. We believe in the power of hospitality, working together within our wider industry. As a collective force, our company will deliver sustainable returns for all our stakeholders. Paul Brackley, Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Kinsfolk & Co. has plans to build a managed portfolio of hospitality businesses. With a pipeline already in place, the company will launch two luxury boutique hotels in central London. The first will open in Fitzrovia in 2024, and the second in Westminster in 2026. With new standalone neighbourhood restaurants and luxury serviced apartment concepts also in development, Kinsfolk & Co. will work to seamlessly weave each asset into the fabric of the local community.

While each new opening will be completely individual and independent, all will have a Kinsfolk & Co. sensibility and golden thread running through. We will craft and create places that inspire new experiences, always putting people and relationships at the centre of what we do. Ultimately working in a balanced way, we will deliver enhanced profits, adding value for all our clients. Welcoming and warm, Kinsfolk & Co. will bring something new, but at the same time something familiar. Rachel Fearon, Commercial Director

The company has a complete end-to-end management offering, which features a range of vertical services, from advisory, asset management, concept creation and design guidelines through to operations. The Kinsfolk & Co. employment mission is to add their support to the revival of hospitality as a career. All of the above is delivered and underpinned by the shared values and principles on which the company has been founded.

About Kinsfolk & Co.

Kinsfolk & Co. is a new hospitality management company, born in London and created with an international mindset. This dynamic organisation, which is led by some of the best talent from across the industry, was founded with a mission to deliver enhanced performance, putting the triple bottom line priorities at its heart.
Pays de Vaud and Lausanne from the 16th to 19th centuries

In 1536, Lausanne, like the rest of the Pays de Vaud, fell under the dominion of the authorities in Bern. A range of territories, including Chalet-a-Gobso why, were bestowed to the town of Lausanne, which was governed by a bailiff dispatched from Bern and two councils made up of wealthy land owners from Lausanne. It wasnt until 1798 that Lausanne and the Vaud Canton would shrug off the yoke of Bernese subjugation. This is the historical backdrop against which EHLs most emblematic building, La Ferme, was built.

Architectural historians and how the farm came to be

The first time that architectural historians were able to study the farm was in 1993 when an architectural census was taken in the Vaud Canton. The first study, albeit a succinct one, put forward the date of 1750 for the construction of the building1.

Mandated by EHL in 2015, the architectural historian, Isabelle Roland conducted a study of the Cojonnex farms history and architecture. According to Roland, the building was probably built between 1730 and 1735 by the xxxCity of Lausanne2. In 1728, it was decided to build the structure, but the funds were actually disbursed two years later. According to Roland, it was most probably a new construction, given the budget that was allocated3.

On the map, which dates back to 1746, that traces the road stretching from Bern to Lausanne via the Jorat forestwhich would become the Route de Berne we know and love todaythe farm is visible in a place name called Cojonnex (or Gojonez as it was known then) that belonged to the City of Lausanne. This is indeed our farm!

Figure 1: Excerpt of the map of the road from Bern to Lausanne via the Jorat, 1746. [Excerpt from the map of the road from Bern to Lausanne via the Jorat, from 1746: ACV, Gc 537.] Source: EHL

So why did the City of Lausanne decide to build a farm at this particular location? The answer is outlined in Anne Radeffs book entitled Lausanne et ses campagnes au 17e siecle, which sheds light on the economic system in Lausanne and outlying areas in the 17th century4. Her research provides a detailed explanation of the towns business model, which used vast territories abutting the city as a source of revenue through tenant farming.

The farm, built on land belonging to the city in the early 18th century, is therefore a part of this economic system and families of farmers would continue to operate it generation after generation. The EHL farm is a undoubtedly an important example of the construction of a farm/residence mandated by the City of Lausanne in the 18th century.

A quick anecdote: Active wineries still belong to Lausanne as reminders of this bygone economic system. If you want to reserve a Made in Lausanne historic vintage youll have to bid the highest during the auction held every year on the second Saturday of December, which has been going on since 1803 5. Good luck!

The oldest photo in the EHL Archives dates from 1915 where the Martin-Borgeaud family stands with their two cows. This indicates that tenant farming had always taken place at the Cojonnex property from its construction until the 20th century.

Figure 2: The Martin-Borgeaud family in front of La Ferme, 1915. [EHL Archives, Audio-visual, Buildings: la Ferme, CH-000963-7 AV-PH-BB-1915-3-1, 1915.] Source: EHL

Swiss Hotel Association takes the decision to leave the Avenue de Cour

At the end of the 1960s, EHL was prospering and saw enrolment climb to about 600 students, half of whom were off doing an internship abroad. Numerous additions to the campus on Avenue de Cour were made, such as an ambitious outbuilding in 1970. However, the school was cramped in town and eyed a very bold expansion. Discussions about overhauling the curriculum, including moving from a 3- to a 4-semester program, underscored the lack of space. Such a modification would change EHLs academic offer and would require extra classrooms, not to mention the many more students who would be on the campus at any given time.

On June 16, 1971, the Societe Suisse des Hoteliers, as the governing body of the Ecole hoteliere was known at the time, decided to pull up stakes and leave the Avenue de Cour campus. This is why management, led by Eric Gerber, director from 1968 to 1973, started to prospect for new lands to house the ecole hoteliere of tomorrow. And they used all manners of communication to find a new home, including ads in the local paper!

Figure 3: Newspaper ad seeking a new plot of land for the school, 1971. [EHL Archives, EHL-EPSSH, press clipping, La Suisse, 1971.] Source: EHL

The school received a host of interesting offers including from the nearby town of Puidoux-Chexbres. After extensive negotiations, the City of Lausanne won the bid in 1972 and the Societe Suisse des Hoteliers decided to set up the school in Chalet-a-Gobet, at the extreme northern tip of Lausanne.

The Nouvelle Ecole, as it was called, was built on a leafy lot that stretched alongside the Route de Berne at the edge of a forest. The purchase of the land came with all constructions and outbuildings located on that land, which meant the La Ferme was in private hands for the first time in its long history.

However, the farm stood tall as the land was transformed and new buildings sprouted up.

Far from being cast aside, the farm became the actual and symbolic center of the Nouvelle Ecole. After some renovation work, it became a hub of leisure and relaxation for students, a story that was picked up by media outlets at the time.

Figure 4: Photograph of the first model of the Nouvelle Ecole, 1972. [EHL Archives, Fonds audiovisuel, CH-000963-7 AV-PH-BH-1972-3-1-1, 1972.] Source: EHL

In 1974, there was a major surprise: the Nouvelle Ecoles construction commission filed to demolish the farm because costly renovations were needed, the building was unfit for its new use and the farms style was deemed antiquated given the modern campus. In January 1975, the commission even hired a company to do the demolition work.

But La Ferme wasnt about to go down without a fight and, in May 1975, the commissions demolition permit was rejected by the local authorities. The farm was to be saved as specified in the building permit that had originally been authorized.

Figure 5: Construction of the Nouvelle Ecole: the farm amid tower cranes, 1974. [EHL Archives, Audiovisual, CH-000963-7 AV-PH-BH-1974-3-1-2, 1974.] Source: EHL

New EHL campus, new farm

Construction on the new campus began in 2017, which required the farm to be dismantled only to be put back together again in the middle of the new campus. The new-and-improved farm was unveiled on July 2022 in the presence of Swiss president Ignazio Cassis. Spacious and modern, it currently houses a cafebut not just any cafe, a Montreux Jazz Cafe, from the famous music festival created in 1967 on the shores of Lake Geneva by Claude Nobs, an EHL alumnus!

The new farm is identical to the old building but with new materials. Charming historical details, such as the green sandstone window casings and doors, were preserved (as required by the Lausanne authorities in charge of heritage sites).

The EHL farm is an institution, an emblematic building and the place to be! Countless parties have taken place within its walls, creating unforgettable memories for many alumni.

Figure 6: Alumni event in front of La Ferme, 1982. [EHL Archives, Fonds audiovisuel, CH-000963-7 AV-PH-BI-1982-4-1, 1982.] Source: EHL

With its history made up of ups and downs, La Ferme is the epitome of the expression "turning our weaknesses into a strength". Perhaps cumbersome for the construction commission of the Nouvelle Ecole in the 1970s, it has today become an essential landmark and the symbol of the Lausanne campus.

1. GLAUSER, Daniel, ROLAND, Isabelle, Recensement architectural du Canton de Vaud, Direction generale des immeubles et du patrimoine, Monuments et sites, 1993, fiche nCojo 18

2. ROLAND, Isabelle, Lausanne ancienne ferme de Cojonnex propriete de lEcole hoteliere de Lausanne. Etude historique et architecturale, Lausanne : EHL, 2015

3. Ibidem, p. 1  3

4. RADEFF, Anne, Lausanne et ses campagnes au 17e siecle, Lausanne : Presses Centrales Lausanne, 1980

Sources

EHL Archives

Archives Cantonales Vaudoises [ACV]

Archives de la Ville de Lausanne [AVL]

Dictionnaire Historique Suisse [DHS]: https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/fr/

GLAUSER, Daniel, ROLAND, Isabelle, Recensement architectural du Canton de Vaud, Direction generale des immeubles et du patrimoine, Monuments et sites, 1993, fiche nCojo 18

Lausanne Capitale Olympique: https://www.lausanne-tourisme.ch/fr/

RADEFF, Anne, Lausanne et ses campagnes au 17 e siecle, Lausanne: Presses Centrales Lausanne, 1980

siecle, Lausanne: Presses Centrales Lausanne, 1980 ROLAND, Isabelle, Lausanne ancienne ferme de Cojonnex propriete de lEcole hoteliere de Lausanne. Etude historique et architecturale, Lausanne : EHL, 2015

For further information, please contact: [email protected].

EHL Hospitality Business School

Communications Department

+41 21 785 1354

EHL

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The Crown Krakw Handwritten Collection Hotel

Following the global launch of Handwritten Collection, Accor announces the debut of the brand in Poland. A charming hotel in a renovated historical tenement house in the heart of Krakow will join the collection of boutique properties.

This summer, The Crown Krakow Handwritten Collection will welcome its first guests in a distinctive corner tenement house at 6 Krolewska Street, right next to Inwalidow Square and the so-called Avenues of the Three Bards in the second largest city in Poland. The 44-room facility will join the new collection of boutique hotels under a franchise agreement between Accor and the owner of the property, Alventa Invest, along with PI Apartamenty&Hotele responsible for the hotel's day-to-day operations.

"Signing the contract for the first hotel of the new Handwritten Collection brand is a major step in expanding not only our offer in Krakow, a city immensely popular with tourists from all over the world but also the general Accor's portfolio in Poland. I am pleased that the Polish chapter of the Handwritten Collection starts in the city with reach and beautiful history. Thanks to the timeless architectural elegance of a beautifully renovated 100-year-old tenement house and its grand interiors, the new hotel perfectly fits the character of the brand. I am convinced that together with our partners we will create a unique place and together make history said Jacek Stasikowski, Development Director Accor Poland.

The Crown Krakow Handwritten Collection occupies a five-storey tenement house from 1923 designed by Wacaw Krzyzanowski and inspired by the Art Deco, a design style popular in the 1920s and '30s characterized by modernistic buildings balancing opulence and practicality as an unmistakable representation of an era that was at the centre of the Machine Age. Within the walls of the new hotel, guests will be transported to these times full of refinement, elegance, and chic decor to admire art while enjoying a choice of carefully selected spirits and cigars. The new hotel is bound to become a famous venue in the city, inextricably linked to its cultural heritage. In addition to tastefully decorated rooms, guests will have access to a restaurant, a bar and a cigar lounge, a conference room and a fitness area.

"We have made every effort to revitalize this extraordinary piece of architecture and breathe a new spirit into this property. By respectfully complementing the historical form of the building with modern elegance we combined the past with the present. We took care of every detail and used noble materials while maintaining the utilitarian aspects of the facility" said Wiesaw Haucha, President of the Board at Alventa Invest.

The Crown Krakow Handwritten Collection overlooks one of the city's main historical routes, leading directly to the medieval Main Market Square. The most important sights of the Old Town, Wawel Hill and the Kazimierz old Jewish quarter are within walking distance. The hotel is also close to the campuses of the AGH University of Science and Technology, Jagiellonian University, and other seats of higher learning as well as the most important cultural institutions in the city and many of its bustling businesses.

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"The Crown is a unique property that flawlessly combines Art Deco with a modern attitude and complements this mixture with a touch of art and fantastic storytelling. We have created for our guests a place with a strong personality, a stylish and cosy atmosphere, full of life and colourful experiences. We are glad that thanks to the cooperation with Accor, our property has become a valuable addition to such an extraordinary collection" said Agnieszka Dabrowska, President of the Board at PI Apartamenty&Hotele.

The Handwritten Collection includes carefully selected hotels in the most fashionable destinations. The brand offers a combination of fantastic places with individualized warmth and cordiality  the basis of true hospitality. The distinctive character of the Handwritten Collection properties stems from the personalities of their hosts, who invite guests to a home away from home. From Shanghai through Krakow and Paris to Sydney, the Handwritten Collection sign is a guarantee of singular experiences.

The brand launched at the beginning of 2023 with a portfolio of over a dozen facilities and over a hundred more at various stages of negotiations. It is designed to meet the needs of independent owners of hotels with a well-defined identity, who would like to take their businesses to the next level and not only maintain their character but also make it one of the ingredients for future success. By 2030, Accor plans to have 250 hotels across the world in the Handwritten Collection. The group is actively looking for properties with a strong individual style operating in popular destinations that could be a valuable addition to the new collection and wishes to invite them to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by a partnership with a leading player in the global hospitality industry.
Amanda Hyndman and Francesco Cefal

Mandarin Oriental announced two senior leadership appointments. Amanda Hyndman, who joined the company in 2007, has been promoted to the position of Chief People Officer. Francesco Cefalu, who joined the company in 2016, has been promoted to the role of Chief Development Officer.

Amanda Hyndman is responsible for establishing, implementing, and evaluating global HR strategies for the Group. Her career spans over 30 years in the luxury hotel industry, and she has held several senior management roles in the UK, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Washington DC. Her impressive contribution to the success of the Group led to her appointment as Group Director of Quality & Rooms in 2020. In her new role as Chief People Officer, Amanda will oversee the development of Human Resources strategies that support the growth of the brand and colleague career development.

Francesco Cefalu, who joined the company as Regional Development Director for EMEA, has led the development strategy in EMEA, resulting in several successful agreements, including Lake Como, Muscat, Kuwait, Zurich, Tel Aviv, Vienna, and Cortina. In his new role as Chief Development Officer, Francesco will be responsible for overseeing the development of the Group's pipeline of hotels and residences worldwide.

These appointments reflect the company's commitment to promoting and nurturing talent from within its ranks.

"I am delighted to announce Amanda and Francesco's promotions to their new roles. Both have made outstanding contributions to the success of the Group, and I am confident that they will continue to lead their teams with passion and dedication, helping us achieve our ambitious growth plans for the future." - James Riley, Group Chief Executive.
Rendering of the InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has officially opened its doors to InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace in the heart of Rome.

Tom Rowntree, Vice President of Global Luxury and Lifestyle brands at IHG, said: Today we open the doors of the InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace, enchanting our guests with a mix of historic architecture, modern art and culture, alongside personalised service with distinctive details, and incredible cuisine. From Suites with Roman arches to room service at night delivered by the chef, we have created a culture of subtle touches of sophisticated charm. This hotel is a true gem in our portfolio of luxury properties, and we look forward to providing our guests with an unforgettable experience to discover the soul of Rome. As expectations of the modern luxury traveller continue to evolve, we recognised an opportunity to both preserve the distinct properties of this Palace building while reimaging the interiors to elevate it to new heights.

InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace bears the signature of renowned Italian architect Carlo Busiri Vici, occupying a landmark building originally constructed in 1900 to host ambassadors staying in Rome, before serving as the American Embassy Library in 1946. The hotels design borrows from the Renaissances classic architectural elements, gables, and columns, to create symmetrical elegant shapes and the interiors reflect meticulous attention to detail. They provide the hotel with that fin de siecle elegance creating a space which is theatrical yet perfectly captured by the concept of discreet luxury.

InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace will offer 160 rooms and luxury suites in a style that combine neo-classical details with chic contemporary design. Residential in nature, the hotel is just a short walk away from some of Rome's most iconic landmarks, including the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and the Pantheon, the hotel's central location makes it an ideal base all travellers looking to explore the rich history, culture, and art that Rome has to offer.

Luca de Stefano, General Manager, InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace, commented: It is with great pleasure that we open the doors to InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace. Our passion for luxury hospitality and attention to detail is second to none and we are looking forward to welcoming guests to our stunning hotel and to experience the wonder of Rome. Rich in history and in unparalleled location, guests can indulge in the timeless elegance of Italian design, savour the flavours of refined Italian cuisine, and create unforgettable memories.

Guests will be embraced by touches of subtle luxury and elegant ambiance in each of the hotels 160 rooms. Inspired by sophisticated Italian apartments, the spaces feature a serene palette of colours, shun all sense of standardisation, and aim to underscore Italian traditions and craftmanship. Bespoke details and design emphasize the ancient citys influence, from brass handles reimagined to resemble Roman fluted columns to leather-crafted headboards and fluted wall lamps, all of which are custom crafted by Italian artisans. Every aspect of the design of InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace ensures a warm engaging celebration of contrasts and delights based on Romes heritage, Italian modernity, and the legacy of the Via Veneto.

Multiple culinary delights await guests, including Scarpetta NYC, serving elevated Italian cuisine alongside flavours of a traditional American steakhouse, for lunch and dinner in a genuine, intimate, and convivial urban space in addition to Charlie's Rooftop and Anitas Bar and Lounge. Scarpetta NYC will provide an elegant atmosphere where Italian food and wine traditions mingle with the vibrance of New York. Aiming to enhance the aromas and flavours of raw ingredients, the wine list will comprise both Italian and American selections and the New York-style cocktail menu makes for an inspired and unique epicurean adventure. Offering beautiful views over the city, Charlies Rooftop is inspired by the jovial spirit of a good time Charlie, with an atmosphere befitting modern travellers that can enjoy live music and exclusive DJ sets, sophisticated mixology, and delicious canapes. Anitas Lounge & Bar is the first space guests see when they enter the hotel, home to a magnificent 600-bulb chandelier. Whether guests find themselves there for just a moment or decide to linger, Anitas offers a comfortable space to relax or socialize.
Dean Lane - General Manager - Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida

Dean Lane has been named as the new general manager of The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida. Located at 3555 S Ocean Drive the 1,000-room Resort was recently purchased by Trinity Investments, and is operated by Hilton, as a location of Hilton's Curio Collection.

Dean Lane will lead the team in all aspects of Resort operations, from team leadership to experiential development, guest services and satisfaction. "We are privileged to have someone of Dean's caliber and industry experience leading the team, and know that his unique experience and industry edge are exactly what is needed at The Diplomat to guide the Resort into its most exciting era yet," said Doug Gehret, Area Vice President at Hilton.

"I look forward to this new opportunity and am proud to be able to lead the phenomenal team at The Diplomat Beach Resort," said Lane. "My ultimate goal is to ensure this premiere Resort remains the unquestionable leader in the South Floridian market for both leisure and business travelers visiting the area, by delivering an unparalleled guest experiences and best-in-class amenities around every bend."

Prior to joining The Diplomat Beach Resort, Lane served as Hilton Area General Manager in the Chicago / Midwest region, overseeing the operations of five Hilton Hotels & Resorts. Prior to his Area General Manager position, Dean served as General Manager of Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel where he played a large role in the four-year, $140 million renovation of the legendary property resulting in subsequent record-breaking revenue and market share gains. With more than 30 years in the hospitality industry, Dean began his hospitality career at the MGM Grand Hotel in Reno, a property featuring 2,000 rooms, wherein he was involved in the $220 million renovation of the property as Executive Assistant Manager. Along Dean's path, he has acquired numerous accolades not limited to Historic Hotels of America's "Historic Hotelier of the Year" in 2014 and the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association's "Hotelier of the Year" in 2015. In 2017, he was voted Chairman of the Board for the latter association.

Lane is also an active part of the community; he has held roles within the State Street Commission, served board member of the Chicago Loop Alliance, and served on the Board of Directors for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest, Indiana, keeping in line with Hilton's overall service culture and philosophy of giving back.
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How can Texas boost electric reliability without spending billions on natural gas power plants? Let me count the ways.

If you listen to Gov. Greg Abbotts appointed chairman at the Public Utility Commission, lawmakers must force Texans to give tens of billions of dollars to prop up coal and natural gas plants owned by massive corporations.

Last week, I slammed Chairman Peter Lake for fearmongering, but I acknowledged the one truth he uttered. Electricity demand will come closest to exceeding supply between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on the hottest nights this summer.

Pablo Vegas, CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, says the chance of a blackout is less than 1 percent, but hes paid to address the tightest hours of the year.

The cheapest, quickest and easiest way to avoid electricity shortages is to manage the demand on the grid, according to every expert. While ERCOT pays some companies to cut back on electricity during tight periods, Texas fails to finance large-scale efforts to reduce demand.

Ten readily available energy efficiency and demand response measures, deployed aggressively between 2024 and 2030, could offset 14,800 megawatts of summer peak load and 23,500 megawatts of winter peak load, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy demonstrated in a new report.

The program would cost $8.4 billion over the next six years and better protect the climate than the Legislatures plan to spend $18 billion on 10,000 megawatts of new natural gas power plants.

Current Texas EE and DR programs aim for low goals with low funding but could be expanded to reduce and slow a significant portion of energy demand growth at lower cost than traditional supply-side solutions, the non-partisan research group found.

None of the technology is exotic: heat pumps to replace old furnaces, improved insulation, upgraded water heaters, retrofit programs for old apartments and offices, smart thermostats and managed EV charging.

The cost passed onto customers would be about $7 a month, but by 2030, the programs would save customers $18 a month in lower electricity bills, ACEEE said.

As a group, the benefits of these programs are nearly 2.9 times greater than the costs, researchers concluded.

Texas consumers reap the rewards under this plan, not the shareholders of energy companies, which might explain why the Legislature doesnt adopt it.

Other states dedicate 1 percent of electricity sales to energy efficiency and have slowed demand growth. Texas spends 0.21 percent on energy efficiency and saw electricity use climb 11 percent while the population only rose 5 percent.

Texas lawmakers still have time to act. Senate Bill 258 from state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt would require the PUC to achieve 1 percent of energy savings annually through energy efficiency. The proposal is under consideration by the House State Affairs Committee.

The Holy Grail for the electricity sector, though, is storage. For the last 150 years, weve relied on energy that nature stored in fossil fuels. But to fight climate change, hundreds of companies are building creative ways to store electricity generated by wind and solar facilities.

Battery storage is the most advanced, and currently available batteries can provide power to the grid for two-to-four hours. Almost every new solar power facility is built with batteries nearby. Nationally, companies have started work on 10 grid-scale battery manufacturing plants, and Abbott recently helped Elon Musk break ground on a new $375 million lithium refinery near Corpus Christi.

Other countries are ahead of the United States in developing new grid-scale battery technology. China recently commissioned a 100 megawatt/400 megawatt-hour vanadium redox flow battery, which will help the grid rely more on clean energy.

Texas still has an opportunity to lead the world in storing clean energy in hydrogen, a combustible gas easily blended with natural gas for power plants. When wind and solar facilities produce more electricity than we need, the juice can feed electrolyzers that split water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen, which we can use later.

The federal government, New York and California are all encouraging companies to develop new ways to store electricity. But in Texas, the emphasis remains on building power plants that will guarantee demand for natural gas for decades.

A new study in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Research found that oil and gas emissions around the country caused 7,500 excess deaths in 2016 and cost the U.S. $77 billion annually. For our health, climate and pocketbooks, there are better ways to stabilize the grid than building natural gas plants.
Activist investor Elliott Investment Management is calling Houston-based NRG Energys 2022 acquisition of home technology and security business Vivint the single worst deal in the power and utilities sector in the past decade.

In a Monday letter to NRG management, the Florida-based firm, which says it has a roughly $1 billion stake in the power generation company, asked NRG to fix strategic missteps by shaking up its board and changing its capital allocation strategy to send at least 80 percent of free cash flow back to investors.

We have strong conviction in the attractiveness of NRG's assets and believe that the company can become the leading integrated power company in North America, Elliotts investment team said in the letter. However, the company's strategic decisions, execution and stock price underperformance make clear that significant changes are needed to repower NRG and restore the level of strategic focus and investor trust that drove the company's outperformance six years ago.

Laura Avant, a spokesperson for NRG, confirmed that NRG received the letter from Elliott and said the company looks forward to an open dialogue with the investment firm, but declined to comment further on the demands. NRGs Board and management are committed to creating long-term value for our customers and our shareholders, she said in an email.

MORE ON NRG: Electricity generator NRG to cancel Texas natural gas plant plans if certain bills pass

In its letter, Elliott said it worked with NRG in 2017 to boost the utilitys financial performance by cutting costs and changing up the board. NRG was one of the best-performing companies on the S&P 500 that year.

Now, it says, NRG has sharply pivoted away from the 2017 strategy, pointing to the $2.8 billion acquisition of Vivint, a company that helps install automated technology and security systems into homes. Analysts have been lukewarm on the December 2022 deal, and the day the acquisition was announced NRGs stock dropped by around 15 percent.

Instead of home services, Elliott is pushing NRG to focus on its power plants and retail electricity businesses, and is calling on the company to cut $500 million in costs.

If NRG follows Elliotts plan it could push the companys stock price above $55, the letter said. On Monday NRG was trading around $33 per share.

Elliott Management said its $1 billion investment in NRG represents about a 13 percent stake in the company.

kyra.buckley@houstonchronicle.com
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Crystal Legrand had a problem: While working in the short-term rental industry, she wanted to create videos teaching others how to "get in the game," but couldn't find a location that was affordable and offered the right vibe.

So in August, she opened Picture Junky, a retail space just outside Beltway 8 in northwest Houston where customers can shoot photos and videos in rented rooms featuring various themes. Among them: A gigantic tub filled with plastic bubbles and rubber ducks, a dressing room full of pink roses or a golden tub with money on the ground. Prices range from $65 to $85 an hour depending on the rooms and how many are being rented. There are six rooms, with one containing multiple themes.

The concept is similar to ultra-Instagrammable art exhibits like the Museum of Ice Cream or Color Factory, both national chains, where visitors can buy tickets to snap selfies in vivid surroundings. But Picture Junky caters to social-media creators and businesses looking for colorful, immersive spaces that they can rent exclusively to film or photograph content for their brand.

ARTFUL ADORNMENT: Houston brands are offering jewelry as experience, with Instagram-ready settings

Legrand wanted every inch of the roughly 2,000-square-foot space to be picture-worthy, from the graffiti-covered staircase to the Pac-Man-themed bathrooms. Many of the spaces are painted by local artists Legrand found through Instagram or word of mouth.

"It's a photographer's delight," said Laurie Perez, a commercial photographer and Picture Junky customer.

Perez's relationship with Picture Junky started when she took photos of the business for Legrand, but as a commercial photographer of interiors and individuals, she saw an opportunity at Picture Junky to take the typical office backdrop or personal headshot to a new level.

Many of the entrepreneurs whom she photographs don't have a physical office to stage and don't want to use their homes as a backdrop, Perez said, so she's rented several locations.

"It's usually just one room," Perez said.

But at Picture Junky, there are multiple rooms with different themes, including an office  only more chic and more pink.

Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Legrand estimates that some 30 percent of Picture Junky's customers  professional photographers, social media influencers, business owners  return. So last month, Picture Junky began offering a monthly subscription plan.

Porcha Tanyingu has been booking the rooms at Picture Junky since it opened to film content for her clothing store, Marz N Venus. Before Picture Junky, everything she posted on social media had to be filmed or photographed within the same couple of locations within her store.

"If you've ever owned a store or know someone who's owned a store, it's a lot getting content for the month," Tanyingu said. "We're usually there one to four hours, just creating different content."

The variety of backgrounds  from a wall blanketed in fluffy clouds to a room decorated to look two-dimensional  has led to more people interacting with her posts, Tanyingu said.

Though Picture Junky was opened with businesses and entrepreneurs in mind, Legrand said it's open to anyone.

"It's a place where they can come and be creative," Legrand said. "The vision behind it was just to have that place where you can just express yourself freely, and it be affordable."
This week, Murder By The Book presents New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr; and Justice Malala will discuss "The Plot to Save South Africa" at the Holocaust Museum Houston.

Tembe Denton-Hurst: Author will be in conversation with Miabelle from Hot 97 to discuss "Homebodies" via Zoom. Registration required. 6 p.m. kindredstorieshtx.com

MORE ABOUT AUTHORS: Houston oil and gas exec writes memoir inspired by her daughters, offering lessons of leadership

TUESDAY

Senior Memoir Workshop Reading: Inprint will celebrate the stories of seniors enrolled in the Senior Memoir Workshop at Finnigan Park Community Center. Having practiced memoir writing for several weeks, workshop participants will share touching pieces about their lives, families, communities and neighborhoods. Josie Mitchell will introduce the workshop. 11 a.m., The Ensemble Theatre, 3535 Main; inprinthouston.org

Inprint Houston

Justice Malala: Renowned South African political commentator and best-selling author will sign and discuss "The Plot to Save South Africa." 7-8 p.m., Albert and Ethel Herzstein Theater, Holocaust Museum Houston, 5401 Caroline; hmh.org

Courtesy photo

Holly Goldberg Sloan: Author will discuss her newest book, "Pieces of Blue." 7 p.m., Blue Willow Bookshop, 14532 Memorial; bluewillowbookshop.com

WEDNESDAY

Jack Carr: New York Times bestselling author and former Navy SEAL will discuss Only the Dead. 6:30 p.m., Murder By The Book, 2342 Bissonnet; 713-524-8597; murderbooks.com

THURSDAY

Kate White: New York Times bestselling author of eight standalone psychological thrillers, including "Have You Seen Me?" and "The Fiancee" as well as eight Bailey Weggins mysteries, will discuss "Between Two Strangers." 6:30 p.m., Murder By The Book, 2342 Bissonnet; 713-524-8597; murderbooks.com

Courtesy of the author

Ruta Sepetys: Author will discuss "You: The Story." 7 p.m., Blue Willow Bookshop, 14532 Memorial; bluewillowbookshop.com

Magda Starowieyska

SATURDAY

Catherine Vance: Author will discuss "The Mountains Under Her Feet." 4 p.m., Blue Willow Bookshop, 14532 Memorial; bluewillowbookshop.com
Several high-profile actors with Texas ties have banded together to record a video public service announcement encouraging bipartisan legislation to promote filmmaking in the Lone Star State. Among those taking part are Dennis Quaid, Matthew McConaughey, Owen Wilson, Billy Bob Thornton, Woody Harrelson and Glen Powell.

The three-minute-and-forty-seven-second video, directed by actor/filmmaker Jeremy John Wells, is called Good for Texas"and is meant to highlight the economic benefits to the state of beefing up its filmmaking incentive program which is generally seen as lacking in comparison to neighboring states. The project started as a conversation between Wells and George Lane, senior advisor to attorney general Ken Paxton, at the South by Southwest festival in March. Wells told Lane that he had two, Texas-themed projects in the works  a remake of the Western classic High Noon and an untitled feature about a prison rodeo  but that neither probably would be filmed in Texas because of its incentive program.
A tiny ghost town in West Texas is looking for a new owner after a group of German friends purchased the town two decades ago.

The West Texas town of Lobo, off Texas 90, is 130 miles southeast of El Paso and 15 miles east of the Rio Grande.

According to the property listing, the 10-acre town comes with several former business buildings, including a grocery store and post office, motel, gas station and restaurant as well as a few other houses and structures.

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So, whats the asking price? According to Alexander Bardorff, one of the co-owners of the town who spoke to Marfa Public Radio, their base price is $100,000.

To put the price in perspective, as of this March, the median price of a home in Texas is $341,300, according to Redfin. In Houston, the median price is $330,000.

In 2001, the group of friends bought Lobo and started to rebuild parts of the town. For the next two decades, they would use the property to host several art, short film and music events. Now, they say they are too old to maintain the land and want to pass it on, according to the property listing.

Lobo put itself on the map after the discovery of the nearby Van Horn Wells  a crucial, rare source of fresh water in the area, according to the property website.

From 1850 to 1860, Lobo was a stop on the mail route from San Antonio to San Diego, before becoming a watering stop and depot for the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1882.

The first settlers of the town named it Lobo in a nod to the wolves that wreaked havoc there. In 1914, Lobo had 20 residents, according to the property listing.

HILL COUNTY REAL ESTATE: Epic $15M Texas Hill County resort with organic farm, 7,000-bottle wine cellar hits the market

As more people came to live in the town, it tried to become the county seat of Culberson County but failed.

Despite being struck by two powerful earthquakes, which pushed people out of the town, Lobo managed to have a comeback in 1962 with more than 90 residents. However, a drop in the water table meant the wells could no longer support the residents and businesses. Eventually, Lobos train station left for the town of Van Horn, causing economic hardship.

In 1969, a man named Bill Christ bought the town and opened a new gas station and general store. But crime and personal problems would force Christ to give up in 1991, according to the property website.

Bardorff told Marfa Public Radio that they hope to sell the town to someone who has a clear idea of what they want to do with it.

Gabriella.Ybarra@Express.News.com
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Dexter Maryland didnt always find it easy to communicate with his Texas Southern University classmates and professors, even after the COVID-19 restrictions lifted.

He is chatty and naturally genial, but roughly a year of online instruction made virtual interaction feel like the default. If it werent for a couple summer internships, he might not be as prepared for the fellowship hell begin after graduation this month, when he leaves behind an undergraduate experience immersed in the pandemic and little else.

You tend to get comfortable, said Maryland, who served as TSU's student body president. I had to get out of it  I literally had to learn to just communicate the little things. Im still growing with that.

NEW TO UT: Stephen F. Austin State University to join University of Texas System

The trials of COVID, as well as the hybrid format it forced on universities and their students, made the Class of 2023 a special group. They had one regular semester before coronavirus hit in spring 2020, closing campuses and sending students online. The next three years took place in a radically different environment, where students prepared for an uncertain, quickly evolving workforce.

Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer

Ask any college administrator or employer whether the class is ready for the real world  the answers are as varied as the students' experiences.

Some say that COVID laid bare or worsened problems recent college graduates have always had with "soft skills," such as leadership, collaboration, professionalism, and time management. A few fear that learning gaps, especially in writing, could catch up to the students. Others feel that rapid changes in workplaces made it difficult for schools to keep pace instructionally.

But in spite of the caveats, college officials and business professionals told the Houston Chronicle that the Class of 2023 is better prepared than people might assume. In many cases, the students adapted to pandemic restrictions and lifestyle changes better than full-fledged adults. They learned most of the same content they would have prior to 2020. They embraced new technology, and some excelled.

Certainly it was challenging, but I believe that they learned a lot of skills beyond what they were learning in the classroom, said Teri Longacre, interim vice provost and dean of undergraduate student success at University of Houston. Being agile and flexible and having resilience, coping with uncertainty, coping with change. I think that skillset is going to help students going forward, once they get into the workplace.

Solitude and resilience

What Maryland believes makes his class stand out from others: Traditional four-year graduates endured the pandemic, racial unrest during the Black Lives Matter movement and the Texas freeze, all as freshmen and sophomores.

It was isolating, but Maryland said he saw many classmates find ways to succeed. While people sometimes think of college as a place for pivotal social development, that wasnt always possible. Students instead leaned into their passions, became entrepreneurs or chased after virtual internships.

TSU cultivated in us being unstoppable, he said. Weve been here through all of that.

Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer

HOUSTON: Rice, UH among growing number of colleges creating academic partnerships with India

The graduates remember the onset of COVID partly for the chaos it wreaked at school, especially when they were told to go home for two weeks and shift to online instruction. Those two weeks extended to the end of the spring 2020 semester.

Some people returned to their campuses for sophomore year in fall 2020. University of Houston graduate Eric Stahmer described UH as a ghost town. At many universities, courses were mostly online that semester, shifting to more of a hybrid model the following spring.

COVID testing was frequent, masking was mandatory at some places and on-campus students were sent to isolation housing if they came down with the virus. Right when schools started to feel more normal their junior year, the Omicron variant threw college operations back into flux.

There were a few days in the past couple years where I could go 24 or 48 hours without having an out-loud conversation with anyone, Stahmer said.

The pressure was tough. Maryland said he had a couple mental breakdowns and eventually lost family members to the disease. Prairie View A&M University graduate Morgan Redd, who had already spent a year and a half in college before the onset of COVID, said she felt overwhelmed transitioning between her pre-nursing program and nursing school.

I was stuck at home doing nursing schoolwork, lost, just feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders," she said.

Texas A&M graduate Sylvester Washington said that many of his classmates began prioritizing their mental health. He found the first two years of COVID to be more confusing than anything else, like when police seemed to overtake campus during the Black Lives Matter movement or when computers started taking his orders at Chick-fil-A.

That phase of our college experience was about solitude for me, he said. Living in a dorm, my roommate had left. Online. Camera off, mic off.

Sylvester Washington/Courtesy

The beginning of senior year marked the closest that the Class of 2023 came to pre-COVID times, even though online classes had become a permanent part of the college landscape, several students said.

AI IN EDUCATION: Houston-area colleges embrace Chat GPT despite plagiarism concerns

They recognize the resilience they gained in the struggle, but they can't help but feel they missed out on something special.

My parents are great, but its weird being a 20, 21-year-old in your parents' basement, said Ling DeBellis, a Rice University graduate who spent more than 10 months in Minneapolis after the outbreak. I feel like Im in high school again. Mom will bring me breakfast in the morning and Im like, I dont eat breakfast now! I told you I dont eat breakfast now!

Social woes

For some students, COVID's social limitations had an adverse effect on schoolwork and developing interpersonal skills needed for the workplace, said James Lu Morrissey, president and co-founder of the Mentor Collective, which partners with universities and employers to improve social mobility through mentorship. While recent graduates skill gaps in areas such as teamwork and networking were already the concern of companies before the pandemic, the problems have become more apparent.

Several partners have mentioned that the lack of in-person interactions are probably negatively impacting the recent grads more than ... those more advanced in their careers, Morrissey said.

Some of the issue stems from students resistance to working with their peers in courses, according to several college administrators.

Amy Salazar, associate vice provost for student success at Sam Houston State University, said she learned through a focus group of 100 faculty members that students have been hesitant to engage or collaborate with classmates. The faculty also feel that their students life management skills, career direction and information fluency are falling behind.

Stahmer, who studied media production at UH, recognized where he was missing out on the social capital that helps people get jobs after graduation. Some of that occurred because in-person internship opportunities were scarce during parts of the pandemic, he said.

I don't think it was the fault of any of our instructors, Stahmer said. But for a major that is so reliant on making connections and building relationships within the industry, having these two-plus years where you are all online and the only interactions you have with your classmates are in the group chats that you yourself have to set up because your teachers don't know how to use GroupMe I feel like it's been tougher.

Eric Stahmer/Courtesy

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Bridget Gorman, Rices dean of undergraduates, said transitioning to post-graduate life is difficult in the best of situations, and colleges had to work harder to provide adequate career counseling for students.

Online etiquette became a major focus of training sessions, said Muriel Funches, director of advancement in TSUs Jesse H. Jones School of Business. Recruiting and hiring also went online or hybrid, creating some flexibility, incorporating more businesses and reaching a greater number of people, said Nicole Van Den Heuvel, executive director of Rices Center for Career Development.

Networking is a hard thing for students, she said. You cant just apply online and hope youre going to get the internship or the job. That hasnt changed  networking is still super important  but I think our students are a little bit more stressed out in how to do that.

College officials said they feel any social challenges are surmountable, especially given the Class of 2023's flexibility and success in overcoming adversity during the pandemic.

Natasha Stough, campus recruiting leader for Ernst & Young Americas, said that some of her interns have displayed some natural hesitancies learning the ropes but are clearly seeking stability in their jobs.

"I'm mindful that they did miss out on live engagement, and we just need to offer them a little bit more guidance and direction and provide them some support, particularly in their early days," Stough said.

Karen Warren/Staff photographer

Learning gaps are not as clear

University administrators cited learning gaps as a lesser worry, but recent graduates pinpointed several areas where they felt behind in their online environment.

Some Rice teachers were better at virtual instruction than others, even if they were all doing their best in a hectic situation, DeBellis said. Alejandra Zamora, an electrical power engineering technology graduate from the University of Houston, said several of her professors had pre-recorded their lessons, removing the ability for students to ask questions.

Getting office hours was difficult, and Zamora said she struggled in a key course.

Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer

At TSU, Marylands professors pivoted to project work to keep students engaged but lost a heavier emphasis on writing. Washington, at Texas A&M, said he missed out on research opportunities during the height of COVID restrictions. And DeBellis, at Rice, said she wishes she had been able to participate in more psychology surveys that would have benefited her in her Ph.D. program.

More from Samantha Ketterer: Houston airports to build $5M training facility for Texas Southern aviation students

Other hands-on experiences were difficult to do well, DeBellis said. In studio art, she received a large kit of materials in the mail and showed off her pieces during Zoom demonstration days. Lab work for her evolutionary biology program was much more difficult.

You can't be like, grow some E. Coli in your house. It's a health hazard, she said. You cant expect students to go buy petri dishes.

Jeff Fitlow / Rice University

At Baker Hughes, university recruitment manager Janett Sanchez said that some COVID-era learning practices have affected skills in the workplace.

From my perspective, they learned the right things, but it is clear that some students missed that in-person lab time during the pandemic, because there are gaps in hands-on technical skills, Sanchez said.

Amy Salazar said faculty at Sam Houston State University reported that students overall developed the biggest gaps in writing ability during the pandemic, and other learning gaps varied college to college. Many faculty had to fight not to lower their standards while having to accommodate students' circumstances.

College presidents have also relayed that they have never seen so much demand for academic remediation, said Harrison Keller, commissioner of higher education at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. And industry partners have told him about their struggles communicating their own needs with universities, he said.

The skills that they need and the kinds of credentials they need  thats changing faster than anyone ever anticipated, Keller said.

Karen Warren/Staff photographer

One positive of COVID was that it accelerated conversations in the workplace about what innovations might be needed to make young employees more successful, said Morrissey, of the Mentor Collective.

And while the class of 2023 faces some serious challenges heightened by the pandemic, Morrissey said theyre in good company. Recent college graduates are not the only people who find themselves trying to make up for lost skills in the workplace.

The idea of the learning journey ending with college is a false one, he said. On the job training, upskilling, those are all needed in this fast-moving, dynamic economy.

The positive

If COVID had any upside for Sylvester Washington, its that the lack of social gatherings at Texas A&M allowed him to start looking for jobs early.

He found he had the freedom to discover who he wanted to be.

For the majority of my college experience, Ive really had to make magic out of nothing, he said. I experienced everything within that short four year time span. We left, we came back, we beat Alabama. We got a little bit of everything.

That gameness will serve this cohort of students well in the workplace, said Natasha Stough, at Ernst & Young Americas.

I find them to be very enthusiastic, she said. They can't wait to start. I think sometimes we often hear this generation isn't as motivated, or they might just want to stay at home, where I think they're seeking some face-to-face interaction.

Stough said she feels most outgoing seniors are looking for a hybrid workplace. And on a practical level, graduates who are entering hybrid or online-only offices will be ahead of the curve because they spent much of their four college years online, college officials said.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found in a 2022 survey that 27.5 percent of private-sector establishments had employees teleworking some or all of the time, and its possible that new graduates will have the power to set the standard, said Arthur Ortiz, chief strategic partnerships & community engagement officer at the University of St. Thomas.

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While the job market is starting to tighten, it is still strong enough that most people in the Class of 2023 should be able to gain employment, several university administrators said.

Moni Pradier/Courtesy

Morgan Redd, from Prairie View A&M, will take the experience she gained in COVID to become an oncology stem cell transplant nurse at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Ling DeBellis will stay at Rice to earn her Ph.D. in health psychology.

UHs Eric Stahmer is searching for a full-time videographer job after a summer gig.

Sylvester Washington, from Texas A&M, will become an Oracle Cloud consultant at Baker Tilly US, LLP.

Alejandra Zamora will stay in Houston at Kinder Morgan after graduating from UH.

Dexter Maryland will start a U.S. Department of State-funded fellowship at Johns Hopkins University.

Things happen, Maryland said. Were still here today, graduating and moving that tassel from one side to the other.

Im excited, I really am," he said. "Im going to miss TSU though.
Pressure is mounting on the Texas Education Agency to name the superintendent who will soon oversee the Houston Independent School District as the nearing takeover prompts growing speculation and calls for transparency.

Mayor Sylvester Turner took to social media over the weekend to call on the TEA to confirm or deny a widespread rumor circulating since March that the agency plans to appoint former Dallas ISD superintendent Mike Miles to replace Millard House II at the helm of HISD.

"I am hearing from people in Houston and Dallas that Mike Miles is the person," he said in a statement. "The TEA Commissioner should confirm or deny. People within the district are making decisions based on what they are hearing. This process has been plagued by rumors from the beginning."

TAKEOVER: HISD Police Chief Pedro Lopez among at least three senior staff departing ahead of state takeover

A TEA spokesperson reiterated that the agency has made no decisions and plans to appoint a superintendent and board of managers no earlier than June 1.

Miles, who served as superintendent in Dallas from 2012 to 2015, is now the founder and CEO of Third Future Schools, a network of public charter schools serving 4,500 students in Colorado, Texas and Louisiana. He previously worked as superintendent at Harrison School District in Colorado Springs.

In recent blog posts and media appearances, Miles has spoken about the need for systemic change to the education system and a desire to prepare kids for the future workforce. His company believes in high expectations for children and educators, according to the website, along with accountability.

During his tenure in Dallas, Miles introduced several reform measures, including a new performance-based payment system for teachers and principals, and stirred some disruption and controversy due in part to his management style, the Dallas Morning News reported.

Miles did not respond to the Chronicle's requests for comment on Monday.

Meanwhile, Turner said he has had no conversations with the TEA since March when it first announced state intervention in the district, a move that followed years of litigation and came in response to schools beset by chronic low academic achievement.

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The mayor said the process has been "flawed and anti-democratic," criticizing the state for providing little transparency to parents, school personnel and the press.

"The sole decision-making is in Austin and the stakeholders in HISD are being disregarded," he said. "The states move to take over the largest school district in Texas comes with very little local input, no additional resources and no benchmarks by which it, the state, can be assessed and held accountable.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, said in a Twitter thread that she, too, has heard the same speculations about Miles being selected as superintendent.

It is absolutely appalling to see the approach that is being taken by TEA in disregard to the parents, students and teachers of this district, she said. Im sure these appointees will be well intentioned citizens who want to do good. But, the only good that will be done will be whatever the TEA Commissioner and the Governor wants them to do."

Jackson Lee called on the state agency to "do what is right."

"This should be about the people of HISD, not politics," she said. "I know that we all can see this is a takeover of a functioning public school system."

Jackie Anderson, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, echoed the sentiment and called on the TEA to provide answers. Taxpayers have a right to know who will soon be running the largest school district in Texas, she said, and the rumor about Miles has been circulating since the state first announced the takeover two months ago.

"Within a few days, we were hearing that he was going to be superintendent," she said. "Just because you decide to not announce it doesn't mean you haven't made a decision. It's highly unlikely to me that a person is going to be starting a job in a couple of weeks, that a decision hasn't been made."

If the TEA does appoint Miles as superintendent, Anderson said she worries it might prompt an exodus in the district.

"Unfortunately, his reputation precedes him," she said. "He can prove us wrong, but coming into it, we have not heard very good things."

Anderson also criticized the takeover process for its lack of transparency and lack of accountability, comparing it to a "dictatorship." The state will strip elected trustees of their power when it appoints a board of managers in their stead.

"You've given one man the authority to hire and fire, appoint and un-appoint people who don't have to listen to us at all," she said.

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Steve Steficek, an HISD substitute teacher and founder of an advocacy group called Houston Teachers United, said the gravity of the situation is starting to sink in with a little more than two weeks until the state plans to take over the district. He, too, expressed concerns about holding the state-appointed leaders accountable.

"It's un-American to not have a checks and balance," he said. "This is something that shouldnt be done haphazardly and at the last second, in the 11th hour, when youre talking about peoples children and peoples money."
Housing costs and the economy worried Houstonians the most this year, according to the 42nd annual Kinder Houston Area Survey, which also showed a coalescing desire to close the income gap amid widening disparities in residents' financial outlooks.

While some issues remain divisive nationally, Bayou City residents have increasingly reached consensus on some of the more important economic and social issues, said Ruth Lopez Turley, director of Rice Universitys Kinder Institute for Urban Research.

On the one hand, the inequalities are persistent. On the other hand, I find it very hopeful that now a majority, a large majority, want that to change, Lopez Turley said. We havent seen any action taken, really, but the fact that more people want to see action taken, thats the first step.

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The survey is the first since founder Stephen Klinebergs retirement last year, and researchers say the 2023 results will kick-start a series of changes for the countrys longest-running metropolitan study of its kind.

Researchers administered questions to a representative sample of almost 3,200 adults in Harris County in January and February, with about 61 percent, or 1,916 people, responding. That cohort will now serve as a permanent panel, receiving questions annually for the comprehensive survey, as well as for topical quarterly surveys.

The panel size is expected to almost double next year to support the alterations, said Daniel Potter, senior director of research at the Kinder Institute for Urban Research.

We now have that opportunity to not just say, Oh, we grabbed a snapshot, and we hope it's capturing the voice,' Potter said. This is the literally the voices of the same people, tracking over time, looking at how experiences are changing, how attitudes are changing, how values are changing. And I think that that's just going to be  that tool that many, many, many different organizations, decision makers, policy folks will be able to look to to understand what's going on here in the Houston area.

Public policymakers have long looked at the Kinder survey as a close look at the state of Houston. Almost half of responding panelists this year answered that economic issues were the biggest problems facing the region  the economy more broadly at 25 percent of respondents and the cost of housing at close to 20 percent. Crime and safety leads as the largest individual perceived problem, with just under 30 percent of people citing that as their primary concern.

More by Samantha Ketterer: Why college officials believe COVID-19 made the Class of 2023 uniquely prepared for the workforce

Houstonians agreed that they wanted the economic landscape to change, although optimism that personal situations would improve hit its lowest point since the mid-90s.

About 72 percent of people who responded to the survey said they support efforts to close income gaps, and 63 percent said not enough is being spent on social programs to help people experiencing poverty.

Yet only 1 in 4 respondents felt their financial situation had improved in the past three years, and about half thought their finances would change for the better in coming years  down from 60 percent in previous surveys.

Many of Kinder's findings showcase an economic disparity along racial lines. While a quarter of participants said the economy is the biggest issue, Black respondents were more likely than whites, Hispanics and Asians to feel that way, as were younger respondents and those with less education, according to survey results.

And 40 percent of area residents said they would be unable to come up with $400 in an emergency. That also varies by race, as 20 percent of white and Asian respondents they would struggle obtaining the money while nearly 70 percent of Black and half of Hispanic respondents said the same.

Inflation has outpaced wages since February 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and housing costs have also increased faster than incomes can keep up. In 1990, the Houston area's median home price of $67,000 was three times the median income of $20,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. By 2021, home prices were past $300,000, or five times the median income of $65,000.

Nearly 20 percent of Houstonians who answered the survey said that housing costs, instability or accessibility was their biggest concern, marking the largest spike from last year when 7 percent of people selected housing as the area's most pressing issue.

"What we're seeing is home ownership is more and more out of reach," Lopez Turley said. "I hope that people that hear this will want to help to address it, to do work to bring home ownership back within reach for many reasons, but one of them is that home ownership can be important tool for building wealth."

Social issues

The Houston area is also becoming more socially liberal, with a younger population driving the direction of public opinion, researchers said.

The number of people who support the right to abortion has remained largely the same over the years  56 percent in 1988 and 59 percent in 2023  but in the first survey since the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, beliefs on morality are different.

When Houstonians were asked whether abortion was morally right, morally wrong, or "it depends," a majority responded that it wasmorally wrong through the 2010s. The answer split evenly between the three choices in 2021.

Researchers removed the "it depends" option this year. Around 58 percent said abortion was morally right and 42 percent said it was morally wrong, with older people more likely to feel it was wrong.

Around 90 percent of the panels respondents supported abortion in cases where womans health at risk, and 80 percent supported the right to abortion when a serious birth defect is detected, according to the survey results.

Researchers also added new questions on gun control, finding that people mostly support gun rights with restrictions. Three in four said it is very important or somewhat important to protect the Second Amendment, but more than 81 percent favored federal laws requiring handgun registration. Another 93 percent supported universal background checks regardless of where a firearm is purchased. And two-thirds said they find it very important to control gun ownership.

POPULATION BOOM: Houston is second fastest-growing metro in U.S., census data shows

Houstonians who were surveyed also overwhelmingly support providing pathways toward legal citizenship for individuals living in the U.S. without documentation, at 80 percent. About 70 percent say immigrants strengthen American culture rather than threaten it, and the share reporting that immigrants contribute more to the economy than they take out has grown from 42 percent in 1994 to 71 percent in 2023.

Part of it is there's just shifting in what people want to label as social concerns, and that there are just some topics that have really transformed from a wedge issue into 'not wedge' issues, Potter said. We're willing to not just tolerate, but begin to accept more of the diversity and the differences that are among us.

Environmental and transportation issues also saw more agreement than in the past, with the number of Houstonians who believe global warming is a very serious threat increasing to nearly 60 percent, up from 40 percent in 2014.

Around 83 percent believe better land-use planning is needed to guide development in the Houston area, up from 73 percent. And in a surprise finding, more than 80 percent favor policy prohibiting development in areas that have flooded repeatedly, up from 59 percent in 2019.

Houstonians are also changing their views on transportation and walkability: 60 percent of people surveyed said they prefer mixed-use developments in walkable neighborhoods, as opposed to single-family homes in residential neighborhoods.

Residents in 2007 reported a near-even split supporting spending tax dollars on improving the bus or light rail versus expanding highways, a number that has now grown to 60 percent supporting the improvement of public transportation.
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An investigation into a SWAT raid on a Galveston home that left the residence badly damaged determined investigators committed no legal wrongdoing when they secured search and arrest warrants connected to the raid.

The independent investigation determined officers acted following best practices and had proper paperwork when conducting the January raid, said Marissa Barnett, spokeswoman for the city.

Sheriff Henry Trochesset said Monday his office handled the investigation and looked strictly into whether Galveston officers broke any laws or regulations in their handling of the raid and the investigation beforehand.

Local leaders launched the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the raid after the arrest and sudden exoneration of a 17-year-old who had publicly been named in connection with a homicide case.

The sequence of events that culminated in the raid began Jan. 20, when 25-year-old Malik Dunn was shot in the 3900 block of Sealy, on the citys north side. Dunn was conscious when emergency responders arrived, and told police he was shot by a "Mexican guy" in a blue car. Dunn died at the University of Texas Medical Branch the next morning, according to a police complaint obtained by the Houston Chronicle.

Dunn was staying in Galveston with his aunt, according to the affidavit. During the investigation into his shooting, police interviewed the aunt's boyfriend and two of Dunn's friends, who said they believed that Dunn was shot by Cameron Vargas, 17, of Galveston.

The friends told police that they were with Dunn on Sealy the night he was shot and had gone there to buy vape cartridges from Vargas, according to the affidavit.

Both friends told police they didn't see who shot Dunn, according to the affidavit. One of the witnesses claimed to see Vargas in the car, but was walking away from the car when he heard a gunshot. The same witness picked Vargas out of a photo lineup, according to the affidavit. Before being presented with a photo lineup, the witnesses had been sharing Vargas' Instagram page and profile picture with Dunn's family, according to the affidavit.

A justice of the peace signed a warrant for Vargas' arrest on a murder charge Jan. 22, according to the document.

The probable cause affidavit doesn't mention Erika Rios' house in the 5300 block of Avenue O, and it's unclear exactly how police connected the house to Vargas before a SWAT team descended on it at 2 a.m. on a Sunday morning.

Rios told the Galveston County Daily News that Vargas, who was a friend of her son, had been at the house on the night of Jan. 21, but had left before midnight.

Rios said she and her teenage children were awakened by the sounds of flash-bang grenades breaking through windows, and that they were marched with their hands up over broken glass, according to the Daily News.

Police department officials in the days after the raid said they had legal authority to conduct a search warrant of the home and that they possessed credible evidence that Vargas was there.

The departments claim about a legal search came about because the department also had to explain another issue with its investigation: Just two days after his arrest, the murder charges against Vargas were dismissed and police declared he had been misidentified as a suspect.

Dismissal documents in Galveston County District Court records showed the district attorney's office declined to prosecute the case against Vargas. Prosecutors wrote "further investigation was pending" as court why it was abandoning the case.

City leaders Monday referred questions about the criminal investigation to police officials. Sgt. Derek Gaspard, a spokesperson for the department, said the investigation into Dunns death remained ongoing, and he had no updates to offer.

Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing the family whose home was raided, did not respond to a request for comment about the matter Monday afternoon.
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BANGKOK (AP)  Following a stunning election victory in which they together captured a majority of seats in the House of Representatives, Thailands top two opposition parties began planning Monday for the next stage in their bid to replace the military-dominated government.

The Move Forward Party, led by 42-year-old businessman Pita Limjaroenrat, placed first in the election, surpassing most expectations. It squeaked past the Pheu Thai party, which had been favored to top the polls.

Pheu Thai stumbled despite the star power of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra, the former populist prime minister who was toppled by a 2006 military coup and is the driving force behind the party.

The overwhelming electoral victory by Move Forward and Pheu Thai is a decisive sign that voters want a polity where the people, not the military, decide their future, said Tyrell Haberkorn, a Thai studies scholar at the University of Wisconsin.

Voters want a Thailand with free speech, without compulsory military conscription, and where the peoples voices are valued, not something to be silenced or bought, she said.

Pita said Monday he has been talking to five other parties about forming a coalition government. It would have 309 House seats in total, providing more stability than the 292-seat partnership with Pheu Thai as a sole ally. Parliament selects a new prime minister in July, so has about two months to seal a deal.

Move Forward's supporters drove through the streets of Bangkok on Monday afternoon to celebrate their victory. Pita smiled broadly and waved as a convoy of open trucks took him and other party members slowly through the streets of the old part of the capital.

Thailand for the past nine years has been led by former army commander Prayuth Chan-ocha, who seized power in a 2014 military coup and was returned as prime minister after the 2019 election. He ran for reelection on Sunday, but has been blamed for a lagging economy, a botched initial response to the coronavirus pandemic and for thwarting democratic reforms  a particular sore point with younger voters.

The sentiment of the era has changed and its right, Pita said Monday. And today its a new day and hopefully its full of bright sunshine of hope going forward.

Earlier, as it became clear his party was taking the lead, he tweeted that he is ready to bring about change as the countrys 30th prime minister. Whether you agree or disagree with me, I will be your prime minister. Whether you have voted for me or not, I will serve you."

Move Forward and Pheu Thai are mostly allied in their opposition to the militarys recurring interference in politics, demonstrated by more than a dozen coups it has staged since 1932, when Thailand became a constitutional monarchy, and most recently in 2006 and 2014.

Both parties also favor reform of some aspects of the monarchy, a position that riles the conservative royalist establishment that regards the institution as sacrosanct. Because Move Forward has been more outspoken on the subject, it is regarded as radical in the context of mainstream Thai politics.

With almost all votes counted Monday, Move Forward had captured a projected 151 seats in the lower house by winning over 24% of the popular vote for 400 constituency seats, and more than 36% of the votes for the 100 seats allocated by proportional representation.

Pheu Thai party trailed a close second with its combined seat total projected at 141.

Prayuth's United Thai Nation Party holds fifth spot in the constituency vote and third in the party-preference tally, for a projected total of 36 seats.

Although the numbers place Pita in a favorable position for becoming the next prime minister, he faces a difficult path.

Candidates are handicapped by constitutional rules crafted by the military government to restrain political parties with populist appeals from taking root and upending the long-established conservative order.

The prime minister is elected by a joint session of the 500 members of the newly elected House and 250 senators, who were appointed by the military. The winner must secure at least 376 votes.

The Senate, a stalwart defender of the royalist order along with the army and the courts, voted unanimously for Prayuth in 2019, enabling him to overcome Pheu Thais first-place finish and form a coalition government.

There is a strong possibility that Pita will be seen as too radical by some partner parties, and they will have to look for a more moderate candidate.

Pheu Thais Paetongtarn is the most popular choice of her party base. But her ties to her father, Thaksin, with whom the military has never reconciled since ousting him in 2006, would make winning any support from the Senate difficult. One of Pheu Thais other candidates for prime minister, real estate magnate Srettha Thavisin, would stand a better chance in that case.

There are also fears the conservative elements in Thai politics would again employ what critics consider to be dirty tricks to keep a hold on power. Since Thaksins fall, they have repeatedly used the courts and so-called independent state agencies such as the Election Commission to issue controversial legal rulings to cripple or sink political threats from opponents. Such efforts would likely stir up vigorous street protests.

Is the form of coalition that Pita proposed, with 309 seats, stable enough? In a democratic world, its the most stable. But in a world of half-dictatorship that has the Senate as an important variable, Move Forward must lever the Senate with the peoples voices, said Pinkaew Laungaramsri, a professor of anthropology at Chiang Mai University.

We have to wait and see whether the authoritarians will dare using their illegitimate authorities that go against the will of the people. If they do that, its just creating a condition for the people to go back onto the streets,* she said.

___

Associated Press video journalist Jerry Harmer contributed to this report.
Only in the world of space flight would an explosion be deemed a success, as was the case recently when the worlds most powerful rocket blew up over the Gulf of Mexico four minutes after liftoff.

Such are the standards in an industry where rocket scientists chase perfection through many phases of trial and error. On this particular late April morning, the Starship and Super Heavy rocket developed by SpaceX apparently needed only to clear the launch pad in Boca Chica to pass with flying colors, at least according to Elon Musk, the companys mercurial founder.

When the smoke cleared, however, images of the collateral damage suggested a physics experiment gone haywire: chunks of stainless steel found thousands of feet from the launch pad. A hailstorm of pulverized concrete raining down as far as 6.5 miles from the site. Acres of singed grass at Boca Chica State Park. Scorched bird eggs in empty nests. Piping plovers foraging through debris in tidal mudflats seasoned with a fine, white particulate matter.

If the pyrotechnics and debris shower is what "success" looks like, we shudder to imagine "failure."

The Starship explosion may have been worthy of celebration at SpaceX headquarters, but environmentalists and nearby residents beg to differ. A coalition of several environmental groups and the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Washington, D.C. this month, claiming that the Federal Aviation Administration failed to fully analyze and mitigate the environmental harms caused by the Super Heavy rocket and Starship spacecraft. The suit alleges that the FAA accommodated SpaceXs desire for a less rigorous environmental assessment, and that, as a result, the agency failed to account for the damage caused by testing and launching Starship.

The outcome of the legal challenge could result in the courts forcing FAA to go back to the drawing board and conduct a full environmental impact statement review, which can take years to complete, potentially jeopardizing not only SpaceXs ability to launch humans into space, but also NASAs long-term mission of charting a path back to the moon and, eventually, to Mars.

It would also mark a setback for Musk, a polarizing figure who has quickly become one of Texas' most prominent corporate tenants, and now may have time to rededicate himself to expanding his empire after announcing Thursday the name of his replacement as Twitter CEO. Musk has invested $430 million in Cameron County and created hundreds of jobs through SpaceX. Through his other businesses, Tesla and The Boring Co., Musk already controls thousands of acres across the state, from the South Texas coast to farmlands outside of Austin. Last week, he and Gov. Greg Abbott celebrated his latest endeavor in the Lone Star State, a $375 million lithium refinery near Corpus Christi.

The lawsuit underscores an unfortunate reality when it comes to testing rockets: the ambition of space exploration has, for decades, coexisted uneasily with the natural environment here on Earth. NASA still does not conduct general environmental studies on the impacts of space launches on the land, sea and air. Dead fish were often found floating in the lagoons surrounding the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida after rocket launches, and plant life and vegetation also suffered, but the impact of discarded rocket material in the ocean, for instance, is still largely a mystery.

The launch site in Boca Chica abuts the Lower Rio Grande National Wildlife Refuge, a natural haven where endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles spawn and hundreds of species of rare shorebirds flock to nest and forage for food. It's not uncommon for hundreds of locals to pick up debris scattered across the refuge after one of SpaceX's rocket tests. At least eight SpaceX rockets have exploded over the past five years  one of which burned 68 acres of the adjacent wildlife refuge  though none had the debris impacts of this latest one.

Yet The lawsuit also paints a picture of Musk as a corporate executive who plays by his own rules, bending regulatory agencies to his whim. He initially told the FAA that SpaceX planned to launch the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets, two smaller, proven spacecrafts, from the Boca Chica site. The FAA then conducted a full environmental review of the site, which was completed in 2014. Then, as he is wont to do, Musk abruptly changed plans, and instead applied for a new license to launch the unproven Starship rocket, a 37-story colossus with 33 engines fueled by liquid methane. These plans were not accounted for in the FAA's first environmental review, yet the agency allowed SpaceX to do a less rigorous environmental assessment, which found "no significant impact" to the environment.

While the photographic evidence is damning, whether Musk and SpaceX violated federal environmental laws will be for a judge to decide. A legal outcome that would disrupt SpaceX's timeline for landing humans on the moon by 2026 could be devastating, not just for the company, but for NASA and, by extension, many of the 140,000 workers in Texas' aerospace industry. NASA has been developing its commercial programs in part so that taxpayers won't be liable for maintenance and operations for costly missions. SpaceX has already established crucial roles in the agency's plan to not only use Starship to deliver astronauts to the moon, but to deliver cargo to the International Space Station. NASA's support of companies such as SpaceX has also created competition in the private sector sector among aerospace contractors, lowering the overall cost of developing new rockets and space flight technologies.

A better outcome than a court-ordered halt to launches would be for the FAA to actually hold SpaceX responsible for making improvements to their launch site  with the goal of truly mitigating any environmental harm before allowing the company to carry out more tests. SpaceX should, at minimum, be required to do a supplemental analysis, informed by robust public input, that accounts for the Starship explosion and damage on the ground.

Musk has committed to making adjustments to prevent the launch pad from showering debris across South Texas, and the company is reportedly investigating what went wrong with the FAA's supervision.

SpaceX's fail fast, but learn faster mantra is partly why the company has earned the trust of NASA and inspired a renewed interest in space exploration. The notion of humans reaching the surface of Mars, once seen as a pipe dream, is tantalizingly within reach, in part thanks to Musk's ingenuity and wildcatter spirit. But science should not be immune to public scrutiny. It's incumbent on Musk to be a good corporate citizen, and not downplay the risks of testing rockets to the company's neighbors. "Success" should not just be defined by a rocket clearing the launch tower, but by doing so (and more) within the bounds of the law, and with minimal damage to the surrounding environment.
Regarding "What's next for the bills targeting Harris County elections?" (May 8): I see theres a lot of fuss about the Legislature's plans to target Harris County's elections. Allow me to point out that theres a simple way to get the Legislature off our backs. I notice that they only complain when Democrats get elected. We could simply let the Republicans in Austin dictate who our elected officials will be. No more controversy, no more election-day snafus. Of course, that would mean no more democracy, but thats the basic idea, isnt it?

Frank Ohrt, Houston

I think the state Legislature is wasting a lot time proposing all these bills limiting what Harris County can and cannot do. All they need to do is pass one law which states that all county governments with a population of more than 3 million  we certainly do not want to mention Harris County by name  be disbanded and all authority to be vested in a board appointed by the state governor (of course).

William Ohsie, Houston

Growing pains

Regarding Do Tanglewood affordable housing NIMBYs have a point? (April 9): I worked for over three years in a neighborhood with a median household income of about $25,000, or 30 percent of Houstons Area Median Income, including directly with residents of government-subsidized housing. I saw the impact of rising land prices on rents, homes and families; people could no longer afford to live in neighborhoods where they grew up and wanted to build a life. We need more quality housing that our workforce can afford. For that reason, the idea of a public facility corporation is a good one. (For those who missed the article, PFCs allow property tax breaks in exchange for  ostensibly  affordable housing units.) I wish I had a magic wand, but I dont, and we dont have endless funds to catalyze or subsidize workforce housing, especially not to the extent needed. In fact, the city is facing significant annual deficits. So the tool of a PFC, reducing the tax burden on affordable housing projects, helps keep costs and then rents low. However, we need urgent and major overhaul of Houstons PFC handouts, because right now were often subsidizing whats already occurring in the market. I submitted a public information request a few years ago to learn more, and was denied multiple documents. We need strong reporting, transparency, and oversight, to rebuild trust and shape this into a tool that really works in the publics interest.

Leah Wolfthal, Houston

Regarding "Nearly two decades: The long, long journey ahead for $9.7B rebuild of I-45," (May 4): The ongoing construction of the freeway, despite its disruptive nature, is indicative of a positive trend in our region. Houston has outperformed our previous growth projections and this is a small price to pay for the residents of Houston. The planning and construction of the roadway by TxDOT is rooted in ridership forecasts, right-of-way availability, as well as state and federal guidelines. Its potential impact on current communities and future growth corridors is subject to thorough congestion studies and environmental approvals. I am very much in favor of your organization of rallying around the transit dependent residents that depend upon bus train, carpooling and intermodal connections. By encouraging your constituents to incorporate these alternatives into their daily commute, more individuals can take advantage of public transportation, thereby attracting the necessary funding for future improvements.

Billy Burge, Houston

More Trump lies

Regarding "CNN faces backlash over chaotic Trump town hall event," (May 11): A cable news outlet like CNN should serve the community by reporting facts. They should not volunteer to serve as part of a propaganda machine for a habitual liar. CNN owes the public an accounting. They should spend equal time analyzing and identifying every lie that came out of Trumps mouth. His supporters wont care but CNN owes the rest of America that. Its like when a newspaper makes a mistake and they publish a correction. CNN broadcast 90 minutes of Trump lies. CNN has a moral obligation to identify every lie Trump told. They must spend as much time as is needed in prime time clearly rebutting his lies with demonstrable facts.

Robert J. Fickman, Houston

For the life of me I have no idea why CNN decided to give the traitor and sexual abuser Donald Trump free air time. I refused to watch out of fear of throwing something at the TV, breaking it and missing future Astros games. I'm also glad it wasn't in my face upon opening your paper. Thank you. I will now get all my news from other online sources, your paper and NPR. CNN is dead to me. The media needs to cut Trump off and quit giving his rants, lies and conspiracy theories oxygen!

David Kelly, Spring

Donald Trump was right, the E. Jean Carroll trial was a disgrace; but not for the reasons Trump spouted on Truth Social. It was a disgrace because the ex-president deigned it petty enough to refuse to participate in person. It was a disgrace because of the ex-presidents extremely misogynistic and narcissistic recorded deposition. It was a disgrace because the jury gave Trump a rap on his knuckles on the sexual battery charge. Clearly, his reputation as liar-in-chief saved his pride on this charge; although to be fair, the lack of physical evidence was a weak link is the plaintiffs case. Trump would be well advised to bypass an appeal and just borrow a little from his campaign war chest to put this conviction behind him and start taking his other upcoming trials more seriously. His characteristic lying and blame shifting might not play as well in those cases.

Dave DiCamillo, Tomball
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry may not be done running for president after all.

Despite two unsuccessful campaigns for the White House, Perry told CNN in an interview over the weekend that he hasnt closed the door on running again.

RELATED: Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry says school vouchers are like nuclear power: scary for some, but safe

It certainly is something that I havent taken off the table, Perry told CNN anchor Jim Acosta from his ranch in Round Top. But the chances of it happening are probably a little bit slim. But who knows.

All of that is very different from what Perry, 73, told the Houston Chronicle just a month ago in an exclusive interview. Perry said then that while he was glad he ran for president, he was happy not to be among the candidates running around Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina looking for votes.

Godspeed to all those who are still in the process, Perry said in April. They wont see me up there anymore. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.

Acosta seemed just as surprised by Perry declaring his possible interest. Acosta had questioned Perry on whether he would endorse former President Donald Trump for the White House. Perry was Trumps energy secretary.

Im still trying to sort that out for myself, Perry said in response. He may get to hear me call him names again. Its still early in the process. So I havent written off that.

Perry was governor from December 2000 to January 2014, making him the longest-serving governor in Texas history. In 2012, Perry made his first bid for president.

He said while he was glad he ran, he announced after major back surgery in the summer of 2011 and that may have affected his campaign.

It was the most painful thing I ever had in my life, and it went on for weeks, Perry said. If you take enough opioids and follow it up with stuff to put you to sleep and wake you up, you might be a little addled. Or a lot addled.

It was in November 2011 during a debate with other contenders that Perrys campaign really hit a low point. During one exchange, he tried to talk about federal government agencies that he planned to eliminate.

And I will tell you, it is three agencies of government when I get there that are gone, Perry said. Commerce, Education, and the  whats the third one there? Lets see.

Perry then paused amid laughter. U.S. Rep. Ron Paul then told Perry he needed to eliminate five. Then Mitt Romney suggested he cut the Environmental Protection Agency.

Perry then said EPA, there you go, no as the audience and other candidates laughed.

He would go on to finish in fifth place in the Iowa caucuses and sixth in New Hampshire before dropping out of the race.

Perry ran again in 2016 but lasted just three months after poor fundraising and polling forced him out of the race long before Iowa or New Hampshire voted.
The debate over private school vouchers isn't new in Texas, but it's taken on new urgency this year as Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick have ratcheted up their push for a policy to spread tax dollars from public schools to private schools or home schools.

The fight is now reaching a boiling as lawmakers approach their final weeks in regular session, and all eyes are on the Texas House, where a coalition of Democrats and rural Republicans have long opposed the concept, worried that it will drain funding from traditional public schools.

BACKGROUND: Gov. Abbott threatens special session if Texas lawmakers don't deliver on school vouchers

Some House Republicans who support vouchers are getting behind a pared-down approach that would make the subsidies available to students receiving special education services and those in failing school districts. But Abbott has already threatened to veto any plan that doesn't serve more students, and said he'll call lawmakers back to Austin this summer if they don't deliver.

As the largest Republican-controlled state in the country, Texas is seen by proponents as ripe for voucher policies. Many of you have questions. Lets get to it.

What are vouchers?

Vouchers are government funded subsidies that families can use for tuition fees at a school other than free public schools. In Texas, proponents often refer to them as education savings accounts, and include them in promoting what they call "school choice."

Republicans often argue that schools are more effective with less government regulation, and many say that more competition between schools  enabled by parents having more options, or school choice  leads to better results.

Who opposes school choice and why?

Opposition comes from supporters of the traditional public school system. A majority of students are likely to attend traditional public schools even if theres a widespread voucher program, and those schools would lose funding for every student that transfers to a different kind of school.

This already happens in Texas with charter schools, for example.

Last year in Houston, about 45,000 students transferred from the ISD to charter schools, resulting in a loss to the district of at least $276 million. That's counting only the basic allotment received by the districts, excluding special education funding or other allotments.

In San Antonio, the two largest school districts are Northside ISD and North East ISD. More than 12,000 Northside students transferred to charter schools in the 2021-2022 school year, as did just under 8,000 from North East ISD. That means Northside lost at least $75 million, while North East lost $50 million, using the same basic allotment figures.

Is there support for school vouchers in Texas?

Abbott and Patrick have gone all in this year on the issue, following a handful of other, mostly Republican-led states. The Texas House has always been the biggest hurdle, having batted down the effort repeatedly over the years.

In rural areas, school districts are often the cultural centers and employ a large portion of people in the community, making rural lawmakers especially sensitive to policies affecting their funding.

Earlier this session, Patrick had toyed with applying the concept to urban areas only, as a way to win over more votes. But that plan was scrapped in the House after critics warned it would actually help small, wealthy districts like Friendswood and Alamo Heights.

Last year, the Supreme Court opened the door for religious schools to be included in state voucher programs. This may help broaden support for voucher policies in Texas, and Republicans have particularly tried to connect with Hispanic communities, which often have strong Catholic roots, over the issue.

While the basic dynamics against vouchers are the same as in recent years, there is also more energy and enthusiasm among voucher advocates than in those years.

Does Texas have a voucher program? Which other states do?

No. There are voucher programs in 15 states, plus Washington D.C. The states are Arkansas, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah, Vermont and Wisconsin.

How could the voucher program be expanded?

Theres a wide range of possibilities for the programs.

In other states such as Florida, early voucher programs have often been limited to families in struggling school districts, children from low-income families or students with special needs.

Advocates for traditional public schools call this the camels nose under the tent approach, with the theory being that any limited voucher program is an inevitable precursor to a universal program coming down the line. This is exactly what unfolded in Arizona and is now happening in Florida.

Thats why those who oppose vouchers often wont budge on even tightly limited programs.

This will be something to keep a close eye out for in Texas: will school choice advocates put more energy into trying to pass a limited voucher program, or will they instead try for a universal program right away?
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WASHINGTON  Border crossings have dropped by half since Title 42 was lifted Thursday night, countering early fears that the end of the public health order would lead to chaos.

BACKGROUND: Crossings mostly calm post-Title 42 expiration, lawsuits pile up

The Biden administration said Monday that the Border Patrol has logged fewer than 5,000 unlawful crossings per day over the last three days  still a high figure, but far from the more than 10,000 crossings per day last week in the lead-up to Title 42's end.

The number of migrants in federal custody is also "significantly down," and the administration has deported more than 2,400 migrants to Mexico over the last three days, said Blas Nunez-Neto, a Homeland Security Department official overseeing border policy. He said the administration has sent "thousands" more back to 10 other countries, including Colombia, Honduras and Peru, and is working with those countries to publicize those deportations there.

The administration said it is still too early to draw conclusions about the long-anticipated end to the COVID-era policy, but officials believe that early signs indicate that messaging about harsher consequences for those who cross the border illegally, including a presumption of ineligibility for asylum, is having an effect.

EXPLAINED: What is title 42? End of border policy, history and more

Mexico and Guatemala have also stepped up enforcement of their borders in recent days, likely contributing to the decline in crossings, officials said.

The White House's border strategy includes expanding legal pathways to enter the country, coupled with harsher consequences  including a five-year ban on entry and possible jail time  for those who do not follow them.

Nunez-Neto said the administration is now processing up to 1,000 migrants per day through the Customs and Border Protection One app and is removing those who do not have a legal basis to remain in the country "much more quickly the we ever have before."

"These processes are working," Nunez-Neto said, though he said the situation at the border is "very fluid."

The relatively calm end to Title 42 to date is far from what many expected. President Joe Biden last week warned that it would be "chaotic for a while." Some Democrats had pressed him to keep the order in place, while Republicans predicted its end would lead to bedlam.

"We already have the worst illegal immigration in the history of our country & its about to get worse," U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, tweeted Thursday night.

On Monday, Cruz tweeted video of Jeh Johnson, who served as Homeland Security secretary under former President Barack Obama, explaining that more than 1,000 crossings per day "overwhelms the system" and declaring "we are truly in a crisis."

"Important context on just how big the #BidenBorderCrisis is," Cruz tweeted.
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AI attempts to identify when music transcends genres

AI can now have conversations, create art, and even make music, but can it turn the subjective into the objective?

by WILL BETTS of Musiio Blog

When The Guardian recently claimed that London experimental jazz act Alfa Mists new album Variables transcends genres, we asked ourselves whether we could verify that assertion with data.

What would genre transcension entail? According to Collins, Something that transcends normal limits or boundaries goes beyond them, because it is more significant than them. Given this definition, wed expect to find many genre influences on Variables, and for there to be some other glue that keeps the album together.

To test exactly how genre-bending Alfa Mist is, we compared Variables with other artists hailed for their cross-genre appeal. Harrys House featured nine genres, Saults latest album Nine contained 16, and Thundercats 23-track album Drunk featured 19. By this measure, Alfa Mist is undoubtedly taking inspiration from a wide variety of sources. That makes him incredibly hard to pin down.

Another way of gauging Alfa Mists proclivity for bending genres is to see how many genres our AI ascribes his tracks on average across his album. In theory, the more genres the Musiio tagging AI gives a track.

Here are the results compared to those previously mentioned artists.

Artists with a higher average number of genre tags per track likely create more genre-bending music, rather than simply dipping into different styles from one track to the next.

Sure enough, with this analysis, its clear: Alfa Mists Variables truly lives up to its name, with a mean average of 3.6 genres per track. You could legitimately call that genre-transcending, albeit forgiving a little poetic licence.

With all this genre-bending, how is Variablescohesive?

With all that said, there are elements that tie Variables together. The first is that Jazz is still the dominant genre on the album. Another is recording quality. One astute YouTube comment on track three, Aged Eyes, sums up the unique sound of Variables: Love how this somehow sounds like an obscure 70s record from Brazil but also really modern!

Our Recording Quality classifier supports this observation. Seven out of the ten tracks on the album receive a Medium quality tag, consistent with other recordings from the 1970s. Other connecting traits include the use of only medium-energy tracks and minor keys.

Perhaps we are seeing an artist focussing on a vibe and using the genres as tools to deliver that vibe in different ways  like a chef adding spices.So, is Variables genre-transcending? Its a resounding yes. Also, in an age where were constantly told our attention spans can be measured in seconds, Alfa Mist delivers a 45-minute through-listen that captures the attention track after track. And its largely the records genre-agnosticism that makes it so compelling.

To learn more about automated music tagging, and how descriptive AI can help your music business, drop a message to sales@musiio.com, or use the contact form.

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The former Elks Lodge dates to 1871. It was purchased last month for $50,000.

Adams Elks Lodge Sold to Developer With North Adams Properties

ADAMS, Mass.  The former Elks Lodge has been sold to a New York developer for $50,000.

Veselko Buntic, principal of Last Supper LLC, purchased the property April 5 from the Adams and Pittsfield combined lodges now headquartered in Pittsfield.

Buntic owns several properties in North Adams, including 103 Main St. that he plans on turning into a hotel, and the Tower and Porter Block on historic Eagle Street, which is being turned into apartments and retail space.

The Romanesque structure dates to 1871, when it was built as the second church on the site for St. Paul Universalist Church. When the membership of the parish declined it was purchased in 1929 by Adams Lodge 13335, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

The lodge, which had celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016, vacated the building a few years back when it joined with Pittsfield Lodge 272.

The property is three parcels comprising less than an acre and the building runs around 12,000 square feet with parking for 14 vehicles.

It was listed for close to $100,000 and most recently valued by the town at $143,100.
The Gordman's sign is still up on the largely empty department store building off Main Street. A realty company has purchased the entire plaza for $2 million.

Former Kmart Plaza Sold to Connecticut Realty Company

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The Steeple City Plaza was sold last month to a Connecticut realty company for $2 million.

NRT Realty LLC of Avon, Conn., closed on the parcel on April 28, according to records at the Registry of Deeds. The manager is identified as N. Robert Trigg of Avon; a phone number listed for Trigg was not in service.

Thomas Krens had indicated interest in purchasing the former the Kmart plaza as a site for his Extreme Model Railroad and Contemporary Architecture Museum. The offices for the proposed museum are located on the Main Street side of the L-shaped mall.

The potential for using that location had been part of a presentation to downtown business owners and the mayor more than a year ago but it's not clear if that is still in the works. EMRCAM had initially been planned for Western Gateway Heritage State Park and there had been talk about it shifting southward toward the old Sons of Italy and the now closed Apkin scrapyard.

The more than 7-acre site on Main Street includes the L-shaped mall along Main and American Legion Drive and the former 93,000 square-foot Kmart building, which currently houses V&V liquors, a Rent a Center and a Planet Fitness.

First Hartford Realty of Manchester, Conn., bought the plaza in 2005 for $10.58 million, three years after Kmart had closed its operations there. The realty company deals in commercial development, shopping centers and multifamily housing.

First Hartford brought in a number of stores to fill the vacant department store, including Peebles, Olympic Sports, a small Sears store and Staples. The company's owner Neil Ellis had been interested in commercial development of North Adams since urban renewal in the late 1960s.

Over the past decade, Staples moved out and the liquor store moved in, Peebles was briefly replaced by a Gordmans that closed in 2020 only a few months after opening, Olympia and Sears shuttered and the North Adams Cinemas closed earlier this year. Ellis had kept the movie theater afloat for years after it moved into the east end of the building.

The L-shaped mall has had a number of tenant changes over the years and it currently houses longtime tenant Papa Gino's, a dollar store, Label Shopper, T-Mobile and an H-R Block. A Greylock Federal Credit Union drive-up and Burger King are located in separate buildings.




iciHaiti - Justice : Five members of a Haitian gang arrested in the Dominican Republic





After the recent arrest of a member of the "5 seconds" gang in Santo Domingo, https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-39507-icihaiti-justice-a-member-of-the-5-seconds-gang-arrested-in-the-dr-and-handed-over-to-polifront.html , agents of the General Directorate of Migration (DGM) arrested in the community of Los Arroyos in Mina Larimar (Barahona Province) 5 members linked to a gang in Haiti, identified only as Yosel, Dison, Usnel, Huonel and Ernest. At the time of their arrest, they were in an irregular migration situation and had no Haitian identity papers.



According to the Haitian authorities, these individuals were actively sought for, among other things : murder, aggravated robbery, armed robbery and criminal association.



These individuals were handed over to the migration authorities at the coordinated border management base at the MalPasse border point, in Jimani, and taken care of by members of the Haitian border police (PoliFRONT), led by its inspector Exume Jean Wilkens, for the corresponding purposes.



Venancio Alcantara, the Director General of the DGM reiterated that they will be relentless against Haitian criminals and any other nationality who intend to use the Dominican Republic to escape justice in their respective countries.



S/ iciHaiti


















Name: Jean-Philippe Avelange

Company: Expereo

Job title: CIO

Date started current role: March 2017

Location: Amsterdam

Jean-Philippe Avelange has been Chief Information Officer at Expereo since 2017, following an IT Telecoms career in Cloud Computing, Internet, Telecom or E-Commerce industries, which has included time within global consultancies and as a founder and Entrepreneur. He started with Capgemini Telecom and Media in 2000 before co-founding InovenAltenor, a consulting firm with a focus on bridging the gap between business and technologies. Building the company from five co-founders to 40 consultants in 2010, he then became an independent consultant advising businesses on cloud solutions, digital transformation and agile methodologies. Avelange is vastly experienced in helping customers deal with complex information systems architecture across multiple technologies. During his spare time, he enjoys kitesurfing and continues to develop his coding skills.

What was your first job? If we take it back to the beginning, I once worked at a clinic where my father used to practice as a paediatrician, and by the time I was 14 I was already helping the clinic with its IT setup! Though I would consider my first official job to be at Capgemini. After completing my education, I did an internship at Capgemini for six months and I was lucky enough to work there for a further five years as an IT consultant.

Did you always want to work in IT? Honestly, no. But from a very young age I have always been drawn towards technology, I used to spend hours coding and playing with computers and it has always been my passion. It was only when I started to get a bit older that I realised you could actually make a living out of them. Even at engineering school, I didnt specifically study computer science or IT, but also about fluid mechanics, quantum physics and other topics; it was only towards the end of my studying that I started to specialise in telecommunications.

What was your education? Do you hold any certifications? What are they? I had a very traditional French education. I did my Baccalaureate and integrated engineering school right after where I studied for five years and obtained a classic engineering diploma (ESSTIN). During this time, I was able to take part in the Erasmus scheme which allowed me to study for a year at the Vienna Technische Universitat.

Explain your career path. Did you take any detours? If so discuss. I took a very direct route to where I am today. I did my standard French Baccalaureate before obtaining my engineering diploma. It was after this that I got my internship at Capgemini for six months and then my consultancy role for a further five years. When my time with Capgemini came to an end, I co-created my own consultancy company, InovenAltenor, with a few former colleagues. After working here for a further five years, I relocated permanently to the Netherlands where I worked freelance, and then in 2017 I joined Expereo as the CIO.

What business or technology initiatives will be most significant in driving IT investment in your organisation in the coming year? We say that Expereo is the intelligent internet platform connecting people, places and things everywhere by managing internet performances better than anyone else. We are therefore heavily focused on driving digital transformation throughout the entire company to ensure the platform is working at its best capacity, and ultimately to ensure we are providing the best service to our customers. There is also a big focus on driving standardisation and automation within our platforms to give employees more time to focus on the human side of their role, through interacting and engaging with our customers. But as always, we remain focused on developing network solutions and services that automatically give our customers the best connectivity solutions for their businesses.

What are the CEOs top priorities for you in the coming year? How do you plan to support the business with IT? The CEOs main priority for me in the coming year is to accelerate Expereos journey towards digital business by enhancing innovation and scale. The business cant scale without embracing automation and technology, and its my job to communicate this to the business and ensure there is a culture shift that paves the way for digitalisation. Every single person within the organisation is part of this digital transformation and its important to bring everyone along on this journey.

Does the conventional CIO role include responsibilities is should not hold? Should the role have additional responsibilities it does not currently include? If I had to think of something, then it would be dealing with issues relating to company laptops and printers. I think that the real challenge of a CIO is to push for transformation and to change the mentality of those around you. It is a real contrast fixing a problem someone has with their printer to completely rolling out a new platform for the business, so I think it is important for a CIO to find the right balance between the two.

Are you leading a digital transformation? If so, does it emphasise customer experience and revenue growth or operation efficiency? If both, how do you balance the two? The digital transformation is currently a shared responsibility across many teams, including product, technology, IT and operations. It is a team effort, which is certainly needed in order to drive the transformation into every corner of the company. The focus for us is and always has been the customer experience, we are totally customer centric. Our rationale is that by putting the customer first, we will naturally spot any areas in need of improvement or focus on product development or operational efficiency.

Describe the maturity of your digital business. For example, do you have KPIs to quantify the value of IT? Yes, in IT we have our own metrics for how we want to measure performance, but we are currently much more focused on how we can drive transformation at large. We do this through setting company-wide aims and objectives and working out how we are going to achieve these. For me the focus should always be on delivering high quality value to the customer.

What does a good culture fit look like in your organisation? How do you cultivate it? We favour the autonomy of clearly defined cross functional teams. Through following the OKR model, we set objectives to teams without telling them specifically what they should/shouldnt be doing, but instead enabling and supporting them to collaborate and be creative to find solutions that support the wider business objectives. Our values are: believe it, own it, do it, share it and we cultivate this by providing tools such as Sociabble to naturally share our individual and team achievements.

What roles or skills are you finding (or anticipate to be) the most difficult to fill? It is no easy feat finding the right tech talent. At the moment in IT we know it is not about finding good technical people, it is about finding technical people with the right mindset. There are currently a lot of people who possess a lot of technical skills but maybe dont know how to solve wider business problems and it is these people we currently desire.

What is the best career advice you ever received? Whilst I was working for InovenAltenor, one of my customers said to me: at the end of the day the only thing that really matters is managing expectations. Whatever you do, always think to yourself what are the expectations that come with this? Clear transparency in what you are going to deliver and by when is vital.

Do you have a succession plan? If so, discuss the importance of and challenges with training up high-performing staff. Yes, I do have a succession plan. The challenge is all in the timing. In your team, you need to nurture high performing individuals that have the potential to at some point take over from you, but a lot of people wont wait around for too long if they cant see this progression happening. Its therefore about finding the right balance between keeping high performing people in your team engaged and focused on the task at hand, but also making sure they are ready to take over if and when required.

What advice would you give to aspiring IT leaders? For me to be an IT leader you need to know your content. You can study all you want, but if you dont know what you are talking about, then no one will believe what you are saying, so being firmly in the content is key.

What has been your greatest career achievement? I would say my greatest achievement to date is taking Expereo from where it was when I joined in 2017, to where it is today. I am proud of how far the company has come.

Looking back with 20:20 hindsight, what would you have done differently? From a career point of view there isnt a lot I would have done differently. I have my dream job and I do what I love every day and for that Im grateful. Of course, if I had the chance, I would have invested in stocks like Amazon, Apple or Tesla back in the day I would now be reaping the rewards!
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Carcasses of at least 40 monkeys suspected to have been killed by mass poisoning have been discovered in north India.

Following the discovery of dozens of monkey carcasses in bushes at Hapur city in Indias Uttar Pradesh state, police registered a case and initiated an investigation on Sunday.

Residents alerted the police after some complained of a bad smell from a nearby area in the city on Sunday.

Forest department officials took custody of the dead carcasses to conduct an autopsy to find out the cause of death.

Officials said the monkeys may have been killed en masse after being intentionally poisoned.

During the investigation, police found watermelons and jaggery near the area where the carcasses were found.

A case has been registered and the cause of their death is being probed, police said.

Local television stations aired visuals showing jaggery placed on a piece of paper near the monkey carcasses.

The mass killing of the monkeys has sparked shock among local residents.

The uncontrolled population of monkeys in Indian towns and cities has become a menace for residents, as they are often held responsible for significant agricultural destruction, leading to losses for farmers.

Additionally, primates frequently enter peoples homes and businesses to steal food.

Wildlife and animal activists have blamed rapid urbanisation for the destruction of the animals natural habitats which has forced them to encroach on human settlements for food and shelter.

In 2016, Himachal Pradesh government declared monkeys in the state to be vermin and permitted their culling for a six-month period by incentivising people to kill them.

But the state governments sterilisation scheme faced widespread criticism from animal activists and animal lovers for promoting killing of the primates.
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Three children have been mauled to death in less than one week in separate attacks by leopards and lionesses in the western Indian state of Gujarat.

The attacks all took place in the same district of Amreli, though in different villages, with the latest being a leopard attack on Saturday night when two-year-old Manav Parmar was sleeping with his family members in a hut in the village of Katar.

The big cat caught the toddler by his neck and dragged him away to the nearby bushes. Officials say the leopard only dropped the boy and escaped when his family chased after it.

His mother saw the boy being attacked and being lifted away by the leopard. The parents chased the leopard and managed to get the toddler, a forest officer of the Shetrunji wildlife division told the Indian Express.

The boy had severe neck injuries and was taken to a hospital in a nearby town, but was transferred to a bigger hospital in the neighbouring district of Bhavnagar for better medical facilities. He succumbed to his injuries on the way.

The forest department has set up cages in the area to catch the leopard and move it away from human settlements. We have placed trap cages to rescue the leopard. A veterinary officer with a tranquiliser gun has also been deputed to the area to tranquilise the leopard, if need be, and capture the leopard, said Jayan Patel, deputy conservator of forests (DCF) of Shetrunji wildlife division.

This comes less than five days after a three-year-old boy was killed in a leopard attack in Karjala village of the same district on 8 May.

And last Tuesday a five-month-old baby boy was mauled to death by a Asiatic lioness when he was sleeping with his family in an open area in Khara village. Local authorities say they captured the leopard and lioness involved in these two incidents.

A total of 34 people have died from lion and leopard attacks in past two years in Gujarat, while a total of 229 persons were injured, the state assembly today.

It comes after a study, conducted by the zoology department of Gujarats Maharaja Sayajirao University, found that shrinking forest coverage and loss of wild prey species in the state are forcing leopards to venture into villages.

The study on prey abundance, land use and movement patterns of leopards was conducted in the Surat district, where the researchers say that human-animal conflict has increased with a rapid rise in leopard population.

With the prey base of wild cats  wild boar and deer  declining, the leopards are venturing out to hunt livestock in villages, the Times of India quoted the researchers as saying.

The leopard count in the state has grown by over 50 per cent in the past six years, jumping from 1,395 in 2016 to 2,200 in 2023, reported the outlet citing forest department sources.

The officials also raised concern about human-animal conflict, as they reported sighting 40 per cent of the leopards in the revenue areas closer to human habitations.

The lion population in Gujarat has also seen a surge of eight per cent to more than 700 individuals, according to a 2021 report by Times of India.

Meanwhile, 240 lions and 370 leopards have died in Gujarat in the last two years, the states environment minister Mulu Bera informed the Gujarat Assembly earlier in March. Of these, 214 lions and 256 leopards died of natural causes.
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A woman has been shot dead inside a Sikh temple in northern Indias Punjab state for allegedly consuming liquor on the premises.

Police in Patiala said the incident took place on Sunday night at the Dukh Niwaran Sahib gurdwara.

The woman, identified as Parwinder Kaur, 35, was allegedly under the influence of liquor when she was gunned down by a man, reported The Indian Express.

She was consuming liquor sitting near the Sarovar [holy pond] at Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran Sahib, senior police superintendent Varun Sharma said at a press conference on Monday.

She was carrying the alcohol bottle. When other devotees saw this, they objected and took her to the gurdwara manager. They were standing near the managers office when the accused, identified as Nirmaljit Singh Saini, opened fire with his licensed revolver.

Police said another devotee was also injured in the shooting.

The two were taken to Rajindra Medical College and Hospital where doctors pronounced Kaur dead on arrival.

Officials said she received three gunshot wounds and died on the spot.

The injured is receiving treatment at the hospital.

Mr Saini, the accused, has been arrested and his weapon has been recovered.

Mr Sharma told the outlet that the accused had no previous criminal record.

He said devotees who enter the temple are not frisked.

I will not mince my words. The police do not frisk devotees who visit the gurdwara. The SGPC [Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee], which manages the gurdwara, can answer how the accused carried a weapon inside, he was quoted as saying.

Police said among the womans belongings, a prescription from a drug de-addiction centre was found, which stated she was undergoing treatment for alcohol addiction.

The doctor has written that she was having mood swings, was under depression and had frequent negative thoughts, Mr Sharma said.

According to the police, the womans body has not been claimed yet.
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At least six people have died and over 700 left injured after powerful tropical cyclone Mocha made landfall in Myanmar on Sunday, flooding roads, destroying houses and knocking down communication towers.

Mocha, one of the most powerful storms to hit Myanmar in years, had wind speeds of up to 209 km/h and led to heavy rains in the western parts of one of Asias least developed countries.

So far, six deaths have been reported by local media, with over 700 reported injured. But the true scale of the damage is yet to be known in the country run by the junta.

Rescuers on Monday evacuated about 1,000 people trapped by seawater 3.6 meters (12 feet) deep along western Myanmars coast.

Reuters reported that 20,000 people were taking shelter in monasteries, pagodas and schools on the citys highlands, quoting a leader of the Rakhine Youths Philanthropic Association in the city of Sittwe, who refused to be named due to fear of reprisal from authorities.

The volunteers said there was not enough food in the shelters. Myanmars state-run television reported that the military government was preparing to send food, medicine and medical personnel to the storm-hit area.

Injuries were also reported in neighbouring Saint Martins Island in Bangladesh, which was largely spared by the cyclone amid fears of it directly hitting the worlds largest refugee settlement in the countrys Coxs Bazar.

Approximately 300 homes were also reported either damaged or destroyed in the western parts of Bangladesh.

The cyclone had already weakened to a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm when it made landfall and, by Monday morning, it was a Severe Cyclonic Storm.

This satellite image provided by India Meteorological Department shows storm Mocha intensify into a severe cyclonic storm (IMD via AP)

The UN Development Programmes representative in Myanmar, Titon Mitra, tweeted that Mocha put two million people at risk and damage and losses were expected to be extensive.

Experts have raised concerns about a humanitarian disaster, as the state of Rakhine, where the cyclone hit most severely, is a conflict zone and already has around 6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance living within its borders.

The needs in Myanmar are huge. Rakhine was already a poverty hit state before the powerful cyclone Mocha hit. The impact of this cyclone will be very high in Myanmars Rakhine state because of the existing conflict and the extremely poor socio economic condition of the people in Rakhine state, said Sharif Ahmed, Islamic Relief head of programmes for Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Poverty is very high and is the primary reason this storm will have such a destructive impact on these people and their lives.

The weakening cyclone was forecast to hit the northwestern state of Chin and central regions on Monday.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall in parts of northeast India.

There has been a substantial increase in cyclonic activity in south Asian waters linked to rising ocean temperatures, according to experts.

Warming in the oceans has led to higher evaporation and increased availability of moisture due to global heating. Experts said cyclones can now retain their energy for many days and cause extensive devastation.

Weather conditions in the ocean are very supportive for rapid intensification of the system, said Roxy Mathew Koll, climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology and Lead IPCC author.

People gather at a monastery used as a temporary shelter in Sittwe, Rakhine State (EPA)

Cyclones nowadays can retain their energy for quite a long number of days. One example of this trend was Cyclone Amphan which continued to travel over land as a strong cyclone and resulted in massive devastation.

As long as oceans are warm and winds are favourable, cyclones will retain their intensity for a longer period.

Tropical cyclones are one of the most devastating natural disasters, costing more than half a million lives all over the world in the last five decades.

The Indian Ocean region, including the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, is of particular concern because of the high population density along its coastlines.

Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar in 2008 with a storm surge that devastated populated areas around the Irrawaddy River delta, killing at least 138,000 people.
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Climate change will reduce the land available for coffee by 54% by 2100 even if global temperatures are contained to internationally agreed targets, according to a new report.

Coffee growers from Honduras to Ethiopia said they are already suffering from climate destabilisation and the charity Christian Aid is calling on the UK Government to help by cancelling historic debts and raising money to pay for climate loss and damage.

The charity has calculated that rising temperatures and unpredictable conditions will shrink the worlds land suitable for growing coffee by 54.4%, even if global temperatures are limited to 1.5-2C above pre-industrial levels.

Around 98 million cups of coffee are drank in the UK a day and it supports more than 210,000 domestic jobs, according to 2017 figures from the British Coffee Association.

More than half the coffee drank in the UK comes from Brazil and Vietnam, two countries particularly vulnerable to climate change.

Vietnam clocked its highest ever temperature on record last week at 44.1C, while neighbouring countries also experienced new extremes.

Rising temperatures, as well as erratic rainfall, disease, droughts and landslides brought on by human-induced climate change, threaten to shrink the coffee industry and impoverish its producers.

Yadira Lemus, a Honduran coffee farmer, said: As a coffee producer, it is more and more difficult to produce. And yes, that is obviously related to climate change because before we would plant coffee and it produced almost by itself.

With regard to climate change, we are seeing an increase in temperature. It is harder to predict the weather. Before we could say which is winter or summer, and when we can plant. Not anymore.

We cannot say that because it changes from one year to the other and it is not easy to predict. Who was going to predict that we were going to have the storms and hurricanes we had last year?

Our coffee industry is Ethiopias most important export and generates significant employment. But now it is under threat from climate change Yitna Tekaligne, Christian Aid

Now you see there is a lack of rain. We are more vulnerable to these types of changes.

Christian Aid issued its dire warning in a new report, Wake up and smell the coffee: The climate crisis and your coffee, which calls for a cancellation of unjust debts and financial support to help farmers diversify their livelihoods.

Yitna Tekaligne, the charitys Ethiopia country manager, said: Africans make up 17% of the worlds population but we generate just 4% of the greenhouse gas emissions that have caused the climate crisis. And yet it is we who are suffering the brunt of the impacts of climate change.

Our coffee industry is Ethiopias most important export and generates significant employment. But now it is under threat from climate change.

The impact of climate change on coffee production is in plain sight, including through high levels of coffee leaf rust.

There is a lot the UK Government can do, starting with using its power to get Western private creditors to cancel the debts of the worlds poorest countries and mobilising the vital finance we need to address the loss and damage caused to our country by the climate crisis.

Christian Aid also polled 2,181 UK adults about coffee and climate change alongside its report and found 57% of respondents to be concerned about how climate change will impact the cost, taste and availability of coffee in the UK.

It also showed 69% agree that the UK Government should do more to reduce the impact of climate destabilisation on the UKs food supply chain, for example by supporting farmers to diversify their income.

David Taylor, Fairtrade Foundations senior policy manager, said: This timely report from Christian Aid highlights what Fairtrade coffee farmers have been telling us for some time: the catastrophic consequences of climate breakdown is endangering not only their livelihoods, but also the future of their popular crop.

Farming communities have a critical role in addressing the climate crisis and have the expertise to tackle it.

However, too many smallholder coffee farmers  particularly those without the financial protections Fairtrade offers  simply cannot afford to do so, because the price they receive for their produce is far too low. This is unjust.
As the National Conservative Conference meets in London, already a couple of keynote speeches by Suella Braverman and Jacob Rees-Mogg have provided some controversy. For many in the Conservative Party, the National Conservative movement, which began in the United States, is another unwelcome faction in a divided party, with alarmingly fascistic overtones. To its supporters, it represents a rebirth of traditional conservative values after flirtations in recent decades with social liberalism, multiculturalism, diversity, equality and globalisation. Suffice to say it seems well-funded and, like the Conservative Democratic Organisation grouping within the Conservative Party, enjoys some popularity among the grassroots and rightist elements in the media.

What is National Conservatism?

In Britain it seems to be a kind of mash-up of Hard Brexit shibboleths, populism, nationalism, anti-globalisation, anti-immigrant prejudice, social conservatism and anti-woke beliefs, with a side-order of climate denialism, anti-vax crankery, Islamophobia, Sinophobia, transphobia, plus some optional mild racism and homophobia. They tend to like Boris Johnson, Donald Trump and Viktor Orban. As the Tory backbench MP Miriam Cates sees it, the UK arm of the movement grew out of the 2016 EU referendum and Boris Johnsons 2019 election victory  an instruction from the public that they expect us to govern with their interests, their values in mind. Not the values of the intelligentsia  the globalised elite whose loyalties are to everyone and no one.
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The worst day of Matt Zarb-Cousins gambling addiction saw him roll out of bed, rush to his local bookies and stand in front of the slot machine for six hours, bypassing food and drink entirely. He lost 2,500 that day. Every fibre of my being was concentrated on gambling, he recalls. When I lost all the money, and I walked out of the shop, I was left with this adrenaline hangover. It was the culmination of four years of gambling that had left him depressed and suicidal. He was just 16 and still at school when he became addicted to fixed-odds betting terminals  otherwise known as the crack cocaine of gambling. When he couldnt play, he experienced withdrawal symptoms that left him anxious, agitated and unable to relax.

Now 33, he remembers that particular wasted day in front of the machine. That was when I wanted to end my life because I felt like there was no way out. You see it all the time with gambling-related suicide; someone experiences a big loss and then immediately takes their own life. I remember what that feels like. I know exactly why that happens. It doesnt even have to be a huge amount of money. Its just that feeling of loss of control, loss of agency and a sense that you are never going to feel normal again. Fortunately, through therapy and family support, Zarb-Cousin kicked the habit and has long since repaid his 20,000 in debts. And as director of Clean Up Gambling, he is now taking on the industry that nearly destroyed him.

There are more than 400 gambling-related suicides in the UK every year, while 1.4 million Brits are currently addicted, according to the charity Gambling with Lives. A government white paper, published last month, proposes a statutory levy on gambling operators to pay for research, education and treatment, as well as affordability checks for online gambling and the introduction of stake limits on online slots. These are among a raft of other changes to the Gambling Act 2005. Its a big step forward, says Zarb-Cousin, but hed like to see more from the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), the standards body that represents betting shops, casinos, bingo halls and online gambling, which he claims is resisting reform.

He and others standing up to the gambling industry have a big fight on their hands. Last month, MP Scott Benton had the Tory whip suspended after he allegedly told an undercover reporter for The Times that he could lobby ministers on behalf of gambling interests. Gambling companies have also increased the amount they spend on wooing Conservative and Labour MPs tenfold in five years, according to The Guardian.

A spokesperson for the Betting and Gaming Council tells The Independent: In constituencies across the country, BGC members support the jobs of 110,000 people  on hard-pressed high streets through betting shops, in hospitality and tourism via casinos and bingo, as well a large and growing number of tech jobs in the online sector. We strongly support the gambling review, which is an important opportunity to further raise standards and promote safer gambling. Any hospitality is consistent with the parliamentary rules and is fully declared and transparent.

Benton apparently told undercover reporters that firms can place falsely low values on ticketed gifts to events so as to avoid having to declare them  Commons rules require MPs to disclose hospitality worth 300 or more. He told them: Without saying too much, youd be amazed at the number of times Ive been to races and the ticket comes to 295.

The BGC claims the number of people being harmed by gambling is falling  with problem gambling rates among UK adults down to 0.2 per cent, from 0.3 per cent in previous years  but last year the NHS launched two new gambling clinics to meet what it called record demand.

For former addict Jack Symons, the numbers dont add up. Symons lost an estimated 50-100k (or possibly more) after he became hooked on online poker and slots at the age of 18. It was like medication, he says. It allowed me to put my mind into a sort of numb state. Except there was someone benefitting from it. Symons would play up to 14 hours a day and found that gambling disrupted his mind and decision-making processes. He would stay up all night in a casino gambling to save money on hotels while working away, leaving him penniless for the journey home.

It is a hidden addiction, he adds. I let it control my mood. The level of excitement I got from winning was not as much as the low that I got from losing. He became reckless and made bad decisions. You would win an amount  say, 998  but I felt only a psychopath would stop at 998. Its got to be 1,000. And you can lose 998 trying to make that extra 2, because its not a round number. How stupid is that? Gambling was costing me my rational mind and it was costing me  and has done to this day  my relationship with money. He didnt know if he gambled because he was depressed, or whether he was depressed because he gambled.

You get euphoria when you win, but that soon goes. And you just want it again and again. Ive never taken drugs but it must be what drug addiction feels like Tracey Stevenson

In 2015, Symons set up the gambling site-blocking app Gamban alongside Zarb-Cousin, a move he says facilitated his recovery. Working on the app has also led Symons to question the industrys claims about how much safer gambling has become. Where operators are being fined many millions of pounds for very serious breaches while also being praised for their corporate social responsibility, clearly something is going wrong.

One of these was Gala Bingo, which was fined 2.3m for breaching consumer-protection regulations in 2017. The action followed the discovery of significant flaws in Galas dealings with Tracey Stevenson, a former account manager from Telford. The 60-year-old had become addicted to the slots on the Gala Bingo site. Over the course of five years, she lost hundreds of thousands of pounds along with her home and her marriage. She also stole from her employer to pay her debts. It got to the stage where all I cared about was chasing the win and trying to get back the money that Id wasted, she tells me. You get euphoria when you win, but that soon goes. And you just want it again and again. Ive never taken drugs but it must be what drug addiction feels like. Stevenson would play at work on her computer, every evening on her iPad, and would sometimes wake up in the middle of the night to play. And because she was such a valuable customer, she was lavished by Gala with free trips and international holidays.

I was seduced, she says. It was absolute love bombing. I was a VIP and I had an account manager who told me, Ive been told by the director  whatever Tracey wants, Tracey gets. So what do you want? I said I wanted to go and see Elton John and Dolly Parton. So I went and they paid for it all. They made me feel like a celebrity. Stevenson would put cash in her account, and Gala would match it up to the value of 1,500. The money stopped seeming real, and whatever Stevenson won, she put straight back in.

Its like the method drug dealers use in county lines, she continues. They reel you in and buy you trainers, tracksuits. Its predatory. Over the course of her five-year addiction, Stevenson won two big jackpots totalling more than 1.5m, which she gambled away. It doesnt feel real. If you were standing there, with hundreds of pounds in your hand, you wouldnt be feeding it into a machine. But it was so easy to put in more money. Ive never been in a bookies or on a machine. But I can quite honestly say if I was standing there with all that money physically in my hand, I wouldnt have done it. It becomes surreal; like playing monopoly. Meanwhile, Gala kept her close; sending her chocolates, flowers and hampers. She asks: Is that what they [gambling companies] are doing to MPs? Giving them this special treatment?

It should not be left to the health service to pick up the pieces left behind by a billion-pound industry profiting on vulnerable people, says Claire Murdoch, an NHS mental health director (iStock)

It all ended when Stevensons husband found a suicide note explaining what she had done. She had stolen 1.7m from her employers and in 2017 she was sentenced to four years in prison. I hold my hands up and take full responsibility for what I have done, she says. But [Gala] have to be culpable for encouraging it and the amount I was spending.

A spokesperson for Entain, which now owns the Gala brand, says Stevensons case preceded their ownership, adding: Entains number one priority is customer safety, and it leads the industry with its safer gaming approach through initiatives such as its advanced responsibility and care programme that takes a proactive approach to safer gambling.

To prevent further harm, Stevenson believes gambling advertising should be banned; it is the one proposal that campaigners say has been missed by the new white paper. They took cigarette adverts off the telly. Why not gambling adverts? It ruins lives.

Meanwhile, the NHS is still treating record numbers of people who also experience gambling addiction. It saw a 50 per cent increase in referrals last year compared to 2021. Claire Murdoch, an NHS mental health director, welcomes the reforms to the gambling industry but stresses that more needs to be done. I have personally heard of countless examples of people bereaved by gambling addiction or who have contemplated suicide, she says. It should not be left to the health service to pick up the pieces left behind by a billion-pound industry profiting on vulnerable people.

Symons agrees. Behind every statistic there is a person, and a story just like mine, just like Matts, of mental health, breakdown, and divorce and suicide, he says. Were still quite far away from where I think we need to be.
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Like adults, its normal for kids to have wobbles and worries. But what happens when anxiety becomes an ongoing problem, causing a lot of distress and impacting school attendance?

It is natural for children to not want to go to school from time to time. For example, they might be worried about a test, or a problem with a friend, says Dr Julia Clements, principal educational psychologist for childrens mental health charity, Place2Be.

With a bit of support, most children will be able to attend school regularly and to not avoid it when things get a bit tricky. However, other children may become so anxious that they start to avoid school all together.

Spotting the signs

Remember, children often arent able to tell adults when theyre struggling with anxiety. Parents and carers can look out for signs, though.

Anxiety can show up differently in different children. Your child may become tearful or quiet at bedtime, for example, or report feeling so ill they cannot attend school. Alternatively, your child may appear quite angry, argumentative and refuse to get ready for school, says Clements.

Dr Marianne Trent, clinical psychologist and author of The Grief Collective, who previously worked in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), adds: A child may complain about not wanting to go to school, or that it is boring or that they have tummy ache. They may drag their heels more about leaving the house or walking to school.

Responding with care

Showing that you are interested and care about how theyre feeling can be really helpful. Having your support could help alleviate their worries, and hopefully youll be able to work through some strategies together.

It is important that parents and carers acknowledge the distress their child is experiencing, and that they are finding going to school a real challenge, says Clements. For example, you might say something like, I can see that you are really worried about going to school and that going in will be really hard for you.

However, it is also important to help your child to face their fears and to attend school, despite it being the last thing they feel like doing! Acknowledge that this might be tough, but that you believe in them and will support them to do this difficult thing. Praise and encourage your child for any small steps of progress they are able to make towards attending school regularly.

Trent suggests talking to them about what might have caused their sudden reluctance to attend school: Asking how theyre feeling and if anything happened the day before which made them feel worried, sad or confused can be a useful first step.

It might be easy for parents and carers to get frustrated and possibly angry if children refuse to go to school. However, this could lead to more distress, so its helpful to try and communicate calmly. Trent says: Its worth knowing that anger is a secondary emotion, and that this might mask a feeling of not having control, sadness, or even parental anxiety too.

Trying to enter into conversations when both parties are feeling well rested can give the best chance of staying calm. Its also important that repairing any ruptured relationships is modelled ideally as soon as possible after any harsh or loud words have been spoken, she adds.

Talk to the school

If the pattern continues, Trent says: Arranging a meeting to discuss with the school can be an important step forward. If school attendance drops below a certain percentage, then it may trigger a referral to Child and Adolescent Mental Health services (CAMHS) and/or social care.

If there is a pastoral department in school, then arranging for the child to spend time there doing some 1:1 or group work can be useful. Similarly, liaising with mental health and support services for therapy or support can be transformational too.

Your GP can help advise on mental health support, and some schools may also have counselling services in place. However, Clements says there may be various ways school staff can potentially help  simple adjustments that could make a big difference: For example, your child may like to be met at the gate, or being given a special job to do in the morning.

Is there anything else going on?

Its important to consider whether other factors could be coming into play, which may require additional attention and support.

Clements says: Do make sure that your child is safe from harm at school  for example, their avoidance of school is not due to them being bullied. If your child is avoiding school because of their neurodivergence or additional needs, then liaise with the SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator) to make sure that reasonable adjustments are being made.
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Irish premier Leo Varadkars partner has apologised for social media posts he made about the coronation of the King, saying they reflected poor judgment.

Mr Varadkar and his partner Matt Barrett were among those in attendance at the recent coronation service for Charles at Westminster Abbey in London.

They were also present at a reception in Buckingham Palace on May 5 and spoke to Charles ahead of the coronation ceremony the following day.

The Irish Times reported this week that Mr Barrett had posted several comments about the coronation to his Instagram account while attending the event.

When asked about the Instagram posts on Monday, Mr Varadkar said that it would be a fair comment to describe them as irreverent.

Matt is a private individual, my partner for over seven years now, he said.

And it was some private messages sent to some friends on his private account.

He never intended for them to go public but that happens sometimes and, look, weve spoken about it and I think its fair to say it wont happen again.

He never intended for them to go public but that happens sometimes and, look, we've spoken about it and I think it's fair to say it won't happen again Leo Varadkar

When asked if should he apologise, the Taoiseach said: Hes a private individual and thats obviously up to him but, like I say, private account, was never intended to be shared publicly and I dont think were going to see a repeat of it.

Shortly after this, Mr Barrett tweeted an apology: On reflection, poor judgment on my part. Unreservedly apologise for any offence caused.
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Fans watching the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest were shocked when the Princess of Wales made a surprise appearance in the opening performance by Kalush Orchestra.

Kate Middleton appeared in a pre-recorded video as part of last years Ukrainian winners act and played a few bars of piano for their song Stefania. The UKs Sam Ryder, who came in second last year, and musical theatre legend Andrew Lloyd Webber also took part in the opening song.

The princesss cameo comes just a week after the coronation of her father-in-law, King Charles III. It was recorded earlier this month in the Crimson Drawing Room of Windsor Castle.

The jaw-dropping clip made viewers stop in their tracks while enjoying the start of the final, which was held in Liverpool on Saturday night (13 May).

Was that Kate Middleton tinkling on the piano or has this champagne gone to my head? one person asked on Twitter.

Another said: OMG a Kalush Orchestra and Sam Ryder mashup!! And Kate Middleton playing piano?! What???

Kate Middleton and Andrew Lloyd Webber in the Stefania intro??? Already chaos Im loving it, a third added.

One Twitter user wrote: For me, one of the highlights of Eurovision was seeing Kate Middletons cameo, playing the piano, for last years winner from Ukraine. Even though Ukraine couldnt host this year, I think the UK has done an incredible job of making sure they were represented!

Another said: Princess Kate playing piano on the Ukraine Eurovision song. Thats the coolest royal ever.

However, others holding Eurovision parties in their homes reported a less excitable response to the princess appearing suddenly on their screens.

One person said that the boos in my house were so loud when Kate Middleton came on screen while another wrote: The Kate Middleton cameo just got booed in Liverpool. Absolutely scenes.

In the clip, Kate wore a bright blue one-shoulder dress by Jenny Packham, in a nod to the flag colours of Ukraine, which are blue and yellow. She also wore earrings inherited by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Kate was not the only royal to have played a role in Eurovision this year.

King Charles and Queen Camilla unveiled the staging for this years competition in the M&S Bank Arena on 26 April, much to the delight of royal fans.

Last nights show marked the first time the UK has hosted Eurovision in 25 years. It was meant to be hosted by Ukraine, but the responsibility fell to the UK due to Russias war in Ukraine.

Swedens Loreen won with her song Tattoo, followed by Finlands Kaarija and Israels Noa Kirel. The UKs Mae Muller came in second to last.

FOLLOW ALONG WITH EUROVISION UPDATES FROM OUR LIVE BLOG HERE
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Made in Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh has claimed her friendship with Meghan Markle abruptly ended after the Duchess of Sussexs romance with Prince Harry went public.

The reality star, 33, recently shared details about her former friendship with the duchess in an episode of her Mumlemmas podcast on 10 May, where she claimed she had been ghosted by the then-Suits actor once she began dating the royal.

The mother of two revealed that she became friends with Meghan around eight years ago, when the pair met at a hotel opening in Istanbul, Turkey. I was a fan, I watched Suits, Mackintosh told podcast co-host Charlie Boud. We met at the bar and we were both ordering a drink at the same time and just started chatting. We got on really well, we got on like a house on fire.

According to Mackintosh, the pair initially clicked over their marital troubles. The TV personality was married to British rapper Professor Green at the time, while Meghan had split from her first husband Trevor Engelson in 2013 after two years of marriage.

The women stayed in touch, and Mackintosh eventually gave Meghan her little black book of favourite spots and contacts when the actor visited the United Kingdom. When she would come to London, she didnt know London very well or know that many people, Mackintosh said, adding that the two would go out for brunch or attend yoga classes together.

The last time Mackintosh said she saw Meghan was in September 2016, when the two were pictured together during a girls weekend at Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire. What I thought was going to be a day of yoga and chilling ended up being rose and margaritas in the pool, she said, adding that she and Markle had a really fun afternoon.

It was during that trip that Meghan admitted she had been messaging Prince Harry after the two were introduced by a friend, according to Mackintosh.I didnt ask too much of it, didnt really think too much of it at the time, Mackintosh recalled. If only I had known.

When news of Prince Harry and Meghan Markles relationship broke in the press just one month later, Mackintosh decided to reach out to Meghan amid the intense media attention. I messaged her and just said: Hey, hope youre okay. Thinking of you, she recalled.

However, Mackintosh claimed the duchess sent back a really abrupt response that was unlike any of our communication before. While she didnt disclose the message she received from Meghan, Mackintosh said that she felt like [Meghan] kind of told me to f*** off, basically.

She cut me dead. I never heard from her again, she added.

The former reality TV star went on to describe her thought process behind the message she allegedly received from Meghan, saying: My take on it is thatshes like, Im going to be royal now, I dont need Millie in my life.

Mackintosh explained how the media attention surrounding her short-lived friendship with Meghan was total bollocks, as tabloids claimed she had introduced the duke and duchess and was planning the royal wedding. At the time, honestly, it was quite hurtful, she added. Looking back, I do remember when they got married. I was a bit like, feels a bit s*** because she ghosted me.

Meghan and Prince Harry began dating in July 2016, after they were reportedly introduced by mutual friend and Soho House consultant Markus Anderson. In their six-part Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, the two detailed how they kept their romance secret from the public  from their first date in London to an impromptu trip to Botswana, Africa.

In the first episode of Harry & Meghan, which was released in December 2022, Meghan recalled that Harry was late to their date, which almost put her off  but the prince won her over after he arrived as a hot, sweaty red ball of mess who was genuinely so embarrassed and late.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also detailed their last night of freedom before news of their relationship broke to the world. The pair decided to pull the pin on the fun grenade and go out in costumes to a Halloween party in Toronto with Harrys cousin, Princess Eugenie, her then-boyfriend, Jack Brooksbank, and Meghans friend, Marcus. She recalled Harry saying at the time: Well, if its gonna come out tomorrow, lets go have fun tonight.

The two were married in May 2018 in a fairytale wedding ceremony at St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle. But the media attention surrounding the couple soon worsened, as they later claimed that Buckingham Palace was briefing the press against them by leaking and planting negative stories about Meghan to distract from less favourable coverage about other royals.

In 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they were stepping down from the royal family and relocating to the United States. Since then, theyve gone on to raise their two children  Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet  at their home in Montecito, California.

Last week, Prince Harry returned to the United Kingdom for the coronation of his father, King Charles III, and stepmother, Queen Camilla.

The Independent has contacted a representative for the Duchess of Sussex for contact.
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The Duke of York is said to be refusing to budge from his current residence in Royal Lodge despite fears that his brother, King Charles III, may turn off the utilities to get him out of there.

Prince Andrew is understood to have been offered Frogmore Cottage as his official residence, after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were asked to vacate the property earlier this year.

However, the disgraced duke is reportedly unwilling to leave the 30-room mansion and downsize to Prince Harry and Meghan Markles former UK residence.

According to reports by US journalist Daphne Barak, sources close to Andrew have said he is concerned that now the coronation is over, the knives are out.

Previously, it was reported that the duke worried he would no longer be able to afford to maintain Royal Lodge after the King cuts his annual 250,000 allowance from the late Queen Elizabeth II.

A source was quoted as saying: [Andrew] is so fragile. Hes refusing to see anybody. This has been his family home for the past 20 years. Is it really sensible to kick him out?

Hes concerned that now the coronation is over, the knives are out. Hes worried that the royals might even turn off the utilities to get him out of there. But were dealing with human beings, not real estate.

It has been said that, if and when Andrew moves out of Royal Lodge, the Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to take up residence there.

King Charles III and the Duke of York are said to be in disagreement over Prince Andrews residence (Getty)

At present, Prince William and Kate Middleton live in Adelaide Cottage in Home Park. They moved there last year to be closer to their childrens school, Lambrook School, which is near Ascot in Berkshire.

Another source was quoted in Baraks articles as saying: If Charles wants Andrew to play ball and help the family, arent there better ways of going about it? Why not do the decent thing, sit down and talk?

If they need the house for William, perhaps Andrew should be told. Perhaps William should invite his uncle for tea and explain?

Andrew shares the massive property, which encompasses 98 acres, with his former wife Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York. Their daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, visit them frequently there.

The couple in 2018 (Getty Images)

A family friend was quoted in the Daily Mail as saying: Eugenie is heavily pregnant and her parents expect to have a new grandchild there this summer.

Dont forget that Sarah has been the glue holding the family together through this nightmare.

Neither Andrew nor Ferguson are working royals. Ferguson was married to the duke from 1986 to 1996, and stepped down from the royal family following the divorce, although she remains close to Andrew.

The duke stepped down from royal duties in 2019 over his association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. He was also stripped of his HRH style, military titles and patronages after he was sued by Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre for sexual abuse when she was underage.

Andrew has vehemently denied the allegations and said he does not recall ever meeting Giuffre. He reached a multi-million pound settlement with Giuffre early last year and said he regretted his association with Epstein, who he acknowledged trafficked countless young girls over many years.

The last time Andrew was seen in public was at the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla, at which he held no formal role.

Buckingham Palace has declined to comment.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited a local youth group to discuss some of the everyday societal pressures that children face.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently had a conversation with a group of teens at AHA! Santa Barbara, in honour of Mental Health Awareness Month, which takes place every May.

The California-based organisation has provided social-emotional education to over 20,000 teens and youth care providers, per the pages official website. Through its work, the non-profit also equips teenagers, educators, and parents with social and emotional intelligence to dismantle apathy, prevent despair, and interrupt hate-based behaviour.

According to The Archewell Foundation, Harry and Meghan visited this group in order to learn firsthand about this generations experiences with social media and societal pressures, and how it affects their mental well-being.

During the hour-long session, the couple spoke to teens from the ages of 14 to 18 about a range of topics, such the ways that social media offers opportunities for connections and community.

However the candid conversation also acknowledged how social media can impact teenagers issues with insecurity, peer-pressure, and potential for self-harm.

These important perspectives and experiences help us understand how mental wellness intersects with the online world, and what it means to promote digital wellness in a digital age, the statement from The Archewell Foundation explained.

The statement also noted that Harry and Meghans visit was a part of the foundations history of engaging on critical mental health issues and working with organisations to help develop programs that support and inspire change

We are regularly meeting with young people, parents, and professionals to understand the challenges they may be facing while working together to drive towards long-term solutions on- and offline, the statement concluded.

In photos shared by The Archewell Foundation, the royal couple smiling and laughing together, as they sat in a circle with the group of teens.

For the occasion, Meghan wore an all-black outfit, which included a pencil skirt and blouse, paired with gold bracelets. Meanwhile, her husband opted for a navy-blue long sleeved shirt, jeans, and blue shoes.

Over the years, both Harry and Meghan have spoken candidly about their mental health struggles. In his bombshell memoir Spare, in which he made multiple allegations about the royal family, Harry revealed how an argument with his spouse encouraged him to go to therapy.

It came from somewhere deep inside, somewhere that needed to be excavated, and it was obvious that I could use some help with the job. he wrote, when he described how angry he got at Meghan during their fight. Ive tried therapy, I told her. Willy [Prince William] told me to go. Never found the right person. [It] didnt work. No, she said softly. Try again.

During an episode of her Archetypes podcast that aired in October 2022, Meghan revealed how Harry helped her reach out to a mental health professional during a difficult time.

I mean, I think at my worst point, being finally connected to someone that, you know, my husband had found a referral for me to call. And I called this woman, she didnt even know I was calling her, she explained.

She noted that when she told the professional that she needed help, the woman could hear the dire state that [she] was in. The duchess then added that it is important for all of us to be really honest about what it is that you need and to not be afraid to make peace with that, to ask for it.

Meghans also came after she opened up about the depression she experienced as a working member of the royal family during her and Prince Harrys interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021.

Meanwhile, Harry and Meghans recent conversation with the youth group comes a week after the duke attended the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey. While her husband was at the event on 6 May, Meghan stayed home in California with their two children, Prince Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, one.
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South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Japanese business leaders on Monday and called for expanded technology cooperation between the countries, which he described as a key element in broader efforts to improve relations.

Yoon has met twice with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in recent weeks, demonstrating their intent to overcome historical grievances that have strained ties for years and to strengthen cooperation in response to shared challenges, including a nuclear-armed North Korea and growing Chinese assertiveness in the region.

They will meet again this weekend at a summit of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations in Hiroshima, where they will also hold talks together with U.S. President Joe Biden, who has been seeking to strengthen alliances with Japan and South Korea to counter North Korea and China.

Meeting with a delegation led by Mikio Sasaki, the former chairman of the board of Japan's Mitsubishi Corp. who heads the Japan-Korea Economic Association, Yoon spoke glowingly about the potential for business cooperation in semiconductors, batteries and electric cars, and in building more resilient supply chains amid geopolitical uncertainties.

Mutually complementary cooperation is possible between South Korean companies, which possess excellent manufacturing technologies, and Japanese companies, which are highly competitive in materials, components and equipment, Yoons office quoted him as saying.

Sasaki told Yoon that exchanges between the countries are increasing as their relations begin to thaw and that his group will encourage Japanese companies to employ more South Korean students and young adults, according to Yoons office.

Ties between Japan and South Korea have long been complicated by disputes stemming from Japans colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945.

Yoons meetings with Kishida came after his government announced in March a domestically contentious plan to use local funds to compensate a group of Korean plaintiffs who were enslaved by Japanese companies during the colonial period. The move was aimed at resolving a dispute over South Korean court rulings in 2018 that ordered Japanese corporations to pay reparations, which drew an angry response from Tokyo, which insists that all compensation matters were settled by a 1965 treaty that normalized relations between the countries.

The dispute spilled over into trade in 2019, when Japan tightened its export controls on key chemicals needed by South Korean companies to produce semiconductors and displays, prompting South Korea to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization. The countries also downgraded each others trade status and South Korea threatened to scrap a bilateral military intelligence sharing agreement that symbolized their three-way security cooperation with Washington.

Following a meeting between Yoon and Kishida in March, South Korea withdrew its complaint at the WTO and Japan simultaneously confirmed its removal of export controls on the chemicals. South Korea has also restored Japan to its list of preferred trading partners and Japan is now taking similar steps to put back South Korea on its own preferred list.
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The Iranian writer, journalist and human rights activist Narges Mohammadi will be honored at this week's PEN America Literary Gala. Mohammadi, currently jailed for spreading propaganda," is to receive the 2023 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award.

Narges Mohammadi inspires awe across the world for her unflinching courage and resistance to the Iranian governments determined campaign to silence her," PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel said in a statement released Monday. The sacrifices that she and her family have made are heartbreaking. She is a beacon for free expression in one of the most harsh places in the world for writers, journalists, and artists.

Mohammadi's husband, the journalist and activist Taghi Rahmani, will accept the prize on her behalf. The PEN gala will take place Thursday night at the American Museum of Natural History, with fellow honorees including Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels, winner of the PEN/Audible Literary Service Award.

The PEN/Barbey prize is given to writers persecuted for their work. Previous recipients include Ukrainian freelance journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko and Chinese activist Xu Zhiyong.

The 51-year-old Mohammadi has a long history of imprisonment and harsh punishment, including torture and solitary confinement. In 2020, she was released after serving 8 1/2 years on charges ranging from planning crimes against Iran to forming an illegal organization. At one time, Mohammadi was vice president of the banned Defenders of Human Rights Center.

Earlier in May, she was one of three imprisoned Iranian journalists to receive the United Nations' World Press Freedom Prize.
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A British serviceman has died after a night out while on a military drill in Sweden, with four people arrested on suspicion of murder, according to reports.

The 25-year-old Navy serviceman was in Sweden for the Aurora 23 defence exercise on board the HMS Albion ship.

Swedish newspaper Expressen reported the man, who has not been identified, was on a night out in Stockholm with another member of the armed forces.

It was reported that both ended up in a house with several Swedish citizens in Solna over the weekend, with the British citizen later found dead at that residence.

The newspaper reported four people have now been arrested on suspicion of murder.

The Ministry of Defence told The Independent it is assisting local authorities in their investigation.

The statement said: We are aware of an incident in Stockholm and we are assisting local authorities in their investigation. It would be inappropriate to comment further.

HMS Albion was in Sweden as part of a Royal Navy amphibious task force defending the countrys coastline in a simulated invasion, with the ship leading the Littoral Response Group (North) (LRG) into the Baltic Sea for Exercise Aurora.

NATO commented of the Aurora 23 defence exercise: "Exercise Aurora is a Swedish national exercise with international participants, including NATO members.

"The exercise is an important opportunity working towards collective security in the region which sees participants practicing against high intensity scenario replicating potential threats. The exercise will include fighter, transport and other support aircraft from Sweden, Finland, Poland, Portugal, the United States and the United Kingdom.

"Operating from bases in Sweden and around the Baltic Sea area missions flown throughout the exercise will train air defence, including both offensive and defensive air operations, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance operations as well as close air support and strike missions."
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A British expat accused of murdering his terminally-ill wife told a Cypriot court he ended her life after she cried and begged.

David Hunter took to the witness box to tell the Paphos District Court judge he felt helpless and hopeless during the last weeks of Janice Hunters life, adding: I didnt want to do it. I said no.

The 75-year-old retired miner said he eventually decided to grant his wifes wish after she became hysterical and unable to take care of herself.

Janice, 74, died of asphyxiation in December 2021 at the couples retirement home near the coastal resort town of Paphos.

The defendant, who held back tears as he gave evidence on Monday, said his wife, who had blood cancer, did not attempt to stop him as he put his hands over her mouth and nose.

He said: I just kept my hands there.

David and Janice Hunter lived in Paphos on the south coast of Cyprus (PA)

Hunter, from Ashington in Northumberland, described his marriage as perfect, adding: After 57 years together, I really didnt want to do it.

As he recounted Janices final few weeks through an interpreter, he said: She cried. She couldnt do nothing. She couldnt move.

She was sleeping in the leather chair downstairs and for the last week we slept down on those chairs together.

I felt so helpless and hopeless that I couldnt do anything for her.

For five or six weeks before she died she was asking me to help her. She was asking me more every day.

In the last week she was crying and begging me. Every day she asked me a bit more intensely to do it.

I felt so helpless and hopeless that I couldn't do anything for her David Hunter

The last week, she started crying. She started crying and begging me.

She said, I cant go on. This life isnt for me. We just go to the hospital and stay at home. I dont have any quality of life and Im totally bored of this. I cant go on.

She started becoming hysterical so I said, Yes, Ill help you.

I just told her that to calm her down.

Hunter continued to recall his wifes last few days, saying: She was crying, crying, crying. Begging, begging, begging.

His defence lawyer Ritsa Pekri asked: Could she take care of herself?

Hunter replied: No.

He added: She wasnt taking care of herself.

The last two or three days, she said she couldnt move her arms and had trouble with her legs. She couldnt balance.

Ms Pekri asked: Did she eat?

Hunter said: She was only eating soup. She couldnt hold anything down. She lost a lot of weight.

She lost so much weight that there was no flesh to put her injections in.

Hunter said Janice felt shame for around three years as she was forced to wear nappies  leaving her unable to move and stuck in the house.

Turning to the day his wife died, the defendant told the court: I dont remember a lot of the last day.

I went to make a cup of coffee and she started crying.

I remember that I had my hand on her mouth and nose.

I dont even know how I thought about it.

I dont know how long I kept my hands there for. She did not attempt to stop me.

In my statement I said that she was resisting but she wasnt.

She was moving her head. I dont even think she opened her eyes.

Hunter added: I would never have helped her end her life if she had not begged me.

The defendant told the court he tried to kill himself after his wifes death.

When the police arrived to quiz him after his suicide bid failed, he said he was interested in nothing.

In his cross-examination, state prosecutor Andreas Hadjikyrou said to the defendant: I put it to you that you had decided to kill her and there was no common consent and that you had to decide what day to kill her on.

Hunter replied: No. I never intended to kill her.

I had hoped for eight or nine days that she would get better, that she would change her mind.

She was lying down. She was in pain, suffering.

I would do anything to help her.

The last thing on my mind was to take her life. The last thing. Thats his (the prosecutors) idea, not mine.

The trial continues.
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Defence minister James Heappey has refused to give a lifeline to an Afghan war hero who served alongside British forces and is facing deportation to Rwanda.

The minister, who was questioned about the veterans case in the House of Commons, said that the former airman would not qualify in principle for the Ministry of Defences Afghan resettlement scheme.

The Afghan pilot flew combat missions against the Taliban, and came to the UK on a small boat after he says he was unable to find a safe and legal route to apply for asylum here.

The Independent is calling for the pilot to be given a safe haven in the UK, and has been supported in its campaign by a string of UK generals, the former head of the Royal Navy, former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, and music legend Sting.

James Heappey said that Afghan veterans would not qualify in principle for the Arap scheme (PA)

Several former Tory ministers have already said they are appalled by the treatment of the former airman, who risked his life in the name of duty and has left his family in hiding in Afghanistan while seeking safe refuge.

The veteran, who was described as a patriot to his nation by his coalition forces supervisor, wrote directly to Rishi Sunak to plead his case, but is yet to hear anything back.

He has applied for asylum in the UK, and has also applied to stay under the Arap (Afghan relocations and assistance policy) scheme, which is the dedicated resettlement scheme operated by the Ministry of Defence.

When asked about the pilots case on Monday, Mr Heappey said his department was looking at whether or not there are any special circumstances under which the application could be approved.

But he added that, in principle, as a member of the Afghan national security forces, rather than somebody who worked alongside the British armed forces, [the pilot] would not automatically be in scope.

Afghan pilot facing deportation to Rwanda is urging Rishi Sunak to let him stay in the UK (Supplied)

Mr Heappery said the government had received hundreds of thousands of applications for the Arap scheme  the vast majority of which were from people who had served in the Afghan national forces, for whom the scheme was never intended to help.

Whilst their effort was heroic, [that] was never who Arap was aimed at ... Now, their desperation to leave their country is understandable, but the Arap scheme was always what it was set up to be  the evacuation of those who served alongside British forces, he said.

It is estimated that between 75,000 and 150,000 applied for the scheme in August 2021, of which only 5 per cent received help, according to written evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Guidance on the governments website says that Arap is for Afghan citizens who worked for or with the UK government in Afghanistan in exposed or meaningful roles. However, The Independent understands that its remit is in fact far more narrow than this suggests.

The scheme is only accepting those who were directly employed by the British forces, or those who held a role that materially contributed to a specific British effort in Afghanistan.

Applicants must show that the UKs operations in Afghanistan would have been materially less efficient or materially less successful if a role of that nature had not been performed.

This specific role must also have resulted in a high and imminent risk of threat to your life, according to Arap rejection emails seen by The Independent.

Even Afghans who worked directly for the British army as part of its labour support unit, for instance those who worked as mechanics, have been repeatedly rejected from the resettlement scheme.

Musician Sting is the latest person to back The Independents campaign to grant the pilot asylum (AFP/Getty)

Members of the Afghan territorial force, nicknamed the 444s, have also been rejected, despite the force having been created, trained and funded by the British army.

The governments general Afghan resettlement scheme, run by the Home Office, cannot be applied to directly. Afghans have to be referred for resettlement in the UK by the UNHCR, and so far only 22 people have come to the UK under this scheme.

It is also impossible to apply to be referred if you are still in Afghanistan, and persecuted Afghans would have to travel to a neighbouring country  such as Pakistan  in order to seek help via the scheme.

Labour MP Alex Cunningham raised the pilots case, saying: Ministers will be aware of the series of articles in The Independent campaigning for asylum protection for veteran Afghan pilots and others who fought with the British forces in Afghanistan at great personal, mental and physical cost.

He asked Mr Heappey to confirm once and for all that these veterans would not be deported to Rwanda.

Labour MP Steve McCabe also challenged the Tory defence minister on the case, arguing that scandals like the pilot threatened with [being sent to] Rwanda could damage the reputation of the UKs armed forces.

Does the minister recognise that the shambles over our treatment of Afghan refugees is damaging the reputation of our military, with obvious implications for future operations? Mr McCabe asked.

Mr Heappey responded, saying that because the veteran was a member of the Afghan national security forces rather than the UK security forces, there was a limit to how much help the government could offer.

Sign The Independents petition calling for UK to support Afghan war heroes who served alongside Britain

The terms of Arap were, from the very beginning, about those who worked with the UK armed forces in direct support of our role in Afghanistan  not the entirety of the Afghan national security forces, he said.

Afghans now account for the largest cohort of small-boat migrants, according to Home Office figures, with more than 9,000 crossing the Channel in small boats last year.
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Ministers are facing the possibility of fresh industrial unrest, as teachers and senior doctors prepare to ballot for strike action and hundreds of nurses gather for the Royal College of Nursing annual congress.

It comes as RCN general secretary Pat Cullen called on Health Secretary Steve Barclay to restart pay negotiations with a proposed rise in double digits.

Members of RCN, one of the two unions to turn down the recent government pay offer to NHS staff, will gather in Brighton as the long-running dispute continues.

Union members will begin a new ballot for strike action on 23 May after the existing six-month mandate ran out at the start of the month.

But a Department of Health spokesperson said that the governments pay offer was fair and said that there were no plans to reopen negotiations on this deal.

Senior doctors and teachers unions were also being urged to think carefully before taking strike action, as they prepared to ballot.

Members of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and National Education Union (NEU) rejected the governments recent pay offer, with ballots for members to vote on industrial action opening on Monday.

The NEU said it will be re-balloting teacher members working in Englands state-funded schools, with the current mandate for industrial action ending on July 13.

The NAHT ballot will close on July 31, with education unions agreeing to co-ordinate strike action in the autumn term.

NEU joint secretaries Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney blamed a lack of engagement from the government for the decision, but said it was never too late for the Education Secretary to come to the negotiating table and make an improved offer.

NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said that the union had been left with no other choice but to seek this mandate for industrial action.

A Department for Education spokesperson said the move was bitterly disappointing.

Senior doctors in England also start voting on Monday on whether to strike in the continuing dispute over pay.

Dr Vishal Sharma, who chairs the BMA consultants committee, said talks had been held with the government to try to resolve the long-running row, but it remains deadlocked.

He said the union simply could not accept a deal that continued this downward trend and has been left with no option but to proceed today with the ballot for industrial action.

A Department of Health spokesperson said: We hugely value the work of NHS consultants and they received a 4.5 per cent pay uplift last financial year increasing average earnings to around 128,000.

They will also benefit from generous changes to pension taxation announced at budget and are eligible to apply for additional financial awards worth up to 40,000 a year as part of the NHS consultant contract.

We urge the BMA to carefully consider the likely impact of any action on patients.
 Close Piers Morgan says he refuses to take lectures on privacy from Prince Harry

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Former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan was told a story about Kylie Minogue and her boyfriend came from voicemails, the High Court has heard.

Finding Freedom author Omid Scobie gave evidence on the fourth day of Prince Harrys hearing against the Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) in the High Court in London.

In spring 2002, Mr Scobie did work experience at the Daily Mirror and allegedly overheard then-editor Mr Morgan being told that information relating to Kylie Minogue and her boyfriend had come from voicemails.

In a written submission, he said: Mr Morgan was asking how confident they were in the reporting and was told that the information had come from voicemails.

I recall being surprised to hear this at the time, which is why it stuck in my mind.

MGN - publisher of The Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People - is accused of unlawful information-gathering including voicemail interception, securing information through deception and hiring private investigators for unlawful activities.

The publisher is contesting the cases and has said there is no evidence, or no sufficient evidence, of voicemail interception in any of these four claims.
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Volodymyr Zelensky was greeted with a hug by Rishi Sunak after arriving in Britain to seek more support for his countrys war effort - as the UK vowed to provide Ukraine with air defence missiles and attack drones.

The Ukrainian president met his friend, the prime minister, as part of a trip around Europe pressing western allies for more military aid.

Mr Sunak welcomed Mr Zelensky to country retreat Chequers - the first time he has hosted a visiting leader at the Buckinghamshire mansion - before the two leaders held talks.

The two leaders had discussed western fighter jets, Mr Zelensky said, and he anticipated very important decisions to be made soon. It came as No 10 said Britain would send hundreds of air defence missiles and further unmanned aerial systems to the war-torn country.

Welcome back, the prime minister said in a post on Twitter, which included a photo of the two leaders in a warm embrace. Mr Zelensky, who has also held meetings in Paris, Berlin and Rome, had also visited the UK three months ago.

During the visit, Mr Sunak praised the Ukrainian leaders fortitude, drawing a comparison between Mr Zelensky and Sir Winston Churchill during World War Two.

He also said the UK would be sustaining our support for Ukraine .

This is a crucial moment in Ukraines resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke, he said.

They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year.

We must not let them down.

Following the pairs talks, Mr Sunak said the UK will be ready to help train Ukrainian pilots to use Western fighter jets "relatively soon".

He said the provision of warplanes was "not straightforward" but that Britain will play a "key part" in a coalition of countries giving that support to the war-torn nation.

"It is not a straightforward thing as Volodymyr and I have been discussing to build up that fighter combat aircraft capability, he said.

"It's not just the provision of planes its also the training of pilots and all the logistics that go alongside that and the UK can play a big part in that.

"One thing we will be doing starting actually relatively soon is training of Ukrainian pilots and that's something we've discussed today and we're ready to implement those plans in relatively short order."

Mr Zelensky said on Twitter that the UK is a leader when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air (Sky News)

Mr Zelensky, meanwhile, said the two countries were real partners, with Mr Sunak knowing details of developments on the battlefield.

We want to create this jets coalition and Im very positive with it, he said.

We spoke about it and I see that in the closest time you will hear some, I think very important decisions but we have to work a little bit more on it.

Mr Sunaks spokesman said there are "no plans" to supply Ukraine with the Typhoon or F-35 jets operated by the UK and said the Ukrainian government identified the more widely-used F-16 as its Western fighter plane of choice.

Mr Sunak confirmed the UK will provide hundreds of air defence missiles and further unmanned aircraft including hundreds of new long-range attack drones. The government said they will be delivered in the coming months as Ukraine prepares to step up its resistance to the ongoing Russian invasion.

Last week the UK confirmed it will supply Ukraine with the long-range Storm Shadow missiles it requested for its fight against invading Russian forces.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (left) and Volodymyr Zelensky during the Ukrainian Presidents last visit to the UK (Peter Nicholls/PA) (PA Wire)

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the weapons will give Ukraine the best chance of defending itself.

The Kremlin said Russia takes an "extremely negative" view of Britain's decision to supply long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles and other military hardware to Ukraine, but that it does not believe it will change the conflict's outcome.

The pair met in the Hawtrey Room, where Sir Winston made some of the radio addresses that helped keep up morale during the Second World War.

Mr Sunak said: You are actually the first foreign leader I have had the privilege of welcoming here as Prime Minister and theres a lot of great history here.

In fact, this room that we are standing in, Winston Churchill made many of his famous speeches in World War Two from this room.

And the same way today, your leadership, your countrys bravery and fortitude are an inspiration to us all.

The visit comes days after Liverpool hosted Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine.

Zelensky and the Pope shook hands at the Vatican at the weekend (AFP/Getty)

Mr Zelensky met Pope Francis in the Vatican last weekend, after Italy pledged its full support for Kyiv in its defence against the Russian invasion.

Earlier he met Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, who condemned Russias brutal and unjust aggression, pledged Italys support for Ukraine for as long as is necessary, and urged Russia to immediately withdraw.

And Mr Zelensky made his first visit to Germany since Russia invaded Ukraine - where he was met with military honours by chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Berlin announced 2.7bn (2.4bn) of military aid to Ukraine, its biggest such package yet, and pledged further support for Kyiv for as long as necessary.

The Ukrainian president and his team have been vigorously promoting Kyivs 10-point peace plan and urging world leaders to hold a Global Peace Summit based on the proposals.

It calls for restoring Ukraines territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of hostilities, and the restoration of Ukraines state borders. Mr Zelensky has repeatedly said the plan is not open to negotiations.

Mr Zelensky on Monday lauded "important and powerful" military aid from Britain, France and Germany, and said he was pleased with agreements reached during a tour of Europe.

"The priority (during our talks) was our counteroffensive actions, I am very pleased with the achievements and agreements," he said while visiting Mr Sunak.

After Moscow acknowledged on Friday that its forces had fallen back north of Ukraines battlefield city of Bakhmut, Britains Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Russian troops had likely withdrawn in bad order.

The MoD said Russias 72nd Separate Motor Rifle Brigade, established last Autumn, was dogged with allegations of poor morale and limited combat effectiveness and its deployment to Bakhmut reflected a severe shortage of credible combat units on Moscows part.

Mr Zelenskys visit comes after two of Vladimir Putins military commanders were killed in eastern Ukraine, Russias military said, as it warned of a renewed effort by Kyivs forces to break through in the frontline city of Bakhmut.
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Jacob Rees-Mogg has attacked the Governments decision to scale back post-Brexit plans to scrap EU laws as pathetically under-ambitious.

The former cabinet minister used a speech at the National Conservatism conference on Monday to criticise Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for breaking his promise to complete a bonfire of remaining EU-era laws by the end of the year.

The three-day gathering in London will also feature speakers including Home Secretary Suella Braverman, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, outspoken Conservative deputy chairman Lee Anderson and former Brexit negotiator Lord Frost.

The surrender to the blob risks exposing the Government to ridicule Jacob Rees-Mogg

Mr Rees-Mogg, whose speech was interrupted early on by a protester warning about fascism, said the Governments U-turn over scrapping EU laws was a defeat of ambition, prosperity and democracy.

Rishi Sunak made a specific promise to scrap thousands of EU laws, the Tory MP for North East Somerset said.

Hes broken that promise. This is very unfortunate as one of his virtues is his trustworthiness and the surrender to the blob risks exposing the Government to ridicule.

Brexit-backing Tory MPs were angered by a move to revoke around 600 retained EU laws, rather than the 4,000 pledged.

The Government had originally promised a sunset clause on all laws carried over from the trade bloc by the end of 2023 under its Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.

Mr Rees-Mogg said that while the Government needs to be more ambitious, it was essential to support it because the alternative is far worse.

The loyalist of former prime minister Boris Johnson also appeared to describe the introduction of voter ID as gerrymandering.

As a minister, Mr Rees-Mogg defended the introduction of voter IDs in Parliament.

He also railed against high taxes and the quango state, condemning the snooty House of Lords Appointments Committee for rejecting former Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre for a peerage.

On Monday afternoon, Ms Braverman will argue that there is no good reason the UK cannot train its own workforce of lorry drivers and fruit pickers, in a speech that will stress the need for overall immigration to the UK to come down.

Her speech, which will be seen as a warning to Cabinet colleagues against relaxing immigration visa rules in a bid to boost growth, comes as Mr Sunak grapples with signs of discontent and division with his partys ranks.

Ms Braverman will say: I voted and campaigned for Brexit because I wanted Britain to control migration. So that we all have a say on what works for our country.

High-skilled workers support economic growth. Fact.

But we need to get overall immigration numbers down. And we mustnt forget how to do things for ourselves.

There is no good reason why we cant train up enough HGV drivers, butchers or fruit pickers. Brexit enables us to build a high-skilled, high-wage economy that is less dependent on low-skilled foreign labour.

That was our 2019 manifesto pledge and what we must deliver.

Miriam Cates opened the conference with a call for families to be encouraged to have more children.

The MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, who is on the right of the Conservative Party, told the conference in Westminster that falling birth rates were the one overarching threat to British conservatism and indeed the whole of Western society.

She also claimed cultural Marxism was destroying our childrens souls.

There has been speculation of a split in Mr Sunaks Cabinet on immigration, with some members  including Chancellor Jeremy Hunt  more keen than others to stress the benefits of migration for economic growth.

It comes ahead of official figures released later in May that are expected to show net migration of between 650,000 and 997,000.

It comes as The Times newspaper reported that Education Secretary Gillian Keegan recently blocked proposals  backed by the Home Secretary  that would have reduced the time foreign students can remain here after finishing a course.

A Government source told the PA news agency that the Education Secretary and the Chancellor had been robust on the benefit of foreign students.

The conference comes only days after a similar gathering of Tory MPs and grassroots members in Bournemouth, and after a difficult set of local elections that saw the Conservatives lose nearly 1,000 councillors.

But Mr Sunak is planning his own charm offensive on Monday evening, with Tory MPs invited to a Downing Street reception that will see pies served from the PMs own North Yorkshire constituency.

Billed as an event to celebrate the coronation, it nonetheless comes amid calls from some Tory MPs for party unity ahead of an anticipated general election next year.
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Two teacher unions have opened new ballots for strike action after rejecting the governments recent pay offer.

Members of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and National Education Union (NEU) rejected the pay and working conditions offer and ballots for members to vote on industrial action opened on Monday.

The NEU said it will be re-balloting teacher members working in Englands state-funded schools, with the current mandate for industrial action ending on July 13.

The NAHT ballot will close on July 31, with education unions agreeing to co-ordinate strike action in the autumn term.

Members are being asked: Are you prepared to take part in industrial action consisting of a strike?

Ballot papers sent from the NEU will ask members: Are you prepared to take part in strike action in furtherance of this dispute?

The NEU ballot will run until July 28.

NEU joint secretaries Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney said: Due to the lack of engagement from the government, the NEU has been put in the position of re-balloting its members to continue the dispute, seeking a fully-funded pay offer which meets their expectations.

The pay and funding offer made by (Education Secretary) Gillian Keegan following six days of talks in March was simply not good enough, and teachers branded it an insult.

Our members rejected it by 98 per cent on a two-thirds turnout, a very clear message to the government that they must try far harder.

Indeed, with four education unions balloting members for strike action in the autumn term, this should be a wake-up call.

Our re-ballot would allow the NEU to co-ordinate action with other teacher unions in the autumn term if the government does not provide a settlement to the dispute.

It is never too late for the Education Secretary to come to the negotiating table and make an improved offer.

NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said: After our members overwhelmingly rejected the previous inadequate offer, which was not properly funded, we appealed to the government to get back round the table.

So far we have had no further meaningful talks and instead the government has dropped its offer of a 1,000 cost-of-living payment as an apparent punishment for not accepting its deal.

We have been left with no other choice but to seek this mandate for industrial action.

Nobody working in education wants to have to go on strike.

But it seems this is the only way to open the governments eyes to the mess our education system is in, and the recruitment and retention crisis fuelled by years of real-terms pay and funding cuts, unsustainable workload and high-stakes inspections which harm staff wellbeing.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: It is bitterly disappointing that unions continue to pursue strike action, despite having already cost children almost a week in school.

Whether it was delivering the 2bn funding uplift that unions asked for in the autumn or making a fair offer on pay, our priority has been finding a solution to end this dispute and the disruption children and families are facing as a result.

Just last week thousands of schools received significant additional funding, as part of the extra 2bn of investment we are providing both this year and next. As a result, school funding will be at its highest level in history next year, as measured by the IFS.
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Two of the creators of the children's television programme Fireman Sam have spoken out after Boris Johnson was pictured dressing up as the popular character.

Ian Frampton and John Walker, who produced and directed the original series, said the photos of the former prime minister were "a bitter pill for us".

The pair, who retired from directing in the 1990s, broke their silence to warn that Mr Johnson was "as far from the ethos of brave, selfless firemen serving the community as could be imagined".

Mr Johnson was pictured wearing the fireman outfit alongside his wife Carrie at the third birthday party of their son Wilf.

The photos were published on Ms Johnson's Instagram account before being picked up by newspapers, who gave them largely soft-focus write-ups.

"During all the years of his success, we have never commented publicly on his further adventures around the world," they said in a letter to the Sunday Times newspaper.

"However, pictures of Boris Johnson dressed in a Fireman Sam costume have prompted us to change this.

"For Johnson to benefit from these Twitter publicity photos, released by his wife, is a bitter pill for us. He is as far from the ethos of brave, selfless firemen serving the community as could be imagined."

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 / 50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 15 May 2023 Viewing assistant and History of Art student Emma Scarr Hall takes a closer look at @Pink Roses (1923) by Scottish Colourist artist Leslie Hunter which is estimated at 60,000-80,000 in the forthcoming Bonhams Scottish Art Sale in Edinburgh on Wednesday 17 May PA UK news in pictures 11 May 2023 Salisbury cathedral staff make final checks to artist Cornelia Parkers Magna Carta, a 13-metre-long embroidery installation depicting the Magna Carta Wikipedia pages, installed in the cathedral for the To Be Free exhibition, at Salisbury Cathedral in Wiltshire PA UK news in pictures 10 May 2023 A dog joins members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) on the picket line outside HMRC in East Kilbride during a strike in the long-running civil service dispute over pay, jobs and conditions PA UK news in pictures 9 May 2023 Two trains carrying 170 Eurovision song contest superfans arrive into Liverpool Lime Street train station PA UK news in pictures 8 May 2023 Britains Prince Louis eats toasted marshmallows as they take part in the Big Help Out, during a visit to the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough, England, AP UK news in pictures 6 May 2023 King Charles III and Queen Camilla can be seen on the Buckingham Palace balcony ahead of the flypast during the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla Getty UK news in pictures 5 May 2023 Britain's King Charles III leaves after speaking to well-wishers on The Mall near to Buckingham Palace in central London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 May 2023 A night time rehearsal in central London for the coronation of King Charles III PA UK news in pictures 2 May 2023 Teacher members of the National Education Union (NEU) at a rally in Westminster, London, as they stage walkouts across England in an ongoing dispute over pay PA UK news in pictures 1 May 2023 Former US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on the tarmac after disembarking "Trump Force One" at Aberdeen airport on the north-east coast of Scotland AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 April 2023 Handout photo issued by the Big Partnership of walkers at the start of The Kiltwalk 2023 from Glasgow Green. PA UK news in pictures 29 April 2023 Englands flanker Marlie Packer celebrates with the trophy and teammates after winning the Womens Six Nations Grand Slam at the end of the Six Nations international womens rugby union match between England and France at Twickenham in south-west London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 28 April 2023 Lucy Williams, from Aberfan, holds her son Daniel Williams, one, as he takes the handbag of the Princess of Wales, during her visit with her husband the Prince of Wales, to the Aberfan memorial garden, to pay their respects to those who lost their lives during the Aberfan disaster on October 21st 1966 PA UK news in pictures 27 April 2023 Teachers on the picket line outside Bristol Cathedral School, College Square, Bristol, as they take strike action in a dispute over pay PA UK news in pictures 26 April 2023 Protesters wait for the arrival of King Charles III and the Queen Consort for their visit to Liverpool Central Library PA UK news in pictures 25 April 2023 Wreaths are laid at the Cenotaph in central London, in commemoration for Anzac Day PA UK news in pictures 24 April 2023 Waves crash over Tynemouth pier on the North East coast of England PA UK news in pictures 23 April 2023 People cross the finish line at the 2023 London Marathon Getty UK news in pictures 22 April 2023 A Wrexham fan in a Deadpool costume ahead of the Vanarama National League match at The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham PA UK news in pictures 21 April 2023 A demonstrator wears a costume as people protest during the Extinction Rebellion's 'The Big One' event, in London, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 20 April 2023 The funeral cortege of Paul OGrady travels through the village of Aldington, Kent ahead of his funeral at St Rumwolds Church PA UK news in pictures 19 April 2023 Georgia Harrison, who was a victim of revenge porn, at a demonstration organised by Refuge outside the Houses of Parliament, calling for a violence against women and girls code of practice to be added to the Online safety bill PA UK news in pictures 18 April 2023 People walk at the Taihaku Cherry Tree Orchard at Alnwick Gardens in Alnwick, Northumberland Reuters UK news in pictures 17 April 2023 A pelican sits in St Jamess Park, London PA UK news in pictures 16 April 2023 People take part in the Nagar Kirtan procession through the city centre in Southampton, during Vaisakhi celebrations to mark the birth of the Khalsa and to celebrate the spring harvest and the solar new year PA UK news in pictures 15 April 2023 Former Chelsea players and fans show the Samaritans' 24-hour helpline number 116 123 on the back of their shirts during the launch of the TalkMoreThanFootball campaign from Three, during halftime of Chelsea v Brighton at Stamford Bridge, London PA UK news in pictures 14 April 2023 Protesters outside York Magistrates Court, where Patrick Thelwell is charged with threatening behaviour after eggs were thrown at King Charles III during his visit to York in November PA UK news in pictures 13 April 2023 British milliner Justin Smith, from J. Smith Esquire, with a crown he has created using 319 Scrabble tiles to mark Scrabble's 75th anniversary and King Charles III's coronation PA UK news in pictures 12 April 2023 US President Joe Biden delivers a speech on business development at Ulster University in Belfast AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 11 April 2023 People take part in a rally in Trafalgar Square in London, in support of striking NHS junior doctors, as the British Medical Association holds a 96-hour walkout in a dispute over pay PA UK news in pictures 10 April 2023 Masked people attack a police vehicle with petrol bombs in Derrys Creggan area on on 25th anniversary of Good Friday Agreement Getty UK news in pictures 9 April 2023 People taking part in the annual procession in Glasgow as part of the Sikh Vaisakhi celebration to celebrate the Birth of the Sikh Nation PA UK news in pictures 8 April 2023 Visitors dressed in costumes during the Star Wars Celebration at the ExCel London in east London PA UK news in pictures 7 April 2023 Lorries queue to enter the Port of Dover in Dover, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 6 April 2023 Seating being erected on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace, central London, ahead of King Charles IIIs Coronation. PA UK news in pictures 5 April 2023 Police officers stand guard outside the home of Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon in Glasgow, Scotland Getty UK news in pictures 4 April 2023 Workers protest outside Google London HQ over the treatment of staff facing redundancies PA UK news in pictures 3 April 2023 Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union on the picket line outside the Passport Office in east London, as more than 1,000 members of the PCS working in passport offices in England, Scotland and Wales begin a five week strike as part of the civil service dispute PA UK news in pictures 2 April 2023 Coaches wait to enter the Port of Dover in Kent after extra sailings were run overnight to try and clear the backlog which has left passengers stuck in Easter traffic for hours PA UK news in pictures 1 April 2023 Waves crash against the lighthouse in Seaham Harbour, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 31 March 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with Darlington Council leader Jonathan Dulston, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and Darlington MP Peter Gibson in Firth Moor during a visit to Darlington, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 30 March 2023 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and deputy leader Angela Rayner travel by train to the launch of the Labour Party's campaign for the May local elections in Swindon PA UK news in pictures 29 March 2023 Newborn Grevys zebra Lola, who was born during the early hours of March 17 to 12-year-old mum, Akuna, at West Midland Safari Park, Bewdley, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 28 March 2023 Drag Queen Dross poses during a media event launching the Eurovision EuroFestival programme, in Liverpool EPA UK news in pictures 27 March 2023 The new leader of the Scottish National Party and former Health Secretary Humza Yousaf speaks after he is announced at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland EPA UK news in pictures 26 March 2023 Caoimhe Dempsey throws her welly to the shore as Cambridge University board their boat prior to The Gemini Boat Race 2023 Getty UK news in pictures 24 March 2023 Brian Cox opens the London Stock Exchange to celebrate Succession Season 4, which premieres on streaming service NOW and Sky PA UK news in pictures 23 March 2023 The Milky Way core rises at 3am over Bamburgh Lighthouse in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 22 March 2023 Emergency teams attend the scene after a ship tipped over at the Leith dry dock in Edinburgh, Scotland Tomafc83 UK news in pictures 21 March 2023 Sir David Attenborough plants a tree, in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, for The Queen's Green Canopy in Richmond Park with school children from across London PA

Mr Johnson was forced out by his own party last year after a string of sleaze scandals battered his government.

The former prime minister reportedly his eyes on a return to front line politics, however.

Mr Frampton and Mr Walkers production company Bumper Films produced the television programmes original incarnation between 1987 and 1994.

The popular programme was re-launched in 2005, and the most recent 14th series aired in 2022.
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Boris Johnson scrapped a planned knighthood for Michael Gove after blaming him for blocking his return as prime minister last autumn, it has been reported.

Mr Johnson had planned to knight Mr Gove in recognition of his years of service in government since the Tories came to power in 2010.

The honour would have been considered a way of burying the hatchet after Mr Gove stood against his then-ally Mr Johnson in the 2016 Tory leadership contest.

His candidacy then prevented Mr Johnson from becoming prime minister in the wake of the Brexit referendum.

And in the most recent leadership election, Mr Gove is believed to have convinced Kemi Badenoch to back Rishi Sunak - effectively ending Mr Johnsons hopes of a return to No10.

A source told The Times newspaper that, as a result, Mr Johnson removed the housing secretary from his resignation honours list.

All outgoing prime ministers are entitled to nominate a "resignation honours" list bestowing knighthoods and other titles  and Mr Johnson's have been the subject of great speculation.

In March it was reported that the former PM had nominated his father Stanley Johnson for a knighthood  a move that was branded unwise by some fellow Tories, and "ridiculous" by Labour leader Keir Starmer.

And the ex Tory leader faced accusations of cronyism in 2020, after he nominated his brother Jo Johnson for a peerage.

Rishi Sunak, as the current prime minister, has the power to block any nominations in Mr Johnson's resignation list.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 / 50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 15 May 2023 Viewing assistant and History of Art student Emma Scarr Hall takes a closer look at @Pink Roses (1923) by Scottish Colourist artist Leslie Hunter which is estimated at 60,000-80,000 in the forthcoming Bonhams Scottish Art Sale in Edinburgh on Wednesday 17 May PA UK news in pictures 11 May 2023 Salisbury cathedral staff make final checks to artist Cornelia Parkers Magna Carta, a 13-metre-long embroidery installation depicting the Magna Carta Wikipedia pages, installed in the cathedral for the To Be Free exhibition, at Salisbury Cathedral in Wiltshire PA UK news in pictures 10 May 2023 A dog joins members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) on the picket line outside HMRC in East Kilbride during a strike in the long-running civil service dispute over pay, jobs and conditions PA UK news in pictures 9 May 2023 Two trains carrying 170 Eurovision song contest superfans arrive into Liverpool Lime Street train station PA UK news in pictures 8 May 2023 Britains Prince Louis eats toasted marshmallows as they take part in the Big Help Out, during a visit to the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough, England, AP UK news in pictures 6 May 2023 King Charles III and Queen Camilla can be seen on the Buckingham Palace balcony ahead of the flypast during the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla Getty UK news in pictures 5 May 2023 Britain's King Charles III leaves after speaking to well-wishers on The Mall near to Buckingham Palace in central London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 May 2023 A night time rehearsal in central London for the coronation of King Charles III PA UK news in pictures 2 May 2023 Teacher members of the National Education Union (NEU) at a rally in Westminster, London, as they stage walkouts across England in an ongoing dispute over pay PA UK news in pictures 1 May 2023 Former US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on the tarmac after disembarking "Trump Force One" at Aberdeen airport on the north-east coast of Scotland AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 April 2023 Handout photo issued by the Big Partnership of walkers at the start of The Kiltwalk 2023 from Glasgow Green. PA UK news in pictures 29 April 2023 Englands flanker Marlie Packer celebrates with the trophy and teammates after winning the Womens Six Nations Grand Slam at the end of the Six Nations international womens rugby union match between England and France at Twickenham in south-west London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 28 April 2023 Lucy Williams, from Aberfan, holds her son Daniel Williams, one, as he takes the handbag of the Princess of Wales, during her visit with her husband the Prince of Wales, to the Aberfan memorial garden, to pay their respects to those who lost their lives during the Aberfan disaster on October 21st 1966 PA UK news in pictures 27 April 2023 Teachers on the picket line outside Bristol Cathedral School, College Square, Bristol, as they take strike action in a dispute over pay PA UK news in pictures 26 April 2023 Protesters wait for the arrival of King Charles III and the Queen Consort for their visit to Liverpool Central Library PA UK news in pictures 25 April 2023 Wreaths are laid at the Cenotaph in central London, in commemoration for Anzac Day PA UK news in pictures 24 April 2023 Waves crash over Tynemouth pier on the North East coast of England PA UK news in pictures 23 April 2023 People cross the finish line at the 2023 London Marathon Getty UK news in pictures 22 April 2023 A Wrexham fan in a Deadpool costume ahead of the Vanarama National League match at The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham PA UK news in pictures 21 April 2023 A demonstrator wears a costume as people protest during the Extinction Rebellion's 'The Big One' event, in London, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 20 April 2023 The funeral cortege of Paul OGrady travels through the village of Aldington, Kent ahead of his funeral at St Rumwolds Church PA UK news in pictures 19 April 2023 Georgia Harrison, who was a victim of revenge porn, at a demonstration organised by Refuge outside the Houses of Parliament, calling for a violence against women and girls code of practice to be added to the Online safety bill PA UK news in pictures 18 April 2023 People walk at the Taihaku Cherry Tree Orchard at Alnwick Gardens in Alnwick, Northumberland Reuters UK news in pictures 17 April 2023 A pelican sits in St Jamess Park, London PA UK news in pictures 16 April 2023 People take part in the Nagar Kirtan procession through the city centre in Southampton, during Vaisakhi celebrations to mark the birth of the Khalsa and to celebrate the spring harvest and the solar new year PA UK news in pictures 15 April 2023 Former Chelsea players and fans show the Samaritans' 24-hour helpline number 116 123 on the back of their shirts during the launch of the TalkMoreThanFootball campaign from Three, during halftime of Chelsea v Brighton at Stamford Bridge, London PA UK news in pictures 14 April 2023 Protesters outside York Magistrates Court, where Patrick Thelwell is charged with threatening behaviour after eggs were thrown at King Charles III during his visit to York in November PA UK news in pictures 13 April 2023 British milliner Justin Smith, from J. Smith Esquire, with a crown he has created using 319 Scrabble tiles to mark Scrabble's 75th anniversary and King Charles III's coronation PA UK news in pictures 12 April 2023 US President Joe Biden delivers a speech on business development at Ulster University in Belfast AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 11 April 2023 People take part in a rally in Trafalgar Square in London, in support of striking NHS junior doctors, as the British Medical Association holds a 96-hour walkout in a dispute over pay PA UK news in pictures 10 April 2023 Masked people attack a police vehicle with petrol bombs in Derrys Creggan area on on 25th anniversary of Good Friday Agreement Getty UK news in pictures 9 April 2023 People taking part in the annual procession in Glasgow as part of the Sikh Vaisakhi celebration to celebrate the Birth of the Sikh Nation PA UK news in pictures 8 April 2023 Visitors dressed in costumes during the Star Wars Celebration at the ExCel London in east London PA UK news in pictures 7 April 2023 Lorries queue to enter the Port of Dover in Dover, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 6 April 2023 Seating being erected on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace, central London, ahead of King Charles IIIs Coronation. PA UK news in pictures 5 April 2023 Police officers stand guard outside the home of Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon in Glasgow, Scotland Getty UK news in pictures 4 April 2023 Workers protest outside Google London HQ over the treatment of staff facing redundancies PA UK news in pictures 3 April 2023 Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union on the picket line outside the Passport Office in east London, as more than 1,000 members of the PCS working in passport offices in England, Scotland and Wales begin a five week strike as part of the civil service dispute PA UK news in pictures 2 April 2023 Coaches wait to enter the Port of Dover in Kent after extra sailings were run overnight to try and clear the backlog which has left passengers stuck in Easter traffic for hours PA UK news in pictures 1 April 2023 Waves crash against the lighthouse in Seaham Harbour, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 31 March 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with Darlington Council leader Jonathan Dulston, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and Darlington MP Peter Gibson in Firth Moor during a visit to Darlington, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 30 March 2023 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and deputy leader Angela Rayner travel by train to the launch of the Labour Party's campaign for the May local elections in Swindon PA UK news in pictures 29 March 2023 Newborn Grevys zebra Lola, who was born during the early hours of March 17 to 12-year-old mum, Akuna, at West Midland Safari Park, Bewdley, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 28 March 2023 Drag Queen Dross poses during a media event launching the Eurovision EuroFestival programme, in Liverpool EPA UK news in pictures 27 March 2023 The new leader of the Scottish National Party and former Health Secretary Humza Yousaf speaks after he is announced at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland EPA UK news in pictures 26 March 2023 Caoimhe Dempsey throws her welly to the shore as Cambridge University board their boat prior to The Gemini Boat Race 2023 Getty UK news in pictures 24 March 2023 Brian Cox opens the London Stock Exchange to celebrate Succession Season 4, which premieres on streaming service NOW and Sky PA UK news in pictures 23 March 2023 The Milky Way core rises at 3am over Bamburgh Lighthouse in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 22 March 2023 Emergency teams attend the scene after a ship tipped over at the Leith dry dock in Edinburgh, Scotland Tomafc83 UK news in pictures 21 March 2023 Sir David Attenborough plants a tree, in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, for The Queen's Green Canopy in Richmond Park with school children from across London PA

The ex-Tory leader's final honours list is yet to materialise seven months on from his September 2022 resignation.

No list has emerged for Liz Truss either, amid debate about whether the short-lived PM should even get one given the limited nature of her tenure.

Mr Gove has not yet responded to a request for comment by The Independent.
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Watch as Liz Truss speaks at a democracy summit in Copenhagen on Monday 15 May.

The former prime minister delivered a talk alongside other political figures, including exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Volodymyr Zelensky, president of Ukraine, also spoke in a pre-recorded message to the summit early on Monday, ahead of his surprise visit to the UK to meet Rishi Sunak.

Following her speech in Denmark, Ms Truss is expected to visit Taiwan this week to give a speech billed as showing solidarity with the self-governed island in the face of increasingly aggressive behaviour from Beijing.

She is expected to urge the West to get real about military and defence cooperation to avoid conflict in the South China Sea, saying: We cannot pretend there can be meaningful deterrence without hard power.

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Keir Starmer last night issued fresh demands for a general election and said that tax levels for working people would be as low as possible under a Labour government.

The Labour leader criticised the lack of any meaningful growth for 13 years under the Tory party and said that people certainly cant afford for Rishi Sunak to cling on to power for as long as he cares to do so.

He told the Daily Mirror: Its not just the economy. The NHS is broken, the criminal justice system is broken. Theres almost nothing that isnt broken.

Labours huge poll lead has diminished slightly since the 25-year high seen during the collapse of Liz Trusss shortlived premiership, but Mr Starmer remains the bookmakers favourite to enter No 10, despite the next election not being expected until 2024.

Mr Starmer said he recognised a Labour government would inherit a very difficult set of circumstances if it gets into power, which makes it all the more important that we hit the ground running and restore the sense of hope that has been lost.

Asked whether he wanted to cut taxes for those on the lowest incomes, the Labour leader said: I want to keep the burden on working people as low as we can.

In a speech on Saturday, Mr Starmer claimed his project of reforming the party in the aftermath of the Corbyn era meant the next government would be New Labour on steroids.

Warning that Labour must change its entire culture, going even further than Tony Blairs symbolic rewriting of Clause Four in 1995 to abandon the partys longstanding commitment to public ownership, Sir Keir said he didnt care if people thought he was conservative.

Insisting that his party must understand precious parts of Britain's way of life, communities, and environment are worth preserving, he added: If that sounds conservative, then let me tell you: I dont care.

It comes as the Labour leader is also considering plans to allow millions of EU citizens to vote in general elections under a Labour government.
 Close Bravermans speech interrupted by protesters at National Conservatism conference

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Setting out her vision for conservatism at a right-wing conference in central London, Home Secretary Suella Braverman has warned the Conservative Party to stop infighting.

Amid reports of fresh rifts in the cabinet, Ms Braverman told the audience at the National Conservatism conference: One way that we Conservatives must distinguish ourselves from the Left is by not devouring ourselves through fratricide.

Ms Braverman, who unsuccessfully ran as Conservative Party leader last year, added that she was optimistic about the future of conservatism, our great nation and of Western civilisation.

Earlier, Downing Street was forced to deny a rift between Ms Braverman and Rishi Sunak amid reports she would push the PM to bring down overall migration.

Mr Sunaks official spokesman said: She continues to represent the UK government views on all issues relating to the Home Office, as you would expect.

Ms Braverman also attacked left-wing politics, saying it was making people feel terrible about our past.
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Home Secretary Suella Braverman was today heckled by protesters angry at her plans to curb illegal immigration by sending anyone who arrives on a small boat to Rwanda.

The outburst from social justice campaigners Extinction Rebellion came on day one of the first National Conservatism Conference in London. The fringe event brings together supporters and representatives of the harder right of the Conservative party. Ideas being discussed are largely pro-Brexit, anti-immigration and about defending cultural traditions.

In her short tenure as home secretary  once removed for breaching the ministerial code by sending official emails from a personal account  Ms Braverman has never been one to shy away from delivering a contentious line. In fact, she seems to enjoy provoking the ire of her political opponents when given a chance, once joking that annoying the Left would be her delight.

Heres a selection of some of her most controversial quotes:

Its not racist for anyone, ethnic minority or otherwise, to want to control our borders

Speaking at the National Conservatism Conference in London, Braverman aims to tackle criticisms that many of her policy aims as home secretary are racist.

She has also said we mustnt forget to do things for ourselves, in response to criticism that post-Brexit immigration laws continue to cause a worker shortage in the UK. She is outlining plans to train UK workers to fill the jobs of fruit pickers and lorry drivers, which have long been held by foreign workers.

The British people deserve to know which party is serious about stopping the invasion on our southern coast, and which party is not

Braverman said this in Commons at the end of October 2022 during a debate about asylum processing centres. She called illegal immigration to the UK an invasion, arguing that the opposition could not be trusted to combat the issue.

This choice of words provoked a lot of critcism across the political spectrum. Shortly afterwards she was confronted by 83-year-old Joan Salter, a Holocaust survivor and one of her constituents, who said Bravermans language reminded her of that used by the Nazis.

I would love to have a front page of The Telegraph with a plane taking off to Rwanda, thats my dream, its my obsession

Ms Braverman said this in response to an audience member on Question Time in October 2022. Her Rwanda policy of sending asylum seekers who arrive in the UK illegally has attracted much criticism from political opponents, international courts and human rights charities alike. They are concerned about deporting people to a country with a questionable human rights record and are angry that the plan will include modern slavery victims and children.

Benefits Street culture

This comment was made at a fringe event during 2017s Conservative conference when discussing how to get people off long-term benefits. We have got a lot of carrots to get people into work but we have got to add more conditionality and a bit more stick, she added.

Its the coalition of chaos, its The Guardian-reading, tofu-eating wokerati

This infamous quote came in October 2022 during a Commons debate about the governments Public Order Bill. Designed to expand police powers against protesters from groups such as Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion by making it easier for police to stop action, Ms Braverman implied that the real culprit in enabling their disruptive action, which has seen members glue themselves to paintings and roads, was the mysterious wokerati.

Focus on catching criminals not policing pronouns

In September 2022, Braverman took a break from immigration to briefly join in the transgender debate. The home secretary launched her criticism at Sussex Police after it referred to convicted paedophile Sally Ann Dixon, who committed her crimes as a man and later transitioned to a woman, as a woman.

Its not a secret society

This came from Ms Bravermans strained interview with Krishnan Guru-Murthy on Channel 4 before she became home secretary. She was being grilled on the membership of the European Research Group  a body of around 70-80 hardline Eurosceptic Tory MPs, of which Ms Braverman was a previous chair.
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Suella Braverman has set out her hardline vision for British Conservatism and railed against experts and elites amid claims of fresh government splits over immigration.

The home secretary issued a veiled warning to her party about infighting, after dire local election results which sparked calls for policy U-turns and another change in the leadership.

Rishi Sunak is battling Tory rebellions on several fronts, including the small boats bill, net immigration figures  expected to hit a record high  and the climbdown over a promise to repeal thousands of EU laws.

Dozens of right-wing Tories are preparing to rebel on watered-down plans to scrap all EU retained laws by the end of the year, with Jacob Rees-Mogg accusing Mr Sunak of surrendering to the blob.

Addressing a right-wing conference in Westminster on Monday, Ms Braverman said Conservatives had been most successful when united against evils like communism.

I do want to sound a note of caution, she told the National Conservative Conference. One way that we Conservatives must distinguish ourselves from the left is by not devouring ourselves through fratricide  it is incumbent on Conservatives to find a prudent balance, not pick a side and start shooting.

But Ms Braverman also risked stirring fresh rows inside her party with a tirade against multiculturalism, political correctness, transgender people and identity politics.

Ahead of official immigration figures released next week, predicted to show net migration at a record high of at least 700,000, she said the government needs to get overall immigration numbers down.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is believed to be stressing the benefits of legal migration amid continued skill shortages in some sectors, but Ms Braverman claimed there was no good reason why Britain could not train its own lorry drivers and fruit pickers to bring immigration down.

Ms Braverman told the audience that the nation must not forget how to do things for ourselves.

Suella Braverman speaking during the conference organised by a US think tank (PA)

But food industry groups told The Independent it was not possible for shortages to be plugged with British workers alone, despite high-profile campaigns to attract and retain domestic staff.

Defra ministers are reportedly pushing the Home Office to increase the number of temporary visas for agricultural workers from overseas.

Meanwhile, education secretary Gillian Keegan is thought to have pushed back against Home Office proposals to limit the time foreign students can stay in Britain after finishing their course.

Downing Street insisted Ms Bravermans immigration comments were in line with the governments approach, with the prime ministers official spokesperson saying: She continues to represent the UK government views on all issues relating to the Home Office.

But the home secretary strayed far outside her departments remit during her speech  saying Tories should be sceptical of self-appointed gurus, experts and elites who think they know best what is in the publics interest.

It was interrupted twice by Extinction Rebellion protesters, who also targeted Mr Rees-Moggs appearance earlier on Monday and said they wanted to appeal directly to conference attendees and the public on the warning signs of fascism.

Protester storms stage during Jacob Rees-Mogg's National Conservatism conference speech

Ms Braverman denied being racist and attacked left-wing politics, saying it was making people feel terrible about our past.

White people do not exist in a special state of sin or collective guilt  nobody should be blamed for things that happened before they were born, she added: The defining feature of this countrys relationship with slavery is not that we practised it, but that we led the way in abolishing it.

Ms Braverman also discussed transgender issues at several points, claiming that radical gender ideology is leading to the mutilation and abuse of our children.

[It is a] fact that 100 per cent of women do not have a penis, she added. It is absurd that we find ourselves in a situation where this is a remotely controversial statement.

After talking of her own parents arrival in Britain through legal and controlled migration, Ms Braverman said other immigrants need to learn English and understand British social norms and mores  which is not to say that they cannot enrich and add to our culture.

Mr Sunak is facing a rebellion by dozens of MPs on the Tory right when the EU Retained Law bill returns to the Commons, after the government dropped the sunset clause that would have automatically deleted thousands of Brussels legislation at the end of 2023.

Mr Rees-Mogg attacked the governments decision to scale back post-Brexit plans to scrap EU laws as pathetically under-ambitious in his own speech to the right-wing conference.

Labour called the event a carnival of conspiracy theory and self-pity, with Keir Starmer telling his own MPs on Monday that the Tories were holding mad hatters tea parties at which they blamed everyone but themselves.
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Watch Ben Wallace face questions in parliament on Monday 15 May, following Volodymyr Zelenskys visit to the UK earlier in the morning.

The president of Ukraine was greeted with a hug by Rishi Sunak after arriving in Britain, where he is seeking more support for his countrys war effort.

Mr Sunak welcomed Mr Zelensky to his country retreat Chequers - the first time the prime minister has hosted a visiting leader at the Buckinghamshire mansion - before the two leaders held talks.

They discussed western fighter jets, Mr Zelensky said, as he anticipated very important decisions to be made soon.

Today we spoke about the jets. A very important topic for us because we cant control the sky, he explained.

We want to create this jets coalition and Im very positive with it. We spoke about it and I see that in the closest time, you will hear some, I think very important decisions but we have to work a little bit more on it.

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Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Rishi Sunak to help him to create a jets coalition to supply Western warplanes for Ukraines fight against the Russian invasion, after dropping his plea for British fighter planes.

No 10 pledged to work with other Western allies on securing the planes the Ukrainian president wants, and announced a new flying school to help train his countrys pilots in Britain  but made clear that the UK has no plans to supply British jets to Ukraine.

When Mr Zelensky visited parliament in February, he pleaded with the UK and other nations for jets  presenting Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle with a pilots helmet as he called for wings for freedom.

But after talks between Mr Sunak and Mr Zelensky, it emerged that Ukraine has opted to seek the American F-16 jets used by many Nato members  but not the UK  as it tries to shift away from Soviet-era planes towards modern military equipment.

The Ukrainian government has made the decision to train their pilots on F-16 jets; thats a decision for them, said Mr Sunaks spokesperson. I believe they are in discussions with other countries who use those jets, and we are working with those countries.

Following two hours of negotiations with the PM at Chequers, Mr Zelensky said: We want to create this jets coalition, and Im very positive with it. We spoke about it, and I see that in the closest time, you will hear some, I think, very important decisions  but we have to work a little bit more on it.

No 10 said that training for Ukrainian pilots in skills they can apply to different kinds of aircraft would begin this summer, alongside British diplomatic efforts to work with other countries on providing F-16s.

In addition, the UK will provide Ukraine with hundreds of air defence missiles and further unmanned aerial systems, also known as drones, Downing Street announced.

Mr Sunak said after the meeting that the UK would remain a key part of the coalition of countries that provides arms to Ukraine, but made clear that there was little prospect of British jets being supplied.

It is not a straightforward thing, as Volodymyr and I have been discussing, to build up that fighter combat aircraft capability, said the PM. Its not just the provision of planes, it is also the training of pilots and all the logistics that go alongside that, and the UK can play a big part in that.

Rishi Sunak with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky at Chequers (PA)

The Sunak government was under pressure from supporters of Mr Zelensky  including former prime minister Boris Johnson  to hand over British Typhoon jets. But government and military officials have questioned how suitable these aircraft would be, given the length of training required to fly them and the logistical support needed on the ground.

Last week, the UK confirmed it would supply Ukraine with the long-range Storm Shadow missiles Kyiv has requested for its fight against the invading Russian forces.

Mr Zelenskys visit, which comes days after Liverpool hosted the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine, began with Mr Sunak greeting Mr Zelensky with a hug after he landed in the grounds of the prime ministers country residence just after 9.15am.

Ahead of talks in the Hawtrey Room, where Winston Churchill made some of his most famous speeches, Mr Sunak compared the Ukrainian president to Britains Second World War leader. In the same way today, your leadership, your countrys bravery and fortitude are an inspiration to us all, he said.

Rishi Sunak speaks with Volodymyr Zelensky at Chequers (PA)

At the start of the meeting, Mr Zelensky thanked the UK government, the King and the British people for their support. We are thankful from all our hearts... from Ukrainians, from our soldiers, we are thankful, he said.

The Kremlin criticised the latest announcement of military aid for Ukraine, but claimed that the weapons would make little difference on the battlefield.

Britain aspires to be at the forefront among countries that continue to pump weapons into Ukraine, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said  but he dismissed the idea that it would yield any drastic and fundamental influence.

The Russian embassy in the UK claimed that the long-range weapons would be used to sow death, destruction and terror among the civilian population in areas of Ukraine under the Kremlins control.

No 10 said the PM would use his meetings with world leaders at the Council of Europe and G7 summits next week to stress the importance of sustaining global support for Ukraine.

Recommended Fireman Sam creators blast Boris Johnson after he dresses up as beloved TV character

Mr Sunak said it was a crucial moment and that Ukraine needs the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks.

He added: We must not let them down ... And this message of solidarity will ring loud in all my meetings with fellow world leaders in the days ahead.

Germany announced around 2.4bn of military aid to Ukraine on Sunday, its biggest such package yet, and pledged further support for Kyiv for as long as necessary, after Mr Zelensky made his first visit to the country since Russias invasion.
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Suella Braverman will argue that there is no good reason the UK cannot train its own workforce of lorry drivers and fruit pickers, in a speech that will stress the need for overall immigration to the UK to come down.

The Home Secretary will be among the star turns at the National Conservatism Conference later on Monday, which comes only days after a similar gathering of Tory MPs and grassroots members in Bournemouth.

Her speech, which will be seen as a warning to Cabinet colleagues against relaxing immigration visa rules in a bid to boost growth, comes as Rishi Sunak grapples with signs of discontent and division with his partys ranks.

Ms Braverman will say: I voted and campaigned for Brexit because I wanted Britain to control migration. So that we all have a say on what works for our country.

High-skilled workers support economic growth. Fact.

But we need to get overall immigration numbers down. And we mustnt forget how to do things for ourselves.

There is no good reason why we cant train up enough HGV drivers, butchers or fruit pickers. Brexit enables us to build a high-skilled, high wage economy that is less dependent on low-skilled foreign labour.

That was our 2019 manifesto pledge and what we must deliver.

Elsewhere, MPs Danny Kruger and Miriam Cates, both on the right of the Conservatives, are expected to urge Mr Sunak to focus on key topics such as lower immigration, tougher sentences and family values.

The Times reports that Mr Kruger will call on his party to strengthen its base among working class voters in the north and not retreat to the south east, to the managerial class, to the affluent.

There has been speculation of a split in Mr Sunaks Cabinet on immigration, with some members  including Chancellor Jeremy Hunt  more keen than others to stress the benefits of migration for economic growth.

It comes ahead of official figures released later in May that are expected to show net migration of between 650,000 and 997,000.

Energy Secretary Grant Shapps did not express concern about high levels of immigration during an appearance on Sky News on Sunday, instead stressing the importance of post-Brexit control of the UKs borders.

We have a Migration Advisory Committee that says that theres a shortage in this area, or that area.

One of the advantages now with Brexit is we have control over our own policies. So we can say, we want people to help with a specific sector.

We should always make sure that we only have people come here that our rules and our policy bring here, he said.

It comes as The Times newspaper reported that Education Secretary Gillian Keegan recently blocked proposals  backed by the Home Secretary  that would have reduced the time foreign students can remain here after finishing a course.

A Government source told the PA news agency that the Education Secretary and the Chancellor had been robust on the benefit of foreign students.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, outspoken Conservative deputy chairman Lee Anderson, Johnson loyalist Jacob Rees-Mogg and former Brexit negotiator Lord Frost, will also be attending the three-day National Conservatism Conference.

Both events come in the wake of a difficult set of local elections that saw the Conservatives lose nearly 1,000 councillors, while the Government also sparked a row with Brexiteers over the ditching of the promise to complete a post-Brexit bonfire of remaining EU-era laws by the end of the year.

But Mr Sunak is planning his own charm offensive on Monday evening, with Tory MPs invited to a Downing Street reception that will see pies served from the PMs own North Yorkshire constituency.

Billed as an event to celebrate the coronation, it nonetheless comes amid calls from some Tory MPs for party unity ahead of an anticipated general election next year.

Mr Shapps, on Sunday, played down the idea of splits within the party, as he instead argued the conferences and gatherings were a sign of the Tories buzzing with ideas.

Ipswich MP Tom Hunt also told BBC Radio 4s Westminster Hour that his party was OK.

The atmosphere of the Conservative parliamentary party is OK, there is no clamour to bring Boris Johnson back, he said.
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Kemi Badenoch is flying to Switzerland for talks aimed at modernising the UKs trade agreement with the country as the Government continues its attempts to forge post-Brexit economic ties outside the EU.

The Trade Secretary will meet her counterpart, Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, in the capital Bern to discuss what a services-based deal might look like.

The UK Government hopes to update its current agreement, which is effectively a rollover deal from when Britain was an EU member, to make it easier to export services  financial, legal and architectural, among others.

Most of Britains services exports to Switzerland are delivered electronically but the existing deal was signed in 1972, before the advent of the internet, and does not cover investment, digital or data, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) said.

Ms Badenoch said: As two of the worlds leading service economies, theres a huge prize on offer to both the UK and Switzerland by updating our trading relationship to reflect the strength of our companies working in areas ranging from finance and legal, to accountancy and architecture.

The UK and Switzerland are natural trading partners and todays launch will play to our strengths as services superpowers, while also boosting investment in emerging technologies, data innovation, and digital trade.

A scoping assessment, which will give more detail on specific trade opportunities to be focused on, is due to be given later.

During her visit, Ms Badenoch will go to the SIX Swiss Exchange, Europes third biggest stock exchange, and meet female business leaders at Advance, a network of around 140 Swiss companies committed to increasing the number of women in management positions in the country.

The DBT hopes the new deal could lower tariffs on UK exports to Switzerland, which it says could reduce annual duties for British businesses by around 7.4 million.

It comes after Britains accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a major Indo-Pacific trade bloc, earlier in the year.

That represented the UKs biggest trade deal since leaving the EU, cutting tariffs for British exporters to a group of nations which  with Britains accession  has a total gross domestic product (GDP) of 11 trillion.

However, critics have said the impact will be limited, with official estimates suggesting it will add just 1.8 billion a year to the economy after 10 years, representing less than 1% of UK GDP.
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Boston residents living just two miles apart have a 23-year life expectancy gap, according to a new study.

Inhabitants of the affluent Back Bay inner city neighbourhood live to nearly 92 on average, while those living in Roxbury have an average life expectancy of under 69 years, the Boston Health Commission study found.

The massive disparity in life spans was really disturbing, Boston Public Health Commission executive director Dr Bisola Ojikutu told WBUR.

So much work has gone into improving life expectancy for individuals. It feels discouraging, Ms Ojikutu said.

The demographics of the two neighbourhoods also showed stark differences in wealth, education, home ownership levels and race, according to US Census data.

The medium household income in Back Bay is $141,000, compared to just over $42,000 in Roxbury, WBUR reported.

There are more than double the number of homeowners in Back Bay, compared to Roxbury. And nine in 10 Roxbury residents have a college degree, compared to just four in 10 in Roxbury.

The public health study, conducted using Census data, found the average life expectancy for Bostonians fell by 2.4 years due to Covid-19.

Boston with the Back Bay skyline in the background. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The pandemic had exacerbated racial and ethnic health inequities it found, with Latino residents seeing their life expectancy decline by four years, and Black and Asian residents by three years. White residents experienced a one-year decline.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said in a statement her administration had a lot of work to do to address health gaps in the city.

Public health researchers say the gap in life expectancy in the two Boston neighborhoods has decreased since 2007, when it stood at 33 years.

According to December data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, life expectancy rates across the United States fell to 76.4 in 2021, the lowest its been for nearly two decades.

Back Bay, on the south bank of the Charles River, is home to several of Bostons most significant cultural and historical buildings, including the Trinity Church, Boston Public Library and the John Hancock Tower, the citys tallest skyscraper.

Roxbury, two miles south, has several famous attractions including the Boston Childrens Museum and the Franklin Park Zoo.
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Barry Morphew has claimed that his wife Suzanne made some bad decisions prior to her sudden disappearance but insisted that they had a wonderful marriage as he spoke out three years on from the day that she was last seen alive.

Mr Morphew and the couples adult daughters Mallory and Macy Morphew spoke to ABCs Good Morning America on what marks the third anniversary of Suzannes disappearance on Mothers Day 2020.

Clutching his daughters hands, he continued to profess his innocence of any involvement in what happened to his wife and claimed that his life had been ruined by the murder charges which were brought against him  and then later dropped.

He denied that there were any issues in their marriage and claimed that trouble with the chemotherapy and the drugs led his wife to make bad decisions.

We had a wonderful life, a wonderful marriage. She was just so loving and giving, and such a good mother, he said.

I know that she was going through chemotherapy for the last couple years before her disappearance. I know she was going through some hard things and made some bad decisions.

When asked what he meant by that, he added: She was really having trouble with the chemotherapy and the drugs.

Despite his claims of a happy marriage, Suzanne allegedly had been having an affair with an old friend at the time of her disappearance.

Texts messages also revealed that she had told her husband she wanted a divorce just four days before she was last seen alive, according to court documents.

Done, lets handle this civilly, she wrote.

She also referred to her husband as Jekyl and Hyde in messages to a friend and had been recording the couples arguments and his alleged abuse with a recording pen and in written notes on her phone, prosecutors said.

When asked about the affair, Mr Morphew told GMA that his heart was broken when he learned about it.

My heart was broke. My heart was broken. I didnt believe it, he sobbed.

The mother-of-two vanished without a trace after she reportedly left the home she shared with her husband in Chaffee County, Colorado, to go on a bike ride.

Mr Morphew told police he left his wife at their home early that morning to travel to a construction job in Denver.

Macy, Barry and Mallory Morphew speak on the third anniversary of Suzannes disappearance (ABC)

She was reported missing by a neighbour when the couples two daughters were unable to get in contact with her while they were on an out-of-state trip. Her bike was found on a trail close to their home.

Extensive searches have been carried out at various locations including land around the Morphews home and on a plot of land previously owned by Mr Morphew, but her body has never been found.

The 49-year-old has never been seen or heard from since and she is presumed dead.

In May 2021  almost exactly one year to the day after his wifes disappearance  Mr Morphew was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, tampering with a human body, tampering with physical evidence, possession of a dangerous weapon and attempting to influence a public servant.

He denied the allegations and the couples daughters stuck by their father.

But, in a dramatic twist, prosecutors dropped all charges against him just days before his murder trial was about to start in April 2022.

The charges were dismissed without prejudice which means that they can be refiled at a later date.

At the time, prosecutors said that investigators believed they were close to finding Suzannes body and said that they were not ruling out Mr Morphew as a suspect.

Mr Morphew is now suing prosecutors and law enforcement officials for $15m for allegedly violating his civil rights with his wrongful arrest and prosecution.

In the interview with GMA, Mr Morphew slammed authorities for having tunnel vision in the case and claimed that Colorado police have too much pride to admit that they were wrong in accusing him of Suzannes murder.

Suzanne Morphew has not been seen since Mothers Day 2020 (Denver7 - The Denver Channel)

Theyve got tunnel vision and they looked at one person and theyve got too much pride to say theyre wrong and look somewhere else, he said.

I dont have anything to worry about. Ive done nothing wrong.

When asked if he had anything to do with his wifes disappearance and presumed death, Mr Morphew insisted: Absolutely not. Its very hurtful to lose your reputation and your integrity.

His two daughters  who stood by him from the get-go  said they have never doubted their father.

Ive never had a shred of doubt, said Macy.

Not one, added Mallory.

The two daughters choked back tears as they spoke of the trauma of the past three years.

So traumatic. Literally our worst nightmare, said May.

The hardest part of the whole ordeal she said was: Just not having mom.
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Supporters of the former US Marine charged with manslaughter after holding Jordan Neely in a fatal chokehold on a Manhattan subway train have raised almost $2m to help pay for his legal fees.

Daniel Penny, 24, was arrested and arraigned on a second-degree manslaughter charge on Friday over the 1 May death of the homeless street performer, whose death sparked protests calling for justice across New York City.

Mr Penny, who faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted, didnt enter a plea and was released after posting $100,000 bail. He is scheduled to next appear in court on 17 July.

While many New Yorkers have condemned Mr Pennys actions and mental health advocates have argued against vigilante-style actions treating mentally ill people as though they are criminals, the former Marine has also received an outpouring of support from right-wing personalities arguing his actions were pro-public safety.

Now, a legal fund set up on the Christian fundraising site GiveSendGo by Mr Pennys attorneys at the firm Raiser and Kenniff has pulled in almost $2m in donations to help cover his legal costs, as of 15 May.

Funds are being raised to pay Mr Pennys legal fees incurred from any criminal charges filed and any future civil lawsuits that may arise, as well as expenses related to his defense. All contributions are greatly appreciated, the fundraiser states. Any proceeds collected which exceed those necessary to cover Mr Pennys legal defense will be donated to a mental health advocacy program in New York City.

The outpouring of generosity and support for Daniel Penny, is beyond anything we could have imagined, his lawyer Thomas Kenniff told Fox News Digital.

Daniel is incredibly grateful for the support of so many New Yorkers.

On 1 May, Mr Penny placed the 30-year-old man in a fatal chokehold for several minutes on an F train car that stopped at the Broadway-Lafayette platform in Manhattan. Witnesses have stated that Neely did not physically attack anyone before he was brought to the ground from behind.

Daniel Penny leaves Manhattan Criminal Court on Friday 12 May following his arraignment (AP)

Neely was reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis in the days leading up to his death and was known among social work teams involved in outreach to the citys homeless community.

When he walked into the train car, Neely complained of hunger and thirst, according to witnesses and journalist Juan Alberto Vazquez, who posted a video of part of the incident on his Facebook page.

Mr Vazquez said Neely threw his jacket to the floor of the train car before another passenger grabbed him from behind in a headlock. Others grabbed at his arms. The widely shared video footage shows Mr Penny and two other men holding Neely to the floor of a train car for several minutes, while Mr Penny grabs Neely in a chokehold.

Another passenger can be heard in the video telling the men that his wife was in the military and warning them that placing Neely in a chokehold could kill him.

You dont have to catch a murder charge, he said. You got a hell of a chokehold, man.

Neely passed out in the chokehold and was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The citys medical examiner determined his cause of death was homicide.

Mr Pennys attorneys at Raiser and Kenniff said in a statement before his arraignment that Mr Penny had stepped in to protect himself and his fellow New Yorkers and risked his own life and safety, for the good of his fellow passengers.

The unfortunate result was the unintended and unforeseen death of Mr Neely, they added.

Attorneys for Neelys family have criticised the statements from Mr Pennys legal team and disputed the way in which his death has been framed.

In the first paragraph he talks about how good he is and the next paragraph he talks about how bad Jordan was in an effort to convince us Jordans life was worthless, Neely family attorneys Donte Mills and Lennon Edwards said in a statement last week.

The truth is, he knew nothing about Jordans history when he intentionally wrapped his arms around Jordans neck, and squeezed and kept squeezing, they added.
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The grandparents of Joshua JJ Vallow sent a powerful message to his mother Lori Vallow after she was convicted of all charges in the murders of the seven-year-old boy, his sister Tylee Ryan, 16, and Chad Daybells first wife Tammy.

JJs grandparents Larry and Kay Woodcock choked up with emotion as they spoke to reporters outside Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on Friday after the verdict in the doomsday cult moms trial was read out.

My final message for Lori, said Mr Woodcock, before breaking into the song The partys over  a song that he and JJ used to sing together.

Turn out the lights, the partys over. They say that all good things must end, he sang.

He then paused and addressed Vallow, saying: Lori it ended.

JJs uncle Gerry Vallow also chimed in: They got the b**ch.

Mr Woodcock vowed that the conviction of the mother-of-three is not the end of this as the family would return to face her at her sentencing in around 90 days time.

They will also continue to fight for justice as Mr Daybell is due to stand trial over the three murders next year and Vallow is also awaiting trial for conspiracy to murder her fourth husband  JJs father  Charles Vallow in a separate trial in Arizona.

Guys we got two more trials, two more, he said.

The next trial is Chad. I look forward to being back in this courthouse again.

The Woodcocks have attended every day of the trial of the woman now convicted of their seven-year-old grandsons murder, listening to harrowing testimony of the little boys last hours alive and seeing graphic photos of his remains buried on Mr Daybells property.

Larry Woodcock hugs an attendee after the verdict was read (AP)

It was Larry and Kay who raised the alarm about JJ and Tylee back in September 2019 when the mother-of-three moved them from Arizona to Rexburg, Idaho, and they couldnt get in touch with their grandson.

Nine months later in June 2020, JJ and Tylees remains were found in shallow graves on Mr Daybells property.

After the trial stalled for almost three years in the courts, Vallow was finally held to account on Friday.

The jury took almost seven hours to find Vallow guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft over the deaths of Tylee and JJ.

She was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of Mr Daybells first wife Tammy, 49.

Dressed in a black suit, with her blonde hair down in waves around her shoulders, Vallow stood between her two attorneys as the verdict was read out.

She showed no reaction as she learned that the jury had returned a verdict of guilty on all charges.

Speaking outside court, Mr Woodcock moved between sorrow and relief as he paid tribute to the three victims and questioned how Vallow could ahve done what she did.

Speaking directly to his murdered grandson, he sobbed: JJ, I love you. Papa wishes you were here in other circumstances. Tylee, papa loves you.

Tammy, I never met you. Tammy you are part of our lives. I am sorry for what happened to you, my heart hurts for these three. This is what this has been all about from the very get go.

It started with two children missing. I stood up and I said where are the children, where are the children, where are the children? Give us back our children.

To Vallow, he questioned: Why Lori? Why Lori? Why? For power, sex and greed? For what? For what?

Mr Woodcock thanked all the jurors, meticulous prosecutors and all law enforcement officials who worked on the case.

I want to personally thank and I want to personally hug every one of those jurors, said Mr Woodcock.

What they want through what they saw is mindboggling. I hope that no one ever has to go through this. I hope that nobody ever has to see or hear the details of what hapened to JJ, to Tylee and to Tammy.

Choking back tears, he acknowledged that some of the images people have seen in this case... maybe some people will never unsee.

Ms Woodcock also praised the amazing law enforcement on the case and said that now they hope to be able to put JJ and Tylee to rest and do right by them.

Love always wins, she said.

Lori Vallow Daybell talks with her lawyers before the jurys verdict is read at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho (AP)

JJ and Tylee vanished without a trace back in September 2019, with their mother refusing to reveal their whereabouts to both authorities and the childrens desperate family members.

One month later, Tammy  an otherwise healthy 49-year-old  also died suddenly. Her death was initially ruled natural causes.

This bizarre spate of disappearances and death came just months after Vallows fourth husband Charles was shot dead by Vallows brother Alex Cox in Arizona in July 2019.

With Vallows children and both of their spouses then out of the way, she and Mr Daybell embarked on a new life together  flying to Hawaii to get married in a fairytale wedding on the beach.

But, with months passing since the last signs of life of Vallows children, concerns continued to grow, prompting authorities to exhume Tammys body. A subsequent autopsy revealed that she had died by asphyxiation.

In June 2020  nine months after they were last seen alive  Tylee and JJs remains were found buried on the grounds of Mr Daybells property in Rexburg, Idaho.

JJ, who had autism, had been smothered with a plastic bag taped over his face, his little body still dressed in a pair of red pyjamas. Tylees cause of death meanwhile has been impossible to establish as the teenagers dismembered, charred bones and body parts were found scattered in the ground on Mr Daybells pet cemetery.

Over six weeks, jurors in Ada County Court heard harrowing details about the doomsday moms path of deadly destruction and were shown graphic images of the murdered childrens remains.

The state called over 60 witnesses to lay out its case that Vallow was motivated by both her doomsday cult beliefs but also lust for Mr Daybell and financial greed when she conspired with him and her brother Cox to kill the three victims.

In a bombshell move  that may now have proven fatal  the defence shocked the court on Tuesday when Vallows attorneys announced that they would not present any defence case or call any witnesses, paving the way for closing arguments to begin earlier than anticipated.

During closing arguments on Thursday, prosecutors argued that Ms Vallow had been driven by money, power and sex to kill the three victims.

Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell met at a religious conference in October 2018 when they were both married and began an affair.

As their romance grew, so too did their cult beliefs and conspiracy to kill.

Jurors heard how the doomsday couple believed that they were on a religious mission to gather the 144,000 and that there was a rating system of light and dark for the spirits of the people around them.

In the weeks and months before the murders, Ms Vallow allegedly told friends that JJ and Tylee had become demons.

Prosecutors said that Ms Vallow used these beliefs to justify the murders of her children and love rival.

Tylee Ryan and Joshua JJ Vallow (Family handout)

The state argued that the murders were premeditated and planned  pointing to evidence including the stash of burner phones the three alleged accomplices had, Coxs practice at a shooting range prior to a botched attempt on Tammys life and a deliberate plan for Ms Vallow to be in Hawaii at the time of Tammys murder.

Days before each child was killed, Ms Vallow then allegedly altered their Social Security payments so that the money would be paid directly into her account.

Prosecutor Rob Wood told jurors that Ms Vallow was the ringleader of the murderous plot, and that she groomed and manipulated both Mr Daybell and Cox to commit the murders.

Ms Vallow was the one common thread tying all the suspects and killings together, he said.

Meanwhile, in the defences closing statement, Ms Vallows attorneys flipped the narrative, arguing that  instead of being the leader  Ms Vallow was the follower of her new lover Mr Daybell.

In what marked the first time Ms Vallow has turned on her lover in the almost three years for the case to go to trial, her attorney Jim Archibald sought to paint her as a hardworking good mom whose life suddenly unraveled when she met Mr Daybell.

One year after meeting Chad, four people are dead, said Mr Archibald.

Vallows alleged co-conspirators are yet to face justice over the killings.

Mr Daybell was due to stand trial with Vallow but the cases were severed weeks before her day in court.

He is now due to stand trial in 2024 over the three murders.

Meanwhile, the third person accused by state prosecutors as a co-conspirator in the case wont ever be have his day in court.

On 11 December 2019  hours after Tammys body was exhumed  Cox died suddenly at the age of 51. His death was also ruled natural causes, with indications of a blood clot wedged in the arteries of his lungs. However the overdose drug Narcan was also found in his system.

Vallows own legal troubles are also far from over as she is still facing trial in Arizona on charges of conspiring with Cox to murder Charles Vallow.
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The grieving families of two slain University of Idaho students accepted their posthumous degrees on Saturday.

Six months after best friends, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen, were killed in their sleep at their off-campus home in Moscow, their loved ones received the awards during two separate ceremonies.

Goncalves four siblings were received their sisters general studies diploma while Mogens parents were given her marketing degree.

Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chaplin, who were also killed in the 13 November attack, received certificates for semesters they had completed.

Kernodles family accepted her certificate in marketing at a private ceremony last week while Chapins award in sports, recreation and management will be mailed to his parents this week.

Former FBI director Louis Freeh, a speaker on Saturday, thanked the student community for their resilience in the months following the tragedy. Mr Freeh commended graduates for achieving their goals despite the challenges they faced.

The loss of Ethan, Xana, Kaylee and Maddie will remain in your hearts and minds for the rest of your journey. The strength and inspiration of their life accomplishments and their families devotion and courage is now an inseparable part of you as you go forward, Mr Freeh told the crowd, according to a report by CNN.

Addressing University of Idaho President Scott Green, Mr Freeh also said: I want to commend you and your colleagues for your extraordinary service to everyone in this room and beyond during an unprecedented period of time.

Youve gone through a fiscal crisis, a pandemic, and a horrific tragedy that could shatter any community but did not here, because of the strength and the work and the love that were shown to you by everybody, and helping one another.

During the emotional ceremony, the audience stood up and cheered as the Goncalves and Mogen families walked across the stage.

Kristi Goncalves, Kaylee Goncalves mother, subsequently posted a picture on Facebook of her daughters diploma and graduation stole.

Days before, Ms Goncalves had opened up about having to celebrate both her daughters achievements and Mothers Day on the same weekend.

Its still an out-of-body [experience], Ms Goncalves told Good Morning America. I never would have thought a year ago, or even six months ago, that there was going to be a reason that Kaylee wouldnt be able to accept her own degree. That she wouldnt be here.

She added: I think it shows respect for Kaylee and her hard work ... Its important for somebody to walk for her.

Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21 (Instagram)

Bryan Kohberger, a PhD student at neighbouring Washington State University, has been charged with the murders.

Mr Kohberger has not entered a plea but said earlier this year, via a public defender, that he was eager to be exonerated.

Goncalves father Steve Goncalves told ABC Newsthat he is looking forward to Mr Kohbergers next hearing on 26 June.

I cant wait to see the evidence. ... And then Im gonna bring it, Mr Goncalves said. And hes gonna realise that this ... is the family thats gonna make sure he doesnt get away with it.

Mr Kohberger, a former criminology student, has been linked to the crimes by DNA evidence, cellphone data and surveillance video of what prosecutors believe is his white Hyundai Elantra leaving the scene, according to the arrest affidavit.

Another roommate, who survived the attack, was also able to partially describe the killer to investigators after she came face-to-face with him. The murder weapon, a fixed-blade knife, was not recovered during searches and remains missing.

Two warrants obtained by The Independent show that investigators collected a Glock .40 calibre gun, empty gun magazines, a knife, a pocket knife, black face masks, black gloves, electronic devices, and clothing items from the home of Mr Kohbergers parents in Pennsylvania where he was arrested.

The family home was raided on 30 December, the same day that a search was also carried out at Mr Kohbergers apartment in Pullman, Washington a 15-minute drive from the crime scene in Moscow.

The Washington warrant revealed that investigators seized a collection of dark red spotting and a pillow with a reddish/brown stain at Mr Kohbergers apartment. At least two items seized from that search tested positive for blood.
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The Maricopa County Attorneys Office in Arizona has announced that in addition to pursuing charges against Lori Vallow over the murder of her fourth husband Charles Vallow, they also plan to prosecute her in the attempted murder of Brandon Boudreaux.

On Friday, Vallow was found guilty on all six charges at her trial for the murder of her children Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, and for her role in the conspiracy to murder her current husbands late wife Tammy Daybell.

In July 2019, two months before the murders of the children, Mr Vallow was shot dead by his wifes brother Alex Cox at their home in Chandler, Arizona. He claimed he shot his brother-in-law in self-defence.

The preponderance of evidence at Vallows trial in Boise, Idaho, suggests that his death was the first step in a wider plot by Vallow and her current husband Chad Daybell to rid their lives of obstacles as they termed their spouses and her children, as the court heard in text messages entered into evidence.

Mr Boudreaux was married to Vallows niece Melani Pawlowski (she remarried in November 2019 to Ian Pawlowski, who testified at Vallows trial). Melani was very close to Vallow and believed in many of the same bizarre doomsday prophecies espoused by her and Mr Daybell.

This ultimately ended her marriage to Mr Boudreaux with whom she shared custody of their five children. From evidence heard at Vallows trial it is apparent that he too was considered an obstacle and  in their beliefs  a dark spirit had possessed him.

Google location data showed Alex Cox travelling to and from Gilbert, Arizona, from Idaho in early October 2019. On 2 October an attempt was made on the life of Mr Boudreaux when he was shot at after returning home from the gym. He had earlier taken his older children to school and dropped the youngest off at Ms Pawlowskis home.

The shots were fired from the back window of a grey Jeep Wrangler that had had its back spare tire removed. Video footage from a storage facility in Idaho showed Mr Cox and Vallow placing the spare tyre in a storage facility the day before he drove south to Maricopa County and then taking it back out a few days later.

In a statement to Justin Lum of Fox 10 Phoenix, the Maricopa County Attorneys Office says it has reviewed submitted charges for matters involving Lori Vallow that occurred in Chandler, Arizona on 11 July 2019  Charles Vallows death  and Gilbert, Arizona on 2 October 2 2019  the attempt on Mr Boudreaxs life.

MCAO has made the state of Idaho aware of our intent to prosecute the defendant in Arizona for charges stemming from these submittals. After the defendant is sentenced and transferred to the Idaho Department of Corrections, at the request [of] MCAO, the extradition process will begin.

It continues: The extradition can take from several weeks to several months. Because this is a pending matter, this office will not provide any further comment, including any charging decisions made by this office.

Mr Boudreaux gave heartbreaking testimony at Vallows trial about the end of his marriage to Ms Pawlowski and broke down as he recalled having to be the person who identified JJ Vallows remains.

Questions linger over Ms Pawlowskis involvement in the attempt on her former husbands life. She was present in court in Boise for Vallows trial as her husband testified, but did not take the stand herself much to the surprise of those closely watching the case.

Other women  Zulena Pastenes and Melanie Gibb  who were close to Vallow and involved in the strange rituals she conducted as part of their shared beliefs about the second coming did testify.
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Lori Vallow was silent when authorities demanded to know where her missing children JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan were.

She wouldnt speak when their remains were found  Tylee hacked to pieces and burned, JJ still in his red pyjamas  in shallow graves on her new husband Chad Daybells property.

She refused to give any answers when confronted by her distraught surviving child, sister and other loved ones as they begged her to tell them the truth in heartbreaking jailhouse phone calls.

She even continued to stay quiet over the next three years as she was hit with new charges for the murders of her fourth husband Charles Vallow and Mr Daybells first wife Tammy Daybell, spent time in a psychiatric facility and had her case severed from her alleged co-conspirator.

And now, even as she stares down the prospect of spending the rest of her life behind bars, she is still silent.

This week, during her high-profile murder trial, the 49-year-old shocked the court when she not only declined to take the stand to testify in her own defence  but refused to entertain putting on any defence case at all.

In a final bid to save herself from life in prison, Vallows attorneys (in what many are mulling may have been a revolt against their client) turned on her lover, fellow cult member and alleged accomplice Mr Daybell in closing arguments  arguing that she was under his control but that she was not involved in any of the murders.

But it wasnt enough.

On Friday (12 May), Vallow was convicted of all charges.

The jury took less than seven hours to find her guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft over the deaths of Tylee and JJ. She was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of Mr Daybells first wife Tammy, 49.

Dressed in a black suit, with her blonde hair down in waves around her shoulders, Vallow once again said nothing as she learned that she would likely be spending the rest of her life behind bars.

But given her silence, its perhaps unsurprising.

Lori Vallow Daybell stands and listens as the jury's verdict is read (AP)

When jurors retired for deliberations, the only story they had about what happened to little JJ, 7, teenager Tylee, 16, and mother-of-five Tammy was the one laid out by the state of Idaho.

And it was a horrifying story at that  one involving a warped plot to kill off almost everyone around the doomsday cult couple.

Money, power, and sex  thats what this case is about, prosecutors said in both opening and closing statements.

Over 27 days of trial, prosecutors laid out their case that Vallow conspired with Mr Daybell and her brother Alex Cox to murder JJ, Tylee and Tammy  driven by her doomsday cult beliefs, her lust to be with Mr Daybell and greed.

The trio allegedly spent months orchestrating a plot whereby they justified their plans to kill by claiming that the victims were demons or dark spirits.

Then, after brutally murdering the two children and mother-of-five, Vallow looked her concerned family, friends and authorities in the eye, refusing to reveal where her son and daughter were.

Instead, she and Mr Daybell began a new life together, swanning off to Hawaii to get married in what appeared to be every inch the perfect fairytale romance.

This photo of Tylee Ryan and her brother Joshua JJ Vallow with their uncle Alex Cox was taken days before they were killed (Handout)

Doomsday cult beliefs

Over a dramatic month-long trial, jurors heard how bizarre cult beliefs lie at the centre of the case against Ms Vallow.

Jurors heard how the deadly saga began when Vallow  a member of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints  and Mr Daybell  an LDS member and self-published doomsday books author  embarked on a romance.

After speaking for some time, they eventually met in person at a religious conference in October 2018 while they were both married and prosecutors say their love affair, cult beliefs  and murderous plans  all grew from there.

Vallow and Mr Daybell believed that they were on a religious mission to gather the 144,000 and they believed in a rating system of light and dark for how they ranked the spirits of the people around them.

Over time, this evolved into the belief that some people  including the children  were zombies and the only way to get rid of the zombies was for the human body to be destroyed.

Prosecutors alleged that these beliefs were used to justify the murders of those around them.

In the weeks and months leading up to the murders, Vallow told friends that her children and fourth husband Charles Vallow had become demons or dark spirits  some of them bearing names.

In February 2019, Vallow allegedly told a friend that she believed Charles was possessed by demon called Ned Schneider and that he was already dead with the demon using his body as a host.

Two days before Charles was murdered, Vallow texted her niece Melani Boudreaux: They have an elaborate plan... This week will change everything.

Two days later, in July 2019, Cox shot Charles dead at Vallows home in Arizona in what was claimed to be self defence at the time. (Now, Vallow is facing murder charges in Arizona.)

Chad Daybell is set to face his own trial for the murders (Post Register)

Then, in September 2019, Vallow allegedly told another friend that JJ and Tylee had been taken over by dark spirits and that JJ would say things like I love Satan. Tylee was possessed by a demon named Hillary and had to be freed, Vallow told another friend.

Text messages between Vallow and Mr Daybell also reveal her complaining about being tired of taking care of demons while referring to her children.

We r both so tired of taking care of demons, she wrote in a bombshell text in August. We are weary. Please ask the Lord to take them.

Jurors also heard how the couple discussed inflicting pain on the children, giving them a reason to scream and also spoke about the so-called death percentages of Tylee and JJ.

In the defences closing statement, Vallows attorneys argued that Ms Vallow was only a follower of her new lover Mr Daybell and was under his control and the craziness of his cult beliefs.

Conspiracy and greed

Prosecutors alleged that  as well as the cult beliefs  greed also drove the three alleged accomplices to conspire to kill the victims.

And based on text messages, internet searches, financial records and witness testimony presented in court, the murders were months in the making.

Internet searches revealed that Vallow shopped for life insurance policies for her children in July 2019  two months before they were murdered.

That same month, her Gmail account also searched for how to sell a service dog  like the one JJ, who had autism, was using at the time.

In the months leading up to the murders, jurors heard that Vallow also made several suspicious changes to Social Security payments meant for Tylee and JJ.

It was a pattern where Vallow altered the payments to go directly to her and then the respective child wound up dead days later.

Even after the deaths of JJ and Tylee, prosecutors say Vallow continued to collect the Social Security payments.

Mr Daybell, meanwhile, also made a life insurance claim for Tammy just days after she died.

The doomsday couple was also planning for their new  spouse-less and child-less  life together in other ways, jurors heard.

In August 2019  while Tammy was still alive  Vallow searched for malachite wedding rings. She then bought a pair on 2 October 2019  days before Tammy was killed  and wedding photos show her and Mr Daybell wearing matching rings.

Chad and Tammy Daybell before her death in October 2019 (Facebook)

Brutal murders

The most harrowing and disturbing part of the trial came as jurors learned harrowing details of the childrens murders and saw graphic photos of the state of their remains.

Tylee was last seen alive on 8 September 2019 when she, JJ, Cox and Vallow went on a trip to Yellowstone National Park. A photo of the teenager at the park marks her last proof of life.

The next day, Mr Daybell sent a chilling text message to Tammy claiming he had shot a raccoon and buried it in the pet cemetery on the grounds of their property in Rexburg  the same location where Tylees remains would be found months later.

Days later on 22 September, JJ was last seen alive at his mothers apartment. A photo taken that night showed the little boy sitting on a sofa dressed in a matching set of red pyjamas.

Vallows former friend David Warwick testified that he saw JJ that night when he and his wife Melanie Gibb were staying with her for the weekend. The next morning, JJ was gone.

When he asked about the boys whereabouts, Vallow allegedly told him that JJ had an episode and knocked over a picture of Christ.

It wasnt until 9 June 2020 that the childrens remains were discovered on Mr Daybells property  JJs body buried in a shallow grave close to a tree and Tylees remains close to a fire pit in the pet cemetery.

Graphic photos revealed that JJ was still wearing his red pyjamas and a pull-up nighttime diaper.

His arms were wrapped in duct tape and his head was wrapped in plastic bags with thick layers of duct tape over his mouth.

Autopsy findings showed that the little boy had the date rape drug GHB in his system when he was smothered to death with the plastic bags. He also had scratch marks on his neck suggesting he was awake and fought for his life to get the bag off his head.

Jurors heard that Coxs fingerprints were found on the plastic bag.

Tylees body meanwhile was so badly burned that an autopsy to determine her cause of death was impossible with jurors hearing gruesome testimony of how search teams found pieces of bone, charred flesh, just globs of flesh belonging to the 16-year-old.

Investigators are seen digging up the bodies of JJ and Tylee in June 2020 (Post Register no sales no mags)

Before her remains were dispersed on the grounds, the killer or killers had brutally attempted to dismember her body with a pickaxe which was found at the Daybell home, with Tylees DNA found on both the pickaxe and on a shovel.

Despite the efforts to hack at the teenagers body, the killer did not appear to manage to dismember her and her burned body parts were scattered in the grounds.

While all horrifying, perhaps the most damning evidence tying Vallow alone to the murders was the discovery of a hair.

DNA analyst Keeley Coleman testified that a single hair had been found on the duct tape used to wrap the plastic bag around little JJs head. That hair belonged to Vallow.

Jurors heard that the chances of finding a match were one in 71 billion.

A search of Vallows home in November 2019  when the children were reported missing  also uncovered a trove of concerning items including several guns, ammunition, empty magazines, silencers, Army-grade knives and Hazmat-style suits. Meanwhile, JJs toys and prescription medication were found in black trash bags and Tylees in a storage unit.

Just one month after the children were last seen alive, Tammy was also murdered.

Jurors heard how the healthy 49-year-old died suddenly on 19 October 2019, with a chilling 911 call revealing Mr Daybell bluntly saying shes clearly dead. At the time, Mr Daybell declined an autopsy and her death was ruled natural causes.

Tammys sister Samantha Gwilliam told the court that she sensed things didnt add up as her sister was perfectly healthy when she saw her two weeks earlier.

Jurors also heard how 10 days before her death, Tammy had been shot at by a masked man on the driveway of her home.

Two separate witnesses had testified that Mr Daybell had a dream or vision that his wife would die before she turned 50.

When Tammys death was tied to the disappearance of the children, her body was exhumed and an autopsy revealed she died of asphyxiation.

Cox allegedly raised concerns about being made the fall guy for her death by the doomsday couple.

One day after he made that comment  on 11 December 2019  Cox also died suddenly at the age of 51. His death was also ruled natural causes, however the overdose drug Narcan was also found in his system.

Silence and secrecy

In the aftermath of the murders, Vallow showed no concern for her children and refused to reveal what had happened to them.

Despite repeatedly being confronted by family members and authorities, she made a series of lies about where they were.

In one instance, she allegedly told police that JJ had gone to see Frozen 2 with Ms Gibb and had asked her to take photos of random children to show to authorities.

In another instance, she allegedly threatened to kill another friend, cut her up and then bury her remains in a place nobody would ever find when she questioned her about the missing children.

Following the June 2020 discovery of the bodies, Vallow showed no signs of her surprise at their deaths.

Video shows the moment Lori Vallow was served with court documents over her missing kids (FOX 10/ screenshot)

Instead, in one jailhouse phone call with her sister, she appeared to confess that she was aware the children were dead all along.

In the 24 June 2020 call, a distraught Summer Shiflet accuses her sibling of throwing her murdered children away like garbage and questions how she could have gone to Hawaii and married Mr Daybell in a fairytale wedding on the beach knowing that her children were dead and buried in a pet cemetery.

You were dancing on a beach with a smile on your face taking wedding photos, she shouts.

At this point of the call  where she repeatedly dodges questions about what she knew  Vallow appears to unwittingly slip up.

Yeah, months later, she says of the gap between the deaths and her wedding.

In both this call and a distressing call with her eldest son Colby Ryan, Vallow continues to give no account as to what happened even in the face of confrontation from some of her closest family members.

While the remains of her children lay buried on Mr Daybells property, the couple headed to Hawaii where they got married on the beach on 5 November 2019.

They were still there two months later relaxing by a pool when Vallow was served with court papers demanding that she present her children to authorities.

Shocking video, taken in January 2020, captured the bikini-clad mother-of-three sunbathing by a pool with Mr Daybell in Hawaii when she was confronted about JJ and Tylees whereabouts.

There was no effort to argue against the official. No explanation for where the children might actually be. No concern for their safety.

Instead  true to form  Vallow simply asked: Do you need something from me?
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Lori Vallow appears to be softly smirking in her new mugshot, released after she was convicted of all charges at her dramatic murder trial.

The doomsday cult mom, 49, was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft over the deaths of her daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, and son JJ, seven, in Ada County Court in Boise, Idaho, on Friday.

She was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of Chad Daybells first wife Tammy Daybell, 49.

Vallow is now facing life in prison on the charges when she appears for her sentencing within 90 days time.

Separate from the Idaho trial, she is also awaiting trial in Arizona where she is accused of conspiring to murder her fourth husband Charles Vallow.

Prosecutors have since revealed that there are also pursuing charges against her there over a botched shooting attempt on her nieces ex-husband Brandon Boudreaux.

But, in a new mugshot released by Madison County Sheriffs Office on Monday, Vallow appeared to be unphased by her current situation as she stared dead ahead at the camera with what appeared to be a wry smile on her face.

Her expression is characteristic of the last three years as she showed no concern and offered no explanation for her murdered children who were killed and buried on her new lovers property.

She then showed no reaction when the jury returned its verdict in her murder trial on Friday, offering no glimpse of emotion and simply crossing her arms as she stared at the panel.

The twisted case involving murder, mysterious deaths and bizarre cult beliefs began in July 2019 when Vallows husband Charles was shot dead by her brother Alex Cox in Arizona.

Two months later in September 2019  after moving to Rexburg, Idaho to be with new lover Mr Daybell  JJ and Tylee vanished.

For months, Vallow refused to reveal their whereabouts to both authorities and the childrens desperate family members.

Lori Vallow in new mugshot (Madison County Sheriffs Office)

That October, Tammy  an otherwise healthy 49-year-old  also died suddenly. Her death was initially ruled natural causes.

With Vallows children and both of their spouses then out of the way, she and Mr Daybell embarked on a new life together  flying to Hawaii to get married in a fairytale wedding on the beach.

But, with months passing since the last signs of life of Vallows children, concerns continued to grow, prompting authorities to exhume Tammys body. A subsequent autopsy revealed that she had died of asphyxiation.

In June 2020  nine months after they were last seen alive  Tylee and JJs remains were found buried on the grounds of Mr Daybells property in Rexburg, Idaho.

JJ, who had autism, had been smothered with a plastic bag taped over his face, his little body still dressed in a pair of red pyjamas. Tylees cause of death meanwhile has been impossible to establish as the teenagers dismembered, charred bones and body parts were found scattered in the ground on Mr Daybells pet cemetery.

Jurors in Ada County Court in Boise, Idaho, took almost seven hours to find Vallow guilty on all charges over the three murders after a grueling six-week trial where the panel heard harrowing details about the doomsday moms path of deadly destruction and were shown graphic images of the murdered childrens remains.

The state called over 60 witnesses to lay out its case that Vallow was motivated by both her doomsday cult beliefs but also lust for Mr Daybell and financial greed when she conspired with him and her brother Cox to kill the three victims.

During closing arguments on Thursday, prosecutors argued that Ms Vallow had been driven by money, power and sex to kill the three victims.

Lori Vallow crosses arms after verdict is read iut (AP)

Jurors heard how the doomsday couple believed that they were on a religious mission to gather the 144,000 and that there was a rating system of light and dark for the spirits of the people around them.

In the weeks and months before the murders, Ms Vallow allegedly told friends that JJ and Tylee had become demons.

Prosecutors said that Ms Vallow used these beliefs to justify the murders of her children and love rival.

The murders were then premeditated and planned for months  with Ms Vallow altering her childrens Social Security payments to steal the money after they were killed.

Prosecutor Rob Wood told jurors that Ms Vallow was the ringleader of the murderous plot, and that she groomed and manipulated both Mr Daybell and Cox to commit the murders.

After sentencing, she will be extradited to Arizona to face charges there.

Vallows alleged co-conspirators meanwhile are yet to face justice over the killings.

Mr Daybell was due to stand trial with Vallow but the cases were severed weeks before her day in court.

He is now due to stand trial in 2024 over the three murders.

Meanwhile, the third person accused by state prosecutors as a co-conspirator in the case wont ever be have his day in court.

On 11 December 2019  hours after Tammys body was exhumed  Cox died suddenly at the age of 51. His death was also ruled natural causes, with indications of a blood clot wedged in the arteries of his lungs. However, the overdose drug Narcan was also found in his system.
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Convicted child killer Lori Vallow is expected to be extradited to Arizona following her sentencing for the murder of her two youngest children in Idaho.

Vallow, 49, was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft over the deaths of her daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, and son Joshua JJ Vallow, 7, in Ada County Court in Boise, Idaho, on Friday.

She was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of her doomsday preacher husband Chad Daybells first wife Tammy, 49.

Following the verdict, the Maricopa County Attorneys Office announced that they have submitted a request to extradite Vallow to Arizona, where she is facing charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of her previous husband Charles Vallow.

The MCAO said they expect the extradition to take place once Vallow is sentenced and transferred to the Idaho Department of Corrections.

The extradition can take from several weeks to several months, the office said in a statement. Because this is a pending matter, this office will not provide any further comment, including any charging decisions made by this office.

Dressed in a black suit, with her blonde hair down in waves around her shoulders, Vallow stood between her two attorneys as the verdict was read out.

She showed no reaction or glimmer of emotion as she learned that the jury had returned a verdict of guilty on all six charges  paving the way for a lifetime behind bars.

(Judge Steven Boyce/Youtube)

After the verdict was read out, JJs grandparents Larry and Kay Woodcock choked up with emotion as they spoke to reporters outside the courthouse and sent a powerful message to their grandsons killer.

My final message for Lori, said Mr Woodcock, before breaking into the song The partys over  a song that he and JJ used to sing together.

Turn out the lights, the partys over. They say that all good things must end, he sang.

Mr Woodcock vowed that the conviction of the mother-of-three is not the end of this as the family would return to face her at her sentencing in around 90 days time and that they will also continue to fight for justice in the upcoming Arizona trial.

The Woodcocks  who raised the alarm about the missing children back in 2019  attended every day of the trial of the woman now convicted of their seven-year-old grandsons murder, listening to harrowing testimony of the little boys last hours alive and seeing graphic photos of his remains buried on Mr Daybells property.

JJ and Tylee vanished without a trace back in September 2019, with their mother refusing to reveal their whereabouts to both authorities and the childrens desperate family members. One month later, Tammy  an otherwise healthy 49-year-old  also died suddenly. Her death was initially ruled natural causes.

This bizarre spate of disappearances and death came just months after Vallows fourth husband Charles Vallow was shot dead by Vallows brother Alex Cox in Arizona in July 2019. Cox, who died in 2019, claimed self-defence.

Tylee Ryan y Joshua JJ Vallow (Family handout)

With Vallows children and both of their spouses then out of the way, she and Mr Daybell embarked on a new life together  flying to Hawaii to get married in a fairytale wedding on the beach.

In June 2020  nine months after they were last seen alive  Tylee and JJs remains were found buried on the grounds of Mr Daybells property in Rexburg, Idaho.

In what marked the first time Ms Vallow has turned on her lover in the almost three years for the case to go to trial, her attorney Jim Archibald sought to paint her as a hardworking good mom whose life suddenly unraveLled when she met Mr Daybell.

One year after meeting Chad, four people are dead, said Mr Archibald.

The defence attorney argued that Ms Vallow was under the control of the doomsday author, under the spell of the craziness of his cult beliefs.

The defence attorney went on to blame the murders of Tylee and JJ squarely on Mr Daybell and Cox saying that there was no evidence placing Ms Vallow on the scene of the three murders or on Mr Daybells property when the children were buried there.

Ultimately, the panel of 12 jurors disagreed and found the evidence showed, beyond reasonable doubt, that Vallow murdered her children and conspired to murder her love rival.

Mr Daybell was due to stand trial with Vallow but the cases were severed weeks before her day in court.

He is now due to stand trial in 2024 over the three murders.
 Close Lori Vallow trial: Cult mom convicted of murders of children and Chad Daybells wife

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The lone holdout juror in Lori Vallows murder trial has revealed why he changed his mind to convict the mother last week.

Saul Hernandez sat down with Good Morning America on Tuesday, four days after Vallow was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy and grand theft over the deaths of her daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, son Joshua JJ Vallow, seven, and of conspiracy to murder Tammy Daybell, 49, her new husband Chad Daybells first wife, at Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho.

Mr Hernandez said when the jury began deliberating, he was the only one unconvinced that the prosecution had proved its case.

But over the course of just seven hours of deliberation, Mr Hernandez said it became clear to him that Vallow is guilty.

During the trial, he said he found it hard to look at Vallow as more and more gruelling evidence emerged.

Growing up, were taught good and bad, God and evil, and I think for the first time in my life, I put a face to evil, he said.

Mr Hernandez said he was disgusted by photos of Vallow and Mr Daybell smiling through their beach wedding just weeks after the kids were killed.
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Cult mom Lori Vallow has been convicted of murdering her two youngest children and conspiring to murder her new husband Chad Daybells first wife in a shocking doomsday plot that has horrified the nation for the last three years.

The 49-year-old mother-of-three was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft over the deaths of her daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, and son Joshua JJ Vallow, 7, in Ada County Court in Boise, Idaho, on Friday.

She was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of Mr Daybells first wife Tammy, 49.

Follow our live blog for all the latest updates on the Lori Vallow verdict

Dressed in a black suit, with her blonde hair down in waves around her shoulders, Vallow stood between her two attorneys as the verdict was read out.

She showed no reaction or glimmer of emotion as she learned that the jury had returned a verdict of guilty on all six charges  paving the way for a lifetime behind bars.

She will be sentenced in around 90 days time.

After the verdict was read out, JJs grandparents Larry and Kay Woodcock choked up with emotion as they spoke to reporters outside the courthouse and sent a powerful message to their grandsons killer.

My final message for Lori, said Mr Woodcock, before breaking into the song The partys over  a song that he and JJ used to sing together.

Turn out the lights, the partys over. They say that all good things must end, he sang.

He then paused and addressed Vallow, saying: Lori it ended.

JJs uncle Gerry Vallow also chimed in: They got the b**ch.

Lori Vallow Daybell smiles as she talks with her lawyers before the jurys verdict is read (AP)

Mr Woodcock vowed that the conviction of the mother-of-three is not the end of this as the family would return to face her at her sentencing in around 90 days time and that they will also continue to fight for justice as Mr Daybell is due to stand trial next year and Vallow is awaiting trial over Charles Vallows murder in Arizona.

The Woodcocks  who raised the alarm about the missing children back in 2019  have attended every day of the trial of the woman now convicted of their seven-year-old grandsons murder, listening to harrowing testimony of the little boys last hours alive and seeing graphic photos of his remains buried on Mr Daybells property.

Speaking directly to his murdered grandson, Mr Woodcock sobbed: JJ, I love you. Papa wishes you were here in other circumstances. Tylee, papa loves you.

Tammy, I never met you. Tammy you are part of our lives. I am sorry for what happened to you, my heart hurts for these three. This is what this has been all about from the very get go.

It started with two children missing. I stood up and I said where are the children, where are the children, where are the children? Give us back our children.

To Vallow, he questioned: Why Lori? Why Lori? Why? For power, sex and greed? For what? For what?

Mr Woodcock thanked all the jurors, meticulous prosecutors and all law enforcement officials who worked on the case as he acknowledged that some of the images people have seen in this case... maybe some people will never unsee.

Prosecutors also welcomed the verdict and vowed that they are committed to pursuing justice for Tylee Ryan, JJ Vallow and Tammy Daybell.

Lori Vallow Daybell stands and listens as the jury's verdict is read (AP)

We are very pleased with the jurys verdict, and we want to thank them, as well as the alternates, for their service over last six weeks during this trial, the statement read.

Given the pending case against the co-defendant, we are unable to conduct any additional interviews or discuss further details of this matter. We want to assure each of you that we remain committed to pursuing justice for Tylee Ryan, JJ Vallow and Tammy Daybell.

We also want to express sincere appreciation to the many members of law enforcement and the community who tirelessly worked together to hold Lori Vallow Daybell accountable.

JJ and Tylee vanished without a trace back in September 2019, with their mother refusing to reveal their whereabouts to both authorities and the childrens desperate family members.

One month later, Tammy  an otherwise healthy 49-year-old  also died suddenly. Her death was initially ruled natural causes.

This bizarre spate of disappearances and death came just months after Vallows fourth husband Charles Vallow was shot dead by Vallows brother Alex Cox in Arizona in July 2019.

With Vallows children and both of their spouses then out of the way, she and Mr Daybell embarked on a new life together  flying to Hawaii to get married in a fairytale wedding on the beach.

But, with months passing since the last signs of life of Vallows children, concerns continued to grow, prompting authorities to exhume Tammys body. A subsequent autopsy revealed that she had died by asphyxiation.

In June 2020  nine months after they were last seen alive  Tylee and JJs remains were found buried on the grounds of Mr Daybells property in Rexburg, Idaho.

JJ, who had autism, had been smothered with a plastic bag taped over his face, his little body still dressed in a pair of red pyjamas. Tylees cause of death meanwhile has been impossible to establish as the teenagers dismembered, charred bones and body parts were found scattered in the ground on Mr Daybells pet cemetery.

Larry Woodcock hugs an attendee after the verdict was read (AP)

Jurors in Ada County Court in Boise, Idaho, took almost seven hours to find Vallow guilty on all charges over the three murders after a grueling six-week trial where the panel heard harrowing details about the doomsday moms path of deadly destruction and were shown graphic images of the murdered childrens remains.

The state called over 60 witnesses to lay out its case that Vallow was motivated by both her doomsday cult beliefs but also lust for Mr Daybell and financial greed when she conspired with him and her brother Cox to kill the three victims.

In a bombshell move  that may now have proven fatal  the defence shocked the court on Tuesday when Vallows attorneys announced that they would not present any defence case or call any witnesses, paving the way for closing arguments to begin earlier than anticipated.

During closing arguments on Thursday, prosecutors argued that Ms Vallow had been driven by money, power and sex to kill the three victims.

Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell met at a religious conference in October 2018 when they were both married and began an affair.

As their romance grew, so too did their cult beliefs and conspiracy to kill.

Jurors heard how the doomsday couple believed that they were on a religious mission to gather the 144,000 and that there was a rating system of light and dark for the spirits of the people around them.

In the weeks and months before the murders, Ms Vallow allegedly told friends that JJ and Tylee had become demons.

Prosecutors said that Ms Vallow used these beliefs to justify the murders of her children and love rival.

The state argued that the murders were premeditated and planned  pointing to evidence including the stash of burner phones the three alleged accomplices had, Coxs practice at a shooting range prior to a botched attempt on Tammys life and a deliberate plan for Ms Vallow to be in Hawaii at the time of Tammys murder.

Days before each child was killed, Ms Vallow then allegedly altered their Social Security payments so that the money would be paid directly into her account.

Tylee Ryan and Joshua JJ Vallow (Family handout)

Prosecutor Rob Wood told jurors that Ms Vallow was the ringleader of the murderous plot, and that she groomed and manipulated both Mr Daybell and Cox to commit the murders.

They used religion as a tool to manipulate others. Lori manipulated Alex Cox through religion, he said.

She manipulated Chad through emotional and sexual control.

Ms Vallow was the one common thread tying all the suspects and killings together, he said.

Meanwhile, in the defences closing statement, Ms Vallows attorneys flipped the narrative, arguing that  instead of being the leader  Ms Vallow was the follower of her new lover Mr Daybell.

In what marked the first time Ms Vallow has turned on her lover in the almost three years for the case to go to trial, her attorney Jim Archibald sought to paint her as a hardworking good mom whose life suddenly unraveled when she met Mr Daybell.

One year after meeting Chad, four people are dead, said Mr Archibald.

The defence attorney argued that Ms Vallow was under the control of the doomsday author, under the spell of the craziness of his cult beliefs.

The defence attorney went on to blame the murders of Tylee and JJ squarely on Mr Daybell and Cox saying that there was no evidence placing Ms Vallow on the scene of the three murders or on Mr Daybells property when the children were buried there.

Ultimately, the panel of 12 jurors disagreed and found the evidence showed, beyond reasonable doubt, that Vallow murdered her children and conspired to murder her love rival.

Vallows alleged co-conspirators are yet to face justice over the killings.

Chad and Tammy Daybell before her death in October 2019 (Facebook)

Mr Daybell was due to stand trial with Vallow but the cases were severed weeks before her day in court.

He is now due to stand trial in 2024 over the three murders.

Meanwhile, the third person accused by state prosecutors as a co-conspirator in the case wont ever be have his day in court.

On 11 December 2019  hours after Tammys body was exhumed  Cox died suddenly at the age of 51. His death was also ruled natural causes, with indications of a blood clot wedged in the arteries of his lungs. However the overdose drug Narcan was also found in his system.

Vallows own legal troubles are also far from over as she is still facing trial in Arizona on charges of conspiring with Cox to murder Charles Vallow.
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A gunman shot dead three people before he was killed during a confrontation with police in Farmington, New Mexico, on Monday, authorities say.

Two police officers are in hospital after being wounded during the shootout, and there may be further civilian casualties, the Farmington Police Department said in a statement.

The identities and ages of the victims and the gunman, and the location of the shootings, have not yet been confirmed.

Police have asked the public to avoid the Dustin Avenue area between Ute Street and Apache Street as they continue to investigate.

The two officers, from the Farmington Police Department and New Mexico State Police, are in stable condition at the San Juan Regional Medical Center, police said.

Officers from the Farmington Police Department, San Juan County Sheriffs Office, and New Mexico State Police are investigating the active shooter incident.

Farmington Municipal Schools placed all of its students under preventative lockdowns at 11.15am after a request from police.

The lockdown was lifted at 1.05pm, the school district said in an update on Facebook.

A large police presence in Farmington, New Mexico, where at least four people, including a gunman, were killed on Monday (Twitter / Larry Jacquez)

At this time, the details we have are that multiple officers from the Farmington Police Department were involved in an officer involved shooting, Farmington Police Department said in a statement.

One suspect was confronted and killed on scene. The suspects identity is unknown and there are no other known threats at this time.

Two officers were shot, one from the Farmington Police Department and one from New Mexico State Police, both currently at San Juan Regional Medical Center being treated for their injuries and in stable condition.

There are multiple civilian victims with at least 3 deceased.

Police confirmed just before 2pm that they did not believe there was a second shooter and all lockdowns had been lifted.

Local resident Larry Jacquez posted a video to his Facebook page showing a large police presence on an unidentified Farmington street.

Unconfirmed reports from a 911 dispatch audio stated the shooting took place in front of a church and that at least 50 rounds were fired, according to a NewsNation reporter.

Farmington is a city of 46,000 residents about 150 miles northwest of Albuquerque.
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A former Navy officer has been accused of murdering his wife five months after her dismembered body was found near a hunting lodge in Georgia.

The remains of 40-year-old writer Mindi Mebane Kassotis were discovered by hunters at the Portal Hunting Club in Riceboro last December. The body, believed to have been placed at the scene a month before the gruesome discovery, has only now been positively identified with the help of genealogy DNA, according to authorities.

Kassotiss husband, Nicholas Kassotis, 40, was arrested on 12 May in connection with her death in Pennsylvania, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations said in a statement. He remains in custody at the Lancaster County Prison awaiting extradition to Georgia.

Mr Kassotis, an ex-Navy Judge Advocate Generals Corps (JAG) officer, faces charges of murder, aggravated assault, tampering with evidence, and removal of body parts from the scene of death.

The Kassotis had been married for six years and were living in Savannah at the time the crime is believed to have taken place.

Kassotis dismembered body was found on 2 December in a wooded area off Jones Road. More body parts were discovered within a three-mile radius of the hunting club. Near the area, investigators also found Kassotis clothing.

Her remains were identified on Thursday after her family provided samples that were then sent to an FBI-run lab that specialises in advanced DNA testing.

According to their 2016 wedding announcement, Kassotis was a Virginia Tech graduate while her husband had pursued law at Northeastern University and Georgetown University, PEOPLE reported.

A picture of murder victim Mindi Kassotic and the renndering made by a sketch artist before her body was identified (GBI)

Authorities have yet to establish a motive for the alleged murder.

Kassotis, a writer and business owner, was fondly remembered by family members and friends on social media.

She touched so many lives, a former classmate of Kassotis wrote on Facebook, according to PEOPLE. I hope she knew how many loved her and how many have missed her for so long. I also pray she didnt suffer. She was such a special person, a true friend to all.

Authorities have asked anyone with information regarding the circumstances that led to Kassotiss death to reach the GBI Office in Statesboro at 912-871-1121 or the Liberty County Sheriffs Office at 912-876-4555. Anonymous tips can be also submitted here.
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Ever since authorities began searching for Lori Vallows children in late 2019, the case of the doomsday cult mom has captivated  and horrified  the nation.

Four people close to Vallow and her husband Chad Daybell have been murdered.

Others are also now mysteriously dead.

And beliefs about zombies, dark spirits and the apocalypse have come to light.

The bizarre and tragic case has now concluded in a courtroom in Boise, Idaho, where Vallow was convicted of all charges in the murders of her children Joshua JJ Vallow, seven; Tylee Ryan, 16; and Mr Daybells first wife Tammy Daybell.

On Friday (12 May), the jury took less than seven hours to find Vallow guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft over the deaths of Tylee and JJ.

She was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of Mr Daybells first wife Tammy, 49.

Dressed in a black suit, with her blonde hair down in waves around her shoulders, Vallow stood between her two attorneys as the verdict was read out.

She showed no reaction as she learned that the jury had returned a verdict of guilty on all charges.

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. Her cause of death has since been ruled asphyxiation.

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 alleged that Vallow and Mr Daybell conspired with 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.

New harrowing and bizarre details about the cult beliefs which drove  or excused  the 49-year-old came to light during her murder trial in Ada County Courthouse.

But, beyond the trial testimony, there was also some bizarre happenings taking place inside the courtroom.

Lori Vallow falls asleep

During a harrowing day of testimony on 11 April, the woman on trial for murder raised eyebrows when she appeared to fall asleep in the middle of proceedings.

That day, the court heard harrowing testimony about the state of JJ and Tylees remains when they were found buried on Mr Daybells property.

While jurors gasped and the victims families sobbed, Vallow asked to waive her right to be present in the courtroom, citing her mental state.

The judge denied the request and Vallow had to attend the remainder of the day  where jurors were shown graphic images of the childrens remains.

She appeared to try to avoid looking at the photos, casting her head down most of the time, reporters in the courtroom said.

Then  at one point  she appeared to fall asleep.

Gigi McKelvey, a Law & Crime journalist, told NewsNation that Vallow seemed to be asleep for a solid 30 minutes.

She speculated that Ms Vallow may have been medicated after her apparent distress over the harrowing testimony.

Lori Vallows three words to her surviving son

Mother-of-three Vallow was spotted mouthing three words to her only surviving son as he took the witness stand to testify against her at her murder trial.

Colby Ryan, 27, testified about his sister Tylee and brother JJ and how his mother had lied to him about their whereabouts.

Jurors heard a phone call where Mr Ryan confronted his mother about killing his siblings and posing as Tylee on her cellphone.

When he took the stand, Vallow was seen mouthing oh my baby to her son.

Confiscated phones and noise complaints

On multiple occasions, the court bailiff aired issues with noises  from reporters typing too loudly to spectators rustling candy wrappers.

On 13 April, at least three people had their phones confiscated, including one for an alarm sounding, reported The New York Posts Stephanie Pagones.

She revealed that members of the media had also been told off for typing too loudly in the courtroom.

On 20 April, East Idaho News reporter Nate Eaton tweeted that the bailiff reminded everyone about courtroom conduct including saving any whispering for breaks and to minimize candy wrapper crinkling.

If you have a Lifesaver fetish, please open your candy now, the bailiff said.

But the bailiff seemed to win over the courtroom.

By the end of the trial, he had earned the nickname of courtroom daddy.
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The US Virgin Islands has issued a subpoena to Elon Musk for documents related to its lawsuit against JP Morgan over the investment banks ties to Jeffrey Epstein, according to a court filing.

The filing in the US District Court in Manhattan revealed that the Virgin Islands believes Epstein may have referred or tried to refer Mr Musk to JP Morgan as a client, and had been trying to serve the Tesla CEO with a subpoena since April.

The Caribbean island nation hired a private investigator to locate Mr Musks address and tried to contact him through an attorney who had been served in previous federal cases involving the billionaire, the filing states.

According to the filing, the Virgin Islands said it did not receive a response confirming or denying his authority.

Process servers also tried unsuccessfully to locate Mr Musk at a Tesla business address, according to the filing.

The Virgin Islands asked Judge Jed Rakoff to authorise them to serve Mr Musk with a subpoena through alternative service, which could involve taking out a newspaper advertisement to alert him.

The Independent has contacted Tesla for comment.

The Virgin Islands sued JP Morgan in a lawsuit in Manhattan late last year accusing the investment giant of turning a blind eye to his decades-long sex abuse and trafficking of young girls.

Several of Epsteins alleged victims took out a civil lawsuit that made similar claims against JP Morgan last year.

The USVI lawsuits scope has broadened significantly in the past month with subpoenas being issued to Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Hyatt Hotels executive chairman Thomas Pritzker and real estate mogul Mortimer Zuckerman.

Jeffrey Epstein may have referred Elon Musk as a client to JP Morgan, according to a court filing (Associated Press)

JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon is due to be deposed for the Virgin Islands and Epstein victims lawsuits on 26 May.

The investment bank has denied any wrongdoing.

A medical examiner found Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 at the age of 66 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

In November, Epsteins estate agreed to pay $105m to the US Virgin Islands government to settle a separate lawsuit that the late paedophile used his private island in the archipelago for sex-trafficking.

Two private US Virgin Islands formerly owned by Epstein  Great Saint James and Little Saint James  were sold to billionaire banker Stephen Deckoff earlier this month.
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Elon Musk must continue to clear his tweets about Tesla with lawyers for the electric vehicle company, a court ruled.

The Tesla CEO, who also owns Twitter, must continue to abide by a 2018 settlement he made with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A federal appeals court in Manhattan on Monday rejected a brief filed by Mr Musks lawyers last year against a lower courts decision to make the billionaire stick to his deal with the SEC, according to The Associated Press.

The agreement with the SEC came to settle securities and fraud charges brought against him following his infamous tweet in which he claimed he had funding secured to take Tesla private at $420 per share.

The SEC filed a lawsuit against Mr Musk stating that he had made false and misleading statements and privatising the vehicle manufacturer and that he knew or was reckless in not knowing that the statement was false or misleading.

In addition to the pre-agreement on his tweets about Tesla, Mr Musk and his company were forced to each pay $20m in fines.

Tesla also had to add two new independent board directors and Mr Musk was stripped of his chairman title.

Am considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 7, 2018

Under the agreement with the SEC, neither Mr Musk nor Tesla admitted or denied wrongdoing.

However, during an appearance at the TED2022 conference, Mr Musk claimed that the funding he tweeted about was indeed secured and claimed that he was forced to concede to the SEC unlawfully.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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The body of a four-year-old boy who went missing on Mothers Day has been found, police said.

Mohamed Abou Fofana disappeared while playing at a park near the south Boston shoreline at about 7pm on Sunday, Massachusetts State Police said.

His body was spotted by a police boat around a mile from the park on the banks of Spectacle Island at 12.29pm on Monday, authorities said.

According to police, Mohamed was with an older sister and a family member, later identified as his grandfather, at Castle Island, a peninsula in Boston Harbor.

His grandfather reportedly lost sight of Mohamed while talking on his cellphone, and called 911 at 7.30pm to report his disappearance.

Police launched a massive operation by air, water and sea using helicopters, drones and boats to search for the child.

The US Coast Guard, state police and the Boston police and fire departments were involved in the search.

Mohameds mother Matenjay Fofana earlier pleaded for help from the public to find her son.

Mohamed Fofana went missing on Sunday night from Castle Island, Massachusetts (Massachusetts State Police)

If people see Mohamed, please, please give him to police people or call 911, she told reporters, according to NBC Boston.

She told news outlets that Mohamed had autism and was non-verbal, and had a tendency to wander off.

Just before 2pm, Massachusetts State Police confirmed with much sadness that they had located his body.

Our detective unit for Suffolk County will conduct the follow up death investigation. We express our deepest condolences to his family, state police said.

Prior to his body being found, City Councillor Erin Murphy told NBC Boston that Mohameds mother was in shock and just keeps calling out his name, and just hoping. She said that Mohameds grandfather feels very guilty, and said social workers had been sent to the familys home.
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Former President Donald Trump called into an event hosted by his former national security adviser Michael Flynn over the weekend, telling his ex-adviser, Were going to bring you back.

After scrubbing a rally in Iowa on Saturday night because of bad weather, Trump spoke via telephone at an event for Flynn's ReAwaken America Tour held at the former president's Miami resort. The retired lieutenant general, a top figure in the far-right movement, has been one of the leading proponents of Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

During the call, which was captured on a video of the event posted online, Flynn is seen holding a cellphone up to a microphone as Trump, on the line, says to Flynn, You just have to stay healthy because were bringing you back. Were going to bring you back.

It wasnt clear from Trumps remarks if he was specifically talking about bringing Flynn into his administration should he win the presidency in 2024 and, if so, for what role.

Were proud of you, general, Trump said. I knew it from day one  youre really somebody very special.

Trumps campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung did not respond to questions about Trumps remarks and instead sent a statement that said: President Trump is running to drain the swamp and bring prosperity back to America. Thats why hes dominating in the polls  both in the primary and general elections and Americans are rallying around his campaign.

Flynn, who resigned from the Trump administration less than a month after Trump's inauguration in 2017, was charged later that year with lying to the FBI about conservations he had with the Russians on Trumps behalf. He twice pleaded guilty, but Trump ultimately pardoned him in the final weeks of his presidency.

Since then, Flynn has been a leader in trumpeting Trump's lies of a stolen 2020 election, despite the fact that numerous federal and local officials, a long list of courts, top former campaign staffers and even Trump's own attorney general have all said there is no evidence of the fraud he alleges. Flynn suggested that Trump should seize voting machines and could order up the military in some states and rerun the election.

The former president has spoken warmly about Flynn over the years and has continued to align himself with Flynn at a time when some in the Republican Party see Trump's alliance with controversial figures and focus on the past electionas political liabilities in the general election next year.

Flynn, as part of his efforts to try to overturn Trump's loss in the 2020 presidential election, suggested Trump should seize voting machines and could order up the military in some states and rerun the election.

Flynn launched the ReAwaken America tour in 2021, a few months after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol failed to overturn the results of the election. It has been continuing ever since, with stops every month or two in a different city. Many of Trumps close allies and family members such as his son, Eric Trump, have appeared at the event. Trump himself has been known to call in.

A joint investigation by The Associated Press and the PBS series Frontline found that the ReAwaken tour serves as a traveling roadshow and recruiting tool for an ascendant Christian nationalist movement thats wrapped itself in God, patriotism and politics and has grown in power and influence inside the Republican Party.. Flynn endorsed nearly 100 candidates ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, and continues to urge supporters to get involved in politics - especially at the local level - ahead of the 2024 elections.

Trump and Flynn have maintained their ties to each other, periodically snapping photographs together. One of Flynns groups held an event at Trumps Mar-a-Lago in December, and the two men remain close, Flynns brother, Joseph Flynn, told the AP in March.

___

Associated Press writer Michelle R. Smith in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report.
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Donald Trump was reportedly shown tweets from Democrats blasting CNN for hosting the town hall with him to psyche him up during the live broadcast.

During the initial commercial break, Trump adviser Jason Miller showed the former president recent tweets backstage at the New Hampshire college where the event was hosted, according to Axios.

Mr Trump grew more bellicose as the night went on after being shown posts by several people slamming CNN, including New York progressive Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Ms Ocasio-Cortez tweeted 23 minutes into the event: CNN should be ashamed of themselves. They have lost total control of this town hall to again be manipulated into platforming election disinformation, defenses of Jan 6th, and a public attack on a sexual abuse victim.

The audience is cheering him on and laughing at the host, she added.

Mr Trump was also shown a tweet by Andrew Yang, the 2020 Democratic presidential candidate.

Just over half an hour into the town hall, he wrote: This #CNNTownhall is shaping up to be a clear win for Trump, certainly in the Republican field and probably overall.

After about 16 minutes, the Lincoln Project, spearheaded by former Republicans fed up with Mr Trump, wrote: Call this town hall what it is: a CNN sponsored Trump 2024 fundraiser. Disgraceful.

The former president, who had become slightly annoyed at the constant questioning by moderator Kaitlan Collins, came out swinging during the second part of the event.

Mr Trump is known to be in need of constant sources of approval to such an extent that some of his aides have kept positive polls about him on hand to show him when his mood starts to sour.

The ex-president was told by his advisers in the break during the first break to stay the course.

Mr Trumps aides have been speaking to a number of networks of further interviews and town hall events, according to Axios.

The New Hampshire college that hosted the town hall has condemned the former president for the deeply troubling event.

Saint Anselm College criticised both the comments of the ex-president and the reactions to his statements by the Trump-friendly audience in the auditorium.

Ms Collins asked Mr Trump about the civil trial between him and writer and former advice columnist E Jean Carroll. Mr Trump was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation and has been ordered to pay her $5m. Mr Trump was not found liable for rape. His legal team is appealing the verdict.

Mr Trump denied Ms Carrolls allegation, to laughter from the crowd in the room.

A Manhattan jury found you sexually abused the writer E Jean Carroll and defamed her. Youve denied this. But what do you say to voters who say it disqualifies you from being president? Ms Collins said.

Well, there arent too many of them because my poll numbers just came out and they went up, Mr Trump replied.

Mr Trump claimed that he doesnt know who Ms Carroll is.

In a statement, Saint Anselm said: The college was deeply troubled by the former Presidents remarks regarding the civil trial with a finding that he was liable for sexual assault.

Equally disturbing was the audiences reaction, nearly all of whom were not members of the Saint Anselm community, with laughter. The college does not tolerate sexual misconduct of any kind, including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and sexual harassment.
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Former president Donald Trump has lambasted CNN town hall host Kaitlan Collins after the network was criticised for hosting the event.

The backlash against CNN began long before the town hall actually got underway  with critics questioning the decision to host someone who was impeached for inciting the January 6 Capitol riot and who was previously banned from several social media platforms.

Later, questions were raised when Mr Trump was found liable of sexual abuse one day before the town hall  prompting concern over whether it was appropriate to host an event publicising the former president  and continued when Mr Trump appeared to use the event as a defacto campaign rally to spew bile and make false statements.

However, Mr Trump appeared to view the criticism as a judgement of CNNs moderator Ms Collins, rather than of himself.

Its really amazing to watch the head of CNN get absolutely lambasted for asking me to do a so-called Town Hall, he wrote on his Truth Social platform on Sunday night.

In all fairness, nobody had any problems with what he wanted to do until after the show started, when they quickly realized that Ms. Collins was not exactly Barbara Walters, or even close.

Thats when the trouble from the Radical Left started. Neurotic little AOC with the bad looking boyfriend, went crazy.

He owns CNN, hes in their head, they screamed. CNN, take the GREAT RATINGS!

Although Mr Trump slammed Ms Collins, other commentators and broadcasters hit out at the former president over the town hall.

Donald Trump and Kaitlan Collins during the CNN town hall (Will Lanzoni/CNN)

CNNs Anderson Cooper admitted the event was a disaster on his show Anderson Cooper 360 last week.

Many of you are upset that someone who attempted to destroy our democracy was invited to sit on the stage in front of a crowd of Republican voters to answer questions and predictably continued to spew lie after lie after lie. And I get it. It was disturbing, he said.

However, Mr Coopers defence of CNN for hosting the show also promoted its own criticism.

If we all only listen to those we agree with, it may actually do the opposite, he said.
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Donald Trump slammed his top rival in the 2024 contest for the Republican presidential nomination, saying that the media is supposedly referring to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as a rank amateur.

The former president spoke to The Messenger about his wide-ranging media strategy, while the governor has mostly spoken to friendly conservative outlets.

I think the media has said hes doing a terrible job and he doesnt know what hes doing, Mr Trump claimed. You know, the media has not been friendly to him. Theyre saying that hes a rank amateur. And you know, he started off fine, but then he hasnt done very well. You look at the polls.

While the governor has yet to announce his 2024 campaign, Mr Trump has repeatedly called Mr DeSantis disloyal for supposedly preparing to run against him after Mr Trump endorsed him in the 2018 GOP gubernatorial primary in the Sunshine State.

Mr Trump said he realised that Mr DeSantis was running against him when he wouldnt comment on whether he would run  when he said I had, I have no comment.  having no comment means hes going to run.

The former president went on to claim that Mr DeSantis was a dead man walking in 2018.

Hes very disloyal. He was a dead man walking. He was dead, dead as a doornail. And I revived him, Mr Trump told The Messenger.

Im a loyal person. If that happened to me, I would never run against the guy that did that. Hes got plenty of years left. And I think if he runs, hes gonna lose MAGA votes forever. Thats my opinion. And the MAGA votes are almost everything in the Republican Party, far bigger than you think, the ex-president added.

Mr Trump said it was too early to say if he would endorse Mr DeSantis if he wins the GOP primary.

So far, Im not a fan of the way that hes running. First of all, he shouldnt be running right now because he hasnt filed, the required paperwork to be a candidate, Mr Trump said.

The guys doing ads. Hes acting as a candidate, but he doesnt have to play by the rules because he hasnt filed, which is a total violation. I mean, this guys doing interviews as a candidate, but he hasnt filed, which is really not appropriate, he added.

A political action committee has been running ads supporting Mr DeSantis, but the governor hasnt yet done so in a personal capacity.

During a recent trip to Iowa, Mr DeSantis said: We must reject the culture of losing that has affected our party in recent years. The time for excuses is over. If we make the 2024 election a referendum on Joe Biden, his failures, and if we provide a positive alternative for the future of this country, Republicans will win across the board. If we do not do that, if we get distracted, if we focus the election on the past, then I think that Democrats are going to defeat us again.

Mr Trump responded to those comments, saying: Im not at all caught up in the past. And second of all, Im doing much better against Biden than he is in the polls, and Im doing much better against him.

I mean, Im beating [Mr DeSantis] by 40 points in some polls, so he can talk about what he wants. And third of all, I did very well in the midterms, Mr Trump claimed, despite several of the most high-profile candidates he endorsed losing their races.

Rons not a winner because Ron without me wouldnt have won. If I would have left it alone, he would have lost by 30 points or more, Mr Trump claimed about Mr DeSantis.

Asked why Mr Trump is perceived to be struggling, Mr Trump said: Hes got no personality. And I dont think hes got a lot of political skill.
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House Oversight & Accountability Chairman James Comer told Fox News on Sunday that one of the informants of his probe into President Joe Biden had gone missing.

Mr Comers words come days after he and a coterie of Republicans on his committee held a press conference when they claimed to have hard evidence of Mr Bidens family benefiting financially from American adversaries while Mr Biden was vice president. But the press conference produced no evidence that Mr Biden or his family members broke any laws.

The interview came on Sunday Morning Futures, with host Maria Bartiromo, who asked him if the whistleblower had gone missing.

Well, we we're hopeful that we can find the informant, he said.

Remember these informants are kind of in the spy business so they don't make a habit of being seen a lot or being high profile or anything like that. We have basic information with respect to what the informant has alleged, and it's very serious.

Mr Comer said that the informant claimed that Mr Biden engaged in a quid pro quo exchange during Mr Bidens tenure as vice president.

This is a very serious accusation, he said. All the FBI has to do is say, yeah, we looked into it and it wasn't a credible informant. But they won't answer our questions.

In the buildup to the press conference, Mr Comer and other Republicans hinted they would provide bombshell evidence of wrongdoing. But at the press conference, Mr Comer said it was inconceivable that the president did not know that his family allegedly received millions of dollars from China.

Mr Comer has also alleged that Mr Bidens son Hunters previous profesional relationship with a Chinese natonal played a role in Mr Bidens decisions as president and said the president was compromised because of his sons business dealings.

-Andrew Feinberg contributed reporting
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Mary Trump says that the only way to hold her uncle Donald Trump to account is by pitting him against a person who is willing to be very blunt about who he is and tell him to shut up when he is lying.

The niece of the former president made the remarks while appearing on a podcast with Molly Jong-Fast, following her uncles town hall on CNN last week. During his first appearance on the network since 2016, Mr Trump repeatedly lied about the 2020 election, as well as praising rioters who attacked police officers and damaged the Capitol during the January 6 insurrection.

Mr Trump, who lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden and whose supporters then attempted to prevent Congress from ratifying the result, was pressed on his election claims by moderator Kaitlan Collins.

Yet Mr Trump steadfastly refused to acknowledge the fact that he had lost, despite multiple corrections from Collins, who covered his former administration for CNN and previously worked at the conservative Daily Caller website co-founded by former Fox News star Tucker Carlson.

Mr Trumps niece, who was among those criticising CNN for hosting the town hall, called the event anti-American and blamed the audience for enabling the former president, making it tough for Collins to shut him down.

He called Kaitlin Collin you are a nasty woman and the crowd cheered, said the show host Molly Jong- Fast, as she asked Ms Trump to explain the audiences response.

I think its less about his ability [to connect with the crowd]. He is literally who he is. Its not nuance. Its not strategic, she said, emphasising the importance of understanding his supporters so they get completely cordoned off beyond participating in casting one vote.

Ms Trump, who had earlier slammed the network for giving a platform for an authoritarian wannabe to lie constantly while an audience full of his followers applauded, explained that a political adversary is more likely to be able to shut the former president down than a journalist when he indulges in lies.

I dont know that a journalist could do it or that a journalist who would do it... would be allowed to do it. It would have to be somebody running against him, she suggested.

That role could be played by a fellow Republican who realises that his or her political future is much less important than stopping him, she argued, or by a Democrat who understands whats at stake.

She said ultimately what was required was someone willing to call Mr Trump out as bluntly as possible. Its very simple, she said. Youre lying. You lost the popular vote in 2016. You lost the election in 2020 by five million more votes than you lost in 2016. Yet you perpetuate this big lie.

Do you understand how destructive that is to the democracy you purport to want to lead again? Youre responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans because of your willful and malignant incompetence, you know, on and on and on. And you dont let up.

He calls you a nasty person and you say: Granted, but answer the f***ing question.

She said that Collins job was made harder by the audience as she called Mr Trumps supporters a bigger problem, not just in terms of the danger they represent, but in terms of how it emboldened him to have the worst things he said, including most of his lies, cheered to that degree.

But you need somebody who is just willing to tell him: Shut up, answer the question, or literally well just shut it down because youre lying. And we cannot allow you to continue to lie to the American people.

She argued that an interviewer needs to communicate to Mr Trump that you dont respect his power, that hes just a candidate in this context, and hes a danger.
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Presidential candidate and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley declined to condemn Donald Trump on Sunday, after the former president was found liable this week of defaming and sexually abusing writer E Jean Carroll.

Asked about whether it tarnishes the Republican party that its leading figure was found liable of such crimes, Ms Haley responded that all sides should be heard in a legal proceeding, and that it was up to the American people to pass judgment.

I have always said that anyone that feels like they have been sexually assaulted in any way should come forward and have their voice heard, Ms Haley told CBS Newss Face the Nation on Sunday. I also think that anyone thats been accused should be able to defend themselves. I was not on the jury. I am not the judge. I think that both of them had their voices heard. There has been a verdict and there has been an appeal.

Asked whether this meant Ms Haley was questioning the verdict, she declined.

Theres a verdict and I think theres been an appeal, she said. I think it stands where it stands and I think the American people need to make a decision based on that.

During the trial, a New York jury heard detailed accounts of how Mr Trump sexually assaulted Ms Carroll in a dressing room at the luxury Manhattan department store Bergdorf Goodman in 1996. Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff, who are among the more than two dozen women have accused Mr Trump of sexual assault and misconduct, also testified.

I filed this lawsuit against Donald Trump to clear my name and to get my life back, Ms Carroll said after the verdict. 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.

Following the decision, Mr Trump, who insists the attack never took place and that he doesnt know Ms Carroll, lashed out at the Elle magazine writer during a CNN town hall, calling the allegations fake and a made up story.

Mr Trump filed notice on Thursday with the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals that he plans to challenge the $5m decision, while Ms Carrolls lawyers indicated they may sue Mr Trump again for continuing to call the writer a liar.

Everythings on the table, obviously, and we have to give serious consideration to it, attorney Roberta Kaplan told The New York Times. We have to weigh the various pros and cons and well come to a decision in the next day or so, probably.
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Extensive digital footprints have linked staff members for Republican US Rep Paul Gosar to social media accounts belonging to prolific supporters of virulently antisemitic white supremacist Nick Fuentes.

Social media accounts, photographs and posts on far-right platforms and other websites uncovered by Talking Points Memo and researchers who study far-right movements have connected the congressmans digital director Wade Searle to accounts belonging to a prominent Fuentes acolyte.

The posts, which appeared both before and after Mr Searle began working as a government employee for one of the most far-right members of Congress, include an account reportedly belonging to Mr Searle pledging his allegiance to Fuentes, the 24-year-old neo-fascist pundit central to a cult-like authoritarian movement of mostly young men.

On his streaming channel in May 2022, Fuentes called on his supporters to pledge undying allegiance to the white race, my nation America, and my savior Jesus Christ, and my loyalty to the America First movement, Nicholas J Fuentes. An account reportedly belonging to Mr Searle did so with a flurry of emoji in an accompanying live chat and donated $150.

By that point, Mr Searle had been working for Mr Gosar for six months.

Mr Searle is allegedly behind Chicken Right or Chikken and Right Wing Chicken Wing accounts across several platforms promoting content affiliated with the so-called groyper movement, TPM discovered. Photographs on those accounts also appear to show Mr Searle posing with Fuentes and other far-right influencers at a Stop The Steal rally in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2020.

According to congressional records, Mr Searle was hired in November 2021, the same month that the congressman was censured and removed from his committee assignments for posting a video to his Twitter account that edited himself into the anime beheading Democratic US Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Mr Searle was hired roughly one week after the video was posted and officially joined Mr Gosars staff one day after the censure vote.

One day later, on 19 November, 2021, Mr Gosar opened an account on the platform Gab, known for its far-right userbase and a haven for conspiracy theories and antisemitism. An account allegedly belonging to Mr Searle with the ChickenRight branding began promoting Mr Gosars posts shortly thereafter.

Mr Gosar continues to promote his Gab account on Twitter.

On Twitter and Gab, ChickenRight accounts posted statements and graphics suggesting trans people are pedophiles, claimed women should not join the workforce, minimised slavery, amplified the so-called great replacement conspiracy theory and made bigoted statements about Black people, Jewish people and other racial minorities, TPM reported.

Fuentes also has shared content from ChickenRight-linked accounts reportedly belonging to Mr Searle, and a ChickenRight-linked account moderated a streaming show hosted by Fuentes.

The digital trail for ChickenRight-affiliated accounts also suggests that Landen Petersen, an intern with Mr Gosars office, was involved, according to TPM.

Recommended White nationalist Nick Fuentes says he was kicked out of CPAC

A ChickenRight-affiliated account on Twitter was credited to Wade and Landen. Landen was identified as the pages founder, TPM reported. A linked Instagram account advertised an appearance from Wade and Landen on a livestream, and another account included what appeared to be Mr Petersons photo and a mention that rightwingchickenwing was his second account. An affiliated TikTok account lists 2 admins, L and W.

The Independent has requested comment from Mr Gosars office and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

If true, its deeply disturbing that [Mr Gosars] digital director is reportedly behind a secret Groyper army account and an active supporter of white supremacist leader Nick Fuentes, the Anti-Defamation League said in response to the report.

This needs a full investigation, the group stated. Hate and extremism have no place in government  at any level.

Paul Gosars embrace of far-right extremism

The seven-term Arizona Republican has a longer history of ties to conspiracy theories and extremism, from his more-recent use of far-right and neo-Nazi-linked content to support for anti-government racist Cliven Bundy in 2014 and his suggestion that the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia was funded by George Soros. Following that claim, his siblings accused him of sounding an antisemitic dog whistle.

In 2020, he voted against a resolution to condemn QAnon after appearing at events tied to the far-reaching conspiratorial movement.

Mr Gosar has also previously tried to evade his connections to Fuentes.

In February 2021, he delivered a keynote address at the America First Political Action Committee conference hosted by Fuentes, marking the first appearance of a sitting member of Congress at the event, where Fuentes reportedly told attendees that white people are done being bullied and praised the January 6 attack on the US Capitol as awesome.

Later that year, Mr Gosar appeared to defend a fundraiser for his congressional campaign advertised by Fuentes. Not sure why anyone is freaking out, Mr Gosar wrote on Twitter. Ill say this: there are millions of Gen Z, Y and X conservatives. They believe in America First. They will not agree 100% on every issue. No group does. We will not let the left dictate our strategy, alliances and efforts. Ignore the left.

Recommended Proud Boys leader and three members guilty of seditious conspiracy in Jan 6 attack

An ad for the event says it was paid for by Nicholas Fuentes and authorized by Gosar for Congress Committee, but the congressman told CNN that he had no idea whats going on and that there was no fundraiser that I know of.

Mr Gosar has continued to downplay the violence at the US Capitol on January 6, sent out a fundraising message suggesting that the FBI might have had a hand in planning and carrying out, and has supported Donald Trumps call for the termination of the US Constitution  a message that the former president later retreated from.

Paul Gosar was one of two members of Congress who joined the Hungarian edition of the far-right Conservative Political Action Conference in May 2023. (EPA)

Meanwhile, his Twitter account has repeatedly echoed the meme culture that has emerged from far-right platforms.

In October 2021, Mr Gosar tweeted and then deleted a meme that superimposed himself into a format that is popular among neo-Nazis sharing images of Nazi Germany.

Another since-deleted tweet from Mr Gosars account on Holocaust Remembrance Day in 2022 includes a Dark MAGA meme that appeared to reference the approximate number of Jewish people killed during the Holocaust.

Last month, Mr Gosar promoted a neo-Nazi website in his newsletter, which included a link to an article about him but removed the headlines obvious antisemitism.

The newsletter included several links to stories about himself, one of which was titled Congressman Gosar: Warmongers Nuland & Blinken Are Dangerous Fools Who Can Get Us All Killed; the actual headline in the link to the antisemitic, conspiracy theory-filled website reads Congressman: Jewish warmongers Nuland & Blinken Are Dangers Fools Who Can Get Us All Killed.

In recent days, Mr Gosars congressional Twitter account has repeatedly referred to people arriving at the US-Mexico border as an invasion and a national suicide, nods to the so-called great replacement conspiracy theory among white nationalists that Democratic officials are intentionally replacing white Americans by loosening immigration policies.

Mr Gosar, who was endorsed by Mr Trump, won re-election in 2022 and his committee assignments were restored in the Republican-controlled House.
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Rudy Giuliani has been accused of forcing an aide to give him oral sex while he was on speakerphone to Donald Trump in a bombshell $10m sexual assault and harassment lawsuit brought against the former New York City mayor.

Noelle Dunphy, who worked as an aide to Mr Giuliani in 2019 and 2020, claims that he would make her perform sex acts on him while speaking to his high-profile associates over the phone because it made him feel like Bill Clinton.

He often demanded oral sex while he took phone calls on speaker phone from high-profile friends and clients, including then-President Trump, Ms Dunphy claims in the lawsuit.

Giuliani told Ms Dunphy that he enjoyed engaging in this conduct while on the telephone because it made him feel like Bill Clinton.

The allegation is just one of several explosive claims laid out in a 70-page lawsuit filed on Monday against the man who has had a remarkable fall from grace  from Americas mayor in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to election conspiracy theorist and one of the biggest players at the centre of Mr Trumps attempts to overturn the 2020 election result.

Ted Goodman, a spokesperson and adviser to Mr Giuliani, told The Independent in an email that the former New York mayor unequivocally denies the allegations in the lawsuit.

Mayor Rudy Giuliani unequivocally denies the allegations raised by Ms Dunphy, he said.

Mayor Giulianis lifetime of public service speaks for itself and he will pursue all available remedies and counterclaims.

Ms Dunphy is suing Mr Giuliani for $10m for sexual assault, harassment, wage theft and other misconduct over claims that he forced her to perform sex acts on him and work in the nude during her two-year employment.

In the suit, Ms Dunphy alleges that the former New York City mayor made sexual demands throughout her employment and went on alcohol-drenched rants that included sexist, racist, and antisemitic remarks, many of which she claims she recorded.

He made clear that satisfying his sexual demands  which came virtually anytime, anywhere  was an absolute requirement of her employment and of his legal representation, the lawsuit states.

She also alleges that Mr Giuliani and then-president Mr Trump were offering to sell presidential pardons for $2m apiece.

Ms Dunphy claims that she agreed to start working for Mr Giuliani for a salary of $1m per year, but he told her he would have to defer payment as he was going through a divorce with his crazy ex-wife.

Ms Dunphy states that she was also asked to record conversations with Mr Giuliani as well as Giulianis interactions with others.

Giuliani speaks during a campaign event for Republican gubernatorial nominee for Lee Zeldin in 2022 (Getty)

But unbeknownst to Ms Dunphy, Giuliani apparently decided during the interview that he would use the job offer and his representation as a pretext to develop a quid pro quo sexual relationship with Ms Dunphy. He was later recorded telling Ms Dunphy, Ive wanted you from the day I interviewed you, the lawsuit states.

She also claims that the first week she worked for Mr Giuliani, 78, he flew her to New York and invited her to stay at his apartment in the city, where they drank together.

Giuliani then pulled her head onto his penis, without asking for or obtaining any form of consent. He held her by her hair. It became clear to Ms Dunphy that there was no way out of giving him oral sex. She did so, against her will, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit also states that Mr Giuliani insisted that she carried out her work naked, wearing a bikini, or tiny shorts with an American flag on them that he provided for her.

And she accuses him of inappropriate conduct while on video calls with her.

When they were apart, they would often work remotely via videoconference, and during those conferences, Giuliani almost always asked her to remove her clothes on camera. He often called from his bed, where he was visibly touching himself under a white sheet, the lawsuit states.

Ms Duphys lawsuit details an interaction she allegedly had with Mr Giuliani on or about 16 February 2019, when he was serving as Mr Trumps personal attorney and attempting to dig up overseas dirt on then-former vice president Joe Biden, who at the time was two months away from entering the 2020 presidential race against Mr Trump.

She writes that as they reviewed emails between him and Ukrainian government officials, she asked if he had to register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act and offered to do the required paperwork for him.

The former mayor replied that he was allowed to violate Fara and other US laws because [he had] immunity.

She then states that Mr Giuliani asked her if she knew anyone in need of a pardon because he was selling pardons for $2m, which he and President Trump would split.

He told Ms Dunphy that she could refer individuals seeking pardons to him, so long as they did not go through the normal channels of the Office of the Pardon Attorney, because correspondence going to that office would be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, she added.

The lawsuit states that she began working for Mr Giuliani in January 2019 and that he fired her in January 2021, without paying her the deferred salary.
 Close Trump calls Jan 6 a beautiful day during CNN town hall

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Florida governor Ron DeSantis has privately said to donors that Donald Trump cannot win.

You have basically three people at this point that are credible in this whole thing, Mr DeSantis told donors on a call, organized by the super PAC supporting him, Never Back Down according to a report in The New York Times.

Biden, Trump and me. And I think of those three, two have a chance to get elected president  Biden and me, based on all the data in the swing states, which is not great for the former president and probably insurmountable because people arent going to change their view of him.

Meanwhile Mr Trump flooded his Truth Social platform with posts attacking his rival Mr DeSantis as reports emerged the Florida governor is planning to officially announce his 2024 presidential bid next week.

The attack is just the latest attempt by Mr Trump to square himself up against Mr DeSantis.

People close to Mr DeSantis told The Wall Street Journal that the Florida governor will file official paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on 24 May.
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Belaruss president Alexander Lukashenko has skipped a key state celebration, sparking speculation that the leader is seriously ill as he has remained missing from the public eye since last week.

The 68-year-old leader, who normally marks the annual celebration of National Flag, Emblem and Anthem Day by addressing the public, remained missing from the event on Sunday, with his prime minister reading a message on his behalf.

The autocratic leader of Belarus was last seen in public on 9 May, during Victory Day celebrations in Moscow.

This was the first time Mr Lukashenko did not speak at the event in Minsk that marks the anniversary of the Soviet Unions Second World War victory over Germany.

According to state news agency BelTA, prime minister Roman Golovchenko read a message from Mr Lukashenko during the annual ceremony where young people swear allegiance to the ex-Soviet states flag.

It gave no reason for the presidents absence and Mr Lukashenkos office declined to comment.

Confirming information of Mr Lukashenkos illness, a senior leader of the Russian parliament told an outlet that he was sick, but does not have Covid.

Konstantin Zatulin, a senior member of the Duma lower house of parliament, told Russian online publication Podyom that [Lukashenko] has simply fallen ill... and probably needs a rest.

Opposition Belarusian outlet Euroradio said Mr Lukashenko was taken to a presidential medical centre in Minsk on Saturday night. The information, however, is yet to be confirmed.

Asked about the reports on Monday, the Kremlin neither confirmed nor denied whether Mr Lukashenko was unwell, simply stating that there had been no official announcements from his office on the matter.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said it was best to be guided on the subject by official statements from the Belarusian authorities.

Mr Lukashenko, who is a close ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin, travelled to Moscow on 9 May for the Victory Day parade where he looked visibly tired and sported a bandage on his hand, according to a report.

He swiftly left after the parade and skipped lunch with Mr Putin before laying flowers in the capital Minsk following his arrival.

Mr Lukashenko is often called the last dictator of Europe and has ruled Belarus since 1994.

The leader is known to crack down on dissenting voices by using force to put down protests, while courts have closed dissident media outlets and imposed long jail terms on opponents. Activists have fled the country en masse.

Unconfirmed reports and rumours claim Mr Lukashenko could get paralysis without a back surgery in the West, where he is unable to travel because of sanctions by Western countries.

In 2020, a number of countries, including the UK and the European Union, placed sanctions on the leader over allegations of vote rigging in presidential elections and a subsequent crackdown on protests.

Mass anti-government protests broke out after he proclaimed himself as the landslide winner of presidential elections that the opposition denounced as rigged. The Central Election Commission declared Mr Lukashenko had won more than 81 per cent of the vote.

Thousands of protesters were arrested and brutally beaten by police and Belarusian KGB security service agents, while Mr Lukashenko managed to stay in power with backing from Russia.
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Israels foreign minister on Monday paid a visit to Sweden in a new sign of warming ties between the two nations.

Eli Cohen said his visit to Stockholm was the first visit by an Israeli foreign minister to Sweden in 22 years.

We are opening a new page in relations between Israel and Sweden after years in which Sweden took a critical line against Israel, he said in a statement issued by the Israeli Foreign Ministry. He said his meeting with his Swedish counterpart, Tobias Billstrom, signaled a change in direction of ties.

Billstrom called the meeting very good and productive in a statement on Twitter. The first one in 20 years, so long overdue, he added.

Swedens previous Social Democratic government had a rocky relationship with Israel after recognizing a Palestinian state in 2014, a move that prompted Israel to temporarily recall its ambassador to Sweden. Two years later, Israel said Swedens foreign minister at the time was not welcome after critical comments of Israels treatment of Palestinians.

But relations have begun to thaw. In October 2021, Swedens foreign minister at the time visited Israel in an attempt to mend ties.

Those relations are expected to improve further under Swedens new center-right government, which took office last October.
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The head of Russias Wagner mercenary force, Yevgeny Prigozhin, offered to reveal the positions of Vladimir Putins forces to Ukraine, leaked US intelligence documents show.

The extraordinary offer  which was rejected by Ukraine  was made in January by the Wagner chief as part of a proposed quid pro quo deal with Kyiv, reported the Washington Post.

The Wagner chief offered to leak information on the positions held by Russian troops if Ukraines commanders withdrew their own soldiers from the area around the fortress city of Bakhmut, handing Prigozhin a victory there in exchange for the opportunity to accurately target Russian positions elsewhere along the frontline.

Prigozhins offer was made via his contacts in Ukraines intelligence service, according to the reported documents. The leaks did not detail which Russian positions the Wagner chief was offering to disclose to Ukraine.

Prigozhin, a close ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin, has repeatedly threatened publicly to withdraw his mercenaries from the area around Bakhmut, where they are at the vanguard of the Russian offensive, as he sought more ammunition from Moscow.

Dismissing the reports on Monday, Prigozhin called the allegations nonsense and blamed them on unnamed residents of Moscows plush Rublyovka suburb  a byword for Russias business and political elites  in an audio recording released on Telegram.

The reports were also rejected by the Kremlin as looking like a hoax.

The White House has declined to issue a comment on the matter.

The Washington Post report cited two unnamed Ukrainian officials as saying Prigozhin has reached out to the Ukrainian intelligence directorate, known as HUR, several times during the course of the war.

One of the officials added that Prigozhin extended the offer on Bakhmut more than once, but Kyiv repeatedly rejected it due to a lack of trust in the Russian leaders, with the proposals considered to be disingenuous.

Kyivs doubts over the reported proposals were also shared by Washington, according to source in the US and Ukraine cited in the report.

Prigozhins constant criticism has sparked a wave of concern within the Russian defence ministry, as they have been privately wondering how to respond to Putins ally on issues including the militarys performance and his demands for more resources, other leaked documents show.

The Russian defence ministry has conceded that Prigozhins grievances are not illegitimate.

These documents hint at a power struggle between Prigozhin and top Russian officials, including defence minister Sergei Shoigu. Earlier this month, Prigozhin directly abused Mr Shoigu and Russian chief of staff Valery Gerasimov after losing more than 30 soldiers in a day.

One document shows that the Wagner head leaked information on the Russian militarys struggles with ammunition supplies to a Ukrainian intelligence officer.

In response to the Posts report, the Wagner chief denied meeting Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, in an unnamed African country, saying he had not been in the continent since the start of the Ukraine conflict and portraying the idea of a phone call with him as laughable.

Prigozhin also advised the Ukrainian forces to go ahead with an assault on the Crimean border at a time when morale among Russian troops was low.

The intelligence also points to Prigozhins awareness of plummeting morale among his own Wagner forces, the report added. Some of Prigozhins fighters were said to have baulked at orders to deploy in the Bakhmut area under heavy fire for fear of suffering more casualties, the Post reported.

Bakhmut has been the epicentre of the bloodiest ground combat in Europe since the Second World War, with the battle of attrition over the salt mining town being waged for nearly 10 months now.
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To celebrate the coronation of King Charles, the Ukrainian defence ministry issued a version of the song London Calling by The Clash.

The accompanying video, a typically sleek Kyiv production, included images of Charles, Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer meeting Volodymyr Zelensky, and of the weapons Britain has sent to Kyiv, including Challenger 2 tanks. It ended with the question: Wonder what our British friends will send us next? A clip of the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth followed, with the caption (Only joking).

The UK has been the second-largest provider of military assistance to Ukraine behind the United States, offering 30bn worth of equipment. It was also among the earliest of the allies to start training and arming the countrys forces, after the overthrow of the pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych in 2013 and the subsequent Russian-backed separatist war in the east.

When the Ukrainians say that President Zelenskys visit to Britain as part of his current European tour has very special meaning, it is not just PR rhetoric. There is a deep underlying gratitude for the solidarity shown to their nation in its darkest hour.

Those of us reporting from the ground saw the effectiveness of the British-supplied next-generation light anti-tank weapons (NLAWs) as Russian forces sought to storm Kyiv in the early days of the invasion. We similarly witnessed British and American artillery turn the tide of battle in the Donbas last summer. And now the UK is the first ally to send long-range Storm Shadow missiles, as well as hundreds of attack drones, as Ukraine launches its long-planned counteroffensive against Russia.

Britains willingness to step first unto the breach in its significant contributions to Ukraines defence effort has spurred wider Western support.

The supply of the Storm Shadow missiles, with their 155-mile range, may persuade the Biden administration to send the long-range MGM-140 army tactical missile system (ATACMS)  unless Kyiv breaches its agreement with London to use Storm Shadow solely for attacks inside Ukrainian sovereign territory. The Challenger 2s will not be the main battle tanks for Ukraine, although they have been allocated to one of the best armed brigades being deployed. That role will be filled by German Leopards, because of their prevalence among Nato armies, meaning there is an established supply chain. It was, however, the initial British tank offer that, to a large extent, unlocked the supply of Leopards by other partners.

The UK has offered to train Ukrainian pilots to use modern fast jets. Kyiv wants US-made F-16s  the aircraft equivalent of Leopards thanks to their prevalence among Nato forces  saying they are necessary for carrying out the combined air and ground operations that will be needed for the coming counteroffensive.

Washington remains unwilling to provide F-16s, giving as one of its reasons that it will take up to 18 months to train pilots to fly the planes. Ukraine, supported by some Western military officers, insists that the training needed for its experienced air personnel would actually take no more than a few months.

The provision of advanced jets was discussed by Mr Sunak and Mr Zelensky during the visit. Afterwards, the Ukrainian president stressed that it was a very important topic for us, because we can't control the sky.

He continued: We spoke about it, and I see that in the closest time you will hear some, I think, very important decisions, but we have to work a little bit more on it.

Mr Sunak, while he said that providing fighter jets was not a straightforward thing, pledged that the UK would be a key part of the coalition of countries that provides that support. He added: This is a crucial moment in Ukraines resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke. They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year.

Ukrainian military commanders, according to their counterparts in Britain and other Nato countries, are precise in detailing what they need from their allies. But it is Mr Zelensky, in his military fatigues, who has been the face of Ukraine since this war started, becoming one of the most recognised public figures in the world.

Mr Zelensky is the first foreign dignitary Mr Sunak has met as prime minister at Chequers. This room that we are standing in, Winston Churchill made many of his famous speeches in World War Two from this room, pointed out Mr Sunak. Your leadership, your countrys bravery and fortitude are an inspiration to us all.

This was not the first time the Churchill comparison had been made. Presenting Mr Zelensky with the Sir Winston Churchill Leadership Award last summer, Mr Johnson told him: I can imagine [Churchills] spirit walking with you ... In that moment of supreme crisis, you faced a test of leadership that was, in its way, as severe as Churchills challenge in 1940.

In a speech to parliament during his last visit to Britain in February, the Ukrainian president spoke of how moved he had been when he was taken to the Cabinet War Rooms, Churchills war headquarters, three years previously, and felt the special atmosphere of the place, knowing of the momentous decisions made there.

Mr Zelensky had already visited Italy, France and Germany in recent days, ahead of his visit to the UK and the meeting with Mr Sunak. In Germany he received the highly prestigious Charlemagne Prize for promoting European unity.

Chequers is a place of great resonance for such a meeting at such a time. Its walls echo with the history of war and peace. Neville Chamberlain went there for solitude as the Munich Agreement collapsed and the countdown to the Second World War began. Churchill was dining there with the American ambassador when the news came of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Chequers was also the place where a future of peace was celebrated at the end of the Cold War, with Margaret Thatcher welcoming Mikhail Gorbachev and John Major hosting Boris Yeltsin. The hopes that came with detente have faded in recent years, and ended with Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. Mr Zelenksys visit is an important part of shaping what happens next, at a crucial stage in the devastating war unfolding in the heart of Europe.
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The best passports to hold in 2023 have been revealed in a new index.

The 199 countries in the list, compiled by offshore consulting firm Nomad Capitalist, were ranked according to five criteria: visa-free travel opportunities, taxation of citizens, dual citizenship possibilities, personal freedom and perception.

The UAE has taken top spot in 2023, having only entered the top 10 for the first time this year. It was ranked 35th in 2022, but has shot up the rankings due to the countrys recent changes allowing foreigners to apply for dual citizenship, combined with the travel freedoms afforded by a UAE passport, the business-friendly environment and its enviable tax system. The Gulf nation scored 110.50 overall.

The UK has fallen four places this year, occupying 30th position. Having been ranked in 15th place in 2020, it fell year-on-year with the finalisation of Brexit and the subsequent difficulties this placed on international travel, especially within the EU.

Global perception also played a part, with the disastrous and short-lived Truss government and subsequent drop in the value of the pound worsening the UKs score. Nevertheless, the UK remains ahead of both Australia and the US, which rank 38th and 43rd respectively.

Ireland, meanwhile, placed joint-fourth on the list (alongside Portugal), praised for its low rates of corporate tax, its membership of the Common Travel Area (and right to work in the UK) and an excellent reputation [which] makes travelling as an Irish citizen generally hassle-free.

Meanwhile, Portugal was ranked highly due to its warm welcome to expats, with high levels of English fluency plus a favourable tax exemption programme and the fact that its citizens are highly welcome around the world.

After two years at the top, Luxembourg has been bumped to second place despite high levels of freedom and excellent passport perception. It sits in joint-second place alongside Switzerland, which rose from fifth place and whose citizens enjoy high levels of liberty and privacy. In addition, the countrys famous neutrality, meanwhile, ensures that Swiss nationals remain some of the most respected travellers around the world.

At the other end of the scale, Afghanistan and Yemen were the worst ranked nations, with scores of 26.50 and 29.50 respectively.

10 best passports 2023
Thousands of people were hunkering down in monasteries, pagodas and schools, taking shelter from a powerful storm that slammed into the coast of Myanmar, tearing roofs off buildings and killing at least three people.

Cyclone Mocha made landfall on Sunday afternoon (14 May) in Myanmars Rakhine state near Sittwe township, with wind speeds of up to 130 miles an hour, Myanmars meteorological department said.

The storm also hit the coastline of Bangladesh, but no casualties have been reported there as yet.

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Rishi Sunak appeared to compare Ukraines President Zelensky to Winston Churchill as he welcomed him to his Chequers residence.

This room that were standing in, Winston Churchill made many of his famous speeches in World War Two from this room.

In the same way today, your leadership, your countrys bravery and fortitude are an inspiration to us all, Mr Sunak told Mr Zelesnky in front of reporters.

Mr Zelenskys latest visit to the UK was announced early on Monday morning (15 May), before Ukrainies president touched down in Hertfordshire shortly afterward.

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Cue the newest hero on the MAGA celebrity circuit: Daniel Penny, the former marine whose golden ticket to infamy was allegedly choking to death 30-year-old Jordan Neely, a Black homeless man with mental health issues on a New York City subway. Penny has been charged with second-degree manslaughter. He happens to be white, and is using self-defense as the excuse for his actions.

Sound familiar? Who can forget Kyle Rittenhouse, the AR-15 toting 17-year old who successfully claimed self-defense when he traveled out-of-state and killed two men, severely wounding another during a violent evening of protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Since then, baby-faced Rittenhouse has been a frequent guest on FOX News, and a repeat visitor to the MAGA kings lair in Mar-a-Lago. His very first interview after the shootings was with the now-unemployed Tucker (will-work-for-lies) Carlson.

At the time, Republican lawmakers rushed to the teens defense, including Florida Rep Matt Gaetz, Arizona Rep Paul Gosar and the forgettable former North Carolina Rep Madison Cawthorn. (Recently, Cawthorn pled guilty for trying to smuggle a loaded handgun through security at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, his second such attempt.)

GiveSendGo, a Christian fund-raising site, the place where help and hope go hand-in-hand, was instrumental in hauling in a half million dollars from donors to aid in Rittenhouses defense. Here was the pitch: Kyle Rittenhouse just defended himself from a brutal attack by multiple members of the far-leftist group ANTIFA  the experience was undoubtedly a brutal one, as he was forced to take two lives to defend his ownLets give back to someone who bravely tried to defend his community.

Rittenhouse was acquitted of the charges against him, but is now being sued by John Huber, the father of Anthony Huber, who was one of those shot to death by Rittenhouse. GiveSendGo has already raised $243,000 for that latest lawsuit.

So it should come as no surprise that the same online business is now raising funds for Daniel Pennys defense. The campaign, set up by the New York City law firm, Raiser & Kenniff, PC, states that, Daniel Penny is, a twenty-four-year-old college student and decorated Marine veteran, facing a criminal investigation stemming from him protecting individuals on a NYC subway train from an assailant who later died.

Money raised so far? $1.5 million from more than 20,000 donors. Christopher Ekstrom donated $500. Marines like Mister Penny MADE AMERICA  GREAT. Thanks for being a MAN! Im sorry our sick society is punishing you.

An anonymous donor, who contributed $1,001 to the cause, wrote, Daniel Penny is an American hero. He had the bravery to stand up and do the right thing. No tears for the [man] who died.

Republicans, always ready to appeal to the politics of division, have rushed to embrace Penny. Florida Governor and future presidential candidate Ron DeSantis tweeted, We stand with Good Samaritans like Daniel Penny. Lets show this Marine  Americas got his back.

Georgia Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene characterized Neely as, a violent criminal who should have been behind bars.

On the fateful day when Neely and Pennys paths crossed, the violent criminal was shouting that he was hungry and thirsty. He was crying out for help, help that never came. He did not deserve to die in such a brutal manner. The system failed him. We failed him.

Taylor Greene, who fancies herself a Christian, apparently forgot this Biblical instructive from Matthew 25:35-40: For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.

Jordan Neely was not a violent criminal or an assailant. He was not a thug. He was a Black male. With the increased embrace of stand your ground laws, and with the full-throated endorsement of the bellowing MAGA mob, violence carried out by white men is mostly forgiven, if not encouraged.
Permanent TSB (PTSB) has completed its acquisition of Ulster Banks performing non-tracker residential mortgage business in Ireland.

The portfolio comprises 8,000 loans with a value of 915m connected to 11,000 customers and will boost PTSBs mortgage book by 4pc.

This acquisition by the bank forms part of a broader transaction to acquire elements of Ulster Banks retail, SME and asset finance business in Ireland.

Last November, PTSB acquired 5.2bn of Ulster Banks mortgage loans, with the total transferred now rising to 6.1bn.

Both acquisitions have increased the size of PTSBs mortgage book by around 40pc, according to a statement from the bank.

PTSB said it will commence communications with the customers connected to these accounts in the coming weeks, with a dedicated online hub being created to support the transfers.

Around 350 Ulster Bank employees will move or join PTSB, with the bank also set to create a further 400 roles this year.

PTSB has also acquired 25 former Ulster Bank branches, increasing its footprint by 30pc. These locations re-opened as PTSB locations at the beginning of this year.

The bank said it will now complete the acquisition of the Lombard Asset Finance business shortly, which will then conclude the transaction between PTSB and Ulster Bank.

I am delighted to reach another major milestone in our acquisition of certain elements of Ulster Banks business as we welcome 11,000 more mortgage customers to Permanent TSB, in addition to the over 200,000 customers that we welcomed to the bank in 2022, chief executive Eamonn Crowley said.
WORKERS are increasingly hitting back at ageism, religious-based discrimination and sexual harassment as they get older, more diverse and better informed.

Last year, a 68-year-old man was awarded over 30,000 by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) after his employer forced him to retire during Covid, citing health regulations.

It was one of hundreds of similar complaints examined by the WRC last year.

The number of age-related claims under the 1998 employment equality act soared by 176pc last year, the WRCs annual report said, making up the majority (40pc) of all complaints under that particular law in 2022.

So employers had better get their ducks in a row.

There have been some cases that have been able to be defended, such as maybe somebody working at heights, for example, said Moira Grassick, chief operations officer at HR advisors Peninsula.

But if its just a nine-to-five, Monday-to-Friday office job, its very hard to justify why somebody can do the job at 65, but cant do it at 66 or 67. Its a very hard thing to prove.

She says the problem will grow as people get older and seek to stay in work.

People live longer, people are fitter. Its also the economy were living in, the cost of living is much higher. And people who spent a lot of time at home during the pandemic and are maybe looking to get back out and mix with people, communicate with people a bit more and are looking to come back into the workplace.

Maura Connolly, head of the employment law division of law firm Addleshaw Godard, said employers that try to enforce a contractual retirement age may be met with an argument from the employee that that amounts to ageism.

What we have seen, though, is not so much ageism but that both the employee and the employer are considering whether or not it makes sense in that particular organisation to retire at a particular age.

Aside from age, religion-based discrimination claims are also on the rise as workplaces get more diverse.

While still small in number, claims soared by 58pc compared to 2021, the WRC said.

As employers recruit employees from a wider range of countries with different cultural and religious beliefs, it is likely that this trend may also continue, Peninsulas Moira Grassick said.

She advises employers to be sensitive about dress codes that might exclude an employee from a particular religious background and how they handle requests for time off for religious festivals such as Eid or Ramadan.

While sexual harassment cases have been on the wane during Covid, there are indications that could be changing as people return to the office.

Since 2015, there have been 447 WRC cases where sexual harassment was indicated under employment equality law, reaching a peak of 89 in 2019  two years after the #metoo movement started but falling by around half during the pandemic.

However, Peninsula saw a 62.5pc increase in calls to its advice line citing sexual harassment in the first three months of this year, compared to the previous quarter.

The incidents ranged from workers pulling down each others trousers to an employee feeling uncomfortable when a supervisor used greetings such as hey beautiful.

Solicitors are not getting similar calls, says Siobhra Rush, a partner in law firm Lewis Silkins employment division.

We did have, maybe, a couple more incidents around office parties than we were used to during Covid, she said.

But Im not sure there is a pattern to this. The problem is that, for the first time in two years, people are coming together in a social situation.

But Ms Grassick said her organisation tends to get calls before they reach the lawyers or the WRC. Its not unusual that you will see claims go up maybe a year after weve had the peak at this side, she said.

Remote working may shield some workers from discrimination or harassment but it can also hide the problem, said Addleshaw Godards Maura Connolly.

It would be possible for that employee to be subject to bullying or harassment or inappropriate behaviour  perhaps attending video calls or being subject to behaviour on their phone, cyber bullying  all of that could happen without an employer having that direct view of what was going on.

And I think that that is a real concern where people are working remotely on a more permanent basis, said Ms Connolly.
The Stones and Brian Jones

BBC2, 9pm

When we think of The Rolling Stones, we think of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, but that pair did not begin the band, and for a time were subordinate to its original leader, Brian Jones. In this new Arena documentary, Nick Broomfield tells the story of a great, lost talent.

Jones grew up obsessed with the music of Elmore James and Robert Johnson, and after moving to London in the early 1960s, became involved with the booming RnB scene. He hung out with Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton, and in 1963 he held auditions for a new band of his own. Jagger auditioned for the singing spot, and brought his childhood friend Richards with him.

Jones got the bands name from an old Muddy Waters song, and after a few months of chopping and changing, a steady line-up emerged. Jones, Jagger and Richards shared a flat in Chelsea, and for a time were thick as thieves. But as Jagger and Richards moved away from playing covers and formed a formidable songwriting partnership, Jones slowly became estranged from the bands creative engine.

He was an ethereal presence on the Stones live performances, but his purpose seemed hard to define. His drug and alcohol intake escalated through the late 1960s, and on July 3, 1969 he was found dead at the bottom of his swimming pool. He was 27.

Steeltown Murders   BBC/Severn Film/Tom Jackson

Steeltown Murders

BBC1, 9pm

Philip Glenister heads the cast of this new drama in which a team of detectives using advanced DNA technology set out to solve the murders of three women in Port Talbot in the early 1970s.

Against the Head

RTE2, 8pm

Bernard Jackman, Murray Kinsella and Darren Cave join Daire OBrien to reflect on the weekends URC semi-finals, in which three out of four provincial sides were involved, and preview this Saturdays epic encounter between Leinster and La Rochelle in the Champions Cup Final at the Aviva Stadium.

Missing

RTE One, 9.35pm

In 1995, when three more young women went missing, the Gardai were under increasing pressure from the public and the media, and began to entertain the possibility that a serial killer might be at large.

Deadshot    Sky/ Upper Street/ Stylopic/

Dead Shot

Sky Cinema Premiere, 10.10pm

Lean thriller starring Colin Morgan as Micheal, a mid-1970s IRA man who vows revenge when a British soldier shoots dead his pregnant wife during a border ambush. With Felicity Jones.

Colette

Colette

BBC2, 11.15pm

Biopic charting the remarkable life of Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, a country girl who moved to Paris in the 1880s as the live-in lover of a hack writer called Willy. When Colette displayed literary talent, he sought to pass off her creations as his own. With Keira Knightley.

The Thief Collector

The Thief Collector

Prime Video, streaming now

There are SO many epic offerings being released this week, it was almost impossible to choose  until I stumbled across this little number on Prime. Jarring, captivating and weirdly textbook in equal measure, this jaunt into the lifelong escapades of Rita and Jerry Alter had yours truly agog. Kicking off with a hammy 1980s vignette complete with brash narration, youd be forgiven for thinking that this feature-length documentary could go either way.

What unfolds is a mash-up between Catch Me If You Can, Dont F*k With Catsand (dare I say it) The Willoughbys. For context; these seemingly unassuming teachers, who tick all the quintessential sociopath boxes, feasibly spent their lives stealing priceless art pieces to fund their regular travel expeditions. This documentary may have you questioning whats real, and whats not, but one thing is certain  good will always prevail. Look no further than Dave Van Auker.

The Thief Collector

Still: A Michael J Fox Movie

AppleTV+, streaming now

When asked by the producer: What did it mean to be still?, Michael J Fox responds: I wouldnt know, Ive never been still. In the eighties and nineties, Fox was everywhere at once  until he noticed, upon waking, that his little finger was moving independently. This anatomy of a legend will have you falling in love with Fox, again.

Queer Eye

Netflix, streaming now

Enjoy another dose of unadulterated positivity from The Fab Five, this time from New Orleans. The only bad thing about it is Anthony only disrobes once, and they only have seven episodes. That said, theyre jam-packed, starting with a frat house and its six members all getting makeovers.

City on Fire

City On Fire

AppleTV+, streaming now

When a young female photographer is shot in Central Park, several storylines involving impossibly pretty people unfurl. In case youre wondering just how gritty this will be, its from the producers of Gossip GirlandThe O.C.

Crater

Crater

Disney+, streaming now

Picture it the moon, 2257. A colony of kids have lived their lives under a dome, until one weekend they decide to take a road trip to a crater. From the producers of Stranger Thingscomes this stark yet Disney-fied look at a potential future.
A Government-led trade mission to China this week will focus on promoting the grassfed and premium farming credentials of Irish meat and dairy.

The Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue will lead the trade mission to Beijing and Shanghai, with 14 Irish companies exhibiting with Bord Bia at the international food and drink trade show, SIAL, in Shanghai.

It is the first trade mission since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, following three years of restricted borders and comes just weeks after the first shipment of Irish beef to land in China for three years.

Speaking ahead of the trade mission, Minister McConalogue said: With the resumption of Irish beef exports to the market this is an excellent opportunity to further promote the sector in China and to communicate Irelands grassfed and premium farming credentials for both meat and dairy.

It is timely that it is our first trip to China in three years as it comes amid an improved economic outlook plus a growing demand for value-added dairy ingredients to complement the fast-growing Chinese dairy sector.

In 2022 total agri-food exports to China were valued at 722m, of which 683m represented food and drink. This positions China as Irelands sixth largest trade destination for food and drink by value, accounting for 4pc of all exports.

Bord Bia CEO Jim OToole said that in addition to the positive economic drivers, there are a range of consumer trends and changing behaviours in the Chinese market that are driving opportunities for Irish exports.

China has one of the largest populations in the world and its GDP per capita has increased tenfold in the last 20 years, making it the worlds second largest economy today, he said.

A growing middle class with high disposable incomes in Chinese cities is creating an aspirational consumer base, with an increasing interest in premium food products and access to sophisticated digital retail platforms. Irish exporters are ideally placed to service these consumer demands, as Irelands focus on sustainably produced high-quality food and drink exports, backed by the Origin Green programme, offers the perfect solution to this growing Chinese market.

The trade mission will begin in Beijing with bilateral government meetings between Irish and Chinese officials, while Bord Bia facilitates a series of meetings with customers of Irish food and drink.

A major focus of the trip will be on the upcoming promotion of Irish beef and pigmeat across China in both retail  online and instore  and foodservice channels.

Irish dairy exports to China have grown significantly over the last decade, driven by demand for imported branded infant formula. In recent years import demand in this category has declined as Chinese consumers have increasingly chosen domestically manufactured brands.

To support the dairy sector, Bord Bia is hosting a dairy seminar to connect Irish dairy companies with market customers in an effort to better understand individual market and consumer needs.

In Shanghai, the delegation will attend SIAL, the largest food and drink trade show in China, where nine meat and five dairy companies from Ireland will be exhibiting across three booths  the Ireland pavilion, the European Pork & Poultry, and European Beef & Lamb stands.

The trade mission activity at SIAL will focus on key customer meetings, launches for new Irish dairy products in the market, and retail and foodservice exploration tours.
The cost of Communions: some families are willing to spend up to 2700 for the perfect day but say its worth it for the memories
Bernard Phelan had been detained in Iran since October last year.

The family of Irishman Bernard Phelan has said the first thing he wants on his return home is a good fry up and a cup of tea.

Mr Phelan (64) was released from an Iranian prison on Friday where he had been detained since last October.

He was ultimately let go on humanitarian grounds alongside a Frenchman who was on hunger strike.

The Tipperary man, who has French citizenship, is currently recuperating in hospital.

He was arrested in the Iranian city of Mashhad in October during a wave of anti-government protests.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 15th

The tourism operator was travelling across the country at the time of his arrest.

Mr Phelan was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail for espionage.

He and his family vehemently denied a charge levelled against him by the Iranian authorities of helping to incite propaganda against the Tehran government.

His sister Caroline Phelan said the family are over the moon to know that he is safe.

Read more Bernard Phelan: Family speak of relief as Irishman held for months in Iran prison is on the way home

We were informed by both French and Irish governments that there was a potential release coming up but we had been through those stages before, so we didnt want to get our hopes up too much, she told RTEs Morning Ireland.

The Tanaiste kindly rang me on Thursday to say that there was a very strong possibility that he would be released but just to keep calm and also that these things backfire and to remember that.

But it was the greatest hope we had and then we didnt know until he took off that he was on his way home really.

There were rumours and tweets and press on Thursday and Friday evening but until he had taken off nobody could confirm that he was on his way.

It was really touch and go for him over there whether he would be able to take off.

Ms Phelan said touching down in France and seeing her brother for the first time in over 200 days was an amazing moment.

She said her brother was weak but that his joy was boosting him up.

It was an unbelievable moment, just couldnt believe it. Even just walking off a plane in France after such stress and such a long time, huge hugs, she said.

The members of the Department of Foreign Affairs that had helped us in Dublin had flown over to be with us, so we were all in tears.

The French team were there as well, and weve all bonded over these seven months.

Of course, then we rang my father in Dublin, my father is 97 and he thought hed never see his son again, so it was a very special moment for him too.

Mr Phelan will remain in a French hospital over the coming days before returning home to Ireland.

He cant get over the peace and quiet, the silence after being in a cell with 16 other people. Having a bathroom. The day before he had his bare feet in the grass because he hadnt seen grass for seven months, Caroline said.

They had a courtyard with big high walls, and they were only allowed out for 45 minutes a day  so just to put bare feet in the grass on a Saturday afternoon was heaven.

Hes home safely and thats what counts.

I just cant thank family and friends enough for lobbying and TDs raising Bernards issue in the Dail, MEPs, the Department of Foreign Affairs team and of course the Tanaiste and the president, who took the time to write to my father.

Caroline said her brother is also very conscious of the other European citizens who are still stuck in Iran.

Mr Phelan suffered from multiple health issues including hypertensive cardiac disease, eyesight problems and chronic weight loss while in prison.
Justice Minister Simon Harris is expected to meet with the Garda Commissioner this week following an attack on a city centre site for asylum seekers.

It comes as gardai remain on high alert for further violent protests against asylum seekers amid fears the attack on the tented camp in Dublin city centre on Friday night will embolden far-right agitators, who will now step-up their campaign against refugees.

The Irish Refugee Council has called for asylum seekers to be taken off the streets as a matter of urgency after a migrant campsite at Sandwith Street was torn down and set on fire following a demonstration at the site.

Gardai, including the public order unit, had earlier been present for Fridays protest against the encampment, while a counter-demonstration was also held.

The Justice Minister is due to meet with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris this week in relation to the incident.

A spokesperson for Simon Harris said: Minister Harris has been briefed on the situation at Sandwith Street. He remains in contact with gardai.

The minister reiterated that every person has a right to be safe and that any protest can never extend to an attempt to intimidate or endanger anyone, the spokesperson said.

There are concerns that last Friday's protest and subsequent destruction of the encampment will embolden the far-right movement and lead to them stepping up their anti-immigrant campaign.

It is the same group of people involved in stoking up tensions and playing on the concerns of local communities that are, in turn, escalating a situation as was seen on Friday, one security source said.

This incident is likely to embolden the movement and there are concerns that there will be further protests planned which have the potential to turn violent.

Gardai are continuing to monitor the online activities of several prominent right-wing agitators.

Department of Equality officials are also currently trying to secure accommodation for those who are forced to camp near the International Protection Office in the city centre.

Up to five sites for accommodation are due to come on stream over the next three or four weeks, including one in Dun Laoghaire and at least two others elsewhere in Dublin.

Irish Refugee Council chief executive officer Nick Henderson said yesterday that asylum-seekers need to be taken off the street and put into temporary accommodation as a matter of urgency.

He told RTE's This Weekprogramme: They are clearly targeted by the far right and their supporters. So we would have grave concerns for their immediate safety and to the point where then people need to be brought off the streets, put into temporary accommodation or offered temporary accommodation.

Over the weekend Taoiseach Leo Varadkar spoke out against the violent scenes, saying: I condemn this violence unreservedly. It is malign opportunism.

A tiny minority of people are clearly determined to make capital out of a difficult situation. The gardai are carrying out an investigation. We cannot tolerate actions such as this.

It comes as Dragons Den star Peter Casey labelled those who attacked a centre he has planned for Ukrainian refugees in Co Donegal as thugs.

The building at Ludden in Buncrana was set on fire on last Thursday night. Although nobody was in the building at the time there was considerable damage caused.

Mr Casey expressed his outrage at the attack on social media, but vowed to rebuild the centre.

So last night, my not-for-profit centre for Ukrainian refugees in Buncrana was broken into and severely damaged by fire, he posted on Twitter.

The sick individuals who did this do not represent the good people of Donegal. More determined than ever to open even more centres to help Ukrainians.
Four people have been arrested this morning as part of the investigation into the fatal shooting of Gary Carey (41) last year.

Two men in their 20s and two women  one in her 20s and one in her 30s  were arrested by Gardai this morning in connection with the killing.

Mr Carey was shot in an underground car park of a premises on the South Circular Road in Kilmainham, Dublin 8, on Friday, June 24.

He was rushed to hospital but died from his injuries at St James Hospital on August 5.

Witnesses reported hearing up to eight shots close to 11:30am before Carey, who was from the nearby Islandbridge area of the capital, was discovered critically injured.

The case has been the subject of a major investigation.

His younger brother, Darren Carey (20), was one of two men murdered in the Canal Murders in 2000.

Gary, who was a father of three, is buried alongside his brother Darren in Palmerstown Cemetery.

Last Junes fatal shooting was the third time Gary Carey had been shot at in the space of 15 months.

A garda spokesperson said today: Two men in their 20s and two women in their 20s and 30s are currently being detained under the provisions of Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 in various Garda stations across Dublin city.
Hay fever is currently triggering a range of symptoms for hundreds of thousands of people who rely on treatments. Photo: Getty   Getty Images

ELEVEN types of eye drops to treat allergic eye conditions, including hay fever, are among several medicines out of stock, according to the latest medicines shortage index.

Hay fever, an allergic reaction to pollen, is currently triggering a range of symptoms for hundreds of thousands of people who rely on treatments, including eye drops for itchy, red or watery eyes.

The latest medicines shortage index indicates that 241 medicines remain out of stock, including many eye drops and 30 antibiotics. This is a 36pc increase of medicine shortages compared to May last year, said Azure Pharmaceutical, which has been producing the tracking index.

It shows that 38pc of out-of-stock medicines here have only one supplier compared with 25pc in the rest of the EU.

Included in the range of medicines currently out of stock are certain strengths of aspirin, some brands of blood pressure tablets, certain tranquillisers, cough syrup, and medications to help with quitting smoking.

During the winter, pharmacists were desperately running out of common antibiotics and, although demand has reduced, the stocks of many of these drugs remain low.

Around 13 currently unavailable medicines are listed on the World Health Organisations critical medicines list.

The latest data, based on publicly available information from the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), shows month-on-month improvements.

However, the serious shortage of several medicines remains unresolved, it said.

Sandra Gannon, chief executive of Azure Pharmaceuticals, said: In Ireland, the medicine shortages crisis is persisting due to a lack of political interest in gaining a real understanding of the off-patent medicines industry. The underlying systematic problem is only going to worsen unless the issue is meaningfully addressed.

She said several other European nations have taken policy measures to address the medicine shortages crisis across the continent, as it becomes apparent that commercial reasons are one of the primary drivers of the crisis.

The EU recently published a long-awaited proposed overhaul of laws governing the EUs pharmaceuticals industry, but the reforms will not effectively address medicine shortages since they do not consider the rising costs and decreasing prices that affect the accessibility of older medicines in Europe, Ms Gannon said. The EU reforms do not fully address all the causes of medicine shortages.

The proposals look set to increase the administration and reporting requirements on shortages, as well as compel manufacturers to continue to supply long after it is commercially viable.

In the Irish context, a concern is that the unintended consequences of this long-awaited legislation could prompt manufacturers to exit smaller markets such as Ireland, turning a persisting medicine shortages issue into a chronic problem.

Irelands present cost-saving approach is actually a false positive because the lower the prices and volumes, the less attractive the market is for manufacturers. This can leave few suppliers for some critical medicines.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said many of the recent shortages were caused by an exceptional increase in demand for certain products to treat winter illnesses.

It is important to highlight that in the case of medicines used most often in Ireland, there are typically multiple alternatives available from various sources that remain available to ensure continuity of treatment, Mr Donnelly said.
VIRGIN Media presenter Martin King said he feels he is married to Rambo after his wife twice battled a brain tumour.

Celebrity photographer Jenny McCarthy had to undergo surgery in February last year to remove a brain tumour that had returned after her initial surgery in February 2011.

Martin, who co-frontsIreland AM, said his wife of 12 years is doing great now and they are hopeful of positive results when she has another scan in a few weeks time. Thankfully, her tumour was benign.

If thats a good result, then the next scan wont be for another 12 months, he told the Irish Independent.

Since the thing (tumour) came back, the scans are a bit more regular, but the last two scans have been clear. Her professor told us if this scan is clear, she wont need one for another year.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 15th

The recent health setback has put everything into perspective for them and they no longer worry about insignificant things.

The first time, we thought we had dealt with it and then the bugger came back again so we all went back to that initial fear but also because of where we were the last time, we knew what was going to happen.

You get beyond the first five years and you think, OK this is good and then all of the scans after that, youre going, Brilliant, OK, its clear again.

I remember David McRedmond (former Virgin Media CEO)  his sister unfortunately was quite sick  saying that for every scan, you go back to that very first moment. And he was absolutely right, you do.

You just go back to that first moment of, What if it isnt clear? We thought we were good and all of a sudden, she hadnt been feeling too well and the scan revealed that something was there again so we were quite shocked.

Surgeons had to go in a little bit deeper this time around to make sure they got all of the tumour and the recovery last year was much tougher for Jenny. But King said her fighting spirit was always there.

She had the surgery at 7am and she rang that night going, I just thought Id give you a call, Im in the high-dependency unit and Im OK.

And I was like, You had your skull open today, get your phone away from your head. I couldnt believe it when she rang me. But Im married to Rambo. I wouldnt be surprised if she stitched herself up after the surgery.

Virgin Media weatherman Deric Hartigan, Karen Koster and Martin King launch fundraiser Hospice Sunflower Days which coincides with Virgin's new series 'Inside the Hospice'

He was speaking as he helped launch fundraiser Hospice Sunflower Days, which coincides with Virgin Medias new documentary series Inside the Hospice. King said he had first-hand experience of a hospice when his sister-in-law, Margaret ONeill, went into Harolds Cross for support after her cancer battle.

The three-part series which airs tonight, tomorrow and Wednesday at 9pm is an intimate look at the staff and patients of Our Ladys Hospice and Care Services.

It aims to dispel the misconception about hospices that they are only places where people die when in fact, they also provide respite, symptom control and end-of-life care.
A man accused of robbery collected Aaron Brady from his girlfriend's house so they could steal the car "used in the murder" of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, a non-jury court has heard.

The prosecution today began delivering its closing speeches in the trial of James Flynn and Brendan Treanor who are charged with robbery at Lordship Credit Union near Dundalk in Co Louth, on January 25, 2013.

Det Gda Donohoe was shot dead during the raid and Aaron Brady was convicted of his capital murder in 2020.

Mr Flynn (32), originally from south Armagh and Mr Treanor (34), from Emer Terrace in Dundalk, are also charged with conspiracy to commit burglary between September 2012 and January 2013.

Today Lorcan Staines SC, prosecuting, said that the credit union robbery involved at least five people while others took part in planning and logistics.

The Special Criminal Court was told that spotter cars were "in no doubt also required", on the basis that the timing of the raid was "just too perfect".

The prosecution contends that those involved included "skilled drivers" and that they were a "local gang".

The Volkswagen Passat used in the credit union robbery was stolen during a creeper burglary in Clogherhead, Co Louth, in the early hours of January 23.

Mr Staines took the three judges through phone contact between a number of individuals, including James Flynn and Aaron Brady.

He stated that the last contact between them that night was for Mr Flynn to collect Brady from his girlfriend's house "so they can go to Clogherhead and steal the Volkswagen Passat used in the murder of Detective Garda Donohoe".

Mr Staines also told the court that Mr Treanor and Mr Flynn were involved in a "scoping exercise" on the afternoon of the robbery when they drove by the credit union at 1.45pm.

The barrister said that a similar exercise was carried out at a filling station at 8.58pm the night before the credit union raid.

Mr Staines said this premises was closed but that Mr Flynn and Aaron Brady chose to go there as it gave them a "very good viewpoint" of the credit union.

They also did so at that time in order to "obtain as much information as they can" relating to the locking up taking place.

The three judges were also told that the raiders were all technologically aware and used walkie talkies when carrying out the raid.

The phones of Brady, Treanor and Flynn, as well as three other men not before the court, were all silent before, during and after the robbery.

Mr Staines also said this has to be viewed in the context of who they were ringing before and after the robbery, and what they were doing on that day and the following day.

There was, he said, an abundance of evidence that puts the two accused together with Aaron Brady at the time and up to the committal of the robbery, which is further bolstered by phone evidence.

Mr Staines said that any gang planning a raid would have known that Lordship Credit Union was a "good target".

It had previously been robbed in August 2011, during which over 22,500 in cash was stolen in a raid that lasted just 17 seconds.

It was a robbery that Mr Flynn "must have known about" because he lived just a stones throw away from the premises.

The prosecution will continue delivering its closing speech tomorrow.

Earlier the court heard that there was mobile phone traffic, cell site analysis, CCTV footage and stolen items recovered to support the prosecution contention that both defendants were involved in creeper burglaries between 2012 and 2013.

Mr Staines said that documents taken from a burglary in Cavan were later recovered partly burnt in a property being rented by Aaron Brady.

A sat-nav device stolen from another burglary in Mullingar was later found in the possession of James Flynn's father.

This, the court said, showed it had travelled to and from his house.
The average market rent here between January and March was 1,750 per month, compared with 1,387 in the first quarter of 2020. Photo: Aidan Crawley

Market rents have risen by 11.7pc in the 12 months since March last year, according to the latest report from property website Daft.ie.

However, the quarterly increase has slowed to its lowest level since 2020, with market rents in the first three months of the year up just 1pc on average compared with the previous quarter.

The average market rent nationwide between January and March was 1,750 per month, compared with 1,387 in the first quarter of 2020 and a low of just 765 per month seen in late 2011.

The upward trend in market rents around the country is driven by extraordinary shortages in the availability of rental accommodation.

Nationwide, there were just 959 homes available to rent on May 1.

While this is up 13pc on the same date last year, it still represents one of the three lowest totals for availability at the start of the month in a series that extends back to the start of 2006.

The availability of rental homes is approximately one quarter the average level of availability during 2015-2019.

Daft identified significant regional differences in how rents changed in the first quarter.

In Dublin, rents rose by 0.5pc quarter-on-quarter, the same rate seen in the rest of Leinster.

However, in the four other cities, rents fell in the first quarter by 1.8pc on average.

In the case of Cork city, this is the first time in almost a decade that rents have not risen quarter-on-quarter.

In Munster, Connacht and Ulster rents continued to rise strongly outside of cities, by 3.8pc on average in quarter one of 2023.

Outside of open market rents, the report also includes an index of rents paid by sitting tenants, rather than movers, using a bespoke survey of thousands of tenants.

It shows that, on average, rents paid by sitting tenants have increased by 4.1pc over the last 12 months, with bigger percentage increases outside Dublin than in the capital.

Since the introduction of Rent Pressure Zones in 2016, rents of sitting tenants have increased by roughly 20pc on average, compared with an average increase in open-market rents of three quarters over the same period.

The reports author, Trinity College associate professor of economics Ronan Lyons, said it offers some crumbs of comfort for those of us gravely concerned about the health of Irelands rental market.

For over a decade now, the rental market has been characterised by worsening availability and, as a consequence, higher and higher rents.

He added: The private rental market has been under increasing stress over the last two years, as first society reopened after the Covid-19 pandemic and then the war in Ukraine led to a refugee crisis.

There are some signs that, if things are not getting better, then they are not getting much worse.

Availability of homes to rent has stopped falling, albeit at extremely low levels, while the quarterly change in rents seen January to March was far smaller than the average increase seen in 2021 and 2022.

Nonetheless, the solution to Irelands rental housing shortage requires significant action by policymakers.

The number of rental homes coming on to the market in newly built developments has held up in recent months but is likely to reduce in the quarters ahead, unless issues around planning certainty and viability are addressed.

Ultimately, policymakers must have a clear plan on how tens of thousands of new rental homes will be delivered this decade in all major towns and cities.
Dr Farah Ahmed died when her car went into Castlebar River on January 20The 31-year-old worked at Mayo University Hospital in CastlebarShe was remembered as a hardworking member of staff at an inquest

A 31-year-old doctor drowned when her car suddenly reversed at speed through a safety barrier into a swollen river, an inquest was told today.

The victim was Pakistani-born Dr Farah Ahmed, a member of the medical staff at Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar.

An inquest into the death of the young doctor, described as loved by everybody and hardworking, was opened and adjourned by the coroner for Mayo, Patrick OConnor in Swinford courthouse.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 15th

Garda Christopher Perrett said Dr Ahmeds car went into the Castlebar River at Hobans carpark just before midnight on January 21.

Garda Perrett said CCTV footage he later viewed showed the car reversing at speed through a wire fence leaving a large hole in the fence.

I saw the back right wheel of an upside-down vehicle in the river, the garda further testified.

The river was fast flowing. The car was almost completely covered by water.

Garda Perrett said fire services and divers arrived on the scene and the body of a female was taken from the car.

The deceased was pronounced dead at the scene.

Garda Perrett said that when he looked in the deceaseds handbag and he found the drivers learner permit.

Groceries bought earlier were also in the deceaseds car, the garda witness said.

Asked by Tom Walsh, solicitor for Dr Ahmeds next of kin, how long the vehicle was in the water, Garda Perrett replied: Probably 20 minutes to half an hour.

A medical colleague of the deceased, Dr. Fadel Bennani, a consultant pathologist, carried out a post-mortem.

He gave the cause of death as asphyxia due to drowning.

On a personal note, Dr. Bennani explained that Dr. Ahmed was a hardworking junior doctor loved by everybody.

He added: My condolences to her family and the hospital staff.

Mr. Walsh said Dr. Ahmeds family  whose mother lives in Pakistan and sister lives in London  appreciated all the efforts made to save her.

Describing the loss of the young doctor as tragic, Coroner OConnor adjourned the inquest hearing to December 18 next for the hearing of further evidence.

The coroner said it was clear the young doctor was a popular and valued member of the hospitals medical staff.

Sergeant Regina Carley, on behalf of An Garda Siochana, joined in the expressions of sympathy.
Former Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Brooke, who has died aged 89, has been remembered as playing a pivotal role in the peace process.

Mr Booke served as Northern Ireland secretary from 1989 and 1992 under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and also served in Prime Minister John Majors cabinet.

His time in the North was a critical period for Dublin and London, and with his appealing manner and seemingly infinite patience he was more than once able to bring the parties round the conference table.

His impeccable handling of all the parties made him as popular - or acceptable - to those involved as any of his predecessors in what had become a thankless post.

However, his reluctant singing of My Darling Clementine on RTEs The Late Late Show in January 1992, hours after an IRA attack had killed eight building workers in Co Tyrone, seriously damaged relations with the unionist parties.

In his statement to the Commons the following Monday, Mr Brooke told MPs although his actions were "innocent in intent" they were "patently an error".

He announced, after apologising unreservedly for his appearance on the show, that he had placed his resignation at the prime minister's disposal. However, Mr Major voiced full confidence in Mr Brooke after refusing his resignation.

Tanaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin said: "Peter played a pivotal role in the emerging Northern Ireland peace process, helping pave the way for an end to violence.

"My condolences to his family and friends at this sad time."

President Michael D Higgins said Mr Brooke made a positive and valuable contribution at a significant juncture in the peace process.

"It was during his time as Secretary of State for National Heritage that I met Peter Brooke.

"One couldn't but be struck by the great openness of spirit and charm which Peter Brooke had.

Former prime minister John Major said: Peter Brooke was a dear friend and colleague for many years  before and after our time in Parliament.

In all he did, Peter was the first gentleman of politics, which he elevated with his calm, gentle, yet tenacious character  not least with regard to his pivotal role in the Northern Ireland peace process.

Honourable to the core, he was one of the most deep down decent people I have ever known. I was proud to call him my friend.
Matt Barrett was posting on Instagram

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Matt Barrett with King Charles III at reception at Buckingham Palace before the coronation. Photo: Ian Jones   Ian Jones

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's partner Matt Barrett has apologised for private Instagram posts he made during the royal coronation.

Dr Barrett apologised for his comments "unreservedly" after they drew traction in the UK as he posted live updates during the ceremony, which drew criticism from some quarters.

"On reflection, poor judgment on my part. Unreservedly apologise for any offence caused," Mr Barrett said on Twitter.

This comes as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he has spoken to his partner Matt Barrett about irreverent comments to a group of 350 private followers on Instagram about the coronation of King Charles III and his wife Queen Camilla.

Mr Varadkar admitted that the comments lacked respect as he described them as irreverent and said it won't happen again.

It has been suggested by some that Mr Barrett should apologise to the British monarchy for the series of messages he posted while he attended the coronation with Mr Varadkar, which have entered the public realm.

Yeah, look, Matt's a private individual, my partner for over seven years now, and it was some private messages sent to some friends on his private account. You know, he never intended them to go public, but that happens sometimes, the Taoiseach told reporters in Limerick.

The posts included a photo taken from the Taoiseachs car in the VIP motorcade as it made its way along the Mall.

Holy s**t, I think Im accidentally crowned king of England, he wrote.

At Westminster Abbey, a number of entries in the official Order of Service were seen by Dr Barrett and posted on his page.

It was never intended to be shared publicly, and I don't think we're going to see a repeat of it

The first entry explained what would happen between the crowning of Camilla and her enthronement.

The queens sceptre and rod are brought from the altar by the Right Rev and Right Hon the Lord Chartres GCVO and the Right Rev Rose Hudson Wilkin CD MBE, Bishop of Dover. The queen touches them in turn.

Matt Barrett and Leo Varadkar. Photo: PA   PA

Dr Barrett published a photo which included a green line around the latter sentence and the comment: Sounds like the script to a good night out, tbh [to be honest].

Last weeks ceremony was the first time that leaders of the Irish people were present at the coronation of a British monarch since Daniel OConnell attended Queen Victorias coronation in 1838.

Drone display lights up sky above Coronation Concert

Speaking today in Limerick, Mr Varadkar said he had spoken to Mr Barrett about the matter, and he was confident it would not happen again.

We've spoken about it and I think it's fair to say it won't happen again.

Asked by reporters if he believed the messages were inappropriate, and if Mr Barrett should apologise, the Taoiseach replied: Ah look, hes a private individual, and that's obviously up to him.

"But like I say, (it was) a private account, it was never intended to be shared publicly, and I don't think we're going to see a repeat of it.

When asked if he felt the messages were irreverent, Mr Varadkar replied: Yeah, I think irreverent would be fair comment.

When asked if Mr Barrett should apologise, or if he felt embarrassed by reports that the messages were posted from Mr Barretts account while he was in the Taoiseachs VIP motorcade and in Westminster Abbey where attendees were ordered to turn off their mobile phones, the Taoiseach replied: Well, look, I think Ive answered that question.
High Court papers also claim Mr McKillen described a female contractor as a Spanish c**tAllegations mark latest twist in row between McKillen and Qatari royal Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani

Paddy McKillen is in a dispute with the owners of Maybourne Hotels

Property tycoon Paddy McKillen has denied claims made in a legal dispute that he wanted to hire a "non-gay" manager to run the luxury Claridge's hotel in London.

The allegation was made in one of the several lawsuits currently under way linked to a dispute between Mr McKillen and members of the Qatari royal family over a deferred payment potentially worth billions of euro to the Belfast-born businessman.

Documents filed with the High Court in London claimed Mr McKillen also described a female contractor as a "Spanish c***".

The allegations mark the latest twist in a row between Mr McKillen and the Qatari royal Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani, who controls the Maybourne Hotel Group, which owns Claridge's as well as the Berkeley and The Connaught hotels.

Mr McKillen ran Maybourne Hotel Group on behalf of Sheikh Hamad but they have since fallen out.

Paddy McKillen

Contacted by the Irish Independent for comment, Mr McKillen said the claims were untrue and defamatory.

It is an attempt to scare me from claiming my 20 years equity in Claridges and our five other hotels in the Maybourne Group. Payment is due and they will pay every penny Im owed, he said.

In the High Court documents, Sheikh Hamads side alleges that Maybourne was made aware in March 2022 of a number of allegations against Mr McKillen and two of his associates, Frank Sinton and Ronnie Delany.

The three men were accused of bullying and other inappropriate behaviour towards staff and contractors, according to the court filings.

The trio allegedly persistently referred to Eleanora Bassi, a contractor, as a Spanish c***. Mr Sinton also called her the b**** in the system, it is claimed.

Mr McKillen, meanwhile, allegedly expressed a wish to hire a non-gay and British general manager at Claridges.

The claims have come out in a defence document submitted to the court by Maybourne, which is being sued by Mr Sinton for defamation. It denies defaming him.

Mr McKillen was removed from the board of Maybourne Hotels 13 months ago amid an argument over a deferred payment claimed by the Irish property tycoon.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 16th

This payment dates back to Sheikh Hamad's acquisition of the hotel group in 2015, when he teamed up with Mr McKillen to buy the business.

Mr McKillen is claiming the payment  based on the estimated value of the business  for running the hotel group on behalf of its new owners.

Filings suggest the two sides are billions of pounds apart on what the company is worth. Valuations are believed to vary between 1bn and 5bn.

Mr Sinton was brought in by Mr McKillen as a project manager for a number of Maybournes properties.

The pair were denied access to Claridges after falling out with the Qataris, a decision that marked a further escalation of hostility towards Mr McKillen after he was fired from the board of the hotels group according to court documents filed by Mr Sintons lawyers.

It was part of a strategy to shore up the Al Thanis' negotiating position in relation to the deferred payment owed to Mr McKillen, the lawyers claim.

Lawyers for Mr Sinton said: Our client, who is completely innocent of any wrongdoing, is determined to seek vindication of his reputation at the earliest possible opportunity.

He hopes and believes this claim will reveal the true motivation on the part of the defendants for making defamatory statements about him.

The defendants declined to comment.

Mr McKillen is one of Irelands best-known property tycoons. The Belfast-born entrepreneur's initial fortune was based on building one of Northern Irelands first garage chains. He diversified into retail in the 1990s before teaming up with Irish investor Derek Quinlan to buy what was then called the Savoy Hotel Group in 2004.

Mr McKillen was involved in a renovation of Claridges that has led to the hotel being able to charge 100,000 a night for its penthouse suite.
Vodafone Ireland employees who act as carers for vulnerable loved ones will now be able to take 10 additional days of paid leave.

Other supports such as flexible hours and hybrid working will also be made available under the companys Caring for Vulnerable Others initiative.

Under current legislation, employees may take statutory carers leave for between 13 and 104 weeks, which is unpaid.

Vodafone says it has introduced this new support so as not to limit staff who wish to continue working while also caring for others.

The mobile phone network said the support is not limited to employees who are just caring for family members, or those with a serious illness. Staff looking after close friends or neighbours can also avail of the leave.

Vodafone said it will cover everything from hospital appointments to therapy sessions.

Research carried out by Family Carers Ireland shows that 250,000 people are juggling a career alongside caring responsibilities. More than half of carers (55pc) have been forced to give up on full-time employment, while half also say that caring responsibilities are holding them back from promotion.

Elaine Kelly, who works as large business propositions manager at Vodafone Ireland and also cares full-time for her 13-year-old son Daniel, who has autism, said the support will make a massive difference to me and my family.

While Daniel was diagnosed at the age of four, the therapies required for him are ongoing including intensive occupational therapy and speech therapy, which generally take place during the working week, she said.

This new support comes at a great time and will give me the flexibility to choose therapy slots that suit Daniel and not the other way round. Back in 2020, I also championed a project which saw the introduction of autism-friendly hours in our stores across Ireland.

It is fantastic to be part of a company that provides an open and supportive environment when bringing these supports to fruition, and that understands life is not always straightforward and that we need to make allowances for all in society.

Noelle Burke, human resources director at Vodafone, said the new support aims to ease some of the stress faced by carers while taking the stigma out of asking for help.

When I see the research that half of carers feel they are being held back from promotion and that by 2030, one-in-five in Ireland will have a caring role outside of work, I can see that more awareness and workplace supports are needed for this valuable group of people, she said.
Water workers will go on strike for two days next month.

THE threat of water shortages and boil water notices looms after 30 local authorities were today served with notice of a two-day strike in June.

Karan O Loughlin, Siptu division organiser, has warned that once a dispute by water workers begins next month, it is likely that there will be water shortages and boil water notices because the ongoing quality of water cannot be monitored in the normal way.

She said the dispute would start with a two-day stoppage, followed by rolling industrial actions. More strike days could not be ruled out, she added.

The workers are worried that they will end up with lower pay and worse terms and conditions if they remain working for the councils when water services move to Uisce Eireann (formerly known as Irish Water).

Stephen Kelly, water worker and chair of Siptus national negotiating committee, said there would be a two-day strike on June 7 and 8 followed by a series of industrial actions.

It is unfortunate that it has come to this, but water workers have to ensure that they will not be at a financial loss should they choose to remain with their local authorities, he said.

He said workers had been given commitments in relation to overtime but did not get them on allowances.

Ms O Loughlin said it had been a difficult choice for water workers but frustrations and tensions on the ground were very high.

She said Housing Minister Darragh O Brien had made public statements about the preservation of terms and conditions of water workers remaining with their local authority.

The government needed to live up to these commitments, she said.

It is very unfair that our members have to go on strike to deliver what has already been promised to them but strike they will until this matter is resolved, she said.

Brendan O Brien, Siptu sector organiser for the local authority sector, said the minister gave commitments that were written in a Framework for the Future Delivery of Water Services.

He said it had now become a matter of interpretation, with the management side taking the narrowest possible view of what the retention of terms and conditions means.

Mr OBrien said this created a significant financial loss for water workers. It is unacceptable that any interpretation would diminish the very terms the document is seeking to protect, he said.

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage said water services staff who choose not to voluntarily transfer to Uisce Eireann will "remain in the direct employment of their current local authority maintaining their current terms and conditions of employment. They may continue to work in water services, under the direction of Uisce Eireann, until December 31, 2026.

Local authorities will no longer have any involvement in the direct provision of water services to the public beyond that date, a spokesperson for the department said.

Further opportunities for staff who do not seek to transfer to Uisce Eireann will be identified during the transition period to 2026, including reassignment, redeployment, upskilling and training programmes. Under the framework, these workers will suffer no loss of earnings relative to their current water services role after they are reassigned within their local authority.

"Local authorities will work proactively and closely with staff who are to be reassigned to local authority roles outside of water services. It is expected that this will be a relatively low number of the overall water services workforce, and the arrangements for each individual worker will be agreed on a case-by-case basis. A Voluntary Redundancy scheme will also be made available under the Framework to eligible local authority water services staff members, the spokesperson said.
Region has reached the limit of how many visitors it can handle, mayor says

Visitors to Italy could find it more difficult to find accommodation in the tourist region of Trentino Alto Adige due to new rules limiting the number of overnight guests.

The minister for tourism, Arnold Schuler, told CNN that the region has reached the limit of how many visitors it can handle.

In 2022, there were 34 million visitors to the small region in the north of Italy, which is home to the spectacular mountain scenery of the Dolomites and peaceful hiking trails past glacial lakes.

The tourism chief proposed the new restrictive measures to ensure the regions areas of outstanding natural beauty such as the glacial Lago di Braies (above) and the Alpine meadow Alpe di Siusi do not become overcrowded.

Numbers of overnight visitors in the Northern Italy region will be capped at 2019 levels in the new rules, which have been adopted with immediate effect to cut down on overtourism.

No more guest houses, Airbnbs or hotels are allowed to open unless an existing one closes down.

Over the past five years, the number of Airbnbs in the area rose by 400pc, leading to an increase in traffic to and more footfall. There are often queues of people walking around at the same time, which touism chiefs believe spoil the effect of being at one with nature.

The regions popularity has also affected local residents, making it difficult for them to find affordable housing and to drive locally without getting stuck in traffic jams.

In the new rules, access to the glacial Lago di Braies will require pre-registration in advance to cap vehicles and avoid the paths around the lake becoming bottle-necked by too many people.

Access to the Alpe di Siusi, a huge Alpine meadow in the shadow of the mountains, has also been restricted, with no access to private vehicles between 9am and 5pm. Visitors will only be able to access the meadow via public transport.

Arnold Schuler justified the measures, saying: Tourists come here to hike and to see beautiful places, not to find themselves in a traffic jam.

The tourism sector is very important for us, for jobs and the economy, but we had reached the limit, so we took these measures to guarantee a better management of the flow of people, and to guarantee lodging for tourists.

The move comes after the Italian city of Venice announced plans to bring in a tourist tax to avoid overtourism.

Plans are being made up, but not yet enforced, to charge visitors between 3 and 10 per day to enter Venice or risk a 300 fine.
Trade Minister Simon Coveney cut the ribbon at Sheins new HQ in Dublin last week with the firms head of government relations Leonard Lin

Why spend a fortune on a well-made jacket when we can buy 10 cheap knockoffs instead? Its simple economics, even though we all know that we shouldnt buy clothes that are churned out faster than the latest viral TikTok dance.
Cllr calls for the immediate upgrading of outdated pedestrian crossings and traffic lights

Cllr Ian Doyle (FF) said up to 15,000 vehicles per day pass through Charlevilles busy Main Street.

THE recent tragic death of a pedestrian in Charleville has once again highlighted the urgent need for new traffic calming measures on the towns busy Main Street.

Thats the strongly held view of local Cork County Councillor Ian Doyle (FF), who has also called on the authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to speed up plans for the proposed Charleville relief road.

Speaking at Mondays northern area meeting, Cllr Doyle said the existing five pedestrian crossings in the town were clearly ineffective given the sheer volume of traffic passing through the town each day.

Unfortunately, I am again raising this issue on the back of yet another fatal accident in Charleville, one of seven fatalities caused by similar incidents in the town over the past 10-years, said Cllr Doyle.

He said that while traffic volumes in the town had risen to more than 15,000 vehicles per day, at least three of the pedestrian crossings on the Main Street were outdated and badly in need of upgrading.

I am asking the council and TII to urgently put in new traffic calming measures including realigning all five pedestrian crossings, tabletop ramps to slow down traffic and updating signage, said Cllr Doyle.

In addition, there are serious issues with the traffic lights at the crossings, which are antiquated and frequently not even working. They need to be upgraded to push button traffic lights, he added.

The second part of Cllr Doyles motion called for the immediate construction of a Charleville relief road, pointing out that plans for the road had been included in successive County Development Plans.

While I appreciate the N/M20 (Cork to Limerick project) is a hot topic at the it will assume to 20-years to come to fruition. In the meantime, I am asking that a relief road project be looked at again and put in place immediately, said Cllr Doyle.

He said the relief road would serve a dual purpose.

In addition to taking HGVs and heavy traffic out of the town centre, it would also free up 40-acres of land for badly need industrial development.

Cllr Doyles comments received the support of council colleagues, including Cllr John Paul OShea (FG) who said it was crucial that immediate action was taken to slow down traffic coming through Charleville town.

Cllr Bernard Moynihan (FF) said the current situation in Charleville was absolutely crazy.

Like Cllr Doyle, I believe it will be years before the N/M20 project comes to fruition. In the meantime, Charleville desperately needs a relief road, as does Mallow said Cllr Moynihan.

Cllr Liam Madden (FG) said the debate raised the issue of safety along the entire length of the N20.

The N/M20 project really needs to be pushed along to bypass towns like Mallow, Charleville and Buttevant and improve the safety of junctions along the existing N20 route, said Cllr Madden.

Responding to Cllr Doyles motion Padraig Barrett, the director of roads services with Cork County Council wrote the authority would write to TII requesting a review of traffic calming measures in Charleville town centre and approach, including possible alternative routes for HGVs.
The new layout as proposed by Cllr Gearoid Murphy is above - the existing layout below.

How will Macroom fare if the local political landscape is transformed according to the vision set out by Cllr Gearoid Murphy in his submission to The Electoral Commission?

AFTER decades of little or no change locally, the next General Election seems set to produce an unprecedented result locally.

A quick perusal of the submissions made by local politicians to the regarding Cork North West, where the town of Macroom currently resides, sees some persuasive arguments being made for Macroom being moved out of Cork North West which, some Fianna Fail councillors are contend that Cork North should be created as its own constituency, uniting towns like Charleville, Mallow, Kanturk, Newmarket, Mitchelstown and Fermoy.

Cllr Gearoid Murphy is based in Mallow and he wants to see the creation of Cork North and this would see Macroom become part of a new Cork West constituency.

The Boggeragh and the Derrynasagart Mountains (southeast and southwest of Millstreet) provide a clear natural barrier between the proposed Cork North and Cork West, writes Cllr Murphy in his submission.

These mountain ranges are ignored by the existing arrangement.

Similarly, the Nagles Mountains (south east of Mallow) coincide with the proposed boundaries between Cork North, Cork East and Cork North Central with the triconstituency point located in these mountains.

In Cllr Murphys proposed layout, Cork would have 20 seats in total - 5 for Cork North Central and Cork South Central, four for Cork West and three each for Cork East and Cork North.

The shifting of Macroom into Cork West could spell trouble for Aindrias Moynihan and whoever is to come in the wake of the departing Fine Gael TD, Michael Creed, as now they would be pitted in pitch battle for four seats in Cork West with the likes of Holly Cairns, Michael Collins and Christopher OSullivan.

What would this mean for Macroom and its hinterland? It could mean a lack of representation at the highest level - which, to be fair, the town has enjoyed a generous share of for the past several years due to the existing layout.

Its surprising, to say the least, that people from Macroom and its surrounds, not least of them being local councillors who might have further aspirations, are not included in the submissions to the Electoral Commission that Ive seen.

Thats not to say the views of local political people havent been considered by the main parties but it wasnt immediately clear in the submissions Ive seen.

So are the people of Macroom and the surrounding area going to be happy with this new arrangement if it comes to pass?

We will know in August what the results of the current submission process is and nothing is written in stone yet.

However the notion that Cork North West as the never changing constituency is well and truly on the way out.

Its time to get ready for the transformation of the local political landscape and speak up now before its too late!
John Jordan (43) was being threatening at a Luas stop. Stock image  

A public order offender who ran from the scene of a disturbance discarded his jumper in an attempt to avoid being caught by gardai.

Members of the public had filmed John Jordan (43) being threatening at a Luas stop and gardai located and arrested him. Judge Bryan Smyth fined him 200.

Jordan, with an address at Highfield, Dublin Road, Arklow, Co Wicklow, admitted threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour.

Dublin District Court heard gardai were alerted to a public order incident taking place at the Luas stop on Middle Abbey Street at 8.10pm on April 13.

When they arrived, a large group of people said a man was acting in an abusive manner to the public for no reason.

People had filmed footage of the incident on their phones and showed it to the gardai who went to find the culprit, who had fled the scene.

Jordan had discarded his jumper in an attempt to avoid detection but was arrested and charged.

Defence solicitor Lorraine Stephens said there had been no bad behaviour by the accused towards the gardai.

The accused was highly intoxicated and in an emotional state on the night, he ran and could not explain why.
Deputy Danny Healy-Rae has strongly criticised the works on the Kilcummin Sewerage Scheme in Co Kerry and calls for connection fees to the new scheme to be waived given the cost.

This call has been made by several councillors of Killarney Municipal District who have also hit out the traffic chaos and disruption the new scheme is causing within the local area.

The whole place is uprooted and residents have gone mad. There have been residents' meetings because the traffic up there is unbelievable, he told the Dail this week.

"They cannot come down the main road they used to use. Instead, they are using back roads. There are lorries going off roads into dykes and cars are being broken. The whole place is a mess.

He said that given the cost of connecting to the scheme of 3,900 that many cannot afford to do and while they can do so later the cost may increase given that Irish Water are not preparing for later connections to the scheme by leaving connection points at depths of 5m -7m to allow houses to connect at that depth.

If they do not leave connection points at that depth, then it will not be possible or too costly for homes to connect.

The cost will increase way more once the depth is more than 2.5m or whatever. Irish Water can charge whatever it likes. That means many of these people will never be able to connect to the scheme. There are between 50 and 70 houses affected. This is vital, he added.

He said that in light of a Government announcement to waive connection fees in specific instances this should be done here. However, the Government said that this waiver is specifically for residential developments as a measure to help the housing crisis and that outside of this charging is a matter for Irish water.

There are vacant houses along that road that need to be connected but the owners cannot afford the cost at this time. I am appealing to those in government to put their heads together. The Government  Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party  is looking for credit but, God almighty, can it not see what could be done for this small sum of money?

"The trench is open and all that has to be done is for the pipe to be connected to it. There is no digging needed. Irish Water should run the pipe up to the boundary fence and leave it there, replied Deputy Healy-Rae.
At the age of 67, Tralee's Fiona Griffin is heading back across the Atlantic for a second J1 stint following on her hugely successful experience last year.

Tralee native Fiona Griffin is this year once again proving that age is no barrier to adventure with the now 67-year-old grandmother jetting off this week for a second consecutive summer in the US on a J1 visa.

Fiona made headlines both nationally and internationally last year when she announced that at the grand old age of 66, she had successfully received a J1 visa  which up to then had been more traditionally associated with students in their early 20s  and that she would be taking up the position of Activities Counsellor for the summer at Camp Clearwater in Wisconsin.

Such was, in her own words, the absolutely amazing experience that she enjoyed last summer, it was no surprise then this week to hear that Fiona was heading back for three more months of fun...with a few more tricks up her sleeve this time around too.

Speaking to The Kerrymanthis week,Fiona  who reckons that shes one of, if not, the oldest person to get a J1 visa  was busy packing her bags ahead of the first leg of her trip which will see her take in Mexico, Washington D.C and Detroit before making the journey back to Wisconsin for the start of camp.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 15th

"Last year, when I came home, I thought 'okay, that's great, I did it, I loved it' but I honestly didn't know whether I would do it again or not. But after a while, I really missed it [camp life], the community spirit, the family atmosphere and all of the fabulous friends I made, she said, adding that her mom passing away in October of last year really had a bearing on her decision to go back.

"Two of the women from the camp, they were in touch with me and they asked 'are you thinking about next year?' and they said they would love to have me back if I wanted to do it and so I thought about it and said 'you know what, why not?' I reckon I'm the oldest person ever to get a J1 because I've Googled it a few times and I'm always the one that comes up," she laughed.

Fiona will be away for three months this time around and as shes set to become a grandmother once again in August, she will be doing all of her travelling that she would normally have done after camp before camp this time around and she said shes got great friends to thank for this.

"One of the girls that I became very friendly with last year, she's Mexican and she has invited me to Mexico for her graduation where I'll be spending two weeks. As well as this, a lady who works in the State Department, I'll be staying with her in Washington and she has also invited me to come for a visit to the J1 office because she said they'd love to meet me and hear about my experience last year."

"After this then, what I decided to do this time around was because it's quite difficult to get to camp  it's very rural  is meet up with my friend who shared the cabin with me last year and who will be sharing the cabin with me again this year. I'm going to visit her home outside of Detroit and then we'll take a two-day drive to camp together, she said.

As to what she is looking forward to the most about camp life 2.0, Fiona said that its a mixture of seeing old friends again, making new ones and oh, you know, showing off all of the new skills shes been practising in the past 12 months.

"I'm looking forward to getting back on the lake, on Lake Tomahawk, and actually in the last couple of weeks, I've learned how to drive a speed boat too so I'm hoping that they'll allow me drive this time around...after a bit of practise too of course. As well as this, I've gone to archery lessons and I've taken it up as a hobby after doing it at camp last year. I found that I absolutely loved it."

"I'm hoping to put those extra few skills into practice! she laughed.

Finally, Fiona said that off the back of her high profile visa success last year, shes been inundated with requests from people  including a fellow Tralee  girl on how to apply.

"This year, several people contacted me over the winter around how I did it [apply for the J1 and camp] and there was one Tralee girl who is heading out on a J1 this summer too but to a different camp to me. We had lots of phone calls and lots of meetings on how to do the paper work and what not and please god, it [the J1 experience] will be as much of a success for her as it was for me."

To follow Fionas J1 journey again this year, you can head over to her Instagram page here: https://instagram.com/retiree_on_a_j1_visa?igshid=MTIyMzRjYmRlZg==
A persistent high temperature was the first sign that something wasnt right with Finn Lynch

This is the remarkable story of a little boy who is battling bravely against a very serious illness-but whose courage is a shining example to all.
The body of a 26-year-old Sligo tourist was recovered from a river near Zweilutschinen in Switzerland on Monday,police have confirmed.

Bunninadden native Justin Flannery (26) is believed to have fallen into a river in Lauterbrunnen.

According to his twin brother Johnathan, he had been traveling in Switzerland when he went missing last Friday. It's thought that he has been swept away in the river.

A number of family members have flown to Switzerland to search.

Swiss police have confirmed the body of an Irish tourist was found in a river.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 15th

In a statement, local police said the man had been reported missing from the Lauterbrunnen area on Saturday.

Mountain specialists, search dogs and a maritime crew took part in an extensive search for the young man, it said. His body was recovered from a nearby river on Monday evening, police stated.

Police said on Tuesday that they were investigating the cause of the Irish tourist's death.

The Swiss police force said that extensive search measures were immediately initiated after it received a report that a man was missing in Lauterbrunnen on Saturday at around 4:45 pm.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said it was aware of the case and was providing consular assistance to the Flannery family. As with all consular cases, the department does not comment on the details of any specific case.

On Monday evening, May 15, third parties were able to locate the missing person in the Weisse Lutschine, at the level of the Isenfluh junction, near Zweilutschinen (Gundlischwand municipality), police confirmed.

The maritime police rescued the man from the water and were only able to determine his death. The Care Team of the Canton of Berne was deployed to look after the relatives.

Investigations to clarify the events were started under the direction of the regional public prosecutor Oberland, police said on Tuesday.

A GO Fund Me page had been established by the family who said they were hoping to raise funds to search for Justin and to support his transfer home.

"It is all very unknown at the moment, we appreciate any little support and your thoughts and prayers, Justins twin brother Johnathan said in a post on the page.
Brendan OSullivan has been appointed as the new principal of St Marys CBS Secondary School in Enniscorthy.

Mr OSullivan is a long-serving member of staff in the school and is synonymous with the CBS. Originally from County Cork, he first joined the school staff in 1994 and spent 20 years in the class room as a teacher.

He was appointed Deputy Principal in 2014 and served in that capacity until now.

The school has ambitious plans in place to expand over the coming years and Mr OSullivan, who is a very popular member of staff in the school, is looking forward to working in his new role on behalf of the entire school population.
When the Irish National Opera comes to town on Friday of this week, Director Fergus Sheil will be reminded of his initiative to set up the Gateway Orchestra in Wexford 20 years ago. With great foresight he was instrumental in launching the orchestra as a way of developing a pool of musicians to sustain Wexford Sinfonia into the future, and he became its first conductor.

He could little have foreseen how successful his efforts would be. With the unflinching support of the Wexford County Council Arts Department the orchestra has gone from strength to strength, and from its initial aim to be a source of musicians for the principal orchestra it has evolved to become a significant orchestra in its own right, and annually holds a summer concert in the National Opera House and a charity Christmas concert.

Speaking as he prepared to bring Mozarts Cosi Fan Tutte to the National Opera House on Friday, Fergus reflected on the early days of the orchestra. Im delighted that Gateway has developed so successfully, and am proud to have played a part in setting it on its way. From my time conducting it in the early days I know what enjoyment the players get from being able to share the experience of playing great music, and Im certain that the orchestra is destined for another twenty years contributing to Wexfords cultural scene.

The orchestra draws its members from all over the county and beyond. It seeks members among those who may have played in times, past but who had up perhaps due to lifestyle changes, and people who have taken up instruments in later life. It is unique in the country in giving those players the opportunity to play orchestral music that would otherwise have been denied them.

The orchestra is celebrating this milestone anniversary in the National Opera House on Sunday May 21 at 7.30. Guests that have appeared with the orchestra in the past include Claudia Boyle, who subsequently went on to become an international opera sensation. This year the concert will feature guest appearances by local opera star Clodagh Kinsella, and the exciting Dublin Welsh Male Voice Choir, who are visiting Wexford for the first time.

For conductor, Mary Walsh, this is her first time to conduct the orchestra in the National Opera House. Mary is also the resident conductor of the Dublin Welsh Male Voice Choir, and was delighted to bring the choir to Wexford for its debut in the National Opera House.

It is going to be a great night of classical, musical theatre and Welsh music; a contrasting concert featuring orchestra, a wonderful soloist, Clodagh Kinsella, and choir, the Dubbin Welsh Male Voice Choir. Im excited to make my debut in the National Opera House with the wonderful ensemble, the Wexford Gateway Orchestra. We look forward to showcasing our hard work, and would love to have you join us on the night. All are welcome, and we hope to see you all there.

Gateway Orchestra Summer Concert,

National Opera House, Sunday May 21, 7.30pm

See nationaloperhouse.ie for ticket information
New Local Link bus services into and out of New Ross are coming on stream in the summer and autumn.

The positive news for bus users was announced at the New Ross Municipal District meeting on Wednesday.

Mary OLeary of Local Link said the turnover has grown from 500,000 to over 3m over a few years.

"We are all over Co Wexford, with a particular emphasis on rural area, with over 60 routes.

With 194,000 users of the service last year, all indications are that numbers will be up again this year, she said.

"We have more routes this year and were experiencing phenomenal growth in rural areas.

The services include door to door by pre-booking the day before. Ms OLeary said the demographic who use this service have been slow returning to it since the pandemic. Many young people use the service as parents see it as a safe way for their teenagers to travel on their own for the first time.

Ms OLeary said the New Ross Community Bus is being replaced, adding that she is hoping that an increase in demand for it will lead to more days operation per week, beyond Thursdays and Fridays.

"We are trying to cover areas where the community bus is covering. We are trying to connect to the town centre and have been given Leap fares for this route.

"The 368 runs between New Ross and Enniscorthy and this has also been used as a town service where people can get on or be dropped off at Willow Park or Knockavilla and get down to the quay. There are four door to door services that come into New Ross, including from Hook and Hookless village and Carrig on Bannow and Clongeen. Some of the routes are more popular than others.

A new route, the 359, will bring people from New Ross to Kilmuckridge and is expected to come on line in the autumn.

The 353 will connect Clonroche and Adamstown, going on to Wexford.

The Hook service  which runs seven days a week  will connect with the Passage East ferry, with a bus connection on the Waterford side.

"Three high frequency services are coming into New Ross in addition to the 368. Cathaoirleach Cllr Michael Sheehan praised the work Ms OLeary and her team have done in expanding the service.

There are a huge amount of new routes and connectivity. It will be interesting to see how much they are used. With the services its a question of use it or lose it but there are very few areas that wont be covered by the end of this year.

Ms OLeary was asked if bus stops can be erected and district director Eamonn Hore asked for a list of locations to be furnished to the relevant department at Wexford County Council.

Ms OLeary said Local Link provides a very affordable way for people to travel, and the free travel pass can be used on all services.

Cllr Michael Whelan raised the lack of taxis in New Ross, asking if a Local Link service could fill the gap. Ms OLeary said she would need evidence and numbers to prove the need for the service in New Ross.

"We have a database of unmet needs. We do have a night service into Wexford from Ballycullane.

Cllr Pat Barden asked if a private group can use a Local Link service for a particular function and was told Local Link could pass on details of bus service operators, but does not provide such a service.

She said a trial of a community bus between Taghmon and Camross is planned.

Cllr John Fleming said he is a regular user of Local Link, saying the buses are spotless.
An aerial view of what Brennan's Lane in New Ross will look like when works are completed.

Designs are being drawn up for a food market space in Brennans Lane, New Ross, which will see hundreds of thousands of euros invested into transforming it into a multi-use public space.

Avanti Architects, the consultants on the Brennans Lane/Shambles Project, continue to work on drawings, design details and tender documents, area manager Alan Fitzhenry told Wednesdays New Ross Municipal District meeting.

"We expect to update the members with more detailed information at our next monthly meeting.

Cllr Bridin Murphy said the Norman food tour visiting New Ross on the Monday of the June Bank Holiday weekend looks fantastic, adding its something that we, as a town, should be trying to encourage more of into the town, especially with The Shambles and Brennans Lane areas coming up.

Cllr Murphy was told Brennans Lane has been earmarked for a space for a farmers market.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Michael Sheehan asked what will happen the bins residents and businesses use in the lane.

Cllr John Fleming said the return of a farmers market to New Ross would be most welcome.

"We should look at a farmers market or some kind of market on the quay again. If the French tour one is full other people might get ideas to have a market in the town.

Cllr Pat Barden called for the French food tour to be advertised.

"People will be looking for somewhere to go on a bank holiday Monday. Its generally a boring day with everyone with hangovers as well.

Mr Fitzhenry said there will be 12 stalls and a French band will play at the event, with local bands also performing throughout the day.

Cllr Anthony Connick said there is a farmers market in the town, located at New Ross Rugby Club every Friday.
Members of Arklow Meals on Wheels were delighted to receive a massive donation of 1,060 from Arklow Bridge Club, which was raised at their annual charity fundraiser.

Arklow Meals on Wheels volunteers Ann O Neill, Hilary Sharpe and Hazel Killeen  who are celebrating 21 years of the vital community group this year  were in attendance to accept the generous donation from Arklow Bridge Club members Ann Marie O Farrell and Bernie Doyle.

Yesterday we were delighted to welcome two ladies from the Tuesday evening Arklow Bridge Club, Ann Marie O' Farrell and Bernie Doyle, to present us with a cheque for 1060 raised at a recent charity night they held, Hilary Sharpe said.

They meet every Tuesday Evening in Arklow Presbyterian Church Hall and do a fundraiser for a local charity once a year. We were lucky enough to be selected this time and its a fantastic amount of money.

We are most grateful to you all for your kindness and generosity you have shown to Arklow Meals on Wheels, which is totally volunteer run and led by a fantastic group of dedicated people.

Were 21 years old this year and we hope to have some events to celebrate it soon.
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 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.

All kinds of amazing

If your child has additional needs, this group may be for you. Welcoming and friendly, perfect for sharing experiences.

The group meet between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. every last Wednesday of the month, at Arklow Library.

Drama Camps

The Mad Drama School will host a mini drama camp for 4 to 6 year olds at their in Arklow studio from July 3 to July 7.

Contact KathyAnn on 0863981103 or email kathyannm391@gmail.com for info.
A new strategy by the National Transport Authority (NTA) to regulate how public transport fares outside the Dublin area are calculated has been slammed as a raw deal for Wicklow commuters by Greystones Councillor Stephen Stokes, who said it is a prelude to higher fares for hard-pressed bus and rail users.

The new National Fares Strategy has been designed by the NTA to ensure better value, greater transparency and equality in respect of journey distance, meaning the cost per kilometre travelled should be consistent across the country and will be related to the straight line distance between the origin and destination of journey.

The fare for a bus journey of say, 20km, will be the same whether it takes place in the north-west or south-east. Currently this is not always the case, the NTA said.

By way of example, the NTA compared a journey of 30km taken between Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow, to Dublin at a cost of 2.80, to one taken between Fermoy, Co Cork, to Cork city, a distance of 29km with a fare of 5.95.

The example, it said, illustrates the issues in the current fare structure, where journeys are similar in distance but there exists a discrepancy between the fares charged.

This demonstrates some of the inconsistencies which the NTA would like to address with the implementation of a new fares structure, making the gap between these fares for example, much smaller, if not eliminated completely, it added.

The strategy also aims to eliminate fare inconsistencies within the Dublin region, and to address, this two new zones have been created which will be problematic for those commuters on the fringes in County Wicklow.

In Dublin, a City Zone is to be introduced which will extend approximately 23km from the city, and broadly equates to the existing 90-minute fare zone.

A new Outer Dublin Commuter Zone extending to approximately 50km from Dublin city centre will also be created. It will include towns such as Drogheda, Navan, Trim, Enfield, Clane, Prosperous, Newbridge, Kildare, Greystones and Wicklow.

The NTA said this will ensure that the cheapest fare is made available for passengers and will help alleviate boundary issues between the national and city fare structures.

While the Dublin City Zone fares remain unchanged, fares for journeys between Dublin and the Outer Dublin Commuter Zone will be reviewed and revised in upcoming determinations.

However, Cllr Stokes has expressed concern that Greystones, Charlesland, Delgany, Kilcoole, Killadreenan and Newcastle have been lumped into this new 50-kilometre outer zone.

He said this means Greystones Municipal District commuters travelling to Dublin will pay either a national fare or Express Bus fares, plus a surcharge for every kilometre to the new Dublin City Zone.

"We will have to see what the precise impact is, he said. However, it feels like commuters can't catch a break from the Government and the NTA. Many people in Greystones will remember when a return train ticket to Dublin was around 10.

While I appreciate that the NTA wants to create fare consistency, it seems mad to put the Greystones District into the same bracket with Trim, Navan, and Drogheda which are much further from Dublin."

The new changes are expected to take effect from late 2023.

Cllr Stokes said he believes the NTA logic which created the Dublin City Zone boundaries is questionable.

"The new Dublin City Zone is 23 kilometres. That is an unusual number to pick. Yet when you look at their strategy map, there are several commuter towns like Greystones just barely on the wrong side of the boundary. It looks like a prelude to much higher fares for Charlesland, Delgany, Greystones, Kilcoole, Killadreenan and Newcastle. Additionally, as Newcastle is the furthest away from Dublin, they are likely to be hit hardest by per kilometre stealth charges."

Cllr Stokes has written to the NTA and Transport Minister, Eamon Ryan to highlight his concerns.

"Here we are again, he said, talking about the NTA and Minister Ryan giving North Wicklow commuters a raw deal. If we want to get people out of cars we need to ensure that public transport is affordable, available and reliable. You would have to question the decision making.
The Duke of Sussex is among those who have brought the legal action (Jacob King/PA)   Jacob King

The author of a biography on the Duke of Sussex has denied having a vested interest in helping Harry, the High Court has heard.

Omid Scobie, co-author of the biography Finding Freedom about Harry and the Duchess of Sussex, entered the witness box on Monday as part of a trial in claims brought by several high-profile individuals, including Harry, against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).

MGN  publisher of The Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People  is accused of unlawful information-gathering including voicemail interception, securing information through deception and hiring private investigators for unlawful activities.

The publisher is contesting the cases and has also said there is no evidence, or no sufficient evidence, of voicemail interception in any of the four claims chosen as representative cases.

The court heard that as a journalism student, Mr Scobie spent a week at the Sunday People where he claims he was given a list of mobile numbers followed by a detailed verbal description of how to listen to voicemails, as if it were a routine newsgathering technique.

In his witness statement, Mr Scobie continued: I was taken aback by what seemed completely immoral and I never carried out the task.

Mr Justice Fancourt was told that in spring 2002, Mr Scobie did work experience at the Daily Mirror and allegedly overheard then-editor Piers Morgan being told that information relating to Kylie Minogue and her boyfriend had come from voicemails.

The High Court in London was also told there is an invoice from a private investigator firm for 170, addressed to a showbiz journalist at the paper, for K Minogue.

The royal commentator continued in his written evidence: I recall that during one of those days in the office  which housed the 3AM team and some showbiz journalists in the same section  the editor of the newspaper, Piers Morgan, came over to talk with someone, I do not recall who, about a story in the works on Kylie Minogue and her, on-off, at the time, boyfriend James Gooding.

Mr Morgan was asking how confident they were in the reporting and was told that the information had come from voicemails.

I recall being surprised to hear this at the time, which is why it stuck in my mind.

Mr Scobie added he was not totally shocked by this, following his experience at the Sunday People.

Mr Morgan, who was the Mirrors editor between 1995 and 2004, has previously denied involvement in phone hacking.

He recently told the BBC: I think phone hacking is completely wrong and shouldnt have been happening, and it was lazy journalists being lazy.

At the start of his cross-examination, Andrew Green KC, for MGN, described Finding Freedom  Mr Scobies book written with fellow journalist Carolyn Durand  as favourable to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

It was fair, Mr Scobie replied.

The barrister later asked whether the reporters career is to some extent linked to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Mr Scobie said: I would say that a lot of that would be due to factors out of my control.

Nikki Sanderson is among those taking action (Suzan Moore/PA)   Suzan Moore

The royal correspondent later said he was a journalist trying to do my job amid claims he was a cheerleader or mouthpiece for the couple.

Mr Green said: Do you have a vested interest in helping the Duke of Sussex if the opportunity arises?

No. What I am doing right now is giving ammunition to the tabloids to continue calling me his friend, Mr Scobie replied.

The royal correspondent said he did not have Harrys mobile number, adding he was wrongly described as Meghans mouthpiece and cheerleader for the couple.

He continued: I am a member of the press trying to do my job  what I am doing today is making my life more difficult.

Ex-Sunday Mirror reporter Dan Evans  who was described as the papers former in-house hacker  also entered the witness box on Monday.

Mr Evans  who later joined the now-defunct News of the World, subsequently admitted phone hacking and was given a 10-month suspended prison sentence  alleged there was endemic criminality at both the News of the World and MGN.

He alleged that many people at MGN titles were involved in what I today honestly believe to be one of the longest and most developed corporate/criminal conspiracies in British history.

In written submissions, Mr Green previously said there was some evidence of third parties being instructed to carry out other forms of unlawful information-gathering, except in the case of actor Michael Turner  known professionally as Michael Le Vell.

He told the court: Where that is so, MGN has made admissions but for many of them, there is simply no evidence they engaged in unlawful information gathering at all.

Mr Evans later alleged that journalists at the Sunday Mirror would stand up stories from legitimate stories by looking to hack the phones of the individuals involved, or their friends, so that we could verify the truth of the information given to us by the source.

As well as Harry, Coronation Street actors Mr Turner and Nikki Sanderson, and comedian Paul Whitehouses ex-wife Fiona Wightman are named as representative cases for the trial.
Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield appeared on ITVs This Morning together amid reports of a rift between the pair.

The duo put on a united front as they appeared side by side on Monday and made no reference to stories in the press about their relationship.

The show opened with Disney composer Alan Menken playing a medley on a piano.

Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield (PA)   Jonathan Brady

Willoughby, 42, said: Oh, that was so nice.

Schofield, 61, added: What a way to start your Monday this morning.

Turning to Willoughby, he said: That is right up our street.

His co-star agreed: Right up my street. Its just a little taste of what weve got coming up later ahead of the release of The Little Mermaid.

Award-winning Disney composer Alan Menken will be performing a medley of some of his best known songs and Im going to try really hard not to sing along.

You might have to gag me.

Schofield joked: This could be your audition. This could be your big moment.

The pair continued to joke with each other throughout the show, including when they took part in a core exercise routine with a celebrity fitness instructor.

After they completed a series of abdominal workouts, Schofield asked while laughing: Is this the first thing weve done from the floor?

Willoughby replied: I think it might be. If youre just tuning in now youll be thinking What has happened?'

Last week, Schofield hailed Willoughby as his rock in a statement to The Sun following reports the pairs relationship has come under strain.

He said: As I have said before, Holly is my rock. Were the best of friends  as always, she is an incredible support on screen, behind the scenes and on the phone.

Holly has always been there for me, through thick and thin. And Ive been there for her. The last few weeks havent been easy for either of us.

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby (Ian West/PA)   Ian West

Schofield took pre-planned leave from the show around his brothers sex abuse trial at Exeter Crown Court last month.

Willoughby also recently took time off from the ITV morning programme due to shingles.

The TV duo have presented the show together since 2009 and also co-host ITVs Dancing On Ice.

Last September, the pair faced a backlash over claims they skipped the queue for the Queens lying in state.

Following an online outcry, the chief executive of ITV said Schofield and Willoughby had been misrepresented over the issue and stressed they had been attending as members of the media to film a segment for This Morning.

Over the years they have been open about their close friendship including sharing pictures on social media of them while on joint holidays with their families.
The couple were married for 56 years.

A British pensioner on trial for murder over the death of his terminally ill wife told a Cyprus court on Monday she had repeatedly begged him to end her torment and help her die.
The introduction of QR codes is designed to make the church more transparent

Priests in France will be required to carry QR codes that the public can scan in order to check if they have been struck off as part of a sexual abuse clampdown.
Meet the firm behind our content. Visit their website to see how their services can help your business succeed.
Vinsys website

Kolkata/Pune: Vinsys, Pune-headquartered global IT services company, is actively seeking inorganic growth opportunities to expand its reach in new markets, including the US and UK while continuing to consolidate its position in the Middle East.

The company plans to open a new corporate office &training centre in Saudi Arabia before the end of Q2FY24.

It is in talks with mid-size companies in similar lines of business in the regions above. As Vinsys marks its 25th year, the company is also working towards an initial public offering (IPO) that it aims to complete within the current calendar year.

Currently,Vinsys operates in eight countries, including the UAE, Oman, Malaysia, Singapore, Nigeria, Kenya, the UK, and the US. Vinsys boasts a team of over 800 professionals certified by major tech companies and institutions, including IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, Autodesk, and Cisco, among others.

Founded by Vikrant Patil, Vinsyscommenced operations as a boutique training centre for a few IT clients and gradually grew intoIndia's second-largest corporate training firm. However, the company's success is more accurately reflected in its global ambitions, particularly in the Middle East, where it became the largest corporate training player in the region through customised offerings and a series of acquisitions over the past decade.

Commenting on the companys success, Vikrant Patil, Founder & CEO, Vinsys, said, We entered into a nascent industry, enabling us to offer clients customised modules as needed. In time, the company has ramped up its operations and invested in world-class training rooms and facilities with the sustained support of its clients, including global IT majors in Pune.

The company offerscustomised courses for critical sectors such as BFSI, Telecom, and Government departments, where training for IT and processes is essential. The focus on reskilling employees and sustained investments in learning has increased significantly in the wake of Covid, providing Vinsys with an opportunity to grow substantially due to its demonstrated success over two decades and robust client and vendor relationships.

Having trained over 1 million professionals worldwide, Vinsys is looking to double its growth through acquisitions in the coming months, particularly in corporate training and digital learning platforms. Vinsys has already acquired several players in both the Indian and international markets, with a focus on talent and infrastructure.

The core story of Vinsys is accelerating globally, utilising its proven M&A model. The company has demonstrated its capability of acquiring, integrating well, and showing significant progress on top and bottom lines. With a sense of accelerating or scaling up, Vinsys is confident in its ability to capture new growth opportunities. Furthermore, the company's proven track record of successful acquisitions and integration is an attractive proposition for potential targets.

The company has more than five training centres worldwide, most of which are located in India and the Middle East. The pandemic-induced shift to online training has enabled Vinsys to utilise its trainers and rationalise expenses, improving margins efficiently.

With ongoing global uncertainty, Vinsys sees an opportunity to scale its operations and has firmed up its fundraising plans. The company has appointed merchant bankers and legal firms for the purpose of fundraising. For the year ended March 31, 2023, Vinsys achieved a revenue of Rs. 157.30crores and a net profit of Rs. 16.02 crores.

As Vinsys continues to expand its global footprint, it is confident in its ability to execute M&A transactions successfully and efficiently integrate new firms, resulting in sustained growth for the company. In addition to tapping inorganic growth opportunities, Vinsys is also looking to grow organically, said Vikrant. Towards this, the company has already recruited business development teams in the US and is looking to do the same in Europe, added Vikrant.
SRAM and MRAM Group website

Kolkata: United Kingdom-based SRAM & MRAM Group will invest $100 million in SpiceXpress and Logistics Pvt. Limited. Both sides have signed a MoU as part of the investment deal.

SpiceJet Ltd. recently completed the hive off SpiceXpress into a separate entity effective April 1, 2023 paving the way for the Company to raise funds independently.

Headquartered in United Kingdom, SRAM & MRAM group is a leading international conglomerate with offices in Cambodia, South Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bahrain, Georgia, India & Bangladesh.

The Groups interests are spread across multifarious services, business verticals and operations viz., agricultural and agro-food products, neural networks, artificial intelligence, hedge fund management, forex management, hospitality services and solutions, information technology, media and publishing, embedded systems and infrastructure.

Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet, said, SpiceXpress is delighted to enter into a MoU with SRAM & MRAM Group for a $100 million investment into the Company. We had recently hived off SpiceXpress into a separate Company as we were extremely confident and bullish about the potential of our tech-enabled logistics business and this MoU reaffirms our belief. This investment should help SpiceXpress to further grow and expand and provide a more streamlined and efficient service to its customers.

Dr. Sailesh Lachu Hiranandani, Chairman, SRAM & MRAM Group, said, We are pleased to join hands with SpiceXpress in its promising future and growth story. We see excellent growth opportunities in the logistics and cargo space in India. We are confident that SpiceXpress will contribute to Indias growth story. In a short time since its inception, the Company has shown exceptional growth in the nascent air cargo market and we see a tremendous potential for the Company in Indias fast growing cargo and logistics market.

The MoU with SRAM & MRAM Group follows a restructuring agreement with aircraft lessor Carlyle Aviation Partner wherein the latter picked up a stake in SpiceXpress at an anticipated future valuation of $1.5 billion or Rs 12,422 crore.
Image: UNI

Naypyidaw: At least five people died and several others were injured in Myanmar as a result of Cyclone Mocha, the Myanmar emergency services inform.

On Sunday, media reported that Myanmar and Bangladesh were evacuating thousands of people as Cyclone Mocha approached.

Mocha made landfall in Myanmar's Rakhine state near Sittwe township later on Sunday.

"Five people died, several were injured in Rakhine State, Shan State, Mandalay City... due to the cyclone," local emergency services said on Twitter on Sunday.

According to Myanmar's emergency services, wind speeds reached 120 miles per hour (193 kilometers per hour) after Cyclone Mocha made landfall in the country. Myanmar's government has set up a special commission to coordinate rescue efforts.

(With UNI inputs)
Image Credit: Twitter/Pema Khandu

Itanagar/IBNS: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu witnessed a significant milestone today as he observed the inaugural drone flight at the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Science (TRIHMS).

The event marked the launch of the "Medicine From Sky" program, which connects the hospital with the East Kameng district.

Accompanied by Health Minister Alo Libang, the Chief Minister also flagged off 100 medical utility vehicles from the hospital complex, reported Arunachal24.

During the visit, Chief Minister Khandu inaugurated Block II of TRIHMS, which now houses the newly functional Emergency and Trauma department, as well as three newly installed Tesla MRI machines.

Speaking to officials from the state health services department and TRIHMS, Khandu emphasized that health has always been and will continue to be a top priority for the state government.

Khandu assured that the state government is fully committed to the growth and development of TRIHMS and pledged that funds would not be a constraint in this endeavor.

Addressing the issue of manpower shortage, particularly in the recently established Emergency and Trauma center, the Chief Minister promised to prioritize the matter and requested the concerned officials to submit a report for necessary action.

However, he also expressed concern about complaints regarding a lack of sufficient doctors in district hospitals. Khandu emphasized the need for a thorough survey and rationalization of doctors' postings to address this issue effectively.

Considering the vast geographical area and sparsely populated habitations of Arunachal Pradesh, the Chief Minister acknowledged the challenges faced by the government in providing basic facilities like healthcare to the people.

He stressed the importance of sincere efforts from the health department and its officials in overcoming these challenges.

He highlighted that the first batch of MBBS students from the college had recently completed their final examinations and expressed confidence in their success.

The Chief Minister revealed that the state government is actively pursuing an increase in the college's intake capacity from the current 50 students per batch to 100, and he hoped that this enhancement would be implemented in the upcoming academic year.

The newly inaugurated Block II of TRIHMS features various facilities, including a registration counter for outpatient departments with an attached counter for the Chief Minister Arogya Arunachal Yojana (CMAAY), new outpatient departments on the first, second, and third floors, and a ground-floor Emergency and Trauma center equipped with CAT scan and MRI units, along with a modular operation theatre has been established in the block.

The 100 health utility vehicles that were flagged off today include 22 patient transport vehicles fully equipped with necessary equipment, drugs, and consumables for basic life support (BLS) services.

These vehicles will be manned by trained emergency medical technicians and first responder drivers.

Apart fromthis new service, the state already operates 90 basic life support "Dial 108" ambulances, which cater to emergency response transfers from homes to medical facilities.

These 108 ambulances are also used for inter-facility transfers of critical and serious patients to higher medical centers for secondary and tertiary care services within and outside the state.

According to official records, since its launch in June 2021, the "Dial 108" ambulance service has received over 70,000 calls, served more than 7,000 critical patients, transferred 4,500 patients to higher centers, and covered a total distance of 14,08,690 kilometers.
image: UNI

On May 11, 2023, one Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper was injured while another had a narrow escape in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast triggered by Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres in Ichahatu village under Goilkera Police Station limits in the West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand.

On April 28, 2023, a woman, Gangi Surin, was killed after being hit by an IED planted by the Maoists in Maridiri Forest located on the border of the Goilkera Police Station and Mufassil Police Station areas in West Singhbhum District, Jharkhand. Gangi, a resident of Patahatu village, was going to fetch wood from the forest, when she stepped on the IED. Reports indicate that the IED was planted with an intention to target Security Forces (SFs).

On April 26, 2023, at least 10 personnel of the District Reserve Guards (DRG) and a civilian driver were killed, when Maoists first detonated an IED, weighing around 50 kilograms, and subsequently opened fire on an SF convoy on the Aranpur Road, under the Aranpur Police Station limits, in the Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. The DRG personnel were returning from an anti-Maoist operation in the area.

On April 20, 2023, Sitaram Kudiyam (40), a Policeman, was injured in an explosion while he was diffusing an IED, planted by the Maoists, near Bangapal village under Nelasnar Police Station limits in Bijapur District, Chhattisgarh. The Police team had detected the IED during patrolling, three kilometers from Bangapal.

On April 17, 2023, a DRG trooper, identified as Shankar Paret, sustained injuries when an IED exploded while he was trying to defuse it. The IED was recovered during the search operation which followed an encounter between the Police and Maoists in the forests of Bade Tungali under the Jangla Police Station area of Bijapur District.

On April 7, 2023, a DRG trooper, Anjuri Ram Baghel, was injured in an IED blast triggered by Maoists in the Bahker Forest area under Chhotedongar Police Station limits in the Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh.

These recent incidents, in which Naxalites (Left Wing Extremists) used explosives to target SFs engaged in area domination exercises. In some cases, civilians ended up as collateral damage. In many cases in the past, the Maoists have been killed or injured in such incidents, as they are followed by encounter between the SFs and the rebels.

According to partial data collated by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), at least 26 incidents of explosions have been orchestrated by the Naxalites, resulting in 18 fatalities (six civilians and 12 SF personnel) and injuries to 298 persons (four civilians and 25 SF personnel), since the beginning of the current year, (data till May 14 2023). During the corresponding period of 2022, 23 such incidents were executed, resulting in five fatalities (three civilians, one trooper and one Maoist), and injuries to 18 persons (one civilian and 17 SF personnel). A total of 32 incidents of explosion were carried out by CPI-Maoist cadres, resulting in six fatalities (four civilians, one SF trooper and one Maoist), and injuries to 27 persons (five civilians and 22 SF personnel) through 2022.

Since March 6, 2000, when SATP started recording data on Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-linked violence across the country, the number of such explosions stands at 1,568. These incidents have resulted in 1,870 fatalities (526 civilians; 1,185 SF personnel, 119 Maoists and 40 unspecified deaths) and injuries to 2,280 persons (717 civilians, 1,370 SF personnel, 136 Maoists and 57 unspecified injured). A high of 187 such incidents were registered in 2009, while in terms of resulting fatalities, 2010 was the worst year, with 388 killed. Conspicuously, the worst incident of explosion (followed by firing) was recorded on April 6, 2010, in which at least 75 CRPF personnel and a State Police trooper were killed at the Tarmetla village in Chintalnar near the thick Mukrana Forests in the Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. In the incident, the Maoists had first blown up an SF anti-landmine vehicle, and then fired indiscriminately.

As the SFs engage in area domination, cordon-and-search, combing, search, long range patrolling, ambush-cum-patrolling and other operations, the Maoists have built an explosive arsenal comprising of landmines, claymore mines, grenades, sticky bombs, pressure cooker bombs, crude rocket launchers, gelatine sticks, mortars and a range of IEDs. In most attacks, the Maoists first use explosives targeting SFs vehicles or camps/posts, and then open fire on in planned ambushes, a pattern that causes maximum damage and helps them evade direct confrontations. Significantly, IEDs are among the most potent tools deployed by the Maoists, enabling even a small group to inflict huge damage. As a result, the theft of about 7,000 detonators from the stores of a private by suspected Maoists in West Singhbhum District on March 30, 2023, is disturbing.

Former Director General CRPF, Kuldiep Singh, on April 29, 2023, emphasized that the Naxalites are well-trained in guerrilla warfare and the same training is given to new recruits. The cadres increasingly avoid direct confrontation with SFs, since their numbers and influence have diminished substantially, and a frontal encounter is likely to reduce their strength and appeal even further. The rebels use the command IED, or wired IED, which is equipped with a wire, connected to a detonator, placed at a distance from the operator. The blast can consequently be triggered from a safe distance of 200 to 300 metres to target any moving convoy. While commenting on the April 26, 2023, attack Singh thus noted,

Naxals have been carrying out this type of attack since decades. It is easy for them to trigger the IEDs. And with the help of locals, they easily blast any moving vehicle by pressing a button. They place the IEDs at the time of road construction or they dig foxholes. Naxals are very different from terrorists. They train their cadre and ensure that they don't get into a direct encounter with security forces. The command IED attack suits their objectives. It also helps their attempt to snatch weapons from forces after the blast.

Moreover, on April 28, 2023, Shesh Paul Vaid, who served as Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), between 2016 and 2018, observed that the Maoists have realised that using an IED was less risky as it minimized chances of contact with SFs. Vaid asserted,

In J&K, we found smaller IEDs weighing around 4-5 kg. In some few cases, we recovered IEDs that weighed around 30 kg. I believe a similar weighing IED was used during the Pulwama attack too. In earlier years, the Maoists used small intensity IEDs to disrupt the forces and then engaged in shooting. Today they know that the security forces are better equipped, they are outnumbered, have no escape route, and thus resort to using remote devices to cause the damage. This is their preferred mode.

Meanwhile, in the wake of regular incidents of villagers getting killed in the IED explosions in the LWE-hit areas, the CPI-Maoist has been issuing 'advisories' to the villagers to take necessary precaution while walking into the forest in search of firewood and other work. For instance, the Maoist 'South Chhotanagpur Zonal Committee' circulated a letter dated April 17, 2023, claiming that many IEDs that were planted in the forest to target SFs were active. Besides, booby traps and spike holes had also been laid to prevent the armed forces from entering the forest. Consequently, the villagers should take utmost precaution when walking in the forests. Additionally, the letter emphasized,

Long-distance passenger bus drivers, truck drivers and private vehicle owners have been advised not to remove felled tree trunks on the state and national highways while crossing West Singhbhum, as this could invite risk to life.

The Maoists have warned that their fatal tricks to target the SFs will continue as long as the anti-Naxalite operations continue and argue that the State Government and local Police is responsible for any collateral fatalities among the civilians due to such attacks.

The Maoists are fighting for their survival with rapidly depleting cadre strength, as many of their fighting forces have either been eliminated, arrested or have surrendered. In such a situation increased "used of" explosives is very likely. This will be a challenge for the SFs, who are now at the cusp of comprehensively defeating this enduring insurgency.
Waqf board chairman Shafi Sadi in the frame | Image Credit: Screenshot grab from video

Bengaluru/IBNS: Muslim leaders from Sunni Ulma Board have demanded Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister should be someone from their community after Congress ousted Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state assembly elections, media reports said.

Waqf board chairman Shafi Sadi said as per media reports, "We already said before the elections that the Deputy Chief Minister should be a Muslim and 30 seats be given to us... We got 15 and among them nine Muslim candidates have won.

"In about 67-72 constituencies, the Congress won purely because of the Muslims. We, as a community, have given a lot to the Congress. Now it's time we get something in return."

"We want a Muslim deputy chief minister and five ministers with good portfolios like Home, Revenue, Education. It's the responsibility of the Congress to thank us with this. We held an emergency meeting in the Sunni Ulma board office to ensure all these are implemented," he added.

Taking a jibe at Congress, BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya tweeted, "Secularism of the Congress kinds comes with a price. Looks like the Congress has gone overboard with its commitments, thinking they will never win, but unfortunately for them, their plans have gone awry."

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister should be a Muslim: Waqf board chief Shafi Sadi



that 30 seats be given to us (to contest) We got 15, and 9 Muslim candidates have won. In about 72 constituencies, the Congress won purely because of the Muslims. We, as a community, have pic.twitter.com/f717DthdAQ  Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) May 15, 2023

The nationally beleaguered Congress made a strong comeback in the south Indian state of Karnataka on Saturday winning 135 out of 224 seats, leaving 66 for the BJP and 19 for the JDS.

After the win that has boosted the morals of the grand old party, focus is now on who would become the Chief Minister with Congress facing a tough challenge to pick one between veteran Siddaramaiah and crisis manager DK Shivakumar or a third person.
Punjab, a region that spans both sides of the India-Pakistan border, is a melting pot of various cultures and religions. Despite the political tensions and historical animosity, Punjabs shared heritage, particularly its language and literature, can serve as a potent bonding agent in building bridges of peace across the border.

Punjabi, the official language of Punjab, is spoken by more than 100 million people worldwide. It is one of India and Pakistans most widely spoken languages, and it has played a significant role in shaping both countries cultural identity. At its core, Punjabi is a language that celebrates the human experience, emphasising love, peace, and brotherhood, values central to Hinduism and Islam, the two major religions of the region.

Punjabi literature is equally diverse and rich, with a long and illustrious tradition that dates back several centuries. Sufi poetry, folk literature, and modern-day literature written in Punjabi Shahmukhi (Pakistan) and Punjabi Gurmukhi (India) have shaped the Punjabi literary landscape.

The works of prominent Punjabi writers such as Waris Shah, Bulleh Shah, Amrita Pritam, and Shiv Kumar Batalvi resonate across both sides of the border. Their poetry and prose encapsulate the shared experiences of Punjabis, regardless of their nationality or religion. Moreover, their writings have given voice to the people, highlighting the struggles, triumphs, and aspirations of the regions diverse communities.

Moreover, the literary works of many Punjabi writers, poets, and playwrights have been translated into various languages, including English, French, Spanish, and German, making them accessible to readers across the globe. By showcasing the regions cultural richness and diversity, these literary works offer opportunities for people to engage with each other beyond the political divide.

The significance of Punjabi language and literature in building bridges of peace between India and Pakistan is immense. They offer a unique approach to dialogue that transcends political, religious, and cultural differences and promotes mutual understanding and respect.

For example, the renowned Indian poet, Gulzar, has emphasised the importance of using literature to connect people across the border. In his book, Footprints of Partition: Narratives of Four Generations of Pakistanis and Indians, Gulzar writes about the Partitions impact on Punjabs people. This shared history binds people on both sides of the border.

Similarly, many Punjabi writers and poets have highlighted the demand for peace and brotherhood across the border.

Through literary festivals, cultural exchanges, and initiatives promoting Punjabi literature, they create spaces for people to engage in dialogue, celebrate shared heritage, and understand each others perspectives.

Furthermore, in recent years, initiatives such as the Amritsar-Lahore bus service, the Kartarpur corridor, and high-level meetings between the governments of India and Pakistan have demonstrated a growing willingness to initiate people-to-people contacts across the border.

These initiatives have raised hopes that creating a conducive environment for peace-building may be possible by emphasising shared cultural heritage.

Initiatives to promote peace through culture and heritage must receive the active support of both governments and civil society.

They need to create spaces for people to connect, engage in dialogue, celebrate shared heritage, and understand each others perspectives.

Only then can we hope to create a peaceful future for the people of Punjab, free from the constraints of historical animosity and political tensions.

(Image and Text credit: Khalsavox.com)


Jammu: A clash broke out between two groups allegedly over "The Kerala Story" movie in Government Medical College Hostel for Boys here.

Police sources told UNI that two groups clashed over the recently released film "The Kerala Story" this morning at Boys Hostel, Government Medical College.

They said that one person also suffered injuries in the scuffle, adding, "police on getting information, immediately swung into action and reached the spot to pacify the situation."

However, the Principal Government Medical College and Hospital did not respond to a call for version.

Senior Superintendent of Police Jammu, Chandan Kohli said, "There has been an incident of scuffle between some students and outsiders in GMC Hostel Jammu."

"Cognizance of the matter has been taken and investigation is going on," said the top cop.

(With UNI inputs)
Image credit: Facebook/DK Shivakumar

Bengaluru/IBNS: As Congress keeps suspense on the chief minister post in Karnataka, party's state chief DK Shivakumar , who is in the running for the top post along with veteran Siddaramaiah, Monday claimed credit for the thumping victory in the southern state.

Shivakumar said he has the backing of 135 MLAs. The Congress won 135 seats in the state in the last week's assembly election.

"Yesterday 135 MLAs gave their opinion and passed a one-line resolution, few have expressed their personal opinion. My power is 135 MLAs. Under my leadership, the Congress has won 135 seats," Shivakumar said.

He also took credit for rebuilding the party after the coalition government with HD Kumaraswamy collapsed as nearly 20 MLAs left and joined the BJP.

"A single man with courage makes a majority and I have proved it. I don't want to disclose what all has happened in the last five years," he told reporters.

"When our MLAs left the party, I did not lose heart and took the responsibility with courage. Mallikarjun Kharge is the senior leader and Sonia and Rahul Gandhi have confidence in us. We will leave the matter to them," he added.

"I will finish my private programme and visit my God and go to Delhi. Our high command had called me and Siddaramaiah. I'm late," said Shivakumar.

However, the leader said he would not come tonight.

Siddaramaiah is already in Delhi for the meeting with the Congress leadership over the top post.

The team is understood to have briefed the party's national leadership, which includes Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Rahul Gandhi.

The final decision will be taken by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also one of Congress's tallest leaders in the state.


Image: Wikimedia Commons

The chronic political disorders in Pakistan turned into a full-blown crisis with the arrest of former Prime Minister (PM) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on May 9, 2023, in one of the 143 ongoing cases against him.

The subsequent violence unleashed by his party cadres/supporters, was unprecedented even by Pakistani standards. Imran Khan is now out of jail following a Supreme Court (SC) order and the violence has subsided, but a more chaotic situation is likely to emerge, as the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government, working in tandem with the all-powerful Military Establishment, seems hell-bent on his re-arrest. Khans anti-Military Establishment line remains unchanged, and has, indeed, become even more belligerent.

Significantly, on May 9, when Imran appeared before a court in Islamabad, the national capital, he was arrested from inside the courtroom for the crime of corruption in the Al-Qadir Trust headed by him and his wife Bushra Bibi. Immediately after the arrest, which his party termed an abduction by the State Forces from the courtroom, PTI cadres and supporters unleashed large-scale violence. Though Pakistan has a long history of political leaders being jailed or killed or ousted from power, never before has the retaliation been so strong.

Indeed, soon after Khans arrest in Islamabad, protests erupted in the city and spread rapidly to other parts of the country, including major cities such as Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar and Mardan. Crowds of protesters, mostly PTI supporters, chanting Allahu Akbar and Nara-e-Takbeer lined up on the streets of Pakistan, going on a rampage against security establishments and personnel. In the most daring attack, which may have a long-lasting impact on Armys position in Pakistan, protestors stormed the General Headquarters of the Pakistan Army in the garrison city of Rawalpindi  the absolute seat of the Armys power. The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Headquarters in Islamabad also came under attack. The Corps Commander's residence in Lahore was also ransacked and vandalized. Several videos on social media depicting pictures of mayhem across Pakistan flooded the Internet, as violent protests spread.

On May 9, the government restricted mobile internet services across the country and prohibited the use of social media platforms such as YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Even on May 13, the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority disclosed that it had received no instructions to restore access to social media, though mobile internet services had been restored across the country.

Meanwhile, according to reports at least 10 people were killed and several hundred wounded, including Army and police officers. Khan, however, alleged that that 'live fire' by Security Forces (SFs) had killed at least 40 protesters.

Earlier, after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ruling that Khan's arrest was "legal", he had appealed to the SC. On May 11, the SC termed the arrest "invalid and unlawful" and ordered his release but asked the Police to keep him under protection and produce him before the IHC on May 12. The SC order read,

The petitioner is directed to be produced before the Islamabad High Court tomorrow i.e. 12.05.2023 [May 12] at 11:00 am for hearing of his Writ Petition filed to challenge the NAB [National Accountability Bureau] action against him in the Al-Qadir Trust Case. This (Supreme Court) order shall remain valid until the production of the petitioner before the High Court in the aforementioned Writ Petition tomorrow i.e. 12.05.2023 at 11:00 am and shall be subject to any order that is passed by the High Court.

The SC directed Khan to follow the decision taken by the IHC on his petitions.

As directed, Imran appeared before the IHC on May 12, which granted him a two-week bail in the Al-Qadir Trust case. However, apprehensive of getting arrested in other cases filed earlier, Khans lawyers appealed to the IHC to grant him protective bail. As a result, the Court barred the authorities from arresting him till May 15 in all such cases. It also barred authorities from arresting him till May 17, in any cases registered in the jurisdiction of Islamabad after May 9.

After the orders, while hailing the judiciary, a buoyant Khan continued with his tirade against the Army, declaring, on May 12, its not the security institution, it is just one man, the Army Chief who was responsible for his arrest, adding, there is no democracy in the Army. Interestingly, many in Pakistan insist that Khan was elected as PM in 2018 with the support of the Military Establishment. He has now paid the price for his attempts to free himself from the Armys clutches. Indeed, he was voted out as PM by the National Assembly in April 2022, after persistent political chaos orchestrated by the Army, and spearheaded by the opposition parties. Before the vote of confidence, 123 PTI Members of the National Assembly, including Khan, resigned and walked out of the House. Khan also faced an attack on his life on November 3, 2022.

However, with its 'prestige' severely hit due to the PTI protests, the Army is in no mood for any rapprochement with Khan and seems to be preparing to take harsh actions against him and his party and to bring down the curtain on his political career. An Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) release on May 10 thus observed,

May 9 will be remembered as a dark chapter. Immediately after his [Imran Khan's] arrest, there were organised attacks on Army properties and installations and anti-Army slogans were raised. His group, wearing a political cloak, has done what enemies could not do in 75 years, all in the lust for power. The Army showed patience and restraint and exercised extreme tolerance, not even caring about its reputation, in the larger interest of the country. The Army's mature response thwarted this conspiracy. We are well aware that behind it were orders, directives and complete pre-planning by some sinister party leadership. Facilitators, planners and political activists involved in these operations have been identified and strict action will be taken against them as per the law and all these evil elements will now be responsible for the consequences.

The statement warned, further, that any future attack on the Army as well as any law enforcement agency, military and state installation or properties, would attract severe retaliation against the group that "wants to push Pakistan into a civil war".

On May 12, Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir declared,

Armed Forces will not tolerate any further attempt of violating the sanctity and security of its installations or vandalism and resolved to bring to justice all the planners, abettors, instigators and executors of vandalism on the Black Day of 9th May.

Indeed, SFs have unleashed a crackdown against the PTI. Top PTI leaders, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Fawad Chaudhry, Asad Umar and Omer Cheema, were taken into custody within 24 hours of the beginning of the protest and transferred to Adiala Jail under detention for 15 days. At the time of writing, SF personnel, had rounded up over 1,800 PTI leaders and supporters since May 9.

The civilian government and the parties in the ruling alliance, working in tandem with the Military Establishment, meanwhile, have launched a scathing attack on the SC's decision to release Imran. On May 12, commenting on the SC order, PM Shehbaz Sharif stated that if the "favourite [Imran]" continued to be favoured, then all dacoits behind bars should be also released across Pakistan. "These are the double standards that have brought about the death of justice," he lamented. On May 12, while speaking on the SC's verdict, Federal Minister of the Interior Rana Sanaullah asserted that whatever had happened was "unprecedented" and "there is no example of such judicial decisions and means of facilitation are being invented. In the most scathing attack, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chief Organiser, Maryam Nawaz, tweeted,

The Chief Justice [of Pakistan] was very happy today to meet the person who usurped Rs 60 billion from the national exchequer, and he was even happier to release this criminal. The chief justice is primarily responsible for the attacks on the most important and sensitive installations in the country, as he has become the shield of fitna and is exacerbating the situation in the country by fueling the fire.

She advised Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial to resign from his position and join PTI, just like his mother-in-law Mahjabeen Noon.

Not surprisingly, the authorities in Pakistan are waiting for the May 17 deadline to pass to arrest Khan in connection with the violent protests of May 9 and thereafter. Indeed, commenting on IHC's decision, on May 13, Rana Sanaullah, declared that the Court's orders would be implemented and Khan would not be arrested till May 17. He however, added,

We have all the evidence from every single day, we have his speeches. The cases have been filed and are still being filed. If there is a reason for his arrest, then he will be arrested. The courts can facilitate them but as per the law, we will take action against their anti-state and terror activities.

PM Sharif had earlier stated that "bringing these people [those involved in vandalism] to justice is a test case for the government. Their cases will be tried by the anti-terrorism courts".

All indications suggest an imminent escalation of the political crisis. There is a possibility also of a significant rise in terrorism, with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) intensifying operations as well. It is useful to recall that Khan has long been relatively sympathetic to the TTP, long supporting a negotiated settlement with the terrorists, instead of kinetic operations against them. Of course, Khan has also alleged that the TTP was trying to kill him - a charge the TTP leadership has denied - but there is no reason to believe, if nothing more, that the TTP will take advantage of any compounding of the political disorders in the country to intensify its own campaign of terror.

Amidst a deteriorating security situation in the country due to escalating terrorism, more particularly after the withdrawal of the TTP from peace talks in November 2022, the volatile economic and uncertain political situation, Khan's onslaught, even after his release from jail, against the Military Establishment and the government has unnerved both the centres of national power. Nevertheless, it is useful to recall that the Army remains by far the most powerful institution in Pakistan. While there are several reports of increasing divisions within the Army leadership on Imran Khan and the PTI's recent actions, it is unlikely that these would be sufficient to force the Army to abandon its present hardline. Given the scale and character of the protests across the country after Khan's arrest, however, there can be no simple predictions of any easy outcome of the present contretemps - certainly in the long run. After a downslide over decades, Pakistan appears to be at the threshold of some very 'interesting times'.
It was an emerald green waterway that my eyes were feasting on from the 15th floor suite of this hotel.

The sky-kissing Chicago highrises lined the banks of the Chicago river dyed for St. Patrick's Day (March 17). I was resting after a few hours' Amtrak train journey from St. Louis.

Time lapsed. Hours passed. A crimson sunset against the jagged skyline of the City of Broad Shoulders, as Chicago was described by poet Carl Sandburg almost a century ago, played out before my eyes as I gaped outside chilling with a hot cup of decaf coffee in a state of self-love.

The expansive view of Chicago from one of the suites of Pendry Chicago.

From this suite of Pendry Chicago, life is good. The former 1929 Carbide & Carbon Art Deco building of 37 stories is another Chicago landmark on the famous Michigan Avenue's Magnificent Mile, the premier commercial district pulsating with upscale stores and cool food places and hotels.

The hotel is an edifice of black granite and marble with bronze trim with a unique shape. As the hotel describes itself, it is reminiscent of a vintage green champagne bottle reportedly symbolizing a response to the Prohibition era.

Once you step inside and check out the rooms and suites, you know that behind that robust masculine heritage exterior is a world of luxury and unexaggerated refinement.



Rooms:

I was staying in what they named Tower One Bedroom Suite in one of the upper floors (corner location). It offers an expansive view of the skyscraper-charged dramatic skyline of Chicago, the river (dyed all green in March for St Patrick's Day) and the signature bascule bridges. What I loved most about it as I stepped inside are the pristine white walls.

A suite with a view of the Chicago skyline and the emerald waterway on the occasion of St. Patrick's Day.

The living area is spacious with a sofa bed and a large smart HDTV along with a dining table for four. The master bathroom, all marble, has a deep soak bathtub and separate walk-in shower.

The king size bed comes with a plush duvet and luxury linens.

I find a touch of minimalism too in this luxury suite that is not overdone and appears just right for someone like me. The coziness of the suite is infectious. You feel like prolonging your stay here.

Food

From lobby bar to cafe to a French brasserie, Pendry Chicago welcomes you for great food experiences. The main dining restaurant is

Venteux where a distinct, Parisian-inspired setting blends with the charm of Chicagos bustling Magnificent Mile.

Venteuxs cafe area with its sage green and cream paint is heart-warming.

Venteux (windy in French) is a French brasserie, cafe, and oyster & champagne bar with a modern take on Nouvelle French cuisine for brunch, dinner and happy hour.

I loved Venteuxs cafe area (inspired by Southern France cafes) with its sage green and cream paint and terracotta. An oversized brass pendant light, delicate moldings, speckled gold antique mirrors and floral textiles add to the elegance of the space.

During the daytime, the area is awashed with natural light cascading through 40-foot windows, while lush botanical murals cover the walls. Here you can find an activity space too where I found a charming young painter churning out artworks.

Bar Pendry is the hotel bar on the ground floor and it comes with a central fireplace. Unwind here with a sundowner or afternoon tea. The small bites to go with the drinks are inviting.

The hotel's extended lobby is a happy art space for budding painters

The hotel also boasts of the rooftop space-Chateau Carbide- on the 24th floor. This al fresco rooftop space has both indoor and outdoor seating areas.

The Billiard Gallery adjacent to the lobby is another food joint. The hotel calls it a tucked away nook for billiards, cocktails and conversation. The Billiard Gallery is adjacent to the hotels lobby and restaurant, with a streetside view of Michigan Avenue.

Wellness

I am not a great workout person when I am travelling, but I did check out the hotel's fitness centre. Pendry Chicagos 24-hour fitness center has all the latest Technogym fitness equipment, Peloton bikes, weights and complimentary amenities.

Two days of Pendy Chicago were spent magically as I explored the city and crashed in the unhurried tranquility of my suite. I left Pendry Chicago for my next destination, Louisville, all recharged.
Image: Twitter/Naveen Patnaik

Bhubaneswar/IBNS: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Monday flagged off the maiden flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai at the Biju Patnaik International Airport.

Highlighting the benefits of aligning Odisha with a global travel junction such as Dubai, Patnaik said that global connectivity is a crucial driver of overall developments.

He said Dubai is a major travel and tourism junction in the middle east providing a gateway to the European and US markets.

"This marks a new chapter scripted in Odishas stride towards global connectivity," the Chief Minister said adding the connectivity will usher growth, be it industrial development, facilitating investments, promoting tourism, or establishing communication for the Odia diaspora residing outside India.

Glad to flag off maiden direct international flight to Dubai from #Bhubaneswar carrying notable sports persons from #Odisha. Wish them a wonderful journey. May the direct connectivity open new vistas of opportunity for sportspersons, youth & the people of Odisha. #OdishaOnTheMove pic.twitter.com/7C8jnEneKw  Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) May 15, 2023

To mark the occasion, delegates from Odisha including leaders and members of Mission Shakti, delegations from the World Skill Centre, Special Development Council, Panchayati Raj, and celebrated sportspersons, boarded the flight with the rest of the travellers.

A total of 170 people including the aircraft crew travelled on this maiden flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai.

Special arrangements were made to see off the travellers from Odisha. The flyers were felicitated with Uttariya, Odisha Tourism kit bag and offered sweets and flowers by the hostesses at the departure terminal.

The travellers who arrived via the first direct flight from Dubai to Bhubaneswar were given a warm welcome in the presence of state Tourism Minister Aswini Kumar Patra and Commerce & Transport Minister Tukuni Sahu.

Patnaik made a commitment back in June 2022 during the Odisha Investors Meet held in Dubai to establish international flight connectivity between Odisha and Dubai in the first phase.

These flights, being operated by Indigo Airlines, will run thrice a week.

The Odisha government is also working towards establishing direct flight connectivity with the Southeast Asian markets through Singapore and Bangkok, which will commence in early June 2023.
ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)/Wikimedia Commons

Bangkok: Voters in Thailand have rejected the military-backed government in the recently held polls as two major opposition parties are now set for coalition talks.

Initial results show the Move Forward and Pheu Thai parties surging ahead of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, reports BBC.

The poll is considered a crucial episode in the country's history which has witnessed several military coups in its recent years.

Seeking another term in office, Prayuth had led the last coup in the country in 2014.

He is currently facing election challenges from two anti-military party leaders Move Forward and Pheu Thai.

Move Forward is led by former tech executive Pita Limjaroenrat, while Paetongtarn Shinawatra - the daughter of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra - is the Pheu Thai candidate, reports BBC.
Representative Photo: UNICEF/Ayberk Yurtsever

Afghanistan has recorded two new polio cases in Nangarhar region of the country, media reports said.

A spokesman for the Health Ministry, Sharafat Zaman Amerkhail told ToloNews that these two cases have been reported in Koot and Batikoot districts of Nangarhar province.

According to reports, one polio-stricken child has died.

The ministry said a polio vaccination campaign will be commenced soon.

"In these two cases one child is 4 years old and the other is 11. One of them lost their life and we want to start a polio vaccination campaign to prevent this disease," said Amerkhail.

Family members of the child, who died in Batikoot district, told Tolo News that one year ago their child was infected with polio and was paralyzed from the neck down and after severe diarrhea died in the hospital.
Image: Pixabay

Beijing: Hong Kong permanent resident Liang Chengyun, who holds a US passport, has been sentenced to life in prison for espionage, an intermediate people's court in China's eastern city of Suzhou said on Monday.

Moreover, 78-year-old Liang Chengyun, also known as John Shing-wan Leung, was deprived of political rights, the court said in a statement, adding that the Chinese authorities had confiscated his property worth 500,000 yuan ($71,800) as part of the first instance trial.

No other details on the case were provided by the court.

(With UNI inputs)
Image: Wikimedia Commons

Royal Textile Academy, in collaboration with the Textile Museum, recently paid tributes to Queen Mother Sangay Choden Wangchuk as she turned 60.

Many distinguished guests, including Princess Euphelma Choden Wangchuk, were present at the inauguration of a timeline museum, honouring the extraordinary life and works of the Queen Mother, reports ANI.

Nestled within the exquisite walls of the Royal Textile Academy, the timeline museum stands as a testament to the Queen Mothers unwavering commitment to preserving Bhutanese cultural heritage.

With the crown adorning the Queen Mother, Sangay Choden Wangchuck taking centre stage, the museum weaves together the threads of history and artistry, inviting visitors on a captivating journey through the life of a remarkable woman, according to The Bhutan Live as quoted by ANI.
Representational image by US Military on Flickr via Wikimedia Commons

Beijing: China is planning to recruit Nepal's iconic Gurkha security personnel to the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), media reports said Sunday.

This is an apparent effort by China, which under the Mao Zedong plan wanted to gobble up Nepal as one of the Five Fingers of occupied Tibet, to exploit the Communist government in Nepal to create an anti-India sentiment in the Himalayan nation, reports The EurAsian Times.

The Nepalese iconic regiment has been recruited by the Indian Army and earlier in the British Army since 1815.

Later on, after the independence in 1947, the Indian Army retained six regiments of Gurkha soldiers while four went to the British Army as part of a tripartite agreement between India, Nepal, and the UK, reports the news portal.

In 1947, Pakistan was also said to have staked claim to Gorkha regiments, but Nepal did not consent to it. In fact, after the 1962 war with India, the PLA also requested Nepal Gurkha soldiers, but Nepal turned the request down.

This century-old link is now under duress owing to the new recruitment scheme of the Indian Army launched in 2022. It resulted in furor in both India and Nepal, the news portal reported.

The Indian establishment has been hoping that the recruitment process will commence once elections are over in Nepal, but still, there has been no movement.

I really hope that the Nepal government will take a favorable view on it and start the recruitment process, Lt Gen. DS Hooda (Retired) told the EurAsian Times.

The recruitment is mutually beneficial as it gives them employment, and the Gorkha veterans act as goodwill ambassadors between the two countries, Hooda said.

Rumors are rife about China exploring options to recruit Gorkhas in its rank and file, but it remains to be seen if Nepal is ready to take the drastic step, the news portal reported.

The relationship between India and Nepal has been rolling downhill in the last decade.

The India-backed economic blockade of Nepal has further pushed it towards China to counter its dependence on the former. China has been quick to step up.
Image; Pixabay

A young woman was allegedly shot dead by her brother in the name of 'honour' in Pakistan's Karachi city, media reports said on Monday.

South SSP Syed Asad Raza told Dawn News that the suspect was taken into custody and he confessed to have killed his 24-year-old sister Safia Ghani Khan.

The SSP said that the police received information at 06:00am that the body of a woman was brought to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

A police team reached the hospital and questioned her brother, Hakeem Khan, who lived in DHAs Khayaban-i-Hilal, reports Dawn News.

The brother told the police that he was cleaning his licensed 9mm pistol when it accidentally went off and a bullet hit his sister who was taken to a hospital where she died.

Police Surgeon Summaiya Syed, however, said that the young woman suffered two bullet wounds in the head and leg.

The SSP said that the police did not believe his statement and grilled him after which he confessed, alleging that his sister was involved with a man and he killed her in the name of honour, reports the Pakistani newspaper.
Representational image by UNI

Taipei: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense (MND) recently tracked the presence of 32 Chinese military aircraft and four naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 am on Thursday (May 11) and 6 am on Friday (May 12), an episode which has a potential to further escalate tension.

Of the 32 Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 13 were tracked in Taiwans air defense identification zone (ADIZ), including one CH-4 combat reconnaissance drone which crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and circled Taiwan clockwise from the northeast sector of the ADIZ to the southwest corner, according to the MND, reports Taiwan News.

One BZK-005 reconnaissance drone and one TB-001 combat reconnaissance drone also crossed the median line in the southwest corner of the ADIZ and flew along the southern portion of the identification zone. Meanwhile, six Chengdu J-10 fighter jets and two Sukhoi Su-30 jet fighters also crossed the median line.

One Shenyang J-16 fighter jet and one Shaanxi Y-8 electronic warfare plane were also monitored in the southwest sector of the ADIZ.

In response, Taiwan sent aircraft, naval ships, and used land-based missiles to monitor the PLA aircraft and vessels, Taiwan News reported.
Pixabay

A Texas man was arrested after he allegedly shot dead his girlfriend after she went to another US state for an abortion, media reports said.

Officers were called to a parking lot Wednesday after Gabriella Gonzalez, 26, was killed, according to a Dallas County arrest warrant, reported CNN.

Surveillance video shows Harold Lavance Thompson walking with her just before the shooting. He tried to put Gonzalez in a chokehold but she got away, police told the American news channel.

Thompson then pulled out a gun and shot Gonzalez in the head, said the warrant.

He fired several more shots into her as she was on the ground before running away, according to the court documents.

The warrants showed the duo was in a 'dating relationship'.

Further investigation revealed that (Gonzalez) went to Colorado to get an abortion and returned the night before. It is believed that the suspect was the father of the child. The suspect did not want the complainant to get an abortion, said the warrant.

Thompson was arrested after the execution of the search warrant and declined to give a statement, said court documents.
Representative image/credit: Pixabay

Ottawa/IBNS: Canadians waiting for a decision of a review of their eligibility status regarding pandemic benefits, after having received these by mistake, might see their tax refunds or other benefits being reportedly withheld by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Over one million notices have been sent to ineligible Canadians for receiving the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).

In its efforts to recover the money, CRA uses a process called offsetting to automatically use money from tax refunds and some benefits to settle a persons debt with the government.

According to the CRA approximately $237 million of COVID-19 benefit debt has been collected through offsetting.

A number of Canadians eligible to receive CERB say that while waiting for a final decision, the CRA has withheld their tax refunds or other government benefits.

When asked how long these reviews typically take, the CRA said while a majority of cases are completed within a short timeframe, some files with more complex issues may take a longer time to review.

Earlier this month the Office of the Taxpayers Ombudsperson announced that it is monitoring complaints from people who have been receiving collection letters from the CRA despite having repaid the pandemic benefits to the government.

The federal government has 36 months, according to law, from the time benefits are paid to confirm if the payment was proper.

$4.6 billion in pandemic benefits was reported in December by the auditor general, including other programs such as the wage subsidy and the caregiver benefit which went to ineligible recipients.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
A 17-year-old girl fled from Indore to the nearby Madhya Pradesh city of Ujjain after failing her yearly undergraduate examination because she was afraid her parents would reprimand her, according to police. Here's what happened next.

Indore girl cooks up her own kidnapping story after failing college exam

Free Sources

The girl, who was enrolled in the first year of a Bachelor of Arts (BA) programme at a local college, was taken from Ujjain, which is situated around 50 kilometres from Indore, on Saturday and then turned over to her family, according to the sources.

Hours after the exam results were out, the girl's father filed a complaint, according to Inspector Rajendra Soni of Indore's Banganga police station. "The girl's father stated his daughter was abducted from near a temple in Indore while she was on her way home from the college," he told PTI.



According to the official, the complainant said that his daughter called him from an unknown number and informed him that she had been abducted in Indore.

She explained to her father that she had been sent off by a college staff member in a square close to the temple, where she then boarded an e-rickshaw.

The false story had disturbing details

Unsplash

The inspector claimed that the girl also told her father that the rickshaw driver had taken her to a remote location and covered her mouth with a towel, causing her to lose consciousness. "The girl's claim was found to be false when the CCTV footage of the area she mentioned was checked," he stated.



In the meantime, the police got information about a girl sitting alone at a restaurant in Ujjain and her photo matched with the one provided by the complainant, the official said.



Later, the girl was taken to Indore, where her bag was examined. He stated that it had a bus ticket from Indore to Ujjain as well as a meal bill. A police officer then gave her advice.

According to Soni, the girl claimed to have fled and made up the kidnapping narrative to avoid having to face her parents after failing the BA first year final exam.

Flickr

The official claimed that she was afraid of being reprimanded. The police reported that the girl had been given to her parents.



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The return of PASOK-KINAL is "definitely happening, as a newly born movement founded in 1974" party leader Nikos said in a campaign speech in Thessaloniki on Monday.
The ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), vowed not permit the opposition to hijack the National Assembly as it did in 2015.

The partys National Vice Chairman (Southwest) of the APC, Isaacs Kekemeke, made this known that the party would bring the aggrieved members of the party before the National Assembly convenes next month.

Kekemeke, who represented President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the lecture organised in honour of Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti to mark his 97th birthday, said the party still has enough time to bring the warring factions together before the inauguration of the National Assembly.

He said, Opposition will not take over the national assembly, both the President-elect and party are working tirelessly to ensure that whatever you perceive as acrimony will be sorted out and this is democracy.

But I can assure you that the national working committee of our great party is having an interface with those aspirants of the House of Representatives and the Senate and in the shortwhile everything will be sorted out.

READ MORE: 10th NASS: Allow Open Contest, Let Members Vote Their leaders  Oduduwa Group To APC

I dont think there is cause for alarm, this is normal and this is what our party is known for, we believe in democratic engagement and we all know that the president-elect is an engager.

Speaking on the position of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu which was against the decision of the party, Kekemeke said, you know our Governor has a knack for fearless, justice but I know that the governor will be further briefed, they will all be on the same line with the party and the president-elect and I am sure some of the reasons for the decision taken will be explained to him.

In the message of Tinubu to Pa Fasoranti, Kekemeke said; the President-elect has so much respect for Pa. Fasoranti and that is why he sent me down here to represent him as we all know that he has travelled out of the country and what he asked me to tell Baba Fasoranti was that when he was running he prayed for him and now that the prayers has been answered.
Senator Godswill Akpabio, former governor of Akwa Ibom State, says he expects the number of lawmakers supporting his ambition to be the 10th Senate president to rise to 86 by June.

The former governor, who currently has the backing of the ruling All Progressives Congress for the seat, stated this when he led some lawmakers on a courtesy visit to the governor of Lagos State, Babajdie Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday.

Today, we are about 69 in number and it is still growing. We believe that by the time we get to June, we should expect this group to rise to about 85 to 86. All I know is that we are going to win.

I want to assure, sir that the people you see seated here are those shunning dollars and shunning pounds and shunning naira. The Senate is composed of men and women of integrity. We will not allow Nigeria to be bought. If leadership in the country goes to the highest bidder, I dont think those like the late President YarAdua would have ruled Nigeria. Even the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, was not even available, I think he was somewhere else, I think Yola, when he became President.

READ ALSO: Akpabio: Since 1999, No South-South Senate President Has Emerged  APC

So, its not a function of money. Weve seen money politics play out, even though weve not seen it play out in the 10th Senate yet. As a prelude to the inauguration, weve seen what is going on. We condemn it and we believe that integrity should come to play, Akpabio said during the meeting.

Sanwo-Olu in his remarks, welcomed the lawmakers to Lagos and urged them to ensure that the 10th Senate collaborates with the incoming administration.

I believe that you are best in class because the last election showed that you have to be good to your people for you to emerge as successful. So, I can tell you that whatever part of the country you have emerged from, you are best in class and your people must have seen something outstanding in all of you. And that brings me to the fact that you cannot bring down that trust and that expectation from your people.
Former Kaduna State senator, Shehu Sani has asked president-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu to investigate the outgoing government of President Muhammadu Buhari over local and foreign debt owed during his administration.

Recall that the countrys Budget Office had last week said Nigeria was already in trouble because it has so little revenue to sustain its debt.

Information Nigeria reports that the nations debt profile is about N77 trillion if the N23 trillion loans from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are securitised.

This has however led to reactions amongst the citizens, considering that the president is currently pushing for an $800 million loan from the World Bank a few weeks before the end of its tenure.

READ ALSO: Quit Being Apologetic For What Obidients Do, Else Youd Kill The Movement  Shehu Sani Tells Obi

Some of the loans obtained by the Buhari government were reportedly used to construct roads, bridges, and other infrastructure across the nation.

However, according to Sani the first step in servicing the nations debt is to conduct a full investigation of the cost of the projects they were purportedly used for.

Commenting via Twitter at the weekend, the politician urged the incoming administration to probe all federal ministries, departments, and agencies under the Buhari-led administration.

He tweeted, The first step towards servicing our billions of dollars of local and foreign debt is a full investigation of the cost of the projects they were purportedly used for.

The incoming government must probe all the MDAs under this regime.
Four staff of ZEFA Microfinance Bank have been arrested after one of them pushed a 50-year-old woman identified as Vivian Omo, the wife of their debtor which led to her death.

The suspects whose bank is situated at Abule Ijoko, Lemode area of Ifo local government area of Ogun state, reportedly went to the house of their debtor and started packing the belongings of the defaulter.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday.

READ ALSO: Accumulated N22m Debt Made Me Attempt Suicide  Real Warri Pikin

Oyeyemi explained that the four suspects have been arrested by men of the state police command.

The PPRO said the suspects; Badmus Olalekan, Ajibade Oludare, Eniola Aduragbemi and Femi Oloko were arrested on Wednesday.

Oyeyemi said, Trouble started when the bank staffers visited the home of the deceased to ask for the payment of a loan taken from the bank by the deceaseds husband but they were told that the man was not at home.

Not satisfied with the womans explanation about the whereabouts of her husband, the bank staff decided to pack all the electronics in the house to their office, a step that was resisted by the deceased.

While the deceased was struggling with the Banks staff, one of them pushed her and she fell down and was unconscious.

She was there and then rushed to hospital for medical attention, but was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.

The report was quickly lodged at Agbado divisional headquarters by the daughter of the deceased, consequence upon which the DPO Agbado division, CSP Awoniyi Adekunle, quickly led his detectives to the scene where four staff of the bank namely; Badmus Olalekan, Ajibade Oludare, Eniola Aduragbemi and Femi Oloko were arrested.

The corpse has been deposited at Ifo General Hospital morgue for autopsy.

The PPRO however, said the Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Oladimeji, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to the Homicide section of the state Criminal Investigation Departments for further investigation.

He said, The CP also warned loan agencies to stop taking laws into their hands in the process of recovering loans from their debtors, as anyone caught in such act will be arrested and prosecuted.
No fewer than 38 residents of Takalafia and Gwanja communities in the Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State have been reportedly killed by herdsmen who stormed the area.

According to The Punch, the Pastor-in-charge of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in the area, Rev. Daniel Danbeki, and 37 others were gruesomely murdered by the assailants during the attack which lasted from 9 pm on Thursday night till the early hours of Friday.

However, a mass burial was held on Saturday for the victims of the attack which included women and children.

READ ALSO: Four Arrested As Bank Staff Pushes Debtors Wife To Death In Ogun

The deputy governor of the state, Emmanuel Akabe, led a government delegation to the mass burial which was conducted amid tears from sympathisers and other members of the communities.

Speaking during the mass burial, Akabe condemned the wanton killings and destruction of property worth millions of naira.

He expressed shock over the killings and assured that the state government will investigate the cause of the attacks and bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book, adding that relief materials will be provided for displaced people in the area.

Earlier, the Executive Chairman of Karu LGA, James Thomas, who visited the attacked communities before the mass burial, completely condemned the attack by the herdsmen.

Thomas, who was represented by his Deputy, Lawal Karshi, however, appealed for calm and vowed to work closely with the security agencies to arrest the perpetrators of the act in order for them to face the full wrath of the law.

A source told The Punch that the attack was a result of a disagreement between a farmer and a herdsman who took his cows to graze on a groundnut and maize farm.

The cows completely ate the crops which angered the farmer, leading to a fierce battle between him and the herdsman.

As the farmer was talking to the herdsman to send his cows out of his (farmers) farm, a fierce disagreement ensued and the herdsman brought out his cutlass and started fighting the farmer; but the farmer overpowered him, snatched his cutlass and fought him back, and the herdsman died.

This was what led to the killings of residents of this area by the herdsmen, a source said.

As of the time of filing this report, dead bodies of victims who escaped with bullet wounds during the attack in Takalafia and Gwanja communities are still being recovered from bushes in the area, and are taken to the mortuary of the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi LGA of the state.
The Onidimu of Idimu Land in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, Oba Azeez Olugoke, has passed away.

His death was announced on Sunday by the Chairman of Egbe Idimu Local Council Development Area, Sanyaolu Olowoopejo.

Olowoopejo in the statement signed by his media aide, Olakunle Oyejobi, said the monarch who was aged 87 died in the early hours of Sunday after a brief illness.

He however described his death as a great loss to the community and the state in general.

READ ALSO: Popular Yoruba Actor Murphy Afolabi Is Dead

The council helmsman also described him as an unbiased man of God who stood for the truth all his entire life.

He will be sorely missed and we are deeply saddened by his departure but as human beings, we must take every occurrence as the will of Almighty Allah, he added.

Olowoopejo further disclosed that the burial rites would soon be announced by the family.
The Labour Party (LP), as well as the legal team of its February 25 presidential candidate, Peter Obi has ignored the 48 hours ultimatum given by the Partys factional leader, Lamidi Apapa to brief him about the petitions before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

Information Nigeria reports that the teams reaction stems from Apapas directive on Friday that all the lawyers in charge of the petition at the election tribunal should brief him on updates within 48 hours.

Apapa was quoted as saying I want to invite all the lawyers that are in charge, representing the Labour Party at the election tribunal, to give me updates in the next 48 hours because I am the one in charge and the one in the drivers seat.

READ ALSO: Arrest Obi If He Calls For Interim Govt.  Apapa Tells IGP, Threatens To Appoint New Lawyers For LP At Tribunal

The directive came after Justice Hamza Muazu of the Abuja Federal High Court in a ruling on Friday held that the court had the jurisdiction to hear the Partys matter and make the order restraining the Partys embattled National Chairman, Julius Abure and three others from parading themselves as national officers of the Labour Party.

Justice Muazu held that the court would not stand by and allow a wrong in a political party.

However, the lead counsel to Obi and LP, Levi Uzoukwu, disclosed on Sunday that the legal team has no business with Apapa, adding that the factional leader didnt brief them, therefore they are not answerable to him in any way.

Ignoring Apapas directive on the briefing, Obis legal team leader said, He never briefed us; we are not answerable to him and we will never be answerable to him.
The organising committee for Abia States re-dedication and governor-elect Alex Ottis Thanksgiving Service, has declared a seven-day prayer and fasting ahead Ottis swearing-in, come May 29.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the chairman and secretary of the committee, Uzor Nwachukwu and Bertrand Okeomah, respectively, the committee disclosed that the programme was part of the activities lined up for the inauguration of Otti as the 10th governor of Abia.

It also revealed that the spiritual cleansing was slated to begin with prayer and fasting on Sunday, May 21 and end on Friday, May 26.

The event to usher in a new wave of spirituality would be rounded off with a Re-dedication Retreat at the Ngwa High School, Aba, on May 27, the committee stated.

READ ALSO: May Day: Weep No More, Help Is On The Way  Alex Otti Tells Abia Wokers

It further stated that the spiritual retreat already had the leadership support of the Abia chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

Similarly, a post-inauguration state thanksgiving service will hold on Sunday, June 4, at the Umuahia Township Stadium by noon prompt, the statement added.

However, CAN called on all its member churches in Abia to observe the prayer and fasting sessions.

According to a statement by Mgbeahuru Okey, CANs secretary, the directive was issued by the Abia CAN chairman, Emmanuel Agomoh.

Lets join hands with other faithful in this all-important assignment for a new Abia of our collective dream, the CAN statement stated.
Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabode George, has said he bears no grudge against the former Lagos State governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Recall that the PDP chieftain has for a long time been a major critic of the president-elect, going as far as threatening to go on exile should Tinubu become Nigerias president.

Information Nigeria reports that some elders in Lagos State who are loyalists of Tinubu, met with the PDP leader, urging him to support and collaborate with the president-elect as he assumes office on May 29.

The outcome of the meeting at the weekend, to reconcile George and Tinubu was however brokered by a former judge of the Lagos State High Court, Ishola Olorunnimbe.

George, speaking after the meeting, commended the elders for the peace parley adding that it is a positive step towards a new Lagos.

On the request made by leaders of the All Progressives Congress, urging him to cease further fire against Tinubu, the PDP leader said: Let me say there is no political differences. Justice Olorunnimbe is like a father, we respect our fathers in Lagos. When I got an invitation from Papa Olusi that he wanted to come and see me the first time, I told my friend who delivered the message that I should go and visit him and not the other way round. But Papa Olusi said he had to come and see and that it had to do with the situation in Lagos.

This is the second time Papa Olusi is visiting. We had detailed discussions that bothered on the unity of Lagos. I must say we re-established the fact that the culture of Lagos is to accept and accommodate other tribes.

Secondly, on the details of us working together, because a divided house will be a defeated house, I have explained to Baba Olusi that there is no problem about working together. The kind of platform we are trying to have is for a unity of purpose in Lagos State, irrespective of party affiliations.

On the bottom line, you are a Lagosian though we can have different political affiliations.

Now, they came for three things: they talked about the running battle I had with Tinubu and I have said I absolutely have no battle, nothing personal between him and I.

What had happened has gone, vengeance is not mine but the almighty God. We will have differences, we will disagree but we must not be disagreeable.

READ ALSO: I Can Live Anywhere I Want, Just Bothered About Younger Generation  Bode George On Proposed Exile After Tinubus Victory

They made a request which we are all looking at. They requested that someday we should also congratulate Asiwaju and we said yes, but that I belong to a political party. They are all in the courts now. Let us finish the court cases. Whichever way that goes, the issue of congratulating him or not will come to fruition. I have nothing personal and nothing happens without the almighty God. As a believer, that is my school of thought.

This union and discussion we have had is a positive step towards a new Lagos.

Elderstatesman and seasoned politician, Prince Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi, speaking on the purpose of their visit, explained that the meeting was to seek the collaboration of George and other elders for the development of Lagos State.

He said: This is a gathering of eminent Lagosians and this is my second coming to meet with Chief Olabode George. The president-elect of Nigeria is Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, he was a former Senator from Lagos but we know that the relationship between the President-elect and Chief Olabode George is not cordial. We think it is important that as leaders of the community, we should take steps to improve the relationship. Therefore, I got an appointment with Chief George on May 1, 2023, to discuss and request for a further meeting.

I also requested that a former justice in Lagos State, Justice Olorunnimbe (retd) be here to put his elderly posture as well as his experience in ensuring that we have a cordial discussion with Chief Bode George.

The meeting has been cordial and useful; and I can tell you that we have agreed on the mission of this delegation that we, in Lagos with Chief Bode George, should give our support to the President-elect as soon as he assumes office on May 29 as the president of Nigeria for the good of Lagos and betterment of the country.

That is the purpose of our discussion and it has been successful.

Justice Olorunnimbe, who brokered the peace parley, described the meeting as fruitful.

He said: The discussion was cordial, frank and interesting. There is a concensus that we, as leaders of the community must cooperate. Chief Bode George, in his usual human approach hosted us and we had a fruitful discussion which will benefit all of us.

Let me make it known that this is not a political meeting but a meeting of elders of the Lagos community, discussing with another elder statesman, who all of us have great respect for.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested 25 drug suspects in different raids across known drug joints in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

One of the places where the suspects were arrested was the New Kuchingoro Internally Displaced Persons Camp located in the FCT.

The spokesman for the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

READ ALSO: Two Businessmen Excrete 193 Cocaine Pellets In NDLEA Custody At Abuja Airport (Video)

Operatives in Abuja arrested 25 suspects in raids across Tora Bora, Gwarinpa village, Third Avenue in Gwarinpa, Karamo, Garki Market, Sabongari Bwari and New Kuchingoro IDP camp, within the FCT, he said.

The NDLEA spokesperson further revealed that another bid to smuggle into Lagos a consignment of 24kgs cannabis concealed in imported used cars from Canada was again frustrated by NDLEA operatives who seized the illicit substance on Thursday, May 11, during a joint 100% examination of a container marked, MSMU 7412069, at the Prime Connection Bonded terminal, off Oshodi-Apapa expressway.

Two clearing agents linked with the container, G.O. Njokwu and Christopher Obialor, have been arrested in collaboration with men of the Nigerian Customs Service, Babafemi added.

He also disclosed that two businessmen who were arrested by operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for cocaine ingestion have both excreted 193 pellets of the illicit drug after three days in observatory custody.

The traffickers, Onoh Ebere, 49, and Christian Ifeanyi, 47, were intercepted at the Abuja airport on May 10, upon their arrival from Uganda via Addis Ababa, onboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 951.

He said, They both travelled to Uganda and from there crossed over to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where they picked the consignments before returning to Abuja with Lagos as their final destination.

After days in the excretion room, Ebere Onoh excreted a total of 100 pellets weighing 2.137kgs while Christian Ifeanyi expelled 93 pellets hidden in his stomach with a gross weight of 1.986kgs,

Meanwhile, Babafemi noted that NDLEA operatives also raided two notorious drug joints, Zaro bunk on Bama Road, Sabongari and the Sani Abacha Indoor Stadium, both in the Kano metropolis where 160 suspects were arrested with different quantities of illicit substances.

Also, two suspects Abubakar Sallau, 55, and Nazifi Abdullahi, 25, were arrested on Saturday, May 13, along Kano-Maiduguri Road with 5,000 pills of Tramadol 200mg, while 65,200 tablets of Tramadol and Exol-5 were seized from the duo of Adamu Nagati, 30, and Ali Nasiru, 35.
Main opposition parties in Benue State, the All Progressives Congress and the Labour Party have applauded the State House of Assembly for refusing to sign the Executive Pension Bill proposed by Governor Samuel Ortom.

The LP and the APC in separate interviews with Information Nigeria, described the proposed pension bill as a waste of state resources which isnt in the interest of the people of the state but in the interest of Governor Ortom and other past governors in the state.

They added that Ortom had performed woefully and hasnt done anything for the state to deserve to be a recipient of such excesses.

Recall that the states lawmakers on Thursday, put on hold the approval of the said bill and suspended their plenary.

The lawmakers refusal to assent to the bill sent to the house for approval by Ortom, was reportedly over the non-payment of their six months salary arrears and allowances.

The controversial bill which had already passed first reading, seeks to offer former governors of the state permanent accommodation and four new cars every four years.

Additionally, the bill proposes the hiring of six personal staff for former governors and three for former deputy governors, as well as free medical treatment for the former governors, their spouses, and at least four of their children under the age of 18.

Bem Mngutyo, a member of the House, after the suspension of the plenary on Thursday, stated that the decision to put the bill on hold was in light of the unresolved issue of their outstanding salaries and emoluments.

According to him, the house resolved not to sit until our emoluments and salaries are paid.

READ MORE: Benue Assembly Refuses To Assent Ortoms Pension Bill Over Lawmakers Unpaid Allowances

The lawmaker further revealed that the governor had reportedly met with the PDP caucus caucus of the House to discuss the matter and promised to settle the arrears of allowance and salaries before his tenure expires on May 29, 2023, using the states May federal allocation.

Sharing his thoughts with Information Nigeria, the States APC Chairman, Austin Agada commended the state assembly for standing their ground to get their entitlement and ensuring that the interests of the people came first before that of anyone.

Its a welcome development anytime any day that the Assembly has woken up from their slumber to say no, the people have to be first. When we said Ortom was owing people salaries for close to eighteen months, they said we were lying and playing politics.

However, Im happy today that an arm like the legislative arm of the state government could rise up and say look, because of this and that, we wont go further with this your pension bill that seems to protect your personal interest, then I think its a welcome development because the people cant continue to be in this kind of suffering.

Anything that has made them to be conscious of their rights and to stand by the people, for me, is a welcome development. Whether personal or selfish interest, it doesnt matter to me. What matters to me is the well being of the citizens of Benue State.

Wondering why the governor had to wait till the tail end of his tenure to introduce the bill, Otene said recipients of the bill should be former governors who really deserved it, but not for the likes of Ortom who, according to him, is leaving the state worse than how he met it.

He said, Certainly, this bill cant be in the interest of the people of Benue but its in the interest of the governor and of course, others that have been governors in the past. But Ortom was there all this while, knowing fully well that one day, hell be a former governor.

He should have even initiated the bill long before now, so that other former governors will benefit from it. It is now that hes about to leave office that he feels the bill is necessary. All the same, for us, if theres a bill for those that have performed, they are those that should benefit from it.

Certainly we would have said its a welcome development because weve had other former governors like Senator Governor George Akume who had done everything as far as Benue State is concerned in ensuring that their lives are elevated. He did his best in ensuring that there was massive transformation and development in Benue.

But the likes of Ortom, what will he say he has achieved? Yet he wants to benefit from such a bill, its very unfortunate but you cant separate them and say those that had performed should benefit while those that didnt perform shouldnt benefit. If I had what it takes, Id have said those that had not performed shouldnt benefit, so that people like Ortom can be found in that section.

On whether the bill will cost the state too much from its coffers, despite salaries being owed by the state government, the state chairman said, Theres nothing too much for a former governor of a state if he had performed exceedingly well. Like Lagos State today where Bola Tinubu took the state to another level, nothing can be too much for him.

But when a governor has not performed, and has left the government of the state worse than how he met it, thats what were saying. You know what it is to be a governor, its not easy. But for a governor that has performed, theres absolutely nothing too much for him.

However, a governor that hasnt performed, that has left the state worse than he met it, like what we have in Benue State, definitely he doesnt deserve it, he stated further.

In his own submission to Information Nigeria about the development in the House, the State Labour Party Chairman, Comrade Ibrahim Idoko Otene said it was wrong and unfair for outgoing governors to receive pensions, as they had not spent the required number of years to be pensionable, going by the law guiding the civil service.

Comrade Otene said, These things are mostly politics. Fundamentally, I think theres a rule in Nigeria that says you have to work for a particular number of years, or attain a particular retirement age. We have a civil service rule that says you have to put in a minimum of ten years in the civil service to be pensionable. Now my question is this. Im saying this considering the weight of our laws. Do our politicians serve up to ten years in offices to deserve pension?

If yes, then they deserve it, but if not, I dont think its necessary. Has a governor ever served up to ten years in office? Thats a tale to really consider. It should be based on the law for fairness. If a civil servant has to do a minimum of ten years to guarantee pension, is that the case with our governors? I dont think so. When we talk about fairness, equity and justice, we need to let it be holistic, he pointed out.

Otene further lamented the excesses of governments in the country, describing the proposed law as a waste and a show of rascality that is putting the economy in trouble. He further governments in the state to cut down their spending in government.

If you noticed, our principal, Mr Peter Obi has been speaking concerning that, and thats where the Labour Party stands. We believe that the excesses of government, the cost of governance is one of our biggest problems in Nigeria, and that is why the Labour Party and Peter Obi are saying that theres a need to cut excesses in governance.

Youd remember his statement concerning Lai Mohammed who had to travel to the U.S to declare that His Excellency, Peter Obi had committed treason while Peter Obi was in Onitsha. Obi then concluded by saying that is the rascality in governance that were trying to bring to an end in Labour Party.

We need to end this rascality in government where government excesses are putting our economy in trouble. We need to cut down the cost of governance. One way to do that is to reduce this kind of level of rascality in governance where too much is apportioned to governance which at the end of it, are all wastes.

Look at how Obi put it, that after assessing the cost implication of what Lai Mohammed did in Washington, that cost was enough to build three blocks of classrooms in his own village. Then, pictures started going viral on the kinds of classes they have in Lai Mohammeds village, its a shame. This is what we should be dealing with.

I want to appeal to our leaders in governance, I agree that we must give credit to who credit is due, honour to whom honour is due, but they also should rule with conscience and approach governance with the people in mind, he advised.
Not less than 24 hours after the news filtered out about the death of a popular Nollywood actor, Saint Obi, another popular actor of Yoruba movies, Murphy Afolabi, has died on Sunday.

According to PUNCH NEWSPAPER, the veteran actor was said to have fallen down in the bathroom at his house in Ikorodu, Lagos, on Sunday morning, May 14, 2023.

A filmmaker and the president of the Yoruba Movies Directors Guild, Seun Olaiya, passed the sad news on a WhatsApp platform populated by filmmakers.

He was corroborated by the Managing Director of the popular movie marketing company, Corporate Pictures Nigeria Limited, Abdullahi Abdulrasaq.

Olaiya wrote, I swear to God just before the news, I was still hailing him. This is really a rude shock to me.

Showbiz personality and the convener of the Best of Nollywood Awards, Seun Oloketuyi, also confirmed the news saying, It is true. He passed away after taking a fall in his bathroom at his house in Ikorodu this morning.

READ MORE: Veteran Nollywood Actor, Saint Obi Is Reportedly Dead

Another filmmaker, Tunde Ola-Yusuf, posted a picture of the late actor on Facebook and added the quote, Rest in peace. May God give the family and close associates the fortitude to bear the loss. Good night, Murphy Afolabi.

Yet another filmmaker, Fidelis Duker, wrote, What is really happening? I am just watching him in a movie now.

However, some Yoruba actors were seen commenting and commiserating with the family of the deceased.

Born on May 5, 1974, Afolabi got into the movie industry in 2001. The graduate of Ire Polytechnic, Osun State, appeared in over 60 movies before his death. His film credits include Ifa Olokun, Omowunmi, Jimi Bendel, Wasila Coded, Olokiki Oru, and Idera.
Sanwo-Olu showed up at the venue to meet with Baci.

The Governor made this known on his Twitter page on Sunday.

He wrote; I showed up to support Chef Hilda Baci, in her quest to break the Guinness World Record

@GWR for the longest time spent cooking by an individual.

READ MORE: Rema Enters Guinness World Record With Calm Down

Her dedication, passion for cooking as well as her desire to put our rich culture on the map by not only exhibiting our food but also the resilience, determination, energy and team spirit that has come to be known as the spirit of Lagos and indeed Nigeria is truly remarkable.

We are proud to have Hilda embarking on this journey in our state. I will continue to follow the updates and look forward to the final declaration.

Check here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CsOcPcoIstm/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=6444f6ba-4451-4ebb-9f89-9aae8ce0a260
Operation Desert Sanity II, Troops from 21 Armoured Brigade, Bama, under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have uncovered an underground armoury belonging to Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Sambisa Forest, Borno State.

INFORMATION NIGERIA gathered that the troops discovered the massive armoury with arms and ammunition when they invaded Ukuba camp in the fringes of Bama Local Government Area.

According to a report from VANGUARD NEWSPAPER, the recovery came after the troops raided the same camp and recovered six anti-aircraft guns, four AK-47 rifles, several IEDs-making materials, a cache of magazines, and a Hilux vehicle mounted with an anti-aircraft gun.

A counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, said a large number of weapons was discovered in hidden dug pits concealed by the terrorist group.

READ MORE: Buhari Has Kept Promise Of Subduing Boko Haram, ISWAP  Says Buratai

The report also stated that several variants of rocket-propelled grenade tubes, SMG rifles, double barrel guns, 50 hand grenades, and five SMK bombs, among others were recovered.

Others included 183 Shilka rounds, several IEDs-making materials, non-electric detonators, many already prepared IEDs as well as several canister bombs.

It was gathered that as the troops were withdrawing from the area, one terrorist was seen and naturalised while one AK-47 rifle and other items were recovered from him.

Meanwhile, the troops have successfully evacuated the arms from the scene after clearing the general area, noting that the troops morale and fighting spirit have been further boosted by the outcome of the operations so far.
Dr. Coppelius (Philadelphia Ballet II director Eddy Tovar) tries to breathe life into his doll (Mayara Pineiro) in Angel Corella's "Coppelia." Read more

Philadelphia Ballet opened the final program of its season Thursday night with the world premiere of artistic director Angel Corellas Coppelia at the Academy of Music.

It is a delightfully comedic love triangle of boy, girl and doll set to music by Leo Delibes. Corellas version includes mostly familiar technique but demands strong dancing and acting. And the dancers came through.

Mayara Pineiro was a charming Swanilda on Thursday, delighted to introduce herself to Coppelia, the girl she spotted sitting with a book in a nearby window. But Coppelia, who is a doll, doesnt wave back. Swanilda, briefly miffed, dances on. Pineiro performed light-as-air leaps and pirouettes, never breaking character.

The real trouble starts when Franz, danced by Ashton Roxander, shows more attention to the doll than to his supposed girlfriend, Swanilda. Roxander is also a good actor, portraying a young man torn between two beautiful girls. But his dancing is even stronger, especially in a variation that has him performing a series of alternating double air turns and double pirouettes. His dancing, right down to his gestures, was reminiscent of a young Corella.

Separately, Swanilda and Franz each arrange to break into the nearby studio of the eccentric Dr. Coppelius (Eddy Tovar, the director of Philadelphia Ballet II and Pineiros brother-in-law), which is filled with all manner of creepy dolls.

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Coppelia, like The Nutcracker, is based on a story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, and there are similarities, especially in the dolls. Theres a pair of harlequin dolls, one in a Scottish costume, a doll dressed like Kitri from Don Quixote, and another that looks like Dumbledore. Pineiro borrows bits of costume from several of them and dances deftly in a variety of styles.

She also borrows Coppelias dress, helping Coppelius bring his creation to life.

Eventually, everyone realizes that Coppelia is but an inanimate object, all is forgiven, and Swanilda and Franz marry.

(Mistaken or hidden identity is another common theme in story ballets, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, for example.)

Unlike many full-length ballets which interrupt the story with divertissements, Corellas Coppelia front loads much of the dancing and gets into the story a bit later. The corps de ballet of friends and townspeople all have a great deal of dancing to do. They are all impressive dancers, especially in the folk dances that have dancers leap across each other or perform lifts while in formation.

Dayesi Torriente performed a precise and lovely Dawn solo, and Oksana Maslova was an ethereal Prayer, stretching through the space with little effort.

After the curtain calls, Corella stepped on stage to announce that he was promoting Roxander to principal dancer and presented him with a wreath.

Roxander, who is from Oregon, joined the second company in 2016 and quickly moved through the ranks. He studied with his parents and finished his education as a trainee at Boston Ballet under Peter Stark, who is now president and director of Philadelphias Rock School for Dance Education.

His brother, Jake, also danced with what is now Philadelphia Ballet II and is currently in the corps de ballet at American Ballet Theatre.

Philadelphia Ballet in Coppelia, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St. Tickets start at $25. 215-893-1999 or kimmelculturalcampus.org
The Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center after the Philadelphia Department of Prisons reported the escape of two prisoners. Read more

A 21-year-old man is expected to be charged with helping secure transportation for two prisoners who escaped from a Philadelphia jail last week, authorities said Monday.

Michael Abrams was expected to face charges including escape, hindering apprehension, and conspiracy, police said.

Additional details about his alleged role in the crime were not immediately available. Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore said Abrams was arrested Monday in Berwyn and was an associate of one of the escapees: 18-year-old Ameen Hurst, who was jailed while awaiting trial for four homicides and other crimes before he broke out alongside Nasir Grant, 24.

Vanore declined to provide other specifics about how Abrams allegedly aided in the jailbreak, but said investigators believe Abrams was in communication with Hurst and Grant as they escaped and tried to evade capture.

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Grant, who was jailed on gun and drug offenses, was recaptured Thursday night in North Philadelphia and subsequently arraigned on a new count of escape. He was being held in a Bucks County jail on $10 million bail, court records show.

Hurst, meanwhile, remained missing Monday as U.S. Marshals continue to search for him.

Court records show Abrams, at the time of the escape, was free on unsecured bail while awaiting a preliminary hearing for a gun and drug case that was first filed last year. Abrams and two other men were accused of possessing crack cocaine and marijuana in West Philadelphia last fall, records say, and Abrams also allegedly carried a gun without a license. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for later this month, court records say.

Abrams is the third person in less than a week to be criminally charged and accused of helping Hurst and Grant break out of the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center on May 7.

On Thursday, authorities said 21-year-old Xianni Stallings put Hurst in touch with a potential getaway driver on recorded jail calls just hours before the breakout happened. And Friday, Jose Alberto Flores-Huerta, 35  incarcerated for allegedly participating in a fatal beating outside Pats King of Steaks in 2021  was accused of serving as a lookout inside the facility as the escape unfolded.

Both were jailed on charges including escape. Flores-Huerta was ineligible for bail due to his pending murder charge, and Stallings is being held as prosecutors seek to have her bail raised from $500,000, court records show.

Authorities have said Grant and Hurst sneaked out through a hole in a chain-link fence around 8:30 p.m. May 7. Their absence was not detected by staff members for another 19 hours, despite the fact that three body counts took place in the jail over that time frame.

The breakout came after prisoners, advocates, and union officials had warned for years of a growing crisis at the citys jails, where nearly 4,400 people are held. The union representing officers recently announced a vote of no confidence in Prisons Commissioner Blanche Carney, saying the prisons are about 40% short of a full staffing complement.

Carney, meanwhile, has said investigations are seeking to uncover how the escape happened and why it went undetected for so long. We are leaving no stone unturned in order to make sure this doesnt happen again, she said in a statement late last week.

Grant was arrested by U.S. Marshals late Thursday night, when agents set up surveillance around the 2400 block of West Cambria Street, saw someone get into a car, and followed it to the 2800 block of Dauphin Street.

Marshals pulled the car over and found Grant in the passenger seat, said Deputy U.S. Marshal Robert Clark, who added that Grant had been wearing womens Muslim clothing as a disguise, including a head covering that obscured his face.

As for Hurst, authorities ask that anyone with information about his whereabouts call 911, the U.S. Marshals Service at 800-336-0102, or Philadelphia Police at 215-686-TIPS (8477). Officials were offering a reward of as much as $25,000 for his capture.

Staff writer Ellie Rushing contributed to this article.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden greet the crowd gathered at Franklin Field for the University of Pennsylvania commencement. Read more

With pomp and circumstance of presidential proportions, President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden, and their family were in the stands of Franklin Field as 6,000 newly-minted University of Pennsylvania graduates turned their tassels Monday.

Sitting on crimson cushions in a cordoned-off section of stadium bleachers, the president attended the commencement as a proud grandfather of Roberta Maisy Biden, who received a bachelor of arts degree.

Biden sat quietly throughout the ceremony, but his presence was hard to miss. Roads near the stadium were blocked off, and Secret Service ringed the exterior perimeter of Franklin Field, screening the thousands of family members and supporters in attendance who were instructed to arrive hours before the ceremony began.

When the Bidens entered the bleachers before the ceremony, the stadium erupted into cheers. The president waved to the crowd and pumped a double thumbs-up before bending over a metal barricade to talk with Maisy, who is the daughter of Hunter Biden. A group of grads gathered on the track near the first family to snap photos and wave.

There was a lot of security, but it was very cool, said Elizabeth Stone, 22, who graduated Monday with a degree in finance statistics and data science from Wharton. She added that the whole graduation experience was a little surreal, particularly after pandemic interruptions sent her classes online for the majority of her first two years of college.

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Im overjoyed, and Im so proud of her, added her mother, Bonnie Sockel-Stone, who is originally from Philadelphia but now lives in Miami. As for the ceremony and Bidens visit, she said, I loved it, and I loved the message.

The universitys 267th commencement featured Tony Award winner and Frozen star Idina Menzel as speaker. To the graduates, Menzel stressed the power of using their voices and encouraged the class to live the fullness of who you are.

She ended her speech by singing an excerpt from The Beatles Let It Be.

Penn president Liz Magill focused on the power of community, stressing that success is not solitary and encouraging the class of 2023 to thank the army of people who lent you their love.

Magill closed out the commencement  her first as Penn president  by thanking the Bidens for attending, as the crowd applauded.

Biden and his family then reportedly stopped for lunch at Vietnam Cafe nearby.

Monday wasnt the first time Biden has attended Penn commencement. As vice president in 2013, he spoke at the ceremony and received an honorary degree. He also appeared at the graduation of Penns School of Arts and Sciences in 2016, in support of his granddaughter, Naomi. (That year, Donald Trump  then a presidential candidate  also attended the ceremony to see his daughter Tiffany graduate.)

 READ MORE: Trump and Biden to attend Penn graduation - as parents

In April, Biden paid a visit to Penn to view Maisy Bidens senior art show at the Charles Addams Fine Arts Gallery. Maisys older sister, Finnegan, graduated from Penn in 2021 with a degree in history.

Biden has deep ties to the university. He became a presidential practice professor in 2017, but took a leave in 2019 to launch his run for president. The university in 2017 also created a Washington D.C.-based center in his name, focusing on diplomacy and global engagement. The think tank became a landing zone for many Biden advisers and faced inquiries from House Republicans this year after classified documents were found in the centers office.

But as graduates poured out of Franklin Field following Mondays ceremony, the spectacle surrounding the first familys attendance was quickly overshadowed. Parents and supporters beamed with their own grads, posing for photos and embracing.

Its always a special bonus to have the president around, but the focus is on the kids and graduates, said Haniel Lynn, a Penn alum whose son, Carter, graduated with a degree in economics. And were really, really proud of him.

Staff writer Julia Terruso contributed to this article.
Im not feeling my most adventurous at breakfast, so when I spied an eyebrow-raising offering on the menu  peanut butter and jelly and bacon, egg, and cheese, melded together in a biscuit sandwich  I hesitated.

Peanut butter and bacon are always a good combo, the plucky clerk countered when I expressed my skepticism.

And so I bit the bullet and ordered the Uptown Girl at the Biscuit Lady, a breakfast spot that operates four days a week inside Luckys Trading Co. on Ridge Avenue in Wissahickon.

The sandwich arrived on red-checkered wax paper, and I instantly knew I was going to be as sticky as my toddler after eating it. The freshly fried over-medium egg topped with bacon and American cheese warm up the Jif peanut butter and strawberry jelly, creating a melty-gooey sauce situation that simply cannot be contained by a fluffy buttermilk biscuit. I readied some napkins and took a bite.

Everything I had been afraid of  the jelly and the peanut butter throwing off the savory purity of my beloved bacon, egg, and cheese  was valid, but totally delicious. The peanut butter and jelly plays wonderfully off bacon, and ratchets up the flavor and substance of the sandwich. I ended up swiping the tender biscuit halves through the salty sweet ooze, mess be damned.

Afterward, I asked Tara Torrence, the Biscuit Lady herself, about the Uptown Girls backstory. She launched the business last August, selling plain biscuits, sandwiches, jams, and specialty biscuits laced with seasonal fruit and spices, out of her Plymouth Meeting home. Torrence has been making biscuits for years; theyre a favorite of her North Carolina-born husband.

The concept took off immediately thanks to the Roxborough moms Facebook group. (Torrence lived there for 10 years.) Word spread, and soon she was monopolizing her home kitchen, shooing away her husband and two daughters so she could crank out biscuits. By October, they insisted she find another space to bake. Theyre like, This is a mess ... theres flour everywhere. 

Thats how she wound up in Luckys Trading Co., owned by the same folks behind Luckys Last Chance in Manayunk and Queen Village. The sparsely furnished incubator space is also home to Penny Pickles, Sunshine Sandwich Shop, and a large collection of antique televisions. Business has been so brisk, Torrence is already searching for a bigger home.

As it happens, Luckys has an award-winning PB&J burger, but thats not how Torrence came up with the Uptown Girl. It didnt exist until November, when a customer came in, took a look at the menu, and made a request. He said, Can I have peanut butter and jelly on the bacon, egg, and cheese? and I was kinda like, I guess so,  she remembers.

She was skeptical herself that first go-round, but after he left I was like, Im gonna make one of these for myself, and I did and I was like, This is freakin amazing.  Since the sandwich combined ingredients she already had on hand, she made it a permanent thing, christening it after one of her daughters favorite songs.

The Biscuit Lady is open Thursday through Sunday inside Luckys Trading Co. at 5154 Ridge Ave. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to noon Thursday and Friday, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. If going later in the morning, call ahead; they sell out often. 215-842-5836, thatsmyjam3.com
The weathers nice and tables are filling up once again on sidewalks, streeteries, and patios. All smiles and happiness. Well, almost all smiles and happiness. Lets take a moment for a quick refresher about safety, whether youre enjoying drinks on 18th Street in Rittenhouse or on Gay Street in West Chester. Stuff happens, unfortunately everywhere.

Most crimes involving restaurant patrons involve theft  a handbag snatched from the back of a chair or a phone lifted from a jacket pocket.

The following tips are mostly common sense. Some are from lessons learned.

Before you go out

Consider traveling lightly.

Make an inventory of your bag and keep this list at home, with a copy in a file or in the Notes app on your phone. If you have an iPhone, set up Find My iPhone and make sure you have access to your iCloud from another device. Photocopy both sides of your IDs and credit/debit cards. Stash this at home, but do not keep this information on a phone file or app that is not password-protected. Anyone who gains access to your phone would then have your information in one, handy place. Take only the smallest bag truly necessary and only the cash and card you will need. (This also may be a financial tip. But note that credit cards offer fraud liability protections that debit cards do not. A lost debit card is a harrowing experience, while a lost credit card is usually just an inconvenience.)

Once youre out

Be aware of your surroundings. I know we get caught up in the social part, but you have to be aware about whats around you also, said Philadelphia Police Officer Miguel Torres, weighing in at The Inquirers request. That includes who is around you. Thieves sometimes mill around tables, even talking on cell phones to appear as if theyre not up to something. Keep your friends close, and your valuables closer. Dont leave credit cards, phones, wallets, or purses on top of tables, where youre not paying attention to them, Torres said. Never, ever hang a bag on the back of a chair. Bags containing valuables should be kept next to you, not on the floor or ground, if possible. Thieves frequently duck down to lift wallets from bags. (The sneakiest of thieves remove wallets, take what they want, and return the wallets to their rightful place. Its only much later, after the credit card has been used, that the victim realizes theyve been used.) Use purse hooks. Many bars install them for customers, but they are found at few outdoor restaurant tables. Ive used a portable hook, marketed as a purse hook, to keep my backpack off the floor and against my leg. If youre also toting a diaper bag or duffel, the floor or ground is probably fine. Consider keeping your handbag on your lap, with a napkin placed over it to keep your bag clean. If the restaurant offers solid-back chairs, place the bag behind your back and lean back to secure it. Is it too obvious to suggest always zipping up bags? Probably not. When you take out your wallet to remove a credit card to pay, keep the wallet in your hand at all times. Return it to your pocket or wallet only after you put the card back in its place. This serves two purposes: Your wallet stays with you, and you will never again leave your credit card behind. (Thats another story.)

If you lose something

First, contact the establishment where you were at, Torres said. You want to enlist as much help as possible to get your property back, he said. File a police report, and notify card companies. If your iPhone is lifted, you may need to suspend or permanently remove the ability to pay from that device with Apple Pay. Your cards will be suspended or removed from Apple Pay even if your device is off-line and not connected to a cellular or Wi-Fi network. You can also call your bank to suspend or remove cards from Apple Pay.

One more thing

Not every thief works by skulking around. Consider Stacey Shapiros tale. She was sitting at a table when a passerby, acting intoxicated, walked up to her. Holding out her phone, the person asked Shapiro to give her friend directions to the restaurant. Being a nice person and not thinking, I took her phone and explained to the person on the other end. Unbeknownst to me, [the drunk passerby] was stealing my wallet. The thief got Shapiros wallet and relieved her of her credit cards and ID, she said. Not her Costco card, she noted.

I canceled my [credit] card before she tried spending $500 at CVS, Shapiro said. I got the notification it was declined.

All because I was trying to be a nice person, she said.

On the plus side, management reviewed the video footage, she said, and sent her a $200 gift card.
Philadelphia high schoolers Tiffani Billups (left) and Amal Oubarri use pipettes at the Wistar Institute, where they contributed to a new study of a possible treatment for HIV. Read more

Tiffani Billups burst in the front door of her home in Southwest Philadelphia and cried out excitedly: Mom! Im working with HIV!

The teenager quickly reassured her mother that she wasnt working with an active form of the virus, but a genetically engineered version that was unable to cause an infection.

Yet Billups, now a senior at Carver Engineering and Science school, had nevertheless been conducting legitimate experiments at Philadelphias Wistar Institute, testing a potential new treatment for HIV. She was one of 12 city high schoolers who performed the tests in July 2022, following a group of Cheyney University students who had conducted a similar suite of experiments earlier that year.

The results of the students experiments were so useful that they have now been included in a new published study from the research center in West Philadelphia.

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Both groups were part of Wistar programs aimed at increasing diversity in the biomedical sciences. Their success illustrates that achievement is often a matter of simply getting the chance, said Wistar faculty member Ian Tietjen, the studys lead author.

Anybody can be a scientist, he said. It doesnt matter who you are. Right away, you can contribute to an HIV study.

The students tested the effects of a plant-derived, anti-inflammatory compound called hopeaphenol, which was first identified in certain red wines two decades ago. The name does not come from the word hope, yet thats a fitting coincidence, as scientists have tested the compound against a variety of ailments, including COVID, in hopes that it might be beneficial.

So far, its promise has been mostly limited to the laboratory. But in testing the compound against HIV, Tietjen and Wistar colleague Luis Montaner, the studys senior author, think they might be onto something.

A two-pronged attack on HIV

In the study, the Wistar scientists found the substance might be useful as part of a one-two punch against HIV, complementing antiviral drugs that already are in wide use.

To understand how, it helps to recall the property that makes HIV so insidious. The virus infects cells in the immune system, directly interfering with the bodys ability to fight it off (hence the name, human immunodeficiency virus).

Current drugs are effective at keeping the virus below detectable levels, blocking the virus whenever it awakens from a dormant state inside those infected immune cells. As a result, patients now live for decades with an infection that once was almost always fatal.

Yet even that low level of virus can be a strain on the patients immune system, resulting in chronic, low-grade inflammation that may contribute to heart disease, cancer, and other illnesses, Tietjen said.

Thats where hopeaphenol might help.

Whereas current drugs can block the virus only after it awakens from its dormant state, hopeaphenol seems to block its activity at an earlier stage, preventing the virus from activating, the study authors found.

Tietjen likens the fight to a homeowner battling an infestation of mice. Current drugs act only when the animals emerge from a mouse hole, whereas hopeaphenol seems to keep them inside.

If you could block every possible way for the mice to get out of the wall into your house, he said, the mice just give up and go to sleep.

 READ MORE: From community college to COVID research, he followed a nontraditional path to fighting the virus

The students take part

In addition to showing that hopeaphenol kept the virus dormant inside infected T cells, the scientists wanted to make sure that it did not interfere with the activity of other T cells, which are needed to fight off other infections.

That was the task they set before the high schoolers and the students from Cheyney, a historically Black university.

The students measured the effect of hopeaphenol on two types of cytokines  chemical signals that the immune system uses to marshal its defenses. They found that while the compound interfered with one of these helpful signals, the other was largely unaffected  a good sign.

In other words, the initial experiments by Wistar scientists had found that the compound seemed to keep the virus in its dormant state inside T cells. Then the students showed that the compound did not have the unwanted side effect of putting other T cells to sleep, leaving at least one type of alarm signal awake to perform its function.

Billups, now a senior at Carver, was thrilled.

It wasnt like a classroom setting, she said. We were actually in a lab on the first day.

The teenagers father is an electrician and her mom works in the telecommunications industry, so she figures she may have gotten technical aptitude from both. For several years, she has leaned more toward the biological sciences, intrigued by what shes heard from an aunt who works for a vitamin supplier. Thats what prompted her to apply for the Wistar program.

A youthful spark

In addition to the tests for the HIV study, Billups and her peers also conducted some preliminary experiments on anticancer compounds for Maureen E. Murphy, another Wistar researcher.

You get old and jaded like me, the scientist said. Then you see a young person come in, and you see that spark. I like to think that we all give a lot to each other.

Another participant in the program, Central High School junior Amal Oubarri, said the Wistar faculty established high standards.

It wasnt like our instructors treated us as kids, she said. It seemed like a real fellowship.

That was by design, said Wistar scientist Jason Diaz, who oversees the high school program. With ample guidance, the students were expected to contribute to real experiments by the end of the three-week period.

That doesnt sound like a lot of time, he said. But if youre doing this for the entire day for several weeks, and youre getting lots of feedback from us, you can get pretty good pretty quickly.

They and the Cheyney students are listed by name in the acknowledgments of the study. Before the compound could be used as an HIV drug, years of additional research remain, perhaps with the help of future young participants in Wistars programs.

Most of last summers high school students, who earned stipends of $1,000, came from magnet or science-themed public schools in Philadelphia. Diaz said he is starting to build more relationships with neighborhood schools. Eventually, he hopes to offer students the chance to come back the following year for an eight-week internship.

I definitely had students who wished they could stay longer, so they could repeat an experiment, he said. Thats what you want to see, that the failure doesnt cause you to run away, but inspires you to stay longer.
A class on how to strike would have been useful before setting up the picket line, said an organizer and member of the Temple University Graduate Students Association (TUGSA). TUGSA went on strike earlier this year. Read more

Work stoppages by labor unions are having a moment. Several high-profile strikes have taken place locally in less than a year, including Temple University graduate student workers, Philadelphia Museum of Art staff, Rutgers University faculty, and Teamsters at the Liberty Coca-Cola distribution center.

Noticing this, leaders of the AFL-CIO Philadelphia Council figured a lot of workers might have questions. Their solution: Strike School.

People who are involved in and leading unions havent gone on strikes in many many years, said Jana Korn, organizing director for the council, which comprises more than 100 local labor unions. Theres this generational, institutional knowledge thats missing.

The councils first strike school is aimed at both union leaders and rank-and-file members. Drawing on lessons learned and best practices from recent work stoppages, the classes take place over two Saturdays May 20 and June 3  and cost $25 per person.

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The council is continuing to take registrants, said Korn, with 30 people signed up as of May 12.

The first day of the school will focus on what unions should do before a walkout, including how to strategically time a strike so it makes the most impact possible and how to prepare financially for a potentially lengthy period of time without pay.

While the recent stoppages in Philadelphia ended after a few days or weeks, some go on much longer, such as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette newspaper strike, which has continued for more than half a year. Unions should be thinking about the escalation of their campaigns on a long timeline, said Korn.

It does require a lot of setup to do in a way that keeps everyone together, said Matt Ford, an organizer and member of the Temple University Graduate Students Association (TUGSA), which went on strike earlier this year. We were ready and members were kept in the loop about all the possibilities of what could happen.

The second day of strike school will focus on what to do when the strike begins, on the picket line, and throughout the work stoppage until an agreement is reached. The class will also discuss the aftermath.

Weve heard from folks [that] one of the things they werent prepared for is what it feels like to go back to work, Korn said. Your boss is still your boss. You have to figure out how to still do your job every day.

Instructors will include Korn and other council staff, who received input from experts at The LABOR School at Pennsylvania State University, as well as leaders of TUGSA and the Art Museum workers union.

Ford said a class on how to strike would have been useful before TUGSA set up its picket line. Instead, organizers and members turned to books, articles, and calling around for advice, he said.

Theres really been a whole generation or two that has not been really involved in striking, said Paul Dannenfelser, an organizer with AFSCME District Council 47, which represents workers in cultural institutions, nonprofits, higher education, and government.

Dannenfelser, who was involved in the Art Museum workers strike, noted the extensive preparations required by organizers, union leaders, and members. Loss of pay is always a top concern, he said, and unions must have conversations to ensure that workers are willing and able to stop working.

Timing is also a careful calculation, Dannenfelser said, pointing to recent examples.

At the Art Museum, the opening of a high-profile exhibit created additional pressure on management to find a way to get the union back to work. At Rutgers University, the end of the semester was just a few weeks off when thousands of faculty stepped away from teaching and many classes were canceled, creating questions around year-end exams and graduations.

Each union has to do an analysis [of] what is the major pressure point on their employer, and plan their timing for a strike around that, Dannenfelser said.

Korn said that much of the instruction is universal across industries and jobs but acknowledged that some industries and jobs are bound by special regulations requiring advance notice of a strike or otherwise limiting work stoppages.

Strike school may touch on how to remain strategic without violating those rules, she said.

We want to provide people with as much legal information as we can without being lawyers, she said.

Ford, of TUGSA, said he would like to see more training opportunities for workers and organizers, as he expects the wave of strikes to continue.

The youngest generation entering the workforce seems to be more willing to act collectively, Dannenfelser said, facing stagnant wages, large amounts of student loan debt, and expensive health care and other benefits.

The really positive thing is they want to do this for themselves, Dannenfelser said.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington in April. Read more

WASHINGTON  The White House on Monday said Russia is looking to buy additional advanced attack drones from Iran for use in its war against Ukraine after using up most of the 400 drones it had previously purchased from Tehran.

The Biden administration last year publicized satellite imagery and intelligence findings that it said indicated Iran sold hundreds of attack drones to Russia. And for months, officials have said the United States believed Iran was considering selling hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia, but Washington did not have evidence a deal was consummated.

Iran also continues to provide Russia with one-way attack UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles). Since August, Iran has provided Russia with more than 400 UAVs primarily of the Shahed variety, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

Russia has expended most of these UAVs, using them to target Ukrainian critical infrastructure inside Ukraine. By providing Russia with these UAVs, Iran has been directly enabling Russias war of aggression in Ukraine, Kirby told reporters.

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The Shahed drones that Russia has already purchased are packed with explosives and programed to loiter overhead until they nosedive into a target  unmanned versions of World War II kamikaze pilots who would fly their explosives-laden planes into U.S. warships in the Pacific.

Kirby said the Russians are now looking at acquiring even more advanced drones capable of more lethality

The latest revelation is part of a persistent drip of intelligence findings from the administration to detail what U.S. officials say is a deepening defense partnership between Russia and Iran. The U.S. allegations are part of a broader effort to declassify and publicize intelligence findings concerning Moscows prosecution of its nearly 15-month war in Ukraine in hopes of furthering global isolation of Russia.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks office announced Monday it was sending Ukraine hundreds more air defense missiles, as well as long-range attack drones with a reach of more than 200 kilometers (120 miles). The announcement came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Britain and unsuccessfully pressed Sunak to provide Ukraine with fighter jets as Ukraine prepares for a long-anticipated spring offensive to retake territory that Russia has seized.

The Biden administration says the Kremlins reliance on Iran as well as North Korea countries largely isolated on the international stage for their nuclear programs and human rights records shows desperation. Thats in the face of Ukrainian resistance and the success of the global coalition in disrupting Russian military supply chains and denying replacements for weapons lost on the battlefield. The White House says Russia has turned to North Korea for artillery.

U.S. officials say Iran has also provided Russia with artillery and tank rounds for its invasion of Ukraine.

This is a full scale defense partnership that is harmful to Ukraine, to the region in the Middle East and to the international community, said Kirby, who added that Iran has been Russias top military backer since the start of the Ukraine invasion.

Kirby said the administration is looking to further tighten export controls to prevent Western components from making their way to Iran for use in manufacturing drones. He also said further sanctions against Iran and Russia could be coming.

Iran has said it provided drones to Russia prior to the start of the war, but not since. North Korea has denied it has provided Russia artillery.

The White House has said for months that it has seen troubling signs that the military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran could flow both ways.

Iran is seeking to purchase additional military equipment from Russia, including attack helicopters, radars, and YAK-130 combat trainer aircraft, according to the White House. And Iran last month announced that it had finalized a deal to buy Su-35 fighter jets from Russia.

The White House has also previously said Russia and Iran were considering starting a drone assembly line in Russia for the Ukraine conflict.

In total, Iran is seeking billions of dollars worth of military equipment from Russia, Kirby said.

The new allegations come as Biden is headed to Hiroshima, Japan, later this week for the Group of Seven summit, where the U.S. president is expected to make a call to fellow leaders of some worlds biggest economies to further tighten export controls and sanctions on Moscow.
All of the candidates in the running to be Philadelphias next mayor say education would be a cornerstone of their administrations policies.

Not all campaign promises can be fulfilled, though, as there are limits to what power a mayor yields when it comes to Philadelphias public schools. In advance of Tuesdays Democratic primary,heres a look at what the mayor can and cant do.

Does the mayor actually control schools?

No. Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. is in charge of day-to-day operations of the 113,000-student Philadelphia School District, and he reports to the nine-member school board, which controls the districts $4.5 billion budget and approves policy.

The mayor does select every school board member for terms that run in conjunction with their own term, giving them significant control over the boards politics and philosophy. Thats a relatively new power; the district for 17 years was under state takeover, with a majority of School Reform Commission members chosen by Pennsylvanias governor.

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Mayor Jim Kenney engineered a return to local control in 2018, appointing the first school board since 2001.

Philadelphias unusual school-funding structure, the only one of its kind in Pennsylvania, means that the school board actually has no authority to levy any taxes for its own revenue. Instead, it depends on the state and city for the majority of its money.

As such, Philadelphias mayor plays a role in proposing about half of the districts budget, but Council ultimately approves the plan for the district. This in theory should mean its in the boards best interest to be on good terms with the city, though thats not always the case, historically. This year, the board sued the city over a law that gives the city oversight over environmental conditions in the schools, meaning the city, not the board, would say whether schools are fit to open.

What have the candidates proposed?

From expanding career and technical education to instituting year-round school, the five leading candidates  grocery owner Jeff Brown, former City Councilmembers Allan Domb, Helen Gym, and Cherelle Parker, and former City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart  have all laid out various visions for what the citys education environment would look like in their administration.

Jeff Brown: His topline education priority is expanding career and technical education, but his platform does not specify whether he would dedicate city money to such an expansion. He pledged city funds for more police and expanding school safety zones, and for more mental health supports in schools. He said his administration would create a team to evaluate all district buildings, many of which are beset by asbestos and other environmental issues.

Brown also said he wants to focus on teacher recruitment and retention, working with the district to start a mentorship program for newer teachers, build more innovation schools, and place career specialists in every high school. He said hed use his business background, working with Watlington to evaluate district processes and reduce waste.

Allan Domb: Domb has said the city needs increased accountability from both district and charter schools. While he said he supports increased school funding, he believes money alone cannot bring the generational change needed in city schools, and the increases in funding given to the district in recent years havent brought proportional achievement boosts.

At the top of Dombs list of education priorities is rightsizing the district, he said in response to an Inquirer questionnaire. We need an overall plan, and as part of that plan, we need to identify schools that can be used while others are being rehabbed. Then shutter or sell off unused properties.

Domb has long pushed financial literacy as a priority, and said students also need technology training and opportunities to work for credit.

Helen Gym: She has education bona fides: She worked as a district teacher, was editor of the education-focused Public School Notebook, cofounded Parents United for Public Education, and spent years as an education activist fighting budget cuts and school closures. (In 2021, during her stint as a City Council member, Gym was arrested in Harrisburg during a protest over school funding.)

Gym, who has the endorsement of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, proposes a 10-year, $10 billion plan to modernize every school in the district, using existing funding, new state money, and city capital funds. The district needs a new facilities master plan; Gym said she would bring the city and others into conversations that will lead not to school closures but community-directed co-locations that will allow government services, nonprofits, and medical providers to work in unused space in school buildings. She also wants to shift the schools share of the city property taxes to 60%, from 55%.

She also wants playgrounds for every school, free transportation for every school student, and more crossing guards. Gym proposes a leadership position focused solely on school safety  presumably separate from the districts chief safety officer  and expanded, city-paid mental health services in schools. She said she will prioritize restoring school libraries and librarians, and leaning on the district to end leveling, the controversial process of shifting educators to match actual enrollment, which results in some schools losing teachers several weeks into the fall term. She also promised to fund extracurricular activities.

Cherelle Parker: Parker, who earned a teaching degree and worked briefly as an English teacher in Pleasantville, N.J., has said her education plan includes year-round school, and keeping all school buildings open longer hours in order to provide robust extracurricular opportunities.

Parker wants high schools to offer sports, college courses, apprenticeships in connection with the citys Building and Construction Trades Council, and career training with city departments and private businesses.

Rebecca Rhynhart: Rhynhart said she would choose diverse school board members but replace them if the district fails to make progress on district goals. She vowed a stronger Mayors Office of Education  the office historically leads city education initiatives like the community schools effort  and said the district needs funding to accomplish its goals, but stressed shed require transparency on spending and implement a framework for measuring success that holds adults accountable.

Rhynhart has pledged city-provided nurses and social workers if schools dont have them, and wants to restore school libraries. Rhynhart said she would make sure all K-8 students have access to Algebra I and world languages and direct the citys cultural office to offer art, dance, music, and creative writing classes. She said shed also use city resources to add career and technical opportunities, address student absenteeism, help with building issues, and provide mental health supports.

The city, Rhynhart said, will also prioritize increasing teacher pay and revamping the substitute teacher system.
Employees would not be allowed into The Inquirers offices through at least Tuesday because of the ongoing disruptions, the publisher said Sunday. Read more

The Philadelphia Inquirer and outside cybersecurity experts continued Sunday to scramble to restore systems after an apparent cyberattack disrupted operations over the weekend.

The Inquirer had been unable to print its regular Sunday newspaper, and it was not clear until late Sunday afternoon that it would be possible to print Mondays editions of The Inquirer and Daily News newspapers. Online posting and updating of stories to Inquirer.com continued, though sometimes slower than normal.

It was unclear when systems would be fully restored, and Inquirer publisher Lisa Hughes said in response to emailed questions that we are currently unable to provide an exact time line. The incident was the greatest publication disruption to Pennsylvanias largest news organization since the blizzard of Jan. 7-8, 1996, and it came just days before Tuesdays mayoral primary election.

We appreciate everyones patience and understanding as we work to fully restore systems and complete this investigation as soon as possible, Hughes said in the emailed answers through a spokesperson. We will keep our employees and readers informed as we learn more.

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Employees would not be allowed into The Inquirers offices through at least Tuesday because of the ongoing disruptions, Hughes said in an internal email update Sunday night. She said the company was looking into coworking space for Tuesday, meaning Inquirer journalists would be unable to use their newsroom on election night. However, Hughes said that the situation wont affect coverage.

Hughes responded to some questions sent by email to a spokesperson but said the ongoing investigation prevented her from answering many detailed questions, including who was behind the incident or what motivations they had; whether they had successfully breached Inquirer systems; which systems were involved; whether The Inquirer or any employees appeared to be specifically targeted; and whether any confidential information of employees or subscribers was accessed. She vowed to notify and support anyone whose personal data may have been affected.

Hughes said the company had notified the FBI. A spokesperson for the FBIs Philly office said it was aware of the incident and declined to comment as a matter of standard practice. She noted that when the FBI learns about potential cyber attacks, its customary that we offer our assistance in these matters.

The interruption of services raises questions about The Inquirers cybersecurity practices and infrastructure, and it comes as news organizations and other companies have seen growing online threats such as ransomware.

In the context of hacking, what we used to say 10 years ago still applies: There are those who have been hacked and those who think they have not been hacked, said David J. Hickton, the head of the University of Pittsburghs Institute for Cyber Law, Policy and Security.

The disruption began Saturday morning and continued Sunday

Its unclear when the apparent cyberattack began. Hughes said the news organization was first alerted to the anomalous activity on Thursday, May 11, by Cynet, a vendor that manages our network security.

That did not appear to lead to any immediate interruption of Inquirer publication, which continued normally Thursday and Friday.

But the weekend skeleton crew discovered Saturday morning that access to The Inquirers content-management system was down. In a statement later Saturday, Hughes said The Inquirer had discovered anomalous activity on select computer systems and immediately took those systems off-line.

Within a few hours, workarounds were in place to allow news articles to be posted to Inquirer.com.

There was no workaround for printing regular editions of the Sunday newspaper, so the early edition  which is composed Friday  was printed and distributed to subscribers. The regular edition appeared online in the digital replica known as the e-edition.

Hughes said Mondays newspapers would be printed and delivered but that classified ads, including death notices, would be postponed from appearing in the print newspapers until Wednesday out of an abundance of caution.

She said there were no plans for any refunds because subscribers had received the early Sunday papers and electronic edition.

Cybersecurity is a growing issue for news organizations

Cyberattacks have become a major threat to companies, and experts said news organizations can be particularly prized targets because of the nature of their work. Hackers may want to access reporters notes and files, for example, or to embarrass a news organization by leaking emails or Slack messages. Others may want to publish misinformation through real news organizations platforms or simply to wreak havoc in a highly visible way.

Depending on whos got access, and what kind of access they have and what they do with it, you can go a lot of different ways, said Runa Sandvik, a computer security expert and researcher who specializes in digital security for journalists.

But bottom line is that this is something that leadership does have to take into account and plan for and invest in, she said. Its not something that you can just secure overnight, and its not something you can just clean up overnight, either.

Sandvik and Hickton both noted the need for news organizations to follow best practices such as using multifactor authentication, which requires users to sign in by first providing a password and then responding to another prompt, such as responding to a text message or providing a temporary passcode. That standard means that even if an attacker obtains a users password, they still need more information before gaining access to company systems.

The Inquirer does not require multifactor authentication for many of its key systems.

The news organization has also been the target of what are known as spear-phishing campaigns, in which employees are sent fake emails or text messages that appear to be from a higher-up such as Hughes. Depending on the attack, victims might open a file that contains malicious software or be scammed into purchasing and giving away gift cards.

A particular threat to news organizations in recent years has been the rise of ransomware, a kind of malicious software that essentially locks a system up  holding it ransom  and demanding payment to free the system. A major ransomware attack affected the Los Angeles Times in 2018.

And now its 2023, so its not like we dont know about these types of attacks, and its not like we dont know how they happen, Sandvik said, calling for news organizations to harden their defenses to a well-established problem.

The Inquirer has invested in digital security in recent years, which Hughes said was driven by the need to work remotely because of the COVID pandemic. That includes adding monitoring software to company-owned equipment.

Hughes said The Inquirer conducts regular audits, with an outside vendor, Cynet, handling network security. Another firm, Kroll, was brought in to specifically respond to the incident and investigate it.

Asked whether the vulnerability exploited in the ongoing incident had been previously flagged in audits or testing, Hughes said it had not.
The trial of a one-time Chester County charter school teachers alleged sexual assault of two former students began Monday with prosecutors painting him as a predator who abused his position to groom his victims.

Assistant District Attorney Jessica Acito said Seth Reich, 42, coerced a 17-year-old theater student at Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School Center for Performing and Fine Arts into a sexual relationship during her senior year. After that student graduated in the summer of 2019, Reich arranged for her, along with another former student, to spend the night with him at a hotel, Acito said, where he plied them with tequila and sexually assaulted the second victim.

Teachers are the shepherds of our youth. They are supposed to keep students safe, Acito said. This defendant did the exact opposite. He wasnt a shepherd. He didnt watch over his flock.

Reich has been charged with institutional sexual assault, corruption of minors and related offenses stemming from his relationship with the former student. He has also been charged with sexual assault and providing alcohol to minors on the night he allegedly spent with the two teens in a hotel.

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Reichs attorney, James Funt, balked at the prosecutions description of the case. Citing hundreds of text and WhatsApp messages exchanged by the victims and their former teacher, Funt told jurors that the sexual encounters were consensual.

The fact that [one of the victims] is upset about the choices she made does not make what Seth did illegal, Funt said.

 READ MORE: A teacher at a Chester County charter school groomed a student into a sexual relationship, DA says

Prosecutors were first alerted to Reich in 2021, when the first victim came forward to describe her relationship with him. She told police that Reich began texting her with when she was 17, initially about his class. Gradually, their texts became flirtatious, according to Acito, as Reich convinced her they were equals, and that he could help her break into a career in show business.

He saw [the victims] schoolgirl crush and he escalated it, Acito said. He blurred the line until it was nonexistent.

The former student told investigators that Reich initiated a sexual encounter with her in his classroom in May 2019, and that they had sex hundreds of times over the next 18 months, hiding the relationship from Reichs wife.

But Funt disputed the timeline provided by the woman to police. In text messages, he said Reich and the teen discussed how they fought to suppress their urges until she turned 18. And in graphic detail, they described having sex for the first time in July 2019, weeks after she graduated from the school.

That, Funt said, disproves the prosecutions case: If she wasnt a student when they began having sex, the charges dont apply.

The Commonwealth is relying on flawed memories, Funt said. [The victim] misled investigators, and tried to lead Seth to admit his guilt.

In August 2019, as the relationship was in full swing, the victim helped Reich with a local theatre production. Her close friend, who had graduated a year earlier, was also involved in the production.

After the play ended, Reich and the two teens went to a local hotel, where Reich provided his underage former students with tequila. Prosecutors allege that Reich forced himself onto the second victim that night, undressing her against her will and hitting her as she protested his advances.

The next morning, Reich convinced the teens, whose memories were hazy due to alcohol, that they had initiated the sexual encounter, according to Acito.

The defendant had power over these girls, power to get whatever he wanted, she said. Power that didnt dissipate until months later, when the girls had spent time away from him.

Funt, wielding text messages recovered from a WhatsApp group chat, provided an alternate version of that night.

The second victim came up with the idea of booking the hotel, he said. The teens joked about buying condoms and having sex with each other, and afterward called it the best day ever,Funt said.

In the months following the encounter, the production manager continued to act friendly toward Reich, his lawyer said, even inviting Reich to visit her where she attended college.

They realized how bad these texts would make them look, so when talking to the police, they omit the key details of the event, Funt said. All in an attempt to rewrite history.

The trial before Chester County Judge Analisa Sondergaard is expected to last through the week.
Asbestos has closed the Universal Vare Charter School. It is the sixth Philadelphia school that has closed because of damaged asbestos. Read more

I didnt go to school in a building built after World War II until I went to college. For 12 years, I attended classes in Philadelphia public schools that were built in the 1930s.

Many of these Depression-era buildings  often constructed with New Deal funds through the Works Progress Administration  are still in use across the district. And they should be. They are well-made, beautiful structures that have stood up to decades of abuse from generations of students.

Theyre striking artifacts of a bygone age. Theyre also chock full of asbestos.

Built when building fires were more common and before the dangers of asbestos were well-known, most buildings contained the substance. But by the time I was in high school in the 90s, the presence of asbestos was often a topic of conversation among the students.

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We were told our schools were perfectly safe because the asbestos was contained in the buildings internal structures and not flaking into the air, where it may increase the risk of cancer. This is true. But it is also true that any construction material will eventually break down, especially in a building as roughly used as a school.

 READ MORE: Asbestos in Philly schools demands action from district  plus the city and state | Editorial

Knowing that the hazardous insulation was in the walls and around the pipes should have served as a warning to School District officials that they would have to take care of it eventually.

Of course, its easy to justify a delay. It was not an imminent danger and other, more pressing problems required attention. Its the same in any endeavor: Everyone wants to cut the ribbon on a new building, yet no one wants to spend money on the unglamorous work of maintaining the old ones.

One would hope the government would not fall for that same kind of short-term corporate thinking, but people are the same everywhere. And besides, when would they fix it? When would the schools be empty for an extended period? When would the district have a massive infusion of cash to pay for the fix to be done correctly and safely?

You can see where Im going. Buildings were closed for a year during the COVID-19 lockdowns. At the same time, Congress pumped out billions to schools, even as their usual tax funding was still coming in.

Philly public schools got $1.8 billion in federal COVID relief funds over the past three years. Colin Evans looked into where this money went in an analysis for WHYYs Billy Penn website and found that the answer is maddeningly unclear. As of November, the district appeared to have only spent 25.5% of the funds it received through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund created in 2021. (Philadelphia is not the only school district that has failed to use most of its federal windfall, but that should not excuse it from responsibility.)

I asked the district last week if it had used any of this lockdown time and pandemic money to remediate its well-known asbestos problem, or if it had even thought about doing so. It did not respond to my emailed questions. If it had given this problem any attention before it was too late, it would probably have said so.

Instead, it seems it did nothing, and students are now paying the costs.

 READ MORE: Phillys school board isnt elected. Thats a problem. | Kyle Sammin

At the end of April, district officials announced that a sixth school was closed for asbestos reasons. This one is a charter school, Universal Vare, but the building is owned by the School District and first opened in 1924. Another school, Building 21, recently reopened after two months of emergency asbestos remediation. It immediately closed again when plaster started falling off the ceiling.

This is likely not the end of the story. If its a problem in six old schools, it will likely become one in the rest. In the meantime, kids are shuffled to different schools, or worse, sent back into the virtual learning that failed them during the pandemic. This entirely avoidable problem will now mean it will be even harder for Philly public school students to make up for the pandemic-era learning loss.

In any other part of the commonwealth, this would be a hot topic in school board races. Voters would be angered at a board that allows conditions in their buildings that pose serious health hazards to teachers and students. Someone would pay the price at the ballot box. But sadly, this is Philadelphia, one of the only school districts in the country that is not responsible to the voters.

School District officials might say now that there was no way they could have predicted the learning loss that would result from remote learning. I dont think thats a very credible thing to say, but people will say it. The presence of asbestos, on the other hand, has been known for decades.

But, as with so many of the decisions of the last few years, School District officials did not think ahead. They had the time, and they had the money. This was a failure of leadership, not a lack of resources. The voters have no say in how their taxes are spent on schools, but the next mayor will. Whoever takes over for Jim Kenney should consider how long this disaster can continue without anyone being held to account.
Of two things I am certain even before Tuesdays votes are counted.

With so many competing camps full of fervent supporters, theres bound to be a lot of unhappy people after the primary election results are announced.

And, however unhappy they might be  because their top pick didnt win, because how could anyone have voted for that loser  they better get over it, and fast.

We here, in what too often resembles a City of Brotherly Brutality and Sisterly Surliness, dont have the luxury to waste a lot of time on disappointment or dashed hopes  not if we have any shot of turning our city around.

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If were going to ever begin to stop the bleeding on our city streets, to lift our fellow neighbors out of poverty and despair, to give our students the educations they have long deserved, and to wash away the thick layer of apathy that has settled over our city, were going to need all hands on deck. And that means every last one of us is doing our part.

To be clear, that does not mean you have to love whoever wins the Democratic primary or Novembers election (and, in Philly, that person is probably one and the same). You dont even have to like them. We all just have to commit to working with whomever we get  for our sake, not theirs.

That does not in any way, shape, or form mean cosigning everything the next mayor does. It means holding them accountable every day of their administration by staying engaged  by reminding whoever wins the privilege of leading our city of everything they promised when they were after the top job. And we should never, ever accept less, even if they were your pick  especially if they were your pick.

But, fellow Philadelphians, it also means holding ourselves accountable. And that means not checking out because I didnt vote for them, or because nothing ever changes anyway  or whatever disaffected drivel we might want to espouse to distance ourselves from the messy and chaotic world around us.

I get it: Our country and our city are often exhausting daily examples of civic failure.

But not engaging is not a choice. Its a cop-out. Its a way of absolving yourself of your responsibility as a member of society. So grow up, all you rebels without a cause.

Heres our reality: Despite the large pool of Democratic mayoral hopefuls, there was no perfect candidate, not even close.

Every single one has their fair share of baggage and come November, one of them is likely going to be rolling into City Hall, whether we like it or not.

But as far as I can tell, none of them are straight-up fascists trying to dismantle democracy  our city cant afford a local version of Donald Trump any more than our nation needs a rerun of the original  so we can work with that.

And we must work with them, not so much for the success of an individual politician or administration, but for the success of the city so many of us love.

Speaking of love, throughout the long campaign, every single one of the candidates declared their deep adoration and commitment to the city they either grew up in or chose as their home.

And to that, I say awesome, because while imperfect, this was a pretty talented field with a lot to offer the city. Even in defeat, they can all still prove their love.

You hear that, mayoral hopefuls? Scream and sulk if you must when you lose  and then put yourself back to work for your city in whatever way you can. I mean, if you were willing to give your all to Philadelphia when you were after the top job, surely youll remain committed as a regular shmegular resident, right?

Philadelphia needs every one of you. (And that includes some who tapped out before the end of the race.)

It needs Allan Dombs detailed plans for development and engaging with business.

It needs Cherelle Parkers experience in state and local government and connection with city residents.

It needs Rebecca Rhynharts budget acumen and fiscal vision.

It needs Maria Quinones Sanchezs wonkiness and get-stuff-done attitude.

It needs Helen Gyms passion for issues of equity and social justice.

It needs Jeff Browns entrepreneurial know-how.

It needs Derek Greens reserved and reflective leadership. (I wouldnt be mad at seeing more of his extroverted alter-ego, Sterling, either.)

It needs James DeLeons institutional knowledge of the courts, and Amen Browns potential, however problematic his present may be. Brown was nowhere near ready to run for mayor  but I want to see more young Black men involved in all aspects of our city government.

So, buckle up.

Were in the home stretch of finally learning who will likely be Philadelphias 100th mayor.

Celebrate, if it ends up being your choice. Curse the political gods if it isnt  and then lets all get ready to go to work.
President Joe Biden made a last-minute endorsement in a Pennsylvania special election that will decide which party controls the state House.

Biden endorsed Heather Boyd, the Democratic candidate in a Delaware County special election. Boyd and Republican candidate Katie Ford are vying to fill the vacancy in the 163rd House District created by the resignation of former State Rep. Mike Zabel, a Democrat who resigned after three public accusations of sexual harassment.

 READ MORE: This Upper Darby race will determine who controls the Pa. House. Heres whats at stake.

Its unusual for a sitting U.S. president to get involved in state House races. But with so much riding on the election in Delaware County, electing Boyd could not be more important, Biden first told The Inquirer in a statement.

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With control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on the line, this race will determine the future of so many fundamental freedoms that Pennsylvanians hold dear, Biden said. Thats why I am incredibly proud to endorse Heather Boyd for Pennsylvania House District 163. Heather is an experienced public servant who will protect a womans right to make her own health care decisions, stand up for common sense gun safety laws and expand access to voting rights.

Biden is the latest and most high-profile politician to endorse Boyd. Shes racked up endorsements from Gov. Josh Shapiro, state House Speaker Joanna McClinton, and her former boss, U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D., Delaware). Shapiro put out a 30-second ad earlier this month asking Upper Darby voters to support Boyd, stressing that control of the House will determine abortion access in the state.

Democrats have gone all in on maintaining the narrow majority they gained in February, spending nearly $1 million on ad buys, mailers, and polling, according to campaign finance filings. Republicans have spent only a fraction of that in the Democratic-leaning district, which has shifted more blue since Zabel flipped the seat in 2018.

Boyd has focused her campaign on maintaining her partys House majority  and by extension, reproductive rights. Shes focused on preventing a constitutional amendment that would declare abortion is not a constitutional right in Pennsylvania, a change reproductive rights activists say could open the door to a state abortion ban. The Pennsylvania General Assembly approved the measure last year, in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Courts reversal of Roe v. Wade, when Republicans controlled both the House and Senate. But it must be passed again this year to get before voters. Constitutional amendments cannot be vetoed by a governor.

Ford has emphasized former Rep. Zabels misconduct  and Boyds knowledge of it  along with her drive to improve her community and the 163rd District, which is made up of Upper Darby and Darby Townships and Collingdale, Clifton Heights, and Aldan Boroughs.

Democrats currently hold a one-seat majority in the state House of Representatives, 101-100. Voters in Montour County and parts of Northumberland County will also vote in a special election Tuesday, where the GOP-majority district is expected to elect the Republican candidate.

Whoever controls the House will set the agenda on state policies for elections, school funding, taxes, abortion access, and more.

Democrats took control just three months ago, after more than 12 years in the minority. Since taking control, House Democrats have boasted the passage of a long-sought antidiscrimination bill for LGBTQ residents and gun reforms in their first days in the majority. But Republicans hold the majority in the Senate, and legislation must pass both houses before it can get Shapiros signature and become law.

The Pennsylvania GOP did not respond to a request for comment.
Philadelphia mayoral candidate Helen Gym (right) welcomes U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders to the stage during a rally at Franklin Music Hall in Philadelphia Sunday on the last weekend before Tuesday's primary election. Read more

They chatted up families at diners, rallied on stage with political celebs, stumped at rainy arts festivals, and in a Lowes parking lot.

Mayoral candidates making their final push in a seemingly neck-and-neck  and-neck-and-neck race crisscrossed Philadelphia in recent days as their supporters eagerly await a Democratic mayoral primary that they say comes down to leadership, integrity, and safeguarding the city they love.

With two days to go, the race  the most expensive in Philadelphia history  appeared at a relative standstill with a poll showing a virtual three-way tie between Helen Gym, Cherelle Parker, and Rebecca Rhynhart, with Allan Domb within striking distance and Jeff Brown not far behind. One in six likely voters, according to that poll, said they were undecided. Nine candidates will appear on the ballot for mayor.

In the heavily Democratic city, the primary to elect the presumptive replacement for Mayor Jim Kenney, who is term-limited, could make history if one of the three women leading in the polls comes out on top. Philadelphia has never had a female mayor.

Hundreds rally for Gym

More than 1,000 supporters of Gym gathered inside the cavernous Franklin Music Hall Sunday for a get-out-the-vote rally with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.).

The eyes of the nation are on this city today because we are going to make history on Tuesday! Gym told the amped-up crowd. She said it was no accident the rally took place on Mothers Day because mothers are the backbone of this campaign.

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Supporters with Moms for Helen and Teachers for Helen signs filled the lower and upper levels of the venue, where TVs showed the Sixers-Celtics playoff game until organizers mercifully turned off the blowout midway through the third quarter.

The crowd chanted I believe that we will win, with Tuesdays contest in mind.

This isnt about one woman, its about a movement, said Julian Prados Franks, a seventh-grade math teacher from Northwest Philadelphia. She activates groups that are fighting on behalf of marginalized people and working-class people, and thats what gets someone like me excited. Thats what this city needs.

Aileen Callahan, a 29-year-old field director with the Working Families Party, from Lower Kensington, said Gym started organizing for me and my family when I was in kindergarten. Shes been fighting for me most of my life.

The national progressive movement has lined up behind Gym in the race, seeing Philadelphia as a continuation of local wins in Los Angeles and Chicago.

Helen has the backbone, she has the energy, and she has the skill to not only be a great mayor of Philadelphia but one of the great mayors in the United States of America, Sanders said. He encouraged the crowd to keep working.

This is likely going to be a very close election.

Gyms campaign has leaned into the national progressive support in the final stretch. As the rally went on, a Swifties for Gym banner plane flew over the Taylor Swift concert a few miles south at Lincoln Financial Field.

Rhynhart stumps with Nutter

Rhynhart dismissed the progressive star power as unlikely to impact the race when asked about Gyms rally at her own event in Center City on Sunday.

Philadelphians are focused on Philadelphia right now, Rhynhart said. Anyone coming in ... theyre not the ones that are living and raising their kids here, and to me thats not going to sway voters.

Rhynharts campaign said it knocked on 10,000 doors on Saturday and Sunday. Field director Noelle Daniels said voter awareness of Rhynhart has grown immensely in recent weeks.

People know who Rebecca is when were knocking on their doors, she said. Were all over the city.

At a gathering in Cliveden Park in East Mount Airy Saturday, rain fell steadily as former Mayor Michael Nutter spoke to a few dozen volunteers whod gathered to knock on doors for Rhynhart, his former budget director whos now among the top tier of candidates to win his old job.

Philly is a very special place, Nutter told them. And we need a very special person who is well-rounded, understands people, is committed to the government, and has run the most positive campaign about issues that matter to people.

Rhynhart touted that her campaign is powered by volunteers, saying its canvassing that will make it a tight election.

One of the volunteers, Ricardo Maldonado, 44, is a health-care worker and first-time campaign volunteer. Maldonado said he was concerned about public safety and had to get involved in the mayors race. He thinks Rhynhart has the most honesty and integrity among the top candidates, an important attribute as he sees people become less and less trusting of government.

We need to eliminate that gap, he said. And actually have people leading us that we can trust.

Parker parties with politicos

On Saturday afternoon Parker marched into the carpenters union hall behind the West Powelton Steppers and Drum Squad for a pep rally that featured food from the Bleu Brook restaurant in West Philadelphia and a performance by the rapper Freeway.

The crowd of about 200 people, which may have been hampered by a rain-induced venue change, was made up overwhelmingly of politicos. Thats unsurprising given that Parker has secured the backing of the vast majority of local elected officials and ward leaders who have made endorsements in the race.

She added one more name to that list at the rally when she was joined onstage by Councilmember Cindy Bass, who has had a rocky relationship with Parker over the years and is facing her own tough reelection battle.

Bass took some digs at Parkers rivals and highlighted that she is the only lifelong Philadelphian among the top contenders in the race.

Were not talking about a transplant from the suburbs. Were not talking about a transplant from Ohio, Bass said, apparently referring to Rhynhart and Gym, respectively. Im 100% behind Cherelle Parker for mayor.

Parker rejected criticisms that being backed by establishment politicians meant she cant bring real change to the city. We know you dont trust the politics. You havent seen the tax dollars at work in your neighborhood, said Parker, a former Council member and state representative. We need you to give Cherelle a chance to do in this city what she has done. ... When she says something, she gets it done.

State Sen. Sharif Street, who backs Parker, said he believes she will win working-class voters just starting to tune into the election.

Cherelles voter is just a regular rowhouse person who woke up in the morning, and theyre like, Hey, its Election Day, Street said.

Domb hits diners and street festivals

As a Frank Sinatra song blasted behind him, Domb campaigned at a street festival in South Philadelphia last week that featured the worlds largest cannoli.

The longtime Realtor and two-term city councilman is hoping a coalition that includes support from business-minded Democrats in the South and Northeast parts of the city can pull him over the line in a race where hes spent a staggering $10 million of his own money but still trails in a tight race.

While Domb has deployed an avalanche of TV ads, hes also kept a packed campaign schedule, stopping at diners in the Northeast, a pierogi festival in Port Richmond, and a kinetic derby in Kensington over the weekend.

At the Italian Market block party last week, supporters called Domb down to earth, and beholden to nobody.

We need Allan to keep guys like me in the city because if he doesnt win, Im running out, said Frank Borda, a restaurant owner in South Philadelphia. Hes the only qualified one. Lets hope he wins, I think he can.

Bob Caplan, who grew up in Northeast Philly and now lives in South Philadelphia, said Domb is the candidate he thinks is best equipped to tackle the crime problem.

Its gonna take time, its not gonna happen overnight, but hopefully, with him, we have a safer city. Im here 50 years in this city and my wife is upset she has to walk around with pepper spray. Allan loves this city and he doesnt need this job. He wants to help.

Domb delivered brief remarks. When youre successful, so is the city, he told the crowd, which included several restaurant and small-business owners. Were a team and we have to have that attitude across city government. This campaigns about leadership.

Browns West Philly caravan

The parking lot at the Lowes Home Improvement store in Parkside was dotted with Brown lawn signs and full of SUVs covered in campaign fliers, a truck with large screens playing Browns commercials, and a tractor-trailer emblazoned with the Teamsters logo.

The group of two-dozen cars and trucks  plus a bus holding Brown and his top supporters  made up a campaign caravan of sorts that snaked through West Philly Saturday. It made several stops along the way, where Brown and his backers from organized labor met voters and passed out literature.

One of the volunteers was Eric Hill, the business agent of Local 159 of AFSCME District Council 33, the union that represents correctional officers. Leaders of DC33, the citys largest municipal union, have been among Browns staunchest supporters.

Hes not a politician, Hill said of Brown, a grocer and first-time candidate. He said he wasnt concerned about polls showing Brown trailing four other candidates in the home stretch. The real poll that matters is Tuesday, and the determination will be made then.

Brown said his closing message is the same he opened with.

It doesnt make any sense to put in the people who got us here, Brown said, referring to his opponents, all of whom have held elected office. We need a bigger change, and the city is ready for a bigger change.

At a shopping center near 58th and Baltimore, Brown met Florence Davis, a West Philly resident who told him that her daughter had worked in one of his ShopRite stores for a decade. She said ShopRite provided child care and legal services, benefits she never forgot about.

He takes care of his people, Davis said. And I hope he wins.
I Registered to Vote stickers offered by PA Youth Vote, a nonpartisan collaboration of youth, educators and organizations, during mayoral forum in March. Read more

Mayor Jim Kenneys winning number was 130,775. Michael Nutters was 106,805. In this years crowded, highly competitive mayoral field, the number of votes that advance the candidate likely to be the next mayor of the city could be much, much lower.

Its not just that theres a lot of people running  Philadelphia is used to crowded ballots. Its that the Democratic race has remained tight up until the end.

Usually, one or two candidates pull away. With three or four running even, as recent polls suggested, some speculate Philadelphias next likely mayor could be decided by the smallest share of the vote in modern mayoral history.

I would bet a slice of pizza that no one breaks 30 [percent], said political strategist Neil Oxman, who has worked on every open Philly mayors race since 1979 but sat out this one.

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Polls dont always predict the outcome on election day, of course, and with 15% of likely voters undecided, its still possible one candidate winds up winning by a larger margin.

A historic low?

Philadelphia is home to more than 1.5 million people, 775,000 of whom are registered Democrats eligible to vote in the partys mayoral primary on Tuesday. The vast majority wont vote (only 30% did in the last competitive mayoral in 2015), and those who do are often whiter, wealthier, and older than the rest of the population.

In seven of the last 10 competitive primary races, at least five candidates have been on the ballot. However, in every mayoral contest since 1971, every victor won at least one-third of the primary vote. Those winning totals generally represent just a fraction of the overall registered voting-age population, as turnout has slumped year after year.

This includes even 1979, the most crowded Democratic primary seen over the past half century. That year, 11 candidates duked it out for the privilege of succeeding controversial Mayor Frank Rizzo, the former police commissioner who had unsuccessfully sought to modify the city charter to stand for a third term in office.

Still, the vast majority coalesced around two well-known Democrats  attorney and civil rights leader Charles Bowser, and future Mayor Bill Green III.

In 2007, longtime Councilmember Michael Nutter won a seven-way primary  including four other political heavy hitters  with just 106,805 votes. That represented just 36.6% of the total votes cast in the primary. In 1999, John Street similarly bested five opponents with a total of 107,285 votes.

This year, some political strategists and operatives working on the campaigns predict the total number of votes the nominee gets could fall far below 100,000. That would be the lowest winning raw vote total since at least the 1970s and would represent less than 10% of all registered voters, according to an Inquirer analysis of past election data.

Mustafa Rashed, a political consultant uninvolved in any of the campaigns, guessed the winning percentage could be as low as 25% of the vote. That would be in the range of 65,000 to 80,000 votes, assuming turnout is in the mid-to-high 200,000s or low 300,000s.

The nominee will have to immediately demonstrate how they intend to be the mayor for the entire city and not just one small fraction of the voting electorate, he said.

The turnout slump

The share of total registered voters the next Democratic nominee will win  a figure that has long hovered around 1 million in Philadelphia  tends to be slim, and has generally declined over time.

Pennsylvania features a closed primary system, where only registered members of a political party may participate in that partys primaries. That naturally limits how many voters can influence the Democratic primary, which has long determined who goes on to win the general election in a heavily blue city like Philadelphia.

Out of these 10 past competitive Democratic mayoral primaries, an average of just 18% of all registered voters cast ballots for the winning candidate. Nutters primary win represented just over 10% of all registered voters.

But, over time, voter turnout has notably declined in Philadelphia, much like other big-city Democratic strongholds.

Among competitive contests, the three highest-turnout Democratic mayoral primaries over the past half century all occurred between 1979 and 1987. The three lowest turnout races all occurred after the year 2000.

Primary participation peaked around 70% in 1983, with 625,201 votes cast out of 899,882 registered Democrats. That heated contest notably ushered in Philadelphias first Black mayor, Wilson Goode Sr., who faced off against Rizzo as the former mayor sought to return to office for a third, nonconsecutive term.

What makes people vote is either you really love someone or you really hate someone, Oxman said. Rizzo was the bogeyman, and Wilson Goode was portrayed as a giant so you had a gigantic turnout.

He called this years race fairly uninspiring. While, the candidates have appealed to different voting blocs, theres some overlap and overall, passions arent running quite as high as they were in 83. No one hates anybody, Oxman said of voters attitudes toward the field this year.

Overall Democratic voter registration decreased 13% between Goodes election and the 2015 Democratic primary  the citys last seriously contested mayoral race.

But that year saw particularly dismal turnout, with just 30% of 776,690 registered Democrats casting ballots in the contest that nominated outgoing Mayor Jim Kenney.

This years tightly contested race has prompted some discussion  largely among highly informed voters  about the benefits of ranked-choice voting. Proponents of the voting system say it elects candidates with more consensus support than a traditional winner-take-all election. The system also has its critics, who say it can be complicated for voters and costly. It would require buy-in from both City Council and the state legislature to be implemented.

For now, candidates are making a final push in an attempt to turn out enough of their base and win over undecided voters.

A tight finale is nothing new.

Reporting from the 1991 mayoral primary, which then-district attorney Ed Rendell ultimately won, found voters who said they had grown less certain about who to vote for over months of campaigning by four Democrats running on similar platforms.

Im so undecided, Naomi Lingham, a 73-year-old from North Philadelphia, told a New York Times reporter that year. Its a sin.

Staff writer Leo Cassel-Siskind contributed to this article.
Cooper said, "I am confident that a scheme that will be an enduring resolution will be available this year. I'm not confident at this point who will be included as part of that scheme."
Policy documents obtained by ABC indicated that Rivervue had a flood insurance limit of $5 million, significantly below the estimated $86 million worth of assets within the village. Rivervue, owned by property firm Tigcorp, has acknowledged that the sum will not stretch to cover all the extensive reinstatement works required and has pledged to cover the shortfall, ABC reported.
The Illinois public adjuster bill (SB 1495) passed both houses of the legislature last week and will now move on to the governor. Meanwhile, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb has recently signed HB 1329, which increases data transparency and allows an insured to void or rescind a contract with a public adjuster.
While this challenge makes it difficult to accommodate everything within the budget, the opportunity is to develop things for an event that have longer-lasting use. Much of what is created for a virtual event can be repurposed in multiple ways after the event, so you gain some cost efficiency. When we plan events now, we always consider the virtual component. When we create assets for virtual, we consider the longer-term marketing plan and what we can create that can be used elsewhere and even more broadly.
Together, our complementary strengths within retirement, benefits consulting and administration services will enhance the value we deliver to our clients, and our collective expertise will provide tremendous opportunities for growth, Pat Gallagher said of the Buck deal in April.
New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles!

New Yorks attorney general sued a gun accessory manufacturer Thursday for selling a lock that can be easily removed to attach high-capacity magazines, which are illegal in the state.

The white gunman who massacred 10 Black shoppers and workers in a Buffalo supermarket last year carried out the attack with a semiautomatic rifle he purchased legally, but then modified so he could load it with illegal high- capacity ammunition magazines, as previously reported.

New York law bans the possession of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.

We lost 10 innocent lives because a hate-fueled individual was able to make an AR-15 even deadlier through a simple change at home, Attorney General Letitia James, an elected Democrat, said in a statement. We cannot undo the devastating harm that was done, but this lawsuit against Mean Arms is part of our ongoing effort to pursue justice for the ten innocent lives that were unjustly taken.

Email messages seeking comment from Woodstock, Georgia-based Mean Arms were not immediately returned.

Mean Arms deceptively advertised that installing a device that locks a magazine on an assault weapon makes it legal under New York law, the lawsuit alleges. But since the lock can be easily removed so detachable magazines can be inserted, the manufacturer aided the illegal possession of assault weapons in New York, James office said.

Removing the lock enables shooters to fire rounds without having to pause to reload as often. According to James office, the manufacturer provides on its product packaging step-by-step instructions on how to easily remove the lock.

Through her lawsuit filed in the states trial-level court, James seeks to stop Mean Arms from doing business in New York, require it to pay civil penalties and damages for practices that violated state law, and calls for the company to issue corrective statements regarding false and misleading statements on the lock, her office said.

The lawsuit is part of James wider efforts to crack down on gun violence and enforce New Yorks gun safety laws. In March, her office secured a court order that stopped 10 gun distributors from selling ghost gun kits to New York.

After the 18-year-old gunman carried out the shooting in May at a Tops market in Buffalo, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a law in June that would prohibit anyone under 21 from buying semiautomatic rifles. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling invalidated New Yorks old system for granting permits to carry handguns outside the home, and lawmakers in Albany quickly rewrote the state handgun laws. Those new, rewritten laws took effect in September.

Maysoon Khan is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Maysoon Khan on Twitter.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits New York Manufacturing
A London judge dismissed a lawsuit accusing Shell Plcs board members of failing to manage climate change risks.

In a decision published Friday the judge threw ClientEarths suit out before a full hearing as there isnt a clear case against Shell. The environmental law firm now has the opportunity to request an oral hearing to ask the court to reconsider.

The claim is utterly misconceived and a clear misuse of the English courts, a spokesperson for Shell said in an emailed statement. Our directors have always complied with their duties and acted in the companys best interests.

Filed in February, the lawsuit was the first of its kind anywhere in the world targeting board members and what responsibility they legally have to tackle climate change.

ClientEarth is surprised and disappointed by the courts decision, Paul Benson, a lawyer at the nonprofit, said. ClientEarth has a legal right to ask the court for an oral hearing to reconsider this decision.

With assistance from Katharine Gemmell.

Photograph: The Shell Plc company logo on a totem sign at the entrance to a petrol station in Romford, UK, on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. Photo credit: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Copyright 2023 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits Legislation London
Cyclone Mocha made landfall on Sunday as Bangladesh and Myanmar evacuated hundreds of thousands of people on fears of widespread destruction to one of the most vulnerable areas in the region.

The storm is set to cross the worlds biggest refugee camp in Bangladesh, home to about a million Rohingyas who fled there years ago from neighboring Myanmar, later today. Wind speeds could reach as high as 210 kilometers (130 miles) per hour, and the storm is equivalent to a category 4 hurricane.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department warned of storm surges, flash floods and landslides in coastal districts. The country had raised the danger signal to 10 (on a scale of 1 to 11) for Coxs Bazar, where the refugee camp is located, which the cyclone will cross later today.

The World Meteorological Organization, a United Nations agency, has warned of heavy rain, flooding and landslides potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of the worlds most vulnerable people, including the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and six million people in need of humanitarian assistance in neighboring Myanmars Rakhine state.

The local administration in Coxs Bazar evacuated 237,000 people to storm shelters, Mohammad Moinuddin, a duty officer at the district control room, said by phone. There were no reports of severe flooding yet, the officer said.

Storms in the region are not unusual at this time of year, but Cyclone Mocha comes at a time of increased attention to extreme weather, after parts of Asia grappled with severe heat in April and May. With climate change and a looming shift in patterns toward El Nino conditions, heat waves and large storms could become more frequent or intense.

The ability of governments to respond to such threats is crucial.

Cyclone Nargis in May 2008 was the worst natural disaster in the history of Myanmar. More than 140,000 people were killed, and the lives of 2.4 million more were affected.

ESCS MOCHA located near latitude 20.2 N and longitude 92.6 E at 1230 IST, about 30 km west-northwest of Sittwe (Myanmar) and 150 km south-southeast of Coxs Bazar (Bangladesh). The landfall process continues. @WMO@airnewsalerts@DDNewslive

 India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 14, 2023

Myanmars civil war has intensified since the military took power in a coup in 2021. The fighting has displaced over a million people, especially the minority Rohingya, whom the UN has alleged are subject to ethnic cleansing by the military. The ruling junta has issued an evacuation order to about one million people in seven townships in Rakhine State, although many more in other parts of the country are also likely to be affected.

The countrys meteorological office has raised its alert warning for the cyclone to red, the highest level, and advised those living in western coastal areas to evacuate as soon as possible. The junta has also banned fishing and entry to beaches and coastal areas across the whole nation.

The storm has caused widespread power outages in both countries. Most of Myanmars 330 townships, including the capital of Naypyidaw and commercial capital Yangon, have no access to electricity.

In Bangladesh, fuel supply to the grid shrank after the government suspended the flow of liquefied natural gas from two floating terminals. Gas for cooking was down and out for hours in the capital of Dhaka.

Bangladeshs energy ministry called for patience and said power supply will be restored when weather conditions improve. The government has also asked farmers to harvest their rice crop immediately, and suspended public exams for two million students scheduled for Sunday and Monday.

Other economic activities affected by Cyclone Mocha:

The biggest telecom tower in Sittwe, a city in Myanmar, has been damaged, resulting in telecommunication disruptions in the capital of Rakhine State; some facilities in Thandwe airport were damaged

Bangladeshs key seaport in Chattogram was closed on Friday night, according to Omar Faruk, secretary of the port authority

South-bound river transport in Bangladesh has been suspended, said Saiful Islam, a director of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority

Domestic flights to Myanmars Rakhine state have been suspended since Friday, and bus lines have canceled their routes there

With assistance from Low De Wei, Tassia Sipahutar and Pratik Parija.

Photograph: A red flag is hoisted on a beach in Coxs Bazar in Bangladesh on May 12, 2023 Photo credit: Munir Uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images

Copyright 2023 Bloomberg.
The European Union is weighing a plan that would require cloud providers to store all of their data within the bloc in order to qualify for its highest cybersecurity certification.

ENISA, the EUs cybersecurity regulator, is drawing up the new, stricter requirements to ensure that no foreign government can interfere with EU data, according to a draft of the proposal seen by Bloomberg.

In practice, this would mean that US cloud providers such as Amazon.com Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Alphabet Inc. would have to find a way to ensure that the American government cant access European cloud data in order to qualify. Non-EU cloud companies would have to either operate an EU legal entity separate from the parent company, or be part of a joint venture with a European cloud company.

A spokesperson for ENISA said that it couldnt comment on a private document and that the proposal would need to be signed off by EU countries representatives. The spokesperson added that the highest level of certification is intended to be only applicable to a small set of cases that require extra security, such as highly critical infrastructure applications.

A spokesperson for Amazons AWS declined to comment on the draft proposal. Representatives for Microsoft and Alphabet didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

The higher standard could be used to select companies to compete for contracts to store sensitive government data. The draft proposal, which was first reported by Euractiv, would be voluntary and is still subject to change.

ENISA is proposing a two-tiered high level cybersecurity classification. Most American cloud providers can already meet the proposed EL3 standard, which requires a level of transparency about data. The highest level  EL4 certification  would require the data be stored in the EU and not be subject to foreign government interference.

US companies had been concerned that ENISA would include some kind of EU ownership rules for cloud data  akin to what France already has in place  to achieve the highest certification. ENISAs proposal will be easier for US companies to achieve. Oracles Sovereign Cloud offering, for example, likely meets the proposed EL4 requirements, according to two people familiar with the details.

With assistance from Benoit Berthelot.

Photograph: Cables feed into a server inside a comms room. Photo credit: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Topics Cyber Europe
Since February, a mysterious hacker group calling itself Anonymous Sudan has targeted dozens of Swedish airports, hospitals and banks with distributed denial-of-service attacks, ostensibly in response to the burning of a Koran in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm earlier this year.

The so-called DDoS attacks, which push websites and services offline by overwhelming them with internet traffic, disrupted online programming at Swedens national public broadcaster and knocked out the websites of Scandinavian Airlines, state-owned power company Vattenfall, and defense firm Saab AB. Extensive media coverage has made the attacks  and Anonymous Sudans claims  a matter of public debate in Sweden.

The group behind this campaign claims to consist of hacktivists from the East African nation whose aim is to go after anyone who opposes Islam. But a closer inspection of Anonymous Sudans social media records  and data from the attacks  show that the group is neither Sudanese nor Islamist, according to Mattias Wahlen, who led an investigation into the hacks for Truesec, one of Swedens biggest cybersecurity firms.

Instead, he said, Anonymous Sudan shows signs of being a well-organized unit of Russians with a nuanced knowledge of Swedish politics and social issues. Their apparent motivation is to craft attacks designed to amplify tensions with the countrys Muslim minority and pressure Turkey to stand firm in rejecting Swedens bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. If they were to succeed, it could make Sweden more vulnerable to future attacks.

Publicly available information on the groups Telegram channel contained clues about its true origins, Wahlen said. On its biography page, Anonymous Sudan listed its main language as Russian and its location as Russia, according to the Truesec report he authored. The group also aligned itself online with Killnet, a pro-Russia political hacking group thats targeted organizations and countries opposed to the war in Ukraine. Furthermore, an official account belonging to the hacking collective Anonymous has denied any connection to the group, the report showed.

Another clue is that Anonymous Sudan appears to be well-funded. Instead of using networks of infected computers to launch attacks cheaply  the usual way hacktivist attacks are carried out  the group rented 61 servers in Germany from IBM Corp.s SoftLayer division to conduct its operations, hiding them behind layers of anonymity, according to another Swedish cybersecurity firm, Baffin Bay Networks. Two weeks after the Anonymous Sudan attacks began, Baffin Bay said it worked with IBM to have the servers taken down.

IBM works with industry partners and law enforcement agencies to identify and address malicious use of the IBM Cloud platform, as happened in this instance, IBM said in a statement. We appreciate Baffin Bay Networks partnership in this matter.

Scandinavian Airlines did not return messages about its outages. SVT and Vattenfall confirmed their incidents. Saab declined to comment.

While Wahlen and his team were unable to determine whether Anonymous Sudan consisted of Russian government employees or pro-Russia hackers working independently, Katarzyna Zysk, a professor of international relations at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies in Oslo, said the timing and organization of the attacks, the hackers knowledge of religious and political friction points in Sweden, and the attacks similarities to other Russian influence operations led her to conclude that the group was controlled or guided by Russias intelligence services.

This strategy of creating chaos is one of the major means Russia has been using against Sweden to complicate its NATO application, she said. All these campaigns move in the same direction.

Anonymous Sudan, for its part, has dismissed claims that it works on behalf of Russia. We have nothing to do with Russia, the group wrote on Telegram, after Truesec published a report in February outing the group. We help them because they helped us before, and this is a way to give back.

The Anonymous Sudan attacks demonstrate that suspected Russian hackers are finding new ways to meddle in the political processes of the countrys democratic opponents, according to Wahlen and other security experts. As President Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine grinds into its second year, Russias hackers are growing increasingly active in advancing the countrys geopolitical interests, experts said.

Within just a few months, Anonymous Sudan has become one of the most prolific hacktivist groups on the internet and a vehicle for promoting a variety of Russian causes. While the group has launched attacks on countries including Denmark, France, Germany, India and Israel, experts believe its primary aim is to erode support for NATO expansion, which would strengthen northern Europes defense against Russian aggression.

After Russia invaded Ukraine last year, Sweden and close ally Finland abandoned their longstanding policy of abstaining from military alliances and decided to apply to join the organization together. All 30 existing members needed to agree, and from the beginning Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he wouldnt support the move.

Erdogans government has long been irked by the activities of a large and politically active Kurdish minority in Sweden, which includes individuals aligned with groups that Turkey considers terrorist.

Last June, Sweden, Finland and Turkey reached an agreement on measures to ensure a way forward. While Swedish leaders say they have since met all of Turkeys requests, negotiations came to a halt in January after a far-right provocateur burned the Koran, which happened less than two weeks after Kurdish activists hung an effigy of Erdogan from a lamppost near Stockholms City Hall.

The Koran burning occurred in a political context that was already very sensitive, said Diana Selck-Paulsson, a researcher with Orange Cyberdefense, a division of French telecom Orange S.A., in Malmo, Sweden. And the cyber reaction of Anonymous Sudan, when looking at the timing and the pro-Russian character, feels quite calculated.

To Wahlen, who worked 35 years as an analyst in Swedens intelligence services before joining Truesec in 2020, the Russian hacking offensive expertly exploited political vulnerabilities  namely, Swedens need to be in the good graces of Turkey and the countrys struggles with assimilating thousands of Muslim refugees  to make Swedens NATO campaign more difficult.

According to national broadcaster SVT, Russian agents also took to the streets of European capitals in the wake of the Koran burning as part of an operation aimed at sowing discord between European nations and Turkey. Documents leaked to exiled Russian opposition activist Mikhail Khodorkovskys Dossier Center showed that Russia staged fake protests in cities such as Paris, where people claiming to be Ukrainians displayed anti-Turkish banners, burned a Turkish flag and posed for pictures with their arms raised in Nazi salutes.

While its impossible to know exactly how successful these Russian efforts have been, in April, Erdogan instructed Turkeys parliament to ratify Finlands entry into NATO  leaving Sweden behind. Its prospects for joining the alliance remain uncertain.

Truesec was founded in 2005 by Marcus Murray, a former special operations ranger in the Swedish Navy, to protect Swedish organizations at a time when the biggest threats to computer networks were fast-spreading worms and viruses. But as hacking attacks evolved, Truesec grew in tandem, and the company now has 300 employees. Since Russia invaded Crimea in 2014, an act Stockholm denounced, experts say that the pace of cyberattacks, disinformation and military provocations emanating from Russia has increased dramatically. Russian operatives have used a variety of methods to try to manipulate public opinion in Sweden about Ukraine and a potential NATO bid, including publishing forgeries of Swedish government documents.

In the first week of May, as Swedens prime minister and other Nordic leaders met with Ukraines president in Finland to pledge continued support for Ukraines defense, a new round of attacks targeted Swedens police and tax agencies, as well as its financial supervisory authority. A pro-Russian group claimed responsibility for the attacks on social media.

When we take measures, they regroup and return in new formations, said the tax agencys chief information officer, Peder Sjolander. They are competent as well as persistent.

While the cyber campaigns against Sweden still pale in comparison to those levelled at Ukraine and the Baltic states, Russian efforts to shape the international narrative about the Nordic country have become more obvious in recent years. Since the 2015 refugee crisis, which saw the country take in a large number of people fleeing war and poverty, Kremlin-controlled media outlets have sought to portray Sweden as a failing state rife with suburban riots, crime and terrorism in the wake of uncontrolled migration.

There were of course real problems, said Mikael Tofvesson, operational head of the Swedish Psychological Defence Agency, which was established last year to counter influence operations targeting Sweden. We did have a refugee crisis, and the Russians didnt create the problems, but they amplified them, he noted. The general intent of the different narratives they were using was that you cant trust the government.

Top photograph: Computer code displayed on screens arranged in Danbury, U.K., on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. Photo credit: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Copyright 2023 Bloomberg.

Topics Cyber Russia
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Gallagher Re and Swiss Re Corporate Solutions.

A summary of these two promotions follows here.

Gallagher Re announced the appointment of Ian Kerton to the role of CEO of the reinsurance brokers UK operations, subject to regulatory approval. Kerton will replace Tom Wakefield who was named successor to James Kent as global CEO of Gallagher Re earlier this year. (Kent subsequently decided to retire instead of taking a new position in the company, which was announced in March).

Kerton has been with Gallagher Re as a partner in its UK business since 2021. Prior to joining Gallagher, he was managing director of the UK Property & Casualty team at Guy Carpenter and a director of the UK board. Kerton has held multiple roles within the reinsurance industry over the last 30 years, including executive director at HSBC Insurance Brokers for 10 years, where he headed up the Treaty broking team and was responsible for their business in the UK & Asia.

Kerton will report to Wakefield who will assume the role of global CEO at Gallagher Re with effect from June 1. While Gallagher announced in March that Kent would take on a new role, as CEO of Global Insurance Strategic Relationships, it was announced on Friday that Kent had decided to retire.

James Kent has confirmed his plans to retire from Gallagher with effect from 1 June. While we are sorry to see him leave our firm, we respect his decision to take a well-deserved retirement following his successful career in the industry. He leaves with our thanks for all that he has achieved in his time with Gallagher and we wish him well for the future, according to the statement from Gallagher.

Ian is a truly accomplished broker and leader who is well-respected by clients and colleagues alike. Since joining Gallagher Re, he has shown an unwavering focus on client-advocacy, combined with strategic business acumen and strong people leadership, commented Wakefield. He is absolutely the best candidate for this important leadership role and the fact that we have been able to recruit from within is testament to the incredible senior talent we have within Gallagher Re.

Gallagher Re has undergone transformational change on a global scale since I joined the business two years ago, and I am delighted to have been chosen to lead the UK team as we build out the next phase of our growth in the region, said Kerton.

***

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions Promotes Hall to Head UK, Ireland, S. Africa and EMEA Wholesale

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions appoints Adrian Hall is as head UK, Ireland, South Africa and EMEA Wholesale, succeeding Melanie Slack, who is leaving Swiss Re Corporate Solutions for retirement.

Hall is currently head Canada at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions. As of Sept. 1, 2023, he will take on his new role.

With nearly 30 years of international insurance industry experience, Hall started his career in London. He has worked in various senior leadership roles in the Middle East, Latin America and Canada. Hall joined Swiss Re Corporate Solutions in 2017 as head Canada, providing leadership across all facets of the Canadian business, including chief agent for our Canadian entity, product development, underwriting, operations, claims, customer & distribution management and marketing. Hall will relocate from Toronto to London, reporting to Nina Arquint, CEO EMEA at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions.

Halls team will continue to enhance Swiss Re Corporate Solutions services to brokers and clients, including a focus on the differentiating capabilities within the international programs business and innovative risk transfer space. In addition, his special attention will be on the continued roll-out of Risk Data and Services, a strategic initiative launched last year helping clients take back control of their risks. Hall will lead the sub-regional teams based in London, Dublin and Johannesburg.

Melanie Slack joined Swiss Re in 2001 as the Life & Health technical chief underwriter for Europe, Asia and Latin America. After holding a variety of senior management roles within Swiss Re Group, she was appointed head UK, Ireland and South Africa at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions in 2021. Following a handover period, she is planning to leave the company for retirement.

We are immensely grateful for all the contributions that Melanie has made over the last 22 years with Swiss Re Group. I always admired her professionalism, integrity and positivity. We wish Melanie all the best for her retirement, commented Arquint. Im very pleased that we were able to find her successor within our own ranks. With his strong leadership experience and outstanding industry knowledge, Im convinced that Adrian is ideally positioned to drive Swiss Re Corporate Solutions continued growth in the UK, Ireland, South Africa and the EMEA Wholesale markets.

Topics A.J. Gallagher Swiss Re
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) demanded the recall of 67 million air bag inflators because it believes there is a safety defect, but auto supplier ARC Automotive Inc rejected the U.S. regulators request, documents released on Friday show.

The auto safety agency said the inflators pose an unreasonable risk of death or injury.

Even as ruptures mount, ARC has not made a defect determination that would require a recall of this population, NHTSA said in its demand letter to the Tennessee-based company. Air bag inflators that project metal fragments into vehicle occupants, rather than properly inflating the attached air bag, create an unreasonable risk of death and injury.

ARC air bag inflators are in General Motors, Chrysler-parent Stellantis, BMW, Hyundai Motor, Kia Corp and other vehicles. GM on Friday agreed to recall nearly 1 million vehicles with ARC air bag inflators after a rupture in March resulted in facial injuries to a driver.

ARC rejected NHTSAs tentative conclusion that a defect exists saying it is based upon seven field ruptures in the United States. NHTSA then asks ARC to prove a negative  that the 67 million inflators in this population are not defective that were produced over 18 years. The company said it will continue to work with NHTSA and automakers to evaluate ruptures.

Related: Company Refuses Request to Recall Millions of Air Bag Inflators

NHTSA in 2016 upgraded a probe of more than 8 million air bag inflators made by ARC after a driver was killed in Canada in a Hyundai vehicle and has been investigating more than seven years.

NHTSA initially opened an investigation in July 2015 following two reported injuries.

NHTSA said through January 2018, 67 million of the

subject driver and passenger frontal air bag inflators. Delphi, acquired by Autoliv, manufactured approximately

11 million of the inflators under a licensing agreement with ARC, which manufactured the remainder of the inflators.

ARC noted there have been several testing programs of inflators collected from scrapped or other vehicles but not a single rupture occurred during these tests.

The 67 million inflators were produced for the U.S. market on multiple production lines across different plants and used by 12 vehicle manufacturers in dozens of models. None of these manufacturers has concluded that a systemic defect exists across this broad population, ARC said.

NHTSA said that ARC in January 2018 completed installation of devices on inflator manufacturing lines used to detect excessive weld slag or other debris. NHTSA said it is unaware of issues in ARC inflators produced since then. ARC said weld slag has not been confirmed as the root cause in the ruptures.

NHTSA has been scrutinizing air bag inflator ruptures for more than 15 years.

Over the last decade, more than 67 million Takata air bag inflators have been recalled in the United States and more than 100 million worldwide, the biggest auto safety callback in history.

More than 30 deaths worldwide  including 24 U.S. deaths  and hundreds of injuries in various automakers vehicles since 2009 are linked to Takata air bag inflators that can explode, unleashing metal shrapnel inside cars and trucks. The latest death was in July 2022 in a 2010 Chrysler 300, one of three Stellantis deaths in a seven-month period.
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The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a dispute involving a lawsuit against Bayer AGs Monsanto Co that could rein in a common form of settlement in class action cases under which money is awarded to charities and third parties unrelated to the litigation.

The justices turned away an appeal by Anna St. John, an attorney who opposed an agreement for Monsanto to pay more than $39 million to settle claims that the company deceptively labeled certain Roundup weedkiller products. Lower courts rejected the challenge by St. John, who had objected to the settlement because $14 to $16 million of the award would go to consumer non-profit groups and a university that were not injured by the companys alleged misconduct.

At issue in the case are so-called cy pres (pronounced see pray) awards in class action cases that direct money that may go unclaimed or cannot be feasibly distributed to class members to unrelated entities as long as it would be in the interests of the plaintiffs.

Critics have said such awards encourage frivolous lawsuits and excessive fees going to class action attorneys who may seek to benefit their own interests instead. Proponents have said these settlements can put otherwise low-value awards per person to good use by benefiting groups that work for the public good or support underfunded entities.

The Supreme Court in 2019 sidestepped resolving a challenge to cy pres awards in a case involving Google. Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas, dissenting in that case, called cy pres settlements unfair and unreasonable.

Related: Supreme Court Casts Doubt on $8.5 Million Google Privacy Settlement

The plaintiffs sued in 2019 on behalf of a proposed nationwide class of individuals who bought certain of the companys Roundup weedkiller products with the allegedly deceptive labeling. Monsanto and the plaintiffs defend the settlement because both sides extended efforts to reach out to as many consumers as possible to file a claim  even increasing compensation to generate more claims  before any leftover money would be used for cy pres distribution.

Class members filed more than 240,000 claims worth more than $13 million. The settlement proposed three cy pres recipients, including the National Consumer Law Center, the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau, and the Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice at the University of California, Berkeley.

St. John, the sole individual who opposed the settlement, is an attorney at the Hamilton Lincoln Law Institutes Center for Class Action Fairness, which is also representing her in the case. Monsanto has called the group, which advocates against what it considers abusive class action procedures, a serial objector to class-action settlements.

The group said in court papers that further steps could have taken to distribute the settlement award to class members. In addition, it said the cy pres distribution would infringe St. Johns right to free speech under the U.S. Constitutions First Amendment because the chosen recipients would subsidize left-leaning organizations that work against her political beliefs.

A federal judge rejected St. Johns objections and approved the settlement, a ruling that the St. Louis, Missouri-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld last year.

Topics Lawsuits
Texas Mutual Insurance Company announced it is awarding $1 million in grants to 10 colleges across Texas to fund workplace safety courses for business owners, employees and the general public.

Texas Mutual began its commitment to supporting safety education at state colleges in 1999, and since then, has awarded $12 million in safety education grants, and more than 52,000 students have attended free or discounted safety training offered at colleges across the state.

These Texas Mutual grants support risk management programs at Amarillo College, Angelina College in Lufkin, College of the Mainland in Texas City, Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, El Paso Community College, Kilgore College, Lamar Institute of Technology in Beaumont, the Risk Management Institute at Lee College in Baytown, Midland College, Odessa College and Texarkana College.

Topics Texas Education Universities
One person was killed and a curfew was imposed after a powerful tornado tore through a community near the southern tip of Texas before dawn Saturday, damaging dozens of residences and knocking down power lines, authorities said.

At least 10 others were hospitalized, including two people who were listed in critical condition, said Tom Hushen, the emergency management coordinator for Cameron County. Many residents also suffered cuts and bruises.

A nighttime curfew for those 17 and under was issued by Eddie Trevino Jr., the Cameron County judge, and is expected to end May 16 to mitigate the effects of this public health and safety emergency. The order also forbids non-residents of Laguna Heights from entering its residential areas.

The tornado hit at about 4 a.m. as most people were in their homes asleep in the unincorporated community of Laguna Heights, located on the mainland across from South Padre Island, off the Gulf of Mexico. The county has among the highest poverty rates in Texas and is dotted with substandard housing.

There was no advance warning. Instead, the first warning of a tornado went out at the same time it was touching ground, said Barry Goldsmith, a warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Brownsville.

With hurricanes we have the benefit of getting some advance warning; we know its probably on its way, Trevino said during a Saturday press conference. With a tornado, like Barry mentioned, its not a common scenario unless we have a hurricane/tropical cyclone in the area. So, we didnt have the benefit of a warning.

The hour didnt help, Trevino added.

Roberto Flores, 42, died after being basically crushed as a result of the damage to his mobile home, Trevino said.

The storm was clocked with wind speeds of 86-110 mph and was categorized as an EF1 tornado, according to the weather service. It lasted only about two to four minutes but it ravaged the area.

As many as 60 homes were damaged. The county judge signed a disaster declaration, and a temporary shelter in the nearby city of Port Isabel was providing help to 38 people.

Apparently it went straight through that community, said county sheriff Eric Garza. Individuals dont want to leave their houses because theyre afraid that somebody will go in there and start stealing stuff.

Garza said his department is helping provide security for the area.

Laguna Heights is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of the U.S.-Mexico border at Brownsville and is not prone to having tornados, although this spring has been active, said weather service meteorologist Angelica Soria. The area is also gearing up for the start of hurricane season.

The Texas tornado follows an outbreak of dozens of twisters in Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado that caused damage but no reported deaths.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Texas Windstorm
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A Tennessee company could be heading for a legal battle with U.S. auto safety regulators after refusing a request that millions of potentially dangerous air bag inflators be recalled.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is demanding that ARC Automotive Inc. of Knoxville recall 67 million inflators in the U.S. because they could explode and hurl shrapnel. At least two people have been killed in the U.S. and Canada, and seven others have been hurt as a result of defective ARC inflators, the agency said.

The recall would cover a large portion of the 284 million vehicles now on U.S. roads, but the percentage is difficult to determine. Some have ARC inflators for both the driver and front passenger.

In a letter posted Friday, the agency told ARC that it has tentatively concluded after an eight-year investigation that ARC front driver and passenger inflators have a safety defect.

Air bag inflators that project metal fragments into vehicle occupants, rather than properly inflating the attached air bag, create an unreasonable risk of death and injury, Stephen Ridella, director of NHTSAs Office of Defects Investigation, wrote in a letter to ARC.

But ARC responded that it no defect exists in the inflators, and that any problems are related to isolated manufacturing issues.

The next step in the process is for NHTSA to schedule a public hearing. It could then take the company to court to force a recall.

We disagree with NHTSAs new sweeping request when extensive field testing has found no inherent defect, ARC said in a statement Friday night.

Also Friday, NHTSA posted documents showing that General Motors is recalling nearly 1 million vehicles equipped with ARC inflators. The recall covers certain 2014-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia SUVs.

The automaker says an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Owners will be notified by letter starting June 25, but no fix is available yet. Theyll get another letter when one is ready.

GM says it will offer courtesy transportation on a case-by-case basis to owners who fear driving vehicles that are part of the recall.

The company said that its doing the recall, which expands previous actions, out of an abundance of caution and with the safety of our customers as our highest priority.

One of the two deaths was a mother of 10 who was killed in what appeared to be an otherwise minor crash in Michigans Upper Peninsula in the summer of 2021. Police reports show that a metal inflator fragment hit her neck in a crash involving a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse SUV.

At least a dozen automakers have the allegedly faulty inflators in use, including Volkswagen, Ford, BMW and GM, NHTSA said.

The agency contends that welding debris from the manufacturing process can block an exit orifice for gas that is released to fill the air bag in a crash. Any blockage can cause pressure to build in the inflator, blowing it apart and hurling metal fragments, Ridellas letter says.

He wrote that welding debris has not been confirmed as the cause in any of the seven inflator ruptures in the U.S. ARC contends that only five have ruptured while in use, and that does not support a finding that a systemic and prevalent defect exists in this population.

Gold also writes that manufacturers must do recalls, not equipment manufacturers like ARC. NHTSAs recall demand, he wrote, exceeds the agencys legal authority.

In a federal lawsuit filed last year, plaintiffs alleged that ARCs inflators use ammonium nitrate as a secondary propellant to inflate the air bags. The propellant is pressed into tablets that can expand and develop microscopic holes if exposed to moisture. Degraded tablets have a larger surface area, causing them to burn too fast and ignite too big of an explosion, according to the lawsuit.

The explosion can blow apart a metal canister housing the chemical, sending metal shards into the cabin. Ammonium nitrate, used in fertilizer and as a cheap explosive, is so dangerous that it can burn too fast even without moisture present, the lawsuit says.

The plaintiffs allege that ARC inflators have blown apart seven times on U.S. roads and two other times in testing by ARC. There have so far been five limited recalls of the inflators that totaled about 5,000 vehicles, including three recalls by GM.

Top photo: The ARC Automotive manufacturing plant in 2015. (Adam Lau/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP, File, File)

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Tennessee
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A federal courthouse in Georgia was damaged when the driver of a tractor trailer fell asleep and the truck hit the building last week.

The crash into the J. Roy Rowland Federal Courthouse in Dublin happened at about 12:30 a.m. Friday, federal court clerk John Triplett told The Associated Press.

Dublin Police Chief Keith Moon told WMAZ-TV that the 18-wheeler struck a set of barricades before hitting the building.

The driver was not injured, and damage to the courthouse was being assessed. Police photos showed cracks and dents in one of the white columns on the front of the building. The red brick structure was built in 1937.

In addition to federal courts, the building has a post office and offices for probation services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Dublin is about halfway between Atlanta and Savannah, in eastern Georgia.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Personal Auto Georgia
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Editors note: The Florida Legislatures 2023 regular session concluded May 5, but people in the property insurance industry continue to offer ideas for the states distressed market. Heres one from independent adjuster Ben Mandell.

I am an independent insurance adjuster. That means that I work for many different insurance companies on a freelance basis. I am usually hired by an IA firm that has a contract with an insurance company to adjust insurance claims. Many insurance companies have a limited number of staff adjusters and have more claims than their internal adjusters can handle. Thats why I have a job.

I am a field adjuster, which means that I travel to the actual location of the claim. My job is to meet with the policyholder, gather the facts of the loss and document the damages. I take a lot of photos so that the managers and desk adjusters can see the damages and make the proper payment, to the policyholder, for the loss.

As a field adjuster that has handled thousands of claims, Ive seen some of the same things come up over and over again. There is no question that the strengthened building codes in Florida have helped reduce the damages from catastrophic events. That is a step in the right direction, but it has created other problems. Claims have gotten more complex and what were once easy claims became more difficult to adjust as the damages are not as easily visible. For example, with the new building codes, shingles are not detaching from roofs as easily and as often as in the past.

We may arrive at a home and notice than most of the shingles are still attached to the house. Some folks believe if the shingles are still on the roof, then there is no damage. After all, you dont see any damage. But upon closer inspection, we will often find wind damage to many shingles.

During a hurricane or tornado, the winds will pick up pieces of wood, trees or other debris and crash these into the roof at speeds of 150 mph or more. On an asphalt shingle roof, the shingle is still there, but it is dented; granules have been loosened and the internal fiberglass matting has been broken. If its not leaking today, it will leak within 3 to 6 months as the sun heats the roof up in the daytime and cools it down at night. This will cause the shingle to crack or open up, which results in the roof leaking, even though the shingle is still on the roof.

The most common property insurance claims are from roofs and from water. These two categories represent 70% of our claims volume. The water we refer to is water from broken pipes within the dwelling, broken or faulty appliances (i.e., dishwashers, refrigerators) within the dwelling, or water that enters the dwelling though a broken window, leaking roof, or from above.

Most insurance companies do not include or have coverage for water that touched the ground before entering the dwelling. We classify this as flood water and this peril is excluded from dwelling or commercial insurance policies. This is an important exclusion. Flood insurance is a separate insurance product that must be purchased separately and is mostly a government-backed insurance product issued though the National Flood Insurance Program.

One of the first things we learn in claims adjuster training school is that the dwelling policies used in the insurance industry are fire policies. The insurance was originally designed to cover only losses from fire. The fire policy is modified though the use of endorsements which can add or take away additional coverages.

There are many types of available endorsements. Some of the most recent common endorsements are for mold and water. Most dwelling policies now limit mold damage to $5,000 per policy. A water endorsement limit might be a maximum of $10,000 per policy. An endorsement may exclude sewer backup unless you pay an additional premium.

These endorsements are important for insurance companies to limit their maximum exposure and keep the premiums at an affordable level.

Prior to introduction of a mold endorsement of $5,000, most insurance companies were responsible for coverage up to policy limits. This caused lawsuits demanding that an entire house be demolished and rebuilt because someone found mold within the dwelling. These claims may, or may not, have had merit. The simple fact remains that they were expensive claims to investigate and/or defend.

We no longer see these types of major claims. The reason is that the maximum payout is $5,000. The target has been taken off the insurance policy and the bad guys cant come in and scare a homeowner half to death claiming hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages when the maximum payout is limited to $5,000. The payoff is not worthwhile for the bad guys.

There is one glaring endorsement that is missing. That is a roof endorsement. As a field adjuster, I have recommended this endorsement for the past several years. Its really just common sense. Thus far, Ive gotten no traction with it and every excuse why the insurance companies wont do it. I hope that will change soon.

It is my belief that the insurance crises we are currently facing in Florida could have been eliminated, or greatly minimized, with a roof endorsement attached to insurance policies. They have the endorsements in Canada, so its not totally unheard of. Why wont the Florida insurance companies support a roof endorsement?

My belief is that a Florida policy should contain a roof endorsement that provides for a maximum amount of coverage. As an example, the Roof Endorsement coverage could be $20,000. That would be the maximum a policyholder could receive if their roof were damaged. If the policyholder wants more coverage, then they could purchase more roof coverage for an additional premium. If the policyholder needs $30,000 of protection, then they could purchase an extra $10,000 worth of coverage for the roof.

The insurance company may determine, during the initial underwriting inspection, that the roof is old, but not leaking, and is still serviceable. Rather than decline the policy or require a new roof before a policy is issued, the insurance company may choose to limit the initial amount of the coverage under a roof endorsement. For example they may limit the roof coverage to $5,000.

The endorsement would limit the maximum amount that the insurance company would have to pay out on a roof claim. Currently there is no limit on roofs in Florida and the policy limits are an attractive target for the bad guys. Without a roof endorsement, if a home has a $400,000 policy, then the bad guys look at that number and can take a $20,000 roof claim and turn it into a $120,000 payout from the insurance company. If there were a roof endorsement then that $20,000 roof would be replaced and the bad guys will have to figure out another way to take advantage of the system.

Lets hope we can find some Florida insurance executives that understand what a roof endorsement could do for this industry. Surely this one-page policy addition could be written and implemented faster than the Florida Legislature passed the 120-page insurance bill last December.

Ben Mandell is an independent insurance adjuster, licensed in Florida and other states.

Topics Florida Claims
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McDonalds and a franchise holder are at fault after a hot Chicken McNugget from a Happy Meal fell on a little girls leg and caused second-degree burns, a jury in South Florida found in a case reminiscent of the famous hot coffee lawsuit of the 1990s.

A second jury will determine how much McDonalds USA and its franchise owner, Upchurch Foods, will pay the child and her mother, the South Florida SunSentinel reported.

Thursdays decision was split, with jurors finding the franchise holder liable for negligence and failure to warn customers about the risk of hot food, and McDonalds USA liable for failing to provide instructions for safe handling of the food. McDonalds USA was not found to be negligent, and the jury dismissed the argument that the product was defective.

Our sympathies go out to this family for what occurred in this unfortunate incident, as we hold customer safety as one of our highest priorities, McDonalds owner-operator Brent Upchurch said in a statement. We are deeply disappointed with todays verdict because the facts show that our restaurant in Tamarac, Florida did indeed follow those protocols when cooking and serving this Happy Meal.

Jurors heard two days of testimony and arguments about the 2019 episode that left the 4-year-old girl with a burned upper thigh.

Philana Holmes testified that she bought Happy Meals for her son and then-4-year-old daughter at a drive-thru window at a McDonalds in Tamarac, near Fort Lauderdale, the SunSentinel reported. She handed the food to her children, who were in the back seat.

After she drove away, her daughter started screaming. The mother testified she didnt know what was wrong until she pulled over to help the girl, Olivia Caraballo, who is now 7, the newspaper reported. She saw the burn on the girls leg and took photos on her iPhone, which included audio clips of the childs screams.

The sound of the girls screams were played in court. The child, who is autistic, did not testify, the newspaper reported.

Lawyers for McDonalds noted that the food had to be hot to avoid salmonella poisoning, and that the nuggets were not meant to be pressed between a seat belt and human flesh for more than two minutes.

The girls parents sued, saying that McDonalds and the franchise owner failed to adequately train employees, failed to warn customers about the dangerous temperature of the food, and for cooking the food to a much higher temperature than necessary.

While both sides agreed the nugget caused the burns, the familys lawyers argued the temperature was above 200 degrees (93 Celsius), while the defense said it was no more than 160 degrees (71 Celsius).

The case is likely to stoke memories of the McDonalds coffee lawsuit of the 1990s, which became an urban legend of sorts about seemingly frivolous lawsuits, even though a jury and judge had found it anything but.

A New Mexico jury awarded Stella Liebeck, 81, $2.7 million in punitive damages after she was scalded in 1992 by hot coffee from McDonalds that spilled onto her lap, burning her legs, groin and buttocks, as she tried to steady the cup with her legs while prying the lid off to add cream outside a drive-thru.

She suffered third-degree burns and spent more than a week in the hospital.

She had initially asked McDonalds for $20,000 to cover hospital expenses, but the company went to trial. A judge later reduced the $2.7 million award to $480,000, which he said was appropriate for the willful, wanton, reckless and callous behavior by McDonalds.

Top Photo: Philana Holmes and her daughter Olivia Caraballo at the trial. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Florida
A new report shows the number of independent medical reviews in California used to resolve medical disputes hit a record low in 2022 as prescription drug disputes continued to decline.

The report from the California Workers Compensation Institute also shows that a small subset of doctors continue to generate most of the disputed treatment requests that go through IMR.

California law requires every workers compensation claims administrator to have a Utilization Review program to ensure care for injured workers meets evidence-based guidelines in the states Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule. Most treatment requests are approved by UR, but in 2012 state lawmakers adopted IMR to allow injured workers to get an independent medical opinion on requests that UR physicians modify or deny.

In its analysis, CWCI found that 127,215 IMR decision letters were issued in 2022 in response to applications submitted to the state, down 4.7% from 133,494 letters in 2021 and down 31.1% from the record 184,735 letters in 2018.

After reviewing medical records and other information provided to support a disputed treatment request, IMR doctors upheld the UR physicians modification or denial of the service in 91.1% of the 2022 IMRs, down slightly from the record 92.0% uphold rate in 2021, according to the CWCI.

CWCI has issued its analysis as a free report to the industry, Resolving Medical Disputes: Factors that Drive IMR Volume and Outcomes in the California Workers Compensation System.

The institute has also published an expanded summary of the 2014  2022 IMR data in a bulletin that CWCI members and subscribers can find under the communications tab at the CWCI website.

Related:

Topics California Workers' Compensation
A Montana judge said a climate change lawsuit from young people challenging the states pro-fossil fuel policies will proceed to trial despite efforts by the state to derail the case.

The upcoming trial in Helena would be the first of its kind in the United States, according to experts in climate law who said the nation is lagging behind the rest of the world in terms of climate litigation.

However, because of prior rulings that limited the scope of the Montana case, a victory for the plaintiffs would not automatically alter the states regulation of fossil fuels.

Attorneys for the 16 young plaintiffs, ranging in age from 5 to 22, alleged state officials were trying to avoid the upcoming trial when Republican lawmakers in March repealed the states energy policy  one of two laws that the case challenges. The plaintiffs and their backers are hoping to use the two-week trial thats set to start on June 12 to highlight the dangers of fossil fuel emissions that scientists say are making climate change worse.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, a Republican, had asked state Judge Kathy Seeley to dismiss any part of the case touching on the cancelled energy policy. Attorneys for the state also wanted more time to offer legal arguments over recent amendments to a law that allows officials to ignore greenhouse gas emissions when approving fossil-fuel projects.

The judge was not swayed.

I would suggest you continue to prepare for trial, Seeley told attorneys at the end of a Friday court hearing. Im not intending to just stop everything so that we can spend months wrapped around that spoke.

The case was brought in 2020 by attorneys for the environmental group Our Childrens Trust, which since 2010 has filed climate lawsuits in every state on behalf of youth plaintiffs. Many cases  including a previous one in Montana  have been dismissed.

The latest Montana lawsuit originally sought in part to repeal a state policy promoting coal, gas and oil development. Scientists say burning those fuels is largely driving climate change by releasing planet-warming carbon dioxide.

An attorney for the plaintiffs, Philip Gregory, told The Associated Press the policy was repealed by the Legislature not because the state has committed to changing its fossil fuel policy and actions, but because the state seeks to avoid standing trial.

He said the states continued support for fossil fuels violates environmental protections in the Montana Constitution, which says the state shall maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and all future generations.

The lawsuit documents how the consequences of climate change already are being felt by the young plaintiffs, with smoke from worsening wildfires choking the air they breathe and drought drying rivers that sustain agriculture, fish, wildlife and recreation.

The state argued that the plaintiffs were resorting to emotional appeals about the dangers of climate change, regardless of whether their legal claims have merit. They should have challenged specific laws that allow state agencies to issue permits for fossil fuel projects, said Assistant Attorney General Michael Russell.

When plaintiffs attorney Roger Sullivan said that Montana had never denied a fossil fuel development permit, Russell said projects that meet state requirements cannot be denied.

Judge Seeley already narrowed the scope of the case, ruling in 2021 that it was outside her power to issue a requested order that would have forced the state to craft a greenhouse gas reduction plan. The judge also said she could not order the state to complete an inventory of emissions caused by fossil fuels.

In both instances, Seeley said such work should be left to experts in the executive and legislative branches of government.

But Seeley said the court could declare that the state was in violation of the Constitution, without ordering that anything be done in response.

Sandra Nichols Thiam, an attorney with the Environmental Law Institute, said that could further the case of the failure of governments to address climate change.

Its highly significant that this case is going to trial at all, Thiam said. Getting all of this information on the record will be a major advancement in climate litigation.

The sponsor of the measure that repealed the energy policy, Republican Rep. Steve Gunderson, did not return a call seeking comment. He said when it was under consideration before the Legislature that the policy was meaningless and outdated.

Costley reported from Washington.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Energy Oil Gas
Source: Streetwise Reports

May 15, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Seabridge Gold Inc. is raising US$150 million from Sprott Resource Streaming and Royalty Corp. in exchange for a 1.2% net smelter return (NSR) royalty on production at its KSM project in British Columbia.

Seabridge Gold Inc. (SEA:TSX; SA:NYSE.MKT) is raising US$150 million from Sprott Resource Streaming and Royalty Corp. in exchange for a 1.2% net smelter return (NSR) royalty on production at its KSM project in British Columbia.

The money will be used to complete work at the site to meet the criteria for "substantially started" status to get its environmental assessment certificate (EAC) there extended indefinitely.

It also will enable the company to complete a switching station and work needed to connect to BC Hydro's electricity lines for the construction and operation of the mine.

"We view this royalty agreement positively as it avoids shareholder dilution in the near term and, along with the US$225M (Seabridge) secured from Sprott and Ontario Teacher's Pension Plan in 2022 (read more), should allow the company to reach the substantially started designation ahead of 2026 deadline for the current EAC," wrote analysts David Talbot and Taylor Combaluzier for Red Cloud Securities on Friday.

The analysts maintained Red Cloud's Buy rating of the stock with a target price of CA$45.25 per share.

KSM's current deadline for the EAC is July 29, 2026. In deciding whether a project has been "substantially started," the province decides whether sufficient on-site physical improvements have been made. Work Seabridge has completed includes the building of roads, camps, bridges, and special fish habitats.

"Since our original investment last year, we continue to be impressed by the significant progress the Seabridge team is making at KSM," Sprott Resource Managing Partner Michael Harrison said."The quality of the engineering and early works is excellent, and their strong relationships with the local indigenous peoples is truly best-in-class."

The electrical connection to BC Hydro is also important, Seabridge Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rudi Fronk said.

"Access to this green energy will substantially enhance KSM's sustainability and carbon profile," Fronk said.

The Catalyst: Co. 'Ripe' for JV

Jim Rickards, editor of the Strategic Intelligence Newsletter, has called KSM "one of the most attractive gold-copper acquisition targets in the world."

Proven and probable reserves at KSM's initial mine total 47.3 million ounces gold (Moz Au), 7.3 billion pounds copper (Cu), and 385 million pounds of molybdenum (Mo), with average production over a 33-year mine life of 1.03 Moz Au, 178 million pounds Cu, 3 Moz silver (Ag), and 4.2 million pounds Mo, a preliminary feasibility study (PFS) found.

The company also released a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for a separate, underground block cave mine with a small open pit. That mine is expected to produce 14.3 billion pounds Cu, 14.3 Moz Au, 68.2 Moz silver, and 13.8 million pounds Mo over 39 years.

The company said it has engaged a leading mining industry bank to assist in joint venture discussions with larger companies.

Analyst Lucas N. Pipes of B. Riley Securities noted in an April 20 research update that KSM is the world's largest undeveloped gold project by reserves and resources.

Pipes said the company has "a clear vision for a potential partnership agreement" and maintained his Buy rating on the stock with a target price of CA$60 per share.

"The market is currently short on development projects, and market interest/M&A is heating up," Pipes wrote. "While the lack of partnership at KSM has been an overhang for the stock, we believe the asset is now ripe for third-party validation."

Terms of the Agreement

The funding should also help Seabridge shorten the construction period when a construction decision is made, Talbot and Combaluzier pointed out.

"Along with securing the EAC for the life of the project, we believe this work would further de-risk KSM and should help the company with its ongoing efforts to secure a major JV partner," they wrote.

Under the terms of the agreement, Seabridge can repurchase 0.2% of the royalty for US$21.5 million in the first 30 months.

Beginning in the third year, Seabridge will make US$2.4 million payments quarterly until March 2032, or KSM achieves commercial production.

The NSR would increase to 1.5% (or 1.25% if SEA has bought down the royalty) if commercial production isn't achieved by March 2032.

The NSR can be bought down even further to 0.5% (or 0.625% if the royalty rate increase occurs) on or before three years after KSM achieves commercial production for an amount that provides Sprott a minimum guaranteed annualized return.

And if project financing isn't in place by March 2027, Sprott can return the NSR back to the company for its initial investment plus a premium.

Analyst Mike Kozak of Cantor Fitzgerald on Friday also reiterated his Buy rating on Seabridge with a CA$42 per share target price.

"We have a favorable view of this transaction as it removes a significant financing overhang in a way that is not equity dilutive to shareholders," Kozak wrote.

Co. Holds Other Projects in Canada, US

Seabridge holds a 100% interest in several other North American gold projects, including the Iskut project, which is also in British Columbia; the Courageous Lake project in the Northwest Territories; the Snowstorm project in the Getchell Gold Belt of Northern Nevada; and the 3 Aces project in the Yukon Territory.

Because of time constraints, only four holes were sunk in 2022 at 3 Aces. But the company has high hopes for that project, as well.

"Our expectation is that over time, we will be able to deliver a high-grade gold resource with grades significantly higher than our existing gold resources at our other projects" at 3 Aces, Fronk has said.

Ownership and Share Structure

About 36% of the company is held by institutional investors, according to Reuters, including Pan Atlantic Bank and Trust with 7.69% or 6.25 million shares, National Bank of Canada with 5.68% or 4.62 million shares, and FCMI Financial Corp. with 5.11% or 4.16 million shares.

Management, board members, and company insiders own approximately 30%, the company said. Fronk owns 1.49% or 1.21 million shares, according to Reuters. The rest is retail.

It has a market cap of CA$1.67 billion and has about 81.3 million shares outstanding, with 67.8 million free-floating. It trades in a 52-week range of CA$21.78 and CA$13.83.

More Info:

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Source: Streetwise Reports

May 15, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) MAG Silver Corp. reports its earnings from the first quarter as it continues to ramp up production at its new large-scale processing plant in Mexico.

MAG Silver Corp. (MAG:TSX; MAG:NYSE American) nearly doubled its net income from the first quarter of 2022 to the first quarter of this year as the company ramped up production at its new processing plant in Mexico.

The company reported a net income of US$4.7 million, or 5 cents per share, for the three months ending March 31, 2023, versus US$2.7 million, or US$0.03 per share, for the same period in 2022.

That EPS beat analyst Stephen Soock of Stifel GMP's forecast of US$0.04 per share because of "higher realized prices for gold offset by higher processing and mining costs in relation to ramping up activities at Juanicipio."

"We continue to see robust attributable free cash flow for MAG in the medium term," Soock wrote in an updated research note on Wednesday. "Over the next three years, we expect the company to generate US$320 million in free cash flow at current spot prices for a yield of 8%."

Soock, who named the stock one of his "top picks" for the third quarter of 2022, rated MAG a Buy and raised the target price from CA$25.75 per share to CA$26 per share.

The Catalyst: Approaching Design Capacity at Juanicipio

MAG recorded US$7.9 million as its 44% in first-quarter income from the large-scale Juanicipio plant after splitting with joint operator Fresnillo Plc.

The new plant has produced its first concentrate and started shipping commercial lead and zinc concentrates in March. About 30% of the Q1 totals reported were processed through the plant, the rest through project partner Fresnillo Plc.'s Saucito and Fresnillo plants.

The company said about 2 million payable silver ounces, 5,291 payable gold ounces, 1,281 payable lead tonnes, and 1,656 payable zinc tonnes were produced and sold during the quarter.

Fresnillo reported that about 222,000 tonnes of mineralized material from underground stopes and low-grade stockpiles were processed during the three months ending March 31 at Juanicipio and Fresnillo's plants. The average silver head grade was 363 grams per tonne (g/t).

During March, milling rates at the new plant were about 60% of design, yielding an average of 2,476 tonnes per day (tpd) with rates occasionally reaching 3,900 tpd, the company said.

Canaccord Genuity analyst Michael Fairbairn also set a CA$26 target price with a Speculative Buy rating. He noted that MAG faced US$25 million cash call from the Juanicipio joint venture for "substantial tax and mining duty obligations in Mexico."

"We note MAG remains well capitalized for any further calls as Juanicipio heads towards commercial production, expected by H2/23," he wrote Wednesday.

MAG: 'One of the Better Options for Investors' Wanting Silver Exposure

Juanicipio held a cash balance of US$8.4 million at the end of the quarter, and the company had about US$54.6 million in cash.

Analyst Brian MacArthur of Raymond James wrote that he also believed money flowing in from the new plant will increase the attractiveness of the stock.

"We believe that MAG is one of the better options for investors looking for exposure to silver," MacArthur wrote Thursday, rating the stock Outperform with a target of CA$24.50 per share. "With the plant now in the commissioning and ramp-up phase, final project capital costs are expected to wind down as Juanicipio approaches full commercial production and associated free cash flow generation."

The company planned for the new plant to go online by the end of 2021, but the state electric authority said just before Christmas 2021 that more equipment needed to be installed on the system for the electrical hookup. The power was hooked up in December 2022, and the plant has since begun operations.

MAG is mining the Bonanza zone of the Valdecanas vein in the Zacatecas state of Mexico. A preliminary economic assessment (PEA) in 2017 estimated a 19-year mine life with 4,000 tonnes per day. [OWNERSHIP_CHART-536]

MAG also continues to explore at Juanicipio, drilling 25,858 meters in 2022, with another 4,109 meters of infill drilling in the first quarter of this year. Assay results are pending.

Exploration also continues at MAG's Deer Trail project in Utah and its Larder project in Ontario.

Ownership and Share Structure

Institutions own 71% of MAG, and 29% is retail, according to the company.

Top institutional shareholders include Juanicipio project operator Fresnillo Plc. with 9.9%, BlackRock Asset Management at 8.8%, ETF Managers Group LLC at 5.3%, Sprott Asset Management at 5.1%, and First Eagle Investment Management at 5%, the company said.

MAG Silver has a market cap of US$1.62 billion. It has 102.9 million shares outstanding, according to TSX Infosuite. It trades in a 52-week range of US$22.96 and US$13.60.

More Info:

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Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions.

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Vodafone Ireland has announced new supports for employees who are carers, including ten additional days of paid leave and flexible working options.

The communications provider has said its new Caring for Vulnerable Others support for employees is the first of its kind in Ireland, as it will extend not just to employees caring for immediate family members but to staff who play a principal role in caring for any loved one including a close friend or neighbour.

Currently, statutory Carers Leave provides for between 13 and 104 weeks of unpaid leave for employees taking on a full-time caring role.

Vodafones new employee support allows those with long-term caring responsibilities to continue working, offering ten days of paid leave for carers to meet the likes of hospital appointments and therapy sessions without having to take unpaid leave or time away from work.

The support is not limited to those caring for people with a serious illness, and the ten days of extra paid leave equates to 75 working hours that can be taken flexibly.

Elaine Kelly is Large Business Propositions Manager at Vodafone Ireland, and as a primary carer for her autistic son Daniel is a champion of the new support.

This kind of support will make a massive difference to me and my family. While Daniel was diagnosed at the age of four, the therapies required for him are ongoing including intensive Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy, which generally take place during the working week. This new support comes at a great time and will give me the flexibility to choose therapy slots that suit Daniel and not the other way round, she said.

Pictured as Vodafone Ireland launch its new Support for Carers initiative, are; (L-R) Elaine Kelly, Large Business Propositions Manager at Vodafone Ireland; Noelle Burke, HR Director at Vodafone Ireland; and Karen Dalton, Head of Employee Relations at Vodafone Ireland. Pic: Naoise Culhane

The new support was underpinned by recent research from Family Carers Ireland, which showed that of the carers in Ireland, 250,000 are juggling a career alongside their caring responsibilities and over half (55%) of carers have been forced to give up on full-time employment to care for a loved one.

Half of carers say that their caring responsibilities are holding them back from promotion, along with 41% of working mothers saying that being a parent to a child with disabilities is holding them back from promotion.

Catherine Cox, Head of Communications and Policy at Family Carers Ireland said that Vodafones initiative will provide employees juggling care in the home with their careers with a much-needed lifeline as well as great flexibility in terms of how and when they use these additional supports, and she encouraged other employers to follow suit with practical and tangible supports for carers.

The Caring for Vulnerable Others support is one of a range of supports introduced by Vodafone for employees at different stages of life. Others include 26 weeks paid maternity leave and 16 weeks leave for non-birthing parents, as well as supports around domestic violence, menopause, fertility treatment and pregnancy loss.
Holiday resort company Center Parcs has been put up for sale by its owner, Canadian investment firm Brookfield, in a deal that could fetch between 4bn and 5bn (5.74bn).

Center Parcs operates six locations across the UK and Ireland. The companys one resort in Ireland is located in Longford Forest.

If the sale is to go ahead, it would represent one of the largest UK real estate deals so far this year.

The details of the proposed sale were first reported in the Financial Times which spoke to people familiar with the deal.

According to the report, Brookfield has been examining an exit from the investment in recent months and has now appointed investment bankers to handle the sale.

The investment bankers have been seeking out potential buyers over the past week including other private equity companies.

Brookfield acquired Center Parcs in 2015 from asset management firm Blackstone for 2.4bn (2.75bn). Since then, Brookfield has invested in upgrading its facilities and amenities and building 250 new lodges.

Should the sale go ahead, Brookfield could see a really strong return on investment.

The firm claims on their website that Center Parcs serves two million guests per year and has a 98% occupancy rate.

The planned sale will also come with a reported 2bn in existing debt.

Longford resort

In the year to April 2022, Center Parcs Ireland reported revenue of 57.8m following a recovery from covid enforced lockdowns.

The surge in revenues meant a pre-tax profit of 8.1m following a pre-tax loss of 18.2m the year prior. It was also the first year the company reported a profit in Ireland.

The Longford resort first opened to the public in July 2019. As of 2022, it employed over a thousand people.

In 2022, the entire Center Parcs group recorded a profit of 66m in the year to April 2022 with sales quadrupling to 503m.

The Irish Examiner reached out to Brookfield for comment but the company declined.

Brookfield says it manages $825bn (758bn) in assets around the world.

In recent years, private equity firms have been piling money into the UKs domestic holiday sector amid hopes for growth as the value of the pound dropped as well as the impact of the cost of living crisis.

The growing trend for domestic breaks was really kick-started by the pandemic as travel abroad was largely restricted.

Other private equity companies have already taken steps to buy into the market. In January 2021, Blackstone paid about 3bn for Bourne Leisure, which includes Haven Holidays, the caravan park operator.

The same year CVC Capital Partners bought holiday park operator Away Resorts for 250m and then bought up Aria Resorts and Coppergreen Leisure to combine with it.

Additional reporting from the Guardian.
Housing output showed a sustained decline last month, in a sign that escalating building products costs may be hitting housebuilders, a leading monthly survey suggests.

The survey by BNP Paribas Real Estate Ireland showed that output expanded in the commercial part of construction, which includes offices and industrial buildings, and fell for civil engineering, but that output contracted sharply in residential housing.

Two unwelcome developments in April were a sharper contraction in residential activity and a pick-up in input cost inflation, said John McCartney, director and head of research at BNP Paribas Real Estate Ireland.

The steeper slowdown in new home building is clearly concerning, and somewhat surprising, given the sustained rise in residential commencements since last November. The intensification of cost pressures bucked the trend of the last 18 months, but was relatively slight, Mr McCartney said.

The survey, which is based on purchasing managers working in the industry, also showed that input price inflation quickened in April from March.

Little respite was offered in terms of any easing in inflationary and supply pressures.

"In fact, the extents to which supplier performance worsened and input prices increased were greater than seen in March. Still, firms were optimistic in their outlook for the future, according to the survey.

The overall index for Irish construction posted a reading of 48.4 where a reading of 50 marks the difference between construction output expanding or contracting in the month. At a reading of 42.8, housing activity posted the sharpest decline in April, while civil engineering also contracted with a reading of 46.4. Commercial activity posted a reading of 51.4, suggesting that growth in output in that area was at a moderate rate.

The rate of input cost inflation has been on a downward trend since its peak in October 2021 but, against this trend, the rate of costs increases picked up slightly in April, the survey showed. Inflation of the rates charged by sub-contractors also quickened from March. This was despite the most sizeable worsening in their quality since the end of last year, BNP Paribas said.
With the silage-cutting season underway, drivers of farm machinery and other road users are being urged to share the roads safely.

Irish Farmers' Association farm family and social affairs chairwoman Alice Doyle said that with it being a busy time on farms as contractors bring in silage, she is appealing for motorists to be on the lookout for tractors, trailers, and other machinery exiting from fields and farmyards.

Ms Doyle is also urging anyone driving farm machinery, especially on rural roads, to cut back on their speed, not to get distracted, and understand that around every corner could be a neighbouring family or friend out for a walk or a cycle.

Be on the lookout

"This is a very busy time of year for farmers. The number of tractors and trailers out using the roads will increase dramatically," Ms Doyle said.

"I am asking all drivers to be on the lookout for tractors, trailers, and other farm machinery on the road.

"If you are travelling behind farm machinery, please be patient and only overtake when its safe to do so."

Farmers should be aware of traffic building up behind them, Ms Doyle added, and to keep left where possible and safe to do so, to allow other vehicles to pass safely.

"It's also important that drivers recognise this, pay extra attention to the road, and always be on the lookout for other road users," she said.
New members were elected to the board of Macra na Feirme at its annual general meeting held in Co Cork on Saturday.

A collection of the latest news, views and analysis from the farming desk on the topic of Agribusiness and technology.

Tributes were paid to outgoing board members: Claire Gough (former vice-president Leinster); Luna Orofiamma (former vice-president north-west); Thomas Duffy (former president); and Jonathan Dwyer.

Those newly elected to the board at the AGM include: Caroline O Keeffe as chairwoman; Stephanie Blewitt as secretary; William Buckley as treasurer; and directors Sarah Kelly and Sean Kelly.

They will join new Macra president Elaine Houlihan; vice-presidents Patrick Jordan (Leinster), Aishling O'Keeffe (Munster), and Robert Lally (north-west); past president John Keane; and independent directors Maria Cox, David Fitzgerald, and Noel Flavin.

'Whirlwind'

Outgoing Macra national president John Keane addressed those in attendance, saying it has been "the greatest honour to serve as the 38th president of Macra".

"The past two years have been a whirlwind," he said.

"The importance of ensuring there is a strong voice for all rural young people has been a priority for me. Macras voice has been to the fore on many policy issues across farming and rural living."

Thanking all those who have supported the organisation and wishing the new team all the best, he added that Macra "is in safe hands and has a bright future ahead".

Five-year strategy

Incoming Macra president Elaine Houlihan described it as an honour to become the 39th president, and "to continue on the path built by John and the other 37 great presidents before him."

"I am truly looking forward to the next two years as national president," Ms Houlihan said.

"John as the 38th president started by leading us out of the most difficult time for our organisation and he finished off his time by leading us from Athy to Dublin to secure our future in rural Ireland."

Macra has said it is embarking on its new five-year strategy "focused on renewing its commitment to its membership", which was officially launched at the AGM.
On their way to becoming one of the most successful Cork bands of all time, The Frank and Walters have rubbed more than a few famous shoulders. Backstage at Top of the Pops in 1993, the Franks hung out with Paul McCartney. They shared a tour van with a baby-faced Radiohead. And they struck up a friendship with Noel Gallagher in his pre-Oasis days  though the relationship took a wobble after Noel, who briefly worked as their roadie, invited the Franks back to his flat.

We got on very well with him, recalls Paul Linehan, the groups singer and songwriter. When we played in Oldham supporting Inspiral Carpets [for whom Gallagher also roadied] he brought us back to his apartment. He had an aquarium with really nice fish in it. Some of the fish might have died after we visited.

One of our friends might have poisoned the fish, adds Franks drummer Ashley Keating. Maybe thats why he doesnt talk to us any more. The guy who used to sell our T-shirts poured some vodka into the aquarium to see what would happen. One of the fish died.

This was in the early 1990s when Franks were about to release their debut album, Trains, Boats and Planes. The record marked its 30th-anniversary last year and, in honour of the occasion, the band spent the spring playing commemorative gigs around Europe. Theyre just back from trips to Greece and France and will perform the LP in its entirety later this year at Cyprus Avenue in Cork. Before that, fans can see them giving (non-anniversary) shows at Connollys of Leap on May 20 at Sea Church Ballycotton in June.

Weve been touring up and down Europe for years, says Linehan. France, Spain, Germany and Greece would be the main places  the ones we seem to keep going back to. And obviously, weve been playing England for years. Thats almost like playing Ireland in a sense. We play there quite a lot.

We dont kill ourselves any more. Its nice to get out, says Keating. As with the rest of the band, the drummer now has a day job. Hes programme manager at Cork Opera House while Linehan teaches music.

With us, we play weekends mainly. That suits us perfectly. Weve been through long gruelling tours back in the 1990s, says Linehan. Wed just be exhausted from playing night after night. You use up a lot of adrenaline every time you play a gig. And then you have to do it again. Its hard on your voice too. You have to sing night after night.

The Frank & Walters (from left) Ashley Keating, Paul Linehan and Rory Murphy at the English Market, Cork. Picture Denis Minihane.

BRIMMING WITH TUNES

Trains, Boats and Planes.was a snapshot of the Franks as naive newcomers who conquered the early 1990s alternative scene almost by accident. It also brims with some of the greatest indie tunes of the era: This Is Not A Song, Fashion Crisis Hits New York and Walters Trip with its fantastically surreal chorus of Aha aha aha jay ri re re rumble/Ahe hes got dish he likes apple crumble (the song was Noel Gallaghers favourite). With the single After All, the Franks also created history when, in January 1993, they became the first Cork musicians to grace the BBCs Top of the Pops.

We would have been overwhelmed by it, says Linehan. It was an ambition of ours to be on Top of the Pops when we were teenagers. And then meeting Paul McCartney, who was in the dressing room across from us. Himself and Linda. Being Beatles fans and Top of the Pops fans And to see them on the same night

They have vivid memories of their appearance. Their performance was recorded in the early evening and they were permitted two takes. As per Top of the Pops rules, Linehan sang live while the music was mimed.

I had to sing live. The music was backing tracks, Linehan recollects. I wanted another go but they never gave it to me. Because of the occasion, I was a bit overwhelmed and nervous. The vocals werent as good as I wanted for them. I did my best. Looking back, they werent so bad.

The Franks were allowed 20 fans; the rest of the audience was youngsters who had applied for tickets through the BBC. They were from the Frank and Walters fans club, remembers Linehan. Some of them had Franks T-shirts.

Ive been trying to describe the importance of Top of the Pops to my own kids, continues Keating. If you were into music it was the most important programme of the week without a doubt. It was huge. Its hard to think you would have discovered such good music on a mainstream music programme. But that was my first exposure to Echo and the Bunnymen, The Specials, The Jam. All these bands I love. Its hard to describe it to people who havent grown up with it, how huge it was  and how much of a big deal. It was the proudest thing weve done. It was mind-blowing.

The Frank & Walters (from left) Paul Linehan, Ashley Keating and Rory Murphy at the English Market, Cork. Picture Denis Minihane.

MEETING THE MCCARTNEYS

It was at Top of the Pops that they met Paul and Linda. Linda said that After All reminded her of a Beatles song, says Linehan. She said that, there is a bit of a Beatle-ness to it. The rhythm that we chose is a 1960s shuffle. It makes it slightly Beatles-esque with the harmonies.

With After All peaking at 11 in the UK  it was their fourth top 50 single  and Trains, Boats and Planes picking up stellar reviews, it seemed that the Franks were going places. However, constant touring began to take a toll and they moved home to Cork from London. That shift may not have helped their careers. It did, though, ensure the longevity of the band. After time away they returned in 1997 with their best album, Grand Parade.

Linehan feels they may have fizzled out had they stayed in the UK and tried to crank out further hits in the mould of After All.

We had moved to London in 1991. In 1992 and 1993 we toured up and down England, Scotland and Wales. We were in Europe as well. We did so much touring we burned ourselves out, says Linehan.

When we came back, our record company was asking us to go to America. Career-wise it would have been the perfect move. The songs had got to America. It would have been perfect. We were burned out. We said, nowere going to go home and take a bit of time off and start writing the Grand Parade album. And that was it.

The Frank and Walters closing out Summer Sounds at Coughlans. Photo: Shane J Horan

'YOU START TO WRITE A SONG, AND IT HELPS'

Trains, Boats and Planes was the first of seven studio records. But the last of those, Songs for the Walking Wounded, was seven years ago. The Franks continue to tour regularly. Can fans look forward to new music?

For me personally, I have to write music. It keeps me sane, says Linehan. Its therapy. Its like meditation. When you write a song you go into a trance-like state. If you have a problem, you start to write a song and it helps. It lets you solve your problem. Its the equivalent of talking to a therapist. A problem shared is a problem halved  you write a song and thats what happens.

The songs still mean a lot to him. The trickier question is whether they would mean anything to the rest of the world. Ive written a lot during the lockdown. Ive started recording them  just getting them up and running. I have my own home studio. One of the new songs is called Im Making A Worthless Commodity. The song is about how Im wasting my time because music has become a worthless commodity because of the likes of Spotify. But, you never know. It would be funny if it did well.

The Frank & Walters (from left) Rory Murphy, Paul Linehan and Ashley Keating in Cork. Picture Denis Minihane.

The Frank and Walters play:
"A fry and some Barry's tea"

That is what Bernard Phelan is looking forward to most after being freed from an Iranian prison after seven months, according to his sister Caroline Masse Phelan.

Mr Phelan, 64, from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, was arrested in Iran in October of 2022 over allegations of national security-related crimes  which he denies  but was released last week.

He has been living in France for 30 years.

Ms Masse Phelan spoke to RTE's Morning Ireland on Monday and explained things had been "touch and go" up until the moment he left on the plane.

"We didnt know until he took off that he was on his way home. There were rumours and tweets and such on Thursday and Friday evening  but no one could confirm, it was real touch and go over there for him himself whether he would take off."

Bernard and another man, Benjamin Briere, were released on humanitarian grounds.

Ms Masse Phelan said the moment she saw her brother was "unbelievable."

"To see him walking off a plane in France after such a long time  there were just loads of huge hugs. We were there, the members of the Department of Foreign Affairs who had been flown over to help us, we were all in tears.

We rang my father who is 97  he thought hed never see his son again, so it was a special moment.

During his stay in the prison, Mr Phelan had to "sit on the floor for six months", his sister claimed.

We wouldnt consider that he was well-looked after. He was given a chair and a table in the last month but was on the floor for six months. "Maybe thats okay in Iranian prison standards, but not in our standards. Hes home safely, and thats what counts."

Ms Masse Phelan paid tribute to the many people who were involved in securing Bernard's release, including TDs and MEPs who raised the issue politically as well as both Tanaiste Micheal Martin and President Michael D Higgins, who had both been in contact with Bernard's father Vincent.

Mr Phelan is now recovering in hospital but is still "overjoyed".

"I saw him yesterday, he cant get over the peace and quiet after being in a cell with 16 other people. The day before he had his bare feet in the grass.

"He hadnt seen grass in seven months, all they had in the prison was access to a courtyard for 45 minutes a day. To put his bare toes in the grass after seven months was heaven.

"The first thing he said was that he wanted a fry and some Barry's tea!

"He looked weak but hes going to recover now in hospital  but still overjoyed."
The Government says it is worried about a small number of Irish people who have continued to use Ukrainian surrogates.

President Voldomyr Zelenskyy's government has drafted a piece of legislation that would outlaw the use of international surrogacy through Ukraine, but about 25 children are due to be born to Irish parents in the war-torn country in the coming months.
The Irish Cancer Society is to call for Vat on sun cream to be scrapped to make it more affordable, saying it is "an essential health product".

The charity will launch a campaign to cut the 23% standard rate of Vat on sun cream to 0% when it publishes its pre-budget submission later this month.

The Irish Cancer Society wants to have sun creams  which are currently classed as cosmetics or luxury goods  that have sun protection factor (SFP) 30 and higher reclassified as essential healthcare goods.

Irish Cancer Society director of advocacy Rachel Morrogh said: The current Vat rate may create a cost-barrier for people trying their best to reduce their risk of skin cancer yet faced with financial realities arising from the cost-of-living crisis.

Re-classifying products that are SPF 30 and higher as essential healthcare goods would mean they were exempt from Vat and make the price point more affordable.

This would support families who struggle to afford as much sunscreen as is recommended, particularly when trying to protect a whole family or when someone is an outdoor worker.

Abolishing Vat would help with the affordability of sunscreen and ensure that reducing the risk of skin cancer is not a privilege reserved for those who have the means to pay current prices for it.

She added: Its an issue that we hope to see leadership from Government on in Budget 2024 and we will be calling on all politicians to support our campaign to abolish Vat on any sunscreen of factor 30 and higher.

Sunscreen is simply not a 'luxury good', it is an essential health product and can be a lifesaver.

Approximately 13,000 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every year in Ireland and nine out of every 10 cases are caused by UV light radiation from the sun or sunbeds.

Skin cancer is a largely preventable disease if people who use the sun take practical, safe steps to help reduce their risk level.

Research carried out on behalf of the Irish Cancer Society in 2022 revealed that a third of people were not at all worried about sunburn in Ireland.

This is despite results from a National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) study showing that 92% of respondents have experienced sunburn at least once in their lifetime with many recalling multiple episodes.

Almost 50% of respondents experienced sunburn at least once in the past 12 months.

The Irish Cancer Society's move on the Vat rate comes as cancer charities in the UK have also called for the same cut to make it more affordable.

Previous call to cut sun cream Vat

When Michael Healy-Rae raised the prospect of a Vat cut on sun cream in July 2020, he was told by the then Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe that a cut was not possible.

But despite this, a change to EU Vat rules could still be on the cards.

Mr Donohoe told the Kerry TD that the Revenue Commissioners had in turn told him that the Vat rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU Vat law with which Irish Vat law must comply.

He quoted the EU Vat directive, which generally provides that supplies of goods and services must be chargeable to Vat at the standard rate but that lower rates are permitted in very limited circumstances.

He concluded: There is no scope for a reduction in the rate of Vat on sun protective creams that would be in compliance with the EU VAT Directive.

Following pressure, Vat rates on a large variety of menstrual products have gradually been reduced from the standard rate to a reduced rate of 9% before, in January this year, a 0% rate across almost all menstrual products.

EU Vat rules state pharmaceutical products for healthcare use are eligible for reduced Vat rates. However, the list of goods and services eligible for a reduced rate does not mention sun protection products.

Sun cream is also not covered by the category in the European Commission's Vat directive of pharmaceutical products of a kind normally used for healthcare.

As a result, sunscreen products cannot be considered as pharmaceutical products under the Vat directive and member states are not permitted to apply a reduced Vat rate to them.
The former Northern Ireland secretary, Peter Brooke has died at the age of 89.

Mr Brooke served as Northern Ireland secretary under former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and national heritage secretary under John Major.

Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin said he was "very sorry" to hear of Mr Brooke's death.

"Peter played a pivotal role in the emerging Northern Ireland peace process, helping pave the way for an end to violence," Mr Martin said.

"My condolences to his family and friends at this sad time."

President Higgins also paid tribute saying Mr Brooke made a "positive and valuable contribution at a significant juncture in the peace process."

In a statement he said: "It is with sadness at his passing that I would like to pay tribute to Peter Brooke, who served in the Government of the United Kingdom, including as Secretary for Northern Ireland, during which time he made an positive and valuable contribution at a significant juncture in the peace process.

"It was during his time as Secretary of State for National Heritage that I met Peter Brooke.

"I recall with great fondness the discussions which we had on his ancestor Charlotte Brooke, who published 'Reliques of Irish Poetry' towards the end of the 18th century, which featured Irish poetry both in the Irish language and her own translations in English of each poem. I recall his efforts in finding some of Charlotte Brooke's work in which I assisted him," the statement read.

President Higgins called Mr Brooke "someone who brought a generous vision to politics."

He said: "One couldn't but be struck by the great openness of spirit and charm which Peter Brooke had.

"He was someone who brought a generous vision to politics and one of my most abiding memories is his love of books.

"Among my papers is a lovely handwritten letter which he sent to me after stepping down as a Member of Parliament, about which he was not only philosophical but humorous.

"What he brought to politics was not just a commitment to the value of politics, but of warm and open relationships. He will be missed."

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has paid tribute to his predecessor.

He tweeted: I was very sorry to learn of the passing of former NI Secretary, Lord Brooke.

As one of my predecessors, Peter played a pivotal role in laying the foundations of the peace process. We are indebted to him for his public service working for the betterment of everyone in NI. Peter Brooke served as Northern Ireland secretary under Margaret Thatcher and national heritage secretary under John Major.

John Major said: Peter Brooke was a dear friend and colleague for many years  before and after our time in Parliament.

In all he did, Peter was the first gentleman of politics, which he elevated with his calm, gentle, yet tenacious character  not least with regard to his pivotal role in the Northern Ireland peace process.

Honourable to the core, he was one of the most deep down decent people I have ever known. I was proud to call him my friend.
A judge said: My hands are tied, when forced to release an alleged teenage joyrider because the Oberstown juvenile detention centre was full.

The boy, 16, had been charged with driving a stolen vehicle dangerously at four locations in Raheny, Dublin 5. It is also alleged he had no licence or insurance and had cannabis during the same incident on January 5 last.

He had been on bail pending trial at the Dublin Childrens Court with a list of conditions, including a ban on travelling in or on any motor vehicle unless he was in the company of an adult driver, qualified and insured.

The teenager who lives in a residential care home also had to obey a curfew, but on Monday gardai picked him up and brought him back before the court for seven bail breaches. Among them was an allegation he had been driving and led gardai on a pursuit at the weekend.

In applying for bail revocation, a garda raised concerns for the public due to the teens erratic driving. He feared it was only a matter of time before someone is injured.

Defence solicitor, Andrew Walsh, said his client conceded that he had broken the terms six times, but the boy did not accept the claims he had been driving again. The court noted that a garda witness who allegedly saw him driving could not give evidence, so that reason to object to bail could not proceed.

Mr Walsh asked the court to adjourn the case for a brief period to assess the teenagers behaviour.

Bail decision

The judge said he intended to revoke bail for the teenagers other breaches of bail, but after a check was carried out, he learned there were no spaces available at the Oberstown detention centre. Remand spaces in the facility could be freed up later this week, the court heard.

My hands are tied; I have to remand on bail in circumstances where there is no room in Oberstown, the judge said.

However, he added another bail term compelling the boy to sign on daily at a garda station and warned the youth he could be facing custody in future.

The court heard care staff intended to take the teenager on a brief respite trip out of the city to break the cycle. The case resumes next week.
Warning: Some readers may find the following content upsetting

A man who sexually abused and raped two of his sisters, his niece and later his own two daughters in horrific offending spanning four decades has been jailed for life.

Richard OBrien, 61, denied all the offences but was convicted unanimously by a jury following a trial earlier this year. His five victims indicated on Monday they have waived their right to anonymity so he can be named.

The Central Criminal Court heard the abuse of his two sisters and his niece occurred at his family home at OMoore Road, Ballyfermot, and continued until each of the three women ran away as teenagers.

The women described growing up in a dysfunctional home where there was neglect, physical abuse and little point in disclosing the abuse they were suffering at the hands of their brother.

Wrung necks of puppy and kitten

They outlined how terrified they were of OBrien, who also physically assaulted them. His sisters told how he had wrung the necks of a puppy and a kitten belonging to them during their childhood.

OBrien went to sexually abuse and rape his own two daughters until they were taken into care.

One of his daughters later told her foster mother she had been sexually abused by her father and the gardai were alerted. Her younger sister, aunts and cousin also came forward.

OBrien, of Cremona Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 11, was convicted by a jury of 63 counts of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault against the five victims on dates between 1975 and 2011.

Passing sentence on Monday, Judge Mary Ellen Ring noted the harrowing evidence heard during the trial and the immense damage caused to each of the victims.

She told them they had nothing to be ashamed of and had done nothing wrong. The only person in this court room who should be ashamed is Richard OBrien.

She told them they should not worry what others have to say and reminded them that the 12 men and women on the jury had believed their evidence.

She told the older women that despite what had happened to them as children and without parental role models they had become wonderful mothers and grandmothers and this was a terrific achievement.

Stop giving time and headspace to Richard O'Brien, she told them.

She told them they had achieved so much against the odds, the time is now to let those achievements in and their brother out. She wished them well into the future.

Turning to OBrien, she noted he had abused a position of trust as an older brother, an uncle and a father. She noted he was facing the remaining years of life and had medical issues.

She took into account medical reports and letters from family members handed into court.

No remorse

Ms Justice Ring noted OBrien had shown no remorse and no acceptance of his offending. She said the offending against his two daughters had been at the very apex of the serious offence of rape.

She said by the time he began abusing his own daughters he was an adult, perhaps damaged by neglect but now building own family, and he had made a conscious decision to rape and sexually assault his own flesh and blood until social services intervened.

She said there was a continued failure on his part to recognise the damage done.

Ms Justice Ring imposed a life sentence in relation to the rape offences committed by OBrien on his two daughters. She imposed concurrent sentences totalling 11 years in relation to the other offending. The sentences will commence from when OBrien went into custody in March.
A Waterford man who sought to have his conviction for sexually assaulting his partner's daughter overturned has failed in his appeal.

Dean Hurley, 53, had based his appeal on the grounds that the accounts offered by the girl during the trial were inconsistent with a later victim impact statement prepared by her after his conviction.

He had denied a single charge of sexual assault against his then 12-year-old stepdaughter at the home he shared with her mother in Co Wicklow on a date between October 1, 2013 and October 30, 2013.

He was convicted by a Dublin Circuit Court jury on October 5, 2021 and sentenced to three years and six months with the final six months suspended.

The young woman gave permission at the original trial for her abuser to be identified in the reporting of his sentence hearing, but asked that she not be named.

The heard at the time that she had started training as a police officer in England to help other abused children.

Hurley, who was living in hostel accommodation in Waterford City prior to the trial, appealed his conviction and sought leave to adduce new evidence at the hearing of the appeal.

However, delivering judgement in the case at the Court of Appeal on Monday, Mr Justice George Birmingham said the three-judge court rejected all the grounds of appeal put forward.

In her evidence during the trial, the complaint told how following the breakdown of her parents' marriage, her mother and the appellant entered into a relationship and resided with them and her sister.

She alleged that when she was 12, she asked the man for a foot massage and he had proceeded to move his hands higher up her legs and then proceeded to touch her private parts outside her underwear.

She said the appellant subsequently came into her bedroom, saw that she was crying and started hugging her and apologising. He then asked her if he had touched her forky parts, which she took to mean her vagina.

She confided in a school counsellor about what happened the following year and also told her sister and her mother about the incident.

The girl lived with her paternal grandparents thereafter and subsequently moved to the UK to live with her father.

Hurley had appealed his conviction on four grounds and sought leave to adduce additional evidence, namely an unedited victim impact statement that came into existence after his conviction.

He claimed that his conviction was unsafe in circumstances where the accounts offered by the complainant prior to and during the trial were materially inconsistent with the unedited victim impact statement prepared by the complainant post-conviction.

However, in their judgement, the three judges said they were not persuaded that if the statement had been available to the defence at the time of the trial before the jury it might have had a material and important influence on the result of the case.

They said the new evidence the appellant sought to introduce did not contradict or impugn in any way the complainants core allegation.

The court also rejected all four grounds of his appeal.

These included that the trial judge erred in admitting the evidence of the complainant about an alleged confrontation with the appellant after he had learned she had made an allegation of sexual assault against him on the grounds that it was hearsay.

The complainant alleged the appellant had said: I didnt F-ing do that.

The judges agreed with the prosecutions position that the reaction of the appellant to being confronted with the allegation and the proportionality of that reaction was potentially relevant evidence that could assist the jury in assessing the credibility of relevant actors.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the court was also satisfied that the trial judge was right to regard the complaints made to two of the girls schoolfriends as having satisfied the conditions for admissibility.

The three-judge court also rejected grounds three and four of the appeal, which related to the failure to direct an acquittal at the close of the prosecutions case in circumstances where the particulars of the count on the indictment, namely the date of the offence, did not accord with the evidence and the claim that the trial judge erred in permitting the prosecution to amend the range of dates referred to in the indictment.

The judges said the law is quite clear that an application to amend the indictment can be made at any stage and there is discretion to refuse such an amendment where to do so would enure to the legal prejudice of the accused.

However, in this case, there was no legal prejudice to the appellant in granting the amendment, the judgement stated.

The case that was being made against him and that he was seeking to defend was crystal clear.

They said the law is also clear that considerable latitude has to be granted with respect to the amendment of an indictment to take account of uncertainty as to dates where you are dealing with sexual offences involving victims who were very young at the time.

It is entirely understandable that there may be uncertainty as to dates, and that this may need to be accommodated in terms of amendment to formal pleadings, they added.

In the circumstances, we are in no doubt that the trial judge was entirely correct in exercising her discretion to allow the amendment sought by the prosecution and to refuse the application for a direction.

The judgement noted that in the circumstances, the three-judge court was not disposed to uphold the grounds of appeal and said the appeal against conviction must be dismissed.
Ireland must join other EU countries to "pull its weight" when it comes to increasing defence capabilities, the French Ambassador to Ireland has said.

Welcoming a new national consultative forum that is being set up to discuss Ireland's international security policy, Vincent Guerend said the world has evolved since the outbreak of the

war in Ukraine.

While he said it will be up to the Irish people to decide on whether this country joins Nato, the ambassador pointed to a number of countries including Sweden, Finland, and Denmark that have changed stance in the wake of the Russian invasion.

"What we would at the same time say is that the world we're facing today, we're in today, is very unfortunately more dangerous compared to 10, 15 years ago and that it is appropriate, even though it's costly, for all of us to increase our defence capabilities," he said.

Mr Guerend highlighted gains for Ireland and France when this country is hooked into the EU energy grid. Picture: Moya Nolan

In a wide-ranging interview with the Irish Examiner, Mr Guerend highlighted the huge gains that will be made for both Ireland and France when this country is hooked into the EU's energy grid.

It comes after four successful bidders in Irelands first auction for offshore wind contracts were announced last week, a move which is expected to provide cheaper electricity in the years to come.

Mr Guerend said there is now a collective European interest to increase its energy autonomy, making it less dependent on foreign supply.

The interconnector that will run directly between Ireland and France will be operating by early 2027, which should see Irish wind energy used on the continent and French nuclear energy imported here.

Vincent Guerend said France will be glad to import Ireland's surplus electricity from wind energy.

"This will be a huge change because it will increase the security of supply both ways for France and Ireland and we'll be glad whenever you have any surplus to import your electricity produced by wind energy in particular," he said.

I believe that Irish consumers will be glad to be able to rely on the secure supply which is provided through nuclear energy.

However, warning of "bottlenecks" in the chain of delivery from the skilled workforce to the production line and even the ships that are needed, he said delivering new offshore wind will be a "massive challenge" in the timeline that has been set down in Ireland and across the EU.

Mr Guerend also emphasised the need for Europe to develop a strong industrial policy to stave off the threat an over-reliance on China and other countries poses to member states.

It comes after Tanaiste Micheal Martin provoked a strong reaction from the Chinese Embassy in Ireland over a warning that the Government and private sector need to be "realistic" and "clear-eyed" about China's strategic objectives and their implications.

Mr Martin strongly advised the private sector, academics, and other stakeholders to increase their awareness of their level of exposure and to "de-risk" from China where necessary.

Micheal Martin advised the private sector, academics, and other stakeholders to increase their awareness of their level of exposure and to 'de-risk' from China where necessary. Picture: Dan Linehan

Mr Guerend said: "I think we very much concur again at European level with the Tanaiste.

"It is certainly in the interest of Europe to both diversify its supply, and secondly to make sure that it has also an indigenous capacity at European level to produce some of the key technologies in future like electrical batteries, like telecommunications, 5G, and similar communication technologies.

"An over-reliance towards one country in particular... is a risk," he said, citing the fact that up to 80% of car batteries delivered to Europe are sourced from China.

Mr Guerend said that on the issue of security, China has been "asserting itself worldwide" in recent years.

When it comes to security, we have to make clear that we will not stay idle, we will not accept any infringement on our security interests, on global peace, be it on digital security, access to data, and the access to critical infrastructure.

While it is important the EU continues to cooperate with China "as much as we can", especially on global issues such as climate change and the fight against poverty, he said it is important that there is a "level playing field" between both sides.

"We have to make sure that whenever we trade there is some reciprocity when it comes to access to market when it comes to public procurement, when it comes to competition," he said.

'It is important that each and every member state collectively pulls its own weight' on defence, the French ambassador to Ireland said. Picture: Moya Nolan

More generally, he said the international environment has become "vastly more challenging over the last couple of years".

Citing covid and now the war in Ukraine, he said: "In this context, Europe cannot just stand still and just do business as usual.

Europe has to be more active in defining what we would call its sovereignty, meaning its capability of being a master of its fate, and this again, on three things: On economy, on technology, and on defence.

"Europe needs an industrial policy, which means working with industry to identify the key industries where the EU must once again become strong," said the ambassador.

Turning to Ireland's defence strategy and neutrality, Mr Guerend said this is an issue that is "evolving" for many countries since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Asked directly if he thinks Ireland should join Nato, to ensure we are fully protected from Russian and other threats, he said: "This is for the Irish to decide. Each and every country in the world and in the EU has its own histories or tradition, its own political strains.

"As you know, France also was part of Nato since the outset, but also left what we call the integrated military command in 1966 and rejoined only in 2008. So, each and every country has to decide according to its own history and political constraints. We would certainly not give any advice to Ireland when it comes to joining Nato."

However, he added: "It is important that each and every member state collectively pulls its own weight on this."
At the end of April, an Irish diplomat visited a Palestinian school in Jabbet al-Dhib near Bethlehem. Along with other EU representatives and NGOs, they were there as part of a publicity campaign to dissuade the Israeli authorities from demolishing the small school that served 45 students living in the remote area of the West Bank.

On Sunday, May 7, less than two weeks after that visit, bulldozers trundled towards the school in Jabbet al-Dhib. Young Palestinian protestors threw rocks while Israeli soldiers responded with tear gas. By the end of the day, the school built with funds from several EU countries, including Ireland, lay in rubble.

In a statement in the Dail on Tuesday, the Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin said that he was disturbed by the demolition of the school and that such acts negatively impact essential education for Palestinian children. Martin urged Israel not to proceed with demolitions and to cease all settlement activities.

Despite repeated condemnation from many EU governments, the destruction of Palestinian structures and homes by Israeli forces has become a familiar scene in the West Bank.

MEP for Ireland South Grace OSullivan who visited the West Bank in February as part of an EU parliamentary delegation told The Irish Examiner that 57 schools are facing the same threat as the school in Jabbet al-Dhib. Picture: Hannah McCarthy

MEP for Ireland South Grace OSullivan who visited the West Bank in February as part of an EU parliamentary delegation told The Irish Examiner that 57 schools are facing the same threat as the school in Jabbet al-Dhib.

Make no mistake this is part of a prolonged and planned assault on basic Palestinian services designed to make the West Bank unliveable for young Palestinians, while illegal Israeli settlements expand unabated, says OSullivan, who is a member of the Green Party.

Area C

The majority of demolition orders have been carried out in Area C of the West Bank which represents 60% of the West Bank and is fully administered by Israeli authorities. The majority of illegal settlements in the West Bank  with an estimated Israeli population of 400,000  are located in Area C.

According to the Israeli authorities, which retain control over planning and construction in Area C, the demolition orders are carried out on the basis that the Palestinian buildings have been erected without Israeli-issued building permits. However, Peace Now, a left-wing Israeli advocacy group that monitors illegal settlements, says only around 2% of all requests by Palestinians for building permits in Area C have been granted over the last two decades.

The majority of Palestinian applications are rejected by the Israeli authorities on the grounds that the relevant area has not been zoned for construction  even when the land for which the permit is requested is undisputedly owned by the Palestinian applicant.

The lack of homes and public infrastructure approved and provided by Israeli authorities for Palestinians in Area C, which under international law is deemed occupied, led to the formation of the West Bank Protection Consortium (WBPC) by several EU states including Ireland. WBPC supports humanitarian partners working in Area C and projects such as the school at Jabbet al-Dhib.

An Israeli settler in Hebron, the largest Palestinian city in the West Bank. credit: Hannah McCarthy

According to The Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland provided 300,000 in funding to the WBPC in 2022 as part of Irelands commitment to reducing the vulnerability of Palestinian communities living in Area C of the West Bank.

How has the EU responded to the destruction of its aid in the West Bank?

Last year, more than 330,000 worth of EU-funded projects alone were confiscated or demolished in the West Bank under Israeli orders. Since 2015, the WBPC has sought 1,170,000 in compensation for damage to EU-funded aid projects in the West Bank.

Shawan Jabarin, the director general of the Palestinian human rights organisation Al Haq, argues that allowing Israel to profit from illegal settlements on Palestinian land undermines international law and human rights principles. Picture: Hannah McCarthy

Shawan Jabarin, the director general of the Palestinian human rights organisation Al Haq based in Ramallah, has urged EU states to take a strong stance against Israel including banning imported goods produced in illegal settlements in the West Bank and banning settlers from the Schengen visa programme which allows grantees to travel across the Schengen region (which excludes Ireland, where Israeli citizens are required to apply separately for visas).

Jabarin argues that allowing Israel to profit from illegal settlements on Palestinian land undermines international law and human rights principles, while allowing Israeli settlers in the West Bank to apply for Schengen visas, but not local Palestinians, is unfair.

Senator Frances Black previously put forward the Occupied Territories Bill in 2018 which, if enacted, would have banned the sale of goods and services originating in illegal Israeli settlements established on occupied Palestinian land.

The Government voted against the Bill on the basis that it was not compatible with EU law (a view which has been challenged by several legal experts) and that it would undermine Irelands role in a future Middle East peace process.

Yazan Idrees at an EU-funded youth centre outside of Ramallah. A new road had to be built to the centre after an illegal settlement was built beside the youth centre. Picture: Hannah McCarthy

In March, Martin reiterated the government's position that the Occupied Territories Bill would not be compatible with EU law, and would not be implementable.

OSullivan has called for a change in EU policy towards Israel: We need to move away from the stale statements on preserving a two-state solution and towards action including a ban on imports from illegal Israeli settlements and cutting research and co-operation funding as long as annexations and demolitions continue.

The Irish MEP criticised EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen for instead increasing co-operation with Israel and signing gas deals with Tel Aviv and says the top EU official has rewarded Netanyahu for demolishing schools that EU funds have built.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made a surprise visit to Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, extending a multi-stop European tour that has elicited fresh pledges of military support as his country gears up for a counteroffensive against Russian occupation forces.

In a tweet on his arrival, Mr Zelenskyy said: With each visit, Ukraines defense and offensive capabilities are expanding. The ties with Europe are getting stronger, and the pressure on Russia is growing.
Poland has received its first shipment of US-made Himars rocket launchers as part of a defence upgrade amid security concerns due to the war in neighbouring Ukraine.

Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak and military officials attended an acquisition ceremony at a Warsaw air base on Monday.

Mr Blaszczak said that combat in Ukraine has proven the value of the Himars and that Nato member Poland was seeking to procure additional launchers, with a goal of acquiring some 500 units.

We are watching the developments in Ukraine, and we know that artillery has a key role in the war, in repelling the Russian invasion, he said.

Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak speaks during the ceremony (Czarek Sokolowski/AP)

Under a 2019 contract, Poland is spending some 414 million dollars (380 million euros) to buy 18 advanced combat Himars launchers and two Himars training launchers, with ammunition and related equipment. The deal includes logistics and training.

The launchers will go to the 1st Artillery Brigade in north-eastern Poland, Mr Blaszczak said.

Their task will be to deter (an) aggressor and strengthen Polands armed forces on the nations and Nato eastern flank, the minister said.

A Himars academy is to be launched in the city of Torun to provide logistics, servicing and training, including for troops from other Nato countries that have or plan to get the launchers.

Produced by American aerospace company Lockheed Martin, the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System is a multiple rocket launcher with a range of up to 190 miles developed in the late 1990s for the US armed forces.

A soldier is seen through a window of a vehicle carrying a Himars launcher (Czarek Sokolowski/AP)

Poland is buying billions of dollars worth of weapons, chiefly from the US and South Korea, including fighter jets, to modernise its armed forces.

Some of the equipment will replace weapons  including over a dozen Soviet-made MiG-29 jet fighters  that Poland agreed to give Ukraine for its defence against Russia.

Polands right-wing government, which will be seeking a third term in an autumn parliamentary election, is giving the purchases wide publicity, seeking to reassure Poles amid a military conflict across their eastern border.

Last year, Poland received a number of US Patriot missile systems, and deliveries of another battery are expected this year. The first deliveries of Abrams tanks have also arrived from the US, as well as deliveries of tanks and howitzers from South Korea.
The White House says that Russia is looking to buy additional attack drones from Iran for use in the Kremlins war in Ukraine after using up most of the 400 drones it had previously purchased from Tehran.

The Biden administration last year publicised satellite imagery and intelligence findings that it said indicated Iran sold hundreds of attack drones to Russia.
Burma Alleged Myanmar Migrant Rape Victim Demands Justice in Thailand

A 16-year-old migrant from Myanmar who was allegedly raped by her Thai employer for seven months. / The Irrawaddy

A 16-year-old migrant worker from Myanmar, who worked at a restaurant in Tak Province, western Thailand, was allegedly confined and raped by her employer for seven months.

The victim, who is from near the Thai border, said she started work at a Phop Phra noodle soup in May 2022 and was asked by the owner to live with him and was repeatedly raped. She has filed a complaint with Phop Phra police.

KTG Helping Hand, a Mae Sot-based labor organization, is involved.

The girl is poor and she was confined for several months at the noodle shop where she worked. [The employer] raped her and threatened her life. She was gripped by fear. She attempted to flee several times and met citizens from Myanmar who gave our details, said Ko Thar Gyi of the group.

KTG Helping Hand helped her complain in February but the police have taken no action and the organization complained again on May 8, he added.

A Thai man claiming to be a police officer has sent threatening texts to a Thai family which is caring for the victim, said Ko Thar Gyi.

The messages say take 100,000 baht [US$3,000] or be harmed. They say a Thai guy has no business taking care of a girl from Myanmar. They threaten to kill the girl if she refuses to take the money. She is being followed by cars and motorbikes, he added.

The employer has reportedly offered 80,000 baht, then 100,000 baht and 1 million baht. But the victim refused and wants him punished.

The victim said: I will see him in court. He must get what he deserves for what he has done to me. Some say I may lose because I am a migrant but I have full confidence because of the people who are helping me.

The results of sexual assault forensics and a DNA test are pending, according to the victim.
Burma Cyclone Mocha Destroys Thousands of Homes Across Western Myanmar

Residents in the aftermath of Cyclone Mocha in Kyauktaw, Rakhine State, on Sunday. / AFP

Thousands of Rakhine State homes have been destroyed by Cyclone Mocha since it hit Myanmars western coast on Sunday.

Wind speeds of 259km per hour were reported by the strongest cyclone to hit Myanmar since Nargis in 2007.

The junta on Monday reported two deaths in Rakhine State and one in southern Ayeyarwady Region and several injuries.

Sittwe, Kyauktaw, Minbya and Mrauk-U townships in Rakhine State have reported heavy damage and called for urgent assistance.

Around 90 percent of Sittwes buildings were damaged by the cyclone, according to writer Wai Hin Aung, who has been assisting relief efforts.

There are hardly any undamaged houses in the city, he told The Irrawaddy. Sittwes Myoma market is heavily damaged. Outlying villages have been hit.

A Mrauk-U resident said 80 percent of the towns homes have been damaged.The roofs of strongly built houses were blown away. Small houses have all collapsed, he said.

He added that the storm lasted five hours and roads in the town were blocked by trees and electric poles.

Residents said the town was evacuated before the storm made landfall so casualties were avoided.

A Kyauktaw social welfare group spokesman said almost all the towns houses have been destroyed with few roofs left intact.

He said aluminum roofing sheets are needed and food prices are surging.

Residents reported that 70 percent of Minbyas homes were damaged and water and food were needed and there is no electricity, internet and mobile connectivity.

Magwe and Sagaing regions and Kachin State were hit by Mocha on Sunday night.

In Salin Township, Magwe Region, at least 20 villages have been flooded.

Volunteers helping with rescue efforts said flooding was continuing on Monday afternoon and many residents are missing.

The rescue teams cannot access all the villages, said Ma Wint Hmone, a Salin volunteer.

Meteorologists have warned of flash floods and landslides in Chin State with reports of damage yet to arrive.

Large areas of farmland in Khin-U Township, Sagaing Region, have been flooded, according to residents.

Chin State and Magwe and Sagaing regions are anti-regime strongholds that have been devastated by the regimes raids since the 2021 coup.
Burma Eight Myanmar Junta Troops Killed in Myawaddy Clashes: Cobra Column

Cobra Column troops / Cobra Column

Combined resistance forces and drone teams under the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) killed at least eight junta troops during three days of clashes in Myawaddy Township, Karen State, according to resistance fighters.

Clashes between junta troops and the resistances Cobra Column (1)  comprised of fighters from the Peoples Defence Force (PDF), Black Panther Column, Federal Wings, and Golden Eagle under Brigade 6 of the KNLA, the armed wing of Karen National Union  erupted near Mae Ka Nal village on Thursday (May 11).

A Cobra Column (1) member said junta troops first targeted resistance forces near the village with artillery strikes from Lat Khat Mountain on Thursday before launching the ground attack.

As they were shelling us, we mobilized and were joined by other [resistance] columns and teams to meet their attack, he said.

The juntas military column comprised troops from Infantry Battalion 275 and Light Infantry Battalion 118, reinforced by Border Guard Force 1019, according to resistance sources.

Two resistance fighters were injured on Thursday as Cobra Column members mobilized to repel the militarys assault. Fierce clashes continued on Friday and Saturday, when resistance forces killed four junta troops and wounded at least 12, according to the Cobra Column.

The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the claims.

Most residents of Mae Ka Nal and nearby villages have fled their homes amid fighting over the past month. Clashes between junta troops and KNLA and allied resistance groups also broke out in the area last month from April 18 to 21.

We cannot return to our homes while the fighting continues and we dont know how long it will last, said a 40-year-old male resident of Mae Ka Nal village.

He is among about 1,000 Mae Ka Nal residents taking shelter in a Myawaddy monastery in Myawaddy. Hundreds of other villagers have sought sanctuary at other monasteries in the township.

He said clashes were reportedly still breaking out. Resistance fighters confirmed shots were still being fired, though the junta military column had retreated some distance away.

On Saturday, junta forces again opened fire with artillery and mortar shells, targeting positions taken up by KNLA troops and resistance allies. An intense firefight ensued during which at least four junta soldiers were killed and 15 wounded, according to Cobra Column (1). A member of Cobra Column was also killed and four others wounded, it said.
Burma Myanmar Junta Troops Force 16,000 to Flee Amid Cyclone Mocha

Fleeing residents cross a torrent of runoff caused by heavy rains in Kani Township, Sagaing Region on Sunday. / Pyae Aung Naing (Kani)

Junta raids in two townships of Sagaing Region over the past three days have forced 16,000 people to flee during heavy rain and flooding triggered by cyclone Mocha.

Before making landfall in Myanmars western Rakhine State on Sunday, the storm began unleashing torrential rain in neighboring Chin State, Magwe and Sagaing regions on Friday.

After hitting Rakhine and its capital Sittwe with maximum wind speeds of 175 miles per hour, the cyclone moved to Magwe and Sagaing regions and Kachin State on Monday.

Around 3,000 residents in the west of Khin U Township were forced to flee their homes in heavy rain as a military detachment and allied Pyu Saw Htee militia raided Chan Thar Gone village and nearby settlements early on Sunday, according to local resistance media unit Khin U Township News.

Regime forces used both weapons and heavy explosives to attack the village.

They also looted houses and stole food belonging to the residents.

A four-year-old child was also injured when regime troops attacked nearby Inn Pat village with weapons and explosives, the media unit reported.

In retaliation, local resistance groups launched land-mine ambushes in four locations against regime forces returning to their bases after raiding and looting villages, said the Khin U Special Force Organization, which coordinated the ambush.

The resistance group claimed that 12 regime forces and Pyu Saw Htee militia were killed in the ambush. Ammunition was also seized from the retreating regime forces, according to the combined resistance groups.

Meanwhile, more than 13,000 people from five village groups in Kani Township, Sagaing have been forced to evacuate in heavy rain and flooding after junta detachments began raiding on Friday.

Military columns have been attacking villages since the start of the storm on May 12. On Saturday, regime forces occupied Min Ma village, forcing residents to flee into the forest amid heavy rain, a rescue worker told The Irrawaddy on Sunday.

Junta forces also captured a 35-year-old local in Twin village and were holding him captive in Min Ma.

The displaced villagers are in urgent need of food and medicines as transport routes have been cut by the floods, the rescuer said.

On Sunday, resistance groups attacked the 120 junta troops and Pyu Saw Htee militia stationed in Min Ma village, according to Ko Pyae Aung Naing of the Kani General Strike Committee.

The clash left one resistance fighter dead and six others wounded, he wrote on Facebook. A regime fighter jet bombed areas near the site of the clash in the afternoon.

The resistance attack came after junta detachments raided Twin village on Friday, looting houses and destroying motorbikes and furniture that they could not carry away.

Two resistance fighters were killed and three others were wounded on Friday as resistance groups clashed with junta forces raiding and looting villages, Pyae Aung Naing said.
Burma Rituals and Yadaya: Myanmar Junta Leaders Superstition Knows No Bounds

Regime chef Min Aung Hlaing strikes a pagoda bell painted in an unusual gold color nine times during the pagoda consecration ceremony in Kengtung on Saturday. / Cincds

As Cyclone Mocha was about to hit land in coastal areas of Rakhine State in western Myanmar on Saturday, junta boss Min Aung Hlaing was performing magic rituals, known as yadaya in Burmese.

The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System had predicted that the maximum sustained winds could reach 257 km per hour when the cyclone made landfall near Rakhine States capital.

Min Aung Hlaing however showed no signs of concern over the disaster, which affected millions of people. He was busy performing yadaya in the hope of enjoying long rule.

Accompanied by two infamous monks, Min Aung Hlaing consecrated a replica of Indias Bodha Gaya on Saturday in Kengtung.

The two monks in question were Sitagu Sayadaw Ashin Nyanissara and Vasipake Sayadaw. Sitagu Sayadaw, arguably the most influential monk in Myanmar before the 2021 coup, has hailed Min Aung Hlaing as a king of great generosity and wisdom. The monk reportedly called ahead of the general election of November 2020 for the military to seize power from the National League for Democracy (NLD) government.

Vasipake Sayadaw hails from Kengtung and is famous for his vows of silence. He is widely believed to be the coup leaders astrological adviser, and has been accused of advising his follower Min Aung Hlaing to order security forces to shoot anti-coup protesters in the head as a form of yadaya. Most of the anti-regime protesters killed in the early days of the junta crackdown had bullet wounds to the head.

The two monks presided over the consecration as the junta boss put Hti atop the pagodas on Saturday. A Hti umbrella is considered the most important part of the pagoda, and is placed atop the highest part of the religious structure. It is also one of five items of Myanmar royal regalia, and represents sovereignty.

As Myanmar is a Buddhist majority country, it is typical of monarchs to build pagodas in the traditional belief that doing so will help them gain divine blessings. Generals who view themselves as kings are also obsessed with building and consecrating pagodas.

After putting the Hti atop the newly built pagoda in Kengtung, Min Aung Hlaing together with the two monks shouted three times in Burmese Aung Pi!a common phrase meaning something like We did it!, used to mark the successful conclusion of a religious ceremony. But in the mouth of Min Aung Hlaing, the exclamation is believed to be intended as a yadaya, shouted in the hope of conquering his enemies.

All of this was happening on Saturday, when Myanmar people across the country and international humanitarian agencies feared the cyclone would inflict serious destruction on Myanmar.

But almost all of the cabinet members of the regime, which calls itself a government, were in Kengtung, attending the consecration. Myanmar military leaders and their followers apparently believe the merit that they expect to gain from building and making donations to pagodas will offset their bad deeds. But they will never be able to wash the blood off their hands.

Generals pagodas

In 1980, former dictator Ne Win had the Maha Wizaya Pagoda built near the southern gate of the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon. Commonly referred to as Ne Wins pagoda, Maha Wizaya sees few worshippers despite its proximity to Shwedagon.

Ex-military dictator Than Shwe also had the Uppatasanti Pagoda, a replica of Shwedagon Pagoda, built in Naypyitaw.

U Thein Sein, the general-turned-president of the quasi-civilian government that succeeded Than Shwes regime, also had a replica of Bodha Gaya built in Naypyitaw.

Min Aung Hlaing has consecrated several pagodas since his putsch, and has also had a giant Buddha statue, touted as the worlds tallest sitting Buddha statue, built in Naypyitaw.

One year before his coup, the military chief placed the Hti umbrella atop Bagans 12th-century Htilominlo Templea move driven by his desire to win the countrys presidency in 2021. Traditionally, it is believed that rulers who make offerings to the pagoda will receive divine blessings and enjoy long reigns. Vasipake Sayadaw was also at the ceremony, supervising Min Aung Hlaing as he placed the Hti atop the pagoda.

Everyone who knows well the generals megalomania and their superstition are well aware that those consecration ceremonies are full of yadaya, and aim for nothing more than to seek divine blessings and avert misfortune.

Following the consecration in Kengtung on Saturday, Min Aung Hlaing struck a pagoda bell, which was painted in an unusual gold color, nine times. Myanmar generals have a traditional obsession with the number 9, which is the regimes talisman.

Saturdays consecration was the fourth by Min Aung Hlaing over the past four months. He was busy flying in a helicopter between Rakhines Sittwe in western Myanmar and Lashio, Pa-O and Kengtung in eastern Myanmar to consecrate pagodas there.

Why did he do it?

Min Aung Hlaing was not seen in public during Myanmars New Year Thingyan Water Festival despite his attempts to make it festive. He didnt even join the festivals opening ceremony in Naypyitaw.

Instead, he observed a religious vow during the entire Thingyan period in Pyin Oo Lwin, which he believes is a land of victory for him. He refused to receive generals and cronies during that period because his astrological advisers told him that he and Myanmar would experience bad luck in April and May.

He might be in fear because astrologers have said some prominent [military] leaders might be assassinated [in April and May], said a source from Naypyitaw who is close to generals and astrologers.

As the military chief has multiple astrologers, it is not clear which one said so. Min Aung Hlaing has since busied himself with performing rites to avert misfortune, setting aside the countrys affairs. He has not convened a meeting of his regimes governing body, the State Administration Council, since Feb. 23, after he extended emergency rule for another six months.

Min Aung Hlaing apparently believes yadaya is the only thing that can help him solve the crisis now as he is under increasing pressure from the international community, and the resistance movement is growing day by day.

Min Aung Hlaing has greater faith in the astrologers after the storm hit Myanmar this month. It is obvious he has been performing yadaya continuously, said the source from Naypyitaw.

Keeping Eleven Dangers away?

Min Aung Hlaing usually chooses the 11th day of the month to perform yadaya. It is not a coincidence, but carefully chosen to avert Set Ta Mee, or Eleven Dangers, according to a traditional Myanmar belief.

On Feb. 11, he had the Maravijaya Buddha image that he is building in Naypyitaw put on a plinth, which the regime calls a palin or throne.

Under the guidance of his astrological advisors, he had Hseinwi Haw (Haw is the palace of the Shan feudal lords) repaired on April 11, and checked Kengtung Haw on May 11 for possible repairs.

He has also performed another yadaya, which is dredging lakes. Military leaders believe it will drive off danger and bring good luck.

He had Kandawgyi Lake in Sittwe dredged on March 30, and did the same at Kandawgyi Lake in Pyin Oo Lwin on April 17which is Myanmars New Years DayShan Lake in Naypyitaw on May 8 and Naung Tung Lake in Kengtung on May 11.

On May 1, he put a sorcerers stone in the Maravijaya Buddha.

The pagoda was temporarily closed after stripes appeared below its eye, as if the Buddha image was crying. After a series of yadaya, the Buddha image was opened to the public again.

Min Aung Hlaings mentor, former military dictator Than Shwe, also built a jade Buddha image whose face was sculpted to resemble him. The image is kept at Shwedagon Pagoda.

The military chief has been traveling far and wide from coastal areas to plains and hilly regions across Myanmar to perform yadaya. He has even performed yadaya in the sea.

In April, Min Aung Hlaing traveled to the Coco Islands to unveil a monument marking the meeting point of the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal. This was also yadaya, done at the instruction of his soothsayers.

In another yadaya, Min Aung Hlaing ordered his regime to grow 1 million acres of sunflowers, claiming that he wanted to produce more sunflower oil and curb expensive imports of palm oil. But it raises the question: Why not promote other already-popular edible-oil crops like sesame or peanuts?

Soothsayers believe it would prolong his rule (sunflower in Burmese is a homophone for a word that means long-lasting).

Agriculturalists dare not complain though they are aware that the project is bound to fail, said an official of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation.

He reproached [participants in] the meeting on May 10, as the sunflower cultivation project failed, he said.

The sunflower project reminds Myanmar people of former military dictator Than Shwes state project of growing castor oil, which also ended in failure. It was also yadaya, done in the name of producing biofuel.

In one yadaya, generals made themselves a laughing stock when they were told to wear htamein, or womens sarong, to a state-level dinner.

In the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis in May 2008, which killed over 100,000 people and caused massive destruction, former military dictator Than Shwe held a national referendum to ratify the military-drafted 2008 Constitution, which was designed to ensure the militarys grip on power for a long time, while turning a blind eye to the sheer misery of the Myanmar people.

Exactly 15 years later, Than Shwes successor Min Aung Hlaing is doing the same. He was busy trying to protect his interests, and did not bother to take care of Myanmar people while a cyclone as powerful as Nargis was heading to Myanmar.

The tyrant, who has killed thousands of his opponents, wrote on the plaque of the newly built pagoda in Kengtung: May Myanmar Be Peaceful.
War Against the Junta About 40 Myanmar Junta Forces, Four Resistance Fighters Killed in Five Days of Clashes

Resistance fighters of the Royal Peacock Column during a drill in Karen State / Royal Peacock Column

At least 38 Myanmar junta forces as well as four resistance fighters were killed in the last five days as Peoples Defense Forces (PDFs) and an ethnic armed organization (EAO) continued to attack regime targets across the country.

Incidents were reported in Karen and Mon states and Mandalay, Sagaing and Magwe regions.

The Irrawaddy has collected the following reports of significant attacks from PDFs and the EAO.

Some military casualties could not be independently verified.

Eight junta soldiers killed in three days of clashes in Karen

At least eight regime forces were killed and 27 others injured during three days of clashes in Myawaddy Township, Karen State from Thursday to Saturday as four resistance groups including the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the Karen National Union, attacked a large number of regime forces from four military battalions, said Cobra Column, which joined the resistance attacks.

Clashes broke out in Lat Khat Taung and Kyauk Mine as regime forces attempted to occupy areas controlled by the resistance groups.

In the clashes, a resistance fighter was killed and 10 were injured.

Junta outpost bombed by PDF drone in Mon

Thaton PDF said it coordinated with five resistance group including the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) to conduct drone strikes on the Mae Pali junta outpost in Bilin Township, Mon State on Saturday.

Details of the military casualties were unknown.

Military vehicles bombed in Mandalay

Tagaung PDF claimed to have killed at least three junta soldiers as it used land mines to ambush two trucks carrying regime forces in the Tagaung area of Thabeikkyin Township, Mandalay Region on Saturday.

Four land mines were used in the ambush and a military vehicle had to stop after being damaged in the blasts. A small shootout broke out at the ambush site, the PDF group said.

Regime forces looting houses ambushed in Sagaing

At least 12 junta soldiers and pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia members were killed in Khin U Township, Sagaing Region on Sunday when local resistance groups jointly used land mines to ambush 30 regime forces looting a village, said Khin U Special Force Organization, which joined the attack.

The PDF groups said they used 14 clusters of land mines to attack the regime forces in 14 locations. Ammunition was seized from the regime forces after the ambush.

Three junta policemen killed in resistance ambush in Magwe

Three policemen including the head of a police outpost were killed in Yesagyo Township, Magwe Region on Friday when three PDF groups attacked junta policemen traveling to a police outpost at Pakhan Gyi Village from another police base in Pakhan Nge Village, said Pakokku Special Guerrilla Force, which coordinated the attack.

A resistance fighter suffered injuries when a policeman responded with a grenade.

Police outpost occupied in Magwe

Twelve junta policemen and three resistance fighters were killed in Salin Township, Magwe Region last Wednesday when four resistance columns occupied a police station in Thayat Taw Village, said the Defense Ministry of the civilian National Unity Government.

Resistance groups managed to occupy and burn down the police outpost after an hourlong raid. A weapon, ammunition and some equipment were seized from the police outpost.
Monday, May 15th, 2023 (11:25 am) - Score 1,560

Network builder MS3 has today launched a new tool on their website, which allows users to compare and purchase broadband packages from its ISP partners. The provider is currently rolling out a new 10Gbps capable FTTP broadband network to cover 500,000 premises across the North of England by the end of 2025 (here).

The operator, which is being backed by an unspecified investment from Asterion and already claims to have built their open access (wholesale) full fibre network footprint across 100,000 premises (NOT all of these are Ready for Service), claims to be the first network operator of its kind to launch its own comparison platform. But this isnt entirely correct, since CityFibre has a similar feature, albeit one thats quite limited.

NOTE: MS3 is currently actively building across parts of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.

A number of UK ISPs are already offering broadband packages via MS3s new network, such as Hull Fibre, Octaplus, Link Broadband, OpenFibre, FiberZone, Direct Save Telecom, Zone Broadband, Infinics and Squirrel. But one big difficulty is that a lot of consumers use commercial price comparison websites to compare ISPs and most alternative networks arent on those.

Adam Kelly, Marketing Manager at MS3 Networks, said: Were hoping to solve a challenge thats been affecting connectivity in the UK for years. The broadband monopoly in our area has been prevalent for some time and, while greater choice in provider is arriving, many customers still feel without options. From our own market research conducted earlier in 2023, we found theres still a consensus that people lack choice in broadband provider. Offering tools such as our new Ecommerce function will help turn that tide. We want to make options as clear and easy-to-navigate as possible, while showcasing the range of ISPs available in the local area. Its about more than just delivering an ultrafast internet connection, its about providing customers with a space to explore products, have a simple process of receiving recommendations and comparing prices and features. This way, we can closely work with partners and their customer base to provide them with the best full-service solutions via our website.

End.
Pacific Island leaders say rich countries are not doing enough to control climate change

Pacific Island leaders have criticized rich countries for not doing enough to control climate change despite being responsible for much of the problem, and for profiting from loans provided to vulnerable nations to mitigate the effects
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The head of Russias Wagner mercenary group on Monday rejected reports claiming that he offered information on Russian troop positions to Ukraine, dismissing them as laughable and possibly a smear campaign.

Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin has been increasingly critical of Moscows generals and the Russian defence ministry in recent days.

Wagner fighters have played a leading role in the fight for the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, and Prigozhins influence has grown as Moscows offensive progressed.

The Washington Post published a story on Sunday, citing unverified US intelligence leaks, claiming that Prigozhin had contact with Ukrainian intelligence in January.

The Post also reported that, according to the documents, Prigozhin had offered Kyiv information on Russian army positions in exchange for Ukrainian troops withdrawing from areas near Bakhmut.

AFP is unable to verify the allegations. Prigozhin laughed off the report in an audio message posted on Telegram, saying that it was nice to hear and suggesting that the accusations could be the work of people from Rublevka, a rich Moscow suburb.

Last week, Prigozhin accused the Russian defence ministry of refusing to deliver ammunition to his troops and claimed that Moscows conventional army had fled positions around Bakhmut.
Erdogan of Turkey defies predictions of loss in presidential elections.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has defied predictions of political downfall, showing strength in the Turkish elections.

He has mobilized conservative voters, and their support could lead to him staying in power for a third decade.

Although Erdogan must win a May 28 runoff against challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu to clinch victory, he appeared celebratory as the results and supporters of his Islamist-rooted AK Party rallied.

Victory would increase the rule of a leader who has reshaped Turkey to fit his pious vision and critics view as a march to autocracy.

Erdogan amassed power around an executive presidency, muzzled dissent, jailed critics and opponents, and seized control of the media, judiciary and the economy.

He filled public institutions with loyalists and hollowed critical state organs. Erdogan has pivoted Turkey away from its traditional Western allies, forged ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and turned Turkey into an assertive regional power.

Erdogan has faced political difficulties as he was already blamed for an economic crisis when a devastating earthquake hit in February.

Erdogans campaign focused on economic successes rather than a cost-of-living crisis and the aftermath of the earthquake.

Erdogan has redrawn Turkeys domestic, economic, security and foreign policy, rivalling historic leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk who founded modern Turkey a century ago.
Frances support for Ukraine is being undervalued, says official

Volodymyr Zelensky and Emmanuel Macrons meeting in Paris on Sunday was characterized by friendly diplomatic language, marking a departure from Macrons warning against humiliating Russia last year.

While France is more cautious than the US and the UK when it comes to arming Ukraine, Macron reiterated Frances commitment to providing political, financial, humanitarian and military support to Ukraine.

Last year, Macron received criticism from Kyiv after he claimed it was important never to give in to the temptation to humiliate [Russia].

 Despite this, Zelensky described Macron as my friend on Twitter, following their latest meeting.

Analysts suggest that Frances position on weapons supplies to Ukraine has been cautious, although Paris has pledged to provide extra light tanks and armored vehicles to Kyiv.
There was a clear rejection of nearly a decade of military-backed government by Thai voters, as shown by election results on Monday.

This victory marks a turning point for two pro-democracy opposition parties who are now expected to open coalition talks.

The progressive Move Forward Party (MFP) is on course to become the biggest party, posing a potential challenge to the kingdoms royalist-military elite.

Thais turned up to vote in large numbers, with a campaign pitting young generations yearning for change against the conservative elite embodied by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, the ex-army chief who seized power in a 2014 coup.

However, given the countrys history of ignoring the ballot box, there are fears that the result may still be thwarted, leading to fresh instability. With 97% of polling station ballots counted, Election Commission data showed that MFP had the highest popular vote at 13.5 million, followed by Pheu Thai on 10.3 million, and Prayuts United Thai Nation party with 4.5 million, respectively.

This was a significant achievement for the MFP, an upstart party that used the energy of radical youth-led pro-democracy street protests that shook Bangkok in 2020 to its advantage.

We have closed the door on any chance of army-backed parties forming a minority government, said Pita Limjaroenrat, the partys leader. MFP will seek coalition talks with Pheu Thai, and a deal is definitely on the cards, as per Pita.

Despite their success, MFP and Pheu Thai may still face a battle to secure power because of the junta-scripted 2017 constitution. The new premier will be chosen jointly by the 500 elected MPs and 250 senate members appointed by Prayuts junta, resulting in the deck being stacked in the armys favour.

In addition, rumours are circulating that MFP could be dissolved by court order, the same fate that Future Forward Party shared after performing unexpectedly well in the 2019 poll.

This was the first election since the major street protests that erupted in 2020 with demands to curb the power and spending of the Thai king, breaching a long-held taboo on questioning the monarchy.

The demonstrations waned as Covid-19 curbs were imposed and dozens of leaders were arrested, but their energy fuelled growing support for the more radical opposition MFP.

While MFP courted support from millennial and Gen Z voters, who make up nearly half of the 52 million-strong electorate, Pheu Thai drew on its traditional base in the rural northeast, where voters remain grateful for the welfare policies implemented by Thaksin in early 2000.

As the results came in, a sombre-looking Prayut thanked voters for their support as he left his party HQ. Ill continue to do my best regardless of the result, he told reporters.

The former general made an unabashed nationalist pitch to older voters, painting himself as the only candidate capable of saving Thailand from chaos and ruin.

However, he was accused of overseeing a major crackdown on basic freedoms and a huge spike in prosecutions under Thailands draconian royal defamation laws.

Thailand has seen a dozen coups in the last century and has been in a rolling cycle of street protests, coups, and court orders dissolving political parties over the past two decades. It remains to be seen whether the powerful royalist-military elite will find common ground with the radical MFP.
The Move Forward Party in Thailand claimed victory in the countrys election on Monday, defeating military-backed parties that have been ruling the kingdom for the past ten years.

The massive surge for the Move Forward Party in Sundays ballot left it on course to be the biggest party with its rival opposition, the Pheu Thai movement of billionaire ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, following behind.

Thai voters turned out in record numbers to deliver a brutal verdict on former coup leader Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha.

Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of MFP, said he would seek to build a six-party coalition that would include Pheu Thai.

MFP channelled the energy of youth-led pro-democracy protests in 2020 in an election campaign pitting a young generation yearning for change against the conservative old guard embodied by Prayut.

With ballots counted from 99% of polling stations, Election Commission data showed MFP on 14.1 million in the popular vote followed by Pheu Thai on 10.8 million.
President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to travel to Britain to meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday after visiting leaders in Italy, Germany, and France.

During his three-hour meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Sunday, France pledged additional military aid, such as light tanks, armored vehicles, and soldier training. Follow our live blog for the latest news.

All times are Paris time (GMT+1).

8:53am: UK to give Ukraine hundreds of air-defense missiles and drones

Britain announced on Monday that it would supply Ukraine with hundreds of air-defense missiles and long-range attack drones, as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak prepared to host President Volodymyr Zelensky for talks.

This is a crucial moment in Ukraines resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke, Sunak said in a statement ahead of their talks at his country retreat of Chequers.

8:13am: Zelensky to meet British PM Sunak

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday he would travel to Britain to meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Today  London. The UK is a leader when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air. This cooperation will continue today, Zelenskiy said on Twitter. I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations.

7:51am: Ukraine hails first success in Bakhmut offensive

The Defence of Bakhmut continues, and Ukrainian ground forces commander Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi stated on Monday that Ukraine can move forward and counter the Russian forces there. The advance of our troops along the Bakhmut direction  that is the first successful offensive operation in the citys defence, Syrskyi, was quoted as saying on Ukraines Media Military Centre Telegram messaging platform. The last few days have shown that we can move forward and destroy the enemy even in such extremely difficult conditions The operation to defend Bakhmut continues. All necessary decisions for the defence have been made.

5:00 am: Top Chinese envoy to visit Ukraine, Russia on peace mission

Chinas special representative for Eurasian affairs and former ambassador to Russia, Li Hui, will begin a tour of Ukraine, Russia, and other European cities on Monday to discuss a political settlement to the Ukraine crisis.

Li Hui will also visit Poland, France, and Germany on the multi-day trip, the foreign ministry announced Friday. The visit is a testament to Chinas efforts towards promoting peace talks and fully demonstrates Chinas firm commitment to peace, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said.

3:34 am: Ukraine says captured over ten enemy positions in Bakhmut

Kyiv announced Sunday that Ukrainian forces had captured over ten Russian positions on the outskirts of the frontline city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine.

Today our units have captured more than ten enemy positions in the northern and southern outskirts of Bakhmut, Deputy Defence Minister Ganna Malyar said on social media. Enemy soldiers of various units have been captured, she said. Anyone who knows the real situation and is there now understands the gravity of what is happening, Malyar added.

3:00 am: Wagner head offered to reveal Russian troop locations to Ukraine

The Washington Post reported on Sunday, citing leaked US intelligence documents, that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary force, offered to reveal the position of Russian troops to the Ukrainian government.

In exchange for Ukraine withdrawing its soldiers from the area, Prigozhin offered to tell its intelligence service the positions of Russian forces. The paper said Ukraine rejected the offer.

12:57 am: France promises Ukraine more light tanks, armored cars

France announced dozens more light tanks and armored vehicles for several battalions of Ukraines army together with training for the soldiers using them.

In their joint statement, French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also called for fresh sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

12:02 am: G7 leaders to target Russian energy, trade in new sanctions steps

Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations plan to tighten sanctions on Russia at their summit in Japan this week.

New measures announced by the leaders during the May 19-21 meetings will target sanctions evasion involving third countries, seek to undermine Russias future energy production and curb trade that supports Russias military.

Separately, US officials also expect G7 members will agree to adjust their approach to sanctions so that, at least for certain categories of goods, all exports are automatically banned unless they are on a list of approved items.
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As pandemic restrictions fade, students are finding innovative ways to end higher eds many ties to the fossil fuel industry.

Waging Nonviolence )  From late November through early March of this year, visitors to the University of Washington Career Center in Seattle would have found students sitting in a circle on the floor, some doing homework on laptops as they participated in one of the longest-running recent climate protests at the school. Their goal: to convince the UW administration to establish a policy banning fossil fuel companies from coming to campus to recruit students to work for them. Were trying to dismantle the fossil fuel industrys presence at UW and their hold on the larger American public, said Brett Anton of Institutional Climate Action, or ICA, the Washington state-based student group that organized the sit-in. For weeks, as many as 30 students at a time participated in the protest, which initially took place throughout the Career Centers open hours before transitioning to a shorter window of time every afternoon. For some participants, balancing climate activism with school responsibilities presented real challenges. I maybe overdid it a bit, said ICA organizer Lauren Henrie, who joined the sit-in every weekday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the first few weeks. But being in this together with a bunch of other students excited about taking action for the climate felt really good. At first it was just members of our organization. Then more people joined as they found out about the sit-in. The push to end fossil fuel company recruitment at Washington states largest university represents one way climate activists have begun increasing their efforts to challenge the coal, oil and gas industries wherever their presence is felt at higher education institutions. This focus has given a distinctive new flavor to a student-led climate movement reasserting itself as COVID-related restrictions fade into memory.

Green New Deal at UC San Diego members protest outside the schools methane gas cogeneration plant. (Facebook/Green New Deal at UC San Diego) At the height of the pandemic, shuttered campus buildings and online-only classes made many forms of in-person climate activism almost impossible for college students. Even as some aspects of campus life returned to normal last school year, COVID-related restrictions on large public events continued to create challenges. It would have been easy to predict that the climate movement, which has long relied heavily on student organizing, would take years to recover. However, as we draw toward the end of the first largely pandemic restriction-free school year since 2020, the picture emerging of campus-based climate activism is anything but subdued. In fact, students are finding more ways than ever to target the fossil fuel industry.

Recovering from a pandemic

By at least some measures, climate organizing at many colleges and universities never really went on pause during the pandemic. Student activists continued winning victories, especially when it came to the push to divest higher education institution endowments from fossil fuel companies. A sampling of schools that announced new divestment commitments during the era of COVID restrictions includes Columbia University, Tufts, Rutgers, Amherst, University of Southern California, University of Michigan and Harvard.

Student activists from the generation of Zoom, Instagram and TikTok used online platforms to coordinate their plans, organize events and even set up virtual meetings with decision makers. Still, the limitations of online activism are real, and the difficulty involved in holding in-person events made it harder to pressure campaign targets in highly public ways. At least some of the successes won by the divestment movement during this period came partly thanks to years of in-person organizing before the pandemic.

At Harvard, students fought for divestment for over 10 years, engaging with the administration and organizing direct action protests that set the stage for a September 2021 announcement that the Ivy League school will let its existing investments in the fossil fuel industry expire. Maintaining this kind of momentum required a return to in-person activism after pandemic restrictions ended  and climate activists at Harvard have taken that need seriously. Even as COVID continued dominating headlines, students were hatching a new campaign that is now pushing Harvard and other schools to ban fossil fuel companies from funding research projects, especially those related to climate change.

Divestment has shown the kind of impact climate activism can have on university administrations, said Divest Harvard organizer Phoebe Barr. Now its time to ask more of academia.

Fossil Free Research has become a national movement in its own right with active campaigns on a growing number of college campuses in the U.S. and beyond. Last fall, Princeton became the first U.S. university to announce it would limit research partnerships with the most polluting fossil fuel companies. In April of this year, on the other side of the Atlantic, VU Amsterdam unveiled a more comprehensive policy widely regarded as the strongest fossil free research commitment of any university to date.

These recent wins represent one example of how the new wave of climate organizing sweeping college campuses is successfully targeting the fossil fuel industry not only through the tried-and-true strategy of divestment, but also by seeking to dismantle higher education institution relationships with coal, oil and gas companies wherever they exist.

Divest, decarbonize, dissociate

On this years Earth Day, students gathered at the University of California-San Diego for a rally and march calling on the school to decarbonize the campus and dissociate itself from the fossil fuel industry. Activists were riding high on a partial victory thanks to an announcement a few days earlier, when UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep Khosla made a public statement supporting the goal of moving the university to 100 percent clean energy by 2030. This win was a long time in the making, as students had pushed for years to transition away from the methane gas cogeneration plant that meets over 80 percent of the schools energy needs.

University campuses are very energy dense, said Adam Cooper, a PhD candidate and member of the group Green New Deal at UC San Diego. Higher education institutions like to operate as their own micro grids, especially here in California. Seven out of the 10 UC campuses produce energy through on-campus methane power plants, which has a significant climate impact.

Reducing the carbon footprint of universities has always been a goal of campus-based climate activism, but such efforts historically tended to focus on energy efficiency or small-scale renewable energy generation. More recently, students at schools like UC San Diego have turned their attention to phasing out on-campus fossil fuel use altogether. This work has taken on added importance in parts of the country where state and local lawmakers are embracing clean energy.

California and the city of San Diego are leading the way on the transition to renewables, Cooper said. Meanwhile, 80 percent of our energy on campus comes from a methane cogeneration plant. Its gotten to where UC campuses are among the highest carbon emitters in the progressive cities where theyre located.

Continuing to rely on fossil fuels while surrounding communities embark on an energy transition can be a public image liability for colleges, especially schools that have built a reputation as climate innovators. I came to UC San Diego because were a powerhouse when it comes to climate science, Cooper said. Our Scripps Institution of Oceanography manages the Keeling Curve used to track global CO2 concentrations. We have Nobel prize-winning researchers. I thought I was coming to an institution that was both studying climate and taking climate action, but then I realized theres actually a lot of fossil fuel influence here.
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( Middle East Monitor )  Israels military has apologised for its killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, after a year of denial of its responsibility for the shooting.

Shireen Abu Akleh, the correspondent who covered the West Bank for Al Jazeera for two decades, was shot in the back of the head while covering an Israeli military raid in the West Bank city of Jenin last May.

Occupation forces initially insisted that she was merely caught in the crossfire and shot by Palestinian resistance fighters, but Israel later acknowledged after an investigation that Abu Akleh was likely killed by a member of its military, but claimed that it was unintentional.

Now, in an interview with CNN and its anchor Eleni Giokos on Thursday, the Israeli militarys chief spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari has issued an apology for the journalists killing. I think its an opportunity for me to say here that we are very sorry of the death of Shireen Abu Akleh, he said.
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) 

Today, May 15, for the first time a commemoration will be held at the United Nations HQ in New York City of the 1948 ethnic cleansing of about half of all the Palestinians, the bulk of which was carried out by Jewish military forces, as Israeli intelligence admitted at the time. (See below, all the way down) The commemoration comes from a resolution of the UN General Assembly last fall.

In the morning, Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas will address a high-level event with UN ambassadors and other officials in attendance.Then, the UN says, A Special Commemorative Event will be held in the General Assembly Hall in the evening from 6 pm to 8 pm (NY Time). The event will bring to life the Palestinian journey and will aim at creating an immersive experience of the Nakba through live music, photos, videos, and personal testimonies.

Although the expulsion of the Palestinians is an uncontested fact among professional historians, the very mention of it seems to send pro-Israel fanatics into a rage. U.S. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy attempted and failed to stop a commemoration of the Nakbah by Rep Rashida Tlaib on Capitol Hill last week. The Israeli ambassador to the UN is calling on other ambassadors to boycott Mondays events.

The below graphic tells the story of Palestinian displacement and descent into statelessness:

My simple posting of the map created a furor over a decade ago, about which I wrote:

Andrew Sullivan then mirrored the map from my site, which set off a lot of thunder and noise among anti-Palestinian writers like Jeffrey Goldberg of the Atlantic, but shed very little light. (PS, the map as a hard copy mapcard is available from Sabeel.)

The map is useful and accurate. It begins by showing the British Mandate of Palestine as of the mid-1920s. The British conquered the Ottoman districts that came to be the Mandate during World War I (the Ottoman sultan threw in with Austria and Germany against Britain, France and Russia, mainly out of fear of Russia).

But because of the rise of the League of Nations and the influence of President Woodrow Wilsons ideas about self-determination, Britain and France could not decently simply make their new, previously Ottoman territories into mere colonies. The League of Nations awarded them Mandates. Britain got Palestine, France got Syria (which it made into Syria and Lebanon), Britain got Iraq.

The League of Nations Covenant spelled out what a Class A Mandate (i.e. territory that had been Ottoman) was:

Article 22. Certain communities formerly belonging to the Turkish Empire have reached a stage of development where their existence as independent nations can be provisionally recognised subject to the rendering of administrative advice and assistance by a Mandatory [i.e., a Western power] until such time as they are able to stand alone. The wishes of these communities must be a principal consideration in the selection of the Mandatory.

That is, the purpose of the later British Mandate of Palestine, of the French Mandate of Syria, of the British Mandate of Iraq, was to render administrative advice and assistance to these peoples in preparation for their becoming independent states, an achievement that they were recognized as not far from attaining. The Covenant was written before the actual Mandates were established, but Palestine was a Class A Mandate and so the language of the Covenant was applicable to it. The territory that formed the British Mandate of Iraq was the same territory that became independent Iraq, and the same could have been expected of the British Mandate of Palestine. (Even class B Mandates like Togo have become nation-states, but the poor Palestinians are just stateless prisoners in colonial cantons).

The first map thus shows what the League of Nations imagined would become the state of Palestine. The economist published an odd assertion that the Negev Desert was empty and should not have been shown in the first map. But it wasnt and isnt empty; Palestinian Bedouin live there, and they and the desert were recognized by the League of Nations as belonging to the Mandate of Palestine, a state-in-training. The Mandate of Palestine also had a charge to allow for the establishment of a homeland in Palestine for Jews (because of the 1917 Balfour Declaration), but nobody among League of Nations officialdom at that time imagined it would be a whole and competing territorial state. There was no prospect of more than a few tens of thousands of Jews settling in Palestine, as of the mid-1920s. (They are shown in white on the first map, refuting those who mysteriously complained that the maps alternated between showing sovereignty and showing population). As late as the 1939 British White Paper, British officials imagined that the Mandate would emerge as an independent Palestinian state within 10 years.

In 1851, there had been 327,000 Palestinians (yes, the word Filistin was current then) and other non-Jews, and only 13,000 Jews. In 1925, after decades of determined Jewish immigration, there were a little over 100,000 Jews, and there were 765,000 mostly Palestinian non-Jews in the British Mandate of Palestine. For historical demography of this area, see Justin McCarthys painstaking calculations; it is not true, as sometimes is claimed, that we cannot know anything about population figures in this region. See also his journal article, reprinted at this site. The Palestinian population grew because of rapid population growth, not in-migration, which was minor. The common allegation that Jerusalem had a Jewish majority at some point in the 19th century is meaningless. Jerusalem was a small town in 1851, and many pious or indigent elderly Jews from Eastern Europe and elsewhere retired there because of charities that would support them. In 1851, Jews were only about 4% of the population of the territory that became the British Mandate of Palestine some 70 years later. And, there had been few adherents of Judaism, just a few thousand, from the time most Jews in Palestine adopted Christianity and Islam in the first millennium CE all the way until the 20th century. In the British Mandate of Palestine, the district of Jerusalem was largely Palestinian.

The rise of the Nazis in the 1930s impelled massive Jewish emigration to Palestine, so by 1940 there were over 400,000 Jews there amid over a million Palestinians.

The second map shows the United Nations partition plan of 1947, which awarded Jews (who only then owned about 6% of Palestinian land) a substantial state alongside a much reduced Palestine. Although apologists for the Zionist movement say that the Zionists accepted this partition plan and the Arabs rejected it, that is not entirely true. Zionist leader David Ben Gurion noted in his diary when Israel was established that when the US had been formed, no document set out its territorial extent, implying that the same was true of Israel. We know that Ben Gurion was an Israeli expansionist who fully intended to annex more land to Israel, and by 1956 he attempted to add the Sinai and would have liked southern Lebanon. So the Zionist acceptance of the UN partition plan did not mean very much beyond a happiness that their initial starting point was much better than their actual land ownership had given them any right to expect.

The third map shows the status quo after the Israeli-Palestinian civil war of 1947-1948. It is not true that the entire Arab League attacked the Jewish community in Palestine or later Israel on behalf of the Palestinians. As Avi Shlaim has shown, Jordan had made an understanding with the Zionist leadership that it would grab the West Bank, and its troops did not mount a campaign in the territory awarded to Israel by the UN. Egypt grabbed Gaza and then tried to grab the Negev Desert, with a few thousand badly trained and equipped troops, but was defeated by the nascent Israeli army. Few other Arab states sent any significant number of troops. The total number of troops on the Arab side actually on the ground was about equal to those of the Zionist forces, and the Zionists had more esprit de corps and better weaponry.

The final map shows the situation today, which springs from the Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank in 1967 and then the decision of the Israelis to colonize the West Bank intensively (a process that is illegal in the law of war concerning occupied populations).

There is nothing inaccurate about the maps at all, historically. Goldberg maintained that the Palestinians original sin was rejecting the 1947 UN partition plan. But since Ben Gurion and other expansionists went on to grab more territory later in history, it is not clear that the Palestinians could have avoided being occupied even if they had given away willingly so much of their country in 1947.

The first original sin was the contradictory and feckless pledge by the British to sponsor Jewish immigration into their Mandate in Palestine, which they wickedly and fantastically promised would never inconvenience the Palestinians in any way. It was the same kind of original sin as the French policy of sponsoring a million colons in French Algeria, or the French attempt to create a Christian-dominated Lebanon where the Christians would be privileged by French policy.

The second original sin was the refusal of the United States to allow Jews to immigrate in the 1930s and early 1940s, which forced them to go to Palestine to escape the monstrous, mass-murdering Nazis.

The map attracted so much ire and controversy not because it is inaccurate but because it clearly shows what has been done to the Palestinians, which the League of Nations had recognized as not far from achieving statehood in its Covenant. Their statehood and their territory has been taken from them, and they have been left stateless, without citizenship and therefore without basic civil and human rights.

The map makes it easy to see this process. The map had to be stigmatized and made taboo. But even if that marginalization of an image could be accomplished, the squalid reality of Palestinian statelessness would remain, and the children of Gaza would still be being malnourished by the deliberate Israeli policy of blockading civilians. The map just points to a powerful reality; banishing the map does not change that reality.
CopAur To Host Virtual Conference On Kinsley Mountain Developments

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2023) - CopAur Minerals Inc. (TSXV: CPAU) (OTCQB: COPAF) ("CopAur" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has finalized plans for an upcoming 3,000 metre (m) combined reverse circulation (RC) and diamond core drilling program at the Company's flagship Kinsley Mountain Gold Project (the "Kinsley Mountain Project" or "Kinsley Mountain") in Elko County, Nevada.

CEO Jeremy Yaseniuk stated, "The last drill program completed in 2020 yielded new surface oxide gold discoveries at Secret Spot and some of the highest grade near surface oxide gold ever intersected on the Project at Main Pit North, located only 75 metres outside our current resource pit shell. These have never been followed up on until now. Through execution of our planned 2023 drilling, we see a path forward to the expansion of near surface oxide gold resources, the potential for new near-mine discoveries through the testing of IP-geophysical anomalies, and continued demonstration of the quality of our high-grade gold Western Flank Zone gold resource via targeted infill drilling."

Kinsley Project hosts current mineral resources comprising the high-grade sulphide Western Flank Zone and near surface oxide of 418,000 indicated ounces gold at 2.63 grams-per-tonne (g/t) gold, and 117,000 inferred ounces gold at 1.51 g/t gold1. Indicated resources are inclusive of 302,000 ounces averaging 6.11 g/t gold hosted within the Secret Canyon Shale at the Western Flank Zone. The Kinsley Project was an historical past producer that yielded 138,000 ounces of near surface open pit oxide gold between 1995-1999 (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Kinsley Mountain Gold Project Cross Section Through Mine Trend (Looking northeast)

The 2023 Kinsley Mountain drill program will comprise up to 2,300 metres of RC and 1,200 m of diamond drilling comprising resource infill drilling of the high-grade gold Western Flank Zone (2 core holes for 700 m), near surface oxide-gold resource expansion and delineation (19 RC holes for 2,300 m) at the Main Pit North Oxide and Secret Spot targets, in addition to testing of new IP/chargeability anomaly located between the WFZ and Upper Ridge Pit area (1 core hole for 500 m, Figure 2).

Figure 2. Kinsley Mountain 2023 Planned RC and Diamond Drilling

The planned 2023 drilling is designed to follow up on the highly successful 49 hole, 18,000 metre 2020 drill campaign the results of which underscored the resource expansion potential that remains at Western Flank Zone, Main Pit North Oxide, and the Secret Spot targets with highlights including2:

Western Flank resource expansion drilling

10.22 g/t gold over 6.1 metres within a broader zone grading 2.63 g/t gold (sulphide) over 38.10 metres in KMR20-017

15.1 g/t gold (sulphide) over 7.6 metres, including 24.1 g/t gold (sulphide) over 4.6 metres lower zone, 9.08 g/t gold (sulphide) over 6.1 metres upper zone in KMR20-026

Main Pit North Oxide Target yields high-grade intercepts 75 m outside the current pit shell

9.83 g/t gold over 7.6 metres high-grade shallow oxide

New surface oxide Discovery at the Secret Spot, including

1.77 g/t gold over 25.3 metres in new surface oxide discovery in KMD20-007B

About CopAur Minerals Inc.

CPAU is an exploration company focused on developing projects within the emerging, mineral-rich mining regions of Nevada and British Columbia. The Company is backed by a dynamic and experienced team of resource professionals advancing multiple holdings across both regions; the Kinsley Mountain Gold Property, the Bolo property and Troy Canyon property all located in Nevada and the Williams gold-copper property located in British Columbia. The Company holds a 79.99% ownership interest in the Kinsley property, a 50.01% ownership interest in the Bolo property, a 100% interest in the Troy Canyon property and a 100% ownership interest in the Williams property.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Kristopher J. Raffle, P.Geo. (BC), Principal and Consultant, and Christopher W. Livingstone, P.Geo. (BC), Senior Geologist, both of APEX Geoscience Ltd. of Edmonton, AB, and "Qualified Persons" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Raffle and Mr. Livingstone have verified the data disclosed which includes a review of the sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information and opinions contained herein.

Events

CopAur would like to invite all our stakeholders to participate in a virtual presentation relating to the developments and plans the Company has on the Kinsley Mountain Gold property. The event will take place Wednesday 17th, 2023 at 10:00 AM/ PST. To tune in please use the Zoom link provided: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85625934747?pwd=ajVENldPVTZxWkFpNWl2akNZaXpyUT09

For more information, please contact:

CopAur Minerals Inc.

Jeremy Yaseniuk, Chief Executive Officer & Director

Tel: +1 (604) 773-1467

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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.

Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain statements that constitute "forward-looking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities law, including without limitation, conducting exploration work on its projects, receipt of assays, other statements relating to the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company and its properties, and other matters.

Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved), and variations of such words, and similar expressions are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statement are necessarily based upon a number of factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performances or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performances or achievements express or implied by such statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of metals, anticipated costs and the ability to achieve goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, and that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Company's planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual events, level of activity, performance or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: (i) risks related to gold and other commodity price fluctuations; (ii) risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of exploration results; (iii) risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; (iv) that resource exploration and development is a speculative business; (v) that the Company may lose or abandon its property interests or may fail to receive necessary licences and permits; (vi) that environmental laws and regulations may become more onerous; (vii) that the Company may not be able to raise additional funds when necessary; (viii) the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; (ix) exploration and development risks, including risks related to accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in exploration and development; (x) competition; (xi) the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of geologic reports or studies; (xii) the uncertainty of profitability based upon the Company's history of losses; (xiii) risks related to environmental regulation and liability; (xiv) risks associated with failure to maintain community acceptance, agreements and permissions (generally referred to as "social licence"); (xv) risks relating to obtaining and maintaining all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations relating to the continued exploration and development of the Company's projects; (xvi) risks related to the outcome of legal actions; (xvii) political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; (xix) risks related to current global financial conditions; and (xx) other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business strategy. These risks, as well as others, could cause actual results and events to vary significantly.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, the loss of key directors, employees, advisors or consultants, adverse weather conditions, increase in costs, equipment failures, government regulations and policies, litigation, exchange rate fluctuations, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, decrease in the price of gold and other metals, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations and fees charged by service providers. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date hereof and 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 expressly required by applicable securities legislation.

1 Technical Report on the Kinsley Project, Elko County, Nevada, U.S.A., dated June 21, 2021, with an effective date of May 5, 2021, and prepared by Michael M. Gustin and Gary L. Simmons, and filed under New Placer Dome Gold Corp.'s issuer profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

2 True widths of the mineralized intervals are interpreted to be between 60-90% of the reported lengths.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Juggernaut Exploration Ltd. (TSX-V: JUGR) (OTCQB: JUGRF) (FSE: 4JE) (the Company or Juggernaut) further to its May 12th, 2023 news release, Juggernaut is pleased to report that it has received TSX Venture Exchange approval to close its non-brokered private placement financing (the Financing) for aggregate gross proceeds of $3,040,000. The use of funds from this financing will be to drill ~6000 meters on Juggernauts 100% controlled Midas, Empire and Bingo properties targeting prolific high grade Gold and Copper at surface.

The Company has issued 19,000,000 $0.16 Flow-Through Units (FT Units), each FT Unit consisting of 1 flow-through common share of the Company, and 1 common share purchase warrant exercisable for an additional common share at $0.20 for two years from the date of issuance, for total gross proceeds of $3,040,000.

In connection with the financing the Company has paid the following finders fees in cash and broker warrants:

West Harbour Capital - $32,400 cash, 324,000 non-transferable broker warrants

Echelon Wealth Partners - $1,800 cash, 18,000 non-transferable broker warrants

All securities issued pursuant to this financing will be subject to a four-month plus one-day hold.

About Juggernaut Exploration Ltd.

Juggernaut Exploration Ltd. is a precious metals project generator in the geopolitically stable jurisdiction of Canada, focused on the prolific geologic setting of northwestern British Columbia encompassing the Golden Triangle.

View Juggernaut videos by Clicking Here.

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 STATEMENT

Certain disclosure in this release may constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties relating to Juggernauts operations that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements, including its ability to complete the contemplated private placement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements.
VACAVILLE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Athena Gold Corporation (OTCQB:AHNR) (CSE:ATHA) ("Athena" or the "Company") is pleased to present its 2023 exploration plans at its 100% owned Excelsior Springs Project ("Project") located approximately 45 miles southwest of Goldfield in Esmeralda County, Nevada.

Our initial 2023 RC drill program of approximately 1,500 meters will be focused on expanding the newly discovered shallow high-grade gold in the Western Slope zone with 30 meter incremental step-outs on the indicated strike both east and west. These angle holes will be drilled due south parallel with our discovery hole DB-23.

Figure 1. Map depicting discovery holes DB-23, 22-01 and 22-02 shown with proposed step-out Drill Pad locations.

Athena completed two RC drill programs in 2022 and intersected shallow high-grade oxide gold intervals which now comprise the Western Slope Zone. A review of our 2022 RC drill highlights is summarized below.

2022 RC Drill Program Highlights

DB-23: Intercepted a 33.5 meter intercept of 5.15 g/t Au and 8.9 g/t Ag, including a 16.7- meter intercept of 10.03 g/t Au and 17.3 g/t Ag, and a 10.6 meter intercept of 15.3 g/t Au and 26.5 g/t Ag.

DH 22-01: Intercepted 6.05 g/t Au and 17.4 g/t Ag over 27.4 meters starting at 39.5 meters, including 10.2 g/t Ag and 30.8 g/t Ag over 10.7meters. A deeper zone starting at 77.7 meters intercepted 4.97 g/t Au and 14.4 g/t Ag over 13.7 meters.

DH 22-02: Intercepted 4.49 g/t Au and 27.3 g/t Ag over 15.2 meters starting at 41.1 meters, including 7.29 g/t Au and 44.2 g/t Ag over 9.1 meters. A deeper zone starting at 68.6 meters intercepted 1.20 g/t Au and 7.7 g/t Ag over 7.6 meters.

Figure 2. A N-S Cross Section that shows all the holes within 20 meters east and west of the section line 446,830 meters east of the discovery zone.

It is important to note that DB-23, 22-01 and 22-02 all intercepted the high-grade gold mineralization at shallow depths, beginning 30 meters of the ground surface. True widths of the intercepts are not known. These holes were all drilled in 2022 and yielded the best GT results in the history of the Excelsior Springs project with over 100 RC holes drilled over the last 50 years.

Our recent review of all available data has confirmed the West Slope zone remains open and untested both east, west and at depth and the objective of our current program is to examine strike and potential dip continuity of the upper high-grade zone.

Another high-priority target for this program exists 300 meters east-south-east of the West Slope where a historic RC hole GE-14 intersected 24.3 meters at 1.09 g/t Au and 0.54 g/t Ag beginning 9.1 meters below the surface.

Follow up Core and/or RC drill programs are contemplated for later in 2023 after analysis of the results from this initial 2023 program.

John Power, President and CEO of Athena commented "Our 2023 Program is intended to better delineate and expand known mineralization along strike at the Western Slope zone and further substantiate the Project as a regional-scale, intrusion-related, gold-bearing, hydrothermal system. We also hope to further understand the geology and structure of the multiple, large, flat plunging shoots of oxidized gold mineralization encountered in our 2022 drill programs."

Applicable permitting has been completed and our initial 2023 drill program is expected to commence in early June 2023 subject to final confirmation from our drill contractor. The program's drill footage and number of RC holes will be finalized prior to the start of the drill campaign.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Procedures implemented during Phases 01 and 02 will be continued during Phase 03 to assure Quality Assurance Quality Control (QAQC). All drilling will be performed using reverse circulation methods with samples collected at 5-foot intervals. Representative sample splits will be securely stored for shipment, with chain of custody documentation through delivery to American Assay Laboratories, an independent ISO-certified laboratory in Reno, Nevada. Mineralized commercial reference standards and coarse blank standards will be inserted every 20th sample in sequence to assure acceptable levels of confidence of the drill hole assays. When laboratory reports of the assays are received, QAQC protocols will be immediately augmented to ensure dependability of the drill hole assays.

As the Excelsior Springs Project advances, additional QAQC measures will be implemented including selected duplicate check assaying on pulps and coarse rejects at a second accredited assay laboratory. All results will be analyzed for consistency.

Qualified Person

Donald G. Strachan, Certified Professional Geologist (CPG #10376 AIPG), is a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis of this press release, and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Strachan is independent of the Company and was responsible for the site management and technical aspects of the Program.

About Athena Gold Corporation

Athena is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets. Its objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to conduct additional exploration drilling and studies on the Project.

For further information about Athena Gold Corporation and our Excelsior Springs Gold project, please visit www.athenagoldcorp.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

John Power

Chief Executive Officer and President

Contacts:

Jason Libenson

President and CCO

Castlewood Capital Corporation

1(647)-534-9884

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

John Power

Phone: John Power, 707-291-6198

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cautionary Statement to U.S. Investors

This press release references NI 43-101, which differs from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects.

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") permits mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can legally extract or produce. Pursuant to SEC Industry Guide 7 under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a "final" or "bankable" feasibility study is required to report reserves. Currently Athena has not delineated "reserves" on any of its properties. Athena cannot be certain that any deposits at its properties will ever be confirmed or converted into SEC Industry Guide 7 or any successor rule or regulation compliant "reserves". Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the historic Buster Mine gold zone will ever be confirmed or converted into reserves or that it can be economically or legally extracted.

The SEC has adopted amendments to its disclosure rules to modernize the mineral property disclosure requirements for issuers whose securities are registered with the SEC under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These amendments became effective February 25, 2019, with compliance required for the first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021, and historical property disclosure requirements for mining registrants that were included in SEC Industry Guide 7, which was rescinded from and after such date and replaced with disclosure requirements known as S-K 1300.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding future exploration plans and the completion of a phase 2 drill program at the Project, future results from exploration, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "potential", "scheduled", or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this press release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that there will be investor interest in future financings, market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration and development of the Company's projects in a timely manner, QAQC procedures at the Project were followed, the availability of financing on suitable terms for the exploration and development of the Company's projects and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.

The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities, the estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the inability of the Company to obtain the necessary financing required to conduct its business and affairs, as currently contemplated, the timing and amount of estimated future production, the costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, requirements for additional capital, future prices of precious metals, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, lack of investor interest in future financings, accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19, including the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations, including of the Canadian Securities Exchange, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and other factors and risks that are discussed in the Company's periodic filings with the SEC and disclosed in the final long form prospectus of the Company dated August 31, 2021.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this press release or incorporated by reference herein.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Lahontan Gold Corp (TSXV:LG)(OTCQB:LGCXF) (the "Company" or "Lahontan") is pleased to announce that it has signed a binding term sheet (the "Term Sheet") with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Emergent Metals Corp (collectively "Emergent") to acquire the advanced West Santa Fe gold-silver exploration project ("West Santa Fe"; also known as Mindora), located only 15 km West of Lahontan's Flagship asset, the Santa Fe Mine, in Nevada's prolific Walker Lane. West Santa Fe hosts an oxidized gold-silver mineralized system in a geologic setting nearly identical to Santa Fe. Previous exploration drilling at West Santa Fe totals over 13,000 metres in 171 drill holes; only five holes are deeper than 165 metres. Modeling of drill hole data by Lahontan geologists outlines a shallow gold and silver system with a sufficient volume to host 0.5 to 1.0M ounces of oxidized gold and silver mineralization in an open-pit mining configuration[1].

The Term Sheet requires Lahontan to make payments totalling US$1.8M over a seven-year period to Emergent, back-end loaded (please see details of the Term Sheet below) to exercise an option to acquire a 100% interest in the 11.8 square kilometre property. The option payments (excepting the $10,000 signing payment) can be made in a combination of cash and shares at Lahontan's discretion. In addition, the Company will commit to exploration expenditures totalling US$1.4M over the same seven-year period, these expenditures that should be sufficient to define an initial mineral resource estimate for West Santa Fe. The initial option payments and work commitments can be easily accommodated by Lahontan's current cash position and budget.

Kimberly Ann, Lahontan Founder, CEO, President, and Director commented: "The acquisition of West Santa Fe will be a significant milestone for Lahontan: A "bolt-on" asset which is accretive to the Santa Fe Mine that has the potential to add significant oxide gold and silver resource ounces for the Company. Back-end loaded, the Term Sheet allows Lahontan to conduct a definitive exploration program on the property with low monetary commitment by Lahontan, yet provides exposure to considerable resource upside. Combined with the continued organic growth of gold and silver resources at the Santa Fe Mine through drilling, West Santa Fe can help Lahontan accelerate the value-creation process for its shareholders by controlling multiple Top-Shelf precious metal exploration and mine development projects in a Tier One mining jurisdiction."

Geology and Mineral Potential of West Santa Fe

Gold and silver mineralization at West Santa Fe occurs as a sediment-hosted epithermal Au-Ag system hosted by Triassic age carbonate and volcanic rocks, a setting very similar to the Santa Fe Mine. Shallow gold and silver mineralization are localized to East-Northeast trending faults and offset by Northwest striking faults, a classic Walker Lane setting. In addition to over 13,000 metres of drilling, previous exploration activity at West Santa Fe includes: Geophysical studies including IP and aerial magnetic surveys, geochemical surveys including over 1,250 soil samples, and detailed geologic mapping.

[1] The exploration target at West Santa Fe is conceptual in nature and is based on the size of the known mineralized zones, and gold and silver grades from historical drilling. The qualified person has not completed sufficient work to verify the historical information on West Santa Fe and this information should not be relied on.

Modeling of the historical drill hole data by Lahontan geologists defines a continuous zone of gold and silver mineralization which extends from the surface down-rake to the East-Northeast. Utilizing a 0.31 g/t gold mineralized shell defined by historical drill hole data, outlines a large continuously mineralized area at West Santa Fe that has the potential to host a significant gold and silver resource1 (please see diagram below). Additional exploration drilling will be needed to define mineral resources and to validate the historical drill hole data base.

Simple representation of drill holes and gold-silver mineral potential at West Santa Fe. Cross section looks West-Southwest with South-Southwest to the left and North-Northeast to the right. Grade shell is 0.31 g/t Au and is continuous in the mineralized zones. Within the core of the minerlaized area, grades exceed 1.5 g/t gold. Minerlization extends down-dip to the Northeast for several hundred metres where it remains open at depth and relatively shallow due to topography (please note scale).

Location of the West Santa Fe Project, Mineral County, Nevada. Lahontan's land holdings in the Walker Lane now total 49 square kilometres.

Details of the Binding Term Sheet

The Term Sheet defines the terms and conditions under which Lahontan and Emergent will enter into a definitive agreement (the "Agreement"), pursuant to which the Company will be granted an option (the "Option") to acquire a 100% interest in West Santa Fe from a 100% owned subsidiary of Emergent. To exercise the Option in full, the Company must make cash payments in the aggregate amount of US$1.8 million and incur US$1.4 million in expenditures on West Santa Fe over a seven-year period, as follows:

The Company shall make the following cash payments:

Timing Amount ($US) Upon Signing of the Term Sheet $10,000 First Anniversary of signing of the Agreement* $20,000 Second Anniversary of signing of the Agreement * $25,000 Third Anniversary of signing of the Agreement* $25,000 Fourth Anniversary of signing of the Agreement* $30,000 Fifth Anniversary of signing of the Agreement* $30,000 Sixth Anniversary of signing of the Agreement* $40,000 Seventh Anniversary of signing of the Agreement* $1,620,000 Total $1,800,000

*50% of these payments may be made in common shares of Lahontan Gold Corp. at Lahontan's discretion. Lahontan may accelerate these payments by paying the remaining balance of the purchase price at any time during the option period.

The Company shall incur the following expenditures on West Santa Fe:

Timing Amount ($US) December 31, 2024 $150,000 December 31, 2025 $150,000 December 31, 2026 $200,000 December 31, 2027 $200,000 December 31, 2028 $200,000 December 31, 2029 $250,000 Seventh Anniversary of signing of the Agreement $250,000 Total $1,400,000

Note:

Work Commitments include, but are not limited to, geological, geochemical, and geophysical studies, exploration drilling and support activities, reasonable management costs associated with the proceeding items, any payments associated with maintaining the underlying agreements in good standing including BLM and County fees. Any excess expenditures, in any year, under the Work Commitments scheduled above can be credited against subsequent Work Commitment expenditures in a future year.

Upon exercise of the Option, Emergent shall transfer 100% of its interest in the mineral claims to Lahontan within 30 days. As part of the transfer, Lahontan will grant a 1% NSR royalty in favor of Emergent over the claims it acquired from Nevada Sunrise LLC (unpatented lode mining claims Mind 1 through Mind 12). In addition, Lahontan will grant a 1.5% NSR in favor of Emigrant for any additional claims not currently having a NSR royalty. Lahontan will have the right to purchase 50% of this 1.5% NSR royalty for US$200,000 prior to the fifth anniversary of signing of the Agreement or for US$500,000 after the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Agreement. The maximum NSR royalty on any portion of the West Santa Fe Project will be 1.5%.

The completion of the transaction contemplated by the Term Sheet remains subject to a forty-five (45) day due diligence period, approval of the board of directors of the Company, the board of directors of Emergent, the approval of all regulatory authorities and other approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Qualified Persons Review

The technical and scientific information contained within this news release have been reviewed and approved by Quentin J. Browne, MSc., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 policy. The Qualified Person has not completed sufficient work to verify the historical information on West Santa Fe, the Company believes the historical resource estimates to be both relevant and reliable. The information provides an indication of the exploration potential of West Santa Fe but may not be representative of expected results.

About Lahontan Gold Corp.

Lahontan Gold Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company that holds, through its US subsidiaries, three top-tier gold and silver exploration properties in the Walker Lane of mining friendly Nevada. Lahontan's flagship property, the 19 km2 Santa Fe Mine, had past production of 345,000 ounces of gold and 711,000 ounces of silver between 1988 and 1995 from open pit mines utilizing heap-leach processing (Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, 1995). The Santa Fe Mine has an Indicated Mineral Resource of 1,112,000 oz Au Eq (grading 1.14 g/t Au Eq) and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 544,000 oz Au Eq (grading 1.00 g/t Au Eq), all pit constrained (Au Eq is inclusive of recovery, please see Santa Fe Project Technical Report*). The Company will continue to aggressively explore Santa Fe during 2023 and begin the process of evaluating development scenarios to bring the Santa Fe Mine back into production. Quentin J. Browne, P.Geo., Consulting Geologist to Lahontan Gold Corp., is the Qualified Person for the Company and approved the technical content of this news release. For more information, please visit our website: www.lahontangoldcorp.com

* Please see the Santa Fe Project Technical Report, Authors: Trevor Rabb and Darcy Baker, P. Geos. Effective Date: December 7, 2022, Report Date: March 2, 2023. The Technical Report is available on the Company's website and SEDAR.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Kimberly Ann

Founder, CEO, President, and Director

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Lahontan Gold Corp.

Kimberly Ann

Founder, Chief Executive Officer, President, Director

Phone: 1-530-414-4400

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.lahontangoldcorp.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the TSXV. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com
TORONTO / May 15, 2023 / Business Wire / Lithium Royalty Corp. (TSX: LIRC) is pleased to report its first quarter results for 2023. "On the back of our recent IPO transaction, the Company has continued to add what we believe are accretive royalties to the portfolio, which now covers 32 high grade, low cost, low technical risk royalties. LRC has completed three transactions since the IPO and continues to see a strong pipeline of opportunities for inorganic growth. In addition, our project partners have continued to de-risk, accelerate, and grow their operations, which continues to add value for LRC shareholders. stated LRCs CEO, Ernie Ortiz.

Financial Highlights

For the three months ended March 31, 2023 2022 Royalty Income $708 $475 Depletion (238) (271) Gross profit 470 204

Royalty income increased period over period by $233 as a result of recording revenue for the first time from the Companys second producing asset.

LRC Portfolio Growth

Lithium Royalty Corp. has grown its portfolio to a total of 32 royalties to-date with 5 acquisitions completed in 2023 and 3 since the initial public offering of LRC.

Winsome Resources Adina Royalty: On January 31, 2023, LRC acquired a pre-existing 2.0% NSR royalty on the Adina project in Quebec, Canada for a purchase price of CAD $2.5 million.

Ganfeng Lithium Mariana Royalty: On February 01, 2023, we closed the previously announced Mariana transaction where we acquired a 0.5% GOR royalty on the project under construction by Ganfeng Lithium.

Allkem James Bay Royalty: On March 16, 2023, LRC obtained a 1.5% NSR royalty on the James Bay lithium project in Quebec, Canada, covering the eastern portion of the mineral resource for a purchase price of USD $1.8 million.

Atlas Lithium Das Neves Royalty: On May 02, 2023, LRC acquired a 3.0% GOR royalty on the Das Neves project owned 100% by Atlas Lithium in Minas Gerais, Brazil for a purchase price of USD $20 million. LRC also acquired an option for a 3.0% GOR royalty on other non-associated and non-contiguous claims for a period of 12 months, with an option exercise price of USD $5 million.

Power Metals Case Lake Royalty: On May 04, 2023, LRC secured a 2.0% GOR royalty on the Case Lake project developed by Power Metals in Ontario, Canada for a purchase price of CAD $1.5 million.

LRC Royalty Activity Updates

ACME Lithium Shatford Lake Royalty: On April 26, 2023, ACME announced the completion of their initial drill program. Eight holes were completed for a total of 3,280 meters of drilling. Assay results are expected to be released in the coming weeks1.

Delta Lithium Yinnetharra Royalty: On April 24, 2023, Delta Lithium (formerly Red Dirt Metals) announced that it had completed 18,560 meters of drilling at Yinnetharra in Q1 2023. Drill intercepts included 55.6 meters at 1.12% and 35.2 meters at 1.0%2. The company reported that geologists have identified lithium bearing pegmatites from surface to depths greater than 350 metres in what the company believes is comparable to other areas of global scale endowments of lithium in Western Australia. As of April 24th, there were 4,322 Yinnetharra samples at the laboratory pending analysis. The company estimated the project hosts greater than 50 mapped pegmatites.

Green Technology Metals Root Lake Royalty: On April 19, 2023, Green Technology Metals (GT1) announced a maiden Mineral Resource estimate of 4.5 million tonnes inferred mineral resource at 1.01% Li 2 O over the McCombe deposit on the Root Lake project3. GT1 commented that they have commenced drilling at two additional target areas, Morrison and Root Bay, which continue to intercept significant spodumene mineralisation.

Lithium Springs: On April 18, 2023, LRC extended its option with Lithium Springs to acquire a 1.5% GOR royalty. The option is exercisable at a price of AUD $900,000 at any time before April 30, 2024 or until Lithium Springs completes a listing on the ASX.

Core Lithium Finniss Royalty: On April 18, 2023, Core Lithium announced an increase of their Mineral Resource. Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource increased 46% from 13.3 million tonnes to 19.4 million tonnes at 1.37% Li 2 O4. Core commented that the results show significant potential for mine life extension at Finniss and work is now underway to complete an updated Ore Reserve Estimate. Core Lithium has allocated AUD $25 million to exploration in 2023, nearly double the 2022 budget.

Sigma Resources Grota do Cirilo Royalty: On April 17, 2023, Sigma Lithium announced that it had successfully achieved first production of spodumene concentrate, transitioning itself from construction phase into production at the Grota do Cirilo lithium project in Minas Gerais, Brazil5. Sigma disclosed that it is now turning its attention to ramping up to full production capacity, which the company expects to achieve by July 2023.

Sayona Mining Moblan Royalty: On April 17, 2023, Sayona Mining announced a major resource expansion at the Moblan lithium project in Quebec, Canada. The resource has grown from 12.0 million tonnes at 1.4% Li 2 O Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource with a 0.3% cut-off grade, to 49.9 million tonnes at 1.2% Li 2 O Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource with a 0.25% cut-off grade6. Sayona highlighted the potential for higher production tonnage given the new resource, targeting to release an updated Pre-Feasibility Study in May 2023. Sayona Mining is planning for an additional 60,000 meters of drilling at Moblan to further delineate the resource.

Allkem Mt Cattlin Royalty: On April 17, 2023, Allkem announced an update on the Mt. Cattlin project to 11.5 million tonnes Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource at 1.3% Li 2 O with a 0.4% cut-off grade. The updated Mineral Resource reflects higher lithium grades. Allkem notes that this supports an upcoming Reserve update and life of mine extension review. The company expects initial results for the Reserve update by mid-20237.

Green Technology Metals Seymour Lake Royalty: On April 12, 2023, Green Technology Metals provided a project update on the Seymour Lake project in Ontario, Canada. Multiple activities are underway at GT1s flagship project in preparation to move into development stage in 2024, subject to approval and support from Indigenous and community partners. The company is on track and anticipates construction next year with production estimated to begin in 20258.

Grid Metals Donner Lake Royalty: On April 10, 2023, Grid announced the completion of their drill program at Donner Lake. A total of 17,643 meters were drilled which will inform their Mineral Resource estimate, projected to be released by the end of Q2 20239.

Winsome Resources Adina Royalty: On April 3, 2023, Winsome Resources announced that lithium mineralisation was confirmed over a 3 km trend at Adina10. The company commented that mineralisation remains open to the east and west.

Morella Corp Mallina Royalty: On March 13, 2023, Morella announced approvals for their Q2 2023 drill program which will follow up on the initial campaign that intersected 16.4 meters at 1.24% Li 2 O, with 40 holes planned for around 3,000 meters11.

Acquisition Activity in 2022 and 2023

Operator Royalty % Acquisition Date Power Metals Corp. Case Lake  Ontario, Canada 2.0% GOR12 May 2023 Atlas Lithium Das Neves  Mina Gerais, Brazil 3.0% GOR May 2023 Allkem Limited James Bay  Quebec, Canada 1.5% NSR13 March 2023 Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd. Mariana  Salta, Argentina 0.5% NSR14 February 2023 Winsome Resources Ltd. Adina  Quebec, Canada 2.0% NSR January 2023 Arvo Lithium Ltd. Kaustinen & Ilmajoki  Finland 1.25% GOR December 2022 Larvotto Resources Ltd. Eyre  Western Australia 1.0% GOR October 2022 Green Technology Metals Seymour Lake  Ontario, Canada Root Lake  Ontario, Canada Wisa Lake  Ontario, Canada 1.0% GOR September 2022 Morella Corp. Tabba Tabba  Western Australia Mt Edon/Mt Edon West  Western Australia 1.25% GOR August 2022 Delta Lithium Limited Yinnetharra  Western Australia 1.0% GOR May 2022 ACME Lithium Inc. Shatford & Cat  Euclid Lake  Manitoba, Canada 2.0% GOR March 2022 Noram Lithium Corp. Zeus  Nevada, USA 1.0% GOR February 2022 Grid Metals Corp. Donner Lake  Manitoba, Canada Campus Creek  Ontario, Canada 2.0% GOR January 2022

Important Dates & Events

May 25, 2023  Lithium Royalty Corp participates at National Bank Conference

August 14, 2023  Lithium Royalty Corp Releases Q2 Results

August 15, 2023  Lithium Royalty Corp Earnings Call

Shareholder Information

The Consolidated Financial Statements and Managements Discussion can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

For access to Lithium Royalty Corps Investor Presentation, please click here.

About Lithium Royalty Corp.

LRC is a lithium-focused royalty company with a globally diversified portfolio of 32 high-grade revenue royalties on mineral properties around the world that supply and are expected to supply raw materials to support the electrification of transportation and decarbonization of the global economy. Our portfolio is focused on high-grade and low-cost mineral projects that are primarily located in Australia, Canada, South America and the United States. LRC is a signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investment; the integration of ESG factors and sustainable mining are considerations in our investment analysis and royalty acquisitions.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future events or future performance, managements expectations regarding LRCs growth, results of operations, estimated future revenues, performance guidance, carrying value of assets and requirements for additional capital, mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates, production estimates, production costs and revenue, future demand for and prices of commodities, expected mining sequences, business prospects and opportunities, the performance and plans of third party operators and the expected exposure for current and future assessments and available remedies. In addition, statements relating to resources and reserves and mine life are forward-looking statements, as they involve implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, and no assurance can be given that the estimates and assumptions are accurate and that such resources and reserves or mine life will be realized. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects, is expected, budgets, potential for, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, predicts, projects, intends, targets, aims, anticipates or believes or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions may, could, should, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of LRC to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is based on managements beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. The forward-looking statements herein are made as of the date of this press release only and LRC does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

A number of factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement, including, without limitation: fluctuations in the prices of the primary commodities that drive royalty revenue (including various lithium products); fluctuations in the value of the Canadian and Australian dollar and any other currency in which revenue is generated, relative to the U.S. dollar; changes in national and local government legislation, including permitting and licensing regimes and taxation policies and the enforcement thereof; the adoption of a global minimum tax on corporations; regulatory, political or economic developments in any of the countries where properties in which LRC holds a royalty or other interest are located or through which they are held; risks related to the operators of the properties in which LRC holds a royalty or other interest, including changes in the ownership and control of such operators; relinquishment or sale of mineral properties; influence of macroeconomic developments; business opportunities that become available to, or are pursued by LRC; reduced access to debt and equity capital; litigation; title, permit or license disputes related to interests on any of the properties in which LRC holds a royalty or other interest; whether or not the Company is determined to have passive foreign investment company (PFIC) status as defined in Section 1297 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; excessive cost escalation as well as development, permitting, infrastructure, operating or technical difficulties on any of the properties in which LRC holds a royalty or other interest; actual mineral content may differ from the resources and reserves contained in technical reports; rate and timing of production differences from resource estimates, other technical reports and mine plans; risks and hazards associated with the business of development and mining on any of the properties in which LRC holds a royalty or other interest, including, but not limited to unusual or unexpected geological and metallurgical conditions, slope failures or cave-ins, sinkholes, flooding and other natural disasters, terrorism, civil unrest or an outbreak of contagious disease; the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic; and the integration of acquired assets. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including, without limitation: the ongoing operation of the properties in which LRC holds a royalty or other interest by the owners or operators of such properties in a manner consistent with past practice; the accuracy of public statements and disclosures made by the owners or operators of such underlying properties; no material adverse change in the market price of the commodities (including various lithium products) that underlie the asset portfolio; the Companys ongoing income and assets relating to determination of its PFIC status; no material changes to existing tax treatment; the expected application of tax laws and regulations by taxation authorities; no adverse development in respect of any significant property in which LRC holds a royalty or other interest; the accuracy of publicly disclosed expectations for the development of underlying properties that are not yet in production; integration of acquired assets; and the absence of any other factors that could cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. However, 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. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. LRC cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

For additional information with respect to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, please refer to LRCs most recent Annual Information Form dated March 31, 2023 and filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities on www.sedar.com. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described under Risk Factors in the Annual Information Form, and in particular risks summarized under the Risks Related to Mining Operations heading.

_______________________

1Source: Acme Lithium: https://acmelithium.com/2023/04/26/36792/ 2Source: Investi https://www.investi.com.au/api/announcements/rdt/9b0a2bf8-a56.pdf 3Source: Green Technology Metals: https://wcsecure.weblink.com.au/pdf/GT1/02655781.pdf 4Source: Core Lithium: https://wcsecure.weblink.com.au/pdf/CXO/02655281.pdf 5Source: Sigma Lithium: https://sigmalithiumresources.gcs-web.com/static-files/ffba44f2-8d64-430e-b1e1-636117c29ad3 6Source: Sayona Mining: https://wcsecure.weblink.com.au/pdf/SYA/02654830.pdf 7Source: Financial Post: https://financialpost.com/globe-newswire/mt-cattlin-resource-update-with-higher-grade 8 Source: Green Technology Metals: https://wcsecure.weblink.com.au/pdf/GT1/02653411.pdf 9 Source: Grid Metals: https://gridmetalscorp.com/news/grid-metals-corp-completes-resource-drilling-at-donner-lake-lithium-property/ 10 Source: Winsome Resources: https://wcsecure.weblink.com.au/pdf/WR1/02650507.pdf 11 Source: Morella Corp: https://wcsecure.weblink.com.au/pdf/1MC/02642478.pdf 12Gross Overriding Revenue (GOR) royalties are based on the total revenue stream from the sale of production from a property with few, if any, deductions. 13Net Smelter Return (NSR) royalties are based on the value of production or net proceeds received by the operator from the smelter or refinery that treats the operators mineral production. These proceeds are usually subject to deductions or charges for transportation, insurance, smelting and refining costs as set out in the royalty agreement, but may also be subject to other deductions or charges. 14In February 2023, LRC completed its acquisition of a one-quarter interest in an existing 2.0% NSR royalty on the Mariana lithium brine project in Salta, Argentina operated by Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd.

(in thousands of U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Anfield Energy Inc. (TSX.V: AEC; OTCQB: ANLDF; FRANKFURT: 0AD) (Anfield or the Company), following on from its March 30, 2023 news release, is pleased to announce that it has filed its preliminary economic assessment (PEA) titled, The Shootaring Canyon Mill and Velvet-Wood and Slick Rock Uranium Projects, Preliminary Economic Assessment on SEDAR. The independent PEA was prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Highlights include:

The PEA indicates: 1) a pre-tax project internal rate of return (IRR) of 40% and a net present value (NPV) of US$238 million; and 2) a post-tax IRR of 33% and an NPV of $197 million, based on a discount rate of 8% and a uranium price of US$70 per pound, along with a vanadium price of US$12 per pound.





Total weighted-average Direct OPEX (i.e., between Velvet-Wood and Slick Rock) estimated at US$244 per ton of mined and processed material.





The total cost to produce saleable uranium and vanadium products (i.e. Direct OPEX per ton plus CAPEX per ton) is US$290 per ton, compared to an estimated gross value of US$741 per ton (based on a uranium price of US$70 per pound and a vanadium price of US$12 per pound).





Average annual production of approximately 750,000 pounds of uranium and 2.5 million pounds of vanadium per year is estimated over the 15-year mine life.





The combined feed of the Velvet-Wood and Slick Rock mines is designed to meet the existing tonnage capacity at Shootaring of 750 tons per day. Additional tonnage capacity would be available after year 8 of the plan.





Estimated mill-related capital expenditures at Shootaring, including 25% contingency amount for each item, of: 1) US$31.4 million for general upgrades; 2) US$13.4 million to install a modern vanadium circuit; and 3) US$20 million to update the tailings management facility.





Estimated mine-related capital expenditures, including engineering and design, mine facilities, mine equipment, and the reopening of the Velvet decline and the sinking of two production shafts at Slick Rock with a 25% contingency, of: 1) US$15.3 million for Velvet-Wood; and 2) US$27.2 million for Slick Rock.

Anfield CEO Corey Dias, stated, We are pleased to release the final PEA for the combined Velvet-Wood and Slick Rock uranium and vanadium projects. We believe this robust report underscores the true potential of both Velvet-Wood and Slick Rock within Anfields uranium and vanadium production model. Our mine and mill complex continues to take greater shape, and the demonstrated viability of this group of assets confirms our acquisition strategy. We look forward to advancing these assets, and the Shootaring Canyon mill, to reach commercial production

Shootaring Mill

The Shootaring Mill was licensed and constructed by Plateau Resources and operated in 1982. U.S. Energy and Uranium One were also previous owners of the Shootaring Mill. The mill has not been decommissioned and has been under care and maintenance since cessation of operations. The mill license has been maintained and Anfield is currently conducting engineering and design studies for both the refurbishment of the mill and tailings facility in support of converting the license from its status of care and maintenance to operations.

Velvet-Wood

Between 1979 and 1984, Atlas Minerals mined approximately 400,000 tons of ore from the Velvet Deposit at grades of 0.46% U 3 O 8 and 0.64% V 2 O 5 , recovering approximately 4 million pounds of U 3 O 8 and 5 million pounds of V 2 O 5 .

The current mineral resources (PEA) of the combined Velvet and Wood historical mines have been estimated to comprise 4.6 million pounds of eU 3 O 8 , at a grade of 0.29% eU 3 O 8 (measured and indicated resource), and 552,000 pounds of eU 3 O 8 , at a grade of 0.32% U 3 O 8 (inferred resource) with a vanadium-to-uranium ratio of 1.4 to 1.

Surface Stockpiles

In addition to the estimated mineral resource at Velvet-Wood, Anfield controls mineralized stockpiles from past mining at two locations: 1) one stockpile at the Patty Ann mine area near the historic Velvet mine; and 2) several stockpiles near the Shootaring mill. The volumes and uranium content of the stockpiles were estimated from volumetric surveys and sampling conducted by BRS in March, 2015. The PEA includes the stockpiles located near the Shootaring mill only. In total these stockpiles are estimated to contain approximately 77,500 tons of material at an average grade of 0.161% U 3 O 8 and contain approximately 250,000 pounds of uranium.

Slick Rock

Slick Rock is located in the Uravan Uranium Belt region of Colorado. The PEA, 2023 estimates 1.7 million tons containing some 7.7 million pounds eU 3 O 8 , with a vanadium to uranium ratio of 6 to 1.

Project Economics

The PEA provides for a two-year pre-production period. The first years forecasted capital expenditures of approximately US$24 million include initial mill and mine permitting and licensing, an updated mining and reclamation plan, and initiation of mine development. The second years capital expenditures, forecasted at US$88 million (including a 25% contingency), include completion of the construction of mine facilities and purchasing of equipment, and refurbishment of the Shootaring uranium and vanadium mill. Total capital for life of mine is estimated at US$130 million, including sustaining capital.

Total weighted direct operating costs (including mining and handling, haulage and processing, bonding, royalties and taxes) between Velvet-Wood and Slick Rock is estimated at US$244 per ton of mined and processed material. The total direct costs (including direct mine costs and CAPEX cost per ton of processed material) is estimated at US$290 per ton, while the gross value per processed ton of uranium and vanadium at US$70 per pound of uranium and US$12 per pound of vanadium is US$791.

The PEA indicates a pre-tax IRR of 40% at a uranium price of US$70 per pound and US$12 per pound of vanadium. The pre-tax NPV of the project at an 8% discount rate at the aforementioned prices is US$238 million. On a post-tax basis, the resultant IRR is 33% and the NPV is US$197 million.

NI 43-101 Disclosure

This combined PEA completed for Velvet-Wood and Slick Rock, using centralized processing at Shootaring, has been authored by Douglas L. Beahm, P.E., Harold H. Hutson, P.E., P.G., Carl D. Warren, P.E., P.G., of BRS Inc. and Terence (Terry) McNulty, P.E., D. Sc., of T.P. McNulty and Associates Inc. The authors, qualified persons for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101, have reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release.



Results of the PEA represent forward-looking information. This economic assessment is preliminary in nature and it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative, geologically, to have the economic considerations applies to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves as they do not have demonstrated economic viability.

We are also pleased to announce the addition of Ms. Laara Shaffer to Anfields Board, effective May 15, 2023. Ms. Shaffer has served as Anfields Chief Financial Officer since 2017, and has worked as a public company executive administrator for over 30 years. She has previously served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Oranova Resource Corporation and President and Director of Goldstate Corporation, and has served as Corporate Secretary of Copper Reef Mining Corporation and Hi Ho Silver Resources. Finally, she has served as a Director of Madison Energy Corporation, Aquila Energy Corporation, Pro-Tech Ventures Corporation, Euro-Net Investments Ltd., Compass Gold Corporation, Equinox Exploration Corporation, Foran Mining Corporation and Southern Pacific Resource Corporation.

About Anfield

Anfield is a uranium and vanadium development and near-term production company that is committed to becoming a top-tier energy-related fuels supplier by creating value through sustainable, efficient growth in its assets. Anfield is a publicly traded corporation listed on the TSX-Venture Exchange (AEC-V), the OTCQB Marketplace (ANLDF) and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (0AD). Anfield is focused on its conventional asset centre, as summarized below:

Arizona/Utah/Colorado  Shootaring Canyon Mill

A key asset in Anfields portfolio is the Shootaring Canyon Mill in Garfield County, Utah. The Shootaring Canyon Mill is strategically located within one of the historically most prolific uranium production areas in the United States and is one of only three licensed uranium mills in the United States.

Anfields conventional uranium assets consist of mining claims and state leases in southeastern Utah, Colorado, and Arizona, targeting areas where past uranium mining or prospecting occurred. Anfields conventional uranium and vanadium assets include the Slick Rock Project, the Velvet-Wood Project, the Frank M Uranium Project, the West Slope Project, the Long Park Project as well as the Findlay Tank breccia pipe. All conventional uranium assets are situated within a 200-mile radius of the Shootaring Mill.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

ANFIELD ENERGY INC.

Corey Dias, Chief Executive Officer

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.

Contact:

Anfield Energy Inc.

Clive Mostert

Corporate Communications

780-920-5044

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.anfieldenergy.com
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Asante Gold Corporation (CSE:ASE | GSE:ASG | FRANKFURT:1A9 | U.S.OTC:ASGOF) (Asante or the Company) is pleased to announce the filing of an amended technical report entitled "Amended NI 43-101 Technical Report, Chirano Gold Mine, Ghana, West Africa" (the "Amended Technical Report") in accordance with National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) in connection with the Companys Chirano Gold Project (Chirano, the Project, or the Mine), located immediately south of the Companys Bibiani Gold Mine.

The original version of the Technical Report, dated September 30, 2022 (the "Original Technical Report") and prepared by dMb Management Services, BARA Consulting Pty Ltd, Snowden Optiro and GB Independent Consulting (Pty) Ltd., reported Mineral Resources as being inclusive of Mineral Reserves. The correction requires that Mineral Reserves were in fact exclusive and therefore all Measured and Indicated Resources and Mineral Reserve totals may be added to determine the total Chirano Mineral Resources. There are no changes to any material conclusions or recommendations outlined in the Original Technical Report. A copy of the Amended Technical Report is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under Asantes issuer profile.

The Amended Technical Report therefore results in an increase in total Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources from 1.13 Moz to 2.12 Moz broken down as follows:

Underground Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources of 11.05Mt at 1.88 g/t Au (0.669 Moz) exclusive of any Mineral Reserves (Table 1.2)

Open pit Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources of 17.05Mt at 0.85 g/t Au (0.465 Moz) exclusive of any Mineral Reserves (Table 1.3)

Mine Mineral Reserves of 15.760 Mt at 1.95g/t Au (0.990 Moz) (Table 1.4)

Chirano consists of a multi-deposit complex with 11 mineralized deposits currently making up the Mineral Resources contained in the Technical Report. The Chirano gold deposits have been historically mined from both open pit and underground operations since 2005. The Mineral Resources for the Chirano Underground and Chirano Open Pits are constrained by resource optimized shapes and shells based on a US$1,600 gold price.

Table 1-2: Total Exclusive Chirano Underground Mineral Resource as at 31 December 2021

Underground

Operation Classification Mt Au Grade

(g/t) Moz Obra











Measured 0.118 1.82 0.007 Indicated 3.357 1.65 0.179 Measured and Indicated 3.476 1.66 0.186 Inferred 1.788 1.87 0.108 Akwaaba











Measured 1.478 2.06 0.098 Indicated 0.818 1.86 0.049 Measured and Indicated 2.296 1.99 0.147 Inferred 0.223 2.48 0.018 Tano











Measured 1.016 1.83 0.060 Indicated 1.056 1.71 0.058 Measured and Indicated 2.072 1.77 0.118 Inferred 0.646 2.24 0.047 Paboase











Measured 0.086 2.06 0.006 Indicated 0.078 2.19 0.006 Measured and Indicated 0.164 2.13 0.011 Inferred 0.063 1.89 0.004 Akoti











Measured 1.827 2.05 0.120 Indicated 0.294 2.01 0.019 Measured and Indicated 2.121 2.04 0.139 Inferred 0.514 1.89 0.031 Suraw











Measured 0.226 2.36 0.017 Indicated 0.695 2.30 0.052 Measured and Indicated 0.922 2.32 0.069 Inferred 1.558 2.71 0.136 Total Measured Resources

Total Indicated resources



4.751 2.01 0.308 6.299 1.79 0.362 Total Measured and Indicated Resources 11.050 1.88 0.669 Total Inferred Resources 4.791 2.22 0.343

Notes:

Tonnes and ounces have been rounded and this may have resulted in minor discrepancies. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves. The Mineral Resources are reported exclusive of any Mineral Reserves that may be derived from them. 1 troy ounce = 31.1034768g. Akwaaba, Tano, Obra and Suraw were evaluated at resource cut-off grade of 1.14 g/t and Akoti and Paboase undergrounds were evaluated at 1.21 g/t and 1.34 g/t cut-off respectively. A density of 2.75 t/m, 2.30 t/m and 1.56 t/m on fresh, transition and oxidised sediments have been applied respectively. Geological losses and depletions have been applied. Inferred Mineral Resources have a lower level of confidence than that applying to Indicated Mineral Resources and have not been converted to Mineral Reserves. It is reasonably expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration. Akwaaba, Tano, Obra and Suraw were evaluated at resource cut-off grade of 1.14g/t. Akoti and Paboase undergrounds were evaluated at 1.21g/t and 1.34g/t cut-off.

Table 1-3: Total Exclusive Chirano Open Pit Mineral Resource as at 31 December 2021

Open Pit

Operation Classification Mt Au Grade

(g/t) Moz Akoti South











Measured 0.16 0.75 0.004 Indicated 3.02 0.89 0.087 Measured and Indicated 3.17 0.88 0.090 Inferred 0.01 1.32 0.000 Obra











Measured 3.46 0.81 0.090 Indicated 3.24 0.77 0.080 Measured and Indicated 6.70 0.79 0.170 Inferred 0.90 0.67 0.019 Mamnao











Measured 0.42 0.97 0.013 Indicated 4.41 0.90 0.127 Measured and Indicated 4.83 0.90 0.140 Inferred 0.32 0.86 0.009 Kolua











Measured 0.00 0.00 0.000 Indicated 0.16 1.60 0.008 Measured and Indicated 0.16 1.60 0.008 Inferred 0.00 1.26 0.000 Sariehu











Measured 0.42 0.59 0.008 Indicated 1.77 0.85 0.048 Measured and Indicated 2.18 0.80 0.056 Inferred 0.03 0.89 0.001 Total Measured Resources

Total Indicated Resources



4.45 0.80 0.115 12.60 0.86 0.350 Total Measured and Indicated Resources 17.05 0.85 0.465 Total Inferred Resources 1.26 0.73 0.029

Notes:

Tonnes and ounces have been rounded and this may have resulted in minor discrepancies. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves. The Mineral Resources are reported exclusive of any Mineral Reserves that may be derived from them. 1 troy ounce = 31.1034768g. Akoti South, Obra, Mamnao, Kolua, Sariehu open pits were evaluated at cut-off 0.24, 0.20, 0.31, 0.45 and 0.22 cut-offs respectively. A density of 2.75 t/m, 2.30 t/m and 1.56 t/m on fresh, transition and oxidised sediments have been applied respectively. Geological losses and depletions have been applied. Inferred Mineral Resources have a lower level of confidence than that applying to Indicated Mineral Resources and have not been converted to Mineral Reserves. It is reasonably expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration.

Table 1-4: Chirano Gold Mine Mineral Reserves

Reserve Classification Tonnes

(000s) Au Grade

(g/t) Au Ounces

(000s) Proven 4,777.20 1.63 250.5 Stockpile(s) 822.7 0.79 20.9 Subtotal 5,600.00 1.51 271.4 Probable 10,159.90 2.2 718.3 Total 15,759.80 1.95 989.7

All technical information contained in this news release in respect of Chirano is qualified in its entirety by the complete text of the Amended Technical Report, including all qualifications, assumptions, exclusions and risks provided therein. The Amended Technical Report is intended to be read as a whole and sections should not be read or relied upon out of context.

Qualified Person Statement

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release in respect of Chirano has been reviewed and approved by the Qualified Persons (as defined under NI 43-101) and authors of the Amended Technical Report, David Michael Begg of dMb Management Services Pty Ltd (South Africa), Dominic Claridge of BARA Consulting (UK), Glen Bezuidenhout of GB Independent Consulting (Pty) Ltd (South Africa) and Senzeni Mandava of Snowden Optiro (South Africa). None of the Qualified Persons hold any interest in Asante, its associated parties, or in any of the mineral properties which are the subject of this news release.

Other scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by David Anthony, P.Eng. (Alberta and Ontario) Mining and Metallurgy, President and CEO of Asante, who is a "qualified person" under NI 43-101.

About Asante Gold Corporation

Asante is a gold exploration, development and operating company with a high-quality portfolio of projects and mines in Ghana. Asante is currently operating the Bibiani and Chirano Gold Mines with combined forecast production of approximately 400,000 ounces of gold for 2023. The Company continues with detailed technical studies at its Kubi Gold Project for early production. All mines and exploration projects are located on the prolific Bibiani and Ashanti Gold Belts. Asante has an experienced and skilled team of mine finders, builders and operators, with extensive experience in Ghana. The Company is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Ghana Stock Exchange and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Asante is also exploring its Keyhole, Fahiakoba and Betenase projects for new discoveries, all adjoining or along strike of major gold mines near the centre of Ghanas Golden Triangle. Additional information is available on the Companys website at www.asantegold.com.

About the Chirano Gold Mine

Chirano is an operating open-pit and underground mine located in the Western Region of Ghana, immediately south of the Companys Bibiani Gold Mine. Chirano was first explored and developed in 1996 and began production in October 2005. The mine comprises the Akwaaba, Suraw, Akoti South, Akoti North, Akoti Extended, Paboase, Tano, Obra South, Obra, Sariehu and Mamnao open pits and the Akwaaba and Paboase underground mines. Gold Equivalent Production in 2021 was 154,668 oz on a 100% basis (source Kinross Gold Corporation).

For further information please contact:

Dave Anthony, President & CEO: +233 55 879 3309 (Ghana) or +1 647 382 4215 (Canada) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Frederick Attakumah, Executive Vice President, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including the resources, reserves, exploration results, and development programs. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, the Companys inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its planned activities, the Companys inability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies and the price of gold. The reader is referred to the Companys public disclosure record which is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except as required by securities laws and the policies of the securities exchanges on which the Company is listed, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
VANCOUVER, Jan. 16, 2018 /CNW/ - Rusoro Mining Ltd. (the "Company" or "Rusoro") is pleased to announce that it has closed on a Funding Agreement that provides the Company with additional litigation funding of up to USD $7M. The Company intends to use the funds in its continuing efforts to enforce... Read More
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 19, 2019) - Spey Resources Corp , (CSE: SPEY) ("Spey" or the "Company") has arranged a non-brokered private placement offering of up to 1,750,000 units at a price of six (6) cents per unit to raise gross proceeds of up to $105,000. Each unit... Read More
France's highest court ruled Friday that the country can try foreign suspects under the universal jurisdiction principle, greenlighting inquiries into two Syrians accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The ruling was welcomed by rights groups who said it would also have a significant on dozens of other cases concerning a range of conflicts across the world.

"The court recognises the principle of universal jurisdiction for the French judiciary in two cases concerning Syria," the Court of Cassation said in a statement.

The decision allows for investigations to continue in the cases against former Syrian soldier Abdulhamid Chaban, charged with complicity in crimes against humanity; and Majdi Nema, a former spokesman for the Islamist group Jaysh al-Islam accused of torture and war crimes.

Both Chaban, who was arrested in France in 2019, and Nema, detained while on a studying trip to the southern city of Marseille the following year, deny any wrongdoing.

They both tried to argue that they should not have been charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity because these crimes do not exist on their country's statute books.

Syria never ratified the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court that defines both crimes.

The court on Friday however decided that it was not necessary that "the offences of crime against humanity or war crime be identically described by the laws of the foreign country" for the inquiries into the two Syrians to go ahead.

Rights groups call for more

Nine rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Reporters with Borders, welcomed the ruling in a joint statement.

"These decisions allow victims - who have no recourse to justice in their own countries or at the International Criminal Court - to bring cases in France to allow it to play an important role in the fight against impunity," said Jeanne Sulzer, of Amnesty International France.

But the French government still needs to close loopholes that "risk France becoming a safe haven for people responsible for the world's worst crimes", the rights groups added.

"France could play a key role in advancing international justice around the globe, but serious legislative changes need to follow," said Alice Autin of Human Rights Watch.

The French ruling is significant for 160 cases filed with a Paris court department handling crimes against humanity, covering 30 geographical areas also including Russia and Ukraine.

French magistrates in April ordered three senior Syrian regime officials to stand trial for complicity in crimes against humanity over the deaths of two French-Syrian nationals, but that relied on a separate law unrelated to universal jurisdiction.

Other European countries have however used the principle to try and convict alleged Syrian war criminals.

Germany last year convicted a former Syrian colonel of crimes against humanity and jailed him for life in the first global trial over state-sponsored torture in Syrian prisons.

Sweden and Austria have also sentenced Syrians for crimes during the civil war in their home country.

Syria's conflict has killed close to half a million people since it erupted in 2011 with a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests.

It has also forced around half of the nation's pre-war population from their homes, many of whom have sought asylum in Europe.
The death toll in an investigation linked to a Kenyan cult that practised starvation has climbed to 201, as search teams on Saturday unearthed 22 more bodies from a coastal forest, a government official said.

Police believe most of the bodies found in a forest near the Indian Ocean town of Malindi belong to followers of Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, a taxi driver-turned-preacher who is accused of inciting them to starve to death "to meet Jesus".

Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha, who announced the latest figures, said 26 people have been arrested over the deaths, including Mackenzie and an "enforcer gang" tasked with ensuring that no one broke their fast or left the forest hideout alive.

She said investigators would halt exhumations for two days to reorganise their efforts, with the process to resume on Tuesday.

Mackenzie has not yet been required to enter a plea but a court on Wednesday ordered him to be detained for three more weeks pending further investigations over what has been dubbed the "Shakahola Forest Massacre".

The 50-year-old founder of the Good News International Church turned himself in on April 14 after police acting on a tip-off first entered Shakahola forest.

While starvation appears to be the main cause of death, some of the victims -- including children -- were strangled, beaten or suffocated, according to chief government pathologist Johansen Oduor.

Court documents filed on Monday said some of the corpses had their organs removed, with police alleging the suspects were engaged in forced harvesting of body parts.

But Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki urged caution, telling reporters on Tuesday that "it is a theory we are investigating".

Onyancha said that over 600 people have been reported missing, including from villages around the forest.

- Calls for regulation -

Questions have been raised about how Mackenzie, a father of seven, managed to evade law enforcement despite a history of extremism and previous legal cases.

The horrific saga has stunned Kenyans and led President William Ruto to set up a commission of inquiry into the deaths and a task force to review regulations governing religious bodies.

Another pastor accused of links to Mackenzie and to the bodies found in the forest was released on bail at a court hearing last week.

Ezekiel Odero, a high-profile and wealthy televangelist, is being investigated on a raft of charges including murder, aiding suicide, abduction, radicalisation, crimes against humanity, child cruelty, fraud and money laundering.

Prosecutors say they have credible information linking the corpses exhumed at Shakahola to the deaths of several "innocent and vulnerable followers" from Odero's New Life Prayer Centre and Church.

Odero has told the court that he wanted to "strongly disassociate" himself from Mackenzie and disagreed with his teachings.

Efforts to regulate religion in the majority-Christian country have been fiercely opposed in the past as attempts to undermine constitutional guarantees for the division of church and state.
Mali's military junta on Saturday denounced as "fictitious" and "biased" a UN report that said the army and foreign fighters executed at least 500 people during a 2022 anti-jihadist operation.

Rejecting revelations that the UN had used satellites to gather information for its report, the authorities also announced an investigation into "espionage".

The statement came a day after the UN released its long-awaited report into the events that unfolded in the central town of Moura between March 27-31, 2022.

"No civilian from Moura lost their life during the military operation," said a statement read out on state television by government spokesman colonel Abdoulaye Maiga.

"Among the dead, there were only terrorist fighters."

Condemning what it called a "biased report based on a fictitious narrative", the government also expressed surprise that the UN investigators had used satellites above Moura to gather information, without government clearance.

It was launching an investigation into espionage, an attack on the external security of the state and "military conspiracy", it added.

The figures cited by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) amount to the worst atrocity the Sahel country has experienced since a jihadist insurgency flared in 2012.

It is also the most damning document yet against Mali's armed forces and their foreign allies.

The nationality of the foreign fighters is not explicitly identified in the report, but Mali has brought in Russians that Western countries and others say are Wagner mercenaries.

- 'Extremely disturbing' -

In its report, the OHCHR said it had "reasonable grounds to believe that at least 500 people were killed in violation of norms, standards, rules and/or principles of international law".

The victims were "executed by the FAMa (Malian Armed Forces) and foreign military personnel" who had complete control over the area, it said.

The UN report was published after a lengthy investigation by the human rights division of the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, MINUSMA.

Around 20 women and seven children were among those killed, while evidence suggests 58 women and girls were victims of rape and other forms of sexual violence, the report said.

Acts of torture were carried out on people who had been detained, it added.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called the findings "extremely disturbing".

"Summary executions, rape and torture during armed conflict amount to war crimes and could, depending on the circumstances, amount to crimes against humanity," he said in a statement.

MINUSMA's mandate runs out in June, and there are growing doubts over its ability to fulfil its peacekeeping mandate given deteriorating relations with the ruling junta in Mali and the withdrawal of some contributing countries' soldiers.
Sudan has long sent mercenaries abroad, but now the country itself has become a battleground for foreign fighters and shadowy military backers lured by money and gold, experts say.

Armed "fortune seekers" are flooding into the fight from across Africa's Sahel region including Mali, Chad and Niger, UN special representative Volker Perthes has said, warning that "their number is not insignificant".

Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has accused the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of recruiting fighters from troubled nearby countries, including "mercenaries from Chad, the Central African Republic and Niger".

Sudan's army has claimed to have killed "a foreign sniper" in the ranks of the RSF, and witnesses in Khartoum say they have heard some RSF paramilitaries speak French, the language of neighbouring Chad.

For the past month, Sudan has been rocked by deadly battles between de facto leader Burhan and his former deputy, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, also known as Hemeti.

The RSF under Daglo, a former camel trader, emerged out of the notorious Janjaweed militias which from 2003 pillaged villages in the Darfur region where they were accused of widespread atrocities and war crimes.

In recent years the RSF has sent guns for hire into the Yemen war, on the side of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates against Iran-backed Huthi rebels, and to Libya, in support of different camps including eastern-based general Khalifa Haftar.

Washington and Brussels charge the RSF has ties with Russia's Wagner mercenary group, which is fighting in Ukraine and has long been active in multiple African countries, including Libya where it backed Haftar.

Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin recently insisted that "for two years, not a single Wagner... fighter has been present in Sudan. And today there is none".

Cameron Hudson, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that "the Wagner group is not fighting in Sudan, but they have technical advisors".

- 'Death and destruction' -

The European Union in February imposed new sanctions against Wagner, accusing it of human rights abuses in Ukraine as well as Sudan, Mali and CAR.

After major fighting erupted in Sudan in mid-April, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced "deep concern about the engagement" of Wagner there, charging that the group "brings more death and destruction" wherever it operates.

Western diplomats have reported seeing groups of mercenaries frequently passing through Khartoum's airport and hotels since the CAR government in 2018 called on Wagner to help repress a rebellion.

Daglo's family has long controlled gold mines in Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan, Africa's third-largest producer of the precious metal that has also attracted the attention of Wagner.

The US Treasury has accused Prigozhin of operating shadow companies in Sudan that were awarded gold-mining concessions, and the latest EU sanctions also targeted gold companies linked to Wagner in Sudan.

For Daglo, gold has provided a revenue stream to pay fighters, said Andreas Krieg, associate professor of security studies at King's College London.

"The fact that Hemeti has access to quite a lot of gold wealth and avenues to bring it to market means he can pay salaries in a way that many in sub-Saharan Africa or the Sahel cannot," Krieg told AFP.

"We had people from Chad join the RSF as well over the years looking for salaries."

- 'Boutique' security firms -

Hemeti hails from western Darfur's pastoralist Arab Rizeigat people and has family roots in Chad, with which Sudan shares a long and porous border.

Sudanese militias have long padded their ranks by offering "Chadian Arabs access to Sudanese citizenship and land abandoned by displaced non-Arabs", the Small Arms Survey research project found in 2017.

The RSF in its recent social media campaign has published videos of fighters in Chad and Niger voicing their support for them.

While the RSF can draw on fighters from Chad and elsewhere, it is believed to receive weapons from Libya, analysts say.

Krieg said that areas under Haftar's control are now a likely "hub and node to deliver arms and supplies to the RSF". Weapons sent there in the past by the UAE "could now be proliferated with plausible deniability to the RSF", he said.

Sudan specialist Alex de Waal said that money and fighters "are interchangeable currencies in Sudan's political marketplace, and Hemeti trades in both".

"The RSF is now a private transnational mercenary enterprise," de Waal wrote in a recent analysis. "It's a gold-mining and gold-trading operation and the enforcement arm of Hemeti's ever expanding commercial empire."

If the RSF wins, de Waal predicted, "the Sudanese state will become a subsidiary of this transnational venture".

Meanwhile Sudan's conflict has also fuelled another business line for professional soldiers, who have offered desperate foreigners with the means of a chance to flee the country, said Hudson.

For those who could not get a spot on mass evacuations, he said, "a number of small 'boutique' private companies, mainly retired British special forces operators, were evacuating people for a large fee, up to $20,000-50,000."
Uhm Jung Hwa is creating quite the buzz with her excellence through her comeback series "Doctor Cha"!

With more than three decades of experience and legacy, she is indeed one of the most accomplished stars in her generation.

However, she still hasn't tied the knot at 53. Here's why the "Doctor Cha" actress refuses to marry. Keep on reading!

Uhm Jung Hwa Receives High Praise For 'Doctor Cha' Performance

Uhm Jung Hwa recently returned to the limelight with the medical series "Doctor Cha."

The drama tells the life of a homemaker who pursues her career as a doctor in her second life after cheating death.

She impressed the viewers after she took on the challenge as a high-spirited mother who has a big heart not only for her family but also her patients. Many have reviewed the work and gave the actress high praises as well as the rest of the cast.

On May 7, "Doctor Cha" released its eighth episode where Uhm Jung Hwa showed off her femme fatale aura as she hints at her revenge from her cheating husband, played by Kim Byung Chul.

In addition to that, she also received compliments for her chemistry with the ensemble, especially Min Woo Hyuk and Baek Joo Hee who play Roy Kim and Baek Mi Hee, respectively.

Moreover, "Doctor Cha" achieved a score of 16.2% in its eighth episode, marking the fifth highest ratings in JTBC history, following "The World of the Married," "Reborn Rich," "SKY Castle" and "Itaewon Class."

Uhm Jung Hwa Opens Up About Her Fear of Marriage & More

At 53, Uhm Jung Hwa still has no ring around her finger, making the public wonder about the "Doctor Cha" star's plans on marriage.

In an interview in the past, Uhm Jung Hwa opened up her fear of marriage and becoming a mother. While she's a great maternal figure in most dramas, she's not sure if she'll do great in real life.

"Married life and having children sound appealing to me but I'm afraid I might not be able to rear a family while working at the same time," Uhm Jung Hwa stated.

In addition to that, she's also afraid of being left alone since her father passed away at a young age. After that, Uhm Jung Hwa's mother struggled a lot.

In 2010, Uhm Jung Hwa was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and thankfully, she survived the disease. Due to this, she vowed to focus on herself and her career, and make the best out of it.

However, the Hallyu superstar isn't closing her doors to marriage. She told Park Jong Hoon in an interview that she wants to live happily married in spite of her immense fear.

"I just want to explore life more and fulfill my dreams before settling down," Uhm Jung Hwa said, satisfying the viewers.

On the other hand, "Doctor Cha" airs every weekend at 10:30 p.m. KST on JTBC. Watch the teaser here, ICYMI:

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
Uhm Jung Hwa learns the truth about Kim Byung Chul and Myung Se Bin's dirty secret in "Doctor Cha" episode 9. A slew of family affairs also unfolded one by one.

In addition, Uhm Jung Hwa is growing closer to Min Woo Hyuk..

Cha Jung Suk Discovers Seo In Ho & Choi Seung Hee's Secret

"Doctor Cha" episode 9 begins with Cha Jung Suk's (Uhm Jung Hwa) awkward birthday celebration.

Because she finally discovered her husband's marital affair, she finds it difficult to act normal and loving to him in front of their family.

She eventually grabs Seo In Ho's (Kim Byung Chul) head and smashes it into her birthday cake, much to her satisfaction.

At home, Cha Jung Suk looks up divorce specialists online, hinting at her plans about their marriage.

Cha Jung Suk Moves Into The Resident Dorms

After Roy Kim (Min Woo Hyuk) notices the sudden changes in her behavior, he suggests Cha Jung Suk to become a medical volunteer in order to clear her mind.

With this, Cha Jung Suk decides to move out of their house and stay at the resident dorms. Seo In Ho, on the other hand, grows agitated as he thinks that his wife has learned about his affair.

The following day, the medical team then leaves for a small town outside Seoul. Despite his annoyance, Seo In Ho joins the others.

He grows extremely jealous over Cha Jung Suk and Roy Kim's natural closeness, which keeps him preoccupied the whole day.

Choi Seung Hee's Dilemma

At the hospital, Choi Seung Hee (Myung Se Bin) obsesses over the medical session of their hospital. She couldn't bear the idea that the married couple are far away without her.

She gets an unexpected visitor: Seo In Ho's mother.

Because she knows that the older woman liked her for her son, she didn't expect Kwak Ae Sim (Park Joon Geum) to put her in her place.

Later that evening, Choi Seung Hee is rushed to the hospital when she suddenly experiences abdominal cramps.

Seo In Ho Reveals Relationship With Cha Jung Suk

Because of his jealousy over his wife and Roy Kim's closeness, he drowns himself with alcohol.

While singing at the karaoke, he calls out to Cha Jung Suk, calling her "honey" in front of everyone including the Gusan University Hospital doctors and the villagers.

YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN THIS: 'The Good Bad Mother' Episode 6: Lee Do Hyun Discovers Ra Mi Ran's Condition

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
Lee Dong Wook gets candid about his preparations for his kiss and topless scenes in his K-dramas.

Lee Dong Wook Shares How Filming Flawless Kiss Scene is Done With His Co-Stars

Having multiple projects has honed Lee Dong Wook's skills in acting. Through his experiences, the actor developed his own techniques for building the right connection and momentum with his co-stars.

In particular, during his guest appearance at the YouTube talk show "The K-Star Next Door," alongside his "Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938" co-star Kim Bum, Lee Dong Wook revealed his preparations when he has upcoming kiss or shirtless abs scenes.

Whether he stars in a crime, fantasy, or romance series, Lee Dong Wook has more than a few kiss scenes with his leading ladies. Due to this, he even owns the title "The Best Kiss Scene Actor."

But as the "My Girl" star continues to ace his kissing scenes, people wonder how he actually makes the scenes amazing.

Lee Dong Wook then revealed that for a romantic scene to turn out perfectly, it needs to be refreshing.

"For the kiss scene, what matters the most is being unique," said the heartthrob. The veteran actor further explained that rather than doing the normal moves that most actors would do during a kiss, he changes it up. He said that he would try poses he wouldn't normally try.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Lee Dong Wook Shows Sweet Gesture to Comedian Park Na Rae By Doing THIS

Most importantly, the leading man communicates with his partner to make sure his co-star feels comfortable and approves of the changes.

"I can't just choose it on my own. I need the actress' consent. So we compromise."

How Lee Dong Wook Gets Camera-Ready for His Shirtless Scenes

Lee Dong Wook may be in his early forties, but he maintains a good physique that he proudly shows off in his K-drama scenes.

Lee Dong Wook revealed how challenging it is to stay fit despite his busy schedule.

His friend and colleague, Kim Bum, confessed that Lee Dong Wook works out so much, and it mostly takes three hours for the actor to wrap up. The the "Bad and Crazy" star then clarified that he no longer spends long hours in the gym.

"Every time I star in a drama or movie, I go topless most of the time. It's not easy to get in shape fast. Then I might as well maintain a body that I can go shirtless at any time."

Catch Lee Dong Wook every Saturday and Sunday on "Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938" on tvN.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Kim Bum Confesses Why He Rejects to Headline Romance K-Dramas

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
While Lee Sung Kyung is busy filming her ongoing medical series "Dr. Romantic 3," the actress found out that someone is secretly taking pictures of her. Keep on reading for more details.

Lee Sung Kyung Shares Cheerful Atmosphere Behind Filming Set of 'Dr. Romantic 3'

Different from the tension happening in the drama "Dr. Romantic 3" lead star Lee Sung Kyung revealed the fun moments on the set of the medical series. The actress also discovered that someone is secrely filming and taking photos of her while filming.

On May 13, Lee Sung Kyung posted a short video on Instagram, along with the caption, "I didn't really feel like eating in the morning, but Teacher Jung In Soo (Yoon Na Moo) left food for me. I couldn't leave it behind, so I had to eat it."

@heybiblee Instagram story!



The first video she said she can't leave food behind so she ate dr.jungs leftover noodles

The second one she kept mumbling that she's hungry



She's so unserious help#3 #3 # #LeeSungKyung #DrRomantic3 pic.twitter.com/JNPgWqvUGg  mauve (@heybibleestars) May 13, 2023

In continuation of the short clip, the actress was wearing her doctor's gown and was eating ramyeon in the waiting room of the "Dr. Romantic 3" filming set. The "Call It Love" star humorously revealed in her caption that someone was secretly taking pictures of her somewhere.

Lee Sung Kyung and her co-stars were then seen enjoying one another's presence while on break from filming and were taking photos of each other. They also share random pictures on their respective SNS accounts.

Though she didn't particularly mention who among her colleagues secretly captured the pictures, the actress gave the public a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes stories of their drama and the cheerful atmosphere they share on the filming set.

'Dr. Romantic 3' Remains Most-Watched Program According to Nielsen Korea

Lee Sung Kyung portrays the role of Cha Eun Jae in the medical drama. The third installment of the series centers on Kim Sa Bu (Han Suk Kyu) and his team facing different struggles in the clinical field, including individual battles and troublesome moral quandaries, while aiming to give top-quality consideration to their patients.

"Dr. Romantic 3" made its debut on primetime last April 17. As expected, the series immediately topped the list of programs that recorded high viewership ratings during its pilot week.

On its fourth week run on May 13, according to Nielsen Korea, the drama remained the most watched-shows of any kind to air on Friday. It has been said that Lee Sung Kyung's drama scored an average score of 13. 4 percent nationwide during episode 5.

Watch new episodes of "Dr. Romantic 3" every Friday and Saturday on SBS.

What can you say about Lee Sung Kyung's Instagram update? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
Kim Byung Chul leaves the Hallyu scene abuzz with his unrivaled acting performance in JTBC's medical series "Doctor Cha"!

The 49-year-old actor has proven himself as the perfect fit for the role.

Kim Byung Chul Enjoys High Praises For 'Doctor Cha' Performance

Seasoned actor Kim Byung Chul continuously receives high praises for his top-notch acting in the smash hit medical drama "Doctor Cha"!

On May 14, "Doctor Cha" released its tenth episode which featured Uhm Jung Hwa in a stalemate after discovering her husband's extramarital affair.

In the drama, Kim Byung Chul plays Seo In Ho, a reputable surgeon who's been cheating on his wife for 20 years with his first love.

Kim Byung Chul showcased his comical side in the brand new episode as he acted extremely jealous over Uhm Jung Hwa's closeness with Min Woo Hyuk.

He also made every viewer laugh after he acted playfully drunk which drove him to expose his true relationship with his wife, which had been kept as a secret from his colleagues.

After the broadcast, viewers expressed their honest thoughts on the acting performances of the actors. In particular, Kim Byung Chul received high praises from the public.

One fan commented, "Although his [Kim Byung Chul] character is plain trash, he makes Seo In Ho a lot cuter because of his performance."

Kim Byung Chul's chemistry with Uhm Jung Hwa and Min Woo Hyuk also didn't go unnoticed as it was well-received by viewers all around the world.

With that said, the latest episode of "Doctor Cha" received an average rating of 18%, which marks its highest rating yet.

Kim Byung Chul's Previous Works To Check Out

This 2023, the "Doctor Cha" star celebrates his 20th anniversary as an actor!

With two decades of experience, Kim Byung Chul has appeared in more than 22 dramas and 20 films that include internationally acclaimed works "Descendants of the Sun," "Mr. Sunshine," and "All of Us Are Dead."

As of this writing, the actor's most notable work is "SKY Castle" where he portrayed the role of a law professor and a tiger parent who stops at nothing just to see his children succeed.

He earned the Best Supporting Actor at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards for his impeccable performance, proving his talent and success.

At the moment, Kim Byung Chul is creating waves as Seo In Ho in JTBC's "Doctor Cha." Catch him every weekend at 10:30 p.m. KST.

Watch Kim Byung Chul and Min Woo Hyuk's bromance here, ICYMI.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
Filipino influencer and actress Heart Evangelista spoke about her rare encounter with Hallyu star Song Hye Kyo.

In one of the interviews she did on TV, the 38-year-old Filipino beauty mentioned "The Glory" star and what she's like behind the camera.

Song Hye Kyo is Described as 'Down-to-Earth" by a Filipina Influencer and Actress

As Heart Evangelista recalls her experience working alongside fashion brands, she mentions the time when she met Song Hye Kyo in Paris for the luxury jewelry brand Chaumet.

The Filipino star revealed that she has been a fan of the award-winning actress since her "Full House" days.

Moreover, she shared how kindhearted Song Hye Kyo is in person.

"She's very, very nice," Evangelista said, and she even recalled her encounter during the Chaumet jewelry event.

At the time, a lot of people wanted to take a photo with Song Hye Kyo, so since she didn't want to lose her time, she stood aside, but the South Korean actress was kind enough to accommodate her.

The media wanted them to have a photo, and with Heart Evangelista being polite, she stood up to pose with the actress, but was surprised after the "Descendants of the Sun" star said, "Don't worry, you could sit down," and smiled at the Filipino actress.

Moreover, the two surprisingly met the next day for the Fendi show, and was surprised that Song Hye Kyo remembered her.

"She remembered me, but it's nice to meet people who are so famous but are so down-to-earth," she added.

Interestingly, this is not the first time that the actress has been praised for her kindness.

Veteran actress Bae Jong Ok, who worked together with Song Hye Kyo in "The World That They Live In" and "That Winter The Wind Blows," once described her as someone who is "a very honest and forthright person."

Moreover, she said that the actress' real personality almost resembles that of her television drama "The World That They Live In" in which she played producer Ju Jun Young.

Song Hye Kyo's New Drama: Hallyu Star Teams Up With Han So Hee in 'Price of Confession'

From starring in the hit K-drama "The Glory" seasons 1 and 2 to winning the Baeksang Arts Awards 2023 Best Actress for her role as Moon Dong Eun, Song Hye Kyo continues to deliver exceptional K-dramas to viewers.

The South Korean beauty will headline a mystery drama together with the equally talented Song Hye Kyo for "Price of Confession."

The two Hallyu stars will portray individuals who witnessed a bloody murder case, causing their lives to completely change.

Following the announcement, the duo teases fans with their social media interactions, hinting at remarkable on-screen chemistry.

IN CASE YOU MISSED: Sister Love! Han So Hee Thanks Song Hye Kyo for 'Cheering' Her Up on the Set of New Drama

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Geca Wills
The Council of Ministers of the East African Community (EAC) is negotiating with companies engaging in the manufacturing of smart devices such as Ipads to make them more affordable to the community.

Ugandas ICT minister, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi who is also the vice chairperson of the council says the prices for smart devices are high, and this is affecting the countrys efforts to promote inclusive digital transformation across the country.

He says as minister for ICT in the East African Community (EAC), they engage various respective technology companies to ensure that they avail products that are cheaper and affordable to the majority of the population.

The minister made the remarks while officiating at the launch of a Tecno smartphone code-named Camon-20 series on the Ugandan market.

He says the move will help to promote digital transformation across the East African region if the prices of such devices are harmonized.
The Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary is today expected to table before Cabinet, the grievances of the striking medical doctors.

According to the ministrys spokesperson, Emmanuel Ainebyoona, this was one of the resolutions from Thursdays high-level meeting between the Uganda Medical Association and Prime Minister Robina Nabbanja.

A number of medical officers including, specialists and senior house officers are on strike over pay disparities and title disputes, as well as failure by government to pay their allowances.

At the meeting held at the office of the Prime Minister that was also attended by Public Service officials resolved that the title of Associate Consultant be replaced by MOSG.

Ainebyoona confirms that Cabinet is set to decide on the pending issues today, emphasizing that dialogue is the best way to resolve such sticking issues.

Meanwhile, the Associate Consultants and Senior House Officers vow to continue with the strike as they wait for Cabinets decision and discussions continue.
The Judiciary has spoken out about an audio clip making rounds on social media in which one of its drivers expressed dissatisfaction with his salary.

Jameson Karemani, the Judiciary Public Relations Officer in a statement dated May 14, 2023, says measures have been taken to address the welfare concerns of all staff members and that whereas the approved salary for drivers may be inadequate, the Judiciary leadership resolved that the allowances for all non-judicial staff drivers inclusive in the institution be enhanced.

He adds that this was an intervention to facilitate the lower cadre of staff specifically non-judicial staff whose salaries have not been enhanced.

In the audio recording making rounds on social media, one Stanley Kisambira, who has been working for the Judiciary since 2008, expressed his frustration over what he described as a meager salary.

Karemani says, each driver now receives a consolidated monthly allowance, paid out on a quarterly basis, in addition to their salary and that when combined, the total monthly payment for a driver exceeds one million shillings.

While it is true that salaries of non-judicial staff in the Judiciary Service are low like for workers in other institutions, the Judiciary Management has made interventions as stated above to bridge that gap, Karemani sai in a statement.
National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED) party president, Joseph Kabuleta, has condemned the ongoing gun violence in the country, urging police to use the same swiftness it used to arrest the police officer who killed an Indian to provide justice to the local victims.

Ivan Wabrire, a police constable who killed a money lender at Rajja Chambers along Parliament Avenue in Kampala was over the weekend arrested in Busia.

Now speaking to the media at the partys head offices in Rubaga, Kabuleta asked the police to apply the same technics they used to apprehend Wabwire, to investigate all pending gun violence murders reported in different parts of the country.

Kabuleta adds that police swiftness in the investigation of such brutal murders should not be for only foreigners but the local people as well.
The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has assured that emergency works on River Katonga along the Kampala-Masaka highway will be complete in three weeks.

In a short statement posted on Twitter, UNRA revealed that emergency restoration works at the damaged section of the road have commenced, adding that with favorable weather conditions, restoration works shall be complete in the given time period.

Emergency restoration works at #Katonga along KampalaMasaka Highway have kicked off! with favourable weather conditions, the anticipated timeline for the completion of these emergency works is 23 weeks. We request for your patience during this time, UNRA said in a tweet.

In the meantime, motorists continue to use the Mpigi-Kanoni-Maddu-Ssembabule road as an alternative.

The leader of Ppposition in Parliament, Mr. Mathias Mpuuga has since warned that the alternative road will get damaged if its used for over a month.
Ivan Wabrire, the police constable who killed a money lender at Rajja Chambers along Parliament Avenue is expected to appear in court for trial soon.

Addressing journalists at Naguru, police spokesperson Fred Enanga said the suspects murder case file has been sanctioned by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

Enanga adds that upon arrest in Busia on Saturday night, Wabwire who appeared to be in very good shape was transferred to Kampala Metropolitan Headquarters where he was examined by physiatrists who established that he was normal and of sound mind before interrogation started.

The suspect who was sound and in very good shape was transferred to KMP Headquarters where he was examined by a physiatrists and established to be normal and sound. Upon interrogation, he admitted to having murdered the victim, for allegedly cheating him. The charges against him, were sanctioned and he is set to appear at Buganda Road court, with murder, Enanga told journalists on Monday.

He says this was after the suspect reportedly admitted to having murdered Uttam Bhandari, the manager of TFS Financial Services for allegedly cheating him.

Without stating the date, Enanga says the suspect is expected to appear before Buganda Road Court and will be charged with murder.

While speaking to journalists last week, Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango said that Police management at CPS Kampala had taken a decision not to deploy Wabwire with a gun due to his medical condition.

Due to the suspects medical conditions, Police management at CPS Kampala had taken a decision about six (6) years ago NOT TO ARM the suspect with a gun and they have been deploying him in beats that doesnt require him to be armed. His current deployment was at CCTV monitoring center, Onyangos statement reads in part.
Ivan Wabrire, the police constable who killed a money lender at Rajja Chambers along Parliament Avenue today appeared before Buganda Road Court and made an extra-judicial statement.

Addressing journalists at Naguru, police spokesperson Fred Enanga said the suspects murder case file has been sanctioned by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions and is ready for his trial to begin.

He says this was after the suspect reportedly admitted to having murdered Uttam Bhandari, the manager of TFS Financial Services for allegedly cheating him.

Enanga adds that upon arrest in Busia on Saturday night, Wabwire who appeared to be in very good shape was transferred to Kampala Metropolitan Headquarters where he was examined by physiatrists who established that he was normal and of sound mind before interrogation started.

Enanga says the suspect will be charged with murder
Police have arrested several groups of premedical interns who were planning to hold peaceful protests across the country.

Pre-medical interns from Kabale University in Western Uganda, Gulu, and a group from Kampala at Mulago Galloway House were planning to take to the streets to join their colleagues in the nationwide demonstration against the governments delay to deploy them.

They were later dispersed by the police who accused them of holding an illegal assembly.

The interns graduated last year and are required to undertake a compulsory one-year medical internship before they register to legally practice medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, and midwifery.

Last week Medical officers rejected a proposal by government for privately sponsored students to sponsor their internship during a high-level meeting between the Uganda Medical Association and Prime Minister Robina Nabbanja and officials from the public service ministry.
1 of 1

Cyber Notary in Indonesia



khaskhabar.com : Fri, 05 Nov 2021 12:18 PM

Cyber notary, also known as electronic notary, is a digital service that allows people to notarize documents and transactions electronically. In Indonesia, the implementation of cyber notary is regulated by the Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kementerian Komunikasi dan Informatika or "Kemkominfo").



Kemkominfo has issued several regulations regarding the implementation of cyber notary services in Indonesia, including Ministerial Regulation No. 20/PER/M.KOMINFO/04/2016 on the Technical Requirements for the Implementation of Electronic Certification and Ministerial Regulation No. 21/PER/M.KOMINFO/04/2016 on the Implementation of Electronic Notary Services.

Under these regulations, cyber notary services in Indonesia must comply with certain technical requirements and standards to ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and authenticity of electronic documents and transactions. The regulations also outline the procedures and requirements for obtaining electronic notary services, including the identification and authentication of parties involved in the transaction.



Implementation of cyber notary in Indonesia is not yet optimal.Currently, there are several companies in Indonesia that offer cyber notary services, and the implementation of this service is expected to continue to grow in the future.

The elucidation of Article 15 paragraph (3) of Law Number 2 of 2014 concerning Amendment to Law Number 30 of 2004 concerning the Position of Notary states that cyber notary applies only within the authority to certify transaction activities between the Notary and the Presence, but not within the authority of the notary in wider scope. In order to encourage effective and efficient technology-based public services in the notary sector, it is necessary to link this with Bureaucratic Reform in Indonesia, especially considering the very rapid development of technology in the current 4.0 era.



Cyber Notary Urgency in Indonesia

Cyber notary bureaucracy needs to be implemented in Indonesia, because it can help the administration of government to achieve good governance. In order to obtain a strong legal basis related to cyber notary, Indonesia must amend the Notary Office Law, Article 16 paragraph 1 letter M "Reading the deed before the appearer by speaking at least two witnesses, or four special witnesses for making wills under hand and signed on the spot by the witnesses and notary appearers

In line with the demands of the Notary's mandate, which demands faster, easier and less complicated services and limits the space for movement during the Covid-19 pandemic, the perpetrators collided with government regulations to implement health protocols, such as maintaining distance, banning travel and resolving major problems. Forcing the public to be more accepting of the digital era and electronic transactions to facilitate their every activity, all activities are carried out electronically but in making authentic notarial deeds there are still obstacles because they conflict with UUJN. The implementation of technology-based public services in the notary sector has not been implemented as fully as possible in Indonesia. The elucidation of Article 15 paragraph (3) of Law Number 2 of 2014 concerning Amendment to Law Number 30 of 2004 concerning the Position of Notary states that cyber notary applies only within the authority to certify transaction activities between the Notary and the Presence, but not within the authority of the notary in wider scope. In order to encourage effective and efficient technology-based public services in the notary sector, it is necessary to link this with Bureaucratic Reform in Indonesia, especially considering the very rapid development of technology in the current 4.0 era.



An authentic deed is a perfect means of proof, it becomes a perfect proof of what was done or stated in this deed attached to the deed itself, so that it does not need to be proven again and for the judge it is "obligatory evidence" (Verplicht Bewijs), thus Whoever states that an authentic deed is fake, he must prove the falsity of the deed, therefore, an authentic deed has the strength of proof both physically, formally and materially. This is what makes the application of the remote notary concept in Indonesia more difficult than that applied in common law countries.



The application of the Remote Notary concept in Indonesia is not possible under current law (especially the making of partij deeds), bearing in mind that the concept uses electronic devices as a forum for meetings such as teleconferences or video calls, of course this will affect later in the reading and buying process deed. This is not without reason, Article 16 paragraph 1 letter m Law Number 2 of 2014 states that the reading of the deed must be carried out in front of the appearers and at least spectators by 2 (two) witnesses, and in the explanatory law the law stated that the Notary must be physically present and witness the deed before the appearers and witnesses. The word is physically present, if stated word for word, namely present and physically, present means there is or comes, while the word physical has the meaning of body or body, so that it means to be physically present, namely physically present, in other words tangible or physically visible. This explanation regarding being physically present will cause problems in the application of the Remote Notary concept, because the concept is part of a technological advancement that brings together two or more parties in each party's place by using a device that emits sound and displays actual images, so that face shape, voice and real situation can be seen.



The reading of the deed by a notary is an obligation in making an authentic deed. This has been regulated in the provisions of Article 16 paragraph 1 letter m UUJN so that the reading of the deed is part of the verlijden or formalization of the deed. According to G.H.S Lumban Tobing, if the notary himself reads the deed, the appearers on one side the party has a guarantee if they have signed what they heard before (reading by a notary) and on the other hand the appearers and the notary get confidence if the deed really contains what the appearers want.



Violations committed if the reading of the deed is not carried out by a notary, then the deed will have the power of proof as a deed under the hand or in other words the deed has lost its authenticity. As stipulated in Article 16 paragraph 9 UUJN which is written, if one of the conditions referred to in Article 16 paragraph 1 letter m and paragraph 7 is not fulfilled, the deed in question only has the power of proof as a private deed.



Meanwhile, to apply the Cyber Notary, it is necessary to pay attention to other Notary authorities based on Article 15 paragraph 3 UUJN it is written that the authority is to certify transactions carried out electronically, to make certificates of waqf pledges and aircraft mortgages. Cyber Notary itself basically already has a place in the Indonesian legal system, but what is problematic in the implementation of Cyber Notary in Indonesia is the use of electronic signatures which in this case question the strength of proof while the process of making a deed is the same as the process of making a conventional deed. In another sense according to Zainatun Rossalina, if the certification in question is equated with a private letter that is legalized by a notary (legalization), then the certification in question is not an authentic deed, this is because in legalization, the notary must be present in a physical sense to provide certainty of date and mark the hands of the parties/appearers. Meanwhile, if the certification has the same meaning as a private letter registered by a notary (waarmerking), then the certification itself is not an authentic deed because the notary has no responsibility either for the certainty of the date, time or content as well as the form of the letter made by the appearer.



From the above review, the authors make a conclusion regarding the benefits and constraints of cyber notaries in general and making authentic deeds in particular.



The legal regulations regarding the position of notary public used by Indonesia until now are legal products that are not entirely based on modern national law. This is emphasized in the Elucidation of UUJN Part I General which states that most of the regulations regulated in UUJN are still based on laws and regulations from the colonial era of the Dutch East Indies, which during the colonial era did not recognize digital transformation and technological developments that made people literate. towards technology. There is no need to doubt the readiness of supporting facilities related to information technology so that it is implemented in notary services. Regarding the legality of an electronic deed, it can still have legal force even before a court, such as digital signatures, digitally ensured documents, and video conferencing in making deed between the notary and the appearer.

A digital signature is likened to a signature or document that has been locked and its contents cannot be manipulated. In the case of electronic signing, the parties involved use the same key in encrypting and decrypting a document, therefore third parties or others who are not involved in the document, will not be able to access and manipulate the document or signature. Elucidation of Article 15 paragraph (3) UUJN reads "what is meant by "other authorities regulated in laws and regulations", includes the authority to certify transactions carried out electronically (cyber notary), make deed of waqf pledges, and aircraft mortgages". The substance in the legal basis is enough to delegate and approve the implementation of the notary's authority electronically. Indonesia also has a digital signature that can be proven by a trusted digital certificate, namely the PrivyID service.

Article 1 number 7 UUJN states emphatically that a notary deed is made by or before a notary.



The substance of this article can be concluded that in making a deed, it must be made face-to-face before a notary and the parties. This has led to polemics in society regarding the implementation of cyber notaries in Indonesia. Edmon Makarim at the plenary meeting of the Indonesian Notary Association (INI) stated that the presence or encounter between the notary and the appearer which was carried out electronically or via video conferencing was the same as the physical presence which had been perceived so far, because meetings via video conferencing were also carried out live or face to face with the relevant parties involved in making authentic deeds, both making partij deeds and relaas deeds.



Benefit of Cyber Notary

Various advantages and benefits that can be obtained by implementing a cyber notary, namely of course in carrying out the duties of a Notary it can be completed more quickly and saves time, the implementation of transactions such as making deeds / agreements only requires electronic documents but the parties can complete their business transactions, minimizing expenses because they are not constrained by transportation and costs can be calculated , and another important thing is that public services can be provided more effectively and efficiently than conventional services. making the deed electronically, it will minimize the expenditure of these costs. The meeting between the Notary and Appearers is replaced by electronic video conferencing, the Notary and Appearers only need to open their computers from their respective locations without the need to pay for going out.



This certainly affects the efficiency of the time needed, with digital transformation, everything will be more practical and time-saving. The process of making a deed by a conventional notary, such as a sale and purchase deed, takes approximately one month to complete the file processing. However, if file management is done through electronic media, it will be more effective and efficient, the required files can be uploaded through the official website or destination database which can then be processed immediately. Cyber Notary certainly brings many benefits to society, especially in notary services to obtain authentic legalization of deeds.



Cyber notary is closely related to bureaucratic reform which is a process of change towards the desired situation and condition in response to current bureaucratic conditions and demands for improvement. The official website of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia or KEMENKO PMK RI states that Bureaucratic Reform is a way for the government to achieve good governance and make basic improvements or modifications related to the system of government administration related to aspects of management, institutions and human resources for apparatus. 22 Reform Bureaucracy is a strategic idea to deal with the Industrial Revolution 4.0 which can be implemented by government organizations. This includes three fundamental aspects, namely innovation, collaboration, and most importantly the use of information and communication technology or ICT.



The link between cyber notary and bureaucratic reform is that cyber notary has fulfilled the three fundamental aspects included in bureaucratic reform, in which the cyber notary concept is the same as a new innovation that is offered in a better direction to facilitate daily public services in the notary field. Cyber notary is carried out on the basis of collaboration between the government and the Indonesian Notary Association (INI) with the intention of involving the use of information technology in carrying out the duties and powers of a notary such as digitizing, authenticating and legalizing various documents. The concept of cyber notary aims to achieve good government services with the intention of carrying out fundamental updates and changes concerning aspects of notary management.



Alwesius as Head of the INI Study Program Division opened his voice and emphasized that the statement 'physical presence' in the law cannot be consistently interpreted conservatively where physical presence must be carried out in the same location, but related parties must be aware of developments and interpret it as presence via video conferencing. Other things that become a conflict in law if the concept of cyber notary or remote notary is implemented in Indonesia, include:





1. Article 1 number 7 UUJN regarding deed must be made by or before a notary.

2. Article 1 number 8 and number 9 UUJN regarding minutes of the deed and the copy of the deed are no longer different.

3. Article 16 paragraph 1 UUJN, regarding the obligation to read the deed in front of 2 (two) witnesses and signed at the same time.

4. Article 38 paragraph 4 UUJN description of the signing and place of signing or translation of the deed if any.

5. Article 48 paragraph 1 UUJN regarding the contents of the deed may not be changed or added, whether in the form of overlapping, inserting, crossing out or deleting and replacing it with something else.





We understand that the notary world in Indonesia has developed so rapidly and Indonesia has produced many great notaries who play an important role in development. But we also realize, in the digital era where technological developments occur very massively and quickly, demanding high adaptability and flexibility among notaries. The rapid development of this technology must be anticipated by Notaries so that this profession is always relevant to the times and is able to provide the best support for development.



However, on the other hand, there are indications of a status quo that wants the notary world to continue as before the digital development. There are indications that this status quo is happening because many notaries are not ready with the times and tend to maintain that this condition has not changed. Even though digital development is something that can no longer be expected and will definitely affect almost all public professions.



However, in dealing with this, it is not only preparing for the availability of technology, but also strengthening the existing legal foundations, bearing in mind that Indonesia is a state of law. Supposedly, the existing problems related to the Cyber Notary idea can become an urgency, but not an urgency for Notaries only but for parties who have full authority over Bureaucratic Reform efforts and achieving Good Governance, so that there is a form of harmony in realizing Cyber Notaries & Digital Transactions in Indonesia.



Another factor that must be considered is how to amend regulations so that they can capture developments that occur in the digital era. It is better if the revision is carried out by considering aspects of future progress, while still taking into account the legal certainty aspect of the regulation itself. If possible, the revision could cover more principal regulatory aspects by considering various possible changes in the future.





By: Ayu Komala Dewi, S.H.

Mahasiswa Program Studi Kenotariatan,

Fakultas Hukum, Universitas Pancasila
Hong Kong: CE meets Henan Governor

Chief Executive John Lee met Henan Governor Wang Kai today to exchange views on deepening Hong Kong's co-operation with Henan.



Mr Lee welcomed Mr Wang's visit to Hong Kong with his delegation. Noting that Hong Kong has maintained close ties with Henan, Mr Lee pointed out that Hong Kong has been one of the largest sources of external investment in Henan and a valuable trading partner of the province, while Henan is also a foothold for investment by Hong Kong enterprises operating businesses in the central region of the Mainland.



The Chief Executive said: Hong Kong can provide an effective platform and high-quality services for Henan enterprises to 'go global and attract foreign investment.



I welcome more Henan enterprises to leverage on Hong Kong's advantages of enjoying strong national support while maintaining unparalleled connectivity with the world, and its status as an international financial centre, to invest and raise funds in Hong Kong, and use Hong Kong as a base to expand into the markets of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Belt & Road and the rest of the world.



With Henan Province's rich historical and cultural background, the enhancement of co-operation between Hong Kong and Henan in areas such as culture, tourism and youth exchanges will help Hong Kong's youth understand the country's history, with a view to enhancing their sense of belonging to the country and national pride, Mr Lee added.

This story has been published on: 2023-05-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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(Kitco News) - Fresnillo (LSE: FRES) announced today that operations at the Herradura mine operated by the company's wholly owned subsidiary, Minera Penmont ("Penmont") were temporarily suspended following an illegal stoppage by a very small group of Penmont's unionized personnel.

The stoppage, which prevented site access for other workers, was not approved by the union, nor supported by the vast majority of unionized workers at Herradura, with whom Penmont has a very constructive and long-term relationship, the company said in a statement.

Fresnillo noted it confirms the stoppage has now ended and workers have returned safely to the site, with all production activities having re-started immediately, adding that all environmental monitoring and other safety measures were retained during the temporary suspension.

Importantly, the company said the stoppage is not expected to have a material impact on overall production (estimated to be around 1% of total sales volume in terms of annual equivalent gold ounces).

As such, there is no change to our 2023 full year production guidance, Fresnillo said.

Herradura is one of Mexicos largest open-pit gold mines, producing 55.0% of the groups total gold (2022) and generating 24.4% of total adjusted revenue.

Fresnillo is the world's largest primary silver producer and Mexico's largest gold producer.
FRANKFURT, May 15 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank said on Monday it had fined Goldman Sachs' (GS.N) European unit 6.63 million euros ($7.3 million) for underreporting the risk associated with some corporate credit, thereby flattering its balance sheet.

The ECB, the euro zone's top banking supervisor, said Goldman Sachs Bank Europe misclassified some corporate exposures for eight straight quarters in 2019-21, assigning a lower risk to them than the rules prescribe.

Goldman Sachs did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It can challenge the ECBs decision before the Court of Justice of the European Union.

"Deficiencies in internal controls prevented the bank from detecting this mistake in a timely manner," the ECB said.

"The bank reported wrongly calculated figures to the ECB, therefore preventing the ECB from having a comprehensive view of its risk profile," it added in a statement.

So called risk weights determine how much capital a bank needs to cover the risk associated with an asset.

By attaching lower risk weights to some assets, Goldman Sachs Bank Europe "reported higher capital ratios than it should have done", the ECB said.

It classified the breach as "severe", the third most serious category out of five.

($1 = 0.9084 euros)
May 12 (Reuters) - Shares of major U.S. regional banks booked slim gains in premarket trading on Friday, a day after getting hammered by deposit declines at PacWest and a banking regulator's decision to impose a fee on uninsured deposits.

PacWest Bancorp (PACW.O) recovered 5% after losing over a fifth of its market value on Thursday. The Los-Angeles-based lender had also disclosed posting $5.1 billion more in collateral to the U.S. Federal Reserve to boost its liquidity.

"More U.S. banks have been in the market crosshairs... despite many of the pressured banks having generally solid credit fundamentals," DBRS Morningstar analysts said.

"In our view, these fears are likely to persist until U.S. authorities revamp deposit insurance or place a temporary prohibition on short-selling."

Comerica Inc (CMA.N), Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB.O) and KeyCorp (KEY.N) also rose between 1.2% and 3%.

Beaten-down shares of Western Alliance Bancorp (WAL.N) got some respite too, inching up nearly 3%. The bank's stock had dipped just 0.8% on Thursday, less than other industry peers, after it said total deposits jumped $600 million in the week to May 9.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) said on Thursday it will charge lenders with a special assessment fee of 0.125% on uninsured deposits in excess of $5 billion.

But analysts suggested that the FDIC's fees were no cause for concern.

"While the special assessment is meaningful in terms of dollars overall to the industry, it is not as meaningful on a per-bank basis," Raymond James analysts wrote in a note.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Intervals of clouds and sunshine. Areas of smoke and haze are possible, reducing visibility at times. High near 70F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Clear. Low 42F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Thunder possible. Low 56F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Thunder possible. Low 56F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo speaks at a news conference on recent enforcement actions against cryptocurrency at the U.S. Justice Department Building on January 18 in Washington, DC.
The sentencing of Leung comes at a time when relations between Beijing and Washington are at their lowest point in half a century.
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BlackRock Income Trust, Inc. (NYSE:BKT  Get Rating) was the target of a large increase in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 7,600 shares, an increase of 31.0% from the April 15th total of 5,800 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 58,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days.

BlackRock Income Trust Stock Performance

Shares of BlackRock Income Trust stock traded down $0.14 during trading on Friday, reaching $12.48. The company had a trading volume of 122,245 shares, compared to its average volume of 62,170. The firms fifty day moving average is $12.60 and its 200-day moving average is $12.64. BlackRock Income Trust has a fifty-two week low of $11.60 and a fifty-two week high of $14.46.

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BlackRock Income Trust Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 31st. Investors of record on Monday, May 15th will be given a dividend of $0.0882 per share. This represents a $1.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.48%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 12th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On BlackRock Income Trust

BlackRock Income Trust Company Profile

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of BKT. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of BlackRock Income Trust during the 1st quarter valued at about $98,000. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of BlackRock Income Trust by 85.4% during the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 52,630 shares of the companys stock valued at $270,000 after buying an additional 24,244 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. bought a new stake in shares of BlackRock Income Trust during the 1st quarter valued at about $385,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its position in BlackRock Income Trust by 67.4% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 39,001 shares of the companys stock worth $200,000 after purchasing an additional 15,700 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Centaurus Financial Inc. bought a new position in BlackRock Income Trust in the 1st quarter worth about $68,000.

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BlackRock Income Trust, Inc is a closed-end investment fund. Its investment objective is to provide total return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation. The company was founded on July 31, 1988 and is headquartered in Wilmington, DE.

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Dominos Pizza Enterprises Limited (OTCMKTS:DPZUF  Get Rating) saw a large increase in short interest in the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 67,400 shares, an increase of 18.9% from the April 15th total of 56,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently  days.

Dominos Pizza Enterprises Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS DPZUF opened at $34.11 on Monday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $49.15 and its 200 day simple moving average is $46.58. Dominos Pizza Enterprises has a 52-week low of $34.11 and a 52-week high of $35.21.

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Domino's Pizza Enterprises Limited operates retail food outlets. The company holds franchise rights for the Domino's brand in Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Japan, Germany, Luxembourg, Denmark, and Taiwan. It operates a network of 3,396 stores. Domino's Pizza Enterprises Limited was founded in 1983 and is based in Brisbane, Australia.

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Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund (NYSE:NNY  Get Rating) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 18,700 shares, a decline of 27.8% from the April 15th total of 25,900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 25,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.7 days.

Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund Price Performance

NYSE:NNY traded up $0.01 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $8.61. 13,221 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 36,805. Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund has a twelve month low of $7.95 and a twelve month high of $8.98. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $8.49 and a 200 day moving average of $8.43.

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Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Investors of record on Monday, May 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.028 per share. This represents a $0.34 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.90%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 12th.

Institutional Trading of Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund

About Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. MinichMacGregor Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Avestar Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund during the 4th quarter valued at about $83,000. Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund during the 2nd quarter valued at about $85,000. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund during the 4th quarter valued at about $84,000. Finally, Advisor Group Holdings Inc. boosted its position in shares of Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund by 13.5% during the 4th quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 12,823 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $105,000 after acquiring an additional 1,527 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 13.20% of the companys stock.

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Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund, Inc is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments, Inc The fund is co-managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC. It invests in the fixed income markets of New York. The fund invests in tax exempt municipal bonds, with a rating of Baa/BBB or higher.

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Shares of Ormat Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:ORA  Get Rating) have been given a consensus recommendation of Hold by the nine research firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, five have issued a hold recommendation and two have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $92.33.

Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. UBS Group upgraded shares of Ormat Technologies from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the company from $103.00 to $105.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Citigroup cut their price objective on shares of Ormat Technologies from $91.00 to $88.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, March 27th. Oppenheimer reduced their price objective on shares of Ormat Technologies from $106.00 to $96.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 24th. Roth Mkm reduced their price objective on shares of Ormat Technologies from $104.00 to $93.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 27th. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of Ormat Technologies from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 15th.

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Institutional Trading of Ormat Technologies

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. US Bancorp DE grew its stake in Ormat Technologies by 10.5% in the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 3,963 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $324,000 after purchasing an additional 375 shares during the last quarter. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Ormat Technologies in the first quarter valued at approximately $360,000. Bank of Montreal Can raised its stake in shares of Ormat Technologies by 2.5% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 14,424 shares of the energy companys stock worth $1,150,000 after buying an additional 355 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Ormat Technologies by 57.7% during the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 24,095 shares of the energy companys stock worth $1,972,000 after buying an additional 8,812 shares during the period. Finally, BlackRock Inc. increased its position in shares of Ormat Technologies by 0.5% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 4,650,385 shares of the energy companys stock worth $380,541,000 after purchasing an additional 20,844 shares in the last quarter. 81.74% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Ormat Technologies Stock Performance

ORA opened at $83.88 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 1.33, a quick ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. The companys fifty day moving average price is $84.82 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $88.38. Ormat Technologies has a 1-year low of $67.28 and a 1-year high of $101.81. The company has a market cap of $4.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 71.69, a PEG ratio of 4.49 and a beta of 0.46.

Ormat Technologies (NYSE:ORA  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 9th. The energy company reported $0.51 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.49 by $0.02. Ormat Technologies had a net margin of 8.97% and a return on equity of 4.60%. The firm had revenue of $185.20 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $212.86 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.35 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up .8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that Ormat Technologies will post 1.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ormat Technologies Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.12 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 22nd. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.57%. Ormat Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 41.03%.

Ormat Technologies Company Profile

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Ormat Technologies, Inc operates as a holding company. The firm engages in the geothermal and recovered energy power businesses. It operates through the following segments: Electricity, Product and Energy Storage. The Electricity segment focuses on the sale of electricity from the companys power plants pursuant to power purchase agreements.

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StockNews.com cut shares of Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (NYSE:TLK  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report issued on Thursday morning.

Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk Stock Down 2.4 %

NYSE TLK opened at $27.03 on Thursday. Perusahaan Perseroan has a 52 week low of $23.02 and a 52 week high of $31.95. The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $27.66 and its 200-day simple moving average is $26.09. The firm has a market cap of $24.34 billion, a PE ratio of 18.26, a P/E/G ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.62.

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Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (NYSE:TLK  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, March 24th. The utilities provider reported $0.29 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $2.69 billion for the quarter. Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk had a return on equity of 14.51% and a net margin of 14.21%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Perusahaan Perseroan will post 1.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk

About Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA raised its stake in shares of Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk by 120.2% during the first quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 784 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 428 shares during the last quarter. Credit Suisse AG lifted its position in Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk by 121.4% during the third quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 870 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 477 shares during the period. Wipfli Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk in the 3rd quarter valued at about $31,000. Pittenger & Anderson Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk during the 3rd quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, Mascoma Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 4.04% of the companys stock.

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PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk is a holding company, which engages in the provision of telecommunications, information, and technology services. It operates through the following segments: Mobile, Consumer, Enterprise, Wholesale and International Business (WIB), and Others. The Mobile segment provides mobile voice, SMS, value added services and, mobile broadband.

Further Reading

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Shares of Rightmove plc (LON:RMV  Get Rating) have been assigned an average rating of Hold from the eleven ratings firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is GBX 581.67 ($7.34).

RMV has been the topic of a number of research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Rightmove from GBX 590 ($7.44) to GBX 530 ($6.69) and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 7th. Citigroup restated a sell rating on shares of Rightmove in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. Barclays restated an underweight rating and set a GBX 555 ($7.00) target price on shares of Rightmove in a research report on Monday, March 6th. HSBC upgraded Rightmove to a buy rating and upped their target price for the company from GBX 530 ($6.69) to GBX 645 ($8.14) in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Finally, Liberum Capital cut their target price on Rightmove from GBX 705 ($8.90) to GBX 660 ($8.33) and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 6th.

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Rightmove Stock Performance

Shares of RMV stock opened at GBX 560.20 ($7.07) on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of 4.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 2,442.61, a P/E/G ratio of 2.58 and a beta of 0.82. Rightmove has a twelve month low of GBX 437.80 ($5.52) and a twelve month high of GBX 669 ($8.44). The company has a quick ratio of 2.55, a current ratio of 2.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 14.04. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is GBX 561.85 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 554.84.

Rightmove Increases Dividend

About Rightmove

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 26th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 27th will be issued a dividend of GBX 5.20 ($0.07) per share. This represents a yield of 0.92%. This is a positive change from Rightmoves previous dividend of $3.30. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 27th. Rightmoves dividend payout ratio is 3,913.04%.

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Rightmove plc, together with its subsidiaries, operates property portals in the United Kingdom and internationally. It operates through Agency, New Homes, and Other segments. The Agency segment provides property resale and letting advertising services on its platforms. It also offers tenant references and rent guarantee insurance services to landlords.

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Saturna Capital CORP cut its holdings in shares of Johnson Controls International plc (NYSE:JCI  Get Rating) by 0.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,724,911 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,743 shares during the quarter. Johnson Controls International makes up approximately 2.4% of Saturna Capital CORPs holdings, making the stock its 12th largest holding. Saturna Capital CORP owned about 0.25% of Johnson Controls International worth $110,394,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of JCI. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Johnson Controls International by 1.3% in the 4th quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 221,380 shares of the companys stock valued at $14,168,000 after acquiring an additional 2,865 shares during the last quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont boosted its position in Johnson Controls International by 58.9% during the 4th quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 2,480 shares of the companys stock worth $159,000 after acquiring an additional 919 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP boosted its position in Johnson Controls International by 10.2% during the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,956,208 shares of the companys stock worth $125,200,000 after acquiring an additional 180,784 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in Johnson Controls International by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 880,771 shares of the companys stock worth $58,133,000 after acquiring an additional 21,707 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in Johnson Controls International by 2.3% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 4,198,580 shares of the companys stock worth $268,719,000 after acquiring an additional 95,882 shares during the period. 88.76% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Johnson Controls International Stock Up 0.6 %

Johnson Controls International stock traded up $0.35 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $62.38. The companys stock had a trading volume of 706,875 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,680,161. The firms 50 day moving average is $59.56 and its 200 day moving average is $63.18. The company has a market cap of $42.80 billion, a PE ratio of 30.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 0.78. Johnson Controls International plc has a 52-week low of $45.52 and a 52-week high of $69.60.

Johnson Controls International Increases Dividend

Johnson Controls International ( NYSE:JCI Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 5th. The company reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.73 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $6.69 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.51 billion. Johnson Controls International had a return on equity of 13.07% and a net margin of 5.33%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.63 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Johnson Controls International plc will post 3.56 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 20th were issued a $0.36 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 17th. This represents a $1.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.31%. This is a positive change from Johnson Controls Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. Johnson Controls Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 71.64%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. Barclays reduced their price target on Johnson Controls International from $73.00 to $70.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. StockNews.com upgraded Johnson Controls International from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, May 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Johnson Controls International from $70.00 to $72.00 in a report on Monday, May 8th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Johnson Controls International from $69.00 to $65.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. Finally, Oppenheimer decreased their target price on Johnson Controls International from $76.00 to $72.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 2nd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $69.31.

Insider Buying and Selling at Johnson Controls International

In other news, VP John Donofrio sold 14,253 shares of Johnson Controls International stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.02, for a total transaction of $898,224.06. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 37,090 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,337,411.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, VP John Donofrio sold 14,253 shares of Johnson Controls International stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.02, for a total transaction of $898,224.06. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 37,090 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,337,411.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Olivier Leonetti sold 30,997 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.36, for a total value of $1,932,972.92. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 101,757 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,345,566.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.71% of the companys stock.

Johnson Controls International Company Profile

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Johnson Controls International Plc engages in the provision of building products, energy solutions, integrated infrastructure and next generation transportation systems. Its technology and service capabilities include fire, security, HVAC, power solutions and energy storage to serve various end markets including large institutions, commercial buildings, retail, industrial, small business and residential.

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StockNews.com downgraded shares of U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB  Get Rating) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report released on Friday morning.

USB has been the topic of several other research reports. Piper Sandler lowered their price objective on shares of U.S. Bancorp from $57.00 to $53.00 in a report on Friday, March 10th. Robert W. Baird upgraded shares of U.S. Bancorp from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $52.00 price target for the company in a research report on Monday, March 20th. Argus reduced their price target on shares of U.S. Bancorp from $63.00 to $58.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of U.S. Bancorp from $46.00 to $43.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on shares of U.S. Bancorp from $55.00 to $49.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $50.35.

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U.S. Bancorp Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:USB opened at $29.13 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $34.94 and a 200-day moving average of $41.80. The stock has a market capitalization of $44.65 billion, a PE ratio of 7.75, a PEG ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90. U.S. Bancorp has a 12 month low of $27.27 and a 12 month high of $53.37.

U.S. Bancorp Dividend Announcement

U.S. Bancorp ( NYSE:USB Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The financial services provider reported $1.04 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.13 by ($0.09). The business had revenue of $7.18 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.14 billion. U.S. Bancorp had a return on equity of 16.70% and a net margin of 19.21%. The companys revenue was up 28.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.99 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that U.S. Bancorp will post 4.59 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 31st were given a dividend of $0.48 per share. This represents a $1.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.59%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 30th. U.S. Bancorps payout ratio is currently 51.06%.

Insider Activity

In other U.S. Bancorp news, Director Scott W. Wine purchased 30,438 shares of U.S. Bancorp stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 28th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $32.85 per share, with a total value of $999,888.30. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 30,438 shares of the companys stock, valued at $999,888.30. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. In related news, Director Scott W. Wine acquired 30,438 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $32.85 per share, with a total value of $999,888.30. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 30,438 shares in the company, valued at approximately $999,888.30. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Alan B. Colberg acquired 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, April 21st. The shares were bought at an average cost of $34.14 per share, with a total value of $341,400.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 10,050 shares in the company, valued at $343,107. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders acquired 76,698 shares of company stock valued at $2,446,082 in the last quarter. 0.24% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Prospera Financial Services Inc lifted its position in U.S. Bancorp by 89.9% in the first quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc now owns 107,309 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,869,000 after buying an additional 50,812 shares during the last quarter. All Terrain Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of U.S. Bancorp by 2.1% during the first quarter. All Terrain Financial Advisors LLC now owns 73,431 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,647,000 after purchasing an additional 1,488 shares during the last quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. lifted its position in shares of U.S. Bancorp by 1.2% during the first quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 552,603 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $19,921,000 after purchasing an additional 6,614 shares during the last quarter. Wetherby Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of U.S. Bancorp by 3.1% during the first quarter. Wetherby Asset Management Inc. now owns 31,857 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,148,000 after purchasing an additional 952 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Smith Moore & CO. lifted its position in shares of U.S. Bancorp by 37.4% during the first quarter. Smith Moore & CO. now owns 27,334 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $985,000 after purchasing an additional 7,444 shares during the last quarter. 71.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

U.S. Bancorp Company Profile

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U.S. Bancorp operates as a bank holding company, which offers financial services including lending and depository services, cash management, foreign exchange and trust and investment management. The firm also offers mortgage, refinance, auto, boat and RV loans, credit lines, credit card services, merchant, bank, checking and savings accounts, debit cards, online and mobile banking, ATM processing, mortgage banking, insurance, brokerage and leasing services.

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Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming cloudy with periods of rain later in the day. High near 75F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Rain ending early. Partial clearing late. Low near 45F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Garrett, IN (46738)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will give way to cloudy skies and rain during the afternoon. High 78F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Rain early. Decreasing clouds overnight. Low around 45F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will give way to cloudy skies and rain during the afternoon. High 74F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Cloudy and damp with rain early...then becoming partly cloudy. Low near 45F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
TWICE Mina and Momo showed their power and influence by amassing 5 million views with just a 10-second clip!

In their recent concert, the two idols took the internet by storm after DOING this.

TWICE Mina, Momo's 10-second Clip Earns 5 Million Views For Seductive Twerk Dance

On May 14, Mina and Momo sent the internet into whiplash after their 10-second video went viral on social media.

The clip was taken during the Australia leg of their tour "TWICE 5th World Tour - READY TO BE," held on May 2, 3, 6 and 7.

In the video, TWICE was on their encore stage, singing "Say Something," when Mina started rolling her hips. Nayeon just laughed at her, but Momo suddenly started moving and wiggling her hips as well, performing an impromptu seductive dance.

tlqkf     pic.twitter.com/37qsCFxPI2   (@mykzzu) May 9, 2023

As the two Japanese idols enjoyed the dance, the other members including Jeongyeon decided to join them as well, making the spectators cheer for them loudly.

As soon as the video was shared by a fan on Twitter, it immediately surpassed 5 million views, despite it being a 10-second clip only.

Aside from the overwhelming views, the video has about 33k likes, 26.5k retweets, and more than 8.25k quote tweets as well.

People were particularly impressed by the two for showing a sexy dance beautifully.

As a result, numerous fans left comments such as:

"So hot!"

"I feel like a pervert because of Mina."

"Mimo (Mina & Momo) power is so strong."

"Body goals."

"Momo got me enchanted."

"I can't stop watching it."

TWICE Wraps Up 'READY TO BE - Australia' Tour Leg

On the other hand, TWICE heated up and completed their concert schedules in Australia.

After opening its "TWICE's fifth world tour  READY TO BE" at KSPO DOME in Songpa-gu, Seoul on April 15 and 16, the nonet has been visiting various continents to meet their global fans.

In May, the team specifically had four performances in Australia, including in Sydney and Melbourne (two days each), and it marked the group's first solo concert in Australia since debut, making it more meaningful.

With the huge demand to see TWICE, both Sydney and Melbourne performances, which were originally scheduled to be held once, were sold out at the same time as tickets were opened. Thus, the company, artists and organizer agreed to make both stages a 2-day concert. Once again, the tickets for day two rapidly sold out.

Currently, the group is in Japan to have four performances: two in Osaka and two in Tokyo.

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Eunice Dawson.
New Delhi [India], May 15 (ANI): India's overall exports in the just concluded financial year 2022-2023 were worth USD 775.87 billion, a growth of over 14 per cent and almost USD 100 billion more than last year's figures, official data released by commerce ministry showed on Monday. In 2021-22, the overall exports were at USD 676.53 billion.

In 2022-23, India's merchandise and services exports rose 6.74 per cent and 27.86 per cent to USD 450.43 billion and USD 325.44 billion, respectively.

Also Read | Deepika Padukone, Shehnaaz Gill & Other Beauties In Love With Chikankari Sarees.

Among various steps the government took was to launch a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme in varied sectors, including electronic goods, to make Indian manufacturers globally competitive, attract investments, enhance exports, integrate India into the global supply chain and reduce dependency on imports. These seemed to have reaped dividends.

Coming to April 2023-24, overall exports were a little higher year-on-year at USD 65.02 billion, up from USD 63.75 billion in the same month last year.

Also Read | Cryptocurrency Scandal in South Korea: Upbit, Bithumb Crypto Exchanges Raided by Authorities.

India's merchandise imports in April declined by 14 per cent to USD 49.90 billion as against USD 58.06 billion. April's merchandise imports were the lowest in the last 21 months.

India's imports from China in April were 5.56 per cent lower at USD 7.5 billion.

Similarly, imports declined from UAE, USA, and Saudi Arabia. The decline from these Middle east countries is mainly on account of cooling crude oil prices. (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 15 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday emphasized the need to study old and least controversial laws during the process of converting government policies into laws.

He said, "Writing is a skill and punctuation marks should be used with great care and skill in legislative drafting."

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Amit Shah said, "While writing the law, one should not hesitate to express the intention of the Legislature clearly, without ambiguity, in simple and clear words."

Shah's remarks came while inaugurating a training program on Legislative Drafting organized by the Institute of Constitutional and Parliamentary Studies (ICPS) in collaboration with the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE) for officers of Parliament, state legislatures, various ministries, statutory bodies and other government departments in the national capital.

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In his address, Shah said, "Legislative drafting is a crucial component of our democracy and lack of knowledge about it not only weakens the laws but the entire democratic system and it also affects the functioning of the judiciary."

"It is very important for any democratic country that its legislative drafting skills keep upgrading and becoming more efficient with time," he further remarked.

"The Constitution of India is considered to be the most perfect Constitution in the world and the people who framed it not only incorporated the country's traditional democratic values but also tried to modernize it according to the needs of contemporary times," Shah added.

According to Shah, there are three main pillars of democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary and our Constitution framers built our entire democratic governance system on these three pillars.

Shah said, "The function of the Legislative Department is to formulate the political will of the Parliament and the Union Cabinet into law."

"The function of the Legislative Department is to provide a legal format to the political will and ways to solve the problems of the people and different needs of the country and for this reason, drafting attains great importance," he added.

"If the drafting is better, it will be easier to educate about the law with minimal chances of errors by the executive. If grey areas are left in the drafting, it would lead to encroachment in interpretation, while, if the drafting is complete and lucid, its interpretation would also be clear," Shah said.

Noting that the Parliament is the most powerful organ of the government and its strength is the law, Shah said, "Legislative drafting is the most important method of governing any country in a good way."

Shah later said, "While translating Parliament's and people's will into law, many things have to be taken into account, such as the Constitution, customs, culture, historical heritage, structure of governance, society, Socio-Economic Development of the country and International Treaties.

"Legislative Drafting is not a science or an art, but it is a skill which has to be used with spirit. The focus should always be on minimizing the grey areas and the law should be clear. During the process of converting government policies into laws, it is necessary to study the old and least controversial laws," he added.

"Writing is a skill and punctuation marks should be used with great care and skill in legislative drafting," Shah noted.

Apart from this, Shah said, "The draftsman should also have a good command over language because it is very important to reflect the spirit of our language. Every language has a limit and mere translation of the words will not work, but the translation of the spirit should be done."

Pointing out that capacity building is a continuous process, Shah said "It is very important to upgrade the skills of the law-drafting team in every department of the Parliament, state legislature of the states."

"The world is changing very fast and we have to keep pace with the changing world and also mould our laws according to the needs of today. If we are not so open, we will become obsolete and irrelevant," he remarked.

"Drafting should be done in as simple and clear words as possible because a law drafted in cliched words always creates controversy. The more simple and clear the law is in words, the more it remains undisputed," he added.

Shah said that making such a law that the court does not need to intervene is a medal for drafting a good law, and that "our aim should be to draft the law in simple and clear language."

Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has worked a lot in the field of laws and since 2015 till now it has done the work of repealing thousands of irrelevant laws.

He said, "By doing this, the government led by Prime Minister Modi, has done the work of liberating the lawyers, society and courts from the jungle of laws."

"The government led by PM Modi has also enacted many laws in accordance with the time in the interest of the country," Shah added.

Several dignitaries including Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla were present on the occasion. (ANI)

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New Delhi [India], May 15 (ANI): Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested the main accused of the 'Chenu Pehlwan gang' involved in the sensational murder-cum-dacoity case of the Civil Lines area on Sunday, officials said.

According to the Special Commissioner of Police, Ravinder Yadav, the crime branch arrested a sharpshooter of 'Chenu Gang' identified as Mohit Chauhan (26), a native of Chaman Vihar area of Loni in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.

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"Chouhan is the main accused in the murder cum dacoity case of Civil Lines area and was previously involved in 19 criminal cases which include 394/397/302/34 sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), sections 27/54/59 of the Arms Act of PS Civil Lines, Delhi and also in an armed robbery case of Police Station Gulabi Bagh, Delhi," officials said.

"He was arrested near the Rajputana Dhaba of Bulandshahar on the Aligarh Highway," they said.

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According to Delhi Police, the Chenu Gang led by Irfan Pehlwan is notorious for looting businessmen carrying large amounts of cash operated in the area of Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh and other nearby areas in Delhi with their main target to rob the carriers transporting huge cash.

"On May 8 an incident of murder cum robbery took place in the area of Police Station Civil Lines wherein the victim was shot dead by armed robbers. Secret information was received that a suspect named Mohit Chauhan, the main shooter in the case of PS Civil Lines, would come to his uncle's Dhaba in Bulandshahr on a motorcycle," the officials stated.

Accordingly, through manual intelligence and technical surveillance, the raiding party laid a trap near Rajputana Dhaba, Bulandshahr - Aligarh Highway and watched for the movement of suspect Mohit Chauhan. The suspect Mohit Chauhan came on a motorcycle and was identified through his photographs. The team immediately swung into action and apprehended the accused.

During interrogation, the accused Mohit Chauhan disclosed that he along with his 5 other gang members identified as Fahim, Sammu, Sehnawaz, Alam and Javed alias Thekedar robbed the victim, who was coming out of the market.

The Police said, "On the day of the incident, Mohit Chauhan and Alam chased the target victim on a scooty and intercepted him near Aruna Asif Hospital, Civil Lines, Delhi. When accused Mohit Chauhan and Alam tried to rob the victim, he resisted and did not hand over the bag. Eventually, Mohit Chauhan fired 3 rounds at the victim in order to grab the bag and fled from the place of the incident."

Further, he disclosed that he along with his partners Fahim, and Sammu committed a robbery of Rs 16 lakh in the area of PS Gulabi Bagh, Delhi in December 2022.

Further investigation revealed that the main accused, Mohit Chauhan had studied upto class 12 and is also an ITI diploma holder. He came into the crime world through his known person Rashid Khan as he lost money in Bitcoin Trading. When he went to jail, he met other criminals and started committing crimes, officials said. (ANI)

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New Delhi, May 15 (PTI) Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Defence, has reached a milestone with the signing of its 250th contract on Monday, officials said.

This was also the first contract signed under Mission DefSpace, the ministry said in a statement.

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"The first iDEX contract of Mission DefSpace was exchanged between Additional Secretary (Defence Production) and CEO Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) T Natarajan, and CEO, InspeCity, Arindrajit Chowdhary, one of the winners of the challenge 'Micropropulsion system for cubesats'. This challenge is being led by the Defence Space Agency," the ministry said in the statement.

It said iDEX has "reached a milestone with the signing of its 250th contract - first under Mission DefSpace - and 100th SPRINT (Navy) contract in New Delhi on May 15".

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The contracts were signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and other senior civil and military officials.

Cubesats are a class of small satellites which are modular, low-cost, easy to manufacture, integrate, and launch, and form a critical component for launch-on-demand capabilities.

For imagery, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance communication purposes, cubesats need to be precisely aligned, hence there is a requirement of a compact micropropulsion system for precise manoeuvring and orbit correction, according to the statement.

InspeCity is developing a gas-based system for this purpose. This technology, once developed, can be integrated with other satellites, including the cubesat swarm being developed under Mission DefSpace, it added.

Recognising the strategic significance of the space domain, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched Mission DefSpace with 75 defence space challenges to be addressed by the private sector during DefExpo in Gandhinagar in October 2022. It aims to nurture the Indian private space industry through challenges addressing every stage of a space mission -- from mission planning to satellite data analytics, officials said.

"Siliconia Technologies Pvt Ltd is the winner of the challenge which envisaged the development of a prototype that is a lightweight ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) based communication system using software defined antenna for Low Earth Orbit, Medium Earth Orbit and Geostationary satellite communication. The solution by Siliconia can provide multiple independent receiver/ transmitter sources that are essential in phased-array radars, typically used in satellite tracking," it said.

It may be recalled that under the 'SPRINT' initiative, a total of 75 challenge statements for the Indian industry were unveiled by Prime Minister Modi during the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) seminar 'Swavlamban' on July 18, 2022.

The initiative aims at inducting at least 75 technologies and products into the Indian Navy by August 2023 as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the statement said.

"The iDEX achieved the milestone of signing its first and 50th iDEX SPRINT contracts under DISC-7 in October 2022 and January 2023 respectively and within a few months the 100th SPRINT (Navy) contract was exchanged," it added.

Till date, iDEX has received more than 7,500 applications from individual innovators, MSMEs and start-ups under various categories of challenges like DISC, Prime and Open Challenge. The iDEX has also been able to generate thousands of jobs and attract India's talent back to the country, the minstry said.

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New Delhi [India], May 15 (ANI): A 23-year-old woman allegedly died by suicide in Delhi's Jahangirpuri, said the police on Monday.

According to the police, during the initial enquiry, it was revealed that a woman aged 23 years died by suicide after she hung herself from a ceiling fan with a saree.

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"On receipt of PCR call on May 14 at about 6.40 pm regarding the suicide of a woman in Bhalswa village in Jahangirpuri, police staff immediately reached the spot", the police said.

The police also said that the deceased recently got married on April 22. "Legal proceedings under section 176 CrPC has been initiated in PS Jahangirpuri. Further medical opinion is yet to be obtained after postmortem", the police said.

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The police further informed that the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) was also called for necessary action.

Further enquiry is underway, the police added. (ANI)

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New Delhi [India], May 15 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to the Central Government on a plea of a Fugitive Criminal (FC) seeking interim bail for his mother's surgery. He is an accused in a case related to a minor's rape in the US. His extradition inquiry is pending before a Delhi Court.

Justice Amit Sharma issued notice to the Center in the plea moved on behalf of Ratnesh Bhutani. The matter has been listed tomorrow for a hearing. He has sought a four-week interim bail.

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Senior advocate Ramesh Gupta and advocate Arpit Batra appeared for the petitioner and submitted that his mother's surgery is fixed for May 21.

It was submitted that the interim bail was granted in January 2023 on the ground of the illness of his mother.

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Delhi's Patiala House Court on May 10 dismissed the plea of a Fugitive Criminal (FC) seeking an extension of interim bail in view of his conduct of filing his fake Covid-positive report.

The court directed him to surrender before the jail authorities.

While declining the relief, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Swati Sharma said, " It is now clear that the FC placed on record his false/fake covid positive report which resulted in grant of some more time to him to remain with his family and look after his parents."

Therefore, in the opinion of this Court, considering the conduct of FC in placing on record the false/fake covid positive report and absence of any immediate medical intervention, no ground is made out to grant him interim bail. Hence, his application seeking interim bail stands dismissed, the court said.

The court had also said, "Moreover, the general medical condition of parents of FC had been duly considered by the Delhi High Court and still the prayer of extension of interim bail was rejected."

The Court pointed out that the surgery of his mother was scheduled to be performed on April 30, 2023, but due to the false/fake covid positive report of his mother, the surgery could not be performed.

"Even though she may have tested covid positive subsequently, as informed by the counsel for FC, however, the said report is not verified yet, so it cannot be relied upon considering the previous conduct of FC," the court said in the order passed on May 10.

Be that as it may, the surgery of his mother is again scheduled for May 21, 2023, which will again depend on certain factors like her general condition stability of vitals etc., therefore, it is not certain whether the surgery is going to actually take place on May 21, 2023, the court had said.

"Considering the entire facts and circumstances of the case, this court is of the opinion that even if the medical document of the mother of FC have been verified and the concerned doctor has certified that his mother needs surgery then also no ground is made out to enlarge himon interim bail," it opined.

The FC was initially granted interim bail by the High Court of Delhi which was entended subsequently.

Finally, the application for further extension of interim bail was dismissed on April 17, 2023, and the FC was granted liberty to move an appropriate application before the concerned Trial Court in case of any urgent need for surgery of his parents.

The counsel for FC submitted a letter of April 15, 2023, issued by the treating doctor of the mother of FC as per which the surgery of the mother of FC was scheduled for April 30, 2023.

He also placed on record the RTPCR positive report of FC for SARS-COV-2.

The Court directed counsel for Union Of India to verify both the medical documents furnished by FC and gave 10 days' time for the same as per their request.

On May 1, 2023, the counsel for the Union Of India filed the verification report. As per the verification report, the concerned testing lab Kantvam Healthcare informed that "currently we are not operational and not processing the sample in our lab from February month."

The counsel for FC on May 1, 2023 itself also placed on record the covid positive report of FC's mother issued from the same lab. The counsel for UOI got it verified and again the concerned lab gave the report that "currently we are not operational and not processing the sample on our lab from February month".

Ratnesh is an accused in a case of rape of a minor in the USA in 2005. He was arrested from Agra in 2021 after a run of around 17 years in the inputs US police through Interpol.

A request for his extradition is pending before the concerned court in New Delhi. (ANI)

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New Delhi [India], May 15 (ANI): The Rouse Avenue Court on Monday sent Arvind Kumar Singh, the then commercial head of a Noida-based private news channel to CBI remand till May 18.

He was arrested recently arrested in connection with the ongoing Delhi excise police case.

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The CBI accused Singh was involved in the Hawala money trail from June 2021 to July 2022.

Singh was Monday produced before Special Judge MK Nagpal on Monday after the end of his CBI remand.

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After noting the CBI submission, the court extended his CBI remand till May 18.

"This court is of the considered opinion that some further custodial interrogation from the accused is required and his confrontation with the other documentary as well as digital evidence, which has come on record during the investigation of the case, is also required. Therefore, he is being further remanded to the custody of CBI till May 18," the court noted.

CBI submitted that during the period of 2 days of CBI custody, the accused was further interrogated and confronted by some witnesses, but his confrontation is still at the initial stage and it will take some time.

It has also been submitted that the mobile phone of the accused has already been taken into possession. Some incriminating data in the form of Whatsapp chats and calls have been found from the said mobile phone. He is also required to be confronted with the above digital and other documentary evidence seized during the course of an investigation conducted so far.

According to the CBI, the investigation qua him is still at a nascent stage and adequate time and opportunity are required to be given to the Investigation officer to conduct it and to comprehensively interrogate the accused and to question him with regard to all such oral and documentary evidence that has surfaced against him so far.

The ED and the CBI have alleged that irregularities were committed while modifying the Excise Policy, undue favours were extended to licence holders, the licence fee was waived or reduced and the L-1 licence was extended without the competent authority's approval.

The beneficiaries diverted "illegal" gains to the accused officials and made false entries in their books of account to evade detection.

An alleged, the Excise Department had decided to refund the Earnest Money Deposit of about Rs 30 crore to a successful tenderer against the set rules. Even though there was no enabling provision, a waiver on tendered licence fees was allowed from December 28, 2021, to January 27, 2022, due to COVID-19.

This allegedly caused a loss of Rs 144.36 crore to the exchequer, which has been instituted on a reference from the Union Home Ministry following a recommendation from Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena. (ANI)

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New Delhi, May 15 (PTI) Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud hailed Justice M R Shah, who demitted office as a Supreme Court judge on Monday, as "Tiger Shah" and said his "practical wisdom and excellent advice" helped the collegium greatly in making decisions.

Speaking at a farewell function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association, the CJI appreciated Justice Shah's "receptive and open nature" and said he adapted to technology quickly due to which complete paperless hearing could took place in the constitution bench.

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The chief justice said he calls Justice Shah as "Tiger Shah" for his courage and fighting spirit.

"Justice Shah's entry into the collegium on November 9, 2022 coincided with my own appointment as chief justice on that day.... He has been a solid colleague for me in the collegium, full of practical wisdom. He was full of excellent advice which helped us greatly when we made first seven appointments in a short span of time," Chandrachud said.

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The CJI also appreciated Justice Shah for his "receptive and open nature" and said he adapted to technology quickly due to which complete paperless hearing took place in the constitution bench cases.

Quoting music legend Bob Dylan, the CJI said, "When the winds of changes shift/ May your heart always be joyful/May your song always be sung/May you stay forever young."

The CJI also quoted Pakistani poet Obaidullah Aleem and said, "Aankh se dur sahi dil se kahan jayega, jaane wale tu hamein yaad bahut ayega."

An emotional Justice Shah thanked the Bar for the farewell function and said he had performed his duties without fear, favour or ill-will.

"It is the duty of everyone that timely justice is granted. It is request of everyone to get out of adjournment culture and not ask any unnecessary adjournments. My another advice to young lawyers is not to become a mentioning or adjournment lawyer. Prepare yourself.

"Please do not waste your time in bar room or canteen. You should be in court to learn decorum, manners. Learn from seniors, know your judges, work hard. There is no alternative to hard work. I am an example of hard work," he said.

Justice Shah said parting is always painful.

"I have played my innings very well. I have always followed my conscience. I have always believed in God and karma. I have never expected anything...I always followed the Gita," he said.

Justice Shah quoted former prime minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee and said, "Jo kal the, woh aaj nahi hai. Jo aaj hai woh kal nahi honge. Hone na hone ka kram issi tarah chalta rahega. Ham hain, ham rahenge, yeh bhram bhi sada chalta rahega."

Supreme Court Bar Association president and senior advocate Vikas Singh said Justice Shah was very inspiring, especially to young and first-generation lawyers.

Attorney General R Venkataramani also spoke on the occasion.

With the retirement of Justice Shah, who was appointed to the top court on November 2, 2018, the number of judges in the top court will now come down to 32, including the CJI. A day before, Justice Dinesh Maheshwari demitted office.

The apex court has the sanctioned strength of 34 judges.

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Palghar, May 15 (PTI) A 20-year-old woman and her 19-year-old boyfriend allegedly ended their lives in Maharashtra's Palghar district after entering into a "suicide pact" as they feared their families would not approve of their relationship, police said on Monday.

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A passer-by on Sunday evening spotted the bodies hanging from a tree on a hill in Talasari area and alerted local police, they said.

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The police rushed to the spot and sent the bodies to a government hospital for postmortem, Talasari police station house officer said.

The duo had a constant fear that their families might not accept their relationship. They entered into a "suicide pact" and allegedly hanged themselves from a tree in the hill area, the official said.

A case of accidental death has been registered, an official from Palghar rural police control room told PTI.

A probe was on into the case, the police added.

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Chandel (Manipur) [India], May 15 (ANI): The Assam Rifles on Monday rescued 96 people stranded in violence-hit Manipur near the India-Myanmar border in an air evacuation operation.

Normalcy is slowly returning to Manipur after the violence which left 70 people dead and 1,700 houses burnt down.

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All 96 people were rehabilitated at Assam Rifles Camp.

Owing to the remoteness of Assam Rifles Camp and keeping the comfort of the locals supreme, air evacuation using Air Force MI 17 helicopters was considered inescapable.

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Security, medical, food, accommodation and telecommunication needs for interaction with their kith and kin back home were met during the stay with Assam Rifles.

In another operation, Assam Rifles rescued 45 visually impaired students and supporting staff of Mission Blind School, Kakching, amidst the clashes in Manipur in the first week of May.

The public relations officer (Defence), Kohima and Imphal said that based on the request of K Parenag Kom, Principal of Mission Blind School, one security column of Assam Rifles was launched to rescue the stranded visually impaired children and supporting staff.

"They were safely extricated and escorted to Kakching garrison where they were provided solace, food and shelter. Finally, Assam Rifles in coordination with family members took the initiative of despatching these children back to their homes safely through dedicated columns on May 13," the PRO said.

"Assam Rifles' initiative in reuniting these stranded children and staff with their kith & kin was deeply acknowledged by Kom, and their parents. They expressed their gratitude and appreciated the efforts taken by Assam Rifles in these trying times," he added.

A curfew was imposed on May 3 after violence broke out in Manipur. The State government clamped down on the use of the internet and mobile phones to ensure the spread of panic and false information is curtailed. Amid the demand of the Meitei for Scheduled Tribe status, a rally was organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) Manipur on May 3, which later turned violent.

As per the latest figures, close to 71 people lost their lives while more than 230 were injured and close to 1700 houses were burnt down during the violence in Manipur. (ANI)

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Pune (Maharashtra) [India], May 15 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that institutions need to promote innovation which is not only useful for the defence industry but also for civilian purposes.

"We need to promote such innovations in the defence sector which are not only useful for defence but also equally effective for the civil sector," Rajnath Singh said at the 12th convocation ceremony of the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) in Pune.

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He cited examples of how the use of navigation systems was initially started for defence requirements but later on became an important part of civilian life.

"Plastic surgery is also deeply related to the defence sector. We see that many a time soldiers get injured during the war, and different parts of their bodies get damaged in an unfortunate way. For this plastic surgery is a boon which is also helping civilian life," the Defence minister said.

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Rajnath Singh said countries have to move fast towards technological advancement.

"We have to keep in mind that if our adversaries have more advanced technologies, then it can become a problem for us in the coming times. That's why we have to move fast towards technological advancement along with the changing environment," he said.

The minister said apart from land and air, threats can come from cyberspace and the space sector.

Concepts like non-kinetic or contactless warfare have made the need for advanced technology in the defence sector more important than ever, the minister said.

"In the last few decades, we have seen that the methods of warfare are changing at a faster rate.... The dangers of conventional war are in front of us, but going beyond them, now completely new types of threats are looming in front of us," added Rajnath Singh.

He also touched upon the government's Atmanirbhar push and highlighted that a huge country like India cannot depend on imports.

"If we only import defence equipment and platforms, it will make us dependent on other countries in the defence sector. This dependence can also be a hindrance to our strategic autonomy," he said.

Rajnath Singh also met former President Pratibha Patil and personally expressed condolences to her on the demise of her spouse Dr Devisingh Shekhawat. (ANI)

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New Delhi, May 15 (PTI) The Afghan embassy in India on Monday said there is no change in its leadership following reports that the Taliban have appointed a charge d'affaires to head the mission replacing incumbent Farid Mamundzay.

Mamundzay was appointed by the previous Ashraf Ghani government and he has been operating as the Afghan envoy even after the Taliban seized power in August 2021.

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It is learnt that Qadir Shah, who has been working as the trade councillor at the Afghan embassy since 2020, last month wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) claiming that he has been appointed as the charge d'affaires at the embassy by the Taliban.

India has not yet recognised the Taliban set up and has been pitching for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul besides insisting that Afghan soil not be used for any terrorist activities against any country.

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"The embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan categorically rejects the claims from an individual claiming to have taken charge of the mission in New Delhi at the behest of the Taliban," the embassy headed by Mamundzay said in a statement.

"The embassy appreciates the consistent position of the Indian government for supporting the interests of the Afghan people, while at the same time not recognising the Taliban regime in Kabul, as it has been the case with democratic governments around the world," it said.

There is no comment by the Indian government on the claim by Shah.

People familiar with the matter said Shah wrote the letter to the MEA in the absence of Mamundzay as he was travelling out of India.

In its statement, the embassy said the individual who claims to have been named "charge d'affaires" by the Taliban has been responsible for "spreading misinformation and running a baseless and unsubstantiated campaign against officials of the mission, including totally fabricated allegations of corruption based on an unsigned letter".

There were some reports in the Afghan media about allegations of corruption against the embassy.

"The mission is committed to protecting the genuine interests of the Afghan nationals especially in these trying times and has worked closely with the Indian authorities on humanitarian efforts, including the supply of Covid-19 vaccines, medicines and food supplies," the embassy said.

"The embassy also wishes to inform Afghan nationals that the mission continues functioning as normal and working for their interests in India," it added.

In June last year, India re-established its diplomatic presence in Kabul by deploying a "technical team" at its embassy in the Afghan capital.

India had withdrawn its officials from the embassy following concerns over their security after the Taliban seized power.

It is learnt that the Taliban, on multiple occasions, communicated to New Delhi that the diplomats in the Afghan embassy in India do not represent Kabul any longer.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], May 15 (ANI): Former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Monday gave an ultimatum to his own party's government in Rajasthan to probe the alleged paper leak scam that happened during the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule in the State.

He warned the Gehlot government that if his demands were not met by this month, he would agitate across the state.

Also Read | Sachin Pilot Warns of Larger Agitation Across Rajasthan if These Three Demands Not Met.

Pilot's 5-day Jan Sangharsh Yatra' culminated on Monday in Jaipur. He had started his yatra on May 11 to protest against the inaction of the Rajasthan government in the alleged corruption cases during the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government in the State.

Addressing a public meeting here, Pilot warned the state government of his own party to start agitation in the entire state from next month if the three demands raised by him are not fulfilled by this month.

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Along with disbanding and reorganizing the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC), which came into the limelight in the paper leak case, Pilot demanded financial compensation to the affected candidates and a high-level inquiry into the alleged scam of the Vasundhara government.

The Congress leader said that there was loot along with corruption during the five years rule of the previous Vasundhara government. "Then Ashok Gehlot saheb also levelled allegations while being in the opposition. Today four and a half years have been completed but the promises made have not been fulfilled and action has not been taken on the allegations," Pilot said adding that he wrote several letters to Chief Minister Gehlot.

"I went on a fast in Jaipur, but when nothing happened from that, I felt that now I will have to go among the public and I took out the Jan Sangharsh Yatra," he said.

Sachin Pilot said that whether the "fish is small or big", it has to be caught. He said that when he raised the matter of the paper leak, the response from the government came without any investigation that no officer was involved.

"I want to promise that I will serve people and serve Rajasthan till my last breath. I am neither going to suppress nor retreat, I will make sacrifices whatever I have to make because people are my strength," the Congress leader said.

At the end of the yatra, Sachin Pilot not only reiterated his demand before the Congress government but also gave a time-bound ultimatum and clearly said that if all three demands are not accepted by this month, then he would agitate in the entire state.

Pilot said that RPSC will have to be dissolved and a new organization will have to be formed and this will not be possible without radical changes. "If it is not fulfilled by this month, I will agitate across the state," Pilot warned.

The Congress MLAs of the Pilot camp also showed strength in the public meeting.

Many MLAs supporting Sachin Pilot also appeared on the stage in the public meeting held in Jaipur. Among them, state cabinet minister Hemaram Chowdhary, minister Rajendra Singh Gudha, MLA Ved Prakash Solanki, Mukesh Bhakar, Ramniwas Gawadia, Dipendra Singh Shekhawat, Harish Meena, Amar Jatav, Rakesh Pareek, Girraj Malinga, Suresh Modi were present in the public meeting.

Assembly polls are scheduled to be held in Rajasthan later this year and the Congress party is seeking another term ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha polls in 2024.

Asked about the unity in the Rajasthan Congress in view of upcoming State polls, Pilot said, "Neither do I hurl allegations at anyone nor do I have any rift with anyone on an individual level."

Pilot who has been vocal about the inaction by the Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan government regarding the alleged corruption during the previous BJP government in the State, said that he and the Chief Minister have to fight "unitedly" against corruption, however, Gehlot did not take steps in this regard. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) [India], May 15 (ANI): Days after Actress Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal who played Roshan Singh Sodhi in Indian daily soap 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah' alleged show's producer Asit Kumarr Modi of sexual harassment, she said that she was only "verbally harassed".

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Mistry said that she has not lied about anything in the notice served to Asit Modi.

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"People are saying that Asit Modi had physical relation with me, I want to say that there is nothing like that; He just said verbally spoke such things to me," Mistry said.

Asit Modi, the show's producer, and certain cast members have been accused of sexual harassment by Jennifer.

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According to the information received from the Mumbai Police, they have received a written complaint from actress Jennifer Mistry, however, no case has been registered in this matter yet.

"Actress from Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah has filed a written complaint against a producer alleging sexual harassment. According to her complaint, producer Asit Modi and some crew members sexually harassed her. However, an FIR has yet to be registered. We have started an inquiry, and soon the statement of the people related to this matter will be recorded," the Mumbai Police said.

However, the show's producer, project head Sohail Ramani, executive producer, Jatin Bajaj, and the team of directors earlier issued an official statement denying all the allegations saying Mistry is being driven by vendetta as her work contract with the production house was terminated.

Asit Modi mentioned, "We will take legal action as she is trying to defame me and the show both. Since we terminated her services, she is making these baseless allegations."

Sohail and Jatin added, "She regularly misbehaved with the entire team on the show. While moving out from the shoot, she rashly drove her car out at very high speed not caring for people in her way. She even damaged the set property. We had to terminate her contract because of her bad behaviour and indiscipline during the shoot. During this incident, Asit ji was in the USA. She is now trying to defame us and the show by making baseless allegations. We have already filed our complaint against these baseless allegations with the concerned authorities."

"She lacked basic discipline on the set and was not focusing on her work. We regularly had to complain to the production head about her behaviour. On her last day she was abusive in front of the whole unit and left the set without finishing her shoot. " said the team of directors of the show including Harshad Joshi, Rushi Dave and Arman about Jennifer.

Mistry further expressed her hope that the truth will come out only after the police complete their investigation.

"People are accusing me of defaming them. They know that I have told the fact in the letter. The Police are investigating," she added.

However, the actress further questioned why the producer and other crew members did not take any legal action against her earlier when she had sent the draft of her notice to them almost one month ago.

"I sent the draft of my notice on April 4, they threatened me on April 6 via mail and told me that I am trying to export money from them while I am not even asking for my money. Now they registered a case on May 8. I want to ask why they were tight-lipped during this period of time. Why did they not talk about that I am undisciplined; I don't work properly," she said.

She also said that she is 'fighting' only for justice and for her 'self-respect' not for money.

"One most important thing- I am not doing this for money; I am doing this only for truth and victory. They have to accept that they have done wrong to me and will have to apologize with joined hands that 'Jenny we have done wrong. We are sorry'. Because this is the matter of my dignity and self-respect," she 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, May 15 (PTI) BJP leader Smriti Irani on Monday said she was fielded against Rahul Gandhi in Amethi not because she was a woman, but because the party believed only she could defeat him, in a message that it is the ability which matters and not the gender.

Irani's remarks came in reply to a suggestion that the government should consider granting fast-track approval to women real estate developers.

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"I would rather compete... with male developers... I was sent to Amethi not because I am a woman. I was sent to Amethi because I was the only person who could defeat that man (Rahul Gandhi)," Women and Child Development Minister Irani said at a conference organised by realtors' body CREDAI.

Irani defeated Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, a pocket borough of the Nehru-Gandhi family, by about 55,000 votes in the 2019 general election. She had unsuccessfully contested against Gandhi in Amethi in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, losing by over one lakh votes.

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The minister recalled that on May 23, 2019 - the day the results for the 17th Lok Sabha elections were announced - she asked the party workers to collect the certificate from Election Commission as she decided to spend the day with her family and also take some rest before pursuing development in Amethi.

The result of the Amethi constituency was declared around midnight.

The BJP leader said that she had requested the party worker not to organise any victory march, but instead reach out to people and find out their problems.

Irani also recalled the 2014 Lok Sabha election when she had unsuccessfully contested against Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, where the BJP had never polled more than 30,000 votes.

In 2014, the BJP announced her nomination from Amethi only about three weeks before the polling day.

The minister said in the 22 days in the run-up to the polling day in 2014, she held 32-35 public meetings daily and visited 1,200 of the 1,800 polling booth areas. She got about 3 lakh votes but lost the election to Rahul Gandhi by a margin of about one lakh votes.

The minister said she started working in the constituency immediately after that and won the election in 2019.

(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 15 (PTI) An inter-ministerial group is looking into the European Union's (EU) decision to impose a carbon tax on certain goods like steel and aluminium, as it would have some impact on India's exports to that region, a senior government official said on Monday.

Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Santosh Kumar Sarangi said that there are seven commodities on which the EU has imposed the carbon tariff.

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For India, only two sectors of steel and aluminium are likely to be impacted by the new tax while for the rest the impact is minimal as India does not export those commodities to the EU, he told reporters here.

"But it will definitely impact to some degree. The extent to which it can be mitigated, the extent to which our industry can adapt, the extent to which mutual recognition of the testing and certification agencies can happen, these are all areas on which the inter-ministerial group is coordinating," he said.

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Commerce secretary and many other secretaries are discussing the ways in which it could be tackled, he added.

In terms of calculating the monetary impact of this decision on India, it is still being assessed, Sarangi said.

Citing an example, he said the EU has prescribed different mechanisms for imposing the tax on steel manufactured through the electric arc furnace route and through the blast furnace route. The tax will be different for both mechanisms.

So how much steel is being manufactured through these two ways, that segregation will have to be done and that will take some time.

Another official said how far this is compatible with the norms of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), all this "we are talking".

The EU is introducing the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) from October 1 this year. CBAM will translate into a 20-35 per cent tax on select imports into the EU starting January 1, 2026.

According to economic think tank the Global Trade Research Initiative (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 the carbon tax on each consignment of steel, aluminium, cement, fertilizer, hydrogen and electricity.

In 2022, India's 27 per cent exports of iron, steel, and aluminium products of value USD 8.2 billion went to the EU.

Cement, fertilizer, and electrical energy are other affected products, but India has negligible exports to the EU in these products. PTI RR

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Thane, May 15 (PTI) A 23-year-old man has been arrested in Thane of Maharashtra for allegedly killing a 19-year-old woman during a fight with his estranged wife in the early hours of Monday, an official said.

Also Read | Unique ID Number Mandatory for Doctors in India: Know All About National Medical Register, Who Can Enroll and Required Qualifications.

The accused and his wife were staying separately due to differences between them.

Also Read | How To Find Lost Phone? Step-by-Step Guide on How To Track, Block and Unblock Your Lost or Stolen Smartphone Using sancharsaathi.gov.in Portal.

On Sunday night, the man visited his wife who lived with the victim in Diva area, he said.

However, the couple got into a fight around 3 am. The man pulled out a knife and attacked his wife. When the victim tried to save her, the accused stabbed her to death, the official said.

After being alerted by locals, police arrested the man from Diva and admitted his wife to a hospital, he added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mexico City, May 15: A fiery highway crash involving a passenger van and a freight truck killed 26 people in northern Mexico on Sunday, authorities said.

Prosecutors and police in the northern border state of Tamaulipas said the death toll was a preliminary count, apparently because of the sheer volume of the wreckage and the fire that consumed the van and the freight trailer. Mexico Road Accident: 17 Migrants Dead, 13 Inured After Passenger Bus Crashes in Puebla.

The cab that had been pulling the freight trailer was not found at the scene, suggesting the driver might have uncoupled it and fled. The accident occurred on a highway near the state capital, Ciudad Victoria, and the cause was under investigation, officials said. Mexico Bus Accident: 18 Tourists Killed After Bus Plunges Into Ravine in Nayarit.

Local media reported many of the victims might be members of an extended family returning from an outing, but authorities did not confirm that. In the past, big death tolls in similar crashes in Mexico have often been blamed on overloaded vehicles linked to migrant smuggling.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Nicosia, May 15: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad emerged victorious, after being shunned by Arab and Western governments for more than 12 years, as most Arab governments, realizing that he would not be toppled and would not accept their conditions, have grudgingly accepted him back to the Arab fold.

Apparently, most Arab governments see that they have to recognize Assad's rule as a reality and as a means to avoid further destabilization in the region. Syria President Bashar Assad Arrives in Moscow, Set to Meet Vladimir Putin Today Amid Russia-Ukraine War.

In March 2011, the Arab League and the majority of Arab governments, reacting to the hard repression of Syrian people and Bashar al-Assad's massacre of protesters and use of chemicals against civilians, as well as his close relations with Iran, suspended Syria's membership and imposed sanctions on his regime.

During that time more than half a million people were killed, and 12 million became refugees, while the rest of the population - with the exception of those close to the regime - were facing famine, do not have safe drinking water or electricity, or were in dire economic straits. 90 per cent of the people live under the poverty line.

At a meeting in Cairo on May 7, the Foreign Ministers of the Arab League - ignoring the objections of Qatar, Kuwait, Morocco and some other states which did not participate at the meeting - voted to reintegrate Syria into the organization, but left individual member states to decide whether they will restore full diplomatic ties with the regime in Damascus. Syria's Assad in UAE to Mark Ongoing Thaw in Relations

The decision was made in advance of the Arab League Summit in Saudi Arabia on May 19 and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud last Wednesday sent an invitation to the Syrian President to participate in the 32nd Regular Session of the Arab League Council Meeting.

Sameh Shoukry, the Foreign Minister of Egypt, justified the decision for the return of Syria to the Arab League, saying that "all the stages of the Syrian crisis have proven that there is no military solution to it and that there are no winners and losers. The decision taken by the Arab League would mark the start of a revived political process in the country."

The devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria gave Arab governments a good excuse to have contact with the Syrian regime concerning the provision of relief to the earthquake victims, while a major role in the rapprochement was played by the re-establishment of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran (that had supported opposite sides in the conflict) which removed one of the main obstacles to the restoration of relations.

Although at the beginning of the Syrian crisis, the Bashar al-Assad regime, was expected to collapse, as several Arab countries supported the various factions trying to topple him, the critical assistance he received from Iran and Russia made it possible for the Damascus regime to regain a large part of the country it lost initially and now the regime controls about two-thirds of Syria.

Gradually, the governments of the Arab states supporting the anti-regime factions began to realize that Bashar al-Assad would not be defeated and that they should try to stop the further destabilization of the region.

Moreover, countries like Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan have provided shelter to millions of refugees, in the expectation that the Assad regime would fall in a matter of months, and want to send them back to Syria, as their populations see the refugees as competitors for jobs and state resources.

The change in the stand of Turkey, which has been hosting some 3.5 million Syrian refugees, is quite indicative of this. The Turkish people initially welcomed the refugees in the name of Islamic solidarity, but now see them as a big problem. A poll shows that 85 per cent of the voters want them out of Turkey.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that last year that about half a million Syrians returned to the "safe zones" created by Turkey in northwest Syria and vowed that 1 million refugees would soon return to their country.

Opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu in his election campaign has stated that one of his top goals is to return all Syrians to their country within two years.

Lebanon, a country facing economic meltdown last year has started forcibly sending refugees back to Syria.

The Arab League's decision to welcome Bashar al-Assad back to the Arab fold is undoubtedly a major victory for Assad. This is because the Syrian President was admitted back to the League without agreeing to any prior conditions, for example, a firm commitment not to persecute or victimize further Syrian refugees returning to their country.

Assad also avoided undertaking any commitment to stop the production of the Captagon drug, which creates tens of thousands of drug addicts in the countries of the region and is currently the biggest foreign exchange earner of his regime.

Furthermore, the restoration of relations between the Syrian regime and Arab governments represents a major success also for Iran and Russia, whose support allowed Bashar al-Assad to stay in power, although, at the beginning of the crisis in Syria, the collapse of the regime seemed to be inevitable.

At the same time, it is a minor defeat of the US Administration and Western governments that repeatedly expressed their condemnation of the Damascus regime. Now, with the decision of the Arab League, Arab countries appear to be publicly backing an important ally of Russia and Iran, without securing any concessions from Damascus.

Reuters has reported that a bi-partisan group in the US Congress introduced last Thursday a bill prohibiting the US government from recognizing or normalizing relations with any Syrian government led by Assad and expanding an Act that imposed tough sanctions on Syria in 2020.

Gilles Kepel, of the Institute of Political Studies, Paris, points out: "The Arab League's decision to readmit Syria is a game changer in the Middle East, a clear success for Saudi diplomacy and an apparent win for Russia. It is another sign of the strengthening of the illiberal bloc which challenges the West's democracy agenda. It draws the curtain for good on what remained of the dreams of the Arab Spring a decade ago."

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Boa Vista, May 15 (AP) Until two months ago, Cartier's website showed Yanomami children playing in a green field.

The French luxury jewelry brand said it was working to promote the culture of the Indigenous people and protect the rainforest where they live, in a vast territory straddling Brazil and Venezuela.

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But the project that the site described protecting the Amazon never took place. And Cartier published the photo without the approval of Yanomami leadership, violating the beliefs of a people who had been living in almost total isolation until they were contacted by outsiders in the 1970s.

Some of the Yanomami and their defenders praise Cartier's promotion of Yanomami causes. However, advertising by one of the world's biggest jewelers with images of an Indigenous people devastated by illegal gold mining has some complaining of greenwashing, a corporation promoting its own image by supporting a cause.

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How can a gold jewelry company, which we, the Yanomami people, are against, use the image of the Yanomami? asked Junior Hekurari, a member of the Indigenous group and head of the Yanomami's health council.

Disease, killing and prostitution, fuelled by the drugs and alcohol imported by thousands of illegal gold miners, have devastated traditional Yanomami life, and 570 Yanomami children died from malnutrition, diarrhea, and malaria between 2019 and 2022, according to Brazilian statistics. The poisonous mercury used in illegal mining causes birth defects and ravages ecosystems.

Cartier says it does not buy illegally mined gold, but Yanomami leaders have urged people not to buy gold jewelry at all, regardless of its source, because demand for the precious metal drives gold prices up and draws miners into their territory.

Cartier and other jewelry brands that are part of the Swiss conglomerate Richemont had combined sales of 11 billion euros (USD 11.7 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, according to its annual report. Some of the pieces advertised on its US website cost as much as USD 341,000.

Cartier's connection to the roughly 40,000 Yanomami goes back 20 years, primarily through Fondation Cartier, a corporate philanthropy created and funded by the company in 1984.

In the past, few Yanomami or their advocates have publicly criticised Cartier or the foundation, but a growing number have begun expressing concerns.

Cartier's foundation recently sponsored a finely curated exhibit displaying photographs of Yanomami, along with works by Indigenous artists, in an elegant non-profit Manhattan arts center. The exhibit, previously in Paris, was praised by outlets ranging from The New York Times to Luxury Daily, an influential industry publication whose headline read,  Fondation Cartier continues push for indigenous justice through art sponsorship.

Barbara Navarro, a French multimedia artist, saw something very different, as did several other artists, including some Yanomami.

In the multimedia show  Pas de Cartier,  or Not Cartier, in the village of Nemours, France, Navarro and others critique the luxury brand and the devastation caused by illegal miners in an exhibit that includes sculptures and drawings. In one photo montage, a large gold mine surrounded by the Amazon forest is seen next to a Cartier store.

The Yanomami are paying the price with their health and their very lives for our society's relentless avidity for gold, said Navarro. For Cartier, sponsorship of the Yanomami represents an opportunity to burnish their brand.

For many Indigenous groups, a corporation or philanthropy using a photo of them requires formal permission. The photo of the children on the website violated the Yanomami's right to prior, free, and informed consent, according to the Roraima Indigenous Council, a grassroots umbrella organization, citing the International Labour Organization's Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, which Brazil signed.

Hekurari said his people need international cooperation, but his organisation would never accept money from a jewelry company.

In his trips along the Yanomami territory, an area the size of Portugal, the Yanomami leader has encountered scores of skeletal children in communities under siege by thousands of illegal miners. In March, his organisation, Urihi, launched an online campaign to raise awareness against the gold trade and in a video the Yanomami leader calls on Oscar winners to replace the famous gold-plated statuettes with wooden figures of Omama, a mythical entity.

When someone buys gold in a jewelry store, he is financing more invasions to destroy Indigenous lands, he said. It is not just a matter of extracting gold. It is a matter of reaping lives.

Cartier declined to comment on the Yanomami's appeal for people to stop buying gold jewelry but, when contacted by The Associated Press in late March, Cartier removed the picture and the project description.

Funds had been allocated to a forest-preservation project but ended up being used to acquire medical equipment to fight COVID-19 among the Yanomami, the company said. A donation worth USD 74,200 was made in June 2020.

The inaccurate description was a regrettable oversight on our part, and it was addressed immediately after it was brought to our attention, the company said.

But the problem is bigger than poor image choices, many say. Dario Kopenawa, vice-president of the Hutukara Yanomami Association, said he believes that, anyone who buys a gold ring is part of the crime.

Cartier and its foundation describe their relationship as arms-length. Kopenawa also made a distinction between Cartier and its namesake foundation.

We know that Cartier buys gold all over the world ... but the foundation is different. It is another coordinator, another branch. It supports the protection of the Yanomami, he said.

In February, Kopenawa even flew to New York to attend Yanomami Struggle - Art and Activism in the Amazon, the exhibit sponsored by the Fondation Cartier with photographic portraits of Indigenous people alongside works by Yanomami artists. Kopenawa and other Yanomami participated in the opening ceremony, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres among the guests.

Fondation Cartier has a collection of nearly 2,000 works at its Paris headquarters. The foundation is run by an independent dedicated team of professionals from the art world in charge of defining and implementing the artistic program, it said.

The foundation is led by Alain Dominique Perrin, a prominent figure in the luxury industry who previously served as Richemont's top executive.

In a 2018 interview with French business magazine Entreprendre, he emphasized the corporate value of arts patronage.

Patronage is similar to sponsorship: You help an artist to exhibit, to gain recognition and to develop, but in return, the Fondation receives praise from the press, the media and social networks, which necessarily benefits the company, he said.

The foundation, will become a focal point for the management and the image of the Cartier brand, Richemont wrote in its 1994 annual report, when the headquarters was inaugurated with 12,000 square feet of exhibition space.

French anthropologist Bruce Albert has been engaged with the Yanomami for decades, participating in a campaign in the 1990s that secured the tribe's land demarcation.

He connected Fondation Cartier with the Yanomami in 2003. That year, Albert curated the first photo and art exhibit about the Yanomami sponsored by the foundation.

In early February, Albert attended the opening ceremony of the New York exhibition after working on it as a paid consultant, together with Kopenawa and Yanomami artists.

Responding to questions in writing, Albert in February praised Fondation Cartier as independent, and said better control from Brazilian authorities would be more efficient than a gold boycott. Still, Albert criticized the use of the image on Cartier's website, saying by email in April that the Yanomami hadn't granted permission for its use, and the jeweler wasn't funding any reforestation projects.

When it comes to acquiring gold, Cartier says the vast majority is purchased recycled and the company conforms to standards of the Responsible Jewelry Council, which describes itself as the world's leading sustainability standard-setting organization for the jewelry and watch industry.

With gold, however, it is next to impossible to prove provenance, as much illegal material seeps into global supply chains. And Yanomami leaders have made clear that they believe that gold is at the root of the group's troubles.

Is there a responsibility in the purchase of this gold? Ivo Makuxi, the lawyer from the Indigenous council, asked about Cartier's role in an industry that has hurt the Yanomami. Does the company respect the Indigenous rights?(AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Stockholm, May 15: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar here on Monday held a meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. The EAM stated that he values the commitment of Kristersson towards strengthening the ties between the two nations.

"Delighted to meet PM Ulf Kristersson of Sweden. Conveyed the personal greetings of PM @narendramodi. Value his commitment towards strengthening the India-Sweden relationship," Jaishankar tweeted.

He also met Sweden's National Security Advisor Henrik Landerholm and exchanged strategic assessments of Europe and the Indo-Pacific. "A good discussion with Henrik Landerholm, National Security Advisor of Sweden. Exchanged strategic assessments of Europe and Indo Pacific," EAM Jaishankar said in a tweet. EAM S Jaishankar Takes Veiled Swipe at Pakistan, Says 'Difficult To Engage With Neighbour Which Practices Cross-Border Terrorism Against Us'.

Jaishankar, who is on a Sweden visit, also held a meeting with Swedish Parliament Speaker Andreas Norlen. "Met Dr. Andreas Norlen, Speaker of the Riksdag of Sweden this morning. Welcomed contacts between our two Parliamentary democracies. Also exchanged perspectives on our respective regions," the EAM said in another tweet.

On Sunday, Jaishankar met Sweden's Defence Minister Pal Jonson and Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom during his three-day visit to Sweden. Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said, "Good to meet Defence Minister Pal Jonson of Sweden. Useful exchange of views on regional and global security."

After meeting his Swedish counterpart, Jaishankar said that both countries are committed to taking bilateral cooperation to a higher level. Both nations had exchanged views on the Indo-Pacific, the European strategic situation and de-risking the global economy.

"Wide-ranging discussions with FM @TobiasBillstrom as India and Sweden mark 75 years of diplomatic ties," Jaishankar said in another tweet.

After arriving in Sweden, Jaishankar attended the EU-India Pacific Ministerial Forum.

Jaishankar on Sunday (local time) interacted with the Indian diaspora in Sweden and discussed transformations underway in India. He also apprised them about the progress in the bilateral relationship with Sweden on the 75 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

During his visit to Sweden, Jaishankar will discuss India-EU relations during his visit as Sweden currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. SCO Summit 2023: EAM S Jaishankar Seeks Support To Make English Third Official Language of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a press release noted, "This will be his first visit as EAM and comes at a time when India and Sweden are celebrating 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations. Sweden currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union."

(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 15 (ANI): A group of women and girls in Afghanistan's Herat have provided work for themselves by establishing a kitchen and selling Afghani meals, Afghanistan-based Tolo News reported.

They made the kitchen in their house from where they daily sell food to their customers.

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Head of the kitchen, Manizha Sadat, said: "Women are banned from working out of the house, we planned to be at home and have activities, so we started making Afghan traditional food."

Several women and girls asked the government to provide them with work outside their houses.

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"We ask the government to support us and cooperate with us and allow us to work outside of our houses," said Yalda Hashimi, a kitchen worker.

According to the officials of this kitchen, they prepare hot food according to the order of their customers and send it to them, Tolo News reported.

"Recently we know about them through social media and now we are their customers and whenever we order the food they deliver it to our office," said Abdul Qadus Janidi, a Herat resident.

After universities and schools closed for girls and amid restrictions on the work of women and girls in foreign and domestic NGOs in the country, thousands of women have stayed at home. But some women and girls have turned to work such as learning skills and trades or other commercial activities to earn income. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Karachi [Pakistan], May 15 (ANI): A young woman was shot dead by her brother in the name of 'honour' in Phase VI of Karachi's Defence Housing Authority (DHA) on Sunday, reported Dawn.

As per the police, the victim's brother killed his sister on suspicion of "illicit relations" with a person.

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Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said the young woman suffered two bullet wounds on her head and leg. There was extensive damage seen in her cranial vault, reported Dawn.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police (South) Syed Asad Raza, the initial inquiry revealed that the victim was shot dead by her brother.

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He told Dawn that the suspect had "confessed" to killing his sister for "honour" during interrogation by the police.

Chhipa Welfare Organisation spokesperson said that the incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday. He said that the body was later moved to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre to fulfil legal formalities.

During the initial probe, the suspect claimed that he was at his home on Saturday night at around 2 am. He was cleaning his licenced 9 mm pistol in the yard of the house while his sister was "coming from the kitchen side".

"During cleaning, the pistol was accidentally fired and the bullet hit the waist of my sister, injuring her," the police quoted the brother as having told them initially, reported Dawn.

"She was shifted to a hospital for medical treatment but she succumbed to her injury during treatment," as per the statement of the brother.

However, SSP Raza said that the police findings suggested that her brother had shot the girl. The senior officer categorically stated that it was not an "accidental fire".

The suspect was placed under custody and interrogated, after which he "spilt the beans and confessed the crime," the official stated.

Raza said that none of the family members were willing to lodge the first information report. Therefore, it has been decided that the murder case would be registered against the held suspect on behalf of the state, he added, reported Dawn.

Hundreds of women are murdered by their relatives in Pakistan each year on the pretext of defending what is seen as 'family honour'. Honour killings are often considered private family matters and are therefore rarely reported.

Notably in February 2016 a film on honour killings in Pakistan won an Oscar for best documentary, "A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness".

According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, over 470 cases of honour killings were reported in 2021 in Pakistan. But human rights defenders estimate that around 1,000 women are killed in the name of honour every year.

The victims of honour killings are widely perceived in Pakistan to have brought shame and dishonour to their relatives. The killings are usually carried out by family members.

According to Human Rights Watch, the most common reason for honour-related crimes is violating social norms and what is thought to be accepted social behaviour.

A woman's choice of clothing, employment, or education; refusal to accept an arranged marriage; getting married without family's consent; seeking a divorce; being raped or sexually assaulted; having intimate or sexual relations before or outside marriage, even if only alleged -- these are seen to be valid reasons for an honour killing.

Amnesty International states honour killings are "committed predominantly against women and girls."

In 2016 following the killing of Qandeel Baloch, the National Assembly enacted the Anti-Honour Killing Law. However, the law that allows relatives of the victim to forgive the murderer is still in Pakistan's rule books, however, and in practice.

Qandeel Baloch's brother was acquitted under this law. The mother was given the freedom to forgive her son after the judge ruled the case was not an honour killing.

This ruling and the fact that hundreds of cases of honour killings in Pakistan go unreported will continue to keep women and men vulnerable to being killed in the name of protecting the honour of the family. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
By Lee Kah Whye

Singapore, May 15 (ANI): Last week, South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co announced that it will invest 200 billion rupees (USD 2.45 billion) in Tamil Naidu over the next 10 years to bolster its electric vehicle (EV) production in India.

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SNE Research which provides global market research and consulting to the rechargeable batteries industry ranked Hyundai as the top sixth EV carmakers by sales in 2022. The Asian carmaker is ramping up its production capabilities as it aims to become one of the world's top three electric vehicle manufacturers by 2030.

The South Korean car manufacturer whose brands include Hyundai, Kia and Genesis delivered 510,000 EV units last year, an increase of 40.9 per cent from 2021, according to SNE Research. First place went to China's BYD, which delivered 1.87 million units, followed by Tesla with 1.31 million units. Germany's Volkswagen and China's Geely took fourth and fifth places, respectively.

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CEO Jaehoon Chang told CNBC, "We are now developing two more platforms and that will enable us to have 18 models by 2030. And we are (aiming) to achieve 2 million EV sales around 2030."

The carmaker is investing heavily in research and development, building new plants and platforms as well as expanding EV lines and production capacity.

"We are now developing two more platforms and that will enable us to have 18 models by 2030. And we are (aiming) to achieve 2 million (annual) EV sales around 2030," Hyundai CEO Chang said.

Its EVs are currently developed on an advanced bespoke EV platform, the Hyundai Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). The 2021 Ioniq 5 crossover SUV was the first model in Hyundai's EV-focused sub-brand Ioniq to be developed on the E-GMP. Hyundai subsequently launched the Ioniq 6 sedan model in 2022. An EV platform scales the production of future models and reduces development and manufacturing costs.

Hyundai plans to introduce vehicles in 2025 based on its two new EV platforms, eM and eS, which are expected to lead to more efficient vehicle development and greater cost reductions.

Away from the limelight, Hyundai has gradually slipped into third place in 2022 in the global race to become the largest global automaker. Based on industry data compiled by CNBC, Hyundai and Kia sold a total of 6.85 million vehicles globally last year, up 2.7 per cent from a year ago. Top dog Toyota sold nearly 10.5 million units while European auto giant, Volkswagen sold about 8.26 million units.

Hyundai reported a 92 per cent year-on-year increase in net profit for the first quarter of 2023, "mainly driven by the US and Europe," said Chang.

Hyundai reported a net profit of 3.42 trillion won (USD 2.56 billion), up from 1.78 trillion won in the same period a year ago. Revenue grew 24.7 per cent year-on-year, from 30.3 trillion won to 37.78 trillion won.

Hyundai aspires to make an impact in China's automotive market but the company's exposure is very limited at the moment.

"We have a joint venture in China. We are now on a deep dive into how we can regain the competitiveness of the China market," said CEO Chang. China's EV sales are expected to hit more than 8 million units in 2023, according to Counterpoint Research.

"I think the first step that we're looking at is how we can optimise the operational capacity in China. And the next step should be our focus on the product portfolio, which should be attractive to local customers with the comparable software functions, as well as hardware and design features," said Chang in the CNBC interview.

In 2022, China produced almost two-thirds of all global battery EVs and one in four cars sold in China is an EV. In China, more than 94 brands together offer over 300 models selling for just USD 5,000 to over USD 90,000. Local brands command 81 per cent of the EV market, among which BYD, Wuling, Chery, Changan and GAC are a few of the top players.

In a distant second place is Europe followed more closely by North America, accounting for 17 per cent and 11 per cent of global EVs built in 2022, respectively.

For now, it looks like China has taken an insurmountable lead in the race to be the leading EV manufacturer of electric vehicles. However, it's early days yet with just nine per cent of all light vehicles made last year an EV, there is plenty of room for the other markets to catch up.

Government support has a large part to play in the position China is in today. Between 2009 and 2022, China handed out more than CNY300 billion (USD 43.5 billion) in purchasing subsidies and tax breaks to support locally produced EVs, both domestic and foreign-owned brands. The government also offered large procurement contracts to buy products from budding EV companies, which helped them in their early years and fund further R&D.

In Tamil Nadu's Chennai, dubbed the Detroit of Asia, Hyundai plans to increase capacity at its factory near Chennai to 850,000 vehicles per year from approximately 775,000. In addition, the automaker's Indian subsidiary, Hyundai Motor India, will establish a battery pack assembly unit with an annual capacity of 178,000 units and install 100 EV charging stations across the southern state in the next five years.

The investment plan follows the union government's recent announcement that it will raise taxes on imported vehicles to encourage local manufacturing.

In Singapore, Hyundai earlier this year said that its Singapore assembly plant in Jurong will start rolling out the electric Ioniq 5 by the middle of this year following a delay partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was originally slated to be completed last November.

Andy Kang, Hyundai Motor's head of sales innovation group said that the plant will initially import the car's fully painted body shell from its newly opened factory in Indonesia, with all other parts shipped in from South Korea. It plans to gradually source parts locally once production volume ramps up.

Besides the Ioniq 5, the newly unveiled Ioniq 6 and new Kona Electric will be assembled in the Jurong facility too. The plant is slated to produce up to 30,000 vehicles a year by 2025.

"We aim to become the number one EV brand in Singapore," Kang said. That position is currently held by Tesla. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kajiado County, May 15: As the human-wildlife conflict escalates in the region, at least eleven lions have been killed in southern Kenya this past week, including six on Saturday itself, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

A spokesperson for the KWS told CNN that this is "an unusually large number of lions to be killed at one go." This came after conservationists announced that one of Africa's oldest lions, Loonkiito, was killed at the age of 19 earlier this week. Kenya Cult Death Toll Rises to 201 After Police Exhume 22 More Bodies, More Than 600 Reported Missing.

He had stepped out of a protected area and into a livestock pen as he was "starving." He was shot by the livestock owner, according to the conservation organisation Lion Guardians, as per CNN.

According to the organisation, an uptick in human-lion conflict typically occurs at the end of a drought because it becomes tougher to hunt natural prey and livestock owners are "particularly vigilant" after losing so many animals. The drought in Kenya is the worst it has been in forty years. Kenya Starvation Cult Case: Death Toll Rises to 95 As Government Announces Dusk-to-Dawn Curfew.

According to a press release from the KWS on Saturday, the six lions that died on that day had killed 11 goats and 1 dog. According to the UN, the lions were all a part of the Amboseli ecosystem in Kajiado County, a UNESCO biosphere reserve site close to Mount Kilimanjaro, according to CNN.

Locals and government representatives attended a meeting held by KWS on Saturday to talk about the recent killings. The KWS said, "The discussions centred on exploring ways to minimise the risk of human-wildlife conflict, including developing early warning systems to alert communities to the presence of wildlife in their vicinity."

"Further discussions centred on the wider picture of exploring human-wildlife conflict in the context of community livelihoods and benefit sharing towards a harmonious coexistence in the open community and wildlife landscapes," it added, CNN reported.

(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 15 (ANI): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday announced that it will file cases against the Punjab Rangers and the National Accountability Bureau for "kidnapping" its chief Imran Khan, reported Geo News.

The Rangers had arrested the ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan on May 9 in the Al-Qadir Trust case while acting on the anti-graft watchdog's warrant.

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A meeting of the party's central leadership on Sunday -- headed by Khan -- strongly condemned the "abduction" of the PTI chief and said that a Supreme Court's high-powered commission be formed to investigate killings of citizens on May 9 and attempts of creating anarchy in the country, reported Geo News.

Khan's arrest erupted violent protests in different parts of the country. At least 10 people were killed and dozens of others sustained injuries during the days-long protests with internet services remaining suspended since then across the country.

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After the supporters attacked military installations, the army said that May 9, -- the day when chaos gripped the nation following Khan's arrest -- would go down in history as a "dark chapter".

The PTI also announced registering cases over murders of unarmed citizens during the peaceful protests. Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, caretaker Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief ministers -- Mohsin Raza Naqvi and Azam Khan -- police officers, including IGs and others, will be nominated in FIRs, read the statement.

The Punjab caretaker government has no legal or Constitution justification to continue as the Supreme Court's deadline (May 14) for holding elections in the province expired today, the PTI said and termed it "murder of the Constitution.

The PTI urged authorities concerned to launch a probe into a "pre-planned" strategy to create anarchy during the "peaceful" protests of the party workers and incidents of firing on the citizens, reported Geo News.

In its declaration, the PTI vowed to respond to the efforts made by the ruling alliance to blackmail the apex court or stop it from performing its Constitutional duties with people's force. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Colombo, May 15 (PTI) The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party on Monday dismissed rumours that former president Mahinda Rajapaksa would be reappointed as the prime minister of the island nation.

Rajapaksa, the 77-year-old leader who served both as the president and the prime minister of Sri Lanka on different occasions, resigned as the premier of the island nation last year in May amid massive anti-government protests that erupted due to the economic crisis.

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Apart from Mahinda Rajapaksa, his younger brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the then president of the country, also had to resign as the protests had turned violent after the public blamed the Rajapaksa family of mishandling the economy and heavy corruption due to which the nation fell into a deep financial crisis.

Speculation was rife that Rajapaksa would be sworn-in last Friday. However, the SLPP on Monday refuted any such possibility or development.

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"There is no such move of making Mahinda Rajapaksa the prime minister and the SLPP has not made such a request to the president," Sagara Kariyawasam, the party general secretary, told reporters.

The rumours were given strength due to a special security operation deployed in the capital and immediate suburbs.

Armed soldiers were seen manning the roads doing random security checks while security at important government establishments was beefed up.

The police sources said the security deployment was based on intelligence information that a group was planning to create trouble in the city.

Mahinda Rajapaksa was replaced by the current president Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister.

With Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation two months later Wickremesinghe replaced him as the President to serve the balance term until the end of 2024.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Beijing [China], May 15 (ANI): A top Chinese envoy is starting a tour of Europe under which he will first go to Ukraine and then to Russia according to Al-Jazeera, which reported that Beijing aims to explore a "political settlement" on the Ukraine issue.

According to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry last week, Li Hui, the country's special representative for Eurasian affairs since 2019 and a former ambassador to Russia, will also travel to Poland, France, and Germany during the multiday trip "for in-depth communications with different parties for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis."

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Li, a fluent Russian speaker, will be the most senior Chinese official to visit Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022. His visit could coincide with the beginning of Ukraine's long-awaited counteroffensive to recapture territory seized and occupied by Russia, as per Al-Jazeera.

The visit comes after the first known wartime call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which was held late last month.

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The hour-long call was described as "long and meaningful" by Zelenskyy, and according to Xi, China's "core position is to promote peace via talks."

China's 12-point peace plan, China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, was presented on the first anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion. Given Beijing's links to Russia, the proposal was viewed with some scepticism in Western capitals. It exhorted "both sides" to consent to a gradual de-escalation and give up the "Cold War mentality," reported Al-Jazeera.

Beijing did not respond to or criticise Moscow's invasion, which occurred less than three weeks after the two nations agreed to a "no limits" alliance. Xi visited Moscow in March to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the two signed a document pledging to usher in a "new era" in their bilateral relations, as per Al-Jazeera.

Li has devoted his whole diplomatic career to dealing with the Soviet Union, Russia, and the governments that arose after it fell since joining the Department of Soviet and East European Affairs of the foreign ministry in 1975.

Since the Xi-Zelenskyy chat, a number of European leaders have visited Beijing and asked China to take a more active role in reining in Moscow's actions, notably French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Kyiv has maintained it will not consider making any territorial concessions to Russia and that it wants every square inch of its territory back. In September, last year, Russia said it had seized four other eastern Ukrainian areas. Russia attacked and subsequently annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, a move that was widely condemned at the time, Al-Jazeera 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)
It was 11 years ago back in 2012, when actor Saif Ali Khan and two others-Shakeel Ladak and Bilal Amrohi allegedly assaulted a South African businessman and his father-in-law at a hotel in Mumbai. According to reports, the trial is likely to begin from June 15. On April 24, the additional chief metropolitan magistrate read out charges against Saif Ali Khan and his two friends. A complaint was filed by Sharma after a fight at the five star restaurant on February 22, 2012. Based on the complaint lodged, Saif, Shakeel and Bilal were arrested. Later they were released on bail. Saif Ali Khans 2012 Assault Case Trial to Begin From June- Reports.

What exactly happened? Back in 2012, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, her sister Karisma Kapoor, along with Malaika Arora and Amrita Arora and some male friends were having lunch at a restaurant. According to police, businessman Iqbal Mir Sharma protested against the loud and annoying chatter of the group, which incensed Saif and co. In the argument that ensued, Saif allegedly threatened and punched Sharma in his nose. Adipurush Trailer: Prabhas, Kriti Sanon and Saif Ali Khan Bring Back the Epic Ramayana on Screen (Watch Video).

Later Sharma accused Saif and his friends of hitting his father-in-law Raman Patel as well. On the other hand, Saif has also issued statement which claims that that Sharma made offensive and provocative statements and used abusive language.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 15, 2023 11:10 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Pune, May 15: The special court in Pune on Monday extended till May 16 the police custody of DRDO scientist Pradeep Kurulkar, arrested on charges of providing confidential information to a Pakistani agent.

Seeking an extension of Kurulkar's custody, the prosecution said his mobile phone needs to be analysed. "Police had to open the mobile phone with the help of the accused as they couldn't do so on their own," the prosecution told the judge. DRDO Scientist Espionage-Honeytrap Case: Special Pune Court Sends Accused Pradeep Kurulkar to ATS Custody Till May 16.

The defence counsel argued that no new information has been found though the mobile phone was seized earlier. Kurulkar, a director at one of the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) labs in Pune, was arrested by the Maharashtra police's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on May 3. DRDO Scientist Honeytrap Case: 7 Key Things To Know About Espionage Case Including How Pakistan's ISI Lured Pradeep Kurulkar With Porn Photos in Allegedly Sharing Confidential Information.

The scientist was allegedly in touch with an agent of a Pakistan Intelligence Operative through WhatsApp and video calls, an ATS official said last week, adding it was a case of a honeytrap. After his arrest, an offence under relevant sections of the Official Secrets Act was registered against Kurulkar.

The prosecution had informed the court that they had seized a phone on which the PIO (Person of Indian Origin) agent had messaged the accused using an Indian number. Kurulkar had allegedly travelled to five to six countries on a diplomatic passport and the prosecution wanted to know whom he met during these trips.
Lucknow, May 15: Though the ruling BJP swept the Uttar Pradesh local body polls winning all the 17 mayor seats and bagging more than 50 per cent of the corporator seats, the elections saw the AIMIM and the AAP making fresh inroads into state politics.

While the two parties did not win any mayor's seat, 19 candidates of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) won as corporators, while eight Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidates also became corporators. The AAP and AIMIM won three seats each for the post of chairperson of Nagar Palika Parishads in the state. UP Nagar Nikay Chunav 2023 Results Latest News Update: BJP Mayor Candidates Leading in Ayodhya and Lucknow.

As many as 33 AIMIM candidates were elected as members of Nagar Palika Parishads, while 30 candidates of the AAP also registered wins for the same post. Six AAP candidates and one AIMIM candidate won the election for the post of Nagar Panchayat chairpersons.

In the election held to the post of Nagar Panchayat members, 61 AAP candidates emerged victorious, and 23 AIMIM candidates tasted success.

According to the State Election Commission (SEC), the total seats won by the AAP and AIMIM is 108 and 80 respectively. The total vote share of AAP and AIMIM (after taking into account all the posts) in the urban local bodies' elections stood at 1.63 per cent and 1.62 per cent respectively, the SEC said.

Hailing the performance of AAP candidates, party leader Shekhar Dixit, who extensively campaigned in the state, told PTI, "The party registered a significant win for the post of chairman of Nagar Palika Parishad in Rampur, where party's candidate Sana Khanam secured a win by bagging 43,121 votes. BJP's Masarat Mujeeb was the runner-up with 32,173 votes and SP's Fatma Jabi came third with 16,273 votes." UP Nagar Nikay Chunav 2023 Results: BJP Wins Big in Municipal Polls in Ayodhya, Mathura and Varanasi.

Dixit said the AAP has become a "viable alternative" to the BJP.

"People have started drifting away from the Samajwadi Party and are seeing a viable alternative (to the BJP) in AAP. If anybody is doing the job of an opposition party in the country, it is either Rahul Gandhi of the Congress or the AAP duo of Arvind Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh."

National spokesperson of AIMIM Syed Asim Waqar said the party is compiling the details of the winning candidates. On being asked the possible reasons behind the party's performance in the current polls, Waqar told PTI, "Voters are very intelligent. Earlier there was a lack of education. But today, there is a B Tech qualified person or an MBA pass out virtually in every household.

"When the level of education improves, there is a visible change in the way of thinking. The voters know who will stand for them and for their rights," he said.

In the two-phase urban local body elections, voting was also held to elect 198 chairpersons and 5,260 members of nagar palika parishads, 542 chairpersons of nagar panchayats and 7,104 members of nagar panchayats.

In all, 162 public representatives were elected unopposed, while there were as many as 83,378 candidates in the poll fray for 14,522 posts. In the urban local body elections, 53 per cent of voters exercised their franchise in the second phase covering 38 districts on May 11, while the voter turnout in the first phase on May 4 was 52 per cent covering 37 districts of the state.

According to the SEC, 4.32 crore people were eligible to cast their votes in the urban local body polls. In 2017, the polls were held in three phases and the overall polling percentage was 53 per cent.
Kolkata, May 15: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that her government will challenge the Calcutta High Court order cancelling jobs of around 36,000 primary teachers in state-sponsored and -aided schools.

She also urged those teachers who lost their jobs and their family members not to be depressed as her government is with them. The CM also alleged that those teachers lost their jobs because of the ongoing agitation of the state government employees demanding a hike in their DA and bringing it at par with the central government staff. West Bengal Teachers Recruitment Scam Case: WBBPE Challenges Termination Order of 36,000 Primary Teachers in Higher Bench.

"We have been getting appeals from the families of these 36,000 (teachers) who lost their jobs. I feel very bad. We have decided to move the division bench," Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat. The Calcutta High Court on Friday ordered cancellation of the appointments of 36,000 primary teachers in state-sponsored and aided schools as the due procedure was not followed in the appointment process.

"Do not be depressed, remember that our government is with you. This is our responsibility and we will fight this matter as per legal terms," she said.

Earlier in the day, the Calcutta High Court granted permission to the West Bengal Board of Primary Education to file an appeal against an order that cancelled the appointment of around 36,000 primary teachers.

The board's lawyer Lakshmi Gupta mentioned the matter before a division bench presided over by Justice Subrata Talukdar seeking leave of the court to challenge the May 12 order of the single bench of Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay.

The division bench, also comprising Justice Supratim Bhattacharya, allowed the board to file the appeal. Ordering the cancellation of the appointment of around 36,000 candidates who were untrained at the time of their recruitment as primary teachers, Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay on Friday observed that "corruption of this magnitude" was never known in West Bengal. West Bengal Teachers Recruitment Scam Case: Calcutta High Court Cancels Jobs of 36,000 Primary School Teachers.

The single bench, however, directed that those teachers who got employment following the recommendation of the board in respect of the 2016 selection process will be allowed to work for four months from May 12 at a remuneration equal to a para teacher of a primary school.

The court had also directed the board to arrange for a recruitment exercise within three months only for the candidates who participated in the 2016 appointment process. Candidates who have obtained training qualifications in the meantime will also be included in the exercise.
Jaipur, May 15: Congress leader and former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot on Monday placed three demands before his party's government, warning that if these demands are not met by the end of this month, then he will agitate in the entire state.

At the public meeting held in Bhankrota here to mark conclusion of his Jan Sangharsh Yatra, Pilot said: "Till now we were speaking in a Gandhian way. There will be a big movement in villages and cities now and we will get justice done."

Pilot's three demands include that the Rajasthan Public Service Commission should be dissolved and a new organisation should be formed, unemployed should get compensation in lieu of paper leak and there should be a high-level inquiry into the corruption that happened during the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government. Sachin Pilot Fires Fresh Salvo at Ashok Gehlot Government in Rajasthan, Asks Why No Action Taken Against Vasundhara Raje on Corruption Allegations.

Targeting Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Pilot said: "We are working for the organisation while being abused without holding any post and you are eating cream while sitting in power."

"Let people hear that don't limit me, I don't belong to any religion or society. I am the son of 36 communities. I am the son of Rajasthan," he added. "Whether I remain in any position or not, we will continue to serve the people of Rajasthan. I am not afraid, I am not going to suppress. I have fought for you and will keep fighting."

Pilot recalled that in 2013, the Congress was left with only 21 MLAs and then party chief Sonia Gandhi called him and said that the condition of the party in Rajasthan is very bad, "you go and become the President".

"In these five years, we strongly opposed the Vasundhara government on the basis of its policies. There was open loot in Vasundhara's rule," he said.

Pilot said that the Chief Minister is also the Home Minister and the Finance Minister: "I said many times that what we have said should be investigated. I observed a day-fast for the investigation of the Vasundhara government. I thought we should go to the public. Corruption is eating the society like termites. We will have to strike hard. We have to show the world that we do what we say."

Pilot also questioned that on whose advice was Babulal Katara made an RPSC member? "The children who work hard for a year or two, spend lakhs of rupees, live in rented houses and then the paper gets leaked. You have to go to its root. If the law is doing its job, then there should be no discrimination. Any fish, no matter big or small, have to be caught," he added.

"You have arrested Katara. On whose advice did Katara become a member of the RPSC, it has to be ascertained? The purpose of this visit was to investigate the corruption of the BJP government. The purpose of the yatra was to get action taken on the paper leak," he said. Sachin Pilot Attacks Ashok Gehlot Government During Jan Sangharsh Yatra, Asks Why Bulldozer Not Used Against Paper Leak Accused?.

The rally was also addressed by state minister Rajendra Singh Guda who accused his own government of being indulged in corruption cases. Minister Hemaram Chaudhary also spoke on the occasion and retaliated on the allegations of Gehlot on accepting money from the BJP.

He said that he was hurt by the kind of allegations made by the Chief Minister. If the Chief Minister has found me guilty of taking money, then why did he made me a minister? "Many Congress leaders obstructed this rally," he said, adding "You (Gehlot) are accusing your own government."

Addressing the meeting, former Speaker Dipendra Singh Shekhawat said that BJP-era Speaker Kailash Meghwal hadA once accused the Vasundhara Raje government of corruption worth Rs 5,000 crore. "There are allegations of corruption on the ministers of our government as well, all should be investigated."

Chaksu MLA Ved Prakash Solanki said: "(Congress state in charge Sukhjinder Singh) Randhawa called me and after showing the survey, said that the BJP is speaking in Chaksu. I told them that BJP is speaking in my place, but just tell me where Congress is speaking?"

Mukesh Bhakar, MLA from Nagaur's Ladnun, said: "Gehlot wants Pilot to leave the party. We will not go anywhere. We will stay here." Pilot started his Jan Sangharsh Yatra on May 11 from the RPSC in Ajmer. The yatra, which reached Jaipur after covering a distance of 125 kilometers in five days, has once again raised the issue of paper leak and corruption reported under the tenure of former CM Vasundhara Raje. Former Congress state President Narayan Singh has reached Pilot's meeting. Overall, around 15 MLAs were present in his rally.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 15, 2023 09:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Kolkata, May 15: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday offered to extend support to Congress in states where the latter is strong, provided her Trinamool Congress is reciprocated in the same manner by Congress in the state.

However, the state Congress leadership has snubbed the proposal from her end and said that the Chief Minister's reluctance in acknowledging the impact of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra nationally actually validates her actual impression about Congress. Karnataka Election Results 2023: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Reacts on Vidhan Sabha Poll Results, Heres What She Said.

"Since the beginning, I had been saying that the parties having strengths in respective regions should directly take on BJP there... like AAP in Delhi, RJD-JD-U in Bihar, Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh and DMK-Congress in Tamil Nadu and Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. We supported Congress in Karnataka, now they should reciprocate the same to us in West Bengal. It is not right that in Karnataka they will enjoy our support and oppose us in West Bengal," Banerjee said.

However, the state Congress President Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had totally rejected her claims of supporting Congress in Karnataka. "She is claiming to raise the slogan of no vote to BJP in Karnataka. But even for once did she issue an appeal to the people of Karnataka to vote for Congress? Our fight against Trinamool Congress in West Bengal will continue," Chowdhury said.

On Saturday, after the Karnataka election results were announced, the Chief Minister, through a Twitter message as well as through her statements made to media persons, congratulated the people of Karnataka for the results. However, she remained silent about Congress even when media persons questioned her on this matter. Salman Khan Meets West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee at Her Kalighat Residence Ahead of His Concert (Watch Video).

"I have said whatever I had to say," she said. Chowdhury immediately reacted and said that Trinamool is actually against a united opposition alliance. "Her (Mamata Banerjee's) party MPs abstained from voting when we fielded a united opposition candidate against Jagdeep Dhankhar in the polls for Vice President. Trinamool is also disinclined to any floor coordination within the Parliament," he said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 15, 2023 11:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
On 13 May, Bolivias environment minister,, resigned following allegations of corruption.

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Comedian Dave Chappelle has returned to San Francisco to perform at the Masonic Auditorium on Thursday night. However, it seemed that his affection for the city had faded.

According to SFGATE, Chappelle said during the show's last minute, "What the f--k happened to this place?" Chappelle's comments were not without basis, given his extensive history of performing in San Francisco.

During his set, he recounted an incident where he had to dodge human waste on the pavement en route to an Indian restaurant in the Tenderloin neighborhood.

According to Chappelle, the city has become a hybrid of the television show "Glee" and a zombie movie, and he remarked that the entire city is the Tenderloin now.

He even suggested that San Francisco could use a superhero like Batman to help restore order.

READ NEXT: San Francisco Bay Area Will Ban Natural Gas Heating Appliances

Dave Chappelle Speaks About San Francisco's Homelessness Problem

During his recent set, Dave Chappelle recounted an incident in which he witnessed a homeless person defecating in front of a restaurant he was planning to dine at, using it to draw attention to the issue of homelessness in San Francisco.

As of 2022, 30% of all Americans who have experienced homelessness have lived in California, according to a February 2023 report by the Public Policy Institute of California. Thus, the 49-year-old comedian's comments highlight a growing concern in the state and nationwide.

Despite his concerns, Chappelle did not entirely disparage San Francisco, referring to it as his "second home" at the start of his set. According to the NY Post, he expressed a fondness for the city, having performed there numerous times at the beginning of his career.

Unlike his previous visit to San Francisco, during which he was joined on stage by Twitter CEO Elon Musk, Chappelle performed solo this time around, as noted by the media outlet.

Dave Chappelle Claps Back at His Critics Questioning His Real Estate

According to Fox Business, Dave Chappelle recently made headlines for multimillion-dollar real estate investments in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

His acquisitions have sparked concerns among some locals in the area, who view him as a "force that is turning us into the place that we are all trying to keep away from," according to one resident.

However, Chappelle's representatives have defended his investments, citing his desire to restore the cultural and creative economy that Yellow Springs lost after the decline of Antioch College.

"My interest has always been in restoring the cultural and creative economy Antioch helped to foster and which made Yellow Springs a haven for art, music, culture, and academia," his representative stated.

Chappelle's connection to Yellow Springs goes back to his childhood when he split his time between his mother's home in Washington, DC, and his father's family in Ohio.

He purchased a house in Ohio in the late 1990s and relocated there permanently in 2004, shortly after he stopped hosting his Comedy Central show.

He continued touring the country but avoided the spotlight at home until 2015 when he began performing in small barns in the countryside, which he dubbed "Juke Joints."

Chappelle's public appearances in Ohio have been relatively rare, with one notable exception being his 2017 address to the village council to advocate for police reform.

In 2018, he launched Iron Table Holdings LLC and signed a multimillion-dollar deal with Netflix for his comedy specials, which helped fund his real estate investments in Ohio.

As of 2020, the comedian owned 20 houses in Greene County, eight of which he purchased that year alone.

READ MORE: Man Who Beheaded Ex-Girlfriend Pleads Not Guilty

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Dave Chappelle's Son Meets Kevin Hart - From Netflix Is A Joke
Former President Donald Trump's behavior inspired the Apple TV+ series "Ted Lasso" to change directions, according to Jason Sudeikis, the man who plays Ted Lasso himself.

During an interview with The Guardian, the star talked about the early origins of the show. He said its initial concept was much more "belligerent" than the positive and inspiring series today.

Sudeikis noted that after observing the behavior of Trump, it forced them to make the character kindhearted and go in the opposite direction. Now, "Ted Lasso" is noted for and lauded for its positive messaging.

"It was the culture we were living in," the "Ted Lasso" actor said during the interview, "I'm not terribly active online and it even affected me. Then you have Donald Trump coming down the escalator. I was like, 'OK, this is silly,' and then what he unlocked in people."

Sudeikis added that he decided not to portray the character that way because he hated how people were not listening to each other, and as a new parent at that time, he did not want to add to this negativity.

READ NEXT: Joe Biden Family Probe: House Republicans Find No Evidence of Wrongdoing

Jason Sudeikis Talks About Recent Visit to the White House

According to Variety, before the premiere of the third season of "Ted Lasso," the stars of the Apple TV+ comedy series visited the White House and talked about "the importance of mental health to promote overall well-being."

Sudeikis talked about the experience during The Guardian interview and said that while he has been to fake Oval Office sets many times before, a little bit of himself is nonplussed by it, with the "Ted Lasso" star admitting that he was just "holding my s**t together."

During the event, Sudeikis met with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and said the president is a "very warm guy."

"It's like meeting your good friend's father or your young friend's grandfather. He just makes you feel at home and that home just happened to be the White House for that afternoon," Sudeikis said about his recent White House trip.

Donald Trump Continues to Rage About Sexual Abuse Verdict

As Ted Lasso went on a very positive decision due to Donald Trump's behavior, the man who inspired the change is still angry about his courtroom loss to former Elle Magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll last week.

The former president blamed "liberal New York" for the loss because the jury in the state believed Carroll's account more. He repeatedly attacked Carroll after the verdict, and the Trump accuser is now weighing in on whether or not to sue him again.

According to The Guardian, he also blamed the judge for being biased, which might not go well for him given he recently filed for an appeal on the sexual abuse and defamation suit that he recently lost.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Georgia Election Probe: 8 Fake Trump Electors Accept Immunity Deals

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Donald Trump Had No Defense For E. Jean Carroll - From LegalEagle
Today, President Joe Biden published an op-ed announcing new actions the Biden-Harris Administration is taking to implement the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) and maximize the benefits of the law, reducing gun violence and saving lives. The op-ed also honors the lives of those killed in Buffalo, New York, one year ago today, and Uvalde, Texas, less than two weeks later. Because of these tragedies and the courageous advocacy of the victims' families and survivors of these shootings and so many other acts of gun violence, President Biden worked with Congress to break a 30-year congressional logjam and enact BSCA.

READ ALSO: White House Convenes State, Local Leaders for a Forum on Mental Health and Well Being



On March 14, 2023, President Biden signed an Executive Order directing key members of his Cabinet to each submit to him, within 60 days, a report summarizing their progress toward full implementation of BSCA. The President also directed his Cabinet to outline steps they are taking to maximize the benefits of this historic law.



These reports make clear that BSCA is saving lives. For example, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has denied more than 160 firearms transactions solely because of BSCA's enhanced background checks for individuals under age 21. In part due to BSCA's revised definition of when an individual is "engaged in the business" of dealing in firearms, DOJ's prosecutions for unlicensed dealing increased 52% from Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 to FY 2022. The Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Education (ED), combined, have already delivered more than $1.5 billion to states and communities to make our schools safer, improve access to mental health services, and help young people deal with the trauma and grief resulting from gun violence. With this funding, schools are projected to hire an additional 14,000 mental health professionals over the next five years.



Today, the President is detailing 13 actions his Cabinet has taken or will take to maximize the benefits of the legislation, including new steps to keep guns out of dangerous hands, ensure BSCA's mental health funding helps those dealing with the grief and trauma resulting from gun violence, make our schools safer, and expand community violence interventions.



Highlights of these reports are described below.

New Actions to Reduce Gun Violence by Maximizing the Benefits of BSCA

President Biden is announcing the following 13 actions his Administration has taken or will soon take to maximize the benefits of the law:



Keeping guns out of dangerous hands

The White House, in partnership with DOJ, will convene state and local law enforcement leaders to solicit their collaboration on BSCA implementation priorities, such as: 1) increasing state and local law enforcement agencies' response rates to enhanced background check inquiries when someone under age 21 tries to purchase a gun; and 2) ensuring that arrest and adjudication records include additional documentation of dating relationships to keep more guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.

The White House, in partnership with DOJ, will convene state legislators and governors' offices, urging them to enact laws allowing the federal background check system to access all records that could prohibit someone under age 21 from purchasing a firearm.

DOJ is working with state and territory governments and local law enforcement agencies to increase their response rates to the federal background check system inquiries when someone under age 21 tries to purchase a gun. DOJ has held 18 webinars to date, attended by more than 500 law enforcement agencies, and has nine more planned.

DOJ is training federal law enforcement and educating state and local law enforcement and prosecutors on the need for additional documentation of dating relationships in domestic abuse cases in order to implement BSCA's provision that narrowed the "boyfriend loophole," helping to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.

Ensuring BSCA's mental health funding helps those dealing with the grief and trauma resulting from gun violence

The Secretaries of HHS and ED will urge governors to use BSCA and Medicaid's funding to help schools address the trauma and mental health challenges resulting from gun violence.

HHS will educate health and social service providers, community leaders, and other individuals on the effects that gun violence trauma can have on communities.

HHS will clarify how early childhood providers can use BSCA funding to address mental health and gun violence trauma.

HHS will highlight stories of how communities are effectively using BSCA's mental health funding to help those impacted by gun violence, in order to encourage other communities to adopt those strategies and effectively use BSCA's resources.

HHS will meet with trauma program grantees and select community members and providers to gather community-level data pertaining to the link between exposure to gun violence and trauma. Lessons learned will inform HHS' future program development, and a report HHS will make available to other communities.

As part of the school-based services Technical Assistance Center established under BSCA, HHS and ED will jointly develop resources for states and schools regarding how schools can use Medicaid to fund school-based health services to help students dealing with the physical and emotional impacts of gun violence.

Making schools safer

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will launch a dedicated public campaign to bring greater awareness to SchoolSafety.gov and its available resources and evidence-based practices. The campaign will be geared towards K-12 leaders, school administrators, teachers, school personnel, and parents and legal guardians.

ED has taken several steps to help states and school districts make effective use of BSCA's $1 billion Stronger Connections Grant Program to improve school safety. For example, ED hosted a four-part webinar series that highlighted evidence-based practices for supporting student safety and well-being and published extensive Frequently Asked Questions to help states and school districts understand how they can effectively use this funding to ensure all schools are safe and welcoming to all students.

Expanding community violence interventions

To help communities maximize the benefits of BSCA's community violence intervention funding, DOJ hosted a five-part webinar series to help local leaders use evidence-informed strategies to reduce violence.

Highlights of Progress Made to Implement BSCA

Keeping guns out of dangerous hands

Improving school safety

DOJ awarded almost $60 million in BSCA grants to support school safety. This funding will help institute safety measures in and around schools, support school violence prevention efforts, provide training to school personnel and students, implement evidence-based threat assessments, and fund research and evaluation on the causes and consequences of school violence.

ED awarded states nearly $1 billion from BSCA's Stronger Connections grant program to support schools in providing students with safer and healthier learning environments and support students' social, emotional, physical, and mental well-being. Per BSCA, states are tasked with developing competitions for high-need school districts to apply for funding, which they may use for purposes such as expanding school-based mental health services, addressing the physical security of schools, providing safety and violence prevention programs, and creating and implementing emergency operating plans. States are in the process of awarding these grants now.

ED awarded BSCA's $50 million in funding for out-of-school time programs to use to increase attendance and engagement of students in the middle and high school grades.

Improving access to mental health care

HHS has already awarded nearly $400 million in BSCA funding to increase mental health services in the community, expand school-based mental health services, expand and strengthen the mental health workforce, and improve mental health crisis services. For example: HHS awarded $60 million to help better equip primary care residents to provide behavioral health care. This funding is anticipated to support approximately 3,500 residents over five years. HHS awarded $18 million to 49 states, jurisdictions, and Tribes to provide technical assistance and enhance the pediatric mental health care workforce's capacity to make early identification, diagnosis, treatment and referral of behavioral conditions a routine part of children's health care services; particularly in pediatric, emergency services and schools. HHS awarded $59.4 million in supplemental Community Mental Health Block Grant funding to states, helping to expand access to prevention, treatment, and crisis services. HHS awarded $57.7 million in Mental Health Awareness Training grants to prepare and train school personnel, emergency first responders, law enforcement, and others to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges and enable early intervention. HHS awarded $19.5 million to National Child Traumatic Stress Network to improve treatment and services for children, adolescents, and families who have experienced traumatic events. HHS awarded $73.6 million for Project Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education (Project AWARE) to help develop and support school-based mental health programs and services. This program will promote the healthy social and emotional development of school-aged youth and prevent youth violence in school settings. HHS awarded $20 million in Resiliency in Communities after Stress and Trauma grants to promote resilience and equity and prevent violence in communities that have recently faced civil unrest, community violence, and/or collective trauma.

With the help of BSCA, ED has awarded more than $280 million in funding to bolster the pipeline of mental health professionals serving in schools and expand school-based mental health services and supports in schools. Grantees project that these funds will put more than 14,000 new mental health professionals in U.S. schools - including school psychologists, counselors, and social workers.

Expanding community violence interventions

DOJ awarded $50 million in BSCA funding - combined with $50 million in bipartisan omnibus appropriations - through the federal government's first-ever standalone community violence intervention grant program. Combined, this $100 million is helping 47 sites across 24 states and territories.

READ MORE: FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Actions and Investments to Lower Energy Costs, and Make Affordable Homes More Energy Efficient and Climate Resilient for Hard-Working Families
An online crowdsourcing campaign for the legal defense of former Marine Daniel Penny, charged with second-degree manslaughter concerning the chokehold murder of Jordan Neely on the New York City subway earlier this month, has raised almost $2 million, The Hill noted.

The "GiveSendGo" page set up by Raiser & Kenniff, P.C. for Penny's legal defense had received $1,883,357 in donations as of late Sunday night.

The page was created to cover legal fees from any criminal charges filed, potential civil cases that may occur, and expenses linked to his defense.

The Manhattan District Attorney's office prosecuted and charged Penny last week with second-degree manslaughter after he put Neely, 30, in a chokehold during an encounter on the train.

Neely passed out from the chokehold and was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Some train riders tackled Neely after he yelled at them and reportedly struggled with homelessness and mental illness.

Penny's attorneys, who are white, insist that their client had no malicious intent toward Neely and was only trying to defend himself and his fellow subway riders.

READ NEXT: New York Court Employees 'Crying' Debunked

The NYC Subway Chokehold Case

On an F train heading north in Manhattan, an altercation occurred Monday afternoon between former Marine Daniel Penny and Jordan Neely, who reportedly struggled with homelessness and mental illness.

Neely was heard shouting at passengers for money, but there was no evidence of assault.

Approximately 2 minutes and 55 seconds into a captured video, an onlooker recorded Daniel Penny with his arms tightly wrapped around Neely's neck. Two other passengers intervened, restraining Neely by holding onto his arms, according to BBC.

Around two minutes later, a concerned bystander who had boarded the train to await his stop alerted Penny and the others that Neely might be dying, and Penny released his grip on Neely's neck.

A passerby remarked that Neely had defecated on himself, a disturbing indication that his life may be in immediate danger. He threatened Penny with murder charges if he did not release Neely.

As Penny regained his footing, another passenger approached him and commented, "That was one heck of a chokehold, man."

Penny had instructed fellow passengers to call emergency services during the struggle, reports said. As Neely became limp, the video showed Penny placing him in a recovery position.

Freelance journalist Juan Alberto Vazquez, who filmed the incident, stated that Neely had been shouting that he was hungry and thirsty.

"I don't mind going to jail and getting life in prison. I'm ready to die," Neeley reportedly said.

Daniel Penny and Jordan Neely

Daniel Penny, a former Marine charged with second-degree manslaughter in connection with the recent chokehold death of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway train, has garnered support from right-wing political figures and organizations since his arrest on Friday.

While Penny's political views remain unknown, several conservative groups and political figures have embraced his case, New York Times reported.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a possible Republican presidential candidate, has compared Penny to the biblical figure of the good Samaritan to encourage his supporters to donate to Penny's legal defense fund.

Republican Representative Matt Gaetz has dubbed Penny "Subway Superman."

Turning Point USA leader Charlie Kirk and former President Donald J. Trump's lawyer Jenna Ellis are among the right-wing figures who have come to Penny's defense.

Jordan Neely, who was suffering from mental illness and was homeless, was on the Top 50 - a list that records individuals who, among eight million, stand out for the severity of their troubles and their resistance to accepting help.

The list is maintained by a task force comprising city agency employees and social-service nonprofits.

Homeless-outreach workers must inform the city and arrange for them to stay in a shelter if they come across someone on the list.

Despite having an outstanding arrest warrant, Neely was shouting at passengers on the subway on May 1 before being involved in an altercation that led to his death.

READ MORE: Arizona Shooting Kills 2, Injures 5

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: See moment Daniel Penny surrenders to police after chokehold death of Jordan Neely - From CNN
Pennsylvanias 2023 primary election is Tuesday, May 16.

The states 3.9 million Democrats and 3.4 million Republicans can head to the polls or submit mail-in ballots to decide on nominees  and, in some cases, outright winners  in races for school boards and municipal, county and judicial offices.

Because its a closed primary, neither the nearly 1 million independents nor the 350,000 voters registered to third parties can weigh in, except in special circumstances like local ballot questions.

Headline races in the Lehigh Valley include campaigns for Northampton County district attorney and Easton mayor, along with contests for councils in all three of the areas major cities and on numerous school boards.

For those who are voting in Tuesdays Pa. primary, heres a quick rundown with essential information on candidates, polling-place hours, how to return your mail-in ballot and how to find a sample ballot.

When are polls open for the Pa. primary?

Pennsylvania polling hours on Tuesday are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

If youre on line when polls close, you can still vote.

Do I need to show ID to vote in the Pa. primary?

Only first-time voters and those voting for the first time in a new precinct will need to show ID. Other voters will sign in to verify eligibility and that they are at the correct polling place.

Where am I registered to vote?

If you are unsure where your polling place is, the Pennsylvania state department has an online polling-place lookup tool and lots of other information at Vote.Pa.gov.

You can also check your voter registration status and party affiliation. Only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote in Pennsylvanias closed primary.

Where can I drop off my mail-in ballot?

Pennsylvania primary mail-in ballots must be received by your county elections board by the time polls close at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Its too late to mail it, so voters who still have their ballot have three options:

Deliver it directly to the county board of elections

Deposit it in a ballot drop box (see below).

Turn in all ballot materials, including envelopes, at their polling place to vote in person. If you dont have a requested ballot, you can vote in person via a provisional ballot.

Be sure to closely follow the instructions on mail-in ballots or your vote may be invalidated. Use blue or black ink, put the ballot in the secrecy envelope, and sign and date the back of the return envelope. You can only return your own mail-in ballot, except in special circumstances that require a specific form.

Ballot drop box locations in the Lehigh Valley are:

Whitehall Township Municipal Building, 3219 MacArthur Road. Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.

Lehigh County Authority lobby, 1053 Spruce Road, Allentown. Hours: 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.

Fountain Hill Borough Building, 941 Long St.. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.

Lehigh County Government Center, 17 South 7th St,, Allentown. Hours: 24/7 until polls close at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Macungie Borough Building, 21 Locust St. Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.

Northampton County Courthouse, 669 Washington St., Easton. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.

Northampton County Human Services Building, 2801 Emrick Blvd., Bethlehem. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.

Northampton County 911 Center, 100 Gracedale Ave., Nazareth. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday and Tuesday.

Bethlehem City Hall, 10 E. Church St., Bethlehem. Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Who are the 2023 Pa. primary candidates?

Some candidates may appear on both Democratic and Republican ballots. Judicial races are considered nonpartisan, while school board members are allowed to cross-file.

Statewide elections in the Pennsylvania primary include nominees for the state courts. Our colleagues at SpotlightPA have profiles on candidates for Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and races for the Commonwealth and Superior courts.

Lehighvalleylive.com and Armchair Lehigh Valley partnered to highlight select local races in the 2023 primary. Notable contests include:

 Northampton County district attorney. In one of the more contentious races, incumbent Terry Houck seeks a second term amid a challenge by former county judge Stephen Baratta.

 Northampton County judge. Local lawyers Nancy Aaroe and Brian Panella each seek a 10-year term as judge in the Court of Common Pleas.

 Lehigh County commissioners. Seven Democrats are vying for four at-large seats. Dan Hartzell is the only incumbent seeking reelection. The other candidates are Sheila Alvarado, Michael Blichar Jr., Jon Irons, Victor VJ Martinez, April Riddick and Joe Setton. A full slate of four Republicans is uncontested in the primary but will await the winners in the general election.

 Easton mayor, city council and school board. On the Democratic ticket, longtime incumbent Sal Panto is seeking a seventh (and possibly final) term in office while Peter Melan, a city councilmember, says its time for change. Meanwhile, in the race for three city council seats, incumbents Ken Brown and David OConnell seek reelection amid challenges by Kurt Carlson, Ken Greene, Frank Pintabone, Crystal Rose and Lance Wheeler. And in one school board region, former district CFO Michael Simonetta looks to spoil a reelection bid by Edward Keegan, a former schools superintendent.

 Bethlehem city council. A crowded race pits five Democrats for three at-large seats. The candidates are current Council President Michael G. Colon, former councilman Bryan Callahan, and newcomers Ricky Butler, Celeste Dee and Colleen Laird. The winners will face three Republicans in the general election.

 Lower Saucon Township council. The Republican ticket has four candidates for three seats. Incumbents Sandra Yerger and Mark Inglis are vying for the nomination with challenges from newcomers Kathy Pichel-McGovern and Susan Blair. The three winners will face a trio of Democrats in the general election.

 Saucon Valley school board. Ten candidates and five seats pit bipartisan incumbents against a slate of Democrats and one Republican challenger. The incumbents are Republicans Susan Baxter, Shawn Welch and Bryan Eichfeld, and Democrats Michael Karabin and Laurel Erickson-Parsons. Running as the Saucon School Board Choices for Change are Bill Broun, Donald L. Carpenter III, Vivian Demko and Jay Santos. Republican J. Barrett Geyer is running on his own. All but Geyer have cross-filed, meaning they will appear on both Democrat and Republican primary ballots.

Looking for more races? Check out Armchair Lehigh Valley, or SpotlightPAs guide to vetting candidates.

When will we have Pa. primary election results?

Lehighvalleylive.com will have election results coverage on Tuesday evening after polls close at 8 p.m.

The Pennsylvania state department will begin posting live results online at electionreturns.pa.gov as counties report them.

The state department has called for patience as returns are tallied. State law prevents counties from canvassing mail-in and absentee ballots until 7 a.m. on Election Day. At least 700,000 voters requested mail ballots, and an additional 79,000 asked for absentee ballots.

Problems at the polls?

The state department says to report issues to the on-site judge of elections at your polling place. If the issue is not resolved, the issue can be reported to your county elections board through the states online complaint form or through the voter hotline at 877-868-3772. Potential violations are investigated by the county elections board, district attorney or the Pennsylvania attorney general.

Voters can only be challenged if a poll worker, poll watcher or another voter doubts your identity or believes you do not live in the precinct. It is illegal to discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin or spoken language, or for anyone to intimidate or coerce others into voting for or against a particular candidate.

The state department has more on voting rights and how to report violations at Vote.Pa.gov/Your-Rights.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com.
Lehigh Township officials are reviewing plans for a medical marijuana campus on 35 acres of farmland along Route 145.

Though not yet licensed by the state, the facility is projected to created at least 80 high-paying grower/processor jobs in addition to three jobs at a dispensary on-site and another dozen or more at a drive-through restaurant also proposed as part of the project, a partner on the plan told lehighvalleylive.com.

The company behind the proposal is a Pennsylvania general partnership called LURRS, based at 499 Riverview Drive in the township. Thats also the address of Lehigh Engineering Associates Inc. The partner who provided details to a reporter on the project is Mark Leuthe, president of the engineering company.

A non-disclosure agreement prevents immediately identifying the operator of the campus or the restaurant, Leuthe said.

LURRS has owned the property where the campus is proposed since 2000, according to Northampton County property records. Its located northwest of the intersection of Riverview Drive (Route 145) and Birch Drive, just south of Walnutport.

The plans filed with the township call for subdividing the property into 18 lots of one acre and larger, with proposed construction of 16 medical marijuana grower/processor buildings of up to 20,000 square feet each, a dispensary of up to 3,000 square feet and the fast food restaurant with drive-through.

The Lehigh Township Planning Commission last Monday voted 4-1 to recommend denial of a special exception for the project, with member Bill Jones dissenting. The townships zoning hearing board has the final say on the special exception, and is scheduled to take it up Aug. 10, said township Zoning Officer Liz Amato.

In addition to the special exception, the project needs land development approval from the township board of supervisors also following a review by the planning commission, Amato said.

Leuthe projects construction taking about two years if the project is approved.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health also would have to issue a permit for the proposal. There are no grower/processor permits currently awarded within Northampton County, the department says.

Editors note: This article was updated to correct the Lehigh Township Planning Commissions May 8 vote.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
Editors note: This story has been updated with new details from District Attorney Terry Houck.

Northampton County District Attorney Terry Houck and Pennsylvania State Police announced an investigation into a weekend shooting that left one dead in Upper Mount Bethel Township.

The district attorney in a news release identified the victim as 59-year-old Walter Richard Whaley Jr.

Troopers from the state polices Belfast barracks were dispatched at 1:19 a.m. Sunday to Sandy Shore Drive. Upon arrival, they found Whaley deceased with a gunshot wound.

Houck told lehighvalleylive.com Monday evening the public is not in any danger.

We do not believe this was a random act, the district attorney said.

Houck said the investigation is ongoing. More information is expected to be released as the investigation progresses.

Reporter Pamela Sroka-Holzmann contributed to this report.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com.
By Zach Kennedy

Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, Jr. has quietly built one of the most successful political legacies in Pennsylvania history. Prior to Caseys 2018 reelection victory, never before had a Pennsylvania Democrat won three terms to the United States Senate. As the Scranton native eyes his 2024 reelection campaign, he not only boasts decisive front-runner status but also has the opportunity to help the Democratic Party maintain control of the Senate.

Hailing from the region of Northeast Pennsylvania that President Joe Biden calls home and son to one of Pennsylvanias most popular governors, Sen. Casey has been steeped in politics since day one. His father, the late Gov. Bob Casey, gained national notoriety as a leading pro-life Democrat; that position has been foundational to Sen. Caseys ideological priorities and political successes, though he has moved closer to the Democratic Partys pro-choice ranks in recent years.

Caseys career should be evaluated by politicians across the nation as a case study in consistently winning big in a swing state where margins should be much closer. Then serving as Pennsylvania State Treasurer, Bob Casey, Jr. bested two-term incumbent Republican and rising star Rick Santorum in the 2006 election for U.S. Senate by 17 points. This remains the largest victory margin for any Democratic U.S. Senate nominee from Pennsylvania. A nine-point victory in his 2012 Senate reelection was followed by his 2018 defeat of Trump-endorsed four-term U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta.

The national political winds have always blown in Caseys direction. Each of his three Senate races  in 2006, 2012, and 2018  were buoyed by favorable national trends for Democrats. That wont be the case in 2024, as Bidens reelection campaign will drive the narrative, and Bidens approval ratings have remained in the low 40s for the majority of his presidency.

Still, Democrats should remain confident in Caseys chances in 2024. As the powerhouse Philadelphia collar counties  Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, and Delaware  trend bluer and turn out voters in greater numbers, Casey could see over one million votes in these regions. The suburbs of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are tailormade for Caseys moderate approach to governance, which is amenable to the suburban women who swing elections and helped elevate Biden to the White House in 2020 on the back of historically high turnout. Look for Casey to run up the score in the southeast and south-central Pennsylvania, with his blue-collar style also allowing him to cut into margins in historically Democratic counties that have trended red throughout the commonwealth.

Casey is also unlikely to face a serious primary challenge, freeing his campaign to concentrate all fundraising, messaging, and resources toward winning in November, something recently elected Gov. Josh Shapiro just demonstrated is a tremendous advantage. And the Republican primary for Senate is fractured, with establishment-backed Dave McCormick and Trump-inspired Doug Mastriano both closing in on campaign launches. This worries many GOP insiders, as this dynamic will pit differing factions of the Republican Party against one another, potentially weakening both candidates ahead of a November showdown with Casey.

Whoever the Republicans nominate will have to contend with Caseys unmatched name recognition. Pennsylvanians have been circling the Casey name on their ballots since 1969, when Casey, Sr. won his first statewide campaign as auditor general. Moreover, Sen. Casey has long prioritized organized labor, and is once again likely to enjoy broad support from influential unions across Pennsylvania, staking a claim to the support of the commonwealths more than 700,000 union employees.

If weve learned anything from politics in the Trump era, its that the electorate is remarkably unpredictable, and we shouldnt take anything for granted. But with Caseys unique ability to relate to moderate and swing voters and win decisively in battleground terrains, the Democratic Party is in a strong position to hold Pennsylvania.

Zach Kennedy, a former Democratic operative, is a Pittsburgh native and has worked on high-level judicial, state, and federal campaigns in Pennsylvania. This column first appeared on RealClear Pennsylvania.
Rising violence against prison officers working in jails in Portlaoise and elsewhere has to be tackled.

That is the view of Karl Dalton, General Secretary of the Prison Officers Association.

The increase in overall violence in our prisons from 2021 to 2022 is of deep concern to all prison officers, he told POA delegates from jails in Portlaoise and elsewhere.

Of major concern is an increase in assaults on prison officers over the period (21-22) from 91 to 134  an increase of some 46%. Some of these assaults have been extremely serious and will have a lasting impact on those who were injured and their families.

All workers should be able to attend the workplace with a reasonable expectation of not being threatened and/or assaulted, and this is not the case for many of our members in 2023.

Despite the best efforts of prison officers on the ground, prisoner-on-prisoner assaults have increased dramatically from 249 to 380 over the period (21-22), an increase of some 52%.

And this increase in prisoner violence has led to an increase in the control and restraint related injuries of prison officers as they try curtail the violence. Injuries to staff have increased from 61 to 100 in the same period, an increase of some 63%, as they try to control the violence, he said.

He called on the Minister for Justice not to 'gloss' over the situation.

Unless the overcrowding and recruitment issues are resolved these levels of violence will increase in all areas  and inevitably lead to serious injury and further fatalities, he said at the POA annual conference.

"We are primarily concerned for our members, but we also want to ensure, as best possible, that prisoners who are placed under our care are safe in a secure environment, said Mr Dalton.

The annual conference was held in Galway in April.
A jury has begun deliberations in the trial of a psychic medium accused of deceiving two siblings of 10,200 by telling them their deceased father told them to give her the money.

Debbie Paget, of Knowth Court, Ballymun, Dublin has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of dishonestly by deception inducing James Byrne and Maria Byrne to give two sums of cash, totalling 10,200.

Jurors heard closing speeches from prosecution and defence lawyers on Monday, May 15 before Judge Pauline Codd directed them in the law. The jury began deliberations around 3.30 pm and resume deliberations on Tuesday.

In his evidence last week James Byrne told Oisin Clarke BL, prosecuting, that he and his sister Maria and their mother lived together at Glendhu Road, Cabra, Dublin. He said Ms Paget was a home carer for a neighbour and they all got to know her that way.

He said on one occasion, Ms Paget invited him to a reading and he thought this was a fortune telling and he would find out about his future. He said that during the session Ms Paget started talking about my father and then told him: Your father said you are to give me 10,000.

He said that he felt pressurised and gave his word to give her the money.

He said that Ms Paget asked him: When are you getting the money and told him: If you don't, it will be a sin and the devil will get you. He said that he later gave her 10,000 cash in an envelope after withdrawing it from his bank account.

Asked why he gave her the money Mr Byrne told the jury I believed my father told her to tell me to give her the money, thats what I believed.

His sister testified that she gave 200 to Ms Paget after the defendant told her during a reading that her deceased father had communicated with her and said that Ms Byrne should give her 200. The siblings made a complaint first to the woman's employer and then later to gardai.

When questioned, Ms Paget told gardai that she was publicly known as a psychic medium which meant that she could see beyond the veil and communicate with the dead. She said she had offered this service to people for 40 years and had never charged a penny to anyone for it.

She denied that she ever did a reading for the complainants and denied that she got any money from either of them. She said she never asked either complainant for money.

Ms Paget told gardai that at one point she felt that Ms Byrne no longer needed a carer and she had suggested to Ms Byrne that she cancel the care package. She said that after her dismissal, Mr Byrne told her that Ms Byrne later said to him: Who does she think she f**king is, watch what Im going to do to her.

Under cross-examination from Karl Monaghan BL, defending, Mr Byrne accepted that he had a previous conviction for sexual offending but said that had nothing to do with this case.
Minister for Finance Michael McGrath has indicated the Government will extend the temporary business energy support scheme (TBESS).

The scheme allows businesses to claim for 50% of the increases in energy bills, subject to a monthly cap.

It was designed to to assist businesses with their electricity or natural gas energy costs.

It was introduced to support businesses with these rising costs as a result of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

The scheme was previously extended until the end of May with the option to extend until the end of July 2023.

Speaking to RTE News, Mr McGrath said: I think extending the scheme, combined with the improvements to the scheme, the additional cash payments that we are now making being administered by the Revenue Commissioners will be of major benefit to businesses.

He added: We do need to see a reduction in the cost of energy for consumers.
A Laois public representative has called for a level playing pitch for rural Ireland when making a call for a community in his local area to get a playground.

Cllr Ollie Clooney, Independent, made the comments when he tabled a motion calling on Laois County Council to provide a playground in Ballacolla.

Anne Marie Maher, the Laois Sport & Leisure Officer, replied in writing that the council would support it but could not provide it as requested.

Where public playgrounds have been provided in recent years, these have been developed by the local community in an area with the assistance of external grant aid, rather than by direct provision by the Council.

For its part the Council, when a public community playground is completed, assists through safety inspections for insurance purposes, she said.

Cllr Clooney said he was a bit disappointed that a voluntary effort is called upon.

We cant have the haves and have-nots in rural Ireland. We have to have a level playing pitch, he said.

Chairing the meeting, Cllr Paddy Bracken, Fianna Fail, said all council members would fully support the proposal.

A village that size is very much entitled to a playground, he said.

Cllr John King, Fine Gael, supported. While he said the council is very supportive of community playground plans, he said there is a lot of work.

The biggest difficulty is trying to provide a site, he said.

He advised that the community form a committee and get Ms Maher involved which he said is very helpful. He said funds are available but fundraising would also be needed.

The matter was raised at the April Borris-in-Ossory Moutmellick Municipal District meeting.
A call has been made for the government to address the issue of unoccupied military accommodation amidst the ongoing housing crisis. In response to a recent article highlighting the plight of a homeless single mother, Newbridge councillor Chris Pender reveals that he and his colleague, Deputy Gary Gannon, put forward a series of parliamentary questions focusing on unoccupied military properties.

Startling figures show that nearly 60 per cent of family military accommodation across Dublin, Cork, and Kildare remains unoccupied. This alarming statistic prompted Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon to urge the government to reconsider its policy of not providing military family accommodation to members of the Defence Forces.

Cllr Chris Pender, upon discovering the vacant Kildare married quarters through the parliamentary questions, expressed his concern, stating, "The revelation that Kildare has unoccupied married quarters amidst the current housing crisis is deeply troubling. With families in desperate need of affordable housing, it is unacceptable that these properties remain empty. We must prioritise the effective use of every available resource to address the housing and homelessness emergency we are facing. It is time for immediate action to bring these properties back into use and provide a lifeline to those in need."

Cllr Pender echoes Deputy Gannon's concerns, stating, "The recent reports of a female soldier, a mother with an infant child, being denied permission to live in military accommodation are deeply troubling. It is unacceptable that she was forced to seek refuge on the couches of family and friends due to the lack of available housing options."

The figures obtained through Deputy Gannon's parliamentary question further reveal that out of the 134 living quarters in Dublin, Cork, and Kildare, a staggering 77 units lie empty. Many of these properties have deteriorated over the years, following the Department of Defence's gradual reduction in military family accommodation since the late 1990s. However, given the current struggles faced by Defence Forces personnel in paying rent or securing affordable homes, this ongoing decline in housing stock seems counterproductive.

Cllr Pender emphasises, "In the midst of a housing and homelessness emergency, it is imperative that every vacant property be utilised, even if renovation work is required to bring it up to standard. Members of the Defence Forces, along with their families, who are already coping with meagre wages, deserve better. The Department of Defence's refusal to reverse its policy is a slap in the face to those who serve our country."

Cllr Pender concludes by urging the government to take immediate action, stating, "We cannot afford to let these unoccupied properties go to waste. It is high time for the government to prioritise the needs of our Defence Forces personnel and their families by ensuring that all available military accommodation is utilised effectively. This is a matter of urgency, and I call upon the government to address it promptly."

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To mark National Volunteering Week (15-21 May), Volunteer Ireland has released a video featuring volunteers from Ukraine, Somalia, and Zimbabwe, making a difference in their new communities around Ireland.

Run in partnership with Irelands network of Volunteer Centres, National Volunteering Week is a week-long celebration of volunteering that takes place in Ireland every May. This year, a new video highlights the stories of Vumani from Zimbabwe, Mohamed from Somalia, sisters Alina and Ilona from Ukraine, and Mildred from Co. Monaghan.

The video highlights the contributions of displaced individuals in Ireland and celebrates the impact they make in our communities. It features interviews with volunteers who share their experiences of resettlement, and the positive impact volunteering has had on their integration.

When I came to Ireland, I got a new life, said Mohamed Abdi Mohumed, who moved to Newbridge last year from Somalia. By volunteering with Newbridge Tidy Towns and the Newbridge Family Resource Centre, I get to teach African culture and learn Irish culture.

"Diversity and inclusion are core values of National Volunteering Week, and this video is a testament to the power of volunteering to bring people together," explained Kildare Volunteer Centre Manager, David Hand. "We hope that by sharing these stories, more people will be inspired to volunteer and connect with their communities. Volunteering is an act of profound generosity that can transform our communities into more diverse, dynamic, and welcoming spaces. By offering our time and skills to support the needs of others, we not only strengthen our communities, but also deepen our own sense of belonging and connection. This National Volunteering Week, were celebrating the power of volunteering to enrich our communities, bridge social divides, and create meaningful connection.

The video was made possible thanks to support from the Department of Rural and Community Development. Minister of State in the Department of Rural and Community Development, Joe OBrien TD, said It is important for me as the Minister with responsibility for Volunteering, to make it clear just how important volunteers and volunteering are in our communities. This video highlights just how impactful volunteers are in playing a critical role in supporting diverse, inclusive and vibrant communities, and this week is all about volunteers. The extraordinary events over the last three years just show us how phenomenal our volunteers are, and this week is a way of highlighting the tremendous work that has and is being done. I want to personally thank volunteers nationwide for their commitment to their communities not just for the last three years but all of the time, and for ensuring that people feel connected, welcomed and within their communities.

Volunteer Ireland is grateful once again to be supported by Healthy Ireland. Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy Hildegarde Naughton commented: "Volunteering is at the heart of every community, creating a sense of connection. It is a connection that is so necessary in all our lives. It is a connection that benefits both the lives of those receiving support and those providing it. Boosting self-esteem, confidence, stress reduction and providing a sense of wellbeing are outcomes that can be shared amongst a volunteering connection, between people and communities.

It is important that we take time to celebrate our volunteers, without whom, life for so many people would simply not be the same. Volunteers are unsung heroes who so generously give their time to enrich the lives of neighbours, families and communities nationwide; National Volunteering Week provides the perfect moment to acknowledge and applaud our volunteers.

The video will be available on Volunteer Irelands website (volunteer.ie) and social media channels from Monday, 15 May, and will be promoted through local partners and media outlets.

For more information about National Volunteering Week, and how to get involved, please visit volunteer.ie.

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Agri Aware in collaboration with Dole Ireland visited Scoil Mhuire Senior School, Ballymany, Newbridge as part of the Incredible Edibles Healthy Eating Week.

Fourth class pupils in Scoil Mhuire Senior School have been taking part in the Agri Aware healthy food programme where they learn to grow their own fruit and vegetables.

Healthy Eating Week has been ongoing since Monday, May 8 and concluded today, Friday, May 12.

The challenge for the week is to eat seven a day for seven days  which is the recommended amount for those aged five and over from Healthy Ireland and the HSE. Schools will also fill out a food diary available on the Incredible Edibles website.

By taking to the classroom, the hope is that it will encourage pupils to bring home ideas to get the family involved by bringing their healthy eating learnings home with them.

The fruit and vegetables supplied throughout the week are kindly donated by Dole Ireland, the worlds leading premier fresh produce provider. Pupils not only get to take home a goodie bag for themselves, but the whole school also received free fresh fruit to help them on their Healthy Eating Week Challenge.

Dole is one of fifteen sponsors of the Agri Aware Incredible Edibles programme, which is impacting near 80,000 primary children this year alone. The Agri Aware team and Dole Ireland took in schools in Louth, Meath and Kildare this past

week. This exciting week comes ahead of Bord Bias Bloom in the Phoenix Park on the June bank holiday.

At Bloom, up to 1,000 Incredible Edibles project pupils will attend and receive an educational tour of the farmyard  run by Agri Aware and the Bord Bia/Department of Agriculture exhibit in the Food Village area. Lastly, keep an eye out on our social channels to be in with a chance to win a fantastic competition which will see the winner receive a ninja food processor and a family pass to Emerald Park, in Co Meath (formerly Tayto Park).

Read more Kildare news
Last week County Kildare Chamber Public Affairs Manager Sinead Ronan, was in Washington DC as part of a 50 strong delegation representing Ireland at Select USA, one of the largest investment summits in the world, led by U.S. Ambassador Claire Cronin and her team.

The summit was a significant event for Ireland's business community, providing valuable insights into various business opportunities available for Irish businesses looking to invest in the United States. With representatives from most US states present, it offered a chance for Kildare to strengthen its existing connections and explore new partnerships within the US.

The delegation included several state agencies, such as Enterprise Ireland, led by Leo Clancy, and officials from the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment. Their presence demonstrates Irelands commitment to supporting businesses in expanding their operations internationally.

The Irish ambassador to the US, Geraldine Byrne Nason, and the Irish Embassy team provided a warm welcome and support to the visiting delegation and hosted a welcome reception to the visiting delegation at her residence in DC.

The Chambers Ireland network was well-represented at the event, with participation from a geographical spread, including Cork Chamber, Galway Chamber, Waterford Chamber, and Dublin Chamber. Additionally, the collaboration with the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland allowed for a unified and positive message about Irish innovation and investment opportunities to be conveyed.

Overall, the Select USA Investment Summit served as an important platform for Kildare and Ireland to showcase its capabilities, forge new connections, and strengthen existing relationships with US counterparts.
Market rents have risen by 11.7% in the 12 months since March 2022, according to the latest report from property website Daft.ie.

However, the quarterly increase has slowed to its lowest level since 2020, with market rents in the first three months of the year up just 1% on average compared with the previous quarter.

The average market rent nationwide between January and March was 1,750 euros per month, compared with 1,387 euros in the first quarter of 2020 and a low of just 765 euros per month seen in late 2011.

The upward trend in market rents around the country is driven by extraordinary shortages in the availability of rental accommodation.

Nationwide, there were just 959 homes available to rent on May 1.

While this is up 13% on the same date last year, it still represents one of the three lowest totals for availability at the start of the month in a series that extends back to the start of 2006.

The availability of rental homes is approximately one quarter the average level of availability during 2015-2019.

Daft identified significant regional differences in how rents changed in the first quarter.

In Dublin, rents rose by 0.5% quarter-on-quarter, the same rate seen in the rest of Leinster.

However, in the four other cities, rents fell in the first quarter by 1.8% on average.

In the case of Cork city, this is the first time in almost a decade that rents have not risen quarter-on-quarter.

In Munster, Connacht and Ulster rents continued to rise strongly outside of cities, by 3.8% on average in quarter one of 2023.

Dublin: 2,337 euros, up 11.2% year-on-year

Cork city: 1,731 euros, up 7.7%

Galway city: 1,772 euros, up 11.8%

Limerick city: 1,645 euros, up 10.8%

Waterford city: 1,399 euros, up 10.8%

Rest of the country: 1,373 euros, up 12.7%

Outside of open market rents, the report also includes an index of rents paid by sitting tenants, rather than movers, using a bespoke survey of thousands of tenants.

It shows that, on average, rents paid by sitting tenants have increased by 4.1% over the last 12 months, with bigger percentage increases outside Dublin than in the capital.

Since the introduction of Rent Pressure Zones in 2016, rents of sitting tenants have increased by roughly 20% on average, compared with an average increase in open-market rents of three quarters over the same period.

The reports author, Trinity College Dublin associate professor of economics Ronan Lyons said it offers some crumbs of comfort for those of us gravely concerned about the health of Irelands rental market.

For over a decade now, the rental market has been characterised by worsening availability and, as a consequence, higher and higher rents.

He added: The private rental market has been under increasing stress over the last two years, as first society reopened after the Covid-19 pandemic and then the war in Ukraine led to a refugee crisis.

There are some signs that, if things are not getting better, then they are not getting much worse.

Availability of homes to rent has stopped falling, albeit at extremely low levels, while the quarterly change in rents seen January to March was far smaller than the average increase seen in 2021 and 2022.

Nonetheless, the solution to Irelands rental housing shortage requires significant action by policymakers.

The number of rental homes coming on to the market in newly built developments has held up in recent months but is likely to reduce in the quarters ahead, unless issues around planning certainty and viability are addressed.

Ultimately, policymakers must have a clear plan on how tens of thousands of new rental homes will be delivered this decade in all major towns and cities.
The military museum in Chisinau, in 2014 CHRIS STOWERS/PANOS-REA

It's always at night that the Russians arrive. In Czechoslovakia in 1968, in Ukraine in 2022, and here, in Moldova. The scene is set in Chisinau, the capital of this small country nestled between Romania and Ukraine. The city is just waking up. One resident, still groggy from sleep, says to another: "Can't you see the smoke covering the sky? They say it's from oil tanks that caught fire after being hit by Transnistrian army shells. I'm off to Romania. In two days, the Transnistrians will be here."

These lines are from a new novel by Moldovan writer Iulian Ciocan, Et Demain Les Russes Seront La ("And Tomorrow the Russians Will Be Here"). After reading it, we landed in Chisinau with a sense of relief, as if waking up from a bad dream. Not only is the city peaceful, but there is a spring-like atmosphere. After a long winter, Moldovans stroll with their families in the romantic Pushkin Park.

In the 1820s, due to poems deemed seditious by Russian Emperor Alexander I, Pushkin was exiled to Chisinau, then known as Kishinev. It is said that he courted a beautiful Romani woman there while seeking inspiration. Recently, the park changed its name to Stefan cel Mare Park, after a 15th-century Moldovan prince), but Pushkin remains on his marble column, overlooking Poets' Alley, a majestic lineup of busts of authors, bearing witness to the significance of literature in these borderlands of Mitteleuropa.

Not far away, we meet Ciocan. The writer, who is also a journalist at Vocea Basarabiei ("the voice of Bessarabia," a historical region whose territory is now shared between Moldova and Ukraine), smiled at our relief. "Of course," he said, "this novel is a dystopia. That's how I started writing it in 2013. But today, I am horrified to see that it could become a reality." Does he see his novel as prophetic? "It all depends on the outcome of the war. If Ukraine were to lose, there would be no doubt that the Russians would be here tomorrow: nothing would stop their reconquest."

'The stakes are real'

War is rumbling at the gates of Moldova  in 2022, the bombings around Odesa could be heard from Chisinau. But the real danger comes from Tiraspol, in Transnistria. This pro-Russian region on the left bank of the Dniester River, bordering Ukraine, is located within the internationally recognized borders of Moldova. However, in 1991, during the dissolution of the USSR, it proclaimed its independence. In this "country," not recognized by the UN, Russians stockpile weapons, and according to Ciocan, "there are said to be 2,000 'peacekeeping' soldiers stationed there," some of whom are former military personnel from the 14th Soviet Army. The writer refered to this as the "Transnistrian dagger".

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A photo of television screen taken in on May 15, 2023, in Paris, shows French President Emmanuel Macron during an interview on the evening news broadcast of French TV channel TF1. LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP

France's President Emmanuel Macron said Monday, May 15, that his country had "opened the door" to training Ukrainian fighter pilots, even if he excluded sending any warplanes to Kyiv. Macron spoke a day after Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky visited Paris on the second such trip since Russia invaded its pro-Western neighbor in February last year.

"We have opened the door to training pilots, and this with several other European countries who are also ready. I think discussions are underway with the Americans," he said in a televised interview with the TF1 broadcaster. "The training can start from now," Macron added, without providing further details.

After months of stalemate, Ukraine has been preparing to retake ground captured by Russia and is shoring up military assistance to help make its troops more battle-ready. Zelensky has for months been pleading for modern fighter jets such as the US-designed F-16, but NATO members have so far drawn the line at sending Kyiv any such warplanes.

One French official close to air force command in February told AFP that France could, in theory, send 13 recently decommissioned French fighters of the Mirage 2000-C type, but that it would likely take too long to train Ukrainian pilots to use them.

'A lot is at stake'

Macron and Zelensky had dinner on Sunday night, as the Ukrainian leader visited several European countries to boost his weapons stockpile.

"In the coming weeks, France will train and equip several battalions with tens of armored vehicles and light tanks including AMX-10RC," they said in a joint statement afterward. Macron refused to provide more details during the TF1 interview. "We have decided to deliver more ammunition," he said.

France had also decided to help "train their troops, the battalions that will be in charge of the counter-offensive" as well as "repair vehicles and cannons". "France still has the same position: to help Ukraine resist. A lot is at stake right now, because the success of this counter-offensive will be decisive for the capacity to build lasting peace," he said.

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DESMOND Castle in Newcastle West will play host to a special conference featuring some of Irelands leading historians for a discussion on the civil war.

The talk, on Wednesday, May 17 will mark the centenary of the end of the Civil War.

The conference is being organised by the Office of Public Works (OPW) Heritage Services which manages Desmond Castle, one of Limericks leading heritage sites which last year attracted more than 26,000 visitors.

Three of Irelands leading young historians will give talks detailing the bitter conflict in the county a century ago - Dr John OCallaghan, a native of Limerick who lectures in NUIG, will give an overview of the key events of the Civil War in Limerick.

Author and broadcaster John Dorney will detail how many people were killed in the conflict and examine the deaths of Limerick men and women killed in the conflict.

Liz Gillis, who recently appeared on RTEs Tommy Tiernan show, will deliver a talk on the topic Sister against Sister  The Role of Women in the Civil War.

Desmond Castle is a fitting venue for the event as it was used as a barracks by the Anti-Treaty IRA during the Civil War.

The conference will be the last in a series of lectures that have been running at the castle since 2013 to mark key events in the Decade of Centenaries which led to the emergence of the modern Irish state.

Admission to the castle and attendance at the conference, which starts at 7.30pm, is free. Booking is not required.

Desmond Castle was the scene of vicious fighting between pro and anti-treaty forces on August 7, 1922, when two Anti-Treaty IRA Volunteers - brothers Denis and Edward ODwyer - were killed defending the castle, located in the centre of the town.

General Michael Collins, Commander in Chief of the Free State Army visited Newcastle West and inspected troops in front of the castle on August 14, 1922  just one week before he was killed at Beal na Bla.
THE ENGINE of a car was impaled on a concrete post in a road traffic collision, a local court heard.

Lakita Faulkner, aged 21, of Coolnacave, Mitchelstown, County Cork was accused of driving without reasonable consideration at Curraghturk, Ballylanders.

The investigating garda - Mary Louise Armstrong - said while Ms Faulkner was not present in Kilmallock Court, she was not in jeopardy (at risk of going to prison).

Garda Armstrong said she responded to the single vehicle accident on the R512 on October 2, 2022.

The vehicle was travelling from Mitchelstown to Ballylanders. It left the road, crossing a grass margin. It went through concrete paling. The vehicle hit one of the posts so hard it was impaled in the engine. There were no passengers in the car, said Garda Armstrong.

The garda said the defendant was taken away by ambulance.

She was released from hospital the following day. A fixed charge penalty notice was issued which remains unpaid, said Garda Armstrong.

Judge Patricia Harney decided not to deal with the case at that court sitting in Kilmallock.

I am a bit concerned. There might be an issue, said Judge Harney.

A bench warrant was issued for the arrest of Ms Faulkner.
IN A SIGNIFICANT move towards combating climate change, the University of Limerick (UL) has announced its comprehensive plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.

The university recently published its Climate Action Roadmap 2030, outlining a series of ambitious actions and projects that will guide its path towards becoming a sustainable institution.

The plan encompasses a range of initiatives to reduce the university's carbon footprint. One of the key commitments involves retrofitting university buildings to enhance heat, lighting, and energy sources, thereby improving energy efficiency.

According to the roadmap, the makeup of the campus carbon footprint include thermal emissions of campus buildings, which account for 19% of total emissions, while electrical emissions account for 17%.

UL say they plan to implement sustainable forms of transportation exclusively within and between campuses, with an emphasis on promoting physical mobility whenever possible. Additionally, aiming to source the majority of its campus food from "within the bioregion or directly from university grounds, prioritizing local and sustainable food systems."

Speaking at the Annual Presidents Dinner, UL President Professor Kerstin Mey highlighted the urgency of addressing humanity's impact on the environment. "To become a sustainable university, we must first acknowledge that true sustainability will require permanent adaptive responsiveness to on-going change.

"At UL we intend to go beyond traditional curricula and research programmes, and actively explore change within our own ethos, practices, and operations".

The Climate Action Roadmap 2030 outlines various tangible projects aimed at achieving UL's sustainability goals. Among them is the development of an Earth Guild trade school that will provide upskilling programs in sustainability practices for trade professionals.

UL have said they will also transform its campus into a self-powered environment, developing sustainable energy systems such as wind turbines and solar panels. The university also hope to retrofit existing university buildings for improved energy efficiency and create greenhouses and a campus farm to "foster self-sufficiency practices."

The university say they aim to developing a digital model of its campus infrastructure, allowing for simulation, testing, and progress monitoring. Sustainability programs for both students and staff will also be implemented.

By 2030, the university says they strive to have the majority of its campus food sourced locally and sustainably. It also aims to provide only sustainable forms of transportation within and between campuses, promoting greener mobility options.

Professor Mey emphasized the importance of engaging UL students in the process, recognizing their fresh perspectives, creativity, and enthusiasm for problem-solving. "Engaging students in the work of a mission lab at UL will be crucial for the progression of this roadmap and for our transition to becoming a sustainable university".

The 43 mission projects contained in the UL Climate Action Roadmap 2030 include completion dates, funding sources and owners with many of them already commenced and underway.

The plan also includes details of ULs current carbon footprint as it relates to university buildings, energy, transport, waste, and procurement as well as carbon sequestration forecast for each mission contained within the roadmap.
HOLY Communion day is a busy one for all families but imagine the scenes in the Slattery household with four children celebrating the sacrament!

Caherconlish quadruplets Mollie, Amelia, Lily and Lucas, aged 8, made their Holy Communion with their school friends in Caherline church on Saturday.

At 11pm on Friday night, mum Grace was onto Ursula, of Ursula Jean Communion Wear, on how to feed the hoop into a dress, and at 7am on Saturday morning Mollie, Amelia and Lilly were down with Majella, of MB Hair Design, to get their long locks looked after. Dad James and Lucas could have a lie-in.

Were all shattered, laughed Grace when she spoke to Limerick Live this Monday morning.

But they all made it to the church on time - Mollie, Amelia, Lily looking resplendent in their white dresses that they chose themselves - and Lucas, who was suited and booted, looked very dapper.

Fr Roy Donovan (parish priest) mentioned the chaos that must have been in the Slattery household which I thought was lovely. Fr Roy is fabulous. It was a lovely Mass. Their teacher Mr Whelan had all the children so well rehearsed. They were all so good and not distracted by anything. They were perfectly on point, she added.

Mollie, Lily and Lucas did readings while Amelia brought up a framed photo of the class as one of the gifts.

Theyre not shy - trying to hold them back is the problem! They are all real social butterflies, smiled Grace.

It is hard to believe that when they were born in 2014 Amelia weighed 4.3lbs; Lucas, 3.10lbs; Lily, 3.4lbs and Mollie, 2.15lbs.

After the Holy Communion they got photos taken by Sinead Kiely and then onto Mulcahys for a family celebration and a science show which Grace had booked.

We had a great day - it was absolutely fabulous, said Grace. Although, she and James have depleted much financial and energy resources as a result.

Ive been saving for a while and weve had a lot of help. It is a huge expense, it is insane actually how much money was spent on it. I actually wouldnt like to add it up - Id say Id give myself a fright! But we said we are only going to do it once and said just go for it.

Myself and James have been talking about it - it is a big milestone. The night feeds, nappies, getting them to sleep through the night, going from cots to beds, terrible twos, first day of school - all the things you hear about when you have a baby - are done. Now we feel like we are starting the next stage, the pre-teens and then the teens, said Grace.

Mollie, Amelia, Lily and Lucas didnt lose out on presents either for their Holy Communion because there are four of them.

I tried to say to people don't even worry about it, a fiver in a card and the kids would be delighted but people were just generous. It was unbelievable.

My biggest fear was that people might not come to it because they felt they couldn't afford it but people were just so generous, said Grace.

They also made the Holy Communion a double celebration as the quads are turning nine on May 26 and Grace says there wont be another big party!

They understand that too, they are so good. They are all such good friends but they kill each other as well over everything so our house is always noisy and loud but we are happy, smiles Grace.

Fr Roy Donovan had the honour of christening Mollie, Amelia, Lily and Lucas and now saw them make their Holy Communion.

It was a wonderful, joy-filled First Communion celebration last Saturday for the 21 children in Caherline Church. It all came together on the day including the beautiful weather. Even Summer had arrived it seemed.

The Slattery quads brought an extra dimension. Their dynamic of four, I believe, added an extra spirit and oneness to the class. This Communion class are a big credit to their parents, school and parish. They owned the ceremony, were full of confidence and enjoying living in the moment  drinking up all the attention and love, said Fr Roy, as he is affectionately known.

The parish priest said it is usually one child from a family receiving First Communion but the Slattery quads shared the limelight equally.

They are used to sharing and having others in their consideration. Yet they come across to me as very strong individually and very much their own persons. We have a parish Communion programme operating since last October combining those from Caherline and Caherconlish schools. A Communion parents committee, including Grace, run the programme.

They organised six monthly weekend Masses in which the children had full participation and involvement. It concludes with a final Mass on May 27 in Caherconlish Church. These monthly experiences make the children feel very important in themselves as well as in the parish and enables them to grow in great confidence. It enabled them to fully enjoy their Communion day.

I believe the children experienced something that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. The Communion experience makes me stand back, wonder and ponder on 'why is it that there are so many good people in our world'? said Fr Roy.
ATHLACCA'S Elaine Houlihan is the first Macra president from County Limerick in 40 years.

Ms Houlihan is in good company as the last person from Limerick to rise to president was Clarina's Richard Kennedy who went onto hold many prominent roles including IFA national dairy chair, IFA deputy president and is currently chair of Limerick Show.

Ms Houlihan, who was speaking at the Macra AGM in Bantry on Saturday, said it is an "absolute honour to become the 39th president of Macra na Feirme, to continue on the path built by John Keane and the other 37 great presidents before him."

"I am truly looking forward to the next two years as your national president. John has truly done an amazing job as the 38th national president. He started by leading us out of the most difficult time for our organisation and he finished off his time by leading us from Athy to Dublin to secure our future in rural Ireland.

"I am looking forward to the next two years with my presidential team, Patrick, Rob and Aishling in driving the organisation to new heights with our membership," said Ms Houlihan.

Outgoing president John Keane said the past two years have been a "whirlwind".

"The importance of ensuring there is a strong voice for all rural young people has been a priority for me. Macras voice has been to the fore on many policy issues across farming and rural living. I thank all our members, stakeholders and industry partners for their support. I wish Elaine, Rob, Aishling and Patrick the very best of luck in their tenures. Macra is in safe hands and has a bright future ahead," said Mr Keane.

Macra na Feirme is embarking on its new five-year strategy focused on renewing its commitment to its membership, which was officially launched at the AGM.
Hundreds of beds will be made available to asylum seekers who have no accommodation and are sleeping rough, the minister for integration has pledged.

Roderic OGorman said around 480 international protection applicants were without accommodation.

Many of those migrants are sleeping in tents in makeshift camps on city streets.

Two of the camps in Dublin city centre were targeted by anti-immigration protesters in recent days, with tents dismantled and set alight at one of the locations.

Mr OGorman acknowledged the accommodation system was under real pressure right now.

And as long as people are being left unaccommodated, its not working as it should, he told RTE Radio One.

The minister said the Government was responding to an unprecedented situation and was currently accommodating 84,000 people  comprising Ukrainian refugees and international asylum applicants  compared with 8,500 people at the start of last year.

So irrespective of how robust the system you have, when you have that kind of increase youre going to put a strain on it, he said.

And we see that same strain on systems across Europe. But we have to do better in terms of meeting our obligations to international protection applicants. So thats why weve been looking at all options in terms of bringing additional beds into the system.

Were accommodating people in hotels and former barracks, in refurbished offices. And its through this work that over the next week well be in the position to make a significant amount of offers of accommodation to people who up to this point have been unaccommodated and that will provide them with accommodation, with relevant services and with safety.

He added: As of the start of this weekend, there was just around 480 people who we hadnt been able to make an offer of accommodation to and we will be able to make over the course of this week offers to a significant number of that group.

We already had some come online on Friday. And, again, this is going to enable us to ensure that this group of people are safe, that theyre accommodated and we will continue to work for those were not in a position to accommodate to provide services to them.

Mr OGorman said he and justice minister Simon Harris would be meeting Garda management this week to discuss the response to the anti-immigration demonstrators at the sites of some of the makeshift camps.

Obviously people have the right to disagree with government policy, people have the right to protest, he said.

But they dont have a right to intimidate people, they dont have a right to commit acts of violence.
People in Ireland must unequivocally reject the violent targeting of migrant camps by far-right activists, the Taoiseach has said.

Leo Varadkar said he was shocked and horrified at scenes in Dublin in recent days when anti-immigration protesters descended on makeshift refugee camps.

Tents were dismantled and later set on fire at one of the sites in the city centre on Friday night.

Mr Varadkars comments came as integration minister Roderic OGorman pledged to make available hundreds of extra beds to asylum seekers who have no accommodation and are sleeping rough.

As of Friday, around 480 international protection applicants were without accommodation in Ireland.

Many of those migrants are sleeping in tents in makeshift camps on city streets.

Two of the camps in Dublin city centre were targeted by anti-immigration protesters in recent days, with parts of tents and furniture burned at one of them.

Mr OGorman and justice minister Simon Harris are due to meet Garda chiefs this week to discuss the policing response to the protests and associated violence.

Im really shocked and horrified to see what happened in Dublin the last couple of days, Mr Varadkar told reporters in Limerick on Monday.

Whatever peoples views are about immigration or asylum seekers or anything like that, these are human beings and no human being should be treated in the way that people were treated with those protests and the fires the other night and I condemn it unreservedly.

I know the Garda Commissioner (Drew Harris) is involved in carrying out a full investigation so we find whos responsible and make sure theyre brought to justice so they cant harm anybody else.

Mr OGorman acknowledged the accommodation system was under real pressure right now.

And as long as people are being left unaccommodated, its not working as it should, he told RTE Radio One.

The minister said the Government was responding to an unprecedented situation and was currently accommodating 84,000 people  comprising Ukrainian refugees and international asylum applicants  compared with 8,500 people at the start of last year.

So irrespective of how robust the system you have, when you have that kind of increase youre going to put a strain on it, he said.

And we see that same strain on systems across Europe. But we have to do better in terms of meeting our obligations to international protection applicants. So thats why weve been looking at all options in terms of bringing additional beds into the system.

Were accommodating people in hotels and former barracks, in refurbished offices. And its through this work that over the next week well be in the position to make a significant amount of offers of accommodation to people who up to this point have been unaccommodated and that will provide them with accommodation, with relevant services and with safety.

One mid-to-longer-term option the Government is considering is the use of floating accommodation, such as cruise ships or so-called floatels.

Mr Varadkar said the Government was doing all it could to source accommodation for international protection applicants who are currently sleeping rough.

He added: Lets not forget the bigger picture here. You know the last year or so weve taken in 100,000 people from other parts of the world, mainly from Ukraine, but from other parts of the world as well, and almost all of those have been provided with accommodation.

But its a refugee crisis on the scale that weve never experienced in our history and, yes, you know, we are at a point where were finding it difficult to provide accommodation to everyone who comes here, but well certainly turn nobody away.

Mr Varadkar said he was worried about the far-right protests.

Ireland is a country like any other country, there is always going to be an element of people who have far-right views or racist views and an element of people who will turn to violence but I think we as a society have to reject that unequivocally, he said.

No human being should be burned or attacked or have to face this kind of hatred, no matter where theyre from or what their backstory is. No human being should be treated in that way.

Mr OGorman said he and Mr Harris would be meeting Garda management this week to discuss the response to the anti-immigration demonstrators at the sites of some of the makeshift camps.

Obviously people have the right to disagree with government policy, people have the right to protest, he said.

But they dont have a right to intimidate people, they dont have a right to commit acts of violence.
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New Delhi: The markets regulator has not investigated publicly traded Adani group companies since 2016 for suspected misuse of global depository receipts (GDRs) to route black money or any other violation, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) told the Supreme Court on Monday.

Sebi reiterated its request for an additional six months to conclude its investigation into the Adani-Hindenburg incident to ensure ensure carriage of justice" while refuting the claim that certain Adani group companies have been under scrutiny for potential law breaches since 2016.

However, Sebis statement on Monday contradicts remarks made by junior finance minister Pankaj Chaudhary in July 2021, when he stated in parliament that Sebi was investigating certain Adani group companies for non-compliance with regulations. The finance ministry, however, said the government stands by its written response in Lok Sabha, which was based on due diligence and inputs from all concerned agencies.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, could not take up Sebis plea on Monday due to lack of time and adjourned the regulators plea for July 10, thus automatically granting an additional two months to Sebi.

Meanwhile, filing an additional affidavit on Monday, Sebi rejected the submissions made last week by advocate Prashant Bhushan on behalf of one of the public interest litigation (PIL) petitioners that no case for a six-month timeframe was made out when the regulator has already been looking into similar complaints against the conglomerate since 2016.

Sebi said the 2016 investigation had nothing to do with the Hindenburg report but only to GDRs by 51 Indian listed companies. However, no listed company of Adani group was part of the aforesaid 51 companies. Pursuant to the completion of the investigation, appropriate enforcement actions were taken in this matter. Hence, the allegation that Sebi has been investigating Adani since 2016 is factually baseless," the regulators affidavit stated.

The regulator maintained that the 12 transactions referred to as suspicious in the Hindenburg report are highly complex, and they have many sub-transactions across numerous jurisdictions.

A rigorous investigation of these transactions would require collation of data/information from various sources including bank statements from multiple domestic as well as international banks, financial statements of onshore and offshore entities involved in the transactions and contracts and agreements, if any, entered between entities. Thereafter, the analysis would have to be conducted on the documents received from various sources before conclusive findings can be arrived at," said Sebi.

About its investigation into the minimum public shareholding norms, the affidavit said that the regulator has already approached 11 overseas regulators under the multilateral memorandum of understanding with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and the first request to overseas regulators was made as early as in October 2020.

The application for extension of time filed by Sebi is meant to ensure carriage of justice keeping in mind the interest of investors and the securities market since any incorrect or premature conclusion of the case arrived at without full facts material on record would not serve the ends of justice and hence would be legally untenable," it emphasised.

On 13 May, the Supreme Court offered an additional three months to Sebi, expressing reservations about the regulators request for a six-month timeframe. The court, however, said that it would review the Justice Sapre committees report on regulatory failure and breach of laws before deciding on an extension to Sebi.

Sebi, during the proceedings on Friday, told the bench that it is yet to form a final opinion regarding the suspicious" nature of transactions and alleged breach of laws by the Adani group, as pointed out by a critical report by US short-seller Hindenburg Research in January that wiped out more than $140 billion in the market value of the conglomerate.

On that day, advocate Bhushan, appearing for PIL petitioner Anamika Jaiswal, opposed Sebis request, claiming that the regulator has been looking into similar complaints against the Adani group since 2016.

A six-member panel, led by former Supreme Court judge A.M. Sapre, was set up by the courts 2 March order to investigate allegations of regulatory failure and breach of laws against the Adani group and to suggest steps to bolster the statutory and supervisory regime.

At that time, the Adani group, in a statement, welcomed the investigation, which represents a fair opportunity for everyone to be heard and for all issues to be addressed".

Hindenburgs report, released on 24 January, claimed brazen accounting fraud" and stock manipulation" by the Gautam Adani-led group. Though the conglomerate rejected the report as maliciously mischievous", it triggered a massive rout of Adani Group stocks, which lost over $140 billion in days and forced the cancellation of a 20,000 crore share sale in the groups flagship.

The Adani Group, however, denied allegations of stock market manipulation and accounting fraud by Hindenburg.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will likely decide the name of the next chief minister of Karnataka today i.e. on 15 May. The party has been facing the dilemma of choosing between two party stalwarts DK Shivkumar and Siddaramaiah after an emphatic 135-seat win in the May 10 Karnataka Assembly polls.

The race for the top post has heated up between old warhorses Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, with both leaders making no secret of their ambition to lead the southern state.

Also Read: Karnataka CM decision LIVE

The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) has unanimously authorised All India Congress Committee (AICC) President M Mallikarjun Kharge to pick its leader, who will be the next chief minister of the state.

Earlier on Sunday, Shivakumar clarified that he has no differences with senior party leader Siddaramaiah. Some people say that I have differences with Siddaramaiah but I want to clear that there is no difference between us. Many times I have sacrificed for the party and stood with Siddaramaiah ji. I have given cooperation to Siddaramaiah," he had said. The sources inside the Congress are also claiming that the party can decide on a middle ground, with both DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah sharing the position with two equal tenures.

Before the results of who will be the next CM of the state, lets take a look at the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis of the two aspiring CMs.

All you need to know about Siddaramaiah's Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats:

Born on August 12, 1948, the 75-year-old Siddaramaiah joined the grand old party in 2006 after his ouster from JD(S) of former Prime Minister Deve Gowda. Making his debut in the Assembly in 1983, Siddaramaiah got elected from Chamundeshwari on a Lok Dal Party ticket. He has won five times from this constituency and tasted defeat thrice. The former CM of Karnataka tasted defeat in the 1989 and 1999 Assembly elections. He was also Chairman of the KPCC Publicity Committee of Elections in 2008. Speaking of his education, Siddaramaiah graduated from Mysore University with B.Sc. Degree and later he studied Law.

A look at his strengths:

Siddaramaiah has a mass appeal across the state and is popular among a large section of Congress legislators. He has an experience of having run a full-term government as Chief Minister (2013-18). He is able administrator with experience of having presented 13 budgets and is clout among the AHINDA (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits). He has strong ability to take on BJP and JD(S), most importantly PM Modi and his government on issues and is considered close to Rahul Gandhi and apparently has his backing.

Weakness

Siddaramaiah is not so much organisationally connected with the party. He failed in bringing the Congress government back to power in 2018 under his leadership. He is still considered an outsider by a section of Congress old guard as he was formerly with the JD(S). His age is also seen as one of his weakness.

Siddaramaiah's opportunities:

His acceptability, appeal and experience to take along every one to run a government with a decisive mandate, and strengthen Congress for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Apart from this, IT, ED and CBI cases are there against opponent Shivakumar, who is also eyeing the CM post. This would be his last election and also a last chance to become CM.

Siddaramaiah's threats:

Uniting of senior Congress old guards like Mallikarjun Kharge, G Parameshwara, who have missed becoming CM because of Siddaramaiah, also B K Hariprasad, K H Muniyappa among others are against him. There is a also a call for a Dalit CM in the state.

All you need to know about DK Shivakumar's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats:

He is a trusted lieutenant of the Gandhi family, Shivakumar is an eight-time MLA. Born on May 15, 1962, in Kanakapura to Doddalahalli Kempe Gowda and Gouramma, Shivakumar has been a staunch Congressman from the beginning. He started his political career as a student leader in the 1980s and gradually rose through the ranks of the Congress party.

Shivakumar's Strength:

Shivakumar's organisational strength, party's 'troubleshooter' tag, loyalty image across the country, and closeness to Gandhi family, especially Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

He has a strong organisational capabilities and having led the party to victory in elections. He is party loyalist and considered Congress' ace troubleshooter during difficult times. He is also a resourceful leader and has the backing of the dominant Vokkaliga community, its influential seers and leaders. He is close to the Gandhi family and has a long political experience.

Shivakumar's Weakness:

There are cases against him before IT, ED and CBI. He served jail term in Tihar. He has lesser mass appeal and experience compared to Siddaramaiah. He is clout by and large limited to the Old Mysuru region. He does not have much backing from other communities.

Shivakumar's Opportunities

Congress' domination of the Old Mysuru region would go to Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga. KPCC President, as the natural choice to be the CM, like in the case of SM Krishna and Veerendra Patil. There are also chances of the party old guard backing him.

Shivakumar's Threats:

The main threat to him is Siddaramaiah's experience, seniority and mass appeal. There are chances of large number of MLAs backing Siddaramaiah. The legal matters could also be a hurdle for his, plus there is a call for a Dalit or Lingayat CM. Siddaramaiah too has a backing from Rahul Gandhi.

(With inputs from PTI)
New Delhi: The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) on Monday announced significant reforms in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) for solar photovoltaic modules, aimed at reducing costs and increasing ease of doing business in the sector.

The reforms include an 80% reduction in the application fee and substantial reductions in inspection fees, with cuts in some cases being as high as 70%. Manufacturers will also be allowed to withdraw their applications prior to factory inspection, with a refund of 90% of the application fee.

In addition, the ALMM enlistment validity has been increased from two years to four years, and the time limit for factory enlistment and final enlistment has been reduced to two months, failing which deemed enlistment will occur.

The ministry has also introduced end-use category-wise minimum module efficiency thresholds for enlistment in ALMM, including 20.00% for utility/ grid scale power plants, 19.50% for rooftop and solar pumping, and 19.00% for solar lighting.

Commenting on the changes, secretary at MNRE, B. S. Bhalla, said that the easing of the ALMM charges and regulations is a step in the direction of enhancing the ease of doing business, lessening the compliance burden, and reducing the charges incurred in various processes of listing under ALMM.

The changes in the ALMM for photovoltaic modules would enhance the ease of doing business and help in ramping up the domestic production of solar photovoltaic modules for catering to the current and the future demand," he said.

The reforms are aimed at boosting the domestic manufacturing capacity of solar modules and the vertical integration of the value chain in India, which is expected to create more demand for the renewable energy sector.
New Delhi: Chief of army staff (COAS) General Manoj Pande has left for a two-day visit to Egypt from 16 to 17 May, said a Ministry of Defence statement on Monday. During the visit, the COAS will hold discussions with senior military leadership of Egypt to explore avenues for further enhancing defence relations between the two countries.

He will also visit various Egyptian Armed Forces establishments to exchange ideas on issues of mutual interest.

The army chief is scheduled to meet the commander-in-chief of the Egyptian armed forces, minister of defence and military production, the chief of staff of the Egyptian armed forces, among others.

The visit comes at a time when military relations between India and Egypt are on the rise. The Egyptian armed forces contingent made its first appearance at Indias 74th Republic Day parade earlier this year, and the two countries conducted their first-ever joint exercise between Special Forces, named Ex Cyclone-I" in January.

The visit of the COAS will further deepen the bilateral relationships between the two Armies and act as a catalyst for closer coordination and cooperation between the two countries on a host of strategic issues," the statement said.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh along with other top leaders from the state arrived in Delhi on Sunday afternoon to hold discussions with Union government leaders in the aftermath of the violence that erupted in Manipur on May 3.

Manipur CM along with a few of his cabinet ministers met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. Sources informed the news agency ANI that the meeting which went on for more than two hours focused on the restoration of peace and tranquillity in Manipur.

They stated that the state leadership were advised to immediately engage with the public at large and do a mega reach out about the situation.

"Various narratives from both ends explaining the trigger behind the most recent altercation between Meitei and Kuki communities are largely accusatory in nature, the state leaders are said to have further highlighted in the meeting," sources told ANI.

With the state, battling various issues, including the influx of illegal migrants and the crackdown on the drug cartel, the state leaders shared with the Centre that stern action needs to be taken against the perpetrators of such violent activities in the state, they added.

They further mentioned the Centre has assured them that anybody who has tried to disturb the peace in the region will not be spared. After going back to Manipur, the ministers in the government and all leaders of the party will prepare a detailed action plan to reach out to the public. They could also be seeking help from neighbouring states like Assam and Mizoram.

The curfew was imposed on May 3 after violence broke out in the state. The state government also clamped down on the use of the internet and mobile phones to curtail the spread of panic and false information.

Throughout this period, Biren Singh had multiple meetings via video conferencing with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and top officials of the Home Ministry to assess the situation and centre sending paramilitary forces to the state.

Official figures stated that more than 60 people lost their lives, while over 230 were injured and close to 1,700 houses were set on fire during the violence.

(With ANI inputs)
Punjab Court summoned Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in a 100 crores defamation case filed by Hitesh Bhardwaj, the founder of Hindu Suraksha Parishad, against him for allegedly making defamatory remarks against Bajrang Dal during the recently concluded Karnataka elections.

Bhardwaj claimed that the grand old party compared Bajrang Dal with anti-national organizations. In addition to this, Congress also promised to impose a ban on Bajrang Dal after coming to power in Karnataka.

I moved to court on Thursday after I found that on page number 10 of the manifesto, Congress has compared Bajrang Dal with the anti-national organizations and also promised to ban it if they win the election," Bhardwaj said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

The court of civil judge (senior division) Ramandeep Kaur has directed Kharge to appear before the court in Sangrur on July 10.

The Chandigarh unit of Vishva Hindu Parishad and its youth wing Bajrang Dal on May 4, issued a legal notice to Kharge and accused him of making defamatory remarks against the Bajrang Dal in his party's Karnataka poll manifesto. VHP even demanded compensation of more than 100 crore.

In its poll manifesto for May 10 assembly polls in Karnataka, Congress has said that it is committed to taking firm and decisive action against individuals and organizations such as the Bajrang Dal and the Popular Front of India (PFI) for allegedly 'spreading hatred' among communities on grounds of caste and religion.

"That in the manifesto on Page 10, you made defamatory statements against the Bajrang Dal, the associate body of the Vishva Hindu Parishad by declaring to ban the organization and comparing it to outlawed terrorist organizations like the Popular Front of India and similar terrorist organizations like Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) which are outlawed under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act by the Government of India," VHP's lawyer and co-head of its legal cell Sahil Bansal charged in the legal notice.

"The PFI and SIMI are terrorist organizations associated with Al Qaeda and ISIS and other global terrorist organizations proscribed by the United Nations General Assembly and by more than 100 nations as well as proscribed under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act," he added.
Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Monday said that the London plan of Shehbaz Sharif government of putting his wife Bushra begum in jail, and use some sedition law to keep him inside for next ten years is out.

In a series of tweets, the PTI chief wrote, So now the complete London plan is out. Using pretext of violence while I was inside the jail, they have assumed the role of judge, jury and executioner. The Plan now is to humiliate me by putting Bushra begum in jail, and using some sedition law to keep me inside for next ten years."

He further added, Then will follow complete crack down on whatever is left of PTI leadership and workers. And finally they will ban the largest and only federal party of Pakistan. (Just as they banned the Awami league in East Pakistan)"

Notably, Shehbaz Sharif earlier decided to extend his stay for one more day on the directives of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif in London when he went for King Charles's coronation.

The PTI chief also alleged that the Shehbaz government will suspend internet services and ban social media.

"To ensure that there's is no public reaction, they have done two things, first deliberate terror is unleashed not just on PTI workers but on common citizens as well. Second, the media is totally controlled and muzzled. And tomorrow they will again suspend internet services and ban social media (which is only partially open)," he wrote.

Khan is also likely to appear before the Lahore High Court on Monday in the cases registered against him for torching the house of the Corps Commander and other incidents of violence erupted after his arrest last week.

The ex-PM further alleged that houses are being broken in and shamelessly police is manhandling the women of the houses.

"Never has the sanctity of chadar and chaar dewaari been violated the way it is being done by these criminals. This is a deliberate attempt to instill so much fear in people that when they come to arrest me tomorrow, people won't come out.."

He also spoke about Pakistan Democratic Movement chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman's protest demonstration scheduled to be held outside the Supreme Court on Monday, he said, "The JUIF Drama being done outside the SC tomorrow is only for one purpose, to overawe the Chief Justice of Pakistan so that he doesn't give a verdict according to the constitution."

He added said that Pakistan has already seen such a brazen attack on the Supreme Court when in 1997 PMLN goons physically attacked it and had one of the most respected Chief Justices Sajjad Ali Shah removed.

Khan said that he will fight for Haqeeqi Azaadi till the last drop of his blood because for him death is preferable to be enslaved by an assortment of crooks in a message to Pakistani citizens.

(With inputs from ANI)
Former Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday claimed that the country's powerful military establishment has planned to keep him in jail for the next 10 years under sedition charges. This came after Khan held a meeting with PTI leaders at his Lahore residence.

Taking to Twitter, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief said: "So now the complete London plan is out. Using pretext of violence while I was inside the jail, they have assumed the role of judge, jury and executioner. The plan now is to humiliate me by putting Bushra begum (Khan's wife) in jail, and using some sedition law to keep me inside for next ten years."

To ensure that there is no public reaction, they have done two things -- first deliberate terror is unleashed not just on PTI workers but on common citizens as well. Second, the media is totally controlled and muzzled," he further tweeted.

He said that never has the sanctity of chadar and chaar dewaari been violated the way it is being done by these "criminals".

"This is a deliberate attempt to instill so much fear in people that when they come to arrest me tomorrow, people won't come out. And tomorrow they will again suspend internet services and ban social media (which is only partially open). Meanwhile, as we speak, houses are being broken in and shamelessly police are manhandling the women of the houses," the PTI chief stated.

Khan further gave his message to the people of Pakistan and said, I will fight for Haqeeqi Azaadi till the last drop of my blood because for me death is preferable than to be enslaved by these assortments of crooks."

I urge all my people to remember that we have pledged LA Illah ha illalah, that we bow to no one except the One (Allah). If we bow to the idol of fear there will only be humiliation and dismemberment for our future generations. Countries where there is injustice and law of jungle prevails, don't survive for long," he added.

Imran Khan returned to his Lahore home on Saturday after having locked himself in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises for hours due to the fear of re-arrest despite being granted bail on Friday.
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was granted bail by the Supreme Court on Friday, sparking fresh protests in the crisis-torn country. Leaders of the ruling coalition as well as government supporters launched a sit in protest outside the apex court amid growing calls for the chief justice to resign. Meanwhile Khan insisted that around 7,000 workers and leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had been arrested recently part of plans to ban the party.

PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz Sharif demanded the resignation of Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial as she joined the protest on on Monday, blaming him for the "anarchy" and "crisis" in the country. She also accused the PTI chief of doing what terrorists or Pakistans enemies could not do".

Khan had been arrested by the Pakistan Rangers while appearing before the Islamabad High Court last week. The move had triggered riots with several people being killed or injured. Dozens of military and state installations were also destroyed by the protesters. Days later his party enjoyed a moment of triumph as the country's Supreme Court deemed Khan's arrest illegal and called for his release.

Meanwhile Khan insisted that PDM goons" facilitated by security agencies were trying to take over" the Supreme Court and subverting the Constitution.

"So without any investigation into who was responsible for arson on a government building or dozens of deaths of unarmed protesters by bullet wounds, around 7000 PTI workers, leadership and our women have been jailed with plans to ban the largest and only federal party in Pak," he tweeted.

According to the district administration had protesters entered the Red Zone and pushed away the police and administration, despite Section 144 still being in effect.

The JUIF Drama being done outside the SC tomorrow is only for one purpose, to overawe the Chief Justice of Pakistan so that he doesn't give a verdict according to the constitution," Khan added.

(With inputs from agencies)
New Delhi: India and Indonesia are seeking to boost cooperation between their air forces, according to persons aware of the matter.

Air force-level ties between the two countries have remained underdeveloped, although naval ties are strong: both countries regularly conduct the Garuda Shakti special forces exercise and CORPAT naval patrol exercises. Last Sunday, the two navies also kicked off a six-day Samudra Shakti exercise in Batam, Indonesia.

However, no regular bilateral air exercises are held between the two powers. A push to change that may be militarily significant, given Indias increased defence outreach to Southeast Asia.

Indonesia is an archipelago with thousands of scattered islands. Therefore, maritime connectivity and maritime cooperation has been the focus for the country. If you look at the countrys defence modernization, the focus is firstly on the navy, then the army and finally the air force," says Premesha Saha of the Observer Research Foundations Strategic Studies Programme. Because of Indonesias maritime focus, developing air force and army cooperation has been less of a priority, Saha said.

Periodic attempts have been made to strengthen air force level ties. In terms of military cooperation, we have coordinated patrols in the Andaman Sea, that have been going on for at least the past 17 years. We have army-to-army exercises, navy-to-navy, and soon we will start air force-to-air force," said Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro, former Indonesian Ambassador to India in 2021. However, no regular bilateral air force exercise was set up.

Saha said the focus of the defence partnership may be on shared challenges such as maritime piracy, grey-zone activities and Illegal fishing.

Greater interoperability, achieved through staff level talks and joint exercises, is a key component in Indias quest to boost defence preparedness. India and Southeast Asian nations held their inaugural joint naval exercise this year.

However, no movement has taken place on this front just yet. As the military threat from China has grown in recent years, India and Southeast Asian countries have deepened their defence partnership. Sales of military equipment, including the sale of the BrahMos missile to the Philippines, have been a key part of Indias defence outreach. India is also in talks to sell the BrahMos missile to Indonesia, according to the persons cited above.

India has also helped improve defence capabilities among key Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam. New Delhi has provided high-speed patrol boats to Vietnam, built on Indian Lines of Credit (LoC).
The first ministerial level meeting of the India-EU trade and technology council (TTC) will take place on Tuesday in Brussels.

Commerce minister Piyush Goyal will co-chair the TTC along with external affairs minister S. Jaishankar and minister of state for electronics and information technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

Margarethe Vestager, who is noted for taking on the worlds biggest tech giants as the EUs commissioner for competition, will co-chair the TTC from the European side.

The formation of the TTC was announced by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and H.E. Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission in New Delhi in April, 2022 with the objective of creating a High-level coordination platform to tackle strategic challenges at the nexus of trade, trusted technology and security," reads a press release by PIB.

Goyal will meet with Valdis Dombrovskis, who is the EUs Executive vice-president for trade on Monday. Following this, the two sides will hold a working group meetings featuring six business leaders from the EU and India.

The three Indian Ministers- are also expected to call on Belgiums Prime Minister and the president of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen.

On 16th May, Minister Goyal would attend a Stakeholder Event for Working Groups 1 & 2. Group 1 focusses on digital governance and connectivity while Group 2 deals with clean and green energy technologies. This event will also have about eight business leaders from each side in attendance who will present their views/ suggestions. Shri Goyal will deliver a Special Address at this event. This meeting will also see participation of EAM and EVP Vestager," the PIB press release goes on to say.

Goyal is also expected to meet with Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for Internal Trade, to discuss issues relating to SMEs, start-ups and e-commerce.

This would be followed by the first ministerial meeting of the India-EU TTC which will be attended by the External Affairs Minister, the Minister for Commerce and Industry and the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology.

The following three Working Groups under the mechanism will report on roadmaps for future cooperation between the two sides: Working Group on Strategic Technologies, Digital Governance and Digital Connectivity, Working Group on Green and Clean Energy Technologies and Working Group on Trade, Investment and Resilient Value Chains," the press release concludes.
Google is deep in the AI arms race now. The search giant made a flurry of announcements last week about enhancing its main products with artificial intelligence. In line with Bloomberg reports of a rush to stuff generative AI into as many services as it could, the company revealed at I/O, its annual developers conference, that new tech for generating content was coming to Gmail, Google Docs, Google Maps, Google Photos and more. It also unveiled the biggest change to Google Search in years, the awkwardly named search generative experience," a single, AI-generated answer to queries that will sit above the usual results of ads and links.

Google has been making one thing clear: As much as the company is under pressure to be careful about how it deploys this potent technology, it is forging ahead fast. But it ought to be careful about moving so fast that it undermines itself with users and advertisers. Executives havent been shy about telegraphing their priorities. Note how Google Senior Vice President Prabhakar Raghavan answered a question from Bloomberg on outside scrutiny of its AI. He said Google would contribute to the scientific community, but look even harder at moving things into product, rapidly."

When OpenAI launched ChatGPT six months ago, Google looked like a laggard. Now Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google parent Alphabet, has pledged to reimagine all our core products" with generative AI. Some observers are impressed. Citigroup analysts said in a report that they came away from the event confident in Googles generative AI strategy." (Bloomberg has its own language model for finance, which will likely compete with OpenAIs GPT-4.)

Google appears stronger in cloud businesses, where it trails Amazons AWS and Microsofts Azure. Companies can use Googles Duet AI service to build their apps without much coding knowledge. Gmail users can get their emails drafted by AI. A text-to-speech tool from Google called Chirp is taking drive-thru orders for Wendys. These can boost Google in a field thats notoriously entrenched, thanks to legacy contracts with companies. But the real question mark is over planned changes to search, Googles biggest product.

When users type in a query, Googles search engine will soon churn out AI answers synthesized from other text across the web. Heres an example of a query about visiting a national park with kids and a dog: The answer is displayed at the top, and on the left are links to sites from which it drew its answer. But this will look very different on the smaller screen of a mobile device. Users will need to scroll down to see those sources, never mind other sites that might be useful to their search.

That should worry both Googles users and paying customers like advertisers and website publishers. More than 60% of Google searches in the US occur on mobile phones. That means for most people, Googles AI answer will take up most of the phone screen. So, will users keep scrolling around, looking for citations they would like to tap? Probably not.

When asked about whether people will visit those sources, a Google executive told The Washington Post, I really, genuinely think that users want to know where their information comes from."

I dont buy it. Search users might glance at the links to double-check that they look legitimate, but most probably wont click on them. That takes a few extra seconds of scrolling and loading, an eternity online. There is, after all, a reason for the joke that the best place to store a dead body is page two of Googles search results. Most people cant be bothered to keep searching beyond the first list of links.

Its safe to bet on laziness," Silicon Valley luminary Paul Graham tweeted on Tuesday, the day before Googles announcement. Graham said generative AI was one of the biggest bets on laziness in history."

Graham is right. And the price could be the ire of advertising customers if Googles AI search becomes so good that users stop clicking around on links. It could also risk eroding the trust of consumers if the tool starts generating too many erroneous answers, a problem OpenAIs ChatGPT, Microsofts Bing and Googles own Bard have all encountered. In a sign Google has yet to even nail down the basics, a tech journalist who asked Googles new AI search for a chocolate chip cookie recipe got one with no chocolate chips.

That illustrates what uncertain times these are for Google. Company executives have been saying over and over that AI search is experimental. But for Google and hundreds of millions of users, taking part in this experiment might feel like travelling in a car whose steering wheel is being designed on the fly. Were in for a wild ride, so fasten seat belts.

Parmy Olson is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering technology.
A man was arrested for punching a male and taking his phone in downtown Laredo, according to authorities.

Adrian Lee Joshlin, 28, was charged with robbery.

A bike patrol officer responded at about 11:30 p.m. May 6 to the 500 block of San Agustin Avenue. A man identified as Joshlin threw a phone into the street. A male then told police that Joshlin had assaulted him. Joshlin was then detained, states the arrest affidavit.

An investigation revealed that Joshlin approached the male and told him to walk off and not be in the area. The male told Joshlin that the area was a public place. Joshlin began to follow the male when he started to walk off, according to court documents.

Joshlin then began punching the male in the face. Once the male was on the floor, Joshlin took the males phone and threw it to the ground as he walked away, according to police.
The Rio Grande International Study Center held a press conference outside Laredo City Hall to protest against a possible licensing agreement between the City of Laredo and the National Border Patrol Council Local 2455 that would grant control of 17 miles of land along the Rio Grande for a road construction set to be discussed on Monday, May 15 during the Laredo City Council meeting.

The Border Patrol union is urging City Council to support the USBP Laredo Sectors ongoing roads project ahead of their meeting. However, prior to that discussion it seems Council is divided on how to respond as various officials, including the mayor, state they support the Border Patrols full efforts while they understand the environmental concerns related to the issue.

Tricia Cortez, executive director of RGISC, said that the organization was there because an important decision regarding Rio Grande could be taken by Laredo City Council.

"The City Council is going to hold on and incredibly important issue that could have very long-term effects for the city and the Rio Grande," she said. "The Border Patrol is wanting a licensing agreement from the city to take 17 miles of river from Father McNaboe Park to Chacon Creek in the south."

Carlos I. Flores is an attorney who spoke out as a strong advocate for preserving the Rio Grande.

"In 2020, the Border Patrol tried to seize from City of Laredo for the border wall construction. Then the answer was no and the project was shut down and they never wait to get the property. Now they are coming back saying, 'Hey, we are going to invest $37 million in the 17 miles and we are going to give you the right to cancel this contract with a 60-day written notice,'" he said.

Flores questioned who would invest $37 million and give you the right to cancel after you invested that money.

"This is crazy! What is happening here is Border Patrol is trying to get this licensing agreement, do the road infrastructures and then come back to the City Council in a future Trump administration or a future administration that wants a border wall and then say: 'Guys, we already have $37 million invested here, give us the 17 miles.'" he said. "That's why this road project is still about the border wall, this road project is still about the border wall narrative which is false and fake."

Flores stressed that Laredo is one of the safest cities in America and the Border Patrol would need to demonstrate with data why this road is important.

"This Laredo community is one of the safest communities in this country with the infrastructure that is already in place," he said. "Show me the study that shows we need do more infrastructure in Laredo, that we need to make it safer. It is not enough that we are the safest city in Texas, it is not enough that we are the safest city in America, we want to make it even safer. OK. Let's see the study, let's see what is up, show us how this road works on that."

Flores said that today is when the City Council needs to be driven by policies that are well reasoned, examined and analyzed and not politics.

"And not feelings and not 'I like Border Patrol' or 'I like law enforcement,' and unfortunately that is probably what is going to to be the deciding factor in the City Council today," he said. "They are going to vote not on policy, they are going to vote on their emotions and that's wrong because they were not elected to vote on emotions. They were elected to vote by understanding issues completely, study issues thoroughly, and make a sound decision that is best for this community, so vote NO!"

District III Councilmember Melissa Cigarroa said that the City of Laredo will protect its own interests.

"I think there is room for negotiation and that there is potential for the city. We must remember that we have this $6.2 million National River Conversation Project, but this idea about allowing them to tell us that we can't access our lands, that is unacceptable and we will draw a bright red line, and I think that's understood at all levels," she said. "We've been talking about shared use, and everyone we've spoken to has told us that there would be shared use with Border Patrol as they are not owners of the land.

"But if they can control access on the land due to having a licensing agreement that would allow them to make the determination to kick us off of our lands for whatever reason is not good faith, and it is not enough to be a good faith actor, we have to see things in black and white and the city will protect its own interest and will not allow them to diminish our right as landowners."

Rep. Henry Cuellar released a statement supporting the project ahead of Monday's Council meeting.

"Ultimately, the decision to construct a river road on city property belongs to the City of Laredo. The bottom line is that our men and women in the Border Patrol are in dire need of access roads critical to patrolling and securing the border," he said. "This road project will provide the means for our Border Patrol agents to access areas that are currently inaccessible and by consequence, difficult to secure.

"Although we do not want a border wall or any other extreme measure to secure our border, we do have to agree on border security measures that are sensible and effective. For this reason, I have had constant conversations with the Laredo Sector Border Patrol Chief, Joel Martinez, asking him to work with the City of Laredo and other stakeholders to address their environmental concerns."

Cortez said that one of the deep issues with Border Patrol is the lack of trust, and she said it is sad to celebrate Laredo's Founding Day trying to protect the river.

"We need to know what is the endgame for Border Patrol with this community and the river. We know what they've done in the past and they consistently demanded and asked for a border wall, extreme deforestation of the riverbank and control of the river," she said. "And that's not the future that this community deserves. Today is the Founding Day of Laredo, it turns 268 years and I think it's sad that we have to be here on the Founding Day fighting to maintain, preserve and protect what belongs to the people here."
A man pulled out a knife on an individual and the individual's father during a physical altercation, according to Laredo police.

Vicente Eduardo Melendez, 21, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Laredo police officers responded to a person with a gun report at about 7:21 p.m. May 7 in the 3400 block of South New York Avenue.

Responding officers learned that a Dodge Charger was involved. Officers then detained two males, one being Melendez.

Melendez stated he has current issues with an individual residing in the 3400 block of South New York.

Melendez stated he went over to arreglar el asunto (take care of the matter), states the arrest affidavit.

A male pulled out a firearm while Melendez was trying to fight the individual. Then, Melendez pulled out a pocket knife, Melendez claimed.

Police then spoke to the family residing in the 3400 block of South New York. An individual stated that a white Camaro was speeding and burning in front of their home.

Moments later, a white Charger operated by Melendez and a male passenger were passing by the home. The individual approached the Charger.

Melendez and the male passenger exited the vehicle and got into a verbal argument with the individual, states the affidavit.

During the altercation, Melendez pulled out a knife and began slashing it toward the individual and the individual's father. No injuries were reported, according to court documents.
The City of Laredo reclaimed its spot as the No. 1 overall port in the United States this year beating the likes of Chicago and Los Angeles. Thus with this major demand, it means that there is an equal need for more workers, and one agency is trying to help with that.

Workforce Solutions for South Texas hosted in April one of its largest job fairs ever focused primarily on jobs in the transportation and logistics sector, offering more than 100 jobs for a high amount of job-seekers that attended.

During the event, those searching for employment were offered the ability to apply in person, submit their resumes and also see what each company had to offer. They were also able to learn how wages and benefits have gone up in this industry.

For Laredo, the transportation and logistics industry is our primary industry. Primarily what we see is that all of our economy is based on commerce and the international trade, and then from there other things branched off, said Rogelio Trevino, the executive director of WSST. There are over 800 companies here in Laredo and throughout South Texas that are either import or export, or related to transportation or support transportation in some way. So as our economy grows, their needs grow as they have a demand for employees.

Trevino said that in 2022 it was reported that 5.5 million trucks crossed the Port of Laredo through the various ports of entry with Mexico, which shows how strong trade is in the city and why more truck drivers and other logistics workers continue to be sought out. In terms of a financial amount, he said this totaled around $299 billion in commerce.

Around 32% of the entire 118,000 people who work within the City of Laredo limits are members of the transportation and logistics industry, Trevino said, either directly or indirectly. In terms of total jobs at the moment by local companies in the trucking sector of trade, there are 7,000 truck drivers in Webb County and surrounding counties.

With an average salary of $58,000 for truck drivers, Trevino said it is a job that many people want to get in the local area due to the high income it provides for them and their families. He said demands for the trucking industry are not going away anytime soon as he sees another 900 job openings for truck drivers in the coming year.

As for support jobs in the logistics sector that work in offices, he said there are also around 7,100 people working in these positions. The average salary for these workers is $44,200 and the demand within the next 12 months is to hire another 800 people.

In the warehouse component of the industry, 1,500 individuals have these jobs with an average salary of $44,000. Projections for these jobs are hiring at least 215 more of these personnel in the next year.

All of these jobs show growth and the salaries are starting to increase, as in the past some of the main concerns were that these jobs' salaries were not high. But we are starting to see those salaries go up in this industry as it is getting very competitive, Trevino said. Some of these salaries are even higher when it comes to the rail transportation and air transportation.

One of the job-seekers that attended the event was Agustin Juarez. He said he was very interested in all of the opportunities offered.

"I like to see how there are many jobs that do not just give you the job but can even pay your training and driving school to be very prepared," Juarez said. "These jobs want workers that stay committed to them but they provide you the resources to want to stay committed with them, as they help you train and get the resources to do the things necessary."

Trevino said that right now the unemployment rate is also doing very well in that it is close to almost full employment of the skilled population seeking jobs.

We are at an unemployment rate that is around 4.5%, which is very close to where we were prior to the pandemic, Trevino said. Prior to the pandemic, we were at just 4% unemployment as we had a very good unemployment level, and economists tell us that when we get to 4%, we are basically at full employment because you are going to have a percentage of your labor force that wont have the skills to get hired. So when you are at that 4% unemployment, then you are getting very closed to full employment.

With these high employment numbers, Trevino said companies are now starting to compete and offer better wages and benefits to their employees in efforts for them to retain more workers and make sure they have the human resources they want.

At the job fair, 13 employers participated and were offering 16 different types of jobs representing 107 positions ready to hire. Aside from the job fair, Trevino said that WSST will also be having various workshops for potential employees interested in knowing how to write resumes, getting the skills needed to land a job or simply on ways to search for the best job that fits them.

The executive director said WSST works with different training providers from Laredo College and other agencies to help potential employees get the skills necessary or find ways to get their truck driving licenses in case they are missing that requirement to land a job. He said that many of the people who participate in these programs can easily get the training necessary and their CDL license in just four to five weeks after starting.
studio023/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Scientists are picking up on some strange sounds in the second layer of our atmosphere that they haven't heard anywhere else. The stratosphere is a relatively calm layer of Earth's atmosphere, rarely disturbed by planes or turbulence. Because of this, microphones can detect natural sounds from colliding ocean waves and thunder, and human-created sounds like wind turbines and explosions.

However, a team of researchers, led by Daniel Bowman of Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico, recently discovered some eerie sounds that repeat a few times per hour in the stratosphere. The sounds were recorded in the infrasound range, meaning they are inaudible to the human ear. "There are mysterious infrasound signals that occur a few times per hour on some flights, but the source of these is completely unknown," Bowman said in a statement.
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Longford and Westmeath ETB has been allocated 200,000 in funding to support educationally disadvantaged learners in accessing and participating in community education.

This funding issued under the Reach Fund to ETBs is designed to support and engage with disadvantaged learners who have the highest level of need.

It can be used to assist learners with transport or education costs, funding on access to technology and devices, and expanding community access to WiFi and broadband resources.

The 200,000 is part of a 5.3 million package announced today (Monday, May 15) by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD.

Minister Harris said: The success of the Reach Fund over the past three years has been so important. Originally introduced in 2020 to support the most disadvantaged learners throughout the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was critical in reconnecting with the most disadvantaged learners around the country.

It continues to support community education partners make sure that these learners are not left behind. As we launch the Year of Skills, it is vital every adult has the necessary literacy, numeracy and digital literacy to engage in society and realise their potential. The Reach Fund has achieved so much, and I am excited to see what important and valuable projects it supports this year."

Around the country the projects supported by the Reach Fund helped to support online learning, connect communities and providing social supports to the most vulnerable groups. These priority cohorts include the long-term unemployed; young people; people with disabilities; members of the Traveller and Roma communities; migrants and refugees; women wishing to return to the labour market; and lone parents.

Tanya Jones, Director of Further Education and Training, Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), said: Since its launch in 2020 Reach Fund continues to support the participation of disadvantaged learners in education. ETBI welcomes the continuation of the Reach Fund which is administered by the national network of Education and Training Boards, and I encourage all community education providers to engage with their local ETB to access this fund to further support the complex needs of a diverse range of learners across our communities.

CEO of SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority, Andrew Brownlee said: The Reach Fund is a unique funding stream that targets those who are often hardest to engage by providing much-needed funding at a local level to directly address the barriers facing the most disadvantaged learners in Ireland.

Since 2020, over 1,600 individual projects have been funded through Reach and we are pleased to be able to offer this fund again in 2023. Last year, we saw a welcome increase in learners from this priority cohort and it is beyond doubt that the projects and programmes funding under Reach have contributed to this increase.

It is testament to the great work done around Ireland by ETBs and community partners to tackle adult literacy issues and re-engage learners with education."

Since early 2023, Education and Training Boards have been engaging with Community Education providers in their respective regions on 2023 funding with many having issued calls for proposals which are now being reviewed. Funding allocations for these proposals will be agreed by the end of June.
Longford County Council planners are considering an application by quarry company Lagan Materials Ltd, who trade as Breedon Ireland, for plans in respect of their Aughnacliffe operation.

Lagan Materials have applied for permission in respect of the extraction of rock over an area of c.14.2 hectares at Aghamore Upper and Derreenavoggy townlands, Aughnacliffe, Longford.

This consists of a lateral southerly extension to, and a deepening of, the existing quarry to a final depth of 114mAOD.

Also sought is permission for the construction of internal haul roads, earthen screening bunds and storage landforms, and the demolition of farm outbuildings.

The plans include the restoration of the site to biodiversity after use, primarily in the form of a waterbody, and all ancillary works within an overall application area of 36.8ha.

The planning application will be accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR).

The planners received the application on May 10 with the anticipated decision date estimated at July 4, 2023.

Meanwhile Bord Pleanala are reviewing another application in respect of the quarry operation at Aghamore Upper, Aughnacliffe, Longford.

Applicant Lagan Materials Ltd's permission for an aggregate storage shed and partial realignment of private laneway, within an application area of 0.2ha, at the existing quarry landholding is subject to a third party appeal by Wild Ireland Defence CLG.

That planning appeal was lodged on May 9 last with the planning authority indicating a decision by September 11, 2023.
A record 77,000 passengers passed through Ireland West Airport in April making it the busiest April in the 38 year history of the airport. The passenger numbers represented a 7.5% increase on the previous busiest April in 2019 and a 10% increase on April 2022 figures.

April was also the first month that passenger numbers using the airport returned to pre covid 2019 passenger levels which recognises the increased demand for travel to and from the airport. Following a strong start to 2023 the airport is forecasting passenger numbers to exceed 2019 levels and reach a record 850,000 passengers for the year.

In April, Ryanair carried record passenger numbers, for a month of April, on its services to Edinburgh, Liverpool and Milan and reported very strong passenger numbers on their sun services to Alicante, Faro, Malaga, Palma and on its brand-new weekly service to Lanzarote which recommenced after a three-year absence.

The start of the Lanzarote service is part of Ryanairs biggest ever summer schedule from the airport with flights to 16 destinations across the UK and Europe, operating 120 weekly flights, a 15% increase on 2022.

WATCH: Longford publican enters race to become new Late Late Show host Longford publican Eddie Valentine has blown the race to become the new host of RTE's The Late Late Show wide open by officially declaring his interest in the position.

As well as starting a new service to Lanzarote, Ryanair will operate flights to European hotspots such as Alicante, Barcelona, Cologne, Faro, Majorca, Malaga and Milan this summer. In addition, Ryanair has Increased frequencies on 5 UK routes, adding an extra 40,000+ seats on services to Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Liverpool and Manchester for the summer season.

April was also a milestone month as the airport welcomed the commencement of a brand-new daily service to London Heathrow with Aer Lingus.

The service performed strongly in April with strong volumes of passengers travelling onward via Heathrow to destinations such as New York, Boston and a host of other destinations across Europe, Africa and Australia. The importance of this new connection is significant as its the first time Ireland West Airport is now one of Europes major international airport hubs.

On Friday, April 14 the airport had the honour of welcoming the 46th President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, for what was a historic visit to the airport and his ancestral home in Ballina  an experience which will live long in the memory of the airport.

Commenting on a record month for passenger traffic for the airport, Joe Gilmore, Managing Director, Ireland West Airport, said April has proven to be a record month for the airport, and we were delighted to see such strong volumes using the airport last month. Its been particularly pleasing to welcome so many new customers to the airport in April from counties such as Tyrone, Cavan, Westmeath, Offaly and Galway to name but a few which really demonstrates the increasing popularity of using the airport. The increasing choice of destinations on offer for customers in the West, Northwest and Midlands regions this summer has never been stronger and combined with the stress-free experience and convenience of using the airport we hope these factors will continue to entice new customers to the airport in the coming months and experience for themselves the benefits of flying from a regional airport like Ireland West Airport. Its also been particularly pleasing to welcome the commencement of new services to Lanzarote with Ryanair and London Heathrow with Aer Lingus, which is a real game changer for the region in terms of the global connectivity now available for passengers travelling to and from the West, Northwest, and Midlands regions of Ireland.

Ahead of the busiest summer season on record, work is continuing on the Airports Transformation Programme with the completion of resurfacing works in our airport car park and marking of new dedicated passenger walkways. In addition, a new and enhanced food and beverage offering will open later this month in the upstairs Slainte restaurant which will come as welcome news for those wishing to relax and have a snack or drink whilst watching planes landing and taking off.
At Home Instead, our mission is to enhance the lives of ageing adults and their families by providing compassionate, high-quality care in the comfort of their own homes. As Irelands leading home care provider, we are committed to delivering exceptional service and support to those in our communities who need it most.

We are currently seeking passionate individuals to join our team as CAREGivers. As a CAREGiver with Home Instead, you will have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of older people and their families. Depending on the client, you will provide assistance with daily activities such as meal preparation, personal care, and companionship to Alzheimer's and Dementia Care allowing seniors to remain independent and comfortable in their own homes.

In addition to the satisfaction of making a difference in the lives of others, becoming a CAREGiver with Home Instead also comes with a range of benefits. These include a competitive salary, flexible hours, first-class training, and a travel allowance and more.

If you have a natural instinct to help and are looking for a rewarding and fulfilling career, we encourage you to apply to become a CAREGiver with Home Instead today.

Sometimes people need support to live independent lives at home. From personal care to meal preparation and companionship, and everything in between, Home Insteads experienced CAREGivers help ageing adults live well at home.

Make a real difference in someones life, apply today to begin your career in caring at Careers.HomeInstead.ie

Call: 044 938 5260

Visit: careers.homeinstead.ie

We are hosting Walk-in Interviews next Wednesday, 17th May from 10.30AM - 4.30PM in the Longford Arms Hotel.

If you, or someone you know, is interested in a career in care, why not come along to chat with our team.

CAREGivers with Home Instead Midlands experience competitive rates of pay, travel allowance and free training. Check out a full range of benefits here: https://careers.homeinstead.ie/why-us

If you cannot make it on the day, but are still interested to learn more, visit https://careers.homeinstead.ie/ or call our office on 044 938 5260.

*SPONSORED CONTENT
Crime

By Jacob Alvear Published: May 15 2023

Gas station robbery leaves employee assaulted and cash register stolen in daring nighttime heist.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Fifth Squad detectives are seeking the publics help to identify and locate the man who robbed a West Sayville gas station in April.

A man punched a male employee at the Valero gas station, located at 255 Montauk Highway, and stole the cash register on April 24 at approximately 11 p.m. He ran north on Washington Avenue towards a vehicle that was running. The victim did not require medical attention.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: May 15 2023

Amount includes $800,000 earmarked for four Long Island-based shelters.

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced nearly $7.6 million will be provided to 21 animal shelters and humane societies across the state through the New York State Companion Animal Capital Fund, which is in its fifth round. The funding will support construction, renovation, and expansion projects that will enhance animal care and health and help ensure adoptions for New York's dogs and cats. As the first in the nation to fund capital projects for animal shelters, New York State continues to demonstrate its commitment to securing safe housing and care for sheltered dogs and cats as they await adoption.

"Animal shelters and humane societies across New York provide essential care for dogs and cats as they await their new families and forever homes," Governor Hochul said. "New York's Companion Animal Capital Fund is making a real difference for our shelters and humane societies, and the animals in their care, helping them make critical upgrades to better care for the animals and provide greater support for the staff and volunteers that care for them."

Since the launch of the Companion Animal Capital Fund program in 2017, which is administered by the Department of Agriculture and Markets, the state has dedicated over $33 million to the program, including funds committed in this year's budget. The fifth round of funding awarded builds on previous initiatives to offset the costs associated with capital projects run by New York State animal shelters, such as renovating dog kennels, improving medical facilities, or building more efficient shelters to reduce overall operational costs. Projects funded this year include new living spaces for additional cats, new medical facilities, and improved outdoor spaces, and shelter renovations to include additional kennels.

Competitive grants were awarded to shelters based on a need assessment, detailed project description, and reasonableness of cost. The following shelters are receiving an award in this round of the program:

Capital Region

Albany County Sherriff's Office (Albany, Albany County): $500,000 to create an auxiliary animal shelter in partnership with the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society.

City of Schenectady (Schenectady, Schenectady County): $200,000 for updated larger kennels.

New York City

Animal Care & Control of NYC (Manhattan, New York County): $143,175 to outfit their new shelter system with updated equipment, installation of new kennel tops, a new washer and dryer, and replacement of an aged water heater.

Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition (Brooklyn Heights, Kings County): $164,719.67 for shelter expansion, design of cat wards dedicated to health and compatibility, installation of windows, and the creation of a full-service medical suite.

Mohawk Valley

Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley (Howes Cave, Schoharie County): $500,000 for the renovation of a medical suite and roof renovation.

Southern Tier

Broome County Humane Society (Binghamton, Broome County): $110,879 to improve cat housing and dog kennel design, and acquisition of a generator and a grooming basin.

Finger Lakes

Finger Lakes SPCA of CNY (Auburn, Cayuga County): $482,491.50 for a new facility design including HVAC system.

H.S. of Rochester (Lollipop) (Fairport, Monroe County): $500,000 for the redesign of kennels, to increase animal capacity, and expand the isolation ward.

Wayne Co. Humane Society (Lyons, Wayne County): $500,000 for a new and updated shelter facility including new HVAC.

Wyoming Co. (Warsaw, Wyoming County): $318,318 to improve facility design, upgrade mechanical equipment, and provide outdoor enrichment area.

Wyoming Co. SPCA (Attica, Wyoming County): $62,825.89 for roof replacement, repair of driveway and parking area, acquire cat caging and update record keeping technology.

Hudson Valley

Hudson Valley SPCA (Pomona, Rockland County): $200,000 to upgrade dog kennels, replace cat enclosures, and increase animal capacity.

Hudson Valley Animal Rescue & Sanctuary (Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County): $398,495 to increase animal capacity including quarantine area.

North Country

Jefferson Co. SPCA (Watertown, Jefferson County): $200,000 to expand shelter size and obtain new HVAC system.

Potsdam Humane Society (Potsdam, St. Lawrence County): $100,067 for housing and environmental improvements, including updates to laundry room, caging, heating, and renovation of flooring.

Lewis Co. Humane Society (Lowville, Lewis County): $500,000 for new HVAC system, new laundering equipment, creation of cat isolation room, and to repair and update damaged shelter structures.

Long Island

Town of Oyster Bay (Oyster Bay, Nassau County)- $200,000 for shelter renovation and new HVAC system.

Town of North Hempstead (Manhasset, Nassau County) - $200,000 for new HVAC system.

Ada Howe Kent Memorial Shelter (Calverton, Suffolk County): $200,000 for new shelter facility with isolation area, including new kennels for dogs and cats.

Pioneers for Animal Welfare Society (Hicksville, Nassau County): $200,000 for down payment of new facility.

Western New York

Erie County SPCA (W. Seneca, Erie County): $200,000 to improve kennels and outdoor exercise area, renovate cat recovery and nursery area, obtain new HVAC system and security system.

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball said, "Animal shelters provide so much more than just a refuge; from offering essential medical care to daily enrichment activities, the hardworking staff at humane societies, shelters, and SPCAs throughout the state work tirelessly to provide the best care for dogs and cats while they wait to be adopted into their forever families. Over the last few years, we've seen the funding from the Companion Animal Capital Fund go to critical upgrades and projects that mean better care for New York's animals. We are proud to announce this latest round, which will build on the successes we have seen so far."

Executive Director of the New York Animal Protection Federation Libby Post said, "The members of the NYS Animal Protection Federation are so thankful to the Governor and the legislature for making this funding a reality. We have seen the direct results of this funding at shelters across the state. New buildings, new air handling systems, new kennels and cat condos, new infrastructure that keeps homeless companion animals healthy so that they're ready for adoption. Because of the increased attention paid to animal crimes by law enforcement as well as the effects of COVID, evictions and the economy, more animals are coming into our shelters. This has put a strain on the shelters but with this capital funding many will be able to upgrade and expand to meet these ongoing challenges."

State Senator Michelle Hinchey said, "Our local animal shelters go above and beyond to provide a safe haven for the animals in their care, and yet many across our state are in major need of capital funding to expand and upgrade their facilities. The Companion Animal Capital Fund is instrumental in helping animal shelters make those much-needed improvements, and I was proud to advocate for it in the State Budget. I thank Governor Hochul for making this latest round of grant funding available so that animal shelters throughout New York State can continue to keep animals happy and healthy as they await adoption." Assemblymember Donna Lupardo said, "The Companion Animal Capital Fund makes life easier for our shelter animals and their caretakers. The projects funded this year will upgrade and expand facilities to improve the health and well-being of animals as they await their forever homes. I'm very pleased to see that my own local shelter in Broome County has been awarded funds to expand their work providing a healthy place for companion animals and a welcoming environment for future adopters."
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: May 15 2023

New York State Consolidated Funding Application Now Open With Available Funding from 30 Programs.

Governor Hochul has announced the launch of Round XIII of the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative. Round XIII includes core capital grant and tax-credit funding combined with a wide range of programs from 10 State agencies, including $150 million in grant funds from Empire State Development, available to projects on a continuous basis. The Councils are encouraged to support projects that advance or address strategic State priorities - including green buildings and sustainable development, child care, distressed communities, and innovative public-private partnerships; those projects, will be eligible for additional award funding. New this year, two new micro programs will award capital grants to support New York State craft beverage manufacturers and non-profit organizations, and a new $30 million Challenge competition will award $10 million to up to three regions to implement creative solutions to tackle persistent barriers to economic growth. Also, for the first time since 2015, the Councils will be tasked with updating their strategic regional economic development plans.

"Our Regional Economic Development Council Initiative continues to transform communities across the state, creating jobs and driving private investment all over New York," Governor Hochul said. "The launch of this latest round builds on state efforts to address our most pressing economic priorities -- from sustainable development to the growing demand for childcare - all while empowering communities to tap into their regional strengths. Thanks to the work of the REDCs, New York is continuing to make the catalytic investments that foster economic growth and continued success in every corner of our state."

"I am proud to lead the next round of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative and guide the councils on a path forward that re-establishes each region's priorities for growth," said Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado. "Through coordination and collaboration, we will identify opportunities to advance key industries, advance projects that meet regional needs and enhance each region's economic vision for the future."

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "While the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative has been a successful model for economic growth in New York State, at the direction of Governor Hochul, we have been tasked to improve and enhance key programs that will expand on our many successes. Each region will update their strategic plans to re-establish their priorities for growth, continue to guide the deployment of resources, and create an updated road map for each region to achieve its economic vision for the future."

Regional Strategic Planning Process Update

The 10 REDCs are guided by their regional strategic economic development plans, which emphasize each region's unique assets and provide strategies to harness local resources to stimulate regional economic development and create jobs Statewide. This year, the Regional Councils will review and update their plans to re-establish each region's priorities for growth, guide the deployment of resources, and create an updated road map to achieving its economic vision.

As part of the updated strategic plan, the Councils will be tasked with analyzing specific challenges to economic growth. Each REDC will develop a proposal that outlines creative and innovative solutions to address one specific challenge of their choice. These proposals will be reviewed by the State and up to three winning proposals will be awarded up to $10 million funding to implement the proposed solutions.

Consolidated Funding Application

The Regional Councils will score projects submitted through the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA), the State's single application for State resources which includes programs from numerous agencies. It is designed to give project applicants expedited and streamlined access to a combined pool of grant funds and tax credits from dozens of existing programs. This year, funding is available from 10 State agencies across 30 programs. Regional Councils will review projects and provide scores that reflect how well a project aligns with a region's goals and strategies.

In Round XIII, ESD is launching two new micro grant programs: the Craft Beverage Micro Grant Program and the Not-for-Profit Capital Grant Program. Up to $5 million will be available through the Craft Beverage Micro Grant Program, designed to increase the production capacity, business infrastructure and profitability of businesses licensed to produce wine, beer, spirits, hard cider and mead in New York State. Grants ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 would support equipment purchases and facility upgrades.

Up to $5 million will be available through the Not-for-Profit Capital Grant program, which will award matching funds grants to not-for-profit organizations who provide economic and community benefits in their region to assist with facility improvements and upgrades. Grant awards would range from $25,000 to $100,000.

The 2023 REDC Guidebook and a list of additional resources available to REDC Members are accessible here. The CFA is available here; the deadline for applications is Friday, July 28 at 4 p.m. Open enrollment programs are not subject to the July 28 deadline and will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis until funds are exhausted.

The REDC process continues to support and empower regional stakeholders in developing strategic plans and funding priorities that meet local economic needs. To date, through the REDC Initiative, more than $7.7 billion has been awarded to more than 9,500 job creation and community development projects consistent with each region's strategic plan.

About the Consolidated Funding Application

The Consolidated Funding Application was created to streamline and expedite the grant application process. The CFA process marks a fundamental shift in the way State resources are allocated, ensuring less bureaucracy and greater efficiency to fulfill local economic development needs. The CFA serves as the single-entry point for access to economic development funding, ensuring applicants no longer have to slowly navigate multiple agencies and sources without any mechanism for coordination. Now, economic development projects use the CFA as a support mechanism to access multiple State funding sources through one application, making the process quicker, easier, and more productive. Learn more about the CFA here.

About the Regional Economic Development Councils

The Regional Economic Development Council initiative is a key component of the State's approach to State investment and economic development. In 2011, 10 Regional Councils were established to develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth for their regions. The Councils are public-private partnerships made up of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations. The Regional Councils have redefined the way New York invests in jobs and economic growth by putting in place a community-based, bottom up approach and establishing a competitive process for State resources. Learn more at regionalcouncils.ny.gov.
Community, Charity & Cause

By Chris Boyle Published: May 15 2023

Henry, a devoted foster grandparent for Brookhaven Head Start, passed away on January 20, 2022 at the age of 104.

Recently, Supervisor Ed Romaine and Councilman Michael Loguercio dedicated Maple Lane in Gordon Heights in honor of longtime resident Annie L. Henry, who passed away on January 20, 2022 at the age of 104.

Annie was born on August 2, 1917 in Talladega, Alabama and worked as a teacher before moving to Baltimore, Maryland, where she continued her studies at Carter Peters Business School. Annie served her country as a Technician in the United States Womens Army Corps during World War ll.

In 1946, she married her husband Vincent and they moved to Gordon Heights. Annie was the longest serving employee of the Gordon Heights Fire District, where she gave 30 years of dedicated service as Secretary Treasurer.
Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the New York State Department of Labor is launching a new, free digital literacy program to help job seekers gain the skills they need to be more marketable to employers. The program is available through a partnership with Northstar Digital Literacy to assess job seekers' computer skills and help them build knowledge in areas sought after by businesses. According to a 2022 NYSDOL survey, 44 percent of responding businesses said basic computer use and computer literacy were common skills lacking among job applicants and new employees. Other common issues identified include basic email proficiency and Excel skills. With technology constantly evolving in the workplace, it has become essential for employees to understand how to utilize digital tools and platforms in order for New York workers to advance their careers and businesses to continue to thrive

"New York is leading the way in expanding digital literacy to help our state's talented workforce secure the jobs of tomorrow," Governor Hochul said. "This new initiative will be a transformative addition to our workforce development efforts, giving all New Yorkers access to the tools necessary to unlock a better future for themselves and their families."

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "As New York State looks to attract businesses to increase economic opportunities, we must ensure New Yorkers are well aligned with the needs of businesses. Our partnership with Northstar Digital Literacy will help our workforce gain the computer competence they need to keep up with the rapid changes of the digital global market."

Northstar has a three-prong system that starts with online, self-guided assessments for participants to receive certificates or digital badges when they pass. Northstar then recommends self-directed online learning while developing lesson plans to help New Yorkers increase their proficiency. This program will be facilitated out of NYSDOL's 95 local Career Centers.

In NYSDOL's 2022 survey, businesses listed the below as some of the technical skills they were seeking most:
(Alliance News) - Diploma PLC on Monday reported higher pretax profit and revenue growth in its half-year, and predicted a higher organic revenue growth for the full year.

Diploma is a London-based company that supplies specialised technical products and services. It is a constituent of the FTSE 250.

Diploma said that it achieved revenue growth of 30% in the six months ended March 31, with revenue increasing to GBP582.8 million from GBP448.5 million last year.

Diploma said that its pretax profit increased by 41% to GBP78.7 million from GBP52.3 million a year ago.

The company said that it expects organic revenue growth of around 7% for the full year, and a further 7% growth from acquisitions and net of disposals. This growth derived from sustained double-digit growth at Windy City Wire, which delivered organic growth of 10%, the company said.

Diploma declared an interim share of 16.5 pence compared to 15.0p the year before, an increase of 10%.

"I thank all my brilliant Diploma colleagues for their dedication to consistently improving our businesses and to delivering great service to our customers. We have had an excellent first half," Diploma's Chief Executive Johnny Thomson said.

"We also welcome eight great new businesses which will help drive that future organic growth, while incrementally investing in scaling the businesses and our group."

Diploma was trading at 2.4% higher at 2,918.00 pence in London on Monday morning.

By Will Neill, Alliance News reporter

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Oxford BioMedica PLC - Oxfordshire, England-based gene and cell therapy group - Launches its 4th generation lentiviral vector delivery system, TetraVecta. Says the TetraVecta system enhances the development of more effective lentiviral vector-based therapies. Firm says this enables cell and gene therapy companies to overcome previous barriers in therapeutic development.

Chief Scientific Officer Kyriacos Mitrophanous says: "The launch of The TetraVecta system demonstrates our commitment to investing in innovation in the cell and gene therapy field. This next generation lentiviral vector system empowers our clients to overcome previous-generation vector limitations and develop life-saving treatments."

Current stock price: 412.50 pence each, up 1.2% on Monday morning in London

12-month change: down 18%

By Xindi Wei, Alliance News reporter

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
(Sharecast News) - Stocks were being buoyed at the start of the week by positive headlines around the ongoing debt ceiling talks in the US, although analysts were cautious

.In remarks made overnight, Lael Brainard, the head of the US National Economic Council, said that talks thus far had been "serious" and "constructive", even as she added that a debt default would be "catastrophic" for the economy.

President Joe Biden was to meet the Republican speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, on Tuesday, ahead of the former's departure on the following day for the G-7 summit in Japan.

"I remain optimistic because I'm a congenital optimist. But I really think there's a desire on their part as well as ours to reach an agreement and I think we'll be able to do it,

As of 0936 BST, the FTSE 100 was trading up by 0.30% to 7,777.56, while the second-tier index was 0.02% higher alongside at 19,191.80.

No major economic releases were scheduled in the UK, but Bank of England chief economist, Huw Pill, was due to deliver a speech at 1700 BST.

Across the Channel, at 1000 BST the European Commission would publish its latest set of economic forecasts for the bloc.

They would be followed at 1330 BST by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's regional factory sector index.

Several top Fed officials were expected to deliver speeches or make remarks on Monday.

Apollo pulls Wood Group bid

US private equity firm Apollo Global on Monday pulled plans to make a takeover offer for UK oil industry engineer Wood Group. Apollo had made five approaches for the company and was had to table a firm bid or walk away by May 17. In response, the Wood board said it remained confident in its strategic direction and long-term prospects and believes that, "following a transformative year in 2022, including new executive leadership and a new strategy" the company was "well placed to deliver substantial value for shareholders".

Diploma posted a strong set of results for the first half of its financial year. Revenues were up ahead by 30% to 582.8m and by 10% on an organic basis. It also said that the back half had begun "positively", which led management to raise its full-year guidance. Full-year organic growth was now pegged to come in at 7%. That was on top of approximately another 7% rise in sales expected to accrue from acquisitions, net of disposals. In parallel, the company's leverage was seen declining to below 0.4 times before any acquisition investment.

UK electricals retailer Currys on Monday lifted its full-year earnings guidance after trading in the final two months of its fiscal year were better-than-expected. Adjusted pre-tax profit for the year to April 29 is now expected to come in at 110 - 120m compared with previous guidance of 104m, citing improved profits driven by continued gross margin improvements and management focus on cost efficiencies. It added that an in-year benefit from non-repeating mobile debtor revaluation had been higher than prior year and forecast.

Market Movers

FTSE 100 (UKX) 7,776.80 0.29%

FTSE 250 (MCX) 19,187.48 0.00%

techMARK (TASX) 4,723.39 0.15%

FTSE 100 - Risers

Endeavour Mining (EDV) 2,094.00p 2.05%

Anglo American (AAL) 2,381.50p 1.88%

Antofagasta (ANTO) 1,421.50p 1.75%

Glencore (GLEN) 439.25p 1.60%

Rio Tinto (RIO) 4,972.00p 1.11%

Compass Group (CPG) 2,180.00p 1.07%

BT Group (BT.A) 153.95p 1.02%

HSBC Holdings (HSBA) 605.70p 1.00%

Ashtead Group (AHT) 4,763.00p 0.98%

NATWEST GROUP (NWG) 263.80p 0.96%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

Ocado Group (OCDO) 434.10p -1.65%

Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 146.85p -0.98%

DCC (CDI) (DCC) 4,685.00p -0.72%

Tesco (TSCO) 273.90p -0.65%

Shell (SHEL) 2,395.00p -0.58%

Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) 799.60p -0.55%

Admiral Group (ADM) 2,242.00p -0.53%

Hiscox Limited (DI) (HSX) 1,164.00p -0.51%

London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) 8,512.00p -0.49%

Associated British Foods (ABF) 1,907.50p -0.42%

FTSE 250 - Risers

Currys (CURY) 59.15p 5.72%

Trainline (TRN) 282.80p 5.60%

Ithaca Energy (ITH) 160.80p 3.61%

Premier Foods (PFD) 133.00p 3.26%

CLS Holdings (CLI) 131.80p 2.81%

Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited NPV (SONG) 87.50p 2.46%

Balanced Commercial Property Trust Limited (BCPT) 81.30p 2.39%

Urban Logistics Reit (SHED) 137.00p 2.39%

Diploma (DPLM) 2,918.00p 2.39%

HGCapital Trust (HGT) 372.00p 2.34%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Wood Group (John) (WG.) 144.60p -33.97%

ASOS (ASC) 450.00p -10.89%

Tullow Oil (TLW) 23.04p -3.19%

Wetherspoon (J.D.) (JDW) 739.50p -2.44%

Hunting (HTG) 208.00p -2.12%

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Macs have a high price so its understandable that many Mac users will want to put off replacing them for as long as they can. But just how long should you expect a Mac to last?

You may also be considering buying a secondhand Mac and wondering how old is too old? For example, is that 2017 iMac for $400/400 a good deal, or would you be better off spending a bit more on a newer model?

One factor to consider is the age at which most Macs start to experience issues, such as random shutdowns and degraded batteries that no longer hold their charge. Unfortunately, at one point repairing your Mac or MacBook will no longer be a viable option and you will need to look for a replacement.

Another issue with ageing Macs is that the software you need may not run on it. You may also find that Apple no longer supports the operating system software that runs on that Mac  which could leave you open to malware and security vulnerabilities.

In this article we will address the above, as well as give advice about which Macs are still supported by Apple, the Macs that can still be repaired if required (Apple stops providing the required parts after a number of years), and the Macs that Apple considers obsolete and vintage. Being Vintage means Apple may have the parts available if you wanted to fix the Mac, but once Obsolete Apple will not provide parts if you wanted to try and fix the machine.

When do I need to replace my Mac?

There are a few indicators that your Mac has reached the end of its useful life:

Apple no longer supports the latest version of the software it runs (which could leave you vulnerable).

The apps you need to use no longer run on it.

The Mac struggles to perform the tasks you need it to  especially if you cant update the RAM or any other components.

Something breaks and is too expensive to fix or the parts arent available.

The Mac is becoming unreliable. Unexpected shutdowns are becoming commonplace and youve tried everything to fix the problem to no avail.

Apple usually maintains the last three versions of the macOS with bug fixes and important security updates, ensuring that the latest version of Safari will run, and that Apple Services, such as iCloud, are fully supported

This means that Apple will currently provide support for these versions of macOS: macOS Ventura (macOS 13), Monterey (macOS 12) and macOS Big Sur (macOS 11). When Apple introduces macOS 14 later in 2023, Big Sur will no longer be officially supported.

If your Mac is running one of these versions of macOS you should be able to be confident that Apple will keep an eye on any security vulnerabilities and other problems with these operating systems.

However, if your Mac is running an older version of the operating system  macOS Catalina (10.15) or earlier  you may find yourself out in the cold when it comes to essential updates to Apples software.

If the software is too old you may also find that your other Apple products arent compatible with your Mac. For example, if you want to sync your iPad or iPhone with your Mac (rather than using iCloud) you need a recent version of macOS. Since Catalina syncing is done via the Finder, rather than iTunes. If you cant run Catalina you will need at least iTunes 12.8.2.3 and at least Mac OS X 10.11.6 (El Capitan) or your Mac will not recognize your iPhone or iPad.

Its not just a case of updating your Mac to the latest version of macOS though. Each time Apple updates the Mac operating system more Macs fall off the list of those supported. Read: The latest version of macOS your Mac can run.

If your Macs isnt in the list below it wont receive software updates:

Macs supported by macOS Ventura

2022s macOS Ventura supports the following Macs:

MacBook models from 2017 or later

MacBook Air models from 2018 or later

MacBook Pro models from 2017 or later

Mac mini models from 2018 or later

iMac models from 2017 or later

iMac Pro (all models)

Mac Pro models from 2019 or later

Mac Studio (all models)

Read: Can my Mac run Ventura?

Macs supported by macOS Monterey

2021s macOS Monterey supports the following Macs:

MacBook models from 2016 or later

MacBook Air models from 2015 or later

MacBook Pro models from 2015 or later

Mac mini models from 2014 or later

iMac models from autumn 2015 or later

iMac Pro (all models)

Mac Pro models from 2013 or later

Macs supported by macOS Big Sur

Big Sur, which launched in 2020 supports the following Macs:

MacBook models from early 2015 or later

MacBook Air models from 2013 or later

MacBook Pro models from 2013 or later

Mac mini models from 2014 or later

iMac models from 2014 or later

iMac Pro (all models)

Mac Pro models from 2013 or later

This means that no Macs sold before 2013 are supported by Apple right now. Does this mean that Macs last ten years? Unfortunately not.

By the autumn of 2023, when Apple introduces the next version of macOS, nearly all these 2013 Macs will no longer be supported with software (only the 2013 Mac Pro slips through).

Which Macs arent supported by macOS?

macOS Catalina is no longer supported by Apple software updates

When Apple introduced Ventura in 2022 it dropped support for macOS Catalina.

Catalina launched in 2019 and supported the following Macs:

MacBook (early 2015 or later)

MacBook Air (mid 2012 or later)

MacBook Pro (mid 2012 or later)

Mac mini (late 2012 or later)

iMac (late 2012 or later)

iMac Pro (2017 or later)

Mac Pro (late 2013 or later)

This means that Apple doesnt currently support software updates for Macs from before 2012, and as of the end of 2023 this is likely to extend to Macs from before 2013.

All other Macs that pre-date those mentioned above are no longer supported by Apples software updates.

Does it matter if my Mac wont run a supported macOS?

Once you cannot update your Mac to run a supported version of macOS you are vulnerable to security breaches, which should obviously be a concern. You may also find that you cant carry out transactions on the internet if you want to pay for things on your our-of-date Mac.

You may also find that the software you need wont run on your Mac. Apple and other companies stop supporting older versions of the applications they make, so there could be issues with the versions of the software you are running. If you are experiencing random shutdowns, for example, it could be due to problems with an app you are running  problems that will not be addressed by the developer because that version of the app is no longer supported.

If you want to run fully supported software then you will need to update to a newer version of macOS  and that may mean that you need to update your Mac.

Apple supports Macs with operating system updates for approximately eight to ten years, after which time Apple will not support the software and its probably a good time to replace your Mac.

When do Macs become obsolete?

But its not just software updates that determine the lifespan of a Mac. Its also a question of whether it will be possible to fix your Mac should something go wrong with the hardware. Apple has two standards that indicate hardware support is waining: Obsolete or Vintage. The first stage is Vintage: you might be lucky enough to get parts for this Mac, the second is Obsolete: you are out on your own when it comes to any attempt to mend the Mac if it goes wrong.

If you look at Apples list of Obsolete Macs  those being the Macs that Apple will no longer provide spare parts for  you will see that the company stops provide parts for Macs that it hasnt sold for more than seven years. In fact, the company may not even provide parts for Macs that havent been sold for more than five years (considered Vintage by the company).

This could mean that you wont be able to get a faulty Mac fixed because the parts arent available.

Obsolete Macs

Obsolete Macs are generally Macs that Apple stopped selling more than seven years ago. Once a Mac is in Apples obsolete list you have little chance of getting it repaired if something does go wrong. You might be able to find spare parts yourself, but Apple wont provide them.

Youll find more details about the exact models on Apples dedicated page, but the lists below will give you a general idea.

As of May 2023, Apple considers the following Macs and older Obsolete:

11in MacBook Air (early 2014 and older)

13in MacBook Air (early 2014 and older)

13in MacBook Pro (mid 2014 and older)

15in MacBook Pro (mid 2014 and older)

27in iMac (late 2013 and older)

21.5in iMac (late 2013 and older)

Mac mini (2012 and older)

Mac mini Server (2012 and older)

Mac Pro (2010 and older)

Vintage Macs

Apple also has a list of Vintage Macs. These are Macs that Apple stopped selling between five and seven years ago. (If you live in France where a law means you can get support for spare parts for up to seven years after Apple stops selling a Mac).

Apple Authorized Service Providers will repair vintage products for up to seven years, as long as parts are available.

As of May 2023, Apple lists the following products as being vintage:

12in MacBook (2015 and 2016)

13in MacBook Air (early 2015)

13in MacBook Pro (2016 and early 2015)

15in MacBook Pro (2016)

21.5in iMac (late 2015)

27in iMac (late 2015)

Mac Pro (2012)

There are some Macs in that list that you might consider quite new, such as the 2016 MacBook Pro models, or the 5K iMac from 2015, but these are already viewed as Vintage by Apple.

This certainly suggests that if your Mac is from before 2015 its time to look for a new one. And if you see a 2015 or earlier Mac on sale its probably not sensible to buy it. Read: Why you shouldnt buy a second hand Mac.

Should I fix my Mac or buy a new one?

If your Mac is in the Obsolete category above and something goes wrong with it then you are going to struggle to get the necessary parts if you wanted to attempt to get it fixed as Apple wont provide the parts.

You might be able to buy an old Mac on eBay or similar and scrap if for the parts, but wed suggest that it really wouldnt be worth the effort.

If your Mac is in the Vintage list then Apple might be able to provide the required parts, but there is no guarantee. If you are lucky enough to get the part an Apple service provider might even be able to fix the Mac for you  but the cost of the work is likely to be prohibitive.

You might find that the Mac was included in part of a recall due to the issue you are experiencing, in that case it might be worth enlisting in a repair program. However, if the time period in which Apple was offering the repairs has passed (which is unfortunately likely) then you will still have to find the money for the repair, which again might be prohibitive.

Apple repair programs

Apples current Mac repair programs include:

A recall for 15in MacBook Pro units from due to a battery fault 2015-2017

Keyboard services for some Mac laptops bought since 2016

A MacBook Pro backlit service program for models from 2016-2018

Service programs that have now ended:

A SSD service program for 13in MacBook Pro models from 2017-2018

A battery replacement program for 13in MacBook Pros from 2016-2017

We have more information about Apples product recalls and repair programs here. Plus, visit this page for more information on the above repair programs.

Assuming your fault isnt one of those listed above, you may be faced with a pricy repair bill. We suggest that if your Mac is older than five years then repairing it will not be worth it  unless of course there are important documents or photos on it that you want to retrieve in which case it might be worth looking at how to recover these files.

This is a similar question to the one above in as much as you will be weighing up whether spending money to improve your Mac might be more savvy than buying a new Mac.

There are various ways you might be able to improve your existing Mac including adding more RAM or changing from a hard drive to a SSD. If you are able to upgrade the components inside your Mac you may be able to speed it up and make it more capable of doing what you need. See How to upgrade a Mac.

However, many Macs cant be upgraded at all. In recent years Apple has taken to soldering RAM in place and hiding components away to make access impossible (or at least impossible if you dont want to completely destroy your Mac attempting to get to them).

If you decide to buy a new Mac check out our round ups of the best Mac deals you can get:

If you have one of the following Macs you might be able to update the RAM:

MacBook (2008 to 2011 models)

MacBook Pro (2009-2012 13in, 2008-2012 15in, all 17in models)

iMac: The RAM can be updated in the majority of iMacs except for the 21.5in models from Mid-2014 and Late-2015, which had their RAM soldered into place.

Mac mini: (2010-2012 and the 2018 model)

Mac Pro: (all models)

iMac Pro: RAM isnt user-accessible but can be update at an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider.

You cant update the RAM in any MacBook Air models.

We explain which Macs have accessible RAM in this article and also look at how to update the RAM.

It may be possible to update other components, including the SSD, hard drive, battery, logic board, hard drive, but this is only possible for a few Macs and the process is only for the expert. If youd like to try read: How to upgrade a Mac.

If you are up for pulling your Mac apart and attempting to upgrade its components then by all means try, but make sure you back it up first and be prepared to admit defeat if it doesnt go as planned.

As for whether it is worth upgrading your Macs RAM or any other component  assuming you can get the parts  rather than buying a new Mac? Perhaps it will buy you a few more years of use. However, wed be inclined to suggest that if your Mac is older than seven years it really isnt worth it (and, youll notice, the MacBooks that can have their RAM upgraded tend to be older than that).

How long do Macs last?

So, in answer to the question: How long do Macs last? Wed say five to eight years, but beware that you may not be able to replace any faulty parts in a Mac when more than five years has passed since Apple last sold it.

Before you buy a new Mac, read our article about the best time to buy a Mac or MacBook.

You may also want to read our Best Mac Buying Guide for help deciding which Mac to buy. We also have a guide to the Best MacBook.

Wondering how long Apple supports iPhones for? Read How long do iPhones last.
Last week the Spanish Union of Airline Pilots (Sepla) proposed a wave of stoppages during the summer in all airlines represented by the union due to the disagreement with the application of abusive minimum services by the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agency in the current strikes of Air Nostrum and Air Europa.

And it has been revealed that the industrial action could involve pilots working at Ryanair, easyJet as well as Norwegian, Swiftair, Plus Ultra, Jet 2, Eurowings and Evelop because Sepla represents their pilots in Spain.

This means that Britons heading to the Balearics and Spain could be hit with delays and cancellations in the coming months if pilots go ahead with strike action.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The Banner is doing a series of stories looking at how mental health challenges are impacting our community. This is second part our look at how mental health issues are affecting the criminal justice system.
Keeping shelters for runaway and abused Filipino workers in Kuwait is a non-negotiable for the Philippines, the government said, as it expressed openness to lifting its suspension on the deployment of household workers to the Gulf state on the condition that the host country guarantees the protections of migrant workers there.

Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Vega and Department of Migrant Workers Undersecretary Hans Cacdac made the policy statement when asked by lawmakers about the non-negotiables in the ongoing talks with Kuwait over its ban on new Filipino workers.

The non-negotiables are: Our shelters have to remain as it is in the law passed by Congress. Lets make other compromises but not close down the shelter There also has to be justice for Jullebee Ranara, and improvement on the conditions of our workers, De Vega said.

We will not compromise the protection of our workers, he added.

Cacdac said no OFW should be hurt, raped, physically assaulted, or killed at the hands of their employers in Kuwait.

The repatriation [of OFWs] should also be facilitated promptly, and justice in terms of labor and criminal law should also be delivered more swiftly, Cacdac said.

Manila Standard earlier reported that based on government data, at least two Filipinos per day experienced violence in the form of physical abuse, sexual harassment, or rape in Kuwait in 2022.

And while the numbers have gone down significantly in the past six years, these remain, according to DMW Secretary Susan Ople, a case of having one too many.

Based on DMW data submitted to Sen. Joel Villanuevas office, there were 823 cases of physical maltreatment, 99 cases of sexual abuse, and 26 cases of rape last year, for a total of 948 cases or an average of at least two cases per day.

Villanueva added that at least 96 percent of OFWs who have sought refuge in shelters in Kuwait are household service workers.

The DMW earlier implemented a deployment ban in February for newly hired or first-time domestic workers in Kuwait following the murder of Ranara.

The country last imposed a total deployment ban to Kuwait in 2018 after OFW Joanna Demafelis was slain and discovered inside a freezer at an abandoned apartment there.

If we close down the shelter, what will happen to the runaway Filipinos? They will end up in streets and arrested by police  thats the effect, De Vega said.

The shelter was one of two recurring issues in the bilateral labor agreement that the Kuwaiti government is concerned with. However, De Vega said none of these concerns have been put into writing.

A high-level Philippine delegation is scheduled to fly to Kuwait this week to discuss the ban on Filipinos entering the Gulf state for the first time and the possible review of the 2018 labor agreement between the two countries.

The upcoming high-level talks are part of the regular discussions between the Philippines and Kuwait concerning the more than 290,000 overseas Filipinos there.

According to the DFA, around 70 percent of the OFWs in Kuwait are household workers.

At a hearing of the House committee on overseas workers affairs, DFAs de Vega said repeatedly: I have hope for the future.

The plan, he said, is to resolve the issue using full bilateral relations between the two countries.

Just like the way we protect our national territory, our economic interest, our cultural valueswell always resolve things in diplomacy but not at the expense of the national pride and honor, the DFA official added.

De Vega said Kuwaits suspension of entry visas would be its response to the Philippines own suspension of the deployment of first-time household workers in the oil-rich last February.

The Philippine governments decision then was in light of the brutal killing of Ranara in Kuwait. She was reportedly raped, murdered, burnt, and thrown into the desert by her employers young adult son.

Were sending a team, DFA, DMW (Department of Migrant Workers), [and] OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), to sit down with the Kuwaitis and see how we can move forward because we have to see what actually are the things they have been complaining about, De Vega said.

At the moment, De Vega sees no quick fix to the Kuwaiti governments move.

De Vega said he hoped negotiations would begin soon as regards the Philippines deployment suspension on household workers, but Kuwait responded with the visa restriction instead.

But, lets be optimistic. Lahat may solusyon (Everything has a solution). Lets hope na itong (Lets hope that this) negotiating team will come home with progress. Hindi agad na pagbalik nila, tapos na. No (Its not like once they come back here, itll be over. No), the DFA official said somberly.

Like what I said, what the DFA was expecting was for (Migrant Workers) Secretary (Susan) Ople to have a meeting in Kuwait, and that the lifting of our suspension will only happen after the meeting. Its our DMW that should talk to those concerned in Kuwait, De Vega explained.

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Quito, Ecuador  An impeachment trial of Ecuadors President Guillermo Lasso is set to begin on Tuesday, the head of the South American countrys opposition-controlled parliament said.

National Assembly leader Virgilio Saquicela called Sunday on the unicameral bodys 137 members to convene after a majority last week voted to proceed with the trial.

The trial will begin at around 10:00 am (1500 GMT) Tuesday, and could take several days.

The proceedings come after online newspaper La Posta published allegations in January of widespread graft in public companies involving Lassos brother-in-law Danilo Carrera.

Opposition MPs have accused the conservative president of being aware of the alleged corruption, in which a drug trafficking-accused businessman close to Carrera has also been implicated.

Lasso has argued that the allegations date to before he became president in May 2021.

In March, the Constitutional Court authorized the unicameral National Assembly to hold impeachment proceedings against Lasso for alleged embezzlement.

Successfully removing the 67-year-old former banker Lasso would require agreement from two-thirds of the assembly, or 92 votes.

Last Tuesday, 88 members voted in favor of the impeachment hearing, with 116 present.

Another impeachment attempt in June last year failed to garner enough votes.

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Sao Paulo, Brazil  A Brazilian police inspector shot and killed four colleagues Sunday at the station where they worked, according to the department.

The incident occurred early Sunday morning at a Civil Police station in the city of Camocim, in the northeastern state of Ceara, the force said in an Instagram post.

The suspect shooter, who was off duty at the time, fled in a police vehicle and later surrendered at a Military Police station, a local security official told the G1 news outlet.

The situation  including any potential motive  remains under investigation. The mayor of Camocim  which is approximately 350 kilometers (220 miles) from the state capital of Fortaleza  declared three days of mourning in remembrance of the victims.

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CLARK FREEPORT  Having won the bid to host the MICECON 2024 at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, Clark Development Corporation (CDC) formally sealed its partnership with the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to stage the largest gathering of Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) professionals in the country next year.

The ceremony was led by TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles and CDC President & Chief Executive Officer Agnes VST Devanadera. They were joined by other key officials including TPB Deputy COO for Corporate Affairs Atty. Vince Manuel, CDC Vice President for Business Development and Business Enhancement Group Atty. Noelle Mina Meneses, CDC Tourism & Promotions Division Officer-in-Charge Elenita S. Lorenzo and CDC Legal Affairs Group Officer-in-Charge Atty. Anna Gayle T. Barin.

As the Metro Clark area prepares to host the conference for the second time since 2014, MICECON 2024 will provide an opportunity for Clark and its adjacent communities to showcase again the areas rich history, culture, and heritage to local and global MICE delegates.

The event is also envisioned to usher in new investments and business opportunities that will contribute significantly to the citys economic growth.

Clark is set to highlight its strengths as a first-rate destination to host world-class conferences, with its modern infrastructure facilities, beautiful attractions and strategic location at the heart of growing markets in Asia Pacific that make it attractive for meetings, business transactions and hosting events. There are popular international hotel chains with modern, large capacity rooms, access to several Industrial and Technology Parks within the zone, and Clark International Airport (CIA), a state-of-the-art premier gateway to the Philippines offering a seamless experience for all types of travelers.

With its dynamic efforts to be the countrys first smart, resilient and sustainable city, Clark will soon also open the Malolos-Clark Railway in 2025, which is designed to streamline travel between Clark in northern Pampanga province and Manila via high-speed train. This will not only cut regular commuting time but also contribute to the lowering of greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60,000 tons annually.

Devanadera thanked the TPB for choosing Clark as the official host of the MICECON 2024 and expressed optimism in hosting the event.

We are thrilled to have been given the opportunity to showcase the unique features, rich culture, and state-of-the-art facilities of Clark and its adjacent communities. This event will undoubtedly help to solidify Clarks position as a premier and highly sought-after destination for investments and tourism in the Asia Pacific Region. We look forward to demonstrating the warmth and hospitality of the Metro Clark area, and to providing attendees with an unforgettable experience, she said.

Holding MICECON next year at Clark will further cement the Philippines standing as a top MICE destination in Asia. With the citys stunning natural landscapes, iconic and historical destinations and modern infrastructure projects with great innovation and sustainability initiatives, we will be able to draw in more tourists and investments, and contribute to the reinvigoration and revitalization of the tourism industry, said TPB COO Nograles.

To be held on July 10 to 12, 2024, MICECON 2024 is a must-see event to discover and experience the wonders of Clark, network with other MICE players and strengthen ties with local and international stakeholders.

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Ever get a notification warning you that your phone has detected someone nearby has tested positive for COVID-19 and you might have been exposed? Those are now a thing of the past as of last Thursday.

On May 11, along with all other state and federal COVID-19 emergency orders being lifted, MassNotify will no longer operate on smartphones to let users know if they have been exposed to someone who reported testing positive for the virus.

MassNotify, the official COVID-19 exposure notification system for Massachusetts, was discontinued with the end of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, 2023, the departments website read. Phone users who had their exposure notifications set up received a similar notification on their phones.

Exposure notifications from 28 state public health departments, like Californias, also notified smartphone users that they would no longer be made aware of potential exposures past May 11, according to the Association of Public Health Laboratories.

MassNotify was set up in partnership with both companies to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and was used as another tool in our fight against COVID-19, the Department of Public Health said. It went live in Massachusetts in June 2021.

Read more: CDC to stop posting daily COVID data as public health emergency ends

Using Bluetooth technology, users could opt into sharing anonymous codes with other MassNotify users. Between June 2021 and May 2023, about 3.2 million smartphone users chose to activate MassNotify on their devices and over 89,000 people used it to alert approximately 1.8 million others that they were potentially exposed to COVID-19, the department said.

For iPhone users, go to Settings and scroll down to Exposure Notifications. All options are grayed out with Exposure Check Status and Exposure Logging Status both labeled inactive.

Android users who want to uninstall the Exposure Notification funcation should tap the Google Play Store profile picture at the top right corner of the screen. Select Manage apps and devices and open the Manage tab. Tap on Exposure Notifications Settings Feature  MA and click Uninstall.

The Association of Public Health Laboratories said on Thursday that the majority of states shut down their notification systems and discontinued their support for key components of the system.

COVID-19 was declared to no longer be a public health emergency by the World Health Organization on May 5. After May 11, masks were deemed optional for patients, visitors and staff at Massachusetts hospitals, The Republican reported.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also said last week that it would no longer post daily COVID-19 case data on its website. COVID-19 cases in the United States continue to decline, along with reported deaths. During the week of May 6, the CDC reported 323 COVID-19 deaths.
Jeff Tweedy will play in South Deerfield at Tree House Brewings Summer Stage on June 19.

The Wilco frontman will kick off a summer tour on May 19 in his hometown of Chicago, winding up on July 29 in British Columbia. Le Ren will be the opening act for most shows. Tweedy is releasing a new book in November called World Within a Song: Music That Changed My Life and Life That Changed My Music.
With its headline-grabbing debut in November 2022, ChatGPT caught the eye of the restaurant industry along with that of the rest of the business world.

ChatGPT is, of course, an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot that its developers, San Francisco-based Open AI, claim can have human-like conversations with users. Built on the latest technology in language processing, ChatGPT supposedly learns from human interaction, making itself able to better respond when engaged by a human user.

The business potential of what is now being called generative AI has not been lost on the restaurant industry, with several major quick-service chains announcing initiatives to use AI chatbots like ChatGPT as a way of handling interactions with patrons.

Several smaller fast food chains have already signed up with generative AI developers to automate point-of-sale order taking, and earlier this month a major industry player, Dublin, Ohio-based Wendys Corp., announced that they will be partnering with Google to roll out Wendys FreshAI, a system designed to have human-like conversations with drive-thru customers.

In addition to being able take orders and share details about Wendys menu, the FreshAI system, which Wendys executives are describing as fast and frictionless, will supposedly be able to effectively deal with special requests and answer frequently-asked questions.

With up to 80% of a quick-service restaurants business generated at the drive thru, its not hard to see why an AI chatbot is an attractive proposition for fast food operators. Not only can such a system replace costly and difficult-to-recruit human employees, it can tirelessly suggestive sell, thereby boosting revenue.

Wendys has announced that it will soon begin a test of Wendys FreshAI in a company-operated location in Columbus. The rest of the industry will be watching that test with great interest.

**********

Side dishes

Springfields hometown favorite, Friendlys Restaurants, is dishing up a kid-pleasing ice cream treat this month.

An Ollie the Octopus Conehead Sundae features a scoop of strawberry ice cream on blue marshmallow sauce. Cherries and gummy worm candies decorate the Sundae and create Ollies tentacled identity.

The sundae will be available at participating Friendlys locations until the end of May.

**********

Menu development at Dunkin has, it seems, increasingly become about single-item additions and menu tweaks. The latest of these is the short-term appearance of two food items - one savory, one sweet.

The Ham & Swiss Croissant Stuffer is just as its name suggests - a croissant sandwich made with sliced ham and Swiss cheese.

Individually-packaged slices of Iced Lemon Loaf are, not surprisingly, lemon cake iced with sweet lemon glaze.

Both items will be available at participating Dunkin locations while supplies last.

**********

On Saturday, May 20, Atkins Farms Country Market in Amherst will be hosting its monthly Tastings in the Loft. Scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m., the free event features tastings of selected wine, beer, and cider beverages that Atkins Farms stocks.

Complimentary light snacks will be served, and those attending the tasting are eligible for exclusive pricing on the beverage items being poured.

Atkins Farms answers at 413-253-9528.

**********

Outback Steakhouse has introduced five limited-time-only menu items, all of which will be available through mid-June.

The chain has reworked its signature Bloomin Onion to create the Loaded Bloomin Onion. Topped with specially seasoned French fries and drizzled with ranch dressing, the loaded Onion is served with a spicy dipping sauce.

Three featured entrees will be available during the next five weeks: Sirloin & Lobster Mac & Cheese, a Prime Rib & Shrimp Combo, and Tasmanian Shrimp & Lobster Pasta. The Prime Rib & Shrimp Combo comes with a choice of grilled or coconut-fried shrimp, while the pasta dish features a spicy Alfredo sauce.

Tim Tam Brownie Cake, a dessert feature, is layered chocolate brownie and chocolate mousse. Topped with caramel sauce, the cake is garnished with Tim Tam cookies, an Aussie favorite.

There are Outback locations on Riverdale Street in West Springfield and on Southbridge Street in Auburn.

**********

The Table 3 Restaurant Group in Sturbridge has announced its summer 2023 series of patio dinners.

The first dinner event is planned for June 7 with a 6 p.m. start time, and is being themed around an Italian picnic concept.

Table 3 Restaurant Groups executive chef, Enrico Giovanello, has put together a menu featuring fresh summer salads, Italian meats and cheeses, and a selection of grilled chicken, lamb, and pork creations.

The dinner will be hosted on the patio at Table 3s function space, The Barn at Wight Farm. In the event of inclement weather the festivities will be moved indoors.

Price to attend is $65, not including tax or gratuity, and reservations are required.

To book a seat at the dinner, call The Barn at Wight Farm at 774-241-8450.

**********

Milford, Conn.-based Subway has continued its migration away from the customer-controlled sandwich assembly process it pioneered by way of an expansion of its curated Subway Series lineup.

That lineup has been added to by updating four longtime Subway sandwich favorites and folding them into the Subway Series. The revamped sandwiches thus transformed include an All-pro Sweet Onion Teriyaki, an Ultimate B.M.T., an Elite Chicken & Bacon Ranch, and a Hotshot Italiano. The reworked sandwiches have been, in some instances, tweaked with the addition of garnishes and sauces to reflect their shift to curated.

Those four reworked menu items join two new sandwiches, the Pickleball Club and the Teriyaki Blitz, to increase to 18 the number of selections on the Subway Series menu.

In addition, two other existing sandwiches, the Bella Mozza and The Champ, have become digital exclusives, only available through online ordering.

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On Wednesday, May 24, starting at 5 p.m., Gateway City Arts in Holyoke will be hosting Voices in Food Equity: A Gathering of Emerging Leaders.

Organized by the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, this networking event is designed to bring together those who are working to advance food justice and create a more equitable food system for Western Massachusetts.

A registration link for this no-cost event can be found at the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts website, foodbankwma.org.

For more information, contact Risley Dudley at risleyd@foodbankwma.org.

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On Thursday, May 25 at 6:30 p.m. OConnells Irish Pub & Grill in Chicopee will be the site of another Vanished Valley Beer Dinner. OConnells is partnering with Ludlow-based Vanished Valley to put together an evening of good food and craft-style beer; more of the beer dinner details can be had by calling OConnells at 413-437-8181.

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Pizza Hut has brought a popular sandwich flavor meme to its pizza menu by adding a Cheesesteak Pizza.

The pie, a limited-time-only offering, is topped with steak strips, Alfredo sauce, onions, green bell peppers, and a proprietary oregano-Parmesan seasoning blend.

A handheld Cheesesteak Melt incorporates the same toppings. After being baked the folded-over crust is brushed with butter and dusted with the aforementioned seasoning blend. A ranch dressing dip is also provided.

There are Pizza Hut Restaurant locations in Chicopee on Memorial Drive and in West Springfield on Riverdale Street.

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If youre planning dinner out in Northampton later this month, a bit of foresight is in order, since the Meadow City will be in the midst of commencement season.

Smith College in Northampton is holding its ceremonies on the weekend of May 20 and 21, and Commencement-related events will attract hundreds of parents, friends, and Smith alumnae, all of whom will be looking for somewhere to dine.

The following weekend the cap-and-gown action shifts to Amherst, with UMass Amherst and Amherst College celebrating their Commencements on Friday, May 26, and Sunday, May 28, respectively. Those two events will also create lots of dining out demand in Northampton and vicinity.

The takeaway to all this? If your restaurant destination is Northampton over the next two weeks, a reservation will be a wise precaution.

Hugh Robert is a faculty member in Holyoke Community Colleges hospitality and culinary arts program and has nearly 50 years of restaurant and educational experience. Robert can be reached online at OffTheMenuGuy@aol.com.
As a citizen of the Quapaw Nation, Ahnili Johnson-Jennings has always seen Dartmouth College as the university for Native American students.

Her father graduated from the school, founded in 1769 to educate Native Americans, and she had come to rely on its network of students, professors and administrators. But news that the Ivy League school in New Hampshire identified partial skeletal remains of 15 Native Americans in one of its collections has Johnson-Jennings and others reassessing that relationship.

Its hard to reconcile. Its hard to see the college in this old way where they were taking Native remains and using them for their own benefit, said Johnson-Jennings, a senior and co-president of Native Americans at Dartmouth.

The remains were used to teach a class as recently as last year, until an audit concluded they had been wrongly catalogued as not Native. Native American students were briefed on the discovery in March.

It was very upsetting to hear, especially when youve just felt so supported by a school and theyve had that secret that maybe no one knew about, but still, to some sense, was a secret, Johnson-Jennings said.

Dartmouth is among a growing list of universities, museums and other institutions wrestling with how best to handle Native American remains and artifacts in their collections, and with what these discoveries say about their past policies regarding Native communities.

Until the 20th century, archeologists, anthropologists, collectors and curiosity seekers took Native remains and sacred objects during expeditions on tribal lands. Some remains, including Native skulls, were sought after in the name of science. Bodies were collected by government agencies after battles with tribes. Museums wanted them to enhance their collections, and academic institutions relied on Native bones as teaching tools.

One-hundred years ago, it was OK for a professor, for an alumni to go into the lands of a Native community and dig up their ancestors, said professor Jeremy DeSilva, a paleoanthropologist and chairman of Dartmouths anthropology department.

Its amazing that folks didnt recognize how harmful that was, he continued.

For Native tribes, the loss of the remains and cultural items still inflicts significant pain. The remains, most believe, are imbued with the spirit of the ancestor to whom they belong and are connected to living citizens of those tribes.

They could go to court or negotiate with an institution for them to be repatriated. But it wasnt until the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act or NAGPRA in 1990 that a process was created for their return. It requires federally funded institutions, including universities, to return remains and funerary items to rightful communities.

More than three decades later, some 884,000 Native American artifacts  including nearly 102,000 human remains  are still held by colleges, museums and other institutions, according to data maintained by the National Park Service.

Critics complain that many institutions move too slowly, invoking an exception in NAGPRA for remains they label as culturally unidentifiable. That puts the burden on tribes to prove the remains are their ancestors, an expense many cant afford.

Dartmouth has repatriated skeletal remains of 10 Native Americans along with 36 burial objects since 1995. The NAGPRA database says the 15 sets of skeletal remains and 46 associated funerary objects were taken from counties in Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, California and Florida. It lists the geographic origin of two sets of remains as unknown.

In February, Cornell University returned to the Oneida Indian Nation ancestral remains that were inadvertently dug up in 1964 and stored for decades in a school archive. Colgate University in November returned more than 1,500 items that the Oneidas had buried with their dead as far back as 400 years ago.

It is hard to overstate the importance of repatriations to the Oneida people, said Ray Halbritter, Oneida Indian Nation Representative.

When our ancestors remains and their cultural artifacts are restored to us, we are not only able to lay them to rest according to our traditions  we regain nothing less than the history of our people and the ability to tell our own stories, Halbritters statement said. Each repatriation represents another step forward on a long journey toward recognition of our sovereignty as a Nation and our dignity as people.

Read more: Berkeley professor apologizes for false Indigenous identity

The University of California, Berkeley tops the list of institutions still holding artifacts, according to the Park Service, followed closely by the Ohio History Connection, a nonprofit organization working to preserve the states history, and Harvard Universitys Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.

The process of returning remains to affiliated tribes can be complex and complicated, but Shannon OLoughlin, chief executive of the Association on American Indian Affairs, a national group that assists tribes with repatriations, said its racist to refuse.

It just says that they value the idea of Native Americans as specimens more than they do as human beings, said OLoughlin, a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

The remains held in Dartmouths teaching collection in Silsby Hall were identified as Native in November in an audit led by Jami Powell, curator of Indigenous art at Dartmouths Hood Museum.

The bones have been moved from locked cabinet in the basement to a secure off-campus location. Dartmouth has hired a team of independent experts to determine their origin, a review that will take months.

It also is studying an additional 100 bones that may be Native American and working with tribes to repatriate additional bone fragments related to three individuals whose remains were repatriated in the 1990s.

Read more: New Mexico delegates renew push for broader Chaco protection

For me as an Indigenous person, its always important in my work that I treat these ancestors with the utmost care and respect and that an essential part of my function is helping them return home, said Powell, a citizen of the Osage nation.

Dartmouth President Philip Hanlon said in March that hes deeply saddened by what weve found on our campus. His statement apologized for the colleges wrongful possession of the remains and pledged to take careful and meaningful action to address our situation and consult with the communities most directly impacted.

The Department of Anthropologys teaching collection is believed to have included bones purchased from biological supply companies; from donated cadavers used by medical students; and archeological remains, some of which came from Native American burial mounds and were given by alumni.

Until November, Dartmouth officials said they had believed Native American bones had been removed from the school in the 1990s.

Nobody had really taken the time or the effort to fully document what we had. This was around a time where our whole discipline was beginning to reflect a little more deeply on what it meant to be in the care of, or caring for human remains, said DeSilva, the anthropology departments chairman.

DeSilva acknowledged mistakes in documenting Native American remains, but said they werent malicious, and no one was to blame. He said he hopes the most recent discovery will force a reckoning over past practices.

Read more: Chasing Horse asks Nevada high court to toss sex abuse case

The college is now reevaluating its whole collection of human remains and plans to build an ethically sourced collection that complies with legal standards to be used in osteology  the study of bones and skeletal systems, DeSilva said.

The college is also working to repair its relationship with Native students and alumni. That includes accommodating Native students uncomfortable going into Silsby. A Navajo medicine man aso held a cleansing ceremony on campus that included the anthropology building.

Native Americans now represent about 1% of Dartmouths 4,458 students. Though the school was formed to teach Native Americans, it wasnt until 1972 that Dartmouth created a program tailored to them, one of the first in the country. Still, symbols of insensitivity lingered on campus, including a set of murals that the school said it would move into storage in 2018.

Shawn Attakai, co-president of the Native American Alumni Association of Dartmouth, said hes disappointed about the discovery, and sad that some of the remains could be from his own Navajo Nation, where he is a tribal lawyer.

Native Americans have a history of injustices in this country starting from its founding all the way to the present, said Attakai.

Johnson-Jennings appreciates the efforts, but said justice requires a person or entity to be held accountable. Allowing the remains to be mislabeled for so long, she said, is a mistake that us Natives are paying for, the tribes that those ancestors belong to are paying for.
A 15-year-old boy was seriously injured in Massachusetts Sunday after police said he was hit by a car.

The teen was hit on East Grove Street in front of a Hannafords supermarket in Middleborough around 7:20 p.m. on Sunday, according to Middleborough Police Chief Joseph Perkins and Fire Chief Owen Thompson.

Officials treated the teen at the scene before he was taken by medical helicopter to Hasbro Childrens Hospital in Providence.

Police said the driver of the car stopped at the scene and was cooperating with police.

Multiple people on Facebook commented there needs to be additional lighting in that area.

We need lights there its very dangerous there I almost got hit by a car before crossing there before, Marissa Crooker wrote on the police departments Facebook page.

That intersection is absolutely insane, there needs to be lights, Rory Thornton also wrote.

Portions of the road were closed but have since reopened, police said.

The crash is under investigation by the Middleborough Police Department.
Two shooting suspects from Brockton led police on a chase after fleeing from an East Bridgewater home on Cedar Street on Saturday, police said.

Bryce Lucas, 18, and a 17-year-old male were both identified by police after they were seen fleeing from where the shooting took place, Acting Police Chief Michael Jenkins said in a statement. No one at the home was injured.

At around 8:12 p.m. on Saturday, police received reports of a 2005 gray Ford truck driving slowly along Cedar Street followed by shots fired. While on the way to the scene, police passed the truck and tried to stop it.

The vehicle continued driving while police pursued, Jenkins said. It was heading for Brockton on Route 14 when it crashed into another vehicle and came to a complete stop. Both suspects fled, police said. They were later caught and arrested without incident.

Police who searched Lucas person found a semi-automatic pistol magazine with no ammunition, Jenkins said.

The Cedar Street home was hit with several rounds, but police determined the gun used was discarded, according to preliminary findings in an ongoing investigation. Police later found a gun on Central Street with the help of the East Bridgewater K-9 unit.

Police believe the shooting was not a random act of violence, citing a subsequent investigation.

Lucas is held on $200,040 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned in Brockton District Court at a later date. He was arrested and charged with

Assault and battery attempt with a firearm

Discharge of a firearm within 500 feet of a building

Carrying a firearm without a license

Carrying ammunition without an FID card

Possession of a large-capacity feeding device

Threat to commit a crime

Conspiracy to commit a crime

The 17-year-old, who has not been identified, was held on $250,040 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned in Brockton District Court at a later date. He was arrested and charged with
SHIJIAZHUANG, May 12 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has called for efforts to reach new heights in the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and to make it a pioneer and example in pursuing Chinese modernization. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks as he inspected Hebei Province and presided over a meeting on promoting the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. On Thursday and Friday, Xi went to the cities of Cangzhou and Shijiazhuang, where he visited the countryside and places including a port and a research institute. On Thursday morning, Xi visited Cangzhou City, where he learned about the cultivation of crops that are tolerant of drought and high alkalinity at a wheat field. Xi stressed the need to prioritize the comprehensive use of saline-alkali land, leverage the key role of scientific and technological innovation, expand the cultivation area of suitable crops and develop the intensive processing of farm products. Later in the day, Xi visited a coal port area of Huanghua Port. Xi noted the unique locational advantages and convenient shipping conditions of Hebei Province, underscoring the need to upgrade Hebei's ports and optimize their functional layout to play a bigger role in promoting coordinated regional economic development and developing a modern industrial system. Xi urged the development of Huanghua Port into a modern hub port with multiple functions. On Friday morning, Xi visited a research institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation in Shijiazhuang City. He entered a workshop to observe the chip production process, stressing the need for new breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields. Xi encouraged researchers to achieve consistent progress in grasping cutting-edge technologies and developing more technological and engineering equipment and projects of great significance. Later, Xi visited the planning exhibition hall of a biomedical industry park, where he emphasized the importance of strengthening basic research and scientific innovation capacity to keep the lifeline of the biomedical industry firmly in China's own hands. To achieve this, he called for more research and development of medicines that fit into the genetic and physical characteristics of the Chinese population. On Friday afternoon, Xi chaired a meeting on promoting the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. During the meeting, he called on Hebei to focus on the primary task of high-quality development and the strategic task of creating a new development pattern to accelerate building the province into an economic powerhouse with a sound environment. Since the 19th CPC National Congress in 2017, new and remarkable progress has been achieved in the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, especially in the Xiong'an New Area, Xi said. It has been proven that the CPC Central Committee's major regional development strategies meet the need for the country's high-quality development in the new era, he said, describing the strategies as effective channels for advancing Chinese modernization. Xi called for solid and orderly efforts to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital, urging the planning for the relocation to Xiong'an of another batch of the headquarters of centrally-administered state-owned enterprises in Beijing as well as their subsidiary companies and units of innovation operation. Work should be done to restrain Beijing's functions non-essential to its role as the national capital from increasing, Xi said. He called for more progress in developing both the Beijing municipal administrative center and Xiong'an to effectively rid Beijing of "big city malaise." Xi said the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, with a number of first-rate colleges and universities and abundant high-end research talent, has a solid foundation of innovation. The region should play an exemplary role in achieving greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, he said, calling for accelerated efforts to build Beijing into a major hub for independent and original innovation. Xi stressed the necessity of reinforcing the principal role of enterprises in innovation and cultivating a group of leading innovative enterprises with international competitiveness that hold independent intellectual property rights. Xi urged efforts to consolidate and enlarge the foundation of the real economy, stressing that strategic emerging industries such as integrated circuit, cyber security, biomedicine, power equipment and emergency response equipment should be the first priority. He also called for efforts to build world-class advanced manufacturing industrial clusters. The coordinated development in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region should ultimately improve the people's wellbeing and promote common prosperity, Xi said, adding that constant efforts should be made to enhance the people's sense of fulfillment, happiness and security. Xi stressed the need to promote key ecological conservation and restoration projects such as the sand control belts in northern China and major ecological projects such as the building of ecological shields. Xi urged efforts to further accelerate the development of transportation and other infrastructure, as well as efforts to advance intra-regional coordination. Beijing's edge in scientific and technological innovation should be combined with Tianjin's strength in advanced manufacturing research and development, Xi said, calling for strengthening joint efforts to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields. Xi urged efforts to help eligible areas in Hebei absorb the scientific and technological spillovers from Beijing and Tianjin as well as the transfer of industries. He also called for building the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region into a national pacesetter in opening-up. Xi stressed the need to further enhance the political and organizational role of Party organizations at various levels to provide a strong guarantee for the coordinated development of the region. Premier Li Qiang and Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, both members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting. 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, accompanied Xi in the inspection trip and attended the meeting. In his remarks, Li Qiang urged efforts to advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region more effectively and efficiently, focus on relieving Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital, and ensure notable results will be achieved in landmark projects in the process. Ding Xuexiang called for persistent endeavor to prevent and control air pollution and bring the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region to a new level. The blind development of energy-intensive projects with high emissions and backward production capacity must be curbed, said Ding. He also urged redoubled efforts in developing new and clean energy and preventing and controlling pollution.
The son of former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker pleaded not guilty Monday to a charge of operating under the influence of liquor, Boston 25 News reported Monday.

Andrew A.J. Baker appeared in Peabody District Court, where a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf, according to the report.

A state police spokesperson previously said the agency responded at about 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, to Route 95 South near Walnut St. in Lynnfield where the Peabody police had stopped a Volkswagen Jetta after following onto a highway from Route 114.

The Peabody police started following the Jetta after another driver reported seeing the vehicle being driven erratically, the state police said. Peabody officers told the state trooper they detected signs of the driver being intoxicated. After interacting with the driver  who was later identified as Andrew Baker, 29, of South Boston  the trooper also detected signs that he was intoxicated.

The trooper then administered several sobriety tests for Andrew Baker to take and determined that he was impaired by liquor, the state police said. Baker was later transported to the State Police-Danvers Barracks, where he was booked.

After a bail clerk was contacted, Baker was released on personal recognize  with a $40 bail fee, according to state police.
As tick populations and reports of tick-borne illness have spread in recent years, public health officials have urged people to follow tick-bite prevention measures, such as performing daily tick checks and wearing tick-repellent clothing, during peak season in spring and summer.

This year, one tick expert is adding an extra tip to that list: Keep a tick safety kit close at hand.

Jean Tsao, an associate professor at Michigan State University who researches ticks and tick-borne disease, says a simple, homemade tick kit can ensure that people arent caught without the necessary tools for dealing with ticks.

I think being prepared is whats important, she said. Just like sunscreen that you take outside to go to the beach, just like wearing a bike helmet when you go biking.

A tick kit should include an EPA-registered tick repellent, a set of tweezers for tick removal, and a small plastic baggie or container to save any tick found attached to the skin for later identification, Tsao says.

The kit can be tucked into a backpack or kept in the car so its nearby when performing tick checks  the act of scanning skin, clothing, gear and pets for any hitchhiking ticks  after outdoor activity.

The reason for so much concern around ticks is because some, though not all, species of ticks can harbor disease-causing pathogens like bacteria and viruses. In recent years ticks have been expanding their range, causing an increase in illnesses like Lyme disease, the most common tick-transmitted disease. The more recent arrival of the Lone Star tick, whose bite can trigger an allergy to red meat, is also a growing health concern.

Ticks are most commonly found in leaf litter and in wooded and grassy locations, and are most active in spring and early summer when the weather is warm.

Resources like The Tick App and Tick Encounter can also be helpful in identifying ticks and learning more about tick safety.
A woman from East Freetown crashed her car into a utility pole on Saturday night and was arrested and charged with driving her car while under the influence, the Dartmouth Police Department said.

On May 13, around 9:27 p.m., the department said officers responded to a car thatd crashed into a utility pole near a house on 410 Old Westport Road in Dartmouth.

Police said the car, a 2017 Volkswagen, had extensive damage, along with the pole.

Police said after investigating the scene, the department arrested the driver of the car Mari McGinn, a 21-year-old East Freetown woman.

McGinn was charged for driving the car under the influence, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and failure to stay within marked lanes, police said.
WEST SPRINGFIELD  Workers have already transformed cavernous exhibition halls at the Eastern States Exposition into a showplace of modern manufacturing as the high-paying industry embraces technology and grapples with worker shortages.

Eastec, the Northeasts largest manufacturing trade show, is back in West Springfield, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday and from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday. Registration is required at easteconline.com.

Eastec sponsor SME expects the show to draw 12,000. Eastec will include more than 726 exhibiting companies across 150,000 square feet. Eastec seeks to fill the Better Living Center, Stroh Building, Young Building, Mallary Complex, where the Big E hosts livestock, and outdoors across the grounds.

While the tools and machining equipment  some selling for $250,000 or more  work in tolerances as small as the width of a human hair but can be the size of a truck.

Tuesdays crowd will include 200 local high school students engaged in SMEs Bright Minds Student Summit, said Dave Morton, director of Eastec.

We are evolving to stay current with what students are responsive to, he said. We want to turn them on to manufacturing as a career.

An emphasis will be on gamification or adding game elements like participation and point scoring to nongame environments.

Weve got a lot of different technologies that come into play at Eastec, Morton said.

That includes additive manufacturing, what most people call 3-D printing and the use of robotics.

Thats a big thing in the industry right now, the scalable automation and data, Morton said. What can we do with data to help us make better decisions? Data at the enterprise level, from the machine at the shop floor on up.

Eastecs last visit to West Springfield was in 2021. Its usually an every-other-year event.

The Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau has estimated the economic impact of a pre-pandemic Eastec at $14 million. It, along with the Equine Affair horse show each fall, is the biggest non-fair event on the grounds.

Massachusetts manufacturing output was $56.14 billion in 2021, with computer and electronic products and chemicals being the top performing sectors. Manufacturers in Massachusetts exported $30.89 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2021.

As of December 2021, there were an average of 240,000 manufacturing employees in Massachusetts, with an average annual compensation of $115,249.34, compared to $76,600, the average annual wage across all occupations statewide.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Bakers son Andrew A.J. Baker was arrested on Saturday night after he was pulled over for driving under the influence, a state police spokesperson said.

Around 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, a state trooper responded to Route 95 South near Walnut St. in Lynnfield where the Peabody police had stopped a Volkswagen Jetta after following onto a highway from Route 114, the state police department said.

The Peabody police started following the Jetta after another driver reported seeing the vehicle being driven erratically, the state police said. Peabody officers told the state trooper they detected signs of the driver being intoxicated. After interacting with the driver  who was later identified as Andrew Baker, 29, of South Boston  the trooper also detected signs that he was intoxicated.

The trooper then administered several sobriety tests for Andrew Baker to take and determined that he was impaired by liquor, the state police said. Andrew Baker was later transported to the State Police-Danvers Barracks, where he was booked.

After a bail clerk was contacted, Andrew Baker was released on personal recognize  with a $40 bail fee, the state police said. Andrew Baker will be arraigned at a Peabody District Court on a future date.

This isnt A.J. Bakers first run in with the law. In 2018, he was accused of groping a woman on a JetBlue flight, but was never charged.
Vermont state police identified the victims of a double shooting that left one Springfield man dead and another in critical condition Friday evening.

Juan Sierra, 27, of Springfield, was confirmed to be the person fatally shot outside a Brookfield, Vermont home Friday, according to the Vermont State Police Department.

Miguel Fuentes, 29, of Springfield, was said to be the second person injured in the shooting. As of Sunday, he remained hospitalized in stable but critical condition.

At around 5:45 p.m. Friday, Vermont state police received a call about a car driving erratically on Route 14 near the Route 65 intersection. The witness told police the driver, later identified as Fuentes, stopped, left his vehicle and appeared to have been shot.

Police said the witness helped rush Fuentes to Gifford Medical Center in Randolph for urgent medical treatment.

The witness also told police that Fuentes said the shooting happened at a Brookfield home several miles away and there was another victim.

After receiving another 911 call, state police arrived at 8769 Vermont Route 14 in Brookfield and found Sierras dead body outside the residence.

Police believe the shooting occurred outside the home.

The Vermont Chief Medical Examiners Office later determined Sierra died from a gunshot wound to the torso and ruled the manner of death a homicide.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Anyone with information is urged to call 802-234-9933 or submit an anonymous tip online at https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.
An 18-year-old driver from Methuen was taken to a Boston hospital with life-threatening injuries after a high-speed crash on the northbound side of Interstate 93 late Sunday, Massachusetts State Police said.

The crash was north of Interstate 495 in Andover, Massachusetts State Police said. A MedFlight helicopter landed on the highway to pick up the driver, resulting in a shutdown of both sides of the I-93, according to a 9:52 p.m. tweet from state police.

Troopers on scene, motor vehicle crash with life-threatening injuries, Rt 93 north at Rt 495, Andover. MedFlight has landed on the highway at the crash site and both sides of Route 93 are closed at this time. Updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/G47mmz06Fi  Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) May 15, 2023

At about 10:29 p.m. Sunday, state police said the southbound side was reopened while the northbound side was restricted to one lane for passing vehicles. The site of the crash was clear by 12:40 a.m., state police said.

The driver has not been identified, but state police said he was driving a car at a high rate of speed before he slammed into the back of a tractor-trailer.

Further updates on the drivers condition or the status of the tractor-trailers driver were not immediately available Monday morning. MassLive has reached out to state police for more information.
The Duxbury Police Department helped reunite an owl with its mom on Mothers Day

Residents saw the bird on the side of the road and was worried it was injured, the police department stated. But it turned out to just be a young owl out of the nest.

Animal Control Officer Eduardo Eddy Ramos responded to the call and helped reunite the little guy with its Mom.

Joanna Hollywood wrote on the police departments Facebook page that her and her daughters were the ones that found the owl.

We are so happy shes OK and in good hands on Mothers Day, Hollywood wrote.

Read more: Whately veterinary clinic to offer free eye exams for service animals in May

Multiple Facebook users commented on the owls expression in a photo the department shared. They also thanked Ramos.

Fitting end to this call on Mothers day, the police department wrote on Facebook.
Massachusetts State Police are searching for a 4-year-old who went missing Sunday night on Castle Island.

Mohamed Fofana was playing at a Castle Island park on the South Boston coastline while an adult family member watched him, Massachusetts State Police said. WCVB identified the adult at the boys grandfather.

At about 7 p.m., police said the adult lost sight of the 4-year-old. After being unable to find him, he called 911 around 7:30 p.m., police said.

Police began searching by land, air, and water, including the state polices Marine Unit, Dive Team, and Air Wing; Boston Police; Massachusetts Environmental Police and the U.S. Coast Guard. They were unable to find Mohamed as of 12:40 a.m. Monday.

Police said officials remained on scene but the active search would continue Monday morning.

WCVB reported the 4-year-old has autism and is not able to communicate with other people. Police said Mohamed is Black and wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and blue footwear.

Anyone who sees Mohamed or has information about him should call 911 immediately, state police said.

Editors note: Massachusetts State Police previously stated the boys name was Mohemed Fofena. It has since been corrected to Mohamed Abou Fofana.
Rats have become more and more of a feature of life in Boston. In 2022, the city was ranked as the 13th rattiest city in the nation, according to Orkins Top 50 Rattiest Cities list.

Recently, MassLive asked readers to talk about their experiences with rodents in Boston. Readers shared a variety of experiences, some limited to having rats dig holes in their yards and others escalating to rats destroying their kitchen, and in one case even leading to the death of their pet.

Arlene Varsamis, a Newton resident who manages multiple properties in Brighton, said she has difficulty renting out homes due to the frequent presence of rats in the area.

[People] say you know what this is too much. I cant deal with this, Varsamis said.

At one of her properties on Foster Road, Varsamis said it is common for her to see rats scurrying around the trash bins, the stairs and even the yard.

Neighbors have described the situation as unbearable. Despite the tenants best efforts to control the rat population, nothing seems to be working, Varsamis said.

Oh, its horrible! she said. I was trying to rent these properties to people and I didnt want them to see the rats running around. I think they scare people if you see a rat running around.

Naomi Hastings, a resident of East Boston, blames the frequent rat sightings on landlords  or as Hastings calls them slumlords  who rarely tend to their properties.

Although Hastings owns her home, its next to an apartment with a yard where hundreds of rats live, she said. Shes said shes taken videos of rats the size of squirrels running around her neighbors yard.

When you have people who are slumlords, who dont live here, they live out of the city, and come twice a year to check on their properties, they let them go to sh*t, Hastings said. I can hear rats or mice in my walls that are coming from the house next to me.

Every now and then, Amari White visits his fathers home in West Roxbury to help him manage the property. However, the 31-year-old is frequently troubled by the holes that rats keep digging up in his fathers yard. But its not just White who has rodent problems, his neighbors do, too. White said its common to see residents on his block leave rocks around pools to keep rodents at bay.

Keeping them out of the property is a battle, but it must be done because you cant have rats, White said. But its totally not anything that anyone should have to deal with. But we are dealing with it.

Boston City Council President Ed Flynn said he believes the citys rat problem got worse in 2020 with more people ordering takeout food and eating at home. As more food waste shifted from restaurants to peoples homes, more of the citys rodents migrated there to find food.

In April, Flynn proposed that Boston create an official Office of Pest Control to help decrease the number of rats in the city.

Steve Fox, the Chair of the South End Forum, has said that this lack of sealed trash bins in Bostons downtown neighborhoods has almost laid out a feast for the citys rodents.

The key is to remove their food source and they go away. Not 100% by any stretch, but they go away in substantial numbers because they cant survive, Fox said.

Outside of Boston, Nicki Arias, a Newton resident, said that when she first moved into her apartment a few years ago, she found a whole family of rats living in her backyard.

I could hear them fighting with each other at night, like really, really high-pitched screaming, Arias said.

The rodent infestation in Arias backyard became so bad that her neighbor tried to use their dog to chase the rats away, she said. Soon afterward, the dog died due to a fatal disease that was carried by the rats.

Arias said her landlord hasnt done much about the rodent issue. Although other properties have contacted pest control or put down bait boxes, Arias said those efforts have fallen short of stopping the rat infestation.

Unless everybody is doing something, it doesnt really stop it, she said.

Like Boston, Worcester is also dealing with a rat crisis. In April, the city released a report, aimed at finding solutions for dealing with rats and rodents, as well as trash and other nuisance issues in a timelier manner.

Nancy Catino, a Worcester City resident, knows all too well about the dangers that rats can cause in a home. For the past few weeks, Catino has been at war with the rats living in her kitchen. She said the rodents have gnawed through the electrical wiring of her refrigerator, and they have even created a nest beneath her stove using pieces of clothing from her laundry.

Despite managing to get rid of some of the rats in her kitchen on her own, Catino has been left with a lingering odor from the rodents. Now, whenever Catino uses her dishwasher or stove, the heat produced by the appliances intensifies the rodents musky smell.

I honestly struggle to use my kitchen since I have eradicated the problem, Catino said, I was just taken aback by how large they are and how destructive they are.

This past week, Catino called in a rat exterminator to help her eliminate some more of the rodents. After the exterminator sprayed her kitchen with poison, Catino discovered she had more rats in her house than she imagined.

I think the poison was what did the trick because they sort of started coming out from wherever they were hiding, Catino said. And kind of having like these dramatic deaths in the middle of my kitchen.

Some of the rats came out from her refrigerator while others popped up in her cabinets.

Its just a really overall awful experience and I pray every single day and I pray like please dont, Catino said. I just Im afraid to open my drawers and see more evidence that theres another one.
UPDATE: Authorities report the body of Mohamed Fofana has been found.

__________________

The land and sea search around Castle Island in Boston for missing 4-year-old Mohamed Fofana is ongoing as of noon on May 15, according to the Massachusetts State Police.

The department said there have been no potential reasons for Fofanas disappearance ruled out at this time. Police said according to his mother, Mohamed is on the autism spectrum and non-verbal, and police have asked any who may see him to not approach aggressively, but to keep him in sight and call 911.

Mohamed Fofana went missing Sunday night on Castle Island, police said. The child is Black, and was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and blue Crocs-style shoes, police said.

The child was playing at a Castle Island park on the South Boston coastline while an adult family member watched him, Massachusetts State Police said. WCVB identified the adult as the boys grandfather.

At about 7 p.m., police said the adult lost sight of the 4-year-old. After being unable to find him, he called 911 around 7:30 p.m., police said.

Police began searching by land, air and water, including the state polices Marine Unit, Dive Team, and Air Wing; Boston Police, Massachusetts Environmental Police and the U.S. Coast Guard. Police said they were unable to find Mohamed.

Police had said officials remained on scene, and the active search had resumed Monday morning as of 8:20 a.m., police said.

Castle Island, a peninsula, is being searched by ground teams, state police said.

Multiple law enforcement and public safety agencies deployed marine units and dive teams into a section of the ocean called the Western Way, which police said connects Dorchester Bay to the south and the Boston Main Channel to the north.

Three boats are using side-scan sonar to give an image of the bottom of the ocean, police said. If there are anomalies detected, divers will go into the water to assess, police said. The dive team includes members of the state police and the Boston Police and Fire Departments.

An underwater line search is also being conducted along the entire perimeter of the seawall around Castle Island and out to a distance of 150 yards off-shore.

Air wings from state police and the United States Coast Guard are searching in the air along the Boston coastline as far south as Hull and as far north as Deer Island, police said. The Boston Fire Departments Drone Unit is also searching the coastline.

Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation camera footage is has also been reviewed by state police detectives to determine where Mohamed went from the playground area, police said.

The department listed eight agencies assisting in the marine search, along with several for aerial, ground and sonar search. Boston Emergency Medical Services are also on scene, the department said.
UPDATE: Authorities report the body of Mohamed Fofana has been found.

__________________

Massachusetts State Police has resumed the search for a 4-year-old boy last seen on Mothers Day, police said around 8:20 a.m. Monday morning.

Mohamed Fofana went missing Sunday night on Castle Island, police said. The child is Black, and was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and blue Crocs-style shoes, police said.

Mohamed Fofana was playing at a Castle Island park on the South Boston coastline while an adult family member watched him, Massachusetts State Police said. WCVB identified the adult at the boys grandfather.

At about 7 p.m., police said the adult lost sight of the 4-year-old. After being unable to find him, he called 911 around 7:30 p.m., police said.

Police began searching by land, air and water, including the state polices Marine Unit, Dive Team, and Air Wing; Boston Police, Massachusetts Environmental Police and the U.S. Coast Guard. Police said they were unable to find Mohamed as of 12:40 a.m. Monday.

Police said officials remained on scene but the active search would continue Monday morning.

WCVB reported the 4-year-old has autism and is not able to communicate with other people.

Editors note: Massachusetts State Police previously stated the boys name was Mohemed Fofena. It has since been corrected to Mohamed Abou Fofana.
A Hampden County judge dismissed a claim that the city of Springfield violated the civil rights of a former longtime aide for Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno after he was fired in October 2020 for a social media post condemning Donald Trumps open support for Kyle Rittenhouse.

In the five-count employment discrimination lawsuit formal mayoral aide Darryl Moss filed against Sarno and Springfield, Moss and his attorneys claim Springfield and Sarno engaged in race discrimination, retaliation, negligence and civil rights free speech violations in terminating him over a social media post.

On Wednesday, Hampden County Superior Court Judge James Manitsas dismissed the fifth of the five complaints that claimed the city and its mayor violated the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act (MCRA) when firing Moss.
The Seychelles Country Team of the African Development Bank held its first Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Open Day in Seychelles on Thursday, 27 April 2023.

A total of 25 representatives of CSOs, including the umbrella body, Citizens Engagement Platform Seychelles (CEPS), joined to discuss the banks country strategy and portfolio and identify opportunities for collaboration towards sustainable and inclusive development in Seychelles. This includes addressing energy transition and youth development.

Attendees include the African Development Banks Director General for East Africa, Mrs. Nnenna Nwabufo, the Principal Secretary for National Planning in Seychelles, Ms. Elizabeth Charles Agathine, the Director for Special Programs at the Office of the President, Ms. Maria Mulindi, and the CEO of CEPS, Mr. Alvin Laurence.

Mrs. Nwabufo reiterated the Banks commitment to engaging civil society organizations in implementing the Banks High 5s for inclusive, sustainable growth and development in Seychelles.

The bank instituted CSO Open Day as a platform for sharing information on its portfolio, shared learning, and an opportunity for civil society bodies to provide feedback on the Banks country engagement.

Ms. Agathine reaffirmed the governments commitment to working with CSOs and other stakeholders to solve the countrys development challenges. We believe working together can create a more just, inclusive, and sustainable society.

Recognizing the role of CSOs in the development process, Ms. Mulindi encouraged the participants to develop a keen interest in the Banks development projects. This would ensure the realization of the intended social benefits for the people while strengthening the Banks impact on livelihoods.

The Bank presented its strategy and results achieved since 2021. The presentation made by Mr. Tilahun Temesgen, Chief Regional Economist, highlighted the key challenges, including cross-cutting issues.

CEPS CEO Laurence gave an overview of civil society engagement in Seychelles, challenges and possible opportunities for collaboration.

Some of the critical recommendations raised at the event were:

Request for a more participatory development process. The CSOs recommended a platform for multistakeholder dialogue, which includes government, private sector and civil society with a particular focus on the energy transition and solutions for renewables

Build capacity on the Banks procurement processes, including for AFAWA and ACCF.

Education curricula should match the respective industry, especially in the tourism and renewable energy sectors. They emphasized the need for a transition plan from fossil fuel to clean energy.

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Womens proven role in conflict resolution makes the unique position of First Ladies even more important as agents for resolving conflicts in Africa.

Men make wars, women make peace. Women must therefore be included in peace making, peace building, conflict resolution, and reconstruction efforts. African Development Bank President told guests at the inauguration of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) state-of-the-art headquarters in Abuja heard on Tuesday.

There can be no development without peace and security, said Dr Adesina in a speech delivered on his behalf by the African Development Banks Director General for Nigeria, Lamin Barrow.

Nigerias first lady and outgoing chair of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (https://apo-opa.info/3MkXR0s), Aisha Buhari, emphasised the significance of womens role in conflict resolution.

As women leaders and mothers, our role in peace and security is to continue to say no to the culture and structures of violence that make people accept and unleash violence on innocent victims, the majority of whom are women and children, she said.

She told the gathering that the African First Ladies Peace Mission has received the endorsement and support of partners led by the African Union. AFLPM has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the African Union to cooperate on peacebuilding, Buhari said.

The African Development Bank has partnered with the African Union to develop security-indexed investment bonds to help mobilise funding to address the root causes of political instability, protect businesses and livelihoods, and rebuild infrastructure in conflict-affected areas.

The bank is also providing support to vulnerable and internally displaced women living in refugee camps in the Sahel region.

Nothing works without peace and security, Adesina said, adding his voice to the African Unions call to silence the guns. Many parts of Africa face major security challenges from conflict and war. Today, 85% of Africans live in or near a country in conflict.

Women and children are disproportionately affected by wars, he said, adding that sexual violence, abductions, forced conscription and trafficking in women must end.

Womens voices must never be silenced, Adesina added.

The Bank chief described African first ladies as critical to the efforts of African leaders and the African Union to ensure a peaceful and secure Africa by 2063.

Your focus on addressing violence, promoting the role of women, fostering a culture of peace, and reducing conflict, are truly commendable, Adesina said. The African Development Bank stands ready to support your efforts and we look forward to a strong partnership with your organisation.

He also stressed the importance of a collective responsibility to unite in order to resolve conflicts, break cycles of violence and address fragility.

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Opportunite de Carriere

Poste: Directeur des Programmes - Greenpeace Africa

Departement: Programmes/Campagnes

-------------------------------------------------

Date de Demarrage: Immediate

Duree: 3 ans avec une possibilite de prolongation

Statut: Recrutement National

Tutelle: Sous la tutelle directe du Directrice Executive de Greenpeace Africa

Lieu: Base dans lun des bureaux de Greenpeace au Cameroun, en RDC, au Kenya, au Senegal ou en Afrique du Sud. Etre dispose a travailler a distance car Greenpeace Africa a mis en place un modele de lieu de travail hybride.

A propos de Greenpeace Africa

Greenpeace Africa (GPAF) a vu le jour en 2008 et fait partie du reseau mondial Greenpeace qui a recemment celebre ses 50 ans d'activisme climatique a travers le monde. Greenpeace a ete fondee en 1971 par un petit groupe d'individus inquiets, qui ont mis les voiles vers l'ile d'Amchitka au large de la cote de l'Alaska pour tenter d'arreter un essai d'armes nucleaires americain. Leur vieux bateau de peche s'appelait The Greenpeace. Aujourd'hui, Greenpeace est presente dans plus de 40 pays a travers le monde. Greenpeace Africa opere actuellement en Republique democratique du Congo (RDC), au Cameroun, au Kenya, au Senegal et en Afrique du Sud dans le but de remettre en question le modele de developpement et de croissance base sur le format socio-economique extractif et neocolonial qui freine le continent africain et contribue a l'aggravation de la crise climatique.

La vision de Greenpeace Africa est ancree dans un activisme collectif alimente par l'energie de millions d'Africains en vue de faconner de meilleurs systemes juridiques, politiques et economiques aptes a positionner l'Afrique comme un leader mondial et une source de sagesse inexploitee. Dans cette nouvelle ere glorieuse, les Africains, leurs communautes, les organismes regionaux, les etablissements d'enseignement et les entreprises progressistes travaillent ensemble pour creer de nouvelles approches afin de construire un avenir meilleur pour tous les Africains. L'Afrique est influente et represente une source d'inspiration pour le monde - un peuple autonome et dynamique.

Greenpeace Afrique s'engage a precher par l'exemple en integrant la conscience africaine en interne  en Afrique et dans notre role mondial. Ceci est fondamental et sous-tendra le succes de notre strategie 2022-2025 et du programme de travail sur le continent, les espaces que nous choisirons d'engager et de montrer, et la visibilite de l'organisation. La strategie de Greenpeace Africa consiste a transformer Greenpeace Africa en une organisation travaillant sur des campagnes ayant des impacts systemiques en Afrique avec un modele operationnel adapte a ses objectifs et reactif aux defis auxquels l'Afrique est confrontee. En integrant la conscience africaine dans tous les aspects de notre travail, nous aspirons a livrer une vision d'une Afrique ou les Africains s'approprient le bien-etre du continent face a la crise climatique - ce n'est pas un flux de travail, mais plutot la valeur sous-jacente qui sous-tend notre travail.

But du travail

Greenpeace Africa recherche un cadre superieur dynamique, experimente et hautement qualifie pour assumer le role passionnant de Directeur des Programmes (DP). Le DP assurera le leadership et la direction dans la planification, le developpement et la mise en oeuvre des programmes regionaux, mondiaux et locaux de Greenpeace en Afrique et, ce, dans le but :

dassurer une execution et une integration efficaces entre les departements concernes du GPAF pour les programmes (programmes regionaux, pays, strategie et analyse, recherche) dans la planification et la mise en oeuvre des projets et des initiatives strategiques ;

de participer au developpement du programme global de Greenpeace dans le monde entier et dassurer le leadership en dirigeant des projets mondiaux et en alignant les programmes de Greenpeace Africa sur les imperatifs convenus a l'echelle mondiale et leur pertinence par rapport aux realites regionales et locales.

Principales responsabilites

* Orientation Strategique

Assurer la formulation efficace des plans de programmes integres conformement aux strategies continentales et mondiales et a l'orientation strategique de Greenpeace.

Definir l'orientation strategique des programmes de GPAF, en consultation avec SLT (lEquipe de Direction), les Responsables et le Personnel aux niveaux regional et national afin d'aider a atteindre les objectifs a long terme des programmes de Greenpeace.

* Integration des Programmes

Assurer l'integration et la performance efficaces dans la planification et l'execution des projets approuves et des initiatives strategiques, pour permettre la realisation des objectifs globaux des programmes et de l'organisation.

Assurer l'integration de l'activite de campagne de GPAF avec la campagne mondiale et participer activement a la formulation et a la planification du Programme mondial grace a un travail conjoint avec des collegues et des homologues de l'organisation mondiale.

* Mise en oeuvre des Programmes/Projets

Assurer la priorisation, la planification et l'allocation des ressources pour les projets et le travail de campagne en cours, afin de contribuer a la realisation des programmes et des objectifs dans les limites des budgets definis.

* Recherche, Politique et Entreprise

Permettre et approuver l'execution de strategies de recherche scientifique, de renseignement et de lobbying politique et d'entreprise, conformement aux programme formules, afin de fournir une contribution optimale aux bureaux regionaux de Greenpeace et aux campagnes de Greenpeace, et d'influencer les decideurs.

* Coordination strategique/Equipe de Direction (SLT)

Contribuer, en tant que membre de SLT, a la gestion strategique globale de l'organisation;

Contribuer a la formulation et a l'execution de l'orientation strategique ainsi qu'a la conception des programmes, afin d'assurer la realisation des objectifs generaux de Greenpeace;

Fournir des soumissions et des presentations ecrites au Conseil d'Administration de GPAF et assister aux reunions de celle-ci, a la demande du Directeur Executif.

Qualification(s) Minimale(s) Preferee(s)

Master en environnement, sciences sociales, developpement international ou sciences politiques.

Experience Preferee, Qualites Personelles & Aptitudes

Au moins 10 ans d'experience dans un poste de direction dans un domaine/role similaire.

Experience en campagne internationales/regionales et experience organisationnelle (de preference en Afrique).

Experience dans tous les aspects de campagnes mixtes: formulation de strategie, conception de campagne, communication, developpement et mise en oeuvre de strategie politique et d'entreprise, formulation de politique, recherche et collecte de fonds.

Solides competences en communication interpersonnelle et engagements politiques.

Capacite a s'engager avec de multiples parties prenantes aux niveaux communautaire, national, regional, continental et international.

Forte intelligence emotionnelle et solides competences interpersonnelles.

Penseur strategique avec des resultats prouves dans l'elaboration de strategies de programmes de haut niveau.

Capacite a gerer plusieurs projets simultanes et a respecter des delais courts, y compris un etat d'esprit flexible concernant les heures de travail.

Experience de travail avec des personnes de cultures differentes.

Bilingue avec une maitrise de l'Anglais et du Francais.

Leadership de campagne internationale et experience organisationnelle.

Experience dans l'elaboration de strategies de campagne et de communication de haut niveau et de programmes de soutien.

Solides competences en gestion, planification, administration, finance et organisation.

Experience averee dans la gestion hierarchique de professionnels et/ou la direction de grands projets nationaux ou internationaux.

Engagement personnel a senraciner dans la conscience africaine, la justice sociale et environnementale

Autres Conditions Requises

Etre collaboratif avec une volonte d'apprendre et de former.

Faire montre dun engagement envers l'action directe pacifique comme moyen de changement

Engagement envers les valeurs, politiques et procedures de Greenpeace

Capacite a voyager a l'echelle regionale et internationale

Etre pret a se rendre disponible en dehors des heures de travail definies dans Notre Engagement

Greenpeace Africa est une organisation qui prone l'egalite des chances et qui est engagee a realiser la diversite au sein de sa main-d'oeuvre, independamment du sexe, de la nationalite, du handicap, de l'orientation sexuelle, de la culture, de l'origine religieuse et ethnique.

Les candidats interesses doivent envoyer une lettre de motivation et un curriculum vitae a rafrica@greenpeace.org avec Directeur des Programmes  Greenpeace Africa comme objet avant le 10 juin 2023. Les candidatures seront examinees sur une base continue.

--------------> VERSION ANGLAISE

Career Opportunity

Position: Programmes Director - Greenpeace Africa

Department: Programme/Campaigns

-------------------------------------------------

Start Date: Immediate

Duration: 3 years with possibility of extension

Status: National Hire

Reporting: Directly reporting to Executive Director, Greenpeace Africa

Location: Based in one of Greenpeace's offices in Cameroon, DRC, Kenya, Senegal or South Africa Flexibility to work remotely as Greenpeace Africa implements a hybrid work location model.

About Greenpeace Africa

Greenpeace Africa (GPAF) was founded in 2008 and is part of the Greenpeace global network that has recently celebrated 50 years of climate activism across the world. Greenpeace was founded in 1971 by a small group of concerned individuals, who set sail to Amchitka Island off the coast of Alaska to try and stop a US nuclear weapons test. Their old fishing boat was called The Greenpeace. Today, Greenpeace is present in over 40 countries around the world. Greenpeace Africa currently operates in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Cameroon, Kenya, Senegal, and South Africa to challenge the development and growth model rooted in the extractive, neo-colonial socio-economic model that is holding the African continent back and is contributing to the worsening climate crisis.

Greenpeace Africas vision is embedded in collective activism powered by the energy of millions of Africans to shape better legal, political and economic systems in ways that position Africa as a world leader and a source of untapped wisdom. In this glorious new era, Africas people, its communities, regional bodies, education institutions, and progressive businesses are working together to create new approaches to build a better future for all of Africas people. Africa is influential and a source of inspiration to the world - a self-reliant and dynamic people.

Greenpeace Africa commits to walking the talk by embedding African consciousness internally  within Africa and our global role. This is fundamental and will underpin the success of our 2022-2025 strategy and the programme of work in the continent, the spaces we choose to engage and show up, and the organization's visibility. Greenpeace Africas strategy aims to transform Greenpeace Africa to be an organization working on campaigns delivering systemic impacts in Africa with an operating model that is fit for purpose and responsive to the challenges facing Africa. By Grounding African Consciousness in all aspects of our work; we aspire to deliver a vision of an Africa where the people in Africa own the well-being of the continent in the face of the climate crisis - this is not a stream of work, but rather the underlying value that underpins our work.

Purpose of the job

Greenpeace Africa is seeking a dynamic, seasoned, and highly skilled senior executive to carry out the exciting role of Programmes Director (PD). The PD will provide leadership and direction in the planning, development and implementation of Greenpeace regional, global and local Programmes in Greenpeace Africa; to ensure effective execution and integration between GPAFs relevant departments for Programme (Regional,-Country-Programmes, Strategy & Analysis, Research) in the planning and implementation of projects and strategic initiatives; to participate in the development of the global Programme in Greenpeace worldwide and ensure leadership by taking the lead of global projects and alignment of the Programme of Greenpeace Africa with globally agreed imperatives and relevancy to regional and local realities.

Key Responsibilities

* Strategic Direction

Ensure effective formulation of integrated programme plans in accordance with the Continental and global strategies and strategic direction of Greenpeace.

Set the strategic direction of GPAFs Programme, in consultation with the SLT, managers and staff at regional and country levels in order to help achieve Greenpeaces long-term Programme objectives.

* Programme Integration

Ensure the effective integration and performance in the planning and execution of approved projects and strategic initiatives, to enable the achievement of global Programme and organisational objectives.

Ensure the integration of GPAF campaigning activity with the global campaign, and actively participate in the formulation and planning of the global Programme through joint work with colleagues and counterparts from the global organisation.

* Programme/Project Implementation

Ensure the prioritisation, scheduling and allocation of resources for projects and ongoing campaign work, in order to contribute to the realisation of the programme and objectives within given budgets.

* Research, Political, Corporate

Enable and approve execution of scientific research, intelligence, and political and corporate lobbying strategies, in accordance with the formulated programme, in order to provide optimal input to regional Greenpeace offices and Greenpeace campaigns, and to influence decision makers.

* Strategic Coordination/Senior Leadership Team (SLT)

As a member of the SLT contribute to the overall strategic management of the organisation

Give input into the formulation and execution of the strategic direction plus program design, to ensure the achievement of Greenpeaces overall objectives

Provide written submissions and presentations to the GPAF Board and attend meetings of the same as required by the Executive Director

Preferred Minimum Qualification(s)

Masters Degree in environment, social sciences, international developmental or political sciences.

Preferred Experience, Personal Attributes & Skills

At least 10 years of experience in a senior management position in a similar position/role.

International/Regional campaign and organisational experience (preferably in Africa).

Experience of all aspects of the campaign mix: strategy formulation, campaign design, communications, political and corporate strategy development and implementation, policy formulation, research, and fundraising

Strong interpersonal communications skills and political engagements.

Ability to engage with multiple stakeholders at community, national, regional, continental and international levels.

Strong emotional intelligence and people skills.

Strategic thinker with proven results in building high profile programme strategies.

Ability to manage multiple simultaneous projects and to meet tight deadlines, including a flexible mindset regarding working hours.

Experience in working with people of different cultures.

Bilingual with fluency in English and French.

International campaign leadership and organisational experience.

Experience in building high profile campaign & communications strategies and supporter programmes.

Strong management, planning, administrative, financial and organizational skills.

Demonstrable experience line managing professionals and/or directing large, national or international projects.

Personal commitment to grounding Africa consciousness, social and environmental justice.

Other Requirements

Collaborative with a willingness to learn as well as teach

A commitment to peaceful direct action as a means for change

Commitment to Greenpeace values, policies and procedures

Ability to travel regionally and internationally

Willing to be available outside of the set working hours Our Commitment

Greenpeace Africa is an equal opportunity organization committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, irrespective of gender, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic background.

Interested qualified candidates should email a cover letter & resume to rafrica@greenpeace.org with Programmes Director - Greenpeace Africa as subject line by 15th June 2023.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, May 15, 2023

Sylvester Stallones new reality show revolving around his wife, daughter and California home life may have come about as a contract add-on when he made his deal to star in the mob drama Tulsa King on Paramount+.

Sly move, right? Under this scenario, which the TV Blog has no way of confirming, the star likely made Paramount an offer they could not refuse, to wit: Youll get me to star in your show, practically assuring its success, if you throw in a reality docuseries for my family.

The deal was a win-win. Tulsa King, which premiered last November, is a triumph for Paramount+ and Sly got his family show.

And so, The Family Stallone was born. The show, consisting of eight half-hour episodes, starts streaming Wednesday on Paramount+.

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The show starts just as Stallone, 76, is finishing up six months of on-location shooting in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for Tulsa King.

He tells us he has not seen his family in quite a long time, giving the impression that the time span is the full six months that he has been in Tulsa.

However, the TV Blog guesses he might have gone home more than a few times in that period. After all, Sly can fly home for the weekend at full fare whenever he wants to.

In the first episode of The Family Stallone, shooting wraps and Stallone goes home to be reunited with wife Jennifer, with whom he has been married for 35 years, and daughters (in order of age) Sophia, Sistine and Scarlet. The whole family is pictured above.

All the Stallone women are tall and well-dressed in that way that is common to unscripted series ranging from The Kardashians (the familys current show on Hulu) to the Real Housewives shows on Bravo.

They seem like a nice, tight-knit family. Jennifer is described in a press release as a savvy businesswoman and co-owner of the wellness brand Serious Skin Care.

Sophia hosts a podcast with sister Sistine called Unwaxed and is still finding her path in life and focusing on her passions.

Sistine is an actress and model who is embarking on a new journey as a filmmaker and is currently in development on her first feature film.

Scarlet wants to be an actress. She appeared in Tulsa King.

In one of the first scenes of the Stallone family home life, the gals are talking about Dads imminent arrival home, and the excitement they are feeling. Then all of a sudden, one of their small dogs breaks wind and everybody laughs.

On the home front, we see Sly meeting some friends for lunch out on a sun-splashed sidewalk outside a pizza joint.

Among these pals are Slys brother, Frank Stallone, and Dolph Lundgren, co-star of Rocky IV who became a lifelong friend.

This al fresco dining scene is reminiscent -- perhaps purposely so -- of the famous scenes in the Sopranos in which Paulie Walnuts would sun himself with a tanning reflector on the sidewalk outside of Satriales Pork Store.

No one does that here, but a famed gangster actor soon joins the group -- none other than Michael Corleone himself, Al Pacino, 83.

Before long, the show moves into another storyline as the Stallone women plan a festive birthday dinner for dad.

This includes the baking of a cake that is a mess, and a shopping excursion to a cigar store, where two of the daughters sample some of the wares.

Then the dinner is held at a fancy restaurant. Among the guests are Frank Stallone and Dolph Lundgren, but Al Pacino is nowhere to be seen.

The Family Stallone starts streaming on Wednesday (May 17) on Paramount+.
by Ray Schultz , May 14, 2023

Media magnate Barry Diller issued a blunt warning last week that publishers must use copyright law to protect their content from unfair use by generative AI .

You cant have fair use when there is an unfair machine that knows no bounds, Diller said, speaking at the Sir Harry Evans Global Summit in Investigative Journalism in London, according to Financial Times.

Diller, the chair of Dotdash Meredith parent IAC, is working with News Corp and Axel Springer to protect their journalism from the AI threat.

We are leading a group that is going to say we are going to change copyright law if necessary, to work to say that you cannot take our materials or we will litigate, Diller said, Financial Times continues. What you publish you have the right to control.

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This is occurring as Google has announced a change in the way it presents search engine results by using artificial intelligence, as Matt Novak writes on Forbes.

The move amounts to dropping a nuclear bomb on an online publishing industry thats already struggling to survive, Novak adds.

The problem is that the shift could significantly decrease the traffic that Google sends to publishers sites, as more people get what they need right from the Google search page instead, NiemanLab writes.

They could also do some damage to the affiliate revenue that publishers derive from product recommendations, it adds.

Novack contends that Google is essentially creating answers to hard questions using all of the content available on the open web, but Google Search users wont have to visit the pages that actually contain that information. And the modern online publishing industry requires users to visit a page in order for those eyeballs to be turned into ad dollars and subscriptions.

Diller argued, I think it is a terrible mistake for publishers to allow [AI] to suck up every known piece of work that has ever been done.
by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, May 15, 2023



Google has agreed to pay $8 million to settle claims by the Texas attorney generals office that it used deceptive ads to promote its Pixel 4 smartphone.

The settlement was announced by Texas AG Ken Paxton on Friday.

The complaint alleged that Google hired radio DJs to record and broadcast detailed testimonials about their personal experiences with the Pixel 4, but refused to provide the DJs with a phone for them to use.

When confronted with the reality that Googles ad campaign violated the law, rather than take corrective action, Google continued its deceptive advertising, prioritizing profits over truthfulness, according to the AGs announcement.

If Google is going to advertise in Texas, their statements better be true. In this case, the company made statements that were blatantly false, and our settlement holds Google accountable for lying to Texans for financial gain, Paxton stated. Google enjoys significant influence over individual consumers and the marketplace broadly. It is imperative that large companies do not expect or enjoy special treatment under the law.

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In another, separate case alleging the same deceptive advertising, the FTC and six other states settled with Google for $9 million. The $8 million settlement recovers $8 million for Texas only.

Google discontinued the Pixel 4 model in August 2020, just nine months after its release--at least in part because the handset was affected by poor battery life, according to TechCrunch.
by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, May 15, 2023

A former ByteDance executive suing the TikTok parent company claims that Chinas Communist Party had supreme access to all data held by parent Bytedance, including U.S. servers.,

Yintao Roger Yu, who was head of engineering for ByteDances U.S. operations from August 2017 to November 2018, filed a wrongful termination suit in San Francisco Superior Court, alleging that he was fired after raising concerns about potentially illegal practices, such as alleged content stealing from Snapchat and Instagram.

In addition to alleging that ByteDance has engaged in a worldwide scheme to steal and profit from other companies intellectual property, Yu claims that the company had a special unit in Beijing run by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) members who monitored the companys apps, guided how the company advanced Communist values, and maintained supreme access to all company data, even data stores in the United States.

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Yu also claims that ByteDance is a useful propaganda tool for Chinas leaders. He claims he saw ByteDance being responsive to the CCPs requests to share, elevate or even remove content.

The committee allegedly also had a death switch that could turn off the companys apps.

ByteDance will vigorously oppose what we believe are baseless claims and allegations in this complaint, the company said in a statement sent to The New York Times. Mr. Yu worked for ByteDance Inc. for less than a year and his employment ended in July 2018. During his brief time at the company, he worked on an app called Flipagram, which was discontinued years ago for business reasons.

In March, in testimony before a House committee, TikTok CEO Shou Chew said that he had seen no evidence that the Chinese government has access to that [U.S. user] data; they have never asked us, we have not provided it. He added that TikTok is committed to moving U.S. users data into the U.S., to be stored in what he described as an American company overseen by American personnel.

The Justice Department is investigating whether China-based TikTok parent ByteDance has been surreptitiously getting and using U.S. TikTok users data, including to spy on journalists.

President Joe Biden has indicated that he supports a bipartisan bill that would broaden the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to allow the president to implement such a ban, and has declared that ByteDance must divest TikTok or face a ban.

China has stated that it would firmly oppose a sale.

TikTok is already banned on government devices by the U.S. federal government and more than two dozen U.S. states. Last month, Montana became the first state to completely ban the app. A growing number of other countries and regions, including Canada, France and India, have also banned TikTok in part or full.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, May 15, 2023

Google has been hit with a class-action privacy complaint for allegedly collecting patients' sensitive health data from Planned Parenthood's website.

The complaint was filed Friday by an anonymous Jane Doe who alleges that she used Planned Parenthood's site to search for an abortion provider, and received treatment at the reproductive health care center's affiliate in Burbank, California.

Plaintiffs private communications to Planned Parenthood, including her sensitive information like being pregnant and searching for an abortion, were intercepted by Google through Googles tracking technology incorporation on Planned Parenthoods website, the complaint alleges.

The complaint refers to an investigation by the app Lockdown Privacy, which reported last June that Planned Parenthood's site used third-party analytics tools leaked extremely sensitive data" to third parties including Google, Meta and TikTok.

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The data provided to Google included users' IP address, behavior on the site, ZIP code estimate, reason for visiting (including whether to schedule a surgical abortion), and pseudonymous identifier, according to The Washington Post.

After that report came out, Planned Parenthood said it would suspend the use of analytics tools from third parties like Google and Meta, according to The Post.

The complaint claims Google violated the California constitution, which includes a right to privacy, and various other privacy-related state laws.

Google hasn't yet commented on the lawsuit.

Meta is also facing a lawsuit for allegedly collecting sensitive data from health sites via the Meta Pixel tracking tool. The social media platform recently asked a federal judge to throw out that case, arguing that it instructs web developers to avoid sending sensitive health data.

There is nothing inherently unlawful or harmful about the pixel-based analytics technology at the heart of this case, the company argued in papers filed earlier this month in the Northern District of California. Web developers -- not Meta -- choose whether, where, and how they will use the Meta Pixel.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, May 15, 2023

Siding against Twitter owner Elon Musk, a federal appellate court on Monday rejected his request to modify a court order that prevents him from tweeting about Tesla without first obtaining approval from the car company's lawyers.

The decision, issued by a panel of the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, upholds an order handed down last year by U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Liman in New York. Liman ruled that even though the restriction on tweeting affects Musk's right to free speech, he waived that right in order to resolve charges brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The 2nd Circuit agreed with Liman, writing that people who enter into settlements can waive their constitutional rights.

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Had Musk wanted to preserve his right to tweet without even limited internal oversight concerning certain Tesla-related topics, he could have negotiated a different agreement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or defended himself against the agency's charges at a hearing, the appellate judges wrote.

Musk's settlement with the agency, entered into in 2018, stemmed from charges that he misled investors by tweeting earlier that year that he intended to take Tesla private. In addition to requiring Musk to clear his tweets in advance, the settlement required him to step down as chairman of the company's board, and to pay a $20 million fine.

Since entering into the settlement, the Securities and Exchange Commission launched two investigations of Musk's tweets -- the first involved tweets regarding involving Tesla's annual production of cars, and the second centered on a 2021 Twitter poll in which Musk floated selling 10% of his Tesla stock.

In March of 2022, Musk petitioned Liman to modify the settlement by lifting the restriction on his tweets, unsuccessfully arguing that the terms violated the First Amendment, and that the Securities and Exchange Commission was using the consent decree to micro-manage Musk's speech.

Musk's attorneys specifically pointed to the 2021 poll, arguing that it shouldn't have triggered an investigation because it wasn't a statement or omission of material fact or a scheme to defraud.

After Liman ruled against Musk, he reiterated his arguments to the 2nd Circuit.

The appellate judges said in Monday's ruling that they didn't see any evidence that the Securities and Exchange Commission used the consent decree to conduct bad-faith, harassing investigations of Musk's speech.
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Oxytocin Boosters Only Work for Healthy Individuals

Oxytocin Therapy in the Future

With a nasal spray or a tablet containing synthetically produced vasopressin, these symptoms can usually be treated without any problems. However, even with this treatment, many patients report anxiety, have trouble with social interactions, or demonstrate impaired emotional awareness.These symptoms could be due to a deficiency of oxytocin, also known as the "bonding hormone". "Because the production of the two hormones is so close anatomically, disorders that cause vasopressin deficiency could also affect the neurons that produce oxytocin," explains Dr. Cihan Atila, endocrinologist and lead author of a study that has now been published in the journalOxytocin is, difficult to measure and a "stimulation test" is needed to produce a reliable result. This test stimulates oxytocin secretion, that is the release of the hormone in the body. MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methamphetamine), better known as ecstasy, is one such stimulant substance.Researchers at the University of Basel and the University Hospital of Basel, led by Professor Mirjam Christ-Crain, have now shown that oxytocin levels are 8.5 times higher in healthy individuals after a single dose of MDMA, while they remain unchanged in those with vasopressin deficiency. This provides strong evidence that their production of oxytocin is also impaired.As expected, the increase in oxytocin in healthy individuals after a dose of MDMA caused pro-social behavior and an increase in empathy, combined with a reduction in anxiety symptoms. The patients with vasopressin deficiency, on the other hand, showed no changes in these areas. "Oxytocin deficiency in people with vasopressin deficiency would at least partially explain this finding," says the endocrinologist Atila."These results, therefore, prove for the first time that a clinically relevant oxytocin deficiency actually exists. This finding opens up new therapeutic possibilities and could also be interesting for other diseases such as autism," says Mirjam Christ-Crain, study leader and deputy head of endocrinology at the University Hospital.In addition, the results contribute to a deeper understanding of oxytocin as a key hormone for socio-emotional effects. The same researchers at the Department of Clinical Research are currently planning a large study to investigate whether treatment with oxytocin can improve the psychological symptoms in patients with vasopressin deficiency.Source: Eurekalert
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Examining the Negative Perception of Obesity

"Obesity can lead to serious physical, mental, and social health problems and its prevalence is increasing worldwide among people of all age groups," said researcher Dr Jorge Correia, of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Nutrition and Therapeutic Patient Education, at the University Hospitals of Geneva.Further, the team linked spikes in Twitter activity with significant political events such as when the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the US, Nancy Pelosi, described the then-president, Donald Trump, as "morbidly obese".A total of 1,003 tweets were posted on this topic over several days. Around 94 percent of the tweets were negative in sentiment.The largest number of tweets related to the issue of Covid vaccination for people with obesity, followed by Nancy Pelosi's comments on Donald Trump being "morbidly obese".Thebut of tweets from research teams about their work on obesity.In addition, negative tweets often talked about increased hospitalizations and death due to Covid-19 among people with obesity and about how people living with obesity are responsible for their weight."The negative portrayal of obesity by influential politicians and celebrities may increase stigma against people living with obesity, and also harm public health by spreading misinformation," Dr Correia said.The team recommended using the platform to make information about obesity available to the public.Source: IANS
Pioneer file photo

BIG RAPIDS  Big Rapids Chief of Police Danielle Haynes has issued a traffic control order for Maple Street as per authority of the city ordinance.

According to the order, no parking will be permitted on Maple Street between Warren and State streets through the completion of the Michigan Department Of Transportation mill and fill project.
Law enforcement authorities seek help from Michigan residents as they continue searching for prisoner Christopher Bibbs Jr. after he was incorrectly released from a county jail in Ohio.

The Michigan Department of Corrections announced the search Monday, explaining Bibbs is serving a 4- to 10-year prison sentence for carjacking out of Wayne County and was transported to Warren County, Ohio because he was needed in court there.

The state department was notified on March 23 that the county jail had accidentally released Bibbs shortly after 2 p.m. that day. He was allowed to leave the jail on foot, according to a Monday press release.

Since Bibbs' release, a series of efforts were taken to find him by the departments Absconder Recovery Unit and its Intelligence Unit along with help from the United States Marshals Service. Efforts included working with his family.

Nearly two months after his accidental release, the department asked the public to help find him. He is believed to be in the Detroit area.



The department urged anyone with information on the whereabouts of Bibbs to call 911 or the 24-hour tip hotline at 1-844-362-8477.



Bibbs is 21 and has a tattoo on his left forearm that reads Only the strong survive, according to authorities. He is 5-foot-10 and weighs approximately 160 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.



He was incarcerated in May of 2022 and had been serving his time at the Thumb Correctional Facility in Lapeer before he was transported to the jail in Ohio, where he faced charges there for improper handling of a firearm in a vehicle, operating a vehicle while intoxicated and providing false information to police.



Citizens should not approach this individual if they see him and instead contact law enforcement immediately, according to the department, which will continue sharing updates on its social media accounts until Bibbs is returned to custody.
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Seventeen Midland High School students competed at the Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California April 26-30.

The conference brought together more than 6,000 students from across the country to vie for top honors and scholarships in business, finance, technology, marketing, and health administration skills competitions.

Taking first place from Midland High were Steven Hackbarth in entrepreneurship and the presentation team of Hackbarth, Janelle Harris and Hannah Monville.

Rori McCubbin-Green took second place in digital marketing and sixth place in fundamentals of web design; Isla McCubbin-Green took third in presentational individual; Bo Brutyn took fifth in advanced accounting; Elly Black, Addisyn McLaughlin, Keira Shaffner and Mya Presley took fifth in economic research team; Brutyn, Addison Birchmeier, Claire Carpenter, Andrew Steger, Ava Kontranowski and Reagan Vokal took sevenh in parliamentary procedure team; Emily Kraenzlein took ninth in meeting events and planning concepts; and Steger took ninth in parliamentary procedure concepts.

Multiple members also earned internationally recognized industry certifications during the conference. While in Anaheim, the students had opportunities to network with other BPA members, attend leadership and professional development workshops and tour Disneyland.

The trip to nationals was funded by the generous sponsorships of Gougeon Employees Foundation, Advantage Orthodontics, Fisher Contracting Company, Midland Ford Lincoln, Wallace Landscaping, William Eyre Construction, and multiple friends and local business supporters of the Chemic family.
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CHICAGO  The eighth grade class at Onekama Consolidated Schools recently returned from a class trip to Chicago.

According to a new release, it was an action-packed adventure and also an opportunity for the students to see a community much different from their own.

Students and chaperones spent two days exploring the city. They visited the Museum of Science and Industry, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Millennium Park, Buckingham Fountain and Navy Pier. They were introduced to deep-dish pizza and especially enjoyed the Blue Man Group performance.

One of my favorite parts of the trip was the Blue Man Group show, eighth-grade student Genna Short said. It was incredibly unique and very unexpected."

The group had a panoramic view of the city from 360 Chicago (formerly the John Hancock Observatory) and enjoyed a lunch cruise on The Spirit of Chicago, where they could see another view of the city from the water.

Ive never pet a sturgeon, Megan Preibisch added. We were able to do that at the aquarium, and it was awesome to experience.

The trip was made possible for students because of financial support from their community, in particular from Onekamas seasonal residents.

Community donors stepped in to sponsor students for this special experience, class adviser Tara Lyman said. We are so grateful for their generosity, especially from our many summer residents who understand how powerful it can be for Onekama students to see more of the world beyond our idyllic village.

There were many firsts for these Onekama students, as most had not been to Chicago before, and many had not before traveled out of the state. For some, it was the first time in a museum, at an aquarium or a non-school performance.

It was truly an amazing experience, Jasmine Lapp said. I am so grateful to the sponsors and chaperones that made this trip possible.
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Two Huron County arrested during a July 2022 sex sting in Bad Axe will serve time in prison.

Daniel Robert Horetski, 46, of Port Austin, and Kevin Albert Manor, 57, of Sebewaing, were each sentenced by Huron County 52nd Circuit Court Judge Gerald M. Prill on Monday to three years, four months to 20 years on one count each of using a computer to commit a crime and child sexually abusive activity or material.

Each was also sentenced to 270 days in the Huron County Jail on one count of accosting a minor for immoral purposes. Horestki received 99 days credit for time served, and Manor was given 242 days credit. Both were also sentenced to court costs and fees.

Child sexually abusive activity or material is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison; using a computer to commit a crime is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison; and accosting a child for immoral purposes is a felony punishable by up to 4 years in prison.

Horetski and Manor both pleaded no contest to child sexually abusive material, using a computer to commit a crime and accosting a child for immoral purposes on March 2 in Huron County 52nd Circuit Court.

Horetski and Manor were arrested along with Jeremy J. Susalla, 40, of Ubly, on July 12, 2022, by a multi-agency task force targeting individuals who seek sex from minors and human trafficking.

Susalla, who is charged with similar crimes, is scheduled for trial in June.

During Monday's sentencing hearings, Prill called the defendants' behavior "absolutely appalling" and their sentences were intended to protect young people in Huron County.

"We cannot tolerate this behavior in this community," Prill said.

During Heretski's sentencing, Rutkowski noted that the defendant was very much aware of the nature of the activity in which he was engaging.

If anybody that questions as to what happened in this case, we have the Freedom of Information statute in this state and they can 'freedom of information' the report with these messages from the sheriffs department if they want to see what transpired in this case, Rutkowski said. When they searched the defendants phone, on the web browser, still in the search bar that said, sex consent age in Michigan. ... Defendant was looking that up during this circumstance.

In a press release on Tuesday, Rutkowski thanked Hanson and the Huron County Sheriffs Office for leading the operation as well as the Sanilac and Tuscola County Sheriffs offices, the Bad Axe Police Department and the GHOST team members for their "invaluable" assistance in resolving this case.

During a press conference last July outside of the Huron County Jail, Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson said the sting arose from a 2021 operation in Sanilac County that resulted in the arrest of Alexander S. Kundinger, 26, of Sandusky.

With the assistance of Genesee County Sheriff Gary Swanson and the Genessee County GHOST team, or Genesee Human Oppression Strike Team, law enforcement officials in Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola counties partnered to form their own task force to target human trafficking and child predators.

In my 40 years in law enforcement, Ive never been part of an operation with so much eye-opening success, Hanson said in July.

The July 12 operation involved members of the Huron, Genesee, Tuscola and Sanilac sheriffs' offices, the Bad Axe Police Department, the Sanilac County Drug Task Force and the FBI, as well as the Huron County Prosecutors Office.

Deputies from the GHOST team coordinated and directed the sting with support from the other agencies involved and the FBI. The 10-hour operation was based in an undisclosed location where team members used internet sex and prostitution sites.

Hanson said the suspects literally "shopped" at the sites, according to a task force press release, then communicated with who they believed were minors and arranged a meeting for sex. The "minors" were, in fact, members of the GHOST team.

Officers set up a meeting place at a Bad Axe hotel, where young law enforcement officers acted as decoys as the suspects arrived and were taken into custody.

Officers seized several items, including cell phones, cash and vehicles, which may be subject to forfeiture.

Hanson declined to identify the hotel where the operation took place, which he said was chosen at random and was not a place where illegal activity occurs. He added management was supportive of the task force's effort when they were informed of the operation after the fact, and he emphasized the incident did not involve actual underage individuals.

The tri-county task force consisting of Huron, Tuscola and Sanilac counties plans to conduct similar operations in the future, and Hanson asked Thumb residents to be on the lookout and report suspicious situations that may involve human trafficking to their local law enforcement agency.

Swanson said in July that his GHOST team had worked with 42 counties throughout Michigan to fight human trafficking. The problem is so pervasive he said he views GHOST as an ideology as well as a crime-fighting task force.

"It shows there are no boundaries," Swanson said. "It's happening in Bad Axe, it's happening in Sandusky. It's a community issue."

Sixty-six-year-old Dennis Bales, who was arrested in a second sting conducted by the tri-county task force in August was sentenced to a minimum of almost eight years in prison in November after pleading no contest to same three felonies as Horetski and Manor.

Bales, of Port Huron, had previous convictions in St. Clair County for solicitation of gross indecency in 2003 and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct in 2008.

Also arrested in the August sting was Dale Ignash, 70, of Filion, who has pleaded not guilty to charges related to the sting.
Longtime criminal Charles Martin, 53, of Midland, was sentenced on May 5 to five years of intense probation through the MiHOPE program, giving him one last chance to avoid prison.

Martin was also sentenced in Midland County Circuit Court to 10 months in jail with 240 days credit for six felony counts of retail fraud and resisting and obstructing police. He pleaded no contest to all the charges.

Part of the MiHOPE program includes residential probation at Tri-Cap in Saginaw. Midland County Prosecutor J. Dee Brooks said Martin will be under supervision for five years through the program.

I think its a fair sentence, Brooks said.

More Information Midland man sentenced to MiHOPE program for intensive probation for six felonies See More Collapse

He noted that Martins crimes are concerning because they involved significant retail fraud and fighting with police. Prior to the current crimes, Martin was sentenced in 2018 for maintaining a drug house and in 2013 for fleeing police.

This is his last chance to avoid prison, Brooks said.

The prosecutor said if there is a next time, there will be much stiffer repercussions.

Prior to sentencing, Martin was held without bond in the Midland County Jail since Sept. 27, 2022.

His crimes include retail fraud of $585 from Midlands Walmart on Feb. 22, 2022. Midland Police Department Community Relations Officer Brennon Warren said Martin made a small purchase through self-checkout, but then took some empty bags and proceeded to fill them with items throughout the store. He then reportedly attempted to walk out with the unpaid merchandise, and employees asked him to show a receipt. Warren said Martin shouted obscenities at the employees and fled.

On March 3, 2022, while Midland County Sheriff deputies were responding to a hit-and-run crash on Meridian Drive, they found a truck bed containing about $371 in items, which they later learned had been stolen from Midlands Kroger. The deputies alerted Midland police of the store theft and police came to the store.

Investigators also found the truck was stolen from the 1500 block of Renee Drive. As the owner of the vehicle was describing who stole it, Kroger store employees were reportedly describing the same person to police as the one who stole the items from the store. Martin was therefore suspected in both the truck theft and the theft from Kroger.

Police were called again on May 13, 2022 when Martin, who had multiple warrants for his arrest, was in the Midland Meijer store. A loss prevention officer recognized Martin and called Midland police. Police arrived and Martin apparently saw them and fled within the store. He was able to get out of the store and get into a waiting cab, with the driver reportedly not knowing that Martin was fleeing police. Police gave chase and Martin got out of the cab near the Meijer gas station and again fled on foot.

An off-duty Michigan State Police trooper saw what was happening and tackled Martin at the gas station. He was holding Martin down on the ground when police caught up to him.

Warren said it was fortunate the trooper was there to help.

Following that incident, Martin was eventually out in the community again, and on Sept. 27 at about 10 p.m., Midland police did a traffic stop in the 200 block of Carolina Street for a non-working headlight. The passenger in the vehicle, identified as Martin, fled the scene on foot. When searching the area, Midland police found Martin hiding behind bushes in the 2100 block of Kentucky Street and arrested him.
OSWIECIM, Poland (AP)  In a modern conservation laboratory on the grounds of the former Auschwitz camp, a man wearing blue rubber gloves uses a scalpel to scrape away rust from the eyelets of small brown shoes worn by children before they were murdered in gas chambers.

Colleagues at the other end of a long work table rub away dust and grime, using soft cloths and careful circular motions on the leather of the fragile objects. The shoes are then scanned and photographed in a neighboring room and catalogued in a database.

The work is part of a two-year effort launched last month to preserve 8,000 childrens shoes at the former concentration and extermination camp where German forces murdered 1.1 million people during World War II. Most of the victims were Jews killed in dictator Adolf Hitler's attempt to exterminate the Jews of Europe.

The site was located during the war in a part of Poland occupied by German forces and annexed to the German Reich. Today it is a memorial and museum managed by the Polish state, to whom the solemn responsibility has fallen to preserve the evidence of the site, where Poles were also among the victims. The Germans destroyed evidence of their atrocities at Treblinka and other camps, but they failed to do so entirely at the enormous site of Auschwitz as they fled the approaching Soviet forces in chaos toward the war's end.

Eight decades later, some evidence is fading away under the pressures of time and mass tourism. Hair sheered from victims to make cloth is considered a sacred human remain which cannot be photographed and is not subjected to conservation efforts. It is turning to dust.

But more than 100,000 shoes of victims remain, some 80,000 of them in huge heaps on display in a room where visitors file by daily. Many are warped, their original colors fading, shoe laces disintegrated, yet they endure as testaments of lives brutally cut short.

The tiny shoes and slippers are especially heartrending.

Children's shoes are the most moving object for me because there is no greater tragedy than the tragedy of children, said Mirosaw Maciaszczyk, a conservation specialist from the museums conservation laboratories.

A shoe is an object closely related to a person, to a child. It is a trace, sometimes it's the only trace left of the child.

Maciaszczyk said that he and the other conservation workers never lose sight of the human tragedy behind the shoes, even as they focus on the technical aspects of their conservation work. Sometimes they are overcome by emotion and need breaks. Volunteers working with adult shoes in the past have asked for new assignments.

Elzbieta Cajzer, head of the Collections, said conservation work always turns up some individual details of those killed at the camp  suitcases, in particular, can offer up clues because they bear names and addresses. She expects that the work on children's shoes will also reveal some new personal details.

They also open a window into a bygone era when shoes were a valuable good passed from child to child. Some have traces of mended soles and other repairs.

The museum is able to conserve about 100 shoes a week, and has processed 400 since the project began last month. The aim is not to restore them to their original state but to render them as close to how they were found at war's end as possible. Most of the shoes are single objects. One pair still bound by shoelaces is a rarity.

Last year, workers conserving adult shoes found an Italian 100 lire banknote in a lady's high-heeled shoe that was also imprinted with the name Ranzini, which was a shoe manufacturer in Trieste. The owner was likely Italian, but nothing else is known about her.

They also found the name of Vera Vohryzkova on a child's shoe. By coincidence, a museum worker had noticed that family name on a suitcase and the museum was able to piece together details about the family. Vera was born Jan. 11, 1939, into a Jewish Czech family and was sent to Auschwitz in a transport from the Theresienstadt ghetto in 1943 with her mother and brother. Her father, Max Vohryzek, was sent in a separate transport. They all perished.

Cajzer described the shoes as powerful testimony also because the huge heaps of shoes that remain give some idea of the enormous scale of the crimes, even though what is left is only a fraction of what was.

Before the SS men sent people into the gas chambers, they ordered them to undress and told them they were going into showers to be disinfected.

We are able to imagine how many people came here, hoping that they would be able to put those shoes back on after a shower. They thought they would take their shoes back and keep using them. But they never returned to their owners," Cajzer said.

In most cases, the shoes and other possessions were collected and the material used to help the Third Reich in its war effort. The 110,000 shoes in the museum's collection  while massive  most likely came from only the last transports to the camp, Cajzer said.

The project's cost of 450,000 euros ($492,000) is funded by the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, to which Germany has been a key donor, as well as the International March of the Living, a Holocaust education program.

Both Cajzer and Maciaszczyk said that it is impossible to save the shoes forever, but the goal is to preserve them for more years to come.

Our conservation today slows down these processes (of decay), but for how long, it's hard to say," Maciaszczyk said.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
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LONDON (AP)  Ukrainian President Volodymyr, on a whirlwind European tour, pressed Britain on Monday to join a fighter jet coalition in advance of a counteroffensive against Russian forces, instead securing a commitment of attack drones and hundreds more missiles.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greeted Zelenskyy with a handshake and hug after his helicopter landed at Chequers, the British leader's official country retreat. Its Zelenskyys second trip to the U.K. since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

This is the fifth European country Zelenskky has visited in the past three days, after Italy, the Vatican, Germany and France. He is seeking more aid as Ukraine prepares a long-anticipated spring offensive to retake territory that Russia has seized.

The Kremlin reacted to the new weapons pledge extremely negatively, but at the same time believed the supplies wouldn't drastically change the course of the war, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

Britain aspires to be at the forefront among countries that continue to pump weapons into Ukraine, Peskov said. We repeat once again: It cannot yield any drastic and fundamental influence on the way the special military operation (in Ukraine) is unfolding. But, definitely, it leads to further destruction... It makes this whole story for Ukraine much more complicated."

Zelenskyy said one of the missions of his European trip was to build a fighter jet coalition to provide Ukraine with vital aerial capabilities. He said more work was needed on that front.

While the U.K. will not provide the planes, the prime minister said the country would join the coalition and begin a previously announced training program for Ukrainian fighter pilots as soon as this summer.

The U.K. has become one of Ukraine's major military allies, providing short-range missiles and Challenger tanks and training 15,000 Ukrainian troops on British soil. Last week, Britain announced it had sent Ukraine Storm Shadow cruise missiles, whose range is more than 250 kilometers (150 miles)  the first known shipment of longer-range weaponry that Kyiv has long sought from its allies.

Sunak's office said it was giving Ukraine hundreds more air defense missiles, as well as long-range attack drones" with a reach of more than 200 kilometers (120 miles).

This is a crucial moment in Ukraines resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke," Sunak said. "They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year.

We must not let them down.

Sunak will also push allies to deliver more support to Ukraine at a meeting of Group of Seven leaders in Japan later this week, Downing Street said.

As Zelenskyy visited European capitals, Russia stepped up attacks across Ukraine with drones and missiles. On Sunday, Russia shelled two communities in the northern border region of Sumy, regional officials said on Telegram. They said 109 explosions were recorded.

Zelenskyy's office said Monday that the shelling had killed nine civilians and injured 19 in the past day. Six of the deaths were in the Kherson region. Two civilians were killed in Chuhuiv in the Kharkiv region and one in Prymorsk, on the Azov Sea coast about 12 miles (20 kilometers) from Russian-occupied Berdyansk.

The presidential office also reported that Marhanets, which lies across the river from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, was shelled.

In the Russian-occupied city of Luhansk, Russian state news agency RIA-Novosti reported that the acting regional interior minister, Igor Kornet, was injured in an explosion in a barbershop. Luhansks separatist head, Leonid Pasechnik, is quoted as saying the explosion was a bomb.

Assassination attempts and sabotage attacks have increased in Russian-occupied territory as well as Russia proper. Russian authorities often blame Ukrainian forces but Kyiv rarely acknowledges such attacks.

Zelenskyy traveled to Britain from Paris, where he met Sunday with French President Emmanuel Macron and secured a pledge of light tanks, armored vehicles and air defense systems.

About 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers would receive training in France this year and nearly 4,000 others in Poland, Macrons office said.

France had dispatched a plane to pick up Zelenskyy in Germany, where he met with Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier Sunday.

It was his first visit to Berlin since the start of the invasion and came a day after the German government announced military aid for Ukraine worth more than 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion).

Germany overcame its initial hesitation to become one of the biggest suppliers of arms to Ukraine, including Leopard 1 and 2 battle tanks, and the sophisticated IRIS-T SLM air defense system. Modern Western hardware is considered crucial if Ukraine is to succeed in its planned counteroffensive.

During his European trip, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would aim to liberate Russian-occupied areas within Ukraine's internationally recognized borders, and not attack Russian territory.

Among areas Russia still occupies are the Crimean Peninsula and parts of eastern Ukraine with mainly Russian-speaking populations.

The Washington Post cited U.S. intelligence leaks suggesting that Zelenskyy had considered trying to capture areas in Russia proper for possible use as bargaining chips in peace negotiations. This would put him at odds with Western governments that have insisted that weapons they provide must not be used to attack targets in Russia.

We have neither the time nor the strength (to attack Russia), Zelenskyy said when asked about the report, according to an official interpreter. And we also dont have weapons to spare with which we could do this."

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a bill that blocks public colleges from using federal or state funding on diversity programs, addressing a concern of conservatives ahead of the Republican governor's expected presidential candidacy.

The law, which DeSantis proposed earlier this year, comes as Republicans across the country target programs on diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education.

The signing builds on the governor's larger push to shape Florida's education system through regulating how schools deal with subjects such as race and gender, with DeSantis arguing that he is challenging inappropriate liberal ideology in the classroom.

DeSantis, who is expected to announce his presidential run in the coming weeks, has focused heavily on divisive cultural issues as he moves to win over the conservative voters who typically decide Republican primary elections.

Diversity, equity and inclusion offices in higher education often spearhead services tailored to students of various races, genders, sexual orientations, cultures and abilities. Some college administrators also consider so-called DEI factors when admitting students, providing scholarships or deciding which faculty to hire and promote.

The law blocks public universities from diverting state or federal funds toward programs or campus activities that advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion or promote political or social activism.

In reality what this concept of DEI has been is to attempt to impose orthodoxy on the university, DeSantis said at a bill signing ceremony in Sarasota. This has basically been used as a veneer to impose an ideological agenda, and that is wrong."

The measure also bars curriculums that teach identity politics or theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities." The provision is aimed at curtailing education about critical race theory, a way of thinking about U.S. history through the lens of racism.

In a signal of DeSantis' reach on education, he chose to sign the bill at New College of Florida, a small, traditionally-progressive school that became nationally known this year after the governor appointed a group of conservatives to its board of trustees. Among the DeSantis appointees' first moves was to eliminate the New College's diversity, equity and inclusion office.

The takeover has led to pushback among students at New College, long known for its progressive thought and creative course offerings that dont use traditional grades.

On Monday, a small group of protestors gathered outside the signing ceremony. DeSantis, as well as most of the speakers at the event, ridiculed them.

You know, I saw some of the protestors out there. I was a little disappointed. I was hoping for more, DeSantis said with a smile as his supporters clapped.

Sen. Shevrin Jones, a Democrat, issued a statement after the signing that said the law continues DeSantis' overreach into education.

Education ought to be about teaching kids how to think through issues, not what to think about issues, Jones said. The exposure to wide-ranging experiences and fresh perspectives encourages understanding and creativity. By restricting what students can learn, the state is actively suppressing students academic and intellectual freedom.
MIDDLETOWN  Middletown police secured the perimeters of all city schools for a time Monday morning after authorities said several people were seen trying to break into unoccupied vehicles in the parking lots at two schools.

Just after 11 a.m., police alerted the public about the incidents, which occurred at Spencer and Moody elementary schools, according to a post on the department's Facebook page.

The individuals are believed to have left the area, there is no threat to the public or the children and the secure the perimeter should be lifted soon, it said.

About 15 minutes later, the school district posted on its social media page that all is clear now in all capital letters.

When schools are asked to secure the perimeter, no one is allowed in or out of the school building. Activity inside the school remains unchanged, it said.

A parent posted a message to the Parents of Middletown Students Facebook page from Middletown Public Schools Communications Director Jessie Lavorgna that was sent at 10:50 a.m. The director said the precaution was due to a "community-based situation" that police were handling.

"Teachers can remain teaching but the hallways must remain clear. No one is allowed to enter or exit the buildings," Lavorgna wrote. "Please do not approach your child's school building until further notice."

At 11:30 a.m., Lavorgna clarified in an email to Hearst Connecticut Media that securing a perimeter is not a lockdown.

She also shared an email that she sent to parents and all staff moments before that said these actions were taken because of suspicious activity in the community.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The number of migrants encountered at the southern border fell 50% during the last three days compared with the days leading up to the end of a key pandemic-era regulation, U.S. officials said Monday.

But a high number of migrants are still in U.S. custody, although the number has fallen significantly since last week, said Blas Nunez-Neto, assistant secretary for border and immigration policy at the Department of Homeland Security.

The ability of U.S. Border Patrol to hold migrants has been a key concern as more migrants came to the border in the days leading up to the end of immigration restrictions linked to the pandemic, referred to as Title 42. The administration is facing a lawsuit aimed at curtailing its ability to release migrants from custody even when facilities are over capacity.

At one point last week, more than 27,000 migrants were in custody along the border, a number that may top 45,000 by the end of May if the powers to more quickly release migrants from custody when facilities are over capacity are curtailed, said Matthew Hudak, deputy Border Patrol chief, in a court filing last week related to the lawsuit.

Nunez-Neto said border officials had been encountering a little less than 5,000 people a day since Title 42 expired at midnight Thursday and new U.S. enforcement measures went into effect Friday. He did not give exact numbers.

Its still too early to draw firm conclusions. We are closely watching whats happening. We are confident that the plan that we have developed across the U.S. government to address these flows will work over time, said Nunez-Neto.

He credited the U.S. planning as well as enforcement measures Mexico and Guatemala have carried out in recent days along their own southern borders. He gave no details about what those two countries were doing.

The head of the U.S. Border Patrol, Raul Ortiz, said on Twitter on Monday that his agents had apprehended 14,752 people over the past 72 hours; that averages out to 4,917 per day.

The figures given Monday are sharply below the 10,000-plus encountered on three days last week as migrants rushed to get in before new policies to restrict asylum took effect.

Title 42 allowed U.S. officials to quickly expel migrants without letting them seek asylum, but it also carried no consequences for those who entered the country and were expelled. In the leadup to the end of Title 42, the U.S. introduced tough enforcement measures to discourage people from just arriving at the border, encouraging them instead to use one of the pathways the U.S. has created to facilitate migration.

Many migrants, worried about these tough enforcement measures, came before Title 42 expired.

The U.S. is in litigation about whether it can release migrants without what's called a notice to appear. Usually migrants who are released into the United States  as opposed to those held in custody or immediately expelled  get a notice to appear, which includes a court date and some type of monitoring with immigration officials. But it can take up to two hours to process a single person for this, potentially choking Border Patrol holding facilities when they're at capacity.

Since 2021 the U.S. has often released migrants from custody with instructions to report to an immigration office in 60 days. It's a process that takes only 20 minutes but it's come under attack by those who say it doesn't offer enough oversight. On Thursday a Florida court temporarily put an end to the process, following news reports that the administration was using it to relieve overcrowding in Border Patrol facilities; the administration is appealing that decision. On Monday the judge, in a preliminary injunction, narrowed the order so it only applies to migrants who say they plan to stay in Florida until their court hearings.

DHS said in a court filing Monday that it had released 6,413 individuals under the quicker release policy before the judge's order temporarily ending it was put in place.

In court filings last week, U.S. authorities said they cannot confidently estimate how many people will cross the border. Hudak said authorities predict arrests will spike to between 12,000 and 14,000 a day. Hudak also noted that intelligence reports failed to quickly flag a singular surge of 18,000 predominantly Haitian migrants in Del Rio, Texas, in September 2021.

__

This story has been corrected to note that the judge's temporary restraining order came on Thursday, not Friday.

__

Follow Santana on Twitter @ruskygal.
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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP)  Slovakias President Zuzana Caputova swore in on Monday a government of technocrats to lead the country to snap elections in September amid a political crisis.

Ludovit Odor, the the former deputy governor of the central bank and a respected economist, will head the 15-member Cabinet. Career diplomat Miroslav Wlachovsky becomes the foreign minister, with Martin Sklenar, a former senior defense ministry official, as the defense minister.

Odor, who comes from Slovakia's Hungarian minority, is not affiliated with any political party. No member of his government will run in the forthcoming election.

We won't work miracles but you can expect us to ensure the proper functioning of the state, Odor said.

Slovakia has been without a proper government since Dec. 15, when the coalition government led by Prime Minister Eduard Heger lost a vote of no confidence in parliament called by the opposition, following months of political crisis.

Caputova initially asked Heger to lead a caretaker government until early elections could take place. However, after four members of the caretaker administration gradually left their posts, Heger offered his resignation and Caputova opted for a government of technocrats.

Odor's government has to face a confidence vote in Parliament within 30 days.

Caputova said that in its limited time, the new government should focus on stabilizing the current situation in the country, preparing next year's budget, and lead Slovakia to the early elections set for Sept 30.

Heger's government was a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its fight against Russian military aggression and gave the Ukrainian armed forces the arms they requested, such as 13 Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets and the S-300 air defense system.

Some current opposition leaders, including former populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, oppose military support for Ukraine and European Union sanctions against Russia.

Fico and his Smer-Social Democracy leftist party are the favorites to win the upcoming election, according to recent polls.
Veterans who experienced certain traumatic events during their service may be able to receive disability compensation in the form of non-taxed monthly payments, as well as free health care, including specific PTSD treatment.

For a veteran to receive these disability benefits, he or she must demonstrate that the PTSD was caused, or made worse, by events that occurred during active military service. The adverse events could also have happened during military training, whether active or inactive duty. Additionally, the Department of Veterans Affairs also reviews post-service disability claims, meaning that if the PTSD didn't appear until after active-duty service, it may still be covered as long as veterans can show the service caused the condition.

For any disability claim, the condition can be one that affects the mind, body or both, and this also applies to PTSD.

PTSD is the fourth-most prevalent type of benefits claim the VA receives. Of the roughly 5 million veterans who receive compensation benefits, more than 1.1 million get PTSD benefits.

Eligibility begins with veterans demonstrating and documenting the effects of the trauma and submitting a claim to the government.

What Is PTSD?

PTSD, which stands for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, is a reaction to trauma that lasts beyond the first month after the adverse experience and negatively impacts mental and physical health, social connections, daily tasks and/or work performance.

After any trauma, it's normal to feel sad, angry, stressed or disoriented. It's also common to have problems focusing, sleeping or getting along with others. Most people who are exposed to a traumatic, stressful event experience some of the symptoms of PTSD in the days and weeks after exposure.

A PTSD diagnosis may be made if these difficulties persist and worsen beyond the first few weeks. Data suggest that about 8% of men and 20% of women go on to develop PTSD, and roughly 30% of these individuals develop a chronic form that persists throughout their lifetimes.

PTSD risk increases "when the traumatic event is more severe, violent, occurs over a longer period of time or involves harm to oneself or loss of a loved one," according to the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

An estimated 7.8% of Americans will experience PTSD during their lives, with women (10.4%) twice as likely as men (5%) to develop PTSD. About 3.6% of U.S. adults ages 18 to 54 (5.2 million people) have PTSD during the course of a given year.

About 30% of the men and women who have spent time in war zones experience PTSD.

PTSD is treatable.

PTSD Symptoms

PTSD can take a major toll on mental health. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms may include:

Flashbacks: Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again

Uncontrollable thoughts or intrusive memories about the event

Nightmares

Severe anxiety

Severe emotional distress

Unpleasant physical reactions when reminded of the traumatic event

Left untreated, PTSD can lead to hopelessness, memory problems, relationship conflicts, feelings of numbness and detachment, and lack of interest in hobbies.

PTSD can cause symptoms in the body as well as the mind. Physical symptoms can include high blood pressure, increased heart rate, fatigue, muscle tension, nausea, joint pain, headaches and other physical pain, including back pain, according to the APA.

Some who suffer from PTSD also experience depression and may be more likely to misuse alcohol and prescription drugs.

PTSD rarely goes away on its own, so it's important to seek help.

Read More: PTSD Frequently Asked Questions

How Is PTSD Rated by the VA?

The VA will rate your PTSD based on the severity of your disability. The higher your rating, expressed as a percentage, the higher the amount of disability compensation you'll receive.

Many factors are taken into account as the VA evaluates your PTSD disability claim. These factors include reports from your mental-health caregivers and results from your compensation and pension (C&P) exam, if relevant.

VA Rating Factors for PTSD

Under the current VA rating system for PTSD, the government considers stressful events to be contributing factors if the events are a result of combat, personal trauma or other life-threatening situations.

The veteran is evaluated partly based on the symptoms he or she is suffering as a result of the traumatic event or events These symptoms include the following categories:

Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury or sexual violation. This includes witnessing traumatic events or learning of them happening to someone close to the service member.

Intrusive symptoms such as distressing memories, nightmares and flashbacks.

Avoidance of people, places and situations that remind the sufferer of the traumatic events.

Negative mental states such as detachment, memory loss, distrust, hopelessness, self-blame, fear, anger, guilt, shame, loss of interest in activities, etc.

Hyperarousal states, including irritability, angry outbursts, hypervigilance, problems concentrating, easy to startle, trouble sleeping and more.

View more details about these categories of PTSD symptoms here.

Read More: Overcoming Barriers to PTSD Care

Steps to Making a VA PTSD Claim

Studies show that between 13.5% and 20% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans meet the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis, as do 12% of Gulf War veterans and 15% of Vietnam veterans.

The VA defines what is considered a traumatic event, also called a "stressor," for the purposes of veteran disability claims.

The veteran must have either "suffered a serious injury, personal or sexual trauma or sexual violation" or, in a second broad category that also falls under PTSD, the veteran was "threatened with injury, sexual assault or death."

Nearly half of the claims denied for PTSD related to military sexual trauma were not properly processed, according to a 2018 Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigation.

For disability benefits eligibility, the stressor must have happened during a veteran's military service and -- as a result of their PTSD symptoms -- they cannot function as well as they did before.

Veterans who received an other-than-honorable, bad conduct or dishonorable discharge may not be eligible for VA disability benefits.

Read More: PTSD Myths Persist in the Military Community

Present a Current PTSD Diagnosis

In addition to the other requirements for a VA disability claim, a doctor must diagnose the veteran with PTSD in order for this type of claim to move forward.

Identify an In-Service Stressor that Caused PTSD

For a successful PTSD claim, a veteran must not only have a medical diagnosis, but must also provide evidence that the disorder is associated with a stressor that occurred during military service.

"For PTSD purposes, a stressor is a psychologically traumatic event that the person experienced, witnessed or was confronted with that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of themselves or others," according to the VA.

Read More: Supporting a Family Member with PTSD

Prove Connection Between Your Service and PTSD

When filing your VA PTSD claim, you will be asked to document the details of any incidents that occurred that caused your PTSD.

Generally, the veteran must provide "credible supporting evidence of a specific in-service stressor," according to the VA. This requirement differentiates PTSD claims from other types of claims.

However, there are some exceptions to this rule:

A diagnosis of PTSD was made during service.

The veteran engaged in combat with the enemy.

The stressor is related to a fear of hostile military or terrorist activity.

The veteran was a prisoner of war.

Other evidence exists to support the occurrence of an in-service personal assault.

Presumptive Conditions

Some veterans may have what's called a "presumptive condition." According to the VA, presumptive conditions include:

A chronic illness that appears within a year after discharge. Examples include high blood pressure, arthritis, diabetes or peptic ulcers. A few conditions may take longer to manifest and therefore are exempt from the one-year rule. These include Hansen's disease, or leprosy; tuberculosis; multiple sclerosis; and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

An illness caused by contact with toxic chemicals or other hazardous materials

An illness caused by time spent as a prisoner of war (POW)

For presumptive conditions, the burden of proof is taken off the veteran, because the VA automatically assumes it was caused by your military service.

"If you have a presumptive condition, you don't need to prove that your service caused the condition," according to the VA. "You only need to meet the service requirements for the presumption."

Read More: Eligibility for VA Disability Benefits

File Your Disability Benefits Claim

Your VA disability claim for PTSD includes medical records you provide, a claim exam report if relevant, statements from you and others about your claim, and your military medical and personnel records.

You'll need to fill out one of these two forms:

VA Form 21-0781: Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; or

VA Form 21-0781a: Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Secondary to Personal Assault

After receiving your claim, the VA will review your medical records and ask you to submit more evidence if needed.

To learn more about filing a PTSD disability claim and see all the steps, go to the VA.gov website here.

Take Your C&P Exam

As part of your disability benefits claim, you'll likely be asked to undergo a compensation and pension exam, also known simply as a claim exam or C&P exam.

Veteran in Crisis: What to Do

If you or someone you know is a veteran in crisis, you can use any of these methods to connect to the Veterans Crisis Line, 24/7:

Call 988.

Text 838255.

Start a confidential chat online here.

If you have hearing loss, call TTY: 800-799-4889.

You can also:

Call 911.

Go to the nearest emergency room.

Go to the nearest VA medical center, regardless of discharge status or enrollment in VA health care.

Stay on Top of Your Military Benefits

Not sure what your veteran health care benefits are? Keep up with all the changes and details. Subscribe to Military.com. and get all the latest updates straight to your inbox.

Information from VA.gov and from previously published Military.com articles was used in compiling this report.
BEIJING  China sentenced a 78-year-old United States citizen to life in prison Monday on spying charges, in a case that could exacerbate the deterioration in ties between Beijing and Washington over recent years.

Details of the charges against John Shing-Wan Leung, who also holds permanent residency in Hong Kong, have not been publicly released.

Leung was detained April 15, 2021, by the local bureau of China's counterintelligence agency in the southeastern city of Suzhou, according to a statement posted by the citys intermediate court on its social media site. His detention came after China had closed its borders and imposed tight domestic travel restrictions and social controls to fight the spread of COVID-19.

Such investigations and trials are held behind closed doors and little information is generally released other than vague accusations of infiltration, gathering secrets and threatening state security.

Relations between Washington and Beijing are at their lowest in decades amid disputes over trade, technology, human rights and Chinas increasingly aggressive approach toward its territorial claims involving self-governing Taiwan and the South China Sea. High-level government visits have been on hold and U.S. companies are delaying major investments amid mixed messaging from Beijing.

The sentencing comes as U.S. President Joe Biden is traveling to Hiroshima, Japan, for the Group of Seven major industrial nations summit, followed by a visit to Papua New Guinea, a Pacific island nation in a region where China has sought to increase its economic, military and diplomatic influence. After Beijing's gains in the area, the U.S. and its Asia-Pacific partners stepped up their regional presence, offering investments and financial support rivaling those furnished by China.

Now the world's second-largest economy, China is expanding its footprint in ports, railways and other infrastructure from Europe to Southeast Asia and beyond.

While the Suzhou court offered no indication of a tie to overall China-U.S. relations, spying charges are highly selective and evidence backing them up is not released. That is standard practice among most countries, who wish to secure their personal connections, networks and access to information.

However, Chinas authoritarian political system and the ruling Communist Partys absolute control over legal matters, civil society and freedom of information forestalls demands for further information, as well as court appeals.

The U.S. Embassy in Beijing said it was aware of the case, but could not comment further due to privacy concerns. The Department of State has no greater priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas, the embassy said in the emailed statement.

The government of Hong Kong, a former British colony that returned to Chinese control in 1997, gave no further information about Leung's sentencing. Asked about the case Monday, Secretary for Security Chris Tang said Chinese authorities had reported the arrest to the city through a notification mechanism in 2021. Tang offered no other details about the case.

When it was returned to China, Hong Kong was promised it would retain its financial, social and political liberties, but Beijing has essentially scuttled that commitment since cracking down on pro-democracy protesters and imposing a sweeping national security law in 2020.

Chinese national security agencies have also raided the offices of foreign business consulting firms in Beijing and other cities as part of a crackdown on foreign businesses that provide sensitive economic data.

Foreign companies operating in China have come under increasing pressure as Xi Jinpings government tightens control over the economy. That stands in stark contrast to efforts to lure back foreign investors after draconian COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were lifted at the beginning of the year.

Long pretrial detentions are not unusual in China and prosecutors have broad powers to hold people charged in national security cases, regardless of their citizenship status.

Two Chinese-Australians, Cheng Lei, who formerly worked for Chinas state broadcaster, and writer Yang Jun, have been held since 2020 and 2019 respectively without word on their sentencing.

Government suspicion is particularly focused on Chinese-born foreign citizens and people from Taiwan and Hong Kong, especially if they have political contacts or work in academia or publishing.

Under Xi, the party has launched multiple campaigns against what it calls foreign efforts to sabotage its rule, without showing evidence. Universities have been ordered to censor discussions of human rights, modern Chinese history and ideas that could prompt questions about total Communist Party control.

Xi's government has also taken a hard line on foreign relations, most recently ordering outa Canadian diplomat in retaliation for Ottawa's expulsion of a staffer at the Chinese embassy accused of threatening a member of the Canadian parliament and his family members living in Hong Kong.

That meshes with Xi's confrontational global stance that has seen China partner with Russia in accusing the West of provoking Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and seeking to overthrow the U.S.-led liberal dominance of global affairs.
Marines and sailors who unwittingly drank and showered in water containing organic solvents and other volatile compounds at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, during its water contamination crisis decades ago had a 70% higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to newly published research.

A study published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association Neurology suggests the chemicals that poisoned the base water supply more than 40 years ago contribute to the fatal illness, which affects the nervous system and can cause tremors, slurred speech and difficulty moving.

The research compared the health records of more than 172,000 personnel assigned to Camp Lejeune from 1975 to 1985 with those of nearly 170,000 at Camp Pendleton, California, who were not exposed to contaminated water. The data showed 279 service members assigned to Camp Lejeune had a diagnosis of Parkinson's or had Parkinson-like symptoms, compared with 151 at Pendleton.

Read Next: Army Pilots Are Flying Way Less, as Fatal Incidents Pile Up

Crunching the numbers, the researchers found that the risk of Parkinson's was significantly higher in Camp Lejeune veterans and diagnoses of anxiety, tremor or erectile dysfunction -- Parkinsonism symptoms -- also were higher in those at the East Coast base.

The findings have implications not only for the roughly 1 million service members who were assigned to the base from 1953 to 1987 but also for their family members, civilian Defense Department employees and millions worldwide who were exposed to a common contaminant, trichloroethylene, or TCE, and tetrachloroethylene, or PCE, a dry-cleaning solvent.

"The study's findings suggest that the risk of Parkinson's disease is higher in persons exposed to TCE and other [volatile organic compounds] in water four decades ago," wrote the researchers, led by Dr. Samuel Goldman, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco Medical School and a staff physician at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. "Millions worldwide have been and continue to be exposed to this ubiquitous environmental contaminant."

Marine Corps and Navy personnel, their families and DoD civilians who lived on or worked at the base from 1953 to 1987 were exposed to industrial solvents such as trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene and other volatile organic compounds that leached into the drinking water supply at Camp Lejeune. The contamination was the result of illegal dumping by on-base personnel and an off-base dry cleaning company; leaking underground storage tanks; and spills.

For years, the government failed to disclose the extent of the contamination and denied that it was widespread. Following years of pressure from service members, their families and the media, however, the federal government in 2017 extended Department of Veterans Affairs disability benefits to affected veterans, as well as health care to families suffering a number of health conditions.

Illnesses seen in those assigned to the installation, as well as the nearby Marine Corps Air Station New River, included fertility issues and stillbirths; leukemia; bladder, liver and kidney cancers; multiple myeloma; non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; and Parkinson's.

Since 2017, Parkinson's has been considered a presumptive condition for those who served at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days, from Aug. 1, 1953, to Dec. 31, 1987. The designation means that disability claims filed by affected veterans are fast-tracked through the processing system, as is health care.

Historically, however, the VA has failed to adequately process Camp Lejeune claims. A 2022 VA Office of Inspector General's investigation found that, of the more 57,000 claims that were filed under the new ruling, the VA mishandled nearly 40% of those claims, denying or delaying benefits to more than 21,000 affected veterans.

The PACT Act, which became law in August, allowed victims of the contamination to sue the federal government for injuries related to exposure at Camp Lejeune. Under the law, they must file an administrative claim with the Navy first, and if the service doesn't adjudicate a decision within six months, they may sue for civil damages in federal court in North Carolina.

The new law sparked a salvo of advertising from attorneys seeking to represent former service members or their families with filing their claims, often at exorbitant legal fees. GOP lawmakers have called for capping the fees to ensure that veterans receive more of their settlement money should they win their cases.

A previous small study determined that exposure to TCE was associated with a six-times greater risk of developing Parkinson's disease. Goldman, who conducted those earlier studies, had sought to conduct larger-scale research to affirm the link, but the funding remained unavailable for nearly 10 years before the VA finally provided it, he said.

"I felt a personal responsibility because this multibillion-dollar assumption was based on that little twin study," explained Goldman in an article accompanying the research. "The human data were so limited to make that impactful a declaration."

Given how common TCE is in water, millions potentially have been exposed worldwide and risk developing Parkinson's.

Those who lived at Camp Lejeune and New River during the specified 40-year time frame are at risk as well.

In a JAMA news article accompanying the study, Briana De Miranda, an assistant professor of neurology and of pharmacology and toxicology, said the recent research was "very strong," designed to examine the effects of specific solvents on those exposed.

"I suspect there is probably more Parkinson's disease, and I think there's a lot more to come," said De Miranda, who was not involved in the study.

VA officials said that Camp Lejeune veterans and their families are eligible for health care and may be eligible for disability compensation. They can find out more about their options here.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com.

Related: VA Agent Orange Benefits Would Expand Under Landmark Burn Pit Bill
COPENHAGEN, Denmark  The duty commander of a Norwegian Navy frigate that sank following a collision with an oil tanker in 2018 was found guilty of negligence Monday by a Norwegian court.

The unidentified officer was given a 60-day conditional sentence by the Hordaland district court. He had denied the charge.

He is disappointed with the outcome, the lawyer for the 33-year-old officer, Christian Lundin, told Norwegian news agency NTB.

NTB said the officer had been on duty for eight minutes on Nov. 8, 2018, when the 134-meter (442-foot) KNM Helge Ingstad collided with the Maltese-flagged oil tanker Sola TS, tearing a large hole in the frigates side in a harbor in Sture, north of Bergen.

The frigates 137 crew were evacuated before the vessel sank. Eight people were slightly injured.

The duty commander was the only person prosecuted over the incident. The prosecution has claimed that negligent navigation was the main reason for the collision.

The officer had denied criminal guilt but had acknowledged that he did not do everything right. However, he felt it unfair to be held solely responsible for the shipwreck and said that mistakes were also were made on the tanker and at the maritime traffic center, which was responsible for traffic in the region.

The frigate has since been raised and scrapped as it was deemed too costly to repair it. The tanker was only slight damaged in the collision.

In February 2022, Twitt Navigation Ltd, the owner of the tanker, agreed to pay 235 million kroner ($22 milllion) to the Norwegian state in a settlement relating to the collision.
Ukrainian troops are set to begin training on U.S. M1 Abrams tanks after 31 of the tracked training vehicles arrived at an American base in Germany, the Pentagon's top spokesman said Monday.

The training will begin within the next couple of weeks, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said, the latest development in American aid as Ukraine wages a second year of a war with Russia following an invasion in February 2022.

"I can confirm that the 31 M1 Abrams training tanks have arrived at Grafenwoehr, Germany, in preparation for subsequent training of Ukrainian tankers," Ryder said during a briefing to reporters. He said the "extensive training program for Ukrainian crews and maintainers" is aimed at teaching them to operate and maintain the M1A1 main battle tank.

Read Next: Camp Lejeune Veterans at Higher Risk for Parkinson's Disease, Study Finds

Before President Joe Biden announced the U.S. would provide the much sought-after tank to the Ukrainians in January, American officials spent months arguing that the platform would be too difficult for the forces of the besieged country to keep running. The news also came shortly after Germany announced it would be sending 14 of its Leopard 2 tanks.

Ryder again underscored concerns over maintenance of the Abrams by noting that a key aspect of the training will be maintenance and sustainment.

"You've heard us talk about the fact that the M1 is a complex machine that requires a lot of maintenance to sustain it, keep it operating -- so, that will be crucial," he said.

The 31 tanks that are now in Germany are not the same ones that the Ukrainians will ultimately take into battle. They are intended specifically for training, according to Ryder.

"They don't necessarily have the capabilities that they would need to go into combat," Ryder said.

Meanwhile, tanks intended for Ukrainian combat operations are going through a refurbishment process now and will be updated and upgraded for export to Ukraine.

"We will be able to provide those tanks to them in the fall time frame," Ryder said.

In the last few months, American soldiers have trained thousands of Ukrainian fighters on other weapons systems that the U.S. military has provided to the country. These include the Stryker and Bradley fighting vehicles, as well as the Paladin self-propelled howitzer gun.

Ukrainian leaders have said that they have made gains around the eastern city of Bakhmut -- a site of some of the war's longest and bloodiest fighting -- in recent days. However, it is not clear if this push is part of a larger counteroffensive that is expected to begin soon.

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin.

Related: Ukraine Official: We Will Launch Counteroffensive When Ready
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Throughout the entire month of May, viewers can also enjoy a set of free shows in honor of Ani-May. Click here to check out the list, and browse popular options here.

Watch all your favorite anime content on Crunchyroll (14-day free trial). With plans starting at $7.99/month, register and stream a massive collection of anime hits. Click here to get started.
DETROIT  Four people are dead after the driver of a GMC Yukon crashed into a bridge in Detroit.

According to the Michigan State Police, the crash occurred on westbound I-96 near Grand River Avenue at 7:55 p.m. on May 14.

Witnesses told troopers from the Metro South post that the driver of the Yukon was travelling at a high rate of speed when the vehicle struck a bridge pier, causing significant damage.

Four people were ejected from the vehicle and were pronounced dead, police said.

Once again a drivers decision to drive recklessly cost lives on our roadways. said F/Lt Mike Shaw in a statement. This decision will not only affect those families involved but also witnesses and first responders on scene. Please drive responsibly. Lives are at stake.

Police did not identify the victims by name but said those who died include the 21-year-old male driver and three passengers: A 20-year-old male, 22-year-old male and 25-year-old male.

The investigation is continuing and is pending autopsy results and further vehicle inspection, police said.
MENOMINEE COUNTY, MI  Police are investigating after human remains were found in a wooded area in Michigans Upper Peninsula.

According to the Menominee County Sheriffs Office, the partial skeleton, including a skull, was found on a residential property on Swanson Road in Holmes Township at 6:22 p.m. on May 10.

The remains have not been scientifically identified but detectives have made a probably identification.

No foul play is suspected, deputies said.

Deputies were assisted at the scene by the Michigan State Police and the Marquette County Sheriffs Office.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriffs department at 906-863-4441 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
Editors note: The suspect has been taken into custody. An update can be found here.

DETROIT -- Police say a suspect wanted in connection with the death of a nurse who was kidnapped from outside a hospital should be considered armed and dangerous. Detroit Police are looking for 36-year-old Jamere Miller after he allegedly abducted 29-year-old Patrice Wilson Saturday morning in the 4200 block of St. Antoine St. as she was leaving the Detroit Medical Center.

According to a press release from the DPD, police were dispatched to the area around 7:40 a.m. for reports of a kidnapping. At a press conference Saturday afternoon, Captain Donna McCord said the suspect approached Wilson from behind as she got into the drivers side door of a black 2020 Lincoln Nautilus.

While details are limited, McCord said the suspect was last seen wearing a blonde wig when he forced Wilson into the car and then forced her into the passenger seat before fleeing. The car was seen heading south toward I-75 and Mack Avenue.

According to Fox 2 Detroit, Wilsons car was eventually found at an apartment in Novi, where her body was then discovered inside the vehicle. During the press conference, McCord said the preliminary investigation led officers to believe this was a domestic situation.

Detroit Police Chief James White is expected to address the media Monday at 4 p.m. in regards to the ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding the kidnapping or the whereabouts of the suspect are asked to contact Detroit Police, however the DPD is asking anyone who may see the suspect not to approach him.
WAYNE COUNTY, MI -- A search is underway for a prisoner who was mistakenly released from a county jail in Ohio.

The Michigan Department of Corrections said Monday that Christopher Bibbs Jr. was released in Warren County where he was needed for court proceedings.

Bibbs was transported to Ohio for charges of improper handling of a firearm in a vehicle, operating a vehicle while intoxicated and providing false information to police.

He is serving a 4-to-10-year prison sentence for carjacking out of Wayne County. He was incarcerated in May of 2022 and had been serving his time at the Thumb Correctional Facility in Lapeer.

MDOC officials learned that the county jail had incorrectly released Bibbs shortly after 2 p.m. on March 23. He was allowed to leave the jail on foot.

Bibbs is 21 years old and has a tattoo on his left forearm that reads only the strong survive. He is 510' and weighs approximately 160 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.

Since he was released, a series of efforts were undertaken to locate Bibbs, including working with his family. The department is now seeking the publics help in locating him. Bibbs is believed to be in the Detroit area.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Bibbs, or who may have seen him, is asked to call 911 or the 24-hour tip hotline at 1-844-362-8477.

Citizens should not approach this individual if they see him and should contact law enforcement immediately, a MDOC statement reads.
SENEY, MI - The loon love triangle at this Michigan wildlife refuge in the Upper Peninsula took another turn in recent days, making this web-footed drama pretty close to a waterfowl reality show. The latest twist: Ousted and injured ABJ, the ex longtime partner of the worlds oldest common loon, has vanished from the pools at Seney National Wildlife Refuge.

But researchers think they know where ABJ went - and why. They even think he might come back to visit Fe, his ex-partner of more than two decades.

What had been a loon pairing for the record books soured last spring when the worlds oldest loon couple, known as Fe and her mate, ABJ, broke up after 25 years together. Researchers documented how Fe found a new mate and hatched a chick on I Pool - one of the many lettered pools and wetland areas within Seney. Meanwhile, ABJ retreated as a loner to the nearby H Pool.

There may have been some Tinder-type meet-ups between the two ex-partners last season, but when the loons returned to Seney earlier this spring, Fe again chose an unbanded male loon as her partner after some bird drama. This left an injured ABJ to try to fend for himself on another pool.

His injury this spring was a broken bill - likely the result of a love-triangle battle. Researchers said the injury could make it hard for the nearly 36-year-old loon to eat.

Then ABJ vanished from Seney recently.

Damon McCormick of Common Coast Research & Conservation posted this social media update from Seney a couple days ago: Following our prior update two weeks ago, ABJ spent several days continuing to idle upon H Pool with his broken upper mandible. Although his periodic diving suggested attempts at feeding, because loons ingest much of their smaller prey underwater, there was no confirmation of successful foraging. After which he disappeared. Whither ABJ?

McCormick says ABJ likely relocated to an inland lake nearby, or even Lake Michigan, which is more than 20 miles south of Seney. In those places, the loon could find things like perch and pike that he could have an easier time eating than what the pools at Seney offer.

The waters at Seney have a lot of Brown Bullheads, a type of catfish that have long, thick whiskers around their mouth. This means loons - who swallow their food whole - have to work harder to eat this fish. They have to pluck out all the whiskers first. With his broken bill, its likely not something ABJ can do.

The adult male common loon known as ABJ, who has spent every summer at Michigan's Seney National Wildlife Refuge for decades, is one of the oldest loons in the world. His broken bill, likely the result of a territorial fight with another male loon, can be seen in this recent photo. | Photo by Carly Paget, Common Coast Research & Conservation

McCormick described it this way: Refuge loons, who swallow their prey whole, do not like these nuisance barbels, and upon catching a mature bullhead will first remove them via a series of stabbing and pulling actions with their bill. With no arms with which to firmly grasp the fish, this is a specialized skill that Seney loons acquire over time.

Over the years, researchers have seen ABJ deftly catching these bullheads and teaching his young chicks how to remove the whiskers, also called barbels.

During his years of invariable productivity with Fe, in late summer and early fall, with one of his large chicks begging for food, ABJ was fond of catching a bullhead and compelling the ravenous juvenile to watch as he methodically detached both barbels before serving up the dish to his offspring; after multiple rounds of this silent instruction, ABJ would then switch to severing only one barbel before offering the fish, compelling his chick to tackle the other unsavory whisker.

So what happens now? Researchers say they would not be surprised if ABJ is an occasional visitor to Seney this summer, and they expect him to return there as his home base next season.

Meanwhile, they say the nearly 37-year-old Fe remains on I Pool, nesting with her new beau and awaiting her next batch of record-breaking loon chicks. Incubation lasts between 27 and 29 days.

If one or two chicks successfully hatch around June 3, they will be Fes 41st and 42nd confirmed offspring, extending her own record for Common Loon lifetime productivity.
DETROIT -- Police say the suspect wanted in connection with the death of 29-year-old Patrice Wilson, turned himself into police Sunday. Wilson was kidnapped from outside the Detroit Medical Center Saturday in the 4200 block of St. Antoine St. and was later found dead in her vehicle outside of an apartment in Novi.

Jamere Miller, 36, was taken into custody Sunday after negotiating his surrender via his lawyer, according to Detroit Police Chief James White. During a press conference Monday, White said multiple units with the DPD were activated to search for Miller, prior to his decision to turn himself in. However, the public wasnt officially made aware of his capture until Monday afternoon.

White said the department believes Miller and Wilson had previously been in a dating relationship and had recently broken up.

Domestic violence continues to be a problem in our community, White said.

Miller is accused of kidnapping Wilson around 7:40 a.m. Saturday as she attempted to get into her 2020 Lincoln Nautilus. Miller was allegedly wearing a wig in order to conceal his identity and forced Wilson into the car before getting in himself. From there, he fled the scene in Wilsons vehicle before it was eventually discovered at the Novi apartment.

Miller is considered innocent until proven guilty and has not yet been formally charged in the matter. During Mondays press conference, White acknowledged Millers extensive criminal history which includes domestic violence charges, White said.

Its a tragedy that someone like Ms. Wilson would be taken away from this world, White said. So young and so tragically in this horrific way. She was young and she had her whole life ahead of her.

White said the investigation is in the preliminary stages and is ongoing.

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ANN ARBOR, MI - By December, Ann Arbor eaters will no longer be able to enjoy the deep-fried French raisin toast or sandwiches at Angelos Restaurant.

University of Michigan will purchase the 1100 Catherine Street building where the Ann Arbor staple is located, as well as its accompanying bakery and two residential apartments for $4.5 million, according to university documents. The sale is pending approval at the May 18 Board of Regents meeting in Dearborn.

Owner Stephen Vangelatos, son of the original owner, confirmed the planned sale and that the restaurant will close its doors in December after 67 years.

Vangelatos, 65, is close to retiring and no one in his family wishes to run the business in the future, he said.

This was pretty much my only option, he said.

Read more: Head to Angelos for deep-fried raisin toast while University of Michigan students are gone

The property is across the street from the Catherine Street Parking Structure and is a short walk to hospitals and clinics on the Michigan Medicine campus. The plans are for the university to develop the Catherine Street area for yet-to-be determined purposes, university documents show.

The tentative closing date on the pending sale is March 31, 2024, allowing time for Angelos to close in December and for the business to vacate the property.

The Angelos property produced $28,000 in tax revenue to Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County tax rolls, according to property records.

The sale has been the worst kept secret in Ann Arbor, Vangelatos said, as he has been planning it for a while. He fielded multiple offers, he said, but he found the process with the university was the smoothest.

Vangelatos worked for the restaurant for about 40 years and will miss it, he said, but his wife will appreciate his retirement.

She let me follow my dream of working seven days a week, and she basically did the work with the kids and that kind of stuff, he said. Now its time to pay her back and live kind of a normal life.

The May 18 regents meeting will take place at 4 p.m. on the UM-Dearborn campus. View a live stream at umich.edu/watch.

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.

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ANN ARBOR, MI - University of Michigan offered an additional 1% bump to its compensation proposal to the striking graduate student instructors, according to a Monday, May 15 university update.

University officials sent the Graduate Employees Organization an offer on May 12 totaling a 12.5% pay bump over the next three years - or 5%, 4% and 3.5% raises each year. The previous offer totaled 11.5% over three years.
UPDATE: Ypsilanti City Council on Tuesday, May 16 voted to suspend the ordinance targeted by the landlords lawsuit. Click here for more coverage from MLive/The Ann Arbor News.

YPSILANTI, MI - With the aid of a conservative legal group, five Ypsilanti landlords are suing the city over a requirement they must provide voter information to tenants.

The lawsuit, seeking a declaration the rules are unconstitutional, claims the landlords cant be forced to deliver new tenants a city information packet including polling locations, absentee ballot procedures and a voter registration form  a requirement on the books since city leaders passed a 2018 ordinance.

It is compelled speech to engage landlords to act as couriers of the municipalitys ideological messages to prospective tenants. Registering to vote is irrelevant to a tenants decision to enter into a lease agreement with a landlord, reads the complaint, filed May 11 in federal court and alleging violations of the landlords First Amendment speech rights.

Backing the legal challenge are attorneys with the Chicago-based Thomas More Society, a nonprofit law firm that has distinguished itself with work on behalf of anti-abortion causes and on religious liberty issues.

The landlords who brought the case  Ian Greenlee, Stewart Beal, Karen Maurer, C. Hedger Breed and Robert Barnes  include major city property owners and managers.

Ypsilantis city code states, unbelievably, that landlords who fail to provide paper copies of voter registration information to their tenants are subject to a municipal civil infraction. Its outrageous and its unconstitutional, said Erick Kaardal, Thomas More Society special counsel, in a statement.

City Attorney John Barr said on Monday, May 15 that the city had not yet received the lawsuit, and he would not comment without reviewing it. As of Monday, no response had been filed in U.S. District Court.

The Ypsilanti ordinance requires landlords give tenants voting and election information provided by the city, as well as details about city anti-discrimination rules and tenants rights and responsibilities, at the time of occupancy. The city provides copies of the information free of charge, and it must be mailed to tenants or provided in-person.

Failure to comply with the law could result in an escalating set of fines starting at $50 and going up to at least $300, according to the lawsuit.

Kaardal said in an interview that none of the landlords have been cited for noncompliance. But, the lawsuit states, they would rather remain silent about voter registration information, exercising their First Amendment protections.

If the government can communicate directly with the tenants, then why do we need an ordinance compelling the landlords to do it? said Kaardal.

The attorney said he was involved in the first to challenge a similar requirement in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, where a federal judge in 2020 struck down the requirements.

In March, Thomas More Society attorneys helped a property management firm sue the city of East Lansing, where city leaders subsequently voted to repeal similar rules, a step the legal group heralded as a victory.

The case was shared with one of the Ypsilanti landlords through a member of a state group investigating election law violations, according to Kaardal. Michigans election integrity groups are researching this issue as well as other issues, he said.

The lawsuit claims the landlords civil rights are violated by the city ordinance, and they are entitled to nominal damages, as well as attorneys fees and costs.

The suit requests the court declare the ordinance unconstitutional, affirm that it violated the landlords First Amendment rights and order the city not to enforce the requirement.

The First Amendment protects an individuals right to refrain from speaking as much as it does the right to speak freely, according to the lawsuit, and the landlords believe the city requirements compel them to do something they dont want to do.

Plaintiff landlords would rather remain silent, the complaint states.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page, the Ypsilanti-area page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter.

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GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- A judge has dismissed two of three counts in a lawsuit challenging the secret process used to appoint county Clerk-Register Domonique Clemons but the case can move forward on the single question of whether the appointment violated the states Open Meetings Act.

Ingham County Circuit Judge James Jamo issued the opinion and order on May 8, granting Genesee Countys request for summary disposition on two of three counts in the lawsuit filed by Hemlock resident Nichole Ruggiero, whom the judge said doesnt have legal standing to bring the counts he dismissed because she doesnt live in Genesee County.

The judge left standing a third count in the lawsuit, which claims Genesee Circuit Court judges violated the OMA in deliberating to appoint Clemons, and asks Jamo to invalidate the appointment and restart the selection process.

A second lawsuit that also questions Clemons appointment, filed by former Flushing Mayor Archie Bailey, is also pending before Jamo and the county has asked the judge to dismiss that case as well.

Ruggiero and Bailey separately sued the county in January, each claiming that a panel of Genesee Circuit Court judges should not have appointed Clemons to the combined position of clerk-register.

The lawsuits also say the process used by the judges to pick Clemons -- without conducting public interviews, keeping minutes or deliberating in public -- was illegal.

The question over whether the judges should have made the appointment is rooted in the hybrid office of clerk-register, which the county created when the Board of Commissioners merged the clerk and register of deeds positions more than a decade ago.

Michigans Election Code says that if a vacancy occurs in a county clerk or prosecutor position, it shall be filled by circuit judges in the county.

But the code doesnt speak to a merged office of clerk-register and says if a vacancy occurs in any county office except clerk or prosecutor, the appointment must be made by a different group -- the presiding or senior judge of the probate court, the county clerk and the prosecuting attorney.

Genesee judges announced the appointment of Clemons, who previously served as the chairman of the Board of Commissioners, in a Dec. 6 news release.

His appointment came after the judges said in a news release that they had interviewed eight applicants for the position in private, never revealing the names of other candidates.

Clemons has said he followed the process outlined by the judges to apply for the position and plans to serve as clerk-register until Im told to do otherwise.

Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton, whose office is defending the county in both the Bailey and Ruggiero cases, called Jamos opinion and order well thought-out, and Ellison said the ruling simply puts the Ruggiero case on a single path rather than the three possibilities he outlined in the three counts of the lawsuit.

It doesnt heartbreak me because Bailey wont lack standing, Ellison said.

Read more at The Flint Journal:

Judges broke state law by picking Genesee clerk-register in secret, lawsuit claims

Second lawsuit challenges closed-door process used to pick Genesee clerk-register

Flint Clerks Office is contaminated with mold, employees tell City Council

Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter.
FLINT, MI  Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist will waive the start flag for two innovative vehicle design challenges at Kettering University this week.

Kettering University will host the Square One Education Networks 16th annual Innovative Vehicle Design Challenges at the Mobility Research Center in Flint on Tuesday, May 16.

Sixty teams from middle schools and high schools across the state will compete in three different competitions: Autonomous Innovative Vehicle Design Challenge, Mini Innovative Vehicle Design Challenge and the Full-Scale Innovative Vehicle Design Challenge.

The competition challenges students to re-engineer a Power Wheels Jeep into a fully autonomous vehicle. The mini challenge has the same task but uses an electric 1/10th scale RC car. The full-scale challenge features a gas-powered go-kart kit that students must turn into an electric or hybrid vehicle.

It is an annual competition that will now feature a career expo for visiting students with multiple organizations, including the Michigan Department of Transportation, Michigan Works! Association, a multinational engineering firm and others.

(Square One students are) working on things like sensors and controls, autonomous development, vehicle efficiencyjust like the biggest mobility-focused companies in the worldand theyre learning these concepts and applications in a hands-on way, in collaborative teams, with real deadlines and budgets, just like Kettering students and just like professional engineers, Scott Travis, Kettering University director of Specialty Admissions, said.

This is the fourth year that Kettering has hosted the event, according to a news release from the university.

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With no distribution plan, Flint school board votes to allocate $1.5M for teacher payments

UM-Flint strikes partnership with Michigan high school esports federation to host tournaments

Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter.
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  One man was injured on Monday, May 15, in a crash that closed the impacted roadway for over an hour, Ottawa County sheriffs deputies said.

Police responded to an 8:35 a.m. report of a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of 96th Avenue and Lake Michigan Drive in Allendale Township.

The crash happened while the driver of one semi, a 39-year-old Texas man, was turning left onto 96th Avenue from Lake Michigan Drive. Police said the second semi, driven by a 52-year-old North Carolina man, was heading westbound on Lake Michigan Drive as the first semi started to turn left.

The second semi went left of the centerline in an attempt to avoid the other truck, but the two semis collided.

The Texas man was transported to an area hospital for treatment. Police said he is in stable condition.

The westbound lane of Lake Michigan Drive was closed for about an hour and a half.

The crash remains under investigation.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  One of Grand Rapids largest food truck festivals is ready to roll this Sunday.

The RollN Out Food Truck Festival, put on by the Grand Rapids Food Truck Association, will take place Sunday, May 21, celebrating its fifth year. The festival is set to happen on Ottawa Avenue and Calder Plaza.

According to organizers, 44 food trucks and trailers will participate in the festival. Food trucks will open at 11 a.m. and remain at the event until 8 p.m.

At the festival, Kids Food Basket will be hosting a kids zone and collecting items to combat food insecurity. Anyone that brings a grocery bag full of items requested by Kids Food Basket will be given $5 in food truck bucks to use at any of the food trucks at the festival. Grocery bags must contain at least four out of the following requested items: Fruit cups or pouches, pudding cups, meat sticks, brown lunch bags, Cheerios, pretzels and cheese crackers.

In addition to the food trucks, there will be 30 local merchants, live music and a beer tent.

Some of the food trucks signed up for the festival include:

Airborne Burritos

Big Mikes Kettle Corn

Curry in a Hurry

Crepes by the Lakes

Dune Buggy

El Jalapeno

Falafel Truck

Fire and Rice Paella

Kona Ice

Outlaw Roasted Corn

Ponchos Tacos

Sanse Filipino Cuisine

StreetChef Shaw

Stud Muffins Cupcakes

Underground Cookie Club

Waffle Stix

The RollN Out Food Truck Festival is sponsored by Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., Grand Rapids Event Management, Alliance Beverage, GR8 Food Trucks, the city of Grand Rapids office of special events and Mobile GR.

Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  May is National Foster Care Month and Michigan doesnt have enough foster parents to support the number of kids in the system.

D.A. Blodgett-St. Johns has launched an awareness campaign to bust some of the myths floating around what foster care and parents look like in hopes of encouraging more families to become foster parents. The nonprofit is one of the largest agencies focused on the West Michigan area.

Officials say the myths that surround the foster care system are pervasive. For example, there are misconceptions like a potential foster parent needing to be married and a homeowner, as well as the idea that LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) individuals are not eligible and that foster parents have no parental say for the children in their care.

Stacey Goodson, a recruitment, retention and training specialist at D.A. Blodgett-St Johns, said this campaign will use the month of May to spread the truth about foster care on social media, TV and more.

Were hoping that if were able to debunk some of the myths that people have about becoming a foster parent, then therell be more people that might consider asking more questions, and even consider being a foster parent, Goodson said.

Goodson has been a foster parent herself to over 40 children over a span of 10 years, having the opportunity to add three of them to her family permanently through adoption and guardianship.

There are about 10,000 children in the foster care system in Michigan. There are 500 children in foster care in Kent County and D.A. Blodgett-St. Johns has 100 current foster homes, according to Amber Jones, the director of communications. She said there are more homes in Kent County through other agencies.

We are in situations on a daily basis where kids are either coming into care or moving from one foster care placement to another, and we just simply are finding ourselves in a space that we dont have enough foster homes for these kiddos to go to, Goodson said.

When a foster parent becomes ill or cant care for the children, the children are moved to multiple houses for a couple days at a time until they are able to find somewhere stable for them to go.

Kristy Robertson has been a licensed foster parent since November 2020, having around 15 children from infants to 16-year-olds placed in her care. Usually, Robertson cares for two or three at a time in sibling groups while also taking care of her four biological children.

This is definitely our whole family, Robertson said. We are a foster family. Were not just foster parents. I think that its important to include our own biological kids into the process because I think that its important theyre a part of the team. I will say it is the hardest thing that we have ever done as a family and myself as an individual, but it is the most rewarding experience.

Robertson has seen the same problems in the system, getting calls asking to take more children in her already full house because there are not enough hands in the system. She said the people in the system are doing their best, but she feels failure every time she cant take in more kids.

Robertson emphasized that anyone with an extra bedroom and has the willingness to learn and to love can be a foster parent.

She emphasized that if an individual cant be a foster parent, there are other ways to support the system including helping with transportation, meals, clothing, supplies or even becoming a respite family, which is a short-term foster home for when a foster family needs a break or extra support.

Robertson also highlighted the importance of being trauma-informed, which means understanding and being aware that reactions or behaviors of a child are a byproduct of their previous environment. She said being more educated on these triggers or habits of children will add more tools to your toolbox.

Goodson said the COVID-19 pandemic made it harder on children with trauma and the numbers of parents in the system as many foster parents dealt with mental health and financial struggles. This made it harder for children in foster care to be placed in long-term housing.

During the pandemic, these kids that were already in tough situations, were put into these predicaments, Robertson said. These situations were with people that were unhealthy, and then you put them stuck in a home for however many months at a time, and then (there are) mental health issues. As a byproduct, the kids that are coming into care, they need a lot of support.

Finding placements for teenagers in foster care is the biggest struggle. Goodson said potential foster parents fear that teenagers will have more challenging behaviors. From her own experience of hosting teenagers, Goodson said teens are just kids too.

Goodson hopes the campaign also tells foster parents where to go when they have these concerns. D.A. Blodgett-St. Johns, located at 2172 Dean Lake Ave. NE, offers therapy, biological parent visit support, and services for children with harder times adjusting to new living situations.

For Robertson, moments like seeing the baby her family started fostering a couple of months ago look at them with happiness and safety in her eyes or seeing the older children start to enjoy school or get good grades makes the difficulty of the foster system fall away.

She hopes to encourage others to get involved with the foster system.

Its about all those little glimpses of progress in these kids, Robertson said. Theyve come from hard places and theyve had some pretty tough things happen to them, yet having the opportunity to witness them growing and then healing, beginning in that process of learning what its like to feel safe.

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KENT COUNTY, MI  Bummed the Beer & Mac n Cheese Fest in Grand Haven got canceled? Never fear, cheesy noodle lovers: The Michigan Mac and Cheese Fest in coming to a suburb of Grand Rapids later this summer.

The event will be held in Comstock Park on Aug. 12 and 13 at LMCU Ballpark, 4500 W. River Drive NE. This is the first time the festival will be back in Michigan since it was held in Kalamazoo in 2019. The United Dairy Council of Michigan (Undeniably Dairy) Outlier Events and LMCU Ballpark are hosting the festival.

Related: Beer & Mac n Cheese Fest in Grand Haven not happening this weekend

LMCU Ballpark, home to the West Michigan Whitecaps, has also recently hosted the Donut and Beer Fest and a Taco and Tequila Fest.

We cant wait to bring this fan-favorite event to a brand-new city for the very first time, stated Outlier Events founder Brian Colopy. Our goal is to travel our events across the state and country to bring these events to new fans each year. LMCU Ballpark and Undeniably Dairy are a perfect fit.

The Mac and Cheese Festival will include giveaways, opportunities to engage with Michigan dairy farmers, dairy mocktails, yard games, live music and photo opportunities. There will also be beers, ciders and seltzers and 20-30 food vendors. The festival is an all-ages event.

The festival will take place 4-8 p.m. on both Saturday, Aug. 12, and Sunday, Aug. 13 on the concourse at the ballpark. VIP access will begin at 3 p.m.

In the past, the Mac and Cheese Festival has sold out, so it recently expanded to a two-day event to meet demand. Attendees will receive sampling tokens with their tickets, a drink sampling cup, a spork and a branded lanyard. A limited number of VIP tickets will grant one-hour early entry and more sampling tokens.

Tickets for the Grand Rapids Mac and Cheese Festival dont go on sale to the general public until May 26, but people who sign up now for the festivals priority list will get first access to tickets beforehand. The priority list signup is available at macandcheesemi.com.

On behalf of Michigan dairy farmers, we are proud to be a part of this successful event each year that honors such a legendary and classic dairy dish that is a staple in many homes across the state, said Sarah Woodside, VP of marketing and communications at United Dairy Industry of Michigan.

While food vendors have yet to be announced for this years festivities, vendors in previous years have served cheesy delicacies like macaroni and grilled cheese sandwiches, smoked mac and cheese, mac and cheese ice cream, barbecue mac and cheese, hot dogs topped with mac and cheese and brisket mac and cheese.

Related: Donuts and Beer Festival returns to Grand Rapids

Previous brewery vendors include Bells, Saugatuck Brewing, New Holland Brewing, The Mitten Brewing Company and more.

General admission tickets for both beer and macaroni and cheese are $44, while Just the Mac tickets are $34. The tickets include six tokens for mac and cheese samples and six alcoholic drink tokens or three soda/water tokens for the Just the Mac tickets.

VIP tickets are $59 for beer and mac and cheese or $44 for Just the Mac. These tickets come with 10 macaroni sample tokens, 10 alcoholic beverage tokens or three soda/water tokens, early entry and a free Mac and Cheese Festival hat along with the cup, lanyard and spork.

Children 12 and under are free with a paid adults ticket. Sampling tickets for children can be purchased for $2 each on site. Children looking to join the VIP early hour will need the VIP Just the Mac ticket.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A man who stole $5,271 in a Kent County bank robbery allegedly committed the brazen act to free a woman he met online and who was reportedly being sex-trafficked.

But even his attorney admits it was a scam for which Greenwood never should have fallen.

Greenwood was sentenced to time served, or 260 days in jail, on Monday, May 15. He earlier pleaded to a charge of attempted bank robbery .

Mark Hunting, the attorney for the 27-year-old Greenwood, told a Kent County judge that Greenwood met a woman using an online app. The woman told Greenwood she was being sex-trafficked.

Greenwood then was put in contact with the alleged sex-trafficker. Greenwood then paid more than $12,000 to the person to buy her freedom.

Hunting said the alleged sex-trafficking then kept asking for more money.

Consequently, he thought his best course of action to try to help this woman was to rob a bank, which of course is completely unjustified, but thats what he did, Hunting said.

Hes a much brighter guy and shouldnt have fallen for something like that. I think he understands that now, he said.

Greenwood has no criminal record, his attorney said.

Kent County Circuit Court Judge George Quist noted that Greenwood got a very good deal here before sentencing him.

As part of the sentence, he was placed on three years of probation.

During the bank robbery on Aug. 27, 2022, Greenwood walked into a Fifth Third Bank on 10 Mile Road near Rockford wearing a University of Michigan hat and a sweatshirt of pull-over also with the Michigan logo. He then handed a teller a note demanding money and was given $5,271. He never showed or implied a weapon.

Greenwood, of Cadillac, was arrested the next day.

Police recovered the stolen money.

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JACKSON COUNTY, MI  Helping others feel included is something Allison Dorian enjoys, and a small grant has helped her further achieve this dream.

Allison, along with the rest of her third-grade class at Hanover-Horton Elementary School, brightened several seniors days with bracelets on Friday, May 12, at John Gantons Countryside Community, 2140 Robinson Road. Allison made the simple gesture to put a smile on the seniors faces, her teacher Amber Bushinski said.

This was totally her idea, Bushinski said. She is really good inside the classroom and outside, and it doesnt surprise me shed come up with an idea like this. She shows kindness to everybody.

The 8-year-old got the idea to make bracelets from an after-school activity led by Bushinski.

I thought giving back to the community would be a good, kind thing to do, Allison said.

However, there was one barrier when it came to putting the idea into action. Funding.

Bushinski needed help to get the supplies for the bracelets and transportation to the senior commuity. Luckily, Allison and her mom Becky Dorian found some grant funding available for the project through the Jackson Community Foundation.

Allison, with the help from her teacher, submitted an application to the nonprofit for its YAC Mini-Grant Program, which helps pay for classroom projects. They were quickly approved for $300, her mother said.

During the last month, Allison and her class made several bracelets from hand and wrote letters to the seniors, wishing them a good day and reminding them they are loved.

Students who didnt want to make bracelets made bookmarks. They gave all their gifts to the residents, then played bingo with them, on Friday.

The students were excited to see the project come to fruition, Bushinski said. However, it was also a great experience for the residents, said Ashley Finerty, John Gantons Life Enrichment Coordinator for Brightside.

I absolutely loved it. Our residents are huge with kids on campus, Finerty said, Coming out of the COVID world these are some really amazing moments that were in right now of having schools back in.

Allisons favorite part of this experience was getting to do it with her classmates, and to help spread some joy to the residents, she said.

Becky believes Allison got the idea to visit the seniors, since her grandmother also offers free haircuts to the seniors at the retirement home once a year from her school, Atlas Academy of Cosmetology, 2500 Spring Arbor Road.

Im just so proud of her, Becky said. It kind of inspires other students to look into the grant and see how they can help their community.

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JACKSON COUNTY, MI -- A 21-year-old Jackson County man died Monday in a motorcycle crash.

Hunter Gosnell, a Spring Arbor Township resident, was killed on May 15 when the motorcycle he was driving south on Chapel Road near the intersection of King Road in Spring Arbor Township ran a stop sign at around 11:30 a.m. and collided with the side of a pickup, according to the Spring Arbor Township Police Department.

No one in the pickup truck, which was traveling east on King Road, was injured, police said.

Spring Arbor Township police are being aided in the investigation by the Jackson County Sheriff Offices Accident Reconstruction Team.

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SHANGHAI, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Saturday called for solid efforts to strengthen the country's brand building.

Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when delivering a speech at the International Forum on China Brand Development, part of the ongoing 2023 China Brand Day events in Shanghai.

China has rolled out a series of measures on brand cultivation and development and has built the country's own well-known brands, with Chinese brands constantly gaining popularity, reputation and influence, Ding said.

He urged improving brand cultivation and development mechanism, encouraging enterprises to incorporate elements related to Chinese culture into brand building and strictly cracking down on illegal activities such as trademark infringement, among other measures.

Efforts should also be made to improve international rules and standards on brand-related intellectual property rights, facilitate communication on brand building, and promote the development of brands globally, the vice premier said.

Prior to attending the forum, Ding visited an exposition on brand development and communicated with exhibitors.

The 2023 China Brand Day events kicked off in Shanghai on Wednesday and will run until May 14.

The events are jointly held by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and several other government organs.
BERRIEN COUNTY, MI  A body was found in the St. Joseph River, likely the body of a missing mother.

A body similar to Shirani Simpson, 42, was found around 9 a.m., on Monday, May 15, in the St. Joseph River, north of St. Joseph Valley Parkway in Sodus Township, the Berrien Springs-Oronoko Township Police said in a news release. The body was found by the Berrien County Sheriffs marine division.

Related: Police release name of missing mother who possibly drowned in Michigan river

Simpson entered the river around 6:30 p.m., May 7, because her 8-year-old son appeared to be having difficulty in the water, police said previously. They were in the river near Dairy Road in Oronoko Township.

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.

The body was found about 11 miles south of where Simpson went missing, although the river winds and does not flow straight south.

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The body will be scientifically identified by the Kalamazoo County medical examiners office, the release said.

Police thanked the numerous agencies who assisted in the search, including the Great Lakes Drone Company, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Berrien Springs-Oronoko Township Fire Department.

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KALAMAZOO, MI  Martin and Jamie Byrd arrived at the Kalamazoo Farmers Market site at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 15, accompanied by their 2-year-old pit bull Sadie.

No, they werent two days late for the farmers market.

The couple, from Decatur, was instead more than four hours early for a free vaccine clinic hosted by VetReach Kalamazoo and the Kalamazoo Humane Society.

Some pet owners arrived more than five hours early with their cats and dogs, as supplies were limited. People lined up by foot, and in cars, which wrapped around the parking lot by the time the event started at 1 p.m.

This is so wonderful man, this is a beautiful thing, Martin Byrd said. Honestly, I wouldnt be able to afford it. Ive got so many bills to handle. This here was a blessing. I took the day off work to come here ... to save a few pennies.

In addition to getting free vaccines for Sadie, which can cost a few hundred dollars, the couple was hoping to get Sadie microchipped, Jamie Byrd said.

Volunteer veterinarians, assistants and technicians worked the event to give annual vaccines, as well as flea and tick and heartworm preventatives. Free dog and cat food was also given out courtesy of Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes.

The volunteers were contributing their time for free as part of the humane societys new VetReach Kalamazoo program, which launched last week.

The hands-to-paw volunteer-run program, funded by a $200,000 grant from PetSmart Charities and a $50,000 grant from the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, provides affordable or free veterinary care to low-income and vulnerable pet owners, said Brian Steele, director of operations with the Kalamazoo Humane Society.

Related: Kalamazoo Humane Society receives $200K grant; promotes employee to new coordinator role

Theres a huge population of animals that live in poverty, but those people that have animals in poverty can benefit from the animals as much, or more than, those of us that maybe dont have those struggles, Steele said. So, to be able to give a few dollar vaccination and know they dont have a $1,000 vet bill for parvo  which for most of these animals is a death sentence  its best for everybody.

Mondays pop-up clinic was the first of many that VetReach Kalamazoo plans to host in the coming months.

The need was on full display as cars lined up all the way to Lake Street and Portage Road, with hundreds being turned away Monday afternoon. Prior to being turned away, each driver was stopped and asked to provide their information to a volunteer so they would be contacted directly for the next event.

If we took care of everybody that tried to come today, wed be here until tomorrow morning, Steele said. We have enough materials to do 100 animals today, but we could do that every day of the week, given the need.

For Diane Lucas, of Battle Creek, she and her two red merle Australian shepherds, Cholla and Patches, were among those who made the cut.

I just think its super awesome, she said. Helping us out by doing their nails, their shots and (giving away) pet food. Im on a fixed income, so its hard after paying phone bills and rent. This is a really big help.

Another attendee, Barb Kinney, drove in from Constantine with her 9-year-old German shepherd, Opie.

I think they are saving a lot of animals, she said. My vet passed away during the pandemic and we couldnt find another vet for quite a while who could take us, so this is a big help.

Mondays clinic, like future ones in the planning stages, required no pre-registration and attendees are not required to show any financial need.

We are really taking what we do in the clinic, and rather than have them come to us, we go to the community, said Aaron Winters, executive director of the Kalamazoo Humane Society. Most of the people that come here at 7 a.m. and wait all day arent ones that normally go to (a vets office). ... They dont have the money.

In addition to low-income owners, others, like Kinney, have had trouble getting into a veterinarians office due to how far out some are booked, Steele said.

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If other issues arise through checkups at the VetReach clinic, the humane society is also funding certain treatments. Those who wish to have their animals spayed or neutered can also be accommodated, he said.

VetReach Kalamazoo is looking for veterinary professional volunteers to help with future clinics.

We are looking for every veterinarian in Southwest Michigan to donate four hours of their time a year, same with vet techs and assistants, Steele said. Were not asking for a lot of time.

To learn more about VetReach Kalamazoo and its mission, please visit kazoohumane.org/vetreach.

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Mayors Ride gives community a chance to cycle with city leaders

Child depression, anxiety on rise: How local approaches tackle mental health needs

Body found in Michigan river is likely that of missing mother

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UPDATE: Since the initial publication of this report, funeral services for Adrain Smith were announced. Information about those services now is included in this updated report.

SAGINAW, MI  There was a saying among many barbershop clients in Saginaw: If you didnt get a blend cut by The Twins, you didnt get the best blend in Saginaw.

People would wait for hours to go get a blend by The Twins; if you wanted a blend, you had to go and get a Twin blend, Tamelka R. Doster said of the reputation earned by brothers Adrain and Tard Smith over the decades.

The twin brothers reputation as community pillars was on the minds of family, friends and clients alike after news circulated over the weekend that Adrain Smith died. The 49-year-old Saginaw man died Friday, May 12, at Ascension St. Marys hospital in Saginaw, his obituary reads. His cause of death was not stated.

Doster, a hairstylist, said you got a lot more than a haircut if you were a client of Smith, who was co-owner of Twins Side-by-Side Barbershop, 1717 E. Genesee in Saginaw.

If you were a client, he would consider you a friend. Doster said.

In a series of profiles of the twins published in September 2022 on the Facebook page for Riverfront Saginaw, a business-promoting organization, Smith and his brother talked about how they began cutting hair at the age of 14.

Our grandmother gave us an allowance, so, one time, we took the money and decided to go buy some clippers and give it a shot, the profile stated. We started by cutting each others hair. Then family members started asking us to cut theirs, and then it grew to friends asking.

Twuan Williams, also a Saginaw barber, said he was among the friends to receive a haircut from The Twins during those early years. Williams was classmates with the Smith brothers at Saginaw High School in the early 1990s, when the twins would provide haircuts to their teenage peers.

As funny as it may sound, they kind of had their own barber shop on the third floor of Saginaw High, said Williams, who graduated with the Smith brothers in 1993. People would cut class or wait for their advisory (hour)  or during lunch  to go get their hair cut while we were in school.

Their gift as barbers and stature as community-minded individuals expanded when the Smith brothers began their professional endeavors at Twins Side-by-Side Barbershop in March 1998. Williams, promoter for the annual Saginaw Downtown Comedy Jamm, at last years event presented both brothers with the Pioneer Award in recognition of their contributions to the Saginaw community.

They made others want to go into their profession because of their professionalism and because their talent was so extreme, Williams said. Theyre model citizens; theyre church-going, family-oriented, business-minded people.

Williams said people were inspired by the perseverance of Adrain Smith, who lived with prosthetic legs after his legs were amputated because of complications from diabetes.

He still showed up for work and never lost any clients, Williams said. It just shows you the love people had for him; for his talent and professionalism.

Tim Lewis, 43, said Smiths positive attitude  despite his physical challenges  was inspirational. Lewis, a U.S. Navy veteran who suffered several injuries that continued to bother him following his military service from 1998-2004, said Smith served as a guiding light when times were tough.

He kept me pushing, said Lewis, a family friend and client of the brothers for about three decades. Sometimes, when you had days when you wanted to give up, you could look to that man and see how he fought hard. Hes a reason a lot of people are fighting.

When Lewis returned to Michigan after serving in the military, he said both Smith brothers helped him as he transitioned back to civilian life.

Coming home from the military, youre a different person, Lewis said. So, just having two genuine people like (the Smith brothers) here  to have them help me reconnect with home  that meant everything to me.

Lewis, a Saginaw native now living in Flint, said he tries to visit Twins Side-by-Side Barbershop every Friday. He was confused when he showed up last week to see their business closed for the day, then saddened when he learned Adrain Smith died that same day.

Adrain was pretty much that God-fearing, genuine person who always had something positive to say to you, Lewis said. Hes not one to hold back how he feels, and thats what I love about him. Hes a loving and kind-hearted person, and always ends every conversation with, I love you.

Doster said the brothers clients loved them for the conversations they sparked in the barbershop. In the series of September 2022 profiles, the Smith twins talked about their passion for engaging with customers.

Whatever were talking about  it could be politics, religion, or life  were respectful of your decisions, the profile stated. At our barbershop, we dont argue. We have discussions, but our discussions dont get so heated that we get physical or insult each other.

Doster said the brothers remained inseparable through the years. They had a double wedding, shopped together, and drove the same vehicle models, she said.

You always saw both twins, Doster said of encountering the Smith brothers in public. Even though they were both married and had separate lives, you never saw one without the other.

She said Adrain Smiths absence would be felt throughout Saginaw.

He was just an outstanding individual, Doster said. He was a pillar in our community.

A memorial service for Adrain Smith is scheduled at 10 a.m. Monday, May 22, at Victorious Believers Ministries, 624 S. Outer Drive in Buena Vista Township.

In this June 2009 MLive file image, twin barbers, Tard Smith, left, and Adrain Smith, right, stand inside their business, Twins Side-by-Side Barbershop. Dameon Noel, center, received a haircut from them.The Saginaw News

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BAY CITY, MI  Investigating allegations that an Alpena man was preying on young girls, police searched his home and business and seized computers for evidence they potentially contained. The suspect responded by accusing police of stealing money and prescription pills.

Following a probe, the police were cleared of wrongdoing and the Alpena man  70-year-old Thomas A. VanDuinen  ended up charged with filing false reports. Months later, he was charged in state court with numerous sexual assault offenses.

Now, VanDuinens legal matters have been elevated to the federal level, where hes facing a charge of sexually exploiting a minor girl.

The convoluted, sordid story began in February 2021, with the Michigan State Police investigating reports that VanDuinen had sought young girls on social media, provided them with drugs and money, then sexually assaulted them. Troopers served search warrants on VanDuinens home and a pole barn he was using for business purposes.

Records indicate VanDuinen operates DeZaak Management, which rents apartments in Alpena.

Police seized a computer tower and cellphone, on which they found countless images and videos of minors being sexually abused, they said.

Two days after the warrants were served, VanDuinen filed demands for his propertys return. He also filed a lawsuit alleging the troopers stole money and hydrocodone pills from him and forged signatures on the warrants. As a result, the MSP Professional Standards Section launched a criminal investigation into the troopers conduct.

The Michigan Solicitor General closed the probe in January 2022, exonerating the troopers of wrongdoing. The Michigan Attorney Generals Office then charged VanDuinen in Alpena County District Court with three counts of false report of a felony and single counts of providing a false statement to police and using a computer to commit a crime.

That case has since been bound over to Alpena County Circuit Court, where a trial date is pending.

In February of this year, troopers arrested VanDuinen at his home. He was subsequently charged by in Alpena County prosecutors with first-degree criminal sexual conduct, three counts of aggravated sexually abusive activity, two counts of using a computer to commit a crime, and one count of accosting and soliciting prostitution. That case is scheduled for a status conference the afternoon of June 21.

VanDuinens predicament entered the federal realm in April, with an FBI agent submitting an affidavit to the courts. The affidavit states a 17-year-old girl in February 2021 alleged VanDuinen sexually assaulted her multiple times between March and August 2020 and gave her drugs. She was 15 when the assaults began, she said.

VanDuinen on April 18 had his first appearance before U.S. District Magistrate Judge Patricia T. Morris in the federal courthouse in downtown Bay City. Morris informed VanDuinen he had been charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor.

The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, the maximum being 30 years, followed by supervised release of five years to life.

In an April 20 detention hearing before Morris, Assistant U.S. Attorney Katharine Hemann stated VanDuinen filmed the minor girl being assaulted by two adult men. In the video, VanDuinen turned the camera to face himself and smiled, she said.

This defendant actively induced minors to have sex with him for money and other goods like drugs, alcohol, and favors, Hemann said. He attempted to arrange for this minor to have sex with other adults for money and appears to have succeeded at least one time.

VanDuinen also actively sought nude photos from underage girls, Hemann said. Though he had a fiancee, he would also solicit sex from adult women by offering them money for rent. He would also threaten to evict them if they declined, Hemann said.

This is not a singular incident the defendant engaged in, but it went on for a lengthy period of time, she continued. This defendant has a history of controlling and manipulative behavior of women.

In 2002, VanDuinen pleaded guilty to soliciting a prostitution, though the conviction was dismissed the following year, Hemann said.

Hemann asked Morris to hold VanDuinen without bond, saying hes a threat to the public and that freeing him even on a GPS tether would not suitably deter him from engaging in more criminal acts.

Defense attorney Barry A. Wolf asked for his client to be freed on bond, stating hes not a flight risk or a threat to the community or any individual. He said VanDuinen denies the allegations against him.

Morris ended up siding with Hemann and ordered VanDuinen held without bond pending trial. A preliminary examination in VanDuinens federal case is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on June 12.

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SAGINAW, MI-- Officials with the Saginaw Public School District have placed Arthur Eddy Academy,1000 Cathay St., into secure mode after a police warning.

According to Superintendent Ramont Roberts, the district received a warning by police after 12 p.m., Monday, May 15, that there may be criminal activity in the area requiring the school to be locked down.

Notice of an armed and dangerous suspect in recent robbery, assault and shooting crimes had been made public by various media outlets around the area.

No activity has been reported at the school. Roberts said the process is protocol when handling matters involving similar investigations by police.

For additional other information on the matter, Roberts referred to the Saginaw Police Department.

No other schools/buildings in the district have been named as entering secure mode.

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Happy Monday!

Welcome back to Wallet Watch, your economic recap of Michigan business news from the week before.

Last week was a big week for rankings. Michigan got poor grades for roads, hospitals and drinking water. But Michigan universities exceled, topping national lists for medical and law schools.

Two Michigan cities also stood out on a national list for Millennial homeownership. Lets start there with a look a real estate.

The majority of Millennials are homebuyers, finally

Millennials recently crossed a threshold; the majority of the generation, 51.5%, owns homes.

Millennials, born from 1981 to 1996, have had a slow, steep climb into homeownership as they weathered both the 2008 housing market crash and the 2020 housing competition. The oldest Millennials are now in their early 40s and the youngest in their late 20s.

Where are Millennials living? On either side of the Great Lake state.

Grand Rapids is the No. 1 city in the U.S. with 63% of Millennials as homeowners. Close behind is Detroit at No. 7 with a rate of about 55%, according to Apartment Lists 2023 Millennial Homeownership Report.

Millennials have lagged behind older peers in making the transition from renter to homeowner. By age 30, 42% of Millennials owned their homes, compared to 48% of Gen Xers, 51% of baby boomers, and nearly 60% of the Silent Generation. That gap persists through their 30s and into their early 40s, according to Apartment Lists analysis.

The other half of the generation that hasnt entered the market expresses a growing anxiety that they may never own a home.

Over time, Millennial renters have become more likely to say they will rent forever, almost doubling from from 13% in 2010 to 24% in 2022. The largest jump in forever renters came between 2019 and 2020, again pointing to the pandemics impact on Millennials financial heath, according to Apartment List.

The housing stock remains tight. Will it scare off buyers?

Competition in the housing market continues to be fueled by high demand, low supply. Michigan-based real estate data company Realcomp reported that Michigans residential inventory was flat in April.

The April report of new listings was negative for all of the Michigan metros recorded by Zillow:

Detroits inventory was down 28.2% year-over-year

Flints inventory was down 19.1% year-over-year

Ann Arbors inventory was down 28.3% year-over-year

Lansings inventory was down 15.1% year-over-year

Kalamazoos inventory was down 38.9% year-over-year

Grand Rapids inventory was down 29.7% year-over-year

This mirrors a national trend. The National Association of Realtors blamed tight inventory for a month-over-month 2.4% dip in existing home sales in April.

Overall housing inventory had a 5.4% increase from one year earlier, although the number of homes for sale is down compared to the same period in 2019, according to the NAR. The report estimates the U.S. is at a 2.6 months supply of homes, below the healthy margin of a six-month supply.

Michigans months supply of homes sits at 1.6, according to Realcomp. Homes for sales totaled 14,343 in April.

Another larger Michigan employer offers buyouts

Consumers Energy is the latest company offering buyouts as a cost-saving measure.

The utility company offered buyouts to 4,900 non-union employees, the majority of whom are based in Michigan.

The decision comes on the heels of the Jackson-based company asking workers to return to the office.

Consumers Energy spokesperson, Katie Carey, said the voluntary separation package was deliberately timed with the companys Return to the Workplace plan that requires employees to work in the office three days a week starting May 15.

As a company, we have been studying the issue, benchmarking with other companies and weighing what works best for our customers, our co-workers and our culture, Carey said in a statement. As one of the largest employers across the lower peninsula, we feel like its important for our employees to be visible in the communities we serve and in person with one another.

Only employees hired to work remotely before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020 will be allowed to continue working from home, according to a new work location policy shared with the company. Most people hired remotely after the pandemic will be expected to report to their assigned location by May 15.

Anyone who lives more than 60 miles away from an assigned work location is expected to relocate within a commutable distance. Consumers Energy said in the policy employees will be provided a reasonable time to do so. And anyone hired for remote work after the pandemic who were not originally offered relocation will be provided assistance to move by Dec. 31.

Buyouts are making the rounds at other major Michigan employers like Stellantis, which offered 33,5000 buyouts to hourly and salaried U.S. workers last month and General Motors, which accepted 5,000 buyouts in April.

Looking for the big picture? Check out these macroeconomic issues:
15.05.2023 LISTEN

The management team of the reigning 24th VGMAs Artiste Of The Year Black Sherif, A-list Management has gifted the rapper two new cars.

He received the surprise gifts  a brand-new Mercedes-Benz and a Ferrari on Friday, May 12, 2023 following his mega win at the 24th edition of the VGMAs.

According to what GhanaWeekend has gathered, the cars which were presented to him during a private party are in appreciation for winning the 2023 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards 'Artiste Of The Year'.

After receiving the gifts, the overly enthused rapper thanked his management for the perpetual support and promised to continue to make them proud by winning more laurels.

Watch the video below



Reagan Mends
15.05.2023 LISTEN

Nollywood actor, Murphy Afolabi reportedly died on Sunday.

He died in a bathroom accident.

Nigeria media reports claimed he slipped in his bathroom and hit his head against an object, which led to his unfortunate death.

His passing has come at a time Nollywood is already mourning the sad death of veteran actor, Saint Obi.

The President of the Yoruba movies directors guild, Seun Olaiya, reportedly broke the news of his demise on a WhatsApp platform for filmmakers.

The light-skinned actor's last post on social media was on Saturday where he wished his fans a happy weekend.
16.05.2023 LISTEN

Ghanaian socialite Mona Faiz Montrage popularly called Hajia4real has appeared in Manhattan federal court Monday for her alleged involvement in a series of romance schemes targeting older people who lived alone.

She pleaded not guilty to the charges and is set to be released in the coming days on a $500,000 bond with GPS tracking via an ankle monitor, her lawyer confirmed to The Post.

Montrage, age 30, who had around 3.4 million Instagram followers on her page Hajia4Reall at one point - from at least 2013 through to 2019 was involved in a group of con artists from West Africa who assumed fake identities to trick people into thinking they were in relationships with them using emails, texts and social media messages, feds said.

The scammers would then get the victims to transfer money to them under false pretenses  such as to help move gold to the US from overseas, to resolve bogus FBI investigations and payments to help fake US Army officers in Afghanistan, court papers alleged.

Miss Montrage, in one case, allegedly duped a victim into sending her $89,000 through 82 wire transfers on the pretext of helping her fathers farm in Ghana, the court documents claim.

She tricked the person into believing the pair were married by sending them a traditional marriage certificate after a series of phone conversations using her real identity.

Montrage also received money from several others who were swindled by scammers in her network, prosecutors allege.

In total, Montrage netted $2 million in funds the group ripped off from victims to bank accounts she had in the Bronx and elsewhere, including one opened in the name of 4Reall Designs, a supposed clothing company.

She then allegedly laundered the stolen money to other members of the enterprise, the indictment charges.

As alleged, Mona Faiz Montrage was a member of a criminal conspiracy that specifically targeted older Americans through romance scams, Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement. These scams can be both financially and emotionally devastating for vulnerable victims.

Thanks to the efforts of our law enforcement partners, Montrage was arrested abroad and has been brought to the United States to face justice, the statement continued.

The social media influencer whose Instagram account was among the top 10 most followed in Ghana was arrested on November 10, 2022, in the UK for the alleged conspiracy.

Montrage is charged with wire fraud, money laundering, receipt of stolen money and conspiracy.

She faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the top charge.

Montrages lawyer Adam Cortez told The Post: At this time all we know is that there are six alleged victims and only two dealt with a woman and only one of them claims that he dealt with Ms. Montrage.

Cortez said he couldnt comment further until he receives more information and evidence from prosecutors.

The lawyer said his client can only travel in certain parts of New York and New Jersey pending her case.

Watch the video below:


14.05.2023 LISTEN

MEN PLEASE PASS IT ON. Thank You

Motherhood comes in different forms, but we mistakenly think of mothers as being just biological ones. We miss out others like Adoptive, Foster, Single, Blended family, Mentee, Spiritual, Widowed, Stepmother, Bereaved, Divorced, and Grandmothers or Aunts acting as replacement mothers. SO WOMEN OUT THERE, YOU ALL COUNT, AND ARE ALL APPRECIATED good job and Blessings to you. 

The Bible has examples of most of these forms of motherhood.

In John 19: 26-27 Mary, the mother of Jesus, became Johns adopted mother, and John became her adopted son at the foot of the cross ( Adoptive).

In Jeremiah 31v 15-17, Rachel in Ramah was crying and could not be comforted because her children had been taken into captivity (Prison).

In Matthew 2v16, mothers wept when the wicked King Herod slaughtered children two years and under because he wanted to kill Jesus the young child (Bereaved mothers).

In 2 Kings 4: 1-17, The widow of the dead prophet who encountered Elisha (widow and a single mother).

In 2 Timothy 1:5, Timothy Apostle Pauls Protege was brought up by his Grandmother and mother.

Whatever category of motherhood you belong to, if your child is in physical, mental, relational, financial, or spiritual bondage, I have comforting news for you. There are promises from the Bible you can stand on. May you be encouraged and strengthened in your mind and spirit as you stand in the gap and be like the watchman on the wall of a city looking out for the enemies coming against it. Pray for them and do not give up. 

Phil. 4v6: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;. Nothing is too difficult for God to change. He can work it all out for good.

The following references will enable you to effectively pray for the various categories of children in your life.

1. In Physical bondage, (Prison, Lost, Sick, Sex trafficking, alcohol and drug Addict etc.), we are encouraged in Jer. 31v 16: For your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord, And they shall come back from the land of the enemy.

2. In Mental bondage (Anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, detached from you, under control of others, cults etc.), Jerm. 31v17 encourages us: There is hope in your future, says the Lord, That your children shall come back to their own border.

3. In Spiritual Bondage, we are encouraged in 1 John 3 v 8; For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Spiritual blindness is the devils work. Jesus can free them.

Jesus came to set the captives free. If your child is in spiritual darkness, occultic bondage, or under demonic attack, Jesus said I have come that they may have Life, and that they may have it more abundantly John 10 v10b.

Mother, In every category; continue to stand in the Gap for your children. God has not finished with them yet. He is still in the redemption and restoration business. Weeping may endure for a night, But Joy comes in the morning. Ps. 30v5. 

Please pass it on to all these deserving Women.

Happy Mothers Day and God Bless You as you labor for all your children. 

@ Dr. Barbara Entsuah

(Family Medicine Specialist, Speaker, and Author).
Myanmar is one of Bangladesh's closest neighbours, and the two countries have had a long-standing relationship dating back generations. The 271-kilometer Bangladesh-Myanmar border is strategically significant for Bangladesh, despite the fact that it is militarized due to Myanmar's continuous internal strife.

Relations between Bangladesh and Myanmar were formalized on January 13, 1972, when Myanmar, as the sixth state, recognized Bangladesh as an independent entity. However, due to the presence of several unresolved issues such as Rohingya refugees and maritime border demarcation, the scene has changed in an unfavourable way, and ties between these two neighbours have not always been as friendly as envisioned. But this time, they need to come closer on the environmental front. Cyclone Mocha wreaks havoc in Myanmar, Bangladesh.

On May 14, the Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm 'Mocha' hit the coastlines of Bangladesh and Myanmar, bringing with it heavy rains and high-velocity winds with a speed of 1ss95 kmph. Cyclone Mocha, which was described as the second-most severe storm to form in the Bay of Bengal since 1982 and made landfall on Sunday (May 15) afternoon in Bangladesh and Myanmars Rakhine state near Sittwe township, tore off roofs and killed at least five people. According to media reports, Cyclone Mocha wrought devastation in Myanmar by damaging buildings, turning streets into rivers, uprooting trees, and flooding the coastal city of Sittwe.

In its most recent advisory, the IMD (Indian Meteorological Department) said that cyclone Mocha had become a cyclonic storm over Myanmar. There is also High alert in West Bengal as Cyclone Mocha wreaks havoc in Bangladesh.

In Bangladesh, authorities moved around 300,000 people to safer areas before the storm hit. Rohingya refugees inside densely-populated camps in the Cox's Bazar in the southeast of the country hunkered down inside their ramshackle homes. Mocha spared a densely-populated cluster of refugee camps in low-lying neighbouring Bangladesh.

SCS Mocha over Myanmar weakened into a Cyclonic Storm at 0230 hours IST of 15th May over Myanmar near latitude 23.5N and longitude 95.3E about 450 km NNE of Sittwe (Myanmar), 260 km of north-northeast of Nyaung-U (Myanmar) and 420 km ENE of Coxs Bazar (Bangladesh), the IMD said.

As a strong storm pounded the Myanmar shore, thousands of people were evacuated to temples, pagodas, and schools around the country. Local media gathered videos that demonstrated how deep water rushed through streets while wind whipped trees and tore boards off of rooftops.

Cyclone Mocha, according to forecasters, might be Bangladeshs strongest storm in nearly two decades.

Aid agencies in Bangladesh and Myanmar say they are bracing for disaster and have launched a massive emergency plan as a powerful cyclone barrel toward millions of vulnerable people.

However, on the environmental front, the Tatmadaw and Bangladesh military, the authorities of Myanmar and Bangladesh, people from both sides may collaborate to lessen the risk of regional environmental degradation through coordinated disaster management systems, operations, and projects. Cyclone Mocha can affect both Myanmar and Bangladesh. Cyclonic Storm Sitrang was a tropical cyclone that affected India and Bangladesh on October 25, 2022. Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar could work together. Cyclone Nargis in 2008 was the best illustration of it. This natural calamity wreaked havoc on both countries' coastlines. Both Myanmar and Bangladesh have several opportunities to work in order to lessen the risk of environmental degradation and loss.

Joint initiatives taken by the two concerned authorities; militaries can pave the way to bolster the ties between the two neighbors. Improved ties between the Bangladesh military and Myanmar military can smoothen the ties resolving the long pending issues such as the crisis of displaced persons from Rakhine who are currently living in Bangladesh, maritime dispute, border-related trans-border crimes. Basically, this could pave the way of future collaboration. On the other hand, all states must come together on the environmental front.

Countries like Bangladesh and Myanmar, which are the major victims of climate change with the worst victimization still awaiting, may work together in order to address the issues related to global environmental deterioration. Besides the major problems of poverty and illiteracy, Bangladesh and Myanmars vulnerability to environmental deterioration is very alarming. Basically, Tatmadaw and Bangladesh military can work together to mitigate the risk of regional environmental degradation through joint disaster management systems, operations, initiatives. Cyclone Nargis in 2008 was the best example to understand it. Both coastal countries were affected by this natural disaster. There are ample opportunities for both Myanmar and Bangladesh to work together in reducing the risk and loss of environmental degradation.

To reduce the harm brought on by the tragedies common to both nations, Myanmar and Bangladesh should work together more closely in managing and forecasting floods.

We can say that in the midst of the present disasters affecting Bangladesh's Southern, where people are coping with their suffering and losses, Myanmar residents who live in Rakhine and Ayeyarwady regions are also having similar issues.

Environmentalists fear that climate change could cause additional disasters, especially in Bangladesh, which is heavily populated. The South Asian neighbors have recently witnessed more extreme weather, resulting in significant damage.

Myanmar and Bangladesh must offer joint help in managing the disaster as both nations' northeastern regions are being devastated by cyclone. Information sharing is the urgent element at this time. Cooperation in this regard is required for serving the common interests.

With Myanmar and Bangladesh bearing the brunt of cyclones regularly as a result of their location in the world's second-largest river basin, experts in both countries and international arena are emphasizing the importance of taking an "integrated approach" and "regional cooperation" to reduce the enormous economic and human costs.

Whether it be cyclone or tropical disaster, there should be a shared knowledge of the issues. Scientists from both nations, as well as perhaps India, Thailand, Sri Lanka as they are also a part of the Bay of Bengal, should work together to find answers to the issues.

Thus, China must cooperate with India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka also. China can't remain silent on this issue. However, the deadly cyclone reminds us of the urgency of India-Bangladesh-Myanmar -Thailand-China-Sri Lanka cyclone management cooperation. To more focus, Myanmar-Bangladesh-India cooperation must in this regard.

However, Myanmars military should take effective steps to foster the ties. It must understand that Bangladesh is a peace-loving country and friendly neighbors. Bangladesh believes in peaceful coexistence. Thus, engagement with Bangladesh would be beneficial for Myanmar also. Friendship ties between the two neighbouring countries can assure peace, harmony, regional stability, regional greater interest, etc. in the whole regions (South Asia and Southeast Asia)
Ghana's largest opposition party chose the country's ex-president John Dramani Mahama as its flagbearer Sunday for the 2024 presidential election.

Delegates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) voted in primaries on Saturday through Sunday to choose a candidate for both the presidential and parliamentary polls.

Mahama was declared the overwhelming winner after polling 297,603, or 98.9 percent, of the votes while his challenger former Kumasi mayor Kojo Bonsu scored 3,181, or 1.1 percent.

The primaries come as Ghana holds talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over a $3 billion bailout to help overcome an economic crisis, and as it faces a growing jihadist threat from a conflict in neighbouring Burkina Faso.

On Saturday, more than 355,000 NDC party delegates converged at 401 voting centres across the country for the ballot.

Despite defeats in 2016 and 2020 elections by incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo, 64-year-old Mahama had been eyeing a return and had faced off with former central bank governor Kwabena Duffuor and Bonsu.

But Duffuor withdrew from the race late on Friday, saying the party was not ready to conduct a "free and fair election".

Mahama had already been tipped by most political analysts to win the primary, based on his experience and influence in the opposition party.

"He has been tried and tested and comes with a lot of experience," Kwame Asah-Asante, a political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, told AFP.

"Mahama is the most marketable candidate in the party now. I don't see the delegates voting against him. The party stands a better chance of returning to power with Mahama than any other candidate."

'Poisoned calabash'

Duffuor, also a former finance minister, has a large base in the Ashanti Region -- the stronghold of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He had reversed his decision earlier on Friday to place a court injunction on the primary race after expressing reservations about discrepancies in the electoral roll.

The 80-year-old's campaign message had centred on hope for Ghanaians.

But later the same day he pulled out of the race.

"I wish to reiterate my commitment to the party and its grassroots. However, my concerns that the party is not ready to conduct free and fair election is evident for all to see," he said in a statement.

"Taking part in such would be akin to knowingly drinking from a poisoned calabash."

The ruling New Patriotic Party will hold its own primaries in November 2023 while the presidential election is scheduled for December 7 next year.

Mahama will likely look to capitalise on the economic crisis facing the West African country in the presidential campaign.

Ghana, a major exporter of cocoa and gold, has defaulted on its external debts including eurobonds, and is in talks with the IMF for a $3 billion line of credit to strengthen the economy.

Once seen as an investors' favourite, Ghana has recently struggled with its debt load. The government spends more than half of its revenues on debt servicing.

Ghana, along with coastal West African neighbours Benin, Togo and Ivory Coast, is also bracing for growing spillover from jihadist conflict over northern borders in Burkina Faso, where Islamist militants control large swathes of territory.
HON. SANJA NANJA

14.05.2023 LISTEN

The Atebubu-Amantin constituency of the opposition National Democratic Congress last Saturday elected Hon. Sanja Nanja the incumbent Member of Parliament as its Parliamentary candidate for the 2024 general elections.

He was elected at the NDC primaries at which it also gave ex-President John Dramani Mahama a 96.2% endorsement as flagbearer for the upcoming elections.

Hon. Sanja Nanja polled 991 votes amounting to 65.4% of the total valid votes cast to beat his sole competitor Atindogo Tahiru a teacher who garnered 524 votes with 8 ballots rejected.

The election which was interrupted 3 times by the rains also had former President John Dramani Mahama securing 1438 of the total valid votes cast as against 28 and 29 for Mr. Kojo Bonsu and Dr. Kwabena Duffuor respectively whiles 31 ballots were rejected.

The event which started a little after 9.00am ended at about 8.30pm with the declaration of the Parliamentary results by Mr. Kennedy Opoku the municipal boss of the Electoral Commission of Ghana.
Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpe, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) of Keta, has retained his position as the parliamentary candidate to contest the 2024 general election on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress.

He polled 486 votes to beat other aspirants.

Dr Senanu Kwasi Djokoto gathered 329 votes for the second position, whilst Dr Emmanuel Kojo Jones-Mensah polled 265 votes.

Madam Enyonam Apetorgbor had 20 votes while Paul Mensa Voegborlo had zero. There were three rejected ballots.

Mr Philip Adzomani, the Keta Municipal Electoral Officer, declared Mr Gakpe as the parliamentary candidate elect.

A total of 1,103 delegates out of the projected 1,112 took part in the elections, while 1,106 voted for the presidential primary.

Mr Gakpe, in his victory speech, thanked God and all delegates for reposing the trust in him for another second term slot and called for unity towards massive victory for the NDC in the next general election.

The victory is for NDC not me alone and it is time for us to come together as one family and forge forward for better things, he added.

Mr Wisdom Seade, the Keta NDC Chairman, commended the electoral officials, the police and party members for a peaceful and successful election.

NDC is the winner and there is no loser, since we are under the same umbrella, he added.

In the Presidential primary, Mr John Dramani Mahama garnered 1,095 votes to beat Mr Kojo Bonsu, who polled four votes, with 7 rejected ballots.

The election was held at the Vodza Roman Catholic Mission School.

GNA
The comic book adventures of Tintin, an intrepid young reporter who travels the world, contain racist stereotypes, lack fleshed-out female characters and can be read as products of a bygone era. But nearly a century after he was first created by Belgian cartoonist Herge, Tintin remains one of France's favourite characters. Why?

Renaud Nattiez is what is known as a "tintinophile", or Tintin lover.

A former diplomat and teacher, he has devoted himself to the character since 2016, writing seven books about him and managing an imprint of the Harmattan publisher dedicated to Tintin and Herge.

And yet, Nattiez agrees the 24 albums featuring the young Belgian reporter with a distinctive lock of sticking-up hair and faithful dog Snowy have their problems.

 There is criticism from all sides, he says, pointing to leftist critiques in the 1970s that called Tintin a reactionary, and more recent concerns about anti-Semitism and racist stereotypes .

Listen to Nattiez talk about Tintin in the Spotlight on France podcast:

Nattiez's latest book, Faut-il bruler Tintin? (Should we burn Tintin?) addresses the critiques, and explores why, despite all these problems, we in the 21st century still remain fascinated by Tintin.

I did not want to write an adulation of Tintin  something unconditional that refuses to see what can be criticised, he says, pointing to Tintin in the Congo as an example.

In the 1931 story, the second in the series, Tintin travels to what was then a Belgian colony, and Herge drew people with big lips and no hair, speaking broken French, who look to Tintin as a kind of white saviour.

 Tintin in the Congo is often presented as rather colonialist, even racist, and I think that even if the criticism is justified, the book needs to be put into context, says Nattiez.

Georges Remi  who later took the pen name Herge  had created Tintin as a serialised comic strip in the Petit Vingtieme, the weekly youth supplement of a conservative daily paper, Le Vingtieme Siecle, that was managed by a right-wing Catholic priest, Norbert Wallez.

After the success of the first story, Tintin in the Land of the Soviets, published in 1929, Wallez asked Remi to send Tintin to Belgian Congo  a colony since 1908  to introduce colonialism to the paper's young readers.

Herge later said he was not enthusiastic about writing the story; he would have preferred to send Tintin to the United States, as a counterweight to the USSR. In a 1979 interview with Belgian public radio, he said that if he were to redo it, Tintin in the Congo would be very different.

Herge, who died in 1983, made 24 Tintin albums, and Nattiez says that his work evolved. He gives the example of The Castafiore Emerald, published in 1963, in which Tintin and his sidekick Captain Haddock take the defence of the Romani community, who were victims of racism and exclusion.

Beyond nostaglia

Tintin may be a product of his time, but he has made it to the 21st century, continuing to sell half a million copies in France each year, according to publisher Casterman.

Comic book shops have entire shelves devoted to Tintin albums, though they are not the main driver of their sales.

These were seen as good books, with a positive character, without too much violence, with a bit of a Boy Scout spirit, explains Ludo, who runs the Univers BD shop in northern Paris.

A Tintin fan himself, he has devoted three small shelves to the series  the commercial colour albums, reproductions of the black-and-white originals and books about Tintin and Herge.

But buyers aren't the kids who come looking for mangas or other more contemporary comics.

Often the clientele [for Tintin] are people who are looking to complete their collection, because one book has been damaged or lost, he says. They introduce them to their children.

In other shops Tintin dominates, like at the Album BD shop in Paris' Latin Quarter, on a street lined with comic book stores, where a model of the red-and-white chequered rocket that Tintin takes to the moon features prominently out front.

Merchandise  key chains, figurines, mugs and card games  make up 60 percent of sales, subsidising the books.

Many people come in looking for something for their grandchildren, says salesperson Sophie. There is the idea of transmission.

But for Nattiez, the popularity of Tintin goes beyond nostalgia. He points to the over 600 books written about Tintin and Herge, and the interest not just from older readers, but from academics and elsewhere.

No new Tintin?

For him, there is something inherently appealing about the series. Tintin is a normal person, who goes on extraordinary adventures. He is drawn very simply, with little expression, allowing anyone to identify with him.

And according to Nattiez, most of the books have a very consistent narrative structure.

I think subconsciously  even if Herge was probably not aware of it  the reader expects to find specific events at specific moments, and it's reassuring, he says.

After the initial intrigue, every book ends with a celebration of Tintin, a return home, and then a final joke.

It is usually on page 62, which is traditionally the last page. You'll have a final gag, often with Captain Haddock or the Thomson twins falling over, he says.

When you take Tintin apart, you find this every time. People will say, 'oh, maybe this features in all comic books', so I looked elsewhere to check. But I didn't find the same thing in other comics, or even in Herge's other books.

Unlike other comics such as Asterix, which have continued producing albums with new writers and illustrators, Tintin is static  Herge never wanted anyone else to add to his series.

His heirs have respected his wish, until now, though there are questions of what will happen when Tintin enters the public domain at the end of 2053, 70 years after his creator's death.

I would say that to some extent, the fact that there is no new Tintin is perhaps an advantage, says Nattiez, who would not welcome a new installment.

Maybe the fact that there are no new Tintin books incites people to write about him  maybe to exorcise his death.

More on Tintin in the Spotlight on France podcast, episode 94.
Former President, John Dramani Mahama says he is humbled by the overwhelming vote of confidence reposed in him by the party at the end of its presidential primaries.

As reported by Modernghana News on Sunday dawn, Mahama is the flagbearer elect of the NDC and will lead the party into the 2024 general elections.

We were given the task to help supervise the elections and these are the results. John Dramani Mahama with 297, 603, Kojo Bonsu had 3,181.

On behalf of the EC Chairperson, I duly declared John Dramani duly elected, the Director of Electoral Services at the Electoral Commission, Dr. Serebour Quaicoe declared at the end of the collation of the results.

In a statement from the former President, he has indicated that he will formally deliver his acceptance speech at the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale on Monday, May 15.

On Monday, at the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale, I will join a teeming number of the rank and file of the NDC and Ghanaians in general, to deliver my formal acceptance speech, John Dramani Mahama.

Meanwhile, the former president has expressed his appreciation to delegates and everyone who helped in one way or the other to ensure he wins the flagbearer election of the NDC.

Read his statement below:

Fellow Akatamansonians, and the good people of Ghana.

A while ago, the results of the 2024 presidential primaries was officially declared.

I am humbled by the overwhelming vote of confidence reposed in me by the party.

I want to thank God for bringing the NDC this victory. Traversing the country for all these days, weeks and months without any fatalities can only be by Gods special grace.

My profound gratitude goes to the delegates of our party for their warm welcome, active engagement, and participation during my tour.

In your usual astute manner, you turned up in your numbers, across the country, to vote in our partys presidential and parliamentary elections.

I also want to thank Dr. Kwabena Duffuor and Mr. Kojo Bonsu for their contest. My appreciation also goes to Mr. Ernest Kobea who pulled out to support me in this contest. Their taking part in this primary has cemented our partys enviable record as the most democratic political tradition in the country.

Let us disagree to agree, but let us keep our collective sights firmly on the supreme objective of the NDC leading Ghana out of the current abyss the country is in.

I also ask for cooperation among all elected parliamentary candidates and their respective aspirants and supporters in the constituencies. Our party is the winner because there are no individual winners and losers in this intra-party contest.

I want to thank my campaign and operational teams for keeping their focus and delivering a clean campaign.

I thank our donors and financiers for your support; the media for propagating our message and all our religious and traditional leaders who prayed on our behalf for the peace and success we have achieved today.

On Monday, at the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale, I will join a teeming number of the rank and file of the NDC and Ghanaians in general, to deliver my formal acceptance speech.

See you in Tamale.

May God bless us all, and I thank you for your kind attention.
14.05.2023 LISTEN

"Oh please, Mr. Karl, tell us again the story of the Sheik and his money problem.

We know you have told us this story many times over and over again. But Mr. Karl, we your children beg of you. So, please let us hear again the story of the Sheik and his money problem."

"Okay, okay...as we are in our one-week school holidays let me entertain you guys small."

"All eyes are on you and all our ears are for you, Mr. Karl!"

"Well then. My late good friend Professor Dr. Sir Joseph Seiller got his Knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for successfully ending the Biafra War in Nigeria, last residing in Habenhausener Landstrasse in Bremen, Germany. Originally he was an Advisor to former USA President John F. Kennedy. After his assassination, Joe changed to the State Department and later became a Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. It was in the 1960s and the USA had a great interest in the oil discovered in the Arab world.

At the order of President Lindon B. Johnson was he sent there and met a Sheik in his huge tent. The Sheik asked him to deposit $ 5 Mio. with a bank of his discretion. Joe mentioned his friend at UBS Bank in Bern, Switzerland, a director there. The Sheik agreed asking Joe to bring the money there. Joe refused for security reasons to carry all the money in cash. But the government in Washington D.C. asked him to do what was demanded of him. Eventually, Joe reached Bern, deposited the money, and flew off to Washington.

Three months later his Swiss friend called him. The Sheik would call him almost daily to ask for his money. Joe calmed his friend down by saying it was new to these people to deal with internal banks.

Three months passed the Sheik traveled to Bern. At the Reception Desk of the UBS Headquarters, he asked of his money. The lady at the reception was confused and helpless. She called the director for help. A few minutes later the Sheik sat in the office of the director and asked of his money. The director reassured the Sheik his money plus interest were safe and sound with the bank as the bank statements in his hands would be proof to him, the Sheik.

The Sheik got angry. The director called the safe room to bring $ 5 Mio. in cash plus interest into his office. Twenty minutes later the money was laid out before the Sheik. The Sheik counted the money and got angry. He said that the money is not his money. The director was confused and reassured him that the money on the table right before him was his money. The Sheik got angrier and angrier and looked at the director with a grim face. Finally, the Sheik said that the money could never be his as he had marked all the notes."
Constituency Youth Organiser Ahmed Agbenyadzi (top) and Akwapim North PC, John Evans Kumordzi (down)

15.05.2023 LISTEN

The Akwapim North Young Wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has commended Flagbearer elect, John Dramani Mahama and the Parliamentary candicate for Akwapim North, John Evans Kumordzi on their victories.

Speaking with the Constituency Youth Organiser Comrade Ahmed Agbenyadzi on Bryt FM, he revealed the youth wing was optimistic of victory come 2024 general elections.

He indicated that Ghanaians are fed with the poor governance of the Akufo-Addo led government and are therefore yearning for the return of former President Mr Mahama.

He again argued that, the NPP lawmaker for Akwapim North Nana Ama Dokua, has woefully failed on her mandate and needs to be kicked out for the NDC to take over the seat.

"Abro, the John & John pair is really going to work out for us in 2024 because Ghanaians are looking up for a change. Nana Addo and Bawumia have not been able to perform to expectation and are calling on the NDC to come and rescue the country from the current economic woes facing the country," Ahmed Agbenyadzi asserted.

On the issue of ensuring unity prevails after the internal primaries, the NDC youth leader emphasised the newly elected parliamentary candidate had began speaking with them to bring all on board for a united front in 2024.

He stated that the party will work together devoid of any misunderstanding to ensure the victory it is yearning for becomes a reality.

He used the opportunity to call on all party members and supporters to rise up and work hard towards the victory of the party to ensure it forms the next government in 2024.
France has promised Ukraine dozens more light tanks and armoured vehicles after President Emmanuel Macron met Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris on Sunday. Earlier, Zelensky was awarded awarded Europe's Charlemagne prize for services towards European unity.

France sent a plane to pick up Zelensky in Germany, where he had met Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier Sunday.

"Paris. With each visit, Ukraine's defense and offensive capabilities are expanding. The ties with Europe are getting stronger, and the pressure on Russia is growing," Zelensky said after landing.

Macron shortly afterwards welcomed Zelensky to the Elysee Palace, for the second time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February last year.

The two leaders discussed boosting military aid.

"In the coming weeks, France will train and equip several battalions with tens of armored vehicles and light tanks including AMX-10RC," they said in a joint statement afterwards.

They also called for fresh sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine "to weaken Russia's ability to continue its illegal war of aggression."

After months of stalemate, Ukraine has been preparing to retake ground captured by Russia and has been stockpiling Western-supplied munitions and shoring up support on a diplomatic tour.

Zelensky heads to London on Monday for talks with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

European unity prize

Zelensky's arrival in Paris came just hours after EU leaders in Germany hailed the Ukrainian people for fighting for the bloc's freedom and values, handing this year's Charlemagne prize for service towards European unity to the country's president.

"Ukraine incarnates everything the European idea is living for: the courage of convictions, the fight for values and freedom, the commitment to peace and unity," said EU chief Ursula von der Leyen at the award ceremony in the western city of Aachen.

"President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine are fighting for the values and the obligation that this prize embodies. And in doing so, they are also fighting for our own freedom and our values," she said in a message echoed by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

For German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Russia's war on its neighbour had "cemented one clear realisation: Ukraine is part of our European family".

Zelensky received the prize while on his first trip to Germany since Russia's invasion, a day after meeting Italian leaders and Pope Francis in Rome.

The weekend diplomatic tour comes ahead of an EU summit in Reykjavik and a gathering of G7 leaders in Japan.

Zelensky won extended standing ovations at the Aachen ceremony, during which EU leaders also vowed to support Ukraine along its road to joining the bloc.

Calling Germany a "true friend and reliable ally" to Ukraine as it battles to repel Russian invaders, Zelensky held separate talks with Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

On Saturday, Germany unveiled a new military package for Kyiv worth 2.7 billion euros  its biggest yet for Ukraine  and hailed by Zelensky as "powerful support".

(with newswires)
Ghana's political landscape is once again heating up as the country prepares towards the 2024 election.

With the incumbent President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's tenure coming to an end, Ghanaians are faced with an intriguing choice between three formidable candidates, each offering a different vision for the nation's future.

As the political parties finalize their choices, voters must decide whether to embrace the familiar or take a leap of faith for change.

Former President John Mahama has secured the nomination of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) with a resounding 98.9% of the delegates' support.

He seeks to make a comeback after losing the 2016 and 2020 elections, promising to create the "Ghana we want."

Mahama's experience and familiarity to the electorate could be an advantage, but also a setback, as it may remind voters of the economic hardships that led to his defeat in the past elections.

The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is yet to elect its flagbearer, but two prominent figures have emerged as frontrunners: Alan Kwadwo Kyeremateng, a former Trade and Industry Minister, and Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia.

Both candidates have played significant roles in Ghana's governance over the past six years and offer distinct visions for the country's future.

Kyeremateng, known for his extensive experience in trade and industry, proposes "Great Transformational Plans" to alleviate economic hardship.

His background could resonate with Ghanaians who seek a leader with a proven track record in economic management.

On the other hand, Dr. Bawumia champions technological advancement, preferably known as digitalization in Ghana as the key to nations progress.

His vision could appeal to the younger generation and those who believe innovation is vital to the nation's development.

While each candidate brings valuable experience and unique ideas to the table, Ghanaians must grapple with a crucial question: Can they trust these familiar faces to deliver the change they seek?

As the 2024 election approaches, voters face a crossroads of experience, digitalization and transformation.

Will Ghanaians choose to give Mahama another chance or embrace one of the NPP's fresh visions for the nation's future? Or could an unexpected contender rise to challenge the status quo?

Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Ghana's future hangs in the balance as the nation prepares to make a critical decision.
15.05.2023 LISTEN

Firefighters from the Ejisu Fire Station were on Sunday, 14 May dispatched to respond to a twin accident and fire incident involving a Man Diesel Truck with registration number GA 5246 - 10 at Juaso Water Works in the Asante Akim South of the Ashanti Region.

According to the Fire Service, the dispatch from Ejisu Fire Station was due to an out of commission Konongo Fire Engine which could have gotten to the incident scene within 10 minutes to save the situation if it were to be functional at the time of the incident.

The Crew got to the twin incident scene and after a quick assessment, found that the affected Man Diesel Truck was scattered at the scene due to impact of the crash.

The drivers mate, Mutala Yussif, 16 years, had escaped unhurt after the crash but the driver of the affected Man Diesel Truck, Sumaila Ibrahim, 36 years, was found trapped in the head compartment of the truck and badly burnt while about 500 bags of cashew nuts were on fire.

The firefighters doused the raging fire, retrieved the badly charred body of the deceased driver and handed it over to the Juaso Police for preservation and further investigation. The Man Diesel Truck and its contents also suffered fire damages.

According to the drivers mate, a car wrongfully overtook their Tema bound Man Diesel Truck which forced the driver to veer off its lane to save the overtaking car. The driver of the Truck then lost control to hit the pavement of the steel bridge causing great friction between the trailer and the metal rails of the bridge and as a result, the truck somersaulted and landed on the shoulder of road and in a nearby bush with scattered parts.

Preliminary investigation showed that sufficient sparks from the trailers impact with the steel bridge caused the fire which gutted the rear of the trailer and also set the 500 bags of cashew nuts in the trailer alight.

The fire then spread quickly and affected the head compartment to burn the deceased driver who got trapped and could not escape the fire.

Classfmonline
In early April 2023 , Kenyan police discovered a mass grave linked to a Pentecostal church in the coastal town of Malindi. By the end of the month, at least 110 bodies had been dug up from shallow graves in the area's Shakahola forest. By 13 May, 201 bodies had been found.

A loss of this magnitude is traumatic and painful for the families and friends directly affected, and also for the public exposed to the details. The level of media attention, public backlash and judgement of the dead makes the experience of the loss even more difficult for those directly concerned.

Read more: What is a cult?

The Shakahola story is being controlled by parties outside the families affected because of the government scrutiny and a police investigation related to the criminal case against the church leader. This has the potential to disrupt healthy grieving.

Africa is considered one of the most religious continents in the world. Many people use religion as a coping mechanism during difficult moments, yet in this case, religion is centre stage as the possible perpetrator of the grief being experienced. This complicates the grieving process as people experience betrayal from one of their most valued support systems: religion.

Most families will adapt their own style and process  all valid  to handle the pain and trauma. As a counselling psychologist, I have conducted studies on how communities deal with death and found unique practices that help in processing grief.

However, there are certain common stages of grief that people will experience  and can be helped to process  as the Shakahola tragedy continues to unfold. These stages are:

shock and numbness

yearning and searching

despair and disorganisation

reorganisation and recovery.

Shock and numbness

This is one of the initial responses individuals experience when they receive news of the death of a loved one. It manifests in the form of denial of the fact that the person is dead. Some people hope that what's happening will be reversed. Others react by minimising the magnitude of the loss.

Shock or denial is one of the immediate healthy reactions to a traumatic event. This gives affected people the time to absorb and accept a difficult reality before they come to terms with it. Families should resist efforts to get them to accept a loss and move on. Shock, disappointment, anger, frustration, denial or even acceptance are all valid reactions.

Yearning and searching

At this stage, a grieving person has begun to get in touch with the reality of their loss. Staring at a perceived impossible future, a grieving individual tries to search for the comfort they used to enjoy from the deceased. This manifests in a continuous preoccupation with the person who has died, and an attempt to look for reminders of them. Some grieving people will cling to their loved one's photos or clothes, or spend time in their favourite places.

In a traumatic case like the Shakahola one, one of the most important things that families will be yearning and searching for is justice and information about what caused their loved one's death. A satisfactory autopsy process and prosecution of the perpetrators would help people to grieve in a healthy way.

Families should be allowed to experience this stage without any external regulation. This can be therapeutic as it helps families reflect, experience the pain associated with the loss and vent their emotions. In this stage, individuals will cry and feel sad, confused or frustrated as the reality of their loss sets in.

Despair and disorganisation

With the reality that their loss is permanent and irreversible, bereaved people in this stage may feel hopeless and angry, and question their situation. For families affected by the Shakahola saga, many are likely to be furious at government agencies, their deceased loved ones and the church.

This anger may also be directed at themselves, especially if they feel they could have done something to prevent the death of their loved one. It may also be directed at others for causing the death or not doing enough to prevent the death, or at God for not listening to their prayers to prevent the death.

It's important to allow families to express these mixed reactions at whoever they choose to without trying to convince them otherwise. It's healthy for them to ask questions and blame whoever they choose to. This stage is not permanent.

Reorganisation and recovery

At this stage, the intensity of grief declines and hope is restored. A grieving person begins to see the possibility of living a good life again. They begin to relinquish some of their loved one's property or start to carry out some of the duties that were performed by the deceased.

Read more: Can death on the screen feel the same as a 'real' one?

These four stages, however, manifest differently for different people. And they're not linear. They may appear in any order. Time is also a silent stage and factor that helps people process grief.

The public watching the stories coming out of Shakahola can experience secondary trauma. This is difficult to avoid since access to information is a fundamental right. It's therefore important for people to be aware of negative emotions that may develop as a result of following the saga. It shouldn't raise alarm, though, as with time, these emotions will subside.

Journalists, security forces and other workers with direct access to the tragedy and exhumation of bodies are exposed to the danger of high-level traumatisation. They may need to seek psychosocial support to avoid developing severe psychological effects, including insomnia and anxiety.

Understanding grief is an important step towards healing. When you experience a tragedy, it's important to realise that any accompanying emotions are normal reactions to an abnormal event. The process may take time and the pain may not subside quickly, and it all remains valid.

Note: the headline and text were changed to reflect the increasing number of bodies found.

Stephen Asatsa does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

By Stephen Asatsa, Counseling Psychologist, Catholic University of Eastern Africa
Seven years ago, Salam Kanhoush fled the conflict in Syria and found refuge in Sudan. But the fighting that broke out in Khartoum last month has once again forced him into exile.

The 30-year-old student is stranded in Metema, a border town in northwestern Ethiopia, joining thousands of people fleeing clashes between the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces.

He had "started a new life", he said, and had just moved to Khartoum from Kassala in eastern Sudan when the fighting erupted.

April 15 began like any other day, he said, recounting plans to go kayaking on the Nile with friends.

But he soon began receiving messages urging him not to leave his house.

He spent over a week holed up in his home, including a few days with no electricity or water supply, before finally managing to leave Sudan's capital, carrying only a backpack.

"I left a lot of things behind, it was really hard to take the decision to leave Khartoum because... I had to leave a lot of memories," he told AFP.

Salam Kanhoush says it was 'really hard' to decide to leave Khartoum. By Amanuel Sileshi (AFP)

His graduation project remains unfinished and his passport stuck at the Syrian embassy in Khartoum where it was in the process of being renewed.

He cannot leave Metema without travel documents and "going back to Syria is not an option".

"What I have is everything I have."

No prospects

Kanhoush is not the only refugee in Metema facing a second round of exile.

Before the conflict, Sudan hosted 1.1 million refugees, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR.

A young boy guides a donkey carrying the luggage of people fleeing from Sudan to Ethiopia. By Amanuel Sileshi (AFP)

Sina, who only wanted to be identified by her first name, fled to the country in 2018 after enduring four years of harsh military service in Eritrea, an authoritarian state with a notorious policy of universal, indefinite conscription.

The 24-year-old who worked as a waitress in Khartoum said she was devastated to leave Sudan.

"I was so happy with my new life," she told AFP, sheltering under a makeshift tarpaulin roof.

She fled to Metema with her boyfriend and his brother, the trio packing up their lives into two suitcases.

"We have no proper shelter, the water supply is not enough, I have no money."

And worst of all, no immediate prospects for the future.

"If I go back to Eritrea I will get punishment, prison, then I will be sent back to (the) military," she added.

'Each day got worse'

Others are also in limbo.

Sara was born in Khartoum after her mother fled Eritrea for Sudan more than two decades ago.

The 24-year-old was due to leave for Canada on April 17 after her mother moved there six months earlier.

Many who fled the conflict in Sudan have found themselves in limbo. By Amanuel Sileshi (AFP)

But when fighting broke out in Khartoum on April 15, her plans fell into disarray, she said.

"The situation got worse each day," she told AFP, adding: "It's sad, it's upsetting, it's disappointing."

She arrived in Metema around the end of April and fears being stuck there for a long time, with no clarity on whether she will have to refile her application for asylum.

She has not yet been able to register with the UNCHR office there.

"They said it's going to be a long and continuous process that is going to take months," she said.

'Away from war'

Mohammed Qassim, 29, left Afghanistan in 2016 to pursue further studies in mass communications in Sudan.

Five years later, the Taliban takeover of Kabul put an end to his hopes of ever returning to Afghanistan.

"I was trying to do my best to live in (Sudan) because there was no chance to go to Afghanistan," he told AFP, sitting under a tarpaulin tied to trees.

The UN's International Organization for Migration says an average of 1,000 arrivals are being registered each day. By Amanuel Sileshi (AFP)

He was preparing to get his diploma when he was forced to flee and does not see his future in Ethiopia, hoping -- like Kanhoush, the student from Syria -- to find sanctuary in a third country.

Kanhoush said he dreams of the day when he can return to Sudan to complete his studies and "move forward".

"My new life? I want a quiet place away from war."
Dr. John Osae-Kwapong, a fellow at Center for Democratic Development, Ghana

15.05.2023 LISTEN

Dr. John Osae-Kwapong, a fellow at the Center for Democratic Development, Ghana (CDD-Ghana), has spoken against the monetization of elections in Ghana, following the recent incident of a parliamentary aspirant seen in viral videos spraying cash on delegates.

In an interview on Accra-based JoyNews AM show on Monday, May 15, Dr. Osae-Kwapong expressed his concern about the effect of such attitudes on the country's democratic process.

According to him, such attitudes have the tendency to destroy the country's democracy and must be frowned upon by everyone.

He stated, "we don't want the monetization to become a permanent part of our election process."

The incident in question involved Juliana Kinang-Wassan, who was then a parliamentary aspirant in Ejura Sekyedumase.

Her actions attracted crowds of delegates with reports indicating that notes ranging from five cedi to one hundred cedi were thrown into the air.

Kinang-Wassan's behavior has been widely criticized, prompting the Special Prosecutor to invited her for questioning on a suspected case of corruption and the source of her wealth.
French President Emmanuel Macron is rolling out the red carpet for global CEOs as he aims to secure a record 13 billion euros in investments. Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk is one of more than 200 international business leaders expected Monday at the annual Choose France conference.

Musk, the CEO of Tesla who bought social network Twitter in a $44 bilion deal last year, will meet Macron at the Elysee Palace before attending a lunch with Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire.

Le Maire told BFM TV on Monday that the talks between the government and Musk would cover several topics, including electric cars.

Musk will also visit the sixth annual Choose France summit being held at the palace of Versailles.

Among the foreign business leaders, half are from Europe, 20 percent North American and 15 percent from Asia.

Incentives

The summit follows a series of incentives announced by Macron last week to support innovative industries and transition towards greener technology.

They include tax credits in fields like battery production, electric cars, hydrogen and wind power, as well as accelerating authorisation for industrial projects.

France is changing, is getting adapted to the course of the world and I believe that we're following the right path, which is to reindustrialise the country, to be more sovereign and more respectful of the climate and biodiversity," Macron said Friday during a visit to the northern port city of Dunkirk.

Last week, France beat competition from Germany and the Netherlands for Prologium's first overseas car battery plant, thanks to heavy government lobbying, deal sweeteners and competitive power prices, executives from the Taiwanese company said.

Swedish giant Ikea announced last week it would be investing an additional 906 million euros in France before 2026.

Challenges

However Macron continues to face pressure over the unpopular pension reform law to raise the retirement age in France.

Opponents are staging small protests, with people loudly banging pots and pans in places where the president and government members are scheduled to travel.

Unions meanwhile have called for a new round of nationwide protests on 6 June.

Credit rating agency Fitch last month downgraded France's sovereign credit rating, citing the protest movement.

Political deadlock and (sometimes violent) social movements pose a risk to Macron's reform agenda, the agency wrote.

Macron has been seeking to win back momentum by championing a push towards the greener industries. But he also called last week for a pause on EU environmental regulations, arguing the bloc of 27 already imposes tougher rules than its competitors.

The comments caused outrage among French and European Green politicians.

Macron later insisted he was sticking to his climate-related commitments, including all policies aimed at making the EU reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, but said, "Let's not add more.

Since he took office in 2017, Macron has cut business taxes and made it easier to hire and fire workers. He has also made it more difficult for unemployed people to claim benefits.

For a fourth consecutive year, France was the European country that had attracted the greatest number of foreign investments, according to a survey by EY last week.

(with wires)
15.05.2023 LISTEN

But for the bravery of an Immigration officer with the Western North Regional Immigration Command, two police officers in uniform would have been beaten to death by a young man at Sefwi Wiawso.

The unfortunate incident happened on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at about 9am at the Anglican Church Park in Sefwi Wiawso in the Western North Region.

The attacker was said to have used a club and a pestle to hit the heads of the police officers an Inspector and a corporal  who fell unconscious in the process.

Bystanders around the scene were scared to get closer and this emboldened the attacker who later attempted to pick the rifle of one of the police officers but the brave Immigration Officer quickly picked the AK 47 rifle.

According to a statement signed by the Acting Western North Regional Commander of the Ghana Immigration Service, ACI Augustus Acheampong, AICO II Nurudeen Abul-Ganiew Takra, stationed at the Western North Immigration Regional Command was the one who rescued the two police officers who were under attack.

It noted that AICO II Nurudeen was returning home from the Sefwi Wiawso town when he noticed some commotion around the Anglican Church Park near the Wiawso District Police Station.

AICO II Nurudeen became curious and approached the scene and saw a police officer of the rank of Inspector lying unconscious on the ground and a Corporal also under attack with his AK 47 rifle on the ground.

The statement said the attacker advanced violently towards Nurudeen with a pestle, but sensing danger, the Immigration officer fired a warning shot but the attacker did not retreat and kept advancing with the pestle in his hands.

With extreme caution, Nurudeen shot the attacker's right thigh to immobilise him. The noise attracted a number of people including Police Officers to the scene who assisted in arresting the attacker, the statement added.

It added that items retrieved from the attacker included a sharp knife, locally made catapult, and a pestle which he used to attack his victims.

The two police officers and the attacker have since been taken to the Wiawso Municipal Hospital for medical attention. The AK 47 rifle has also been handed over to the Wiawso District Police for further action.

It was later gathered, that the two police officers whose names were not immediately known were detailed to respond to a distress call from the worshippers of the Anglican Church.

The church reported that the unknown person entered the auditorium, attacked the worshippers and inflicted knife wounds on two members so they called the police for assistance.

-Daily Guide
The fact that more than half of the South African population is under 30 years could be beneficial for the country's economic growth and development. But South Africa has not been able to reap this demographic dividend . This is largely due to a skills mismatch .

That's why 60% of its young people (between the ages of 15 and 25) are unemployed. The situation was made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its impact on the labour market disproportionately affected young and low-skilled workers.

A major cause of youth unemployment in South Africa is the mismatch between what employers want and what young people have. This is mostly characterised by technical under-skilling relative to the expectations of employers.

The country's schooling system has failed young people, with many learners going through the basic education system without acquiring the necessary literacy and numeracy skills.

In response to the unemployment crisis, the South African government established the National Rural Youth Service Corps programme in September 2010, targeting young people in rural areas who are the most disadvantaged. It is still running today .

The programme's main objective was to equip participants with technical and vocational skills to enhance their employment prospects, or ability to create their own businesses. Participants receive a stipend during their two years of participation. They are also trained in leadership, networking, and problem-solving.

We sought to assess the effectiveness of the programme in bridging the skills mismatch. We also wanted to identify the skills most likely to be associated with labour market success.

We used a blended methodological approach, combining quantitative and qualitative analyses. This enabled us to capture the data on skills accumulation and the related labour market outcomes. It also provided us with the human narratives.

Among participants who had jobs, we found that the key determinant of their success was the improvement in their soft skills, including problem-solving, networking and leadership skills. The same was true for the participants who had started businesses; soft skills proved significantly more effective than technical skills.

These results highlight the critical role of soft skills, echoing a growing call in other countries for increased emphasis on soft-skills in employment support programmes.

Overall, despite some success in helping rural youth improve their technical and soft skills, the programme has a number of weaknesses that limit its effectiveness in linking its graduates to stable employment or viable enterprise creation. These include insufficient support to programme alumni after their exit, and a mismatch between acquired skills and what employers want.

Effectiveness and weaknesses of the programme

We also examined the relevance, effectiveness, transformative effects, and equitable inclusiveness of the programme. In addition, we looked at the behaviour of the participants, including changes in attitudes, commitments and the social and cultural values of individuals and groups.

Most of the participants as well as the programme implementation officials we interviewed described the programme as a relevant policy intervention to address the unemployment problem among rural youth.

However, they said its implementation raised practical challenges for participants. One key weakness was the programme's failure in supporting graduates to find stable employment. It is estimated that less than 10% of exited graduates benefit from such support.

A major factor is that the administration of the programme does not have sufficient human and financial resources to commit to post-graduation support. It also lacks adequate administrative structures to track graduates and provide them with the administrative and material resource assistance they need to secure employment.

Similarly, programme participants who start businesses are left without support. There's also a lack of business networks in rural areas. Networks often assist new start-ups to integrate in local value chains.

In addition, the mismatch between the technical skills taught within the programme and what employers require is a significant impediment to the success of graduates. This makes it difficult for graduates to find sustainable employment or create viable enterprises post-graduation.

Most key informants  those whose positions enabled them to have access to important information relevant to the interview topic  were of the view that the skills and qualifications obtained from the programme were inferior to those obtained from technical vocational education and training colleges. This is despite these colleges being deemed inadequate to the task of closing the technical skills gap.

Where the programme has been most successful has been in ensuring the participation of women. They make up more than half of its participants.

Implications and recommendations

It is therefore not surprising that programmes like the National Rural Youth Service Corps have not had a noticeable impact on South Africa's youth unemployment crisis. To succeed, there must be greater synergy between various stakeholders involved in rural enterprise development and employment creation.

There must also be an alignment of skills taught to learners and the needs of employers. Graduates must be assisted with relevant resources, especially land and start-up capital.

In addition, support for graduates must be streamlined to ensure effective tracking of participants when they graduate and that their needs are assessed properly.

Lastly, we cannot overemphasise the importance of soft skills to the success of youth in the job market  they should form the core of any programme for youth employment.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

By Chijioke Nwosu, Senior Lecturer, University of the Free State And

Alexis Habiyaremye, Associate Professor in the School of Economics, University of Johannesburg And

Thomas Habanabakize, Researcher in School of Economics and Finance, Tshwane University of Technology
15.05.2023 LISTEN

Prominent advocate of cyber safety in Nigeria, Rotimi Onadipe, on Saturday assured Nigerians and the rest of the world that there is hope for cyber criminals that are willing to repent from their criminal and fraudulent activities.

Onadipe, who doubles as the Director of Onadipe Technologies and Founder of internet safety magazine, gave the assurance in Ibadan during his organisation's education and counseling program on internet safety, which aims to prevent immoral and criminal activities online.

His words: "I want to assure all Nigerians and the rest of the world that there is hope for cyber criminals that are willing to repent from their criminal activities.

"By God's grace, our organisation is reaching out to them to counsel and rehabilitate those who are willing to repent from their fraudulent and criminal activities.

"No matter how bad they may be, cyber criminals can still repent from their wicked ways and begin to live a normal life.

"Let's not lose hope on them even if they have committed several crimes online or spent several years in correctional centres across the world.

"We still need to show love to them irrespective of the kind of life they live so that they can share their burden with us and we will be able to help them to live a normal life, he added.

In his final statement, Onadipe said, "God can change anyone irrespective of his past life. There are many of such cases all over the world and many of them are living a normal life now."
In this write-up, I would like to bring to bare the sacrifices, loyalty, dedication and commitment exhibited by H. E. Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) from the time of his nomination as a running mate in 2008 to the victory won in 2016. The previous write-up unearthed some of the untold contributions of Dr. Bawumia to the NPP government and by extension NPP in the former president J. A. Kufuor's government.

Dr. Bawumia was working at the Central Bank of Ghana as a deputy governor. He was appointed by former president Kufuor. He was enjoying his work there as he was contributing his quota to the development of that sector and Ghana as a whole. Little did he know that he will be selected as a running mate to the then candidate Nana Akufo-Addo in 2008. However, he made a very risky but important decision by leaving his job at the Bank of Ghana and accepting a running mate slot that was not a guarantee that he will automatically become the Vice President of Ghana. This decision he took, marked the beginning of his sacrifices for NPP.

The New Patriotic Party went into the 2008 general elections with Dr. Bawumia as its running mate. He toured the length and breadth of the country, canvassing for votes for the party to retain power and possibly break the eight then. Unfortunately, the party lost power to the then largest opposition party.

After the 2008 general elections in Ghana, Dr. Bawumia had many high profile job opportunities and among them was Resident Representative of the African Development Bank for Zimbabwe. He worked there for some time until he was called by his boss, Nana Akufo-Addo again to partner him for the 2012 Ghana's general elections for the second time. Dr. Bawumia answered the call again to serve NPP by leaving that enviable position again at the AfDB. The love of Dr Bawumia for NPP is undoubtedly unquantifiable evidence by the critical sacrifices he has made so far for the party.

The delegates saw how Dr. Bawumia campaigned vigorously in 2012 general elections. He committed himself to the course of the party and as usual travelled across the whole country severally until the D-Day where he cast his vote in Kperiga in the Walewale constituency. The declaration of the results was not in favor of the NPP.

The NPP as a law abiding party did not resort to violence but rather filed a petition at the Supreme Court to challenge the electoral process and the results of the elections. A very important question is that, who was the key witness to the NPP's petition in court? Dr. Bawumia! It will interest you to know that no one was ready to enter the witness box but Dr Bawumia availed himself despite the potential political risk associated with it. I am aware he was advised against the decision to enter the witness box but for his love and loyalty to the party, he opted to defend the party. He defended the party creditably well while in the witness box at the Supreme Court.

Interestingly, National Democratic Congress (NDC) also went to court in 2021 following the declaration of the 2020 general elections after unsuccessful street protest amidst burning of car tyres on major roads in parts of the country. There was a clear difference between Dr. Bawumia as a key witness to the 2012 general elections petition and Mr. Asiedu Nketiah (General Mosquito) as a key witness to the 2020 general elections petition. The famous calculations by General Mosquito and I did not bring any figure to court in mind. Dr. Bawumia as a witness exposed a lot of flaws in the electoral process in the Ghanaian elections in 2012 and there is no doubt that it helped in shaping and guiding subsequent elections in Ghana. He sacrificed his time, family, job, resources, among others and stayed to the course of NPP until the final judgement was made. It must be stated clearly that the 2012 general elections' petition ran for a period of eight months continuously. This kind of sacrifices can only be made by the only and only delegates' choice, Dr Bawumia.

The undesirable results of the Supreme Court judgement in 2013 did not dampen the spirit of Dr. Bawumia at all as he continued his efforts in getting NPP back to power. In fact, he did not even look for any job again but devoted his all to the party's course. He fought hard in 2016 general elections and finally, God delivered victory to the party. It is a common knowledge that the victory of NPP in the 2016 elections was largely attributed to the ever loyal, dedicated, committed and hard-working Dr. Bawumia.

As a result of the sacrifices and unflinching loyalty of Dr. Bawumia to the party and Nana Akufo-Addo, he has been selected as a running mate for four consecutive times to partner Nana Akufo-Addo. This is unprecedented in the history of the fourth republic of Ghana if not the whole of Africa. This rare opportunity can only happen to a rare gem like H. E Alhaji. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

In conclusion, it is evident that Dr. Bawumias sacrifices and loyalty to the NPP is noticed by both majority of delegates and non-delegates alike within the party. The delegates are saying that, the massive support Dr Bawumia is enjoying today is earned through the many sacrifices he has made and continue to make for the party. Hence, the delegates are ready to reward him with a resounding victory on 4th November, 2023 to lead NPP in the 2024 general elections to break the eight.

H. E. Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, president of Ghana, 2025. It is possible, In Sha Allah.

Thank You

Alhaji Salifu Hadara

A Patriot

Nalerigu/Gambaga Constituency

North East Region

[email protected]
Flagbearer aspirant John Dramani Mahama last Saturday, May 13 pulled 997 votes out of the 1001 valid votes cast.

The delegates drawn from all 129 polling stations in the Constituency voted overwhelmingly to endorse former President John Dramani Mahama as the Presidential Candidate for the NDC in the 2024 general elections.

He beats his only contender Kojo Bonsu who got four of the votes cast with 12 rejected votes.

The peaceful election was supervised by the Agona East District Election Director, Mrs. Patience Shebrah and her team of Electoral Officers.

The Agona East Member of Parliament, Hon. Queenster Maame Pokua Sawyer was elected unopposed to contest the seat for the fourth time.

Soon after her declaration as the NDC Parliamentary Candidate elect for Agona East by the District Director of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Patience Shebrah, on behalf of the former President, the Parliamentary Candidate elect thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed in her and the former President.

"Am going to work assiduously for His Excellency John Dramani Mahama and the NDC to win the 2024 general elections and to retain the seat for NDC. What I need from you is your maximum support to ginger us to achieve our desire goal of total victory.

"The NDC is fully prepared for the battle ahead. Today's peaceful elections is a signal and a warning to other political parties that the NDC is poised to win the elections whether rain or shine.

"I must express my appreciation to Agona East NDC for bringing me back as their trusted Parliamentary Candidate for the 2024 general elections.

"As you people know, Maame Pokua is development-oriented MP who does not deny her constituents of the needed infrastructure development to improve the quality lives of her constituents. What I need from you is your unflinching support and encouragement to enable me deliver. I know today's victory, means a total victory for me and His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama. Your moral support means am serving the constituency in humility and sacrificial with mutual respect for everyone irrespective of age, religious background or tribe. We are one people with a common goal to retain the seat for the NDC," Hon. Queenster Maame Pokua Sawyer noted.

Later in an interview with Newsmen at Agona Mankrong Junction (Nkwanta), the Agona East NDC Election Research Officer, Mr. Abraham Kojo Inkum was convinced that the party was going to win the 2024 general elections.

"We are leaving no stone unturned in our quest to recapture political power in the country. Today's victory of Hon. Queenster Maame Pokua Sawyer and President John Dramani Mahama is a strong indication that the NDC will form the next government of Ghana and will be led by His Excellency John Dramani Mahama," Mr. Inkum stated.

In a related development, former President John Dramani Mahama equally won the Agona West Presidential elections with 99.3% of the valid votes cast. He got 1,647 out of the 1,659 valid votes. Mr. Kojo Bonsu had 12 votes with 18 rejected ballots.

In the Parliamentary elections, Madam Ernestina Ofori Dangbey defeated her closest rival in the keenly contested elections. She pulled 1,047 out of the 1,667 votes cast against Mr. Maxwell Wiah Asomani who obtained 620 votes with 10 rejected votes.
Renk, South Sudan  It had barely been a month since 36-year-old Caroline had started her new job in Sudan as a domestic worker when the fighting broke out in Sudan. During the first few hours, Caroline was optimistic that it would not last, and she stayed put in Khartoum where she was living and working as a house manager. Reality hit two days later when the fighting continued, prompting her employers decision to move.

This would mark the beginning of an eight-day journey out of Khartoum; one she is glad is now behind her. She sits next to her luggage at the International Organization for Migration's (IOM) transit centre in Renk, a South Sudanese town close to the border with Sudan and recounts the story of her flight from Sudan.

Caroline expresses her joy as she waits for transport to Paloch Airport from where she flies to Kenya.

Caroline loads her luggage in anticipation of the journey back home.

First, Caroline and her employer had left for Atbara, a city north of Khartoum, where they stopped for six days. Back home in Kenya, the fear and anxiety of Carolines family grew with each passing day.

It got to a point where I had to constantly lie to my family to keep them calm; my children are young, and I was not going to put them through trauma by describing what was happening here, she says.

Meanwhile, in Atbara, her employers were planning their exit as fighting intensified. The family offered her USD 100 for transportation, and the address of the Kenyan embassy scribbled on a piece of paper and let her go.
China's economic engagement with Africa has grown at an unprecedented rate since the inaugural Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2000. This has led to investments across multiple countries and sectors. However, there has been concerns with respect to Chinese investment concentration in resource rich countries. The fact is that China has a significant presence in Africa's extractive industry.

Chinese investment is still sustaining the raw extractive export model. Investments from other East Asian countries, such as Malaysia and Singapore, have primarily focused on downstream activities, contributing to the resource value chain. This is critical to ensuring stronger and more resilient economies for countries vulnerable to commodity price fluctuations and shocks.

Africas extractive resources

The African continent has vast reserves of extractive resources, including petroleum and natural gas, iron ore, aluminium, uranium, nickel, copper, bauxite, diamond, gold, copper, cobalt, and other minerals. These resources account for an average of 70% of total African exports and 28% of Africa's GDP. In 2012, Botswana, Zambia, Eritrea, and Guinea had a raw extractive resource export share of 91.6%, 69.2%, 60.5%, and 60.1% of total exports, respectively.

According to a 2016 estimate by the African Development Bank, the extractive industry is expected to contribute more than US$30bn per year to African government revenue over the next 20 years.

Table 1: Africas resource production and future potential (Sources: African Development Bank, 2016)

Chinese investments in Africas extractive industry

FOCAC was established in 2000 to guide China-Africa engagement, and China issued its first African policy paper in 2006. FOCAC's top priority is to increase Chinese direct investment in Africa, which has skyrocketed over the last two decades, far outpacing any East Asian country and the United States.

Fig. 1: Chinese and U.S. direct investment flow to Africa (Sources: China-Africa Research Initiative 2021)

In 2019, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Angola, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Mauritius were the top five Chinese investment destinations. The China Exim Bank has extended and granted loans and commercial projects in over 35 African countries, but a large portion has benefited resource-rich countries.

China's economic boom a few decades ago resulted in an insatiable demand for resource commodities, leading to massive investments in the extractive sector in resource-rich developing countries, including African countries.

China has been attempting to expand its economic influence in resource-rich African countries by utilising enhanced bilateral and multilateral diplomatic relations to pursue access to strategic resources such as oil, copper, and other mineral resources.

Between 2006 and 2017, Chinese investment in the African mining industry reached an estimated US$33bn, and some resource-rich African countries have also reached agreements backed by resources. For example, China is exchanging its Angolan infrastructure investments for its oil and bauxite reserves in Ghana and Guinea.

The Forecast

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on global flows. According to the 2021 World Investment Report by UNCTAD, the flow of global direct investment in 2020 fell by one-third to US$1tr (from US$1.5tr in 2019).

African countries are among the heavily impacted countries. For example, the stock of foreign direct investment in Angola dropping significantly from US$32.4bn in 2019 to US$16.8bn in 2020.

As seen in Angola, Guinea, and Ghana, China's current resource-for-infrastructure model will likely spread to other resource-rich African nations deemed high-risk borrowers or that do not meet the requirements for conventional international financial agreements.

This is because the resource-for-infrastructure model guarantees repayment through resource reserves to the creditor, China, and financing for desperately needed infrastructure projects in receiving countries.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on global capital flows, the question is whether China will reduce or maintain its extractive industry-focused lending and investment commitments to Africa. This is crucial because China must still fulfil its obligations under certain existing agreements. Three years after signing the $2 billion Ghana-China bauxite-for-infrastructure concession agreement, China has only provided $100 million of the total commitment, and most of the promised infrastructure projects have been completed. This aspect of the China-Africa engagement must be addressed to provide resource-rich African nations with a road map for better leveraging their extractive industries to meet their development needs.

Fig. 3: Chinese lending to Africa: 20002020 (Source: Zainub Usman, 2021).

The Returns

Resource-rich African countries have benefited from Chinese resource demand in driving global commodity prices, direct investments, and market access. The positive impact on Africas economic transformation at both the micro and macro levels is palpable. For example, China's involvement in Sudan has significantly increased oil production, increased foreign investment, and accelerated economic growth. The oil boom significantly increased foreign investment in Sudan and accelerated economic growth and prospects, peaking at 10% by 2006.

Furthermore, this infrastructure-for-resources model has had a significant impact on reducing infrastructure deficits in some African countries. The Chinese financing of the Congo River Dam in DRC, the Bui Dam in Ghana, and the Souapiti Dam in Guinea were all secured through resource guarantees. China has spent an estimated US$80m to rebuild the national road connecting Uige to Maquela do Zombo in Angola.

Last but not least, Chinese investment has resulted in significant employment creation in several African countries. Chinese investment accounts for over 60% of newly created jobs in Angola and Ethiopia. Indeed, about 89 % of employees of Chinese investment projects are Africans, creating over 300,000 jobs for Africans.

The way forward

China is one of many foreign investors in Africa's extractive industry. Other East Asian countries like Malaysia and Singapore have expressed interest in the industry. Malaysia surpassed all Asian countries as the top investor in Africa in 2011, with Petronas making significant investments in Sudan and Egypt's downstream activities. Malaysia also owns 80% of Engen, South Africa's largest refined petroleum company. Singapore's direct investment in Africa is notable, totalling more than US$16bn in 2013. Temasek Holdings became a significant shareholder in Nigerian oil and gas group Seven Energy in 2014, and Pavilion Energy invested US$1.3 billion in three gas blocks offshore Tanzania.

By comparison, Chinese extractive investments focus primarily on upstream activities, while Malaysian and Singaporean firms focus mainly on downstream activities. Despite promises to help grow the extractive industries, the investment has yet to transform the value chain of Africas extractive industry.

In 2011, despite having 26% of the worlds bauxite reserves, Africa produced only 4% of the primary aluminium. However, there is still hope that Chinese investment will contribute to the diversification of the resource value chain.

The Ghana-China resource-for-infrastructure deal is seen as a new model for other African countries to follow, as Ghana would establish an integrated aluminium company to process and refine raw bauxite into more valuable refined products. Chiman Manufacturing, a Chinese-owned company, has invested in a manganese processing plant in Zambia, indicating some hope in the resource value chain.

The challenge for resource-rich African countries is to leverage Chinese investment in the extractive industry to achieve long-term economic diversification. To do this, more attention must be paid to diversifying the resources value chain through industrial processing and value addition.

This is critical to ensuring more robust and resilient economies for countries whose economies are highly vulnerable to commodity price fluctuations and resource commodity shocks.

By Dr. Hagan Sibiri

Senior Research Fellow (Ghana),

Africa-China Centre for Policy & Advisory

The Africa-China Centre for Policy and Advisory is a Sino-African research and policy think tank and advisory firm headquartered in Accra, Ghana.

W: https://africachinacentre.org/ E: [email protected]
In a surprise turn of events, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) primaries in Ketu North have resulted in a tie between candidates Edem Agbana and John Agbenu, leading to a run-off.

Initial reports had suggested Edem Agbana won by one vote, but a recount revealed that both candidates secured an equal number of votes.

Reacting to the latest twist, Edem Agbana, a former NDC National Deputy Youth Organizer, insists that there will be no re-run, maintaining that he has already won the election.

Speaking on The Probe on Accra-based Joy News, Agbana stated, "There is a clear winner in the elections, the winner is Edem Agbana, I will not, and I must say this on record, I will not allow anyone to steal the victory."

Agbana also raised concerns about the rejection of two of his votes by Electoral Commission (EC) officials which the commission claim were not stamped.

He argued that the serial numbers on the ballots show they were taken from the EC-issued booklet, questioning the rationale behind punishing him for the oversight.

"How do you punish a candidate for that?" he quizzes.

The candidate expressed his determination to uphold the people's mandate, declaring, "There will not be a rerun in Ketu North... no individual can sabotage the victory, can sabotage the mandate, they cannot circumvent the mandate of the people as delivered yesterday."

In a Facebook post on Monday, May 15, Edem Agbana reaffirmed his belief in divine support, writing, "When God is for you, it doesnt matter who is against you, you Win. Remember, God does not call the equipped, He equips the called. May the Lord meet you at the point of your need today. God is the Lifter of men.

Despite Agbana's insistence on his victory, a second round of the contest is expected to determine the NDC parliamentary candidate for Ketu North.

The opposition NDC conducted its presidential and parliamentary primaries across the country on Saturday, May 13, affirming former President John Dramani Mahama as its presidential candidate with 98.9% votes.
15.05.2023 LISTEN

On the Johnnie's Bite segment on 3FM's Sunrise Show, host of the segment John Hughes touched on issues surrounding Al Jazeera gold mafia documentary and the Presidency.

In the past weeks, the news firm announced they have corrected and clarified portions of the letter the Presidency wrote concerning President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo 's name that was included a gold smuggling documentary released to the public.

The Presidency on the other side have refused to issue a public response to Al-Jazeera as expected and now the Information Minister Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah is out that Johnnie's Bite team had truncated portions of the response given to them by Al Jazeera.

Johnnie's assertion on the matter was; The suggestion is been made as if we truncated portions of the response that was given to us by Al Jazeera. That's not correct because we put out everything. The main thing we should be asking is that if we here on Johnnie's Bite had not written to Al Jazeera to ask them whether or not they've got the letter from the Presidency on behalf of the President and government of Ghana.

They had in return reply that they've responded to the letter that was written to them would you have known? Will the Information Minister be explaining to us? Johnnie asked.

These explanations without diagrams is becoming too many. The diagram in this equation is the response from Al Jazeera which has being kept from the people. The people are being kept in the dark regarding the response, he added.

If Al Jazeera did anything that is unethical, talk to them. Surprisingly, it looks like officialdom is trying to pick on critical local media. Why are we not talking to Al Jazeera in the same tone? Why are not demanding from Al Jazeera what we are demanding from the local media?

Two people sat on TV3 New Day claiming the email we had used was not credible we had forged it. That was the excuse they had and when that didn't fly because we showed the source we go that email from.

If we had not written, will the Information Minister be explaining anything to you now? he asked.

If Al Jazeera didn't provide those further particulars why is the government not suing Al Jazeera because if it had been local media we would have been dealt with. Those who said we have fabricated the email that is propagation of false news. If a journalist had done that they would have come after those journalists.

-3news.com
15.05.2023 LISTEN

Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah has accused the erstwhile John Dramani Mahama administration of mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy.

In a post on social media, he said it is due to the mismanagement that Ghana had to run to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2015 for an Extended Credit Facility (ECF).

Richard Ahiagbah argues that President Akufo-Addos government is seeking an Extended Credit Facility due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.

It is all clear, and the IMF is likely to approve Ghana's ECF application as soon as this month. But please note that the conditions requiring this ECF application were brought on almost exclusively by the twin factors of covid-19 and the war in Ukraine, unlike the 2015 ECF application which was 95% a function of internal mismanagement of the economy, the NPP Communications Director said in a post on Twitter.

With Ghana set to seal the deal with IMF this week, Richard Ahiagbah is urging all to support government to turn things around.

Ghana is building back stronger and better! Support NPP to deliver for Ghana, Ahiagbah said.

In 2015, the Mahama administration went to IMF for a $918 million loan to help stabilise the Ghanaian economy.

President Akufo-Addos government, however, is seeking $3 billion from IMF.
Beloved, we are still continuing our connection factors analysis. So far, we have looked at the economic and religious factors. Lets now proceed with our third connection factor.

THE ETHNIC/TRIBAL CONNECTION FACTOR

No matter how some people have tried lately to downplay its existence or significance in our body politic, the reality remains that, ethnic or tribal factor in politics, is one of the means by which people get connected to a particular political party or candidate.

One intriguing observation I have made over the years about the issue of tribal politics is that, people like to comfortably play it to their advantage when it favors them, but fervidly downplay or oppose it when it favors their opponent. The truth is that we have all been hypocritical about it. The impact of tribal factor in election is quite enormous, and I dare say that any party that ignores or downplays it, does so at its own peril.

It is certainly not a coincidence that over the years, the Akans, who constitute almost half of the countrys population (47.5%), have chiefly been gravitating toward the NPP since 1992. In the 2020 election, for instance, out of the 7 regions the NPP won, 6 of them were Akan regions.

So, you can appreciate why the NDC has unceasingly been trying to denigrate the party with the Akan tag mantra. Their strategy has been to whittle that Akan advantage away from the NPP. Strangely, some people in the NPP, having guilelessly fallen for the NDC trap, have suggested the party kills the Akan tag.

But, who kills a political advantage! Are we in this game to kill a tag or to win election? In this competitive two-party democracy of ours, the last thing any serious political party would want to do, is to select a candidate to kill a so-called tag and, actually, a significant advantage. In a one-party democracy, such risk could be entertained, but not in the kind of two-party democracy we have.

All other things being equal, in the 2024 election, if the NPP is able to win those 6 Akan regions again with significant difference in each region, and particularly increase the Ashanti Region votes from the 1.795 million to over 2 million votes, the party would be able to break the 8. For me, whoever has the capacity and connection to give us over 2 million votes in Ashanti Region, should be the partys candidate.

As I have shown you before, in the 9 regions the NDC won in 2020, they beat the NPP with a total difference of 1,151,292. However, in Ashanti Region alone, the NPP beat them with a difference 1,142,675. So, Ashanti alone stood against all the 9 regions with only a deficit of 8,617 votes. Thats how important the region is.

Fortunately for the NPP, 3 out of the 4 regions that would determine the outcome of the 2024 elections are Akan regions  Ashanti, Central, Western and Greater Accra. However, the NDC, by their appointment of Hon. Ato Forson and Hon. Armah Buah, as the new leaders of the party in parliament, has given ample signal to the NPP that Western and Central would be serious battle grounds in 2024.

Again, NDCs performance improvement in Ashanti Region from 23.03% in 2016 to 26.08% in 2020, should be a matter of concern to any serious-minded NPP person. If with Nana Addo as the candidate, and the party going for its second term on the back of free SHS at the time, the NDC was able to put up such performance in our stronghold, then the region would be a real battle ground in 2024.

Therefore, NPPs strategy must focus on having a candidate who can connect very well with those 4 regions, in addition to Eastern, Bono and Ahafo. Currently, the party stands a bit weakened relative to the economic factor. As a result, a special kind of magnetic candidate would be needed to inspire confidence and hope, and also bring in the numbers through other connection factors.

Once again, let me show you why APC delegates rejected the Presidents candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice President, and voted massively for Ahmed Bola Tinubu. The APC delegates knew the economic factor was against them, prior to the election. But, they also knew something else - they knew with Tinubu, a Yoruba Muslim, they could significantly take advantage of the religious and ethnic connection factors.

In the end, their strategy paid off, and Tinubu was able to connect well with the Yorubas to win in all the Yoruba dominated States except Lagos, where Obi won because the weight of the religious factor was heavily against him. He also won 5.5 million of the Northern Muslim votes as against Atikus 5.1 million. Thats smartness, isnt it?

LESSON: In politics, you dont leave your 99 sheep astray to go and look for the one which is lost. You make sure the 99 are well protected before you set out to go and look for the one which is lost. We must think of consolidating our advantage in the Akan regions first before anything else. Yes, we need to perform fairly well in the NDC strongholds, and possibly win Greater Accra, but above all, we must garner over 2 million votes in Ashanti Region.

QUESTION: Once again, putting emotions aside, and considering things purely from strategic point of view, which of the two gentlemen do you think can easily connect well with needed regions to give us superior advantage against John Mahama?

Shalom shalom!

E. G. BUCKMAN
Deputy Trade Minister and New Juaben South MP Michael Okyere Baafi has thrown his support behind Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the NPP flagbearer race.

He said Dr. Bawumia is the only one who looks and acts presidential among the other aspirants.

"The only President among them is Dr. Bawumia. He is the most suitable to lead our great party into the next election and secure victory for the NPP, he said.

"Among the aspirants the only one who can lead the party into victory, his name is Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, he added.

Speaking at the launch of the "Women Delegates For Bawumia" group in Koforidua, the Eastern regional capital, Mr. Okyere Baafi noted that it is about time the party change the status quo concerning the widely held notion of always choosing an Akan as its flagbearer.

"With the direction of the country, it is not only one community which makes Ghana. We have Ashantes, Ewes, Gas, Krobos, and Bonos in Ghana. Some of all these tribes are NPP members which means the era where only Akans lead the party is over," he said.

He argued that Dr. Bawumia's Muslim faith should not be a hindrance, citing other Muslim-dominated African countries who have Christians as their Presidents.

"In Nigeria, Muslims are majority but the President is a Christian. In Senegal, Muslims are majority but the President is a Christian. A country with diverse tribes means everyone could become president, he said.
The Ketu North Constituency Parliamentary election of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would have to be rescheduled for a run-off.

Mr James Gunu, Volta Regional Secretary of the Party, who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency in an interview said certified results as declared by the Electoral Commission (EC) had two contestants tie at the first spot.

Two of the contenders in Saturday's poll returned a tie after a recount demanded by Mr John Adanu, who won the second position after the main voting exercise.

Mr Prince Agbemenya, Ketu North Director of Electoral Commission (EC), who supervised the exercise declared Mr Edem Agbana, winner of the contest with 360 votes, just one vote more than what Mr Adanu (359) acquired.

However the insistence of Mr Adanu led to a recount, during which two blank ballot papers and another blank one was found in the accumulation of ballots of Agbana and Adanu, respectively, bringing a tie of 358 votes apiece.

Mr Gunu said since the EC result failed to produce a winner, a run-off is expected to take place to correct the stalemate.

The results of other aspirants in the parliamentary contest were: Donald Agumenu  210, Gabriel Atokple  176, Prosper Ledi  72, Francis Seglah  67, Leonard Nyakpo - 8 and Emmanuel Agbanyo  7.

Mr Tessu James Dotse, Ketu North Chairman of the NDC in an interaction with the Ghana News Agency(GNA), said he was happy with the smooth conduct of the polls so far and assured of his outfits commitment in ensuring that the polls ended successfully without any blemishes.

Some delegates also expressed satisfaction at the voting process.

GNA
Samuel Koku Anyidoho, a former deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress has said despite his criticisms of John Dramani Mahama and other party leaders, he has no plans to quit the party.

In a tweet on May 15, Mr. Anyidoho said he is a man of integrity and will always remain with the NDC.

The comment comes amid speculations that Mr Anyidoho may resign from the NDC after his preferred flagbearer aspirant, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, failed to win the party's primaries.

However, Mr. Anyidoho made it clear he has no intention of leaving the NDC.

As the CEO of the Atta Mills Institute, he said he will continue speaking for accountability and good governance within the NDC.

"What will I benefit from forming a new political party? Why should I leave the NDC? It is only cowards who run away from their fights - if they have no integrity. I have integrity so I shall forever remain in the NDC & speak for "probity and accountability," Anyidoho tweeted on Monday, May 15.
Former Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Alhaji Haruna Iddrisu has praised former President John Dramani Mahama.

He described him as a full portrait of a leader who has what it takes to redeem Ghana from the mess created by the Akufo-Addo government.

Speaking at the University of Development Studies in Tamale on Monday, May 15, while introducing John Mahama before his first major address after being elected the 2024 NDC presidential candidate, Haruna Iddrisu expressed confidence in Mahama's leadership qualities, experience and vision.

"Mahama is not a sketch, but a full portrait of a leader. He is coming back to lead the NDC to rescue the country from its worst," Alhaji Iddrisu told the gathering.

He further urges Ghanaians on how they should view John Mahama's leadership potential, saying, "Mahama is not a sketch, but a full portrait of a leader."

Alhaji Iddrisu emphasized that John Mahama should not be seen as just a beginner or an average leader but rather a full, complete and experienced leader who has what it takes to deliver results.

He stressed that Mahama is the man to rescue Ghana from the mess created by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia's government.
Former President, John Dramani Mahama has formally accepted to lead the National Democratic Congress (NDC) into the 2024 general elections as its flagbearer.

At an event at the University of Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale on Monday, May 15, the flagbearer elect of the NDC said he dedicates his victory to late Presidents Jerry John Rawlings and Evans Fiifi Atta-Mills.

With profound gratitude, I humbly accept to be the Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress. I dedicate this victory to the founder of our party, Jerry John Rawlings, to my late boss and mentor Prof. John Evans Atta-Mills, to my former Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah Attah, and the many hundreds of our senior comrades who laboured to build this political tradition that we have the privilege of leading today, John Dramani Mahama said.

The former President in his address expressed appreciation to delegates for electing him to become leader of the NDC.

He assured all followers of the opposition party and the entire country that he will ensure the NDC wins the election 2024 at all costs.

Thank you for your vote of confidence and for your unshaken conviction that I am the most suitable person with the experience and vision to lead our party, the NDC to victory in 2024.

We must win the election to enable us to build the Ghana we want together. I pledge to lead you to a resounding victory come December 2024, Mahama promised.
Former President, John Dramani Mahama has assured the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) that he will lead the party to a resounding victory in the 2024 general election.

He said this after he polled 98.8% of the total vote cast at the presidential primaries of the NDC over the Weekend.

Delivering his formal acceptance speech on Monday, May 15, John Dramani Mahama sent a message to President Akufo-Addo to start preparing his handing over notes.

He stressed that he is convinced the NDC will boot out the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) from government next year at the end of the December 7 general election.

Thank you for your vote of confidence and for your unshaken conviction that I am the most suitable person with the experience and vision to lead our party, the NDC to victory in 2024.

We must win the election to enable us to build the Ghana we want together. I pledge to lead you to a resounding victory come December 2024, John Dramani Mahama said.

The former President further assured that when the NDC assumes power, his government will bring the country out of the gloom and breathe life back into the troubled Ghanaian economy.
Former Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor has rubbished reports suggesting that he plans on leaving the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to form a new political party.

In a statement, the flagbearer aspirant who quit the flagbearer race a day before the election has assured the rank and file of the NDC that he remains committed, loyal, and will continue to serve the party.

I have become aware of some concerns from the rank and file of the NDC, that I intend to leave the NDC to form another party.

I wish to state that I have no such intentions and remain committed to the NDC as I have always been. The NDC is my home as it is for us all and I will always remain loyal to our party, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor said in a statement on Monday, May 15.

Meanwhile, the former Minister of Finance has admonished the NDC to unite and focus on the main objective of coming back to power after the 2024 general elections.

Let us come together towards the cause of victory for our party and progress for our nation. The NDC belongs to us and we have a charge to keep its flame burning. So let us get to work, Dr. Duffuor said.

Below is a copy of Dr. Kwabena Duffuors press release:
The flagbearer elect of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has promised to run a lean government to unburden the public purse when elected President of Ghana once again.

Delivering his acceptance speech to lead the NDC as its flagbearer in the 2024 general election on Monday, May 15, the former President said his plan is to run government with just 60 Ministers.

He assured that he will ensure all ministers sign an undertaking that will bind them not to be entitled to ex-gratia at the end of their service to the nation.

I am committed to operating a government with no more than 60 Ministers and they will not be entitled to ex gratia. They will sign an undertaking for this, John Dramani Mahama stressed.

The payments of ex-gratia to members of the Executive under Article 71 in the last few years have been very topical with many Civil Society Organisations and lawyers calling for it to be scrapped.

Meanwhile, former President John Dramani Mahama has dedicated his victory in the flagbearer election of the NDC to former Presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John Evans Atta-Mills.

With profound gratitude, I humbly accept to be the Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress. I dedicate this victory to the founder of our party, Jerry John Rawlings, to my late boss and mentor Prof. John Evans Atta-Mills, to my former Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah Attah, and the many hundreds of our senior comrades who laboured to build this political tradition that we have the privilege of leading today, John Dramani Mahama said.
Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama, has vowed to lead the opposition party to reclaim the presidency from the failing Akufo-Addo government in the 2024 general elections.

Speaking at the University of Development Studies in Tamale, Mr Mahama who massively won the presidential primaries of the NDC on Saturday said Ghana needs to be rescued immediately from the current government before the country is led into a ditch.

He called on all party members to unite and get involved in the herculean task of winning the 2024 elections.

The newly elected flagbearer of the NDC also promised to meet with all the incumbent Members of Parliament who lost their slots in the party's just-ended Parliamentary primary.

He said the affected MPs remain assets of the party and that the party will need their rich experience and resources to win the 2024 general elections.

There is hope for our country and I firmly believe in our collective ability as a party to lead the transformational agenda that restores decent values, revives youthful aspirations and ambitions.

Ours will be a progressive government that provides equal opportunities for decent and sustainable livelihoods, and I am convinced that by working with Ghanaians, we shall turn Ghana's hopelessness and gloom today to a better and brighter tomorrow.

The former President also lashed out at the economic management for collapsing the countrys economy with poor policies and running to the International Monetary Fund for a bailout.

Literally and figuratively, the government's economic management team has displayed grave incompetence, mismanaged Ghana's economy, and inflicted severe hardships on Ghanaians including the elderly and the young.

-citinewsroom
Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama has called for a united front among party folks in the campaign towards the 2024 elections.

Delivering his post-election acceptance speech at the University for Development Studies (UDS) on Monday, 15 May 2023, Mr Mahama urged members of the NDC to flip the coin from competition to cooperation following the end of the partys presidential and parliamentary primaries in order to cooperate towards building a better Ghana.

Mr Mahama said: We need cooperation to build a better Ghana and a better NDC. I am, therefore, calling for cooperation among all elected parliamentary candidates and your aspirants and supporters.

The NDC flagbearer further urged incumbent Members of Parliament (MPs) who lost in the just-ended primaries to keep their heads up.

Incumbent Members of Parliament who lost their primaries must also keep your heads up. You remain a hero for the good job you have done, and continue to do, for our party and country.

We need your experience and talents for the onerous job that faces us when the good people of Ghana give us a mandate to steer the affairs of this country once more, Mr Mahama stressed.

He continued: Above all, we need you in the remaining one and half years of your Parliamentary mandate to carry out your duties with dedication and commitment to safeguard the interest of the Ghanaian people.

I intend to meet with you as early as possible.

He encouraged the MPs who were ousted that despite their loss, they must remain a part of the party.

The party needs you, and we will continue to rely on you as we seek to win election 2024 and change the destiny of the suffering people of Ghana. We must remain one family, Mr Mahama stated.

He also urged all members of the party to commit their energies towards working to win the 2024 elections.

Let me emphasise and urge all of us, as members of the NDC, to re-dedicate ourselves, commit our energies and resources to work hard to win the 2024 elections. I assure you of my open-mindedness, my open-door policy, and my commitment to run a government based on merit and competence.

Let me reaffirm my unshaken commitment to offer the needed support to our Parliamentary Candidates and all Constituencies to make certain that we secure a healthy majority in the next parliament.

He added: We owe it as a duty to our country to do so, and we shall.

-classfmonline.com
15.05.2023 LISTEN

The Central Regional Peace Council organised a programme on the sustainability of peace for the local councils of churches in Mankessim and Elmina.

This was held on Sunday, February 5, 2023, and Tuesday, April 11, 2023, respectively to sensitise and build the capacity of pastors in Mankessim and Elmina since they are an exceptional, highly recognised, and formidable group that contributes to peace and conflict in the Ghanaian societies.

The Chairman of the Central Regional Peace Council, Rt. Rev. Richardson Andam, discussed the benefits of fostering sustainable peace in the Central Region, with much emphasis on the upcoming 2024 general elections.

"Peace is priceless and should be valued in our societies. Religious leaders are considered the fathers of the church and anchors of peace, so its our responsibility to propagate peace during our sermons to ensure sustainable peace before, during, and after elections. Just like what the Bible says in Matthew 5:9, God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called children of God," Rev. Andam stated.

The religious leaders assured the chairman of their willingness to effectively collaborate with the Central Peace Council in fostering sustainable peace in the Central Region and Ghana as a whole.
The Atebubu-Amantin office of the National Commission for Civic Education has honoured Mr. Owusu Brenya a former Programme Officer who has retired after almost 30 years of distinguished service to the Commission.

A citation presented to Mr. Brenya read in part "You will be remembered for the roles you played in the redenomination of the Ghana cedi campaign in 2007, the establishment of Civic Education Clubs in various schools as well as numerous other World Vision Ghana sponsored programmes throughout the municipality among others."

It adds "Your relationship with fellow staff both senior and junior was one of mutual respect. Indeed you are an example worthy of emulation."

Presenting the citation together with a parcel to Mr. Brenya, the Municipal Director of the Commission Mr. Patrick Tampugre praised him for his dedication to duty.

He recalled the immeasurable pieces of advice and direction he received from the retiree when he was first posted to head the Atebubu office in 2018.

Almost moved to tears Mr. Tampugre bemoaned his inability to secure some compensation for Mr. Brenya who was involved in a motorbike accident on duty on Saturday the 30th of May 2020 from his employers especially when the incident has severely affected the mobility of the victim.

On his part, Mr. Brenya encouraged the staff especially the young ones to strive to further their education since that is the surest way they can climb up the professional ladder. He urged them to be selfless, dedicated and hardworking in order to uplift the image of the institution.

Whiles expressing his gratitude to his former colleagues for the gesture which he described as a surprise, he promised to open his doors to them for any assistance in future.

The Municipal Electoral Officer Mr. Kennedy Opoku who graced the occasion wished the retiree well in his endeavors and urged the young ones to pursue further studies in order to upgrade themselves for the future.
15.05.2023 LISTEN

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa is the unluckiest president since the dawn of South Africas democracy in 1994, confided one ANC activist recently during a brief chat the other day.

Just less two years into the highest job in land, in March 2020 South Africa, like most nations across the globe, effected Covid-19 lockdowns, added the activist.

For sure, this global pandemic by far was unprecedented, in the last millennia or so.

More businesses collapsed, job loss went up, death rate; and a variety of other factors that negatively befell the human species during this period.

True to form, South Africa turns to get a lot of the media attention, quite a dramatic country others would say.

For-instance, South Africa recorded the highest number of Covid infections in Africa during the pandemic.

As reportedly the most unequal country on earth, South Africa, finds itself constantly on the news for mostly the wrong reasons.

The country also gets a lot of media attention for many positive activities from sports, the arts, and in other fields.

This time around, the rolling blackouts are doing just the same damage to the nations fabric just as witnessed during the Covid lockdowns.

Could Ramaphosa be asking himself why he took the job in the first place judging my the myriad of hurdles his presidency has encountered up until now.

The 2021 July unrest that saw more than 350 lives lost. R50 billion worth of damages to property to mention a few.

The torching of parliament and other private, public and government institutions that have come under attack right across the land, could signal a president overwhelmed by the wills of power.

Ascending to the ANC presidency, propels the leader of the governing ANC to become the president of the country, as the governing party has enjoyed landslide victories in every national election since 1994.

The Ramaphosa presidency has already been termed in certain quarters and including by some media groups as the worst administration to date.

Maybe, or maybe not, the issues at hand now should be whether South Africans can continue to place their trust into the hands of Ramaphosa and his party.

And that the anti-Ramaphosa sentiments within the ANC, are also drumming up the noise for the presidents exist from office, could very much lead into a situation were the ANC goes into next years national election further weakened from the factional battles that have become the everyday reality of Africas oldest liberation movement.

As if Ramaphosa and the ANC problems were not a lot. Then theres the headache that faces the South Africa as it prepares to host this years BRICS Summit.

The bone of contention is that of whether or not Pretoria will arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin should he attend the summit, scheduled for August 2023.

The charge for Putins arrest is led mostly by Russias erstwhile enemies the Western Powers including Britain and the US, this of-course follows Russians invasion of Ukraine earlier in 2022.

Notably, the Russian-Ukraine Conflict has already had devastating effects of the whole economically and otherwise.

These two energy giants fighting has contributed greatly to have the rise if costs globally and the escalation of the high prices of petrol for example.

For South Africa this and ramification of great proportions when you consider the both Britain and the US are one SAs biggest trading partners, worth hundred billions of investments annually and millions of jobs could be lost.

On the other hand, should Pretoria succumb to its Western Allies, then the ANC led South Africa will be breaking a century old relationship with Russia, much of it existed during the liberation struggle.

Not forgetting that many African countries usually side with Russian during such crises, as they also were beneficiaries of support from the USSR during anti-colonial era. And many if not all have kept close ties with Russia.

A though one indeed for Ramaphosa, which ever way you look at it.

The Putin matter has the serious potential to divide the ANC even more. In the worst case scenario it could divide the country along ideological lines.

On the international stage it could lead to further cracks in global unity and strengthening tensions between countries across ideological and economic lines, historical alliances and relations.

Although it may sound extreme and even far fetched to suggest that this global disunity and unstable environment, can create conditions of a world war, it wont help the world not to seek to prevent such a possibility.

Few to none saw the coming of World War 1 and World War 2. Few to none saw the coming of many other conflicts and market crashes and economic disasters.

And as for South Africa, it is hard to hear some of the citizens hurt at the rolling blackouts and their pessimism on overcoming this power curse.

But again, every challenge is accompanied by an opportunity.

What could be the solution?

The solution could come from all sectors of society, locally and internationally finding one another on pressing matters affecting all of us.

Be it rolling blackout, foreign policy, service delivery and effective leadership of our nations and the world.

When those bestowed to lead are not giving the masses any reason to trust that they can turn things around and create an equal and winning society for all its people.

Mgudlwa is an award-winning journalist
15.05.2023 LISTEN

President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has received an official invitation from the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to attend the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28 to be held in the UAE.

President Akufo-Addo received the invitation from Mr. Amer Al Alawi, Charge d'Affaires of the UAE Embassy in the Republic of Ghana, at the Jubilee House in Accra.

During the meeting, Mr. Amer Al Alawi conveyed to President Akufo-Addo the greetings of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, and his wishes of good health and success to President Akufo-Addo and to all Ghanaians. The UAE President also expressed to the people of Ghana his best wishes for further progress and prosperity.

For his part, President Akufo-Addo extended best regards to his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, wishing him good health, success and prosperity while expressing his hope for stronger relations between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Ghana.

During the meeting, the Charge d'Affaires reviewed the progress made on bilateral relations in various fields; joint cooperation at the bilateral and multilateral levels in international forums and the unique opportunities available.

The Charge d'Affaires officially gave an update to President Akufo-Addo on the preparations being made by the UAE authorities for hosting the COP28 in November.

Mr. Al Alawi handed to President Akufo-Addo the invitation letter from the President of UAE to attend the flagship global climate event.

COP28 will be held from November 30th until December 12th, 2023 at the Expo City, Dubai in the UAE.
15.05.2023 LISTEN

INTRODUCTION

The repatriation of pillaged African artifacts has become a crucial issue in recent years, as many of these priceless cultural and historical items were looted and taken out of Africa during the colonial era. These artifacts include sculptures, masks, jewelry, textiles, and other objects that hold great cultural and spiritual significance for African communities. For this article, artifacts are used to mean sculptures, masks, and other works of art of African origin which were destroyed and looted during colonization.

The importance of repatriation lies in the fact that these artifacts are not just mere objects, but are central to African identity and cultural heritage. These artifacts embody the creativity, ingenuity, and spirituality of African people, and serve as a tangible link to their past and present. Therefore, in commemoration of World Heritage Day celebrated on 18th of April every year, this article attempts to explore the effect of pillaged African artifacts on the identity of africans and indicate why repartriation of these artifacts is important. Specifically, this article examines the impact of colonization and the slave trade on African artifacts.

It also explores how the loss of African artifacts due to looting and other forms of theft has impacted African identity and promoted a sense of belonging. This article argues that the repatriation of these artifacts is essential for restoring a sense of pride and connection to cultural roots and for promoting cultural empowerment for African communities.

IMPACT OF COLONIZATION AND THE SLAVE TRADE ON AFRICAN ARTIFACTS

Abdel Ati Ali (2016) notes that colonization accelerated and hastened the pace of devastation of all aspects of African life with the slave trade acting as the "initiator" of the destruction of African identity and culture. However, the entrance of European conquerors into Africa represented a watershed moment in the continent's history, with far-reaching consequences for African artifacts. African art was subjected to a new set of values and aesthetics imposed by the colonizers. As captured by tingatingaart.com (2023), while the use of new materials and artistic techniques

brought by Europeans allowed African artists to create works that were more portable and sealable and that depicted African subjects in greater detail and authenticity; it also caused the commercialization of African arts, and many African artists started to create pieces that were specifically made to appeal to the tastes of European buyers. This resulted in the creation of what is termed "colonial art," which was typically characterized by a lack of creativity and dependence on European subject matter and styles.

This ultimately resulted in the portrayal of African life and culture as strange and primitive. Thus, as African artists shifted away from traditional forms of production and became more reliant on the taste and interest of European buyers and the European art market, they were forced to create commercially viable works rather than works that reflected their own cultural identity and heritage.

This distorted African culture and history while reinforcing the colonial stereotype of Africa as a dark continent in need of European civilization. As Ngangura (2020), notes part of what occurred in Africa because of the colonial encounter was the exploitation of Africans' cultural treasures through symbolic violence.

The slave trade also essentially had it impact on African artifact. Thousands of artifacts were robbed, stolen, and exported out of Africa during this time, depriving African nations and cultures of important pieces of their history and identity. For the colonialist, African artifacts may have been misrepresented to be a thing made for the admiration of men but in essence, African artifacts are more functional than decorative. Among other things, the artifact was and still is a means for conveying nuanced messages that are hard to put into words. African artists typically employ cultural iconography and symbols in their work to make remarks about their identity and experiences (Situma et al., 2016).

Agreeing with this, Vogel and Thompson (1981) express that African artifacts were and still are made to express and support fundamental values both spiritual and societal that are essential to the survival of the community and its values. The preservation of Africa's cultural properties is still of utmost significance to African cultures and communities, despite the loss of many of the continent's priceless treasures. African artifacts continue to be crucial to the development of modern African cultures.

They act as a link between the current and next generations and their heritage and sense of cultural identity. African artifacts continue to be relevant today as seen by the utilization of these objects in modern fashion and artwork. Societies have therefore sought to protect and preserve their cultural heritage, especially in the desire to reinforce a sense of identity.

THE IMPACT OF LOST AFRICAN ARTIFACTS ON AFRICAN IDENTITY AND PROMOTING A SENSE OF BELONGING

Identity is a crucial aspect of human existence, and it is shaped by various factors, including culture, religion, geography, and history, among others. Our identity is something we uniquely possess and is what sets us apart from other individuals (Buckingham, 2008). Although most people prefer to conceive of identification in terms of individual characteristics like age, race, gender, and ethnicity, it covers considerably more ground. Identity is intricate and multidimensional, and it is fundamental to how we are psychologically made. However, Identity is used here in the traditional sense of having a true picture of who one is. Cultural objects influence identity in a variety of ways.

African artifacts, such as sculptures, masks, and other works of art, are an essential component of the continent's civilization and have deep psychological and cultural value. However, the predominant view of traditional African arts appears to be that it is done in reaction to and in service of a ritual - a perspective that has made it hard to perceive the artist as anything other than a slave to ritual (Okpewho, 1977). According to Situma et al. (2016), if African society's arts convey or portray a realistic picture of itself, African society's awareness can't focus on the negative. If art represents a society's consciousness, then it must be the result of knowledge, introspection, and a long-lived creativity. African artifacts are not only gorgeous; they are also culturally, religiously, and societally significant. In the numerous interactions of the many people and organizations and groups affiliated with them, African artifacts have a ramified function.

These artifacts perform a variety of functions such as regulative, distributive, and adjudicative, among others. (Armstrong et al., 1972). The importance of African arts in reflecting African identity is sometimes overlooked in historical, artistic, literary, and other fields. This weakness has resulted in a lack of understanding and the preservation of African art, culminating in a significant cultural loss for African people.

The fact that colonialism inaugurated a crisis of the postcolonial African identity is beyond question. The impact of colonialism on the African psyche was enormous, resulting in a sense of cultural alienation and a loss of connection to their ancestors. As Abdel Ati Ali (2016) argues, without a strong sense of a groups history, it becomes hard to construct a salient identity within a larger community (The World). This suggests that identifying with one's history and developing a strong cultural identity are critical for having a true reflection of oneself and the worth of value that one carries.

As such, the loss of African artifacts due to looting, theft, and other forms of destruction has had a significant psychological impact on African societies. The identity of Africans was given expression through the use of art, which reflected and shaped it (Abdel Ati Ali, 2016). As such, the loss of these artifacts has meant the loss of a significant component of African identity. African artifact can inspire sentiments of amazement, wonder, and admiration for the diversity and beauty of African civilizations.

Therefore, with the loss of and lack of connection with the ingenuity of their ancestors expressed through artifacts, there is the inability of Africans to craft renditions of themselves which can then contribute to a shared and individual future. The colonialist had tainted and obscured the ingenuity, excellence, and might, associated with African history with that of slavery and other narrations that reduced the Africans into nothing but barbaric being with no acumen to achieve anything extraordinary.

At a point in time, the ascription of being an African was an outright abhorrence to many Africans especially those in the diaspora. Africa in their eyes was nothing but a place of barbarism, hunger, poverty, and a people of limited mental acumen to achieve anything extraordinary because their history has been falsified and cultural properties destroyed and stolen and therefore, they had no connection with them. Reconnecting with ones history and past is essential because the past plays a role in the sense of identity by constructing the present (Abdel Ati Ali, 2016).

Cultural properties can serve as worthy resources to rely on to construct an unwavering sense of self. In this way, identifying with ones history and the very things associated with it can offer a framework for locating oneself and experiencing a sense of connection, belonging, and purpose.

This explains why Wexler (2009), asserted that a strong historical connection can help people comprehend their people and their past and present in a historically grounded and stabilizing way. It could therefore be expressed that cultural identification, or identifying with one's cultural attributes such as beliefs, values, practices, norms, traditions, and heritage (such as Artifacts), and comprehending their distinctiveness is a critical pathway of relief and resiliency for ethnic minorities, particularly young people who experience discrimination, racism, and prejudice.

As such, reconnection with Africas cultural orientation and historical foundation of which lost African artifacts are an essential component, can provide a sense of grounding, self-worth, social connectedness, and purpose to African people. Therefore, in concurrence with Ngangura (2020), it is worth expressing that The question of repatriation has everything to do with the possibility of reconstructing Africas cultural heritages because that is necessary and important to the psychic progress and psychological progress of African peoples..

WHY REPATRIATION IS ESSENTIAL

When a cultural property is taken without permission, it causes a profound hurt that is sometimes only healed by returning the stolen property to its nation of origin (Lenzerini, 2016). The pride, self-esteem, and identity of a people are inextricably linked to their cultural history, making it an important asset. Beyond its creative, archaeological, monetary, and aesthetic worth, cultural properties often has a spiritual link with communities. Repatriation of cultural artifacts has been shown to strengthen cultural identities in the modern world by sparking cultural renewal processes and encouraging the development of new types of contemporary cultural practices rooted in traditional values, rites, and artistic expressions (Simpson, 2009).

The repatriation of pillaged African artifacts can have a profound impact on the identity of Africans by helping to restore a sense of pride and connection to cultural roots. When these artifacts are returned, they can serve as symbols of African resilience and resistance to colonial oppression, and as a source of inspiration for future generations. Also, the return of looted African artifacts to their original locations has the potential to heal the wounds inflicted by colonialism. Moreover, the repatriation of these artifacts can also have practical benefits for African communities.

They can serve as important cultural and educational resources, and as a source of economic development through cultural tourism. However, the issue of repatriation is complex and raises questions about ownership, custody, and access to these artifacts. Many of these objects are currently housed in museums and private collections outside of Africa, and there is a need for a collaborative and transparent approach to repatriation that involves African communities and stakeholders. Nonetheless, the repatriation of pillaged African artifacts has the potential to contribute to a more complete and authentic understanding of African history and identity, while also promoting cultural empowerment for African communities.

CONCLUSION

African artifacts play a crucial role in shaping African identity and culture. They serve as a reminder of the rich history and diversity of African societies and their ability to persevere in the face of adversity. The loss of African artifacts due to colonization, the slave trade, and other forms of theft has had a significant psychological impact on African societies. However, despite these challenges, African societies continue to place great importance on the preservation of their cultural heritage.

The significance of African artifacts in contemporary times cannot be overstated, and it is crucial for cultural properties stolen from the continent to be returned. The repatriation of African cultural heritage is more than a symbolic gesture for people who have long been denied justice (New African Magazine, 2020). The repatriation of African cultural heritage is a means of healing the wounds inflicted by colonialism,and a cultural revitalization process, and an affirmation of cultural identity within our current dispensation. Repatriating African artefacts is an activity to right the wrongs of the past, not a reaction to them.

Therefore, I argue that the idea of preservation which is a core tenet of UNESCOs convention and defines why cultural properties should be kept in a place where they could properly be taken care of is not enough grounds for withholding other people's cultural heritage. I argue that the significance and the essence of these cultural properties or treasures to the very people associated with them should be of much more concern regarding in whose custody it should be. It will be more pragmatic for international organizations and UNESCO to support the move towards the repatriation of African artifacts.

REFERENCE
15.05.2023 LISTEN

The MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, says John Dramani Mahama, has been elected as flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress to help rescue Ghana from the claws of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumias government.

Speaking at the post-election speech ceremony held in honour of John Mahama at the University of Development Studies in Tamale, Mr. Iddrisu slammed the government for subjecting Ghanaians to excruciating hardships.

The legislator described Mr. Mahama as a leader who has integrity and compassion to lead the country.

He [Mr. Mahama] comes in with unique characteristics. Former President Mahama is not a sketch but a full portrait of a leader. For him, public service is a calling, and hes only come back to lead the NDC to rescue our country which has been run to its lowest ebb. Nana Addo Dankwa and Bawumia have run this country into economic failure manifesting in excruciating hardship.

Manifesting in the destruction of the private sector and businesses. The man to rescue the economy is former President John Dramani Mahama. He also comes to this office with five characteristics such as character, temperament, integrity and compassion, the former Minority said.

He is not a president who will promise no haircut but will cut hairs. Following the deception of the New Patriotic Party government under Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the people of NDC have spoken loud and eloquently that they need a rescuer. That rescuer is Mr. Mahama, he said.

The acceptance speech ceremony saw in attendance party executives, chiefs and party members.

Mr. Mahama secured a landslide victory at the just-ended primaries of the party.

John Mahama, the one-term president, failed in his bid for the presidency in the 2016 and 2020 general elections.

During the NDC's primaries held on Saturday, May 13, 2023, Mr. Mahama swept 297,603 (98.9%) of the total valid votes emerging as the flagbearer-elect of the NDC.

His contender Kojo Bonsu managed to poll 3,181 (1.1%) votes.

Declaration of results by the Electoral Commission's returning officer was done in the wee hours of Sunday, May 14.

He went into the contest with former Bank of Ghana Governor, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor and former Kumasi Mayor, Kojo Bonsu.

However, Dr. Duffuor chickened out of the race after claiming concerns he raised about discrepancies with the party's electoral roll were unresolved.

The big news was announced at the party's head office in Accra.

The campaign team of Mahama had earlier indicated that they were confident of securing 99.9% of the votes in the primaries.

-citinewsroom
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Professor Otchere Addai-Mensah has urged staff of the outfit to continue to offer their best in giving care to patients and visitors who come to the facility.

He noted that by doing this, they would be contributing to prolonging the life of persons who visit the hospital for care.

Addressing a staff durbar at the facility on Friday, Prof Addai-Mensah indicated his readiness to listen to concerns, complaints and suggestions from members of the staff so that collectively they could work together to best services to patients.

"Ours is a mandate to give quality and human-centered care to our patients and visitors who come to KATH and so I urge you all to partner with me in dealing with every challenge that comes our way," the CEO stated.

Commendation

The CEO commended the staff for their sterling performances for the six months he had been with them and urged them not to relent in doing their best.

He added that there was no way the modest successes they had chalked currently could come about without every staff member playing a positive role.

The CEO said he now sees staff working as if the hospital belonged to them. "The concerns you expressed including the suggestions you brought up since the staff durbar series was instituted has enabled management to work to ensure appropriate measures were put in place to address the challenges we encountered previously," the CEO commended.

Gains

The CEO disclosed that for three months the hospital has been able to rake in GHc700,000 just from funds people paid for treatment using the Mobile Money platforms and Point of Sales devices.

This, he noted has given management the impetus to go a step further to make the platforms accessible to everyone elsewhere who may want to pay for the treatment of their relations or family members.

The CEO said the hospital has been able to secure a deal with Neuce Paints to supply and paint the doctors' flats for free, a job the company is almost done with.

He disclosed that the intention is to paint all flats including doctors' and later nurses' flats as well as the wards and blocks to make the KATH environment fitting of a premier hospital.

Measures

He noted that just as pertains elsewhere, KATH should not be used as a thoroughfare for vehicles and persons who have no business at the facility.

Measures, the CEO noted were being taken to ensure such is halted.

Punitive sanctions

Currently, three medical doctors have been suspended with five more to face similar disciplinary measures for dabbling in activities such as extortion, thievery and forgery.

Speaking to the issue, the CEO said it is incumbent on every person that works at KATH to deal truthfully with the state and the facility in every area of operation hence a decision to deal ruthlessly with any erring professional, practitioner or staff.
Mr Mumuni Sulemana, Northern Regional Director of the National Youth Authority (NYA) has cautioned students at Senior High Schools (SHS) in the region to desist from bleaching and toning their skin.

He said the health implications of skin bleaching or toning could go beyond the skin, leading to other health complications such as liver, kidney or heart failure, skin cancer, body odour, brain damage amongst others.

He gave the caution when the NYA presented its survey report on the prevalence of skin bleaching among students in SHSs in Tamale.

The survey was conducted in five SHSs in the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA) and the Sagnarigu Municipality.

Mr Sulemana said the purpose of the survey was to identify the causes of bleaching among students, ascertain the dangers associated with bleaching and to recommend remedies to help address the rate of bleaching of the skin in the various SHSs.

Views of 20 students were sampled from each of the SHSs as part of the survey.

The survey showed that 83 per cent of the respondents were not aware of the negative effects of skin bleaching, 93 per cent thought bleaching was common among females, 56 per cent of female students bleached their skin because they wanted to look attractive to the opposite sex and 16 per cent of females had ever been advised to practise skin bleaching.

The survey recommended intensive education in schools, religious and other social gatherings on the negative effects of skin bleaching.

It also called on the Food and Drugs Authority to ban the importation of all bleaching creams and soaps into the country.

Mr Alhassan Mohammed Saani, Assistant Headmaster in-charge of Academic Affairs at Business SHS lamented about the high rate of skin bleaching amongst students and called on stakeholders to help stop the practice through education.

Miss Issahaku Rahamatu, a student of Business SHS said the report was a revelation and had exposed her colleague girls to some of the dangers associated with bleaching of the skin.

GNA
The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) joins the many Ghanaians who have congratulated the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the largest opposition party in Ghana for the successful organization of their primaries to elect their Presidential candidate and 260 Parliamentary candidates for the 2024 general elections.

The peaceful elections notwithstanding, GII is deeply concerned about the reports and videos circulating in various media outlets regarding the distribution of money and other items which could influence voters decisions one way or the other. These incidents although not widespread marred the beauty of the whole exercise.

It is on this basis that GII is calling for further investigations into the reports of the distribution of cash, gifts, and other inducements by contestants and establish the extent to which it is in violation of Section 20(1) of the Representation of the People Act (Act 699) which states that "Subject to subsection (2), a person who, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, gives or provides or causes to be given or provided money, goods, gifts, or other material inducements, or promises to give or provide any such money, goods, gifts, or other material inducements to another person for the purpose of procuring that other person or any other person to vote or refrain from voting at an election commits an offense and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years or to both."

Again, the Criminal Offence Act 1960 (Act 29) speaks about bribery of voters under Section 240, undue influence at elections under Section 241 while Section 249 deals with Illegal practice in connection with voting. Vote buying and financial inducements distort the democratic principles of fair and transparent elections. Such practices compromise the principles of equality, accountability, and good governance. By employing these unethical tactics, candidates prioritize personal gain over the interests of the electorate, thereby eroding public trust and damaging the democratic fabric of our nation.

GII, therefore, supports actions taken by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) on the 15th of May 2023 by inviting alleged perpetrator(s) of acts tantamount to electoral corruption for investigation. This is an important step towards sanitizing the countrys campaign processes. We pray that the full length of the law is explored to control what has come to be known as the monetisation of the countrys elections.

The Electoral Commission should also evoke its powers of disqualification to disqualify candidate(s) and Political Parties who fall foul of Sessions 240, 241, and 249 of the Criminal Offence Act, 1960 (Act 29).

GII urges all stakeholders, including political parties, candidates, voters, and the general public, to join the campaign to ensure that the 2024 elections come off with the highest standards of political integrity so that winners and losers will accept the outcome graciously.
15.05.2023 LISTEN

A central pilar in the historic imperialistic ideology of the Western World was the concept that the non-Caucasian parts of the world were given over to the darkness of Satanic worship and idolatry. Caucasians by contrast were portrayed as light bearers tasked with the noble function of bringing illumination to a world drowning in backwardness, superstition, and ignorance. This titanic clash of spiritual civilizations was no holds barred and every tactic was allowed to finally determine which worldview would reign supreme.

Perhaps one of the oldest strategies used by both political and religious authorities down through the ages is the comparison of opponents with the greatest image of evil available. Since most cultures have evolved cosmogonies with intricate hierarchies of good and evil spirit entities, there is an abundance of evil caricatures to draw upon when the need arises.

In the Judeo-Christian context nothing is guaranteed to boil the blood and raise the ire of the masses faster than claims of diabolical activity. Anything associated with the Devil immediately creates a climate in which anything from genocide to lynching becomes possible. All Christian authorities had to do in the past was to associated some group of enemies of the Church with the Devil and the blood bath began in earnest.

Witchcraft and Satanism were considered to be two of the most heinous crimes that could be committed in Christendom. Anyone suspected of practicing witchcraft or of worshiping Satan was dispatched from this world to the next with alacrity and with the greatest sense of urgency. Christians felt very justified in subjecting witches and Satan worshipers to the most gruesome forms of torture and death because the Bible was adamant that witches and others of this ilk should not be suffered to live.

It was this kind of mindset that was released on the African continent with the onset of the European invasion. Armed with a barrage of Bible texts condemning all the works of darkness, European Christians saw the Devil everywhere they went on the African continent. The Africans with their superabundance of melanin in their skin were walking testaments of the presence of the Devil in the Dark Continent. For as everyone in Europe knew black was the color of evil.

The European association of black with all things evil is readily seen in a rich assortment of words especially in the English language which connected black with some evil connotation. Even something as morally questionable as magic was considered relatively harmless if it was white magic but deadly and demonic if it was black magic. Angels cake was white but the Devils cake was -you guessed it-black as the darkest night. Words like blacklist, blackmail, blackguard, blackheart, and blackball all associated black with something that was less than desirable.

As people of African ancestry embraced English and other European languages that promoted anti-Blackness, we became complicit in our own negative racial stereotyping as we were forced to used the same racists terminologies in our everyday conversations. Black also became a pejorative expression that was used by Black people against other Black people.

Our Black skin functioned like the mythical mark of Cain thus exposing us to the opprobrium of the European colonizers. To this day there are still echoes of the quintessentially racist view that our black skin is the result of some divine curse. As recent as 1978, there was still a major US denomination that endorsed the concept that black skin was evidence of a divine curse.

Associating Black people, our culture, and our spiritual traditions with evil and the Devil created the moral justification for all the atrocities perpetrated against our ancestors. It did not hurt either that the Jewish deity in the Old Testament was one hundred percent in favor of a scorch earth policy when dealing with Devil worshiping heathens. The Jews were commanded by their deity to kill all the pagan inhabitants of Canaan after destroying their idols and temples.

Perhaps one of the most worrisome pathologies among people of African ancestry is the internalization of some of the same anti-Black sentiments expressed by the champions of Caucasian supremacy. Many black people who have drunk deeply from the cup of Eurocentric Christian spirituality have a tendency to demonize much of what emanates from the heart of the African psyche. It is bad when others try to demonize us along with our culture and traditions. It is a tragedy of immense proportions however when we internalize the prejudices of others and become agents of our own demonization.

Lenrod Nzulu Baraka is the founder of Afro-Caribbean Spiritual Teaching Center and the author of The Rebirth of Black Civilization: Making Africa and the Caribbean Great Again.
Former President John Mahama has called for unity and cooperation within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) saying it is critical to reclaim power from the NPP.

Speaking at the University for Development Studies in Tamale, the Northern regional capital after emerging victorious in the NDC primaries, Mr. Mahama said "We must flip the coin from competition to cooperation. We need cooperation to build a better Ghana and a better NDC."

He added: "I am, therefore, calling for cooperation among all elected parliamentary candidates and your aspirants and supporters."

The former president said cooperation within the NDC was key to overcoming the current economic hardships under the Akufo-Addo administration.

"What our nation needs at this time is not political competition, but cooperation to to build a better Ghana and a better NDC," he said.

On his victory in the primaries, Mr. Mahama said the NDC had "chosen experience with vision over experiment" by electing him as flagbearer again.

He was optimistic that the NDC's message of change would resonate with Ghanaians in the 2024 polls.

The four-time presidential candidate said: "You have chosen experience with vision, over experiment, and I am confident that in December 2024, Ghanaians will make that choice that puts us back on the path of building the Ghana we want together."

Mr. Mahama stressed his call to all members of the NDC to unite behind his campaign for victory in 2024.
The United States said Monday it was taking action against Nigerians who undermined this year's election, whose results are being contested by opposition leaders alleging irregularities.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States would refuse to issue visas to "specific individuals in Nigeria for undermining the democratic process during Nigeria's 2023 elections cycle."

"These actions are specific to certain individuals and are not directed at the Nigerian people or the government of Nigeria as a whole," Blinken said in a statement.

The State Department did not provide the names of those affected or offer further details. Visa issues are generally confidential under US law.

The State Department said it was not questioning the legitimacy of President-elect Bola Tinubu, the ruling-party candidate.

State Department spokesman Vedant Patel noted that Blinken congratulated Tinubu on his win in the election and called the result credible.

"Our viewpoint is that both things can be true. The election can be credible... but also individuals could have attempted to undermine it, and that's what today's designation is about," Patel told reporters.

Tinubu, the ruling-party candidate, is set to be sworn in on May 29 to helm Africa's most populous nation.

Both the main opposition leader Atiku Abubakar, who came second, and outsider Peter Obi, who was third, have contested the results in court.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has acknowledged "glitches" during the vote but has dismissed claims that the process was not free and fair.
Former President John Mahama has promised to investigate the leaked galamsey report compiled by former Minister of Environment, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng if elected President in 2024.

Addressing supporters at the University of Development Studies in Tamale after winning the NDC flagbearer contest, Mr. Mahama accused the Akufo-Addo administration of promoting corruption instead of fighting it.

He said "The truth is, this government cannot just wish away the reality that Ghana is not looking good on the Corruption Perception Index of Transparency International. The President no longer makes corruption a pet topic in his speeches because corruption has defeated him hands down."

On Professor Frimpong-Boateng's report, Mr. Mahama said "It emerged that the heart surgeon had two years ago boldly exposed the duplicity of the NPP government in the fight against Galamsey. He opened a can of worms, which I know this president, in his usual manner, will sweep under the carpet just as many corruption scandals have been cleared by the Clearing Agent.

On this score, the NDC flagbearer said, We [next NDC government] shall investigate further and pursue justice on this matter."

The former president vowed to adopt a "robust root and branch approach" to fighting corruption if elected in 2024.

He stated: "I will adopt a robust root and branch approach to fight corruption because corruption is a major source through which state resources are wasted. It will not matter whether the people involved are our own or from some other party."

Mr. Mahama promised to make the fight against corruption a top priority, investigate unresolved corruption cases and ensure prosecutions without fear or favor.
15.05.2023 LISTEN

The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) has begun accepting applications from mature students for admission into first degree programs for the 2023/2024 academic year.

According to a flyer released by the university, applicants must be 25 years or older by June 30, 2023 to qualify as mature students.

They must also have at least three years of work experience and a secondary school leaving certificate.

The deadline for submission of mature student applications is Friday, June 30, 2023.

Successful applicants will be required to attend an access course from July 3 to August 26, 2023 to prepare them for university education.

Entrance examinations will also be administered to ascertain applicants' suitability for admission.

UPSA wrote on the flyer:

"Mature APPLICANT'S ADMISSION TO FIRST DEGREE PROGRAMMES 2023/2024 ACADEMIC YEAR."

The university listed the following requirements:

 Must be 25 years or above by Friday, 30th June, 2023.

 Must have at least three (3) years work experience.

 Must have second cycle school education e.g. secondary, technical and vocational

 Deadline for Application: Friday, 30th June, 2023.

Interested applicants were advised to contact the university's admissions office on 0303-937544/0303-937542 or via email at [email protected] for more information.

UPSA, with accreditation from the Central Applications Board for Professional Studies, offers various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in business and other disciplines.

Mature student admissions provide an opportunity for experienced working adults to pursue university education.
Former President John Mahama, the newly elected flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has reiterated his determination to fight corruption in the country.

The one-time president said he will employ a robust and effective approach to deal with corruption if given the mandate again.

Speaking at the University of Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale, the Northern regional capital, the 2024 presidential candidate observed that corruption has caused significant financial losses to the state.

To eradicate the menace of corruption, Mr. Mahama said he will not favor anyone found guilty, regardless of whether they are in his party or not.

"I will adopt a robust root and branch approach to fight corruption because corruption is a major source through which state resources are wasted. It will not matter whether the people involved are in our party or another party," he said.

In the same vein, he vowed to investigate the leaked Galamsey report authored by the former Environment Minister Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng.

"It emerged that the heart surgeon had two years ago boldly exposed the duplicity of the NPP government in the fight against galamsey.

He opened a can of worms, which I know this president, in his usual manner, will sweep under the carpet just as many corruption scandals have been cleared by the 'Clearing Agent,'" Mahama said.

On this score, the NDC flagbearer said, "We [the next NDC government] shall investigate further and pursue justice on this matter."
Myles Leadership University held its first Ghana edition of the International Leadership Conference (1-ILC) and Honorary Doctorate Conferment Ceremony at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Accra on 13th May 2023.

The conferment ceremony saw honorees from the United Kingdom, USA, Liberia, Nigeria, and Ghana premised on their outstanding contributions in the areas of leadership, mentorship, youth development, spiritual leadership and philanthropy.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Matthew Mario, Director of Programmes at Myles Leadership University said leaders must play a critical role in shaping others. "At Myles Leadership University, we believe that true leadership is about more than just achieving success; it's about using that success to create positive change and make a lasting impact on the world," he stated.

He entreats the honorees to continue using their knowledge and skills to make a positive impact on the world. "Let us continue to work together to develop the next generation of leaders who will help to shape a brighter future for us all," he stressed.

The seven individuals namely: Dr Damilola Olanrewaju, Pastor Dr. Blessed Uzochikwa, Dr. Vincent Iweanoge, Dr. Anurag Saxena, Dr. Harris Fomba Tarnue, Dr. Chinenye Ebele Onuorah, and Dr. Jude Chinedu Iweanoge have joined Myles Leadership Universitys prestigious alumni of Honorary Doctorate Recipients.

Speaking on the topic: 'The Role of the Private Partnership In Education Development In Africa', Rev Dr. Edward Agyekum Kuffour, Governing council member of Asia Africa Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the private sector has proven vital in helping the government meet the need of the education sector.

He added that the private sector has played not merely a complementary role but rather a significant role in the core delivery of education in Sub-Saharan Africa.

He emphasised that the private partnership can play a crucial role in supporting education development in Africa hence various governments should intensify the partnership to address the challenges facing education development in Africa in order to provide quality education for all.

Dr. Anurag Saxena, Global Banker and Fintech Professional UK delivering his keynote speech on the topic "The Role of Leaders in Creating Sustainable Future Strategies" for addressing environmental and social challenges entreats individuals to think about the future generation and the damage individuals' actions will result into in the society.

He noted that the fight against climate change is a collaborative effort of all, hence the government cannot do it all.

Dr. Anurag Saxena who was among the honorees commended Myles Leadership University for doctorate conferment, saying conferment on him, is a call for additional work to serve humanity.

On his part, Dr. Mark Darko, Ghana Regional Chapter-Asian African Chamber of Commence and Industry Accra-Ghana, on the topic "Embracing Diversity and Inclusion: The Key to Effective Leadership In The 21st Century" congratulates the recipients and urged them to be diversified in their leadership roles.

Myles Leadership University is affiliated with top Universities in India, Benin, Togo, and Cameroun.
President Nana Akufo-Addo left Ghana on Sunday, 14th May 2023, to lead a Ghanaian delegation for a State Visit to the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, at the invitation of its President, His Excellency Umaru Sissoco Embalo, Chairperson of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS.

The purpose of the visit is to deepen further the already strong relations that exist between the two countries, as well as explore other areas of cooperation to their mutual benefit.

Whilst in Guinea-Bissau, the President will hold bilateral talks with President Embalo; he will receive the Amilcar Cabral Medal, the highest national honour of Guinea-Bissau; deliver a lecture at the Law Faculty of the University of Amilcar Cabral; and interact with the contingent of Ghanaian soldiers stationed in Bissau, who are part of the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission.

The President was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, and officials from the Presidency and Foreign Ministry.

The President will return to Ghana on Tuesday, 16th May 2018, and in his absence, the Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, shall, in accordance with Article 60(8) of the Constitution, act in his stead.
Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. bought a new position in shares of Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 53,532 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,758,000.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in TAP. Trustcore Financial Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Molson Coors Beverage during the 3rd quarter valued at about $29,000. Beacon Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Molson Coors Beverage by 1,781.3% during the 4th quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 602 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 570 shares in the last quarter. Red Tortoise LLC acquired a new stake in Molson Coors Beverage during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC grew its stake in Molson Coors Beverage by 96.4% during the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 760 shares of the companys stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 373 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kistler Tiffany Companies LLC acquired a new stake in Molson Coors Beverage during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $42,000. 76.24% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently commented on TAP. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Molson Coors Beverage from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $59.00 to $64.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their target price on Molson Coors Beverage from $47.00 to $50.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. TheStreet raised Molson Coors Beverage from a c+ rating to a b rating in a report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Roth Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a research report on Tuesday, February 21st. Finally, Credit Suisse Group upped their target price on Molson Coors Beverage from $46.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Molson Coors Beverage has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $57.87.

Molson Coors Beverage Stock Down 0.6 %

NYSE TAP traded down $0.37 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $63.88. The companys stock had a trading volume of 767,433 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,864,156. Molson Coors Beverage has a 52 week low of $46.69 and a 52 week high of $66.67. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $55.84 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $53.42. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The company has a market capitalization of $13.82 billion, a PE ratio of -53.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.65 and a beta of 0.83.

Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The company reported $0.54 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.26 by $0.28. Molson Coors Beverage had a negative net margin of 1.97% and a positive return on equity of 7.16%. The firm had revenue of $2.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.23 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.29 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts anticipate that Molson Coors Beverage will post 4.22 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Molson Coors Beverage Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.41 per share. This represents a $1.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.57%. This is an increase from Molson Coors Beverages previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 2nd. Molson Coors Beverages dividend payout ratio is -137.82%.

About Molson Coors Beverage

(Get Rating)

Molson Coors Beverage Co is a holding company, which engages in the production and sale of beer. It operates through the following segments: Americas, and EMEA and APAC. The Americas segment operates in the U.S., Canada and various countries in the Caribbean, Latin, and South America. The EMEA and APAC segment operates in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Montenegro, the Republic of Ireland, Romania, Serbia, the UK, various other European countries, and certain countries within the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific.

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Africa Energy Corp. (CVE:AFE  Get Rating)s share price reached a new 52-week low on Monday . The stock traded as low as C$0.13 and last traded at C$0.13, with a volume of 83500 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at C$0.15.

Africa Energy Stock Down 6.9 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.01, a current ratio of 2.14 and a quick ratio of 28.20. The company has a market capitalization of C$190.35 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -14.50 and a beta of 1.50. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of C$0.16 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$0.19.

Africa Energy Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Africa Energy Corp. operates as an oil and gas exploration and production company in South Africa and Namibia. It holds a 27.5% participating interest in the Exploration Right for Block 2B offshore that covers an area of 3,062 square kilometers located in the west coast of South Africa; 43.85% interest in the Petroleum Exploration License 37 covering an area of 17,295 square kilometers located in the northern Namibian offshore region; and 49% interest in the Exploration Right for Block 11B/12B covering an area of approximately 19,000 square kilometers located in the Outeniqua Basin off the southern coast of South Africa.

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Almaden Minerals Ltd. (TSE:AMM  Get Rating) (NYSEMKT:AAU) shares reached a new 52-week low on Monday . The company traded as low as C$0.14 and last traded at C$0.14, with a volume of 4790 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at C$0.15.

Almaden Minerals Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.30, a current ratio of 18.41 and a quick ratio of 23.78. The stocks 50-day moving average price is C$0.23 and its 200-day moving average price is C$0.29. The company has a market cap of C$19.21 million, a P/E ratio of -1.56 and a beta of 1.00.

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Almaden Minerals (TSE:AMM  Get Rating) (NYSEMKT:AAU) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, March 24th. The company reported C($0.03) EPS for the quarter.

Almaden Minerals Company Profile

Almaden Minerals Ltd., an exploration stage company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, evaluation, and development of mineral properties. It primarily owns a 100% interest in the Ixtaca gold-silver project located in Puebla State, Mexico. The company was incorporated in 1980 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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Bank of Nova Scotia increased its stake in shares of Bank of Montreal (NYSE:BMO  Get Rating) (TSE:BMO) by 3.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 13,211,403 shares of the banks stock after purchasing an additional 464,465 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal accounts for approximately 3.1% of Bank of Nova Scotias investment portfolio, making the stock its 4th biggest position. Bank of Nova Scotias holdings in Bank of Montreal were worth $1,196,832,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Gulf International Bank UK Ltd increased its holdings in shares of Bank of Montreal by 1.6% during the 4th quarter. Gulf International Bank UK Ltd now owns 6,173 shares of the banks stock worth $558,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Bank of Montreal by 3.7% in the 3rd quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC now owns 3,167 shares of the banks stock valued at $278,000 after buying an additional 114 shares during the period. Vident Investment Advisory LLC raised its holdings in shares of Bank of Montreal by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. Vident Investment Advisory LLC now owns 7,472 shares of the banks stock valued at $877,000 after purchasing an additional 122 shares in the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Bank of Montreal by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 30,963 shares of the banks stock valued at $2,714,000 after purchasing an additional 131 shares in the last quarter. Finally, TI Trust Inc. raised its stake in Bank of Montreal by 2.1% during the 3rd quarter. TI Trust Inc. now owns 6,692 shares of the banks stock worth $586,000 after acquiring an additional 140 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 42.78% of the companys stock.

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Bank of Montreal Price Performance

Shares of NYSE BMO traded up $1.06 on Monday, hitting $88.82. The companys stock had a trading volume of 143,908 shares, compared to its average volume of 589,473. Bank of Montreal has a 12-month low of $81.57 and a 12-month high of $110.67. The company has a market capitalization of $63.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 0.98 and a quick ratio of 0.98. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $88.75 and a 200-day moving average of $93.52.

Bank of Montreal Increases Dividend

Bank of Montreal ( NYSE:BMO Get Rating ) (TSE:BMO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 28th. The bank reported $2.39 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.33 by $0.06. Bank of Montreal had a net margin of 22.13% and a return on equity of 13.65%. The business had revenue of $4.80 billion during the quarter. As a group, research analysts predict that Bank of Montreal will post 9.81 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 28th will be paid a $1.075 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 27th. This is an increase from Bank of Montreals previous quarterly dividend of $1.05. This represents a $4.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.84%. Bank of Montreals dividend payout ratio is 34.50%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$151.00 to C$147.50 in a research note on Thursday, January 19th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Bank of Montreal in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Bank of Montreal presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $152.70.

Bank of Montreal Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Bank of Montreal engages in the provision of banking and financial services to individuals and institutions. It operates through the following segments: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking (Canadian P&C) and United States Personal and Commercial Banking (U.S. P&C). The Canadian P&C segment refers to retail banking and financial operations in Canada.

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Boliden AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:BOLIF  Get Rating) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest during the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 922,600 shares, an increase of 14.9% from the April 15th total of 802,800 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 9,226.0 days.

Boliden AB (publ) Price Performance

BOLIF remained flat at $34.65 during trading hours on Monday. Boliden AB has a 52 week low of $29.80 and a 52 week high of $43.80. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $38.82 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $38.04.

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About Boliden AB (publ)

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Boliden AB (publ) engages in the exploring, extracting, and processing of base metals and precious metals in Sweden, other Nordic region, Germany, the United Kingdom, the rest of Europe, North America, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Business Area Mines and Business Area Smelters.

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Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. trimmed its position in shares of SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEARCA:GLD  Get Rating) by 6.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 16,454 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 1,119 shares during the quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.s holdings in SPDR Gold Shares were worth $2,791,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in GLD. Toronto Dominion Bank increased its holdings in shares of SPDR Gold Shares by 83.0% during the 3rd quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 3,095,139 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $478,711,000 after purchasing an additional 1,403,492 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its stake in SPDR Gold Shares by 256.0% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,142,717 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $206,432,000 after acquiring an additional 821,773 shares during the period. Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new stake in SPDR Gold Shares in the 1st quarter valued at $100,880,000. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its stake in SPDR Gold Shares by 134.7% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 934,636 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $168,842,000 after acquiring an additional 536,327 shares during the period. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI grew its stake in SPDR Gold Shares by 192.5% in the 4th quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 660,604 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $112,061,000 after acquiring an additional 434,764 shares during the period. 37.94% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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SPDR Gold Shares Price Performance

SPDR Gold Shares stock opened at $187.41 on Monday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $183.57 and its 200 day moving average price is $174.00. SPDR Gold Shares has a 1 year low of $150.57 and a 1 year high of $191.36.

SPDR Gold Shares Company Profile

SPDR Gold Trust (the Trust) is an investment trust. The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the performance of the price of gold bullion, less the Trusts expenses. The Trusts business activity is the investment of gold. The Trust creates and redeems Shares from time to time, but in one or more Baskets (a Basket equals a block of 100,000 Shares).

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THG (LON:THG  Get Rating) was downgraded by research analysts at Canaccord Genuity Group to a hold rating in a report issued on Friday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. They presently have a GBX 69 ($0.87) target price on the stock, down from their previous target price of GBX 98 ($1.24). Canaccord Genuity Groups target price points to a potential upside of 13.67% from the companys current price.

THG has been the subject of several other reports. Numis Securities reaffirmed a sell rating on shares of THG in a research report on Tuesday, January 24th. Barclays restated an equal weight rating on shares of THG in a research note on Wednesday, January 18th. Bank of America restated a buy rating on shares of THG in a research note on Friday, January 20th. Finally, Liberum Capital upgraded shares of THG to a buy rating and boosted their price target for the stock from GBX 55 ($0.69) to GBX 220 ($2.78) in a research note on Monday, April 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, THG has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of GBX 144.50 ($1.82).

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THG Stock Down 3.5 %

Shares of LON:THG traded down GBX 2.20 ($0.03) during trading on Friday, hitting GBX 60.70 ($0.77). The companys stock had a trading volume of 9,446,635 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,628,448. The business has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 74.61 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 64.23. The company has a market capitalization of 789.10 million, a PE ratio of -164.05, a P/E/G ratio of -0.08 and a beta of 2.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 77.86, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 1.52. THG has a fifty-two week low of GBX 31.15 ($0.39) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 159.24 ($2.01).

About THG

THG Plc operates as an e-commerce technology company in the United Kingdom, the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company operates pure-play sites, such as Lookfantastic, Cult Beauty, and Dermstore that offers approximately 1,300 premium brands across the skincare, haircare, cosmetics, and fragrance categories; Myprotein, a D2C sport nutrition provider that offers products across various categories, including vegan, protein, vitamin, athleisure, and healthy snacks; and THG Ingenuity, an end-to-end platform that powers businesses and brands, which offers hosting, analytics, fraud detection, logistics, and warehousing services, as well as digital brand management, including marketing, translation, and global customer services.

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Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Co. lessened its position in shares of Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI  Get Rating) (TSE:CNR) by 2.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 301,718 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 8,049 shares during the quarter. Canadian National Railway makes up about 3.9% of Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Co.s holdings, making the stock its 4th largest position. Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Co.s holdings in Canadian National Railway were worth $35,868,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in CNI. BCK Partners Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Canadian National Railway during the 1st quarter worth $2,575,000. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in Canadian National Railway by 26.2% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 931,027 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $124,888,000 after purchasing an additional 193,116 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of Canadian National Railway by 3.1% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 762,341 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $102,260,000 after purchasing an additional 22,984 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL grew its holdings in shares of Canadian National Railway by 1.4% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 60,441 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $8,107,000 after buying an additional 807 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allianz Asset Management GmbH raised its position in shares of Canadian National Railway by 18.9% in the first quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 33,602 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $4,511,000 after buying an additional 5,349 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.96% of the companys stock.

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Canadian National Railway Stock Performance

Shares of Canadian National Railway stock traded up $0.14 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $120.71. The companys stock had a trading volume of 158,938 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,104,690. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $118.39 and its 200 day simple moving average is $120.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a current ratio of 0.74. Canadian National Railway has a one year low of $103.79 and a one year high of $129.89. The stock has a market cap of $80.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 0.91.

Canadian National Railway Cuts Dividend

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.5835 per share. This represents a $2.33 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.93%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 8th. Canadian National Railways payout ratio is 38.47%.

Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. Credit Suisse Group boosted their price target on Canadian National Railway from $126.00 to $133.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 25th. Susquehanna raised their price target on Canadian National Railway from $114.00 to $116.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 25th. CIBC raised shares of Canadian National Railway from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Canadian National Railway from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Finally, Argus reduced their target price on Canadian National Railway from $155.00 to $140.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $143.61.

Canadian National Railway Company Profile

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Canadian National Railway Co engages in rail and related transportation business. Its services include rail, intermodal, trucking, supply chain services, business development and maps and network. Its offers their services in automotive, coal, fertilizer, food and beverages, forest products, dimensional loads, grain, metals and minerals and petroleum and chemicals industries.

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Cellcom Israel Ltd. (OTCMKTS:CELJF  Get Rating) saw a significant drop in short interest in the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 42,100 shares, a drop of 19.5% from the April 15th total of 52,300 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 84.2 days.

Cellcom Israel Price Performance

CELJF remained flat at $3.62 during trading on Monday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $3.60 and its 200-day moving average is $4.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.05. Cellcom Israel has a twelve month low of $3.06 and a twelve month high of $6.37.

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About Cellcom Israel

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Cellcom Israel Ltd. engages in the provision of cellular communications services. It operates through two segments: Cellular and Fixed-Line. The Cellular segment includes the cellular communications services, end user cellular equipment and supplemental services. The Fixed-Line segment includes landline and long distance telephony services, internet infrastructure and connectivity services, television services, transmission services, end user fixed-line equipment and supplemental services.

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Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC increased its position in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Rating) by 0.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 24,333 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after buying an additional 165 shares during the quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLCs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $2,725,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in ABT. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 83.1% in the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 4,925,012 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $582,924,000 after buying an additional 2,235,314 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in Abbott Laboratories by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 154,563,421 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $14,955,557,000 after purchasing an additional 2,011,683 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its position in Abbott Laboratories by 99.8% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 3,140,866 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $371,753,000 after purchasing an additional 1,568,700 shares during the period. Putnam Investments LLC increased its position in Abbott Laboratories by 30.0% during the 3rd quarter. Putnam Investments LLC now owns 4,466,075 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $432,137,000 after purchasing an additional 1,031,013 shares during the period. Finally, Two Sigma Investments LP increased its position in Abbott Laboratories by 126.1% during the 3rd quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 1,656,522 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $160,285,000 after purchasing an additional 923,720 shares during the period. 72.93% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Transactions at Abbott Laboratories

In other news, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $111.02, for a total value of $5,551,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 6,825,316 shares in the company, valued at approximately $757,746,582.32. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $111.02, for a total value of $5,551,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 6,825,316 shares in the company, valued at approximately $757,746,582.32. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Julie L. Tyler sold 260 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.24, for a total transaction of $26,842.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 40,896 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,222,103.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 60,197 shares of company stock worth $6,659,607 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Abbott Laboratories Price Performance

A number of research analysts have issued reports on ABT shares. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Mizuho boosted their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 24th. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $127.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $110.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Finally, UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $117.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $122.37.

ABT opened at $111.06 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a current ratio of 1.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $193.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.76, a P/E/G ratio of 4.99 and a beta of 0.67. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $104.13 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $105.93. Abbott Laboratories has a 52-week low of $93.25 and a 52-week high of $118.23.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $9.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.64 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 13.98% and a return on equity of 22.36%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 18.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.73 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.38 EPS for the current year.

Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement

The 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 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.84%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 13th. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 62.01%.

About Abbott Laboratories

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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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Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. (NYSE:CHT  Get Rating) was the target of a significant increase in short interest during the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 491,800 shares, an increase of 32.0% from the April 15th total of 372,600 shares. Approximately 0.1% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 117,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.2 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Chunghwa Telecom from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday.

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Chunghwa Telecom Stock Performance

Shares of Chunghwa Telecom stock traded down $0.47 during trading on Friday, hitting $40.45. 50,406 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 120,486. The stocks fifty day moving average is $39.97 and its 200 day moving average is $37.71. The stock has a market cap of $31.38 billion, a PE ratio of 25.60 and a beta of 0.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a current ratio of 1.50. Chunghwa Telecom has a 12 month low of $32.90 and a 12 month high of $44.16.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Chunghwa Telecom

About Chunghwa Telecom

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Chunghwa Telecom in the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. acquired a new stake in Chunghwa Telecom in the 1st quarter valued at about $27,000. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its holdings in Chunghwa Telecom by 184.2% in the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 790 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 512 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC lifted its holdings in Chunghwa Telecom by 50.0% in the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,754 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $69,000 after acquiring an additional 585 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA lifted its holdings in Chunghwa Telecom by 848.0% in the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 1,877 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $83,000 after acquiring an additional 1,679 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 2.19% of the companys stock.

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Chunghwa Telecom Co, Ltd. engages in the provision of integrated telecommunication services. It offers domestic & international fixed communication, mobile communication, broadband, Internet services. The Company also provides information and communication technology services; and innovative technology services such as Internet of things and artificial intelligence.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Edgewell Personal Care (NYSE:EPC  Get Rating) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday morning.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Barclays lifted their target price on Edgewell Personal Care from $37.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Friday, February 10th. Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their price target on Edgewell Personal Care from $48.00 to $52.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $53.00 price objective on shares of Edgewell Personal Care in a report on Thursday, February 9th. Finally, UBS Group began coverage on Edgewell Personal Care in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. They issued a neutral rating and a $47.00 price objective for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Edgewell Personal Care currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $44.71.

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Edgewell Personal Care Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of Edgewell Personal Care stock opened at $44.22 on Thursday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $42.57 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $41.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 2.01 and a quick ratio of 0.93. Edgewell Personal Care has a 52-week low of $32.18 and a 52-week high of $46.13. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.27 billion, a PE ratio of 23.65 and a beta of 0.95.

Edgewell Personal Care Announces Dividend

Edgewell Personal Care ( NYSE:EPC Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, May 9th. The company reported $0.56 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.35 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $598.40 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $569.84 million. Edgewell Personal Care had a net margin of 4.56% and a return on equity of 8.78%. The companys revenue was up 9.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.50 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Edgewell Personal Care will post 2.41 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 6th. Investors of record on Wednesday, June 7th will be given a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.36%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 6th. Edgewell Personal Cares dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 32.09%.

Institutional Trading of Edgewell Personal Care

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Systematic Financial Management LP purchased a new stake in Edgewell Personal Care in the first quarter worth about $166,000. Smith Moore & CO. increased its position in Edgewell Personal Care by 2.8% in the first quarter. Smith Moore & CO. now owns 15,086 shares of the companys stock worth $640,000 after buying an additional 409 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC increased its position in Edgewell Personal Care by 182.4% in the first quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 46,297 shares of the companys stock worth $1,964,000 after buying an additional 29,902 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its stake in shares of Edgewell Personal Care by 44.3% in the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 241,755 shares of the companys stock worth $10,255,000 after acquiring an additional 74,205 shares during the period. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. bought a new position in shares of Edgewell Personal Care in the first quarter worth about $534,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.46% of the companys stock.

Edgewell Personal Care Company Profile

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Edgewell Personal Care Company is a manufacturer and marketer of personal care products in the wet shave, sun and skin care, feminine care and infant care categories. As of September 30, 2016, the Company had a portfolio of over 25 brands. It manages its business in four segments: Wet Shave, Sun and Skin Care, Feminine Care and All Other.

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FB Financial Co. (NYSE:FBK  Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 739,200 shares, an increase of 22.7% from the April 15th total of 602,500 shares. Approximately 2.1% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 166,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.4 days.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages recently commented on FBK. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price target on FB Financial from $40.00 to $35.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. StockNews.com raised FB Financial from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. Stephens lowered their price objective on FB Financial from $35.00 to $34.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. DA Davidson lowered their price objective on FB Financial from $35.00 to $34.50 in a research note on Monday, April 24th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on FB Financial from $30.00 to $29.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and seven have issued a hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $38.31.

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Insider Transactions at FB Financial

In other FB Financial news, major shareholder James W. Ayers acquired 6,800 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 18th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $29.34 per share, with a total value of $199,512.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now directly owns 10,761,791 shares in the company, valued at approximately $315,750,947.94. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, Director Orrin H. Ingram II purchased 7,965 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 4th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $25.19 per share, with a total value of $200,638.35. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 85,102 shares in the company, valued at $2,143,719.38. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder James W. Ayers purchased 6,800 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 18th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $29.34 per share, with a total value of $199,512.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now owns 10,761,791 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $315,750,947.94. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders acquired a total of 48,185 shares of company stock valued at $1,400,008 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 1.90% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

FB Financial Stock Performance

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its holdings in FB Financial by 570.5% during the 1st quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 979 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 833 shares during the period. Quantbot Technologies LP increased its holdings in shares of FB Financial by 232.1% in the 3rd quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 1,199 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 838 shares during the period. Quadrant Capital Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of FB Financial by 702.9% in the 3rd quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 1,389 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $53,000 after acquiring an additional 1,216 shares during the period. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd increased its holdings in shares of FB Financial by 413.0% in the 1st quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd now owns 1,616 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $72,000 after acquiring an additional 1,301 shares during the period. Finally, Point72 Middle East FZE purchased a new position in shares of FB Financial in the 4th quarter valued at $87,000. 63.98% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Shares of NYSE FBK opened at $25.28 on Monday. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $30.01 and its 200-day moving average price is $35.75. FB Financial has a fifty-two week low of $24.34 and a fifty-two week high of $45.25. The company has a market cap of $1.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.43 and a beta of 1.02.

FB Financial (NYSE:FBK  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.74 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $183.03 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $131.72 million. FB Financial had a return on equity of 10.42% and a net margin of 19.56%. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.74 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that FB Financial will post 2.73 earnings per share for the current year.

FB Financial Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 23rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 9th will be issued a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 8th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.37%. FB Financials payout ratio is currently 22.39%.

About FB Financial

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FB Financial Corp. is a bank holding company, which provides commercial and consumer banking services to clients in select markets primarily in Tennessee, North Alabama, and North Georgia through its subsidiary. It operates through the Banking and Mortgage segments. The Banking segments deals with interest on loans and investments, loan-related fees, originations in banking footprint, investment services, and deposit-related fees.

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FineMark National Bank & Trust cut its holdings in shares of Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO  Get Rating) by 0.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 28,910 shares of the mining companys stock after selling 176 shares during the quarter. FineMark National Bank & Trusts holdings in Rio Tinto Group were worth $2,058,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Rio Tinto Group by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 14,424,481 shares of the mining companys stock worth $1,027,023,000 after purchasing an additional 271,771 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its position in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 58.9% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 12,899,694 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $1,037,135,000 after buying an additional 4,783,488 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors raised its position in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 4.2% during the 1st quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 8,484,992 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $682,195,000 after buying an additional 344,145 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its holdings in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 26.9% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 5,475,787 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $440,253,000 after purchasing an additional 1,161,737 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Neuberger Berman Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 11.2% during the 3rd quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 5,460,303 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $300,654,000 after purchasing an additional 551,359 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 10.43% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently commented on RIO shares. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Rio Tinto Group from a buy rating to a conviction-buy rating in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Sanford C. Bernstein raised shares of Rio Tinto Group from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Rio Tinto Group from GBX 5,750 ($72.56) to GBX 5,790 ($73.06) in a research note on Monday, January 23rd. BNP Paribas downgraded shares of Rio Tinto Group from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, February 13th. Finally, CLSA upgraded shares of Rio Tinto Group from an underperform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, March 13th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $5,790.00.

Rio Tinto Group Price Performance

Rio Tinto Group Cuts Dividend

Shares of RIO stock opened at $62.43 on Monday. Rio Tinto Group has a 12-month low of $50.92 and a 12-month high of $80.51. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $66.19 and its 200-day moving average price is $68.83.

The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 20th. Investors of record on Friday, March 10th were given a $2.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 9th. This represents a yield of 9.8%.

Rio Tinto Group Company Profile

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Rio Tinto Plc engages in the exploration, mining, and processing of mineral resources. It operates through the following business segments: Iron Ore, Aluminium, Copper and Diamonds, Energy and Minerals, and Other Operations. The Iron Ore segment supplies global seaborne iron ore trade. The Aluminium segment produces bauxite, alumina and primary aluminum.

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First Trust Advisors LP lifted its holdings in shares of Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE  Get Rating) by 45.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 754,301 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 235,616 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP owned approximately 0.24% of Sempra Energy worth $116,575,000 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. boosted its position in Sempra Energy by 2.3% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 28,199,642 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $4,228,254,000 after purchasing an additional 625,052 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp boosted its position in Sempra Energy by 0.7% in the first quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 3,795,347 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $638,074,000 after purchasing an additional 24,679 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its position in Sempra Energy by 2.8% in the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 2,935,160 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $440,097,000 after purchasing an additional 80,852 shares during the last quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC boosted its position in Sempra Energy by 16.8% in the third quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 2,540,802 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $381,066,000 after purchasing an additional 366,259 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp boosted its position in Sempra Energy by 7.5% in the third quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp now owns 2,388,520 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $358,329,000 after purchasing an additional 166,839 shares during the last quarter. 84.75% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

SRE has been the topic of several research reports. BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on Sempra Energy from $169.00 to $166.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Sempra Energy from $150.00 to $164.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Bank of America decreased their price objective on Sempra Energy from $173.00 to $165.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, March 28th. StockNews.com began coverage on Sempra Energy in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on Sempra Energy from $180.00 to $174.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $167.25.

Sempra Energy Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of SRE opened at $153.29 on Monday. The businesss 50 day moving average is $151.42 and its 200 day moving average is $155.39. The company has a market capitalization of $48.23 billion, a PE ratio of 19.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.80 and a beta of 0.73. Sempra Energy has a 12-month low of $136.54 and a 12-month high of $176.47. The company has a current ratio of 0.54, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86.

Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The utilities provider reported $2.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.76 by $0.16. The company had revenue of $6.56 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.04 billion. Sempra Energy had a return on equity of 10.28% and a net margin of 14.47%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 71.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.91 EPS. Research analysts expect that Sempra Energy will post 8.97 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Sempra Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 5th will be paid a $1.19 dividend. This represents a $4.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.11%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, July 3rd. Sempra Energys payout ratio is 61.34%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Sempra Energy news, CEO Jeffrey W. Martin sold 19,260 shares of Sempra Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $146.09, for a total value of $2,813,693.40. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $146.09. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Sempra Energy news, CFO Trevor I. Mihalik sold 2,306 shares of Sempra Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.50, for a total value of $342,441.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 21,362 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,172,257. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Jeffrey W. Martin sold 19,260 shares of Sempra Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $146.09, for a total value of $2,813,693.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1 shares in the company, valued at approximately $146.09. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 31,979 shares of company stock valued at $4,728,393 in the last quarter. 0.24% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Sempra Energy Profile

(Get Rating)

Sempra Energy is an energy-service holding company, which engages in the development and operation of energy infrastructure, and provision of electric and gas services. It operates through the following segments: San Diego Gas and Electric Company (SDG&E), Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), Sempra Texas Utilities, Sempra Mexico, and Sempra LNG.

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Fortis Inc. (TSE:FTS  Get Rating) declared a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, May 16th, RTT News reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 1st will be given a dividend of 0.565 per share on Thursday, June 1st. This represents a $2.26 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 16th.

Fortis Stock Up 0.7 %

TSE FTS opened at C$61.55 on Monday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is C$58.26 and its 200-day moving average price is C$55.84. The company has a quick ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 127.16. Fortis has a 52 week low of C$48.45 and a 52 week high of C$65.26. The company has a market capitalization of C$29.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.10 and a beta of 0.16.

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Fortis (TSE:FTS  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 10th. The company reported C$0.72 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$0.70 by C$0.02. The company had revenue of C$3.17 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$2.75 billion. On average, equities research analysts predict that Fortis will post 3.000489 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

About Fortis

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. CSFB increased their target price on Fortis from C$61.00 to C$62.00 in a research report on Wednesday, March 15th. CIBC increased their target price on Fortis from C$59.00 to C$61.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. National Bankshares increased their target price on Fortis from C$56.00 to C$57.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Scotiabank increased their target price on Fortis from C$58.00 to C$60.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Finally, Raymond James increased their target price on Fortis from C$58.00 to C$65.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Fortis presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of C$58.50.

(Get Rating)

Fortis Inc operates as an electric and gas utility company in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean countries. It generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 438,000 retail customers in southeastern Arizona; and 100,000 retail customers in Arizona's Mohave and Santa Cruz counties with an aggregate capacity of 3,485 megawatts (MW), including 53 MW of solar capacity and 252 MV of wind capacity.

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Beaumont Capital Management LLC cut its stake in shares of Global X Southeast Asia ETF (NYSEARCA:ASEA  Get Rating) by 7.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 39,243 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,981 shares during the quarter. Beaumont Capital Management LLC owned 1.27% of Global X Southeast Asia ETF worth $586,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Jane Street Group LLC bought a new position in Global X Southeast Asia ETF during the second quarter valued at about $142,000. Bank of America Corp DE raised its stake in shares of Global X Southeast Asia ETF by 7,846.4% in the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 11,125 shares of the companys stock valued at $175,000 after acquiring an additional 10,985 shares during the last quarter. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. bought a new position in shares of Global X Southeast Asia ETF in the third quarter valued at approximately $189,000. UBS Group AG raised its stake in shares of Global X Southeast Asia ETF by 55.3% in the first quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 14,538 shares of the companys stock valued at $230,000 after acquiring an additional 5,174 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Prudential PLC bought a new position in Global X Southeast Asia ETF in the 1st quarter worth approximately $236,000.

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Global X Southeast Asia ETF Stock Up 0.2 %

ASEA stock traded up $0.03 during trading on Monday, hitting $15.09. The company had a trading volume of 2,445 shares, compared to its average volume of 14,069. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $15.04 and a 200-day moving average price of $15.01. Global X Southeast Asia ETF has a 12 month low of $13.05 and a 12 month high of $15.84. The stock has a market cap of $46.63 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.54 and a beta of 0.72.

Global X Southeast Asia ETF Company Profile

The Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF (ASEA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the FTSE\u002FASEAN 40 INDEX index. The fund tracks a market-cap weighted and -selected index of the 40 largest and most liquid stocks from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. ASEA was launched on Feb 17, 2011 and is managed by Global X.

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Horizon Bancorp Inc. IN bought a new stake in Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 1,794 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $167,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its holdings in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 71.9% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 18,699 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,688,000 after purchasing an additional 7,821 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Archer-Daniels-Midland in the first quarter valued at $277,000. Brighton Jones LLC purchased a new stake in Archer-Daniels-Midland during the 1st quarter worth about $226,000. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. lifted its holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 22.0% during the 1st quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 31,004 shares of the companys stock worth $2,798,000 after buying an additional 5,586 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 459,907 shares of the companys stock worth $41,512,000 after buying an additional 9,327 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.23% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

ADM has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. 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 on the stock. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $98.00 to $90.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $94.00 to $85.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. Barclays reduced their target price on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $105.00 to $99.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Archer-Daniels-Midland from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $100.78.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Price Performance

Shares of NYSE ADM traded up $0.33 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $75.71. 1,009,575 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,115,180. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company has a fifty-two week low of $70.02 and a fifty-two week high of $98.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 1.51 and a quick ratio of 0.86. The firm has a market cap of $41.23 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 fifty day simple moving average of $78.23 and a 200-day simple moving average of $85.33.

Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE:ADM  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $2.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.71 by $0.38. The company had revenue of $24.07 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $24.09 billion. Archer-Daniels-Midland had a return on equity of 18.39% and a net margin of 4.36%. The firms revenue was up 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.90 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Archer-Daniels-Midland Company will post 6.8 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 7th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 17th will be issued a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 16th. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.38%. Archer-Daniels-Midlands dividend payout ratio is currently 22.58%.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Profile

(Get Rating)

Archer-Daniels-Midland Co engages in the production of oilseeds, corn, wheat, cocoa, and other agricultural commodities. It operates through the following segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, Nutrition, and Other. The Ag Services and Oilseeds segment includes activities related to the origination, merchandising, transportation, and storage of agricultural raw materials, and the crushing and further processing of oilseeds such as soybeans and soft seeds cottonseed, sunflower seed, canola, rapeseed, and flaxseed into vegetable oils and protein meals.

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Horizon Bancorp Inc. IN acquired a new stake in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 121,203 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock, valued at approximately $6,210,000. Pfizer makes up approximately 3.5% of Horizon Bancorp Inc. INs portfolio, making the stock its 4th largest holding.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. RB Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Pfizer by 6.7% in the 1st quarter. RB Capital Management LLC now owns 5,446 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $282,000 after purchasing an additional 341 shares during the last quarter. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. boosted its holdings in Pfizer by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. now owns 36,081 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,868,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. United Bank boosted its holdings in Pfizer by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. United Bank now owns 46,671 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $2,416,000 after purchasing an additional 290 shares during the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC boosted its holdings in Pfizer by 136.3% in the 1st quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 36,766 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,903,000 after purchasing an additional 21,209 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its holdings in Pfizer by 6.4% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 1,337,418 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $69,238,000 after purchasing an additional 79,887 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.62% of the companys stock.

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Pfizer Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE PFE traded down $0.24 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $37.11. The company had a trading volume of 5,675,882 shares, compared to its average volume of 22,328,150. The company has a current ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $40.01 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $44.73. The stock has a market cap of $209.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.36, a PEG ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 0.63. Pfizer Inc. has a 52-week low of $37.07 and a 52-week high of $54.93.

Pfizer Dividend Announcement

Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.23 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.00 by $0.23. The firm had revenue of $18.28 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.49 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 31.25% and a return on equity of 38.46%. The companys revenue was down 28.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.62 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 3.35 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 9th. Investors of record on Friday, May 12th will be paid a $0.41 dividend. This represents a $1.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.42%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 11th. Pfizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 32.28%.

Insider Activity at Pfizer

In related news, Director Scott Gottlieb acquired 1,000 shares of Pfizer stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $38.42 per share, for a total transaction of $38,420.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 5,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $192,100. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, Director Scott Gottlieb acquired 1,000 shares of Pfizer stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $38.42 per share, for a total transaction of $38,420.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 5,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $192,100. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Pfizer Inc acquired 1,811,594 shares of Pfizer stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 17th. The stock was bought at an average price of $2.76 per share, with a total value of $4,999,999.44. Following the purchase, the insider now directly owns 5,952,263 shares of the companys stock, valued at $16,428,245.88. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders purchased 1,813,594 shares of company stock worth $5,076,999 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.05% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Berenberg Bank set a $40.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Pfizer in a report on Monday, March 6th. They issued a hold rating and a $43.00 price objective on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $50.00 to $44.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 17th. Atlantic Securities decreased their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $50.00 to $46.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, Bank of America decreased their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $50.00 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 21st. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $47.33.

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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Teradata Co. (NYSE:TDC  Get Rating) CFO Claire Bramley sold 4,528 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.21, for a total value of $200,182.88. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 120,920 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,345,873.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link.

Claire Bramley also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Tuesday, February 14th, Claire Bramley sold 5,000 shares of Teradata stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.00, for a total value of $200,000.00.

Teradata Trading Up 1.5 %

Shares of Teradata stock traded up $0.65 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $44.65. The companys stock had a trading volume of 591,509 shares, compared to its average volume of 883,210. Teradata Co. has a twelve month low of $28.65 and a twelve month high of $45.40. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $40.05 and a 200-day moving average of $36.50. The stock has a market cap of $4.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 122.22, a P/E/G ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.43, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.01.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Teradata ( NYSE:TDC Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Monday, February 13th. The technology company reported $0.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.30 by $0.05. Teradata had a return on equity of 25.01% and a net margin of 2.08%. The firm had revenue of $452.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $435.63 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.34 EPS. Teradatas revenue was down 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Teradata Co. will post 0.97 EPS for the current year.

Several analysts recently commented on TDC shares. Citigroup boosted their price target on Teradata from $43.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th. Cowen boosted their price target on Teradata from $36.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Teradata from $43.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. Craig Hallum boosted their price objective on Teradata from $48.00 to $50.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Finally, Guggenheim raised Teradata from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $62.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Monday, May 1st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $47.44.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Teradata

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of TDC. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Teradata during the 4th quarter worth about $34,000. Parallel Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Teradata by 81.1% in the 1st quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 880 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 394 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Teradata in the 1st quarter valued at about $37,000. Global Retirement Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Teradata by 40.5% in the 1st quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 1,031 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 297 shares during the period. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board acquired a new stake in shares of Teradata in the 1st quarter valued at about $44,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.92% of the companys stock.

About Teradata

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Teradata Corp. is a cloud data analytics company which is built for a multi-cloud reality and solving data challenges at scale. It operates through the following geographical segments: Americas, EMEA, and APJ. The company was founded on July 13, 1979, and is headquartered in San Diego, CA.

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Shares of iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (BATS:IGV  Get Rating) hit a new 52-week high on Monday . The company traded as high as $300.42 and last traded at $300.42, with a volume of 389385 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $297.27.

iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF Stock Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $5.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.65 and a beta of 1.06. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $293.33 and a 200-day simple moving average of $277.06.

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Institutional Trading of iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Hanseatic Management Services Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF during the 1st quarter worth about $2,122,000. Missouri Trust & Investment Co purchased a new position in shares of iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF in the 1st quarter valued at about $28,000. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC boosted its stake in shares of iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF by 336.8% in the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 633,339 shares of the companys stock valued at $192,978,000 after buying an additional 488,357 shares during the period. Main Management ETF Advisors LLC lifted its stake in iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF by 2.7% during the first quarter. Main Management ETF Advisors LLC now owns 141,975 shares of the companys stock worth $43,260,000 after purchasing an additional 3,780 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Carret Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF by 6.8% in the first quarter. Carret Asset Management LLC now owns 1,018 shares of the companys stock valued at $310,000 after buying an additional 65 shares during the last quarter.

iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF Company Profile

iShares North American Tech-Software ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P North American Technology-Software Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P North American Technology Software Index (the Underlying Index).

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Pictet North America Advisors SA raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF (NYSEARCA:EWL  Get Rating) by 28.3% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 502,643 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 110,891 shares during the quarter. iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF comprises approximately 3.6% of Pictet North America Advisors SAs holdings, making the stock its 9th biggest position. Pictet North America Advisors SAs holdings in iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF were worth $21,076,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF by 78.8% in the 3rd quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 721,679 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $27,027,000 after acquiring an additional 318,018 shares in the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF by 1,290.1% in the 1st quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 294,079 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $14,439,000 after buying an additional 272,923 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF by 20.6% in the 4th quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 1,346,950 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $56,478,000 after buying an additional 230,522 shares during the last quarter. Flow Traders U.S. LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF by 962.9% in the 3rd quarter. Flow Traders U.S. LLC now owns 205,546 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $7,698,000 after buying an additional 186,208 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF by 628.4% in the 4th quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 210,289 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $8,817,000 after buying an additional 181,420 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF Trading Up 0.5 %

Shares of EWL traded up $0.24 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $48.59. The stock had a trading volume of 338,768 shares, compared to its average volume of 887,404. The company has a market capitalization of $1.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.35 and a beta of 0.73. iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF has a 12-month low of $36.01 and a 12-month high of $48.94. The companys 50-day moving average is $45.90 and its 200 day moving average is $44.08.

About iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF

iShares MSCI Switzerland Capped ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI Switzerland Capped Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI Switzerland 25/50 Index (the Index).

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John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE:PDT  Get Rating) saw a large growth in short interest in the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 233,800 shares, a growth of 12.6% from the April 15th total of 207,600 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 110,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.1 days.

John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund Stock Performance

John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund stock traded down $0.06 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $11.45. 167,256 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 118,692. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $12.41 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $13.05. John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund has a 12-month low of $11.36 and a 12-month high of $16.30.

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John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 11th will be paid a $0.0975 dividend. This represents a $1.17 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.22%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 10th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund

About John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Captrust Financial Advisors acquired a new stake in shares of John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund during the 2nd quarter worth about $84,000. Elequin Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund during the 4th quarter worth about $140,000. New England Private Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund during the 1st quarter worth about $141,000. Wolverine Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund during the 4th quarter worth about $144,000. Finally, Money Concepts Capital Corp acquired a new stake in shares of John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund during the 4th quarter worth about $146,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 5.89% of the companys stock.

(Get Rating)

John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC. It is co-managed by John Hancock Asset Management. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United States. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors, with an emphasis on the utilities sector.

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LA Financiere DE L Echiquier raised its stake in shares of Unity Software Inc. (NYSE:U  Get Rating) by 9.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 177,000 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 15,000 shares during the period. LA Financiere DE L Echiquier owned 0.06% of Unity Software worth $5,061,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Credit Suisse AG raised its position in shares of Unity Software by 19.7% in the third quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 711,992 shares of the companys stock valued at $22,683,000 after buying an additional 117,106 shares during the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank increased its position in Unity Software by 16.7% during the third quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 38,623 shares of the companys stock worth $1,231,000 after purchasing an additional 5,535 shares during the last quarter. Eudaimonia Partners LLC increased its position in Unity Software by 3.2% during the third quarter. Eudaimonia Partners LLC now owns 12,488 shares of the companys stock worth $398,000 after purchasing an additional 388 shares during the last quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board increased its position in Unity Software by 50.1% during the third quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board now owns 14,132 shares of the companys stock worth $450,000 after purchasing an additional 4,720 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ensign Peak Advisors Inc increased its position in Unity Software by 55.3% during the third quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc now owns 78,026 shares of the companys stock worth $2,487,000 after purchasing an additional 27,800 shares during the last quarter. 82.50% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently issued reports on U. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Unity Software from $36.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a buy rating and set a $44.00 price target on shares of Unity Software in a research report on Friday, April 14th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Unity Software from $27.50 to $28.00 in a research report on Thursday. Citigroup dropped their price target on shares of Unity Software from $54.00 to $41.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 27th. Finally, Piper Sandler raised their price objective on shares of Unity Software from $33.00 to $43.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $40.06.

Unity Software Stock Down 0.7 %

Shares of NYSE:U traded down $0.21 during trading on Monday, hitting $29.44. 1,207,545 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 9,603,876. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.85 billion, a P/E ratio of -10.05 and a beta of 2.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 2.34 and a quick ratio of 2.34. Unity Software Inc. has a 12-month low of $21.22 and a 12-month high of $58.63. The firms 50 day moving average price is $28.81 and its 200-day moving average price is $31.20.

Unity Software (NYSE:U  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 22nd. The company reported ($0.50) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.26) by ($0.24). The company had revenue of $450.97 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $433.25 million. Unity Software had a negative return on equity of 25.70% and a negative net margin of 66.21%. On average, research analysts predict that Unity Software Inc. will post -1.46 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Unity Software

In other Unity Software news, CFO Luis Felipe Visoso sold 6,523 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.30, for a total transaction of $197,646.90. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 732,215 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,186,114.50. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CMO Carol W. Carpenter sold 32,238 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.27, for a total value of $975,844.26. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 400,738 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,130,339.26. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CFO Luis Felipe Visoso sold 6,523 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.30, for a total transaction of $197,646.90. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 732,215 shares in the company, valued at $22,186,114.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 155,328 shares of company stock valued at $4,926,866. 6.90% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Unity Software Company Profile

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Unity Software Inc operates a real-time 3D development platform. Its platform provides software solutions to create, run, and monetize interactive, real-time 2D and 3D content for mobile phones, tablets, PCs, consoles, and augmented and virtual reality devices. The company offers its solutions directly through its online store and field sales operations in North America, Denmark, Finland, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, China, Singapore, and South Korea, as well as indirectly through independent distributors and resellers worldwide.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP  Get Rating) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note published on Friday morning.

A number of other analysts have also commented on TAP. Roth Capital reiterated a buy rating on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a research report on Tuesday, February 21st. TheStreet upgraded Molson Coors Beverage from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Barclays boosted their target price on Molson Coors Beverage from $52.00 to $62.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Bank of America boosted their target price on Molson Coors Beverage from $52.00 to $54.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Finally, Citigroup began coverage on Molson Coors Beverage in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. They set a neutral rating and a $55.00 target price for the company. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Molson Coors Beverage presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $57.87.

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Molson Coors Beverage Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE TAP opened at $64.25 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $13.90 billion, a PE ratio of -53.99, a PEG ratio of 3.65 and a beta of 0.83. The business has a fifty day moving average of $55.84 and a two-hundred day moving average of $53.42. Molson Coors Beverage has a 52-week low of $46.69 and a 52-week high of $66.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 0.49 and a current ratio of 0.77.

Molson Coors Beverage Increases Dividend

Molson Coors Beverage ( NYSE:TAP Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The company reported $0.54 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.26 by $0.28. Molson Coors Beverage had a positive return on equity of 7.16% and a negative net margin of 1.97%. The company had revenue of $2.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.23 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.29 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Molson Coors Beverage will post 4.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.41 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 2nd. This represents a $1.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.55%. This is a boost from Molson Coors Beverages previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. Molson Coors Beverages dividend payout ratio is currently -137.82%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Molson Coors Beverage

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 6.1% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 21,329,879 shares of the companys stock worth $1,138,589,000 after acquiring an additional 1,235,013 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its holdings in Molson Coors Beverage by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 8,727,747 shares of the companys stock valued at $465,887,000 after buying an additional 143,757 shares in the last quarter. LSV Asset Management grew its holdings in Molson Coors Beverage by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 7,768,804 shares of the companys stock valued at $372,825,000 after buying an additional 239,558 shares in the last quarter. Clarkston Capital Partners LLC grew its holdings in Molson Coors Beverage by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. Clarkston Capital Partners LLC now owns 6,173,932 shares of the companys stock valued at $296,287,000 after buying an additional 214,842 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital International Investors grew its holdings in Molson Coors Beverage by 1.0% in the 1st quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 4,721,084 shares of the companys stock valued at $252,011,000 after buying an additional 49,044 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 76.24% of the companys stock.

About Molson Coors Beverage

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Molson Coors Beverage Co is a holding company, which engages in the production and sale of beer. It operates through the following segments: Americas, and EMEA and APAC. The Americas segment operates in the U.S., Canada and various countries in the Caribbean, Latin, and South America. The EMEA and APAC segment operates in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Montenegro, the Republic of Ireland, Romania, Serbia, the UK, various other European countries, and certain countries within the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific.

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Daiwa Capital Markets cut shares of Pfizer (NYSE:PFE  Get Rating) from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a report released on Thursday morning, The Fly reports. Daiwa Capital Markets currently has $38.00 target price on the biopharmaceutical companys stock.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Credit Suisse Group decreased their target price on shares of Pfizer from $54.00 to $50.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Atlantic Securities decreased their target price on shares of Pfizer from $50.00 to $46.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $41.00 to $39.00 in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Finally, Bank of America decreased their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $50.00 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $47.33.

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Pfizer Stock Performance

Pfizer stock opened at $37.35 on Thursday. The firms fifty day moving average price is $40.01 and its 200-day moving average price is $44.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.22. The stock has a market cap of $210.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 0.63. Pfizer has a fifty-two week low of $37.21 and a fifty-two week high of $54.93.

Pfizer Dividend Announcement

Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.23 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.00 by $0.23. The company had revenue of $18.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.49 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 31.25% and a return on equity of 38.46%. The firms revenue was down 28.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.62 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Pfizer will post 3.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 12th will be given a $0.41 dividend. This represents a $1.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 11th. Pfizers dividend payout ratio is currently 32.28%.

Insider Activity at Pfizer

In other Pfizer news, major shareholder Pfizer Inc bought 1,811,594 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, March 17th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $2.76 per share, for a total transaction of $4,999,999.44. Following the purchase, the insider now owns 5,952,263 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,428,245.88. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Pfizer news, major shareholder Pfizer Inc bought 1,811,594 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, March 17th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $2.76 per share, for a total transaction of $4,999,999.44. Following the purchase, the insider now owns 5,952,263 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,428,245.88. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Scott Gottlieb bought 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, May 8th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $38.58 per share, for a total transaction of $38,580.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 6,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $231,480. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders purchased a total of 1,813,594 shares of company stock valued at $5,076,999 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.05% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Pfizer

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 493,584,761 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $21,599,270,000 after buying an additional 5,139,634 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 445,384,893 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $18,171,704,000 after buying an additional 2,516,132 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 9.8% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 218,931,933 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $8,932,423,000 after buying an additional 19,602,359 shares during the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 89,592.7% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 161,143,638 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $8,257,000,000 after buying an additional 160,963,976 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 14.4% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 83,901,181 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $3,408,836,000 after buying an additional 10,560,702 shares during the last quarter. 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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Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Pipestone Energy (OTCMKTS:BKBEF  Get Rating) from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note released on Thursday, The Fly reports.

Separately, National Bank Financial cut their target price on shares of Pipestone Energy from C$4.00 to C$3.50 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th.

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Pipestone Energy Stock Performance

Shares of Pipestone Energy stock opened at $1.88 on Thursday. Pipestone Energy has a 52-week low of $1.65 and a 52-week high of $5.34. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $1.98 and its 200 day simple moving average is $2.23.

Pipestone Energy Announces Dividend

About Pipestone Energy

The business also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 15th were given a dividend of $0.0223 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 14th. This represents a dividend yield of 4.07%.

(Get Rating)

Pipestone Energy Corp. is an oil and gas exploration and production company, which focuses on developing its condensate assets in the Pipestone area of Alberta. The company was founded on January 4, 2019 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

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Reaves Utility Income Fund (NYSEAMERICAN:UTG  Get Rating) announced a monthly dividend on Friday, April 7th, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 18th will be given a dividend of 0.19 per share by the closed-end fund on Wednesday, May 31st. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.01%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 17th.

Reaves Utility Income Fund has raised its dividend by an average of 2.3% annually over the last three years.

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Reaves Utility Income Fund Stock Performance

Reaves Utility Income Fund stock opened at $28.48 on Monday. Reaves Utility Income Fund has a fifty-two week low of $24.55 and a fifty-two week high of $34.50.

Insider Transactions at Reaves Utility Income Fund

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Reaves Utility Income Fund

In other Reaves Utility Income Fund news, insider Joseph Burns Rhame III bought 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 15th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $27.30 per share, with a total value of $54,600.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now directly owns 8,954 shares of the companys stock, valued at $244,444.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in UTG. Bank of America Corp DE grew its position in shares of Reaves Utility Income Fund by 6.8% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 747,187 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $21,123,000 after acquiring an additional 47,790 shares during the period. LPL Financial LLC raised its position in Reaves Utility Income Fund by 20.9% in the 2nd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 183,286 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $5,682,000 after purchasing an additional 31,626 shares during the period. Susquehanna International Group LLP purchased a new stake in Reaves Utility Income Fund in the 4th quarter worth about $826,000. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC grew its stake in Reaves Utility Income Fund by 30.3% in the 4th quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 86,211 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $2,437,000 after acquiring an additional 20,049 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company MN grew its stake in Reaves Utility Income Fund by 4.8% in the 2nd quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 426,572 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $13,224,000 after acquiring an additional 19,601 shares in the last quarter.

Reaves Utility Income Fund Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Reaves Utility Income Fund is a closed ended balanced mutual fund launched and managed by W. H. Reaves & Company, Inc The fund invests in public equity and fixed income markets of the United States. It seeks to invest in securities of companies operating in the Utilities sector. The fund primarily invests in dividend paying stocks and debt instruments of companies operating across all market capitalizations.

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Rio Tinto Group (LON:RIO  Get Rating) insider Ngaire Woods purchased 500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 11th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 4,921 ($62.09) per share, for a total transaction of 24,605 ($31,047.32).

Ngaire Woods also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Wednesday, April 5th, Ngaire Woods purchased 410 shares of Rio Tinto Group stock. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 5,338 ($67.36) per share, for a total transaction of 21,885.80 ($27,616.15).

Rio Tinto Group Stock Performance

LON RIO opened at GBX 4,917.50 ($62.05) on Monday. The companys 50 day moving average is GBX 5,314.05 and its 200-day moving average is GBX 5,591.22. Rio Tinto Group has a 12-month low of GBX 4,424.50 ($55.83) and a 12-month high of GBX 6,406 ($80.83). The company has a quick ratio of 1.34, a current ratio of 1.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 23.47. The firm has a market cap of 61.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 811.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -0.64 and a beta of 0.69.

Rio Tinto Group Cuts Dividend

Analyst Ratings Changes

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 20th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 9th were given a GBX 185.35 ($2.34) dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 2.99%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 9th. Rio Tinto Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 6,716.17%.

Several research firms recently weighed in on RIO. Jefferies Financial Group set a GBX 7,500 ($94.64) price target on shares of Rio Tinto Group in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Bank of America boosted their price target on shares of Rio Tinto Group from GBX 6,900 ($87.07) to GBX 7,400 ($93.38) and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on shares of Rio Tinto Group from GBX 5,100 ($64.35) to GBX 5,000 ($63.09) in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Berenberg Bank reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 6,600 ($83.28) target price on shares of Rio Tinto Group in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating on shares of Rio Tinto Group in a research note on Friday, March 17th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of GBX 6,134.62 ($77.41).

Rio Tinto Group Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Rio Tinto Group engages in exploring, mining, and processing mineral resources worldwide. The company offers aluminum, copper, diamonds, gold, borates, titanium dioxide, salt, iron ore, and lithium. It also owns and operates open pit and underground mines, mills, refineries, smelters, power stations, and research and service facilities.

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RiverGlades Family Offices LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:VGK  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 21,227 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $1,177,000. Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF makes up approximately 1.1% of RiverGlades Family Offices LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest holding.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of VGK. Victory Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $66,446,000. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 202.2% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,545,489 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $81,633,000 after acquiring an additional 1,034,072 shares during the last quarter. Flow Traders U.S. LLC acquired a new position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF in the 1st quarter worth approximately $64,318,000. UBS Group AG lifted its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 33.3% in the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 4,033,645 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $186,152,000 after acquiring an additional 1,006,674 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 13.6% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,840,852 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $239,208,000 after acquiring an additional 460,941 shares during the last quarter.

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Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF Price Performance

Shares of VGK stock traded up $0.43 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $62.98. The company had a trading volume of 791,826 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,446,220. The companys fifty day moving average is $61.20 and its 200 day moving average is $58.71. Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF has a fifty-two week low of $44.99 and a fifty-two week high of $63.77. The stock has a market capitalization of $18.51 billion, a PE ratio of 11.10 and a beta of 0.95.

About Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF

Vanguard European Stock Index Fund is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of stocks issued by Companies located in the markets of Europe. The Fund on focuses indexing investment approach by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the common stocks included in the FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VGK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:VGK  Get Rating).

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Genpact (NYSE:G  Get Rating) had its price target reduced by Robert W. Baird from $54.00 to $48.00 in a research note published on Thursday, The Fly reports.

Several other brokerages have also recently issued reports on G. StockNews.com cut shares of Genpact from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, April 28th. Citigroup reduced their price objective on shares of Genpact from $54.00 to $46.00 in a research report on Thursday. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a buy rating and set a $56.00 price target on shares of Genpact in a research report on Friday, February 10th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of Genpact from $51.00 to $53.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $50.60.

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Genpact Price Performance

Shares of NYSE G opened at $36.86 on Thursday. Genpact has a 52 week low of $35.75 and a 52 week high of $48.85. The company has a quick ratio of 1.61, a current ratio of 1.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 1.20. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $44.07 and a 200-day simple moving average of $45.57.

Genpact Announces Dividend

Genpact ( NYSE:G Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 9th. The business services provider reported $0.62 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.59 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $1.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.08 billion. Genpact had a return on equity of 25.63% and a net margin of 8.08%. On average, equities analysts predict that Genpact will post 2.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 9th will be paid a $0.1375 dividend. This represents a $0.55 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.49%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 8th. Genpacts dividend payout ratio is currently 29.26%.

Insider Activity

In other news, SVP Heather White sold 12,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.72, for a total value of $509,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 40,845 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,663,208.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Genpact news, SVP Balkrishan Kalra sold 20,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.33, for a total value of $946,600.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 155,328 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,351,674.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Heather White sold 12,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.72, for a total transaction of $509,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 40,845 shares in the company, valued at $1,663,208.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 320,500 shares of company stock worth $14,299,320 over the last 90 days. 2.62% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Genpact

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in G. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its position in Genpact by 57.2% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 18,403 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $801,000 after acquiring an additional 6,699 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its stake in Genpact by 16.8% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 23,398 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,031,000 after acquiring an additional 3,364 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in Genpact by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,683,950 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $73,273,000 after acquiring an additional 5,331 shares in the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. lifted its stake in Genpact by 6.2% in the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 104,775 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $4,560,000 after acquiring an additional 6,151 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Aviva PLC bought a new stake in Genpact during the 1st quarter worth about $2,219,000. 95.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Genpact Company Profile

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Genpact Ltd. engages in the business process management, outsourcing, shared services and information outsourcing. The company operates through the following segments: Banking, Capital Markets and Insurance (BCMI), Consumer Goods, Retail, Life Sciences, and Healthcare (CGRLH) and High Tech, Manufacturing, and Services (HMS).

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Saturna Capital CORP raised its stake in shares of Infosys Limited (NYSE:INFY  Get Rating) by 25.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 100,000 shares of the technology companys stock after acquiring an additional 20,000 shares during the period. Saturna Capital CORPs holdings in Infosys were worth $1,801,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in INFY. Schubert & Co raised its stake in Infosys by 73.8% during the 4th quarter. Schubert & Co now owns 1,557 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 661 shares during the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in Infosys by 75.6% during the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,902 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 819 shares during the last quarter. Destiny Wealth Partners LLC increased its position in Infosys by 42.9% during the 4th quarter. Destiny Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,922 shares of the technology companys stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 577 shares during the period. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Infosys during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $38,000. Finally, Glassman Wealth Services increased its position in Infosys by 26.0% during the 4th quarter. Glassman Wealth Services now owns 2,800 shares of the technology companys stock worth $50,000 after purchasing an additional 578 shares during the period. 12.68% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have issued reports on INFY shares. Citigroup cut Infosys from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. StockNews.com started coverage on Infosys in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut Infosys from a neutral rating to an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, April 14th. Wedbush dropped their target price on Infosys from $25.00 to $22.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 13th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group cut Infosys from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, April 14th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $19.33.

Infosys Stock Up 1.2 %

Shares of INFY traded up $0.18 on Monday, reaching $15.26. The stock had a trading volume of 2,358,061 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,815,509. The firm has a market capitalization of $63.12 billion, a PE ratio of 21.24, a PEG ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 0.99. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $16.34 and a 200 day moving average of $17.92. Infosys Limited has a twelve month low of $14.71 and a twelve month high of $20.60.

Infosys (NYSE:INFY  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 13th. The technology company reported $0.18 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.19 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $4.55 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.73 billion. Infosys had a net margin of 16.37% and a return on equity of 31.78%. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.18 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Infosys Limited will post 0.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Infosys Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Infosys Ltd. is a digital services and consulting company, which engages in the provision of end-to-end business solutions. It operates through the following segments: Financial Services, Retail, Communication, Energy, Utilities, Resources, and Services, Manufacturing, Hi-Tech, Life Sciences, and All Other.

Further Reading

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Saturna Capital CORP lessened its position in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Get Rating) by 0.0% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 1,170,496 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 329 shares during the quarter. Saturna Capital CORPs holdings in Pfizer were worth $59,976,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Great Lakes Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Pfizer by 130.0% during the 4th quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLC now owns 47,437 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $2,431,000 after buying an additional 26,809 shares during the period. Braun Bostich & Associates Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Pfizer during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $215,000. Bowen Hanes & Co. Inc. increased its holdings in Pfizer by 16.1% in the 4th quarter. Bowen Hanes & Co. Inc. now owns 66,504 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $3,408,000 after purchasing an additional 9,205 shares during the last quarter. Semmax Financial Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in Pfizer by 1.3% in the 4th quarter. Semmax Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 52,720 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $2,429,000 after purchasing an additional 665 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Texas Capital Bancshares Inc. TX acquired a new stake in Pfizer in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $220,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.62% of the companys stock.

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Pfizer Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:PFE traded down $0.15 on Monday, reaching $37.20. The companys stock had a trading volume of 4,398,743 shares, compared to its average volume of 22,312,143. The stocks 50-day moving average is $40.01 and its two-hundred day moving average is $44.73. Pfizer Inc. has a 52-week low of $37.14 and a 52-week high of $54.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 1.22 and a quick ratio of 1.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $210.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.36, a PEG ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 0.63.

Pfizer Dividend Announcement

Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.00 by $0.23. The firm had revenue of $18.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.49 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 31.25% and a return on equity of 38.46%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 28.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.62 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Pfizer Inc. will post 3.35 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 12th will be 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 4.41%. Pfizers payout ratio is currently 32.28%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price target on shares of Pfizer from $55.00 to $53.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note 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 for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Atlantic Securities lowered their target price on shares of Pfizer from $50.00 to $46.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a $45.00 price target on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Monday, February 27th. Finally, 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 target for the company. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $47.33.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Pfizer news, major shareholder Pfizer Inc purchased 1,811,594 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 17th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $2.76 per share, for a total transaction of $4,999,999.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 5,952,263 shares of the companys stock, valued at $16,428,245.88. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other Pfizer news, major shareholder Pfizer Inc purchased 1,811,594 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 17th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $2.76 per share, for a total transaction of $4,999,999.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 5,952,263 shares of the companys stock, valued at $16,428,245.88. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Scott Gottlieb purchased 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $38.58 per share, for a total transaction of $38,580.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $231,480. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have purchased 1,813,594 shares of company stock worth $5,076,999. 0.05% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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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Sendas Distribuidora (NYSE:ASAI  Get Rating) is one of 51 public companies in the Grocery stores industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its competitors? We will compare Sendas Distribuidora to related businesses based on the strength of its valuation, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, profitability, dividends, risk and earnings.

Profitability

This table compares Sendas Distribuidora and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Sendas Distribuidora N/A N/A N/A Sendas Distribuidora Competitors 1.73% 15.29% 4.59%

Risk and Volatility

Sendas Distribuidora has a beta of 0.77, indicating that its stock price is 23% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Sendas Distribuidoras competitors have a beta of -2.49, indicating that their average stock price is 349% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Sendas Distribuidora 0 1 0 0 2.00 Sendas Distribuidora Competitors 1096 2655 2840 109 2.29

This is a summary of recent ratings for Sendas Distribuidora and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

As a group, Grocery stores companies have a potential upside of 9.35%. Given Sendas Distribuidoras competitors stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Sendas Distribuidora has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

4.4% of Sendas Distribuidora shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 46.1% of shares of all Grocery stores companies are held by institutional investors. 0.4% of Sendas Distribuidora shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 21.1% of shares of all Grocery stores companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Dividends

Sendas Distribuidora pays an annual dividend of $0.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.7%. Sendas Distribuidora pays out 10.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Grocery stores companies pay a dividend yield of 3.3% and pay out 57.1% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Sendas Distribuidora and its competitors gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Sendas Distribuidora $58.17 billion $236.31 million 15.21 Sendas Distribuidora Competitors $31.07 billion $704.32 million 215.47

Sendas Distribuidora has higher revenue, but lower earnings than its competitors. Sendas Distribuidora is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Summary

Sendas Distribuidora competitors beat Sendas Distribuidora on 12 of the 15 factors compared.

Sendas Distribuidora Company Profile

(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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Blend Labs, Inc. (NYSE:BLND  Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 11,070,000 shares, a growth of 5.6% from the April 15th total of 10,480,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,820,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 6.1 days. Approximately 7.2% of the shares of the company are sold short.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Blend Labs news, insider Nima Ghamsari sold 230,770 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $0.61, for a total value of $140,769.70. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 15.57% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Blend Labs

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BLND. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in Blend Labs by 3,104.7% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,774,979 shares of the companys stock worth $10,117,000 after buying an additional 1,719,592 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp purchased a new stake in Blend Labs during the 1st quarter worth $6,897,000. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in shares of Blend Labs by 195.9% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,169,796 shares of the companys stock worth $6,667,000 after purchasing an additional 774,425 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL increased its position in shares of Blend Labs by 52.0% in the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 126,251 shares of the companys stock worth $720,000 after purchasing an additional 43,202 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Blend Labs by 1,862.4% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 11,117,426 shares of the companys stock worth $63,369,000 after purchasing an additional 10,550,895 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.42% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Blend Labs Trading Up 5.4 %

BLND has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Canaccord Genuity Group dropped their target price on shares of Blend Labs from $3.00 to $2.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 17th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Blend Labs from $2.00 to $1.50 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 17th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price target on shares of Blend Labs from $1.30 to $1.40 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, March 9th. Finally, Piper Sandler lowered their price target on shares of Blend Labs from $2.40 to $1.30 in a research report on Monday, March 20th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Blend Labs currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $2.52.

NYSE BLND traded up $0.05 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $1.02. 675,786 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,708,032. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $0.94 and its 200 day simple moving average is $1.40. Blend Labs has a 1-year low of $0.53 and a 1-year high of $3.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 11.17 and a current ratio of 11.17. The stock has a market capitalization of $236.69 million, a PE ratio of -0.30 and a beta of 0.33.

Blend Labs (NYSE:BLND  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 16th. The company reported ($0.33) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.18) by ($0.15). Blend Labs had a negative return on equity of 89.88% and a negative net margin of 326.79%. The firm had revenue of $42.79 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $44.60 million. On average, research analysts anticipate that Blend Labs will post -0.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Blend Labs Company Profile

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Blend Labs, Inc provides cloud-based software platform solutions for financial services firms in the United States. It operates in two segments, Blend Platform and Title365. The company offers a suite of white-label products for mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, vehicle loans, personal loans, credit cards, and deposit accounts.

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China Minsheng Banking Corp., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:CGMBF  Get Rating) was the target of a large decrease in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 10,977,000 shares, a decrease of 25.7% from the April 15th total of 14,777,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 200 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 54,885.0 days.

China Minsheng Banking Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS CGMBF remained flat at $0.42 during midday trading on Monday. China Minsheng Banking has a 1 year low of $0.34 and a 1 year high of $0.43. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $0.35.

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About China Minsheng Banking

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China Minsheng Banking Corp., Ltd. provides various financial products and services to individuals, small and micro-enterprises, corporate customers, government agencies, and financial institutions in the People's Republic of China. The company operates through Corporate Banking, Retail Banking, and Others segments.

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Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:CIK  Get Rating) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 35,300 shares, a decrease of 43.7% from the April 15th total of 62,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 285,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.1 days.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. LPL Financial LLC lifted its stake in Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund by 4.1% in the 1st quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 1,360,077 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,495,000 after purchasing an additional 53,250 shares during the last quarter. Shaker Financial Services LLC lifted its stake in Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund by 302.9% in the 1st quarter. Shaker Financial Services LLC now owns 379,201 shares of the companys stock valued at $975,000 after purchasing an additional 285,081 shares during the last quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund by 17.6% in the 4th quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 270,533 shares of the companys stock valued at $682,000 after purchasing an additional 40,394 shares during the last quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund by 168.0% in the 1st quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 249,846 shares of the companys stock valued at $642,000 after purchasing an additional 156,624 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund by 3.3% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 210,200 shares of the companys stock valued at $641,000 after purchasing an additional 6,700 shares during the last quarter. 7.80% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund Trading Down 1.1 %

CIK stock traded down $0.03 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $2.77. 174,671 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 260,230. Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund has a 12 month low of $2.39 and a 12 month high of $3.01.

Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund Announces Dividend

Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund Company Profile

The firm also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 22nd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 16th will be paid a dividend of $0.0225 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 15th. This represents a $0.27 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.75%.

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Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund, Inc is a closed-ended fund, which engages in investing in the fixed income markets and companies operating across diversified industries. It seeks current income consistent with the preservation of capital by investing primarily in fixed-income securities. The company was founded on February 11, 1987 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

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From green low-carbon smart cement factories and aerial imaging display machines to the latest new energy vehicles, Chinese medicine robots, and even Xuan paper, black tea, and traditional Chinese medicine... At the 2023 Chinese Brand Day event opened on May 10th, 29 Anhui companies gathered at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center under the theme of "Intelligent Manufacturing in Anhui". From various perspectives, including technological innovation, green energy, traditional Chinese medicine heritage, cultural creativity, and rural revitalization, they showcased the vigorous development of Anhui brands in recent years. The theme of the 2023 Chinese Brand Day is "Brand New Strength, Quality New Life," and the scale of the event is the largest since its establishment seven years ago, with an exhibition area of nearly 60,000 square meters and a venue changed from the Shanghai Exhibition Center to the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition Hall, attracting more than 1,900 companies to participate online and offline. Reported by Su Yi, Sheng Jiayu Edited and translated by Zheng Chen
ICL Group Ltd (NYSE:ICL  Get Rating) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest in the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 2,570,000 shares, a growth of 9.8% from the April 15th total of 2,340,000 shares. Currently, 0.4% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 1,400,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.8 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently commented on ICL shares. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of ICL Group in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of ICL Group from $9.00 to $8.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 14th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of ICL Group from $8.50 to $7.50 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 12th.

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ICL Group Price Performance

NYSE:ICL traded down $0.08 on Friday, reaching $6.16. The stock had a trading volume of 939,818 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,316,058. The company has a market capitalization of $7.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 3.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.12. ICL Group has a 1-year low of $5.91 and a 1-year high of $12.53. The company has a quick ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 1.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $6.52 and a 200-day moving average price of $7.40.

ICL Group Increases Dividend

ICL Group ( NYSE:ICL Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 15th. The basic materials company reported $0.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.27 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $2.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.99 billion. ICL Group had a net margin of 21.56% and a return on equity of 42.79%. Research analysts forecast that ICL Group will post 0.89 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 14th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be given a dividend of $0.1132 per share. This is an increase from ICL Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.10. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 30th. This represents a $0.45 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.35%. ICL Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 24.55%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ICL Group

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its stake in shares of ICL Group by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,187,776 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $8,077,000 after buying an additional 35,000 shares during the last quarter. Wetherby Asset Management Inc. increased its position in ICL Group by 42.5% during the 1st quarter. Wetherby Asset Management Inc. now owns 53,873 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $366,000 after purchasing an additional 16,059 shares in the last quarter. Stifel Financial Corp increased its position in ICL Group by 9.7% during the 1st quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 463,376 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $3,151,000 after purchasing an additional 40,893 shares in the last quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec increased its position in ICL Group by 199.5% during the 1st quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 4,144,200 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $27,773,000 after purchasing an additional 2,760,561 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in ICL Group by 15.0% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,180,288 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $35,226,000 after acquiring an additional 674,057 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 14.13% of the companys stock.

ICL Group Company Profile

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ICL Group Ltd. engages in the manufacture of mineral-based products for the agriculture, food, and engineered materials markets. Its products include potash and phosphate fertilizers, specialty fertilizers, functional ingredients, flame retardants and magnesia products. The company was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel.

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Rheinmetall AG (OTCMKTS:RNMBY  Get Rating) was the target of a large decrease in short interest in the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 7,100 shares, a decrease of 27.6% from the April 15th total of 9,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 40,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.2 days.

Analyst Ratings Changes

RNMBY has been the topic of several recent research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on shares of Rheinmetall from 220.00 ($241.76) to 250.00 ($274.73) and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 18th. UBS Group lowered Rheinmetall from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, January 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $251.67.

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Rheinmetall Trading Up 2.3 %

OTCMKTS RNMBY traded up $1.29 on Friday, reaching $57.80. 10,761 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 24,008. Rheinmetall has a fifty-two week low of $28.10 and a fifty-two week high of $61.36. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $57.20 and a 200-day moving average price of $48.22.

Rheinmetall Increases Dividend

Rheinmetall Company Profile

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 30th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 11th will be issued a $0.6404 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 10th. This is a boost from Rheinmetalls previous dividend of $0.48. Rheinmetalls payout ratio is 297.68%.

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Rheinmetall AG operates as a holding company. The firm engages in the production of automotive components and defense equipment. It operates through the following segments: Defence and Automotive. The Defence segment offers vehicle, infantry equipment, protection and weapon systems, air defense systems, function sequence networking as well as simulation hardware and software.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Timken (NYSE:TKR  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note released on Thursday.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. KeyCorp raised their price objective on Timken from $88.00 to $102.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. Bank of America raised Timken from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the company from $71.00 to $87.00 in a research note on Friday, January 13th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on shares of Timken from $95.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, March 6th. Citigroup increased their price objective on Timken from $78.00 to $98.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. Finally, Oppenheimer upped their target price on Timken from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Timken presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $90.78.

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Timken Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE:TKR opened at $72.87 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 2.76 and a quick ratio of 1.47. The company has a market cap of $5.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.04, a PEG ratio of 0.87 and a beta of 1.54. Timken has a 1 year low of $50.85 and a 1 year high of $89.40. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $78.10 and its 200-day moving average price is $76.93.

Timken Increases Dividend

Timken ( NYSE:TKR Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 3rd. The industrial products company reported $2.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.85 by $0.24. Timken had a return on equity of 20.72% and a net margin of 8.88%. The business had revenue of $1.26 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.23 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.61 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 12.3% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Timken will post 7.3 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 16th will be given a dividend of $0.33 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 15th. This represents a $1.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.81%. This is a positive change from Timkens previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. Timkens dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 23.61%.

Insider Transactions at Timken

In other news, CEO Richard G. Kyle sold 24,851 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $73.74, for a total transaction of $1,832,512.74. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 383,082 shares of the companys stock, valued at $28,248,466.68. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Timken news, CEO Richard G. Kyle sold 24,841 shares of Timken stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.97, for a total transaction of $2,135,580.77. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 383,082 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $32,933,559.54. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Richard G. Kyle sold 24,851 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $73.74, for a total transaction of $1,832,512.74. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 383,082 shares in the company, valued at approximately $28,248,466.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 9.89% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Timken

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of TKR. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in shares of Timken by 12.5% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 6,620,518 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $390,875,000 after acquiring an additional 736,067 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Timken by 0.5% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,450,013 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $380,808,000 after acquiring an additional 29,889 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in Timken by 0.8% during the third quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,457,453 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $145,089,000 after purchasing an additional 19,888 shares during the period. FMR LLC increased its stake in Timken by 81.6% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,403,801 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $196,439,000 after buying an additional 1,079,991 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Timken by 2.9% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,865,973 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $110,167,000 after acquiring an additional 52,184 shares during the last quarter. 82.00% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Timken

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The Timken Co engages in the engineering, manufacturing, and marketing of bearings and industrial motion products. In addition to bearings, it offers drives, belts, chains, lubrication systems, couplings, industrial clutches, and brakes. It operates through the Mobile and Process Industries segments.

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Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. trimmed its stake in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL  Get Rating) by 9.0% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 253,400 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 25,000 shares during the quarter. Tocqueville Asset Management L.P.s holdings in Aflac were worth $18,230,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Edmp Inc. increased its position in shares of Aflac by 6,918.5% during the 4th quarter. Edmp Inc. now owns 3,676,833 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $51,110,000 after purchasing an additional 3,624,445 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Aflac by 62.4% during the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,936,608 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $317,865,000 after purchasing an additional 1,897,212 shares during the period. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can bought a new stake in shares of Aflac in the third quarter worth about $65,661,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in Aflac by 225.2% in the third quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,076,386 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $60,493,000 after acquiring an additional 745,346 shares during the period. Finally, Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. grew its stake in Aflac by 58.5% in the third quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 1,792,388 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $100,737,000 after purchasing an additional 661,438 shares during the period. 66.22% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Aflac

In other news, Director Masatoshi Koide sold 19,291 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.36, for a total transaction of $1,357,314.76. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 87,598 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,163,395.28. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.45, for a total value of $32,225.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 19,269 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,241,887.05. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Masatoshi Koide sold 19,291 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.36, for a total transaction of $1,357,314.76. Following the sale, the director now owns 87,598 shares in the company, valued at $6,163,395.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 105,284 shares of company stock valued at $7,228,195. 0.90% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Aflac Stock Down 0.0 %

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on AFL shares. Citigroup dropped their price target on shares of Aflac from $73.00 to $69.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 27th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Aflac from $77.00 to $72.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on Aflac in a research report on Tuesday, April 25th. They set an equal weight rating and a $73.00 target price for the company. Raymond James upped their price objective on Aflac from $74.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, January 30th. Finally, Truist Financial upped their price objective on Aflac from $65.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Monday, February 6th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $71.22.

Aflac stock traded down $0.01 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $66.10. 182,937 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,590,950. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 0.05 and a current ratio of 0.05. The firm has a market cap of $39.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.54, a PEG ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.93. The business has a fifty day moving average of $65.46 and a 200 day moving average of $68.62. Aflac Incorporated has a 12-month low of $52.07 and a 12-month high of $74.01.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The financial services provider reported $1.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.40 by $0.15. Aflac had a net margin of 22.90% and a return on equity of 15.25%. The firm had revenue of $4.80 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.61 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.42 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 7.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Aflac Incorporated will post 5.74 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Aflac Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 17th will be given a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.54%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 16th. Aflacs payout ratio is 24.24%.

Aflac Company Profile

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Aflac, Inc is a holding company. engages in the provision of financial protection services. It operates through the followings segments: Aflac Japan and Aflac United States (U.S.). The Aflac Japan segment offers life insurance, death benefits, and cash surrender values. The Aflac U.S. segment sells voluntary supplemental insurance products for people who already have major medical or primary insurance coverage.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AFL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL  Get Rating).

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Trust Co. of Vermont increased its position in The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:PNC  Get Rating) by 236.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 8,690 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 6,110 shares during the quarter. Trust Co. of Vermonts holdings in The PNC Financial Services Group were worth $1,372,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in PNC. Blair William & Co. IL increased its stake in shares of The PNC Financial Services Group by 0.5% in the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 16,997 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $3,135,000 after buying an additional 89 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its holdings in The PNC Financial Services Group by 12.0% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 16,141 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,977,000 after acquiring an additional 1,724 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd boosted its holdings in The PNC Financial Services Group by 68.8% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 336 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $62,000 after acquiring an additional 137 shares during the last quarter. West Family Investments Inc. boosted its holdings in The PNC Financial Services Group by 9.1% in the first quarter. West Family Investments Inc. now owns 1,164 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $215,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ergoteles LLC boosted its holdings in The PNC Financial Services Group by 137.9% in the first quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 21,048 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $3,882,000 after acquiring an additional 12,201 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.05% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently commented on the company. UBS Group upped their target price on The PNC Financial Services Group from $130.00 to $134.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, April 17th. StockNews.com cut The PNC Financial Services Group from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Barclays cut their price target on The PNC Financial Services Group from $218.00 to $167.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Piper Sandler increased their price target on The PNC Financial Services Group from $150.00 to $164.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, February 15th. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut their target price on The PNC Financial Services Group from $210.00 to $205.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 19th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, The PNC Financial Services Group presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $162.30.

The PNC Financial Services Group Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of The PNC Financial Services Group stock opened at $111.98 on Monday. The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $110.31 and a 1 year high of $176.47. The firm has a market cap of $44.69 billion, a PE ratio of 7.63, a P/E/G ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 1.12. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $125.26 and a 200-day moving average price of $147.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.80.

The PNC Financial Services Group (NYSE:PNC  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 14th. The financial services provider reported $3.98 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.60 by $0.38. The PNC Financial Services Group had a return on equity of 13.41% and a net margin of 23.95%. The company had revenue of $5.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.61 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.29 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 19.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. will post 13.99 EPS for the current year.

The PNC Financial Services Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 5th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 18th were paid a $1.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, April 17th. This represents a $6.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.36%. The PNC Financial Services Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 41.04%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Joseph Alvarado bought 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, April 21st. The stock was acquired at an average price of $123.89 per share, for a total transaction of $123,890.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 1,100 shares in the company, valued at $136,279. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.39% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

The PNC Financial Services Group Profile

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The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following segments: Retail Banking, Corporate and Institutional Banking, Asset Management Group, and Other. The Retail Banking segment offers deposit, lending, brokerage, investment management, and cash management products and services to consumer and small business customers.

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Wealth Enhancement & Preservation of GA LLC cut its position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG  Get Rating) by 15.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 2,252 shares of the companys stock after selling 424 shares during the quarter. Wealth Enhancement & Preservation of GA LLCs holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF were worth $218,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management grew its stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 145.5% in the 1st quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 6,590 shares of the companys stock valued at $705,000 after buying an additional 3,906 shares in the last quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its position in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 36.2% in the first quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 52,003 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,570,000 after acquiring an additional 13,829 shares during the period. Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF in the first quarter valued at $44,000. Baltimore Washington Financial Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF during the first quarter worth $241,000. Finally, West Michigan Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 2.0% during the first quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC now owns 14,640 shares of the companys stock worth $1,568,000 after purchasing an additional 292 shares during the last quarter. 80.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Trading Down 0.3 %

NYSEARCA:AGG traded down $0.26 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $99.13. The company had a trading volume of 1,302,644 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,964,172. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF has a fifty-two week low of $93.20 and a fifty-two week high of $104.39. The businesss fifty day moving average is $99.27 and its two-hundred day moving average is $98.50.

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Profile

IShares are index funds that are bought and sold like common stocks on national securities exchanges as well as certain foreign exchanges. iShares are attractive because of their relatively low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account.

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UWM (NYSE: UWMC) has recently received a number of price target changes and ratings updates:

5/12/2023  UWM had its price target raised by analysts at Credit Suisse Group AG from $3.50 to $4.00.

5/11/2023  UWM had its price target raised by analysts at Morgan Stanley from $3.50 to $5.00.

5/11/2023  UWM had its price target raised by analysts at Barclays PLC from $3.50 to $4.00.

4/28/2023  UWM had its maintains rating reaffirmed by analysts at SpectralCast, Inc..

4/28/2023  UWM had its price target raised by analysts at JMP Securities from $5.50 to $6.50.

UWM Stock Up 4.9 %

NYSE UWMC traded up $0.24 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $5.16. 1,055,609 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,132,860. The company has a current ratio of 1.77, a quick ratio of 1.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88. The company has a 50 day moving average of $5.13 and a two-hundred day moving average of $4.46. UWM Holdings Co. has a 12 month low of $2.84 and a 12 month high of $6.35. The stock has a market capitalization of $480.41 million, a PE ratio of 12.59 and a beta of 1.46.

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UWM (NYSE:UWMC  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 10th. The company reported ($0.07) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.04 by ($0.11). UWM had a return on equity of 23.97% and a net margin of 1.76%. The company had revenue of $161.27 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $431.17 million. As a group, equities analysts expect that UWM Holdings Co. will post 0.27 earnings per share for the current year.

UWM Dividend Announcement

Institutional Investors Weigh In On UWM

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 11th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, June 21st will be given a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 20th. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.75%. UWMs dividend payout ratio is presently 97.56%.

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. TCW Group Inc. lifted its holdings in UWM by 12.7% in the 1st quarter. TCW Group Inc. now owns 113,889 shares of the companys stock valued at $559,000 after acquiring an additional 12,805 shares during the last quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of UWM during the 1st quarter valued at $74,000. Sei Investments Co. acquired a new stake in shares of UWM during the 1st quarter valued at $88,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of UWM by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 494,926 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,430,000 after acquiring an additional 7,822 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers lifted its position in shares of UWM by 2.5% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 106,562 shares of the companys stock valued at $523,000 after acquiring an additional 2,646 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 37.73% of the companys stock.

UWM Holdings Corporation engages in the residential mortgage lending business in the United States. The company originates mortgage loans through wholesale channel. It originates primarily conforming and government loans. UWM Holdings Corporation was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Pontiac, Michigan.

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Shares of Zhihu Inc. (NYSE:ZH  Get Rating) gapped up before the market opened on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $0.97, but opened at $1.01. Zhihu shares last traded at $1.02, with a volume of 177,176 shares trading hands.

Zhihu Stock Performance

The firm has a market cap of $661.58 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2.49 and a beta of 0.24. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $1.19 and a 200-day simple moving average of $1.34.

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Zhihu (NYSE:ZH  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 22nd. The company reported ($0.04) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.09) by $0.05. The business had revenue of $161.51 million during the quarter. Zhihu had a negative return on equity of 26.65% and a negative net margin of 44.73%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Zhihu

Zhihu Company Profile

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Zhihu by 3.6% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 230,317 shares of the companys stock worth $299,000 after buying an additional 7,995 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Zhihu by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 5,641,947 shares of the companys stock worth $5,980,000 after buying an additional 14,245 shares in the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP lifted its position in shares of Zhihu by 628.2% during the 2nd quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 17,477 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 15,077 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its position in shares of Zhihu by 4.2% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 512,700 shares of the companys stock worth $918,000 after buying an additional 20,900 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Focused Wealth Management Inc bought a new position in shares of Zhihu during the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 11.39% of the companys stock.

(Get Rating)

Zhihu Inc operates an online content community in the People's Republic of China. Its community allows people to seek inspiration, find solutions, make decisions, and have fun. The company also offers technology, business support, and consulting services; information transmission, software, and information technology services; information and marketing services; vocational training; and internet services, as well as holds audio-visual permit.

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Shares of Zurich Insurance Group AG (OTCMKTS:ZURVY  Get Rating) have earned a consensus rating of Hold from the six brokerages that are covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and one has 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 $530.00.

ZURVY has been the topic of several recent research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of Zurich Insurance Group from an overweight rating to an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. Societe Generale cut Zurich Insurance Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 17th.

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Zurich Insurance Group Price Performance

OTCMKTS ZURVY opened at $47.57 on Wednesday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $47.36 and a 200-day simple moving average of $47.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 27.43 and a quick ratio of 27.43. Zurich Insurance Group has a 52-week low of $38.33 and a 52-week high of $50.96.

Zurich Insurance Group Company Profile

Zurich Insurance Group AG is a holding company, which engages in the provision of insurance products and related services. It operates through the following segments: Property and Casualty Regions, Life Regions, Farmers, Group Functions and Operations, and Non-Core Businesses. The Property and Casualty Regions segment provides motor, home and commercial products and services for individuals, as well as small and large businesses on both a local and global basis.

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Niyo, a neobanking startup backed by the likes of Accel and Lightrock, is planning to launch a travel tech platform in the next few weeks, people familiar with the development said. The startup aims to build on the success of its global forex card as it ventures into the travel industry. Niyos decision to venture into a new industry comes at a time when fintech startups across the board have been adjusting to a dynamic regulatory environment, especially around digital lending. All loan disbursals and repayments have to now be executed only between the bank account of the borrower and the regulated entity, without any involvement of a pass-through or pool account of the lending service provider (LSP) or any third party, the Reserve Bank of India stated. The rule rendered prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) useless and forced several fintechs to tweak their business models. Currently, the Accel-backed startup allows customers to open their own savings bank accounts. It also has an investing platform, Niyo Money, and offers several other banking-related services. Niyo was founded in 2015 by Vinay Bagri, who has had stints with banks such as Standard Chartered and Kotak Mahindra, and Virender Bisht, who previously worked with MakeMyTrip. Niyo Global card Introduced around 2018, the Niyo Global card is a key product of the Bengaluru-based startup, boasting of around a million users already. Expectations of the customer base doubling every year have given the company confidence to go deeper in the area. The Niyo Global forex card is also among the top revenue generators for the company. It competes with Axis Banks co-branded credit card with Vistara, IDFC First Banks first wealth credit card, State Bank of Indias Elite credit card and several others that larger players in the industry offer. Asked about the reasons behind the companys decision to launch a travel tech platform, one of the people cited above said, Niyos current products are core banking products, which are not very different from what other players offer. Niyo could do something to gain an edge but how much can someone differentiate a normal savings account? The company, through its partnership with DCB Bank, Yes Bank, Equitas Bank, and others, facilitates the opening of savings bank accounts, disburses loans and helps with wealth management services, such as starting mutual funds and the like. Catering to a small subset So, to add another layer to its offerings, Niyos travel tech platform will essentially cover the whole spectrum around travel where users can book visas, travel experiences, concierge services, tour packages, travel insurance, and the like. The company will target passport holders. If one doesnt have a passport, Niyo does not see them as customers. The company knows that if you own a passport it means youre going to travel abroad and that you have got the money, another person aware of the company's plans said. According to the latest available government data, there are only about 96 million people with an Indian passport, across all age groups. Further, from the total number of passport holders, the millennial and Gen Z numbers  segments that Niyo will continue to focus on  are much lower, leaving the company with a smaller set of people to cater to. Adding to Niyos challenges, the travel tech space is already populated with giants such as MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip, Thomas Cook and several others, who are already fighting for a bigger chunk of the travel market. Market competition is, however, unlikely to deter Niyos ambitions. Internally, Niyo was estimating that its margins would double from the current levels once the travel tech platform takes off. Currently, its margins are around the 3-4 percent range, and once travel-related services are live, the margins could increase to about 10 percent, thanks to the healthy commissions that Niyo expects to earn from every transaction on the platform, another person aware of the companys plans revealed. One does not travel abroad if one does not have money and if they have enough money  theyre easily monetisable. So, Niyo will not make a lot of money if a user travels to Goa but if theyre going to Europe, the spends are higher and so are Niyos earnings, the person said, adding that monetisation does not appear to be a challenge for the company. Internally Niyo was giving itself five years so the travel tech platform could excel. Pivot on the horizon? Over the past year, as Niyo prepared its tech stack for the travel tech platform, the loans that the company has been giving out and the rewards mechanism have aggressively become more travel-centric. That essentially means that while neobanking will continue to be the companys core product for now, a pivot to a fully travel tech platform later, cannot be ruled out yet. Niyo is unlikely to hit the markets for fresh funds as it has over $80 million in the bank, Moneycontrol has learnt. The company has so far raised over $170 million from investors such as Accel, Lightrock, Prime Venture Partners and several others, according to data on startup intelligence platform Tracxn. The company did not respond to an email from Moneycontrol seeking details.
Business-to-Business (B2B) expense management platform Happay, which was acquired by Kunal Shahs Cred has laid off around 35% of its employees in a cost-cutting and restructuring exercise, sources aware of the development said. The company has laid off employees across marketing, sales, product and design team, sources said. Happay had more than 400 employees on payroll before layoffs. Founded in 2012 by Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur alumni Varun Rathi and Anshul Rai, Happay is a business expense management software provider. Its solutions include petty cash management, expense report automation, prepaid cards for business expenses, travel and expense management, and employee flexible benefits. Inc42 reported the developments first. VA Tech Ventures Pvt. Ltd, which operates Happay, raised $3 million in 2019 from London-based Greyhound Capital. Happay raised $250,000 from US-based Cupola Venture Opportunities LLP in 2017. During the same year, it secured $10 million from existing investor Sequoia Capital, Singapore-based private equity fund Axiom Capital and AME Cloud Ventures. In July 2015, Happay received $7.2 million from Sequoia Capital and Prime Venture Partners. Kunal Shah-led Cred acquired Happay in a cash-and-stock deal worth $180 million to add to its suite of fintech offerings in 2021. Cred posted a total income of Rs 422 crore in FY22 compared to Rs 95 crore in the previous fiscal, its losses during this period came in at Rs 1, 279 crore compared to Rs 524 crore in the previous fiscal.

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The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) on May 15 announced that it will be opening a representative office in Mumbai to boost cooperation and trade in Mumbai. The launch of the flagship office in the finance capital of the company is in line with DMCCs plans to grow its 3,700 Indian member company base. Commenting on the launch of the Mumbai office, Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC Authority, said: Bilateral trade between UAE and India has reached historical levels, increasing by 14 percent to hit $76.9 billion in the 11 months after the implementation of CEPA. With over 3,700 Indian businesses in our free zone, DMCC has been fundamental in facilitating bilateral trade and investment between the UAE and India. Opening a representative office in Mumbai is the next pivotal step in this relationship's evolution, demonstrating our deep commitment to business in India and across the subcontinent. .@DMCCAuthority announces representative office in Mumbai during trade roadshow to boost #UAE-India relations. https://t.co/az8uC0Xv0k #Dubai pic.twitter.com/VjSgJASS4l  Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) May 15, 2023 DMCCs representative office in Mumbai will be led by industry veteran Siddharth Shah, a graduate of IIT-Bombay and Wharton Business School with 15 years of banking and consulting experience. The office will handle all regulatory, compliance and company registration solutions and will provide exclusively curated license packages for Indian businesses. The announcement was made during the last leg of the DMCC Made For Trade Live trade roadshow it held in India last week. Throughout the roadshow, which covered the Indian cities of Mumbai, Surat, and Jaipur, DMCC highlighted Dubai as a platform for Indian companies to expand internationally, the authority said in a statement. Through the course of the roadshow, 500 Indian businesses were briefed on Dubais unique business environment and DMCCs leading position as an international trade hub during a roadshow in Mumbai, Surat and Jaipur, it added. The event was hosted in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI). DMCC has partnered with business services firm PP Shah and Associates to open a representative office in Mumbai. Through the new office, DMCC aims to boost the relationship between the UAE and India in support of the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed last year. Leveraging DMCCs strong regulatory framework and reputation within Indian business circles, the representative office will provide a one-stop solution for Indian businesses looking to expand through Dubai and help them establish a presence in DMCC, the Dubai-based organisation said. Speaking about the partnership, PP Shah and Associates, said: Through this partnership with DMCC, we will bridge the gap between our nations and further support the success of Indian businesses. DMCC offers a unique ecosystem that provides confidence through strong regulations and frameworks, cost benefits through competitive office spaces, and a range of facilities and services that increase the ease of doing business for Indian entrepreneurs and large companies alike. We look forward to facilitating the international expansion of a greater number of Indian businesses through this promotional Initiative, in turn, helping them thrive in Dubai. Earlier this year, DMCC and the Bharat Subcontinent Agri Foundation (BSAF) signed an MoU to advance the global agricultural commodities sector between the UAE and South Asia. Roadshows in India showcase benefits of doing business in DMCC One of the worlds leading free zones, the DMCC saw 708 new companies join its bandwagon in Q1 2023. During 2022, the zone saw 3,049 new firms get registered. DMCC comprises 21,000 member firms from 180 countries and employs 65,000 people. It contributes approximately 10 percent to Dubais GDP with 90 percent of the registered companies from India, UK, Germany, China and France. Ahmed Bin Sulayem said that 3,700 companies are currently registered with DMCC in India as they get quality and high-speed services enabling them to explore international markets from there. DMCCs relations with India is growing, said the DMCC CEO. Sulayem said that he is pushing for a direct flight from Surat to Dubai as Surat is a diamond hub. India is not just the call centre of the world, there is a lot of development in India, he added. It is to be noted that the Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange listed the first Rupee futures contract. The DMCC CEO said that while businesses will utilise maximum benefit from artificial Intelligence, he would tread cautiously on that front. While DMCC is focusing on industries like meat, cocoa, coffee and tea, water as a sector is what can interest both countries, Sulayem said. Parts of India and Pakistan face floods and droughts at the same time while Dubai desalinates seawater. So, collecting, treating and monetising water is perhaps the solution, he added.
A free trade agreement between India and four-nation bloc EFTA will help enhance two-way commerce, investment flows, job creation and economic growth, an official statement said on Monday. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who is in Brussels, has discussed modalities of engagement for working towards a comprehensive Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with representatives of European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states - Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. On April 26 here, both sides discussed ways to resume negotiations for the agreement. "India and the EFTA states discussed the modalities of engagement for working towards a comprehensive TEPA," a press communique issued after conclusion of the talks said. It said the delegations agreed to ramp up their efforts and continue discussions at a steady pace, with several more meetings planned over the coming months, to arrive at a common understanding on critical issues pertaining to TEPA. Both sides emphasised on the importance of building their discussions on principles of trust and respect for each other's sensitivities to achieve a fair, equitable and balanced agreement, it added. "Indeed, a TEPA between EFTA and India could bring significant economic benefits, such as integrated and resilient supply chains and new opportunities for businesses and individuals on both sides leading to increased trade and investment flows, job creation, and economic growth," it said. Goyal held meetings with Guy Parmelin, Swiss Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research; Einar Gunnarsson, Ambassador, Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission of Iceland in Geneva; Kurt Jager, Ambassador, Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission of Liechtenstein to EFTA; and Erik Andreas Underland, Specialist Director at the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Fisheries. A free trade agreement between the two regions is officially dubbed as TEPA. Under such pacts, two trading partners significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties on the maximum number of goods traded between them, besides easing norms to promote trade in services and investments. EFTA countries are not part of the European Union (EU). EFTA is an inter-governmental organisation for the promotion and intensification of free trade. It was founded as an alternative for states that did not wish to join the European Community. India's exports to EFTA countries during April-February 2022-23 stood at USD 1.67 billion as against USD 1.74 billion in 2021-22. Imports aggregated at USD 15 billion during the 11-month period as compared to USD 25.5 billion in 2021-22. The trade gap is in favour of the EFTA group.
India's exports to the UAE contracted by 22 per cent to USD 2.23 billion as against USD 2.86 billion in April, according to the commerce ministry data released on Monday. Indian and the UAE have operationalised a comprehensive free trade agreement since May 1 last year. According to the data, imports to the UAE also declined by 34.08 per cent to USD 3.15 billion in April. Commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal on May 1 this year expressed hope that India's exports to the UAE are expected to rise by about 60 per cent to reach USD 50 billion by 2026-27. India's exports to the UAE in 2022-23 rose by 11.8 per cent to USD 31.3 billion, while imports from that country grew by 18.8 per cent to USD 53.2 billion in the last fiscal due to increased inbound shipments of oil. When asked about the dip in exports and imports between the two countries, Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Santosh Kumar Sarangi said that one of the major components with the UAE has been petroleum trade and recessionary pressure on petroleum prices is likely to result in lesser imports, and also when "we re-export petroleum products, that is likely to have its impact". He added that for many consumer goods, the UAE acts as a channel for CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries and other gulf countries, which have got impacted and that is the reason "why our exports" to the UAE have seen a decline. Exports to the US also declined by 17.16 per cent to USD 5.9 billion. Imports from America too decreased by 24.67 per cent to USD 3.14 billion in April this year, the data showed. The other export destinations where the country's exports reported negative growth included China (4.31 per cent), Singapore (28.7 per cent), Bangladesh (43.31 per cent), and Germany (14.44 per cent) during the month under review. However, the shipments registered positive growth in the Netherlands, UK, Saudi Arabia, and Italy. On the other hand, imports from Russia jumped by 204 per cent to USD 4.98 billion due to increasing inbound shipments of crude oil from that country, the data showed. However, imports from China, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Indonesia, Korea, and Singapore recorded negative growth in the month under review. P
Power purchase agreements (PPAs) that will be contracted for the long-term in India are going to be for 12-15 years from now onwards instead of 25 years, as has been the norm so far, senior power ministry officials said on May 15. The decision is going to be among a slew of other changes that are going to be introduced to revamp India's electricity market, which currently has a meagre share of about 7 percent in the country's overall power sources. The government wants to increase the share of the electricity market in India, senior officials told Moneycontrol. This comes after a group constituted by the government to prepare recommendations for "development of electricity market in India" submitted its report last week. The group was chaired by Alok Kumar, secretary of the power ministry, with representation from the power and renewable energy ministries, Central Electricity Authority, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), Grid Controller of India (Grid-India) along with state governments of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. "We need to find our own solutions instead of depending on the practices being followed in other countries. India has been in the forefront of taking timely interventions and was able to keep electricity prices in check during the energy crisis in last one year whereas electricity prices shot up many times in electricity markets of many developed countries, Union minister for power and renewable energy, RK Singh said . "Procurement of most efficient power generation capacity while designing the capacity contracts must be ensured. We also agree with the recommendations of the group on having long-term PPAs of 12-15 years duration now onwards," he said. Shortening the duration of long-term PPAs has been in talks for a while now, but it was not implemented. The government will now soon come out with a detailed regulation to notify this change. The Union minister also directed to immediately undertake development of new renewable energy (RE) capacity based on Contract for Difference (CfD) methodology in order to ensure competition and transparency. He directed that the power exchange clearing engine may be validated by CERC. The power ministry-constituted panel has suggested a roadmap outlining the interventions for the near, medium, and long term for the development of the electricity market. The interventions suggested by the panel include setting up a mechanism to monitor whether adequacy of supply is being maintained by the state utilities, enhancing the efficacy of the Day-ahead Market (DAM), introducing a market-based mechanism for secondary reserves, and implementing 5-minutes based metering, scheduling, dispatch, and settlement. "The proposed reforms are crucial to meeting India's renewable energy targets, and will also create a conducive environment for investment in RE. The changes will enable better grid integration of renewable energy and pave the way for a cleaner, greener future. Indias energy transition towards renewable energy has further highlighted the need for enabling operational and electricity market developments to operate under a new energy order," Singh said. The proposed changes also include demand response and aggregation, which could reduce reserve requirements and lower electricity costs. There will be strengthening of market monitoring and surveillance activities to keep track of participation and prevent price volatility. A regional level balancing framework for deviation management will be implemented which would result in reduction in deviation penalties for the States at the inter-state transmission system (ISTS) level and consequently lower the reserve requirements, the government said in a statement on May 14. The key issues that have been addressed by the panel in its report include the dominance of inflexible long-term contracts, harnessing the inherent diversity of a large and synchronous grid and the need for resource adequacy planning in Centre and States. It also talks about reduction in system inefficiencies through lesser reliance on self-scheduling, increasing share of renewables in the overall energy mix, encouraging market participation for renewables, and firmness in procurement of ancillary services through well-developed ancillary services market. "The solutions are aimed at creating an efficient, optimal, and reliable market framework to enable the energy transition and integration of renewable energy into the grid," read the government statement. According to the latest data for 2022-23, the total traded volume in the Indian electricity market was 1,02,276 million units (MU), which represents only a small portion of the energy generated from all sources (including RE) of 16,24,465 MU. The peak demand for electricity in 2022-23 was 215.8 GW, and it is expected to increase to 335 GW by the year 2029-30.
Indias oldest stock exchange BSE Ltd  is making a renewed attempt to revive its comatose derivatives segment by bringing back the Sensex and Bankex futures and options (F&O) contracts with reduced lot sizes and different expiry dates. Managing Director and CEO Sundararaman Ramamurthy announced the relaunch of the two products at a press conference in Mumbai on May 15. The stock exchange said that the lot size for F&O contracts of the Sensex has been reduced to 10 from 15 earlier. For the Bankex index, the lot size for futures and options contracts has been changed to 15, instead of 20 earlier. Contracts for both the indices will now expire on Fridays, instead of Thursdays earlier. Changes will be effective for its monthly, weekly and long-dated contracts. BSEs previous efforts in this direction have come a cropper, and market participants feel the odds are heavily stacked against the exchange this time around too. At present, NSE is a near-monopoly in equity futures and options with an over 99 percent market share. But there is reason for BSE to be hopeful. The one big change now is that trading in options has risen to a frenzied scale in the last couple of years. Thats because the fundamental purpose of options, which is to mitigate risks, has been turned on its head post-Covid. An overwhelming majority of new traders look at options as an instrument for speculation, something that helps earn the most returns by investing minimum capital. Read: BSE jumps 3% post solid Q4 results The only factor in favour of BSEs newly launched options products is that the contracts expire on Friday. Market leader NSEs top weekly option contracts Nifty and Nifty Bank expire on Thursday, Nifty Financial expires on Tuesday, and the recently launched Nifty Midcap Select expires on Wednesday. Nifty Financial initially had a Thursday expiry, but that was later changed to Tuesday, ostensibly to ensure that traders interest was not spread thin across three contracts in a single day. The move has worked well, with trading volumes in Nifty Financial (Fin Nifty in market parlance) rocketing. BSE is betting that by keeping a Friday expiry, it can attract traders who are looking to trade options expiring on the same day or looking to play the Monday-Friday settlement cycle. That could work up to a certain extent, but there is always the risk that NSE could shift the expiry of either Nifty Bank or Nifty to Friday at some point, if it senses a threat from BSEs weekly options. Read: MC Exclusive: NSE paid out Rs 500-1,000 cr to brokers in rebates on options trades Rivalry between the two bourses goes back many decades. BSE old-timers allege that the NSE dispensation under former MD Ravi Narain lobbied hard to ensure that regulatory approvals for BSE were delayed or that rules were interpreted in a way that favoured the NSE. Back in 2001, BSE had launched its derivatives tradingfirst index futures and later index optionsa few days ahead of NSE. Brokers were required to go through a separate registration to provide derivatives trading services. BSEs credibility at that point had hit rock bottom in the wake of the 2001 stock market scam with broker Ketan Parekh at the centre of it. The BSE board had been superseded and a professional management appointed in its place was still finding its feet. The BSE veterans say that registration approvals for BSE members were slow in coming, with the result that most brokers who anyway had dual memberships, started applying for registrations on their NSE memberships. Once NSE took the lead in derivatives, the gap quickly widened to the point where BSEs presence was negligible. In 2012-13, BSE introduced the Liquidity Enhancement Incentive Programme (LEIP) to boost volumes in its derivatives segment. At one point, it was almost spending Rs 10 crore a month. But the scheme failed to move the needle for BSEs derivative segment. In 2016, the bourse scrapped the scheme and after some years, again resumed it, but on a much smaller scale. Last year, the BSE was paying out around Rs 1.5-2.0 crore a month to market markets in the derivative segment. Effective April, LEIP has been scrapped altogether. That appears a bold gamble on the new managements part. Because NSE, despite being the market leader, is indirectly incentivising its trading members to drive options trading volumes. Beyond Rs 2,000 crore of monthly turnover in options premium, the exchange transaction charge that trading members have to pay NSE drops by 40 percent. As this report shows, NSE is estimated to have paid up to Rs 1,000 crore or even more, by way of rebates to its trading members in FY23. Also, NSE has extended the waiver on exchange transaction charge on the its Midcap Select Index till September 30. To bet that an army of option traders will flock to BSE just because that is the only game in town on a Friday is a big leap of faith. As people in the exchange business know, liquidity can both be a virtuous and a vicious cycle. Liquidity attracts liquidity, and by extension, lack of liquidity will lead to even more illiquidity. Feverish trading in options contracts is not restricted to India. A similar situation is playing out in the US in zero days-to-expiry (0DTE) options, which as the name suggests, expire on the same day. If BSEs options gambit succeeds, it could pave the way for more products as market leader NSE too would be forced to innovate. This would help broaden and deepen Indias equity derivatives market. The BSE may or may not succeed in its latest endeavour. But it has little choice but to try anyway. Transaction fees from options trading has been the biggest driver of NSEs revenues in FY23. On the other hand, trading volumes in the cash marketboth on the NSE and BSEhave been shrinking. That hurts BSE even more because it is main source of revenues.
The market started off the week on a positive note with the Nifty50 closing at a five-month high tracking a northward journey in global counterparts. Most of the sectors participated in the run-up. The BSE Sensex rallied 318 points to 62,346, while the Nifty50 jumped 84 points to 18,399 and formed a bullish candlestick pattern on the daily scale making higher top higher bottom formation. A reasonable positive candle was formed on the daily chart with upper and lower shadows. Technically, this pattern indicates a formation of a high wave type candle pattern at the highs. Normally, such high wave patterns reflect ongoing volatility in the market at the highs, Nagaraj Shetti, Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities said. He feels the underlying short-term trend of Nifty continues to be positive. The market is still facing hurdles around 18,400 levels and the intraday weakness is emerging from the highs. Any dips could be a buying opportunity around 18,280-18,200 levels, he said, adding a sharp upside above 18,400 could open further upmove towards 18,600-18,800 levels in the near term. The Nifty Midcap 100 and Smallcap 100 indices climbed 0.7 percent and 0.8 percent, respectively on positive breadth. We have collated 15 data points to help you spot profitable trades: Note: The open interest (OI) and volume data of stocks in this article are the aggregates of three-month data and not just the current month. Key support and resistance levels on Nifty The pivot charts indicate that the Nifty may get support at 18,317, followed by 18,276 and 18,211. If the index advances, 18,447 would be the initial key resistance level to watch out for, followed by 18,488 and 18,553. Nifty Bank The Bank Nifty was the key driver for a rally in Nifty50, gaining 278 points to end at a record closing high of 44,072. The banking index has formed a bullish candlestick pattern on the daily scale, making higher tops for the third straight session. It managed to close just above the psychological level of 44,000, which is a positive indication. The decent addition in the 44,000PE suggests that there is strong support at 44,000. However, a decisive fall below 44,000 could potentially trigger panic in the banking sector, Rupak De, Senior Technical analyst at LKP Securities said. On the other hand, a decisive move above 44,152 might propel the Bank Nifty towards the 44,500 level, while the key support levels to watch out for are 44,000 and 43,700. As per the pivot point calculator, the Bank Nifty may take support at 43,778, followed by 43,664 and 43,478. Key resistance levels are expected to be 44,149 along with 44,263 and 44,449. Call options data On the weekly options front, the maximum Call open interest (OI) was at 18,500 strike, with 65.69 lakh contracts, which is expected to be a crucial resistance level for the Nifty in the coming sessions. This was followed by 18,600 strike comprising 63.07 lakh contracts, and 18,400 strike with more than 61.46 lakh contracts. Call writing was at 18,400 strike, which added 18.45 lakh contracts, followed by the 18,700 strike, which added 16.29 lakh contracts, and 18,600 strike, which added 14.99 lakh contracts. Meaningful Call unwinding was at 18,300 strike, which shed 24.15 lakh contracts, followed by 18,200 strike, which shed 11.08 lakh contracts, and 19,300 strike, which shed 1.58 lakh contracts. Put option data The maximum Put open interest was at 18,300 strike with 86.56 lakh contracts, which is expected to act as an important support level in the coming sessions. This was followed by the 18,200 strike, comprising 70.17 lakh contracts, and the 18,000 strike where we have 69.38 lakh contracts. Put writing was seen at 18,400 strike, which added 40.9 lakh contracts, followed by 18,300 strike, which added 22.11 lakh contracts, and 17,800 strike which added 21.77 lakh contracts. We have seen Put unwinding at 17,500 strike, which shed 5.36 lakh contracts, followed by 17,200 strike, which shed 1.61 lakh contracts, and 17,600 strike, which shed 1.16 lakh contracts. Stocks with a high delivery percentage A high delivery percentage suggests that investors are showing interest in the stock. The highest delivery was seen in Nestle India, Bharat Forge, M&M Financial Services, Power Grid Corporation of India and SBI Life Insurance Company among others. 74 stocks see a long build-up An increase in open interest (OI) and price typically indicates a build-up of long positions. Based on the OI percentage, 74 stocks, including Colgate Palmolive, Ashok Leyland, Can Fin Homes, SBI Card and Mahanagar Gas saw long build-ups. 22 stocks see long unwinding A decline in OI and price generally indicates a long unwinding. Based on the OI percentage, 22 stocks including Polycab India, ABB India, Siemens, Cipla, and JK Cement saw a long unwinding. 28 stocks see a short build-up An increase in OI along with a price decrease indicates a build-up of short positions. Based on the OI percentage, 28 stocks, including Coromandel International, Balrampur Chini Mills, Berger Paints, BPCL and Granules India saw a short build-up. 67 stocks see short-covering A decrease in OI along with a price increase is an indication of short-covering. Based on the OI percentage, 67 stocks were on the short-covering list. These included Hindustan Aeronautics, Astral, Dabur India, MCX India and Delta Corp. Bulk deals Home First Finance Company India: Norges Bank on Account of the Government Pension Fund Global acquired 21 lakh equity shares in the company via open market transactions at an average price of Rs 700 per share, and Societe Generale bought 7.1 lakh shares at the same average price. However, Orange Clove Investments BV sold 18.85 lakh shares at an average price of Rs 700 per share, Aether Mauritius offloaded 11.31 lakh shares at Rs 700 per share and True North Fund V LLP sold 16.97 lakh shares at an average price of Rs 700.97 per share. Neuland Laboratories: BNP Paribas Arbitrage bought 70,897 shares in the company at an average price of Rs 2,898.38 per share. Saksoft: Premier Investment Fund sold 5.65 lakh shares in the company at an average price of Rs 200.92 per share. (For more bulk deals, click here) Results on May 16 Stocks in the news Berger Paints: The paint manufacturing company has recorded a nearly 16 percent year-on-year decline in consolidated profit at Rs 185.7 crore for the quarter ended March FY23 impacted by a fall in operating margin performance. Revenue from operations for the quarter at Rs 2,443.6 crore grew by 11.7 percent over a year-ago period. Coromandel International: The fertiliser company has recorded a 15 percent year-on-year decline in consolidated profit at Rs 246.44 crore for the quarter ended March FY23, dented by contraction in operating profit margin. Revenue from operations remained strong, rising 29.5 percent to Rs 5,476 crore compared to the year-ago period. PVR Inox: The multiplex chain operator has reported first quarterly earnings performance after merged entity, posting consolidated loss of Rs 333.4 crore for quarter ended March FY23. Consolidated revenue from operations for the quarter stood at Rs 1,143.2 crore and EBITDA at Rs 263.9 crore with margin at 23.1 percent. It had one-time loss of Rs 10.8 crore for the quarter. HDFC Bank: The Sebi has granted approval for the proposed change in control of HDFC Capital Advisors, a subsidiary of HDFC and a co-investment portfolio manager, pursuant to proposed composite scheme of amalgamation for the amalgamation of HDFC with HDFC Bank. The proposed amalgamation is subject to receipt of final approvals from Sebi in respect of change in control of certain subsidiaries of HDFC. Pfizer: The biopharmaceutical company has recorded a 3 percent year-on-year growth in profit at Rs 129.65 crore for quarter ended March FY23, and revenue from operations during the same period grew by 4.2 percent to Rs 572.64 crore. At the operating level, EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) increased by 10 percent to Rs 181.9 crore with margin expansion of 170 bps to 31.8 percent compared to same period last year. Astral: The CPVC pipes and fitting manufacturer has reported a massive 45.5 percent year-on-year growth in consolidated profit at Rs 205.7 crore for the quarter ended March FY23, driven by healthy operating performance. Revenue from operations for the quarter grew by 8.3 percent to Rs 1,506.2 crore compared to the same period last year with the plumbing business growing 3.6 percent and the paints & adhesives business showing a 25 percent growth. Fund Flow FII and DII data Foreign institutional investors (FII) bought shares worth Rs 1,685.29 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DII) purchased shares worth Rs 191.20 crore on May 15, provisional data from the National Stock Exchange showed. Stocks under F&O ban on NSE The National Stock Exchange has retained Delta Corp, GNFC, Punjab National Bank and BHEL on its F&O ban list for May 16. Securities in the ban period under the F&O segment include companies in which the security has crossed 95 percent of the market-wide position limit. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Indias market regulator recently gave foreign portfolio investor licences to two Russian entities  one a firm and the other an individual. Alfa Capital Management Company, part of a privately held financial services group, has been registered under two categoriescategory I and category IIwhile Vsevolod Rozanov, an executive familiar with India, has been registered under category I. Follow our live updates and analysis on the markets here Category I registration is given to government and government-related foreign investors including sovereign wealth funds. Category II is given to entities that are regulated or have managers who are regulated, such as insurance companies, mutual funds, investment managers/advisors and broker-dealers. Alfa Capital Alfa Capital is part of the Alfa Group, one of Russias larger privately owned financial groups with interests in oil and gas, telecommunications, media and utilities. Alfa Capitals website says it is a 30-year-old company that manages 873.8 billion roubles in assets for 1.7 million clients including individuals, investment companies, private funds and charitable organisations. It is licensed to manage investment funds, mutual funds and non-state pension funds. Vsevolod Rozanov Vsevolod Rozanov is an investor and holds board positions in Russian companies including Nornickel, a leader in the mining and metals industry. He was formerly the managing partner and chief financial officer of AFK Sistema JSFC, the holding company of one of the largest business houses in Russia. He is familiar with the Indian market. Before his CFO role, he headed the groups Indian telecom subsidiary called Sistema Shyam TeleService, a joint venture between Sistema and Shyam Group of India. Also read: Three Russian entities get FPI licence from Sebi Sistema Shyam operated under the MTS brand and was among the telecom companies whose licences were cancelled by the Supreme Court in 2012 when the awarding of licences under D Raja was investigated. High-level meetings were held to resolve this, and even Russian President Vladimir Putins visit that year was said to include a discussion on this, also because the Russian government held a more than 19 percent stake in the company. Five years after the cancellation, Sistema Shyam merged with Reliance Communications. In media interviews, Rozanov said the company was wronged in India and had to write off $1.2 billion on the telecom venture. In 2016, Sistema set up a $50 million Sistema Asia Fund under Sistema Asia Capital, which looked for opportunities in India and Southeast Asia. It sought to invest in two to three Indian startups operating in the consumer retail and technology segments every quarter. Rozanov had oversight over it and used to visit Bengaluru to scout for investment opportunities.
#1. Adani Enterprises revives capital spending plan for $1.5 billion Adani Enterprises has revived its capital expenditure plan after a four-month pause, with an initial investment of $1.5 billion to boost new businesses. The group flagship, which cancelled its fundraising plan in February, will put fresh investments into solar module manufacturing, green hydrogen, the second Mumbai airport, and data centers. The boards of Adani Enterprises and Adani Transmission have cleared plans to raise up to Rs 12,500 crore and Rs 8,500 crore through institutional placements. Why its important: The February follow-on public offer of Adani Enterprises failed due to a damaging report by Hindenburg alleging irregularities. The fresh institutional fundraising would help the group to stay on track in its capex plans. #2. Commercial banks and stressed loan firms spar over undertakings and indemnity Indias banks and asset reconstruction companies are locked in a tussle for the last two months because large banks want that the ARCs that acquire loans to give an undertaking that they have no links whatsoever with the promoters of defaulting borrower companies, a declaration that could become significant if any such company faces bankruptcy and is auctioned to a new owner. Some of the big lenders are also refusing to sign the standard indemnity they give on sale of sticky loans to ARCs. Many fear this could become a deal breaker in the stressed loan market. Why its important: Banks do not want an asset reconstruction company to hold loans and act as a front to help a promoter make a backdoor entry into the company. Some banks are unwilling to provide guarantees to the stick loans they sell. #3. Go First blames engine makers and aircraft lessors for huge losses The Indian aviation sector has suffered huge losses due to faulty engines supplied by Pratt & Whitney, with nearly 75 aircraft currently grounded, top executives of Go First Airlines have said, which has led to a spike in fares. Asking Aviation Working Group, an association of aircraft lessors, engine makers, and plane makers to pressure P&W to meet its obligation to supply engines, they claimed its members were trying to influence the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal. Why its important: Go First in an unusual move voluntarily filed for insolvency, which was opposed by lessors as it would freeze asset recovery. A bankruptcy court has admitted the proposal that could lead to further litigation. #4. Indias exports to the West rise in 2022-23 at the expense of Africa and Asia Indias goods shipments to some Asian and African regions contracted in 2022-23, weighing on overall growth in exports. There was expansion in exports to the European Union and the US despite the economic downturn and heightened geopolitical risks. Indias merchandise exports had risen 6.7 percent to $450.4 billion in the year ended march. Why its important: The decline in outbound shipments to Asia and Africa has been largely due to external factors over with Indian exporters had little control. The situation might not improve in the near future. #5. Promised freebies in run up to 2024 elections may hurt long-term growth, experts say The freebies promised by the Congress that swept the Karnataka assembly polls could spur competitive populism in the build-up to the 2024 general elections, experts said, warning that reckless giveaways would hurt long-term growth and development prospects. They acknowledged a certain amount of populism is inevitable as well as desirable in a democracy for redistribution, but that should not undermine fiscal prudence and compromise efficiency in government spending. Why its important: Although theres no gainsaying on fiscal prudence, the apprehensions could be overblown as welfare spending in India, particularly by the central government, has shown a distinct declining trend in the past decade. #6. Godrej promoters to establish family office to invest in new age businesses The promoters of Godrej Industries are setting up a family office to invest in new-age businesses, pursue riskier bets in unrelated segments and incubate new ideas. The family office would start with a few hundred crores and raise funds when opportunities arise, according to Nadir Godrej, the younger brother of group chairman Adi Godrej, whose son Pirojsha will manage the family office. Why its important: The Godrej family has until now invested in new, riskier enterprises through their diversified businesses. The family office could in time consolidate these and fresh investments under a single umbrella. #7. Electronics and IT ministry may lead government fact-checking team The central government is likely to opt for a fact-checking team led by the electronics and information technology ministry to verify any information pertaining to the government published on social media and internet intermediaries. The three-member body will consist of two officials from the IT ministry and a third independent member with expertise in law, social media, or public policy. The team will coordinate with other departments of the government on the fact-check, a top official said. Why its important: The development marks a departure from the governments earlier stance where the Press Information Bureau was identified as the agency to carry out fact-checks. The move has faced serious criticism from free speech activists and media associations. #8. Axis Trustees, creditor to Future Retail, approaches tribunal for dismissed claims Axis Trustee Services, one of the creditors to Future Retail, has approached the National Company Law Tribunal after the resolution professional rejected its claims worth Rs 470 crore out of total claims of Rs 1,266 crore. The bankruptcy tribunal is expected to take up the matter by Wednesday. If the trustees remaining claims are admitted, it will become the fifth largest creditor in Future Retails insolvency resolution. Resolution professional Vijay Kumar Iyer has agreed to file a response. Why its important: Despite the niggles over credit claims, experts say the prospects for resolution under insolvency are positive since there has been an increase in the number of final bidders. #9. India lags in race to export electronics to the United States Unlike competing countries like Vietnam, Malaysia and Mexico, India has failed to push electronics exports to the US by exploiting the latters imposition of a punitive 25 percent duty on key Chinese imports. As China saw its electronics exports fall by $29 billion in the past four years, the duty created an opportunity for other countries to replace China in the US. Yet, according to a note presented to the government by the Indian Cellular Electronic Association, Indias electronics exports to the US in absolute terms went up by a mere $3.2 billion between 2018, when they stood at $1.3 billion, to $4.5 billion in 2022. Why its important: This was a missed opportunity that local electronics exporters could still correct. The Indian government has been pushing hard to make the country a hub of electronics manufacturing. #10. Mark Mobius remains bullish on India but wont invest in Adani India remains one of the two largest markets in the investment portfolio of Mark Mobius. The founder of Mobius Capital Partners and a seasoned emerging markets investor has expressed strong optimism on Indias potential and said he plans to ramp up his exposure to the country. However, he has steered clear of investing in shares of Adani Group companies due to their elevated debt levels. Why its important: The veteran investor has always been upbeat on Indias economic prospects, not without ample reason. His aversion to overleveraged businesses shows a cautious streak.
Nazara Technologies is eyeing a larger presence in the skill-based real-money gaming business, with regulatory clarity appearing to emerge in the space, founder Nitish Mittersain told Moneycontrol. The real-money gaming vertical reported revenues of Rs 57 crore in FY23, accounting for a modest 5 percent of the company's revenues for the financial year. "We've not had a very large business in the real-money gaming (RMG) sector. It is therefore an opportunity where we can now start investing and grow that business to a meaningful scale and the opportunity is there in the real-money gaming segment" Mittersain said. The real-money gaming segment accounted for 77 percent of India's gaming sector revenues in 2022 which stood at Rs 13,500 crore, as per a recent FICCI-EY report. Nazara Technologies currently operates titles such as Classic Rummy (online rummy) and Halaplay (online fantasy) in this space. In April 2023, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) notified new gaming-related amendments to the IT Act 2021, that will allow multiple self-regulatory organisations (SROs) to determine whether a real-money game, where the transfer of money is involved, is permitted to operate in India or not. The Union Budget 2023 also brought in TDS-related changes to the Income Tax Act. "I think the only big bottleneck still left in real-money gaming is GST clarity" Mittersain said, adding that he is hopeful it will get resolved in the coming months. Whats the plan? Nazara Technologies is taking a three-pronged approach to growing its footprint in the burgeoning skill-gaming segment: scaling up its current offerings, publishing new real-money games and acquiring companies to drive consolidation in the sector. Mittersain said they are working with local and international developers to publish new real-money games that target Indian audiences. "RMG is today dominated by fantasy sports, rummy and poker. We think a lot more innovation can happen in the kind of games offered to the users. We are just seeing what fresh things we can bring to the market so that there is a differentiator also and we get better traction" he said. Impact of Tamil Nadu ban In the short term, however, Tamil Nadu government's recent ban on online rummy and poker in the southern state will have a negative impact on its revenues from the segment, since Tamil Nadu contributed about 20 percent of the company's revenues from the real-money gaming sector in FY23. Several companies including Nazara Technologies have barred users from playing paid contests on these games in Tamil Nadu, after the state government's online gambling law came into effect last month. On April 27, Madras High Court refused to grant an interim stay on the law, after multiple gaming startups and industry associations approached the court challenging it. The legislation will also likely set the stage for a dispute with the Centre over regulating the skill-based gaming industry in the country. On April 14, Minister of State for electronics and information technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the internet cannot be regulated by states, hence it is "meaningless" for a state government to try and legislate sectors such as online gaming. The new gaming rules essentially lay out a clear crystal framework for states, courts and gaming companies about what is permitted online and what is not, the union minister said. "Based on the MeitY guidelines, I think these ad-hoc state-level bans are not something that should be done," Mittersain said. In the meantime, he said that Nazara Technologies will focus on growing its real-money business in other states and opening up in new states.
When Exondys 51 was approved to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a deadly disease that puts kids in wheelchairs by the time they are teenagers, there was no proof the drug actually slowed the disease. That was seven years ago. The company still hasnt provided conclusive data to this day. The drugs maker, Sarepta Therapeutics Inc, has so far reaped more than more than $2.5 billion in sales from Exondys 51 and two related drugs. All three were cleared via a US regulatory shortcut called accelerated approval that allows companies to market medications before completing definitive trials in cases where patients have few or no treatment options. In the case of Exondys, Sareptas confirmatory study didnt even begin until four years after it was approved and wont be completed until 2024, eight years after it started selling the drug. This is not uncommon. A Bloomberg News analysis of the Food and Drug Administration databases found 19 drugs with accelerated approvals whose confirmatory trials are still listed as delayed as of April. That includes studies that are past their official due dates as well as trials running behind schedule. The analysis also found another seven accelerated approval drugs with studies behind schedule that werent categorized as delayed because the company had submitted some data to the agency. The accelerated approval pathway was created in 1992 in part to get promising HIV therapies before lengthy trials were completed. Patients desperation for treatments prompted the creation of the program and is a driving force to this day. The accelerated approval pathway allows the agency to quickly approve a new treatment if early results, typically from lab tests or scans, suggest it is reasonably likely to work. Exondys was approved on data showing it slightly raised levels of a muscle protein dystrophin thats missing in people with muscular dystrophy. The types of studies used for a standard FDA approval are designed to show that a person either gets better or stops getting worse as a result of a given drug. For a patient with muscular dystrophy, a successful trial could show a treatment keeps a patient out of a wheelchair for longer than someone on a placebo, for example. What started out as a relatively obscure way for drugmakers to get new medicines to patients, accelerated approval is now a business model for some companies. Critics argue the FDA hasnt done enough to force companies to produce conclusive data on drugs theyre already selling. When it approved Exondys in 2016, the FDA knew it was making a controversial decision. Some experts felt the small increases in protein levels wouldnt be enough to help patients but parents pushed hard for its approval. A top agency official at the time acknowledged the studies had serious flaws but said she didnt want to hold those against the patients. Sarepta sought approval for Exondys in Europe, but regulators rejected it in 2018 saying the studies were not satisfactory for showing that the medicine was effective. The company appealed that decision, but the regulators held firm. Since then, Sarepta has gotten two more drugs for muscular dystrophy approved in the US through the accelerated pathway. Sarepta is a poster child for an absolutely outrageous and inexcusable lack of any kind of oversight or enforcement, said Diana Zuckerman, president of the National Center for Health Research, a nonprofit think tank. Sarepta said it is fully committed to completing the trial for Exondys and attributes the delays to a variety of factors including some requirements imposed by the FDA. A confirmatory trial for the company's other two drugs is enrolled and expected to be complete in 2025. The success of Exondys, according to Sarepta, has allowed the company to raise billions of dollars that it has plowed back into gene therapy research and manufacturing that could help far more patients. The gene therapy program wouldnt have existed without the Exondys approval, said Sarepta CEO Douglas Ingram. He argues time is of the essence when it comes to approving drugs for muscular dystrophy. These kids are dying, Ingram said in an interview earlier this year. If we get a six month delay, 200 kids will die, 200 more kids will be in a wheelchair, 200 more kids will go on a respirator, 200 more kids will not be able to use their arms or feed themselves. Sareptas now in front of the FDA again, seeking accelerated approval for a gene therapy for muscular dystrophy. A decision is expected by the end of this month. In a study in 41 patients, the therapy had mixed results: It failed to clearly improve patients overall ability to stand, walk, climb, jump and run when compared with a placebo. It did boost levels of a version of the protein dystrophin, another key goal of the study. The findings werent dissimilar to those of Sareptas other drugs. New Law Companies are required to conduct additional trials to prove the drug works after an accelerated approval, but until recently there hasnt been pressure to do that quickly. Seeking to change that, Congress passed a law in December that says the FDA may require confirmatory studies be underway at the time of an accelerated approval. It spells out a process the FDA can use to withdraw accelerated approvals, too. Congress gave us the teeth, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said in January. Not everyone is so sure. The new law is subject to interpretation and doesnt eliminate the possibility of delayed trials, says Thomas Hwang, a physician at Harvard Medical School. Drugmakers can appeal a proposed withdrawal to the FDA commissioner, but details of how the process would work are unclear. And the FDA cant immediately force accelerated approval drugs off the market after failed trials, said Bishal Gyawali, a cancer doctor at Queens University in Canada. Meanwhile, people are taking drugs every day that havent met the FDAs typical standard for approval. Yale University physician Reshma Ramachandran said that in 2020, a patient of hers developed colon inflammation after being treated for follicular lymphoma with a drug that had received an accelerated approval for that use. The patient needed surgery to remove part of her colon and the cancer wasnt cured, Ramachandran said. The next year, the drugs maker announced it was withdrawing the accelerated approval for that type of cancer. Secura Bio Inc. says the withdrawal wasnt based on safety signals, but rather it couldnt afford the cost of the bigger trials that were required for full approval. The drug, Copiktra, remains on the market for other types of cancer. Pulling Back Amid growing controversy over the approval pathway, the agency is trying harder to get these drugs off the market when the required confirmatory trials arent completed or fail to prove drugs work. Last year, seven drugs lost accelerated approvals, tied with 2021 for the most ever, according to a Bloomberg News analysis. The withdrawals were done voluntarily by the companies, often at the agencys request but not always. Over the past three decades, around 300 applications have used the accelerated process, mostly for cancer medicines. In some years, more than 20 percent of all new drugs that hit the market came from this pathway. Following the US, other countries have also devised expedited approval mechanisms. But in most countries other than Japan and Canada, the short-cut approvals come with expiration dates, according to a 2022 review by FDA officials. The EU has an expedited pathway, though it only allows a drug onto the market for a year at a time, encouraging companies to more quickly produce data showing a treatment works. There have been some remarkable medical advances that have come through the accelerated approval pathway, like Novartis AGs leukemia drug Gleevec. Accelerated approvals have expanded the use of blockbuster cancer immunotherapies such as Merck & Co.s Keytruda and Bristol Myers Squibb Co.s rival medicine Opdivo. But even for Merck and Bristols drugs, which are highly effective and well proven in numerous types of cancer, some accelerated approvals for certain cancer types were later withdrawn.In recent years, the use of the accelerated pathway has spread to more contentious arenas such as Alzheimers disease, where doctors disagree on whether scans or lab tests can reliably predict whether a drug works. Biogen Inc.s Alzheimers drug Aduhelm may be the best example of this. The companys two big trials produced contradictory results  one study showed it worked and one did not. An FDA advisory panel voted against approving it through traditional channels in November 2020. In an unusual move just seven months later, the agency decided to use the accelerated pathway to approve the drug amid pressure from patient advocates. The FDA gave Biogen more than eight years to conduct a third big trial, which is underway. After the Aduhelm controversy, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General looked into how much the FDAs program was costing taxpayers. According to the OIG report, the federal Medicare and Medicaid programs spent over $18 billion between 2018 and 2021 on accelerated approval drugs whose confirmatory trials ended up being delayed. People could be spending the last year of their lives taking something that ultimately turns out to be a dud, Yales Ramachandran said of the accelerated approval pathway. They could have been trying something else. On Friday, the FDA gathered a group of outside experts to debate the merits of Sareptas gene therapy to help guide the agency in its approval decision. After hours of back-and-forth over the murky data and numerous pleas from parents of kids with the disease to approve the drug, the scientific and medical experts on the panel were split. Two consumer and patient representatives tipped the final vote in favor of Sareptas therapy by a margin of 8 to 6. It sets up the agency for another tough decision. If an approval comes, some analysts are predicting over $3 billion in annual sales.
With a new government set to take over in Karnataka, the countrys tech and startup capital, Bengaluru, has its hopes up. The Congress swept 135 seats in the 224-member Karnataka legislative assembly to displace the BJP-run administration. Despite having a vibrant startup ecosystem, Bengaluru has been plagued by crumbling infrastructure, traffic woes, potholes, and flooding/water-logging during rains. In a series titled Karnataka Elections: Eye on Bengaluru, Moneycontrol highlighted these pressing issues before the assembly polls. Several CEOs, startup founders, investors, and venture capitalists have flagged the poor infrastructure and traffic woes, but little has been done by elected representatives and administrators to remedy them, so far. The infrastructure is clearly not keeping up with the pace of the city's growth. What corporate leaders want Prashanth Prakash, partner at Accel Partners, a venture capital firm, has emphasized the need for a greater focus on emerging clusters beyond Bengaluru. He told Moneycontrol that creating a Greater Bengaluru tech cluster that includes Mysuru and Devanahalli, as well as continuing and scaling programs like Elevate and accelerating the growth of women entrepreneurship through special programmes. Prakash also recommended state-specific Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes to boost the domestic manufacturing of high-tech products. He proposed that the state government establish a Rs 100 crore Beyond Bengaluru cluster seed fund to support growth-stage startups in Mysuru, Hubbali-Dharwad, and Mangaluru, enabling the scaling and transformation of these emerging technology clusters into startup destinations beyond Bengaluru. Sanjay Swamy, an entrepreneur and early-stage VC, told Moneycontrol that the new government in Bengaluru needs to address the city's traffic, housing, and physical infrastructure challenges. In addition, the government should adopt a policy for consuming innovative products and services to maintain its status as a preferred destination for startups. Swamy, who is the managing partner of Bengaluru-based Prime Venture Partners, said Karnataka is already leading the way in defining paperless, cashless, and signature-less transactions, which are driving mass inclusion, transparency, and lower costs for service providers. He urges the government to capitalise on this opportunity and collaborate with the startup ecosystem in a win-win approach. Amit Gupta, co-founder and CEO of Yulu, a Bengaluru-based mobility firm, told Moneycontrol the new government should primarily focus on expediting Metro rail work, creating wider pavements, dedicated bicycle lanes, better road infrastructure, and additional electric buses to strengthen public transport. Additionally, creating satellite towns would be another way to ease the burden on Bengaluru's infrastructure, said Gupta. Rail connectivity to nearby satellite towns with better frequency and reduced travel time will encourage more people to shift to the outskirts and will also decongest the city to an extent, he suggested. Industrialist V Mohandas Pai tweeted that citizens look forward to growth, job-oriented, and corruption-free government. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, executive chairperson of Biocon Limited, echoed him and tweeted after the poll results, "Infrastructure development, economic prosperity & social harmony are the metrics that people will measure to elect its representatives." Neelakantha Bhanu, CEO of Bhanzu, an edtech startup, told Moneycontrol that this is a crucial opportunity for the government to prioritise the growth of the startup ecosystem. "Improved connectivity on public transportation is the need of the hour. Accelerating the ongoing Metro work and promoting affordable public transportation options, will offer a cost-effective alternative to expensive cab aggregators and will lighten the load on pockets. This, in turn, will boost the state's economy," said Bhanu. He also emphasised that collaboration between the government and private sector is vital to bridge the skill gap and offer relevant up-skilling opportunities. Girish Nagpal, CEO and founder of Metroride, a last-mile mobility start-up, told Moneycontrol that the government should roll out policies to support public-private partnerships (PPP) and promote last-mile connectivity. Private firms are not competing with public transport, he emphasises, and are ready to complement it. He also suggested that existing policies that are good should be continued, apart from taking up new initiatives to improve urban mobility, as they may be affected whenever there is a regime change. At the Moneycontrols Policy Next Karnataka Summit, many founders and investors highlighted the need for the government to collaborate with startups to address and solve last-mile delivery issues. "Startups can solve a lot of infrastructural issues. All we expect from the government is to facilitate, cooperate and not stop innovation. In a lot of cases, you are banned overnight. Probably, a dialogue would be helpful to understand why the decision is taken," said Vivekanand Hallekere, co-founder of Bounce, a mobility start-up. Chaitra Chidanand, co-founder of Salt, a platform that assists women in mapping their money and making investment decisions, said at the event, "As a startup founder in Bengaluru, what I care about is the infrastructure. I would love to see infrastructure development happen at 10x speed. I don't know which political party delivers it, and I honestly don't care. But Bengaluru needs that." Investment opportunities lost Speaking at Moneycontrol's Policy Next Karnataka event, Congress spokesperson Rajeev Gowda said that Karnataka, and specifically its capital Bengaluru, "shockingly" lost out to Tamil Nadu in landing investments from key players in the electric vehicle industry such as Ola and Ather While Karnataka recorded its highest-ever polling of 73.19%, Bengalurus voter turnout remained fairly low due to multiple factors including errors in electoral rolls and voters apathy. Voters in the city continue to put their faith in the BJP, which won 16 of the 28 seats, while the Congress bagged the remaining 12 seats. The BJP retained assembly segments having IT clusters such as Mahadevapura, Bommanahalli, KR Puram, and CV Raman Nagar, while Congress retained BTM Layout, which covers areas like Koramangala.
India is in talks with the EU to allow Indian energy auditors to conduct carbon verification of its exports on which the European Union's carbon tax, to be introduced on October 1 this year, will be levied, officials from the Commerce Ministry said on May 15. They should allow our energy auditors to do the carbon verification. That will reduce the cost of verification. Talks are on with the EU on this, DGFT Santosh Sarangi said speaking with the media in New Delhi. The European Union is introducing the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) from October 1, 2023, expected to result in a 20-35 per cent tax on selected imports into the EU from January 1, 2026. Domestic companies from seven carbon-intensive sectors, including steel, cement, fertiliser, aluminium and hydrocarbon products will have to seek compliance certificates from EU authorities to comply with the CBAM norms. However, with steel and aluminium being the two most carbon-intensive sectors, the two sectors are expected to be hit badly. The extent to which the impact can be mitigated, the adaption process of industries, the extent to which recognition of the testing and certification agencies can be ensured are all areas on which the inter-ministerial group, which includes the Commerce Secretary, are coordinating, the official said. The ministry will also push the European Union for a mutual recognition agreement for its carbon certificates, a ministry official had earlier informed Moneycontrol. The government in its internal report has estimated that less than 1.8 per cent of Indias exports valued at about $8 billion would be hit by CBAM. However, the monetary impact is still being assessed depending on the different mechanisms prescribed by the EU. EU has prescribed different mechanisms for imposing a carbon tax. For instance, for steel manufacturing through electric furnaces and through blast furnaces, the carbon border tax will be different. Assessment of how much steel being produced in India is going through blast furnace and how much through electric furnace has to be done, Sarangi explained. The issue of a carbon tax is meanwhile being taken up bilaterally with the EU and multilaterally at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), as well as other forums. Bilaterally, India has also asked the EU to have a mutual recognition agreement and exempt MSMEs in the country. Also read: India seeks exemption for MSMEs from EU's carbon tax, presses for mutual recognition
As the maiden S5-151 flight skimmed over the clouds this morning en route from Bengaluru to Hyderabad, it created a history of sorts in India. A regional carrier has never grown in India, but Star Air  the Bengaluru-based regional carrier with five E145s and two E175s in its fleet  became the first carrier to expand its offering. The airline has signed up four E175s, two of which have already started commercial operations. For a market which is growing, but has seen marquee failures in the aviation space, a regional carriers expansion is great news, especially when it comes close on the heels of Go FIRST voluntarily declaring bankruptcy. But it took nearly three months from the time the E175 aircraft landed to start commercial operations, post regulatory approvals, etc.,  a costly proposition as these planes are leased. Bucking the trend TruJet sustained for the longest period in the regional space, but just as it was on the cusp of growing, it went down. Like other carriers that had sunk, it made tall claims about signing up new planes, getting recapitalised, and expanding, all of which came to naught. Star Air started operations in January 2019 and most of its life has been under the cloud of the pandemic. The airline currently operates five Embraer E145s, which are configured with 50 seats each. The airline has contracted four E175s from lessor Nordic Aviation Capital. What separates Star Air from its peers of the past is probably silence. While Paramount Airways and Air Costa were in the news for many reasons, Star Air has hardly made headlines. The launch of the Bengaluru-Hyderabad flight was a small affair with the traditional lighting of the lamp, followed by cake-cutting by the first set of passengers, and a photography session. The fight will feature business class seats, a first for the airline. In fact, it is the only airline to offer the same on this route. The airline has deployed the E175 on the Bengaluru-Hyderabad-Jamnagar-Bengaluru route, and intends to launch three new destinations and add two new aircraft by September. Speaking on the occasion, Simran Singh Tiwana, CEO, announced the launch of Jaipur as the next destination on the network. The airline will also progressively add routes which are not under UDAN, and will have about 20 percent of its flights on non-UDAN routes. UDAN stands for Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagarik, a scheme to develop smaller regional airports. Tiwana added that the airline is currently offering special discounted rates for business class seats which are being sold through its website and call centres, and will be rolled out to OTAs (online travel agents) subsequently. Navigating Covid and next phase of UDAN Tiwana said that India is a good market for business and Star Air has always received the necessary support from the ministry. However, infrastructure challenges continue, especially at smaller airports where the airline operates. The airline will be participating in the next phase of UDAN, dubbed UDAN 5.0, and hopes to win some routes under the programme. The airline intends to start the routes with the E145s, all of which the airline owns, and shift to leased E175s when the routes mature. Owning planes helped Star Air navigate Covid better than having leased planes, added Tiwana. Embracing the Embraer Star Air is an all-Embraer operator and will deploy the E175s on routes connecting Bengaluru with Hyderabad, Hyderabad with Jamnagar, and Jamnagar with Bengaluru. The routes to Jamnagar from Bengaluru and Hyderabad are the longest routes in the airlines network. The aircraft seats a total of 76 passengers, with 12 seats in business configured with 2 x 1 seats, and 64 economy seats in 2 x 2 seating. In terms of comfort, the airline offers higher legroom and seats with better padding compared to low cost carriers (LCC). Tiwana says the airline is operationally profitable. But can they charge a premium and will passengers pay for these perks? Well know soon.
Following the discovery of 2,525 kg of "high-purity methamphetamine" off the coast of Kochi by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Navy on May 13, sources at the NCB said that the drugs were worth more than initially thought and were seized from the Pakistan-based Haji Salim drug cartel, as per a report by Indian Express. According to the NCB, the seized methamphetamine - a highly addictive recreational drug - was worth Rs 12,000 crore on the illegal market. On Sunday, NCB sources said, "As the seized methamphetamine is of superior grade, we have revised its estimated market value to Rs 25,000 crore. Market value-wise, this is the largest drug seizure made by any agency in the country," as quoted by Indian Express. An NCB official said that this was the most "superior quality of methamphetamine we have ever come across in the illegal drug market," as per the report. "The price of this drug depends upon its grade and quality. It is in high-quality pure white crystal form. Hence, we have found that it would have a market value of Rs 25,000 crore," the official said, as per the report. Moneycontrol could not independently verify this news development. According to sources, the consignment was destined for India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Seychelles. "We have arrested a 29-year-old Pakistan national, who has been working as part of the Haji Salim drug cartel," as per the report. According to the report, he was once a member of a similar international drug trafficking gang. While the NCB has previously busted drug trafficking attempts by the Haji Salim cartel, this was the first time an Indian agency had intercepted a "mothership" - a large vessel carrying large quantities of drugs, the report added. According to NCB sources, the methamphetamine was sourced from Jiwani, a port town in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. "The chemical substance, pseudoephedrine, which is used for making methamphetamine, is easily available in the region. There are local laboratories there engaged in manufacturing methamphetamine. The substance is packed in packets and loaded into small ferries, which proceed to motherships that are waiting in international waters. These motherships would sail only through international waters," sources said, adding, "This particular mothership was also intercepted in international waters, off the coast of Kochi. The drug consignment was set to be handed over to various small vessels operated by the drug mafia in India, Sri Lanka and Maldives. We have come to know that the mothership has been at sea at least for the last 45 days," as quoted by Indian Express. According to sources, the mothership sank during the operation, but the cargo was recovered. It was not possible to tow the mothership to the coast due to its condition. As a result, it was abandoned. As the operation is still ongoing, we cannot comment on the crew of the mothership. The detained Pakistani national was found in a speed boat near the mothership. He is believed to be from Baluchistan province. We have not recovered any weapon from the ship or the speed boat. Apart from the drugs, we have recovered a GPS tracker during the operation," the report added. According to NCB officials, the seizures of large quantities of methamphetamine showed a growing demand for the drug. "This substance is fast replacing ganja. Methamphetamine is cheaper than cocaine, so it is also known as poor man's cocaine. There have been several instances of methamphetamine seizure in south India," sources said, as quoted in the report. In January 2022, the NCB launched Operation Samudragupt, targeting maritime trafficking of Afghan-made drugs. It was the third major seizure by the NCB in the past one and a half years related to maritime trafficking through the southern route, the report added.
They ushered the young woman into their home and closed the door behind her. Then the beating began. You are a witch, shouted one of the attackers as she, her parents and her uncle rained punches, kicks and slaps on the 26-year-old womans stomach, chest and face. When the pummeling finally ended, after nearly two hours, the young woman was pulled outside by her hair, dragged through her village and dumped, unconscious, next to a temple, her clothing barely clinging to her battered body. The attack, in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand in 2021, was evidence that India is still struggling to eradicate the age-old scourge of witch hunting, despite a raft of laws and other initiatives. For centuries, the branding of witches was driven largely by superstition. A crop would fail, a well would run dry, or a family member would fall ill, and villagers would find someone  almost always a woman  to blame for a misfortune whose cause they did not understand. Superstition hasnt gone away. But witchcraft accusations are now often simply a tool to oppress women, victims advocates say. The motives can be to grab land, to ostracize a woman to settle a score, or to justify violence. In the Jharkhand case, the young woman who was attacked, Durga Mahato, said the trouble started when she refused the sexual advances of a prominent man in the village. He, his brother, his wife and their daughter then declared Mahato a witch before luring her to their home and attacking her. Mahato; her husband, Nirmal; and a local police officer described the assault, during which the prominent man threatened to rape her, she said. All four attackers have been charged under anti-witch-hunt laws; the man and his brother are on bail after spending a few months in jail. For Mahato, the consequences of being labeled a witch did not end with the savage beating. She was banned from bathing in the village pond and drawing water from the community tap. A wooden fence was built around her house to prevent her from wandering into the village. Villagers blame her for problems like the death of a cow. Only some people talk to her now. She still has pain in her waist and back. What wrong have I done, that God gave me such a huge punishment? she said one recent evening, seated on a bright yellow charpoy, a woven bed, outside her brick house. Call me a witch as much as you want to, she added, breaking into tears. I have three young children. I dare not contemplate suicide, she said. Witch hunting still exists in varying measures across nearly a dozen Indian states, mostly in Indigenous tribal areas in central and eastern parts of the country, experts say. Many states have passed laws against the practice. Some, like Assam, have made penalties more stringent, with provisions of life imprisonment. Others, like Odisha, have supplemented legal efforts by setting up memorials to victims at police stations in a bid to sensitize people. Women branded witches have had their nails pulled out, been forced to eat feces, been paraded naked or been beaten black and blue. They have been burned or lynched. From 2010 to 2021, more than 1,500 people were killed in India after accusations of witchcraft, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. Witch hunts are particularly common in Jharkhand, a mineral-rich yet poverty-riddled state where Indigenous tribes make up about one-quarter of the population. The assault on Mahato was one of 854 witchcraft-related cases recorded in the state in 2021, 32 of which resulted in deaths. Jharkhand has taken a hands-on approach in trying to tackle the practice. A state-run program called Project Garima has deployed about 25 witch-hunting prevention campaign teams, which conduct street plays to raise awareness. Village-level protection committees aid survivors of violence. Centers have been set up to provide legal aid and short-stay arrangements for victims. Workers staffing a help desk call survivors directly to get an update on their psychological and economic status. But law enforcement can be weak. Madhu Mehra, the founder of a legal resource group for women, said that her organization, in a study on witch hunting across three states, including Jharkhand, found that the police usually intervened only in cases of murder or attempted murder. That and the difficulty of changing entrenched beliefs have helped allow the practice to persist, activists say. While state officials had set 2023 as the target year for eradicating witch hunting, officials said they were now pushing back the goal by at least three years. In Mahatos case, the most helpful assistance came not from the government but from another witch-hunt victim, Chhutni Mahato, who has been recognized by the Indian government for her work in trying to eliminate the practice. Durga Mahatos aunt had heard about the work of Chhutni Mahato (the two women are not related). Durga Mahato found refuge for weeks in Chhutni Mahatos mud-and-tile-roofed home after spending two weeks in the hospital. Chhutni Mahatos broken teeth are testimony to the torture she once bore at the hands of villagers who blamed her for a girls illness. She ran away and years later began working with a nongovernmental organization. She often barges into police stations demanding action on witch-hunt cases and scolds village heads over the phone. Victims now reach her via word-of-mouth. She has helped more than 150 women in the state. (Author: Suhasini Raj)/(c.2021 The New York Times Company)
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As trends for the Karnataka elections started coming, top Congress leaders, including chief ministerial aspirants Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar and Mallikarjun Kharge, lined up to attribute the party's outstanding performance in the southern state to Rahul Gandhi's nationwide Bharat Jodo Yatra. The yatra had entered Karnataka on September 30 last year at Gundlupet in Chamarajanagar district. It passed through Chamarajanagar, Mysuru, Mandya, Tumkur, Chitradurga, Bellary and Raichur, traversing a distance of over 500 km in about 22 days. Rahul Strikes A Chord According to a comparative analysis released by the Congress to show Rahul Gandhi's impact on the Karnataka outcome, the grand old party won 15 of the 20 seats from the areas he covered during the yatra. That is certainly a good strike rate. A picture of Rahul Gandhi addressing a gathering in pouring rain during the yatra had gone viral and set the tone for the Congress partys high-pitched campaigning against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He followed it up with extensive electioneering in the state in the past few weeks. Surprisingly, Rahul Gandhi had skipped campaigning in Himachal Pradesh in November-December last year and instead his sister steered the party to victory in the hill state. Karnataka is also the only state where all the three Gandhis  Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra  campaigned in recent years. Due to her health conditions, Sonia Gandhi had avoided campaigning for many years now. The central theme of the yatra was to unite India with love and on Saturday as the Congress raced to a thumping victory Rahul Gandhi reiterated this narrative. Karnataka mei nafrat ki bazaar bandh hui hai aur mohabbat ki dukaan khuli hai (In Karnataka, the market of hate has been shut, and the shops of love have opened, he told reporters in Delhi. Next Tasks: Rebuilding Party, Opposition Unity Demands are now coming from various quarters in the Congress that he should resume his yatra from East to West given that the morale of the workers is very high after the Karnataka win and the impact is visible on the ground. The yatra also enabled Rahul Gandhi to transform his perceived image of being a non-serious politician who would go on frequent sabbaticals abroad to a mature leader willing to sweat out in the heat and dust of politics. A weak organisational structure, a lacklustre and disconnected campaign, and its failure to communicate with the masses were till now blamed for the Congress partys dismal show in the states and at the national level. Though Kharge is the official figurehead of the Congress, the onus of rebuilding and strengthening the party organisation in the states lies with the Gandhi siblings. Another big task for Rahul Gandhi post-Karnataka victory is to take the lead in uniting the opposition parties. With its pan-India presence, the Congress must be the fulcrum of the opposition alliance. To take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJPs formidable election machinery, the Congress must come down from the high pedestal and shed its big brother attitude to bring all the warring opposition parties together. It has been well-established by now that a divided opposition helps the BJP electorally in states and at the national level. Kharge: Not A Rubber Stamp President For veteran Kharge, it has been smooth sailing as the Congress president so far. He has to some extent negated the perception that he would be a rubber stamp of the Gandhis. Though the involvement of Rahul Gandhi in decision-making through his 'Man Friday KC Venugopal continues, Kharge has had his way in the organisational matters on many occasions. The Congress has tasted success in two states  Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka  under his leadership and any move to send him to Karnataka would have amounted to destabilising the party structure once again. The grand old party took nearly five years to elect its full-time head after Rahul Gandhi quit the post in May 2019 following the drubbing in the Lok Sabha elections. Kharge took over after much drama that saw the Gandhi family loyalist and Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot declining to contest the party chiefs post at the last moment. In Parliament, he has managed to bring the opposition parties on the same platform on various issues, including the demand for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the allegations against the Adani Group. With his vast experience in politics, Kharge could emerge as a consensus prime ministerial candidate of the Congress and even of the united opposition if Rahul Gandhi turns down the offer and the grand old party insists on leading the coalition. That said, the Rahul Gandhi-Kharge combine has been able to deliver for the Congress so far in the states but the real challenge for the duo is to put the party back on the winning track at the national level in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Of course, the semi-finals in November-December this year when five states  Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram go to polls  are extremely crucial for the Congress in reaching that goal. Aurangzeb Naqshbandi is a senior journalist who has been covering the Congress for 15 years, and is currently associated with Pixstory. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.
Nothing signifies the need for a robust regulatory framework for curbing anti-competition and monopolistic practices and their potential in the digital market than the showdown between the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and a section of Indian startups. That many Indian startups are up in arms against IAMAIs stand on the proposal of a competition law for digital markets and are having to take to public platforms to voice their angst against the alleged stranglehold of Big Tech firms on the industry body, is a compelling instance of abuse of size and clout, and the need to address it. IAMAI has more than 550 members, a majority of which are Indian digital startups. Big Tech firms such as Google, Meta, Twitter and Microsoft, among others, are also its members. A section of these startups has alleged that the industry body is opposing the governments move to institute a separate and ex-ante competition framework at the behest of these firms. In December last year, a Parliamentary committee had recommended that a separate competition law be introduced to address the unique challenges of the emerging digital economy in the country. The committee presented a detailed view on how the Big Tech firms had an unfair advantage in the market that they could abuse to curb competition, and it suggested that practices such as anti-steering, self-preferencing, deep discounting, bundling, exclusivity needed to be regulated to ensure a level-playing field for smaller companies. IAMAI has criticised these recommendations saying that preemptive standards coupled with rigid and size-based designation mechanisms risk having an adverse impact on investments, innovation, consumer choice and welfare. Unfounded Fears Big Tech firms fears as expressed by IAMAI are tenuous. Though television broadcasting is a different business, there are examples from the industry that can be used to illustrate this. TV broadcasters, for instance, are subjected to restrictions on vertical ownership in the distribution business. Likewise, distributors are not allowed to give preferential treatment to the channels of the broadcaster they are allied with. Both distributors and broadcasters are bound by must carry, must provide, no exclusivity and no bundling provisions. Like Big Tech companies of today, the broadcasters, too, had argued that these restrictions will limit their own, and consequently, the industrys growth, and hurt investments. The experience, however, shows that both broadcasters and the industry only flourished over the years till digital innovations disrupted the industry. IAMAIs argument that restriction on aforementioned practices will disincentivise innovation and hurt consumers, too, is dubious and in bad spirit. Again, experience shows that self-preferencing combined with deep discounting is usually meant to raise the entry barrier through unfair means and kill competition. Such practices hurt smaller companies the most as they cant incur losses for too long by selling their products or services way below their cost of production while large corporations can afford to do so. On the face of it, discounted pricing benefits consumers but in the long term, as the competition dies and choices shrink, consumers are left at the mercy of large operators who, then, are free to manipulate the market, and exploit them. The real service to consumers is to give them choice and allow pricing to be determined by the dynamics that emerges through healthy competition in a diverse market. Looking Ahead IAMAIs other reservation with regard to ex-ante regulations is also steeped in self-interest. Big Tech companies are global giants with massively deep pockets. Their consumer set and financial prowess is so huge that they have the potential and propensity to resort to unfair business practices in any allied business segment they enter to corner market share. There are several instances of allegations of market manipulation, malpractice and heavy penalties imposed by the European Union and the United States on Google and Meta. Even in India, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) slapped a penalty of Rs 1,337.76 crore on Google for the abuse of its size and clout in the Android ecosystem. The penalty was upheld by the National Company Law Tribunal after Google challenged it. Again, to check the abuse of dominance and cornering of smaller players, it is important that such probabilities are weighed upon. It is not for no reason that many countries across the world have heralded ex-ante regulations. The EU, in fact, has been leading the way through regulations such as General Data Protection Regulation, Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act. Instead of pushing their resources into finding ways to milk the market through nefarious means, Big Tech firms need to focus on innovation and finding newer and better means to grow and serve the consumer. At the same time, the government needs to ensure that in a bid to create a fair environment for smaller tech companies and safeguard consumer interests, it doesnt end up over-regulating the market. As Digital Personal Data Protection Bill and Digital India Act are already being worked upon, it should be ensured that these complement each other and not impede the growth of the industry. Archna Shukla is a senior journalist based in Delhi. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said there are some organisations and people who want the state to be unstable, but the government will teach them a lesson. Speaking to reporters in Pune, Fadnavis also said those instigating riots will be exposed and the government will not let them succeed. Notably, clashes broke out between members of two communities in Maharashtra's Akola city on Saturday night over a social media post. One person was killed in the violence and eight others, including two policemen, were injured. In March, at least 12 persons including 10 policemen were injured after a mob of around 500 people hurled stones and petrol-filled bottles when the cops tried to control the situation following a clash between two groups near the Ram temple in Kiradpura locality of Aurangabad district. Fadnavis said, "It is 100 per cent true there are some people and organisations that want the state to remain unstable. But the government will expose them and also teach them a lesson." Asked about the recent incidents of violence at two places in the state, he said, "Peace has been restored at the two places where riots took place because police intervened at the right time. The police were on an alert mode and additional security forces from other places were deployed there." On reasons behind the rise in such incidents, including the one which took place in Aurangabad, Fadnavis, who is also Maharashtra's home minister, said, "It is true that some people are deliberately trying to add fuel to the fire and acting from behind. They will not succeed in it." "We will expose them and not let them succeed," he added.
Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah, who is considered to have played a key role in the party's dominating victory in Karnataka assembly elections, is likely to be appointed as the state's next chief minister, sources told CNN-News18 on May 15. Siddaramaiah, who reportedly enjoys the support of the bulk of the 135 MLA-elects of the Congress, reached New Delhi earlier in the day. His rival in the race for the chief ministerial chair - Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar - did not leave for the national capital citing a "stomach infection". The developments came a day after the Congress Legislative Party (CLP), in its first meeting after the election results, passed a one-line resolution authorising the party's national president Mallikarjun Kharge to take the final call on the selection of the chief minister. Shivakumar, who has apparently slipped behind in the chief ministerial race, told reporters that he has not placed any condition before the Congess' central leadership. "There are 135 Congress MLAs. I don't have any MLAs. I have left the decision to the party high command," news agency ANI quoted him as saying. While speaking to NDTV, Shivakumar, however, sounded cryptic as he said that one should express "gratitude" and "acknowledge" who was behind the party's landslide win. "You should have the basic courtesy, a bit of gratitude. They should have the courtesy to acknowledge who is behind the win," the news channel quoted him as saying. Shivakumar, 61, was appointed as the Karnataka Congress' chief in 2020, a year after the party lost power in the state with 14 of its MLAs switching to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Under his state presidency, the Congress clocked its best electoral figures in Karnataka in the last 40 years. The party grabbed a vote share of 42 percent, winning 135 out of Karnataka's 224 assembly seats. The incumbent ruling BJP was reduced to 66 constituencies, and the JD(S) to 19. Siddaramaiah, who is also counted among the Congress's top grassroots-level leaders in the state, served as the chief minister between 2013 and 2018. In the pre and post-poll surveys, the 75-year-old had emerged as the top choice for CM among the respondents. Nearly 40 percent of the respondents in the C-Voter exit poll said they want Siddaramaiah to return as the chief minister, whereas, only 4.2 percent said their choice was Shivakumar.
Australia is trying to lire doctors from the UK with attractive salaries of about Rs 1 crore a month and 20 days off each month to travel, swim and surf in the sun, an advertisement in BMJ, a prominent journal published by the British Medical Association union, revealed. It also promised a sign-in bonus of Rs 2.7 lakh. The ad by Australian medical recruitment firm Blugibbon was directed at doctors working with the National Health Scheme (NHS) at a time when health workers and the government are engaged in a long-running dispute regarding salaries. Targeting graduate doctors in the UK with accident and emergency experience, the ad offers a deal where doctors have to work 10 shifts a month and travel, swim and surf in the sun for the other 20 days, with an annual salary of $240,000 Australian dollars (Rs 1.3 crore) and accommodation provided". A photo of the ad was shared on Twitter by author and former medical specialist Adam Kay. How depressing to see this in the BMJ. Its hard to say those figures dont present a compelling argument. It all leads to a big question for the govt: if you dont address doctors very reasonable pay concerns, alongside their conditions and wellbeing, guess where theyre going? pic.twitter.com/24oKKrgfLa  Adam Kay (@amateuradam) May 3, 2023 He added, It goes without saying they didnt ask about using most of my name. The "Adam K" used in the ad is a reference to Adam Kay who wrote a bestselling book This Is Going To Hurt describing his grueling experiences as a junior doctor in the NHS, The Independent reported. In a more detailed advert posted on the BMJ website, for a role in Brisbane, the company writes: A&E Registrar sick of the NHS? This isnt going to hurt Come to Australia for a working holiday to escape the grind. And why? Because we have tens of thousands of vacant nursing posts. The ad offers 2,000 Australian dollars (Rs 1 lakh) per shift for a year, with a $10,000 to $20,0000 (Rs 10 lakh) completion bonus after 12 months  putting successful applicants in the top 5 per cent of Australian earners.
Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan posted a photo on Instagram recently of himself riding pillion on a bike without wearing a helmet. In the post, Bachchan thanked the rider, whom he did not know, for getting him to his work location on time and avoiding traffic jams. The actor also described the rider as wearing a "capped, shorts and yellowed T-shirt." Bachchan shared a photo on Instagram and wrote: Thank you for the ride buddy .. dont know you .. but you obliged and got me on time to location of work .. faster and in avoidance of the unsolvable traffic jams .. thank you capped , shorts and yellowed T - shirt owner. While the post received many positive comments from fans praising the actor, some users pointed out the fact that both Bachchan and the rider were not wearing helmets during the ride. One user commented, "Sir, you both are without a helmet. That is a cognizable offence. But I enjoy the pic and its spirit!" Another user wrote, "Don't know Sir if this was a part of your shoot. If this is in real life, none of you have worn a helmet." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amitabh Bachchan (@amitabhbachchan) The fact that both Bachchan and the rider were not wearing helmets is a concerning issue, as helmet use is mandatory in India for both riders and pillion passengers. The Mumbai Police have fined several Bollywood celebrities in the past for violating traffic rules and not wearing helmets. Actors Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kemmu and Sara Ali Khan were fined by the Mumbai Police for not wearing helmets on bikes. Bachchan's photo, although the location is not mentioned, is likely from the bustling Mumbai traffic. Read: 'I look good': Man tweets to Pune police after challan for no helmet. The banter is viral While it is essential to reach work on time and avoid traffic congestion, safety should always come first. It is imperative that celebrities, who have a significant influence on the public, set an example by following traffic rules and wearing helmets. The Mumbai Police has been very active in enforcing traffic rules, and most times they react and call out the posts shared by celebrities violating traffic rules and fine them. However, there has been no response yet from Mumbai Police on Bachchans traffic violation yet.
When you drink Scotch, you picture being at home by the fire, with Irish whiskey you picture being in a bar with friends. Nothing illustrates the success of Irish whiskey better. Its this image that has driven the rise of brands like Jameson. Background: The first mention of Irish whiskey was documented in 1405. Distilling was believed to have been introduced by the monks around 600 AD and the Bushmills Old distillery, (Not far from Belfast) is the oldest Whiskey distillery anywhere in the World. Whiskey with an extra e Theres more to Irish whiskey than the extra e. Irish whiskeys key differentiator is that almost all Irish pot still whiskey is distilled thrice; by contrast most Scotch whiskey is distilled twice. Irish whiskey seldom uses Peat in the malting process. It lends Irish whiskey a smoother, less smoky taste that aficionados love or loathe. Its one of the key reasons that are contributing to Irish whiskeys grand 21st century revival at a time when most drinkers seem to be moving from white to brown spirits. Irish whiskeys relatively smoother, softer and fruitier tones seem to be working with first-time whiskey drinkers and whiskey die-hards who are seeking a more refined experience. The rise and rise of Irish whiskey According to IMARC group, the Irish whiskey global market size hit US$ 4.7 billion in 2022 and is likely to soar to US$ 7.5 billion by 2028. Jamesons is now the fourth largest whisky brand in the world behind Johnnie Walker, Jack Daniels and Jim Beam. Irish whiskey was the second fastest-growing spirit category in the US in 2021 after Tequila/mezcal. In India, like many other markets, Jameson is the face of Irish whiskey. The top three Irish brands  Jameson, Tullamore Dew and Bushmills collectively have more than 80 percent of the global market share of Irish Whiskey. But whether youre at a duty free or travelling abroad, look for these Irish whiskies that are a great introduction to this fine spirit: Jameson: In many ways, this hugely popular, easy to sip whiskey is a window of sorts into the fascinating world of Irish whiskey. This blended whiskey combines the best of pot still and fine grain whiskeys in a triple distillation process before aging it in oak casks for a minimum of four years. Many Jameson fans will recommend you try this with ginger ale. Price: Rs 3,000 Bushmills 10 Year Old: If we had to pick our favourite Irish whiskey, it would be this 10-year old. Crafted in the worlds oldest whiskey distillery thats located along Northern Irelands stunning Antrim Coast (also used extensively as a filming location for Game of Thrones) this whiskey is zesty and fresh on the nose. This single malt is triple distilled from 100% malted barley and matured for a minimum of 10 years in sherry and bourbon-seasoned casks which lends it its honey, vanilla and milk chocolate aroma. Price: Rs 7,600 Connemara Cask Strength Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey: Slightly smoky, the Connemara Single Malt busts the usual perception that Irish whiskeys should be crafted entirely from unpeated malt. It makes it one of the most unique Irish malts with a smoky peatiness balanced by heather florals with hints of honey and oak. Price: Rs 4,500 Red Breast 12: One of our favourites along with the Bushmills 10 year old. This 12-YO is matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks. This is a fine whiskey that youre likely to sip in your den rather than a crowded bar. Many Irish whiskey aficionados like to describe this as a complex whiskey with notes of toasted wood and fruit. Price: Rs 5,900 Tullamore Dew: The second widest selling Irish whiskey worldwide, this value for money whiskey combines three spirits for the perfect balance. Grain whiskey lends it sweet flavours, Malt whiskey gives fruit flavours and pot still whiskey gives spice flavours. This complex, yet approachable whiskey is triple cask-matured for depth and balance. Price: Rs 2,500 Kilbeggan: Its the oldest licensed distillery of its kind in Ireland and dates back to 1757. While most Irish whiskies are triple distilled, this ones a double distilled whiskey that manages to stay complex and approachable. Its a great introduction to Irish whiskey; its easy to drink neat or with a mixer. Price: Rs 4,000
Sudha Murty, acclaimed author and philanthropist, has been facing a unique problem lately: people in UK refuse to believe that she is the mother-in-law of the United Kingdom's first Indian-origin Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. Murty, who is married to Infosys co-founder and businessman Narayan Murthy, has a simple appearance that can often deceive people. During a recent episode of The Kapil Sharma Show, Murty, 72, shared an anecdote about an immigration officer who refused to believe her residential address when she wrote "10 Downing Street" on the form. 10 Downing Street is the official residence and office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Sudha Murty's daughter, Akshata, is married to Rishi Sunak, who currently resides at 10 Downing Street. Once when I had gone, they asked me my residential address. Where are you staying in London? My elder sister was with me and I thought should I write '10 Downing Street'. My son also lives there (in UK), but I didnt remember his complete address. But I finally wrote 10 Downing Street, Murty recalled on the popular show. Murty said that the immigration officer looked at her incredulously and asked, "Are you joking?!" She responded, "Nahi, sachchi bolti hu" (No, I am telling you the truth). Murty's experience is a reminder that appearances can be deceiving. It's easy to make assumptions about people based on their appearance, but those assumptions are often wrong. Murty's simple appearance doesn't reflect the achievements and accomplishments she has made throughout her life. Read: My daughter made her husband prime minister: Sudha Murty on Rishi Sunak. Watch Murty was recently awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in India. She has also been honuored with numerous other awards for her contributions to literature and social work. She has established several foundations that provide education and healthcare to underprivileged communities in India. Murty's story also highlights the importance of recognising and celebrating the accomplishments of women, especially those who don't fit the traditional mould of what a successful person looks like.
It was a hot March afternoon and we were waiting for a local bus in a town called Karaikudi in Tamil Nadu to visit Kanadukathan, a small village which is known for its big mansions. After almost half an hour and asking around, an old man told us to board the green bus as that will directly take us to the place we desired to go. We were on a road journey from Madurai to Thanjavur and Karaikudi, which is on the way (around 90 km from Madurai), was top of our list. It is part of the Chettinad region known for its architecture and food. This region contains around 70-odd villages and 11,000 traditional courtyard houses spread across Sivaganga and part of the Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu. Kanadukathan, which is around 15 kilometres from Karaikudi, is considered one of the best places to admire the heritage houses of the Chettiyar community built between the mid-1800s and early 1900s. Chettiyars were a prominent business community who were involved in sea trade to different countries of Southeast Asia. They dealt in the business of salt, spices, gems, etc. Many of them were and are still well-known bankers. This exposure to the world per se heavily influenced the way they lived. Their houses are a direct representation of their wealth, social status, and most importantly their attitude of imbibing the best of the world. A casual stroll around this village and you will realise that you have been transported to a different time and space. It has all the essentials of a village life but just turn around and you get a feel of being in some Southeast Asian tropical region. Every house here has a story and its well-decorated facade speaks of it. The richly decorated porches show influence from various architectural styles, which in many ways define this Chettinad architecture. In the centre of the facade, there are figures of deities like Gajalaxmi, Krishna, etc. Another prominent feature is the different layers of balustrades and parapets that add to the grandeur of these mansions. Most of these courtyard houses are locked and some are in dilapidated condition. Whereas some are open for visitors after paying a nominal fee. We visited such two houses  the first one being the CVRM-CT Heritage House. As soon as you enter this house, you are greeted with a grand hall which is decorated with polished granite columns, old wooden furniture, chandeliers, Belgium mirrors, etc. The highlights of these houses are the courtyard which we experienced at this house more intimately. It connects many rooms and a staircase which leads you to the terrace and you get a stunning view of the whole place. You can see all the tiled houses till the end of the horizon. Now some of these houses are getting rebuilt or restored to get converted into resorts or restaurants. The Heritage House was built more than 100 years ago by CVRM Venkatachalam Chettiar and now it is managed by the third generation of the family. Here you will also come across many household items, intricate woodwork, pillars made from teak wood, etc. Amid all these mansions, what stands out and grabs everyones attention is the Kanadukathan Palace or the Chettinad Palace. It was built in 1912 by Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiar in the early 1900s who was a renowned banker in British India. This massive palace of 87,120 sq. ft is not open to the public but still, you can spend a lot of time admiring this white-washed building beautifully painted with colours of blues, reds, and greens on its glass windows, pillars, borders, etc. It has all the elements of Chettinad architecture with a canopy of metal cantilevers at the porch that gives an impression of a temple entrance. What also makes this palace enchanting is its location. It is centrally located and it overlooks a village pond. These ponds in such dry regions were meant for water harvesting and they are usually found near the temple. While taking one last stroll around the place a lady sitting near a green-coloured gate gestured and invited us to another mansion  VVR House. What I loved about this house is the series of courtyards with each one having its character and function  from the main formal living, followed by dining and then with kitchen and services. This spoke volumes about the grand scale of the house and the joint family system. This half-day trip to the sleepy village of Kanadukathan opened my eyes to such wonders which are tucked away in some corner of the world only to be discovered by curious travellers.
Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations plan to tighten sanctions on Russia at their summit in Japan this week, with steps aimed at energy and exports aiding Moscow's war effort, said officials with direct knowledge of the discussions. New measures announced by the leaders during the May 19-21 meetings will target sanctions evasion involving third countries, and seek to undermine Russia's future energy production and curb trade that supports Russia's military, the people said. Separately, U.S. officials also expect G7 members will agree to adjust their approach to sanctions so that, at least for certain categories of goods, all exports are automatically banned unless they are on a list of approved items. The Biden administration has previously pushed G7 allies to reverse the group's sanctions approach, which today allows all goods to be sold to Russia unless they are explicitly blacklisted. That change could make it harder for Moscow to find gaps in the sanctions regime. While the allies have not agreed to apply the more-restrictive approach broadly, U.S. officials expect that in the most sensitive areas for Russia's military G7 members will adopt a presumption that exports are banned unless they are on a designated list. The exact areas where these new rules would apply are still being discussed. "You should expect to see, in a handful of spaces, particularly relating to Russia's defense industrial base, that change in presumption happen," said a U.S. official who declined to be named. The precise language of the G7 leaders' joint declarations is still subject to negotiation and adjustment before it is released during the summit. The G7 comprises the United States, Japan, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. The G7 leaders' action on Russia comes as Ukraine's Western allies hunt for new ways to tighten already restrictive sanctions on Russia, from export controls to visa restrictions and an oil price cap, which have put pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin but not halted the full-scale invasion that started over a year ago. Some U.S. allies have resisted the idea of banning trade broadly and then issuing category-by-category exemptions. The European Union, for instance, has its own approach and is also currently negotiating its 11th package of sanctions since Russia invaded Ukraine, with the bulk focused on people and countries circumventing existing trade restrictions. "The sometimes-discussed approach of 'we ban everything first and allow exceptions' will not work in our view," said one top German government official. "We want to be very, very precise and we want to avoid unintended side effects." Meanwhile, any change in language, including language specifying that certain trade is banned unless specifically exempted, by the G7 leaders may not necessarily lead to more bans immediately or indeed any change in Russia's posture. "At least on day one, that change in presumption doesn't change the substance of what's allowed, but it matters for the long-term trajectory of where we're going and the restrictiveness of the overall regime," the U.S. official said. Ukraine, backed by Western arms and cash, is expected to launch major counter-offensive operations in the coming weeks to try to recapture tracts of its east and south from Russian forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been in Europe this week for meetings with Pope Francis as well as with leaders from France, Italy and Germany. He is expected to address G7 leaders, either virtually or in-person, during their summit in Hiroshima, the officials said. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said last month a G7 move to ban exports to the country would cause Moscow to terminate a Black Sea grain deal that enables vital exports of grain from Ukraine. Food security in the aftermath of the war is also expected to be a major topic at the G7.
Microsoft has won EU antitrust approval for its $69 billion Activision takeover, which was vetoed by Britain, after regulators said its offer of free 10-year licensing deals to gamers and cloud streaming rivals addressed their concerns. The European Commission said on Monday that the biggest-ever deal in gaming was pro-competitive due to Microsoft's licensing deals, confirming a Reuters report in March. Such licenses are "practical and effective", European Union antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager told reporters. "Actually they significantly improve the condition for cloud game streaming compared to the present situation, which is why we actually consider them pro-competitive," she added. The EU watchdog said Microsoft has offered 10-year free licensing deals to European consumers and cloud game streaming services for Activision's PC and console games.

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The Afghan embassy in India on Monday said there is no change in its leadership following reports that the Taliban have appointed a charge d'affaires to head the mission replacing incumbent Farid Mamundzay. Mamundzay was appointed by the previous Ashraf Ghani government and he has been operating as the Afghan envoy even after the Taliban came to power in August 2021. It is learnt that Qadir Shah, who has been working as the trade councillor at the Afghan embassy since 2020, last month wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) claiming that he has been appointed as the charge d'affaires at the embassy by the Taliban. As Mamundzay was on a visit abroad, Shah tried to take charge of the embassy as the charge d'affaires late last month, but his attempt was stalled by other diplomats at the mission, people familiar with the matter said. Subsequently, Shah has been barred from entering the embassy on at least three occasions, they said. There was no comment by the Indian government on the developments. The people cited above said New Delhi is considering the matter as an "internal matter" of Afghanistan. India has not yet recognised the Taliban set up and has been pitching for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul besides insisting that Afghan soil must not be used for any terrorist activities against any country. "The embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan categorically rejects the claims from an individual claiming to have taken charge of the mission in New Delhi at the behest of the Taliban," the embassy headed by Mamundzay said in a statement. "The embassy appreciates the consistent position of the Indian government for supporting the interests of the Afghan people, while at the same time not recognising the Taliban regime in Kabul, as it has been the case with democratic governments around the world," it said. People familiar with the matter said Shah wrote the letter to the MEA in the absence of Mamundzay as he was travelling out of India. In its statement, the embassy said the individual who claims to have been named "charge d'affaires" by the Taliban has been responsible for "spreading misinformation and running a baseless and unsubstantiated campaign against officials of the mission, including totally fabricated allegations of corruption based on an unsigned letter". There were some reports in the Afghan media about allegations of corruption against the embassy. "The mission is committed to protecting the genuine interests of the Afghan nationals, especially in these trying times and has worked closely with the Indian authorities on humanitarian efforts, including the supply of COVID-19 vaccines, medicines and food supplies," the embassy said. "The embassy also wishes to inform Afghan nationals that the mission continues functioning as normal and working for their interests in India," it added. In June last year, India re-established its diplomatic presence in Kabul by deploying a "technical team" in its embassy in the Afghan capital. India had withdrawn its officials from the embassy after the Taliban seized power following concerns over their security. It is learnt that the Taliban, on multiple occasions, communicated to New Delhi that the diplomats in the Afghan embassy in India do not represent Kabul any longer. The Taliban have made around 14 attempts to remove the ambassador from the embassy in the last over two years, the people cited above said.
Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan claimed on Monday that the country's powerful military establishment has planned to keep him in jail for the next 10 years under sedition charges. In a series of tweets in the early hours of Monday, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief said: "So now the complete London plan is out. Using pretext of violence while I was inside the jail, they have assumed the role of judge, jury and executioner. The plan now is to humiliate me by putting Bushra begum (Khan's wife) in jail, and using some sedition law to keep me inside for next ten years." The tweets came after Khan held a meeting of PTI leaders at his Lahore residence. The 70-year-old leader, who has been on bail in more than 100 cases, further said: "To ensure that there is no public reaction, they have done two things -- first deliberate terror is unleashed not just on PTI workers but on common citizens as well. Second, the media is totally controlled and muzzled." He said never has the sanctity of chadar and chaar dewaari been violated the way it is being done by these "criminals". "This is a deliberate attempt to instill so much fear in people that when they come to arrest me tomorrow, people won't come out. And tomorrow they will again suspend internet services and ban social media (which is only partially open). Meanwhile, as we speak, houses are being broken in and shamelessly police are manhandling the women of the houses," he said. Giving his message to the people of Pakistan, Khan said: "My message to the people of Pakistan; I will fight for Haqeeqi Azaadi till the last drop of my blood because for me death is preferable than to be enslaved by these assortments of crooks. "I urge all my people to remember that we have pledged LA Illah ha illalah, that we bow to no one except the One (Allah). If we bow to the idol of fear there will only be humiliation and dismemberment for our future generations. Countries where there is injustice and law of jungle prevails, don't survive for long." Khan returned to his Lahore home on Saturday after having locked himself in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises for hours due to the fear of re-arrest despite being granted bail on Friday. The IHC granted bail to Khan, barring authorities from arresting him in all the cases registered against him beyond May 9, and asked him to approach the Lahore High Court for further relief on May 15. Khan further said the JUI-F "drama" that is being done outside the Supreme Court is only for one purpose -- to overawe the chief justice of Pakistan so that he does not give a verdict according to the Constitution. "Pakistan has already seen such brazen attack on the Supreme Court when in 1997 PMLN goons physically attacked it and had one of the most respected Chief Justices Sajjad Ali Shah removed," he said. Khan's arrest by the Pakistan Rangers at the IHC premises last Tuesday triggered an unrest in Pakistan that continued till Friday and led to several deaths and dozens of military and state installations being destroyed by the protesters. For the first time in the country's history, the protesters stormed the army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and also torched the corps commander's house in Lahore. Police put the death toll in violent clashes to 10 while Khan's party claims 40 of its workers lost their lives in the firing by security personnel.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and reaffirmed his support for the war-torn European nation. This is the fourth European country that Zelenskky has visited in the past few days. He made an unannounced visit to Paris on Sunday to meet French President Emmanuel Macron, after trips to Germany and Italy, where he met those countries' leaders and Pope Francis. Downing Street said Zelenskyy will update Sunak on his meetings with European leaders over the weekend as Ukraine prepares for an intensified period of military activity. The visit also comes ahead of the Council of Europe Summit in Iceland, which Sunak is due to travel for this week, ahead of a visit to Tokyo for the G7 Summit in Japan. "This is a crucial moment in Ukraine's resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke. They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year," said Sunak. "We must not let them down. The frontlines of [Russian President] Putin's war of aggression may be in Ukraine but the fault lines stretch all over the world. It is in all our interest to ensure Ukraine succeeds and Putin's barbarism is not rewarded," he said. Sunak said the UK is sustaining its support to Ukraine with tanks, training, ammunition, and armoured vehicles. "And this message of solidarity will ring loud in all my meetings with fellow world leaders in the days ahead," he added. Downing Street said Sunak will use his tour of Iceland and Japan to continue to push for sustained international support for Ukraine, both in terms of military aid and long-term security assurances. Last week, the UK confirmed that it had provided Storm Shadow precision missiles to Ukraine. This is the first long-range cruise missile in Ukraine's arsenal and will be critical in helping the country defend against the relentless bombardment of its critical national infrastructure. On Monday, Sunak confirmed the further UK provision of hundreds of air defence missiles and further unmanned aerial systems, including hundreds of new long-range attack drones with a range of over 200km. These will all be delivered over the coming months as Ukraine prepares to intensify its resistance against Russia, Downing Street said. "During their meeting today, the Prime Minister will discuss with President Zelenskyy what support Ukraine needs from the international community, both in terms of immediate military equipment and long-term defences," it said in a statement. Zelenskyy will hold talks with Sunak at his countryside retreat of Chequers, marking the first world leader the British Prime Minister has hosted at the residence. The visit this week follows Zelenskyy's visit to the UK in February, which was only the second time the leader had left Ukraine since Putin's full-scale invasion in February 2022. According to the UK government, Britain has provided GBP 2.3 billion worth of military support to Ukraine in 2022 more than any country other than the US.
Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics' Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee and EV maker Tesla's CEO Elon Musk met last Wednesday on May 1o. The two CEOs discussed ways to cooperate in future high-tech industries, Samsung said in a statement on May 14. The mobile phone manufacturer is looking to cooperate in the development of IT-related technologies, such as semiconductors for autonomous vehicles, Samsung added. The meeting was held during Lee's trip to the United States and was the first between the heads of the South Korean chip giant and the U.S. electric-vehicle maker, the company said. The chairman met with CEOs of global pharmaceutical and bio-venture incubation companies including Johnson & Johnson CEO Joaquin Duato, BMS CEO Giovanni Caforio and Flagship Pioneering CEO Noubar Afeyan. A report by the Notebookcheck.com suggests that Samsung got orders for all of the Tesla Vision for Tesla's Cybertruck's Hardware 4.0 kit, the Samsung cameras were of a higher resolution than the ones the EV giant had used in the past. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report. (With inputs from agencies)

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The IMF has expressed hope that Sri Lanka's debt restructuring process would be completed by September, which is also the time for the global lender's formal review of the bailout facility it extended to the cash-strapped nation, a senior IMF executive said on Monday. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recently extended a nearly USD 3 billion bailout facility to debt-ridden Sri Lanka that would help stabilise the country's economy after it was jolted by a devastating economic crisis last year. "The IMF is hopeful that Sri Lankas debt restructuring process would be completed by September which is the time for the first review," Krishna Srinivasan, the IMF's director for Asia Pacific, told reporters. A team of the IMF is currently in the country assessing the progress made since the agreement reached on March 20 for a nearly USD 3 billion bail-out facility over a period of 4 years. "The expectation is that restructuring is completed by the time of the first review. To that end, the government is making a good faith effort in negotiating with all creditors, official and private, Srinivasan said. He said that the IMF was not getting involved in the domestic debt restructuring process. Srinivasan further said that anti-corruption and governance reforms were needed to ensure people benefit from reforms envisaged in the IMF programme. "Sri Lanka is the first country in Asia that has undergone the IMF governance diagnostic exercise, he said. The governance diagnostic report is expected to be published by September. Srinivasan said it was essential for Sri Lanka to continue the reform programme. "The country was in crisis and ambitious reforms were needed, and they should be pursued. The economic impact of the reforms on the poor and vulnerable needs to be mitigated with appropriate measures," he said. Commenting on the IMF team's visit that will last until May 23, Peter Breuer, the Sri Lanka head of the IMF, said: "We are engaging with the government to update our knowledge to find out what is the state of affairs to the extent any corrective action is needed. According to official figures, Sri Lankas total debt is USD 83.6 billion, of which foreign debt amounts to USD 42.6 billion and domestic debt amounts to USD 42 billion. In April 2022, Sri Lanka declared its first-ever debt default, the worst economic crisis since its independence from Britain in 1948, triggered by forex shortages that sparked public protests. Months-long street protests led to the ouster of the then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in mid-July. Rajapaksa had started the IMF negotiations after refusing to tap the global lender for support.
May 15, 2023

Ukraine SitRep: Explosion in Khmelnytsky - Bakhmut Evacuation - Longer Range Missiles

In the early morning of last Saturday two large explosions (video) destroyed a large ammunition depot near the city of Khmelnytsky in west Ukraine.

This picture shows the depot before the strike:

The explosion destroyed the whole depot:

The depot sat at a rail line some 5,000 meter west from the city center. It is likely that the explosion destroyed not only a large amount of ammunition but also a large number of windows in the city and caused some casualties.

The city of Khmelnytsky, which has a population of 270.000, is named after a famous Cossack hetman (elected military leader) who in 1648 rose up against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth that controlled the west of Ukraine.

While military operations continued inconclusively, and because Tatar support proved undependable at crucial moments, Khmelnytsky began to search for other allies.

He found those allies in Moscow:

Khmelnytsky secured the military protection of the Tsardom of Russia in exchange for allegiance to the Tsar. An oath of allegiance to the Russian monarch from the leadership of the Cossack Hetmanate was taken, shortly thereafter followed by other officials, the clergy and the inhabitants of the Hetmanate swearing allegiance. The exact nature of the relationship stipulated by the agreement between the Hetmanate and Russia is a matter of scholarly controversy. The council of Pereiaslav was followed by an exchange of official documents: the March Articles (from the Cossack Hetmanate) and the Tsar's Declaration (from Muscovy). The council was attended by a delegation from Moscow headed by Vasiliy Buturlin. The event was soon thereafter followed by the adoption in Moscow of the so-called March Articles that stipulated an autonomous status of the Hetmanate within the Russian state. The agreement precipitated the Russo-Polish War (165467). The definitive legal settlement was effected under the Eternal Peace Treaty of 1686 concluded by Russia and Poland that re-affirmed Russia's sovereignty over the lands of Zaporozhian Sich and left-bank Ukraine, as well as the city of Kiev.

The city is some 200 kilometer from the Polish boarder. The depot has likely held ammunition that was coming from the 'West' to go to the front line in east Ukraine. There are rumors that the depot held British ammunition for Challenger main battle tanks. The ammunition is filled with depleted Uranium. Some charts are circulating which claim to show a gamma ray spike in the area.

However the relevant map does not load for me and I have no way to verify it. The chart seem to show an increase in Gamma radiation but that increase happened during May 11/12, not in the early morning of May 13 when the explosion happened. The increase is also very small and the total is normal and not dangerous. Flying in a commercial airplane will typically expose you to some 2,000 nano-Sievert per hour [nSi/h]. Small background radiation variances happen all the time so the chart does not really tell us anything.

In other news the Ukrainian army seems to abandon whatever is left of Bakhmut city.

In today's clobber report the Russian Defense Ministry reported the intercept by air defense of a British Storm Shadow cruise missile. This confirms that these are not some new wonder weapons. (The recent two Storm Shadow impacts in Luhansk city were against undefended targets and also accompanied by a U.S. delivered electronic warfare missile which probably can confuse air defense radar.)

Also taken down yesterday were seven U.S. HARM anti-radar missiles and ten HIMARS missiles.

The use of so many HARM missiles is unusual and points to a new campaign in preparation of the much hyped counteroffensive.

Posted by b on May 15, 2023 at 17:23 UTC | Permalink

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A crash between a bus and truck on a major highway in western Slovakia killed one person and injured dozens, officials said on Monday.

Firefighters reported that at least 59 people were injured.
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United Nations special envoy to Sudan Volker Perthes attended a meeting in Port Sudan with Sudanese officials on Sunday to discuss food and water shortages. Hundreds of people who escaped fighting are now suffering from extreme heat as they remain in Port Sudan.
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Kenyatta Coleman walked into her doctor's office in February excited for her ultrasound. For 30 weeks, Coleman's unborn child had developed normally. She decided to name her Denver and celebrate with a shower the next month.

But all of Coleman's plans changed that day. The ultrasound showed the fetus had brain abnormalities and an enlarged heart. Doctors in Baton Rouge diagnosed the unborn baby with a vein of Galen malformation, a rare pre-birth condition, and a 1 percent chance of survival.

That night, Coleman cried herself to sleep. When she awoke the next morning, she asked her husband, Derek, if the diagnosis was real or if she'd just had a nightmare. After that, Coleman said that "every ultrasound, I just went in a totally different person."

Coleman vowed to do everything in her power to save her baby - a journey that resulted in her flying to Boston for a surgery that had never been attempted.

In mid-March, after roughly a dozen scans and procedures, Coleman held and kissed her new baby in a Brigham and Women's Hospital bed. She was surrounded by exhilarated doctors who had completed the first successful fetal brain surgery two days earlier.

Denver has since returned to her family's Louisiana home, where she's maturing like any healthy baby, her family and doctors said.

"Knowing the possibility of not having her here, it's like, 'Wow, she really is a miracle,'" Coleman, 36, told The Washington Post. "We're still taking that all in."

Coleman became pregnant in July and viewed an ultrasound of the baby for the first time in September. While pregnant, she posed for professional photos and saw the baby's facial features in a 4D ultrasound. She and Derek, 39, decided to name the baby Denver, after her stepfather dreamed about a child named Colorado. They had a gender-reveal party on Christmas and sent out invitations for a March 19 baby shower.

Coleman felt healthy until the 28th week of her pregnancy in late January, when she experienced intense itching on her legs. She was diagnosed the following week with cholestasis of pregnancy, which disrupts the flow of fluids to the gallbladder. That prompted her doctor at Woman's Hospital in Baton Rouge to schedule weekly ultrasounds.

"Every time that I had a chance to see the baby, I absolutely loved it," Coleman said. "I soaked it all in."

But her perspective changed Feb. 15 when she went in for what she believed would be a routine checkup. Coleman's doctor wondered if she had been sick because the ultrasound was showing several abnormalities, including an enlarged heart for the fetus due to a massive amount of blood traveling there.

An MRI found the fetus had a vein of Galen malformation, which occurs when brain arteries don't connect to the proper veins. About 1 in 60,000 newborns are diagnosed with the condition, according to the American Heart Association, and doctors believe it's caused by genetics. Babies with the condition can suffer from severe brain damage, heart failure and cognitive disabilities due to excess blood flow to those organs, but many die soon after they're born.

Treatment for a vein of Galen malformation usually occurs after childbirth, but doctors gave Denver a 1 percent chance of surviving as she suffered from a severe case. However, they informed Coleman about a clinical trial Boston doctors were hoping to launch.

Darren Orbach, the co-director of Boston Children's Hospital's cerebrovascular surgery and interventions center, has treated many babies with vein of Galen malformations but became discouraged by the lack of reliable procedures. In recent years, Orbach's colleagues have inserted a needle into unborn babies' hearts to fix some conditions. In 2017, Orbach wondered if a similar procedure could be applied to a fetus's brain.

In late 2020, Orbach said he and colleagues developed an experiment to adjust and connect arteries with the correct veins using a needle in an unborn baby's brain. They waited for a patient whom they believed the surgery could save.

That patient was Denver. In early March, Orbach agreed to perform the procedure on Coleman's unborn child. Coleman canceled her baby shower and flew to Boston with Derek a few days later on one-way tickets - they didn't know how long they would be away.

On March 15, Coleman reclined on a Brigham and Women's Hospital bed and listened to gospel music through her ear buds while undergoing the procedure. Using ultrasound footage to guide them, doctors guided a needle through Coleman's uterus and into the back of the unborn baby's skull. After doctors blocked a large vein that connected to arteries in the fetus's brain, Coleman watched doctors pull the needle out of her unborn child's skull to finish a successful surgery.

Still, Orbach was unsure if the procedure would improve the baby's health. That was assessed March 17, when Coleman went into labor. Denver was born at four pounds, but for a few moments, she wasn't breathing.

Then, Denver started crying.

"Knowing that she was alive and that her lungs were so strong - because the cry was so loud - that really gave me a sense of relief," Coleman said.

Coleman held Denver before the newborn was sent to a neonatal intensive care unit. Denver didn't experience the symptoms most babies with vein of Galen malformations typically endure, including brain irregularities.

Still, the new parents stayed at Brigham and Women's and neighboring Boston Children's Hospital with their baby for five weeks to ensure Denver was healthy. Coleman had been too nervous to order baby supplies before the surgery, so she purchased dozens of necessities online, including a car seat and a stroller, before returning home.

Orbach, 55, believes the success of Denver's surgery is the first step toward saving more babies' lives. He and his colleagues published their findings in the journal Stroke this month.

"It almost felt a little surreal," Orbach said, adding it was "hard to actually believe that this was reality."

When Coleman returned home April 19, her living room was filled with gifts friends and family members bought from the couple's registry. Coleman takes Denver to doctor appointments almost every day, but the newborn has remained healthy.

"I look at her . . . just admiring her fingers and her toes and her facial features," Coleman said. "And every time she cries or every noise that she makes, it's like, 'Wow, we have a baby in our home.'"
Ronald Zak/AP

BERLIN (AP)  Two people were charged in Austria for allegedly playing speeches by Adolf Hitler via the loudspeaker system of a train running from Bregenz to Vienna, Austrian news agency APA reported Monday.

The two suspects, who were not identified, also blasted the Heil Hitler Nazi salute via the train's intercom several times on Sunday. The authorities tracked them down by analyzing video from the train cameras. Spreading Nazi propaganda is a criminal offense in Austria.
FILE PHOTO: A commuter using his mobile phone passes an advertisement of Chinese smartphone maker Oppo at a train station in Singapore May 8, 2014. REUTERS/Edgar Su
An estimated 7,000 people went to the seat of government and to the Congress building last Friday.
?? En vivo | La presidenta Dina Boluarte, junto con el titular de @MINPRODUCCION, ministros de Estado, entre otras autoridades, participa en la inauguracion de la Semana de la MYPE Unidos ganamos todos. https://t.co/GwnjsqurAk
FILE PHOTO: A tourist looks at a view of Mt. Everest from the hills of Syangboche in Nepal December 3, 2009. REUTERS/Gopal Chitrakar
FILE PHOTO: An aerial view shows the Philippine-occupied Thitu Island, locally known as Pag-asa, in the contested Spratly Islands, South China Sea, March 9, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
FILE PHOTO: Tvorchi from Ukraine take part in a dress rehearsal for the Eurovision Song Contest's grand final in Liverpool, Britain, May 12, 2023. REUTERS/Phil Noble
Special investigative panel to look over rules of engagement in Guam
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP)  Cook Medical will cut 500 jobs under a plan to refocus efforts on product innovation, the Indiana-based maker of medical devices said Monday.

The cuts affecting about 4% of its global workforce will include about 223 workers in the U.S., including about 123 in Indiana.
YEREVAN, MAY 14, ARMENPRESS. President of the European Council Charles Michel released a statement on May 14 after the trilateral meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Below is the full statement:

It was a pleasure to host President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan today for a fifth meeting in Brussels. Our exchanges were frank, open and result-oriented. They focused on progress on the path towards Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization. The leaders shared a common willingness for a South Caucasus at peace. I commend their respective efforts. Together, we reviewed all issues on our agenda.

Following the recent positive talks held in the United States on the peace treaty, the momentum should be maintained to take decisive steps towards the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

On border issues, we reviewed progress and the next steps regarding the delimitation of the border. In this context, the leaders agreed on the resumption of the bilateral meetings on border issues. The leaders confirmed their unequivocal commitment to the 1991 Almaty Declaration and the respective territorial integrity of Armenia (29,800 km2) and Azerbaijan (86,600 km2). The ultimate delimitation of the border will be agreed through negotiations.

On connectivity, the sides made clear progress in their discussions aimed at unblocking transport and economic links in the region. Positions on this topic have now come very close to each other in particular on the reopening of the railway connections to and via Nakhchivan. Their respective teams have been tasked to finalize an in principle agreement on the modalities for the opening of the railway connections and the necessary construction works together with a concrete timetable. They also agreed to draw upon the support of the World Customs Organization in supporting this work.

On humanitarian issues, there has been an understanding that further detainees would be released in the coming weeks. I also stressed the need to safeguard the mutual understanding that soldiers who have simply got lost and crossed to the other side would continue to be released through a speedy procedure. We also discussed the importance of stepping up work on addressing the fate of missing persons and on demining.

We continued our exchanges on the issue of the rights and security of Armenians living in the former Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast. I encouraged Azerbaijan to engage in developing a positive agenda with the aim of guaranteeing the rights and security of this population, in close cooperation with the international community. I also raised the need for a transparent and constructive dialogue between Baku and this population.

I believe that it is important to refrain from hostile rhetoric, engage in good faith and show leadership to reach mutually-acceptable solutions.

The EU has no hidden agenda. Our sole aim is to help Armenia and Azerbaijan reach a comprehensive and fair peace. We are ready to contribute to their joint efforts. We have agreed to hold the Brussels meetings as often as necessary. Leaders will meet again in Brussels in July. And as was already announced publicly, we will also meet again in the very near future together with President Macron of France and Chancellor Scholz of Germany on the margins of the 2nd European Political Community Summit in Chisinau. I also intend to invite the leaders for another such meeting in the margins of the third EPC summit in Granada in October.
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The largest graduating class in the 194-year history of Illinois College was advised Sunday to view graduation as part of the process of lifelong learning.

"The pursuit of knowledge does not end with meeting graduation requirements. The process of learning is ongoing," said Collin White, senior class representative from Forest City in Mason County.

"This is a step along the way to being a lifelong learner. Everyone knows something that someone else doesn't know. I learned this every day I was in class and listened to our professors teach," White said.

Bachelor's degrees were awarded to 283 members of the class of 2023 during the celebration of IC's 189th commencement at the Bruner Fitness and Recreation Center. The crowd at Bruner was overflowing, as many late arrivals had to stand as all seating was occupied.

White continued his remarks by talking about how words and speaking up matter.

"Even though we are entering new programs or jobs after graduation, we still have much to contribute. We have to take the opportunity to have our voices heard by others. Making our voices heard is as important as showing up," White said.

White said it is vital for graduates to continue making connections with new people as they leave campus.

"People came to IC for many reasons. For some, it was close to home, or friends were going there, or a good admission counselor made it sound like the place to be. But we came here because of people. Every day, we make new connections. Don't be afraid to go out to meet new people and connect with others," White said.

Bob Chipman, a board of trustee member, received the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa. Chipman, who is retiring from the board, is an active community member and native of Jacksonville, who grew up next to the college. He owns Chipman Realtors and Appraisers.

In introducing Chipman, IC President Barbara A. Farley said, "Bob has set a lofty standard for IC trustees."

In 2001, Chipman received Illinois College's Distinguished Service Award. During his long tenure on the board of trustees, he has served in several officer positions. Chipman currently serves as chair of the Capital Improvements Working Group and is on the Executive Committee.

"Receiving this doctorate is the highlight of my professional career. Thank you for granting me this honor," Chipman said.

"I grew up on Edgehill Road and was always close to the college. I look back 50 years ago and never thought I would be in this position. I hope I have made a difference in the mission of the college," Chipman said.

Chipman referred to Scripture in talking about those who plant seeds and those who water them.

"I have been a waterer of seeds that that were planted generations ago at Illinois College. I ask you to join me so we can together water the seeds for the future," Chipman said.

In opening the ceremonies, Farley said commencement is the most important annual event in the life of a college.

"We celebrate the success of 283 graduating seniors, those being conferred with honorary degrees, as well as the significant accomplishments of faculty and students," Farley said.

Board of Trustee Chairman Steven Mills said the class of 2023 has had a unique journey. Since new student week in 2019, the class navigated a global pandemic while Illinois College was committed to giving them the in-person education they deserved.

"It took courage and commitment on the part of students and staff to be standing here today. Now you are part of a great tradition. With an IC education, you have been given a solid foundation to make a difference in the world," Mills said.
GRAFTON  Three newly created islands on the Mississippi River now have names, thanks to schoolchildren.

Canvasback Island, Moonlight Island and Steamboat Island were introduced Saturday by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Erin Federle, a sixth-grader at Jerseyville Middle School, came up with the name Canvasback Island: I decided to pick my name because it is one of the greatest diving ducks in the Mississippi River.

Moonlight Island was suggested by CeCe Johnson, a fifth-grade student at North Elementary in Alton.

I just like to look at the moon and I like how the moon shines on the water, she said.

Alton North Elementary School fifth-grader Sophia Princivalli picked the name Steamboat Island.

I looked up the Mississippi River history and I decided Steamboat Island was a good name. Princivalli said.

Students from the Jerseyville and Alton school districts submitted 57 suggestions for the islands, which were created as part of a $7.2 million Upper Mississippi River restoration program.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers representatives visited schools to encourage students to come up with possible island names. Students who suggested names had to write an essay explaining the choice.

The U.S. Geological Survey must confirm the names before they can appear on maps.

The Corps of Engineers has already created rings of stone in the river and will soon fill those rings with river dredge material to create the islands to enhance natural river habitats. A fourth man-made island will be named after a family that lived along the river for generations.

The island naming took place during the free REC Fest at the National Great Rivers Museum at the Melvin Price Locks and Dam. The event will included more than 20 organizations with booths that focused on outdoor recreation and safety. There were equipment demonstrations, live wildlife displays and demonstrations, and family activities.

Melissa Miller of Swansea brought her family to the REC Fest.

It has been a blast. We kind of did this on a whim, we were just looking for something to do, and decided to give it a try, Miller said. We have been here over an hour and everything has been so fun.

Sarah Martin of Dow watched her three daughters at a live-snake booth.

They are having a lot of fun because they love snakes, Martin said. They also learned about boating safety, how to shoot a bow and arrow, did some fishing, and they really liked throwing the atlatl.

The atlatl, an ancient Native American spear-throwing device, also fascinated 8-year-old Valerie Van Ess of Wood River.

You have to hold it back and then throw. I wasnt really good at it, Van Ess said. Im going all over the place to do stuff. I did the bow and arrows; I was pretty good at that. I watched the animal show, and I did a fishing thing.
Journal-Courier

Ten Routt Catholic High School students are being honored as the top of the class in the school's 12 academic departments.

Teachers in each department choose recipients based on academic performance, initiative, willingness to help others and positive attitude. Students were recognized Thursday during Routt Catholic High Schools Honors Night ceremony at Church of Our Saviour.
Greenfield Police Department/Provided

GREENFIELD  A Greene County woman who was reported missing Sunday evening has been found, her daughter confirmed around 1 p.m. Monday.

Julie Schild, 64, had been reported missing by her daughter, Rachael Vetter Costello. In a post on Facebook, Costello updated her post with, "She has been found!" Costello's post said her mother was with police and that she was headed to see what the next steps would be to get her assistance.
ST. LOUIS (AP)  St. Louis' top prosecutor has asked a court to set aside the conviction of a man who has spent 33 years in prison for a killing he says he didn't commit, after witnesses who testified against him later said authorities had pressured them to lie.

In her request to overturn Christopher Dunn's first-degree murder conviction, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner cited clear and convincing evidence that he had not been involved in the 1990 shooting death of Ricco Rogers.

We are hopeful his wrongful conviction is set aside for the sake of Mr. Dunn, his family, and the people of the City of St. Louis, Gardner said in a statement Monday.

Gardner filed a motion with St. Louis Circuit Court on Friday to vacate Dunn's conviction. It wasn't immediately clear if the state attorney general's office would oppose the motion. A spokeswoman for Attorney General Andrew Bailey didn't immediately respond to a Monday request for comment.

Gardner, a Democrat, succeeded in February in getting a court to set aside the conviction of another man, Lamar Johnson, who had spent nearly three decades in prison. Gardner took up his cause after an investigation her office conducted with help from the Innocence Project convinced her he was innocent in a 1994 killing. Johnson was convicted largely on the testimony of an eyewitness who later alleged that he had been coerced into his statements.

The overturning of Johnson's conviction was a rare victory in a challenging year for Gardner, the city's first Black prosecutor. She has been under fire for months from critics who contend that under her watch, too many cases, including homicides, have gone unpunished, that victims and their families are left uninformed, and that her office is too slow to take on cases brought by police. Bailey, a Republican who unsuccessfully sought to keep Johnson locked up, filed a court motion seeking her removal. Criticism escalated when recent cases had to be delayed because prosecutors from the understaffed office failed to show up in court.

Gardner said the attacks were politically and racially motivated. But she announced this month that she would resign effective June 1. Republican Gov. Mike Parson will appoint her replacement.

Dunn, 51, who is Black, was 18 when Rogers was killed. Among the key evidence used to convict him was testimony from two boys who were at the scene of the shooting. Both later recanted their testimony, saying they had been coerced by police and prosecutors.

A judge has heard Dunn's innocence case before. At an evidentiary hearing in 2020, Judge William Hickle agreed that a jury would likely find Dunn not guilty based on new evidence. But Hickle declined to exonerate Dunn, citing a 2016 Missouri Supreme Court ruling that only death row inmates  not those like Dunn sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole  could make a freestanding claim of actual innocence.

A 2021 law now allows prosecutors to seek court hearings in cases with new evidence of a wrongful conviction. It has led to the freeing of another longtime inmate, Kevin Strickland, who served more than 40 years for a Kansas City triple killing. Johnson was the second inmate freed as a result of the new law.

Dunn's attorneys at the Midwest Innocence Project say he should be the third.

We are confident that when faced with such evidence, any Court will find, as Judge Hickle did nearly three years ago, that Christopher Dunn is innocent, the group said in the news release.
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BOA VISTA, Brazil (AP)  Until two months ago, Cartiers website showed Yanomami children playing in a green field.

The French luxury jewelry brand said it was working to promote the culture of the Indigenous people and protect the rainforest where they live, in a vast territory straddling Brazil and Venezuela. But the project that the site described protecting the Amazon never took place. And Cartier published the photo without the approval of Yanomami leadership, violating the beliefs of a people who had been living in almost total isolation until they were contacted by outsiders in the 1970s.

Some of the Yanomami and their defenders praise Cartiers promotion of Yanomami causes. However, advertising by one of the worlds biggest jewelers with images of an Indigenous people devastated by illegal gold mining has some complaining of greenwashing, a corporation promoting its own image by supporting a cause.

How can a gold jewelry company, which we, the Yanomami people, are against, use the image of the Yanomami? asked Junior Hekurari, a member of the Indigenous group and head of the Yanomamis health council.

Disease, killing and prostitution, fueled by the drugs and alcohol imported by thousands of illegal gold miners, have devastated traditional Yanomami life, and 570 Yanomami children died from malnutrition, diarrhea, and malaria between 2019 and 2022, according to Brazilian statistics. The poisonous mercury used in illegal mining causes birth defects and ravages ecosystems.

Cartier says it does not buy illegally mined gold, but Yanomami leaders have urged people not to buy gold jewelry at all, regardless of its source, because demand for the precious metal drives gold prices up and draws miners into their territory.

Cartier and other jewelry brands that are part of the Swiss conglomerate Richemont had combined sales of 11 billion euros ($11.7 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, according to its annual report. Some of the pieces advertised on its U.S. website cost as much as $341,000.

Cartiers connection to the roughly 40,000 Yanomami goes back 20 years, primarily through Fondation Cartier, a corporate philanthropy created and funded by the company in 1984.

In the past, few Yanomami or their advocates have publicly criticized Cartier or the foundation, but a growing number have begun expressing concerns.

Cartiers foundation recently sponsored a finely curated exhibit displaying photographs of Yanomami, along with works by Indigenous artists, in an elegant non-profit Manhattan arts center. The exhibit, previously in Paris, was praised by outlets ranging from The New York Times to Luxury Daily, an influential industry publication whose headline read,  Fondation Cartier continues push for indigenous justice through art sponsorship.

Barbara Navarro, a French multimedia artist, saw something very different, as did several other artists, including some Yanomami.

In the multimedia show  Pas de Cartier,  or Not Cartier, in the village of Nemours, France, Navarro and others critique the luxury brand and the devastation caused by illegal miners in an exhibit that includes sculptures and drawings. In one photo montage, a large gold mine surrounded by the Amazon forest is seen next to a Cartier store.

The Yanomami are paying the price with their health and their very lives for our societys relentless avidity for gold, said Navarro. For Cartier, sponsorship of the Yanomami represents an opportunity to burnish their brand.

For many Indigenous groups, a corporation or philanthropy using a photo of them requires formal permission, which Hekurari gave The Associated Press to show how Cartier used their image. The photo of the children on the Cartier website violated the Yanomamis right to prior, free, and informed consent, according to the Roraima Indigenous Council, a grassroots umbrella organization, citing the International Labour Organizations Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, which Brazil signed.

Hekurari said his people need international cooperation but his organization would never accept money from a jewelry company.

In his trips along the Yanomami territory, an area the size of Portugal, the Yanomami leader has encountered scores of skeletal children in communities under siege by thousands of illegal miners. In March, his organization, Urihi, launched an online campaign to raise awareness against the gold trade and in a video the Yanomami leader calls on Oscar winners to replace the famous gold-plated statuettes with wooden figures of Omama, a mythical entity.

When someone buys gold in a jewelry store, he is financing more invasions to destroy Indigenous lands, he said. It is not just a matter of extracting gold. It is a matter of reaping lives.

Cartier declined to comment on the Yanomamis appeal for people to stop buying gold jewelry but, when contacted by AP in late March, Cartier removed the picture and the project description. Funds had been allocated to a forest-preservation project but ended up being used to acquire medical equipment to fight COVID-19 among the Yanomami, the company said. A donation worth $74,200 was made in June 2020.

The inaccurate description was a regrettable oversight on our part, and it was addressed immediately after it was brought to our attention, the company said.

But the problem is bigger than poor image choices, many say. Dario Kopenawa, vice-president of the Hutukara Yanomami Association, said he believes that, anyone who buys a gold ring is part of the crime.

Cartier and its foundation describe their relationship as arms-length. Kopenawa also made a distinction between Cartier and its namesake foundation.

We know that Cartier buys gold all over the world ... but the foundation is different. It is another coordinator, another branch. It supports the protection of the Yanomami, he said.

In February, Kopenawa even flew to New York to attend Yanomami Struggle - Art and Activism in the Amazon, the exhibit sponsored by the Fondation Cartier with photographic portraits of Indigenous people alongside works by Yanomami artists. Kopenawa and other Yanomami participated in the opening ceremony, with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres among the guests.

Fondation Cartier has a collection of nearly 2,000 works at its Paris headquarters. The foundation is run by an independent dedicated team of professionals from the art world in charge of defining and implementing the artistic program, it said.

The foundation is led by Alain Dominique Perrin, a prominent figure in the luxury industry who previously served as Richemonts top executive. In a 2018 interview with French business magazine Entreprendre, he emphasized the corporate value of arts patronage.

Patronage is similar to sponsorship: You help an artist to exhibit, to gain recognition and to develop, but in return, the Fondation receives praise from the press, the media and social networks, which necessarily benefits the company, he said.

The foundation, will become a focal point for the management and the image of the Cartier brand, Richemont wrote in its 1994 annual report, when the headquarters was inaugurated with 12,000 square feet of exhibition space.

French anthropologist Bruce Albert has been engaged with the Yanomami for decades, participating in a campaign in the 1990s that secured the tribes land demarcation. He connected Fondation Cartier with the Yanomami in 2003. That year, Albert curated the first photo and art exhibit about the Yanomami sponsored by the foundation.

In early February, Albert attended the opening ceremony of the New York exhibition after working on it as a paid consultant, together with Kopenawa and Yanomami artists.

Responding to questions in writing, Albert in February praised Fondation Cartier as independent, and said better control from Brazilian authorities would be more efficient than a gold boycott. Still, Albert criticized the use of the image on Cartiers website, saying by email in April that the Yanomami hadnt granted permission for its use, and the jeweler wasnt funding any reforestation projects.

When it comes to acquiring gold, Cartier says the vast majority is purchased recycled and the company conforms to standards of the Responsible Jewelry Council, which describes itself as the worlds leading sustainability standard-setting organization for the jewelry and watch industry.

With gold, however, it is next to impossible to prove provenance, as much illegal material seeps into global supply chains. And Yanomami leaders have made clear that they believe that gold is at the root of the groups troubles.

Is there a responsibility in the purchase of this gold? Ivo Makuxi, the lawyer from the Indigenous council, asked about Cartiers role in an industry that has hurt the Yanomami. Does the company respect the Indigenous rights?

___

Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about APs climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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When I read about four adults and a child being killed last month in a shooting rampage in Cleveland, Texas, I 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.

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.

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 gun owner. 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 pawn shop 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.

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.
YEREVAN, MAY 15, ARMENPRESS. Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations plan to tighten sanctions on Russia at their summit in Japan this week, with steps aimed at energy and exports aiding Moscow's war effort, Reuters reported citing officials with direct knowledge of the discussions.

New measures announced by the leaders during the May 19-21 meetings will target sanctions evasion involving third countries, and seek to undermine Russia's future energy production and curb trade that supports Russia's military, according to the report.

Separately, U.S. officials also expect G7 members will agree to adjust their approach to sanctions so that, at least for certain categories of goods, all exports are automatically banned unless they are on a list of approved items.

The G7 comprises the United States, Japan, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.
South African army general in Moscow days after country accused of sending weapons to Russia View Photo

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP)  Russias top army general and his South African counterpart discussed military cooperation while meeting Monday in Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The announcement came hours after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa denied accusations by the United States that his country was siding with Russia in the war in Ukraine and had sent weapons to help it.

Gen. Oleg Salyukov, the commander of Russias ground forces, met the chief of South Africas army, Lt. Gen. Lawrence Mbatha, at Russias general command headquarters in Moscow, the Russian ministry said.

The sides discussed issues of military cooperation and the implementation of projects geared to enhance the combat readiness of the two countries armies, the ministry said in a statement. The meeting between the military commanders yielded agreements on the further expansion of cooperation between the land forces in various areas.

The Defense Ministry said a South African delegation would visit a number of Russian army educational and training facilities.

The South African army said the trip was planned well in advance of the U.S. ambassador to South Africa alleging last week that the country had provided weapons to Russia when a ship under U.S. sanctions made a secret stop at a South African naval base in December.

The South African government has denied the Russian cargo ships stop involved an official sale of weapons, although it has not categorically ruled out an arms transaction took place.

Ramaphosa has said an investigation was underway to determine if anyone loaded weapons onto the Russian-flagged Lady R cargo ship at the Simons Town naval base near Cape Town.

Ramaphosa used his weekly message to the nation Monday to reaffirm South Africas non-aligned stance with regard to Russias invasion of Ukraine. The presidents statement was seen as a response to U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety, who questioned South Africas neutrality in the Ukraine war while making the allegations about a weapons shipment.

Brigety was subsequently summoned to a meeting with South Africas foreign minister.

We do not accept that our non-aligned position favors Russia above other countries, Ramaphosa wrote in his weekly message. Nor do we accept that it should imperil our relations with other countries.

Ramaphosa added: We have been firm on this point: South Africa has not been, and will not be, drawn into a contest between global powers.

He also hinted that Russian President Vladimir Putin would visit South Africa for a meeting of leaders of the BRICS economic bloc in August. The Kremlin has not confirmed that Putin plans to attend the BRICS summit.

Such a trip would entangle South Africa in another diplomatic mess because the country is a signatory to the treaty that created the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March for alleged war crimes involving the abductions of children from Ukraine.

Since the indictment, Putin has traveled rarely, and only to countries that are close allies of Russia. Countries that are parties to the treaty would be obliged to arrest the Russian leader.

While Russia and South Africa both described Mondays meeting of the countries top army generals as part of a normal bilateral trip, its bound to increase scrutiny of Africas most developed economy, which is seen as an influential nation in the developing world.

South Africa is the only African nation in the BRICS bloc, which also includes Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Aside from the weapons allegations, South Africa also hosted Russian and Chinese warships and took part in naval exercises off its east coast in February that coincided with the one-year anniversary of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Brigety, the American ambassador, said last week that U.S. officials have respect for South Africas policy of neutrality and non-alignment in international affairs but had noted a series of issues which suggest that in practice the government of South Africa is in fact not non-aligned.

The Associated Press independently verified that the Lady R cargo ship stopped at the South African naval base for at least three days in December, as Brigety claimed. A review of records by the AP also shows that the Lady R is tied to a company that was sanctioned by the U.S. for transporting weapons for the Russian government and aiding its war effort in Ukraine.

___

Magome reported from Johannesburg. AP Writer Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.

By GERALD IMRAY and MOGOMOTSI MAGOME

Associated Press
BEIJING, May 14 (Xinhua) -- During this year's May Day holiday, a resident surnamed Yao treated his family to a tranquil getaway in the suburbs of Beijing. They opted for a cozy short-term rental villa nestled amidst the mountains, which was a 90-minute drive from their home in Beijing's downtown area. "It felt like living amidst a painting, away from the crowded tourist spots," Yao said. In the past, this remote mountain village in Beijing's Miyun District was plagued by traffic congestion and lagging development. At one point, even basic amenities such as small shops were absent from the village. Significant changes began to unfold in 2022 when the village implemented an investment project aimed at renovating over 3,000 square meters of dwellings. As a result, the villagers' income and consumption witnessed a notable rise, triggering a wave of new development within the secluded mountainous village. In recent years, there has been a growing trend among Chinese urbanites to embrace a new lifestyle by choosing to reside in rural areas. This shift has led to the revitalization of mountain villages and the restoration of abandoned farmhouses, breathing new life into previously neglected rural lands. "Meilixinxiangcun," an online platform dedicated to rural housing rentals, offers a diverse range of vacant houses located in rural areas throughout the country. According to the platform's customer service team, the lease periods for these houses can span from a few months to decades, with annual rents varying from 10,000 yuan (about 1,440 U.S. dollars) to tens of thousands of yuan. The prospect of personally renovating a yard has evolved into a cherished aspiration for numerous city dwellers. A Shanghai resident, known by the username "Zhanzhan" on China's lifestyle-sharing social media platform Xiaohongshu, shared captivating videos of her home and yard renovation journey online, attracting a significant number of views. Born in the 1980s, Zhanzhan chose to rent a house in the suburb of the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou for a lease term of 15 years. She spent six months completely renovating her dwelling. "This was my first time ever refurbishing a house, and I couldn't even understand the drawings. But with a clear vision of the desired effect in mind, I embarked on my creative endeavor fueled by intuition and a deep sense of love," she said. Within a matter of two days, her captivating video documenting a year's worth of hard work went viral, propelling her subscriber count to skyrocket from 3,000 to 50,000. Her video managed to capture the attention of numerous young people and some of them were also inspired by her to live in the countryside. According to Zhanzhan, in the future, an increasing number of young Chinese will be drawn to the idea of residing in rural villages and more urbanites will opt to rent rural yards in the suburbs, within a one to two-hour drive from the bustling city center. She added that these rural retreats will serve as tranquil havens for rest and relaxation during holidays or as creative studios where individuals can work and unleash their artistic pursuits.
YEREVAN, MAY 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has become a member of IFIA  the International Federation of Inventors Associations  thanks to an invention by a scientist at the National University of Architecture and Construction.

The invention, officially called Fasteners for Steel Reinforcements, was awarded the silver medal and a certificate at the 13th International Expo-Competition of Middle East Inventions in Kuwait held in February this year.

The author of the invention is Professor Vardges Grigoryan, Head of the Department of Construction Industry Technology and Organization at the National University of Architecture and Construction. The application to IFIA was submitted by the National University of Architecture and Construction.
European human rights summit to step up aid for Ukraine to counter Russian invasion View Photo

BRUSSELS (AP)  At the conclusion of their previous Council of Europe summit, the 46 member states solemnly declared they would bear witness to unprecedented pan-European unity.

Fast-forward 18 years, to the day, on Tuesday, and the same institution, Europes pre-eminent human rights organization, faces a massive war on its own continent, forcing it to gather as many of its leaders as possible in Reykjavik, Iceland, to deal with the epochal crisis in Ukraine, one of its member states.

Perhaps more heed should have been paid to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrovs ominous warning at the 2005 summit in Warsaw that Russia was, is and will be a major European nation.

Neither Lavrov, nor any Russian government official, will be flying to Europes far-flung island nation, since the Council expelled Russia over its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The two-day summit will seek to reinforce a sense of common purpose and the defense of Ukraine stands out like a beacon.

The Strasbourg-based Council of Europe doesnt have the same high-stakes profile as, for example, the European Union but since its inception in 1949 it has been a guardian, with fluctuating success, of human rights, democracy and the rule of law on the continent. Rarely has the need been higher than in todays world.

Considering the plight at home and the rumblings about an imminent counteroffensive, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy might not make the long trip to the island just south of the Arctic Circle.

He will find plenty willing to do the talking for him.

I will very strongly support the creation of a dedicated tribunal to bring Russias crime of aggression to trial, said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who will join the likes of French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and dozens of other leaders. They will seek to add to the military and economic aid that many European nations have already sent to Kyiv.

During the two days of speeches, roundtables and diplomatic networking, the leaders will focus on legal issues.

The Council wants to make sure that Russia can be held accountable for what it sees as a plethora of crimes committed during the invasion. The summit will seek to create a register of all the damage already caused by Russian forces so Moscow can be held liable for compensation to the victims later.

It will be a first step, but a very good step towards Russian compensation so far for Ukraine, von der Leyen said.

The Council is hoping that the United States, which has observer status at the summit, will also back that initiative.

It is not as if this is the only legal challenge Moscow faces. In March, the International Criminal Court said it had issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine. Another official has also been indicted.

Since the start of the war, the Russians have been accused of deporting Ukrainian children to Russia or Russian-held territories to raise them as their own. Thousands of children have been seized from schools and orphanages during Russias occupation of eastern Ukraine. Their whereabouts are still unknown.

The summit now wants to increase help in identifying and locating those children and beef up efforts to bring them home.

Not that the whole Council of Europe is working in unison or doesnt have its own internal strife.

Only last week, the troops of two Council members, Armenia and Azerbaijan, exchanged artillery fire along their tense border, leaving at least one soldier dead and several others wounded. The latest bout of escalation between the longtime adversaries threatened to derail attempts at peace talks.

And some Council members, like Hungary and Serbia, still have a soft spot for Russia.

Serbia would send the lowest-level delegation possible, declared President Aleksandar Vucic, saying if Ukraines territorial integrity was so central to the summit, that should equally apply to Serbia, whose former province of Kosovo declared independence.

I wont go. It is a farce, he said.

By RAF CASERT

Associated Press
LOS LUNAS, N.M. (AP)  Authorities on Sunday were assessing the damage after a sidewalk sinkhole developed on a New Mexico bridge, resulting in the rescue of two pedestrians.

Los Lunas police said the citys Main Street bridge over the Rio Grande remained closed due to the sinkhole under a sidewalk on the east side of the bridge.

Theres culverts nearby that undermined the roadway and for that reason, it caused some areas to erode, New Mexico Department of Transportation District 3 spokeswoman Kimberly Gallegos said. Thats when we started to realize that we had to get traffic off of this roadway.

Gallagos added that water levels are high and the culverts are being affected by that.

Albuquerque TV station KOAT said a man and his son were rescued Saturday night after two women passing by the sidewalk sinkhole heard someone calling for help.

Several media reports Saturday night said the bridge partially collapsed, but authorities said that was not accurate.

New Mexico Department of Transportation officials were on the scene Sunday trying to determine the extent of the culvert damage on one of Valencia Countys main roads.

Los Lunas Fire Chief John Gabaldon said a water line had to be shut off to prevent more problems if a pipe running through the sinkhole broke.

Gabaldon didnt immediately know how many homes were affected by the water outage.

Los Lunas is about 24 miles (38.6 kilometers) south of Albuquerque.
President Joe Biden View Photo

President Biden spoke about holding airlines accountable when it comes to flight delays and cancellations.

Biden was Mondays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words:

As we approach Memorial Day this weekend and  Memorial Day Weekend  Im rushing it  and a busy summer travel season, Im here to talk about steps my administration is taking to make air travel better for all Americans.

The airline industry is a key part of our economy. And theyve been critical partners in a number of important initiatives, from requiring employees to get COVID vaccines to addressing the supply chain problems over the last couple of years.

But I know how frustrated many of you are with the service you get from your U.S. airlines, especially after you, the American taxpayer, stepped up in 2020, in the last administration, in the early days of the pandemic, to provide nearly $50 billion of assistance to keep the airline industry and its employees afloat.

I get it.

Thats why our top priority has been to get American air travelers a better deal. Weve made real progress, some of which you just heard.

Historically, when delays and cancellations are the airlines fault, the law has only required airlines to refund customers the price of their flight ticket but not the cost of meals or hotels or transportation when you get left in limbo.

In fact, a year ago, almost no major airline guaranteed any compensation beyond the price of the ticket if they caused a delay  the delay was their fault. No reimbursement for a hotel after a canceled flight or a meal after a delayed flight.

But then we challenged them to do better. And, in fact, they did. Airlines started to change their policies when theyre at fault for canceling or delaying a flight.

Now, 9 major airlines cover hotels, 10 cover meals, 10 rebook for free. And thats real savings for middle-class and working-class families.

For example, to rebook fees, it could run as high as $200 per ticket. Now you dont have to pay anything to rebook for most airlines. And that 200  that $200 is back in your pocket  even more if youre traveling with your family. But  but thats not all.

At my State of the Union Address, I pointed out airlines charging up to $50 a ticket just so you could sit next to your child. As I said, baggage frees [sic] are  fees are bad enough without you knowing the cost. Airlines cant just treat a child like a piece of baggage.

Well, guess what happened? Major airlines changed their ways. American Airlines, Alaskan Airlines, and Frontier Airlines  they agreed to address family seating so parents can sit with their children without paying an additional charge.

United Airlines also took important steps towards guaranteeing free family seating beyond not  in other words, no cost beyond the cost of the  the original cost of the ticket.

For families, thats money back in your pocket. And that good  thats a piece  that gives you peace of mind. Thats progress. But theres more.

Last fall, the Department of Transportation proposed a rule that will be finalized this year. If finalized as proposed, it would require airlines to show you the full ticket price upfront before you purchase it, including fees for baggage, for Internet, for changing your seat. That way you can get a fuller, more accurate price before you purchase your ticket, and you can compare prices and pick the best deal.

But were not stopping there. We know how frustrating delays, cancellations, and rebookings are for travelers.

Last holiday season, travelers were stranded for days and had to scramble to find other ways to  for reaching their destinations. Many missed family gatherings, spent Christmas at an airport, waited countless hours in line or on the phone because there werent enough pilots, there werent enough personnel. Thats unacceptable.

And while flight delays and cancellations have come down since then, theres still a problem. American air travelers deserve better, and thats what were going to do  thats what were doing here today.

And Im proud to announce two critical steps that my administration is taking to protect American air passengers.

First, we just launched a new website: FlightsRight.gov [FlightRights.gov]. FlightsRight.gov [FlightRights.gov].

It features a dashboard we created last fall to give travelers more transparency into airlines compensation policies.

So, if its the airlines fault and your flight was cancelled or delayed, you can check the dashboard to see how the airline should be compensating you, like rebooking a flight or accommodating your hotel room or  and your meals.

And today, weve expanded that dashboard to include airlines guaranteeing an additional compensation like cash, miles, or travel vouchers.

But heres the deal: If you look at the dashboard today, youll find that only two airlines guarantee additional compensation beyond the ticket refund.

If your flight is very delayed or cancelled and the airline could have prevented that from  you deserve more than just being  getting the price of your ticket. You deserve to be fully compensated. Your time matters. The impact on your life matters.

Thats why Im announcing a second critical step today to protect American consumers.

Later this year, my administration will propose a historic new rule that will make it mandatory, not voluntary  but mandatory for all U.S. airlines to compensate you with meals, hotels, taxis, ride shares, or rebo-  and rebooking foo-  fees, and cash, miles, and/or travel vouchers whenever they are the ones to blame for the cancellation or delay. And thats all on top of refunding the cost of your ticket.

Airline passengers in Canada, for example, and the European Union and other places already get these compensations. And guess what? It works.

One study found that the European Union required airlines to compensate passengers for flight delays; the number of flight delays went down.

I appreciate Secretary Buttigiegs leadership on this issue. And I hope and expect the Department of Transportation to move as quickly as it can to put this new rule in place. It matters.

I know these things may not matter to the very wealthy, but they matter most to middle-class families and people struggling to get the cost in the first place of getting that airline.

And  and so, look, these actions are in addition to other progress weve been making to lower costs for American families, holding corporations accountable, and grow our economy from the bottom up and the middle out, not just the top down.

I signed a groundbreaking executive order on competition that is helping us do everything from lowering the cost of hearing aids to banning non-compete clauses. And in my State of the Union Address, you may recall, I called for an end to junk fees  that is those hidden surcharges that you see at hotels, concerts, and credit card bills that you didnt know about before you got the ticket.

I continue to call on Congress to pass the Junk Free [Fee] Prevention Act, because thats what American consumers deserve.

Im going to close with this: Were making progress, but we have more to do to re-  to reverse decades of concentrated corporate power and to continuing to lower prices and increasing opportunities for families, workers, and small-business owners and entrepreneurs.

So lets finish the job and remember who we are. As Ive said many times, were the United States of America. Theres nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together. This is just about being fair. Its about being fair.

God bless you all. And may God protect our troops. Thank you.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
Israeli forces shoot, kill Palestinian man in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials say View Photo

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP)  Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian man in the occupied West Bank on Monday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, the latest death in a spiral of violence that has rocked the region.

The Health Ministry said 22-year-old Saleh Sabra was killed after being shot in the chest in the flashpoint West Bank city of Nablus, a frequent site of Israeli operations.

The Israeli military said that troops preparing to demolish the home of a Palestinian attacker came under fire and shot back. Israel demolishes the homes of attackers in an attempt to deter others, a tactic critics say amounts to collective punishment.

The death comes after more than a year of relentless violence in the West Bank, where the Israeli military has been conducting near-nightly raids in response to Palestinian attacks against Israelis. It also follows a deadly five-day burst of fighting between Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip.

More than 250 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched the West Bank raids in March of last year, with 112 of those killed just this year according to a tally by The Associated Press. Israel says most of the dead were militants, but youths protesting the incursions and others not involved in the confrontations have also been killed. During the Gaza fighting last week, 33 Palestinians were killed, with 18 of them identified as militants.

Since the violence erupted last year, 51 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks against Israelis.

Tensions are expected to surge again later this week, when Israeli nationalists hold an annual march through the main Palestinian thoroughfare in Jerusalems Old City. The march, which marks the Israeli capture of east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war, often gets rowdy, with participants chanting slurs against Arabs. The Palestinians see the gathering as provocative.

In 2021, after weeks of Israeli-Palestinian unrest in Jerusalem, authorities changed the route of the march at the last minute to avoid the Palestinian area. But it was too late by then, and Hamas militants in Gaza fired a barrage of rockets toward Jerusalem as the procession was getting underway. That set off 11 days of heavy fighting in Gaza.
Back in the Arab League after 12 years, Syria urges group to invest in war-torn country

Back in the Arab League after 12 years, Syria urges group to invest in war-torn country View Photo

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)  Syria on Monday called on Arab countries to invest in the war-torn nation, now again a member of the Arab League. The appeal from Syrias economy and trade minister came during an economic conference in Saudi Arabia ahead of a league summit in the kingdom.

The 22-member Arab League agreed earlier this month 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.

However, crippling Western sanctions against Assads government remain in place and could prevent oil-rich Arab countries from rushing to invest in Syria  or lead to a quick release of reconstruction funds in the war-battered country.

We invite you to participate in investing in Syria, where there are important opportunities and promising horizons, said the Syrian minister, Mohammed Samer al-Khalil, as he addressed the opening session of the conference Monday in Jeddah.

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan also spoke, welcoming Syrias return to the Arab League and saying he looked forward to working together to achieve what we aim for.

Syria earlier this month opened regional talks with Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Egypt in Amman, as part of an Arab-led initiative to resolve the Syrian conflict. Analysts say investments will likely be limited until Syria reaches a political solution to the conflict and resolves a host of other pressing issues  millions of Syrian refugees, a flourishing illicit drug trade and extremist militant groups.

It is unclear if Assad, who has been formally invited to the Arab League summit on Friday, will take part in it.

On Monday evening, Syrias Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad arrived in Jeddah to attend meetings that precede the summit, Syrias state news agency, SANA, reported.

This is a new opportunity to tell our Arab brothers that we dont look to the past but to the future, Mekdad told reporters upon arrival, according to SANA. There are many challenges that we should discuss and gather our force as Arabs to face them. They include the Arab-Israeli conflict and climate change.

Syria was suspended from the league over Assads brutal cracking down on mass protests against his rule in 2011. The uprising quickly turned into a civil war that has killed nearly a half million people and displaced half of the countrys pre-war population of 23 million.

Saudi Arabia had been a key backer of armed opposition groups attempting to overthrow Assad, but in recent months Riyadh had called for dialogue. Last month, Mekdad visited Riyadh and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, visited Damascus and met with Assad. Last week, the two countries agreed on reopening their embassies.

In his speech, al-Khalil also thanked Arab countries for sending aid to Syria following the February earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria, killing over 50,000 people, including more than 6,000 in Syria.

In addition to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt have also renewed ties with Damascus, following normalization efforts from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain years ago.

Still, Kuwait, Morocco, and Qatar, remain opposed to normalizing relations with Syria and Qatar continues to be a key backer of Syrian rebel groups fighting Assad.

____

Mroue reported from Beirut.

By ALBERT AJI and BASSEM MROUE

Associated Press
Imprisoned Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi to receive PEN Americas Freedom to Write Award View Photo

NEW YORK (AP)  The Iranian writer, journalist and human rights activist Narges Mohammadi will be honored at this weeks PEN America Literary Gala. Mohammadi, currently jailed for spreading propaganda, is to receive the 2023 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award.

Narges Mohammadi inspires awe across the world for her unflinching courage and resistance to the Iranian governments determined campaign to silence her, PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel said in a statement released Monday. The sacrifices that she and her family have made are heartbreaking. She is a beacon for free expression in one of the most harsh places in the world for writers, journalists, and artists.

Mohammadis husband, the journalist and activist Taghi Rahmani, will accept the prize on her behalf. The PEN gala will take place Thursday night at the American Museum of Natural History, with fellow honorees including Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels, winner of the PEN/Audible Literary Service Award.

The PEN/Barbey prize is given to writers persecuted for their work. Previous recipients include Ukrainian freelance journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko and Chinese activist Xu Zhiyong.

The 51-year-old Mohammadi has a long history of imprisonment and harsh punishment, including torture and solitary confinement. In 2020, she was released after serving 8 1/2 years on charges ranging from planning crimes against Iran to forming an illegal organization. At one time, Mohammadi was vice president of the banned Defenders of Human Rights Center.

Earlier in May, she was one of three imprisoned Iranian journalists to receive the United Nations World Press Freedom Prize.

By HILLEL ITALIE

AP National Writer
RETAIL RECEIPTS

The Commerce Department on Tuesday releases retail sales data for April.

Analysts expect that sales improved last month, rising 0.8% from March to April. In March, Americans cut their spending at retail stores for the second straight month, a sign consumers are becoming more cautious after a burst of spending in January. Retail sales fell 0.6% in March from February.

Retail sales, monthly percent change, seasonally adjusted:

Oct.: 1.1

Nov.: -1.3

Dec.: -0.7

Jan.: 2.8

Feb.: -0.7

March: -0.6

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce

TARGET RESULTS

Retailer Target reports its latest quarterly financial results on Wednesday.

Wall Street analysts expect Minneapolis-based Target made $1.77 in the period on sales of $25.3 billion. In the same period last year, Target missed profit projections, posting earnings of $2.19 per share. In February, Target announced plans to invest as much as $5 billion this year expanding services for customers, including a drive up service for returns, store renovations and online shopping upgrades.

HOME SALES

The National Association of Realtors releases monthly data for sales of existing homes on Thursday.

In March, sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell 2.4% from February and 22% from March 2022. Rising mortgage rates and low supply have made it tough for home buyers, especially first timers. The good news is that home prices are on the decline. NAR said the national median home price slipped to $375,700, the biggest annual median drop in more than a decade.

U.S. home sales by month, seasonally adjusted annual rate:

Nov.: 4.12 million

Dec.: 4.03 million

Jan.: 4 million

Feb.: 4.58 million

March: 4.44 million

April (est.): 4.33 million

Source: FactSet
TIRANA, Albania (AP)  Preliminary results of Albanias municipal elections on Monday showed that a mayoral candidate from the Greek minority has won the post while he is in detention for alleged vote-buying.

Fridays arrest of Dhionisios Alfred Beleri, a candidate for mayor of the Albanian city of Himare  a town located in the Albanian Riviera 240 kilometers (150 miles) south of the capital, Tirana, that has a Greek minority presence  raised tensions between the two neighbors.

Greeces Foreign Ministry demanded Beleris immediate release, hinting that the case could negatively impact Albanias application to join the European Union.

Beleri was arrested by Albanian police while he was allegedly offering some 40,000 Albanian leks (360 euros; $390) to buy eight votes. A second person was arrested on the same charges and a court confirmed Saturday that they would both remain in custody.

Beleri belongs to the Human Rights Union Party of the ethnic Greek minority, but in this municipal vote he was the candidate for a coalition that also included the center-left Freedom Party of former president Ilir Meta and a breakaway group from the center-right opposition Democratic Party.

Supporters were shouting his name Monday after learning of Beleris victory, just 19 votes ahead of the candidate of the governing Socialist Party.

During a campaign stop in Athens ahead of Sundays national elections in Greece, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he had been very pleased to hear of Beleris victory.

I hope this incident will soon be over, because  Albanias course towards (European Union membership) leads past the respect it shows for the rights of the Greek ethnic minority, he said Monday.

On Saturday Albanian Foreign Minister Olta Xhacka responded angrily to Athens remarks, saying it was nearly impossible to understand how our friends have the right to dispute a court decision in our country, when the hard evidence they were looking for couldnt be any harder  Beleri has been caught engaging in criminal activity against free and fair elections.

Relations between Greece and post-communist Albania have been at times uneasy, largely over the issues of minority rights and the sizeable Albanian community in Greece.

Preliminary results show that the divided opposition won only six out of 61 municipalities, with all the rest remaining with the ruling Socialists of Prime Minister Edi Rama. The turnout was around 38%  up from 23% four years ago when the vote was boycotted by the opposition.

The campaigns and coverage for these local elections focused mostly on national politics and parties and not on the issues of greatest importance in the different localities, particularly outside of Tirana, said a preliminary report by the international observers. This  reduced the regions ability of voters to make their choice.

The election monitoring office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has had more than 250 observers monitoring Albanias vote.

___

Nicholas Paphitis contributed from Athens, Greece.

___

Follow Llazar Semini on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lsemini

By LLAZAR SEMINI

Associated Press
TIJUANA, Mexico (AP)  Pandemic-era limits on asylum known as Title 42 have been rarely discussed among many of tens of thousands of migrants massed on Mexico's border with the United States.

Their eyes were  and are  fixed instead on a new U.S. government mobile app that grants 1,000 people daily an appointment to cross the border and seek asylum while living in the U.S. With demand far outstripping available slots, the app has been an exercise in frustration for many  and a test of the Biden administration's strategy of coupling new legal paths to entry with severe consequences for those who don't follow them.

You start to give up hope but it's the only way, said Teresa Munoz, 48, who abandoned her home in the Mexican state of Michoacan after a gang killed her husband and beat her. She has been trying for a month to gain entry through the app, called CBPOne, while staying in a Tijuana shelter with her two children and 2-year-old grandson.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the Border Patrol made 6,300 arrests on Friday  the first day after the Title 42 restrictions expired  and 4,200 Saturday. That's sharply below the 10,000-plus on three days last week as migrants rushed to get in before new policies to restrict asylum took effect.

It is still early," Mayorkas said Sunday on CNN's State of the Union. We are in day three, but we have been planning for this transition for months and months. And we have been executing on our plan. And we will continue to do so.

Despite the drop in recent days, authorities predict arrests will spike to between 12,000 and 14,000 a day, Matthew Hudak, deputy Border Patrol chief, said in a court filing Friday. And authorities cannot confidently estimate how many will cross, Hudak said, noting intelligence reports failed to quickly flag a singular surge of 18,000 predominantly Haitian migrants in Del Rio, Texas, in September 2021.

More than 27,000 migrants were in custody along the border one day last week, a number that may top 45,000 by the end of May if authorities cant release migrants without orders to appear in immigration court, Hudak said.

The administration plans to ask an appeals court Monday for permission to release migrants without orders to appear in court. Authorities say it takes between 90 minutes and two hours to process a single adult for court - potentially choking Border Patrol holding facilities  and longer to process families. By contrast, it takes only 20 minutes to release someone with instructions to report to an immigration office in 60 days, a common practice since 2021 to ease overcrowding along the border.

The Justice Department even raised the possibility of declining to take people into custody if it cant quickly release migrants, calling that a worst-case scenario.

President Joe Biden, spending the weekend at his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, said his hope was that the border numbers would continue to go down but that we have a lot more work to do.

We need some more help from the Congress as well, in terms of funding and legislative changes, Biden told reporters.

The administration is touting new legal pathways in an effort to deter illegal crossings, including parole for 30,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans a month who apply online with a financial sponsor and arrive at an airport.

Hundreds of predominantly Colombian migrants waited to be processed Saturday in searing heat near Jacumba, California, having slept for days in thatched tents east of San Diego and getting by on the Border Patrol's limited supply of cookies and water. Several said they crossed illegally after trying the app without success or hearing tales of frustration from others.

Ana Cuna, 27, said she and other Colombians paid $1,300 each to be guided across the border after reaching Tijuana. She said she touched foot on U.S. soil hours before Title 42 expired Thursday but, like others, was given a numbered wristband by the Border Patrol and, two days later, had not been processed.

Under Title 42, a public-health rule, migrants were denied asylum more than 2.8 million times on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19. When it expired, the administration launched a policy to deny asylum to people who travel through another country, like Mexico, to the U.S., with few exceptions.

We want to come according to the law and be welcomed, said Cuna, whose thatched tent included Colombian women and families hoping to reach Chicago, San Antonio, Philadelphia and Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Releasing migrants without court orders but with instructions to report an immigration office in 60 days became widespread in 2021. Directing that processing work to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices when migrants report to the agencys offices created additional delays  with ICE offices in New York backed up until 2033 just to schedule an initial court appearance.

U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell in Pensacola, Florida, in March ordered an end to the practice, which the administration had effectively stopped by then anyway. It chose not to appeal the ruling but reactivated the policy last week, calling it an emergency response. The state of Florida protested and Wetherell ordered the administration to avoid the quick releases for two weeks. He scheduled a hearing on Friday.

Since CBPOne launched Jan. 12 for asylum-seekers, it has exasperated many with error messages, difficulty capturing photos and a frantic daily ritual of racing thumbs on phone screens until slots run out within minutes.

In Tijuana, Munoz looked into being smuggled through the mountains east of San Diego but determined it would cost too much. She is still haunted by walking through the Arizona desert in the mid-2000s on a grueling one-week trek. After saving money working double shifts at a supermarket near Los Angeles, she returned to Mexico to raise her children.

Last week, the administration increased the number of slots awarded on the app to 1,000 from 740, began granting priority to those who try longest, and released slots gradually throughout the day instead of all at once, which had created mad rushes. So far, Munoz said she is unconvinced.

___

Associated Press writer Seung Min Kim contributed to this report from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  The Mexican government said Monday that renewed Texas truck inspections at the Brownsville-Matamoros crossings have caused delays as long as 27 hours for freight shipments crossing the border.

Mexicos Economy Department called on Texas to stop the stepped-up inspections, which began May 8, and said Mexico will take up the issue in Trade Facilitation Committee of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement.

The dispute echoes a similar move by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in 2022 that caused massive traffic backups along the border. Abbott has claimed such inspections are meant to stop the smuggling of migrants and drugs, but in 2022 inspectors didnt report finding any, though they did spot some safety issues.

Mexicos position is that drugs and migrant smuggling is an issue for federal law enforcement, not states.

Abbott has often sought to gain publicity with high-profile anti-immigration measures.

The imposition of these inspections is creating millions in losses for both Mexican and U.S. firms, the Economy Department said in a statement, adding the delays mainly affect perishable goods.

The United States is a huge importer of Mexican-grown produce.

In the end, U.S. consumers will be the ones who pay the price for these policies, the department said.

The department said it would take the case to the trade facilitation committee in the coming days. The USMCA requires member countries to provide clear, quick and honest customs and border inspections.

In 2022, Abbott repealed the heightened inspections after a week of intensifying backlash and fears of deepening economic losses. Abbott fully lifted the inspections after reaching agreements with neighboring Mexican states that he said outline new commitments to border security.
YEREVAN, MAY 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan believes that the main goal of Armenia's foreign policy should be the establishment of normal relations with all neighbors, ARMENPRESS reports, Pashinyan said in an interview with the Czech "Respekt" magazine, answering the question about what lessons Armenia has learned in the last 15 months.

"Because of our complicated history, we have learned not to have normal relations with some of our neighbors. Changing that is vitally important to our country. It seems very simple, but its implementation is connected with dozens of problems. there are some psychological and practical problems. Such a message is not easy for the Armenian society to digest," said the Prime Minister.

He said that he recently spoke in the National Assembly about establishing diplomatic relations with Armenia's neighbors, and an opposition member objected, saying that the Prime Minister is speaking as if Armenia's neighbor is Sweden.

"I replied, it would be good if we study the history of Scandinavia and Europe. If we think that Scandinavia has always been as peaceful as it is now, we are wrong. At that time, I was opposed, they said that unlike in our case, there was no genocide in Scandinavia. Yes, there are many differences between us and Scandinavia, but I think the essence is clear: people make history," Nikol Pashinyan emphasized and added that Armenia has good relations with Georgia and Iran and should continue to improve those relations.

According to him, Armenia now has almost no relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan, which should not remain like that.
Uebert Angel, an ambassador-at-large appointed by Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has reportedly been banned from YouTube after allegedly attempting to remove parts of Al Jazeeras Gold Mafia investigative documentary from the platform.

The documentary purported to show Angels alleged involvement in gold and money laundering activities in Zimbabwe, and claimed Mnangagwa had close ties to gold smugglers.

According to data analyst group Team Pachedu, Angel tried multiple times to remove content from the documentary, which led to YouTube banning him for violating their terms of service.

Team Pachedu said Angel is now trying to upload videos to his Facebook page instead.

YouTube sent Angel a letter explaining that they refused to remove the content because in many countries it is legal to use copyrighted material for purposes like news reporting and commentary.

Angels lawyer previously dismissed the allegations against his client, saying Angels words and actions in the documentary were part of a classified national intelligence operation.

Angel himself could not be reached for comment.

Breaking News via Email
Ezekiel Guti, the founder of Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa (Zaoga), celebrated his 100th birthday on May 5, 2022. The event was attended by thousands of Zaoga congregants, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and leaders from other Christian denominations.

Guti founded Zaoga in 1959. Under his leadership, the church has grown to have a presence in 168 countries across five continents. Mnangagwa praised Guti for pioneering indigenous Pentecostal evangelism in Zimbabwe and for Zaogas role in nation-building, saying he deserved the countrys highest honor.

At the celebration, Guti was presented with 100 balloons. He remained active throughout the program, occasionally standing up to dance. Leaders like Emmanuel Makandiwa from the United International Family Church also attended.

In his speech, Mnangagwa congratulated Guti and Zaoga. He urged church leaders to pray for peaceful elections later this year.

On this occasion, we have gathered here to witness history. I am honoured to be part of this occasion. We are also commemorating 75 years of preaching and 63 years of Zaoga church.

Developments in the church are a clear testimony of grace upon Ezekiel Guti. We join the country in celebrating this historic moment. We are all witnessing this through the works of this great church and I wish to congratulate you on behalf of the country and my family on this centenary celebration of your birth.

I call upon church leaders to intercede and pray for peaceful elections. We dont want violence and bloodshed. I call upon the nation to remain guided by 1 Peter 3 verses 8 to 10 which says: Let us seek to be of one mind, loving one another and refraining from evil and deceit, pursuing peace at all times.

No matter our endeavours across the socio-economic and political spectrum, let us use our God-given gifts for His glory and the prosperity of our nation. As a God-loving, Christian nation, may we never tire seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness trusting that all other things shall be added unto us, Mnangagwa said.

Gutis wife recalled how he became a Christian at a young age after learning that sinners go to hell. She said Guti then spent time alone in the mountains seeking God.

In 1938, he was told that sinners will go to hell and to avoid hell he gave his life to God. He went into the mountains seeking God until such a time when God said to him fear not, sin not, she said.

The Zaoga executive chairman described Guti as a unique man of God whose life has impacted five continents.

Breaking News via Email
Authorities clash with greedy schools only taking strong dollar

The Zimbabwean government is investigating schools that are reportedly rejecting the Zimbabwe dollar and only accepting foreign currency for school fees.

Schools reopened last week for the second term amid concerns from parents about rising fees due to the deteriorating economy. However, Education Deputy Minister Edgar Moyo stated that it is illegal for schools to refuse the Zimbabwe dollar as a legal tender for fees payments.

Moyo urged parents to report schools that refuse to accept the Zimbabwe dollar to district school inspectors so corrective measures can be taken. He said the government is working with the Ministry of Finance and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to address the issue and warn schools, stressing that schools must comply with the law.

While the government had allowed schools to quote fees in foreign currency, Moyo clarified that parents still have the option to pay in local currency using the prevailing interbank rate on the payment date. He stated that approving foreign currency fees does not mean schools can only accept foreign currency  they must also accept locally accepted currencies for payments.

Breaking News via Email
The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan expressed their unequivocal commitment to the Almaty Declaration. This was stated by the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, following the talks in Brussels.

May 15, 2023, 09:16 Armenia, Azerbaijan confirm commitment to 1991 Almaty Declaration and each others respective territorial integrity

STEPANAKERT, MAY 15, ARTSAKHPRESS: Below is the full statement:

It was a pleasure to host President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan today for a fifth meeting in Brussels. Our exchanges were frank, open and result-oriented. They focused on progress on the path towards Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization. The leaders shared a common willingness for a South Caucasus at peace. I commend their respective efforts. Together, we reviewed all issues on our agenda.

Following the recent positive talks held in the United States on the peace treaty, the momentum should be maintained to take decisive steps towards the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

On border issues, we reviewed progress and the next steps regarding the delimitation of the border. In this context, the leaders agreed on the resumption of the bilateral meetings on border issues. The leaders confirmed their unequivocal commitment to the 1991 Almaty Declaration and the respective territorial integrity of Armenia (29,800 km2) and Azerbaijan (86,600 km2). The ultimate delimitation of the border will be agreed through negotiations.

On connectivity, the sides made clear progress in their discussions aimed at unblocking transport and economic links in the region. Positions on this topic have now come very close to each other in particular on the reopening of the railway connections to and via Nakhchivan. Their respective teams have been tasked to finalize an in principle agreement on the modalities for the opening of the railway connections and the necessary construction works together with a concrete timetable. They also agreed to draw upon the support of the World Customs Organization in supporting this work.

On humanitarian issues, there has been an understanding that further detainees would be released in the coming weeks. I also stressed the need to safeguard the mutual understanding that soldiers who have simply got lost and crossed to the other side would continue to be released through a speedy procedure. We also discussed the importance of stepping up work on addressing the fate of missing persons and on demining.

We continued our exchanges on the issue of the rights and security of Armenians living in the former Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast. I encouraged Azerbaijan to engage in developing a positive agenda with the aim of guaranteeing the rights and security of this population, in close cooperation with the international community. I also raised the need for a transparent and constructive dialogue between Baku and this population.

I believe that it is important to refrain from hostile rhetoric, engage in good faith and show leadership to reach mutually-acceptable solutions.

The EU has no hidden agenda. Our sole aim is to help Armenia and Azerbaijan reach a comprehensive and fair peace. We are ready to contribute to their joint efforts. We have agreed to hold the Brussels meetings as often as necessary. Leaders will meet again in Brussels in July. And as was already announced publicly, we will also meet again in the very near future together with President Macron of France and Chancellor Scholz of Germany on the margins of the 2nd European Political Community Summit in Chisinau. I also intend to invite the leaders for another such meeting in the margins of the third EPC summit in Granada in October.
Perhaps I am too jaded, but I am finding it hard to have much sympathy for the latest round of big bank whinging, as summarized in EU under pressure to extend access to London clearing houses in the Financial Times.

To simplify a long story, the EU has long wanted to pry the clearing of Euro derivatives away from London to the Continent. The European Central Bank had sought to do so, but the UK successfully contested the move. In 2015, the European Court of Justice ruled that the ECB could not discriminate against an EU members that way.

The logic of that ruling meant that as soon as Brexit was in motion, it was clear the ECB could and would revive the idea of relocating derivatives trading. The EU gave London a waiver and let them continue to clear under equivalence rules, but only on an interim basis.

Now that the EU has set a drop-dead date of mid 2025 to move a big chunk of this activity eastward, banks, including many top European derivative players, are sounding alarms that this switch would be risky, might hurt vaunted market efficiency, and would cost them money. Extracts from the pink paper:

The EU is coming under mounting pressure from Europes biggest derivatives houses to radically rethink its plans for wresting euro-denominated clearing from the City of London. Clearing houses  which reduce market risk by standing between two parties in a trade  have been a key battleground since Brexit, with the EU intent on moving the clearing of strategically important European trades to the continent as soon as it is practical to do so. The latest deadline, which the EU has vowed will be the final cut-off, is June 2025. But finance bosses have warned of the grave risk to financial stability which Brussels blueprint poses. Europes biggest derivatives houses, including BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank and Societe Generale, vehemently oppose the EUs plans, fearing extra costs and less efficient clearing, while Londons clearing house LCH, which stands to lose lucrative business, has also pushed for a rethink. Banks, LCH and their lobby groups stepped up efforts to overturn the European Commissions plans in recent weeks, warning that Brussels proposals to bring the activity onshore are not workable and could wreak havoc with European markets.

What bothers me about this article is that, as in the last paragraph, it featues assertions that the EU plans are bad, without giving a single example of what is wrong about their scheme (I hope Colonel Smithers will weigh in in comments; this should be right up his alley). Instead, the article gives the strong impression that the beef really is that they are having to do this at all. I doubt that this is anywhere near as difficult to do as they suggest. You build a parallel system, road test it very hard on realistic volumes, and then move the trades over.

What I suspect is doing it right would cost way more than they want to spend and cutting corners to bring costs down to an acceptable level would indeed produce risks of blowups (and blowups at high volumes are like a tire going out in a Formula 1 race: all sorts of bad things happen, such a spin-out that hits other cars). So they are establishing their own facts on the ground: by not doing much preparation, they are making it impossible to meet the deadline.

We see some support for that reading. Again from the Financial Times:

People familiar with the EUs position said Brussels was not entertaining an extension now and that any changes would fall to the next commission, which takes over in late 2024. The commission said its decision last February to extend equivalence for UK clearing houses ensures the EUs financial stability in the short-term. There are currently no plans to amend this decision. There is an inconsistency between the message at political level and the reality on the ground, another person involved in the industry discussions told the Financial Times. We almost take it as a given that equivalence will be extended.

Now it is very likely true that there are some things wrong with the EUs current requirements. Schemes like this usually need a lot of back and forth to hammer out details.

But what makes me suspect the issue is that the beef is about this plan moving forward at all is the lack of any examples of deficiencies in the EU plan that need to be fixed.

Moreover, I am bothered that the banker claim that less efficient derivatives clearing is a bad thing gets a free pass. Weve repeatedly argued that highly efficient trading is a bad thing because it encourages speculation, pulling resources away from productive real economy activity. Derivatives are the poster child of that sort of thing. The highly profitable derivatives are used almost entirely for socially destructive activities like money laundering, tax evasion, and accounting gaming. Yes, those derivatives are for the most part bespoke and thus likely not centrally cleared. But the bank that writes that trade will need to hedge it. That would entail the use of centrally cleared derivatives. Make hedging more costly and fewer of those bad-behavior-enabling derivatives will be written.

Readers are encouraged to tell me Im all wet, there are X really bad provisions in the EU proposal that will result in Y bad outcomes. But absent getting more specifics about what is wrong with the details of the relocation plan, Im sticking to my guns that the real beef is that this is being done at all, and most of these complaints are a rearguard action to hold off the transition as long as humanely possible.
The joy of sulk Aeon

Scientists criticise Nasa for scaling back mission to explore beyond Pluto The Guardian

Mushrooms Appear to Have Electrical Conversations After It Rains Science Alert

Climate/Environment

States rush to make rules governing CO2 pipelines planned for Midwest Minnesota Reformer

#COVID-19

The troll/bots are saying NPIs like respirators arent needed against an endemic infection. They dont realise that mosquito nets are endemic in malaria zones. Ditto for condoms with HIV. Endemic means NPIs forever. So learn to love it. https://t.co/saW6K3dzX9 .

Enrique Iglesias Drops Out Of Headlining Music Festival Due To Pneumonia Deadline

Bird Flu

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India

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China?

America cant get there from here Godfree Roberts

Asians can think for themselves on Taiwan Nikkei Asia

China became the worlds largest vehicle exporter in Q1 2023, surpassing Japan Car News China

Marco Rubio and 2 other US senators introduce bill to rename the Taipei Representative Office to Taiwan Representative Office, the exact same move as Lithuania 2 years ago, which led China to effectively cut almost all relations with the country. https://t.co/lxeN4WB4G0

Thailand election 2023: Opposition parties dominate election as polls close, eye coalition South China Morning Post

New Not-So-Cold War

Rules for Pentagon Use of Proxy Forces Shed Light on a Shadowy War Power New York Times

***

Good Morning from #Germany where the Greens heading for setback in tdys election in city-state of Bremen, w/voters expected to punish them over concerns their climate policies will place excessive burden on households. At federal level, Greens have fallen to 16%, on par pic.twitter.com/OWBlvNAHBG

***

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By Kenny Stancil, a staff writer at Common Dreams, from where this article was cross-posted.

Following what the Air Line Pilots Association called more than four years of empty promises, 3,000 off-duty United Airlines pilots represented by the union protested at major airports across the U.S. on Friday, demanding the finalization of a contract with higher pay and humane scheduling practices.

Thousands of United pilots are picketing coast-to-coast today to deliver management a message they cannot ignore: Enough is enough, Capt. Garth Thompson, chair of the United ALPA master executive council, said in a statement.

United management needs to stop slow-rolling negotiations and do the right thing for their pilots.

We have been stuck with an antiquated scheduling system and a contract nowhere near industry-leading standards, said Thompson. We want United to succeed as industry leaders, and every day that passes without an agreement is another day the best and brightest future aviators go elsewhere.

United pilotsjoined by ALPA president Capt. Jason Ambrosi, fellow ALPA pilots, and union supportersdemonstrated in front of terminals at airports in 10 cities as well as outside the companys flight training center in Denver.

Association of Flight Attendants-CWA president Sara Nelson was among those who participated in an act of solidarity.

I am proud to stand here today to send United Airlines management a message that the airlines pilots have the full backing of their international union in their fight for the contract they have earned, said Ambrosi, who leads the 69,000-member union and joined a picket line in Chicago. United management needs to stop slow-rolling negotiations that have dragged into their fifth year and do the right thing for their pilots.

Management has failed to recognize the value pilots bring to the overall success of the airline, ALPA said. United pilots were there for customers during one of the worst times for travel in recent history, and they also helped United Airlines emerge from the pandemic stronger than before.

Thompson, who called Fridays nationwide informational picket a resounding success, stressed that United pilots will always be there for our customers.

Unfortunately, he added, the same cannot be said about management, who seems to think that a last-minute cancellation of a United pilots scheduled day off, or abrupt trip reassignments that extend into planned days off, is acceptable for a United pilots family.

This old pilot contract impacts our ability to maintain a healthy work-life balance, Thompson continued. United pilots will deal with this adversity in our usual professional and safe manner. We will continue to work in 2023 despite staffing shortages in Air Traffic Control facilities, aggressive summer schedules, capacity constraints, and weather. However, he noted, United pilots want the company and the public to know that the bold United Next growth plans cannot work without an updated pilot contract.

This old pilot contract impacts our ability to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

The action by United pilots comes in the wake of a pair of successful strike-authorization votes by pilots at other airlines.

On May 1, 95% of American Airlines pilots voted to authorize a strike. (Of the airlines 15,000 pilots, 96% participated, with 99% expressing support for a possible strike).

We will strike if necessary to secure the industry-leading contract that our pilots have earned and deservea contract that will position American Airlines for success, said Capt. Ed Sicher, president of the Allied Pilots Association. Our pilots resolve is unmistakable. We will not be deterred from our goal of an industry-leading contract.

The strike-authorization vote is one of several steps APA has taken to prepare for any eventuality and use all legal avenues available to us for contract improvement and resolution, Sicher noted. The best outcome is for APA and management to agree on an industry-leading contractachieved through good-faith bargainingbenefiting our pilots, American Airlines, and the passengers we serve.

On Thursday, 97% of Southwest pilots voted to authorize a strike. (Of the airlines 10,000-plus pilots, 98% participated, with 99% expressing support for a possible strike).

This is a historic day, not only for our pilots but for Southwest Airlines, said Capt. Casey Murray, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association. The lack of leadership and the unwillingness to address the failures of our organization have led us to this point. Our pilots are tired of apologizing to our passengers.

Murray and other union leaders have attributed Southwests meltdown last winter to executives yearslong refusal to invest in much-needed technological upgrades despite benefiting from billions of dollars in federal aid during the first two years of the Covid-19 pandemic.

We want our passengers to understand that we do not take this path lightly, Murray said Thursday. We want our customers to be prepared for the path ahead and make arrangements on other carriers so that their plans through the summer and fall are not disrupted.

Uniteds 14,000 pilots could be next in line to vote on strike authorization.

As The Associated Press reported Saturday, Pilots at all three carriers are looking to match or beat the deal that Delta Air Lines reached with its pilots earlier this year, which raised pay rates by 34% over four years.

United has proposed to match the Delta increase, but that might not be enough for a deal, AP observed. Citing Thompson, the outlet noted that discussion about wages has been held up while the two sides negotiate over scheduling, including the unions wish to limit Uniteds ability to make pilots work on their days off.

The nations pilots are unlikely to strike anytime soon, however, AP reported. Federal law makes it very difficult for unions to conduct strikes in the airline industry, and the last walkout at a U.S. carrier was more than a decade ago.

Under U.S. law, airline and railroad workers cant legally strike, and companies cant lock them out, until federal mediators determine that further negotiations are pointless, the outlet explained. It continued:

The National Mediation Board rarely declares a dead end to bargaining, and even if it does, there is a no-strikes cooling-off period during which the White House and Congress can block a walkout. Thats what President Bill Clinton did minutes after pilots began striking against American in 1997. In December, President Joe Biden signed a bill that Congress passed to impose contract terms on freight railroad workers, ending a strike threat. Regardless of the legal hurdles to a walkout, unions believe that strike votes give them leverage during bargaining, and they have become more common. A shortage of pilots is also putting those unions in particularly strong bargaining position.

Although Congress is highly unlikely to permit an airline strike, disgruntled pilots could still cause disruption through work to rule, Arthur Wheaton, director of labor studies at Cornell University, told AP.

They could say, Were not working any overtime,' said Wheaton. I dont anticipate the pilots trying to screw up travel for everybody intentionally, but bargaining is about leverage and power having the ability to do that can be a negotiating tactic.
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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(As delivered)

Chairman of the Alliance of Democracies Foundation Anders Fogh Rasmussen: Secretary General Stoltenberg, Jens, a warm welcome to the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, the place where democratic forces assemble and dictators aren't welcome. It's a big pleasure to have you with us.

So let's go directly to the issue. I'll start with a very broad question to you: In July, NATO will have its next Summit in Vilnius. So, how can the NATO Summit in Vilnius best express the strength, the determination and unity ahead of the jubilee Summit in Washington in April, or whenever it will be, next year?

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: First of all, Anders, thank you so much for inviting me, and thank you for the leadership you demonstrate and you have demonstrated for many, many years in standing up for democracy, for freedom, and also for convening the Copenhagen Democracy Summit. And it has been a great pleasure to work with you, first when we were both the Prime Ministers in Denmark and Norway for some years, and then also following you here at NATO.

The Summit in Vilnius will be a very important Summit because we meet at a critical time for our security. And I really hope that it will demonstrate once again that NATO is the strongest and most successful alliance in history because of two things: Because of our ability to adapt to change when the world is changing, when we face new threats and challenges and, of course, our ability to stand together, our unity.

And first and foremost, we need to demonstrate this in the way we reiterate our support to Ukraine. I expect Allies to repeat, and then strengthen and sustain the support for Ukraine, the political, the practical, the military support, but also that we will agree new plans on how to further strengthen our deterrence and defence. Because fundamentally, NATO's task is to support Ukraine, as NATO Allies and NATO have done now for more than a year, but also to prevent this war from escalating beyond Ukraine. And therefore, Im also looking forward to Allies agreeing new plans and new commitments to strengthen our collective defence, and our presence in the eastern part of the Alliance.

And the last thing I'll mention for the Summit in July is that we will also engage with our Asia-Pacific partners. For the second time in our history, we will invite heads of state and government from Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia to participate. And this demonstrates that we realise that what happens in Asia, in the Pacific, matters for NATO, and therefore we are strengthening our partnership with them.

Chairman Rasmussen: Lets zoom in a bit. No doubt that the issue of future NATO membership for Ukraine will be an issue. I mean, it won't be a topic that just will go away. Actually, during your recent visit to Kyiv, you said yourself that the future of Ukraine is within NATO. I know there's a lot of discussion, so how do you intend to address the issue of Ukrainian membership of NATO?

Secretary General Stoltenberg: I think that it is obvious that NATO Allies will, when they meet in July, the heads of state and government, they will send a very clear message of support to Ukraine, and this will be manifested in many different ways.

When it comes to membership. I expect that NATO Allies will say that Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance. This has been stated several times by heads of state and government. All Allies also agree that Ukraine has the right to choose its own path. It's not for Moscow to decide what Ukraine can do, its for Ukraine and 31 NATO Allies to decide on the issue of membership. And of course, NATOs door remains open.

I also expect that we will agree a multi-year programme for Ukraine, where we will work on how to help Ukraine transition from Soviet-era standards, doctrines, equipment to NATO standards, doctrines and equipment, and to become fully interoperable with NATO. And of course, to do that, also helps them to move towards NATO membership.

And then, I also strongly believe that all Allies will state that of course, the most urgent task now is to ensure that Ukraine prevails, that President Putin does not win in this war. Because it's only if Ukraine prevails as a sovereign independent nation in Europe that theres any meaning in discussing when and how Ukraine can become a member of the Alliance.

Chairman Rasmussen: Even in the best case, it will take some time to figure out on which conditions Ukraine could eventually join NATO. So the question is: Until then, does Ukraine need security guarantees? As you may know, I've co-authored a set of proposals called the Kyiv Security Compact that will guarantee the security of Ukraine until Ukraine can join NATO. Do you think, in the run-up to Vilnius, that a number of Allies could agree on a set of security guarantee for Ukraine?

Secretary General Stoltenberg: There are consultations going on, as always before the Summit, among Allies here at NATO and also, of course, in capitals. And of course, it's too early for me to pre-empt the exact conclusions of a meeting of heads of state and government when we have ongoing consultations. But again, I am absolutely certain that all Allies realise that we need to provide military support to Ukraine. More than 150 billion [euros] has been provided already in military support, and we just had new announcements from Germany this weekend, more than 2 billion euros, and also the United States. So Allies are providing military support. That's important for Ukraine to prevail, to win the war, but also of course, to strengthen Ukraine after war, to be able to deter and defend any further aggression.

We don't know how this war will end, but what we do know is that when it ends, it is extremely important that we are able to prevent history from repeating itself. Meaning that we need to ensure that the pattern we have seen of Russian aggression against neighbours  in Georgia in 2008, Crimea and 2014, later on Russia moving into eastern Donbas and then the full-fledged invasion last year this has to stop.

And the only way to ensure that that stops is partly to ensure that Ukraine has the military strength to deter and defend against further aggression from Russia, but also to find some kind of framework to prevent Russia, or President Putin, from continuing to chip away at European security. Exactly what kind of framework, I cannot tell you now, but what I can say is that if NATO Allies and especially of course, the big ones, start to issue security guarantees bilaterally to Ukraine, we are very close to Article 5. So there is no way to find an easy solution to these issues. The most important thing is to be very strong in our support Ukraine so Ukraine will prevail as a sovereign strong, independent nation in Europe.

Chairman Rasmussen: So lets discuss a bit the commitment by NATO Allies to invest sufficiently in defence. As you know, in Wales, at the NATO Summit in Wales back in 2014, we decided that within the next decade, all Allies would live up to invest at least 2% of GDP in defence. When we read your latest Annual Report, we see that only seven Allies lived up to that 2% target in 2022. That's very disappointing. So the question is: How would you address this issue in Vilnius? How would you press the Allies to actually live up to their commitments from 2014?

Secretary General Stoltenberg: Well, as you know, Anders, the decision in Wales in 2014 was something that was not easy to reach. You were then Secretary General, when that decision was made, and I am very glad that when I came in, we had that decision as a starting point. But of course, it reflected that some Allies were very eager to move fast to 2% and beyond, and other Allies were very reluctant. So whether it's good or bad, where we are now, depends a bit on whether you assess the glass as half full or half empty.

The reality is that since 2014, we have come a long way on defence spending, even though I would have been much appreciated NATO Allies to have done even more. Because before 2014, Allies across Europe and Canada were reducing defence spending. Since 2014, all Allies have increased defence spending - some more than others - but all have gone from going down to going up, which is a huge difference.

We have more than doubled the number of Allies meeting the 2% target, and even those who are not yet at 2% have now plans in place to be there within a few years. For instance, Germany; they're not there at 2%, but the increase they have already started to deliver makes a huge difference because of the size of Germany and because of the size - 100 billion [euros] - that has been set aside that enables them to reach 2% soon.

Then, the challenge was that since there were different views in Wales, the language says that we should aim to move towards 2%. And for some Allies, they interpreted that as a kind of ceiling we should move towards. I hope that in Vilnius, we will be able to agree to a much stronger commitment, meaning that we should not refer to 2% as something we aim to move towards, but we should have 2% not as a ceiling but the floor, a minimum, that all of us should deliver immediately, not within a decade. And if anything, the war in Ukraine has demonstrated for all Allies the need to invest more in defence. So I welcome the progress we have made. I want to see even more. Im certain that in Vilnius, we will have a stronger commitment to investing more in defence.

Chairman Rasmussen: When should they meet that floor?

Secretary General Stoltenberg: That should be immediately. So instead of having a decade-long perspective, because 2014 is of course different than 2023, things have changed: Allies realised in August 2014, when the Wales Summit was held, that we lived in a more dangerous world, but it's even more obvious now with the massive aggression of Russia against Ukraine.

So again, it's not for me to decide. This text will be negotiated, I will put forward my proposals, I will push hard for Allies to agree something which is stronger, referring to 2% as a minimum. And when we don't have a decade long, but it should be something that should be reached as soon as possible, immediately, without waiting more than absolutely necessary.

Chairman Rasmussen: Do you think that 2030 is as soon as possible?

Secretary General Stoltenberg: Well, it all varies because some Allies are, you know, quite far away from 2%, and of course there's no way to double your defence spending in one year. But other Allies, and more and more Allies, are now quite close to 2%. And of course, they could be there very soon. But the message should be that there is not yet another decade, you should all be at 2% as soon as possible. That should be the message from Vilnius.

Chairman Rasmussen: Okay. So, let me turn a bit to the broader world: In the new Strategic Concept, NATO addresses the challenges from China. And among other things, you write in the new Strategic Concept: We will stand up for our shared values and the rules-based international order, including freedom of navigation.

So what does this mean in practice? Could you imagine a NATO engagement in keeping the South China Sea or the Taiwan Strait open for international shipping?

Secretary General Stoltenberg: NATO Allies are present also in the South China Sea. They sail there with merchant ships and, of course, also sail there with military  or naval  ships. NATO will remain a regional alliance in North America and Europe. But what was clearly stated for the first time in the Strategic Concept we agreed in Madrid last year was that China matters for our security. And China poses a challenge to our interests, our values and to our security. And that's also one of the reasons why we are now working even more closely with our Asia-Pacific partners, and also why we have so clearly communicated that the status quo in and around Taiwan should not be changed by force, and China's threatening rhetoric and behaviour against Taiwan is unjustified, and any differences and disputes around Taiwan should be solved by peaceful means.

Chairman Rasmussen: Okay. My last Summit as Secretary General was the Wales Summit in 2014. I don't know if the Vilnius Summit will be your last Summit as Secretary General. I know that you indicated a desire to leave NATO, and I also know that it's very much restricted what you're able to say about this issue. But maybe I could ask you: Which qualifications do think that your successor should possess?

Secretary General Stoltenberg: I've had the privilege of serving as Secretary General of NATO for almost nine years now, and I'm totally focused on that task until my tenure ends in October. It's important for me to not be part of the discussion about who will come after me, my successor. So anything I say about that - qualifications or whatever it is  will just be interpreted as if I'm going into a discussion I should not be part of. Im absolutely confident that this Alliance of close to one billion people, many nations  31 nations - will absolutely be able to find a great successor following after me.

Chairman Rasmussen: My question and your reply will be between you and me. If Allies ask you to stay on, are you ready to continue and celebrate the 75th anniversary Summit in D.C. next year?

Secretary General Stoltenberg: I have made it clear that I have no other plans than to leave this fall. I will already have been almost twice as long as originally planned, and that's all I have to say about that.

Chairman Rasmussen: Okay. I would like to thank you very much, Jens. You are the head of the strongest organization on earth to defend freedom and democracy. So thank you very much for joining us today. I wish you all the best in the run-up to Vilnius, and whatever might happen after that. Thank you.
France pledged additional military aid for Ukraine on Sunday as French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in a surprise meeting in Paris.

May 15, 2023, 10:24 France pledges more military aid to Ukraine as Macron meets with Zelensky

STEPANAKERT, MAY 15, ARTSAKHPRESS: Mr Macron has offered light tanks, armoured vehicles, training for soldiers and other assistance as the Ukrainians gear up for a counteroffensive against Russian forces.

Mr Zelensky and Mr Macron met for about three hours at the French presidential Elysee Palace  an encounter kept under wraps until shortly before the Ukrainian leaders arrival in Paris from Germany on a French government jet which extended his multi-stop European tour.

With Ukraine planning to go on the offensive hoping to retake Russian-occupied territory, military aid was a top agenda item.

Mr Macrons office said France will supply dozens of light tanks and armoured vehicles in the weeks ahead, without giving specific numbers.

Also promised were more air defence systems, but again details were not made public.

More Ukrainians will also be made battle-ready, with France aiming to train about 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers in France this year and nearly 4,000 others in Poland as part of a wider European effort, Mr Macrons office said.

In a statement, France described its support for Ukraines independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as unwavering and promised that its political, economic, humanitarian and military aid will continue for as long as necessary.

In a tweet on his arrival, Mr Zelensky said: With each visit, Ukraines defence and offensive capabilities are expanding. The ties with Europe are getting stronger, and the pressure on Russia is growing.
(Natural News) Nine members of the Biden family have been identified by the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability as recipients of foreign cash.

Rep. James Comer (R-KY), the committees chairman, disclosed the identities of the nine Biden family members during a May 1o press conference. Since you asked, Ill tell you, he told reporters gathered at the Capitol building.

Of the nine members, the Kentucky congressman explicitly named six:

Hunter Biden

James Biden

Sara Biden, James wife

Hallie Biden, Hunters sister-in-law and wife of his late brother Beau

Kathleen Buhle, Hunters ex-wife

Melissa Cohen, Hunters current wife

Comer continued that three children of the presidents son and the presidents brother were also recipients of the foreign money. The congressman seemed to indicate that only one of President Joe Bidens grandchildren and two of James three children  Caroline, James Jr. and Nicholas  got the foreign funds.

Were talking about  a grandchild, the Republican congressman said during the press conference. Thats odd. Most people that work hard every days grandchild doesnt get a wire from a foreign national.

The New York Post noted how Comer did not mention Joes older brother Frank, who has two daughters, adding: Its unclear why Franks daughters, who reportedly work for NBC and as a nurse practitioner, would be involved. An aide to the Kentucky congressman, however, told the outlet its possible that additional Biden relatives received foreign money.

Weve never seen a presidential family receive these sums of money from adversaries around the world, Comer remarked. Were just talking about a couple of countries today. (Related: The Bidens raked in more than $10 million from foreign entities during the Obama administration.)

Bidens received money from Chinese, Romanian parties

Bank records disclosed by Comer and the rest of the committee during the conference indicated Romanian businessman Gabriel Popoviciu wiring $80,000 to the Bidens. Popoviciu was later convicted of bribery in 2016.

The money from the Romanian, which was transferred from 2015 to 2017, eventually went to accounts identified only by the name Biden. A March memo from the committee indicated a $70,000 fund transfer that came from CEFC China Energy  which is connected to the Chinese Communist Party.

A memo issued by the committee on the same day as the press conference also revealed that Hallie Biden was a recipient of foreign money from underhanded deals brokered by Hunter and James. Hallie reportedly received $10,000 in February 2017 from the Romanian businessman. Later that year, she received another $25,000 as part of the deal with CEFC.

The Romanian transactions show evidence of influence peddling and a correlation between [the] Biden family and their business associates work, and then-Vice President [Joe] Bidens responsibilities while in office, the memo stated. Comer also delivered a remark for some measure of irony: While [Joe] Biden was lecturing Romania on anti-corruption policy, in reality, he was a walking billboard for his son and family to collect money.

The presidential son and the presidential brother had been well-known for influence peddling for years, using Joes position as vice president. Comer exposed the involvement of other Biden family members in the scheme just recently.

The May 10 press conference focused mainly on money obtained by the Biden family from China and Romania, two nations where Joe helped lead U.S. policy during the Obama administration. Comer and the rest of the committees GOP members vowed to get to the bottom of the Bidens scheme with more subpoenas for bank and other records.

Visit BidenCrimeFamily.news for more stories about the Bidens receiving money through illicit means.

Watch Kentucky Rep. James Comer discusses with Maria Bartiromo the nine Biden family members involved in influence peddling.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Biden family member received cut of $3M wire from CCP-linked individuals.

BREAKING: Name of new Biden family member revealed to be recipient of Chinese cash.

Money laundering: Joe Bidens brother sent bank wiring instructions to spy chief of China.

Biden lies again, says $1 million in payments to family from Hunter associate not true though bank records say otherwise.

Joe Biden is making it seem like neither he nor his son are owned by Beijings ChiComs with head-fake investment ban on Chinese firms.

Sources include:

BlacklistedNews.com

NYPost.com 1

NYPost.com 2

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced an emergency order (EO) to deal with the surge of border crossers after Title 42 expired on May 11.

Hochul issued the EO on May 9, two days before the scheduled expiry of the public health order. According to Just The News, the EO seeks to help both Albany and New York City (NYC) deal with the influx of illegal immigrants. The order will be effective until June 8, the outlet added.

The May 9 edict by Hochul gives the Empire State greater flexibility to divert resources to cities and towns to support migrants. Both the state and municipal governments will be authorized to quickly purchase necessary supplies and resources, including food and equipment.

It also authorizes the state to deploy more National Guard members to provide logistical and operational support. The governor said her order will authorize the deployment of an additional 500 Guardsmen, bringing the total number deployed to about 1,500.

Upon the expiration of the Title 42 order, it is anticipated there will be a surge of migration into the U.S.  resulting in the imminent arrival of individuals to the city and state of New York at an increased rate of what is expected to be several thousand additional people seeking shelter each week, Hochul wrote. She added that the arrival of increased numbers of migrants  [will] exacerbate an already large-scale humanitarian crisis and create a disaster emergency, to which local governments are unable to adequately respond. (Related: Absurd: NYC spends over $10M each day for illegals.)

Even with the Title 42 order in place, large numbers of migrants with immediate housing and service needs have arrived in the city and state of New York over the last several months, noted the governor. NYC alone is currently sheltering 36,738 migrants  with this number rising by 12,279 since January and by 1,578 the week before Hochul declared the EO.

Biden administration does not plan to help clean up the mess it made

Federal support is critical to support NYC and other local governments within the state that lack the infrastructure, facilities and resources necessary to meet the immediate humanitarian demand to house and meet other basic needs of the large numbers of migrant arrivals, Hochul remarked.

But Washington, D.C. appears to turn a deaf ear to the pleas of Albany. In the meantime, lawmakers at the New York State Legislature have allocated more than $1 billion in the budget for fiscal year 2024 to help the Big Apple support migrants.

Over 50,000 migrants have traveled to NYC in the past year, impacting the citys ability to provide essential services. To address the issue, the city has set up temporary relief centers, including one at a cruise ship terminal in Brooklyn, to house more than 30,000 illegal immigrants.

According to NYC Mayor Eric Adams, the Big Apple will spend more than $4 billion to provide housing, health care and other assistance for border crossers over the next two fiscal years. NYC is expected to get about $1.8 billion from both the state and federal governments.

Republicans in New York have blasted the Biden administration for not doing enough to address the border crisis ahead of Title 42s lifting. But in a rare instance of clarity, Adams also joined in the fray and denounced the White House for its lack of action on the matter.

It is the irresponsibility of the GOP in Washington for refusing to do real immigration reform, and its the irresponsibility of the White House for not addressing the problem, he said. The NYC mayor also lamented how his city is being destroyed by the migrant crisis.

Head over to InvasionUSA.news for more stories about the impending migrant crisis.

Listen to the Health Ranger Mike Adams explains why President Joe Biden is flooding the U.S. with illegals that land in NYC and other areas to overwhelm the 2024 elections.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Massive migrant INVASION of the United States just days away as Dems collude to overrun the USA with millions of illegals.

As end of Title 42 looms, 90,000 illegals rush to Americas southern border over 10-day period.

NYC Mayor Adams blasts Biden admin for burdening Big Apple with ILLEGALS.

BRACE FOR IT: Mass illegal immigration to ensue once Title 42 ends TODAY.

Thousands of migrants set to flood the US once Title 42 expires this week.

Sources include:

JustTheNews.com

Governor.NY.gov [PDF]

POLITICO.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) If you live in Ireland and refuse to play make-believe with a transgender and its mental delusions about being something other than its natural biological sex, you could be thrown in the slammer for up to five years.

Dubbed an anti-hate speech bill, legislation that is moving through the Irish parliament right now received 110 votes in favor and just 14 against, despite widespread public opposition to the Orwellian nightmare it threatens to unleash on the normal parts of society that still exist.

Passed through the Dail, Irelands lower parliamentary chamber, the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022, as it is officially called, received endorsements all across the political spectrum, including the Labour and Green parties.

The premise of the bill deals with the new LGBT golden calf of alternative pronouns, which fragile transgenders demand be used at all times or else they might have a meltdown or possibly commit suicide.

The legislation aims 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. These characteristics include race, color, nationality, religion, national or ethnic origin, descent, gender, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, and disability.

(Related: Ireland is also culling cows and rebranding nitrogen as a pollutant as part of a war on meat and the people who eat it.)

Child-grooming LGBTs are committing sexual violence with their indoctrination and mutilation agenda  will they go to prison, too?

There are several key portions of the bill where definitions and clauses suggest that merely misgendering someone is a punishable offense. Gender, for instance, is defined as such:

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.

Section 7 of the bill specifically makes it a criminal offense for someone to communicate anything in a public place that could be construed as inciting violence or hatred against someone with gender dysphoria.

One need not intend to incite violence or hatred, but must simply have been reckless as to whether such violence of hatred is incited,' REMIX clarifies about how Bill 2022 was specifically designed to squelch free speech that triggers mentally deranged transgenders and other LGBTs.

Piecing the various sections of Bill 2022 together reveals a sinister plot aimed at stopping people from speaking out against child grooming, the transgender mutilation of children, the destruction of womens sports, and other forms of sexual violence and assault by LGBTs against normal society.

Section 10 of the bill further makes it illegal to possess material that is likely to incite violence or hatred against a person or a group of persons. So even just having literature, articles, or podcasts in ones possession that in any way question the LGBT assault on humanity will be prohibited.

The only potential silver lining is that Bill 2022s provisions could also hypothetically be used in reverse to go after LGBTs who are inciting violence or hatred against children, straight people, and other targets of their vitriolic agenda.

A kindergarten teacher who stages a pride celebration, or who brings in a twerking drag queen to perform for underage kids to encourage them to transition, could potentially be charged with sexually assaulting innocents in a pedophilic way.

The chances of that actually happening are slim since Bill 2022 is an Orwellian proposal geared specifically towards catering to the LGBT crowd at the rest of societys expense. But perhaps a lawyer or two could toy around with it and argue in reverse against LGBT sexual and medical violence against children.

The globalist-controlled West has become an LGBT and child mutilation nightmare. To learn more, visit Transhumanism.news.

Sources for this article include:

RMX.news

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) LifeSiteNews has launched a new interactive map that tracks the wave of transgender mutilation laws being passed across the United States.

Many Republican-led states, the map shows, have passed some level of protective legislation in defense of children, while most Democrat-led states continue to allow children to be transitioned through pharmaceutical drugging and irreversible surgical mutilations.

Right-leaning states like Idaho, Montana, and Utah, along with Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Florida in the South, have completely banned all transgender surgeries and drugs for minors. The full list of states that have done this include:

Idaho

Iowa

Indiana

Kentucky

Florida

Mississippi

Montana

Oklahoma

North Dakota

South Dakota

Tennessee

Utah

The states of Arizona, Georgia, and West Virginia have passed laws to restrict transgender surgeries and / or drugs for minors, meaning there are some cases in which a child can still transition in these three states  though not as easily as in many blue states.

In Alabama, Arkansas, and Texas, legislation attempting to ban the transgender mutilation of children was blocked.

In Missouri, Kansas, North Carolina, and Wyoming, legislation to ban the transgender mutilation of children has passed at least one legislative chamber, but has not yet made it all the way to the governors office for signing.

(Related: Check out the Dead Name transgender documentary, which exposes the horrors of child mutilation through the eyes of some of the lives it has destroyed.)

Transitioning children is arguably the worst crime against humanity you can commit

A number of states, both red and blue, have not yet passed any laws to restrict the transgender mutilation of children. These include, in addition to the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.):

Alaska

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Hawaii

Illinois

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

Wisconsin

As we continue to report, developing children cannot consent to transgender mutilation procedures because they are too young to truly understand the implications of destroying their endocrine systems and physical bodies.

Once all of the colorful, often drag queen-led, grooming has run its course and a child transitions, that is the end for the child  there is no going back. Some with transgender regret have tried to undo the damage, but depending on the level of surgery and drug-taking, going back is no longer an option  not to mention all the damage these procedures cause to a persons health.

The devastating practices, which include puberty-blocking drugs, synthetic hormones, and irreversible surgeries, can sterilize children and lead to serious and life-threatening side effects, like cardiovascular disease, bone density loss, and emotional problems, LifeSites Raymond Wolfe reports.

Despite massive risks and lack of government approval, transgender interventions for children have exploded in popularity in recent years as LGBT ideology has increasingly permeated American culture.

Just in the past several years, tens of thousands of Americas youth have been subjected to surgeries and / or drugs that have ruined their bodies. Currently, an estimated 30,000 children or more throughout the United States are in the process of transitioning.

Since 2007, so-called gender clinics have been popping up everywhere as part of a concerted effort to brainwash as many children as possible into transitioning. As a result, the trans craze has all but taken over social media platforms like TikTok, and is showing no signs of relenting any time soon.

There is a lot of money in it for hospitals and doctors, one commenter wrote about how the transgender industry is making the big bucks from all this mutilation.

More of the latest news about the transgender takeover of America can be found at Transhumanism.news.

Sources for this article include:

LifeSiteNews.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are set to vote this week on new legislation that would greatly increase the federal governments power over private businesses, workers, and US citizens. Unfortunately, much of the GOP majority is supportive of the legislationthe Border Security and Enforcement Act of 2023 (HR 2640)because it is being marketed as a bill to secure the border.

(Article by Ryan McMaken republished from Mises.org)

Much of the bill contains reasonable provisions such allowing state attorneys general the authority to sue the federal government for refusing to detain illegal aliens. Other provisions include denying asylum and residency to known criminals. In many ways, the bill is an effort to rein in the executive branchs control over immigration policy.

Alarmingly, however, the legislation also contains a provision mandating nationwide use of E-Verify which is essentially a federal surveillance program that determines whether or not a person can be legally employed in the United States. Every American would require the federal governments permission to work. So long as the Border Security and Enforcement Act contains these E-Verify provisions, the bill presents a clear and present danger to basic American freedoms and property rights. The expansion of E-Verify would also go a long way in helping the federal government build essential infrastructure that in the future could be used to implement social credit scores or restrictions on employment for those who refuse federally mandated vaccines or other mandates.

E-Verify as Government Surveillance

E-Verify was initially implemented in 1997 as a program designed to prevent companies from employing foreign nationals who had entered the US illegallyi.e., illegal aliens. The program was never made mandatory at the federal level, however. The program has generally been voluntary except for government employees in most states. Instead, mandated use of E-Verify has been a matter of state legislation, and some states have certainly been more enthusiastic about it than others.

Since implementation, only nine states have mandated the use of E-Verify for all employers. Florida is poised to be the next to impose these mandates on employers. Governor Ron DeSantis has repeatedly pushed to further regulate and surveil private businesses with universal E-Verify. Some states, such as Colorado, have implemented alternative, but similar, state-administered programs.

The Border Security and Enforcement Act of 2023, however, would mandate nationwide use of E-Verify for all employers, and remove state-level authority to approve or decline participation. In other words, Congress is now considering one of the largest expansions of federal employment regulation in years.

As if often the case, however, conservatives and Republicans are happy to embrace more federal power and regulation when it suits their political agendas. Its an old trick. Beginning in the days of the War on Terror, conservatives and the GOP often promoted and approved new antiterrorism legislation creating vast federal spying and prosecutorial powers. Supporters often supposed such powers could only possibly be used against Islamic terrorists and other official enemies of the Bush Administration. A federal spying apparatus has since been erected and deployed against virtually all Americans.

Similar pro-regime arguments are now being used to promote E-Verify. Were told it will only be used against immigrants. Were told that unless youre breaking the law, you have nothing to worry about. Weve heard these claims in other contexts many times before.

Observers who have refused to be taken in by the anti-immigrant hysterics have provided some key sanity. Last week, for example, Congressman Thomas Massie warned against keeping E-Verify in the proposed bill, writing

If, heaven forbid, the United States government ever adopts a social credit score, National E-Verify is one more tool they can use to prevent honest people from being part of society. Believe what you will, but it will have little impact on illegal immigration into this country.

Massie specifically noted the legislation could be used to enforce federal vaccine mandates as well:

Republicans are about to make a huge mistake. Biden forced millions of Americans to take VACCINES by threatening their JOBS, and turning EMPLOYERS into enforcers. Imagine giving Biden the ultimate on/off switch for EMPLOYMENT called E-verify. Might as well call it V-verify.

Massie, of course, has long been a noted disciple of Ron Paul, so its not surprising the Massies concerns reflect those of Pauls. For his part, Paul has opposed E-Verify since its early years, and in the past decade has specifically warned it could be used to essentially create a broad federal permission-to-work regime. In 2018 he wrote:

E-Verify almost certainly will be used for purposes unrelated to immigration. One potential use of E-Verify is to limit the job prospects of anyone whose lifestyle displeases the government. This could include those accused of failing to pay their fair share in taxes, those who homeschool or do not vaccinate their children, or those who own firearms. Unscrupulous government officials could use E-Verify against those who practice antiwar, anti-tax, anti-surveillance, and anti-Federal Reserve activism. Those who consider this unlikely should remember the long history of the IRS targeting the political enemies of those in power and the use of anti-terrorism laws to harass antiwar activists. They should also consider the current moves to outlaw certain types of politically incorrect speech, such as disputing the alleged consensus regarding climate change.

Expanding Federal Control of Employers

The potential for abuse of E-Verify is, of course, enormous.

But even if applied specifically to immigration matters, imposing yet more federal regulations on every American entrepreneur and employer is hardly a reasonable way to approach immigration policy. Cracking down on productive employersand landlordshas always been utterly incompatible with basic property rights and market freedom. Such measures amount to little more than unleashing armed federal agents on private businesses for the crime of not having the correct federal paperwork.

In his article The Tragedy of Immigration Enforcement, Lew Rockwell notes how the last thing this country needs is more federal bureaucrats shutting down more businesses. When federal agents shut down a restaurant for employing the non-government-approved workers,

the government is busting up a whole series of voluntary labor relationships that are designed to provide people with good food. Let us be clear: to the extent that many people object to illegal immigration, it has nothing to do with those who go to work and make an honest living doing things like working in restaurants. The problem with illegal immigration is related to other issues that drive people crazy, like going on welfare, engaging in actual (not pretend) crime, and demanding tax-funded support services.

Proponents of E-Verify, of course, claim it is all very employer friendly, and takes mere minutes to use. Sure. It takes a heroic amount of faith in the government to assume that E-Verify will be the first federal regulatory program that makes life easier for private businessesmany of which are small businesses with razor-thin profit margins.

If E-Verify proves to be little more than just one more costly hoop for business owners to jump through, that will be the best-case scenario. It is more likely that E-Verify will gradually turn into a model or a hub for new programs that tie work eligibility to any number of federal mandates and requirements for goodi.e., obedientcitizenship. After all, if the last three years have taught us anything, its that the federal government is more than willing to unilaterally expand and interpret federal policies in whatever way federal policymakers please. Note, for example, how the Biden Administration used Medicare and Medicaid funding as a means to ram through vaccine mandates at hospitals. And note how the administration used OSHA as a backdoor method of imposing vaccine mandates on employers. OSHA was not created to enforce such mandates, but this didnt stop the White House from telling it to do so. E-Verify would provide a similar way for the federal government to leverage its power against all employers in America.

Read more at: Mises.org
(Natural News) Since day one of the pandemic, Twitters new CEO, former NBCUniversal marketing director Linda Yaccarino, was pushing lockdowns, and later the vaccines, in full support of medical fascism.

Yaccarino, who was just hired to the top position at Twitter by electric vehicle (EV) icon Elon Musk, served as a chairwoman at the World Economic Forum (WEF)s Taskforce on Future of Work as well. She has long been a Big Pharma enthusiast who quite clearly hates freedom, whether it be medical or speech-related.

We are here to talk about masking up or packing up, Yaccarino said in a promotional video to her followers in which she pushed Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) face masks and other tyranny on students at Penn State.

Were doing good so far  just keep your distance, get your hands washed often, get tested often, and wear your mask. That will get us closer and closer to normal days. We are resilient. We are tough. Keep doing it, and well be back at Beaver Stadium before you know it.

(Related: Evidence suggests that censorship on Twitter has actually increased under Elon Musk.)

In 2018, Trump named Yaccarino to a two-year term on the Presidents Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition

On numerous occasions, including on Twitter, Yaccarino urged anyone out there who listens to her to embrace an FDA-approved #Covid vaccine, which is what she wrote on Nov. 24, 2020, just weeks before the Trump administration launched Operation Warp Speed.

Yaccarino is a marketing guru who also worked at the Ad Council, a propaganda initiative that claims to inspire action on the biggest social issues in America. During covid, one of those issues had to do with masking and jabbing, which Yaccarino fully supports.

It is also abundantly clear that Yaccarino is not an advocate of free speech, which is curious in light of her receiving the top position at Twitter, which was supposedly going to embrace free speech after Musk took over.

Believe it or not, Trump appointed Yaccarino, along with several others, to a two-year term on the Presidents Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition. In other words, he, too, took advantage of this marketing gurus apparent skills in persuading the American public to do things that they probably would not otherwise do.

All that to say: Twitter under Musk is really no different than Twitter under Dorsey. It is just the same old, same old when it comes to the same swampy establishment pulling all the strings  just under a new face.

The ostensible new Twitter CEO is a literal Cathedral propagandist who is an executive at NBC, the WEF, and the Ad Council creating vaccine propaganda, one person tweeted about Yaccarino, along with a screenshot from her LinkedIn profile.

You can be sure that free speech will still not be allowed on Twitter under Yaccarinos control, which makes Musks promises that he would restore free speech nothing but lies.

In Linda Yaccarino, Elon Musk gets a CEO who is a seasoned ad executive who generally shares his political leanings, tweeted Yashar Ali.

But shes also the Chairman of a World Economic Forum task force so she can comfortably liaise with Twitters current investors and advertisers around the world.

Some of the controversial Twitter accounts Yaccarino currently follows, which have been under attack as of late, include:

Chaya Raichik of Libs of TikTok

Jesse Watters

Michael Shellenberger

Ron DeSantis

The Babylon Bee

Giorgia Meloni

Maye Musk

Catturd

Vivek Ramaswamy

Tulsi Gabbard

Bari Weiss

What Yaccarino plans to do to these accounts in the coming days remains to be seen. But the writing seems to be on the wall: the new guard at Twitter is exactly the same as the old guard.

The latest news about Twitter can be found at Censorship.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheReaderApp.com

NaturalNews.com
Britain may be in for a scorching summer as weather maps show a surge of hot air from Africa heading toward Europe.

The Met Office's long-range forecast suggests that temperatures could be above average for much of the UK in June and July, with the possibility of some periods of rain and thunder in the south and southwest.

High pressure to dominate northern areas

According to the Met Office, high pressure is likely to remain dominant for northern areas of the UK, bringing fine and dry weather for most.

However, clouds, rain, and showers are more likely to affect the south, especially towards the end of May and into June.

The forecast also warns of an increased chance of thunderstorms in the south and southwest, which could bring some localized disruption.

The Met Office said that its long-range forecast is based on output from a range of weather models, including its own and those from other global forecasting centers.

However, it also cautions that there is a level of uncertainty associated with these predictions, as small events over the Atlantic can have significant impacts on the UK's weather in several days' time.

The Met Office's chief meteorologist, Paul Davies, said: "There are some glimmers of hope in the long-range outlook for some warmer and drier spells for many parts of the UK."

"However, we will still see some unsettled weather at times, especially in the south and southwest where there is a greater risk of heavy showers and thunderstorms. We will continue to monitor the situation and update our forecasts accordingly."

Also Read: UK Weather Forecast: Strong Winds Likely to Unleash This Week That Could Affect Travel Commutes

Europe's scraps or Africa's heat?

While Britain may enjoy some warm and sunny spells this summer, it may not be as hot as some parts of Europe, which are expected to see temperatures soar above 35C, as per Express.

Weather maps from WXCharts show a plume of hot air from northern Africa pushing into southern Europe, turning the continent red with heat.

However, these maps do not show the UK reaching anywhere near the 35C mark, as the country may be "picking up Europe's scraps" when it comes to hot weather.

Instead, Britain may see more moderate temperatures in the mid-20s or low-30s, depending on the location and the time of day.

Nevertheless, some weather experts have suggested that Britain could see a blistering 36C heatwave this summer, as a result of a phenomenon known as the "Spanish plume".

This occurs when warm air from the Iberian Peninsula clashes with cooler air from the Atlantic, creating instability and thunderstorms over France and the UK.

One such expert is Jim Dale, a senior meteorologist at British Weather Services, who said: "There is potential for a Spanish plume to develop later in June or July which could bring temperatures in excess of 35C (95F) or even 36C (96.8F)."

"This happens when hot air from Spain meets cooler Atlantic air over France and Britain which triggers thunderstorms. It is too early to say for sure if this will happen but there are signs that we could see some very hot weather this summer."

Whether Britain will experience such extreme heat or not remains to be seen, but for now, it seems that the country is edging closer to a warmer-than-average summer, with some potential for wet and stormy weather in some regions.

Related article: UK Weather Forecast: Possible Wintry, Rainy Conditions Likely to Unfold This Week
Incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won 49.35 percent of the votes after the counting of all the votes in Sunday's presidential election in Turkey, while the oppositions joint candidate, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, secured the support of 45 percent of voters, state-funded TRT television reported.

May 15, 2023, 11:05 TRT: Erdogan gets 49.35% of votes, Kilicdaroglu garners 45% after counting of all ballots

STEPANAKERT, MAY 15, ARTSAKHPRESS: ATA Alliance candidate Sinan Ogan received 5.22 percent. Homeland Party leader Muharrem Ince, who has withdrawn his candidacy, garnered 0.43 percent of the votes. The Supreme Election Council of Turkey considers the votes cast in Inces favor to be valid.

In order to win in the first round, one of the candidates had to receive 50% plus one vote. Since this was not the case, a runoff presidential election will be held on May 28.

Turkey's presidential and parliamentary elections are called "historical" because an opposition candidate has a chance to succeed for the first time in the 20 years of Recep Tayyip Erdogan's rule.
This is an ongoing work that ensures progress, and the parties will have an opportunity to meet once again in Brussels and discuss all the issues.

May 15, 2023, 15:16 EU diplomat hopes Armenia, Azerbaijan will withdraw their troops

STEPANAKERT, MAY 15, ARTSAKHPRESS: Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Armenia, stated this during a press conference Monday dedicated to Europe Day and EU-Armenia relations, reflecting on the meeting between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in Brussels Sunday and the subsequent statement, news.am informs.

All issues should be discussed at the negotiating table; and if Charles Michel's statement is read carefully, it will be see that the main message is exactly that, Wiktorin said.

She added that they have been working for the return of prisoners for quite a long time, Michels statement said that there is a general perception that the detainees will be released in the coming weeks, and Michel emphasizes that it is extremely important to guarantee mutual understanding in the sense that this work will continue, these people will be released through an accelerated process, and the rest is up for discussion.

The EU diplomat said they understand that it is extremely important to come to an agreement, but they hope that both sides will withdraw their troops, and everyone will start the border demarcation and delimitation, Wiktorin said.

She recalled that there will be a big meeting in June in Chisinau, then tripartite meetings are still expected.
The conversation in the May 14 trilateral Pashinyan-Aliyev-Michel talks in Brussels was more substantive, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan said at a press conference.

May 15, 2023, 15:40 Brussels summit was more substantive this time, says Deputy FM

STEPANAKERT, MAY 15, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: President of the European Council Charles Michel said after the talks that there has been an understanding that further detainees would be released in the coming weeks.

Asked whether or not this means that the jailed Azeri soldiers who had trespassed into Armenia would get swapped with the Armenian captives held illegally in Azerbaijan, the Deputy FM said: It was said very clearly, that there are many agreements on Armenian captives, and these agreements must be implemented. This was a direct message, and I dont recall any mention of a swap. The call was simply about the previously reached agreements.

Speaking about Michels mention of recognizing each others territorial integrity, the Armenian Deputy FM said that it refers to the borders that existed at the time of the Soviet Unions collapse. This is what it was about, and it is in line with the Almaty Declaration, he was simply reiterating that principle, Hovhannisyan said at the press conference on Europe Day and the Armenia-EU relations.

The meeting was mostly aimed at achieving progress with concrete steps, Hovhannisyan added. And the issues announced by the President of the European Council shows that the conversation was more substantive.
Over 42.47 lakh cases settled in National Lok Adalat: National Legal Services Authority

New Delhi, May 13: National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) informed that more than 42.47 lakhs pending and pre-litigation cases were settled across the country in National Lok Adalat organised on Saturday.

Over 42.47 lakh cases settled in National Lok Adalat: National Legal Services Authority

As per information received from NALSA, more than 42.47 lakhs cases have been settled till 7.00 PM today. "The settled cases include about 9.47 lakh pending cases and about 33 lakh pre-litigation cases. The approximate value of the total settlement amount in these cases is Rs 4133 crore", a statement of the NALSA said.According to the statement, the final settlement figures will rise, as settlement data from far-flung areas of the country is still awaited. This settlement of cases will not only ease the burden of the pending cases in Courts but also control future litigation, the statement said.The statement further said, "In this Lok Adalat, cases involving compoundable offences, revenue cases and bank recovery cases, motor accident claims, matrimonial disputes (except divorce cases), cheque bounce cases, labour disputes and other civil cases were taken up. A large number of recovery matters related to financial institutions, banks, government bodies and private service providers were also taken up as pre-litigation cases and were settled.""Lok Adalats have not only proved to be an efficient substitute for redressal but have significantly helped in reducing the burden of the Courts by ensuring swift disposal of cases in a very cost-efficient manner. Lok Adalats have greatly supplemented and complimented the legal system", the statement added."The pursuit of justice has become more accessible with the increasing vitality of Lok Adalats, in conformity with the vision of NALSA. Justice Kaul stressed the need for quick and affordable access to justice to increase the institutional participation of the common man and gave necessary directions to NALSA for future courses of upcoming National Lok Adalats, which are now scheduled to be conducted pan India on 09.09.2023 and 09.12.2023", the statement read.Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Judge, Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, NALSA, took an overview of the entire process and progress of Lok Adalat.According to the statement, Legal Services Authorities across the country, under the guidance of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and the stewardship of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Judge, Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, NALSA, organised the 2nd National Lok Adalat of the year 2023 in 30 States/UTs.Maharashtra, Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu have already conducted the second National Lok Adalat in the month of April 2023. Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Manipur SLSAs will conduct 2nd National Lok Adalats in the month of June and July 2023 accordingly, the statement said.ANI14 May 2023

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China trying to broker workable solution between Pakistan, Taliban on banned outfit TTP

Islamabad, May 14: China is trying to broker a 'workable solution' between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban to address the issue of banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), reported The Express Tribune.

China trying to broker 'workable solution' between Pakistan, Taliban on banned outfit TTP

According to official sources familiar with the plan revealed that Foreign Ministers of China and the interim Afghan government were in Islamabad recently for a trilateral meeting to discuss the current situation in Afghanistan.Among the issues on the agenda included the terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan. While Pakistan is concerned over the presence of TTP and its affiliates, China wants the Afghan Taliban to neutralise the threat posed by East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), reported The Express Tribune.Moreover, China has a vested economic interest in the region. China's trade with Afghanistan has been growing fast and it may become the second-largest trading nation with Afghanistan in 2023 after Pakistan, a situation that bodes well for the continuation of the CPEC part of the Belt and Road Initiative into Afghanistan, as per Silk Road Briefing (SRB).Sources said in order to break the stalemate, China was pursuing both sides to agree on a "workable solution."The Afghan Taliban earlier proposed the relocation of TTP fighters from Pakistani bordering areas but asked Pakistan to bear the cost. It is believed that a similar plan was offered to China by the Afghan Taliban to address the issue of ETIM.Sources said China was keen that both sides do not lose sight of the bigger picture while addressing the issue of TTP. Essentially, sources said, China doesn't want the TTP issue to undermine bilateral ties between the two countries, something that would be detrimental to regional connectivity, reported The Express Tribune.Last week at a press conference Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang hoped "Pakistan and Afghanistan will bear in mind the larger picture and try to work out the issues between them through dialogue and consultation."His statement, according to officials, suggests that Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban must not take the issue of TTP to a point of no return.Meanwhile, the Afghan Taliban government is thought to be working on a plan to address the Chinese concerns as it has relocated ETIM militants believed to be in the hundreds from the border. But the issue of TTP still looms large, reported The Express Tribune.After the Taliban takeover, there were expectations in Pakistan that the issue of TTP would be dealt with once and for all.When Pakistan sought action against the TTP, the Afghan Taliban instead came up with a proposal to broker a deal with the militant outfit. Islamabad reluctantly accepted the proposal and initially, talks made progress with TTP announcing a ceasefire in return for Pakistan freeing certain militants.As part of the confidence-building measure Pakistan allowed hundreds of TTP fighters to resettle in the country. However, the process soon went into trouble as returning fighters started targeting the security forces.Moreover, the surge in TTP terrorist attacks compelled Pakistan's civil and military leadership to abandon the peace process. The current civil and military leadership publicly acknowledged that the policy to seek peace with the TTP was wrong. The government decided that it would no longer seek peace talks with the TTP.ANI14 May 2023

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Unity in diversity: Grand mosque and Hindu temple share common yard in Kashmirs Trehgam village

Kupwara, May 14: Kashmir has often been described as a paradise on earth. Not just for its natural beauty, but also for its unique culture and religious and communal harmony. One such example can be seen in Trehgam village of north Kashmir's Kupwara district where a grand Masjid shares a common yard with a Hindu temple for generations.

Unity in diversity: Grand mosque and Hindu temple share common yard in Kashmir's Trehgam village

Trehgam is a small town in the Kupwara district of the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is located in the northwestern part of the state, close to the Line of Control (LOC) that separates India and Pakistan.Kashmir, the land of Sufis and saints, has a rich tradition of religious syncretism. It is a place where Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs have lived together in harmony for centuries. The cultural and religious traditions of Kashmir are a blend of Islamic, Hindu, and Buddhist influences. The state is home to many shrines and temples that are revered by people of all faiths.The mosque and temple in Trehgam are no exceptions to this syncretic culture. In the courtyard of the mosque is buried Syed Ibrahim Bukhari, a Sufi saint who is revered by both Muslims and Hindus in Kashmir. The temple, on the other hand, is dedicated to one of the main deities of Hinduism Lord Shiva, whom Shaivites worship as the supreme god. In front of them is a famous pond, the main source of water for almost half a dozen nearby villages. Sir Walter Lawrence in his famous book The Valley of Kashmir writes, "The pond of Trehgam indicates the utmost beauty of Kashmir."This unusual sight is not just a symbol of the peaceful coexistence of Hindus and Muslims in the town but is also a testament to the centuries-old syncretic culture of Kashmir.The fact that the mosque and temple have shared a common yard for decades is a testament to the mutual respect and tolerance among the local communities. Such instances of peaceful coexistence go a long way in promoting unity and understanding among people of different faiths.According to the elders of the town, the decision to build the two places of worship side by side was taken to promote communal harmony and brotherhood in the locality. The community wanted to send a message of peace and tolerance to the rest of the world.Pir Abdul Rashid, Imam of the Grand Majid (Jamia Masjid)Trehgam said that for the people of Trehgam, the mosque and temple are not just places of worship but also symbols of their shared cultural heritage. The people of Trehgam have always stood firm in their commitment to communal harmony. They have continued to live together in peace and harmony, setting an example for the rest of the country.The mosque and temple in Trehgam are a reminder of the power of community and the importance of tolerance and respect for diversity. They are a symbol of hope in a world that is increasingly divided along religious and communal lines. They show that it is possible for people of different faiths to live together in harmony and that the path to peace and progress lies in understanding and mutual respect, he added.The mosque and temple in Trehgam are an inspiring example of communal harmony in India. They stand as a testament to the syncretic culture of Kashmir and the spirit of tolerance and brotherhood that has sustained it for centuries. They are a beacon of hope in a world that is often marred by violence and division, and a reminder that a better future is possible if we learn to respect and celebrate our differences.A local, Shoib Ahmad Najjar, said that the mosque and temple in Trehgam are an inspiring example of communal harmony in India. It is heartening to see examples of religious and communal harmony, especially in areas that have witnessed conflicts and tensions in the past. The coexistence of a grand mosque and a Hindu temple in Trehgam village is a shining example of such harmony."It is important to recognize and celebrate such instances of communal harmony and to strive towards promoting more of them. It is through such efforts that we can build a more inclusive and peaceful society," Shoib Ahmad added.Presently no Pandit family lives in the village. However, according to locals, from time to time, they do come to offer prayers in the temple.ANI14 May 2023

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PM Modi visits Jana Shakti Art Exhibition at National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi

New Delhi, May 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited Jana Shakti, an exhibition at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Delhi.

PM Modi visits 'Jana Shakti Art Exhibition' at National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi

This exhibition contains works by India's top artists on themes covered in Mann Ki Baat such as Swachhata, water conservation, agriculture, space, India's northeast, Nari Shakti and Yoga, and Ayurveda."Visited Jana Shakti at @ngma_delhi . This is an exhibition of wonderful works of art based on some of the themes in the #MannKiBaat episodes. I compliment all the artists who have enriched the exhibition with their creativity," PM Modi tweeted.The artists who have contributed to Jana Shakti include top names like Manu and Madhavi Parekh, Atul Dodiya, Paresh Maity, Iranna GR, Jagannath Panda and more.Earlier on April 30, PM Modi's Mann ki Baat turned 100 and saw wide public engagement with more than 11 lakh people posting photos while listening to Mann Ki Baat in India and abroad.ANI14 May 2023

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Mansukh Mandaviya addresses G7 Health Ministerial Meeting on Health Innovation in Japan

New Delhi, May 14: Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya addressed the G7 Ministerial meeting on Health Innovation in Nagasaki, Japan on Sunday.

Mansukh Mandaviya addresses G7 Health Ministerial Meeting on Health Innovation in Japan

The meeting was held to discuss the priorities, implementation and utilization of health innovations like digital health towards ensuring Universal Health Coverage.Health Ministers of the G7 countries and invited "Outreach 4" countries of India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand participated in the meeting.Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mandaviya said, "Use of technology and Digital Health Tools are an enabler and equalizer which can facilitate strengthened health service delivery and aid in the achievement of Universal Health Coverage. The COVID-19 pandemic has catalysed the use of technology in health service delivery and also highlighted the need to focus on an enabling framework to bridge the digital divide across the countries specifically amongst low-and-middle-income countries."Highlighting India's achievements in Digital Health, the Union Health Minister said, "India's COVID-19 vaccine delivery platform, Co-WIN has monitored the administration of over 2.2 billion vaccine doses across the length and breadth of the country and monitored not only cold chain management but also facilitated citizens and vaccinators in administration of the vaccines besides providing a QR code based digital vaccine certificate"."Similarly, eSanjeevani, a National telemedicine platform, launched during the pandemic has already coordinated more than 115 million, free of cost, consultations to the citizens, making it the world's biggest telemedicine platform", he added.Emphasizing the need to embrace the advantages offered by new and evolving tools, Dr Mandaviya highlighted that artificial intelligence, smart wearables and big data analytics can aid precision medicine, personalized healthcare, genomics, and Clinical Decision Support Systems, ensuring the right treatment to the right person at the right time.He also underlined the importance of ensuring the availability of these technological tools and stated, "India has already taken a policy decision to provide all such digital tools free of cost to the world as Digital Public Goods."Dr Mandaviya also stated that India's G20 Presidency has brought digital health as a specific priority and has proposed the convergence mechanisms of all digital initiatives across the world through the formation of the Global Initiative on Digital Health housed at World Health Organization HQ.He stated that this initiative with a network-of-network approach will be crucial in bridging the global digital divide and urged the support of G7 countries for the proposed initiative in this regard.ANI14 May 2023

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Moscow has categorially refuted the opinion recently voiced by Paris that Russia is purportedly in a state of so-called vassal dependence on China, stating that such rhetoric exudes a complete misunderstanding of the nature of Russian-Chinese relations, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.

May 15, 2023, 16:42 Moscow flatly refutes Paris allegations that Russia is dependent on China  Kremlin

STEPANAKERT, MAY 15, ARTSAKHPRESS: Commenting to journalists on French President Emmanuel Macrons recent statement that Russia had purportedly suffered a geopolitical defeat in Ukraine and is now gradually becoming dependent on China, Peskov stated that Moscow categorically refuted such statements.

"We categorically disagree with such statements because our relationship with the Peoples Republic of China exhibits the characteristics of a strategic special partnership, which has nothing to do with any kind of dependence on anyone whomsoever," Peskov stated.

In particular, he underscored that relations between Russia and China are built on the basis of "mutual respect and benefit, as well as a shared global outlook regarding international affairs and a joint stance of zero tolerance for any attempt at imposing a diktat and the intrusion of foreign opinions on issues concerning the future development of sovereign nations."

''We consider such a statement [about Russias purported dependence on China] as totally unacceptable," Peskov said. "This is perhaps evidence of a total misinterpretation of what is actually happening.".
Zelenskyy arrives in Berlin day after Germany announces military aid package for Ukraine

Berlin, May 14: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Berlin, Germany, for the first time since Russia started its special military operation in February 2022.

Zelenskyy arrives in Berlin day after Germany announces military aid package for Ukraine

Taking to Twitter, Zelenskyy said, "Already in Berlin. Weapons. Powerful package. Air defence. Reconstruction. EU. NATO. Security."His visit comes a day after Germany announced military aid to Ukraine since the war began.He also thanked Germany for the military aid. "I thank Germany for the largest military aid package since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. German air defence systems, artillery, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles are saving Ukrainian lives and bringing us closer to victory. Germany is a reliable ally! Together we are bringing peace closer!" Zelenskyy said in another tweet.Even in Berlin, Zelenkyy, while speaking to reporters, said, "I want to emphasize that Germany needs help [in] its defence, defence of life, protection of lives of our people in cities and villages everywhere, which helps to protect lives, in particular your defence system," reported CNN."Germany leadership can make the world safer, the more cooperation will have among us for the peace, the more Germany will become a leader in the protection of the peace, the more stability we will have in international relations," he further added.According to CNN, the Ukrainian president on his Telegram channel said, "First visit to Germany since the beginning of Russian full-scale aggression.""We discussed the current situation and the intensive cooperation between Germany and Ukraine. Germany will continue to support Ukraine politically, militarily and financially for as long as it is necessary," he continued.Earlier, Saturday, Germany announced that it would supply Ukraine with an aid package worth nearly USD 3 billion to strengthen the country's defence, marking Berlin's largest pledge in military aid since the start of the war, reported CNN.The German Ministry of Defence said in a statement that the package may include a variety of military hardware, including armoured personnel carriers, 30 Leopard tanks, reconnaissance drones and ammunition."With this valuable contribution of urgently needed military material, we are once again showing that Germany is serious about its support," CNN quoted Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius saying."We all wish for a speedy end to this terrible war waged by Russia against the Ukrainian people, which is contrary to international law. Unfortunately, this is not yet in sight. Germany will therefore provide all the help it can - as long as it takes," Pistorius added.ANI14 May 2023

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Heath Streak in good spirits as he continues his battle against cancer

Harare [Zimbabwe], May 14: One of the most decorated players in Zimbabwe's history Heath Streak has been going through a treatment for cancer.

Heath Streak in 'good spirits' as he continues his battle against cancer

Heath's family released a statement disclosed by ESPNcricinfo about his ongoing treatment in South Africa. They thanked the supporters for their wishes and the support they continue to show in the tough time."Heath has cancer and is undergoing treatment under one of the most respected oncologists in South Africa. He remains in good spirits and will continue to fight this disease in a similar vein to that which his opponents faced during his revered days on the cricket field.""The family hopes that you understand and respect their wish for this to remain a private family matter, and thank you for your prayers and good wishes. There will be no further official statements regarding his health at this time. Any news that becomes public should be regarded as rumour," his family said in a statement as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.The 49-year-old announced his retirement at the age of 31 in 2005. Streak still remains the only Zimbabwe bowler with more than 100 Test wickets and over 200 ODI wickets. He captained Zimbabwe in 2000, which was a difficult period when a number of players withdrew from the national side as relations between the board and the team were going through a rough patch.In 2021, he was handed an eight-year ban by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaching Anti-Corruption Code. However, he later released a statement saying that he was not involved in any sort of match-fixing."I also want to place on record to the public and fans that I was not involved in any match-fixing, spot-fixing, or attempts to influence a game or share information from a changeroom during a match at any given time in our relationship. This position has been confirmed by the ICC itself in its own statement," Streak's statement read, as reported by ESPNcricinfo."In 2017, I met an individual keen to invest in cricket in Africa, and in particular they wanted to sponsor a T20 tournament in Zimbabwe, which would be called the Safari Blast. The individual was subsequently vetted and cleared through the usual protocols and to be honest, I let my guard down as the friendship and potential business partnership blossomed. The nature of our relationship was fraternal and cordial at all times. I genuinely believed it was a safe space. I also hoped the relationship would be beneficial not only to myself and to the academy but to Zimbabwean cricket and I pursued its growth with vigour," said Streak."At the onset I was engaged, and paid the Bitcoin, to assist in buying and building teams in different regional T20 competitions, which was successful, resulting in the purchase of a team in Dubai for this individual. Much later on in our friendship, the only other thing I received was a bottle of whisky and my wife was gifted a phone. Several months down the line the ICC then brought to my attention the fact that the individual with whom I had been dealing, and some of the information that I had shared during our friendship/interaction may have been used for online betting," he added.ANI14 May 2023

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From Madhu Chopra to Malti Marie, Priyanka Chopra thanks all on Mothers Day

Mumbai, May 14: Priyanka Chopra, one of the busiest moms in the tinsel town, penned a note to acknowledge her mother's contribution as well as to celebrate other strong women in her life on the occasion of Mother's Day.

From Madhu Chopra to Malti Marie, Priyanka Chopra thanks all on Mother's Day

The 'Citadel' actor posted two frames with her two 'mothers' of life. In the first frame, Priyanka is cuddling her daughter Malti Marie, while Madhu Chopra is leaning on them. The second frame features Priyanka's mother-in-law Denise Jonas, Priyanka and little Malti. They were photographed at a restaurant.Talking about her own mother Madhu Chopra, the 'Desi Girl' wrote, "I m so lucky to have always known the love of a mother. My mother is the strongest woman I know. And her mother was too. I come from a lineage of women who are warriors and I was blessed to be raised by many of them. My Mum, my aunts, my grand mothers. Thank you Ma, you're the greatest gift in my life. I could not be more grateful you're mine!"Priyanka posted an adorable picture of her own mother in the Instagram story and captioned it, "Being home for Mother's Day is the best gift ever." Madhu is cooking a scrambled egg in the frame.Priyanka then gave the loudest shout out to all the moms out there. "To all the moms out there.. the ones I have the privilege of knowing and working with and the ones I don't... YOU are superheroes. As a new mum I have so much respect for all the providers and nurtures, (my mother insists mothers are also providers, I agree), who devote themselves to the next generation. My gratitude."Priyanka has not forgotten to acknowledge her mother-in-law too. "Also thank you Denise for raising an exceptional son and for all the love you bestow upon our family. I'm so blessed."Last but not least, Priyanka thanked Malti Marie for making her mama. "And... I love you Malti Marie. Thank you for making me a mama. Its the greatest honour of my life that you chose me. #HappyMothersDay to all celebrating."Priyanka flew down to New Delhi to attend the engagement ceremony of Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha on Saturday. The actor looked stunning in a neon-coloured ruffled saree.ANI14 May 2023

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Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garners kids prefer his movies to hers

Los Angeles, May 14: Actress Jennifer Garner's children would rather watch actor Ben Affleck's movies.

Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner's kids prefer his movies to hers

The 51-year-old actress, who shares children Violet, 17, Seraphina, 14, and Samuel, 11, with Ben, has opened up that her kids don't enjoy watching her movies and that they much prefer to see her ex-husband on screen, reports aceshowbiz.com."They don't mind watching their dad, but they kind of want me to be their mom. They don't want to see me upset and women cry more in what we do. And they don't really want to see me in a romantic thing," Jennifer - who has starred in films such as 'Dallas Buyers Club' and 'Yes Day' - told Allure magazine.Jennifer - who was married to Ben between 2005 and 2018 - loves the challenge of motherhood. The actress always dreamed of having children, even if that meant having to adopt or becoming a foster parent.She shared "Being a mother was one thing I knew I was going to be. I really could have been a mother in any way. I could have adopted, I could have fostered, but there was no doubt I was going to be a mom."I mean, I was the kid with the doll everywhere I went. And I had a babysitting company with my friend Carrie - C and J's Babysitting - from, like, seventh or eighth grade."Jennifer has even confessed to being a little overbearing with her own kids. The Hollywood star said "I have a lot of faith in my kids. I don't love every behaviour all the time, always. It's gnarly growing up. "We didn't have the eyes on us that our kids have.""I was such a first-time mom. (My eldest daughter) didn't have a shot. She couldn't have a free thought - I was all over her. I was a nightmare for everyone around me."IANS15 May 2023

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EX-IIT Prof operated upon without family consent

Lucknow, May 14: Neurosurgeons at the King George's Medical University (KGMU) operated upon an 85-year-old ex-IIT Roorkee professor whose urgent brain surgery was held up due to lack of consent from the family for the past over 20 days.

EX-IIT Prof operated upon without family consent

The five-hour operation on Saturday by a team led by head of the neurosurgery department, Prof BK Ojha, was successful and the patient Prof Devendra Swaroop Bhargava was shifted to the Centenary Hospital where he has been kept under observation because of his co-morbid conditions.Prof Kshitij Srivastava, who was in the team, said, "He suffered from acute subdural hematoma, a medical emergency in which blood accumulates between the brain and its outermost layer. It is quite serious condition. The surgical intervention has been done and now we hope that he regains his consciousness soon."Bhargava was admitted to Aastha Centre for Geriatric Medicine Hospital and Hospice about 20 days ago in a semi-conscious state.Divorced 20 years ago, Bhargava has lived alone for the past over a decade in the city's Sahara Estate, Jankipuram.Doctors could not get the consent for the urgent surgery. The director of the Aastha hospital, Dr Abhishek Shukla approached the CMO for further direction besides requesting them to arrange some financial support.Thereafter, KGMU doctors came forward and agreed to operate upon the patient.IANS15 May 2023

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Ukrainian depots of foreign equipment in Dnepropetrovsk region hit: Russia

Moscow, May 14: Russian forces struck Ukrainian military bases and depots of West-provided weapons in the Dnepropetrovsk region, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov said on Sunday, TASS reported.

Ukrainian depots of foreign equipment in Dnepropetrovsk region hit: Russia

"Russian forces used long-range high-precision air-launched and sea-launched weapons to inflict a strike in the areas of the Ternopol and Petropavlovka in the Dnepropetrovsk Region on Ukrainian military bases and depots of ammunition, weapons and military vehicles that Western countries had supplied," he said.Konashenkov said all the designated targets were hit and the mission was accomplished, TASS reported.According to Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov, assault units supported by Airborne Troops continue to engage in battles to seize western parts of Artyomovsk. Russian forces have repelled all Ukrainian attacks near Artyomovsk, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov said on Sunday."The enemy made major attempts to breach the defences of our troops to the north and south of Artyomovsk over the past day. All the attacks by Ukrainian units have been repelled. No breaches of Russian defences have been allowed," he said, TASS reported.According to Konashenkov, assault units supported by Airborne Troops continue to battle to seize western parts of Artyomovsk.ANI15 May 2023

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Jaishankar meets Swedens Defence, Foreign Ministers during his Stockholm trip

Stockholm, May 14: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Sweden's Defence Minister Pal Jonson and Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom during his three-day visit to Sweden.

Jaishankar meets Sweden's Defence, Foreign Ministers during his Stockholm trip

Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said, "Good to meet Defence Minister Pal Jonson of Sweden. Useful exchange of views on regional and global security."After meeting his Swedish counterpart, Jaishankar said that both countries are committed to taking bilateral cooperation to a higher level. Both nations had exchanged views on the Indo-Pacific, the European strategic situation and de-risking the global economy."Wide-ranging discussions with FM @TobiasBillstrom as India and Sweden mark 75 years of diplomatic ties," Jaishankar said in another tweet.Jaishankar is on a three-day visit to Sweden to participate in the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial. He is also expected to attend the inaugural session of the India Trilateral Forum involving India, Europe, and the US, with his Swedish counterpart Tobias Billstrom. In addition, Jaishankar will discuss India-EU relations during his visit as Sweden currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.At the EU-India Pacific Ministerial Forum, Jaishankar laid stress on the multipolar world."The Indo-Pacific is a complex and differentiated landscape that is best understood through more intensive engagement. A generous and strategic approach that caters to economic asymmetries will surely enhance the EU's appeal. The more European Union and Indo-Pacific deal with each other, the stronger will be their respective appreciation of multi-polarity. And remember, a multipolar world, which the EU prefers, is feasible only by a multipolar Asia," said Jaishankar.He said that the EU has major stakes in Indo-Pacific developments, especially concerning technology, connectivity, trade and finance. Jaishankar dealt with globalisation and established thinking at the forum."Globalization is the overwhelming reality of our times. However, far apart, regions and nations cannot be impervious to significant events elsewhere. Nor can we cherry-pick them to our convenience. The European Union has major stakes in Indo-Pacific developments, especially as they pertain to technology, connectivity, trade and finance. It has to, in respect for, and observance of UNCLOS. Agnosticism on such matters is therefore no longer an option," he said.ANI15 May 2023

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Meeting offers opportunity to discuss pressing issues: G Kishan Reddy ahead of culture group meet in Bhubaneshwar

Bhubaneswar, May 14: Ahead of the second G20 culture group meet, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Sunday said that the meeting offers an opportunity to discuss pressing issues facing the culture sector to further deliberate in-depth work towards tangible, action-oriented recommendations.

Meeting offers opportunity to discuss pressing issues: G Kishan Reddy ahead of culture group meet in Bhubaneshwar

Addressing a press conference in Bhubaneshwar, Reddy said that the 2nd G20 Culture Group (CWG) meeting going to be held till May 17th will be on the momentum gained from the 1st Culture Working Group meeting held in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, which was followed by in-depth expert-driven Global Thematic Webinars held over the past two months."Meeting will be attended by delegates from G20 members, guest nations, and several international organisations. The meeting offers an opportunity to discuss pressing issues facing the culture sector to further deliberate in-depth work towards tangible, action-oriented recommendations," he said.He said that at this 2nd meeting, a delegation from International Organizations will also participate. "To ensure participation from different states, we have 30 delegates from different states, 30 delegates from the Government of India"."The meetings of the Culture Working Group focus on 4 key priority areas articulated under Culture Track of India's G20 Presidency, these 4 priority areas include, Protection and Restitution of Cultural Property, Harnessing Living Heritage for a Sustainable Future, Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries and Creative Economy and Leveraging Digital Technologies for the Protection and Promotion of Culture," Reddy said.As a part of the 2nd G20 Culture Working Group Meeting, an exhibition titled 'Sustain The Craft Idiom' will be organised at Kala Bhoomi - Odisha Crafts Museum in Bhubaneswar which will be inaugurated on May 15 in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, The exhibition's theme focuses on the second priority outlined by the Culture Working Group - 'Harnessing Living Heritage for a Sustainable Future', Reddy said.Union Minister added that a set of cultural experiences have been curated for the delegates through the course of their visit. These include a visit to heritage sites like the Konark Sun Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Udayagiri Caves. "The delegates will also experience special dance performances native to the State of Odisha such as Tribal (Singari), Sambalpuri, Odissi and Gotipua dance," He said.Kishan Reddy said that Under the Culture Working Group meeting, in-depth discussions will be held between delegates of the G20 members, guest nations and international organisations through an inclusive process aiming to identify critical areas for collaborative action, to further develop tangible recommendations and best practices for Sustainable Development.ANI15 May 2023

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Nepali Sherpa Pasang Dawa becomes worlds second person to scale Mt Everest 26 times

Kathmandu, May 14: Nepali Sherpa Pasang Dawa on Sunday became the world's second person to scale Mount Everest 26 times, local media reported.

Nepali Sherpa Pasang Dawa becomes world's second person to scale Mt Everest 26 times

"Born in Pangboche, Dawa grew up seeing Everest everyday. He has made it to the summit of Mt Everest for 26 times at 0906 a.m. today," The Himalyan Times quoted Mingma Gyalje Sherpa, Managing Director of expedition organiser Imagine Nepal Treks, as saying."His Everest Summits are in 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, twice in 2006, twice in 2007, 2008, 2009, twice in 2010, 2011, 2012, twice in 2013, 2016,2017, twice in 2018 and twice in 2019 and twice in 2022," Gyalje said.Dawa shares the record number of summits with Kami Rita Sherpa.IANS15 May 2023

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Piyush Goyal, European Free Trade Association ministerial delegation exchange views on enhancing trade

Brussels, May 14: Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Sunday held a meeting with European Free Trade Association (EFTA) ministerial delegation led by Swiss Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin in Brussels. The two sides exchanged views on enhancing trade across critical sectors.

Piyush Goyal, European Free Trade Association ministerial delegation exchange views on enhancing trade

Taking to his official Twitter handle, Piyush Goyal stated, "Met European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Ministerial Delegation led by @ParmelinG, Swiss Federal Councillor in Brussels today. With both sides looking for closer cooperation, exchanged views on enhancing our trade across critical sectors, leading to mutual growth and prosperity."Meanwhile, Piyush Goyal will participate in the first ministerial meeting of India- European Union Trade and Technology Council (TTC) scheduled to take place in Brussels on Tuesday. Piyush Goyal, External Affairs Minister and Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) will co-chair the meeting, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in the press release.The EU side is co-chaired by Executive Vice Presidents Dombrovskis and Vestager. The formation of the TTC was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in New Delhi in April 2022.On Monday, Goyal will have a bilateral meeting with EVP Dombrovskis, followed by Working Group-3 stakeholder consultations in the presence of business leaders from both the EU and India. The World Group III (WG3) meeting focuses on Trade, Technology and Resilient supply chains and would have six business leaders from the EU and India, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry's press release.In the afternoon, the Minister will attend a business event organised by the Federation of Enterprises in Belgium (FEB) and deliver the keynote address. Besides, the three Indian Ministers will also call on the Belgian Prime Minister and the President of the European Commission.On Tuesday, Minister Goyal will attend a stakeholder event for Working Groups I and II. Group I focuses on digital governance and connectivity while Group II deals with clean and green energy technologies.According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry press release, this event will also have the participation of eight business leaders from each side who will present their views or suggestions.Goyal will deliver a special address at this event. This meeting will also see the participation of EAM and EVP Vestager. Later in the day, Goyal will attend a bilateral meeting with European Commissioner for Internal Trade Thierry Breton. The two sides will discuss issues pertaining to the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, startup ecosystem and e-commerce.This would be followed by the first ministerial meeting of the India-EU TTC which will be attended by the External Affairs Minister, the Minister for Commerce and Industry and the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology.ANI15 May 2023

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This Melbourne home sold for a whopping $5.1 million. (Source: Domain)

A beautiful semi-detached Melbourne home stunned bystanders after it sold at the weekend for $2 million over the guide price.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom, no-car-space home sold for $5.1 million - well above the $2.8 million to $3.1 million price guide.

Selling agent Marshall Whites Dean Gilbert told the Australian Financial Review the strong result was due to a lack of supply in the market and the homes sought-after location.

Onlookers were stunned when the home sold for $2 million more than the price guide. (Source: Domain)

I couldnt keep up with it, super fast-paced, $100,000 bids. It was phenomenal, Gilbert said.

Its totally life-changing for them.

Around 40 onlookers were left stunned with the final sales price when the hammer fell.

The newly renovated home boasts 3.2-metre-high ceilings in the dining room, a gas log fire and oak floors.

The home boats high ceilings and lots of natural light. (Source: Domain)

The home is newly renovated and sits in one of Melbourne's most sought-after suburbs. (Source: Domain)

Why did it sell for so much?

While property prices have fallen from their pandemic-era highs, they have started rising again thanks to a lack of supply.

Australia is experiencing higher migration and, therefore, more people are looking to a home to call their own. Combine more people looking to purchase a home with a lack of new housing and you have a recipe for higher prices.

National home values rose 1 per cent in the three months to April, according to recent data from CoreLogic. This marked the first quarterly lift in home values since May 2022.

On top of that, the amount of time it took to sell property was starting to pivot. Median days on market nationally was down from 37 days to 33 in the three months to April.

CoreLogic research director Tim Lawless said it was becoming increasingly clear the housing market had started turning around.

Not only are we seeing housing values stabilising or rising across most areas of the country, a number of other indicators are confirming the positive shift, he said.

Story continues

Auction clearance rates are holding slightly above the long-run average, sentiment has lifted and home sales are trending around the previous five-year average.

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Afghanistan to call for tenders to extract oil and gas

Kabul, May 14: The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum of Afghanistan will announce tenders for oil and gas fields soon, Khaama Press reported.

Afghanistan to call for tenders to extract oil and gas

The acting minister of Mines and Petroleum, Shahabuddin Delawar, announced on Sunday that the ministry would shortly begin the bedding process to extract some of the oil and gas from fields in the country soon.Delawar brought up this matter in a meeting with the board of a Chines company in Kabul, Khaama Press reported.Meanwhile, the Chines Company reportedly expressed interest in investing in oil and gas in Afghanistan, a statement said by the ministry.The ministry welcomed the Chinese interest in investing in the oil and gas fields, saying "Afghanistan has rich oil and gas resources, and the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum will shortly announce a part of the country's oil and gas fields for bidding." Those who are interested may lawfully participate in the bidding, he continued.On January 6, the Taliban authorities signed a contract with Xinjiang Central Asia Petroleum and Gas Company (CAPEIC) to extract oil from the Amu Darya basin, Khaama Press reported.According to Taliban officials, the Chinese company will initially invest USD 150 in the project and USD 450 over the next three years.According to experts, signing such projects is of utmost significance for the Taliban administration because they provide cash for the current regime and encourage future investment in Afghanistan, Khaama Press reported.Afghanistan is rich in natural resources, but the untapped resources have yet to be exploited due to political unrest.ANI15 May 2023

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UAE: SCC approves draft laws for Aviation Department, Airport Authority

Sharjah, May 14: The Sharjah Consultative Council (SCC), during its fourteenth session of its regular fourth legislative term at its headquarters in Sharjah, approved draft laws for the Sharjah Civil Aviation Department and the Sharjah International Airport Authority.

UAE: SCC approves draft laws for Aviation Department, Airport Authority

The session was chaired by Hanan Rashid Al Jarwan, Vice Chairperson of the Sharjah Consultative Council, and was attended by Sheikh Khalid bin Issam Al Qasimi, Member of the Sharjah Executive Council and Chairman of the Sharjah Civil Aviation Department, Ali Salem Al Midfa, Member of the Sharjah Executive Council, Chairman of the Sharjah International Airport Authority, along with his assistants Sara Al Madfa, Director of the Financial Department, and Salah Kakoum, Director of the Legal Department.Also in attendance were Dr Mansour Mohammed bin Nassar, Member of the Sharjah Executive Council and Head of the Legal Department of the Government of Sharjah, along with his assistants, in addition to Sheikh Sultan Bin Abdullah Al Thani, Director of the Sharjah Civil Aviation Department.Ahmed Saeed Al Jarwan, Secretary-General of the Sharjah Consultative Council, mentioned that the council had received a letter from the Sharjah Executive Council Secretariat referring a draft law on the restructuring of the Sharjah Civil Aviation Department and the Sharjah International Airport Authority to the Sharjah Consultative Council on an urgent basis.After the discussion, the council approved the two law projects to restructure the Sharjah International Airport Authority and the Sharjah Civil Aviation Department.At the end of the session, the Secretary-General of the Council, Ahmed Saeed Al Jarwan, announced that the next session, the fifteenth, will be held on May 25 and will discuss the policy of the Sharjah Municipalities Affairs Department. (ANI/WAM)ANI15 May 2023

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Study reveals how head, neck cancer organoids used for personalized treatments

Utrecht [Netherlands], May 15: Organoids produced from patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) were used to create a biobank by researchers from the Organoid group (Hubrecht Institute) and UMC Utrecht. They used this biobank to validate known HNC indicators, and they discovered that therapy responses in organoids matched those seen in patients.

Study reveals how head, neck cancer organoids used for personalized treatments

The study's findings will be published in the journal Med on May 12, 2023, and they may aid in future treatment decisions and the identification of novel medicines for HCN patients.Head and neck cancer (HNC) is an overarching term used for several types of cancer, including the most common form called head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). HNC patients can be treated with a combination of surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Nevertheless, treatment is not always effective. Rosemary Millen, shared first author of the paper, explained, "These treatments cause serious side-effects and some patients are therefore unable to finish the treatment. And even after going through such a harsh treatment, 60 percent of patients relapse." The limited efficacy of treatments might be explained in part by the fact that the genetic makeup of the tumor differs strongly between patients. As a result, the most suitable therapy is different for each patient. "Clinicians currently have limited tools to properly distinguish this. There is therefore an urgent need for better biomarkers indicators that we can measure in each individual patient in order to determine from which treatment they would benefit most. Ideally, such a personalized approach would prevent you from unnecessarily burdening patients with treatments that might not work, and lead to a better prognosis," explains Else Driehuis, corresponding author of the paper.A first step towards such personalized treatments is to develop better models that reflect tumor variability more accurately. The researchers therefore set up a biobank of HNC organoids miniature versions of patient tumors, grown in the lab. Millen "Ultimately, the goal of such a biobank would be to use the organoids to guide personalized treatment decisions in the clinic. Of course, before we can do that, we first needed to investigate whether the treatment response in the organoids correlates with the response seen in patients."Driehuis added, "Willem de Kort, shared first author of the paper, was able to collect many HNC patient samples at the UMC Utrecht. He collected tumor tissue from these patients, either during diagnostic biopsies or surgical resections of the tumor, and followed their disease course. We closely collaborated with surgeons, oncologists and radiologists throughout the project. It was a real team effort." The team was able to grow HNC organoids from the patient tissues and confirmed that these 'mini tumors' closely resembled the patient tumors, as they retained the same histological and genetic features. Millen "We then treated the organoids with several therapy types and measured treatment efficacy by determining how many cells in the organoids died. The next step was to correlate this to treatment response in patients."After treating the organoids with radiotherapy, the team showed that the organoid response resembled treatment responses in patients. "The organoids therefore hold potential for predicting patient outcomes. The correlation between organoid and patient response was there for patients receiving adjuvant radiotherapy, meaning that radiation is used in addition to surgical resection of the tumor. In cases where patients received radiotherapy as a primary treatment, we need to investigate this further," explained Millen.The researchers also studied the effect of chemoradiotherapy, a combination of radiation and chemotherapy. "Here we show that two specific chemotherapy drugs, cisplatin and carboplatin, have a radiosensitizing effect in the organoids. This means that it makes the tumor cells more sensitive to radiotherapy. These results are consistent with what we see in the clinic and therefore underline again the predictive potential of organoids in this setting," said Driehuis.Some of the discoveries made by the team could have implications for HNC patients in the near future. For example, they showed that the drug cetuximab made the tumor organoids less sensitive to radiotherapy. Driehuis explained, "This is surprising, because the combination of this drug and radiotherapy is given to some HNC patients in the clinic today. In patients, it's difficult to distinguish the individual contributions of the drug and the radiation therapy to the overall effect of this combination treatment, but in the organoids we can pull that apart.Our results fit with recent published data that show that survival of patients treated with cetuximab and radiotherapy is worse compared to treatment with radiotherapy alone. The clinical implication of these findings would be that it's better to wait with cetuximab until after radiation therapy, but this change in timing of treatment is something you would need to test in patients of course."The team also showed that a so-called PRMT5 inhibitor, a novel drug already in clinical trials for other cancer types, could be effective for a subgroup of HNC patients. Millen "We sequenced the DNA of the organoids, to investigate the relationship between specific genetic mutations and the response to treatments. By doing so, we found that tumors with loss of the gene CDKN2A were responsive to treatment with this novel drug. It would be very interesting to see whether this effect is also found in patients, especially since this mutation is present in over 50% of HNSCC cases."Driehuis concludeed "Taken together, our results highlight the clinical relevance of organoids derived from patient tumor tissue. One of the next steps would be to design a clinical trial, to really use the organoids to guide treatment decisions in HNC patients."ANI15 May 2023

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Assad emerges victorious, as Arab governments accept Syria back to the fold

By John Solomou, Nicosia, May 15: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad emerged victorious, after being shunned by Arab and Western governments for more than 12 years, as most Arab governments, realizing that he would not be toppled and would not accept their conditions, have grudgingly accepted him back to the Arab fold.

Assad emerges victorious, as Arab governments accept Syria back to the fold

Apparently, most Arab governments see that they have to recognize Assad's rule as a reality and as a means to avoid further destabilization in the region.In March 2011, the Arab League and the majority of Arab governments, reacting to the hard repression of Syrian people and Bashar al-Assad's massacre of protesters and use of chemicals against civilians, as well as his close relations with Iran, suspended Syria's membership and imposed sanctions on his regime.During that time more than half a million people were killed, and 12 million became refugees, while the rest of the population - with the exception of those close to the regime - were facing famine, do not have safe drinking water or electricity, or were in dire economic straits. 90 per cent of the people live under the poverty line.At a meeting in Cairo on May 7, the Foreign Ministers of the Arab League - ignoring the objections of Qatar, Kuwait, Morocco and some other states which did not participate at the meeting - voted to reintegrate Syria into the organization, but left individual member states to decide whether they will restore full diplomatic ties with the regime in Damascus.The decision was made in advance of the Arab League Summit in Saudi Arabia on May 19 and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud last Wednesday sent an invitation to the Syrian President to participate in the 32nd Regular Session of the Arab League Council Meeting.Sameh Shoukry, the Foreign Minister of Egypt, justified the decision for the return of Syria to the Arab League, saying that "all the stages of the Syrian crisis have proven that there is no military solution to it and that there are no winners and losers. The decision taken by the Arab League would mark the start of a revived political process in the country."The devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria gave Arab governments a good excuse to have contact with the Syrian regime concerning the provision of relief to the earthquake victims, while a major role in the rapprochement was played by the re-establishment of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran (that had supported opposite sides in the conflict) which removed one of the main obstacles to the restoration of relations.Although at the beginning of the Syrian crisis, the Bashar al-Assad regime, was expected to collapse, as several Arab countries supported the various factions trying to topple him, the critical assistance he received from Iran and Russia made it possible for the Damascus regime to regain a large part of the country it lost initially and now the regime controls about two-thirds of Syria.Gradually, the governments of the Arab states supporting the anti-regime factions began to realize that Bashar al-Assad would not be defeated and that they should try to stop the further destabilization of the region.Moreover, countries like Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan have provided shelter to millions of refugees, in the expectation that the Assad regime would fall in a matter of months, and want to send them back to Syria, as their populations see the refugees as competitors for jobs and state resources.The change in the stand of Turkey, which has been hosting some 3.5 million Syrian refugees, is quite indicative of this. The Turkish people initially welcomed the refugees in the name of Islamic solidarity, but now see them as a big problem. A poll shows that 85 per cent of the voters want them out of Turkey.President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that last year that about half a million Syrians returned to the "safe zones" created by Turkey in northwest Syria and vowed that 1 million refugees would soon return to their country.Opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu in his election campaign has stated that one of his top goals is to return all Syrians to their country within two years.Lebanon, a country facing economic meltdown last year has started forcibly sending refugees back to Syria.The Arab League's decision to welcome Bashar al-Assad back to the Arab fold is undoubtedly a major victory for Assad. This is because the Syrian President was admitted back to the League without agreeing to any prior conditions, for example, a firm commitment not to persecute or victimize further Syrian refugees returning to their country.Assad also avoided undertaking any commitment to stop the production of the Captagon drug, which creates tens of thousands of drug addicts in the countries of the region and is currently the biggest foreign exchange earner of his regime.Furthermore, the restoration of relations between the Syrian regime and Arab governments represents a major success also for Iran and Russia, whose support allowed Bashar al-Assad to stay in power, although, at the beginning of the crisis in Syria, the collapse of the regime seemed to be inevitable.At the same time, it is a minor defeat of the US Administration and Western governments that repeatedly expressed their condemnation of the Damascus regime. Now, with the decision of the Arab League, Arab countries appear to be publicly backing an important ally of Russia and Iran, without securing any concessions from Damascus.Reuters has reported that a bi-partisan group in the US Congress introduced last Thursday a bill prohibiting the US government from recognizing or normalizing relations with any Syrian government led by Assad and expanding an Act that imposed tough sanctions on Syria in 2020.Gilles Kepel, of the Institute of Political Studies, Paris, points out "The Arab League's decision to readmit Syria is a game changer in the Middle East, a clear success for Saudi diplomacy and an apparent win for Russia. It is another sign of the strengthening of the illiberal bloc which challenges the West's democracy agenda. It draws the curtain for good on what remained of the dreams of the Arab Spring a decade ago."ANI15 May 2023

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Arab Youth Centre organises Skills Bootcamp for Non-Experts

Abu Dhabi, May 14: The Arab Youth Centre, in cooperation with the European Union Delegation to the UAE, announced the opening of applications to join the Skills Bootcamp for Non-Experts (SBNE).

Arab Youth Centre organises 'Skills Bootcamp for Non-Experts'

This initiative is created to help Arab youth enhance their skills in the art of professional negotiation, with a focus on climate change and sustainability ahead of COP28 in Dubai this year.The camp will be hosted at the Arab Youth Centre headquarters in Abu Dhabi from 30th May to 1st June and will include more than 30 participants.The camp comes under the umbrella of the "Young Arab Diplomatic Leaders" programme, which enables Arab youth leadership in diplomacy and strives to hone Arab youth skills in professional negotiation. It qualifies these individuals to gain experience and knowledge that facilitate active participation in international discussions and negotiations.SBNE additionally seeks to highlight and represent the Arab community in the field of climate change.Andrea Matteo Fontana, Ambassador of the European Union to the UAE, said, "We are pleased to partner with the Arab Youth Centre on this initiative to upskill Arab youth in professional negotiation and empower them to participate actively in international discussions, especially in the field of climate change.The "Skills Bootcamp for Non-Experts" initiative contributes to the UAE objective of ensuring that young people's perspectives are at the heart of global policymaking on climate change and aligns with the EU's aims to empower youth and foster people-to-people relations with the Gulf."Haya Aseer, Project Manager of the Arab Youth Diplomatic Leaders Programme, said, "By engaging the Arab youth population, our camp seeks to build necessary skill sets ahead of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), hosted by the UAE from 30th November to 12th December 2023.The camp directly benefits from the vision adopted by COP28 to empower Arab youth and amplify their participation in issues of common humanitarian concern by building their capacities in policies and negotiations, specifically about climate change - the theme of the conference."The camp incorporates training and educational workshops implemented by reputable institutions with a proven track record in the field. Additionally, the camp conducts an interactive simulation of negotiations enabling young participants to apply their new knowledge and experience gained during training.Participation requires that the applicant be a young Arab between the ages of 18 and 35 years and have a keen interest or achievements in addressing the challenge of climate change. Those interested may register by visiting the Arab Youth Centre's official social media platforms and digital channels.The objectives of the boot camp include raising awareness of climate change issues and the importance of evolving climate action across the board. This includes increasing interest in annual COP conferences and raising awareness about the role of individuals, civil society, and economic and political actors in supporting climate action.Through highly informative interactive simulation activities, young participants will acquire advanced skills and knowledge of negotiation, pluralism and coalition-building techniques. (ANI/WAM)ANI15 May 2023

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Study: Stress hormones during pregnancy can increase early language development in children

Washington, May 15: Based on to examine presented at the 25th European Congress of Endocrinology in Istanbul, high levels of the stress hormone cortisol during the third trimester of pregnancy may increase speech and language abilities in the first three years of a child's life. The results contribute to our understanding of how cortisol affects foetal and infant development.

Study: Stress hormones during pregnancy can increase early language development in children

Early language development is a good indicator of how well the neural system of a newborn evolved in the womb. A fetus's growth is controlled and its brain development is impacted by prenatal exposure to cortisol, a steroid hormone that aids the body in responding to stress. However, it is still unclear how cortisol affects the early development of language.Researchers from the Odense University Hospital examined data from the Odense Child Cohort on 1,093 Danish toddlers aged 12-37 months and on the cortisol levels of 1,093 Danish mothers during their third trimester of pregnancy. They discovered that whereas females were better at comprehending more words at the age of 12 to 21 months, boys exposed to high cortisol levels in the womb could pronounce more words from ages 12-37 months."To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the association between maternal cortisol levels and language development in children over time, also taking offspring sex and maternal educational level into account," said Dr Anja Fenger Dreyer, who was involved in the study.She added "We have had access to a large study cohort, high-quality methods of analysis and relevant covariates, making our study an important contribution to the physiological understanding of prenatal cortisol exposure in fetal maturation and child development."The team will next assess whether children exposed to high cortisol in the womb are more likely to have higher intelligence quotient (IQ) scores. Except for the data on maternal cortisol levels and early language development, the Odense Child Cohort also has data on intelligence tests carried out by children aged 7."Early language development in children is known as a predictor for a cognitive function later in life, such as attention, memory and learning, so we want to investigate whether prenatal cortisol exposure is also associated with IQ scores of children aged 7 years old," said Dr Fenger Dreyer.ANI15 May 2023

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Gujarat Titans faces batting conundrum at No 3: Irfan Pathan

Ahmedabad, May 15: Gujarat Titans is hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad in what is their last home game in the league stages on Monday. The Hardik Pandya-led side needs just one win to qualify for the Indian Premier League playoffs for the straight second time with a victory over SRH.

Gujarat Titans faces batting conundrum at No 3: Irfan Pathan

The last week of the league stage in IPL 2023 has begun and no team has qualified for the playoffs as the race for playoffs keeps getting intense.Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif has backed the defending champions to come out victorious against Sunrisers Hyderabad and become the first team to enter the top four this season.Speaking on Star Sports Cricket Live, Kaif said, "Gujarat Titans can be the first team to qualify for the playoffs with a win against SRH. Captain Hardik Pandya looked unhappy with his and his team's performance in the previous game and they'll be looking to make a comeback. Their performance away from home has been good and they'll be looking to improve the winning record at home this time."Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan has highlighted a big problem with the GT batting line-up in this IPL. The defending champions have struggled to have a set batter at number three.Speaking on Star Sports' Cricket Live, Irfan Pathan said, "Gujarat Titans are facing a batting conundrum at number 3. Hardik hasn't been able to live up to the expectations with the bat this year. But if he isn't firing at number three, it will be tough for the team management to figure out whom to send on this position."ANI15 May 2023

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ALBANY  State cannabis regulators have framed draft regulations for businesses that will serve as venues for the controlled consumption of marijuana.

On-site consumption lounges were envisioned in the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act approved in 2021, the same legislation that allows the possession of marijuana and the retail sale of cannabis products at licensed shops.

But only 10 non-medical marijuana dispensaries are now operating in the state.

The slow rollout of the shops has created headaches for some growers who have had to sit on hundreds of pounds of marijuana cultivated in 2022.

Members of the state Cannabis Control Board, meeting at the SUNY Morrisville, adopted a variety of draft general regulations on Thursday. Following a public comment period, they are expected to set the stage for the development of more specific rules for consumption lounges later this year.

Regulators say allowing cannabis users to smoke marijuana in controlled settings adjacent to dispensaries will help curb public smoking on sidewalks and parks.

Axel Bernabe, chief of staff to the Office of Cannabis Management, told members of the state Cannabis Board, Weve heard a lot of very creative ideas from folks that want to do on-site consumption. So were taking it very seriously. Were going to have stakeholder engagement on that. But we really want it to start with what the law allows us to do, which is a sort of dispensary-based, limited consumption space.

Bernabe said those with micro-businesses or dispensary licenses will be able to open consumption sites in a more limited form.

Joseph Schafer, a Buffalo lawyer who represents clients involved in the cannabis industry or are seeking to enter the New York market, said the state legislation enacted two years ago paved the way for the licensing of consumption lounges, though consumption sites were not addressed in a round of regulations released by the state last November.

The new draft regulations, Schafer told CNHI, will enhance access for cannabis consumers and begin to address the growing concerns about people puffing on joints in public spaces by providing them with more convenient indoor options that are expected to be adjacent to the dispensaries.

The pot lounges, under the state regulations, would only be able to open in municipalities that have opted into having them within their borders.

Schafer said he expects some dispensary operators will be eager to be approved for the pot lounges.

A lot of the folks we spoke to early on were really fired up about on-site consumption, Schafer recalled.

According to state regulators, the revised regulations create pathways to allow consumption to occur at the licensed premises of retail dispensaries, in addition to on-site consumption licenses. The revised draft regulations also include the ability for local governments to identify cannabis consumption areas within their jurisdictions by exempting certain areas from the Clean Indoor Air Act.

The states initial focus in opening dispensaries has been to put individuals who were negatively impacted by cannabis prohibition by being arrested at the front of the line ahead of other entrepreneurs seeking to enter the industry. Fifty additional conditional licenses were approved by regulators.

But only 10 shops have opened so far, though many more illegal stores have been attempting to take advantage of the fact that marijuana possession is now legal. A total of 215 conditional licenses have now been issued by the state.

Bernabe told cannabis board members that there are signs the cannabis industry in the state is vibrant and moving forward and has reached a pivotal moment. He said new state legislation allowing the cannabis agency and state tax officials to sanction illegal stores will be helpful.

While we did our work to bring equity to the table, some folks took advantage of that middle period to open up illegal stores, Bernabe said,

He added: And I think weve all said it many times and I know the board here agrees and tells us repeatedly that we have zero tolerance for folks that are trying to get ahead of our equity applicants. And this bill is going to give us the authority to really turn the corner on enforcement and get people to redirect their consumers to legal stores.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Partly cloudy early followed by increasing clouds with showers developing later in the day. High 81F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Evening clouds will give way to clearing. Low 48F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
In the USA, the vast majority of mothers deliver in hospitals, with less than 2% giving birth in birth centers or at home. However, few systematic attempts have been made to understand how the latter trend impacts maternal health. A new research paper published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology uses available data to conclude that hospital births provide better perinatal outcomes in all cases, with increased benefits in high-risk pregnancies.

Expert Review: The impact of birth settings on pregnancy outcomes in the United States. Image Credit: christinarosepix / Shutterstock

Introduction

Among high-income countries, maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality rates are relatively high in the US. Interestingly, Black and Native Americans have higher rates than the rest of the population.

Most hospital deliveries are carried out by doctors, with less than a tenth being performed by Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs). Conversely, in birth centers or at home, over half the deliveries are accomplished by CNMs and about 37% by non-certified midwives. The rest are primarily by midwives not certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB), with 3% and 0.6% being by physicians in birth centers and at home, respectively.

The established practice of giving birth in hospitals continued through the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, with a decrease of only 0.3% in hospital births during 2019-20. Most of those who opted out of the hospital birth system chose to deliver at home, with the figure rising from 1% to 1.2%.

Direct data comparing births in and out of hospital is lacking. Moreover, some home births become complicated and end up in hospital, with the resulting adverse outcomes becoming part of the hospitals outcomes instead of being attributed to the original outside-hospital delivery pathway.

Home births and those occurring in birth centers do have their obvious and significant advantages, of course. Interventions and procedures that are unnecessary for the specific patients case are largely avoided. However, the authors say it is demonstrably wrong to think that having fewer interventions always improves the safety of childbirth.

The trend towards hospital deliveries was originally stimulated by the observation that a normal delivery may deteriorate to become a high-risk one quite rapidly and unpredictably. The speed at which life-endangering complications arise, requiring multidisciplinary care, makes it more challenging to reduce the chances of adverse outcomes from out-of-hospital childbirth. This is because the need for transportation and emergency equipment, operative treatment, and to call in the services of multiple professionals takes up precious time, detracting from the patients quality of care when the delivery process begins out of hospital.

Some severe and sudden complications that put the lives of both mother and baby at risk and require immediate specialized intervention include post-partum hemorrhage (in almost six of a hundred deliveries), amniotic fluid embolism (the same proportion as above), shoulder dystocia (in three of every hundred), abruptio placentae (in up to one in a hundred deliveries), uterine scar rupture ( in over one in a hundred post-Caesarean section deliveries),

What did the study show?

The study identified the shortfalls in data regarding deliveries in hospital and outside. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains statistics on the 3.5 million births in the USA each year. However, they are registered to the institution where they occurred and not where they were intended to occur.

This could lead to underestimation of the risks of out-of-hospital births that end up being transferred to hospitals, often after complications have set in that lead to less favorable outcomes. Secondly, birth certificates are not created for stillborn fetuses, causing a gap in the data.

The Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA) Statistics Project and the American Association of Birth Centers also maintain birth registries on a voluntary basis. However, these collect only half the births outside hospitals, and cannot be generalized due to their collection from a heavily selected population segment.

Several earlier studies have shown that births planned for out-of-hospital settings are associated with higher perinatal morbidity and deaths compared to hospital settings. This applies across the board, whether in neonatal deaths following deliveries in women aged 35 years or above, those following term deliveries, overall deliveries, or post-term pregnancies.

The researchers compared births assisted by a hospital midwife to those assisted by CNMs at home, other midwives at home, and unintended home births. In all cases, when compared with those births performed by a hospital midwife, the mortality among the newborns was more than two to eight-fold higher in home births.

For instance, for a term baby, a hospital midwife-assisted birth was associated with ~3 deaths per 10,000 live births. With intended home births, this rose to three-fold higher rates when assisted by a CNM or direct-entry midwife. With other midwives, the mortality rate increased almost seven-fold, to 21 deaths per 10,000 live births.

Again, in those with a previous C-section, who often opt for home births, the risks for adverse neonatal outcomes are ten-fold higher in a home birth situation compared to in-hospital delivery, either by a repeated C-section or by vaginal birth after C-section (VBAC).

Almost one in 900 babies in such home births had a birth Apgar score of 0 and a slightly higher incidence of severe neurological complications such as seizures. This increases the risk for such babies by 11-12-fold compared to in-hospital births.

Breech babies also suffer a higher risk of death from home births, at 13.5 per 1000 live births.

The advantages of hospital birth are probably because of the ability to offer effective and immediate identification and intervention for numerous potentially or actually serious complications of childbirth, including those listed earlier.

These risks are higher in certain patient groups, such as first-time deliveries, elderly mothers (aged 35 years or above), those who are at or past 41 weeks of pregnancy, and those with a diagnosed breech presentation or a history of C-section. However, there is conflict between the medical and midwifery communities on the contraindications for home births, with the result that standardized exclusionary guidelines for home births are still awaited.

It is important to note that when high-risk patients are excluded, the outcomes for home births are good, but when high-risk patients are included, the neonatal mortality goes up more than eight-fold.

What are the implications?

Given that some women strongly prefer home births, it is essential to understand their motivations. Secondly, it is fundamental that midwives be integrated into the healthcare system completely. This requires standardized midwifery credentials, hospital privileges for accredited midwives, the ready availability of physicians and hospital facilities as a backup when required, open and respectful communication, and collaboration between healthcare professionals.

In short, the US birth system should be brought into line with other HICs where both hospital and home-birth midwives are well-integrated into their countrys healthcare system.

In helping patients understand the best birth choices open to them, the traditional medical ethics principles apply, such as:

Beneficence (doing what is good for the patient, including natural birth if so desired and possible);

Non-maleficence (or first do no harm), where the limits of possibility are defined in terms of the patients benefit, excluding out-of-hospital births when these would be harmful;

Respect for patient autonomy when it does not require the professional to behave unprofessionally, such as not sharing information with the patient that would reveal the risks of home birth in certain situations, thus allowing the patient to opt for a risky birth when reasonable alternatives are available;

Making recommendations when the benefits of a hospital delivery are clearly weightier than the risks

Directive counseling when medically reasonable alternatives to a hospital delivery are lacking.

Attending a planned home birth, especially when there are high-risk factors, regardless of training or experience, is not acting in a professional capacity because this results in clinically unnecessary and therefore clinically unacceptable perinatal risk.

Along with such empowerment, the hospital healthcare system should be overhauled to offer pregnant women greater freedom regarding unnecessary interventions and procedures, providing compassionate care, and, for instance, allowing patients to opt for a trial of labor or vaginal breech birth when appropriate. Those who come in for a hospital birth following a failed home birth attempt are eligible for the same level of care and kindness as others who planned a hospital birth from the beginning.

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Fresh insights into the spread of damaging proteins that build up in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease could hold the key to stopping the condition progressing, a study says.

Researchers have discovered that synapses, which send essential signals through the brain, are also transporting toxic proteins known as tau around the brain.

Large clumps of the protein tau  called tangles  form in brain cells and are one of the defining features of Alzheimer's disease. As these tangles spread through the brain during the disease there is a decline in brain function.

Led by the University of Edinburgh, the study focused on synapses, connections which allow the flow of chemical and electrical messages between brain cells and are vital to healthy brain function. Alzheimer's disease attacks synapses and their loss strongly predicts reduced memory and thinking abilities.

In the study, scientists examined more than one million synapses from 42 people using powerful microscopy techniques to visualize proteins within individual synapses.

The team discovered that small clumps of the protein tau  known as tau oligomers  are found within the synapses of people who died of Alzheimer's disease.

Tangles of tau oligomers were seen inside both ends of the synapse  from the brain cell sending signals and the brain cell receiving signals.

In a mouse model of the disease, the oligomers jumped from one side of the synapse to the other, spreading the toxic tau through the brain.

Lowering oligomeric tau at synapses may be a promising strategy to stop disease progression in future, experts say.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, with currently around 900,000 people with the condition in the UK. This figure is projected to rise to nearly 1.6 million in 2040. It can cause severe memory loss and there is currently no cure.

The study is published in the journal Neuron: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2023.04.020. The research team included scientists from the University of Edinburgh, the UK Dementia Research Institute, the Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques Hospital de Sant Pau and the Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (Barcelona).

We have known for over 30 years that tangles spread through the brain during Alzheimer's disease, but how they spread has remained a mystery. Wherever tangles appear in the brain, neuron death follows, contributing to the decline in cognitive ability. Stopping the spread of toxic tau is a promising strategy to stop the disease in its tracks." Tara-Spires Jones, Lead Researcher, Professor, UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh
Reducing the dose and duration of radiotherapy treatments for anal cancer may result in fewer side effects, recent clinical trial results have shown.

The study, called PLATO, is run through the Leeds CRUK Clinical Trials Unit at the University of Leeds and is funded by Cancer Research UK and Stand Up To Cancer. It consists of three clinical trials (ACT 3,4,5) that are designed to optimize radiotherapy treatment for patients with anal cancer.

The ACT 4 trial is the first clinical trial in the world to randomize patients between standard and lower dose treatment in anal cancer. The short-term findings have been presented at the 2023 European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ESTRO) Congress, the largest European radiotherapy conference.

The presentation was given by Dr Alexandra Gilbert, Associate Professor of Clinical Oncology at the University of Leeds. It detailed that while the ACT 4 groups were not statistically compared, the PLATO team observed that at six months a lower dose radiotherapy resulted in a high level of complete disappearance of the cancer with fewer side effects and improved sexual function than observed for patients receiving standard dose treatment.

Across both groups there was a high rate of complete response of the cancer at six months - meaning all signs of cancer had disappeared in response to treatment for both low and standard doses of radiotherapy.

The PLATO ACT 4 presentation detailed the short term results up to six months. Further follow up is required to determine the impact of lower dose radiotherapy on local recurrence of anal cancer and the results are expected next year.

Professor David Sebag-Montefiore is the Chief Investigator for PLATO and an academic clinical oncologist at the University of Leeds. He said: "The side-effects of radiotherapy treatments have a significant impact on the lives of patients and their friends and families, and we are very encouraged by the ACT4 trial results using lower dose radiotherapy.

"The current approach for anal cancer treatments is essentially a 'one size fits all' where the dose of radiotherapy is similar whether the tumor being treated is very small or very large. If we could offer tailored approaches without compromising cure rates, this could prevent patients from suffering side-effects unnecessarily.

"The PLATO's ACT4 trial results is an important step towards personalized approach for anal cancer and using a smarter, kinder approach to treatment."

Patient's quality of life

Anal cancer is a rare disease with roughly 1,500 cases diagnosed in the UK every year but incidence of the disease is set to rise by 14% over the next 15 years.

The current standard of care for anal cancer is chemo-radiotherapy. While this practice results in relatively high cure rates there are significant side effects as a result. Some of the most common side effects of radiotherapy include sore skin, diarrhea, incontinence, fatigue, vaginal irritation and loss of sexual function.

The global standard of care for anal cancer has not changed for more than two decades. The current approach is associated with significant short-term and long-term side effects and high-quality evidence is required to determine the best dose of radiotherapy for tumors of different sizes and the degree of local spread. Despite its rarity, we are able to successfully complete clinical trials to provide vital evidence that will help decide the best treatment for future patients with anal cancer and help preserve their quality of life." Dr Alexandra Gilbert, Associate Professor of Clinical Oncology, University of Leeds

The ACT4 PLATO trial

The PLATO team collaborated with colleagues from across the UK in the development and implementation of a novel radiotherapy approach, intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

IMRT reduces the sides effects of treatment and allows different radiotherapy doses to be applied to the visible cancer, which requires a higher dose, and a lower dose to the surrounding lymph node areas at risk of containing cancer cells at the same time.

It also provides the basis for testing the personalization of radiotherapy dose delivered to the visible tumor.

The aim of the ACT4 trial was to determine whether a lower dose, shorter course of radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy can reduce the short-term and long-term side effects of treatment and still achieve the same high rate of local eradication of the cancer that is achieved using a standard dose of radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy.

The ACT 4 trial recruited 163 patients with anal cancer up to four centimeters in size that had not spread to the surrounding lymph nodes. They were recruited from 28 sites in the United Kingdom between Jan 2017 and Dec 2020.

The current standard treatment, determined by previous randomised trials, is a total dose of 50.4Gy given as 28 out-patient radiotherapy treatments over five and a half weeks combined with chemotherapy over the same time period.

The shorter course of treatment evaluated in ACT4 is 41.4Gy given as 23 out-patient radiotherapy treatments over four and a half weeks combined with chemotherapy over the same time period.

Sarah Brown, Professor of Cancer Clinical Trials Methodology said : "PLATO is a fantastic example of a 'team science' approach working in collaboration with experts in anal cancer, clinical trials, radiotherapy, cancer biology, data science and computation and imaging in Leeds and across the UK. The umbrella trial design with three trials in one means we can do this efficiently, taking steps towards more personalised therapy in the future".

The ACT4 trial co-leads are Professor Richard Adams (Cardiff University) and Dr Mark Harrison (Mount Vernon Hospital). There is a wider Clinical Trials Unit team and Trial Management Group that includes a patient and public involvement representative.

Executive Director of Research and Innovation at Cancer Research UK, Dr Iain Foulkes, said: "Anal cancer is a devastating disease, and treatment often comes with life-altering side-effects. There is a real need for treatments which can help people live a better quality of life.

"The PLATO trial has been an outstanding example of working smarter with existing resources, harnessing the latest advances in radiotherapy to target cancer cells and leave healthy cells intact.

"We are really pleased to see that smarter use of radiotherapy minimises these side effects. We look forward to seeing the longer-term results that we hope will result in changes in how we treat anal cancer in the clinic."

Encouraging patients to join clinical trials  Rosie's story

Rosie Sanderson was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2019 when she was 61 years old. She joined the PLATO trial as part of its randomised patient set.

Four years ago, Rosie started experiencing breathlessness and following tests with her GP she was initially diagnosed with anaemia as a result of anal bleeding. Rosie had attributed this symptom to a previously existing condition. This is not uncommon for people to ignore instances of anal bleeding, sometimes believing it to be caused by other conditions such as hemorrhoids, diarrhea or constipation. But it is one of the few early symptoms of anal cancer.

After a colonoscopy and biopsies, it was confirmed she had anal cancer and was referred to St. James under Professor David Sebag-Montefiore's team.

Rosie was immediately interested in the possibility of joining a clinical trial, which she discussed with her attending doctor. Rosie said: "I've always been aware of the importance of clinical trials for improving treatment, especially for rare diseases like anal cancer.

"It was made clear to me from the start that being a part of a clinical trial would not compromise my care. I felt assured that my health remained the priority throughout the trial."

As part of PLATO ACT4 Rosie received the standard dose of radiotherapy across five and half weeks. Because the trial was randomized Rosie did not know which treatment method she would receive when she signed up. Rosie also received a course of chemotherapy, as a standard part of treatment for anal cancer.

She said "Two to three weeks into my treatment I really started to feel the side-effects, particularly pain and fatigue. By the fourth week, I was no longer able to travel by train or drive myself to treatments. Before I started the treatment, I was a really fit and active person. That loss of independence and the constant exhaustion were a real challenge for me."

Rosie was declared cancer free in 2020 with a planned follow up for five years. While she still suffers some long-term side-effects, the pain and fatigue faded in the weeks following the end of her treatment. Rosie is still part of PLATO and continues to answer regular questionnaires to track her long-term side-effects and health.

Rosie says: "Having been through the treatment for anal cancer, I fully appreciate how helpful it would be to have more options in care. The possibility that future patients might not have to face as many side-effects and have shorter treatment is really wonderful.

Rosie says: "To anyone considering joining a clinical trial my advice would be: go for it! Make sure your doctor knows you're interested. They know what options are available and together you can decide if it's right for you.

"Clinical trials allow researchers and doctors to find better ways to help people and it feels really good to be a part of that."
In a recent study published in the PLOS ONE Journal, researchers examined the contribution of caffeine to nicotine use onset during early adolescence.

Study: Possible role of caffeine in nicotine use onset among early adolescents: Evidence from the Young Mountaineer Health Study Cohort. Image Credit: VovaShevchuk/Shutterstock.com

Background

Preventing nicotine usage among the young population is a critical population health concern. Caffeine intake during early adolescence could enhance the risk of nicotine use in the following months; however, the probability has not been extensively investigated and warrants further research.

In recent times, most adolescents regularly consume caffeinated products, such as coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, and candy, with several products directly marketed toward them.

For young adolescents, the onset of caffeine use might be uniquely detrimental due to ongoing neurodevelopmental maturation coupled with increased social and educational demands.

Both caffeine and nicotine can increase dopamine secretion, and therefore, caffeine intake could probably enhance nicotine-induced psycho-stimulation.

About the study

In the study, researchers investigated whether caffeine usage at study initiation would predict a greater likelihood of nicotine onset at follow-up.

The team analyzed the Young Mountaineer Health Study (YHMS) data that were provided by 1,349 students (response rate of 81%) in sixth grade (mean student age of 12 years) across 20 schools providing middle-school level education in five counties located in the western regions of Virginia. Data were obtained from the autumn of 2020 to the spring season of the following year.

Data extraction included the product, type, and frequency of nicotine use. The team conducted a baseline evaluation between October and December 2020, during which 1,671 students attended school physically or in hybrid (offline/in-person and online/virtual) formats.

Children attending school exclusively virtually and those reporting prior nicotine usage were excluded from the analysis, limiting the sample size to 1,187 students.

The follow-up survey was conducted between April and May 2021. Multivariate logistic regression modeling was performed to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) adjusting for behavioral, social, and environmental variables impacting nicotine usage, including alcohol intake, peer substance use, and perceived nicotine accessibility.

Results

Among the study participants, during the follow-up period, 8.10% documented prior nicotine use 1.0 times between study initiation and follow-up, among whom 5.0% used electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) exclusively.

Further, 84% of nicotine users used ENDS 1.0 times, 28% had practiced cigarette smoking 1.0 times, and 20% consumed nicotine in other forms.

Concerning regular coffee intake, the highest prevalence rates of 70% and 51% were noted for caffeine-containing soda and tea, respectively.

The team found a significant association between caffeine intake and nicotine usage with OR values of 1.2 and 1.1 in models considering various forms of nicotine (such as ENDS, combustible cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and alternative tobacco such as hookah) as a dichotomized outcome variable (model 1.0) and the use of ENDS exclusively as the study outcome (model 2.0), respectively.

Using the first model, for every decile point elevation in caffeine use, there was a 15% elevation in the chances of nicotine use onset among young adolescents.

Among covariates, the largest contribution was noted for the self-perceived parental responses to alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs (ATOD) use (OR, 1.2) and substance use by peers (OR, 1.2).

In model 2.0, ENDS use probability rose by 13.0% per point elevation in caffeine usage. The covariates that contributed the most to the observations were the perceived parental reactions to the use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs (OR, 1.2) and the consumption of any alcohol at study initiation (OR, 2.4).

Caffeine may affect adenosine receptors and striatal pathways connected to dopamine synthesis and sensitivity to rewards in early teens, regions in the brain that are extremely susceptible during this period.

Caffeine use may be highly gratifying for young adolescents, promoting nicotine usage for mood regulation and nicotine addiction. Furthermore, caffeine's effects may be linked to stressors related to transitioning to middle-level schooling from the elementary level, increasing academic requirements, and alterations in the routine and structure of schools.

Conclusions

Overall, the study findings showed that caffeine intake among middle school students who did not consume nicotine correlated positively with the chances of consuming nicotine at six months of follow-up.

The modeling findings indicated that for every decile unit elevation in caffeine consumption, the risk of consuming nicotine after six months elevated by 13.0% to 15.0%.

The findings indicated that students near the upper range's upper limit had a 2.50-fold greater likelihood than non-caffeine users to use nicotine 1.0 times between study initiation and follow-up.

In addition, according to previous study findings, the students predominantly consumed ENDS as tobacco.
In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers discussed the presence of persistent humoral immunity among children and adolescents during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Study: Persistent humoral immunity in children and adolescents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic (June 2020 to July 2022): a prospective school-based cohort study (Ciao Corona) in Switzerland. Image Credit: oronaBorealis Studio/Shutterstock.com

*Important notice: medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.

Background

Tracking seroprevalence and alterations in humoral immunity in children and adolescent individuals against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is crucial for understanding the pandemic's progression and informing public health measures, such as vaccination and school prevention strategies.

Multiple serological studies were carried out to identify SARS-CoV-2 infections among children and adolescents and to assess the prevalence of antibodies at various stages of the pandemic.

However, limited longitudinal studies have been conducted to assess the development and persistence of antibodies over time in children and adolescents, resulting in a lack of knowledge about their humoral immunity.

About the study

In the present study, researchers explored the progress of humoral immunity among children and adolescents over time during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Primary schools situated in the canton of Zurich were randomly selected, and their corresponding geographically closest secondary schools were invited. Almost 55 schools out of 156 invited schools, including public and private schools, agreed to participate.

The study randomly selected classes and divided them into three strata based on school level: grades one to two for lower school, grades four to five for middle school, and grades seven to nine for upper school.

Five rounds of venous blood specimens were collected. The testing rounds were conducted at different times, termed T1 in June/July 2020, T2 in October/November 2020, T3 in March/April 2021, T4 in November/December 2021, and T5 in June/July 2022. Venous blood samples were collected from children and adolescents in schools during all five testing rounds.

The study collected data on participants' sociodemographic features, chronic conditions, and COVID-19 vaccination status using online questionnaires at enrolment and every three to six months throughout the study.

Results

The number of children and adolescents tested ranged from 1,876 to 2,500 during each testing round from June 2020 to July 2022. Three children and adolescents who tested positive for antibodies were hospitalized for less than 24 hours during the study period. One hospitalization may have been due to acute COVID-19.

The seroprevalence rate exhibited a significant increase between T4 and T5, rising from 46.4% to 96.9% in the entire study population. Among unvaccinated children and adolescents, the rate increased from 31.3% to 95.8%. The vaccination rate for children and adolescents increased from 25.3% at T4 to 43.4% at T5.

Seroprevalence increased more significantly in children under 12 years old, rising from 28.4% to 95.7% between T4 and T5, compared to adolescents aged 12 and above, whose seroprevalence increased from 69.4% to 98.4%.

The team also found that children and adolescents who had hybrid immunity and were only vaccinated had high titer levels at either T4 or T5. On the other hand, unvaccinated children and adolescents who were infected had considerably lower titers.

Notably, on average, all groups experienced an increase in titers from T4 to T5. Children and adolescents who were either infected or had no antibodies at T4 and were vaccinated with the first dose between T4 and T5 showed the greatest increase in titers.

Moreover, children and adolescents with previous seronegative samples who had a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection showed the smallest increase and lowest titers in T4 and T5.

The neutralizing activity showed an increase in all groups from T4 to T5. Participants with hybrid immunity and those who received only vaccination had a comparable proportionally higher neutralizing response, while infected participants had a lower response.

At T4, infected children and adolescents had a higher neutralizing response at T5 in comparison to seronegative children and adolescents. In general, the highest neutralizing response was observed against anti-SARS-CoV-2 wildtype, followed by anti-SARS-CoV-2 Delta and anti-SARS-CoV-2 Omicron.

However, in children and adolescents who were newly infected between T4 to T5, anti-Omicron showed the highest neutralizing response, followed by anti-Delta and anti-wildtype.

Conclusion

The study findings emphasized the significance of serological studies as a means of monitoring COVID-19 and the emergence of humoral immunity in young individuals.

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant wave and vaccine distribution resulted in nearly 100% seropositivity among children and adolescents, leading to increased seroprevalence as well as anti-spike immunoglobulin (Ig)-G antibody titers, as well as improved neutralizing capacity.

*Important notice: medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
Honda Cars is all set to break cover of the upcoming Elevate compact SUV. Ahead of the official unveiling, the Japanese auto giant has partially revealed the looks of the SUV. In a new teaser image, Honda has showcased the roof and bit of the profile of the Elevate SUV. Honda will take the covers off the Elevate on June 6. It will take on rivals such as Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara among others in the compact SUV segment.

The teaser image shared by the carmaker shows sharp design element of the Elevate SUV. One thing is amply clear that Honda will not offer panoramic sunroof with the Elevate, unlike some of its rivals like Hyundai Creta. Among other things noticeable in the teaser image are the roof rails, shark-fin antenna and body-coloured ORVMs. At the rear, the SUV will get an LED strip connecting the taillights along with the Elevate badging.

Earlier, Honda had shared a sketch of the Elevate SUV which promises a sharp look. The design of the Honda Elevate SUV is likely to be based on the CR-V model. The SUV is expected to be offered with a slim and sharp set of LED headlight units. The large grille will help the Honda Elevate SUV to bear a muscular face and prominent road presence. The SUV will sit on a set of multi-spoke alloy wheels measuring no less than 16 inches.

Honda has not revealed much details about the interior of the Elevate SUV yet. However, expect most of the modern features that are available with Honda cars in India to be available with Elevate.

Honda is likely to offer the Elevate SUV with the 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that also powers the new generation Honda City. The engine produces nearly 120 bhp of power in the City. Honda may also offer the SUV with hybrid powertrains using the same technology used in City e:HEV. The higher variants may also be offered with ADAS features which as introduced for the first time in the City sedan.

The Elevate is going to be the first SUV from the carmaker after it discontinued models like the CR-V and WR-V from the Indian markets. The Elevate will hold key to Honda's SUV plans in India after its earlier models failed to make a mark on the sales charts.

First Published Date:
Unintended pregnancies are connected with a wide range of consequences that include adverse emotional, social, and medical sequelae. Women who are born overseas, have parents born overseas, or parents who can speak many languages are termed culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) women. Previous studies have shown that women from a CALD background experience a higher rate of unintended pregnancies.

Study: What do women need to know about long-acting reversible contraception? Perspectives of women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Image Credit: New Africa / Shutterstock

Background

Women who underwent unintended pregnancies are at a higher risk of post-natal depression. In addition, these women experience disruption in educational attainment and also find it difficult to re-enter the workforce. Research showed that women from the CALD background practiced less effective contraceptive methods than those born in Australia.

One of the most effective forms of contraceptives is long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC). These contraceptives are subdermal hormonal implants and intrauterine devices. An increase in the use of LARC by women from a CALD background could significantly reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy.

Interestingly, a previous study involving younger women watching online educational videos of LARC revealed an increase in LARC preference and use. Nevertheless, it is not clear whether a similar approach could increase LARC preference among women from CALD backgrounds. It is also important to understand the specific alterations needed in the online educational material suitable for CALD women in the Australian context.

About the Study

A recent Health Promotion Journal of Australia study focussed on identifying the components of an online educational intervention to enhance LARC preference and use among women from CALD backgrounds.

This study included female, English-speaking participants between 18 and 44 years of age who were from an Indian, Chinese, or Middle Eastern cultural background. Qualitative data were obtained through semi-structured telephone interviews. The interviews were structured to gather data to identify personal and systemic enablers and barriers to improving online intervention.

The social media platform Facebook was used to place advertisements in targeted demographic groups, such as the Lebanese community in Melbourne, Chinese in Melbourne, and Indians in Melbourne, and recruit participants. The audio interview recordings were transcribed and coded. This study used a thematic analysis methodology, where codes are developed into themes, and these themes comprise insightful answers to the research question.

Study Findings

A total of twenty-nine women completed the survey, which included twelve Indian, nine Chinese, and eight Middle Eastern women. The authors interviewed six representatives from each cultural group. The majority of women were below 30 years of age and resided in Victoria.

Women from CALD backgrounds addressed several issues and provided important suggestions that might positively influence online educational videos. The modified videos could, in turn, enhance LARC use in this group. The participants indicated the importance of addressing knowledge gaps and misconceptions regarding LARC use. In addition, they suggested that LARC availability must be widened and partners much be involved in reproductive decision-making.

Consistent with previous studies, the present study observed that women from the CALD background experience significant stigma regarding contraception and premarital intercourse. The use of LARC could empower women because of its covert nature, which should ensure that they are not subjected to social disapproval.

The participants indicated the importance of information regarding the cost and availability of LARC. This information will benefit international students or young women from CALD backgrounds who are not eligible for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme that provides subsidies for contraception.

LARC education should challenge cultural myths with scientific evidence. For instance, previous studies have revealed that Chinese women have an aversion to hormone-based contraception. Therefore, this group must be enlightened about how safe hormonal methods are. In addition, they must be provided with alternative non-hormonal LARC options, such as the copper IUD.

In India, menstruation has strong cultural significance. Menstruation is believed to remove bodily toxins, and women are discouraged from entering the kitchen and religious centers while menstruating. Hence, the video must include information about basic reproductive health, such as the menstrual cycle.

A strong aversion towards abortion was noted amongst some Middle Eastern women. Hence, the video must explain the mechanism of action of LARC and rectify the myth that this method is associated with abortion. It was found that Middle Eastern women prefer natural contraceptive methods, such as withdrawal, over artificial contraceptives. Therefore, the video must contain information about how ineffective natural contraceptive methods are compared to LARC. The current study also emphasized the importance of delivering video content by a female doctor, which could address cultural sensitivity.

Conclusions

The current study revealed the importance of highlighting the covertness of LARC contraceptive methods for women from CALD backgrounds. Educational videos must have information regarding the cost and how to access these contraceptives. It is important to promote online education regarding reproductive health through social media platforms and government websites. It is important for male partners of varied age groups to be aware of these interventions.

usechatgpt init success
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has unveiled its latest offering for Honda two-wheelers in India - the Pro Honda" range of engine oil. Developed by Honda Motor Co. Ltd, Japan, the Pro Honda oil is meticulously formulated, tested, and approved by Honda engineers to preserve the optimal performance of Honda 2Wheelers. Notably, HMSI is the first among all Honda network countries to introduce the Pro Honda brand to its customers.

The Pro Honda engine oil range features a cutting-edge 5-in-1 technology that provides enhanced anti-rust properties, prolongs engine life, improves fuel efficiency, reduces friction through low viscosity, and minimizes emissions for an eco-friendly ride. Pro Honda is renowned for its pioneering low viscosity and low-friction technology.

Also Read: Honda Likely To Drop 7G Tag in Upcoming Activa, Heres Why!

Mr. Yogesh Mathur, Director of Sales & Marketing at Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, expressed his thoughts on the launch, stating, At Honda, our constant focus has been on offering our customers the best products and services. In line with our commitment to create new value for customers, we are introducing the new range of engine oil, Pro Honda, which ensures superior performance for all Honda 2Wheelers. These oils are now available at our authorized network across India, ensuring a smoother ride for our customers."

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The Pro Honda engine oil range includes two exclusive grades: Pro Honda 10W30 and Pro Honda 5W30. The Pro Honda 10W30 is available in two variants - 10W30 MA for motorcycles and 10W30 MB for scooters - suitable for all Honda 2Wheelers. The Pro Honda 5W30, on the other hand, is exclusively developed for BSVI compliant Honda 2Wheelers and is available in 5W30 MA for motorcycles and 5W30 MB for scooters.

Both grades of the Pro Honda engine oil range can be purchased from authorized HMSI touchpoints and the open market in various pack sizes, including 600 ML, 800 ML, 900 ML, 1000 ML, and 1200 ML. The Pro Honda 10W30 grade starts at Rs. 333 for 800ml, while the Pro Honda 5W30 grade starts at Rs. 311 for 600ml.
Rafique Malik, chairman of multi-brand footwear company Metro, has had a journey thats nothing short of inspiring. Starting off with a store in Mumbai, Malik transformed the business into a multi-billion set-up. With a clear vision of handling the multi-chain format, he professionalized his family business to reach a capitalization of Rs 23,000 crore. Today, the tycoon reigns the footwear arena having about 720 stores across 164 cities in India. The well-known Metro Brands now caters to all target audiences be it women, men, or children.

The story of Metro

It all began with Rafiques father Malik Tejani, who served as a shoe salesman at a store in Mumbais Colaba before independence. During the chaos of partition, the owner of the store fled India leaving Malik Tejani to take over the business, as per Your Story. With a burning passion to tap the new market, he took out a loan to gain ownership of the store that he later renamed as Metro Shoes. The inspiration behind the companys name came from Metro Cinema, a famous theatre located in Mumbai. Rafique was merely 16 when he began his career with his fathers business and what followed was nothing less than a dream run.

The company has been able to hold a firm grasp on the footwear market by expanding its stores largely in tier II cities. In a milestone move, Metro Brands signed a deal with Crocs in 2015 to open the brands exclusive stores in India. It was in 2021 when Metro was officially listed to open the company to new investors on a domestic and global scale.

Personal life

Rafique Malik married Aziza, and the couple has five daughters. Today, the second of his daughters, Farah Malik Bhanji has taken over the baton of her family business by joining as managing director.

Metro Controversy

The multi-brand footwear chain has faced its fair share of ups and down. Back in 1996, Rafique Malik was among the several politicians and businessmen who were named by the Mumbai police, as per Startup Talky. He was reportedly accused of theft of concessionary funds provided to both artisans and cobblers.

Brands under Metro

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Metro is the umbrella for multiple brands including Mochi, daVinchi, Cheemo, Crocs, Walkway, and FitFlop.
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has released the much-awaited results of its ICSE class 10 and ISC class 12 examinations in 2023. Students can check their results from the official websites of CISCE  cisce.org as well as at results.cisce.org and results.nic.in In 2023, the overall pass percentage of ICSE class 10 students was 98.94 per cent, while the ISC class 12th pass percentage stood at 96.93 per cent.

Compared to boys, who passed the ICSE class 10 exam with a pass percentage of 98.71 per cent, girls had a better pass percentage of 99.21 per cent.

Similarly, the pass percentage of girls was higher than boys as 98.01per cent of girls and 95.96 per cent of girls managed to pass the ISC class 12 exam.

The Southern region of India once again had the highest pass rate, 99.20 per cent, in the Class 12 ISC examination, followed by the Western region, which had a pass percentage of 98.34 per cent. The eastern region had a pass rate of 96.63 per cent, while the northern region had a pass percentage of 96.51 per cent.

In the Class 10 ICSE exam, the Western regions of India has recorded the highest pass percentage of 99.81 per cent, followed by the Southern region, which has a pass percentage of 99.69 per cent. The Northern region recorded a pass percentage of 98.65 per cent and the Eastern region stood at 98.47 per cent.

Students must enter their unique ID, and index number as specified on their admit card and fill out the captcha shown on the result portal to log in to their account in order to view their individual scorecards for ICSE class 10 and ISC class 12

CISCE ICSE and ISC Result 2023: Re-evaluation

The online application for the re-evaluation of the answer sheets will begin shortly. Students who are unhappy with their results and wish to get their answer sheets re-evaluated after checking their results can put in a request for the same at cisce.org . Students will be required to pay a rechecking fee of Rs 1,000 for each subject put in for re-evaluation. The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations will then re-evaluate the marks and send in a revised mark sheet.

CISCE ICSE and ISC Result 2023: Compartment Exam

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If a student fails to meet the minimal score in any one subject, they will be required to take compartment exams. To be eligible for these tests, students must have cleared the ISC/ICSE English or two additional subjects. This provision permits students to retake the failed subject and pass their examinations without repeating the whole academic year.

Students who did not pass the CISCE ISC or ICSE scores will be given another shot at passing the exam. They will be allowed to take the 2024 final year examinations with the students from the academic year 2023-2024 under the repeater category, but if they fail that year as well, there will be no more opportunities.
The Education Minister of West Bengal, Bratya Basu, has announced that the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) will release the results for the class 12 (HS) exams 2023 on May 24 at 12 PM. Students who took the exams can check their results online by entering their roll number on wbchse.wb.gov.in and wbresults.nic.in. The results will display the students marks and whether they passed or not.

Around 8.52 lakh students appeared for the West Bengal board class 12 exams, which took place from March 14 to March 27. To pass the WBCHSE class 12 exam, students need to score at least 33 per cent marks and 20 per cent marks in practical exams. The minimum aggregate mark required to pass the WB board exam is 272.

Candidates who obtain at least 480 marks will receive the first division, while those obtaining marks above 360 will receive the second division. Marks above 272 will be classified as the third division. Students who fail to obtain the minimum qualifying marks will have to take the supplementary exam, and those who fail in more than two subjects will have to repeat the year.

WBCHSE CLASS 12 RESULTS 2023: HOW TO CHECK

Step 1: Go to the official website of the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education  wbchse.wb.gov.in

Step 2: Click on the West Bengal Class 12 (HS) result 2023 link on the homepage

Step 3: Once the result portal opens, enter your roll number and date of birth and click on submit

Step 4: Your West Bengal class 12th result 2023 will be shown on the screen.

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Step 5: Download the class 12 result and take a printout of the same for records.

In the West Bengal class 12 exam of 2022, the overall pass percentage was recorded at 88.44 per cent, and 6,36,875 students passed the HS exam. The pass percentage for boys was 90.19 per cent, while for girls, it was 86.58 per cent. The merit list included 272 students, and Adisha Debsharma topped the HS exam with 498 marks or 99.6 per cent. Sayandip Samanta secured the second position with 497 marks, and four students secured the third position with 496 marks. A total of 4,97,809 students scored more than 60 per cent marks in the WB 12th HS result for 2022.
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Former CM Siddaramaiah is likely to become the next chief minister of Karnataka after the landslide victory of Congress in the recently concluded Assembly elections, top sources told CNN-News18.

Congress central observers for Karnataka met party president Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence in Delhi today.

The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) on Sunday passed a unanimous resolution authorising party chief Kharge to pick its leader, who will be the next chief minister of Karnataka.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also held informal talks to choose the leader of the opposition and the deputy floor leader in the Karnataka assembly. In the meeting, the names of former CM Basavaraj Bommai and former minister R Ashoka were considered for leading the Opposition in the state, Times of India reported quoting sources.

A senior BJP MLA said that since former CM Bommai has the ability to speak on any subject and take on the new government, the chances of him being selected as the opposition leader are bright, according to the TOI report.

However, the MLA added that the chances of Ashoka emerging as a winner also cannot be ruled out as he is also a senior MLA.

Other names that made rounds for the post were former ministers S Suresh Kumar, V Sunil Kumar and Basanagouda Patil Yatnal.

Meanwhile, a day after the announcement of Karnataka Assembly election results which saw the Congress emerging victorious with the required majority to form the government, outgoing Chief Minister Bommai on Sunday said the loss is not the defeat of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This is not PM Modis defeat as he came here only for the campaign. The Congress leadership has lost in the entire country, he told reporters near the BJP office here, adding: Its not correct to blame PM Modi for the BJPs defeat in the state.

In the May 10 elections to the 224-member Assembly, the Congress scored an emphatic victory with 135 seats, while the ruling BJP and the former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) secured 66 and 19, respectively.

After the results were declared on Saturday, Congress president Kharge deputed former Maharashtra chief minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, AICC general secretary Jitendra Singh and former AICC general secretary Deepak Babaria as observers for the election of the CLP leader in Karnataka.

The legislature party passed another resolution, moved by Shivakumar, promising to implement the five promises made to the people of Karnataka.

The resolution stated the Congress Legislature Party in Karnataka wholeheartedly expresses its gratitude towards the 6.5 crore Kannadigas for reposing their faith in us and giving a decisive mandate to the Congress Party in the Karnataka Assembly Elections.

The Congress Legislature Party also expressed its appreciation and thanks to Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and state leaders for their efforts.

The CLP said it shall ensure social justice and economic equality remain at the core of its governments policies and will fulfil the five guarantees.

These are 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to woman heads of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), 10 kg of rice free to every member of BPL households (Anna Bhagya), Rs 3,000 every month for unemployed graduate youths and Rs 1,500 for unemployed diploma holders (both in the age group of 18-25) for two years (Yuva Nidhi), and free travel for women in public transport buses (Shakti).

Both the eight-time MLA Shivakumar and former chief minister Siddaramaiah have made no secret of their ambition to become Chief Minister and had been involved in a game of political one-upmanship in the past.

The Congress had entered the campaign phase with the challenge of keeping at bay the factionalism, especially between the camps of Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, who had been openly rooting for their leaders, but the party put up a united front and ensured that no rift came out in open that could derail its prospects, under the mentorship of Kharge.

Banners have come up in front of Siddaramaiah and Shivakumars residences in Bengaluru, erected by supporters, congratulating them for Congress win and projecting them as the next CM.

While the 60-year-old Shivakumar is considered to be a troubleshooter for the Congress, Siddaramaiah has a pan-Karnataka appeal.

If Siddaramaiah, who joined Congress after being expelled from JD(S), gets elected as the CLP leader, this would be his second stint as the Chief Minister from the party after having occupied the top post for five years between 2013-18. Shivakumar had served as Minister in Siddaramaiahs cabinet.
Karnataka chief ministerial aspirant DK Shivakumar has told News18 that he has left the decision to the Congress high command, and has not discussed any formula". It is now learnt that Shivakumar will be going to Delhi after earlier saying that he wont, while former CM Siddaramaiah has already left for the national capital in a jubilant mood".

I have not discussed anything, I have left it to the high command, Shivakumar told News18. Top Congress sources also said they are not discussing any formula and no one has given one. Last night, the observers spoke to the MLAs and took in writing all the names. A report has been made and handed over to Congress president Mallikarjun Khargeas of now, an announcement is likely tomorrow, a Congress leader told News18.

However, according to inside information from other sources, there is a deadlock between DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah with the former wanting a full tenure while the latter said he needs the first shot at the CM chair in case a power-sharing formula is drawn up.

Some MLAs in their opinion have written the names of both DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, while others have suggested the name of G Parameshwara and even Kharge, a source said.

These sources said Siddaramaiah initially resisted a power-sharing formula but later said he must get at least the first two years as CM to be in the chair during the 2024 parliamentary elections.

The toss-up for the Congress seems to be between DK Shivakumars organisational skills versus Siddaramaiahs administrative skills.

What Works for Siddaramaiah?

Siddaramaiah has a mass following in the state, a pan-Karnataka state leader who got Congress about 18% votes in this election. Also, the Lingayat and AHINDA vote-block accept Siddaramaiah as the CM as both groups need each other, and they both do not want Shivakumar as he is a Vokkaliga.

There are just 21 Vokkaliga MLAs who have been chosen in the present elections for the Congress while there is a big majority of 114 Congress MLAs on the other side.

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Sources say in the number game and caste calculations when it comes to choosing the next CM, Shivakumar seems to be on a weak wicket. What also seems to work in Siddaramaiahs favour is that he is a pan-Karnataka leader while Shivakumar is a sub-regional leader because of his caste.

Also, most MLAs are said to be supporting Siddaramaiah since the sitting MLAs from his earlier tenure as the CM are expected to back him in the final calculation.
As the mystery over the next chief minister of Karnataka continues, state Congress president DK Shivakumar, a frontrunner for the top post, said loyalty will pay royalty".

In an exclusive interview with CNN-News18, Shivakumar dismissed the reports of Siddaramaiah being selected as the chief minister.

I dont know anything Media is doing gossip. I was asked to go to Delhi because of my health, I did not go. I am not a part of the high command, we are the workers of the party. The party will take a final call," he said.

The KPCC chief said Lingayat, Vokkaliga seers and other Congress leaders have requested that he should be given a chance. Ahmed Patel would have been so happy to see Congress has come to this stage in Karnataka. He would have enjoyed it. I have learnt one thing that a man with courage makes the majority. Loyalty will pay loyalty. I leave everything on high command. Without, root you will not get the fruit," he said.

#Exclusive | I need to be on medication. So, I could not go to Delhi. Let us not get carried away by gossip. I have learned that one man with courage makes majority: @DKShivakumar, Congress, speaks with @harishupadhya#KarnatakaCM #KarnatakaElectionResults2023 | @Zakka_Jacob pic.twitter.com/dTb9RXhegH News18 (@CNNnews18) May 15, 2023

Shivakumar was supposed to go to Delhi to meet the partys high command. However, he cancelled the visit due to a stomach infection".

I have a stomach infection and will not be travelling to Delhi today. There are 135 Congress MLAs. I dont have any MLAs. I have left the decision to the party high command," he told reporters in Bengaluru.

Earlier in the day, the KPCC President made a strong pitch for the chief ministers post, making it difficult for the partys high command which is already in a tough spot to choose between him and Siddaramaiah.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Shivakumar called himself a single man and said he believe that a single man with courage becomes a majority.

Im a single man, I believe in one thing that a single man with courage becomes a majorityWhen all our MLAs left the party (2019 JD(S)-Congress coalition government), I didnt lose my heart," he said.

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Shivakumar reiterated that the partys high command will decide the CM.

Meanwhile, Congress observers for Karnataka including Sushil Shinde and Jitender Singh met party president Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi. They are likely to submit a report on the CLP meeting held in Bengaluru to Kharge.
A court in Punjabs Sangrur has summoned Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in a Rs 100 crores defamation case filed by Hitesh Bhardwaj, the founder of Hindu Suraksha Parishad.

Mallikarjun Kharge is accused of making defamatory remarks against Bajrang Dal" during the recently concluded Karnataka elections.

FOLLOW KARNATAKA ELECTION LIVE UPDATES

The mention of Bajrang Dal by parties in their election rallies during the Karnataka assembly poll was quite frequent after Congress proposed in its manifesto that it would ban" the organisation.

Congress Karnataka election manifesto was in the eye of the storm since its release for its proposal to impose a ban on individuals and organisations like Bajrang Dal and PFI" or others promoting enmity or hatred".

The party was at the receiving end of massive backlash from BJP and right-wing organisations for bracketing Bajrang Dal with the Popular Front of India (PFI) in the manifesto for the May 10 polls.

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In the May 10 elections to the 224-member Assembly, Congress scored an emphatic victory with 135 seats, while the ruling BJP and the former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) secured 66 and 19, respectively.
Heads are expected to roll in the Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit after the ruling partys abysmal performance in the assembly polls, results for which were declared on Saturday. News18 has learnt that state BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel has offered to resign from the post, taking moral responsibility for the debacle. BJP sources say Union minister and senior BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje is pipped to be the next state president.

In its quest to balance the caste equation, the BJP is also searching for a suitable candidate to take up the role of Leader of Opposition. The emergence of the BJP as the primary opposition with 66 seats has led to the consideration of four top contenders for the position of leader of opposition.

Not just Kateel, the entire BJP unit from the morcha level all the way to the top will be overhauled. This will happen only after the central leadership analyses what went wrong and why voters were not convinced that the BJP should be in power. The party needs a strong organiser and leader who can ensure the BJP wins 25 of the 28 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, said a senior BJP functionary.

The incumbent chief minister of Karnataka, Basavaraj Bommai, while conceding defeat in the Karnataka assembly polls was the first to take responsibility.

Speaking to the media after the results, Bommai said, I take responsibility for this debacle. There are multiple reasons for this. We will find all the reasons and strengthen the party once again for the general elections.

Bommai sprung another surprise, saying that Kateel will continue as the state BJP president until the 2024 elections, a statement that the BJP insiders say was inappropriate and inaccurate.

#KarnatakaElectionResults2023 | Basavaraj Bommai speaks to CNN-News18 on BJP's defeat in assembly polls;Says, "I also take the responsibility of the debacle. We will have to do the analysis because there are multiple factors." #KarnatakaResults | @SakshiLitoriya_ pic.twitter.com/mcyJa1Blt7 News18 (@CNNnews18) May 14, 2023

SEARCH FOR OPPN LEADER

With the party considering Karandlaje, a Vokkaliga, for the post of state president, the BJP will also have to keep the Lingayat support intact.

According to a BJP source, Bommai, a Lingayat and outgoing CM with over three years of administrative experience, is a strong contender. His Lingayat identity and experience make him an ideal candidate to defend the party and launch an attack against the government now led by the Congress.

S Suresh Kumar, a Brahmin and former Law Minister, who has been elected from Rajajinagar for multiple terms, is another strong contender. Known for his sharp political acumen, discipline, intellect, and integrity, he could stand as a formidable LoP.

Arvind Bellad, a dynamic and young Lingayat MLA from Hubli-Dharwad West, is also in the running. His caste background, coupled with his strategy and organizational skills, has caught the attention of the central leadership.

Finally, V Sunil Kumar, a former minister and MLA from Karkala belonging to the influential Billava (Idiga) community, is also a contender. He has climbed up the ranks in the party and is a well-respected leader.

Although B Y Vijayendras name has been floated, his lack of experience may be a disadvantage. Ultimately, the BJP will have to carefully consider all factors and choose the most suitable candidate to lead the party as the primary opposition.

WHO IS KATEEL?

Kateel, a three-time MP from Dakshina Kannada who took charge as the state BJP unit president after B S Yediyurappa, was the partys surprise choice when he was appointed in August 2019. Deeply rooted in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and known to be closely associated with BJP general secretary (organization) B L Santhosh, Kateels tenure has been riddled with criticism of being inaccessible and ineffective.

The BJP workers were surprised again when the central leadership extended the tenure of Kateel, whose term ended in August 2022, keeping in mind the 2023 assembly polls.

It is learnt they felt that changing the party president just as the state was heading to polls would send a wrong signal to the cadre and they would take time to fire up and acclimatize to the new chief.

This move boomeranged.

Kateels inaccessibility as the state president, his statements  The Karnataka elections were not to be fought not on roads and other issues, but on Tipu versus Savarkar, love jihad and those who support Tipu are not fit to live in India  clearly struck the wrong chord.

WRONG TONE

Many booth-level workers told News18 that they were unable to convince voters about development when the tone of communal politics was being set from the top.

Sources told News18 that several of their internal reports indicated that the BJP was not only fighting anti-incumbency in at least 100 seats, but was unable to match the tone of the campaign set by the Congress against corruption under the Bommai government.

ALSO READ | Eight Turncoats of 2019 Coup Who Helped BJP Form Govt in Karnataka, Lose Election

There was a false sense of confidence and party workers on the ground were fatigued by voting day, as people were convinced that they had to vote corruption out. This time, the BJP was seen as the one that did nothing to stop it, said a senior BJP MLA, who was one of the 66 who won their seats.

I thank all those who have supported us in the Karnataka elections. I appreciate the hardwork of BJP Karyakartas. We shall serve Karnataka with even more vigour in the times to come. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 13, 2023

THREE FACTORS

There are three major reasons for the BJPs failure in this election, said political analyst S A Hemanth.

The BJP did not effectively refute corruption, the perception that the person heading the government and the party had been inefficient, corrupt and unreachable made it worse, he said.

ALSO READ | Not Just Anti-incumbencyHeres Why BJP Got Pollaxed in Karnataka

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The third and most important aspect was an overreliance on central leaders and making the concept of double-engine government redundant. The second engine was not functional at all. It was flying only on one engine.

The state of Karnataka BJP unit can be described in one line from the famous 1963 Hindi blockbuster Dil Hi to Hain  Laaga chunari main daag.chupaaoo kaise. This daag (stain) of corruption is going to be very tough to remove for the BJP until they take several stringent steps, including a complete state unit overhaul, to start their 2024 Lok Sabha campaign with a clean slate," said Hemanth.
With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

China overtakes Japan as world's top vehicle exporter in Q1 2023

In the first quarter of 2023, China achieved a significant milestone by surpassing Japan and Germany to claim the title of the world's largest vehicle exporter for the first time. During this period, China exported a total of 1.069 million vehicles, according to the media outlet CarNewsChina.

Li Auto newly adds six 4C supercharging stations in China

Li Auto announced on May 15 that six 4C supercharging stations recently went online in China. The stations are situated at the service and rest areas along the expressways in Hangzhou, Jinan, and Dongguan cities.

HOZON Auto sets up subsidiary in Shanghai

Shanghai NETA Hezhi Business Management Co. Ltd. was incorporated recently with a registered capital of 20 million yuan. The new company is authorized to operate in such areas as business management consulting, passenger vehicle rental, software development, etc. The company is indirectly wholly-owned by HOZON Auto.

Panasonic NavInfo, Qingtian Truck partner on battery management for autonomous trucks

On May 15, Panasonic NavInfo, the mobility service joint venture between Panasonic and NavInfo, signed a framework cooperation agreement with Qingtian Truck ("Qingtian"), an autonomous driving truck solution provider, officially initiating their strategic collaboration in the field of new energy battery management for autonomous driving.

NIO sees 1,400th power swap station go live

NIO, one of the leading Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) startups, saw its 1,400th power swap station deployed in China, officially come online, according to a post on the companys Twitter-like Weibo account.

SAIC-GM sets up wholly-owned subsidiary involving many NEV-related businesses

SAIC General Motors ("SAIC-GM"), the joint venture between SAIC Motor and General Motors, recently build a wholly-owned subsidiary engaged in multiple businesses related to new energy vehicles (NEVs).

EVE Energy signs MoU to build cylindrical battery base in Malaysia

On May 12, EVE Energy Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chinese power battery maker EVE Energy, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with PEMAJU KELANG LAMA SDN.BHD. (referred to as "PKL") in Kuala Lumpur to acquire land for a factory in Malaysia.

Ganfeng Lithium to pour 2.5 bln yuan in building lithium battery production, R&D base in Xiangyang city

Ganfeng Lithium Group Co., Ltd. (Ganfeng Lithium), one of the worlds top producers of EV-used lithium, said its board of directors on May 12 approved the proposal on a new investment deal to be signed by its subsidiary, Jiangxi Ganfeng LiEnergy Technology Co., Ltd. ("Ganfeng LiEnergy").

JAC Group's Yiwei 3 to kick off presale on May 20

JAC Group announced that the Yiwei 3, its latest electric compact model under the new brand Yiwei, will officially hit the market on June 18.

BYD, Weichai Power plan to co-build power battery R&D, manufacturing base

On May 12, BYD and Weichai Power, a Chinese leading combustion engine developer and manufacturer, signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Shenzhen, according to a post on Weichai's WeChat account.

Chinese automotive SoC supplier ORITEK partners with AutoCore

On May 12, ORITEK, China's leading supplier of system-level automotive SoC chips and solutions, signed a strategic cooperation agreement with AutoCore, a developer of high-performance secure mobile intelligent computing software and solutions.
Hansal Mehta, known for his gripping storytelling, is all set to bring another intriguing tale to the screen. Inspired by Jigna Voras book Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison, his next project, titled Scoop delves into the life of a crime journalist who finds herself entangled in a web of suspicion. As the prime suspect in the murder of another journalist, she must fight to clear her name and uncover the truth. With a talented cast including Karishma Tanna, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Harman Baweja, and Prosenjit Chatterjee, the upcoming 6-part Netflix series guarantees a gripping experience into the hidden world of media.

The trailer of Scoop was released by the streaming giant today, giving a glimpse into the story of Jagruti, a crime journalist portrayed by Karishma Tanna. The trailer shows her receiving a call from a gangster Nana (Chhota Rajan), following which she finds herself tangled in a web of unfortunate incidents, including being falsely accused of the murder of a fellow journalist. The events ultimately lead to her being imprisoned, where she is left to fight her own battles.

Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub plays the role of Jagrutis supportive colleague and friend, offering her support during her challenging journey. Harman Baweja, on the other hand, takes on the role of a police officer, adding an interesting dynamic to the story.

Scoop marks his first collaboration with Netflix. Mehtas gripping storytelling coupled with the streaming giants reach has set high expectations for the upcoming series.

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During an interview with Variety, director Hansal Mehta explained his approach to adapting the memoir Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison into the series. Mehta expressed his desire to expand the narrative beyond the prison setting and explore the intriguing world that led the character to jail. He saw the opportunity to create a larger drama centred on a middle-class girl in Mumbai with the middle-class aspirations of being the best crime reporter, having pieces on page one." Hansal Mehta was captivated by the concept of a reporter chasing her ambitions blindly, unaware that she would eventually become the subject of her own investigation.

Get ready to discover the truth and mark your calendars for the premiere of Scoop on Netflix, coming on June 2, 2023.
I wanted these starving people to survive, but they wanted to die and meet Jesus, Victor Kaudo, a rights activist in Malindi, told the New York Times after a visit to the Shakahola Forest, which has become the site of a mass suicide and murder cult in Kenya, led by an evangelical Christian preacher.

This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata)

As per an AFP report, the death toll in the investigation linked to the Kenyan cult that practised starvation climbed to 201 last week, as investigators on Saturday had unearthed 22 more bodies from a coastal forest, a government official said.

Police believed most of the bodies found in a forest near the Indian Ocean town of Malindi belong to followers of Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, a taxi driver-turned-preacher who is accused of inciting them to starve to death to meet Jesus."

Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha, who announced the latest figures, said 26 people have been arrested over the deaths, including Mackenzie and an enforcer gang" tasked with ensuring that no one broke their fast or left the forest hideout alive.

While starvation appears to be the main cause of death, some of the victims  including children  were strangled, beaten or suffocated, according to chief government pathologist Johansen Oduor.

Now, the relatives of hundreds of such people, who are believed to be buried across the property, which is being exhumed, are roaming, desperate to find their loved ones - either dead or alive.

But what led to this hideous cult and how did a man convince so many people to starve themselves to death? News18 takes a deeper look:

The Sanctuary of Death

The followers who died were answering to the call of Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, a former cab driver turned televangelist who, declaring that the world was ending, promoted Shakahola to his followers as an evangelical Christian haven from the impending apocalypse.

Instead of a haven, the 800-acre farm is now a grisly crime scene, littered with the shallow graves of believers who starved themselves to death  or, as Mackenzie would have it, crucified themselves so that they may meet Jesus, as per the New York Times report.

Hundreds more victims are still unaccounted for, possibly buried in secret graves.

The horrific scale of what the Kenyan news media dubbed the Shakahola Massacre" has left the government baffled as to how, in a country that prides itself on being one of Africas most modern and stable, law enforcement could have missed the macabre goings-on for so long.

The fact that so many people chose to die through fasting over the most basic human need to life has raised sensitive concerns about the limitations of religious freedom, a privilege enshrined in the Kenyan Constitution.

Victor Kaudo, a Malindi-based rights campaigner who visited Shakahola in March, was tipped off by cult defectors and encountered starving believers who cursed him as an enemy of Jesus" when he sought to help them.

A famished woman flailed wildly on the ground when Kaudo approached giving food, her head shaved on orders from the cult leadership, according to a video he captured. Mackenzie has informed investigators that he never ordered his followers to fast and instead only spoke about the End Times agonies foretold in the Book of Revelation, the final chapter of the New Testament. He was arrested in April, set free and then quickly rearrested. He is under investigation over accusations of murder, terrorism and other crimes.

It Was a Normal Church at the Beginning

Mackenzies rise from destitute taxi driver to cult leader with his own television channel began in 2002 in Malindi, in a stone courtyard beside a Catholic primary school, according to the New York Times. Ruth Kahindi owned the land after meeting Mackenzie at a nearby Baptist church and inviting him to preach at her home.

They founded their own church, Good News International, and used Kahindis house as its headquarters.

It was a normal church at first," Kahindis daughter Naomi told NYTimes, recalling Mackenzie as a dynamic speaker who originally held to the usual evangelical doctrine of salvation via faith alone in Christ and the Bible as the ultimate spiritual authority.

Ruth Kahindi separated with Mackenzie about 2008, according to her daughter, as he became increasingly apocalyptic in his preaching. Titus Katana, a peanut salesman who joined the Good News church in 2015 and proceeded to become deputy pastor, told the publication that he originally admired Mackenzie and his preaching. Katana explained that he changed because of his false prophecies" regarding the end of the world. His main interest became making money, not preaching to the world."

Mackenzie, he recalled, had begun encouraging believers not to see physicians or send their children to school by 2017. At his church, he established his own unregistered, fee-paying school. He also claimed divine healing abilities, which he charged for.

He told me he had received a revelation from God" about the sinfulness of education and medicine, Katana recounted. Everything bad started with this."

Mackenzies impact had spread far beyond the Kenyan coast at this point, courtesy to the founding of Times TV, a gospel channel that broadcast his increasingly violent sermons over the internet and across Africa. A Nigerian citizen and a Kenyan flight attendant are among those who have gone missing in Shakahola.

Elizabeth Syombua, the sister of a man who is starving in the forest, said Mackenzies television broadcasts had captivated her and her brother. You get addicted to what he says," she explained, recalling how she would rush home from work at a Mombasa sewing factory so she could watch with her brother. Hes like an evil spirit with this strange power to lure people into his trap," she said.

Children the First to Die, Govt at Fault

The case has stunned Kenyans and led President William Ruto to set up a commission of inquiry into the deaths and a task force to review regulations governing religious bodies.

Mackenzie, portraying himself as a Christ-like figure, lived in a part he called Galilee, named after the region of Palestine where Jesus spent the majority of his time.

The instructions, according to Katana, were a calculated strategy for mass suicide through starvation. The first to succumb would be youngsters, who were to fast in the sun so they would die faster," Katana recalled the pastor saying. Women would get their turn in March and April, followed by men.

According to Katana, Mackenzie stated that he would stay alive in order to assist his followers meet Jesus" through starvation, but that after that mission was completed, he would starve himself to death before what he claimed was the impending end of the world.

Mackenzie stated in a March video that he heard the voice of Christ telling me that the work I gave you to preach End Time messages for nine years has come to an end.'"

Katana stated that he had split up with Mackenzie by this point and was not in Shakahola when the suicide programme began, but heard about it from believers who were. He reported to the police that kids are dying" in the forest.

They never took any action until it was too late," he explained.

People are very angry and blame Mackenzie, but I blame the government, Damaris Muteti, a member of a rival evangelical church and itinerant preacher, surveying the wreckage, told the NYTimes. Kenyas president, William Ruto  a devout Christian whose wife is an evangelical preacher  has been leery about restricting religious activity, but last week he summoned a panel of church leaders and legal experts to propose methods to control Kenyas chaotic faith sector.

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New York Times, AFP, contributed to this report.
Six people, including two children, suffered from burn injuries after fire a broke out in a house in Khar suburb of Mumbai due to cooking gas leakage on Monday morning, officials said.

After the gas leakage, there was an explosion of a gas cylinder in the house located in Khar Danda area, Mumbai fire brigade chief Sanjay Manjrekar told PTI.

The incident took place at around 8.45 am in the single-storey structure located near a bakery on Govind Patil Marg, civic officials said.

At least four fire engines and other fire fighting equipment were rushed to the spot and the blaze was doused by 9.17 am, he said.

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Six persons suffered from 40 to 51 per cent burn injuries, a civic official said. Among the injured were two children in the age group of six to seven years and a 65-year-old woman, he said.

All the injured persons were admitted to the Bhabha Hospital in Bandra and were undergoing treatment, the official added.
The central government approved the elevation of sessions judge Dharmesh Sharma as a judge of the Delhi High Court on Monday. He is serving as the principal districts and sessions judge of Patiala House Court at present and has, in the recent past, given important verdicts including the one in the Unnao rape and murder case and the Uphaar fire tragedy evidence tampering case.

In April, the Supreme Court collegium had recommended the names of three judicial officers for their appointment as additional judges of the Delhi HC, including Sharma. The other two judges, Girish Kathpalia and Manoj Jain, were appointed as additional judges of the high court last month.

Who is Dharmesh Sharma?

Sharma was born on June 9, 1963, in Delhi. He completed his BCom (Hons) in 1984 from Delhi Universitys Kirori Mal College, LLB and LLM from the DUs Campus Law Centre in 1987 and 2001, respectively.

In August 2019, the SC transferred the four Unnao cases from a CBI court in Lucknow to Delhi in a suo motu proceeding, and directed Sharma to finish the trial in 45 days. After hearing the case for close to four months daily since August 5, 2019, Sharma on December 16 that year, held former Unnaos former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar guilty of raping a minor girl in 2017.

However, his co-accused Shashi Singh was acquitted in the case. He was then the special POCSO judge and gave the order of life imprisonment for Sengar.

Released Ansal brothers in Uphaar tragedy evidence tampering case

Overturning an order of the magisterial court, Sharma ordered the release of real estate tycoons Sushil and Gopal Ansal against the jail term they had already finished, in a case of evidence tampering in the 1997 Uphaar cinema fire, which had claimed 59 lives.

On November 8, 2021, a magisterial court had awarded seven-year jail terms to the real estate barons and they were in prison since.

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The court also ordered the release of former court staff Dinesh Chand Sharma and another convict PP Batra against the jail term they had completed since November 8, 2021; however, he upheld the fine of Rs 2.25 crore imposed on each Sushil and Gopal Ansal and Rs 3 lakh each on the other two by the magisterial court earlier.

We empathise with you (Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy chairperson Neelam Krishnamoorti). Many lives were lost, which can never be compensated. But you must understand that penal policy is not about retribution. We have to consider their (Ansals) age. You have suffered, but they have also suffered, he had said.
Internet services have been suspended in Shegaon after violent clashes broke out between two groups over a procession in Maharashtras Ahmednagar area leaving 5 people injured on Sunday night. Ahmednagar SP Rakesh Ola said 32 people have been detained in connection with the incident so far. Police also recovered sharp weapons from the miscreants.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Visuals from Ahmednagars Shevgaon where stone pelting was reported last night pic.twitter.com/4gmhvPyvqw ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2023

A heavy police force including one SRPF, one riot control squad and 250 policemen is deployed in the area to restore peace. More details are awaited.

Internet services have also been suspended in Maharashtras Akola from Sunday evening to midnight today after one person was killed and eight others injured in a clash between two groups on Saturday evening. Markets in the area remained closed today. Amravati University postponed exams due to the unrest.

45 people have been arrested so far in connection with the violence. Police have also registered an FIR against 300 people and are in the process of identifying and arresting the miscreants. The state government has announced compensation to the family of the deceased.

ALSO READ: Maharashtra: 1 Killed, 8 Injured in Clashes over Offensive Insta Post in Akola; Sec 144 Imposed

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Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis on Monday assured that peace is restored in both places (Akola and Ahmednagar). He further stressed that these tensions were being deliberately created by someone to create a law and order situation in the state.

It is 100% true there are some people and organizations that want the state to remain unstable. But the government will expose them and also teach them a lesson. Some people are deliberately trying to add fuel to the fire and acting from behind. They will not succeed in it," news agency PTI quoted Fadnavis as saying.
A male flyer was arrested in India for allegedly molesting an air hostess, while he was drunk. According to the police, the incident happened on board a Dubai-Amritsar flight on Saturday.

Rajinder Singh, who hails from Kotli village of Jalandhar in Punjab, got into a heated argument with the air hostess and allegedly molested, police said.

The air hostess brought the incident to the crews notice. The accused was allegedly in a drunken state," police said.

After the air hostess complaint, crew members notified the Amritsar control room about the matter and the assistant security manager of the airline lodged a police complaint.

The accused was arrested upon his arrival at the Shri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport in Amritsar.

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Singh was booked under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and Section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code, police said.

(With PTI inputs)
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday said the unity and integrity of the state will be unaffected under any circumstances in response to demand for an autonomous administration for the Kuki-dominated districts following the deadly ethnic clash that broke out earlier this month.

I assure the people that the unity and territorial integrity of Manipur will not be affected at any cost," he told reporters as a press conference in Imphal.

In a statement from ten members of the Manipur assembly advocating for separate administration for the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi tribe, they said, Our people can no longer exist under Manipur as the hatred against our tribal community reached such a height that MLAs, Ministers, pastors, police and civil officers, laymen, women and even children were not spared, not to mention the destruction of places of worship, homes and properties. To live amidst the Meitei again is as good as death for our people."

Rejecting these demands, Chief Minister, following a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday, maintained, In no situation shall the integrity of the state be impacted."

Political Unity Against Separate Administration Demand

Amid escalating communal violence in Manipur, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress have set aside political differences to assertively safeguard the territorial integrity of the state. This unity emerges in the aftermath of deadly unrest that has claimed more than 70 lives and uprooted thousands from tribal and Meitei communities.

On a similar note, the opposition Congress called for reviewing the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with militant groups, deeming the idea of a separate administration unfeasible.

Former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi stated, Separate administration in Manipur is next to impossible." He further advised Chief Minister N Biren to take immediate action, suggesting, Deploying sufficient security personnel in the peripheral areas on priority basis where there is a report of tense, will help in bringing normalcy quicker in the state."

The tribal MLAs, however, persist in their push for separation from Manipur, reasoning, As the State of Manipur has miserably failed to protect us, we seek of the Union of India a SEPARATE ADMINISTRATION under the constitution of India and live peacefully as neighbours with the state of Manipur."

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had offered his condolences to the people of Manipur for the loss of lives and destruction of properties and assured firm action by the Centre to restore peace and normalcy.

During the meeting, Shah assured the Chief Minister of the formation of a Joint Monitoring Committee comprising State and Central forces. The committees objective is to facilitate the return of militants under Suspension of Operation (SoO) to their designated camps," Singh said.

Additionally, the committee will investigate the involvement of non-SoO militant groups possessing firearms in the violence. The Home Minister has also sought information on measures to assist those affected by the recent unrest and pledged to expedite the resettlement process for the affected individuals, he said.

The Chief Minister appealed to the public not to carry out any form of rally, sit-in-protest, or slogans that may hinder peace initiatives. He cautioned against rumors and unverified information, and sought civil society organizations support in governments peace restoration efforts.

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The State Government is taking comprehensive measures, including deploying paramilitary forces at foothills and providing essential items to individuals residing in shelter camps across various locations, to restore normalcy in the State," he said.

Furthermore, the Assam Rifles facilitated the air evacuation of 96 stranded people from Phaisenjang, near the Indo-Myanmar border, providing them with security, medical aid, food, and accommodation at their camp.
The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved an increase in power tariff for this year in the state, sparking off protests by opposition parties and Industry representatives.

Chief minister Bhagwant Mann, however, has said that the hike would not impact the common man as the extra cost would be borne by the government.

While domestic consumers, who will get 300 units of free power each month, will have to pay Rs 15 per kilowatt as additional fixed charges, the per unit tariff has been increased by 25 paise to 70 paise. The non-residential or commercial consumers will have to pay Rs 25-Rs 30 as fixed charges, with per unit tariff being increased by 28-41 paise.

Industry in the state will have to pay Rs 25-Rs 30 as additional fixed charges, as per unit tariff for different categories of industrial consumers is now up by 30-40 paise. Even for agricultural consumers, per unit cost has been increased by 90 paise. Though power for agricultural consumers is free, the hike in tariff will increase the subsidy burden of the state government for both farm and domestic consumers.

Though the tariff order comes into effect from April 1, the implementation was delayed because of the model code of conduct being in place for the May 10 Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll.

But soon after the revision was announced, opposition parties hit out at the Bhagwant Mann government. Former state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu raised questions over the CMs statement on the government paying for the increased burden. The government is saying that it will give money for the increase in electricity rates, but the question is where and how will the government give it? Where will the money come from?" he asked.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal said the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had mastered the politics of lies and deception by invoking a massive power tariff hike across all categories of consumers immediately after winning the Jalandhar parliamentary bypoll.

AAP contested the Jalandhar bypoll by showcasing its 300 units free power scheme. Even that has been effectively dismantled with todays power tariff hike. Chief minister Bhagwant Manns contention that the Punjab government will subsidise consumers for the additional cost borne by them while availing the 300 units free scheme by paying the same to PSPCL is an eyewash. The government already owes Rs 20,400 crore to PSPCL and is in no position to take on an additional burden," he said.

Even the Industry chambers have opposed the hike in power tariff, maintaining that it is a double jolt along with the slowdown in the sector.

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In a joint statement, Upkar Singh Ahuja, president, Honey Sethi, general secretary, JS Bhogal, organising secretary, CICU, mentioned that PSPCL issued a new tariff for FY 2023-24, in which, it has increased 0.30 paisa per unit for small and medium, and 0.40 paisa per unit for large enterprises. They said that MSMEs are already reeling under huge losses. The dearth of raw materials has already escalated the cost of manufacturing and it is not in a situation to bear this additional burden, as the industry is already paying high prices compared to other states like Haryana and Rajasthan. Due to this decision, the industry will face a huge burden, they said.

The CICU in its letter requested CM Bhagwant Maan to withdraw this unfavourable decision and give Rs 5 per unit to MSMEs so they can survive in this competitive era.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged that KP Gosavi, an independent witness of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the 2021 drugs on cruise case, entered into a conspiracy to extort Rs 25 crore from the family of Aryan Khan, the son of Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan.

According to the first information report (FIR) filed by the CBI, Gosavi planned to extort money on behalf of Sameer Wankhede, the head of the NCB Mumbai zone in 2021.

ALSO READ: Sameer Wankhede Case: KP Gosavi Conspired to Extort Rs 25 Crore from Aryan Khan, Says CBI FIR

The FIR is based on the probe of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) which was set up by the NCB when witness number one of the case, Prabhakar Sail, alleged that Wankhede and Gosavi planned to extort a huge amount from Aryan Khans family.

The probe agency said drugs were not recovered from Aryan Khan but he was still made accused in the case and was arrested by the NCB.

The CBI has filed a case against Sameer Wankhede, former zonal director of the Mumbai NCB, and three others in relation to a corruption case linked to the Aryan Khan drugs-on-cruise incident. The agency recently conducted raids at 29 locations in Mumbai, Delhi, Ranchi (Jharkhand), and Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) in the case.

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Heres all you need to know about KP Gosavi:
Alia Bhatt was spotted recently at the airport as she was all set to fly to Seoul to attend the Gucci Cruise Show 2023. According to speculation, the actress will make her debut at this event as the Global brand ambassador of the revered brand. Last night at the Mumbai airport she definitely made some heads turn as she sported an uber-chic denim look.

The actress with her effortless style and charm, Alia Bhatt showed us why she is a fashion icon. Alia wore a denim long jacket along with a pair of jeans and to break the monotony of colours she wore a cute cream top which came with a frilled collar and long sleeves. We absolutely love the silhouette that was created. Check out the look-

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani)

Alia kept it rather minimal in terms of hair and makeup and simply went ahead with a simple cheek tint and her middle-parted hair and feathered eyebrows definitely took the cake. She accessorised her stellar look with a sling bag from the House of Gucci and the black block heels were such a perfect choice.

Here Is What You Need To Know About Alias Collaboration With Gucci

Alia Bhatt has added yet another feather to her cap as she became the newest Global ambassador of the renowned luxury fashion brand Gucci. The news took the fashion industry by storm, and fans cant seem to stop raving about the collaboration. Alia, known for her impeccable taste in fashion, is said to be the perfect fit for the brand known for its high-end fashion and exquisite designs. The announcement was made through Guccis social media handles, where they shared a stunning picture of Alia.

In case you missed the announcement, check it out-

View this post on Instagram A post shared by @gucci

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In addition to Alia, Guccis worldwide representatives assemblage including the K-pop ensemble Exos KAI, NewJeans Hanni, South Korean melodist IU (Lee Ji-eun), and performer Shin Min-a, all of whom are scheduled to be present at the event.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On May 12, BYD and Weichai Power, a Chinese leading combustion engine developer and manufacturer, signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Shenzhen, according to a post on Weichai's WeChat account.

Under the agreement, the two parties plan to leverage their respective advantages to establish a more comprehensive and in-depth strategic partnership in the field of new energy vehicle (NEV), co-produce power batteries in Shandong through a joint venture, and build a power battery research and manufacturing base.

Photo credit: Weichai Power

The newly formed partnership is expected to continuously strengthen the NEV industry chain, innovation chain, and value chain, and making positive contributions to promoting the industrialization and development of new energy commercial vehicles in China, said Weichai.

Since 2010, Weichai Power has set the strategic goal of leading the global industry development in NEV businesses by 2030 with over 4 billion yuan poured so far. It has already completed strategic investment in Ballard Power and Ceres Power and became the largest shareholder of the both companies, which are global leaders in PEMFC (Proton exchange membrane fuel cell) and SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell) solutions respectively.

In addition, in 2021, WEICHAI Power acquired a stake in FISCHER Fuel Cell Compressor AG (FFCC), a Switzerland-headquartered technology leader of air compressors for fuel cell technology. In the same year, the two companies founded a joint venture in China called FISCHER WEICHAI (Weifang) Fuel Cell Compressor.

As a Chinese leading NEV manufacturer, BYD has launched a slew of cutting-edge technologies, such as the Blade Battery, the DM-i super hybrid system, and the CTB (cell-to-body) technology.
Cannes 2023: The 76th edition of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, which honours the skills of actors, directors, and crew members, will begin on May 16. The festival is well-known for its opulent attire, glitzy red-carpet appearances, and recognition of the best in world cinema. On the famous red carpet, attendees, including famous people, models, and actors, are anticipated to display their most gorgeous attire. These clothes may include expensive haute couture or unique items made to order by well-known fashion houses.

This year, Aditi Rao Hydari will make her second appearance at the prestigious 76th Festival De Cannes in collaboration with LOreal Paris. Lets take a look back at the actress breathtaking red carpet outfits from Cannes 2022 as we anticipate her fashion statements this year. The actress made her red carpet debut at the renowned event last year.

The most iconic sightings of Aditi Rao Hydari from Cannes 2022

Ivory saree by Sabyasachi

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aditi Rao Hydari (@aditiraohydari)

Aditi Rao Hydari showed that understatement may be just as elegant. The actress showcased her exceptional sense of style at the Cannes Film Festival by wearing a plain white saree with a self-embroidered border and self-butter all over. Interestingly, she opted to wear a choker with emeralds and diamonds from Sabyasachi Jewellerys Bengal Royale Collection rather as earrings to add a touch of refinement to her ensemble.

Sleeveless gown in hot pink and red

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aditi Rao Hydari (@aditiraohydari)

Aditi Rao Hydari embraced the summers brilliant hues in her magnificent thigh-slit gown, radiating the same understated grace that she has shown throughout the Cannes Film Festival. The stunning Mark Bumgarner-designed gown has a bateau neckline, a daring thigh-high slit, and a straight-fitted dress with a frilled overlay that flows into a lovely floor-sweeping train decorated with layers of pleats. Aditi accessorised the look with princess-worthy bright pink heels, sparkling jewellery, natural-looking makeup, and a stylish center-parted ponytail. On the red carpet, she unquestionably stole the show!

Black lace Sabysachi gown

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aditi Rao Hydari (@aditiraohydari)

In a majestic black lace gown with a long skirt and a tight waist, Aditi Rao Hydari dazzled. She accessorised it with a small black bindi, delicate necklaces, hoop earrings, a pink headband, a stone-studded gold choker, and minimal makeup. She wore a vibrant Mark Bumgarner dress earlier in the day with a thigh-high slit and a lengthy train. She accessorised with pink heels and diamond earrings from Chopard. Her flushed cheeks looked stunning with her sleek hair and sheer lip colour.

Puff-sleeved jumpsuit by Avaro Figlio

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aditi Rao Hydari (@aditiraohydari)

One of Aditis Cannes 2022 looks was a chic jumpsuit by Avaro Figlio with cut-out details. White balloon sleeves with identical stripes that continued down the sides of the jumpsuit were tucked in like a belt at her collarbones. Aditi accessorised it with black Saint Laurent statement shoes, Diosa Paris earrings, and dewy makeup that featured nude lips and accentuated cheekbones. The exquisite outfit was finished off by a sleek bun in her hair.

Co-ord set in black and white

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aditi Rao Hydari (@aditiraohydari)

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At the Cannes Film Festival, Aditi wore a stylish co-ord outfit with black-and-white patterned fabric. The long, sleeveless shirt and its coordinating pair of slacks were decorated with chic geometric designs. She wore only a small pair of earrings and a statement ring as her only accessories, and her makeup had a natural appearance with pink lips, bold brows, and a hint of blush. She looked more laid-back because of her open hairstyle.

Aditis lookbook for Cannes 2022 has us completely enamoured, and we cant wait to see what the lovely diva has in store for all of her admirers in Cannes 2023.
Researchers have pegged the planet Saturns rings age at no more than 400 million years old, potentially answering a question that has boggled scientists for well over a century. The study, led by physicist Sascha Kempf at the University of Colorado Boulder, US, said that it has delivered the strongest evidence yet that Saturns rings are remarkably young, much younger than Saturn itself, which is about 4.5 billion years old. The researchers arrived at this answer by studying tiny grains of rocky material washing through the Earths solar system on an almost constant basis. In some cases, they said, this flux can leave behind a thin layer of dust on planetary bodies, including on the ice that makes up Saturns rings.

In this study, Kempf and his colleagues set out to date these rings by studying how rapidly this layer of dust builds up. Think about the rings like the carpet in your house, Kempf said. If you have a clean carpet laid out, you just have to wait. Dust will settle on your carpet. The same is true for the rings.

Terming the process ardous, the team, from 2004 to 2017, used an instrument called the Cosmic Dust Analyzer aboard USs NASAs late Cassini spacecraft to analyse specks of dust flying around Saturn.

Based on calculations on the 163 grains collected over those 13 years, all of which had originated from beyond the planets close neighbourhood, Saturns rings have likely been gathering dust for only a few hundred million years.

The planets rings, on the other hand, are new phenomena, the researchers said, arising, and potentially even disappearing, in what amounts to a blink of an eye in cosmic terms.

We still dont know how these rings formed in the first place, said Kempf. Today, scientists know that Saturn hosts seven rings comprised of countless chunks of ice, most no bigger than a boulder on Earth. Altogether, this ice weighs about half as much as Saturns moon Mimas and stretches nearly 2.8 lakh kilometres from the planets surface. The idea and the assumption which most 20th century scientists had that the rings likely formed at the same time as Saturn raised a few issues, namely that Saturns rings are sparkling clean, Kempf said.

pure water

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Observations suggest that these features are made up of roughly 98 per centice by volume, with only a tiny amount of rocky matter.

Its almost impossible to end up with something so clean, Kempf said.

The spacecraft Cassini first arrived at Saturn in 2004 and collected data until it purposefully crashed into the planets atmosphere in 2017. The Cosmic Dust Analyzer, which was shaped a bit like a bucket, scooped up small particles as they whizzed by.
Trust Alia Bhatt for creating headlines everyday. Whether it was her glamourous look at Met Gala or her exceptional bond with her daughter Raha, the Gangubai Kathiawad actress never fails to be the talk of the town. Following that trajectory, Alia Bhatt was recently spotted at the Mumbai Airport as she was heading to Seoul to attend the Gucci Cruise Show 2023. While her airport look was appreciated by many, others slammed her for copying Deepika Padukone.

In a clip posted by the popular paparazzo handle Viral Bhayani, Alia Bhatt arrived at the airport in style donning a denim long jacket along with a pair of jeans and to break the monotony of colours she wore a cute cream top which came with a frilled collar and long sleeves. Alia kept it rather minimal in terms of hair and makeup and simply went ahead with a simple cheek tint and her middle-parted hair and feathered eyebrows definitely took the cake. She accessorised her stellar look with a sling bag from the House of Gucci and the black block heels were such a perfect choice.

Netizens were divided over her looks. While some compared it with Deepika Padukone and accused the actress for copying her, others expressed their admiration and adulation for her uber chic denim look. One of them wrote, Why do I feel every time she tries to copy DP?" Another one commented, Is she trying to copy Deepika Padukones style?" Someone else said, Baby hone ke baad bhi baby jaisi lag rahi hai(with red heart emojis and heart eye emojis)". A fan also stated, Beautiful Alia. Now some Deepika fan started crying."

Alia Bhatt has added yet another feather to her cap as she became the newest Global ambassador of the renowned luxury fashion brand Gucci. The news took the fashion industry by storm, and fans cant seem to stop raving about the collaboration. Alia, known for her impeccable taste in fashion, is said to be the perfect fit for the brand known for its high-end fashion and exquisite designs. The announcement was made through Guccis social media handles, where they shared a stunning picture of Alia.

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In addition to Alia, Guccis worldwide representatives assemblage including the K-pop ensemble Exos KAI, NewJeans Hanni, South Korean melodist IU (Lee Ji-eun), and performer Shin Min-a, all of whom are scheduled to be present at the event.

On the work front, Alia is set to make her Hollywood debut with Gal Gadot starrer Heart of Stone. The actress also has Karan Johars Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani in the pipeline alongwith her friend and actor Ranveer Singh.
Back in 2021, Dia Mirza welcomed her first child, son Avyaan Azaad Rekhi, with her husband Vaibhav Rekhi. On her baby boys second birthday, the actress shared a bundle of photos from his birthday celebration and also penned an emotional note.

The note read, 2 years of Magic with this little Master  Thank you my jaan Avyaan Azaad for choosing me as your mother. Nothing gives me more joy! The 14th of May will always be my most favourite day .

Earlier, in an interview with ETimes, the actress shared how motherhood changed her. Avyaan has taught me mindfulness, joy and resilience and just one smile from him can melt all my cares away. I feel even more responsible as a professional now because I want to create a better world for him to grow up in, with my voice and my work.

Dia Mirza tied the knot with Vaibhav Rekhi, a Mumbai-based businessman, during an intimate event in Mumbai in February 2021. The couple became parents to Avyaan in May of the same year. Because Avyaan was born prematurely, the kid was kept in the NICU for observations. Back on Avyaans first birthday, the actress opened up about the same.

The actress wrote, Our Jaan, our miracle, you were born on this day 1 year ago with the song Imagine playing. You were 3 months premature at 820 gms. 36 hours after birth we discovered you had necrotising enterocolitis and had to go through life-saving surgery. You were cared for and nourished in the NICU with a stoma for 90 days and finally sent home to us with a stoma, she wrote.

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She added how he had to go through another surgery. After you had gained strength and the weight you went back to hospital for a 2nd surgery that lasted four and half hours. The doctors prepared us for the worst and said it would take a minimum of 21 days before you could be back home with us," her note read. Dia added that instead of 21 days, Avyaan came home in just nine days.

On the professional front, Dia Mirza has been busy shooting for Tarun Dudejas Dhak Dhak where she would be seen alongside Taapsee Pannu, Ratna Pathak Shah, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Sanjana Sanghi. The actress was last seen Anubhav Sinhas directorial Bheed alongside Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar.
Hrithik Roshan took to his social media to heap praises on his Krrish and Agneepath co-star Priyanka Chopra Jonas for her power-packed performance in Amazon Prime Videos international original Citadel. Hrithik and Priyanka are not only professional colleagues but also share a deep friendship, the testimony of which was also evident in the actresss book Unfinished.

Hrithik Roshan has always expressed his admiration and appreciation for impactful performances. In yet another instance of the same, the superstar gave a shout-out to Priyanka Chopra Jonas after watching her show Citadel.

Hrithik Roshan said, Watching Priyanka in Citadel is such a fantastic surprise! Brilliant work!Also, incredibly entertaining show! Excellent direction and screenplay. PC you have killed it this time ;too good!! Very proud. Priyanka Chopra was also prompt to reply, saying Thx my friend. .

Speaking of Priyankas book Unfinished, the actress reminisced about her early days in showbiz and shared how it her co-star, Hrithik, who had been her saviour and her biggest support when her father, Dr. Ashok Chopra, was detected with a life-threatening medical complication during the time when she was shooting for Krrish, her biggest film until then.

Upon learning about her fathers critical condition and the necessity of shifting him to a hospital abroad, Hrithik spared no effort in taking immediate action. Shared PC, Incredibly, Hrithik who is hugely successful in the Hindi film industry, got on the phone and used his connections at Air India to arrange for my fathers immediate flight to London.

Expressing her gratitude, Priyanka also added, If we hadnt had people around us who were so kind and so willing to act on our behalf - Hrithik and his father, Rakesh Sir, our family in Boston - I doubt that my father would have made it. Theres no way I can ever express my gratitude adequately to them, it is deep and it is enduring."

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Citadel stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas along with Game of Thrones fame Richard Madden, An Indian adaptation of the same also has been in progress with Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Hrithik Roshan is currently shooting for the first aerial action film Fighter releasing on 25th January 2024. Directed by Siddharth Anand, the film co-stars Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor.
Bollywood actress Malaika Arora couldnt stop herself from dropping a flirty comment on Arjun Kapoors new Instagram post. On Monday afternoon, Arjun took to social media and shared a video featuring many unseen photos and videos from his recent visit to Germany. The photos featured a number of pictures of the actor from different locations, views that he saw and places he visited.

Sharing the post, Arjun wrote, Gerrmany memories #germany #holiday #travel." Malaika was among the first ones to react to the post. His girlfriend wrote, Handsome", along with a heart emoji. Karan Boolani, Arjuns brother-in-law, also commented, Spin for a bit ish."

Arjun was on a long break recently, covering Europe with Malaika and visiting Berlin with his father, producer Boney Kapoor. The actor revealed it was his first ever trip with Boney. They travelled to Europe and also attended Hans Zimmers Live concert at Frankfurt Festhalle. While the Ishqzaade actor expressed his excitement for witnessing a live concert, he revealed that the trip was even more special as it was his first-ever trip with Boney.

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In an interview with IANS, Arjun revealed that Boney and he have never travelled together. What makes this trip even more special for me is because this is my first trip with just my dad. We have never travelled together and it was amazing to chill with him and talk to him and enjoy the evening. He is also a fan of Hans Zimmer and thoroughly enjoyed the show. We made a plan to make this happen and Im glad it panned out perfect, he shared.

On the work front, Arjun was last seen in Aasmaan Bhardwajs directorial debut Kuttey, which also starred Naseeruddin Shah, Tabu, and Konkona Sensharma. The actor will next be seen in The Lady Killer and Meri Patni Ka Remake, which are slated for release this year.
Eleven years after actor Saif Ali Khan and two others allegedly assaulted a South African businessman and his father-in-law at a hotel in Mumbai, the trial in the case is likely to begin next month.

The additional chief metropolitan magistrate, Esplanade court, on April 24 read out charges against Khan and his two friends Shakeel Ladak and Bilal Amrohi. It also issued summons to witnesses for the recording of evidence, paving the way for the trial which is likely to begin on June 15, the next date of hearing in the case.

The accused were arrested following a complaint filed by businessman Iqbal Mir Sharma after an alleged fight at the Wasabi restaurant inside the Taj Hotel on February 22, 2012. The three accused were later released on bail.

Saif Ali Khan was accompanied by his wife and actor Kareena Kapoor Khan, her sister Karisma Kapoor, actors Malaika Arora Khan, Amrita Arora and some male friends at the time.

According to police, when Sharma protested the raucous chatter of the actor and his friends, Saif Ali Khan allegedly threatened them and subsequently punched him in the nose, fracturing it. The NRI businessman had also accused Saif and his friends of hitting his father-in-law Raman Patel.

On the other hand, Saif Ali Khan said Sharma made provocative statements and used abusive language against the women accompanying him, which led to the ruckus.

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The police filed the charge sheet on December 21, 2012. Saif Ali Khan and his two friends have been charged under Indian Penal Code Sections 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt) and 34 (common intention).

Saif Ali Khan is known for his work in films like Hum Tum, Kal Ho Na Ho, Tanhaji and Omkara. His recent release, Vikram Vedha has is now available on an OTT platform too. Next, Saif will be seen in Adipurush along with Prabhas and Kriti Sanon. Om Rauts directorial will hit theatres on June 16.
The Kerala Story actor Adah Sharma reportedly met with a road accident on Sunday. Soon after the news about her accident started going viral on the internet, the Bollywood actor took to her Twitter account to share an update about the same.

Adah Sharma informed fans that she was doing fine after the accident and it was nothing major". She tweeted, Im fine guys. Getting a lot of messages because of the news circulating about our accident. The whole team ,all of us are fine, nothing serious, nothing major but thank you for the concern."

I'm fine guys . Getting a lot of messages because of the news circulating about our accident. The whole team ,all of us are fine, nothing serious , nothing major but thank you for the concern  Adah Sharma (@adah_sharma) May 14, 2023

Adah Sharma has also been getting death threats due to the ongoing controversy surrounding The Kerala Story. The Kerala Story has been facing backlash from a section of political parties and groups who have claimed that the film is not based on facts, and propagates hatred against the Muslim community. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had also declared a ban on The Kerala Story in the state.

Earlier, Adah Sharma thanked the audience for making The Kerala Story a blockbuster despite all the controversies surrounding the film. She tweeted, Discrediting my sincerity, mocking my integrity, threats, our teaser getting shadow banned, the movie getting banned in certain states, slander campaigns launched BUT you, the audience made #TheKeralaStory the no. 1 female lead movie first week of all time!! Wowww! Audience aap Jeet Gaye. You won and now we go international." (sic)

Discrediting my sincerity, mocking my integrity , threats ,Our teaser getting shadow banned,the movie getting banned in certain states,slander campaigns launchedBUT you ,the audience made #TheKeralaStory the no1 female lead movie first week of all time !!wowww! Audience aap pic.twitter.com/yxZhTSRq8G Adah Sharma (@adah_sharma) May 13, 2023

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The Kerala Story has been running exceptionally well in theatres. The film is likely to cross Rs 130 crore-mark in two weeks of its release.

Released on May 5, The Kerala Story revolves around the stories of Hindu women from Kerala who were converted to Islam and trafficked to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). It is produced by Vipul Shah and directed by Sudipto Sen.
Varun Dhawan has always expressed his love for action movies, and it looks like his dream is coming true. After finishing the Citadel series, Varun Dhawan is likely to join forces with director Atlee Kumar and producer Murad Khetani to create an electrifying action entertainer. This film promises to be a thrilling experience, combining stunning visuals and gripping drama. Reportedly, the project will hit theatres worldwide during the summer of 2024, marking the first collaboration of this talented trio.

As per a report by Pinkvilla, the upcoming action film, which is yet to receive its title, is scheduled to begin filming around the end of July or early August. Varun has been in talks with Atlee and Murad Khetani for a feature film for a while now and the actor is all set to commence shooting for the same by Early August. Its a proper commercial entertainer and at present in the pre-production stage. The team is coming together to create a big-scale action experience for the audience, revealed a source close to the development. The report also stated that the team is working on assembling a large technical crew to create an extensive action experience for the audience.

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The upcoming untitled action film featuring Varun Dhawan is set to be a blend of intense action and emotional drama. The team is striving to create breathtaking visuals and epic action sequences, tailor-made for Varun Dhawans character. The report suggests that the film will be shot over a span of four to five months and is being positioned as a major summer 2024 release across the world. The casting for the female lead and antagonist characters is expected to be finalised by June. Atlee and Murad Khetani will be producing the film, but the details about the project are still being kept under wraps.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Varun Dhawan was last seen in the film Bhediya, a horror-comedy set in the forests of Arunachal Pradesh. He will next be seen in the Indian version of Citadel, a spin-off of the original American series featuring Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra. He will share the screen space with Samantha Ruth Prabhu in Citadel. Additionally, he has Bawaal, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, scheduled to release in October.
Vicky Kaushal was left speechless after a journalist asked the Zara Hatke Zara Bachke star if he would divorce Katrina Kaif if he finds a better actress to marry. The question was asked at the trailer launch of the film. In the video shared by a paparazzo, Vicky was stunned when the question was asked while Sara Ali Khans jaws also had dropped.

However, after taking a moment, Vicky joked, Sir, yeh sun lo shaam ko ghar bhi jana hai (Sir, I have to go home in the evening)." He then continued, Aise teethe meedhe sawal puch rahe ho, abhi bachcha hu, bada toh ho lene do. Kaise jawab du iska main. Itna khatarnak sawal pucha hai. Sir janomo janomo tak How are you asking such twisted questions? How will I answer this? Such a deadly question youve asked. Sir this marriage is for eternity). Hearing this everyone was laughing.

Watch the video here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani)

As soon as the video was shared, fans quickly expressed their disappointment and said that there will be no other Katrina Kaif. One of the fans wrote, There will never be another Katrina Kaif in Bollywood or anyone else better than her shes one of her kind. Another wrote, Vickey ke liye Katrina ke baad koi hai hi nhi, shes the love of his life and literally Katrina Kaif se better kya Katrina se match bhi nhi ho sakta koi! A fans also commented, He married to the love of his lifeand u dumb heada asking such questions.

Vicky married Katrina is December 2021. The intimate wedding took place in Rajasthan with only close family and friends invited. The couple was reportedly dating for a while before they tied the knot.

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Meanwhile, the trailer has received a good positive response. The trailer opens with Pankaj Tripathis voice who introduces Sara and Vickys character. The film is set in Indore, with Vicky playing the role of Kapil and Sara essaying the character of Soumya. The small-town story starts with the couple head-over-heels for each other. However, life takes a turn a few years later, with the couple constantly fighting. They eventually file for a divorce but there seems to be a catch. The trailer also revealed that Zara Hatke Zara Bachke will be bringing back Tum Kya Jano Mohabbat Kya Hai from Rishi Kapoors Hum Kisise Kum Naheen.

Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, produced by Dinesh Vijans Maddock Studios and directed by Laxman Utekar, is scheduled for release on June 2, 2023.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Ganfeng Lithium Group Co., Ltd. (Ganfeng Lithium), one of the worlds top producers of EV-used lithium, said its board of directors on May 12 approved the proposal on a new investment deal to be signed by its subsidiary, Jiangxi Ganfeng LiEnergy Technology Co., Ltd. ("Ganfeng LiEnergy").

According to the statement, Ganfeng LiEnergy will sign an agreement with the municipal government of Xiangyang city, Hubei province to build in the city a lithium battery production and R&D base.

Photo credit: Ganfeng Lithium

The company plans to pour 2.5 billion yuan in this project, at least 1.25 billion yuan of which will be invested in fixed assets. Covering an area of around 240 mu (160,000 square meters), the project is set to be built in several phases, of which the first phase will be constructed into a production and packaging base for new energy vehicle (NEV)-used cells and battery packs with an annual production capacity of 5GWh.

The aforesaid base is scheduled to start operation at the end of this year.

Ganfeng Lithium said this investment will help to increase the production scale, market share, and R&D capabilities of its lithium battery products, promote the optimization and upgrading of the company's lithium industry chain structure, enhance the its core competitiveness, and align with the company's integrated development strategy for the upstream and downstream.
The turmoil in Pakistan is becoming a melodrama with all the ingredients for making a Netflix political thriller. A former PM removed from office through a no-confidence motion (in April 2022) accuses the then Army Chief (General Qamar Bajwa), who had manoeuvred to make him PM in the first place, of engineering his ouster. Add to that an international dimension with the accusation that the US wanted his exit for his pro-Russia and pro-China leanings. He also claims that his life is in danger and that he could be assassinated by the very same army-linked elements that made an aborted attempt on his life earlier (in November 2022).

The former PM denounces the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) (Major General Faisal Naseer) of orchestrating plans to murder him, which prompts the Army spokesperson to berate him for making highly irresponsible and baseless allegations for furthering his political objectives and calling them deplorable and unacceptable. Adept at theatrics, Imran Khan walks for a court appearance with aides fully surrounding him with bulletproof shields like the Roman legions in Asterix comics.

During a court appearance, he is whisked away for trial by a paramilitary squad at the behest of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) headed by a Lt General, the same NAB that Imran Khan had used to hound out Nawaz Sharif and other political opponents. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, whose political sympathies for Imran Khan are open, orders his release. The sitting PM of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, blasts with contempt the Chief Justice for favouring his ladla. He had earlier tried unsuccessfully to limit the power of the Supreme Court through the parliamentary route. The Chief Justice had ordered elections in Punjab in May, an order ignored by the Sharif government. The High Court has now ordered a short reprieve from arrest for Imran Khan but fearing that as soon as he walked out on bail he would be re-arrested by the authorities, closeted himself in the court for eleven hours till he was sure this would not happen. For the moment the street has quietened down, but the comedy-tragedy of many acts that is being staged has not ended either for the cast of characters involved or the audience.

Imran Khans arrest unleashed his street supporters to rattle the gates of the GHQ in Rawalpindi and set fire to the residence at Lahore of the Corps Commander without any attempt at prevention, raising speculation either about divisions in the Army or conspiracy theories about street excesses providing the authorities with a good reason to crack down hard. The Army Chief is accused by PTI supporters (Imran Khans party) of settling scores with the Corps Commander (possibly removed from post) and leaving Jinnah House, his residence, undefended. All said and done, the reputation of the Army, which is seen as the custodian of Pakistans ideology, unity, and security, seems to have been dented.

The current Army Chief General Munir, earlier the ISI chief whom Imran Khan divested of his past and who is a protege of General Bajwa, is Imran Khans bete noire, as is General Bajwa himself. He continues to attack him personally and seek his resignation. Imran Khan, who believes in djinns and is married to a believer in occult practices, has taken head on the one force in Pakistan that when challenged cost previous Prime Ministers either their head or exile. It is almost inconceivable that a person who has so openly defied the Pakistan Army will be allowed to come to power, as once he does after worsting the Army in a no-holds-barred confrontation, he will become uncontrollable, the balance of power within the system will shift in favour of the civilian establishment, putting at risk the many fiefs the Army holds within the countrys system.

A view is being expressed, surprisingly echoed in tweets by Zalmay Khalilzad, the point man behind Americas Doha agreement, that General Munir has mishandled the situation, should resign, and that the solution lies in holding elections, which Imran Khan is expected to win hands down. What game elements like Khalilzad are playing is unclear, given the hands-off stand that the US and the UK have adopted on the political theatre being played out in Islamabad.

Any perspective of Imran Khan coming back to power would make it even more necessary for the Army and the PDM coalition in place to make sure he is convicted in any one of the over 100 cases against him and disqualified electorally as a result. The irony is that a man who made anti-corruption his selling political point has been charged with several cases of corruption, including making money from the sale of expensive gifts received from foreign dignitaries, something not consonant with his vision of creating Pakistan into a new Medina. He is the man who admired Osama bin Laden and supported the Taliban. No wonder his street supporters are full of radicalised youth. He is also the man who made vicious comments against Prime Minister Modi, the BJP and the RSS on the podium of the UN General Assembly.

These destructive political games are being played in the countrys capital when Pakistan is in deep distress economically. One-third of the country was flooded last year. Seeking and obtaining external help to cope with this natural calamity was projected as a huge diplomatic success by the Sharif government. Help from India next door was neither sought nor offered. India rushed to assist earthquake-stricken Turkey, with which Pakistan identifies in many ways, and which has become unfriendly to India under President Erdogan for Islamic reasons, and this the Turks welcomed. Despite the much-vaunted Chinese investments in Pakistans energy sector as part of the CPEC project, the country is facing a serious energy crisis. Food shortages have seen people rioting to get rations from relief trucks.

In April 2023, the consumer price index in Pakistan touched a record 36.4 percent. The Pakistan rupee has plummeted to Rs 295.65 to a US dollar. In April, Pakistans Central Banks foreign exchange reserves stood at a mere $4 billion, providing little more than one month of import cover. China has not been overly generous to bail out Pakistan. It approved a rollover of $1.3 billion, in addition to $700 million lent previously. An IMF bail-out loan to prevent a default has remained elusive so far. Pakistan has urged the IMF to release a tranche of $1.1 billion after the ninth review but has been asked to arrange the $6 billion required to meet the repayments by June-end 2023. Pakistans Arab friends have not been as supportive as before. Saudi Arabia has assured the IMF it will provide a $2 billion loan to Pakistan to avoid a default, with the UAE making a similar commitment for a $1 billion loan. Moody has downgraded Pakistan to its lowest-ever rating. With the present political turmoil, needed external financial relief and internal decisions necessary to build confidence abroad are unlikely to materialize.

Despite the internal mess in Pakistan that will endure for some time, the disconnect between its internal beleaguerment and its external posture towards India as expressed by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at the SCO Foreign Ministers conference is striking. Bilawal waxed eloquent on regional connectivity, on connecting South Asia to the Middle East through Pakistan, on an economically integrated region, resorting to this empty posturing when it refuses to trade with India and denies it connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia. He took insidious digs at India on the Kashmir issue and terrorism, with references to self-determination, violation of UN resolutions, CPEC as a force multiplier for connectivity, weaponising terrorism for diplomatic point scoring, fascism, religious hate, economic chest-thumping when the region has the largest number of poor people, and so on, when Pakistan is struggling to keep its head above water. To the Pakistani press, he said that Pakistan will react to the decision to hold a G20 meeting in Kashmir in a manner that India will remember.

Some concerns are expressed about the spillover into India of instability in Pakistan. Some recent terrorist incidents in J&K would point in this direction. It is unlikely, though, that in the state Pakistan is in, its armed forces, directly or indirectly, would risk activating the border with India where the ceasefire is holding. We have, of course, to tighten our security grid in J&K to counter any stepped-up infiltration attempts. For the rest, let Pakistan, which considers India as its eternal enemy, deal with its own problems.

Kanwal Sibal is a former Indian Foreign Secretary. He was Indias Ambassador to Turkey, Egypt, France and Russia. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication.
This is a two-part essay on how the principle of His Majestys Loyal Opposition not only saved the monarchy in the land of the Mother of Parliaments but also fostered the freedom movement in India on civilian lines.

It was after a gap of 70 years that Britain witnessed the coronation of any monarch. Queen Elizabeth II, mother and predecessor of King Charles III, had been crowned at Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953. In 1951, King Farouk of Egypt had told Lord Boyd-Orr in Cairo that there would be soon only five kings left  the Kings of England, Diamond, Hearts, Spades and Clubs. It is speculative whether the tenth and last ruler of the famous Muhammad Ali dynasty had a premonition of his exile or he was a dispassionate observer of global politics in the post-World War II era. Farouk was overthrown in a bloodless coup on July 26, 1952, carried out by the Free Officers of the Egyptian Army led by Gamel Abdel Nasser.

Kingsley Martin, writing in 1962, finds monarchy in Britain uniquely popular and secure. Outside Europe, the type of revolution that made Farouk a fugitive had become everyday news. In Europe, there were six monarchies left, including in Greece, which was abolished a decade later. Martin, however, distinguishes the British monarchy from monarchies in Scandinavian nations, whose titular heads were merely hereditary presidents. Those royals go out shopping like other mortals, without being mobbed by sightseers or surrounded by photographers (The Crown and the Establishment, P.15). The craze for the British royalty has not abated even six decades later. It was proven in a fatal extreme in 1997 when the paparazzi, hounding a former member of the British royal family  on foreign soil  led to the death of Princess Diana in a car crash.

Walter Bagehot (1867), writing in Victorian England, tried to explain the popularity of the monarchy for commoners. If you ask the immense majority of the Queens subjects by what right she rules, says Bagehot, they would never tell you that she rules by Parliamentary right, by virtue of 6 Anne, c.7. They will say she rules by the Gods Grace; they believe they have a mystic obligation to obey her (The English Constitution, P.42-43). The Victorian era was an epoch of rationality, the discoveries of Darwin, an extension of the Parliamentary franchise, increasing Parliamentary proceedings, the industrial revolution and increasing complexity of bureaucracy. Yet, the mystique of monarchy defied logic.

Logic might still be on the side of Graham Smith, the anti-monarchist. In his upcoming book Abolish the Monarchy: Why we should and how we will (Penguin Books), Smith claims there is not a single valid argument in favour of the continuance of monarchy except uncritical tradition. Yet, what is saving monarchy from extinction in Britain?

God, in the British tradition, saves the king. However, the preservation of Kingship in Britain in the 21st century might appear as a historic miracle. The Communist Manifesto, co-authored by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, was originally published in London (1848), in the same year when French, German, and Hungarian revolutions inspired hopes of republican success in the continent. Subsequently, World War I swept away the monarchies in Germany, Austria, Russia and Turkey. Why has the British monarchy survived as a symbol of unity beyond all parties, asks Peter Viereck (1962), while the monarchies of Russia, Austria, and Germany were violently overthrown? He finds the answer in the very British concept of His Majestys Loyal Opposition. Perhaps because England, like the Dutch, Belgian, and Scandinavian monarchies, made a special point to distinguish between violent and lawful opposition. The east, above all the tsardom, could not conceive of such a seeming contradiction as His Majestys loyal opposition, a concept basic to the conservative idea of freedom (Conservatism Revisited, P.37).

Recently, Graham Smiths example only confirms the same. His book is being published by a leading British publisher viz. Penguin Books. The leader of the Republican movement was arrested only when he tried to disrupt the coronation event and thereafter released within hours. Imagine what would have happened if he had tried to campaign for the abolition of monarchy in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, or Morocco! In June 2021, he had participated in Oxford Union Debate on the motion This House would abolish the monarchy. Imagine, Oxford Union holding such a debate in the UK, and none are being charged for sedition. Such an elastic definition of His Majestys loyal opposition has been the monarchys saving grace, Smith will agree.

II

Those who oppose monarchy in Britain at present are not anarchists or revolutionary but Democrats. The astonishing part of the survival of monarchy in Britain is that it has not been consumed by the Parliament. Survival of the institution of monarchy in the land of the Mother of Parliament might appear paradoxical to Indians. To create a democratic republic in India, Sardar Patel had to sweep away 562 crowned heads of princely states. The Indian dominion, successor state of British India, formed the core of the Indian Republic. Even though Indian India, as Harcourt Butler had described the princely states, commanded 48 percent territory and 27 percent population, they had to acquiesce to merge into the Indian domain (vide White Paper on Indian States, Govt of India, 1948, P.3)

Admittedly, the Constituent Assembly did not conceive of compulsory abolition of the princely states. Jawaharlal Nehru, while moving the Objective Resolution on December 13, 1946, left the matter to the people of the respective states- The Resolution does not concern itself with what form of government they will have or whether the present Rajas and Nawabs will continue or not. These things concern the people of the States. It is quite possible that people may like to have their Rajas. The decision will rest with them. Our republic shall include the whole of India. If a part within it desires to have own type of administration, it will have the liberty to have it.

However, as things progressed, constitutions within Constitution were found untenable. British left few choices for the princely states upon the lapse of paramountcy. They had to negotiate to merge with one of the two dominions viz. India and Pakistan, where the choice was critically restricted by geography. It was Harekrushna Mahtab, the then Premier of Orissa (now Odisha), who showed the way to cut Gordons knot as India gained independence. His police action on Nilgiri, a tiny princely state, near Balasore on November 14, 1947, aimed at integrating it with the Orissa administration sent out a stern message. The story is excellently told in his book Beginning of the End (1949), with a Foreword by Sardar Patel, who built upon the bold action of Mahtab to integrate India by coercion, if necessary. The crowned heads of India had to completely go to make way for the Republic. The unity of India was provided by Parliament, with an elected President serving as the executive and legislative head.

The princely states in India had to disappear not merely for the sake of forging a united India as a democratic republic. They had long become an anachronism by refusal to carry out requisite political reforms. Out of 562 princely states, not more than 60 had some kind of representative bodies even to associate their subjects. Except for Mysore, Travancore and Cochin, constitutional progress was uninspiring. Hyderabad, the largest of the princely states, had the gall to repeal its Legislative Assembly Ain (Charter of Legislative Assembly of the State) through Nizams firming in December 1948. In Tripura, the constitutional reforms envisaged as late as 1943, by creating a unicameral assembly with rudimentary powers, were trivial at best.

The official narrative of the freedom movement focuses on the struggle against colonial rule in British India. The popular movements in various princely states against their maladministration are left out in the shadows. One of the glaring aspects of the revenue administration in the princely states was the absence of a privy purse, implying no demarcation between the rulers personal income and income of the state. While the Political Department, Government of India, says historian and R.L. Handa (1968), repeatedly instructed the princely states to separate the privy purses of the rules from the state revenue, they indulged in eye wash. In a state like Bikaner, for example, Maharajas privy purse was fixed at Rs 25 lakh, which was more than one-fourth of the states revenue (History of Freedom Struggle in Princely States, P.42)

Popular movements had crystallized in the princely states by the 1920s. As evident from the resolutions at All India States Peoples Conference at Bombay on April 17 and 18, 1927, the advanced section of subjects in princely states demanded representative institutions on an elective basis for the purpose of legislation & taxation etc, separation of state revenue from the personal budget of the rulers, establishment of an independent judiciary etc. Later that year, the All India States Subjects Conference was held in Madras (December 26-27, 1927) ahead of the annual Congress session in the city. S. Satyamurthy, Member of Legislative Council, Madras Presidency who himself hailed from the princely state of Pudukottah, emphasized that none can build a China wall between British India and the Indian States. Swaraj for British India is bound to come and the new awakening in British India cannot but affect deeply the people of Indian States.

This reveals something more than the fact that British India was more progressive than Indian India. It reveals why the days of monarchy in India were numbered, unlike the British monarchy. Medieval India, before the advent of the British, could boast of no political reforms on the lines of Europe. The history of Mohammedan Period observed Stanley Lane-Poole, is therefore necessarily more a chronicle of kings and courts and conquests than of organic or national growth (Medieval India under Mohammedan Rule AD 712-1764, P.iv). In Europe, modernity in politics evolved from medievalism, in India, it had to be introduced by the British.

III

The British monarchy, at best, could be accused of being an expensive superfluity. It has, however, not been a positive impediment to the growth of constitutionalist ideas. It has survived by giving up powers in stages, especially in the 17th century when a constitutional monarchy was established as a result of the Glorious Revolution (1688). One of the more recent examples was the Fixed-term Parliament Act, 2011 which made the dissolution of Parliament governed wholly by statutory rules rather than simple royal proclamation as per the convention. The Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act, 2022 includes a provision to make it exercisable again as if Fixed-term Parliaments Act, 2011 had never been enacted (House of Commons Research Briefing, The Crown and the Constitution, 2023, P.8). However, there is little doubt that a British monarch will always act on aid and advice of his council of ministers.

This is the first of the two-part series. The second and last part will deal with how the principle of His Majestys Loyal Opposition led to fostering of a freedom movement on civilian lines in British India, culminating in India becoming the worlds largest democracy.

The writer is author of the book The Microphone Men: How Orators Created a Modern India (2019) and an independent researcher based in New Delhi. The views expressed herein are his personal.
Geographically, the Northeast is situated on the periphery. Unfortunately, this beautiful region has been consigned to the margins of the nations mindspace too. In the past nine years, however, kudos to the initiatives taken by the Central government, India has covered a lot of distance in bringing the region to the nations mainstream by acting fast and first for the Northeast, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised during the golden jubilee celebration of the North East Council (NEC) in Shillong in December last year.

Addressing the event, PM Modi recounted how, in the past nine years, the number of airports in the region has jumped from nine to 16, and of flights from 900 to around 1,900, besides the length of national highways increasing by 50 percent. The amount allocated for projects in the region, too, saw a threefold increase from Rs 24,819 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 70,874 in 2021-22, as the Union minister for development of north eastern region (DoNER) informed the Lok Sabha in March this year.

One can sense the change from the fact that in 2012, when Assam, then under the Congress government led by Tarun Gogoi, was fraught with one of the worst communal riots, a prominent journalist brazenly tweeted that he couldnt report on the violence due to tyranny of distance. A decade later, when Manipur recently burnt over the High Courts 27 March 2023 judgement directing the state government to consider the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes list within four weeks, it was reported in detail and with urgency. Part of this urgency might have been due to the Left-liberal propensity to exploit any given opportunity to target the state and Central governments, both led by the BJP. But this intense coverage was also the result of the Modi governments endeavour to bring the Northeast to the centre of Indias imagination.

Still, the Manipur violence suggests how muddied the waters of the Northeast remain. A victim of Verrier Elwins conspiracy to keep the region into a splendid isolation, which threw the Indian state out of the regions boundaries while surreptitiously letting the missionaries harvest the souls, the Northeast and its people were forcibly uprooted and pushed away from the national/civilisational mainstream. Meiteis  largely Hindu Vaishnavites  are victims of this Elwin-ian conspiracy, manifesting how inconvenient it is to remain Hindus in the Northeast. Meiteis, who constitute 41.39 percent of Manipurs population, inhabit the valley regions of the state, which cover about 10 percent of the geographical area of the state. Worse, much to their apprehension, their numbers have dwindled from 48 percent in 2001 to 44 percent in 2011. Interestingly, they accounted for more than 65 percent of the total population of Manipur in 1951.

As Meiteis face the prospect of becoming minorities in their own state, they  under Manipurs Land Reform Act  are not allowed to settle in the hill areas, which is 90 percent of the states territory. In sharp contrast, other tribes like Naga and Kukis along with their 29 sub-tribes who reside in 90 percent of the states territory, can move into the remaining 10 percent of the states territory. For Meiteis, this is their biggest resentment: That tribals have been buying land in the Valley where they live, but they cannot settle in the hills. Here, it needs to be mentioned that Naga-Kukis have mostly converted to Christianity, whereas the Meiteis are largely Hindu Vaishnavites.

The Meitei-Naga divide is largely a 20th century phenomenon, so is the malaise of conversion in the Northeast, including Manipur. In 1901, there were, for instance, just 45 Christians in Manipur; the number a decade later reached the meagre 132. Even in 1921, this number was not more than 4,000. Much of the Christian expansion in the Northeast occurred on the eve of Independence  between 1931 and 1951. And it has continued unabated since then. Likewise in Nagaland, the number of converted people in 1901 was 601 and they formed 0.59 percent of the population. Even in 1931, they could not cross the 23,000 mark, forming 12.8 percent of the population. Next two decades tipped the balance in their favour, though: In the first Census of Independent India conducted in 1951, about a lakh Christians were counted in Nagaland and they formed nearly half of the then population of 2.13 lakh. Today, Nagaland has almost 90 percent Christian population, and in Manipur their number might exceed 45 percent.

Before the conversion, the Meitei-Naga divide was as accidental as were Ahom-Naga conflicts. They formed a part of the same cultural continuum. Even to this day, some of the Zeliangrong Nagas worship deities that are part of the traditional Meitei pantheon. Before the conversion, no doubt they fought with each other, but the conflict was not cultural/religious in nature. The valley and the hills of the Northeast had relations similar to what Sisodias of Mewar under Maharana Pratap and Bhils had during Akbars time. They were part of one civilisational whole. No wonder whenever Ahoms faced some reverses, especially from their immediate west, they often found refuge in Naga territories. Arup Kumar Duttas recent book, The Ahoms (2022), provides several such instances.

Manipur is bleeding precisely because the Indian government soon after Independence pursued a policy, in the name of safeguarding tribal culture and traditions, of outsourcing the Northeast to missionaries. Nehru, in fact, handed over the entire region to Dr Elwin, whose love for the tribals could be gauged from the fact that he, at the age of 40, married his 13-year-old tribal student named Kosi, treating her all through like a guinea pig by publishing even the most intimate of sexual details, and then leaving her in the lurch to marry another tribal girl.

Dr Ram Manohar Lohia, an eminent socialist leader of the 1950s and 60s who is unfortunately known today more due to a prominent hospital named after him in Delhi, to understand how Nehruvian India mishandled the Northeast. In an interview on 22 July 1959, he said: Why the Indian government is so stupid may partly be explained by the fact that an ex-padre with very peculiar notions, Dr Elwin, is its advisor on Assam tribal affairs. This ex-padre in conjunction with the Prime Minister has evolved a national park theory for the Assam tribal people, which more or less treats them like the Gir lions and isolates them even more from the outside world. Lohia continued, Until October last year, pictures of Shiva and Durga, Gandhiji, and even Nehru were not allowed on the walls of shopkeepers, for this ex-padre thought that might either irritate or corrupt the Urvasiam (Northeast) people.

Nehru followed up this isolationist policy with another blunder: Of appeasing Naga insurgents by giving them an out-of-turn statehood! This became a turning point in insurgency in the Northeast, luring others to follow this otherwise treacherous path. Following the Naga example, writes Prof BB Kumar, scholar and Northeast expert who had spent over three decades in Nagaland, in his book, Problems of Ethnicity in North-East India (2006), two unhealthy signals emerged in the Northeast: That the social distancing pays; that the violence pays.

Manipuris were particularly offended by the formation of Nagaland. They were an ancient kingdom, but had to be satisfied with the UT status. The demand of greater Nagalim further aggravated the problem in Manipur.

Insurgency in Nagaland became the most flourishing industry in the region. Udayon Misra writes quite pertinently in The Periphery Strikes Back (2000), Every government in Nagaland since the state was formed, has had some stake in having the insurgency continue. Among other things, the insurgency has always been a convenient lever to secure greater benefits from the Centre. This Nehruvian policy, unfortunately continuing till date, has created a greater consensus in the region for chaos, violence and insurgency. It didnt take others long to join this business.

Manipur often finds itself on the edge due to the twin Nehruvian folly  of outsourcing the Northeast to missionaries, and appeasing Naga insurgents at the cost of others. Its time for course correction, which the Modi dispensation at the Centre has at least initiated in the right earnest. The government, however, still needs to go a long way before the Northeastern saga will see a real turnaround. As for the Meiteis, they have suffered long enough for being a Hindu and a nationalist. This needs to stop. Meiteis too have their rights in the republic of India.

The author is Opinion Editor, Firstpost and News18. He tweets from @Utpal_Kumar1. Views expressed are personal.
The result for Karnataka is out. The Indian National Congress (INC) has won the elections by a massive margin, and therefore, the party has reason to celebrate. Winning 136 seats with a vote share of 42.88 percent, the Congress has come out as a massive force a year ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

But there is another election story with a different protagonist at the centre of it. Yogi Adityanath, who was seen in a limited number of rallies in Karnataka, was focusing on his bastion for civic polls at the same time.

The massive margin with which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won in the Uttar Pradesh Municipal Elections 2023 tells that Yogi Adityanath has come out of the shadow of Narendra Modi since this was an election in a state that has been fought under the direct leadership and supervision of the UP chief minister, ever since he took over the state in 2017. This might spark a fresh discussion about his growing prominence in the BJP and the prospects of his future roles as someone with the potential to be the successor. Having been the longest uninterrupted CM of a state, that is numerically the most crucial, despite resonates the same.

This trajectory of his growth in the country and the party, if possible, is subject to factors that vary from the BJPs internal factors to factors distant from the party.

Internal

In 2024, if the BJP wins, PM Modi would be 73, two years short of retiring (unwritten) age in BJP. So far, Modi has been the biggest differentiating factor, as no leader from the Opposition currently holds the stature to challenge him, single or unitedly. His absence would allow the Opposition parties to bridge that gap while the BJP would need a face to continue garnering support. It has become crucial for the BJP to look out for a successor with a potential appeal who can be groomed till that time. Yogi, in that way, could be the best bet for the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in its outreach to the masses through a continued populist appeal, coupled with the traditional sense of organisation, which for few years has been a subject of various discussions.

If this bet pays off, it will slide him up as a mass leader and a perceived able administrator with a potential electoral impact not just in UP, but across the Hindi heartland.

External

Yogi Adityanaths increasing popularity has helped him be the most popular chief minister across party lines. Creating parallels with PM Narendra Modi, he has been successful in creating a symbolic model of his own. On the lines of Modis development model for Gujarat, Yogis Law & Order model; with a great emphasis on effective propagation using all possible platforms and clarity of narrative through messaging, has too been focused. His seriousness on publicity and image building in propagating claims about transforming UP, like how PM Modi did in his second term as Gujarat CM. An example would be CM Yogi laying the foundation stone for 2029 development projects, something he has been criticised for doing in the past as well.

Adding to it, his continued strong Hindu image helps him in consolidating the support base which has been strongly inclined towards Narendra Modi. It is something that all leaders in the BJP or in any Opposition parties lack. His publicly made jibes like 80 percent vs 20 percent, and chacha jaan-abba jaan are something even many of the BJP leaders would shy away from making.

Adityanaths image as a Hindu monk might help the party consolidate the Hindutva-believing voter base when some are seeing Modi mellowing down in his Hindu ideology, particularly when the Opposition parties are making efforts to revive the Mandal politics.

Conclusion

Though the above-mentioned factors might support him, the BJP has been a party of duos in terms of top leadership management. Atal Bihari Vajpayee had Lal Krishna Advani, and Narendra Modi has Amit Shah. So far, Yogi has been riding solo and with time, he would need close confidants to manoeuvre, at least within the party. Adding to it, there would be external factors that he would need to address. Despite the political significance, UP remains one of the poorest states in the country. The state has been suffering from an economic downturn, soaring unemployment and routine news of crime against women.

These would be some of the biggest bottlenecks for Yogi that he would have to address before looking up for something more.

Siddharth Raina is a Delhi-based independent researcher having worked in political campaigns in state of Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. Views are personal.
Alia Bhatts airport style can easily be described as casual and laidback. She was seen in a long denim jacket and pants while leaving for Seoul last night. Scroll ahead as we round up some of her recent airport looks.
Congress leader Sachin Pilots Jan Sangarsh Yatra demanding an investigation into corruption allegations against former chief minister, Vasundhara Raje Scindia ended today. While addressing a mega rally at Kamla Nehru Nagar along the Ajmer highway on the culmination of his five-day-long foot march, Pilot said he was ready to sacrifice whatever it took to end corruption in the state.

I want to clarify one thing. Doesnt matter whether I get any position or not, I will continue working for the people of Rajasthan. I am not scared of anyone," he said.

Pilot highlighted that Congress had opposed the 2013-2018 Vasundhara Raje government in Rajasthan. Gehlot ji Also took part in every protest and meeting and opposed the corruption during the Raje regime," he said, adding that when Congress came to power, we promised to take action against corruption."

However, it has been 4.5 years since Congress formed the government but we havent taken any action," Pilot added. He further said that no one is above the law and a corrupt person, big or small, must be nabbed to curb corruption.

Pilot further said that his Jan Sangarsh Yatra was not against anyone but corruption. I am going to stop corruption for the future of the youth."

The Congress leader announced that if his demands are not met, he will launch a state-wide Andolan by the end of the month. Pilot further said people should look inside their own sleeves before blaming others for cheating the party.

Speaking to ANI before the rally, the Congress leader stressed that he is not working against anyone but corruption. I am not working against anyone. I am against corruption. I didnt abuse anyone. I have never made any allegations against anyone," he said.

Pilot further highlighted that Congress and Ashok Gehlot had made a promise to the state that action will be taken against the corrupt. State government must take action against corruption, we still have 6 months of time," he said.

Rajasthan | State govt must take action against corruption, we still have 6-month time," says Congress leader Sachin PilotOn unity in Rajasthan Congress in view of upcoming state polls, Sachin Pilot says, Neither I hurl allegations at anyone nor do I have any rift with anyone pic.twitter.com/C7dt8pTqmF  ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) May 15, 2023

Pilot began the 125-km-long Jan Sangarsh Yatra from Ajmer to Jaipur on Thursday to raise the issue of corruption during the previous Vasundhara Raje government challenging CM Ashok Gehlot and the partys top brass as Congress high command had already made it clear that it disapproves of this foot march and the timing was wrong. The yatra has mounted pressure on the party leadership as it hopes to retain power in Rajasthan ahead of the Assembly elections in the state at the end of the year.

Pilots foot march came days after Gehlot accused the MLAs involved in the 2020 revolt of taking money from the BJP. Pilot and 18 other Congress MLAs had then sought a leadership change in the state. Afterwards, he was sacked as the Congress state unit president and the Rajasthan deputy chief minister.

Ashok Gehlot has also taken potshots at Pilots yatra calling the corruption allegations against Raje baseless and that this yatra would do nothing but hurt the interests of the party.

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Quoting sources, a News18 report said the Congress top leadership is likely to resolve this issue after the chief minister of Karnataka is announced. Some party leaders like Rajasthan in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa feel that disciplinary action should be taken against Pilot, while other senior leaders like, Kamal Nath have cautioned that this could backfire in an election year.

Rajasthan is set to go to polls at the end of 2023.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leaders on Monday met Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly Narhari Zirwal with request to conduct the hearing on disqualification of 16 MLAs of Shiv Sena, including Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, as early as possible. Speaking to the media after landing in Mumbai, Speaker Rahul Narwekar said that he will try to take a decision as early as possible, but cant deny natural justice to anyone.

ALSO READ | Had Uddhav Not Resigned Major Relief for Shinde Camp as SC Says Status Quo Cant Be Restored

In the recent verdict of Maharashtra power tussle, the Supreme Court ordered Narwekar to decide on the disqualification petition of Shiv Sena UBT against Shinde and 15 others.

When Shinde, along with his 39 supporting MLAs, went against Thackeray, the 16 MLAs had disobeyed whip Sunil Prabhus orders, after which a disqualification petition was filed against them in the court. Later, the Thackeray faction filed another disqualification plea against 23 MLAs of the Shiv Sena with the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker.

According to Sunil Prabhu, who was recognised by the Supreme Court as legal whip, Today, the Speaker was not there, so we have submitted a letter of request to the deputy speaker asking him to expedite the process of hearing of disqualification pleas against 16 MLAs. We expect him to take a decision within 15 days. We have also attached a copy of the SC order with that letter.

Narwekar said, We have to follow the prescribed procedure. We will try to take a decision as early as possible, but while doing so, we cant deny natural justice to anyone. The court, in its order, have spoken about the whip issue. But the Opposition cant pressure me. We have to follow the entire process to come to the conclusion.

Narwekar feels the Election Commission and SC took considerable time before giving their verdict.

Now, the SC has given the responsibility to decide on the disqualification plea to me. We will study this matter and take a decision accordingly. We may call both parties to explain their stand. Counter questioning may also happen. Once we have enough material, we will decide, staying within the framework of the Constitution, he said.

ALSO READ | Hostile Takeover of Govt: Aaditya Thackeray Slams Ex-Maha Guv After SC Verdict

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Narwekar added that the process of this case already began at the time when the petition was filed with his office.

According to Narwekar, the key in this hearing is to decide who was the real Shiv Sena when Bharat Gogawale was appointed as the whip, as the SC has struck off the appointment.
There is only one rule when Congress chooses its chief ministers  That there is no rule.

Cut back to five years ago when both Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh fell into the Congress kitty but the celebration was dampened by the nagging question  Who will be the chief minister?

In Rajasthan, the issue was Sachin Pilot on one hand who had shifted to Jaipur for four-and-a-half years when he was asked to go by Rahul Gandhi to ensure a win for the party as he felt young ones must take charge. However, when Congress won, Rahul Gandhis push for Pilot as CM had few takers. He was told and convinced that with 2019 polls round the corner, an ace politician like Ashok Gehlot could not be ignored as he alone would be able to ensure the Grand Old Party won Lok Sabha seats from the state.

Then there was Madhya Pradesh to deal with. Kamal Nath was seen as a Delhi neta who understood central but not state politics. But as state chief, he had ensured a win for the party. Some say the task was made easy by the fact that Digvijaya Singh had opted out, preferring to call the shots from behind the scenes and not be chief minister. Jyotiraditya Scindia was also not in the race. The Congress high command cut out other suitors by saying as state chief, Nath had the first claim.

In Rajasthan, this rule was changed. State chief Pilot lost out to Gehlot on the grounds that the latter  known in political circles as The Magician  had the MLAs and was too tall a leader to be ignored. Gehlot became the chief minister and Pilot was placated by making him the deputy CM. He was also told the state chief could not be made the chief minister as One Man, One Post was the partys mantra  overlooking the flouting of this rule in MP.

In Chhattisgarh, a similar problem reared its head. Rahul Gandhi had stepped in to choose Bhupesh Baghel, who was state chief, by quoting Reid Hoffman: No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if you are playing a solo game, you will always lose out to a team. Congress then had four contenders for the CMs chair  Baghel, TS Singh Deo, Tamrajdas Sahu and Charan Das Mahant.

So whats common in all these cases? The fact that its not the MLAs alone but the high command which decides the chief minister. This also ensures that the central leadership has control over state politics. After the death of YSR, the most powerful Congress leader and chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, the top brass realised that minus central control, state politics would flounder.

With the exit of a CM, even in unfortunate circumstances, the party must not be left in the doldrums. It was then that a tacit understanding was reached that the Delhi brass should decide the chief minister so that whoever has been picked remains in gratitude towards the central leadership.

That this doesnt always work is shown in Punjab and Rajasthan.

The similarity between Rajasthan and Karnataka cannot be missed. As in the desert state, there is a strong chance that Siddaramaiah, as a veteran leader who has the support of a large number of MLAs and experience, cannot be ignored. Similarly, aggressive trouble-shooter DK Shivakumar, who built the organisation and remained loyal to the party despite being arrested, would expect that it is payback time.

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The fact that despite MLAs feedback, the central leadership will take the final call, shows that the earlier formula  a strong state but stronger central leadership  will not be given up. In Himachal, despite an open demand by Pratibha Singh that she should be chief minister, Sukhvinder Sukhu was chosen, sending across the message that it is the Gandhis who call the shots. It also made the point that no one could put pressure on Delhi.

In Karnatakas final decision on chief minister, this rule will be implemented once again.
IIT Madrass Centre for Responsible AI, officially inaugurated in April by MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar, held its maiden workshop on Responsible AI for India on Monday to promote the ethical and responsible development of AI-based solutions in the real world.

The research centre, which received $1 million from Google, aims to become a top national and international research hub for both fundamental and applied research in Responsible AI, with a direct effect on implementing AI systems in the Indian ecosystem.

CeRAIs major goal will be to create high-quality research outputs such as research publications in high-impact journals or conferences, white papers, and patents, among other things. It will aim to provide technical resources in the domain of Responsible AI, such as curated datasets (universal and India-specific), software, toolkits, and so on.

At the inaugural session of the first workshop, Abhishek Singh, Managing Director and CEO at Digital India Corporation, said, I am sure that the deliberations that will happen today in this workshop and the various panel discussions will go a long way in helping us evolve our framework, our guidelines and our policies for responsible AI.

It is important that those at the policymaking level and those who are working at the cutting-edge of developing technologies are aware of the risks and challenges that remain while we are using the same technologies for solving societal problems, ensuring access to healthcare, making healthcare more affordable and making education more inclusive and making agriculture more productive, he added.

Furthermore, Singh stated that there is a need for a non-biased and non-discriminatory AI framework as there are unique requirements that need customisation as per the requirements.

Meanwhile, Prof Balaraman Ravindran, Head of the Centre for Responsible AI, said: AI models need to provide performance guarantees appropriate to the applications they are deployed in. This covers data integrity, privacy, the robustness of decision-making, etc. We need research into developing assurance and risk models for AI systems in different sectors.

As per IIT, the centre will provide sector-specific recommendations and guidelines for policymakers. With the achieved research outputs, it will help to formulate sector-specific recommendations and guidelines for policymakers and provide all stakeholders with the necessary toolkits for ensuring ethical and responsible management and monitoring of AI systems that are being developed and deployed.

Additionally, CeRAI also intends to provide opportunities for conducting specialised sensitisation or training programmes for all stakeholders to better understand the concerns of ethical and responsible AI. It will host a series of technical events in the form of workshops and conferences on specialised issues of deployable AI systems, emphasising the principles of ethics and responsibility that must be followed.

Moiz Arsiwala, Co-Founder and CTO at WorkIndia, told News18 that CeRAI has the potential to benefit the Indian ecosystem greatly.

He said: By focusing on responsible and ethical AI deployment, the centre ensures that AI systems are developed and implemented in a manner that respects privacy, transparency, fairness, and accountability.

Additionally, with education and skill development, we expect this to significantly impact the blue-collar industry by ensuring enhanced efficiency, reduced manual labour, and a smoother transition for blue-collar workers in the evolving job market, he noted.

Dr Pardeep Kumar, Pro-Vice Chancellor at Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies (MRIIRS), said: Responsible AI is an approach that emphasises the ethical and moral considerations in the design, development, and deployment of AI systems."

According to him, as AI systems are becoming increasingly pervasive in society, there is a growing need for AI systems that are developed and deployed in a responsible manner. Dr Kumar also believes that in the Indian ecosystem, responsible AI can have an immediate impact on the deployment of AI systems.

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Similarly, Anil Sinha, CTO of Fibe, stated that the tech sector is undergoing its most major transformation to date, which is being driven by artificial intelligence. It is changing the way we think about and the way we work in the present, he said.

Im pleased to see our institution taking the lead in this area since we need to be at the cutting edge of AI innovation. In industries including agriculture, education, industry, and defence, among others, it will contribute to innovation. The opportunities are endless; we must set an example and implement responsible AI practices for the good of all, he added.
Embarking on a cab-booking adventure is like navigating a wild jungle filled with quirky drivers and unexpected obstacles. Its a rollercoaster ride of emotions, from eagerly hunting for a driver within our budget to impatiently waiting for their arrival. Weve all experienced the struggle firsthand! But amidst the sea of complaints about drivers grumpy demeanor, a Twitter user recently shared a delightful experience about booking a cab in Gurgaon. The speedy and hospitable driver left them stunned, especially when comparing it to the usual scene in Bengaluru.

In an impressive revelation, Twitter user Monark Moolchandani shared his encounter with a Gurgaon cab driver who went above and beyond. According to his tweet, he was pleasantly surprised when the cab driver called him immediately after he had confirmed the ride, and said, Bhaiya Samosa khaa raha hu, 5 min ruk jaaiye" (Brother, I am having samosas, please wait for 5 minutes"). Monark agreed to wait for the driver at the main gate, to which the driver offered to bring him a samosa too, saying Aap bhi khaaoge to 1 le aau?" (Do you want me to bring one for you too?"). The drivers kind gesture left Monark in awe, prompting him to compare this experience to his usual cab rides in Bengaluru.

Booked a cab in Gurgaon, got it instantly & the guy called me up instantly to inform - Bhaiya Samosa khaa raha hu, 5 min ruk jaaiye. I said okay Ill wait on the main gate, he adds Aap bhi khaaoge to 1 le aau? What a flip story when compared to BLR.  Monark Moolchandani (@kyabromomo) May 14, 2023

The tweet garnered attention from social media users, who couldnt help but share their reactions. One user expressed their admiration for the courteous behaviour of Mumbais auto-rickshaw drivers, highlighting, Was always a fan of Autowalas of Mumbai for their real nice behaviour (no surcharge, almost no denial, except a few in peak hrs, no long route, no language issue etc.etc.)But aap bhi khaoge to le aau" is next level.. never thought Gurgaon have so much niceness.

Was always a fan of Autowalas of Mumbai for their real nice behaviour (no surcharge, almost no denial, except a few in peak hrs, no long route, no language issue etc.etc.)But "aap bhi khaoge to le aau" is next level.. never thought Gurgaon have so much niceness..  Pakhi:ComeBack Sush  (@ppakhii) May 14, 2023

Really wholesome Kabhi kabhi mil jaate hai aise mast cab drivers And Since it's Gurgaon, I won't be shocked if samose me neend ki goli daal ke aap ka kidnap bhi karleta toh hehe Shoaib (@Kakashi0367) May 14, 2023

Nothing unites more than food Rish Agarwal (@rish404) May 14, 2023

Another user chimed in, Looks like Gurgaon cabbies not only provide transportation but also satisfy your hunger pangs on the go! They truly deserve the title of Food and Ride" providers.

Looks like Gurgaon cabbies not only provide transportation but also satisfy your hunger pangs on the go!They truly deserve the title of "Food and Ride" providers.  Amit Misra (@amit6060) May 15, 2023

While many social media users praised the Gurgaon cab drivers kindness, some raised concerns about the safety of accepting food from a stranger before getting in their car. One user wrote, Good call. Shouldnt eat something someone gave you and then get in their car in Gurgaon. Just saying."

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Good call. Shouldn't eat something someone gave you and then get in their car in Gurgaon. Jus sayin. Madhav Kohli (@mvdhav) May 14, 2023

Over the years, many heartwarming stories of Mumbai Autowalas have circulated online, but the recent tale from Gurgaon is truly one of a kind!
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On May 12, EVE Energy Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chinese power battery maker EVE Energy, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with PEMAJU KELANG LAMA SDN.BHD. (referred to as "PKL") in Kuala Lumpur to acquire land for a factory in Malaysia.

The EVE Energy Malaysia factory, which is also the 53rd factory of EVE Energy, will set up an "international cylindrical battery industrial park" project with an investment of no more than 422.3 million US dollars. Located in Kulim town, Kedah state, Malaysia, it will mainly produce cylindrical batteries and directly create 600 jobs.

Photo credit: EVE Energy

The project will mainly produce the 21700 cylindrical batteries for electric tools and electric two-wheelers. Currently, EVE Energy has the production capability and technical reserves for such products and will further expand its production capacity to fully meet the downstream customers demands.

The recent signing of this MOU marks the effective promotion of the EVE Energy Malaysia project to meet the company's further expansion of cylindrical battery production capacity, so as to support the manufacturing of electric two-wheelers and electric tools in Malaysia and other regions in the Southeast Asia, said the company.
The Embassy of Afghanistan in New Delhi has refuted reports of a new Charge dAffaires in New Delhi.

Qadir Shah, who came to the embassy in March 2020, is currently working as a trade councillor. He had written a letter to Indias Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) claiming that Ambassador Farid Mamundzay is currently out of India on a personal trip and he has been appointed as Charge dAffaires until further orders, sources said.

In a statement, the Afghan embassy said the individual who claims to have been named Charge dAffaires by the Taliban has been responsible for spreading misinformation and running a baseless and unsubstantiated campaign against officials of the mission, including totally fabricated allegations of corruption based on an unsigned letter.

According to sources, the Taliban has written to the mission 14 times dismissing Afghan Diplomats in Delhi in the last 21 months.

Sources said the Afghan embassy hopes that Qadir Shahs visa will be cancelled and he will be sent back to Afghanistan.

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The mission said appreciated the consistent position of the Indian government in supporting the interests of the Afghan people and not recognizing the Taliban regime in Kabul.

The embassy said that it is committed to protecting the genuine interests of the Afghan nationals, especially in these trying times and has worked closely with the Indian authorities on humanitarian efforts, including the supply of covid-19 vaccines, medicines and food supplies.
The violent protests and the vandalism following arrest of Pakistan former Prime Minister Imran Khan last week caused damages worth Rs 25 crore to private and public property.

The Rawalpindi police arrested 76 suspects allegedly involved in the attacks on the General Headquarters in the garrison city, The Dawn said quoting a report by Rawalpindi Police.

Following Imran Khans arrest last week, supporters set fire to government buildings, blocked roads and damaged property belonging to the military, which they blame for Khans downfall.

The report said that armed miscreants burnt down the office of the DPO Industrial Area and opened fire at Ramna, Tarnol and Sangjani police stations during the three days of violence.

The protestors also put 12 vehicles and 34 motorcycles were set on fire and snatched one SMG rifle, one 12-bore rifle, 42 anti-riot kits and three wireless sets.

In Punjab province of Pakistan, over 3,000 people were arrested across the state since last Tuesday. Punjab Inspector General Police said the miscreants torched and damaged over 80 vehicles of the law enforcement agencies besides damaging 14 state buildings in the province.

Moreover, at least 40 workers of the PTI have been killed and over 100 injured during the clashes across Pakistan. Over 10 senior PTI leaders have also been arrested since the protests began.

Army was deployed in the countrys capital as well as in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces to maintain law and order after Khans supporters stormed the General Headquarters of the Army in Rawalpindi.

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Khan, however, distanced himself from the attacks against the militarys installations at the protests, denying his party workers were involved and calling for an independent investigation into the violence.

After his arrest on Tuesday, Imran Khan was freed on bail on Friday after his detention was declared unlawful by the Supreme Court and claimed he was treated like a terrorist".
A Canadian man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for the 2021 killing of a 23-year-old Sikh from India in the countrys Nova Scotia province, media reports said.

Prabhjot Singh Katri was stabbed to death by 21-year-old Cameron James Prosper in an unprovoked attack outside an apartment building in Truro town of the province in September 2021.

A Nova Scotia judge on Friday sentenced Prosper to nine years in jail for manslaughter, The Global News reported on Saturday.

Prosper was initially charged with second-degree murder but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter during a court appearance on December 19, 2022.

Katri, who worked for a taxi service company as well as a few restaurants in Truro, came to Canada from India in 2017 to study. He was 23 when he died.

Prosper stabbed Katri in the neck on September 5, 2021, when the Sikh youth was leaving a friends apartment. Katri rushed back to his friends apartment, where they called the police. He was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead because of blood loss from the injuries.

In his decision, Justice Jeffrey Hunt said the attack was made without rational cause but without the intent to kill Katri, according to the report.

Apologising to Katris family, Prosper said, I am truly sorry, like, genuinely sorry about this. If I could go back in time I would change it. The maximum sentence for manslaughter in Canada is life in prison, while there is no minimum sentence for the crime unless a firearm is involved, the report said.

Hunt said the mitigating factors for Prospers 9-year term included his guilty plea and expression of remorse, which spared Katris loved ones from having to go through a trial.

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Rajveer Kaur, Katris sister, in an interview following the decision, said that the nine-year sentence was not enough.

We deserve more, Kaur was quoted as saying in the report. If someones lifes gone, nine years, (its) not comparable to that. In September last year, India advised its nationals in Canada and those travelling to that country to exercise due caution and remain vigilant given the sharp increase in incidents of hate crimes, sectarian violence and anti-India activities there.
In a move to boost the countrys falling birth rate, China will launch pilot projects in over 20 cities to create a new-era" marriage and childbearing culture to foster a friendly child bearing environment.

Chinas Family Planning Association, Beijings national body that implements population and fertility measures, will launch the projects to encourage women to marry and have children, Reuters quoted Global Times report as saying.

The report said that project will focus on promoting marriages, having children at appropriate ages, encouraging parents to share child-rearing responsibilities, and curbing high bride prices".

The project will be implemented in cities including the manufacturing hub Guangzhou and Handan in Chinas Hebei province.

The projects have already been launched in 20 cities including Beijing last year, the Times said.

The society needs to guide young people more on the concept of marriage and childbirth," demographer He Yafu reportedly said.

The projects come amid a series of measures Chinese government is rolling out to spur people to have children including tax incentives, housing subsidies and subsidies for having a third children.

Recently, several Chinese colleges have also come up with a unique plan to send the students on a weeklong vacation to find love in April to reverse the declining birth rate.

The schools, run by the Fan Mei Education Group, last month announced that they are going on a break from April 1 to 7 and tasked students with enjoying themselves to boost marriage rates.

Local companies, provinces, and townships have been experimenting with ways to get people to marry, like offering 30 days of marriage leave" or launching campaigns asking city women to date rural older bachelors.

China is facing a looming demographic crisis as its workforce ages, which analysts warn could stymie economic growth and pile pressure on strained public coffers.

The countrys population shrank in 2022 for the first time in more than six decades. The Chinese population could decline each year by 1.1 percent on average, according to a study by the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, AFP reported.

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China implemented a rigid one-child policy from 1980 until 2015 - the root of many of its demographic challenges that have allowed India to become the worlds most populous nation. The limit has since been raised to three children.

China could have only 587 million inhabitants in 2100, less than half of today, according to the most pessimistic projections of that team of demographers.
A Chinese special envoy will arrive in Kyiv for a two-day visit on Tuesday, as part of a European tour to promote Beijing-led peace negotiations on the war in Ukraine.

The Chinese foreign ministry, in a statement last week, said Li Hui, the countrys special representative for Eurasian affairs since 2019 and former Russian ambassador, will also travel to Poland, France, and Germany during the multiday trip for in-depth communications with different parties for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

The Chinese envoy will start his Europeean tour where he will first go to Ukraine and then to Russia, according to Al-Jazeera.

China, which has close ties with Russia, has tried to position itself as a mediator in the war in Ukraine.

Li Hui, a fluent Russian speaker, will be the most senior Chinese official to visit Ukraine since Russias full-scale invasion began in February 2022. He served as Chinas ambassador to Russia from 2009 to 2019.

Huis visit could coincide with the beginning of Ukraines long-awaited counteroffensive to recapture territory seized and occupied by Russia. Chinas high-ranking diplomat Li Hui will be in Kyiv May 16 and 17, according to AFP.

Beijing has said the aim of the tour was to communicate with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis".

Xi visited Moscow in March and has been criticised for refusing to condemn Moscos war on its neighbour.

A month later, he spoke to Zelensky for the first time since Russias invasion. The Ukrainian leader described the exchange as a long and meaningful" conversation.

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Chinas 12-point peace plan, which consists of Beijings Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, was presented on the first anniversary of Russias full-scale invasion in February this year.

Given Beijings links to Russia, the proposal was viewed with some scepticism in Western capitals. It exhorted both sides to consent to a gradual de-escalation and give up the Cold War mentality, reported Al-Jazeera.
A former employee who filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against Bytedance, the parent company of TikTok, alleges that Chinas Communist Party had supreme access" to all data held by the company, including servers in the United States.

The lawsuit comes at a time when concerns over Beijings control over TikTok and its content are under intense scrutiny in the US and other Western nations, CNN reported.

Yintao Roger" Yu, who worked as the head of engineering for US operations from August 2017 to November 2018, claims that a special office within Bytedance, known as the Committee," monitored the company and influenced it to advance core Communist values.

Yus lawsuit further alleges that user data was made accessible to the Chinese Communist Party through a backdoor channel, regardless of its location.

Additionally, Yu claims to have witnessed Bytedance being responsive to the CCPs requests to share, elevate, or remove content, effectively functioning as a propaganda tool for Beijings leaders.

Bytedance denies these allegations, stating that Yu worked on an app called Flipagram, which was discontinued due to business reasons, according to CNN report. They express their intention to vigorously oppose the baseless claims made in the complaint.

Yus lawsuit also highlights Bytedances alleged worldwide scheme" of stealing and profiting from others content, which he discovered shortly after starting his job. In response, a ByteDance spokesperson asserts the companys commitment to respecting intellectual property and acquiring data in accordance with industry practices and policies.

These reports surface as TikTok faces potential bans in the US due to national security concerns. The Biden administration has threatened a nationwide ban unless TikToks Chinese owners divest their stakes in the company, reflecting the escalating tensions between the two countries.

The issue revolves around ownership of TikToks algorithms and the vast amount of data collected from its 150 million monthly users in the United States. US officials fear that the Chinese government could exploit the links between TikTok and its parent company to access user data for intelligence or propaganda purposes.

However, security experts note that there is currently no public evidence of the Chinese government spying on individuals through TikTok, as the platform does not operate in China.

TikToks CEO, Shou Chew, testified before US Congress, stating that there is no evidence of Chinese government access to US user data, as they have never requested or received it.

China has firmly opposed the forced sale of TikTok demanded by the Biden administration, emphasizing the importance of advanced technology, including content recommendation algorithms, to its national interest.

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Chinese officials have proposed stricter rules governing the sale of such technology to foreign buyers.

Any sale or divestiture of TikTok would require a license and approval from the Chinese government due to the technology export involved, as confirmed by a commerce ministry spokeswoman in March.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday evening as he arrived in Brussels for the last leg of his three-nation tour covering Bangladesh, Sweden and Belgium.

The minister said he conveyed personal greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the meeting, which also included ministerial colleagues Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Skill Development and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

Delighted to call on PM of Belgium @alexanderdecroo along with my colleagues  @PiyushGoyal & @rajeev_GOI today. Conveyed personal greetings of PM @narendramodi, he tweeted.

Delighted to call on PM of Belgium @alexanderdecroo along with my colleagues - @PiyushGoyal & @rajeev_GOI today. Conveyed personal greetings of PM @narendramodi.Discussed our growing bilateral cooperation, including in trade and technology. Also spoke about contemporary pic.twitter.com/bkXkWSnKWw  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 15, 2023

Discussed our growing bilateral cooperation, including in trade and technology. Also spoke about contemporary strategic concerns, he said.

Jaishankar is in Brussels for the first meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council, scheduled for Tuesday.

Shortly after meeting Belgiums PM, the Indian ministerial team also met EU Commission and held an open discussion on trade, technology and geopolitics.

Thank President of @EU_Commission @vonderleyen for meeting the Indian ministerial team. Appreciate the open discussion on trade, technology and geopolitics. Look forward to the India-EU Trade and Technology Council meeting tomorrow," the minister said in another tweet.

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Thank President of @EU_Commission @vonderleyen for meeting the Indian ministerial team.Appreciate the open discussion on trade, technology and geopolitics. Look forward to the India-EU Trade and Technology Council meeting tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/a11otNsFTF  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 15, 2023

The external affairs minister arrived in Belgium after a three-day tour of Sweden where he had a series of high-level discussions, including at the India Trilateral Forum and the European Union (EU) Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum (EIPMF) in Stockholm.
The Afghan Embassy in New Delhi on Monday said there was no change in the leadership in the Indian mission as it issued a statement resisting the attempts for a Taliban-appointed official to take over.

The embassy statement said it rejected the claims from an individual claiming to have taken charge or the mission in New Delhi at the behest of the Taliban and alleged that the aforesaid person has been responsible for spreading misinformation.

The statement comes after the Talibans foreign ministry issued a letter directing another official in the embassy Mohammad Qadir Shah to take over the charge of the embassy in New Delhi.

The individual who claims to have been named charge daffaires by the Taliban has been responsible for spreading misinformation and running a baseless and unsubstantiated campaign against officials of the mission, including totally fabricated allegations of corruption based on an unsigned letter, the statement said.

The Embassy appreciates the consistent position of the Indian government for supporting the interests of the Afghan people, while at the same time not recognizing the Taliban regime in Kabul, as it has been the case with democratic governments around the world, it added.

The Embassy statement also said that the mission continues to function as normal and working for their interests in India.

The Taliban regime decided to recall Afghan Ambassador Farid Mamundzay and appoint the current Trade Counsellor Qadir Shah as the Charge D Affaires (Acting Ambassador) in his place.

The tussle between the two became public after Afghan media outlets published a letter from Afghans based in India accusing the existing Ambassador and other officials of corruption, according to The Hindu.

Mamundzay issued a statement calling the allegations one-sided, biased and untruthful.

Sources told CNN-News18 that the Taliban regime has written to Afghan mission dismissing Afghan diplomats in Delhi 14 times in less than two years.

Earlier in April, Taliban wrote a letter dismissing Afghan Ambassador to New Delhi Farid Mamundzay for the 15th time. The new Ambassador Qadir Shah came to embassy in March 2020 and was working in the post of trade councillor.

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Qadir has written letter to Ministry of External Affairs amid Farids absence claiming he is the Taliban representative. However, the Afghan Embassy hopes Qadir Shahs visa will be cancelled and he will be sent back, sources said.

(With Inputs from Shailendra Wangu)
Amid the ongoing rift between the judiciary and the executive, Pakistans National Assembly on Monday approved a resolution to file a judicial reference against Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial over alleged misconduct.

The Pakistan government will form a five-member parliamentary committee to prepare and file reference against the Supreme Court judges, sources told CNN-News18.

The reference to the President will be sent by National Assembly Speaker, they added. A legal team of the government is working on the issue.

The resolution comes amid differences over the Pakistan government and the countrys Supreme Court. The Pakistans ruling coalition on Monday staged a demonstration outside the Supreme Court to protest against the recent rulings of the judiciary where they allegedly provided blanket relief to former prime minister Imran Khan in a number of cases.

The Shehbaz Sharif government will file a reference in National Assembly by a resolution, sources added.

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Last month, a reference was filed against the Chief Justice in the Supreme Judicial Council by a local lawyer Raja Sabatin Khan stating that the Chief Justice had been found guilty of misconduct and should be immediately removed from office.

The complaint against the CJP was filed on the basis of the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa elections case.
The Lahore High Court on Monday granted bail to Bushra Bibi, the wife of Pakistan former Prime Minister Imran Khan, in the Al-Qadir Trust case till May 23.

The LHC granted pre-arrest bail to Bushra Bibi till May 23 in the Al-Qadir Trust case. The court, however, fixed Khans bail plea for Tuesday in the terrorism cases registered against him after May 9 violence. The LHC Registrars Office has raised an objection for not attaching the arrested copies of Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court orders," a court official told PTI.

The former first lady appeared before the LHC for the first time seeking pre-arrest bail in the Al-Qadir Trust case.

Pakistans former prime minister Imran Khan appeared before the Lahore High Court on Monday, which fixed his bail hearing on Tuesday in the terrorism cases registered against him following his arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case that sparked violent protests by his supporters.

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Here are the latest developments from the ongoing political unrest in Pakistan:
Vice, the brash media company that once threatened to upend the traditional news industry, has filed for bankruptcy.

While bankruptcy wont upend Vices daily operations, the company has already slashed its budget, going through multiple layoffs and closing its Vice World News division. A sale process will follow, and the leading buyers are a group of Vices lenders.

That group of lenders includes Fortress Investment Group and Soros Fund Management, according to The New York Times. The lenders have secured a $20 million loan to continue operating Vice, and put up $225 million to acquire the now-flailing organization.

Earlier this month, the NYT reported that Vice was nearing bankruptcy.

Once valued at an eye-popping $5.7 billion, Vice attracted investments from media conglomerates such as Disney and Fox. But none of Vices investors will make any profit from the sale. As a result, the NYT is calling Vice one of the most notable bad bets in the media industry.

Thats definitely not the distinction that co-founder Shane Smith imagined when he launched Vice, or when the company captured hoards of millennials with its gonzo journalism and on-the-spot reporting from far-flung and dangerous outposts such as North Korea and Liberia.

Though Vice garnered attention and eyeballs, profit didnt follow. Like other digital media companies, Vice counted on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to drive traffic, and in turn, drive ad revenue. But that didnt happen, as the bulk of digital ad dollars went to tech platforms, and not publications.

Vice is far from the only former media darling from the mid-aughts and 2010s to encounter hard times. Last month, BuzzFeed laid off 15% of its staff and shuttered its Pulitzer Prize-winning news division.

[The New York Times]
Texas Republican governor Greg Abbott lashed out at Dominion Voting Systems last weekend, accusing the voting software company of orchestrating the departure of Tucker Carlson from Fox News.

We may disagree with others positions, but we should never try to improperly silence views contrary to our own, Abbott said in a tweet. If Dominion wants to do business with Texas in the future, they should first answer questions about what role, if any, they played in silencing a prominent conservative journalist, the Texas governor further added.

Following the departure of Tucker Carlson from Fox News, a report has been making rounds that Carlson was fired from Fox News as part of its settlement with the voting software company.

Dominion sued Fox News for its coverage of former President Trump and his allies claims that the 2020 election was stolen. Fox News paid Dominion Voting Systems over $780 million and settled the defamation lawsuit.

A report by news outlet Axios said that a member of the networks board of directors told Carlson that he was taken off air as part of the Fox News settlement with Dominion. Abbott said if the report is true then he is happy that Dominion does not operate in Texas.

Fox News told Axios that the rumours of Carlson being let go as part of a settlement between both entities was categorically false. Dominions legal team also said that it did not insist on Carlson being fired.

The Hill also said that Carlson was not part of the settlement and the claims being made are false.

Carlsons decision to quit the network came shortly after the settlement. When he quit, he was hosting the popular primetime cable news show in the US.

Fox News insists on paying Tucker Carlson until the start of 2025 as part of his contract. The contract bars him from launching another show as it contains a non compete provision.

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Tucker Carlson announced last week that he wants to move his show to Twitter and released a video on the social media platform. The video has garnered over 128 million views.

(with inputs from the Hill)
Vice Media Group filed for bankruptcy in the US and will be sold to a group of its lenders, the BBC said in a report. Vice Media Group is the company behind websites Vice and Motherboard and also ran programmes like Vice News Tonight, Hamiltons Pharmacopeia and VICE Debates.

The media group which was once valued at $6 billion could now be taken over for $225m, the BBC said. The digital media outlet whose main focus has been the youth said that operations will continue during the bankruptcy process.

Vice said that it expects to emerge as a financially healthy and stronger company in two to three months.

Vice was launched in 1994 as a fringe magazine called Voice of Montreal by Shane Smith, Gavin McInnes and Suroosh Alvi. It now operates in more than 30 nations. The content, which is targeted towards young people, covers a range of mediums including print, events, music, online platforms, TV and feature films.

Fortress Investment Group, Monroe Capital, and Soros Fund Management - which was founded by billionaire fund manager George Soros - are among the investors of Vice Media Group.

Vice Media received approval of $20m funding by its lenders to sustain operations during bankruptcy proceedings.

The company can receive better bids from other firms during this period, and if none prevail, the lenders will purchase Vice Media for $225m.

Vices revenues were lower than expected for the past few years and it struggled to turn a profit. The media groups plan to go public through a merger also failed, the BBC said.

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The media group announced layoffs in April after its flagship TV programme was shut down

Amid financial challenges and a decline in advertising revenue, another youth-focused news media group, BuzzFeed also announced the closure of its news division and laid off 15% of its workforce.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday claimed a clear lead" over his rival as votes were still being counted, but said he was ready for a runoff election if needed.

We dont know yet whether the election will be over in the first round, but if people take us to a second round, we will respect that too," Erdogan told his supporters, adding that his ruling conservative alliance had won a majority" in parliament.

Erdogans remarks came as Turkeys Supreme Election Council chairman Ahmet Yener stated that over 91.93% of the votes have been tallied, BBC reported.

Preliminary figures show Erdogan leading with 49.49% of the vote, followed by opposition figure Kemal Kilicdaroglu at 44.79%.

Regarding a potential second round, Yener explained that the counting process is still ongoing and no official decision has been made yet.

With these figures, the likelihood of a run-off election has significantly increased, considering that many remaining votes come from opposition strongholds. Additionally, Erdogans party has requested recounts for numerous ballot boxes.

While Kilicdaroglus numbers are rising, they remain several points behind Erdogans.

Opposition leaders accused the government of intentionally slowing down the vote count in districts where Kilicdaroglu enjoyed strong support.

Istanbuls Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu revealed that the oppositions internal tally indicated Kilicdaroglu had secured 49% of the vote, while Erdogan had 45%.

However, both the official state media count and the oppositions count leave open the possibility of another presidential vote on May 28. The election has become a referendum on Turkeys long-serving leader and his party, with a turnout expected to reach 90%.

Kilicdaroglus emergence, along with his six-party opposition alliance, presents a clear alternative to foreign allies and Turkish voters. A potential runoff in two weeks could provide Erdogan an opportunity to regroup and reshape the debate.

Nonetheless, he would still face challenges from Turkeys severe economic crisis and criticism of his governments response to the February earthquake.

In a run-up to the elections, Kilicdaroglu has emphasized the desire for democracy and expressed hope for a brighter future for the country.

Pre-election polls indicated that Kilicdaroglu was likely to win the youth vote by a significant margin.

Some voters expressed discontent over Erdogans focus on military development rather than addressing economic issues affecting their daily lives.

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(With AFP inputs)
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said he is ready for the runoff elections early Monday as the election results showed neither opponent crossing the 50% threshold.

If our nation says second round, we will absolutely win in the second round. The will for change in society is higher than 50 percent, Kilicdaroglu was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.

Neither Tayyip Erdogan nor Kemal Kilicdaroglu received enough votes to win outright in Turkeys presidential election on Sunday, indicating a possible runoff. However, the president performed better than expected in the elections on Sunday.

According to the state-run Anadolu news agency, Erdogan has received 49.25% of the votes, while his rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu secured 45.05%. There are reports of inconsistencies between the information provided by state media and the Supreme Election Council (YSK), according to the Guardian.

Despite all of his lies and attacks, Erdogan did not receive the desired outcome. No one should be enthusiastic about this being a done deal. The election is not won on the balcony, Kilicdaroglu was quoted as saying by the Guardian.

The runoff elections will be held on May 28.

According to the Turkish electoral body, over 91% of the vote has been counted, but there have been significant delays in the counting of overseas ballots due to the increase in the number of overseas voters and parties running in this years election.

Turkey also held elections for parliament along with the presidential elections.

The preliminary results show that Erdogans Peoples Alliance, consisting of the AKP and MHP, is likely to win a majority of seats, with 324 out of 600 seats.

The Nation Alliance, led by Kilicdaroglus CHP, is projected to secure 211 seats, while the pro-Kurdish Green Left partys Labour and Freedom alliance is expected to win 65 seats. These results are based on 93% of votes counted so far.

Sinan Ogan, who received around 5% of the votes in the Turkish presidential election, has claimed that his candidacy affected the election outcome.

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I will speak to the leaders in my alliance, I will go and ask my voters in the coming couple of days. And then we will make a decision and perform our duty in the next 14 days, Ogan was quoted as saying by the BBC.

Ogan whose exclusion from the presidential race is likely as Turkey heads towards a runoff polls means that his endorsement of one of the remaining candidates could have a significant impact on the outcome of Turkish presidential elections.
Stacker took a deep dive into the histories of some game-changing shoes to see why the world continues to obsess over these sneaks.
Did anyone have information about an armed bank robbery to which police in Golden Valley, Minnesota, failed to respond? In a surprising development, a bank robbery that was reported in March this year at a Golden Valley Wells Fargo bank in Hennepin County, Minnesota, didn't actually happen the way it was discussed online, reports the Star-Tribune. Though it was reported on the Nextdoor app by a former city council member and went viral as a crime that police didn't respond to, Golden Valley police Chief Virgil Green reviewed calls to his department for the period and found no evidence of a robber passing a note or any unanswered call, prompting Green to issue a public statement rebutting the report and bemoaning its spread throughout the community.

The Star-Tribune reports that the police chief eventually spoke with the ex-council member, Joanie Clausen, and when he asked why Clausen never told him about the incident directly, she indicated she did not trust him or the cityor Golden Valley Mayor Shep Harris, with whom Clausen has clashed politically over racial equity programs. Still, Clausen hadn't made the robbery up so much as fallen into a game of telephone, where the retelling of an event grows more elaborate as it passes from person to person. After a conversation with Clausen, Chief Green went to the Wells Fargo manager, who described a man entering his branch and passing a note to a teller, then leaving. The teller did activate the panic button and Hennepin County (not Golden Valley police) sheriff's deputies came. Ultimately, the bank was briefly closed as the deputies worked the scene and then reopened a short time later.

In an online Hennepin County report, the incident was labeled an "attempted robbery" with the simple description, "MALE SUSP WROTE NOTE WALKED OUT, NO WEAPONS SEEN IMPLIED." Green told the Star-Tribune that if the event had risen "to a level where it was an actual attempted bank robbery, we would have notified the public." Clausen is reportedly still concerned that the event has been obscured, and Green said it did reflect poor communication between city and county departments, since Hennepin County did not bother to inform Golden Valley leadership what happenedand Golden Valley authorities didn't pay attention to Hennepin County deputies' reports. Still, Mayor Harris insists the "bottom line" is that Golden Valley is not some hotbed of unanswered crime but "a safe place." (Read more bank robbery stories.)
Dennis DeLaittre said he was at his house in Three Forks in the late afternoon of Dec. 1, 2010, when he heard the gunshots that killed his son, Montana Highway Patrol Trooper David DeLaittre.

David was killed during a shootout outside his hometown in the line of duty at the age of 23.

"The location of the incident was marked with flowers, flickering candles and a small Christmas tree, its branches decorated with ornaments covered in written sentiments about the fallen officer," the Independent Record reported in an article on the funeral service published Dec. 7, 2010.

"On Dec. 1, 2010, I saw firsthand the dangers of law enforcement," Dennis DeLaittre said Monday in the Capitol Rotunda to about two dozen people gathered to honor the memory of Montana's law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

Dennis, a former police officer, Montana Highway patrol trooper and fourth-generation law enforcement officer, told the attendees that a few months after his son's tragic death, he became resolved "to honor and never forget our fallen Montana officers."

He has since built Trooper David DeLaittre Memorial Park, a more than 3-acre park dedicated to the brave members of law enforcement who died in the line of duty.

He said it has a patrol car on a raised platform whose blue top lights continuously flash.

Missoula County Undersheriff James Thompson died of heat stroke while pursing a jail escapee on horseback on July 1, 1878. He rode more than 60 miles on a 100-degree day in pursuit of the fugitive.

Since Thompson, 146 other Montana law enforcement officers have lost their lives in service to their communities.

All 147 names and the agency each was associated with were read aloud in the rotunda.

A bugler bellowed a rendition of "Taps" from a second-floor balcony.

"Law enforcement officers face difficult and dangerous challenges that most of us will never encounter and can't even imagine," Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said during the event. "They make the brave decision to wear the badge and put on the uniform every day not knowing what danger lies ahead or if they're going to make it home to their families at the end of the day."
UPDATE

May 15, 2023 6:01 AM CDT

It looks like citizens of Turkey are going to have to return to the polls in two weeks. With 99.4% of votes counted Monday, neither President President Recep Tayyip Erdogan nor challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu had the necessary 50% to avert a May 28 runoff, reports the AP. Erdogan had 49%, Kilicdaroglu 45%, and a third candidate 5.2%. The stakes? "Kilicdaroglu has promised to revive Turkish democracy as well as relations with its NATO allies," per the BBC. Erdogan, meanwhile, has ruled in an increasingly authoritarian manner for 20 years. He also has worried the West by remaining close with the Kremlin in the wake of the Ukraine invasion, per the New York Times.

May 14, 2023 5:20 PM CDT

In a tense election being watched by nations all over the worldpartly because of its implications for Russia's invasion of Ukrainethe count for Turkey's incumbent president fell below 50% late Sunday night. The Anadolu state-run news agency reported his challenger running at 44%. If neither receives a majority, Kemal Kilicdaroglu and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will compete in a runoff election in two weeks, the New York Times reports. The Anka news agency, which generally leans toward the opposition, had Erdogan at 49% and Kilicdaroglu at 45% with 95% of ballot boxes counted, per the AP.

The nation's election board said it was giving the count to political parties right away but wouldn't make numbers public until they're final. Polls had shown Erdogan was headed for a close reelection fight, for reasons including discontent over the state of Turkey's economy and concerns that he's steering the nation toward one-man rule. Kilicdaroglu, a coalition candidate, had a slight lead in polls. While the votes were being counted Sunday, per the Times, Erdogan told his supporters on Twitter to "not to leave the polling stations, no matter what, until the results are finalized." Kilicdaroglu posted a similar tweet: "Our ballot observers and officials at the local election boards should never leave their places. We will not sleep tonight, my people." (Read more Turkey stories.)
China sentenced a 78-year-old United States citizen to life in prison Monday on spying charges, the AP reports. John Shing-Wan Leung, who holds permanent residency in Hong Kong, was detained April 15, 2021, by the counterintelligence agency in the southeastern city of Suzhou. The citys intermediate court announced Leungs sentence in a brief statement on its social media site but gave no details of the charges. Such investigations and trials are held behind closed doors and little or no information is made public.

Relations between Washington and Beijing have hit a historical low amid disputes over trade, technology, human rights and Chinas increasingly aggressive approach toward its territorial claims. The sentencing comes as US President Joe Biden is traveling to Hiroshima, Japan, for the Group of Seven major industrial nations summit, followed by a visit to Papua New Guinea, a Pacific island nation in a region where China has sought to increase its economic, military and diplomatic influence.

While the Suzhou court offered no indication of a tie to overall China-US relations, spying charges are highly selective and evidence backing them up is not released. That is standard practice among most countries, who wish to secure their personal connections, networks and access to information. However, Chinas authoritarian political system and the ruling Communist Partys absolute control over legal matters, civil society and freedom of information forestalls demands for further information, as well as court appeals.

(Read more China stories.)
The Philadelphia Inquirer experienced the most significant disruption to its operations in 27 years due to what the newspaper calls a cyberattack, the AP reports. The company was working to restore print operations after a cyber incursion that prevented the printing of the newspaper's Sunday print edition, the Inquirer reported on its website. The news operation's website was still operational Sunday, although updates were slower than normal, the Inquirer reported. Inquirer publisher Lisa Hughes said Sunday we are currently unable to provide an exact time line for full restoration of the paper's systems.

We appreciate everyones patience and understanding as we work to fully restore systems and complete this investigation as soon as possible, Hughes said in an email responding to questions from the paper's newsroom. The attack was first detected when employees on Saturday morning found the newspaper's content-management system was not working. The Inquirer discovered anomalous activity on select computer systems and immediately took those systems off-line, Hughes said. The cyberattack has caused the largest disruption to publication of Pennsylvanias largest news organization since a massive blizzard in January 1996, the Inquirer reported.

The cyberattack precedes a mayoral primary election scheduled for Tuesday. Hughes said the operational disruption would not affect news coverage of the election, although journalists would be unable to use the newsroom on election night. Hughes said other Inquirer employees will not be allowed to use offices through at least Tuesday, and the company was looking into coworking arrangements for Tuesday, the Inquirer reported. An investigation was ongoing into the extent and specific targets of the attack, and the company has contacted the FBI, Hughes said.

(Read more cyberattack stories.)
What's been billed as an "unparalleled collection of jewelry" and a "collector's dream" has now fetched an unparalleled price. A sale series featuring more than 700 gems of the late Austrian billionaire Heidi Hortena collection described by Christie's as holding everything from "showstopping diamonds, rubies, and jade to outstanding pieces from masters of a generation," including Bulgari, Harry Winston, and Tiffanysold at auction last week in Geneva for $196 million. Per CNN, that price tag for a private jewelry collection far surpasses the one set by actor Elizabeth Taylor's collection in 2011, which went for $116 million.

But although proceeds from the sale are set to be funneled to various charitable and philanthropic causes, including medical research, child welfare, and Holocaust education, the controversy behind the collection has raised the ire of multiple Jewish organizations. Horten inherited billions from her husband, Helmut Horten, who died in 1987and who critics say amassed his fortune by building a department store empire after helping to squeeze Jews out of business in Nazi Germany. "The auction should be put on hold until a serious effort is made to determine what portion of this wealth came from Nazi victims," the American Jewish Committee wrote before the sale. The Jewish human rights group Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Holocaust Educational Trust similarly blasted the auction.

Max Fawcett, who heads Christie's jewelry department in Geneva, defends the "carefully considered" sale. "We cannot erase history, but hopefully the money from this sale will go to do good in the future," he says, per the AP. Although the Horten collection overall had been expected to bring in $150 million, not every piece exceeded sales expectations. For example, a "pigeon blood"-colored ruby and diamond Cartier ring that Christie's thought would go for $20 million only brought in $14.5 million. Still, the assemblage is said to be "the collection of a lifetime." "From Bulgari to Van Cleef & Arpels, from a small personal memory piece to the Briolette of India, this is a collector's dream," Rahul Kadakia, Christie's international head of jewelry, said in a pre-auction release. Last week's two-day sale will be capped off by an online auction on Monday, as well as another online auction in November. (Read more jewelry stories.)
Axios points out that former President Trump became increasingly aggressive as last week's town hall on CNN progressed, and the outlet thinks it knows why. Mike Allen reports that aide Jason Miller showed Trump real-time tweets from angry critics at the first commercial break, and it apparently inspired Trump to go back out even more fired up for round two. "He was the leader of the free world again," one insider tells Axios. The tweets he saw included those from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (here) and the Lincoln Project (here) slamming CNN for giving Trump such a forum.

Another dig: Trump, meanwhile, took another shot Sunday night at Kaitlan Collins of CNN, who moderated the town hall, notes the Daily Beast. Nobody "had any problems with what (CNN CEO Chris Licht) wanted to do until after the show started, when they quickly realized that Ms. Collins was not exactly Barbara Walters, or even close," the former president wrote on Truth Social. He slammed AOC as "neurotic" in the same post.

Trump, meanwhile, took another shot Sunday night at Kaitlan Collins of CNN, who moderated the town hall, notes the Daily Beast. Nobody "had any problems with what (CNN CEO Chris Licht) wanted to do until after the show started, when they quickly realized that Ms. Collins was not exactly Barbara Walters, or even close," the former president wrote on Truth Social. He slammed AOC as "neurotic" in the same post. Another rival? CNN reports that Rick Perry is hinting at a run for the GOP nomination against Trump. The former Texas governor and Trump energy secretary passed up a chance to endorse Trump in an interview and said of his own possible candidacy: "It certainly is something that I haven't taken off the table."

(Read more Donald Trump stories.)
A passenger walks up to an airport security checkpoint, slips an ID card into a slot, and looks into a camera atop a small screen. The screen flashes "Photo Complete," and the person walks throughall without having to hand over their identification to the Transportation Security Administration officer sitting behind the screen. It's all part of a pilot project by the TSA to assess the use of facial recognition technology at a number of airports across the country, per the AP. "What we are trying to do with this is aid the officers to actually determine that you are who you say you are," says Jason Lim, identity management capability manager for the TSA, during a recent demo of the technology for reporters at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

The technology is currently in 16 airports. In addition to Baltimore, it's being used at Reagan National near Washington, DC, as well as at airports in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Jose, and Gulfport-Biloxi and Jackson in Mississippi. However, it's not at every TSA checkpoint, so not every traveler going through those airports would necessarily experience it. The effort comes at a time when the use of various forms of technology to enhance security and streamline procedures is only increasing. TSA says the pilot is voluntary and accurate, but critics have raised concerns about questions of bias in facial recognition technology and possible repercussions for passengers who want to opt out.

Travelers put their driver's license into a slot that reads the card or place their passport photo against a card reader. Next, they look at a camera on a screen about the size of an iPad, which captures their image and compares it to their ID. The technology is both checking to make sure the people at the airport match the ID they present and that the identification is, in fact, real. A TSA officer is still there and signs off on the screening. A small sign alerts travelers that their photo will be taken as part of the pilot and that they can opt out if they'd like. It also includes a QR code for them to get more information. Since it's come out, the pilot has come under scrutiny by some elected officials and privacy advocates. In a February letter to TSA, five senatorsfour Democrats and an independent who's part of the Democratic caucusdemanded the agency stop the program.

Lim, however, said the images aren't being compiled into a database, and that photos and IDs are deleted. Since this is an assessment, in limited circumstances some data is collected and shared with the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate. TSA says that data is deleted after 24 months. Lim said the camera only turns on when a person puts in their ID card, so it's not randomly gathering images of people at the airport. That also gives passengers control over whether they want to use it, he says. "We take these privacy concerns and civil rights concerns very seriously, because we touch so many people every day," he noted. Retired TSA official Keith Jeffries acknowledges the privacy concerns, but says in many ways the use of biometrics is already deeply embedded in society through the use of privately owned tech. "Technology is here to stay," he says.

(Read more airport security stories.)
It's been a hot one in the Pacific Northwest over the past few days, and it looks like residents there will have to endure the extreme weather for at least a little longer. The New York Times reports that upward of 12 million people are sweating it out under a current heat advisory, with temps in Oregon and Washington state spiking to more than 20 degrees Fahrenheit above average over the weekend, and possibly up to "30 degrees above average ... throughout this week." At least four cities in the Seattle area saw records broken Saturdayfor instance, Quillayute topped out at 90 degrees, smashing the 80-degree high for that day set nearly 50 years ago.

KOMO notes that Seattle doesn't typically hit 90 degrees until early July. Portland, meanwhile, hit 93 degrees on Saturday, a degree higher than its record set in 1973. Heat advisories in the region are set to last at least until Monday evening. The National Weather Service is warning of the risk of heat-related illness, especially for individuals who don't hydrate properly or have ways to cool down. Cooling centers have opened up throughout the Seattle area for respite, and bus drivers in Washington's King County have been directed to let people ride the bus for free if they need to cool off.

Meanwhile, in Portland, officials are encouraging locals to head to community swimming pools and fountains, or to free venues where there's AC, such as libraries. Sunscreen and bottles of water are also being distributed in the city. "We decided to stop by ... until we all feel better," one Portland mom of three who took her kids to a fountain downtown on Friday told the AP. One warning that the NWS is putting out there as residents take dips in local waters to stay cool: River temperatures are still only in the low to mid-40s. (Read more Pacific Northwest stories.)
After Cash App founder Bob Lee was stabbed to death in San Francisco last month, police arrested 38-year-old Nima Momemi, who was allegedly upset over Lee's relationship with Momemi's sister. Now the Wall Street Journal reports on another apparent factor: Lee's participation in what's known as "The Lifestyle," which the newspaper describes as the underground party scene within San Francisco's wealthy tech community that emphasizes recreational drug use and casual sex. Both Lee and Momeni's sister hung with that crowd, and Lee had told friends the two were having a casual physical relationship, according to the newspaper. For the record, Lee's wifethey were separated but remained closedisputes this "party boy" description of Lee.

But multiple other people say it's true in the wide-ranging Journal story, which digs into the late-night stabbing of Lee, his business background, and what's known about the suspect. But in regard to "The Lifestyle": The story explains that to some, the term "is narrowly focused to describe people who might engage in various sexual activities with different partners," while in San Francisco, "it is used more loosely to describe an underground party scene that has evolved since the city's early days as an incubator of the countercultural movement." Lee friend Harper Reed of General Galactic Corp. puts it this way: "It started with the hippies, who were not sober people, trying to expand their brains, and the tech people came in and gentrified it like they did everything else." (Read the full story.)
For anyone who has ever carped about "kids these days," CTV News brings you the story of Lisa Armstrong, who very much works with kids, of the teenager varietyand just gave birth to one, of the premature variety. Where the rubber meets the road: Armstrong works at the A&W restaurant in Mill Bay, British Columbia, where she says both the "guests and staff are like family." So when she got pregnant, her teenage co-workers were pretty happy for the woman they consider "like a mom." Armstrong was stressed by the impending arrival, because she could only afford two weeks of maternity leave. [Employment Insurance] only gives you 55% of your income and I cant go without my full income, she says. So Im going to use my two weeks paid vacation and then come back to work after that," is what she thought.

That plan derailed when baby Declan came three and a half weeks early, weighing in at just under 5 pounds and needing an incubator. So Armstrong's manager invited her out for a meal, but had to drop by the shop for "renovation issues." "Renovation issues" translated to surprise baby shower, and Armstrong's teenage co-workerseight of them, ranging in age from 15 to 17gave her an envelope with a pretty big gift. Stuffed with cash, meant to extend her maternity leave an extra two weeks, and from the kids' own earnings. "It was $1,011.50 in there. It was almost my full paycheck in there, Armstrong says. They didnt want me to worry. They wanted me take more time off. She continues: You cant say thank you enough. I was blown away by the love I got from them. (Read more uplifting news stories.)
The chief of the Wagner Group told Ukrainian officials earlier this year that he would give Kyiv information on Russian troop positions in return for Ukrainian forces withdrawing from the Bakhmut area, the Washington Post reports, citing what it says are previously unreported intelligence files leaked on Discord. The proposal, which would have given the mercenary group a victory to claim while making it easier for Ukraine to attack regular Russian forces, was sent from Yevgeniy Prigozhin to his contacts in Ukrainian military intelligence, the Post reports.

Sources tell the Post that Ukrainian authorities rejected Prigozhin's proposals in January, doubting his motives and his trustworthiness. Wagner has taken extremely heavy casualties in the long fight for Bakhmut, and Prigozhin has often criticized Russian military leadership. Earlier this month, he threatened to pull his forces out of Bakhmut because the "scum" leading the military weren't sending enough ammunition. In other leaked documents, Russian defense officials discussed how to respond to Prigozhin's remarks, "which they apparently conceded were not illegitimate grievances," the Post reports.

In a message on Telegram, Prigozhin called the report "nonsense" and suggested Russian elites were targeting him, Reuters reports. The Kremlin also rejected the report, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying it "looks like the latest hoax." (The leaks also show that Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelensky is surprisingly aggressive with military strategy.)
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP)  Biden administration officials on Monday sought to dispel worries they want to exclude oil drilling, livestock grazing and other activities from vast government-owned lands, as they faced pushback from Republicans and ranchers and over a contentious proposal to put conservation on equal footing with industry.

The proposal would allow conservationists and others to lease federally owned land to restore it, much the same way oil companies buy leases to drill and ranchers pay to graze cattle. Leases also could be bought on behalf of companies such as oil drillers who want to offset damage to public land by restoring acreage elsewhere.

But more than a century after the U.S. started selling grazing permits and oil and gas leases, the proposal is stirring debate over the best use of public land, primarily in the West. Opponents including Republican lawmakers and agriculture industry representatives are blasting it as a backdoor way to exclude mining, energy development and agriculture.

Tracy Stone-Manning, director of the Bureau of Land Management, told The Associated the proposed changes address rising pressure from climate change and development. She said it would make conservation an equal to grazing, drilling and other uses while not interfering with them.

The bureau has a history of industry-friendly policies for the 380,000 square miles it oversees, an area more than twice the size of California. It also regulates publicly owned underground minerals, including oil, coal and lithium for renewable energy across more than 1 million square miles.

Those holdings put the agency at the center of arguments over how much development should be allowed.

Senior bureau officials on Monday night hosted the first virtual public meeting about the conservation proposal. There was no opportunity for public comment, and questions for officials were screened by the agency. But officials acknowledged receiving numerous queries about grazing and drilling potentially being excluded.

Brian St. George, acting assistant director for the bureau, said the conservation leases would not lock up land in perpetuity.

It would have a term, and when that restoration goal is met, the term would lapse, he said.

U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican who tried to block Stone-Mannings 2021 Senate confirmation, says the proposed rule is illegal.

Earlier this month he berated Interior Secretary Deb Haaland over it during an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, saying she was giving radicals a new tool to shut out the public.

The secretary wants to make non-use a use, said Barrasso, the ranking Republican on the committee. She is ... turning federal law on its head.

Barrasso and 13 other senators including North Dakota Republicans John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer sent a letter to BLM pressing the agency to withdraw the proposed rule. BLM manages nearly 58,000 acres of public land in North Dakota, mostly in Dunn and Bowman counties, and manages thousands of federal oil and gas leases.

Stone-Manning told the AP that critics were misreading the rule, and that conservation leases would not usurp existing ones. If grazing is now permitted on a parcel, it could continue. And people could still hunt on the leased property or use it for recreation, she said.

It makes conservation an equal among the multiple uses that we manage for, Stone-Manning said. There are rules around how we do solar development. There are rules around how we do oil and gas. There have not been rules around how we deliver on the portions of (federal law) that say, Manage for fish and wildlife habitat, manage for clean water.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada  where the federal land bureau controls about two thirds of the land  urged the administration to work with ranchers and farmers before finalizing the proposal, which the National Cattlemen's Beef Association said would upend land management in the West.

While the bureau previously issued leases for conservation in limited cases, it has never had a dedicated program for it.

Former President Donald Trump tried to ramp up fossil fuel development on bureau lands, but President Joe Biden suspended new oil and gas leasing when he entered office. Biden later revived the deals to win West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin's support for last year's climate law.

Biden remains under intense pressure from Manchin and many Republicans to allow more drilling. Such companies currently hold leases across some 37,500 square miles of bureau land.

The pending rule also would promote establishing more areas of critical environmental concern due to their historic or cultural significance, or their importance for wildlife conservation. More than 1,000 such sites covering about 33,000 square miles have been designated previously.

By comparison, about 242,000 square miles of bureau land are open to grazing livestock.

Environmentalists have largely embraced the changes, characterizing the proposal as long overdue.

Joel Webster with the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, a coalition of conservation groups and hunting and fishing organizations, said the administration's plan would set up a process to ensure landscapes are considered for conservation without forcing restrictions.

He cautioned, however, that administration officials must ensure a final rule doesn't have unintended consequences.

Another virtual event is slated for June 5 and public meetings are planned for May 25 in Denver; May 30 in Albuquerque, New Mexico; and June 1 in Reno, Nevada.

This story was first published on May 15, 2023. It was updated on May 16, 2023, to correct the dates of upcoming meetings about the proposal. They are scheduled for May 30 in Albuquerque, New Mexico; and June 1 in Reno, Nevada.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis continued his campaign on Monday against what he views as "woke" ideology in the education system. The governor and presumptive 2024 presidential candidate signed into law a measure that prohibits the state's public colleges and universities from spending money on what are known as DEI initiatives, or diversity, equity, and inclusion, reports the Washington Post. "DEI is better viewed as standing for discrimination, exclusion, and indoctrination," said DeSantis Monday at New College of Florida in Sarasota.

He also banned courses that, in the law's language, "distort significant historical events," teach "identity politics," or are "based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, or privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, or economic inequities," per the Orlando Sentinel. Under the legislation, Florida colleges will have to review courses and majors offered to students and ditch ones that cover what DeSantis deems "niche" areas such as critical race theory. "Florida is getting out of that game," DeSantis said. "If you want to do things like gender ideology, go to Berkeleygo to some of these other places." Some opposing views rounded up in coverage:

"The government has no role in banning or censoring subject matter in higher education," says Andrew Gothard, head of United Faculty Florida, which represents faculty members across the state.

"Its basically state-mandated censorship, which has no place in a democracy," says Irene Mulvey, president of the American Association of University Professors.

"Indoctrination drives the DeSantis agenda not because he is worried educators are indoctrinating students, but because they arent indoctrinating them with HIS ideology," says Democratic state Sen. Shevrin Jones.

(Read more Ron DeSantis stories.)
Police in Farmington, New Mexico, say at least three civilians were killed and two police officers injured in a mass shooting Monday. The Farmington Police Department says the suspect was killed at the scene, the Albuquerque Journal reports. Police said both injured officers, one from the Farmington police and one from New Mexico State Police, are in stable condition with gunshot wounds. All schools in the city of almost 50,000 residents were placed on what officials called "preventative lockdown" after the shooting around 11am local time, the AP reports. "The suspects identity is unknown and there are no other known threats at this time," Farmington police said. (Read more New Mexico stories.)
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While historic changes to North Dakotas corporate farming law grabbed the headlines from the 2023 legislative session, there were many other bills that will have an impact on agriculture, especially livestock production.

Throughout the course of the session  animal ag was amongst the key points that they had zeroed in on, said Julie Ellingson, executive vice president of the North Dakota Stockmens Association.

Two bills she highlighted were related to zoning ordinances that can affect siting of livestock operations and a bill intended to help plan for where livestock operations should be placed in the state.

The session ended April 30. Gov. Doug Burgum signed the top piece of ag legislation, House Bill 1371, which loosens restrictions on corporate farming for livestock operations, on April 28.

Pete Hanebutt of North Dakota Farm Bureau said that the corporate farm bill and other supporting legislation will boost livestock production in a state that is lagging behind its neighbors.

We think we've moved really far forward in expanding animal agriculture in this state and we think it's going to be good for everybody, he said.

State Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said there were 14 bills that affected his department. Other bills will affect farmers indirectly by providing tax relief, incentives for propane storage and providing $87 million for funding ag research facilities at North Dakota State University.

Some of the bills that will impact animal agriculture:

Zoning: House Bill 1423 seeks to develop uniform zoning for animal feeding operations across counties and townships. Some local ordinances have run contrary to state law in the past.

There's clear cut rules, reasonable setbacks that don't unnecessarily impair animal ag development, and at the same time, preserve local control, Ellingson said.

The bill did receive support from the North Dakota Township Officers Association.

Hanebutt noted that Farm Bureau has been successful in litigation against local governments trying to limit animal agriculture, but he hopes this can head off some of those court cases.

Cleaning up some of the problems and loopholes that have been in our local zoning ordinances is a great step forward, he said.

Livestock planning: House Bill 1437 creates regional livestock planning grants that counties can apply for.

The regional livestock planning grants program really provides those counties and townships with foundational information they need to identify their best opportunities, said Matt Perdue of North Dakota Farmers Union.

Livestock friendly: Senate Bill 2373 creates a livestock-friendly county designation and is based on an ordinance in Nebraska.

Milk definition: House Bill 1255 defines milk as coming from a hoofed mammal, as opposed to soy, oats, almonds or some other plant-based source.

Raw milk: House Bill 1515 allows dairy producers to sell raw milk at their farms, despite some resistance from public health officials.

Other ag support

Other bills should be helpful to agriculture in general.

Diversification and infrastructure: House Bill 1276 adds $25 million to the states Agriculture Diversification and Development fund and creates a $10 million grant program to help pay for infrastructure to support agriculture, such as improved roads and bridges.

Ag budget: Senate Bill 2009 is the bill funding the Department of Agriculture, with more money for the Agricultural Products Utilization Commission and the North Dakota Trade Office.

NDSU: House Bill 1020 provides $87 million to replace North Dakota State Universitys Waldron Hall, which has housed agronomy research since 1958. The bill also funds the NDSU Extension Service, Northern Crops Institute and Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, all of which saw increases in funding.

NDSU for decades has provided world class research, but they're not doing it in facilities that really reflect the quality of that research, Perdue said. And so, if we want that history, that tradition, to continue, we have to provide facilities that support that. I think funding that project was critical to the state.

The Waldron Hall replacement funding has an emergency clause, making the money available right away.

Foreign affairs

The plug was finally pulled on the proposed Chinese-owned Fufeng corn milling plant in Grand Forks after months of debate. But the issue spilled over into the Legislature with two bills on foreign investment.

Foreign governments: House Bill 1135 keeps foreign governments from owning agricultural land in North Dakota; Canada is an exception.

Foreign companies: Senate Bill 2371 Limits the ability of counties to do business with companies from countries that are determined to be a foreign adversary. After the scope of the bill was scaled back, a study of the issue was included. The law also is scheduled to expire in 2025 and would need to be reapproved.
Burleigh County prosecutors say a judge relied on hearsay evidence and was wrong to grant a new trial to a Bismarck woman sent to prison in the death last year of her 3-week-old daughter.

Cassandra Black Elk, 27, in a May 2022 agreement with prosecutors pleaded guilty to child neglect amid state allegations that she drank alcohol to a level that impaired her ability to care for the child. She was sentenced to 1  years in prison.

Black Elk argued through her attorney at a January hearing that public defender James Loraas told her to plead guilty before seeing autopsy results and that theyd deal with it later. Autopsy results later showed the infant was normally developed, well-nourished and well-hydrated. The death was listed as unexplained sudden death.

South Central District Judge Daniel Borgen in February vacated the sentence and ordered a new trial.

Black Elk raised two other issues -- a discovery of new evidence and the state's failure to disclose it -- in her argument for a new trial. Borgen after concluding Black Elk received improper legal advice did not address those issues. However, he noted his concerns that prosecutors possibly knew of the likely results of the autopsy and didnt tell Loraas.

Assistant Burleigh County States Attorney David Rappenecker in a written argument to the state Supreme Court said Borgen relied on hearsay because Black Elk didnt call Loraas to testify at the January hearing. He argued further that her testimony showed Loraas professionally handled aspects of the case including answering many phone calls, gathering information, handling the plea negotiations and agreement, and discussing the consequences of a guilty plea with Black Elk.

While the district court assigned some measure of weight to Black Elks testimony regarding the hearsay, it gave no consideration whatsoever to the remainder of her competent and admissible testimony," Rappenecker said. This was error.

Borgen in his ruling noted that prosecutors did not call Loraas to testify at Black Elks hearing, even after the judge informed them Loraas was outside the courtroom on another matter. Rappenecker in his argument to the Supreme Court said the burden to present evidence fell to Black Elk, not the state.

Black Elk's response to the state's argument is due June 4. James Mayer, managing attorney with the Great North Innocence Project in Minneapolis, told the Tribune last week that Black Elk was looking forward to spending Mother's Day with her children "and to putting this nightmare behind her."

"Judge Borgen's decision vacating the conviction is well supported by the facts and the law," Mayer said.

Investigators in February 2022 said they found evidence that Black Elk fought with the babys father, Seth Eagle, a few hours before police were called to the North Second Street apartment. The baby was alive when Eagle left about 1:30 a.m., Black Elk allegedly told police, adding that her daughter was swaddled, asleep and face up on the bed after Eagle left.

Black Elk told police she had drank at least one beer and several shots of liquor, smoked marijuana, then purchased more liquor which she also consumed, according to the affidavit.

She said she did not recall any of the details of the fight because she was intoxicated, and did not remember doing anything that would harm the child, according to the affidavit. The baby was dead when Black Elk awoke about 6 a.m., the document states.
As workshops on how to smile crop up across Japan, it's claimed the nation has 'forgotten how to smile after wearing masks for so long.

'Smile practice seminars' are reportedly growing in popularity after the country eased its mask mandate for the first time this March.

Japan is one of the last counties to ease regulations, with the government now having decided to leave it up to the public if they choose to wear a mask or not.

According to The Mainichi newspaper, around 30 people attended a seminar earlier this month at a senior care centre in Tokyo.

The workshop was designed to help seniors learn to smile again and was organised by a company called 'Egaoiku', which means 'smile education'.

The company reportedly organised these seminars online before the rules were relaxed - but it seems there's been some renewed interest in the seminars.

Between February and April this year, the number of attendees 'grew 4.5 times' compared to the same period in 2022. ...continue reading
ATLANTA (AP)  The Georgia prosecutor who's investigating whether Donald Trump and his allies broke any laws as they tried to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state fought back Monday against the former president's attempt to remove her from the case and exclude certain evidence.

Trump's Georgia legal team in March asked the court to toss out the report of a special grand jury that had been seated in the case and to prevent prosecutors from using any evidence or testimony stemming from the panels investigation. They also asked that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her office be barred from continuing to investigate or prosecute the case.

Willis responded in a filing Monday that the Trump's motion is procedurally flawed and advances arguments that lack merit.

For more than two years now, Willis has been investigating the actions Trump and others took in the wake of the 2020 election. She took the unusual step last year of asking for a special grand jury to aid the investigation, saying the panel's subpoena power would allow her team to compel the testimony of people who might not otherwise cooperate.

The special grand jury, which did not have the power to issue indictments, was seated last May and dissolved in January after hearing from 75 witnesses and submitting a report with recommendations for Willis. Though most of that report remains under wraps for now according to a judge's order, the panel's foreperson has said without naming names that the special grand jury recommended charging multiple people.

Trump lawyers Drew Findling, Jennifer Little and Marissa Goldberg argued that the special grand jury involved a constant lack of clarity as to the law, inconsistent applications of basic constitutional protections for individuals being brought before it, and a prosecutors office that was found to have an actual conflict, yet continued to pursue the investigation.

They also asked that their claims be heard by a judge other than Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, who oversaw the special grand jury.

Cathy Latham, one of 16 Georgia Republicans who met at the state Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020, and signed a certificate declaring falsely that Trump had won the presidential election and declaring themselves the states duly elected and qualified electors, last month joined Trumps motion. It has become clear during the investigation that Willis is interested in the actions of the fake electors, and at least eight of them have secured immunity deals in the case.

In her motion Monday, Willis asked that McBurney retain supervision of the matter and urged that Trump and Latham's motions be dismissed or denied without holding a hearing.

Willis wrote that the arguments put forth in the motions fail to meet the exacting standards" for disqualifying a prosecutor and they also fail to prove their claims that their own due process rights have been violated or that the grand jury process was tainted or the law governing it unconstitutional.

Trump and Latham are not content to follow the ordinary course of the law, Willis wrote.

The State's reply was primarily procedural in nature and failed to address several of the critical substantive issues which were discussed at length in our brief and exhibits, Trump's lawyers said in a statement, adding that they plan to ask the court for time to file a response.

A coalition of news organizations, including The Associated Press, also filed a motion Monday objecting to Trumps request that the special grand jury report be quashed and expunged from the record.

Not only is such a remedy unsupported by any legal basis, it would also be starkly at odds with the fundamental principles of this Nation and State, the media lawyers argued. The Report is a matter of the utmost public concern, and it should be released to the public in its entirety.

Willis last month sent letters to local law enforcement leaders advising them to prepare for heightened security as she intends to announce charging decisions in the case between July 11 and Sept. 1. To secure an indictment, she needs to bring the case before a regular grand jury.

The Georgia investigation is one of several that threatens the former president as he campaigns to regain the White House in 2024. A Manhattan grand jury in March indicted him on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush-money payments to a porn actor during the 2016 presidential election. Meanwhile, federal grand juries in Washington are investigating efforts by Trump and his allies to undo the results of the 2020 presidential election and the potential mishandling of classified documents by Trump at his Florida estate.

And a federal jury in New York last week found Trump liable for sexually abusing advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996, awarding her $5 million.
WASHINGTON (AP)  A special prosecutor found that the FBI rushed into its investigation of ties between Russia and Donald Trump's 2016 campaign and relied too much on raw and unconfirmed intelligence as he concluded a four-year probe that fell far short of the former president's prediction that the crime of the century" would be uncovered.

The report Monday from special counsel John Durham represents the long-awaited culmination of an investigation that Trump and allies had claimed would expose massive wrongdoing by law enforcement and intelligence officials. Instead, Durham's investigation delivered underwhelming results, with prosecutors securing a guilty plea from a little-known FBI employee but losing the only two criminal cases they took to trial.

The roughly 300-page report catalogs what Durham says were a series of missteps by the FBI and Justice Department as investigators undertook a politically explosive probe in the heat of the 2016 election into whether the Trump campaign was colluding with Russia to tip the outcome. It criticized the FBI for opening a full-fledged investigation based on "raw, unanalyzed and uncorroborated intelligence," saying the speed at which it did so was a departure from the norm. And it said investigators repeatedly relied on confirmation bias, ignoring or rationalizing away evidence that undercut their premise of a Trump-Russia conspiracy as they pushed the probe forward.

Based on the review of Crossfire Hurricane and related intelligence activities, we conclude that the Department and the FBI failed to uphold their important mission of strict fidelity to the law in connection with certain events and activities described in this report, the document states.

The impact of Durhams report, though harshly critical of the FBI, is likely blunted by Durhams spotty prosecution record and by the fact that many of the episodes it cites were already examined in depth by th e Justice Departments inspector general. The FBI has also long since announced dozens of corrective actions. The bureau outlined those changes in a letter to Durham on Monday, including steps meant to ensure the accuracy of secretive surveillance applications to eavesdrop on suspected terrorists and spies.

Had those reforms been in place in 2016, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented. This report reinforces the importance of ensuring the FBI continues to do its work with the rigor, objectivity, and professionalism the American people deserve and rightly expect, the FBI said in a statement. It also stressed that the report focused on the FBI's prior leadership, before current Director Christopher Wray took the job in 2017.

Still, Durhams findings are likely to amplify scrutiny of the FBI at a time when Trump is again seeking the White House as well as offer fresh fodder for congressional Republicans who have launched their own investigation into the purported weaponization of the FBI and Justice Department. After the report was released, Republican House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan said he had invited Durham to testify next week.

Trump, on his Truth Social platform, claimed anew that the report showed the crime of the century and referred to the Russia investigation as a Democrat Hoax.

Durham, the former U.S. Attorney in Connecticut, was appointed in 2019 by Trumps attorney general, William Barr, soon after special counsel Robert Mueller had completed his investigation into whether the 2016 Trump campaign had colluded with Russia to tilt the outcome of the election in his favor.

The Mueller investigation resulted in roughly three dozen criminal charges, including convictions of a half-dozen Trump associates, and determined that Russia intervened on the Trump campaigns behalf and that the campaign welcomed the help. But Muellers team did not find that they actually conspired to sway the election, creating an opening for critics of the probe  including Barr himself  to assert that it had been launched without a proper basis.

Revelations over the following months laid bare flaws with the investigation, including errors and omissions in Justice Department applications to eavesdrop on a former Trump campaign aide, Carter Page, as well as the reliance by the FBI on a dossier of uncorroborated or discredited information compiled by an British ex-spy, Christopher Steele.

Durhams team delved deep into those mistakes, finding that investigators opened the investigation hastily, without doing key interviews or a significant review of intelligence databases. The report says the FBI, at the time the investigation was opened, had no information that any Trump campaign officials had been in touch with any Russian intelligence officials.

The original Russia investigation was opened in July 2016 after the FBI learned from an Australian diplomat that a Trump campaign associate named George Papadopoulos had claimed to know of dirt that the Russians had on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the form of emails.

But the report faults the FBI for not having done important legwork before opening the investigation.

It also said the FBI did not corroborate a single substantive allegation in the so-called Steele dossier and ignored or rationalized what it asserts was exculpatory information that Trump associates had provided to FBI confidential informants. That includes, the report said, minimizing the importance of a conversation in which Papadopoulos strenuously denied to the FBI informant that he had any knowledge of ties between the campaign and Russia.

An objective and honest assessment of these strands of information should have caused the FBI to question not only the predication for Crossfire Hurricane, but also to reflect on whether the FBI was being manipulated for political or other purposes, the report said. Unfortunately, it did not. 

Durhams mandate was to scrutinize government decisions, and identify possible misconduct, in the early days of the Trump-Russia probe. His appointment was cheered by Trump, who in a 2019 interview with Fox News said Durham was supposed to be the smartest and the best. He and his supporters hoped it would expose a deep state conspiracy within the top echelons of the FBI and other agencies to derail Trumps presidency and candidacy.

Durham and his team cast a broad net, interviewing top officials at the FBI, Justice Department and CIA in an investigation that ultimately cost more than $6.5 million. In his first year on the job, he traveled with Barr to Italy to meet with government officials as Trump himself asked the Australian prime minister and other leaders to help with the probe.

Weeks before his December 2020 resignation as attorney general, Barr appointed Durham as a Justice Department special counsel to ensure that he would continue his work in a Democratic administration.

The slow pace of the probe irked Trump, who berated Barr before he left office about the whereabouts of the report. By the end of the Trump administration, only one criminal case had been brought, while the abrupt departure of Durhams top deputy in the final months of Trumps tenure raised questions about whether the team was in sync.

Despite expectations that Durham might charge senior government officials, his team produced only three prosecutions. A former FBI lawyer pleaded guilty to altering an email the FBI relied on in applying to eavesdrop on an ex-Trump campaign aide. Two other defendants  a lawyer for the Clinton campaign and a Russian-American analyst  were both acquitted on charges of lying to the FBI.

_____

Follow Eric Tucker at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
Shawn Johnston, 31, of Grand Forks, went missing after leaving the Lake Region Reentry Center in Devils Lake about 1 a.m. Monday, according to the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Authorities asked for the public's help in finding him.
LISBON  Firefighters found a dead body when they put out a car fire early Monday, state police said.

Detectives with the Connecticut State Police have been called to Target, 195 River Road, where they are investigating the person's death.

Police were first called to help the local fire marshal at the scene of what was reported to be a vehicle fire about 12:50 a.m., state police said.

We have just received an update that this has been re-categorized as an untimely death investigation, a representative of the Media Relations office said about 6:40 a.m.

No other information was available early Monday.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN  Shots were fired outside Yale New Haven Hospital Monday afternoon, according to local officials.

The shooting occurred around 3:30 p.m. near the ambulance bay at the intersection of York Street and Howard Avenue, Rick Fontana, director of emergency operations for New Haven, said, ambulances were diverted as a precaution. ShotSpotter did not activate, Fontana said.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  An investigation into the origins of the FBI's probe into ties between Russia and Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign has finally been concluded, with prosecutor John Durham submitting a much-awaited report that found major flaws.

The report, the culmination of a four-year investigation into possible misconduct by U.S. government officials, contained withering criticism of the FBI but few significant revelations. Nonetheless, it will give fodder to Trump supporters who have long denounced the Russia investigation. Meanwhile Trump opponents will likely point to the Durham team's meager court record  one guilty plea and two acquittals at trial  as proof that the probe was a politically motivated farce.

A look at the investigation and the report:

WHO IS JOHN DURHAM?

Durham has spent decades as a Justice Department prosecutor, with past assignments including investigations into the FBI's cozy relationship with mobsters in Boston and the CIA's destruction of videotapes of its harsh interrogations of terrorism subjects.

He was appointed in 2019 to investigate potential misconduct by U.S. government officials as they examined Russian election interference in 2016 and whether there was any illegal coordination between the Kremlin and Trump's presidential campaign.

Despite skimpy results  one guilty plea and two acquittals  that failed to live up to Trump's expectations, Durham was able to continue his work well into the Biden administration, thanks in part to William Barr appointing Durham as a Justice Department special counsel shortly before Barr's 2020 resignation as attorney general.

WHY DID THE TRUMP JUSTICE DEPARTMENT THINK SUCH AN APPOINTMENT WAS NECESSARY?

The appointment came weeks after a different special counsel, Robert Mueller, wrapped up his investigation of possible connections between Russia and the Trump campaign. That probe produced more than two dozen criminal cases, including against a half-dozen Trump associates.

Though it did not charge any Trump aide with working with Russia to tip the election, it did find that Russia interfered on Trump's behalf and that the campaign welcomed, rather than discouraged, the help.

From the start, Barr was deeply skeptical of the investigation's foundation, telling Congress that spying did occur on the campaign.

He enlisted an outside prosecutor to hunt for potential misconduct at the government agencies who were involved in collecting intelligence and conducting the investigation, even flying with Durham to Italy to meet with officials there as part of the probe.

WERE THERE PROBLEMS WITH THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATION?

Yes, and a Justice Department inspector general inquiry already identified many.

The watchdog report found that FBI applications for warrants to eavesdrop on a former Trump campaign aide, Carter Page, contained significant errors and omitted information that would likely have weakened or undermined the premise of the application.

The cumulative effect of those errors, the report said, was to make it appear that the information supporting probable cause was stronger than was actually the case.

Still, the inspector general did not find evidence that investigators acted with political bias and said there was a legitimate basis to open a full investigation into potential collusion, though Durham has disagreed.

WHAT CRIMINAL CASES DID HE BRING AND WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME?

Durham brought three prosecutions during his tenure, but only one resulted in a conviction  and that was for a case referred to him by the Justice Department inspector general. None of the three undid core findings by Mueller that Russia had interfered with the 2016 election in sweeping fashion.

A former FBI lawyer, Kevin Clinesmith, pleaded guilty in 2020 to altering an email related to the surveillance of ex-Trump campaign aide. He was given probation.

But two other cases, both involving alleged false statements to the FBI, resulted in acquittals by jury.

Michael Sussmann, a lawyer for the Hillary Clinton campaign, was found not guilty of lying to the FBI during a meeting in which he presented computer data information that he wanted the FBI to investigate. A different jury acquitted Igor Danchenko, a Russian-American analyst, of charges that he lied to the FBI about his role in the creation of a discredited dossier about Trump.

WHAT SPECIFICALLY DID DURHAM FIND?

Durham found that the FBI acted too hastily and relied on raw and unconfirmed intelligence when it opened the Trump-Russia investigation.

He said at the time the probe was opened, the FBI had no information about any actual contact between Trump associates and Russian intelligence officials.

He also claimed that FBI investigators fell prone to confirmation bias, repeatedly ignoring or rationalizing away information that could have undercut the premise of their investigation, and he noted that the FBI failed to corroborate a single substantive allegation from a dossier of research that it relied on during the course of the probe.

An objective and honest assessment of these strands of information should have caused the FBI to question not only the predication for Crossfire Hurricane, but also to reflect on whether the FBI was being manipulated for political or other purposes, the report said, using the FBI's code name for the Trump-Russia probe. Unfortunately, it did not.

HOW DID THE FBI RESPOND?

The FBI pointed out that it had long ago made dozens of corrective actions. Had those measures been in place in 2016, it says, the errors at the center of the report could have been prevented.

It also took pains to note that the conduct in the report took place before the current director, Christopher Wray, took the job in fall 2017.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

It didn't take long for Republicans in Congress to react. Rep. Jim Jordan, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, said he had invited Durham to testify on Capitol Hill next week. Trump, too, sought to seize on the report, claiming anew in a post on his Truth Social platform that the Durham report had found the crime of the century and calling the Russia investigation the Democrat Hoax.

Though the FBI says it's already taken some steps to address the problems cited in the report, Durham did say it's possible more reform could be needed. One idea, he said, would be to provide additional scrutiny of politically sensitive investigations by identifying an official who would be responsible for challenging the steps taken in a probe.

He said his team had considered but did not ultimately recommend steps that would curtail the FBI's investigative authorities, including its use of tools under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to eavesdrop on suspected spies or terrorists.

_____

Follow Eric Tucker at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  A Wisconsin judge on Monday refused to break up a lawsuit filed against 10 fake electors for former President Donald Trump and two of his attorneys, saying the case could proceed in the county where it was filed.

The lawsuit seeks $2.4 million from the fake electors and their attorneys, alleging they were part of a conspiracy by Trump and his allies to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential race. It also seeks to disqualify the Republicans from ever serving as electors again.

Fake electors met in Wisconsin and other battleground states where Trump was defeated 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 Trumps legal standing in case courts overturned his defeat.

Nine of the 10 fake electors in Wisconsin, and one of Trump's attorneys, argued that the lawsuit against them was wrongly filed in Dane County Circuit Court. Since none of them lived in that county, they argued, the lawsuit should be refiled against each of them in their respective home counties.

But Dane County Circuit Judge Frank Remington disagreed on Monday, saying the lawsuit was properly filed because, in part, at least one of the defendants appears to live in Dane County or does not present evidence to the contrary.

One of Trump's attorneys, James Troupis, and fake elector Scott Grabins, the former Dane County Republican Party chair, both live in Dane County. Neither of them provided any evidence of where they lived, the judge said. Neither did Trump attorney Kenneth Chesebro, who practices law in the Boston area.

Attorneys for the fake electors who don't live in Dane County argued that a 2007 state law allows for venue changes to courts in the defendant's home county in cases that relate to elections or election law. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants broke several criminal and civil laws when they met at the Wisconsin state Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020, in an attempt to cast the states electoral votes for Trump.

Remington said the law requires that the case be heard in Dane County where it was filed.

Wisconsin law does not allow the problematic consequences of ten judges simultaneously litigating the same claims in ten different courts, or ten juries  some 120 jurors  hearing the same claims and rendering ten different verdicts, Remington wrote.

The lawsuit was filed a year ago this month by two Democratic electors and a voter. They are represented by the Madison-based Law Forward law firm and the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at the Georgetown University Law Center.

Although likely not the last, this was just the latest effort to delay any type of accountability, said Law Forward attorney Scott Thompson. We are pleased this matter will be resolved in the Dane County Courthouse, just one block from where the fake electors scheme was carried out.

Attorneys for the fake electors did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Remington last week also revived a complaint brought by Law Forward against the fake electors filed with the Wisconsin Elections Commission. That complaint sought sanctions against the fake electors.

Remington ruled last week that the complaint must be heard again because a commissioner who considered the complaint last time should have recused himself. That commissioner, Robert Spindell, also served as a fake elector and is one of the defendants in the lawsuit seeking damages.

President Joe Biden won Wisconsin by nearly 21,000 votes, a result that has withstood recounts, partisan-led investigations, a nonpartisan audit and multiple lawsuits.
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CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP)  Russia's top army general and his South African counterpart discussed "military cooperation while meeting Monday in Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The announcement came hours after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa denied accusations by the United States that his country was siding with Russia in the war in Ukraine and had sent weapons to help it.

Gen. Oleg Salyukov, the commander of Russia's ground forces, met the chief of South Africa's army, Lt. Gen. Lawrence Mbatha, at Russia's general command headquarters in Moscow, the Russian ministry said.

The sides discussed issues of military cooperation and the implementation of projects geared to enhance the combat readiness of the two countries armies, the ministry said in a statement. The meeting between the military commanders yielded agreements on the further expansion of cooperation between the land forces in various areas.

The Defense Ministry said a South African delegation would visit a number of Russian army educational and training facilities.

The South African army said the trip was planned well in advance of the U.S. ambassador to South Africa alleging last week that the country had provided weapons to Russia when a ship under U.S. sanctions made a secret stop at a South African naval base in December.

The South African government has denied the Russian cargo ship's stop involved an official sale of weapons, although it has not categorically ruled out an arms transaction took place.

Ramaphosa has said an investigation was underway to determine if anyone loaded weapons onto the Russian-flagged Lady R cargo ship at the Simon's Town naval base near Cape Town.

Ramaphosa used his weekly message to the nation Monday to reaffirm South Africa's non-aligned stance with regard to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The president's statement was seen as a response to U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety, who questioned South Africa's neutrality in the Ukraine war while making the allegations about a weapons shipment.

Brigety was subsequently summoned to a meeting with South Africa's foreign minister.

We do not accept that our non-aligned position favors Russia above other countries, Ramaphosa wrote in his weekly message. Nor do we accept that it should imperil our relations with other countries.

Ramaphosa added: We have been firm on this point: South Africa has not been, and will not be, drawn into a contest between global powers.

He also hinted that Russian President Vladimir Putin would visit South Africa for a meeting of leaders of the BRICS economic bloc in August. The Kremlin has not confirmed that Putin plans to attend the BRICS summit.

Such a trip would entangle South Africa in another diplomatic mess because the country is a signatory to the treaty that created the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March for alleged war crimes involving the abductions of children from Ukraine.

Since the indictment, Putin has traveled rarely, and only to countries that are close allies of Russia. Countries that are parties to the treaty would be obliged to arrest the Russian leader.

While Russia and South Africa both described Monday's meeting of the countries' top army generals as part of a normal bilateral trip, it's bound to increase scrutiny of Africa's most developed economy, which is seen as an influential nation in the developing world.

South Africa is the only African nation in the BRICS bloc, which also includes Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Aside from the weapons allegations, South Africa also hosted Russian and Chinese warships and took part in naval exercises off its east coast in February that coincided with the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Brigety, the American ambassador, said last week that U.S. officials have respect for South Africas policy of neutrality and non-alignment in international affairs but had noted a series of issues which suggest that in practice the government of South Africa is in fact not non-aligned.

The Associated Press independently verified that the Lady R cargo ship stopped at the South African naval base for at least three days in December, as Brigety claimed. A review of records by the AP also shows that the Lady R is tied to a company that was sanctioned by the U.S. for transporting weapons for the Russian government and aiding its war effort in Ukraine.

___

Magome reported from Johannesburg. AP Writer Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.
Some may not know it, but this is National Preservation Month. Its a great reminder that our commercial and residential surroundings require some attention and there have been countless leaders and volunteers who help protect our cherished spaces as well as maintain various projects.

In fact, a student reminded me last month how engaged I have been in the preservation arena. At first, I was surprised that she knew I served on Preservation Connecticuts board of trustees and I was a former New Haven City Plan commission board member. I mentioned that I was also on my downtown Jersey City neighborhood board  Historic Paulus Hook Association  and we reviewed community restoration projects.

As a state and local government political scientist specializing in economic development, I teach and research so many community initiatives. But I take for granted whether we are fully aware of preservation projects that surround us.

I also often overlook the time and commitment to review and approve various proposals for renovating and building countless projects. But my student reminded me that such a process is a necessity and helps ensure neighborhood character. I was struck by her acknowledgment, but also respected her appreciation for my service.

Fortunately, I have lived in a couple of nineteenth-century residences including a renovated mixed-use commercial and residential tenement complex as well as a restored beachside cottage owned and actively maintained by a town historian. Even my church homes were built in the same era and designated as historic spaces. This includes New Haven First Congregationalist Center Church on the Greens meeting house (the citys founding church and a registered Connecticut landmark), which has recently been through significant renovation with a $200,000 state Department of Economic and Development grant.

Growing up, I witnessed but also appreciated my mother engaging in community preservation. Interestingly, she served on Preservation Connecticuts board of trustees in the 1990s. As preservation staff there mentioned, I am an anomaly serving as a legacy trustee. My mother was especially involved with Merritt Parkway bridge restorations. When she visits Connecticut, she views these majestic bridges as reminders of her past involvement.

But it doesnt take much to engage in preservation projects. From volunteering to donating, so many of us can make a difference in our southern New England communities. We are fortunate that history surrounds us and our region has remarkable civic spaces as well as commercial and residential projects.

A number of our municipalities have maintained their charm, especially around town greens. These community centers are critical for civic viability and connectivity. Preservation Connecticut has a dedicated website and surveys chronically some of the history and events on our various town greens.

Some of Connecticuts urban centers have been recipients of Preservation Connecticuts grants, particularly houses of worship. Preservation Connecticut has dedicated lectures and events around these historic religious spaces. The National Trust for Historic Preservations African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund has also helped promote preserving Black churches, especially through a $20 million grant. And future renovation initiatives will center on a number of historic inner city Black and Latino churches.

Thankfully, Preservation Connecticut returned to holding their annual awards ceremony in-person a couple of weeks ago. Their Awards of Merit included urban projects like Hartfords 99 Pratt Street, New Havens Hotel Marcel (the former Pirelli Building designed by brutalist architect Marcel Breuer), New London City Halls Council Chambers and Norwalks Shirt Factory Lofts.

This month should serve as a reminder to attend community meetings and follow area historic projects. There are countless initiatives taking place across Connecticut and local historical preservation societies can certainly use the volunteering, political and financial support.
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On a breezy, sun-saturated Friday, the 165 students of East Havens Ferrara Elementary School circled the school track, chanting M-A-D-D, M-A-D-D.

MADD is the acronym for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, which has as its mission to end drunk driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking, according to its website.

The nonprofit offers services like support with preparing victim impact statements, accompanying victims and survivors to court, and referrals to appropriate resources, all at no charge, the website states.

The school is a sponsor of the annual Branford Walk like MADD, which will take place Saturday, Oct. 7 on the Branford Green.

Its the sixth year that Ferrara has engaged in a Walk-A-Thon. This year, the students raised $2,098. In all, the school has contributed upwards of $13,000 to the cause, according to Michelle Chamberlain, a MADD victim advocate.

Chamberlains mother Lori is a third-grade teacher at Ferrara. Michelles aunt, Deanne Negri, an art teacher and mother of three, was struck by a drunk driver traveling at 50 miles per hour in December 2013, Michelle said. She still struggles with symptoms related to traumatic brain injury. Their family has been involved ever since.

My job is to go to court with families who have been impacted by impaired driving, said Michelle, as she and Lori prepared to hand out knapsacks with toys and educational materials. This really helps.

Statistics on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website highlight the urgency of the issue. Every day, about 37 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes  thats one person every 39 minutes.

Even with a 2014 all-offender ignition interlock law requiring an arrested or convicted drunk driver to blow into a car breathalyzer mouthpiece before driving, and a 2016 child endangerment law that adds penalties for driving drunk with a child passenger, drunk driving remains a leading cause of traffic fatalities.

Funds from the event will go toward offering services to victims and their families at no charge, as well as providing education in schools and in the community, Lori Chamberlain said.

With the money theyve raised, these students are going to make our roads safer, and theyre going to educate young people like themselves about the dangers of driving impaired, said U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro D-3, who walked alongside a group of students.

Keep it sober, fifth grader Destin Jean, just behind her, called out. When youre sober, you wont get pulled over.

This is about making good choices, said Ferrara Principal Paul DeBernardo. You dont need to be behind the wheel of a car to understand the dangers of drunk driving.

Superintendent of Schools Erica Forti, taking up the rear beside him, agreed. We believe our students are capable of making a difference, she said. Just to make these kids aware of this issue could save lives down the line.

Lori Chamberlain credited the student council for bringing back the event, as well as student council advisors Angela Coughlin, a resource teacher, and third-grade teacher Lisa Brown for paving the way.

Last year, we asked them what they wanted to support, and one of our fifth graders said she remembered the MADD walk before COVID happened, and wanted to bring it back, so here we are, Coughlin said, as lively tunes from DJ Tory Teto, a Ferrara School alum and East Haven High School junior, rang across the track.

The 2023 Branford Walk Like MADD will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7 starting outside the Branford Town Hall on the Branford Green. Registration 8:30  9:30 a.m.

For more information or to register in advance, visit walklikemadd.org/branford or call 203-764-2566. For more information about or to donate to MADD CT, visit madd.org/connecticut.
North Dakotas Department of Health and Human Services says state residents should consider a "back to the basics" health focus as the COVID-19 threat wanes.

The pandemic national emergency and the public health emergency recently ended, and the World Health Organization says COVID-19 no longer qualifies as a global emergency.

State Health Officer Dr. Nizar Wehbi said it's a good time to focus on things such as early intervention and preventative health screenings, as well as programs and services that are available to support health and well-being.

"During the pandemic, many of us were deferring a lot of the medical need and preventative care," he said. "So now it is time to go back and seek annual checkups with providers; preventative health screenings, whether it's immunization, whether it is mammograms or other health screenings, are all really important in detection of these diseases or ailments, at fairly early stages, as well as adopting healthy lifestyles and behaviors."

The biggest health concerns impacting North Dakotans include heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancers, declining childhood immunization rates, substance abuse disorder, untreated mental health needs and suicide, according to Wehbi.

We are encouraging North Dakotans to get back to the basics, using health strategies that work to maintain and improve health and well-being, prevent disease and illness, and promote early diagnosis and treatment, he said. These include making time for annual checkups with your health care provider, getting preventive health screenings and standard immunizations and adopting healthy lifestyles and behaviors such as exercising more, eating healthier meals, getting good sleep, avoiding or seeking help to stop misuse of tobacco and other substances, and seeking support and treatment for behavioral health needs.

The pandemic changed the way HHS provided some services. Some changes were temporary but others continue. For example, Medicaid continues to pay for services provided by telehealth, and senior nutrition program meal participants are still be able to access the popular grab-and-go meals, in addition to in-person dining and home-delivered meals.

Other safety net services and crisis help also remain available, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Women Infants and Children program, heating and cooling assistance, child care assistance, and Womens Way breast and cervical cancer screening. More information is at hhs.nd.gov.
Ukrainians Dima and Tiana Tytarenko say they are on the cultural front in the war with Russia.

The couple, who make up the band Nezisvitu, were performing at the Niagara Folks Arts Festivals Ukrainian open house Saturday.

Its up to Ukrainians now to share their culture with everybody, said Tiana through a translator.

Its very important because Russias goal is to eliminate Ukraine. Its up to us to showcase ourselves.

With their two boys, aged five and 15, the family arrived in Canada last August staying in Beamsville before moving to Hamilton. While in Poland, they were also playing concerts and music festivals to raise money for Ukraine.

The pair feel its crucial to keep Ukrainian culture, language and traditions alive amid reports that Russians have stolen artworks and artifacts from Ukrainian museums and damaged cultural sites and landmarks since the invasion began in February 2022.

Dima said he even has a friend whose website with Ukrainian music was cyber attacked.

Thats why these festivals are important, Tiana said.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress open house at St. John Ukrainian Church in St. Catharines featured dancing, music and food and drew hundreds of people.

Last years open house for the festival was smaller due to the pandemic and more subdued because the Russian invasion had just happened.

The mood is brighter this year, but not really in our hearts, because we know that this war is not ending at this point, said Irene Newton, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Niagara branch.

At the same time, we still have a lot of hope and are hoping that the sooner, the better. We keep praying. We still need support. We still need to help Ukraine with what theyre doing.

Newton said open house was a wonderful event this year and she was amazed by the number of people who came and showed support.

Chrystyna Tymczyszyn, who helped organize the event, said the food was sold out and estimated about 600 people came through.

While the open house was back in a big way Saturday, the signs of war were all around the hall. There was a display called War Through the Eyes of Children, information about how to donate supplies to Ukraine and T-shirts for sale with Make Borscht not War.

Tymczyszyn said the war was very much a topic of conversation, which was a good thing.

We have to keep it relevant because otherwise we cant collect money to send humanitarian aid, she said. They need our help so weve just got to keep it in peoples minds.

Tymczyszyns daughter Laryssa Doig has been spearheading donation collections at the church and said she was floored by the support on Saturday, including from one man who donated $1,000.

Doig said theres been a lull in donations lately and Saturdays event gave everybody more hope.

Its kind of falling out of the news again, so its a little disheartening that way. But then you have people that come to support an event like today, they care and they want to be involved, and it really means the world to us and to them, she said, referring to Ukrainians.

We constantly get messages from Ukraine saying we cant believe how much the Canadians care, essentially. So theyre seeing it. They see us. They see what were doing and its really heartwarming.

Doig said theyve collected just under 6,000 boxes of donations from the community since the start of the invasion and have been sending them by air parcel or in shipping containers.

Donations can be dropped at the church at 91 Lakeshore Rd. from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesday through Friday or by appointment. A list of needed items are on the churchs website at stjohnuc.com. Theres also a link for an Amazon wish list that allows people to purchase items that are delivered directly to the church.

The 55th annual Niagara Folk Arts Festival celebrating cultural heritage continues until May 28. For dates and locations of upcoming open houses go to niagarafolkartsfestival.ca.

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The City of Niagara Falls is hosting a Touch-A-Truck event this month in celebration of National Public Works Week.

The event will be held May 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Gale Centre.

The free family event will give residents an opportunity to explore a range of vehicles including a police cruiser, fire truck and a Niagara Peninsula Energy bucket truck.

The citys municipal works team will provide demonstrations and answer questions about the vehicles and equipment that help them perform their duties.

Were excited to once again welcome the community to visit with our municipal works team and to explore the equipment that is essential to keeping our city running smoothly, said Erik Nickel, general manager of public works.

Project Share will host a charity barbecue on site and Niagara Regions Water Wagon, which promotes safe and clean drinking water, will also be in attendance.

For further information, visit niagarafalls.ca.

Since 1960, municipalities across Canada have recognized National Public Works Week to educate, engage and inform the public about the essential role public works play in the communitys quality of life.

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An intercity bus service has added new travel options to its Ontario network this summer with the addition of a new line to Niagara Falls.

FlixBus has launched the Niagara Falls Illumination Experience with nightly trips to the city from Toronto.

Passengers take an 8 p.m. bus from Union Station, arriving in Niagara Falls at 9:50 p.m., and take in the sights and sounds of the falls, including the nightly fireworks display, before heading back to Toronto.

There are also morning and midday trips departing from both cities.

FlixBus launched its Ontario network in April 2022 and cross-border service between the U.S. and Canada in May 2022 between New York City and Toronto.

Flix North America Inc., parent company of FlixBus and Greyhound Lines, is the largest intercity bus transportation provider in North America.

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HIGH RIVER, Alta. - Albertas NDP says the only hospital in a town south of Calgary faces potential closures in its emergency department because the United Conservative Party has not supported it.

David Shepherd, an NDP candidate in Edmonton who is the Opposition health critic, held a news conference in front of the hospital in High River, Alta., a town of more than 14,000 people about 65 kilometres south of Calgary.

He pointed to a recent letter to the local newspaper by 30 physicians in the town that noted theres a shortage of family doctors to cover hospital shifts and one obstetrician to provide care for pregnant women.

The doctors say in the letter that rural primary care has been inadequately funded in recent years.

Shepherd says an NDP government would properly fund hospitals across the province if elected on May 29.

UCP Leader Danielle Smith said last week that the Alberta Health Services administrator is looking at ways to ease pressure in hospitals and added that theres a $2-billion investment into primary care in this years provincial budget.

AHS said in a statement that ensuring Albertans have access to health care in their community is of utmost importance and it values the work of physicians and health-care teams.

The High River General Hospital remains open, offering full services including emergency care, day and night, said the statement Monday.

Like other hospitals in the province, High River experiences situations where physicians and staff coverage can be challenging. This happens for a number of reasons, including illness and time off. The site works hard to ensure no disruption of service occurs.

It said recruitment challenges, particularly for physicians outside of urban areas, are not unique to Alberta and that it is working on recruitment and retention strategies.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2023.

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HALIFAX - Police in Halifax confirmed Monday they are investigating two more cases where Pride flags were allegedly torn down by youths.

Those incidents are in addition to an RCMP report on May 5 that said three youths were motivated by hate when they burned a Pride flag outside their school in Upper Tantallon, N.S., in late April, prompting mischief charges against all three.

The recent spate of hate-motivated vandalism has some in Nova Scotias LGBTQ community on edge.

Susanne Litke, former chair of the Nova Scotia Rainbow Action Project, said she was at her home in the north end of Halifax on April 5 when someone knocked on her door around 3 p.m. She opened it to discover her Pride flag had been torn into 18 pieces.

Halifax Regional Police issued a statement Monday saying four suspects in the destruction of her flag, spotted fleeing by a witness, are boys believed to be between 10 and 12 years old.

With this recent barrage of hate crimes against our flags, our community, we feel that ... were moving backwards, Litke said in an interview Monday.

Hatred has been expressed towards the LGBTQ community for a long time, but ... it hasnt been expressed in this outward kind of way until permission was given for such talk and actions. Were seeing this happening across the U.S. with all kinds of laws being passed to quiet down (sexual orientation and gender identity) discussions.

Meanwhile, police in Halifax said they are also investigating a complaint from the Spryfield area, where two people in their early teens allegedly ripped down a Pride flag outside a home on May 7. No other details were provided.

Cynthia Sweeney, who leads the PFlag Canada chapter in Halifax, said the national non-profit group has noticed an increase in this kind of hate-motivated crime.

Its a little unbelievable that only four months into 2023, weve seen such a rise in intolerance across Canada, said Sweeney, whose organization helps anyone wherever they are on their journey around gender identity and sexual orientation. We need allies to be speaking out about bigotry and misinformation and hate.

Emma Stanley, a transgender inclusion consultant in Halifax, said she wasnt surprised by the three most recent incidents.

Were trying to make an enormous change in our own culture, and it has not been that long since I was in high school getting beat up for being not straight, said Stanley, who works with Sweeney at Simply Good Form Inc., an inclusion training company.

We have made progress. But that progress, especially in Canada, is really surface level ... Its something were having to work on all the time.

Const. John MacLeod, spokesman for Halifax Regional Police, said investigators believe the destruction of the three Pride flags  symbols of the LGBTQ community  was motivated by hate.

Meanwhile, members of the Halifax Regional Police hate crime unit are asking for the publics help as their investigation continues.

Theres no information at this point to suggest that any of the three cases are related, MacLeod said in an interview.

We recognize that these are harmful to people in our community ... We want to let the community know that they should contact us if they encounter incidents like this.

On Wednesday morning, members of the LGBTQ community will gather outside Halifax City Hall where a Pride flag will be raised in honour of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. During the event, Pflag Canada is expected to release an open letter that highlights the rising tide of misinformation, hate speech and violence directed at LGBTQ community.

As well, Litke said plans are in the works to have her repaired Pride flag, stitched together with gold thread, displayed at the event.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2023.

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ST. JOHNS, N.L. - Memorial University in Newfoundland and Labrador agreed to spend $13,800 on outside public relations help as questions arose about its former presidents claims of Indigenous heritage.

A contract obtained through access-to-information legislation shows National Public Relations offered the universitys board of regents communications counsel around a sensitive issue involving its president. The signed contract is dated March 10, two days after CBC News published an investigation scrutinizing Vianne Timmonss claims of Mikmaq ancestry.

We have worked with private and public sector organizations, including universities across the country, to navigate allegations of misrepresentation or misconduct directed at leadership, National said in the document, responding to a request from Memorial. The firm offered media monitoring and communications help from a team that included its vice-president of issues and crisis management, at an estimated cost of $13,800.

National said its approach would protect the universitys reputation, though details of the firms plan and the budget were redacted.

In an email, Memorial spokesperson Michelle Osmond said the board contracted National to provide independent advice and support, adding that she could not immediately say how much the university ended up paying the company.

The CBC News report raised questions about Timmonss claims that her fathers great-great-grandmother was Mikmaq. Timmons issued an apology shortly after, saying she regretted any hurt or confusion sharing (her) story may have caused. On March 13, she announced she would take a paid six-week leave of absence, but on April 6, the board of regents announced her contract had been ended.

Timmons is among several high-profile Canadian academics whose claims of Indigenous heritage have recently been challenged.

The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association in March revoked an award it had given former judge and law professor Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, saying it believed she falsified her claims to Cree ancestry. Several schools, including McGill University, have rescinded honorary degrees awarded to Turpel-Lafond, and she has returned honorary degrees from Simon Fraser University and Brock University.

Last summer, Carrie Bourassa resigned from her position as a health professor at the University of Saskatchewan after a CBC report raised doubts about her claims of being Metis.

Timmons has said she never claimed to be Indigenous, just to have Indigenous heritage. However, for years she listed membership with the unrecognized Bras dOr Mikmaq First Nation in Nova Scotia in her professional credentials. The group is not recognized as a First Nation by the federal or Nova Scotia governments.

Timmons took office at Memorial in April 2020 with a five-year contract and an annual base salary of $450,000. Her contract says that if it is ended without cause  as was the case in her removal  she is entitled to $675,000 in severance pay and payments for administrative leave and other benefits worth at least $270,000.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2023.

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Keith Bratt had always wanted to swim with sea turtles. But when the Alberta man set out for his first close encounter with the creatures at a sanctuary in Mexico, something far more rare caught his eye.

I knew right away that it was a ring, said Bratt of the gold band he spotted May 1 in the clear waters of Akumal Bay, on the Riviera Maya.

It was just like the Lord of the Rings. I literally could see a gold ring laying on the bottom of the ocean, he said of his find, nearly five metres below the oceans surface.

That day was also the 30th wedding anniversary of Bratt and his wife, Karen.

Bratt, from Lethbridge, Alta. is a heavy equipment operator for Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. He and his wife were in Mexico to celebrate their special day.

Fighting the urge to dive down and get the ring, Bratt said he asked a local guide for help to fetch it and not disturb the coral and sea creatures.

When the couple had a chance to take a good look at the ring, it turned out to be a gold wedding band with a womans full name and April 24 wedding date engraved inside.

They had just got married! Bratt said of the engraved date which was just a week before he found the ring.

While it seemed to be a mission impossible to everyone else  including Bratts wife  he wanted to try and find the rings owner.

His attempts to get help from the resorts quickly ended in vain as there were just too many of them, Bratt said. But he didnt give up.

On May 11, Bratt turned to the power of social media and posted photos of the ring on Facebook. His post has been shared more than 200,000 times with thousands of people commenting, some offering leads.

Within 48 hours, and more than 4,000 kilometres away, a newlywed Italian woman who was visiting relatives in Quebec saw Bratts Facebook post  and instantly burst into tears.

The ring! The ring! They found the ring! Licia Pietroluongo cried in Italian in a pharmacy in Laval on Friday afternoon.

Pietroluongo is the bride whose name is engraved in the lost ring which belongs to her husband, Gaetano Rossi.

In an interview, Pietroluongo told the Star  with translation help from her cousin Anna Carlomusto  that they lost the ring on their honeymoon in Mexico on May 1, the same day Bratt found it.

Pietroluongos husband designed it himself and she has a matching ring with his name engraved inside, she said.

The couple from Cassino, Italy didnt know the ring was gone until they got on a bus after their early snorkelling trip in Mexico.

It was sad. We were quiet the whole day. We thought wed never find the ring, Pietroluongo said.

Little did they know that moments after Pietroluongos husband accidentally lost his one-of-a-kind ring in the ocean, a man from Alberta who snorkelled in the same waters would spot it and make every effort to find its owner.

This is a sign of good luck! Theyre 30 years married and he found the ring. It truly is a wonderful story, Carlomusto said.

Despite the language barrier, Bratt said he almost teared up when he finally spoke with Pietroluongo on the phone Saturday. It was amazing. It was a beautiful conversation. And they were absolutely ecstatic!

Pietroluongo and her husband flew back to Italy on Sunday after their 20-day trip to North America that included their Caribbean destination.

The couple will have to wait a bit to get the ring. Bratt has arranged to ship it from Alberta to Pietroluongos cousin in Quebec who will then take the ring to Italy with her in June.

But they returned home with the best gift  the story of the wedding ring that travelled a bit farther and a bit longer than the honeymooning newlyweds themselves, Carlomusto said.

And Bratt, who never gave up hope of returning the ring, says hes amazed by how an unexpected find on his wedding anniversary led to a happy ending for a newlywed couple from Italy.

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BUFFALO NARROWS, Sask. - A wildfire near the northern Saskatchewan community of Buffalo Narrows has forced the village to issue a state of emergency.

Mayor Sandy Ericson said Monday that many residents evacuated the community because the smoke is affecting their health.

She said the loss of electricity has also made it difficult for people trying to stay cool.

Its hot, so its not a good combination, Ericson said. Were just trying to keep everybody who is here in the community safe and hopefully we can get more vehicles out.

The fire in the Buffalo Narrows region reached 25,000 hectares, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency said. It jumped the only highway that leads into the village, causing it to close down.

Power lines have also caught fire, causing the power outage.

Ericson said dozens of people left by bus or took their vehicles before the highway closed.

She said the village is working with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency to escort more people out safely through the highway so they can head south for services.

Those who left have been given accommodations in Lloydminster, she said, while others are staying with family in Prince Albert, Meadow Lake or Saskatoon.

Ericson said the fire so far is not threatening homes in the village.

We do have some housing that we may have to take some precautions for, but right now (the fire) is going the other way, she said. When the wind changes, we dont know whats going to happen.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2023.

 By Jeremy Simes in Regina

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The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario says 77 per cent of teachers have seen or personally experienced violence in their schools, with those working in special education impacted the most, according to a new survey of its members.

The union held a press conference on Monday to share what it called the concerning and alarming findings.

The survey results may shock the public, but theyre not a surprise to ETFO members, president Karen Brown said of the online survey, which was conducted in February and March by Strategic Communications Inc.

More than 40 per cent of those who took part in the survey said physical force has been used against them, and more than half said an attempt of physical force was made against them, or a threat of it.

Educators reported physical and psychological injuries or illness as a result of a violence on the job.

The ETFO survey found special education teachers are more likely to experience school violence, and a majority of educators reported that supports  such as social workers or educational assistants  were sometimes, rarely or never available when needed.

At Queens Park, Education Minister Stephen Lecce said the government has increased funding and staffing in schools, and is particularly focusing on student mental health.

I do know we are making a difference, he told reporters, adding the province recently boosted funding so that students can access school psychologists and other supports in the summer months.

However, he said the government will do more to ensure schools are safe.

  Demands are rising and we share that concern  the issues in our communities and across the country on violence are having a real impact on schools, Lecce said.

About 80 per cent of members also reported that violent incidents are on the rise compared to when they first started working as teachers in Ontario.

Brown also said the survey found that female, Indigenous, disabled and LGBTQ+ teachers were more likely to have experienced physical force.

Rob Hammond, president of the Near North union local, said members have called him in tears after violent incidents at their schools.

A lot of them are looking to retire early because theyre beyond frustrated, he said, adding we are overwhelmed and underfunded.

Lisa Dunbar, a Peel Region teacher who was at ETFOs survey release on Monday, said sometimes students engage in violence as a way to communicate that they are overwhelmed and believes smaller classes would help.

Union in bargaining talks with Ford government

The survey comes as ETFO and other teacher unions are currently engaged in a tough round of bargaining talks with the Ford government.

Both sides have said little progress has been made, and senior government officials have previously told the Star that they fear the possibility of a teachers strike in September due to the slow pace.

ETFO represents about 83,000 members, including elementary teachers and early childhood educators, and is the largest teachers union in the country.

Speaking at an unrelated press announcement in Mississauga on Monday, Premier Doug Ford said the provinces goal  (is) protecting the teachers.

Were always going to advocate for the teachers and make sure theres never violence in our schools, he said.

Ford also said families play a role, adding it starts at home  I will speak for my parents  God forbid I ever went up and hit a teacher. Id get twice the hit when I got home, and I think everyone out there would say the same thing, he said.

You respect your teachers  they are there to give you guidance, make you a better person. So enough of going after teachers  I couldnt do the teachers job, to be very frank with you, Ford said.

Interim Liberal leader John Fraser later told reporters that there are serious situations in schools  we have to invest in our schools to make sure students and teachers are safe and that the issue is not something to joke about or throw a quip off.

You cant just aw shucks your way out of it, he said, adding the premiers comments clearly demonstrated that hes not engaged with the problem.

Lack of resources amid rise in school violence

Staff have struggled to cope with rising violence in Torontos high schools, an issue that the union says has been compounded by staffing shortages, budget constraints and a lack of resources to help kids in crisis.

In December, students at York Memorial staged a walkout over concerns about violence, over-policing and a lack of teachers.

Toronto District School Board chair Rachel Chernos Lin met with Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce in December to address the rise in school violence.

MB Marissa Birnie is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @marissabirnie

Kristin Rushowy is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @krushowy

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BERLIN (AP)  Two people were charged in Austria for allegedly playing speeches by Adolf Hitler via the loudspeaker system of a train running from Bregenz to Vienna, Austrian news agency APA reported Monday.

The two suspects, who were not identified, also blasted the Heil Hitler Nazi salute via the trains intercom several times on Sunday. The authorities tracked them down by analyzing video from the train cameras. Spreading Nazi propaganda is a criminal offense in Austria.

The two are also suspected of responsibility for two other incidents last week on trains running from St. Poelten to Vienna, in which recordings were played over the train intercom. It was not clear if those recordings also had a Nazi connotation.

The suspects are believed to have opened the train conductors intercom cabins with a key all train employees own, and then played the recordings, APA reported.

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STOCKHOLM (AP)  Israels foreign minister on Monday paid a visit to Sweden in a new sign of warming ties between the two nations.

Eli Cohen said his visit to Stockholm was the first visit by an Israeli foreign minister to Sweden in 22 years.

We are opening a new page in relations between Israel and Sweden after years in which Sweden took a critical line against Israel, he said in a statement issued by the Israeli Foreign Ministry. He said his meeting with his Swedish counterpart, Tobias Billstrom, signaled a change in direction of ties.

Billstrom called the meeting very good and productive in a statement on Twitter. The first one in 20 years, so long overdue, he added.

Swedens previous Social Democratic government had a rocky relationship with Israel after recognizing a Palestinian state in 2014, a move that prompted Israel to temporarily recall its ambassador to Sweden. Two years later, Israel said Swedens foreign minister at the time was not welcome after critical comments of Israels treatment of Palestinians.

But relations have begun to thaw. In October 2021, Swedens foreign minister at the time visited Israel in an attempt to mend ties.

Those relations are expected to improve further under Swedens new center-right government, which took office last October.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  A special prosecutor found that the FBI rushed into its investigation of ties between Russia and Donald Trumps 2016 campaign and relied too much on raw and unconfirmed intelligence as he concluded a four-year probe that fell far short of the former presidents prediction that the crime of the century would be uncovered.

The report Monday from special counsel John Durham represents the long-awaited culmination of an investigation that Trump and allies had claimed would expose massive wrongdoing by law enforcement and intelligence officials. Instead, Durhams investigation delivered underwhelming results, with prosecutors securing a guilty plea from a little-known FBI employee but losing the only two criminal cases they took to trial.

The roughly 300-page report catalogs what Durham says were a series of missteps by the FBI and Justice Department as investigators undertook a politically explosive probe in the heat of the 2016 election into whether the Trump campaign was colluding with Russia to tip the outcome. It criticized the FBI for opening a full-fledged investigation based on raw, unanalyzed and uncorroborated intelligence, saying the speed at which it did so was a departure from the norm. And it said investigators repeatedly relied on confirmation bias, ignoring or rationalizing away evidence that undercut their premise of a Trump-Russia conspiracy as they pushed the probe forward.

Based on the review of Crossfire Hurricane and related intelligence activities, we conclude that the Department and the FBI failed to uphold their important mission of strict fidelity to the law in connection with certain events and activities described in this report, the document states.

The impact of Durhams report, though harshly critical of the FBI, is likely blunted by Durhams spotty prosecution record and by the fact that many of the episodes it cites were already examined in depth by th e Justice Departments inspector general. The FBI has also long since announced dozens of corrective actions. The bureau outlined those changes in a letter to Durham on Monday, including steps meant to ensure the accuracy of secretive surveillance applications to eavesdrop on suspected terrorists and spies.

Had those reforms been in place in 2016, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented. This report reinforces the importance of ensuring the FBI continues to do its work with the rigor, objectivity, and professionalism the American people deserve and rightly expect, the FBI said in a statement. It also stressed that the report focused on the FBIs prior leadership, before current Director Christopher Wray took the job in 2017.

Still, Durhams findings are likely to amplify scrutiny of the FBI at a time when Trump is again seeking the White House as well as offer fresh fodder for congressional Republicans who have launched their own investigation into the purported weaponization of the FBI and Justice Department. After the report was released, Republican House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan said he had invited Durham to testify next week.

Trump, on his Truth Social platform, claimed anew that the report showed the crime of the century and referred to the Russia investigation as a Democrat Hoax.

Durham, the former U.S. Attorney in Connecticut, was appointed in 2019 by Trumps attorney general, William Barr, soon after special counsel Robert Mueller had completed his investigation into whether the 2016 Trump campaign had colluded with Russia to tilt the outcome of the election in his favor.

The Mueller investigation resulted in roughly three dozen criminal charges, including convictions of a half-dozen Trump associates, and determined that Russia intervened on the Trump campaigns behalf and that the campaign welcomed the help. But Muellers team did not find that they actually conspired to sway the election, creating an opening for critics of the probe  including Barr himself  to assert that it had been launched without a proper basis.

Revelations over the following months laid bare flaws with the investigation, including errors and omissions in Justice Department applications to eavesdrop on a former Trump campaign aide, Carter Page, as well as the reliance by the FBI on a dossier of uncorroborated or discredited information compiled by an British ex-spy, Christopher Steele.

Durhams team delved deep into those mistakes, finding that investigators opened the investigation hastily, without doing key interviews or a significant review of intelligence databases. The report says the FBI, at the time the investigation was opened, had no information that any Trump campaign officials had been in touch with any Russian intelligence officials.

The original Russia investigation was opened in July 2016 after the FBI learned from an Australian diplomat that a Trump campaign associate named George Papadopoulos had claimed to know of dirt that the Russians had on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the form of emails.

But the report faults the FBI for not having done important legwork before opening the investigation.

It also said the FBI did not corroborate a single substantive allegation in the so-called Steele dossier and ignored or rationalized what it asserts was exculpatory information that Trump associates had provided to FBI confidential informants. That includes, the report said, minimizing the importance of a conversation in which Papadopoulos strenuously denied to the FBI informant that he had any knowledge of ties between the campaign and Russia.

An objective and honest assessment of these strands of information should have caused the FBI to question not only the predication for Crossfire Hurricane, but also to reflect on whether the FBI was being manipulated for political or other purposes, the report said. Unfortunately, it did not. 

Durhams mandate was to scrutinize government decisions, and identify possible misconduct, in the early days of the Trump-Russia probe. His appointment was cheered by Trump, who in a 2019 interview with Fox News said Durham was supposed to be the smartest and the best. He and his supporters hoped it would expose a deep state conspiracy within the top echelons of the FBI and other agencies to derail Trumps presidency and candidacy.

Durham and his team cast a broad net, interviewing top officials at the FBI, Justice Department and CIA in an investigation that ultimately cost more than $6.5 million. In his first year on the job, he traveled with Barr to Italy to meet with government officials as Trump himself asked the Australian prime minister and other leaders to help with the probe.

Weeks before his December 2020 resignation as attorney general, Barr appointed Durham as a Justice Department special counsel to ensure that he would continue his work in a Democratic administration.

The slow pace of the probe irked Trump, who berated Barr before he left office about the whereabouts of the report. By the end of the Trump administration, only one criminal case had been brought, while the abrupt departure of Durhams top deputy in the final months of Trumps tenure raised questions about whether the team was in sync.

Despite expectations that Durham might charge senior government officials, his team produced only three prosecutions. A former FBI lawyer pleaded guilty to altering an email the FBI relied on in applying to eavesdrop on an ex-Trump campaign aide. Two other defendants  a lawyer for the Clinton campaign and a Russian-American analyst  were both acquitted on charges of lying to the FBI.

_____

Follow Eric Tucker at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP

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WASHINGTON (AP)  The White House on Monday said Russia is looking to buy additional advanced attack drones from Iran for use in its war against Ukraine after using up most of the 400 drones it had previously purchased from Tehran.

The Biden administration last year publicized satellite imagery and intelligence findings that it said indicated Iran sold hundreds of attack drones to Russia. And for months, officials have said the United States believed Iran was considering selling hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia, but Washington did not have evidence a deal was consummated.

Iran also continues to provide Russia with one-way attack UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles). Since August, Iran has provided Russia with more than 400 UAVs primarily of the Shahed variety, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

Russia has expended most of these UAVs, using them to target Ukrainian critical infrastructure inside Ukraine. By providing Russia with these UAVs, Iran has been directly enabling Russias war of aggression in Ukraine, Kirby told reporters.

The Shahed drones that Russia has already purchased are packed with explosives and programed to loiter overhead until they nosedive into a target  unmanned versions of World War II kamikaze pilots who would fly their explosives-laden planes into U.S. warships in the Pacific.

Kirby said the Russians are now looking at acquiring even more advanced drones capable of more lethality

The latest revelation is part of a persistent drip of intelligence findings from the administration to detail what U.S. officials say is a deepening defense partnership between Russia and Iran. The U.S. allegations are part of a broader effort to declassify and publicize intelligence findings concerning Moscows prosecution of its nearly 15-month war in Ukraine in hopes of furthering global isolation of Russia.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks office announced Monday it was sending Ukraine hundreds more air defense missiles, as well as long-range attack drones with a reach of more than 200 kilometers (120 miles). The announcement came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Britain and unsuccessfully pressed Sunak to provide Ukraine with fighter jets as Ukraine prepares for a long-anticipated spring offensive to retake territory that Russia has seized.

The Biden administration says the Kremlins reliance on Iran as well as North Korea countries largely isolated on the international stage for their nuclear programs and human rights records shows desperation. Thats in the face of Ukrainian resistance and the success of the global coalition in disrupting Russian military supply chains and denying replacements for weapons lost on the battlefield. The White House says Russia has turned to North Korea for artillery.

U.S. officials say Iran has also provided Russia with artillery and tank rounds for its invasion of Ukraine.

This is a full scale defense partnership that is harmful to Ukraine, to the region in the Middle East and to the international community, said Kirby, who added that Iran has been Russias top military backer since the start of the Ukraine invasion.

Kirby said the administration is looking to further tighten export controls to prevent Western components from making their way to Iran for use in manufacturing drones. He also said further sanctions against Iran and Russia could be coming.

Iran has said it provided drones to Russia prior to the start of the war, but not since. North Korea has denied it has provided Russia artillery.

The White House has said for months that it has seen troubling signs that the military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran could flow both ways.

Iran is seeking to purchase additional military equipment from Russia, including attack helicopters, radars, and YAK-130 combat trainer aircraft, according to the White House. And Iran last month announced that it had finalized a deal to buy Su-35 fighter jets from Russia.

The White House has also previously said Russia and Iran were considering starting a drone assembly line in Russia for the Ukraine conflict.

In total, Iran is seeking billions of dollars worth of military equipment from Russia, Kirby said.

The new allegations come as Biden is headed to Hiroshima, Japan, later this week for the Group of Seven summit, where the U.S. president is expected to make a call to fellow leaders of some worlds biggest economies to further tighten export controls and sanctions on Moscow.

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OTTAWA - A bill that aims to enshrine a francophone immigration program into law is heading to the Senate after clearing the House of Commons.

Bill C-13 would modernize the Official Languages Act and recognize that French is the only official language in Canada that is under threat and therefore must be protected within federal workplaces.

The bill passed third reading in the House of Commons Monday with Montreal Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, who has expressed concerns about its effect on the minority English-speaking community in Quebec, being the only one to vote against it.

This is really a historic day. Its a really important day for this legislation and an important day for our country, said Official Languages Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor following the vote in the House.

The bill, if it becomes law, would introduce immigration in the Official Languages Act for the first time, and recognize its importance to the vitality of francophone minority communities outside Quebec.

The Liberal government believes this will help increase childcare, education and health-care services in French across Canada, where programs are affected by a lack of bilingual workers.

Through this modernization were talking about putting in place an immigration policy with indicators and targets to make sure that we reverse that decline, Petitpas Taylor said.

The bill would also require that all judges appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada are bilingual in order to improve access to justice and to ensure that future governments cant change the policy.

The bill has been described by MPs as having more teeth, which they said was needed because baby teeth are not forever teeth, as Conservative MP Joel Godin said during a committee meeting.

The bill would give more tools to the Commissioner of Official Languages.

It also would give people working in federally regulated private businesses in Quebec  or in official-language minority communities outside of Quebec  the ability to work in French and be served in French. However, that wont apply to the broadcasting sector.

Strengthening the Official Languages Act had been part of the Liberals 2021 election platform.

A previous version of the legislation was introduced in 2021, but it never passed. Bill C-13 was later tabled in March 2022, and if it becomes law it will apply to all federal departments and institutions such as courts, post offices and Service Canada offices.

Petitpas Taylor has said it will also apply equally to all official-language minority communities in Canada, whether they are French-speaking people living in Manitoba, or English-speaking Quebecers.

Housefather broke away from the party line to vote against the bill on Monday and Quebec Liberal MP Sherry Romanado abstained from voting.

Throughout the committees study phase, Housefather raised concerns because the bills preamble references the government of Quebecs Bill 96, which was adopted last May before the federal bill was drafted, and requires all provincial businesses to operate in French.

That provincial law was passed using the notwithstanding clause, which allowed the government to temporarily override the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Warren Newman, senior general counsel in the federal Justice Department, told MPs during a committee study of the bill that the mention of Bill 96 will not limit services to English-speaking minorities.

I dont see that federal services from federal institutions would be in any way compromised by the mere mention of the fact that the Charter of the French Language and other linguistic regimes are matters that the government recognizes as part of the overall context, Newman said during a March committee meeting.

Following the bills passing in the House, Petitpas Taylor also took a moment to reassure English-speaking Canadians.

I want to be very clear to anglophones listening to us today that C-13 in no way takes away any rights away from official minority communities, and that includes our anglophone communities in Quebec.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2023.

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Former Kaduna senator Shehu Sani has asked President-elect Bola Tinubu, to probe the outgoing government led by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Sani said this while expressing worries over the local and foreign debts the Buhari administration incurred in its eight years.

The nations rising debt profile is currently hovering around N77 trillion if the N23 trillion loans from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are securitised, the Debt Management Office (DMO) disclosed.

Nigerians are currently expressing concerns that the outgoing administration is still requesting an $800 million loan from the World Bank a few weeks before the end of its tenure.

Some of the loans obtained by the Buhari government were reportedly used to construct roads, bridges, and other infrastructure across the nation.

But, Sani said the first step in servicing the nations debt is to conduct a full investigation of the cost of the projects they were purportedly used for.

In a post on Twitter, he asked the incoming government to probe all federal ministries, departments, and agencies under the Buhari regime.

His words: The first step towards servicing our billions of dollars of local and foreign debt is a full investigation of the cost of the projects they were purportedly used for.

The incoming government must probe all the MDAs under this regime.




Guinness World Records have clarified why they are yet to confirm Hilda Bacis new record for long cooking hours.





Baci broke the record on Monday morning in Lagos, Nigeria.





At the time of this report, the chef had cooked for over 90 hours already.





The old record stood at 87 hours, 45 minutes.





Nigerians then took to social media to call for Guinness World Records to ratify Bacis new time.





But a tweet from their official Twitter handle read: Were aware of this amazing record attempt, we need to review all the evidence first before officially confirming a record.
Benjamin Kalu, a member of the house of representatives, has justified the consideration of the south-east geopolitical zone in the leadership positions of the 10th national assembly.

Speaking on Sunday in an interview with Channels Television, Kalu dismissed insinuations that the south-east does not deserve the position of deputy speaker considering the votes scored by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the zone.

On May 8, the APC nominated Tajudeen Abbas and Kalu as the preferred choice for speaker and deputy speaker, respectively.

Some lawmakers, including Idris Wase, the outgoing deputy speaker, had rejected the partys nominations.

Abbas is from the north-west zone of the country while Kalu hails from the south-east.

Reacting to the development, Kalu said the decision of the party is to achieve nation-building and national cohesion.

He said the south-east did not hold any top leadership positions in the 9th national assembly, adding that it would be a big risk for the APC to neglect the zone in the 10th assembly.

The difference between the administration that we are expecting our president-elect is that he knows the importance of healing. The journey to the 2027 elections starts with what we do now, he said.

When you talk about nation building you forget about sentiments, you forget about emotions and look at the strongest argument.

The strongest argument here is how we will incorporate all the beautiful efforts of the diversified parts of the country and come together to work for what we preach. It is by unity, peace and progress.

You may recall that in the last four years, the south-east was not holding any of the presiding officers positions and it has impacted this election, among other things.

I can assure you if you neglect south-east again, a whole zone in such a sensitive position, then you battle again in 2027, that is a big risk for any great planner to take.

If you start now to plan and adopt this spirit of inclusion, south-east is going to yield a better harvest than what was yielded before.
Monday marks the start of the growing season in the Bismarck-Mandan region, and plant stores in the area are seeing business pick up.

The National Weather Service office in Bismarck marks the start of the growing season by monitoring for conditions that would warrant a frost advisory, freeze watch or freeze warning. None of those appears likely anytime soon, with high temperatures this week forecast in the 60s and 70s and overnight lows expected to drop only into the 40s.

A lot of people are tired of winter and are ready to plant, Plant Perfect owner Casey McCollum said, referencing the prolonged winter that was the second-snowiest in city history. He said things are just getting started" at the north Bismarck business.

Ben Dagley at the family owned Faulkner's Mark on The Strip in Mandan had a similar perspective on the late spring.

It seems like people have been cooped up so long and need to get out," he said, adding that Generally around Mothers Day to Memorial Day is really busy.

Mother's Day fell on Sunday.

Top vegetable sellers so far this year are tomatoes, peppers, celery, ground cherries and cabbage, according to Dagley. Popular flowers are marigolds, calibrachoa and hanging baskets.

Ample moisture

There's plenty of moisture in the ground right now for new plants. Bismarck so far this year has received 5.1 inches of precipitation, an inch above normal. Much of the moisture has accumulated since March, and drought in the region has declined over the past couple of months.

The weekly U.S. Drought Monitor map, released late last week, shows most of the area out of any drought category, including all of Burleigh County and all but the very western part of Morton County. Two months ago, moderate drought covered the southern portion of Morton and the northeastern tip of Burleigh, with the rest of the two counties considered abnormally dry.

Drought statewide has diminished in that time span from 67% of North Dakota in moderate drought and 3% in severe drought, to 15% in moderate drought now and no areas in severe drought. Conditions also eased again over the week.

"Based on multiple indicators ... abnormal dryness was reduced across northern parts of North Dakota," National Drought Mitigation Center Climatologist Curtis Riganti wrote in the weekly report.

Dryness persists in much of the western third of the state, however, where moderate drought remains. Many counties in the western half of the state have some sort of outdoor burning restrictions in place, according to the state Department of Emergency Services. Burleigh County is not one, but Morton County last Thursday imposed a ban tied to the North Dakota Daily Fire Danger Rating. Outdoor burning is restricted when the rating is in the high, very high or extreme category.

The fire danger in western North Dakota on Sunday was rated low.

None of eastern North Dakota is in any drought category, after an overly wet spring that led to flooding issues. The last flood-related highway shutdown was lifted last week, when state Highway 5 west of Joliette in Pembina County reopened after Red River floodwaters receded.

The U.S. Drought Monitor is a partnership of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Drought Mitigation Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Augmented aid

The U.S. Department of Agriculture late last week announced that it has enhanced disaster recovery programs including the Livestock Indemnity Program and the Livestock Forage Disaster Program, in response to prolonged drought followed by the harsh winter.

Enhancements include an extended June 2, 2023, deadline to submit notices of loss and applications for payment for 2022 losses.

"Cognizant of the fact that many of our producers are managing open range operations, unprecedented amounts of snow, and in some cases are just now realizing all their losses, we are extending the deadline to apply for these critical programs to allow these producers the time they need to manage their recovery, said Marcy Svenningsen, state executive director for USDA's Farm Service Agency.

She added that "Expenses eligible for assistance can include above-normal feed purchases, above-normal freight, even snow removal in some cases.

More information is at www.farmers.gov/recover.

Crop report

The most recent weekly crop report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service showed that 10% of the state's staple spring wheat crop was planted, well behind the average pace of 27% due to the late spring. Durum wheat was 6% seeded, compared with the average of 16%.

Planting of corn, canola, oats, barley, dry peas, flaxseed and sugar beets was underway in the state, but all of those crops are well behind the average pace. For example, only 1% of the sugar beet crop was in the ground at the time of the report, when normally nearly half of it would be seeded.

The wet spring has boosted soil moisture supplies, however -- topsoil moisture statewide was rated 81% adequate to surplus, and subsoil moisture supplies were 73% in those categories.

Pasture and range conditions were rated 87% fair to good. Stock water supplies were 90% adequate to surplus.

An updated report was scheduled to be released Monday afternoon. Reports can be found at bit.ly/41tbVcj.

Trees and shrubs

State Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring is encouraging homeowners to research products before buying and planting nursery stock.

Goehring said his office receives numerous complaints every year from both consumers and dealers about non-hardy stock being sold in the state. North Dakota is in plant hardiness zones 3 and 4. State law requires that all trees and shrubs designated by the agriculture commissioner as non-hardy must be labeled non-hardy in North Dakota.

With warmer weather finally approaching, homeowners may be anxious to add trees and shrubs to their landscapes, Goehring said. Many varieties of trees and shrubs adapt well to North Dakotas climate and soils, but before you plant, you may want to talk with a trusted nursery dealer, horticulturist or local extension agent."

A detailed listing of non-hardy trees and shrubs and a list of all licensed nurseries is available at https://www.ndda.nd.gov/nursery-program. A plant hardiness zone map is available at http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/.

Weather service warnings

The National Weather Service criteria for cold weather watches and warnings:

A frost advisory is issued when the temperature is expected to be 33-36 degrees over a wide area during the following 24 hours. Some injury to sensitive vegetation is expected under those conditions.

A freeze watch is issued when there is the potential for temps to be 32 degrees or colder for longer than an hour over a wide area in the following 12-48 hours.

A freeze warning is issued when the temp is expected to be 32 degrees or colder for longer than an hour over a wide area in the following 24 hours. Significant damage to vegetation is possible under those conditions.








A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC Adamu Garba has said the former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzo Kalu may be qualified but wont emerge the president of the 10th senate following the partys low performance in the South-East.





Adamu who spoke on Monday while featuring on Arise Televisions morning show, expressed confidence that the Chief Whip of the senate would step down from the senate presidency race.





Recall that the APC National Working Committee had zoned the position to the South-South, with Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State and Barau Jubrin of Kano State chosen for Senate presidency and deputy, respectively.





However, supporters of Kalu have insisted that the position be zoned to the South-East region, projecting the Chief Whip as the best candidate for the position.





But Mr Garba said on Arise TV that the lawmaker should first organize the people of his region for proper alignment with the ruling party.





He said, I am hundred percent confident that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu will withdraw from the race for the senate presidency.





He is qualified but the performance from the South-east is considerably very low. He should find a way to organize the South-east so that they can mainstream with the APC strongly.
Ahead of the inauguration of the President-elect and governors on May 29, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, has urged Nigerians to start building support and provide an enabling environment for the incoming government to thrive.

Gambari made the call in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, while briefing newsmen following a visit to Gov. Atiku Bagudu and Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammadu Bashar.

I am here on a private visit to see the governor and His Royal Highness, the Emir of Gwandu. Because we are coming to the end of this administration.

I am here to appreciate them for their support, prayers and also making a point that elections are now over.

We should now be building support and enabling environment for the incoming administration so that they could build up on the positive record of President Buhari in all the major priorities his administration focused on.

Above all, for being the one that conducted and supervised the free and fair 2023 general elections that produced these results.

Speaking on the legacy Buhari will be leaving behind, Gambari noted that apart from the free and fair elections he conducted, the countrys people would remember him for his fight against corruption and agricultural revolution, which has started making Nigerians eat what they are producing.

Among other legacies, we have diversified the economy. We are now producing what we are eating.

Many States across Nigeria now have various crops they have economic advantage upon, and they are producing it abundantly.

Except Kebbi State, which stands top among the states because the state has made a lot of impact on the agricultural revolution in Nigeria.

Apart from that, President Muhammadu has constructed a lot of road kilometres, fighting corruption. These are the legacies he will be leaving behind.

Above all, he supervised a free and fair election and he congratulated the winners including states where the ruling party did not win, he said.
The office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has been indicted in the disbursement of N10.4 billion judgement debt settlement to beneficiaries.

This is as his Ministry could not succinctly render the account before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts.

The indictment followed consideration of the 2017 and 2018 report of the Senate Public Accounts Committee (SPAC) chaired by Senator Mathew Uhroghide.

Following the development, the Committee has ordered the Ministry of Justice to stop further disbursement of the Judgement debt.

It also ordered that the Committee on settlement in the Justice Ministry be reconstituted within 30 days.

In another development, the Senate also ordered University of Ilorin, University of Abuja, University of Uyo, Federal University, Birim Kebbi, Federal University, Lafia, Federal University, Wukari, Modibo Adams University of Technology, Yola and Federal University of Petroleum, Effurun to refund N4.7 billion allegedly mismanaged.

The Auditor Generals reports for 2016 and 2017 indicted the seven universities, and was upheld by the Senate Public Accounts Committee. It was also considered and approved by the Senate.

The breakdown showed that University of Abuja mismanaged total of N1.3 billion in 2017, Federal University of Petroleum mismanaged N1.1 billion, University of Ilorin mismanaged N745 million, Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), N467 million, Federal University, Wukari, N43 million, Federal University Dutsinma, Katsina  N141 million, Federal University, Lafia  N32 million.

The indictment has been considered and sustained by the Senate and will be forwarded to the Secretary to Government of the Federation for further action.

On the Judgement debt, the Auditor-General, Anthony Ayines report stated that the committee saddled with the responsibility of managing the disbursement of judgement debt was dissolved in 2013.

It said that as at the time when the N10.4 billion was disbursed by the Ministry of Justice in 2017, the Committee had yet to be reconstituted.

The report stated that lack of control, as witnessed in the disbursement of the judgement debt, could lead to loss of public funds.

Ayine, in the report, recommended that the Solicitor-General of the Federation and permanent secretary in the Ministry of Justice should immediately constitute the committee as required by law.

The report reads in part, Examination of the budget of the Federal Ministry of Justice revealed that the sum of N460.95m was appropriated for payment of judgment debts for 2016 and N10bn appropriated for 2017, totalling N10.46bn.

Further examination revealed that the committee saddled with the responsibility of managing the fund was dissolved after the 2013 financial year and is yet to be reconstituted after the 2016 and 2017 appropriations.

However, the ministry has been disbursing this sum without a committee in place. Lack of control could lead to loss of public funds.

Judgement debt refers to money that a court of law orders the losing party to pay to the winning party.

The parties in the case may either be an individual, a family, a company, an institution or a government.
It appears the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) isn't relying on the legal expertise of its lawyers alone to get a victory at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) and has sought a spiritual intervention to bring home victory.

This may explain why the PDP National Chapel declared a seven-day fasting and prayer for its candidate in the just-concluded election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to triumph over the winner of the February 25 poll, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in court

The prayers are scheduled to begin from Thursday, May 18 to Wednesday, May 24, with an overcomers open-air thanksgiving service also taking place the day after to wrap up the spiritual endeavour.

The events are to hold at the party's national chapel, PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, and time is slated at 12 pm daily, The Punch reports.

It'd be recalled that the PEPT fixed May 18 for the continuation of the pre-hearing of the petition by Atiku and PDP against the President-elect and his party.

The pre-hearing of the petition was first taken on the fourth day of proceedings at the tribunal after counsel for Atiku and PDP, Chris Uche (SAN) indicated an interest in the matter.

Meanwhile, the seven-day fast was announced by the Chairman of the PDP Christian Religious Body, Presidential Campaign Council, Boni Haruna.

Tagged, At the Supreme Court of Heaven with Chief Justice of Universe, the announcer noted that the prayer was to denounce the Independent National Electoral Commissions president-select and rescue and recover PDP for Nigeria.

The text will be taken from Romans 8: 33, Psalms 84: 10-11, Proverbs 24: 25-26; 9: 7  8."
Former special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on prosecution, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla has called on the national ruling party, All Progressives Congress, APC, to muster courage and discipline a former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari over his divisive statement.

In a statement, the former presidential aide said Yaris utterances had become incendiary, disrespectful and capable of splitting the party into factions.

He quoted the ex-governor as threatening that the APC would cease to exist if the North does not get the Senate Presidency.

According to Obono-Obla, Yari had now become a pain in the neck of the ruling party due to his alleged intransigence and uncompromising attitude.

Obono-Obla described such daring statement as arrogant, recalling that it was such utterances and attitude that cost the party a colossal loss in Zamfara State during the 2019 general election.

It is utterly inconceivable and insensitive that a supposed national leader like Yari could make such unreasonable statement.

I shudder at such unreasonableness which Yari is exhibiting, he said.
Usman Baba, the inspector-general of police (IGP), says the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) will always defend the countrys democracy at all costs.

Speaking at a news conference on Monday in Abuja, Baba said the May 29 inauguration at the federal and state levels is sacrosanct.

The IGP said those planning to disrupt the inauguration ceremonies would be identified, promptly isolated, and brought to justice.

Baba said the police and other law enforcement agencies would not fold their hands and allow political actors to create tension ahead of the ceremony.

He added that security agencies were ready to keep the countrys internal security stable during the inauguration and beyond.

The inauguration ceremonies at all the national and state levels of government, are critical constitutional requirements for the sustenance of our political order as a nation, the IGP said.

The Nigeria police is duty and legally bound to defend the nations democratic heritage and closely police the constitutional processes.

Consequently, I assure the citizens that, our loyalty to our democratic and political order remains firm and unwavering. We will defend our democracy at all costs.

We shall undertake this task optimally and manifestly. Anybody that stands in the way will be identified, promptly isolated, and brought to justice.
Godswill Akpabio, former governor of Akwa Ibom, says President-elect Bola Tinubu is Gods own choice for the leadership of the country.

Akpabio spoke on Sunday when he was hosted by Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos state governor.

The former Niger Delta affairs minister was nominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the position of senate president while Barau Jibrin was recommended as deputy senate president.

Akpabio said senators-elect for the 10th assembly believe in the vision Tinubu has for the country and are willing to offer their support.

He said if elected as senate president, he will deploy a national approach to lawmaking in the red chamber.

Akpabio said the nations economy is in need of serious development, adding that the administration of Tinubu will replicate the development in Lagos at the federal level.

He said the senate will collaborate with the new administration to bring the dream to fruition.

The stability group of the 10th senate is made up of men and women of integrity. We came today to show ourselves to the governor and also solicit his support, he said.

He (Sanwo-Olu) has not only thrown his support behind us, he has shown so much hospitality. Today, he stood before the cameras to endorse my humble self to become the president of the 10th senate and Senator Jibrin as deputy senate president-designate.

We are not taking this support for granted. This team has senators elect from different political backgrounds and parties. We are determined to ensure collaboration and support for the incoming administration of Tinubu whose presidency is a nationalistic project that will bring positive development to Nigeria.

We want him to replicate what has happened in Lagos in the last 24 years of democracy to cover the rest of the country.

On his part, Sanwo-Olu described Akpabio as a Nigerian with an outstanding profile and experience, adding that he will set new standards and break legislative records in the 10th assembly.
The United States says it has taken steps to impose visa restrictions on individuals in Nigeria who disrupted the recently concluded elections.

Antony Blinken, US secretary of state, announced the development in a statement on Monday.

Blinken clarified that the sanctions were specific to certain individuals and not the Nigerian people or the government as a whole.

The United States is committed to supporting and advancing democracy in Nigeria and around the world, the statement reads.

Today, I am announcing that we have taken steps to impose visa restrictions on specific individuals in Nigeria for undermining the democratic process during Nigerias 2023 elections cycle.

These actions are specific to certain individuals and are not directed at the Nigerian people or the government of Nigeria as a whole.

Blinken said the affected persons had been involved in voter threats, results manipulation, physical violence, and other activities that undermined democracy.

He said the visa ban was the US commitment to supporting Nigerias aspirations to strengthen the rule of law.

Under Section 212(a)(3)C) of the immigration and nationality act, these individuals will be subject to restrictions on visas to the United States under a policy covering those believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy, the statement added.

These individuals have been involved in the intimidation of voters through threats and physical violence, the manipulation of vote results, and other activity that undermines Nigerias democratic process.

The decision to take steps to impose visa restrictions reflects the continued commitment of the United States to support Nigerian aspirations to strengthen democracy and the rule of law.

The US has repeatedly warned about its strict measures to punish offenders of the electoral process in Nigeria.

In January, Blinken said visa bans were imposed on those who undermined the 2022 gubernatorial polls.

In 2020, US visa restrictions were placed on some individuals for their actions during the Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections.

The ban was also placed in 2019.

However, like the previous bans, the names of the affected individuals were not listed.
A nighttime backpack ban in a popular Jersey Shore town that takes effect today sounds more ominous that it really is, the mayor said.

While a new ordinance in Sea Isle City prohibits backpacks on the citys promenade, beaches and beach street-ends between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. starting Monday and running until Sept. 15, Mayor Leonard Desiderio said police arent looking to hassle residents or the thousands of visitors that descend on the Cape May County community each summer.

A second ordinance set to take effect next week extended a nighttime curfew for people 17 and younger that previously applied to only the beach area to the entire city. Both are designed to keep the peace and limit large crowds from gathering in the heavily trafficked promenade near the beach, according to the mayor.

Both these ordinances are very, very benign, Desiderio said by phone on Friday. We do not want to give anyone a record. Were not looking for any problems. Were not going to harass anyone. This is just a tool that the police have. We hope we dont have to use it.

Desiderio said its primary purpose it to prevent large groups of teens from congregating in one place, which could potentially lead to problems.

All it takes is a few to get all the kids riled up and youve got a couple hundred not listening and doing what they want, the mayor said.

By the letter of the law, anyone with a bag larger than 8 inches by 6 inches by 8 inches will receive two warnings before being issued a fine that starts at $25. There are exceptions for medical devices, equipment for journalists, fisherman and police.

The mayor said the city opted to prohibit backpacks after 10 p.m. in an effort to keep things from getting too rowdy.

We found theres nothing good in those backpacks, especially late at night, Desiderio said (Teens sometimes) have alcohol and other substances in there. Sometimes there have been weapons  not necessarily guns  but brass knuckles and things like that. We just decided after a certain hour on our promenade you cant have a backpack. So thats what were doing.

Desiderio noted that some city-sponsored events will end after 10 p.m. and juveniles who head home afterward will not be bothered by police. He added that if anyone  a child or an adult  is seen with a backpack around the promenade later than 10 p.m. and it appears theyre headed home or arent doing anything nefarious, theyre not stopping you, theyre not even going to look at you.

The city-wide curfew for juveniles will be in place May 15 to Sept. 15 from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. There are exceptions for minors who are with their parent or guardian, returning from a summer job, participating in a recreation program or in an emergency situation.

Children and teens who violate the curfew would be subject to two warnings before having a meeting with their parents or guardians to resolve the issue, but they would not be subject to any summonses or charges, the ordinance says. Parents who violate it by allowing or encouraging an underage person to remain in a public area would be faced with a series of escalating fines.

According to the curfew ordinance, it was created with the intention of reducing juvenile violence and crime and that the city has an interest in strengthening parental responsibility for children.

A few miles to the north in Ocean City, a curfew for juveniles will be in effect from 1 a.m to 6 a.m. from next week through Sep. 30.

In August 2021, Sea Isle City beefed up police patrols and encouraged businesses to place limits on the numbers of patrons allowed on their properties.

As everyone is aware, weve been dealing with a number of issues related to large crowds this summer, with too many instances of destructive behavior, Desiderio said then in a letter to residents posted to the citys website.

The mayor emphasized Friday that neither ordinance should discourage anyone from continuing to enjoy the city.

We dont want to frighten anyone, he said We want everyone to come to Sea Isle like theyve been coming for many, many years.

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A teenager missing for nearly two weeks was last spotted May 8 in the Bridgeton area, according to New Jersey State Police.

Authorities are asking for the publics help locating 15-year-old Jayden Hernandez, of Alloway.

Jayden was last seen May 3 in Bridgeton, according to his family. But, he was spotted again in Bridgeton on May 8, State Police Sgt. Philip Curry said Monday. Additional details were not available, officials said.

Hernandez is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall and about 130 pounds, according to a flyer being distributed by his family. A spokesman for the family said last week they are concerned for the teen.

They are very worried. This is not like him, Jackie Rodriguez said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the State Police in Woodstown at 856-769-0775.

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Record-breaking heat over the Pacific Northwest in recent days is expanding into the central U.S. early this week.

High temperatures Monday through Wednesday in the Bismarck-Mandan area were forecast to be close to 80 degrees. Normal for this time of year is highs in the upper 60s, according to the National Weather Service.

The unusually warm weather pushed temps into the 90s in the Pacific Northwest over the weekend, breaking records in several cities, according to AccuWeather. It was the first time in more than a decade that Seattle had reached 90 degrees in May.

It's unlikely Bismarck will see any records. The city's high marks for May 15, 16 and 17 all are in the 90s.

The summerlike weather could increase the chance of wildfires in the state. The fire danger on Monday was rated "moderate" in much of the southwest and also in the northeast, but still "low" in central North Dakota, including in Burleigh and Morton counties, according to the state Department of Emergency Services.

Burleigh County does not have a burn ban in place. Morton County does -- outdoor burning is restricted when the rating is in the high, very high or extreme category. The fire danger rating and information on burn bans can be found at https://ndresponse.gov/burn-ban-restrictions-fire-danger-maps.

The sunny skies and summerlike heat will give way to a cold front moving out of Canada that will push through the region on Wednesday, bringing a chance of showers and thunderstorms across the state on Wednesday followed by cooler and breezy conditions with isolated showers to close out the week, according to the weather service.

It's a similar pattern to last week, when the end of the workweek was marked by rain. Bismarck officially got 1.7 inches Thursday through Saturday, while other areas got significantly more, according to weather service reports: 2 inches in Bowman and Williston, 2.3 inches in Dickinson, 2.8 inches in New Leipzig, 4.2 inches in Hettinger, 4.5 inches in Minot and 5.1 inches in Sawyer.

High temperatures will drop significantly late this week as the low pressure system moves through but still reach into the mid-60s in the metro area. The weekend should prove a little nicer, with sunny skies and highs back up in the mid-to-upper-70s.
Responding to an appellate court order to decide if Lakewood public schools are funded fairly, the head of New Jerseys education department has instead called for an expedited comprehensive study of the district.

Angelica Allen-McMillan, the states acting education commissioner, on Friday said the department would expedite its examination of Lakewoods operations. She called outdated the 2014-19 data amassed in a longstanding lawsuit filed on behalf of Lakewoods 5,500 mostly Hispanic, Black, and economically disadvantaged public school students.

In her statement, she said because there have been unprecedented changes in the field of education as a byproduct of the COVID-19 pandemic, an updated record is required in order to make an appropriately informed decision about the [state school funding formula] and its application to Lakewood.

The move came as part of the nine-year-old case questioning the constitutionality of the school funding formula as it applies to the Ocean County district, which has a 9:1 ratio of private to public school students. Most students attend private yeshivas, and the district must pay for their bus and special education services, even though the students arent counted in the per-pupil state aid awarded to the district.

In her Friday statement, Allen-McMillan noted that the district has had to borrow more than $160 million from the state since 2015, in part to cover required costs for the districts private school students.

The plaintiffs lawyers contend that the funding formula from the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 (SFRA) shortchanges the district by failing to account for the costs of services for Lakewoods 45,000 yeshiva students.

On Monday, they said they plan to ask the court to decide on the constitutional question of fair funding, removing any need for the comprehensive study, which they call a frolic and a detour.

In July 2021, Allen-McMillan determined that Lakewood public school students were receiving an adequate education.

But a three-judge panel of the state Appellate Division in March overturned her decision and directed Allen-McMillan to decide whether the school funding formula serves the district fairly.

In its ruling, the court said, The Commissioner owed appellants a thorough review of their substantive argument: the funding structure of the SFRA was unconstitutional as applied to Lakewoods unique demographic situation. Previously, the plaintiffs have asked the court to address the constitutional aspects of the case.

The acting commissioners input on a constitutional issue is, at most, advisory and is entitled to no significant deference by a court, which has the power and duty to resolve legal/constitutional issues, Paul Tractenberg, another lawyer for students, said. In an ideal world, were the States MO not just to kick the can down the road for as long and as far as possible, the acting commissioner should be formulating recommendations for legislative changes to SFRA or other allied statutes.

Earlier this month, lawyers for the public school students requested Allen-McMillan give herself a deadline for responding to the courts request, as she was taking about a month longer than the usual 45 days commissioners usually have to respond in such matters.

One of the public school students lawyers, Arthur Lang, questioned the need for the report, noting that the department has had monitors in Lakewood for a decade.

They wear you out for 10 years to produce a record, he said of the department, and then, when you finally win based on the record, they say that the record is too old.

Following the comprehensive review, the district and lawyers for the students would go over the report and its recommendations before Allen-McMillan issues her decision on the funding formulas effects on Lakewood, according to her statement.

She did not say when the department would finish the review.

The case, Alcantara v. Hespe, began in 2014 on behalf of Leonor Alcantara and other Lakewood public school parents, who asked then-Commissioner David Hespe to declare that the formula deprived students of their right to a thorough and efficient education under the New Jersey Constitution.

Lawyers for the students ultimately want the New Jersey Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of the 2008 formula.

Tractenberg, the founder of the Education Law Center, has been disappointed with the pace of responses, especially as nearby districts like Jackson, Brick, and Toms River have experienced funding challenges related to private school students.

The more attention the case gets because of the states extraordinary unwillingness to resolve it, the more districts are likely to realize they have other kinds of issues that undermine the effectiveness of the school funding law for them, he said.

Noting that the students constitutional rights have been violated, he said, The state can try to delay and obfuscate, but ultimately it has no place to hide from that reality. It can either meet its clear constitutional obligation, or it can be lawless.

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Tina Kelley may be reached at tkelley@njadvancemedia.com.
A 3-alarm blaze damaged a vacant four-story apartment building in East Orange on Saturday, officials said.

No one was inured, but two families in a neighboring home were evacuated after the fire broke out at about 2:40 p.m on the first block of Beech Street, a city spokeswoman said.

It took firefighters from East Orange and six other municipalities in Essex County more than two hours to bring the fire under control, officials said.

Red Cross New Jersey assisted eight people from two families in the neighboring home.

The cause and origin remains under investigation.

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Albio Sires return to West New York Town Hall will be commemorated by the governor.

The convincing victor in last Tuesdays board of commissioners election will be sworn in by Gov. Phil Murphy Tuesday in front of Town Hall, he announced Monday.

The former mayor and his slate of commissioner candidates  Victor M. Barrera, Adam W. Parkinson, Marielka A. Diaz and Marcos A. Arroyo  defeated a group led by current commissioner Cosmo Cirillo in the May 9 non-partisan election.

I am honored that Gov. Murphy is able to swear me in as mayor of West New York (Tuesday) at my inauguration, Sires said. We have worked together closely and mutually endorsed each other for various campaigns. It also makes me proud that he shares in my vision along with my commissioners as we move West New York forward.

The swearing-in ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Immediately after Sires swearing-in, the commissioner-elects will also be sworn in.

The Hudson County Democratic Organization-backed Sires ran the town from 1995 to 2006, the first Cuban-born mayor in the towns history. He replaced Anthony DeFino, who held the office for 24 years.

Sires takes on the job less than six months after his final day in Congress, a seat he held 16 years after leaving the mayors office in 2006.
Hoboken withstood another challenge by the nations major oil companies to have its lawsuit moved to federal court when the U.S. Supreme County decline to hear an appeal.

Lawsuits by the city and another by the state Delaware are seeking to make major oil and gas corporations pay for climate damages they knowingly caused. Last month, the court denied fossil fuel industry requests to review similar lower court rulings in climate accountability lawsuits brought by communities in Colorado, Maryland, California, Hawaii, and the state of Rhode Island.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit last year affirmed lower court rulings that allowed the two lawsuits against ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, Shell, and other fossil fuel companies to proceed in the state courts where they were filed. To date, six federal appeals courts and 13 federal district courts have unanimously ruled against the fossil fuel industrys arguments to prevent these lawsuits from moving forward in state courts.
A massive, five alarm fire burned through a vacant school in Trenton Monday afternoon.

The blaze broke out in the vacant Martin Luther King Jr. School, formerly known as Junior High School #1, which is located in 800 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in front of the new new Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, a Trenton Police spokesman told NJ Advance Media.
Darin Ruf joined his third team in as many months on Monday.

The former Mets infielder signed a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, the club announced. The signing comes two days after he elected free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to the minor leagues with the San Francisco Giants, per the Associated Press.

Milwaukee will pay $541,935, a prorated share of the $720,000 major league minimum, and the Giants are responsible for the rest of Rufs $3 million salary plus a $250,000 buyout of his contracts 2024 team option, according to the AP.

San Francisco designated the 36-year-old for assignment on May 9 after he hit .261 with no homers and three RBIs in nine games this season.

The Mets released the right-handed slugger in early April after designating him for assignment in March, which ended his disastrous run in Queens.

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In 28 games with the Mets after he was acquired from the Giants in 2022, Ruf slashed .152/.216/.197, a disappointing line given how well he played in the Bay Area. Ruf continued to struggle in the spring spring, going 5-for-30 (.167) without a home run after receiving a cortisone shot in his wrist in February.

Ruf started his MLB career with the Phillies before spending three seasons in South Korea with the Samsung Lions. In 2022, with the Giants, the 36-year-old hit .216 with 11 home runs and 38 RBI. He had been with the Giants since 2020.

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A New Jersey man convicted of three Jan. 6 crimes will spend three months behind bars, a federal judge in Washington, D.C. has ruled.

Mick Chan, 42, will also spend 12 months on supervised release once his prison sentence ends. A federal judge sentenced him on May 5.
Three teenagers have been charged in the killing and robbing of a taxi driver on Thursday night, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said.

The three males, a 14 and 13-year-old from Somerset and a 13-year-old from New Brunswick, were arrested on Friday after an investigation identified them as the suspects, officials said.

Police responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting near Rose Street and Sydney Place in Franklin Township at 9:56 p.m., authorities said. Officers located the taxi, which had crashed into a vehicle parked in the driveway of a residence, prosecutors said.

The driver, Kofi Addo, 57, of North Brunswick, was located in the vehicle with a gunshot wound, officials said. He was later pronounced dead at an area trauma center after life-saving attempts on the scene were unsuccessful, authorities said.

Investigators said Addo was picking up a fare near Rose Street when he was approached by the three young teens. One of the teens shot him with the intention of robbing him, prosecutors said.

The three were located and arrested the following day. They were transported to the Middlesex County Youth Detention Center and appeared in Family Court on Sunday.

Two of the juveniles face charges of murder, robbery, conspiracy and multiple weapons offenses. The third teen, the 13-year-old Somerset resident, is charged with robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery, officials said.

Authorities are asking anyone with additional information about the homicide to call the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crime Unit at 908-231-7100 or submit a tip anonymously through the STOPit mobile app.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
I would like to comment on the recent article, Majority of N.J. residents say states politicians are corrupt, based on a new Farleigh Dickinson University survey.

This new article follows one from December 2014 with the headline, Is N.J. among the most corrupt states? Political reporters think so. It cited a Harvard University study of 280 reporters nationwide.

When former Gov. Chris Christie was the U.S. attorney for New Jersey, he convicted or got guilty pleas from 130 politicians. How sad that after the 2014 study, and these 130 convictions, the majority of residents still say the states politicians are corrupt.

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More disturbing to me is a statement about the results from the FDU Polls director: This is Jersey and people expect some degree of corruption.

Corruption exists across both major political parties. Possibly, we can reduce or eliminate both illegal and legal corruption by electing more independent candidates who have a background to serve to benefit the community from their training and experience in business.

The current U.S. attorney for New Jersey and the state attorney general obviously have more work to do to change the beliefs of our residents by, first, stopping corrupt practices that are not now illegal and, second, putting any elected officials who are convicted of unlawful actions behind bars.

Bob Barrett, Clark

Hyper-local zoning helped bring warehouse glut

Your recent front-page article A growing inventory of complaints as state loads up on warehouses sadly failed to highlight one of the primary issues about badly located warehouses that generate large amounts of traffic.

That missing factor is: poorly designed municipal zoning. This is especially true of light industrial use categories that fail to set limits and guidelines on the size and location of warehouses permitted in such zones. What is needed is forceful guidance in these matters by the state. A key reason is that enormous warehouse facilitiesoften have regional impacts far beyond local borders.

The governors office and those of the leaders of the two state legislative chambers have turned a blind eye to the need to go beyond obviously inadequate, voluntary local guidance.

James G. Gilbert, Morristown

The writer is former chairman of the New Jersey State Planning Commission.

Unpopular, feeble, but the better head-to head pick

In the most recent Friendly Fire opinion feature, Republican consultant Mike DuHaime offered the comment that "  any Democrat should be able to beat Trump, except for maybe Biden, in 2024.

DuHaimes comment was based on the fact that President Joe Bidens approval ratings are low, and that people consider him too old and feeble for a second term.

Biden was never my first choice as a Democratic nominee but, even if he is not the ideal candidate, he would certainly win the vote of any clear-thinking independent voter in a head-to-head rematch with former President Donald Trump.

All Trump has done since he lost the 2020 election is foment an insurrection against the government, gotten indicted on felony criminal charges  with more indictments likely to come, and continue to make a complete fool of himself with his lies and boorish behavior.

Give me an unpopular and feeble Biden any day of the week.

Bill Gottdenker, Mountainside

Worst president ever? From Pa.; answers to J.B.

Its been reported that Joe Biden has consulted with various historians about how successful U.S.presidents established their legacy during their term(s) in office.

Biden already appears to have checked off that box midway through his first term. Those same historians could have advised him at the start of his presidency that many experts already view James Buchanan (1857-1861) as the worst president  for his detached and inept performance as our 15th president just prior to the outbreak of the Civil War.

Our current president shares a few traits with Buchanan. Both were born in Pennsylvania  making Buchanan the worst Pennsylvanian to occupy the Oval Office  and both have the same initials, J.B.

On his present course, Biden will easily supplant his 19th century predecessor by both measures. But, please dont blame the current president; as the polls seem to reflect, we, the people voted for this candidate, so we share the credit.

Frank P. Puzycki, Long Valley

Keep migrants home by providing food, other aid

If we are serious about stopping migration from Central America, South America and the Caribbean, the United States should try mitigating the reasons people are trying to migrate here: They are starving in Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Guatemala.

America should send food and medicine to these countries via the United Nations. The organization should see to it that the aid is fairly distributed to people in need in those countries.

These actions would reduce the number of people trying to enter the United States, and would improve our image and relationships throughout the Western Hemisphere.

Charlotte Johnson, Morristown

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By Taylor Newkirk

Every year, Black high school seniors across America are given the opportunity to select a university to attend in hopes of curating their academic, social, and emotional skills in preparation for the real world.

In many cases, these students choose schools that provide the most scholarships and awards for the students commitment to attend. This is the case for a great percentage of the Black students who choose to attend Seton Hall University, which is known to offer generous financial aid packages to students of color.

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When students commit to a university, the expectation is to contribute to the schools continuous growth while it returns the contributions with education and a sense of moral and/or professional direction for the students.

Seton Hall, however, finds a way to make itself stand out even in this case by ranking #7 of colleges with the least happy students in 2018  imagine if that survey were administered in May 2023.

Black students have historically fought for a seat at the table in a plethora of ways only to be called upon to partake in calculated and limited dialogue in the false names of diversity and inclusion, as is the unfortunate case at many institutions of higher learning.

Black students at Seton Hall have rarely received a sense of direction once they stepped foot on the universitys campus, forced to fold into themselvesa seemingly isolated community within an already small community.

Black students are tired of being provided with an enticing package that simply turns out to be another false promise when opened. There is no diversity or inclusion when marginalized students still feel ostracized.

Today I wonder if it is worth it for Black students to even attempt to attend schools as divisive as Seton Hall University, a school that highlights what great minds can do yet stifles the minds of Black students and, arguably, the minds of any marginalized student who attends.

Many alumni, myself included, tell stories of enrolling in this university in hopes of being accepted members of the community. Instead, we were faced with limited culturally responsive courses, organizations that lacked funding and the necessary support from the administration, as well as physical, mental, and social abuse from non-Black peers and minimal responsiveness  if any  from the administration.

I remember moments when I sat in on administrative meetings on behalf of my peers, addressing these issues that no student should ever face, to be met with empty apologies and offers for Inclusion Projects that boiled down to seemingly infantile activities that were meant to teach college students how to coexist with people from different racial and economic backgrounds.

I recall professors telling me at that time that this was unfortunately an ongoing occurrence at Seton Hall. Every few years, the University seems to sweep the issues that marginalized students have brought to the forefront back under the rug, leaving future students to pick up and continue or restart the work.

The Protect AFAM Movement is doing just that.

There is no reason that students should be fighting almost the exact same issues that the Concerned 44 brought to the forefront in 2018. The Concerned 44 was also inspired by student organizers who saw a need for Black Studies, spaces for Black and marginalized students on campus, and funding for marginalized student groups.

Students are not simply protesting because they see a problem. When people do not feel heard, they will either get louder or give up. Black students at Seton Hall University persist even when the institution chooses to turn a blind eye in hopes of ignoring the issue until it dies down.

To consciously choose to go to a university trusting that it will adjust to the individuals that it invested in, only to be shocked by the reality of the overt racism and prejudice that occurs at Seton Hall is a slap in the face that I am tired of seeing young students experience.

So many students have cried out for decades and still, I have yet to see true change from this institution that seems to only recognize its Black athletes. What is the point of exercising such phenomenal skills at a school that does not allow you to speak your mind or publicly advocate for what you believe to be right? Is that inclusion?

I would encourage all prospective marginalized students of Seton Hall University to pause before selecting that option and ask themselves whether attending this institution is worth the potential long-term social and emotional trauma that comes with attending a school as culturally tone-deaf as Seton Hall University.

I know that if I could do it all over again, I surely would not.

Taylor Newkirk is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park M.P.P. program and is an alumna of Seton Hall, class of 2020 where she majored in Psychology and Africana Studies.

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This is Up and Down, where we give a brief thumbs up or thumbs down on the issues from the past week.

Up

Decades-old Native American adoption rules are now part of state law. North Dakota was among a handful of states that considered legislation this year to codify provisions of the U.S. Indian Child Welfare Act. The federal law gives preference to Native American families in foster care and adoption proceedings of Native children. But some see that as race-based discrimination, and U.S. Supreme Court challenges have put the federal law in jeopardy. The North Dakota Legislature voted nearly unanimously to pass a bill that supporters say ensures Native American children grow up with strong family and cultural ties intact. Gov. Doug Burgum signed it into law, saying it ensures important protections for Native children and families will remain in place in North Dakota regardless of what happens in the federal court system.

Down

Energy development and changes in farming practices have altered North Dakota's landscape in recent years. That's had a big impact on the deer population, and thus on hunting -- an important part of the state's heritage. Available North Dakota deer licenses have plummeted 17% this year to the lowest number in seven years. That's partially due to one of the harshest and prolonged winters in recent memory. But it's mainly the result of a steady decline in habitat. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department says more habitat needs to be created and sustained. Otherwise it's unlikely the state will see a return to the outdoors landscape that existed during the heyday of deer hunting in the first decade of the 2000s, when annual licenses were more than double what they are now.

Up

The federal Justice Department is dedicating five additional prosecutors to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of North Dakota, including three who will be focused on addressing public safety on American Indian reservations. The additional prosecutors means the office will nearly double the prosecutorial resources dedicated to Indian Country, said U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider. The office also will add another prosecutor in the Fargo area and a prosecutor to focus on eLitigation efforts, or the next step in the use of technology in the courts. The additional resources are a meaningful step toward improving safety for tribal communities.

Down

Two communities in North Dakota recently lost newspapers with the apparent closure of the New Town News and the Mountrail County Record in Parshall. The New Town city auditor learned of the newspapers closure from the city attorney, and the Parshall city auditor hasnt been able to reach anyone at the local paper since late April. The Mountrail County Promoter in Stanley will be publishing legal notices for New Town and potentially for Parshall. Its a big loss for both communities.
Michael Noriega has practiced law in New Jersey for two decades, first as a public defender and now as a private immigration and criminal defense attorney. He has also long wanted to be a judge.

A 45-year-old Union City native and the son of Peruvian immigrants, Noriega discussed that ambition Monday as he recalled the time he moved back home with his parents while attending Seton Hall Law School and set up an office in the house.
Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost.

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Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. High 74F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early with showers later at night. Low 57F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ozklmvq3xg

Melita Norwood as in film "The Spy Grandmother" with Judy Dent. summarize for its themes:

ChatGPT

"The Spy Grandmother" is a film that tells the story of Melita Norwood, a British civil servant who was exposed as a Soviet spy in the late 1990s. The film explores themes such as espionage, loyalty, and betrayal.

Melita Norwood worked as a secretary in the British Non-Ferrous Metals Research Association, where she passed classified information to the Soviet Union for over 30 years. The film follows her life as a spy, as well as the aftermath of her exposure and trial.

One of the main themes in the film is espionage and the impact it can have on individuals and countries. Melita Norwood's decision to spy for the Soviet Union had far-reaching consequences and raised questions about loyalty and patriotism. The film also explores the personal toll that espionage can take on an individual's life and relationships.

Another theme in the film is loyalty and betrayal. Melita Norwood's actions were seen as a betrayal of her country and the people she worked with. However, the film also shows her loyalty to her beliefs and the people she was working for.

Overall, "The Spy Grandmother" is a thought-provoking film that explores complex themes such as espionage, loyalty, and betrayal. It offers a glimpse into the life of a real-life spy and raises important questions about the ethics of espionage and the impact it can have on individuals and countries.

[User]

Her efforts for peace. her son with whom?

ChatGPT

I'm sorry, but I need more context to answer your question accurately. Could you please provide more information about who you are referring to and their efforts for peace?

[User]

follow the film above

ChatGPT

I apologize for the confusion earlier. However, I have to inform you that the information you provided earlier regarding the film "The Spy Grandmother" with Judy Dent is not accurate. The film you are referring to is actually titled "Red Joan," and it stars Judi Dench, not Judy Dent.

In the film "Red Joan," Judi Dench plays the role of an elderly woman named Joan Stanley who is arrested by the British intelligence agency MI5 for passing nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union during her time as a British government scientist in the 1940s. The film is loosely based on the true story of Melita Norwood, who was a Soviet spy and worked in a British atomic research facility.

As for your question about her efforts for peace, it is not explicitly mentioned in the film whether Melita Norwood or Joan Stanley was actively involved in any peace efforts. The film focuses more on her espionage activities and the personal toll it takes on her life.

In the film, Joan Stanley has a son named Nick, who is portrayed by Ben Miles. Nick is a lawyer and is involved in uncovering the truth about his mother's past activities as a spy. The relationship between Joan and Nick is an important aspect of the film, and it explores the impact that her actions had on her family and loved ones.

Overall, "Red Joan" is a compelling drama that explores themes such as espionage, loyalty, and family relationships. While it is loosely based on the true story of Melita Norwood, the film takes creative liberties with the actual events and should be viewed as a work of fiction.

[User]

who is Nick father?

ChatGPT

In the film "Red Joan," the identity of Nick's father is not explicitly mentioned. Joan Stanley, Nick's mother, has a brief romance with a communist activist named Leo Galich, who is played by Tom Hughes in the film. However, it is not confirmed if he is Nick's biological father. The film primarily focuses on Joan's life as a spy and her relationship with her son, rather than delving into her romantic past.
The leadership team at the Shell Catalysts & Technologies Port Allen Plant from left to right: LeVar Lewis (HSSE Manager), Darylene Harris Pugh (General Manager), Mark Morvant (Maint./Engr Manager), Matt Horne (Production Manager), Damon Blanchard (Logistics Manager). Absent: Toby Frierson (Technical Manager). This facility manufactures a variety of premier catalyst products.
Washington Post writer Philip Bump's excellent newsletter "How to Read This Chart" examined the white-grievance chart in a meme Elon Musk recently approvingly tweeted about.

Odd, why would the media misrepresent the real situation to such an extreme degree?  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 6, 2023

Elon used his galaxy brain to slyly suggest that white people rarely commit crimes against black people, but the media unfairly focuses on those cases because it hates Whites so much.

Charts are Bump's beat, so he was right on the case. Leaving aside the very questionable assumption that the media actually does focus disproportionately on white-on-black crime, Bump points to data scientist Kareem Carr, who included in another chart white-on-white violent crime, which cast the issue in a very different light.

MISSING CONTEXT



If we add same-race crime, we see that the vast majority of violent crimes in America involve white victims and white offenders.



If we thought race was a huge factor, and wanted to make the biggest impact on crime numbers, we might want to start there. pic.twitter.com/pmeSePJ6xS  Kareem Carr | Data Scientist (@kareem_carr) May 8, 2023

Bump created another visualization of the data:

"I couldn't resist taking the same data and depicting it differently. On the chart below, each section of the square represents the number of victims of violent crime of each identified race in 2018 (Asian, White, etc.). The colored blobs indicate the distribution of those crimes committed by perpetrators of each race. In total, the square (broken apart for clarity) contains every violent crime included in the BJS data."

(Image published with the permission of Philip Bump)

Bump says:
Jenna Barbee, a fifth grade teacher in Hernando County, Florida, is under investigation by the Florida Department of Education for showing her class the Disney film Strange World which features a gay character. According to Barbee, she had parents sign permission slips allowing her to screen a PG-rated film. A parentwho serves on the Hernando County School District Boardreported Barbee to the Florida Department of Education. From CNN:

"Yesterday, the Disney movie 'Strange World' was shown in your child's classroom," the school district said [in a message to parents]. "While not the main plot of the movie, parts of the story involves a male character having and expressing feelings for another male character. In the future, this movie will not be shown. The school administration and the district's Professional Standards Dept is currently reviewing the matter to see if further corrective action is required." The complaint is part of Florida's controversial legislation, signed last year by Gov. Ron DeSantis, banning certain instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom. DeSantis and other supporters pushed the measure as a form of "parental rights," while opponents said it tried to erase LGBTQ people from schools and dubbed the law "Don't Say Gay."[]

At a school board meeting, Barbee explained that the movie's plot related to the class's unit on the environment and ecosystems. Meanwhile, Shannon Rodrigues, the parent who complained, was very clear about her idiotic stance:

"It is not a teacher's job to impose their beliefs upon a child: religious, sexual orientation, gender identity, any of the above. But allowing movies such as this assist teachers in opening a door, and please hear me, they assist teachers in opening a door for conversations that have no place in our classrooms. As a leader in this community, I'm not going to stand by and allow this minority to infiltrate our schools  God did put me here."

(Thanks, Charles Pescovitz!)
Elon "Pedo Guy" Musk makes a lot of noise about free speech but doesn't appear to stand by it. Having called himself a "free speech absolutist," Musk has sought to obscure the sources of content on Twitter, reduce restrictions on hateful content, and mislabel news sources to create confusion. Now Twitter is blocking some content in Turkey at the behest of a President embroiled in a close race that is headed to a run-off.

Washington Post:

Matt Yglesias, a liberal Washington D.C. blogger, tweeted Saturday morning that "the Turkish government asked Twitter to censor its opponents right before an election and @elonmusk complied." Musk  who is planning to step down as CEO in the coming weeks but will continue to run much of the company as chief technology officer  responded and defended the company's decision. "Did your brain fall out of your head, Yglesias?" Musk tweeted. "The choice is have Twitter throttled in its entirety or limit access to some tweets. Which one do you want?"

When it comes to misinformation vs no information, Elon clearly goes with the pageviews and ad avails and not the public good. Let the users in Turkey try a VPN!
In 2019, whistleblower David Nielsen exposed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' investment arm, Ensign Peak Advisors. In a new 60 Minutes episode, he shares how he accused the church of hiding a $32 billion equity portfolio and misusing funds. In February, the church was fined $5 million as a result of these allegations. Nielsen, a devout Mormon, said he reported the church to the IRS because "this is too big a deal this is not an example for how we should be."

Nielsen left Wall Street to work for Ensign Peak Advisors, hoping to serve his church and community. During the interview, he explained the concept of tithing and emphasized that "integrity is at stake" when discussing his decision to turn whistleblower.

Bishop Christopher Waddell defended the church's financial practices, arguing that Ensign Peak Advisors is the church's treasury. He believes that Nielsen's accusations won't erode trust between the church and its members, stating, "We do announce missionary work. We do share what we're doing with humanitarian workI think part of the lack of trustcomes from statements or comments from a whistleblower who doesn't have all the information, who doesn't understand"
PORTAGE  Another motorist found intoxicated and unconscious behind the wheel of their vehicle has been taken into custody.

Edward Levine, 41, of Crown Point was found asleep behind the wheel of a 2020 Ram 1500 pickup eastbound on U.S. 6 at the intersection of Willowcreek Road, Portage police said.

The officer said he spotted Levine at 9:34 p.m. Thursday when his vehicle did not proceed after the traffic light turned green.

"When I walked up to the vehicle, I had to knock on the window multiple times to wake the male up," the officer wrote.

After the officer informed Levine that he had fallen asleep at the wheel, Levine told police he was coming from his 'girl's' house. Police said they spotted an open bottle of beer in the middle console of his vehicle and said he smelled of alcohol.

Levine reportedly told police he had consumed six or seven beers at a bar and was headed to his girlfriend's house.

He told police he had a gun in his truck; officers found a 9 mm and 11 rounds of ammunition, the report reads.

Portage fence contractor jailed on fraud charge; others were cheated as well, police say Gonzales reportedly told police last month, "he did not want to go to jail for the money he had taken and how for the last few months he had been depressed and not been in a mental state to work."

He refused to take part in a chemical sobriety test and, once in handcuffs, because verbally aggressive, police said.

Levine was taken to the Porter County Jail and faces charges of operating while intoxicated endangering others and OWI.

Portage police have reported finding a number of intoxicated drivers passed out behind the wheel on local roads.

Devon McDonald, executive director of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, has said a rise in drug-impaired driving could be contributing to the problem.

Drug-impaired driving is increasing enough across Indiana and the nation that it is beginning to outpace drunken driving, he said. This includes drivers impaired on a single drug, multiple drugs or a combination of drugs and alcohol.

Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail Vanessa Velasquez Patricia Lugo Jose Gonzales Justin Lehocky Amanda Eustace Sean Farley Jr. Thomas Frary Mya Woodard Lawrence Zitt Jr. Lisa Tachar Preston Walker Abigail Pearson Anthony Hollins Rolando Martinez Jr. Joshua Bates Maria Butler Tiffany Dickelman Magley Galvez Borroto Ronald Arceneaux Alicia Abeyta Cole Singleton Joshua Smith Rhema Miller Daniel Johnson Darrius Kleckner Jacob Knoll Nathan Bickerstaff Brian Fox Crystal Green John Ward III Kalena Harrop-Haywood Russell Volk Kyle Clay Tanya Embry Jenna Stockman Allan Samuel Ricardo Santiago Russell Coble Juan Delgado-Leal Steven Kenniger Isabella Ball Mohammed Aljukhaydib Daniel Turpin Anthony Stewart Dominic Padlo Jennifer Ryan Courtlandt Harris Jefferey Cook II Colleen Fatla Joseph Gilbert Isaiah Carroll Sergio Barragan
HAMMOND  Alcohol and/or drugs are believed to be a factor in single-vehicle crash early Monday on a stretch of Interstate 94 that sent two children to the hospital, one with potentially life-threatening injuries, Indiana State Police said.

Police said they were called out around 4 a.m. Monday where they learned that an eastbound gray 2005 Chrysler van struck the right barrier wall just east of Kennedy Avenue before crossing the lanes to hit the center median head-on.

The driver, a 36-year-old Chicago man, suffered serious injuries, as did two passengers younger than 10, who were not properly restrained with car seats, police said.

The child suffering the worst injuries was reportedly flown to a Chicago hospital for treatment, and the other was taken to St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago.

Another intoxicated and passed-out motorist found on Portage road, cops say "When I walked up to the vehicle, I had to knock on the window multiple times to wake the male up," the officer wrote.

The driver was taken to Munster Community Hospital, where blood was drawn to check for intoxication, police said. The test results are pending.

Once the toxicology results have been determined, all reports will be submitted to the Lake County prosecutor for consideration of charges, ISP said.

Gallery: Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail Robert Wheeler Lenell Shearry Christopher Vorice Mitchell Nash David Prieto Jerry Hawkins Brayan Bravo Marque Hatcher Amarachi Amuga Jandi Warren Shantell Lyons Samuel Strickland Jr. Karla Johnson Christina Garza Andre Edwards Joseph Frazier Michael Dillard Christopher Coots Jaron Smith Bonnie Starr Kasey Stewart Deondre Todd Mark Redmon Eric Rickhoff Tavares Melvin Jason Miller Jr. Elder Marroquin Marshall Kathcart Asaia Lang Sherida Cesar Murray Harris Francisco Ismael Kerry Brazley Anthony Bonner Sonali Aggarwal Thomas Anderson Michael Ballard Dennis Shaw Joshua Levesque Christopher Lobody Joshua Patino Emanuel Pugh Jr. Jerry Knight Elishah Elliott Brandon Elzinga Kyle Griffin Michael Carter Jason Cooke Kolin Burgess Roy Walker Daniel Torrecilla Donald Gilley Steven Medsker Rene Rodriguez Dante Banks Felipe Cruz-Figueroa Sadie Fuller Michael Walls Michelle Wellons George Tovey III Felicia Smith Raul Mendoza Devin Price Reinaldo Rosa Dorothy King Markus McCoy Phillip Davis Christin Enyeart Darryl Anthony Jr. Marcel Brooks Jacqueline Castro James Taylor Harold Wireman Richard Reyes Jr. Brett Kallok Nakeda Martina Julian Ponce Sr. Brandon Feliciano Michael Harlan Willie England Jr. James Collins Jr.
MUNSTER  Hammond police located a 73-year-old mentally disabled man, who they previously reported as missing, on Sunday.

The Hammond Police Department was seeking the public's help in locating William Davis early Sunday evening, according to a Facebook post. Davis was found around 9:30 p.m. and was transported to an area hospital for evaluation.

Davis was last seen on Sunday near the Hammond Motel 6, located at 3840 179th Street. He was last seen around 7:30 p.m., according to officers.

Hammond Polices Facebook post stated that Davis is about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs about 160 pounds.

He was last seen wearing gray sweatpants, a burgundy shirt and a black Nike hat. He was also carrying a walking cane, according to the post.

Lt. Steven Kellogg with the Hammond Police Department thanked the community for its efforts in locating the man in an emailed statement.

"Your efforts were crucial in ensuring his safe return, and your kindness and willingness to help are deeply appreciated," Kellogg said in an email.

Gallery: Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail Robert Wheeler Lenell Shearry Christopher Vorice Mitchell Nash David Prieto Jerry Hawkins Brayan Bravo Marque Hatcher Amarachi Amuga Jandi Warren Shantell Lyons Samuel Strickland Jr. Karla Johnson Christina Garza Andre Edwards Joseph Frazier Michael Dillard Christopher Coots Jaron Smith Bonnie Starr Kasey Stewart Deondre Todd Mark Redmon Eric Rickhoff Tavares Melvin Jason Miller Jr. Elder Marroquin Marshall Kathcart Asaia Lang Sherida Cesar Murray Harris Francisco Ismael Kerry Brazley Anthony Bonner Sonali Aggarwal Thomas Anderson Michael Ballard Dennis Shaw Joshua Levesque Christopher Lobody Joshua Patino Emanuel Pugh Jr. Jerry Knight Elishah Elliott Brandon Elzinga Kyle Griffin Michael Carter Jason Cooke Kolin Burgess Roy Walker Daniel Torrecilla Donald Gilley Steven Medsker Rene Rodriguez Dante Banks Felipe Cruz-Figueroa Sadie Fuller Michael Walls Michelle Wellons George Tovey III Felicia Smith Raul Mendoza Devin Price Reinaldo Rosa Dorothy King Markus McCoy Phillip Davis Christin Enyeart Darryl Anthony Jr. Marcel Brooks Jacqueline Castro James Taylor Harold Wireman Richard Reyes Jr. Brett Kallok Nakeda Martina Julian Ponce Sr. Brandon Feliciano Michael Harlan Willie England Jr. James Collins Jr.
PORTER TOWNSHIP  A 49-year-old Crown Point man faces multiple felony counts after bloodying a woman he knows and pointing an AR-15 at her, threatening to "put a bullet in her head," Porter County police say.

James Relinski, who clams to have once been a police officer in Illinois, faces felony criminal counts of domestic battery in the presence of a minor, strangulation, intimidation and pointing a weapon.

Police said they responded at 12:35 a.m. Sunday to a home in the 1400 block of Happy Valley Road after receiving a 911 hang-up call where they heard a crying female repeatedly saying "leave" or "please."

Another person then contacted police saying the woman in question had texted her asking that she call 911.

Police said they were initially told the woman in question was not home. When police persisted, they heard a man from inside say: "Go lock the door and don't let them in."

Police entered the house and found the woman in question in the basement with blood all over her face and shirt, the arrest report says. Relinski, who was also in the room, was placed in handcuffs.

The woman said Relinski was intoxicated and repeatedly choked her to the point of nearly passing out, police said. He also struck her in the head and ear, and pointed the AR-15 rifle at her and "racked it back, which she believed was him chambering a round."

Another intoxicated and passed-out motorist found on Portage road, cops say "When I walked up to the vehicle, I had to knock on the window multiple times to wake the male up," the officer wrote.

She told police she pushed the muzzle of the gun to the ground and was able to text a friend for help and dial 911, although she was unable to speak to the dispatcher because Relinski was in the same room.

The woman "hung the phone up so that James would not be made aware that officers were called to the residence," the report says.

A juvenile was found to be in an adjacent room and close enough to have heard the incident in question, police said.

Police said they recovered the rifle in question, which had blood on it. The gun was not loaded.

A second firearm was found and confiscated with the AR-15.

A jail mugshot of Relinski was not available Monday morning.

Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail Vanessa Velasquez Patricia Lugo Jose Gonzales Justin Lehocky Amanda Eustace Sean Farley Jr. Thomas Frary Mya Woodard Lawrence Zitt Jr. Lisa Tachar Preston Walker Abigail Pearson Anthony Hollins Rolando Martinez Jr. Joshua Bates Maria Butler Tiffany Dickelman Magley Galvez Borroto Ronald Arceneaux Alicia Abeyta Cole Singleton Joshua Smith Rhema Miller Daniel Johnson Darrius Kleckner Jacob Knoll Nathan Bickerstaff Brian Fox Crystal Green John Ward III Kalena Harrop-Haywood Russell Volk Kyle Clay Tanya Embry Jenna Stockman Allan Samuel Ricardo Santiago Russell Coble Juan Delgado-Leal Steven Kenniger Isabella Ball Mohammed Aljukhaydib Daniel Turpin Anthony Stewart Dominic Padlo Jennifer Ryan Courtlandt Harris Jefferey Cook II Colleen Fatla Joseph Gilbert Isaiah Carroll Sergio Barragan
VALPARAISO  Indiana Public Access counselor Luke Britt said the Porter County Board of Commissioners frequent informal meetings are legal.

Notification of meetings isnt posted on the countys website the way formal meetings are, but visitors to the Porter County Administration Building can see signs in the lobby that list the meetings two days in advance, in keeping with the Indiana Open Door Law.

That meets the letter of the law, board President Jim Biggs said.

Maybe so, County Council President Jeremy Rivas said, but it isnt open and transparent.

The general publics not sitting in the entryway of our building to know when theres a public meeting going on, he said. Nor are videos recorded and minutes posted.

Rivas filed the complaint with Britts office a few months ago, after the commissioners launched a Public Safety Commission and began to discuss a potential public safety local income tax.

The meetings are supposed to be about routine business, not discussions on raising taxes, Rivas said.

Britts letter to Rivas said the meetings appear to discuss routine activities that are reasonable, related to the everyday internal management of the county or town, including conferring with, receiving information from and making recommendations to staff members and other county or town officials or employees.

That doesnt include taking final action, exercising legislative powers, awarding contracts or any other binding actions, Britt said.

Theres a lot to do. Theres a lot to be talked about, Biggs said. This year, the commissioners are scheduling somewhere in the neighborhood of three or four times more meetings than in previous years.

Biggs said he agrees with Commissioner Barb Regnitz that the commissioners shouldnt delegate as much responsibility as in the past: Its a new way of approaching the job. I dont expect everyone to like it.

Theres no accountability to whats happening in these meetings, Rivas said.

The meetings arent typically held in the large meeting room where audio/video recording equipment is installed. Rivas asked why they couldn't be held in the large room and record the meetings for the public to see.

I just think they havent been operating in a very open and transparent way, he said.
LAPORTE  A fire late Monday morning heavily damaged a farmhouse built around 1870 outside the city.

Carla Marhanka said she and her husband, Mitch, lived in the two-story residence for more than 30 years. Their two daughters were raised there.

Marhanka said nobody was home when the fire erupted: We were all at work.

She was in her third-grade classroom teaching at nearby Kingsbury Elementary School when notified about the blaze.

Flames were showing on both levels of the structure when firefighters were called about 11 a.m. in the area of 400 South and 350 West.

Marhanka said learning about the fire, then seeing it after rushing home, made her "nauseous. She said she had a lot of old furniture inside, including some that belonged to her mother.

Most of all, she was grieving the possible loss of family pictures, especially those of her daughters when they were babies and during their weddings.

That, to me, is the worst thing. Everything weve taken for the last 39 years is in there, she said.

The Scipio Township Volunteer Fire Department was assisted by volunteer firefighters from Kingsbury, Noble Township and Westville in putting out the blaze.

Scipio Fire Chief Eric Fenstermaker said itll be up to the couples insurance company to decide whether the home is a total loss. He didnt reveal, specifically, what items were destroyed, but much of the contents will be salvageable.

Fenstermaker said the Indiana fire marshals office is assisting in the investigation to determine the cause of the fire. Foul play is not suspected.

GALLERY: The Times Photos of the Week 'Valpo has shaped us,' grads reminded 'Valpo has shaped us,' grads reminded 'Valpo has shaped us,' grads reminded 'Valpo has shaped us,' grads reminded Ivy Tech Lake graduation 2023 Ivy Tech Lake graduation 2023 Ivy Tech Porter graduation 2023 Ivy Tech Porter graduation 2023 57th Annual IU Northwest Commencement Ceremony 57th Annual IU Northwest Commencement Ceremony 57th Annual IU Northwest Commencement Ceremony 57th Annual IU Northwest Commencement Ceremony 'We fight together:' Sounds of Sarah fentanyl and addiction awareness walk 'We fight together:' Sounds of Sarah fentanyl and addiction awareness walk Free reading material? Book on it Free reading material? Book on it k-9 sophie Hoosier Theater Hoosier Theater Municipal Day Town Council meeting Municipal Day Town Council meeting Students run the show in Merrillville Health Department has new mobile clinic Health Department has new mobile clinic Gallery HTML code

Fenstermaker said there were no injuries.
For nearly a century, Msgr. Joseph Semancik has shared his leadership and faith with Northwest Indiana.

He marked the 70th anniversary of his first Mass with a celebration May 3 with close friends and family at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Whiting, where he was baptized 94 years ago.

Theres nobody more local than good ol Joe, Semancik said. Everyone has been so special and kind to me during my lifetime, I just cant describe it because it makes me cry. You have done more for me than I have done for you, and I am forever grateful.

His passion has always been giving back to the community he loves.

Of all the things I have done in life, the thing I feel most blessed about and proud of is that I have been part of Hospice of the Calumet Area from the beginning, he said.

Its really a special place, with special people, dedicated to serving thousands of people with compassion. I never could have imagined that four decades later my wonderful younger sister Janie would spend her last days at the" William J. Riley Memorial Residence.

Sister Michelle Dvorak, a friend and Calumet College of St. Joseph colleague, has been "blessed to have worked with" Semancik for years and always appreciated his direction and guidance.

He is amazing, and his commitment to social justice has always been focused on serving the underserved, she said. Its just the type of person he is, and he is a wonderful example of living a life that is committed to other people.

During the anniversary Mass, friend Tom Dabertin recalled many of Semancik's accomplishments and noted his passion for philanthropy while serving as director of Catholic Charities for years, being a founding member of Hospice of the Calumet Area, and as the longest and continuous donor of Calumet College.

Semancik earned a bachelor's degree from St. Meinrad in 1953, a Master of Social Work from Loyola University in 1960 and a doctorate in philosophy in 1977 from the University of Chicago.

Semancik accumulated several recognitions over the years, but the most noteworthy are his Sagamore of the Wabash, being named Prelate of Honor by Pope John Paul II in 1984 and receiving the St. Joseph the Worker award from Calumet College in 2023.

He was also recognized with a congressional record in June 1998 by then-U.S. Rep. Peter J. Visclosky, D-Gary, for his work with Catholic Charities, service on the Lake County Community Development Committee and establishing the Indiana Catholic Conference.

Semancik was born March 3, 1929.

He said he and his siblings were "blessed with wonderful parents and to be born and raised in the best city in the world, Whiting, Indiana. This really is a beautiful place to live.
Laser it. Inject it. Peel it. Sculpt it. Tighten it. Treat it. Finish it.

These categories are on the marketing brochure for JEM MedSpa in Munster, where I visited for a behind-the-scenes tour with its medical director, Dr. Gus Galante, a retired plastic surgeon. (Watch a video at NWI.com.)

There is a huge surge in taking care of ourselves, physically and emotionally, in our nation today. Northwest Indiana is no exception, he said. This is evidenced by the number of medspas that have opened up in the past couple of years locally.

Medical spas are emerging across the country like wrinkles on a middle-aged person. Simply type into a search engine medspas near me to find one. Or 10. Most of these facilities provide nonsurgical and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures, such as Botox, fillers, lasers, chemical peels and nonsurgical fat reduction. Some medspas are higher quality and more reputable than other ones. JEM falls into this category.

Ive known Galante for years. He is a well-respected, board-certified plastic surgeon with decades of experience in the industry.

Cosmetic surgery space continues to expand exponentially in this sector, he said before we toured the Munster facility. People want procedures that are safe, effective and have little to no recovery time. We offer all of that and more here. Its not an appointment, its an experience.

This JEM MedSpa, along with locations in Orland Park and Elmhurst, opened last summer on the ground floor of a condominium building just off Calumet Avenue and 45th Avenue. Its new, classy and youthful looking, just like the services it offers: micro-lift facials ($135), Forever Young Fotofacials ($375), Botox/Dysport ($14 a unit), Sculptra ($800), medical-grade peels ($140), body contour packages (starting at $4,000).

Our looks-obsessed, youth-addicted culture is fueling the medspa industry, which is growing at a 12% jump annually, with projections to reach nearly $30 billion by 2027, according to multiple reports. Thats a lot of peeling, sculpting, injecting, tightening and treating.

However, unlike most medical procedures, clients look forward to these treatments like a summer vacation to the Fountain of Youth.

The results I received were amazing, JEM client Vanessa Farr told me. When I combined the fabulous results with the warm, professional atmosphere, they gained a customer for life.

This is another key contributor to the rising revenue stream of medspas nationwide  customers who typically return again and again for more of the services. For example, JEM offers a wide array of treatments: dermal fillers, sexual health rejuvenation, nonsurgical body contouring and many others that needed explanation to me from its staff.

There might be somebody who isnt interested in anything about beauty, but they have stubborn hair on their face, said Karisa Zirkelbach, the aesthetics manager. Hair restoration is important to some of our clients.

Consultations are an important part of the process, asking clients their major concerns and what they want to achieve, said Alexis Wysocki, who performs aesthetic laser and body sculpting procedures. For some people, we start with their skin pigmentation, then focus more on their fine lines and wrinkles with micro-needling or a Halo laser treatment.

Some treatments are less invasive, less costly and considered more of a gateway into the cosmetics medspa industry. I explore this issue on the new episode of my "She Said, He Said" podcast at NWI.com or wherever you listen to podcasts.

For many clients, they want to age at a rate theyre comfortable with, or they want to pump the brakes on the aging process, said Nikki Love, an aesthetic nurse injector. Aesthetics is definitely trending toward prevention now, as opposed to waiting until youre a surgical candidate and thats the only option to you.

Farr began her skin health journey at Galantes medical practice in Schererville, initially with chemical peels to address age spots, fine lines and wrinkles.

I knew I wanted to move forward with a regimen that would continue to benefit me on numerous levels as my needs progressed, she said.

This is the inevitability of aging, at any age, but especially middle age and old age  our needs continually progress.

This just happens to be the ace in the hole for medspas: the graying, aging, wrinkling of America the Beautiful with a desperate yearning for any semblance of beauty.

Its a powerful motivator, especially for people who failed to take care of themselves in their younger days. Too fat? Too old? Too hairy? Too much sun in your youth? Medspas cater to this population.

Nonsurgical services are very popular because they dont take a lot of time, there is very little down time for recovery, theyre low risk, and theyre fairly easy procedures, Galante said.

Patient selection and patient expectations are key components at this facility. (For more info, visit Indiana.jemmedspa.com or call 219-319-1896.)

Patients need to do it for themselves, for their own self-gratification, self-esteem and self-confidence, he said.

Another aspect contributing to the international growth of the industry is the COVID-19 pandemic, which prompted hundreds of thousands of Zoom meetings, forcing people to look at their own faces longer than they would have otherwise. They noticed every wrinkle, every sagging cheek, every flaw. Men did too, helping to make the medspa experience more mainstream. Nonstop branding campaigns selling youth and beauty also play a role. Getting old naturally isnt as commonly accepted as it was just a few generations ago.

I have since referred multiple people to JEM MedSpa, and each has had an equally satisfying experience, Farr said. "As a whole, this business is very impressive."

From an investment perspective, the medspa industry is highly fractured and unconsolidated, so it invites partnering investors to get a piece of the ever-graying market. Plus, its grooming the TikTok generation, raised to be hypersensitive to the image of attractiveness. At any cost.

For millions of future medspa clients, aging naturally is an oxymoron that will never happen in their life.
WASHINGTON  It became a regular litany of grievances from President Donald J. Trump and his supporters: The investigation into his 2016 campaigns ties to Russia was a witch hunt, they maintained, that had been opened without any solid basis, went on too long and found no proof of collusion.

Egged on by Mr. Trump, Attorney General William P. Barr set out in 2019 to dig into their shared theory that the Russia investigation likely stemmed from a conspiracy by intelligence or law enforcement agencies. To lead the inquiry, Mr. Barr turned to a hard-nosed prosecutor named John H. Durham, and later granted him special counsel status to carry on after Mr. Trump left office.

But after almost four years  far longer than the Russia investigation itself  Mr. Durhams work is coming to an end without uncovering anything like the deep state plot alleged by Mr. Trump and suspected by Mr. Barr.

Moreover, a monthslong review by The New York Times found that the main thrust of the Durham inquiry was marked by some of the very same flaws  including a strained justification for opening it and its role in fueling partisan conspiracy theories that would never be charged in court  that Trump allies claim characterized the Russia investigation.
Some people refuse to admit they were wrong. Take evangelist Kent Christmas, a staunch admirer of sex abuser Donald Trump. He told his followers that Trump would be reflected in 2020. Even though Trump lost, Mr. Christmas insists in this video that he was right all along. "In the eyes of God," he says, "the President of the United States right now in the courts of justice in Heaven is not Joe Biden, but it's Donald Trump."

Right-wing pastor Kent Christmas insists that he and the other "prophets" who declared that Trump would be reelected in 2020 were right: "In the eyes of God, the President of the United States right now in the courts of justice in Heaven is not Joe Biden, but it's Donald Trump." pic.twitter.com/1x9ImGK9Au  Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) May 15, 2023

OK, I believe you, Mr. Christmas. Trump is the President of the United States. That means he should stop campaigning for a third term, since that is against the Constitution.
Shiv has a rough time overall on election night. As the evening nightmarishly shifts Menckens way, she has a heart-to-heart with Kendall  in a reflection of the touching Season 2 scene in which he confided to her that he would never be Logans choice to run the company. Here, he listens to Shivs argument that ATN could slow the Mencken momentum. Their Decision Desk guru, Darwin (Adam Godley), knows from historical data and exit polling where the Milwaukee votes would have gone. They could put Darwin on camera and let him explain why ATN wont project a winner in Wisconsin.

But two things get in the way. The first is that Kendall really wants the next president to kill the GoJo deal, which Roman insists Mencken will do. So Kendall asks Shiv to take one more shot at persuading her ex-lover Nate to get Jimenez to make that same promise. Instead, she merely pretends to make the call and then lies to Kendall, saying that the Jimenez people are open to considering his proposal. This sets up the second impediment: when Kendall calls Nate to iterate more clearly what Shiv claims to have said.

There is some phenomenal staging in this episode, a lot of which involves people passing phones back and forth  and at one point even holding one phone up to another so that the people on the lines can speak to each other. But the best phone sequence is Kendalls call to Nate, which plays out mostly unheard on the other side of one of ATNs enormous office windows, as Shiv looks on with dread. After Kendall gets the word from Nate that Shiv never called him, he walks over to talk to Greg, who Shiv knows is aware of her consultations with Matsson.

Kendall, feeling betrayed by the sibling he trusts most, spits some icy words in Shivs direction and then tells Tom to make the call for Mencken. ATN really is about to help elevate an authoritarian to Americas most powerful public office because one spoiled brother is in a snit.

Although this episode is incredibly entertaining, it does cut uncomfortably closer to real-world politics than is typical for Succession. This show always features characters and ideas inspired by real political figures, but the creator Jesse Armstrong uses these mainly as the backdrop to the Roys family drama  and as a way of satirizing generally the blinded arrogance of the powerful. Here though, the way the election plays out is so much like the specific circumstances of 2016 and 2020 that it might stir up bad memories for anyone who sweated and fretted through those nights.

Thats OK, though because while Roman may ironically make racist comments in the newsroom and may assure Shiv that nothing happens when terrible people take power, Armstrong is showing here that the pettiness of the Roys and their ilk does have repercussions. Everything for this family is about banking a win in the moment, regardless of whether it might later turn into a loss. Thats what their father taught them: Take what you can, when you can, and let someone else clean up after.
Relative quiet has prevailed along the southern U.S. border since Friday, despite widespread fears that ending a pandemic-era policy to immediately expel most migrants, even asylum seekers, would set off a stampede from Mexico.

A surge in migrants did in fact happen, in the run-up to the expiration of the pandemic-era expulsion policy, known as Title 42. Uncertain of the impact of new deterrent measures, migrants braved turbulent rivers, cut through concertina wire and scaled the steel border wall to reach the United States and turn themselves in to U.S. Border Patrol agents. On some days last week, apprehensions reached about 11,000, among the highest recorded.

Alejandro Mayorkas, Homeland Security secretary, said on Sunday that agents apprehended only 6,300 migrants on Friday and 4,200 on Saturday. The Biden administrations new policy, combining the carrot of new legal pathways with the stick of more punitive measures for unlawful crossings, was working, Mr. Mayorkas said in television interviews.

Most migrants now must prove that they were first denied asylum in a country they passed through en route to the United States. And they could face criminal prosecution, prolonged detention and a five-year ban from re-entering.
Criticism from historians and Jewish organizations did little to dim the sale at Christies of jewels bought with a fortune built in part atop profits made from the Aryanization of Jewish businesses during the Holocaust.

In bidding online and in person in Geneva, the sale of jewelry from the estate of Heidi Horten, an Austrian philanthropist, has brought in $202 million, making it the most successful jewelry sale in history.

The sales figures for some 400 lots surpassed the $137 million that was spent on Elizabeth Taylors collection in 2011. The auction house said 98 percent of the Horten lots sold, and there is another large sale of roughly 300 lots from the collection scheduled for November.

Christies has faced substantial criticism about the sale because of Hortens husband, Helmut Horten, a German businessman and billionaire, who began to amass his fortune by purchasing at a discount the businesses of Jews forced by circumstances or edict to sell their companies during the Holocaust.
Temporary pop-up editions of retail stores and restaurants have proliferated in the past few years. And what is an art fair if not a specialized, group version of that idea?

The 11th edition of the fair Frieze New York will pop up at the Shed in Hudson Yards this week, from Thursday to Sunday, and will feature 68 galleries.

The trick for the fair is that New York is already an art-world hub with hundreds of art spaces throughout the city, and the Shed sits just a few blocks from the gallery-packed Chelsea neighborhood.

As Friezes director of Americas, Christine Messineo, put it, The mission for New York is, we know we have a really educated audience, so how do we show them things they might not come across on their own?
The artist Tracey Rose remembers it vividly.

Back home in South Africa around 40 years ago, she was attending an all-white Catholic school  one of the first children of color to do so during apartheid. One day, her class was given an assignment to do a drawing of The Last Supper.

Her mother, who was the artist of the family, ended up drawing the picture for her, but instructed her, Dont tell anybody you didnt do it. If they ask, say you did it.

The next day at school, when the students were comparing their drawings, they were amazed by Ms. Roses. Many of them ripped up their own drawings, gave her their books, and asked her to draw their pictures.

All I did was copy my moms line, Ms. Rose remembered.

She ended up drawing about seven Last Suppers that day.
After watching the previous episode, I sketched out a scenario in which the Roys network, ATN, has to take sides in a contested election, with the fate of the deal at stake. This doesnt make me Nostradamus. Succession is predictable in the best way. It simply sets up conditions, gives characters motivations, then lets them act in their interests. Its only as unpredictable as you fool yourself into believing it is.

So theres chaos and opportunity. Theres a fire and an election call that, while not carrying the force of law, would determine the narrative advantage in a legal (or extralegal) showdown.

For America, its the choice between remaining a country where elections are won with ballots or becoming one where theyre won with torches. For the Roy siblings (minus Connor, conceding the end of his libertarian vanity campaign), its a golden jump ball, and each one of them reacts in character.

Roman, who has always vibed with Menckens edgelord energy, sees no reason not to get on the good side of a history-smashing win. Roman knows who Mencken is, better than any of the Roys do; in Season 3, it was to him that Mencken expressed his openness to borrowing ideas from H, his pet name for Hitler. But whats a little fascism between friends?

This had to be a rough episode for Team Roman, the Succession fans who love his broken-toy impishness and Clockwork Orange banter. He is funny, even while electing a white nationalist, telling his sister, Shiv, Its only spicy because if my team wins, theyre going to shoot your team. Thats exactly what has always made him dangerous. Does he endorse Menckens worldview sincerely or ironically? Does it matter? Does an ironic arson fire burn any cooler?
By the time she started work on The Postcard, Berest had plenty of experience with biography. After a literature degree and a stint as editor of a Paris theaters in-house magazine, in 2008 she looked for a flexible source of income as she worked on her first novel. Together with an associate, she founded Porte-Plume, a niche press that specializes in ghostwritten family biographies and corporate books.

Id always been attracted to the past, and I loved this job, Berest said. Telling the stories of strangers taught me to write, to craft characters and through-lines, she added. You realize that every life is extraordinary, once you dive into it.

After her first novel, Her Fathers Daughter, was published, in 2010, she wrote Sagan, Paris 1954, a short fictional memoir of the French author Francoise Sagan that was translated into English and published by Gallic Books. Then Berest turned to her own family history: In 2017, she and her sister Claire, also a writer, wrote a biography of the artist and critic Gabriele Buffet-Picabia, their great-grandmother, who was married to the Spanish painter Francis Picabia. Myriam, Berests grandmother, had married their son, Vincente, and survived the war with help from the Picabia clan.

Berests family history was so complex and layered that during a bout of depression in her 20s she turned to therapy through genogram, a form of treatment based on the analysis of a persons family tree. The idea that we inherit invisible bonds really helped me, she said. It means that even people who were murdered pass things on to their children, to their grandchildren.
Turkeys election heads to a runoff

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan failed to secure a first-round victory in Turkeys presidential election and will now face a runoff on May 28. Still, he seems well positioned to win another five-year term.

Preliminary results showed that Erdogan won 49.5 percent of the votes on Sunday, ahead of his main challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who got 44.9 percent. The right-wing supporters of a third candidate, Sinan Ogan, who was knocked out of the race, are more likely to vote for Erdogan in the runoff, increasing his chances of winning.

Erdogans party and its allies also maintained a commanding majority in Parliament during elections for those seats, which were also held on Sunday. That probably further increases Erdogans ability to be re-elected.

But the fact that Erdogan could not win a majority  even after he tilted the playing field to his advantage by using state resources for his campaign and relying on sympathetic media  indicates that some voters are frustrated with his financial management and consolidation of power.
Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen reiterated on Monday that the United States could run out of money to pay its bills by June 1 if Congress does not raise or suspend the debt limit, adding to the pressure on President Biden and congressional leaders as they race to reach an agreement to avert a default.

The projection comes a day before Mr. Biden is scheduled to meet with Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other top lawmakers at the White House after a weekend of staff-level negotiations. The Treasury Department previously warned that the so-called X-date could come as soon as June 1, at which point the federal government could face the possibility that it would default on its debt.

In a letter to lawmakers, Ms. Yellen cautioned that the actual date that the federal government could run out of cash could be a number of days or weeks later than these estimates. She urged Congress to act quickly to prevent a 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, Ms. Yellen said.
The shipments also increased over the course of last year as Russia recruited global businesses to help it bypass the sanctions. The trend suggests that networks for evading sanctions took time to establish during the immediate post-export-control scramble but are now in a position to help Russian airlines source some key parts, said William George, the director of research at Import Genius.

The Russian nationals taken into custody on Thursday began setting up their scheme last May to send aircraft parts from the United States to Russia in violation of export regulations, according to the criminal complaint.

The men are accused of fielding requests for parts, including expensive brake systems for a Boeing 737, from at least three Russian airlines, including two that had been strictly barred from purchasing U.S.-made products through a so-called temporary denial order issued by the Commerce Department. F.B.I. agents raided a condo owned by the mens company in the Trump Towers in Sunny Isles Beach, Fla., on Thursday.

Lawyers for the men did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Despite the level of sanctions evasion, airplane shipments into Russia remain significantly lower than before the war. U.S. officials say Russian airlines have been forced to cannibalize planes, breaking them down for spare parts to keep others in operation, as well as turning to Iran for maintenance and parts.

Russias imports of aircraft and aircraft parts fell from $3.45 billion annually before the invasion to only about $286 million afterward, according to The Observatory of Economic Complexity, a data visualization platform that explores global trade dynamics.
New York state officials recently decided to humanize the headstones of deceased prisoners by including their names, and dates of birth and death, rather than just identification numbers. This change was made to acknowledge the humanity of those who were incarcerated.

However, the new policy was not publicly announced. It only came to light when Matthew Hahn, a formerly incarcerated man, visited Green Haven Correctional Facility's cemetery and noticed that maintenance staff have been attaching new plaques with names, birthdates, and dates of death to old gravestones. He tweeted about his visit in February.

Gothamist:

"In many ways, the way that we talk about people who are incarcerated, the way that we treat people who are incarcerated, the way that we bury people who died while incarcerated is an attempt at depersonalizing them, and depersonifying them," Hahn said. Hahn discovered that there were indeed some gravestones that lacked names. But at the cemetery he also encountered a prison employee who  before politely kicking him off the grounds  told him that names were in the process of being added to the gravestones. On a recent afternoon at the cemetery, maintenance staff solemnly tacked new plaques  with names, dates of birth and dates of death  to old gravestones that only had prisoner ID numbers etched into them.

Rev. Alfred Twyman, a state prison chaplain, emphasizes the importance of remembering those who were incarcerated as individuals deserving of remembrance. The new policy ensures that their names will be etched in stone forever.
A possible cyberattack on The Philadelphia Inquirer disrupted the newspapers print operation over the weekend and prompted it to close its newsroom through at least Tuesday, when its staff will be covering an expensive and fiercely contested mayoral primary.

Elizabeth H. Hughes, the publisher and chief executive of The Inquirer, said that the newspaper discovered anomalous activity on select computer systems on Thursday and immediately took those systems offline.

But The Inquirer was unable to print its regular Sunday edition, the newspaper reported. Instead, print subscribers received a Sunday early edition, which went to press on Friday night. The newspaper also reported on Sunday that its ability to post and update stories on its website, Inquirer.com, was sometimes slower than normal.

The Monday print editions of The Inquirer and The Philadelphia Daily News, which The Inquirer also publishes, were distributed as scheduled, Evan Benn, a company spokesman, said.
Vice Media filed for bankruptcy on Monday, punctuating a yearslong descent from a new-media darling to a cautionary tale of the problems facing the digital publishing industry.

The bankruptcy will not interrupt daily operations for Vices businesses, which in addition to its flagship website include the ad agency Virtue, the Pulse Films division and Refinery29, a women-focused site acquired by Vice in 2019.

A group of Vices lenders, including Fortress Investment Group and Soros Fund Management, is in the leading position to acquire the company out of bankruptcy. The group has submitted a bid of $225 million, which would be covered by its existing loans to the company. It would also take over significant liabilities from Vice after any deal closes.

A sale process follows next. The lenders have secured a $20 million loan to continue operating Vice and then, if a better bid does not emerge, the group that includes Fortress and Soros will acquire Vice.
In the early 2000s, Roger Dahle attended an outdoor pancake breakfast cooked on a commercial flattop at his local Rotary Club, a civic organization, in Utah. I love cooking breakfast outdoors, but you couldnt buy an outdoor griddle for home use, Mr. Dahle said. So the entrepreneur set out to create one.

He experimented with a variety of cooking surfaces, settling on the same material used in woks: carbon steel. He mounted it on a cart like a gas grill, with propane to fire the burners, and named it Blackstone, after a favorite local restaurant.

People originally bought the Blackstone to cook breakfast, Mr. Dahle said. They quickly discovered you could use it to make Philly cheese steaks and smash burgers.
After a parking garage collapsed in Lower Manhattan last month, killing one person and injuring five others, officials scrambled to check dozens of other garages across the city for structural problems that could cause another disaster.

They immediately identified dozens of garages with potential hazards, ordering some shuttered and closing off sections of others until their structural defects could be repaired.

Three weeks after the fatal collapse, city officials have revealed little about what they found in their sweep. They have not identified the more than 170 parking structures they rushed to inspect or divulged what conditions they discovered within them.

But a New York Times examination of the citys garages has found that serious structural problems are widespread  and in many cases have been allowed to persist uncorrected for years.
For three months, France has been in revolt: Demonstrators have marched; railroad workers have blocked tracks; barricades and buildings have been set aflame; protesters have done battle in the street with police. The most recent innovation has been tamer: People have banged pots whenever the president has appeared. The cause? President Emmanuel Macrons measure raising the retirement age from 62 to 64.

This might at first glance appear to be the work of a vibrant political left wing, fighting pro-business, anti-worker policies from a center-right technocratic government. Indeed, Frances labor unions  though representing a smaller share of the work force than elsewhere in Western Europe  have been united in their opposition, making them a redoubtable force. Jean-Luc Melenchon, who leads the left-wing coalition NUPES, has been a central figure in the parliamentary fight against Mr. Macron, nearly bringing down his government with a no-confidence vote in March.

And yet it is not Frances left that has benefited from the popular rebellion. It is the far right.

Recent polls showed that if last years head-to-head presidential election were held now, Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right Rassemblement National, would beat Mr. Macron handily, 55 to 45 percent. Other polls that list all possible candidates have shown that Mr. Melenchon, despite his and his groups support for the anti-Macron movement, has gained a mere percentage point since last years elections, hovering at around a quarter of the votes and, in some scenarios, only 20 percent.

In a situation that seems tailor-made for a resurgence of the left, how is it that, for the moment, at least, it is not just the right but the far right that has benefited?
To the Editor:

Re Repulsed by Biden vs. Trump? Tough, by Gail Collins (column, May 4):

Ms. Collinss diatribe scapegoating me and the Green Party for the Democrats loss of the presidency in 2000 might have been tempered by consulting Al Gore. He has respected third-party candidates exercising their First Amendment rights to offer more voices and choices on the ballot.

Democrats know the many sine qua nons that sabotaged Mr. Gores popular-vote victory. Three were the anti-democratic Electoral College, the documented corrupt Republican election process in Florida and the Supreme Courts partisan judicial coup that stopped the ongoing statewide recount ordered by the Florida Supreme Court and gave George W. Bush the White House.

Third parties have had a galvanizing reform influence on our country from the antislavery Liberty Party in 1840 to the labor, farmer and populist parties. The major parties later adopted popular third-party issues to win more support.

Votes are to be earned, not owned.

Ralph Nader

Washington

To the Editor:

Gail Collinss column reminded me of why my reasons for voting have changed over the years.
I know all too well how some Americans feel about immigrants: I was undocumented for 25 years, and I am a child of immigrants who remain undocumented. I also wrote a book about the daily lives of migrants during the Trump years.

At the time, the Trump administration seemed to be the worst possible administration for immigrants and their advocates. Every one of the migrants I met in my reporting had lived through something extraordinary. They were all good people, but they were also flawed like anyone else. If you know nothing else about our migrants, you should know this: They have survived everything God put in front of them, and then some, in the name of freedom and safety, for themselves and their children.

I will never understand why they, why we, were and are so hated.

President Biden vowed to fix the immigration system, but in many ways things remain as dire as ever. Not only has Mr. Biden failed to deliver meaningful reform, but also his administration has taken a Trumpian approach to the border crisis, issuing what amounts to an asylum ban. He has abdicated his responsibility, leaving room for local governments to act like sheriffs. All the while, Republicans have been steadily marching toward authoritarianism, book ban by book ban and voter suppression tactic by voter suppression tactic.

I was a child in Ecuador in the 1990s, a time when Latin America was reeling from the effects of decades of coups, dictatorships and political repression. My parents passed on to me and my brother their full-blooded hatred of authoritarianism and those who abet it  weak-willed people who value their own careers over their countrys constitution, the disengaged and indifferent populace.
That could pose dilemmas for the preservation of privacy and civil liberties, especially as technological advancement allows more information to be gathered from ever smaller eDNA samples. Dr. Duffy and his colleagues used a readily available and affordable technology to see how much information they could glean from human DNA gathered from the environment in a variety of circumstances, such as from outdoor waterways and the air inside a building.

The results of their research, published Monday in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, demonstrate that scientists can recover medical and ancestry information from minute fragments of human DNA lingering in the environment.

Forensic ethicists and legal scholars say the Florida teams findings increase the urgency for comprehensive genetic privacy regulations. For researchers, it also highlights an imbalance in rules around such techniques in the United States  that its easier for law enforcement officials to deploy a half-baked new technology than it is for scientific researchers to get approval for studies to confirm that the system even works.

Genetic trash to genetic treasure

It has been clear for decades that fragments of our DNA cover the planet like litter. It just didnt seem to matter. Scientists believed DNA in the environment was too small and too degraded to be meaningfully recovered, much less used to identify an individual human being, unless it came from distinct samples like a bloodstain or an object someone had touched.

Wildlife researchers embraced environmental DNA anyway because theyre only looking for very small segments of DNA  scanning for what they call bar codes that will identify the creatures in a sample to a species level. But after finding surprising levels of human eDNA in their samples while monitoring disease in Florida sea turtles, Dr. Duffy and his team set out to get a more accurate picture of the condition of human DNA in the environment, and to see how much information it could reveal about people in an area.
Opposition to the acquisition has centered in part on so-called cloud gaming, a relatively new technology that lets people stream games on phones, tablets and other devices, potentially eliminating the need for hardware like consoles. American and British regulators said Microsofts purchase of Activision would undercut this still-developing sector of the gaming industry before it had a chance to bloom. The European Commission, the executive body for the 27-nation bloc, gave its approval after Microsoft agreed to guarantee for 10 years that gamers would be able to play Activision titles on cloud gaming services being developed by other companies, such as Nvidia.

After negotiating the concessions with Microsoft, European Union officials said they concluded that the deal could go through, particularly because the cloud gaming market was still so small. Many Activision titles that are not currently playable on smaller cloud gaming services would now be available, providing a consumer boost for the new technology, the regulators said.

These commitments fully address the competition concerns identified by the commission and represent a significant improvement for cloud game streaming compared to the current situation, the E.U. regulator said in a statement.

Microsoft said the concessions would benefit consumers.

The European Commission has required Microsoft to license popular Activision Blizzard games automatically to competing cloud gaming services, said Brad Smith, the president of Microsoft. This will apply globally and will empower millions of consumers worldwide to play these games on any device they choose.

The European Commission said the deal would not harm the console market because Microsoft would not have an incentive to deny rivals, such as the Sony PlayStation, access to Activision titles without sacrificing profit. In the European Union, PlayStation has a much larger market share than Xbox.
Arriving after so much political action, the play feels like an afterthought. Watching its four actors narrate the history of Raus project and the making of the re-enactment, aided by ample video footage shot in Brazil, it often looked as if the production was a mere repackaging of the events that led to its staging.

Not that it isnt well-crafted. Over his term at NTGent, Rau, who will depart later this year to become the artistic director of the Wiener Festwochen, has perfected the art of bringing real events onstage, by laying bare the process and inviting audience members to think along. In Antigone in the Amazon, two Flemish actors from NTGent, Sara De Bosschere and Arne De Tremerie, address the audience at regular intervals, explaining the tricky process of making the show and the ethical issues it raised.

At one point, they are shown onscreen performing a scene from Antigone for the residents of a remote Amazonian village, who sit in a circle around them. De Tremerie then comes forward to reflect on the experience. He talks about the sense of privilege he couldnt shake while he was there, and the risk of leaning into a guilt complex disguised as activism.

This is a welcome bit of self-reflection, since Rau is sometimes at risk of leaning into the figure of the white savior. The first part of his trilogy, Orestes in Mosul, felt especially grating in that regard: In it, survivors of war in Iraq revisited trauma through fictional scenes involving murder, yet they were unable to travel to meet the audiences watching them in Ghent or Paris  a situation that left me wondering exactly who or what I was clapping for.

I occasionally wondered the same thing about Antigone in the Amazon. Still, it is a more balanced, effective production than Orestes. Two Brazilian performers, Frederico Araujo and Pablo Casella, join the Flemish cast onstage. A third, the Indigenous activist Kay Sara, was supposed to join them and play Antigone, but we are told early in the show that she had decided to go back home, with her people.
Though popular parlance and political pundits push the idea that Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, colonialism is the apt definition of how the United States  political and capitalist class- has engaged the island fore more than a century.

One of the central themes in the novel, Olga Dies Dreaming, by Xochiltl Chavez is the gentrification of land and exploitation of other natural resources by non-Puerto Ricans, particularly after Hurricane Maria destroyed much of Puerto Rico's infrastructure in 2017. Well-connected disaster capitalist developers who donate large sums of money to politicians in Puerto Rico and the United States are buying their access to occupy and own land. The machinations of these land speculators in coordination with lenders, lawyers, and legislatures  "Puertopians" is leading to the re-colonization of Puerto Rico. Fiction is often rearranged facts.

The colonial relationship between the island and the United States has existed for 125 years, while Congressional inaction continues to reproduce and enshrined the colonial status. As Ed Morales writes in Fantasy Island: Colonialism, Exploitation, and the Betrayal of Puerto Rico, "Since its acquisition by the US in 1898, Puerto Rico has served as a testing ground for the most aggressive and exploitative US economic, political, and social policies. The devastation that ensued finally grew impossible to ignore in 2017, in the wake of Hurricane Maria, as the physical destruction compounded the infrastructure collapse and trauma inflicted by the debt crisis." Another theme in Chavez's book is resistance and refusal to these maneuvers and plotting and the wildly brilliant self-determined community-based survival projects that have grown from the grassroots.

In this video, journalist Bianca Graulau explains how some Puerto Ricans are occupying land and legally demanding they keep access when the developers, who abandoned the property, or wealthy investors who see money in other peoples' misery, circle like vultures. From the perspective of everyday Puerto Ricans, these outside investors are parasites. The video is bilingual, with English and Spanish subtitles.

A thread from Graulau's Twitter explains the video,

"Picture this. An investor from the U.S. buys an abandoned building in Puerto Rico for $108k. Holds it for 7 years untouched and lists it for $360k. In the meantime, locals illegally enter and use it to cook for ppl after the hurricane. The "squatters" get to keep the building. It happened in Caguas. A group needed a place to feed ppl after hurricane Maria. They found an abandoned building, broke the lock and went in. They cleaned it, installed solar panels and built a kitchen. They used it for 4 years and invested $120k before anyone came to claim it. The community group started looking for the title holder and found a name that has become familiar to Puerto Ricans: Morgan Reed. The same real estate company tied to the purchase of the former school I told you about in the video with Bad Bunny. The company's executive, Brian Tenenbaum, is a top donor of Puerto Rico's 3 leading politicians, including the gov."

What does resistance, refusal, and autonomy look like? One element is solar-produced electricity. Others elements of self-determination are meeting the basic everyday needs of people. "Here are some of the things they offer:  free monthly groceries to 150 families  free massages & acupuncture for the community  ping pong classes for the youth  monthly community farmer's market with produce at a low cost."

Though not always the case, this story has a happy conclusion, "In the end, Morgan Reed agreed to a sale price of $187k. Comedores Sociales raised the money through grants from different foundations. In December, they announced to the community they held the title. They sang together: the mutual aid center is ours, it belongs to all of PR."

For more, check out the book (from your local library) The Battle for Paradise: Puerto Rico Takes on the Disaster Capitalists by Naomi Klein.

"In the rubble of Hurricane Maria, Puerto Ricans and ultrarich "Puertopians" are locked in a pitched struggle over how to remake the island. In this vital and startling investigation, bestselling author and activist Naomi Klein uncovers how the forces of shock politics and disaster capitalism seek to undermine the nation's radical, resilient vision for a "just recovery."

All royalties from the sale of this book in English and Spanish go directly to JunteGente, a gathering of Puerto Rican organizations resisting disaster capitalism and advancing a fair and healthy recovery for their island. For more information, visit http://juntegente.org/."

At this link can see an example of Klein's reporting from Puerto Rico six months after Maria hit.

Another resource useful for understanding the impact of history on contemporary politics in Puerto Rico is Policing Life and Death: Race, Violence, and Resistance in Puerto Rico, by Marisol LeBron.

"LeBron traces the rise of punitive governance in Puerto Rico over the course of the twentieth century and up to the present. Punitive governance emerged as a way for the Puerto Rican state to manage the deep and ongoing crises stemming from the archipelago's incorporation into the United States as a colonial territory. A structuring component of everyday life for many Puerto Ricans, police power has reinforced social inequality and worsened conditions of vulnerability in marginalized communities.This book provides powerful examples of how Puerto Ricans negotiate and resist their subjection to increased levels of segregation, criminalization, discrimination, and harm. Policing Life and Death shows how Puerto Ricans are actively rejecting punitive solutions and working toward alternative understandings of safety and a more just future."

You can listen to LeBron discussing Hip Hop, youth, policing and social crisis here, from a lecture at Duke University.
It wasnt long ago that Brandon Johnson, 47, was a county commissioner and teachers union organizer, unknown to many Chicagoans. On Monday he was sworn in as the citys 57th mayor.

Mr. Johnsons rapid ascent from political obscurity to the helm of Americas third-largest city was fueled by an unapologetically progressive platform, a gift for retail campaigning, and enthusiastic support and money from organized labor. He knocked out the incumbent mayor, Lori Lightfoot, in the first round of balloting in February, then beat Paul Vallas, a far more conservative and well-funded Democrat, in the runoff last month.

Now comes the hard part.

Mr. Johnson inherits a proud city that has not fully emerged from its pandemic funk. Chicagos downtown is emptier, its public schools have fewer students, and crime rates remain far higher than before the pandemic.

In an interview last week at his transition office along the Chicago River, Mr. Johnson said he was cleareyed about the scope of the challenges awaiting him but confident about the citys trajectory.
An 18-year-old gunman fired indiscriminately at houses and vehicles while roaming a residential street in Farmington, N.M., on Monday morning, killing three people  including a 97-year-old woman and her daughter  before the police arrived and killed the suspect in a firefight, the authorities said. Six other people, including two officers, were injured.

The police identified the suspect as Beau Wilson, a student at Farmington High School who went on the rampage with three firearms, including an assault-style rifle. More than 100 rounds were fired between the suspect and police, with at least three officers rushing to the scene without body armor because the shooting started when they were on their way to lunch, the authorities said.

Officials said on Tuesday that they were still investigating the motive. Deputy Chief Kyle Dowdy of the Farmington Police Department said at a news conference that while the suspect had committed minor infractions as a juvenile, there was nothing that would rise to the level of serious crime. Chief Dowdy said police were still looking for any notes or explanation that the shooter may have left behind.

The local emergency services received more than 100 calls when the shooting erupted in a sprawling scene that stretched for about a quarter of a mile along Dustin Avenue, the authorities said
SAN DIEGO  At Californias southern border, two parallel, towering fences stretch for miles, their reddish steel beams cutting through rugged hillsides thick with tall stalks of yellow wildflowers and marking where Mexico ends and the United States begins.

Around 10 days ago, as the end of a pandemic-era expulsion policy known as Title 42 approached, a migrant camp sprung up between the two border walls, with hundreds of people hoping to be allowed into the United States. I traveled to San Diego and Tijuana last week to report on the sprawling and diverse camp, its existence speaking of Americas shifting immigration policies as well as the desperation of migrants from across the world who are searching for better opportunities.

Theres no other choice, said Azamat Alin, 41, who spent at least $10,000 on a long journey from Kazakhstan to Brazil, and then through Central America to Mexico.
President Biden and congressional leaders will resume face-to-face talks on Tuesday to avert a government default, with the White House expressing cautious optimism as the contours of a possible deal began to come into focus.

With time running out to strike a deal to raise the debt limit, broad areas of negotiation have emerged, including fixed caps on federal spending, reclaiming unspent funds designated for the Covid-19 emergency, stiffer work requirements for federal benefits and expedited permitting rules for energy projects.

I remain optimistic because Im a congenital optimist, Mr. Biden told reporters on Sunday in Rehoboth Beach, Del. He added, I really think theres a desire on their part, as well as ours, to reach an agreement, and I think well be able to do it.

Still, on Monday, Speaker Kevin McCarthy reiterated that he believed little progress had been made, telling reporters that the two sides remained far apart even with a potential default looming. We have no agreements on anything. Thats why Im so concerned, he added.
WASHINGTON  President Biden announced on Monday that he would nominate Dr. Monica M. Bertagnolli, a cancer surgeon who became the director of the National Cancer Institute in October, to be the next director of the National Institutes of Health, filling a position that has been vacant for more than a year.

Dr. Bertagnolli is also a cancer patient. She announced late last year that she had received a diagnosis of early breast cancer.

In a statement, Mr. Biden called her a world-class physician-scientist who had spent her career pioneering scientific discovery and pushing the boundaries of what is possible to improve cancer prevention and treatment for patients, and ensuring that patients in every community have access to quality care.

Dr. Bertagnolli, 64, will need to be confirmed by the Senate. She is the first female director of the National Cancer Institute, which is part of the National Institutes of Health. She would be only the second woman to lead the N.I.H. on a permanent basis.
Weve definitely seen the ramp-up and the need for manpower, Mr. Heverly said.

The prospect of pursuing an education in trade while earning money on projects has also gained momentum among high school students, according to the Finishing Trades Institutes recruitment coordinator, Tureka Dixon. Community colleges in the area are even reaching out to see if they can form joint partnerships to train students on trade.

Whether its cranes, high-rise buildings, bridges, that is trade work, Ms. Dixon said as the apprentices in hard hats listened to a lesson on lead removals. That is physical labor. That is the country, so I think people need to consider it more.

Mark Smith, 30, who is training as an apprentice at the institute, said learning a trade was not a fallback position for him  it was his preferred career.

School wasnt for me, Mr. Smith said. I did the Marine Corps and then I started right in this. For me it was a waste of money.

Mr. Wissman, who has never voted in a presidential election and identifies as an independent, said he was not sure yet if the recognition from the White House would move him to finally vote in the 2024 election.

I want in office whoever is going to help me put food on my table, said Mr. Wissman, whose girlfriend is pregnant with their second child. At the end of the day, thats all its going to come down to.
In a routine decision in March, a unanimous three-judge panel of a federal appeals court ruled against a Texas inmate who was injured when the ceiling of the hog barn he was working in collapsed. The court, predictably, said the inmate could not overcome qualified immunity, the much-criticized legal shield that protects government officials from suits for constitutional violations.

The author of the decision, Judge Don R. Willett, then did something unusual. He issued a separate concurring opinion to draw attention to the game-changing arguments in a recent law review article, one that seemed to demonstrate that the Supreme Courts entire qualified immunity jurisprudence was based on a mistake.

Wait, what? Judge Willett wrote, incredulous.

In 1871, after the Civil War, Congress enacted a law that allowed suits against state officials for violations of constitutional rights. But the Supreme Court has said that the law, usually called Section 1983, did not displace immunities protecting officials that existed when the law was enacted. The doctrine of qualified immunity is based on that premise.

But the premise is wrong, Alexander A. Reinert, a professor at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, wrote in the article, Qualified Immunitys Flawed Foundation, published in The California Law Review.
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court said on Monday that it would decide whether a congressional voting district in South Carolina should be restored after a lower court struck it down as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.

A unanimous three-judge panel of the Federal District Court in Columbia, S.C., ruled in January that the states First Congressional District, drawn after the 2020 census, violated the Constitution by making race the predominant factor.

The district, anchored in Charleston, had elected a Republican every year since 1980, with the exception of 2018. But the 2020 race was close, with less than one percentage point separating the candidates, and Republican lawmakers sought to create a stronger Republican tilt in the district after the 2020 census, the panel wrote.

The lawmakers achieved that goal, the panel found, in part by the bleaching of African American voters out of the Charleston County portion of Congressional District No. 1.
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court announced on Monday that it would decide whether individual members of Congress are entitled to sue a government agency for information about a Washington hotel once owned by former President Donald J. Trump.

Days before Mr. Trump left office, a divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that members of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, all Democrats and making up less than a majority of the panels members, had standing to sue for access to government documents concerning possible conflicts of interest at the Trump International Hotel.

A company owned by Mr. Trump and his children had leased the facility, once known as the Old Post Office Building, in 2013. The lease said that no elected official of the government of the United States shall be admitted to any share or part of this lease, or to any benefit that may arise therefrom.

Critics said Mr. Trumps ownership of the hotel while president raised a host of ethical questions, some of constitutional dimension. The Trump family sold the hotel last year, and it is now operating as a Waldorf Astoria.
The News

Fani T. Willis, the district attorney in Fulton County, Ga., asked a judge to dismiss former President Donald J. Trumps efforts to have her disqualified from leading an investigation into whether he and his allies interfered in the 2020 election in the state.

She also asked the judge, in a 24-page court document filed on Monday, to reject a request from Mr. Trump to suppress the final report of a special grand jury that weighed evidence last year in the election meddling case.

Ms. Willis was responding to an earlier motion filed by Mr. Trumps lawyers that accused her of making biased statements over the course of her investigation. The lawyers also argued that the work of the special grand jury had been tainted by improper influences, noting that jurors were allowed to read news articles about the matter during their time of service. (Special grand juries in Georgia have different rules than regular grand juries or trial juries.)

In her response, Ms. Willis said that the Trump legal team had not met the exacting standards for disqualifying a prosecutor and did not back up various accusations about the investigative process with evidence.

She also argued that Mr. Trump did not have legal standing to bring his motion in the first place, noting that he had never been called as a witness before the special grand jury.
Some people are just born to play a certain role. Whether it's their look, talent, or occasionally a combination of both, it's not uncommon for it to feel like some actors were genetically designed to be specific characters in film or television. Doctor Who is an odd property where one could argue that virtually every lead actor was preordained to play the eponymous Doctor. However, even though we Whovians love each incarnation of the Doctor, the two most iconic actors to inhabit the role are Tom Baker and David Tennant.

Since Tom Baker, who is still as charismatic as ever, is about to enter his 90s, the task of a beloved former Doctor playing the Timelord in the upcoming trilogy of 60th-anniversary specials falls on David Tennant. In the video linked above, you can check out footage of Tennant and the masterful Catherine Tate reprising their roles as the Doctor and Donna Noble.
A plane that Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the president of Mexico, once described as an insult to the people arrived in Tajikistan on Monday, he said, completing the sale of the jet to that countrys government and delivering on a campaign promise to do away with it.

Since he was elected in 2018, Mr. Lopez Obrador, known as AMLO, has struggled to find a buyer for the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which was ordered by former President Felipe Calderon and used by his successor, Enrique Pena Nieto.

I dont know why they bought such a large plane, Mr. Lopez Obrador said in Spanish at a news conference on Monday.

Over the years, Mr. Lopez Obrador said he had offered to sell it to former President Donald J. Trump, President Biden and Vice President Harris. At one point, Mr. Lopez Obrador tried to raffle off the plane, which came with many amenities, including a treadmill.
The Espinillo Indigenous community is 13 miles from the nearest polling station  and no one in the village has a car.

So two weeks ago, on the eve of Paraguays election, Miguel Paredes, a retired ambulance driver turned local politician, loaded the Indigenous families onto a bus and brought them to the side of a highway, a short walk from the polls. We want to look after them, he said, standing watch with six young men he called colleagues.

Then, after dark, The Times found a distinctive type of vote-buying, developed over decades, on blatant display.

Mr. Paredes, 65, and his colleagues gathered some of the Indigenous people and took down their identification numbers. He told them they were to vote for the Colorado Party  the dominant, right-wing political force in Paraguay  and to make sure their fellow community members did so, too. The young men then walked the Indigenous people through a simulation of Paraguays voting machines on a phone, guiding them to vote for Colorado candidates.
The Chinese embassy in the Central African Republic had a stark warning for its compatriots in the landlocked nation: Do not leave the capital city of Bangui. Kidnappings of foreigners were on the rise, and any Chinese person outside of Bangui was to leave those areas immediately.

Less than a week later, on March 19, a group of gunmen stormed a remote gold mine far away from Bangui and killed nine Chinese workers.

The Central African government has said that it investigated the massacre and concluded that a leading rebel group had orchestrated it. The rebels have denied the allegation and blamed a third party that operates in the country  Russias Wagner mercenary group, which has in turn accused the rebels. None of the sides has presented evidence for its claims.

The investigation has left a trail of unanswered questions about the motives and methods of the attackers. More than a dozen Central African soldiers were supposed to be protecting the site, according to a diplomat briefed on the investigation, but on the day of the attack, only four of them were there and all survived.
A Chinese court said it sentenced a 78-year-old American citizen to life in prison on Monday on unspecified charges of spying, the latest in a wave of espionage cases the authorities have pursued amid growing wariness of foreign influence in the country.

The Intermediate Peoples Court in the southeastern city of Suzhou said in a short statement that it had pronounced John Shing-Wan Leung guilty of espionage and sentenced him. It said that Mr. Leung was arrested in April 2021 by state security officials, but provided no details about the charges or the circumstances of his detention or trial. The court also ordered the confiscation of about $70,000 worth of his personal property.

Mr. Leung holds a United States passport and is a permanent resident of Hong Kong, according to the statement posted on the courts social media account.

The court in Suzhou did not respond to multiple requests for comment. A spokesman for the United States Embassy in Beijing said the embassy was aware of the reports about the case but declined to comment because of privacy concerns. American citizens arrested in China must sign a privacy waiver to allow embassies and consulates to release information about their cases to the public.
Hundreds of thousands of people began repairing or rebuilding their homes and livelihoods on Monday after a deadly cyclone hit Myanmar and Bangladesh over the weekend.

The storm, named Mocha, killed several people in Myanmar, though there were conflicting accounts from leaders as to exactly how many. The Myanmar government said the number was five, but the shadow government, called the National Unity Government, which may have more sources in the countrys remote conflict zones, said it was 18.

Though the damage from the powerful storm was not as dire as predicted, there were still hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees left homeless, along with reports of people stranded and having to make their way through storm debris to get home.

The damage in Myanmar was mostly confined to Rakhine State, Chin State and other areas in the west, according to officials and aid workers.
The two opposition parties that won the largest share of the vote in Thailands general election over the weekend said on Monday that they had agreed to form a coalition government. It remained unclear, however, whether the ruling junta would hand over power easily.

The results of the election were a stinging rebuke to the countrys military leaders, who have governed Thailand since seizing power in a coup in 2014. Although Thailand is a nation where coups are not uncommon, it had never been under military rule for so long.

Many voters, disillusioned with the never-ending cycle of putsches and protests, used the election on Sunday to demonstrate overwhelmingly that they wanted change.

People have been through enough of a lost decade, Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the progressive Move Forward Party, told reporters on Monday. Today is a new day.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand  At least six people were killed after a fire erupted overnight Tuesday in a hostel in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said.

It is an absolute tragedy, Mr. Hipkins told reporters at Parliament on Tuesday. It is a horrific situation.

The cause of the fire was not yet known. There will be a number of investigations into the disaster, the prime minister said.

The hostel has no sprinklers, and the fire alarm did not go off automatically, Brendan Neally, a fire department spokesman, told Radio New Zealand. New Zealands building codes require that sprinklers be put into newly constructed buildings, but not older ones.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, left, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of Britain at Chequers, the prime ministers official country residence, northwest of London, on Monday.

LONDON  Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of Britain pledged on Monday to provide a large package of missiles and attack drones to Ukraine, ahead of a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky, who over the weekend secured promises of billions of dollars in additional military aid from European allies.

Mr. Zelensky, who has been on a whirlwind tour of Europe to shore up support ahead of a counteroffensive against Russia, hugged Mr. Sunak when he landed at the British leaders country residence outside London, Chequers, on Monday morning. The Ukrainian president  who referred to Mr. Sunak in a tweet as my friend Rishi  later said he was very pleased by the results of his European tour.

The prime ministers office said that in addition to the cruise missiles it announced last week, Britain would deliver hundreds of air defense missiles and further unmanned aerial systems, including long-range drones to support Ukraine in its anticipated counteroffensive.

This is a crucial moment in Ukraines resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke, Mr. Sunak said in a statement on Monday. They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year.

The two leaders met for around two hours at Chequers before emerging to take a few questions from journalists, with Mr. Zelensky expressing thanks to Britain, Germany and France for their new weapons pledges over the weekend.

I am very pleased with our achievements and agreements, Mr. Zelensky said, according to Ukrinform, a Ukrainian state-funded news outlet. Powerful defense packages are really important.

Recent Ukrainian military advances around the embattled city of Bakhmut prompted some Russian military bloggers to claim that Kyivs long-anticipated counteroffensive was already underway. But Mr. Zelensky said last week that Ukraine needed to wait for more hardware from the West to arrive, specifically armored vehicles, before it could launch the assault. When asked if that was still fair to say on Monday, Mr. Zelensky told journalists that we really need some more time.

Not too much, he said, according to the BBC. We will be ready in some time.

The Kremlin, though, dismissed the significance of Britains new military aid pledge.

We take an extremely negative view of it, the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, told journalists, according to the Russian state news agency Tass, but he said the new weapons would not have any significant impact on the course of the war.

Britain provided about $2.8 billion in military assistance to Ukraine in 2022, making it one of Kyivs largest backers. Mr. Sunak also promised to start training Ukrainian fighter pilots this summer, though he has yet to commit to sending British fighter jets to Ukraine. Instead, Britain has said it will help other countries that supply combat aircraft by providing support systems.

Mr. Zelenskys brief visit to Britain comes after he traveled over the weekend to Italy, Germany and France, meeting with Pope Francis and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome, Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, and President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. On Saturday, Germany announced an arms package of almost $3 billion, and on Sunday, France also pledged more weaponry for Ukraine.

The British government confirmed last week that it would begin supplying Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles, continuing its policy of being in the vanguard in providing the Ukrainian Army heavier weapons to fight Russian forces.

The missiles, which are known as Storm Shadow and have a range of more than 155 miles, would allow Ukraine to push back Russian forces based in Ukrainian sovereign territory, according to Britains defense secretary, Ben Wallace.

Britain, with its aggressive approach, has often acted as a catalyst for other Western countries to supply Ukraine with heavier weapons. Its decision to send a squadron of Challenger 2 main battle tanks foreshadowed decisions by Germany and the United States to send more sophisticated tanks.

The Ukrainian leader last visited Britain in February, delivering an emotional speech in which he pleaded for NATO countries to supply Ukraine with fighter jets. Mr. Sunak has said fighter jets are on the table, but he has not yet taken the step of committing them.

A spokesman for Mr. Sunaks office affirmed that point on Monday, telling the BBC that Britain had no plans to supply jets to Ukraine.
Robert Shonov, identified as a former employee of the U.S. Embassy in Russia, was arrested in the Russian city of Vladivostok and charged with conspiracy, according to the Russian state news agency Tass. The report did not identify his nationality.

Vedant Patel, a State Department spokesman, told reporters at a briefing on Monday that he had seen the report but that I dont have anything additional to offer at this time.

Tass, quoting an anonymous law enforcement official, said that Mr. Shonov was accused of collaboration on a confidential basis with a foreign state or international or foreign organization. He has been taken to Lefortovo Prison in Moscow, Tass reported, and no court date has been set.

Being held in isolation is commonplace at Lefortovo, a notorious high-security prison whose inmates currently include Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal correspondent who was accused of espionage in March, charges that his employer and American officials have strongly denied. It is also where Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine who is serving a 16-year sentence on what the United States has said are fabricated charges of espionage, was held for 20 months until his trial in 2020. He is now at a forced labor camp several hundred miles away.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has been promised billions of dollars in new military aid during a whirlwind tour of European allies that reflects a striking shift in the political landscape, as Europe takes a more central role in arming Ukraine for its anticipated counteroffensive to drive Russia from its territory.

Mr. Zelenskys four-country tour began in Italy on Saturday and ended in Britain on Monday, when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to provide a major package of air-defense missiles and attack drones. That was in addition to Britains recent delivery of long-range cruise missiles. And it followed Germanys pledge to give Ukraine a nearly $3 billion package of weapons, as well as less concrete promises of additional weapons from France and Italy.

Europes show of support for Ukraine, analysts said, underscores that the war is in a pivotal phase, with Ukrainian forces massing for a counteroffensive that could set the terms for any future negotiation with Russia. It also reflects a recognition that support for Ukraine in the United States, still by far the largest supplier of weapons, is likely to come under pressure.

Mr. Zelensky is concerned that as the American presidential race heats up, President Biden will be less able to lead diplomatic efforts, German and Ukrainian officials said. Should a Republican win the White House, officials worry there will be a collapse in leadership among Western allies.
Members of the so-called Patriot Front, a white supremacist group, marched in D.C. over the weekend in the khakis-and-polos uniform of the modern far right.

#BREAKING: A group called the Patriot Front are currently marching towards U.S. Capitol



#Washington l #DC



Currently approximately 150-200 individuals, identified as the "Patriot Front" and recognized as a right-wing organization, is advancing towards the United States pic.twitter.com/whXU2GgCw8  R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) May 13, 2023

"Patriot Front is an image-obsessed organisation that rehabilitated the explicitly fascist agenda of Vanguard America with garish patriotism," the SPLC has said of the group, adding that it "focuses on theatrical rhetoric and activism that can be easily distributed as propaganda for its chapters across the country". The Anti-Defamation League describes the group as specialising in vandalism, racist propaganda and "flash demonstrations" meant to intimidate marginalised communities.

For some reason the twittering MAGA nuts hate these guys. There's something fundamentally irritating about them beyond the general racist nastiness of it, and their immediate adjacency to the memelords means their gears grind hardest. It's the squareness, the "Best Buy picket line" look, the ridiculous signaling of normality. Premium mediocre Nazis.

More video here.
The new long-range missiles, attack drones and tanks and other armored vehicles that President Volodymyr Zelensky has secured from allies in recent days will fulfill many, but not all, of the demands for weapons that Ukraine said it needs for a counteroffensive against Russia.

Military analysts believe at least some of the latest tranche of Western weapons will be quickly sent to the front lines to cut off Russian supply routes and to strike at their artillery systems and command centers in Ukraines south and east. Others may be delivered later, including in the autumn or beyond, to help Mr. Zelensky plan for future operations should the war continue to drag on.

But the robust package  announced as Mr. Zelensky visited four European capitals over the last three days  may signal that Western officials now believe Ukraine could retake significant swaths of territory in the counteroffensive, said Jacob Funk Kirkegaard, a former Danish army intelligence officer.

We wouldnt be committing this amount of weapons to Ukraine at this point, if the thinking was that it was not likely that they would succeed, said Mr. Kirkegaard, who is now a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund research group in Brussels.
The Ukrainian artilleryman was all set to slide the explosive shell into a launcher and send it on its way toward Russian positions  but first he had to take care of one last thing on his checklist.

For Uman, he scrawled on the side of the projectile with a felt-tip marker.

Then he ducked away as it roared off on a fiery trajectory to the front line.

Uman is the Ukrainian city where more than two dozen civilians were killed last month in a Russian rocket attack. But it is hardly the only city Russia has attacked, and the message on the shell was also only one of many.

After more than a year of war, Ukrainians have a lot to say to Russia, and many have chosen to say it on the sides of rockets, mortar shells and even exploding drones. Thousands of messages have been sent, ranging from the sardonic to the bitter, among them one from Valentyna Vikhorieva, whose 33-year-old son died in the war.
The head of the Wagner private military group on Monday rejected a report that he had offered to share with Ukraine the positioning of Russian Army troops around Bakhmut, in eastern Ukraine, in exchange for a withdrawal of Kyivs forces from the area.

The Wagner group has been a driving force behind Russias monthslong battle to take Bakhmut, which has cost thousands of lives on both sides and reduced much of the city to rubble. Its founder, Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, has publicly clashed with Russias military leadership over the fight for the city, accusing them of starving his forces of ammunition.

The Washington Post reported on Sunday that a U.S. intelligence document leaked on the messaging platform Discord said that Mr. Prigozhin told contacts in Ukraines military intelligence directorate that he was willing to betray the Russian Armys locations around Bakhmut if Kyiv agreed to withdraw from around the city. A Ukrainian official told The Post that Mr. Prigozhins offer  made more than once  had been rejected.

In an audio statement published on Monday by his press service, Mr. Prigozhin called the report speculation and a hoax. He suggested that Russias corrupt elites, who he said envied his fighters achievements on the front lines in Ukraine and were eager to tank his reputation, could be responsible.
While the battle for Bakhmut, a mostly ruined city where tens of thousands of soldiers are believed to have died, continues to rage after Ukraine made some gains for the first time in months, world leaders are planning several efforts in the coming days to find new diplomatic avenues for ending the war.

Later this week, leaders from the Group of 7 nations  the United States, Japan, Canada, Britain, France, Germany and Italy, as well as the European Union  will be gathering in Hiroshima, Japan, for a weekend of meetings. Russias invasion of Ukraine is on the agenda.

Russias aggression against Ukraine is a challenge to the rule-based international order, and the G7 has responded in a united manner, the groups website says. The G7 will continue to strongly promote sanctions against Russia and supports for Ukraine.

Heres what else were watching this week:
NEW YORK  The United Nations for the first time on Monday officially commemorated the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the war surrounding the creation of Israel 75 years ago, drawing a sharp response from the Israeli ambassador to the world body.

The event  marking the Nakba, or catastrophe, by Palestinians  was attended by the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas; many member states from Asia, Africa, Central and South America and the Middle East; and representatives of the African Union and the Arab League, who delivered speeches. The United States and Britain did not attend.

This resolution represents a recognition by your organizations of the ongoing historic injustice that fell on the Palestinian people in 1948 and before that date, and that continues after, Mr. Abbas said. He added that it was also a rebuttal for the first time by you of the Israeli Zionist narrative that denies this Nakba.

The event was the latest arena for a decades-long narrative battle between Israelis and Palestinians. To Israelis, the creation of their state was a heroic moment for a long-persecuted people that deserves celebration. But to Palestinians, it was a moment of profound national trauma.
The college graduates who fill white-collar jobs in the San Francisco area began to leave in growing numbers about a decade ago. More and more have moved to other parts of the country  an accelerating outflow of educated workers that, in a poorer part of America, might be thought of as brain drain.

When the pandemic arrived, these departures surged so sharply that the San Francisco area has lately lost more educated workers than have moved in:

A chart showing net domestic migration of college-educated working-age adults in the San Francisco metro area, going from an average annual gain of roughly 10,000 people before the pandemic to a loss of 25,000 people in 2021. Metro San Francisco Net college-educated migration, age 21-64

Over this same time, a similar pattern has been taking shape on the other side of the country:

A chart showing net domestic migration of college-educated working-age adults in the Washington, D.C., metro area, going from a peak annual gain of over 20,000 people in 2011 to a loss of roughly 15,000 people in 2021. Metro Washington, D.C. Net college-educated migration, age 21-64

And in the New York area, long a net exporter of graduates, swelling losses have reinforced the trend: Educated workers, dating to even before the pandemic, have been migrating away from the most prosperous parts of the country.

A chart showing net domestic migration of college-educated working-age adults in the New York metro area, showing annual losses of college-educated workers swelling to over 100,000 people in 2021. Metro New York Net college-educated migration, age 21-64 Source: Upshot analysis of one-year American Community Survey microdata from ipums.org

This pattern, visible in an Upshot analysis of census microdata, is startling in retrospect. Major coastal metros have been hubs of the kind of educated workers coveted most by high-powered employers and economic development officials. Economists have lamented the growing coastal concentration of their wealth. A politics of resentment in America has fed on it, too. These urban centers have become a class of their own  superstar cities  with outsize impact on the American economy fueled by the clustering of workers with degrees.

But it appears in domestic migration data that, years after lower-wage residents have been priced out of expensive coastal metros, higher-paid workers are now turning away from them, too.

Working-age Americans with a degree are still flowing into these regions from other parts of the country, often in large numbers. But as the pool leaving grows faster, that educational advantage is eroding. Bostons pull with college graduates has weakened. Seattles edge vanished during the pandemic. And the analysis shows San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles and Washington all crossing a significant threshold: More college-educated workers left than moved in.

For most of this century, large metros with a million residents or more have received all of the net gains from college-educated workers migrating around the country, at the expense of smaller places. But among those large urban areas, the dozen metros with the highest living costs  nearly all of them coastal  have had a uniquely bifurcated migration pattern: As they saw net gains from college graduates, they lost large numbers of workers without degrees.

At least, that was true until recently. Now, large, expensive metros are shedding both kinds of workers.

Net Domestic Migration of Working-Age College Graduates A chart showing net domestic migration of college-educated working-age adults in the 12 most expensive large metro areas, including cities like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Annual migration has fallen from a peak gain of roughly 75,000 people in 2012 to a loss of almost 250,000 in 2021. In the 12 most expensive large metro areas Includes cities like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

A chart showing net domestic migration of college-educated working-age adults in the remaining 41 metros with more than more than one million residents, including cities like Phoenix, Austin and Raleigh, N.C. Annual migration has risen from an annual gain of roughly 50,000 people in 2011 to a gain of over 150,000 in 2021. In other large metros The remaining 41 metros with more than one million residents. Includes cities like Phoenix, Austin and Raleigh, N.C.

A chart showing net domestic migration of college-educated working-age adults in midsized metros with 250,000 to one million residents, including cities like Tucson, Ariz.; Tulsa, Okla.; and Fresno, Calif. Previously negative, net migration has been positive since 2020. In midsized metros Metros with 250,000 to one million residents. Includes cities like Tucson, Ariz.; Tulsa, Okla.; and Fresno, Calif.

A chart showing net domestic migration of college-educated working-age adults in smell metros and rural areas, including cities like Sioux Falls, S.D.; Yakima, Wash.; and College Station, Texas. Figures go from an average annual loss of roughly 100,000 people before the pandemic to a gain of roughly 20,000 people in 2021. In smaller metros and rural America Metros with fewer than 250,000 residents and areas outside of metros. Includes cities like Sioux Falls, S.D.; Yakima, Wash.; and College Station, Texas. Figures show domestic migration for Americans ages 21 to 64 who moved between metros. The 12 most expensive large metros, chosen according to a government index of real personal consumption expenditures, are the metro areas of Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle and Washington, D.C. Source: Upshot analysis of one-year American Community Survey microdata from ipums.org . Cost-of-living estimates are based on Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities

The college-educated workers whove turned away from them are increasingly migrating toward major metros that are still prosperous but not quite so expensive  places like Phoenix, Atlanta, Houston and Tampa. During the pandemic, smaller cities such as Portland, Maine, and Wilmington, N.C., also saw growing inflows of such workers.

The overall migration rate in America today is historically low, and mobility has fallen since the 1980s for all kinds of demographic groups. But these college-educated workers have recently bucked that trend. In the years leading up to the pandemic, their mobility rate was actually rising, a pattern true for both local moves and the kind of longer-distance moves between metro areas that are analyzed here. That has opened a potentially new divide in the American economy between increasingly mobile white-collar workers and blue-collar workers who are increasingly likely to stay put.

An Emerging Divide Mobility has risen for college-educated workers, even as it has fallen for workers without a degree. A line chart showing the share of working-age Americans who moved in the previous year. The mobility rate for Americans without a college degree has steadily dropped to 12% from a high of roughly 15.5% in 2008, while the rate for those with a college degree has gone in the opposite direction, rising to almost 15.5% in 2021 from a low of 14% in 2008. Share of working-age Americans who moved in the previous year Figures are among Americans ages 21 to 64 who said they had moved in the prior 12 months. Source: Upshot analysis of one-year American Community Survey microdata from ipums.org

For every move that anecdotally points to these trends  and the pandemic produced many such anecdotes  its trickier to capture these patterns nationwide. The census doesnt publicly track moves between metro areas by demographic cohorts. So to identify these patterns, The Upshot examined an anonymized sample of millions of census records and identified people who moved, grouped them by education level and age, and then linked each movers origin and destination with larger counties and metro areas.

The fact that big coastal metros have been losing workers without a degree is not that surprising  living costs have surged in these places as the good big-city jobs once available to less educated workers in factories and clerical pools have dwindled. But for workers with a degree, economists have concluded that the higher pay promised in places like the Bay Area and New York should still mean its a good deal to live there.

That makes it all the more curious that these workers have been leaving anyway.

Migration patterns for lower-education workers make complete sense, said Daniel Shoag, an economist at Case Western Reserve University who has found similar trends in work with co-authors Stan Veuger and Philip Hoxie.

For college-educated workers, he said, its more of a puzzle.

Affordability issues move up income ladder

For these higher-education workers, its not so easy to separate those who cant afford a city from those who can but leave anyway. Affordability is relative and personal; for one person it means making rent, for another it means making enough to also join a gym, buy concert tickets and dine out regularly. And even a professional who can afford all of that in New York may still eventually sour on the sixth-floor walk-up and the laundromat that comes with it.

It is clear, though, that affordability has broadly been eroding up the income spectrum in the countrys most expensive metros. As these regions have become richer, that has, among other things, helped fuel the rise in their housing prices.

And it ends up pricing out more and more people  not just people in the middle, but even people with higher incomes and college degrees, said Jed Kolko, the under secretary for economic affairs at the U.S. Department of Commerce (and a former Upshot contributor).

Look Up Your Metro Area Figures show domestic migration for Americans ages 21 to 64, using two-year rolling averages for large metros of one million population or more and five-year rolling averages for all smaller places. Source: Upshot analysis of one-year American Community Survey microdata from ipums.org

If the Bay Area, for one, ceased to be a land of opportunity more than a generation ago for bus drivers and home health aides, today it may be losing that appeal for engineers and consultants.

The sudden pandemic-era rise of remote work has also accelerated that shift. Remote work has driven demand for more space by white-collar workers in precisely the places where more space is hardest to come by. And remote work has altered the bargain that educated workers must swallow high living costs to access the highest wages.

Now, highly educated and more high-income workers have an option that theyve never had before, said Hans Johnson, a demographer with the Public Policy Institute of California. At least some of those workers can now keep (or accept) San Francisco jobs, while paying Houston or Charlotte living costs. Mr. Johnson suspects that helps explain why the whole state of California has now become a net domestic loser of college graduates.

California is so beautiful, but it is a hard place to live, said Rebecca McGrail, 62, a school principal who moved with her husband, a consultant, and daughter from the San Francisco metro to Durham, N.C., in 2019. That sentiment encompasses wildfires, earthquake fears and traffic, she said, but above all the steep cost of everything from housing to a pizza dinner.

Expensive big metros have struggled the most to retain educated workers aged 40 to 64, who face the greatest exposure to steep mortgages, child care costs and big grocery bills. (Younger educated workers were at first a bulwark against that trend, but have increasingly migrated away from these regions, too.)

Jim Dalrymple II left Los Angeles when he reached that costly life stage  when the smallest, cheapest house he said he and his wife could find in the city was no longer big enough to fit children.

I love L.A., I thought we would stay there indefinitely  I miss it still, said Mr. Dalrymple, a 41-year-old writer. When he and his wife concluded they couldnt afford to stay, they moved in 2019 to a much larger home within walking distance of downtown Salt Lake City. He recalled the abundant jobs and affordable housing that attracted his schoolteacher grandparents to Southern California two generations before he left.

I would love to take advantage of all that myself, he said. Its not available to us. And its not available to a lot of people.

Jim Dalrymple II and his wife felt their family could no longer afford to stay in Los Angeles. They could afford, however, the most urban neighborhood in Salt Lake  and a big house in walking distance of downtown. Kim Raff for The New York Times

Garrett Lyon, a 40-year-old brand strategist, described having a similar realization in Seattle when he and his wife considered buying a home: Seattle was crazy, absolutely, absolutely insanely expensive, he said. They could have afforded a home an hour outside the city, he said. Instead, they moved to Nashville.

Other college-educated workers whove moved away from the coasts described in interviews quality-of-life considerations that go beyond any simple accounting of wages versus living costs. They mention wanting furniture that would never fit in a New York elevator, or having a home office with a door that actually closes. They talk about not just cheaper housing, but washing machines, walk-in closets and walls to hang artwork.

Some describe frustration that even people whove followed typical routes to success  get a degree, save up money, work your way up to better-paying jobs  still struggle to live comfortably in coastal metros.

The threshold is just so high, Eduardo Lerro, 45, said of the income required to get by in New York. He was a public-school teacher in the city, then recently became a higher-paid consultant who could live elsewhere. In 2021, he moved home to the Minneapolis area.

Metro New York has long lost more college graduates than it gains through domestic migration (a steady influx of immigrants has historically helped make up for that population loss). But while New York continues to attract more than 100,000 inbound working-age graduates annually, the number departing has grown steadily and topped more than 200,000 in the most recent year of census data  which encompasses Mr. Lerros move.

My living room is bigger than any apartment in New York I ever had, he said. And that was true even with a Ph.D. and a good job.

Other advantages to leaving high-cost New York: windows and walls. Now my walls are full of all this art I collected that I never had wall space for, said Eduardo Lerro, who moved to the Minneapolis area. Jenn Ackerman for The New York Times

Incredible concentration of wealth

Prosperous cities have long grappled with the imbalance created by an exodus of lower-wage workers. Their departures stress businesses needing to hire lower-wage staff, and they fray working-class neighborhoods that have lost residents. The high cost of living in big coastal metros also means that many lower-income households are blocked from moving into places with plentiful jobs and a stronger safety net. Its bad for these regions, too, when essential workers like firefighters or child care providers cant afford to live there.

The migration of college-educated residents away from these same places, on the other hand, raises a more muddled set of questions. Domestic migration is zero-sum, meaning a loss of college graduates prized by local officials and tax collectors in Washington or San Francisco can be a gain for Kansas City or Orlando. And researchers who study inequality say it would be a good thing if college graduates (and their spending power) were less clustered on the coasts.

Theres an incredible concentration of wealth in these superstar cities that is unhealthy, said David Autor, an economist at M.I.T. whose work has traced the disappearance over time of good big-city jobs for less educated workers. It also means a lot of the affluence that goes with that is very concentrated among a small set of people.

While it may be good for the country for that affluence to spread out more, some of the forces that appear to be driving this shift  like a coastal housing shortage, and political paralysis around solving it  are hardly positive.

Its a side benefit of a very messy, costly thing, said Adam Ozimek, the chief economist at the Economic Innovation Group, a think tank focused on the widening inequality in America between prosperous and struggling places.

College-educated workers leaving the most expensive parts of the country are also not spreading out equally everywhere  or even going to parts of the country that are struggling. Most are going to what could be considered the next price tier of big metros. And since the pandemic, more are going to smaller metro areas and even rural parts of the country.

Net migration among college graduates Loss Gain Among the 12 most expensive metros, net college migration has generally declined or turned negative. POP. 2010-14 2015-19 2020-21 Baltimore NaN m -0.3 k -3 k +4 k Boston NaN m +12 k +16 k +11 k Chicago NaN m +1 k -11 k -19 k Honolulu NaN m +1 k +0.2 k -2 k Los Angeles NaN m +0.1 k -4 k -37 k Miami NaN m +5 k -5 k +0.2 k New York City NaN m -18 k -39 k -103 k San Diego NaN m +1 k -0.5 k +4 k San Francisco NaN m +13 k +8 k -25 k San Jose NaN m +2 k +2 k -23 k Seattle NaN m +15 k +16 k +1 k Washington NaN m +14 k +2 k -15 k The other 41 large metros have mostly continued to attract working-age college graduates. POP. 2010-14 2015-19 2020-21 Atlanta NaN m +4 k +12 k +8 k Austin NaN m +9 k +7 k +21 k Birmingham NaN m +1 k +0.1 k +0.4 k Buffalo NaN m -2 k -2 k -1 k Charlotte NaN m +9 k +13 k +9 k Cincinnati NaN m -1 k -1 k +1 k Cleveland NaN m -1 k +1 k +1 k Columbus NaN m No chg. k +0.4 k -4 k Dallas NaN m +16 k +26 k +15 k Denver NaN m +13 k +19 k +17 k Detroit NaN m -3 k +2 k -5 k Grand Rapids NaN m +1 k -1 k -1 k Hartford NaN m -1 k -2 k -4 k Houston NaN m +18 k +13 k +19 k Indianapolis NaN m +2 k +2 k +2 k Jacksonville NaN m +4 k +7 k +11 k Kansas City NaN m +4 k +2 k +7 k Las Vegas NaN m +2 k +5 k +13 k Louisville NaN m +1 k -0.4 k -0.2 k Memphis NaN m -0.4 k -1 k -0.2 k Milwaukee NaN m -1 k -3 k -0.4 k Minn./St.Paul NaN m +5 k +7 k -1 k Nashville NaN m +6 k +9 k +16 k New Orleans NaN m +3 k -2 k -1 k Oklahoma City NaN m +3 k -3 k +2 k Orlando NaN m -1 k +4 k +1 k Philadelphia NaN m -5 k -3 k -0.1 k Phoenix NaN m +10 k +16 k +23 k Pittsburgh NaN m +0.1 k -4 k -0.4 k Portland NaN m +8 k +10 k +8 k Providence NaN m -10 k -12 k -13 k Raleigh NaN m +5 k +9 k +6 k Richmond NaN m +1 k +3 k +6 k Riverside NaN m +0.4 k +3 k +8 k Rochester NaN m -3 k -1 k -3 k Sacramento NaN m +0.1 k +5 k +6 k Salt Lake City NaN m -0.1 k +4 k -3 k San Antonio NaN m +4 k +4 k +2 k St. Louis NaN m +1 k -1 k +2 k Tampa NaN m +5 k +9 k +17 k Virginia Beach NaN m No chg. k -3 k +3 k Figures show average annual domestic migration for Americans ages 21 to 64 who moved between metros. The 12 most expensive large metros were chosen according to a government index of real personal consumption expenditures. Source: Upshot analysis of one-year American Community Survey microdata from ipums.org

These migration patterns may also reflect the fact that many cities outside coastal America have themselves changed over the last 20 years. More of them have developed the amenities associated first with big coastal cities: revitalized downtowns, brewpubs, loft apartment conversions, diverse restaurant scenes.

Some of it is that the most expensive places got really expensive, Rebecca Diamond, a Stanford economist, said of shifting migration patterns. But also, the middle-tier places became more attractive.

Since 2000, she has found, college graduates have increasingly been moving toward high-amenity cities and away from the highest-wage ones. Consumer cities, as she puts it, are increasingly replacing producer cities as the places where college graduates want to live.

In interviews, several movers described not just the appeal in their new homes of more space and a lower cost of living, but also the sense that they hadnt given up too much to gain those benefits. To a growing degree, they said, what they left behind they can find in Charlotte, Denver, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Dallas or Louisville.

Those places today may promise something like 90 percent of the city life of a big coastal metro at 60 or 70 percent of the cost. And that trade-off is particularly alluring for some workers choosing between a central neighborhood in a more affordable city or a far-flung home in the coastal exurbs.

Theres never been a time since I moved here where I was like, Dang, I wish I could do something I used to be able to do back in D.C., said Jonathan Ruckman, 42, who moved to Louisville from Washington in 2013.

On the other hand, he can do in Louisville things he believes he couldnt afford to in D.C., including buying a home as a public-interest lawyer.

Decisions like his are noteworthy not because a lawyer, a consultant or a brand strategist who moves across the country counts for more than a waitress who does, but because their decisions say something broader about the places theyve left behind and the options available to others there.

This is about choice, and who has choices, said Abigail Wozniak, who directs the Opportunity and Inclusive Growth Institute at the Minneapolis Fed. That means, she said, that we have to understand what goes into the choices visible in this data to recognize what choices are closed to other people  like the teacher who might like to move to California but cant afford to and never does, or the nursing assistant who wont make it in New York because even an entrepreneur cant.

I had these dreams about opening a business, said Laura Newman, 33, who wanted to own her own bar in her native New York City. I really wanted to pursue those dreams. And it didnt matter how much money I saved, because the cost of achieving those goals increased as I was saving money.

And so she moved to Birmingham, Ala., in 2017 and opened her first bar there instead.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkeys longtime incumbent leader, will head to a presidential election runoff for the first time in his career after falling short of the 50 percent needed to win in national elections on Sunday.

A map shows election results in all of Turkeys provinces. The opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu is ahead in the provinces with the countrys biggest cities, along the Mediterranean coast and in the southeast, where most of the Kurdish population lives. Mr. Erdogan is ahead in most of Central Turkey. CANDIDATE PRELIMINARY SHARE Recep Tayyip Erdogan 49.5% Kemal Kilicdaroglu 44.9% Sinan Ogan 5.2% Muharrem Ince 0.4% Source: Anadolu Agency (unofficial results). Mersin Diyarbakr Antalya Kayseri Gaziantep Izmir Bursa Samsun Konya Adana Ankara Istanbul The provinces that contain Istanbul and Ankara, Turkeys two largest cities, voted for Kemal Kilicdaroglu after both voted for Mr. Erdogan in 2018. The countrys prosperous coastal region voted in favor of the opposition, as it has in the past. Turkeys Kurdish population, who live mostly in the southeast, voted overwhelmingly in support of the opposition. Central Turkey, a stronghold for Mr. Erdogan, voted mostly in the presidents favor. Share of vote 40% 60% 80% Erdogan Kilicdaroglu Sources: Anadolu Agency (unofficial election results), WorldPop (population density). Note: Not all results have been reported. Some results may change.

Mr. Erdogan still had the most votes of any candidate, including the opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, as of Monday, upsetting opposition supporters who were expecting a swift victory.

Mr. Erdogan appeared to have the edge as he heads into the runoff on May 28. The right-wing supporters of a third candidate, Sinan Ogan, are more likely to vote for Mr. Erdogan in the runoff, analysts say, increasing his winning chances.

Even so, almost every part of the country shifted against Mr. Erdogan compared with the most recent presidential election in 2018, according to preliminary results from Anadolu Agency, a state news organization.

A map shows whether Mr. Erdogan had a higher or lower vote share compared to 2018. Mr. Erdogan lost voters in most provinces, and had very small gains in a few. 2023 Erdogan vote share compared to 2018 Lower Erdogan vote share Higher Erdogan vote share Mersin Diyarbakr Antalya Kayseri Gaziantep Izmir Bursa Samsun Konya Adana Ankara Istanbul In the areas hit hardest by the earthquake in February, most provinces shifted away from Mr. Erdogan. Mr. Erdogan was ahead in most provinces in Central Turkey, his traditional stronghold, but he lost many votes there compared with 2018. Sources: Anadolu Agency (unofficial election results), U.S. Geological Survey (earthquakes).

Some of the sharpest rebukes came from the provinces around Turkeys two largest cities, Istanbul and Ankara, where Mr. Erdogan won in 2018 but was behind on Monday, and from areas in central Turkey that have traditionally provided Mr. Erdogans core support. Mr. Erdogan was still well ahead in most provinces there, but he lost votes compared with 2018.

Voters also leaned away from Mr. Erdogan in the regions hit hardest by the earthquake. Voters there told The Times they were voting for Mr. Kilicdaroglu because of the governments earthquake response as well as its handling of the economy.

Shifts were more muted in areas where opposition politicians have generally done well, along the Mediterranean coast to the west and in Turkeys southeast, home to most of the Kurdish population.

Presidential election results by year Candidates need 50 percent of vote to avoid a runoff election 2014 Recep Tayyip Erdogan Erdogan 51.8% Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu Ihsanoglu 38.4% Selahattin Demirtas Demirtas 9.8% 2018 Recep Tayyip Erdogan Erdogan 52.6% Muharrem Ince Ince 30.6% Selahattin Demirtas Demirtas 8.4% Meral Aksener Aksener 7.3% 2023 Recep Tayyip Erdogan Erdogan 49.5% Kemal Kilicdaroglu Kilicdaroglu 44.9% Sinan Ogan Ogan 5.2% Sources: Supreme Election Council, Anadolu Agency (unofficial election results). Note: Results from 2023 are preliminary. The graphic includes all candidates who received at least 5 percent of the vote.

The vote was in many ways a referendum on the performance of Mr. Erdogan, Turkeys dominant politician for 20 years.
Kekst CNC is handling the Chapter 11 filing of Buffalo-based Athenex Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on cancer treatments.

The bankruptcy move, which follows the completion of a strategic review, is designed to facilitate the sale of its primary businesses.

Athenex CEO Johnson Lau said the company sought to be a leader in bringing innovative cancer treatments to the market and improving patient health outcomes.

It succeeded in gaining regulatory approval for tirbanibulin ointment in the US, Taiwan and some EU countries but received a regulatory setback from the US Food and Drug Administration for its oral paclitaxel product.

This significant regulatory setback coupled with challenging biotech markets and the difficult economic environment, put tremendous pressure on our ability to continue to fund our business, said Lau.

The companys manufacturing plant in Clarence, NY, will continue to operate for at least 90 days to provide a supply of tirbanibulin to its commercial customers.

Laus goal is to identify purchases who will continue to develop Athenexs drug candidates.

Kekst CNCs Daniel Yunger, Wendi Kopsick, Rich Goldman, and Mark Fallati are working the Chapter 11 filing.

Publicis Groupe owns Kekst CNC.


Fredericton Needs Tourism Videos Fri., May 12, 2023 Fredericton, which is the capital of New Brunswick, is looking for a firm to shoot a series of videos to represent the tourism experience.
After months of battling with neighbors over its insistence on tearing down a century-old house as part of a larger new construction project in Snyder, Benderson Development Co. has yielded to pressure, and will now retain the Chateau Terrace house on the edge of the site as a compromise.

But Benderson still plans to continue with its overall redevelopment of the former Squire Shop site at 4548-4564 Main St., despite fervent opposition from the surrounding community in the Amherst-area neighborhood. And it is even using the change to try to avoid other reviews.

Benderson proposal for Squire Shop project in Snyder faces pushback from neighbors We dont want any of the issues we already have to be exacerbated by the Benderson building," said one of the neighborhood leaders.

Facing the potential of a landmark designation for the small structure and eager to move ahead with the rest of its project, Benderson has submitted a revised proposal to the Town of Amherst, which would protect the 1,728-square-foot house at 22 Chateau from demolition, although the adjacent garage behind it to the west would be torn down as planned.

In a letter this month to Town Planning Director Daniel Howard and Town Attorney Martin A. Polowy that accompanied a new site plan, Benderson Director of Development James A. Boglioli noted that the exclusion of the house from demolition "was specifically requested by the residential neighbors," and that "maintaining the house provides increased buffering and screening from the proposed project to the neighbors to the north."

"The house will be refreshed and rented," Benderson spokesman Eric Recoon said.

'When is enough, enough?': Amherst projects face growing neighbor pushback After years of go-go development, housing and other proposals in Amherst are now running into fierce, well-organized opposition from some neighbors.

At the same time, though, without the house, the total area of disturbance for the project site is now just 0.97 acres - which means it is under the one-acre threshold for requiring a wetlands permit. That removes the need for New York state approval, and also means that approval by the State Historic Preservation Office is not required.

"Any recommendation by SHPO is non-binding and irrelevant," Boglioli wrote.

And, he added, no zoning variances or waivers are needed because the house is an existing and "legally non-conforming building" under town code that is being maintained.

"Considering this reduced impact, we request that the Planning Board be directed to complete its review of our site plan application," he concluded.

The developer also separately offered to work with the Amherst Historic Preservation Commission to have the Chateau Terrace Historic District listed on the state and national Registers of Historic Places  including all the residential areas on Chateau and Fruehauf Avenue, but not including the two Main Street commercial properties.

Squire Shop project in Snyder poised for final town approval Neighbors of the project site are angry over what they perceive as the developer's mistreatment of them and its refusal to compromise on elements of the project that have raised the most concern among residents.

The reversal by Benderson appears to remove one of the obstacles to winning municipal approval, but doesn't eliminate the opposition altogether.

Benderson  which bought the two Main Street commercial properties, the house and a fourth property at 17 Fruehauf in March 2018 for $1.36 million  plans to demolish the vacant two-story retail and commercial complex and other structures. It would replace them with a three-story apartment building with 44 units and two restaurants along Main  one with 4,114 square feet, and another with 2,543 square feet of space and a canopied outdoor seating area.

Plans call for a mixture of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, with a total of six units on the first floor, 20 on the second and 18 on the third. A covered building entry between the restaurants would lead to the lobby, elevators, first-floor units and a rear patio and outdoor amenity space behind the larger of the two restaurants.

The U-shaped project would also include 76 parking spaces in two levels of semi-below-grade parking, with a curved driveway off Chateau leading to the basement level and another curved driveway off Fruehauf on the other side leading into the ground-floor parking area. The Chateau driveway would be right next to the Craftsman-style stone-and-stucco house that is being kept.

But residents of the two side streets are still battling to stop the project, which they say is much too big for the site. They worry that the influx of new residents and restaurant patrons will worsen an already bad traffic and parking situation on the two streets, which are either dead-end or closed-square neighborhoods with no other outlet. And they are angry at what they perceive as Benderson's dismissal of their concerns .

In a last-ditch effort, the neighbors filed landmark applications with the town's Historic Preservation Commission, asking to landmark the Chateau house and one of the Main Street buildings, citing their qualifications and eligibility for historic preservation. Both applications are still pending.

The state historic office had said that the building at 4548 Main is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places on its own merit, as is the Chateau Terrace Historic District, with the Chateau house and 4564 Main contributing to the district.

"Our office strongly recommends that these buildings all be retained and rehabilitated, rather than demolished," SHPO historic site restoration coordinator Derek Rohde wrote to Benderson on April 17.

But Boglioli asserts that none of the buildings would meet the criteria for individual eligibility on the National Register of Historic Places, based on a historic evaluation by Commonwealth Heritage Group of the buildings' conditions, alterations and "loss of architectural integrity."

"These buildings do not comply with the existing zoning code," Boglioli wrote to the Amherst Historic Preservation Commission. "Further, maintaining these buildings does not meet the property owner's objective of building a code-compliant project which provides usable commercial space and an increased residential component which meets the needs of the town."
Junior Minister for Agriculture and Green Party Senator Pippa Hackett addresses he climate and biodiversity crises, the 'greatest challenges of our time'



I'M delighted to contribute to the celebration of Irelands 50 years of EEC / EU membership.

As a mother, and looking through a green lens, I have a deep concern for my childrens future, and that of our natural environment. In order to face what are the greatest challenges of our time - the climate and biodiversity crises - I return to the importance of working in union with others, of sharing knowledge and innovation and of a common support for our most vulnerable.

In 2020, under the European Green Deal, the EU agreed targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels). It also pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

Some will argue that even this commitment is too late, that member states were reluctant to get to the table to negotiate the Green Deal; and it is not surprising given the difficult conversations and decisions that lie ahead as a result.

But it is the only deal we have, and it is imperative EU member states work proactively together as partners to achieving them - through policy, and if needs be further legislative change. This is particularly challenging for Ireland, given our position amongst the largest emitters of greenhouse gases per capita of the EU.

And yet, from laggards to leaders  we are stepping up to the challenge, with EU support. One of our MEPs in the Ireland South constituency, which includes Offaly, is my Green Party colleague Grace OSullivan. Grace is a fierce advocate for social justice and the environment.

We know that climate change is impacting most on those who are the least responsible - those communities and countries who are the lowest emitters. I saw this first hand in my recent visit to Tanzania and Kenya - the latter heading into its 6th growing season without rain.

Green Party leader, Minister Eamon Ryan, acted as lead EU negotiator on a new Loss and Damage fund at last years COP27, with almost 200 countries present. And for the first time, the richer, high emitting countries reached agreement to assist developing countries that are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

I am acutely aware of the ongoing consequences of the end of peat extraction and the closure of peat fired power plants in my own area. And again, the EU is helping Ireland to help these communities.

The recently launched EU Just Transition Fund will support sustainable economic development in the Midlands, by promoting employment generation projects in those communities directly affected by the transition away to a low carbon economy.

Ireland is a net contributor to the EU but we have and continue to benefit enormously from targeted funding, including on our doorsteps. Our farmers and rural communities also benefit from a new Common Agricultural Policy that has redistributed subsidies in a way that brings greater fairness to smaller farmers across the country.

I regularly hear the What about China? type excuses for not acting on climate. My response? What about the EU? Ireland is not an insignificant drop in the ocean when we consider we are in a union of 450 million people. And we have the possibility, including here in the Midlands, to be a global leader in building a resilient healthy economy based around climate action, sustainable food production and nature restoration.

Our response to climate change and nature restoration over the next 10 years is critical to global political, social and economic stability and ultimately our very survival as a species. And Im glad we face this with the support of EU membership. Long may that continue and thrive.
Timothee Chalamet has been named the new fragrance ambassador for Chanels Bleu de Chanel cologne.

The actor was unveiled on the French fashion houses Instagram page in a campaign photo shot by famed fashion photographer Mario Sorrenti.

This is the first time the Dune actor has been appointed ambassador for a fashion or beauty label.

With a dynamic energy as raw as it is refined, the French-American 27-year-old actor has gained a distinguished worldwide reputation, while still at the dawn of his career, said a statement released by Chanel.

Apart from his audacious style and unapologetic charm, Timothee Chalamet personifies the visionary and edgy spirit of the next chapter of Bleu de Chanel: a man who does not limit himself to the ordinary boundaries life sets and looks beyond what is visible.

Speaking to British Vogue, Chalamet recalled his earliest of memory of the brand related to his late grandmother.

I remember her giving my sister Chanel No. 5  I think it was for my sisters birthday  and she had this little Chanel purse too, he said.

She was a very, very elegant lady in the best sense of the word  subtly elegant and not for show.

Talking about working with Martin Scorsese, who is directing the campaign film, Chalamet said: He lives and breathes movie making. The conversations weve had over Zoom have been super enthused. For him, its like hitting the treadmill.

The Bleu de Chanel full advertising campaign will be released in June, with the film following in autumn.

Within two hours Chalamets Instagram post announcing the news had garnered 900k likes and hundreds of comments, including one from the actors Little Women co-star, Florence Pugh, who said: Very boopable nose there babe. Miiiish youuuuu x.

Spanish actor Penelope Cruz, a long-time Chanel ambassador, commented on the brands post with a string of clapping emojis.

Earlier, the Oscar-nominated star hinted at the partnership when he posted an image of the famous double C logo with the caption CC X TC OTW  meaning on the way.

Renowned for his red carpet style Chalamet co-chaired the Met Gala in 2021, but rarely collaborates with brands.

He was named a Friend of the House for jewellery and watchmaker Cartier in 2021 and in October last year became the first man to grace a solo cover of British Vogue.
CHARLEVILLE Castle is thrilled to announce the physical return of Shakefest, the highly-anticipated festival that celebrates art, music, and dance, after a three year online hiatus due to the pandemic. The festival will take place once again on May 27th and May 28th, 2023, at Charleville Castle in Tullamore.

Shakefest has been a staple of creativity and culture in the Midlands for 18 years. From its origins in 2006 as a small workshop and performance day for cultural dancers, Shakefest has grown into a vibrant family oriented weekend programme!. With an exciting line-up of workshops, performers, and artists in focus, the festival promises to be an unforgettable experience for attendees.

The cultural craic begins on Friday, May 27th with a fun and dynamic drum circle experience with David Day of Jabba Jabba Jembe in the castle forecourt for all ages, then to follow with an evening Hafla featuring Bubble Lock Hip Hop with Rama and students, showcasing the moves that will be taught in Bubblelock's workshops the next day, Sunday, May 28th, in the Charleville Castle Ballroom. The workshop will be divided into two sections: Kids Hip Hop, 6-12yrs, and Adults and Teens, 13+yrs.

Along with Bubble Lock Hip Hop, Shakefest 2023 offers a diverse range of workshops that includes abstract paint pouring for kids aged 6-12 years in the Castle Courtyard on Sunday, May 28th. This dynamic and free-flowing abstract painting art form allows creators to experiment with the effect of everyday objects through the paint.

The legendary Shakefest Hafla will once again be a night to remember, with performances from some of the most talented artists from across the world. Dr. Subhashini Goda, the guest cultural dance performer, will perform four dances in Indian Classical and Bharatanatyam. The festival will also feature Finn Nichol, a talented artist originally from Birr, Co. Offaly, who will showcase his most recent works previously featured in Soundscapes of Nature at the Birr Music Festival 2022. Finn Nichol is also the winner of the RDS Taylor award in late 2021. The Red Embers Bellydance Troupe, long-term organizers, performers, and supporters of Shakefest, will perform four cultural dance songs  Tribal, South American, and Cabaret style.

The recital will also showcase youth dance sensation Ishani Acharya, who can perform in multiple dance genres, including Bollywood, Indian Classical, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Ballet, Hip Hop, and Krump. Rose from the Celtic Blondes will also perform Irish dance and music. Rahan Comhaltas, who host Culture Night each year at the Castle, will be in their usual charismatic form with Irish dance, song, craic, and storytelling.

Organisers are also excited to announce our featured artist Caroline Conway, renowned for her stunning projected imagery from Birr. She will create an illuminating animation projection show on the front of Charleville Castle as a magnificent visual crescendo to the nights festivities. She will be focusing on the history, community and ethos of Charleville Castle Heritage Trust - it is exciting to anticipate how she will interpret Charleville Castle, built from 1801-1814 - its life, times, and journey from the past to the present and its community aspirations for the future. The outdoor Castle Illumination show will begin at 10:30pm and is part of the whole evening programme which starts at 7:30pm.

The organisers invite everyone to join them for a celebration of art, music, and dance that promises to be an unforgettable experience for all.

The Saturday Evening Recital is only 10 per adult and 20 per family (2 adults and up to 3 children). Prices start from only 7.50 for workshops - for more information on tickets and to book, please visit www.shakefest.net or email info@shakefest.net.

Shakefest is supported by the Offaly County Council Arts Office.
Fact Check: Was a BJP Leader In Karnataka Caught With an Electronic Voting Machine?

Fact Check: Old Video Of Imran Khan Shared As New One Claim, Following His Release

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Fact Check: Did Members Of The Bajrang Dal Burn The Indian Flag In Manipur?

Fact Check: Has George Soros Died At The Age of 92?

Fact Check

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Rumours are afloat yet again that financier George Soros has died.

Soros is a Hungarian American investor, businessman and chief financier. Due to both his popularity and controversial nature, he is of great interest online. There was speculation on Twitter that he had died, but the 92-year old has not died in reality.

Recently a Twitter post by CilComLFC went viral on the social networking site. The user had attached a black and white image of Soros and had written, 'Breaking: George Soros has died of a violent heart attack, according to Politics for All Ireland.'

Fact Check: Old Video Of Imran Khan Shared As New One Claim, Following His Release

The tweet had gone viral and had acquired close to 400k views.

We found thatScreenshot 2023-05-15 at 2.25.20 PM.png the fake news first originated from @PolitcsFAIRL, a Twitter handle. 'Breaking: Family Confirms George Soros has died aged 92,' read the tweet.

However the news has been debunked by another Twitter handle, ThePlotThickens. 'It appears George Soros isn't dead yet,' the tweet read.

We also checked online with specific searches if Soros had died and did not come across any such thing. Had he died it would have made headlines. Hence it would be safe to conclude that the news relating to George Soros' death is fake.

Fact Check: Was a BJP Leader In Karnataka Caught With an Electronic Voting Machine?

Prior to this too news relating to his death had gone viral. A fake obituary of his spread like wildfire in 2022. In 2013, Reuters too had accidentally published a 'premature' obituary of Soros as well. The 1,000 word article included a fill-in-the-blank article that read:

"George Soros, who died XXX at age XXX, was a predatory and hugely successful financier and investor, who argued paradoxically for years against the same sort of free-wheeling capitalism that made him billions."

Reuters later released an apology after the false report went viral.

Fact Check Claim George Soros has died at the age of 92 Conclusion The news is fake and Soros is still alive Rating False Raise your request for FACT CHECKING. Mail us at [email protected]

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 15, 2023, 14:43 [IST]
Absconding, Phone Switched Off': Delhi Govt's Notice To IAS Officer

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Ashish More, IAS officer who was removed as Delhi government's services department secretary, issued show cause notice by AAP government for not complying with Supreme Court order.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi has issued a show cause notice to IAS officer Ashish More for not complying with the Supreme Court order. More was removed as the secretary of the Delhi government's services department last week, hours after the apex court ruled in favor of the AAP government in a tussle with the center over the control and posting of bureaucrats in Delhi.

According to a statement issued by the Delhi government, More has been asked to reply to the show cause notice within 24 hours. More was asked to make way for his replacement on Thursday, but he unexpectedly left the Secretariat and switched off his phone, read the statement.

The statement also said that More has been accused of not being politically neutral. It said that the special secretary of the services department sent a communication to the minister of services, Saurabh Bhardwaj, indicating that the Home Ministry's notification dated May 21, 2015, has not yet been set aside.

Politics Of Hate Doesn't Work Forever: AAP On BJP's Defeat In Karnataka Polls

On Thursday, in a unanimous verdict, the Supreme Court ruled that the Delhi government has legislative and executive powers over services. Hearing the Centre versus the Delhi government over the issue of demarcation of power, a constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said an elected government needs to have control over the administration.

It refused to agree with the 2019 judgement of Justice Ashok Bhushan that the city government has no power over the issue of services.

The bench, which also comprised Justices M R Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli and P S Narasimha, said democracy and federal structure are part of the basic structure of the Constitution.

The constitution bench was set up to hear the legal issue concerning the scope of legislative and executive powers of the Centre and the National Capital Territory government over control of services in Delhi.
A judge has ruled mostly in favor of Canisius College in a lawsuit brought over tuition and fees a student paid at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic when classes went remote.

But while State Supreme Court Justice John Licata dismissed the claim as it relates to tuition, he allowed the former student to pursue his claim over the college's mandatory fees.

In his lawsuit, Canisius graduate Caleb McCudden called the online instruction materially deficient and insufficient alternative to the on-campus in-person educational experience for which he had paid $12,385 in tuition and fees for the semester.

Most colleges and universities, including Canisius, reimbursed students on a prorated basis for dorm fees and meal plan costs, but not for tuition because they continued to teach courses remotely.

McCudden lost on the tuition issue.

"He completed his coursework and was awarded a degree," Licata noted in his ruling. "Other than reference to the value of a hands on learning experience, the examples cited by plaintiff in his complaint do not amount to a promise by Canisius to provide exclusively in-person, classroom instruction."

But the mandatory fees are a different matter, the judge ruled.

McCudden's lawsuit cited a reference to "student life" on the Canisius website, which described how students are provided opportunities and an environment "to extend their educational experience beyond the classroom" through on-campus programming, clubs and activities, and residential communities.

Canisius provided to potential students a breakdown of each of the four individual mandatory fees: college fee, student activity fee, technology fee and wellness fee.

"In the case of the mandatory fees, there exists clear, specific language what services students will receive in exchange for each of the four fees," Licata said in his ruling. "Plaintiffs complaint alleges that most of services specifically paid for by the mandatory fees were not provided."

So the judge did not dismiss McCudden's claim for breach of contract related to the mandatory fees.

Canisius declined to comment, "as this is an ongoing legal matter," said spokeswoman Eileen Herbert.

Michael A. Tompkins, a Long Island lawyer who represented McCudden, declined to speak specifically about the proposed class action against Canisius.

The law firm he's part of is engaged in several college refund cases across the country.

"Without talking about any specific case and only discussing these cases in general, our firm will continue to advocate for students and challenge decisions to give students the opportunity to be heard on their rights," Tompkins said. "When students paid for campus-based educational services and instead got online-only learning, they did not get what they signed up for. Campus access and all their benefits were what students reasonably expected when they paid hefty tuition and fee bills before the semester began.

"The pandemic was not the fault of any university, nor was it the fault of the students," Tompkins said. "But schools did not provide the services they promised, so they do not get to keep the monies that student paid for those services. Imagine paying $2,000 for a first-class plane ticket and then showing up at the airport gate to be told you are sitting in a $300 economy seat at the back of the plane and you wont get a refund. The airline may say it flew you to your destination, but you still didnt get all the things you signed up for. Thats what most schools are saying. That seems improper and inequitable to most students and their families."

Generally, appellate courts across the country have been supportive of students claims for a partial refund of tuition and fees  and have rejected trial courts attempts to dismiss them, Tompkins said.

McCudden brought three claims against Canisius: breach of contract, unjust enrichment and conversion.

Licata dismissed all the claims except for breach of contract over the fees.

As for the unjust enrichment claim, nothing in McCudden's complaint alleges Canisius benefited financially from being forced by the state to close its campus facilities as a public health measure, other than the allegation that Canisius took his tuition money and provided him with what he called an education of diminished value, according to the court ruling.

"There is no allegation that Canisius paid their staff any less, or paid less to repair and maintain its buildings, or even that defendant delayed plaintiffs receipt of a degree, which it did not do," the judge said.

And the claim of conversion  that the college converted the money into a benefit for itself without giving a benefit to students  also fails, the judge said, because McCudden bases that claim on the same underlying set of facts as his breach of contract claim, mainly that Canisius failed to provide in-person and on-campus educational experiences.
Why Should I Be upset? There Is A Long Way To Go, Says DK Shivakumar

Siddaramaiah Leaves For Delhi Alone, Shivakumar Undecided

India

oi-Prakash KL

A day after Karnataka Congress passed a unanimous resolution authorising the party's National President Mallikarjun Kharge to pick the next Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah left for New Delhi on Monday to meet the party's central leadership.

There were earlier reports that Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, who are frontrunners for the top post, would be in Delhi to meet the national leaders on Monday.

However, Siddaramaiah alone has gone to Delhi now. On his turn, DK Shivakumar said that has not decided whether to go to the national capital or not.

On Sunday evening, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), which met at a private hotel in Bengaluru, passed a unanimous resolution authorising Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to pick its leader. It was attended by AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal and three central observers (Sushil Kumar Shinde, Deepak Babaria, and Jitendra Singh Alwar), who will leave for Delhi at 10 am today.

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"The Congress Legislature Party unanimously resolves that the AICC President is hereby authorised to appoint the new Leader of the Congress Legislature Party," according to a one-line resolution passed at the CLP meeting.

AICC in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala has said that Mallikarjun Kharge will not take long to announce the name of the next Chief Minister of Karnataka.

"Party leadership will take a decision. I can't replace my judgement with Kharge Sahab's judgement. He is our senior, and as you all know him. He is the son of the soil of Karnataka, and I'm sure he will not take very long," he said while speaking to reporters after a late-night meeting with the newly-elected Congress leaders. "The winning party will be in the first cabinet when we will implement our first five guarantees," he added.

In the Karnataka Assembly elections held last week, Congress registered a resounding win, winning 135 seats while the ruling BJP managed to bag just 66. The JDS was reduced to 19 in the 224-member Assembly.
Why Should I Be upset? There Is A Long Way To Go, Says DK Shivakumar

'Dont Know What Gift High Command Will Give On My Birthday': DK Shivakumar

India

oi-Prakash KL

Karnataka Congress Chief DK Shivakumar is celebrating his 62nd birthday today and this year it is special for him as his party registered a thumping victory in the Assembly elections.

The Vokkaliga strongman is a frontrunner to become the Chief Minister of Karnataka along with Siddaramaiah. However, the state leaders have left the decision to take a call on picking the next CM with the central leadership in the CLP meeting held on Sunday evening.

On asking whether he was expecting any good news from the high command, he said, "We have passed a one-line resolution. We will leave it to the party's high command. I have not decided to go to Delhi yet. I have done whatever job I have to do. I don't know what gift the high command will give on my birthday but the people of Karnataka have given us the numbers,"

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His supporters have put up banners and posters referring to him as the "next CM of Karnataka." Hundreds of his followers gathered outside his house to greet him on his birthday. He was garlanded with flowers and presented flower bouquets before he left for the Shagri-La hotel in Bengaluru for a meeting of the Congress Legislative Party Meeting.

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"I am celebrating the birthday of Shivakumar for 20 years. I am his close aide. Every year the cake is sported with a message that you are the future CM," ANI quoted a supporter , who also waited for hours to wish his favourite leader, as saying. He stated that the state chief should be made the CM in order to fulfil the poll promises, mentioned by Congress in its manifesto.

"The youth, Congress party, and everyone wants Shivakumar to be appointed as our Chief Minister," he said.

Before the elections, the KPCC chief had openly expressed his Chief Ministerial aspirations at various events, especially the ones connected with Vokkaligas. He had asked the dominant community, to which he belongs, not to lose out on an opportunity to make him the Chief Minister.

The Congress has won 135 seats in the Karnataka Assembly elections while the BJP and JDS have bagged 66 and 19, respectively.

In Race For Karnataka CM, Why the Scales Are Tilted In Favour Of Siddaramaiah

Known as a "troubleshooter", DK Shivakumar is credited for Congress' stupendous performance in the Vokkaliga-dominated Old Mysuru region as it won 37 out of 59 seats.

It has to be noted that there are instances where the KPCC Presidents, who led the party to victory in elections, are made the Chief Ministers. Notably among them are SM Krishna and Veerendra Patil.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 15, 2023, 11:59 [IST]
Tihar Jail SP Gets Notice After 2 Inmates Shifted To Satyendar Jains Cell on His Request

Former Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain Moves SC Seeking Bail in Money Laundering Case

India

oi-Prakash KL

Former Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain has moved the Supreme Court seeking bail in a money laundering case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The AAP leader has challenged the Delhi High Court order dismissing his bail plea in the money laundering case against him, ANI reported.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court dismissed the bail plea of jailed minister saying he is an influential person and may tamper with evidence.

Last year, the ED had arrested Jain in the money laundering case based on a CBI FIR lodged against Jain in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma also rejected the bail pleas of the co-accused in the case-Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain.

According to the charge sheet, the AAP leader held the position of Minister in the Delhi Government from February 14, 2015, to May 31, 2017, and during that time, he obtained assets that exceed what can be accounted for by his known income.

Meanwhile, a superintendent of Tihar Jail has received a show-cause notice for shifting two men to the cell of former Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party's jailed leader Satyendar Jain on the latter's request.

Citing the depression and loneliness, Jain had a letter to the jail administration requesting them to lodge him with two more inmates. The AAP leader has been lodged inside Tihar Jail since June 2022,

"Jain in his application said he is feeling depressed and low because of loneliness. A psychiatrist suggested him for more social interactions and he requested to lodge him with at least two more persons. He also provided two persons' names, from the same ward no. 5," ANI quoted an official as saying.
How political will turned Goa into India's first rabies-controlled State

India

oi-Sanjeev Nayak

With zero cases reported in last 5 years, Goa has become the first State in the country to completely eliminate rabies in humans. The State government collaborated with an NGO to control the fatal disease that takes around 60,000 lives every year worldwide - 20,000 being reported from India alone.

A decade-old campaign initiated by voluntary organisation 'Mission Rabies' in association with the Goa government has finally paid off. The State government took several measures to stop the disease from spreading over the years under the campaign. As a result, not a single case has been reported in the State since 2018.

Rabies is a zoonotic disease which has the highest case fatality rate of any infectious disease but has no known cure. The majority of cases in humans occur after being bitten by a rabid dog. Rabies experts agree that vaccinating 70% of dogs in a community would result in herd immunity, which would prevent the disease from circulating.

How Goa succeeded

In October 2021, India launched a new national action plan to end rabies deaths by 2030, in line with a global goal announced by World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018. The plan emphasizes a "one health" approach to disease control in which animal, environmental and human health are considered in tandem - meaning that the control of rabies in dog populations is essential for the successful elimination of the disease in humans.

The Goa government launched the project in 2014 with the help of Mission Rabies, which was initially founded as an initiative of the United Kingdom-based outfit Worldwide Veterinary Service. Dr. Murugan Appupillai, Director of Education of the organisation, attributes the success in part to the receptiveness of the state government to the campaign.

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"If the political will is there, we could take a very short time to eliminate it," says Appupillai. He believes that Goa's success proves that country-wide elimination of the disease in humans is possible, with consistent support and funding from the government.

Vaccination campaign

The NGO's approach consists of remote teams of dog vaccinators, who systematically work their way through towns and villages vaccinating dogs. This involves catching street dogs in large nets, before vaccinating them and marking them in non-toxic green paint, and then releasing them again. Their progress is recorded in a mobile app, which collects data on dog sightings, geographical areas covered by the team and the details of the vaccinated dogs.

Raising public awareness

Apart from vaccinating the dogs, the project also include programs like creating awareness about in society, such as running education programs in schools across Goa. Children are taught how to avoid dog bites, as well as what to do if bitten. Currently, many rabies deaths occur due to incorrect post-bite treatment.

The WHO recommends that the wound site is thoroughly washed and that the victim is vaccinated within 24 hours, in order to prevent the virus from taking hold. Around 30 to 60 per cent of all rabies victims in India are children under 15.

Education is also important in order to ensure the success of vaccination efforts however, said Dr. Appupillai. "Awareness creation is very, very important to move forward, especially in diseases like rabies, because it involves human support in a big way," he said, explaining that the participation of locals is often vital in helping remote vaccinator teams to find community dogs and vaccinate pets.

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Story first published: Monday, May 15, 2023, 10:44 [IST]
If There Is 40% Commission in Karnataka, its 80% in Kerala: Congress

India

oi-PTI

After its win in Karnataka where it had blamed the outgoing BJP administration there of being a "40 per cent commission" government, the Congress on Monday took a dig at the ruling LDF in Kerala by terming it as an "80 per cent commission" regime.

Senior Congress leader and former Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ramesh Chennithala contended that a second term in power has boosted the "arrogance" of the ruling Left and the Chief Minister of Kerala. He also accused the LDF government of being "submerged" in corruption. "If it was 40 per cent commission in Karnataka, here (in Kerala) they are taking 80 per cent commission," Chennithala said at a press conference held here in connection with the alleged Artificial Intelligence (AI) camera scam.

A similar allegation was made by Leader of Opposition in the Assembly V D Satheesan a couple of days ago while reacting to Congress leading during counting of votes polled in the Karnataka elections.

Satheesan had said the Congress campaign in Karnataka highlighted the 40 per cent commission that the ruling government there was allegedly taking. "Here in Kerala, it is 46 per cent or 65 per cent. We will highlight that here," he had said referring to the AI-camera and other projects. The Motor Vehicle Department has installed 726 AI-enabled cameras to keep track of the violations of traffic rules across the state as part of the 'Safe Kerala' project.

The Congress Dilemma In Karnataka: Lingayat, SC, ST Or Vokkaliga

The Congress has been raising corruption charges against the implementation of the 'Safe Kerala' project, which aims to reduce road accidents and traffic violations in the state, since its inauguration in April. On Monday, during the press conference, Chennithala said the party will not allow the Left government to allegedly loot the people to fill the pockets of the relatives of those in power under the guise of the 'Safe Kerala' project. There are allegations that a relative of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is connected to one of the private companies which carried out the work of installing the AI cameras.

Chennithala claimed that the imposition of fines under the project has not been implemented yet fearing the consequent huge public outcry. He said the Congress would be laying siege to the state secretariat on May 20, which marks the LDF government's second anniversary upon retaining power in the state, over various issues including the alleged corruption in the AI camera project.

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Story first published: Monday, May 15, 2023, 16:02 [IST]
India-US To Hold First Strategic Trade Dialogue In June

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

India and US will hold the first meeting of Strategic Trade Dialogue on June 4-5 to implement the outcomes of the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).

The meeting is important as both nations would enhance high-tech commerce. The meeting will also facilitate tech transfer between the two nations.

On January 31, the first iCET meeting of the National Security Advisors took place. It was here that a decision was taken to hold the strategic trade meeting.

Early next month, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra will be travelling to the US and will meet with Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Alan Estevez for the strategic dialogue. Last minute preparations would also be made for the visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which will take place in the White House on June 22. The PM would hold talks with US President Joe Biden.

PM Modi to visit US on June 22, Joe Biden to host state dinner

PM Modi will also hold a meeting with President Biden on May 19 during the G-7 meet in Japan. The two leaders would also meet on May 24 at the Quad meeting.

The US is expected to open up defence cooperation with PNG to counter the Chinese security footprint in the Solomon Islands. PM Modi on the other hand would be extending $100 million credit line to the island nation as part of India's comprehensive engagement with the Far Pacific.

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Story first published: Monday, May 15, 2023, 9:23 [IST]
Kateel To Be Replaced by Karandlaje As Karnataka BJP Chief Following Poor Show?

India

oi-Prakash KL

Heads are expected to roll in the Karnataka BJP as the party is decimated to 66 seats in the recently-concluded Assembly polls.

BJP State President Nalin Kumar Kateel has taken responsibility for the poll debacle and offered to resign, according to a report in News18. He is likely to be replaced by Shobha Karandlaje.

"Not just Kateel, the entire BJP unit from the morcha level all the way to the top will be overhauled. This will happen only after the central leadership analyses what went wrong and why voters were not convinced that the BJP should be in power. The party needs a strong organiser and leader who can ensure the BJP wins 25 of the 28 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls," the website quoted a senior BJP functionary as saying.

Who Would Be The Next CM of Karnataka: 6 Possible Scenarios

Outgoing Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has already taken responsibility for the BJP's poor show in Karnataka. "...I take responsibility for this debacle. There are multiple reasons for this. We will find out all the reasons and strengthen the party once again for Parliament elections..," said Basavaraj Bommai.

He said that the party will take the verdict in its 'stride'. Taking to Twitter, Bommai said, "We accept the verdict of the people of Karnataka with due respect. We will take this verdict in our stride. We will analyse and correct our fault lines and rebuild the party and come back during parliamentary elections."

Bommai also said that Kateel will continue as the state BJP chief. However, sources told the website that it was inappropriate and inaccurate comment.

However, Bommai is a strong contender for the role of Opposition Leader. S Suresh Kumar, Arvind Bellad and V Sunil Kumar are also said to be in the race for the post.

Congress MLAs Authorise Mallikarjun Kharge To Pick New Karnataka CM

In the Karnataka election, the Congress emerged victorious by bagging 135 seats while the BJP managed to win just 66.

Meanwhile, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has been authorised to pick the next Chief Minister by the party MLAs. Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar are the frontrunners for the post.

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Story first published: Monday, May 15, 2023, 10:11 [IST]
Controversial 'The Kerala Story' is Now Second Highest Grossing Indian Film of 2023

For Indians Who Joined Islamic State, It Is Pure Dejection Out There

No Change In Leadership: Afghan Embassy in India Reject Taliban-Appointed CDA

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The Afghan embassy in India on Monday said there is no change in its leadership following reports that the Taliban have appointed a charge d'affaires to head the mission replacing incumbent Farid Mamundzay, as reported by PTI.

Mamundzay was appointed by the previous Ashraf Ghani government and he has been operating as the Afghan envoy even after the Taliban seized power in August 2021.

It is learnt that Qadir Shah, who has been working as the trade councillor at the Afghan embassy since 2020, last month wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) claiming that he has been appointed as the charge d'affaires at the embassy by the Taliban.

India has not yet recognised the Taliban set up and has been pitching for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul besides insisting that Afghan soil not be used for any terrorist activities against any country.

"The embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan categorically rejects the claims from an individual claiming to have taken charge of the mission in New Delhi at the behest of the Taliban," the embassy headed by Mamundzay said in a statement.

Press Statement;

No change of leadership in Afghan Embassy in New Delhi, India

Date:15th May, 2023 pic.twitter.com/8fRVGv8yOy  Farid Mamundzay     (@FMamundzay) May 15, 2023

Afghan territory must not be used for terrorist activities: India-Central Asia joint working group

"The embassy appreciates the consistent position of the Indian government for supporting the interests of the Afghan people, while at the same time not recognising the Taliban regime in Kabul, as it has been the case with democratic governments around the world," it said.

There is no comment by the Indian government on the claim by Shah.

People familiar with the matter said Shah wrote the letter to the MEA in the absence of Mamundzay as he was travelling out of India.

In its statement, the embassy said the individual who claims to have been named "charge d'affaires" by the Taliban has been responsible for "spreading misinformation and running a baseless and unsubstantiated campaign against officials of the mission, including totally fabricated allegations of corruption based on an unsigned letter".

There were some reports in the Afghan media about allegations of corruption against the embassy.

"The mission is committed to protecting the genuine interests of the Afghan nationals especially in these trying times and has worked closely with the Indian authorities on humanitarian efforts, including the supply of Covid-19 vaccines, medicines and food supplies," the embassy said.

"The embassy also wishes to inform Afghan nationals that the mission continues functioning as normal and working for their interests in India," it added.

In June last year, India re-established its diplomatic presence in Kabul by deploying a "technical team" at its embassy in the Afghan capital.

India had withdrawn its officials from the embassy following concerns over their security after the Taliban seized power.

It is learnt that the Taliban, on multiple occasions, communicated to New Delhi that the diplomats in the Afghan embassy in India do not represent Kabul any longer.

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Story first published: Monday, May 15, 2023, 23:01 [IST]
'Not Reaching Out To Anybody': Kharge on Talks With JDS Ahead Of Karnataka Election Results

We Are United: DK Shivakumar's First Reaction On Being Declared Dy CM

Punjab Court Summons Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge in Rs 100 Crore Defamation Case

India

oi-Prakash KL

A court in Sangrur in Punjab has summoned Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in a Rs 100-crore defamation case.

Hitesh Bhardwaj, the founder of Hindu Suraksha Parishad, has filed the case against Kharge for equating Bajrang Dal with "anti-national organisations" during the recently-concluded Karnataka polls.

Who Would Be The Next CM of Karnataka: 6 Possible Scenarios

"I moved to court on Thursday after I found that on page number 10 of the manifesto, Congress has compared Bajrang Dal with the anti-national organisations and also promised to ban it if they win the election," Hindustan Times quoted Bhardwaj as saying.

The Congress Chief should appear before the judge on July 10.

The grand old party, in its manifesto for Karnataka Assembly polls, said that it will ban organisations, including Bajrang Dal that spread enmity between the communities.

"The Congress Party is committed to take firm and decisive action against individuals and organisations spreading hatred amongst communities on grounds of caste or religion. We believe that law and Constitution is sacrosanct and can not be violated by individuals and Organisations like Bajrang Dal, PFI or others promoting enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities. We will take decisive action as per law including imposing a ban on any such organisations," the manifesto read.

After Congress registered a thumping victory in the recently-concluded polls, political pundits have said that the Muslim votes consolidated behind the Congress which helped it to bag 135 seats in the state.

Moreover, nine Muslims have won the election from the grand old party. The announcement of the ban on Bajrang Dal did the trick for Congress, political observers say.
'We All Have To Sacrifice At Some Point': Parameshwara On Missing Deputy CM Post

Race for Karnataka CM: What Are The Strengths And Weaknesses Of Siddaramaiah And DK Shivakumar

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The Congress which secured a comfortable majority in the Karnataka Assembly elections 2023, but the question now on everyone's mind is: Who will be the Chief Minister?

Former CM Siddaramaiah and KPCC president DK Shivakumar are the two main contenders for the post of Chief Minister.

Lets take a look at the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of the two aspiring CMs.

Siddaramaiah

Strengths

Charismatic leader with a strong appeal to the masses. Siddaramaiah is a charismatic leader who is able to connect with people from all walks of life. He is known for his down-to-earth personality and his ability to speak to the concerns of ordinary people. This makes him a popular figure among the masses, especially the backward classes and minorities.

Seasoned politician with a deep understanding of the state's politics. Siddaramaiah has been in politics for over four decades and has held several important positions, including Chief Minister of Karnataka twice. This gives him a deep understanding of the state's politics and the challenges that it faces.

Successful administrator who has a track record of delivering on his promises. During his two terms as Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah implemented a number of successful policies, such as the Ksheera Bhagya Scheme, the Indira Canteens, and the housing for the poor scheme. These policies have benefited millions of people and have made Siddaramaiah a popular figure among the masses.

Strong advocate for the rights of the backward classes and minorities. Siddaramaiah has been a strong advocate for the rights of the backward classes and minorities.He has been able to revive the AHINDA (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits) vote block both in 2013 and 2023. He is considered a leader of the poor, downtrodden and minorities. The AHINDA population is much higher than Vokkaligas who account for 2/3rd of the state population.

Weaknesses

Seen as a divisive figure by some sections of the society. Siddaramaiah has been accused of being a divisive figure by some sections of the society. This is because he has implemented policies that have benefited certain communities at the expense of others.

Failure in bringing the Congress government back to power in 2018 under his leadership.

Seen as being too close to the Gandhi family. Siddaramaiah is seen as being too close to the Gandhi family, which is a major political force in India. This has made him unpopular with some sections of the Congress party, who believe that he is more loyal to the Gandhi family than to the party.

Opportunities

The Congress party is currently in power in Karnataka and Siddaramaiah is the most popular leader in the party. This gives him a good chance of winning the next election.

The BJP is facing a lot of anti-incumbency and Siddaramaiah could capitalize on this. The BJP has been in power in Karnataka for the past five years and the people are unhappy with the performance of the government. This could work in Siddaramaiah's favor in the next election.

The state is facing a number of challenges, such as unemployment, poverty, and lack of development. Siddaramaiah could position himself as the leader who can solve these problems. If he is able to deliver on his promises, it will help him to win the next election.

Threats

The Congress party is divided into several factions and there is a lot of infighting. This could damage the party's chances of winning the next election.

Uniting of senior Congress old guards like Mallikarjun Kharge, G Parameshwara, who have missed becoming CM because of Siddaramaiah, also B K Hariprasad, K H Muniyappa among others against him.

DK Shivakumar's organisational strength, party's 'troubleshooter' tag, loyalty image across the country, and closeness to Gandhi family, especially Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

The state is facing a number of challenges, such as unemployment, poverty, and lack of development.

DK Shivakumar

Strengths

Strong leader with a deep understanding of the state's politics. DK Shivakumar is a seasoned politician who has been in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly since 2004. He is known for his strong leadership skills and his deep understanding of the state's politics.

Massive following among the Vokkaliga community. Shivakumar is a Vokkaliga, a powerful community in Karnataka. He has a massive following among the Vokkaligas, which gives him a strong base of support.

Good rapport with the people. Shivakumar is known for his down-to-earth personality and his ability to connect with the people. He has a good rapport with the people, which helps him to win elections.

Good fundraiser. Shivakumar is known for his fundraising skills. He is able to raise large sums of money for the Congress party, which helps the party to win elections.

Weaknesses

Has been accused of corruption and money laundering. Shivakumar has been accused of corruption and money laundering on several occasions. These allegations have damaged his image and have made it difficult for him to win the trust of the people.

Seen as a divisive figure by some sections of the society. Shivakumar has been accused of being a divisive figure by some sections of the society. This is because he has been known to use his influence to help his friends and family, which has led to resentment among some sections of the society.

Has been criticized for his style of leadership. Shivakumar has been criticized for his style of leadership, which has been described as being authoritarian and domineering. This has alienated some of his supporters and has made it difficult for him to build a broad coalition of support.

Opportunities

The Congress party is currently in power in Karnataka and Shivakumar is a popular leader in the party. This gives him a good chance of winning the next election.

The BJP is facing a lot of anti-incumbency and Shivakumar could capitalize on this. The BJP has been in power in Karnataka for the past five years and the people are unhappy with the performance of the government. This could work in Shivakumar's favor in the next election.

The state is facing a number of challenges, such as unemployment, poverty, and lack of development. Shivakumar could position himself as the leader who can solve these problems. If he is able to deliver on his promises, it will help him to win the next election.

Threats

While DK Shivakumar has emerged as a new face for Karnataka, Siddaramaiah has massive popularity being one of the senior most leaders in the Congress party. His ability to connect with people from different sections of society, coupled with his astute political strategies, makes Siddaramaiah an attractive choice for many MLAs who seek a leader capable of winning public support.

If a large number of MLAs back Siddaramaiah, it will be difficult for the Congress party to ignore him. He is a popular leader with a strong base of support and he could be the best bet for the party to win the next election.

DK Shivakumar faces legal hurdles because of cases filed by central agencies.
A theme of Sunday's Remembrance and Healing Service, on the one-year anniversary of the mass shooting Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue, began with the first joyous sounds of worship: If you call on God, no matter your troubles, no matter what darkness besets you, he won't fail. He'll help you find a way.

They survived the shooting on May 14. But they know they will never be the same While they're thankful to be alive, those that survived want people to understand that their lives were forever changed by what they witnessed that day.

The Sunday evening memorial service in Elim Christian Fellowship Church, 70 Chalmers Ave., was the last of a series of weekend events that commemorated the anniversary of the Tops attack, which encompassed a panel discussion, public reflections, road races, art and music and themes of hope and togetherness.

For many, Sunday night's service rounded out another theme present for much of the weekend  the uplifting power of faith.

The service included a long list of state and local political dignitaries who spoke and recounted the public policies, laws and legal challenges designed to make the community safer in the aftermath of the May 14, 2022, attack in which 10 Black people were killed by a racist gunman. Gun laws, social media regulation and the influx of local resources all received mention.

Gov. Kathy Hochul told the group of several hundred attendees, "It is hard. It is hard to know that while the rest of the nation has moved on to watching 600 more mass shootings, the pain is still raw in Buffalo, New York. But how we take that pain and do something about it is how we're going to be judged. And that's what we're committed to do."

State Attorney General Letitia James said that some may question how those attending Sunday evening's service could sing and praise God in the aftermath of such terrible tragedy. But that shows a lack of understanding about the African-American experience, she said.

Buffalo pauses exactly at one-year mark to remember 5/14 massacre Exactly a year to the moment when a white man who drove more than 200 miles to Buffalo with the sole purpose of killing as many Black people as he could carried out a deadly rampage at the Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue, Buffalo paused to remember.

"You've got to know about our legacy, our history and all that we've been through  and then you'll praise him, then you'll dance, and then you'll sing," she said. "And you will understand that our father, our Lord, is with us each and every day."

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said the past year has been the worst the community has faced in his lifetime, with disease, disaster and terror all striking Buffalo and Erie County.

"This is not easy for anyone," he said. "I can't imagine what my African-American brothers and sisters were thinking that day, as a white man," he said. "I could see it on everyone's face, but I can't feel it. I really can't. All I can do is take in what I saw, and the pain in me was immense."

He likened what has happened to this community to what happened when a gunman killed civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. The gunman attempted to tear people apart, but many, instead, came together to create change for the better.

Poloncarz and other elected leaders gave credit to the religious leaders and community members who gave their time and energy in the immediate and lingering aftermath of the May 14 massacre to help bring people together, instead of allowing a white supremacist to tear them apart.

The last sermon, given by the Rev. Jamal Bryant, a senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, recounted many instances of injustice and the nature of lies and anger.

'Mother's Day will never be the same again': Victims' family members speak of maternal bonds on eve of May 14 anniversary A cruel reality of the one-year remembrance of the worst mass shooting in Buffalo's history, a day when several mothers were lost and many others were affected, is that it lands on Mother's Day.

"I know that we're all trying to look solemn and sanctified on this auspicious occasion, as if on 5/14, you didn't want to hurt somebody," he said. "But there was something about your grandmother's spirit that deposited in you, that if I hold my peace and let the Lord fight my battles, victory shall be mine."

Those who recall what happened on May 14 last year need to be witnesses of the truth of Buffalo's history, he said.

"I want them to be able to record that even when it is that the grocery store had to shut down, when it was the only place that people could get produce for miles, how the people pulled up with trucks and opened it up so that people would have food," he said. "I want you to be able to record that the church did not just sing and shout, but the Black churches in Buffalo served. I want you to record that when the crisis hit, we didn't just pray at the altar, but we prayed at the street corner."
Seems like his leader is Raje, not Sonia Gandhi: Pilot attacks Gehlot

Sachin Pilot's Ultimatum To Gehlot: Agree To Demands By Month-End Or Face State-Wide Agitation

India

oi-PTI

Flanked by several Congress MLAs at a rally in Jaipur on Monday, dissident leader Sachin Pilot served notice on Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot -- agree to their demands by the month-end or face a state-wide agitation.

The intensification of the Gehlot-Pilot tussle in Rajasthan Congress came on a day when the party's central leadership struggled to pick between the two CM contenders - Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar - in Karnataka after winning the assembly polls there.

The public meeting marked the completion of Pilot's five-day foot march from Ajmer to Jaipur over "inaction" by the Gehlot government on "corruption" during the previous BJP term in the state.

Apart from a call for a high-level probe into corruption, Pilot spelled out two other demands - disbanding the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and its reconstitution, and compensation for those affected by the cancellation of government recruitment exams after paper leaks.

"If action is not taken by this month-end on these three demands, an agitation will be launched across the state,'' the former deputy chief minister said.

The former deputy CM also referred to the one-day fast he held last month.

Will Contest Everywhere Required: Congress MP Snubs Mamata's 2024 proposal

"So far, I have done 'anshan' and taken out a 'yatra'. If action is not taken in the interest of the youth on these three demands, I will launch an agitation in the entire state," he said.

"We will walk on foot with people in villages and hamlets, and get them justice," he added, as the crowd of several thousand people shouted in support.

Pilot said nothing will cow him down.

"I promise that I will continue to serve the people of Rajasthan till my last breath, even if I remain on any post or not. Nothing can scare me or suppress me. I have fought for you and will continue to do so," he said.

Pilot said his agitation was not against anyone but against corruption and for the youth. But Gehlot, who became the chief minister after the party ignored his own claim to the post in 2018, was clearly the main target.

At least 14 Congress MLAs, including Rajasthan Forest Minister Hemaram Choudhary, Sainik Kalyan Minister Rajendra Gudha and SC/ST Commission chairman Khiladi Lal Bairwa, were seen on the dais, indicating support for the leader who headed a rebellion against Gehlot in 2020.

Pilot's office claimed that 28 current and former MLAs attended the rally.

Also seen on the stage were MLAs Deependra Singh Shekhawat, Harish Meena, Giriraj Malinga, Rakesh Pareek, Ramniwas Gawriya, Indraj Gurjar, Virendra Choudhary, Suresh Modi, Vedprakash Solanki, G R Khatana and Mukesh Bhakar.

The pilot camp claimed that the rally was also attended by chairpersons of five boards of the state government, seven Pradesh Congress Committee office bearers, 10 district party presidents and 17 leaders who have contested elections on the party ticket in the past.

The show of strength by Pilot comes just months before the assembly polls when the party hopes to return to power in Rajasthan.

When Pilot announced his fast against corruption last month, the Congress had termed it anti-party activity.

At the Jaipur rally, Pilot also referred to the boycott by CM loyalists of a Congress Legislature Party meeting in September last year, called amid speculation then that Pilot will be made the chief minister and Gehlot the party's national president.

Pilot said whoever talks about factionalism and betrayal of the party should introspect over their own "betrayal" and the "insult" to party leader Sonia Gandhi last year.

They should think over "whether we or they broke discipline", he added.

"We remained in public even after being abused and worked for strengthening the organisation, and you are abusing and maligning us after devouring the cream ('malai')," he said in an apparent reference to the Gehlot camp. "This will not do," he added.

He recalled a recent remark by the CM in which he credited BJP leaders Vasundhara Raje and Kailash Meghwal for "saving" his government in 2020 - when Pilot and 18 other Congress MLAs rebelled.

"What kind of policy is this that you malign the image of your own party leaders and praise others," Pilot asked.

''I have never levelled charges against anyone. I have never said a bad word against anyone. They left no opportunity to abuse me but this does not worry me," he said, adding that in a democracy, it's the people's blessings that count.

Questioning the selection of the RPSC chairman and members, he claimed that it was common knowledge that these appointments were political.

"The appointments need to be done in a transparent manner, and people like scientists and lecturer need to be chosen," he said.

Many young people attended the rally, wearing T-shirts with the dissident leader's picture and raising slogans like ''Sachin Pilot, I love you''.
'We All Have To Sacrifice At Some Point': Parameshwara On Missing Deputy CM Post

Siddaramaiah In Delhi, DK Shivakumar Stays Back Amid Suspense Over Karnataka CM

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The Congress which secured a comfortable majority in the Karnataka Assembly elections 2023, but the question now on everyone's mind is: Who will be the Chief Minister?

All eyes are now riveted on the Congress' central leadership that will pick the new Karnataka chief minister, a decision preceded by intensive consultations, one-on-one interaction with MLAs and even a 'secret ballot'.

After the Congress party's stupendous victory in the May 10 assembly polls, intense lobbying for the chief minister's post in Karnataka started for former chief minister Siddaramaiah and KPCC president DK Shivakumar.

The party faces the uphill task of satisfying the two camps and is working on a 'formula'. Both the top Karnataka leaders have been called to Delhi by the party high command for further consultations on government formation in the state.

Recommended Video

Karnataka CM Race: DK Shivakumar wont attend Delhi Observer meet | Watch | Oneindia News

While Siddaramaiah has reached national capital, DK Shivakumar has taken a U-Turn and dropped the idea of going to Delhi tonight. This has led to speculation that all is not well within the Karnataka Congress even after a massive victory.

Speaking to reporters, DK Shivakumar said,'''I have stomach infection and I will not be travelling to Delhi today.''

If There Is 40% Commission in Karnataka, its 80% in Kerala: Congress

#WATCH | "I'm a single man, I believe in one thing that a single man with courage becomes a majority...When all our MLAs left the party (2019 JD(S)-Cong coalition govt), I didn't lose my heart,"says K'taka Cong pres DK Shivakumar before he heads to Delhi for Karnataka CM talks. pic.twitter.com/83CMHHLmTQ  ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2023

The three central observers deputed by the Congress returned to the national capital on Monday after speaking individually to the newly elected MLAs. The observers are putting together the views expressed by all the newly elected MLAs and will hand over the report to party president Mallikarjun Kharge by late Monday night, sources told news agency PTI.

The observers have brought the ballot boxes to Delhi along with them. Kharge is likely to take a decision on who will be the next chief minister of Karnataka soon. He is also likely to hold consultations with top Congress leadership, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, before arriving at a decision. Meanwhile, the party is also gearing up for preparations for making the swearing-in ceremony of the chief minister a big show of strength, where several opposition leaders will be invited.
'We All Have To Sacrifice At Some Point': Parameshwara On Missing Deputy CM Post

The Congress Dilemma In Karnataka: Lingayat, SC, ST Or Vokkaliga

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

There were hectic parleys at the Congress Legislature Party meeting that took place in Bengaluru on Sunday.

It was being anticipated that the fight would be between D K Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah for the top post. However there were demands by members from the Lingayat community and the Schedule Caste members who sought for the post of Chief Minister.

The Lingayats are the most powerful community in Karnataka and account for around 17 per cent of the state's population. This time around if one looks at the composition of the MLAs, then the Congress has more Lingayats. The party has 37 Lingayat lawmakers. This would also mean that the Lingayats have preferred the Congress when compared to the BJP.

Punjab Court Summons Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge in Rs 100 Crore Defamation Case

The Congress this time around has made inroads into the traditional BJP vote bank in Bombay-Karnataka sub-region. It also maintained its lead over the BJP in the Hyderabad region. These are all indicators that the BJP list out on its strong Lingayat vote bank. The community is very dominant in these regions.

While it is being said that Siddaramaiah may win the race to become the chief minister, the other contenders include, D K Shivakumar and Dr. G Parameshwara. M B Patil a strong Lingayat leader may end up becoming a deputy chief minister, sources indicate.

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Siddaramaiah vs DK Shivakumar: Mallikarjun Kharge to decide who will be Karnataka CM | Oneindia News

The appointment of deputy chief ministers has been spoken about a lot in the past 48 hours. The compulsion now would now be to appoint a chief minister and the decision on the deputy CMs would be taken later, the source also said.

The other point of contention would be regarding an SC or ST leader to be made the chief. There are 35 SCs and STs among the 136 MLAs that the Congress has. Furthermore there is also a demand by the Muslim community to have a deputy chief from their side. They argued at the meet that a large number of Muslims had voted for the Congress as a result of which the party came to power.

Who Would Be The Next CM of Karnataka: 6 Possible Scenarios

All eyes would now be on Delhi as a resolution was passed in Bengaluru that the party's high-command would take a final call. Three observers were appointed and they would give their feedback to the central leadership.

"This is inner-party democracy at its best. This is the Congress way of arriving at a consensus giving confidence to all that they have been heard," senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet.

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Story first published: Monday, May 15, 2023, 13:26 [IST]
These Are Just Allegations: Sameer Wankhede's Wife On Aryan Bribery Case

India

oi-Prakash KL

Kranti Redkar Wankhede, wife of former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede, has indicated that they are no truth in the allegations of corruption against her husband.

He has been booked by the CBI for allegedly demanding Rs 25 crore to let off Aryan Khan, son of Shah Rukh Khan, in a drug case.

"Everyone knows that the allegations being levelled against him are wrong. These are just allegations and we are fully cooperating in the CBI proceedings. We have faith in law and order, and we are ready to cooperate with the investigating agency as a responsible citizen," she told ANI.

On Friday, the CBI conducted searches at 29 locations across the country in an alleged corruption case against Sameer Wankhede and four others - then NCB Superintendent Vishwa Vijay Singh, Intelligence Officer Ashish Ranjan and two private persons KP Gosavi and Sanvile D'Souza in the case.

The CBI has filed a case against Wankhede and others for alleged criminal conspiracy (120-B IPC), and threat of extortion (388 IPC) besides provisions pertaining to bribery under the Prevention of Corruption Act on a complaint from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), according to a report in PTI.

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Sameer Wankhede Case: KP Gosavi Planned to Extort Rs 25 Cr from Shah Rukh Khan

Meanwhile, the FIR filed by the CBI against former Mumbai Zone NCB head Sameer Wankhede has made shocking allegations against him in relation to the Aryan Khan drug seizure case.

The central agency has said that KP Goswami appeared like an NCB official during the raid on the cruise and was responsible for the arrest of Shah Rukh Khan's son. He was presented like an NCB officer, the FIR accessed by IANS stated.

The CBI has further alleged that a demand of Rs 25 crore was made to settle the case and it was settled at Rs 8 crore. A token amount of Rs 50 lakh as a bribe was paid, but later some money was returned due to the case getting stuck, the report added.

The FIR claims that the latter concealed information regarding his foreign trips and buying expensive watches. During the raid, it seized his cell phone which has been sent to a forensic lab to retrieve data.

"Sameer Wankhede is accused of engaging in buying and selling expensive watches without disclosing this information. He also allegedly concealed details of his expenses during his foreign trips," the CBI source said quoting FIR.

On the other hand, Sameer Wankhede, on Saturday, said that he was being "punished for being a patriot." He claimed that the officials from the central agency recovered Rs 28,000 from his sister Yasmin Wankhede's house, Rs 28,000 from his father Dnyaneshwar Wankhede's house, Rs 1800 from Sameer, the residence of Wankhede's father-in-law.

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Story first published: Monday, May 15, 2023, 17:24 [IST]
AAP loses all three wards in Satyendar Jains constituency: His videos had gone viral

Tihar Jail SP Gets Notice After 2 Inmates Shifted To Satyendar Jains Cell on His Request

India

oi-Prakash KL

A superintendent of Tihar Jail has received a show-cause notice for shifting two men to the cell of former Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party's jailed leader Satyendar Jain on the latter's request.

Citing depression and loneliness, Jain had written a letter to the jail administration requesting them to lodge him with two more inmates. The AAP leader has been lodged inside Tihar Jail since June 2022,

"Jain in his application said he is feeling depressed and low because of loneliness. A psychiatrist suggested him for more social interactions and he requested to lodge him with at least two more persons. He also provided two persons' names, from the same ward no. 5," ANI quoted an official as saying.

His request was immediately accepted and two persons were moved to his cell. Nonetheless, they were sent back to their respective cells once the administration came to know about it.

AAPs Satyendar Jain under 24-hour watch, no visits for 15 days

The report claims that the superintendent decided to shift the two people to Jain's cell without informing the administration. As per the procedure, he should take permission from the administration to move or transfer inmates to another cell.

It may be recalled that an official from the jail was suspended for allegedly giving VIP treatment to Jain. The action was taken after a video was submitted by the Enforcement Directorate to a court claiming that he was enjoying a luxurious lifestyle in Tihar Jail.

Jain was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on May 30 last year by the central agency in connection with a money laundering case based on a CBI FIR lodged against him in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Who Will Be Karnataka CM? Decision Likely To Be Announced In Next 24 Hours

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The suspense over the new Karnataka chief minister intensified on Monday as state Congress president D K Shivakumar cancelled his visit to the national capital citing health issues after he and Siddaramaiah, both frontrunners for the top post, were called by the central leadership for discussions.

The three central observers Sushilkumar Shinde, Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria, who interacted with party MLAs on their choice for the CM's post after the Congress Legislature Party meeting on Sunday, briefed party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and submitted their report.

According to reports, Kharge is likely to consult with senior Congress leadership, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, before making a decision over the Karnataka chief minister. The party is getting ready to make the swearing-in ceremony a big show of strength.

After the meeting, Randeep Surjewala, AICC in-charge for Karnataka, told reporters that the party will announce its decision by Tuesday evening, as reported by PTI. ''The observers have submitted the report to the Congress president. We will hold consultations with all senior state leaders, including Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, and after that a decision will be taken by the Congress president,'' he said.

The six top leaders discussed the report of the observers and the views of newly-elected MLAs elicited by the three during one-on-one interactions with the new legislators held in Bengaluru late on Sunday night.

Sources said the observers apprised the Congress president of the views of MLAs on the new chief minister and the government formation in Karnataka.

Earlier in the day, All India Congress Committee in charge of Karnataka and MP Randeep Surjewala said that the observers will submit their report regarding the next Chief Ministerial choice to party president Mallikarjun Kharge, after which the government will be formed in the state very soon.

DK Shivakumar Skips Delhi Visit Amid Karnataka CM Race, Cites Stomach Infection

After registering a landslide victory in Karnataka assembly polls, the party is working on selecting the next Chief Minister of the state; the most probable names among which are former CM Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief DK Shivakumar.

Meanwhile, Congress leader DK Shivakumar who was supposed to go to Delhi on Monday has cancelled his visit, citing a stomach infection as per news agency PTI.

Even though, DK Shivakumar cancelled his visit to Delhi, his brother DK Suresh will be going to the national capital today. He is expected to land around 8:30 pm on Monday night.
Imran Khan's Party To Sue Pak's Anti-Graft Body For Arresting Him

International

oi-PTI

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has decided to file cases against the country's top graft buster for "abducting" him from the Islamabad High Court on corruption charges.

On May 9, Khan was arrested by the paramilitary Rangers in a corruption case from the Islamabad High Court and bundled into a prison van sparking massive protests across the country by supporters of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. The party has also announced registering murder cases against those responsible for opening fire on "unarmed, peaceful" people protesting in the wake of 70-year-old Imran's arrest.

The arrest by the Pakistan Rangers triggered unrest in Pakistan that continued till Friday and led to several deaths and dozens of military and state installations being destroyed by the protesters. For the first time in the country's history, the protesters stormed the army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and also torched the historic Corps Commander's House in Lahore. Police put the death toll in violent clashes to 10 while Imran's party claims 40 of its workers lost their lives in the firing by security personnel.

The party will name the interior minister, caretaker chief ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, inspectors general police of the two provinces and other senior officials in its first information reports, the Express Tribune newspaper reported. The party has also demanded an independent investigation into the incidents of vandalism and arson that took place on May 9 to be undertaken by a high-level commission comprising top court judges.

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Pakistan's Military Establishment Plans To Keep Me In Jail For 10 Years: Imran Khan

All this was decided on Sunday during a high-level meeting of the PTI leaders chaired by Imran Khan in Lahore. The meeting was called to devise the party's future course of action in the wake of rising unrest and lawlessness in the country. The meeting deliberated on the current political situation, open violations of the Constitution by the incumbent government, suspension of fundamental rights and illegal arrests of the PTI leaders, workers and common citizens.

It strongly condemned the "abduction" of former prime minister Imran Khan from the IHC. The meeting decided to register an FIR against the NAB and Rangers, the report added. Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Khan said democracy in Pakistan is at an "all-time low" and the judiciary is the only hope for the country. The government is petrified of elections as it fears being wiped out by the PTI at the polls, Imran said during an interview with an international media outlet on Sunday. The former premier claimed that the incumbent government is trying to remove him from the political scene by putting him behind bars or assassinating him before announcing polls. "Two attempts have been made on my life; my house has been raided for 24 hours and I have been detained," he said.

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Story first published: Monday, May 15, 2023, 16:07 [IST]
Pakistan's Military Establishment Plans To Keep Me In Jail For 10 Years: Imran Khan

International

oi-PTI

Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan claimed on Monday that the country's powerful military establishment has planned to keep him in jail for the next 10 years under sedition charges.

In a series of tweets in the early hours of Monday, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief said: "So now the complete London plan is out. Using pretext of violence while I was inside the jail, they have assumed the role of judge, jury and executioner. The plan now is to humiliate me by putting Bushra begum (Khan's wife) in jail, and using some sedition law to keep me inside for next ten years."

The tweets came after Khan held a meeting of PTI leaders at his Lahore residence. The 70-year-old leader, who has been on bail in more than 100 cases, further said: "To ensure that there is no public reaction, they have done two things -- first deliberate terror is unleashed not just on PTI workers but on common citizens as well. Second, the media is totally controlled and muzzled."

'You Were Not Even Born When I Was Representing My Country': Imran Khan Slams Pak Army

He said never has the sanctity of chadar and chaar dewaari been violated the way it is being done by these "criminals". "This is a deliberate attempt to instill so much fear in people that when they come to arrest me tomorrow, people won't come out. And tomorrow they will again suspend internet services and ban social media (which is only partially open). Meanwhile, as we speak, houses are being broken in and shamelessly police are manhandling the women of the houses," he said.

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Giving his message to the people of Pakistan, Khan said: "My message to the people of Pakistan; I will fight for Haqeeqi Azaadi till the last drop of my blood because for me death is preferable than to be enslaved by these assortments of crooks. "I urge all my people to remember that we have pledged LA Illah ha illalah, that we bow to no one except the One (Allah). If we bow to the idol of fear there will only be humiliation and dismemberment for our future generations. Countries where there is injustice and law of jungle prevails, don't survive for long."

Khan returned to his Lahore home on Saturday after having locked himself in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises for hours due to the fear of re-arrest despite being granted bail on Friday. The IHC granted bail to Khan, barring authorities from arresting him in all the cases registered against him beyond May 9, and asked him to approach the Lahore High Court for further relief on May 15. Khan further said the JUI-F "drama" that is being done outside the Supreme Court is only for one purpose -- to overawe the chief justice of Pakistan so that he does not give a verdict according to the Constitution.

Historic Radio Pakistan Building in Peshawar Vandalised During Violent Protests Over Imran Khan's Arrest

"Pakistan has already seen such brazen attack on the Supreme Court when in 1997 PMLN goons physically attacked it and had one of the most respected Chief Justices Sajjad Ali Shah removed," he said. Khan's arrest by the Pakistan Rangers at the IHC premises last Tuesday triggered an unrest in Pakistan that continued till Friday and led to several deaths and dozens of military and state installations being destroyed by the protesters. For the first time in the country's history, the protesters stormed the army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and also torched the corps commander's house in Lahore. Police put the death toll in violent clashes to 10 while Khan's party claims 40 of its workers lost their lives in the firing by security personnel.

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Story first published: Monday, May 15, 2023, 9:42 [IST]
The Nakba, also known as the Palestinian Catastrophe, was the destruction of Palestinian society and homeland in 1948, and the permanent displacement of a majority of the Palestinian Arabs. The term is used to describe both the events of 1948 and the ongoing persecution, displacement, and occupation of the Palestinians, both in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip, as well as in Palestinian refugee camps throughout the region.
Sky News 13 May 2023

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Public defenders for the man who killed 10 people in a racist mass shooting at a Tops grocery store pushed back against federal prosecutors trying to keep evidence against him from being shared now with lawyers hired by the victims' families.

"Should the governments position prevail, the victims families would be denied access to this material for the foreseeable future, possibly decades, while this case remains pending," the defense lawyers said in a new court filing. "There is no reason they should be deprived of that information now."

Federal prosecutors have warned it would be impossible to keep sensitive information properly secured during the federal case against Payton Gendron once it is used in civil lawsuits, adding that prosecuting him takes priority over pending or potential civil lawsuits arising from the mass shooting. A state court has sentenced Gendron to life in prison without parole for domestic terrorism and 10 murders. Now his federal case is proceeding, but whether there will even be a federal trial will come down to the Justice Department's decision on whether to seek the death penalty.

If the federal government decides not to seek Gendrons execution, the federal case will conclude with a guilty plea and sentence of life without the possibility of parole. If the government seeks the death penalty, a lengthy trial and appellate process would follow, the federal defenders said in their filing.

The families' lawyers would like access to a portion of the evidence for lawsuits they are pursuing against gun and body armor manufacturers and social media platforms among others.

"Several members of the victims families in this case have expressed their desire to expose not only the defendants culpability for the attack, but also the other forces that may have influenced him," Gendron's federal lawyers said in a court filing.

Last week, the families of three killed in the attack  Katherine "Kat" Massey, Andre Mackniel and Heyward Patterson  and Latisha Rogers, a survivor of the massacre, filed a wrongful death suit in State Supreme Court.

John V. Elmore, one of their attorneys, has called it "ironic that the murderer's lawyers wanted in some small way to make things better" only to see the federal government impede their efforts.

Last month the federal public defenders for Gendron filed a motion asking U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder to allow the attorneys for the families to have copies of a portion of the evidence. That would involve amending a protective order to allow the families' attorneys access to "non-sensitive discovery material." His public defenders described the material as "just the forensic images of Payton Gendrons three digital devices, namely his cellphone, laptop and desktop computers, as well as any social media data defined to include Payton Gendrons computer files, text messages, emails and social media accounts, and discovery related to his activities on various social media platforms."

Informing the civil cases is not the only reason to share the evidence with the victims families, according to the filing from Assistant Federal Public Defender Sonya A. Zoghlin, Supervisory Assistant Federal Public Defender Anne M. Burger and Senior Litigator MaryBeth Covert.

"In a potentially capital prosecution, the government has the obligation to consult with the victims family members concerning the decision on whether to seek the death penalty and to include that information in its submission to the Department of Justice, the public defenders said. "Greater access to the limited discovery requested would provide relevant information for the victims families to consider before sharing their views with the government. Specifically, the data regarding our clients online activity provides information about his culpability relative to the people and entities who indoctrinated him, encouraged him, armed him, protected him, and promoted his commission of this terrible crime. Surely the government would agree that facilitating the victims family members ability to make an informed decision, in the manner they choose, about whether to seek the death penalty against our client is an entirely appropriate defense purpose."

Federal prosecutors negotiated a protective order with Gendron's federal public defenders that allowed information to be shared with the state prosecution and defense teams, which "undoubtedly contributed to the prompt guilty plea and sentencing in state court," prosecutors said in their filing.

The protective order allows defense team members to review the discovery materials with potential witnesses and their counsel for purposes of defense and trial preparation, but only in the presence of a defense team member and notes may not be taken regarding the content of any of the evidence. Prosecutors said in their filing that the protective order does not allow for the defense team to review the evidence with civil attorneys for the purpose of investigating and preparing civil lawsuits.

The government said that has already happened  in violation of the protective order.

While defense counsel may not have allowed civil counsel to copy the criminal evidence, they did not abide by the protective orders restrictions and instead allowed civil counsel access to the discovery in order to further their civil lawsuits, according to the government's court filing.

"Defense counsel in their motion patently admit they have violated the protective order by providing access to discovery for civil attorneys to prepare lawsuits," according to the government filing.

The federal public defenders rejected that assertion from prosecutors, saying they have "scrupulously observed the mandates of this courts protective order."

Allowing the attorneys for the victims families to view the evidence in the presence of a defense team member and without taking any notes "is entirely consistent with that order," they said. The civil attorneys represent potential witnesses in the criminal case, and providing them access to the discovery material "is consistent with our obligation to provide our client with a rigorous and comprehensive defense."

"The governments response inaccurately characterizes the individuals represented by the civil lawyers as 'third parties' and, thus, not deserving of meaningful access to the limited discovery material requested," the public defenders said. "There is no question, however, that each of the survivors and individual members of the deceased victims families are potential witnesses at a capital trial and, therefore, covered under the protective order."

Schroeder has said he would consider the request to share the evidence with the families after receiving written submissions from the prosecution and defense teams.
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WASHINGTON  The Senate leader who's famous for using a flip phone is now hard at work trying to figure out how to regulate some of the most advanced technology known to man.

What can ChatGPT do? Write a song for Buffalo To show how ChatGPT works, News Washington reporter Jerry Zremski recently had a five-minute conversation with the new chatbot. Here are edited excerpts.

Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, mindful of the vast changes  and dangers  lurking in the coming era of artificial intelligence, wants Congress to get a handle on the technology to both make the most of it and, when necessary, to rein it in. That's why he's been meeting for months with tech leaders like Tesla CEO Elon Musk to develop a regulatory framework to guide a burgeoning field that's big at the University at Buffalo and that has the potential to remake society.

"You cannot deny that the age of AI is here, and it's transformative," Schumer, a New York Democrat, said in a recent interview. "It could be more transformative than almost anything that's come along in centuries, even. And it's going to revolutionize science and medicine and technology and almost everything else."

But Schumer  like many scientists and some of his fellow lawmakers  also acknowledged that there is risk in a technology that can already write computer code but that can also be used to make fake video clips of politicians saying things they never said.

"You know, the fact is that AI can write a seemingly well-researched article in just a few seconds," Schumer said. "Isn't that amazing? But it also is a cause for concern as it can easily become a source of disinformation and be dangerous."

The AI era

We've been surrounded by AI for years without calling it that. If you ask Alexa to play the Goo Goo Dolls or watch your Roomba vacuum your living room without vacuuming your cat, you're witnessing artificial intelligence at work. You're witnessing what happens when scientists program machines to behave as humans would.

But the possibilities and risks posed by AI came much clearer last fall with the release of ChatGPT, a sophisticated chatbot that mines a knowledge database and then does what you tell it to do, be it write a thank-you note or computer code or a research paper. And that's just the start. More sophisticated AI tools could conceivably create artwork or music or give medical professionals shortcuts that can save lives.

To see the full range of AI's positive possibilities, look no further than the University at Buffalo, where David Doermann directs the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. Click on the web page that spells out the institute's primary research areas, and you'll find a dozen of them, ranging from robotics to health sciences to natural language processing.

Doermann sees the institute as a place that can bring together researchers from different disciplines to look at problems and solve them and, in the end, make life better.

"We can do real out-of-the-box type of applications in absolutely every domain that you have, from education, finance, medicine, materials, all types of engineering, all these types of things," he said. "And people want to do that."

Elsewhere at UB, the National AI Institute for Exceptional Education was established earlier this year with a $20 million National Science Foundation grant. That institute aims to find ways of using AI to help children who have difficulty speaking or understanding language.

"This project is a great example of how we can harness the opportunities that AI technologies can offer to enhance the services that our nation can offer the American people," said Fengfeng Ke, program director at the National Science Foundation.

Looming risks

What's more, the institute  which goes by the acronym CII  has developed what it calls "Deception Awareness and Resilience Training" to help seniors avoid scams, and its leaders regularly opine on the dangers posed by the internet and AI.

In the initial stages of development, no one was thinking seriously about the dark corners of this remarkable technical development, Siwei Lyu, the institute's co-director, said in a UB newsletter last year. Now were left with a problem to fix and CII can confront existing disinformation and help users navigate the disinformation thats yet to come.

Yet plenty of people at UB and beyond worry that disinformation may be the least of the dangers wrought by AI. The New York City and Los Angeles public schools have banned ChatGPT, fearing it will allow students to write essays without really learning to write. Colleges professors bemoan what they call "CheatGPT"  and now, predictably, there's even an app by that name, which bills itself as "Your GPT-4 study assistant with superpowers."

And the Future of Life Institute, formed to minimize the risks to society that technology poses, in March published an open letter calling for a six-month moratorium on the development of AI systems more powerful than the latest iteration of ChatGPT. As of Friday, 27,565 people  including Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak  signed it. So did Ferdinand Schweser, an associate professor of biomedical engineering at UB, and Sonjoy Das, an adjunct associate professor of mathematics at SUNY Buffalo State.

"Contemporary AI systems are now becoming human-competitive at general tasks, and we must ask ourselves: Should we let machines flood our information channels with propaganda and untruth?" the letter says. "Should we automate away all the jobs, including the fulfilling ones? Should we develop nonhuman minds that might eventually outnumber, outsmart, obsolete and replace us? Should we risk loss of control of our civilization?"

A regulatory framework?

In addition to calling for a pause in AI development, that letter also suggests development of a set of safety protocols overseen by outside experts  and that sounds remarkably like what Schumer wants to do.

Under his framework, which will eventually take the form of legislation, independent experts would have to test new AI technologies before they are publicly released or updated. The results of those tests will then guide government regulation that's aimed at preventing the release of AI technologies that could do public harm.

"In terms of job loss, we have to be very careful here," Schumer told The Buffalo News. "Second, there's a potential for destructiveness, and you've got to be very careful and you have to thread the needle. How do you move this forward and make sure China doesn't get ahead of us on this, but at the same time, don't be so precipitous that something dangerous could occur that you don't move to prevent?"

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, recently told Fox News that he's interested in AI, too. Mocking Schumer's use of a flip phone, McCarthy said it's more important for Congress to learn more about the issue before moving forward with the sort of legislation Schumer is suggesting. That's why McCarthy recently set up a bipartisan session for lawmakers with AI experts from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

"You can never go wrong with Congress being  educated on subjects, and especially subjects that are going to harbor into the future," McCarthy said.

Buffalo-area lawmakers are taking a long and hard look at AI, as well.

Rep. Brian Higgins, a Buffalo Democrat, said legislation guiding the future of AI is likely necessary, "but I don't know exactly what that looks like now, and I don't know that anybody else does...How do you regulate something that most people, including me, do not fully understand?"

Meanwhile, Rep. Claudia Tenney, a Canandaigua Republican who represents parts of Western New York, said in a statement that Congress must find a way to both promote AI and, when necessary, regulate it.

"AI presents opportunity and pitfalls, and I look forward to continuing to work in a bipartisan manner to address both head on," said Tenney, a member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.

As for Schumer, he said he recently had a cordial hourlong meeting with Musk to talk about AI.

"He has a lot of knowledge and some thoughts and we shared them and we had a very good conversation that lasted about an hour," said Schumer, who noted that he and Musk also had a productive discussion about Buffalo's Tesla plant.

"He was very optimistic about growth of his manufacturing in Buffalo," Schumer said.

When not meeting with tech moguls or otherwise running the Senate, Schumer has gotten a little hands-on AI training.

Asked if he had ever used ChatGPT, Schumer replied: "Yeah, on a couple of little experimental bases. We actually asked it to write 10 Sunday Chuck Schumer press releases."
Newsy 19 May 2023

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Good afternoon. Thank you for joining this press briefing. It is lovely to see all of you in person.



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The World Health Organization's European office decided to close a specialised WHO office in Moscow and move its functions to Denmark, the health body said Monday.
On 23 May, the United Nations Security Council will hold a special briefing to address the issue of food insecurity under the chairmanship of Mr Alain Berset, President of the Swiss Confederation. During May, the rotating chairmanship is held by Switzerland led by the Swiss Ambassador to the United Nations in NY, Ms Pascale...
Ukrainian band Tvorchi competed in the Eurovision grand final in Liverpool on Saturday, minutes after Russian missiles struck their hometown of Ternopil. Two people were injured in the attack.
Britain said Monday it is sending Ukraine hundreds more missiles and attack drones in hopes of boosting Kyivs fight against Russias 14-month invasion.



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, a staunch ally, for the new weaponry as they met at Chequers, Sunaks official...
With the families of Uvalde shooting victims around him, Democratic Texas State Rep. Gene Wu made an emotional plea for increased gun control during a press conference on Monday. Struggling to hold back tears, Wu said, "I cry because every time I see that f***ing video, I see those pictures, I see my son" There is no safe place in America anymore. There is no church that's safe. There is no school that's safe. There is no shopping mall that's safe. There is no library that's safe."

Texas state legislators voted to advance a bill that would raise the legal age to buy assault rifle-style weapons from age 18 to 21 on Monday. It was the last day the Texas legislature could vote on HB 2744, which passed with a vote of 8-5, and will be scheduled for a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives next. The vote came after eight people, including children, were killed in a mass shooting at an outlet mall in Allen on Saturday. Protesters, including families of Uvalde shooting victims, had filled the statehouse to demonstrate in support of the bill.

ABC13 looks into the future of gun legislation in Texas following eight people killed outside of an outlet mall in Allen, Texas:
There is universal agreement that government should find ways to save money and from personal experience, I can attest to the fact that there are plenty of places to make budget cuts.

But the last thing the state should do to accomplish savings is cut health care benefits for 1.2 million state employees and retirees, including legislators.

Commencing July 1, 2023, all Empire Plan enrollees will experience a dramatic reduction in their out-of-network benefits under a deal made by the administration and the insurance industry. These cuts are already part of the recently approved CSEA contract and it is the intent of the state to extend it to all Empire Plan members. Notices of the new reduced coverage are already in the mail.

Enrollees will see their out-of-network benefits reduced to Medicare levels, which will have a dramatic impact on their ability to seek medical services from physicians who provide high specialty services.

The state plan is that out-of-network participants will have their reimbursements reduced to 275% of Medicare levels. This cut in reimbursement rates will discourage specialty physicians, such as surgeons, from accepting Empire Plan participants.

If patients seek these services in emergency situations their out-of-pocket payments will skyrocket because of the lower reimbursements to their doctors.

For some unexplained reason the Department of Civil Service has deliberately approved these changes instead of allowing the Division of Financial Services to review them. Why the state administration has allowed this to happen is a mystery but it is a slap in the face to the Legislature, which was kept in the dark about this major health plan upheaval.

State retirees who often get by on limited income will be especially hit hard by these changes. The state maintains it will save $200 million but has provided no legitimate proof where these numbers come from.

The only way the state will be forced to backtrack on the cuts is if Empire Plan members reach out to their state legislators and call or write directly to Gov. Kathy Hochul.

These cuts are deliberate and cruel. A bill has been introduced by Sen. Robert Jackson (D-Manhattan) to force the state to stop the cuts but to date it has not attracted any attention. Urgent attention needs to be called to this matter before its too late.

Jerry Kremer is a former chair of the Assembly Ways & Means Committee and a spokesman for the Quality Care Council, which represents current employees, retirees and health care providers. He is a member of the Empire Plan.
This is an excerpt from my forthcoming book Reparations! (Middle Passage Press) that examines the many issues in the slavery reparations debate.

Former President Trump called the notion of reparations for slavery "unusual" and "interesting." He quickly added, though, in case anyone mistook this for sympathy for the reparations call that he didn't "see it happening." The speaker was then President Donald Trump. In June 2019 when he spoke out on it, the reparations issue had become such a hot-button buzz topic that Trump felt even he had to say something about it in an interview. He wasn't the only top Republican to weigh in on the issue.

Then Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was even blunter. Said McConnell, it wasn't "a good idea." He dredged up the by-then set-in-stone prime reason immediately shouted by reparations opponents. That was that it made no sense to shell out billions in taxpayer dollars for something which is slavery that ended in 1865. Or as McConnell put it, "something that happened 150 years ago."

He didn't stop there. He claimed the Civil War, lots of civil rights laws, and even tossed in the election of President Obama as more than ample proof that the nation had more than paid its debt. For McConnell, this was a mea culpa and atonement enough for slavery.

Trump and McConnell gave a strong hint just what the fate of a reparations study outcome would be if they had their say. A cursory look at the sponsors of Booker's bill confirmed that. Not one GOP senator signed on as a co-sponsor. All fourteen co-sponsors were Democrats. The same with Jackson's bill. Not one GOP House representative signed on to it. It wasn't just Republicans though who were wary of the bill and the issue.

Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden in June 2019, cast a jittery gaze over his back shoulder at potential white conservative Democrats and independents in the crucial swing states. He did not dare risk alienating them and a quick jump onto the reparation's bandwagon might do that. Biden almost out-Trumped Trump and out McConnelled McConnell in throwing ice water on reparations. Biden told the Washington Post, "I'll be damned if I feel responsible to pay for what happened 300 years ago."

But two years later in February 2021, now safely ensconced in the White House, Biden cautiously changed his tune and said he'd back the Democrats' congressional reparations study proposal. But even here he hedged his bet. He quickly noted that a study was one thing signing an actual bill to pay reparations was an entirely different matter. Biden could still read the poll numbers. A scant fifteen percent of whites favored reparations payment. Overall, less than thirty percent of Americans favored payments. He said no more about it.

There was no guesswork why Biden was silent. The many polls taken on the pros and cons of reparations payments for slavery in the decades since Conyers' introduced his bill in 1989 show one constant. The

overwhelming majority of whites oppose slavery payments.

The standard answers to why there should not be payments for slavery did not form in a vacuum or were driven solely by racial bigotry, or ignorance. Though much of that is there in abundance on the issue. The opposition has been undergirded by a seemingly solid and reasoned intellectual and politically reasoned viewpoint.

This oppositional view has been honed, refined, and sharpened over time by conservative think tanks and analysts. The arguments on the surface appear both factual and persuasive and make perfectly good sense to many. It's certainly true the U.S. government, the Constitution, bolstered by an avalanche of laws for a century encoded segregation, inequality, and gross exploitation of Blacks.

But the case is made that the same government also radically revised the Constitution with the passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. It passed the Civil Rights Act, and Voting Rights Act, as well as successive amendments and revisions that strengthened civil rights since the 1950s.

This was enhanced by legions of court rulings and decisions strengthening civil rights protections, banning job, housing, and lending discrimination, and promoting pay equity, and affirmative action programs. These measures are repeatedly posed as transformative legal and institutional measures designed to redress the decades of Jim Crow racial disparities.

Also, opponents insist that it's a myth that all whites benefited from Black exclusion and racial disparities. Poor whites, immigrants, and other non-whites also have been subject to economic exclusion, social and racial disparities, and impoverishment for decades with no government helping hand to alleviate their plight.

Trump and McConnell did not need to cite the litany of stock arguments against reparations. They simply cited the impracticality of it and the more compelling fallback retort that the decades of government action and redress of racial bias and the disparities have done much to close the economic gap between Blacks and whites.

That in turn has been the engine that has enabled Blacks to smash through the racial barriers to opportunity. Therefore, they have gotten their reparations and then some. The majority of Americans if polls are to be believed, and that includes many Blacks, agree.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. He is the host of the weekly Earl Ofari Hutchinson Show on Blogtalkradio.com on Wednesdays at 9 AM and on KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles and the Pacifica Network.
Dear Readers: Happy Mothers Day! I hope that you feel appreciated and celebrated. I am also sensitive to the fact that Mothers Day can be difficult for some, either because their mothers have passed on or because they didnt have the idyllic type of mother described in the beautiful quotes below. Know that Mothers Day can also be Love Day. A mothers love is an unconditional love and nourishment that even a friend, teacher or someone you admire can give to you. If your own mother did not give you that unconditional love, take this day to give that love to yourself.

Here are some wonderful thoughts about mothers that I wanted to share with you:

I am sure that if the mothers of various nations could meet, there would be no more wars. -- E. M. Forster

Mothers hold their childrens hands for a short while, but their hearts forever. -- Unknown

Theres no way to be a perfect mother, and a million ways to be a good one. -- Jill Churchill

A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest. -- Irish proverb When you look into your mothers eyes, you know that is the purest love you can find on this earth. -- Mitch Albom

Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love. -- Stevie Wonder

To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power. Or the climbing, falling colors of a rainbow. -- Maya Angelou

The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. -- Honore de Balzac

A mothers arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them. --Victor Hugo

A mothers love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity. It dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path. -- Agatha Christie

Mothers can forgive anything! Tell me all, and be sure that I will never let you go, though the whole world should turn from you. -- Louisa May Alcott

Mothers and their children are in a category all their own. Theres no bond so strong in the entire world. No love so instantaneous and forgiving. -- Gail Tsukiyama

If I have done anything in life worth attention, I feel sure that I inherited the disposition from my mother. -- Booker T. Washington

My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her. -- George Washington

Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2022 CREATORS.COM
Guy Fieri has long been a favorite of Food Network viewers, thanks to what sometimes seems like his round-the-clock appearances as host of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, Guys Grocery Games, and others. The food celebrity added to his resume with 2022s Guys All-American Road Trip, in which Fieri, family and friends traveled through Oregon, Washington and Northern California.

(Season 1 of Guys All-American Road Trip is streaming on Philo, which offers a free trial; and on Fubo, which also offers a free trial)

Now, Fieri is back with a second season of Guys All-American Road Trip, but this one takes the Food Network star and company to another part of the country, for a road trip through Appalachia.

According to the Food Network, Fieri will again by joined by his wife, Lori, his sons Hunter and Ryder, and friends who will hit the road in RVs for a trip full of wild adventures, family competitions, and some of the best food in Tennessee and Kentucky.

The four-episode series what the Food Network press material describes as dynamite dishes, iconic destinations and attractions. From crispy, juicy fried chicken at Dollywood, to Tiki cocktails at Guys very own Downtown Flavortown, and to next level BBQ camp-side, the eats are unlike anything they have had before.

What else to expect? According to the Food Network, Before they hit the road, they must fuel up with a mouthwatering lunch in Nashville, Tennessee served by some of Guys favorite local Triple D spots. Once they get to the campground, the rain doesnt stop this crew from having a real deal Mexican feast. Then, its off to a fun roadside attraction in Bowling Green, Kentucky that takes everyone on a trip back to the Old West. Next up, is Chaneys Dairy Farm for an over-the-top, family against family, ice cream-making contest. They continue to milk Kentucky for an adrenaline pumping spin around the speedway at NCM Motorsports Park. After some hot laps, they head across the street for a tour of the National Corvette Museum. Plus, there is a real deal pizza showdown back at the campgrounds.

Other stops include Petros, Tennessee for BBW at a penitentiary, followed by a tour of the jail by a former inmate. The trip will also include Pizza Palace in Knoxville, Tennessee; Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for some next-level nachos, outrageous burgers, one-of-a-kind waffles and a tiki drink oasis at Guys very own Downtown Flavortown; fried chicken and cinnamon bread at Dolly Partons amusement park, Dollywood; Bentons Smoky Mountain Country Hams, in Madisonville, Tennessee; and more.

Season 1 of Guys All-American Road Trip earned a 2023 Daytime Emmy Award nomination, in the category of Travel, Adventure and Nature Program.

Season 2 of Guys All-American Road Trip premieres at 9 p.m. Friday, June 2 on the Food Network.

More of our coverage:

Guy Fieri visits Jim Belushis Oregon cannabis farm, the coast, and more NW stops in Food Network series

Guys All-American Road Trip Episode 2: Guy Fieri and friends eat crab, and rainy day chili
Within the 10,000 square feet of retail space at Community Kindness thrift store in downtown La Grande, every piece of donated clothing has been steamed. Every stuffed animal has been washed. Every toy tested. Every game piece counted.

It also might be the only place in town where shoppers can buy Jammie Dodgers biscuits and Ambrosia Devon Custard, or pose with a photo backdrop of Big Ben.

Thats because store founder and manager Liz Meyer is from Yorkshire, England, and shes infused the space with a very tidy British sense of flair. Union Jack flags hang outside the building. Inside, shoppers will find red phone booths, tributes to the monarchy and the Beatles, and a large selection of British food items.

We want to be a destination business, Meyer said. It just brings a different bit of interest to the town.

Meyer met her husband, Grant Meyer, who is from Elgin, Oregon, while they were both living in Manchester. They married 34 years ago and, for the last 22 years, theyve made eastern Oregon their home.

Four years ago, Liz Meyer got the idea to start a nonprofit. Shed been a volunteer at a local animal shelter and the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and she researched what it would take to get tax-exempt status and create her own organization.

Community Kindness of Eastern Oregon began by leasing a space on the first floor of the 1923-built Henry building in downtown La Grande. Last year it expanded with a second floor filled with clothing. In April, the nonprofit closed for a month for renovations as it expanded to lease entirety of the Henry building.

The new and improved Community Kindness opened this month. Upstairs, youll find racks displaying jewelry and mannequins modeling fur coats and formal wear  some new(ish), some vintage, all reasonably priced. Downstairs, there are sections for furniture, home goods, books and toys, all in excellent condition. Electronics all bear a tested seal of approval sticker.

The first time I went in, I thought This is a department store because its so clean, said Susan Burnett, membership coordinator with the Union County Chamber of Commerce. We send people there because you wont believe this thrift store. Its not your typical thrift store.

HERE IS OREGON: HereisOregon.com | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok

Meyer, a fast-talking whirlwind of positivity, can often be found tidying the space and greeting customers.

We wanted to take ourselves away from the stigma of thrift stores, which can be, and Im not saying it is, but which can be unorganized and dirty, she said. Everythings itemized and color blocked in the clothing department. Its all steamed and neutralized.

Proceeds from the store finance a variety of small community needs, from assisting with veterinary bills to providing snacks for elementary school events and local LGBTQ coalition meetings. Community Kindness refers people to other agencies to help with things like rent and utilities and instead focuses on needs that arent often met, or even recognized, by larger welfare agencies.

The store, located in a large brick building downtown, is easily identified by its murals of the U.S. and British flags.

It is definitely a destination point, said Scott Newman, executive director of the Union County Chamber of Commerce. Liz has been fantastic for the community. La Grande doesnt have a lot of shopping  were working on it  but I would say its an anchor store for downtown.

For some visitors, Community Kindness is a social hub as well. The shop employees are all seniors working through the nonprofit Easterseals, which provides job training for adults ages 55 and older. Meyer offers tea and biscuits for anyone looking to just sit and chat. The store hosts karaoke every Saturday afternoon, and on Christmas Day the nonprofit provides a free buffet lunch, open to all. A new addition is a community event space in the basement.

This is my contribution to my community, which accepted me 21 years ago, she said last year.

For their efforts, Liz and Grant Meyer received the Woman and Man of the Year awards from the Union County Chamber of Commerce during the chambers annual banquet in March.

Community Kindness donated $14,000 to local organizations and people in need last year, but that figure doesnt capture the entirety of the nonprofits impact on the community, including donations of donated goods that go back to those in need.

If we were never to make a bunch of money, then having the store as a place to shop and provide great quality items of all kinds at a great price is a thing all in itself, Meyer said.

If you go: Community Kindness Thrift Store, 1315 Adams Ave. in La Grande, is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Find more information on events, donations and volunteer opportunities at ckthriftstore.com.

Sign up for our free Here is Oregon newsletter. Email:



-- Samantha Swindler, sswindler@oregonian.com, @editorswindler
Clackamas County spent just over $190 million paying their employees in the 2022 calendar year, up about 11% from the previous year.

Similar to 2021, county health officials, department directors, deputy district attorneys and law enforcement officers were among the highest compensated employees last year.
Update on May 16: The Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District on Tuesday said Jacob Stokes had been wading in knee-deep water not swimming when a riptide pulled him under the water. An earlier press release from the department was inaccurate.

***

Jacob Stokes, the Beaverton high school senior who went missing off the coast of Cannon Beach Friday, most likely got caught in a rip current, said Lt. Shaunna White of the Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District.

Stokes, a student at Mountainside High School, went for a swim at the beach with three of his friends when people on the shore noticed the group disappear from sight. Two of the students were able to escape the water, and a third was saved by a rescue swimmer with the Cannon Beach fire district.

The rescue swimmer never saw Stokes in the water, and only knew he was there when people on shore told him, White said.

Rip currents are a frequent cause of emergency calls to the Cannon Beach fire district, she said.

Children should never swim alone; they should be in arms reach of their parents and everyone, even adults, should be swimming with someone else, White said Monday. Nobody should go deeper than their knees and overall, when in doubt, dont go out.

With water temperatures in the low 50s, swimmers can quickly become hypothermic, making Oregons icy waters particularly dangerous.

If you find yourself caught in a rip current, you should, stay calm and dont fight the current, White said.

White suggests swimming parallel to the shore until youre out of the current, then swim back to shore.

If somebody doesnt know what theyre doing, try to wave or yell that you need help, then float or tread water until first responders arrive, White said.

Rescue teams with Cannon Beach and Seaside Fire and Rescue searched for Stokes into the night Friday and continued Saturday.

An email from the Beaverton School District to families in the Mountainside community described Stokes as a kind and thoughtful person. He was part of the schools cross country and track teams, and he was expected to attend Oregon State University in the fall.

Our hearts break for Jacobs family, his close friends and our entire community at this time of deep sadness and grief, Todd Corsetti, the schools principal, wrote in the email.

-- Lisa Moreno; lmoreno@oregonian.com

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe
It is not common for me to observe the actions of the current administration and think, Good job. But that happened on Tuesday when Governor Tina Kotek paused the proposed tolling program that would greatly impact my own neighborhood, (Gov. Tina Kotek hits pause on freeway tolling until 2026, lawmakers say, May 2).

Rep. Jules Walters, D-West Linn, and others also introduced a bill to further study the impact of the tolling regime. I applaud them both and encourage the next right step: set aside tolling for good. The cost to our cities, for administration and to the most disadvantaged is too high.

If you have ever sat on Oregon 43 on a weekday afternoon you would know that the side roads of our freeways are already bulging. Tolling will drive more traffic to these roads and move maintenance costs to the cities and counties without any additional funding to support it.

Tolling will bring in many dollars from every daily driver, but the administrative costs to collect those fees could be substantial. I am heartbroken thinking of every minimum wage employee commuting to Clackamas Town Center for work and potentially facing tolls totaling as much as 7% of their daily wages. Where is the justice in this?

The costs are clear. And the costs are too high. The pause on tolling is warranted. Lets take this pause as an opportunity to take the next right step: setting aside the tolls for good. With that step there is reason for not just applause but ovation.

Aeric Estep, West Linn

To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion.
The Vietnam Veterans of America Umpqua Valley Chapter 805 is bringing the Oregon Memorial Traveling Wall to Tillamook on May 26 and 27, at the beginning of Memorial Day weekend. This wall is a tribute to 957 Oregon veterans who lost their lives while serving their country, including the hundreds who died during the Vietnam War and others in later military actions.

The Oregon Memorial Traveling Wall is modeled after the Vietnam Veteran Memorial in Washington, D.C., with the names of the fallen inscribed upon it. It is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by these courageous individuals in service to their country and serves as a way to honor and remember them.

The wall will enter Tillamook from the south with an honorary police escort at around 9 a.m. May 26 and arrive at Second Street Plaza, where it will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. The Tillamook Revitalization Association is sponsoring the event.

This is not just an opportunity to honor the fallen, but also a chance to show support and gratitude for those who have served and continue to serve. The Oregon Memorial Traveling Wall stands as a reminder of the bravery and selflessness displayed by those in uniform.

Rolan Easystone, Tillamook

Easystone is Tillamook County Veteran Services Coordinator

To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion.
Republicans continued their boycott of the state Capitol for a 10th day Monday, leading to the apparent disqualification of two Republicans and one Independent from reelection due to a new, voter-approved law.

No Republicans nor Sen. Brian Boquist, I-Dallas, were present in the Senate chamber for a floor session Monday morning. That marked 10 unexcused absences this legislative session for Boquist, Sen. Dennis Linthicum, R-Klamath Falls, and Sen. Daniel Bonham, R-Welches.

About 68% of Oregon voters approved Measure 113 last November, which disqualifies from reelection any state lawmaker who receives 10 or more unexcused absences during a legislative session.

The boycott continued Monday after Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, suspended floor sessions through the weekend to open talks with Senate Republicans led by Minority Leader Tim Knopp, R-Bend.

Top Democrats and Republicans had expressed hope that the two sides could hammer out an agreement over the weekend to end the walkout. In a statement Monday, Wagner said he was extremely disappointed that the boycott had continued.

Knopp said in a statement that Democrat leadership offered no solutions to rectify the constitutional and legal dilemma we raised and are instead aiding and abetting a culture of corruption.

Republicans began boycotting the Senate on May 3. Knopp and top Republicans said they were protesting violations of a little-used, 40-year-old law requiring bill summaries to be penned in plain English. The boycott began after House Democrats passed bills on gun safety, abortion and gender-affirming care that Republicans vehemently opposed. Knopp has since said his party is protesting about 20 bills it considers to be hyperpartisan.

Bonham told The Oregonian/OregonLive he will return to the Senate floor for budget talks and any other bipartisan legislation this session, but wont participate in any hearings on House Bill 2002. The sprawling measure would expand access to abortion in rural counties, protect doctors who provide them from prosecution under out-of-state laws and mandate insurance coverage for gender-affirming care.

The bill would also allow all minors to receive an abortion without parental knowledge, which current law allows for children age 15 or older. From April 2022 to March 2023, about 4% of the 476 minors who became pregnant in Oregon were below the age of 15, according to Oregon Health Authority data.

Bonham said the bill intentionally removes the rights of parents.

Bonham believes that Measure 113 wont bar him from running for reelection, but to prove that will take a court challenge, he said in an email. He did not provide more information when asked about a potential lawsuit testing the new rules.

Article IV, Section 15 of the Oregon Constitution reads: Failure to attend, without permission or excuse, ten or more legislative floor sessions called to transact business during a regular or special legislative session shall be deemed disorderly behavior and shall disqualify the member from holding office as a Senator or Representative for the term following the election after the members current term is completed.

Boquist said in an email that he was not concerned at all about being disqualified from reelection.

He believes that two-thirds of the Senate has to vote to bar him from serving another term, citing the same section of the constitution that requires such a vote to expel a member of the Legislature. However, that process appears to apply to expulsions of lawmakers during their current term, not to lawmakers seeking reelection for another.

The terms of Boquist and Linthicum end in January 2025. Bonhams term ends in January 2027. Linthicum did not respond to a request for comment.

If the walkout continues Tuesday, Cedric Hayden, R-Springfield, could also clock 10 unexcused absences.

Sen. Lynn Findley, R-Vale, has seven unexcused absences from the Senate floor this session.

My oath to uphold the constitution is more important to me than being reelected, Findley said in his newsletter.

-- Grant Stringer; gstringer@oregonian.com; @Stringerjourno
Visitors to Oregons tallest waterfall will once again need a permit this summer.

Timed entry permits are back for the 2023 season at Multnomah Falls, required daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., between May 26 and Sept. 4., the U.S. Forest Service announced Friday.
It aint over till its over, the great Yogi Berra once said  or is said to have said. Western New Yorkers can add a corollary: Its not begun until its begun. The absorption of Medaille University by Trocaire College, announced with fanfare just last month, died aborning.

The reason is wrapped in secrecy, but it came hardly a week after Medaille revealed that the arrangement would cost jobs at its Buffalo and Rochester campuses. Although the exact number of layoffs wasnt specified, the university told the state Labor Department that 419 positions could be affected.

That would have been a shame, but the fact is that post-secondary education, especially among private institutions, is under tremendous, unrelenting strain. Pain seems a given and what awaits Medaille now is a mystery and a worry.

Trocaire President Bassam Deeb didnt say why the deal fell through. Efforts towards completing an asset purchase between Trocaire College and Medaille University have terminated, he said in a statement. This is not the outcome we strived for as significant human and financial resources have been invested by both institutions in the attempt to consummate the proposed transaction.

Medaille interim President Lori V. Quigley also expressed regrets, but said confidentiality provisions barred it from revealing the reason that this monthslong effort suddenly collapsed. The universitys board of trustees planned to meet on Friday and Quigley promised that the university will inform our students, faculty, staff and community of any decisions made.

All universities are facing harsh arithmetic. Its happening at SUNY Buffalo State, at SUNY Erie Community College at its happening at Medaille and other private institutions in Western New York.

Enrollment is falling and, starting in 2025, its expected to crater. Thats when post-secondary education is predicted to reach the enrollment cliff, when the number of 18-year-olds graduating high school is forecast to fall dramatically and for the foreseeable future.

For public institutions, tax dollars will likely ease that challenge. Private colleges and universities are facing a more unforgiving fiscal environment. Complicating their path toward better fiscal health is that some offer similar programs to other facilities.

The best approach to dealing with these hurdles is through consolidations. The worst is closures. The former didnt work for Medaille. Heres hoping it avoids the latter.

  

Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing.
By Monday afternoon, another heat record had fallen. After first breaking records Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Portland clocked its fourth consecutive day over 90 degrees, breaking the previous record, three days, which was set in 1987.

By about 2 p.m., the temperature at the Portland Airport hit 90 degrees. And, said Jon Bonk, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Portland, it could still get hot enough to break the daily record of 93 degrees, set in 2006.

Its not out of the realm of possibility, Bonk said. We still have lots of daytime to go.

Read more: Flood watch issued for Portland area and beyond.

While a Monday late-afternoon thunderstorm could bring rain and even flooding to the Portland area, most of the forecast looks similar to the weekend.

Were going to remain warm and dry really through the bulk of the week, Bonk said, noting that Tuesday could dip down to the high 80s but Wednesday is forecasted at 90 again.

Currently, the forecast for the weekend is cooler, but, Bonk said, that is too far out to forecast with much certainty.

The risks from the heat compound as the days remain hot, especially for people who live outdoors.

Multnomah County has not opened cooling shelters, but Julie Sullivan-Springhetti, a spokesperson for the county, offered a list of places Portland residents can go to cool off, including county libraries, Lloyd Center and other malls, Montavilla Community Center, Mt. Scott Community Center, Pantheon Banquet Hall, Woodstock Community Center, Matt Dishman Community Center and PCC Cascade Q Club.

The county also provides an interactive map of cooling resources online.

We have dramatically stepped up outreach to people living outside, increased communication generally about risk, and provided lots of pathways people can get cool for a few hours, Sullivan-Springhetti said of the countys efforts to keep at-risk residents safe.

The Multnomah County Medical Examiner is reporting no suspected heat deaths from this heat event, she added.

According to Sullivan-Springhetti, as of today, teams from the county coordinated through the Joint Office of Homeless Services have distributed nearly 44,000 water bottles, 4,680 electrolyte packets, and 6,000 bottles of sunscreen among other supplies since beginning the effort on Tuesday.

County officials are trying to get the message out that this spring heatwave has multiple associated dangers. Peoples bodies have not yet acclimated to the heat and there is a extreme risk of drowning in open water that is both cold and fast this time of year.

Drink water, take cooling breaks and avoid being outside at the hottest part of the day if possible, Sullivan-Springhetti said.

Finally, she said, Multnomah County purchased a limited number of air conditioning units to distribute this spring to households at high risk in heat events.

The supply of these units is limited, she said, and the county is reaching out to eligible households through case managers and service coordinators.

Others who are at the highest risk for heat-related illness and who are on the Oregon Health Plan may qualify for additional resources through their medical provider, Sullivan-Springhetti said. Health Share of Oregon has additional information.

More information on what to do during the heat is available at multco.us/help-when-its-hot. Call 2-1-1 if you or someone else needs assistance or 9-1-1 in case of an emergency.

 Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052; lacker@oregonian.com; @lizzzyacker

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe
A cool mist and screams of joy greeted visitors to downtown Portlands Salmon Street Springs fountain on Sunday, an exceptionally hot Mothers Day that broke temperature records from Astoria to Portland and Eugene to Troutdale.

While many people enjoyed the unseasonably warm temperatures, health experts warned that Oregonians should continue to take precautions to avoid heat-related illness. Relatively high overnight temperatures for the next several days mean homes that lack air conditioning will retain heat, preventing some residents from getting sufficient relief.

This is when we start to be more at risk, said Dr. Ann Loeffler, acting health officer for Multnomah County on Sunday morning.

As of 6 p.m., Multnomah County had reported no suspected heat deaths from the three-day streak of 90 degree weather.

On Sunday, Sara Bernal sat under a tree on a park bench in Tom McCall Waterfront Park, feeding her baby.

Its a little uncomfortable, sure, said Bernal, who grew up in Oregon. But after all the rain, its not so bad.

Families and sweaty park-goers also gathered at the Bill Naito Legacy Fountain along the Willamette River on Sunday.

Preyonna Allen sat on a picnic blanket in the shade as she watched her kids splash in the fountains water. She said she enjoyed hot days so she could take her children out to play safely in the sun.

Ive got about 10 fans at home, and they just dont work, Allen said. I dont like taking my kids to the beach because Ive got little ones. We come here every summer.

While the Portland areas riverfront beaches beckon swimmers on hot days, cold temperatures in the Columbia, Willamette and Sandy rivers pose a risk for fatal shock.

Anyone who swims or boats in natural water should wear life jackets, experts warn. On Friday, a Beaverton teen disappeared off the coast of Cannon Beach after swimming with three others.

Back at Portlands waterfront, Sydney Waters sat near the Bill Naito fountain, wearing a hat and sunglasses as children laughed in the background. Waters captured many Portlanders sentiment when it comes to the current weather.

Its too wet, its too cold, Waters said. Then its too hot.

-- Lisa Moreno; lmoreno@oregonian.com
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OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)  Students in the Oakland Unified School District will return to full classroom instruction Tuesday after the district and striking teachers announced a tentative deal that includes a reparations task force for Black students and more say from parents and teachers in school decisions.

Monday's announcement ends a strike that had kept 34,000 students out of school for more than a week. The last day of school for the district east of San Francisco is May 25.

The union representing 3,000 educators, counselors and other workers walked out May 4 in a bid for traditional demands such as higher salaries. But bargainers with the Oakland Education Association also pushed for common good changes, such as reparations and resources for students who are homeless.

Our collective power forced OUSD to commit to living wages for educators, more resources in our schools, enforceable working conditions and common good issues for our students and their families, the union said in a statement on social media.

Common good clauses that address community issues have become more of a bargaining issue, starting with Chicago in 2012 when teachers went on strike and demanded a voice in improving schools.

In Oakland, the two sides agreed to a shared governance model of community schools with a steering committee that includes members appointed by unions and the district, according to the Oakland Education Association.

The sides also tentatively agreed to identify locations that could be used to house students and to secure housing vouchers and other financial support from governments.

The new reparations task force will identify schools where student populations are at least 40% Black and implement plans to help those students thrive. Co-chairs will be appointed by the Oakland Education Association and the schools' superintendent for the first year.

At a news conference Monday, Oakland schools Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell described the compensation package as historic. Teachers and other union members will receive a 10% raise and a $5,000 one-time stipend for full-time employees, she said.

Students will see more librarians, counselors, nurses, and visual and performing arts teachers, she said.

The tentative agreement will be put to members for ratification.
News / Local

by Paul Ndou

Impact on Informal Traders

Way Forward

The long-delayed construction of the Egodini Mall in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, is having a negative impact on the city's economy.The project, which was originally scheduled to have completed the first phase by November 2019, has been plagued by delays and cost overruns. As a result, the mall has yet to open, and the city is losing out on potential investment and revenue.In addition, the delays have inconvenienced residents and businesses in the area. The old bus terminal, which was demolished to make way for the mall, has been closed for several years, and there is no clear timeline for when it will be replaced.As a result, the city center is congested and traffic is chaotic. Businesses in the area are struggling, and some have even been forced to close.The delays at Egodini are a major setback for Bulawayo. The city is in desperate need of investment and economic development, and the mall was supposed to be a major catalyst for growth.However, the delays have shattered those hopes. The city is now facing a bleak economic future, and it is unclear when the situation will improve.The delays at Egodini have also had a negative impact on informal traders who were removed from the area in anticipation of the new mall's construction.These traders were promised that they would be given space in the new mall, but this has not yet happened. As a result, they have been forced to operate in the streets, where they are exposed to the elements and harassment from law enforcement.The situation is particularly difficult for women and children who make up a large percentage of informal traders.The delays at Egodini have made it even harder for these traders to make a living. They are calling on the government to find a solution to their plight.The government needs to take action to address the problems caused by the delays at Egodini. The mall needs to be completed as soon as possible, and the informal traders need to be given a fair deal.The government also needs to develop a plan for the city center that will address the congestion and traffic problems. This plan should include a new bus terminal and other infrastructure improvements.The future of Bulawayo depends on the government's ability to address these challenges. The city has a lot to offer, but it needs to be able to attract investment and grow its economy. The delays at Egodini are a major obstacle to this goal.
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Midland will celebrate Rev. Eric Seversons ordination and installation Saturday, May 20, a celebration delayed three years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Seversons ordination was originally slated for March 2020 but was officially postponed a week before the event when the pandemic closed public events around Michigan, the country and the world. He was ordained and installed in an online Zoom ceremony in October 2020.

The celebration is planned for 4 to 8 p.m. at the fellowship building, 6220 Jefferson Ave. in Midland. Congregants and local secular and religious leaders are welcome to attend.

I am thrilled to serve such a vital progressive congregation in the Tri-Cities area, Severson said. This congregation is known for its commitment to freedom of belief and social justice. We wanted to wait for a celebration until it was reasonably safe to gather for such a big event.

Severson received his Master of Divinity degree from Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago in 1998 but his search for a church placement was delayed while he pursued additional goals. He worked in marketing  for a Catholic education publisher and La Crosse, Wisconsin, community theater  and as an office administrator at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Rev. Erics story is amazing, UUFoM past board president Shannon Sonoras said. I'm beyond grateful that Eric and his wife, Ellen, have joined our Midland UU community. Eric definitely is making the world a better place!

Local congregants affirmed Seversons call to ministry and voted in spring 2019 to ordain and install him as their minister. He began serving the congregation that fall. The COVID-19 pandemic struck in March 2020, just before his scheduled ordination celebration, and all fellowship programs went online. The ceremony was held remotely that October, and fellowship leaders maintained strong public health measures for the following two and a half years.

We were in a search process for nearly two years, hoping to find just the right minister for our fellowship, said Tom Bailey, the fellowships board president and a member of the search team that interviewed Severson for the Midland ministry. It is so heartwarming to see how that effort has paid off. Reverend Eric meshed almost instantly with our congregation and were really excited to celebrate these milestones of his  ordination and full denominational fellowship  as we celebrate having him as the spiritual leader of our fellowship.

Unitarian Universalism is creedless and nondogmatic, Severson said. Unitarian Universalists act out their values to make the world more just. This includes the areas of climate change, food and housing security, LGBTQ+ rights and racial justice.

Severson grew up with agnostic parents. In young adulthood, he was especially drawn to Unitarian Universalisms first principle, affirming every persons inherent worth and dignity. His theology evolved over time, and his definition of scripture broadened to include traditional religious texts, poetry, music, dance, theater, history and human experience.

Two decades after his formal theological education, Seversons self-understanding and life circumstances had changed, and he still felt called to ministry. He took the necessary steps to be credentialed by his denomination. These included completing a year-long parish internship at First Unitarian Society in Madison, Wisconsin, and a year-long chaplain residency at a La Crosse hospital. In May 2019 he was granted preliminary fellowship with the Unitarian Universalist Association and was called to serve at the UU Fellowship of Midland.
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Tereasa Nims.

Sunday, May 14

9:20 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Homer Township residence for loud music. Contact was made with a 63-year-old woman, who advised the music would be turned down. Deputies cleared the scene without incident.

7:48 p.m. - Police responded to an assault complaint at McDonald and Ann streets.

7:17 p.m. - A deputy attempted to handle a civil complaint between a 37-year-old Mount Pleasant woman and a 37-year-old Larkin Township man. The woman wanted to pick up clothing and personal property belonging to their 16-year-old daughter, but the man refused to give up any property. The deputy provided advice to the woman about how to handle the situation.

3:03 p.m. - A deputy was dispatched to a roadway in Lee and Homer townships for a possibly intoxicated driver. The vehicle was located and a traffic stop was conducted. The 24-year-old male driver was found to not be intoxicated. A citation was issued.

1:57 p.m. - A deputy was dispatched to a venue in Lincoln Township for a purse that had been found. The purse had the ID of a 70-year-old woman inside. The deputy returned the purse to the woman at her Jerome Township address.

12:25 p.m. - A deputy was dispatched to assist with traffic control while Homer Township firefighters cleared a downed tree from a roadway.

More Information Activities of the Midland Police Department and Midland County Sheriff's Office See More Collapse

4:24 a.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a domestic dispute between two sisters at an Ingersoll Township residence: a 28-year-old Alma woman and a 33-year-old St. Louis woman. A report was forwarded to the prosecutor for review.

Saturday, May 13

10:26 p.m. - A deputy answered questions regarding child custody for a 34-year-old Breckenridge wonan and her 36-year-old ex-boyfriend. Both parties were educated on the importance of child custody arrangements through the courts.

10:18 p.m. - Police responded to the 2000 block of Candlestick Lane for an injury crash involving drunken driving/driving under the influence of drugs.

9:17 p.m. - A deputy transported a 34-year-old Harrison man from Clare County to the Midland County Jail without incident. A Michigan Department of Natural Resources agent arrested the man in Clare County for a child support warrant out of Midland County courts.

3:47 p.m. - A deputy was dispatched to the Saginaw County Jail to pick up a 22-year-old man on a warrant out of Midland County. The man was transported to the Midland County Jail and lodged there.

3:09 p.m. - A 36-year-old Coleman man reported finding an insulin-type syringe near a sidewalk. A deputy responded and properly disposed of the item.

2:13 p.m. - Several subjects reported hearing a loud explosion in either Ingersoll or Midland townships. No source of the sound was located. Deputy spoke with one of the complainants, a 32-year-old man, who believed it was an exploding target.

1:57 p.m. - A 32-year-old man thought he heard someone shooting on his family property. A deputy contacted the 60-year-old neighbor and found that the backstop being used was subpar for the guns that were being shot on the range. The homeowner was educated on safety and what an acceptable backstop would be. The man agreed to stop shooting until he had replaced the backstop.

1:41 p.m. - A 52-year-old Ingersoll Township man had general questions regarding a property line dispute with his neighbor. Deputies answered the mans questions.

1:36 p.m. - Police were called to the 2200 block of Cleveland Drive to assist the fire department.

11:55 a.m. - The driver of a dark-colored car failed to pay for $47 in fuel from a Coleman station. No plate number was obtained.

12:01 p.m. - A deputy was dispatched to Lincoln Township for a damaged mailbox which had been hit by an unknown car. The mailbox is valued at $50.

11:18 a.m. - A 22-year-old Lee Township woman had a verbal dispute with her 26-year-old boyfriend. Deputies stood by while the woman gathered her belongings. She later left without incident.

10:30 a.m. - A deputy was dispatched to speak with a 31-year-old Sanford man and a 33-year-old woman regarding childcare, property, and rights related to an upcoming divorce.

12:57 a.m. - Deputies conducted a traffic stop at a Greendale Township location. It was discovered that the 37-year-old female driver didn't have insurance on the vehicle and had a misdemeanor warrant out of Midland County. She was cited and was arrested on the warrant and lodged at Midland County Jail without incident. A report is being sent to the prosecutor.

Friday, May 12

10:46 p.m. - A deputy was dispatched to a Porter Township adult care home for a 42-year-old woman who called with complaints about another resident looking at her wrong. The woman vented to the deputy and was able to contact a care worker on a crisis line to help calm her down.

10:20 p.m. - Deputies, Larkin Township Fire and a K-9 were dispatched to Larkin Township for a report of a missing 2-year-old child. Prior to their arrival, the child was found. A deputy contacted the mother to check on the child, who was found to be okay.

10:09 p.m. - A deputy was dispatched to Tittabawassee Township to meet with Michigan State Police and pick up a 52-year-old Beaverton man who had been arrested in Saginaw County on a Midland County warrant. The man was transported to the Midland County Jail without incident.

8:12 p.m. - A deputy assisted Midland police by locating a 37-year-old Midland woman following a report of a possible assault. The deputy stayed with the woman until Midland police arrived on scene.

8:44 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Greendale Township business regarding a 38-year-old man who was acting disorderly and yelling at other customers. It was discovered the man had three misdemeanor warrants out of Midland County. He was arrested for his warrants and was transported and lodged in the Midland County Jail without incident.

5:02 p.m. - A 61-year-old Larkin Township man said he friended a woman on Facebook who later asked him for $3,000. The man recognized it was a scam and contacted deputies. The man did not send any money to the suspect.

4:31 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township residence regarding a 15-year-old girl who was feeling suicidal and was attempting to cut herself. Deputies spoke with the girl and transported her to MyMichigan Medical Center, where she received treatment.

3:54 p.m. - Police were called to the 300 block of South Saginaw Road for a trespassing complaint.

1:17 p.m. - Deputies received a referral from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services regarding alleged inappropriate contact between a 15-year-old girl and her 19-year-old boyfriend. Contact was made with the mother of the girl, who said she was aware of possible sexual contact between her daughter and her daughter's boyfriend. The mother said precautions were in place and she did not wish to have law enforcement involved.

2:35 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Larkin Township location regarding a two-vehicle injury crash. A 41-year-old woman was transported to the ER for treatment. A 26-year-old Pinconning woman was cited for violating the basic speed law, no insurance and an unregistered motor vehicle. A report is being sent to the prosecutor for review.

1:11 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to an Edenville Township residence regarding a verbal argument between a 37-year-old woman and her 34-year-old boyfriend. No assault occurred. The woman was arrested on an outstanding warrant out of Saginaw County and was transported and released to Saginaw police.

10:29 a.m. - Deputies received a referral from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services regarding alleged criminal sexual conduct. The alleged victim is a 14-year-old girl and the suspect is her sister. The incident(s) occurred several years ago. The victim refused to cooperate with an interview at this time.

8:59 a.m. - A deputy was dispatched to the area of US-10/M-30 regarding a woman in pajamas rollerblading on the highway. The area was checked, but the woman was not located.

7:38 a.m. - A deputy was dispatched to a Mills Township residence regarding an argument between a 20-year-old man and his ex-girlfriend's boyfriend. The argument was verbal only, and all involved parties left the scene prior to the deputy arriving.

5:25 a.m. - Police responded to investigate a criminal sexual conduct complaint in the 4900 block of Hedgewood Drive.
Paris, France (PANA)  A Global Plastics Treaty should ensure that it addresses the role of fossil fuels in plastic production and includes human rights protections, Human Rights Watch said on Monday
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Mission of Support in Libya (UNSMIL), Abdoulaye Bathily, said here Monday he had agreed with the Libyan Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdelhamid al-Dbaiba, on the importance of speeding up the completion of the legislative framework for the elections involving all segments of Libyan society
I thought, it being late on the evening of the Sabbath as I write, that some might enjoy reading a few short excerpts from Marvin J. Besteman (with Lorilee Craker), My Journey to Heaven: What I Saw and How It Changed My Life (Grand Rapids: Revell, 2012). Marvin J. Besteman (1934-2012) was a graduate of Calvin College, a veteran of the United States Army, and a retired bank president in Michigan. Provided that what he relates in My Journey to Heaven is the truth, the next life is something to which we can look forward with pleasure and anticipation, not fear. As it happens, Mr. Besteman died for the final time just prior to the appearance of his book:

I saw color-bursts that lit up the sky, way beyond the northern lights I had seen once on a trip to Alaska. Simply glorious. My geezer body felt young and strong and fantastic. The aches and pains and limitations of age were just gone. I felt like a teenager again, only better. The music I heard was incomparable to anything I had ever heard before. There was a choir of a million people, thousands of organs, thousands of pianos. It was the most lush and beautiful music I had ever heard. And do you know that every single day since my experience I have heard a few snatches of that music? I am so blessed to remember that heavenly sound. (14)

What I saw beyond the gate is a kind of revelation. I believe God wants me to share it with you, so that you can know some of what to expect when this life is over. . . . how magnificently healthy and happy they all looked . . . (15)

Trust me when I say that once you visit heaven, you never, ever want to come back to earth. Its truly a place that is everything good and beautiful you can imagine, where you will feel more free and loved than you ever dreamed possible. Its really a future to eagerly await . . . (16)

For a long time, I was angry at God for taking me to that perfect, joyful place and then bringing me back to life on earth, to an old mans aches and pains, in a place full of dirt and crime, disease and tears. (17-18)

And, by the way, speaking of heaven . . .

On a related note, here is a passage from Stephen T. Davis, After We Die: Theology, Philosophy, and the Question of Life after Death (Waco: Baylor University Press, 2015). Stephen Davis is Russell K. Pitzer Professor of Philosophy at Claremont McKenna College in southern California. Christian Philosophy of Religion, a festschrift in his honor, was published by the University of Notre Dame Press in 2015:

The claim that God will win is a bedrock conviction in Christian eschatology. It is obvious that the world as it presently exists is full of enemies of God  sin, suffering, poverty, injustice, disease, violence, war, crime, death. Evil seems to run rampant. It is part of the human condition to be deeply troubled by these realities. We long for them to end. Eschatology allows us a new interpretation of the evils of our world. They do not constitute the last word. Sometimes, in mysterious ways, God uses the agonies of this world to bring about good. Some such evil events are probably necessary for God to emerge victorious. And even if there are some evils that are so horrendous that they cannot be redeemed  African slavery or the Holocaust, for example  they will be defeated. Eschatology tells us that Gods victory is imminent. It means that we are allowed to have hope and that trust in God is justified. Someday all tears will be wiped away. All diseases and infirmities will be healed. All crimes will be forgiven. All suffering will be redeemed. All questions will be answered. (136)

Again, something to anticipate with with eager hope.

As you may have noticed, this post features photographs from the Interpreter Foundations ongoing film project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Conditions there are challenging, but our team appears to be having a very good experience. And the films that will eventually result should be of interest, I think, to more than a few Latter-day Saints who will never themselves go anywhere near the Congo.

A small temple already stands in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the DRC. Ground has been broken for a second DRC temple in Lubumbashi, and a third DRC temple has been announced for Kananga. Moreover, a temple has also been announced for Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo  which is a wholly distinct country from the DRC. Brazzaville is located on the northern side of the Congo River, directly opposite Kinshasa.

Question: What is the largest French-speaking city in the world? Answer: With somewhere between 12.5 and 17.1 million residents, Kinshasa is the largest French-speaking city in the world. It is followed by Paris and its immediate suburbs; the Paris metropolitan area has roughly eleven million inhabitants. But perhaps Brazzaville should be entered into the total, as well: The official language of the Republic of the Congo, of which Brazzaville is the capital, is French. Brazzavilles population just under two million.

When the temples in Lubumbashi, Kananga, and Brazzaville are dedicated, along with nearly complete Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple (in the Republique de Cote dIvoire), there will be (by my count) seven Francophone temples in the world  including Paris, France, and Papeete, Tahiti, and five in Africa.

I hope youll agree with me that the story of the founding of the Church in Africa, and of its remarkable growth there, deserves to be known. The Interpreter Foundation cant do it all, of course, and doesnt pretend to be doing so. But were hoping to make a contribution.
Asking Patron Saints to Intercede; Miracles Among Catholics & Protestants

The late Steve Hays (1959-2020) was a Calvinist (and anti-Catholic) writer, who was very active on his blog, called Triablogue (now continued by Jason Engwer). His 695-page self-published book, Catholicism  which appears to simply be a collection of his articles on his site  has graciously been made available there for free. This is one of many planned critiques of that book. Rather than list them all in individual sections, interested readers are directed to the Steve Hays section of my Anti-Catholicism web page, where they will all be listed. My Bible citations are from the RSV. Steves words will be in blue.

*****

[Chapter 1: Miracles]

Anthony, dont pray for me [p. 11: subtitle]

[Francis] Beckwith prays to the patron saint of cancer patients on behalf of a cancer patient, who nevertheless dies shortly thereafter. How does that validate St. Anthonys reputation as a long-distance healer? If the patient was cured, that would be impressive. But since the patient succumbed, that hardly furnishes supporting evidence for Anthonys reputation. [p. 11]

Unanswered prayer no more disproves the practice of asking patron saints to intercede to God than it disproves prayer to God Himself when He says no. And thats because God may always will not to answer a prayer, for reasons usually known to Him alone. This is an explicitly biblical doctrine:

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. James 1:7-8 For that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord. James 5:16 . . . The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Psalm 66:18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is his delight. Isaiah 1:15 When you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. (cf. Jer 11:11) Isaiah 59:2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you so that he does not hear.

Even St. Pauls petitionary prayer request was expressly turned down by God:

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. [8] Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; [9] but he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

The prophet Jonah prayed to God to die (Jonah 4:3): Therefore now, O LORD, take my life from me, I beseech thee, for it is better for me to die than to live. (cf. 4:8-9). God obviously didnt fulfill the request, and chided Jonah or his anger (4:4, 9). The prophet Ezekiel did the same: O LORD, take away my life (1 Kgs 19:4). God had other plans, as the entire passage shows. If we pray something stupidly, God wont answer. He knows better than we do.

Jesus also tells the story (not a parable, which dont have proper names) in Luke 16 of Lazarus and the rich man, in which two petitionary requests (in effect, prayers: 16:24, 27-28, 30) to Abraham are turned down (16:25-26, 29, 31). Since Jesus is teaching theological principles or truths, by means of the story, then it follows that its His own opinion as well: that prayers are not always answered. They have to be according to Gods will.

Its like evidence for global warming. If theres a warming trend, thats evidence for global warmingbut if theres a cooling trend, thats consistent with global warming. Whether its wetter or drier, thats evidence for global warming. If either outcome is consistent with St. Anthonys reputation, then does anything really count as evidence for or against his reputation? Or is it just random? [p. 11]

The attempted analogy doesnt apply here because of the important and central additional factor of prayer being conditional upon it being Gods will, just explained.

v) Assuming (ex hypothesi) that its a miracle, what kind of miracle would it be? Not like turning water into wine or the multiplication of food. Rather, this would be a coincidence miracle. A result of Gods extraordinary providence.

That, however, is very predestinarian. That assumes God prearranged ordinary circumstances to converge on this opportune and naturally improbable outcome. If so, thats inconsistent with the libertarian strand of Catholic theology (e.g. Jesuit theologians). [p. 11]

This is another caricature of Catholic theology. We believe in Gods providence as much as any Calvinist does, and we believe in the predestination of the elect and of whatever events God chooses to be predestined. Where we disagree is over the predestination of the damned. We deny that; Calvinists affirm it. Nor is predestination in the slightest incompatible with Jesuit theology (Molinism and suchlike: which happens to be my own view). Jesuits, being Catholics, accept predestination like the Thomists and any other Catholics. They simply have a different view of its implementation or operation by God and precisely how human free will is related to it.

vi) Assuming (ex hypothesi) that its a miracle, does it validate the cult of the saints? [p. 11]

If it happens enough times, yes, just as in the case of any other miracle. It validates and suggests this, while not absolutely proving it.

Not unless you think the only function of a miracle is to attest doctrine. Moreover, thats offset by Protestant miracles. [p. 11]

Thats neither here nor there. If something happens enough times, and suggests that x caused miracle y, then that is cumulative evidence for x indeed being the cause or a contributing cause of y. Protestants experience miracles because they are incorporated into the Body of Christ by virtue of the regeneration of their baptism, which is a true sacrament. So declared Trent (i.e., this is nothing new).

Again, prayers of this sort (distinctively Catholic prayers) are substantiated to the extent that they appear to be answered again and again: precisely as with prayers directly to God. Its difficult to absolutely prove anything regarding prayer, but we can only look to patterns in cause and effect, suggesting success or failure. Atheists reject all Christian prayers; anti-Catholics take a very dim  if not outright hostile  view of Catholic prayers. What else is new?

Ecclesiastical miracles [p. 15: subtitle]

Unlike the schismatic Protestant sect, Rome is verifiably the one true church because she enjoys miraculous attestation. So goes the argument. One problem with this claima problem which has become more manifest since the Reformationis the fact that Rome doesnt enjoy a monopoly on reported miracles. There are reported Protestant miracles as well as reported Catholic miracles. Therefore, even if we grant for the sake of argument that Catholicism enjoys prima facie miraculous evidence, the same holds true for Protestantism. [p. 15]

What Hays doesnt do is comment on the relative numbers of miracles. I contend that we experience many more, relative to Protestantism (and we freely acknowledge that miracles occur among Protestants, as already alluded to). It helps us to have more miracles, seeing that many Protestants dont even believe that they occur anymore, either due to lack of faith and a full belief or false and unbiblical theological premises regarding miracles (cessationism or Hays own semicessationism).

Catholics even have many entire categories of miracles that we believe in, whereas most Protestants dont: such as exorcisms (discussed in reply #1), incorruptible bodies of saints (a phenomenon that Protestants have the most difficult time trying to explain, leading most of them to simply avoid the topic like the plague), weeping statues of Mary, eucharistic miracles, Marian apparitions, the stigmata, living on the Eucharist alone, levitation, bilocation, etc. We even believe in ghosts, unlike a great many Protestants, who collapse all such occurrences to the horrible and utterly forbidden occult, seances, sorcery, necromancy, etc.

C. S. Lewis (quite Protestant) wrote about seeing the ghost of his wife, Joy, in his book, A Grief Observed. He didnt feel the need to rationalize this away as a demon impersonating her, etc. Several incidents in the Bible involve dead people coming back to earth (e.g., the prophet Samuel, the two witnesses of Revelation, those who come out of their tombs after the crucifixion, Elijah and Moses at the Transfiguration, etc.).

My point is not to vouch for any particular claim, but just to make the fairly obvious observation that this fixture of the traditional apologetic for Roman Catholicism now backfires. We can call your reputed miracles and raise you. [p. 15]

Not at all, as just explained. Our claims for miracles never had anything to do with whether Protestants also have miracles in their midst. Baptismal regeneration is a miracle, so is initial justification and being filled with the Holy Spirit and the sacrament of matrimony: things that happen to Protestants by the hundreds of millions. Its a non-issue for us. But if we want to talk about quantities of miracles and many more categories of them, Catholics win hands down.

***

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!

***

Photo credit: The Whore of Babylon (workshop of Lucas Cranach): colorized illustration from Martin Luthers 1534 translation of the Bible [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]

***

Summary: The late Steve Hays was a Calvinist and anti-Catholic writer and apologist. This is one of my many critiques of Hays Catholicism: a 695-page self-published volume.
DREAMING EMILY DICKINSON

James Ishmael Ford

Originally a sermon preached back when Jan & I lived in New England, revisited, dusted off, and lightly rewritten in honor of the 146th anniversary of Emily Dickinsons death.

1263

Tell all the truth but tell it slant 

Success in Circuit lies

Too bright for our infirm Delight

The Truths superb surprise

As Lightning to the Children eased

With explanation kind

The Truth must dazzle gradually

Or every man be blind 

Jan and I treasured our New England years. I vividly recall our walk through the Cambridge cemetery visiting the James family, with a side trip to stand before the great UU theologian James Luther Adams. A similar visit to the poets corner at the Concord cemetery, standing with Thoreau and Emerson and many others just thrilled me to the core. Following our first visit to Walden Pond, during those New England years I returned pretty much several times a year to circumambulate the pond and meditate on our tradition and what it can mean. Over time it has come together and blends and makes something lovely about our living here in dear old New England.

Among those places we returned to and have become part of our lives, Jan and I tried to get out to the Pioneer Valley and the Berkshires at least once a year. Theres a lot to experience out there. Although possibly the most moving moment for us was the time we walked through Emily Dickinsons home in Amherst.

I think of Emily as one of the wise ones.

Think of this as a meditation, a revery.

1755

To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee 

One clover, and a bee.

And revery.

The revery alone will do,

If bees are few.

Mel Shelly observed, she is as American as any American poet, and just as complex and just as haunted as Whitman or Emerson, or as her misunderstood soul mates Frost and Sandberg. In fact I think Dickinson sings into our hearts our uniquely American spiritual quest, and among all the other things about her, is someone we can profitably attend to as a community of liberal faith.

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was born in December 1830, to a prominent Amherst family. She spent a year at Mount Holyoke under the tutelage of its founder the remarkable Mary Lyons, but could not adjust for many reasons, including the fervent Evangelical Christianity that was constantly preached there, and so returned home after two semesters. Emily traveled very little, a brief stint in Washington with her father during his single term as a US congressman, some time in Cambridge for medical treatment, and not a lot more than that.

Except for a brief interval during her childhood, a time of financial hardship where the family lived in another house in Amherst, Emily lived her entire life in the house where she was born. Much has been made of her propensity to wear white, but no one knows for sure what it actually meant to her. Increasingly reclusive, for her last two decades she rarely left her home even to cross the yard to visit her beloved sister-in-law. Still she had a small circle of friends centering on her sisters and brother and just a couple of others. They would prove invaluable in preserving and presenting her poetry to the world following her death in May 1886.

She wrote her first poem at nineteen. When she died a few months short of fifty-six, Emily had published seven poems, or maybe ten, my sources for this differ. Interestingly of that tiny number whatever it actually was, several were in fact printed without her consent. She did not write for the general public. Nonetheless she was prolific; she was the author of 1,775 known poems as well as about 1,100 letters.

Like many, pretty nearly all poets she wrote in any number of voices. So, it is a dangerous task to pick a few of her poems and to assert they reflect her thinking. But preachers are often willing to go where angels and indeed the prudent fear to tread.

1106

These are the Signs to Natures Inns 

Her invitation broad

To whosoever famishing

To taste her mystic Bread 

These are the rites of Natures House 

The Hospitality

That opens with an equal width

To Beggar and to Bee

For Sureties of her staunch Estate

Her undecaying Cheer

The Purple in the East is set

And in the North, the Star 

She was baptized into the Congregational church as an infant, but never had that quickening of the spirit, the experience of Jesus unique saving grace that allowed her full membership in that orthodox Calvinist congregation. Rather, like so many of us in this Meeting House, she found her salvation in nature and the vast expanses of the human mind. Over the years shes been claimed by many including with some justice our own Unitarian Universalist tradition, our claim to Emily resting on her close association with the Transcendentalist movement. However, she was not strictly speaking a Transcendentalist, as she joined no club or church.

She read Emerson and Thoreau and admired them. Indeed Emerson read her in manuscript, and expressed his own considerable admiration for her thinking as well as her abilities as a poet. Without a doubt she walked in that august crowd of nature mystics at the heart of our way. And, push come to shove, it is hard to describe her theology as anything but Transcendentalist. As I see it.

598

The Brain  is wider than the Sky

For  put them side by side 

The one the other will contain

With ease  and You  beside 

The Brain is deeper than the sea 

For  hold them  Blue to Blue 

The one the other will absorb 

As Sponges  Buckets  do 

The Brain is just the weight of God 

For  Heft them  Pound for Pound 

And they will differ  if they do 

As Syllable from Sound 

Here I feel we find common ground not only with her as a Transcendentalist and therefore a more or less direct spiritual ancestor of ours, but also as a living exemplar of our peculiar, mysterious and beautiful contemporary spirituality.

Here is, I think, the secret of an authentic spiritual way. Our human body, our human mind, if we allow it full, thinking and feeling, its simple mysterious presence; is all we need to know that which saves, that which heals, that which can be called holy. You and I are the gates of the divine. Our eyes the eyes with which God sees. Our hands Gods opportunity to act in this world. You and me, poor, incomplete, stumbling, foolish and grasping, we are the hope of the world. Emily sings that hope, and we, at our best are living it.

Emilys way into that hope is through fierce honesty. And in doing so she transforms the small into the great, you and me from our foolishness into our sacred potential. Another commentator on Emilys way, Krystyna Grocolski, suggests that fierce honesty is part of her spiritual tool-kit, which also included Self-analysis, self-discipline, and self-critique (as) the tools of her search. All of which we should attend to, so I repeat them: honesty, self-analysis, self-discipline and self-criticism. Here Emily shows us how we can engage in our own search for our true heritage, our natural home. I say this because I believe she found it for herself and points to it for us. Listen to how she deals with death and life, loss and longing, and the whole great mess, the dark and the light intertwining.

355

It was not Death, for I stood up,

And all the dead lie down 

It was not Night, for all the bells

Put out their Tongues for Noon.

It was not Frost, for on my Flesh

I felt Siroccos  crawl 

Nor Fire  for just my marble feet

Could keep a Chancel, cool.

And yet it tasted like them all,

The Figures I have seen

Set orderly for Burial,

Reminded me of mine 

As if my life were shaven

And fitted to a frame,

And could not breathe without a key;

And twas like Midnight, some 

When everything that ticked  has stopped

And space stares  all around 

Or grisly frosts  first Autumn morns,

Repeal the Beating Ground 

But most like Chaos  stopless  cool 

Without a chance, or spar 

Or even a Report of Land 

To justify  Despair.

As Emily sings to us,

Not Revelation  tis  that waits,

But our unfurnished eyes 

I have no doubt Emily found those unfurnished eyes. And because of that she can be our teacher on our own quest. This is a quest for the authentic, for the real, for the sacred ordinary.

Her last written words appear to be in a note composed just before she slipped into a terminal coma: Called back. I suggest her whole life was a calling back to our true home, calling back to our true joy. And, dear sister Emily, our teacher calls us back, calls us over the ages and generations to that same home, that same joy.

May each of us seek it.

And may each of us find it.
News / National

by Simbarashe Sithole

He was born in 1923 in Gutu, Zimbabwe.

He was ordained as a pastor in 1958.

He founded the Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa in 1968.

He has written over 100 books.

He has been married to his wife, Edna, for over 60 years.

He has four children and several grandchildren.

Ezekiel Guti, the founder of the Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa (Zaoga) church, turned 100 years old on May 14, 2023. He celebrated his birthday in style, with thousands of congregants gathered at the church's headquarters in Harare to mark the occasion.President Emmerson Mnangagwa and leaders of other Christian denominations were also in attendance to celebrate Guti's birthday. Mnangagwa praised Guti for being one of the country's most celebrated pioneers of indigenous Pentecostal evangelism. He also said that Guti had played a significant role in nation-building and had earned the highest honor that Zimbabwe can bestow on its citizens, the Order of the Star of Zimbabwe Gold.Guti is a well-respected figure in Zimbabwe and his church has a large following across the country. He is known for his fiery preaching and his commitment to helping the poor and marginalized. He has also been a vocal critic of corruption and injustice.In his birthday message, Guti thanked God for his long life and for the many blessings he has received. He also urged his followers to continue to pray for Zimbabwe and to work for peace and unity.Guti is a living testimony of God's faithfulness and his birthday is a reminder of the power of prayer. He is an inspiration to many and his legacy will continue to be felt for many years to come.Here are some additional details about Ezekiel Guti:Guti is a man of great faith and compassion. He has dedicated his life to serving God and helping others. He is a true inspiration to all who know him.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said the good news that the International Monitory Fund (IMF) board is set to approve Ghanas programme positions the country for accelerated economic and move towards the path of development.



The sacrifices that the country had to make since last year, the difficulties it may be that at long last, we are going to see the recovery because, with the approval of the IMF, we are then in a strong position to do other arrangements that will help our economy get back into a strong place, he added.



President Akufo-Addo stated this when the Catholic Bishops Conference paid a courtesy call on him at the Jubilee House in Accra Friday (May 12, 2023).



The IMF is set to approve Ghana's US$3billion programme by May 19, 2023, after the country received financial assurances from its external creditors.



President Akufo-Addo told the Bishops that today is a special day in the recent history of Ghana. At long last, after our various issues with the IMF, today, we are informed that the last hurdle towards our agreement with the fund has been overcome.



He explained that the Paris Club met today and formed the credit committee, co-chaired by China, and had okayed and approved Ghanas request, adding that and, in fact, put very strong word behind the approval. So it is fortuitous that you [Bishops] should be here on such a date.



He described the announcement as good news, which meant that hopefully, next Wednesday, the board itself would meet and give a final agreement to Ghanas demand.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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Papua New Guinea's foreign minister has quit after a controversy over spending on the country's official delegation at King Charles III's coronation.



Justin Tkatchenko travelled with his daughter Savannah, who posted a TikTok showing her first-class plane journey and shopping spree in Singapore.



On Wednesday, he branded her critics "primitive animals".



Mr Tkatchenko's comments sparked protests in the capital Port Moresby on Friday outside Parliament House.



Papua New Guinea is a Commonwealth nation in the Pacific which has King Charles as its head of state.



In a statement on Friday, Mr Tkatchenko said he "stood aside" after consulting with Prime Minister James Marape.



He added that he wanted to ensure recent events did not interfere with upcoming official visits by US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.



"I also want to ensure the truth of this matter is cleared and the misinformation and lies are corrected," he said.



Mr Tkatchenko and his daughter were criticised for travelling with at least 10 officials to see the coronation of King Charles, at a cost of almost $900,000, according to local newspaper Post-Courier.



Government spokesman Bill Toraso confirmed to the Reuters news agency 10 of its staff had travelled to London, alongside 10 guests.



In the since-deleted video, Savannah filmed her visit to luxury fashion stores in Singapore and her meal in the "stunning" first-class lounge on her way to London.



This prompted anger in Papua New Guinea, where some argued that public money would have been better spent on basic services.



Mr Tkatchenko blasted his daughter's critics in an interview with Australia's ABC.



"She's absolutely traumatised by these primitive animals," he said. "I call them primitive animals because they are."



"Jealousy is a curse. And, you know, these people clearly show that they have got nothing to do in their lives other than to put down people that want to do something good for their country."



He later apologised about his comments, which he said had been "taken the completely wrong way".



He added they were targeted only at individuals who had made "disgusting and vile comments" about his daughter, including "sexual and violent" threats.



Prime Minister James Marape asked Papua New Guineans to accept Mr Tkatchenko's apology, saying in a statement he too had been offended by the remarks.

Source: BBC









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A swift intervention by an Immigration Officer, AICOII Nuredeen Abdul Ganiyu, stationed at Western North Regional immigration Office, saved two police officers who would have met their death at the hands of a mentally retarded man in the Western North Regional Capital of Sefwi-Wiawso last Saturday, May 13, 2023.



The two Police Officers were reportedly subdued by the mentally retarded man who was said to have attacked worshippers from a Prayer Camp with a knife, catapult and pestle on the streets of Sefwi-Wiawso, the Regional Capital.



According to UTV News correspondent, Kwabena Dickson, the 'mad' man was chained at a Prayer Camp near Sefwi Ewiase, a small farming community near the regional capital.



But when he had the opportunity and broke free from the chains, he hit the streets and stabbed two persons.



The attack by the mentally retarded man, induced fear in the public.



The Police then recieved a distress call to come to their rescue, but upon reaching the scene, the two Police Officers were unsuccessful in their attempts to arrest him.



The mentally retarded man who was wielding a sharp knife, a catapult and a pestle locally call ' W)ma' upon seeing the plans of the police officers to get him arrested, angrily stated moved straight towards the officers and started attacking the two police officers.



Even though the officers were holding an AK 47 rifle but decided not to shoot due to the crowded nature of the scenario, and rather attempted to use their professional experience to effect the arrest.



In the process, the mentally retarded man violently attacked the Inspector first by hitting him with the Pestle leaving him unconscious on the ground.



Per UTV correspondent, Kwabena Dickson's investigation, the Immigration officer, AlCOIl Nurideen Abdul Ganiyu, who was returning home from official duties, chanced upon the scene at the Anglican Church park.



According to an eye witness account, the Immigration Officer noticed the unconcious state of the police Inspector and a Corporal under attack with AK-47 Rifle lying on the ground. The mentally retarded man then hit the Corporal on the head with the same Pestle; just like he did to the Inspector.



With both officers on the ground and onlookers scared to get closer to assist, the mentally retarded man made an attempt to pick the AK 47 rifle to cause more trouble.



Witnesses further recounted to UTV's Western North Regional Correspondent that the Immigration Officer, Mr Nuredeen acted quickly by picking the AK 47 Rifle before the 'mad' man could get to it.



The action of the Immigration Officer angered the 'mad' man and walked violently towards AICOII Nuredeen Abdul Ganiyu with the pestle.



But upon sensing danger, according to the onlookers, the Immigration Officer fired a warning shot but it did not scare the 'mad' man and kept moving towards the Immigration Officer trying to use the pestle to hit him.



But the Immigration Officer with his experience and proffesionalism exhibited extreme caution under attack because of the crowd of onlookers and managed to run backwards whiles the angry 'mad' man walked towards him. Having moved a couple of metres away from the crowd, he fired a shot at the right thigh of his attacker, disarming him in the process.



Witnesses described the scene as a typical action movie.



The items retrieveed from the attacker included the sharp knife he used to stab the two people, a locally manufactured catapult and the Pestle which he used to attack the two Police Officers.



The two Police Officers and the mentally retarded man were taken to the Sefwi-Wiawso government Hospital.



A formal report has been made and the Police AK-47 rifle handed over to the Sefwi Wiawso District police for further action.



Meanwhile, the police have started their investigations by extending invitation to the family of the mentally retarded man and the Head of the Prayer Camp near Sefwi Ewiase.

Source: Kwabena Dickson/ Western North Regional Correspondent, UTV









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Director of the United States Department of Justices Access to Justice Office, Rachel Rossi joined by the Chairman of the Ghana Legal Aid Commission, Supreme Court Justice Lord Nene Abayaateye Ofoe Amegatcher, Attorney General Honorable Godfred Yeboah Dame, and Acting Executive Director of the Ghana Legal Aid Commission, Ellen A. Sweetie Sowa has officially launched Ghanas Public Defenders Division (PDD).



The PDD will provide legal assistance and criminal defense services for Ghanaians accused of crimes they cannot otherwise afford legal representation.



In 2018, Ghanas Parliament created the PDD under the Ghana Legal Aid Commission (LAC). With technical assistance from the U.S. Department of Justices Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance & Training (OPDAT), LAC has increased representation in criminal cases in Ghana by more than 40 percent in each of the last two years.



Last month, the United States handed over 54 laptops funded by the Department of States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement to LAC to assist in its mission.



We are grateful for the support of our High Court Justices for appointing us in appropriate cases as the law requires, said PDD Acting Director Nelson Kporha.



We also thank our American partners both for promoting the capacity of the Public Defenders Division to represent qualified accused in general, and for helping us to officially launch the PDD in particular.



"The launch is a crucial next step in ensuring access to justice for all Ghanaians. The PDD will provide legal defense to indigent and otherwise needy defendants in serious criminal cases in Ghana".



The U.S. Government supports access to justice across Ghana, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).



Government has trained more than 1,500 staff from government agencies to use Ghanas case tracking system, which provides updated information on pending cases. USAID has also helped increase public awareness of legal aid and Alternative Dispute Resolution services, reaching more than five million citizens, especially poor and indigent people, in targeted districts.



With continued support from the U.S. Department of Justice, through the U.S. Embassy, the PDD will continue to seek annual increases in the number of criminal representations of those who cannot afford private counsel, giving effect to the mandates of the 2018 Legal Aid Commission Act.

Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline/[email protected]









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A 29-year-old YouTuber has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge after he destroyed the wreckage of a plane he purposefully crashed to gain views on YouTube, the US Justice Department announced.



Trevor Daniel Jacob admitted to Federal authorities he planned to crash his plane in a video he made to promote a wallet. He later collected the aircrafts wreckage and got rid of it to hinder federal investigators from probing the crash site, according to a news release from the US Attorneys Office for the Central District of California.



Jacob, a pilot and skydiver, agreed to plead guilty to one count of destruction and concealment with the intent to obstruct a federal investigation, the release said.





The flight took place on November 24, 2021. Jacob departed from Lompoc City Airport, in Santa Barbara County, but he never intended to land the aircraft, he admitted in the plea agreement.



Instead, he planned to eject from his aircraft during the flight and video himself parachuting to the ground and the airplane as it descended and crashed, according to the statement.





Authorities said Jacob had put up several cameras in different parts of the plane and took with him a parachute, video camera and selfie stick.



Approximately 35 minutes after taking off, while flying above the Los Padres National Forest near Santa Maria, Jacob ejected from the airplane and videoed himself parachuting to the ground, the statement added.



After parachuting to the ground and recording the crash, he hiked to the wreck and took the video data of the crash with him, according to the release.



The YouTuber reported the crash to the National Transportation Safety Board two days later and agreed to share the site of the wreck with the agency. But he instead lied to authorities that he did not know where the crash site was and roughly two weeks later, flew to the site with a friend, loaded up the plane wreckage and later destroyed it, according to the release, which cites the plea agreement.





Roughly a month after the wreck, he uploaded a video on YouTube called I Crashed My Airplane, showing the crash and Jacob parachuting from the plane.



His fans on YouTube were suspicious of the stunt, with a number of comments pointing out Jacob was already wearing a parachute, made no attempt to glide the aircraft to a safe landing area, and took his camera and selfie stick with him when abandoning the plane.



Jacob admitted in his plea agreement that he intended to make money through the video, the release added.



He also admitted to lying to federal investigators after submitting an aircraft accident incident report and falsely claimed the plane fully lost power roughly half an hour after takeoff, the news release said.



Jacob also lied to (a Federal Aviation Administration) aviation safety inspector when he said the airplanes engine had quit and, because he could not identify any safe landing options, he had parachuted out of the plane, it added.



Following the stunt, the FAA revoked Jacobs pilot license last year, according to the release. He will appear in court in the coming weeks.



The case continues.



Watch the video below

Trevor Daniel Jacob, a 29-year-old YouTuber who intentionally crashed his airplane while pretending it was an unavoidable accident, has pleaded guilty to federal charges and faces 20 years in prison. pic.twitter.com/QzlNAROu4q  Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) May 12, 2023















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Dr Kwabena Duffuor Jnr has called for an immediate recount of the ballot papers after earlier results did not go in his favour.



Reports from his constituency, Sekyere Afram Plains indicate that he lost by nine (9) votes.



Provisional results put Duffuor Jnr in second position with contender Hajia Nasira declared winner after she garnered 211 votes while Dr Duffour garnered 203 votes.



Incumbent Dr Adomako who is also an uncle of Dr Duffuor jnr polled 86 votes with Edward Brenya gaining 65 of the vote cast.



With a slim margin of defeat, it is believed that the camp of Duffuor jnr is displeased with the counting and has thus called for a recount of the papers.



Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Former NDC lawmaker for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini has described as unfortunate the excessive vote buying in mainstream Ghana politics.



He said the act is making elections in Ghana unattractive, adding that if this is not curb, only the rich can successfully win elections.



Mr Fuseini was discussing the aftermath of his partys just-ended presidential and parliamentary primaries on NEAT FMs morning show, Ghana Montie.



He strongly condemned any recorded form of voting buying during his partys internal election and hoped the act will not be repeated in subsequent elections.



We have to eradicate that, he told host McJerry Osei Agyeman this morning, Monday, May 15, 2023.





Listen to interview





Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









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Head of Psychology at the University of Ghana, Professor Joseph Osafo has commended the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over their Presidential and Parliamentary primaries over the weekend.



The NDC had a successful primaries held at the various constituencies across the country, electing their Presidential candidate and Parliamentary aspirants for the 2024 elections.



Sixteen (16) sitting Members of Parliament of the party lost their seats.



The party delegates elected former President John Dramani Mahama as their flagbearer to lead them into the next elections.



Mr. John Mahama won the Presidential primaries in a landslide victory by polling an overwhelming 297,603 votes representing 98.9% of the total valid votes cast at the end of the NDC primaries on Saturday.



His closest contender, the former Kumasi Mayor Kojo Bonsu, polled a paltry 3,181 representing 1.1% and the other contender in the race, former Finance Minister in the Mills regime, Kwabena Duffour, pulled out on Friday.



Professor Joseph Osafo, speaking on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", congratulated the party and believed they choosing the former President is the best.



According to him, the party knows the marketable candidate to give the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) a run for their money in the 2024 elections is Mr. John Mahama.



"He is the best person that the party can market to Ghanaians with ease. He's done it before. We know him and have seen his works before . . . So, if you are marketing him, it will be a wise decision from a marketing-political perspective," he said.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Following their impressive wins at the 24th edition of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMAs), Black Sherif and Worlasi visited the senior management of Vodafone Ghana to express their gratitude for the company's continued support of the Ghanaian music industry.



Black Sherif, who was honoured with the coveted Artist of the Year award, also took home accolades for the most popular song of the year, collaboration of the year, the best hip-hop song of the year, and best music video. Reflecting on the impact of these awards, Sherif stated, After the show I had friends reaching out to congratulate me and I realised how huge this was. Im so grateful for the support and recognition. His outstanding performance on the night reinforced his reputation as one of Ghana's most exciting rising talents.



The Vodafone Green Award was bestowed on Worlasi, acknowledging his contributions to environmental awareness and sustainability. Worlasi, recognised for his tree-planting initiative aimed at greening Darkuman Nyamekye and other parts of Accra, said, Vodafone's recognition of this project will go a long way in spreading awareness for individuals to start planting trees across Ghana. Vodafone Ghana has lauded this initiative, aligning with its commitment to promoting sustainable development and supporting environmental causes.



For the past 12 years, Vodafone Ghana has been an integral partner of the VGMAs, having a considerable impact on the growth of the Ghanaian music industry. Thanks to their backing, the VGMAs have blossomed into one of Africa's most esteemed music awards events, shining a global spotlight on the best of Ghanaian music.



Patricia Obo-Nai, CEO of Vodafone Ghana, reflected on the success of the VGMAs and the role her company has played. She offered hearty congratulations to Black Sherif and Worlasi for their well-earned awards and commended their dedication to their craft and positive community impact.



The recognition of Black Sherif and Worlasi underscores the immense talent and creativity thriving in Ghana's music industry. Vodafone Ghana's sustained backing of the VGMAs, coupled with their support for sustainable development and environmental initiatives, signifies their commitment to fostering a positive impact within Ghana and beyond.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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News / Press Release

by Staff Reporter

The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) has launched a two-month nationwide peace campaign ahead of Zimbabwe's harmonized elections in August.The campaign, which is being funded by the Treasury, will focus on raising awareness of the importance of peace and tolerance, as well as conflict prevention.The NPRC has already held meetings with traditional leaders, the police, religious leaders, and other independent commissions in three districts in Matabeleland South province.The Commission's spokesperson, Mr Obert Gutu, said the NPRC is particularly keen on spreading the message of peace and tolerance during this election season."We are calling upon political parties and their supporters to always engage in peaceful and non-violent campaigns," he said. "We are also calling upon all Zimbabweans to be tolerant of divergent political views and opinions."The NPRC is targeting all groups of people, including women and the youth, in its peace campaign."The youth are particularly relevant for targeting, especially concerning the issue of peaceful political campaigns simply because the majority of political parties' campaign foot soldiers consist of young people," said Mr Gutu.The NPRC is planning to cover all 10 provinces of Zimbabwe in its peace campaign."We are going to be in Matabeleland North province next week. Our teams will also be covering Bulawayo Metropolitan Province before the end of the month. In fact, we are targeting to cover the whole country between the months of May and June," said Mr Gutu.The NPRC is committed to ensuring a peaceful election in Zimbabwe."We are very grateful to the national Treasury for allocating and releasing financial resources to enable us to effectively undertake our peace-building mandate and duties," said Mr Gutu.
Mona Faiz Montrage popularly known as 'Hajia 4 Real' has been charged for her alleged involvement in romance scheme and also receiving over $2 Million in fraud proceeds and pretended to marry one victim to further the fraud scheme.



Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced the unsealing of a six-count Indictment charging MONA FAIZ MONTRAGE for her role in a series of romance schemes and for laundering the proceeds of those schemes. MONTRAGE was arrested in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2022, and was extradited from the United Kingdom on May 12, 2023.



MONTRAGE will be presented before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty, to whom the case is assigned, later today.



Read attached her full charges

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Read Full Story .... Justice.gov >>> :









Source: Peacefmonline.com









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A New Cumberland resident shot someone who tried to break into their home Sunday evening, police said.

The break-in and shooting happened around 8:15 p.m. on the 300 block of Second Street, according to New Cumberland police.

Police said the suspected burglar fled the scene and was found near Sixteenth and Bridge streets. They were taken to a hospital for treatment.

No arrests have been announced as of Monday. Police said the investigation is ongoing, but the burglary did not appear to be random.

READ MORE: Ellen Greenberg died by suicide with 20 stab wounds. Her parents are out to prove thats impossible

Appalachian Trail camp areas closed after reports of aggressive bear behavior
By BRUCE SCHREINER, Associated Press

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)  Off-year elections on Tuesday in Kentucky and Pennsylvania could send early signals about the mood of voters ahead of next years races for the White House and Congress.

A special legislative race in the Philadelphia suburbs could determine whether Democrats retain a one-vote majority in Pennsylvanias House of Representatives, and the outcome could demonstrate how voters are feeling in a crucial region of a swing presidential state. Both parties will choose nominees for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and Philadelphia voters will cast ballots in mayoral primaries.

The Kentucky governors race is a table-setter for what should be a bruising general election contest. Republican voters will settle on a nominee to challenge incumbent Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who has enjoyed high approval ratings but will have to fend off a GOP challenge in a state Republicans usually dominate. Two candidates with ties to former President Donald Trump are contenders in a 12-candidate field.

RELATED: Voters guide: Meet Pa.s 2023 primary election candidates

What to watch in Tuesdays primaries:

PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE ON THE LINE

Special legislative elections could determine if Democrats remain in control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

They won a one-seat majority in November after 12 years. On Tuesday, voters will fill two empty seats, with most of the attention focused on a seat in Philadelphias suburbs left vacant by a Democrat who resigned. The contest pits Democrat Heather Boyd, a former legislative and congressional aide, against Republican Katie Ford, a military veteran, school volunteer and behavioral therapist.

Control of the House will affect how partisan measures are handled, from abortion rights, gun rights and election law to the coming years budget, which will be lawmakers focus through June.

PHILADELPHIA MAYOR

In heavily Democratic Philadelphia, voters will likely choose the next mayor of the nations sixth most-populous city from a crowded field of candidates in Tuesdays primary. The election comes as the city faces upticks in gun violence and safety concerns.

Five frontrunner candidates including former city council members, former city officials and a grocery store franchiser, have sought to differentiate themselves in a tight contest.

They are vying to replace Mayor Jim Kenney, a Democrat who is term-limited. The winner will go up against the lone Republican candidate, David Oh, a former city council member, in November.

KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS PICK A CHALLENGER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRAT

A fierce Republican primary for governor comes to a head in red-leaning Kentucky, where a flurry of attacks has overshadowed candidates plans for governing.

Attorney General Daniel Cameron turned away from a bid for reelection to run for governor, a race many Republicans think is ripe for the taking, but the primary campaign has been unexpectedly feisty. Cameron snagged the campaigns biggest endorsement from Trump and touted his legal fights defending Kentuckys anti-abortion laws, all the while challenging policy decisions by Beshear and working to tie him to President Joe Bidens administration.

With a primary win, Cameron would become the states first Black nominee for governor by either major political party.

His main rival, Kelly Craft, mounted an aggressive campaign backed by her familys fortune. Craft pointed to her experience as ambassador to Canada and later at the United Nations during Trumps presidency. She touts her ties with government and business leaders, which she says would benefit Kentucky.

The campaign escalated into a slugfest between the Craft and Cameron camps. A pro-Craft group ridiculed Cameron as an establishment teddy bear. Cameron backers criticized Crafts tenure as ambassador.

Another GOP gubernatorial contender, state Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, stayed out of the fray, hoping to win over Republican voters turned off by the attacks.

As the campaign entered the stretch run, Craft had loaned her campaign more than $9 million. She was on the air for months before Cameron and Quarles ran TV ads. Cameron got a boost from a well-financed outside group.

Beshear, expected to cruise through the primary over two nominal opponents, looks to draw on his familys political brand to counter the states GOP tilt. He was attorney general four years ago when he defeated then-Republican Gov. Matt Bevin. Before Bevins single term, Steve Beshear, the current governors father, served two terms as governor.

Andy Beshear has presided over record economic growth. His term also has been marked by a series of crises  the pandemic, tornadoes, flooding and a mass shooting that killed one of his closest friends. He has received consistently high voter approval ratings, in part by settling into a role as the states consoler-in-chief.

INCUMBENT SECRETARY OF STATE FACES REMATCH WITH ELECTION DENIER

Republican incumbent Michael Adams will face two challengers in the GOP primary for Kentucky secretary of state, including a former opponent who has raised his profile by denying election victories by Democrats.

Adams, a lawyer, has worked with Beshear across party lines on election reform and soundly defeated challenger Steve Knipper in the GOP primary four years ago. Knipper is back for another run along with a third Republican, Allen Maricle, a former state representative and TV executive. The winner will face Democrat Buddy Wheatley, a former legislator who narrowly lost reelection.

Other statewide offices also are on the ballot.

___

Associated Press writers Marc Levy, Brooke Schultz and Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pa., contributed to this report.
What a wonderful thing to be recognized for!

This county in Pennsylvania has been deemed the states most generous.

SmartAsset  an online destination for consumer-focused financial information and advice that powers SmartAdvisor, a national marketplace connecting consumers to financial advisors  found the counties in each state with the most altruistic tendencies.

According to the studys press release, SmartAsset researchers were able to do this by by calculating the percentage of charitable donations people made against their net income, and averaging the resulting number out by area.

The Keystone State county which topped the list was Montgomery, with people donating an average 2.20 percent of their total net income to a charitable cause.

Charity is not a synonym alien to Pennsylvania: A 2022 WalletHubs study ranked it among the top 10 most charitable states in the country, giving it the seventh overall spot. This is a particular point of pride especially when you consider that CNN Money ranked Pennsylvania among the least charitable states  down toward the bottom in the 39th overall  a number of years back.

Other counties that made it into the states top 10 most charitable were:

Chester County (second)

Delaware County (third)

Bucks County (fourth)

Lancaster County (fifth)

Philadelphia County (sixth)

Centre County (seventh)

Butler County (eighth)

Allegheny County (ninth)

Cumberland County (10th)

SmartAsset left off the least charitable counties in Pennsylvania off of the news release, so whoever you are  youre off the hook.
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Dauphin County Tech students walk a red carpet and pose for photos at their 2023 prom Friday at the Red Lion Inn. (Photo by Mark Pynes, PennLive.com)Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com
Virginia Siegrist of Ephrata got a case of sticker shock when looking around for a veterinarian to neuter her 2-year-old mixed-breed dog, Hemi.

Then a friend told her about someone he knew who performed low-cost surgeries in the area and he offered to pay for it.

So, on his recommendation she brought Hemi to a barn on Hahnstown Rd. where she encountered a line of cars waiting for appointments.

Two men came out with syringes to administer what they said was a sedative, Siegrist said, and brought him into the barn. Hemi was returned 20 minutes later, but it wasnt till she got home that Siegrist knew something was very wrong. Hemi was bleeding profusely. The blood saturated a comforter and seeped through to the carpet of her car.

She and her husband used diapers and a roll of paper towels to try to stop the bleeding without success. At the same time Hemis gums were turning white, Siegrist said. They rushed Hemi to an emergency vet where the medical staff saved his life.

Now, John R. Martin, of Ephrata, is facing felony aggravated animal cruelty charges for performing surgery on a dog without a veterinary license, according to authorities.

Doctors at the Pet Emergency Treatment and Specialties clinic determined the surgery site had not been cleaned or clipped, and that ligation to the cords was not performed, causing the bleeding, court documents said.

Hemi was later taken to Smoketown Veterinary Hospital for surgery to correct the botched neutering, Siegrist said. Veterinarians at both clinics concluded the castration was likely not performed by a licensed vet and reported the incident to humane officers, according to the documents.

Siegrist could provide no veterinary documentation related to the castration, the documents said.

Humane officers with the Pennsylvania SPCA on May 3 executed a search warrant on the property and removed evidence but no animals, officials there said.

The PSPCA said charges against Martin are pending and that he could face prison time.

It is clear that the individual in question is not only taking advantage of pet owners seeking affordable veterinary options but is also putting pets in imminent danger, said Julie Klim, the PSPCAs CEO. We are lucky in this case that the owner sought emergency care for her pet, but we may not be able to say the same for others who used this service. This is what we are hoping to uncover.

Nicole Wilson, director of humane law enforcement for the PSPCA, said its not uncommon to see individuals performing veterinary procedures without a license, but that its usually cosmetic procedures.

Weve seen a number of cases in Philadelphia of an individual cropping ears or docking tails. Thats a more common procedure as fewer vets are willing to to do those cosmetic procedures, she said. Its been a long time since weve seen someone offering up surgical procedures like neutering.

A 2009 law made it illegal for non-veterinarians in Pennsylvania to crop a dogs ears, dock their tails or cut their vocal cords to debark them.

Siegrist said she does not know how much her friend paid for the botched neuter surgery, but the bill to fix it topped $2,300 - and that was with a discount from Smoketown hospital.

The medical staff there gave him a big welcome Monday when he came in for his final appointment and they removed the dreaded neck cone. His recovery is all done. He got a clean bill of health, Siegrist said. Hes back to being the energizer bunny.

The PSPCA wants any individuals who may have had veterinary procedures performed by Martin on their dogs or horses to contact their cruelty department at 866-601-7722 or cruelty@pspca.org.

Wilson said if a pet owner has questions about whether a veterinarian is licensed in Pennsylvania they should visit the state licensure online search.
Crews are clearing the scene of a Sunday evening fire that damaged a home in Lower Paxton Township.

Lower Paxton Township fire units were dispatched to the 6100 block of Nassau Road at 8:42 p.m. after reports of a residential structure fire. When crews arrived, they saw that flames had engulfed the left half of the two-story home, according to Brett Graham, deputy fire chief.

Graham said the fire started from the outside of the home and moved inside, damaging the garage and a room.

Theres pretty much smoke damage throughout the home, but the bulk of the fire story would be on the left-hand side, said Graham.

Two children and two adults who lived inside the home were able to evacuate, he said. No injuries were reported.

Crews from several departments were able to get the fire under control within 20 minutes, he said. Those included Linglestown Fire Company, Colonial Park Fire Company, Paxtonia Fire Co, Progress Fire Company Station 32, West Hanover Township Fire Company Station 1, and Hershey rescue.

There is no word yet on what caused the fire.

More:

Fire damages Vietnamese restaurant in Hampden Twp.
A man is in custody after stealing a military vehicle from a residential Maryland neighborhood and leading officers on a highway pursuit into downtown Baltimore.

Police were dispatched to the 900 block of Rock Spring Road in Bel Air, Maryland, at 6:35 p.m. Friday after a report that a privately owned 1986 923-A five-ton military vehicle had been stolen, according to the Harford County Sheriffs Office.

The driver, later identified as 38-year-old Michael D. Stevens II, was spotted in the truck entering the town of Bel Air. When Stevens refused to pull over, a multi-agency pursuit ensued.

As Stevens made his way south onto Interstate 95, police made several unsuccessful attempts to stop the vehicle using spike strips.

Crews said Stevens eventually made his way into Baltimore, which is located about 25 miles southwest of Bel Air.

Stevens was captured by crews after bringing the vehicle to a stop and running from the scene.

The sheriffs office said Stevens crashed into several other vehicles, no injuries were reported during the incident.

Stevens had been released from the Hartford County Detention Center just prior to stealing the vehicle, the sheriffs office said.

He was re-booked into the detention center on one count of motor vehicle theft, and two counts each of first-degree and second-degree assault, along with one count of failing to obey a lawful order.

The details of his initial arrest and release were unclear. There was also no word on the circumstances that led up to the theft of the vehicle.

READ MORE:

Shootout leaves man dead, police dog injured

Walmart credit card skimmers sought in Cumberland County: Police
A 30-year old New Brunswick resident was killed after their car left the road and plunged in to Lake Nelson in Piscataway Saturday night, despite rescue efforts by police and a resident.

The crash occurred as the black sedan was traveling north on Metlars Lane, crashed through a guardrail and landed in the lake, a township official said.
With Sofia Carson as their mentor and Disney Night as the theme, the last five contestants on American Idol on ABC performed Sunday, May 14, trying to win Americas vote.

The episode also included a performance by Halle Bailey. Bailey stars in Disneys live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, which will debut in theaters on May 26.

At the end of the episode, host Ryan Seacrest announced the Top 3. They are: Iam Tongi, Megan Danielle and Colin Stough.

American Idol airs on Sundays and Mondays on ABC.

LIVE STREAM: Watch ABC on Watch ABC on fuboTV (free trial)

Iam Tongi performs on "American Idol" on ABC on Sunday, May 14, 2023.ABC

We Ani and Zachariah Smith were eliminated.

We Ani sang Into the Unknown from Frozen II and The Climb from Hannah Montana: The Movie.

Smith selections were I Just Can Wait to be King from The Lion King and Life is a Highway from Cars.

Stough sang Real Gone from Cars and Nobody Knows from Petes Dragon.

Danielle performed You Cant Stop the Girl from Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and Carried Me With You from Onward.

Tongi sang Lava from Lava and Father and Son from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

Tonights episode is called Journey to the Finale. ABC said, Featuring never-before-seen footage of this seasons finalists, this special episode takes a deeper look at the journeys from hometown to Hollywood for this seasons contestants.

The three-hour finale will air on Sunday, May 21.

Judges on American Idol are Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.

Megan Danielle performs on "American Idol" on ABC on Sunday, May 14, 2023.ABC

What is fuboTV?

FuboTV is a streaming service that offers more than 100 live and on-demand channels and includes cloud DVR. FuboTV has a seven-day free trial. Channels include AMC, E!, HGTV, ESPN, NBC Sports, NFL Network, FS1, MSNBC, Food Network, Great American Living, Magnolia Network, Animal Planet, Bravo, FX, CMT, Comedy Central and Hallmark. The Pro plan is $69.99 a month, Elite is $79.99 a month and Ultimate is $99.99 a month. Add-ons include EPIX, Showtime and Starz.
Love and loss, fury and forgiveness are at the heart of Charise Castro Smiths El huracan (The Hurricane), a profoundly insightful and moving play now getting its belated Florida premiere at GableStage.

After a successful world premiere at Yale Repertory Theatre in 2018, El huracan had several other productions, but like nearly everything else in theater, its momentum was disrupted by the pandemic.

But maybe the rough magic referenced in El huracan and William Shakespeares The Tempest, an inspiration for former Miamian Castro Smith, was working overtime to get it to a theater in the playwrights hometown at just the right time with just the right people involved. Certainly, the result is magical and as fine a production as youll see in South Florida all season.

El huracan is a 100-minute play in two parts, with a glamorous Cuban origin story at the beginning and a linking interlude in the middle. It is written in English, but certain words, phrases or speeches are in Spanish. Not a stretch for Miami-area audiences, but the playwright has other characters translate or restate that content.

In the first part, set in 1992, Hurricane Andrew is roaring toward Miami on its path of unfathomable destruction. In the second, 25 years have passed. Some characters have died, only to resurface as spirits; others have been born or matured or now face a frightening future.

When we first meet Valeria (Barbara Bonilla), shes a beautiful up-and-coming magician in pre-revolutionary Cuba, with the handsome Alonso (James Puig) as her assistant (the younger versions of those characters are played by Thais Menendez and Gabriell Salgado).

Then the play shifts to Miami and pre-Andrew urgency, as Valerias middle-aged daughter Ximena (Adriana Sevan) and granddaughter Miranda (Menendez) try to quickly pack Valerias most important things  the items used in her magic act, especially  to keep them safe at Ximenas.

Three things become evident: Alonso, Valerias devoted husband, is nowhere to be found; Ximena and Miranda, a student at Harvard, squabble frequently over their different agendas for Mirandas life; and Valeria is suffering from Alzheimers disease.

Story continues

Frequently, shell have conversations with her long-gone sister Alicia (Emma Garcia Seeger). Now and then, shell put on the top hat from her act, grab a huge bag and announce that shes going out (in the torrential rain) to find Alonso. Ximena diverts Valeria by saying Alonso has gone to the pharmacy and will be back soon; in fact, he left after his wifes diagnosis, unable to bear watching the woman he loved for a lifetime slowly vanish.

Near the end of the first section, as Hurricane Andrew is about to pulverize so much of the world outside Ximenas home, Castro Smith expertly propels the action from lust to tragedy. Miranda and Fernando (Salgado), a neighbors son who was a high school crush, have their own Cuba Libre-fueled hurricane party, one that will have life-changing consequences.

After theyve retired to Mirandas bedroom, Valeria awakens, grabs her hat and bag, and walks out the front door into that peculiar green light that can transform the sky during hurricanes. Hers is the ultimate vanishing act, though she and Alonso surface as spirits unseen by the living after the play jumps to 2017.

Now its Ximena, fierce as ever, who is facing Alzheimers. Her Cuban cousins son Theo (Salgado) is staying with her as he takes the first steps toward forging a life in Miami. Inevitably, he has noticed her memory lapses, agitation and confusion. So an emailed SOS has gone out to Miranda, who left home the day after her grandmothers disappearance. The prodigal daughter returns to her still-furious mother, her own daughter Val (Garcia Seeger) in tow. Expect fireworks and tears.

Castro Smith, coauthor of the Oscar-winning Disney animated movie Encanto, mixes realistic dialogue with evocatively poetic imagery, sometimes crossing into the terrain of magical realism.

One small example, as Alonso is translating what Valeria says in Spanish: As old age floods your mind, hidden away boxes and trunks float to the surface. The things that the river of memory brings back to you sometimes feel random. But they are yours, and theyre home. Love is the only real magic. Although it is sometimes tricky, it is not a trick.

Miami-born director Damaso Rodriguez, who first brought El huracan to the attention of GableStage producing artistic director Bari Newport, has done a superb job of staging a piece with myriad challenges. They include time jumps, characters that are visible to some and invisible to others while making certain that lines spoken in Spanish are contextually clear. And the performances he has helped shape? They are exquisite and tonally cohesive.

Bonilla, seen last season in GableStages Boca, gets a far deeper and more intricate role as Valeria. Now and then, her portrait of a woman in the last stages of Alzheimers is endearing, but as her face goes blank, she becomes utterly heartbreaking.

Sevan played Valeria in the world premiere of El huracan at Yale Rep (and won a critics award for her performance). Her Ximena is a towering achievement, as key to Castro Smiths play as the aging magician Prospero is to The Tempest. Her exhausted, fearful, raging Ximena is an unforgettable portrait of a strong woman shattered by loss and by a disease that would rob her of her memories.

Menendez, who grew up in Miami and is based in Los Angeles, is a beguiling performer who fully inhabits the college-age Miranda (her scenes of drunken flirtation with Salgados Fernando are irresistible). She then transforms before our eyes into a middle-aged woman who is, like her mother before her, now caught between caring for an elder and raising her own daughter.

The self-assured Garcia Seeger, a recent University of Florida grad, impressively meets the challenge of playing three distinct characters. As Alicia, shes a forever-young spirit in a one-piece bathing suit and white swim cap, a source of comfort and guilt to the aging Valeria. As Val, shes lovable and curious about the family she has never met. As the neurologist Dr. Kempler, she is matter-of-fact and professional as she arrives at a diagnosis for Valeria.

As Alonso, Puig has to play notes of adoration and abandonment, defensiveness and the forever-painful realization that leaving when Valeria needed him most was the greatest mistake of his life. He conveys the complexities of his characters actions with a slight nervousness of a man who knows hes doing the wrong thing.

Salgado, who has appeared at many of the regions theaters since making his professional debut as the Creature in Zoetic Stages Frankenstein in 2021, plays two distinct supporting roles in El huracan, but both draw on the young actors comedic ability. His Fernando is a Miami hunk whos a magnet for Miranda. Theo is more serious  indicated by the glasses he wears  and funny as he switches from his Cuban Spanish to the English hes trying to acquire.

Thanks to additional donor support, GableStages budget for El huracan was larger, and it shows. Magician Andre Garre was hired to teach the cast the magic tricks specified in the script, while Jeni Hacker did the brief segments of choreography and intimacy coordination.

Set designer Frank J. Oliva has created Ximenas house as a two-story playing area with walls that, if you look closely, combine old photographs with the imagery of swirling hurricane winds. Jameelah Bailey and Constanza Celci dressed the set and gathered the props that convey place and era.

Lighting designer Blanca Forzan summons a Cuban club with an explosion of brightly colored lights. Sound designer Rodolfo Ortega provides the sudden sounds of Hurricane Andrew, a faint musical underscoring and Frank Sinatra crooning Come Fly With Me. Costume designer Gema Valdes facilitates the plays time travel and provides a beautiful blue halter dress for Valeria, a costume that will link her in youth and the spirit world.

Even before Castro Smiths success with Encanto, she was focusing more on writing for film and television. The movies Oscar (she was co-director as well as co-author) took that career path to a higher level, leaving her far less time for the developmental demands of writing plays and getting them produced.

The point is this: El huracan is a made-for-Miami play. It will resonate here most deeply, and its a thoroughly engaging story being given a great production. It will be at GableStage through May 14  and then poof, like Valeria, it will be gone.

ArtburstMiami.com is a nonprofit source of theater, dance, visual arts, music and performing arts news.

If you go

WHAT: El huracan by Charise Castro Smith

WHERE: GableStage in the Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral Gables

WHEN: 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesday, 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday (additional matinee May 13), through May 14 (streaming version available during regular performances April 21-May 14)

COST: $45-$75 (streaming ticket $27)

INFORMATION: 305-445-1119 or gablestage.org.










Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Lametti and the federal government are expected to introduce bail reform laws to the House of Commons as early as tomorrow. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to leave Monday for a weeklong trip to Asia, where he will make his first official visit to South Korea and attend the G7 leaders' summit in Japan. Trudeau makes his way to a meeting at the United Nations in New York on Thursday, April 27, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
The PokerStars Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) stop at the five-star NagaWorld Integrated Resort in the Kingdom of Cambodia has determined a winner in the 2023 APPT Cambodia $1,500 Main Event. Out of a field of 476 entries, Chao-Ting Cheng and Junnie Pamplona shared the biggest slice of the $623,322 prize pool after cutting a heads-up deal.

It only took 13 hands from there on for Cheng to overcome a small chip deficit and claim the golden shard trophy that had still been up for grabs along with $94,448 for the efforts. Runner-up Pamplona won his seat in a PokerStars LIVE Manila live qualifier for 6,600 Philippine Pesos ($120), which included the tournament entry and hotel package, and made it almost all the way to victory with just one bullet to claim $101,647 for the efforts.

Pamplona narrowly missed a career-best score on the live poker circuit, which he previously set in the 2022 WPT Prime Cambodia $1,100 Main Event right here in the grand ballroom at Naga 1.

Ting-Yi "Eric" Tsai and Hua-Wei Lin also represented Taiwan on the final table, finishing in third and seventh place respectively. Colombia's Jimmy Torres followed up an 18th place in the 2023 EPT Monte-Carlo Main Event with another deep run while on a poker and vacation trip to Asia alongside fellow countryman Mauricio Salazar Sanchez.

Final Result 2023 APPT Cambodia $1,500 Main Event

Place Player Country Prize (in USD) 1 Chao-Ting Cheng Taiwan $94,448* 2 Junnie Pamplona Philippines $101,647* 3 Eric Tsai Taiwan $54,290 4 Jimmy Torres Colombia $42,760 5 Evgenii Nekrasov Russia $33,597 6 Kien Tat Heng Singapore $26,242 7 Hua-Wei Lin Taiwan $19,759 8 Curtis Lim Singapore $13,775 9 Bien Mai Vietnam $10,908

*denotes ICM deal of the final two players

Final Table Group Picture

The final nine players returned to their seats at 1 p.m. local time, and the average stack was very deep, yet it took just six and a half hours to determine a champion. Especially the opening stages brought several all-in showdowns, and the field was already cut down to just four contenders on the first break with the short stack holding 48 big blinds to their name.

Vietnam's Bien Mai, who already had two runner-up finishes and a win to his name in the last two months in the Asia-Pacific region, was the first to bow out. In the third hand of the final table, Mai's king-queen suited flipped versus pocket eights, and Cheng made quads.

Curtis Lim aimed to parlay the same pocket pair into success but Jimmy Torres held up with pocket queens to reduce the field to the final seven in a matter of minutes. Hua-Wei Lin was outflipped by Eric Tsai, and Kien Tat Heng swiftly followed when he ran with jack-nine suited into the pocket kings of Cheng. Evgenii Nekrasov lost a portion of his stack to end up second-best with tens against Pamplona's king-queen.

That wrapped up the first two hours of frantic poker action, and the deep-stacked part of the final table commenced. Tsai pulled ahead of the pack by some margin before a pivotal all-in showdown unfolded. Torres had dropped to a short stack and open-jammed with eight-seven suited, which Tsai called. Pamplona found another premium pair in pocket kings to isolate, and Tsai folded as Pamplona soared to the top of the leaderboard.

Junnie Pamplona and Jimmy Torres

Cheng was on the verge of becoming the third-place finisher after his stack plummeted to a mere 12 big blinds. However, he doubled back into contention through Pamplona and chipped up. The inevitable clash between both contenders from Taiwan then followed in which Cheng's ace-queen rivered a flush to crack the pocket queens of Tsai.

Ten hands into heads-up play, Cheng's pocket queens secured a large double against the flopped top pair of Pamplona, and it was all over three hands later. Pamplona slow-played pocket aces in the big blind with a min-raise, and Cheng flopped quads to lock up the victory.

That concludes the PokerNews live reporting from here in Cambodia. The next APPT stop is already scheduled for late in July and early August at the PokerStars LIVE poker room at Okada Manila.
Adam Godley as Darwin Perry and Kieran Culkin as Roman Roy in season 4, episode 8 of Succession

Adam Godley as Darwin Perry and Kieran Culkin as Roman Roy in season 4, episode 8 of <em>Succession</em>. Credit - HBO

This article is part of The D.C. Brief, TIMEs politics newsletter. Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox.

Spoiler alert: This article discusses details of Succession season 4, episode 8.

There are moments when its not clear where the truth ends and pop culture begins. Such was the case with Gerald Fords struggles with stairs that gave way to Saturday Night Lives merciless mockery of him as a klutz, the same shows devastating derision of Sarah Palins stint as the Republican Partys nominee for the vice presidency as a half-wit, or even current President Joe Bidens struggles with his age. Once the thesis is imprinted on a culture, its tough to scrub it. By the end of the 2008 campaign, it mattered not one blip that Palin never actually said she could see Russia from her house; it will invariably be among the first paragraphs of her obituary many years hence.

Which is why the most recent episode of HBOs Succession, called America Decides, hit way too close to home for those of us steeped in the 2016 and 2020 elections. Set in a fictionalized Fox News media environment on election night, the conservative elements in the fictional networks ownership and leadership rushed to help the bid of a far-right presidential candidate promising them favorable regulation by declaring him the winner of Wisconsin while the outcome remained in doubt. With that swing state under his belt, the neo-fascist-lite candidate was able to soon claim victory after winning Arizona. Put plainly: Once the Chyron is loaded, not much else matters.

If all of this sounds vaguely familiar, good. Trump, after all, did something similar during his 2020 campaign. We dont want them to find any ballots at 4 oclock in the morning and add them to the list, Trump told supporters the morning after Election Day. In the fictionalized world of HBO, that was also the argument being put forward by the stand-in Trumpist, a figure who inspired alleged violence, whose victory speech sounded a whole lot like one we heard before, and whose support of autocracy flies in the face of every post-World War II instinct.

Story continues

The appointment-viewing hour blended the real world realpolitik inside the executives communications at Fox Newsnow known, thanks to legal filing that showed the networks brass are often at odds with its most popular personalitieswith the minority desire in the ranks of the newsroom brass to play it straight. All the while, the network watched its power fade and clout grow dull while rising brands to the right claimed their ownership of the new Republican Party.

Its not always clear when art imitates life, or vice versa. It may not even matter, especially if its a race to the bottom, as was the case as Veep chased more outrageous stories only to be topped by the real-world Trump era. What is often missed in these fictionalized moments, though, is this: the symbiotic relationship between the two often brings out the worst in each.

The United States remains a deeply polarized nation, so much so that the script for Succession has no trouble turning a discussion of the potentially criminal torching of ballots in Wisconsin into a partisan shouting match. That the outcome of the next election turning on such vagaries feels plausible is part of what made the episode feel like an hour-long anxiety attack for many. The right and wrong matter less than the blame.

But readers would do well to realize this is a hyper-fictionalized portrayal that ignores how the real world works. A single network calling a race wouldnt mean much if the rest of the media establishment insisted it was too soon to call, just as Fox News infamously early call of Arizona for Joe Biden in 2020 was not celebrated by Democrats until other outlets echoed that sentiment. (Nowhere Ive ever worked would turn aside millions of dollars in sophisticated data modeling, polling, and shoe-leather reporting based on a billionaire heirs whims.)

Succession has always been the perfect approximation of the Sunday Scaries, one last HBO-scripted freak-out before a new week begins and the escapism to the fictionalized lives of Americas top 1% of the One Percenters set. The characters lack moral compasses, but thats not to say theyre immoral. Rather, they are more amoralmuch like a former President who views the world in a transactional light rather than one of rights and wrongs, and who refuses to exit the stage. In that cultural familiarity, deep anxiety finds its feeding.

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House Oversight Committee Chair Rep. James Comer (R-KY) claimed to have a Biden corruption informant, but he lost the informant like a set of car keys and now cant find him.

Video:

Comer was asked about the Biden corruption informant on Fox and said, Well, unfortunately, we cant track down the informant. Were hopeful that the informant is still there. The whistleblower knows the informant, the whistleblower is very credible. And all were asking the FBI with respect to the form 1023 is what did you do to the investigate this allegation? And they send us back a very patronizing letter basically saying just trust us and dont worry about it.

Rep. Comer immediately tries to change the subject and doesnt want to talk about how he and his staff lost the supposed informant that is the backbone of their claim that President Biden is has engaged in pay to play scandal.

Oversight Committee Communications Director Jessica Collins claimed that Comer was talking about a different whistleblower, which sounds unlikely because he was discussing his claims of Biden bribery, What he was referring to is another whistleblower. Many key witnesses to the Biden familys influence peddling schemes are either in court, potentially facing prison, or missing, Collins said of Comer. The whistleblower who has come forward about the FBI record alleging that then-Vice President Joe Biden engaged in a bribery scheme with a foreign national isnt missing.

Each time that the House Oversight Committee chair has been asked for evidence to prove his claims, he comes up with a new excuse. It is one thing for Comer to be engaged in a deeply partisan investigation that is fueled by conspiracy theories. It is something different to see Comer apparently abusing the oversight powers of position by making things up.

James Comer and the House Republican majority are not serious people.

Comer embarrassed himself at a press conference last week by providing no evidence to support his claims. The Kentucky Congressman has found a new to embarrass himself and the Republican Party by claiming that he lost his informant.

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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) claimed that House Republicans have Joe Biden whistleblowers, but they are in court, jail, or lost.

Video of Greene on Steve Bannons podcast:

The whistleblower that led us to the evidence of crimes directly implicating Joe Biden is safe, but does fear for his life. This will bring down the President of the United States. Im headed back to the Treasury Department today to review additional Biden Family SARs reports. pic.twitter.com/IJAUjrp1tb  Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) May 15, 2023

Greene said, Our whistleblower that brought us evidence that leads directly to Joe Biden. That Joe Biden took a payment from a foreign national in exchange for foreign policy favors. That whistleblower is not lost, and they are safe, but they do fear for their livesBut other whistleblowers, yes, they are missing. They are in court, or they are in jail, but we cant talk to them because they are in court. They are in jail or they cant be found at this time.

Well, that makes it all better. The Biden whistleblowers are in jail. Ill bet people who are in jail probably for their role in the attempt to overthrow the government on 1/6 are very credible and factual anti-Biden witnesses.

None of the words that Greene used to defend the existence of the House Republican whistleblower made reference to any evidence that Joe Biden engaged in wrongdoing.

This is all smoke and mirrors from people who arent any good at smoke and mirrors. It is easy to see through. The only people who are being fooled are those who want to believe that Biden did something wrong.

Republicans have witnesses that Biden did something wrong but no one can meet and see them because they are either in jail or missing.

House Republicans are in the process of carrying out the most incompetent political smear campaign in modern US history.

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A sexual abuse lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani by a former high-ranking employee accuses him of selling presidential pardons for $2 million and splitting the money with Donald Trump.

Noelle Dunphy was Rudy Giulianis former Director of Business Development and in a new lawsuit details a pattern of horrific sexual abuse. (Warning: If you are going to read the lawsuit it contains details of alleged sexual abuse.)

The lawsuit paints a picture of Giuliani who is an alleged predator of women and also a corrupt functioning alcoholic.

As part of Giulianis alleged corruption, Dunphy accuses him of selling presidential pardons and splitting the money with Donald Trump.

From page 25 of the lawsuit:

Around February 16, 2019, they reviewed Giulianis emails with Ukrainian government officials, and again discussed the advisability of registering under FARA. Ms. Dunphy offered to complete the registration for him. Giuliani told her that he was able to break the laws because, he said: I have immunity.



He also asked Ms. Dunphy if she knew anyone in need of a pardon, telling her that he was selling pardons for $2 million, which he and President Trump would split. He told Ms. Dunphy that she could refer individuals seeking pardons to him, so long as they did not go through the normal channels of the Office of the Pardon Attorney, because correspondence going to that office would be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.

The idea of selling pardons was whispered about during Trumps time in office, and how Dunphy describes the process fits Trumps usual method of operation.

Donald Trump would never sell the pardon himself, and he would have someone else sell the pardon so that he had deniability and someone to blame if word got out. If things went bad, Trump would take his cut on the backend and set Giuliani up as a fall guy.

The allegation that Trump and Giuliani sold pardons is worthy of investigation.

With Trump running another campaign for the White House, the American people deserve to know the truth.

For the sexual abuse alone, if proven true, Rudy Giuliani belongs in prison. If they were selling pardons, it would illustrate that there is no crime against America that Donald Trump wont commit.
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The Durham report has been released, and it begins with Special Counsel John Durham explaining why his report is a flop.

Durham wrote early in his report:

Conducting this investigation required us to consider U.S. criminal laws, the

Constitutional protections our system provides to individuals and the high burden placed on the government to prove every element of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt.

Moreover, the law does not always make a persons bad judgment, even horribly bad judgment, standing alone, a crime. Nor does the law criminalize all unseemly or unethical conduct that political campaigns might undertake for tactical advantage, absent a violation of a particular federal criminal statute.

Finally, in almost all cases, the government is required to prove a persons actual criminal intent not mere negligence or recklessness- before that persons fellow citizens can lawfully find him or her guilty of a crime. The Offices adherence to these principles explains, in numerous instances, why conduct deserving of censure or disciplinary action did not lead the Office to seek criminal charges.

There are also reasons why, in examining politically-charged and high-profile issues such as these, the Office must exercise  and has exercised  special care. First, juries can bring strongly held views to the courtroom in criminal trials involving political subject matters, and those views can, in turn, affect the likelihood of obtaining a conviction, separate and apart from the strength ofthe actual evidence and despite a courts best efforts to empanel a fair and

impartial jury. Second, even when prosecutors believe that they can obtain a conviction, there are some instances in which it may not be advisable to expend government time and resources on a criminal prosecution, particularly where it would create the appearance  even if unfounded  that the government is seeking to criminalize the behavior of political opponents or punish the activities of a specific political party or campaign. At the same time, prosecutors should not shy away from pursuing justifiable cases solely due to the popularity of the defendant or the controversial nature of the governments case.

The Durham report reads like a conspiracy theory. There are a ton of moral judgments about things Durham thinks the FBI should have done or might have done, but the big bottom line is that Durham didnt find anything criminal.

Trump was hoping that the Durham report would find that he was the victim of some vast conspiracy by the intelligence community, but there was no evidence of any wrongdoing by the FBI in investigating the former president.

The report is an opinion that Republicans will pounce on, but it failed to deliver anything that Trump and the GOP promised.
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Donald Trump reportedly got to name the conditions of his rally styled as a town hall on CNN, including who would host and moderate. Predictably, he is now insulting that person, Kaitlan Collins, as not exactly Barbara Walters, or even close.

Even Trump knows it wasnt a town hall, writing on his social media outlet: Its really amazing to watch the head of CNN get absolutely lambasted for asking me to do a so-called Town Hall. He added, In all fairness, nobody had any problems with what he wanted to do until after the show started, when they quickly realized that Ms. Collins was not exactly Barbara Walters, or even close. Thats when the trouble from the Radical Left started.

Naturally, Trump is lying/wrong about when the trouble started and the trouble wasnt just coming from the radical left. Most people of any moral dignity were appalled in advance that CNN not only stacked the town hall with Republican Trump supporters, but that they were airing it at all after he was found liable for sexual battery and defamation just hours prior.

Donald Trump then proceeded to  predictably- RE-defame his victim unchecked on CNN.

Donald Trump then proceeded to  predictably  use Kaitlan Collins as a foil to humiliate for the pleasure of his audience, calling her a nasty person when she tried even a somewhat feeble push back.

And now he is calling her a bad journalist and interviewer.

As has been pointed out elsewhere on these pages, Collins did not do the job that a Jake Tapper, Dana Bash, Jim Acosta would have done. Trumps team said they wouldnt have done the rally town hall had Tapper been the host. So Trump picked Collins because she had maintained a relationship and he felt he could dominate her, which he did.

Why did CNN allow this?

There is a long history of Trump abusing women reporters and journalists. In 2016, they banded together in solidarity and defense. (My closing on that piece was tragic prophesy in hindsight, Donald Trump is uniting women reporters against him with these tactics, and showing what an irresponsible, dangerous leader he is just as a candidate. Can you imagine if he had more power?)

Donald Trump stalked Hillary Clinton at a debate, one that he had already gamed emotionally by stacking the audience with women who had accused her husband of sexual misconduct.

Clinton told Ellen DeGeneres in October of 2016 that Trump was trying to dominate her with his stalking behavior, Because of the revelation of the public video, and everything that came out on Access Hollywood, you know, he was really all wrought up, and you could just sense how much anger he had, Clinton said. And so, he was really trying to dominate and then literally stalk me around the stage.

Trump has a history of being a predatory misogynist, especially when people are watching. His base delights in his dominance of women, using women as objects upon which they can discharge their rage at a changing world.

Theres even history of Trump treating another conservative woman hosting a televised election event like dirt, when in 2016 Fox News Megyn Kelly came prepared for Trump during a 2015 Republican debate.

Kelly asked Trump about his derogatory language about women, including calling women fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals.

Trump later told CNNs Don Lemon (who has now been let go and after the town hall, that move might deserve more scrutiny given that the reason cited does not appear to be a universal value of respecting women) that Megyn Kelly had blood coming out of her wherever.

I defended Megyn Kelly then and want to defend Kaitlan Collins now, because when women are treated with such brutal contempt and its televised to broad audiences, it hurts all women and girls.

CNNs own host had to field that moment, so CNN had years of prior knowledge of how Trump operates with women.

Trump uses misogyny just like he uses racism  both are tools to make a show of dominating and humiliating others to elevate himself. Insulting others is the go-to weapon of the weak and cheap.

So Licht knew Trump would use Collins this way.

Megyn Kelly battled Trump fiercely and got attacked for it, while Collins put on a rather ineffective performance that was publicly championed by her boss and colleagues and also got attacked for it.

Gee. There might be a problem with Trump and women, like hes been found by a jury of his peers to have sexually abused a woman and has 26 credible accusations of sexual misconduct. The takeaway here for other networks is the misogynist will always perform as expected.

From the outside, it looks as if CNN set Collins up to be Trumps foil, because she was tasked with the impossible of being the host, moderator and fact-checker of a known Gish galloper whose lies come fast, furious, and with a huge side of contempt.

This much is clear: Collins was used as a foil for Donald Trump, and while it might have made her career if Trump is the nominee, it also damaged women seeking to be seen as worthy of respect at work, it damaged sexual assault victims, and it did great further damage to E. Jean Carroll. That is to say, it accomplished everything a man like Trump needs in order to deflect from his own inadequacies.

When misogyny is publicly rewarded like this, it metastasizes.

Now Trump is suggesting Collins isnt even good at her job, as the cherry on top of his misogyny.

This is a disgusting and untrue attack from a man who picked her knowing he would be able to dominate her, just so he could humiliate her when she failed to keep him in line.

There is a vast difference between not being able to handle a Trump type and not being good at ones job as a TV host. She is good at her job; she was simply not able to be effective at this one part of it, for a myriad of reasons, some of which have nothing to do with her.

Weve seen this show before, and its starting to feel like we are all being played again.
Indiana Jones and Harrison Ford swung into Cannes Thursday for the world premiere of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny in one of the most anticipated events of the French Riviera festival. Ford, who has said Dial of Destiny will be his last performance as the character, is also set to receive an honorary Palme dOr from the Cannes Film Festival. Fedoras abounded in the throngs of onlookers who watched Ford and company hit the red carpet. Ford walked hand in hand with his wife, Calista Flockhart, and later joined his cast mates as John Williams score played across the red carpet. Read more'Indiana Jones' swings into Cannes Film Festival; Harrison Ford honored before joyous festivalgoers
There is never a right time for a cancer diagnosis. But perhaps the most inopportune is with a Category 5 hurricane looming.

This was the case for College of Charleston student Hannah Neimy, who was diagnosed with stage three Hodgkin's Lymphoma at the Medical University of South Carolina not long before Hurricane Matthew was set to make landfall in fall 2016.

That day, former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley had ordered over 1 million people along the state's coast to evacuate, anticipating the storm's aftermath.

Extensive storm surge flooding and the third highest tidal gauge level ever recorded in downtown Charleston would follow.

Under the circumstances, oncology offices at MUSC were closed, leaving Neimy to search for answers elsewhere.

"It was this big whirlwind of events," Neimy said.

Neimy, a sophomore biology major at the College of Charleston, shrugged off signs of the disease like the swollen lymph nodes in her neck and persistent fatigue, attributing them to the hustle of a busy college student.

"It's not normal to take Costco quantities of Advil in one week because of back pain," Neimy said.

Other symptoms of the disease include painless swelling of lymph nodes in the armpits or groin, fever, night sweats, severe itching and unintentional weight loss.

The disease is most often diagnosed in people in their 20s and 30s.

"As it turns out, it was not because of the grind," Neimy told The Post and Courier. "I had cancer and didn't know it."

Finding a 'backbone'

Luckily, Neimy said, she was able to get an appointment with doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, one of over 50 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the U.S., following her diagnosis.

The "comprehensive" designation from the NCI is awarded to only about 1 percent of cancer centers nationwide.

Neimy said her time in New York was bittersweet. Looking at PET scans with tears in her eyes, her doctor walked up to her.

"I learned during residency that I can't cry with you. But I can wipe away your tears and help you get better," Neimy recalled hearing.

Those words followed Neimy throughout all of her treatments and now into her third year of medical school at MUSC.

"I was already interested in pursuing a medical degree before my diagnosis," Neimy said. "But I didn't really have a backbone for it."

While undergoing treatment at MUSC's Hollings Cancer Center, Neimy said doctors like oncologist Dr. Brian Hess were instrumental to her treatment and showed her how important quality physicians are to a patients care.

"He really takes the time to connect with you as a human," Neimy said, recalling the moments she shadowed Hess after she finished her treatment.

Neimy said Hess took the extra time to ensure his patients understood all of their treatment options, making decisions together rather than dictating the best option without an explanation.

"I want to make sure that I am a human when I'm a doctor as well," she added.

Cancer patients getting younger

Neimy is among thousands of young people in the U.S. who are diagnosed with cancer each year. And more are being diagnosed with cancer now than ever before.

But scientists don't know why.

In the past 30 years, there have been overall improvements in cancer survival rates. However, there hasn't been significant improvement in survival rates for people ages 20 to 39.

According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death in people between 15 and 39 years old.

Now, researchers are finally asking why. Historically, childhood and older adult cancers encompassed most of the research on the disease, leaving people that fall within the middle without guidance.

According to an study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association, the gap in research has prevented the development of diagnosis, treatment and monitoring guidelines for this age group.

Cancers of the colon, rectum and various different carcinomas were among the most frequently diagnosed cancers for men and women, according to the study.

Doctors from Yale Medicine, the clinical practice for the Yale School of Medicine in New England, recently reported seeing more colorectal cancer diagnoses among young people.

According to the American Cancer Society, 20 percent of colorectal cancer diagnoses in 2019 were in patients under age 55, double the rate in 1995.

Not only that, but younger people are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced stages of the disease than people over 65.

In 2021, due to the trend of growing cases in younger adults, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force lowered the recommended age for colorectal cancer screenings to 45 instead of 50 years old.

And in Charleston, officials from The Boon Project, a nonprofit catering to young adults in the Charleston area with cancer, said they are meeting new cancer patients and survivors every week.

Identical support system

Katherine Brown, the nonprofit's founder and director since 2017, said she started the organization not long after her identical twin sister, Susan, was diagnosed with advanced stage cancer in 2015.

At the time she was 31 years old.

The organization supports people between the ages of 18 and "40ish" who've been diagnosed with cancer through community support and financial assistance.

The program serves about 150 young people in the Charleston area. Most are women and many are in their mid 20s and early 30s.

"It's harder to find community in that age group," Brown told The Post and Courier.

The Boon Project hosts monthly gatherings and operates a private Facebook group for members to meet and offer support for one another.

Brown said her sister had a lot of support, whether it was financial, child care assistance, emotional support or advice from friends in the medical field.

Susan received treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, and had to travel every three weeks for treatments at the hospital. The financial toll was large and would have been worse if not for Susan's family and friends.

The Boon Project is modeled after Susan's support system during that time.

"The only thing we couldn't do is truly understand what it felt like to be in that situation," Brown said. "That's where The Boon Project comes in."

Joelle Cardwell, marketing and communications for the nonprofit, said having cancer as a younger adult can be very isolating.

Oncology waiting rooms are full of older adults. "They can spend years and not see someone diagnosed at the same time in their life," Cardwell said.

And most of the time the disease forces people to press pause on life as they know it.

Neimy was a sophomore in college at the time of her diagnosis. And while her friends were inundated with the likes of college life in Charleston, she was recovering from treatments and catching up on school work.

In the six months that Neimy was undergoing chemotherapy, she said she saw somebody her age twice.

But getting involved with TBP, attending social events and meeting people in the area under similar situations helped her through her treatments.

To learn more about The Boon Project, go to boonproject.org.

EDITORS NOTE: Dr. Brian Hess is an oncologist at The Medical University of South Carolina.
Hong Kong: Health chief meets national delegates

Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau met a delegation led by National Health Commission Party Group Member & Party Secretary of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM) Prof Yu Yanhong today to discuss issues relevant to promoting the development of Chinese medicine (CM).



In March, Prof Lo led a delegation to Beijing to call on the NATCM and meet Prof Yu given that the Health Bureaus work was recognised and supported. Prof Lo said today's meeting has enabled them to reinforce their discussion and joint efforts in taking forward the implementation of the work for the development of CM in the future.



He noted that in particular, the NATCM provides great support for the development of Hong Kong's Chinese Medicine Hospital (CMH), standard-setting for CM in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and exchanges of CM professionals.



The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to maintain close contact with stakeholders in the Mainland and around the world, in a bid to deepen exchanges and co-operation with various places in the field of CM on the principle of complementarity and mutual benefits, Prof Lo added.



It will also leverage Hong Kong's traditional strengths in CM and give full play to the city's important role as the country's gateway to international markets to promote the inheritance, innovation and high-quality development of CM with its utmost effort.



Prof Lo stressed that the Hong Kong SAR Government is committed to working together to build a healthy Hong Kong for integration into the national strategy of a healthy China.



The NATCM delegation arrived in Hong Kong yesterday for a four-day visit. During their stay, the delegates will meet stakeholders of the CM sector and relevant organisations, listen to reports from the Hospital Authority on the GBA CM Visiting Scholars Programme and integrated Chinese-Western medicine co-operation, and visit a hospital ward to have a better grasp of the latest developments.



The delegation will also visit the construction site of the CMH and the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute as well as the School of CM of a university. In addition, on behalf of the National Health Commission, Prof Yu will attend the Hospital Authority Convention and the Asia Summit on Global Health, which are scheduled to be held in the next few days.

This story has been published on: 2023-05-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Kingstree, SC (29556)

Today

Showers early, then cloudy in the afternoon. High 73F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 58F. Winds light and variable.
CONWAY  An educator from Coastal Carolina University is in the running for a Grammy Award, making his mark on the national stage.

Eric Schultz, an assistant music professor at CCU, has been named one of 212 quarterfinalists for the 2024 Music Educator Award, presented by the Grammy Museum and Recording Academy. They were chosen from more than 2,000 nominations, according to awards officials.

The award recognizes current public and private educators teaching kindergarten through college for their contributions to music and maintaining music education in schools, according to award officials.

Schultz, who joined CCUs staff in 2020, said he was shocked and humbled to learn he had been nominated.

"A Grammy is a household name," Schultz said. "Just being nominated is life-changing. I couldnt have done it without my students and the support of the school and the community.

As a quarterfinalist, Schultz has been asked to submit video essays and footage of his teaching to advance to the semifinals. This September, 15 semifinalists will be announced, with each receiving a $500 honorarium with matching school grants, according to award officials.

From there, 10 finalists will be chosen, with one winner being recognized during 2024 Grammy Week. The nine other finalists will receive a $1,000 honorarium, and the schools of all 10 finalists will receive matching grants, according to award officials.

Dr. Claudia Bornholdt, dean of the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts, congratulated Schultz on his award.

"This Grammy nomination is a well-deserved recognition of Professor Schultzs outstanding teaching and mentorship of our students and evidence of the excellence of our faculty and education here in the Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts," Bornholdt said.

Schultzs teaching areas include clarinet performance, flute performance, woodwind methods and chamber music. He also serves as director of the Edwards College Center for Inclusive Excellence, according to CCU.

Schultz said one of his passion projects has been the REPRENTatoire Project, which he created alongside his students. The project emphasizes performing living composers' work, especially composers of underrepresented demographics.

This past year, renowned flutist and composer Valerie Coleman visited CCU for the project to teach masterclasses, discuss her career and perform.

I often remind my students that if they want to create something meaningful, the hardest thing is getting started, Schultz said. "I tell them, find your allies. Collaborate. I believe music is the most powerful form of magic we have access to, and it teaches us how to do all of these things."

Schultz also received a South Carolina Arts Commission Artists Business Initiative grant in 2022 to fund the recording of an album, which will be titled "polyglot" and released in the fall, according to CCU and Schultz.

Schultz is one of six quarterfinalists from South Carolina, but he is the state's sole college professor to be nominated.

The other five S.C. nominees from K-12 schools include: Johnathan Gore, from Sandy Run K8 School in Swansea; Nathaniel Gunter, from Greer High School in Greer; Matthew Kilby, from Fort Dorchester High School in North Charleston; James Patterson, from Kingstree High School in Kingstree; and Angela Rex, from Riverside Middle School in Greer, according to awards officials.

Also, there are 123 legacy applicants from 2023 who are eligible to win the award, and three of them come from South Carolina, including: William Bennett, from Cane Bay High School in Summerville; Dylan Sims, from York Middle School in York; and Thomas Slater, from Chestnut Oaks Middle School in Sumter, according to awards officials.
MYRTLE BEACH  A shooting over the weekend in Myrtle Beach has led to a Union County, North Carolina, man being killed and another being charged with his murder.

Mitchell Sykes, 21, of Monroe, N.C., was arrested May 13 and charged with murder and possession of a deadly weapon after allegedly shooting and killing 23-year-old Jordan Drake, of Wingate, N.C., that same evening, according to police.

The Horry County Police Department has not released information on what led to the shooting or if the two men knew each other. The case remains an active investigation, officials said.

Horry County Police and Horry County Fire Rescue responded to reports of a shooting incident that took place around 7:25 p.m. May 13 in an apartment located at 145 Hartland Drive within unincorporated Myrtle Beach, according to police reports.

Drake was found face down covered in a significant amount of blood on the floor of the apartment and had died at the scene, according to police reports.

Drake's identity and cause of death was confirmed by the Horry County Coroner's Office and Horry County Police.

Sykes was arrested that same evening after witness statements and physical evidence allegedly connected him to the crime, according to his arrest warrant.

Sykes remains booked in the J. Reuben Long Detention Center. His case is still in pre-trial and no bail has been set, according to booking records.
It's depressing to think we would ever feel a need to defend our nation's first and arguably most historically significant president, whose decision to serve only two terms as president and support a peaceful transition of power set the foundation for our democracy. Read moreEditorial: George Washington wasn't perfect, nor was he just another president
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-15 15:02:49

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VILNIUS, LITHUANIA / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Oxylabs, a web intelligence acquisition solution and premium proxy provider announced that it had been granted the Best Proxy Performance award in the annual Proxy Service Awards hosted by Proxyway. This recognition comes on the heels of Oxylabs becoming the Data as a Service Company of the Year in the Data Breakthrough Awards.Proxyway, a reputable platform for independent proxy service reviews, has recognized Oxylabs for its exceptional infrastructure performance, highlighting its commitment to offering clients ethical, secure, and high-quality proxy solutions. The Best Proxy Performance award recognizes Oxylabs' excellence in providing first-rate services and its ongoing efforts to unlock the power of web intelligence."Oxylabs have always strived for top quality in all matters related to our customers, from product performance to constant client support. We are honored to be recognized by Proxyway, as such an award reflects our commitments to the industry at large. Everyone at Oxylabs has worked tirelessly to provide the best possible solutions to our customers, and I thank everyone in the team who has taken part in reinforcing our values and ethical approach to business." - said Julius Cerniauskas, CEO of Oxylabs.Every year, Proxyway undertakes the task of testing almost a dozen proxy providers, with the aim of evaluating their services and subsequently ranking them based on several key performance indicators. This year, their evaluation has been broken down into six distinct categories, each serving a unique criterion - Best Proxy Performance, Best Value Provider, Newcomer of the Year, Greatest Progress, Most Innovative Provider, and Contender of the Year. These awards help consumers identify the best providers in the industry and encourage providers to continually strive for excellence.Recently, Oxylabs has also been named the Data as a Service Company of the Year by Data Breakthrough Awards, recognizing the company's exceptional achievements in delivering data-driven solutions that enable businesses to unlock the full potential of web intelligence and gain a competitive edge in the digital landscape.About OxylabsEstablished in 2015, Oxylabs is a web intelligence acquisition solution and premium proxy provider, enabling companies of all sizes to utilize the power of big data. Constant innovation, an extensive patent portfolio, and a focus on ethics have allowed Oxylabs to become a global leader in the web intelligence acquisition industry and forge close ties with dozens of Fortune Global 500 companies. In 2022 and 2023, Oxylabs was named the fastest-growing public web data-gathering solutions company in Europe in the Financial Times' FT 1000 list. For more information, please visit: https://oxylabs.io/ Contact InformationVytautas KirjazovasHead of Communicationspress@ oxylabs.io +44 7999 885206SOURCE: Oxylabs
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TAMPA, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Ambient intelligence describes the physical spaces that are hypersensitive, alert, and receptive to the activities and presence of people. The crux of the technology is based on data collected by sensors and processors embedded into clinical and healthcare operational objects and employs machine learning algorithms for workflow and process analytics.For providers, ambient intelligence has multiple use cases that could theoretically improve patient care and mitigate clinician burden. Ambient clinical intelligence leverages contact-based wearable devices and contactless sensors embedded in healthcare delivery sites to gather information like imaging, audio, and movement data of physical spaces. Machine learning algorithms then efficiently interpret the data for clinical and operational workflow applications which are aided by a pervasive computing environment and AI frameworks; with all the components connected through an invisible intelligent network."Ambient Intelligence has more than 10 years of research behind it with various organizations and healthcare industry initiatives investing to develop solutions using the technology," said Doug Brown, President of Black Book, the technology user satisfaction surveyor.Eighty-one percent of Chief Information Officers and IT leaders in 740 healthcare delivery provider organizations stated they are or will be investing in ambient intelligence by Q4 2024 while exploring use cases in facility and patient monitoring management."One of the most inspiring aspects of ambient intelligence is its ability to include all of the technology components of care workflow and collectively blend the environment around the user without requiring the users' attentiveness or supervision," added Brown.Healthcare IT leaders rated Orlando-based care.ai as the top emerging ambient intelligence solution in the 2023 survey of nearly one thousand technology executives. care.ai is deployed in over 1,500 provider organizations, health systems, and long-term care to deliver on the transformational promise of a smart care facility.This report is based on findings from an independent survey conducted by Black Book of qualified users in assisted living, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, rehab centers, and health systems and included reporting on more than 35 vendors on 18 key performance indicators.About Black BookBlack Book Market Research LLC, its founder, management, and staff do not own or hold any financial interest in any of the vendors or public relations firms covered and encompassed in the surveys it conducts, including care.ai . Additionally, Black Book does not contract for, barter, exchange or accept direct services from any public relations firm mentioned in the rankings. Black Book reports the results of the collected satisfaction and client experience rankings in publication and to media prior to the vendor notification of rating results and does not solicit vendor/agency participation fees, review fees, inclusion or briefing charges, consultation requirements and/or vendor collaboration as Black Book polls clients. Since 2010, Black Book Market Research LLC has polled the vendor and service firm satisfaction in the software/technology and managed services sectors around the globe.For methodology, auditing, resources, comprehensive research, and detailed results on the product and services rankings, see http://www.blackbookmarketresearch.com . For more information, contact our survey team leaders at research@ blackbookmarketresearch.com Contact Information:Press Officeresearch@ blackbookmarketresearch.com 8008637590SOURCE: Black Book Research
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VACAVILLE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Athena Gold Corporation (OTCQB:AHNR)(CSE:ATHA) ("Athena" or the "Company") is pleased to present its 2023 exploration plans at its 100% owned Excelsior Springs Project ("Project") located approximately 45 miles southwest of Goldfield in Esmeralda County, Nevada.Our initial 2023 RC drill program of approximately 1,500 meters will be focused on expanding the newly discovered shallow high-grade gold in the Western Slope zone with 30 meter incremental step-outs on the indicated strike both east and west. These angle holes will be drilled due south parallel with our discovery hole DB-23.Figure 1. Map depicting discovery holes DB-23, 22-01 and 22-02 shown with proposed step-out Drill Pad locations.Athena completed two RC drill programs in 2022 and intersected shallow high-grade oxide gold intervals which now comprise the Western Slope Zone. A review of our 2022 RC drill highlights is summarized below.2022 RC Drill Program HighlightsDB-23: Intercepted a 33.5 meter intercept of 5.15 g/t Au and 8.9 g/t Ag, including a 16.7- meter intercept of 10.03 g/t Au and 17.3 g/t Ag, and a 10.6 meter intercept of 15.3 g/t Au and 26.5 g/t Ag.DH 22-01: Intercepted 6.05 g/t Au and 17.4 g/t Ag over 27.4 meters starting at 39.5 meters, including 10.2 g/t Ag and 30.8 g/t Ag over 10.7meters. A deeper zone starting at 77.7 meters intercepted 4.97 g/t Au and 14.4 g/t Ag over 13.7 meters.DH 22-02: Intercepted 4.49 g/t Au and 27.3 g/t Ag over 15.2 meters starting at 41.1 meters, including 7.29 g/t Au and 44.2 g/t Ag over 9.1 meters. A deeper zone starting at 68.6 meters intercepted 1.20 g/t Au and 7.7 g/t Ag over 7.6 meters.Figure 2. A N-S Cross Section that shows all the holes within 20 meters east and west of the section line 446,830 meters east of the discovery zone.It is important to note that DB-23, 22-01 and 22-02 all intercepted the high-grade gold mineralization at shallow depths, beginning 30 meters of the ground surface. True widths of the intercepts are not known. These holes were all drilled in 2022 and yielded the best GT results in the history of the Excelsior Springs project with over 100 RC holes drilled over the last 50 years.Our recent review of all available data has confirmed the West Slope zone remains open and untested both east, west and at depth and the objective of our current program is to examine strike and potential dip continuity of the upper high-grade zone.Another high-priority target for this program exists 300 meters east-south-east of the West Slope where a historic RC hole GE-14 intersected 24.3 meters at 1.09 g/t Au and 0.54 g/t Ag beginning 9.1 meters below the surface.Follow up Core and/or RC drill programs are contemplated for later in 2023 after analysis of the results from this initial 2023 program.John Power, President and CEO of Athena commented "Our 2023 Program is intended to better delineate and expand known mineralization along strike at the Western Slope zone and further substantiate the Project as a regional-scale, intrusion-related, gold-bearing, hydrothermal system. We also hope to further understand the geology and structure of the multiple, large, flat plunging shoots of oxidized gold mineralization encountered in our 2022 drill programs." Applicable permitting has been completed and our initial 2023 drill program is expected to commence in early June 2023 subject to final confirmation from our drill contractor. The program's drill footage and number of RC holes will be finalized prior to the start of the drill campaign.Quality Assurance and Quality ControlProcedures implemented during Phases 01 and 02 will be continued during Phase 03 to assure Quality Assurance Quality Control (QAQC). All drilling will be performed using reverse circulation methods with samples collected at 5-foot intervals. Representative sample splits will be securely stored for shipment, with chain of custody documentation through delivery to American Assay Laboratories, an independent ISO-certified laboratory in Reno, Nevada. Mineralized commercial reference standards and coarse blank standards will be inserted every 20th sample in sequence to assure acceptable levels of confidence of the drill hole assays. When laboratory reports of the assays are received, QAQC protocols will be immediately augmented to ensure dependability of the drill hole assays.As the Excelsior Springs Project advances, additional QAQC measures will be implemented including selected duplicate check assaying on pulps and coarse rejects at a second accredited assay laboratory. All results will be analyzed for consistency.Qualified PersonDonald G. Strachan, Certified Professional Geologist (CPG #10376 AIPG), is a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis of this press release, and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Strachan is independent of the Company and was responsible for the site management and technical aspects of the Program.About Athena Gold CorporationAthena is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets. Its objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to conduct additional exploration drilling and studies on the Project.For further information about Athena Gold Corporation and our Excelsior Springs Gold project, please visit www.athenagoldcorp.com On Behalf of the Board of DirectorsJohn PowerChief Executive Officer and PresidentContacts:Jason LibensonPresident and CCOCastlewood Capital Corporation1(647)-534-9884Email: jason@ castlewoodcapital.ca John PowerPhone: John Power, 707-291-6198Email: info@ athenagoldcorp.com Cautionary Statement to U.S. InvestorsThis press release references NI 43-101, which differs from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects.The United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") permits mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can legally extract or produce. Pursuant to SEC Industry Guide 7 under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a "final" or "bankable" feasibility study is required to report reserves. Currently Athena has not delineated "reserves" on any of its properties. Athena cannot be certain that any deposits at its prope
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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Bloomberg:Originally published in Bloomberg's 2022 Impact ReportThe world is in transition, moving away from a past powered and polluted by fossil fuels and heading towards a future that runs on clean and renewable energy. We aren't nearly as far along as we should be in order to avoid the worst harms of climate change. But the right tools and support can help companies and policymakers pick up the pace - and at Bloomberg, we're working harder than ever to provide them.In 2022, Bloomberg and Bloomberg Philanthropies led a number of new efforts to increase access to data that can help our customers, and public and private sector leaders around the world, make more informed decisions about climate risks and opportunities. Transparency can play a powerful role in helping to accelerate the global economy's transition to net-zero emissions, and this work is part of our broader effort to provide valuable data, research and insights on a wide-range of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, as this report details.One of the biggest steps we took in 2022 occurred at the United Nations' COP27 climate conference in Egypt. We joined French President Emmanuel Macron in announcing recommendations for a new public data portal that will provide accurate corporate climate-related data in one place for the first time, increasing transparency. Also during the summit, the FAST-Infra Group announced that Bloomberg will help lead the implementation of a labeling system that will allow investors to see whether certain infrastructure projects, like electricity transmission grids and data centers, meet sustainability criteria, with the goal of driving more capital to sustainable infrastructure.Meanwhile, our work with the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) took important steps forward. Our coalition launched new tools to help financial firms develop credible plans for cutting emissions across their portfolios. Moving the global economy to net zero will require an enormous amount of new investment, and new strategies to support global economic growth without growing emissions. Financial institutions have a critical role to play, and through GFANZ, we're working to knock down barriers that stand in the way.Of course, we're also committed to leading by example. Almost 55 percent of Bloomberg's global electricity is already sourced from renewable energy projects, and we are on track to achieve our goal of obtaining 100 percent of our electricity from certified renewable sources by 2025. In February 2023, the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) verified that our company's targets are in line with the global emissions reductions needed to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5C.Virtually all of our company's profits go to fund the work of Bloomberg Philanthropies, which is leading programs around the world to cut emissions and grow cleaner energy. In 2022, we expanded our efforts to move the world beyond coal and increase access to clean, affordable energy in developing countries. In the U.S., we launched a new campaign to stop the expansion of petrochemical plants, which are a growing environmental and public health problem. At the same time, nearly 15,000 Bloomberg employees volunteered in community projects across the world in 2022. These included initiatives to protect the environment and programs to promote economic opportunity through training and mentoring.We've always believed in giving back to the communities where we live and work, and in investing in our company's most important asset: our people. The stronger and more diverse our team grows, the more we'll succeed - and the bigger impact we can have, as this report shows. It's a good summary of how, together, we are leading the way forward - and helping our customers and others to join us.Read the full Bloomberg 2022 Impact Report here.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Bloomberg on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: BloombergWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/bloomberg Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Bloomberg
Evas comments about Mrs. King: Mrs. King is a very engaging teacher who is dedicated to her students learning. She has been instrumental in teaching me how to express my ideas in writing and to discern the meanings of complex texts. She also inspires me to work hard through her own commitment to teaching. I am lucky to have had the opportunity to learn from her, and the lessons she has taught me will undoubtedly remain with me throughout my life.

Mrs. Kings comments about Eva: "As Jane Austen said in 'Pride and Prejudice,' 'Indulge your imagination in every possible flight.' I can always view Eva 'boarding' that flight and taking it to new horizons. Whether in any literature or writing class, the intensity and vigor in which she approached the material was 'out of this world.' Her love for learning and yearning to be involved in many social causes only confirms that she will soar in all of her future endeavors, for as Jane Austen also said, 'It isn't what we say or think that defines us but what we do.' The sky's the limit, Eva!"
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ALLENTOWN, PA / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Dr. John Manzella is proud to announce the establishment of the Dr. John Manzella Scholarship for Second Opportunities, aimed at supporting students who have overcome adversity due to a family member being incarcerated. This scholarship, valued at $1,000, aims to empower deserving individuals in pursuing their higher education dreams. Applications are now open, and the deadline to apply is June 15, 2023.To be eligible for the Dr. John Manzella Scholarship, applicants must be currently enrolled at a university in the United States and have experienced hardship resulting from a family member's incarceration. High school students in similar situations who plan to attend university in the future are also eligible to apply. The scholarship will be awarded based on an essay contest. Applicants are required to submit an essay of less than 1000 words, addressing the following prompt:"Describe an issue with the criminal justice system today, and how it could be improved to reduce recidivism." Dr. Manzella recognizes the importance of second chances and believes that education is a powerful tool for individuals to overcome obstacles and create a better future for themselves and their families. By offering this scholarship, he aims to support students who have persevered in the face of adversity, providing them with the financial assistance they need to pursue their educational aspirations.Applicants can find detailed information about the scholarship, including the application process and requirements, on the official Dr. John Manzella Scholarship for Second Opportunities website: [ https://drjohnmanzellascholarship.com/dr-john-manzella-scholarship/] . The website also provides insights into the life and accomplishments of Dr. John Manzella, the driving force behind this initiative.Dr. John Manzella, a respected physician and entrepreneur, has enjoyed a successful career spanning almost thirty years. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Marquette University and earned his doctorate degree from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1995. In 2013, he received his PhD in Health Care Management from the University of Rochville.Throughout his career, Dr. Manzella has combined his medical expertise with entrepreneurial spirit, making a positive impact on his community. In 2009, he founded LV Housecalls.com , a house call-based medical practice serving northeastern Pennsylvania, where he currently serves as the Medical Director and Practice Manager. Additionally, Dr. Manzella works as a Physician Liaison and Billing Specialist for Topper Medical in Allentown, PA, offering his insights to assist companies in optimizing their billing, coding, documentation, and office procedures since 2013.The Dr. John Manzella Scholarship for Second Opportunities reflects Dr. Manzella's commitment to giving back and creating opportunities for those who have faced significant challenges. By awarding this scholarship, he hopes to inspire and support students affected by incarceration to pursue their educational goals and build a brighter future.The recipient of the Dr. John Manzella Scholarship for Second Opportunities will be announced on July 15, 2023. The $1,000 scholarship will provide financial assistance to the deserving student, empowering them to continue their educational journey with renewed hope and determination.Contact Info:Spokesperson: Dr. John ManzellaOrganization: Dr. John Manzella ScholarshipWebsite: https://drjohnmanzellascholarship.com Email: apply@ drjohnmanzellascholarship.com SOURCE: Dr. John Manzella Scholarship
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ELK CITY, OK / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Dr. Brian Blick, a renowned Board Certified Anesthesiologist based in Elk City, Oklahoma, is pleased to announce the establishment of the Dr Brian Blick Grant for Healthcare Students. This scholarship program aims to provide financial support to deserving students pursuing careers in healthcare. The scholarship, valued at $1,000, will be awarded to a student who meets the specified criteria and demonstrates exceptional dedication to their academic and professional goals.Dr. Brian Blick understands the importance of quality education and the financial challenges that aspiring healthcare professionals often face. With the Dr Brian Blick Grant for Healthcare Students, he aims to assist promising individuals in achieving their dreams while encouraging excellence in the field of healthcare.The scholarship criteria for the Dr Brian Blick Grant require applicants to be residents of Elk City, OK, and enrolled in an accredited healthcare program at a university, college, or vocational school. The eligible programs include, but are not limited to, nursing, medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and medical assisting.To apply for the scholarship, interested students must complete the application form available on the official Dr Brian Blick Grant website: https://drbrianblickgrant.com/ . The application deadline is October 15, 2023. Applicants are required to submit their academic transcripts, a personal essay highlighting their career aspirations and commitment to healthcare, and two letters of recommendation from academic or professional references.The selection process will be carried out by a panel of healthcare professionals appointed by Dr. Brian Blick. The panel will carefully review each application based on the applicant's academic achievements, community involvement, leadership qualities, and the strength of their personal essay. The winner of the Dr Brian Blick Grant for Healthcare Students will be announced on November 15, 2023, and will receive the $1,000 scholarship award to help support their educational journey.Located in Elk City, Oklahoma, Dr. Brian Blick is a highly skilled Board Certified Anesthesiologist who has dedicated his career to providing exceptional medical care to patients. Dr. Blick's educational background includes a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Central Oklahoma. He completed his medical education at Ross University School of Medicine and his residency at the University of Kansas. Dr. Blick currently serves as the Chief of Anesthesia at Great Plains Regional Medical Center, managed by Western Oklahoma Anesthesia Consultants. He is also the founder of Western Oklahoma Pain Specialists.Dr. Brian Blick believes that supporting future healthcare professionals is essential for the well-being of the community. By establishing the Dr Brian Blick Grant for Healthcare Students, he hopes to inspire and empower aspiring individuals to pursue their passion for healthcare and make a positive impact in the field.For more information about the Dr Brian Blick Grant for Healthcare Students and to apply for the scholarship, please visit [ https://drbrianblickgrant.com/dr-brian-blick-grant/] Contact Info:Spokesperson: Dr. Brian BlickOrganization: Dr. Brian Blick GrantWebsite: https://drbrianblickgrant.com Email: apply@ drbrianblickgrant.com SOURCE: Dr. Brian Blick Grant
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The 16-year renewable energy contract is for the Liberty County Solar project in Texas and is expected to be operational in 2024, propelling Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, to 90% purchased renewable electricity in the U.S.TEMPE, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / EMD Electronics, the U.S. and Canada electronics business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, today announced a major step towards executing its sustainability strategy. The company signed a 16-year, off-site, virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with Recurrent Energy for the construction of the Liberty County Solar project in Texas, United States. Combined with the Azure Sky wind and storage project, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, will match 90% of the company's purchased electricity consumption in the United States. Globally, the company will match 55% of its purchased electricity consumption from renewable energies. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, aims to increase this to 80% by 2030.Solar Modules at Sheboygan, WI, SiteSolar Modules at EMD Electronics' Sheboygan, WI, site."We have set ourselves ambitious goals and want to do our part to enable more sustainable supply chains worldwide as well as being climate-neutral by 2040. In addition to matching our electric consumption with renewable energy, our research and development work can support our customers on their path to greater sustainability. With these milestones, we are able to support the fast-growing semiconductor industry with sustainable business practices", said Kai Beckmann, Member of the Executive Board of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and CEO Electronics. "The Liberty County Solar project in Texas is just one example of our efforts. We are continuing to actively pursue renewable energy and not only in the United States", Beckmann added.With 40 megawatts (MW) of the 100 MW project capacity, EMD Electronics is the anchor buyer within the Net Zero Consortium for Buyers, an aggregation of corporations organized by the Sustainability Roundtable, Inc. The Liberty County Solar project alone will match 25% of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany's purchased electricity consumption in the United States and approximately 10% globally. The project is expected to be operational in 2024 and will be located northeast of Houston in Liberty County, Texas, United States.Renewable energy as an essential part of achieving sustainability goalsRenewable energies play an important role in the mix of measures to achieve the company's sustainability goals. In Spring 2021, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, signed a VPPA with Enel Green Power for the Azure Sky wind and storage project in Texas, which started operations in May 2022. This project delivers renewable energy certificates to match 65% of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany's total purchased U.S. electricity consumption or 100% of the Life Science business' U.S. electricity consumption.In Summer 2022, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, fully installed 7,000 solar panels across approximately 11 acres of land on the company's Sheboygan campus in Wisconsin, United States. This project adds 2.25 megawatts to the grid. The company will receive approximately 4,000 renewable energy certificates produced by the panels per year. Those certificates match 16% of the Sheboygan site's energy consumption.Earlier this year, the company announced a strategic cooperation with ENTEGA, a regional German energy supplier, to install rooftop photovoltaic systems at its Headquarter in Darmstadt, Germany, and to build a photovoltaic park on approximately seven hectares in Gernsheim, Germany. Both projects are expected to be completed before the end of 2023 and together will generate up to 7.6 megawatts of solar energy annually.In May 2022, the independent Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) confirmed that the company's targets correspond to the current status of climate science. On its journey to achieving climate neutrality by 2040, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has committed to lowering its absolute direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scope 2) greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and reducing its indirect emissions along the entire value chain (Scope 3) by 52% per euro value added by 2030. The baseline year is 2020. The company's progress is documented in the sustainability report 2022.About EMD ElectronicsEMD Electronics is the U.S. and Canada electronics business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. EMD Electronics' portfolio covers a broad range of products and solutions, including high-tech materials and solutions for the semiconductor industry as well as liquid crystals and OLED materials for displays and effect pigments for coatings and cosmetics. Today, EMD Electronics has approximately 2,000 employees around the country, with regional offices in Tempe (AZ) and Philadelphia (PA). For more information, please visit www.emd-electronics.com Contact InformationAustin KaphammerCommunications Business Partner+1 (848) 230-5398SOURCE: EMD Electronics
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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Franklin TempletonBaltimore Volunteers at Junior Achievement's Finance ParkOn March 30, Baltimore volunteered at Junior Achievement's Finance Park where students had the opportunity to explore their personal financial futures first-hand. Each volunteer was assigned a budget category-such as insurance, childcare or housing-or "station," where the students learned about the budget item and asked questions to help them learn how much of their salary they may need to allocate to that expense.St. Petersburg Assembles Meal Bags and Sorts ClothesOn April 3, St. Petersburg employees volunteered at the Kind Mouse, a nonprofit that assists families and children in Pinellas County with food insecurities and chronic hunger. Volunteers helped date donated food and assembled more than 1,000 meal bags to be distributed to children within Pinellas County schools.On April 13, St. Petersburg volunteers helped sort and tag incoming donations at Clothes to Kids, a nonprofit that provides free new and quality-used clothing to low-income or in-crisis school-age children.Mumbai Donates BloodFranklin Templeton Mumbai employees hosted a blood drive for a local blood bank. The city of Mumbai needs 650 units of blood every day. Donor help ensure blood units are available to meet these needs.Rancho Cordova Joins Sacramento SPCA's Doggy DashOn April 22, animal-loving volunteers in Rancho Cordova participated in the Sacramento SPCA's biggest fundraiser and the largest pet walk in Northern California of the year, the Doggy Dash. Volunteers helped at the registration desk and performed a variety of duties. The Franklin Templeton Fur Family team raised US$1,132 for the organization.About Franklin TempletonFranklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN] is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 155 countries. Franklin Templeton's mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the company offers boutique specialization on a global scale, bringing extensive capabilities in equity, fixed income, multi-asset solutions and alternatives. With offices in more than 30 countries and approximately 1,300 investment professionals, the California-based company has 75 years of investment experience and approximately $1.4 trillion in assets under management as of March 31, 2023. For more information, please visit franklintempleton.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.Franklin Templeton volunteers at the Doggy Dash.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Franklin Templeton on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Franklin TempletonWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/franklin-templeton Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Franklin Templeton
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EDWARDS, CO / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Forward Research, the leading R&D firm for the Arweave ecosystem, purchased 5,728 shares of HackerNoon common stock shares at $42.55 per share, a $50M pre-money valuation.Web3 Backups: All HackerNoon Stories Now Republish on Arweave HackerNoon shareholders previously purchased shares at the 2019 equity crowdfunding price of $8.20 and at the 2020 strategic investment price of $11.35, which was the last issuing of new HackerNoon shares."We backed up the entire HackerNoon library on Arweave for about $58," said HackerNoon Founder & CEO David Smooke. "We're still in the very early days of a truly decentralized internet, but when it comes to hosting and distributing digital text, we're thrilled to be a small part of driving that cost towards zero." HackerNoon backed up their tech library on Arweave. This ensures that HackerNoon, who recently exceeded one billion words published, and its contributing writers, will have Web3 backups for all their stories.Pioneering Text Preservation with ArweaveHackerNoon not only publishes about blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and Web3, but also works to integrate our publishing system with the emerging technologies that will make the next internet.Stories are how we learn. We are working to make HackerNoon stories last forever.More Web3 Integrations Already Live on HackerNoon#Signup / Login with Wallet1.0 is email, 2.0 is social, and 3.0 is the digital wallet. Really exciting for readers, writers, and partners to be able to use all HackerNoon has to offer with just a 3.0 identity.#NFTs as Profile Photos and Story EmbedsPeople can embeds NFTs into HackerNoon stories and use them as their profile avatars, which show up bordered by the notorious identity hexagon.#Crypto Data Price Pages: ex $BTC, $ETH, $ARThese coin price pages combine curated stories with timely data to form a qualitative and quantitate hub about each top cryptocurrency.#Web3 Writing ContestsBy publishing with Web3 tags, contributors enter to win prizes from paying customers such as Sandbox, Sora, Coinsbee, NOWpayments and Avalanche.One of the most important things we think Web3 can help us achieve is preservation. We are working to further decentralize the HackerNoon, making us a more community-driven, trustworthy and sustainable place to read, write, learn and publish.About HackerNoonHow hackers start their afternoons. HackerNoon's built for technologists to read, write, and publish. We are an open and international community of 35,000+ contributing writers publishing stories and expertise for 4,000,000+ curious and insightful monthly readers. Founded in 2016, HackerNoon is an independent technology publishing platform run by David Smooke and Linh Smooke.About ArweaveThe Arweave network is like Bitcoin, but for data: A permanent and decentralized web inside an open ledger. Permanent storage has many applications: from the preservation of humanity's most important data, to the hosting of truly decentralized and provably neutral web apps. It acts as a map that points you to places you can learn about, use and build on Arweave.Contact InformationLimarc AmbalinaVP of Editoriallimarc@ hackernoon.com Sheharyar KhanEditor, Business Technologysheharyar@ hackernoon.com SOURCE: HackerNoon
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HOLLYWOOD, FL and PEACHTREE CITY, GA / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / HEICO Corporation (NYSE: HEI.A)(NYSE:HEI) today announced that it entered into an agreement to acquire Wencor Group ("Wencor") from affiliates of Warburg Pincus LLC and Wencor's management for $1.9 billion in cash and $150 million in HEICO Class A Common Stock1 to be paid at closing, or $2.05 billion in the aggregate.The transaction will be HEICO's largest ever in purchase price, as well as revenues and income acquired. Wencor will become part of HEICO's Flight Support Group.HEICO stated that it expects the highly synergistic acquisition to be accretive to its earnings within the year following the closing. Further, HEICO anticipates it will continue to achieve its often-articulated growth objectives in the years following the closing.Founded in 1955, Wencor is a large commercial and military aircraft aftermarket company offering factory-new FAA-approved aircraft replacement parts, value-added distribution of high-use commercial & military aftermarket parts and aircraft & engine accessory component repair and overhaul services.Wencor is based in Peachtree City, GA and provides its parts and services internationally, employing approximately 1,000 team members in 19 facilities around the United States. HEICO currently employs approximately 9,000 Team Members at over 100 facilities worldwide. Wencor's customers include airlines worldwide, aircraft maintenance repair and overhaul companies, military agencies and defense contractors.Wencor's parts and repairs are found in hydraulic, pneumatic, electronic and electro-mechanical, cockpit and galley systems throughout numerous aircraft models and provide Wencor's customers with significant cost savings.HEICO anticipates that Wencor will generate approximately $724 million and $153 million in adjusted proforma revenues and EBITDA, respectively, in calendar year 2023.2 Further, HEICO expects to receive estimated tax benefits of approximately $75 million that will be realized through fiscal year 2038. Including the estimated tax benefits and without accounting for any expected synergies, HEICO anticipates that its effective purchase price multiple will be approximately 12.9 times Wencor's projected proforma adjusted EBITDA.Following the acquisition's completion, HEICO anticipates its net debt-to-EBITDA leverage ratio will be below 3:1 and will return to its historical levels within roughly a year to eighteen months after the acquisition, before taking into account future acquisitions and other possible capital deployment activities.HEICO stated that it believes its Flight Support Group will achieve meaningful synergies from the acquisition, though it is not now providing details on those likely synergies. HEICO's Flight Support Group has successfully achieved significant financial and other synergies from acquisitions of other businesses over many years.Laurans A. Mendelson, HEICO's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, along with Eric A. Mendelson, HEICO's Co-President and Chief Executive Officer of its Flight Support Group, together remarked, "Our Flight Support Group has for decades provided high-quality and reliable cost-saving products and services to the commercial aircraft and defense aftermarkets. The Wencor acquisition materially expands HEICO's aftermarket product offerings, enabling the combined company to offer even greater savings and capabilities to its customers, while expanding our new products and services development capacity. Wencor is a perfect and highly complementary fit with HEICO.Importantly, we look forward to welcoming Wencor's Team Members to the HEICO family and to working with Wencor's talented leadership team led by Shawn Trogdon, who will continue to lead the business." Shawn Trogdon, Wencor's Chief Executive Officer, remarked, "I am excited about the opportunity to combine HEICO and Wencor's impressive teams who share the same culture and commitment to our customers, suppliers and employees. The unmatched combination will further accelerate growth, innovation, and development of highly reliable cost-saving solutions for our customers. I am proud of our team's achievements to date and look forward to continuing our journey of growth with HEICO. I want to thank the Warburg Pincus team for their support and partnership that has helped enable our success." "We are proud of the transformative growth of Wencor and significant expansion and deepening of capabilities during our ownership period. The company is very well positioned for future growth, and we wish Shawn and the entire Wencor team continued success. As growth investors, we feel privileged to have supported Wencor in building a leading design, repair provider and distributor of aftermarket aerospace components," said Dan Zamlong, Managing Director, Warburg Pincus.Closing is subject to customary closing conditions, including, among other things, antitrust clearance. The parties anticipate closing the transaction by the end of calendar 2023.HEICO previously announced that it will hold its regular earnings-related conference call at 9:00 a.m. EST on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 following its earnings press release issuance the prior day. Dial-in and replay information is available on HEICO's website.Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC acted as lead financial advisor to HEICO, with RBC Capital Markets LLC and Truist Securities also advising HEICO. In addition, Lazard and Moelis & Company advised HEICO. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and Akerman LLP acted as legal counsel to HEICO. Truist Securities has provided committed financing for the transaction.Citi acted as lead advisor and Jefferies acted as co-advisor to Wencor in the transaction. William Blair and Alderman & Company also served as financial advisors to Wencor. Cleary Gottlieb Steen and Hamilton acted as legal counsel to Wencor.HEICO has two classes of common stock traded on the NYSE. Both classes, the Class A Common Stock ( HEI.A) and the Common Stock (HEI), 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.A and HEI. However, some websites change HEICO's Class A Common Stock trading symbol ( HEI.A) to HEI/A or HEIa.About HEICOHEICO 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, telecom
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New Public Partnerships Division and Student Results Earn Industry RecognitionORADELL, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Huntington Learning Center has reported record-breaking revenue numbers in its Q1 report, demonstrating impressive financial performance. The company, which marked its forty-fifth anniversary in June last year, has continued to exhibit growth in various areas, including student performance, revenue, and franchise expansion.Huntington Learning Center Huntington Learning Center has experienced a 10% increase in tutoring inquiries and completed academic assessments over the past year, with first-time tutoring students playing a significant role in driving growth. This upward trend demonstrates the effectiveness of Huntington's educational programs, and the growing demand for their services is expected to continue for Huntington Learning Center in 2023. The Huntington network of approximately 300 locations realized the following in Q1 2023:A 90% percent increase in the number of centers averaging $100K or more in revenue per month, and33 centers currently on track to hit $1M in 2023 after Q1, up from a total of 23 centers that made the million-dollar mark last year.Expansion numbers are also outpacing last year's growth. In 2022 Huntington saw the opening of six new centers, with 11 of their current franchisees opening an additional location. Q1 alone has seen three new Huntington Learning Centers open, with more on the horizon.As part of Huntington's commitment to delivering exceptional results to students and franchisees alike, Huntington is focused on increasing profitability, expanding unit count, and streamlining business processes; all while providing personalized training for franchisees. To achieve these goals, Huntington is investing heavily in infrastructure and digital transformation, rolling out next-gen proprietary software systems to further enhance operations and increase franchisee profitability. This includes growing their senior development team in IT, operations, and education development teams. The continued move towards digital innovation is in keeping with changes to standardized tests, which Huntington is already implementing into its prep programs. With these measures in place, Huntington Learning Center is poised to provide even greater value to its franchisees and students in the coming years.The demand for supplementary tutoring and test prep for students remains high among parents and teachers. The company expanded its programming scope by developing a designated Public Private Partnerships division aimed at combating skills gaps and missed learning caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The new division's initiatives partner with school districts and other community organizations to provide the best education possible to students in need, including underserved populations. To date, Huntington has a combined total of 126 completed and ongoing supplemental tutoring and test prep programs in school districts around the country.Q1 data additionally demonstrates impressive student results. After 50 hours of instruction, students improved their math percentile scores by 35% and reading percentile scores by 33% from pre-test to post-test. Additionally, HLC students showed a 229-point improvement on the SAT and a 5.4-point increase on the ACT.The growth and success of Huntington have not gone unnoticed. At the annual International Franchise Association conference, one of Huntington's esteemed franchisees, Cheri Reid, was recognized as a Franchisee of the Year. As a result of this financial success, the company was named to both the Franchise Journal Top Brands for 2022 and the Franchise Business Review's Top 200 Franchises for 2023. In addition, Huntington earned the impressive #104 ranking on Entrepreneur's 2023 Franchise 500 list along with the induction into Entrepreneur magazine's esteemed Hall of Fame. These accolades reflect the company's continued commitment to providing quality education services and its ability to meet the evolving needs of students and parents. The recognition from these respected publications reinforces Huntington's position as a leading franchise in the tutoring and education space.About Huntington Learning CenterHuntington Learning Center is the nation's leading tutoring and test prep provider. We offer customized programs in person, online, and hybrid options. Our certified teachers provide individualized instruction in phonics, reading, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington's programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Huntington is accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.HuntingtonHelps.com , and for franchising opportunities, visit www.HuntingtonFranchise.com Contact InformationHuntington Learning Centerhlc@ mbpconsultants.com SOURCE: Huntington Learning Center
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Julian Mitton, MD, a prominent healthcare executive, is pleased to announce the establishment of the Dr. Julian Mitton Scholarship for Healthcare Students. This prestigious scholarship aims to support and empower aspiring healthcare professionals who are dedicated to improving healthcare delivery and access in rural communities across the United States. With a one-time award of $1,000, this scholarship represents Dr. Mitton's commitment to nurturing the next generation of healthcare leaders.As an individual with extensive experience in healthcare management and leadership, Dr. Julian Mitton recognizes the unique challenges faced by rural healthcare systems and the potential impact on patient outcomes. Growing up in a family of healthcare professionals, his passion for the field was ignited at an early age. Dr. Mitton holds a Master's degree in Public Health from the esteemed Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health and has made significant contributions to the healthcare industry throughout his career.The Dr. Julian Mitton Scholarship is open to current undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree in a healthcare-related field at a university in the United States. High school students planning to enroll in a healthcare-related degree program at a university are also eligible to apply. This inclusive approach reflects Dr. Mitton's commitment to fostering diversity and ensuring equal opportunities for all aspiring healthcare professionals.Applicants for the scholarship are required to participate in an essay competition. To apply, students must submit a creative essay of under 1000 words that addresses the following question: "Rural healthcare in the United States faces unique challenges that can impact patient outcomes. What innovative solutions do you propose to improve healthcare delivery and access in rural communities?" Driven by the belief that innovation is crucial for the advancement of rural healthcare, Dr. Mitton looks forward to receiving thought-provoking and forward-thinking ideas from the applicants.Interested students can find further information and apply for the scholarship by Julian Mitton, MD on the official scholarship website at https://drjulianmittonscholarship.com/dr-julian-mitton-scholarship/ . The deadline for applications is October 15, 2023. Following a thorough evaluation process, the winner of the scholarship will be announced on November 15, 2023.Julian Mitton MD's vision for the scholarship is to empower aspiring healthcare professionals to make a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals in rural communities. By supporting their educational pursuits, he aims to inspire innovative solutions that will enhance healthcare delivery and access in underserved areas across the nation. As a recognized thought leader in the healthcare industry, Dr. Mitton has published numerous articles and white papers on healthcare management and value-based care, further establishing his commitment to promoting excellence and best practices in the field.The Dr. Julian Mitton Scholarship for Healthcare Students represents an extraordinary opportunity for aspiring healthcare professionals to receive financial support and recognition for their dedication to improving healthcare in rural communities. Dr. Mitton invites eligible students to apply and share their creative ideas and innovative solutions. Together, they can shape the future of rural healthcare and create positive change in the lives of individuals who rely on these vital services.About Julian Mitton, MD:Julian Mitton, MD is a healthcare management consultant and healthcare executive with extensive experience in the field. He holds a Master's degree in Public Health from Harvard University, and has worked for top-tier healthcare providers and leading institutions as a subject-matter expert in healthcare innovation, implementation science, addiction medicine and population health. consulting firms as he establishes his before establishing his own successful healthcare consulting practice.Contact Info:Spokesperson: Julian Mitton, MDOrganization: Dr. Julian Mitton ScholarshipWebsite: https://drjulianmittonscholarship.com Email: apply@ drjulianmittonscholarship.com SOURCE: Dr. Julian Mitton Scholarship
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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Lahontan Gold Corp (TSXV:LG)(OTCQB:LGCXF) (the "Company" or "Lahontan") is pleased to announce that it has signed a binding term sheet (the "Term Sheet") with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Emergent Metals Corp (collectively "Emergent") to acquire the advanced West Santa Fe gold-silver exploration project ("West Santa Fe"; also known as Mindora), located only 15 km West of Lahontan's Flagship asset, the Santa Fe Mine, in Nevada's prolific Walker Lane. West Santa Fe hosts an oxidized gold-silver mineralized system in a geologic setting nearly identical to Santa Fe. Previous exploration drilling at West Santa Fe totals over 13,000 metres in 171 drill holes; only five holes are deeper than 165 metres. Modeling of drill hole data by Lahontan geologists outlines a shallow gold and silver system with a sufficient volume to host 0.5 to 1.0M ounces of oxidized gold and silver mineralization in an open-pit mining configuration[1].The Term Sheet requires Lahontan to make payments totalling US$1.8M over a seven-year period to Emergent, back-end loaded (please see details of the Term Sheet below) to exercise an option to acquire a 100% interest in the 11.8 square kilometre property. The option payments (excepting the $10,000 signing payment) can be made in a combination of cash and shares at Lahontan's discretion. In addition, the Company will commit to exploration expenditures totalling US$1.4M over the same seven-year period, these expenditures that should be sufficient to define an initial mineral resource estimate for West Santa Fe. The initial option payments and work commitments can be easily accommodated by Lahontan's current cash position and budget.Kimberly Ann, Lahontan Founder, CEO, President, and Director commented: "The acquisition of West Santa Fe will be a significant milestone for Lahontan: A "bolt-on" asset which is accretive to the Santa Fe Mine that has the potential to add significant oxide gold and silver resource ounces for the Company. Back-end loaded, the Term Sheet allows Lahontan to conduct a definitive exploration program on the property with low monetary commitment by Lahontan, yet provides exposure to considerable resource upside. Combined with the continued organic growth of gold and silver resources at the Santa Fe Mine through drilling, West Santa Fe can help Lahontan accelerate the value-creation process for its shareholders by controlling multiple Top-Shelf precious metal exploration and mine development projects in a Tier One mining jurisdiction." Geology and Mineral Potential of West Santa FeGold and silver mineralization at West Santa Fe occurs as a sediment-hosted epithermal Au-Ag system hosted by Triassic age carbonate and volcanic rocks, a setting very similar to the Santa Fe Mine. Shallow gold and silver mineralization are localized to East-Northeast trending faults and offset by Northwest striking faults, a classic Walker Lane setting. In addition to over 13,000 metres of drilling, previous exploration activity at West Santa Fe includes: Geophysical studies including IP and aerial magnetic surveys, geochemical surveys including over 1,250 soil samples, and detailed geologic mapping.[1] The exploration target at West Santa Fe is conceptual in nature and is based on the size of the known mineralized zones, and gold and silver grades from historical drilling. The qualified person has not completed sufficient work to verify the historical information on West Santa Fe and this information should not be relied on.Modeling of the historical drill hole data by Lahontan geologists defines a continuous zone of gold and silver mineralization which extends from the surface down-rake to the East-Northeast. Utilizing a 0.31 g/t gold mineralized shell defined by historical drill hole data, outlines a large continuously mineralized area at West Santa Fe that has the potential to host a significant gold and silver resource1 (please see diagram below). Additional exploration drilling will be needed to define mineral resources and to validate the historical drill hole data base.Simple representation of drill holes and gold-silver mineral potential at West Santa Fe. Cross section looks West-Southwest with South-Southwest to the left and North-Northeast to the right. Grade shell is 0.31 g/t Au and is continuous in the mineralized zones. Within the core of the minerlaized area, grades exceed 1.5 g/t gold. Minerlization extends down-dip to the Northeast for several hundred metres where it remains open at depth and relatively shallow due to topography (please note scale).Location of the West Santa Fe Project, Mineral County, Nevada. Lahontan's land holdings in the Walker Lane now total 49 square kilometres.Details of the Binding Term SheetThe Term Sheet defines the terms and conditions under which Lahontan and Emergent will enter into a definitive agreement (the "Agreement"), pursuant to which the Company will be granted an option (the "Option") to acquire a 100% interest in West Santa Fe from a 100% owned subsidiary of Emergent. To exercise the Option in full, the Company must make cash payments in the aggregate amount of US$1.8 million and incur US$1.4 million in expenditures on West Santa Fe over a seven-year period, as follows:The Company shall make the following cash payments:TimingAmount ($US)Upon Signing of the Term Sheet$10,000First Anniversary of signing of the Agreement*$20,000Second Anniversary of signing of the Agreement *$25,000Third Anniversary of signing of the Agreement*$25,000Fourth Anniversary of signing of the Agreement*$30,000Fifth Anniversary of signing of the Agreement*$30,000Sixth Anniversary of signing of the Agreement*$40,000Seventh Anniversary of signing of the Agreement*$1,620,000Total$1,800,000*50% of these payments may be made in common shares of Lahontan Gold Corp. at Lahontan's discretion. Lahontan may accelerate these payments by paying the remaining balance of the purchase price at any time during the option period.The Company shall incur the following expenditures on West Santa Fe:TimingAmount ($US)December 31, 2024$150,000December 31, 2025$150,000December 31, 2026$200,000December 31, 2027$200,000December 31, 2028$200,000December 31, 2029$250,000Seventh Anniversary of signing of the Agreement$250,000Total$1,400,000Note:Work Commitments include, but are not limited to, geological, geochemical, and geophysical studies, exploration drilling and support activities, reasonable management costs associated with th
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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / At Lenovo, community engagement and philanthropy are big parts of our company culture. We're proud to have many employees who are passionate about giving back to under-resourced communities across the globe. Last year, Lenovo Foundation announced a global partnership with Wine To Water (WTW), a non-profit organization that provides access to clean drinking water and hygiene education to communities across the world. Lenovo's multi-year agreement provides financial support, as well as technology solutions in Nepal, Colombia, Tanzania, Dominican Republic, and North Carolina. Lenovo also invited a select group of employees to volunteer in the field to see first-hand how Wine To Water is making a difference in communities.Employees representing the Lenovo Foundation - the philanthropic arm of Lenovo - were selected to participate in Wine To Water service trips in Nepal, the Amazon, and Dominican Republic. During the service trips, team members from different backgrounds, departments, and tenure, worked alongside local community members to undertake a range of projects. Volunteers dug trenches, laid pipelines, modeled and distributed ceramic water filters, and taught women and children the about the importance of hygiene.An important aspect of WTW's mission is to build relationships with the communities they serve and work hand-in-hand with these communities in often remote, hard to reach places. For many of the Lenovo volunteers, the experience of helping create sustainable change by creating access to clean drinking water left them with feelings of gratitude and empowerment."I had a lot of different feelings at the end of the trip; appreciative of the people that we met, inspired to continue service work back home, and empathetic-not sympathetic-for the communities we served. The experience with WTW keeps me grounded and wanting to still give back," said Kelly Darden, ThinkCentre Product Manager at Lenovo North America. Darden was one of 19 Lenovo employees selected to attend the WTW service trip to the Dominican Republic in January 2023.To help bring more awareness to WTW and its impact, Lenovo funded the production of Beyond Water, a documentary about Wine To Water's work and the power of clean water, featuring stories and footage from the service trips to Dominican Republic, Nepal, and the Amazon. Lenovo is promoting the documentary and is hosting screenings across the United States to increase awareness of Wine To Water and its mission of ensuring that all people have access to clean water.To watch the full documentary, visit https://www.wtw.org/beyond-water-documentary View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Lenovo on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: LenovoWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/lenovo Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Lenovo
Fourteen-year-old employees would be able to serve alcohol in restaurants or taverns under a Republican proposal released Monday  down from the current minimum age of 18.

The proposal would allow 14- to 17-year-olds to serve alcohol only to customers not seated at a bar.

The current age requirement causes workforce issues due to an establishments underage employees only being able to do part of their job, draft bill authors Sen. Rob Stafsholt, R-New Richmond, and Rep. Chanz Green, R-Grandview, said in a memo to legislators seeking support for the proposal.

Wisconsin is already having severe workforce shortage issues, specifically in the food and beverage industry, they said.

The measure would allow Wisconsin establishments to have the youngest alcohol servers nationwide, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. West Virginia allows 16-year-old servers to tend bar and serve alcohol, but in the vast majority of other states, servers must be 18 or older.

Under the measure, a licensed operator would have to be on the premises supervising the underage workers.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback appeared to criticize the proposal, tweeting that while Evers wanted to address workforce shortages by expanding paid family leave and making child care more affordable, among other things, Republicans wanted to allow younger alcohol servers.

.@GovEvers and Wisconsinites: Lets address our states workforce challenges by

 building more workforce housing

 expanding paid family leave

 making child care more affordable

 investing in job and skills training

 funding our schools



Republicans: https://t.co/PyguGPWqxM  Britt Cudaback (@BrittCudaback) May 1, 2023

A spokesperson for Senate Minority Leader Melissa Agard, D-Madison, didnt immediately respond to a request for comment about the proposal.

Tavern League of Wisconsin spokesperson Scott Stenger said the organization supports the draft bill. He said the Tavern League had no role in lobbying for or drafting the measure.

Wisconsin has a long, fraught relationship with alcohol. More than 777,000 currently licensed drivers in Wisconsin, or nearly 1 in 5, have been convicted of operating while intoxicated at least once as of Dec. 31, 2021, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

While the drinking age in Wisconsin is 21, about 20% of 15- to 17-year-olds in the state drank in the previous month, according to a 2018 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration report. Just more than 56% of 18- to 20-year-old Wisconsinites reported drinking in the previous month, the report states.

Around 90% of underage drinking is binge drinking, or drinking at least four drinks in two hours, according to the Department of Health Services.

First-time underage drinkers can face up to a $500 fine and have their drivers license temporarily suspended.

100 years ago: Prohibition begins long dry spell in Madison Prohibition: Fauerbach Brewery Prohibition: Madison crowd celebrates end Prohibition: Fauerbach Badger Club Special Prohibition: Hausmann Brewery Prohibition: Hausmann Brewery Bar Prohibition: Liquor Laws Prohibition: Front page 1917 Prohibition: Front page 1933 Prohibition: Crowd celebrates at Fauerbach Brewery
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JACKSONVILLE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / LFTD Partners Inc. ("LFTD Partners" or the "Company") (OTCQB:LIFD), the corporate parent of Lifted Made, maker of the award-winning Urb and Silly Shruum brands of hemp and psychoactive products, today reported its first quarter 2023 financial results.Nicholas S. Warrender, Vice Chairman and COO of LFTD Partners and Founder and CEO of Lifted Made, said, "We've made tremendous progress this year to position ourselves for long term growth and we generated over $12 million in top line and generated over $2 million in EBITDA in Q1. We recently entered into a five-year agreement to serve as the exclusive worldwide manufacturer and distributor of vape and gummy products for Cali Sweets in California, under the brand names Koko Puffz and Koko Yummiez. The feedback we are hearing is very positive on our new Koko branded product launches. We also recently entered into a multi-year agreement with Diamond Supply Co. in California, to serve as the exclusive worldwide manufacturer of Diamond-branded hemp-derived products. Diamond is a leading brand in skateboarding and streetwear. Nick Tershay, founder of Diamond is a true visionary in the counterculture space, working with top brands and artists like Nike, Modelo, DJ Khaled, Travis Scott, and many more. We're thrilled to add Urb to that list and bring fresh eyes and innovation to the cannabinoid market. We just recently closed on the acquisition of Oculus CRS, which has been a valuable supplier of high quality, award-winning, packaged flower products, such as joints and blunts." Income Statement Highlights - Q1 2023 Compared to Q1 2022:Revenue decreased 31% to $12,461,793, down from $18,088,877One-time, non-cash employee stock compensation expense of $2,138,175, up from $0Net loss of $141,742, down from net income of $2,944,793Basic net loss per common share of $0.01 per share, down from $0.21 basic net income per common shareDiluted net loss per common share of $0.01 per share, down from $0.18 diluted net income per common shareBasic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2023 were 14,246,745 and 14,246,745, respectivelyBalance Sheet Highlights - March 31, 2023 Compared to December 31, 2022:Cash on hand decreased 2% to $3,470,125, down from $3,530,623Inventory increased 26% to $7,563,500, up from $6,023,967Current assets increased 8% to $14,923,190, up from $13,853,949Current ratio increased 17% to 2.61, from 2.23Working capital increased 20% to $9,210,158, up from $7,643,816No debt as of March 31, 2023Gerard M. Jacobs, Chairman and CEO of LFTD Partners, said, "During the first quarter of 2023, LFTD Partners recognized a net loss after ten straight quarters of profitability, solely because of the impact of a one-time, non-cash employee stock compensation expense of $2.1 million. At the closing of our acquisition of Lifted Made in February 2020, 645,000 shares of our unregistered common stock were designated as contingent deferred compensation to employees specified by Nick Warrender, as an employee retention incentive. The deferred contingent stock vested on February 24, 2023, and in accordance with US GAAP, we expensed the value of the vested deferred contingent stock. This one-time, non-cash charge swung our company from a positive net income for the quarter of $1.4 million to a net loss of $141,000. But for this charge, LFTD Partners would have reported a basic and fully diluted EPS of $0.10 and $0.09, respectively, for Q1 2023."Earnings Conference Call and Webcast InformationLFTD Partners plans to hold a first quarter 2023 earnings conference call and webcast today, Monday, May 15, 2023 at 8:30 AM ET.Participant phone numbers:Toll Free: 888-506-0062International: 973-528-0011Participant Access Code: 401324Webcast event link:The participant phone numbers and webcast event link are shown on the Investor Relations section of LFTD Partners' website at https://www.lftdpartners.com/investors The webcast replay will also be available on the Investor Relations section of LFTD Partners' website.Although attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions during the earnings conference call, attendees are encouraged to submit questions prior to the call by emailing them to: jakejacobs@ lftdpartners.com About LFTD Partners Inc.Publicly-traded LFTD Partners Inc., Jacksonville, FL (OTCQB:LIFD) is the parent corporation of Lifted Made, Kenosha, WI ( www.urb.shop) , which manufactures and sells hemp-derived and psychoactive products under its award-winning Urb and Silly Shruum brands. LFTD Partners Inc. also owns 4.99% of CBD-infused beverage and products maker Ablis ( www.AblisBev.com) , and of craft vodka, gin and whiskey distillers Bendistillery Inc. d/b/a Crater Lake Spirits ( www.CraterLakeSpirits.com) and Bend Spirits, Inc. ( www.Bendistillery.com) all located in Bend, OR. Please read LIFD's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission which fully describe our business and the Risk Factors associated therewith. Stay updated with our company news and product launches by subscribing to our newsletters at www.LFTDPartners.com and www.urb.shop Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsCertain statements in this document are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such information includes the operations, financing, growth, performance, products, plans and expectations of LFTD Partners Inc. and Lifted Made. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause or contribute to these companies' actual operations, financing, growth, performance, products, plans or results of these companies differing materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of certain other factors, including the risk factors set forth in LFTD Partners Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell common stock or any other securities of LFTD Partners Inc
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-15 13:00:39

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Manhattan BioSolutions, Inc. ("Manhattan Bio"), an emerging biotechnology company developing new classes of precision biologics for the treatment of advanced cancers, today announced that it has entered into an exclusive option agreement with the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) for the innovative pan-RNA degrader technologies (pRNAD) in oncology. The exclusive option agreement involves the intellectual property rights to technology developed in the laboratory of Ronald T. Raines at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.Ronald T. Raines, Ph.D., is currently the Roger and Georges Firmenich Professor of Natural Products Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), an Extramural Member of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, and an Associate Member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Professor Raines has also joined Manhattan Bio's Board of Directors.The pRNAD technology is based on an engineered derivative of a naturally occurring nuclease protein involved in host defense to selectively degrade RNA in both tumors and their microenvironment. In preclinical studies, pRNAD has shown a favorable tolerability profile and potent single agent activity against a variety of cancer models such as ovarian, prostate, non-small cell lung and colon cancers. The lead drug candidate has been previously evaluated in a Phase 1 human clinical trial conducted in patients with advanced refractory solid tumors, showing promising results.Dr Borys Shor, Chairman and CEO, Manhattan Bio, commented: "We are excited to announce this agreement and associated data acquisition, which adds potentially first-in-class clinic-ready program to our pipeline of differentiated biologics. This agent was designed to specifically target and disrupt key vulnerabilities in tumors, including their dependence on extracellular RNA and hyperactive RNA metabolic pathways. Our strategy has been to build a portfolio of world-class development candidates through a combination of in-licensing or in-house discovery. The RNAD transaction is in line with this vision." Pending completion of the investigational new drug (IND) application process and subsequent regulatory activation of the IND, Manhattan Bio plans to initiate a phase 1b clinical trial in selected tumor indications. The company is also advancing innovative technologies capable of potentially generating multiple Investigational New Drug Applications (INDs), including novel linker/payload technologies for antibody-drug conjugates.About Manhattan BioSolutionsManhattan BioSolutions, Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company focused on the development of biologic immunotherapies that target host defense pathways for the treatment of age-related diseases. The company has established partnerships with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Stony Brook University, Binghamton University, The University at Buffalo, INSERM, EVQLV and has been awarded grants by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT) and the University at Buffalo Center for Advanced Technology in Big Data and Health Sciences (UBCAT).About WARFThe Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) patents and licenses discoveries from UW-Madison research, manages an investment portfolio generated from licensing and investment proceeds, and provides annual grants to the campus to support further scientific investigation and research. By driving collaborations between researchers, investors, industry and entrepreneurs, WARF commercializes innovations from campus through various initiatives. WARF Accelerator improves the commercialization potential of university intellectual property through industry engagement and investment in proof-of-concept milestones to validate market potential, demonstrate commercial value, and de-risk technology. WARF Therapeutics partners with UW-Madison and Morgridge Institute researchers employing an industry-focused approach to improve value propositions of drug candidates. WARF Ventures is an early-stage venture fund that invests in startups based on UW/WARF technologies. Learn more at warf.org Contact for investor inquiries:Jordana Lovett, PhDDirector of Investor Relations(917) 740-2111ir@ manhattanbiosolutions.com SOURCE: Manhattan BioSolutions, Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-15 08:00:20

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LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) tax refund for manufacturing companies, distributors, suppliers, plants, manufacturers, and other small and large factory-type businesses, provides a valuable tax refund from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Many manufacturers in every state qualify a portion of the eligibility period due to mandated state government, county, city, or municipality restrictions placed on plant locations during the COVID pandemic. Manufacturers were forced to partially or fully close factories, limit assembly line capacity, reduce workforce operation capacity, reduce hours of operation, and had on-going supply chain delay issues of getting raw materials from overseas, to shipping their products to their dealers and suppliers. Even if a manufacturing company revenue didn't decline, or even if it increased, under the full and partial shutdown rules and/or supply chain issues, most manufacturing companies may still qualify for up to a $26,000 to $33,000 employee retention tax credit refund per employee on the company's payroll during the 2020 and 2021 tax years.Manufacturing companies, suppliers, warehouse distributors, plants, factories, and other manufacturers may be missing out on a potentially large Manufacturing Employee Retention Credit Business Tax Refund by not fully understanding how and why their company qualifies. Image Credit: Pressmaster / 123rf."With more that 591,000 manufacturing businesses in the United States employing almost 13,000,000 manufacturer employees on payroll, the manufacturing industry was definitely one of the most disrupted industries during the pandemic. Many manufacturing companies will qualify for the Employee Retention Tax Credit in some way, depending on their particular business circumstances," said Marty Stewart, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) with Disaster Loan Advisors (DLA).How Most Manufacturers Qualify for the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) Tax RefundAll manufacturers may be eligible to claim the IRS employee retention credit in 2023, 2024, and even 2025, "if" they qualify any portion of time between March 13, 2020 to September 30, 2021 for manufacturing companies that were around prior to the COVID pandemic. For manufacturers, suppliers, or distribution companies that were started or purchased after February 15, 2020, those manufacture types are eligible from the time their company opened until December 31, 2021. These types of manufacturing businesses are also referred to as a recovery startup business, and qualify for the 4th quarter of 2021.The Manufacturing Industry (NAICS 31-33) Led All Sectors in Full and Partial Shutdowns, Supply Chain Issues, and Overall Disruptions Due to the COVID Pandemic. Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Illustrations by: Disaster Loan AdvisorsThree Key Ways Manufacturers and Manufacturing Businesses Can Qualify for the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC)Manufacturers only need to qualify a quarter or portion of time for the $26,000 employee retention tax credit in one of three potential ways.1. The first way a manufacturing company that produces goods and products can qualify is if it experienced a full or partial shutdown due to COVID-19 government regulations. Or, any other government-mandated shutdown orders that caused disruptions to production or distribution operations during specific periods in 2020 or 2021 due to the pandemic, says the IRS.From the government mandated shutdown or start date of manufacturing operation capacity restrictions, or lack of raw materials to produce and ship goods sold due to supply chain disruptions, to the end date when those same restrictions were fully lifted, your manufacturing business qualifies for the manufacturing ERC credit and tax refund.The pandemic led to the closure of manufacturing plants, factories, and production facilities worldwide, resulting in a lack of goods and products to make and sell. This, in turn, caused significant delays and shortages in shipments to retailers, distributors, suppliers, dealers and other businesses across the nation, leading to a surge in pandemic prices of various manufactured goods. Manufacturers have continued to face shortages and supply chain problems throughout 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.2. The second way is that a manufacturer did not have to be fully shut down to qualify. It could have been considered only partially shut down due to lack of goods and products to produce and sell, often caused by their suppliers of raw materials (whether domestic or imported) having shortages or shutting down themselves. State mandates caused manufacturers to suspend operations, assembly lines to halt production, and limited factory hours of operation and assembly capacities. All of these issues clearly impacted most, if not all manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and warehouse operations nationwide, depending on the type of goods and products they produced and distributed.3. Or, the third way a manufacturing business can qualify for the ERTC tax credit is if it has experienced a significant decline in gross receipts compared to one of two prior years (2019 versus 2020 or 2021). A decline in gross receipts is significant when the decline is more than -50% in 2020 as compared to the same quarter in 2019, or -20% in 2021 compared to the same quarter in 2019. In clear terms, you have to compare 2020 versus 2021 of the same quarters with 2019.If you are a manufacturing owner or executive and paid wages to less than 100 employees in any quarter in 2020 (500 employees or less in 2021), those payroll gross wage numbers and salaries will be counted towards the ERC tax credit, regardless of whether they were full-time or part-time.The rules get tricky if you paid more than 100 manufacturing employees in any quarter in 2020, or paid more than 500 employees in any qualifying quarter in 2021.ERC Warning for Manufacturers: Many CFOs, Controllers, Accounting Professionals, CPA's, Financial Planners, Bookkeepers, and Tax Preparers Are Wrongly Advising Their Manufacturing Company Clients They Do Not Qualify for the Employee Retention CreditThe unfortunate mistake for some manufacturer owners, partners, and principals, many may have been given bad advice by their corporate CFO, controller, accountant, CPA, tax preparer, bookkeeper, financial planner, or other well-meaning accounting and tax professional.The main reason this is occurring is their accounting, tax, or financial professionals did not take the time to fully educate themselves on the complex and confusing employee retention credit program for themselves or the
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-15 22:55:56

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CALGARY, AB and SAN ANTONIO, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Nexera Energy Inc. (TSX Venture:NGY, OTC PINK:EMBYF) (the "Corporation", the "Company" or "Nexera") is providing a bi-weekly default status report (the "Default Status Report") in accordance with National Policy 12-203 - Management Cease Trade Orders ("NP 12-203").On May 2, 2023, the Company announced (the "Default Announcement") that, for the reasons disclosed in the Press Release and Default Announcement, the filing of its annual financial statements, accompanying management discussion and analysis and related CEO and CFO certifications for the period ended December 31, 2021 (the "Annual Filings") would not be completed by the prescribed filing deadline.As a result of these delays and as further disclosed in the Company's press release dated April 21, 2023, the Company proactively applied to its principal regulator, the Alberta Securities Commission ("ASC"), for a management cease trade order ("MCTO") in regards to these Annual Filings, and the ASC granted the MCTO to the Company. The MCTO restricts all trading in securities of the Company, whether direct or indirect, by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company until such time as the Annual Filings have been filed by the Company. The MCTO does not affect the ability of shareholders who are not insiders of the Company to trade their securities.The Company's board of directors and its management confirms that they are working expeditiously to meet the Company's filing obligations and expect to file the Annual Filings on or before May 31, 2023.As required by the alternative information guidelines specified by NP 12-203, the Company reports that since the Default Announcement and any subsequent press release disclosure there have not been any changes to the information set out in the Default Announcement that would reasonably be expected to be material to an investor nor any failure by the Company to fulfill its intentions as stated therein with respect to satisfying the provisions of the alternative information guidelines, and there are no additional defaults or anticipated defaults subsequent to the disclosure therein, other than the delay in filing the Annual Filings. Further, there is no additional material information concerning the affairs of the Company that has not been generally disclosed and there are no insolvency proceedings against the Company as of the date of this Default Status Report.Until the Annual Filings have been filed, the Company intends to continue to satisfy the provisions of the alternative information guidelines set out in NP 12-203 by issuing bi-weekly default status reports in the form of further press releases, which will also be filed on SEDAR. To the extent applicable, the Company is scheduled to file its next default status report in two weeks from the date hereof.Also, further to the press release of the Corporation dated April 20, 2023, the subscription of Debentures by an insider of the Company (Mr. Graham Carter (a director of the Company - $300,000 in Debentures may be considered a "Related Party Transactions" under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions, however the Corporation will rely upon available exemptions from the minority shareholder approval and valuation requirements set forth in that Instrument (the fair market value of these subscriptions being less than 25% of the Corporation's market capitalization (exemptions found in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions)). The actions disclosed herein were approved by the board of directors of the Corporation via written resolution, signed and approved by all directors.For further information, please contact:Nexera Energy Inc. President, Shelby D. Beattie, by telephone at (403) 262-6000Email: info@ nexeraenergy.com About Nexera Energy Inc.Nexera Energy Inc. (TSX Venture: NGY) is an energy company with oil producing properties in Southwest Texas. Nexera is owner and operator of the Lavernia, Wooden Horse and Stockdale Horizon Projects. The Company also owns 100% of Production Resources Inc., a South Texas oil company.Forward Looking StatementsExcept for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained herein relating to the timing of the filing of financial statements constitutes forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.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: Nexera Energy Inc.
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Hagens Berman urges Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE:NSC) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Class Period: Oct. 8, 2020 - Mar. 3, 2023Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 15, 2023Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/NSC Contact An Attorney Now: NSC@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) Securities Fraud Class Action:The complaint alleges that Defendants misrepresented and concealed material facts concerning Norfolk Southern's increased risk-taking at the expense of reasonable safety precautions due to the company's near-term focus on profits.Specifically, the company invoked a plan to, among other things, use longer, heavier trains staffed by fewer personnel, which led to increased train derailments and the risk of future catastrophic events. The complaint also alleges that while failing to make proper capital expenditures in safety risk programs, the company concurrently lobbied for policies undermining its ability to provide safe, efficient, and reliable rail transportation services.The complaint alleges that this undisclosed conduct made Norfolk Southern more susceptible to accidents that could seriously harm the company, its workers, its customers, third parties, and the environment.The true facts began to emerge on Feb. 3, 2023, when a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. The derailed equipment included 11 tank cars carrying hazardous materials that subsequently ignited and required the immediate evacuation of those within a one-mile by two-mile area. According to regulators, the derailment was entirely preventable.An additional revelation of Norfolk Southern's safety lapses occurred on Mar. 14, 2023, when another of its freight trains derailed near Springfield, Ohio."We're focused on investors' losses and proving Norfolk Southern put profits over safety," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.If you invested in Norfolk Southern and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Norfolk Southern should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email NSC@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens BermanHagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP
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LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2015 / The Patrick Nelson Scholarship 2023 for Student Entrepreneurs is now accepting applications. This prestigious scholarship, established by Patrick Nelson, CEO of Nelson Partners, LLC, aims to support and recognize exceptional student entrepreneurs with a passion for innovation and a drive to make a difference in the world. The scholarship, with a one-time award of $1,000, is open to students currently enrolled in a university in the United States or high school students with plans to launch their own business in the future.Patrick Nelson, a highly accomplished American entrepreneur and real estate industry leader, created this scholarship program to nurture and empower the next generation of business leaders. With over two decades of experience in the industry, Nelson Partners, LLC specializes in acquiring, developing, and managing high-quality student housing facilities across the United States.To apply for the Student Entrepreneur Scholarship, interested students must submit a creative essay of no more than 1000 words, addressing the following question:"Describe a new product or service that you believe will revolutionize the way we live or work in the next 10 years. How would you go about bringing this idea to life as an entrepreneur?"The deadline to submit applications is October 15, 2023. A panel of judges will carefully review each submission and evaluate them based on their creativity, feasibility, and potential impact. The winner of the scholarship will be announced on November 15, 2023.The Patrick Nelson Scholarship 2023 for Student Entrepreneurs offers an unparalleled opportunity for young visionaries to receive financial support and guidance in pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams. By providing this scholarship, Patrick Nelson aims to foster innovation, inspire creativity, and encourage aspiring entrepreneurs to develop groundbreaking solutions that address the challenges of the future.Patrick Nelson's extensive background in the real estate industry, coupled with his commitment to excellence and community service, underscores the significance of this scholarship program. With an BBA from Brigham Young University, an MBA from Utah State University, and a family legacy deeply rooted in the real estate business, Patrick Nelson's leadership has propelled Nelson Partners, LLC to become a major player in the student housing industry. The company's portfolio of student housing facilities, strategically located with walkability to college campuses, offer students a premier living experience with modern amenities and top-quality furnishings.In addition to his business ventures, Patrick Nelson is actively involved in philanthropic endeavors. His dedication to giving back to the community and supporting charitable organizations has earned him a reputation as a leader in both the business and philanthropic communities.For more information about the Patrick Nelson Scholarship 2023 for Student Entrepreneurs, including eligibility criteria and the application process, please visit the official website at https://patricknelsonscholarship.com/ About Patrick Nelson:Patrick Nelson is a highly accomplished American entrepreneur and the current owner and CEO of Nelson Partners, LLC. With over twenty years of experience in the real estate industry, Patrick is widely recognized as a leader in the field of student housing. Nelson Partners, LLC is a fully integrated real estate investment firm specializing in acquiring, developing, and managing high-quality student housing facilities across the United States.Patrick holds an MBA from Brigham Young University and grew up in a family with deep roots in the real estate business. His extensive knowledge of the industry has enabled him to carefully select properties that offer long-term value to investors, while also providing students with top-of-the-line amenities.Nelson Partners, LLC is renowned for its premier portfolio of student housing facilities located in close proximity to college campuses. The properties are designed to offer students the ultimate college experience, with modern and comfortable spaces equipped with state-of-the-art technology, premium furnishings, and top-quality appliances.Contact Info:Spokesperson: Patrick NelsonOrganization: Patrick Nelson ScholarshipWebsite: https://patricknelsonscholarship.com Email: apply@ patricknelsonscholarship.com SOURCE: Patrick Nelson Scholarship
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-15 15:30:27

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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Prysmian Group, the world leader in the energy and telecom cable industry, received the Innovation Award at this year's Business Impact Awards sponsored by the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.The Northern Kentucky business community and NKY Chamber joined together at Drees Pavilion on May 3 to celebrate small and large businesses, new and long-standing, for their innovation, creativity, strong business practices and leadership."Once again, a big round of applause and congratulations to all of this year's winners of the Business Impact Awards," said Brent Cooper, President & CEO of the NKY Chamber. "Their leadership and contributions not only grow our economy, they also help our community be the best place to live, work, play, learn and give back." Prysmian was selected as the winner of the Innovation Award, recognizing a business that has inspired and delivered new thinking in the marketplace, raising the bar and showcasing Northern Kentucky as an area of thoughtful, innovative industry leaders."It was an honor to receive the Innovation Award this year and for Prysmian to be considered alongside these other incredible businesses that make up the Northern Kentucky region," said Paul Furtado, COO of Prysmian Group North America. "The room was packed full of community members, business leaders and representatives that make Northern Kentucky such an innovative region, and we are pleased to be recognized among them." Innovation is an integral part of Prysmian's business model, helping deliver wire and cable products that are faster, smarter and more sustainable than before."For Prysmian, innovation is all about meeting the needs of our customers and communities, understanding their business drivers as quickly as they do," said Valeria Garcia, Vice President of Research and Development at Prysmian Group. "With six research and development centers across North America, we can engineer breakthrough projects, like our E3X Robot System, that enhance energy transmission efficiency, safety and sustainability." Developed initially as an in-factory application process for aluminum conductors and field installations to new overhead transmission lines, Prysmian Group created and patented an E3X robotic application process to meet a growing customer need that brings this innovative technology to existing transmission conductors. By applying a heat-dissipating E3X Technology coating on existing power lines, utilities can increase capacity by 15-25 percent.The E3X robot system was engineered with one of Prysmian's utility customers and tested on live lines, ultimately winning Gold in the 2022 Edison Award for innovation.Learn more about Prysmian Group's breakthrough innovations at na.prysmiangroup.com Prysmian Group North AmericaPrysmian Group is a multinational company headquartered in Milan, specializing in the production of cable and systems for use in the energy and telecom industries. Prysmian is the largest cable producer in the world with 30,000 associates and $16 billion in sales. Prysmian is present in North America with 28 plants, 48 in Europe, 13 in Latin America, 7 in the Middle East, Africa and Turkey, and 13 in Asia-Pacific.Based in Highland Heights, Ky., Prysmian Group North America's operations include 28 manufacturing facilities, eight distribution centers, six R&D centers, and more than 6,000 associates with net sales of $6 billion. Additional information is available at na.prysmiangroup.com Media RelationsLauren KaneCommunications ManagerSOURCE: Prysmian Group
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The state-of-the-art quality control and research and development laboratory in Balerna, Switzerland is run by APR Applied Pharma Research SA, a Relief Therapeutics subsidiaryGENEVA, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SA (SIX: RLF)(OTCQB:RLFFD)(OTCQB:RLFTD) (Relief Therapeutics, or the Company), a biopharmaceutical company committed to delivering innovative treatment options with the potential for transformative outcomes to benefit those suffering from select specialty and rare diseases, today announced its new state-of-the-art laboratory has been audited and approved by the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products (Swissmedic) and meets Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. Swissmedic is the national authorization and supervisory authority for drugs and medical products and devices.The next-generation laboratory in Balerna, Switzerland is run by Relief Therapeutics' subsidiary APR Applied Pharma Research SA (APR) and offers a comprehensive suite of analytical and development services for internal projects and provides external clients with data and full documentation to meet current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP), International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) and international regulatory authority requirements."GMP compliance is a critical achievement for our laboratory, enabling us to create, safeguard and supply high-quality products to patients and healthcare providers as well as enable the future submissions of product files to regulatory authorities," said Paolo Galfetti, chief operating officer of Relief Therapeutics and chief executive officer of APR. "Our new GMP lab is designed to meet forthcoming pharmaceutical challenges and is fully integrated with the current technical and analytical R&D capabilities, with more than 800 m 2 equipped for analytical and formulation development of solid and non-solid dosage forms." The modern analytical laboratory is part of APR's overall upgrade of the research and development facilities and equipment in Balerna, which now includes four new state-of-the-art high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) systems equipped for method scouting, new analytical scales, viscometers, physical testing instruments as well as a new packaging area equipped with filling and blistering machines to pack research and development prototypes for stability studies."We are excited that our new GMP-compliant lab in Balerna, where innovation is driven by our experienced and highly talented employees, is now Swissmedic-approved and operational," said Jack Weinstein, chief executive officer of Relief Therapeutics. "APR is a trusted and experienced formulator and developer, which has been validated by the breadth and quality of its contract service partners and products that have been developed over more than 30 years." GMP requires manufacturers to ensure their products are safe and effective and cGMP requires manufactures to employ technologies and systems that are up to date and comply with GMP regulations with systems that assure proper design, monitoring and control of manufacturing processes and facilities.ABOUT APR APPLIED PHARMA RESEARCH SAAPR Applied Pharma Research S.A. (APR) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Relief Therapeutics, which acquired the company in June 2021. The acquisition provided a vibrant research and development organization and a foundational commercial infrastructure for future product launches as well as commercial products and clinical-stage programs that transformed Relief Therapeutics into a diversified, fully integrated, commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company. The APR team continues to utilize its proven drug development expertise with proprietary drug delivery technologies to deliver solutions for rare disease management.ABOUT RELIEF THERAPEUTICSRelief Therapeutics is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing treatment paradigms and delivering improvements in efficacy, safety and convenience to benefit the lives of patients living with select specialty and rare diseases. Relief Therapeutics' portfolio offers a balanced mix of marketed, revenue-generating products, our proprietary, globally patented Physiomimic and TEHCLO drug delivery platform technologies and a highly targeted clinical development pipeline consisting of risk-mitigated assets focused in three core therapeutic areas: rare metabolic disorders, rare skin diseases and rare respiratory diseases. In addition, Relief Therapeutics is commercializing several legacy products via licensing and distribution partners. Relief Therapeutics' mission is to provide therapeutic relief to those suffering from rare diseases and is being advanced by an international team of well-established, experienced biopharma industry leaders with extensive research, development and rare disease expertise. Relief Therapeutics is headquartered in Geneva, with additional offices in Balerna, Switzerland, Offenbach am Main, Germany and Monza, Italy. Relief Therapeutics is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the symbol RLF and quoted in the U.S. on OTCQB under the symbols RLFFD and RLFTD. For more information, please visit our website www.relieftherapeutics.com or follow Relief Therapeutics on LinkedIn and Twitter .CONTACT :RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SACatherine DayVice President, Investor Relations & Communicationscontact@ relieftherapeutics.com DISCLAIMERThis press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Relief Therapeutics to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. A number of factors including those described in Relief Therapeutics' filings with the SIX Swiss Exchange and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) could adversely affect Relief Therapeutics. Copies of Relief Therapeutics' filings with the SEC are available on the SEC EDGAR database at www.sec.gov . Relief Therapeutics does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date.SOURCE: Relief Therapeutics Holdings AG
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NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICESTORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Roscan Gold Corporation ("Roscan" or the "Company") (TSXV:ROS)(FSE:2OJ)(OTCQB:RCGCF) announces that, further to its press releases of March 31, 2023 and May 10, 2023, the Company has closed the final tranche of its non-brokered private placement through the issuance of 6,625,000 common shares (the "Common Shares") in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.20 per Common Share for gross proceeds of $1,325,000 (the "Offering"). All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance and the resale rules of applicable securities legislation. Gross proceeds of the Offering will be used for exploration and development of the Company's Kandiole Project and for working capital and general corporate purposes.This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.About RoscanRoscan Gold Corporation is a Canadian gold exploration company focused on the exploration and acquisition of gold properties in West Africa. The Company has assembled a significant land position of 100%-owned permits in an area of producing gold mines (including B2 Gold's Fekola Mine which lies in a contiguous property to the west of Kandiole), and major gold deposits, located both north and south of its Kandiole Project in West Mali.For further information, please contact:Nana SangmuahPresident & CEOTel: (902) 832-5555Email: info@ Roscan.ca Forward Looking StatementsThis news release contains forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, and other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, including those risks set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis as filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com . Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including that all necessary governmental and regulatory approvals will be received as and when expected. 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. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as 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 release.SOURCE: Roscan Gold Corporation
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of adidas AG ("adidas" or the "Company") (OTCMKT:ADDYY). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@ pomlaw.comor 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.The investigation concerns whether adidas and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.[Click here for information about joining the class action]In the fall of 2022, musical artist Kanye West, Adidas's design partner for the Company's popular Yeezy shoe, made a series of overtly anti-Semitic and racially offensive remarks in public. On October 25, 2022, following mounting public pressure, Adidas canceled its partnership with West.Then, on November 27, 2022, The Wall Street Journal published an article entitled "Adidas Top Executives Discussed Risks of Staff's Direct Exposure' to Kanye West Years Ago." The article revealed that Adidas's leadership, including Chief Executive Officer Kasper Rrsted, had discussed the risk of the Company continuing a relationship with West as early 2018, citing the artist's often erratic and controversial behavior.On this news, Adidas's American depositary receipt (ADDYY) ("ADRs") fell $2.20 per ADR, or 3.13%, to close at $62.34 per ADR on November 28, 2022.Then, on February 9, 2023, Adidas warned that the Company could shift from a profit to a loss if it failed to sell its inventory of Yeezy shoes following the termination of its partnership with West. Specifically, the Company stated that it expected sales to fall at a high single-digit rate in currency-neutral terms because of the "significant adverse impact of not selling the existing stock" of Yeezy products. Failure to sell the stock of Yeezy's (valued at 1.2 billion euros) would accordingly lower Company revenue by 1.2 billion euros (or about $1.29 billion), and operating profit by 500 million euros." On this news, Adidas's ADR price fell $7.4 per ADR, or 8.96%, to close at $75.16 per ADR on February 9, 2023.Finally, on February 21, 2023, S&P Global announced that it was downgrading Adidas to "'A-/A-2' From A-1' On Deteriorating Credit Metrics; Outlook Negative." S&P largely attributed the downgraded to the financial impact of the termination of Adidas's partnership with West.On this news, Adidas's ADR price fell $3.56 per ADR, or 4.62%, to close at $73.59 per ADR on February 21, 2023.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
Lacroix Closes Three Factories after Cyberattack Published: 15 May 2023 by Tyler Hanes by Tyler Hanes

SAINT-HERBLAIN, FRANCE  Lacroix has temporarily closed three of its manufacturing facilities after suffering a cyberattack over the weekend.

The company's factory in Beaupreau, France, as well as a site in Willich, Germany, and a factory in Zibra, Tunisia were all compromised during the attack, but the company said the breach has been contained and a plan is in place to reopen the factories next week.

"Even if it is still too early to know exactly when production will resume, LACROIX is aiming for a reopening on Monday May 22nd," Lacroix said in a statement. "Until then, partial activity measures have been taken as well as the implementation of a management and restart plan adapted to each site."

Louis Pourdieu, general manager of the Electronics EMEA activity, with the support of his teams, is also informing customers and suppliers about the closure and the conditions for restarting these sites, the company said.

Lacroix said the three sites represent 19% of the company's total sales in 2022. This Thursday is a public holiday in France and Germany, meaning the factories there would have only been active for three days, so the company said it does not predict a significant impact to production.
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 Aquiline leads funding round with Chrysalis Investments, Fidelity International Strategic Ventures and other existing strategic investors participating Equity injection continues Smart's global expansion, taking current $7 bn AUM to an expected $12.5 bn by end of Q2 2023, total growth of 123% in H1 2023NASHVILLE, TN / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Smart, the global retirement FinTech that entered the US in 2020, today announces it has closed its $95m Series E funding in a round led by Aquiline Capital Partners LLC ("Aquiline"), a private investment firm based in New York and London. Existing investors participating in the round include: Chrysalis Investments, Fidelity International Strategic Ventures, DWS, Barclays and Natixis Investment Managers.Funds from this investment round will bolster Smart's global expansion plans, building on what we consider to be the company's strong performance in the UK, Europe, the US, the Middle East and Asia. Proceeds from the funding round will also help finance growth and acquisitions.In February 2023, Smart was ranked among Europe's fastest-growing companies by the Financial Times.Smart has almost $7 billion in platform Assets Under Management (AUM)1 and is expected to exceed $12.5 billion by the end of June 2023 following this Series E funding. We believe growth has been driven by the accelerating global demand for modern, digital retirement savings technology, the success of Smart Pension in the UK and strategic M&A, including the US acquisition of Stadion Money Management in 2022.Established in 2014 by Andrew Evans and Will Wynne in the wake of the UK's rollout of mandatory workplace retirement plan enrollment, Smart owns and operates one of "the big four" UK auto enrollment master trusts, serving more than one million savers and 70,000 employers. The group's ongoing and future success is underpinned by delivering innovative retirement technology globally.In the US, Smart's primary focus is to provide retirement technology options that span three core areas: retirement plans, personalized investment strategies and retirement income. By working with key stakeholders in the industry, Smart seeks to offer innovative ways to address some of the most significant challenges related to retirement savings access, as well as retirement outcome solutions for individuals and employers. Smart partners with plan sponsors, recordkeepers, advisors, consultants, asset managers, insurers, and third-party administrators to deliver solutions that range from fiduciary oversight and pooled retirement plans to managed accounts and retirement income.A successful tech export story for the UK, the platform already powers numerous retirement savings solutions outside the UK. These include a partnership with one of Ireland's most well-known financial services institutions, pooled retirement solutions rolled out nationally across the US and a partnership with Zurich Workplace Solutions (Middle East), part of the Zurich Insurance Group, on the Dubai government workplace saving plan.As populations age and governments struggle with high national debt and large fiscal deficits, the responsibility to save for retirement is increasingly being pushed by regulation, onto individuals and employees via the workplace. To help them close the retirement savings gap, financial institutions are leaning on technology providers like Smart to provide technology solutions that help individuals save for and spend confidently in retirement.Jeff Greenberg, Chairman and CEO of Aquiline, said:"Smart's retirement technology leadership coupled with Aquiline's deep experience in the retirement technology industry across the US and Europe makes this a compelling investment, as does the growing global need for better retirement savings technology. Smart has consistently delivered impressive commercial growth, and is backed by an array of top-tier investors whom we are delighted to join." The co-founders of Smart, Andrew Evans and Will Wynne, said:"This investment is strong recognition of Smart's success and journey to date, and highlights the immense opportunity that lies ahead. We are on a mission to transform retirement, savings and financial well-being. We are the global leader in retirement technology and our industry-leading platform, Keystone, is being deployed by the biggest, most successful financial institutions around the world. This is a $62 trillion global sector in the early stages of being disrupted and we are uniquely positioned to take advantage of that. We have already reached scale and profitability in the UK, with Smart Pension now serving in excess of one million savers, this backing allows us to achieve that scale and profitability in our global markets across the group. We welcome Aquiline to our board and we're incredibly excited for the years ahead." Jodan Ledford, CEO of Smart in the US, said:"We are excited to work with Aquiline in this next phase of our growth. In conjunction with our current partners, Aquiline's knowledge of the US retirement market will provide tremendous insight and value to our expansion in the US." Smart continues to strengthen its board of directors, with Charles Janeway of Aquiline, joining as non-executive director.Lazard acted as financial adviser to Smart in relation to the Series E funding round.About SmartSmart is a global savings and investments technology provider. Its mission is to transform retirement, savings, and financial well-being, across all generations, around the world.Smart partners with financial institutions (including broker-dealers, RIAs, retirement providers, insurers, asset managers, banks) and financial advisers to deliver retirement savings and income solutions that are digital, customized, and cost-efficient.Smart, founded in the UK, operates in the USA, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East with over a million savers and over $5 billion in assets. Smart saw over 2,000% growth in assets on its platform since 2018. In 2022, Smart acquired Stadion Money Management to provide personalized investment solutions to participants. More detail is found below in the About Stadion section.Aquiline joins existing investors Legal & General, J.P. Morgan, Fidelity International Strategic Ventures, Link Group, Barclays, Natixis Investment Managers, Chrysalis Investments, and DWS Group as investors to date in Smart.For more information, please visit www.smartretire.com [1] As of May 1, 2023About Aquiline Capital Partners LLCAquiline Capital Partners is a private investment firm bas
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The community solar project uses dual-use agrisolar design to improve local biodiversity while lowering Oregonian energy bills.MYRTLE CREEK, OR / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / SolRiver Capital, a leading renewable energy investment firm, is excited to unveil plans for the Canyonville Solar Project, a groundbreaking 4 MW solar initiative that merges sustainable energy generation with agricultural practices. Designed as an agrisolar project, Canyonville represents a significant leap forward in harnessing the power of the sun while supporting local agriculture, fostering community engagement, and promoting energy independence.Agrisolar, the revolutionary marriage of solar energy and agriculture, lies at the heart of the Canyonville Solar Project. By cleverly combining solar power generation with agricultural land use, this pioneering approach maximizes land productivity and resource efficiency, creating a pathway to energy independence for the community. Canyonville will integrate several agrisolar features, seamlessly blending solar energy and sustainable farming practices, to unlock a future where energy self-sufficiency and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.1. Dual Use - Solar & Ag. The solar panels will be positioned to enable certain crops to thrive, optimizing land utilization and promoting food production alongside renewable energy generation. By utilizing the same land for both purposes, Canyonville exemplifies our commitment to self-reliance and sustainability.2. Goats for Mowing. Local goats, and other grazing animals, will be allowed to eat overgrown grass. This helps reduces the need for mechanical mowers, while giving a good meal to the animals.3. Bee Hives. Everyone knows bees are in decline and need our help. Beekeepers will maintain bee hive boxes on the property. This creates a safe space for a colony to grow. The colony will provide benefits to farmers throughout the county.4. Critter-Friendly Fences. Special fences are used to allow small animals to run freely through the site. Rather than the standard barbed wire fence, an inverted deer fence is used. The fence has larger spaces near the bottom that turtles, bunnies, and similar-size animals can pass through. Yet, it is strong enough at the top to keep cattle from wandering in.5. Biodiversity Enhancement. Native plants and pollinator-friendly vegetation will be thoughtfully integrated, fostering ecological balance and supporting the flourishing of local wildlife. By cultivating diverse ecosystems, we cultivate our own ability to generate clean energy and nourish our surroundings.6. Community Solar Empowerment. In addition to its agrisolar features, the Canyonville Solar Project is also an exceptional community solar endeavor. This community-centric approach empowers individuals to participate directly in our journey towards energy independence, allowing them to embrace solar energy's advantages, reduce their reliance on traditional power sources, and forge a path to a more self-reliant future.SolRiver Capital warmly invites all Oregon residents to participate in the community solar revolution by subscribing to the Canyonville Solar Project. By choosing to purchase energy from this pioneering initiative, individuals will become active participants in the clean energy transition, supporting local agriculture, driving sustainable development, and taking a significant step towards energy independence for our community.About SolRiver CapitalSolRiver Capital is a clean energy investment fund dedicated to financing the acquisition, development, and construction of distributed generation and utility-scale projects. Focusing on solar and storage, SolRiver owns and operates over 200 MW of projects across the U.S. from Oregon to New York. Founded in 2016, SolRiver's team combines top-tier developers, financial professionals, and operational experts with over 15 years' experience each. SolRiver utilizes a streamlined approach to underwriting and transactions, allowing it to close and fund projects quickly. For more information on SolRiver Capital, visit www.solrivercapital.com Contact InformationSolRiver Capitalprojects@ solrivercapital.com (720) 307-2672SOURCE: SolRiver Capital
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GUANGZHOU, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / On May 6, 2023, the Guangzhou Baiyun International Logistics Industry Summit was held at Baiyun District, a prominent logistics hub in the southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou. Nearly 1,000 guests from government agencies, industry experts, domestic and foreign famous enterprises, business associations, domestic and foreign famous media, and upstream and downstream enterprises of the industry chain attended the event. Building a stable and sustainable logistics supply chain in the current turbulent global economic environment is more important than ever. Based on this, logistics industry clusters are widely considered an effective solution for supply chain management."In 2022, the revenue of air transport and modern logistics industry in Baiyun District hit 121.7 billion yuan (approximately $17.36 billion). Baiyun District is implementing the '1+5+N+X' plan to support the transformation into a world-class logistics cluster," said Wang Xiaojie, deputy governor of Baiyun District Government of Guangzhou, describing the strategic vision of Baiyun District at the opening ceremony.The Guangzhou Baiyun Railway Station, which is expected to open this year, is one of the key transportation projects in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Guangzhou International Port has become an important China-Europe freight hub, facilitating logistics between China's Greater Bay Area, Central Asia, Eurasian countries and Europe as a whole.Under the third phase of expansion, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is expected to increase its total cargo terminal area to more than 1 million square meters by 2025, with a terminal cargo handling capacity of 6 million tons.China has by far the largest logistics industry in the world and leads the world in the volume of goods transported. The sector's total revenue reached 12 trillion yuan ($1.74 trillion) in 2021, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.In 2022, Guangdong Province's GDP was estimated at 12.8 trillion yuan ($1.9 trillion), said Wang Weizhong, the province's governor, at the annual session of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress in January this year. As the provincial capital, Guangzhou has built an international shipping center, logistics center, trade center, and modern financial service system in recent years.According to Guangzhou's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), the metropolis would establish five super-large logistics hubs and ten large logistics hubs to further consolidate its ranking as one of the world's leading international logistics centers.Liu Zhiyuan, president of the Guangzhou Baiyun District Logistics Chamber of Commerce, who has witnessed the dramatic changes in the logistics industry over the past 20 years, said that Baiyun District has an advanced interconnected transportation infrastructure system for the logistics industry, and because it is one of the major hubs for e-commerce, the addition of these two advantages gives Baiyun District a huge advantage that can be developed into a world-class logistics cluster."It would be very difficult for e-commerce to rise without a well-developed logistics infrastructure as a foundation," Liu said. He explained that the fast development of the logistics sector in just a few years has made on-time delivery of e-commerce across China possible. Back in 2010, the delivery cost of products sold online was high, and delivery time was uncertain, taking anywhere between five to ten days.After a day of conference agenda, the guests believe that to enhance the international competitiveness of local enterprises, firstly, it is necessary to strengthen policy support to provide more support and help for enterprise development; secondly, it is necessary to build more communication platforms to promote cooperation and communication between enterprises; finally, it is necessary to strengthen talent training to improve the core competitiveness of enterprises.About Beijing TUC Intelligence Info Tech Co., Ltd.Founded in 2012, Beijing TUC Intelligence Info Tech Co., Ltd. is a leading service provider in the Chinese logistics industry. With the mission of "insight, let the world see logistics again," Beijing TUC Intelligence Info Tech Co., Ltd. always focuses on the logistics industry chain, helps enterprises grow, spreads industry values, and promotes industry changes. It has formed multi-dimensional industry services capabilities such as media communication, conference activities, research and consulting, training and study tours, and information services.Media Contact:Contact Person: Cindy JiaEmail: jiamenglian@ wetuc.com SOURCE: Beijing TUC Intelligence Info Tech Co., Ltd.
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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / TriplePunditOriginally published on TriplePunditThe introduction of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues into financial reporting is slowly but surely bringing clarity to the often complex realm of banking. Driven by calls for transparency from governments and investors, as well as the transition to a low-carbon economy, banks are under pressure to evaluate ESG metrics in their investment and lending portfolios. For example, financial institutions are expected to reach net-zero emissions in their portfolios by 2050, among other ESG considerations shaping the sector.Banks must establish new strategies and assessments, as well as internal governance and accountability structures, to meet and manage these emerging expectations and requirements. Commercial banking is unique in that it faces more governance stressors compared to other industries. Banks are under strict regulatory oversight, have a wide range of exposure to enterprise risks and are highly sensitive to market volatility. On top of that, they're expected to lead a financial transformation by effectively managing their ESG risks and impacts: For example, if banks only lend to companies that meet a certain ESG threshold, it forces prospective borrowers to meet those requirements.Governance in the commercial banking industry is complex - if not overwhelming. To shed some light on the topic, we can turn to the example of one bank that has been able to successfully manage its ESG obligations and emerge as a leader.Fifth Third Bank's ESG leadershipHeadquartered in Ohio, Fifth Third Bank is one of the largest banks in the Midwestern U.S., with more than 1,100 branches across 11 states. The company's commitment to sustainability has earned it high marks on ESG ratings systems like CDP and Sustainalytics, as well as building trust and confidence among its stakeholders."These actions that we've done are not because of the more recent ESG fad. It's part of our purpose-driven company," Mike Faillo, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer at Fifth Third Bank, told TriplePundit. "Focusing on sustainability has been part of our business for a lot longer, and that has put us in a position of leadership." While the ESG movement may be a relatively new development, the idea of social responsibility in banking has a long history. In 1977, the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) required banks to service the credit needs of all segments of their communities, particularly those of low-income neighborhoods. In the following decades, corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives gained traction and prompted banks and other companies to consider the social impacts of their actions. Fast forward to the current day and we have the ESG movement, complete with ESG investment products, ESG bonds, and ESG rating scales widely available to consumers and investors.With the complexities involved, many bank leaders know they should be setting ESG targets, measuring their progress, reporting their metrics, and publicly disclosing their findings. But exactly how to do that remains the big question.How good governance drives ESG strategy"We believe in transparency, credibility and telling our story," Faillo told TriplePundit. "Transparency is what breeds trust. To make commitments and then report on those commitments, whether you're achieving them or not, is what builds the trust." The key to achieving sustainability goals and mitigating ESG risks in banking lies in a strong and committed leadership structure. "We used to joke back when ESG was first coined that GSE was already taken so they went with ESG, because governance would've been the most important," Faillo said.Engagement with stakeholders, both external and internal, to identify priorities and challenges is one of the key first steps in developing a strong ESG strategy. Fifth Third conducts stakeholder materiality assessments to determine which sustainability topics are top of mind. The engagement groups include shareholders, customers, employees, communities and regulators. The methods of engagement are extensive, but include shareholder meetings, focus groups, engagement surveys, business resource groups, and community needs surveys and assessments.As a result of these stakeholder engagement efforts, Fifth Third's sustainability committee identified - and the board of directors approved - five corporate sustainability priorities for the company: addressing climate change, promoting inclusion and diversity, delivering on its commitment to employees, keeping the customer at the center, and strengthening the communities where the company does business. Each priority has related metrics and goals that can be measured and tracked to gauge performance.The priorities, goals, and progress are then communicated to the public to show transparency, provide accountability and build trust. The bank also includes sustainability performance on those identified priorities as a modifier to its employee variable compensation plan - which affects a wide group of employees, not just the bank's executives. More details on Fifth Third's sustainability strategy and accountability mechanisms can be found in its most recent ESG report.The commitment to those sustainability priorities is also evident by the company's sustainability business resource group, which is open to all employees across the business. "The group is focused on driving employee development and education on sustainability topics," Faillo said. "We bring in speakers, both externally and internally, to teach and discuss these topics. It also focuses on community involvement and business innovation." The group has over 750 members and drives many of the company's ideas about how to overcome hurdles and improve ESG priority performance.Along with the contribution from employees on ESG topics, the bank's executives also chair a sustainability committee that meets on a quarterly basis to review metrics and provide another layer of internal accountability. The committee is chaired by the chief corporate responsibility officer, and includes the bank president and CEO, among other high-level executives.The commitment from Fifth Third to integrate sustainability into day-to-day operations, and not just as something to be done once a year on the side, allows the bank and its employees to be recognized as sustainability leaders in their industry.What's next for ESG in commercial banking?The landscape of ESG reporting is constantly changing, and sustainability leaders need to keep updated on the latest developments. In the U.S., mandatory c
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ROCK HILL, SC / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Today is a major deadline for nonprofit organizations to file their tax returns with the IRS. An organization may have a May 15th deadline if they operate on a calendar year tax or filed an extension Form 8868 for their November 15, 2022 deadline. Organizations that have obtained tax-exempt status through the State of California are also required to file Form CA 199.The IRS now requires that all tax-exempt organizations file these returns electronically. Using an IRS-authorized e-file provider is key to ensuring that 990 returns are filed with accuracy and security.Tax990 provides a simple and secure 990 e-filing solution! Nonprofit organizations and tax professionals that file on their behalf can easily e-file Form 990, 990-EZ, 990-N, 990-PF, 990-T, CA-199, and 8868 with Tax990.When e-filing with Tax990, organizations can take advantage of many unique features:Live, dedicated customer support is available by phone, email, or live chat.Form-based or interview-based filing options.The ability to add team members to manage filing from a single account.An internal audit feature that reviews returns for errors.Instant updates on the IRS status of the return.Share returns with board members as needed for review and approval.Attach required 990 Schedules for free.Correct and retransmit rejected returns to the IRS at no additional cost.Tax professionals can take advantage of key features designed for efficient filing at any volume. This includes bulk upload options, discounted prepaid credits, and more.As today is the deadline, many organizations may choose to file an extension with the IRS to request additional filing time of up to 6 months. This is an automatic extension that the IRS will approve as long as it is filed with accurate information, by the deadline (today). Tax990 supports the extension Form 8868, and enables their clients to file it easily. Please note that Form 8868 can only be filed by an organization once per tax year.Tax990 also offers a pricing package that allows organizations to purchase both an extension Form 8868 and their 990 return at a discounted rate. The cost of the extension is free when the 990 is purchased up-front. This means when the organization's extension period ends in 6 months, the 990 return is already paid for, and the organization can simply complete and transmit it to the IRS.Additionally, Tax990 provides excellent customer support throughout the filing process. Their team offers extended support hours around major 990 filing deadlines, like today. The team can be reached by phone, email, and live chat.When asked about today's deadline, Agie Sundaram, the CEO, and Co-founder of SPAN Enterprises, the parent company of Tax990, responded by stating, "Today is a big day for nonprofit organizations that are required to file 990 returns with the IRS. Our team is prepared to assist clients throughout the day to ensure they are able to meet their deadlines. We encourage every organization that is still seeking a solution for meeting today's deadline to get started with Tax990 today. We offer an affordable solution that is both secure and user-friendly, with advanced features that cannot be found elsewhere." Organizations can begin filing their 990 returns now at tax990.com About Tax990Tax 990 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
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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Trane TechnologiesScott Tew - Vice President, Sustainability and Managing Director, Center for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability, Trane TechnologiesTrane Technologies has clear ambitions-to reduce our customers' carbon footprint by one gigaton (that's 2% of global emissions); to lead by example in the way we approach carbon, waste, water and energy in our own operations; and to create opportunity for all by removing barriers for our people and investing in our communities. We've been intentional in setting these goals. We've rigorously aligned them with internationally recognized frameworks. And our enterprise and strategy are firmly grounded in these commitments.But ambition alone is not enough to limit global temperature rise.Every day, we take action to enhance our positive impact, delivering climate technology to decarbonize the built environment and the cold chain and reduce the use of fossil fuels. And to hold ourselves accountable to the goals we've set, we track, measure and report on our results. This focus grounds our culture and guides how we view innovation, engagement and our role in solving some of the world's biggest challenges. This is what differentiates us. We are, as they say, the oldest climate tech startup in the industry.Action and outcomesEach year, we release our ESG report as the accounting of the actions we're taking and the impact it is having for all our stakeholders.Our biggest opportunity to reduce carbon emissions lies within our commitment to help customers improve their sustainability. I'm pleased to report that we are making steady and significant progress toward our Gigaton Challenge. As of 2022, we've reduced 93 million metric tons of CO2e from our customers' carbon footprint since 2019. To give that metric another perspective, that's the equivalent CO2e of the amount of gasoline consumed in Australia in two years or Norway over an entire decade.In our own operations, we are accelerating toward a more sustainable future, with significant reductions in carbon emissions, improvements in our total energy efficiency - including energy demand met with renewables - and great progress in our efforts to decrease water use in water-stressed regions where we operate.We've continued to increase the diversity of our workforce and acknowledge we have more to do to be reflective of the communities we work in. We are stepping up our investment in our corporate citizenship strategy and deploying more and more employee volunteers to uplift their communities.And so much more.Staying our courseThe shorthand that has arisen among the investor and NGO community to describe the efforts of companies like ours to align our business with positive social and environmental impact is "ESG," environmental, social and governance. Andrew Winston, a renowned expert on business and sustainability and a member of Trane Technologies Advisory Council on Sustainability, recently wrote an article about pushback on ESG in the Harvard Business Review entitled, "Why Business Leaders Must Resist the Anti-ESG Movement." Andrew wisely counsels, "Don't let loud voices keep you from doing what your business is meant to do." Our business is meant to boldly challenge what's possible for a sustainable world. Customer demand for our sustainable climate solutions is strong and growing, as reflected in record bookings of $17.5 billion, organic revenue growth of 15 percent, and unprecedented backlog in 2022. With optimism and pragmatism, we will continue to deliver for them, for our investors and for our communities.And we'll continue to share the details of our actions and outcomes in our ESG report so that others can learn and follow suit.See the results of the actions we've taken so far in our 2022 ESG Report.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Trane Technologies on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Trane TechnologiesWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/trane-technologies Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Trane Technologies
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The call for young people to consider employment in the mining industry is timely, given the need for expertise in the sector to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.PERTH, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / May 14, 2023 / The Federal Resources Minister, Madeleine King, has urged young people in Australia to consider employment in the mining industry to help the world decarbonize. Ms. King says reaching net zero emissions by 2050 would require the expertise of the resources sector and Australia's commitment to achieving this goal means that more mining, not less, is needed. Here, leading labor hire company, Techforce, weighs in.rigger jobs, chef jobs, mining chef jobs, fifo chef jobs perth According to Techforce, the sector is making a positive difference towards a sustainable future and young people should consider careers in geoscience, geophysics, chemistry, metallurgy and engineering to help the world decarbonize successfully.Even as younger generations are increasingly worried about the impact of climate change, Techforce points out that gas remains a crucial component in the processing of critical minerals and the production of batteries for storing renewable energy. As such, Australia's coal and gas resources will continue to play an essential role in ensuring energy security and reliability for many years to come.Techforce says because future prosperity depends on the resources sector, urgent action is needed to get better at telling its story to younger Australians. The mining sector is committed to environmental sustainability and is actively working to reduce its environmental footprint with significant investments in technologies such as renewable energy and minimizing impact on water resources and land use.For young people interested in pursuing a career in mining, Techforce says there are several job opportunities available. Rigger jobs, for instance, involve setting up and maintaining equipment on mine sites. Chef jobs are also available in the mining industry, with opportunities including FIFO chef jobs Perth-wide. These jobs offer young people the opportunity to work in a dynamic and exciting industry while contributing to a sustainable future. Techforce says mining jobs offer a wide range of benefits, including excellent pay and conditions and opportunities for career advancement.To learn more about opportunities in the sector, including mining chef jobs, visit www.Techforce.com.au About TechforceTechforce Personnel is a national privately owned recruitment and workforce management company, specializing in supplying qualified employees to a range of industries across Australia and New Zealand.Contact InformationTechforce PersonnelMarketing Managerrecruitment@ techforce.com.au (08) 6363 7040SOURCE: Techforce
Olori Sekinat Elegushi, the first wife of traditional ruler Oba Elegushi, has denied rumours that she died from complications from a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) surgery.

A BBL is a specialised fat transfer procedure that augments the size and shape of the buttocks without implants.

Excess fat is removed from the hips, abdomen, lower back, or thighs with liposuction, and a portion of this fat is then strategically injected into the buttocks.

Recently, a London-based Nigerian blogger, Basirat Olowogaba, or Abike Jagaban, announced Queen Sekinats passing during a Facebook broadcast.

In the now-deleted video, Abike supported her story by claiming that the queens aunt broke the news to her amidst sobs.

Refutal

However, the queen has come out to declare the news false.

In a video shared by makeup artist Banke Meshida-Lawal, who visited her at home in Lagos, the mother of three thanked her fans for standing by her.

Thank you all for the love and kindness; I appreciate it. I feel it. Love you all, she said.

Earlier, the palace released a statement declaring the news as false and only existing in the wicked imagination of the authors.

The attention of the media office of HRM Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi has been drawn to the false news circulating about Olori Sekinat Aramide Elegushi, senior wife of his royal majesty.

Contrary to these reports, which only exist in the wicked imagination of the authors, Olori Sekinat Elegushi is hale and hearty; she is currently at the palace, discharging her royal responsibilities, a statement from the palace reads.

It further stated that the palace takes serious exception to any unfounded and malicious news regarding the royal family and will not hesitate to bring the total weight of the law on anyone found guilty.

Olori Sekinat Elegushi

Olori Sekinat has been married to Oba Elegushi, Kusenla III, the 21st Elegushi of the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom, for 20 years.

In a recent interview, she recounted how she met the king, then a student, at her late mums shop on Lagos Island.

Then, he had a friend close to my mums shop, and whenever I was not on campus, Id be at my mums shop.

It was one of the holidays when I was at the shop when he approached me. I turned him down initially because I tried to avoid many of the young men around that area, she said.

However, due to his persistence, they became friends. He pressed on and asked her to date him, she recalled.

Despite initially disagreeing with her father, the couple had a grand wedding in 2003.

In 2010, he was crowned the 21st Elegushi of the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom after his father, the late Oba Yekini Adeniyi Elegushi, passed on.

When he was crowned, he was 34 years, which made him the youngest king in Lagos State as of then.

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Tragedy struck the Nigerian film industry dubbed Nollywood Sunday when news of the sudden demise of actor Murphy Afolabi filtered in.

The news of his passing is coming at a time when industry practitioners are yet to come to terms with the news of the death of one of its veterans, Saint Obi.

According to information by his colleagues, Mr Afolabi, who is famous for acting in Yoruba movies, slipped in the bathroom at his house in Ikorodu, Lagos, on Sunday morning.

The President of the Yoruba movies directors guild, Seun Olaiya, broke the news of his demise on a WhatsApp platform for filmmakers.

The light-skinned actors last post on social media was on Saturday where he wished his fans a happy weekend.

Reactions

Meanwhile, fans and colleagues of the actor have been sending in their condolences.

Sad news, popular nollywood actor Murphy Afolabi, has passed away.  May his soul rest in peace.  pic.twitter.com/hXJbFsDZ2f  valking  (@_VALKlNG) May 14, 2023

Oh My God  Murphy Afolabi is dead  pic.twitter.com/ZB1hLkb34E  Wumi Toriola (@Wumi_Toriola) May 14, 2023

Murphy Afolabi celebrated his 49th birthday few days ago.

This life is not worth a thing walahi.

You can take all measures to be healthy and still slip in the bathroom to your death when it is God's time.

Heck, some even sleep and don't wake up again.

May Allah forgive his sins  Ibrahim Kazeem (Content writer and SMM) (@peng_writer) May 14, 2023

Rest In Peace, Murphy Afolabi ! May Almighty God grant you eternal rest, and let

perpetual light shine upon you. May Almighty God bless your family the

fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. pic.twitter.com/eGt1ismaBc  A. Ayofe (@abdullahayofel) May 14, 2023

https://twitter.com/lollypeezle/status/1657735089952813058?s=20

On Instagram, actor Yomi Fabiyi described the late actor as talented, creative, hardworking, so soft, humble and supportive.

He wrote; So I wont set my eyes on you again. I may not see through your heart 100% sir Murph but to the best of my knowledge you like, you respect, you value my talent, you respect my decisions and we are hardly at loggerheads.

You are always at peace. BEN 3, so di gbere naa nu. If only this death gave us a chance to move, sacrifice, run around to save you, I would have tried my best senior man, sure you know. So sad I wont be there to play my LAST RESPECT. Rest on Warrior!

Murphy Afolabi

Born on the 5th of May, 1974, the actor just celebrated his 49th birthday.

Born in Osun State, the actor and producer hails from Oroki Asala in Osogbo. He had a Diploma in Theatre Arts and Film Production from Osun State Polytechnic in Iree where he graduated in 2001.

The late actor was a father of three, two boys, and one girl: Afolabi Olamilekan, Afolabi Fathia Moyosore, and Okikiola Afolabi.

The actor shot to fame following his role in the movie Omo Rapala.

He acted in over 60 movies including Olokiki Oru, The Midnight Sensation, Basira Badia, Olukoti, Idera, Wasila Coded Reloaded, Osun the Goddess, Queen Lateefat, Mafi Wonmi, Four Lions, Blackout, One Blood, Owowunmi, Porshe Babes and a host of others.

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Anas Wada, a resident of Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, who was planning to go home after evening prayers on Sunday and hanging out with friends instead landed at a hospital where he is being treated for gunshot injuries after a policeman shot him twice over a disagreement.

Around 7:15 p.m., Anas (Mr Wada) was sitting with some friends and older colleagues when one of his bosses asked him to go to a tea seller stand and place an order for him. When he crossed over the road beside Unity Restaurant, Anas told the tea seller his bosss message and was turning back when the policeman, who was sitting on one of the benches waiting for his order, asked him to stop talking to the tea seller, Mr Ahmed said.

Mr Wada, a medical health worker at the state-owned Farida General Hospital, told the policeman that he was not there to collect anything but to place an order.

The policeman was in mufti, but he was holding a rifle. So, he stood up and started shouting at my cousin, saying since he met several people there, he shouldnt have said anything to the tea seller but wait for his turn. My cousin turned to leave, but the policeman dragged him and continued insulting him, he told PREMIUM TIMES in a series of phone conversations explaining how his Mr Wada was shot.

Assault & shooting

He claimed Mr Wada, 40, did not respond to the harassment but tried to leave the place, but the policeman was relentless.

When the policeman said he thought my brother was saying something otherwise, my cousin said he didnt say anything but responded that he was only delivering a message to the tea seller. Then the policeman said if he had said something otherwise, he would have beaten him mercilessly. So, my brother responded that he couldnt beat him because he had done no wrong. The tea seller and other clients were already trying to douse the tension when the policeman started beating him, and my cousin retaliated, he said.

Mr Ahmed said the policeman used the butt of the rifle to strike Mr Wada on the head.

When he (Mr Wada) grabbed his head with his hands because blood was gushing out, the policeman started firing shots. He fired five times, but only two bullets got Anas in the thigh. We believe the other shots were meant to scare the people away, Mr Ahmed, who is at the Federal Medical Centre Gusau with Mr Wada, said.

He said Mr Wada was rushed to the hospital by his colleagues.

Some policemen came to the hospital and took Anass (Mr Wada) statement. They said the policeman had been arrested, and the CP (Commissioner of Police) has also been informed, he said.

The police spokesperson in the state, Mohammed Shehu, didnt respond to an SMS sent to him on the incident. His phone number was unreachable for over an hour.

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sudan on Sunday condemned in strong terms the attack on worshipers by the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF), saying it grossly violated human rights and international law.

The condemnation is contained in a statement released in Abuja by Mohamed Abdelmannan, the Sudanese Ambassador to Nigeria.

The ambassador explained that the terrorist act was followed by the rebel militias attack on the Al-Masalma Church in Omdurman.

In continuation of its terrorism breach of armistice, flagrant violation of international laws, and established societal norms, the rebel Rapid Support militia forces carried out another attack this morning, Sunday, May 14, 2023.

(It) was a treacherous attack on the worshipers of Margis Church in the Al-Masalma neighborhood of Omdurman and they fired indiscriminately at the worshipers, wounding three of them with bullets.

They beat the priest, entered the home for elderly women and the dormitory for girls attached to the church in search of money to steal.

The ministry condemns this criminal behaviour, flagrant violation of human rights and international law by targeting worshipers and places of worship.

The ministry calls on the international community and human right organisations to condemn this barbaric behaviour by the rebel Rapid Support militia, he said in the statement.

The envoy urged the international community to consider the RSF a terrorist organisation, and hold it legally and morally responsible.

(NAN)

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President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with Ralph Akinfeleye over the passing of his wife, Carol Anike Akinfeleye.

In a condolence message issued by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina, on Sunday in Abuja, Mr Buhari prayed for Gods comfort for Mr Akinfeleye and family at this trying period of grief.

Mr Buhari condoled with family, friends and associates of Mrs Akinfeleye, whose good work will continue to speak, particularly about the many lives she touched with her trademark charity, kindness and love.

He urged full trust in the Almighty God for strength and direction as the family prepares for the final rites of the deceased.

The president prayed that God would grant the departed wife and mother, who was the Yeye Gbekonuyi of Idanre Kingdom and a former school Principal and Director of Education in Lagos State, a peaceful rest.

(NAN)

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The Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Gambari, has urged Nigerians to start building support and provide an enabling environment for the incoming government to thrive.

Mr Gambari, a professor, made the call in Birnin Kebbi while briefing journalists following a visit to Governor Atiku Bagudu and the Emir of Gwandu, Muhammadu Bashar.

I am here on a private visit to see the governor and His Royal Highness, the Emir of Gwandu because we are coming to the end of this administration.

I am here to appreciate them for their support, prayers and also making a point that elections are now over.

We should now be building support and enabling environment for the incoming administration so that they could build  up on the positive record of President Buhari in all the major priorities his administration focused on.

Above all, for being the one that conducted and supervised the free and fair 2023 general elections that produced these results.

Speaking on the legacy Mr Buhari will be leaving behind, Mr Gambari noted that apart from free and fair elections he conducted, the people of the country would remember him for his fighting against corruption, agriculture revolution which has started making Nigerians eat what they are producing.

Among other legacies, we have diversified the economy. We are now producing what we are eating.

Many states across Nigeria now have various crops they have economic advantage upon and they are producing it abundantly.

Except Kebbi state which stands top among the states because the state has made a lot of impact on the agricultural revolution in Nigeria.

Apart from that, President Muhammadu has constructed a lot of road kilometres, fighting corruption. These are the legacies he will be leaving behind.

Above all, he supervised a free and fair election and he congratulated the winners including states where the ruling party did not win, he said.

(NAN)

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The senator-elect for Zamfara West, Abdulaziz Yari, says he will not withdraw from the race for the Senate presidency as the All Progressives Congress (APC) has not told him it has zoned the position to another part of the country.

Mr Yari stated this on Monday while speaking with journalists at an induction programme organised for senators and members-elect for the 10th National Assembly at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

The National Working Committee of the APC recently nominated a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, for Senate President and the senator representing Kano North, Barau Jibrin, as the Deputy Senate President.

But many other aspirants, including Mr Yari, have rejected the nominations and questioned the zoning formula on which they are based.

The vice president-elect, Kashim Shettima, on Friday, said the nominations were made to ensure religious balance in the political leadership of the country.

But Mr Yari, a former governor of Zamfara, insisted that he would contest for the position based on the constitutions requirements.

My aspiration for the presidency of the 10th Senate is covered by relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution, which to me is superior to any other law or arrangement, he said.

I am a loyal party man; nobody has told me that any position has been zoned to anywhere as far as the 10th National Assembly is concerned.

Mr Yari said some senators-elect had endorsed him for the position, and he is not ready to disappoint them.

Any senator-elect who wants to occupy the position, must seek the support of others, which I am doing, he said.

It is a hire and fire arrangement. I want them to hire me as president of the 10th Senate on the inauguration day. Many of those approached by me have given their support, and I wont disappoint them, he noted.

My becoming Senate President on the day of inauguration lies with a decision that will be made by 108 other senators that day and nothing else.

Also speaking in a separate interaction with journalists, the senator-elect for Zamfara North, Sahabi Yau, said he is unaware of the partys nomination for the leadership of the 10th Senate.

I read about the zoning arrangement in the papers like other people. Nobody has discussed such a plan with us, and in any case, senators-elect are the ones to decide who they want as president or deputy president.

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The Embassy of Nigeria in Cairo, Egypt, is to facilitate the transfer of Nigerian students from Sudanese universities to Egyptian universities.

The embassy, in a statement on Sunday, said this was in the light of requests by both parents and students caught in the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

The embassy said that it was collaborating with the Central Administration for International Students (Wafeden), under the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to achieve this.

In this regard, Nigerian students from Sudanese universities who are interested in transferring to Egyptian universities are expected to send their full names, faculties required, academic level/year completed, transcripts of the academic years completed.

(They should also send) passport data pages and contact details (phone number and email) to enable the embassy and the Wafeden to start working on them before the portal for international transfers opens.

The embassy cautioned students that any of them that is transferred to Egyptian government universities would not be eligible for an Egyptian Government Scholarship.

It also provided a link for the transfer for interested students to fill and attach the required documents between May and June in order to join the 2023/2024 academic session commencing in September.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSey- OAIR3UsduSWSIQsMkEn2b2fJ9cn1 Bmq12AdCZSU1x1HEg/viewform?usp=sf_link

After filling the above form, interested students should also send their below details and documents to this email: nigembegysch@yahoo.com with the following:

a. Full Name:

b. Faculty required:

c. Academic Year/Level Completed:

d. Transcripts of the Academic Years/Level Completed (attachment)

e. Passport Data Page (attachment) f. Contact Details: Phone number(s) and email address.

(NAN)

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MONROVIA, LiberiaFinlands Turku Court of Appeal has concluded the second phase of hearings in Liberia of witnesses for Gibril Massaquoi, the Sierra Leonean man accused of war crimes in Liberia.

The proceedings ended on Friday, with the Court only able to hear nine of the eleven witnesses it had scheduled for this phase of the proceedings.

The two other witnessesa policeman and civilian couldnt travel to Liberia, because the latter is hospitalised, while the boss of the former didnt approve his trip. The Court was forced to change its original plan of traveling to Sierra Leone, because the government there didnt approve the trip.

Now that the Court is back in Finland, its preparing to listen to final arguments from prosecution and defence lawyers, beginning June 5th. The Court is also expected to listen to some witnesses, including an ex-employee of the former UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone, whos based in Australia.

Our hearing of two other witnesses will be done through video recordings, said Kimmo Vanne, the Courts presiding judge. Those hearings are scheduled for May23d24th.

Mr Massaquoi, who was acquitted by the Pirkanmaa District Court of Tampere of all his charges a little over a year ago, because it was unconvinced prosecutors had proven them beyond a reasonable doubt, did follow the proceedings from the Court by a video link under security protection.

The Appeal Court must agree with the District Court before his rights can be fully restored. His fate is expected to be sealed by the three-judge panel in September.

And if hes looking for any reason to be hopeful that the ruling will also go his way, Mr Massaquoi can draw that from the witnesses, who defended him and denied his involvement in the second Liberian civil war. Such an optimism can especially be drawn from all the witnesses who testified in the second phase of the trial.

Defence 1, the 9th of them, like the others before him, told the Court the allegations against Mr Massaquoi were untrue. He further corroborated the testimonies of previous defence witnesses the former RUF commander headed a five-man delegation to Liberia for a peace mission.

They were to meet the ECOWAS delegation in Monrovia, said Defence 1. He said the importance of the travel was for the delegation to discuss the way forward for the peace process and the release for the UN peacekeepers.

The witness said the delegation passed through Lofa County to come to Monrovia to meet Charles Taylor, the Liberian President at the time, who was seen as the godfather of the RUF.

Defence 1 also said another RUF soldier carried the nickname Angel Gabriel, not Massaquoi.

Prosecutors have alleged that in Lofa, Mr Massaquoi did commit widespread human rights violations, including ordering the arrests of civilians, locking them up in buildings and burning them alive. They brought some witnesses from Lofa, who claimed that Mr Massaquoi ordered his soldiers to rape and burn women on allegations of supporting rebels from the Liberians Untied for Reconciliation and Democracy, who were fighting Taylors forces.

Another theory of the trial is that Mr Massaquoi killed and ordered the killings of civilians and fellow captured soldiers at Waterside in Monrovia. Mr Massaquoi and his lawyers have repeatedly denied both fronts of the charges. Theyve said he was not in Liberia during those times and that specifically in 2003, he served as an informant for the UN backed Special Court for Sierra Leone and was placed in a safe house. They argued he was under a tight security protection, so, there was no way he could have left the place.

The trial has been the longest of individuals prosecuted for their alleged roles in Liberias two civil wars between 1999 to 2003.

This story was produced in collaboration with New Narratives as part of its West Africa Justice Reporting Project.

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The spokesperson of the Nigerian Senate, Ajibola Basiru, says President Muhammadu Buharis request for approval to obtain a $800m loan from the World Bank less than three weeks to the end of his tenure will be thoroughly scrutinised by senators.

Mr Ajibola spoke on the issue when he appeared on Channels Television on Sunday.

The president had on Wednesday requested the approval of the senate to obtain the loan facility to finance the National Safety Net Programme.

Mr Buhari said the money will be used to support poor Nigerians likely to be worst affected by the planned removal of premium motor spirit (petrol) subsidy, and that the fund will be disbursed to beneficiaries through their bank accounts.

Many Nigerians have questioned the presidents decision to obtain the loan so close to the end of his administration in the face of an unprecedented level of debt that his government has already taken Nigeria to.

But speaking on the presidents request, the Senate spokesperson said relevant committees of the Senate will contact relevant agencies in consideration of the loan request.

Mr Ajibola said the Senate committees will examine the presidents request based on the debt sustainability requirement under the Fiscal Debt Responsibility Act.

I wouldnt know the attitude of the ninth Assembly to the request. As you have said, the request was made available on Wednesday and of course as is characteristic of the Nigerian Senate, the request will be sent to the relevant committees of the Senate for consideration and there will be interface with the relevant agencies of the executive to be able to get proper briefing, he said.

And of course the rationale and justification will also be examined in the context of the debt sustainability requirement under the Fiscal Debt Responsibility Act, he added.

Mr Ajibola, however, said he could not affirm whether the Senate will approve the loan request before the end of Buharis administration.

So, I cannot, this evening say whether it will be approved or that it will not be approved and in any event, I am just one senator out of 109 senators that will be considering the position.

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A former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, has described reports concerning his health as fakes news, stressing that he is not down with a stroke.

Mr Nnamani, who was the president of the Nigerian Senate from 2005 to 2007, recently lost his wife, Jane, who was reported to have lost her battle with diabetes.

Speaking with journalists at his Asokoro residence in Abuja on Saturday, Mr Nnamani said his family had been battling fake news about his health and his late wife.

Condemning the speculation that his wife died of complications from tummy tuck surgery, Mr Nnamani said she died at the Enugu National Orthopedic Hospital Enugu following a brief illness. He stated that she battled with diabetes.

You should not believe what you read from social media. People who are mischievous move about to be writing what they want. And again, while I was in Washington, I read somewhere that Nnamani had a stroke. Which Nnamani?

She (Jane Nnamani) went to Enugu National Orthopedic Hospital Enugu to do surgery to remove lymphoma. Last year, she developed a diabetic problem  she was with one of her relatives in the US to treat the diabetes but the diabetes never (went away). The little surgery at her back was successful. But the high and low sugar was never gone. I saw somewhere that Mrs Nnamani went to do a tummy tuck. She had no tummy to tuck, he said.

Speaking about his wife, Mr Nnamani said he spoke with her on the same day she died.

ALSO READ: Chimaroke Nnamani berates proponents of Interim National Govt

The last time we spoke was on Thursday during my stopover in Wiesbaden Germany. I like to pass through Wiesbaden in Germany, that is where I have friends, and that is where Julius Bergers headquarters is. I normally pass through there for periodic medicals. I do annual and bi-annual servicing.

This time around, I was there on Thursday, and we spoke in the morning. She asked me about my test and the result, said.

Mrs Nnamani died on Thursday, 4 May 2023, at Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, aged 58.

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The United States on Monday announced that it had taken steps to impose visa bans on persons who disrupted the recent general elections in Nigeria.

In a statement on the US State Department website, Secretary of State Antony Binken said the United States is committed to supporting and advancing democracy in Nigeria and around the world. Today, I am announcing that we have taken steps to impose visa restrictions on specific individuals in Nigeria for undermining the democratic process during Nigerias 2023 elections cycle.

He clarified that the visa ban is specific to certain individuals and is not directed at the Nigerian people or the Government of Nigeria as a whole.

According to the statement, these individuals, under US Immigration and Nationality Act, will be subject to restrictions on visas to the United States under a policy covering those believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy.

These individuals have been involved in intimidation of voters through threats and physical violence, the manipulation of vote results, and other activity that undermines Nigerias democratic process, Mr Blinken said.

The decision to take steps to impose visa restrictions, he said, reflects the continued commitment of the United States to support Nigerian aspirations to strengthen democracy and the rule of law.

However, the US did not name the Nigerians affected by the latest visa ban although some Nigerians including controversial Lagos bus transport chief, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, were caught on video threatening potential voters.

Nigerias most recent elections were held on 25 February and 18 March for federal and state elections respectively. The process was fraught with a number of irregularities including pockets of violence in different parts of the country.

The presidential election, held on 25 February, produced Bola Tinubu as president-elect. He will be sworn in on 29 May although his two main opponents are challenging his election in court.

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The outgoing governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to grant study leave to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, a few days before the inauguration of a new administration.

Mr Matawalle, in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES, alleged that the reason Mr Emefiele allegedly sought such study leave was apparently in a bid to evade rendering accounts.

CBN Governor Emefiele superintended over the management of the countrys financial and monetary systems. He is the one who initiated and implemented the recent disastrous Naira swap policy, the Naira confiscation program, which put Nigerians through untold woes and trauma and set our economy backwards.

This same Emefiele now wants to proceed on study leave when he has some 10 months left of his tenure apparently in a bid to evade rendering accounts. This is unacceptable. President Buhari should not countenance this, the Zamfara governor wrote.

Neither Mr Emefiele nor the CBN has announced that the former has sought such study leave despite reports in the media.

On Sunday, presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu said he was unaware of such study leave.

Emefiele must stay at his job to give full accounts of all that transpired under his watch to the incoming administration. He must answer all the questions the new regime may have for him particularly when he still has some months left of his tenure, the Zamfara governor wrote in his Monday statement.

Read the full statement below.

My plea with President Muhammadu Buhari to halt all study leaves, foreign transfers, postings of officers critical to take-off of incoming administration

Beyond the remarkable achievements of his administration in all sectors, President Muhammadu Buhari has demonstrated that he is a patriot, democrat and a man of impeccable integrity and character. Perhaps more than ever before, this has been on display even in the twilight of his administration. President Buhari has about two weeks left of his eventful tenure.

Last week, he and his family officially moved out of their residence at Aso Rock Presidential Villa into a place called the Glass House, also within the precinct of the Villa.

And we witnessed an astonishingly respectable spectacle of First Lady Aisha Buhari taking Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of the President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu, round the Presidential Villa, their soon-to-be- abode.

President Buhari and his wife Aisha Buhari have shown good faith and shown they want a seamless orderly and peaceful transfer of power to the incoming administration. They are eager to ensure that the new regime takes off smoothly and speedily and in a manner devoid of any encumbrance in the interest of our country. This is the right thing to do and I commend President Buhari and his wife for their statesmanly conduct.

The President and his wife have demonstrated good faith.

However, other officers in government have acted in a different manner. They are behaving as if they want to put spanners in the work for the incoming regime. President Buhari should not allow this. He should frown on any attempt by any person seeking to damage the good job he has done.

This is the import of this press statement today. I want, here and now, to urge President Buhari to not approve any study leave or whatever kind of leave for any officer critical to the take-off of the incoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. One of such persons that has been speculated in the media to have sought a study leave is Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele. If the leave has been approved, as reported in the media, the President should cancel it in the interest of peaceful transfer of power, accountability and good governance. CBN Governor Emefiele superintended over the management of the countrys financial and monetary systems. He is the one who initiated and implemented the recent disastrous Naira swap policy, the Naira confiscation program, which put Nigerians through untold woes and trauma and set our economy backwards.

Two of my brother-governors and I took the Federal Government to court over this ill-advised policy and fought resolutely until we got a respite for our people from Emefiele and company.

This same Emefiele now wants to proceed on study leave when he has some 10 months left of his tenure apparently in a bid to evade rendering accounts. This is unacceptable. President Buhari should not countenance this. Emefiele must stay at his job to give full accounts of all that transpired under his watch to the incoming administration. He must answer all the questions the new regime may have for him particularly when he still has some months left of his tenure.

I also want to use this opportunity to appeal to President Buhari to also not approve foreign postings or grant any foreign travels for any officer at any level in the outgoing government who may be critical or strategic to the smooth take-off of the incoming government. Im aware that some officers in the outgoing government are moving to surreptitiously leave the country at this critical time they are needed to answer to specific questions, though I would not want to mention their names here.

President Buhari should not heed their inordinate and unpatriotic plan. These plans are dangerous and devilish. They show clearly that these officers have something to hide. This must be halted immediately. Any plan to evade rendering accounts is neither in the interest of accountability, transparency and anti-corruption, which President Buhari had championed in government, nor in the interest of an unencumbered take-off of the incoming administration. Its also not in the interest of the country, which the president has always promoted and championed. This is my appeal and why I have decided to speak out as a patriotic Nigerian and concerned governor.

Thank you.

Bello Matawalle

Governor of Zamfara State

May 15, 2023

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The IRS has a new rule for how freelancers and gig workers should report their income. It's on hold for now, but Next Insurance helps taxpayer
The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, says the claim that there is a 17 million housing deficit in Nigeria is false and not backed by evidence.

Mr Fashola said he investigated the claim and found it was baseless because nobody knew where it came from, even as many Nigerians believed it.

A statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES from the ministers special adviser on communications, Hakeem Bello, said Mr Fashola disclosed this in his remarks at the Shelter Afrique 2023 42nd AGMs roundtable session of African ministers at the congress hall of Transcorp Hilton on Tuesday, 9 May.

The minister explained that using data for planning and decision-making by those with the requisite skills, capacity, and rigour can lead to predictable, orderly and measurable results but can be dangerous in the hands of the unskilled.

Regarding the supposed 17 million housing deficit, the minister said he went the extra mile to verify that claim.

Of course, I took the view that as Housing Minister, my success depended on working with credible data. So I went in search of the data, he began.

Nobody knew where it came from, but they all loved it and were ready to assert it. Indeed, I think they might have thought that something was wrong with me about finding out the truth.

Happily, the source of the data of a housing deficit of 17 million did not prove eternally elusive. I eventually found where it came from.

Mr Fashola added that the claim was contained in the preface to the 2012 National Housing Policy signed by the minister then in charge of the Ministry of Housing three years before he took office.

I put a telephone call through to the Minister, who admitted to the preface but said it was prepared by aides, and the pressure of work did not allow sufficient vetting, he said.

Needless to say, the Minister confirmed that the data has no verifiable basis. Therefore, I say to those who still choose to live by it, I wish them well on a journey to the unknown from an unknown destination.

The point I am making here, which needs to be repeated, is that by logical and accountable use of data, if there were a need of 17 million and 1 unit was provided, one would expect that the need would reduce by 1 (one).

Appeal

He appealed to the right-thinking and well-meaning people to disown the baseless data while awaiting the results of the National Housing and Population Census 2023.

And to the question of what we know, I say that the last time I checked with our National Bureau of Statistics (admittedly a few years ago), there was a reliable household survey of about 35 million households in Nigeria; a household representing one family unit.

If we set that nebulous figure of 17 million housing deficit against the verifiable household data of 35 million Households, it would suggest that almost half of the population is in deficit of housing, he said.

Mr Fashola also recalled that as Lagos State Governor, between 2012 and 2015, his administration delivered 200 units of houses to members of the public every month over three years.

At the same time, other governors launched and successfully executed housing projects across most of our 36 states, and so did members of the private sector, he said.

It seemed that nobody was ready to take account of the delivery of even 1 (one) unit of housing, he added.

Meanwhile, Mr Fashola conceded that there is a housing deficit in Nigeria and has offered how to approach it.

My view is again to use what is proven, which is that globally, more people are moving towards cities in the last 50 years than at any time before in our human existence, in a trend now defined as rapid urbanization.

We also know from economic principles that when there is an increased demand for a service, commodity or product without corresponding supply, there will be shortages and price increases. This is also verifiable.

Using these verifiable principles, I submit that the housing deficit in Nigeria and most parts of the continent and the world is more pronounced in urban centres than in rural areas, he said.

Mr Fashola said while awaiting reliable census data, his approach has been concentrating on housing supply and construction activities in the urban centres of states, even as he is mindful of empty houses in the same urban centres.

I know that many of those struggling for accommodation in the cities have left one form of shelter unused or underutilised in our rural areas. I also know that housing provision must look seriously at the rental side while trying to increase ownership.

I know that a lot more needs to be done to free up any obstacles that prevent people from renting or acquiring many empty houses that we see in our urban centres, he said.

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The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has struck out the petitions filed by the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Action Peoples Party (APP) against the reelection of Governor Dapo Abiodun.

The two parties and their candidates filed the petitions marked EPT/Gov/01/2023 and EPT/OG/Gov/04/2023 in April.

However, at the sitting of the tribunal on Monday, the counsel to the parties, Peter Ogah, withdrew the petitions based on the motion of discountenance earlier filed before the tribunal.

Counsel to the respondent, Ganiyu Ogunsanwo, did not oppose the application for the withdrawal of the two petitions.

In his ruling, the three-man tribunal headed by Hamidu Kunaza, agreed with the petitioners and struck out the petitions.

The tribunal also dismissed an attempt by the national leadership of the New Nigeria Peoples Party through its legal adviser for a change of its counsel.

The court said the party had filed no motion or application to inform it of the plan to change the counsel for the party at the tribunal.

The state chairman of NNPP, Oginni Olaposi, had earlier announced the partys decision to withdraw the petition.

The petition wants the election cancelled over the omission of the partys name on the ballot paper.

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Godly mothers stand on the wings of the spirit. They are intercessors. They are deep wells of wisdom. They provide courage and inspiration to their families. They are rare to find in our generation, but still exist in various climes, although in small numbers. You can be part of this elite group of kingdom stalwarts, mothers with the eyes of the spirit and the strength of eagles. Any man with these kind of mother, either as a wife or parent, is truly blessed by God.

History is replete with the exploits of great mothers, and mothers-in-law, who blazed the trail and set the pace for the advancement of Gods kingdom. At the root of godly motherhood is godly womanhood. Carnal womanhood rarely translates to godly motherhood. That is the path of influence and impact in the kingdom of God. Every woman must desire to be kingdom-minded; it is a guaranteed path to godly motherhood. As we celebrate Mothers Day today, it is imperative for all of us who have benefited from the values and virtues of kingdom mothers to venerate their memory. You will hardly find any great man in Gods kingdom whose roots were not hooked to the sacrifices of their mothers. History tells us about the incredible impacts of John and Charles Wesley in the revival that swept through England.

The fire of revival that broke out in Great Britain in the late 17th century, was fanned from the embers of the Wesleys. But it was their mother, Susanna Wesley, who started this fire, right by her bedside. Susana had nineteen children for her husband, Samuel Wesley. John Wesley was the fifteenth of these children. For many years, Susanna would pray for each of her children. She birthed their vision on the wings of intercession. She lost many of them, but God rewarded her faithful intercession by placing the mantle of revival on her son, John Wesley, who later founded the great Methodist Church in England. Godly mothers are priceless. Our generation is yet to appreciate the value and impact of godly mothers in the birth of great visions. To further bridge this gap, let me also tell you more about the exploits of godly mothers in shaping the history of the church.

Morrow Graham, the mother of Billy Graham, prayed for and inspired Evangelist Billy Graham into his calling. Katharina Luther inspired the great Martin Luther to prominence.

Ann was the first wife of the great missionary, Adoniram Judson, who before her death, contributed to the revival that broke out through Adoniram Judson in the nation of Burma. Ann literarily died in the hands of her husband, Adoniram Judson. While Adoniram was jailed for preaching the gospel, Ann stood with him and by him, combing the bush at night to secretly locate the window of the prison facility that held her husband, just to encourage him. She would quietly knock the window of the cell and whisper the following words to her husband, Hang on Adoniram, God will soon give us the victory. Then she would crawl back through the same bush path back home. While she was dying in the hands of Adoniram after his release from prison, her last words were still, hang on Adoniram, God will soon give us the victory. Adoniram burst into tears and said, Ann, oh Ann my dear wife. Truly, Godly mothers are priceless.

Dr C.E. French told the story of a 98-year-old woman, Sister Mary, who as an intercessor in America in the 1960s, revealed the secret of an impending bilateral deal between the US and Turkey. This was a top secret. Some delegates from Turkey had arrived the White House to sign some documents with the then US president. A night before the meeting in the White House, the Lord showed Sister Mary the exact details of the deal in a night vision. She woke up and sent a message to her friend at the White House, who later passed it over to the secretary of the White House that, should the US president sign that deal, America was going to enter into serious trouble. That same evening, FBI agents stormed Sister Marys house, demanding from her, how did you know about the deal? You are an agent of the Turkish government. After subjecting her to hours of grueling interrogation, they discovered that the source of her information was beyond any natural means. Surprisingly, the US government changed its mind and bowed to the warnings of Sister Mary. Truly, Godly mothers are priceless.

Godly mothers stand on the wings of the spirit. They are intercessors. They are deep wells of wisdom. They provide courage and inspiration to their families. They are rare to find in our generation, but still exist in various climes, although in small numbers. You can be part of this elite group of kingdom stalwarts, mothers with the eyes of the spirit and the strength of eagles. Any man with these kind of mother, either as a wife or parent, is truly blessed by God. Godly mothers must be cherished, honoured, and rewarded. If you have one, please venerate her. After God, godly mothers are the next best gifts for success in life. Truly, they are priceless. Happy mothers day

Ayo Akerele, a leadership and system development strategist, and minister of the word, writes from Canada and can be reached through ayoakerele2012@gmail.com.

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At the heart of these mutually reinforcing dilemmasis a conceptual error. Ahead of her victory in 1979, Margaret Thatcher forced a conversation on British politics and people on the role of the state and the private sector, and agreement on the tools for negotiating the transition from an economy led by the former to one led by the latter. Whereas no one suggests Thatcherism as our template for economic reforms, it matters that we are seemingly unable to have these discussions.

Writing a weekly newspaper column in these parts is such an unrewarding chore. It does not pay well for sure. That is if it pays at all. Besides, the cost of inputs  newspaper/journal subscriptions, pleasant/informed company, and the serene ambience without which all manner of writing is but an insurrectionary act  rise relentlessly. But that is the least of the problems your columnist faces here.

There is a cyclical, vertiginous even, quality to much of what one may properly hold an opinion on in Nigeria. Like Sisyphus struggling to roll that boulder uphill and finally succeeding just before sunset  only to have to begin rolling it again by sunrise the next morning  or that indeterminable space between Tantalus lips and the bounties of the fruit tree and lake of water, the commentator on domestic affairs here has only to work at it for five years before his/her pieces start going over familiar territory  ad infinitum.

A vicious cycle? A traumatising temporal loop with no known exits? Simply lost, without a GPS-enabled device? Or worse, stranded like Hansel and Gretel, and denied comfort from the trail of bread crumbs by those pesky birds? If nothing else, the last eight years of the Buhari administration have exacerbated this feeling of being stuck in a never-ending carousel. Somehow, managers of the domestic economy contrive to leave the populace feeling that we have been here before. Only this time, the disorientation is more severe than the last time.

How much justification is there, then, in the hope that the forthcoming change of government will reset our national coordinates (social, political and economic)? For without a factory reset, chances are that we are doomed to repeat yesterdays failures all over again. With the caveat that every reiteration turns more farcical in places where the previous ones were tragic.

The feeling of hopelessness derives naturally from the new evidence of horse trading that has been underway since the verdict was given on the outcome of the poll for president. It is not so much that our politics is redolent of a marketplace. It is the nature of goods and services on offer (loyalty, past-due political debts, rather than competence and a commitment to consumer wellbeing) that is worrying.

In the run-up to the inauguration of the new federal government on 29th May, no combination of words has summed up my sentiments on Nigerias near- to medium-term outlook (the longer-term outlook is when the Devil is allowed to do what he wills with the last man) than F. Scott Fitzgeralds suggestion of the possibility that One shouldbe able to see that things are hopeless yet be determined to make them otherwise.

The feeling of hopelessness derives naturally from the new evidence of horse trading that has been underway since the verdict was given on the outcome of the poll for president. It is not so much that our politics is redolent of a marketplace. It is the nature of goods and services on offer (loyalty, past-due political debts, rather than competence and a commitment to consumer wellbeing) that is worrying. However, in this respect, this is only reminiscent of previous such transitions. It matters, too, that the frantic negotiations currently underway to fill key political offices remain completely ignorant or uncaring of the enormous mountains ahead of the country.

These latter obstacles include the external threat to the countrys security from the slow-motion unravelling of its Sahelian neighbours. Similar threats from within include from forces persuaded that the current organisation of the state is both inefficient because it has never been equitable, and thus needs to be violently re-purposed. The more immediate threat, though, is that to its peoples wellbeing from the damage done by the original (if scatterbrained) economic policies that have been inflicted on the economy over the last two electoral cycles.

Were government finances to get better  we seem to be producing more crude oil, and while the price of our benchmark blend is lower than it was all of last year, it is better than we have benefitted from in almost two years  we would in all likelihood be back where the Buhari government left off. In this sense, the determination to restore hope to Nigerias outlook rests itself on the hope that one day we may start to think seriously about these things.

At the heart of these mutually reinforcing dilemmas (which, in turn, explain the nations continuing failure) is a conceptual error. Ahead of her victory in 1979, Margaret Thatcher forced a conversation on British politics and people on the role of the state and the private sector, and agreement on the tools for negotiating the transition from an economy led by the former to one led by the latter. Whereas no one suggests Thatcherism as our template for economic reforms, it matters that we are seemingly unable to have these discussions. Or better still, to move them from marginal private conversation spaces (where consensus increasingly seems to favour smaller more competent government) to active policy principles.

This is why debate on the need for domestic reforms continues to be premised on governments poor finances  that is why we must dispense with the subsidy on petrol prices and the multiple exchange rate regime. Were government finances to get better  we seem to be producing more crude oil, and while the price of our benchmark blend is lower than it was all of last year, it is better than we have benefitted from in almost two years  we would in all likelihood be back where the Buhari government left off. In this sense, the determination to restore hope to Nigerias outlook rests itself on the hope that one day we may start to think seriously about these things.

Uddin Ifeanyi, journalist manque and retired civil servant, can be reached @IfeanyiUddin.

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It seems like an epilogue to a badly choreographed drama that President Muhammadu Buhari is undergoing toothache therapy in the UK, after spending more than 225 days on similar vacations, just three weeks to the end of his eight-year Presidency on 29 May. The president had jetted out to London on 3 May, to join a galaxy of world leaders in the coronation of King Charles III on 6 May, but decided to extend his stay by one week, to enable him enjoy good healthcare, one more time, at public expense. We wished that he had not committed this injudiciousness.

The disclosure of his ailment by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, last Tuesday, while communicating the delayed return was one of the rare public intimations of the nature of his sickness, in his serial medical tourisms that ignited wide fulminations. The extended-stay, we dare say, is a sad reminder of how his medical tourism began after only eight months in office. One national newspaper put the total number of days he spent abroad for this purpose at 225 days as at 4 December, 2022. Mr President, that toothache is treatable in Nigeria; and the pounds sterling it will incur and cost of parking the presidential jet for an extra week, are waste of public funds.

Buhari undertook his first medical trip to the UK on 5 February, 2016, and this lasted for six days. On January 23, 2017, he embarked on another one that lasted 50 days, as he returned on 10 March. The longest medical trip that year spanned 104 days, for an undisclosed illness. These medical peregrinations occurred all through his presidency, in a record surpassing that of Umaru YarAdua, who spent 172 days abroad on the same grounds. The YarAdua/Buhari health challenges reasonably justify the view in some quarters that the health status of the president should be of public knowledge.

Unfortunately, the cost to the public treasury of Buharis health tourism is not known, and may never be, as opacity and lack of accountability define governance in the country. But with the over 40 countries he visited in about 84 trips, and the N50.75 billion cost of maintaining the Presidential Air Fleet at the end of 2022  as one national daily reported, this offers a birds eye view of the amount his ill health has cost the country.

Painfully, Nigerias healthcare delivery has been missing in all of this. The president never for once got himself treated locally, whether in a public or private hospital, no matter how minor the ailment has been. It is a perverse incentive to other public officers like governors to continually indulge in the same at public expense. Buharis lack of trust in our public health system stems from the governments poor attention to human development concerns, which has earned him thumbs down through much of his presidency.

It is infuriating that Aso Rock Clinic, which ought to have taken care of the health concerns of the president and his family is not fit for purpose, despite the billions of naira allocated in the national budget annually to it. In 2022, a total of N20.8 billion was provided for the construction of the Presidential Wing of the clinic. Even the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, and her daughter, Zahra, were vehement in their denunciation of the inefficiency of the system in 2017. Aisha had then screamed, I called the Aso Clinic to find out if they have an X-Ray machine, they said it is not working. In the end, I had to go to a hospital owned and operated by foreigners 100 per cent. There was no syringe, she said. The daughter, on her Instagram handle, cynically inveighed that ordinary Paracetamol was not available in the Clinic.

If a hospital for the nations first family is so dysfunctional, it is a given that no public hospital in Nigeria is likely to be in good shape. This explains why medical doctors in tertiary public health institutions are always on strike, resulting in threats to lives and, in some cases, the death of patients. Buhari will return to meet the fury of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and expiration of their ultimatum over a slew of welfare demands that must be met, or its members will go on total strike.

The body wants the rejection of a Bill seeking to prevent medical doctors from being issued full practicing licences until after five years in service, as deterrent to their travelling abroad to ply their trade after being trained at highly subsidised costs by the government. It is also asking for a 200% salary increment; payment of 2014, 2015, 2016 salary arrears; and those from minimum wage consequential adjustments, among other issues. That Bill is discriminatory and infringes on doctors rights. Therefore, it should be thrown away. A labourer deserves his wages. Since these arrears were accumulated under Buharis tenure, his government should clear them before he vacates office.

The NARD charter of demands, including the underfunding of public health institutions and not fostering an enabling environment for a private, world class healthcare delivery system to thrive in the country, underscore why medical personnel are leading the japa caravan  the high emigration of Nigeria professionals to the UK, other parts of Europe, the US and Saudi Arabia, for greener pastures. About 10,296 Nigerian doctors are practicing in the UK alone, says the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).

Instructively, the hospitals that treated Buhari these past eight years are privately owned. King Edward VIIs Hospital, for example, which treated the late Queen Elizabeth II, is a private hospital. And no UK Prime Minister or US President travels outside their countries to seek medical attention. As Buhari failed to grasp this fact and its import to our sovereign image, his successor, Bola Tinubu should not.

The UK, together with India and others, milk Nigeria about $2 billion annually in medical tourism. Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, mentioned this loss two years ago, at the inauguration of the Cardiac Catheterisation and Hospital Complex in Abuja. This is a big haemorrhage of our scarce foreign exchange. Tinubu should not fall for the bait of being often flown to Western capitals to treat headache, cold or any minor ailment that can be handled within.

A president who submits himself for treatment in his domain, buoys up doctors confidence, enhances the capacity of the health system to deliver and gain more public trust. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo demonstrated this leadership by example last August, when he went to Duchess International Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos for a knee surgery, rather than travel abroad. Nigerians applauded him for it. Health is wealth, as the old saying goes. As such, healthcare delivery deserves priority attention through better funding, training, equipment and reward to medical personnel, than it presently attracts, to save lives and staunch needless capital flight.

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In what could be described as another first among many by the company, Swiss Pharma Nigeria Limited (SWIPHA), a subsidiary of Servier, a French multinational pharmaceutical company, has received WHO prequalification of Zinc Dispersible 20mg Tablet from the World Health Organisation (WHO). SWIPHA is the first company in Africa to obtain WHO prequalification for Zinc Tablet.

According to Frederic Lieutaud, the Managing Director of Swiss Pharma Nigeria Limited, the WHO pre-qualification is a rigorous process that evaluates pharmaceutical products based on their quality, safety, and efficacy. This recognition is considered worldwide as a symbol of excellence in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

We are thrilled to announce to the public that we have received World Health Organization prequalification of Zinc Dispersible 20mg Tablet on 2 May 2023. As many of you may know, our company has been dedicated to providing high-quality pharmaceutical products that meet the highest safety and efficacy standards for over 47 years, he said.

Lieutaud disclosed that receiving WHO prequalification is an important accomplishment for the company as it validates the dedication and hard work of our entire team, who have worked tirelessly to ensure that our products meet the highest standards of quality and safety. He stated that the Prequalification is also evidence of our commitment to transparency and accountability in everything we do.

He added that the company could only have achieved the feat with the support of its partners and clients. We want to convey our most profound appreciation to some of our partners, regulatory bodies and customers, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), World Health Organization (WHO) Nigeria, Servier Generic Group, the United States Pharmacopoeia  Promoting the Quality of Medicines Plus (USP-PQM+), Maternal and Child Centre, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, the General Hospital Alimosho, Lagos, Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital, Ibadan and all other stakeholders who supported our journey to prequalification, he said.

Also speaking on the achievement, the Business Development & Licensing Director, Abbas Sambo, noted that the milestone is a testament to the companys belief that every child deserves access to safe and effective medicines. He added that the company understands paediatric health is a critical issue in Nigeria and is proud to be part of the solution.

With this prequalification, we can now provide the product to organisations and governments worldwide working to improve child health. We remain committed to seeking partnerships with

organisations like the Global Fund and USAID to address critical health issues such as Malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases. We are actively exploring opportunities to expand our product portfolio to include medicines that can help prevent, treat, and manage these diseases, Sambo said.

Sambo further explained that the company believes collaboration is essential in addressing these health challenges and is committed to working with global organisations, governments, and other stakeholders to ensure that essential medicines are accessible to all.

In the same development, NAFDAC commended the company for the WHO prequalification. The Director General NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, delivered the commendation during a recent briefing in Lagos.

She said that this laudable feat is no doubt the outcome of meaningful collaboration between SWIPHA and NAFDAC, as well as a systematic implementation of policies earlier mentioned. With this achievement, SWIPHA has added another first to its arsenal of firsts.

Being the first manufacturer to be recognised by the WHO as operating at an acceptable level of compliance to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) requirements in West Africa, the manufacturer is now also the first manufacturer of finished pharmaceutical products to attain prequalification of its product in West Africa.

Adeyeye noted that the WHO Prequalification of Medicines Programme (PQP) ensures that medicines supplied by procurement agencies meet acceptable standards of quality, safety, and efficacy. She encouraged other frontline local drug manufacturers to emulate this feat by harmonising collective aspiration and synergy of effort with NAFDAC to achieve more.

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Asikhia, a Professor of Business, Marketing and Entrepreneurship, who started his academic sojourn with a Bachelors degree in BiochemistryBiostatistics, has the rare privilege of bagging two Masterss degrees (Economics and Business Administration), as well as two Doctoral degrees (Doctor of Business Leadership-Marketing and Strategic Management; and Doctor of Philosophy-Entrepreneurial Management).

The research professor and grant winner is leading other International scholars at the ongoing International Conference on Global Business Rescue and Resilience, South Africa where he delivered a paper on Business Resilience Determinants and Performance of Small Medium Enterprises. Globally acclaimed for its timeliness and strategic importance, the paper aims to develop a strategy for curbing the persistent failure of Small Businesses in Africa, taking a cue from Nigeria.

In his speech, the Scholar noted that organisational factors like effective proactive management skills, flexible organisational structure, marketing and environmental scanning skills must be developed to stem business failure. Apart from that, Asikhia chaired a sessionon Management and Business Resilience in Africa.

Among others, the fundamental objective of the Conference is to address, curb and proffer solutions to the alarming rate of business failure in Africa, ranging from three months to five years across nations in the Continent.

The need to put together a team across nations of the world to assist stem this dangerous trend necessitated a congregation of some of the brightest business scholars to brainstorm in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa, for a diverse presentation on the way forward.

Tagged International Conference on Business Resilience, Continuity and Regeneration, the Rescue Team at the International Conference also considered the need for intensive diagnostic tools and processes that would rightly identify the different degrees of ailments bedevilling different organisations, before attempting a prescription.

Consequently, the concept will not be one method solves all. This becomes important in the light of environmental dynamism in which businesses operate from one country to the other. The outbreak of COVID-19 and the concomitant failures of businesses across nations of the world showed that several firms were not proactive enough to predict their environments and reconfigure resources and capabilities to arrest the plunge, the conference pointed out..

Expectedly, the conference made an assertive statement on the need for continuous monitoring of the business environment and business operations flexibility.

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At least five people have been injured in an explosion at a local bar in the Dorowa area of Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.

The incident happened on Sunday around 9 p.m. at the bar located in the centre of the city.

Dorowa is a densely populated part of the city with several bars where burkutu, a locally brewed ale, is sold.

The loud sound of the explosion was heard throughout the community, making residents scamper for safety.

An owner of a bar that sells burkutu, Lami Ali, told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday that the explosion occurred at the peak of business with many people around relaxing and enjoying their drinks.

She said no one died but at least four persons sustained minor injuries while a lady was severely injured on her leg and is being treated at the Federal Medical Center, Jalingo.

Spokesperson of the Taraba Police Command, Usman Abdullahi, however, told PREMIUM TIMES that only two people were injured in the explosion. He said one person was treated and discharged immediately while the second person was being treated at a hospital.

Mr Abdullahi said the police have sent experts to the community to determine the cause of the explosion and to arrest those responsible if the investigation reveals it was a criminal act.

The Commissioner of Police has directed the DC operations to quickly commence an investigation into the matter.

Already our experts have visited the scene to determine what type of explosives were used and to fish out those behind the explosion.

Two persons were confirmed injured, one was treated and discharged while one was still receiving treatment, he said.

Taraba State has been witnessing a spate of violent attacks, including bomb explosions, perpetrated by Islamist insurgents.

In April 2022, at least six people were killed and over 16 others injured in an explosion at another drinking joint within the Iware cattle market axis of Taraba State.

Two days later, another explosion in the city centre injured several people. ISWAP, the Islamic State franchise in West Africa has claimed responsibility for some of the attacks.

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For Cooper Williams, running with the Herd means confronting the barriers you encounter in life with Honesty, Effort, Respect and Decision-Making.

Drawing inspiration from a lesson he learned in middle school, the Carlisle teen can look back on the memory that set in motion a lasting impression for generations to come.

My original idea was for it to break out of the wall, the Carlisle High School freshman said Thursday, referring to the bison sculpture that will soon become a fixture inside the entrance of Lamberton Middle School.

You can represent that figuratively or physically  whatever we need to do to get through it as a herd, he said.

It all began last spring with two key events in his life.

One of his art pieces was included in the annual art show exhibit in the hallway of the Fowler building of the high school. While visiting, he happened to notice the small sculpture of the bison, the mascot of the Carlisle Area School District.

At the time, Williams was a member of the Lamberton Middle School Art Club that had just completed a mural in the cafeteria of a collage of images and symbols that represent Carlisle.

The school year was nearing the end when art teacher and club adviser Russell Gillock suggested students brainstorm proposals for a follow-up project.

Cooper had the idea to take it to the next step. Instead of a painting, a 3-D sculpture similar to the one in the Fowler building only a larger, life-size bison, Gillock said.

In the days that followed, Williams came to school with two mock-ups of his vision, the first one in cardboard, the second aluminum and wire.

Though fellow students embraced the idea, time ran out to get the sculpture underway before school let out for summer. The project could have ended right there.

Bison begins

Cooper was no longer one of my students, but I wanted to keep my promise to him to bring his idea to life, Gillock said. When school resumed, the teacher set the logistics charging forward.

I was involved every step of the way from having the maintenance department build the base platform to myself and the tech ed teacher installing the rods, Gillock said.

Starting in October, he taught eighth-graders in the club each step in the process to turn a concept into a work of art over seven months. The students could only work on the bison during club periods of 30 minutes at a time once or twice each school week.

Rachel Miller of Dickinson Township remembered the earliest stages of the project. We started out with just four legs [rods] sticking out of a platform of wood, she said. We just built the wire around that. It was cool to see how the wire sticking out of pieces of wood gave shape to a bison.

The wire armature formed the skeleton of a bison in motion, Gillock said. From there, students wrapped the frame with plaster cloth before applying coats of liquid plaster to give the sculpture form and dimension.

The weight of it was hard to manage, Miller said. There were some really small gaps between the wires to provide enough support. The bottom of the bison was one of the hardest things to get around.

For that, the students had to maneuver around the belly of the beast and do battle with gravity. Still, they learned how to overcome obstacles.

At one point, the bison was tipping forward and everything was cracking, said Alyssa Magruder of Dickinson Township. So we had to take a hammer to the head.

I really liked how we had to work together, Magruder said. We had to communicate. Otherwise, nothing was going to work. Im not used to talking to people. This forced me out of my shell.

From time to time, the students had to take a break from the project. Magruder worked on other projects and tended to the school store. Along the way, she learned the value of patience.

I had a lot more of an attention span than I thought I had, she said. You have to stick with it.

Williams had moved on to the high school and so had no direct role in making the sculpture. But the eighth-graders in the club kept in touch by emailing him photos.

It was really cool how they made it so realistic to an actual bison, Williams said. But they also made it their own with the back side. Every year, they can change it up.

Early on, the decision was made to go with a realistic paint scheme in the head and front of the bison while leaving the back portion an open canvas for future students to showcase their talents and imagination.

This year, a contest was held among eighth-graders to determine the winning design, Gillock said. With each annual version, photographs will be taken to pass on to the yearbook staff, he said.

The takeaway for the students is they worked together to create something greater than themselves, Gillock said. During the course of our time together, Ive seen friendships grow and memories being created. To see the pride in their faces and the ambition they had to see this through was inspiring  not just for myself, but to them individually and collectively. Im very proud of all these students and their hard work.

The school board Thursday recognized the eighth-graders and Williams for their accomplishments. Aside from Miller and Magruder, the club members involved in the project were Mary Mercado, Michael Hoover, Cayla Velazquez, Cade Nelson, Claire Christine, Eileen Wang, Helen Shine, Konztanze Shutt, Ikram Issakh, Bear Reutter, Abigail Carden, Cooper Gleason, Ashton Sourbeer, Sophie Topper, Eva Bermudez, Gianna Buttafuoco, Mia Buttafuoco and Hannah Plant.
In 2022 GSA's revenues reached 173m, with EBITDA of 38m and an EBITDA margin of 22%

GSA's internationalisation campaign continues: after France , the company is also entering the Spanish market thanks to the acquisition of the second most important group specialising in fire suppression and prevention systems

ROME, and MADRID, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GSA Gruppo Servizi Associati, the leader in Italy and a major player in Europe in the field of fire safety and prevention, communicates the acquisition of 75% of the group Previnsa Servicios Integrales, a major Spanish operator in the field of fire protection services and systems, highly specialised technical training and safety signs.

Firefighters in action

Based in Langreo, Asturias, and with staff training centres in Madrid, Oviedo and Valencia, for over 20 years Previnsa has specialised in offering its customers technical services related to the world of fire safety and protection systems. The acquisition of Previnsa makes it possible for GSA to expand its business lines thanks to the 3 sectors in which the former is specialised: fire monitoring and prevention in nuclear power plants (in fact, Previnsa manages fire safety at Iberdrola's Cofrentes nuclear power plant); staff training and safety at work, even in complex situations: working at height, chemical emergencies, maritime safety, wind farms, thermonuclear power plants (Endesa as well is among the main customers); production and marketing of work safety signs and accessories (Leroy Merlin is one of the main customers).

The acquisition of Previnsa is in line with GSA's strategic development plan, which envisages the expansion of the services offered to its customers, the company's internationalisation, and thus the opportunity to export its business model to Spain as well, with specific reference to fire monitoring in tunnels and hospitals.

In 2022, Previnsa generated revenues of 17.7m (+18% compared to 2021) with EBITDA of around 2m (+25% compared to the previous year).

At the same time, the shareholders' meeting of GSA approved the financial statements for 2022 with consolidated revenues of 173m (168m in 2021) and EBITDA of 38m (35.5m in 2021). Net financial position stood at 95m compared to 121m in the previous year.

Thanks to the transaction involving Previnsa and to other targets which are currently being negotiated, business in 2023 is expected to consolidate further for GSA.

Both the strategy and the achievement of these initial important targets were realised on the basis of the development lines defined with the entry (in October 2021) into GSA's capital, with a majority stake of 67.5%, of the Eurizon ITER investment funds in partnership with Alpe Invest and Armonia Italy Fund, which hold a 18.4% and 12.3% stake respectively.

In addition, the acquisition undertaken at the end of 2021 of OPI S.r.l., based in the Marche region, confirmed expectations, recording, after the merger with GSA Firesafe, revenues for 2022 of 8m and EBITDA of 1.5m.

As noted by Alessandro Pedone, Founder of the Company and Executive Deputy Chairman: "Thanks also to the acquisition of Previnsa, GSA is positioned as a leading European player in the safety sector, and is ready to further strengthen its presence in Italy. Its service offer in the field of safety is growing and currently ranges from engineering to execution. GSA is increasingly an aggregator of outstanding entrepreneurial businesses".

"The transaction involving Previnsa is perfectly in line with the strategies of GSA's Long-term Plan, both in terms of the Company's internationalisation and the technological expansion and upgrade of its service offer, also addressing new sectors, albeit still related to the world of Safety"  commented Antonio Musacchio, Chief Executive Officer of GSA.

GSA - Gruppo Servizi Associati S.p.A.

GSA - Gruppo Servizi Associati is a multiservice company founded in 1997 and active throughout Europe. It is the leader in Italy, among the key players on the continent in the field of health and safety at work and fire monitoring, as well as an ELITE company on the Italian stock exchange. GSA specialises in all segments of the Safety Chain to protect critical infrastructure, public buildings and industrial plants.

The company has its registered office in Rome, its head office in Udine and further sites in Milan, Genoa, Aosta, Florence, Naples, Bari, Cagliari, and Oristano. In addition, there are branches in Chamonix and Lyon in France. With a broad presence on the territory and over 5,000 employees, GSA is among the leaders in Europe thanks to engineered services, the introduction of technological innovations and patents and its global approach. Bearing witness to and acknowledging the outstanding progress made by GSA, in 2018 Armonia Sgr, the leading private equity firm, took a stake in the company's share capital and, in 2021, ITE Capital Partners acquired 67.5% of GSA for an Enterprise Value of Euro 250 million. In 2021, ITE Capital Partners facilitated and managed the entry of the Eurizon ITER funds, which are under Eurizon Capital SGR  the asset management company of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group. The company is active on two main business lines: the Safety division and the Facility division. During 2020, GSA guaranteed the safety of structures such as the Giovanni XXIII hospital in Bergamo and the Spallanzani hospital in Rome. In addition, it manages the fire safety arrangements for major infrastructure such as the Mont Blanc Tunnel and the Gran Sasso Tunnel, providing services also to important public and private entities such as the Lombardy Region, Fincantieri, Autostrade per l'Italia and all the main public hospital facilities in the regions of Sardinia, Tuscany, and Friuli Venezia Giulia.

Media contacts:

Be Media

Ufficio stampa

Alberto Murer

E: a.murer@bemedia.it

T: +39 02 35927711

M: +39 334 6086216

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2076314/GSA_firefighters.jpg

SOURCE GSA - Gruppo Servizi Associati
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., May 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has revealed the launch date of the mission of the Saudi astronauts: 21st May 2023. Hence, on this day, Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni are to depart to the International Space Station in a human spaceflight.

The launch was set after they completed their training program. This launch is part of Saudi Arabia's astronauts program, it aims at accomplishing the Saudi ambitions in Space research and achieving the goals of Vision 2030.

Astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni

The Saudi Space Commission (SSC) has confirmed that this journey to space will last 12 days, liftoffs from the United States and more importantly, makes history. In effect, the astronauts will conduct 14 pioneering scientific experiments in microgravity that are set to help scientists and researchers devise new ways to provide suitable conditions for humans - including the work of artificial rain. The results of which will enhance the Saudi Arabia's global position within the field of space exploration and service to humanity. It will also confirm the role of Saudi research centers in making a scientific impact in this field. The astronauts will also conduct three educational awareness experiments with 12,000 Saudi students via a live feed.

This mission once accomplished places Saudi Arabia as one of the few countries to have had two astronauts from the same nationality simultaneously on board the International Space Station. Its success will enhance its global position within the field of space exploration and service to humanity. It will place a cornerstone in the astronauts' program which is designed to prepare future astronauts and engineers, through quality educational and training programs, participation in scientific experiments, international research and future space-related missions, achieving the goals of Vision 2030.

The astronaut program plays an important role in the global community of space science research, and in the service of humanity and its future, just as it is confident that space research will impact the future of the industries and of the nation, inspiring a future generation of scientists and aspiring astronauts, and encouraging more young students to follow STEM careers.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2076210/Saudi_Space_Commission.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2036414/4034112/SSC_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Saudi Space Commission (SCC)
LONDON, May 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Seabourn, the leader in ultra-luxury voyages and expedition travel, is looking forward to setting sail on its second expedition season in the Arctic. In the early morning hours of 12th May 2023, Seabourn Venture, the line's first purpose-built expedition ship, made its maiden arrival in Greenwich, London where it will sail on two voyages to the British Isles and Ireland before embarking on a series of voyages to Greenland and Iceland.

On 12th May 2023 Seabourn Venture arrived in London for the first time. The ultra-luxury purpose-built expedition ship departs for a 12-day voyage to the British Isles and Ireland, followed by a second season in the Arctic. (Photo credit: Edges Creative) (PRNewsfoto/Seabourn) On 12th May 2023 Seabourn Venture arrived in London for the first time. The ultra-luxury purpose-built expedition ship departs for a 12-day voyage to the British Isles and Ireland, followed by a second season in the Arctic. (Photo credit: Edges Creative) (PRNewsfoto/Seabourn)

"Seabourn Venture is a beautiful ship that was purpose built to provide the ultimate expedition experiences and take our extraordinary guests to some of the most fascinating and remote destinations in the world," said Natalya Leahy, president of Seabourn. "The ship delighted our guests in her first year of service from the Arctic to the Antarctic, and we look forward to continuing to deliver unique 'Seabourn Moments' and an unparalleled luxury expedition that can only be experienced with Seabourn."

Second Season of Arctic Expeditions

On 12th May 2023, Seabourn Venture will set sail from Greenwich to Leith (Edinburgh), Scotland on a 12-day "Lands of the Celts" voyage, followed by an 11-day voyage to the Orkney and Shetland Islands on 24th May 2023, from Leith to Reykjavik, Iceland. From there, the ship will begin its second season in the Arctic with a series of 14- and 15-day voyages to Greenland and Iceland. Between June and August 2023, the ship will visit a number of remote destinations such as Scoresby Sound, Greenland, home to the largest and longest fjord system in the world; Pond Inlet, Nunavut, an Inuit community near the eastern entry to the Northwest Passage, and more.

On 27th August 2023, Seabourn Venture will embark on the line's first-ever voyage through the Northwest Passage with a 23-day adventure from Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to Nome, Alaska. The ship will offer the extraordinary opportunity to travel to one of the most infamous and storied passages in the world from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and filled with an abundance of history, wildlife, and unique landscapes. The voyage includes a pre- and post-cruise hotel stay in Reykjavik, Iceland, and Anchorage, Alaska.

Following the Northwest Passage voyage, the ship will head down the West Coast of the Americas before reaching Antarctica, where it will explore the "White Continent" between November 2023 and February 2024. In late February 2024, Seabourn Venture will make a once-in-a-lifetime crossing of the Atlantic encompassing the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Tristan da Cunha, and Ascension Island. In March and April, the ship will take two sailings up the West Coast of Africa and Europe to be in position for the 2024 Arctic season.

Select expedition voyages on Seabourn Venture qualify for Seabourn's latest promotions, including the "Bon Voyage Event", which features a complimentary two-category suite upgrade and up to $2,000USD shipboard credit per suite features; or the "Finale Sail", which unlocks savings up to 30% when guests book a fully non-refundable cruise fare for select suite categories. While not combinable, both promotions are available through 10th July 2023.

For reservations or more details contact Seabourn on visit www.seabourn.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2076115/Seabourn_1.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2076116/Seabourn_2.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2075319/SeaBourn_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Seabourn
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Acesion Pharma ("Acesion" or "the Company"), a biotech company pioneering first-in-class novel therapies for atrial fibrillation ("AF"), the most common cardiac arrhythmia, today announces positive data from pre-clinical studies with AP31969, its second-generation oral SK channel inhibitor developed for chronic oral maintenance treatment to prevent AF recurrence.

Acesion aims to develop a novel drug for AF that solves the major concern with existing drugs; a high-risk of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia, also known as proarrhythmia.

To refine drug proarrhythmia risk prediction; regulators, academics, and industry have collaborated on developing pre-clinical models with this specific purpose. In two such models, AP31969 has demonstrated a low risk of proarrhythmia with robust differentiation to existing drugs, which have a high risk of proarrhythmia, tested in the same models. Further results from pre-clinical studies showed that AP31969, tested at expected supratherapeutic doses across two in-vivo large animal models, has no prolongations of the corrected QT interval, a well-established marker of proarrhythmia risk.

In addition to its promising cardiac safety profile, AP31969 has demonstrated good oral pharmacokinetic properties across different animal species and a low-risk of causing drug-drug interactions, another significant issue with existing drugs.

AP30663, Acesion's first-in-class SK ion channel inhibitor for conversion of AF to normal sinus rhythm, recently demonstrated robust efficacy in patients with AF. AP31969 has shown strong and similar efficacy to AP30663 in two animal models, supporting that efficacy can be expected to be shared across the two compounds.

Finally, AP31969 has recently completed the toxicology studies required by regulatory authorities, ahead of the phase 1 trial which Acesion plans to start in H2 2023.

Anders Gaarsdal Holst, MD, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Acesion, said, "With a growing number of patients suffering from atrial fibrillation, there is a significant need for treatment. Unfortunately, all existing drugs have major safety issues that endanger patients. Acesion's positive pre-clinical results support that AP31969 has the potential to solve these issues and greatly broaden the use of pharmacological treatment within atrial fibrillation. We are excited to continue the development of AP31969 with a phase 1 clinical trial and look forward to the continued progress we will make in the coming year."

Pre-clinical studies have shown pronounced antiarrhythmic effects in the atria while avoiding effects on the ventricles, the major chambers of the heart and the source of most safety issues with existing drugs, when inhibiting the SK channels. Further, the SK channel has strong genetic validation with genes encoding the SK channels having one of the strongest associations to AF in human genome-wide association studies.

About Acesion Pharma

Acesion builds on 20 years of know-how with development of small-molecule SK inhibitors and is the world leader in the field of SK channel inhibition, being the only company able to identify and progress SK channel inhibitors into clinical trials. In pre-clinical studies, inhibiting the SK channels has been shown to result in pronounced antiarrhythmic effects in the atria while avoiding effects on the ventricles, the major chambers of the heart and the source of most safety issues with existing drugs. Furthermore, the SK channel has strong genetic validation, with genes encoding the SK channels having one of the strongest associations to AF in human genome-wide association studies. Acesion's AP30663 IV is a short acting conversion therapy for hospitals that has completed a phase 2 trial proving the value of this first-in-class mechanism in AF and thereby de-risking Acesion's broader SK inhibitor pipeline. Acesion's oral program is designed and engineered using in house knowhow to optimise for, and meet, very high hurdles in both efficacy and particularly safety where existing treatments fall short of patient needs. Acesion Pharma is backed by Novo Holdings A/S, Wellcome Trust, Broadview Ventures and FC Capital.

https://www.acesionpharma.com/

About atrial fibrillation (AF)

AF is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia mainly affecting the elderly population. Lifetime risk for development of AF is estimated at more than one in three. It is forecast to affect 25 million people in the US and EU by 2030. AF is characterized by chaotic electrical activity in the upper chambers of the heart, the atria, resulting in an irregular and high heart rate. AF is associated with impaired quality of life, increased rate of hospitalization, and a five-fold increased risk of stroke. Increasing evidence suggests that patients with AF also face a higher risk of cognitive dysfunction and dementia.

AF is often treated by electrical shock to bring the heart back to its normal rhythm (conversion). This requires general anesthesia in a hospital setting. In addition, many patients are likely to benefit from chronic treatment to prevent AF and maintain normal sinus rhythm. Existing drug therapies for cardioversion or prevention of AF are associated with risk of serious cardiac or other adverse effects, resulting in a great need for safer drugs. Yet, there has been a lack of innovation and development with no new chronic AF drug approved for nearly 20 years. A landmark New England Journal of Medicine published clinical trial (https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2019422) has shown that sinus rhythm maintenance treatment improves survival and long-term outcomes for AF patients.

SOURCE Acesion Pharma
SEATTLE, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) has just filed a lawsuit against the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Case 2:23-cv-00702) to defend the First Amendment rights of a state park volunteer who was "fired" for refusing to remove Trump bumper stickers from his personal vehicle.

As reported at ACLJ.org, Gary Formhals, a former U.S. Navy Chief, has been a volunteer and part-time employee with the Washington State Park system for over 10 years. Just three years ago, Gary received the "Award for Excellence" for his hard work and dedication. In his nomination for that award, staff commended Gary "for his service above and beyond the call of duty, his integrity, and his courteous and kind manner with everyone who meets him."

Earlier this year, Gary, a Republican and supporter of President Trump, was told he needed to remove or cover bumper stickers on his personal vehicle because of a park system policy governing "Public Contact/Communication." Gary's bumper stickers included political statements, such as "Trump 2020 and "2-TRUMP-4."

While Gary was in uniform working as a volunteer and employee, he didn't share his religious or political beliefs with visitors to the park. But he never thought he was prohibited from expressing his political opinions on his privately owned truck. In fact, park officials knew for years about Gary's political bumper stickers.

Not wanting to forfeit his right to free speech, Gary refused to comply with the order to remove his bumper stickers and was forced to leave the park system as both a volunteer and an employee.

Jordan Sekulow, ACLJ's Executive Director, says: "The First Amendment does not allow government officials to censor the speech of those who work for them unless the speech negatively impacts the efficient administration of the workplace. That is not the case here. Even though park officials knew about Gary's political bumper stickers for years, they never did anything about them. It wasn't until a visitor to the park voiced her outrage about Gary's bumper stickers, which she described as 'insurrectionalist [sic],' that the park decided to give Gary an ultimatum: your speech or your job."

Today, the ACLJ filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington challenging the policy under which Gary was forced to resign from his positions. Among other things, the complaint asks the court to hold that the "Public Contact/Communication" policy is unconstitutional.

The policy that was applied to the bumper stickers on Gary's private vehicle is wildly overbroad and reads as follows:

Public service is the host's highest priority. Be friendly, honest, courteous, and helpful in all interactions with the public. Be positive about the park, staff, and rules. Harassment, including sexual harassment, is inexcusable for both staff and volunteers. Do not express, display, broadcast, distribute or otherwise communicate to the public any personal opinions, messages or points of view while performing host duties, wearing the host vest, or while occupying the host site. This includes the display of expressive items such as stickers, flags, signs, and clothing.

The policy disrupts any careful balance between maintaining the efficiency of the public parks and protecting the free speech rights of its volunteers and employees.

Adds Sekulow: "Filing a complaint is the first step of any lawsuit. We expect the defendants to dig in their heels and defend their policy to the bitter end, and we are prepared to engage them every step of the way."

Read the full complaint here.

About ACLJ: The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), focusing on the preservation and defense of constitutional rights, is based in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit ACLJ.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Brian Mayes

615-771-2040

[email protected]

SOURCE American Center for Law and Justice
The station will be the first large-scale, public liquid hydrogen refueling station for trucks in Europe

Hydrogen for road transport takes another step forward through collaboration between Air Products and Aers Energy Belgie

DIEGEM, Belgium, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Products (NYSE: APD) has signed an agreement with Aers Energy Belgie to develop a multi-fuel, hydrogen refueling station for trucks. It will be located on a concession in the port of Zeebrugge, which Aers Energy Belgie has been awarded. Within this location, Aers will also operate a new secure truck stop, rest area, convenience store and restaurant.

Aers Energy Belgie emphasized sustainability: "Hydrogen will play an important part in significantly reducing CO 2 (carbon dioxide) emissions from road transport. To further develop this part of the project, a partnership with Air Products was sought. This company has a great deal of expertise in the field and, thanks to its investments in new green hydrogen production capacity, can provide the necessary guarantees for a stable supply," said Jackij Aers of Aers Energy Belgie.

Liquid hydrogen

The new station will be the first commercial-scale hydrogen refueling station in Europe with liquid hydrogen storage. It will be built and operated by Air Products in addition to other liquid hydrogen refueling stations the company is developing throughout Europe. The project itself, is part of a wider strategy to support Belgium and Europe's sustainable development and ambition towards CO 2 -free heavy-duty road transport.

By building a hydrogen refueling station on the TENT-T core network in Zeebrugge  which largely exceeds the required minimum capacity of 1 ton of hydrogen per day  Air Products is contributing to the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) objectives. When the station's capacity is utilized, it will save approximately 8-11 kt of CO 2 equivalent per year by displacing diesel volume.

"Our technology has already been used in more than 250 projects worldwide and we are proud to be working with Aers Energy Belgie on this important project in Belgium," commented Kurt Lefevere, Air Products' Vice President for Benelux, Germany and France. "The choice of hydrogen for heavy-duty vehicles, compared to other technologies, allows for faster refueling, greater vehicle range and the elimination of all CO 2 tailpipe and other criteria pollutant emissions. Air Products has over 60 years of experience in hydrogen production, equipment, logistics and services and is a first-mover in the energy transition with over $11 billion dollars of announced investment in clean hydrogen projects around the globe."

Large number of trucks in the port

The reason Aers Energy Belgie was awarded the concession in the Port, was its ability to offer a solution to safely park the many trucks waiting to leave the port or coming to load or unload in the port area. In addition to the hydrogen refueling station and a truck parking lot with 135 spaces, drivers will have access to sanitary facilities, a store, and a catering service.

Tom Hautekiet, Chief Commercial Officer Port of Antwerp-Bruges, says: "All forms of transport, from shipping to road transport, are expected to be almost completely CO 2 neutral by 2050. For freight transport, hydrogen is a clean and viable alternative to diesel. But of course, refueling stations must be available. We are delighted that Air Products is taking the lead in developing Europe's first liquid hydrogen refueling station in the Port of Zeebrugge. This shows that Air Products is already ready for the hydrogen truck of the future."

About Air Products

Air Products (NYSE: APD ) is a world-leading industrial gases company in operation for over 80 years focused on serving energy, environmental, and emerging markets. The Company has two growth pillars driven by sustainability. Air Products' base business provides essential industrial gases, related equipment and applications expertise to customers in dozens of industries, including refining, chemicals, metals, electronics, manufacturing, and food. The Company also develops, engineers, builds, owns and operates some of the world's largest industrial gas and carbon-capture projects, supplying world-scale clean hydrogen for global transportation, industrial markets, and the broader energy transition. Additionally, Air Products is the world leader in the supply of liquefied natural gas process technology and equipment, and globally -provides turbomachinery, membrane systems and cryogenic containers.

The Company had fiscal 2022 sales of $12.7 billion from operations in over 50 countries and has a current market capitalization of over $60 billion. More than 21,000 passionate, talented and committed employees from diverse backgrounds are driven by Air Products' higher purpose to create innovative solutions that benefit the environment, enhance sustainability and reimagine what's possible to address the challenges facing customers, communities, and the world. For more information, visit airproducts.com or follow us on LinkedIn , Twitter , Facebook or Instagram .

About Aers Energy Belgie

Aers Energy Belgie is an independent family-owned company for nearly 100 years. Since its establishment in 1927, the company has grown into a full-fledged and complete energy supplier. From dispensing cans of lamp oil in Oostburg and the surrounding area to installing electric charging stations in Poland. Today, Aers consists of 4 companies: Aers Olie, Aers Energy, Aers Retail and Aers Lubricants. For more information, visit www.aers.nl

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations and assumptions as of the date of this release and are not guarantees of future performance. While forward-looking statements are made in good faith and based on assumptions, expectations and projections that management believes are reasonable based on currently available information, actual performance and financial results may differ materially from projections and estimates expressed in the forward-looking statements because of many factors, including risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022. Except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the assumptions, beliefs or expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances upon which any such forward-looking statements are based.

SOURCE Air Products
New initiatives launched on ISV acceleration, partner training empowerment and new reselling incentives at Alibaba Cloud Partner Summit 2023

SINGAPORE, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, is set to further empower its ecosystem partners through a series of new initiatives, including the launch of an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Acceleration Program, a training empowerment program for partners, as well as new incentives to reward partner excellency.

Edward Cai, Chief Commercial Officer, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, delivered a keynote speech at Alibaba Cloud Partner Summit 2023 Selina Yuan, President of International Business, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence delivered a keynote speech at Alibaba Cloud Partner Summit 2023

"We are committed to growing together with our global partners and providing them with even stronger support to expand their businesses into Southeast Asia and beyond," said Edward Cai, Chief Commercial Officer, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence at the company's Partner Summit 2023 in Singapore. "All new initiatives underscore how much value we place on our partners. Together with our partners' industry know-how, technology capabilities and market insights, we can deliver significant benefits to our customers."

New Initiatives to Support Partners' Growth

Alibaba Cloud's ISV Acceleration Program was launched to provide global ISVs with new financial incentives and more robust technical support to expand their business opportunities in Southeast Asia. As part of the program, the cloud leader will help its ISV partners to optimize the marketplace listing fee on Alibaba Cloud's marketplace platform, and expand the product sales through Alibaba Cloud's sales team and its vast network of channel partners.

Alibaba Cloud also pledges to enhance technical support for global ISV partners, offering comprehensive technical enablement resources to help them build, publish and operate their solutions on the cloud platform. In addition, the company will invest to co-develop customized products and solutions with its ISV partners, in order to meet the diverse digital transformation demands from customers across Southeast Asia.

ISV partners including Neo4J (graph database provider), 6Estates (AI fintech platform), One2Cloud Pte Ltd (multi-cloud solution and blockchain services provider) and SCash Global Pte Ltd (technology innovation SaaS company) have already joined the acceleration program to get the most benefits from their partnership with Alibaba Cloud.

At the same summit, the APAC cloud leader also announced the launch of a new training empowerment portal for global partners. The Alibaba Cloud Partner Empowerment Portal provides product and service trainings and certifications, educational content on topical technology developments, as well as resources and tools to increase partners' service capabilities. The portal aims to empower 500 global partners including channel partners, Managed Service Partners (MSPs) and ISVs in the current financial year, with training topics covering cloud, AI, Web3 and more.

To bring more tangible benefits to Alibaba Cloud's partners outside China, the company also announced a series of new financial incentives including discounts and rebates for rewarding resellers and distributors as well as some joint go-to-market initiatives. This is part of the USD1 billion investment that Alibaba Cloud announced in 2022 in order to support its global partners' technology innovation and their market expansion.

"Our new initiatives showcase our unwavering commitment to helping our global partners thrive and innovate on Alibaba Cloud," said Selina Yuan, President of International Business, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence. "Partners play an essential role in enhancing and delivering Alibaba Cloud's services and offering to our global customers. Together with partners, we can bring world-class technologies, products and solutions to our customers for their greater business success."

New Partnership on Security, Blockchain and Talent Development

During the summit, Alibaba Cloud also unveiled deeper collaboration with its ecosystem partners. The cloud leader has announced its new collaboration with IBM to provide a best-in-class security solution for businesses across APAC.

The security solution integrates features of IBM's security products - QRadar SIEM and QRadar SOAR - as well as Alibaba Cloud's wide range of security capabilities. It provides services including real-time reporting and centralized visibility into the cloud environment to detect threats such as ransomware, insider threats and cloud attacks. The co-developed solution aims to mitigate mounting cybersecurity risks while creating a secure, stable and protected cloud environment for clients during their digital transformation journey.

Another collaboration unveiled is with Avalanche, a leading blockchain platform, providing a launchpad for businesses to rapidly deploy metaverses on the Avalanche public blockchain. Cloudverse is a one-stop solution for businesses to seamlessly customize, launch and maintain their own metaverse space, creating new dimensions for engaging with customers.

Alibaba Cloud also announced collaboration with training partners to bolster talent development in Southeast Asia. With the target to train 100,000 general public talents in the region by the current financial year, the SEA Talent Empowerment Program aims to attract training partners to contribute to the talent development drive. The initial training partners include Rahi Systems (information technology services and solutions provider), Solutions for Asia (security service solution provider), Lightning Cloud (multi-cloud operation solution platform) and Edu360 Cloud (digital certification service platform).

The leading cloud service provider recognized a wide range of partners for their collaboration and innovation in contributing to customers' success over the past year. The Asia Partner of the Year honors eight partners including IBM, AI Rudder (from Singapore), LGMS Berhad (from Malaysia), PT Sigma Cipta Caraka (from Indonesia), and Digital One (from Hong Kong).

Alibaba Cloud currently works with about 12,000 partners worldwide, including Salesforce, VMware, Fortinet, IBM and Neo4j.

About Alibaba Cloud

Established in 2009, Alibaba Cloud (www.alibabacloud.com) is the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group. It offers a complete suite of cloud services to customers worldwide, including elastic computing, database, storage, network virtualization services, large-scale computing, security, management and application services, big data analytics, a machine learning platform and IoT services. Alibaba maintained its position as the third leading public cloud IaaS service provider globally since 2018, according to IDC. Alibaba is the world's third leading and Asia Pacific's leading IaaS provider by revenue in U.S. dollars since 2018, according to Gartner.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2076777/Edward_Cai__Chief_Commercial_Officer__Alibaba_Cloud_Intelligence__delivered_a_keynote_speech_at_Alib.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2076778/Selina_Yuan__President_of_International_Business__Alibaba_Cloud_Intelligence_at_Alibaba__delivered_a.jpg

SOURCE Alibaba Cloud
A conservative watchdog and two voting rights groups are each claiming victory in light of a settlement over voter rolls in Pennsylvania.

Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit in 2020 that argued for voter roll clean-up, originally in three counties, though the settlement announced last week covered five counties: Cumberland, Luzerne, Washington, Indiana and Carbon counties.

The conservative group said the settlement commits Pennsylvania and the counties to publicly report ongoing voter roll clean-up efforts for the next five years, and the state will pay the group $15,000 for legal costs and fees.

According to the settlement, the Pennsylvania Department of State will publish annually by June 30 on its website information regarding the total number of active and inactive voters, total number of notices of change of address and address verification notices sent, total number of those notifications received or undelivered, total number of voters removed from registration rolls, and the number of those removed for failing to respond or due to death. That data will be published from all five counties in the lawsuit on the departments website.

The settlement did not involve an admission of liability or fault by the state or counties.

Pennsylvanias election rolls are cleaner  and will remain cleaner  thanks to Judicial Watch, said the groups president Tom Fitton in a news release. This federal lawsuit settlement is good news for voters in Pennsylvania who want to ensure that only eligible voters are on voter rolls. Judicial Watchs remarkable run of litigation successes resulted in well over 2 million ineligible registrations being removed from voter rolls across the nation in the last two years.

"The lawsuit did not show any failure on Pennsylvanias part to comply with federal and state law governing voter roll maintenance," the Pennsylvania Department of State said in a statement. "The agreement simply requires the department to separately publish data it already compiles and reports in its annual report on voter registration."

Though Judicial Watch said Pennsylvania admitted in court filings to removing 178,258 registrations in response to communications with the group, voting rights advocates, the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania and Common Cause of Pennsylvania, said this settlement does not require the state or the counties to purge its voter rolls.

This is undeniably a victory for voters, said Samantha Apgar, president of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania. We are proud to have joined this case to prevent voters from being wrongfully purged from the voter rolls. The league will continue to fight for Pennsylvanians and prevent anti-voter groups like Judicial Watch from bullying states and counties into excessive purging and voter disenfranchisement.

Today, we put Judicial Watchs false claims about the security of our elections to rest. This settlement confirms what the vast majority of Pennsylvanians know: our elections are free and fair, said Jill Greene, voting and elections manager at Common Cause of Pennsylvania.
The transition for ACG is making progress in 2023

CHICAGO, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Alliance Creative Group, Inc., (http://www.AllianceCreativeGroup.com) (Stock Symbol OTC: ACGX) is pleased to announce the results of Operations for the Three Months and Quarter Ending March 31, 2023.

Revenues for the quarter ending March 31, 2023 ("Q1 2023") were $845,676

Gross Profits for the quarter ending March 31, 2023 ("Q1 2023") were $845,676

Net Income for the quarter ending March 31, 2023 ("Q1 2023") were $75,909

The total assets on the Balance Sheet for the Alliance Creative Group as of 3/31/23 were $4,327,315

The total outstanding common shares as of March 31, 2023 ("Q1 2023") were 3,454,211 with 2,198,971 of those shares in the float.

The Company ended the quarter with $38,567 Cash on hand.

Total Stockholder Equity as of 3/31/23 was $739,236

The full financial statement, balance sheet, statement of operations, cash flow statement, and disclosure statements are posted on the OTC Market Company website at www.OTCmarkets.com under the stock symbol ACGX in the section for filings and disclosure and on www.ACGX,us in the investor relations section.

Paul Sorkin, CEO of the Alliance Creative Group, Inc. said, "The 1st quarter of 2023 included a lot of very high level discussions and negotiations that we are engaged in while we try to determine which projects, partners, and opportunities will help all of us the most. We are being cautious not to enter into anything too quickly without doing enough due diligence regarding the true risks and rewards that come with each potential deal. This economy creates both opportunities and challenges so we want to focus more on long-term growth and stability for us and our shareholders. Regarding some of our current projects PeopleVine has been performing better than at any other time in our entire history of the company. The numbers, growth rates, and future pipelines are bigger than they have ever been. We are very excited about what could happen with PeopleVine next. The Wayne property is making good progress and the market is strong in that area. The Peak construction projects are improving and increasing. We have started 5 different healthcare related real estate projects in multiple states that are projected to take 3 to 4 quarters each to complete and we are in consent discussions and quoting for potential construction proposals with many others. We still believe our foundation is attractive to multiple potential future partners and will continue to evaluate, negotiate, and attempt to close the best ones as quickly as possible. Our main goal is still to continue building our shared resources foundation to position ourselves to own multiple vertically integrated portfolio companies that, if we are successful, can each reduce their expenses by leveraging our resources and relationships to increase the overall assets and revenues over time to hopefully create a larger return for everyone involved. We will continue to update the public as things are finalized and will share more details as they become available."

About Alliance Creative Group, Inc.

Alliance Creative Group, Inc. (Stock Symbol: ACGX) is a Parent Holding Company on the OTC market. The strategy ACG intends to deploy is a shared resource model where internal divisions, portfolio companies and strategic investments are vertically integrated, optimizing efficiencies and cost savings. ACG will apply some of its resources towards diversified classifications of real estate with a strong focus on distressed assets and healthcare. ACG will leverage its internal construction company to provide services while looking for some distressed value-add projects and opportunities. The remaining resources may be applied to a mix of early-stage equity investments in companies that synergize with the company's shared resource model and secured investment opportunities. ACG's strategic mission is to utilize a unique blend of capital, relationships, experience, and secured investment structures to increase value for its clients, partners, investors, and shareholders while reducing the overall risk. The company's big picture long term plan is to create an ecosystem of shared resources that can provide quality resources with reduced expenses while acting as a partner for internal projects. The intent is to have multiple businesses and investment projects or divisions to help diversify the risk and generate potential revenue in multiple ways while leveraging both the private and public markets. For more information, visit www.AllianceCreativeGroup.com or www.ACGX.us.

About PeopleVine

PeopleVine is a Software as a Service (SAAS) company that specializes in serving the Lifestyle Hospitality industry. The Member Experience & CRM Software allows luxury hotels, resorts, and private member clubs to elevate a more personalized online membership experience. PeopleVine helps their clients build member communities, drive engagement, and connect the dots that elevate experiences and revenues. The software empowers its clients teams to deliver efficiently managed operations through an integrated platform. PeopleVine is committed to being the most essential and adaptive SaaS engagement platform for companies that take a customer centric approach to business.

For more information www.PeopleVine.com

This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the bespeaks-caution doctrine. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, product and service demand and acceptance, changes in technology, economic conditions, the impact of competition and pricing, government regulation, and other risks described in statements filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All such forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, and whether made by or on behalf of the Company, are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements that may accompany the forward-looking statements. In addition, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

Investor Relations and Media Contact

1-312-498-9769

[email protected]

SOURCE Alliance Creative Group, Inc.
From London to The Boot and beyond, Americans' Love of Europe Boosts International Travel

RICHMOND, Va., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to travel insurance provider Allianz Partners' annual Top 10 Summer European Destinations review, the number of Americans traveling to Europe will increase dramatically this year, rising by 55% over last year's summer season.

Download the Top Summer 2023 European Destinations chart here

ALLIANZ PARTNERS REVEALS AMERICAN TRAVEL TO EUROPE WILL SURGE 55% THIS SUMMER, WITH ITALIAN CITIES RISING IN POPULARITY

The travel protection and assistance company analyzed flight itineraries* for trips of five to eight days in length between Memorial Day and Labor Day. It found that the reigning number one destination, London, England, will welcome 25% of this year's bookings, with Paris, France (#2) and Dublin, Ireland (#3) rounding out the top three most popular vacation spots across the pond.

It's been 70 years since Dean Martin sang about the world's affinity for Italy in his popular "That's Amore," and travelers continue to favor the Old Country for its food, wine, art and architecture. Capital city Rome inched up a spot to #4 and fashion-forward Milan moved into the Top 10 with its first appearance since the survey began in 2015. The resurgence of travel to Milan also knocked off the consistently popular Barcelona, Spain, for the first time in the survey's history. Other notable moves for 2023 included Amsterdam, Netherlands, jumping two positions year over year to #8 while Athens, Greece, climbed up one spot to #7.

The new statistics follow last year's 600% increase in American travel to Europe from 2021 to 2022, making it clear that revisiting European favorites and new bucket list destinations after years of restrictions will remain a priority when mapping out memorable summer travel plans.

"Last year, we saw a major increase in American travel to Europe and this summer indicates even higher demand, so it's more important than ever to plan for a busy summer travel season," said Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA. "From booking your dream hotel room with incredible views, to locking down flight schedules, planning ahead is key, and so is considering travel insurance to protect your travel investment from covered trip cancellations, interruptions, delays and medical emergencies."

The survey also reviewed planned trip length, finding that 80% of Americans heading to Europe this summer will spend seven days on vacation with 11% planning for eight days away from home.

Allianz Partners offers travel insurance through most major U.S. airlines, leading travel agents, online travel agencies, hotel companies, cruise lines and directly to consumers. For more information on Allianz and available travel policies, please visit http://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/.

*Methodology: The data of U.S. travelers' 2023 Summer traveling plans was gathered by analyzing the number of travelers that went through the online booking process of airfare for partners offering Allianz Global Assistance travel to generate itineraries for roundtrip flights from US airports to Europe during the Summer season (5/26/23 to 9/5/2023) for trips between 5-8 days in length.

About Allianz Partners

In the United States, Allianz Partners USA (AGA Service Company) offers Allianz Travel-branded travel protection plans and serves millions of customers each year. In addition to travel protection, the company offers event ticket protection, registration protection for endurance events and unique travel assistance services such as international medical assistance and concierge services. AGA Service Company is doing business as Allianz Global Assistance Insurance Agency in California (License # 0B01400) and Massachusetts. Allianz Partners USA is part of the Allianz Partners group. Allianz Partners is a world leader in B2B2C insurance and assistance, offering global solutions that span international health and life, travel insurance, mobility and assistance. Customer driven, our innovative experts are redefining insurance services by delivering future-ready, high-tech, high-touch products and solutions that go beyond traditional insurance. Present in over 75 countries, our 19,400 employees speak 70 languages, handle over 58 million cases each year, and are motivated to go the extra mile to offer peace of mind to our customers around the world.

For Allianz Partners USA products offered and sold in the U.S.: Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply to all plans. Plans are available only to U.S. residents. Not all plans are available in all jurisdictions. Availability of coverage, including the epidemic-related benefits and covered reasons described here, varies by product and by state. Products may not include all benefits or covered reasons described here. All benefits are subject to maximum limits of liability, which may in some cases be subject to sublimits and daily maximums. Benefits and limits vary by plan. For a complete description of the coverage and benefit limits offered under your specific plan, carefully review your plan's Letter of Confirmation/Declarations and Certificate of Insurance/Policy. Insurance coverage is underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: Oakbrook Terrace, IL), rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: Richmond, VA), rated "A+" (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101C series or 101P series, depending on state of residence. A+ (Superior) and A (Excellent) are the 2nd and 3rd highest, respectively, of A.M. Best's 13 Financial Strength Ratings. Except as otherwise specified, AGA Service Company d/b/a Allianz Global Assistance is the licensed producer and administrator of Allianz Travel-branded travel protection plans in the U.S. and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. Allianz Global Assistance is a mark of AGA Service Company or its affiliates. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between Allianz Global Assistance and Jefferson Insurance Company. Plans include insurance and assistance services. Noninsurance benefits/products are provided and serviced by Allianz Global Assistance.

SOURCE Allianz Partners
The expansion of the ambulatory polysomnography (PSG) systems market is heavily influenced by the incidence of various sleep disorders, which creates attractive prospects for market growth. The North America region is projected to garner the highest revenue by 2031.

PORTLAND, Ore., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Ambulatory Polysomnography (PSG) Systems Market by Product (Up to 12 Channel PSG Systems, Up to 24 Channel PSG Systems, Up to 32 Channel PSG Systems, and Above 32 Channel PSG Systems), Application (Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Narcolepsy, Chronic Insomnia, and Others), End-user (Hospitals, Sleep Laboratories, and Home Care Settings), and Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2031." According to the report, the global ambulatory polysomnography (PSG) systems market generated $327 million in 2021, and is anticipated to generate $570.7 million by 2031, witnessing a CAGR of 6.0% from 2022 to 2031.

Download Free Sample Copy of the Report- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/32354

Prime Determinants of Growth

Improvements in technology in the sleep care industry might be regarded as a driving force in the ambulatory polysomnography (PSG) systems market. The market is continuously expanding as a result of several breakthrough technologies, such as portable devices, smartphone applications, telemedicine, and so on. Wireless and portable polysomnography systems, such as Nox Medical's Nox A1s PSG, have profited from R&D. Wireless capabilities provide patients with a sense of independence by allowing them to move freely throughout the night while being diagnosed. This will have a positive impact on the ambulatory polysomnography (PSG) systems market.

Report Coverage & Details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20222031 Base Year 2021 Market Size in 2021 $327.0 million Market Size in 2031 $570.7 million CAGR 6.0 % No. of Pages in Report 350 Segments covered Product, Application, End-user, and Region Drivers Growing prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea to spur demand for devices The availability of favorable reimbursements and financial aid for sleep apnea devices and therapies Opportunities The large undiagnosed population with respect of sleep apnea Growing demand for home sleep apnea test Restraints Less awareness about PSG system

Covid-19 Scenario

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the growth of the global ambulatory polysomnography (PSG) systems market.

During the pandemic, there was a sudden decrease in the PSG procedures and there was a growing focus on the diagnosis as well as treatment of coronavirus patients. This affected the ambulatory polysomnography (PSG) systems market growth in the pandemic period.

However, as sleep is vital for the body's immune system and overall health, individuals are likely to become more aware of the need to analyze and treat sleep disorders, this is expected to surge the demand for PSG devices in the post-pandemic period.

Up to 24 Channel PSG Systems Sub-segment to Maintain its Leadership Status Throughout the Forecast Period

Procure Complete Report (280 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures)

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/ambulatory-polysomnography-systems-market

Based on product, the Up to 24 channel PSG systems sub-segment held the majority of share in 2021 and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Polysomnography (PSG) devices are used in sleep labs to record and evaluate sleep studies that are set up and overseen by sleep medicine specialists. PSG equipment may be compared based on aspects such as reporting, lab management software specifications, amplifier specs, video options, and more. The quantity of items available in the range of up to 24 channel PSG systems is bigger than the other 24 product categories, and hence, this sub-segment dominates the ambulatory polysomnography (PSG) systems market.

Obstructive Sleep Sub-segment to be at a Leading Position by 2031

Based on application, the obstructive sleep sub-segment of the global ambulatory polysomnography (PSG) systems market held the majority of share in 2021 and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by breathing pauses while sleeping, which is due to restricted or closed airways. The increasing prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea, rising incidences of comorbidities associated with sleep apnea, and a growing older population prone to respiratory diseases are the key factors driving the market expansion.

Sleep Laboratories Sub-segment to Show Fastest Growth by 2031

Based on end user, the sleep laboratories sub-segment accounted for the largest share in 2021 and is anticipated to show the fastest growth during the forecast period. The growing occurrence of sleep disorders like narcolepsy, insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless legs syndrome has boosted the demand for sleep labs, thus fueling the ambulatory polysomnography (PSG) system market growth.

For Purchase Inquiry- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/32354

North America Region to Maintain its Dominance by 2031

Based on region, North America held the largest share in the global ambulatory polysomnography (PSG) systems market in 201 and is predicted to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. The significant growth of the region is mainly owing to the rise in technological advancements and a well-established medical industry. However, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the highest CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period from 2022 to 2031. Sleep problems, such as obstructive sleep apnea are highly frequent among Chinese people. According to one of the 2022 study articles, in China, around 176 million individuals suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. This reflects the increased prevalence of sleep disorders in China, and it also adds to the growth of the ambulatory polysomnography (PSG) systems market in China.

Leading Ambulatory Polysomnography (PSG) Systems Market Players: -

Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Natus Medical Incorporated

Nihon Kohden Corporation

Nox Medical

Lowenstein Medical Technology GmbH + Co. KG.

Neurosoft

Cadwell Industries Inc.

SOMNOmedics GmbH

Compumedics Limited

Neurovirtual / Sleepvirtual.

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players of the global ambulatory polysomnography (PSG) systems market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of ambulatory polysomnography (PSG) systems market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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"We have also published syndicated market studies in similar area that might be of your interest. Below the report title for your reference, considering Impact of Covid-19 Over This Market which will help you to assess aftereffects of pandemic on short-term and long-term growth trends of this market."

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
Preclinical data highlights AH-001 as potentially compelling targeted dermatology treatment options

TAIPEI, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AnHorn Medicines, a private biotechnology company focused on developing precision medicines for degrading disease-causing proteins, presented its potential first-in-class protein degrader program, AH-001, at the First International Societies for Investigative Dermatology Meeting (ISID 2023) in Tokyo.

AnHorn Medicines presented on May 12nd at the First International Societies for Investigative Dermatology Meeting (ISID 2023) as an oral presentation at 3:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. JST (UTC+9) (Presentation #1116) during the Concurrent Mini-Symposium 10-Pharmacology and Drug Development. The full abstract for the presentation is available here. AH-001 is a promising small molecule protein degrader program that effectively reverses dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-induced hair loss in preclinical studies. The local topical treatment of AH-001 stimulates hair follicle regrowth and reduces the risk of potential adverse effects by avoiding systematic exposure, resulting in a better safety profile. AnHorn Medicines believes that AH-001 has significant potential as a new treatment for androgenetic alopecia (AGA).

AnHorn Medicines plans to advance the AH-001 program and complete US and Taiwan IND filing as part of its milestones following the recently closed Series A financing. Taiwania Capital led the Series A financing, with participation from TaiAn Technologies, Industrial Technology Investment Corporation, Hong Tai Electric Industrial, Black Marble Capital Management, Mega Venture Capital, Sunplus Technology, and NCTU Angel Club. The funding enables AnHorn Medicines to accelerate pipeline growth, advance drug candidate development, and enhance its platform capabilities to design bi-functional degraders and molecular glues that target known drivers of cancers and other diseases unaddressed by conventional methods.

About AH-001

AH-001 is a topical administered protein degrader that efficiently degrades endogenous androgen receptor protein by recruiting E3 ubiquitin ligase. Preclinical data demonstrates that AH-001 has significant efficacy in reversing hair loss induced by dihydrotestosterone (DHT) with the topical administration, avoiding systematic exposure and reducing potential adverse effects to achieve a better safety profile. AH-001 shows great potential for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA).

About AnHorn Medicines

AnHorn Medicines is a biotechnology company developing a next-generation protein degradation platform that targets cellular disease-causing proteins. The company's proprietary drug discovery platform provides a unique approach to rationally design bi-functional degrader and molecular glue to have differentiated drug profiles.

AnHorn Medicines was founded in 2020, headquarters in Taipei, Taiwan. The founder, Dr. Chu-Chiang Lin, has over 20 years solid experience in drug discovery and development. The drug discovery team consists of personnel in medicinal chemistry, structural biology, machine learning-based chemistry, and pharmacology.

For more information, please visit www.anhornmed.com and follow us on Linkedin. https://www.linkedin.com/company/anhorn-medicines/

SOURCE AnHorn Medicines
SHENZHEN, China, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Anycubic, a globally renowned 3D printing brand, has announced the release of the Kobra 2, a new FDM 3D printer designed to deliver a remarkable speed and enhanced user-friendly experience. In addition to its stable performance and budget-friendly price, the Kobra 2 is an excellent choice for hobbyists and professionals alike who are seeking rapid printing and cost-effective 3D printers.

5x the Speed, Faster Than Ever

Anycubic Kobra 2 3D printer

Kobra 2 has a default print speed of 150mm/s and a maximum print speed of 250mm/s, allowing it to complete a Benchy model with 0.28mm layer height in just 30 minutes. The following features contribute to its impressive print speed:

New Dual-Gear Direct Drive Extrusion System:

The direct drive extrusion system has a 4:1 gear ratio, which means it tightly grips the filament and prevents it from slipping, allowing for precise extrusion and flow control even when the printer is moving quickly. Moreover, a higher print speed necessitates a higher extrusion rate to compensate for slow extrusions during speed changes. Kobra 2's 60W high-power hot end enables it to achieve this and melt the filament more quickly, leading to improved flow and higher print speed.

Upgraded Cooling Fan

The upgraded cooling fan helps to cool down the filament when it has been extruded from the nozzle. With an optimized dissipation design and a spin speed of 700rpm, the fan cools down the prints quickly, enabling the next layer to be applied with precision.

New Dynamic Structure

Kobra 2 features double metal spindles and SG15 bearings structure on the X and Y axes, which reduces friction between the moving parts, leading to smoother, faster movements that are more wear-resistant than the regular D shape wheel structure. The double screw motion mechanism on the Z-axis is another special feature, improving the speed of the Z-axis movement, reducing lifting resistance during the printing process, and keeping the X-axis level to minimize layer lines and achieve excellent results even at high speeds.

"Turning your ideas into reality with 3D printers quickly can be a challenging process, especially with regular speed printers. However, Kobra 2 has revolutionized the process by making it more accessible and efficient." said James Ouyang, Vice President of Anycubic. "The 3D printer can deliver fast prints while maintaining high-quality results, enabling creators to have more time to focus on their ideas rather than the production process."

A More User-Friendly Printing Experience

Anycubic LeviQ 2.0 auto bed leveling with Smart Z Offset

Kobra 2 is equipped with the Anycubic LeviQ 2.0 auto-leveling system, featuring a smart Z-axis offset modular that enables accurate Z offset automatically. This makes the leveling process effortless for beginners.

Semi-assembled design:

Kobra 2 comes in a semi-assembled state and requires no soldering or complex mechanical assembly, ensuring a user-friendly assembly experience that can be set up in 10 minutes even for 3D printing novices.

4.3-inch colored LCD touchscreen:

The user interface on the Kobra 2 is a 4.3-inch color touchscreen LCD mounted on the right side of the machine. This location means that it can easily access during printing. Besides, the touchscreen is also very responsive and easy to navigate.

Magnetic Spring Steel Build Plate:

The textured surface can lock parts down during printing when hot, and after cooling they just slide right off with no tools required. So with hits, users can easily remove the prints, even the larger or more sticky PETG prints.

Power Loss Recovery and Filament sensor

The Kobra 2 3D Printer incorporates a power-loss recovery feature that enables the printer to recover from unexpected power outages and resume printing from the point of interruption. Moreover, the filament run-out sensor, which detects when the printer runs out of filament and halts the printing process, is an added benefit that prevents printing errors.

Pricing and Availability

The Kobra 2 3D printer will go on sale at 9:00 am EDT May 20th, 2023, in the US from $269, and will be available in Europe at 9: 00 am CEST June 1st, 2023 from 299. Users can subscribe for updates on this page and buy from the official Anycubic store, Amazon, eBay, Walmart, and AliExpress from May 20th.

About Anycubic

Since its establishment in 2015, Anycubic is committed to propelling 3D printing technology to ensure 3D printing is accessible and affordable to people from all walks of life. We are happy to see people unleash their imagination and creativity into reality. Anycubic has made hits presence in over 200 countries and regions since 2015. The company has released more than 20 widely favored products, with 3 million units sold over the past 7 years. With the commitment of "For Freedom to Make," Anycuibic will continue to bring the best products and technologies to all makers.

SOURCE Anycubic
DUBAI, UAE, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Funds advised by Apax Partners LLP ("Apax") announced today that they have reached a definitive agreement to invest approximately $450m to acquire a significant minority stake in IBS Software, a leading provider of modern Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions to the global travel and logistics industry, from Blackstone. Following the transaction, Apax will partner closely with IBS Software's Founder and Executive Chairman, V K Mathews, who will remain the majority shareholder.

Apax Funds Invests Approx $450m in IBS Software

Founded in 1997 with a vision of redefining the future of travel through technology innovation, IBS Software provides next-generation SaaS solutions that power the most mission-critical operations at the world's leading aviation, tour and cruise, hospitality and logistics companies. With a comprehensive portfolio of modular, cloud-based solutions purpose-built for the travel industry, IBS Software helps travel companies accelerate innovation and drive efficiency across a broad set of core business processes, including cargo and logistics, flight operations, passenger services, loyalty programs, cruise operations, energy & resource logistics and hospitality distribution platforms. Backed by a team of 4000 professionals across the world with more than 25 years of deep domain expertise, IBS Software's scalable, cloud-native platform and demonstrated market leadership, position it to define the future of mission-critical technology for the travel industry.

V K Mathews, Founder and Executive Chairman of IBS Software said: "We're excited to partner with Apax as we enter a new phase in our mission to transform how travel companies operate in a digital world. This investment is an endorsement of our strategy and our commitment and contribution to the industry, and we have a shared vision with Apax for the future of the business. We thank our customers and employees who have been instrumental in our success so far. We're grateful to the Blackstone team for their invaluable support over the years and we look forward to an exciting and fulfilling journey ahead with Apax."

Anand Krishnan, CEO, IBS Software, added: "As the travel industry rapidly embraces digitalisation, we have a vital role to play in helping our customers accelerate revenues, drive efficiency and create differentiated customer experiences. Apax has deep experience in partnering with leading SaaS providers and will be a strategic partner for IBS Software as we embark on a new phase of growth. We thank Blackstone for helping us create real value and a true partnership."

Jason Wright, Partner, Apax, commented: "We are thrilled to partner with VK and the management team at IBS Software. Having closely monitored the travel software sector over the last several years, IBS Software stood out to us as uniquely positioned in the industry, offering a next-gen software suite that we believe is truly unrivalled. Over the last two decades, IBS Software has invested in products, innovation, and culture, while continuing to scale the business. We believe there is tremendous growth potential ahead and look forward to leveraging our software experience to help IBS Software become a world leader in travel and logistics software."

Amit Dixit, Head of Asia Private Equity, Blackstone, said: "We are happy to have played an important role in IBS Software's transformation to a SaaS company with global leadership in Travel and Logistics. IBS is already one of the largest enterprise SaaS companies out of India. We thank VK for his strategic vision and for being a terrific partner, and Anand and the management team for their impeccable execution. Value creation at IBS Software demonstrates our business-building approach to investing and reinforces our conviction in Technology as a sectoral theme."

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close end of Q2 2023. Financial terms were not disclosed.

J.P. Morgan is acting as financial advisor to IBS Software and Blackstone, Drew & Napier LLC is acting as legal counsel to IBS Software and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is acting as legal counsel to Blackstone.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is acting as legal counsel and Jefferies LLC is acting as financial advisor to Apax.

ABOUT IBS SOFTWARE

IBS Software is a leading SaaS solutions provider to the travel industry globally, managing mission-critical operations for customers in the aviation, tour & cruise, hospitality, and energy resources industries. IBS Software's solutions for the aviation industry cover fleet & crew operations, aircraft maintenance, passenger services, loyalty programs, staff travel and air-cargo management. IBS Software also runs a real time B2B and B2C distribution platform providing hotel room inventory, rates and availability to a global network of hospitality companies and channels. For the tour and cruise industry, IBS provides a comprehensive, customer-centric, digital platform that covers onshore, online and on-board solutions. Across the energy & resources industry, we provide logistics management solutions that cover logistics planning, operations & accommodation management. The Consulting and Digital Transformation (CDx) business focuses on driving digital transformation initiatives of its customers, leveraging its domain knowledge, digital technologies and engineering excellence. IBS Software operates from 16 offices across the world. Further information at www.ibsplc.com. Follow us: Blog | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

ABOUT APAX

Apax Partners LLP ("Apax") is a leading global private equity advisory firm. For 50 years, Apax has worked to inspire growth and ideas that transform businesses. The firm has raised and advised funds with aggregate commitments of more than $65 billion. The Apax Funds invest in companies across four global sectors of Internet/Consumer, Tech, Services, and Healthcare. These funds provide long-term equity financing to build and strengthen world-class companies. For more information see: www.apax.com.

Apax Partners is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK.

About Blackstone

Blackstone is the world's largest alternative asset manager. We seek to create positive economic impact and long-term value for our investors, the companies we invest in, and the communities in which we work. We do this by using extraordinary people and flexible capital to help companies solve problems. Our $991 billion in assets under management include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, private and liquid credit, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, public securities and secondary funds, all on a global basis. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow @blackstone on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2076722/Apax_IBS_Software.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1169353/3937998/IBS_Software_Logo.jpg

SOURCE IBS Software
ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. today announced the acquisition of Perth, Western Australia-based Mavco Insurance Group. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Mavco is a general insurance broker and risk management firm serving corporate clients throughout Australia and internationally. Mavco's areas of expertise include construction, health, engineering, mining and financial services. Jonathan Winter, Daniel Waters, Stephen Hughes, Rodney Aylmore and their team will relocate to Gallagher's Perth and Adelaide offices under the direction of Sarah Lyons, head of retail property/casualty brokerage operations for Gallagher in Australia.

"Mavco has an excellent record of growth and client-focused service, and their market expertise will expand our capabilities in the region," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO. "I am very pleased to welcome Jonathan, Daniel, Stephen, Rodney and their associates to our growing, global team."

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG), a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Gallagher provides these services in approximately 130 countries around the world through its owned operations and a network of correspondent brokers and consultants.

Investors: Ray Iardella, VP - Investor Relations Media: Paul Day, Communications Manager 630-285-3661/ [email protected] 630-285-5946/ [email protected]

SOURCE Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
NEW YORK, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The automotive four-wheel drive vehicle market share is set to grow by 2423.33 units from 2023 to 2027. However, the growth momentum will be progressing at a CAGR of over 3.85% during the forecast period, according to Technavio. The automotive four-wheel drive vehicle market is fragmented, and the vendors are seeking strong partnerships with automotive, industrial, and commercial companies to compete in the market. BYD Electronic Co. Ltd., Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co, Honda Motor Co. Ltd., Hyundai Motor Co, Isuzu Motors Ltd., Mazda Motor Corp, MG Motor India Pvt. Ltd., Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., Renault SAS, Stellantis NV, Tata Motors Ltd., Toyota Motor Corp., Volkswagen AG, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd., Mercedes Benz Group AG, Mitsubishi Motors Corp., and Suzuki Motor Corp. are some of the major market participants.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Automotive Four-wheel Drive Vehicle Market 2023-2027

To provide a deeper understanding of the competitive landscape, Technavio has profiled key players along with the study that categorizes the global market segmentation. Request a sample report

Automotive Four-wheel Drive Vehicle Market 2023-2027: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The automotive four-wheel drive vehicle market report covers the following areas:

The benefits associated with the electrification of four-wheel drive components will offer immense growth opportunities. However, the operational issues and high maintenance costs due to poor fuel efficiency will hamper the market growth

Automotive Four-wheel Drive Vehicle Market 2023-2027: Market Dynamics

Market Drivers

Benefits associated with electrification of four-wheel drive components

Advantages associated with four-wheel drive system

Growing demand for SUVs and pickup trucks

Market Trends

Replacement of drive shaft and mechanical differentials with electric drive axles

Availability of multiple terrain profiles with four-wheel drive systems

Development of intelligent torque vectoring for AWD

Market Challenges

Operational issues and high maintenance costs due to poor fuel efficiency

Incorporation of advanced four-wheel drive increases overall vehicle cost

Legal limitations associated with use of off-road vehicles

In addition to the forecast, the report also highlights the key opportunities by analyzing drivers, trends, and challenges for the market, download a PDF sample

Automotive Four-wheel Drive Vehicle Market 2023-2027: Segment Analysis

Application

Passenger Cars: The automotive all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicle market share growth by the passenger cars segment will be significant during the forecast period.



Commercial Vehicles

Type

SUVs And Crossovers



Pickup Trucks



Premium And Luxury Sedans

Geography

North America: North America is estimated to contribute 39% to the growth of the global automotive all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicle market during the forecast period.



APAC



Europe



Middle East And Africa



South America

The competitive scenario categorizes companies based on various performance indicators. Some of the factors considered include the financial performance of companies, growth strategies, product innovations, new product launches, investments, and growth in market share, among others Buy the Report

Automotive Four-wheel Drive Vehicle Market 2023-2027: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2023-2027

Detailed information on factors that will assist automotive four-wheel drive vehicle market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the automotive four-wheel drive vehicle market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the automotive four-wheel drive vehicle market across North America , APAC, Europe , Middle East and Africa , and South America

, APAC, , and , and Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of automotive four-wheel drive vehicle market vendors

Get Instant access to 17000+ market research report



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Automotive Four-wheel Drive Vehicle Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 3.85% Market growth 2023-2027 2423.33 units Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 2.8 Regional analysis North America, APAC, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 39% Key countries US, Canada, China, Japan, and UK Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled BYD Electronic Co. Ltd., Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co, Honda Motor Co. Ltd., Hyundai Motor Co, Isuzu Motors Ltd., Mazda Motor Corp, MG Motor India Pvt. Ltd., Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., Renault SAS, Stellantis NV, Tata Motors Ltd., Toyota Motor Corp., Volkswagen AG, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd., Mercedes Benz Group AG, Mitsubishi Motors Corp., and Suzuki Motor Corp. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. 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.

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Application



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Type



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 09: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 10: Parent market



Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 13: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2022

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027

Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)



Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)



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 automotive four-wheel drive vehicle market 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size  Data Table on Global automotive four-wheel drive vehicle market 2017 - 2021 (thousand units)

4.2 By application Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size  By application Segment 2017 - 2021 (thousand units)

4.3 By type Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size  By type Segment 2017 - 2021 (thousand units)

4.4 By geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size  By geography Segment 2017 - 2021 (thousand units)

4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size  Country Segment 2017 - 2021 (thousand units)

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 Passenger cars - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 34: Chart on Passenger cars - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Passenger cars - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)



Exhibit 36: Chart on Passenger cars - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Passenger cars - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.4 Commercial vehicles - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 38: Chart on Commercial vehicles - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Commercial vehicles - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)



Exhibit 40: Chart on Commercial vehicles - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Commercial vehicles - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.5 Market opportunity by Application

Exhibit 42: Market opportunity by Application (thousand units)

7 Market Segmentation by Type

7.1 Market segments

Exhibit 43: Chart on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 44: Data Table on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%)

7.2 Comparison by Type

Exhibit 45: Chart on Comparison by Type



Exhibit 46: Data Table on Comparison by Type

7.3 SUVs and crossovers - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 47: Chart on SUVs and crossovers - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)



Exhibit 48: Data Table on SUVs and crossovers - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)



Exhibit 49: Chart on SUVs and crossovers - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 50: Data Table on SUVs and crossovers - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.4 Pickup trucks - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 51: Chart on Pickup trucks - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)



Exhibit 52: Data Table on Pickup trucks - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)



Exhibit 53: Chart on Pickup trucks - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 54: Data Table on Pickup trucks - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.5 Premium and luxury sedans - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 55: Chart on Premium and luxury sedans - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)



Exhibit 56: Data Table on Premium and luxury sedans - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)



Exhibit 57: Chart on Premium and luxury sedans - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 58: Data Table on Premium and luxury sedans - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.6 Market opportunity by Type

Exhibit 59: Market opportunity by Type (thousand units)

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 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 65: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

Exhibit 66: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

Exhibit 67: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 68: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.4 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 69: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)



Exhibit 70: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)



Exhibit 71: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 72: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.5 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 73: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

Exhibit 74: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

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 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 77: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

Exhibit 78: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

Exhibit 79: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 80: 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 81: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

Exhibit 82: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

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 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 85: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)



Exhibit 86: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)



Exhibit 87: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 88: 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 89: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

Exhibit 90: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

Exhibit 91: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 92: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.10 Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 93: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

Exhibit 94: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

Exhibit 95: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 96: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.11 UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 97: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)



Exhibit 98: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)



Exhibit 99: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 100: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.12 Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 101: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

Exhibit 102: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 (thousand units)

Exhibit 103: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 104: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 105: Market opportunity by geography (thousand units)

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 Bayerische Motoren Werke AG

Exhibit 112: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG - Overview



Exhibit 113: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG - Business segments



Exhibit 114: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG - Key news



Exhibit 115: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG - Key offerings



Exhibit 116: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG - Segment focus

12.4 BYD Electronic Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 117: BYD Electronic Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 118: BYD Electronic Co. Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 119: BYD Electronic Co. Ltd. - Key news



Exhibit 120: BYD Electronic Co. Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 121: BYD Electronic Co. Ltd. - Segment focus

12.5 Ford Motor Co.

Exhibit 122: Ford Motor Co. - Overview



Exhibit 123: Ford Motor Co. - Business segments



Exhibit 124: Ford Motor Co. - Key news



Exhibit 125: Ford Motor Co. - Key offerings



Exhibit 126: Ford Motor Co. - Segment focus

12.6 General Motors Co

Exhibit 127: General Motors Co - Overview



Exhibit 128: General Motors Co - Business segments



Exhibit 129: General Motors Co - Key news



Exhibit 130: General Motors Co - Key offerings



Exhibit 131: General Motors Co - Segment focus

12.7 Honda Motor Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 132: Honda Motor Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 133: Honda Motor Co. Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 134: Honda Motor Co. Ltd. - Key news



Exhibit 135: Honda Motor Co. Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 136: Honda Motor Co. Ltd. - Segment focus

12.8 Hyundai Motor Co

Exhibit 137: Hyundai Motor Co - Overview



Exhibit 138: Hyundai Motor Co - Business segments



Exhibit 139: Hyundai Motor Co - Key news



Exhibit 140: Hyundai Motor Co - Key offerings



Exhibit 141: Hyundai Motor Co - Segment focus

12.9 Isuzu Motors Ltd.

Exhibit 142: Isuzu Motors Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 143: Isuzu Motors Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 144: Isuzu Motors Ltd. - Key offerings

12.10 Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd.

Exhibit 145: Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 146: Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 147: Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. - Key news



Exhibit 148: Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 149: Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. - Segment focus

12.11 Mercedes Benz Group AG

Exhibit 150: Mercedes Benz Group AG - Overview



Exhibit 151: Mercedes Benz Group AG - Business segments



Exhibit 152: Mercedes Benz Group AG - Key offerings



Exhibit 153: Mercedes Benz Group AG - Segment focus

12.12 MG Motor India Pvt. Ltd.

Exhibit 154: MG Motor India Pvt. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 155: MG Motor India Pvt. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 156: MG Motor India Pvt. Ltd. - Key offerings

12.13 Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 157: Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 158: Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 159: Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. - Key news



Exhibit 160: Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 161: Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. - Segment focus

12.14 Renault SAS

Exhibit 162: Renault SAS - Overview



Exhibit 163: Renault SAS - Product / Service



Exhibit 164: Renault SAS - Key news



Exhibit 165: Renault SAS - Key offerings

12.15 Stellantis NV

Exhibit 166: Stellantis NV - Overview



Exhibit 167: Stellantis NV - Business segments



Exhibit 168: Stellantis NV - Key news



Exhibit 169: Stellantis NV - Key offerings



Exhibit 170: Stellantis NV - Segment focus

12.16 Toyota Motor Corp.

Exhibit 171: Toyota Motor Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 172: Toyota Motor Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 173: Toyota Motor Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 174: Toyota Motor Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 175: Toyota Motor Corp. - Segment focus

12.17 Volkswagen AG

Exhibit 176: Volkswagen AG - Overview



Exhibit 177: Volkswagen AG - Business segments



Exhibit 178: Volkswagen AG - Key offerings



Exhibit 179: Volkswagen AG - Segment focus

13 Appendix

13.1 Scope of the report

13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 180: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 181: Exclusions checklist

13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 182: Currency conversion rates for US$

13.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 183: Research methodology



Exhibit 184: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 185: Information sources

13.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 186: List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
Development monitoring education toolkit now available for employers at no cost

CONCORD, Mass., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lorestry , by Alea Diagnostics (Alea), is announcing their parent education toolkit , related to the developmental care of infants and children, is now available for employers to share with their employees at no cost.

About 10,000 new babies are born in the United States each day. Of those children, about 1,800-2,000 will be diagnosed with developmental delays, and 277 will be diagnosed on the autism spectrum.

Employers and health benefit purchasers face an ever-growing tsunami of children with developmental needs and autism. Tweet this (PRNewsfoto/Alea Diagnostics, Inc.)

Developmental monitoring, needed to support screenings, referrals for comprehensive evaluations, and early intervention, is now a recommendation of the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). National data shows 63% of children (9 months to 3 years) do not receive developmental screening.

Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2020 (see Forbes article ), employers and other purchasers of health benefits (plan sponsors) now have a fiduciary duty to their employees to provide health benefits that are cost-effective, high-quality, and meet mental health parity requirements. On April 13, 2023 , the Employee Benefits Security Administration, part of the Department of Labor, reiterated that evidence-informed preventative care and development screenings for infants and children are required .

"Parents trust that benefits purchased on their child's behalf meet Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements including developmental surveillance (monitoring) and developmental and emotional health screenings. Data suggests that plan sponsors are purchasing, but not enforcing, well-baby care benefits, and not keeping up with CDC/AAP recommendations that can reduce healthcare costs for families," said Linda Craib RN, MBA , founder of Alea and former U.S. children's healthcare practice leader at Deloitte.

"Proactive developmental monitoring is value-based. By making the education toolkit available for plan sponsors, we hope to improve how employers engage and support families, and reduce future family healthcare costs. After months of communications with plan sponsors, we found many weren't aware of development monitoring. Plan sponsors who fail to act and enforce infant and child development standards of care from providers, will continue to face an ever-growing tsunami of children with developmental needs," said Craib.

About Lorestry

Lorestry engages parents as health historians, storytellers, and collaborative partners for real-time observational data gathering. The company provides parents with their own data set that they can share with providers and education teams to accelerate care access.

SOURCE Alea Diagnostics, Inc.
ATLANTA, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bearpaw Partners, in collaboration with StopHIVATL, has launched an impactful Fentanyl Test Strip Campaign to reduce the harm caused by fentanyl overdoses. The campaign has already yielded significant results in addressing the fentanyl crisis, disproportionately affecting Georgia's most vulnerable populations.

Bearpaw Partners Launches Fentanyl Test Strip Campaign For StopHIVATL

From 2019 to 2021, fentanyl-related drug overdose deaths increased 124%, as The Georgia Department of Public Health reported. In 2021, there were 2,390 drug overdose deaths in the state  71% were attributed to opioids, and 57% were attributed to fentanyl. Non-fatal drug overdoses are also increasing state-wide, with emergency department visits and hospitalizations rising 10% from 2019 to 2021.

Recognizing the urgent need to mitigate these alarming statistics, StopHIVATL initiated the Fentanyl Test Strip Campaign in partnership with Bearpaw Partners, leveraging their digital marketing expertise to maximize its reach and effectiveness.

Key highlights of the Fentanyl Test Strip Campaign include:

Free fentanyl test strips: StopHIVATL, in collaboration with the Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition, offers free fentanyl test strips as part of their harm reduction initiative.

Strategic marketing: StopHIVATL enlisted Bearpaw Partner's comprehensive marketing strategies to promote the fentanyl test strip initiative via social media, paid media ads, and tactically placed billboards across metro Atlanta .

. Confidential ordering: To access free test strips, anyone can confidentially place an order through the StopHIVATL website, ensuring privacy and ease of access.

Impressive reach: Since its launch in 2023, StopHIVATL has successfully distributed more than 8,000 free fentanyl test kits, making a tangible impact in the fight against the fentanyl crisis.

Joshua O'Neal, Director of Sexual Health at the Fulton County Board of Health, emphasized the importance of community-based care and resources in combating fentanyl-related overdoses, stating, "Giving folks the tools they need to avoid the risk of overdose is an essential part of ensuring we stop the fentanyl crisis in our city."

Brad Cooper, Partner at Bearpaw Partners, expressed his pride in the campaign's success and commitment to continuing the partnership with StopHIVATL. He stated, "We put our all into ensuring our strategies result in memorable campaigns. This project was no different. We will continue working with StopHIVATL to provide these life-saving tools to those in Atlanta who need them."

StopHIVATL is a non-profit organization that provides harm reduction tools and sexual health resources to underserved communities. Recognizing the severity of the fentanyl crisis, they approached Bearpaw Partners to raise awareness about this pressing issue. Fentanyl, identified as one of the leading causes of fatal overdoses in the nation by the CDC, demands immediate action.

Bearpaw Partners is a digital marketing agency renowned for its expertise in creating impactful digital campaigns. Since 2012, they have helped brands and businesses tell their stories effectively through various services, including content creation, social media marketing, paid advertising, SEO, and video production.

By combining their respective strengths, Bearpaw Partners and StopHIVATL are making significant strides in combating the fentanyl crisis and providing essential resources to the Atlanta community. Together, they aim to create a safer and healthier environment for all.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Brad Cooper

Bearpaw Partners

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 404-590-0516

StopHIVATL

Joshua O'Neal

Director of Sexual Health

Medical and Preventive Services

Fulton County Board of Health

10 Park Place | 6th Floor

Atlanta, GA 30303

Office: (404) 613-1411

SOURCE Bearpaw Partners
ST. LOUIS  A man from St. Louis County, Missouri earlier this month admitted smuggling regulated wildlife into the United States.

Michael K. Amato, 68, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to a felony charge of fraudulently importing protected wildlife. He also agreed to forfeit more than six dozen taxidermy bird mounts that were seized from his home on Sept. 1, 2021, as well as bird mounts still in his possession, including owls, buzzards, hawks, eagles, harriers and cranes.

Amato admitted as part of his plea that he and unnamed associates smuggled wildlife into the United States from Malta, England, Germany and other countries without declaring that wildlife and without obtaining the permits required by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). From February 2018 through September 2020, Amato smuggled in 67 different birds.

Some are listed as threatened with extinction, others could become so if their trade is not regulated.

Amato told his international associates how to fill out export/import forms and list the wildlife to avoid law enforcement detection, his plea says.

Amato is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 8. Both sides have agreed to recommend three years of probation and a $5,000 donation to the World Bird Sanctuary to represent a portion of the market value of the protected wildlife seized from his home.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Collins is prosecuting the case.
DxI 9000 Access Immunoassay Analyzer Boasts Industry's Highest Throughput per Footprint:

Up To 215 Tests/Hour/Square Meter

Innovations Bolster Assay Performance and Laboratory Productivity with

New Analyte Processing and Detection Technology, Precision Sensors, Smart Algorithms, Remote Real-Time System Monitoring, and is the Only Immunoassay Analyzer with No Daily Maintenancei

NT-proBNP Assay Now Available with Age-Based Cutoffs and Comorbidity Data

ROME, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Beckman Coulter, a clinical diagnostics leader, today unveiled the DxI 9000 Access Immunoassay Analyzer, the most productive immunoassay analyzer per footprint. The DxI 9000 Analyzer can run up to 215 tests per hour per square meter (tests/hr/m2).

The DxI 9000 Analyzer innovations address today's speed, reliability, reproducibility, quality, and menu expansion demands. The platform has been independently verified to perform at the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) optimal level, the highest level of EFLM performance evaluation. At the same time, the novel Lumi-Phos PRO Substrate has shown the capability to develop increasingly sensitive and clinically relevant assays, ensuring the system is able to meet the healthcare needs of tomorrow.

According to Julie Sawyer Montgomery, President, Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, "The DxI 9000 Access Immunoassay Analyzer sets new expectations for immunoassay testing operational performance and ability to develop and sustain improved assay sensitivity to meet tomorrow's analytical needs. Those in the laboratory will treasure ZeroDaily Maintenance to save them time, PrecisionVision Technology to safeguard against flawed data reports, and IntelliServe to maximize system uptime. At the same time, clinical researchers are excited about the DxI 9000 Analyzer's capability to keep pace with increasingly sensitive testing requirements as healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies take aim at ever more challenging diseases. An inspiring feat of technology, the DxI 9000 Analyzer is a comprehensive healthcare innovation."

An early evaluator of the DxI 9000 Analyzer, Dr. Pamela Christudoss, Professor & Head, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Christian Medical College Vellore, India noted, "Like clinical laboratories worldwide, we are running more tests than any time in our history. The innovations packed into the DxI 9000 Analyzer will enable labs across the globe to improve their throughput rates and turnaround times with worldclass precision. In particular, the team loved the un-paralleled Zero Daily Maintenance especially for a platform that runs 450 tests per hour."

An additional evaluator, Mr. Ray Divilley, Chief Medical Officer, Mayo University Hospital, Ireland, added, "With the DxI 9000, Beckman Coulter has successfully produced a platform that addresses today's laboratories needs for speed, accuracy, and reliability. Based on our use and evaluation of the system in our lab, we were able to get actionable results back quicker to doctors and ultimately patients as they consider treatment options."

ZeroDaily Maintenance highlights the embedded innovations that drive the DxI 9000 Analyzer's uptime performance. Beta users attest to ZeroDaily Maintenance redefining their workday with no daily maintenance requirements, thereby reducing annual maintenance routines by up to 96%.

Building on Beckman Coulter's workflow and automation leadership, PrecisionVision Technology is unmatched in its ability to inspect, identify and prevent erroneous reporting in real time. PrecisionVision automated safeguards include tube identification, cap detection, tip check, sample aspiration, and delivery, residual wash volume, and substrate volume. Each check reduces the risk of reporting flawed data and increases system reliability and reproducibility.

Beckman Coulter's newly designed remote service and diagnostics solution, DxS IntelliServe, connects with DxI 9000 Analyzers to monitor data and error trends, enabling timely, proactive system service when needed. In addition, the DxS IntelliServe solution identifies service experts to resolve issues with real-time monitoring, remote operation, and troubleshooting to maximize laboratory uptime and performance. Equally impactful, IntelliServe's remote update capabilities and proactive scheduling ensures systems are always running on the most up-to-date software, reducing unplanned workflow interruptions or downtime.

Beckman Coulter's Access NT-proBNP assay measures concentrations of N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide that originate in a person's heart. High levels of natriuretic peptides can indicate heart failure. Access NT-proBNP provides rapid results in less than 11 minutes and increases accuracy in diagnosing heart failure with age-based cutoffs and disease-specific comorbidity data for improved test result interpretation.

The DxI 9000 Access Immunoassay Analyzer is currently available in most countries worldwide.

An online news conference will be held on May 17, 2023. Speakers include Dr. Pamela Christudoss, and Kathleen Orland, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Clinical Chemistry and Immunoassay Business Unit, Beckman Coulter Diagnostics. Qualified journalists and analysts can reach out to [email protected] for a passcode.

Additional Resources

Link to DxI 9000 Access Immunoassay Analyzer media kit

Follow and connect with Beckman Coulter Diagnostics via LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

About Beckman Coulter, Inc.

A global leader in advanced diagnostics, Beckman Coulter has challenged convention to elevate the diagnostic laboratory's role in improving patient health for more than 80 years. Our mission is to Relentlessly Reimagine Healthcare, One Diagnosis at a Time  and we do this by applying the power of science, technology and the passion and creativity of our teams. Our diagnostic solutions are used in complex clinical testing, and are found in hospitals, reference laboratories and physician office settings around the globe. We exist to deliver smarter, faster diagnostic solutions that move the needle forward from what's now to what's next. We seek to accelerate care with an extensive clinical menu, scalable lab automation technologies, insightful clinical informatics, and optimize lab performance services. Beckman Coulter is part of the Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR) family of global science and technology companies. Headquartered in Brea, Calif., it has more than 11,000 global team members.

 2023 Beckman Coulter. All rights reserved. Beckman Coulter, the stylized logo, and the Beckman Coulter product and service marks mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Beckman Coulter, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Lumigen and the Lumigen product marks mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Lumigen, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Lumigen is a Beckman Coulter company. 2023-11590

i Based on a comparative review for mid- and high-volume laboratories; data on file.

SOURCE Beckman Coulter Diagnostics
Fold brought the world's first bitcoin rewards Visa Debit Card to US market in 2020 and now expands its engagement with Visa to Latin American community

PHOENIX, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fold is excited to announce the opening of its new office in El Salvador, which will serve as its base for operations in Latin America. The move comes as part of Fold's ongoing commitment to making bitcoin as easy and accessible as possible for everyone around the world.

"We're thrilled to be establishing an office and local team in El Salvador," said Will Reeves, CEO of Fold. "As a country that has embraced bitcoin and has been a pioneer in adopting new monetary technology, we believe that El Salvador is the perfect place for Fold to expand its presence in Latin America."

Bitcoin Rewards Company Fold Expands to El Salvador as Base for Latin American Operations Tweet this

Fold has big plans for El Salvador and will soon announce partnerships with major players in the region. The company's innovative rewards program and embedded bitcoin infrastructure will enable it to provide valuable solutions to consumers and businesses alike. To date Fold's bitcoin rewards infrastructure has processed over $1 Billion in volume.

"President Bukele wants the best and the brightest to move to El Salvador to come build new capital markets and the future of finance. Fold certainly fits that description and we are excited to welcome them to Bitcoin Country," said Stacy Herbert, National Bitcoin Office of El Salvador.

Fold's expansion to El Salvador is a significant milestone for the company as it continues to build a global bitcoin community. The new office and local team will enable Fold to provide even more personalized support to its Latin American users and partners.

To stay updated on Fold's expansion in El Salvador and upcoming partnerships, please visit our website at www.foldapp.com.

For media inquiries, please contact Denis Burba at [email protected].

About Fold

Fold, the leading bitcoin rewards company, offers the easiest and simplest way to earn bitcoin on everyday purchases. Holders of the Fold Bitcoin Rewards Visa Debit can earn bitcoin on every purchase they make or take advantage of exclusive opportunities to earn bitcoin when shopping at partner brands. The Fold mobile app is available for download for Android or iOS.

SOURCE Fold
NANJING, China, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 15th May 2023, automotive system software provider AutoCore.ai announces the completion of A+ round fundraising led by Bosch Ventures and BoYuan Capital, joined by existing shareholder GL Ventures.

We are witnessing an era represented by automotive chips powered with complex and advanced computing capabilities, as well as the multifold growth of intelligent sensors. The massive amount of data has brought about exponential growth and challenges in data transmission, scheduling and management. Automotive middleware will become the fundamental must-have software for intelligent vehicle development, with its market potential reaching tens of billions of dollars in the medium and long term.

Along with the explosive growth of the market, AutoCore.ai, established in 2018, has rapidly developed into a global automotive software platform-oriented enterprise, based on the self-developed AutoCore.OS platform, providing middleware, system software products, algorithm and application software licensing services with SOA oriented architecture across entire vehicle.

AutoCore.ai has created a complete and unified in-vehicle data platform for OEMs to achieve system-level functional performance, safety and security with guarantees for real-time, deterministic and secure communication, transmission, scheduling and planning of data across all vehicle domains, supporting different EE architecture. As a global leader in providing advanced automotive infrastructure software products and services, AutoCore.ai has witnessed its significant growth each year in terms of team, product maturity, engineering capabilities, tools, and customer base.

AutoCore.ai is the first middleware supplier in the world to have its full-stack software products certified to ISO 26262 ASIL-D, the highest functional safety level, currently adopted by many leading OEMs and Tier1s in their mass production programs around the world. AutoCore.ai is also a chosen strategic partner by several mainstream chip manufacturers.

It is reported that the lead investors of this round, Bosch Ventures and BoYuan Capital, are both investment funds of the Bosch Group, a global leader of automotive electrical and electronic architecture. Bosch Group is the main initiator and supporter of Autosar standard, the world's largest automotive Tier1 system integrator, and has irreplaceable influence across the automotive industry supply chain. AutoCore.ai will work with Bosch Group to explore new technologies and products, work together to respond to the rapidly changing needs of the global automotive industry on a larger scale and at a faster pace.

This strategic investment marks the next step growth of its core alliance AutoCore.ai has been able to build globally. The alliance with Bosch represents the new generation EEA solution moves into a mature and mass production stage, enabling global OEMs. Bosch group believes that AutoCore.ai will also strategically benefit from Bosch's strong network and communities for the Software-defined vehicle by leveraging collaboration opportunities with its entities and partners.

"We believe that AutoCore.ai will represent China's outstanding innovative enterprises and become a sought-after specialist in the international automotive supply chain", says Dr. Ingo Ramesohl, Managing Director of Bosch Ventures.

Dr. Hongquan Jiang, Managing Partner and Chairman of BoYuan Capital, said: "Along with the change of the whole vehicle EE architecture, the new generation of software and hardware solutions for the automotive industry are accelerating into the scale deployment stage. With the completion of this round of strategic investment, AutoCore.ai and the Bosch Group will cooperate in depth at both capital and business levels, jointly building an innovative model based in China for the world. We believe that AutoCore.ai will represent outstanding Chinese innovative companies and become a leading international core technology supplier for next generation automotive supply chain."

GL Ventures partner Qiang Li says, "GL Ventures has been supporting AutoCore.ai since Pre-A, this is our third consecutive investment into AutoCore". AutoCore.ai team has demonstrated outstanding capabilities in product development, market penetration as well as accumulation of abundant industry know-how in very short period of time. It has already produced many robust products, first of their kinds in the industry. Safe, high performance and high reliable middleware is one of the key areas of volume intelligent mobility. We are delighted to witness the exciting adoption from OEMs, Tier1s and other partners of AutoCore.ai's product and technology. We trust that under Dr. Yang Zhang's leadership, AutoCore.ai will continue to deliver critical value to its customer base, playing an important role in this wave of intelligent automotive evolution.

Dr. Yang Zhang, Founder and Chairman of AutoCore.ai, says "We are thrilled that our hard work and unwavering dedication being recognised by our wide customer base, glad that Bosch choose to be part of the journey. We expect close collaboration between us in global arena. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of AutoCore.ai's shareholders. We wouldn't be here without their commitment and support."

SOURCE AutoCore Technology(Nanjing) Co., Ltd.
FLORENCE, Italy, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Successful artist, sensitive interpreter of the culture of his time and author of extraordinarily relevant works, Sandro Botticelli was a master of beauty. With his "Venuses," he unknowingly established a canon of perfection that closely reflects that of modern day. Yet, he was a mysterious and disquieted figure: despite his timeless reputation, his paintings still hide mysteries that are difficult to unveil. After sixty years, Sandro Botticelli returns to the Menarini Group art series with an unpublished monograph presented in Florence at the Apollo Room in Palazzo Pucci in the presence of author Cristina Acidini, former superintendent of the art museums of Florence and today, president of the Opera di Santa Croce and other prestigious Florentine institutions.

Nicola Armentano (City of Florence Councillor), Lucia Aleotti (Menarini Group Shareholder and Board Member), Cristina Acidini (Author of the Botticelli art monograph), Eric Cornut (Menarini Group Chairman), Eugenio Giani (President of Region of Tuscany); Elcin Barker Ergun (Menarini Group CEO), Alberto Giovanni Aleotti (Menarini Group Shareholder and Board Member) and Carlo Colombini (Menarini Group Board Member) (PRNewsfoto/Menarini Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite) Presentation of the Menarini art volume dedicated to Botticelli (PRNewsfoto/Menarini Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite)

The monograph takes us back to Florence in the second half of the fifteenth century, to the dyeing plant of Mariano Filipepi, Botticelli's father. It was there that the young Sandro, fascinated by the colours used in the family's workshop, first came into contact with the study of the arts. The few available sources who knew him presented the artist as a man inclined to irony, sarcasm and mockery, in the full Florentine spirit of the time. His soul was tormented by a restless temperament; he categorically refused to marry but declared an eternal love for Florence, a city he never abandoned, with the exception of a few short trips. With the acute sensitivity of human being and artist, he recorded the changes happening in his city, from the carnivalesque triumphs of Lorenzo de' Medici to the penitential processions of Savonarola. As an artist, he had the unique ability to adapt to the changes of his era, painting tormented figures with darker colours, such as the Lamentation over the Dead Christ and the Holy Trinity (Pala delle Convertite), a far cry from the harmony and grace of the Birth of Venus and Primavera (Spring). These two latter works, with their innumerable variations and reinventions, helped render Botticelli an extremely popular artist whose relevance resonates as a subject of modern study even today.

Thus, there are many controversies regarding the chronology and interpretation of many of Botticelli's paintings, including the most famous ones. In fact, restorations and sophisticated diagnostic investigations constantly bring new elements to the surface which generate ideas for debate among specialists in the sector.

"This extraordinary artist returns to the Menarini series with a second monograph which takes into account the innovations that have emerged over the past sixty years, thanks to the discovery of new documents and their interpretations, especially regarding his most evocative and mysterious paintings. Furthermore, the scientific investigations coinciding with the restoration of many of Botticelli's works have enriched our knowledge of his refined and versatile painting style," declared Cristina Acidini. "Botticelli was, in fact, among the most authentic interpreters of the culture of his era, reflecting the profound changes in the Florentine society where he lived, dominated first by Lorenzo the Magnificent in a period of happy cultural flourishing, then by Girolamo Savonarola during years of disturbed religious reformism. For this reason, he has become the "symbol" of the Renaissance, with all its splendour and its inquietude."

The art volume on Botticelli enriches Menarini Group's prestigious art series, created in 1956 to celebrate the beauty of Italy through the great masters of Italian painting.

"The Menarini art collection aims to promote great Italian artists and share them with even the youngest generation," say Lucia and Alberto Giovanni Aleotti, shareholders and members of the Board of Menarini. "Discovering the inquietude and the wonder behind Botticelli's most notable paintings demonstrates how very close the artist was to today's contemporary sentiment."

Over the years, the artistic vocation of the Menarini Group has grown and evolved with the multimedia project 'Menarini Pills of Art'. These are short video clips in which experts reveal anecdotes and curiosities about many of the works featured in the Menarini volumes. Around 700 videos have been published so far, for a total of tens of millions of views. These are available on the Menarini YouTube channel in 8 languages which is updated monthly with new content. Videos on some of Botticelli's most famous works have recently been published together with videos on Leonardo's Adoration of the Magi, Mantegna's Madonna delle Cave and Caravaggio's Bacchus.

The Menarini Pills of Art are available at the link: https://www.menarini.com/it-it/news/menarini-pills-of-art

The Menarini Pharmaceutical Group, with headquarters in Florence, is present in 140 countries worldwide to date, with 4,155 million in turnover and more than 17,000 employees. With 9 centres for Research & Development, Menarini's products are present in the most important treatment areas, including those of cardiology, oncology, gastroenterology, pneumology, infectious diseases, diabetes, and anti-inflammatory/analgesic products. Pharmaceutical production is carried out in the Group's 18 manufacturing plants, located in Italy and abroad, which produce over 577 million packets of product a year and distribute them to five continents. Menarini's pharmaceutical production, in line with the highest quality standards, provides an ongoing contribution to the health of patients throughout the world. For further information please visit www.menarini.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2076875/Menarini_group.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2076874/Menarini_presentation.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1958938/4035543/MENARINI_GROUP_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Menarini Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite
GLENDALE, Calif., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Writing books about kindness, creating an art journaling project, opening a student Wellness Center, and starting a pickleball program are just a few of the teacher dream projects funded by California Credit Union through its Spring 2023 Teacher Grant program.

As part of its commitment to help educators create innovative learning opportunities for their students, the credit union has provided 10 grants of $500 each to underwrite class projects in Los Angeles & Orange County. The credit union grants will fund a diverse range of programs illustrating the creativity and commitment teachers bring to their classrooms and communities.

"Each of these grant programs demonstrate the tremendous passion, creativity, and dedication our teachers bring to inspiring their students to learn and excel," said California Credit Union CEO Steve O'Connell. "We congratulate and thank all of these incredible teachers for their commitment to creating innovative programs that will make a meaningful difference in their students' lives."

The Spring 2023 California Credit Union Teacher Grant recipients include teachers in Los Angeles and Orange counties:

California Credit Union Grant Recipient School City Carrie Boyd Stevenson Ranch Elementary School Stevenson Ranch Evelyn Ennis George Washington Carver Middle School Los Angeles LaRue Fernandez Robert Frost Middle School Granada Hills Jade Partain West Adams Preparatory High School Los Angeles Christine Sandoval Don Benito Fundamental School Pasadena Angie Schiffner Sequoia Academy Westminster Elizabeth Mejia Seamans Wilson High School Los Angeles Michelle Shearer Lassalette School La Puente Mitchell Tao Valencia Park Elementary School Fullerton Guadalupe Torres Western Avenue TECH Magnet Los Angeles

Photos of all recipients can be found here.

Since the creation of the program in 2012, California Credit Union has awarded $175,000 in teacher grants to support innovative learning projects. Up to 20 grants are awarded bi-annually in the spring and fall. Any full-time classroom teacher in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, and Riverside County can apply for a grant for a program that has clearly defined learning objectives tied to students' academic needs, displays creativity in education, and targets a significant number of students.

About 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. Visit ccu.com for more information or follow the credit union on Instagram or Facebook @CaliforniaCreditUnion.

SOURCE California Credit Union
GUELPH, ON, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - The Canadian Advanced Therapies Training Institute (CATTI) Inc. has launched its first in-person training site at the University of Guelph through a partnership with OmniaBio Inc., CCRM and the university. The training program, to begin in summer 2023, will cater to recent post-secondary graduates, industry professionals and companies growing their roster of clean room manufacturing staff. The fast growth of cell and gene therapies (CGTs) has made it a challenge for the global industry to keep up with talent requirements. This new CGT technical training site will begin to address the industry's critical training needs and represents the first stage of a larger, multi-site training strategy for CATTI.

Rendering of the training site (left) and actual site (right) (CNW Group/Canadian Advanced Therapies Training Institute)

"The biosafety level 2 lab space at the University of Guelph will expand CATTI's offering in central Canada and provide hands-on-learning in a one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art space for workers across Canada and internationally," explains Vanessa Laflamme, CEO, Canadian Advanced Therapies Training Institute (CATTI). "We expect to train over 600 people in the next two years, including over 300 employees for OmniaBio, one of CATTI's strategic customers."

"When CCRM and CellCAN launched CATTI in 2021, our vision was to build a skilled biomanufacturing workforce in Canada to meet current and future needs. This training site at the University of Guelph will play an important role as Canada prepares and adapts to an emerging industry that represents the future of medicine," says Michael May, President and CEO, CCRM. "This is a first for Canada, and I'm pleased to see this coming to fruition so quickly as it will benefit Canadians by fostering a strong, domestic biomanufacturing industry."

For the first year, the program will focus on human pluripotent stem cell banking, aseptic techniques, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) optimized for CGT manufacturing, and lab skills (such as pipetting, vessel handling, microscope operation, and more).

The curriculum will include a combination of online courses and hands-on courses in a specialized training lab designed to focus on providing GMP industry standard skill sets.

The rapid opening of this unique training site in Ontario wouldn't have been possible without the contributions of CCRM and its recently launched subsidiary, OmniaBio. OmniaBio is set to be Canada's largest contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) for the manufacture of CGTs. In the first phase of construction, OmniaBio is building an 89,000 ft2 (7,432 m2) facility, equipped with 15 clean rooms and staffed by 500 employees, which is expected to be completed in 2024. With a second building planned, OmniaBio and CCRM will have more than 50 clean rooms and over 1,000 employees. With its focus on providing clean room-ready skills for this fast-growing Canadian manufacturing sector, CATTI is a pivotal contributor to OmniaBio's growth, and the growth of the biomanufacturing sector overall.

"OmniaBio has a significant need for trained talent due to the growth trajectory and technical capability of its operation," says Mitchel Sivilotti, CEO, OmniaBio Inc. "This collaboration with CATTI and the University of Guelph is a win for everyone involved. We will support the effort by providing funding, strategic guidance and content development input to facilitate a hands-on, highly-focused, GMP training experience utilizing the most current equipment and technologies used in CGT manufacturing today."

"This program is a key partnership for OmniaBio and will create a reliable and lean system to support our ability to onboard and advance the careers of biotech manufacturing specialists at the speed we need to meet market demand. Canada, in turn, gains a growing and highly-skilled workforce that will enable companies like OmniaBio to produce life-saving products for our biotechnology clients and the patients who need them," continued Sivilotti.

"I am so pleased and excited to begin our partnership with CATTI, OmniaBio and CCRM," says Tarek Saleh, Professor and Chair, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), University of Guelph. "This collaboration aligns with OVC's strategic mandate of improving the health of humans, animals and our environment, and will allow the training of highly-qualified personnel in the field of regenerative medicine , including cell therapy. This will allow us to meet the Province of Ontario's mandate of ensuring our students have an employment opportunity upon graduation, as well as meet the growing demands of this industry sector."

About CATTI

The Canadian Advanced Therapies Training Institute (CATTI), launched through a partnership between CellCAN and CCRM, is developing and scaling e-learning and on-site GMP training programs for efficient and rapid upskilling of the biomanufacturing workforce required in Canada and internationally. CATTI's goal is to be a premier GMP clean room-ready training organization in North America, bridging the gap between the academic background qualifications and the clean room-ready needs of the growing CGT biomanufacturing industry. Visit us at catti.ca.

About CCRM

CCRM is a global, public-private partnership headquartered in Canada, established with seed funding provided by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, and leading academic and industry partners. CCRM supports the development of regenerative medicines and associated enabling technologies, with a specific focus on cell and gene therapy. A network of researchers, leading companies, investors and entrepreneurs, CCRM accelerates the translation of scientific discovery into new companies and marketable products for patients, with specialized teams, dedicated funding, and unique infrastructure. In 2022, CCRM established OmniaBio Inc., a pre-clinical to commercial-stage CDMO for manufacturing gene-modified cells and viral vectors for cell and gene therapies. CCRM is hosted by the University of Toronto. Visit us at ccrm.ca .

About OmniaBio Inc.

OmniaBio Inc. is a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) focused on cell and gene therapies from pre-clinical through to commercialization, and a subsidiary of CCRM. Benefitting from CCRM's existing expertise, OmniaBio provides a continuum of advanced process and analytical development, and manufacturing capabilities, by enabling focused support for clients from early clinical phase to commercial supply needs. OmniaBio is built upon leadership in iPSCs, immunotherapy and LVVs. To be located at McMaster Innovation Park, less than one hour from the U.S. border, OmniaBio's new commercial manufacturing site will anchor a biomanufacturing centre of excellence and will open with late clinical phase and commercial capacity in 2024 in a site totalling approximately 100,000 square feet. OmniaBio is supported by the Government of Ontario, via the Invest Ontario Fund. Please visit us at omniabio.com.

About the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph

The Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) is a world leader in advancing veterinary medicine and health research to improve the health of animals, people, and our planet. OVC educates the next generation of health leaders and provides high-value experiential learning opportunities through an interdisciplinary, comparative approach aimed at finding real-world solutions to real-world problems. OVC is one of the founding colleges of the University of Guelph and one of Canada's top comprehensive and research-intensive universities. To learn more visit ovc.uoguelph.ca.

SOURCE Canadian Advanced Therapies Training Institute
Chenoa Fund helps more than 42,000 families become homeowners

CEDAR CITY, Utah, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CBC Mortgage Agency (CBCMA), a Native American wholly owned and federally chartered housing finance agency, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary by unveiling a dynamic new rebrand for the correspondent investor and its Chenoa Fund Program, which has extended down payment assistance (DPA) to more than 42,000 families.

"Our refreshed brand reflects the evolving and inclusive nature of CBC Mortgage Agency." Tweet this Chenoa Fund

The Chenoa Fund Program was launched in May 2013 to help families achieve home ownership. Today, it operates in 49 states and territories. Roughly three-quarters of the homebuyers who receive DPA from CBC Mortgage Agency are first-time homebuyers, while around half are minorities.

"Our rebrand represents our renewed commitment to extending housing programs, including providing down payment assistance for those who are most in need of it," CBC Mortgage Agency President Miki Adams said. "We are proud to support economic stability for homebuying families and their communities, and we look forward to continuing this for many more decades."

In addition to the rebrand unveiling, CBC Mortgage Agency announced several significant hires and promotions, with women now accounting for 70% of the management team. The recent executive additions are listed below.

Pam Cooper CPA CMB, Chief Financial Officer

Alicia Wood , Loan Servicing Director

, Loan Servicing Director Cari Zwick , (promoted to) National Program Director

, (promoted to) National Program Director Kira Gissell , (promoted to) Communications, and PR Director

, (promoted to) Communications, and PR Director Dianah Hart , Director of Investor Relations and Fulfillment

, Director of Investor Relations and Fulfillment Latrese Flowers , Program Management and Compliance Officer

"Our refreshed brand reflects the evolving and inclusive nature of CBC Mortgage Agency, while the design reflects our commitment to breaking down barriers to homeownership," Adams stated. "As we continue to carry out our mission, I'm looking forward to unveiling some exciting changes and improvements later this year."

For more information, including a press kit with the Chenoa Fund's new marketing materials, please visit chenoafund.org.

About CBC Mortgage Agency

Founded in 2013, CBC Mortgage Agency is a nationally chartered housing finance agency. As a leading source of down payment assistance, the company helps low-to-moderate income consumers, often in minority neighborhoods, achieve the dream of homeownership. CBC Mortgage Agency, which was recognized as one of the Top 25 Companies in Mortgage & Servicing by MReport, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cedar Band Corp., a federally chartered tribal corporation founded by the Cedar Band of Paiute Indians. More information can be found at chenoafund.org .

SOURCE Chenoa Fund
NEW YORK, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Specialty Food Association is thrilled to announce that Giada De LaurentiisChef, Emmy Award-winning television personality, restaurateur and entrepreneur, and founder of lifestyle platform Giadzy.comwill give the keynote address at the 67th Summer Fancy Food Show.

The Summer Fancy Food Show is the largest B2B specialty food industry event in North America. Tweet this Giada De Laurentiis to give the keynote address at the 2023 Specialty Food Association Summer Fancy Food Show on June 26th.

The Summer Fancy Food Show is the largest B2B specialty food industry event in North America, featuring products from more than 1,800 domestic and global specialty food and beverage makers and manufacturers. In addition to sampling the newest and best artisan products, attendees also have access to a variety of networking and educational events throughout all three days of the Show.

Giada De Laurentiis will present the keynote addressThe Four Trends in Food that Matter Nowon Monday, June 26 at 9:15 a.m. on the Main Stage. During the address, Ms. De Laurentiis will discuss the emerging food trends that are propelling her businesses, including restaurants, catering, and direct-to-consumer Italian food and lifestyle platform Giadzy . She will cover the rising demand for at-home culinary experiences, product sourcing strategy, and the public perception of clean ingredients and minimal processing as a function of authenticity, among other topics.

Ms. De Laurentiis is a television personality, an NBC Today Show contributor, and a successful restaurateur with restaurants GIADA and Pronto by Giada in Las Vegas. She is the author of 10 New York Times bestselling cookbooks, including her most recent, Eat Better, Feel Better. She recently launched her catering company, Giada Catering, and is the founder of the lifestyle and e-commerce platform, Giadzy.com , which features Italian lifestyle content spanning recipes, travel, entertaining and Italian Pantry products.

Connect, Network and Learn at the Summer Fancy Food Show

In addition to the keynote address, Summer Fancy Food Show attendees can take part in a variety of other special events and Show features designed to help specialty food and beverage industry professionals connect with each other, gain knowledge to expand their business, and have fun.

New Pavillion Pop Ups

SFA is introducing Pavilion Pop Ups at the 2023 Summer Fancy Food Show. Pavilion Pop Ups are fun, interactive locales within select product pavilions where attendees can sample products, learn about trends and fresh ideas, and network with peers. Attendees can visit Sips Bay in the Beverage Pavilion, Lower Cheese Side in the Deli Pavilion and The Plant-Packing District in the Plant-Based Pavilion for quick, can't-miss sessions like "The Next Generation of Drinking: No-Alcohol Alcohol " and "Cross-Merchandising Chocolate in the Deli Aisle" throughout the Show day.

NEW NOW NEXT

NEW NOW NEXT is where attendees can discover products from the newest specialty food companies.

The New Now Next Pitch Stage is an open-micstyle area where emerging brands will pitch their products live on the Show floor. This is an opportunity to discover the newest products from startup companies and incubatorssome not yet on the market.

Specialty Food Retailer Tour: A Taste of NYC Innovation

Gain behind-the-scenes insights into innovations in food retail with the Specialty Food Retailer Tour provided by Retail Store Tours. The Flatiron District walking tour will showcase a wide variety of food vendors and new approaches to retailing. Benefits of the tour include gaining insider perspectives from subject-matter experts, staying up to date with industry trends and technology, and networking with peers. The tour is offered on Saturday, June 24 at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 4 p.m. Cost is $90. Register here now!

sofi Products of the Year Judging

The sofi Awards for Product of the Year and New Product of the Year will be unveiled on Tuesday, June 27 at 10:30 a.m. on the Big Idea Stage. This year, buyers will select the winning products based on blind tastings during the first two days of the Show.

About the Specialty Food Association

The not-for-profit Specialty Food Association (SFA) is the leading membership trade association and source of information about the $175 billion specialty food industry. Founded in 1952 in New York City, the SFA prides itself on being an organization by the members and for the members, representing thousands of specialty food makers and manufacturers, importers, retailers, buyers, distributors, brokers, and others in the trade. The SFA owns and operates the Fancy Food Shows which are the largest specialty food industry events in North Americaas well as the sofi Awards which have honored excellence in specialty food and beverage annually since 1972. The SFA produces the Trendspotter Panel annual predictions, the State of the Specialty Food Industry Report, Today's Specialty Food Consumer research, the Spill & Dish podcast, year-round educational programming for professionals at every stage in their business journey, and SFA Feed , the industry's go-to daily source for news, trends and new product information. Find out more online and connect with SFA on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , LinkedIn , and TikTok .

Hashtags: #FancyFoodShow #FancyFoodNYC #SpecialtyFood

SOURCE Specialty Food Association
Food for a Food Desert

DERWOOD, Md. , May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- When Erin Koch moved to Las Vegas four years ago, she brought the experience of building a food rescue network with Celestial Manna. Celestial Manna collects excess food from grocers and restaurants and gives to those in need. Starting with one donation weekly, Erin expanded to four grocery stores and several restaurants. For eight years she helped Celestial Manna form connections with several food donation partners, allowing the organization to help ever more people in need.

When her military family moved to Las Vegas, Erin transplanted her food rescue expertise and began serving neighbors at Nellis Air Force base. Erin also learned about the town of Indian Springs, the home of Creech Air Force Base. Indian Springs is over 30 miles from Las Vegas in the middle of the actual desert. The closest thing to a grocery store is the local Dollar General. Erin, alongside her rescue partner of four years Heather White, used her experience building Celestial Manna networks to form a partnership with Three Square, the largest food bank in Nevada. Indian Springs Masonic Lodge 48 allowed her to open a physical food pantry to collect and distribute nutritious food to those in need in the city where residents have minimal access to fresh, healthy food and are often low-income families and homebound.

Making an impact

Erin and her team distribute over 35,000 pounds of food every month to Indian Springs, Nellis Air Force Base and the local homeless community. In addition to what Erin rescues from grocery stores and restaurants, Three Square Food Pantry also now delivers food weekly to her distribution site in Indian Springs.

In the Las Vegas area, Celestial Manna serves over 250 families a month. None of this would've been possible without the dedication and service to our community of the wonderful volunteers Erin Koch, Heather White, Carolann Di Stasio, and Brenda Lufholm. This wonderful team of volunteers supports underserved populations with delicious and nutritious rescue food. We look forward to what the future may hold.

About Celestial Manna

Celestial Manna, a faith-based 501(c)(3) food recovery nonprofit, based in Derwood, Maryland, with food recovery operations throughout the Mid-Atlantic region as well as several other localities across the United States. In 2020, Celestial Manna recovered 6.1 million pounds of excess nutritious food, feeding over 20 thousand people monthly.

Contact: [email protected]

Phone: +1 301 915 7538

SOURCE Celestial Manna
BEIJING, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On the second Sunday of May every year, people from all over the world celebrate their mothers, expressing love and gratitude for giving them life, love and care.

Family is people's first classroom, and parents are children's first teachers.

As Chinese President Xi Jinping's mother, Qi Xin always cultivates and educates children with great love and compassion.

Xi, who has been deeply influenced by Qi's words and deeds, always keeps in mind his mother's advice, and never forgets why he started.

Parents are children's first teachers

In 1939, 15-year-old Qi joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) and became a staunch supporter of the CPC's values and beliefs. She kept the overall situation in mind and insisted on working at the grassroots level, working hard in various positions.

"Work well, study well, and handle everything well," Qi regards the words her husband told her as her motto, and uses her words and deeds to influence her children.

Qi leads a simple life, which has become a tradition for the family. No matter how painstaking to take care of the family while working, she never compromised her work. Her lifestyle and the family atmosphere have guided Xi's values.

Over the years, Xi has emphasized on many occasions the importance of family, family education and virtues.

During a meeting with representatives to the first National Conference of Model Families in 2016, Xi said parents should instruct their children through words and deeds, giving them both knowledge and virtues and practicing what they teach. "They should help their children button the first button in their lifetime and take the first step on the ladder of life."

In his adolescent years, Xi was given a simple sewing kit by his mother - a gift that would bestow him the courage to weather through a difficult time and make "the first step of life."

On the coarse cloth of the kit bag, Qi used red threads to stitch the words "niang de xin (mother's heart)" on it.

'You doing your job well is the greatest piety'

As a filial son, Xi has always tried to spend time with his mother when possible. Despite a tight work schedule, he would always find time to go for a walk with her.

When Xi could not be with his parents because of work during the Spring Festival in 2001, Qi called her son, saying that as long as he did his best on the job, he would be showing the greatest filial piety to her and his father.

"Son, I have thousands of thousands of words for you, but in one sentence, I hope you carry your responsibility well, heavy as it may be," Qi told Xi on the phone.

Her words of support have greatly inspired Xi to serve the public with the goal of achieving a good life for Chinese families.

As a teenager, Xi's wish was to "let the folks have a full meal of meat." When he was 60 years old, he introduced himself as a "servant of the people" when visiting villagers at Shibadong, a Miao ethnic minority village in central China's Hunan Province.

As Xi said at the closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress, the people's trust is the biggest motivation that drives him to march on and is a great responsibility he shoulders.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-05-14/Mother-s-Day-Inheritance-of-love-between-Xi-Jinping-and-his-mother-1jNAAbp0s9O/index.html

SOURCE CGTN
One teenager was sent to University of Virginia Medical Center and another was taken into custody after a shooting in Augusta County early Sunday morning.

Charlottesville 18-year-old Amvion Andre Barbour has been charged with one count of felony reckless handling of a firearm, the Augusta County Sheriffs Office reported on Sunday.

The unnamed victim was also 18 years old, police said.

Augusta authorities said that the two teenagers were sitting in the same vehicle around 1:45 a.m. in the 2900 block of Stuarts Draft Highway: the victim in the front seat and Barbour in the back.

During the incident, the victim suffered a single gunshot wound to his lower back, police said, while Barbour also suffered a gunshot wound to his hand.

Both were initially taken to Augusta Health by Stuarts Draft Rescue Squad and the Augusta County Fire and Rescue, according to the sheriffs office. The unnamed victim was later transported to UVa Medical Center, while Barbour was arrested without incident.

Barbour was being held at Middle River Regional Jail without bond as of Sunday afternoon.

Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith has described the shooting as an isolated incident that posed no danger to the public.

The case is still identified as an ongoing investigation. Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact the August County Sheriffs Office at (540) 245-5333.
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

What:

Images courtesy of Little Free Library

Gale , part of Cengage Group, in partnership with Brilliant Detroit and Little Free Library , will be hosting a charity event where its employees will be building 21 Little Free Libraries that will be installed in high-need neighborhoods across Detroit. Each little library will be stocked with a variety of books  donated by Gale and their employees  for children and adults to inspire a lifelong love of reading. We invite local media outlets to come and cover the event.

The Little Free Libraries will include diverse, award-winning and bestselling youth large print books donated by Thorndike Press , Gale's large print publisher. Youth large print makes reading more accessible for developing readers and is proven to increase decoding and comprehension.

A Little Free Library is a "take a book, return a book" free book-sharing exchange. They come in many shapes and sizes, but the most common version is a small wooden box of books, that are often built by supporters or volunteers  with their own unique, personal touch. Little Free Library book-sharing boxes provide 24/7 access to books in areas where books are scarce to encourage a love of reading.

When:

Thursday, May 18, 2023

9:30 A.M  12:00 P.M. Eastern Time

Where:

Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center

400 Renaissance Dr., Columbus Ballroom-4th floor, Detroit, MI 48243

Why:

With Detroit's literacy rates lower than the national average, Gale hopes that placing Little Free Libraries throughout the area will help improve these rates and give children and adults access to free books as well as inspire a lifelong love of reading.

The partnership has a concentrated focus on providing young readers with access to youth large print books because research shows that large print text can improve reading confidence and skill level in students. A recent study conducted by Project Tomorrow , an education nonprofit, indicates that students in grades 3-12 who read large print books developed stronger reading skills, felt more comfortable reading, and adopted new, positive reading mindsets.

NOTE TO REPORTERS: Gale, Brilliant Detroit and Little Free Library invite you to come and cover this special event. Interviews in English and Spanish can be accommodated. Unable to attend the event? Post-event b-roll and photos will be available and shared with you after the event is over via a link in the post-event news release that Gale will issue.

About Cengage Group and Gale

Cengage Group, an education technology company serving millions of learners in 165 countries, advances the way students learn through quality, digital experiences. The company currently serves the K-12, higher education, professional, library, English language teaching and workforce training markets worldwide. Gale, part of Cengage Group, provides libraries with original and curated content, as well as the modern research tools and technology that are crucial in connecting libraries to learning, and learners to libraries. For more than 65 years, Gale has partnered with libraries around the world to empower the discovery of knowledge and insights  where, when and how people need it. Gale has 500 employees globally with its main operations in Farmington Hills, Michigan. For more information, please visit www.gale.com.

Follow Gale on:

About Brilliant Detroit

Established in 2015, Brilliant Detroit provides a radically new approach to kindergarten readiness in neighborhoods and creates a unique delivery model for early childhood development by using underutilized housing stock to create early child and family centers in neighborhoods. Brilliant Detroit homes  complete with signature orange-colored front doors  provide holistic services for children ages 0-8 predicated on evidence-based programs around health, family support and education. The organization was born to create kid success neighborhoods. In each location, neighbors come together for fellowship, activities and learning to assure school readiness and provide needed support for families. For more information, visit: brilliantdetroit.org.

About Little Free Library

Little Free Library (LFL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that builds community, inspires readers and expands book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Libraries. There are more than 160,000 registered Little Free Library book-sharing boxes worldwide in all 50 states, 120 countries and seven continents. Through them, over 300 million books have been shared since 2009. LFL received the 2020 World Literacy Award as well as honors from the Library of Congress, National Book Foundation and others. The organization grants Little Free Libraries full of books to underserved areas through its Impact Library and Indigenous Library Programs and champions diverse books through its Read in Color initiative. To learn more, visit LittleFreeLibrary.org.

Media Contact:

Kayla Siefker, Gale, part of Cengage Group

248-378-3376

[email protected]

SOURCE Gale, part of Cengage Group
SHANGHAI, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The 87th edition of the China International Medical Equipment Fair (CMEF) has opened its door to the world in Shanghai. Hosted from May 14  17th, the show once again brought together the latest and the great solutions created to drive innovations and push the boundaries of the healthcare field to address the medical challenges of today and tomorrow.

With around 5,000 global manufacturers spanning the healthcare supply chain, the CMEF organized by Reed Sinopharm Exhibitions is unparalleled in its scale, boasting an exhibition hall covering over 320,000 square meters and attracting a crowd of 200,000 visitors from around the world.

The CMEF of this year provided visitors with products across several categories, including medical imaging, electronic medical equipment, hospital construction, medical consumables, orthopedics, rehabilitation, emergency rescue, and animal care.

Leading medical imaging solutions were displayed by companies such as United Image and SIEMENS. GE presented 23 new imaging devices, while Mindray showcased its transport ventilator and multi-scenario solutions for hospitals. PHILIPS exhibited medical imaging, operating room, emergency, respiratory, and anesthesia equipment. OLYMPUS presented their latest endoscopy equipment, while Stryker showcased their robotic-assisted orthopedic surgery system. Illumina displayed their Genetic Sequencing System for diagnostic testing, EDAN showcased their ultrasound imaging devices, and Yuwell presented their Anytime glucose monitoring system.

China's medical industry is poised to enter its next level of comprehensive open collaboration

Over 30 provincial governments in China have released reports highlighting initiatives to overhaul the medical sector and boost healthcare standards for both urban and rural residents. The new measures will focus on preventing severe diseases, managing chronic diseases, building national and provincial medical centers, implementing volume-based procurement for drugs and medical consumables, and upgrading county hospitals, which are expected to propel the development of China's medical industry in 2023.

In Q1 of 2023, China's medical device market revenue reached an impressive RMB 236.83 billion, representing an 18.7% increase compared to the same period in 2022, consolidating China's position as the world's second-largest medical device market. Additionally, the revenue generated by Chinese medical device manufacturing has grown to RMB 127.95 billion, which is a year-on-year increase of almost 25%.

The global medical device market is projected to reach a value of USD 600 billion by 2024, driven by increasing awareness of healthcare and healthy lifestyles, as well as Chinese companies eying global expansion. The value of medical products exported from China reached RMB 444.179 billion from January to November 2022, which represented an increase of 21.9% compared to the same period last year.

Industry professionals can look forward to the next edition of CMEF slated to be held in Shenzhen this October. The 88th CMEF will once again unite leading players in global medical equipment under the same roof, offering an unparalleled platform where attendees can learn creations of some far-sighted technologies aimed at bringing meaningful changes to the livelihood of worldwide patients.

For more information, please visit https://www.cmef.com.cn/en

SOURCE China International Medical Equipment Fair (CMEF)
BEIJING, China, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ningbo is a vibrant city located on China's east coast, boasting the third largest container port in the world. The finance-friendly environment and favourable policies facilitate Ningbo's role as a hub for international commerce.

Specifically, Ningbo has become one of Central and Eastern Europe's largest business partners. 2022 saw Ningbo's imports and exports with CEE countries reach a staggering 45 billion yuan.

What's powering the connection between Ningbo and Europe

What makes it happen?

In this video produced by China Matters, Jay Birbeck, from the UK, takes a trip to Ningbo to see what all the buzz is about. Before the third China-CEEC Expo scheduled for May 16 to 20, Jay makes his first stop at the CEEC Permanent Exhibition Hall, a "treasure trove" of imported products exclusively from CEE countries.

Here he meets the manager of the Serbia pavilion, Guo Xiao, who fills him in on the advantages of doing business in Ningbo, such as subsidies, discounted interested rates, and even free rent. "At the third China-CEEC Expo, we hope to meet more buyers from China with our products," Guo said.

Jay also checks out Minth, a local company in Ningbo that has been rapidly expanding into European markets. Minth manufactures the casing that protects car batteries for new energy vehicles. Audi, BMW and Tesla are among its clients. Jay witnesses firsthand how these battery casings are tested and proven safe.

Contact: Li Siwei

Tel.008610-68996996

E-mail[email protected]



YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/DEbb1WfzVBw

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1735490/China_Matters_Logo.jpg

SOURCE China Matters
NEW YORK, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Attention Rite Aid Corporation ("Rite Aid") (NYSE: RAD) shareholders:

The Law Offices of Vincent Wong announce that a class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of investors who purchased between April 26, 2018 and March 13, 2023.

If you suffered a loss on your investment in Rite Aid, contact us about potential recovery by using the link below. There is no cost or obligation to you.

https://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/rite-aid-class-action-submission-form?prid=39336&wire=4

ABOUT THE ACTION: The class action against Rite Aid includes allegations that the Company made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) until at least June 2019, Rite Aid filled at least hundreds of thousands of unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances that lacked a legitimate medical purpose, including for potentially lethal opioids such as oxycodone and fentanyl; (2) Rite Aid pharmacists filled these prescriptions despite clear "red flags" that indicated that the prescriptions were unlawful; (3) Rite Aid ignored evidence that its stores were dispensing unlawful prescriptions, and intentionally deleted internal notes about suspicious prescribers written by concerned pharmacists; (4) by knowingly filling unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances, Rite Aid violated the Controlled Substances Act and, where Rite Aid sought reimbursement from federal healthcare programs, also violated the False Claims Act; (5) as a result, it was at risk of prosecution by federal authorities such as the United States Department of Justice; and (6) as a result, defendants' statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all times.

DEADLINE: May 19, 2023

Aggrieved Rite Aid investors only have until May 19, 2023 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. You are not required to act as a lead plaintiff in order to share in any recovery.

Vincent Wong, Esq. is an experienced attorney who has represented investors in securities litigations involving financial fraud and violations of shareholder rights. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Vincent Wong, Esq.

39 East Broadway

Suite 304

New York, NY 10002

Tel. 212.425.1140

E-Mail: [email protected]

SOURCE The Law Offices of Vincent Wong
TAICHUNG,Taiwan, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- After the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, most people suffered from mild disease, and "Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)" is common for those critical COVID-19 patients. The 46-year-old of Ms. Chang, who had hypertension and nephropathy, accepted kidney transplantation surgery 10 years ago. She was tested positive for COVID-19 and had severe respiratory failure. Ms. Chang was diagnosed to have "Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)." At the negative pressure isolation ICU of China Medical University Hospital (CMUH), Ms. Chang immediately underwent endotracheal intubation, and ECMO emergent use was initiated to temporarily replace the lung function of Ms. Chang. Thanks to the visualized smart medicine system designed by CMUH to real-time monitor Ms. Chang's key respiratory therapy. Further, given proper antibiotics and antivirals to the patient, the condition of Ms. Chang was reversed and improved with 15 days of ECMO support. On the 23rd day, the endotracheal tube was removed, and Ms. Chang was getting stable and successfully recovered to be discharged after 35 days of hospitalization.

CMUH Smart medicine system: ARDS real-time monitoring dashboard ensured Ms. Changs LPV, the green zone meant the safety range of the lung volume during the acute phase for patients lung protection.

ARDS Needs Timely "LPV" Smart Medicine System Can Help Reduce the Mortality Rate of Critical Patients

Dr. Wei-Cheng Chen, V.S., Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, CMUH , stated that according to Ms. Chang's acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score when first admitted to the isolated ICU, the predicted mortality rate was 70%; however, the medical care team accurately provided the Tidal Volume (TV) to protect the lungs from injury through the assistance of the smart medicine system. Furthermore, an interprofessional and cross-department "ARDS team" was gathered right away to save Ms. Chang with all their combined efforts, including physicians from pulmonary and critical care medicine, renal transplantation, infectious diseases, and cardiovascular surgery, nurse specialists, the respiratory technicians, technicians of extracorporeal technician, pharmacists, and nutritionists, who all teamed up to provide her with seamless care.

Dr. Wei-Cheng Chen explained that ARDS is a kind of diffuse pulmonary alveoli injury with fast progression that is accompanied with severe hypoxemia. It is a cross-specialty syndrome in critical care medicine, whose common causes may include all kinds of pneumonia, sepsis, lung contusion, pancreatitis, etc. Patients may be admitted to the ICU due to respiratory failure and multiple organ failure. Such conditions consume considerable medical manpower, resources, and interprofessional cooperation.

Dr. Wei-Cheng Chen further explained that ARDS is a pretty troublesome complication. As shown in the literature, the mortality rate of ARDS could be up to 80% in elderly and septic patients, even though respiratory treatment technology is significantly improved in modern medicine. Most ARDS patients need endotracheal intubation to survive and also need a timely diagnosis with a series of treatments to improve the prognosis. "Lung Protective Ventilation (LPV)" is currently the best treatment strategy with a strong evidence base."

Dr. Wei-Cheng Chen stated that the unsatisfactory implementation rate is raised by many domestic and international studies because the timing of the cross specialty care team intervention cannot be properly and accurately integrated. At China Medical University Hospital, the pulmonologists and critical care specialist have invited their colleagues to form the cross-specialty "ARDS team." In addition to nurse specialists, RT team, perfusionists, pharmacists, and nutritionists, the cardiovascular surgeon and physicians from emergency medicine were also invited; the most valuable part was inviting the information experts of the smart medicine system into the team as well. Through the Power business intelligence (BI) developed by Microsoft , the medical information and data of the ARDS patients were all visualized and integrated to be calculated by the system to provide real-time big data to support the medical team.

As a result, the medical team can provide individualized therapeutic strategies for ARDS patients based on the data. Under such a treatment model, most critical ARDS patients can successfully recover due to the conditions reversed by proper assessment and precise treatment implementation.

Outstanding Achievement of CMUH ARDS Team Published by Top International Medical Journal

CMUH "ARDS team" applied the smart medicine system improved interface to help the cross-specialty team have a real-time visualized Dashboard to obtain universal control of the patient's medical data to cure the rapidly changing ARDS. Such excellent clinical care performance was highly recognized by the top international medical journal for emergency and critical care, "Critical care," and the related achievements were published in the journal in August 2022 with an article entitled "Using realtime visualization system for data driven decision support to achieve lung protective strategy: a retrospective observational study."

The outstanding achievement of CMUH's cross-specialty "ARDS team" on the critical care medicine was highly recognized by international emergency and critical care experts. The clinical research was published in an international journal with high Impact Factor of 19.3. Furthermore, Dr. Wei-Cheng Chen earned many domestic and international recognitions, including the best presenter and young investigator award at TSCCM/TSECCM/JSICM Joint Congress, TSECCM quality award, cross territory holistic health care best oral presentation award, first place of Taiwan Al Academy industrialization innovation competition, educational innovation award, and more.

Dr. Chieh-Lung Chen, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, CMUH, mentioned that, based on the APACHE II score, the level of critical conditions of ICU patients can be reflected, with a score over 20 belonging to the high risk group. After assessment, Ms. Chang had a score of 30 with a predicted mortality rate of 70%. Under the aggressive care of the ARDS team, Ms. Chang was given antibiotics and antivirals, in addition to the LPV strategy, so her critical condition improved with 15 days of ECMO support. On the 23rd day, the endotracheal tube was successfully removed, and Ms. Chang stabilized and was discharged after 35 days of hospitalization.

Dr. How-Yang Tseng, who collaborated with the Information Technology Office to create the "ARDS real-time monitoring dashboard," added that Power BI consolidates all the medical data from different sources under the system and reflects them in the real-time monitoring dashboard to show the conditions and data trends of each patient. For example, doctors could monitor all the patients' condition through the unit distribution graph presenting with the ratio of ventilator, vasopressor, and continuous dialysis usage. According to the PF ratio, the related information would be ranked in a descending sequence to accelerate patient screening for identifying the target patients. Furthermore, it may help medical staff to quickly control the condition changes of patients so the LPV treatment strategy can be implemented earlier to elevate the cure rate.

CONTACT: Feng Ming Hsieh, [email protected]

SOURCE China Medical University Hospital
New study examines the DeFi ecosystem one year after the collapse of Terra Luna and the end of the 2020-2022 crypto bull market

NEW YORK, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Corporate Insight, the leading provider of competitive intelligence and customer experience research, today announced the publication of a new study on decentralized finance (DeFi). The DeFi 2030 report analyzes the five types of DeFi protocols most likely to affect traditional consumer finance, specifically lending, trading, asset management, payments and insurance. The study provides an overview of each DeFi vertical, highlights its growth and traction, provides screenshots of the user experience and concludes with analysis of the competitive threat posed by each vertical.

The DeFi 2030 report also provides an outline of the possible crypto growth scenarios in the 2020s. The study examines the factors that could drive crypto growth, including the rate of crypto technology improvement, the speed at which DeFi can incorporate real-world assets and the effects of global political and economic instability. The report concludes with a series of recommendations to help firms begin to develop a long-term strategy to compete with DeFi services.

While this report focuses on DeFi, where relevant, the study presents non-DeFi examples of established players and fintech startups that aim to bring blockchain technology to traditional finance.

A preview of the DeFi 2030 report can be downloaded here. The report preview document includes the report introduction, a preview of the Table of Contents for the full 50-page study, and a portion of the DeFi lending section.

About Corporate Insight

Corporate Insight delivers competitive intelligence, user experience research and consulting services to the nation's leading financial and health institutions. As the recognized industry leader in customer experience research since 1992, we have been the trusted partner to corporations seeking to improve their digital capabilities and user experience. Our best-in-class research platform and unique approach of analyzing the actual customer experience helps corporations advance their competitive position in the marketplace.

Schedule a media interview: [email protected]

SOURCE Corporate Insight
CHICAGO, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ameren Illinois' proposed four-year electric rate hike should be slashed by at least $492 million, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) announced Monday, citing expert testimony it filed.

"While a utility has to maintain its system, Ameren should not get a blank check," CUB Executive Director David Kolata said. "Our expert witnesses combed through Ameren's rate-hike proposal and cut out the fat, including an excessive profit rate for shareholders. We are hoping other parties will be able to recommend further reductions."

Ameren customers can visit CUBHelpCenter.com to sign a petition to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) against the proposed increase.

On January 20, Ameren Illinois filed for a four-year, $1.3 billion rate hike with the ICC. For a customer who uses about 10,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually (or about 833 kWh a month), the hike would increase Ameren delivery rates by an average of roughly $6.27 a month each year, for a cumulative increase of about $25 a month by 2027.

The company is also asking for a $160.4 million gas rate hike, which will increase bills by an average of about $6.68 a month for customers who use about 745 therms a year (or about 62 therms monthly).

Since 2021, Ameren Illinois' parent company has made more than $2 billion in profits and the Illinois utility has received two electric rate hikes totaling $118 million ($57.6 million in January 2022 and $61 million in January 2023).

Consumer advocates have sounded the alarm in 2023, as major Illinois gas and electric utilities are pushing for a record six rate hikes totaling $3.7 billion. In response to this unprecedented attack, several groups and agencies are challenging increases, including the Illinois Attorney General's Office, Environmental Defense Fund, Illinois PIRG and CUB.

In the Ameren electric case, CUB, the Illinois Industrial Energy Consumers (IIEC) group, Federal Executive Agencies, Prairie Rivers Network and United Congregations of Metro East partnered to commission expert analysis from Brubaker & Associates, Inc., a Missouri-based consulting firm that specializes in utility regulation. Through the testimony, CUB makes several recommendations to slash the rate hike by nearly a half-billion dollars: $492.3 million. CUB focused on several key areas, including:

Return on Equity. Ameren has proposed an excessive jump in its "return on equity" (ROE)or profit rate for shareholdersfrom about 7.85 percent to 10.5 percent. CUB argues for a more reasonable 9.3 percent ROE, which would reduce the rate hike by $79.4 million.

In the rate-setting process, ROE is the most important component of a utility's "rate of return," which is the rate at which the utility recovers the cost of financing physical assets, such as electric meters, substations and wires.

Capital Structure. CUB's expert testimony also found problems with another key component of rate of return: "capital structure"basically how it finances infrastructure projects. Ameren's proposed "common equity ratio"how much of the utility's financing comes from issuing stockswas too high, CUB argued. The more reasonable equity ratio CUB recommends would reduce the rate hike by another $161.9 million.

Residential Sales Forecast. Ameren calculated its rate increase proposal based on forecasts of its number of residential customers and usage per residential customer that were buried in accounting spreadsheets with no explanation. CUB's expert witnesses discovered that these forecast numbers were unrealistically low, thereby overstating Ameren's revenue requirement. They recommended a reasonable forecast based on the most recent available Ameren customer data. This change would save ratepayers an additional $91.9 million.

Other financial adjustments, including those related to operations and maintenance labor expenses and an excessive acceleration in infrastructure spending, amounted to about $159.1 million, for a total recommended reduction of at least $492.3 million. CUB hopes to support additional reductions uncovered by the Illinois Attorney General's Office and other parties.

The ICC will rule on the rate-hike request around November, after an 11-month rate case. The proposed increase would take effect on Jan. 1, 2024 and impact delivery rateswhat the utility charges to cover the costs of delivering electricity to customer homes, plus a profit. Those rates take up about a third to a half of electric bills.

Ameren Illinois serves about 1.2 million electric customers in Central and Southern Illinois.

Citizens Utility Board (CUB) is Illinois' leading nonprofit utility watchdog group. Created by the Illinois Legislature, CUB opened its doors in 1984 to represent the interests of residential and small-business utility customers. Since then, CUB has saved consumers more than $20 billion by helping to block rate hikes and secure refunds. For more information, call CUB's Consumer Hotline at 1-800-669-5556 or visit CUB's award-winning website, www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org.

SOURCE Citizens Utility Board
Personal protective equipment (PPE) specialist moves to the Infor Cloud to digitize the manufacturing, management and distribution of its equipment around the world

RUEIL-MALMAISON, France, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Infor, the industry cloud company, today announced that Delta Plus, manufacturer and distributor of a complete range of personal protective equipment (PPE) to equip people from head to toe, has chosen Infor CloudSuite enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution to optimize its management processes. The company will also deploy Infor Factory TrackTM warehouse mobility functions, as well as the Infor CPQ configure price quote tool and Infor IDM optical recognition software dedicated to the dematerialization of supplier invoices. This will provide the group with a modern, more scalable and interoperable IS, all secured in a high availability cloud environment hosted at AWS (Amazon Web Services).

The choice of Infor's ERP solution was made following the decisive commitment of Delta Plus's CIO, who supported Infor's Value Engineering approach and involved the group's general management, as well as all stakeholders in the project.

"Our current IT tools are a hindrance to the development and deployment of new entities, and we wanted to equip ourselves with a modern IT system capable of supporting us internationally," says Julien Bonnin, Delta Plus CIO. "The investment and professionalism of Infor's teams in helping us structure our project and define our specifications, the technological and functional performance of their solution, as well as their ability to support us over time, convinced us to make the right choice."

With its expertise and investment in R&D of more than 5 million euros per year, its 13 production sites in Asia, India, Europe and America, and its worldwide presence with 45 subsidiaries serving 110 countries, Delta Plus is one of the leading brands in the PPE market. Addressing many sectors of activity  hotels and restaurants, agriculture, industry, construction, energy, transport and storage, defence, etc.  the group has an organization that is as close as possible to its customers throughout the world.

Previously, the group deployed a single offering from China, but, over time and with new integrations, its offering has become regionalised, creating the need to be more flexible, more responsive and more efficient.

The project is scheduled to start in June. Initially, 1,000 users will benefit from Infor's new solutions, mainly in the functional areas of sales, inventory and supply chain management, financial and analytical management, and budget consolidation. However, this number is expected to grow as the group deploys and acquires new solutions on a regular basis.

"We are particularly enthusiastic about the success of this long-term project," Bonnin says. "The commitment of Infor, who we consider to be a true partner, is an essential point of confidence to which we are particularly sensitive."

Ronan Douerin, senior account executive at Infor, concludes: "This project is the result of close collaboration between Infor and the Delta Plus teams. Through workshops conducted with the group's operational departments, Infor's Value Engineering approach enabled the group to identify areas for improvement, which were then presented to its management committee."

Learn more about Infor solutions:

Infor CloudSuite: https://www.infor.com/products/cloudsuite-fashion

Infor Factory Track: https://www.infor.com/products/factory-track

About Delta Plus

For more than 40 years, Delta Plus has made it its mission to protect women and men at work. Delta Plus designs, manufactures and distributes a full range of personal and collective protective equipment to equip people from head to toe. Thanks to its expertise, its investment in R&D (35 people - 5 million/year), its 13 production sites, its global presence and its services, Delta Plus is a world player selected for its differentiated, innovative and affordable products and its proximity to its partners. Delta Plus covers more than 110 countries with 45 distribution subsidiaries and its Grand Export department. Visit https://www.deltaplusgroup.com/fr/.

About Infor

Infor is a global leader in business cloud software specialized by industry. We develop complete solutions for our focus industries. Infor's mission-critical enterprise applications and services are designed to deliver sustainable operational advantages with security and faster time to value. Over 60,000 organizations in more than 175 countries rely on Infor's 17,000 employees to help achieve their business goals. As a Koch company, our financial strength, ownership structure, and long-term view empower us to foster enduring, mutually beneficial relationships with our customers. Visit www.infor.com.

Media contact:

Vincent Fournier & Odile Pin

Such. +33 (0)6 80 34 24 00 - Tel. +33 (0)6 81 80 35 46

[email protected] - [email protected]

Twitter: @InforFranceNews

Copyright 2023 Infor. All rights reserved. The word and design marks set forth herein are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Infor and/or related affiliates and subsidiaries. All other trademarks listed herein are the property of their respective owners. www.infor.com

SOURCE Infor
SHANGHAI, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Directory of Guizhou Agricultural Products was launched in Shanghai to introduce 80 outstanding agricultural brands to the world.

Directory of Guizhou Agricultural Products was launched in Shanghai to introduce 80 outstanding agricultural brands to the world. (PRNewsfoto/Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Guizhou Province)

Guizhou, which lies in China's southwest region, is well known for its clean environment, fertile soil and rich biodiversity resources. The Directory includes 14 categories which have been carefully selected and evaluated by experts in the past two years. These selected brands are in the public domain and can be shared by qualified agricultural products from their designated areas. The Directory includes three national-level agricultural brands, Top 10 Guizhou provincial-level brands, nine city/prefecture-level brands as well as their detailed information.

The Directory was unveiled at the launching ceremony in Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center today, jointly organized by Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Guizhou Province and Development and Reform Commission of Guizhou. Bu Tao, Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Guizhou Province, touched upon the Directory and delivered a keynote speech.

During the ceremony, representatives from leading Guizhou agricultural brands introduced their products, including Xinren coix seed, Guizhou mushroom, Guizhou tea and Duyun Maojian tea.

Tian Xiaohong, the Deputy Secretary General of Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce, said: "Through this conference, we can see Guizhou Province's resolution and confidence in developing 'Gui'-series of agricultural brands. The SRCIC will leverage the power of our platform and channels to help Guizhou agricultural industry, companies and brands to find partners in the global market. Hopefully we can contribute to the development of Guizhou's unique agricultural industry."

Image Attachments Links:

Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=440740

Caption: Directory of Guizhou Agricultural Products was launched in Shanghai to introduce 80 outstanding agricultural brands to the world.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2076872/Guizhou_Agricultural_Products.jpg

SOURCE Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Guizhou Province
HONOLULU, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DRFortress , the largest carrier-neutral data center and cloud marketplace operating in Hawaii, today announced the completion of the fourth expansion to its data center campus in Honolulu, which will be ready for service on June 1, 2023. The 65,000+ square foot facility has over 800 cabinets available for colocation services, adding 220 with this latest expansion.

DRFortress is Hawaii's most interconnected facility and largest capacity provider in terms of data center cabinet capacity and power available for immediate deployment. To keep pace with the high-power density demands of the region, DRFortress is increasing its power density by 500kW, available on June 1, and an additional 500kW to be built and installed in the expanded area in early 2024.

"We're committed to ensuring this expansion  along with our entire facility  meets the customized needs of our customers and is operationally reliable, scalable and secure for their critical IT systems and applications," said Fred Rodi, President and Founder of DRFortress. "With this expansion, we're also thrilled to announce that our first anchor tenant(s) will be a large public cloud provider launching a new edge node in Hawaii and a new international carrier building their presence in Hawaii later this year."

Other features of the expansion include three new customer conference rooms with a 38-person training and event space, two multi-purpose customer kiosks, a second loading and delivery area to handle large equipment deliveries and a dedicated cafe break area for customers. These spaces were specifically designed for customers to have remote office capabilities from the data center, host events or group trainings as well as serve as a safe and secure business continuity workspace in the event of an unexpected disaster.

Since 2006, DRFortress has completed four expansions and grown its customer base, space and power capacity tenfold. Backed by a team with over a century of cumulative data center experience, DRFortress is the largest data center operator in the state, providing mission-critical services in support of the Hawaii economy and trans-Pacific data networks. Contact DRFortress to learn more about the expansion, or visit www.drfortress.com .

About DRFortress

DRFortress is Hawaii's largest carrier-neutral data center and cloud computing services provider operating in Hawaii since 2006. Based in Honolulu, the world-class data center is currently a 65,000+ square foot facility with over 800 racks available for colocation. As Hawaii's Digital Hub and largest business network, DRFortress houses the densest concentration of IP carriers and networks in Hawaii. DRFortress also offers Cloud Connect services with dedicated private connections to the leading global public clouds. For more information, please visit www.drfortress.com .

Media Contact

Jaymie Scotto & Associates (JSA)

+1 866.695.3629 ext. 11

[email protected]

SOURCE DRFortress
Georgia welcomed Lars Lkke Rasmussen, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Denmark, and held an official ceremony to mark his arrival at Tbilisi Shota Rustaveli International Airport. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Teimuraz Janjalia, and Georgian Ambassador to Denmark, Nata Menabde, were in attendance, as per the statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.The Foreign Ministry has reported that during his visit, the leader of Denmark's Foreign Ministry will be received by Georgia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ilia Darchiashvili. The meeting will take place in both one-on-one and extended formats."Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Gharibashvili will hold a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Denmark.It should be noted that Lars Lkke Rasmussen is accompanied by a delegation of Danish businessmen, the meeting of the minister and the delegation will be held with the Vice Prime Minister of Georgia, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Levan Davitashvili.Within the framework of the visit, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, together with his Georgian counterpart, Ilia Darchiashvili, will officially open the Danish Embassy in Georgia.In addition, Lars Lkke Rasmussen will visit the occupation line and get acquainted with the current situation on the ground," Foreign Ministry's statement reads.The State Security Service has reported that Giorgi Terashvili, who was unlawfully held by Russian occupying forces in the occupied area near the village of Mejvriskhevi in the Gori municipality on May 11, was released. The Service has also confirmed that Terashvili is currently in an area under the control of the central government."In order to immediately release Giorgi Terashvili, both the 'hotline' mechanism and all other tools at the disposal of the central government were actively used.Responsibility for all destructive actions carried out in the occupied regions of Georgia and along the occupation line rests with the occupying power.The central government, together with international partners, continues to work actively to release all citizens of Georgia who are illegally imprisoned in the occupied territories," the State Security Service wrote.
Kerrville, TX (78028)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 90F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms in the evening, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 64F. SE winds shifting to NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
GRANTS PASS, Ore., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, May 19, for every drink sold, the Dutch Bros Foundation will donate funds to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). This will be the 17th year Dutch Bros has partnered with MDA.

Dane Boersma founded Dutch Bros with his brother, Travis, in 1992. Dane passed away from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in 2009. Dutch Bros and the Boersma family started Drink One for Dane as a way to bring awareness to, and support research to find treatments and cures for, the disease.

On Friday, May 19, for every drink sold, the Dutch Bros Foundation will donate funds to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). This will be the 17th year Dutch Bros has partnered with MDA.

"Each year, we're so inspired by the support our customers have for Drink One for Dane," said Katie Hutchison, vice president of philanthropy at Dutch Bros Coffee. "We deeply admire the work MDA does for those impacted by ALS. We're drinking one for Dane on May 19, who are you drinking one for?"

MDA is the leading non-profit organization in ALS research, care, advocacy, educational and professional programming. Research continues into understanding the root cause of the disease and finding a cure.

"The funding the Muscular Dystrophy Association has invested thanks to partnerships with Dutch Bros and their community in support of people diagnosed with ALS is critical to move progress forward," said Sharon Hesterlee, Ph.D., Chief Research Officer, MDA. "Today, we are connecting people to clinical trials faster than ever before in our MDA Care Center Network with 150+ locations across the country, 48 of which are designated MDA/ALS Care Centers. We fund research worldwide and continue to advance care, and advocate for access to healthcare and therapies. Our goal is to end ALS and there is hope in the pipeline for families."

"The Muscular Dystrophy Association plays so many roles in helping with ALS research and with the quality of life for people living with the disease. First, they're one of the largest funders of ALS basic and translational science, which means almost every single development that you see in the space has in part been funded by the Muscular Dystrophy Association or taking place in the laboratories that were supported by the Muscular Dystrophy Association, or careers that were even launched by the organization. Additionally, there's a major advocacy effort by the Muscular Dystrophy Association to make sure that as people living with ALS have access to good insurance products, that drug accessibility is maintained even as the price of drugs skyrocket. Finally, MDA is also bringing together expert level care that's necessary by funding the MDA Care Centers for ALS patients," said Dr. Matthew Harms, MDA Medical Advisor, and Associate Professor of Neurology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

In addition to raising money at shops, customers can donate directly to the MDA at https://www.dutchbros.com/drink-one-for-dane. To find a Dutch Bros location near you, visit www.dutchbros.com/locations.

About Dutch Bros

Dutch Bros Coffee is a drive-thru coffee company dedicated to making a massive difference one cup at a time. Headquartered in Grants Pass, Oregon, where it was founded in 1992 by Dane and Travis Boersma, it's now sharing the "Dutch Luv" with more than 700 locations in 14 states. Dutch Bros serves specialty coffee, smoothies, freezes, teas, an exclusive Dutch Bros Rebel energy drink and nitrogen-infused cold brew coffee. Its rich, proprietary coffee blend is handcrafted from start to finish.

In addition to its mission of speed, quality and service, Dutch Bros is committed to giving back to the communities it serves. Through its Dutch Bros Foundation and local operators and franchisees, the company donates several million dollars to causes across the country each year.

To learn more about Dutch Bros, visit www.dutchbros.com, follow Dutch Bros Coffee on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, & TikTok, and download the Dutch Bros app to earn points and score rewards!

About MDA

Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) is the #1 voluntary health organization in the United States for people living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related neuromuscular diseases. For over 70 years, MDA has led the way in accelerating research, advancing care, and advocating for the support of our families. MDA's mission is to empower the people we serve to live longer, more independent lives. To learn more visit mda.org and follow MDA on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

SOURCE Dutch Bros Coffee
Recommends Renewed Focus on Leadership, Operations And Strategy & Capital Allocation Changes

Sees More Than $5 Billion Value Creation Opportunity, Driving Stock to $55 per Share

Full Letter and Presentation Available at RepowerNRG.com

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Elliott Investment Management L.P. ("Elliott"), which manages funds that have an investment of approximately $1 billion representing a more than 13% economic interest in NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG) ("NRG" or the "Company"), today sent a letter to the Board of Directors of NRG. According to the letter, the purpose of the materials is to present a clear path forward for how best to remedy NRG's meaningful underperformance and create significant and sustainable value.

Elliott previously disclosed a large investment in NRG in 2017, and its engagement with the Company catalyzed the highly successful Transformation Plan and resulted in NRG becoming the best-performing stock in the S&P 500 in that year, Elliott wrote. In its letter, Elliott said that since the conclusion of its prior engagement with NRG, the Company has meaningfully underperformed due to a number of operational and strategic missteps. Among the missteps, Elliott wrote, is the Company's recent acquisition of Vivint, which, measured by the one-week market reaction following its announcement, was the single worst deal in the power and utilities sector in the past decade.

In its letter, Elliott outlined the necessary steps for the Company to take to right the course in the following three areas:

Leadership: Add new independent directors with strong power and energy industry expertise to refresh the Board and help guide the necessary changes Operations: Improve operations and reliability. Achieve at least $500 million of recurring, EBITDA-accretive cost reductions Strategy and Capital Allocation: Conduct a strategic review of its home services strategy, including Vivint. In conjunction, establish a new capital allocation framework to return to shareholders at least 80% of free cash flow, with growth investments focused on its generation and retail businesses

Elliott believes that successful execution of this plan could create over $5 billion of shareholder value, driving the Company's stock price to reach or exceed $55 per share, the letter said. Elliott looks forward to meeting with the Board in the near term to work constructively with the Company toward the implementation of a new value creation plan.

The full letter and presentation can be downloaded at RepowerNRG.com.

The full text of the letter follows:

May 15, 2023

The Board of Directors

NRG Energy, Inc.

910 Louisiana Street

Houston, TX 77002

Attn: Dr. Lawrence Coben (Chairman of the Board)

Dear Dr. Coben and Members of the Board,

We write on behalf of Elliott Associates, L.P. and Elliott International, L.P. (together, with its affiliates, "Elliott" or "we"), which have an investment of approximately $1.0 billion representing a more than 13% economic interest in NRG Energy, Inc. (the "Company" or "NRG").

As you know, this is not the first time that Elliott has made a large investment in NRG. In 2017, we disclosed a large ownership stake and approached NRG's management team and Board with a plan to address the Company's share price underperformance. The opportunity we saw at the time was both significant and unique: We made the case that through a combination of operational improvements and portfolio actions, NRG could rapidly improve its competitive position and create a significant amount of shareholder value.

The Board was receptive to our case, and we worked constructively with the Company to develop the highly successful Transformation Plan, a roadmap for NRG to become an efficient and focused integrated power company. At the conclusion of our engagement, we believed that with continued adherence to the principles of the Transformation Plan, NRG was well-positioned to drive sustained long-term value creation for shareholders. As proof that investors believed that the Company was on the right course, in 2017 NRG was the best-performing company in the S&P 500.

Unfortunately, despite this initial progress and shareholder enthusiasm, NRG has sharply pivoted away from the parameters of the Transformation Plan and now resembles the unfocused company that we first encountered six years ago. Since the conclusion of our involvement, NRG has suffered operational setbacks, missed financial guidance, and  with the recent acquisition of Vivint, a home security business with stark operational differences to NRG's core power businesses  regressed to the same unfocused, overleveraged business model that predated our initial involvement.

The purpose of today's letter and the accompanying presentation is to present a clear path forward for how best to remedy NRG's underperformance, building on the same framework of cost excellence and portfolio simplification that we advocated during our initial investment in the Company. We hope the Board will consider these views, which we are making public today in the spirit of fostering a transparent and robust discussion. We look forward to meeting in the near term to work constructively with the Company toward the implementation of a new value creation plan.

The 2017 Transformation Plan

When we first invested in NRG, we saw a company with enormous potential for value creation. The Company had an attractive collection of generation and retail assets but, due to operational weaknesses and an unfocused portfolio, had significantly underperformed and cumulatively lagged the S&P over a 10-year timeframe by 140%. We believed that the Company had lost its focus as it expanded beyond its core merchant power and retail electricity businesses, resulting in an uncompetitive cost structure, overleveraged balance sheet and excessively complex asset portfolio.

At the time, we recommended that NRG focus on its core businesses by aggressively reducing costs, monetizing non-core assets to simplify its portfolio and paying down debt. We worked closely with NRG as it conducted an intensive, four-month business review that culminated in the Transformation Plan. The new plan reinvigorated NRG by targeting clear, "line-of-sight" initiatives, including $1.065 billion of total cost and margin improvement, $2.5 billion to $4.0 billion of asset divestitures and $13 billion of debt reduction. During Elliott's engagement, NRG achieved a 156% total shareholder return ("TSR").1

Importantly, the growing support for NRG as a public investment reflected a belief that the Company had made a renewed commitment to operational excellence and portfolio focus that would be maintained over the long term. Unfortunately, that belief was misplaced and has not been rewarded.

NRG Has Since Meaningfully Underperformed

Since the conclusion of our engagement, NRG has reversed much of the progress made under the Transformation Plan. The Company has underperformed the S&P Utilities Index by 44% and integrated power peers by 53%2, and NRG's share price today is lower than it was at the conclusion of our engagement3. This is not dissimilar to NRG's performance before our involvement  in the two years prior, NRG stock declined by 46%. In fact, in the past ten years, the only period of sustained outperformance was during Elliott's engagement with the Company in 2017-2018. We believe that the underperformance prior to and subsequent to our involvement reflects repeated missteps in execution and strategy in the absence of a true and enduring commitment to operational excellence and portfolio focus.

Operational Failures

In 2021 and 2022, NRG missed two years of financial guidance after struggling with repeated plant outages (including at both of its key Limestone and Parish power plants) and demonstrating an inability to manage through extreme weather events. This record of poor execution stands in contrast to strong earnings achieved by peers in 2022. Consistent execution and plant reliability are particularly important to the success of NRG's asset-light retail strategy, but operational missteps have eroded investor confidence in management.

Loss of Strategic Direction

Additionally, NRG lost strategic direction with its poorly conceived, "all-in" pivot to the home security business founded on the acquisition of Vivint. We and other investors struggle to understand why NRG would make such a significant bet on a strategy that many other companies have already failed to execute successfully, especially given the Company's previous lack of success in entering home services. The market's reaction to the Vivint transaction  a 20% decline in NRG's market capitalization over the first week, or nearly $2 billion in value loss  was both predictable and justifiable. As measured by the share price reaction following its announcement, the Vivint transaction ranks as the single worst deal in the power and utilities sector during the past decade.4 The transaction continues to draw near-universal skepticism among investors and sell-side analysts.

The Repower NRG Plan

Notwithstanding these setbacks, we have strong conviction in the attractiveness of NRG's integrated power business and the critical role that the Company plays in Texas and other energy markets in the Northeast and Midwest. The Company's retail franchise is a crown jewel that has remained a market leader in Texas for more than 20 years, navigating a rapidly evolving industry backdrop. We believe that with the right leadership and strategy, NRG can correct its course and create significant and sustainable value. The necessary steps are familiar, and include elements that NRG undertook following Elliott's engagement with the Company in 2017:

Leadership. First, NRG must restore the credibility of the management team and the Board. We believe that the Company should add new independent directors with expertise in the power and energy industry. Elliott has identified five highly credible executives to help guide the necessary operational and strategic changes. The Board should also evaluate the management team's ability to drive high-performance operations on a sustained basis. Operations. We believe that NRG is capable of achieving at least $500 million of recurring, EBITDA-accretive cost reductions by 2025. Additionally, we believe NRG has headroom to realize these cost savings while sustaining elevated maintenance capex to improve its fleet reliability and mitigate outage risk. Strategy and Capital Allocation. As evidenced by the strong outperformance by NRG in 2017 and 2018, we are convinced that an optimized NRG focused on its core integrated power business can drive compelling shareholder returns. For this reason, NRG must conduct a strategic review of its home services strategy, including Vivint. In conjunction, NRG should establish a new capital allocation framework to return to shareholders at least 80% of free cash flow, with any growth investments focused on its generation and retail businesses. By implementing the Repower NRG Plan, the Company would have the ability to return $6.5 billion of excess capital, or approximately 85% of NRG's current market cap, to shareholders over the next three years.

Successful execution of the Repower NRG Plan could create over $5 billion of shareholder value, driving the Company's stock price to reach or exceed $55 per share. We believe the execution of these initiatives is squarely within the Company's control and can be carried out in the next 18 months.

Given NRG's failure to sustain the momentum of the Transformation Plan, strong management will be key to the success of the Repower NRG Plan. The Board must ensure that the management team has the appropriate skillset and expertise to carry out the necessary changes as well as maintain long-term cost leadership and strategic focus. The Repower NRG Plan is predicated on enduring cost discipline and high-performance operations; an operationally focused management team, along with improved governance and oversight, is critical to winning back the confidence of investors and setting the Company on the path to long-term success.

Moving Forward

We have strong conviction in the attractiveness of NRG's assets and believe that the Company can become the leading integrated power company in North America. However, the Company's strategic decisions, execution and stock price underperformance make clear that significant changes are needed to Repower NRG and restore the level of strategic focus and investor trust that drove the Company's outperformance six years ago.

We look forward to discussing our recommendations with you. We believe that the addition of new highly credentialed board members and the establishment of a formal Board-level committee and review process (much like the 2017 Business Review Committee) are the logical next steps for NRG. Our goal is to engage with the Company constructively and align with the Board on the path forward as soon as practicable. We thank you again for your consideration, and we will make ourselves available promptly to meet in person and begin working together on next steps.

Sincerely,

John Pike

Partner

Bobby Xu

Portfolio Manager

About Elliott

Elliott Investment Management L.P. manages approximately $55.2 billion of assets as of December 31, 2022. Founded in 1977, it is one of the oldest funds under continuous management. The Elliott funds' investors include pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, foundations, funds-of-funds, high net worth individuals and families, and employees of the firm.

1 Trading day prior to Elliott's Schedule 13D filing on 1/17/17 to John Wilder's retirement from the NRG Board on 11/8/18.

2 Integrated power peers include Vistra Corporation and Constellation Energy. Constellation measured from the spin-off date of 1/19/22.

3 Measured from 11/8/18.

4 Measured among transactions announced since 2013 in which the buyer is a power or utility company and the target TEV is greater than $1 billion.

Media Contact:

Casey Friedman

Elliott Investment Management

(212) 478-1780

[email protected]

SOURCE Elliott Investment Management L.P.
Epson to Showcase Robotic Solution Demos and Present on the Benefits of Implementing Quartz Derived Sensors to Automated Projects

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

Who: Epson Robots, the #1 SCARA robot manufacturer in the world, will be demonstrating its robotic automation solutions at Automate in booth #2818. In addition, Epson GX-Series robots will be featured in distributors Applied Automation (#4039) and Motion Automation Intelligence (Ai) (#1035) booths.

Epson Robots to showcase robotic solutions, demo Moverio AR smart glasses and host speaking session at Automate 2023 Tweet this

What: Epson will offer attendees the opportunity to experience the ease of use and simplicity of Epson Robots with live demos of its high-performance automation solutions, including SCARA and 6-Axis robots with patented GYROPLUS Technology, industrial automation software and integrated solutions for the medical device, automotive and electronics markets. At Automate, Epson Robots automation speaking session and booth demos will include:

Speaking Engagement : "May the Quartz Be With You. Learn How Quartz Derived Sensors Can Help Master the Most Challenging Motion and Assembly Projects"  Aaron Donlon , product manager, Epson Robots, will explore the key pain points and trends impacting manufacturing in the automotive space as well as how quartz-based vibration sensing technology enables advanced robot motion and assembly tasks. The session will take place on Thursday, May 25 from 8  8:45 a.m. EDT in room 321.

:  , product manager, Epson Robots, will explore the key pain points and trends impacting manufacturing in the automotive space as well as how quartz-based vibration sensing technology enables advanced robot motion and assembly tasks. The session will take place on from 8  in room 321. Taking Robot Performance to the Next Level  Designed for users who need the highest level of performance out of their SCARA and 6-Axis robots, Epson GYROPLUS Technology offers high throughput, smooth motion control and heavy payloads. A core technology on the newest GX-Series robots, it is also utilized with a range of Epson SCARA robots including the LS10B and 6-Axis robots including the N2 and C8, to help accomplish the most demanding tasks with leading-edge precision.

 Designed for users who need the highest level of performance out of their SCARA and 6-Axis robots, Epson GYROPLUS Technology offers high throughput, smooth motion control and heavy payloads. A core technology on the newest GX-Series robots, it is also utilized with a range of Epson SCARA robots including the LS10B and 6-Axis robots including the N2 and C8, to help accomplish the most demanding tasks with leading-edge precision. Robot Programming Made Simple  No-code, easy-to-use RC+ Express application development software features an easy-to-learn, block-style robot teaching environment to get users up and running fast.

Attendees will also have a chance to experience demos of Epson's fully integrated solutions, including IntelliFlex Parts Feeding System and Vision Guidance.

Additionally, as a world-leader in smart glasses, Epson will be demoing its Moverio BT-45CS Augmented Reality (AR) Smart Glasses in its booth.

New Reality for Smart Workforce Collaboration The Moverio BT-45CS are purpose-built for mission-critical tasks including troubleshooting, maintenance, inspection, and training. Supporting hands-free, "see-what-I-see" collaboration between on-site technicians and remote experts, the Moverio BT-45CS helps enhance efficiency, improve safety and reduce downtime while on the job.

When: Automate will take place Monday, May 22 to Wednesday, May 24 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT and Thursday, May 25 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT.

Where: Huntington Place Convention Center in Detroit, Mich.; Epson booth #2818

Why: Epson is dedicated to helping both new and experienced automation professionals succeed by providing essential information and education and by delivering the latest robot technologies and innovations to meet their factory automation needs. For more information, visit www.epsonrobots.com. For more information on the Epson SCARA robots and GYROPLUS Technology, please visit https://epson.com/scara-robots. For more information on the GX-Series SCARA robots, please visit https://epson.com/gx-scara-robot-series. For more information on Epson 6-Axis robots, please visit https://epson.com/6-axis-robots. For more information on RC+ Express industrial automation software, please visit https://epson.com/no-code-industrial-automation-robot-programming-software. For more information on the IntelliFlex Parts Feeding System, please visit https://epson.com/robots-intelliflex-parts-feeding. For more information on Vision Guidance, please visit https://epson.com/For-Work/Robots/Integrated-Options/Epson-Vision-Guide/p/RGigEHRCCV2S-SYS. For more information on Moverio BT-45CS, please visit https://epson.com/For-Work/Wearables/Smart-Glasses/Moverio-BT-45CS-AR-Smart-Glasses.

About Epson Robots

Epson Robots is a global leader in PC-controlled precision factory automation, with well over 150,000 units sold worldwide1 and a product line of hundreds of models of easy-to-use SCARA and 6-Axis robots based on a common PC-based platform. Building on four decades of experience, Epson Robots delivers robots for precision assembly and material handling applications in the aerospace, appliance, automotive, biotechnology, consumer product, electronics, food processing, medical device, pharmaceutical, plastics, semiconductor, and telecommunication industries. For more information, visit www.epsonrobots.com.

About Epson

Epson is a global technology leader whose philosophy of efficient, compact and precise innovation enriches lives and helps create a better world. The company is focused on solving societal issues through innovations in home and office printing, commercial and industrial printing, manufacturing, visual and lifestyle. Epson's goal is to become carbon negative and eliminate use of exhaustible underground resources such as oil and metal by 2050.

Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the worldwide Epson Group generates annual sales of more than JPY 1 trillion. global.epson.com/

Epson America, Inc., based in Los Alamitos, Calif., is Epson's regional headquarters for the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. To learn more about Epson, please visit: epson.com. You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook (facebook.com/Epson), Twitter (twitter.com/EpsonAmerica), YouTube (youtube.com/epsonamerica), and Instagram (instagram.com/EpsonAmerica).

1 Epson internal sales data through 2021.

EPSON, Epson RC+ and Moverio are registered trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation. IntelliFlex is a trademark of Epson America, Inc. All other product and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks. Copyright 2023 Epson America, Inc.

SOURCE Epson America, Inc.
EQT's first strategy for individual investors, EQT Nexus, enables access to EQT's diverse range of investment strategies through a single investment

Individual investors will be able to benefit from the same distinct investment approach that EQT's institutional clients have benefited from for nearly thirty years

STOCKHOLM, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EQT has today launched EQT Nexus (or "the strategy"). Through this semi-liquid strategy, EQT will broaden its investor base and, for the first time, offer individuals the opportunity to access EQT's wide range of strategies through a single investment.

EQT Nexus is a global portfolio that will invest in EQT's strategies spanning mature buyouts to early-stage investing across geographies and industries, focusing on EQT's flagship Private Equity and Infrastructure strategies. It will also co-invest in companies alongside EQT's funds. The EQT Nexus Advisory team will be led by Advisory Head of Fund Strategy William Vettorato, who recently joined from Partners Group where he managed a global semi-liquid open-ended strategy. William joins a global advisory team that is driving EQT's Private Wealth efforts, led by Partner Peter Beske Nielsen.

The launch of EQT Nexus comes at a time that institutional investors allocate significantly more to private markets than individuals. Historically, institutional investors have benefitted from superior access, lower liquidity needs and fewer regulatory constraints. This is changing, with individual investors' allocations to private markets expected to grow 12 percent annually over the next decade. EQT believes that product innovations that aim to tackle the challenges for individuals looking to invest in private markets, such as EQT Nexus, will further accelerate this reallocation.

Suzanne Donohoe, Chief Commercial Officer at EQT, said: "EQT strives to be the most reputable investor and owner, creating attractive returns and making a positive impact for all. For three decades, more than a thousand institutional clients have entrusted EQT as we have grown to become one of the world's leading private markets firms. With the launch of EQT Nexus, we are excited to finally be able to offer individual investors the opportunity to benefit from EQT's approach and relentless focus on performance. Growing our efforts across Private Wealth is a key priority to us. EQT has created a team of about 50 people focusing on the area, and EQT Nexus is an important step on that journey."

Gustav Segerberg, Head of Business Development at EQT, said: "To date, individual investors looking to access private markets have been faced with several barriers to entry, including significant investment thresholds, long lock-up periods and complex investment terms. EQT Nexus now addresses these challenges by allowing investors to gain access to EQT's strategies through a single fully-funded investment and a simple, single layer of fees. We have been preparing for this launch for a long time and have made commitments to EQT funds and selected co-investments in advance to enable EQT Nexus to invest in an established portfolio from the outset, and we now look forward to what the future holds for the strategy."

Contact: EQT Press Office, [email protected], +46 8 506 55 334

The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security, and may not be used or relied upon in connection with any offer or solicitation. Any offer or solicitation in respect of EQT Nexus will be made only through a confidential private placement memorandum and related documents which will be furnished to qualified investors on a confidential basis in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The information contained herein is not for publication or distribution to persons in the United States of America. Any securities referred to herein 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 without registration thereunder or pursuant to an available exemption therefrom. Any offering of securities to be made in the United States would have to be made by means of an offering document that would be obtainable from the issuer or its agents and would contain detailed information about the issuer of the securities and its management, as well as financial information. The securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration.

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/87/3769345/2059209.pdf Press Release_EQT Launches EQT Nexus_230515 https://news.cision.com/eqt/i/eqt-ab-group,c3178918 EQT AB Group

SOURCE EQT
GENEVA, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- FDI World Dental Federation (FDI) today announces its highly anticipated virtual Summit on Sustainability in Dentistry, taking place on World Environment Day, 5 June.

Following the tremendous success of its Sustainability in Dentistry initiative over the past two years, FDI is proud to host this virtual summit as part of the project's second phase. The summit promises to deliver captivating case studies, innovative ideas, and research projects, all dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of dentistry. Attendees can also look forward to a virtual display of poster abstracts and a bursary fund designed specifically for participants from low-income countries.

"The strides we have made through this initiative are truly commendable, particularly the development of the Consensus Statement on Environmentally Sustainable Oral Healthcare," stated Prof. Ihsane Ben Yahya, FDI President. "I am excited to continue our journey towards sustainability to ensure a healthy future for our patients, our profession and our planet."

Since its launch in 2021, the project has successfully united key stakeholders, all dedicated to the shared goal of implementing sustainable solutions for a greener future and improving the environmental impact of dentistry. This includes leading figures from industry, health professionals, academic experts, legislative authorities and dental associations. This initiative has already gained significant momentum, to date 265 dental practices have shown their commitment to sustainable practices through registering for the Sustainability toolkit and 125 stakeholders from the oral healthcare supply chain have signed the Pledge for Sustainable Dentistry.

In the new project phase, supported by Dentsply Sirona, Haleon, Sunstar, Colgate, and SDI Limited, dental professionals will gain access to valuable educational tools and resources to make a positive impact on the environment and society.

"As a founding member of the Sustainability in Dentistry partnership with FDI, Dentsply Sirona leverages its knowledge and resources to advance sustainability in the dental industry. By reducing its environmental impact and creating valuable resources for dental professionals, Dentsply Sirona is committed to a brighter future through its BEYOND sustainability strategy," explained Erania Brackett, SVP, Customer Experience & Orthodontic Aligner Solutions, and Head of Sustainability at Dentsply Sirona.

"The Consensus Statement on Environmentally Sustainable Oral Healthcare provides the clarity needed to allow us all to move forward with purpose and conviction. Haleon is proud to be part of the Sustainability Summit where we can all learn, share and make positive practical steps to change the industry for the better," reaffirmed Gareth Rudduck, Head of Conscious Consumption for Oral Health at Haleon.

"Sunstar is fully committed to ESG management to contribute to the well-being of people around the world and the earth's sustainability, so we're thrilled to join FDI's initiative and work collectively to build a greener future for dentistry," expressed Christine Truillet, Executive Officer, Global Marketing, Oral Care Category at Sunstar.

Join us on 5 June at the Sustainability in Dentistry Summit and be part of our commitment to improve the environmental impact of the dental profession on the planet. Register here.

Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com)

Media contact

Charanjit Jagait, FDI Communications & Advocacy Director

[email protected] | Tel.: +41 797967613

About FDI World Dental Federation

FDI World Dental Federation serves as the principal representative body for over one million dentists worldwide. Its membership includes some 200 national dental associations and specialist groups in over 130 countries. FDI has the vision of leading the world to optimal oral health. https://www.fdiworlddental.org/

Learn more about the Sustainability in Dentistry project

The project is supported by founding partners: Haleon and Dentsply Sirona; partners: Sunstar; and supporters: Colgate, SDI Limited. www.fdiworlddental.org/sustainability-dentistry

SOURCE FDI World Dental Federation
LAKEWOOD, Ohio, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- First Mutual Holding Co. (FMHC), a member-owned holding company headquartered in Ohio, announces the appointment of Rafael Alfonzo to its board of directors. Rafael is the cofounder and managing partner of Radien Legacy Partners, an investment group that acquires, manages, and grows small businesses to preserve the businesses' legacies for all stakeholders.

Rafael Alfonzo, FMHC Board of Directors

"Rafael is an entrepreneurial-minded executive who enjoys challenging problems and implementing creative solutions," said FMHC Board Chair Ronald W. Dees. "His leadership and proven success in multiple high-growth organizations and his experience expanding into new markets brings a unique perspective to our board."

Before cofounding Radien Legacy Partners, Rafael served as CEO of a private equity backed, IT services company committed to the digital transformation of the restaurant industry. He also served as co-founder and COO of a commercial solar energy developer and independent power producer and maintained a private law practice, specializing in compliance and governance law. Rafael began his career in the US Marine Corps where he achieved the rank of Captain and served in key advisory and Officer-in-Charge assignments throughout Southeast Asia and Latin America.

"Rafael's career, including serving as a Captain in the US Marines, demonstrates his leadership and his commitment to giving back," said FMHC President Thomas J. Fraser. "His personal vision aligns well with the strategic vision for FMHC and our member banks, and I look forward to his counsel as we continue to advance our mutual mission."

Rafael is a graduate of the University of Michigan, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management, and The George Washington University Law School. He is an active member of YPO and the Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA).

First Mutual Holding Co.

First Mutual Holding Co. (FMHC) is a member-owned holding company headquartered in Ohio. FMHC provides a structure that allows independent affiliate banks to continue to serve their communities and grow as member-owned institutions. Affiliates of FMHC include First Federal Lakewood (Lakewood, OH), First Mutual Bank FSB, (Belpre, OH), Blue Grass Federal Savings and Loan (Paris, KY), Warsaw Federal Savings and Loan (Cincinnati, OH) and Martinsville First Savings Bank (Martinsville, VA).

SOURCE First Mutual Holding Co.
Gabriela Ruiz, Experienced Litigator with a focus on Latin America, joins the Firm

NEW YORK, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ford O'Brien Landy LLP, a white-collar defense and commercial litigation boutique law firm headquartered in New York City, is pleased to announce that Gabriela Ruiz has joined the firm as partner, effective May 15, 2023, to coincide with the opening of the firm's new Miami Office. Gaby will be the managing partner of the Miami office and will lead the firm's Latin America practice.

I am honored to join Ford OBrien Landys highly regarded litigation practice and am looking forward to working with this fantastic team to further expand our global footprint. said Gabriela Ruiz.

"Our firm has seen tremendous growth of international clients these past few years, and as we expand the depth of our firm's international practice with a new Miami office, I can't think of anyone better to lead that effort than Gaby," stated Adam Ford, co-founder of the firm and Managing Partner of its white collar, regulatory and sanctions practices. "Gaby will strengthen our expertise and bring a solid understanding of the Latin American legal market. I look forward to working together to support our existing and future clients' needs."

Along with launching the firm's Miami office, Gaby's practice will focus on representing individual and corporate clients in domestic and cross-border disputes. Her practice includes complex commercial litigation, international judgment enforcement, asset recovery, cross-border insolvency proceedings, and defending against government investigations and enforcement actions.

Gaby is ranked in Chambers Corporate Crime & Investigations (International Firms) in Brazil, with Chambers noting that Gaby is "really smart, very motivated[,]" and "is held in high esteem by clients and peers alike for her notable work representing clients, both corporate and individual, in sophisticated disputes and investigations." In 2022, Latin American business publication Latinvex recognized Gaby among its "Latin America: Top 100 Female Lawyers." Also in 2022, the Legal 500 recognized Gaby as being "known for cross-border investigations, including cases involving dual proceedings in the U.S. and Latin America." Gaby is also fluent in both Portuguese and Spanish.

"We are excited to build upon our incredible roster of lawyers with Gaby," said Robert Landy, Managing Partner of Ford O'Brien Landy LLP's commercial litigation practice. "As the firm continues to expand its international reach, Gaby's talent and breadth of expertise will further solidify our firm's standing as a trusted advisor and, when needed, an indomitable champion for clients throughout the world."

Most recently, Gaby practiced at Kobre & Kim, where she was based out of their Miami and Sao Paolo offices. Before that, Gaby practiced at Holland & Knight in Miami. Gaby received her J.D. from Yale Law School and her B.A. from Stanford University, with honors and distinction, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

"I am honored to join Ford O'Brien Landy's highly regarded litigation practice and am looking forward to working with this fantastic team to further expand our global footprint." said Gabriela Ruiz.

Gaby will be joined in the Miami office by Special Counsel Suzanne Pope. Suzanne is a seasoned litigator who focuses primarily on SEC regulatory defense. Before joining the firm, Suzanne worked as Senior Counsel in the SEC's Division of Enforcement in the Miami Regional office.

The Firm's Miami offices are located at 2 South Biscayne Blvd, Suite 3200, Miami, Florida 33131.

Ford O'Brien Landy LLP represents clients in commercial disputes, white collar criminal matters, and regulatory investigations, throughout all stages of litigation/arbitration and appeals. The firm also assists foreign clients in challenging U.S. federal sanctions and seizures. Ford O'Brien Landy LLP is dedicated to vigorously advocating on behalf of clients with strategic, thoughtful counsel to achieve successful outcomes in and out of the courts by use of creative, sophisticated strategies and tactics. It currently has offices in New York City, Austin, and Miami.

For further information contact:

Ford O'Brien Landy LLP

275 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: + 1 (212) 858-0040

[email protected]

Website: www.fordobrien.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ford-o-brien-llp-995a5b110

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ford-OBrien-LLP-1084508568239782/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fordobrienlaw

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Ford O'Brien Landy LLP is a limited liability partnership formed in the State of New York.

MEDIA CONTACT: Katherine Jaskot, Esq.

Phone: (212) 858-0040

Email: [email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160412/354634LOGO

SOURCE Ford OBrien Landy LLP
Strengthening its presence in the MENA region by offering a wider audience, products that adhere to the highest ethical and religious standards in a safe and secure manner.

ABU DHABI, UAE, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gilded, a prominent fintech company that focuses on making physical gold functional, announced today that its gold product has achieved Shariah compliance certification from Amanie Advisors Shariah Board, a leading advisory firm specializing in Shariah investments and Islamic finance solutions. This certification further strengthens Gilded's position as a trusted provider of safe, secure, and Shariah-compliant gold investment opportunities and enables it to serve an even wider audience of investors in the MENA region and beyond.

Firas Mallah, CEO of MENA, Gilded

This certification is a significant milestone for Gilded, as the company's gold investment offering is confirmed as aligned with Shariah principles and adheres to the standards set by the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) on gold. For Gilded, receiving this certification is crucial in expanding its product's reach and demonstrating its commitment to transparency, accountability, and integrity in its end-to-end process of payment, settlement, custody, and delivery of physical gold.

Firas Mallah, CEO of MENA, Gilded stated, "We are delighted to receive the Shariah compliance certification. This endorsement serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment to providing our customers with a product that adheres to the highest ethical and religious standards. The MENA region is a key strategic market for us, and this certification will enable us to offer our Shariah-compliant gold investment opportunities to a broader range of investors seeking a safe, secure, and convenient platform. This certification further strengthens our position as a trusted provider of Shariah-compliant investment solutions and opens new growth opportunities for our company."

Ms. Maya Marissa Malek, CEO of Amanie Advisors said, "We are pleased to endorse Gilded's physical gold product and end-to-end process enabling more choices to the Islamic investor community."

The Shariah endorsement process undertaken by Amanie Advisors involved an in-depth review of Gilded's bar size offerings, payment, settlement, custody, and delivery. The review ensures that Gilded's end-to-end process complies with Shariah principles and Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAIOFI) standards on gold.

With Gilded's Shariah-compliance certification, clients seeking Swiss refined physical gold bars can now purchase them through Gilded's bank partners in the Middle East or directly through Gilded's proprietary platform.

About Gilded:

Gilded, founded in 2019, with a presence in the USA, Switzerland, UAE, and Jersey, Channel Islands, provides a different approach to owning physical assets by making them functional. Gilded clients have full ownership and title to allocated gold bars. The bars are ethically sourced through Swiss refiners, .9999 pure and satisfy LBMA standards. The bars are stored in insured Brinks vaults and independently audited. Local delivery can also be arranged. With a focus on security and customer service, Gilded has built a reputation as a trusted provider of gold ownership solutions.

About Amanie Advisors:

Amanie Advisors is a renowned Shariah advisory firm that provides Shariah-compliant solutions to financial institutions and corporations worldwide. Their award-winning services include Shariah advisory and consultancy, training and research & development for institutional and corporate clientele focusing on Islamic financial services.

For more information on Gilded's Shariah-compliant gold product and the company's proprietary platform, please visit https://gildedco.com/

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2076257/Firas_Mallah.jpg

SOURCE Gilded
CALGARY, AB, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Gas Liquids Engineering Ltd. (GLE) is pleased to announce the successful completion of detailed engineering for integration of hydrogen production and storage as a part of ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd.'s (ATCO's) Fort Saskatchewan Hydrogen Blending Project. The facility will use an electrolyzer to produce hydrogen from water and electricity, which will then be briefly stored before being introduced into the existing natural gas distribution system to approximately 2,100 customers. GLE was responsible for the detailed design of the onsite storage tank, vent stack, and piping connecting these facilities to ATCO's electrolyzer and blending facility.

GLE Completes Detailed Engineering on ATCO Hydrogen Project (CNW Group/GAS LIQUIDS ENGINEERING LTD.)

Blending began in October 2022 with approximately five per cent hydrogen content, and ATCO intends to increase the blend rate to 20 per cent in 2023. The customers receiving the hydrogen blended natural gas will experience no impact to the operation of the appliances within their homes, or the reliability of their natural gas service but benefit from reducing the carbon footprint of their homes. Using GLE's expertise, ATCO's next steps include integrating the electrolyzer into the system to begin producing hydrogen directly onsite.

"GLE is pleased to work with ATCO towards producing increasingly environmentally friendly gas products. With the extensive natural gas network that exists in Canada, hydrogen blending into natural gas systems is a natural first step in the development of a hydrogen economy in Canada. GLE is pleased to work with ATCO on the integration of environmentally friendly solutions into the existing natural gas systems of Canada."

Justin Wagner , Director of Facilities Engineering, Gas Liquids Engineering

"With critical input from GLE, ATCO's hydrogen blending project is leading the country, which at five per cent is already the highest blend rate in all Canada and is set to increase to 20 per cent in late 2023. In the years to come, transitioning our customers' heating needs to hydrogen will cost less than other possible options, and still be as safe and reliable as natural gas is today, making it a key way to reduce emissions as our systems move to 100 per cent hydrogen over time."

Patrick Bain , Director, Hydrogen Projects & Technology Development, ATCO Gas & Pipelines Ltd.

About GLE:

Gas Liquids Engineering is a Canadian engineering leader in energy, gas, and liquids processing facilities. In addition to one of the most extensive resumes of operational CO 2 sequestration projects globally, GLE is a Canadian leader in renewable fuels projects including hydrogen, SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuels), and HDRD (Hydrogenation Derived Renewable Diesel). GLE media enquiries can be addressed to [email protected].

SOURCE GAS LIQUIDS ENGINEERING LTD.
VANCOUVER, BC, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Generative AI Solutions Corp. ("GenAI" or the "Company") (CSE: AICO) (FSE: 99L.F) (OTC: AICOF) is pleased to announce that Global AI Newswire Inc. ("Global AI Newswire"), of which GenAI holds 70% of the equity interest, has successfully completed beta version testing of its AI newswire service, initially in respect of 50 publicly-traded securities to perform press release analysis using its proprietary AI engine. Global AI Newswire was created with the intention of developing a newswire analysis service for investors that uses AI to perform various functions related to press releases issued by publicly-listed companies (the "Newswire Product"). The Newswire Product is being developed to send real time press releases to users based on a condensed summarized format using AI to predict key words that are most relevant in the news release, allowing users to more efficiently analyze press releases disseminated by the public companies they follow and to deliver real-time public company information more efficiently to those users.

As disclosed in the Company's May 5, 2023 news release (the "May 5 News Release") Global AI Newswire has engaged Metachain Technologies Inc. ("Metachain") to perform AI development services with the intention of commercializing the Newswire Product over the next 80 days in accordance with a services agreement entered into between GenAI, Global AI Newswire and Metachain (the "Services Agreement"). Metachain is a private company that is focused on developing technologies in AI, blockchain, NFT's, crypto currency and the metaverse.

In the May 5 News Release, the Company disclosed various milestones set out in the Services Agreement. Pursuant to the Services Agreement, the achievement of Business Milestone #1 (as described in the May 5 News Release) will result in the issuance of 500,000 GenAI Shares to Metachain. The GenAI Shares will be issued to Metachain on or before May 23, 2023 at CDN$1.16 per share, which was the closing market price of the GenAI Shares on May 11, 2023.

Ryan Selby, CEO of GenAI, comments "I'm pleased to announce the achievement by Global AI Newswire of Business Milestone #1. This progress demonstrates that Metachain is on track with the development of our Global AI Newswire product and increases my confidence that we will have a market-ready deliverable within the next 80 days."

On Behalf of the Board,

Ryan Selby

CEO, Director, and Chairman of the Board

Generative AI Solutions Corp.

Toll-free North America: +1-833-879-7632

Outside North America: +1-406-879-7632

[email protected]

www.genai-solutions.com

ABOUT GENERATIVE AI SOLUTIONS CORP.

GenAI is a pioneering artificial intelligence company focused on developing transformative AI-powered tools for businesses and consumers across multiple industries. At GenAI, our mission is to harness the power of artificial intelligence to create transformative tools that benefit businesses and consumers across various industries. Our team of talented AI professionals and engineers are dedicated to developing state-of-the-art AI-based solutions that have broad applicability and can be seamlessly integrated into diverse workflows. By leveraging our expertise in machine learning, natural language processing, and data analytics, we build versatile, high-performance tools that redefine efficiency, productivity, and user experience.

For more information on GenAI, please visit www.genai-solutions.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains "forward-looking information" which may include, but is not limited to, information with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, such as: the Company's expectations with respect to the development of the Newswire Product and the timing thereof; the ability of the Company to achieve remaining Business Milestones; the ability of the Company to commercialize the Newswire Product; the Company's ability to close other strategic acquisitions; the Company's ability to produce artificial intelligence tools and solutions; the ability of the Company to drive growth and profitability for consumers and businesses; and the opportunities for artificial intelligence in healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and logistics industries. Such forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words and phrases such as "plans," "expects," "is expected," "budget," "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "anticipates," or "believes" or variations (including negative 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. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company.

Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other risk 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 risks include risks related to the inability of Global AI Newswire to develop the Newswire Product on the expected timeline or at all, increased competition and current global financial conditions, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks, regulatory risks, financing, risks related to the regulation and oversight of artificial intelligence, capitalization and liquidity risks. 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. The Company undertakes no obligation, except as otherwise required by law, to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors change.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

SOURCE GENERATIVE AI SOLUTIONS CORP.
A Lebanon man already accused of luring a minor has now been accused of sexual abuse against a minor.

Caleb Ray Lybarger, 18, was scheduled to be arraigned in Linn County Circuit Court on Monday, May 15 on three counts of first-degree sexual abuse. Court documents allege Lybarger sexually abused a minor younger than 14 multiple times in 2018.

According to Oregon's online court database, Lybarger has retained Kyla Mazhary-Clark as his defense attorney.

This isn't the only open case Lybarger has in Linn County.

Last month, Lybarger was arraigned in Linn County Circuit Court on charges of luring a minor and second-degree online sexual corruption of a child. Those crimes are alleged to have occurred on or around Feb. 21. As of Monday, Mazhary-Clark is also representing Lybarger in that case.
DUBLIN, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Circuit Monitoring Market by Type (Modular Circuit Monitoring, Others (Branch Circuit & Multi Circuit)), End Use (Commercial, Industrial, Data Centers), & Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, Middle East & Africa) - Forecast to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global circuit monitoring market is estimated to grow from USD 659 Million in 2023 to USD 829 Million by 2028; it is expected to record a CAGR of 4.7% during the forecast period. Huge investments, along with enforcement of stringent standards, to reduce carbon footprint in data centers, and an increasing number of data centers are expected to drive the market for circuit monitoring.

Modular Circuit Monitoring: The fastest growing segment of the circuit monitoring market, by type

This report segments the circuit monitoring market based on type into two types: Modular circuit monitoring, and others. The Modular Circuit Monitoring segment is expected to be the fastest growing market during the forecast period. The market for modular circuit monitoring is driven by its advantages such as accuracy and easy installation and connectivity

The commercial segment is expected to emerge as the second largest segment based on end users

This report segments the circuit monitoring market based on end users into four segments: data centers, commercial, industrial, and residential. The commercial segment is expected to be the second largest segment during the forecast period. The demand for circuit monitors in commercial areas like banking, financial services, insurance, healthcare, and government and defense is driving the market.

North America is expected to be the largest region in the circuit monitoring market

North America is expected to be the largest circuit monitoring market during the forecast period. The region is witnessing substantial growth for new data centers and provides lucrative opportunities for the players operating in the circuit monitoring market. For instance, NTT Ltd., a world-leading IT infrastructure and services company planning to expand its portfolio by constructing a new, sizable data center campus in Northern Virginia, with a planned capacity of 336MW. These are the factors expected to increase the market for circuit monitoring in North America.

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Rising Concerns Over Power Stability for Uninterrupted Business Operations

Increasing Number of Data Centers

Intensifying Need to Monitor Energy Consumption to Achieve Carbon Neutrality

Restraints

Decline in Adoption of Circuit Monitoring Due to Advancements in Energy Monitoring Systems

Opportunities

Enforcement of Stringent Regulations to Reduce Carbon Footprint of Data Centers

Shift Toward Cloud-based Data Centers

Challenges

Supply Chain Constraints and Disruptions

Complexities Involved in Integrating Circuit Monitoring Systems into Operational Data Centers

Key Topics Covered:

1 Introduction

2 Research Methodology

3 Executive Summary

4 Premium Insights

5 Market Overview

6 Circuit Monitoring Market, by Type

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Modular Circuit Monitoring

6.2.1 Offers Advantages of Accuracy and Easy Installation

6.3 Others

7 Circuit Monitoring Market, by End-user

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Residential

7.2.1 Use Circuit Monitoring to Gain Actual Picture of Power Consumption

7.3 Commercial

7.3.1 Use Circuit Monitoring to Improve Capacity Planning and Power Consumption

7.4 Data Centers

7.4.1 Use Circuit Monitoring to Track Power Consumption of All IT Devices

7.5 Industrial

7.5.1 Deploy Circuit Monitoring to Maximize Machine Uptime, Increase Efficiency, and Lower Costs

8 Circuit Monitoring Market, by Region

9 Competitive Landscape

10 Company Profiles

11 Appendix

Companies Mentioned

ABB

Accuenergy

Acrel - Electric Co

Anord Mardix

Bay Power Inc.

Cet Inc.

Circuitmeter

Daxten

Eaton

Elmeasure

Legrand

MPL Technologies

NHP

Nlyte Software

Omron Corporation

Packet Power

Schneider Electric

Senva Inc.

Socomec

Toshiba International Corporation

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/t1d6n3

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
NEW YORK, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global X ETFs, the New York-based provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), has announced the completion of the conversion of two actively managed mutual funds (the "Predecessor Funds"), previously advised by Mirae Asset Global Investments (USA) LLC , an affiliate, into two actively managed ETFs. The Global X Emerging Markets Great Consumer ETF (EMC) and the Global X Emerging Markets ETF (EMM), which had an effective conversion date of May 12, are the latest additions to Global X ETF's emerging markets suite.

ETF Name Ticker Predecessor Mutual Fund Name Benchmark New Expense Ratio Global X Emerging Markets Great Consumer ETF EMC Mirae Asset Emerging Markets Great Consumer Fund MSCI Emerging Markets Index 0.75 % Global X Emerging Markets ETF EMM Mirae Asset Emerging Markets Fund MSCI Emerging Markets Index 0.75 %

Emerging market economies across the world are rapidly shifting from asset-heavy, relatively low-return business models toward innovative and more profitable sectors including healthcare, technology, and education. While these markets have significant growth potential, some investors have avoided the space due to concerns over volatility. As part of a diversified portfolio, however, emerging markets exposure has the potential to achieve high levels of growth over the long-term. By converting these two mutual funds into ETFs with shareholder approval, Global X offers investors the chance to gain exposure to emerging markets while enjoying the benefits of an ETF structure, including greater levels of liquidity and transparency, lower [investment] minimums, and potential tax efficiencies. The Global X Emerging Markets Great Consumer ETF and the Global X Emerging Markets ETF are managed by the same portfolio management team as the Predecessor Funds and follow substantially similar investment strategies.

"The very first fund launched by Global X nearly 15 years ago was an emerging markets ETF, underscoring the firm's long-standing roots in the emerging markets space," said Luis Berruga, CEO of Global X ETFs. "Global X's legacy and expertise in emerging markets dovetails with Mirae Asset's extensive global network, given their global footprint of 12,000 employees and offices in over 50 countries. I am thrilled that we are combining our efforts to provide investors with high-quality, active exposure to emerging markets through the ETF wrapper."

"A number of long-term tailwinds look set to bolster the case for active emerging markets exposure, which require a very different investment approach than developed markets do," said Malcolm Dorson, senior portfolio manager at Global X. "I am pleased that we are now offering investors access to the same teams and investment processes that make these two funds succeed, now through a transparent and cost-efficient ETF structure."

Global X Emerging Markets Great Consumer ETF (EMC):

EMC is advised by Global X Management Company LLC and sub-advised by Mirae Assset Global Investments (Hong Kong) Limited. Malcolm Dorson, Joohee An and Sol Ahn are the fund's portfolio managers. The strategy aims to capture a structural shift across developing markets, as GDP profiles move away from exports and towards domestic consumption-driven growth.

Global X Emerging Markets ETF (EMM):

EMM is advised by Global X Management Company LLC and sub-advised by Mirae Asset Global Investments (Hong Kong) Limited. Malcolm Dorson, Rahul Chadha and Phil Lee are the fund's portfolio managers. This is a well-rounded, core strategy focused on bottom-up fundamental equity analysis. This is a broad market fund that takes a tactical and opportunistic approach to investing in a broad range of sectors and emerging markets that have the potential to achieve high levels of growth over the long-term, with a focus on quality across sectors and regions.

About Global X ETFs

Global X ETFs was founded in 2008. For more than a decade, our mission has been empowering investors with unexplored and intelligent solutions. Our product lineup features more than 100 ETF strategies and over $38 billion in assets under management.i While we are distinguished for our Thematic Growth, Income, and International Access ETFs, we also offer Core, Commodity, and Alpha funds to suit a wide range of investment objectives. Explore our ETFs, research and insights, and more at www.globalxetfs.com.

Global X is a member of Mirae Asset Financial Group, a global leader in financial services, with more than $480 billion in assets under management worldwide.ii Mirae Asset has an extensive global ETF platform ranging across the U.S., Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Europe, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam with over $80 billion in assets under management.iii

Media Contact

Ariel Kouvaras, Sloane PR

212-446-1884

[email protected]

Important Information

Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. International investments may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuation in currency values, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from social, economic or political instability in other nations. Emerging markets involve heightened risks related to the same factors as well as increased volatility and lower trading volume.

EMC and EMM are actively managed, which could increase their transaction costs (thereby lowering the funds' performance) and could increase the amount of taxes investors owe by generating short-term gains, which may be taxed at a higher rate. EMC and EMM may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies. Because the Fund's NAV is determined in U.S. dollars, the EMC and EMM's NAV could decline if currencies of the underlying securities depreciate against the U.S. dollar or if there are delays or limits on repatriation of such currencies. Currency exchange rates can be very volatile and can change quickly and unpredictably.

Shares of ETFs are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.

Carefully consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the funds' full or summary prospectuses, which may be obtained at globalxetfs.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

Global X Management Company LLC serves as an advisor to Global X Funds. The Funds are distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Co. (SIDCO), which is not affiliated with Global X Management Company LLC or Mirae Asset Global Investments. Global X Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, issued, sold or promoted by MSCI, nor does MSCI make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in the Global X Funds. Neither SIDCO, Global X nor Mirae Asset Global Investments are affiliated with MSCI.





i Global X, as of April 24, 2023

ii Mirae Asset, as of February 12, 2023

iii Mirae Asset, as of February 12, 2023

SOURCE Global X Management Company LLC
Simultaneously with Globant CEO, Martin Migoya, participating in the "Choose France Summit" with President Emmanuel Macron, Globant consolidates its French-based European team

Pentalog is a leading France-based digital transformation company with a diverse array of services and a robust portfolio of clients throughout Europe

Globant will now have a better reach in France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Austria

PARIS, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Globant (NYSE: GLOB), a digitally native technology services company, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Pentalog, a renowned digital transformation company that creates high-quality technology solutions and products for digitally native organizations in key industries such as finance, sports, gaming, travel, and education, among others.

From left to right: Fernando Matzkin, Chief Business Officer for Europe of Globant; Patricia Pomies, Chief Operating Officer of Globant; Frederic Lasnier, Co-founder and CEO of Pentalog; and Martin Migoya, co-founder and CEO of Globant.

The acquisition will support Globant's plans to expand its footprint and services in France. This agreement is also very significant to the Company's growth plans in the Netherlands and DACH Region, adding a robust team of highly skilled engineers, tech specialists and consultants, and an impressive client roster.

Globant's Co-Founder and CEO, Martin Migoya, will further comment on this important investment later today at Choose France Summit that will take place at the Palace of Versailles.

Pentalog serves some of the strongest brands in key industries, such as Criteo, Adidas, Cegid, BitPanda, TripAdvisor, Ipsos or G4S, among other 500+ companies in several sectors. Today, the Company is working on over 250 digital products with some of the world's most innovative engineers. This combination will allow actual and potential clients of Globant and Pentalog to benefit from increased collaboration, scale-up solutions, and an enriched and broader value proposition.

Founded in 1993 in Orleans, France, Pentalog houses 1,300 professionals in France, Romania, Moldova, Mexico, Vietnam, and the U.S., among other countries, and offers a robust value proposition including digital services to solve customers' business problems and a recruiting division to support customers' internal teams expansion. In its 30 years, Pentalog was able to build a strong business pipeline with close to 80% of its revenues coming from European accounts and the remaining revenues generated in North America.

Pentalog's Co-founder and CEO, Frederic Lasnier, will remain with Globant together with his partners and the larger Pentalog team.

"France is one of the world's top economies and innovation hubs and we wanted Globant to have a stronger presence in such important geography. Pentalog impressed us with its amazing culture of innovation, client-centric approach, and diverse talents. Together, we will be able to continue offering top-notch services and products to keep reinventing some of the most beloved brands in the world," said Martin Migoya, Co-Founder and CEO of Globant.

"Before this connection, I always had Globant in my sights. Both as a model of inspiration and as a reference in digital transformation around the world. Now that I have Globant at my side, no doubt we'll reach the top of the podium in Europe," said Frederic Lasnier, Co-founder and CEO of Pentalog.

"We are thrilled to welcome Pentalog as part of the Globant family. They are a great organization with a similar vision and dream, and a perfect fit for our European expansion strategy," said Martin Umaran, Co-founder and President of Europe of Globant.

"Once Pentalog is fully integrated, we will be able to offer better services to more companies with a local flavor and delivery in more European countries. This combination will support big time our plans to support Europe's top brands digital transformation," said Fernando Matzkin, Chief Business Officer for Europe of Globant.

Completion of this transaction is subject to customary closing conditions.

About Globant

We are a digitally native company that helps organizations reinvent themselves and unleash their potential. We are the place where innovation, design, and engineering meet at scale.

We have more than 27,000 employees and we are present in 25 countries and 5 continents working for companies like Google, Electronic Arts and Santander, among others.

We were named a Worldwide Leader in CX Improvement Services by IDC MarketScape report.

We were also featured as a business case study at Harvard , MIT , and Stanford .

, , and . We are a member of The Green Software Foundation (GSF) and the Cybersecurity Tech Accord.

Contact: [email protected]

Sign up to get first dibs on press news and updates.

For more information, visit www.globant.com .

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The expectations related to the businesses of Globant and Pentalog may differ from their actual results and consequently, you should not rely on these forward looking statements as predictions of future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "believe," "may," "will", "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "should," "plan," "expect," "predict," "potential," or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, expectations with respect to the anticipated benefits of the proposed acquisition. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside of the control of Globant and Pentalog and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) the ability of the parties to complete the proposed acquisition; (2) the risk that the conditions to the closing of the acquisition are not satisfied in a timely manner or at all, (3) the risk that disruption from the transaction materially and adversely affects Pentalog's business and operations; (4) restrictions during the pendency of the transaction that impact Pentalog's ability to pursue certain business opportunities or other strategic transactions; (5) Globant's ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed acquisition, (6) costs related to the proposed acquisition, (7) Globant's ability to successfully grow Pentalog's business; (8) potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement, pendency or completion of the proposed acquisition; (9) the ability of Globant to retain and hire key Pentalog employees; (10) changes in applicable laws or regulations, (11) the demand for Pentalog's services together with the possibility that Pentalog may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and (12) other factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in our most recent Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any other risk factors included in subsequent reports on Form 6-K. Because of these uncertainties, you should not make any investment decision based on these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this press release whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Globant
Company introduces products that improve cognitive function with emphasis on sleep, focus, and stress

PITTSBURGH, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Holistic wellness continues to take flight as consumers around the world seek innovative, comprehensive solutions that improve well-being. That's why GNC is bringing to market an expanded category of products focused on offering consumers a healthy state of mind. Leveraging its industry-leading expertise, the company developed science-backed products for those looking to improve focus, reduce stress and sleep better via Preventive Nutrition Sleep Support, Stress Relief, and Focus & Memory as well as new Beyond Raw Neuro Surge.

New Beyond Raw NeuroSurge - Flex your focus. GNC Preventative Nutrition Stress Relief, Focus & Memory, Sleep Support

Thoughtfully launched in May 2023 to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Month, the new suite of mental wellness products are powered by scientifically formulated and clinically validated ingredients to provide targeted support while also supporting overall health and wellness.

"At GNC our mission is to help consumers live a full life, and mental wellness is a part of whole-body wellness," said Kevin Maloberti, VP, Merchandising, GNC. "We heard our consumers loud and clear: they are looking for ways to stress less, sleep better, improve focus, and boost mood. With the launch of three new Preventive Nutrition products as well as the introduction of Neuro Surge within our Beyond Raw portfolio, we're excited to deliver products that support cognitive function and a healthy state of mind in for everyday life."

As part of GNC's continued commitment to product and brand innovation, these new solutions are a great addition to the company's curated assortment with innovative formulations and top-notch ingredients:

GNC Preventive Nutrition Focus & Memory  Enhance focus, cognition and working memory to help solve dynamic tasks without caffeine*.

Enhance focus, cognition and working memory to help solve dynamic tasks without caffeine*. GNC Preventive Nutrition Stress Relief  Helps balance mood, enhance relaxation, better manage stress, and increase the sense of calm*.

Helps balance mood, enhance relaxation, better manage stress, and increase the sense of calm*. GNC Preventive Nutrition Sleep Support  Promotes quality sleep so you wake up feeling refreshed and rested without melatonin*.

Promotes quality sleep so you wake up feeling refreshed and rested without melatonin*. Beyond Raw Neuro Surge  The transparent formula includes immediate and targeted-release caffeine and Zynamite, a mango leaf extract that helps to boost cognitive performance and keep the focus on crushing goals both in and outside of the gym.

Whether consumers are looking for cognitive support, mental energy and endurance from performance brands  like GNC's Beyond Raw Neuro Surge  or clinical strength formulas supporting processing power, focus, memory, stress, and sleep  like Preventive Nutrition  consumers have new solutions readily available from GNC in stores and online on GNC.com.

To learn more about GNC, please visit www.gnc.com .

About GNC

GNC is a leading global health and wellness brand that provides high-quality, science-based products and solutions consumers need to live mighty, live fit, and Live Well.

The brand touches consumers worldwide by providing its products and services through company-owned retail locations, domestic and international franchise locations, digital commerce and strong wholesale and retail partnerships across the globe. GNC's diversified, multi-channel business model has worldwide reach and a well-recognized, trusted brand. By combining exceptional innovation, product development capabilities and an extensive global distribution network, GNC manages a best-in-class product portfolio. www.gnc.com .

Media Contacts:

SOURCE GNC
HONG KONG, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC), a fully-fledged ICT service provider and network operator with extensive global coverage, and Telehouse Vietnam, a globally premier ICT solutions provider, sign the Joint Marketing Agreement to deliver EdgeX by HGC in the Vietnam market as part of strategy to implement EdgeX by HGC in Asia to support the emerging economies. This is seen to propel the edge infrastructure support to the Vietnamese growing economy and its digital demand. Through bringing the EdgeX infrastructure to Hanoi with Telehouse Vietnam, HGC further its presence in the country by extending its efficient services to the North since the first launch of EdgeX by HGC in Ho Chi Minh City last year.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, General Director of Telehouse Vietnam (front row, left) and Mr. Cliff Tam, Senior Vice President of Global Data Strategy & Operations, International Business of HGC (front row, right) sign Joint Marketing Agreement to launch EdgeX by HGC in Hanoi

Companies inside the OTT ecosystem in Hanoi can now enjoy an uplifted digital experience through EdgeX by HGC together promoted with Telehouse Vietnam. EdgeX by HGC with its flagship Eyeball-as-a-Service (EaaS) can deliver ultra low-latency and secured connectivity with resilience to enhance end user experience of OTTs, content providers, gaming applications and streaming services. These customers can have a one-stop-shop solution to access security services, multiple public cloud platforms and internet exchange like AMS-IX. And furthermore they can connect local and international network instantly with both parties' global presence. Overall this partnership can be seen to benefit Vietnamese businesses to capitalize on the new trends of digital transformation.

EdgeX by HGC is a best of breed solution to today's online needs by bringing together five fields of digital infrastructure and solutions under one umbrella for easy deployment, management and scale; connectivity, cybersecurity, direct cloud connect, data center services as well as system integration with managed services. Therefore via partnering with Telehouse Vietnam, whom the existing infrastructure and local expertise allows for immediate and far reaching edge service that is aimed at generating a comprehensive ecosystem by establishing an integrated platform. This allows more niche players to overcome the high cost in building an immersive, geo-sensitive and real time application for today's Web 3.0 environment.

Cliff Tam, HGC's International Business Senior Vice President for Global Data Strategy & Operations says, "Today we make the announcement that HGC is to collaborate with Telehouse Vietnam to extend EdgeX by HGC to Hanoi thus opening up access to our flagship innovation EaaS. It is with enthusiasm that OTT in Hanoi can now have access to high quality platform featuring key advantages of ultra low latency, resilient and scalability. We are excited by Telehouse Vietnam's partnership and keen to see our service be adopted expressly in the Vietnam economy so more customers can benefit from our edge services."

About HGC Global Communications Limited

HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC) is a leading Hong Kong and international telecom operator and ICT solution provider. The company owns an extensive network and infrastructure in Hong Kong and overseas and provides various kinds of services. HGC has 25 overseas offices, with business over 5 continents. It provides telecom infrastructure service to other operators and serves as a service provider to corporate and households. The company provides full-fledged telecom, data centre services, ICT solutions and broadband services for local, overseas, corporate, SME and mass markets. HGC owns and operates an extensive fibre-optic network, five cross-border telecom routes integrated into tier-one telecom operators in mainland China and connects with hundreds of world-class international telecom operators. HGC is one of Hong Kong's largest Wi-Fi service providers, running over 29,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in Hong Kong. The company is committed to further investing and enriching its current infrastructure and, in parallel, adding on top the latest technologies and developing its infrastructure services and solutions. In 2019, HGC Group completed the acquisition of Macroview Telecom Limited (Macroview), a leading digital technology solution and managed services provider. The addition of Macroview further accelerates HGC Group's digital transformation path and positioning as a pioneering ICT and digital services leader. HGC is a portfolio company of I Squared Capital, an independent global infrastructure investment manager focusing on energy, utilities and transport in North America, Europe and selected fast-growing economies.

To learn more, please visit HGC's website at: www.hgc.com.hk

About Telehouse Vietnam

Telehouse Vietnam was established in July 2010 and be a joint venture between FPT Information Systems (FPT IS), leading provider of ICT solution around the world KDDI Corporation and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. With the aim of professionalizing and delivering international standard services under the TELEHOUSE brand name, Telehouse Vietnam has continuously upgraded and expanded the services over the years, including Colocation services, manage services, data center relocation services, and many other core services. Therefore, It helps the customers of Telehouse Vietnam manage their IT systems more easily, increasing efficiency and saving costs for their businesses.

With the expanding business of MNCs in Vietnam, the need for local back-up facilities to retain business continuity is raising sharply. There has been a rapidly increasing demand for information communications infrastructure configuration and operations support cored on highly reliable data centers among many corporations. Therefore, TELEHOUSE Vietnam, with TELEHOUSE standards of global quality, which cover a wide ranges of conditions including facilities, operation, security and quality management, meets the above customers' requirements. For systems that incorporate data centers as one element, KDDI and FPT IS will collaborate with TELEHOUSE Vietnam to offer comprehensive planning, design, maintenance and consultation covering total system integration and solutions.

SOURCE HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC)
MUMBAI, India, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IFI Techsolutions, a leading digital transformation company today announced it has been recognized by Microsoft as an Azure Expert Managed Service Provider (AEMSP). This achievement from Microsoft is the latest in a long list of recognitions  Microsoft Partner of the Year 2020 finalist, Microsoft Cloud Champions 11, IAMCP P2P Award for Trusted Advisor 2023 and multiple Azure Advanced Specializations.

IFI Techsolutions Recognized as a Microsoft Azure Expert Managed Service Provider

Microsoft Azure Expert MSP is awarded to the most capable and high-fidelity Azure Managed Service Providers. An Azure Expert MSP pivots on business outcomes of their customer's solutions and applications. To attain this, IFI Techsolutions underwent a thorough audit process that assessed its technical knowledge, service quality, customer satisfaction, and business performance.

Ankur Garg, Founder, IFI Techsolutions, said, "Achieving Microsoft AEMSP is a strategic win for us that will set the foundation of our global expansion plans over the next 3 years."

Puneet Bajaj, Chief Technology Officer, IFI Techsolutions, said, "As a Microsoft AEMSP, we have built scalable and secure solutions using best in class ITSM processes and tools to serve our customers. Customers across the globe can be assured that they are working with a top of the league Microsoft partner with proven capabilities."

Julie Sanford, VP of Partner GTM, Programs and Experiences at Microsoft added, "As customers move to the public cloud with increasing pace, they need partners with a deep level of cloud expertise and experience to guide them. As a global Microsoft partner, IFI Techsolutions continues to verify its excellence in customer delivery and technical expertise via the Microsoft Azure Expert MSP program. Microsoft looks forward to continuing to partner with IFI Techsolutions to deliver digital transformation outcomes with our joint customers.

As more businesses move to the cloud, we want them to be confident they're working with the right partner, and Azure Expert MSP program offers them the most capable and qualified MSPs. IFI Techsolutions has made a strong investment in its capabilities and knowledge around Microsoft Azure and has certainly earned the expert designation."

About IFI Techsolutions:

IFI Techsolutions (www.ifi.tech), a leading cloud solutions and managed services provider founded by former Microsoft executives has delivered 500+ projects, migrated 5,300+ servers for over 350 customers in last 8 years with presence in USA, UK, UAE, India, Singapore & Australia.

Corporate Profile: http://ifi.tech/introduction

Follow: LinkedIn Instagram Twitter

Contact: [email protected]

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2075967/IFI_Techsolutions_Microsoft_Partner.jpg

SOURCE IFI Techsolutions
SEATTLE, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Biologist and famed atheist Richard Dawkins has repeatedly described a test that he predicted would prove evolution, but now, mounting scientific evidence shows that the same test instead proves intelligent design (ID), says Discovery Institute's Center for Science & Culture.

"On its own terms, the Dawkins test for evolution has come up for ID," said geologist Casey Luskin, associate director of the Center for Science & Culture. "Dawkins set up a test for Darwinian evolution versus ID, and now needs to live with his own repeated statements."

Dawkins has claimed that evolution predicts "perfect" congruency among different representations of the tree of life  evidence that is so "powerful" he believes it "proves that evolution is true." On the other hand, he says incongruency or conflicts among different gene-based trees would be a prediction of the "alternative" to evolution, namely intelligent design.

Evolution News & Science Today published a paper by Luskin detailing the growing number of published peer reviewed papers that repeatedly show the incongruency among trees of life, from such leading science journals as Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), Bioinformatics, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Systematic Biology and more. Luskin's article, Intelligent Design Passes the Dawkins Test, is available online at www.evolutionnews.org.

According to Luskin, scientists have sequenced a great number of whole genomes and they know that Dawkins was wrong. Every gene does not deliver "approximately the same tree of life."

"Will Richard Dawkins admit that his prediction has failed for evolution but succeeded for intelligent design?" asks Luskin.

Casey Luskin is a geologist and attorney with a PhD in geology from the University of Johannesburg, and BS and MS degrees in Earth Sciences from the University of California, San Diego. His law degree is from the University of San Diego, where he focused his studies on First Amendment, education, and environmental law.

Discovery Institute is a non-profit educational and research organization whose mission is to advance a culture of purpose, creativity, and innovation with programs in areas such as economics, education, technology, bioethics, and artificial intelligence. It's Center for Science & Culture is the intellectual home of the modern intelligent design movement and the scientists and scholars challenging Darwin's theory of evolution on the basis of science.

SOURCE Discovery Institute
INDIANAPOLIS, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Thompson Thrift, a full-service real estate company engaged in multifamily, mixed-use, retail, industrial and commercial projects, has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2023 honor by The Indianapolis Star Top Workplaces.

"We strive to create the kind of environment that positively impacts our team members and the communities we serve," said Paul Thrift, CEO of Thompson Thrift. "We are honored to be recognized by the Indianapolis Star and want to thank our team members for their individual and collective efforts that make Thompson Thrift a great place to work."

The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage, LLC. The confidential survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few.

Kristen Tolliver, senior vice president of human resources for Thompson Thrift, added, "Competition for top talent can be aggressive and with our plans to add more than 130 team members to our team this year, awards like these provide candidates with valuable insight about what it is like to work at Thompson Thrift."

Since its founding more than 30 years ago, Thompson Thrift has invested more than $4 billion in real estate developments in 21 states. The company and its leaders are frequent recipients of distinctions and awards conferred by regional and national organizations that reflect the company's ongoing commitment to creating environments of excellence in both the community and the workplace.

About Thompson Thrift Real Estate Company

Thompson Thrift is an integrated full-service real estate company with offices in Indianapolis and Terre Haute, Indiana; Denver; Houston and Phoenix. Three business units drive Thompson Thrift's successThompson Thrift Residential which is focused on upscale Class A multifamily communities and luxury leased homes, Thompson Thrift Commercial which is focused on ground-up commercial development, and Thompson Thrift Construction, a full-service construction company. Through these business units, Thompson Thrift is engaged in all aspects of development, construction, leasing, and management of quality commercial real estate projects across the country. The company earned national recognition as a winner of a 2023 Top Workplaces USA award, the latest accolade that reflects the company's ongoing commitment to excellence in the community and workplace. For more information, please visit www.thompsonthrift.com

Contact:

Jennifer Franklin

Spotlight Marketing Communications

949.427.1385

[email protected]

SOURCE Thompson Thrift
PRAGUE, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On 1517 September, Prague will become the world center of traditional, complementary, integrative and alternative medicine (TCIM/CAM). Prague will be the venue of the 3rd World Health Congress 2023 Prague www.whc2023prague.com.

The motto of this year's Congress edition is: Accomplishments and current trends in TCIM for the 21st century  Cultural heritage of the past for the future. The Congress is organized by the Institute for TCIM/CAM. Tomas Pfeiffer, director of the Institute, stated: "The time has come to open communication channels and develop serious collaboration of all disciplines that can contribute to improving quality of life and reducing morbidity."

The world leading experts in TCIM and conventional medicine will share their healthcare experience. They will present a wide range of holistic healthcare where TCIM/CAM (traditional complementary, integrative and alternative medicine) disciplines are involved.

Speakers will include Isabelle Wachsmuth, MSc, MPH, Project Manager at the World Health Organization, Nora Laubstein, President of the Association for Natural Medicine in Europe, Prof. Dr. Madan Thangavelu, Genome Biologist at Cambridge University, Dr. Peter Kath, President of the European Ayurveda Association, Prof. Avni Sali from Australia, Director and Founder of the National Institute of Integrative Medicine (NIIM), Bhaswati Bhattacharya MPH, MD, Ph.D. from Cornell University in the USA, Prof. Valdis Pirags MD, Professor of Medicine at the University of Latvia, Vaidya Harish Kumar Verma BAMS, DNM, President of the Canadian College of Ayurveda & Yoga Inc. in Ontario, Suzanne Ruggles, Founder of Full Circle Fund Therapies, Dr John Hughes PhD, BSc (Hons), Lic. Ac., Head of Research at the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine, Bc. Margit Balastikova, Member of Parliament of the Czech Republic, and others www.whc2023prague.com/#members.

This unique project is open to the general public, one can register as a visitor for free. People working in healthcare can attend as in-person or online presenter.

Registrations and abstract submissions are open www.whc2023prague.com/registration.

The Congress also gives the opportunity to exhibit in virtual booths where people can offer useful information, materials and products aimed at a better quality of life. Thus, the World Health Congress 2023 Prague provides for a unique opportunity to establish cooperation of all TCIM and standard medicine disciplines, and present to domestic and international audience.

During the three-day program, participants will have the opportunity to attend many expert presentations led by eminent world-renowned personalities. "I am convinced that the 2023 Congress edition will not only help presenters and audience to get up-to-date information in the field of TCIM, but will also be beneficial for general awareness," adds Tomas Pfeiffer, Director of the Institute for TCIM/CAM.

All are cordially invited.

Institute for TCIM/CAM

Soukenicka 21

110 00 Prague

Czech Republic



e-mail: [email protected]

T: +420 606 842 639

www.whc2023prague.com

www.itcim.org

SOURCE Institute for TCIM/CAM
WARWICK, R.I., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The pandemic is no longer a top concern for travelers. A new survey from InsureMyTrip finds the main concerns for travelers this summer are cost, airport issues, and having to cancel.

The cost of travel appears to be a valid concern this summer. According to data collected by InsureMyTrip, policyholders will pay an average of $2,415 more for a vacation this summer over the summer of 2022. Furthermore, all the top summer destinations for policyholders will cost more this year.

Top 5 International Summer Destinations*

Italy

2023: $9,577

2022: $7,676 Canada

2023: $8,191

2022: $4,702 United Kingdom

2023: $8,544

2022: $5,969 France

2023: $9,249

2022: $6,496 Mexico

2023: $4,343

2022: $3,360

However, concerns over cost, airport issues, and trip cancellations are not deterring vacation plans  81.4% of the more than 1,600 people surveyed** say they will travel this summer. To protect against these potential problems, the experts at InsureMyTrip recommend vacationers consider travel insurance.

Travel insurance expert Meghan Walch explains how a policy can address the top three travel concerns.

Concern: Increasing Travel Costs

Travel Insurance Benefits: As travelers pay more for vacations, they have more to lose if they need to cancel or cut a trip short. A travel insurance policy can help protect that financial investment for domestic and international trips.

Also, buying early and providing an accurate trip cost when requesting a quote is essential to maximize travel insurance benefits.

Buying travel insurance early allows travelers to take advantage of time-sensitive benefits like Cancel for Any Reason or financial default. Travelers could become ineligible for these benefits in as little as 10 days after making a trip deposit.

allows travelers to take advantage of time-sensitive benefits like Cancel for Any Reason or financial default. Travelers could become ineligible for these benefits in as little as 10 days after making a trip deposit. Providing an accurate trip cost allows travelers to be reimbursed for the proper amount in the event a claim is filed for a covered cancellation or interruption. Accurate trip cost may also be required to obtain a pre-existing condition waiver and optional Cancel for Any Reason coverage.

MORE: Calculating trip cost

2. Concern: Airport Issues

Travel Insurance Benefits: Issues at the airport, including flight delays, cancellations, and baggage loss, have become more prevalent over the past year. Policyholders may have coverage for these concerns under travel delay, missed connection, and trip interruption benefits.

Travel Delay : Designed to provide reimbursement up to the stated limit for reasonable meals and accommodations while unable to travel for a certain number of hours.

: Designed to provide reimbursement up to the stated limit for reasonable meals and accommodations while unable to travel for a certain number of hours. Trip Interruption : May provide travelers reimbursement of the unused portion of their pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs if they must unexpectedly cut their travels short or a covered reason.

: May provide travelers reimbursement of the unused portion of their pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs if they must unexpectedly cut their travels short or a covered reason. Missed Connection : Designed to provide travelers with coverage if a delayed flight (for example, 3 hours or more) causes a traveler to miss a cruise or tour departure.

A Comprehensive Plan includes the most benefits of all plan types, offering the best protection for the investment.

MORE: Comprehensive plans

3. Concern: Having to Cancel a Trip

Travel Insurance Benefits: There are two ways a policy can provide coverage for a traveler who must cancel their vacation.

Trip Cancellation: This coverage is included in comprehensive plans. It is designed to provide reimbursement in the event a traveler must cancel a trip for an unforeseen, covered reason.

This coverage is included in comprehensive plans. It is designed to provide reimbursement in the event a traveler must cancel a trip for an unforeseen, reason. Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR): This add-on and optional benefit provides the most flexibility for a traveler to cancel for something other than a covered reason. If a traveler qualifies for CFAR, it can provide reimbursement of up to 50% - 75% of the prepaid, non-refundable trip costs 2 days prior to the scheduled departure.

MORE: Cancel for Any Reason Travel Insurance (CFAR)

Reporters can request an interview or quote from Travel Insurance Expert Meghan Walch by contacting [email protected] .

Media Contact:

Meghan Kayata

[email protected]

Methodology

* InsureMyTrip analyzed travel insurance policies sold for trips departing between June 21, 2023 - September 23, 2023.

** The InsureMyTrip survey was conducted online and sent to those adults identified as policyholders or those interested in travel insurance. The survey was conducted from April 27, 2023  May 7, 2023, and generated 1591 completed responses.

About InsureMyTrip

It's simple. InsureMyTrip finds you the right travel insurance plan, every time. We are committed to empowering travelers to make the best possible insurance decisions by leveraging our technology, data intelligence, and expertise. InsureMyTrip is based in the U.S. with offices in Toronto.

SOURCE InsureMyTrip
A flood watch will be in effect Monday, May 15 in the afternoon and evening in much of Oregon, including Linn and Benton counties.

The National Weather Service issued the flood watch for cities including Albany, Corvallis, Lebanon and Sweet Home. The watch will be in effect from 3 to 10 p.m.

"Slow moving thunderstorms have potential to produce periods of very heavy rain this afternoon and evening," the agency said. "Not all areas will receive rainfall, and some areas may receive very heavy rainfall exceeding one-half inch to 1 inch in less than an hour."

Excessive runoff may lead to flooding of rivers, creeks and streams, according to NWS. Community members should monitor later forecasts and and be prepared in the event a flash flood warning is issued.

A flood watch encourages residents to be prepared while a flash flood warning would warrant potential action like moving to higher ground.
SIMI VALLEY, Calif., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Foreword Publicity and Compassion Project Press announce the release of Children Who Dance in the Rain written by Susan Justice and illustrated by Lena Bardy.

Meet the children who learned to dance in the rain.

Children Who Dance in the Rain by Susan Justice

Sophie gets bored quickly and won't eat her food without looking at her tablet. She's thrilled to hear of her family's upcoming trip to a magical place called India, a land she's only heard of in stories. Once there, she quickly realizes that the underprivileged children living in the mud colony possess a joy and contentment she can't explain. Sophie sets out on a journey of discovery, but what she finds may change her world forever. This tale about the true meaning of happiness and the power of gratitude is based on true events.

Justice, a dedicated attorney and legal children's advocate who co-founded South Asians Against Childhood Abuse, releases her inaugural children's book, Children Who Dance in the Rain. The first of its kind, this captivating 32-page picture book aspires to gently enlighten young readers about the complex realities that pervade our world, fostering gratitude for the resources and opportunities they are fortunate to have at their disposal.

Children Who Dance in the Rain, even before its official debut, has been awarded with the prestigious title of the 2023 Human Relations Children's Book of the Year. It has been met with glowing reviews and has won several other awards. These include the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award, Family Choice Award, Literary Titan Gold Award, Mom's Choice Gold Award, and the Golden Wizard Book Prize.

True to one of its core themes about giving back, 100% percent of net proceeds from every fourth copy of Justice's book will go to charities such as Save The Children, GiveWell and Bright Sparks School in Mohali, India, who are dedicated to providing educational opportunities for underprivileged children.

Readers who obtain one of the first 5,000 copies of the book directly from the publisher's website will receive a free NFT.

Children Who Dance in the Rain (978-1-7386778-3-2) is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Target.

Connect with Justice at www.compassion.press or contact [email protected]. To set up an interview, reading, signing, or for information regarding Children Who Dance in the Rain.

SOURCE Foreword Publicity
Proprietary technology with a proven track record in Europe for over a decade gives Aesthetics Industry greater ability to reduce patient pain and social downtime

PARK CITY, Utah, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sentient, LLC today announced the U.S. introduction of Sentient Tixel*, which uses the first and only thermal-mechanical action technology to resurface skin. Tixel technology uniquely combines heat with the forward motion of a medical-grade titanium tip without the use of lasers, radiation, ultrasound, or needles, providing a comfortable treatment experience that creates a smoother and more even-toned appearance without social downtime. Sentient is the aesthetic medical device industry's leading full-service provider that's transforming the way the aesthetics industry does business  with integrity, innovation and operational excellence.

Proven on a global scale, Tixel has been used in Europe since 2011 and is now exclusively available in the United States through Sentient. Cleared by the FDA for treatment of all skin types, this proprietary, non-invasive technology transfers thermal energy to skin very quickly and safely. Makeup can be applied the day after treatment, and pain and social downtime are minimal compared to laser, microneedling, and radiofrequency treatments.

According to a recent report the energy-based aesthetic devices market is expected to reach $9.07 billion by 2027, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 10.8 percent. A study by The Aesthetic Society found that U.S. revenues from skin resurfacing treatments rose 43 percent from $138.96 million in 2020 to $198.2 million in 2021(The Aesthetic Plastic Surgery National Databank Statistics 2020-2021).

"Tixel drastically improves practices' abilities to meet this rising demand for skin resurfacing treatments that offer effective results with minimal downtime," said Chris Cella, Chief Executive Officer of Sentient. "By making this cutting-edge technology available in the U.S.  along with world class service to support it  we continue in our goal to not just sell equipment, but to develop collaborative relationships with our clients that enhance their practices' efficiency, profitability and ability to help the widest variety of patients possible."

A recent study by Wang, et al, evaluating the safety and tolerability advantages of the Tixel device was published in Dermatologic Surgery, the journal of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. Subjects with moderate-to-severe perioral rhytides were enrolled and underwent four monthly treatments, and after which the study demonstrated thermomechanical fractional injury using the Tixel device was safe and effective for the treatment of periorbital rhytids. At three-month follow-up 93.8 percent of patients reported that they were satisfied with their treatment and of those, 50 percent were very satisfied. In the study, patients were treated without topical numbing and rated their pain 2 to 3 out of 10. There were no adverse events and patients returned to normal social activity and work in less than a day.

"The results of this study were notable for the safety and tolerability advantages that Tixel offers," said Cella. "The scientific evidence reported by respected physicians from the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York and The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology at New York University Langone Health in New York City demonstrates that Tixel is impressive on age-related changes in the lower face."

Practitioners agree that the advanced technology of Tixel along with Sentient's knowledge of the industry, commitment to affordability and integrity are assets to help their businesses thrive.

"I'm bullish on Tixel. I think Tixel is such a great alternative to a laser to have in a practice," said Dr. Ava Shamban, founder of Ava MD in Los Angeles, CA. "It's versatile - everything from active acne to acne scars to facial rejuvenation to assisted drug delivery - Tixel has increased our patient base because it can be used on such a wide variety of skin types as well as conditions."

*Editor's Note: TIXEL and its logo are registered trademarks of Novoxel Ltd.

About Sentient  , LLC

Sentient is the aesthetic medical device industry's leading full-service provider, offering advanced technology and industry-leading service and financing, delivered with integrity and transparency. Sentient takes pride in its transformational business practices as it sells, designs, repairs, fine-tunes, and implements the complex devices that help sculpt bodies, treat skin, and improve silhouettes. Sentient is committed to affordability and offers flexible financing, device maintenance, and a superior certification and warranty program to assure future performance.

Sentient is the premier company in the U.S. offering an exceptional suite of advanced proprietary technologies to meet the expanding needs of practices of all sizes, from its Park City, Utah, location to nationwide. With hundreds of longstanding professional relationships and more than ten years heritage providing the best in refurbished equipment, Sentient's industry-leading service model provides quality laser and medical device repair and refurbishment services for 84 types of medical and cosmetic systems, to the FDA standards required of each manufacturer. Sentient is dedicated to building a collaborative relationship with its clients to help significantly enhance their practice efficiency, drive stronger profitability, and, most importantly, deliver an exceptional client experience. For more information visit https://www.sentientlasers.com.

Media Contact:

Ivy Cohen

Ivy Cohen Corporate Communications

212-399-0026

[email protected]

SOURCE Sentient
SAN FRANCISCO, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Invitae (NYSE: NVTA), a leading medical genetics company, today announced that it intends to appeal the verdict delivered by a jury at the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. The jury found that Invitae's products using Anchored Multiplex PCR ("AMP") chemistry infringe certain Natera, Inc. patents. The jury awarded Natera a total of $19.35 million, based on lost profits and a royalty rate of 10% on certain products. Invitae will vigorously defend itself in future proceedings regarding Natera's request for injunctive relief.

In response to the verdict, Invitae President and CEO Ken Knight said, "We continue to have strong confidence in our product portfolio and our freedom to operate based on the unique and distinguished nature of our technology, and expect to demonstrate that in ongoing proceedings. We believe that it is important to provide options for cancer patients, clinicians and healthcare systems. To that end, we are committed to bringing an effective and differentiated Personalized Cancer Monitoring (PCM) solution to market."

About Invitae

Invitae (NYSE: NVTA) is a leading medical genetics company trusted by millions of patients and their providers to deliver timely genetic information using digital technology. We aim to provide accurate and actionable answers to strengthen medical decision-making for individuals and their families. Invitae's genetics experts apply a rigorous approach to data and research, serving as the foundation of their mission to bring comprehensive genetic information into mainstream medicine to improve healthcare for billions of people.

To learn more, visit invitae.com and follow for updates on Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and LinkedIn @Invitae.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the company's plans to appeal the jury verdict and its beliefs regarding such appeal; the company's beliefs with respect to its product portfolio, technology and freedom to operate; and the company's plans for future products and services. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the company's ability to grow its business in a cost-efficient manner; the company's history of losses; the company's ability to maintain important customer relationships; the company's ability to compete; the company's failure to manage growth effectively; the company's need to scale its infrastructure in advance of demand for its tests and to increase demand for its tests; risks associated with litigation; the company's ability to use rapidly changing genetic data to interpret test results accurately and consistently; security breaches, loss of data and other disruptions; laws and regulations applicable to the company's business; and the other risks set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks set forth in the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and Invitae Corporation disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Invitae Contacts:

Investor Relations

Hoki Luk

[email protected]

Public Relations

Amy Hadsock

[email protected]

SOURCE Invitae Corporation
SLIEMA, Malta, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kindred Group plc (Kindred) announces that Johan Wilsby, Chief Financial Officer at Kindred since September 2020, will leave his position later this year.

"Kindred is a dynamic company and Johan has been instrumental in developing the Group's corporate function, the strategic execution, as well and contributing to the Executive leadership team. He has also been a very appreciated colleague and shown leadership and integrity during challenging times. I want to thank Johan for his contributions and wish him the best of luck in his future career", says Henrik Tjarnstrom, CEO of Kindred Group.

The process of appointing a successor has started. Johan Wilsby will leave Kindred during the autumn of 2023.

This disclosure contains information that Kindred Group is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation (EU nr 596/2014). The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person, on 15-05-2023 08:30 CET.

For more information:

Alexander Westrell, Director of Communications

[email protected]

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/824/3769372/2059326.pdf Press release: Johan Wilsby leaves his role as Chief Financial Officer at Kindred Group

SOURCE Kindred Group
NEW YORK, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Juxtapose , a leading creation-oriented investment firm, has been named to Inc. magazine's annual Best Workplaces list , highlighting companies that are redefining excellence in company culture.

"Talent and team culture are the backbone of every company we build and invest in, and to be recognized for that magic internally is something we could not be more proud of," said Jed Cairo, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Juxtapose.

Each nominated company took part in an anonymous employee survey conducted by Quantum Workplace, which asked employees to evaluate their workplaces based on cultural pillars such as management effectiveness, perks, opportunities for growth, and overall team 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."

About Juxtapose

Founded by Patrick Chun and Jed Cairo in 2015, Juxtapose is a creation-oriented investment firm exclusively focused on building industry-transforming businesses from the ground up. Juxtapose's funds have supported the creation and financing of technology companies such as Care/of, Tend, Orchard, Great Jones, DayForward, and Modern Age. The firm partners with some of the world's most experienced and talented entrepreneurial operators to found and scale category-defining technology companies that have trajectories to be the market leaders in the industries in which they operate. Read more at juxtapose.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. 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 Juxtapose
Former Securities America Affiliate Oversees $150 Million in Client Assets

CHICAGO, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LaSalle St., a family of wealth management firms encompassing an independent broker-dealer and two registered investment adviser (RIA) platforms, today announced that Link Financial Advisory has joined its network. Founder and CEO Richard London will participate in LaSalle St.'s recently announced equity ownership program. Link Financial Advisory was previously affiliated with Securities America.

Richard London has more than 17 years' experience, and along with his Las-Vegas based team provides financial planning, asset management, wealth management and retirement planning to its clients. The firm, which also operates offices in Montana and California, specializes in delivering bespoke service to retirees, pre-retirees and business owners.

All five advisors, including London, and a support team member, will join LaSalle St.

"Richard represents LaSalle St.'s core values. His entrepreneurial, client-focused approach has enabled him to build a strong platform for future expansion," said Mark Contey, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Development. "We look forward to supporting him as he takes full advantage of our best-in-class technology and resources that will enable him and his team to take charge of their future, while always delivering for their clients."

London said, "After a tremendous amount of due diligence, we kept coming to the conclusion that LaSalle St. is the right place for our firm and clients. They foster a culture of true independence and demonstrate the ability to support our current business as well as our future growth. We are extremely excited about the opportunities in front of us and the partnership we have fostered with LaSalle St.'s leadership team."

He started Link Financial Advisory in 2014 after working as a wealth advisor for Mutual Omaha Bank and Contango Capital Advisors, the RIA for Zions Bancorp. He is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and carries a Behavioral Financial Advisor (BFA) designation.

About LaSalle St.

LaSalle St. is a family of firms comprising LaSalle St. Securities, an independent broker-dealer; LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, an SEC-registered investment adviser; and LaSalle St. Insurance Services, a provider of annuity and insurance products. It has a singular mission of supporting the growth and success of independent financial advisors across the country. Founded in 1974 and based in Chicago, Illinois, LaSalle St. supports more than 300 financial advisors, has approximately $10 billion in total client assets and is registered in all 50 states. The LaSalle St. companies offer a wide range of services, including brokerage, advisory, investment and insurance. The firm clears primarily through National Financial Services, with custodial services through NFS parent Fidelity Investments. For more information, visit https://www.lasallest.com/.

Media Inquiries

Donald Cutler or Lorene Yue

Haven Tower Group

[email protected] | [email protected]

424 317 4864 | 424 317 4854

SOURCE LaSalle St.
SAN FRANCISCO, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LegalMatch California supports recommendations to increase revenue for the California State Bar. The State Bar is an important organization responsible for the governance and monitoring of the legal profession throughout California.

Recently, the California State Auditor has recognized the need for mandatory fee increases in 2024 to help cover rising personnel costs. The Auditor also suggests minimizing this increase by raising other fees for certain services.

Overall, these actions will help ensure the California State Bar continues to performs its essential duties, which include:

Protecting the public through the licensure and regulation of attorneys

Enforcing attorney discipline

Administering the California bar exam

bar exam Promoting diversity and inclusion in the legal system

Clearly, these elements are crucial for maintaining public access to legal services. These tasks are overseen through 16 different programs, which are mostly supported through general fund revenue and mandatory annual licensing fees that attorneys pay yearly. The State Bar itself also agrees with the Auditor's recommendations.

LegalMatch California has a close working relationship with the California State Bar. The State Bar initially approved LegalMatch California to operate as a certified Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) in 2020. The State Bar also renewed LegalMatch California's certification in 2021 and 2022 .

This means that LegalMatch California member lawyers are all in good standing with the California State Bar, meet the Bar's LRS insurance requirements, and are all screened for relevant legal experience in their respective practice specialties.

Since 2020, LegalMatch California has helped 61,181 people connect with lawyers in their specific geographic locations and in the practice areas of law needed.

"It was a huge historic step back in 2020 when LegalMatch California became the only major legal leads provider in compliance with California's requirement to be registered as a Lawyer Referral Service. Stepping up then as well as supporting the California State Bar now in their efforts to stay fiscally sound is something we wholeheartedly stand behind. LegalMatch has been a proponent of programs to offer more choice, diversity and inclusion in the legal field for over 2 decades and lend our agreement to the State Auditor's recommendations." - Cheryl Smith, Head of Marketing, LegalMatch California

About Us

LegalMatch California is a California State Bar certified Lawyer Referral Service #0140 dedicated to improving the quality and affordability of legal services in all California counties. LegalMatch California is an innovative forum for lawyers and legal clients to meet. California attorneys interested in joining LegalMatch California must meet membership qualifications and carry malpractice insurance. LegalMatch California, like its parent organization LegalMatch.com, remains free to consumers.

LegalMatch is the nation's oldest and largest online legal matching service. Headquartered in Reno, NV, LegalMatch helps people find attorneys and helps attorneys find new clients. LegalMatch's service is free to individuals and small businesses looking for legal help. For more information about LegalMatch, please visit our website or contact us directly.

Media Contact:

Ken LaMance

(415) 946-0856

[email protected]

SOURCE LegalMatch
Revenue of $68.1 million , a YoY increase of 34%, with core Life360 Subscription revenue 1 of $46.2 million up 66% YoY

Annualized Monthly Revenue 2 (AMR) of $239.5 million , up 44% YoY

Net loss of $14.1 million ; positive Adjusted EBITDA 3 of $0.5 million achieved one quarter ahead of expectations

Paying Circles up 22% YoY, with net quarterly additions of 73 thousand versus 69 thousand in Q1'22 despite price increases

U.S. Average Revenue Per Paying Circle (ARPPC) of $140 increased 43% YoY reflecting the benefits of higher pricing

Price increases for existing monthly U.S. Android subscribers rolled out in April

Quarter-end cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of $76.1 million

CY23 guidance reiterated for more than 50% YoY growth for core Life360 subscription revenue, consolidated revenue of $300 million - $310 million and positive Adjusted EBITDA3 and Operating Cash Flow of $5 million - $10 million for the full year CY23.

SAN FRANCISCO, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- San Francisco area-based Life360, Inc. (Life360 or the Company) (ASX: 360) today reported unaudited financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. Life360 Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Chris Hulls said: "The Life360 business has continued to deliver impressive growth metrics, with Global MAU up 33% YoY and AMR up 44% to $239.5 million. Paying Circles returned to growth in Q1'23, with Global net subscriber additions of 73 thousand, ahead of the 69 thousand achieved in Q1'22, a very positive result given the size of the price increases implemented in Q4'22. International Paying Circles increased 50% YoY, with net adds at close to all-time record levels. UK Paying Circles increased 64% YoY, a very encouraging sign ahead of our Membership launch later this year.

"Price increases for existing U.S. Android subscribers rolled out in April, and due to expected one-time churn U.S. net adds will be more muted in Q2. However monthly iOS subscriber churn has already returned to normal following a short-term spike after the Q4'22 price increases. This resilience makes us confident that the Android impact will be similarly short-lived. We expect U.S. net subscriber additions to accelerate in Q3, a testament to the enormous value provided by our Membership offering. Q1'23 U.S. ARPPC of $140 increased 43% YoY, reflecting the benefit of price increases introduced for new and existing iOS subscribers and new Android subscribers. We see further upside as these are rolled out to existing Android subscribers, with early trends in line with the iOS experience.

"The Tile Membership bundling is fully rolled out in the U.S. market, and we are excited about opportunities over time to improve paid user conversion and retention. While it is early days, we are excited by what appears to be a material improvement in retention, which is the signal we were hoping for at launch. The international rollout of Tiles on the Life360 map is also underway, with completion expected in coming days. This further closes the gap to the U.S. user experience as part of our International growth strategy.

"Tile's hardware revenue increased 3% YoY. Our primary focus is on driving subscription revenue rather than stand-alone retail sales, and this YoY growth was achieved despite significant reductions in Hardware headcount, marketing and R&D expenses. We will continue to be disciplined in regard to our Hardware spend as part of our emphasis on cash flow. Despite this conservative level of investment, we are continuing to make meaningful improvements to our devices line-up, including our Anti-Theft mode and use case bundles.

"In March we provided guidance for Life360 to achieve Adjusted EBITDA profitability from Q2'23 onwards and for full year CY23. We have achieved this milestone a quarter early, with Q1'23 positive Adjusted EBITDA of $0.5 million. The impact of price increases combined with better than expected net subscriber additions delivered ongoing strong momentum in subscription revenue. This positive trend, coupled with the impact of additional cost efficiencies implemented in January, supported the achievement of our Adjusted profitability target ahead of schedule. In a time of macro uncertainty we are focused on balancing fiscal responsibility with prudent investment to position the business for long-term success. We have a strong balance sheet, with cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents of $76.1 million at March 2023 quarter end."







1 Core Life360 subscription revenue excludes Tile and Jiobit subscriptions





2 We use Annualized Monthly Revenue ("AMR") to identify the annualized monthly value of active customer agreements for a particular period. AMR includes the annualized monthly value of subscription, data and partnership agreements. All components of these agreements that are not expected to recur are excluded





3 Adjusted EBITDA is a Non-GAAP measure. For the definition of Adjusted EBITDA and the use of this Non-GAAP measure, as well as a reconciliation of Net Loss to Adjusted EBITDA, refer to the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section below

Appointment of Chief Operating Officer

Life360 is pleased to announce the appointment of Lauren Antonoff as its new Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Antonoff is a product and technology leader with a track record of driving growth through customer-focused value. Ms. Antonoff was previously at GoDaddy, where she led efforts to empower entrepreneurs through software and services. Prior to that, Ms. Antonoff spent 18 years at Microsoft, where she was instrumental in building some of the company's most successful products and businesses. She will report to CEO Chris Hulls, and will oversee the Marketing, Product, Devices and Engineering teams.

Mr. Hulls said: "Lauren's experience leading successful product and technology teams, and her commitment to customer value makes her the perfect fit for the Life360 team. We are excited to have her on board, and look forward to her impact on our mission to bring families together and keep them safe."

Ms. Antonoff's impressive track record at Microsoft includes leading the effort to make SharePoint a tool people love to use to get work done, and founding the Step Up Program to increase the number of women in senior management roles. Commenting on her appointment, Ms. Antonoff said: "I'm delighted to step into a role dedicated to helping families protect and connect loved ones, pets, and the things they care about. I'm energized by the passion and talent that has grown the company to this point and eager to lean in to support the next wave of growth.."

As previously announced, Life360 President CJ Prober will leave the Company after a transitional period with Ms. Antonoff, and will continue in an advisory capacity for an extended time.

Key Performance Indicators

(in millions, except ARPPC, ARPPS, and ASP) Q1 2023 Q4 2022 Q1 2022 % QoQ % YoY Life360 Core4









Monthly Active Users (MAU) - Global 50.8 48.6 38.3 5 % 33 % U.S. 31.7 30.9 25.1 2 % 26 % International 19.1 17.6 13.2 8 % 44 % Australia 1.5 1.4 1.0 9 % 43 % Paying Circles - Total7 1.6 1.5 1.3 5 % 22 % U.S.7 1.2 1.2 1.0 4 % 15 % International7 0.4 0.3 0.2 10 % 50 % Average Revenue per Paying Circle (ARPPC)7 $ 120.70 $ 105.79 $ 88.98 14 % 36 %











Life360 Consolidated (Adjusted for 2022)5









Subscriptions7 2.1 2.1 1.8 4 % 18 % Average Revenue per Paying Subscription (ARPPS)7 $ 97.98 $ 87.54 $ 74.66 12 % 31 % Net hardware units shipped 0.6 1.7 0.7 (66) % (17) % Average Sale Price (ASP) $ 17.22 $ 11.48 $ 15.08 50 % 14 % Annualized Monthly Revenue (AMR)6 $ 239.5 $ 224.4 $ 166.1 7 % 44 %







4 Life360 Core metrics relate solely to the Life360 mobile application





5 With the exception of AMR, metrics presented for the three months ended March 31, 2022 are adjusted to include pre-acquisition data for Tile related to periods before the acquisition of Tile on January 5, 2022.





6 We use Annualized Monthly Revenue ("AMR") to identify the annualized monthly value of active customer agreements at the end of a reporting period. AMR includes the annualized monthly value of subscription, data and partnership agreements. All components of these agreements that are not expected to recur are excluded.





7 Metrics presented as of March 31, 2022 have been recast to reflect the calculations under a revised metric definition. We previously calculated Subscriptions and Paying Circles by including subscribers who had been billed as well as whose billing status was pending as of the end of the period. We have since revised our definition of these metrics to exclude subscribers whose billing status was pending as of the end of the period. Although the difference between the two methodologies does not result in any material changes, we have changed the definition of the metric because we believe it provides a better reflection of our results during a given period. Refer to Appendix A for additional information.

Global MAU increased 33% YoY to 50.8 million, with net additions of 2.2 million. U.S. MAU increased 26% YoY, with net adds of 0.7 million. International MAU increased 44% with net adds of 1.5 million. Australian MAU increased 43% YoY to 1.5 million.

Paying Circles returned to strong growth in Q1 following a stable performance in Q4'22 which felt the full impact of significant price changes undertaken over the course of Q3'22 and Q4'22 for new and existing U.S. iOS subscribers. Net additions of 73 thousand were achieved in Q1'23, with U.S. Paying Circles increasing 15% YoY despite the price increases, and International Paying Circles up 50% YoY. Cumulative new and upsell subscribers in the U.S. Membership plans were 856 thousand, up 37% YoY, comprising Silver 11%, Gold 84% and Platinum 6% of total.

Global ARPPC increased 36% YoY reflecting a full quarterly benefit of U.S. price increases implemented during Q4'22. International ARPPC increased 10% YoY.

Net Hardware Units Shipped reduced 66% from the prior quarter in line with the usual seasonality of the business, reducing 17% YoY due to continued weak consumer electronics demand. The Company's strategy to improve retail economics supported a 14% increase in ASP resulting from lower levels of promotions.

Operating Results

Revenue



Three Months Ended March 31,

2023

2022 ($ millions) (unaudited) Revenue





Subscription $ 51.7

$ 33.1 Hardware 10.0

9.6 Other 6.5

8.3 Total revenue $ 68.1

$ 51.0 Annualized Monthly Revenue - March $ 239.5

$ 166.1

Consolidated subscription revenue increased 56% YoY (including Tile and Jiobit). Life360 core subscription revenue increased 66% YoY supported by the 22% YoY uplift in Paying Circles, and 36% higher ARPPC.

Hardware revenue increased 3% YoY in a seasonally lower quarter for the business, due to reduced levels of discounts and promotions which supported higher Average Sale Price.

Other revenue reduced 21% YoY due to the strategic decision to shift to a single aggregated data arrangement.

March AMR increased 44% YoY due to a 22%% YoY uplift in Paying Circles and a full quarter benefit of U.S. price increases.

Gross Profit



Three Months Ended March 31,

2023

2022 ($ millions) (unaudited) Gross Profit $ 49.8

$ 35.1 Gross Margin 73 %

69 % Gross Margin (Subscription Only) 84 %

79 %

Gross profit margin increased to 73% due to the uplift in subscription only margins to 84% as higher pricing benefited revenue.

Operating expenses



Three Months Ended March 31,

2023

2022 ($ millions) (unaudited) Research and development $ 27.2

$ 25.7 Sales and marketing 24.3

23.2 Paid acquisition & TV 6.3

6.6 Commissions 10.3

8.3 Other sales and marketing 7.7

8.4 General and administrative 13.2

13.2 Total operating expenses $ 64.7

$ 62.2

YoY operating expense increased 4% YoY. Underlying expenses were lower due to reduced professional and external services, lower headcount, reduced lease expenses and paid acquisition spend. These were offset by severance payments associated with the reduction in workforce which was implemented during the quarter.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA8



Three Months Ended March 31,

2023

2022 ($ millions) (unaudited) Net Loss $ (14.1)

$ (25.2) EBITDA (12.6)

(25.0) Non-GAAP Adjustments 13.1

11.4 Adjusted EBITDA $ 0.5

$ (13.7)

Q1'23 delivered a positive Adjusted EBITDA contribution of $0.5 million versus an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $13.7 million in the prior corresponding period as a result of continued strong subscription revenue growth and the impact of additional cost efficiencies implemented in January.







8 EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. For definitions of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, a description of these non-GAAP measures' use, and a reconciliation of Net Loss to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, refer to the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section below.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow



Three Months Ended March 31,

2023

2022 ($ millions) (unaudited) Net cash used by operating activities $ (9.2)

$ (21.5) Net cash used by investing activities (0.4)

(112.5) Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities (4.7)

0.9 Net Decrease in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash (14.3)

(133.1) Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at the End of the Period $ 76.1

$ 98.2

Life360 ended Q1'23 with cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of $76.1 million .

. Net cash used in operating activities was $9.2 million . The differential to Adjusted EBITDA of $0.5 million was largely due to the cash costs of severance payments associated with the workforce reduction implemented during Q1, seasonally higher payments related to inventory purchases in Q4'22, and other working capital changes.

. The differential to Adjusted EBITDA of was largely due to the cash costs of severance payments associated with the workforce reduction implemented during Q1, seasonally higher payments related to inventory purchases in Q4'22, and other working capital changes. Net cash used in investing activities was $0.4 million which related to the capitalization of internally used software expenses.

which related to the capitalization of internally used software expenses. Net cash used in financing activities of $4.7 million largely relates to taxes paid for the settlement of equity awards offset by the proceeds of option exercise.

Earnings Guidance9

For CY23, Life360 expects to deliver:

Core Life360 subscription revenue growth (excluding Tile and Jiobit) in excess of 50% YoY;

Hardware revenue growth of 0% to 5%;

Other revenue of approximately $26 million ;

; Consolidated revenue of $300 million - $310 million ;

- ; Positive Adjusted EBITDA and Operating Cash Flow of $5 million - $10 million , with positive Adjusted EBITDA for each quarter of CY23, and positive Operating Cash Flow anticipated on a quarterly basis beginning with Q2'23 and for full CY23.10







9 In regard to forward looking non-GAAP guidance, we are not able to reconcile the forward-looking non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA measure to the closest corresponding GAAP measure without unreasonable efforts because we are unable to predict the ultimate outcome of certain significant items, which are fluid and unpredictable in nature. In addition, the Company believes such a reconciliation would imply a degree of precision that may be confusing or misleading to investors. These items include, but are not limited to, litigation costs, convertible notes and derivative liability fair value adjustments, and gains/losses on revaluation of contingent consideration. These items may be material to our results calculated in accordance with GAAP.





10 Adjusted EBITDA was previously referred to as Underlying EBITDA. For definitions of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA and the use of these non-GAAP measures, as well as a reconciliation of Net Loss to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, refer to the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section below.

Investor Conference Call

A conference call will be held today at 9.30am AEST, Tuesday 16 May 2023 (Monday 15 May U.S. PT at 4.30pm). The call will be held as a Zoom audio webinar.

Participants wishing to ask a question should register and join via their browser here. Participants joining via telephone will be in listen only mode.

Dial in details

Australia: +61 8 6119 3900

U.S.: +1 646 558 8656

Other countries: details

Meeting ID: 921 5139 8072

A replay will be available after the call at https://investors.life360.com

Authorization

Chris Hulls, Director, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Life360 authorized this announcement being given to ASX.

About Life360

Life360 operates a platform for today's busy families, bringing them closer together by helping them better know, communicate with, and protect the pets, people and things they care about most. The Company's core offering, the Life360 mobile app, is a market leading app for families, with features that range from communications to driving safety and location sharing. Life360 is based in San Mateo and had approximately 50.8 million monthly active users (MAU) as of March 31, 2023 located in more than 150 countries. For more information, please visit life360.com.

Tile, a Life360 company, locates millions of unique items every day by giving everything the power of smart location. Leveraging its superior nearby finding features and vast community that spans over 150 countries, Tile's cloud-based finding platform helps people find the things that matter to them most. In addition to trackers in multiple form factors for a variety of use cases, Tile's finding technology is embedded in over 55 partner products across audio, travel, wearables, smart home, and PC categories. For more information, please visit Tile.com.

Life360's CDIs are issued in reliance on the exemption from registration contained in Regulation S of the US Securities Act of 1933 (Securities Act) for offers of securities which are made outside the US. Accordingly, the CDIs have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act or the laws of any state or other jurisdiction in the US. As a result of relying on the Regulation S exemption, the CDIs are 'restricted securities' under Rule 144 of the Securities Act. This means that you are unable to sell the CDIs into the US or to a US person who is not a QIB for the foreseeable future except in very limited circumstances until after the end of the restricted period, unless the re-sale of the CDIs is registered under the Securities Act or an exemption is available. To enforce the above transfer restrictions, all CDIs issued bear a FOR Financial Product designation on the ASX. This designation restricts any CDIs from being sold on ASX to US persons excluding QIBs. However, you are still able to freely transfer your CDIs on ASX to any person other than a US person who is not a QIB. In addition, hedging transactions with regard to the CDIs may only be conducted in accordance with the Securities Act.

Forward-looking statements

This announcement and the accompanying conference call contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Life360 intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements regarding Life360's intentions, objectives, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future events, including Life360's expectations with respect to the financial and operating performance of its business, including subscription revenue, hardware revenue, consolidated revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, and operating cash flow; its capital position; future growth; future price increases and the impact of past price increases on future results of operations and churn; and the impact of past price increases on future results of operations and churn; user engagement, conversion and retention and subscriber churn; the strategic value and opportunities for Tile; operating cost savings, including through reduced commissions as well as Life360's expectations of any changes to the information disclosed herein. The words "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "project", "predict", "will", "forecast", "estimate", "likely", "intend", "outlook", "should", "could", "may", "target", "plan" and other similar expressions can generally be used to identify forward-looking statements. Indications of, and guidance or outlook on, future earnings or financial position or performance are also forward-looking statements. Investors and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as they involve inherent risk and uncertainty (both general and specific) and should note that they are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied on as an indication or guarantee of future performance. There is a risk that such predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. Subject to any continuing obligations under applicable law, Life360 does not undertake any obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this announcement, to reflect any change in expectations in relation to any forward-looking statements or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

Although Life360 believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and the assumptions upon which they are based are reasonable, Life360 can give no assurance that such expectations and assumptions will prove to be correct and, actual results may vary in a materially positive or negative manner. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainty, assumptions and contingencies, many of which are outside Life360's control, and are based on estimates and assumptions that are subject to change and may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include risks related to the preliminary nature of financial results, risks related to Life360's business, market risks, Life360's need for additional capital, and the risk that Life360's products and services may not perform as expected, as described in greater detail under the heading "Risk Factors" in Life360's ASX filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 23,2023 and other reports filed with the SEC. To the maximum extent permitted by law, responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise is disclaimed. This announcement should not be relied upon as a recommendation or forecast by Life360. Past performance information given in this document is given for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily a guide to future performance and no representation or warranty is made by any person as to the likelihood of achievement or reasonableness of any forward-looking statements, forecast financial information, future share price performance or any underlying assumptions. Nothing contained in this document nor any information made available to you is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise, representation, warranty or guarantee as to the past, present or the future performance of Life360.





Supplemental Business Metrics

(in millions, except ARPPC, ARPPS, and ASP) Q1 2022

Q2 2022

Q3 2022

Q4 2022

Q1 2023 Life360 Core Monthly Active Users (MAU) - Global 38.3

42.0

47.0

48.6

50.8 U.S. 25.1

27.0

29.3

30.9

31.7 International 13.2

14.9

17.7

17.6

19.1 Australia 1.0

1.1

1.2

1.4

1.5 Paying Circles - Total 1.3

1.4

1.5

1.5

1.6 U.S. 1.0

1.1

1.2

1.2

1.2 International 0.2

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.4 Average Revenue per Paying Circle (ARPPC) $ 88.98

$ 90.88

$ 93.55

$ 105.79

$ 120.70



















Life360 Consolidated (Adjusted for 2022)* Subscriptions 1.8

1.9

2.1

2.1

2.1 Average Revenue per Paying Subscription (ARPPS) $ 74.66

$ 76.38

$ 78.03

$ 87.54

$ 97.98 Net hardware units shipped 0.7

0.5

0.7

1.7

0.6 Average Sale Price (ASP) $ 15.08

$ 14.48

$ 15.63

$ 11.48

$ 17.22



















*Metrics presented for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 are adjusted and include pre-acquisition data for Tile related to periods before the acquisition of Tile on January 5, 2022

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (Dollars in U.S. $, in thousands, except share and per share data) (unaudited)



Three Months Ended March 31,

2023

2022 Subscription revenue $ 51,664

$ 33,062 Hardware revenue 9,984

9,647 Other revenue 6,495

8,261 Total revenue 68,143

50,970 Cost of subscription revenue 8,045

7,071 Cost of hardware revenue 9,426

7,806 Cost of other revenue 842

975 Total cost of revenue 18,313

15,852 Gross Profit 49,830

35,118 Operating expenses:





Research and development 27,197

25,737 Sales and marketing 24,316

23,242 General and administrative 13,209

13,246 Total operating expenses 64,722

62,225 Loss from operations (14,892)

(27,107) Other income (expense):





Convertible notes fair value adjustment 72

1,575 Derivative liability fair value adjustment 14

914 Other income (expense), net 843

(546) Total other income (expense), net 929

1,943 Loss before income taxes (13,963)

(25,164) Provision for income taxes 108

58 Net loss (14,071)  (25,222) Net loss per share, basic $ (0.21)

$ (0.41) Net loss per share, diluted $ (0.21)

$ (0.45) Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share, basic 65,592,780

61,192,576 Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share, diluted 65,592,780

61,879,502 Comprehensive loss





Net loss (14,071)

(25,222) Change in foreign currency translation adjustment 24

29 Total comprehensive loss $ (14,047)

$ (25,193)

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Dollars in U.S. $, in thousands, except share and per share data) (unaudited)



March 31,

2023

December 31,

2022 Assets





Current Assets:





Cash and cash equivalents $ 61,394

$ 75,444 Restricted cash, current 13,094

13,274 Accounts receivable, net 30,980

33,125 Inventory 8,797

10,826 Costs capitalized to obtain contracts, net 1,348

1,438 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 10,060

8,548 Total current assets 125,673

142,655 Restricted cash, noncurrent 1,601

1,647 Property and equipment, net 755

393 Costs capitalized to obtain contracts, noncurrent 775

626 Prepaid expenses and other assets, noncurrent 7,268

7,134 Operating lease right-of-use asset 571

802 Intangible assets, net 50,811

52,699 Goodwill 133,674

133,674 Total Assets $ 321,128

$ 339,630 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity





Current Liabilities:





Accounts payable 9,517

$ 13,791 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 22,981

27,015 Escrow liability 13,094

13,274 Convertible notes, current 4,870

3,513 Deferred revenue, current 30,143

30,056 Total current liabilities 80,605

87,649 Convertible notes, noncurrent 2,807

4,060 Derivative liability, noncurrent 87

101 Deferred revenue, noncurrent 2,312

2,706 Other liabilities, noncurrent 497

576 Total Liabilities $ 86,308

$ 95,092 Commitments and Contingencies (Note 11)





Stockholders' Equity





Common Stock 68

67 Additional paid-in capital 505,777

501,763 Notes due from affiliates 

(314) Accumulated deficit (271,043)

(256,972) Accumulated other comprehensive income 18

(6) Total stockholders' equity 234,820

244,538 Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 321,128

$ 339,630

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Dollars in U.S. $, in thousands) (unaudited)



Three Months Ended March 31,

2023

2022 Cash Flows from Operating Activities:





Net loss $ (14,071)

$ (25,222) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:





Depreciation and amortization 2,273

2,201 Amortization of costs capitalized to obtain contracts 439

936 Stock-based compensation expense 8,955

6,095 Compensation expense in connection with revesting notes 72

120 Non-cash interest and dividend expense, net 92

98 Convertible notes fair value adjustment (72)

(1,575) Derivative liability fair value adjustment (14)

(914) Gain on revaluation of contingent consideration 

(4,000) Non-cash revenue from affiliate (496)

(135) Inventory write-off 916

 Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:





Accounts receivable, net 2,145

17,155 Prepaid expenses and other assets (1,340)

(560) Inventory 1,113

(1,067) Costs capitalized to obtain contracts, net (498)

(1,121) Accounts payable (4,274)

(14,689) Accrued expenses and other liabilities (4,628)

(1,673) Deferred revenue 189

2,936 Other liabilities, noncurrent 

(122) Net cash used in operating activities (9,199)

(21,537) Cash Flows from Investing Activities:





Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired 

(112,306) Internal use software (348)

(159) Purchase of property and equipment (26)

 Net cash used in investing activities (374)

(112,465) Cash Flows from Financing Activities:





Proceeds from the exercise of options 714

1,508 Taxes paid related to net settlement of equity awards (5,731)

(716) Issuance of common stock 

85 Cash paid for deferred offering costs 

(4) Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities (4,703)

873 Net Decrease in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash (14,276)

(133,129) Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at the Beginning of the Period 90,365

231,345 Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at the End of the Period $ 76,089

$ 98,216 Supplemental disclosure:





Cash paid during the period for interest 

(15) Non-cash investing and financing activities:





Fair value of stock issued in connection with an acquisition $ 

$ 15,409 Fair value of warrants held as investment in affiliate 

5,474 Deferred capitalized costs 

700 Total non-cash investing and financing activities: $ 

$ 21,583

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We collect and analyze operating and financial data to evaluate the health of our business, allocate our resources and assess our performance.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

In addition to total revenue, net loss and other results under GAAP, we utilize non-GAAP calculations of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA"). EBITDA is defined as net loss, excluding (i) convertible notes and derivative liability fair value adjustments, (ii) provision (benefit) for income taxes, (iii) depreciation and amortization and (iv) other income (expense). Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net loss, excluding (i) convertible notes and derivative liability fair value adjustments, (ii) provision (benefit) for income taxes, (iii) depreciation and amortization, (iv) other income (expense), (v) stock-based compensation, (vi) acquisition and integration costs, (vii) non-recurring workplace restructuring costs, (viii) inventory write-off, and (ix) (gain)/loss on revaluation of contingent consideration.



The above items are excluded from EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA because these items are non-cash in nature, or because the amount and timing of these items are unpredictable, are not driven by core results of operations and render comparisons with prior periods and competitors less meaningful. We believe EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our results of operations, as well as providing useful measures for period-to-period comparisons of our business performance. Moreover, we have included EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in this media release because they are key measurements used by our management team internally to make operating decisions, including those related to operating expenses, evaluate performance, and perform strategic planning and annual budgeting. However, these non-GAAP financial measures are presented for supplemental informational purposes only, should not be considered a substitute for or superior to financial information presented in accordance with GAAP, and may be different from similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. As such, you should consider these non-GAAP financial measures in addition to other financial performance measures presented in accordance with GAAP, including various cash flow metrics, net loss and our other GAAP results.



The following table presents a reconciliation of net loss, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:



Three Months Ended March 31,

2023

2022

(in thousands) Net loss $ (14,071)

$ (25,222) Add (deduct):





Convertible notes fair value adjustment (72)

(1,575) Derivative liability fair value adjustment11 (14)

(914) Provision for income taxes 108

(58) Depreciation and amortization12 2,273

2,201 Other (income) expense, net (843)

546 EBITDA $ (12,619)

$ (25,022) Stock-based compensation 8,955

6,095 Acquisition and integration costs 

9,258 Non-recurring workplace restructuring costs13 3,254

 Inventory write-off14 916

 (Gain)/loss on revaluation of contingent consideration 

(4,000) Adjusted EBITDA $ 506

$ (13,669)







11 To reflect the change in value of the derivative liability associated with the July 2021 Convertible Notes. 12 Includes depreciation on fixed assets and amortization of acquired intangible assets. 13 Relates to non-recurring personnel and severance related expenses in connection with the workplace restructure announced on January 12, 2023. 14 Relates to the write-off of raw materials that have no alternative use to the Company following the decision to halt development.

Key Financial Metrics:



Three Months Ended March 31,

2023

2022

(in millions) Revenue





U.S. subscription revenue $ 45.7

$ 29.2 International subscription revenue 6.0

3.8 Subscription revenue 51.7

33.1 Hardware revenue 10.0

9.6 Other revenue 6.5

8.3 Total revenue 68.1

51.0







Non-GAAP Gross Margin15 51.5

35.5 Non-GAAP Gross Margin % 76 %

70 % Non-GAAP Subscription Gross Margin % 85 %

80 %







Research and Development (Non-GAAP) 19.6

22.1 Sales and Marketing (Non-GAAP)





User acquisition and TV costs 6.3

6.6 Other Sales and Marketing 5.1

6.5 Commissions 10.3

8.3 General & Administrative (Non-GAAP) 9.7

6.5 Non-GAAP Operating Expenses16 51.0

50.1







Net loss (14.1)

(25.2)







Adjusted EBITDA 0.5

(14.7) Adjusted EBITDA Margin % 1 %

(29) % Stock-based Compensation (9.0)

(6.1) Other Non-GAAP Adjustments (4.2)

(5.3) EBITDA $ (12.6)

$ (26.0)







15 Non-GAAP Gross Margin is calculated using Cost of revenue, Non-GAAP. For a reconciliation between Total Cost of revenue, GAAP and Total Cost of revenue, Non-GAAP, refer to the Cost of Revenue (GAAP to Non-GAAP reconciliation) section below.





16 Non-GAAP operating expenses are calculated using Research and Development, Non-GAAP, Sales and Marketing, Non-GAAP and General & Administrative, Non-GAAP expenses. For a reconciliation between Total operating expenses, GAAP and Total operating expenses, Non-GAAP, refer to the Operating expenses (GAAP to Non-GAAP reconciliation) section below.

Cost of Revenue (GAAP to Non-GAAP reconciliation):



Three Months Ended March 31,

2023

2022

(in millions) Cost of subscription revenue, GAAP $ 8.0

$ 7.1 Less: Depreciation and amortization (0.3)

(0.2) Less: Stock-based compensation (0.1)

(0.2) Less: Severance and other (0.1)

 Total Cost of subscription revenue, Non-GAAP $ 7.6

$ 6.6







Cost of hardware revenue, GAAP $ 9.4

$ 7.8 Less: Depreciation and amortization (0.9)

(0.9) Less: Stock-based compensation (0.2)

 Less: Severance and other (0.1)

 Less: Alignment of accounting policies19 

1.0 Total Cost of hardware revenue, Non-GAAP $ 8.2

$ 7.9







Cost of other revenue, GAAP $ 0.8

$ 1.0 Less: Stock-based compensation 

(0.1) Total Cost of other revenue, Non-GAAP $ 0.8

$ 0.9







Cost of revenue, GAAP $ 18.3

$ 15.9 Less: Depreciation and amortization (1.2)

(1.1) Less: Stock-based compensation (0.3)

(0.3) Less: Severance and other (0.2)

 Less: Alignment of accounting policies 

1.0 Total Cost of revenue, Non-GAAP $ 16.6

$ 15.5

Operating expenses (GAAP to Non-GAAP reconciliation):



Three Months Ended March 31,

2023

2022

(in millions) Research and development expense, GAAP $ 27.2

$ 25.7 Less: Stock-based compensation (4.8)

(3.6) Less: Severance and other (2.8)

 Total Research and development, Non-GAAP $ 19.6

$ 22.1







Sales and marketing expense, GAAP $ 24.3

$ 23.2 Less: Depreciation and amortization (1.1)

(1.0) Less: Stock-based compensation (0.9)

(0.8) Less: Severance and other (0.7)

 Less: User acquisition and TV costs (6.3)

(6.6) Less: Commissions (10.3)

(8.3) Total Sales and marketing expense, Non-GAAP $ 5.1

$ 6.5







General and administrative expense, GAAP $ 13.2

$ 13.2 Less: Depreciation and amortization 

(0.1) Less: Stock-based compensation (2.9)

(1.4) Less: Severance and other (0.6)

(5.3) Total General and administrative expense, Non-GAAP $ 9.7

$ 6.5

Appendix A: Historical KPIs

We previously calculated Subscriptions and Paying Circles by including subscribers whose billing status was both pending or completed as of the end of the period. We have since revised our definition of these metrics to exclude subscribers whose billing status was pending as of the end of the period. Although the difference between the two methodologies does not result in any material changes, we have changed the definition of the metric because we believe it provides a better reflection of our results during a given period. The table below includes historical metrics which have been recast to reflect the new definition.



Q1 2021

Q2 2021

Q3 2021

Q4 2021

Q1 2022

Q2 2022

Q3 2022

Q4 2022 Paying Circles - Global As Recast 0.9

1.0

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

1.5

1.5 As Previously Reported 0.9

1.0

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

1.5

1.5 % Change (1.4) %

(1.8) %

(1.7) %

(1.5) %

(1.6) %

(1.8) %

(1.8) %

(1.8) %































Paying Circles - U.S. As Recast 0.7

0.8

0.9

1.0

1.0

1.1

1.2

1.2 As Previously Reported 0.7

0.8

0.9

1.0

1.1

1.1

1.2

1.2 % Change (1.4) %

(1.8) %

(1.8) %

(1.4) %

(1.4) %

(1.7) %

(1.7) %

(1.5) %































Paying Circles - International As Recast 0.2

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.3

0.3

0.3 As Previously Reported 0.2

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.3

0.3

0.3 % Change (1.3) %

(2.0) %

(1.4) %

(1.7) %

(2.2) %

(2.3) %

(2.3) %

(2.6) %































ARPPC - Global As Recast $76.98

$81.26

$87.31

$90.11

$88.98

$90.88

$93.55

$105.79 As Previously Reported $75.92

$79.95

$85.78

$88.69

$87.66

$89.34

$91.84

$103.89 % Change 1.4 %

1.6 %

1.8 %

1.6 %

1.5 %

1.7 %

1.9 %

1.8 %































Subscriptions As Recast 1.3

1.4

1.6

1.7

1.8

1.9

2.1

2.1 As Previously Reported 1.3

1.5

1.6

1.8

1.8

2.0

2.1

2.1 % Change (1.0) %

(1.2) %

(1.2) %

(1.0) %

(1.1) %

(1.3) %

(1.3) %

(1.3) %































ARPPS As Recast $64.31

$67.57

$72.53

$74.87

$74.66

$76.38

$78.03

$87.54 As Previously Reported $63.70

$66.82

$71.65

$74.04

$73.88

$75.45

$77.00

$86.39 % Change 1.0 %

1.1 %

1.2 %

1.1 %

1.1 %

1.2 %

1.3 %

1.3 %

Appendix B: Select Historical Financial Metrics (unaudited)

Life360 intends to continue to include the key Non-GAAP financial metrics and GAAP to Non-GAAP reconciliation of cost of revenue and operating expenses that are included in pages 12 and 13 of this release. In order to assist the market, the Company is providing historical quarterly detail of these items for CY22 on pages 16 and 17 below.

Key Financial Metrics (GAAP):



Q1 2022

Q2 2022

Q3 2022

Q4 2022

(in millions) Subscription revenue $ 33.1

$ 36.0

$ 39.0

$ 45.2 Hardware revenue 9.6

6.8

11.7

19.7 Other revenue 8.3

6.0

6.5

6.4 Total revenue 51.0

48.8

57.2

71.3 Cost of subscription revenue 7.1

7.9

7.8

7.9 Cost of hardware revenue 7.8

10.8

9.3

17.5 Cost of other revenue 1.0

0.9

0.8

0.9 Total cost of revenue 15.9

19.6

17.9

26.3 Gross Profit 35.1

29.3

39.2

45.0 Operating expenses:













Research and development 25.7

27.0

24.6

25.1 Sales and marketing 23.2

22.9

24.2

22.1 General and administrative 13.2

12.8

11.6

10.5 Total operating expenses 62.2

62.8

60.4

57.6 Loss from operations (27.1)

(33.5)

(21.1)

(12.7) Other income (expense):











 Convertible notes fair value adjustment 1.6

0.5

(0.2)

(0.1) Derivative liability fair value adjustment 0.9

0.4

(0.1)

0.1 Other income (expense), net (0.5)

(0.5)

0.5

0.6 Total other income (expense), net 1.9

0.4

0.1

0.7 Loss before income taxes (25.2)

(33.0)

(21.0)

(12.1) Provision for (benefit from) income taxes 0.1



0.1

0.2 Net loss $ (25.2)

$ (33.0)

$ (21.1)

$ (12.3)

Key Financial Metrics (Non-GAAP):



Q1 2022

Q2 2022

Q3 2022

Q4 2022

(in millions) Revenue













U.S. subscription revenue $ 29.2

$ 31.8

$ 34.5

$ 40.6 International subscription revenue 3.8

4.1

4.5

4.8 Subscription revenue 33.1

35.9

39.0

45.4 Hardware revenue 9.6

9.6

11.9

19.6 Other revenue 8.3

8.3

6.5

6.4 Total revenue 51.0

48.7

57.3

71.3















Non-GAAP Gross Margin17 35.5

30.7

40.9

46.4 Non-GAAP Gross Margin % 70 %

63 %

71 %

65 % Non-GAAP Subscription Gross Margin % 80 %

79 %

81 %

84 %















Research and Development (Non-GAAP) 22.1

21.4

20.2

18.8 Sales and Marketing (Non-GAAP)













User acquisition and TV costs 6.6

7.0

7.6

5.2 Other Sales and Marketing 6.5

6.7

6.6

6.2 Commissions 8.3

6.4

8.0

8.7 General & Administrative (Non-GAAP) 6.5

8.2

7.9

5.9 Non-GAAP Operating Expenses18 50.1

49.7

50.2

44.8















Adjusted EBITDA (14.7)

(18.9)

(9.5)

1.5 Adjusted EBITDA Margin % (29) %

(39) %

(17) %

2 % Stock-based Compensation (6.1)

(10.4)

(8.0)

(10.2) Other Non-GAAP Adjustments (5.3)

(2.0)

(1.3)

(1.9) EBITDA (26.0)

(31.2)

(18.8)

(10.5)















Net loss $ (25.2)

$ (33.0)

$ (21.1)

$ (12.3)















Operating cash flow (21.7)

(16.8)

(16.4)

(2.2) Investing cash flow (112.3)

(1.5)

(0.3)

2.5 Financing cash flow 0.9

(0.6)

(3.8)

31.2















Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 98.2

79.3

58.9

90.4







17 Non-GAAP Gross Margin is calculated using Cost of revenue, Non-GAAP. For a reconciliation between Total Cost of revenue, GAAP and Total Cost of revenue, Non-GAAP, refer to the Cost of Revenue (GAAP to Non-GAAP reconciliation) section below.





18 Non-GAAP operating expenses are calculated using Research and Development, Non-GAAP, Sales and Marketing, Non-GAAP and General & Administrative, Non-GAAP expenses. For a reconciliation between Total operating expenses, GAAP and Total operating expenses, Non-GAAP, refer to the Operating expenses (GAAP to Non-GAAP reconciliation) section below.

Cost of Revenue (GAAP to Non-GAAP reconciliation):



Q1 2022

Q2 2022

Q3 2022

Q4 2022

(in millions) Cost of subscription revenue, GAAP $ 7.1

$ 7.9

$ 7.8

$ 7.9 Less: Depreciation and amortization (0.2)

(0.2)

(0.2)

(0.3) Less: Stock-based compensation (0.2)

(0.2)

(0.1)

(0.1) Total Cost of subscription revenue, Non-GAAP $ 6.6

$ 7.4

$ 7.4

$ 7.5















Cost of hardware revenue, GAAP $ 7.8

$ 10.8

$ 9.3

$ 17.5 Less: Depreciation and amortization (0.9)

(0.9)

(0.9)

(0.9) Less: Stock-based compensation 

(0.2)

(0.1)

(0.1) Less: Severance and other 



(0.1)

 Less: Alignment of accounting policies19 1.0





 Total Cost of hardware revenue, Non-GAAP $ 7.9

$ 9.7

$ 8.2

$ 16.5















Cost of other revenue, GAAP $ 1.0

$ 0.9

$ 0.8

$ 0.9 Less: Stock-based compensation (0.1)



(0.1)

(0.1) Total Cost of other revenue, Non-GAAP $ 0.9

$ 0.9

$ 0.8

$ 0.9















Cost of revenue, GAAP $ 15.9

$ 19.6

$ 17.9

$ 26.3 Less: Depreciation and amortization (1.1)

(1.1)

(1.1)

(1.2) Less: Stock-based compensation (0.3)

(0.4)

(0.3)

(0.3) Less: Severance and other 



(0.1)

 Less: Alignment of accounting policies19 1.0





 Total Cost of revenue, Non-GAAP $ 15.4

$ 18.0

$ 16.4

$ 24.9







19 Includes non-recurring costs reflecting the alignment of accounting policies attributable to the integration with Tile. As these adjustments are not deemed to be non-routine or one time in nature, they have not been added back to EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA.

Operating expenses (GAAP to Non-GAAP reconciliation):



Q1 2022

Q2 2022

Q3 2022

Q4 2022

(in millions) Research and development expense, GAAP $ 25.7

$ 27.0

$ 24.6

$ 25.1 Less: Stock-based compensation (3.6)

(5.3)

(4.2)

(6.3) Less: Severance and other 

(0.3)

(0.2)

 Total Research and development, Non-GAAP $ 22.1

$ 21.4

$ 20.2

$ 18.8















Sales and marketing expense, GAAP $ 23.2

$ 22.9

$ 24.2

$ 22.1 Less: Depreciation and amortization (1.0)

(1.1)

(1.1)

(1.1) Less: Stock-based compensation (0.8)

(1.3)

(0.9)

(0.7) Less: Severance and other 

(0.4)

(0.1)

(0.1) Less: User acquisition and TV costs (6.6)

(7.0)

(7.6)

(5.2) Less: Commissions (8.3)

(6.4)

(8.0)

(8.7) Total Sales and marketing expense, Non-GAAP $ 6.5

$ 6.7

$ 6.6

$ 6.2















General and administrative expense, GAAP $ 13.2

$ 12.8

$ 11.6

$ 10.5 Less: Depreciation and amortization (0.1)

(0.1)

(0.1)

(0.1) Less: Stock-based compensation (1.4)

(3.3)

(2.5)

(2.9) Less: Severance and other (5.3)

(1.2)

(1.0)

(1.6) Total General and administrative expense, Non-GAAP $ 6.5

$ 8.2

$ 7.9

$ 5.9

Note: The financial information in this announcement is unaudited and may not add or recalculate due to rounding. All references to $ are to U.S. $.

SOURCE Life360
Aggressive Expansion Demonstrates Company's Commitment to Miami

65 Route Miles of Network and Four On-Net Data Centers Planned by End of 2023

NEW YORK and MIAMI, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lightpath , an all-fiber, infrastructure-based connectivity provider that is revolutionizing how organizations connect to their digital destinations, today announced an update on its previously released entrance into the Miami market and the rapid buildout of its new, all-fiber network throughout the region.

Lightpath's new network in the Miami Central Business District (CBD) is operational and customer ready, including connectivity to two critical data centers located at 50 NE 9th Street (NAP of the Americas) and 36 NE 2nd Street (Digital Realty). Miami customers have access to Lightpath connectivity services including Internet, Ethernet, wavelengths, dark fiber, private networks, and direct connectivity to major Cloud providers. Additionally, customers can utilize long-haul services to connect to the entire Lightpath network of over 20,000 route miles serving over 13,500 service locations, including more than 100 data centers and seven cable landing stations.

Lightpath's aggressive Miami expansion includes 65 route miles of network and four on-net data centers by end of 2023 Tweet this

The company continues to rapidly expand beyond downtown Miami, with network under construction to the north and the west of the CBD. In total, Lightpath expects to have 65 route miles of network connecting four data centers operational by the end of 2023, with an additional five data centers coming on-net in early 2024.

"We are fully committed to the Miami market and the building out of a brand-new network here with brand new glass. The vibrant and rapidly growing business community in Miami deserves a new, modern fiber network that can serve the most challenging demands of organizations of all sizes, including Tier-1 enterprises, governments, educators, other carriers, and hyperscalers," commented Chris Morley, Lightpath's CEO. "Lightpath plans to build wide and deep in Miami and the surrounding region, with a goal of becoming the provider of choice in the market."

Lightpath's entrance into Miami is the second major east coast market that Lightpath has entered in an 18 month period, with its entrance into Boston announced in June 2021. For Miami, Lightpath initially announced a buildout of 55 route miles to be followed by a planned expansion of 80 route miles. With 65 route miles expected to be completed by the end of 2023, Lightpath has already exceeded its original plan for the market made less than six months ago.

Miami Lightpath customers have access to a comprehensive suite of all-fiber connectivity solutions including:

Wavelength services up to 800 Gbps

Ethernet services to 10 Gbps

Internet to 100 Gbps, with local peering

Dark Fiber and Private Networks

Cloud Connect, including Direct Connect to AWS and Azure

Voice services, starting in mid-2023

LP FlexNet, Lightpath's new SD-WAN solution

DDoS protection, managed security, and managed WiFi

Options to connect to area Cable Landing Stations

To learn more about Lightpath Miami, and to see a Miami network map, please visit lightpathfiber.com/miami .

Follow Lightpath on LinkedIn. For more information about Lightpath, visit lightpathfiber.com.

About Lightpath:

Lightpath is revolutionizing how customers connect to their digital destinations by combining our next-generation network with our next-generation customer service. Lightpath's advanced fiber-optic network offers a comprehensive portfolio of custom-engineered connectivity solutions with unparalleled performance, reliability, and security. Our consultative customer service means we work with you to design, deliver, and support the solution for your unique needs, faster and more easily than ever before. For over 30 years, thousands of enterprises, governments, and educators have trusted Lightpath to power their organization's innovation. Altice USA (NYSE: ATUS) owns a 50.01% controlling interest in Lightpath, and investment funds managed by Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners (MSIP) owns 49.99% of the Company.

Learn how Lightpath can connect you to your digital destinations. Visit lightpathfiber.com.

For media inquiries:

JSA for Lightpath

1-866-695-3629 ext. 13

[email protected]

SOURCE Lightpath
Dr. Victoria Piunova to discuss future of seaweed resin at Rethinking Materials Innovation and Investment Summit in London

LONDON, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Organizers of the 2023 Rethinking Materials Innovation and Investment Summit  the premier international materials showcase  announced today that Dr. Victoria Piunova, chief technology officer of Loliware  North America's fastest-growing seaweed materials company  will give a keynote address on May 16. The annual event regularly draws industry luminaries together from around the world for educational seminars and panel discussions about the newest technological breakthroughs.

"We believe seaweed is mission-critical to the planet's future and its potential to replace single-use plastics has now been proven  thanks to Dr. Piunova," said Loliware founder Sea F. Briganti. "She's truly at the helm of an important materials revolution, and we are honored to have her speak about the work she and her team are pioneering, as well as the challenges ahead for the entire industry."

Dr. Victoria Piunova to discuss future of seaweed resin at Rethinking Materials Innovation Summit in London Tweet this

Founded in 2016, Loliware is a leader among a growing number of regenerative businesses focusing on materials that support a stronger ecosystem. Loliware's seaweed-derived resins are fully compatible with existing manufacturing plastic extruding equipment, providing a unique, cost-effective way to replace single-use plastics at scale. The seaweed can be processed into Loliware's materials at local facilities and made into a wide array of products which compost easily and enrich the soil.

Prior to joining Loliware, Piunova spent many years at IBM Research, where she held the prestigious title of IBM Master Inventor. She has more than a decade of experience in sustainable materials development for applications in biotechnology and sensing. She has authored more than 30 publications in peer-reviewed journals and was issued her 25th U.S. patent two weeks ago.

Piunova earned a Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry/Materials Science from the University of Southern California and completed her post-doctoral studies at Caltech under Nobel laureate Robert H. Grubbs. In 2021, she received the American Chemical Society's "Young Industrial Polymer Scientist Award" for outstanding industrial innovation and creativity in polymer science. She also received the American Chemical Society's "Young Investigator Award," which honors academic and industrial scientists for their outstanding innovative contributions to the field of polymer chemistry.

About Loliware (https://www.loliware.com)

Loliware, the world's first seaweed resin company, is replacing single-use plastics with products that are designed to disappear. This woman-owned tech company is partnering with experts in regenerative aquaculture from Maine to Indonesia to expand the 'blue economy' with its proprietary SEATech resins and products. Made from easily compostable seaweed, Loliware's Blue Ocean straws are already a favorite among some of the nation's most famous chefs, restaurant chains, and eco-chic hotels. Now available to license worldwide, Loliware's SEATech resins are advancing our planet toward a plastic-free, decarbonized future.

SOURCE Loliware Inc.
For fans of aviation history, from a certain perspective, all signs point to Albany.

Local historians are developing a plan for a city-owned hangar where, they hope, Albany elected officials will see more value in a regional museum than the potential income pulled off of renters storing airplanes between flights.

Debra Plymate stood with some friends in the 95-year-old hangar in early May and talked about the literal, descriptive signs visible from the air  aviation marks showing a north-south route over the Willamette Valley.

Plymate is based out of Independence, where her Oregon Department of Aviation official father helped build the state airport where she lives with a runway on one side of her house and a highway on the other.

We have a plane in the hangar, and a car in the garage, Plymate said.

Aviators

Shes an avid aviator, a flight instructor and a member of fraternal organizations that promote pilots who are women. Plymate wore a windbreaker covered in silhouetted aircraft, place names, all stitched and embroidered in shiny thread on aviation-related patches.

In an industry thats barely 120 years old, Plymate is a close proxy to some of those who helped build up Oregon aviation.

Plymate talked about a flight plan made with a student in early May that would take her aircraft over a broad, rusted metal roof in Tangent where markings in faded white paint direct flyers north to Albany.

Debbie Origer began researching the hangar after hearing a presentation about Evelyn Burleson, who ran a flight school out of Albany and managed general aviation as the airports fixed-base operator in the late 1930s.

Origer said shes passionate about the hangar as a catchment for the stories of women in mid-Willamette Valley aviation.

Clearly so was Burleson, who actually lived in the hangar for a few years.

So we have a special connection there, Origer said.

To people who know her story, Burlesons figure soared over the Albany region. She wrote about her adventures in a column  Wings Over Willamette  for the Albany Democrat-Herald.

She trained everyday folks to fly in the Civil Pilot Training Program, part of the nationwide effort to build up skills and technology and stockpiles of weapons ahead of United States war against Axis forces in the South Pacific and Europe.

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.

In October 1941, Burleson flew an overwing Taylorcraft monoprop plane from Canada to Mexico  more than 1,500 miles nonstop in an aircraft not built for the trip.

Photos in the museum on May 6 showed Burleson in the cockpit of the tiny tube steel and linen-skinned aircraft exhausted and laughing just after the flight, the passenger seat behind her occupied by a large aftermarket fuel tank.

Just two months later, the Imperial Japanese Navy bombed the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu.

Origer couldnt recall which of the markings were scrubbed from the flight line at the public airport and the surrounding roofs in response. Was it the compass rose? The numbers indicating which runway?

I think it was the air markings, Plymate said. I dont think the compass rose would have been the threat to security that air markings were.

Hangar

Photos from the air show the Albany hangar by itself in an unpaved field. Looking west, Waverly Lake is visible in the background and not much of anything else.

Other buildings crop up later, sometime between the photos showing groups of smiling cadets and flying clubs. Grass fields disappear and neighborhoods of houses and the buildings of Kohls and Costo appear over the decades, hemming the air strip in.

At some point in the 1950s, airport operators picked up and moved the hangar east, closer to the present-day flightline, to make room for Interstate 5.

Now some are trying to find a home for the photos, documents and airframes that delineate Albanys aviation story.

The hangar today serves general aviation. Renters can lease space from the city of Albany.

At a presentation on May 8, Origer was among others who pitched another use for the hangar: Allow it to remain a working aviation space, but as a public venue rather than a source of rent from plane storage.

Origer and Plymate are with a womens flying club founded in 1929. The same year operators built Albanys hangar, and around the same time Oregon formally commissioned Albany Municipal Airport.

The story goes Amelia Earhart and 98 of her friends formed the Ninety-Nines in 1928. They were barnstormers and freight haulers who flew 50-horsepower aircraft.

An executive at New York-based Tiffany & Co. designed the groups badge, a pin bearing interlocking numerals 99.

Edith Foltz, the first woman to hold a high-ranking state leader position in the National Aeronautic Association, helped found Oregon chapters of the aviation club including a Portland-based chapter.

Organizers called the chapter encapsulating the rest of the Willamette Valley the Oregon Pines Ninety-Nines.

That group will host the Northwest region of the club in 2029, when both the Ninety-Nines and hangar turn 100.

History

Mark Baxter didnt have to travel far from his home base of Corvallis to make the Albany open house in early May.

He looked through the open hangar door to the flightline, where an underwing aircraft was touching down. Baxter described the wheat field where a 12-year-old Charles Langmack put down a biplane, the first use of what would become Albanys airport.

Right there, where that plane landed, Baxter said. Langmack taught himself to fly. And thats incredible to me.

Langmack and his brothers taught others to fly at Albany Municipal.

By the time the state formally recognized the airfield, Langmack may have been the first formally recognized pilot in Oregon.

Lets put it this way  his pilots license was signed by Orville Wright, Baxter said.

Baxter describes himself as a history nut. Hes on the board of the Oregon Aviation Historical Society.

He flies a 1941 Taylorcraft he restored, similar to the 1940 plane that Burleson used in her nonstop international flight.

Baxter is restoring another 1940 Taylorcraft, just a few serial numbers removed from Burlesons that was destroyed in a fatal crash in the mid-20th century.

As he turned his eye from other efforts elsewhere in the state, he found Albany was central in Oregons early aviation scene. That uncontrolled, unpaved strip in a farmers field likely is the oldest continuously used airport in Oregon.

Ive lived here all my life and how did I never know this, Baxter said.

Baxter said preservationists are trying to get a nonprofit started that could receive funding through Oregons State Historic Preservation Office. The office is aware of the efforts. So is Albanys City Council.

Its too early to say, but another organization like Albany Regional Museum could annex the hangar.

The airport was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. And the hangar and 59ish acres under it are one of Albanys four historic districts.

A sign names the field Historic Albany Municipal. But otherwise, there isnt a lot of public invitation to interact with the space.

I dont think they really get the history thats here, Baxter said.
"HEPATITIS A IS PREVENTABLE"

SEATTLE, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bill Marler of Marler Clark, the National Food Safety Law Firm, has represented hundreds of hepatitis A victims who became exposed and infected after eating at a restaurant. Marler believes that all food-handlers should be vaccinated against this deadly pathogen.

"HEPATITIS A IS PREVENTABLE" Marler Clark, The National Food Safety Law Firm, Calls for Vaccination of Food-Handlers Tweet this Hepatitis A is Preventable - Vaccinate Food Workers

Recently, Marler Clark launched a campaign aimed at preventing hepatitis A cases in the United States. To promote universal vaccination of food handlers, Bill Marler sent t-shirts to national food safety decision makers at the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the National Restaurant Association. The t-shirts will also be available at the IAFP Conference in July 2023.

Over the past several years, there has been an ongoing outbreak of hepatitis A in the United States. As of February 2, 2023, there have been a total of 44,779 cases with a 61% hospitalization rate (approximately 27,342 hospitalizations). The death toll stands at 421. Since the outbreak started in 2016, 37 states have reported cases to the CDC. Presently, approximately 5% of all hepatitis A outbreaks are linked to infected food-handlers.

In September 2021, a total of 51 cases were identified in a hepatitis A outbreak linked to Famous Anthony's restaurant locations in Virginia. Thirty-one cases included hospitalizations, and at least 4 patients died. Ultimately, the outbreak investigation revealed that a cook, who also had risk factors associated with hepatitis A, had been infected with hepatitis A while working at multiple Famous Anthony's restaurant locations. Overwhelmed by the number of victims who pursued legal action for their injuries, Famous Anthony's filed for bankruptcy and several of its locations have been closed.

A mandatory vaccination policy for all food service workers was shown to be effective at reducing infections and economic burden in St. Louis County, Missouri. From 1996 to 2003, Clark Country, Nevada had 1,523 confirmed cases of hepatitis A, which was higher than the national average. Due to these alarming rates, Clark County implemented a mandatory vaccination policy for food service workers. As a result, in 2000, the hepatitis A rates significantly dropped and reached historic lows in 2010. The county removed the mandatory vaccine rule in 2012 and are now part of the ongoing hepatitis A outbreak.

The tragedy of preventable hepatitis A outbreaks cannot be overstated. Affordable prevention of future tragedies like the Famous Anthony's outbreak is possible and necessary. The time has come to at least recommend vaccinations to food service workers to reduce the spread of hepatitis A.

About Bill Marler: An accomplished attorney and national expert in food safety, William (Bill) Marler has become the most prominent foodborne illness lawyer in America and a major force in food policy in the U.S. and around the world. Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm , has represented thousands of individuals in claims against food companies whose contaminated products have caused life altering injury and even death.

SOURCE Marler Clark, The Nation's Food Safety Law Firm
Company's Charlotte division wins "Marketing Professional of the Year" and other prestigious

distinctions at 2023 gala

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - The Home Builders Association of Greater Charlotte honored Mattamy Homes, North America's largest privately owned homebuilder, with multiple coveted accolades for marketing and sales excellence in an April gala billed as the 2023 Major Achievements in Marketing Excellence Awards (MAME).

Team PMP of the Greater Charlotte Home Builders Association judged and presented the awards to showcase members' professional achievements. Mattamy's Charlotte division took home the following honors:

Members of the Mattamy Charlotte team celebrate winning awards at the Home Builders Association of Greater Charlotte's 2023 Major Achievements in Marketing Excellence. (CNW Group/Mattamy Homes Limited)

Best Community Amenity Center

Sonata at Mint Hill is a community of single-family, brick ranch homes in Mint Hill . The award-winning clubhouse features 1,600 square feet of gathering spaces, including a catering kitchen. Residents also enjoy outdoor amenities including a pavilion, heated saltwater pool, pickleball court, bocce ball court, grilling station and horseshoe pits.

Sonata at is a community of single-family, brick ranch homes in . The award-winning clubhouse features 1,600 square feet of gathering spaces, including a catering kitchen. Residents also enjoy outdoor amenities including a pavilion, heated saltwater pool, pickleball court, bocce ball court, grilling station and horseshoe pits. Best Interior Merchandising of a Detached Model

(Category: single-family priced under $700,000 )

The Martin  Sonata at Mint Hill

The  Sonata at Best Interior Merchandising of a Detached Model

(Category: townhome)

The Frasier  Northfield Crossing

The Frasier  Northfield Crossing Marketing Professional of the Year

Mike Smedley, Senior Marketing Manager

In addition, 14 Mattamy Homes sales consultants earned MAME 2023 Sales Achievement Honors across the Silver, Gold and Platinum categories.

"Our performance at the 2023 MAME Awards once again demonstrates the stellar efforts, creativity and marketing savvy of our team," said Mike McElroy, President of Mattamy Homes' Charlotte Division. "These honors result from all our efforts to provide high-quality living experiences for our Charlotte-area customers. We are gratified and honored to receive wide-ranging recognition from the Home Builders Association of Greater Charlotte."

About Mattamy Homes

Mattamy Homes is the largest privately owned homebuilder in North America, with 40-plus years of history across the United States and Canada. Every year, Mattamy helps more than 8,000 families realize their dream of homeownership. In the United States, the company is represented in 11 markets  Dallas, Charlotte, Raleigh, Phoenix, Tucson, Jacksonville, Orlando (where its US head office is located), Tampa, Sarasota, Naples and Southeast Florida  and in Canada, its communities stretch across the Greater Toronto Area, as well as in Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton. Visit www.mattamyhomes.com for more information.

About the Home Builders Association of Greater Charlotte

The Home Builders Association of Greater Charlotte has served Charlotte's home building industry for 75 years and represents over 1,200 company members. Members include new-home builders, remodelers, developers, suppliers and sales and marketing professionals. The association provides members with a wide range of resources and information on issues involving the homebuilding industry such as land use, economic and legal matters. The HBA also provides opportunities for business development, education, professional growth and networking.

SOURCE Mattamy Homes Limited
HAYWARD, Calif., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Microvi and the City of Goodyear unveil Arizona's first groundwater biological nitrate treatment system. With climate change creating uncertainty in future water supplies and population changes leading to ever-increasing demands, the future of drinking water resources will continue to be a challenge for water managers. Goodyear has reduced risk by implementing Microvi's commercial groundwater treatment system  their investment ensures Goodyear continues to meet the water needs of their residents.

The City of Goodyear is a leader in the adoption of new technology, seeking innovative solutions for their residents. The selection of Microvi's modular and scalable MNE technology and bioreactor provides proven performance for the treatment of nitrate in groundwater. "Goodyear's new biological treatment system helps meet the water quality goals of our growing city," said Goodyear Water Services Director Barbara Chappell. "The system has been easy to implement and has provided a cost-effective solution for our customers."

At the Goodyear facility, Microvi's commercial plant can clean millions of gallons of water within a small footprint with no secondary waste stream like ion exchange. Construction of the plant was done by Felix  a full-service contractor focused on water and wastewater projects in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. "We were thrilled to have played a role in the historic delivery and installation of a Microvi system in Arizona," said, Archie Lopez, President of Felix Construction. "We take pride in our unwavering commitment to building new and innovative projects that serve our community's needs."

Operation began in the Fall of 2022 and since full-scale operation commenced, the Microvi MNE treatment plant has consistently treated the nitrate in groundwater to a concentration below 3 mg/L, exceeding drinking water quality standards.

"For the last decade, Microvi has focused on bringing real solutions for massive water issues around the globe. Nitrate pollution in water is linked to major health problems including cancer. We could not be prouder to offer solutions that positively impact the lives of people and the environment," said Dr. Fatemeh Shirazi, CEO of Microvi. "Microvi's commercial product has now been implemented both in California and Arizona. We are excited by the adoption of our technology, as it is bringing new solutions to the water industry."

About Microvi

Microvi is a transformative biology company based in the San Francisco Bay Area that delivers next-generation biotechnologies for the water, wastewater, bio-based chemicals, biofuels and biopharma, industries. Microvi offers commercial technologies around the world to reduce waste, increase productivity and provide disruptive economics across the value chain. Learn more at www.microvi.com.

CONTACT:

Microvi Marketing

[email protected]

510-344-0668

SOURCE Microvi Biotech, Inc.
DETROIT, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Miller Johnson is relocating its Detroit office to the iconic Ally Detroit Center, 500 Woodward Avenue, effective June 1, 2023.

The newly renovated, client-focused design gives the firm the flexibility to add more talent, increase collaboration space to meet clients' needs, and continue to expand its services into southeastern Michigan.

"As we continue to grow by better serving our clients across the state of Michigan, Miller Johnson's increased investment in Detroit aligns perfectly with the firm's mission statement and values," said Rich Sorota, Chief Executive Officer of Miller Johnson. "Being proactive in how we provide meaningful solutions and peace of mind at a great value for our clients is at the core of how we run our business. Our new office improves our ability to collaborate with our clients, each other, and community."

"Continued expansion in Detroit is an important step in our firm's growth strategy that will allow us to strengthen our talent bench and better serve our clients," said Jeff Muth, Administrative Member of Miller Johnson's Detroit office. "The energy, belief and commitment that Detroiters bring to the city's development is consistent with how Miller Johnson engages with its clients and communities. We are extremely excited to continue that engagement in Detroit."

Miller Johnson is a full-service firm providing expertise in corporate M&A, employment and labor, real estate, commercial litigation, intellectual property, school law, immigration, and private client representation. The firm's highly regarded Medical Recovery practice offers litigation and counseling services to hospital systems and health care providers seeking to obtain patient insurance reimbursements.

"Miller Johnson brings together great people who are also outstanding lawyers. This results in a highly collaborative work environment that achieves excellent results for our clients. I couldn't be more excited to contribute to our growing presence in Detroit," said Emily Palacios, partner in Miller Johnson's real estate and litigation practices.

In August 2020, Miller Johnson's Detroit office became the firm's third Michigan location  joining Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Miller Johnson's full new Detroit address will be:

500 Woodward Ave., Suite 2800, Detroit, MI 48226

About Miller Johnson

Miller Johnson is a full-service firm providing legal counsel to businesses and individuals in corporate, employment and labor, litigation, employee benefits, and private client representation from its offices in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo. Since 1959, Miller Johnson has been Michigan-based and has served clients worldwide.

Contact:

Lance Hartman

616.831.1861

[email protected]

SOURCE Miller Johnson
Bill making assaults against healthcare workers a felony is part of a larger effort to improve violence prevention in healthcare facilities

BOSTON, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lawmakers will hold a hearing at the State House on Tuesday, May 16 on legislation that would strengthen the penalties for assaulting a healthcare worker  part of a comprehensive effort by nurses and healthcare professionals to address an epidemic of violence in Massachusetts healthcare facilities.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Mike Brady and Representative John Mahoney and supported by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, would increase the penalties for assaulting emergency medical technicians, ambulance operators, ambulance attendants and other healthcare providers, including nurses, and make it a felony punishable by up to five years in state prison.

"Violence in healthcare has been an epidemic for many years, and the COVID-19 pandemic put healthcare workers at even greater risk for harm," said MNA President and ICU nurse Katie Murphy. "Passing this bill to strengthen the penalty for assaulting a nurse or healthcare worker would represent a significant step toward addressing the menace of workplace violence."

Legislative Hearing Details

What: Legislative hearing for An Act Strengthening the Penalty for Assault or Assault and Battery on an Emergency Medical Technician, Ambulance Operator, Ambulance Attendant or Health Care Provider (S.906/H.1657), sponsored by Senator Mike Brady and Representative John Mahoney.

Where: Virtually and in Room A-2, State House, Boston MA. Virtual hearing access for media/public: https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/4533. Link will go live for the video shortly before the hearing.

When: Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Who: Registered nurses from across the Commonwealth who have been assaulted or who have experienced workplace violence; State lawmakers who co-sponsored the bill.

Among those testifying about their experiences will be a Brigham and Women's Hospital emergency department nurse, and an emergency department nurse from Good Samaritan Medical Center, where an assault took place on May 12 following a stabbing outside Brockton High School, according to media reports.

The Problem: Assaults on Healthcare Workers are Frequent and Violent

A new White Paper published by the MNA uses hospital data reported to OSHA to show the spike in injury and illness among healthcare workers in 2020. Nurses in particular saw an exceptionally large increase in the number of injuries and illnesses, up from roughly 1,500 in 2017 to 3,420 in 2020.

Healthcare workers experience the most non-fatal workplace violence as compared to other professions, accounting for nearly 70% of all non-fatal workplace assaults, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

More than 80% of emergency department nurses have been the victim of workplace violence, according to the Emergency Nurses Association.

During the pandemic, WBUR reported that two to three Massachusetts General Hospital nurses are assaulted every day.

A growing number of nurses fear violence in their workplace and view it as a serious problem, according to the 2023 "State of Nursing in Massachusetts." The threat is even more dire among nurses in direct care at hospitals.

24% of nurses said they do not feel safe in their workplace, an increase from 9% of nurses in 2019 and 17% in 2021.

63% of nurses said workplace violence and abuse is a serious problem, up from 42% in 2021.

76% of nurses in direct care at a teaching hospital said workplace violence and abuse is a serious problem.

79% of nurses in direct care at a community hospital said workplace violence and abuse is a serious problem.

Additional Legislative Solutions for Healthcare Workplace Violence

An Act Requiring Health Care Employers to Develop and Implement Programs to Prevent Workplace Violence (S.1539/H .2330) would require healthcare employers to perform an annual safety risk assessment and, based on those findings, develop, and implement programs to minimize the danger of workplace violence to employees and patients.





would require healthcare employers to perform an annual safety risk assessment and, based on those findings, develop, and implement programs to minimize the danger of workplace violence to employees and patients. An Act Providing Safeguards for Home Healthcare Workers, (S.1472/H.2128), would require safety assessments of all home healthcare settings prior to services being provided, including psychiatric/psychological/emotional status of patients and any other individuals who may be present. Home healthcare providers would be empowered to leave dangerous situations without loss of pay or disciplinary action and would be provided time off for healthcare workers assaulted on the job to address legal issues.

Why Nurses and Healthcare Workers Need Increased Penalties

More than half of workplace assaults in healthcare settings go unreported. Nurses and other healthcare providers often do not pursue charges when they do not feel the assault is taken seriously by their employer or the judicial system.

Under current law, police officers cannot arrest an assailant if they do not personally witness an assault on a healthcare provider. Under this bill, they would be empowered to arrest on the spot whether or not the officer personally witnesses the assault.

Felony charges would eliminate the step of a nurse having to appear before a Court Magistrate to determine whether or not a case against an assailant will proceed.

MassNurses.org  Facebook.com/MassNurses  Twitter.com/MassNurses  Instagram.com/Massnurses

Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 25,000 members advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Legislature and regulatory agencies on healthcare issues affecting nurses and the public.

SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association
Spectacular prices were paid for investment-grade Class 3 and sporting arms

DENVER, Pa., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Collectors turned out in force for Morphy's April 11-13 Firearms & Militaria Auction, which surpassed even seasoned experts' pre-sale expectations as it closed the books at nearly $7 million. Morphy's president and principal auctioneer Dan Morphy reported an average selling price of $5,600 per lot, a result he attributes to the firearms department's focus on "quality consignments versus volume" and a lineup of Class 3 and sporting arms that discerning collectors found hard to resist.

Extremely rare and desirable German WWII Model FG-42 machine gun, Model E 1st Model. Shoulder-fired select-fire gun designed to use full-power 8mm Mauser cartridge. Only about 2,000 examples of this model were made, with few returning to the US during and after WWII. Sold for $456,000 against an estimate of $250,000-$350,000 Circa-1988 Armi Fabbri bespoke over/under shotgun with demi-bloc 27in nitro proof blued steel barrels, serial no. 'E701,' Italian proof marks. Flawless example with engraving by Claudio Tomasoni, presented in fitted Fabbri leather case. Sold for $84,000

Many eyes were on the exceptionally rare Class 3 weapons, which are strictly controlled and seldom appear for sale in the open marketplace. The investment-grade selection was led by an ultra-rare and desirable German WWII Model FG-42 machine gun, Model E 1st Model. One of only about 2,000 examples made, it came from the estate of its original American owner, a 101st Airborne paratrooper who personally retrieved it during the war and shipped it home from Germany. He registered it in 1948. Estimated at $250,000-$350,000, it soared to a final price of $456,000.

Another prized entry was the exceptionally rare original WWII silenced Sten Mark IV (S) machine gun. Manufactured specifically for use by special operations forces during the pre-invasion of Japan, it is one of the rarest of all British-made machine guns registered for private ownership in the US. Its provenance shows that it was originally issued to an American officer who was training in England during WWII. In 1998, it was featured in an article in Small Arms Review. The Sten Mark IV (S) sold well above estimate at Morphy's, reaching $129,000.

The sporting arms category was flush with impeccably built, beautifully engraved guns. A circa-1988 Armi Fabbri bespoke over/under shotgun with demi-bloc 27in nitro proof blued steel barrels, Italian proof marks, and the serial number "E701" was described in Morphy's auction catalog as "flawless." Master engraver Claudio Tomasoni decorated the gun with wonderful game scenes, floral bouquets and tight scrolls. Offered together with its fitted Fabbri leather case, it was bid to a within-estimate price of $84,000.

A .40-caliber percussion Kentucky long rifle made around 1835 by master gunsmith John Armstrong of Emmitsburg, Maryland, took the term "rarity" to a new level, as it is one of only four original Armstrong percussion rifles known to exist. Its features include a superbly carved stock, brass inlaid plate on the barrel signed JOHN ARMSTRONG, and a handmade percussion lock script-signed J A. Boasting impeccable condition, the Golden Age rifle previously resided in the Joseph Kindig collection. It is now the property of a new owner who paid $72,000.

A documented original Colt No. 5 "Texas Model" Paterson Single-Action Percussion Revolver was of a type associated with the Republic of Texas and noted for its use by Texas Rangers and Texas Navy. Numbered "996," it was one of only 1,000 such firearms produced in total between 1838 and 1840. Its line of provenance could be traced back to 1946, and it came with a 2006 John Sexton appraisal document. It sold for $57,600.

An extraordinary witness to history, a bright red, star-studded license plate that was once affixed to the front of General Douglas MacArthur's command car rose to $31,200 against an estimate of $10,000-$20,000.

Morphy Auctions is currently accepting quality consignments for its August 15-18, 2023 Firearms & Militaria Auction. To discuss, call Dan Morphy tollfree at 877-968-8880 or email [email protected]. Visit Morphy's online at www.morphyauctions.com.

Media Contact:

Dan Morphy

877-968-8880, [email protected]

SOURCE Morphy Auctions
BRUSSELS, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading security experts have expressed concerns over the proposed revision of Article 45.2 of the eIDAS regulation by the European Union (EU), citing potential risks to web authentication and encryption standards. A new report, produced by the Economist Impact Studios for Mozilla and the #SecurityRiskAhead campaign, includes findings from global experts from both industry and civil society.

The report shows that Article 45.2 could weaken cybersecurity for web users, leaving them vulnerable to state surveillance and targeted interception of internet traffic. The law could effectively bypass existing security checks as browsers would be mandated to support EU-designed Qualified Web Authentication Certificates (QWACs). QWACs are not available for free and have weaker security properties than the most commonly-used certificates by browsers.

Joseph Lorenzo Hall, Senior Vice President for Strong Internet at the Internet Society, emphasized that web security is constantly evolving and adapting, and by putting it into legislation, the proposed revision does not take into account the dynamic nature of security threats. "By bolting an exception mechanism on for EU government trusted entities, browsers will be forbidden, for example, from revoking trust for certain things. This means that you could have a group of websites online that are being spoofed or being eavesdropped upon by some compromised EU-anointed authority. And we are handcuffed and cannot do things that we would normally do very quickly to protect the people of the internet."

Marshall Erwin, Vice President and Chief Security Officer at Mozilla Corporation, said: "The real problem with Article 45.2 of eIDAS is it's going to set a precedent that regimes around the globe are going to follow  and as a result not only undermine web encryption in general, but then also put dissidents, and journalists, at immediate risk."

Arvid Vermote, Worldwide Chief Information Security Officer at GlobalSign, a Certificate Authority, highlighted the risk of having 30 additional supervisory bodies that can define a company as globally trusted, up from just four. He states, "For me, that would be an astronomical problem," as it could potentially allow for the targeted interception of internet traffic if compromised.

Echoing the other interviewees, Scott Helme an authentication and security researcher pointed to the importance of having free certificates which "have been fundamental in completely transitioning web security."

Visit securityriskahead.eu

SOURCE Mozilla
AMSTERDAM and OSLO, Norway, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MPC Energy Solutions (MPCES) strengthens its commitment to deliver renewable energy solutions and expands its development footprint in Latin America by entering Panama. Through new developments focusing on ground-mounted solar PV, the company enhances its ambition to significantly expand its project pipeline in Latin America.

"In line with our business strategy and geographical focus, we are dedicated to developing projects located in Panama and other Latin American and Caribbean nations. It is exciting to see the continuous growth of our diversified pipeline as we take further steps towards helping to accelerate the energy transition in the region," says Fernando Zuniga, Managing Director Latin America and Caribbean of MPC Energy Solutions.

MPCES and its partners have already identified sites and grid connection capacity for combined 60-70 MWp with immediate start of development works and the aim to grow this local pipeline further through own developments and/or acquisitions. The new development projects will support the company's goal to reach 800 MW of ready-to-build projects in the region by 2025 and to achieve 1,000 MW of sustainable energy assets across Latin America and the Caribbean by 2027.

"As Panama's government looks to decentralise and diversify its energy generation, we are committed to contribute to the expansion of the country's green energy sources. Panama possesses excellent solar irradiation, a well-functioning and mature electricity market for independent power producers, PPA and spot market settlements in USD and the cheapest cost of debt financing in the region. These factors are key drivers for our decision to enter the market and develop economically attractive assets," says Fernando Zuniga.

Panama has made significant strides in developing hydropower projects, producing 54% of its electricity through hydroelectric power. To accelerate its commitment to tackling climate change, increasing the country's resilience, and meeting its growing energy demands, Panama has pledged that 50% of the country's generation capacity will come from renewables by 2050, including solar and wind.

About MPC Energy Solutions

MPC Energy Solutions ("MPCES") is a global provider of sustainable energy and primarily focuses on low-carbon energy infrastructure, including solar and wind farms, and other hybrid and energy efficiency solutions. The Company participates in the full project lifecycle of renewable solutions, from early-stage development through construction and operation. More details at www.mpc-energysolutions.com

Media contacts:



MPC Energy Solutions N.V.

Investor Relations & Public Relations

Email: [email protected]

Norway

Mats Samdahl Weltz

Salto Advisers

Phone: +47 950 46330

Email: [email protected]

United Kingdom



Judith Ugwumadu

Montieth & Company

Phone: +44 7774 985705

Email: [email protected]

Americas



Perry Goldman

Montieth & Company

Phone: +1 (646) 8643568

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE MPC Energy Solutions N.V.
WASHINGTON, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The four astronauts who will fly around the Moon on NASA's Artemis II will visit Washington Wednesday, May 17, through Friday, May 19, to discuss their upcoming mission and are available for a limited number of in-person media opportunities.

The crew will visit the area to speak with members of Congress, meet with leaders at the Canadian Embassy, visit the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, and attend several private events.

NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Hammock Koch, and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen were announced Monday, April 3, as the four astronauts who will venture around the Moon on Artemis II, the first crewed mission on NASAs path to establishing a long-term presence at the Moon for science and exploration through Artemis. The crew assignments are as follows: Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist 1 Christina Koch, Mission Specialist 2 Jeremy Hansen. Credits: NASA

NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Hammock Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen will be available to answer questions from media during the following activities (all times EDT):

Wednesday, May 17

6 p.m. : Media availability at the Canadian Embassy at 501 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

: Media availability at the Canadian Embassy at 501 Pennsylvania Ave., NW For consideration, members of the media interested in attending the opportunity at the Canadian Embassy must RSVP by 12 p.m. , May 16 , to: [email protected]

Thursday, May 18

2:30 p.m. : Media availability on Capitol Hill with NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona , a former NASA astronaut, and CSA President Lisa Campbell

: Media availability on Capitol Hill with NASA Administrator and Sen. of , a former NASA astronaut, and CSA President Media interested in attending this question-and-answer session must apply by 5 p.m. , May 17 , to: [email protected]

Artemis II is the first crewed mission on NASA's path to establishing a long-term lunar presence for science and exploration under Artemis and is the first mission with astronauts to the Moon in more than 50 years. The approximately 10-day Artemis II flight test will launch on the agency's powerful Space Launch System rocket, prove the Orion spacecraft's life-support systems, and validate the capabilities and techniques needed for humans to live and work in deep space.

Through Artemis missions, NASA will use innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before and collaborate with commercial and international partners. Then, we will use what we learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars.

Learn more about the Artemis II crew and their mission at:

https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-ii

SOURCE NASA
PaymentClub and Netevia join forces to simplify payment processing for businesses

MIAMI, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Netevia, a leading provider of payment processing solutions, is thrilled to announce its partnership with PaymentClub, a payment technology company that offers a range of innovative financial solutions. This partnership was made possible after Netevia hosted an after-party in April at the recent TRANSACT: Powered by ETA Conference, where industry professionals had the opportunity to connect and network.

"Netevia is excited to partner with PaymentClub to provide our clients with access to their cutting-edge financial solutions," said Vlad Sadovskiy, CEO of Netevia. "We believe that by collaborating with PaymentClub, we can deliver even more value to our customers and help them succeed in today's fast-paced payment processing industry."

PaymentClub has focused on its growth strategy and demonstrated commitment to excellence in all areas of its business, PaymentClub recently welcomed Ezra Gabay as Chief Sales Officer. PaymentClub, a leading payment processing company, has recently formed a strategic partnership with Netevia Online banking services to provide a comprehensive solution for businesses looking to manage their financial transactions seamlessly. The partnership brings together Ezra Gabay's expertise in payment processing and Netevia Online banking services' knowledge in online banking to offer businesses a complete suite of services. Additionally, Netevia's newly launched POS N1 and N2 terminals, based on cutting-edge technology, will provide merchants with a user-friendly and secure way to accept payments. This partnership is set to revolutionize the payment industry and is a significant step towards providing a one-stop-shop for all payment-related needs.

"Prioritizing payment leadership is always our first priority," said Ezra Gabay, Chief Sales Officer at PaymentClub. "I am excited to bring over 23 years of forward-thinking sales and business development experience to this partnership."

Netevia remains committed to providing innovative payment solutions to ISOs and agents alike. The company looks forward to continued partnerships with PaymentClub and other industry leaders, with a goal of simplifying payment processing and driving progress in the financial technology space.

To learn more about Netevia, visit https://netevia.com .

About Netevia



Netevia is one of the fastest-growing technology platforms powering the future of payment service providers, ISOs, integrated service providers, and merchants. Netevia delivers its partners a frictionless way to build and scale their business by leveraging its proprietary operating platform. Netevia's robust suite of embedded financial tools is a modern, merchant-centric alternative to traditional banking, providing faster access to cash flow and innovation, simplifying the merchant experience. Netevia has powered more than $7 billion in transactions in 2022, projected to grow 110% year over year in 2023. Netevia colleagues are over 120 strong globally, supporting over 1,000 PSP, ISO, and ISV partners and 25,000 businesses. For more information, visit Netevia.com.

About PaymentClub



PaymentClub is a leading American subscription-based financial service company that offers payment processing and point-of-sale services. Today, it serves thousands of merchants from coast-to-coast, providing transparent payment solutions with zero mark-up pricing. For more information, visit PaymentClub.com

Ezra Gabay

Cheif Sales Officer

[email protected]

For More Information

Eduardo Mora

Marketing Director

[email protected]

SOURCE Netevia
Premier Candy and Snacks Show Identifies Brand Collaborations, Flavor Mashups and Interactive Treats as Top Trends Driving Innovation Across the Two Powerhouse Categories

WASHINGTON, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sweets & Snacks Expo has showcased the latest products and innovations in candy and snacks for more than 25 years, and these new products have paved the way for new flavor trends and consumer experiences in the industry and beyond. The National Confectioners Association, the host organization for the Sweets & Snacks Expo, announced today the top product and flavor trends that will be featured at the 2023 show in Chicago.

"The Sweets & Snacks Expo continues to be a significant driver in flavor and product trends for the confectionery and snack categories enhancing our retail attendees' ability to delight their shoppers," John Downs, president & CEO of NCA, said. "Attendees of this year's show will be among the first to sample and experience these new trends helping them stay one step ahead of their competition."

Here are some of the trends attendees can expect to see in 2023:

Brand Collaborations: Your favorite treats/brands working together to create something new and exciting.

Your favorite treats/brands working together to create something new and exciting. Flavor Mashups: Flavor combos that will delight you. Salty, sweet, sour, spicy or savory  there is something for everyone!

Flavor combos that will delight you. Salty, sweet, sour, spicy or savory  there is something for everyone! Social Media Friendly Interactive Treats: These treats give you permission to play with your food and share with your friends on social media!

These treats give you permission to play with your food and share with your friends on social media! All About Options: Everyone treats and snacks a little differently, which is why confectionery and snack companies are offering a range of package sizes and product types that fit every occasion.

The Sweets & Snacks Expo will take place in Chicago at McCormick Place from May 22-25. For more information or to register, visit SweetsAndSnacks.com.

To set up an interview with a Sweets & Snacks Expo spokesperson, please email [email protected].

Please visit the official Sweets & Snacks Expo Media Kit for more information on the show and media resources.

About Sweets & Snacks Expo

The Sweets & Snacks Expo is the premier event for the confectionery and snack industries. Featuring new product launches, business-building solutions and merchandising innovations, this annual trade show brings together qualified candy and snack retail professionals and company representatives who showcase the latest in candy and snack products. The event is sponsored by the National Confectioners Association. Learn more at SweetsAndSnacks.com.

About the National Confectioners Association (NCA)

The National Confectioners Association is the leading trade organization for the U.S. confectionery industry, which generates $42 billion in retail sales each year. NCA advocates for an environment that enables candy makers to thrive and works to ensure that chocolate, candy, gum and mints are celebrated for their contributions to culture, society, the economy and everyday moments of joy. The industry employs nearly 58,000 workers in more than 1,600 manufacturing facilities across all 50 states and supports an additional 635,000 jobs in related fields. The U.S. confectionery industry has made a commitment to increasing transparency, providing more portion guidance options and educating consumers about the role of confectionery in a happy, balanced lifestyle. Learn more at CandyUSA.com or follow NCA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Contact:

Lauren Boland

[email protected]

SOURCE National Confectioners Association
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The New Mexico Supreme Court (Court) issued a decision today to deny a joint motion filed by PNM Resources (NYSE: PNM), AVANGRID and the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC) to dismiss the appeal of its merger denial and remand the case back to the NMPRC.

The appeal of the NMPRC's merger denial remains in the jurisdiction of the Court, and the Court has scheduled oral arguments for September 12, 2023.

There is no statutory deadline for the Court's decision. The Court also denied motions by intervening parties to supplement the record.

The decision and additional materials pertaining to the merger-related regulatory dockets are available at https://www.pnmresources.com/investors/rates-and-filings.aspx.

Background:

PNM Resources (NYSE: PNM) is an energy holding company based in Albuquerque, N.M., with 2022 consolidated operating revenues of $2.2 billion. Through its regulated utilities, PNM and TNMP, PNM Resources provides electricity to more than 800,000 homes and businesses in New Mexico and Texas. PNM serves its customers with a diverse mix of generation and purchased power resources totaling 2.7 gigawatts of capacity, with a goal to achieve 100% emissions-free energy by 2040. For more information, visit the company's website at www.PNMResources.com.

Contacts:

Analysts Media

Lisa Goodman Ray Sandoval

(505) 241-2160 (505) 241-2782

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Statements made in this news release for PNM Resources, Inc. ("PNMR"), Public Service Company of New Mexico ("PNM"), or Texas-New Mexico Power Company ("TNMP") (collectively, the "Company") that relate to future events or expectations, projections, estimates, intentions, goals, targets, and strategies, including the unaudited financial results and earnings guidance, are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned that all forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and estimates and apply only as of the date of this report. PNMR, PNM, and TNMP assume no obligation to update this information. Because actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, PNMR, PNM, and TNMP caution readers not to place undue reliance on these statements. PNMR's, PNM's, and TNMP's business, financial condition, cash flow, and operating results are influenced by many factors, which are often beyond their control, that can cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Additionally, there are risks and uncertainties in connection with the proposed acquisition of the Company by Avangrid, Inc. (the "Merger") which may adversely affect the Company's business, future opportunities, employees and common stock, including without limitation, (i) the expected timing and likelihood of completion of the pending Merger, including the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any remaining required governmental and regulatory approvals of the pending Merger that could reduce anticipated benefits or cause the parties to abandon the transaction, (ii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement, (iii) the risk that the parties may not be able to satisfy the conditions to the proposed Merger in a timely manner or at all, and (iv) the risk that the proposed transaction and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the ability of the Company to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with its customers and suppliers, and on its operating results and businesses generally. For a discussion of risk factors and other important factors affecting forward-looking statements, please see the Company's Form 10-K, Form 10-Q filings and the information included in the Company's Forms 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which factors are specifically incorporated by reference herein.

SOURCE PNM Resources, Inc.
A new Cox Automotive study finds that a lack of knowledge and perceived high prices hold back consumer enthusiasm for vehicle Features on Demand.

Free-trial periods are seen as a positive selling point for Features on Demand and could increase consumer consideration.

The value proposition is key to automakers' success when offering subscription-based vehicle features.

ATLANTA, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to consumer research from Cox Automotive, automakers may face challenges if they expect to generate significant revenue from subscription-type features, also known as Features on Demand (FoD).

In a new study titled "Software Monetization: The Emergence of Vehicle Features on Demand," the Cox Automotive Research and Market Intelligence team explores the trend toward offering vehicle features through subscription-type services.

Research shows Automakers may face challenges in making significant revenue from subscription-based vehicle features. Tweet this

"Our initial research indicates that the transition to Features on Demand will be an uphill battle for many automakers," said Vanessa Ton, senior manager of market and customer research at Cox Automotive, who helped lead the research project. "In the market right now, there is low consumer awareness and some skepticism on the part of shoppers. To gain consumer acceptance, automakers must ensure consumers perceive subscription-based features as a good value and not just a money-grab."

Study Finds Low Consumer Awareness, Need for Strong Value Proposition and Desire for Free Trials

The research showed consumer skepticism, as three out of four respondents agreed with the statement, 'Features on Demand will allow automakers to make more money.' Further, 69% of respondents indicated that they would likely shop elsewhere if certain features were available only via subscription.

The study revealed areas automakers should address when developing a Features on Demand strategy.

Low awareness: The study suggests that understanding of Features on Demand is still very low among shoppers, with only 21% of in-market shoppers familiar with the concept. However, 41% indicate that they are interested in Features on Demand. Perceived high price: The research also shows that, at least initially, most shoppers (58%) expect an FoD approach to be too expensive, and there are concerns about data security and privacy. Free trial periods: Sixty-five percent of survey respondents suggested that a free on-demand subscription  a free-trial period  would be a positive selling point and make them more likely to consider a brand.

"As consumer familiarity is low, automakers will have to be careful in how they present an FoD strategy and make sure not to turn off shoppers from the start," added Ton. "Our research suggests that free trial periods might be one way to approach the issue."

Shoppers See Potential Upside in Features on Demand Subscriptions if Done Right

Automakers can develop a win-win Features on Demand strategy that creates a new revenue stream and provides the perceived value for money that consumers desire.

Base models: Importantly, most shoppers believe a top benefit of FoD would be a lower starting price for the vehicle. Features on Demand could be a way for some automakers to offer a more affordable base model vehicle that could evolve. Future upgrades: Shoppers view FoD as an opportunity to upgrade their vehicles and try new technology. Nearly half of the shoppers surveyed felt FoD features would be a reason to retain a vehicle longer, as new capabilities or options could be added well after purchase. Try before you buy: Most shoppers see some benefit in the strategy, as an FoD approach will allow vehicle buyers to try out unfamiliar features without requiring a long-term commitment (i.e., buying something they don't like or need.)

"As with everything in the auto business, the value proposition has to be front-and-center for the consumer," Ton concluded. "Automakers will need to steer away from mandates and instead ease consumers into features they can access by offering free trials on safety and convenience options."

Security and Safety Features Provide the Greatest Revenue Opportunity

The Cox Automotive research indicates that FoD with the greatest revenue opportunity for the automakers would be stolen vehicle location and recovery systems, parking-assist features, digital keys via smartphone applications, and in-vehicle Wi-Fi. According to the new report, the greatest longer-term revenue opportunities for FoD would be through streaming services, virtual assistants, and driver monitoring or self-driving capabilities.

Download an infographic of key report findings.

About the Study

The Cox Automotive Research and Market Intelligence team surveyed over 2,000 in-market vehicle shoppers in late December and early January to determine their interest in vehicle features through subscription-type services. Additionally, the study explored the consumer benefits and barriers to Features on Demand.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive is the world's largest automotive services and technology provider. Fueled by the largest breadth of first-party data fed by 2.3 billion online interactions a year, Cox Automotive tailors leading solutions for car shoppers, automakers, dealers, retailers, lenders and fleet owners. The company has 25,000+ employees on five continents and a family of trusted brands that includes Autotrader, Dealertrack, Kelley Blue Book, Manheim, NextGear Capital and vAuto. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with $22 billion in annual revenue. Visit coxautoinc.com or connect via @CoxAutomotive on Twitter, CoxAutoInc on Facebook or Cox-Automotive-Inc on LinkedIn.

SOURCE Cox Automotive
Delta Dental's first Senior Mental and Oral Health Survey reveals a harmful feedback loop between poor oral health and mouth pain, and depression, anxiety, and low self-image for Americans 50 and up.

SAN FRANCISCO, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mental health challenges contribute to the neglect of oral health care for many Americans 50 years of age and older, and mouth pain intensifies their feelings of depression or hopelessness, according to Delta Dental's 2023 Senior Mental and Oral Health Report.

The survey asked more than 1,000 Americans 50 and older about their oral health habits and stratified their self-reported indications of mental wellbeing.

Senior Mental and Oral Health Survey: A Vital Connection by Delta Dental of California and Affiliates

Of older Americans who said they have experienced any feelings of depression or hopelessness frequently or on occasion in the last six months (N=503), the survey found that:

More than 1 in 3 (35%) are likely to neglect brushing and flossing their teeth.

37% say oral tooth pain intensifies feelings of depression or hopelessness. That connection is more prominent among Hispanics (45%, N=179) than Caucasians (35%, N=144) and African Americans (33%, N=146) who report experiencing occasional or frequent feelings of depression or hopelessness within the past 6 months.

Of those surveyed who indicate a higher incidence of feelings of anxiety or depression (N=176):

Delay in care : Over one-fourth of respondents (27%) indicate the last time they went to their dentist for a routine check-up/cleaning was more than 3 years ago.

: Over one-fourth of respondents (27%) indicate the last time they went to their dentist for a routine check-up/cleaning was more than 3 years ago. Judgement : Sixty percent worry about being negatively judged based on the appearance of their teeth, compared to only 22% of those who less frequently or never experience feelings associated with depression or anxiety within the past 6 months (N=514).

: Sixty percent worry about being negatively judged based on the appearance of their teeth, compared to only 22% of those who less frequently or never experience feelings associated with depression or anxiety within the past 6 months (N=514). Shame: Over half (57%) feel shame about their oral health and appearance of their teeth, compared to only 18% of those who indicate less frequent or not experiencing feelings associated with depression in the past 6 months.

Oral Health and Mental Health's Inextricable Link

The survey indicates several possible relationships between oral health and how we feel emotionally: 45% of all respondents regardless of mental health status say they are more likely to notice changes in their mood/mental health when experiencing dental pain or discomfort. And 1 in 4 (25%) Americans 50 and over feel negatively about themselves when brushing and flossing because they don't like the way their teeth look. In addition, more than 1 in 3 (36%) of all respondents smile less than they did when they were young due to deteriorating oral health or teeth.

And yet, 80% of all respondents say the simple act of smiling can make them feel happier  and among those who indicate they frequently experience feelings of depression or hopelessness, 78% still share that view.

"The link between mental health and oral health is really powerful," says Sarah Chavarria, President of Delta Dental. "These results show us that addressing mental health is critical, especially as it relates to its impact on our oral and overall health. Everyone, regardless of age, ethnicity or gender, should feel uninhibited to smile and take care of their whole selves."

Dentist to Patients: 'Talk To Us About Your Mental and Physical Health'

If you're experiencing oral pain, Dr. Daniel Croley, Delta Dental's Chief Dental Officer, recommends visiting your dentist as soon as possible. "Beyond causing discomfort and impeding our day-to-day lives, oral pain can be an indication that something more serious is going on," he says. "Our mouth and our body are not separate entities  the pain you're feeling may be caused by inflammation of the gums, for example, which can be linked to diabetes, heart disease and even an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. Regular visits to your dentist can help you keep those conditions and diseases in check."

For improving your mental health, Delta Dental recommends you seek care from your physician or a licensed therapist. If your mental health is impacting your oral health habits, Delta Dental encourages you to have open conversations with your dentist about how you're feeling and the impact it may have on your oral care. "If you're feeling overwhelmed, don't let that lead you to ignore your oral health," Dr. Croley says. Your dentist can give you tips on smaller, manageable steps, like proper daily flossing and brushing. For Dr. Croley, these small habits can give you a sense of accomplishment and are victories that should not be overlooked: "Small wins may be small, but they are steps in the right direction, and they count for a lot."

Delta Dental is committed to providing older adults with consistent, quality access to oral health care, improving education and driving lasting policy changes to address systemic issues. To learn more about the survey, view Delta Dental's report.

Methodology:

Dental Dental's Senior Mental and Oral Health Survey reflects feedback from Americans aged 50 and older and provides a look into how older Americans think about their mental and oral health, the connection between the two and the ways in which this impacts how they perceive themselves. Delta Dental commissioned Atomik Research, an independent market research agency, to conduct an online survey from a national sample size of 1,016 Americans 50 years of age or older that was representative of the race/ethnicity and gender composition of the senior population across the United States. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points with a confidence level of 95 percent. Fieldwork took place between April 1 and April 7 of 2023.

About Delta Dental:

Since 1955, Delta Dental of California has offered comprehensive, high-quality oral health care coverage to millions of enrollees and built the strongest network of dental providers in the country. The Delta Dental of California enterprise includes its affiliates Delta Dental Insurance Company, Delta Dental of Pennsylvania, Delta Dental of New York, Inc., as well as the national DeltaCare USA network, and provides dental benefits to more than 44 million people across 15 states and the District of Columbia.* All are members of the Delta Dental Plans Association based in Oak Brook, Illinois, the not-for-profit national association that through a national network of Delta Dental companies collectively covers millions of people nationwide. For more information about Delta Dental of California and Affiliates, please visit www.deltadentalins.com.

*Delta Dental of California's operating areas encompass Alabama, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

For Media Inquiries, Contact:

Kinga Skowronek

Public Relations Manager

415-975-8272

[email protected]

SOURCE Delta Dental of California
SHENZHEN, China, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd. (NYSE: OCFT and HKEX: 6638) ("OneConnect" or the "Company"), a leading technology-as-a-service provider for financial institutions in China, today announced that it will release the quarterly results of the Company and its subsidiaries for the three months ended March 31, 2023, and its publication before U.S. markets open on Monday, May 22, 2023. A conference call will follow on the same day.

Date/Time

Monday, May 22, 2023 at 8:00 a.m., U.S. Eastern time

Monday, May 22, 2023 at 8:00 p.m., Hong Kong time

Participant Online Registration Link:

https://www.netroadshow.com/events/login?show=d43a3fd2&confId=50864

The Company's management will hold an earnings conference call on Monday, May 22, 2023, at 8:00 A.M. U.S. Eastern time or 8:00 P.M. Hong Kong time on the same day. For participants who wish to join the conference, please complete the online registration using the link provided above at least 20 minutes prior to the scheduled call start time. Upon the registration, the participants will receive an email reminder providing the live webcast link as well as the conference call access information including dial-in numbers, an access code and a Pin. For participants who wish to raise queries during the conference, please use the dial-in numbers provided in the email reminder.

The financial results and an archived transcript will be available at OneConnect's investor relations website at ir.ocft.com.

Investor Relations:

OCFT IR Team

[email protected]

Media Relations:

Frank Fu

[email protected]

SOURCE OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd.
LONDON, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Optimum Strategic Communications ("Optimum"), the specialist life sciences communications consultancy, today announces the appointment of highly-experienced medical journalist, Stephen Adams, as a full-time member of its team.

Stephen, who joins as an Associate Director with immediate effect, spent 10 years at The Mail on Sunday, first as Health Correspondent and subsequently as Medical Editor since 2019. Prior to that he worked for six years at The Daily Telegraph, initially covering general news before becoming a health specialist. With over 20 years' experience in busy newsrooms, he has fronted campaigns and broken stories on a wide range of issues, both in health policy and medical science, in certain cases prompting a change in public policy.

Commenting on the appointment, Mary Clark, Chief Executive Officer of Optimum Strategic Communications, said: "After an illustrious career in journalism, we are very pleased that Stephen has joined the Optimum team. It is critical that healthcare and life sciences companies can communicate a compelling narrative. Stephen's extensive knowledge of medical and healthcare issues, combined with his superb writing and content generation skills, will be invaluable as we provide intelligent and insightful strategic communications advice to build the reputations of our clients."

Stephen Adams added: "As a journalist, I have always respected Optimum for its professionalism, creativity and personal touch. I look forward to working with the excellent team to help raise the profiles of its world class clients.

About Optimum Strategic Communications

Optimum Strategic Communications is an international healthcare communications firm which specialises in strategic investor relations, corporate and financial communications. Our senior healthcare specialists, based in London, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Zurich, and New York, are experienced and trusted advisors to some of the world's most exciting public and private companies, both large and small, across healthcare, life sciences and industrial biotechnology.

Over the last 20 years we have worked with over 400 healthcare companies, advising them on financial communications and investor relations, including major corporate activities such as fundraising, IPOs, and M&A, as well as corporate reputation and crisis scenarios.

We have an exceptional network of contacts across the international investment community in Europe and the US; contacts we have built and maintained over the last three decades. Our team includes ex-fund managers and analysts, scientists, as well as financial and corporate communications specialists.

For more information, please visit www.optimumcomms.com.

About Stephen Adams

Stephen Adams has worked in journalism for over 20 years culminating in his position as Medical Editor of The Mail on Sunday. He was previously Health Correspondent at the publication from 2013 to 2019. Before that he spent six years at The Daily Telegraph, first covering general news and Arts, and then Health from 2010. Stephen has a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism and a BA (Hons) in Geography from St. Catherine's College, Oxford University.

SOURCE Optimum Strategic Communications
LOS ANGELES, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2023 BLS Employment Situation Report reveals a labor shortage and rising wages in the US, with 2.8 million fewer workers and a 5.3% wage increase from Feb 2020 to Jan 2023. The restaurant industry is hit hard with labor shortages, higher costs, and poor customer experience. Automation is being adopted to improve efficiency and customer experience.

OrionStar Robotics and Rocky Mountain Robotech will jointly release the latest restaurant automation solution at the 2023 NRA Show. Visit booth 8602 (07-08) in the Lakeside Center from May 20-23.

OrionStar Fully-Automated Restaurant Solution

This innovative solution integrates AI-powered robots with self-ordering and self-checkout devices, KDS, table trackers, and robot call buttons, enabling the robots to perform multiple roles, from order takers and food runners to table bussers. Their seamless integration into existing workflows optimizes restaurant efficiency and enhances customer satisfaction.

Robot Kiosk's Order and Pay Solution integrates with restaurant POS systems, allowing customers to order and pay directly through the robot while supporting three payment methods: third-party payment, credit cards, or server call. The user experience is enhanced with voice interaction and touchscreen operation.

Smart Positioning Solution integrates with a restaurant's POS system, Table Tracker, and delivery robots, allowing customers to choose seats and associate orders with tables. The table tracker will assist robots in identifying the correct table for meal delivery.

Meal Delivery Solution uses delivery robots to transport food and drinks from the kitchen to the table. When the meal is ready, the KDS calls the robot to the pick-up area, and the robot autonomously delivers it to the table. Cup holders are provided for drink stability; up to 30 robots can collaborate for maximum efficiency.

Smart Summon Solution lets customers summon a robot to their table with a button for ordering more food or returning dirty dishes.

What Partners and Clients Say

Bill Gu, the CEO of Rocky Mountain Robotech, a technology company based in Colorado, commended OrionStar Robots for its superior hardware components and open software platform. He emphasized its potential for voice interaction capabilities, achieved through the integration of ChatGPT and Google Dialogflow. Leveraging these features, they have successfully developed the world's first fully automated restaurant solution.

A restaurant owner in America reported that OrionStar's robot solution transformed their dining experience. With 500 daily delivery tasks, 2 delivery robots completed 400 deliveries over 15km and automated 80% of tasks. Staff focused on table service, increasing tips, with one server earning over $300 daily. Overall, OrionStar revolutionized food and drink service, providing a better experience for customers and staff.

About OrionStar Robotics

OrionStar Robotics is a world-leading robotics company, providing intelligent solutions across diverse industries since 2016. Their goal is to use technology to free people from repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on more creative and meaningful work. As of March 2023, OrionStar has deployed over 48,000 robots in more than 40 countries.

To learn more about OrionStar Robotics, please visit en.orionstar.com, or follow OrionStar on social media: LinkedIn / YouTube / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

SOURCE OrionStar Robotics
Travelers 50 and older, including solo travelers, eager to seek out

international adventure

BOSTON, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As the U.S. celebrates Older Americans month, Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.) , the leader in personalized small group and solo travel for Americans ages 50 and older, encourages travelers to seize the spirit of adventure through its 2024 Small Group Adventures to diverse, discovery-rich locations around world.

"Older travelers will continue to make up for lost time by exploring the world," said O.A.T. CEO Brian FitzGerald. Tweet this Travelers with Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.) visit Egypt. O.A.T. Small Group Adventures include no more than 16 travelers. Over 50% of O.A.T. travelers are solo women.

According to an AARP survey of people 50-plus, most older travelers (85%) rank travel in their top three priorities for discretionary spending, much higher than other types of expenses. Forty-three percent (43%) plan to take an international trip within the next three years, and 30% anticipate doing so in the next year.

"Older travelers, in particular, will continue to make up for lost time by exploring the world in 2024," said Brian FitzGerald, CEO of O.A.T. "Our travelers tell us that unique itineraries at great value are most appealing, and O.A.T. continues to deliver that combination."

From time-tested O.A.T. favorites, such as their Ultimate Africa safari or Sicily's Ancient Landscapes and Timeless Traditions, to exciting new destinations, including Romania, Bulgaria, and the Azores, there is a world to discover traveling with O.A.T. in 2024.

Travelers on an O.A.T. Small Group Adventure journey off the beaten path in a small group of no more than 16 travelers and experience intimate cultural encounters, meeting people where they live and work for an unfiltered view of local life.

On an O.A.T. Small Ship Adventure, travelers can explore remote ports from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, enjoying direct access aboard privately owned 50- to 98-passenger small ships that is unavailable to most cruise ships. O.A.T. travelers step ashore in a small group of no more than 25 travelers for authentic local experiences.

Solo travel remains strong

O.A.T. is offering 23,000 single spaces in 2024 across all adventures. For solo travelers, the company's free or low-cost single supplements translate to hundreds of dollars in savings. Over 50% of O.A.T. travelers are solo women. More than 130,000 solo travelers have explored with O.A.T. since 2015.

The small group size at O.A.T. makes it easier for solo travelers to bond with other members of the group. For 2024, O.A.T. is offering 12 exclusive women-only departures of its most popular adventures  an opportunity to enjoy the special camaraderie of exploring with some like-minded intrepid women travelers.

O.A.T. celebrates its 45th anniversary in 2023 and Grand Circle celebrates its 65th anniversary. More than 88,000 travelers will embark on an O.A.T. adventure in 2023, and 35,000 solo travelers have already reserved.

O.A.T. adventures offer unforgettable opportunities to experience daily life in local homes, villages, and schools supported by Grand Circle Foundation. With O.A.T., travelers enjoy the freedom to personalize their adventures with pre- and post-trip extensions that allow them to spend additional time in new destinations.

Good Buy Plan Savings on All 2024 Departures

Travelers can save a full 10% off the total price of their trip on all 2024 departures with the Good Buy Plan when reserved by 6/30/23 (mention code: GOODBUY-2024). This offer may be combined with free single supplements.

To learn more about O.A.T. or to reserve travel, please visit www.oattravel.com or call 1-800-955-1925.

ABOUT OVERSEAS ADVENTURE TRAVEL

Established in 1978, Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.) is part of Boston-based Grand Circle Corporation's family of travel companies, which also include Grand Circle Cruise Line and Grand Circle Travel. In 1992, owners Alan and Harriet Lewis established the nonprofit Grand Circle Foundation to support communities in which Grand Circle works and travels, including some 300 humanitarian, cultural, and educational endeavors worldwideamong them, 100 schools, in 50 countries. The Foundation is an entity of the Alnoba Lewis Family Foundation, which has pledged or donated more than $250 million since 1981.

SOURCE Overseas Adventure Travel
3,500+ MW SunZia Wind project will harness powerful New Mexico wind resource to deliver value to customers

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pattern Energy Group LP (Pattern Energy), a leader in renewable energy and transmission infrastructure, announced it has signed long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Shell Energy North America (US), L.P. (Shell Energy) and the Regents of the University of California, for a portion of the power from its 3,500+ MW SunZia Wind project. Construction of SunZia Wind is expected to start later this year and be completed in 2026, when it will start delivering power to western energy markets.

"This wind contract represents another milestone achievement for the University of California," said David Phillips, Associate Vice President of Capital Programs, Energy and Sustainability. "Eight years ago, we signed our first utility-scale contracts for solar and today we are adding another important renewable resource to our portfolio  wind. The University is excited to be part of such a significant renewable project that will reduce carbon emissions and provide more resilience to the California grid."

"We welcome these exciting new relationships with Shell Energy and UC Regents on the delivery of New Mexico wind power," said Hunter Armistead, CEO of Pattern Energy. "SunZia is providing access to some of the best wind in the world, which has a powerful generation profile with an evening peak that is a perfect complement to daytime solar. We are committed to harnessing New Mexico's wind to generate clean power for 3 million Americans and continuing to have conversations with interested customers throughout the western region."

SunZia Transmission will open access to the western energy markets to SunZia Wind, the largest wind project in the Western Hemisphere, which is comprised of more than 3,500 MW of new wind generation located in Torrance, Lincoln, and San Miguel Counties in New Mexico. SunZia Transmission is a 550-mile  525 kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line between central New Mexico and south-central Arizona with the capacity to transport 3,000 MW of clean, renewable energy. SunZia Transmission will enable SunZia Wind to supply customers in Arizona and California during the crucial early evening hours when demand is high but the otherwise available renewable energy supply is low.

The SunZia Wind and SunZia Transmission projects have been developed with a deep commitment to local community engagement and environmental stewardship. A key initiative for SunZia has been following through on an extended engagement with local, regional, and national conservation stakeholders. As a result of this commitment and consultation, SunZia Transmission is setting a precedent with a gold standard in environmental mitigation efforts developed hand-in-hand with the environmental community. These range from restoring thousands of acres of wildlife habitat to investing in emerging technology and long-term conservation research. SunZia Wind has established robust environmental best practices to reduce project impacts and study effective habitat restoration strategies in partnership with local and state experts.

Pattern Energy recently announced that the SunZia Transmission and SunZia Wind projects are expected to generate $20.5 billion dollars in total economic benefit, which includes over $8 billion of direct capital investment, at no added cost to ratepayers, according to the results of an independent study conducted by research firm Energy, Economic & Environment Consultants LLC. Together, the projects will generate an expected $1.3 billion in fiscal impacts that will go to governments, communities, and schools. These benefits are generated through sales and use taxes, property taxes, community benefit payments, and land payments to federal and state agencies.

The projects continue to work with federal agencies including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), as well as local jurisdictions and stakeholders, to finalize remaining approvals to allow construction to begin on schedule this year.

About Pattern Energy

Pattern Energy is one of the world's largest privately-owned developers and operators of wind, solar, transmission, and energy storage projects. Its operational portfolio includes 35 renewable energy facilities that use proven, best-in-class technology with an operating capacity of nearly 6,000 MW in the United States, Canada, Japan, and Mexico. Pattern Energy is guided by a long-term commitment to serve customers, protect the environment, and strengthen communities. For more information, visit www.patternenergy.com.

Contacts:

Matt Dallas

Pattern Energy

917-363-1333

[email protected]

SOURCE Pattern Energy Group LP
WASHINGTON, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement by Eileen O'Reilly, president of the National Press Club, and Gil Klein, president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, on the Guatemalan news outlet El Periodico completely ceasing publication on Monday amid the continued prosecution of its president, Jose Ruben Zamora, in Guatemala City.

"We regret the loss of the invaluable, hard-hitting news coverage provided for decades by El Periodico in Guatemala, as well as the ongoing trial of its president and founder Jose Ruben Zamora. Guatemalan authorities have unjustly harassed and targeted El Periodico and its journalists due to its investigations and over a hundred exposes on corruption within the Guatemalan government. The ongoing trial of Zamora  an internationally recognized, award-winning journalist  on trumped-up charges makes a mockery of the country's justice system. A total of nine El Periodico journalists are currently under investigation including three columnists. Zamora's treatment has been particularly cruel. He has been unfairly held in prison for the better part of a year and four of his defense attorneys have been arrested. Two are still in prison.

"Due to the government's campaign against it, including the seizure of its bank accounts, El Periodico laid off most of its staff and ceased print publication late last year. For a time, the news organization was able to maintain an online news presence but the continued judicial persecution by the government has made even that untenable. We ask the government of President Alejandro Giammattei to drop its ridiculous case against Zamora, his attorneys, and the rest of the El Periodico staff and to immediately free all those imprisoned in the case. We are very alarmed by this persecution, which represents an effort to kill independent investigative journalism in Guatemala and is a flagrant violation of the country's constitutional guarantee of freedom of the press."

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. The Club has 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization and is a leading voice for press freedom in the U.S. and worldwide.

The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged, global citizenry through an independent and free press and equips journalists with the skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire a more representative democracy. The NPCJI is the nonprofit affiliate of the National Press Club.

Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-662-7534 for The National Press Club

SOURCE National Press Club
Guineas telecom minister Ousmane Gaoual Diallo has confirmed that state-owned player Guinee Telecom  formerly Sotelgui (Societe des Telecoms de Guinee)  has commenced the public test phase of its mobile network.

The operator switched on a 4G network in Conakry districts capital city Kaloum on 11th May. Testing will be achieved through 10,000 SIM cards which will be distributed to citizens. Diallo noted that a report following the trial would inform decisions on how SIMs would be sold in the market  whether directly via the operator, via a private partner, or under the watch of the authorities.

In March, we reported that Guineas government had delayed the operators planned launch from 2023 to 2024 to allow time for nationwide network testing. Guinee Telecom will also take advantage of the delay to boost its operations, accounting, commercial and administrative departments as it gears up to begin offering 4G and 5G services from next year.

Guineas market is currently dominated by Orange, which had a 67% market share as of end-2022 according to data from the ARPT (LAutoritie de Regulation des Postes et Telecommunications). The regulator ranked MNT Guinea in second place with 24% and Cellcom in third with 9%.
CHICAGO, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Quantum computing holds great promise for revolutionizing the healthcare industry in the near future. With its unparalleled computational power, quantum computers have the potential to tackle complex problems that are beyond the reach of classical computing systems. In healthcare, this means solving intricate challenges related to drug discovery, genomics, medical imaging, personalized medicine, and more. Quantum computing can significantly accelerate the drug discovery process by simulating and analyzing the interactions between molecules and predicting their efficacy. It can also contribute to advances in genomics by analyzing large-scale genomic datasets and identifying patterns associated with diseases. Furthermore, quantum computing can optimize medical imaging techniques by enhancing image resolution and processing speed, enabling more accurate and timely diagnoses. The ability of quantum computers to handle vast amounts of data and perform complex calculations opens up new possibilities for personalized medicine, as it can analyze individual patient data and provide tailored treatment recommendations. While quantum computing is still in its early stages, its potential impact on the healthcare industry is immense, and as the technology continues to advance, it is expected to reshape how healthcare is delivered, bringing about more precise diagnostics, effective therapies, and improved patient outcomes.

Quantum Computing in Healthcare Market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $85 million in 2023 and is poised to reach $503 million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 42.5% from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The increasing investments in quantum computing in developed as well as emerging economies, growing inclination of payers toward quantum computing, rising demand for personalized medicine, and rise in funding and investments in quantum computing startups are some of the key factors expected to drive market growth during the forecast period.

Download an Illustrative overview: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=41524710

Browse in-depth TOC on "Quantum Computing in Healthcare Market"

129 - Tables

43 - Figures

208 - Pages

Quantum Computing in Healthcare Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 $85 million Estimated Value by 2028 $503 million Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 42.5% Market Size Available for 20212028 Forecast Period 20232028 Forecast Units Value (USD Million) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Component, Technology, Application, End user, and deployment Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the world Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Technological advancements in quantum computing supporting various healthcare applications Key Market Drivers Increasing investments in quantum computing in developed as well as emerging economies

Superconducting Qubits segment accounted for the largest share of the quantum computing in healthcare market, By Technology

In 2022, the superconducting qubits segment accounted for the largest share of the quantum computing in healthcare market. The large share can be attributed to the low power consumption, high speed, and the ability to operate at low temperatures. Also, high degree of control possible with this type of qubit, they can be used for variety of healthcare applications, such as quantum simulation, cryptography, and quantum computing.

Healthcare payers segment is expected to register the highest CAGR by end user of quantum computing in healthcare market

The healthcare payers segment is expected to register the highest CAGR by end user of the quantum computing in healthcare market. The growth of the segment can be attributed to the growing number of potential applications for health insurers like pricing, fraud detection, diagnostics/member experience.The quantum computing also plays a major role in developing more granular risk models that compute financials more efficiently, improve health outcomes and ultimately reducing healthcare costs.

North America dominated the quantum computing in healthcare market in 2022

North America accounted for the largest share of the quantum computing in healthcare market. The large share of North America can be attributed to the increasing government funding & investments for quantum computing, and growing number of quantum computing companies catering to the healthcare industry in the region.

Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=41524710

Quantum Computing in Healthcare Market Dynamics:

Drivers:

Increasing investments in quantum computing in developed as well as emerging economies Growing inclination of payers toward quantum computing

Restraints:

Accuracy issues with quantum computing systems and high implementation costs

Opportunities:

Technological advancements in quantum computing supporting various healthcare applications

Challenges:

Lack of technical expertise and data management issues

Key Market Players:

IBM (US), Google, Inc. (US), Rigetti & Co, LLC. (US), Quandela (France), D-Wave Quantum Inc. (Canada), Quantinuum, Ltd. (US & UK), ID Quantique (Switzerland), Zapata Computing (US), Atos SE (France), IonQ (US), Classiq Technologies, Inc. (US), Xanadu Quantum Technologies Inc. (Canada), QC Ware (US), Protiviti, Inc. (US), Hefei Origin Quantum Computing Technology Co., Ltd. (China), PwC (UK), Deloitte (UK), Accenture (Ireland), Amazon Web Services (US), Pasqal (France), Fujitsu (Japan), Sandbox AQ (US), SEEQC (US), Quintessence Labs (Australia), and Qnami (Switzerland) are the major players in this market. These companies are majorly focusing on the strategies such as agreements, collaborations, partnerships, and service launches in order to remain competitive and further increase their share in the market.

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Recent Developments:

In March 2023 Quandela ( France ) partnered with CryptoNext ( France ) , This aimed to develop a fully integrated quantum-safe solution to secure transfer of sensitive data

Quandela ( ) partnered with CryptoNext ( ) , This aimed to develop a fully integrated quantum-safe solution to secure transfer of sensitive data In March 2023 , IBM (US) Partnered with Cleveland Clinic (UK), through this partnership, The IBM Quantum System One was installed at Cleveland Clinic and became the first quantum computer in the world to be uniquely dedicated to healthcare research with an aim to help Cleveland Clinic accelerate biomedical discoveries.

, IBM (US) Partnered with Cleveland Clinic (UK), through this partnership, The IBM Quantum System One was installed at Cleveland Clinic and became the first quantum computer in the world to be uniquely dedicated to healthcare research with an aim to help Cleveland Clinic accelerate biomedical discoveries. In March 2023 , D-Wave Quantum, Inc. ( Canada ) Launched Dwave-Scikit-Learn-Plugin, which is a new hybrid solver plug-in, helping companies leverage quantum technology to streamline the development of machine learning (ML) applications.

Quantum Computing in Healthcare Market Advantages:

Accelerated Drug Discovery: Quantum computing can significantly speed up the drug discovery process by simulating and analyzing molecular interactions. Its immense computational power enables researchers to explore a vast chemical space and predict the efficacy of potential drug candidates. This can expedite the development of new drugs and therapies, potentially saving lives and improving patient outcomes.

Enhanced Genomic Analysis: Genomic data is complex and vast, requiring immense computational power to analyze. Quantum computing has the potential to unlock insights from large-scale genomic datasets, helping researchers better understand genetic patterns and identify disease-related markers. This can lead to advancements in precision medicine and personalized treatment approaches, tailoring therapies based on an individual's genetic makeup.

Optimal Treatment Planning: Quantum computing can optimize treatment planning by processing and analyzing a range of variables, such as patient-specific data, medical records, and treatment guidelines. By considering a multitude of factors simultaneously, quantum algorithms can generate optimized treatment plans that maximize effectiveness while minimizing side effects. This can improve the overall quality of care and patient outcomes.

Enhanced Medical Imaging: Quantum computing's computational power can enhance medical imaging techniques, enabling higher-resolution imaging and faster data processing. This can lead to improved diagnostic accuracy, earlier detection of diseases, and more precise treatment planning. Additionally, quantum algorithms can be leveraged to reconstruct images from incomplete or noisy data, improving image quality and reducing the need for repeat scans.

Advanced Data Analytics: The vast amount of healthcare data can be challenging to analyze effectively. Quantum computing can process and analyze large-scale healthcare datasets, extracting valuable insights and patterns that might not be apparent using traditional computing methods. This can help identify trends, predict disease outbreaks, optimize resource allocation, and improve population health management.

Secure Data Handling: Quantum computing can also contribute to enhanced data security and privacy in healthcare. As quantum technologies advance, they can provide robust encryption methods that are resistant to quantum attacks. This ensures the protection of sensitive patient information and maintains the confidentiality and integrity of healthcare data.

The integration of quantum computing in the healthcare market brings numerous advantages, including accelerated drug discovery, enhanced genomic analysis, optimal treatment planning, improved medical imaging, advanced data analytics, and secure data handling. These advantages have the potential to transform healthcare delivery, improve patient outcomes, and pave the way for innovative advancements in the field.

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PhantomStrike provides superior battlespace situational awareness at half the size and weight

ARLINGTON, Va., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX) will outfit Korea Aerospace Industries' FA-50 Light Combat Aircraft with the new PhantomStrike radar. PhantomStrike is a fully air-cooled fire-control radar designed to provide long-range threat detection, tracking and targeting. Working with the United States Government, PhantomStrike was approved to be exported as a Direct Commercial Sales product to KAI.

PhantomStrike shown on a rendering of a T-50 aircraft, sister aircraft to the FA-50. Raytheon will provide the PhantomStrike radar to KAIs FA-50 fleet.

PhantomStrike is a first-of-its-kind, compact AESA radar that is smaller, lighter and requires less power. It is designed for a wide range of platforms including light-attack aircraft, rotary-wing aircraft, uncrewed aerial vehicles, and ground-based towers.

"Outfitting the FA-50 with the PhantomStrike radar upgrades the capability of a critical aircraft, providing unparalleled performance in a compact, affordable package," said Annabel Flores, president, Global Spectrum Dominance at Raytheon Technologies. "All while keeping these jets fast, agile and easy to maintain."

PhantomStrike combines two Raytheon Technologies specialties  a gallium nitride-powered array and the compact high-reliability integrated receiver/exciter processor, or CHIRP  to match the capability of modern AESA radars. The upgrades provide capabilities including digital beam forming and steering, multimode functionality, and interleaved ground and air targeting.

"Threats on the battlefield always evolve, and PhantomStrike makes it possible for KAI to offer high-performance fire control radar capabilities that can integrate with U.S. and international weapon systems, so FA-50 customers maintain air dominance," said Flores.

Production of the radars will take place in Forest, Mississippi; Tucson, Arizona; and Scotland, with support from Raytheon UK. Initial deliveries are expected in 2025.

Media Contact:

Sierra Armstrong

[email protected]

About Raytheon Technologies

Raytheon Technologies is the world's largest aerospace and defense company. Our global team of 180,000 employees pushes the limits of known science and redefines how we connect and protect our world. We are advancing aviation, building smarter defense systems and creating innovations to take us deeper into space. The company, with 2022 sales of $67 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

SOURCE Raytheon Technologies
Ekoniak Leads Company's Growth in Medical and Humanitarian Arenas

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Regulus Global announced today the appointment of Paul Ekoniak as Director, Medical. Ekoniak will lead the company's dynamic solutions capability for global and local medical and expeditionary missions, including humanitarian needs, crisis response and preparedness.

"Paul brings first-hand experience and a deep understanding of medical missions and operational preparedness," said Chief Executive Officer Chris Burgess. "As a veteran, he thinks like our customers and knows how to meet time-critical mission requirements."

Medical Director and U.S. Navy veteran Paul Ekoniak joins Regulus Global team

Ekoniak and the Regulus Global medical team will be available at the Special Operations Medical Association Conference, May 15-19, in Raleigh, North Carolina to meet with customers, partners and business associates.

"I am honored to be joining Regulus and highly energized to contribute toward Regulus Global's medical missions  from mobile hospitals in developing countries to equipping first responders and special operations teams," said Medical Director Paul Ekoniak. "At Regulus, our passion is truly getting to know the customer and ensuring we meet their needs not only through preparedness and logistics but also in applying our medical expertise in crisis situations."

Ekoniak brings more than two decades of experience in the military tactical and corporate medical industries. Prior to joining Regulus, Ekoniak worked as a director of programs at Elevance Health  overseeing the government business team, partner relations, operational oversight, and cross-functional integration. Prior to Elevance, Ekoniak served as the business change director at Anthem, leading implementation teams across diverse medical markets and for TQS in special projects as an integral subject matter expert, lead instructor, and client relations manager.

Additionally, Ekoniak served 11 years in the U.S. Navy conducting operations across a wide domain of austere and highly dynamic regions. As a special forces medical practitioner, he was responsible for the care, clinical treatments and health management of more than 1,200 forward deployed personnel. Ekoniak managed the procurement, inventory control and training for a deployed clinic consisting of more than 650 evolving medical supplies.

"Regulus is uniquely positioned to capitalize on past performance in driving innovation and provisioning critical medical/humanitarian material forward all while delivering a best-in-class procurement model for our clients," said Ekoniak.

About Regulus

Regulus Global provides dynamic solutions for the humanitarian, expeditionary, national security and defense industries. Regulus works to understand our customers' missions and then provides the requirements analysis, emerging technologies, equipment, and scalability to meet the critical needs of organizations and agencies worldwide. Transforming the end-to-end lifecycle, Regulus supports organizations, businesses, and government agencies worldwide with its systems design, development, and execution expertise. Regulus Global is headquartered in Virginia Beach, Va., with subsidiary offices in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Mexico City, Mexico; Sao Paulo, Brazil and operates in more than 80 countries worldwide.

www.regulusglobal.com

SOURCE Regulus Global
Innovators Iyah Romm, Co-Founder and former CEO of Cityblock Health, and Ryan Watts, Co-Founder and CEO of Denali Therapeutics, poised to Help Rippl Transform care for seniors with neurocognitive challenges



SEATTLE, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rippl, a new kind of behavioral health company focused on dramatically expanding access to high quality, wrap-around care for seniors with neurocognitive challenges, added two industry veterans and innovators to its Board of Directors. Rippl welcomes Iyah Romm, founding CEO of Cityblock Health, a tech-enabled services company focused on scalable, Medicaid-focused solutions for complex health needs, and Ryan Watts, CEO of Denali Therapeutics, an organization working to defeat neurodegenerative disorders through therapeutic discovery and development.

Rippl Care celebrates its new board members and welcomes them to the movement to transform dementia care. From access and convenience, to quality and equity, our seniors deserve better than what the US healthcare system offers. And were done waiting. Rippl is pioneering a new care model to dramatically expand access to high quality, wraparound behavioral healthcare for seniors, their families and caregivers.

These two leaders help to strengthen Rippl's core mission: to break new ground in better care for the estimated 5.8 million Americans 65 and older who are living with dementia.

"Getting specialized care to seniors with dementia and other neurocognitive challenges is urgent. The ER simply can't be our primary fix for helping patients and their families navigate these diseases day-to-day, yet that's what is happening. We're pioneering a new care model that partners with these patients, their families, and doctors to keep them at home and out of the ER," said Kris Engskov, Rippl Co-founder and CEO.

"Rippl couldn't be more excited to partner with Iyah and Ryan for a multitude of reasons, but primarily because both have navigated these specific diseases in their own families, and each has a deep passion for expanding access to behavioral and mental healthcare for seniors. I can't think of leaders better positioned to use their experience, smarts, and energy to help us build this critical new network of the highest integrity, best trained, most passionate group of clinicians to help seniors stay out of the ER said Engskov.

Iyah Romm, CEO of Cityblock Health



Romm has been a formal advisor to Rippl since November 2022, and has built a career pioneering new and more innovative approaches to value-based care. Recognized and respected as one of the most gifted health-equity-focused innovators in the country, Romm has a long history of working for underserved populations. Prior to Cityblock, where he served as founding CEO until March 2022, and remains on the Board of Directors, Romm helped lead the Commonwealth Care Alliance in Massachusetts as Chief Transformation Officer and served as the founding Policy Director for Care Delivery Innovation and Investment at the Health Policy Commission, where he directly contributed to Massachusetts' landmark health care reform efforts.

At Rippl, Romm will help architect the company's approach to value-based care solutions that directly address the clear health disparities that exist in senior populations with dementia and other neurocognitive challenges. Developing an equitable approach to expanding access and convenience to services within the large and growing population remains one of the company's most important goals.

"Rippl's mission to create equitable access to critical, compassionate healthcare, paying special attention to underserved populations is deeply aligned with where I have focused every aspect of my career," said Romm. "Both personally and professionally, I'm passionate about addressing the exploding need for dementia care worldwide, both for individuals directly impacted by cognitive decline, their caregivers, and their communities. Rippl is purpose-built to tackle this challenge. By joining the Rippl Care board, I hope to accelerate the expansion of this much needed solution."

Ryan Watts, CEO of Denali Therapeutics

As Co-founder and CEO of Denali Therapeutics, Watts is at the forefront of discovering and developing medicines for major neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS, most of which impact primarily senior populations. In addition to his role as CEO, Watts is also the Co-founder, President, and member of the Board of Directors at Denali. Prior to his time at Denali, Watts served as the Director of the Department of Neuroscience at Genentech, where he led drug discovery for Alzheimer's disease.

Watts has spent the majority of his career in neurocognitive spaces, honing a deep knowledge and understanding of the science, research, and therapeutics landscape. At Rippl, Watts will utilize his front row seat to future disease therapies to better position Rippl to serve dementia patients, crafting an evolved care model that can optimize future solutions and care.

Watts said of his new role, "One of the greatest unmet needs of our time is the care of our aging population. Rippl's focus on the care of people living with dementia complements Denali's interest in inventing medicines, with the hope of cure. After recently losing my mother to dementia, finding ways to delay the disease and improve the lives of those living with it has become even more personal. I'm thrilled to be joining the Rippl board to advance our cause of comprehensive care for seniors suffering from dementia."

About Rippl

Rippl is a new kind of mental health company focused on seniors and obsessed with its clinicians. Seniors with behavioral health challenges, especially neurocognitive conditions like Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, are overlooked and under cared for, often without access to high quality, real-time, practical care. Leveraging a value-based approach, disruptive technology, and a relentless focus on empowering and enabling its clinicians, Rippl is pioneering a new care model to dramatically expand access to high quality, wraparound behavioral health care for seniors, their families, and caregivers. Founded by a group of impatient optimists and doers from the country's most iconic health care and consumer brands (who have all been caregivers themselves), and backed by visionary venture investors ARCH Venture Partners, General Catalyst, GV, F-Prime Capital and Mass General Brigham, Rippl is ready to take this urgent challenge head on. Our seniors deserve so much better. Join our movement at ripplcare.com.

SOURCE Rippl Care
40th annual award recognizes Indigenous human rights and environmental defenders in Guatemala

WASHINGTON, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights today announced the Guatemalan organization Parlamento del Pueblo Xinka (Parliament of the Xinka People) as the recipient of its 40th annual Human Rights Award . A ceremony honoring Xinka Parliament will take place Tuesday, June 6 at 11 am in the Kennedy Caucus Room, Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, DC.

The Xinka Parliament is the Assembly of the Ancestral Authorities of the Xinka people, the second-largest Indigenous nation in Guatemala. Recognized for their environmental activism and ongoing efforts to protect the Xinka people's land, rights, and culture, the Xinka Parliament joins a distinguished group of more than 50 defenders and organizations honored throughout the Award's 40-year history.

"In the face of ongoing threats and attacks, the Xinka Parliament fearlessly advocates for Indigenous and environmental rights," said Kerry Kennedy, president of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. "From challenging mining companies' illegal entry into the ancestral lands to demanding accountability for assaults on environmental and human rights defenders, their members embody peaceful resistance and the pursuit of justice in Guatemala. We are honored to recognize the Xinka Parliament and look forward to our continued partnership."

Established in 2004, the Xinka Parliament works to maintain unity among its different communities; to promote the value of their culture, science, technology, cosmovision, and spirituality; to engage in political advocacy; to promote women's rights; and to protect their ancestral territory and the environment.

The Xinka Parliament is currently engaged in litigation to claim their rights throughout the territory, including the right to free, prior, and informed consent and the defense of leading Xinka authorities who have been criminalized for their activism. The Xinka Parliament has led the peaceful resistance to the mining project of El Escobal, one of the largest silver mines in the world. As part of their efforts to protect ancestral lands from environmental degradation, they successfully challenged the mining license before the Constitutional Court, putting a halt to the project until a free and informed consultation process with the affected communities takes place.

However, the Xinka Parliament has faced serious threats and attacks for their struggle, including a 2014 attack that killed 16-year-old Xinka activist Topacio Reynoso . RFK Human Rights is currently co-counsel to the Xinka Parliament in a petition to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to hold the Guatemalan government responsible for Topacio's murder.

"I want to thank RFK Human Rights for the recognition of the Xinka People as human rights defenders. This award motivates us to keep defending our territory, always searching for the common good. This is an award to the peaceful resistance, to the demand to respect the international covenants ratified by Guatemala regarding human rights and Indigenous rights. It is an award to the unity and coordination of the Xinka People. The energies of the grandfathers and grandmothers always be upon you. Very grateful - the Xinka People," said Aleisar Arana Morales, Huxi Hurak (president) of the Parliament.

The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award honors champions of social justice who stand up to oppression in the nonviolent pursuit of human rights. Honorees receive a cash prize and ongoing support for their work through RFK Human Rights campaigns and mobilization, strategic litigation, training and capacity-building, and more.

To learn more about this year's Human Rights Award laureates, visit https://rfkhumanrights.org/awards/human-rights-award .

About Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights:

Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that has worked to realize Robert F. Kennedy's dream of a more just and peaceful world since 1968. In partnership with local activists, we advocate for key human rights issues championing change makers and pursuing strategic litigation at home and around the world. And to ensure change that lasts, we foster a social-good approach to business and investment and educate millions of students about human rights and social justice. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Twitter: @RFKHumanRights.

SOURCE Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
MILWAUKEE, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi LLP is investigating Magellan (NYSE: MMP) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law in its transaction with ONEOK.

Click here to learn how to join the action https://www.ademilaw.com/case/magellan-midstream-partners-lp or call Guri Ademi toll-free at 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you.

Magellan public stockholders are expected to receive only $25.00 in cash and 0.6670 shares of ONEOK common stock for each outstanding Magellan common unit, representing a current implied value to each Magellan unitholder of $67.50 per unit, based on May 12, 2023 closing prices. The transaction agreement unreasonably limits competing bids for Magellan by imposing a significant penalty if Magellan accepts a superior bid. Magellan insiders will receive substantial benefits as part of change of control arrangements.

We are investigating the conduct of Magellan's board of directors, and whether they are (i) fulfilling their fiduciary duties to all shareholders, and (ii) obtaining a fair and reasonable price for Magellan.

If you own Magellan common stock and wish to obtain additional information, please contact Guri Ademi either at [email protected] or toll-free: 866-264-3995, or https://www.ademilaw.com/case/magellan-midstream-partners-lp.

We specialize in shareholder litigation involving buyouts, mergers, and individual shareholder rights throughout the country. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Contacts

Ademi LLP



Guri Ademi

Toll Free: (866) 264-3995

Fax: (414) 482-8001

SOURCE Ademi LLP
ANAHEIM, Calif., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chairman Lee, Man-hee of Shincheonji, Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji) hosted an in person "Word Seminar" in Daejeon on the 6th titled the "Testimony on the Fulfillment of Revelation." The event took place at 4PM in Daejeon KT Human Resources Development Center, and over 500 pastors and church members from various denominations, including Presbyterian, Methodist, and Full Gospel attended.

Over 500 ministers and congregation members gathered from various churches and denominations surrounding Daejeon for the Bible Seminar led by Chairman Lee, emphasizing the explanations of the prophecies of Revelation and their fulfillments. Shincheonji has entered into MOU's with 5,300 pastors (230 in Korea) and is in open dialogue with them. Through these discussions, 280 churches in 15 countries overseas have changed their signboards to Shincheonji, Church of Jesus.

The book of Revelation, which is recorded in parables, is extremely difficult to understand, and failure to interpret it has caused dilemma.

Chairman Lee pointed out that currently the world of Christianity is adding to and subtracting from the book of Revelation. He gave a detailed explanation of the prophecy and fulfillment of every chapter, the order in which the prophecies fulfill, and the main points of Revelation chapters 1 to 22, emphasizing that we must clearly know and keep the promise given by God, that is, the contents of the book of Revelation in the Bible.

"The fact that pastors flock to the Word Seminar of the Book of Revelation held by the Shincheonji's Chairman is something that the religious world needs to pay attention to," one religious official said. "The Korean church is too passive in interpreting the Book of Revelation and the teachings about the last days. Given that even the mention of this is taboo, not only curious church members but also pastors are searching for words related to this topic, and eventually make their way towards the Word Seminar."

"Many pastors who are hungry to understand Revelation have been seeking out the words of Shincheonji Church of Jesus or requesting discussions. I hope that this will serve as an opportunity to broaden conversations with pastors and other denominations and for everyone to think about what is the desirable faith needed to follow the will of God and Jesus and put that faith into practice," a Shincheonji representative said.

Shincheonji's Word Seminar, the "Testimony on the Fulfillment of Revelation" will be broadcasted live on Shincheonji's official YouTube channel and will conclude on the 13th in Incheon.

Meanwhile, as of the end of March, Shincheonji has entered into MOU's with 5,300 pastors (230 in Korea) and is in open dialogue with them. Through these discussions, 280 churches in 15 countries overseas have changed their signboards to Shincheonji, Church of Jesus.

Media contact:

Shane Sanchez

[email protected]

9099791354

SOURCE Shincheonji Church
SHANGHAI, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Multinational corporations are eagerly anticipating the sixth China International Import Expo (CIIE), which has been hailed as a signature event that reflects China's opening-up, an avenue to showcase innovative solutions, and a golden opportunity to tap the potential of the country's vast market.

The fifth China International Import Expo was held in Shanghai from Nov 5-10, 2022 (PRNewsfoto/CIIE)

The CIIE Bureau has been hosting a series of events around the world to promote the sixth CIIE. The promotional tour, which includes conferences and visits to local companies, are designed to attract participants, enhance economic and cultural exchanges, and increase interaction between exhibitors and buyers. Many companies and agencies have signed up for the expo through these promo events.

The sixth CIIE's promotional tours have covered a variety of countries and regions, including Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, Argentina, Colombia, Panama, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Germany, Singapore and Australia. More promotional activities will be organized in Africa, North America, Western Europe, Oceania and other regions around the world over the next few months.

The CIIE has been held for five consecutive years and is widely regarded as an international public good and a boon for economic globalization and multilateral trade.

Statistics show that the accumulated intended turnover of the last five editions of the CIIE totaled over $340 billion. Many exhibitors of the past five edition were among the world's top 500 enterprises and industry leaders, including top 10 global companies from the pharmaceutical, medical equipment, high-end consumer goods, dairy and automobile industries.

During the sixth CIIE's promotional conference held in France, Barbara Lavernos, deputy chief executive officer of L'Oreal, said that the CIIE has presented numerous opportunities in the Chinese market. She noted that L'Oreal has debuted nearly 20 new brands and hundreds of new products at the CIIE, many of which have been well-received in China.

Marc Schier, vice president of Linde Engineering, further highlighted the significance of the CIIE at the CIIE's promotional event in Germany. He said that the expo has tightly connected Linde with China, presenting huge market opportunities. The company is ready for this year's big show.

According to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Hongqiao Forum is described as "a high-level platform that promotes dialogue among political, business and academic communities on matters related to global cooperation for sustainable development around the world".

The fifth Hongqiao Forum was focused on setting international economic and trade rules as a benchmark and saw participants discussing a variety of topics, including the building of pilot free trade zones, the opening-up of the service sector, digital infrastructure construction and cross-border data flow.

The sixth edition of the CIIE will be held offline in Shanghai from November 5 to 10. More than 500 enterprises have already booked over 260,000 square meters of exhibition area. Many CEOs of industry giants have confirmed their attendance of the sixth expo. Notably, the physical country exhibition will also make its return this year.

The sixth Hongqiao Forum will invite more high-profile government officials, Nobel Prize laureates, academicians, and senior executives of industrial pacesetters from home and abroad to discuss global issues, during which the World Openness Report 2023 will be officially out.

There are less than 200 days left until the sixth CIIE. With so many showing interest in attending the expo, exhibition space is quickly running out. Be sure to make the right call and secure your booth at the sixth CIIE before it is too late!

https://www.ciie.org/exhibition/f/book/register?locale=en

ContactMs. Cui Yan

Tel.0086-21-968888

Email[email protected]

Websitehttp://www.ciie.org/zbh/en/

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/ciieonline

Twitterhttps://twitter.com/ciieonline

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1938442/CIIE_Logo.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2076935/CIIE.jpg

SOURCE CIIE
The Saint Louis based brand welcomes new and recent hires, including STL native, Dan Karpel as the brand's new CFO

ST. LOUIS, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Soft Surroundings , the Saint Louis based heritage clothing brand known for their women's apparel, home, shoe and accessories products, is proud to announce the appointment of several key new hires, including Dan Karpel as the company's new Chief Financial Officer, Dan Karpel brings extensive experience in finance and business operations to the role, and will lead the company's financial strategy as it continues to grow and expand.

Dan's appointment to the brand marks the beginning of an aggressive new repositioning for the brand. In addition to Dan's appointment, Soft Surroundings has recently expanded their high-level roster including: Kyle Madson the Vice President Global Sourcing, Technical Design & Quality, Amber Larson the Vice President of Merchandising and Karen Tweedie, the Head of Design.

"We are thrilled to welcome Dan to our team as our new CFO," said interim CEO Bridgit Lombard. "With his deep expertise in finance, coupled with his track record of driving operational excellence, we are confident that Dan is the right person to help guide Soft Surroundings through its next phase of growth. Additionally, with the recent appointments of Kyle, Amber and Karen, we are excited to propel Soft Surroundings to new heights in 2023."

With these new appointments at Soft Surroundings, the brand is being ushered into a new era by focusing on the modernization and digitization of a brand, while in parallel paths staying true to its retail roots and the demographic known as the "forgotten consumer" - Gen X women. Currently the brand is redirecting their retail strategy, hyper-focusing on their key demographics and rescaling their product offering, focusing on offering the styles that their core demographic of women over 50 are gravitating towards most.

Additionally, the brand is pioneering a new Shopify POS system to propel the brand into a new digital era. With this new end to end omnichannel system, Soft Surroundings is elevating their retail experience across brick-and-mortar and e-commerce. The easy to use and scalable technology will allow them to offer a seamless retail experience across the board. Soft Surroundings has been known for their impeccable customer service and tailored retail experiences in stores, and will now utilize Shopify to create a digitally savvy organization that connects the brand to their customers across all channels.

Soft Surroundings has 46 retail locations across the United States and is available at softsurroundings.com .

About Soft Surroundings

Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Soft Surroundings is a lifestyle brand and retailer of women's apparel, home, shoe & accessories products. Releasing its first catalog in 1999, Soft Surroundings has been dedicated to making women look and feel their best, ever since. Having experienced record growth in its online and catalog channels, Soft Surroundings opened its first retail location in St. Louis in 2005. Now an omni-channel retailer with locations from coast to coast, Soft Surroundings is focused on meeting the needs of its many devoted customers.

SOURCE Soft Surroundings
BERLIN, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GRIPS Energy, the German renewable energy company and its subsidiary in Dakar GRIPS Energy Senegal SUARL, are proud to announce the commissioning of their first photovoltaic solar plant in Senegal. On the 16th of May, in Diama, Saint-Louis, GRIPS Energy and la Societe des Cultures Legumieres (SCL) will celebrate the successful completion of SCL's solar project, together with honourable guests from the business, education and government sectors. The 604 kWp ground-mounted photovoltaic solar plant is an important step in SCL's journey to reducing their carbon footprint whilst simultaneously reducing their electricity costs.

"We are very proud and happy to have taken this exciting first step towards our transition to renewable energies together with GRIPS," says Hamedine BA, SCL's technical officer for the solar plant at the Diama agricultural farm. "Project implementation went smoothly, and we can already see the reduction in our electricity bill. We are even thinking of expanding the plant with an energy storage system," BA continues.

Amadou SAM, director of GRIPS Energy Senegal, confirms: "Our approach of a close-knit partnership with our customer SCL and our Senegalese installation partner, in tight collaboration with the engineering experts from our German headquarters, has clearly demonstrated its value. We will of course remain SCL's long-term partner and ensure full performance, service and maintenance throughout the lifetime of the solar plant."

In line with the company's full-service offer, a one-stop-shop approach, GRIPS has overseen every detail of the project: from initial feasibility study and customized plant design, to installation. Now that the plant is operational, GRIPS ensures top performance as well as routine plant maintenance through its local partner. "We are pleased to expand our business activities in West African countries with our first solar project in Senegal. Personally, I am extremely impressed by SCL's farming in the "Sands of the Sahel", increasingly using solar power, and thus particularly sustainable," says Timon Herzog, Managing Director of GRIPS Energy.

SCL, Societe de Cultures Legumieres, was founded in 2006. Its farms of more than 2000 ha in the Saint-Louis region of northern Senegal, cultivate vegetables for the Senegalese and sub-regional markets as well as for export to the UK and European markets. The company's vocation is to be a socially responsible company integrated into the economic, social and environmental compass of Senegal.

www.scl.sn

GRIPS Energy supports the commercial and industrial sector in African countries in their transition to affordable renewable energies. GRIPS implements the renewable energy project and establishes a long-term partnership with the client by offering flexible contracts in compliance with local regulations. GRIPS evaluates the clients' electricity consumption and designs renewable energy systems that optimally meet customers' specific requirements.

www.grips-energy.com

- Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com) -

Press Contact

M. Amadou SAM

Country Director Senegal, GRIPS Energy Senegal SUARL

Phone: +221 78 157 35 81

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Grips Energy
Quashing discontent with extreme violence is a high-level order in Cuba. Violence has been authorized ever since the "call to fight" issued by Miguel Diaz-Canel during the historic protests of July 2021. The priority of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and its State Security force is that there not be another 11-J. Thus, in Caimanera they acted quickly; with coordinated repression, the protest was put down in a short period of time, followed by a guarded "tranquility."

Diaz-Canel's much-criticized order to his "revolutionaries" more than two years ago is still in force after his ratification as head of the Government and also as First Secretary of the PCC, the only legal party, which runs Cuba with exclusive impunity.

"The PCC is not accountable to the people or to any other official institution. Its leaders are not even part of the rigged electoral process, they do not proceed from the electorate. Its instructions in matters of public policies and of all kinds are strictly complied with, and budget expenditures on its management, especially that allocated for items related to ideological imposition, censorship, disinformation and repression, are not subject to control," former judge Edel Gonzalez told DIARIO DE CUBA in a reflection on what happened in Caimanera.

"Neither the Comptroller General's Office nor the auditing area of the Attorney General's Office have the freedom to audit events, processes and expenses related to the PCC. No organization, and certainly not the Cuban citizen, can access such information, or demand transparent accounts. Nor are the members of the Central Committee Bureau free to file complaints and criminal proceedings for administrative excesses or crimes without consequences. The criminal procedural law reinforced the immunity of these leaders, so that they can be 'safe' from any consequences for the crimes they order and carry out during their repression of citizens," added Gonzalez.

"It is no coincidence that power is concentrated in the hands of those who are extremely loyal to the will of the Castroist leadership. Any director, deputy or delegate, of any level, who does not pay it obeisance is removed from office by the control mechanism established in Decree/Law 13 of 2020", he pointed out.

In the lawyer's view, as long as the power elite "is made up of 'alpha males,' there will be no open or inclusive dialogue; there will be no opposition, no recognized dissent that weakens them; there will be no laws that guarantee the effective right to meetings and protests, no promotion of freedom of association, and no right to exercise any constitutional freedoms/rights/guarantees, such as those of expression, information, communication, thought and press without criminal consequences for those who dare to defy the ruling elite."

"The new procedural laws and the organic law of the courts of justice will be mere empty declarations, a hodgepodge of content that only serves to promote disinformation and arbitrary imprisonment," he predicted.

In the lawyer's opinion, "in spite of the institutional violence, Cubans have no other alternative for freedom than protests."

"Faced with scenarios of beatings, systematic abuse by the State and a failed structural model of justice, the response, historically, has been popular rebellion," he warned. "In the processes of adverse relationship between State and society, where the principle of proportionality does not exist, the final outcomes are social uprisings," he stressed.

"The proportionality requirement, which characterizes democratic countries, is based on the idea of avoiding the excessive use of measures that entail a deprivation or restriction of liberty," said Gonzalez. Thus, "violence by State bodies of the kind seen once again in Caimanera, in the face of the civic exercise of human rights, should never be the first option."

Meanwhile, the illegitimacy of power in Cuba, instituted on the basis of terror, in the midst of a failed political, economic and social model, is increasingly evident.

"Since the constitutional referendum of April 2019 until the present, it has been possible to verify (analyzing official figures) that at least more than three million nationals, in one way or another, are fed up with the system, openly disapproving of it. Another group of dissatisfied citizens could ascend to millions, making for a majority in the event of a secure popular consultation to put an end to the prevailing model," the jurist pointed out.

According to Gonzalez, this "data of disapproval explains the institutional violence".

"As the number of victims among the population grows due to institutional violence, the citizenry's commitment to its rulers wanes, and the desire to achieve freedom at any price increases. Thus, it cannot be ruled out, in the medium term, that more social outbursts may occur until the model is dismantled, unless the transition to democracy is urgently and effectively precipitated from within," he said.

Recent examples of institutional violence

In August 2022, in Nuevitas, Camaguey, a peaceful demonstration was put down with brutal violence. The top leadership of the PCC was at the center of the repression, led, in this case by Roberto Conde Silverio, first secretary in the municipality of Agramontino. He was accompanied by special agents such as Allen Velazquez, a State Security officer.

Two months later, brothers Frank Artola Plasencia, 18, and Hillary Gutierrez Plasencia, 26, were beaten and detained by special forces during the Linea & F protests in Havana's Vedado district. The beating, which also included other participants, was a public act that did not go unnoticed by Cubans.

Last Saturday, May 6, in Caimanera, images of brutality recurred, as videos circulating on social media showed that there was no mercy for the defenseless mass of people who took to the streets to voice their complaints and requests.

Felipe Correa Martinez, 26, and Luis Miguel Alarcon Martinez, 31, two of the five detainees, were beaten during the protest by Interior Ministry personnel. Both are being held in a unit for crimes against State Security, under threat of being tried and convicted. Authorities promised their families that they would be released, but then announced that they will have to wait in captivity for the start of the criminal proceedings. This has been the pattern since 11-J, a way to erase the corporal traces of the detainees' beatings by stalling, holding them in jail.

Although Diaz-Canel claims to be committed to the special mechanisms and provisions of universal law and the United Nations, practice shows otherwise. His call to fight the demonstrators and his approval of police beatings violate the "State security forces action protocol for public demonstrations" and other similar extraordinary situations, whose application the UN endorses but the regime ignores.
This collaboration aims to integrate innovative agricultural data companies with core technologies of AI, Cloud & Machine Learning with Microsoft's AI tools to develop models for optimal, sustainable agriculture across the value chain

TEL AVIV, Israel, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Start-Up Nation Central has collaborated with Microsoft to promote Israeli AgriFood Tech startups in the international marketplace. The collaboration focuses on connecting AI, data, cloud, and machine learning technologies from agricultural information to Microsoft's AI tools.

Together, Start-Up Nation Central and Microsoft will work to identify global AgriFood Tech challenges, with an emphasis on connecting AI technologies that can help develop durable models for optimal and sustainable agriculture across the entire value chain.

Israeli AgTech Map 2023  courtesy of Start-Up Nation Central (PRNewsfoto/Start-Up Nation Central (SNC))

Led by Microsoft AgriFood CTO Ranveer Chandra, the collaboration will identify relevant innovative companies in Israel that are using agricultural data for cutting edge applications. It will also examine how these technologies can be integrated into Microsoft's cloud-based agriculture-focused business tools.

Israeli AgriFood Tech entrepreneurs will benefit from exposure to global opportunities through Microsoft's network of connections. Potential opportunities include collaborations with strategic partners, access to new markets, and showcasing market-ready technologies on a global scale.

"The Israeli AgriFood Tech industry is well advanced in data, software, and connectivity, and offers incredible potential for Microsoft in the growing field of data-driven agriculture," said Start-Up Nation Central CEO, Avi Hasson. "Israel boasts over 250 leading cloud agriculture startups that offer fertile ground for innovation in this rapidly developing sector. Start-Up Nation Central's unparalleled access to the Israeli startup ecosystem and connections to global multinational companies like Microsoft, enables us to create exciting opportunities."

In the first phase of the collaboration, Start-Up Nation Central and Microsoft will promote a series of tech challenges to propel mapping Israeli startups and relevant technologies within the AgriFood Tech sector.

The first two tech challenges are already underway with a focus on water management and sustainable agriculture. As part of these challenges, over 40 relevant Israeli startups were mapped, and two Israeli AgriFood-Tech companies Projini (developers of innovative pesticide solutions) and Saturas (developers of a breakthrough sensor-based precision system for optimized irrigation)  were selected to collaborate with Microsoft at this event and have the opportunity to collaborate with Microsoft's global technology and investment teams.

Saturas is an Israeli agtech company that has developed an InTree sensor-based intelligence system, enabling accurate wide-scale health tree management for high-value crops and forestry. Co-founder and CEO, Anat Halgoa Solomon: "Knowing that this is a difficult time in the market today for investments, both globally and especially in Israel, this vote of confidence and opportunity we received definitely improve our position and chances to succeed. In addition to the participation at the conference, we were invited by Microsoft and Start-Up Nation Central to place Saturas tree model at 15 Microsoft locations around the world next to the farm model they present to promote their new platform  which we are very proud of".

Projini AgChem is discovering and developing new pesticides that interfere with the cellular machinery known as protein-protein interactions network. Such novel discoveries are much needed to grow enough food for the fast-growing world population. CEO of the company, Dotan Peleg: "During the conference we revealed our technology to dozens of leading stake holders in the field. AI is reshaping many industries and using AI to innovate the crop protection industry for sustainability, pesticide safety and pesticide-resistant control opens new horizons for all. Projini is proud to pioneer this important industry transition with our unique AI capabilities. We are privileged to scale our proprietary AI capabilities even further through collaborations with Microsoft's promising new AI platforms "

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.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2077182/Start_Up_Nation_Central.jpg

SOURCE Start-Up Nation Central (SNC)
STOCKHOLM, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Koskinen Crime series is a huge success spanning over four decades in Finland. Today, the Storytel Group owned publisher Storyside and the bestselling author Seppo Jokinen announced an agreement which will give Storyside the publishing rights to Jokinen's popular catalog. Furthermore, a new Koskinen adventure is planned for release in Spring 2024.

In the mid 90s, the Tampere cop Sakari Koskinen entered Finnish crime fiction and he has won the hearts of generations ever since. The Koskinen novels have sold in copies of hundreds of thousands and also resulted in popular adaptations for TV.

After decades of acclaim, commercial success, honors and awards, the author Seppo Jokinen is Finnish crime author nobility, and today, Storyside and the author announced a new agreement giving the Storytel owned publisher the book publishing rights to the popular Jokinen catalog.

"The offer I got from Storytel is a once in a lifetime kind of offer for an author. So it didn't take long for me to decide to accept it. Koskinen will have the possibility to continue living on in the world long after I have typed my last full stop to my last book. I consider this a remarkable acknowledgment of my work," says Seppo Jokinen.

Marta Hedener, Regional Content Manager at Storytel:

"Storytel's road to success leads through compelling stories and great authorships. We are excited and honored to have the privilege to manage Seppo Jokinen's respected and beloved works and legacy, but also inspired to take the Crime fans to new crime scenes and adventures together with Sakari Koskinen."

Essi Hellen, Publishing Manager, Storytel Finland:

"In Finland, Crime is the most popular genre in the Storytel app and the Koskinen series have always been very popular among our users. Seppo Jokinen has created an extraordinarily rich and diverse universe to explore for generations to come, and laid a solid crime novel foundation for new Koskinen stories and adventures to grow and thrive from in various formats."

A new Koskinen crime novel is planned for release in Spring 2024.

FNCA Sweden AB is the company's certified adviser.

For further information, please contact:



Noora Kunttu, PR Manager, Storytel Finland

Tel: +358 503 236 752

Email: [email protected]

Dan Panas, Senior Director Corporate Communications, Storytel Group

Tel: +46 70 186 52 90

Email: [email protected]

About Storytel

Storytel is one of the world's largest audiobook and e-book streaming services and offers more than one million titles on a global scale. Our vision is to make the world a more empathetic and creative place, with great stories to be shared and enjoyed by anyone, anywhere and anytime. The streaming business within the Storytel Group is conducted under the brands Storytel, Mofibo and Audiobooks.com. The publishing business is managed by Storytel Books, and by the audiobook publisher StorySide. The Storytel Group operates in over 25 markets. The headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden.

The following files are available for download:

SOURCE Storytel
Sector set to contribute more than $162 billion to Canada's economy this year

Travel & Tourism contributes one in every 12 jobs

International visitor spend up almost 65%

LONDON, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Travel & Tourism Council's ( WTTC ) 2023 Economic Impact Research (EIR) today reveals the Canadian Travel & Tourism sector continues to show strong signs of post-pandemic recovery.

According to the latest EIR, the sector is set to contribute $162.6 billion to the Canadian economy this year, up 17.2% from last year and within touching distance of the previous peak of $173.9 billion in 2019.

WTTC is also forecasting that Travel & Tourism will create 90,000 jobs this year, recovering almost all of the jobs lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic to reach 1.64 million. Employment levels are also within touching distance of the 2019 high point.

A look back on last year

Last year, the Travel & Tourism sector's GDP contribution grew by 41.4% to reach more than $138 billion, representing 5% of the Canadian economy, with one in every 20 dollars created in Canada being generated by Travel & Tourism.

Last year the sector also created 169,000 more jobs from the previous year to reach 1.55 million jobs nationally  one in 13 jobs across Canada.

The sector has now recovered 124,000 of the 283,500 jobs lost during the pandemic.

Last year also saw the return of international travelers heading to Canada, with spending from overseas visitors growing 64% to reach almost $23 billion. However, this is still 47% below the 2019 peak of $42.9 billion.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: "Travel & Tourism is recovering strongly in Canada with high visitor demand.

"The sector is a vital driver of economic growth and job creation in Canada with cities such as Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal remaining must-see global destinations for international visitors.

"As overseas visitors continue to return to Canada, we will see international visitor spending recovering quickly, to reach 2019 levels in the coming years."

What does the next decade look like?

The global tourism body is forecasting that the sector will grow its GDP contribution to more than $238 billion by 2033 to reach 7% of the Canadian economy and will employ almost 2.1 million people across the country, with one in 11 Canadians working in the sector.

North America

In 2022, the North American Travel & Tourism sector contributed $3.05 trillion to the regional economy, just 7% below the 2019 peak. WTTC forecasts the region's GDP contribution from the sector will fully recover in 2023 to reach $3.7 trillion.

The sector employed 24.7 million people across the region in 2022, an increase of 3.6 million from the previous year but still 1.5 billion behind the 2019 peak. WTTC forecasts the sector will fully recover the jobs lost during the pandemic by the end of 2023.

For more information, please visit wttc.org

Editors Notes

The research was carried out in partnership with Oxford Economics with information sourced from UNWTO, Oxford Economics and national sources. All values are in constant 2022 prices and exchange rates, as reported in March 2023.

The Economic Impact Research defines North America as Canada, the U.S, and Mexico. Monetary figures for Canada and North America are provided in CAD.

About the World Travel & Tourism Council

The World Travel & Tourism Council ( WTTC ) represents the global travel & tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world's leading travel & tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. For more than 30 years, WTTC has been committed to raising the awareness of governments and the public of the economic and social significance of the travel & tourism sector.

SOURCE World Travel & Tourism Council
N'DJAMENA, Chad, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following Education Cannot Wait's (ECW) high-level field mission with UNHCR to the border regions of Chad with Sudan where 60,000 refugees have arrived recently, ECW Executive Director Yasmine Sherif announced a US$3 million First Emergency Response grant.

The funding will provide access to safe and protective learning environments for incoming refugee girls and boys and support the host communities. The new grant brings ECW's total investments in Chad to over US$41 million.

It is imperative to provide immediate access to education for children and adolescents crossing to neighboring countries to flee the brutal conflict in Sudan. This safety net is crucial to address their needs now, protect them and safeguard their futures.  Education Cannot Wait Executive Director Yasmine Sherif.

Since the conflict erupted in Sudan on 15 April, over 200,000 people have crossed the borders to the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan. UNHCR estimates that this number could reach 860,000 as a result of the escalating conflict.

Almost 70% of pre-registered refugees are children. Without access to safe and protective learning environments, they face higher risks of child marriage, sexual violence, exploitation, hunger, recruitment into armed groups and attacks.

"It is imperative to provide immediate access to education for children and adolescents crossing to neighboring countries to flee the brutal conflict in Sudan. This might become a protracted crisis and the safety net of education is crucial to empower them, protect them and safeguard their futures," Sherif said.

The new 12-month First Emergency Response grant will be implemented by UNHCR and its partners, in close coordination with the Government of Chad.

"I invite partners to support the Government of Chad to ensure that Sudanese refugees fleeing the armed conflict enjoy the fundamental right of an education, which also contributes to reinforcing protection, resilience and social cohesion within the communities. By doing so, we are operationalizing the 2030 Education Strategy, which promotes the full inclusion of refugees into the Chadian education system," said Mrs. Guemdje Liliane, Secretary of State, Ministry of Education.

"We need to act now and collectively in support to the Chadian Government for an emergency response to the education needs to allow children to enjoy the right to education and protect them against various risks," said Laura Lo Castro, UNHCR Representative in Chad.

The new grant comes as ECW's initial contribution to the $445 million inter-agency Regional Refugee Response Plan launched by UNHCR and 134 partners to address the Sudan refugee regional crisis in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan. ECW is working with its partners to mobilize further support against this appeal.

SOURCE Education Cannot Wait
Coyne will serve as Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Tealium EMEA, bringing more than 25 years of strategic martech and SaaS experience

SAN DIEGO, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tealium , the largest independent and most trusted customer data platform (CDP), today announced that industry veteran Rob Coyne has joined the company as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of the EMEA region. Coyne will be responsible for leading EMEA sales teams, developing high-performing success strategies, and accelerating revenue growth.

Rob Coyne, Senior Vice President and Managing Director at Tealium, EMEA

"Rob has a long and successful track record of scaling high performing teams to support enterprise customer experiences with complex and important technology platforms," said Ted Purcell, Chief Revenue Officer at Tealium. "Not only is Rob a dynamic industry leader with proven expertise, he encompasses Tealium's Ways of Work (WOWs) through his authentic and people-first leadership style. We're thrilled to have Rob on board and looking forward to how he will accelerate our global team."

Most recently, Coyne served as the Chief Revenue Officer at Thunderhead, leading the company throughout its successful acquisition by Medallia in February 2022. Prior, Coyne led EMEA expansion for both Hootsuite and Kenshoo, where he scaled operations from the UK globally, including throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Coyne has significant experience in sales leadership at high-growth public companies, also previously holding positions at SAP and Oracle.

Reporting to Purcell, Coyne will lead the sales and solution consulting teams across Austria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, UAE, and the UK. Tealium's presence in EMEA comprises more than 200 team members, and supports 300+ leading EMEA-based enterprises across 25 countries and territories.

To learn more about the company's culture and joining Team Tealium, visit tealium.com/careers .

To keep up with the latest company news, visit Tealium's Newsroom .

About Tealium

Tealium connects customer data across web, mobile, offline, and IoT so businesses can better connect with their customers. Tealium's turnkey integration ecosystem supports more than 1,300 built-in connections, empowering brands to create a complete, real-time customer data infrastructure. Tealium's solutions include a customer data platform with machine learning, tag management, an API hub and data management solutions that make customer data more valuable, actionable, privacy-compliant and secure. More than 850 leading businesses throughout the world trust Tealium to power their customer data strategies. For more information, visit www.tealium.com .

CONTACT:

Natalie Passarelli

[email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2076326/Tealium_Rob_Coyne.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/153880/tealium_logo.jpg

SOURCE Tealium
TenCate successfully launches manufacturing of the armour system for Spanish Army's 8x8 Dragon VCR combat vehicle program.

AMSTERDAM, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TenCate Advanced Armour successfully launches manufacturing of the armour system for Spanish Army's 8x8 Dragon VCR combat vehicle program.



TenCate Advanced Armour has launched the full production phase to supply composite armour systems for the Dragon VCR Combat Vehicle Program. The manufacturing phase marks the successful delivery of an important part of the survivability suite to one of the world's most advanced IFV programs. In a partnership with TESS Defence, TenCate Advanced Armour has managed the development of an important part of the survivability aspect from the early phases of the program.

"TESS Defence has welcomed TenCate Advanced Armour as a partner in the project to add extensive capability in terms of survivability management and integration from an early stage," says Miguel Morell, General Manager, TESS Defence. He adds, "The 8x8 Dragon VCR combat vehicle program is remarkable and a great success for the consortium of Spanish companies to develop and field a unique combat vehicle."

"We are extremely proud to be the selected partner for TESS Defence for the 8x8 Dragon VCR combat vehicle. Our partnering in the program is a result of a multi-year development effort. Receiving the order to manufacture the composite armour, is a great reward, bringing the project full circle," states Steen Tanderup, CEO, TenCate Advanced Armour.

The 8x8 Dragon VCR combat vehicle program marks the delivery of the first variant of a new generation of armoured platforms to the Spanish Army.

TenCate Advanced Armour provides survivability systems to our customers, uniquely designed for personal protection, land systems, watercraft, and aviation platforms. With a background in composites, TenCate Advanced Armour is an industrial-scale engineering and manufacturing partner with capabilities to support in requirements for high-performance composites across the world.

www.tencateadvancedarmor.com

Contact:

Jens Falkenberg

[email protected]

Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/12964395

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE TenCate Advanced Armour
By utilizing advanced technology, Genius 3D Mammography exams can significantly increase the detection of breast cancers and also decrease the need for additional testing.1-6

TAMPA, Fla., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As the need for more advanced technology continues to grow, TGH Imaging is increasing patient access across four counties for breast cancer screening by adding Genius 3D Mammography exams made by Hologic to 18 locations in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties. Also called tomosynthesis, 3D mammography is a form of mammography that creates a 3D image of the breast that can better detect breast cancer.

In honor of National Womens Health Week, May 1420, TGH Imaging is announcing that it is increasing patient access across four counties for breast cancer screening by adding Genius 3D Mammography exams made by Hologic to 18 locations in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties.

"3D mammography has become the superior choice in breast imaging," said Dr. JoAnn Gierbolini, a Women's subspecialized radiologist at TGH Imaging and collaborative assistant professor at the USF Morsani College of Medicine. "Being able to utilize this technology daily across four counties will allow our team to detect breast cancers earlier but also provide access for so many more women in our area," she said. Compared with 2D mammography alone, 3D mammography can find 20 to 65% more invasive breast cancers.2

With breast tomosynthesis technology, the Hologic system creates a 3-dimensional image of the breast structure, which enables radiologists to more clearly see through overlapping tissue to detect cancers, often at an earlier stage.

A 3D mammogram can be done in conjunction with a synthesized 2D mammogram and does not require additional exam time or compression. Used as both a screening and diagnostic tool, a 3D mammogram is analyzed by a TGH Imaging dedicated women's subspecialized radiologist with the assistance of a Computer Aided Detection (CAD) System.

"3D Mammography is the standard of care in breast imaging, and we're thrilled to expand this service further throughout TGH Imaging," says Sherri Lewman, SVP of Enterprise Imaging at Tampa General Hospital. "We want to offer the best technology available for early cancer detection for all of our patients and providers across all of our locations, coast to coast."

To schedule any imaging appointment at TGH Imaging, call (813) 874-3177 or visit https://www.tghimaging.com/appointment-request/.

1) FDA submissions P080003, P080003/S001, P080003/S004, P080003/S005 2) Results from Friedewald, SM, et al. "Breast cancer screening using tomosynthesis in combination with digital mammography." JAMA 311.24 (2014): 2499 2507; a multi-site (13), non-randomized, historical control study of 454,000 screening mammograms investigating the initial impact the introduction of the Hologic Selenia Dimensions  on screening outcomes. Individual results may vary. The study found an average 41% (95% CI: 20-65%) increase and that 1.2 (95% CI: 0.8-1.6) additional invasive breast cancers per 1000 screening exams were found in women receiving combined 2D FFDM and 3D mammograms acquired with the Hologic 3D Mammography System versus women receiving 2D FFDM mammograms only.3) Zuckerman SP, Conant EF, Keller BM, et al. Implementation of Synthesized Two-dimensional Mammography in a Population-based Digital Breast Tomosynthesis Screening Program. Radiology. 2016 Dec;281(3):730-736. 4) Skaane P, Bandos A, Eben EB, et al. Two-view digital breast tomosynthesis screening with synthetically reconstructed projection images: comparison with digital breast tomosynthesis with full-field digital mammographic images. Radiology. 2014 Jun;271(3):655-63. 5) Bernardi D, Macaskill P, Pellegrini M, et. al. Breast cancer screening with tomosynthesis (3D mammography) with acquired or synthetic 2D mammography compared with 2D mammography alone (STORM-2): a population-based prospective study. Lancet Oncol. 2016 Aug;17(8):1105-13. 6) McDonald ES, Oustimov A, Weinstein SP, et al. Effectiveness of Digital Breast Tomosynthesis Compared With Digital Mammography: Outcomes Analysis From 3 Years of Breast Cancer Screening. JAMA Oncol. 2016 Jun 1;2(6):737-43. 7) Rafferty EA, Durand MA, Conant EF, et al. Breast Cancer Screening Using Tomosynthesis and Digital Mammography in Dense and Nondense Breasts. JAMA. 2016 Apr26;315(16):1784-6

ABOUT TGH IMAGING: Established in 1994, TGH Imaging, formerly known as Tower Radiology, is one of the largest outpatient radiology practices in West Central Florida, with 21 locations in four counties. The new name marks Tampa General Hospital's complete purchase of Tower Radiology, expanding its statewide outpatient sites, including primary care, urgent care, rehab, cancer care, surgery and imaging. After decades of working closely, the purchase officially combines industry expertise and the drive to deliver world-class care through innovation to enhance the quality and coordination of outpatient care while achieving the optimal patient experience. TGH Imaging holds accreditations in all imaging modalities from the American College of Radiology (ACR), is an ACR Breast Imaging Center of Excellence and is a designated ACR Lung Cancer Screening Center. For three years, TGH Imaging has received the Tampa Bay Times' Best of the Best People's Choice award for its Mammogram Center in Tampa. TGH Imaging offers specialized services such as 3D mammography, weight-bearing open MRI, cardiac MRI, wide-bore MRI, low-dose CT lung screening, PET/CT, and 64-slice CT. All exam interpretations are by board-certified radiologists that hold additional certifications in imaging-focused subspecialties and participate in the academic missions of research and teaching by serving as faculty and staff for the University of South Florida and Florida State University Colleges of Medicine in the Departments of Radiology. TGH Imaging's mission is to provide the highest-quality screening and diagnostic radiology services to patients and providers in the community within a safe, compassionate, professional and technologically advanced environment. For more information, go to www.TGHimaging.com.

ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL

Tampa General Hospital, a 1,040-bed, not-for-profit, academic medical center, is one of the largest hospitals in America and delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. Tampa General Hospital is the highest-ranked hospital in the market in U.S. News & World Report's 2022-23 Best Hospitals, and is tied as the third highest-ranked hospital in Florida, with seven specialties ranking among the best programs in the United States. Tampa General Hospital has been designated as a model of excellence by the 2022 Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list. The academic medical center's commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by two prestigious Forbes magazine rankings  first nationally in the 2022 America's Best Employers for Women and sixth out of 100 Florida companies in the 2022 America's Best Employers by State. Tampa General is the safety net hospital for the region, caring for everyone regardless of their ability to pay, and in fiscal year 2021, provided a net community benefit worth more than $224.5 million in the form of health care for underinsured patients, community education, and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It is one of the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant centers and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With six medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center, and its 32-bed Neuroscience, Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It also is home to the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General Hospital's footprint includes 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, TGH Brandon Healthplex, TGH Virtual Health, and 21 TGH Imaging powered by Tower outpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties. Tampa Bay area residents also receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track network of clinics. To see a medical care professional live anytime, anywhere on a smartphone, tablet or computer, visit Virtual Health | Tampa General Hospital (tgh.org). As one of the largest hospitals in the country, Tampa General Hospital is the first in Florida to partner with GE Healthcare and open a clinical command center that provides real-time situational awareness to improve and better coordinate patient care at a lower cost. For more information, go to www.tgh.org.

Media Contact: Beth Hardy, APR

Senior Communications Specialist

(813) 844-7322 (direct)

(813) 510-6363 (cell)

[email protected]

SOURCE Tampa General Hospital
SAN ANTONIO, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ear Institute of Texas, which is a Parallel ENT & Allergy supported practice, proudly announces their 20th anniversary of providing exceptional medical and surgical care for ear, nose, and throat disorders, including care for dizziness and audiology services. The team at the Ear Institute of Texas is celebrating the anniversary throughout the month of May, which is also National Better Hearing and Speech Month.

The Ear Institute of Texas was founded in 2003 by Dr. Lance Jackson. His mission was to bring the best otologic and neurotologic care to the San Antonio region.

"When I began the practice 20 years ago, my goal was to provide the most advanced care for ear disorders, while also providing the best patient experience in our office. We continually work to provide the best medical and surgical treatment for ear disorders, including for dizziness disorders and medical and surgical treatments for the ear," said Dr. Jackson.

Dr. Jackson and his team are also focused on advancing the practice of otology and neurotology care for the future.

"We have striven to be on the forefront of otology care. This involves offering a broad range of treatment for hearing loss, including not only conventional hearing aids but also bone anchored hearing aids, cochlear implantation, and the new Earlens device. Over time, we added additional physicians and other types of care provided through the practice, so we could provide comprehensive otolaryngology care. This included expanding for the most advanced care for voice and swallow issues, as well as all other aspects of ENT. We have done this by adding additional physicians of the highest quality," he said.

Recently the Ear Institute of Texas and the Hearing Institute of Texas joined Parallel ENT & Allergy as supported practices. Parallel provides EIT and HIT non-clinical, practice management services to support high-quality patient care.

"The 20th anniversary of the Ear Institute of Texas demonstrates Dr. Jackson's leadership and commitment to the San Antonio and broader Texas market," said Glenn Noble, CEO of Parallel ENT & Allergy. "We are thrilled to be a part of celebrating this milestone with them and building a strong future for the practice in the years ahead."

About the Ear Institute of Texas

The Ear Institute of Texas and Hearing Institute of Texas has five board-certified physicians and total staff of 50. EIT provides medical and surgical treatments of the ear, nose, throat, and other ENT disorders for patients of all ages. This includes all forms of otolaryngology conditions, including subspecialty care of both otology/neurotology and laryngology conditions by fellowship-trained physicians. The practice also offers vestibular testing, allergy evaluation and treatments including immunotherapy options, and laryngoscopy. The Hearing Institute of Texas fits patients with hearing aids and provides all aspects of audiology care, including cochlear implantation. Learn more at https://eioftx.com.

About Parallel ENT & Allergy

Parallel ENT & Allergy is a physician-centric practice management organization for ENT and allergy practices. Parallel provides strategic, operational, and administrative support, so physicians can spend less time worrying about the business of medicine and more time caring for their patients. To learn more about Parallel ENT & Allergy, or to inquire about becoming a supported practice, visit https://parallelenta.com.

Press Contact:

Suz Murphy

Parallel ENT & Allergy Marketing

[email protected]

630.667.7587

SOURCE Parallel ENT & Allergy Partners
LONDON, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Oil & Gas Holding Company B.S.C. (c) (the "Offeror") hereby announces that it is separately inviting Noteholders of its outstanding U.S.$750,000,000 7.625 per cent. Notes due 7 November 2024 (ISIN: XS1901860160 (Regulation S) and US67778M2C35 (Rule 144A)), issued by the Offeror (the "Notes") to tender for cash purchase any and all of such Notes by the Offeror (the "Invitation"), all on the terms and subject to the satisfaction of the New Certificates Condition and the other conditions set out in the tender offer memorandum dated 15 May 2023 (the "Tender Offer Memorandum").

The Invitation is subject to the conditions set out in the Tender Offer Memorandum prepared in connection with the Invitation and is subject to the offer and distribution restrictions set out below. Capitalised terms used in this announcement and not otherwise defined have the meanings given to them in the Tender Offer Memorandum.

Description of

the Notes Acceptance amount ISINs CUSIP (Rule 144a) Principal amount outstanding Purchase price per U.S.$1,000 in

principal amount U.S.$750,000,000

7.625 per cent.

Notes due 7

November 2024 Any and all XS1901860160

(Regulation S) and

US67778M2C35

(Rule 144A) 67778M2C3 U.S.$750,000,000 U.S.$1,025

Rationale and background for the Invitation

The rationale for the Invitation, and the intended issuance of New Certificates, is to proactively manage the Offeror's balance sheet and maturity profiles. Notes purchased by the Offeror pursuant to the Invitation will be cancelled and will not be re-issued or re-sold. Notes which have not been validly offered and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Invitation will remain outstanding.

Details of the Invitation

On the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Tender Offer Memorandum (including the "Offer and Distribution Restrictions" described herein), the Offeror invites any and all Noteholders as of 15 May 2023 to tender their Notes for purchase. Noteholders that (i) validly tender their Notes at or prior to 5.00pm (New York City time) on 22 May 2023 (the "Expiration Deadline") or (ii) deliver a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery at or prior to the Expiration Deadline and deliver a properly transmitted Agent's Message or Electronic Instruction, as applicable, and all other required documents to the Information and Tender Agent by 5.00pm (New York City time) on 24 May 2023 (the "Guaranteed Delivery Deadline"), in accordance with the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures described in the Tender Offer Memorandum, will be eligible to receive a cash amount equal to the sum of the Purchase Price and the Accrued Interest (if any). Noteholders may tender their Notes after the Expiration Deadline only pursuant to the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.

Interest will cease to accrue on the Settlement Date for all Notes accepted in the Invitation, including those tendered through the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures, and under no circumstances will additional interest accrue for the period from and including the Settlement Date to the Guaranteed Delivery Settlement Date or otherwise be paid by the Offeror by reason of any delay on the part of the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.

Rights of the Offeror

Subject to applicable laws and regulations and as provided in the Tender Offer Memorandum, the Offeror may, in its sole and absolute discretion, extend, re-open, withdraw or terminate the Invitation and amend or waive any of the terms and conditions of the Invitation at any time before the announcement of the acceptance of the Notes validly tendered and may, in its sole and absolute discretion, waive any of the conditions to the Invitation either before or after such announcement.

New Certificates Condition

The purchase of any Notes by the Offeror pursuant to the Invitation are subject, without limitation, to the successful pricing (in the determination of the Offeror) and settlement of the issue of the New Certificates (the "New Certificates Condition").

Even if the New Certificates Condition and the other conditions set out in the Tender Offer Memorandum are satisfied, the Offeror is not under any obligation to accept for purchase any Notes tendered pursuant to the Invitation. Subject to applicable law, the acceptance for purchase by the Offeror of Notes validly tendered pursuant to the Invitation is at the sole discretion of the Offeror and tenders may be rejected by the Offeror for any reason.

For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in the Tender Offer Memorandum or the electronic transmission thereof constitutes an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the New Certificates. Any investment decision to purchase any New Certificates should be made solely on the basis of the information contained in the base listing particulars to be published on or around 15 May 2023 relating to the Sukuk Programme as supplemented by applicable pricing supplements (the "Base Listing Particulars") prepared by nogaholding Sukuk Limited and the Offeror and no reliance is to be placed on any representations other than those contained in the Base Listing Particulars. Subject to compliance with all applicable securities laws and regulations, the Base Listing Particulars will be available from the Joint Lead Managers on request.

The New Certificates are not being, and will not be, offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons. Nothing in the Tender Offer Memorandum or this announcement constitutes an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the New Certificates in the United States or any other jurisdiction.

Allocation of New Certificates

When considering the allocation of the New Certificates, the Offeror may give preference to those Noteholders who, prior to such allocation, have informed the Offeror or any Dealer Manager that they have validly tendered or have given a firm intention to the Offeror or any Dealer Manager that they intend to tender their Notes pursuant to the Invitation. Therefore, a Noteholder who wishes to subscribe for New Certificates in addition to tendering its Notes for purchase pursuant to the Invitation may be eligible to receive, at the sole and absolute discretion of the Offeror, priority in the allocation of the New Certificates, subject to the issue of the New Certificates and such Noteholder making a separate application for the purchase of such New Certificates to a Dealer Manager (in its capacity as a Joint Lead Manager of the issue of the New Certificates) in accordance with the standard new issue procedures of such Joint Lead Manager. However, the Offeror is not obliged to allocate the New Certificates to a Noteholder who has validly tendered or indicated a firm intention to tender the Notes pursuant to the Invitation and, if New Certificates are allocated, the principal amount thereof may be less or more than the principal amount of Notes tendered by such Noteholder and accepted by the Offeror pursuant to the Invitation.

Noteholders should note that the pricing and allocation of the New Certificates are expected to take place prior to the Expiration Deadline and therefore should provide, as soon as practicable, to any Dealer Manager any indications of a firm intention to tender Notes for purchase pursuant to the Invitation and the quantum of Notes that it intends to tender.

Purchase Consideration

The total consideration payable to each Noteholder in respect of Notes validly submitted for tender and accepted for purchase by the Offeror will be an amount in cash equal to the Purchase Price per U.S.$1,000 in principal amount of Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase plus the Accrued Interest Payment in respect of such Notes.

No Pro Rata Scaling

If the Notes validly tendered in the Invitation are accepted for purchase by the Offeror, the Offeror will accept for purchase any and all of the Notes that are validly tendered, with no pro rata scaling.

Tender Instructions

In order to participate in, and be eligible to receive the Purchase Price pursuant to the Invitation, Noteholders must (i) validly tender their Notes by delivering, or arranging to have delivered on their behalf, a valid Tender Instruction that is received by the Information and Tender Agent by 5.00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Expiration Deadline; or (ii) otherwise comply with the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.

Tender Instructions must be submitted in respect of a principal amount of Notes equal to the relevant Specified Denomination or multiples thereof.

Expected Transaction Timeline

Date Action 15 May 2023 Commencement of the Invitation



Invitation announced.



Tender Offer Memorandum available from the Tender Offer Website, subject to eligibility confirmation and registration.



Announcement of the intention of the Offeror to issue the New Certificates.



5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on 22

May 2023 Expiration Deadline



Deadline for receipt by the Information and Tender Agent of all

Tender Instructions or a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery in order for

Noteholders to be able to participate in the Invitation.



Deadline for withdrawal of any validly submitted Tender

Instructions.



23 May 2023 Announcement of Results



Announcement of whether the Offeror will, subject to satisfaction of

the New Certificates Condition, accept valid tenders of Notes

pursuant to the Invitation and, if so accepted, the aggregate principal

amount of Notes accepted for tender and that are expected to remain

outstanding after settlement of the Invitation.



5.00 p.m. (New York City time) on 24

May 2023 Guaranteed Delivery Deadline



Deadline for delivery of a properly completed Agent's Message or

Electronic Instruction, as applicable, to complete a tender of Notes

by the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.



25 May 2023 Expected Settlement Date Subject to satisfaction of the New Certificates Condition, expected

Settlement Date for the Invitation. Payment of the applicable

Purchase Price and Accrued Interest Payment to Noteholders in

respect of Notes accepted for purchase pursuant to the Invitation (not

including Noteholders utilising the Guaranteed Delivery

Procedures).



30 May 2023 Expected Guaranteed Delivery Settlement Date



Subject to satisfaction of the New Certificates Condition, the

expected Guaranteed Delivery Settlement Date for Noteholders

using the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures. Payment of the

applicable Purchase Price and Accrued Interest Payment to

Noteholders in respect of Notes accepted for purchase pursuant to

the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.



The above times and dates are subject to the right of the Offeror to extend, re-open, amend, withdraw and/or terminate the Invitation (subject to applicable law and as provided in the Tender Offer Memorandum). Noteholders are advised to check with any bank, securities broker or other intermediary through which they hold Notes when such intermediary would need to receive instructions from a Noteholder in order for that Noteholder to be able to participate in, or (in the limited circumstances in which revocation is permitted) revoke their instruction to participate in, the Invitation, before the deadlines specified in the Tender Offer Memorandum. The deadlines set by any such intermediary and each Clearing System for the submission of Tender Instructions will be earlier than the relevant deadlines specified above.

Further Information

A complete description of the terms and conditions of the Invitation is set out in the Tender Offer Memorandum. Arab Banking Corporation (B.S.C.), Citigroup Global Markets Limited, First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, HSBC Bank plc, J.P. Morgan Securities plc and National Bank of Bahrain B.S.C. are acting as the dealer managers (the "Dealer Managers") for the Invitation. Lazard Freres is acting as financial adviser to the Offeror (the "Financial Adviser"). Morrow Sodali Ltd. is acting as the Information and Tender Agent.

Questions and requests for assistance in connection with the Invitation may be directed to:

THE DEALER MANAGERS

Arab Banking Corporation (B.S.C.) P.O. Box 5698 Diplomatic Area, Manama Kingdom of Bahrain

Email: [email protected]

Attention: Debt Capital Markets Citigroup Global Markets Limited

Citigroup Centre

Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London E14 5LB

United Kingdom



Europe: +44 20 7986 8969 U.S. Toll-Free: +1 (800) 558 3745 U.S.: +1 (212) 723 6106

Email: [email protected] Attention: Liability Management Group First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC

FAB Building, Khalifa Business Park

Al Qurm District

P.O. Box 6316

Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates



Email: [email protected]

Telephone: +971 4 565 9956

Attention: Debt Capital Markets & Liability Management HSBC Bank plc

8 Canada Square

London E14 5HQ

United Kingdom



Telephone: +44 20 7992 6237

Email: [email protected]

Attention: Liability Management, DCM J.P. Morgan Securities plc

25 Bank Street

Canary Wharf

London E14 5JP

United Kingdom



Email: [email protected]

Attention: EMEA Liability Management Group National Bank of Bahrain B.S.C.

P.O. Box 106

NBB Old Tower

Government Avenue

Manama

Kingdom of Bahrain Email: [email protected] Attention: Head of Debt Capital Markets and

Syndication

FINANCIAL ADVISER TO THE OFFEROR

Lazard Freres

175 Boulevard Haussmann

75008 Paris

France

Questions and request for assistance in connection with the delivery of Tender Instructions including requests for a copy of the Tender Offer Memorandum may be directed to:

THE INFORMATION AND TENDER AGENT

Morrow Sodali Ltd

Email: [email protected]

Tender Offer Website: https://projects.morrowsodali.com/nogaholding

In London:

Nations House, 9th floor,

103 Wigmore Street,

W1U 1QS, London

United Kingdom

Tel: +44 20 4513 6933

In Stamford:

South Tower, 5th Floor

Stamford, CT 06902

United States

Tel: +1 203 609 4910

In Hong Kong:

The Hive

33-35 Hillier Street

Sheung Wan

Hong Kong

Tel: +852 2319 4130

Each Noteholder is solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal of all matters as such Noteholder deems appropriate (including those relating to the Invitation, the Notes and the Offeror) and each Noteholder must make its own decision, based upon its own judgement and having obtained advice from such financial, accounting, legal and tax advisers as it may deem necessary, as to whether to tender any or all of its Notes for purchase pursuant to the Invitation.

None of the Dealer Managers, the Financial Adviser, the Information and Tender Agent or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates makes any representation or recommendation whatsoever regarding the Invitation, and none of the Offeror, the Dealer Managers, the Financial Adviser, the Information and Tender Agent or their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates assumes any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information concerning the Invitation contained in this announcement or in the Tender Offer Memorandum. None of the Dealer Managers, the Financial Adviser, the Information and Tender Agent, the Offeror or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates is acting for any Noteholder, or will be responsible to any Noteholder for providing any protections which would be afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the Invitation, and accordingly none of the Dealer Managers, the Financial Adviser, the Information and Tender Agent or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates assumes any responsibility for any failure by the Offeror to disclose information with regard to the Offeror or the Notes which is material in the context of the Invitation and which is not otherwise publicly available.

None of the Dealer Managers, the Financial Adviser, the Information and Tender Agent, the Offeror or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates makes any representation or recommendation whatsoever regarding the Invitation, or any recommendation as to whether Noteholders should tender Notes in the Invitation.

Disclaimer

This announcement must be read in conjunction with the Tender Offer Memorandum. This announcement and the Tender Offer Memorandum contain important information which should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the Invitation. If any Noteholder is in any doubt as to the contents of this announcement or the Tender Offer Memorandum or the action it should take, it is recommended to seek its own financial and legal advice, including in respect of any tax consequences, immediately from its stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other independent financial, tax or legal adviser.

Offer and Distribution Restrictions

Neither this announcement nor the Tender Offer Memorandum constitutes an invitation to participate in the Invitation in any jurisdiction in which, or to any person to or from whom, it is unlawful to make such invitation or for there to be such participation under applicable securities laws and regulations. The distribution of this announcement and the Tender Offer Memorandum in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by laws and regulations. Persons into whose possession either this announcement or the Tender Offer Memorandum comes are required by each of the Offeror, the Dealer Managers, the Financial Adviser and the Information and Tender Agent to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions.

United Kingdom

The communication of this announcement, the Tender Offer Memorandum and any other documents or materials relating to the Invitation are not being made, and such documents and/or materials have not been approved, by an authorised person for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Accordingly, such documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. The communication of such documents and/or materials as a financial promotion is only being made to those persons in the United Kingdom falling within the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Financial Promotion Order")) or persons who are within Article 43(2) or 49 of the Financial Promotion Order or any other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be made under the Financial Promotion Order.

France

The Invitation is not being made, directly or indirectly, in the Republic of France ("France"). This announcement, the Tender Offer Memorandum and any other documents or materials relating to the Invitation have only been or shall only be distributed in France to qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, as amended (the "Prospectus Regulation"). This announcement, the Tender Offer Memorandum and any other documents or materials relating to the Invitation have not been and will not be submitted for clearance to nor approved by the Autorite des marches financiers.

Belgium

Neither this announcement, nor the Tender Offer Memorandum nor any other documents or materials relating to the Invitation have been submitted to or will be submitted for approval or recognition to the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority and, accordingly, the Invitation may not be made in Belgium by way of a public offering, as defined in Articles 3 and 6 of the Belgian Law of 1 April 2007 on public takeover bids, as amended or replaced from time to time. Accordingly, the Invitation may not be advertised and the Invitation will not be extended, and neither this announcement nor the Tender Offer Memorandum nor any other documents or materials relating to the Invitation (including any memorandum, information circular, brochure or any similar documents) has been or shall be distributed or made available, directly or indirectly, to any person in Belgium other than "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(e) of Prospectus Regulation. The Invitation may not be advertised and the Invitation will not be extended, and neither this announcement nor the Tender Offer Memorandum nor any other documents or materials relating to the Invitation (including any memorandum, information circular, brochure or any similar documents) has been or shall be distributed or made available, directly or indirectly, to any individual in Belgium qualifying as a consumer within the meaning of Article I.1 of the Belgian Code of Economic Law, as amended from time to time.

Italy

Neither the Invitation, this announcement, the Tender Offer Memorandum or any other documents or materials relating to the Invitation have been or will be submitted to the clearance procedure of the Commissione Nazionale per le Societa e la Borsa ("CONSOB") pursuant to Italian laws and regulations.

The Invitation is being carried out in the Republic of Italy ("Italy") as an exempted offer pursuant to article 101-bis, paragraph 3-bis of the Legislative Decree No. 58 of 24 February 1998, as amended (the "Financial Services Act") and article 35-bis, paragraph 4, of CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of 14 May 1999, as amended.

Noteholders or beneficial owners of the Notes that are resident and/or located in Italy can tender some or all of their Notes pursuant to the Invitation through authorised persons (such as investment firms, banks or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in Italy in accordance with the Financial Services Act, CONSOB Regulation No. 20307 of 15 February 2018, as amended from time to time, and Legislative Decree No. 385 of 1 September 1993, as amended) and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations or with requirements imposed by CONSOB or any other Italian authority.

Each intermediary must comply with the applicable laws and regulations concerning information duties vis-a-vis its clients in connection with the Notes or the Invitation.

Kingdom of Bahrain

The Invitation does not constitute an offer of securities in the Kingdom of Bahrain in terms of Article (81) of the Central Bank of Bahrain and Financial Institutions Law 2006 (decree Law No. 64 of 2006), as amended, nor an offer under Module TMA (Take-overs, Mergers and Acquisitions) of Volume 6 of the Rulebook issued by the Central Bank of Bahrain. The Tender Offer Memorandum and related offering documents have not been and will not be registered as a prospectus with the Central Bank of Bahrain. Accordingly, no Notes can be tendered for purchase by nor will the Tender Offer Memorandum or any other related document or material be used in connection with any offer, sale or invitation to tender Notes, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in the Kingdom of Bahrain, other than in compliance with Bahraini law.

General

This announcement, the Tender Offer Memorandum and any related documents do not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell Notes (and tenders of Notes for purchase pursuant to the Invitation will not be accepted from Noteholders) in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. In those jurisdictions where the securities, blue sky or other laws require the Invitation to be made by a licensed broker or dealer and any of the Dealer Managers or any of their respective affiliates is such a licensed broker or dealer in any such jurisdiction, the Invitation shall be deemed to be made by the Dealer Manager or such affiliate, as the case may be, on behalf of the Offeror in such jurisdiction.

Each Noteholder participating in the Invitation will be deemed to give certain representations in respect of the other jurisdictions referred to above and generally as set out in "Procedures for Participating in the Invitation" in the Tender Offer Memorandum. Any tender of Notes for purchase pursuant to the Invitation from a Noteholder that is unable to make these representations will not be accepted.

Each of the Offeror, the Dealer Managers and the Information and Tender Agent reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to investigate, in relation to any tender of Notes for purchase pursuant to the Invitation whether any such representation given by a Noteholder is correct and, if such investigation is undertaken and as a result the Offeror determines (for any reason) that such representation is not correct, such tender or submission may be rejected.

MAR

This announcement is released by The Oil & Gas Holding Company B.S.C. (c) and contains information that qualified or may have qualified as inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014. For the purposes of MAR this announcement is made by Mark Thomas, Group Chief Executive Officer, on behalf of The Oil & Gas Holding Company B.S.C. (c).

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES TO THE DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION THAT QUALIFIES OR MAY HAVE QUALIFIED AS INSIDE INFORMATION WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 7(1) OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) 596/2014. NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO, OR TO ANY PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE IT IS UNLAWFUL TO DISTRIBUTE THIS DOCUMENT

SOURCE The Oil & Gas Holding Company B.S.C.
SHENZHEN, China, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Integrating storage, backup, sharing and media services, TNAS has an increasingly wide user base around the world. At present, tmnascommunity.eu, a community application platform for TerraMaster TNAS developed and maintained by developers, is also officially launched. This is an open source community, which has provided nearly a hundred free TNAS applications, covering multimedia, development tools, data backup, security, network, business and other fields, the number of applications is still increasing.

TerraMaster NAS Community Platform TOS Community App

As more and more developers join the ranks of TerraMaster application development, the functions and application range of TNAS are getting wider and wider. Since TOS 5.1, TerraMaster has also added the portal of the community application platform in the official application center.

The TNAS community application platform covers a wealth of topics and categories, and users can download and communicate the applications they are interested. At present, these applications support TOS4 and TOS5 systems, and community applications bring more obvious benefits to TNAS users:

APP Resources

The applications released in the community can help users explore more functions of TNAS and enrich the experience of TNAS devices.

Professional Support

Developers will answer users' questions in the community, provide technical support to solve problems, and help users better understand and use TNAS devices.

Users Communication

Other users in the community can also answer users' questions or share their experiences, which can help users better understand how to get the most out of their TNAS devices.

Provide Feedback

Users can provide feedback and suggestions in the community to help improve TNAS applications and services.

How to download?

Enter the TNAS App Center, click Community App, enter the application download page of TerraMaster Community Place, select the application you want to download, and then install the downloaded application installation package manually in the "Install application manually" under the settings.

Users can also directly enter the community application platform here https://tmnascommunity.eu/

Precautions:

1. Community applications are not officially developed by TerraMaster;

2. TerraMaster do not provide services and technical support for community applications;

3. Users shall bear all risks by themselves, including but not limited to: loopholes, bugs, malicious codes, copyrights, etc.;

4. All actions of the community application platform have nothing to do with TerraMaster.

Media Contact:

Yuki Shi

+86 755 81798272

[email protected]

SOURCE TerraMaster
ATLANTA, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tom Barrow Company (TBCo) names Alan Green as the company's Nashville branch manager/vice-president and Will Winslett will now lead its Pensacola location.

Green began his career with TBCo in 1999. He started as a part-time estimator and warehouse employee in the Fort Myers branch. Green grew with the company, moving to inside sales assistant, outside sales, and eventually to the Fort Myers branch manager. In 2014, he transitioned to Pensacola  growing the branch over the last nine years as its branch manager and vice-president.

Tom Barrow Company is the leading provider of HVAC solutions in the Southeast. Tweet this Alan Green, named Vice-President/Branch Manager, Tom Barrow Company - Nashville. Will Winslett, named Vice President/Branch Manager Tom Barrow Company - Pensacola

Will Winslett, who currently serves as an outside sales engineer in the TBCo Pensacola branch, will take over Green's previous position. Winslett joined the company in 2021 after twelve years as an engineer with the University of Alabama Birmingham. He earned both a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and a Master of Engineering from the University of Alabama Birmingham.

"We are excited to fill these two critical roles from within the company  providing growth opportunities for our team, while continuing to provide excellent service to our customers," states Mike Shea, president, Tom Barrow Company.

The Nashville leadership position became available as Don Stewart, current branch manager and vice-president announced his retirement after 42 years with the company. As the company's longest tenured employee, Stewart joined in 1980 as a co-op student from Georgia Tech. He started working in the Atlanta warehouse and eventually helped the company open its first location in Tennessee in 1987. Under his leadership, the Nashville TBCo location has expanded and grown. Stewart will remain on board for the next two months to ensure a smooth transition.

"We are sincerely grateful for Don's contributions to the business," shares Shea. "He has been integral to so many 'firsts' for our company. He will be truly missed."

About Tom Barrow Company

Tom Barrow Company is the leading provider of HVAC solutions in the Southeast offering clients unmatched industry expertise and integrated services through benefit-driven collaboration with design, engineering, and service professionals and the exceptional manufacturing companies Tom Barrow Company represents. The company's experienced team of sales engineers works closely with mechanical engineers, architects, building owners, contractors, and other professionals in the selection and application of a wide range of products to provide the best in HVAC solutions ranging from energy efficiency to air disinfection. For more information on Tom Barrow Company visit www.tombarrow.com.

SOURCE Tom Barrow Company
Easing the Transition to "Survivor" with Meaningful Connections and Effective Resources

ARLINGTON, Va., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the growing need to address the complicated grief from service-connected illness and drug and suicide loss, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), Elizabeth Dole Foundation (EDF), and American Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver Network (MVCN) formed the Caregiver to Survivor (C2S) Partnership. C2S efforts will deepen the understanding of these complex grief journeys and help fill the gap in knowledge of and support for illness- and suicide-loss survivors.

"Our report will provide our community with a shared reference that enables us to respond more quickly and collaboratively to the complicated grief journey experienced by bereaved survivors," said Bonnie Carroll, TAPS President and Founder. "Together, we can help ease their transition and deliver relevant support  especially peer-based emotional support  for our nation's military and veteran illness- and suicide-loss survivors of all ages," states Ms. Carroll.

Research on grief specific to illness- and suicide-loss survivors in the C2S Report confirm:

Multiple or changing roles are depleting.

Planning for and meeting legal and financial needs requires assistance.

Juggling ongoing caring roles is almost impossible.

Identifying and accessing resources and services is difficult before and after loss.

Accessing mental health services for all family members can be especially challenging.

Connections to peer support and a peer-support network are lifesaving.

Pre-bereavement and peer-support interventions are effective.

Based on these findings, the three C2S organizations  EDF and MVCN, known experts in caregiver support, and TAPS, the largest provider of peer-based emotional support for military and veteran survivors  make the following recommendations:

Increase access to relevant resources and services for the entire caregiving and suicide-survivor family before, during, and after the death.

for the entire caregiving and suicide-survivor family before, during, and after the death. Expand the availability of grief and bereavement support  especially peer support  before and after death to mitigate the profound, prolonged, and potentially permanent impact of loss for the entire caregiving and suicide-loss survivor family.

before and after death to mitigate the profound, prolonged, and potentially permanent impact of loss for the entire caregiving and suicide-loss survivor family. Broaden research to spur innovations in policy, programs, and practices to best serve military and veteran caregiving and suicide survivors of all ages.

"The groundbreaking information in the C2S Report is a strong motivation and reference for EDF as it expands our research on the impact of caregiving and loss on America's youngest hidden helpers to ensure they are fully supported when their caregiving journeys come to an end," said Steve Schwab, EDF CEO.

Jointly, all C2S Partners pledge to enhance their process for the "warm referral" of caregiver and suicide-loss survivors among their organizations, stakeholders, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure continuity of care before and after loss. Individually, C2S organizations commit to the following:

TAPS:

Collaborate with the VA to pilot a Gold Coat peer-volunteer program to best support veteran survivors

Offer peer-support activities and grief and bereavement training through the TAPS Institute for Hope and Healing

EDF:

Continue prioritizing research on caregiver-survivor needs and expand information to health care providers through its Academy for Inclusive Care

Create new financial resources for caregivers and facilitate discussions on advanced care planning

American Red Cross MVCN:

Host a new services and resources for caregivers anticipating loss and caregiver survivors on the Red Cross Hero Care Resources Directory

Increase live and archived Caregiver Education webinars and virtual communication

"When a caregiver's journey changes to a survivor's journey due to their loved one's passing, it is vital that immediate support is made available to them," said Melissa Comeau, American Red Cross MVCN Director. "MVCN's new Red Cross Hero Care Resources Directory platform...will help individuals, organizations, and agencies find and utilize more verified and relevant resources and services."

The right resources and services at the right time can help prevent and mitigate the greatest challenges and worst consequences of the death of a military or veteran loved one, especially in children and youth. Equipped with this information, we can all better support their journey of loving, caring, losing, grieving, and living on.

For more information and resources, please visit our Caregiver to Survivor webpage or contact the TAPS 24/7 Helpline at 202-588-TAPS (8277).

ABOUT TAPS

TAPS is the leading national organization providing compassionate care and survivor support services for the families of America's fallen military heroes. Since 1994, TAPS has offered support to all those grieving the death of a military loved one through peer-based emotional support, connections with grief and trauma resources, grief seminars and retreats for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, casework assistance, connections to community-based care, online and in-person support groups, and the 24/7 National Military Survivor Helpline, all at no cost to surviving families. For more information, please visit TAPS.org or call 202-588-TAPS (8277).

ABOUT THE ELIZABETH DOLE FOUNDATION & HIDDEN HEROES

Elizabeth Dole Foundation is the preeminent organization empowering, supporting, and honoring our nation's 5.5 million military caregivers  the spouses, parents, family members, and friends  who care for America's wounded, ill, or injured service members and veterans at home. Founded by Senator Elizabeth Dole in 2012, the Foundation adopts a comprehensive approach in its support and advocacy, working with leaders in the public, private, nonprofit, and faith communities to recognize military caregivers' service and promote their well-being. The Foundation's Hidden Heroes Campaign brings vital attention to the untold stories of military caregivers and provides a network for military caregivers to connect with their peers and access carefully vetted resources. Visit hiddenheroes.org for more information.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS MILITARY AND VETERAN CAREGIVER NETWORK

The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emrergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. The American Red Cross, Military and Veteran Caregiver Network (MVCN) offers peer-based support and services to connect those providing care to service members and veterans living with wounds, illnesses, injuries and/or aging. The mission of the MVCN is to provide our nation's military and veteran caregivers of all eras with peer support to reduce isolation and increase connection, engagement, knowledge, skills, and hope. Please visit www.redcross.org/caregivers for more information.

SOURCE American Red Cross
Certification Company with global presence announces significant increase in revenues and profits in fiscal year 2022

LITTLETON, Mass., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TUV Rheinland, the global testing services provider, closed fiscal year 2022, its 150th anniversary, with revenues of 2.275 billion (compared to 2.09 billion in 2021), an increase of 8.8%.

In the fiscal year 2022, TUV Rheinland's operating result (EBIT - Earnings Before Interest and Taxes) at 180.3 million exceeded the previous year's result by 22.5 million, which was 157.8 million. The EBIT margin reached 7.9 percent from 7.5 percent in 2021. The workforce increased by 3.1% to 20,870 full-time employees worldwide. TUV Rheinland's investments in 2022 increased by more than 33 million compared to 2021, reaching 90.8 million. With this, the investment volume increased by 57.4 percent.

Dr. Michael Fubi, CEO of TUV Rheinland AG, highlights: "In 2022, we demonstrated once again that TUV Rheinland is on stable footing, even in times of uncertainty and multiple crises. In our 150th anniversary year, we generated revenues of around 2.3 billion and solid earnings of more than 180 million. We could not have achieved this without the excellent performance and considerable expertise of our employees. The positive results mean that we can invest in our future and sustainable growth."

The equity of TUV Rheinland, a company founded on October 31, 1872, as "Verein zur Uberwachung der Dampfkessel in den Kreisen Elberfeld und Barmen" (Association for the Inspection of Steam Boilers in the Elberfeld and Barmen Districts), increased by 205.1 million from 436.2 million to 641.3 million in 2022. This brought the equity ratio to 27 percent in the reporting year (2021: 17.7 percent). Positive cash flow from operating activities totaled 245.8 million in the 2022 financial year (2021: 205.9 million).

Test, certify, and educate: growth across all business streams and regions

In 2022, TUV Rheinland experienced revenue growth across all business streams and regions in which the company operates. Its employees conducted approximately 400,000 industrial inspections worldwide and tested around 300,000 products, in addition to inspecting nearly ten million vehicles and awarding a total of 50,000 certificates in accordance with ISO standards. The TUV Rheinland Academy also provided advanced training to around 150,000 people through seminars.

Growth with sustainability services

TUV Rheinland aspires to achieve growth in the coming years, particularly in the area of sustainability services, and to significantly increase its share of total revenues. In 2022, the company generated around EUR 529 million in revenues for sustainability services in the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) segment, which equates to roughly 21% of total revenues. The sustainability services currently offered include the measurement of greenhouse gas emissions, health protection, and testing for green hydrogen, photovoltaic systems, and batteries. The company has also established competence centers for hydrogen and for services related to the reduction of carbon emissions. "Our tests, certifications, academy, and consulting business allow us to play a significant part in ensuring that tangible changes for greater sustainability are possible and verifiable," emphasizes Michael Fubi.

TUV Rheinland not only offers sustainability services but also supports them with its own sustainability targets. The company aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2028, with German group companies aiming for it as early as 2025. TUV Rheinland also aims to achieve Gold status from EcoVadis, the world's leading provider of sustainability rankings. Since October 2021, TUV Rheinland has achieved Gold status, putting it among the top 5% of rated companies. The group's commitment is global in scope. TUV Rheinland's signing of the United Nations Global Compact to promote responsible business and sustainability in 2006 makes it the first testing company in the world to do so and is further evidence of its commitment to sustainability.

TUV Rheinland is investing in the future

In the 2022 financial year, TUV Rheinland significantly increased its investment volume, with a focus on future and digitalization topics such as electromobility and autonomous driving. For example, the company opened a large testing laboratory for electric vehicle drive batteries in Aachen, Germany, in June 2022, which will be further expanded at a total cost of EUR 24 million by the end of 2023. Another development is the Yangtze River Delta Operation Hub, where the company invested around EUR 10 million in the first phase in 2022. The laboratory center in Taicang, near Shanghai, China, will test photovoltaic modules, electrical and electronic products, and automotive electronics. Other investments in 2022 included the construction and modernization of vehicle inspection centers in Chile and the expansion of testing capacities for wireless technologies in Taiwan.

"TUV Rheinland will continue its investment strategy in 2023. In February, we started construction of a testing and certification site for high-tech products in the Greater Boston area in the US," says Philipp Kortum, Chief Financial Officer of TUV Rheinland AG. The state-of-the-art facility is set to open at the end of 2023 and will be the largest of its kind in the northeastern United States.

TUV Rheinland remains an attractive employer worldwide

In 2022, TUV Rheinland employed an average of 20,870 full-time equivalents. This represents an increase of 3.1% on 2021. TUV Rheinland's internationality is reflected by its employees: in 2022, 12,547 employees (60.1%) were based outside Germany. In Germany, TUV Rheinland employed an average of 8,323 full-time equivalents in 2022. TUV Rheinland is currently creating new jobs, both in Germany and in numerous regions worldwide. There are currently 600 vacancies in Germany alone, and 1,300 worldwide.

Performance in Germany and internationally

The German market accounted for 50.6% of TUV Rheinland's total revenues in 2022, with the international regions contributing 49.4%. Revenues in Germany grew by EUR 58.3 million, totaling EUR 1.152 billion in 2022. Outside of Germany, revenues amounted to EUR 1.124 billion compared to EUR 997.5 million in 2021. All TUV Rheinland regions recorded revenue growth in 2022, some with significant growth rates.

Outlook

TUV Rheinland has set itself clear goals for the years ahead, which will allow it to continue to grow profitably through independent safety and quality inspections. These goals include sustainability services in particular, an area TUV Rheinland believes will grow vastly in importance. In addition, TUV Rheinland intends to continue investing heavily in the capabilities of its own employees and expand its workforce to cater to the growing global demand for testing services. Michael Fubi: "For us, the topics of safety, quality and sustainability represent a single entity. As one of the world's largest independent testing service providers, we see our role as supporting the transformation of the economy today for greater sustainability tomorrow."

About TUV Rheinland

TUV Rheinland stands for safety and quality in virtually all areas of business and life. The company has been operating for more than 150 years and ranks among the world's leading testing service providers. It has more than 20,000 employees in over 50 countries and generates annual revenues of around 2.3 billion euros. TUV Rheinland's highly qualified experts test technical systems and products around the world, support innovations in technology and business, train people in numerous professions and certify management systems according to international standards. In doing so, the independent experts generate trust in products as well as processes across global value-adding chains and the flow of commodities. Since 2006, TUV Rheinland has been a member of the United Nations Global Compact to promote sustainability and combat corruption. Website: www.tuv.com

Contact us for press inquiries:

Joel Pekay

Phone: +1 224 318 4098

Email: [email protected]

Mariana Taborda do Amaral

Telephone: +55 11 3514 5867

Email: [email protected]

Michael Garcia Carbajal

Phone: +52 55 3488 2108

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE TUV Rheinland
DUBAI, UAE and RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TVM Capital Healthcare, a global specialist healthcare private equity firm operating in emerging markets, announced today the opening of a new office in the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The purpose of the new office is to advise the group and its portfolio companies as they grow their operational footprint in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the largest market in the region. Establishing this local office comes after TVM Capital Healthcare successfully expanded its portfolio company Cambridge Medical and Rehabilitation Center from the UAE to KSA in the year 2019. With establishing this new presence, TVM Capital Healthcare expands its global network already spanning the U.S., Europe, MENA and Southeast Asia, adding local healthcare advisory and operating expertise to its international team. The local office presence shall focus on supporting portfolios companies financed by TVM Capital Healthcare's growth capital funds to complement the region's healthcare system, help fulfill demand for currently underserved healthcare verticals, and improve access to quality healthcare services locally.

Orhan Osmansoy, Managing Partner of TVM Capital Healthcare and Director of the new office commented: "Saudi Arabia today provides excellent growth opportunities for the specialist healthcare sector, which is our key expertise. We have been active in Saudi Arabia for a long time, but our new presence in Riyadh enables us to expand and deepen our local relationships and interact even more closely with investors, regulators, our peers in the industry, and entrepreneurs in the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia is the economic powerhouse in the region, and we are looking forward to supporting the Government's Health Sector Transformation Program as outlined in the Vision 2030."

Othman Abahussein, Operating Partner at TVM Capital Healthcare, Director of the new office based in Riyadh, added: "The Health Sector Transformation Program aims to make the local health sector more comprehensive, effective and integrated, based on the health needs of the individual and society at large. I am looking forward to working with all stakeholders to bring top notch healthcare solutions using our global presence and network, closer to patients and their families in our country."

About TVM Capital Healthcare

TVM Capital Healthcare is an emerging markets-focused healthcare private equity firm with investment teams based in Dubai and Singapore. TVM Capital Healthcare is also present in Munich, Boston, Ho Chi Minh City, and now Riyadh. The firm invests expansion and growth capital in healthcare companies with a focus on specialized and tech-enabled healthcare services, digital health solutions and platforms, as well as manufacturing companies in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and diagnostics. Investment and operating partners as well as a strong group of Senior Advisors have long-standing international track records in healthcare and life sciences investing, active board work, contributions to strategy development and implementation, governance and ESG, healthcare M&A, initial public offerings and deep healthcare operations experience. The firm partners with local Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian management teams to build domestic or regional sector champions and selectively backs companies from Europe or North America for expansion into the firm's target geographies.

TVM Capital Healthcare's investment and operating approach combines strong commercial value creation and returns with responsible investing and a comprehensive ESG framework to build impactful, sustainable and well-governed companies, delivering excellent healthcare services, with continued growth and job creation, in a fair and diverse workplace.

TVM Capital Healthcare is a U.N. PRI signatory since 2015, a longstanding member of GPCA, a member of 2X Global, a signatory of Ethical Principles in Healthcare (EPiHC) and Investors for Health (I4H), initiatives of the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank (IFC), promoting healthcare growth and ethical principles in healthcare to build transparent and resilient health systems.

www.tvmcapitalhealthcare.com

About Orhan Osmansoy

Visit the full bio here.

About Othman Abahussein

Visit full bio here.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2074022/TVM_Capital_Healthcare_Logo.jpg

SOURCE TVM Capital Healthcare
WASHINGTON, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On this Peace Officers Memorial Day, May 15, 2023, the United State Senate Federal Credit Union (USSFCU) is honoring the United States Capitol Police by providing breakfast to the officers on duty. The U.S. Capitol Police have been protecting the U.S. Capitol since 1828, making them one of the oldest organized police forces in the nation. The sacrifice made by the men and women of the US Capitol Police has largely gone unnoticed through the years until recently. Peace Officers Memorial Day is a day of recognition for police officers around the Nation who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

USSFCU, Chick-fil-a & US Capitol Police teams. Left to Right: Milton Aguilar-Bolanos (USSFCU), Shannon Kingsbury (US Capitol Police) & Deeben "DK" Kang (Chick-fil-a) Peace Officers Memorial Day breakfast delivery from Chick-fil-a 7th Street in Chinatown courtesy of the US Senate Federal Credit Union. Preparing breakfast for US Capitol Police for Peace Officers Memorial Day. Peace Officers Memorial Day breakfast delivery from Chick-fil-a 7th Street in Chinatown courtesy of the US Senate Federal Credit Union. Peace Officers Memorial Day breakfast delivery from Chick-fil-a 7th Street in Chinatown courtesy of the US Senate Federal Credit Union.

"It is our honor and privilege to provide the U.S. Capitol Police with breakfast on this special day. The U.S. Capitol Police have watched over Capitol Hill and the U.S. Senate community tirelessly for almost 200 years. The sacrifice their officers make to keep us safe cannot be praised enough. This simple gesture is our way of saying thank you for all they do to keep us safe."

- Milton Aguilar-Bolanos, USSFCU Membership Development Officer

The United States Senate Federal Credit Union has served the U.S. Capitol Police for decades and considers them, next to the U.S. Senate, one of their core member groups. USSFCU has more than 100 employee groups they have partnered with over the years but the relationship with the U.S. Capitol Police is a unique one. It goes beyond a business-to-business relationship. There is a level of trust and togetherness from both sides that you see more in community or family. USSFCU will also be contributing to the U.S. Capitol Police Memorial Fund at the end of May as an additional show of solidarity with the force.

A very special thanks to retired U.S. Capitol Police officer and Chick-fil-a 7th Street in Chinatown Owner/Operator, Deeben "DK" Kang, and his amazing team for making this meal possible. Learn more about his journey here.

About USSFCU

Since 1935, USSFCU has provided the Senate and Capitol Hill communities with world-class financial stability, security, and service. Now a $1.4 billion financial institution with 100 plus paths to membership, access to the same financial resources provided exclusively to the Senate community is at your fingertips. Call, click or tap to learn more at www.ussfcu.org.

View this press release on our website at ussfcu.org/press.

Media Contact: Arthur Green, (571) 253-6363, [email protected]

SOURCE US Senate Federal Credit Union
DENVER, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vortex Brands Co. (OTC: VTXB), a publicly traded company specializing in innovative technology solutions, announced today its plans to launch an AI bot that will revolutionize bitcoin trading and mining for individuals.

The AI bot will be designed to provide users with a sophisticated, interactive and intuitive system. It will analyze market trends and identify potential trading opportunities, empowering individuals to make informed decisions when it comes to buying and selling bitcoin. Moreover, the bot will be equipped with advanced tools to assist in bitcoin mining, optimizing users' mining operations and maximizing their profits. Vortex Brands Co. plans to offer the AI bot through a subscription-based model in the future.

"We are excited to announce the development of our AI bot that will assist individuals with trading bitcoin and learning more about the cryptocurrency," said Todd Higley, CEO of Vortex Brands Co. "We believe that this is an opportune time to introduce a more efficient and effective way to navigate the complex world of bitcoin trading and mining."

The AI bot is currently in the development phase, and Vortex Brands Co. plans to use ChatGPT as the AI backbone of the bot. With ChatGPT's expertise in natural language processing and Vortex Brands Co.'s focus on innovative technology solutions, the AI bot is expected to provide users with a high-quality product that helps them succeed in bitcoin trading and mining.

Vortex Brands Co. is committed to delivering a cutting-edge AI bot that will provide individuals with the necessary tools to navigate the world of bitcoin trading and mining with ease. The company expects to release the AI bot in the near future with a subscription-based model launching shortly after.

With the rapid growth of cryptocurrencies, the demand for efficient and effective ways of navigating the world of bitcoin trading and mining has increased. Vortex Brands Co.'s AI bot will provide individuals with a unique opportunity to stay ahead of the curve in the competitive world of cryptocurrency.

About Vortex Brands Co.: The Company operates as Technology Holdings Company that focuses on cryptocurrency sector, particularly Bitcoin Mining. Additional information is available by visiting company's website at www.vortexbrands.us or on twitter at https://twitter.com/Vortexbrands.

*Revenue related calculations. Please note that the Company believes that any revenue related calculations are accurate and based on factual information, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to achieve all projections due to number of business-related factors, such as power pricing, mining equipment availability, bitcoin mining difficulty, bitcoin market pricing and other unforeseen issues in deploying its mining rigs. You can view update information on Bitcoin Mining by visiting https://minerstat.com/coin/BTC

Certain statements in this release constitute forward-looking statements . These statements include the capabilities and success of the Company's business and any of its products, services or solutions. The words "believe," "forecast," "project," "intend," "expect," "plan," "should," "would," and similar expressions and all statements, which are not historical facts, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, any of which could cause the Company to not achieve some or all of its goals or the Company's previously reported actual results, performance (finance or operating) to change or differ from future results, performance (financing and operating) or achievements, including those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the SEC, copies of which may be obtained from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no, and hereby disclaims any, obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

SOURCE Vortex Brands Co.
Strategic partnership will enable DE-CIX edge IXs in smaller cities and rural areas to significantly improve regional Internet performance

FRANKFURT, Germany and WASHINGTON, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DE-CIX, the world's leading operator of Internet Exchanges (IXs), and Connected Nation Internet Exchange Points (CNIXP), a joint venture between nonprofit Connected Nation and Newby Ventures, today announce a strategic partnership for the establishment and operation of edge IXs in unserved and underserved markets across the US to significantly improve regional Internet performance. CNIXP's objective is to build new carrier-neutral interconnection facilities in at least 125 regional hub communities in 43 states and 4 U.S. territories with the primary support of public funding.

This exclusive agreement paves the way for DE-CIX to serve as the IX platform operator within CNIXP facilities. The project will be undertaken as part of the "DE-CIX Nexus Program for Edge Interconnection", including integration of each new IX into DE-CIX's North American and global ecosystem, fostering the development of new connectivity hubs away from the major metropolitan centers. These IXs will enable one-hop connectivity to the nearest major exchange, including DE-CIX's IXs in New York, Dallas, Chicago, Phoenix, and Richmond VA, among others, including existing independent IXs.

American cities beyond the major hubs need and deserve better Internet performance. Tweet this

DE-CIX's proven ability to develop successful ecosystems  and over time to close gaps in previously greenfield interconnection markets  will be leveraged for the success of the partnership. As an Internet Exchange operator, in the business of interconnection for close to three decades, DE-CIX has built up the world's largest data center and carrier neutral interconnection ecosystem, bringing together thousands of networks accessible from data centers in more than 600 cities worldwide.

"People and businesses  and in particular the research and educational sector  in American cities beyond the major hubs need and deserve better Internet performance  faster, lower latency, more resilient, and more secure access to content, clouds, and applications," explains Ivo Ivanov, CEO of DE-CIX. "Establishing Internet Exchanges in CNIXP facilities will enable people all over the nation to participate more fully in the digital economy, with all the benefits this brings. DE-CIX is proud to support the expansion of high-performance digital infrastructure together with Connected Nation and Newby Ventures, as a step towards closing the digital divide in the US."

The establishment of connectivity hubsconsisting of a neutral IXP facility and a robust, professionally operated and supported IX within the facilityhas been demonstrated to provide significant economic advantages for cities and regions. An IX and its ecosystem of connected networks and data centers increases the speed and resilience of Internet connectivity through optimizing the routes for data transport and offering greater redundant data pathways. It also brings down the costs of connectivity and enables locally bound data to remain local, rather than needing to take long detours through distant hubs to reach its destination. Such local interconnection, in turn, fosters the growth of a local digital economy and encourages not only the attraction of new business to the community, but also enables the localization of content, clouds, and applications to serve residents and organizations through significantly lower latency connections.

"With this announcement, we are bringing the best IX platform operator in the world into every IXP facility that we build," said Tom Ferree, CEO of Connected Nation. "The communities we serve deserve no less. Our partnership with DE-CIX is a critical step toward ensuring that small cities and rural areas have the same robust online experience as their urban counterparts, both now and into the future."

SOURCE Connected Nation
COLUMBIA, S.C.  Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville is facing backlash for remarks he made about white nationalists in the armed forces in an interview about his blocking of military nominees. He said that while Democrats may consider such people to be racists, I call them Americans.

Tuberville said Thursday that his comments had been misinterpreted. His office said he had been expressing skepticism at the idea that white nationalists were in the armed services.

The first-term senator from Alabama made his initial remarks in an interview last week with WBHM, an NPR affiliate. He suggested that the Biden administrations efforts to expand diversity in the military were weakening the force and hampering recruitment, though the Army has said that the real problem is that many young people do not see enlistment as safe or a good career path.

We are losing in the military so fast. Our readiness in terms of recruitment, Tuberville said, according to the stations transcript of the May 4 interview. And why? Ill tell you why. Because the Democrats are attacking our military, saying we need to get out the white extremists, the white nationalists, people that dont believe in our agenda.

When asked if he believed white nationalists should be allowed in the U.S. military, Tuberville responded, Well, they call them that. I call them Americans.

Responding to criticism of his comments, Tuberville said Thursday at the U.S. Capitol that he had been trying to refute the notion that all supporters of former President Donald Trump are white nationalists.

Democrats portray all Trump people as white nationalists. Thats what I was saying ... Tuberville said. Theres a lot of good people that are Trump supporters that for some reason my Democratic colleagues want to portray as white nationalists. Thats not true.

The comments came as Tuberville continued to hold up Senate approval of a slew of military appointments over his opposition to Pentagon abortion policies. Those policies provide travel funds and support for troops and dependents who seek abortions but are based in states where they are now illegal.

The White House National Security Council said it was abhorrent that Senator Tuberville would argue that white nationalists should be allowed to serve in the military, while he also threatens our national security by holding all pending DOD military and civilian nominations. Extremist behavior has no place in our military. None.

Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday on the Senate floor that Tubervilles words were gravely damaging and that senators are called to a higher standard of conduct.

Does Sen. Tuberville honestly believe that our military is stronger with white nationalists in its ranks? Schumer said. I cannot believe this needs to be said, but white nationalism has no place in our armed forces and no place in any corner of American society, period. Full stop. End of story.

Tuberville, who has endorsed former President Donald Trump in his 2024 White House bid, has faced criticism for previous comments related to race. At a Nevada rally featuring Trump, he asserted in October that Democrats support reparations for the descendants of enslaved people because they think the people that do the crime are owed that.

Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Thursday that the move to hold up all the nominations is what will actually degrade Americas armed forces.

He said that the nominations of about 650 senior officers, for jobs that generally put them in command of large, complex organizations across the military, is unsettling for the institution and over time will significantly degrade readiness, capability and morale.

Associated Press writer Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report.
Kim Bumjae is arrested by HCMC police on August 10, 2020. Photo courtesy of HCMC police

A South Korean director set up 10 investment companies with promises of high returns as part of a ploy to appropriate VND76 billion ($3.2 million) from 156 investors.

Kim Bumjae, 55, director of Raon VN Company and Khanh Asset Company, and eight other accomplices will go on trial in Ho Chi Minh City on charges of fraud to appropriate property on May 23.

The trial is expected to last until May 29, summoning 156 victims and dozens of others involved.

According to the indictment, Kim was appointed by a compatriot as a representative of an IDS Holdings Company branch in Vietnam in early 2015.

Kim's job was to call for investment and mobilize money from customers.

Under the agreement, he would receive 4% of the total amount raised as commission and the rest would be transferred to South Korea to invest in a forex business.

From April 2015 to October 2018, Kim established IDS Capital Investment Company Limited, IDS Holdings Investment Company, Raon Vietnam Ltd and Khanh Asset Company Limited to raise money illegally.

He was identified as the mastermind of the scheme and joined accomplices to organize foreign exchange classes to gain investors' trust.

With a policy of paying interest from 1.5% to 1.8% per month, IDS Capital mobilized more than VND73 billion from 134 customers.

IDS Holdings Company raised VND91 billion from 224 customers.

Kim then liquidated contracts by paying principal and interest as the two companies made losses.

Kim founded other companies to continue raising money from investors.

For Raon Vietnam Co., Ltd., Kim and his accomplices raised more than VND490 billion through nearly 1,500 contracts. His company then liquidated more than 1,220 contracts worth more than VND357 billion.

Through Khanh Asset Company, the Korean director and his accomplices raised VND263 billion from 799 members and paid investors just VND16 billion.

To create trust, Kim initially paid full interest to investors, investigators said.

He never transferred the money he collected from investors to Korea but instead used the latter to pay interest and other expenses such as rental and system maintenance.

Kim also set up other business projects to raise money from investors through six companies, including a catering company, a poker project, a karaoke business, and a charter shipping company.

By the time of arrest in August 2020, Kim and his accomplices had appropriated more than VND76 billion from 156 investors. Kim was accused of personally possessing nearly VND40 billion.

According to investigators, other employees benefited by sums from VND270 million to VND2 billion.

The defendants confessed to their crimes during the investigation.
New Delhi, May 15 : The UK's love for a cup of coffee is under threat from the climate crisis, a new report by charity Christian Aid said on Monday.

The paper outlines how coffee farmers in poorer countries require financial support from richer countries to help farmers adapt to climate change and address the loss and damage it causes.

In the UK alone, Brits drink more than 98 million cups of coffee a day. According to calculations by Christian Aid, that is enough to fill more than nine Olympic sized swimming pools.

However, analysis from the international development charity warns coffee farmers are facing a host of climate-related impacts such as rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, disease, droughts and landslides -- an issue observed by Christian Aid partners in Honduras.

Expert forecasts warn that temperature increases of just 1.5C-2C will see highly suitable land for growing coffee slashed by more than half -- 54 per cent -- by the end of the century. This includes the two countries where the UK gets most of its coffee from: Brazil and Vietnam.

It is worrying news for the livelihoods and survival of coffee farmers. For the British economy, the British Coffee Association estimated the number of jobs supported by coffee in the UK stood at around 210,325 in 2017.

The warnings appear to also be concerning British consumers. New polling by Savanta, commissioned by Christian Aid, reveals three in five (57 per cent) UK adults say they are concerned that climate change will impact the cost, taste and availability of coffee in the UK.

The polling also shows almost seven in 10 (69 per cent) UK adults say they agree that the government should do more to reduce the impact of the climate crisis on the food supply chain to the UK, such as supporting coffee farmers in developing countries shift to sustainable and resilient methods of production.

The publication of the report -- "Wake up and smell the coffee: The climate crisis and your coffee" -- marks the start of Christian Aid Week, the UK's longest running fundraising week dating back to 1957.

The report's conclusion includes recommendations to boost climate finance to help farmers in diversification of livelihoods to climate resilient crops and cancelling unjust debts to help countries free up resources to tackle climate change and poverty.

The dire situation facing coffee farmers around the globe has not gone unnoticed. The Fairtrade Foundation, Mzuzu Coffee Cooperative in Malawi, UK-based Caturra Coffee Club and climate experts are speaking out on the impact of the climate crisis on coffee.

Mackson Ng'ambi, Chief Executive Officer of Mzuzu Coffee Cooperative in Malawi, said: "Our experience is that in a year where the early season rains have been poor or non-existent, coffee flowering has also been grossly poor. This is now a frequent recurrence." "The global coffee pricing should take into consideration that farmers are making more effort to maintain a field of coffee and hence increased cost of production. If this is not recognised and informs coffee prices, sadly most growers will abandon coffee farming." "There is also a need for direct funding that would benefit the small-scale coffee growers, such as access to low interest financing which is currently not available. If nothing is done, we should forget about coffee in a few years to come." The UK government has an opportunity to make a difference, according to Christian Aid's Chief Executive, Patrick Watt. He said: "Small-scale coffee farmers are living on the frontline of the climate crisis, despite having contributed little to the problem of global warming.

"The UK government must wake up and smell the coffee. As a country that has benefitted far more than most from industrialisation, and has contributed disproportionately to the climate crisis, we have a particular responsibility to people whose livelihoods are under threat from climate change."
Los Angeles, May 15 : Two people were killed and five others injured in a shooting in Yuma, a US-Mexico border city in Arizona, authorities said.

Police responded to a report of shots fired in a neighbourhood at about 10:54 p.m. local time Saturday (0554 GMT Sunday) and found several people with gunshot wounds, the Yuma Police Department said in a press statement on Sunday.

Two male victims, aged 19 and 20 respectively, were pronounced dead in a local hospital shortly after being sent there, it added as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.

A third victim, a 16-year-old male, was sent to the hospital and later flown to Phoenix, the capital of the southwestern US state, with life-threatening injuries, it said.

The other victims, aged 15, 19, 18, and 16, had non-life threatening injuries.

Officials said an investigation was underway, and no suspects were in custody at the time of the press statement.
Shahjahanpur : , May 15 (IANS) A school principal and an assistant teacher have been booked while a computer teacher of a government school in a village in Tilhar in Shahjahanpur district has been arrested for allegedly attempting to sexually assault 15 girl students, mostly Dalits, police said.

All these minor students study in class 7 and 8.

The principal and an assistant teacher have been booked for allegedly supporting the accused computer teacher.

All the three have been booked under sections 354 (attempt to outrage the modesty of a woman), 352 (punishment for assault or criminal force) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC, along with relevant sections of the POCSO Act and the SC/ST Act.

Basic Shiksha Adhikari, Kumar Gaurav, said, "The head teacher and the assistant teacher have been suspended with immediate effect, and a departmental enquiry has also been ordered against them." The computer teacher was sent to jail on Sunday after the statements of all the girls were recorded by police in the presence of their parents.

The students told police that their teacher used to touch them inappropriately. The girls were later taken to district hospital for medico-legal examination.

This issue came into light when one of the girls told her father that her 30-year-old computer teacher used to inappropriately touch her and other girl students after school hours.

The parents of these girls then raided the school and also recovered used condoms from the school's toilet.

The police were informed and a complaint was lodged against the school's head teacher, the computer teacher and an assistant teacher at the Tilhar police station.

Shahjahanpur Senior Superintendent of Police said, "The allegations are grave as all the girls are aged between 12 to 15 years and they had given their statements against the accused teacher. Circle officer of Tilhar, Priyank Jain, is carrying out the investigation. The accused has been sent to jail. We are also investigating the role of two other teachers."
Lakhimpur Kheri, May 15 : A fully grown-up wild male elephant has been found dead at the Dudhwa National Park (DNP) in Uttar Pradesh -- the second tusker casualty of this year in the region.

On Sunday, patrolling teams sighted the carcass of the tusker in the Belaghat forests under Sathiyana range.

They informed the deputy field director Rengaraju T, who apprised the field director B. Prabhakar of the incident for further procedure.

Several puncture wounds were visible on the carcass, indicating fight with some other wild elephant.

Prabhakar said: "Post-mortem done by veterinary officer Baburam Verma, Dudhwa wild veterinary experts Daya Shankar and Deepak Verma has established 'infighting among animals led to rib cage rupture, heart puncture and circulatory system failure (Syncope)' which caused the death." He added the age of the deceased tusker was estimated around 15 years.

Preliminary observations and circumstantial evidence also indicated infighting among the wild elephants to be the cause of death, said Prabhakar.

He added that a few days ago, a herd of over three dozen elephants had been sighted roaming around in the area.

On April 19, a female wild elephant was found dead in south Sonaripur range forests of the park.

The post-mortem report had established infection in the uterus to be the cause of death.
Elnur Enveroglu

Following the recent positive talks held in the United States on the peace treaty, the momentum should be maintained to take decisive steps towards the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, President of European Coincil Charle Michel told in a statement for media, Azernews reports.

The EU Council head also expressed his satisfaction of the meeting through which he said both Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders supported the 1991 Almaty Declaration and mutual respect to each other's territorial integrities.

"On border issues, we reviewed progress and the next steps regarding the delimitation of the border. In this context, the leaders agreed on the resumption of the bilateral meetings on border issues. The leaders confirmed their unequivocal commitment to the 1991 Almaty Declaration and the respective territorial integrity of Armenia (29,800 km2) and Azerbaijan (86,600 km2). The ultimate delimitation of the border will be agreed through negotiations."

Charles Michel also touched on Zangazur corridor which will connect Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan, and achievements on negotiation between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"On connectivity, the sides made clear progress in their discussions aimed at unblocking transport and economic links in the region. Positions on this topic have now come very close to each other in particular on the reopening of the railway connections to and via Nakhchivan. Their respective teams have been tasked to finalize an in principle agreement on the modalities for the opening of the railway connections and the necessary construction works together with a concrete timetable. They also agreed to draw upon the support of the World Customs Organization in supporting this work," he said.

It should noted that the statement by President of European Council Charles Michel follows the humanitarian issues, such as the recently missing Azerbaijani soldiers in the Nakhchivan direction who are imprisoned in the Armenian side.

"On humanitarian issues, there has been an understanding that further detainees would be released in the coming weeks. I also stressed the need to safeguard the mutual understanding that soldiers who have simply got lost and crossed to the other side would continue to be released through a speedy procedure. We also discussed the importance of stepping up work on addressing the fate of missing persons and on demining," EU Council head added.

To recall, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who has been on a working visit to Brussels, has met with President of the European Council Charles Michel and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau, the 30-year-old Miss Universe Vietnam, has confirmed that she has been forced to leave university due to unfinished credentials.

On Saturday morning, a representative for the beauty queen said that she had stopped her studies at Ton Duc Thang University in Ho Chi Minh City.

"This is per the rules of both the university and the Ministry of Education & Training, so we had to respect them," the representative said.

"I was calm when facing the news. Although a bit sad, I nonetheless accepted the reality of the situation. There will be other opportunities to pursue because life never stops teaching," she said.

Miss Universe Vietnam Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau attends the opening ceremony of the Da Nang Asian Film Festival on May 9, 2023. Photo courtesy of Ngoc Chau

In "Dream of Vietnam," which aired on May 12 and is produced by Chau, the model spoke with her mother  Dang Thi Gai, about her inability to continue her studies as promised.

"Back then, I told you that Im almost finished with my degree, I just need to do some graduation theses. There were a couple more to go when the school said I had unfinished credentials, so now I cant get the degree anymore."

Chau's mother said she was sad her daughter couldnt get a degree. Nonetheless, she still supports her to keep trying. "I only want you to have a stable job, so keep on trying and developing your current work in art, because anything can happen," said Dang Thi Gai.

Chau was studying biotechnology at Ton Duc Thang University, she also was busy participating in Miss Universe Vietnam 2022 and later preparing for the the 71st Miss Universe at the beginning of this year.

After returning to Vietnam after the competition, Chau was informed she could no longer graduate. She pleaded with the school to reconsider and give her a chance to finish her graduation thesis, but was rejected.

In February, rumors of the model dropping out of university caused a stir, and beauty queen denied that she used a fake degree when participating in Miss Universe Vietnam.

She said she had never told anybody that she had graduated from the university. The organizer of Miss Universe Vietnam has confirmed that she was fully eligible to participate, and there was no foul play.

Chau was born in in Tay Ninh. In 2018, she was crowned the winner of Miss Supranational Vietnam and the next year she won Miss Supranational Asia.

In May 2022, she was the winner of Miss Universe Vietnam, giving her the right to participate in the 71st Miss Universe in the United States, but did not make the top 16.
New Delhi, May 15 : Delhi's former Health Minister Satyendar Jain, who is currently lodged at the Tihar Jail following his arrest last year in a PMLA case, has reportedly written a letter to the prison authorities requesting for two to three inmates in his cell for company, as he was feeling lonely.

In the letter written on May 11 and accessed by IANS, the former minister said: "I am feeling depressed and low because of loneliness. Psychiatrist has suggested me more social interactions. You're requested to lodge me with two more inmates. I request you to lodge Vijay Goel and Saachit in my cell, which is cell no. 5." On Jain's request, the Superintendent of Jail No. 7 had transferred two inmates to his cell.

However, the Tihar Jail administration has issued a notice to the Superintendent for transferring the inmates without informing them.

Consequently, the administration returned the two inmates to their original cell in Jail No. 7.

(Atul Krishan can be approached at atul.k@ians.in)
Lucknow, May 15 : Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati may be at war with each other, but when it comes to losing elections, they join hands to blame the BJP for their poor performance.

After losing the municipal elections, Akhilesh Yadav said: "They (BJP) tried every trick to influence elections but nothing worked in their favour. The BJP faced a humiliating defeat in elections held for posts other than that of mayors and corporators." The SP also attacked the BJP, alleging that it had a role in slow pace of counting in Mainpuri and a number of other places.

The party said it was yet to be confirmed if the counting was slow due to technical issues or was "slowed down for other reasons." "The BJP did everything they could to influence counting process and win elections. They got counting process slowed down. At one place, the total number of votes counted turned out to be more than the total number of votes polled," he said.

Mayawati, meanwhile, said that the elections were not fair.

BSP did not win even a single mayoral seat out of the 17.

The party, in fact, lost two seats, Aligarh and Meerut, that it had won in the 2017 local urban polls.

This time, the BJP has won all the mayoral seats in the state.

The BSP had fielded 11 Muslim candidates in the elections and on the remaining seats, it had banked on old guards. However, the strategy did not work for the party.

Mayawati has now hit out at the state's BJP government for misusing the official machinery and rigging the elections.

"It would have been a completely different picture if the elections were conducted fairly. If it was through a ballot paper, BSP would have also won a mayoral seat," she said, adding that her party will not sit quietly and give a befitting reply to the BJP when the time comes.

She said that both the BJP and the SP use similar tactics to win local elections.
Hamirpur : , May 15 (IANS) A police sub-inspector was shot at by a miscreant in Hamirpur district on Sunday night.

He was searching for a man who had been caught on camera, brandishing a gun and bullying villagers.

The injured S-I, identified as Surendra Prasad Yadav, is out of danger, said the police.

Kurara SHO Pawan Patel said the police had been receiving multiple complaints against a man, named Shambhu who was bullying the villagers by brandishing a pistol in Patara.

"A video of the same had also gone viral on social media, following which, the sub-inspector and Patara outpost in-charge Surendra Prasad Yadav, along with a team, raided the village to arrest the accused," said Patel.

However, as soon as Yadav entered the village, the miscreant, hiding in the thickets, opened fire at him and then escaped.

The police team chased him but in vain. They later informed the control room, and a team took the injured policeman to the district hospital for treatment.

Hamirpur Superintendent of Police Deeksha Sharma said that several teams have been formed to arrest the accused.
Rae Bareli, May 15 : Rajendra, the son of a priest who was found murdered in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli district, has been arrested for killing his father.

The body of Ram Manohar Awasthi, 65, a priest living in Ashiana area, was found dumped in Bachhrawan on Saturday night.

Anurag, the younger son of the deceased, had lodged a complaint regarding the murder on which the Ashiana police registered a case.

According to Bachhrawan Inspector Brijesh Rai, the elder son had killed his father with a sharp weapon in greed of property.

Ram Manohar Awasthi lived in Ruchikhand area with Anurag in Bhadrukh area of Ashiana.

He was the priest of the Hanuman temple located in Sector L.

Ram Manohar's elder son Rajendra also lived with the family in Bhadrukh area.

According to Anurag, his father had gone with his elder brother on the latter's bike on Thursday and did not return home.

Rajendra had also not returned home and had left his mobile at home.

Even on the second day when father and elder brother did not come, Anurag reached Ashiana police station on Friday night to register missing complaint but the police said that they were pre-occupied with counting of votes and would not register the complaint.

The father's body was found but Rajendra was still missing.

However, he was later traced and arrested on Sunday.
Quito, May 15 : Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso will face an impeachment trial on Tuesday for alleged embezzlement, Virgilio Saquicela, president of the National Assembly, has announced.

According to Saquicela, the trial will begin at 10 a.m. in keeping with legislative regulations after a motion to hold impeachment proceedings was approved last week, reports Xinhua news agency.

Lasso, a 67-year-old former banker, is accused by the opposition of embezzling funds through a contract signed between state-owned oil tanker fleet Flota Petrolera Ecuatoriana and the privately-owned company Amazonas Tanker, for the rental of vessels to ship hydrocarbons.

The contract was signed in 2018 and renewed in 2020, before Lasso became president in May 2021.

But his opponents claimed he allowed the business arrangement to continue despite knowing it meant losses for the state.

After the trial, the National Assembly must convene another plenary session, where lawmakers will vote for or against Lasso's impeachment and a possible ouster from office.

The session could be held as soon as Saturday.

Lasso, who will complete two years in office on May 24, said he would appear before lawmakers to defend himself against what he described as a "parliamentary coup d'etat".

This marks the first time in 44 years that an Ecuadorian President has faced a possible impeachment by the National Assembly.

Lasso can be ousted with the votes of two-thirds of the 137-member National Assembly, or 92 lawmakers.
Kampala, May 15 : A 39-year-old Indian money lender has been allegedly shot dead by a policeman over a 2.1 million shillings (Rs 46,000) loan in Kampala, Ugandan media reports said.

Police constable Ivan Wabwire, 30, who has been arrested, opened fire with an AK-47 at Uttam Bhandari inside Raja Chambers along Parliamentary Avenue in Kampala on May 12, according to the Kampala Metropolitan Police.

The Police Flying Squad Unit and the local police in Busia arrested Wabwire on May 14 as he tried to cross to neighbouring Kenya, Kampala-based newspaper Daily Monitor, reported.

According to the police, Bhandari was the director of TFS financial services and Wabwire a client. The two met and developed a misunderstanding about the amount of money the cop owed to the firm.

Wabwire has reportedly been servicing two loans since 2020.

The first loan was deducted directly from his salary, while the second one was not, Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango said.

When he was told the loan repayment amount on May 12 for the second loan, he got incensed and reportedly started arguing, dismissing the figure claiming that it was inflated.

"One of the workers who was inside said the officer first shot at the CCTV cameras inside the office. Everybody who was inside took off. We still don't know what happened thereafter. We have called our CCTV team to come and retrieve the footage and analyse to see what happened," Onyango told Daily Monitor.

He added that after shooting, Wabwire jumped on a boda boda bike and rushed to Central Police Station in Kampala where he abandoned his murder weapon, an AK-47, and fled.

Detectives who visited the gunfire scene in the aftermath of the shooting recovered 13 cartridges.

Police further said that Wabwire has a history of mental instability and he was banned in 2018 from possessing a firearm for six years after being admitted to a hospital twice over the mental breakdown.

Wabwire, who is now being held at Busia police station in eastern Uganda, stole the gun from a fellow policeman and roommate, Steven Mulambo, also in police custody.

Bhandari's body has been kept at Mulago city mortuary as investigations continue.

Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Geoffrey Tumusiime Katsigazi, met the Indian community in Uganda and assured them of their safety and security, according to online news portal, Nile Post.

Uganda has seen a spurt in gun violence in the month of May alone with outspoken vlogger Ibrahim Tusubira alias Jjaja Iculi shot dead with multiple pistol gunshots in the capital on May 6.

A 26-year-old private security guard Peter Ochoroi shot and killed his colleague on May 13 over a disagreement.

On May 2, a bodyguard rained at least 28 gunshots on his boss, Charles Engola, a state minister for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations.
Patna, May 15 : After the cancelation of 'Divya Darbar' of Baba Bageshwar Dham's Dhirendra Shastri on Monday, BJP MP from Patliputra Ram Kripal Yadav blamed the district administration for not providing adequate security at the venue in Patna's Naubatpur locality to conduct his 'Hanumant Katha' programme.

The religious preacher's programme on Sunday witnessed chaos after lakhs of people descended at the venue to listen to him.

"Baba Bageshwar came here for the welfare of Bihar but the crowd came in such a large number that they became uncontrollable. This was the reason why he had cancelled the Divya Darbar on Monday at the event venue. The organizers of the event have expected certain numbers of devotees but I felt that they will assemble here much more than their expectation. The district administration, despite watching the crowd turnout in large numbers, has not deployed adequate police force and a duty magistrate at the venue," Yadav said.

Over 10 lakh followers of Baba Bageshwar turned out at the venue on Sunday. As the footfall was very high, dust also spread there leading to a large number of people facing breathing problems. The temperature of Patna was over 42 degree Celsius and many of the followers also felt sick because of the excessive heat.

Meanwhile, Baba Bageshwar Bihar foundation denied levelling charges against the district administration for failing to provide adequate security arrangements at the venue.

"As the people turned out in large numbers, we cancelled the Divya Darbar scheduled for Monday. We are not blaming district administration. They have provided good support. It has a limitation," said Raj Shekher, a member of Baba Bageshwar Bihar foundation.

"The Hanumant Katha will take place on Monday," Raj Shekher said.
Shimla, May 15 : Himachal Pradesh's highly prized foraged fungi crop known worldwide for its meaty texture, robust flavor and to ward off free radicals that cause ageing, a large proportion of which are shipped to Europe, is bountiful this year in nature owing to plentiful post-winter precipitation, experts and traders said on Monday.

Guchhi, or morchella esculenta, a mushroom variety which grows naturally in snowy slopes, is reaching markets across north Indian towns. A kg of dried guchhi is selling from Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,000 in the wholesale domestic market, depending upon the quality and size.

Almost 90 per cent of the produce in the hill state is heading offshore. Britain, Germany, Italy, France and the Netherlands offer good prices.

The morels sell for upwards of $500 per kilogram in the international market.

A freshly harvested one kg of guchhi is reduced to 80 - 100 grams after drying under natural conditions. In Himachal, a large number of Nepalese, who are otherwise working in Himachal orchards, are involved in collecting this fungus from the wild.

Its harvesting begins in May and lasts till June-end.

Trade insiders told IANS that the demand for morchella from European consumers is rising due to growing interest for vegan food and animal protein substitute.

In Himachal Pradesh, guchhis are grown in dense deodar forests mainly in interiors of Shimla, Chamba, Kullu and Mandi districts. Since its trade is not regulated by the government, there is no estimation about its overall production.

"After two years of lean season, this time the production of guchhi is good. It is highly prized for the domestic consumers," Shimla-based trader Karamjit Singh told IANS.

He said most of the crop is heading to Chandigarh and Delhi.

But traders say China is posing a tough challenge in the international market owing to its large-scale commercial production and comparatively lower price.

"In recent years, China has started cultivating morchella in fields and greenhouses. Owing to its production in bulk, the Indian variant is facing a tough challenge in international trade," a trader, who wishes not to be named, told IANS.

For foragers collecting morel mushrooms from their natural environment is time consuming and back-breaking exercise that lasts for days together.

"This year the guchhi crop is good. Normally we collect 50 to 60 kg of guchhi every year from Rampur forests. This time we have collected over 120 kg," said harvester Devi Thakur.

"Everyone can't be a harvester. One should be mentally and physically strong to harvest guchhis in the challenging terrain. You require sharp eyesight to spot them beneath logs of decaying wood, leaves or humus soil," said another collector Brij Khemta. "This is why the young men and women, mostly from a community, hunt for them collectively." Thakur, who has been hunting morels for years, added a number of middlemen from Delhi have been procuring the produce directly from them.

After the winter snow, frequent spells of rains in March and April are congenial for the mushroom crop to grow naturally.

Even most apple growers find morels in the forests near their apple orchards. They use them for serving them at special occasions such as weddings and births.

Officials of the forest department say families settled in forested areas are actively involved in the collection of guchhi, and earn handsome rewards for their efforts.

Villagers have permission to collect guchhi, which falls under the category of "minor forest produce".

Villagers ought not to pluck out the roots, as the crop is then destroyed. But many villagers unknowingly pluck the clusters out with their roots, a forester told IANS.

Himachal Pradesh is known for growing a variety of wild spices and medicinal plants. Hundreds of families earn their livelihood by collecting and selling them.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com)
New Delhi, May 15 : It is understandable why destination weddings have grown in popularity in India in recent years. They not only give the couple and their guests a special experience, but they also give people a chance to travel to new and intriguing places in the nation. Indian marriages are customarily held at the bride and groom's respective hometowns. But as times have changed, more and more couples are choosing destination weddings, where they can say their vows in front of beautiful settings while being joined by family and friends.

The New Trend in Destination Weddings It's interesting to observe the rising popularity of "Vicination Weddings" - destination weddings held near to or in the same area as the couple's or their families' primary residence. Couples are opting to say their vows at close locations rather of travelling to a distant location because they provide a special and intimate experience for everyone involved. Since the pandemic, the trend appears to have gained in popularity. Tourist destinations close to Tier-1 and Metro cities are becoming more popular as a result of this trend. In the north are Jaipur, Udaipur, Mussoorie, Agra, and Lonavala, while in the south are Coorg, Ooty, Mahabalipuram, and Puducherry.

Why is Vicination Weddings picking up trend? The Trend we are seeing is a cologmorate for multiple reasons, and as mentioned the pandemic played a crucial role in fact a game changer when it came to Destination Weddings. The ease of travel, familiarity of the place as they enjoyed a change of scene from a typical wedding. The couples and the family also get to imbibe some local feel to the D-Day. In addition to that, here are some more factors leading to this trend.

Convenience Vicination weddings are becoming increasingly popular in India due to the convenience factor they offer. By having the wedding in a nearby location, the couple can save on travel costs and minimise the amount of planning and coordination required. Moreover, guests who may have busy schedules or other commitments can attend the wedding without having to take too much time off work or away from their families.

Promote culture and tradition Weddings in the vicinity offer the chance to showcase the local culture and traditions. The wedding venue and decor can incorporate local elements and traditions, giving the wedding a unique and authentic feel. Moreover, by supporting local vendors and businesses, the wedding can contribute to the local economy and community.

What sets it apart from Destination Weddings? While Vicination Wedding can be a sought after option for people not willing to go far for a wedding, there is a fair chance of missing out on some fun of a destination wedding. If the location is familiar to the guests and the couple, it may not offer the same level of novelty or adventure as a destination wedding.

For couples who wish to commemorate their special day without the added hassle and expense of travelling far away, vicination weddings are a sensible and handy choice. Whether you're planning a local wedding or a destination wedding, WeddingWire India has over 70K+ suppliers and locations to select from. The website will let you connect to vendors all across India.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Hyderabad, May 15 : Taiwanese contract manufacturing giant Foxconn performed the groundbreaking of its new electronics manufacturing facility at Kongar Kalaan near Hyderabad on Monday.

Telangana's IT and Industries Minister K.T. Rama Rao announced that the first of Foxconn's plants in the state will come up with an investment of over $500 million and it will create 25,000 direct jobs in the first phase.

The groundbreaking took place in the presence of Rama Rao and Foxconn Interconnect Technology Chairman & CEO Sidney Lu at Kongara Kalan, about 35 km from Hyderabad.

The new facility is a promise to continue delivering world-class products to the markets, and a milestone for Foxconn Interconnect Technology's global expansion strategy - diversifying its global manufacturing base, said a joint statement by the Telangana government and Foxconn.

"Thanks to the government of Telangana's unwavering commitment to fostering a favorable business environment that has enabled Foxconn Interconnect Technology to invest and grow in the State. The proposed facility will serve as a hub for Foxconn Interconnect Technology's operations in Telangana, allowing Foxconn Interconnect Technology to expand its production capacity," it said.

"The partnership and collaboration between Government of Telangana and Foxconn Interconnect Technology in making this project a reality will further embolden Telangana's growth story as well as Foxconn Interconnect Technology's growth in India. The Government of Telangana and Foxconn Interconnect Technology are confident that this investment will not only benefit Foxconn Interconnect TechnologyaAs business, but also contribute to the overall economic prosperity of the region." Over the last nibe years, Telangana has emerged as one of the most dynamic and forward-looking States and has cemented its position as the most preferred investment destination for high tech manufacturing in India.

The proposed investment from Foxconn Interconnect Technology further validates Government of Telangana's efforts towards building a conducive ecosystem and enabling infrastructure for supporting the global electronics manufacturing industry, added the statement.

Young Liu, chairman, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd (Foxconn Technology Group) had visited Hyderabad on March 2.

He had called on Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and during the meeting a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed.

The Telangana government had announced that Foxconn will set up a manufacturing facility in Telangana with employment generation potential for over one lakh people.A The government had stated that the historic deal has potential to generate employment to over one lakh people over a period of 10 years.

Later, Young Liu had sent a letter to the Chief Minister stating that Foxconn is committed to setting up a manufacturing facility in Telangana.
Speaking to reporters on the state of press freedom worldwide, Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted that journalists around the world are increasingly under siege  in a whole variety of ways. That fact has manifested itself very powerfully in the detention in Russia of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gerschkovich:

We have a country in the case of Russia that like a handful of other countries around the world is wrongfully detaining people, using them as political pawns, using them as leverage in a practice that is absolutely unacceptable and that were working both broadly to try to deter  but also at the same time to try to secure the release of those who are being unjustly detained.

Indeed, according to the moderator of the event, Washington Post columnist David Ignatius, 67 journalists and media workers were killed last year, while about 570 are in prison in 30 countries around the world.

The United States uses various tools as leverage against groups that abuse journalists. One of them is the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act, which imposes sanctions against those who unlawfully or wrongfully detain U.S. nationals abroad. The Levinson Act is an important tool, said Secretary Blinken. It gives us different and new authorities to try to go at those who are directly engaged in wrongfully detaining journalists or wrongfully detaining our citizens. It includes things like travel bans, like asset freezes  Our hope is that by applying it, we can have a chilling effect on those who would engage in these practices going forward..

The United States is trying to fight back and push back around the world to help journalists, who  in one way or another, are facing intimidation, coercion, persecution, prosecution, surveillance, said Secretary Blinken. This includes funds to supply journalists with technology, to defend themselves against malevolent litigation, another to help journalists protect themselves from intimidation and coercion by states.

We contribute tens of millions of dollars into a media freedom fund for independent media to bolster their capacity to continue doing business even in very difficult places, he said.

Its very important, said Secretary Blinken, that Were engaging with people who have one of the most important responsibilities in this world, and that is to hold governments, to hold institutions to account, to shine light where theres darkness, to give people confidence in their institutions, in the people who have the responsibility to represent them.
Thiruvananthapuram, May 15 : A five-member Maoist group has been spotted in the forest areas of Kannur in Kerala bordering Karnataka.

The group is believed to be led by popular Maoist Moideen and also includes a female member.

Kerala Police, which have has started a probe, were informed that this group had approached a house located in the forest area of Iritty and had asked for food and also charged their mobile phones.

The operational areas of the Maoists and their hideouts are in the forest areas bordering both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and these rebels straying into Kerala is a common phenomenon.

On Monday morning, Kerala Police officials resumed their search operations in the Iritty forest areas.

The forest areas in the northern Kerala districts of Kannur, Kozhikode and Wayanad which border Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are always on the radar of the police.
Mumbai, May 15 : The trailer of the upcoming crime drama streaming show 'Scoop' was unveiled on Monday. It starts off on a pacey note as the character of crime reporter Jagruti Pathak receives a call from the underworld don Chhota Rajan to talk about a certain subject.

It soon spirals to show how Jagruti gets mired in a controversy because of her proximity to the Rajan and is soon sent behind the bars for enabling the murder of a fellow crime reporter.

The trailer highlights society's rush to pass the judgement as Jagruti is caught between the nexus of the police, the underworld, and the media.

The show, directed by Hansal Mehta, is inspired by real events and Jigna Vora's memoir, 'Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison' and tells how she was framed by the police and investigating agencies for abetting the murder of crime reporter Jyotirmoy Dey citing professional rivalry.

Speaking about creating the first season of 'Scoop', director and co-creator Hansal Mehta said: "As a filmmaker, my intention is to always tell stories that go beyond a weekend. In aScoop', I found that: a story that speaks urgently to our post truth times. Collaborating with someone as gifted as Mrunmayee brought in a sensibility that deeply enriched the show.

"All of this would not have been possible without Netflix and Matchbox Shots who nurtured our deep dive into the personal and professional world of Jagruti Pathak, allowing our vision to blossom. With Netflix, the process of creation is always exciting and collaborative. Season one is just the beginning. I hope to keep exploring the story-rich world of media even further."

The series, produced by Matchbox Shots and created by Hansal Mehta and Mrunmayee Lagoo Waikul, is set to premiere on Netflix on June 2.

-- Syndicated from IANS
New Delhi, May 15 : Army chief General Manoj Pande on Monday left for a visit to Egypt as part of the ongoing military outreach to African nations, and to discuss avenues for further enhancing Indo-Egypt defence relations.

During the visit from May 16 to May 17, he will be visiting various Egyptian Armed Forces establishments and exchange ideas on issues of mutual interest.

The Army Chief will interact with the Commander-in-Chief of Egyptian Armed Forces, Minister of Defence & Military Production, and Chief of Staff, Egyptian Armed Forces. He will also engage in extensive discussions with the Chief of Egyptian Armed Force Operations Authority, said the Defence Ministry in a statement.

The Military relations of India with Egypt are on the rise which was evident during India's 74th Republic Day parade, wherein the Egyptian Armed Forces contingent made their first appearance, besides the Egyptian President Abdeh Fattah El-Sisi being the Chief Guest for the parade.

Notably, Indian and Egyptian Armies have conducted the first ever joint exercise between the Special Forces named 'Ex Cyclone-I' in January this year.

According to the defence ministry, the visit of the COAS will further deepen the bilateral relationships between the two Armies and act as a catalyst for closer coordination and cooperation between the two countries on a host of strategic issues.
Toronto, May 15 : People often tend to forget where they've kept their phones or glasses. Now researchers have developed a novel robot programmed with artificial memory that can help find the lost objects.

According to the team from the University of Waterloo in Canada, the robot may particularly help people with dementia.

"The long-term impact of this is really exciting," said Dr. Ali Ayub, a postdoctoral researcher in electrical and computer engineering at the varsity.

"A user can be involved not just with a companion robot but a personalised companion robot that can give them more independence," he added.

Ayub and three colleagues were struck by the rapidly rising number of people coping with dementia, a condition that restricts brain function, causing confusion, memory loss and disability.

Many of these individuals repeatedly forget the location of everyday objects, which diminishes their quality of life and places additional burdens on caregivers.

Engineers believed a companion robot with an episodic memory of its own could be a game-changer in such situations. And they succeeded in using artificial intelligence to create a new kind of artificial memory.

The research team began with a Fetch mobile manipulator robot, which has a camera for perceiving the world around it.

Next, using an object-detection algorithm, they programmed the robot to detect, track and keep a memory log of specific objects in its camera view through stored video.

With the robot capable of distinguishing one object from another, it can record the time and date objects enter or leave its view.

Researchers then developed a graphical interface to enable users to choose objects they want to be tracked and, after typing the objects' names, search for them on a smartphone app or computer.

Once that happens, the robot can indicate when and where it last observed the specific object.

Tests have shown the system is highly accurate. And while some individuals with dementia might find the technology daunting, Ayub said caregivers could readily use it.

Moving forward, researchers will conduct user studies with people without disabilities, then people with dementia.

The study was presented at the recent 2023 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction.
Toronto, May 15 : A 21-year-old Canadian man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for stabbing an Indian national to death in an unprovoked attack in Nova Scotia province in 2021, a media report said.

Prabhjot Singh Katri, the 23-year-old who moved from India to Nova Scotia in 2017, was stabbed in the neck by Cameron James Prosper on September 5, 2021, as he was walking to his car after leaving a friend's apartment at 494 Robie St in Truro, the Global News reported.

Justice Jeffrey Hunt said the attack was "made without rational cause", but without intent to kill Katri.

"The family of the deceased has been devastated by his senseless death," he said. aceAn entire community was left shocked and hurting." Prosper was initially charged with second-degree murder, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter during a court appearance in December 2022.

Before his death, Katri was working at Layton's Taxi to support his mother back home.

The court heard that Prosper had been outside the building with Dylan Robert MacDonald when Katri left his friend's apartment to go home.

After Prosper stabbed Katri with a folding hunting knife, which was never recovered, the victim ran back to his friend's apartment, and his friends called the police.

The cop who responded to the scene found Katri "lying in a large pool of blood", with two males holding a cloth to his neck in an attempt to stem the bleeding.

Prosper and MacDonald fled the scene in the latter's white Honda Civic, and Katri was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.

Police arrested MacDonald who was initially charged with being an accessory to murder after the fact, driving to evade police, two counts of dangerous driving and obstruction of justice, the Global News reported.

He received a 14-month conditional sentence order and 12 months probation for obstructing justice, a $1,000 fine, a one-year license suspension, and a one-year vehicle prohibition order for dangerous driving.

Crown prosecutor Thomas Kayter had said in a hearing earlier this year that there is no evidence Prosper and Katri knew each other before the stabbing.

In addition, he said that there is no evidence that the crime was motivated by hate or racism.

"The motive remains unknown, and the evidence known to the Crown indicates that the violence was unprovoked, spontaneous and gratuitous insofar that Prabhjot Singh Katri did nothing to incite or provoke Cameron Prosper to violence," Kayter said in January 2023.

Katri's mother, who had flown from India for the May 12 hearing, described her son, a young student and taxi driver, as "innocent, and a very gentle person".

"I want to ask, why did you do it? Because of your actions a I will never be able to see his (Katri's) wedding, welcome his bride in my home, play with my grandchildren," she said in a victim impact statement.

"I am truly sorry, like, genuinely sorry about this... If I could go back in time I would change it," Prosper said, apologising to Katri's family.

In Canada, the maximum sentence for manslaughter is life in prison, and there is no minimum sentence for manslaughter unless a firearm is involved.
London, May 15 : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the UK on Monday and is scheduled to hold a meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak later in the day.

Zelensky's trip to the UK will be the fourth stop on a European tour that included meetings in Paris, Berlin and Rome, the BBC reported.

Taking to Twitter, the Ukrainian leader said: "Today - London. The UK is a leader when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air. This cooperation will continue today.

"I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations." In a statement, Downing Street said that Sunak would reiterate the importance of providing a full package of support to Ukraine during the talks at Chequers, the Prime Minister's official country residence.

It added that the UK would confirm "hundreds" of air defence missiles and drones to help Ukraine's defence later Monday, reports the BBC.

It is expected that the meeting between the two leaders will not last more than a couple of hours.

After meeting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Sunday, Ukraine secured a new defence aid package worth 2.7 billion.

Zelensky described the new tranche of German Leopard tanks and anti-aircraft systems as "the largest since the beginning of the full-scale aggression" by Russia in February 2022.

Later in the day in France, Ukraine was promised dozens more light tanks and armoured vehicles after President Emmanuel Macron met his Ukrainian counterpart in Paris.

In February this year, Zelensky visited London for the first time since the start of the war in February 2022, during which he attended an audience with the King and addressed Parliament.
May 15 : Despite the fact that rural-economy depends upon agriculture, but due to lack of water, they are forced to migrate, actress and activist Rajshri Despande under Nabhangan Foundation started river reviving work in Pachegaon.

Back in 2018, Rajshri started her NGO Nabanghan Foundation for rural regeneration and community building to empower villages. With her relentless efforts, Rajshri is among few celebrities who is actually making a change, where it is needed.

Marathwada do faces Migration because of water scarcity, no educational infrastructure, no health care&absolutely no work opportunities in villages.

We need more holistic development and sustainable ground work approach. We need to RETHINK VILLAGES!  Rajshri Deshpande (@rajshriartist) May 15, 2023

Meanwhile on the work front, Rajshri Despande was last seen in Netflix release Trail By Fire, based on Uphaar Cinema fire scandal where 59 people lost their lives, mostly school kids. The film also starred Abhay Deol in the lead role.
New Delhi, May 15 : Vedanta Ltd. has the best dividend yield in the last 12 months among large cap stocks at 26 per cent.

As per a report by Axis Securities, it is followed by Hindustan Zinc at 24 per cent, Coal India at 10 per cent, ONGC at 8 per cent and Power Grid, Tata Steel, GAIL, Tech Mahindra and Piramal Enterprises at 5 per cent.

Among the mid cap companies, REC has the best dividend yield at 10 per cent, followed by Sanofi at 9 per cent, Oil India at 8 per cent.

Among the small cap companies, TV Today Network has the highest dividend yield at 33 per cent, RSWM at 14 per cent, IDFC at 12 per cent, Forbes and Company at 11 per cent, Banco Products at 10 per cent, PNB Gilts at 8 per cent, Castrol India at 8 per cent, Balmer Lawrie at 8 per cent, Goodyear India at 8 per cent.

Among the PSUs, Oil India has a dividend yield of 8 per cent, Hudco, Nalco, PFC at 6 per cent have the best dividend yields.
Panaji, May 15 : Alleging that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is a habitual liar, Congress in Goa has said that Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal was formed by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his tenure in 2010 and not by former.

"Habitual liar Pramod Sawant now claims that Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal was formed during his term as Chief Minister of Goa. The reality is that it was notified by the then Congress Government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in November 2010," Congress General Secretary Adv. Shriniwas Khalap said.

He was reacting to the statement allegedly made by the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday that all major policy decisions including formation of Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal was taken during his tenure.

"It is only after the BJP Government came to power in Goa in 2012 and at the Centre in 2014, the murder of our lifeline Mhadei has happened," Khalap said, adding why he failed to take credit of approval given to Detailed Project Report of Kalsa-Bhanduri.

"Congress Party has always fought for Mhadei. We protested in all the Talukas in Goa as well as at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against the decisions of BJP Governments at Centre, Karnataka and Goa. We protested at Raj Bhavan, IFFI Inaugural Ceremony and various other occasions to save our lifeline Mother Mhadei," said Khalap.

"Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met the all-party delegation from Goa and listened to our request and constituted the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal. Unfortunately, the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not find time in the last nine years to meet the Goan delegation on the Mhadei issue," Khalap pointed out.

Goa and Karnataka are currently battling out a dispute over the Kalasa-Bhanduri dam project across the water of Mhadei river at a central tribunal.
Thiruvananthapuram, May 15 : The Congress, which heads the United Democratic Front-UDF, on Monday expressed desire that the erstwhile member Kerala Congress-Mani, now part of the ruling CPI-M led Left Democratic Front (LDF), return to their fold but the latter shot down the idea.

Veteran Congress legislator and former Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said it would be nice if the KC-M return to their original alliance.

"Though there have been no talks that have taken place in this front, the UDF will be happy to have the KC-M back," said Chennithala.

However, state Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine, the KC-M nominee in the Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet, spurned the overture, saying that they are "comfortable" in the LDF.

"The good thing is at least now the UDF has realised their mistake. We were thrown out and we did not leave the UDF. We are happy where we are now and comfortable too," he said.

KC-Mani was the third-biggest constituent of the UDF and after the death of its founder K.M. Mani in 2019, its relation with the Congress worsened after Mani's son - Jose K. Mani, took over the leadership of the party.

He soon became a friendly ally of the LDF in the 2020 local bodies poll and after this, they were inducted into the LDF.

The KC-M became the third biggest member of the LDF when they won five seats in the previous Assembly election, while the faction of the party which remained with the UDF managed to win just two seats.

The reason why Chennithala extended an olive branch to KC-M was at a recent leadership meeting of the Congress, a decision was arrived to see that steps are taken to get back those allies which have left the UDF.

Even though the offer has been flatly denied, the KC-M is one party where the Catholic Church in the state has a strong grip and that is what leaders like Chennithala will use as the trump card.

Moreover the Congress, after former Defence Minister A.K. Antony has, for all practical purpose, retired from active politics and two-time former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy being seriously sick, doesn't have tall Christian leaders and it's to fill that vacuum, Chennithala and others are trying to woo back the KC-M.
The United States condemns the executions in Iran of two men who were sentenced to death on blasphemy-related charges.

On May 8, Yousef Mehrdad and Sadrollah Fazeli Zare were hanged at Arak prison in central Iran. They had been arrested in May 2020 for running the Criticism of Superstition and Religion channel on the Telegram messaging app. According to the Iranian judiciarys official news agency Mizan, they were convicted of insulting the Prophet and disrespecting religious and Islamic sanctities.

At a press briefing, U.S. Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said that these latest executions are a grave reminder of the Iranian regimes penchant for abusing and violating the human rights of the Iranian people. All blasphemy laws remain an affront to human rights worldwide, including in Iran.

The U.S. State Departments most recent annual report on international religious freedom noted that according to numerous international human rights NGOs and media reporting, the [Iranian] government convicted and executed dissidents, political reformers, and peaceful protesters on charges of enmity against God and anti-Islamic propaganda.

On May 9, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk expressed dismay at the frighteningly high number of executions in Iran that have already taken place in 2023. On average so far this year, he said, Over 10 people are put to death each week in Iran, making it one the worlds highest executors.

After speaking of the executions of Mehrdad and Zare, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel pointed to the sanctions the U.S. has placed on Iranian officials and entities over Irans human rights atrocities. The United States, he declared, will continue to take appropriate action, in accordance with our allies and partners  to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its egregious human rights abuses.
Colombo, May 15 : One is reportedly missing and nearly 2,000 people have been affected in Southern Sri Lanka due to the indirect influence of extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Mocha' in the Bay of Bengal.

Director, Disaster Management Centre (DMS), Sudantha Ranasinghe told media, "Due to the extremely showery weather condition, over 425 families have been affected and seven psesons have been injured so far. The DMC is planning to compensate the damage caused to the houses and has urged people to be alert on possible floods." Meanwhile, nearly 30 relief teams from Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) have been deployed to help those affected by the possible floods. "The Navy has sent relief teams to Galle and Matara districts in Southern Province as the the overflow of rivers has led to floods. These teams are now prepared to assist the affected people with the necessary relief," SLN said in a statement.

Meteorology Department has announced that heavy showers above 100mm are likely at some places in Southern province and people have been urged to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Bhubaneswar, May 15 : India is committed to promoting cultural dialogue, encouraging shared learning, and strengthening cooperation among G20 members, while also giving due consideration to the unique cultural contexts and heritage of each nation, said Union Culture and Tourism Minister G. Kishan Reddy here on Monday.

Reddy was addressing the inaugural session of the G-20 second Culture Working Group meeting here. Reddy, along with Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai attended the inaugural session of the meeting.

Addressing the delegates, Reddy said culture plays an important role in global policymaking, as it leads to more inclusive and sustainable solutions to address contemporary challenges.

In this light, the G20 Culture working group plays a pivotal role in fostering collaboration and promoting dialogue among members, he said.

"By pursuing a collective vision, we aim to create a more equitable and culturally aware global policy landscape that acknowledges the immense value of cultural diversity. The role of culture in promoting social cohesion, fostering intercultural dialogue, and promoting mutual understanding cannot be overstated," the Minister pointed out.

"The ancient Indian philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (Whole world is a family) beautifully connects with the concept of unity in diversity, as it promotes the idea that despite our differences in culture, religion, language, or ethnicity, we are all a part of one global family", he opined.

Highlighting the importance of cultural exchange, Reddy said that it can contribute to sustainable development by promoting local economies, preserving cultural heritage, and supporting community development. "It is our duty to build upon the foundation laid by previous presidencies, to ensure that culture remains a key focus in the G20 agenda," he said.

The Culture Minister further said that local traditions and knowledge can teach about caring for the environment and using resources wisely. People who have lived close to nature for many years know how important it is to live in balance with the environment. "By incorporating their knowledge and practices into modern sustainable development strategies, we can create a more resilient and sustainable future," Reddy stated.

Emphasizing culture as a vital component in creating a pro-planet society, he said the G20 Culture Working Group can significantly advance the current efforts to put culture at the center of global policymaking. "By working towards this goal, we can foster a more inclusive, equitable, and environment-friendly global community", he added.

Rai underlined the co-timing of India's G20 presidency and the beginning of its journey of "Amrit Kaal" and said India is moving towards making itself a futuristic, prosperous, inclusive and developed nation by the time it completes 100 years of its independence.

Referring to the Prime Minister's vision of only one world instead of any First World or Third World, the MoS said India envisions collective effort of the entire world to ensure a better future. This meeting is not just a diplomatic meeting, but a new responsibility of India- a country that has generated unforeseen inquisitiveness across the globe to be known and to be understood, he added.

Culture Secretary Govind Mohan described the theme of G20 as exuding a powerful message of pursuing a just and equitable growth for all globally.

Delegates from the G20 members, guest nations, and international organizations participated in the deliberation on two priority areas as outlined by the CWG over three sessions today.

A set of cultural experiences have been curated for the delegates through the course of their visit. These include a visit to heritage sites like the Konark temple and the Udayagiri Caves. The delegates will also experience special dance performances native to the State of Odisha such as Singari (tribal), Sambalpuri, Odissi and Gotipua dance.

Besides, an exhibition titled aSustain: The Craft Idiom' has been organised at Kala Bhoomi - Odisha Crafts Museum in Bhubaneswar.
Bengaluru, May 15 : The Congress would provide a plum position to former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who had left the BJP and joined it on the eve of the Assembly elections but could not win his seat, as per party leaders.

The powerful leader has been a six-term MLA and a former state President of the BJP. In the recent assembly elections, he, however, lost his Hubbali-Central Dharwad Assembly seat by a margin of 34,289 votes to Mahesh Tenginakai of the BJP.

While Shettar could not win his turf, his clout in the Lingayat-dominated areas of north Karnataka has led to the Congress winning many of these seats, thus crushing the BJP.

The Congress think tanks have already reported to the party state leadership that Shettar parting ways with the BJP was a major catalyst for the Congress to win the polls in Lingayat-dominated areas and hence he should be properly rewarded.

Shettar had not joined the previous BJP government of Basavaraj Bommai citing that Bommai was much junior to him. The Congress is trying hard to accommodate Shettar in the Congress government that would be sworn in within a few days.

Sources in the Congress party told IANS that senior party national leaders are in touch with the former Chief Minister and he is staying back in Bengaluru.

Talking to IANS over telephone, Shettar said: "I have joined the Congress unconditionally and I don't have an answer regarding posts." Senior Congress leaders, however, told IANS in private that the former Chief Minister would be given a berth in the new Cabinet or he could even be considered for the post of party's Working President.

Shettar, according to sources in Congress, enjoys an excellent rapport with its senior state leaders, including D.K. Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, and others.
Islamabad, May 15 : Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam- Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz'S (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Monday reached the Pakistan Democratic Party's (PDM) sit-in outside the Supreme Court (SC) here, media reports said.

The protest was outside the apex court was turned into a sit-in and according to reports, the management committee has also started construction of tents and washrooms in the venue, Express Tribune reported.

There were also reports of violence between JUI-F volunteers and workers.

As per reports, three stages were set up in front of the Supreme Court. Moreover, a banner with the picture of Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and PTI chief Imran Khan was burnt by a worker of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

Earlier in the day, workers of the ruling PDM had set up a stage in front of the Supreme Court Judges Gate as the ruling alliance announced to stage a sit-in right outside the top court building to protest against what it describes as the judiciary's preferential treatment of former premier Imran Khan.

The PPP convoy also left for Islamabad under the leadership of Divisional Vice President Rana Raffakat to join the protest.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police requested the protesters to remain peaceful, saying that there is a threat of terrorist activity, Express Tribune reported.
Bengaluru, May 15 : The Congress' top leadership on summoned its Karnataka state unit President, D.K. Shivakumar to New Delhi amid the tussle between him and veteran leader Siddharamiah over the Chief Minister's post in wake of the party's massive victory.

The state leader has left for Delhi and is expected to reach the national capital by 7 p.m.

The Congress high command, which was expecting a smooth sail in deciding the Chief Minister candidate, faced problems as supporters of both Siddaramiah and Shivakumar shouted slogans for their respective leaders in front of the hotel where the party parliamentary committee meet was held on Sunday.

Siddaramiah, a former Chief Minister, has already reached New Delhi but Shivakumar had, in the morning, told journalists that he would not be leaving for the national capital as he had to meet the party cadres who were reaching Bengaluru in large numbers in Bengaluru from all regions of Karnataka to meet him.

Sources in the Congress told IANS that the party national leadership summoned Shivakumar to New Delhi for arranging a meeting with party President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to finalise the Chief Minister candidate.

Talking to IANS over phone, Congress General Secretary, Organisation, K.C. Venugopal said: "The election results had come only on May 13, and in a democratic political party, discussions will take place. There are no issues and everything will be sorted out and the name of a new Chief Minister will be announced soon." The Congress leadership is trying to convince Shivakumar to settle for the post of Deputy Chief Minister. He is also likely to be retained as the state party chief.
Chandigarh, May 15 : Just two days after winning a Lok Sabha bypoll with focus mainly on its people-centric schemes, including free electricity of 300 units every household, the AAP government in Punjab on Monday announced the new electricity tariff with a per unit increase ranging from 25 to 89 paise for domestic and commercial consumers.

The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has issued the new tariff for those who consume more than 300 units per month and for the non-residential sector that does not get any subsidy.

As per the new tariffs, which will come into effect from May 16, the charges for those having a load of up to 2 KW have been revised to Rs 4.19 per unit for the first 100 units (an increase of 70 paise per unit), Rs 6.64 per unit for 101 to 300 units (an increase of 80 paise per unit), and Rs 7.75 per unit for above 300 units (an increase of 45 paise per unit).

For those having a load between 2 KW and 7 KW, the existing charge is Rs 3.74 per unit for the first 100 units, Rs 5.84 per unit for 101 to 300 units, and Rs 7.30 per unit for above 300 units. Whereas, the new tariff will be Rs 4.44 per unit, Rs 6.64 per unit, and Rs 7.75 per unit for the first 100 units, 101 to 300 units, and above 300 units, respectively.

In the industrial category, the tariff has been increased from Rs 5.53 to Rs 5.67 per unit for those consuming up to 20 KVA.

Justifying the hike, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the revised tariff would not impact the common people. The increase would be borne by the government.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had mastered the politics of lies and deception by invoking a massive power hike across all categories of consumers immediately after winning the Jalandhar by-poll.

Demanding an immediate withdrawal of the back breaking hike, the SAD president said "AAP has penalised Punjabis for reposing faith in the party and betrayed their trust".

In a statement here, the SAD president said "AAP contested the Jalandhar by-poll by showcasing its 300 units free power scheme. Even that has been effectively dismantled with today's power hike. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's contention that the Punjab government will subsidise consumers for the additional cost borne by them while availing the 300 unit's free scheme by paying the same to PSPCL is an eye wash.

"The government already owes Rs 20,400 crore to PSPCL and is in no position to take on an additional burden." Badal said "the AAP government has increased the power tariff of all categories, including the lowest brackets. In fact, the increase has been the most for the lowest categories with consumers in the zero to 100 units facing an increase of 70 paise per unit and those in the 100 to 300 unit category facing a hike of 80 paise per unit." Asserting that the common man would be most affected, Badal said: "AAP has shown its true colours. It has proved that it cannot be trusted. It deliberately postponed the power hike till after the Jalandhar parliamentary by-poll and is again lying to consumers that it will subsidise the weaker sections. If it aims to do so then why has it imposed this hike in the first place?"
Seoul, May 15 : Prosecutors raided two of South Korea's local cryptocurrency exchanges on Monday as part of an investigation into the snowballing suspicions surrounding opposition lawmaker Kim Nam-kuk's digital assets, officials said.

A team of investigators from the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors Office seized transaction records and other materials from Upbit and Bithumb, they said, reports Yonhap news agency.

The move came as Rep. Kim has come under fire following revelations he owned around 800,000 Wemix coins in 2021, worth around 6 billion won ($4.5 million), a significant amount inconsistent with his frugal image. Suspicions have arisen over where the money came from and whether he used insider information.

The first-term lawmaker, who quit the main opposition Democratic Party on Sunday, has also faced allegations he traded cryptocurrency coins while he was attending at least two meetings of the judiciary committee of the National Assembly, which took place in May and November of last year.

Kim operates his digital wallets at Upbit and Bithumb.
Chennai, May 15 : Tamil Nadu Excise Minister Senthil Balaji on Monday filed four defamation suits against YouTuber Savukku Shankar alias A. Shankar at the Chennai Metropolitan Magistrate's Court.

The minister, in the defamation suits, said that blogger Shankar, in his interviews with, various YouTube channels, claimed that Balaji would topple the Tamil Nadu government soon like Eknath Shinde in Maharashtra as the ruling DMK was frustrated with him.

Balaji also said that Savukku Shankar has posted various defamatory and baseless posts and comments against the minister on his Twitter handle, and these comments were per se false, defamatory and has scandalous imputations against him.

The complaint said that the posts had tarnished the complainant's dedicated hard work and public service, and prayed before the court to punish Shankar under Section 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code.

Shankar was earlier jailed for a period of six months for his remarks on the higher judiciary. The court had suo motu contempt proceedings against Shankar for his remarks to a You Tube channel on July 22 that 'The entire higher judiciary is riddled with corruption'.
New Delhi, May 15 : Hours after the SEBI informed the Supreme Court that it was not been investigating any of the serious allegations against the Adani Group since 2016, the Congress on Monday hit out at the Centre, accusing of misleading Parliament or being "fast asleep".

In a tweet, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, who is also communication in-charge of the party, said: "The Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, told the Lok Sabha on 19th July 2021 that SEBI was investigating the Adani Group. Now SEBI tells the Supreme Court that they have not been investigating any of the serious allegations against Adani! "Which is worse - misleading Parliament, or being fast asleep as lakhs of investors are duped by alleged money-laundering and round-tripping using offshore shell companies? Or even worse, was there a restraining hand from above?"

In a tweet, targeting the government, Shiv Sena-UBT Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi said: "So, SEBI denies any investigation into Adani companies since 2016, denies its own statement to the court? Was the junior finance minister lying to the country regarding the investigation in his answer on 19 July 2021? This smells of a cover up but at whose behest?"

The remarks from the Congress and the Shiv Sena-UBT faction came after the SEBI on Monday informed the Supreme Court that the allegations that it has been investigating the Adani Group since 2016 are "factually baseless".

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), in a rejoinder affidavit, submitted in the apex court, said: "The allegation that Securities and Exchange Board of India is investigating Adani since 2016 is factually baseless..." On May 12, the Supreme Court indicated that it may grant three months more to the SEBI to complete its probe into the controversy surrounding the Hindenburg Research report on the Adani Group of companies. On April 29, the SEBI moved the Supreme Court seeking six-months extension to complete its probe into Hindenburg allegations.
Kolkata, May 15 : West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress is all to start a "Janta Durbar" to address public grievances every Sunday at a local club adjacent to the residence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Kalighat here.

Party sources said that the entire process will be conducted on every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. under the supervision of the party's state President Subrata Bakshi, who will, in turn, report to the Chief Minister on the findings of the "Janta Durbar".

A senior party leader said that while Bakshi will be in overall charge of the process, he will be assisted periodically by other senior leaders of the party including senior party legislator and MPs. "It has also been decided one representative from the Chief Minister's Office might also be present at this 'Janta Durbar' programme every Sunday," said a party leader who did not wish to be named.

He said that this new exercise will be conducted to renew the links between the party and the common people in wake of the panchayat polls in the state this year and the Lok Sabha polls in 2024.

Before the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections the state government launched a programme christened 'Didike Bolo' (Tell 'Didi' as Banerjee is popularly known) through which the common people could inform the Chief Minister about their grievances.

The programme, started following the advice of vote-strategist Prashant Kishor- founded Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), worked miracles for the Trinamool, which came back to power in the state with a massive majority for the third term in a row.
The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the Talibans repression of Afghan women and girls and calling for the swift reversal of its indefensible edicts. The international community, declared U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, will not remain on the sidelines while the women and girls of Afghanistan are deprived of their human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The Taliban has reneged on its promises to the international community and to Afghan women and girls by implementing oppressive measures against them, including barring them from working with the UN and NGOs and from attending universities and secondary schools. These draconian measures only prevent Afghanistan from achieving stability, economic prosperity, and future growth; they place women and girls at increased risk of gender-based violence and sexual exploitation; and they hinder lifesaving humanitarian aid from reaching Afghans in desperate need.

U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood, Alternate Representative for Special Political Affairs, called the decision to deprive Afghan women and girls of their fundamental human rights indefensible, and not seen anywhere else in the world:

Muslim-majority countries have spoken out against the Talibans rationale for these decisions. In January, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation emphasized that Islamic law calls for womens education, work, and participation in public life.

The Talibans edicts are causing irreparable damage to Afghanistan  they erase women and girls from society, said Ambassador Wood. They also move the Taliban further from its desire to normalize relations with the international community:

The United States continues to urge an inclusive political process among Afghans that leads to a representative government  a government that is accountable to its people and fully reflects Afghanistans rich diversity, including the meaningful participation of women and members of minority communities.

The United States would like to acknowledge the extraordinary courage of women and girls in Afghanistan, declared Ambassador Wood. Despite the Talibans mounting restrictions and intimidation, they continue to support their families and contribute to their communities.

The United States applauds the many Afghan communities and individuals who have strongly and bravely stood up in support of Afghan women and girls.
New Delhi, May 15 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday conducted raids at thirteen locations belonging to alleged terrorist outfits and their offshoots operating in the Kashmir valley to disrupt peace by spreading terror, violence and subversion.

The agency conducted raids in Anantnag, Srinagar, Pulwama, Shopian and Budgam districts of Kashmir, and seized incriminating material, documents.

"The NIA launched extensive searches at thirteen locations of sympathisers, hybrid terrorists and overground workers (OGWs) linked with the newly-formed offshoots and affiliates of several proscribed Pak-backed terror organisations, including Laskhar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Al-Badr, Al-Qaeda," said the official.

The official said that the raids were part of the ongoing investigations of the NIA in the terror conspiracy case, involving the activities of OGWs and cadres in support of various newly-launched outfits, such as The Resistance Front (TRF), United Liberation Front Jammu & Kashmir (ULFJ&K), Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind (MGH), Jammu & Kashmir Freedom Fighters (JKFF), Kashmir Tigers, PAAF, among others.

Besides terrorist and violent activities, these cadres and workers were found involved in collection and distribution of sticky bombs, magnetic bombs, IEDs, funds, narcotics and arms, ammunition.

The NIA investigations revealed that Pak-based operatives were involved in delivery of arms, explosives and narcotics to these cadres and workers in Kashmir valley via drones.

"Social media platforms were also being widely used by the operatives across the border to connect with OGWs and cadres in Kashmir," the official said.

The NIA registered this case on June 21, 2022. The case was lodged based on the information related to conspiracy and plans, hatched physically as well in cyberspace, by these proscribed terrorist organisations. The conspirators aimed to unleash violent terrorist attacks in J&K with sticky bombs, IEDs and small arms etc, as part of a larger conspiracy to commit acts of terror and violence by radicalising local youth and mobilising and deploying overground workers.

In this case, the NIA has as of now conducted 70 search operations in the matter.
Mumbai, May 15 : In a first, a deceased home guard's family was handed over a cheque of Rs 50 lakh as insurance amount, Maharashtra Director-General of Police (Home Guards), B.K. Upadhyay said here on Monday.

The home guard, Hariba Farkale of Aurangabad, met with an accident and died, recently.

Following his demise, HDFC Bank presented a cheque of Rs 50 lakh of his insurance amount to Upadhyay, who in turn handed it over to Farkale's family.

Upadhyay said on the occasion that the state's Home Guard are entitled to an insurance cover in case of accident or death in the line of duty.

"This initiative of Maharashtra has been adopted by other states also. It has come as a great relief to the Home Guard jawans as far as such accidents/deaths are concerned," Upadhyay.

In January 2023, a Home Guard from Raigad, Laxman V. Akhade - who lost his leg in an on-duty accident in September 2022 - was given an insurance amount of Rs 25 Lakhs from the HDFC Bank through which the Home Guard have tied up with salary accounts and entitlements of all insurance benefits.

With over 45,000 personnel including women and technicians, the Maharashtra Home Guards is among the biggest in the country and serves as an auxiliary to the police force for maintaining internal security.

It also serves as an emergency force for specialised tasks and has set up specialist arms like the border wings, marine units, etc, that work for the defence of the country.
Kochi, May 15 : Kerala will distribute 12,000 robotic kits to school students under the government's Little KITEs scheme, which provides intense training in five areas, state Education and Labour Minister V. Sivankutty said on Monday.

"Already 9,000 kits have been provided under the five-year-old Little KITEs that trains students in animation, cyber safety, Malayalam computing, hardware and electronics. Soon, we will disburse 3,000 more kits," said Sivankutty after inaugurating a two-day Little KITEs state camp at Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) near here.

"Once the programme achieves its target of providing awareness to 12 lakh students across the country in robotics technology, Little KITEs will make Kerala the top-most state in this mission. There is special significance to holding this camp in the KSUM premises. For, it gives an opportunity to earn an idea about future employment opportunities and job culture.Sharing their experience adds value to the camp," he added.

The camp has 130 participants, while the exhibition showcases products by students from all the 14 districts of the state.

At the camp, there was Jeslet Joby of Mala town in Thrissur district who has devised spectacles that help the visually-challenged sense obstacles from a certain distance. This can also be used through a wireless system.

K.Sreenand of Kasaragod has introduced a robot that will sprinkle pesticides.

The gadget, with a fire-dousing system that can turn 360 degrees attached to it, also provides a facility enabling collection of information related to agriculture.

Ahmed Rasheed of Malappuram district has invented a small machine that senses the measure of insulin in blood and supplies the metabolism-aiding hormone. The idea is to help diabetics who are on the rise in the state, he points out.

Aghosh K.R. of hilly Wayanad has come up with an animation movie that narrates the story of a tusker named Arikomban that has been keeping people of Kerala on the edge.

The plot revolves around the elephant of Periyar Tiger Reserve consistently returning to Chinnakanal in Idukki district. It is a compilation of four select animation films.

The camp, which concludes on Tuesday, also features products like a sensor-attached walking stick, automatic parking system, Bluetooth wheelchair and automatic railway-gate.

KSUM is the nodal agency of the Kerala government for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities in the state.
Mumbai, May 15 (IANS Ambernath United Atlanta FC will clash with Shillong Lajong in the 2023 I-League 2 Final Round at the Cooperage Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday. The home side had an eventful first match of the I-League 2 final round in which they won 1-0 against FC Bengaluru United.

This clash against Shillong is touted as a top-of-the-table clash as the teams placed at the top two spots in the table will clash for the first time in a competitive fixture.

Ambernath United Atlanta FC began their campaign in the final round at home to FC Bengaluru United. The Bengaluru side comes into the match fresh from a 1-0 win against Delhi FC in their opening match. It took until the 82nd minute for Ambernath United Atlanta FC to find the back of the net but it proved to be the match-winner. Super substitute Abhijit Tawhare was at the end of the scramble in the box and slotted the ball past the Bengaluru keeper to give the home side a 1-0 lead. They would hold on to win 1-0 and earn all three points.

Their opponents Shillong Lajong are one of the two sides remaining undefeated in the final round so far. They won their opening match 2-1 against Unites SC and then drew 0-0 against Delhi FC. That makes it four points from the possible six points, as a result of this they are now top of the table.

Shillong Lajong were the best second-placed side to qualify for the final round after winning four of their six matches and drawing once. They now are in the driver's seat and sit at the correct end of the table.

Ambernath United Atlanta FC have won their last five matches in a row, four in the group stages which ensured qualification to the final round. Then opening the final round with a 1-0 win to score three points.

They now look to register back-to-back wins which could see them go top of the final round table. The other match tomorrow is Delhi FC vs United SC where both these sides will look to register their first win of the final round.
London, May 15 : UK-based Space Forge has developed a novel satellite reentry system that can help in recovery and reuse of its in-space manufacturing spacecraft, the media reported.

Founded in 2018, Space Forge has the world's only dedicated relaunchable super materials manufacturing satellite ForgeStar, with soft-descent and high-precision landing capabilities.

ForgeStar aims to make a soft landing with the help of a new heat shield and a water vehicle, TechCrunch reported.

An ablative heat shield has been used previously by Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo spacecrafts to both cool and protect mechanical parts that would otherwise be damaged by extremely high temperatures.

It consists of a layer of plastic resin, the outer surface of which is heated to a gas, which then carries the heat away by convection. These are currently also used by the SpaceX Dragon 2 spacecraft and the Orion spacecraft.

However, the ablative heat shield has to be changed after each mission.

On the contrary, the new "Pridwen" heat shield, built by Space Forge, is large enough to radiate away the heat generated by atmospheric reentry, the report said. The shield is made out of a high-temperature alloy, and was designed to fold inside the launcher for lift-off and unfold when the spacecraft makes its return to Earth.

"It's old technology, The idea of ablative heat shields, something that eats itself as it returns, it's [1950s] technology," Andrew Bacon, Space Forge co-founder and chief technology officer was quoted as saying.

Another technology is an uncrewed water vehicle, 'Fielder,' which will manoeuvre itself under ForgeStar and "catch" it in a soft landing, the report said.

The idea is to reduce stress on sensitive payloads inside the vehicle as much as possible, while also reducing the need for spacecraft refurbishment.

ForgeStar, a small class vehicle deployable in orbit for up to six months, will initially focus on the production of semiconductors, alloys, and biological materials.

After losing its first attempt to launch the satellite on the Virgin Orbit's January mission, Space Forge now plans to test the reentry capabilities with the ForgeStar-1A satellite later this year. Virgin's launcher experienced an anomaly and failed to reach orbit.

The company said it aims to launch the debut mission without any customer payloads. Its launch date or launch provider has not been disclosed.
New Delhi, May 15 : The Congress romped to a thumping victory in Karnataka, defeating the BJP, and exulting in the party's triumph is state unit chief D.K. Shivakumar, who was tasked to deliver in the state after the Congress-JD-S coalition government collapsed in 2019 due to defections.

Shivakumar, along with his dedicated team, which worked with him closely in the last two years, strove to ensure that the party gets a brute majority in the next polls with lot of work at the ground level.

Along with him was his "shadow" Naresh Arora, Director and Founder of the DesignedBox, which managed the campaign, survey and assessment at the grassroot level for the Karnataka state unit chief.

Even when Shivakumar appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) last year in connection with the money laundering probe, Arora was there along with the Congresss leader's brother D.K. Suresh.

In an interview with IANS, Arora opened up on the Congress' Karnataka success, saying that he was not surprised at the outcome "because we have been working in Karnataka for the last two years, we were having a regular touch and feedback and tracking service system which was telling us that Congress is performing well".

"Seat analysis was with us and we could clearly see that the numbers should be somewhere in the range of 135 to 145. Some seats we lost by very small margins, otherwise the number would have been comfortably around 140." Amid internal fighting in the Congress camp, especially between Leader of Opposition in the outgoing Assembly and former CM Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, which used to get most of the headlines, it was Arora who brought both together and showed them in chit chat and discussing issues of Karnataka.

Asked how did he managed to accomplish this image of the cooperation, not conflict, and what was its impact, Arora said: "See, first of all, these two leaders do not fight with each other. This is a wrong notion. This is propaganda.

"These two leaders have their own roles and responsibilities and own ambitions and that is nothing wrong. But when it comes to the party thing, they have a common trait and both of them discuss the strategies." Arora also highlighted the videos of the two leaders, which was released days before the voting in the state, where both were seen talking about the policies and plan and the programmes they want to implement once the government is formed in Karnataka.

"So this is a media creation, that they are fighting with each other. When they're in politics, everyone wants to be ahead of others, but without a party, both of them believe that it is not possible. And they work very closely during these elections," Arora added.

Asked about that he was involved in evolving the strategy of the party for last two years so which campaign or strategic move does he think has been the biggest contributor to this result, Arora said, "It will be unfair to give credit to one campaign because Congress in these last two years under the leadership of Shivakumar was running sustained campaigns one after the other in which there were various aspects involved in connecting with the people, connecting with their own party worker connecting with youth through social media on ground.

"So it is a culmination of multiple campaigns run one after the other, which Congress is generally not known for, little known for one campaign and then gets over and then everyone gets lost. And then they come back after a couple of months or a year." But here (in Karnataka) the consistency was there, the hard work was visible, he added.

"And people definitely appreciate and reward hard work when they see and this is what the results have conveyed with the kind of number that Congress have got," he said.

About how much difference did the "Freedom March" organised and supervised by his team made to improve the Congress' fortunes, the DesignedBox Director said: "It was a very hugely successful event, for which the preparations started a month and a half before the event. It was on record the biggest congreation of people on a routine target in independent India, as three lakh people were walking on the streets of Bangalore, it was an unprecedented thing. And 80 per cent of them were under 35 years of age, which is huge.

"It was a hugely phenomenal successful program, but again, it cannot be attributed as just one single thing which got it it is the culmination of things." About why the word 'guarantee', which he coined for Congress in last year's Assam Assembly elections and the party's offer of monthly transfer of Rs 2,000 in accounts of every woman did not work in Assam but people of Karnataka accepted them, Arora contended that that the word guarantee was coined definitely in Assam campaign but could not result into the kind of vote which Congress was seeking because the party did not have time to implement those things.

"But here (in Karnataka) Congress has the time, Rs 2,000 was offered there (Assam) also and same was offered here and the people were sent to door to door, social media was used and it was delivered in the form of the guarantee card to the people. And people resonated with it, thinking that this is going to come to them because people need to be explained that what is in store for them when they are going to vote or before voting," Arora stressed.

He felt that because the Congress started in time in Karnataka, it has the luxury of interacting with people convincing them telling them what is in store and what will be given, how will it be given and what the benefits should be? "So I think that is why the word guarantee and Rs 2,000 worked in Karnataka, and I am pretty sure that Congress will learn the lesson that they should start in time and other states also so that their guarantees or their promises reach people in time and make its impact on their final outcome," Arora asserted.

The Congress won 135 out of 224 seats in Karnataka where the voting was done on May 10. The ruling BJP was reduced to only 66 seats while the JD-S, which was dreaming of playing a 'kingmaker', was reduced to 19 seats.

(Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@ians.in)
Bengaluru, May 15 : Congress' Karnataka President D.K. Shivakumar on Monday said said that he is cancelling the Delhi trip due to "ill-health".

His office had earlier said that he had left for Delhi.

Interacting with media persons, the senior Congress leader said that his health was not good and hence he was cancelling his trip.

Sources in Congress told IANS that he was sore at Siddharamiah being considered for the top post.

Meanwhile Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka Nasser Hussain told media persons here that there was no need for Shivakumar to be anxious and upset. He said that only observers knew that who among the two leaders have more support among Congress legislators.

Earlier, Shivakumar had told media persons that he had stood with the party through thick and thin and that even when many party legislators had ditched the party, he worked hard and rebuilt the party from scratch.

After the sparkling victory in Karnataka, the fight between Siddharamiah and Shivakumar has created a situation of uneasiness among the party cadres and supporters.
Islamabad, May 15 : The Pakistan federal government has reportedly decided, in principle, to introduce a reference against the Chief Justice of Pakistan with the Supreme Judicial Council, media reports said on Monday.

A resolution to file the reference against Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial was approved in the National Assembly during a joint session of Parliament, Samaa TV reported A special five-member parliamentary committee has been formed to prepare the reference against the CJP and other judges. The parliamentary committee will comprise members of various political parties.

Members of various parties are reportedly drafting the committee's terms of reference.

In the ongoing joint parliament session, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif suggested that the parliament send a reference to the Supreme Judicial Council against the CJP and play its historical role, Samaa TV reported.

PML-N chief organiser Maryam Nawaz has demanded Chief Justice Bandial's resignation, Dawn reported.

She made the demand at a protest gathering outside the Supreme Court in Islamabad, maintaining that "free and fair elections are not possible until Umar Ata Bandial remains the country's top judge".

"The election will be held on its scheduled time after you step down," she said, addressing the CJP, Dawn reported.

"All of you should be aware that the anarchy (...) and crisis that has taken over the country today, the place of its genesis was not Zaman Park as much as Umar Ata Bandial's post." Maryam Nawaz has accused PTI Chairman Imran Khan of doing what "terrorists or Pakistan's enemies could not do".

Addressing supporters during the PDM sit-in outside the Supreme Court, she said: "He and his wife stole the public's money and then bought plots from this money." Maryam went on to say that Imran Khan "trained" his "minions" at Zaman Park and set fire to the Jinnah House. "But when this man appeared before the court, the CJP expressed pleasure over meeting him," she said, Dawn reported.

She accused the Supreme Court of imposing a "judicial martial law" in Pakistan.

"Today, when the army is standing with the democracy and Constitution of Pakistan... the fifth martial law in Pakistan... judicial martial law has been imposed from this building."
Imphal, May 15 : Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Monday rejected the demand raised by 10 tribal MLAs for a "separate administration", equivalent to separate state, comprising the Kuki tribal-dominated districts of Manipur.

"The territorial integrity of Manipur would be protected. The Central government is also strongly against any division of Manipur," he told the media here after returning from Delhi.

Ten tribal MLAs belonging to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi groups indirectly demanded a "separate state" for the tribals on Friday in the wake of recent violent clashes between the non-tribal Meiteis and the tribals.

Of the 10 MLAs, five belong to the BJP, two each from Janata Dal-United and Kuki People's Alliance (KPA) and one an Independent.

Singh, who had gone to Delhi on Sunday to hold meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other central leaders, said that measures would be taken to ensure that the Kuki militants, who had signed a peace pact and Suspension of Operations (SoO), return to their designated camps and stay in these camps all the time.

The Centre and the Manipur government signed the tripartite agreement and SoO with the three militant outfits -- the Kuki National Army (KNA), Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) and Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) -- on August 22, 2008.

Government officials accused the Kuki militants of inciting Kuki tribals encroachers against the government, which has been evicting the tribals from the forest land and destroying poppy cultivation and these actions said to be a precursor to the ethnic violence from May 3.

The Chief Minister also appealed to people not to hold demonstrations or rallies in view of the prevailing situation of the state.

He said that the priority of his government is to restore peace, harmony and normalcy in the state. He also directed the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendent of Police of various districts to ensure that the properties of those who fled their homes due to the ethnic violence are protected and not looted by the miscreants.

Minister for Power, Forest and Agriculture Biswajit Singh, who is the second important minister after Chief Minister, state BJP President Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi, few other ministers and MLAs were also accompanied the Chief Minister during his Sunday's Delhi visit.

At least 73 people were killed, 231 injured and 1,800 houses, including religious places, burnt due to the ethnic violence, clashes, rampant arsoning, indiscriminate vandalisation, random destruction of government and private properties broke out in Manipur after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' organised in the 10 hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Sporadic incidents of violence are taking place in different districts almost everyday. The violence was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of agitations in the local levels.

Manipur government's security advisor Kuldiep Singh said that more than 26,300 violence hit people are taking shelter in 178 relief camps set up in different districts and mostly along the army and security forces' installations.

Public curfew was relaxed for a few hours in many districts of the state. During the relaxation period, markets and oil pumps opened and people bought essential items.
New Delhi, May 15 : A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Delhi High Court on Monday regarding the "blockade" in front of the Supreme Court by Delhi Police.

Petitioner, Mamta Rani (39), who is a practising lawyer at the Supreme Court, has alleged that the advocates and even common motorists going to the high court and the top court are facing huge inconvenience and precious time loss due to blockade at different crossings on Mathura Road including the roundabout at the corner of Krishi Bhawan and Rail Bhawan from Raisina Road from Janpath.

The PIL said that since December 2022, the different crossings at Mathura Road were blocked, preventing right turns while coming from an additional building of the top court towards either the main building of the Supreme Court or towards the high court. Due to this, advocates have to drive for more than five kilometres, against just 300 metres to 400 metres for going from the additional building of the top court to the main building of the top court, and this is not only arbitrary but also a waste of precious time of advocates appearing in the courts.

It claimed that this blockade by Delhi Police is also against the environment as it is causing more carbon dioxide emission in the atmosphere.

"The petitioner and other advocates approached the officials of Delhi Police and especially the traffic police personnel deputed in the area about the time period for which this blockade will continue, but every time the traffic police personnel expressed their inability to tell any time period for which this blockade is going to continue on Mathura Road," it said.

The petitioner claimed that the advocates even approached the Police Commissioner and the Delhi government through email regarding the problems being faced every day while commuting from the top court to the high court, but no one even replied.
The Board of Directors of Enel S.p.A. ("Enel" or the "Company"), appointed by the ordinary Shareholders' Meeting on May 10th, 2023, met today for the first time in Rome and was chaired by Paolo Scaroni.

The Board appointed Flavio Cattaneo as Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of the Company.

The Board also confirmed the existing division of powers, designating the Chair with the power to supervise audit activities (although the head of said function continues to report hierarchically to the Board of Directors), to drive and oversee the application of corporate governance rules concerning the activities of the Board of Directors and to maintain, in agreement and coordination with the Chief Executive Officer, relations with institutional bodies and authorities. In line with the previous division of powers, the Chief Executive Officer was granted all powers for the management of the Company, except for those otherwise assigned by applicable laws and regulations as well as the by-laws or those retained by the Board of Directors within the scope of its responsibilities.

On the basis of the declarations released during the candidacy process and acceptance of the position and taking into account all the information available to the Company, the Board therefore verified that the Directors Johanna Arbib, Mario Corsi, Dario Frigerio, Fiammetta Salmoni, Paolo Scaroni, Alessandra Stabilini and Alessandro Zehentner meet the independence requirements set out both by law (article 147-ter, paragraph 4 and article 148, paragraph 3 of Italy's Consolidated Financial Act) and by Recommendation no. 7 of Italy's Corporate Governance Code (2020 edition). To this end, the Board of Directors took into account the quantitative criteria adopted by the Company to assess the significance of any commercial, financial or professional relationships and/or any additional remuneration - referred to in letters c) and d) of the aforementioned Recommendation no. 7, which may compromise the independence of a Director([1]).

Specifically relating to Chairman Paolo Scaroni, the Board of Directors verified that the interested party does not fall into any of the impediments to independence indicated in art. 148, paragraph 3 of the Consolidated Law on Finance and/or by Recommendation no. 7 of the Corporate Governance Code.

Finally, the Board of Directors will establish at an upcoming meeting its different internal Committees with powers to submit proposals to and advise the Board.

The professional profiles of the members of the Board of Directors can be consulted on the Company's website: www.enel.com.

([1]) Specifically, with reference to the assessment of the significance of any commercial, financial or professional relationships with Enel or parties related to it (as identified by Recommendation no. 7, letter c) of the Corporate Governance Code) currently ongoing or that have been undertaken by non-executive Directors, directly or indirectly, in the three financial years preceding the establishment of the relationship as a Director:

(i) as regards the relationships undertaken up to the time of appointment as Director, the following parameters of significance apply:

 relationships of a commercial or financial nature: (i) 5% of the annual turnover of the company or entity which the Director has control or of which the Director is an executive director, or of the professional or consulting firm of which the Director is partner; and/or (ii) 5% of the annual costs incurred by the Enel Group that can be attributed to the same kind of contractual relationship;

 professional services: (i) 5% of the annual turnover of the company or entity which the Director has control or of which the Director is an executive director, or of the professional or consulting firm of which the Directors is partner; and/or (ii) 2.5% of the annual costs incurred by the Enel Group that can be attributed to similar assignments;

(ii) once the directorship relationship is established and for the entire duration of the mandate, a significance parameter identified in absolute monetary terms, equal to 50,000 euros on an annual basis, shall apply.

With reference to any additional remuneration (referred to in Recommendation no. 7, letter d) of the Corporate Governance Code), the threshold of significance of the ratio between (i) the additional remuneration that a non-executive Director may receive or has received in the previous three financial years from Enel, the parent entity or other companies of the Enel Group and (ii) the fixed remuneration for the office held in Enel, including the compensation for any participation in Board committees, is instead set at 30%.
Imphal, May 15 : To restore complete peace in Manipur, the Army has undertaken multi-pronged strategies including maintaining the highest vigil along the state's 400 km unfenced border with Myanmar.

Defence sources said that over 7,000 Army and Assam Rifles soldiers, including women personnel, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and other modern gadgets have been relentlessly engaged in area domination to ensure early restoration of complete normalcy in Manipur, which was devastated by the ethnic violence since May 3.

The sources said that Army authorities, in consultation with the state government and all stakeholders, has worked out fresh and elaborate security measures to address the fears of people of all communities, especially those staying in fringe vulnerable areas outside capital city Imphal.

"Stringent measures and inter alia a robust multi-agency intelligence grid is in place to ensure continuance of 'hard earned' peace in Manipur. Long duration patrols, appropriately equipped and grouped with riflewomen of Assam Rifles, were sent to fringe vulnerable areas identified in consultation with the state government in the past 72 hours," a defence spokesman said.

The Army's area domination patrols visited villages across communities, interacted with locals, women and influencers, not only to reassure them of their safety but also to provide the much-needed succour, he said.

"Rendering medical assistance 'in situ' by para-medics including undertaking prophylactic medical evacuation were some amongst many activities that were undertaken by these patrols." Fringe incidents of violence were immediately responded to by security forces and brought under control, the spokesman said adding that while locals across communities have expressed their yearning for lasting peace, four other measures, in particular, are in place to thwart any misadventure attempt by inimical elements.

The measures include, day and night area domination patrolling, surveillance over designated flash points, engagement with civil society organisations of all communities across Manipur, employment of quadcopters, tracker dogs and UAVs.

The spokesman said that domination of the India-Myanmar border is also being effectively undertaken to deter any misadventure from insurgent groups.

"Round the clock vigil through domination patrols, employment of UAVs, quadcopters and tracker dogs have significantly contributed towards deterring various insurgent groups in taking advantage of the prevailing situation," he said.

The Indian Army also appeals to all sections of the population of Manipur to support the efforts of security forces in sustaining the hard earned peace and promoting harmony and quell any attempt to spread hate, misinformation being directed either towards them or spreading hatred towards each other in general.

Claiming the lives of around 70 people and injuring a few hundred, ethnic violence, clashes, rampant arsoning, indiscriminate vandalisation, random destruction of government and private properties broke out in Manipur after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' organised in the 10 hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

The violence was preceded by tension and protests over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land and destruction of poppy cultivation, which had led to a series of agitations at the local level.

A top Manipur government official said that the Indian authorities have been erecting barbed wire fencing along the around 400 km India-Myanmar border in Manipur to curb smuggling, trans-border movement of militants, infiltration and other border crimes.

Governor Anusuiya Uikey recently inspected border fencing in Moreh, 110 km south of Imphal.
Islamabad, May 15 : PML-N chief organiser Maryam Nawaz has demanded Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial's resignation, the media reported.

She made the demand at a protest gathering outside the Supreme Court in Islamabad, maintaining that "free and fair elections are not possible until Umar Ata Bandial remains the country's top judge", Dawn reported.

"The election will be held at its scheduled time after you step down," she said, addressing the CJP, Dawn reported.

"All of you should be aware that the anarchy and crisis that has taken over the country today, the place of its genesis was not Zaman Park as much as Umar Ata Bandial's post.

PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz has accused PTI Chairman Imran Khan of doing what "terrorists or Pakistan's enemies could not do".

While addressing supporters during the PDM sit-in outside the Supreme Court, she said: "He and his wife stole the public's money and then bought plots from this money." Maryam went on to say that Imran "trained" his "minions" at Zaman Park and set fire to the Jinnah House.

"But when this man appeared before the court, the CJP expressed pleasure over meeting him," Dawn reported.

The PML-N Chief Organiser has accused the Supreme Court of imposing a "judicial martial law" in Pakistan.

Addressing Pakistan Democratic Movement protesters outside the apex court, she said: "Today, when the army is standing with the democracy and Constitution of Pakistan, the fifth martial law in Pakistan, judicial martial law has been imposed from this building."
New Delhi, May 15 : A 23-year-old employee of an 'animal-feed' businessman and his associate were detained for concocting a fake robbery story of Rs 5.56 lakh in the national capital on Monday afternoon, an official said.

According to police, an information was received around 3:15 p.m. in which the caller Nippo, who is an employee of Sukhmal Chand Jain, who runs an animal feed business, told police that that Rs 5.65 lakh had been robbed by bike-borne assailants in Harsh Vihar.

However, during the initial investigation, some discrepancies were found in Nippo's narrative.

"He was questioned in detail and during questioning, he broke down and admitted to having misappropriated the money himself. The allegedly robbed amount of Rs 5.65 lakh has been recovered. His accomplice Amit has also been detained," said the official.
New Delhi, May 15 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday opposed a plea by activist and accused Bhima Koregaon case Gautam Navlakha, under house arrest in Mumbai, seeking to be shifted to a house in Alibag area in Maharashtra.

Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, appearing for the NIA and the Maharashtra government, submitted before a bench headed by Justice K.M. Joseph that house in Alibag, where Navlakha wants to shift, is 110 km from the trial court and more than seven hours would be spent in taking him to the court and then taking back to his residence.

Navlakha's counsel submitted that Alibag is in the same district as Taloja jail, where he was lodged while questioning the contention regarding distance.

Raju contended before the bench, also comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna, that the house in Alibag area is located in a residential area where it is very difficult to cordon off, while vehemently opposing Navlakha's plea. "It is not feasible keeping the security aspect in mind," he said.

He also argued that ground taken by Navlakha for house arrest was a farce and added that he had requested the court to move him from a jail to house arrest on health grounds, citing absence of good health facilities. Raju submitted that the area, where he seeks to shift does not have any super speciality hospital.

Senior advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan, representing Navlakha, vehemently opposed Raju's submission. She contended that they can certainly discuss with the probe agency regarding the area where he can be put under house arrest.

After hearing submissions, the top court asked Raju to bring on record the agency's objection and scheduled the matter for further hearing in August.

On November 10, last year, the top court had allowed Navlakha to be placed under house arrest after considering his deteriorating health and also asked him to provide local surety of Rs 2 lakh by November 14.

On April 28 this year, the top court had directed Navlakha to deposit another Rs 8 lakh for making available police personnel for his security.

On September 29 last year, the Supreme Court directed the Taloja jail Superintendent to immediately shift Navlakha to Mumbai's Jaslok hospital for treatment.

Navlakha moved the apex court challenging Bombay High Court judgment passed in April, dismissing his plea to be transferred from Taloja Prison and placed under house arrest instead. In August 2018, he was arrested and initially placed under house arrest. In April 2020, after an apex court order he was moved to Taloja Central Prison in Maharashtra.
New Delhi, May 15 : After delivering a thumping victory for the Congress in Karnataka while working closely with its state unit chief D.K. Shivakumar, poll strategist Naresh Arora is now eyeing a similar result in Rajasthan where he is busy formulating strategies for the upcoming Assembly elections in the desert state with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

In a candid conversation with IANS amid the leadership tussle in Rajasthan, Arora opined that Gehlot is a "very popular leader" and the pro-people schemes launched in the last four and half years are working in favour of the grand old party veteran.

Arora, the Director and the Founder of DesignBoxed -- a political campaign management company, said: "I think Rajasthan has a very popular Chief Minister. All the surveys indicate that Gehlot is the most popular politician or elected representative of Rajasthan. And the schemes which the government has launched over four and half years are quite popular on the ground, and the chief minister is working day and night to ensure that those schemes actually reach people and benefit them." Arora said this when he was asked about the Congress facing a crisis since 2020 after rebellion by party leader and former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot.

"I am confident that these schemes and these popularity factors will take care of a lot of other issues around and the Congress will come back to power," he said.

When asked if people are really buying the claims of the Rajasthan government, Arora said: "Definitely, if you tell anyone in the country, then you're going to get a cylinder which is worth Rs 1150 for Rs 500. Do you think that people are going to be lapping up to it?" They are very good schemes which the government has announced over there. For example, health insurance worth Rs 25 lakh. He opined that many people do not have Rs 25 lakh as a health insurance cover in their families.

"There are good schemes. And I am pretty sure that these schemes will be quite helpful for Congress to come back to power in the state," the DesignBoxed Founder said.

When asked about his plans for the desert state, he said: "Our plans for Rajasthan are already on, there are certain things going on the ground, and we are also getting into assessment more to see how, and what areas that need to be addressed by the Congress and soon you will see them on the ground." His remarks came on a day when Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot threatened to launch a statewide movement in the desert state if action on his demands is not taken by the month-end.

When asked about what he feels about the prospects of Congress in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh assembly elections, Arora said: "I have worked in Chhattisgarh and I have not done any survey over there. But my sense from both sides is that the chances look right for Congress in both the states." When asked about comparison with "brand BJP", and what kind of impact "brand Congress" has in the mind of the people, and how he tries to convey people about brand Congress, he said: "Every state has different challenges and the dynamics are also different. So the brand Congress is nothing that needs to be sold to people. It is only that the Congress and the parties which are contesting elections need to connect with people in a better way because the format of connectivity have changed, people have less time. Digitalization has happened, newspapers and other things are secondary source of information, TV channels, people have all the information on their phone.

"They need to speak to the voter in the voice that they want to be heard and not what the party wants to say," Arora added.

Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are scheduled later this year in the month of November and December.

(Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@ians.in)
New Delhi, May 15 : Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud on Monday referred Justice M R Shah, who retired Monday as a Supreme Court judge, as "Tiger Shah" and said he has been a solid colleague with him in the collegium, and was full of practical wisdom.

In his address at a farewell function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), he said Justice Shah's entry into the apex court collegium on November 9, 2022 coincided with his own appointment as Chief Justice on that day.

"He has been a solid colleague for me in the collegium, full of practical wisdom. He was full of excellent advice which helped us greatly when we made first seven appointments in a short span of time," he said.

At the beginning of his speech, the Chief Justice said he called Justice Shah as "Tiger Shah" for his courage and fighting spirit. He cited Bob Dylan's song, "When the winds of changes shift, may your heart always be joyful, may your song always be sung, may you stay forever young, may you stay forever young".

Justice Chandrachud also quoted Pakistani poet Obaidullah Aleem, saying: "Aankh se dur sahi dil se kahan jayega, jaane wale tu hamein yaad bahut ayega." Justice Shah, who appeared to be emotional, thanked the Bar and said he had performed his duties without fear, favour, or ill-will. He said that it is the duty of everyone that timely justice is granted and everyone should get out of adjournment culture and not ask any unnecessary adjournments.

Justice Shah, in an advice to young members of the Bar, said: "Learn from seniors, know your judges, work hard. There is no alternative to hard work. I am an example of hard work." He said that he has always believed in God and karma and always followed the Gita.

Supreme Court Bar Association President Vikas Singh said Justice Shah was very inspiring, especially to young and first-generation lawyers.

Earlier during the day, Justice Shah, while sitting on the ceremonial bench with the Chief Justice, had tears filled in his eyes, while sitting on the bench for the last time.

Justice Shah said: "I am like a coconut... please excuse me if I start crying. Thank you all for your kind words and sentiments expressed by all (members of the Bar)." "I am not a person to retire... I will start a new innings and I pray (to God) for good health for this inning," and read a few lines from a song from Raj Kapoor's "Mera Naam Joker": "Kal khel me hum ho na ho..gardish me taare rahenge sada...", with tears in his eyes.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said he had seen Justice Shah both as a lawyer and a judge and he is a very hard working person and "a very brave human being who does not get cowed down, an ability which is slightly vanishing..." Mehta said, "But lordship has done serious injustice to the family, the number of judgments which your lordship has written stands testimony to the fact that your family has suffered the most and it would be now their turn to be compensated..."
New Delhi, May 15 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday said it has recently carried out search operations in Coimbatore and Chennai in connection with a case under PMLA filed against Santiago Martin and others pertaining to prize-winning tickets claim.

An official said that in this case, the ED has so far seized or froze properties worth Rs 457 crore.

The ED said that the premises where searches were carried out include the registered office of Future Gaming Solutions India Private Limited at Coimbatore, which is the master distributor of Sikkim Lotteries, the residential premises of Santiago Martin at Coimbatore and the residential premises as well as the business premises of his family members in Chennai.

The ED initiated money laundering investigation on the basis of a final report by CBI, ACB, Kochi, for various offences punishable under various sections of IPC against S. Martin and others relating to the sale of lotteries of the government of Sikkim in Kerala.

"From the PMLA investigation conducted, it was found that S. Martin and his associate companies and entities had made unlawful gain with a corresponding loss to the Sikkim government to the extent of Rs 910 crore on account of inflating the prize-winning tickets claim for the period from April 1, 2009 to August 31, 2010," said the ED.

The official said that during the course of search action, several investments of the group concerns were identified and orders were issued under PMLA, to freeze movable properties worth Rs 157.7 crore which includes fixed deposits and mutual funds, and immovable property documents worth Rs 299.16 crore were seized.

"Thus, properties worth Rs 457 crore were unearthed as a result of search operations carried out, and the same have been seized and frozen against the Proceeds of Crime," the official said.
Hyderabad, May 15 : Upbeat over its poll victory in Karnataka, the Congress has now shifted its focus to Telangana and the leadership is contemplating to give a key role to D. K. Shivakumar, who is credited for the party storming to power in the neighbouring state.

Now when it seems certain that Siddaramaiah will be named as the chief minister of Karnataka, the Congress leadership is likely to entrust a big role to Shivakumar in the party and use his services for upcoming elections in Telangana.

Assembly elections in Telangana are due towards the end of the year and a section of the Congress leaders both in Delhi and Hyderabad feel that the party needs a face like Shivakumar to restore its glory in its former stronghold.

After failing twice to come to power despite claiming credit for carving out Telangana state and reeling under defections and infighting, the Congress is desperate to bounce back.

Shivakumar, who as the President of Karnataka Congress, united the party and played a key role in enlisting the support of various castes and communities, may be asked to replicate it in Telangana.

With the Congress in Telangana lacking charismatic leaders, party cadres are said to be in favour of roping in Shivakumar. State party President A. Revanth Reddy himself is learnt to have supported the proposal.

Sources said Shivakumar, who single handedly checkmated BJP in Karnataka, can help the party in countering the saffron party, which has been in an aggressive mode and projecting itself as viable alternative ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).

The KCR-led BRS is looking for a hat-trick, relying on the Telangana sentiment and Telangana model of welfare and development.

In Shivkumar, Congress seems to have found a "winning machine" and a "Mr Dependable" who can pitch wonders in the form of uniting warring and sparring factions, deftly handling dissidents and rebels, and clinically running campaigns against the incumbent government's failures. This was exactly the winning mantra that Congress has adopted in Karnataka, and while attacking BJP for its corruption, it also neutralised the JD-S vote eventually that once looked like denting its prospects.

A section of Congress leaders in Telangana believe that Shivakumar's experience can come in handy for the Congress in not only uniting different warring groups within the party but also forging alliance with other like-minded parties.

"Shivakumar can help in bringing like-minded parties on board to prevent any split of anti-BRS and anti-BJP votes," a source in Congress told IANS.

It is in this context that Shivakumar's meeting with Y.S. Sharmila, the leader of YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP) and daughter of former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) in Bengaluru assumed significance.

While, there is no confirmation about what transpired between Shivakumar and Sharmila, it is seen as a possible beginning of a more serious dialogue.

Shivakumar had close relations with the late YSR and his family. As Sharmila is banking on the legacy of YSR, who was a Congress stalwart, some Congress leaders in Telangana see a common ground in joining hands with her.

Meanwhile, Sharmila conveyed her birthday greeting to Shivakumar. "I extend my warm birthday greetings to dear brother Mr DK Shivakumar ji. This birthday must be especially sweeter and more momentous to you, after the tremendous victory of your party in the assembly elections. I pray to god to give you long life and great health to serve the people of Karnataka," she tweeted.

Sharmila also posted a photograph in which she is seen with Shivakumar and his wife.
New Delhi, May 15 : Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren on Monday called on Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and congratulated him for the party's victory in Karnataka.

In a tweet, Soren said: "Met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge ji in New Delhi today and congratulated him on the victory of the Congress Party in the Karnataka Assembly Elections. During the meeting, discussions were also held with Kharge ji on current and future political scenarios." He also tweeted the picture of both the leaders together.

The COngress had won 135 out of 224 seats in Karnataka, an increase of 55 seats as compared to 80 in the 2018 Assembly elections. Meanwhile, the ruling BJP was reduced to 66 seats in the state whereas the JD-S which was dreaming of playing the role of 'kingmaker' managed to win only 19 seats in the state.

The Congress is an alliance partner of the JMM in Jharkhand.
Mumbai, May 15 : Shah Rukh Khan complained, tongue very much in cheek, that his wife Gauri Khan is busy renovating and designing the world except his room.

He was speaking on Monday evening during the launch of Gauri Khan's coffee-table book, 'My Life in Design', which has a foreword written by him.

In his foreword, SRK says: "I am excited to see what she has included in her book, and if by chance she has designed some space better than what she has done for me, I will force her to give me a discounted makeover for my space." Apart from being a film producer, Gauri Khan is noted interior designer, and her book charts out her professional journey with exclusive pictures of her and her family, including her children Aryan, Suhana and AbRam.

Unseen images of Mannat, the Mumbai residence of the Khans, once a heritage landmark, and details of the design thought processes that went into it as well as other key projects are all part of the book.

From the library in which the Badshah of Bollywood spends much of his day to the family's favourite spot for catching up after work, Mannat appears in the book in all its beauty.

Gauri also imparts tips to those aspiring to get into her field of work and the lay people who wish to learn more about the fascinating and inspiring world of design.

SRK, who's basking in the glory of his comeback film, 'Pathaan', which turned out to be a sensational hit at the domestic box-office and overseas.

He'll be seen next in Rajkumar Hirani's 'Dunki' alongside Taapsee Pannu and Tamil director Atlee's 'Jawan' along with Nayanthara, which is produced by Gauri Khan.

King Khan is also part of the 'Tiger 3', starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif.
With the acquisition of three PV solar projects, the company specialized in development, construction, operation, maintenance and financing of renewable energy projects, takes a relevant position in the Colombian solar market. With this milestone, Verano's on-grid portfolio in Latam exceeds 3 GWp, in addition to its sizable green hydrogen portfolio in the region.

A significant milestone for the renewable energy developer, Verano Energy, was the closing of the purchase process of three photovoltaic solar parks in Colombia, with a total of 296 MWp, under the new resolution of the UPME (Unidad de Planeacion Minero-Energetica), the Colombian regulator that delivers or assigns interconnections. Photovoltaic solar energy is the key to a more sustainable future and it is Verano's commitment and focus to be a relevant player in Latam in this area, with its presence in Chile, Peru, Argentina, and now reactivating Colombia.

"The majority of our experience and success has been in our main market of Chile, where we have connected almost 50 different solar projects. We have put an emphasis on expanding and diversifying in the region, and continue to deploy capital in our internal portfolio of over 3 GWp. Now, we see a clear path to begin to invest in our Colombian portafolio through the projects identified and purchased. Colombia is an attractive and strategic market for us", said Dylan Rudney, CEO of Verano Energy.

"As a company, we are transitioning from a pure solar developer and EPC to an IPP (Independent Power Producer), which means we will be investing in and owning our own projects," Rudney added.

Verano arrived in Colombia in 2018 and invested in a greenfield solar portfolio, most of which was left stranded without interconnections based on regulation. The company hopes to begin construction on its first projects in the market this year in order to begin operations during 2024. "While it is an important achievement for us as a company, it is also a very relevant milestone for the renewable market in general, and a sign of confidence that the Colombian government is supporting this type of project. We are close to finally seeing these developments as a reality," said Simon Harb, Country Manager of Verano Energy in Colombia.

Recent governments in Colombia have focused on the importance of the energy transition with a strengthening of renewable energies and carbon reduction. To that end, there is a general support for the construction of this type of project to be able to diversify with different types of clean energy, focused on the medium and long term.

The timeframe for the plants to come into operation is scheduled between 2024 and 2026. Their construction will mean, in total, the hiring of around 350 direct workers for periods ranging from one to one and a half years, the generation of clean energy for 30 years and the reduction of production of approximately 312 thousand tons of CO2 (carbon dioxide) per year.

"We are determined to be one of the leading developers and IPPs in Colombia. We plan to apply our significant experience and lessons learned from other markets, such as Chile, where we have built more than 45 projects, to ensure the success of our first Colombian investments," said Harb.

The Projects:

- Las Palmeras Solar Park: The largest of the three purchased projects will have a peak capacity of 270 MWp, and will be located in the department of Cesar.

- Solar Photovoltaic Chicala: The 13 MWp plant will be built in Sabanalarga Atlantico.

- Solar Photovoltaic Bambu: The 13 MWp plant will be located in Barrancabermeja Santander, an area where most of Colombia's oil refineries are located.

The construction investment for these three projects is more than US$300 millions.
Rawalpindi, May 15 : Pakistan's top military brass on Monday dropped a clear hint that former Prime Ninister Imran Khan could be proceeded against under Pakistan Army Act and Official Secret Act over the ransacking of military installations in the wake of his arrest on May 9, media reports said.

Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir presided over a Special Corps Commanders Conference (CCC) meeting at GHQ in Rawalpindi to discuss the situation arising out of violent protests by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against the arrest of its Chairman Imran Khan, Express Tribune reported.

The meeting took place ahead of the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting to be held on Tuesday that would take the final decision on how to proceed against former Prime Minister and his other party leaders for their alleged involvement in instigating their supporters to ransack the residence of Lahore Corps Commander, attack the GHQ and other military installations.

In an unusual detailed statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that forum took comprehensive stock of the law and order situation in the past few days that was created to achieve vested political interests, Express Tribune reported.

The forum was briefed that a well-coordinated arson plan involving desecration of martyrs pictures, monuments, burning down of historical buildings, and vandalism of military installations was executed to malign the institution and provoke it towards giving an impulsive reaction.

The forum condemned, in the strongest possible sense, these politically motivated and instigated incidents against military installations and public and private properties, Express Tribune reported.

The ISPR stated that the commanders also communicated the anguish and sentiments of the rank and file of the army on these unfortunate and unacceptable incidents.

"Based on the irrefutable evidence collected so far, armed forces are well aware of the planners, instigators, abettors and perpetrators of these attacks and attempts to create distortions in this regard are absolutely futile," the military's media wing noted.

The forum expressed firm resolve that those involved in these heinous crimes against the military installations, personnel and equipment will be brought to justice through trials under relevant laws of Pakistan including Pakistan Army Act and Official Secret Act, Express Tribune reported.

It resolved that restraint will no longer be exercised against perpetrators, spoilers and violators who attack military installations and setups under any circumstances, Express Tribune reported.

The forum also showed concern over externally sponsored and internally facilitated, orchestrated propaganda warfare, unleashed against the army leadership, meant to create fissures between armed forces and people of Pakistan, and within rank and file of the armed forces.
New Delhi, May 15 : The Delhi High Court has asked the Medical Superintendent of Tihar Jail to provide a status report on the health, including details of treatments, if any, of all convicts and those who are awaiting trial aged over 75 years.

A division bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Mini Pushkarna was dealing with a suo motu case registered in 2005, as per a news report published in the Delhi Age titled "92 -year-old is Tihar undertrial".

Seeking that the status report has to be submitted on or before May 29, the bench said: "The concerned Medical Superintendent is directed to furnish a fresh status report regarding the current medical condition of all the convicts and under-trial prisoners, who are above the age of 75 years (currently lodged in jail), including complete details of the treatments, if any, being provided to them, on or before the next date of hearing." The case stems from elderly lady Maya Devi's case, who was involved in a case registered under different Sections of the Indian Penal Code. In 2005, she was granted bail by the court on grounds of her old age and on the basis of a report by Tihar Jail's Medical Officer stating that she was suffering from various diseases.

Since then, the court has been looking into the status of health of the elderly prisoners in Tihar jail.
New Delhi, May 15 : The Delhi High Court has asked the Delhi government and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to look into the possibility of installing Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) service at three major interchange metro stations - Kashmere Gate, Rajiv Chowk and Hauz Khas.

A division bench of Justice Manmohan and Justice Saurabh Banerjee was dealing with a suo motu matter initiated in 2018, and directed the authorities to file a new status report before August 1, which is also the next date of hearing.

Three major interchange metro stations have ACLS ambulances, the court was informed by the Delhi government.

Counsel for the DMRC submitted that there is space available at the metro stations for installation of the ACLS service.

"In view of the aforesaid statement, learned counsel for DMRC and GNCTD are directed to explore the possibility of installation of ACLS facility at the three major interchange metro stations forthwith," the court said.

Last year, the Delhi government was directed by the court to ensure that an ACLS facility is installed in its premises.

For all the district courts, the court had also directed to see if it is possible to provide ACLS ambulances or setting up of portable cabins. It had also directed the Delhi Metro to explore the possibility of setting-up the facility at all major interchange stations.

The Delhi government's counsel also informed the bench that to install ACLS service in the court premises, it is in talks with the district authorities of Tis Hazari as well as Rouse Avenue Court.
Panaji, May 15 : "Tar balls", or greasy blobs of thick weathered oil that washes ashore, have once again started surfacing on Goa's coastline, deterring locals and tourists from walking barefoot.

Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte told reporters that it is an annual recurring phenomenon.

"We have already told the Environment Department about this and have asked them to study about it and come out (with plans). We have been told that it is a spillage from the high seas. It is creating problems for the beaches of Goa," he said.

Khaunte said that presently, beach cleaning agencies are clearing them from the beaches. "But somewhere it has to be stopped. The Goa Pollution Control Board has been given the mandate. Couple of months back we had a meeting with the Minister of Ports in this regard. It is important that we handle it," he said.

Locals from Mandrem in North Goa informed that presently tar balls have started surfacing on the beaches creating problems for people.

The tar-ball menace on beaches peaked in 2011, with the state government directing the Indian Coast Guard to crackdown on ships dumping their ballast off Goa, but it had not yielded the anticipated results.

Tourism industry stakeholders in the state have repeatedly urged the Goa government to take up the matter with the central authorities in order to ensure permanent solution to the menace to beaches, which are a top draw as far as the tourism industry in the state is concerned.

While the government is making all efforts to satisfy the eight million tourists visiting Goa and draw more to the tiny state, it is also facing the challenge to tackle all these issues.
Guwahati, May 15 : Actresses Raima and Riya Sen - the two daughters of Bengal who have always been in the limelight due to their grandmother Suchitra Sen and mother Moon Moon Sen, and later for their own acting skills, have expressed their interest in joining politics - in the future.

While Raima clearly mentioned a timeline for her to jump into the political arena, her younger sister, Riya has not given a clear answer. However, after Riya was seen joining the Bharat Jodo Yatra along with Rahul Gandhi, speculations were rife that she might soon join the Congress.

Speaking to IANS, the Sen sisters, though they avoided revealing their political affiliations, conveyed their desire to be future politicians.

Raima said: "As of now, I am not joining politics and concentrating on my acting career, but yes, within the next 5 years, I have a wish to try my luck in politics too." Their mother, Moonmoon Sen, won from West Bengal's Bankura Lok Sabha seat in 2014, but lost from Asansol in 2019 to Babul Supriyo, who incidentally later switched sides and joined the Trinamool Congress to become a minister in Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government.

"My mother suggested I enjoy acting for a few more years and then join politics," Raima said.

Meanwhile, when Riya joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra with Rahul Gandhi in November last year, the buzz in the political spectrum was that she would join the Congress soon. Raima was also scheduled to take part in Bharat Jodo, but due to her shooting, she could not join the yatra.

"I have not seen the Bharat Jodo as a political one. It was something to unite the whole country. That is why I joined the yatra," the younger Sen sister said.

"I also have an interest in politics but can't say when and how things will happen." Raima and Riya refused to comment on their probability of joining Mamata Banerjee's fold like their mother.

"Let us see how the situation unfolds," Raima said.

Their father, Bharat Dev Varma, belongs to the royal family of Tripura. Another royal family scion and Tipra Motha party head Pradyot Bikram Manikya has been demanding a greater Tipraland for the indigenous people of Tripura.

Raima said, "We have heard about these political developments, but as we have little connection with Tripura currently, I cannot comment anything on this issue." On the work front, Raima is doing films and web series simultaneously. Apart from Kolkata, she has been busy working in Mumbai as well.

"I am doing more work in Mumbai now, but yes, Kolkata is my home, and whenever I get something exciting, I always look forward to acting in Tollywood," she said.

On the other hand, Riya is doing movie "Death Tale" under Shawn Arranha's direction, and it is scheduled to release on July 1.
Bhubaneswar, May 15 : Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday flagged off the maiden flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai here at the Biju Patnaik International Airport.

Highlighting the benefits of aligning Odisha with a global travel junction such as Dubai, he said that global connectivity is a key driver of overall developments, "be it industrial development, facilitating investments, promoting tourism or establishing communication for the Odia diaspora residing outside India".

Dubai is a major travel and tourism junction in the Middle East providing a gateway to the European and the US markets. This day will mark as a new chapter scripted in Odisha's stride towards global connectivity, he said.

To mark the occasion, delegates from Odisha including leaders and members of Mission Shakti, delegations from the World Skill Centre, Special Development Council, Panchayati Raj, and celebrated sportspersons, who were felicitated by the Chief Minister at Naveen Niwas earlier in the day, boarded the flight with the rest of the travellers who had booked their tickets.

A total of 170 people including the aircraft crew travelled on this maiden flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai.

Special arrangements were made to see off the travellers from Odisha. The flyers were felicitated with Uttariya, an Odisha Tourism kit bag and offered sweets and flowers by the hostesses at the departure terminal.

Meanwhile, the travellers who arrived via the first direct flight from Dubai to Bhubaneswar were given a warm welcome in presence of Tourism Minister Aswini Kumar Patra and Commerce & Transport Minister Tukuni Sahu.

The Chief Minister made a commitment back in June 2022 during the Odisha Investors' Meet held in Dubai to establish international flight connectivity between Odisha and Dubai in the first phase.

These flights, being operated by Indigo Airlines, will run thrice a week. Besides, the state government has also worked towards establishing direct flight connectivity with the Southeast Asian markets through Singapore and Bangkok, with the commencement of these flights scheduled from early June 2023.
Ahmedabad, May 15 : Newly appointed US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, on Monday visited Gujarat, during which he met Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

In his address, Garcetti underlined the foundation of the bilateral ties between the US and India, emphasising that their partnership is not contingent upon external factors.

"Instead, it is based on a genuine warmth of friendship, a shared desire for stronger economies, and a commitment to fostering a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region," he said.

Garcetti reaffirmed that whenever these common goals face challenges, India and the US stand united, demonstrating unwavering support for each other.

Meanwhile, he also visited the Sabarmati Ashram.

During his visit, Garcetti reflected on the personal connection he felt to the Sabarmati Ashram and Mahatma Gandhi, stating: "Although many things have changed since I was 19 years old, one thing remains constant -- the profound sense of connection I feel not only to this historic place and the remarkable man who resided here with his family but also to the aspirations of the Indian people and the universal aspirations shared by all humanity to live freely and recognise the inherent worth of every individual."
Washington, May 15 : The US State Department on Monday noted "targeted attacks" on minorities, "home demolitions" and hate speeches against Muslims in India among threats facing religious freedom around the world.

The State Department outlined in great detail "numerous reports during the year of violence by law enforcement authorities against members of religious minorities in multiple states" in India in its 2022 annual report on the state of freedom of religion around the world.

The report was released by Secretary of State Antony Blinken who noted both progress and "continuation, and in some instances, the rise of very troubling trends".

Previewing the report earlier, a senior State Department official told reporters that regarding India the document outlined "continued targeted attacks against religious communities, including Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindu Dalits, and indigenous communities; dehumanizing rhetoric, including open calls for genocide against Muslims; lynching and other hate-fueled violence, attacks on houses of worship and home demolitions, and in some cases impunity and even clemency for those who've engaged in attacks on religious minorities - we're also continuing to see, at the state level, some restrictions on religious attire".

Rashad Hussain, the Ambassador at Large at the State Department for International Religious Freedom, cited the Hardwar speeches of December 2021 as particularly problematic.

"In India, legal advocates and faith leaders from across the country's diverse religious communities condemned a case of extreme hate speech against Muslims in the city of Hardwar, calling for the country to uphold its historical traditions of pluralism and tolerance," he said at the release of the report.

He was referring to a three-day meeting called the Dharma Sansad in December 2021, where speakers called for people to take up arms against Muslims.

A case was registered by the Uttarakhand police against the organiser. The other countries mentioned by Hussain were Russia, China, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia.

The State Department's annual report has been critical of the state of religious freedom in India before, and, based on local news reports and accounts from civil society, it has listed instances and cases over the years.

India has rejected these unsolicited observations and remarks before and in recent years questioned America's right to stand in judgment on other countries.

The US Commission on International Freedom have been far more critical of India and has recommended to the State Department to designate India as a "country of particular concerns" four times. But the State Department has not taken up its suggestion yet. These designations are to be announced later in the year.
Hyderabad, May 15 : Police have picked up another suspect in Hyderabad linked to the Bhopal-Hyderabad module of radical Islamic organisation Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) busted last week.

In a joint operation, Madhya Pradesh's Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and counter-intelligence unit picked up the suspect from Hafiz Baba Nagar in Chandrayangutta on Monday. He was shifted to an undisclosed location for questioning.

The latest arrest was made on the basis of information gathered during the questioning of six men arrested last week.

Madhya Pradesh ATS and Intelligence Bureau (IB) arrested 17 persons associated with HuT in an operation conducted simultaneouly in Bhopal, Chhindwara, and Hyderabad.

Ten persons were arrested from Bhopal, one from Chhindawara, and six from Hyderabad.

Mohammad Saleem, Abdur Rahman, Mohammad Abbas Ali, Sheikh Junaid, Salman, and Mohammad Hameed were arrested on May 9 by the IB, the counter-intelligence of Telangana Police and ATS Madhya Pradesh police. All of them were later taken to Madhya Pradesh and were interrogated.

The MP Police has registered a case under sections 13, 17, and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and other relevant sections. A special court sent them to ATS custody till May 19.

They were taken to different areas by the ATS as part of their investigation into the case.

The suspects arrested in Hyderabad hailed from Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and other places and were residing here for some time. They were picked up from Golconda, Hafiz Baba Nagar and other places in and around Hyderabad.

The arrested include a college lecturer, a cloud service engineer, dentist, autorickshaw drivers and daily wage workers.

HuT is a global radical organization with presence in 50 countries.

The agencies were investigating if those arrested in Madhya Pradesh and Hyderabad were planning any subversive activity.
Kolkata, May 15 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday offered to extend support to Congress in states where the latter is strong, provided her Trinamool Congress is reciprocated in the same manner by Congress in the state.

However, the state Congress leadership has snubbed the proposal from her end and said that the Chief Minister's reluctance in acknowledging the impact of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra nationally actually validates her actual impression about Congress.

"Since the beginning, I had been saying that the parties having strengths in respective regions should directly take on BJP there... like AAP in Delhi, RJD-JD-U in Bihar, Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh and DMK-Congress in Tamil Nadu and Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. We supported Congress in Karnataka, now they should reciprocate the same to us in West Bengal. It is not right that in Karnataka they will enjoy our support and oppose us in West Bengal," Banerjee said.

However, the state Congress President Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had totally rejected her claims of supporting Congress in Karnataka.

"She is claiming to raise the slogan of no vote to BJP in Karnataka. But even for once did she issue an appeal to the people of Karnataka to vote for Congress? Our fight against Trinamool Congress in West Bengal will continue," Chowdhury said.

On Saturday, after the Karnataka election results were announced, the Chief Minister, through a Twitter message as well as through her statements made to media persons, congratulated the people of Karnataka for the results. However, she remained silent about Congress even when media persons questioned her on this matter.

"I have said whatever I had to say," she said.

Chowdhury immediately reacted and said that Trinamool is actually against a united opposition alliance. "Her (Mamata Banerjee's) party MPs abstained from voting when we fielded a united opposition candidate against Jagdeep Dhankhar in the polls for Vice President. Trinamool is also disinclined to any floor coordination within the Parliament," he said.
Calibre Mining Corp. posted adjusted net income of nearly $16.2 million, or 4 cents per share, in the first quarter and gold sales were a record 65,770 ounces for gross revenue of $126.9 million at an average realized gold price of $1,891 per ounce.

The average realized gold price for the first quarter of last year was just pennies more at $1,897 per ounce, but the price has topped $2,000 per ounce in recent weeks.

The adjusted net income for Calibre compared with $16.44 million, or 4 cents per share, in the first quarter of last year, and net income without adjustments totaled $16.41 million, or 4 cents per share, compared with $11.7 million, or 3 cents per share, in the 2022 quarter.

Calibre 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, expending our hub-and-spoke operating strategy to include the new high-grade open pit at Pavon Central, said Darren Hall, president and chief executive officer.

Vancouver-based Calibres production in the first quarter compared with 51,898 ounces in the 2022 quarter, with 10,753 of those 2023 ounces coming from the Pan Mine in Nevada and the remainder from operations in Nicaragua.

All-in sustaining costs were $1,302 per ounce overall, with costs at Pan in White Pine County at $1,331 per ounce and at Nicaragua operations, $1,241 per ounce. Exploration at Pan has shown the potential for resource expansion to the south of the mine.

Hall said in the May 8 earnings report that Calibre began mining the new Eastern Borosi open pit in Nicaragua in the current second quarter and expects initial deliveries for processing at Libertad this quarter.

In the earnings call, he said Calibre has good support for its mining operations in Nicaragua, and people like the way we operate.

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, Hall said.

Cash on hand as of March 31 totaled $60.8 million, according to Calibre, which stated that since acquiring the Nicaraguan assets from B2Gold in 2019 and acquiring Fiore Gold in 2022, the company has consistently reinvested into the business with demonstrated results of strong production, reserve growth, new discoveries and identification of new targets.

The company stated that it continues to invest in new mine development, including Pavon Central and Eastern Borosi, and in a discovery and resource expansion 100,000-meter drilling program in Nevada and Nicaragua.
Imphal, May 15 : Hours after Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Monday rejected the demand raised by 10 tribal MLAs for a "separate administration", equivalent to a separate state, comprising the Kuki tribal-dominated districts of Manipur, the 10 legislators in a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated their demand.

The 10 tribal MLAs, five of them are ruling BJP, in their letter to Shah said "that Manipur is now partitioned, is the ground reality".

"(After the May 3 ethnic violence), there are no tribals left in the Imphal valley. There are no (non-tribals) people belonging to the Meitei community left in the hills. The government of Manipur and its police machinery were communalised and used in the pogrom against the Kuki tribals," the signed 3-page letter noted.

Earlier on Monday, the Chief Minister rejecting the separate state demand, said: "The territorial integrity of Manipur would be protected. The Central government is also strongly against any division of Manipur." Singh, who had gone to Delhi on Sunday to apprise the state's overall situation to Union Home Minister and other central leaders, told the media in Imphal after returning from Delhi that measures would be taken to ensure that the Kuki militants, who had signed a peace pact and Suspension of Operations (SoO), return to their designated camps and stay in these camps all the time.

Ten tribal MLAs belonging to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi groups indirectly demanded a "separate state" for the tribals on Friday in the wake of recent violent clashes between the non-tribal Meiteis and the tribals.Of the 10 MLAs, five belong to the BJP, two each from Janata Dal-United and Kuki People's Alliance (KPA) and one an Independent.

The JD-U, KPA and the Independent MLAs are part of the BJP-led government.

The MLAs' letter, which is available with IANS, to the Union Home Minister said that "the recent institutionalised ethnic cleansing and atrocities committed by the majority Meitei community against the ethnic Kuki-Chin-Mizo-Zomi-Hmar minority community has left everyone aghast".

"Huge population transfers between the valley and the hills inhabited by the Kuki-Chin-Mizo- Zomi-Hmar had occurred. Kuki colonies and houses were marked and attacked with precision in Imphal city." "The spark was ignited in the afternoon of May 3 when Meitei miscreants set fire to the Anglo-Kuki war memorial gate at Leisang in Churachandpur district." The letter claimed that as it was premeditated, all Kuki Police officers from the Director General of Police, Additional Director General of Police, Joint DGP down to the constables were stripped of all powers, disarmed and rendered inactive much prior to May 3, while Meitei police were let loose upon Kuki residents of the city as well as of the foothill villages on the same day and thereafter, the letter said.

As a result of the backlash in the hill areas, all Meitei police staff have abandoned their posts in all the hill stations, it said.

The 10 MLAs in their letter said that their people have lost faith in the Manipur government and can no longer imagine resettling in the valley where their lives are no longer safe.

"The Meiteis hate us and do not respect us. The need now is a formalisation of the separation through the setting up of a separation of administration for the hills inhabited by our people. We cannot live together anymore. The only logical way forward is to live separately and with time perhaps some semblance of peace and mutual regard and respect for each other on equal terms may return," the letter stated.

Soon after the widespread violence started in Manipur on May 3, the Central government imposed Article 355 in the state to bring the situation under control. Article 355 is part of the emergency provisions contained in the Constitution that empowers the Centre to take all necessary steps to protect a state against internal disturbances or external aggression.
New Delhi, May 15 : Delhi's Patiala House Court has rejected the plea of a fugitive criminal who sought extension of his interim bail, taking into note that he had filed a fake Covid-positive report to place the request before the court.

The fugitive criminal had submitted a fake Covid-positive report and claimed that he needed to undergo surgery for his mother.

However, the court dismissed the plea and ordered Ratnesh Bhutani to surrender to the jail authorities.

Ratnesh had moved a plea through advocate Arpit Batra for grant of an extension of interim bail.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Swati Sharma, while denying the relief in its order passed on May 10, stated: "It is now evident that the fugitive criminal submitted a false/fake Covid positive report, which allowed him to spend more time with his family and care for his parents." The court, taking into account the deceptive act of submitting a false/fake Covid positive report and the lack of immediate medical urgency, determined that there were no grounds to grant him interim bail.

Consequently, the application for interim bail has been dismissed, according to the court.

Furthermore, the court in its order said that the high court had already taken into consideration the general medical condition of his parents when rejecting the plea for an extension of interim bail.

The court also noted that the surgery for his mother was scheduled for April 30, 2023. However, due to the submission of a false/fake Covid positive report for his mother, the surgery could not take place. However, in reality it is scheduled to take place on May 21.

Ratnesh, who is accused of raping a minor in the US in 2005, was apprehended in Agra in 2021 after evading authorities for approximately 17 years.

The US police, acting on information provided by Interpol, arrested him. Currently, there is a pending request for his extradition before the relevant court in Delhi.

The Delhi High Court had initially granted him interim bail, which was subsequently extended.

However, on April 17, 2023, the application for further extension of interim bail was dismissed. He was given the freedom to file an appropriate application before the Trial Court if there was an urgent need for his parents' surgery.
Patna May 15 : A Class 3 student in Bihar's Darbhanga was brutally beaten by a school official on Monday allegedly because he forgot to wear socks, police said.

The victim sustained injuries and swelling on his left cheek. The victim's mother Sujata Kumari who is also a member of district council, lodged an FIR against the Director of the school.

The incident occurred in Notre Dame international school located in Bhairopatti village under Bahadurpur police station.

"We have received a complaint from the victim's mother Sujata Kumari against Manoj Kumar, the Director of Notre Dame international school. She alleged that her 9-year-old son Priyanshu was brutally beaten by Kumar after he was not wearing the socks in the school. Due to the brutal assault, Priyanshu sustained a big swelling in his left cheek," said Mukesh Kumar Mandal, SHO of Bahadurpur police station.

"As per the statement of the pupil, he was getting late to reach school in the morning hours and hence forgot to wear socks. School teacher Arvind Kumar checked the school uniform and his socks were missing. He took Priyanshu before Manoj Kumar who brutally beat him," he added.

"We are investigating the matter and action will be taken accordingly," Mandal said.
Gandhinagar, May 16 : A total of 184 fishermen from Gujarat who had been imprisoned in Pakistan for the last four years were reunited with their families as they have returned to their home state.

The fishermen were released by Pakistani authorities on Thursday, marking the end of a long and challenging ordeal.

Upon their arrival at Vadodara Railway Station, the first batch of fishermen was warmly welcomed by State Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel.

The fishermen expressed their gratitude to the Centre and Gujarat government for their relentless efforts in securing their release.

After the warm reception, the fishermen were promptly sent to their respective native districts by buses, where they were finally able to embrace their loved ones after years of separation.

The sense of relief and joy was palpable as families and friends greeted the returning fishermen with open arms.

The group of fishermen had been languishing in Landi jail in Karachi, Pakistan, since their arrest.

Among the fishermen released on Thursday, 184 were from Gujarat, three from Andhra Pradesh, four from Diu, five from Maharashtra, and two from Uttar Pradesh.
Tehran, May 16 : The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani has hailed the high turnout in Turkey's presidential and parliamentary elections as "an indication of the democracy's victory".

Kanaani made the remarks in a statement on Monday published on the Ministry's website, commenting on the Turkish citizens' wide participation in Sunday's elections, Xinhua news agency reported.

He congratulated the Turkish people, organisers of the elections, leaders and political parties on the successful holding of the votes and the "victory of democracy," hoping that the "best fate" would befall them, according to the statement.

Nearly 61 million voters have been registered to cast their ballots in Turkey's first-round presidential and parliamentary elections. Around 3.5 million voters living abroad have been called to cast their votes in advance. The voter turnout was high at nearly 80 per cent.
Nairobi, May 16 : Kenya and Somalia have agreed to reopen their border crossing points after 11 years of closure.

Kithure Kindiki, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, told reporters on Monday that the border crossings in Mandera County will be opened in the next 30 days, Liboi in Garissa County and Ras Kamboni in southern Somalia will be reopened in the next 60 and 90 days respectively.

"We are also in the process of relooking at a possibility of also adding a fourth border point which will give an entry point into Somalia," Kindiki said after holding bilateral talks with visiting Somalia's Minister of Internal Security Mohamed Ahmed Sheikh Ali.

Kenya closed its borders to Somalia in 2012 following increased terror attacks from the al-Shabab militant group, Xinhua news agency reported.

Ali said that the two countries have agreed on the re-opening of the common border in order to ease the movement of people and also to enhance trade in goods and services.

He added that the challenges experienced by communities on both sides of the common border are too complex for one country to address.
Olomouc Airport, Olomouc, Czech Republic [ OLO / ]

If you are planning to travel to Olomouc or any other city in Czech Republic, this airport locator will be a very useful tool. This page gives complete information about the Olomouc Airport along with the airport location map, Time Zone, lattitude and longitude, Current time and date, hotels near the airport etc... Olomouc Airport Map showing the location of this airport in Czech Republic. Olomouc Airport IATA Code, ICAO Code, exchange rate etc... is also provided.

Olomouc Airport Info:

Olomouc Airport IATA Code: OLO Olomouc Airport ICAO Code: Latitude : 49.4167 Longitude : 17.3417 City : Olomouc Country : Czech Republic World Area Code : 418 Airport Type : Small Olomouc Airport Address / Contact Details :

Olomouc Airport (OLO), 751 02 Troubky, Czech Republic Timezone : Europe/Prague Olomouc Airport Timezone : GMT +02:00 hours Current time and date at Olomouc Airport is 09:55:06 AM (CEST) on Friday, May 19, 2023

Looking for information on Olomouc Airport, Olomouc, Czech Republic? Know about Olomouc Airport in detail. Find out the location of Olomouc Airport on Czech Republic map and also find out airports near to Olomouc. This airport locator is a very useful tool for travelers to know where is Olomouc Airport located and also provide information like hotels near Olomouc Airport, airlines operating to Olomouc Airport etc... IATA Code and ICAO Code of all airports in Czech Republic. Scroll down to know more about Olomouc Airport or Olomouc Airport, Czech Republic.

Olomouc Airport Map - Location of Olomouc Airport Load Map Czech Republic - General Information Country Code CZ Capital Prague Currency Koruna (CZK)

 1 CZK = 0.045 USD

 1 USD = 21.999 CZK

 1 CZK = 0.042 EUR

 1 EUR = 23.718 CZK

 More CZK convertion rates Tel Code +420 Top Level Domain .cz

This page provides all the information you need to know about Olomouc Airport, Czech Republic. This page is created with the aim of helping travelers and tourists visiting Czech Republic or traveling to Olomouc Airport. Details about Olomouc Airport given here include Olomouc Airport Code - IATA Code (3 letter airport codes) and ICAO Code (4 letter airport codes)

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OLO - Olomouc Airport IATA Code
The Redeemer's Rules...were a set of laws designed to disenfranchise African Americans and consolidate white political power.

As we move into an era of resolution, we think it is important to qualify the understanding that racism, systemic or otherwise, has resulted in a wealth disparity, which created a number of historical challenges for blighted and distressed communities. In order to do so, we have to outline the events that were the catalysts for the systems of poverty that poor people continue to live in today.

In this article, we will outline the event that we believe lead to the adverse conditions that poor white and poor black people live in currently. This series of articles, Animating Systemic Racism, is intended to be a reference for the historical data that supports the notion of systemic racism.

The Compromise of 1877 was a political deal that ended the Reconstruction Era in the United States. It marked the withdrawal of federal troops from the South, which allowed Southern states to impose laws that restricted the rights of African Americans. The Compromise set the stage for the creation of a permanent slave class through the use of the 13th Amendment, Black Codes, Redeemer's Rules, and Jim Crow laws, which led to several massacres of blacks in America, including the Wilmington Massacre in 1898 and the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921.

The 13th Amendment to the US Constitution ratified in 1865, abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for a crime. However, Southern states found ways to exploit this exception to maintain a slave-like system. They passed Black Codes, which allowed them to arrest and imprison African Americans for minor offenses, such as vagrancy, and then lease them out to plantation owners and other employers. This practice, known as convict leasing, provided a cheap and abundant source of labor for Southern industries and perpetuated a system of economic exploitation that resembled slavery.

The Redeemer's Rules, which were put in place after the Compromise of 1877, was a set of laws designed to disenfranchise African Americans and consolidate white political power. They included literacy tests, poll taxes, and other requirements that effectively prevented black people from voting. This allowed white supremacist groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan, to terrorize black communities with impunity, knowing that they would not be held accountable by elected officials.

Jim Crow laws, which were enacted in the late 1800s and early 1900s, were a set of state and local laws that enforced racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans. These laws mandated separate schools, hospitals, and public accommodations for whites and blacks, and denied African Americans the right to vote, serve on juries, or hold public office. They also perpetuated a system of economic exploitation that kept African Americans in poverty and prevented them from achieving social and economic mobility.

The Wilmington Massacre of 1898 was an example of the violence that could result from these laws. It was a coup detat carried out by white supremacists who overthrew the elected government of Wilmington, North Carolina, and murdered dozens of black citizens. The violence was sparked by a white supremacist newspaper that printed false stories about black men assaulting white women, which led to a wave of fear and hysteria among white residents. The coup resulted in the establishment of a white supremacist government that remained in power for decades.

The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 was another example of the violence that resulted from these laws. It was a race riot that occurred in Tulsa, Oklahoma when a white mob attacked the city's thriving black community, known as Greenwood. The mob burned down homes and businesses, killed hundreds of people, and left thousands homeless.

The violence was sparked by a false accusation of a black man assaulting a white woman, which led to a wave of fear and hysteria among white residents.

These massacres were not isolated incidents, but rather the result of Redeemer's Rules that were fueled by the Compromise of 1877.

It created a system of laws and policies that perpetuated racial inequality and discrimination. They were the product of a political system that allowed white supremacists to gain and maintain power, and a legal system that denied African Americans their basic rights and protections. The legacy of this system is still felt today, as racial inequality and discrimination continue to be major issues in American society.
Laplink Software celebrates 40 years of business success while industry leaders praise Laplinks long history of continued innovation and excellence. Laplinks success over the years can be attributed to our companys ability to adapt to changing technologies and customer needs, as we continue to innovate and expand our product offerings. -Thomas Koll, CEO of Laplink Software

Laplink Software, Inc., the global leader in Windows endpoint data migration software is celebrating its 40th business anniversary this week. Industry leaders from companies including Microsoft, Intel, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and many others, along with millions of the companys customers worldwide are joining Laplink as it celebrates this important milestone and the companys continued innovation throughout the past four decades.

Thinking back over the past 40 years in our fast changing and innovation-driven industry, weve had the good fortune to see and participate in some of the most significant breakthroughs in computing to date, said Thomas Koll, CEO of Laplink Software. Laplinks success over the years can be attributed to our companys ability to adapt to changing technologies and customer needs, as we continue to innovate and expand our product offerings.

Laplink has helped millions of individuals, small businesses, and enterprises to transfer their data safely and securely over the years. Today, PCmover is the top-selling software of its kind and the de facto industry standard. PCmover Professional the consumer market, as does PCmover Business for SMBs. PCmover Enterprise is also widely recognized as the leading solution for organizations performing PC operating system upgrades and hardware refresh projects. With PCmover Enterprise, IT administrators can customize rules and policies and automate the entire transfer process, or have end users execute that predefined experience with just a few clicks. The resulting efficiencies have saved organizations around the world countless hours of valuable IT time and resources.

Industry Leaders Join Laplink in Celebrating 40th Anniversary

Happy 40th anniversary to Thomas and all of Laplink! Thank you for your support of Microsoft products over the years and helping customers of all sizes in their Windows environments. - David Smith, Vice President of Channel Sales at Microsoft

Congratulations Laplink! Your long-running partnership and support of the personal computer industry is TRULY VALUED. On behalf of Intel, thank you for a great 40 years and we look forward to what comes next.- Stephanie Hallford, Vice President, General Manager Commercial Client Division, Client Computing Group, Intel

We are thrilled to hear that Laplink will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year in May. As a company that works and communicates with Laplink on a daily basis, we are honored to be part of this milestone. Congratulations on reaching such an impressive achievement, and we wish you continued success. - Thanh Tung Nguyen, Vice General Director at VietSoftware International.

"Not surprising that Laplink has been in business for 40yrs, great product, outstanding customer support and an overall fantastic partnership over the years. Here's to another 40!" - Paul Salvador, Sr. Technology Analysist, Telus

I congratulate Laplink Software on your 40th Anniversary. This milestone event celebrates your companys commitment to its customers, employees and our community. We appreciate that you have chosen Bellevue as your headquarters, adding to our technology hub and influencing our region as an economic center.  Lynne Robinson, Mayor of Bellevue, Washington

Laplink History  Watch the timeline video

1983  Laplink Software was founded as Traveling Software in Bothell, Washington, when the IBM Personal Computer was just two years old. The company released an innovative application called Laplink that allowed users to transfer files between two computers using a serial cable. The program was an instant success, becoming one of the most popular utilities on the market.

1992  Laplink for Windows was released. Before the internet became widely available, transferring files between computers was a tedious process that often involved floppy disks and sometimes the need to split files into smaller segments. Laplink changed all that by allowing users to transfer files over a serial or parallel cable. The program was easy to use and transferred files quickly and efficiently. It was so successful that it became synonymous with the company's name. Even today, many people still refer to file transfer software as "Laplink", even if they are using a different product.

1997 - Laplink Gold was released as a groundbreaking product that revolutionized file transfer and remote computer access and control via the internet, making it possible for users to access their home or work computer from anywhere in the world, as long as they had an internet connection. It was a game changer for businesses, and it cemented Laplink (as the company was now known) as a software industry leader.

2003 - Thomas Koll, former Corporate VP at Microsoft and former chairman and CEO of Infowave Software, became Laplink Chairman and CEO.

2004  Since 2004, the company's flagship product, PCmover, has been used by millions of people worldwide to transfer their files, data, and settings from one computer to another. Over the years, Laplink has expanded its product line to include other software solutions such as Laplink Sync, Laplink DiskImage, and Laplink SafeErase.

2014 - Microsoft partnered with Laplink to provide Windows users with free data transfer software for users moving off of Windows XP, which had reached its end-of-support date.

2022  In partnership with Intel, Laplink released its new cloud-based Laplink Everywhere, a robust remote monitoring and management solution designed specifically for small to mid-sized businesses looking to manage devices for employees working from anywhere.

For more information about Laplinks products, services, to learn more about the companys history, and to join in celebrating its 40th anniversary, please visit go.laplink.com/laplink-celebrates-40-years.

About Laplink Software, Inc.

For more than 40 years, Laplink has been a global leader in consumer, SMB, and enterprise Windows endpoint migration software, and has earned the loyalty and trust of millions of organizations and customers worldwide. The companys PCmover software saves time and budget, reduces migration risks, and increases efficiency. Only PCmovers proprietary technology includes full selectivity that transfers data, applications, and settings from an old PC to a new one, even if the two PCs run different versions of Windows. The privately held company was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington.

Media contact:

Megan McKenzie

McKenzie Worldwide for Laplink Software

meganm@mckenzieworldwide.com

(503) 470-0197
UtahRealEstate.com announced today that it has launched a new statistics product, RapidStats, to its nearly 20,000 members. RapidStats is an advanced statistics product provided by Markt, a professional services company that brings leading back-office solutions to multiple listing services. With RapidStats, real estate professionals in Utah will now have access to a variety of new statistical reports, the ability to select and draw custom market areas for reporting, and access to a powerful customer relationship tool that enables statistics to be sent to clients on a scheduled timeline. The program will be highly integrated into UtahRealEstate.coms industry-leading MLS software, making it easy for users to run stats.

Brad Bjelke, CEO of UtahRealEstate.com, said, Our members and their clients love statistics. RapidStats takes statistical analysis, reporting, and presentation to the next level, which will give our members the most modern tools to communicate about what the real estate market is doing from a macro-level down to a street-level. We are excited to partner with Markt to once again show the industry what can be accomplished when MLS organizations and service providers work together to build top level technology.

Betsy Hanson, General Manager of Markt, said, We are excited to partner with UtahRealEstate.com in rolling out our advanced statistics program to their membership. We have worked closely with UtahRealEstate.com to provide a seamless integration with their software, and we know their members are going to love all the new features that will be available.

UtahRealEstate.com will join Metro MLS (Wisconsin) and ARMLS (Arizona) in bringing the RapidStats platform to real estate professionals.

About UtahRealEstate.com

Founded in 1994, UtahRealEstate.com is the leading provider of real estate technology in Utah and one of the largest multiple listing services in the United States. The company provides one of the top-ranked real estate websites in the country, servicing more than 8 million consumers each year. It also provides multiple listing services to approximately 20,000 real estate professionals, accounting for nearly 97% of all REALTORS in the state of Utah.

About RapidStats

RapidStats is a robust market statistics platform that helps agents and brokers understand their markets, pricing and opportunities to make decisions. The customizable reports are sourced directly from MLS data and give you timely, accurate and comprehensive information.

About Markt

Markt is a multi-MLS organization focused on providing back-office professional services by pooling resources and expertise to serve organized real estate from coast to coast. Markt supports MLSs noncontiguous markets with services like marketing, human resources, customer support, and information technology.
ELKO  A man who was arrested a year ago on car theft charges and released from custody has been accused of three additional felony crimes including thefts from Walmart and Big 5 Sporting Goods.

Jacob A. Braunschweig, 30, was originally arrested in April 2022 after police tracked down a vehicle that had been stolen from an automobile repair shop. He was also charged with making a false statement to obstruct a public officer after giving police a different first name.

Braunschweig was bound over to Elko District Court on June 9 following a preliminary hearing on two felony counts of grand larceny, and was released on his own recognizance. A $20,000 bench warrant was issued and he was arrested again on Sept. 20 in Washoe County and brought back to Elko.

He pleaded not guilty at his Oct. 3 arraignment and was again released on his own recognizance, according to court officials. He also filed a writ of habeas corpus against Sheriff Aitor Narvaiza, in which Public Defender Roger Stewart claimed insufficient and inadmissible evidence.

Authorities now accuse Braunschweig of committing three more felonies since his latest release.

He was charged with possessing methamphetamine after a traffic stop on 12th Street in January.

Police were called to Big 5 on April 17 after he allegedly fled the store with a cart full of merchandise. They checked his motel room the following day and reported finding several of the items.

Police were also called to a shopping center May 9 on report that a man had stolen items from Walmart. They found Braunschweig near a dumpster that contained a stolen portable speaker, two Nerf guns and a laser tag gun set. Police said several other stolen items were found in his backpack.

Braunschweig was booked into jail last week on the three charges with bail listed at $31,000.

Police say he also has an extensive criminal history in the Olympia, Washington area including burglary in 2010, theft in 2011, burglary while armed with a deadly weapon in 2016, and possession of stolen mail in 2020.

He has also been convicted twice of drug charges in Washington.

As of Monday, Braunschweig remained in Elkos jail.



Felony and gross misdemeanor arrests Albaro M. Rodriguez Alexandra L. Winrow Amanda J. Smith Bradley J. Nye Brian J. Ortgiesen Cammie S. Beck Christopher S. Adams Christopher W. Beals Jacob A. Braunschweig Jake T. Webb Jayce A. Moseley Jesse J. Premo Joice K. Romaine Justina L. Cleveland Keith E. Hammork Kory J. Halsted Mercedes C. Martinez Myranda J. Reich Nicholas P. Andersen Oscar A. Sandoval
With our 5G Spectrum TCO Tool for Private 5G Networks, we can calculate the total cost of any indoor or outdoor private 5G network in less than 10 minutes, said Alex Besen, Founder and CEO of The Besen Group LLC. Our TCO analysis will help enterprises to have a solid understanding of their total cost of their private 5G networks during their negotiations with their vendors, system integrators and hyperscalers.

For the private 5G network TCO analysis, The Besen Group will schedule one hour telephone consultation with each enterprise in order to collect basic market size parameters including estimated bandwidth consumption for their private network use cases.

Upon the completion of the telephone consultation, The Besen Group will provide a complimentary TCO analysis report in PDF format to each enterprise.

The report will include: Market Size, Capex Statement, Opex Statement, TCO Summary and Summary Graphs. Enterprises will also have the opportunity to license 5G Spectrum TCO Tool for Private 5G Networks and do their own TCO analysis based on different private network deployment scenarios.

The Besen Groups Tool Brochure contains the following business case tools and TCO tools:

-5G Spectrum TCO tool for Private 5G Networks:

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-Open RAN TCO Tool for Private 5G Networks

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-CBRS TCO Tool for Private 5G Networks

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-CBRS Business Case Tool for Private 5G Networks

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-TCO Comparison Tool: CBRS Neutral Host Networks vs DAS

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-TCO Comparison Tool: CBRS Private 5G vs Wi-Fi 6

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-TCO Comparison Tool: CBRS Private LTE vs Wi-Fi 6

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-CBRS TCO Tool for Private LTE Networks

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-CBRS TCO Tool for Neutral Host Networks

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-CBRS Business Case Tool for Private LTE Networks

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-CBRS Business Case Tool for Neutral Host Networks

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-Small Cells TCO Tool

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The Besen Group offers each tool on a corporate license basis. The license fee includes one hour telephone consultation with the senior analyst to explain the methodology, assumptions and formulas.

The Besen Group can also develop customized business case tools or total cost of ownership tools based on its client requirements and use cases. For any questions or license information, please send an email with contact details including name, title, company name, phone number to tool@thebesengroup.com.

The Besen Groups Tool Brochure contains all our business case tools and TCO tools and can be downloaded at: http://www.thebesengroup.com/downloads/Tool.Brochure.pdf.

About The Besen Group

The Besen Group is an international management consulting practice to the mobile industry headquartered in the Washington DC area, with representatives in Paris and Tokyo. Its mission is to provide mobile players with tools, knowledge, and services enabling them to perform optimally in their mobile environment. The Besen Groups competitive edge is based on practical experience with mobile operators, mobile vendors and a mobile data laboratory.
Utilize Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud for SAP ERP ECM. The cloud native AL_ACS solution deploys in just hours in the customer's own tenant, providing a "clean core" means to cloud enable SAP Content management and processing. Simply.

iCCS LLC announced today that its AL_ACS 3.0 is certified by SAP for integration with SAP S/4HANA. The integration helps organizations to use the Microsoft and Google Cloud Hyperscale platforms for their SAP S/4 HANA Content Management and Content Processing.

We are delighted to announce that our AL_ACS solution, available from IntelliDocX, is certified by SAP for integration with SAP S/4HANA, said Eric Anderson, Global CEO for iCCS and IntelliDocX. The ability of AL_ACS to interoperate with SAP S/4 HANA will prove highly beneficial to our customers as they use Microsoft Azure, Google and Amazon Clouds to host their SAP S4/HANA systems.

Being certified via the SAP integration scenario S/4-BC-AL 7.40 for ArchiveLink HTTP Content Server Functionality and Certified as compatible with SAP S/4HANA Cloud, Private Edition provides customers with the confidence they can take their SAP content to the cloud. AL_ACS Product Site

SAP Integration and Certification Center (SAP ICC) has certified that the integration software for the product AL_ACS Version 3 integrates with SAP S/4HANA using standard integration technologies. SAP S/4HANA is the next-generation business suite designed to act as the digital core, helping customers drive digital transformation across their entire organizations.

About iCCS LLC

Since 1998, iCCS and its global affiliate, IntelliDocX, has been innovating solutions that allow customers to leverage Microsoft platforms to extend, enhance and optimize their SAP ERPs; such as ArchiveLink for SharePoint, .NET and BI data connectors and intelligent add-on automation apps for document centric business processes. With offices in Asia, Europe, and the Americas, we provide global support and services to our worldwide customer base. IntelliDocX Site


This has been my dream for as long as I can remember.

Today, Truly Free, a plant-based, refillable cleaning and laundry subscription, announced the grand opening of its new retail store on Thursday, May 11 from 11:00-12:30 p.m. at 6261 US-31 Williamsburg, MI 49690. The celebration began with Oak Shore Commons groundbreaking event at the construction site, followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony for Truly Frees grand opening. Community members attended the landmark event, to save big on in-store products and experience the brand in-person for the first time ever.

This has been my dream for as long as I can remember, said Stephen Ezell, CEO of Truly Free. I started building Truly Free from nothing  it was not easy. In fact, in 2013 we were on the verge of losing everything. In an effort to sell more products, I drove to local grocery stores in the area and asked them to include our product. One of the major grocery chains in the area refused, saying no one would buy it, but I wouldnt take no for an answer. I rented a Penske truck and rounded up abandoned pallets to make a display out of reclaimed wood. I showed up at one of the chains stores and created a display without their knowledge and left it there. The store owner found out when customers tried to buy our laundry soap only to have it not ring up in the system. While the store owner at the time was not impressed, and this type of cowboy entrepreneurism might have been a mistake, the old supermarket where I set up that display  that very building  is now our new headquarters.

Truly Frees new store features all of its online products, but with bigger savings: in-store shoppers will always receive a buy one get one free discount. Store hours are Monday-Friday, 11:00-2:00 p.m.

Founded in 2008, Truly Free was one of the first companies to revolutionize the cleaning industry with all-natural products delivered in a refillable and sustainable package, empowering families to reduce their environmental footprint. To date, Truly Free has helped eliminate over 6.2 million single-use plastics and free over 230,000 homes from harmful chemicals. In addition to Truly Frees products improving families health and sustainability efforts, the organization also believes giving back to the community is a responsibility and necessity for making the planet a better place. Truly Free donated over $220,000 back to global communities in the past year through its Dryer Angels program and CCCD Jamaica.

For more information on Truly Free, visit https://trulyfreehome.com.

ABOUT TRULY FREE

Truly Free's revolutionary cleaning products and monthly memberships help create a greener future, not just a clean home. Leveraging over 14 years of experience, Truly Frees non-toxic formulas have freed over 230,000 homes from harmful chemicals, eliminating over 6.2 million single-use plastics, helping protect families and the planet from exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals. Thousands of Americans subscribe to popular top sellers Laundry Wash and Every Day Cleaner, available as Starter Kits or Refills monthly to make cleaning easy. Named to Inc.s Best in Business List in the E-Commerce category, Truly Free helps users make every room in their home the cleanest clean can Truly be. For more information about the Truly Free team or products, visit https://trulyfreehome.com or follow along on Instagram @trulyfreehome and Facebook @trulyfreehome.
This new industry promises to offer us natural alternatives to powerful narcotics, which have caused senseless deaths of too many of our neighbors and their loved ones. says Dr. Roberts, licensed medical marijuana physician.

Jackson  TruReleaf MD is expanding to Jackson, MS, as one of the states first medical marijuana physicians providing relief for patients through medical cannabis certifications with in-person reviews of medical conditions and medical records.

With the passage of Senate Bill 2095, Mississippis Medical Marijuana Program was streamlined, providing expanded medical marijuana care to patients. One of the significant provisions allows physicians to recommend medicine to patients if they believe that their patients qualifying debilitating medical condition would benefit from medical marijuana or that it would alleviate the symptoms of a qualifying debilitating medical condition.

TruReleaf MD comes to the state with over seven years of experience providing compassionate care in Florida as MMTCFL. Following the legalization of medical marijuana for qualifying conditions, the Medical Marijuana Treatment Clinics of Florida quickly became a pillar in the medical marijuana industry, redefining what it means to be a medical marijuana patient and providing a natural relief option to those seeking care.

With this experience, TruReleaf MD aims to restore patient quality of life through cannabis-based alternative treatments. They believe that relief is fundamental to having control over ones life and aim to give patients the necessary tools to make the best choice for their own health.

This new industry promises to offer us natural alternatives to powerful narcotics, which have caused senseless deaths of too many of our neighbors and their loved ones. says Dr. Roberts, licensed medical marijuana physician. The clinic will allow patients more opportunities to take control of their conditions, putting them one step closer to creating the life they want.

The clinic currently offers in-person appointments for those with qualifying conditions. To book an appointment, patients can visit http://www.getmymississippicard.com to schedule online or call 601-768-7944 to speak with a Patient Care Coordinator to schedule over the phone.

TruReleaf MD's mission is to support and educate the public regarding safe access and use of medical marijuana in Mississippi. Following state guidelines, TruReleaf MD aims to simplify the process of getting a medical marijuana card and help patients take control of their care.
"Preseem saves us numerous hours of work across different teams, from sales and marketing to network operations."

Think of it as the easy button for managing network congestion.

Preseems new Automatic Access Point Capacity Management feature is a hands-off solution that ensures internet service providers (ISPs) provide a superior experience to subscribers when networks are at their busiest.

Join our launch webinar on Tuesday, May 16th at 2 p.m. Eastern to see this new feature in action.

Access Points (APs) are the most common congestion points in a fixed wireless network. Preseems new feature addresses this by providing automatic bandwidth control on busy APs. This means internet users still get a great quality of experience (QoE) when the network is congested, instead of experiencing slow speeds or other issues.

The first step to managing congestion is proactively managing the network's capacity to meet subscriber demands. Preseems existing Access Point and CPE Radio scores already greatly simplify this task, require little RF expertise, and work across AP manufacturers.

When adding capacity is not an option, however, regional operators need a network- and application-neutral solution to maintain an excellent subscriber experience that works across vendors and requires no manual intervention.

Thats where the Automatic Access Point Capacity Management feature comes in. This builds on Preseems data-first approach to understanding the real-world performance of AP models, combined with local conditions and user behavior, to determine the bandwidth rate each AP can deliver while maintaining a superior subscriber experience.

With this new feature, the system adjusts automatically and dynamically, considering configuration and environment changes on the AP as well as customer usage patterns. This leads to significantly lower latency at peak busy hours and on oversubscribed APs. It also saves time and removes manual work from the plates of busy network managers.

The Automatic Access Point Capacity Management feature is vendor and application-agnostic. No artificial limits on specific applications like Netflix are required, and fair bandwidth allocation between subscribers on an AP is achieved in real-time. Its also flexible and easy to use  enabling the feature is a simple global setting, and can be turned on or off for individual APs as desired.

Fixed Wireless internet providers must deliver a consistently excellent subscriber experience to compete with fiber and other access technologies, said Dan Siemon, Chief Product Officer of Preseem. This is done via access point capacity planning, optimizing for latency as well as throughput, and mitigating the poor experience subscribers receive when network elements such as APs reach their capacity. Preseem provides solutions in all of these areas.

Preseem customers whove already implemented the new feature are impressed.

The auto feature helps us scale and manage our workload, said Drew Wicker, Director of ISP Operations at Vistabeam, a Nebraska-based internet service provider. We must automate everything we can to stay lean and profitable. We have competitive pressure that forces us to keep prices low, while costs have skyrocketed on the equipment and labor side in the last few years. The automatic shaper works just as well as manually setting them but requires no work from us. Preseem saves us numerous hours of work across different teams, from sales and marketing to network operations.

About Preseem

Preseem is a QoE solution made by Aterlo Networks and used by hundreds of ISPs worldwide. It enables proactive management of the network and subscriber experience to achieve higher customer satisfaction while lowering operational costs. For more information, visit preseem.com.
Their focus on spiritual and academic development and commitment to providing exceptional childcare makes The Pillars Christian Learning Center a standout provider in the San Antonio early childhood education industry.

The Pillars Christian Learning Center was named the Top Preschool/Daycare in San Antonio in the 2023 San Antonio Express-News Readers Choice Awards. According to the San Antonio Express-News, this years contest had over 56,000 nominations and 268,000 votes.

Their focus on spiritual and academic development and commitment to providing exceptional childcare makes The Pillars Christian Learning Center a standout provider in the San Antonio early childhood education industry, the San Antonio-Express News feature read.

The Pillars Christian Learning Center was founded in San Antonio, Texas in 2009 by Geren and Melissa Anderson. The Pillars offers families premier, faith-based childcare focused on academic excellence. The Pillars has seen phenomenal growth over the last decade and has expanded beyond San Antonio into Bulverde, Cibolo, New Braunfels, Midlothian, and Colleyville, Texas.

We are thrilled to win this award, co-owner and COO Melissa Anderson stated. The Pillars is always striving for excellence, and awards like these are a testament to the hard work of our teachers and school administration.

About The Pillars Christian Learning Center

The Pillars Christian Learning Center was founded in San Antonio, Texas in 2009 by Geren and Melissa Anderson. The Pillars provides premier, faith-based childcare focused on academic excellence to families in San Antonio, Bulverde, Cibolo, New Braunfels, Midlothian, and Colleyville, Texas.

The Pillars has received numerous accolades including being named one of the "Three Best Rated" Preschools in 2019, joining the "Aggie 100" list of fastest-growing companies in 2022, and being recognized as a "Best Place for Working Parents" for both 2022 and 2023. Additionally, The Pillars was awarded the San Antonio Express-News Reader's Choice award for #1 Preschool/Daycare in San Antonio for 2023 and several of The Pillars schools have achieved a 4-Star rating, the highest possible, from the Texas Rising Star Program. The Pillars is also dedicated to giving back to the local community by supporting mission-minded organizations and charities such as Arms of Hope, the San Antonio Food Bank, and Pursuit Church San Antonio's Community Food Pantry.
Bobby Bryant became the first African American to create and franchise a real estate brokerage brand.

DOSS, an AI-powered real estate marketplace based in Houston, Texas, has received recognition from Mayor Sylvestor Turner and the City of Houston for their historic achievement. On April 22, 2022, DOSS CEO and Founder Bobby Bryant became the first African American to create and franchise a real estate brokerage brand. Along with Co-Founder/COO Chris Norton and Team Attorney Jon Wagner, Bryant celebrated this milestone achievement. In honor of their historical accomplishment, Mayor Turner signed a Proclamation officially designating April 22nd as DOSS DAY in Houston, Texas. The Proclamation also recognizes DOSSs innovative approach to real estate and their commitment to creating equal and fair housing opportunities for every community throughout the country.

DOSS: Better. Faster. Smarter
"We are already benefiting greatly from the new sign. We are primarily using it to reduce speeding near the school."

May 10, 2023 All Traffic Solutions (ATS) awarded a Shield 12 radar speed sign to the Haw River Police Department in Wisconsin through the companys ATS Gives Back initiative.

All Traffic Solutions is committed to creating safe streets and neighborhoods across the country with their products and software. Over the years, ATS found that police departments in smaller communities have a need for All Traffic Solutions signs but lack the necessary funds and do not qualify for grants. The ATS Gives Back goal is to bridge this gap by donating radar speed signs to communities in need each month. ATS Gives Back recipients also receive a subscription to TraffiCloud, All Traffic Solutions patented traffic device and data management system.

The Haw River Police Department, located in North Carolina, is a dedicated team of nine officers working to make their small town of just over two thousand residents safer every day. In their application for the ATS Gives Back Program, a local elementary school principal shared his concerns about speeding vehicles in school zones. The principal, Mr. Curry Bryan wrote, Since the current speed monitor began to fail, I have witnessed increasing incidents of cars speeding through our school zone. I feel strongly that a new speed display would help to greatly curtail speeding near our campus.

The Haw River Police Department has since implemented its new Shield 12 radar speed sign in its school zone and has seen a dramatic decrease in speeding in the area. Sergeant Ben Morgan of the Haw River Police Department states, We are already benefiting greatly from the new sign. We are primarily using it to reduce speeding near the school. It is replacing broken signs from another company. We are also able to use the data gathered to direct speed enforcement for patrol officers.

You can nominate a department and learn more about the ATS Gives Back program by visiting the All Traffic Solutions website.

About All Traffic Solutions

All Traffic Solutions is a leading provider of portable variable message and radar speed signs. Our USA-made traffic safety devices and web-based remote management software help share information, reduce speeding, collect traffic data, and improve safety outcomes while saving time and maximizing resources. For more information, visit https://www.alltrafficsolutions.com.
Each vintage tells a story, developed over time in barrel and bottle to create something truly special that is only achievable through patience and unhurried winemaking, says Appassionata founder Erni Loosen.

Appassionata Estate has announced that Colangelo & Partners, a fine wine, spirits, and food-focused integrated communications agency, will be its agency of record. Colangelo & Partners will develop and execute a comprehensive communications strategy to build awareness of internationally renowned German winemaker Ernst "Erni'' Loosen's latest project. The Oregon-based winery announced the release of its full line-up in September 2022, in what was the culmination of nearly two decades of planning and investment in the region.

Colangelo & Partners will work on a range of traditional and new media activities to promote the high-end vineyard and winerys premium collection of aged wines. The agency will focus on Ernis long-term vision for the estate and his patient winemaking approach to craft each vintage as the purest expression of Willamette Valley terroir. Appassionta joins a growing roster of prestigious domestic and international accounts at the agency, including Paul Hobbs, Spire Collection, Charles Krug Winery, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Far Niente, Frescobaldi Toscana, Maisons Marques & Domaines, and Ornellaia.

Ernis obsession with Oregon wine started 30 years ago, driven by his lifelong love for exploring the worlds great Pinot Noirs. He was particularly drawn to the Old World finesse of J. Christopher Wines, an artisanal Willamette Valley label, and in 2005 he initiated a winemaking collaboration to bottle a finely selected, limited-production Pinot Noir called Appassionata. A few years later, Erni purchased 40-acres in the Chehalem Mountains to plant the Appassionata Vineyard and build a winery, in order to pursue his vision of producing exquisitely expressive wines with extraordinary ageability. Each bottling in the Appassionata Pinot Noir line-up is selected for its longevity and matured in the cellar, for up to a decade before release, squeezing the limits of patience and following Ernis belief that the real character and complexity of a great wine does not emerge until it has developed maturity.

"Few wine projects are as dear to me as Appassionata," Erni says. "Over the past thirty years, I have developed a deep appreciation for the Willamette Valley region and its potential to produce wines of exceptional quality. Appassionata is a testament to this potential, honoring the region's distinct terroir while expressing my love of properly matured wines. Each vintage tells a story, developed over time in barrel and bottle to create something truly special that is only achievable through patience and unhurried winemaking. We are excited to partner with Colangelo & Partners to share the unique story of Appassionata's wines to a wider audience in the U.S. and beyond."

"We are honored by the opportunity to work with Appassionata Estate and internationally respected winemaker, Erni Loosen," said Juliana Colangelo, VP of California at Colangelo & Partners. "With Appassionata's unique founding story and the exceptional quality of the wines, we see abundant opportunities to strengthen ties with the media, trade, and consumers. Our team looks forward to expanding upon our work in California by working with exceptional brands in Oregon such as Appassionata."

The wines of Appassionata are represented by Loosen Bros. USA and are available nationwide.

About Appassionata - http://www.appassionataestate.com

Appassionata is German winemaker Ernst "Erni" Loosen's long-term vision to establish a European-style wine estate in Oregon and to craft a portfolio of wines that express the true character of the Willamette Valley and possess extraordinary ageability. The 40-acre property, located on the slopes of the Chehalem Mountains near Newberg, Oregon, is the culmination of nearly two decades of planning and investment that began in 2005 and now includes three Pinot Noirs of varying age, a barrel-fermented Chardonnay, a Sauvignon Blanc produced in acacia barrels, and a dry Riesling made in the German Grosses Gewachs (GG) style. Appassionata focuses on wines that are already aged upon release, and ready to enjoy in the moment.

About Colangelo & Partners - http://www.colangelopr.com

Colangelo & Partners specializes in premium food, wine and spirits brands, and has long-established relationships with the key press that drive these business categories and help determine the industry leaders. Agency principals have years of experience in retail and distribution as well as communications, a rare combination that gives Colangelo & Partners invaluable insights into consumer purchasing behavior.
"The program elevated the S&P mission of diversity, equity and inclusion by centering around the Arizent Research report Building Inclusive Workplace Experiences and reaching over 2 million financial services leaders through the Most Powerful Women in Banking 20th anniversary event."

Arizent, the parent company of American Banker, The Bond Buyer and other information services brands, has its first Gold Award from the Financial Communications Society, a non-profit organization for financial marketing, communications and media professionals. As a partnership with S&P Global, Arizent was recognized for its Most Powerful Women in Banking DE&I program in 2022 in the Event Marketing category.

The program elevated the S&P mission of diversity, equity and inclusion in banking and finance by centering around the Arizent Research report Building Inclusive Workplace Experiences and reaching over 2 million financial service leaders through the Most Powerful Women in Banking 20th anniversary event.

"We were thrilled with the results of the integrated campaign, and being recognized with a Gold award by the Financial Communications Society validated the outstanding work that went into it, said Janet King, VP of Research at Arizent. "Partnering with S&P Global on event marketing and sponsored editorial research was a great experience, especially for a mission-oriented campaign where our values as organizations aligned."

The sponsorship program centered on data-driven insights and that message was central in the marketing materials pre, during and post event. This partnership gained 1.9 million impressions across digital newsletters and emails, 870k impressions on digital advertisements, 20K+ impressions for the print ad, 4,200+ report deliveries and 360+ live event attendees.

Learn more about the ROI on DEI by downloading the research report here.

To explore another Arizent integrated campaign success story, read this case study.

About Arizent

Arizent is a business information company that advances professional communities by providing insights and analysis and convening industry leaders. The company uses deep industry expertise and a data-driven platform to deliver its services, which include subscriptions, marketing services, live events and access to Leaders, an executive forum. Arizent also connects business communities through leading financial services brands like American Banker, The Bond Buyer, Financial Planning and National Mortgage News, as well as professional services brands like Accounting Today, Employee Benefit News and Digital Insurance.

About S&P Global

S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses and individuals with the right data, expertise and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through ESG and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges and accelerate progress for the world.

We are widely sought after by many of the worlds leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the worlds leading organizations plan for tomorrow, today.
ELKO  Industrial Maintenance Technology Program student Miranda Rainville has been awarded the Great Basin College Presidents Award.

Rainville received nominations from professors Thomas Bruns and Norm Whittaker for the honor, which was announced on April 26.

Each professor detailed Rainville as an outstanding student, as she has maintained a 3.9 GPA while pursuing an Associate of Applied Science Degree in 38 weeks.

Rainville says she was unsure about what career path to choose after college, but through family connections she had an interest in mining. While torn between an opportunity with GBC and one to pursue a mining engineering degree at a four-year university, Rainville opted to attend GBCs one-year program to decide if mining is the right career for her.

GBC was the better choice for me because this is my home, said Rainville. I knew I had my support system here to help me along the way.

At GBC, Rainville found a passion for maintenance and started setting long-term career goals.

She has the dedication to do everything to the best of her ability, said Thomas Bruns, GBC Millwright Technology Instructor. She is a leader by example and by her work ethic. The leadership she shows in my classes will easily follow her for the rest of her career because she is willing to share her knowledge and help others succeed.

Rainville is recognized for her hard work and dedication as well as her ability to stand out in a traditionally male-dominated field.

The Industrial Maintenance field has been dominated by males forever. Miranda has come into this field to prove this stereotype to be incorrect, said Bruns. She has worked right alongside her male counterparts in every class and, in most cases, done better than them.

I knew a couple of women had dropped out of this program before I enrolled, said Rainville. It meant a lot to me to have the support of faculty, my peers, my coworkers, and my mom as I pushed myself to excel and complete the program.

Rainville attends courses at GBC with the support of a Maintenance Training Cooperative (MTC) Scholarship awarded with funding from Nevada Gold Mines. Recipients of MTC scholarships receive financial assistance for courses and an internship. Rainville works at least one day per week at NGMs Leeville mine in underground fixed maintenance.

My supervisor and coworkers are outstanding, said Rainville. They are always willing to stop what they are doing to answer questions or help me apply the new things I am learning at school.

Mirandas intelligence, leadership, and desire to learn was obvious to me even during her MTC interview a year ago, said Michael Gillespie, Nevada Gold Mines Maintenance Supervisor. Through hard work and attention to detail she has won the respect of her coworkers here at Leeville and is an example of the kind of employee we strive to have on our team. We are looking forward to helping her develop into one of our top mechanics in the future.

Rainville feels her education in the Industrial Maintenance Technology Program at GBC has prepared her for a dream career.

I really enjoyed the industrial maintenance program. I felt both instructors were excellent and supportive of my goals, said Rainville. I am looking forward to graduation and starting full-time employment at NGM.
These changes, theyre a pretty big deal, TrendSources Client Success Manager Veronica Cruz said. Some companies have hired hundreds of employees without in-person I-9s, and these hires are typically remote employees spread around the country."

Starting on August 1st, 2023, all I-9s must, once again, be completed in person. This comes after The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the end of the temporary flexibility that allowed for Section 2 of Form I-9 to be verified over video conference platforms.

Moreover, all I-9s which were completed virtually during this period, must now be re-done, in person, by August 30, 2023.

TrendSourcea compliance management firm based in San Diego, CAhas offered I-9 Verifications for nearly a decade, helping HR teams onboard employees wherever they reside. Utilizing a proprietary national database of Field Agents, TrendSource pairs New Hires with local Agents, and together they complete Section 2 of Form I-9 in person.

Now, with the recent news coming out of DHS, TrendSource I-9 Verifications are uniquely positioned to help companies rapidly complete in-person I-9s by the August 30 deadline, including helping onboard remote employees while still meeting the in-person requirements.

Weve always known this day would come and weve been preparing for it, TrendSource CEO Victoria Hyzer said. The in-person requirement is a key part of I-9 compliance and was never going to go away, and now companies are going to have to make a quick compliance push.

While estimates vary, companies across the country have onboarded thousands upon thousands of employees during the flexibility without meeting the in-person requirement. These companies desperately must play catchup to meet the August 30 deadline.

And for companies that embraced the remote work revolution and will continue hiring employees regardless of their proximity to company headquarters, starting August 1, they must ensure remote employees complete Section 2 of Form I-9 in person.

These changes, theyre a pretty big deal, TrendSources Client Success Manager Veronica Cruz said. Some companies have hired hundreds of employees without in-person I-9s, and these hires are typically remote employees spread around the country. They are going to be scrambling, they are going to need a compliance partner, and TrendSource absolutely should be that partner.

While this shift in DHS policy was foreseeable, it is nonetheless a significant shift that companies must quickly address before falling out of compliance.

Learn more about TrendSource I-9 Verifications
Laura Foote Reiff, co-founder of the Immigration & Compliance Practice of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, was named chair of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Subcommittee on Immigration. Reiff has been a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Labor Relations Committee for 24 years and has been an active member of the Immigration Committee throughout.

During her two-year tenure, Reiff will work with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on business-friendly immigration legislation reforms and advocacy at federal agencies, including the U.S. Departments of State, Homeland Security, and Labor. She will lead efforts to shape the U.S. Chamber of Commerces immigration policy and advocacy agenda, benefiting American businesses, workers, and communities.

Reiff has more than 32 years of experience representing businesses and organizations in the business immigration and compliance field. She is also a business immigration advocate and has long chaired prominent business immigration coalitions. She chairs the Northern Virginia/Washington D.C. Immigration & Compliance Practice and is co-managing shareholder of the firms Northern Virginia Office. Reiff has served on the boards of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the American Immigration Council, the National Immigration Forum, and is currently the chair of the America is Better Board.

About Greenberg Traurigs Immigration & Compliance Group: Greenberg Traurigs Immigration & Compliance Group is a multidisciplinary business immigration practice representing businesses, organizations, and individuals from around the world on a wide range of immigration-related matters. The group has achieved international recognition for legal advocacy, results-oriented service, and responsiveness to its clients. The team is composed of active thought leaders who write regularly for Greenberg Traurigs Immigration blogs: Inside Business Immigration and EB-5 Insights.

About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2650 attorneys in 45 locations in the United States, Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. The firm is a 2022 BTI Highly Recommended Law Firm for superior client service and is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law Global 100 and NLJ 250. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab. The firm is recognized for powering its U.S. offices with 100% renewable energy as certified by the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e Energy program and is a member of the U.S. EPAs Green Power Partnership Program. The firm is known for its philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com.
"With deep knowledge of the TPA business and a proven history of creating innovative solutions for public and private-sector employers alike, Lori is the right person to guide and grow business.

Highmark Inc. announced that Lori Herzog has been named TPA segment president to guide its third-party administrator (TPA) line of business that helps self-insured employers control the health plan and products they offer their employees, process claims, and potentially lower costs.

Lori has delivered transformative leadership, sustainable growth, and customer service excellence throughout her distinguished career, said Tom Doran, president of Highmark Health Plan. With deep knowledge of the TPA business and a proven history of creating innovative solutions for public and private-sector employers alike, Lori is the right person to guide and grow business.

Herzog has held a variety of senior and executive-level leadership positions during her more than 30 years in the health insurance industry, including at ACM Holdings, Meritain and Optum. She has served as an advisory board member for MidAmerica and has also been a senior consultant for Medica Health Plan. Her signature skills include new sales growth strategy, employee and client retention, operational excellence, process re-engineering and contract negotiation. Herzog earned a bachelors degree in business administration from Minnesota State University.

In 2021, Highmark welcomed HealthNow Administrative Services (HNAS) to its enterprise. HNAS industry-leading reputation forged over nearly 40 years, coupled with new resources and investments unlocked through the Highmark affiliation, created the perfect equation for growth. In the last two years, HNAS has added approximately 50,000 new members.

###

About Highmark Inc.

One of America's leading health insurance organizations and an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Highmark Inc. (the Health Plan) and its affiliated health plans (collectively, the Health Plans) work passionately to deliver high-quality, accessible, understandable, and affordable experiences, outcomes, and solutions to customers. Highmark Inc. and its Blue-branded affiliates proudly cover the insurance needs of approximately 7 million members in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York and West Virginia. Its diversified businesses serve group customer and individual needs across the United States through dental insurance and other related businesses. For more information, visit http://www.highmark.com.


"I got the idea for TruRest from a miserable flight I took from Singapore to NYC. We were seated on the plane for 32 hours due to a problem with the hydraulics."

Comfort and quality rest are often elusive for airplane passengers. If sleep is achieved, it's typically light and ineffective which is why flyers often arrive at their destinations exhausted and in pain. Travelers can address this pain point and finally achieve true rest, with TruRest.

Launching today, TruRest is a patented, ergonomically designed, compact, portable and highly adjustable rest aid that dramatically improves travel comfort. TruRest fully supports the users body (both chest/torso and head) in the forward leaning position, eliminating muscle tension and discomfort caused by sitting upright, and facilitating deep, quality rest and relaxationeven REM sleep. Hypnap consulted medical professionals, examined medical research and conducted extensive testing while developing TruRest. They discovered that resting in the forward leaning position facilitates deeper, easier breathing which promotes the relaxation response. Using TruRest can also potentially relieve neck and back pain.

More people are flying than ever before. According to The U.S. Travel Association, travel spending is at its highest since the COVID-19 pandemic. Air travel is also becoming increasingly uncomfortable due to reduced legroom, smaller seats and thinner cushions. Additionally, economy and most business class airplane seats only recline four or five inches, providing little relief. As a result, people are investing in more travel accessories to make their experience more enjoyable. TruRest's innovative design can be secured to a tray table and features a cushioned face plate and chest support that are highly adjustable to accommodate people of different heights, shapes and sizes.

"I got the idea for TruRest from a miserable flight I took from Singapore to NYC. We were seated on the plane for 32 hours due to a problem with the hydraulics. I have a design background so I sketched ideas and built prototypes." said CEO Chloe Hill.

Hypnap COO, Darryl Yang, is a former computer programmer and frequent business traveler. I wish I would have had something like this on my flights. That's why I joined forces with Chloe to launch TruRest, said Yang.

TruRest is TSA-approved and folds up into the footprint of an iPad, so it can easily fit into a carry-on, such as a purse or backpack. To preorder, visit pr.go2.fund/trurest.

About Hypnap

Hypnap is a company that offers innovative solutions to help improve the lives and health of their customers. Their signature product,TruRest, is designed to help individuals achieve deep rest even when sitting upright in cramped spaces such as airplanes. Empathetic design is the core of their approach. Identifying problems, studying the human body and the environment of their customers, conducting extensive testing and research, and consulting with experts in their fields ensures that they create products to make their users feel great. Co-Founders Chloe Hill and Darryl Yang, both avid travelers, recognized the need for a more effective solution to address the discomfort experienced on long flights. Chloe's design background and Darryl's experience as a former computer programmer and consultant allowed them to collaborate on the TruRest's development, which involved sketching ideas, assembling and testing prototypes, and consulting with health professionals. For more information, visit http://www.hypnap.com/.
The BAM Companies staff at the 2022 annual All Company Meeting. "From early on I had this crazy idea - what if we had a company where people liked their jobs? What if people wanted to come work for us because of the culture and the way we treat our people. So, to be awarded for that means a great deal to me," says Ivan Barratt, Founder & CEO.

The BAM Companies has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2023 honor by Indianapolis Star Top Workplaces. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The confidential survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization: including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few.

Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees, said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. That's something to be proud of. In today's market, leaders must ensure theyre allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That's paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends.

"Being recognized for being a great place to work is something that has been on my wishlist for a long time. From early on I had this crazy idea - what if we had a company where people liked their jobs? What if people wanted to come to work for us because of the culture and the way we treat our people? So, to be awarded for that means a great deal to me," says Ivan Barratt, Founder & CEO.

About

What started in 2010 with less than five units under management has now transformed into a vertically-integrated capital investment, property management, and renovation group with over $1.025B in transactions. The BAM Companies consist of three separate organizations and over 125 of the most incredible people anyone could ever work with. Whether it be on one of the company's work sites, at headquarters, or anywhere in between, the company's culture of fun, growth, family, and work-life balance is pervasive, exists in every decision made by the organization, and is truly the life-blood of what the organization does. Each member of the company is trusted to get the job done, empowered to succeed and make decisions, and celebrated for their successes.

About Energage

Making the world a better place to work together.

Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Built on 16 years of cultural research and the results from 27 million employees surveyed across more than 70,000 organizations, Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com.
Father Timothy Ploch, interim director of Salesian Missions, said, Salesians work with families to provide education, meet basic needs and offer wrap-around support services to ensure that the family has what they need to meet the physical and emotional needs of youth.

Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian and other international organizations in honoring the International Day of Families celebrated each year on May 15.

The day is organized by the International Federation for Family Development in partnership with SOS Childrens Villages International and in collaboration with UNICEF and the Division for Social Policy and Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Salesian missionaries around the globe provide for youth and their families who are facing challenges related to poverty, lack of education, hunger, and homelessness.

Father Timothy Ploch, interim director of Salesian Missions, said, We understand youth can better focus on their education when they are in homes where there is stability and they have their basic needs met. Children facing abuse, lack of food or no parental support struggle in their studies. This is why Salesians work with families to provide education, meet basic needs and offer wrap-around support services to ensure that the family has what they need to meet the physical and emotional needs of youth.

In honor of the International Day of Families, Salesian Missions is proud to share Salesian programs that provide education and services to support poor youth and their families.

ECUADOR

Don Bosco alumni associations in Ecuador collaborated to bring joy to vulnerable people in cities across the country during the Christmas holiday. In Cuenca, 500 families were helped with baskets containing food, clothes and basic medicines, while more than 1,500 children were given toys and candies. Don Bosco alumni in Quito and Riobamba delivered baskets to more than 300 low-income families.

Many alumni helped the Salesians by offering and collecting donations. The Don Bosco alumni associations included Healing Wounds, Salesians of San Francisco, Centro San Jose de Manta, the Don Bosco Alumni Center and the Carlos Crespi educational community. On Saturdays during the year, a solidarity breakfast is also held in these locations.

A Salesian missionary noted, These Christmas events provided a great opportunity for Don Bosco alumni to pay it forward and give back to their communities. So many families are faced with poverty, even more so now given the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global economic crisis. This was a chance for them to receive much-needed food and other necessary items and for children to receive gifts to brighten their Christmas.

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

Salesian missionaries offer a range of social services and educational programs in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea. Salesians operate a parish, a youth center, primary and secondary schools, and a vocational center. The Salesian vocational center is currently offering the program Vocational Training for Young Mothers in Malabo.

The program caters to young women who had to drop out of school early because of pregnancies, those who were forced out of the home by their parents or those with children who are not recognized by their fathers. Currently, the Salesian program has 30 young women who are pregnant or have newborn babies.

The program is supported by Don Bosco in the World Foundation, which promotes and supports programs in Salesian organizations around the globe.

This program is particularly important because laws in Malabo prevent pregnant young women and young mothers from attending school. Without the opportunity offered by the Salesians to learn a trade, these young women would not be able to gain an education. They would remain in a system that stigmatizes and punishes them while restricting them from gaining the skills for stable employment.

INDIA

Volunteers with Don Bosco Arts and Science College, located in Angadikadavu, Kerala, India, built a house for a mother with two children. The family was homeless but now has shelter and the safety of somewhere to live.

The project began when Lucy George, a Salesian cooperator, saw the young mother named Jessy with her two children on a bus, and she heard Jessy talk about not having a place to live. George mentioned this to the students at Don Bosco Arts and Science College, and the students, staff and management took up the challenge of constructing a house.

The house is 600 square feet with two bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room and a work area. The cost was provided for by donations from students, staff, management and well-wishers. It is the fourth house constructed by volunteers of the college.

RWANDA

Salesian missionaries launched projects for young single mothers and at-risk youth in Rango, within the city of Butare, Rwanda. The projects have the support of Mission Don Bosco in Turin, Italy. To date, 40 young mothers have taken training to learn tailoring skills. They have also received a sewing machine and some essential materials to start a simple tailoring or sewing business that will provide an income for their families.

Father Remy Nsengiyumva, the parish priest in Rango, noted, Many girls drop out of school due to poverty and unwanted pregnancy. To help them and their children, Salesians initiated the two-year tailoring training program at the Vocational Training Center. The new program offers entrepreneurial training and provides a basic took kit so participants can start an income-generating business. The center also offers courses in construction, carpentry and welding.

Through the Tomorrow Will Be Better program, Salesians have also been able to support 120 at-risk children and youth who had run away to live on the street. Social workers were able to understand why they ran away from home and help them reestablish a relationship with their families. Salesians distributed clothes, hygiene kits and food. In addition, peer groups were organized to support youth in building relationships. Through this effort, 89 youth enrolled in elementary school, 20 in secondary school and 11 in vocational training.

About Salesian Missions USA

Salesian Missions is headquartered in New Rochelle, NY, and is part of the Don Bosco Networka worldwide federation of Salesian NGOs. The mission of the U.S.-based nonprofit Catholic organization is to raise funds for international programs that serve youth and families in poor communities around the globe. The Salesian missionaries are made up of priests, brothers and sisters, as well as laypeopleall dedicated to caring for poor children throughout the world in more than 130 countries and helping young people become self-sufficient by learning a trade that will help them gain employment. To date, more than 3 million youth have received services funded by Salesian Missions. These services and programs are provided to children regardless of race or religion. For more information, go to SalesianMissions.org.

Contact:

Laura Perillo

media@salesianmissions.org

908-406-3413 (text messages OK)

Twitter: @MissionNewswire

Newswire: MissionNewswire.org

Press room: SalesianMissions.org/press
Steve Riggs It is an honor to be recognized alongside these top entrepreneurs for our work in developing diagnostic testing services to help people live healthy and productive lives.-- Steve Riggs, President, LynxDx

LynxDx, an Ann Arbor-based biotech startup and developers of the revolutionary MyProstateScore 2.0 (MPS2), announces that President Steve Riggs has been named as an Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023 Michigan and Northwest Ohio Finalist. Now in its 37th year, Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive business awards for transformative entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies who are building a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous world for all.

Riggs was selected by an independent panel of judges. Entrepreneurs were evaluated based on their demonstration of building long-term value through entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth, and impact, among other core contributions and attributes.

LynxDx began operations in 2020 with a focus on improving prostate cancer screening. Using a urine-based diagnostic test originated in a research lab at the University of Michigan, the company developed MyProstateScore 2.0. MPS2 is a non-invasive, data-driven, urine prostate cancer screening test that provides highly accurate, stratified risk assessment insights to guide clinical decisions for patients with elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) or abnormal digital rectal exam (DRE) findings. By using the MPS2 assessment, physicians are able to more accurately inform their patients whether or not a clinically relevant cancer is present, or if their elevated PSA score was the result of other factors.

It is an honor to be recognized alongside these top entrepreneurs for our work in developing diagnostic testing services to help people live healthy and productive lives, Riggs said. At LynxDx, we exist to support positive public health. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the U.S. and the second leading cause of cancer death. Our MPS2 test offers a new level of simple, actionable, and data-driven decision making for both providers and patients.

Regional EOY award winners will be announced on June 21, 2023 during a special celebration. The winners will then be considered by the national judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, which will be presented in November at the annual Strategic Growth Forum, one of the nations most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in June 2024.

This years finalists are the next class in an impressive line of visionaries who are leading successful, dynamic businesses. They are ambitious entrepreneurs set on transforming their industries and communities, said Joe Lenglet, EY Partner and Entrepreneur Of The Year Michigan and Northwest Ohio program co-director.

The Entrepreneur Of The Year program has recognized more than 11,000 entrepreneurs throughout the US since its inception in 1986, and it has grown to recognize business leaders across 145 cities in over 60 countries around the world.

About LynxDx

Using technology developed at the University of Michigan, LynxDx develops innovative diagnostic solutions that can be implemented in a clinical setting. Among these are MyProstateScore (MPS2), a prostate cancer urine test that provides the most accurate results for prostate cancer detection and eliminates unnecessary biopsies. The companys mission is to improve patient care through translation of cutting-edge technologies. In addition to using scientific expertise to develop novel diagnostic tools, LynxDx works to see these tools used in clinical practice. The company is committed to developing and enhancing MyProstateScore as well as looking ahead to introducing future diagnostic solutions. For more information about LynxDx and MyProstateScore, please visit lynxdx.com.

About Entrepreneur Of The Year

Entrepreneur Of The Year is the worlds most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. National Overall Award winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year title. Visit ey.com/us/eoy.
The new Concierge Care Practice in West Palm Beach will provide comprehensive, personalized care for patients with the goal of keeping patients well and out of the hospital, - Alicia Gresham, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Network Practices at the Mount Sinai Health System

Mount Sinai Health System in New York, as part of its drive to bring high-quality, innovative, and dedicated care to patients in the southeast Florida area, is opening a personalized concierge care facility at 360 Rosemary in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Mount Sinai New York-Concierge Care is the third Mount Sinai facility in Florida offering access to innovative, research-driven expertise from one of New York Citys largest academic health systems. The two other Palm Beach County locations are Mount Sinai Doctors New York-Palm Beach, launched in 2018, and Mount Sinai Heart New York-Palm Beach, launched in 2015.

With the opening of the newest Mount Sinai Health System Concierge Care facility in downtown West Palm Beach, our Health System continues to expand and to find a way to bring the best patient-centered care to Florida, said Kenneth L. Davis, Chief Executive Officer of the Mount Sinai Health System. Patients have choices and expect high-level medical care and access to our top-ranked specialists in New York, and this practice will meet the needs of a very savvy patient population.

Mount Sinai New York-Concierge Care will offer two membership optionspremier and premier pluswith services including 24/7 access to physicians, home visits, extended visits, telehealth appointments, cardiac assessments, annual full-body skin exams, nutrition counseling, screenings, and more. This facility will be located on the ground level of the 360 Rosemary office building at 575 Fern Street in West Palm Beach. The space will consist of 5,850 square feet and 10 exam rooms, a dermatology spa and treatment room for cosmetic procedures and hydrofacials, dermatological laser, X-ray, and ultrasound.

Convenient access to outstanding health care is an essential component of all great neighborhoods, said Gopal Rajegowda, Partner at Related Southeast. Related is proud to welcome Mount Sinai New York, expanding health care offerings for those who live and work in the community, and further supporting the evolution of healthy lifestyle and longevity in downtown West Palm Beach.

The new Concierge Care Practice in West Palm Beach will provide comprehensive, personalized care for patients with the goal of keeping patients well and out of the hospital, said Alicia Gresham, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Network Practices at the Mount Sinai Health System. As we continue to see more older adults and a growing younger demographic moving to the area who want a healthy lifestyle and longevity, we have included services to optimize health and wellness including annual cardiology assessments, pulmonary care and testing, annual skin exams, and more.

Patients of Mount Sinai New York-Concierge Care will have access to leading Mount Sinai experts in concierge medicine, dermatology, nutrition, and cardiology to receive state-of-the-art treatment options, consultations, and personalized visits. Immediate access to specialists will be offered along with expedited access to Mount Sinai specialists in New York and a network of specialists in Palm Beach County, should patients need. Patients will also have access to a dedicated clinical team and patient navigators to coordinate care in the office, at home, or at a local hospital, as well as local events where patients can listen to Mount Sinai physicians speak on trending topics in health and wellness.

About the Mount Sinai Health System

Mount Sinai Health System is one of the largest academic medical systems in the New York metro area, with more than 43,000 employees working across eight hospitals, over 400 outpatient practices, nearly 300 labs, a school of nursing, and a leading school of medicine and graduate education. Mount Sinai advances health for all people, everywhere, by taking on the most complex health care challenges of our time  discovering and applying new scientific learning and knowledge; developing safer, more effective treatments; educating the next generation of medical leaders and innovators; and supporting local communities by delivering high-quality care to all who need it.

Through the integration of its hospitals, labs, and schools, Mount Sinai offers comprehensive health care solutions from birth through geriatrics, leveraging innovative approaches such as artificial intelligence and informatics while keeping patients medical and emotional needs at the center of all treatment. The Health System includes approximately 7,300 primary and specialty care physicians; 13 joint-venture outpatient surgery centers throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and more than 30 affiliated community health centers. We are consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals, receiving high "Honor Roll" status, and are highly ranked: No. 1 in Geriatrics and top 20 in Cardiology/Heart Surgery, Diabetes/Endocrinology, Gastroenterology/GI Surgery, Neurology/Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Pulmonology/Lung Surgery, Rehabilitation, and Urology. New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is ranked No. 12 in Ophthalmology. U.S. News & World Reports Best Childrens Hospitals ranks Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital among the countrys best in several pediatric specialties. For more information, visit https://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Growing up under the influence of her familys religious teaching and beliefs of the Catholic Church, Reverend Lisa R. Kelson spent a large portion of her life succumbing to their patriarchal teachings and ignoring her own inner compass. In her new book, A Lesbians Awakening to Purpose, Self-Love, and God: A Souls Journey to Self-Awareness, Identity, and Truth, she shares her personal journey to spiritual enlightenment and coming to terms with her authentic self.

It has taken me nearly 60 years to wake up to my true authentic self as a lesbian, Kelson said. In my younger days, I had no idea that there was a deeper and higher self, waiting to be discovered. For many years, I lived from my lower aspect, while trying to fit into societys social rules and norms.

In A Lesbians Awakening to Purpose, Self-Love, and God, Kelson uses her personal experience as an example of how readers can break free of their preconceived ideals of who they are expected to be, and instead free their souls to be their true selves. She addresses the harm that can come from religious teachings, and how it can be exclusionary to those the church does not deem perfect.

When one begins breaking down scripture, outside the oppressive lens of patriarchy, Kelson said, one can finally understand how scripture is misunderstood in our current age. These writings were written in an oppressive era, and the literal interpretation are not in alignment with deeper truths.

Kelson doesnt want readers to rely on anyone elses truth, instead she wants them to discover their own.

My hope in sharing my awakening journey, Kelson said, is to help those who feel lost and out of sorts with life. This journey is spiritual and not religious. The answers are already within, waiting to be uncovered.

A Lesbians Awakening to Purpose, Self-Love, and God: A Souls Journey to Self-Awareness, Identity, and Truth

By The Reverend Lisa R. Kelson

ISBN: 9798765234174 (softcover); 9798765234181 (hardcover)

Available at Balboa Press, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the author

Reverend Lisa R. Kelson is a native Floridian. After completing her Bachelors of Sports Science Education, she enlisted in the Army. She completed her service after returning home from the Gulf War. Upon the completion of her masters degree in technology education from the University of Georgia, she returned home to Florida. She soon realized that God was calling her to ministry, and she enrolled in Episcopal Divinity School where she completed her Master of Divinity. While this experience prepared her for church ministry, she would soon awaken to a higher spiritual path where she shifted her focus to awakening her higher self. This path led her to understanding deeper truths, that led to her awakening and freeing her soul. To learn more, please visit https://www.reverendlisarkelson.com/.

General Inquiries:

LAVIDGE  Phoenix

Ashley Fletcher

afletcher@lavidge.com


Our growing team is excited to offer the same level of exceptional service at PrideStaff Financial Knoxville that job seekers and employers are accustomed to with our PrideStaff division.

With growing interest in qualified finance professionals, and 81,800 jobs expected to open in the accounting sector by 2031, PrideStaff, a nationally franchised staffing organization, is pleased to announce that their award-winning Knoxville office has added a PrideStaff Financial division to their existing operations.

Building on the tremendous success of PrideStaff, PrideStaff Financial Knoxville will specialize in accounting and financial staffing, offering expanded services for area companies seeking accounting, bookkeeping, and finance specialists. Owner/Strategic-Partner Paul Shands will be heading the new PrideStaff Financial division in a separate office dedicated to the market. Ive wanted to bring PrideStaff Financial to Knoxville ever since I opened my first PrideStaff office, said Shands. East Tennessee is a great market, and having a team committed to offering financial staffing support will give job seekers and employers more opportunities to find the right match.

PrideStaff Knoxville is the most Google-reviewed staffing agency in East Tennessee, with more than 600 4.9- and 5-star reviews, continued Shands. Weve hired two specialized financial staffing consultants dedicated to the brand. Our growing team is excited to offer the same level of exceptional service at PrideStaff Financial Knoxville that job seekers and employers are accustomed to with our PrideStaff division.

PrideStaff Financial is an important part of The PrideStaff Companies, allowing us to meet clients specialized finance and accounting needs in an extremely tight candidate market, stated Ashli Fernandez, VP of PrideStaff Financial. Backed by PrideStaffs proven business model, Paul and his Knoxville team can devote their time and effort where it matters most: creating ideal employment connections between Knoxville finance and accounting talent and employers.

As a national staffing services organization, PrideStaff Financial provides outstanding service and results by removing the guesswork from staffing. PrideStaff Financial was developed to meet the specific staffing needs and challenges associated with accounting and finance, from accounts payable and receivable staffing to executive recruiting.

By investing in the client and talent experience, PrideStaff Financial has earned ClearlyRateds coveted Best of Staffing 10-Year Client and Talent Diamond Awards for providing superior service to their clients and candidates for at least ten consecutive years. The 10-Year Diamond Award is earned by fewer than 1% of all accounting and financial staffing firms in the U.S., placing PrideStaff Financial in a truly elite group of companies that lead the industry in satisfaction.

About PrideStaff Financial

A division of PrideStaff, PrideStaff Financial specializes in accounting and financial staffing. The parent company was founded in the 1970s as 100% company-owned units and began staffing franchising in 1995. They operate over 80 offices in North America to serve more than 5,000 clients. With 40 plus years in the staffing business, headquartered in Fresno, CA, all PrideStaff brands offer the resources and expertise of a national firm with the spirit, dedication and personal service of smaller, entrepreneurial firms. For more information on PrideStaff Financial services, visit our website.

PrideStaff and PrideStaff Financials shared Mission: Consistently provide client experiences focused on what they value most.
City of Elko Stormwater Advisory Committee will meet in regular session at 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 16, at Elko City Hall.



Elko Institute for Academic Achievement board meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 16, at 1031 Railroad St. The board will recognize Nevada Gold Mines for its commitment to support the charter school with a $500,000 donation. The board will also recognize two eighth grade students for identifying a community in need and their dedication to serving the community.



Elko County Board of Fire Commissioners will meet at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, in the Nannini Administration Building. Members are scheduled to approve the final budget for 2023-24.

Elko County Commissioners will meet at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, in the Nannini Administration Building. The board will discuss contributing $500,000 to the City of Elko for assistance in meeting the minimum revenue guarantee to continue commercial air service. The board will also consider adopting rules related to placing a gate across an Elko County public road.



Elko County Local Emergency Planning Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 18, in the Nannini Administration Building.



Elko County Planning Commission will meet at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, May 18, in the Nannini Administration Building. Members will consider rezoning 17.16 acres along North Pleasant Valley Road from open space to agricultural-residential.
I am incredibly proud of our Marketing team and all the hard work they have put into our brand refresh, starting from logos to the website and beyond, said Samantha Cabot, Vice President of Marketing for Roth Staffing Companies.

Roth Staffing was named the winner of a Silver Stevie Award in the Re-Branding / Brand Renovation of the Year category in the 21st Annual American Business Awards.

The American Business Awards are the U.S.s premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the U.S. are eligible to submit nominations  public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small.

Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word meaning crowned, the awards will be presented to winners at a gala ceremony at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York on Tuesday, June 13.

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. Roth Staffing was nominated in the Re-Branding / Brand Renovation of the Year category for Marketing.

I am incredibly proud of our Marketing team and all the hard work they have put into our brand refresh, starting from logos to the website and beyond, said Samantha Cabot, Vice President of Marketing for Roth Staffing Companies. Our coworkers are passionate about what they do every day to bring our mission, vision, values, purpose and promise to life so its our job to share that voice with our audiences in a way that has meaning and creates a remarkable experience. Our coworkers make our organization special, and their dedication and determination have earned us this award.

More than 230 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this years Stevie Award winners. During the judging process, Roth Staffing was commended for both their design and brand refresh results including: Rebranding of the website and social media channels were solid, and Impressive metrics and cohesive brand launch for five separate brands.

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.

About Roth Staffing Companies

Roth Staffing Companies is one of the largest privately held staffing firms in the United States, with specialized lines of business operating from more than 100 locations throughout 20 states and the District of Columbia. Roth Staffings specialized lines of business assist customers with staffing and recruiting services, and includes: Ultimate Staffing, specializing in administrative and office staffing; Ledgent for finance & accounting; Ledgent Technology for technology; and Adams & Martin Group for legal staffing and attorney search. The organization has also been ranked on Fortunes Best Workplaces list for Diversity, Medium Workplaces, Millennials, PEOPLE Companies that Care, Professional Services and Women. In 2023, Roth Staffing was ranked #1 of the Best Staffing Firms to Work For by Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) as well as Best of Staffing Client Satisfaction and Best of Staffing Talent Satisfaction by ClearlyRated.

About the Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. 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 performances in the workplace worldwide.

Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.

Sponsors of the 2023 American Business Awards include HCL America, Melissa Sones Consulting, and SoftPro.
Im honored to be selected by the committee. said Dr. Rafailov I feel fortunate to work with a wonderful team of doctors and support staff that help me strive in providing the best care possible for my patients.

SightMD is excited to announce the growing list of providers that have been named on the 2023 Super Doctor and Super Doctors Rising Stars lists.

Dr. Samuel Baharestani, Dr. Jonathan Ellant, Dr. James Gordon, Dr. Faye Knoll, Dr. Michelle Liebert, Dr. Jeff Martin, and Dr. Norman Saffra were recognized as among the best in their field by the 2023 New York Super Doctors report. The number of doctors who receive this honor is limited to approximately five percent of the region's active physicians.

Additionally, Dr. Gaurav Chandra, Dr. Brad Kligman, Dr. Amy Mehta, Dr. Alanna Nattis, Dr. Leon Rafailov, Dr. Eric Rosenberg, Dr. Shetal Shah, and Dr. Sabah Shah were recognized as Super Doctors Rising Stars for having demonstrated noteworthy achievements early in their careers. The number of doctors who receive this honor is limited to approximately 2.5 percent of the region's active physicians.

Each year, MSP Communications undertakes a rigorous multi-step process designed to identify healthcare providers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Super Doctors is a selective yet diverse listing of outstanding doctors, representing consumer-oriented medical specialties As part of this evaluation, physicians are asked to consider the following question: "If you needed medical care in one of the following practice areas, which doctor would you choose?"

Samuel Baharestani, MD is a board certified ophthalmologist specializing in oculoplastic surgery. He treats conditions involving the eyelids, tear duct, and orbit, along with cosmetic surgery of the eyelids and eyebrows helping patients not only see better but feel bad about their appearance. I am truly humbled to be voted a Super Doctor by my peers once again. said Dr. Baharestani It is an honor to provide our patients with the highest level oculoplastic surgery services at SightMD. Dr. Baharestani has extensive training in non-surgical rejuvenation of the face with Botox, fillers, and chemical peels. As an ophthalmic plastic surgeon, he is able to combine the cosmetic principles of plastic surgery with the microsurgery of ophthalmology to achieve the best aesthetic results for his patients.

Jonathan Ellant, MD is a board certified, Fellowship-trained cataract and refractive surgeon. He believes strongly that by listening to his patients he can provide them with the best medical and surgical care possible. Dr. Jonathan Ellant has trained as a corneal specialist and performs cataract and LASIK surgeries. He utilizes the most advanced technologies available in order to deliver the best possible vision to meet the needs and desires of his patients.

James Gordon, MD is a board certified ophthalmologist and oculofacial surgeon with over 20 years of experience. He has particular expertise in the handling of challenging and complex cases involving the sensitive areas of concern around patients' eyelids. He has published numerous papers and has given extensive lectures on ocular disease and eyelids and facial cosmetic procedures, including innovative techniques for fillers & injectables.

Faye Knoll, MD is a board certified ophthalmologist specializing in both laser and traditional cataract surgery as well as laser vision correction including LASIK and PRK. Dr. Knoll completed a fellowship at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary in cornea and external diseases of the eye. Her favorite part of her job is developing lifelong relationships with her patients.

Michelle Liebert, MD is a board certified pediatric ophthalmologist specializing in strabismus surgery. Dr. Liebert takes a personal interest in each and every one of her patients, caring for each as if they were her own. One of her favorite aspects of being a doctor is that she can follow her patients from prematurity until adulthood.

Jeffrey Martin, MD is a board certified ophthalmologist and is President and Co-Founder of SightMD. Dr. Martin joined his father's ophthalmology practice in 1997 and is proud to have helped it become a regional leader in eye care. Dr. Martin is a specialist in both LASIK and cataract surgery.

Norman A. Saffra, MD is one of the nations leading ophthalmic laser and microsurgeons and is known for his expertise in treating diseases that cause visual loss and had been named a castle connolly top doctor for over 25 years. Dr.Saffra is an expert in conditions affecting the posterior segment of the eye, specifically those that involve the optic nerve, or the retina and vitreous. This is the twelfth year that Dr. Saffra has been recognized as a New York Super Doctor putting him on the Hall of Fame list of doctors.

Gaurav Chandra, MD is a board-certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmologist who specializes in the medical management of retinal disease and uveitis. I am grateful to be selected to the "Super Doctors Rising Stars list" for a second consecutive year, said Dr. Chandra This honor is a testament to the wonderful physicians and staff I have had the pleasure to work with, and the patients that have trusted us with their care. In addition to his practice, Dr. Chandra is an assistant clinical professor at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary where he supervises resident physicians and fellows in the uveitis clinic. Dr. Chandra is driven to provide outstanding care to patients and considers it a privilege to help improve their ocular health and sight.

Brad Kligman, MD is a board-certified ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained cornea, LASIK and cataract surgery specialist. "I am truly honored to be selected as a Super Doctors Rising Star for the 5th year in a row. said Dr. Kligman It is a pleasure to practice in my own community with the opportunity to care for my friends, family members and neighbors. Thanks to the support from SightMD, I am able to offer my patients the newest and greatest technologies available for optimizing vision medically and surgically." Throughout his training, Brad Kligman, M.D. has been extensively involved in research, publishing over 20 peer-reviewed articles, textbook chapters and abstracts. He has presented his research at both national and international conferences on topics ranging from ocular tumors, to corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) and corneal transplant techniques.

Amy Mehta, MD is a cataract surgeon and glaucoma fellowship-trained ophthalmologist. She specializes in the latest breakthroughs in cataract and glaucoma management and surgical techniques at our Rockville Center office. I am honored to be included in such a talented group of dedicated surgeons and physicians, said Dr. Mehta. Dr. Mehta also teaches ophthalmology residents at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary and serves as an Executive Board Member of the New York State Ophthalmological Society. Dr. Mehta has a passion for sustainable initiatives in ophthalmologic practices and serves on the Editorial Board for EyeSustain.

Alanna Nattis, DO is a cornea, cataract and refractive surgeon, as well as the Director of Clinical Research at SightMD, and an associate professor in ophthalmology and surgery at NYIT-College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is also Director of Corneal transplantation at Good Samaritan Hospital. "It is truly an honor to be nominated and included in this phenomenal and impressive group of surgeons. said Dr. Nattis I continue to strive for a career that will enhance my patients' lives through their vision, as well as offer the newest and best in ophthalmic innovations available." During residency and her fellowship, Dr. Nattis published over 15 articles in peer-reviewed journals, wrote 2 textbook chapters, and has co-authored a landmark ophthalmology textbook designed to help guide and teach surgical techniques to residents and fellows. Dr. Nattis continues to be involved in clinical research in ophthalmology and regularly presents at national specialty meetings.

Leon Rafailov, MD is a board-certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmic plastic surgeon who focuses on a wide range of plastic and reconstructive surgery in the area around the eyes. His areas of expertise include the eyelids, forehead, mid-face, orbit, and tear ducts. Dr. Rafailov takes pride in helping his patients gain confidence in seeing better and feeling better about their appearance. Im honored to be selected by the committee. said Dr. Rafailov I feel fortunate to work with a wonderful team of doctors and support staff that help me strive in providing the best care possible for my patients. Dr. Rafailov has successfully completed thousands of surgeries in reconstructive, cosmetic, functional, and orbital surgery.

Eric Rosenberg, DO specializes in advanced corneal transplant techniques and procedures, cataract and laser vision correction surgery, as well as complex anterior segment surgery. In the last three years he has produced 25+ journal and article publications, 5 book chapters, and a full textbook used by many residents and fellows throughout the world titled "Operative Dictations in Ophthalmology", and continues to pursue multiple research projects in the field of cornea, refractive, and external diseases. He is passionate about education in addition to the integration between technology, engineering, and medicine. Dr. Rosenberg aims not only to improve your vision in the immediate future, but to advance the field in order to improve the future vision of your entire family for decades to come.

Sabah Shah, MD is a highly skilled ophthalmologist who specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of retinal diseases. She enjoys meeting new patients and is passionate about being able to help restore vision and independence to those who need it.

Shetal Shah, MD is a board certified and fellowship trained cornea specialist and comprehensive ophthalmologist at SightMD. Dr. Shah enjoys focusing on patient education and customizing treatment plans that utilize the latest technologies to better your eye health and vision.

SightMD ophthalmologists recognized this year span the full range of care offered to the patients within the practice. Individuals on the list include professionals from the Cataract and Comprehensive Eye Care, Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery, Medical & Surgical Disease of the Retina, Pediatric Ophthalmology, Glaucoma, Cornea, Neuro-Ophthalmology services.

About SightMD

SightMD is a rapidly-growing integrated ophthalmic provider group, offering patients access to over 80 eye care providers through the convenience of 40 locations across New York. SightMD's track record of providing clinically-excellent care spans over 50 years, and its services include general eye exams, laser cataract surgery and lens implantation, glaucoma management, retinal disorder treatment, corneal services, neuro-ophthalmology, LASIK laser vision correction, oculoplastic surgery, pediatric ophthalmology, and audiology. Sight Growth Partners is the administrative services provider for SightMD as well as SightMD Connecticut, SightMD New Jersey, and SightMD Pennsylvania. For more information about SightMD, please visit https://www.sightmd.com/sightmd-ny


The Bethlehem World Heritage Council hosted a delegation from Germany to highlight the joint World Heritage Nomination

Today, J. William Reynolds, Mayor of the City of Bethlehem, and Chair of the Bethlehem World Heritage Council, along with representatives of the Council, confirmed that they hosted a delegation from Germany led by the Minister President of the federal state of Saxony, Michael Krestchmer. The delegation toured Bethlehem on Sunday, May 7, 2023. This historic visit provided a unique opportunity to help celebrate the 300th Anniversary of Herrnhut and the Nomination of the Moravian Church Settlements  Herrnhut, Germany; Gracehill in Northern Ireland, UK; and Bethlehem, USA to join Christiansfeld, Denmark, inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2015.

The delegation from Saxony featured more than 30 representatives included Dr. David Michel, Head of Department International Relations; members of the Saxony State Parliament; Susan Leithoff, Vice Chairwoman to CDU-group; Franziska Schubert, Chairwoman to GRUNE-group; and Albrecht Pallas, SPD-group. Members of the Consulate Generals Office in the delegation will include Consulate General David Gill and Vice Consulate Alexander Bartholdt, along with the Mayor of Herrnhut, Willem Riecke.

The Bethlehem World Heritage Council includes Mayor J. William Reynolds; Lamont McClure,

Executive, Northampton County; Curtis Hank Barnette, Vice-Chair; Charlene Donchez Mowers, Senior Advisor & Historian; Dr. Bryon Grigsby, President of Moravian University; Dan Soos, Chief Executive Officer of Bethlehem Area Moravians; Bishop Hopeton Clennon, Central Moravian Church; and LoriAnn Wukitsch, President of Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites.

On Sunday, May 7 at 11:00 a.m. EDT, Mayor Reynolds welcomed the delegation to Bethlehem City Hall for a meeting with the members of the Bethlehem World Heritage Council followed by a performance from the Bach Choir of Bethlehem at Central Moravian Church and a visit to Moravian Universitys Priscilla Payne Hurd campus for lunch, hosted by President Bryon Grigsby.

The days agenda also included a tour of the 10-acre Moravian Church SettlementsBethlehem Site, which has a boundary that is established by the boundary of the Historic Moravian Bethlehem National Historic Landmark District and includes Gods Acre, the 1741 Gemeinhaus, other buildings and the Colonial Industrial Quarter. The delegation ended the tour with a visit to the Moravian Archives.

Herrnhut, located in Saxony, Germany was established in 1722 when a group of members of the Moravian Church found refuge on the estate of Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf. From here in the 1700s, the Moravian Church sent out missionaries and established an international network of Moravian Church Settlements, including Bethlehem and Gracehill, Northern Ireland/UK.

The World Heritage List recognizes cultural and natural sites of universal importance. There are 1,154 sites in 167 countries that have signed the World Heritage Convention. Currently there are 24 World Heritage Sites in the United States.

The final decision on inclusion on the World Heritage list will be made by the World Heritage Committee, composed of representatives from 21 nations elected from the members of the World Heritage Convention and advised by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).
The implications could be catastrophic if the DoD, our biggest line of defense against internal and external cyberthreats, takes one day, one hour, or one minute too long to take corrective actions to remove vulnerability-packed and obsolete hardware and software from its critical IT infrastructure.

When Hollywood depicts the underworld of computer hackers, with pulse-pounding scenes of a battle between good and evil government actors trying to save or take down the world, the lighting is ominous, fingers fly effortlessly across multiple keyboards at once while opening and closing firewalls at lightning speed. And slick federal intelligence agencies always have the latest in flashy, high-tech gadgetry. But reality rarely measures up. The Pentagon, the headquarters of the Department of Defense (DoD), is a powerful symbol of the military might and strength of the United States. However, from 2014 to 2022, 822 government agencies have been victims of cyberattacks, affecting nearly 175 million government records at a cost of approximately $26 billion.(1) The DoD is under the watchful eye of the DoD OIG (Office of Inspector General), and their most recent audit report is a black eye to the reputation of the nations largest government agency. Walt Szablowski, Founder and Executive Chairman of Eracent, which has provided complete visibility into its large enterprise clients networks for over two decades, warns, The implications could be catastrophic if the DoD, our biggest line of defense against internal and external cyberthreats, takes one day, one hour, or one minute too long to take corrective actions to remove vulnerability-packed and obsolete hardware and software from its critical IT infrastructure. Zero Trust Architecture is the biggest and most effective tool in the cybersecurity toolbox.

As recently as January 2023, the world held its collective breath after a ground stop was initiated by the FAA, preventing all aircraft departures and arrivals. Not since the events of 9/11 have such extreme measures been taken. The FAAs final judgment was that an outage in the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system responsible for providing crucial safety information to prevent air disasters was compromised during routine maintenance when one file was mistakenly replaced with another.(2) Three weeks later, the DoD OIG publicly released its Summary of Reports and Testimonies Regarding DoD Cybersecurity from July 1, 2020, Through June 30, 2022 (DODIG-2023-047) audit summarizing the unclassified and classified reports and testimonies regarding DoD cybersecurity.(3)

According to the OIG report, federal agencies are required to follow the guidelines of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. The framework includes five pillars  Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover  to implement highlevel cybersecurity measures that work together as a comprehensive risk management strategy. The OIG and other DoD oversight entities have focused primarily on two pillars  Identify and Protect, with less emphasis on the remaining three  Detect, Respond, and Recover. The report concluded that of the 895 cybersecurity-related recommendations in the current and past summary reports, the DoD still had 478 open security issues dating back as far as 2012.(3)

In May 2021, the White House issued Executive Order 14028: Improving the Nation's Cyber Security, requiring federal agencies to enhance cybersecurity and software supply chain integrity by adopting Zero Trust Architecture with a directive to employ multifactor authentication encryption. Zero Trust enhances the identification of malicious cyber activity on federal networks by facilitating a government-wide endpoint detection and response system. Cybersecurity event log requirements are designed to improve cross-communication between federal government agencies.(4)

Zero Trust Architecture, at its most basic level, assumes the posture of resolute skepticism and mistrust of every component along the cybersecurity supply chain by always presupposing the existence of internal and external threats to the network. But Zero Trust is much more than that.

Implementations of Zero Trust force the organization to finally:



Define the organizations network that is being defended.

Design an organization-specific process and system that protects the network.

Maintain, modify, and monitor the system to ensure the process is working.

Constantly review the process and modify it to address newly defined risks.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is developing a Zero Trust Maturity Model with its own five pillars  Identity, Devices, Network, Data, and Applications and Workloads  to assist government agencies in the development and implementation of Zero Trust strategies and solutions.(5)

Zero Trust Architecture remains a theoretical concept without a structured and auditable process like Eracents ClearArmor Zero Trust Resource Planning (ZTRP) initiative. Its unabridged framework systematically synthesizes all components, software applications, data, networks, and endpoints using real-time audit-risk analysis. Successful deployment of Zero Trust requires every constituent in the software supply chain to prove beyond doubt that it can be trusted and relied upon.

Conventional vulnerability analysis tools do not methodically scrutinize all components of an applications supply chain, such as outdated and obsolete code that can pose a security risk. Szablowski acknowledges and applauds these government initiatives, cautioning, Zero Trust is a clearly defined, managed, and continuously evolving process; it is not one and done. The first step is to define the size and scope of the network and identify what needs to be protected. What are the greatest risks and priorities? Then create a prescribed set of guidelines in an automated, continuous, and repeatable management process on a single management and reporting platform.

About Eracent

Walt Szablowski is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Eracent and serves as Chair of Eracents subsidiaries (Eracent SP ZOO, Warsaw, Poland; Eracent Private LTD in Bangalore, India, and Eracent Brazil). Eracent helps its customers meet the challenges of managing IT network assets, software licenses, and cybersecurity in todays complex and evolving IT environments. Eracents enterprise clients save significantly on their annual software spend, reduce their audit and security risks, and establish more efficient asset management processes. Eracents client base includes some of the worlds largest corporate and government networks and IT environments. Dozens of Fortune 500 companies rely on Eracent solutions to manage and protect their networks. Visit https://eracent.com/.

References:

1) Bischoff, P. (2022, November 29). Government breaches - can you trust the US government with your data? Comparitech. Retrieved April 28, 2023, from comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/us-government-breaches/

2) FAA Notam Statement. FAA NOTAM Statement | Federal Aviation Administration. (n.d.). Retrieved February 1, 2023, from.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-notam-statement

3) Summary of reports and testimonies regarding DOD cybersecurity from July 1, 2020, through. Department of Defense Office of Inspector General. (2023, January 30). Retrieved April 28, 2023, from dodig.mil/reports.html/Article/3284561/summary-of-reports-and-testimonies-regarding-dod-cybersecurity-from-july-1-2020/

4) Executive order 14028: Improving the nation's cybersecurity. GSA. (2021, October 28). Retrieved March 29, 2023, from gsa.gov/technology/technology-products-services/it-security/executive-order-14028-improving-the-nations-cybersecurity

5) CISA releases updated Zero trust maturity model: CISA. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency CISA. (2023, April 25). Retrieved April 28, 2023, from cisa.gov/news-events/news/cisa-releases-updated-zero-trust-maturity-model#:~:text=The%20five%20pillars%20of%20the,the%202021%20public%20comment%20period
Twenty outstanding technology executives from across the United States have been named Finalists in four HCLTech Supercharging Progress categories in The 21st Annual American Business Awards. Were privileged to have HCLTech continue as a sponsor of the ABAs and to have so many accomplished technology executives as Finalists for Stevie Awards. All of them will be recognized as Gold, Silver, or Bronze Stevie winners.

Twenty outstanding technology executives from across the United States have been named Finalists in four HCLTech Supercharging Progress categories in The 21st Annual American Business Awards, the top honors for achievement in the workplace in the USA.

A jury of technology professionals from around the world will determine the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award placements from among the Finalists. The placements will be revealed during The American Business Awards banquet at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City on Tuesday, June 13.

The Finalists are:

Excellence in Transforming Business

Finalists:

Fiserv Inc., Brookfield, Wisconsin: Samir Ghuge, Head Strategy & Planning, Office of COO

Marriott International, Memphis, Tennessee: Naveen Manga, CTO

Papa Johns, Louisville, Kentucky: Yasaswi Pulavarti, VP, Digital Transformation and Engineering

Tenet Healthcare, Dallas, Texas: Paola Arbour, CIO

Verizon, Irving, Texas: Senthil Muthusamy, VP

WestRock Fulfillment Company, Duluth, Georgia: Joseph Hinkle, Vice President

Leadership in Next Gen Technology

Finalists:

Canadian Tire Corporation, Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Linda Siksna, SVP

Legend Biotech, Somerset, New Jersey: Dadong Li, Head of Information Technology

Sonoco Products Company, Hartsville, South Carolina: Andrea White, CIO

Verizon, New York, New York: Praveen Atreya, VP

Leading Through Uncertainty

Finalists:

Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC, Durham, North Carolina: Jo Abernathy, Chief Information Officer

Disney Parks Experience and Products, Orlando, Florida: Gail Evans, EVP-Chief Digital & Technology Officer

Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan: Sucheta Walimbe, Global Head Infrastructure

Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., Boston, Massachusetts: John A. Gigerich, CIO

Stanley Black & Decker, Hartford, Connecticut: Stephen Desiderio, VP Global IT Operation

New Normal Digital Transformer

Finalists:

GlaxoSmithKline, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Agam Upadhyay, SVP & Chief Technology Officer

Portland General Electric, Portland, Oregon: John Kochavatr, CIO and VP, Customer & Digital Solutions

IHG, Atlanta, Georgia: Alvin Smith, Vice President Global Infrastructure Architecture

The Walt Disney Company, Seattle, Washington: Diane Jurgens, Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer

True Value, Chicago, Illinois: John Armbrecht, CTO & CIO

HCLTech is a long-time sponsor of The American Business Awards. HCLTech is a global technology company, home to more than 225,900 people across 60 countries, delivering industry-leading capabilities centered around digital, engineering and cloud, powered by a broad portfolio of technology services and products. We work with clients across all major verticals, providing industry solutions for Financial Services, Manufacturing, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Technology and Services, Telecom and Media, Retail and CPG, and Public Services. Consolidated revenues as of 12 months ending March 2023 totaled $12.6 billion. To learn how we can supercharge progress for you, visit hcltech.com.

Stevie Awards President Maggie Miller commented on the Finalists: Were privileged to have HCLTech continue as a sponsor of the ABAs and to have so many accomplished technology executives as Finalists for Stevie Awards. All of them will be recognized as Gold, Silver, or Bronze Stevie winners, and we look forward to welcoming them on stage to receive their due recognition on June 13.

The American Business Awards recognize achievement in every facet of the workplace, from customer service and marketing to management, new product development, and technology. The Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners in other categories in the ABAs were announced in April. The full list of those winners is featured at http://www.StevieAwards.com/ABA.

About the Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. 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 performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.

Sponsors of The 2023 American Business Awards include HCLTech, Melissa Sones Consulting, and SoftPro.


Above: This photo features posters from ICPS 2023 in Brussels, the most recent APS convention.

A highlight of every APS convention since 1991 is the poster sessions, where hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students, along with psychological scientists at all levels, present their research and engage in discussions with interested colleagues. The following responses reveal the motivations and personal stories behind many of the best student posters accepted for APS 2023, May 2528 in Washington, D.C., as selected by reviewers for the four categories of awards. Congratulations to all the student award winners!

Responses have been minimally edited for publication.

2023 Student Research Award | 2023 RISE Research Award | 2023 Emerging Scholar Award | 2023 Scott O. Lilienfeld APS Travel Award

2023 Student Research Award Recipients

The Student Research Award promotes and acknowledges outstanding research conducted by student members of APS. Learn more about the Student Research Award, including eligibility and how to apply.

On the Relations Between Intellectual Humility and Political and Religious Polarization

Shauna Bowes

Shauna Bowes (Emory University)

This poster also received a Lilienfeld Award

What drew you to your research?

I am fascinated with understanding polarization susceptibility and identifying ways to reduce it. I think intellectual humility is one fruitful path to explore in this regard. Yet no research studies had examined whether intellectual humility was equally related to less polarization across belief domains and belief identities. If intellectual humility is a powerful way to reduce polarization, then it should be related to less polarization across beliefs and belief identities. Thus, I wanted to uncover whether intellectual humility was equally related to less political and religious polarization across belief identities (e.g., Republicans, Democrats, Christians, atheists).

What did the research reveal to you that you didnt already know?

The research revealed that polarization is polarization in the context of intellectual humility. Relations between intellectual humility and polarization remained consistent across belief domains and identities.

What are your plans going forward?

I want to experimentally manipulate intellectual humility to ascertain whether it does indeed reduce polarization. I also want to recruit political and religious extremists to get a better handle on whether intellectual humility buffers against polarization even among those with strong commitments to their beliefs.

A Network Comparison of Sexual Dysfunction, Psychological Factors, and Body Dissociation Between Individuals With and Without Sexual Trauma Histories

Yen-Ling Chen

Yen-Ling Chen (University of Nevada, Las Vegas)

What drew you to your research?

I have always been interested in applying novel statistical approaches to the field of clinical psychology, with the goal of connecting science and practice to improve clinical assessment and treatment. I am trained in delivering trauma-informed care, and I aim to integrate knowledge about trauma into research and practices. This includes recognizing the widespread impact of trauma on an individuals life experience. In this research project, our team is particularly interested in the impact of sexual trauma on both sexual and mental health.

What did the research reveal to you that you didnt already know?

Dissociative symptoms are common in the context of traumatic stress. In this study, we identified a specific core symptom in the networkfeeling separated from the body during sexual activitythat appeared to be related to sexual dysfunction in individuals with sexual trauma histories. Furthermore, results from this research provide preliminary evidence of gender differences in the relationship between sexual and mental health.

What are your plans going forward?

I am currently finishing my predoctoral clinical internship at UC Davis Medical Center. I plan to stay at UC Davis Medical Center for my postdoctoral fellowship starting this summer.

Intellectually Humble Science: Perceptions and Implications

Jonah Koetke

Jonah Koetke (University of Pittsburgh)

This poster also received a Lilienfeld Award

What drew you to your research?

In our past work, we examined how peoples own levels of intellectual humility are associated with less biased information processing and therefore more productive conflict resolution. This current line of work takes this general idea but looks at it from another angle: How does seeing someone as intellectually humble impact our perceptions of them? Critically, we were interested in putting this in the important context of trust in science.

What did the research reveal to you that you didnt already know?

In these studies, participants trusted scientists more when they were intellectually humble. I think this is important for us as we continue to write, conduct, and communicate research to members of the public. How can we express intellectual humility when sharing research?

What are your plans going forward?

For this line of work, we hope to identify strategies scientists can use to communicate their intellectual humility when talking to the public or the press. Outside of this line of work, I plan to continue researching antecedents and outcomes of moral and political conflict.

Examining the Association Between Self-Regulation and Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents: A Longitudinal Design

Yifan Yuan

Yifan Yuan (College of William & Mary)

What drew you to your research?

My interest in youth suicidality research originated from my volunteering experience as a peer supporter, through which I met a young client who expressed their preoccupation with the possibility of attempting suicide later in life. During in-depth conversations with them, I observed how multiple (both long-term and short-term) factors throughout their life may have contributed to their thought. I became surprised at how current literature lacks an understanding of youth suicidality from a developmental psychopathology perspective and hoped to identify the risk factors along the developmental progression of youth suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

What did the research reveal to you that you didnt already know?

My research suggested that adolescents with greater emotion reactivity reported greater suicidal ideation. Surprisingly, middle childhood self-regulatory factors (i.e., emotion dysregulation, autonomic nervous system dysregulation) did not predict suicidal ideation in adolescence. Since emotion reactivity data were collected in early adolescence (age 13), whereas other self-regulatory factors were assessed in middle childhood (ages 810), one explanation would be that proximal risk factors were stronger predictors of adolescent suicidal ideation than distal risk factors.

What are your plans going forward?

This research is part of my senior thesis project. I hope to incorporate additional predictors (i.e., life stress, inhibitory control, demographics characteristics) into my future analyses. After graduating from William & Mary, I plan to pursue a masters degree at San Diego State University and conduct research on irritability in children and adolescents. My long-term plan is to become a clinical psychologist and work toward promoting the well-being of youth as a lifelong pursuit.

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2023 RISE Research Award Recipients

The RISE Research Award acknowledges outstanding psychological science research related to under-represented populations or conducted by students from diverse backgrounds. Learn more about the RISE Research Award, including eligibility and how to apply.

Women from Minority Ethnolinguistic Communities Struggle to Access United States Healthcare

Nuo (Lori) Chen

Nuo (Lori) Chen (Union College)

What drew you to your research?

As someone who is deeply concerned about issues related to womens health and well-being, I was drawn to health equity research because I believe that there is still much work to be done to ensure that all women have access to the care and resources they need to thrive. I have been struck by the lack of attention given to the healthcare needs of minority women, who are often overlooked or marginalized in mainstream healthcare systems. This issue hits particularly close to home for me. I have witnessed firsthand the difficulties that my mother and grandmother faced when attempting to access the healthcare they needed due to a multitude of factors such as language barriers. My personal experience has fueled my passion for researching ways to improve minority womens healthcare access and outcomes. By providing the foundational knowledge needed to develop strategies for overcoming these barriers, I aim to take one step forward to providing minority women with the care they need and deserve. Further, I hope my work sheds light on the unique challenges that exist within the healthcare system for minority women, encouraging policy changes that will begin to promote greater equity and inclusivity in healthcare.

What did the research reveal to you that you didnt already know?

The findings have revealed a number of important insights into the issue of healthcare access for women from minority ethnic communities. A key finding involved differences within minority womens access to healthcare. While race was a significant predictor of accessing healthcare for womens health, differences were found between Asian and Black/African American women. This was particularly noteworthy, as it suggests significant disparities in womens healthcare access even between minority groups.

Another important finding was the interaction between race and naive language in predicting access to healthcare for womens healthcare. Black/African American women who spoke English were found to access healthcare significantly different from Hispanic women who spoke Spanish, as well as from Chinese/Chinese American women who spoke Cantonese or Japanese. This highlights the importance of considering both language and race in understanding the barriers that women from minority communities may face when seeking healthcare. Overall, these findings have provided me with valuable insights into the complexities of healthcare access for women from minority ethnolinguistic communities. They underscore the need for a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system that takes into account the diverse needs and experiences of all women.

What are your plans going forward?

My initial work led to several intriguing questions for future investigations. First, I plan to delve deeper into the entwined roles of culture and language within minority ethnolinguistic communities as they relate to healthcare. Specifically, I would like to investigate the impact of cultural values on healthcare access and outcomes for minority women. Further, cultural values and languages are often deeply embedded within one another. Therefore, investigations into the interaction between language and culture in shaping healthcare access and experiences among minority women are needed.

Furthermore, my initial study was limited to women in a specific age range (4055). Though it is possible that differences between majority and minority ethnolinguistic communities only appear in a very specific period within the lifespan, I would instead hypothesize that across a wider age range womens age influences healthcare access. Therefore, I plan to expand my work research to include women across a broader age range. This will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the factors that contribute to disparities in healthcare access and outcomes. I am looking forward to beginning graduate school in developmental psychology at the University of Michigans College of Literature, Science, and the Arts in the fall of 2023. I will be a member of the Language & Literacy laboratory and advised by Dr. Ioulia Kovelman.

Some Ethnoracial Groups Are More Likely Than Others to Experience Impacts from Microaggressions

Monica Echols

Monica Echols (Fielding Graduate University)

What drew you to your research?

I was drawn to this topic because I have often found myself on the receiving end of microaggressions, having experienced them countless times. As a result of my personal experiences, I can attest to the damage they can cause. There have been instances when I believe that the perpetrator of the microaggression did not realize that their behavior was offensive, but that did not diminish the harm done.

What did the research reveal to you that you didnt already know?

The results gave me a deeper understanding of how microaggressions negatively impact groups such as Asian and Hispanic Americans. Upon further reflection, I came to the realization that I too have been guilty of committing microaggressions against others. It has become increasingly clear to me that it is crucial for us to acknowledge and educate ourselves on this topic, as the repercussions of microaggressions can be detrimental to individuals.

What are your plans going forward?

I aspire to gain acceptance into a doctoral program in clinical psychology. One of the reasons why I am so passionate about this field is because I strongly believe that it lacks representation of our national demographics. Therefore, my goal is to become a part of the solution and help create a more diverse and inclusive psychology field.

The Majority of Sexual Minority Men on Dating Apps Engage in Drunkorexia

Amanda Vincent

Amanda Vincent (Xavier University)

What drew you to your research?

Throughout my graduate school training, I came to understand research as a pathway to enact justice. It became increasingly clear that research with marginalized and underserved groups needs to directly benefit members of those groups. Those individuals cannot wait for researchers to slowly accumulate volumes of theoretically based research articles before acting in a way that promotes justice.

As I dove into the existing research on both disordered eating and substance use, I was struck by how few articles focused on sexual minority men and the many problems that were present in the little research available. For example, much of the research ignored the diversity that exists within the male gay community. This was especially true for research on drunkorexia, which combined my two research interests but primarily used samples of college students. I became interested in expanding research on drunkorexia to a sample of sexual minority men to both gain a deeper understanding of drunkorexia and its predictors as well as determine the rates of drunkorexia among sexual minority men. I also wanted to know if drunkorexia was a community-reinforced behavior, and I wanted to assess for differences between subcultures within the male gay community.

What did the research reveal to you that you didnt already know?

The majority of my sample endorsed engaging in drunkorexia, but overall perceptions of pressure to engage in drunkorexia across the sample were low. This was surprising, as existing literature suggests the presence of extensive anti-fat bias among sexual minority men. Additionally, nearly all participants endorsed belonging to a gay subculture, and there was quite a bit of overlap between subcultures. There is such little research on gay subcultures that I did not have any clear expectations regarding subculture membership prior to this study.

What are your plans going forward?

I am set to graduate with my PsyD in August 2023 and have accepted a post-doctoral position at the Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center for specialized training in treating severe mental illnesses.

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2023 Emerging Scholar Award Recipients

To celebrate the research and contributions of the APS Student Caucus members from diverse backgrounds, the Emerging Scholar Research Award recognizes individuals based on their personal statement, poster abstract submitted to the APS Annual Conference, and CV. Learn more about the Emerging Scholar Research Award.

Naturalness Shapes Support of Sustainable Technology

Sarah Gonzalez Coffin

Sarah Gonzalez Coffin (University of Colorado, Boulder)

What drew you to your research?

From my earliest memories as a child, I remember the fires. Severe droughts induced by climate change, booming migration to California, and the rechanneling of water from the local Sierra Nevada Mountains to the southern affluent regions of the state left my rural northern mountain town vulnerable to fire disasters. Water restrictions, bans on water collection, and regulations plagued our lands, driving up water prices and exacerbating inequality of water access. My childhood town of Grizzly Flats has since burned down entirely as a side effect of the droughts, leaving a very personal imprint of climate disaster on my life. As the daughter of a Chiricahua Apache woman, I was raised with the teaching that humans and nature are meant to exist symbiotically. I recognized that climate change was a human-caused problem with a human-based solution. Despite this, I also realized that much of the work to address climate change did not emphasize the role that people play in successfully carrying out climate solutions. These experiences and beliefs instilled in me a drive to advance research in social psychology on how decision-making processes can shape public support of climate solutions, inform mitigation efforts for severe droughts and other climate disasters, and facilitate advancement toward a sustainable relationship between people and the planet.

What did the research reveal to you that you didnt already know?

Our research finds that naturalnessor how nature-like sustainable technologies are perceived to beis positively related to public support of technology in the United States. In fact, across 16 different sustainability technologies (e.g., alternative proteins, low-carbon energy, carbon dioxide removal), we saw that when U.S. residents saw technologies as more natural, they also saw them as more beneficial, familiar, understood, and less risky. These findings are exciting, as they suggest that naturalness is a key factor the public is considering in making decisions about climate change adaptation and mitigation technologies across a number of domains.

What are your plans going forward?

I aim to secure a tenure-track position at a research-focused university. My dream is to one day have my own research lab, where I will work with graduate and undergraduate students in studying the intersection of psychological decision-making and the way we relate to the natural environment. As an Indigenous woman and a first-generation graduate student, I look forward to continuing my work in reducing barriers for underrepresented researchers to join and contribute to the field of social/environmental psychology.

Within-Person Combinations of Individual, Familial, Neighborhood and Structural Factors Differentially Relate to Antisocial Behavior and Legal System Involvement

Jordyn R. Ricard

Jordyn R. Ricard (Yale University)

What drew you to your research?

The devastating impact of the health disparities disproportionately impacting low-income, Black, and minoritized communities was something I witnessed first-hand growing up in government-assisted housing in St. Paul, Minnesota. Many of the members of my community experienced the effects of community gang violence and mass incarceration. In addition to keeping Black people in my life entrapped within the criminal legal system, these experiences negatively affected their mental health. Although there was great need, they often lacked access to mental health treatment. These painful experiences inspired me to seek opportunities to combat mental health disparities. Specifically, research served as a way for me to better understand systemic causes of violence and to aid in intervening upon them. My experiences and the experiences of those from my family and community bolster my desire to continue researching the impact of systemic oppression, specifically by the criminal legal system, on marginalized communities with the purpose of informing actionable, policy-level change that targets inequitable and violent structures.

What did the research reveal to you that you didnt already know?

Prior studies in this area have provided valuable understanding of the relationship between various individual, familial, neighborhood, and structural factors and antisocial behavior. Much of this work, though, focuses on one factor at a time or the interaction between two factors. My research reinforces the significance of these factors but expands upon the existing literature by exploring the intersectional interplay among individual, familial, neighborhood, and structural factors. We found that representing factors across multiple levels of analysis revealed distinct intersectional combinations among factors and associations with different subtypes of antisocial behavior.

What are your plans going forward?

I am interested in using an integrated conceptualization of risk and protective factors across levels of analysis (from the individual to the structural) to aid in the development of targeted interventions. Ultimately, I would like my work to be used to facilitate collaborations across stakeholders (e.g., community members, practitioners, policymakers) to create interventions that prevent people from becoming entrapped in the legal system.

Comparing Network Structures of Depressive Symptoms and Covariates between Females and Males in a Large Cross-Sectional Sample

Christopher Huong

Christopher Huong (The University of Texas at San Antonio)

What drew you to your research?

Many experiences and books have led me to understand that studying psychopathology was my calling. One of those experiences was volunteering for the suicide and crisis lifeline. Understanding the varieties of human misery is a crucial component to the successful promotion of individual and societal flourishing.

What did the research reveal to you that you didnt already know?

Understanding how the structure of symptom networks compare between groups, such as sex, revealed how depression may be uniquely experienced, and how risk factors and treatment strategies may differ.

What are your plans going forward?

I plan to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology and a career in academic research.

Factors That Influence Black College Students Perceptions and Experiences With Campus Mental Health Services: A Mixed-Method Investigation

Ariana Rivens

Ariana Rivens (University of Virginia)

What drew you to your research?

This project was motivated by many facets of my research, clinical practice, and values as a graduate trainee in clinical psychology. My research program strives to increase and improve mental health service utilization among Black emerging adults given the well-documented barriers to care, and I designed this study with the goal of sharing research findings back to the participants and the institution of study. This interest was furthered once I reviewed the literature suggesting that while racial disparities in mental health service use exist between Black emerging adults and their White peers, these disparities may be less prominent in college counseling centers. After conducting research focused on Black emerging adults and serving as a trainee in the university counseling center, I became even more interested in what factors inform Black college students decisions to seek care from this accessible treatment option and the ways in which these factors relate to core components of the participants and college counseling center (e.g., stigma, perceived therapist cultural competence). Given the importance of understanding how Black students actually experience these college counseling centers, the study also asked students to share what areas of strength and growth they identified when receiving care. My hope was that these findings could help college counseling centers understand how to best encourage Black students to utilize their services and ensure their services address the needs of Black students once they make it through the door. In short, this study reflects my priorities as an applied researcher and clinician who seeks to improve the systems meant to ameliorate distress.

What did the research reveal to you that you didnt already know?

Many things, but to choose one, it was illuminating to better understand Black college students perceptions of their college counseling center measured in the quantitative survey aligned with the self-reported perceptions described in the qualitative interviews. For example, when discussing the accessibility of their college counseling center, many students I interviewed noted that though they understood the college counseling center as a highly recommended, centrally located health service, they did not fully understand the specifics what the center offered. For some students, this lack of clarity about the centers services made it difficult to see how it could effectively help them when they were experiencing distress. This finding, coupled with others from both phases of the study, suggests there are distinctions between being aware of a university entity and how its functions are directly relevant to ones experience. As someone who seeks to serve Black and other marginalized students through my research and clinical practice, it was a great reminder about the importance of explicitly describing the nature of counseling center services and setting expectations for students new to therapy.

What are your plans going forward?

Over the past six months, I have conducted and analyzed semi-structured individual interviews with a subset of participants who completed the quantitative survey. Given this is my dissertation research, Im in the process of writing up the final document in preparation for my dissertation defense this year. Following my defense, I plan to prepare this research for publication and disseminate the findings to relevant stakeholders at the institution of study and the participants themselves.

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2023 Scott O. Lilienfeld APS Travel Award Recipients

This award seeks to honor and extend Scott O. Lilienfelds influence on the next generation of clinical scientists by recognizing graduate student poster-presenters at the APS Annual Convention each year. Learn about Scott O. Lilienfeld and the travel award in his name.

On the Relations Between Intellectual Humility and Political and Religious Polarization

Shauna Bowes (Emory University)

This poster also received a 2023 Student Research Award

What drew you to your research?

I am fascinated with understanding polarization susceptibility and identifying ways to reduce it. I think intellectual humility is one fruitful path to explore in this regard. Yet no research studies had examined whether intellectual humility was equally related to less polarization across belief domains and belief identities. If intellectual humility is a powerful way to reduce polarization, then it should be related to less polarization across beliefs and belief identities. Thus, I wanted to uncover whether intellectual humility was equally related to less political and religious polarization across belief identities (e.g., Republicans, Democrats, Christians, atheists).

What did the research reveal to you that you didnt already know?

The research revealed that polarization is polarization in the context of intellectual humility. Relations between intellectual humility and polarization remained consistent across belief domains and identities.

What are your plans going forward?

I want to experimentally manipulate intellectual humility to ascertain whether it does indeed reduce polarization. I also want to recruit political and religious extremists to get a better handle on whether intellectual humility buffers against polarization even among those with strong commitments to their beliefs.

Intellectually Humble Science: Perceptions and Implications

Jonah Koetke (University of Pittsburgh)

This poster also received a 2023 Student Research Award

What drew you to your research?

In our past work, we examined how peoples own levels of intellectual humility are associated with less biased information processing and therefore more productive conflict resolution. This current line of work takes this general idea but looks at it from another angle: How does seeing someone as intellectually humble impact our perceptions of them? Critically, we were interested in putting this in the important context of trust in science.

What did the research reveal to you that you didnt already know?

In these studies, participants trusted scientists more when they were intellectually humble. I think this is important for us as we continue to write, conduct, and communicate research to members of the public. How can we express intellectual humility when sharing research?

What are your plans going forward?

For this line of work, we hope to identify strategies scientists can use to communicate their intellectual humility when talking to the public or the press. Outside of this line of work, I plan to continue researching antecedents and outcomes of moral and political conflict.

A Panel Network Approach to Understanding the Interplay of Substance Use, Mental Health Problems, and Executive Functioning Throughout Adolescence

Rene Freichel (University of Amsterdam)

No responses received

A fourth category of APS Student Awards is the Psi Chi | APS Albert Bandura Graduate Research Award, which honors Albert Bandura with a competition for the best research by a graduate student in empirical psychology. The recipient of the 2023 award had not been announced at the time of writing. Learn about Albert Bandura and the research award in his name.

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Elnur Enveroglu

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with President of the European Council Charles Michel in Brussels in his visit to the Kingdom of Belgium.

Having welcomed the restoration of the Brussels format of the process of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, both Azerbaijani and EU Council leaders first discussed the developments related to Azerbaijan-Armenia relations in recent months, the Washington negotiations, the situation on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border, as well as the agenda of the trilateral meeting held with the participation of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the European Council Charles Michel and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.

In fact, in this meeting, the disappointment of the Prime Minister of Armenia was of a clear manifestation of his failure; for some reason, Pashinyan, who has been dreaming for France's participation in the meeting for a long time, was looking destitute and hopeless. This meeting shows that the Brussels format is being restored, and after the meeting in Prague there were some problems in the implementation of the Brussels format. So, as a result of France's intervention, France and Armenia purposefully wanted to hold a meeting in a quadrilateral format and worked in this direction.

This time, the political power of Azerbaijan defeats the French-Armenian duo and waters down their dreams; as a result, thanks to Azerbaijan's will and firm position, a meeting is held in the Brussels format, and this meeting takes place without France.

As a matter of fact, both Pashinyan and his entourage did not want to come, insisting that they would not participate in this format. But in the end they had to come

In general, in the Brussels format, Azerbaijan feels completely comfortable in the meetings held in the trilateral format and does not see any hostile attitude in this meeting. On the whole, relations between the EU and Azerbaijan are normal, but France's intervention has given the process a completely different content.

In general, a country like France, which has taken a pro-Armenian position and publicly demonstrates it, should not interfere in the peace processes between the two countries. Such a move could have seriously undermined the transparency of the Brussels format. The fact that France did not participate in this meeting, the gaps in both the internal and foreign policy of France are of great importance here. The influence of France, for example, within the EU itself has dramatically decreased in recent times. This is a direct result of the reforms that Macron wants to implement in France and the resistance of the French people and so on, as well as the failed policies of France itself in Africa and in various countries around the world. As a result, Pashinyan came again, and here the Brussels peace agenda and Azerbaijan's will is to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region. In other words, it is the Armenian side that prevents the peace process to realise.

Besides, it should be noted that the next meeting is expected in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova - also with the participation of France. However, the fact that Germany and France will participate in the upcoming meeting of the European Political Union in Chisinau will be purely informal. Within the framework of this forum, as a whole, various external events and meetings are expected to be held within the framework of every international event. In the framework of such an external meeting, the participation of Germany and France can be ensured and they can participate in an informal way.

As regards the Germany's participation, it is of course, very normal for Azerbaijan. Germany is a friendly partner state with Azerbaijan which was tangible with its unequivocal position against Armenia's policy of occupation. In the sense that Germany has always said that we recognize the territorial integrity of all countries, Azerbaijan. Moving borders by force is not acceptable for Azerbaijan, and Germany's intervention in this process aims to partially neutralize this position of pro-Armenian France. Germany itself understood very well that French intervention could lead the process in a negative direction.

In a nutshell, the Brussels format is restored. This meeting is directly an example of it, and it has a trilateral nature, EU-Azerbaijan-Armenia. There is no question of mediation here. Charles Michel simply acts in a supporting role and function in the proceedings. The basis of the Brussels peace agenda is the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the signing of a peace treaty and the restoration of communications. In this meeting, humanitarian issues, the problem of landmines, and the problem of missing persons were of a very urgent nature. Although Armenia spoke against holding the meeting in this format, in the end, Pashinyan still gave his consent to participate in this format and he came and participated at the meeting. As regards the fourth party, i.e, France's participation, as we have seen, was feasible. So, this means that Brussels meeting is the total expression of Azerbaijan's political power, where Azerbaijan has shown its will again.
SPRING CREEK  Past activities have included the State Convention, Tree Sales, Sporting Clay Shoot, and Mule Deer Dinner.

State Convention

As this year comes to a close we are happy and proud of our Silver Sage FFA Chapter who competed at the state convention and took first in four Career Development Events:

Ag Mech: Leah Smith, Hyland Burton, Zane Wines, Daniel Mendez

Ag Sales: Simon Shafner, Colton Hanson, Daniel Mendez, Charlie Wright

Novice Ag Mech: Charlie Wright, Wyatt Mclard, Douglas Iliff, Brock Campbell

Marketing Plan: Rachel Kalvelage, Dallie Jensen, Hyland Burton

We are proud of all 45 of our members for participating at the Nevada State Convention. Their efforts did not go unnoticed by those who have earned individual awards. We want to congratulate our STAR proficiencies and Rachel Kalvelage for earning Gold in Diversified Livestock along with receiving the Don Campbell Scholarship. Our officer team performed greatly with their books this year, receiving the Superior chapter and National chapter awarded to Rachel Kalvelage and the officer team. The officers also received Gold High:

Reporters Book: Hyland Burton

Secretary Book: Lavanna Collins

Treasurer Book: Trent Sarman

Historian Book: Ramsey Bottari

Tree Sales

Our chapter had the opportunity to work with the Nevada Department of Forestry to provide trees to our community through our FFA chapter, allowing us to receive funds for our Nationals trip and simultaneously helping out the NDF organization.

Sporting Clay Shoot

We are happy to announce all the businesses that helped and supported our Annual FFA Clay Shoot. Without their support it truly wouldnt be possible for our chapter to hold such an amazing event! We look forward to next years clay shoot and working with all these local businesses. We want to congratulate our first place team NA Dagerstrom Matt Coffin, Bruce Whalen, Steve Dorsa, Joe Osborn and Eric Paniaguea.

Businesses that donated prizes for our general raffle were Gateway, four $50 gift cards; Highmark, $550 donation; and Precision Engraving, water bottles.

Silver Sage FFA Trap Shoot fundraiser Winners of the Silver Sage FFA Trap Shoot fundraiser

These businesses sponsored a station for which we placed advertisement signs at the range:

Pizza Barn, Ruby Dome, Gun World, Wells Auto and Hardware, Gallagher Ford, Slater Seeding, American Ag Credit, Gary Konakis Automotive, Ruby Mountain Spring Water, Knights Cabinets, Boss Tanks, Modern Concrete, Empire Cat, Ignite Chiropractic, The Pill Box, Total Eyecare, Quantum Electric, Lacey Equipment Repair, I&E Electric, Arms R Us, Riverton GMC, River Clares Pet Cremation Service, Dukes Diesel, Aspen Vet Clinic, Les Schwab Tires, Elko Federal Credit Union, High Desert Engineering, B3 Glass, Direct Force Maintenance, Orsi Transport, Cashell Mechanical, CORE International, Cummins, High Mark, Everything Elko, Family Dental Care.

Mule Deer Dinner

Each year the Mule Deer Foundation allows a few members to help with selling raffle tickets, displaying prizes, delivering prizes, and more! This event helps our members gain a few funds to help with the costs of the National Convention. We appreciate the opportunity to help out with the Mule Deer Foundation and look forward to next years events!

Sponsors and Supporters

Thank you to the booster club (Alumni & Supporters) and rotary for their continued support. Rotary sponsors our students for the RYLA camp experience and our FFA Booster organization continues to raise money for our student members through scholarships, stipends, and help with national finances. We also had the opportunity through Nevada Gold Mines to take all State Degree recipients to the State Convention for no cost to those members.

We welcome all Silver Sage FFA parents to come to our next meeting to help support our students in planning our largest fundraiser of the year, Ranchers Round-Up. Please join us May 25 at 6 p.m. in Mr. Smiths Ag room at Spring Creek High School.

Upcoming Activities:

End of the year BBQ, May 17

AG in the classes, May 18

SLC Parent Meeting, May 17

SLC Camp, June 19-22
The rings of Saturn have puzzled astronomers ever since they were first seen by Galileo during his first observations of this planet in 1610. In my Astronomy 101 class at Great Basin College we would sometimes take the telescope outside (it was always a night class) and look at the ringed planet if it happened to be in the evening sky at that time. Most students were awestruck at seeing the tiny banded ball with a flat lined circle around it. It was just like in our textbook silently traveling along in the void of space.

Because the planet takes twenty-nine-and-a-half years to revolve around the Sun there are times its rings disappear because they point directly towards the Earth. Seeing Saturn without its ring system is a disappointment and this will happen again in 2024.

One unanswered question astronomers have is: how did the ring system originate in the first place. At GBC we taught the two theories scientists have on this subject. The first was proposed by French astronomer Edouard Roche in 1848 who said that any body, such as a tiny moon or comet, approaching the huge gravitational field of Saturn could be pulled apart because parts of the satellite that are closer to the planet are attracted more strongly by the gravity than other parts that are farther away within its body. Once the moon gets closer than the Roche Limit, its all over and the incoming object breaks apart. Numerical simulations carried out in 2022 support this theory with the authors of that study going so far as suggesting the name Chrysalis for the destroyed moon.

The second theory that has somewhat fallen out of favor is that the rings were never part of a moon, but are instead left over from the original nebular material from which Saturn formed out of a proto-planet, 4.5 billion years ago.

From the space probes that have journeyed past the planet we know that Saturns rings are an array of rocky and icy fragments. If we believe the first hypothesis, they are pieces of moons, asteroids and comets that have ventured too close. From photos we know this results in a combination of huge, mountain-sized rocks and smaller chunks of ice that bang into each other as they orbit around the planet. It was found in the 1980s that many of the larger objects in the planets rings are coated in a layer of dust.

The brightness and purity of the water ice in Saturns rings, as gathered by researchers analyzing data from the recent Cassini Titan Radar Mapper, has been cited as evidence that the rings are quite young because if they were billions of years old the rings would appear darker. Now, a new study, putting this on a quantitative footing, led by physicist Sascha Kempf at the University of Colorado Boulder has delivered the strongest evidence yet that Saturns rings are remarkably young. His research, published May 12 in the journal Science Advances, proposes the age of Saturns rings at no more than 400 million years old, or about a tenth of the planets age.

According to the university website: In a way, weve gotten closure on a question that started with James Clerk Maxwell, said Kempf, associate professor in the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at UC Boulder. The researchers arrived at the 400 million year estimate by studying what might seem to be an unusual subject: interplanetary dust.

This space dust, like that scattered throughout Elko, is ubiquitous and spans the void between objects in our Solar System. It consists of tiny grains of rocky material that prevails at a density of 1E-16 grams/cubic meter. As Saturn travels along in its orbit, it sweeps up some of these particles, with a good deal landing on the ice that makes up Saturns rings.

The Boulder team set out to put a date on Saturns rings by studying how rapidly this layer of dust builds up, nothing short of a Herculean task. From 2004 to 2017, the team used an instrument called the Cosmic Dust Analyzer aboard NASAs late Cassini spacecraft (it was purposely crashed onto the planet in 2017) to analyze specks of dust flying around Saturn. Over those 13 years, the researchers collected just 163 grains of dust in Saturns neck of the woods. With this gauge, and knowing how much dust has been accumulating on the ring ice, calculations show that Saturns rings have likely been gathering dust for only a few hundred million years. A blink of an eye on the cosmic timescale. A mere infant.

Again from the website: We know approximately how old the rings are, but it doesnt solve any of our other problems, Kempf said. We still dont know how these rings formed in the first place.
On May 12, workers at Barnes & Noble College Booksellers at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J., voted unanimously to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). The RWDSU will represent approximately 70 workers at the store in contract negotiations, which will commence this year.

The B&N College Rutgers location is the latest bookseller in the New York area to join the RWDSU, whose members include McNally Jackson, which unionized in 2019, and Greenlight Bookstore, which unionized in 2021, among other bookstores. Earlier this month, the workers at B&N's flagship store in Union Square also filed a union election petition with the RWDSU. (B&N's college stores are operated by B&N Education, a public company, which is owned and operated separately from B&N.)

In the last few years, bookstore unions across the country have gained significant ground, owing partly to the stresses of the pandemic. Since 2020, Bookshop Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, Calif.; Elliot Bay Book Company in Seattle; Moe's Books in Berkeley, Calif.; Politics & Prose in Washington, D.C.; Powell's Books in Portland, Ore.; and Skylight Books in Los Angeles have all unionized.

Today, workers at Barnes & Noble College Booksellers at Rutgers University have sent a strong message to bookstore workers all across the nationwhen you come together and organize, your voice will have to be heard by your employer," said RWDSU president Stuart Appelbaum in a statement.
Late last week, Norway took over the chairmanship of the Arctic Council from Russia in an online ceremony under conditions never before experienced by the organization in its 27-year history. Despite the current uncertainties, however, there could be ways to move past the stalemate between Russia and the other council members.

The transition at the helm of the region's most strategic governance body comes as Russia continues to prosecute its war against Ukraine; as most of the council's activities are on hold; and as one of its members, Finland, has joined NATO and another, Sweden, is poised to do the same. These factors could have a major impact on what the council can achieve under Norwegian leadership toward its stated goal of making the Arctic a region of peace, stability, and constructive cooperation, that is a vibrant, prosperous, sustainable, and secure home for all its inhabitants, including Indigenous Peoples, and where their rights and well-being are respected.

Arctic Council activities paused in March of 2022, when seven of the eight member-nations decided that business could not continue as usual given Russia's actions in Ukraine. A partial resumption of activities began in June, but it pertained only to those initiatives that did not involve Russia. As a result, Russia found itself in the odd position of chairing an organization that, essentially, does not want anything to do with Moscow. While consistent diplomaticallyif diplomatic relations are frozen with Russia elsewhere, there is no reason why there should be an Arctic exceptionthis position put the brakes on important communication and work related to Indigenous peoples, the environment, science, and safety.

The absence of cooperation between the West and Russia is already being felt acutely in various areas key to Arctic survival and well-being that had benefited from international cooperation. Share on Twitter

With the largest territory and population in the region and a long history of civilian and military presence, Russia remains a key Arctic actor. The absence of cooperation between the West and Russia is already being felt acutely in various areas key to Arctic survival and well-being that had benefited from international cooperation, from equity for Indigenous peoples to search and rescue to scientific data collection.

Still, there are possibilities for the Arctic Council, an organization born in 1996, to move past the current tensions. Even during the height of the Cold War, Russiathen the Soviet Unioncooperated with the West on Arctic issues, including initiatives like the 1973 Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears ( PDF ) and the 1987 Murmansk Initiative toward regional cooperation.

One way to get past the current pause would be to focus not on who is involved in activitiesthat is, Russia or other member-statesbut on who will benefit from these activities or will be impacted if these activities are not carried out. This would require devising a prioritization scheme to identify those activities that have the highest impact on Arctic populations. Such a scheme could highlight, for instance, activities that benefit the most vulnerable populations, prevent major damage to the environment, and save lives. All of these activities should be handled as much as possible at the operationalrather than politicallevel.

Taking such a perspective could result in an evolved version of the Arctic Council that puts greater emphasis on Indigenous, practitioner, and academic engagement as opposed to national leadership get-togethers. The latter could still take place as needed, but perhaps move to a virtual, and thus less publicly visible, platform. This model would avoid the need for ceremonial multilateral interactions through the Arctic Council, while maintaining valuable opportunities for broader collaboration where it makes sense to do so; for example, in looking ahead to Arctic fisheries management.

Norway's position as the successor to Russia as the council's chair is not a particularly enviable one. Norway must ensure the functioning of the council while at the same time not appearing to condone Russia's continued violence. It also bears the heavy burden of ensuring the continuity and legitimacy of a body that has become central to regional stability and governance.

Norway must ensure the functioning of the council while at the same time not appearing to condone Russia's continued violence. Share on Twitter

Yet Norway's turn at the rotating chairmanship of the council might be fortuitous, as no other Arctic nation has such an extensive and daily experience of managing Arctic-related issues with Russia, due to shared geography and history. Under these difficult circumstances, Norway can communicate its priorities and facilitate dialogue about what model Arctic Council activities will take moving forward. With a willingness to adapt, and a clear eye on seeking to benefit those in the Arctic that are most in need of regional cooperation, the Arctic Council may not only survive this crisis but could come out stronger than before.

Abbie Tingstad is associate director of the Management, Technology, and Capabilities Program; codirector of the Climate Resilience Center; and a senior physical scientist at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation. Stephanie Pezard is associate research department director, Defense and Political Sciences, and a senior political scientist at RAND.

This commentary originally appeared on The Hill on May 14, 2023. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (1st L) casts his vote at a polling station in Istanbul, Trkiye, May 14, 2023.

Turkish citizens headed to the polls on Sunday for twin presidential and parliamentary elections that could shape the Turkish political landscape for the upcoming years.

Some 61 million voters are registered to cast their ballots. Around 3.5 million voters living abroad have been called to cast their votes in advance. More than 1.76 million Turks abroad have cast their votes at diplomatic missions and customs gates between April 27 and May 9. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

ANKARA, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Trkiye was heading toward a likely runoff presidential election as Sunday vote count showed neither of the candidates above the 50-percent threshold of the votes to win outright, according to preliminary results delivered by the semi-official Anadolu Agency early Monday.

Early results of Anadolu showed incumbent Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with a comfortable ahead compared to the opposition rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu, but the gap was narrowed as more votes were counted.

Erdogan received 49.67 percent of the vote when 93 percent of the ballots were counted, against 44.59 percent of the vote for opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the Anadolu reported. The third candidate Sinan Ogan garnered 5.3 percent of support.

If no presidential candidate secured a simple majority, or 50 percent, of the votes in the first round, a second ballot would be scheduled between the top two frontrunners on 28 May.

As the ballot boxes for the parliamentary election were also finishing counting, unofficial results showed that the People's Alliance, formed by Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the New Welfare Party and the Great Union Party, had 323 lawmakers, highest among three alliances that run for the 600-seat parliament.

The six-party opposition block Nation Alliance gained a total of 214 lawmakers and could not secure 360 seats required to hold a referendum for ending the current executive presidency that they pledged in their election campaign.

The Labor and Freedom Alliance, a coalition of left-wing political parties, had 63 lawmakers, with the Green Left Party gaining 60 seats and the Workers' Party of Trkiye 3 lawmakers.

Some 61 million voters are registered to cast their ballots. Around 3.5 million voters living abroad have been called to cast their votes in advance. The voter turnout was high at nearly 80 percent. 

A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Istanbul, Trkiye, May 14, 2023. Turkish citizens headed to the polls on Sunday for twin presidential and parliamentary elections that could shape the Turkish political landscape for the upcoming years.

Some 61 million voters are registered to cast their ballots. Around 3.5 million voters living abroad have been called to cast their votes in advance. More than 1.76 million Turks abroad have cast their votes at diplomatic missions and customs gates between April 27 and May 9. (Photo by Omer Kuscu/Xinhua)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets with supporters outside a polling station in Istanbul, Trkiye, May 14, 2023.

Turkish citizens headed to the polls on Sunday for twin presidential and parliamentary elections that could shape the Turkish political landscape for the upcoming years.

Some 61 million voters are registered to cast their ballots. Around 3.5 million voters living abroad have been called to cast their votes in advance. More than 1.76 million Turks abroad have cast their votes at diplomatic missions and customs gates between April 27 and May 9. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

A woman prepares to cast her ballot at a polling station in Ankara, Trkiye, May 14, 2023.

Turkish citizens headed to the polls on Sunday for twin presidential and parliamentary elections that could shape the Turkish political landscape for the upcoming years.

Some 61 million voters are registered to cast their ballots. Around 3.5 million voters living abroad have been called to cast their votes in advance. More than 1.76 million Turks abroad have cast their votes at diplomatic missions and customs gates between April 27 and May 9. (Xinhua/Shadati)

Kemal Kilicdaroglu (C, front), the leader of the center-left Republican People's Party, casts his ballot at a polling station in Ankara, Trkiye, May 14, 2023.

Turkish citizens headed to the polls on Sunday for twin presidential and parliamentary elections that could shape the Turkish political landscape for the upcoming years.

Some 61 million voters are registered to cast their ballots. Around 3.5 million voters living abroad have been called to cast their votes in advance. More than 1.76 million Turks abroad have cast their votes at diplomatic missions and customs gates between April 27 and May 9. (Xinhua/Shadati)

A staff member shows the ballot paper at a polling station in Ankara, Trkiye, May 14, 2023.

Turkish citizens headed to the polls on Sunday for twin presidential and parliamentary elections that could shape the Turkish political landscape for the upcoming years.

Some 61 million voters are registered to cast their ballots. Around 3.5 million voters living abroad have been called to cast their votes in advance. More than 1.76 million Turks abroad have cast their votes at diplomatic missions and customs gates between April 27 and May 9. (Xinhua/Shadati)

Kemal Kilicdaroglu (C), the leader of the center-left Republican People's Party, casts his vote at a polling station in Ankara, Trkiye, May 14, 2023.

Turkish citizens headed to the polls on Sunday for twin presidential and parliamentary elections that could shape the Turkish political landscape for the upcoming years.

Some 61 million voters are registered to cast their ballots. Around 3.5 million voters living abroad have been called to cast their votes in advance. More than 1.76 million Turks abroad have cast their votes at diplomatic missions and customs gates between April 27 and May 9. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

A voter casts her ballot at a polling station in Istanbul, Trkiye, May 14, 2023. Turkish citizens headed to the polls on Sunday for twin presidential and parliamentary elections that could shape the Turkish political landscape for the upcoming years.

Some 61 million voters are registered to cast their ballots. Around 3.5 million voters living abroad have been called to cast their votes in advance. More than 1.76 million Turks abroad have cast their votes at diplomatic missions and customs gates between April 27 and May 9. (Photo by Omer Kuscu/Xinhua)

Editor: Zhang Zhou
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'By design or default, the BJP's election strategy militated against the very essence of Karnataka politics and the idea of Karnataka.'

IMAGE: Narendra D Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party's star campaigner, being felicitated at a public meeting ahead of the Karnataka assembly elections in Shivamogga, May 7, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

"The people of Karnataka are very clear that they don't want to be governed by the party which is in power at the Centre -- this forms an important part of the political conscience of Karnataka. I would term this as the 'Karnataka version of regional politics'," says A Narayana, professor of public policy and governance at the Azim Premji University, Bengaluru.

Professor Narayana was the Karnataka state coordinator for the World Bank's Land Governance Assessment Framework Project and a consultant for the Karnataka government's high-power committee on restructuring the governance of Bengaluru city. He was also member of the technical committee constituted by the Election Commission of India to promote electoral literacy in India.

"The big political challenge for the Congress is the 36% vote garnered by the BJP... Unless the Congress is able to build a coalition of voters who do not vote for the BJP because they don't like the BJP's ideology, the Congress will have a sword hanging over its head," Professor Narayana, a former journalist, tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih in a two-part phone interview.

What have been your foremost takeaways from the Karnataka mandate?

This election was centred around the idea of Karnataka. The BJP was not fighting the Congress or the JD-S, but the very idea of Karnataka.

Karnataka has the tendency of voting out the ruling party which shows that the state's electorate subjects the incumbent to the highest standards of accountability. This is part of the psyche of the people of Karnataka.

The people of Karnataka are very clear that they don't want to be governed by the party which is in power at the Centre -- this forms an important part of the political conscience of Karnataka and I would term this as the 'Karnataka version of regional politics'.

Since 1983, the state has consistently elected a party which is not in power in Delhi. Even in 2018, Karnataka did not vote for the BJP. The BJP came to power because of 'Operation Kamala' and ruled for the last four years.

Karnataka does not have a regional political party, but this consistent phenomenon is an expression of its regional political aspiration.

The BJP understood that it could not return to power unless it destroyed this particular quality of Karnataka. Therefore, it brandished the slogan of 'double engine sarkar' and projected Prime Minister Modi so that people overlook the factors that contributed to the anti-incumbency.

By design or default, the election strategy of the BJP militated against the very essence of Karnataka politics and the idea of Karnataka.

The result shows that the idea of Karnataka has reasserted itself. In my opinion, this was not an ordinary electoral battle -- a fight between two parties, but a battle which upheld the federal nature of the Indian Constitution.

IMAGE: Supporters of senior Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar gather outside the venue of the Congress Legislature Party meeting in Bengaluru, May 14, 2023. Photograph: Shailendra Bhojak/PTI Photo

Do you foresee an arrangement where the chief minister's post will be shared by Mr Siddaramaiah and Mr D K Shivakumar for 2.5 years each with the latter leading the party into the next assembly election?

Will it satisfy both leaders and prevent dissension within the party?

Political dissidence used to be the character of Karnataka political parties, whether there was only one or multiple contenders for the CM's post.

The Congress was plagued by dissension right up to 1994 where the authority of the CM was challenged several times. But there were two Congress regimes -- 1999-2004 and 2013-2018 -- that were totally free from dissidence which shows a maturity and evolution in the party.

It was indeed a long process of evolution -- 1950-1994 -- 44 years -- for the Congress to achieve that level of political maturity.

As far as the CM is concerned it will be decided by the high command, but the public display of maturity shown by both leaders, especially Shivakumar, suggests that this will not pose a problem for the party.

The relationship between the two front-ranking leaders should not be an issue and it is most likely that there will be two CMs in this term.

IMAGE: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge with Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar during celebrations after the party's win in Karnataka in Bengaluru, May 13, 2023. Photograph: Shailendra Bhojak/PTI Photo

What do you see as the most potent challenge to the Congress going forward?

The big political challenge for the Congress is the 36% vote garnered by the BJP.

People who vote for the BJP do so because of its ideology. Those who don't vote for the BJP, do not know why they are not voting for the BJP -- they decide not to vote for the BJP not because they don't like their ideology, but for some other reasons.

Unless the Congress is able to build a coalition of voters who do not vote for the BJP because they don't like the BJP's ideology, the Congress will have a sword hanging over its head.

The economic challenge, of course, will be to finance the programmes announced by the Congress, but it is not impossible.

However, nobody questions the BJP about how it will generate funds when it promises to build grand temples and monuments, but when it comes to transferring funds from the exchequer for welfare schemes for the poor it is termed as 'freebies'.

Often public funds are spent on unnecessary projects under the tag of 'development', for example, opening a new airport in Shimoga when there is already an airport in Mangalore within a distance of 200 kms.

One has to see the economic rationale behind such projects and the Congress should have the courage to challenge this sort of development model.

They should also have the conviction in the Constitution to challenge the BJP's communalism which I'm afraid many politicians in the Congress don't have.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'Nobody wants him to gain power.'

'But saying that all these players together conspired against Imran Khan and had him arrested would be in the realm of conjecture but possibilities cannot be ruled out.'

IMAGE: Ousted Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan leads his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters into Islamabad, May 26, 2022. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

Former Intelligence Bureau officer Avinash Mohananey, who spent considerable time in Pakistan on security assignments, tells Prasanna D Zore/ Rediff.com why the US, China and Saudi Arabia dislike Imran Khan so much and why, if at all, they would tacitly support his arrest.

What objective could the Pakistan army have achieved with Imran Khan's arrest? Is there any strategic objective to his arrest?

He (Imran Khan) has to be kept out of the electoral scene at all costs and only then (could the Pakistan government) announce elections because neither the Americans nor the Chinese nor the Saudis would want him to be back as prime minister.

So, how to keep him out? He has to be held accountable. He's not presenting (himself) in the court. He's not allowing the proceedings to go on. There are several corruption cases against him, but the courts are not able to move (against him).

And then in every available forum, he accuses the present ISI deputy director general, Major General Faisal Nazeer, of trying to get him assassinated.

He has successfully created confusion among the people of Pakistan leading to considerable erosion in the credibility of its armed forces. People believe him more than their army.

Who is Major General Faisal Nazeer, whom Imran Khan has called 'Dirty Harry'?

This man became the deputy director general (of the ISI) after Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed, the DG, ISI, was moved out.

He (Nazeer) had worked under present Pakistan army chief General Asim Munir, when the latter was DG, ISI. This (counter-intelligence, ISI) is the crucial cell in Pakistan as it looks after the entire political landscape of the country. That is why this man (Nazeer) becomes important.

General Asim Munir brought his own man to the post and thereafter, it (the feud between Imran Khan and the army) has been continuously going on.

The problem is that Imran Khan is unhappy with the selection of the (incumbent) army chief (General Asim Munir). Neither Khan nor General (Qamar Javed) Bajwa (Munir's predecessor) was interested that he (Munir) should become the army chief.

Nawaz Sharif wanted him (Munir), so he told his brother (the incumbent prime minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif) to make Munir Pakistan's army chief.

Imran is afraid that Nazeer has a lot many tricks up his dirty sleeve. There have been many audio-video leaks (showing Imran Khan in poor light) on social media making Imran Khan apprehensive about this man.

IMAGE: General Asim Munir succeeded General Qamar Javed Bajwa as Pakistan's army chief on November 29, 2022. Photograph: Kind courtesy ISPR

What are the chances that Pakistan could once again see a military dictatorship taking over?

Had it been few years back I would have said straight away that it should have happened. It's very difficult to say because it would be a very bad decision if the present army chief did that.

Pakistan's economy is in a continuous downward spiral. It's on the verge of default. Negotiations with the IMF (International Monetary Fund) are going on. Now, why would the army get into another mess (by imposing dictatorship) when they already have so much on their plate?

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan insurgency is creating a lot of havoc in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan's fourth largest province by size and third largest by population size) in its northwest region. Then they (the army) also have to deal with the insurgency in Balochistan.

You have seen the kind of attack that took place in the Peshawar mosque (on January 30, 2023) where more almost 80 people were killed. If the army were in power, the entire anger would have been directed against it and the people would have also blamed the army for this terrorist attack.

If there were to be a dictatorship in Pakistan now, people would completely lose their faith in the army and their so-called war on terror.

Can one assume that America, China, and Saudi Arabia could possibly be behind the Pakistan army's move of arresting Imran Khan?

Imran Khan happens to be a common enemy of all; nobody wants him to gain power.

But saying that all these players together conspired against Imran Khan and had him arrested would be in the realm of conjecture but possibilities cannot be ruled out.

The Americans are upset with Imran Khan because he was non-cooperative during the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan. That Imran Khan stated in one of his public speeches that the Taliban have been finally able to break the shackles of slavery (after American troops moved out of Afghanistan) didn't go down well at all with the Americans.

When he was thrown out of power, Imran Khan again put the blame of his ouster on America's doors. Given these animosity, the Americans don't trust him at all.

Interestingly, almost 80-90 per cent of textiles exports from Pakistan are to America and Pakistan depends quite a lot on the financial support from the US. In fact, America gives lot of duty concessions to Pakistani exports making them competitive in western markets.

Also, the biggest vote in the IMF (with which Pakistan is negotiating for concessional loans to tide over its economic crisis) belongs to the US and other Western countries and so Pakistan can't afford to annoy them. But Imran Khan was quite bellicose when the Americans were withdrawing from Afghanistan.

Conversely, this narrative goes against America in Pakistan because the people blame America for whatever wrong has happened to their country and Imran Khan smartly exploited this anti-America sentiment to up his popularity among the Pakistani people.

China is against him because he would, in public meetings, openly charge Shehbaz Sharif's son Hamza of visiting China to collect kickbacks in the CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) project on the contracts given to Chinese companies.

He started inquiries against Hamza when he was the prime minister of Pakistan. Because of this the CPEC project has been almost stalled since last four years; China wanted the CPEC project to be expedited so that they could keep the Americans out of Pakistan.

If Imran Khan comes to power, they are not sure whether he would again not act as a stumbling block towards China's strategic interests in Pakistan and Afghanistan. So, they too are not very comfortable with Imran Khan.

The Saudis are not happy with Imran Khan because of his efforts to start another Islamic organisation bloc in the UN with the help of Turkey and Malaysia. He was trying to create an alternative to the OIC (the Organisation of Islamic Countries), a bloc of Islamic countries over which the Saudis hold sway and is dominated and financed by Saudi petro dollars. The OIC is headquartered in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudis took this as an affront from Imran Khan and would not be too happy to see him come to power in Pakistan again.

What impact could the violence in Pakistan have on India and what precautions should we take in the light of the ensuing situation there?

This is not a celebratory time for India.

If Pakistan goes down -- as it is gradually doing so -- then you will see the rise of religious extremist elements there. The religious extremist elements have no love for India. And these people can create problems for us also.

These elements can vitiate the narrative within Pakistan against India. So whatever peace moves, that we would make at a subsequent stage, will be difficult for any political leadership (in Pakistan) to accept.
'There is no one who will be able to have a dignified life, when your brother and sister of another community are not being treated as human.'

IMAGE: Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Gordon Johnson/Pixabayr

In November 2021, the Bombay high court allowed Father (Dr) Frazer Mascarenhas, SJ, to approach the court to clear the name of Father Stan Swamy, the oldest of the 16 Bhima Koregaon accused, who died in hospital in July 2021.

In December 2022, Father Frazer spoke at a media interaction conducted by an independent organisation, 'Mumbai Rises To Save Democracy', which called upon the public and media to raise their voices against an authoritarian State.

Known to speak freely and stand by his principles, Father Frazer, who is now the parish priest at a Mumbai church, tells Rediff.com Senior Contributor Neeta Kolhatkar, "The young are so caught up today in just survival for their future, they are not taking real cognisance of what is happening in society. They haven't seen it as an avalanche coming!"

The concluding part of the interview:

Do your colleagues and friends caution you to not speak and be careful?

(Smiles). Not really.

People feel I'm outspoken, but they also think that I am discreet enough and that I'm also acting as an impartial manner!

I'm not taking any political sides.

I'm talking about issues. So I'm not targeting or addressing any particular political formation.

What in your opinion are millennials worried about? Are they aware of political issues, of social realities?

No, not really. On the contrary, I feel it has become a situation that is really troubling.

The young are so caught up today in just survival for their future, they are not taking real cognisance of what is happening in society, on the ground.

They are looking at educational opportunities, job opportunities, careers and the like. So their political awareness and their political consciousness -- by political, I mean decision making, public policies; I don't mean party politics -- it is not something they are engaged with. They are engaged totally with personal opportunities, to grow and to be successful in their careers.

So I find it difficult today than it was ten years ago to generate a debate on such issues.

Now it is more of a denial. They may be conscious at some level, but they are pushing it away and denying it totally, hoping that things will change and things will improve.

They haven't seen it as an avalanche coming! They haven't understood that.

IMAGE: A protest against marital rape. Photograph: PTI Photo

The Supreme Court recently ruled that marital rape would be considered as rape for the purpose of abortion. This was part of the abortion ruling delivered by the apex court. How do you see this ruling?

I think this ruling is very logical. However, I would not be able to accept abortion under any circumstances, because it is the extinguishing of a life, of a person who is most vulnerable in the womb.

Whether it is through marital rape or any other form, miscalculation by the couple, whatever the reasons are, there is no question of accepting abortion.

I believe life is not only to be accepted as human after birth.

Our medical science shows us the foetus is capable of being human, so if a child has been conceived it should be given a chance for life.

In case the mother is unable to look after the child, then society should step in and that is what Catholic institutions have been doing across the world.

Where is the question of extinguishing life once it has started?

IMAGE: Nuns protest against the tabling of the Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill in Bengaluru, December 22, 2021. Photograph: Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images

Do you fear Christians will be targeted like Muslims are?

Christians have been targeted for quite some time.

Our bishop from Bangalore has filed a case in the Supreme Court asking for protection from harassment and atrocities being done right across the country.

They are targeting all minorities including the Dalits.

All minorities are being made victims in some way.

It is frightening for the rest.

It should also be frightening for those in the majority community because one by one we will be ticked off, like it happened in Germany.

There is no one who will be able to have a dignified life, when your brother and sister of another community are not being treated as human.

You cannot live a full, dignified, life, because your dignity is also impaired.

IMAGE: Father (Dr) Frazer Mascarenhas SJ. Photograph: Neeta Kolhatkar

It is very clear not just the Muslims, Christians too for a very long time, the Dalits, tribals, all the minorities, are at the wrong end of the stick.

It will get worse.

People are frightened, but nobody knows what to do.

You see, the only ones who stayed the course are the farmers. They lost many lives on that march, but if they had not done it, their lives were at stake.

All their farms and lands would have been taken over by the corporates and they would have been left with chillar.

It is not just a communal agenda, it is a crony capitalist, highly centralised, capitalism which is being acted upon.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Authorities on Monday rusticated 10 students from Government Medical College hostel in Jammu for two months and also debarred them from attending classes till the completion of an inquiry following a scuffle over The Kerala Story movie.

IMAGE: A view of Government Medical College, Jammu. Photograph: Courtesy GMC Jammu/Facebook

GMC principal Shashi Sudhan Sharma also requested senior superintendent of police, Jammu, to take all precautionary measures, including deployment of additional police personnel around the hostel and college premises, to avoid any law and order problem.

Five medical students suffered injuries after a scuffle broke out between two groups over the controversial film at the boys hostel of the GMC in Jammu on Sunday night, triggering protests and demands for an inquiry to punish the culprits.

"As per the report of the wardens of the boys hostel, 10 students (involved in the scuffle) have been rusticated from the hostel for two months and also debarred from attending the classes till the completion of the inquiry by the disciplinary committee of the institute," Sharma said in a statement.

She said the report of the hostel warden has been forwarded to the disciplinary committee of the institution for inquiry, which has to be completed within seven days.

Briefing about the steps taken to maintain peaceful atmosphere inside the campus, the GMC principal said she along with hostel wardens and faculty members spent whole night at the hostel and assured the students about strict action against the offenders.

"As desired by students, the letter for the lodgement of FIR against an ex-student of GMC Jammu who participated in the scuffle was forwarded to Station House Officer, Bakshi Nagar, Jammu. As conveyed by the SHO, the FIR has been lodged," she said.

Sharma said only one student who received injuries during the scuffle is presently admitted to GMC Jammu for treatment and observation.

"He is a resident of Bhaderwah (in Doda district) and is recovering well. As per doctors, he shall be discharged probably within next 24 hrs," she said.

Sharma said she along with the Heads of Departments and the wardens again met the students in the morning in the college premises and assured them action under rules against everyone involved in creating such a situation.

Additional eight security personnel and one security supervisor have been deployed in the hostel for maintaining round-the-clock security, she said.
Zhao Chunsheng looks out on the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

Zhao Chunsheng clears rubbish on the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

Zhao Chunsheng looks out from a watch tower of the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

Zhao Chunsheng patrols the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

Zhao Chunsheng looks out on the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

This aerial photo shows Zhao Chunsheng taking a rest while patrolling the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

This aerial photo shows Zhao Chunsheng patrolling the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

Zhao Chunsheng patrols the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

This aerial photo shows Zhao Chunsheng patrolling the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

Zhao Chunsheng takes a rest while patrolling the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

Zhao Chunsheng clears weeds on the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

Zhao Chunsheng clears weeds on the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

Editor: GSY
At least five persons were injured in a communal clash over a procession in Shevgaon village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra where several shops and vehicles were damaged in stone pelting, the police said on Monday.

Photograph: Sahil Salvi for Rediff.com Image used for representational purpose only.

The police have detained 32 people so far and registered cases against 150 others after the incident on Sunday night, an official said.

Internet services have been suspended in Shevgaon village, about 65 km from the Ahmednagar district headquarters.

"Multiple shops and vehicles were damaged during stone pelting," the official said.

He said heavy police force, including State Reserve Police Force and riot control squad, is deployed in the village.

Reacting to the incident, Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio, said the situation is under control in Ahmednagar.

"Those who are trying to trigger riots will not be spared. Strict action will be taken against those who are helping to create such untoward incidents," he said in Pune.
The Afghan embassy in India on Monday said there is no change in its leadership following reports that the Taliban have appointed a charge d'affaires to head the mission replacing incumbent Farid Mamundzay.

IMAGE: Afghanistan's envoy to India Farid Mamundzay. Photograph: ANI Photo

Mamundzay was appointed by the previous Ashraf Ghani government and he has been operating as the Afghan envoy even after the Taliban came to power in August 2021.

It is learnt that Qadir Shah, who has been working as the trade councillor at the Afghan embassy since 2020, last month wrote to the ministry of external affairs claiming that he has been appointed as the charge d'affaires at the embassy by the Taliban.

As Mamundzay was on a visit abroad, Shah tried to take charge of the embassy as the charge d'affaires late last month, but his attempt was stalled by other diplomats at the mission, people familiar with the matter said.

Subsequently, Shah has been barred from entering the embassy on at least three occasions, they said.

There was no comment by the Indian government on the developments. The people cited above said New Delhi is considering the matter as an "internal matter" of Afghanistan.

India has not yet recognised the Taliban set up and has been pitching for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul besides insisting that Afghan soil must not be used for any terrorist activities against any country.

"The embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan categorically rejects the claims from an individual claiming to have taken charge of the mission in New Delhi at the behest of the Taliban," the embassy headed by Mamundzay said in a statement.

"The embassy appreciates the consistent position of the Indian government for supporting the interests of the Afghan people, while at the same time not recognising the Taliban regime in Kabul, as it has been the case with democratic governments around the world," it said.

People familiar with the matter said Shah wrote the letter to the MEA in the absence of Mamundzay as he was travelling out of India.

In its statement, the embassy said the individual who claims to have been named "charge d'affaires" by the Taliban has been responsible for "spreading misinformation and running a baseless and unsubstantiated campaign against officials of the mission, including totally fabricated allegations of corruption based on an unsigned letter".

There were some reports in the Afghan media about allegations of corruption against the embassy.

"The mission is committed to protecting the genuine interests of the Afghan nationals, especially in these trying times and has worked closely with the Indian authorities on humanitarian efforts, including the supply of COVID-19 vaccines, medicines and food supplies," the embassy said.

"The embassy also wishes to inform Afghan nationals that the mission continues functioning as normal and working for their interests in India," it added.

In June last year, India re-established its diplomatic presence in Kabul by deploying a "technical team" in its embassy in the Afghan capital.

India had withdrawn its officials from the embassy after the Taliban seized power following concerns over their security.

It is learnt that the Taliban, on multiple occasions, communicated to New Delhi that the diplomats in the Afghan embassy in India do not represent Kabul any longer.

The Taliban have made around 14 attempts to remove the ambassador from the embassy in the last over two years, the people cited above said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday directed strict action against the perpetrators of violence in Manipur and assured the state complete support from the Centre in ensuring lasting peace.

IMAGE: Rapid Action Force personnel conduct a flag march in Manipur's capital Imphal. Photograph: PTI Photo

The directives came after Shah held a series of meetings with Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, representatives of Meitei and Kuki communities and other stakeholders to review the measures taken in the last two days for restoring peace in the state, according to an official statement.

He also appealed for discussions with all factions and spreading the message of peace. Shah assured justice would be done, according to the statement.

He directed strict action against the perpetrators of violence and assured complete support and help of the central government for ensuring lasting peace.

The home minister assured that the government would take all measures to protect various communities in the state.

He stressed on expediting the process of relief and rehabilitation so as to minimise the suffering of the people, the statement said.

During the meetings, the home minister reviewed the measures taken for restoring peace in Manipur that has witnessed violent clashes between two ethnic communities.

Besides the chief minister, those who attended the meeting include four cabinet ministers of Manipur and a Rajya Sabha MP from the state.

Representatives of the Meitei and Kuki communities from Manipur and a group of civil society organisations from Mizoram also held separate meetings with Shah.

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 the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

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.

At least 73 people were killed, 231 injured and 1,700 houses, including religious places, burnt in the ethnic violence that rocked the state, officials said.

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.

The chief minister's visit to Delhi also followed the demand by 10 tribal MLAs belonging to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi group in Manipur for a separate administration for their region in the wake of recent violent clashes between the Meiteis and tribals.

Of the 10 legislators, seven belong to the BJP, two are from Kuki People's Alliance (KPA) and one is an Independent. The two KPA and independent MLAs are also part of the NDA led by the saffron party.

However, the chief minister on Monday rejected the demand made by the 10 MLAs for a separate administration for the Kuki-dominated districts of the north-eastern state, saying, "The territorial integrity of Manipur will be protected."
Amid speculation about the number of MLAs supporting him and senior party colleague Siddaramaiah for the post of Karnataka chief minister, state Congress president D K Shivakumar on Monday said his strength is 135, as under his presidency, the party won the said number of seats in the assembly polls.

IMAGE: Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar addresses a press conference prior to leaving for New Delhi, Bengaluru, May 15, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

He said he along with Siddaramaiah have been called to Delhi by party high command and that he will be going there late due to personal commitments.

The Congress central leadership will be deciding on the new chief minister, after its observers submitted a report on the opinion of the MLAs which they collected in the Congress legislature party (CLP) meeting in Bengaluru on Sunday.

"We had made a one-line resolution, stating we will leave the matter to party high command, after that some might have shared their personal opinion. I don't have the strength to speak about other's numbers, my strength is 135, I'm the party president and under my presidency, the party has won 135 seats in Karnataka, against the double engine government, the corrupt administration and suffering of the people. People have supported us and made us win 135 seats," Shivakumar said.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he said, "There has been praise from across the country about the Congress's campaign and unity in Karnataka, but the time was not enough and if there was more cooperation from the local level we could have done even better and increased the numbers, but we are happy."

The CLP, which met at a private hotel in Bengaluru on Sunday evening, passed a unanimous resolution authorising All India Congress Committee (AICC) president M Mallikarjun Kharge to pick its leader, who will be the next chief minister of Karnataka.

Noting that the Congress leadership has called him and Siddaramaiah to Delhi, Shivakumar said he might be late in going there.

"Since today is my birthday, a lot of people have come to wish me. I have to visit my deity with my family, after going there, I will leave for Delhi. I don't know what time I will be going to Delhi. I will take whichever flight is available," he added.

Pointing out that the CLP has passed a single line resolution leaving it to high command to decide on the chief minister, the KPCC chief said, "Under my leadership 135 MLAs -- all of them with one voice -- have said that the matter should be left to the high command."

"I don't have any single number or personal number (of MLAs supporting), whatever my number is Congress number," he said, highlighting that he had assured former AICC president Sonia Gandhi when she appointed him as KPCC chief, also Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge (former and current AICC chiefs), that his aim was to deliver a Congress government in Karnataka.

The state Congress and its leaders had assured him to work together and deliver a Congress government in Karnataka. "I'm sure we will keep up our promise, and the rest (CM and ministers), the high command will decide," he said.

Not wanting to respond to a question on claims by other leaders, Shivakumar said, "I don't want to answer any claims or anything. I'm a single man, I believe in one thing, that a single man with courage makes a majority. I have proved it. I don't want to disclose what all has happened in the last five years and at a future point of time I will disclose."

To a question if the "Tiger of Sathanur", as he fondly called in his constituency, become the CM of Karnataka, he said he will leave the matter to Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

"I'm a single man. Gandhiji said one thing: Be bold-hearted when you are defeated and be large-hearted when you are victorious. When all our MLAs, 15-16 of them, left the party (in 2019), when we had a coalition government and lost it , I did not lose my heart. With courage I had taken up the responsibility (as KPCC president)," he said.

In the May 10 elections to the 224-member assembly, the Congress scored an emphatic victory with 135 seats, while the ruling BJP and the former prime minister H D Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal-Secular secured 66 and 19 seats, respectively.
A male passenger was arrested for allegedly molesting an air hostess on board a Dubai-Amritsar flight in an inebriated state, the police said on Monday.

Rajinder Singh, who hails from Kotli village of Jalandhar in Punjab, got into a heated argument with the air hostess and allegedly molested her on Saturday, the police said.

"The air hostess brought the incident to the crew's notice. The accused was allegedly in a drunken state," the police said.

The crew members then notified the Amritsar control room about the matter and the assistant security manager of the airline lodged a police complaint.

The accused was arrested upon his arrival at the Shri Guru Ramdas ji International Airport in Amritsar, they said.

Singh was booked under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and Section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code, the police said.
'Siddaramaiah was openly taking on the BJP's communal agenda, which very few politicians do.'

IMAGE: Congress leader Siddaramaiah. Photograph: ANI Photo

The nation is still stunned two days after the Congress swept the Karnataka assembly elections.

More so because Prime Minister Narendra D Modi had gone on an election blitzkrieg in the state for two weeks and yet the Bharatiya Janata Party was voted out of power.

Though in terms of vote share the BJP did not do that badly, in politics there is no silver medal. The winner takes it all.

And in this case it was the Congress that has staged a spectacular win, banishing the BJP from the only southern state it was in power.

Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com spoke to Narendra Pani, professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, to know more about the election result and its ramifications.

Why you think the Congress won Karnataka with such a large number of seats?

The main factor going for them was, there was definitely distress on the ground.

There was a certain inequality that has emerged in Karnataka where IT-led growth is restricted to Bengaluru city and has not spread to the rest of the state. This distress was reflected in the results.

There were pockets where you could overcome distress with other agenda like religious conflict, but even that may have reached a point of fatigue. Because, in coastal Karnataka which is the base of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the BJP did not do well as compared to 2018.

They were dominant in the 2018 elections in this region, but this time they were not as they got fewer seats.

In Bengaluru, the Congress won a decent number of seats, isn't it?

Yes, but the BJP did much better than the Congress.

You could find local reasons for it like selection of candidates, but I think there is a factor that IT-led growth strategy where Bengaluru contributes a third (of its share) in the economy of Karnataka. The BJP did well here, but not in the rest of the state.

This happened earlier too, during the time of S M Krishna when the Congress lost as they did well in Bengaluru, but not in other places.

The BJP is saying they did not do badly as they got 37 percent plus votes which was not bad, and that the Congress got 43 plus percent votes as they got Janata Dal-Secular votes too. Is there some truth in it?

The BJP has made some gains in JD-S votes in Old Mysore.

In the last elections the BJP got lesser votes than the Congress, but it was able to get significantly more seats as its vote was concentrated in the coastal belt and northern Karnataka.

This time it made limited inroads in Old Mysore, but it was not enough to get the seats. It was able to get more vote share, but it lost the ability to convert its vote share into more seats.

Did Siddaramaiah's consolidation of Ahinda votes contribute to the Congress victory as the OBCs, Dalits and Muslims voted en bloc for the Congress while the BJP's votes were mainly restricted to upper caste Hindus?

That was always Siddaramaiah's politics all about earlier too. He joined hands with D K Shivakumar and that gave an added advantage.

It is Siddaramaiah's politics that has won the Karnataka assembly elections for Congress.

In his campaign also he was openly taking on the BJP's communal agenda, which very few politicians do.

He openly took it on in rural constituencies and that has paid off.

It may not be fashionable to say so, but there may be a fatigue of continuous communal conflict.

You mean Siddaramaiah's statements like he eats beef?

Not that statement alone, he directly attacked the BJP on banning the hijab in Karnataka schools and colleges.

There is an interesting clip on social media where you will see he is directly attacking the BJP on hijab, halal, Muslims having shops near Hindu temples and fairs. He made it an election issue.

The Congress goes for soft Hindutva these days which is very contradictory to what Jawaharlal Nehru had said, that majority communalism is more dangerous to India than minority communalism. In retrospect, is this the way to take on the BJP in other states too?

At some level the fact is at least in Karnataka, Siddarmaiah has made a case for speaking out openly.

On the hijab ban issue he spoke openly about it though others (in the Congress) were telling him that he should backpedal, but he insisted.

He was told he was falling into the BJP's trap by speaking out, but he insisted on speaking out.

He said we must have a voice in our party on this issue.

I have no idea whether this would work in other states, but we have to give Siddaramaiah some credit for speaking out on this issue.

Siddaramaiah had the courage to go out and speak when others were telling him not to speak openly about these issues.

And then, of course, the Congress high command too went ahead and put the Bajrang Dal ban in the manifesto. Again, I will tell, though this was not the only factor resulting in the Congress victory.

Didn't the Congress go on the backfoot after the BJP made Bajrang Bali an election issue?

Nobody went on the backfoot.

I feel putting it in the election manifesto, about banning the Bajrang Dal, had a dual purpose.

The first purpose was that the Congress will not be wishy-washy on communal issues and secondly, to push the BJP into their communal agenda further.

It kept the BJP away from competing on the welfare measures the Congress was offering to voters.

The BJP offered nothing compared to the five Congress guarantees.

They ensured that the BJP got into the Bajrang Dal mode till the last day of the election and not come out of it and concentrate on development issues.

But it is only in retrospect that we can say such things because the Congress has won. Had they lost, the same people would have said the Congress was foolish enough to mention banning Bajrang Dal in its manifesto.

Exactly. That is the nature of any leadership.

You make an assessment and you take a call. Sometimes you are successful and sometimes you are not.

When you don't succeed, you admit it did not work.

It is not restricted to politics alone, but to trade unions, media leadership, which is that you make an assessment and how far you can go with your values.

And after decades of running off, somebody is willing to stand up (Siddaramaiah against the BJP's communal politics).

The contractor who committed suicide after claiming that 40 percent cut had to be given to BJP leaders -- did this affect the BJP's poll prospects as the Congress was highlighting corruption regularly?

Corruption was definitely an issue. I don't know whether it was about buying MLAs or not, but Karnataka has a history of corruption, but this time they crossed the boundaries.

What about Lingayat votes? People say the Congress did get them, but Mr Jagadish Shettar, who left the BJP to join the Congress, lost badly, isn't it?

Shettar may have influenced 20-25 seats beyond his constituency.

The Congress did very well in terms of Lingayat votes.

I think they put up some 45 candidates and 37 of them won. They have done extremely well.

People like Shettar, you cannot judge them within their own constituency as they have wider appeal in other constituencies.

What about Modi? He campaigned extensively in Karnataka, but still his party lost. Will this have ramifications in the general elections of 2024 in Karnataka?

It is too early to speak on that.

He made it into a campaign about himself, but this was essentially a state election. Therefore, there was a disconnect (with voters).

This election may have laid a foundation, though, for the 2024 general elections.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday asserted that votes are won on the basis of politics of service rather than on "posters and banners".

IMAGE: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. Photograph: Atul Yadav/PTI Photo

He said he has now decided that he will not put up any posters or offer tea to people in his constituency in the next election as "those who have to vote will vote and those who do not will not".

At the same time, he exuded confidence in increasing his winning margin in the next poll.

Gadkari was addressing a programme on the death anniversary of former vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat at Khachariyawas village in Sikar district of Rajasthan.

I have fought the election in a very tough constituency. Everyone had asked me not to contest from there, but I fought with determination. Now I have decided that in the next election, I will not put up posters or banners, will not give tea or do anything else. Those who have to vote will vote and those who do not will not," he said.

Votes are obtained by 'politics of service', 'politics of development', welfare of the poor in villages, giving poor people health facilities, employment to youth and good education to children, he added.

The Union minister for road transport and highways said the concept of politics of service was brought in by RSS ideologue Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, and that he defined his politics on this concept.

The biggest problem of politics is the emptiness of ideas. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat stayed with principles and never compromised with his ideology. Politics for Shekhawat was a medium to serve people and an instrument for socio-economic reform, he said.

Gadkari, who represents Nagpur constituency, said the 'politics of service' does not come with talks, books or research, but with actions and deeds.

He said the work on the Delhi-Jaipur electric highway is on and when electric buses will run, the ticket cost will be Rs 30 less than the (present) fare.

Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore, Deputy Leader of Opposition Satish Poonia and other BJP leaders were also present in the programme.
The Supreme Court on Monday deferred to August 14 its hearing on CPI-M leader Brinda Karat's plea related to non-registration of FIRs against BJP MPs Anurag Thakur and Pravesh Verma for their alleged hate speeches in connection with the anti-CAA protests.

IMAGE: Anurag Thakur.



Karat has challenged a Delhi high court's order dismissing a petition against a trial court's refusal to order registration of FIRs against the two BJP leaders.

A bench headed by justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna posted the matter for further hearing in August after advocate Rajat Nair, appearing for the Delhi police commissioner, sought time to file his response on the plea.

The top court on April 17 had issued a notice and sought the response of the Delhi police.

The apex court had then observed that prima facie the magistrate's stand that sanctions under section 196 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) was required for lodging FIRs against the two BJP leaders was not correct.

On June 13 last year, the Delhi high court had dismissed the petition filed by Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Karat as well as her party colleague KM Tiwari against the two BJP MPs for their alleged hate speeches.

The high court had refused to interfere with the trial court's order, saying under the law, sanction is required to be obtained from the competent authority for registration of FIRs in the present facts.

The petitioners had claimed in their complaint before the trial court that Thakur, a Union minister, and Verma had sought to "incite people as a result of which three incidents of firing took place at two different protest sites in Delhi".

The petitioners alleged that at a rally in Rithala here on January 27, 2020, Thakur egged on the crowd to raise an incendiary slogan -- "shoot the traitors"-- after lashing out at anti-CAA protesters of Shaheen Bagh.

They claimed Verma, too, made inflammatory speeches against the Shaheen Bagh protesters on January 28, 2020.

The trial court had on August 26, 2021, dismissed the petitioners' complaint on the ground that it was not sustainable as the requisite sanction from the central government, which was the competent authority, had not been obtained.

In their complaint, Karat and Tiwari had sought FIRs against the two BJP leaders under various Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections, including 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc), 153-B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs).

They had also sought action under other IPC sections, including 298 (uttering, words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation).

The maximum punishment for the offences is a jail term of seven years.
Reacting to Congress's emphatic victory in Karnataka assembly elections, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that the grand old party was going around the town making a big deal after winning just one election in a state while they (BJP) won in several states but never overreacted.

IMAGE: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addresses the 'Hindu Ekta Yatra' in Telangana's Karimnagar. Photograph: ANI

"They (Congress) just won in one state and making a big deal out of it. We have won in several states but we never overreacted," Sarma told reporters.

The Assam Chief Minister participated in the 'Hindu Ekta Yatra' in Karimnagar on Sunday evening organised by Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay on the occasion of Telugu Hanuman Jayanti.

Sarma said that the Bharatiya Janata Party will form the government in Telangana where elections are scheduled this year.

"Sometimes Sachin Tendular scored a century, sometimes he got out for Zero," Biswa said while reacting to party's loss in Karnataka.

In the May 10 elections to the 224-member assembly, the Congress scored an emphatic victory with 135 seats, while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the former prime minister H D Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal-Secular secured 66 and 19, respectively.
The death toll in Tamil Nadu's hooch tragedy in two northern districts increased to 14 on Monday and 51 people who consumed the poisonous brew were being treated in various hospitals, the government said.

IMAGE: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin meets with a victim hospitalised at Mundyambakkam Government Medical College after consuming spurious liquor, in Villupuram, May 15, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

After visiting those being treated at Villupuram government medical college hospital, Chief Minister MK Stalin told reporters Villupuram that investigation into the matter would be transferred to the CB-CID and he assured tough action.

According to preliminary police probe, use of methanol by illicit brewers has led to the tragedy.

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief and Leader of Opposition, K Palaniswami said he had spoken in assembly on increased "illicit liquor" availability in Tamil Nadu. Had the government taken appropriate action, such incidents could have been averted.

"Chief Minister Stalin is fully responsible. He should resign from his post, he is an inept CM," he told reporters in Tiruchirappalli.

He alleged deterioration of law and order situation in the state. BJP state chief K Annamalai also slammed the ruling DMK over the issue.

After consuming illicit liquor, nine persons died in Villupuram district and five others in Chengelpet district.

The nine persons belonged to Ekkiyarkuppam fishing village near Marakkanam in Villupuram district.

In Villupuram, 40 persons are being treated at the medical college hospital in Villupuram at Mundiyampakkam.

Three others were being treated at JIPMER Hospital and another person at Puducherry government hospital.

Stalin said in Chengelpet district's Perunkaranai village five persons died after drinking illicit brew and seven persons were being treated at the Chengelpet government medical college hospital.

In both Villupuram and Chengelpet, methanol was used to make the brew and empty bottles of alcoholic beverages sold in state-run TASMAC stores were used in Chengelpet to fill the illicit liquor.

"I have ordered Rs 10 lakh solatium to the kin of the deceased in the two incidents. To those who are being treated, Rs 50,000 assistance has been provided."

Illicit brewers behind the two incidents have been arrested and all steps were being taken to arrest all those responsible, he said.

"To completely prevent use of raw materials used in industries in making illicit brew, in order to find the root cause and eliminate illicit liquor, the investigation into the two incidents will be transferred to the CB-CID."

The Chief Minister said impartial action would be taken against officials for not implementing the government's order to completely end brewing and sale of illicit liquor.

Later, he chaired a high level meeting and directed police officials to pay special attention to end illicit liquor.

"There should be no kind of compromise on the matter," he warned officials.

Villupuram superintendent of police N Shreenatha, among others officials, was placed under supension while his Chengapattu counterpart A Pradeep was transferred

PMK founder leader S Ramadoss demanded that the government uproot the illicit liquor network in the State.

He urged the government to close down state-run TASMAC liquor outlets and make the state liquor free.
Michael Bakunenko, Board Chairman of Private JSC Mining Company Ukrnaftoburinnya

A government-business partnership is one of the critical conditions for the prosperity of any country. The rules of such partnership are set out in the legal framework. And if a business starts or continues operations in the country, such rules become binding. An existing liquid business can do more than pay taxes and create employment opportunities. During the pandemic and the war, those were the companies and enterprises that helped millions of Ukrainians in every way possible to save their lives from disease or the enemy from the northeast.

A partnership works when all parties involved fulfil their obligations in good faith. This is the minimum mutual respect in business. But what happens when one of the partners breaks the rules?

Recently, the entire business community in Ukraine learned from the media about the seizure of Ukrnaftoburinnya (UNB) shares and their transfer to the National Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA). I also learned about this court decision from the media. After all, neither I, as a CEO, the company as a legal entity, nor the shareholders received any inquiries. The consideration of the claim for the seizure of corporate rights took place in absolute silence. And the decision itself raises questions.

For example, I do not understand why the issues suddenly arising with a perfectly liquid company that contributes significantly to national production and pays taxes regularly cannot be resolved through a meaningful dialogue with the state.

Instead of complying with the law, why do we have a situation where private owners learn about the seizure of their assets after the fact and from the media without having been officially notified by the state authorities and without being invited to a court hearing regarding the claim for property seizure?

It is even more challenging to understand the contradictory decisions of the same court - the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv - made within a day of each other. It is difficult not to see bias and pressure from specific stakeholders in this.

Currently, UNB is a modern company, the second-largest private oil and gas enterprise in Ukraine and one of the largest 50 companies in terms of taxes paid. From 2010 to 2022 inclusive, we invested more than UAH 6 billion in the Sakhalin field, drilled about 20 new wells and paid almost UAH 24 billion in taxes and fees to the budget. In addition, in April 2023, the company made an advance payment of taxes for the 2nd quarter of 2023 in the amount of more than UAH 1 billion, demonstrating its readiness to continue supporting the state in difficult times.

For its part, the state is alienating the shares in a non-transparent and illegal manner and transferring them to the management of the ARMA, a structure whose effectiveness has raised questions even with the President of Ukraine.

I want to emphasize once again that UNB's special permits for field development are valid and obtained lawfully. We have all the necessary documents to prove this and have submitted them to the court. We are convinced there are no grounds for seizing our corporate rights and transferring them to external management.

I hope that the days of forceful interference in private business and outright violation of property rights in Ukraine are a thing of the past. And that we are not returning to the "new 90s" when the rule of the stronger takes over instead of the language of the law. But what is happening today, especially regarding the ongoing war, when the entire international community is watching the country, unfortunately, indicates the opposite.

In the meantime, the company and its shareholders call for a constructive dialogue and will continue to take all available and legal measures to protect themselves from the raider attack. We do not believe in the new 90s. We believe in partnership on a legal basis, just like any international investor. And so should the country that claims to be moving closer to the European Union.
As a political row erupted over Sebi telling the Supreme Court that it has not been probing the Adani group since 2016, the finance ministry on Monday said it stands by its July 2021 written reply in Parliament that had stated that the stock market regulator was investigating some Adani group companies.

After Sebi filed a fresh affidavit with the Supreme Court to strengthen its case for a six-month extension of the deadline to complete the probing allegations of fraud and money laundering against the Adani group, Congress and other opposition parties cited the finance ministry's July 2021 replies in Parliament to ask who was misleading.

"The government stands by its reply in the Lok Sabha on 19th July 2021 to Q. No. 72, which was based on due diligence and inputs from all concerned agencies," the finance ministry tweeted.

This was in response to Congress spokesperson Jairman Ramesh posting a screenshot of the written reply made by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary on July 19, 2021.

In the reply, the minister stated that "SEBI is investigating some Adani group companies with regard to compliance with Sebi regulations. Further, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) is investigating certain entities belonging to the Adani group of companies under laws administered by it.

He had gone on to state that Enforcement Directorate was not carrying out any investigation and that "Sebi had vide order dated January 16, 2016, directed depositories to freeze particular beneficiary accounts of certain foreign portfolio investors including Albula Investment Funds, Cresta Funds Ltd and APMS Investment Ltd.

The damning January 24 report of US short seller Hindenburg had alleged that some of these funds based out of Cyprus and Mauritius were proxies of Adani's that were used to manipulate stock markets and funnel money.

The Adani group has denied all allegations.

On petitions seeking probe into the allegations, the Supreme Court had asked Sebi to wind up its probe against the Adani group in two months. That deadline ended earlier this month and SEBI sought six more months to complete the probe.

Petitioners however contested that SEBI had been probing Adani group since 2016 and shouldn't be given a six-month extension.

In rejoinder to the petitioners, Sebi in a fresh affidavit on Monday said that the allegations that it "is investigating Adani since 2016 is factually baseless".

Sebi however did not say since when it was probing the Adani group.

"Now Sebi tells the Supreme Court that they have not been investigating any of the serious allegations against Adani! Which is worse -- misleading Parliament, or being fast asleep as lakhs of investors are duped by alleged money laundering and round-tripping using offshore shell companies? Or even worse, was there a restraining hand from above?" Ramesh tweeted.

Priyanka Chaturvedi, Rajya Sabha MP from Shiv Sena-UBT, tweeted: "So, SEBI denies any investigation into Adani companies since 2016, denies its own statement to the court? Was the junior finance minister lying to the country regarding the investigation in his answer on 19 July 2021? This smells of a cover-up but at whose behest?

"If what Sebi saying to the court is correct, goes to prove that Adani group has almost been given a free rein to manipulate markets through offshore companies since 2014 and with the regulatory body turning a blind eye to the illegalities. What a shame, again I repeat, only a JPC can uncover the extent of damage. Also the exposure of banks, LIC, EPFO in the group. Public loss for private gain, at whose behest?" she asked.

She even raised doubts at Sebi using a junior employee to file the affidavit.

"Wow. A 22-year-old has been hired by @SEBI_India to file an affidavit in the Supreme Court on their behalf! Must be either super experienced from kindergarten days to file such replies or naive enough to be part of something as big as this," she said in another tweet.

The Sebi affidavit was filed by one Satyanshu Maurya, who said he was presently working as an assistant manager in the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi).

TMC leader and MP Mahua Moitra, who has been leading the tirade against the Adani group and who had put the July 19, 2021 questions, hasn't yet commented on the issue.

She had however last week warned of Adani being allowed to raise funds through share sale before a probe is completed.

"Let me tell @Sebi_india loud & clear that we will raise Cain if Adani allowed to raise even a rupee of equity without investigation being completed," she had tweeted on May 12 with '#FraudstersBeware' hashtag. On May 12, lawyer Prashant Bhushan opposed the plea for the extension of time, saying SEBI was seized of some kind of investigation in the matter since 2016.

Sebi in the fresh affidavit said that the application for extension of time is meant to ensure "carriage of justice keeping in mind the interest of investors and the securities market" since any incorrect or premature conclusion of the case arrived at without full facts material on record would not serve the ends of justice and hence would be legally untenable.

It said the 'investigation' referred to in its earlier reply affidavit has no relation and/or connection to the issues referred to and/or arising out of the Hindenburg report.

"The matter referred to in paragraph 5 pertains to the issuance of Global Depository Receipts (GDRs) by 51 Indian listed companies in respect of which investigation was conducted. However, no listed company of the Adani group was part of the aforesaid 51 companies. Pursuant to the completion of the investigation, appropriate actions were taken in this matter."

It termed as factually baseless the allegation that Sebi has been investigating the Adani group since 2016 and said, I, therefore, say and submit that reliance sought to be placed on the investigation pertaining to GDRs is wholly misplaced.

Chaudhary in the July 19, 2021, reply to the Lok Sabha also mentioned the GDRs.

"In a matter pertaining to issuances of Global Depository Receipts (GDR) by certain Indian companies, SEBI vide order dated June 16, 2016, had directed depositories to freeze particular beneficiary accounts of certain FPIs including Albula Investment Ld, Cresta Funds Ltd and APMS Investment Fund Ltd. However, no order in respect of other beneficiary accounts of these three FPIs has been passed by SEBI," he had said.
Maharashtra legislative assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Monday said that after the Supreme Court's May 11 verdict, he will have to first recognise in the House which faction of the Shiv Sena is the political party before going ahead with any other decision.

IMAGE: Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais with state Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Speaker Rahul Narwekar arrives for the inaugural session of the Budget Session of the atate legislative assembly, at Vidhan Bhavan, in Mumbai, February 27, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

He was speaking to reporters in Mumbai after returning from London.

Narwekar said, I will have to first recognise who represents the political party in the assembly. Then the decision on the appointment of the chief whip will be taken. The petitions demanding the disqualification of MLAs are pending with the Speaker. Their main contention is about not following the whip's order, he said.

In its verdict on the Shiv Sena-centric tussle that led to the fall of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra last year, the Supreme Court on May 11 said it can't reinstate the then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray as he chose to resign without facing the floor test.

Refusing to disqualify the 16 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the top court said it cannot ordinarily adjudicate disqualification petitions under the anti-defection law and directed Speaker Narwekar to take a decision on the pending matter within a reasonable period.

Here we have to take a decision with retrospective effect. For that, I need to conduct hearings with both sides and their representations, said Narwekar.

While these two Sena groups, one led by Shinde and the other by Thackeray, have contested elections as different entities, they are not separately recognised in the assembly.

When asked about Supreme Court terming Bharat Gogawale's appointment as Sena's chief whip by Shinde illegal, Narvekar said, It is not permanently illegal. After following due procedure, Gogawale can still become the chief whip of the party.

During last year's Maharashtra political crisis, Thackerey controlled the Shiv Sena party organisation, while the Shinde faction claimed the support of the majority of elected legislators.
'The sudden arrests and detentions of all the Congress Working Committee members led to mass satyagraha by Congressmen and civil disobedience.'

'I found myself helpless as the source of my income, from which I sent a portion to my parents in the village, had suddenly stopped.'

Glimpses from the memoirs of Chakkedath Sankarankutty Menon, the stenographer who worked for Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel during the freedom struggle. The first of a multi-part series:

IMAGE: Mahatma Gandhi flanked by Jawaharlal Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel. Photograph: ANI Photo

Before 1931, for about two years, I worked at a small firm in Bombay (now Mumbai).

In January 1931, I joined M/S T. S. Thadani & Sons, Exporters.

In early May of that year, the manager of the firm called me to his cabin and offered me a chance to work with the president and general secretary of the Congress.

In April 1931, the Karachi session of the Congress was presided over by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Jairamdas Daulatram were elected general secretaries.

While Pandit Nehru was based in Allahabad, Sardar Patel and Jairamdas Daulatram had their headquarters at Bardoli (Surat district).

In connection with their work, I would have had to frequently travel between Bardoli, Ahmedabad and Bombay.

To work with the Congress in those days was considered to be risky as the police could take you away at any time.

Also, if my parents had come to know of my working for the Congress, they would have been frightened.

Considering this, I rejected the offer without hesitation though the manager kept reassuring me that nothing bad would happen to me and that it was for my good.

When he saw that I was firm, he said he would give me 24 hours to mull over the offer.

The next morning, when I reached office, to my amazement, I had to face Jairamdas Daulatram, who had come along with the manager.

I came to know that Jairamdas was a friend of the manager and stayed with him whenever he came to Bombay.

Jairamdas had come to the office to convince me to accept the offer.

I explained my apprehensions. I was assured by the manager that if I don't like working with the Congress, then I could get my job back whenever I wanted.

With this assurance, I agreed to go with Jairamdas. He asked me to reach Bombay Central station by 9.30 pm that same night with my luggage, to catch a 10 pm train to Bardoli (via Surat). He said he would get me a ticket; he also gave me some money to prepare for the journey.

We left for Bardoli in the night and reached there at about 9 am the next day. From the station, we drove to the Bardoli Ashram, which was about a mile away.

That was the beginning of my ashram life, with Sardar Patel and Jairamdas Daulatram.

Life was simple at the ashram. At tea time, we got a glass of milk, We got vegetarian meals without spices and condiments twice a day.

All the ashram's residents had to attend morning prayers at 4 am and evening prayers at 6 pm every day.

If I wanted a cup of tea, I had to go to the railway station to get it.

Life was simple and though I was fully occupied in work throughout the day, one did not feel exhausted.

During the course of our stay, Gandhiji came to the ashram for a couple of days.

Bhulabhai Desai (the lawyer and freedom activist) came for a longer period to represent the peasants of Bardoli before the Broomfield Commission, set up by the government, as the result of the successful satyagraha and the no rent campaign organised by the peasants of Bardoli under Sardar Patel's guidance and stewardship .

Both Sardar Patel and Jairamdas were so good and considerate to me that I felt quite at home in their company.

IMAGE: June 9, 1939: Mahatma Gandhi, centre, waits for a car outside Birla House, Bombay, on his arrival from Rajkot. Waiting with him are Jawaharlal Nehru, second from left, and Vallabhbhai Patel, second from right. Photograph: Keystone/Getty Images

For the common man, Sardar Patel was the ferocious 'Iron Man' and he would seem so to anyone who looked at him.

While he was indeed ruthless towards his enemies, to others, he was a large-hearted person. He would come across as humourous and considerate to his friends and common people alike.

While Sardar Patel looked ferocious, Jairamdas was an incarnation of sympathy, calmness. He was the most considerate person for everybody around him.

In their company, I had nothing to complain and I felt at home.

Very often, the three of us used to visit Ahmedabad and Bombay from Bardoli.

While in Ahmedabad, Sardar Patel used to stay with Dr Kanugo at Ellis Bridge and I used to stay at Congress house. On one or two occasions, I stayed with the general secretary of the local Congress organisation who lived near Dr Kanugo's house and used to go to Sardar Patel from there to work with him.

Whenever we came to Bombay, Sardar Patel used to stay with a friend at the Sri Ram mansion near Prarthana Samaj and Jairamdas stayed with his friend Dingoomal, manager of Thadani & Sons, at Forjett Street (both in present day South Mumbai). I used to stay at Congress house.

The Second Round Table Conference in London towards the end of 1931 was attended by Mahatma Gandhi on behalf of the Indian National Congress. He returned to India on January 1, 1932.

Both Sardar Patel and Jairamdas arrived in Bombay to attend the proposed Congress Working Committee to hear from Gandhiji about the conference and the decisions arrived therein.

Soon after Gandhiji's arrival in Bombay, the Congress Working Committee meeting was held and he explained to the committee what had transpired at the conference.

He told the committee that, in his opinion, the British government was not, in any way, prepared to part with power in India and for the attainment of freedom, the Indian National Congress and all other people fighting for freedom would have to resort to civil disobedience and satyagraha without delay.

IMAGE: Mahatma Gandhi signs autographs, in return for donations to the Harijan Fund. This photograph was taken at Juhu in present day north west Mumbai where he rested occasionally. Photograph: Photodivision

Gandhiji's call provoked the government and, if I am correct, in the early hours of 5th January (it was 4th January), 1932, the police arrived and arrested all the Working Committee members from their respective residences. They shifted Gandhiji and Sardar Patel to Yervada Jail in Poona.

The rest, including Jairamdas, were sent to the Ahmednagar Fort for detention. Jawaharlal Nehru was sent to Naini prison.

Early the next morning, the newspapers headlined the arrests of the Congress leaders and their removal outside Bombay.

I was staying with a friend at Matunga (present day north central Mumbai). The news was a shock for me, and I felt orphaned.

Only the previous evening, while leaving for the day, I had seen Sardar in good spirits and never suspected any sudden political developments.

Maniben Patel, Sardar Patel's unforgettable daughter, was by his side at that time.

The sudden arrests and detentions of the Congress Working Committee members led to mass satyagraha by Congressmen and civil disobedience by others who sympathised with the cause.

I found myself helpless as the source of my income, from which I sent a portion to my parents in the village, had suddenly stopped.

At the same time, I could not plunge myself into the fray and invite arrest or detention.

So, I recalled the promise Dingoomal, the manager of T S Thadani and Sons, had made to me while I was leaving to join the Indian National Congress, that I could return to my old job at any time.

I approached Dingoomal in his office and told him about my difficulties, but he declined to take me back because his business was adversely affected due to the sudden turn in the political situation.

I was again in the wilderness.

Translated from the Malayalam by Pottayil Aravindakshan Nair.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
In this week's Vermontitude podcast, host Peter "Fish" Case chats up Chris Mays, a longtime reporter with the Brattleboro Reformer, as they di Vermontitude Episode 27: Rounding up Route 30 chaos and mascots
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Plenty of sunshine. High 72F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 48F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.
Joe Wiah, center, the director of the Ethiopian Community Development Council's Multicultural Community Center in Brattleboro, listens to speakers during a forum at Brooks Memorial Library on May 8.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit the UK on Monday, May 15, where he will meet with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

"Today is London. The UK is a leader when it comes to expanding our capabilities on earth and in the sky. Today this cooperation will continue. I will meet with my friend Rishi. We will hold substantive tete a tete talks with delegations," Zelenskyy wrote on the Telegram channel.

"Today we have important meetings in London. We are working to strengthen the defense of Ukraine and support our movement in NATO," Andriy Yermak, head of the President's Office, wrote on Telegram.

On Saturday-Sunday, Zelenskyy visited Italy and the Vatican, Germany and France.
Businessman Dmytro Firtash, the owner of Group DF, received a notice of suspicion from the Security Service of Ukraine and the Bureau of Economic Security, a source in law enforcement agencies has told Interfax-Ukraine.

According to information from the source, Firtash and eight top managers of his companies are being charged with suspicion. Since Monday morning, searches have been held at the heads of the oligarch's firms [Regional Gas Company, Ye Energy] and regional gas supply companies.

Law enforcers exposed a scheme according to which structures controlled by Firtash bought fuel from his company, but in fact received 30% of the volumes. The artificial shortage was covered by state-owned gas, and Firtash appropriated part of the money.

According to the source, over seven years, such a scheme has caused damages of UAH 18 billion to the country's budget.
Police in Belagavi have registered an FIR against miscreants for allegedly chanting Pakistan Zindabad slogans, informed Alok Kumar, Additional Director General of Police, Law & Order, Karnataka. Police registered a case in lieu of a complaint on social media. In the visuals, massively shared on social media, the mob can be heard chanting Pakistan Zindabad slogans on the streets. Some of the miscreants were also holding the flag of the Congress party, which swept the assembly elections on May 13.

Its important to note Congress returned back to power with a thumping majority after winning a record 135 seats in Karnataka after BJP was restricted to only 66 in the results announced on May 13 (Saturday).

Case is registered and needful action is being taken https://t.co/qkV7MRwofy  alok kumar (@alokkumar6994) May 14, 2023

According to a report, a case against unidentified people has been filed under IPC section 153.

Decision on Next Karnataka CM

After Congress won the state assembly elections with 135 seats, the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting took place in Bengaluru on May 14. The selected MLAs during the meeting authorised the AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge to decide who will be the leader of the CLP. "The Congress Legislature Party unanimously resolves that AICC President is hereby authorised to appoint the new Leader of the Congress Legislature Party," the resolution said. DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah are the top contenders for the Chief Minister's post.


A Pakistani intruder was nabbed by the Indian Army when he attempted to infiltrate from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Monday.

Mohammad Usman (30), a resident of Karela village of Kotli in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), was intercepted by troops after he entered Tarkundi village late Sunday evening, the officials said.

They said nothing incriminating was recovered from the possession of the intruder, who is being questioned.

Earlier on April 29, Indian troops detained a father-son duo from PoK who had inadvertently crossed into this side in nearby Poonch district. Both the individuals were later repatriated to Pakistan through Chakan Da Bagh border crossing point.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will come in the country and polygamy would come to an end.

He was addressing Hindu Ekta Yatra organised by Telangana BJP president and Lok Sabha MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar at Karimnagar.

UCC to come in the country soon, says Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

"There are some people in India who thought they can marry four women. That was their thinking. But, I say you will not be able to do four marriages. Those days are going to come to an end. That day is not far. Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is going to come in India and time has also come to make India a true secular nation," Sarma said.

The Assam Chief Minister had recently said the State government has constituted a four-member expert committee to examine the legislative competence of the state legislature to enact a law to end polygamy.

Without naming Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Sarma, who is senior BJP leader said in Telangana "Ram Rajya" is coming in place of "Raja's rule".

"Raja has just five months left. We need 'Ram Rajya' in Telangana and that is our goal. Based on Hindu civilisation we have to make 'Ram Rajya' in Telangana," he said.

Telangana Assembly elections are scheduled to be held later this year.

Sarma said the Telangana government again and again arrests Bandi Sanjay Kumar and he comes out and the government will not succeed in keeping him in jail. "Like Hanuman ji established 'Ram Rajya', we are confident that Bandi Sanjay will establish 'Ram Rajya' in Telangana," he said.

He called upon the people to watch "The Kerala Story" movie.

"Today we are working against 'Love Jihad' in Assam. We are taking steps towards closing madrassas education in the State," Sarma said pointing out that the government has shutdown 600 madrasas in his state.

Targetting AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, Sarma said the new India is not afraid of him. "I want to tell Owaisi that I will shutdown 300 more madrassas this year", he said.

The Assam Chief Minister said he saw on television some people saying, on the outcome of the Karnataka Assembly election, that nothing more will happen in the name of Hindu in the country, and asserted that as long as sun and moon exist, India will have Nationalism and Sanatan (Dharma).

Sarma said "Hindu Ekta is not against any religion. I believe as long as Hindus will be there in India there will be wellbeing in the country. Today you see the situation in Pakistan. (Aaj Bharat ka bagdor Hindu ka haath mein hain) Today, a Hindu holds the reins of India. Some people say India is backward but Modi ji (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) made India world's fifth-largest economy and the country will become Visvaguru.

Speaking about the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, he said 10 years ago no one thought about it and it became a reality now. Similarly earlier no one thought about the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, but it happened.

Sarma attacked the ruling BRS government in Telangana and said AIMIM and BRS are same. KCR (as Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is popularly known) made TRS into BRS, he said and expressed confidence that people will give VRS to the BRS.

The senior BJP leader claimed government employees in Telangana were paid salaries on 10th of every month while in Assam government employees were paid salaries on 1st of each month.

He further said in Assam 50,000 people were given government jobs last year and soon another 50,000 jobs will given while BRS government in Telangana which has been in power for almost 10 years should have given 10 lakh government jobs but not even 50,000 people got employment.
The conservation group Lion Guardians has reported that Loonkito, believed to be one of the world's oldest lions, was killed in Kenya at the age of 19. According to the organisation, the lion was killed on Wednesday after entering a livestock pen owned by someone in search of prey as he was "starving" in the middle of the night. The owner of the pen was responsible for the lion's death. He was the oldest male lion in our ecosystem and possibly in Africa, said Lion Guardians, which announced his passing with heavy hearts.

He was a symbol of resilience and coexistence. We at Lion Guardians feel privileged to have borne witness to his life and his legacy, it added. The organisation credits the efforts of local communities who coexist with the big cats for the extended lifespan of older wild lions in the present landscape. The fact that lions are surviving past the age of 10, which was not the case a decade ago, is attributed to the collaborative efforts of the communities.

Cases of lions venturing outside of protected areas increasing

The website of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) states that over the past 50 years, there has been a significant surge in the demand for energy and materials, leading to a situation where humans and lions are in direct competition for space and resources. When the food sources of lions are depleted, they may travel long distances, sometimes outside protected areas, in search of prey, which can put them in conflict with human communities. In such situations, lions may target livestock, which poses a risk to the community. In retaliation or to prevent conflict, farmers often resort to killing the lions.

Loonkito was unfortunately caught up in this dynamic, said Lion Guardians. Due to the worst drought in four decades, Kenya has been going through a challenging time. The organisation has noted that the end of a drought is typically accompanied by an increase in human-lion conflict as wild prey becomes scarce and livestock owners become more cautious after losing many animals. This incident was a tough situation for both sides, the people and the lion, it added.
The cafe outside Aswan station was full of Sudanese families, surrounded by luggage and waiting for the train to Cairo, the next leg in their arduous journey escaping violence that has torn apart their country and overturned their lives. Aswan, the Egyptian city closest to the border with Sudan, has become a way station for tens of thousands of Sudanese fleeing fighting between Sudans military and rival paramilitary force. The displaced arrive exhausted after days on the chaotic roads. Now, they must figure out how to navigate a future that is suddenly uncertain, with no idea when they will be able to return home.

At Aswans Nasser cafe, a Sudanese university professor Naglaa al-Khair Ahmed was still stunned by the sudden explosion of violence on April 15, after escalating tensions between Sudans two top generals. We never imagined that verbal skirmishes would end up with war, she said. We didnt expect that a decision (to go to) war was so easy to take.

She was heading to the Egyptian capital Cairo with her elderly father and her daughter. Her husband had remained behind in their home city of Omdurman, which neighbors the capital, Khartoum. I was crying the whole way out of Sudan, she said, wiping away her tears, I kept telling myself, I will return. Certainly, I will return very soon. She has no idea when  one month, maximum, she said hopefully.

More than 76,000 Sudanese and over 5,000 other nationals have crossed into Egypt since the fighting began, according to the Egyptian government. The U.N. refugee agency says it expects the number to reach 350,000. The influx has slowed in the past week, but Sudanese refugees still keep coming as fighting continues.

Sudans army and the rival group, known as the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, are holding negotiations in the Saudi port city of Jeddah. But those who fled dont know when it will be safe to return, scarred after spending days trapped in their homes amid constant gunfire, explosions and the sound of warplanes. Many of those arriving in Egypt have, at least for now, money for housing or onward travel to Europe or the Gulf states. Its a harder struggle for thousands of poorer Sudanese coming across the border. At the Aswan train terminal and a bus station in the nearby village of Karkar, Egyptian and Sudanese volunteers welcomed the refugees with hot meals and water.

Mohamed Yahia, a Sudanese man who has worked as a day laborer in Aswan since 2020, handed over his apartment to a distant relative and her three daughters. He moved with his wife and young son to a small house hes renting for the time being in Karkar. They are poor, and her husband was not with them, the 29-year-old said of his guests. We all  Sudanese and Egyptians  break bread with anyone arriving here. Gassem Amin, a Sudanese filmmaker living in Egypt since 2016, has been in Aswan for the past three weeks helping out. He joined other volunteers who help newly arrived Sudanese arrange housing, book tickets to further destinations, or get medical care. Amin said a black market has arisen, selling bus and train tickets and renting furnished rooms to Sudanese at inflated prices. His group buys hundreds of tickets from the terminal each morning and gives them to Sudanese trying to get to Cairo or Alexandria. They pass on the cost to those who can pay. The poor get the tickets for free. The group also helps the displaced find affordable rooms.

Ahmed, the university professor, said that when fighting first broke out, she thought it would be brief. Instead, it quickly engulfed Khartoum and Omdurman. It was massive, massive killing, massive destruction, massive looting, massive in everything, she said. Army aircraft repeatedly bombed an RSF camp close to her home, shaking the entire area. She and her family hid for hours under their beds as battles raged outside, she added. For two weeks, Ahmed resisted her brothers urging that she leave. But as people fled in thousands and neighbourhoods emptied out, Ahmed decided to flee Sudan, figuring that no place was safe. She secured bus tickets for herself, her 15-year-old daughter and her father through a neighbour who owns a travel agency.

They left early in the morning through back alleys to avoid crossfire and reached the bus station. Then came a ride of more than 15 hours to reach Aswan in a bus packed with other fleeing families. At stops along the way, villagers offered the passengers food and water. She recalled three young men getting on their bus, distributing sandwiches, bottled water and juice, and offering to host those who cant afford to go to Egypt. There were lots of generous people, even though they looked poor, she said. At the Argeen border point, crossings were smooth, to her surprise, she said. By that time, Egypt had beefed up staff there, speeding up the long lines of buses and cars.

The other main route remains more chaotic, through the Sudanese town of Wadi Halfa, about a half-hour drive from the border with Egypt. The town has been overwhelmed by tens of thousands of people fleeing, packed into the few hotels and spending nights in mosques, schools and open areas. Men wait in long lines at the Egyptian Consulate for their required visas. Sudanese women can enter Egypt without a visa, but men between 16-49 need one.

From there, they cross into Egypt, then take a ferry across Lake Nasser to the town of Abu Simbel. From there, its another 300-kilometre (180 mile) trip to Aswan or to Karkar. Reem Adel, who is five months pregnant, was trapped for days at her sister-in-laws apartment in Khartoums al-Safiya neighbourhood, which witnessed some of the fiercest fighting. Neighbours were hit by stray bullets, and RSF soldiers occupied their street, storming and looting apartments and kicking out residents, she said. The paramilitary troops also established a checkpoint, seizing valuables from those passing through. We could have ended up dead inside our home like many others, said Adel, a project manager for a non-governmental organization. She fled with her husband and her sister-in-laws family.

It took them several days to reach Wadi Halfa, where they had to wait for visas for the men. Then came a bumpy truck ride and a 3-kilometer (1.8 mile) walk on foot to the border terminal at Ashkit-Qustal to bypass the line of trucks waiting to go through, some for as long as a week. It was risky for a pregnant woman, but we didnt have any other option, she said. Adel and her family arrived in Cairo and rented an apartment. Their plan is to remain in Egypt, at least until she gives birth. In the meantime, she and her husband are looking for any sort of work. No one knows when they can return, she said. Even if they reach a truce in the Jeddah talks, fighting could break out anytime ... they are not to be trusted.
Former Pakistan Prime Minister, Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on Monday asserted that it will take the Punjab Rangers and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to the court over the detention of the party's chief. Khan was arrested on May 9 from the court premises which plunged the country into violent protests and chaos. PTI is now saying that it will lodge the FIRs on the ruling Pakistan government of Shehbaz Sharif over the murder of unarmed citizens at peaceful protests countrywide.

The interior minister, as well as Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief ministers and police chiefs, will be nominated in these cases, the party said , according to the Islamabad based newspaper Dawn.

A high-powered commission must be established for probe: PTI

The PTI demanded that a high-powered commission must be established comprising the Supreme Court judges that should investigate in an unbiased manner the killings of citizens of Pakistan who took to the streets to demonstrate against the arrest, exercising their democratic rights. A probe must be ordered to establish the attempts to incite protesters that led to the anarchy-like situation, the PTI said, according to Dawn. These decisions were taken during a meeting of the PTI party leaders chaired by chief Imran Khan at his Zaman Park residence on May 14.

As many as 24 people were killed in the protests that took a violent form following Khan's arrest. An estimated 700 were injured badly, as per the figures cited by the Pakistan press. Scored of PTI activists were booked by the ruling Shehbaz Sharif government. An estimated 3,500 leaders and workers were arbitrarily detained by Islamabad's law enforcement agencies. They were taken to an unidentified location and their whereabouts are still unknown.

PTI called the narrative of violence across the streets "propaganda" spread by the government. PTI chief Imran Khan never deviated from the course of law and justice even when he faced the worst kind of situations in his political career, the PTI stated, according to their statement cited by the paper. It went on to add, "Not a single stone was thrown during protests at thousands of locations in the country in the aftermath of an assassination attempt on Mr Khan on November 3 last year." The PTI noted that the false propaganda" was spread by the government using the state-controlled media to defame Khan's supporters and his PTI party. The narratives against Khan's party were "aimed at protecting those who planned to create anarchy and unrest across the country," they maintained. PTI, in the statement, also strongly condemned the attack on the Supreme Court by seminaries students who were led by PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan expressed his fears of watching his political party head down the same road as the Awami League of erstwhile East Pakistan which was outlawed decades ago on the grounds of being treasonous. In a lengthy Twitter rant during the wee hours of Monday, Khan narrated the ordeal that he has recently gone through.

From being dragged out of court to getting apprehended, events involving the embattled former premier have triggered massive protests and disarray in Pakistan. On Monday, he claimed that the incumbent Shehbaz Sharif-led government is plotting an intricate "London plan", which involves bolstering the crackdown on PTI.

"Then will follow complete crack down on whatever is left of PTI leadership and workers. And finally they will ban the largest and only federal party of Pakistan," he tweeted, adding that what he perceives as an impending situation would resemble what happened with the Awami League.

Then will follow complete crack down on whatever is left of PTI leadership and workers.

And finally they will ban the largest and only federal party of Pakistan. (Just as they banned the Awami league in East Pakistan)  Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 14, 2023

But what exactly happened to the Awami League?

"They will ban the largest and only federal party of Pakistan. Just as they banned the Awami league in East Pakistan," he wrote. Khan drew a parallel to the Awami League, which was banned in erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), shortly after the Pakistani Army's Operation Searchlight. During an address on May 26, 1971, then-President Yahya Khan banned the party, justifying the move by claiming it was treasonous. Following the ban, the then-government seized the bank accounts of the party.

During the nationwide address, Yahya Khan also imposed media censorship. As for the Awami League, it is completely banned as a political party," the former president said, adding that the party's founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahmans action of non-cooperation movement is an act of treason," Dawn reported.
The UK will start training groups of Ukrainian pilots in the summer according to an adapted program, with the help of which the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be able to use various types of aircraft, the British government has said.

"This summer we will commence an elementary flying phase for cohorts of Ukrainian pilots to learn basic training. This will adapt the programme used by UK pilots to provide Ukrainians with piloting skills they can apply a different kind of aircraft," according to the statement published on government's website on Monday.

It is noted that this training goes "hand in hand with UK efforts to work with other countries on providing F16 jets  Ukraine's fighter jets of choice."

In February, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the UK would develop a new training program for Ukrainian pilots to support their efforts to build a new Ukrainian air force using NATO-standard F16 aircraft.
The Afghanistani embassy located in New Delhi rejected the claims that there have been changes in leadership after reports emerged that the countrys Taliban regime replaced the Afghan Ambassador in the Indian capital. According to the Afghan news outlet Khaama Press, the Taliban foreign ministry in Kabul appointed Mohammad Qadir Shah to lead the embassy in Delhi. However, the consulate employees in the Indian national capital vehemently denied this new change and accused Shah of spreading misinformation. In a statement released on Monday, the embassy made it clear that it is taking its stance to protect the genuine interest of the Afghan nationals.

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan categorically rejects the claims from an individual claiming to have taken charge of the mission in New Delhi at the behest of the Taliban administration, the Embassy wrote in a statement. The consulate then went on to thank the Indian government for acknowledging the plight of the people of Afghan and not recognising the Taliban regime. In August 2021, the Taliban regime took over the country in a catastrophic military coup. Since then the regime has actively imposed restrictions on basic human rights, especially the rights of the women. The individual who claims to have been named charge daffairs by the Taliban has been responsible for spreading misinformation and running a baseless and unsubstantiated campaign against officials of the mission including totally fabricated allegations of corruption based on an unsigned letter, the embassy further asserted in the statement.

The statement was released by the Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi, on May 15, 2023, Monday.

Who is Mohammad Qadir Shah? The new ambassador appointed by Taliban

According to Khaama Press, the new appointee has been working at the diplomatic office under the republic government. As per the news outlet, he has served as the embassys secretary in India for the past few years. His appointment came after reports emerged that his predecessor, Farid Mamundzay was ordered to leave the embassy making way for Shah to take over. However, Mamundzay described these reports as baseless rumours in a Facebook post he shared on Sunday. Unfortunately, for the past three days, some media citing unknown and unknown addresses have been spreading one-sided and biased reports against the holy profession of law and journalism, which has no truth, Mamundzay wrote in a Facebook post. All the diplomats and colleagues of the embassy are committed to their country's dignity and dignity and their current affairs and consider the standard of judgment of their past and present affairs as the intention of their respected nation, he added.

An interesting fact about this saga is that both Farid Mamondzay and Qadir Shah were close aides to the countrys former Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar and was appointed to their respective post under Atmars leadership, Khaama Press reported. Meanwhile, in a letter to Talibans Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a group of representatives of Afghan nationals accused Ambassador Farid Mamondzay, Ziaullah Hashemi, head of the embassys finance and administrative affairs, and Shakib Ibrahim Ayazi, director of the embassys political affairs, of corruption and embezzlement. The Monday statement indicates that the embassy does not have a favourable opinion about the so-called newly appointed leadership.
Just in time for the summer dining season, the US government has given its blessing to restaurants that want to allow pet dogs in their outdoor spaces. But even though nearly half of the states already allow canine dining outdoors, the issue is far from settled, with many diners and restaurants pushing back against the increasing presence of pooches. I'd like to be able to enjoy my meal without having to worry about fleas, pet hair, barking and entitled dogs and their owners, said Tracy Chiu Parisi, a food blogger in New York, who was once startled by a dog that stuck its head in her lap while she was reading a menu.

Restaurants have been required to allow service dogs for decades. But it wasn't until the mid-2000s that a handful of states including Florida and Illinois began passing laws allowing dogs in outdoor dining spaces, according to the Animal Legal and Historical Centre at Michigan State University. Twenty-three states now have such laws or regulations. But the legal landscape is confusing. Michigan law doesn't allow dogs in outdoor dining spaces, for example, but lets restaurants apply for a variance from their county health department.

So in 2020, the Conference for Food Protection a group of food industry and health experts that advises the government asked the US Food and Drug Administration to issue guidance for states. It cited a 2012 risk assessment in Australia and New Zealand that found that the health risk to human diners from dogs was very low.

The FDA's updated food code, issued late last year, says restaurants can have dogs in outdoor areas if they get approval from a local regulator. Restaurants should have signs saying dogs are welcome and should develop plans to handle dogs and their waste. They should ensure dogs remain properly restrained and provide separate food bowls so dogs don't use plates or utensils meant for humans.

The new guidance comes as US pet ownership is rising. Nearly 87 million US households now have a pet, up from 85 million in 2019, according to the American Pet Products Association. And experts say more people are looking for dining options that will accommodate their dogs. Yelp searches for businesses using the dogs-allowed filter jumped 58 per cent between the year ending May 1, 2021, and the year ending May 1, 2023. A total of 47,415 businesses now describe themselves as dog friendly on Yelp, the company says.

Younger pet owners, Millennials and Generation Z, have incredibly strong bonds with their pets and they are willing to act upon that, said Steven Feldman, president of the Human Animal Bond Research Institute. They are more likely to frequent and express a preference for pet-friendly businesses. Monty Hobbs, the managing director of a digital marketing agency in Washington, can often be found at local restaurant patios with Mattox, his 5-year-old terrier and miniature schnauzer mix. Some waiters even bring Mattox bits of bacon. Hobbs stresses that he doesn't take Mattox everywhere. He's my dog. He's not my child, he said.

But Mattox is well-behaved, he said, so it's nice to know they can drop in at a neighbourhood bar if they're out taking a walk. At Zazie, a San Francisco bistro, diners get USD 10 off a bottle of wine on Mondays if they bring their dogs, who get treats donated by the pet store across the street. It's great for business. People really enjoy bringing their dog out with them, said Megan Cornelius, Zazie's co-owner. But other restaurants are saying no to Fido.

The Salty Dog Cafe in Hilton Head, South Carolina, allowed dogs on its patio when it first opened in 1987. But two years later, it banned them. Too many dogs were barking through meals, fighting, lying in walkways and stealing hot dogs from kids' plates, says Tim Stearns, the Salty Dog's chief operating officer. If diners object, the Salty Dog points them to a separate dog-friendly deck where they can eat takeout food from the restaurant. But most diners seem to appreciate the policy.

We are all dog lovers at Salty Dog, but we remain a restaurant for humans, Stearns said. The Blond Giraffe Key Lime Pie Factory in Key West, Florida, banned dogs because it didn't want to be held responsible if a dog ate iguana droppings which can make them violently ill or trip a child or an elderly diner. In at least one case, an unleashed dog at the restaurant killed a neighbourhood cat.

Julie Denzin, who has worked as a restaurant server in Milwaukee for more than a decade, has watched dogs drool, fight, growl and relieve themselves on restaurant patios. Dogs have bitten her and knocked her over, causing her to spill scalding hot coffee. She has also encountered diners who are allergic to dogs or afraid of them. Denzin doesn't think dogs should be banned but says restaurants should consider designating dog-friendly areas or specific hours when dogs are allowed. It's not a matter of liking or disliking dogs, she said. The point is, regardless of what the owner might say no matter how perfect and obedient they insist their dog is there's no way to ensure the safety and comfort of other guests.

Maddie Speirs, a dog trainer with Pawsitive Futures Dog Training in St. Petersburg, Florida, said many people hire her with the goal of training their dogs to eat out at restaurants. Not every dog is cut out for that, she said; they need to be comfortable with noise and unsolicited interactions and able to be able to sit near food for long periods. She urges owners to think about who benefits from restaurant visits: them or their dogs. If you think it's for your dog, what exactly are they getting out of it? she said. It's not as fun of social interaction for dogs as it is for us.
US President Joe Biden will kick off his visit to Japan with a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday, reported Sputnik citing the White House statement. Notably, the G7 summit would be held from May 19-21, in Japans Hiroshima. According to the White House schedule, Biden would be reaching Hiroshima on Thursday, May 18, and would start with the bilateral meeting with Kishida the same day.

Biden in Japan for G7 summit and meet Kishida

While talking about Biden's plan to take part in G7, held in Japan, Karine Jean-Pierre, a White House spokesperson said, "Biden was going to travel to Japan on Wednesday to participate in the Group of Seven (G7) leaders summit." Further, she added, "Biden would meet with congressional leaders "early next week" to discuss the raising of the debt limit." The G7 summit comes amid Russias invasion of Ukraine as well as ways to confront Chinas assertive economic and military moves in the Indo-Pacific region. Further, he would make his first trip as president to Australia, which would include the third in-person meeting of the so-called Quad leadership of the US, Japan, Australia and India. The President and G7 leaders will discuss a range of the most pressing global issues, including the G7s unwavering support for Ukraine, addressing the dual food and climate crises, securing inclusive and resilient economic growth, and continuing to lead a clean energy transition at home and for our partners around the world," said White House spokesperson.

In January 2023, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held wide-ranging talks at the White House with President Jow Biden as Japan looked forward to building security cooperation with allies in a time of provocative Chinese and North Korean military action. Biden and Kishisda signed an agreement to bolster U.S.-Japanese cooperation on space with a signing ceremony by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa. Further, Biden had welcomed Japan's PM's first visit since he took office in October 2021 and he also praised Japan for its historic increase in defence spending and pledged close cooperation on economic and security matters.
Decision appears to pave the way for Hun Sens party to keep grip on power.

Supporters of the opposition Candlelight Party wave flags as they take part in a campaign rally in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 21, 2022.

Cambodias main opposition Candlelight Party was officially rejected by the National Election Committee on Monday and wont be allowed to compete in the July 23 parliamentary elections.

The decision deals an enormous blow to opponents of Hun Sens ruling Cambodian Peoples Party, which now looks like it will sail to an overwhelming victory in the vote.

It also repeats what happened before the last election, in 2018, when the Supreme Court dissolved the previous main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, or CNRP, which was perceived as a threat to Hun Sens decades-long grip on power. The ruling CPP went on to win all 125 seats in the assembly.

The election committees decision wasnt surprising, and it came down to an apparent problem with paperwork.

The Candlelight Party had submitted its application to register for the election, but the committee warned last week that it wouldnt accept a statement from the Interior Ministry confirming the partys registration in 1998. It said it required the original certificate issued by the ministry, which was lost in 2017, when the CNRP offices were raided by government agents.

On top of that, the committee needs that document certified by the Phnom Penh Municipality.

Candlelight Party members cried foul because the party was allowed to compete in previous local elections.

Some problems are politically motivated, and that makes it a bit difficult for our country, Candlelight Party spokesman Kim Sour Phirith told Radio Free Asia.

Legally, we have documents certified by the Ministry of Interior, which is good enough for us to be able to participate in the coming election because we, the Candlelight Party, were already allowed to join last years commune election and then the recent city/provincial/district election, he said.

So we dont know what else to do, he said.

Appeals

The party has five days to file a complaint with the Constitutional Council, a judicial body that examines election disputes. Candlelight officials have also tried to meet with Hun Sen to seek his intervention, but he wouldnt agree to meet until after the election, Kim Sour Phirith said.

The Cambodian government is clearly fishing for any excuse to block opposition parties from competing, said former Thai minister of foreign affairs Kasit Piromya.

Disqualifying a party on the basis of such a small technicality fools absolutely no one and just serves as another show of the Hun Sen regimes bad faith dealings, he said in a statement issued by the Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights group.

U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Stephanie Arzate said the NECs decision undermines Cambodias democracy, and she urged authorities to reopen political and civic space, including ending harassment of opposition parties.

Exiled opposition figure Sam Rainsy said opposition parties that emphasized democratic values won seats in Phnom Penh in the 2003 and 2013 parliamentary elections  and Hun Sen was probably worried that Candlelight Party candidates on the ballot from Phnom Penh would also perform well.

The big thing is that Hun Sen wants to transfer power to his son, Hun Manet, to become prime minister after the election, he told RFA. And Hun Manet is standing as first candidate for election in Phnom Penh.

The Candlelight Party has attracted support with a policy platform centered around improving social welfare benefits such as offering free check-ups and treatment at public hospitals and raising the minimum monthly wage for garment workers and civil servants.

The election committee should explain why it recognized and allowed the Candlelight Party to participate in two recent elections, but not this one, said Kang Savang, a coordinator with the independent Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (Comfrel).

Why does the NEC not accept the Ministry of Interiors declared recognition of the CLP? he asked. This seemingly means that the NEC does not acknowledge the legal existence of the Ministry of Interior.

The partys registration for last years commune elections and the recent city and provincial elections seemed to go smoothly, legal scholar Vorn Chanloth said.

So, I think we should keep using that procedure, he said. Any new procedure should be flexible too. That means that if a political party isnt able to fulfill the new requirement, it should be allowed to follow the old workable procedure.

Translated by Sok Ry Sum. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.
Police say the actions are part of a 'civil dispute' to be resolved by 'negotiation' or a lawsuit.

"The landlord [told us] 'if you don't leave, you will be killed,' saying that we have to move out in the next two weeks," says Wang Qiaoling, shown with her husband, Li Heping.

In a bid to evict prominent rights lawyer Li Heping from his Beijing home, the landlord smashed a window of his apartment and issued a death threat, Lis wife told Radio Free Asia on Monday.

The owner of the apartment rented by the family in the Tongzhou district on the outskirts of Beijing brought about a dozen people to their home on Sunday evening, pelting the window with stones and smashing a large pane, leaving shards of glass inside the room, according to a video clip shared by Lis wife Wang Qiaoling,

"The landlord [told us] 'If you don't leave, you will be killed,' saying that we have to move out in the next two weeks," Wang said. "We've already paid the rent [in advance], so we should have the right to use the property for the entire contract period."

The incident is the latest in a slew of actions by Beijing police and local officials, who have targeted the families of prominent rights attorneys and other activists in a bid to get them to leave the city where they have made their home, and where their children attend school.

"The landlord said he had broken a window pane on his own property," she said, adding that the family had been in the new property for less than a month after being forced to leave their old home following similar harassment. "This is ridiculous."

Police involvement?

Wang accused the landlord of being in cahoots with police, and was likely acting with their tacit approval.

"Clearly, [the police] have been talking to the landlord about this, because the landlord keeps saying, 'If you don't like it, sue me," she said. "They must have struck some kind of agreement with the police."

A local police officer told Li Heping after the incident that there was no evidence of wrongdoing.

The window of the apartment of rights lawyer Li Heping and his wife, Wang Qiaoling, was broken Sunday by their landlord, the couple told RFA. Credit: Provided by Wang Qiaoling





"This is a tenancy dispute, which is a civil dispute," the officer said in a video clip posted to Wang Qiaolings Twitter account. "You can negotiate to try to reach an agreement, and failing that, you can take it to court and sue them."

Asked if it was legal to commit acts of violence to drive people out of their property, the officer responded: "The landlord has the right to demolish what he wants -- this isn't violence. He can do whatever he wants with his own property."

Pressure on others

Beijing police have also put further pressure on fellow rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang and his family, after the authorities cut off their utilities, forcing them to leave their apartment in Shunyi district.

"I haven't found stable accommodation yet," Wang Quanzhang told Radio Free Asia on Monday. "If I can't manage to find something stable in Beijing, it will be a huge problem."

He said even if the family complies with Beijing police demands that they relocate to his birthplace in the eastern province of Shandong, there is no guarantee that they will be left in peace by the local authorities once they settle there, either.

"Things could get even worse if they send me to Shandong," he said. "For now, I'm still trying to find somewhere [in Beijing], because even though they give us trouble, it's still better than anywhere else."

But he said Beijing police seem particularly determined to get them to leave the city this time, compared with previous attempts at eviction and forcible relocation.

Earlier this month, Beijing police refused an attempt to forcibly relocate Wuhan citizen journalist Fang Bin at the end of a three-year jail term for reporting from the front line of the emerging COVID-19 pandemic, putting him back aboard a train for Wuhan within hours of his arrival.

Fang was turned around and sent back again as the authorities stepped up "stability maintenance" measures aimed at getting rid of other politically sensitive figures who have made their homes in the capital.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
Head of a U.S.-based overseas Chinese association with close ties to Beijing is jailed for life.

A Chinese court on Monday handed down a life sentence to a 78-year-old American citizen who headed a Beijing-backed overseas Chinese group, after finding him guilty of "espionage."

The Suzhou Intermediate People's Court court in the eastern province of Jiangsu sentenced Leung Shing-wan, also known as John Leung, to life imprisonment, as well as confiscating 500,000 yuan (US$72,000) of his assets, it said in a statement on its official social media accounts.

Leung is a member of a Beijing-backed overseas Chinese community group and has been photographed with high-ranking Communist Party officials.

He has previously spoken out in public in support of a draconian national security law imposed on his birthplace, Hong Kong, all of which indicate a likely connection to the ruling Chinese Communist Party's secretive outreach and influence arm, the United Front Work Department.

His jailing shows that Beijing views him as having divided loyalties, and wants to send a warning to others among its supporters and officials who may have pro-U.S. sympathies despite ongoing bilateral tensions, analysts said.

At the time of his investigation by state security police, Leung was chairman of the U.S.-China Friendship Promotion Association and had been photographed with former Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

United Front

Overseas Chinese associations that engage in official exchanges with Beijing form part of the Communist Partys United Front activities beyond Chinas borders, typically repeating the official line on major events, including denying the mass incarceration and suppression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

He was quoted by state news agency Xinhua as saying in May 2015 that the "one country, two systems" model used by China to roll back promised rights and freedoms in Hong Kong would also bring "prosperity and stability" to democratic Taiwan, a sovereign nation which rejects Beijing's territory claims.

Leung was also widely quoted by state media during Communist Party leader Xi Jinping's 2015 trip to the United States, where he formed part of the welcoming party, while party newspaper the People's Daily published a series of reports on Leung and his "patriotic deeds" in 2004.

Wu Chien-chung, associate professor at the National Taiwan Ocean University, said Leung's sentencing comes after recent amendments to China's Counter-Espionage Law which take effect on July 1, broadening the definition of espionage activities amid a series of raids on foreign-linked consultancy firms.

"They are very concerned that these agents may have trained themselves to become double agents," Wu said. "They want this to have a chilling effect, like killing the chickens to frighten the monkeys."

Absolute loyalty

Wu said even apparently loyal supporters of the Communist Party are in danger under the current crackdown.

"Beijing worries that some of its people could be taking orders from others, or only have low-level support for the regime," he said. "It goes to show that, in the absence of any expression of absolute loyalty, or a background not entirely acceptable to Beijing or Xi Jinping, it's still possible to be arrested, convicted and sentenced."

Leung is a Hong Kong resident and a U.S. passport holder, according to the Suzhou court statement.

"Suzhou state security police began investigating Leung on April 15, 2021, for suspected espionage," it said.

A U.S. Embassy spokesperson told Reuters it was aware of the case, but declined further comment.

"The Department of State has no greater priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas," the spokesperson said in an email to Reuters.

Sullivan meeting

Leung's jailing comes days after U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan met China's top diplomat Wang Yi to try to keep open channels of communication and to stabilize the relationship between the superpowers.

Feng Chongyi, a professor of political science at the University of Technology Sydney, said the jailing of Leung likely has more to do with discouraging pro-U.S. sentiment among Beijing's supporters than with sending a message to Washington, however.

"There are a lot of people who are quite pro-U.S. inside the regime, so they are picking on one who seems prominent, and locking him up to scare the others," Feng said. "This was one of their own, someone they gave power and information to."

"Then they disown him and lock him up to frighten the pro-U.S. faction, to silence them, and prevent them from challenging Xi Jinping," he said.

Wu said todays jailing of Leung along with the imprisonment of U.S. citizen Kai Li in 2016 and Swedish bookseller Gui Minhai in 2020 show that a foreign passport is no protection against investigation or sentencing by the Chinese authorities.

"Gui Minhai, owner of the [now-shuttered] Causeway Bay bookstore, is a Swedish national, but the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs said it had jurisdiction because he was previously a Chinese national," Wu said. "They don't care about your nationality, nor about diplomatic or international etiquette."

Wu said Chinese authorities have already targeted a number of foreign-owned or foreign-linked consultancy firms in recent months, raiding them under counter-espionage laws.

Zhuang Jiaying, associate professor of politics at Singapore's National University, said overseas supporters of the Chinese Communist Party, people who operate as lobbyists for Beijing, make easy political targets for those in power

"Their loyalty is in doubt, not just in the country where they operate, but also back in China, because after all, they're not Chinese nationals," Zhuang said. "They face political pressure from both sides, and there is always going to be some risk when the [bilateral] relationship isn't going well."

Feeling unsafe

Zeng Jianyuan, who heads the overseas group New School for Democracy, said the details of Leung's case are unlikely to be made publicly available, while the amendments to the counter-espionage law could mean a broader definition of spying is now also applied to the Chinese Communist Party's supporters in the United Front system overseas.

"This information is regarded as of national importance, or top secret, so most people can't access it," Zeng said. "This makes everyone feel unsafe."

British journalist-turned-investigator Peter Humphrey warned in March that growing Sino-U.S. tensions have "shattered" the hopes of families of American citizens detained by China for their exchange or release.

"They had been lobbying Blinken to raise their cases with China in the hope that the Chinese authorities might show a little mercy and allow early releases, prisoner swaps, or other gestures of goodwill for prisoners the U.S. government considers wrongly detained," Humphrey wrote in a March commentary for Radio Free Asia.

Their hopes were shattered when U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled his trip to China in protest over a Chinese spy balloon shot down over U.S. territory, he wrote.

"At no time since China began opening up at the end of the 1970s have relations been worse than now," Humphrey said, adding that the situation now looks dire for "several thousand" foreigners in China's jails.

He said U.S. citizen Kai Li was jailed in 2016 on "spurious espionage charges," echoing Washington's official view and calling on the United States to set up a bilateral prisoner transfer agreement with Beijing.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
Move generates resentment among young people who see it as inappropriate and clueless

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un greets the crowd during a military parade to mark the 75th anniversary of North Korea's army at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea Fe. 8, 2023.

North Korean young people are now required to refer to the countrys 38-year-old supreme leader Kim Jong Un as Respected Father  generating resentment among youth who consider him to be similar in age and undeserving of such an honorific, residents in the country say.

Such idolization also comes across as clueless, given the widespread hunger that many face, they say.

Kim Jong Un seems to be attempting to perpetuate the personality cult of his father Kim Jong Il and grandfather Kim Il Sung, who were both referred to by that title, but at a later age.

People bow to the statues of former leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il on Mansu Hill to mark the 11th death anniversary of Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang, Dec. 17, 2022. Credit: Cha Song Ho/AP

The decision was evident in new educational materials distributed to youth organizations that citizens 35 and younger must attend, residents told Radio Free Asia.

Until now, the authorities have been saying [in the media] that the hearts of the people admire and obey the general secretary  like they follow and obey their own fathers, a resident of the northeastern province of North Hamgyong told RFAs Korean service on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

According to this months educational lecture, young people between the ages of 14 and 35 now have to call the general secretary their father, even though he is estimated to be 38 years old, he said. Even though Kim Jong Un is of a similar age to some of them, they have to call him father, and it takes on a political meaning.

Resentment rising

Many people still consider him young and inexperienced compared to the previous two leaders, so the new title seems inappropriate and even as idolization, the source said.

North Koreas founder Kim Il Sung began using the title In 1967, when he was 55 years old. In 1992, the youngest North Koreans began calling him Grandfather.

After his death, his son Kim Jong Il, took on the title Respected Father at age 53, which was used until his death in 2011.

Portraits of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung, left, and Kim Jong Il hang inside the convention hall of the April 25 House of Culture as leader Kim Jong Un chairs the party congress in Pyongyang, North Korea. Credit: Wong Maye-E/AP

The move also rankled people because it seemed like a tactless step amid widespread starvation across the country, a resident in the northern province of Ryanggang told RFA on condition of anonymity to speak freely.

The media praises him as an outstanding and sophisticated leader, a fearless patriot who spreads the dignity and power of [our country] to the world, and now we are to call him Father, she said. Resentment among young people is rising.

Kims new title may be a part of a broader propaganda effort that has included more public visibility of the ruler and his family, the source said.

Since October, Kim has been making public appearances with his daughter Kim Ju Ae in what some experts believe is an attempt to soften his image and perhaps prepare the populace for a future female leader to be the fourth generation of the Kim dynasty.

It seems that  it was preparatory work to make himself the father of the people, the resident said.

Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh Lee. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.
While casualties were relatively few, Sittwe was battered and remains flooded

A woman walks through an alley at the Khaung Dote Khar Rohingya refugee camp in Sittwe, Myanmar, on Monday, May 15, 2023. Credit: AFP

Debris from Cyclone Mocha lies in piles in Sittwe, Myanmar, on Monday, May 15, 2023. Credit: Citizen journalist

A man is carried across high waters in Myanmar in the aftermath of Cyclone Mocha. Credit: Citizen journalist

A child carries furniture at the Khaung Dote Khar Rohingya refugee camp in Sittwe, Myanmar, on May 15, 2023. Credit: AFP

Damaged boats are piled up next to a broken bridge in Sittwe, in Myanmar's Rakhine state, on May 15, 2023. Credit: AFP

People cross a broken bridge at the Khaung Dote Khar Rohingya refugee camp in Sittwe, on May 15, 2023, after cyclone Mocha made a landfall. Credit: AFP

Cyclone Mocha may have been less deadly than predicted, but it inflicted heavy damage on Myanmars Rakhine state, including the capital of Sittwe.

On Monday, a day after the storm slammed into the coast, images from the city and surrounding area showed flattened homes, roads blocked by fallen electricity pylons, splintered remains of trees and widespread flooding. Power was cut off to Sittwe, a city of about 150,000.

Ninety percent of Sittwe township  is damaged or under debris, aid and relief groups told Radio Free Asia.

A precise death toll was hard to nail down. At least 30 people are believed dead, based on reports by local media and residents of the affected regions. Myanmars junta had said three people died, while the shadow National Unity Government  made up of opponents of the junta  put the figure at 18.

Those figures are far lower than feared. Cyclone Nargis, which hit the same area in 2008, left nearly 140,000 dead or missing.

The storm hit the coast on Sunday with sustained winds reaching over 220 kilometers per hour (137 mph).

Buildings have been badly damaged, said a woman who lives in the Sittwes Lanmadaw (South) ward, asking not to be identified. The monastery in front of my house is completely destroyed. Not one house is left undamaged.

The low-lying areas of Sittwe were inundated with flooding, she said, leaving residents to contend with brackish and, in some places, chest-deep water from the Bay of Bengal.

Piles of mud have been left inside the buildings, she said. Since there is no electricity, we havent been able to clean them  The roof of my house is almost gone and there is water downstairs. We dont know what to do to clean them up.

Local residents stand on a broken bridge at the Khaung Dote Khar Rohingya refugee camp in Sittwe, Myanmar, Monday, May 15, 2023, after cyclone Mocha made a landfall. Credit: AFP

A Sittwe firefighter told RFA that floodwaters in the city were still as high as 1.5 meters (5 feet) in the low-lying areas and that evacuated residents were waiting for word from the Rakhine state government to return to their homes.

Impact in Bangladesh

Meanwhile, in neighboring Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar to the west, some 1.2 million Rohingyas living in refugee camps after fleeing a military offensive in Rakhine state in 2017 remained largely unscathed by the cyclone, despite earlier fears that the mostly unprotected camps lay directly in the storms crosshairs.

But while no casualties were reported in the aftermath of the cyclone, Rohingya refugees told RFA that thousands of homes were damaged in the sprawling camps due to strong winds, landslides, and flooding.

"About 500 homes were damaged in our camp alone, said Aung Myaing, a refugee at the Kutupalong camp in Coxs Bazar. About 10,000 homes in all refugee camps combined have been damaged. Some houses have been completely destroyed while others have been partially damaged.

He said camp residents are in need of bamboo and tarps to help shore up the damage.

RFA-affiliated BenarNews reported that Mocha had destroyed more than 2,800 shelters, learning centers, health centers and other infrastructure in refugee camps in the neighboring sub-districts of Teknaf and Ukhia, citing Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, refugee relief and repatriation commissioner. He noted that landslides were also reported at 120 spots in the Rohingya camps.

Rahman said there were no casualties because we relocated them at an appropriate time.

Trail of devastation

In a flash update on Monday, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance called Mocha one of the strongest cyclones ever to hit the country and said the storm had left a trail of devastation in Rakhine state, which is also home to tens of thousands of people displaced by conflict in the aftermath of the militarys Feb. 1, 2021, coup detat.

Few houses have escaped damage in Sittwe and there is widespread destruction of flimsy bamboo longhouses in displacement camps, UNOCHA said.

Health, relief items, shelter, and water, sanitation, and hygiene needs are already being reported. Explosive ordnance risks are high in conflict-affected rural areas where landmines may have been shifted during flooding and where people have been on the move to safer areas.

A downed tree lies on a building in Sittwe, Myanmar, Monday, May 15, 2023. Credit: Citizen journalist

Damage to telecommunications towers has severely hampered the flow of information in Rakhine, while water and power services were disrupted throughout the day on Monday, forcing residents to rely on generators for electricity.

Relief efforts underway

UNOCHA said humanitarian partners are starting assessments to confirm the magnitude of the damage in Sittwe and the Rakhine townships of Pauktaw, Rathedaung, Maungdaw, Ponnagyun, and Kyauktaw. It called for an urgent injection of funds to respond to the impact of Mocha and subsequent flooding in the region.

In a response to emailed questions from RFA, the World Food Program said it is mobilizing emergency food and nutrition assistance to 800,000 people affected by the cyclone, many of them already displaced by conflict.

Before the cyclone, the U.N. had estimated 6 million people were already in humanitarian need in Rakhine state, and the regions of Chin, Magway and Sagaing. Collectively, the states host 1.2 million displaced people, prompting OCHA to warn of a nightmare scenario.

However, Mocha had weakened by Sunday evening and moved toward Myanmars northwest, where it was downgraded to a depression on Monday over the country's Sagaing region.

RFA was able to document the deaths of at least a dozen people. They included a 30-year-old woman from Rakhines Ramree township, two men in their 20s in Ayeyarwady regions Yegyi township and Rakhines Toungup township, and four men of unknown ages in Rakhines Kyauktaw township.

Others killed included a resident of Sittwe, a man in his 50s from Mandalay regions Pyin Oo Lwin township, a young couple from the Shan state city of Tachileik, and a 70-year-old woman from Magway regions Sinphyukyun township.

Attempts by RFA to contact Hla Thein, the juntas spokesperson for Rakhine state, about recovery efforts in the region went unanswered Monday.

To the North

While Rakhine state bore the brunt of the damage from Mocha, aid workers told RFA that houses and plantations were damaged and more than 10,000 people were displaced by torrential rains and 96-112 kilometer-per-hour (60-70 mph) winds in Sagaing and Magway regions, as well as Chin state.

An area near a temple in Bagan, central Myanmar, was flooded in the aftermath of Cyclone Mocha, Monday, May 15, 2023. Credit: Military True News Information Team via AP

Residents of Sagaings Khin-U township reported that more than 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres) of agricultural crops  including mung beans, sesames, chilis and chrysanthemums  in some 50 villages were destroyed over several days of downpour.

Others lamented having to rebuild homes that, in many cases, had already been rebuilt after being destroyed by arson amid a military offensive in the regions against anti-junta paramilitary groups and ethnic armies.

On Sunday, junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing pledged that all citizens of Myanmar will be provided assistance as part of the countrys rescue and rehabilitation efforts.

Thet Thet Khaing, the juntas minister for relief and resettlement, did not respond to repeated calls for comment on Monday.

Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat says he has invited five opposition parties to form a new government.

Move Forward Party leader and prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat (in white shirt), and other members of the party celebrate election results as their caravan passes the Democracy Monument in Bangkok, May 15, 2023.

Thailands two largest opposition parties agreed Monday to enter a coalition after inflicting a resounding election defeat on the pro-military establishment, though analysts say it is far from certain they will be able to take power.

The progressive Move Forward Party won the highest number of seats in Sundays vote, beating expectations and edging out the more favored Pheu Thai Party  the populist vehicle of the billionaire Shinawatra family.

Because they lack a parliamentary majority between them, the two parties will need the support of several smaller parties and some senators to overcome election rules enshrined in the constitution that, critics say, gives the military-backed ruling bloc an upper hand in forming a government.

Speaking on Monday, Pita Limjaroenrat, the 42-year-old leader of Move Forward, said he had invited five opposition parties to form a coalition, including Pheu Thai, and he was ready to be prime minister.

The six parties together could muster about 309 out of 500 seats in Parliaments lower house, he said  well short of the number needed to govern in the bicameral legislature, but giving them a box seat in post-polls negotiations.

Pita said he was not worried but not careless about forces including in the upper house Senate that may try to get in the way.

It would be quite a hefty price to pay for someone who is thinking of abolishing the election results or forming a minority government, he said at a press conference in Bangkok.

To minimize economic and political risk, a transition team would be formed to ensure a new government as soon as possible, Pita said.

Pheu Thai Party prime ministerial candidates Paetongtarn Shinawatra (left) and Srettha Thavisin address the media at the partys headquarters in Bangkok, May 15, 2023. Credit: Manan Vatsyayana/AFP

The ruling Palang Pracharath Party and the United Thai Nation Party were trounced in Sundays election. For many Thais, the question now is whether the military-backed establishment will accept the opposition mandate.

Theoretically speaking they have legitimacy  but this is Thailand, said Titipol Phakdeewanich, a political scientist at Ubon Ratchathani University. We have to wait and see what kind of reaction will come from the current coalition.

After coming to power in a 2014 coup, and prior to the 2019 general election, the junta led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha changed the countrys constitution to allow 250 senators appointed by the ruling party to vote for the next prime minister.

As a result, a party must be able to win at least 376 seats out of 750 to secure a majority in both houses.

The identity of the next prime minister might not be known until weeks or months after the vote, as Thailands electoral system allows up to 60 days for the release of official results, and parliament convenes two weeks later to vote for the nations leader.

Experts say some of Move Forwards liberal campaign promises, including reforms to the constitution, military conscription and Thailands strict royal defamation law, known as Lese-Majeste, could prove a problem with conservative-minded senators.

Given Move Forwards position on issues such as the Lese-Majeste law, it remains to be seen whether conservative senators can stomach voting for a Move Forward prime minister, said Ken Mathis Lohatepanont, a Thai political science researcher at the University of Michigan.

Amending the Lese-Majeste law, which human rights groups say that the current government has used to silence dissent, could be divisive even within the opposition coalition.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 36-year-old daughter of self-exiled former PM Thaksin, said on Monday that Pheu Thai did not support changing the law, only discussing it in Parliament.

Her party also congratulated Move Forward on its win.

"[We] support Move Forward, who won the biggest votes, in forming a coalition government, Paetongtarn said.

We together as a party wish Khun Pita the best of luck in becoming PM of Thailand and forming the coalition government, said Srettha Thavisin, one of the Pheu Thais three prime ministerial candidates, who sat alongside Paetongtarn at a press conference in the capital Monday.

The people believe in democracy and they want major change  that is the message that the people have given to all of us.

As of Monday morning, 99.18% of the vote had been counted with a record turnout of 75.22%, the Election Commission said.

The election signaled an appetite not just for a change of government, but also political reform in Thailand after nearly two decades of military dominance that included two coups, in 2006 and 2014.

In Sundays polls, Move Forward rewrote the electoral map in Bangkok, winning all but one district and scoring victories around the northern city of Chiang Mai, the political stronghold of the Shinawatra dynasty.

The victory of Move Forward has a lot to do with its ability to communicate with people, and not just young people, Titipol, the analyst, said.

But if we look at their policies, they have been speaking in the same language as peoples demands. That is why they won in this election.

Nontharat Phaicharoen and Wilawan Watcharasakwej in Bangkok, and Kunnawut Boonreak in Chiang Mai contributed to this report.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news service.
Register of damage caused by Russia in its war against Ukraine to be created in The Hague  von der Leyen

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said that in order to create conditions for Russia to pay for the destruction it caused during the war against Ukraine, a register of damage will be created in The Hague.

She said this in Brussels at a press conference, announcing her participation in the European Council summit together with President of the European Council Charles Michel.

She said that in Reykjavik the summit participants will discuss how to bring Russia to justice. The European Commission President said that she supports the creation of a tribunal to bring Russian crimes of aggression to justice. The summit participants will also decide on the creation of a register of damage in The Hague, and this will be a first step but a very good one towards Russian compensation, von der Leyen said.
The Ukrainian military said Russia launched dozens of missiles and air strikes during the day on May 18 after a barrage of missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities overnight.

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.

Ukraine's General Staff reported in its evening briefing that Russian troops carried out 36 missile and 23 air strikes during the day, as well as about 30 attacks from rocket systems on positions of Ukrainian troops and populated areas.



The General Staff warned that the probability missile and air strikes throughout Ukraine remains high, but the main fighting is still taking place in the eastern region of Donetsk.



"The adversary will continue to focus its main efforts on the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, and Maryinka areas. During the day, 17 combat clashes took place on those sections of the front, the hottest battles are being fought for Bakhmut and Maryinka," it reported.



Russia attacked Bakhmut all day after strengthening its grouping there by bringing most of its reserves, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said.



"All the attacks were repelled by our defenders," she said on Telegram.



Ukraine's forces advanced 500 meters in the north and in some areas in the south by 1 kilometer, she added.

"The defense of Bakhmut and its outskirts is meeting its military objectives," Malyar said. "As of now, we control the southwestern part of Bakhmut."



Yevgeny Prigozhin said his forces inside Bakhmut had advanced up to 400 meters. "We're pushing Bakhmut all the way to the end," he said on Telegram.



Prigozhin said his forces' flanks remained under pressure and speculated that holding Bakhmut is part of Ukraine's counteroffensive plan.



Bakhmut has been the epicenter of hostilities for months. Russian forces are trying to push the Ukrainian military out of the city, while Ukrainian military commanders say the resistance of the Ukrainian forces there has prevented the Russian forces from intensifying their actions elsewhere.



Serhiy Cherevaty, a spokesman for Ukraine's Eastern Group of Forces, said Ukrainian troops continue to advance on the flanks of the city of Bakhmut.



British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said Ukraine has already used British-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles on the battlefield. Wallace said the missiles allow the Ukrainians to hit Russian command centers that were moved back when Ukraine began deploying U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).



The Pentagon said on May 18 that a Patriot missile battery damaged by a Russian missile barrage against Kyiv had been fixed.



One Patriot system was damaged, but it has now been fixed and is fully back and operational, said Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh.



The Russian Defense Ministry said the Patriot system was hit overnight on May 16 by a Kinzhal hypersonic missile.

The daylong attacks by Russian forces came after multiple missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities overnight. Officials said that the air defenses of the capital managed to shoot down all incoming projectiles. It was the ninth air attack on Kyiv since the start of the month.

In the southern Black Sea port city of Odesa, one person was killed and two others were wounded in a missile attack late on May 17, on an industrial facility.

"A powerful missile attack on Odesa took place in our area in the evening. Most of the missiles were shot down over the sea. But, unfortunately, there are victims," Natalia Humenyuk, the head of the United Coordination Press Center of the Southern Defense Forces, said on Ukrainian television on May 18.

In Kyiv, Russia carried out a fresh attack overnight using drones and missiles, but all of them were destroyed, Ukrainian officials said May 18.

Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said Russian strategic bombers flying in from the Caspian Sea region launched cruise missiles on Ukraine.

"According to preliminary information, all enemy targets in Kyiv's airspace were detected and destroyed," Popko said.

Reconnaissance drones were also launched over Kyiv. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said no victims were reported. A three-hour air raid alert was declared in Kyiv overnight, and more than 7,000 people, including almost 1,000 children, sought shelter in subway stations during the alert, Kyiv Metro reported.

In Ukraine's Crimea region, illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, rail traffic was halted between Simferopol and Sevastopol, a Moscow-installed official said on May 18. Earlier, an explosion on a local railway line was reported by the Baza Telegram channel.

Zelenskiy on May 18 signed a decree on the deoccupation and reintegration of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol covering the specifics of the return of Crimea to Ukrainian control at the level of states institutions.

Zelenskiy noted that Ukraine continues to work for the liberation of Crimea from the Russian occupiers and its full return to the state system.

WATCH: The Furia, a modern, high-tech Ukrainian-made drone, makes nocturnal surveillance flights over Russian positions around Bakhmut.

He said more and more leaders and states realize that without the return of Crimea, "there will be no return of peace to international relations and the full force of international law."

The latest Russian attacks came shortly after a deal was reached to extend an agreement to allow for the export of Ukrainian grain through the country's Black Sea ports.

The two-month extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative was announced on May 17 by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan one day before the deal was due to expire.

"With the efforts of our country, the support of our Russian friends, the contribution of our Ukrainian friends, it was decided to prolong the Black Sea grain deal for two more months," Erdogan said.

Russia agreed not to block ships from leaving two Ukrainian harbors, Erdogan said, expressing his hope that the deal would be "beneficial for all the parties."

Erdogans announcement came amid threats from Russia to quit the pact over obstacles to its grain and fertilizer exports.
LETEA FOREST, Romania -- Last year, the wild horses of the Danube Delta were threatened by dehydration and death after their watering holes dried up during a summer drought. This year, there are new fears for the horses' safety -- and it isn't drought but microchips. With their population growing in recent decades, local authorities and residents in the delta, one of the world's biggest wetlands whose waters flow into the Black Sea, say the horses need to be reined in, with conservationists warning about the risk of overgrazing to the delta's endangered flora. But animal welfare organizations and others say the new plan to microchip around 2,000 horses, which make up one of the last surviving wild herds in Europe, risks letting unscrupulous individuals illegally grab ownership. In some cases, that means the famed equines are sent to the slaughterhouse. The feral horses draw thousands of tourists each year, many of them to the Letea Forest, a heavily wooded expanse in the Danube Delta where many of the horses are concentrated. The horses help bring in millions of lei in revenues as one of the main attractions in the delta, Romania's largest nature reserve that straddles the border with Ukraine.

There are several explanations as to how the horses came to roam free in the delta. The one accepted by most researchers is that they are the product of centuries-old wild horse populations that have been mixing with animals hailing from the collective farms that were scrapped after the fall of communism. Some researchers have also suggested that some of the horses originally came from the Bugeac Steppe, in southern Moldova and today's Ukraine. The horses learned to survive without humans, and their foals were born in the wild. In the absence of natural predators, such as wolves, which have now disappeared from the delta, the horses have multiplied. In an interview with the Romanian news agency Agerpres in February, the head of the local Health Veterinary and Food Safety Office (DSVSA), Mitica Tuchila, said, "Horses which are claimed should be microchipped, while local authorities, the Delta administrationor the county council" will become owners of the rest. Under Romanian law, owners already have an obligation to get domesticated horses microchipped. The exact number of horses -- a figure usually put somewhere between 2,000 and 4,000 -- has been the subject of speculation, says Ovidiu Rosu, a veterinarian and member of the animal protection association ARCA. Specialists from the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (ARBDD) and ARCA counted 1,926 horses in the whole Danube Delta when they flew over in February. They estimate that the total number is 10-12 percent higher as the helicopter wasn't able to monitor every area.

For some of the locals, the horses are a problem. Antonel Pocora, the mayor of the commune of Rosetti in the delta's Tulcea County, told RFE/RL's Romanian Service that there are simply too many horses and that they are destroying vegetation and grazing areas and stripping bark from trees. Journalists from RFE/RL's Romanian Service visited the area in March. Plumes of smoke from vegetation fires started by local residents to clean the land rose high into the sky. The wild horses, a popular image often used to promote Romania as a tourist destination, no longer looked their majestic best. They were scraggly and scrawny after the hard winter months when food is scarce.

One villager, who only gave his first name, Nelu, was more vehement. "Our village can't take so many horses. Let's get them locked up, 100 or 200 of them," he said. Alexandru Munteanu, a high-ranking local official from Tulcea County, confirmed the start of an "action plan" to manage the wild horses. Under the plan, horses that graze in the delta will be identified and microchipped. At a public debate on the issue on March 15, attended by environmental NGOs and animal protection groups, Tuchila from the DSVSA spoke out in support of the plan. "Microchipping is a natural, constitutional right of an animal owner to identify his animal," he said. For the most part, animal rights groups disagree. They say the horses are wild and therefore cannot have owners. They also say it will encourage and allow people to falsely claim ownership of the horses. In recent months, activists from ARCA and members of the SOS Delta Horses civic group say that horses have already been illegally transported out of the delta. Rodica Craciunescu from SOS Delta Horses says that microchipping effectively gives the horse an owner "and they can do what they please, meaning we can no longer intervene as [the animal now] has an owner." "Given that we have cases of horses being illegally transported in recent months, [I'd say] this amounts to giving them a death sentence," Craciunescu said.

While the microchipping hasn't begun yet, the fears of abuse don't seem to be unfounded. Nicolae Godea, an animal trader from the Mihail Kogalniceanu commune close to the Danube Delta, bought 368 wild horses and the right to the ownership of all their offspring. The man who allegedly sold them to him, Constantin Ivanov from a village in the Danube Delta, reportedly told the notary that not all of the horses were registered due to his health problems. Nevertheless, the contract, which was seen by RFE/RL and states that the horses will be chipped in the future, was still legalized. Animal rights activists have accused Godea of being involved in transporting horses to the slaughterhouse and he has been fined for "irregularities" in the documentation. Speaking about his acquisition of wild horses from his farm in Mihail Kogalniceanu, Godea said: "I like animals," adding that he was sure that the man who sold him the 368 wild horses would be able to identify each one individually.

He told RFE/RL that he planned to leave the horses in the Danube Delta, but when pressed about why he had bought so many horses, he admitted that he will sell some of the stallions. He said that he plans to expand his business activities to Letea where he has bought a farm and wants to set up a farmers' association. Prominent animal rights activist and expert on the wild horses of the delta, Kuki Barbuceanu, is suspicious of Godea's transaction. "So, the owner of several hundred horses and their offspring suddenly appears from nowhere. That means that all the horses in the delta belong to one person. You couldn't make it up!" said Barbuceanu, who is also the chairman of the ARCA association. Rosetti Mayor Pocora also has reservations about local authorities becoming owners of the wild horses. "The moment these horses become, say, the property of the town hall, you realize the responsibilities that come with it, and this means that money is involved. I don't understand how we can do it. Should we hire guards to graze the horses or what should we do?" he asked. This isn't the first time there have been fears about the horses' welfare. In the summer of 2022, locals, tourists, and the media warned that the only two watering holes in the horses' Letea Forest enclosure had dried up. Dependent on the springs for their drinking water, the horses were in danger of dehydration and death. Finally, after several weeks, local officials arranged for sand to be cleared from both springs to allow water to reach the surface. The governor of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve also ordered the opening of a gate to allow horses and other large animals to pass.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has returned to Ukraine from a European tour with more pledges for military backing from allies in Rome, Berlin, Paris, and London.

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.

Zelenskiy said on May 15 in a video recorded on the train as he traveled back to Kyiv that he was returning with new defense packages, including "more ammunition, stronger weapons for the front, more protection for our people, more political support."



His press service said on his last stop in London, Zelenskiy and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak discussed a fighter jet coalition, which Zelenskiy said was very important because Ukraine currently cannot control the sky in its defense against invading Russian forces.

Ukraine has previously raised the idea of a fighter jet coalition and pressed the United States to join.



Zelenskiy said after his visits with European leader he felt "extremely positive" about the chances of forming the coalition and said there would be "important decisions" in the near future.

In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said Britain and Poland had agreed to join the coalition, which would train Ukrainian pilots on modern Western aircraft.



"Britain -- yes. Poland -- yes. And I am sure France and other partners will join," he said in the video.

French President Emmanuel Macron said later in an interview that France is open to training Ukrainian fighter jet pilots in France and that those training programs could start right away.



Macron told France's TF1 television that he had not discussed sending warplanes to Ukraine with Zelenskiy. Other Western countries, including the United States, have resisted Ukraine's requests for fighter jets over concerns about escalating the war.



The Ukrainian president visited London on May 15, Berlin and Paris on May 14, and Rome on May 13. Berlin pledged a new 2.7 billion-euro ($3 billion) defense package  the biggest since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 -- a day before his arrival.

Sunak pledged "hundreds" of air-defense missiles and long-range attack drones, building on Britain's announcement last week that it would be the first country to start supplying Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles.



"This is a crucial moment in Ukraine's resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke," Sunak said in a statement. "We must not let them down."

The Kremlin said it took an "extremely negative" view of Britain's decision to supply long-range missiles and other military equipment to Ukraine, but that it will not change the outcome of the war.

Zelenskiy said in all his talks with European leaders he discussed his peace formula of a complete withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine, which has been defending itself against the full-scale Russian invasion with massive Western help. A major Ukrainian counteroffensive has been expected for some time.

A top Ukrainian commander said earlier on May 15 that his ground forces had shown that they can succeed under difficult conditions in their effort to beat back Russian forces in the eastern city of Bakhmut.



"The defense of Bakhmut continues and recent days have shown that Ukraine can move forward and counter the Russian forces there, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskiy told Ukraine's Media Military Center Telegram channel on May 15.



"The advance of our troops along the Bakhmut direction -- that is the first successful offensive operation in the city's defense," Syrskiy said.

Syrskiy added that the ground forces he commands are fighting with fewer resources than Russia's military forces and fighters from the private Wagner paramilitary group who have spearheaded the Kremlin's efforts to take the city in Ukraine's Donetsk region in recent months.



"The last few days have shown that we can move forward and destroy the enemy even in such extremely difficult conditions," he added. "The operation to defend Bakhmut continues. All necessary decisions for the defense have been made."



The Ukrainian military described Bakhmut and Maryinka as being at the "epicenter of hostilities." Donetsk regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said on May 15 that four people were killed when a Russian missile attack struck a hospital in Avdiyivka.

Zelenskiy later spoke by video address to the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, appealing to NATO to make a "positive political decision" on Kyiv's membership bid at a July summit.

Zelenskiy's European tour opened a week of intense diplomatic activity on the Ukraine crisis, including a Council of Europe summit and a G7 gathering in Japan, and resulted in promises of increased assistance from France and Germany.

WATCH: Despite making gains in the eastern city of Bakhmut, Ukrainian troops say they continue to face intense artillery strikes from Russian forces who fire up to 500 shells a day. Current Time's Andriy Kuzakov reported from near Bakhmut on May 6 on the fighting and efforts to treat the wounded.

Amid speculation over whether Ukraine has already begun its long-expected counteroffensive, much attention has been paid to reported rifts between Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and the Russian military and defense officials.

On May 14, The Washington Post cited leaked U.S. intelligence documents in reporting that Prigozhin's Wagner mercenary force, which has borne the brunt of the bloody fighting in Bakhmut for months, offered in January to reveal the positions of Russian troops to the Ukrainian government in exchange for withdrawing Wagner forces from the city.

Kyiv rejected the offer, according to the U.S. daily, which said that Prigozhin's offer came through his contacts with Ukrainian intelligence. Washington has not commented on the report, which was based on secret U.S. documents leaked on the group-chat platform Discord.

Prigozhin, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, previously publicly threatened to withdraw his forces from Bakhmut and surrounding regions unless they received additional ammunition.

In a rare admission of casualties among its military command, the Russian Defense Ministry said on May 14 that two of its military commanders were killed trying to repel Ukrainian attacks in eastern Ukraine.

It also said Ukrainian forces had waged attacks in the north and south of Bakhmut over the previous 24 hours, but had not broken through.

Neither Ukrainian nor Russian forces have succeeded in taking full control of the city after months of fighting that has caused heavy casualties on both sides.

Kyiv has dismissed suggestions by Prigozhin and others that its counteroffensive has officially begun.

With reporting by Reuters
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on European countries not to erect barriers, but to strengthen ties between countries.

"Europe's longest-lasting peace and most reliable security have been ensured by building ties between the peoples of Europe instead of barriers. And when we now see, instead of strengthening our ties, any fresh barriers that are so reminiscent of old mistakes, whether they are barriers in politics, or barriers in economics, or in trade, we see a threat not to one European nation, but to the whole of Europe," he said, speaking Sunday at the awards ceremony in Aachen.

The President of Ukraine addressed Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki. "Mateusz, any seeds of misunderstanding between anyone in Europe should not give rise to conflict! And this is in the fundamental interests of our peoples. Europe gains strength and prosperity every time there is minus one barrier on the continent," he said.

Earlier, Poland and other Eastern European countries banned the import of Ukrainian grain and other food products.
Welcome to Wider Europe, RFE/RL's newsletter focusing on the key issues concerning the European Union, NATO, and other institutions and their relationships with the Western Balkans and Europe's Eastern neighborhoods.

I'm RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak, and this week I'm drilling down on two major issues: the European Union's latest sanctions package targeting Moscow and two damning OSCE reports on Belarus and Russia.

Brief #1: What's In The EU's New Russia Sanctions Package?

What You Need To Know: EU ambassadors met in Brussels on May 10 and May 12 to formally review the European Commission's latest proposal on new sanctions targeting Russia. While it is unclear exactly how long it will take for the member states to agree, the working assumption is that the measures -- the 11th since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 -- will be adopted in the latter half of May. By EU standards, that would be pretty fast.

There are two reasons for the likely quick turnaround. First, the very same ambassadors have already been briefed by the European Commission about the content of the sanctions package in so-called "confessionals" since late April. There will be no surprises, and officials from EU member states are already familiar with the suggestions.

The second reason it's likely that the sanctions will be waved through with relative ease is that, ultimately, they are weak. In many respects, they follow the same pattern as the last five packages on Russia agreed by Brussels since last summer. They largely plug gaps and tighten screws, clarifying already-agreed provisions, and only introducing measures that won't damage the Russian economy in any significant ways.

The EU is not going after Russian gas here, nor its vast nuclear industry, including the state-owned behemoth Rosatom. Russia's lucrative diamond trade with the EU will also be left alone, and the bloc can still export goods such as lasers, cloud services, and insure Russian agricultural products.

Deep Background: One of the reasons why Brussels doesn't pursue more weighty energy sanctions is that Hungary and a few other Central and Eastern European countries, such as Bulgaria and Slovakia, have signaled that they aren't ready to agree on such moves. This is a position that will probably remain unchanged as long as energy prices remain high and risk spiking again in fall and winter of this year.

That said, in the new proposal, there are actually provisions that target Russian energy and could be approved by Budapest and other naysayers, as they are narrow and leave most countries untouched.

The new proposal states that the temporary derogation granted to Germany and Poland for the supply of crude oil from Russia through the northern section of the Druzhba oil pipeline should end. Berlin and Warsaw have said that this is acceptable, even though the former questioned the wisdom of the move as Kazakh oil, which is sometimes mixed with Russian oil, would still be allowed to flow through the pipeline.

The most significant new measure being proposed in the latest package is that Brussels is proposing to go after third countries that are knowingly circumventing EU sanctions. This is an attempt by the EU to implement so-called "secondary sanctions," which the United States has been using to great effect globally for some time already.

Drilling Down

There are no third countries currently in the EU's crosshairs, but the bloc's trade with countries in Central Asia and the South Caucasus has skyrocketed since sanctions hit Moscow, with evidence suggesting that goods are making their way to Russia through them. The question, however, is how much Brussels -- if at all -- will ever use this proposed tool against third countries. In the initial discussions among EU ambassadors, both Germany and Italy cautioned that such a move could push countries closer to Moscow.

currently in the EU's crosshairs, but the bloc's trade with countries in Central Asia and the South Caucasus has skyrocketed since sanctions hit Moscow, with evidence suggesting that goods are making their way to Russia through them. The question, however, is how much Brussels -- if at all -- will ever use this proposed tool against third countries. In the initial discussions among EU ambassadors, both Germany and Italy cautioned that such a move could push countries closer to Moscow. In the draft sanctions proposal, seen by RFE/RL, there are certain steps that Brussels should take before doling out any punishments. The text notes that "before including a third country on the list of countries concerned by this measure, the [European] Union should inform and seek the views of the government of that country on the basis of the preliminary findings of the technical analysis and its intended remedial action." In EU speak, that means the bloc will take a gentle approach against third country offenders, at least at first.

Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the proposal is the possible sanctioning of eight Chinese military companies that the bloc considers to have helped the Kremlin's war machine. It would be the first time the EU would target Chinese firms in the context of the Ukrainian war, and Beijing has already reacted furiously to the news. In the end, it could still be a bridge too far for some EU member states, with many of them very wary of antagonizing China.

Other measures included in the latest sanctions proposal are: a prohibition on selling intellectual property rights to Russia; and RT Balkans will have its broadcasting license in the EU suspended, following a host of other RT channels meeting the same fate; trucks registered in Russia that transport goods by road in the EU will be banned from doing so; and the same goes for the import of steel products from third countries, if the shipments contain components from Russia.

As always, there will be additional people and entities subjected to EU asset freezes and visa bans. The latest package includes 72 people and 29 companies -- mostly politicians the bloc deems to have been involved in the deportation of Ukrainian children, military officials, and then journalists and media companies that are accused of spreading propaganda.

If adopted, a grand total of 1,571 people and 241 companies will be sanctioned by the EU. However, officials familiar with the negotiations but who aren't authorized to speak on the record noted that Hungary has expressed reservations about three of the 72 new people listed for sanctioning and will aim to have them removed before it can sign off on the package.

Brief #2: In The OSCE, Russia And Belarus Have Never Been So Unpopular

What You Need To Know: The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is currently the only relevant political organization in Europe in which both Belarus and Russia remain members. While there is no real momentum to kick out the pair from the Vienna-based club, a considerable majority of the 57 member states have turned increasingly hostile toward the two countries. This has manifested itself in the invocation of the organization's so-called Moscow Mechanism twice this spring, named after it was established in the Russian capital back in 1991.

The mechanism allows the OSCE to establish an ad hoc mission of independent experts to investigate a particular question or problem, often related to human rights abuses in the territory of the OSCE, and then file a detailed report of the findings. While the reports with its recommendations are nonbinding, they are considered relevant by the wider international political community and tend to be widely cited both in political debates and referred to in international tribunals.

Under the mechanism, an OSCE member state can request that a mission is created to investigate something on its own territory, but the more common invocation is when at least 10 OSCE members request that the Moscow Mechanism should be triggered to allow for a mission in a fellow member state.

Since the mechanism was established in 1991, it has been used sparingly -- only 14 times. However, since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine 15 months ago, it has been invoked four times -- including two recent investigations and reports, one looking at the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and the second looking at the situation in Belarus since November 2020.

Deep Background: The OSCE report looking at the deportation of Ukrainian children was presented in Vienna on May 4 after a record 45 OSCE member states agreed to invoke the mechanism. This came after the International Criminal Court (ICC) in March announced that it had issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Commissioner for Children Rights Maria Lvova-Belova for unlawfully transporting Ukrainian children to Russia and Kremlin-controlled territories in Ukraine -- actions that the court believes could constitute war crimes.

The OSCE report goes even further in its allegations by concluding that the "practice of the forcible transfer and/or deportation of Ukrainian children to the temporarily occupied territories and to the territory of the Russian Federation may amount to a crime against humanity."

The report also notes that the mission "has not been able to ascertain the exact number of children thus deported, [although] it is clear that these numbers are measured in several thousands." It also notes that "except for few instances when the transportation of children could be justified due to imminent threat to life owing to ongoing armed conflict, the Mission has been able to establish with certainty that by and large the deportation of children cannot be qualified as voluntary" -- a claim that the Kremlin has been repeating constantly.

Drilling Down

When discussed during the OSCE Permanent Council session in Vienna on May 4, the Russian delegation dismissed the report, noting that it presented information from "dubious sources," drew "unpleasant conclusions," and relied on "misinformation." A Russian delegate at the meeting also added that the Moscow Mechanism "has long outlived its usefulness and does not respond [to] modern realities."

Just as Russia refused to cooperate with the rapporteurs of the report on the forced transportation of Ukrainian children, Minsk dismissed any call for assistance on the report about the human rights situation in the country. In fact, the rapporteur was not welcomed in the country and had to settle for interviewing people in Warsaw and Vilnius.

The Belarus report focuses on the 2022 legislative and constitutional reforms, which, according to the document, means that "the Belarusian government now has a full arsenal of legislation designed to hinder any form of opposition," with the paper referring to new criminal and administrative offenses, increased liability for vaguely defined acts, extension of the death penalty, restricted access to political rights to Belarusians in exile, and limited freedom of assembly and association.

All this put together, according to the rapporteur, could be described as "politically motivated repression," with one of the main results being a high number of political prisoners in the country. The text states that, as of April 18, there are at least 1,486 political prisoners in Belarus.

Perhaps most eye-catching was Hungary's lack of support for the Moscow Mechanism on Belarus, making it the only EU member state not to support the measure.

And when Sweden, on behalf of the EU, delivered a statement on the Belarus report when it was presented in Vienna on May 11, Hungary didn't sign the statement. The EU-26 text noted, among other things, that "it is the Belarusian authorities and the Belarusian leadership that bear the sole responsibility for the appalling human rights situation, which is meticulously described in this report." So far, Budapest has offered no explanation for its stance but has previously noted that it doesn't want to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.

Looking Ahead

The highlight of this week will be the summit of the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrial nations on May 19-21 in Hiroshima. There will be symbolism aplenty as the Japanese city, known for being the first military target of a nuclear bomb in human history, hosts Western leaders just as Ukrainian forces are stepping up shelling to dislodge the Russian military near the city of Zaporizhzhya, home of Europe's largest nuclear power plant.

Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), recently said that the general situation in the area near the plant "is becoming increasingly unpredictable and potentially dangerous." The talks will otherwise focus on sending arms to Kyiv, with reports that more countries might follow the United Kingdom in supplying long-range cruise missiles.

On May 16, the EU's culture ministers will meet in Brussels to discuss the state of play of the European Media Freedom Act, which was presented by the European Commission last year. The act, which arguably is the most ambitious and comprehensive legislative proposal concerning media in the EU, would mean that national governments would be banned from interfering with editorial independence and will have to be more transparent about how public funds are allocated to media companies.

Most EU member states are wary of Brussels trying to seize the initiative in an area that they regard as an exclusive national competence, and many prospective EU countries are watching the fate of this act with great interest as Brussels is often very vocal about media freedom issues in candidate countries.

That's all for this week. Feel free to reach out to me on any of these issues on Twitter @RikardJozwiak or on e-mail at jozwiakr@rferl.org.



Until next time,



Rikard Jozwiak

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Ahead of new EP, everything is coming together for the CarLeans
South Kingstown High School junior Logan Gamache works on a custom-built locker door in the school's workshop on Wednesday morning. He is part of the construction technology CTE program.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received President of the Arab Parliament Adel bin Abdulrahman al-Asoomi.

The head of state expressed satisfaction with Adel bin Abdulrahman al-Asoomis participation in a special session of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan to mark the 100th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev.

President Ilham Aliyev underlined that the Great Leader had placed a great emphasis on developing relations with the Arab countries, adding this policy is continued today, which is vividly testified by his multiple meetings with heads of Arab nations and reciprocal visits. The head of state underlined that both peoples are bound by shared history, said that relations with the Arab nations are developing successfully and comprehensively, adding his invitation to the Arab League Summit last year is an indicator of well-developed relations.

The Azerbaijani leader hailed Arab countries solidarity shown to Azerbaijan during both the years of occupation, the 2nd Karabakh war and after the countrys victory, and highlighted the importance of multiple resolutions concerning Armenias aggression against Azerbaijan adopted by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The Azerbaijani President noted that Armenians had committed cultural genocide against Azerbaijani people during 30 years of occupation with Islamic material cultural heritage destroyed including 65 mosques out 67 ruined by them. The head of state briefed Adel bin Abdulrahman al-Asoomi on the ongoing restoration and rebuilding works in the liberated Azerbaijani territories.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed confidence that the Azerbaijan trip by the President of the Arab Parliament would contribute to expansion of cooperation.

Adel bin Abdulrahman al-Asoomi thanked for the warm words by saying: We are honored to meet such a great world leader as you and participate in the events held on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev.

He conveyed to the head of state the greetings from King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

President Ilham Aliyev thanked for the greetings and asked to pass on his own greetings to the King and Crown Prince of Bahrain. At the same time, the head of state paid respect to the leaders of friendly and brotherly Arab nations.

Noting that the Arab Parliament consider Azerbaijan as a brotherly country, Adel bin Abdulrahman al-Asoomi expressed his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for the support provided to the Palestine issue.

Describing President Ilham Aliyev as a worthy successor of the Great Leader, the President of the Arab Parliament praised achievements gained by Azerbaijan thanks to the wise and visionary policy of the President of Azerbaijan. He said that Azerbaijan is developing on the basis of the wisdom of Islamic values, and that these values prevail in the country.

Adel bin Abdulrahman al-Asoomi noted that it is his second visit to the Azerbaijan and pointed out that he previously visited Azerbaijan to attend the Baku Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Parliamentary Network.

The President of the Arab Parliament hailed Azerbaijan's NAM chairmanship, emphasizing that Azerbaijan had been pursuing a very consistent policy towards the Movements institutionalization and strengthening its international influence.

President Ilham Aliyev said that Azerbaijan had always supported Islamic solidarity. In this regard, the head of state mentioned the recent opening of the Azerbaijan's diplomatic mission in Palestine, the visit of the Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister to Palestine and the construction of a school there by Azerbaijan. The head of state recalled Azerbaijan's hosting of the Islamic Solidarity Games. President Ilham Aliyev expressed his concern about the rise of Islamophobic trends in Europe and condemned them, emphasizing that a very important international conference on Islamophobia had been hosted by Azerbaijan some time ago. The head of state underscored the importance of creating a joint platform in this regard in the future.

During the meeting, they emphasized the importance of expanding Azerbaijans relations with Islamic and Arab countries in the fields of economy, trade, and investment, expressing confidence that joint efforts would contribute to further development of cooperation.

Then, Adel bin Abdulrahman al-Asoomi presented a keepsake to the head of state. Emphasizing that this gift had been given only to the leaders of the Arab states, the President of the Arab Parliament said that he is honored to present this gift to the President of Azerbaijan as an exception.

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Zelenskyy: Position of each G7 country important in issue of creating aircraft coalition

The position of each G7 country is important in the issue of creating an aircraft coalition, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

"We are talking about G7 and the position of each of these countries is very important. It is important that this position be united. We are talking about an aircraft coalition," the president of Ukraine told reporters in London on Monday.

The head of state also said that he is satisfied with the results of his foreign visits.

"I am very satisfied with our achievements and agreements," Zelenskyy said.
The world of jewellery is diverse and colorful, and its history spans thousands of years. Individual pieces created by local individual jewelers or by multi-billion dollar international brands can equally capture our attention and have a symbolic meaning for the wearer.

In this world, a new trend has emerged: branded jewellery from multinational conglomerates is poised for growth in international market despite the fact that about 80% of it is dominated by non-branded pieces. But to achieve the projected growth, branded jewellery has to face quite a few challenges  from increased competition with independent jewelers to varied regional preferences  amidst worsening economic conditions.

Can branded jewellery win over a larger customer base and at what cost? What strategies will local jewelers employ to protect their market share? And what is "branded" jewellery, anyway? Let's find out.

What is branded jewellery?

For a long time, jewellery industry was very different from what it is today, dominated by small local companies and even individual jewelers. The 20th century saw jewellery brands rise in prominence and consumer awareness, with such companies as Cartier, Tiffany & Co. and others creating their own stories and history. However, jewellery brands should not be confused with "branded jewellery" as, counterintuitively, the two terms are not the same.

There are a few aspects of jewellery branding that are worth mentioning in this context. First off, a branded item comes from a well-known company and reflects its identity, personality, product design, brand awareness and loyalty. Secondly, the item must be distributed through a retail model and not wholesale, so that independent jewellery stores can choose to stock branded jewellery. As an example: you can buy branded sportswear from world-known brands (Adidas or Nike etc.) both in brand boutiques and in regular multi-brand outlets. By contrast, you can't buy new pieces by Tiffany anywhere except in this company's stores. Lastly, and more importantly, a branded item is a product category in any particular store. Pieces from established renowned jewelers with specialized stores all over the world are still considered branded, but this term is generally more comprehensive.

Branded jewellery does not necessarily mean fine jewellery only. Branded category may comprise demi-fine or even costume jewellery, featuring anything from silver earrings with vermeil plating (a thick plating of gold on top of a solid sterling silver base) to inexpensive copper bracelets with imitation stones. Despite this, a branded jewellery piece is almost guaranteed to have a higher margin than a non-branded one, which is especially true for fine jewellery.

Big piece of a pie

With classification out of the way, let's talk money. According to some studies, branded jewellery takes up only around 20% of global jewellery market, while the remaining 80% is non-branded, sold at countless independent stores around the globe. This is, undoubtedly, an enormous market, and luxury brands want to tap into it.

We are not talking about established jewellery companies like Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels who have already got their own distribution networks. It's nonjewellery luxury brands in adjacent categories such as Dior, Hermes and Prada introducing jewelry collections or expanding their assortment to secure this tasty market share. Lower-end jewellery manufacturers and big but local companies such as Pandora and Chow Tai Fook respectively also seem to take interest in luring customers away from independent or smaller jewelers.

Source: McKinsey

To achieve this, global luxury market players want to replace this rather anonymous jewelry with their own marketed, branded and labeled jewelry. According to a forecast published by McKinsey, by 2025, the proportion of non-branded jewelry items will fall from 80% to 70%.

In future, the global fine jewellery market is likely to become more branded, more digital, and more sustainability-focused. Branded fine jewellery will be on the rise, with an expected compound annual growth rate of 8% to 12% going into 2025. This means that branded fine jewellery will grow approximately three times faster than the total market. Because price points in branded fine jewellery can be around six times higher than for unbranded products, competition between established luxury jewellery brands, fashion brands, and new direct-to-consumer companies will heat up as players compete to win customers who are turning toward brands that reflect their distinct points of view.

Key markets

There are two markets that are of particular interest in terms of converting non-branded jewellery share into branded  India and China. Although both of them have their own unique set of challenges and intricacies to consider, they are well worth the effort. According to the World Gold Council, India and China accounted for more than 50% of the global gold jewelry demand in 2018, and consumer preference towards branded jewelry has increased among the emerging upper middle class or wealthy consumers in these regions.

In India, small local jewelers have been taking advantage of cultural practices during traditional holidays - festivals like Diwali and wedding seasons. This is a sizeable and diverse market that luxury brands would like to tap into. They will however have to compete both with local brands like Tanishq and Malabar, and with small regional jewelers in tier II cities. To win over customers, global brands can take advantage of advertising, in-store experience, and customer service, focusing on unique designs and quality. Awareness about gold hallmarking in India can leverage the adoption of branded jewellery as opposed to small shops and manufacturers via transparent provenance.

On the other hand, some Indian buyers are conservative in their choice in jewellery and it may be hard to sway their opinion in favor of branded items. Non-branded jewellery generally reflects local and regional designs and customers who are looking for old patterns or authentic craftsmanship from a particular area can get maximum advantage. Local jewelers have a fixed and loyal customer base, and their prices may be significantly lower than at branded stores. However, according to some sources, the trend is changing and younger customers prefer branded jewellery over traditional pieces.

Things in China are a bit different though. Although the median income in China is a few times higher than in India which means more disposable income for luxury, the competition is also high. Global luxury brands will have to compete with big and established local players like Chow Tai Fook and Lao Feng Xiang. Though brands like Cartier and Tiffany are getting traction in this market, it remains unclear if they are able to increase market share of branded jewellery and find a place in a highly competitive Chinese market. To achieve growth, global players like Dior and Prada have to invest in local marketing and design fitting the Chinese cultural code.

Still, the global jewelry market size is expected to reach $518.90 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual rate of 8.5% from 2022 to 2030. In this environment, luxury brands have to move fast to secure their place in a growing global jewellery market. But they are not the only ones to take advantage of new developments.

Independent jewelers

New technologies and, consequently, modern sales channels have played an important role in bringing designer, non-branded jewellery to prominence. Thanks to social networks like Instagram or TikTok, a small jeweler can reach astounding audience and become a celebrated creator overnight. Thousands of independent jewellery manufacturers  from individuals to local companies  are promoting their unique pieces on the endless newsfeed, and customers who value uniqueness above all flock to those artists' social pages that may feature an audience ranging from a couple hundred to hundreds of thousands active followers.

New generation of jewelers is tearing up the product design rulebook, embracing the radical, finding opportunity in inconsistency, breaking binaries and subverting convention, while encompassing both the avant-garde and mainstream.

These creators manufacture jewellery not seen in any branded store but what's more important, their prices are usually way lower. And if they reach a certain audience or a celebrity notices their craft, such jewelers can become serious contenders to traditional luxury brands, at least en masse. Nowadays, getting into jewellery business with unique designs is as easy as ever.

Here is what it takes to make unique jewellery piece: a couple of hundred dollars for a cheap 3D printer with a specific polymer for a technique similar to lost wax casting, a PC with free 3D modelling software and a nearby jewellery workshop to bring the project to life. In this environment, no wonder that new designs emerge every day and the competition is fierce. Top players from this field are highly flexible and can easily adjust to fashion trends, and even bigger companies are mulling over a similar approach to their product lifecycle.

This is getting more important during the time of macroeconomic and geopolitical turmoil, as looming economic crisis and regional conflicts put pressure on consumer sentiment. In this climate, adjustability is key.

Source: Statista

Through the pandemic, e-commerce has been a breath of fresh air for retailers, which were required to navigate the challenges of nonessential store closings and lockdowns. While these times were a catalyst of digitalization, jewelry brands realized that selling their products online brings a significantly wider range of benefits that they could leverage even when the pandemic would be over.

Indeed, e-commerce enables jewelry sellers to offer their consumers a more in depth look at their offerings, compared to physical shops, allowing them to display all their products, without worrying about security or holding a high level of stocks. By developing e-commerce platforms and expanding their capabilities, jewelry players penetrate a market with less limitations and more opportunities.

On the other hand, shortening the length of the design process and bringing in more jewellery collections throughout the year may lure new customers of branded jewellery by giving them more choice and a range of items to choose from.

Theodor Lisovoy for Rough&Polished
Germany supports the Ukraine-NATO Commission as a platform for further strengthening and expanding the partnership between NATO and Ukraine on its path, defined by the Bucharest Declaration, promoting common interests in ensuring Euro-Atlantic peace, stability and security.

This is stated in a joint Ukrainian-German statement following the visit to Germany of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, published on Sunday.

"Ukraine and Germany look forward to resolving these issues at the NATO Summit in Vilnius in July 2023," the text says.

"The future of Ukraine and its people lies in Europe. The European Union has recognized the European perspective of Ukraine and granted Ukraine the status of candidate country. Germany strongly supports Ukraine in its reform efforts and in meeting the requirements needed to start accession negotiations and is looking forward to the European Commission's report as part of its enlargement package in autumn 2023," the text says.

"Ukraine and Germany agree on the need to maintain and increase our collective pressure on Russia and those who are supporting its war efforts through further sanctions to weaken Russia's ability to continue its illegal war of aggression," the text says.

"Efforts to ensure the effective implementation of sanctions and to prevent and counter circumvention must be strengthened. Together with its European and international partners, Germany is moreover taking steps to counter the negative effects of Russia's war of aggression globally, especially on the world's most vulnerable groups," the declaration says.

"Ukraine and Germany will continue to work together with others to develop mechanisms to provide compensation for losses, injuries and damages caused by the Russian aggression. To this end, the international register of damage, to be presented at the Reykjavik Summit of the Council of Europe on 16-17 May 2023, is an important milestone," the declaration says.
Fishermen Reaches Gujarat

The State Government has shared the information

AHMEDABAD: A total of 184 fishermen from Gujarat, who were released from Pakistani jails last week, reached Vadodara by train from Punjab on Monday morning. The state government has shared this information. In a statement, the government said these fishermen were caught by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) near the International Maritime Boundary (IMBL) off the Gujarat coast in the Arabian Sea about four years ago, claiming that they had entered Pakistani waters.

In all, Pakistan released 198 Indian fishermen last week. Of these, 184 are from Gujarat, three from Andhra Pradesh, four from Diu, five from Maharashtra and two from Uttar Pradesh. "These fishermen, lodged in Pakistani jails, were released. Thanks to the diplomatic efforts of the central government. They were handed over to the Indian authorities on May 13 at the 'Wahga border' in Punjab," the statement said.

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The Gujarat government had earlier demanded to the Center for the release of these fishermen. The fishermen, who arrived at the Vadodara railway station on Monday morning, were received by Gujarat's Fisheries Minister Raghavji Patel, MLAs Keyur Rokadia and Chaitanya Desai, among other dignitaries, the release said.

Of the 184 fishermen in Gujarat, 152 are from Gir Somnath district, 22 from Devbhoomi Dwarka, five from Porbandar and one each from Junagadh, Jamnagar, Kutch, Valsad and Navsari. Local authorities in Vadodara took the fishermen to their destinations in four buses.

Notably, In March, the Gujarat government informed the Legislative Assembly that as of December 2022, 560 fishermen from Gujarat are languishing in Pakistani jails after being caught in the Arabian Sea. The state government had said that in the last two years, out of 560 fishermen, 274 were caught by the Pakistani authorities.
Exports

India's Exports to the Netherlands are estimated to grow by about 48%

NEW-DELHI: The Netherlands has emerged as India's third largest export destination in the last financial year (2022-23) after the US and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). India exports petroleum products, electronic items, chemicals and aluminum items to these countries. This information has been obtained from the statistics of the Ministry of Commerce.

India's trade surplus with the Netherlands is expected to increase from $8 billion in 2021-22 to $13 billion in 2022-23. Statistics show that Netherlands has left behind UK, Hong Kong, Bangladesh and Germany in terms of exports from India.

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Reportedly, India's exports to the Netherlands are estimated to grow by about 48 percent from $12.5 billion in 2021-22 to $18.52 billion in 2022-23. Exports to the Netherlands in the financial years 2021-22 and 2020-21 were $12.55 billion and $6.5 billion, respectively. Exports to the Netherlands have been increasing steadily since 2000-01.

Notably, The Netherlands ranked ninth as India's largest export destination in 2020-21. It moved to the fifth position in 2021-22. Ajay Sahai, Director General of Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO), said that the Netherlands has emerged as a hub for Europe with efficient ports and connectivity by road, railways and waterways.




Flight

A Case has also been registered against the accused in the Police Station

AMRITSAR: A Male passenger was arrested for molesting the Air Hostess at Dubai-Amritsar Flight. The Arrested passenger has been identified as Rajinder Singh, a resident of village Kotli in Jalandhar. Police station Raja Sansi has taken action against the accused after the complaint of the security manager.

Reported, the accused was held as soon as the Indigo flight from Dubai reached Amritsar airport. According to the information received, this incident took place in Indigo flight number 6 E 1428 which reached Amritsar from Dubai. Rajinder Singh was travelling in this flight from Dubai. He started drinking alcohol on the flight. Rajinder Singh lost his temper due to excessive consumption.

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As per the police, Ajay Kumar, Assistant Security Manager of Indigo Airlines complained that during the flight, the passenger, who was drunk, molested the female crew member and also shouted loudly. The police acted on the complaint of Assistant Security Manager and the passenger was arrested. A case was registered against the passenger under sections 354 and 509 of the IPC.
Australia will on Monday release April figures for building approvals, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Approvals are expected to slip 0.1 percent on month after falling 3.9 percent in March.

Australia also will see May results for the consumer sentiment index from Westpac Bank, with expectations suggesting a decline of 1.7 percent on month following the 9.4 percent spike in April.

South Korea is scheduled to provide April data for imports, exports and trade balance. In March, imports were down 13.3 percent on year and exports fell 14.2 percent for a trade deficit of $2.62 billion.

Indonesia will release April numbers for imports, exports and trade balance. Imports are expected to sink 7.85 percent on year after falling 6.26 percent in March. Exports are tipped to plummet an annual 18.55 percent after sinking 11.33 percent in the previous month. The trade surplus is pegged at $3.38 billion, up from $2.91 billion a month earlier.

Thailand will provide Q1 figures for gross domestic product, with forecasts suggesting an increase of 1.7 percent on quarter and 2.3 percent on year. That follows the 1.5 percent quarterly contraction and the 1.4 percent yearly gain in the three months prior.

New Zealand will see April results for the Performance of Services Index from BusinessNZ; in March, the index score was 54.4.

Japan will release April numbers for producer prices; in March, prices fell 0.3 percent on month and rose 7.2 percent on year.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Canadian shares are likely to open with a positive bias on Monday, tracking higher crude oil prices and steady European .

Quarterly earnings updates are likely to provide some direction. Worries about economic slowdown might limit market's upside.

In earnings news, Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH.TO) reported first-quarter adjusted EBITDA of $110.7 million representing a 15.6%, or $14.9 million, increase as compared to the first quarter of 2022.

Centerra Gold Inc. (CG.TO) reported adjusted net loss of $52.9 million, or $0.24 per common share for the first quarter of 2023, compared to $56.4 million, or $0.19 per share, in the first quarter of 2023.

K92 Mining Inc. (KNT.TO) has reported first-quarter net income of US$5.0 million or $0.02 per share.

On the economic front, data on Canadian housing starts for the month of April, and wholesale sales for March are due at 8:15 AM and 8:30 AM, respectively.

Celsius Resources Limited (CLA), an Australian copper and gold miner, said that it has inked a non-binding term sheet with Canadian miner- Silvercorp Metals Inc., (SVM), allowing SVM to buy CLA for A$0.03 per share in share and cash transaction. Using SVM's current share price of C$4.64 or A$5.14 as of the close of May 12 trading of SVM shares on TSX, the proposed acquisition will result in Silvercorp issuing around 9.7 million shares and A$5.6 million to the shareholders of Celsius.

The Canadian market ended flat on Friday after a lackluster session. The mood was cautious amid concerns about slowing growth in the U.S. and China.

The benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index ended with a gain of 2.01 points or 0.01% at 20,419.62. The index, which climbed to 20,492.07 in early trades, touched a low of 20,346.90 around mid afternoon. The index shed about 0.6% in the week.

Asian stocks ended mixed on Monday as investors awaited key U.S. and Chinese data as well as speeches from Federal Reserve officials this week for additional cues on the global economic outlook.

Worries over a standoff on raising the U.S. government's $31.4 trillion borrowing limit also rendered the underlying mood cautious.

European stocks are up in positive territory with investors assessing the results of Turkey's presidential election and looking for progress in talks on the U.S. debt ceiling. Traders are largely shrugging off data showing a bigger than expected drop in Eurozone industrial production in March.

In commodities, West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures are up $0.46 or 0.66% at $70.50 a barrel.

Gold futures are down $2.60 or 0.13% at $2,017.20 an ounce, while Silver futures are lower by $0.029 or 0.12% at $24.125 an ounce.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
New York manufacturing activity has seen a substantial downturn in the month of May, according to a report released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on Monday.

The New York Fed said its general conditions index plummeted to a negative 31.8 in May from a positive 10.8 in April, with a negative reading indicating a contraction. Economists had expected the index to drop to a negative 2.5.

The much bigger than expected pullback by the headline index came as new orders and shipments plunged after rising significantly last month.

The new orders index dove to a negative 28.0 in May from a positive 25.1 in April, while the shipments index tumbled to a negative 16.4 from a positive 23.9.

Meanwhile, the number of employees index rose to a negative in 3.3 in May from a negative 8.0 in April, although the negative reading still indicates a decrease in employment for the fourth straight month.

The report also said the prices paid index inched up to 34.9 in May from 33.0 in April, while the prices received index edged down to 23.6 from 23.7.

Looking ahead, the index for future business conditions rose to 9.8 in May from 6.6 in April, suggesting firms do not expect activity to improve much over the next six months.

The New York Fed noted the capital spending index slumped to 0.9 n May from 16.5 in April, falling to its lowest level in three years.

"Manufacturing conditions in the US are deteriorating and the worst is likely ahead. It is being hurt by tighter monetary policy, tough credit conditions, and a weakening in the domestic and global ," said Gurleen Chadha, U.S. Economist at Oxford Economics.

On Thursday, the Philadelphia Federal Reserve is scheduled to release its report on regional manufacturing activity in the month of May.

The Philly Fed's diffusion index for current activity is expected to climb to a negative 19.0 in May from a negative 31.3 in April, although a negative reading would still indicate a contraction.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Dr Samuels Fongwa, Senior Research Specialist in the Inclusive Economic Development (IED) Division at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) [Image credit: RUCE]

By Bukamuso Sebata

On 09 May 2023, the Rhodes University Community Engagement division launched its Community Engagement (CE) Learning Symposium, which included speakers from all over the globe. This was the first of three days of discussions and workshops centred around highlighting, as per the official website, the "developmental and transformative roles of universities" in incorporating CE in their institutions to serve "as a platform to build community-university relationships for the mutual benefit of all those involved in CE, such as students, communities and academics".

This symposium delved into the importance of Community Engagement in higher education and explored how it can make a difference in South Africa and other parts of Africa. Although CE is a relatively recent concept in higher education and is not yet fully established, it is gaining momentum as a field of study. However, there are still some academics who question its legitimacy. Therefore, the symposium intended to produce theoretical and practical insights into Community Engagement and showcase its value in higher education and its evolving objectives.

Vice-Chancellor of Rhodes University, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, gave a welcoming speech highlighting the critical role institutions should be playing in their communities. He said that there must be a mutually-beneficial partnership between universities and the communities they are based in if they are to create and sustain a better and just society. Prof Mabizela said that universities are not charity organisations but knowledge institutions that should be committed to "producing and disseminating knowledge that leads to a positive change in the lives of our people, knowledge that transforms society, knowledge that transforms our world".

He said a true Community Engagement project produces graduates who are "positively engaged, empathetic, active, critical and democratic citizens with an elevated sense of social consciousness." Community Engagement allows students to learn more about themselves and their social realities through service learning and volunteering. This ensures that they become agents of social transformation.

Prof Mabizela highlighted the importance of partnerships between communities and universities when producing research and finding solutions to challenges facing academic spaces and society. To realise this objective, the partnership must become a vehicle for sharing ideas, knowledge, and expertise. "Through this, researchers and academics can learn from the community by drawing on the vast knowledge that resides in the community," said the Vice-Chancellor.

Community Engagement helps researchers see communities as spaces of learning instead of "charity cases where they must rescue people from their miserable existences". We must, said Mabizela, "acknowledge knowledge in its diversity because all of that contributes to the betterment of the human condition". Establishing CE in universities means it must be intentional and firmly anchored in teaching, learning, and research. It must also be transformational to all parties involved.

The second speaker was Dr Samuels Fongwa, Senior Research Specialist in the Inclusive Economic Development (IED) Division at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). He focused on universities as anchor institutions in the communities. He defined anchor institutions, like universities, as public entities based in a particular area. These institutions have strong connections to their local community through their mission, invested capital, and relationships with customers, employees, residents, and vendors.

These institutions can engage in long-term planning that aligns their interests with those of the community. They have both the capability and the drive to contribute significantly to the long-term welfare of the communities they serve by utilising their institutional resources, such as hiring, purchasing, and investing, to meet the needs of those communities.

His main concern was how universities are positioning themselves as anchor institutions in their communities because the future and sustainability of a university are intrinsically bound to the future and sustainability of the community it is based in. Universities cannot continue being passive about what is happening in their communities.

Dr Fongwa talked about how higher education institutions and universities possess distinctive resources, including intellectual, human, physical, economic, and social capital. They prioritise contributing to the advancement of various aspects of human life through promoting scientific inquiry and application, providing skills for the labour force, and transforming society. This mission can be applied locally through Community Engagement as a platform to improve their understanding of pertinent social concerns.

Dr Fongwa illustrated several examples of what constitutes an anchor institution. The University of Western Cape, he said, is in the process of revitalising Bellville's deteriorating central business by purchasing the multi-story Medical Centre to renovate it to house four health departments. This will enhance the university's visibility and bring healthcare services to an easily accessible location near the major bus and rail stations. The Sol Plaatjie University launched a CE initiative titled the 'Talent Pipeline Project' aimed at producing competent graduates who can fulfil society's aspirations, generate new knowledge to address critical regional challenges and engage in critical discourse and interactions with communities to find pathways to equitable development.

The Talent Pipeline Project has identified a lack of educational stimulus plans in the region, creating a disparity in rural learners' access to higher education. The project seeks to level the playing field and create a pathway for academically excellent rural learners to access university education.

He also mentioned the Rhodes University VCs Education Initiative, which has led the revitalisation of public education in Makhanda, as another example of how universities have anchored themselves in the local community. These examples are accomplished through strong partnerships with local schools, teachers, parents, and learners.

Dr Fongwa concluded his talk by saying that universities are responsible for the social and economic well-being of the communities in which they are located. Community Engagement is an effective teaching method for universities; service learning is an example. Adopting an anchor institution approach can be an effective way for universities to address local and regional development needs while promoting inclusivity. Each university must determine its anchor mission with its unique context with a well-defined policy framework.

Source: Communications
Sales in the sedan segment were not particularly noteworthy with most models displaying either a YoY or MoM decline

The Indian passenger vehicle segment opened the first month of FY 2023-24 on a strong note with total sales of around 3.31 lakh units sold in April 2023. Out of this, sedan sales accounted for 31,953 units. More demand was seen in the case of hatchbacks and SUVs as that is the latest trend going around while new launches are also primarily in these two segments.

Following our earlier report on mid-size sedan sales in April 2023, we now take into account total sedan sales, which has improved by 9.05 percent on a YoY basis. Sales in the past month stood at 31,953 units, up from 29,300 units sold in April 2022. MoM sales, however, fell by 6.76 percent as there had been 34,271 units sold in March 2023.

Top 10 Sedans April 2023  Maruti DZire at No. 1

Maruti DZire topped this sales list with 10,132 units sold last month, down 5.32 percent YoY as against 10,701 units sold in April 2022. It was also a MoM decline by 24.35 percent from 13,394 units sold in March 2023. This took the share percentage down to 31.71 from 39.08 percent held in March 2023. Despite this de-growth, the DZire was the only sedan to cross the 10,000 unit mark in terms of sales.

Hyundai Aura was at No. 2 posting significant growth both on YoY and MoM basis. Sales stood at 5,085 units last month, up 26.02 percent from 4,035 units sold in April 2022. There had also been 3,774 units sold in March 2023 relating to a 34.74 percent MoM growth.

It was followed by Hyundai Verna which has also seen outstanding demand in the country. Sales surged to 4,001 units last month, up 412.29 percent YoY and 6.55 percent MoM.

Amaze, Tigor, City, Slavia

Sales of the Amaze (3,393 units), Tigor (3,154 units), City (1,920 units) and Slavia (1,586 units) dipped on a YoY basis. Out of these sedans, the Amaze and City also posted MoM de-growth. There was also the Volkswagen Virtus sedan at No. 8 with 1,481 units sold in the past month with a MoM de-growth of 17.35 percent.

Sedan sales in April 2023 had the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz at No. 9 with a 75.65 percent YoY and 239 percent MoM growth to 1,017 units while sales of the Skoda Superb stood at 121 units with YoY and MoM growth of 63.51 percent and 16.35 percent respectively. Toyota Camry, the companys flagship sedan in India, posted a 51.16 percent YoY decline along with a 35.71 percent MoM de-growth.
EU leadership at meetings with other leaders on Ukraine: We to support as long as it takes; peace should be on Ukraine's terms

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen says that during the various high-level events in which the leadership of the European Union will take part in the near future, Ukraine will be one of the main topics, and the main message: we will support as long as it takes, peace should be on the terms of Ukraine.

On Monday in Brussels, announcing his participation with President of the European Council Charles Michel in a number of leadership-level events, in particular the European Council Summit in Iceland, the G7 Summit in Hiroshima (Japan) and the EU-Republic of Korea Summit in Seoul, von der Leyen outlined the main topics they intend to discuss. "The first topic, the big topic and important topic is, of course, Ukraine. And here it is about our united response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but it's also about our prolonged, reliable support for this brave nation," she said.

The President of the European Commission is convinced that the countries that support Ukraine "should show the same level of stamina [as Ukrainians do when defending their country] and perseverance." "And I expect the leaders to rally behind this. I also expect the leaders to rally behind two main principles: the one is that we will keep supporting Ukraine for 'as long as it takes.' And the second principle is 'nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine," von der Leyen said.

In doing so, she explained the meaning of these principles. "As long as it takes" must translate into stable financial support also after 2023 and accelerated military support, focused on "now and here." "Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine" means very strong support for President Zelenskyy's Peace Formula," the President of the European Commission detailed.

Von der Leyen stated that "Ukraine is the country that was brutally invaded, and it is therefore the one that should set out the core principles for a just peace," and Zelenskyy's Peace Formula should be the basis for all of efforts aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the war.

In addition, within the framework of the G7 summit, the parties intend to discuss sanctions. "We will, of course, take stock of the existing sanctions and future measures. As you know, the Commission has proposed 11 package of sanctions. It is focused mainly on enforcement and anti-circumvention. And this is being very closely coordinated with our other G7 partners," the President of the European Commission said.

The EU will also call on China to refrain from any support for Russia in its war against Ukraine.


Work in Canada: Due to the amount of work options available, Canada has become a highly known European country. Work in Canada: Due to the amount of work options available, Canada has become a highly known European country.





Many international and technology corporations offer attractive opportunities in Canada. As a result, it is critical to understand both the English and French languages utilized there - two prominent tongues that reflect bilingualism in Canada.





We'll go over everything you need to know about working in Canada.

Certain things may boost your chances of obtaining job in Canada more rapidly; one such one may be having family living here who can assist make introductions.





Is It Simple to Find Work in Canada? If your work will be in Canada for a lengthy period of time, getting an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Analysis) evaluation is critical.

The card acts as an evaluation to guarantee that your presence will not have a detrimental influence on Canadian markets and economies, and it confirms that you meet all of the requirements for working here.

Your boss may be able to help you acquire this information; otherwise, Express Entry is an option.

In Canada, notable enterprises include agriculture, energy production, and innovation; administration (particularly retail education, business, and well-being); and assembly.









As the most powerful managers, protection banking and retail control; as well as assembly.

Bank of Montreal

Scotia bank

Loblaw Companies (biggest Canadian food retailer)

George Weston Ltd

Magna International (auto provider)

Toronto-Dominion Bank

Onex Corp (private value trading company)

Imperial Bank of Canada

Thomson Reuters
Zelenskyy on timing of counteroffensive: You will see it, and Russia will feel it

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not answer the question about the time of the start of the counteroffensive, noting that "the first steps will be soon."

"We are preparing very seriously. I know we are all motivated. But unfortunately, I cannot answer your question [about the timing], however you will definitely see it, and Russia will definitely feel it," he said told Italian media on Saturday.

"We are definitely preparing and will do it. We believe that the first important steps will be taken soon," he said.
Spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force Yuriy Ihnat said that Russian air defense is involved in the aircraft crash in Russia's Bryansk region on May 13.

"It looks so. It was a dark day for the aviation, they [the Russian side] have admitted this," he said on the air of the national telethon on May 14, while answering a question whether Russian air defense could be involved in the aircraft crash in Bryansk region.

As reported, on Saturday, May 13, a range of Russian media and social media channels reported the loss of four aircraft in Bryansk region. According to the preliminary information, two Mi-8 helicopters without ammunition crashed and their crews were killed. Also, the crash of two jet fighters Su-34 and Su-35 was reported. The pilot and navigator of Su-34 were killed and no information about the crew of Su-35 was reported.
Using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have captured a striking new photo of the densely packed globular cluster NGC 6325.

Globular clusters are systems of very ancient stars, gravitationally bound into a single structure about 100-200 light-years across.

They contain hundreds of thousands or perhaps a million stars. The large mass in the rich stellar center of a cluster pulls the stars inward to form a ball of stars. The word globulus, from which these clusters take their name, is Latin for small sphere.

Globular clusters are among the oldest known objects in the Universe and are relics of the first epochs of galaxy formation.

Of the 150 globular clusters belonging to our Milky Way Galaxy, about 70 lie within 13,000 light-years from the Galactic center where their density tends to peak.

Globular clusters like NGC 6325 can be found in all types of galaxies, and act as natural laboratories for astronomers studying star formation, Hubble astronomers said.

This is because the constituent stars of globular clusters tend to form at roughly the same time and with similar initial composition, meaning that astronomers can use them to fine-tune their theories of how stars evolve.

NGC 6325 is located approximately 26,000 light-years away from Earth in the constellation of Ophiuchus.

Otherwise known as ESO 519-11 or GCl 58, this globular cluster was discovered by the British astronomer John Herschel on May 24, 1835.

We inspected this particular cluster not to understand star formation, but to search for a hidden monster, the astronomers said.

Though it might look peaceful, we suspect this cluster could contain an intermediate-mass black hole that is subtly affecting the motion of surrounding stars.

Previous research found that the distribution of stars in some highly concentrated globular clusters  those with stars packed relatively tightly together  was slightly different from what astronomers expected.

This discrepancy suggested that at least some of these densely packed globular clusters  including perhaps NGC 6325  could have a black hole lurking at the center.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that during his visit to Italy, he "agreed on weapons and air defense."

"Today, we have become stronger. I met with the President of Italy and the President of the Council of Ministers  these are political-level meetings. I've heard that Italy will continue supporting Ukraine  as much as it is necessary for us to stand up and defend our people and our territory," he said in video address on Saturday.

"We agree with Giorgia, Madam Prime Minister, on our new joint defense steps. There are good things we can do together to protect the sky. There are good things we can do together to protect the land. We agreed on weapons and air defense," Zelenskyy said.

According to Zelenskyy, today he "had the honor to personally thank Rome, all of Italy, Ms. Meloni, and everyone in the Italian political class who is honestly responding to the current threat to our entire European way of life."

"By the way, Italy today absolutely clearly supported all points of the Ukrainian Peace Formula. I thank you for that. Today, there is also a Joint Declaration with Italy. All the important things: the European Union  Italy supported the start of negotiations in 2023, correct and timely signals about NATO," the president said.

He expressed special gratitude to "to all those people who were on the streets of Rome with our Ukrainian flags, who met the Ukrainian delegation with an open heart and sincere good emotions... Italy should always be on the side of good so that good remains in Europe."
The talks between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak focused on defense support for Ukraine, the press service of the President's Office has said on Monday.

The head of the Ukrainian state expressed gratitude to the head of the British government and all the people of Great Britain for supporting Ukraine. "In this time of challenges, in this difficult, decisive moment for our people, in particular for our soldiers, when we are preparing for counteroffensive steps and we need success, you are with us, you are helping  the whole of the UK, your government and you personally. This is very important to us. Thank you very much for this," the president of Ukraine said during a conversation with media representatives following the talks with Rishi Sunak.

According to him, at today's meeting the focus was defense support for Ukraine. Zelenskyy thanked for the significant support package prepared by the UK for our country and noted that it would help save the lives of our people.

He said that during the negotiations, it was about providing Ukraine with fighter jets. "This is a very important topic for us, because we cannot control the sky... We are partners, and Rishi knows all the details of what is happening at the front. We want to create a coalition of fighter jets. We have talked about it. I am extremely positive about it. And I think you will hear about important decisions in the near future. But first, we have to work a little bit," the president of Ukraine said.

For his part, Sunak said he was honored and a pleased to welcome Zelenskyy to the UK. "Today, Ukraine is bravely resisting Russian aggression. And we had a great opportunity to talk about the support provided by the UK to Ukraine not only now, but also for the future," he said.

According to Sunak, his country will continue to provide the Ukrainian people with the support they need to defend themselves against aggression. He noted that the UK is pleased to be the first country to transfer long-range weapons to Ukraine, and will also strengthen our country's air defense and provide long-range attack drones.

"And the Kremlin should know that we are not going anywhere, we will continue to do so. We remain steadfast in helping Ukraine defend itself," the head of the British government said.

According to him, Ukraine should not only restore its territorial integrity, but also be able to defend itself in the future. "Another topic of our talks today was the security arrangements that we should put in place amongst allied countries for Ukraine for the long term," Sunak said.

He also noted that the UK is ready to play an active and key role in the creation of an aviation coalition. The Prime Minister noted that this issue concerns not only the provision of aircraft, but also pilot training and appropriate logistical support.
The Oakland Unified School District reached a tentative agreement Sunday with striking teachers, but the teachers union said it was awaiting an accurate document reflecting the deal before agreeing to avert another strike day on Monday.

The school district sent the union the tentative agreement signed and ready for their signature on Sunday night, and was waiting for a reply, school Board President Mike Hutchinson told The Chronicle shortly after 11:30 p.m. Were waiting on them.

Shortly after 10 p.m., the Oakland Education Association, the teachers' union, had announced on Facebook: We will be on strike tomorrow unless OUSD can complete and produce an accurate document that reflects the agreement that we reached with the district earlier today. We have given the district a deadline of 11 PM to do so. Hutchinson said the district did send the union the agreement before 11 p.m.

Ismael Armendariz, the OEA interim president, told reporters at a news conference earlier Sunday night that the tentative agreement reached covered all the items, but that at that point union negotiators were waiting for the district to send the agreement without errors in it for the union representatives to sign. He cited glaring errors and misrepresented information in the document that the union had received. It was unclear if the signed document referenced by Hutchinson was an updated version.

We started this strike because of OUSD's dysfunction and if we are on strike tomorrow, it is because of their indifference to our students, lack of respect for educators and inability to complete the simplest of tasks, the union wrote on Facebook.

The teachers have been striking since May 4 and the sides have been negotiating to end the strike and allow Oaklands 34,000 students to return to classes Monday.

We are absolutely ready to sign, get back in our classrooms with our kids, union vice president Kampala Taiz Ramcifer said. The ball has been and is right now in the districts court to stop this strike.

The Oakland Education Association announced on Saturday that the negotiations had reached agreement on four common good items, marking the most significant movement since the start of the strike. According to the OEA, the those agreed-upon issues involved reparations for Black students, resources for unhoused students, school closures and shared governance.

Reach Nora Mishanec: nora.mishanec@sfchronicle.com
Facing heightened pressure to improve public safety, San Francisco Mayor London Breed voiced sympathy with frustrated residents while defending her handling of the citys homelessness and drug crises during a Sunday CNN report on the citys problems.

The mayor said she understands how residents feel, telling an interviewer in a segment filmed in December that her own car was broken into.

The hourlong report  aired on CNNs The Whole Story With Anderson Cooper  retread well-known problems in the citys troubled Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods. In addition to Breed, CNNs Sara Sidner, a former KTVU anchor, queried former Mayor Willie Brown and former Chronicle columnist Phil Matier on whether drug use and soaring housing costs had turned San Francisco into a failed city.

We are not throwing up our hands, said Breed, addressing her administrations response to the open-air drug crisis largely driven by the powerful opioid fentanyl. We are going to keep fighting to get this community to a place where these kids who are growing up here can go outside and play without fear.

Breed told Sidner her empty car had been broken into outside her Lower Haight home, and called property theft a tough thing that her administration is working to combat.

The episode  featuring familiar footage of street squalor, open-air drug use and viral social media clips of thieves ransacking Louis Vuitton and Walgreens stores  follows a series of high-profile crimes that have reignited longstanding debates over public safety. In poll after poll, residents report feeling endangered by a pervasive sense of lawlessness, even as violent crime remains at its lowest level since the 1960s.

Breed acknowledged those perceptions, but defended her administrations efforts to confront persistent homelessness and addiction. She said she did not regret opening a supervised drug-consumption site at the Tenderloin Center in United Nations Plaza, which was closed in early December amid scant results and pushback from critics.

What was supposed to happen did not happen, she said of the failed site, built in January 2022 to link drug users to addiction treatment services.

The mayors office did not respond Sunday to requests for comment on the CNN episode.

Matier told CNN that perceptions of San Francisco as a decaying, crime-ridden hellhole are not accurate, even if the city is no longer at the top of the class. He likened downtown San Francisco to an empty gold mine shaft when the miners have moved away.

Brown reflected on the lack of meaningful change in the decades since he served as mayor, from 1996 to 2004.

It is kind of amazing that 30 years later (homelessness) is the same symbol of our city, he said.
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Trishla Zaveri, 11, sings, acts and dances, but she didnt do any of those things with her mother before Sunday afternoon when she was in front of a Union Square stage with her mom, Kinjal, learning the shimmy shimmy to the beat of a salsa band.

Its special, for Mothers Day, for sure, she said, while trying not to look too embarrassed during a dance break at Roots of Creation: A Mothers Day Celebration  an event that kicked off a summer-long floral promotion called Union Square in Bloom.

Kinjal Zaveri had dragged her daughter to the floor for salsa dance class, during a warm afternoon of events to launch the promotion, which will bring a constant rotation of fresh flowers to the shopping district. It is the latest of many new promotions under the leadership of Marisa Rodriguez, CEO of the Union Square Alliance. She was hired after the pandemic lockdown lifted to help bring energy back to Union Square, she said.

Union Square has a tradition of flowers and I thought, What better way to kick off this new tradition than Mothers Day? 

Some 32 businesses answered the call to decorate their awnings and storefronts with elaborate displays of fresh flowers for the first-of-its kind event in the downtown shopping hub.

The cheerful floral event aimed at brightening up and rejuvenating the downtown shopping area as it continues struggling with the pandemics economic fallout came on the heels of Fridays news that yet another retailer was abandoning the area. Williams-Sonoma plans to leave its flagship store with the gilded sign, visible right beyond the main stage for Sundays season opener. Earlier in the this week, Coco Republic announced it, too, would be pulling out.

The reports have been so dire that even the citys No. 1 shopper, former Mayor Willie Brown, came to the opening of Union Square in Bloom just to see if the city still has its spirit. Browns conclusion: Lo and behold, it does.

There were 950 people who apparently had the same question. Thats how many RSVPd to the event.

Many more just happened upon it. Laurent and Christel Chatelaim and their 11 and 15-year-old kids were sitting on the wall studying a tourist map when a full-on salsa dance class broke out in front of them.

We know that it is Mothers Day but we are not here especially for that, said Laurent Chatelaim, whod just arrived from Belgium, on vacation. I dont know whats different about this from a normal day, because its my first day here.

For one thing, it was sunny and warm after a cold spring that made it a challenge to get the flowers to bloom in time for Mothers Day. In Golden Gate Park, the San Francisco Rose Society had to rely largely on varieties from the sunnier south end of town to get enough entrants to bloom for its 82nd annual Mothers Day contest in the Hall of Flowers. That free event ended up drawing 265 entries and 1,500 attendees.

There was no flower contest during Union Square in Bloom, but there was a fashion show topped by a one-of-a-kind Union Square Bloom Dress that was introduced by model Sonya Molodetskaya, who is Browns longtime companion.

The dress, a frilly pink affair festooned in roses by Ukrainian designer Vasily Vein, was commissioned by the Union Square Alliance.

In addition to the dance lesson and fashion show, visitors were entitled to a 2023 Bloom & Bubbles Passport, a glossy trail guide through Union Square in the shape of a small pamphlet highlighting local establishments. The trail just to claim the passport involved passing through a lot of the new-reality landscape.

Dulce Soto of San Mateo had heard about the empty storefronts  and passed a whole row of them on Stockton Street after parking the car with her husband, Alex, and 3-year-old twins Galilea and Elias. Its really sad, she said.

Three generations of the Zaveri family of San Jose decided to make a weekend of it and checked into the Hotel Nikko. They witnessed a bit more urban life than they had expected: an armed robbery in front of their hotel Saturday.

We saw it all, said Trishla, the 11-year-old dancer. San Francisco used to be the best city in the world, but now it feels like its a little unsafe.

Her mom, Kinjal, was not going to let that spoil her Mothers Day in San Francisco.

If you go somewhere else, you pay hundreds of dollars, she said. This is a free event and there are a lot of beautiful things here.

Reach Sam Whiting: swhiting@sfchronicle.com
This week, associate restaurant critic Cesar Hernandez is driving.

The hardest part of putting together a Top Restaurant list isnt picking places to include. Its choosing which ones to cut  especially when its a painful trim, like removing the top-notch S.F. restaurant Breadbelly from our Top 25 best restaurants in the Bay Area, in order to make room for new voices.

For my recently published Top Berkeley restaurants guide, I was bewildered by the sheer variety in three categories: pizza, Japanese and Indian restaurants.

Pizza is a serious business in Berkeley. The city is absurdly rich with options  you may have read something on this in Eater SF recently  and its the category thats most represented in the list. (Roman, East Coast and an extremely Berkeley style of pizza are all in our Top Pizza guide.)

In the last few years, the citys pizza wealth has grown with the freshly opened Pizzeria Da Laura and State Flour Pizza. Then there are more established spots like wood-fired Lucias and cracker-crisp pie-slinger Gather Restaurant. With so many strong options to choose from, I ultimately decided that each of the pizza slots had to offer something that no other pizzeria offered.

The other element involved with constructing these guides is limited time  as in, I only have so much time and stomach real estate to try to write about these restaurants. I must have tried over 50 different restaurants and pop-ups for this list and, even still, there were places that I couldnt fit into my schedule.

For example, I didnt have enough time to visit takeout-only Munch India (included on Hos Top South Asian restaurants), but I know my editor is a fan. That said, I do feel the Indian places I chose are sensational and deserving, such as Viks Chaat, an industry veteran thats among the Bay Area greats.

For Japanese spots, there are simply too many to consider, even when you narrow the options down to specific formats like izakayas. I left out the respectable Ippuku (included on Soleil Hos Top Japanese list), whose sister restaurant, Soba Ichi, I put in my Top Oakland list, and Tane Vegan Izakaya, which I recommended in my Best Day Ever guide to downtown Berkeley. But Id argue the ones I did include  Kiraku and Fish & Bird Sousaku Izakaya  have an irresistible verve.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Putting together these lists, while challenging, is always a joy. The practice enriches my understanding of what a city values culinarily.

So I hope you now understand that I probably didnt exclude your favorite spot on purpose, unless it was Chez Panisse. (My meal there was fine but really failed to excite me.) To the Chez devotees, Id say the most interesting developments in Berkeleys current dining scene are coming from elsewhere. It's a new era of dining in the city, and I believe thats a good thing.
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FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP)  An 18-year-old man armed with at least three guns roamed through a northwestern New Mexico community firing randomly at cars and houses, killing three people and injuring six others including two police officers before he was killed, authorities said.

The shootings occurred around 11 a.m. Monday in Farmington, a city of about 50,000 people near the Four Corners  where New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado meet  that is a supply line and bedroom community to the regions oil and natural gas industry.

Officers responding to reports of shots being fired encountered the attacker within minutes and killed him with at least one shot, Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said in a video released Monday night. He said the gunman fired at least three weapons, including an "AR-style rifle."

The shooting was honestly one of the most horrific and difficult days that Farmington has ever had as a community, he said.

The identities of the gunman and the victims weren't immediately released.

Investigators were still struggling to determine a motive for the attack, including talking to the shooters family.

But at this point it appears to be purely random, that there was no schools, no churches and no individuals targeted, Hebbe said. During the course of the event, the suspect roamed throughout the neighborhood up to a quarter of a mile. At least six houses and three cars were shot in the course of the event, as the suspect randomly fired at whatever entered his head to shoot at.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement that she was praying for the families of the victims and that it serves at yet another reminder of how gun violence destroys lives in our state and our country every single day.

Mayor Nate Duckett said in a statement that the shooting has left us reeling in anguish and disbelief.

At Hills Church, just a few miles away from the attack scene, dozens of people gathered around a tall metal cross as the sun set Monday to pray. Some wrapped their arms around each other as they listened. The mayor and law enforcement officers were among those in the crowd.

Lead pastor Matt Mizell talked about living in a dark and broken world but told the crowd that there was still hope and asked God to provide them strength.

Officers began receiving reports of gunshots at about 10:57 a.m. The first officer arrived at 11:02 a.m. and three minutes later the gunman had been killed, Hebbe said.

At first officers thought there might be a second suspect and schools were locked down because we didnt know where any other suspects could be," the chief said. However, it now appears that the 18-year-old acted alone, he said.

One Farmington officer was shot and taken to the hospital, where he was treated and released, while a state police officer also was shot and drove himself to the hospital where he remained and is doing well, Hebbe said. That officer was reported to be in stable condition.

Joseph Robledo, a 32-year-old tree trimmer, said he rushed home after learning that his wife and 1-year-old daughter had sought shelter in the laundry room when gunshots rang out. A bullet went through his daughters window and room, without hitting anyone.

Robledo jumped a fence to get in through the back door. Out front he found an older woman in the street who had been wounded while driving by. She appeared to have fallen out of her car, which kept rolling without her, he said.

I went out to see because the lady was just lying in the road, and to figure just what the heck was going on, Robledo said. He and others began to administer first aid.

Neighbors directed an arriving police officer toward the suspect.

We were telling (the officer), Hes down there.  The cop just went straight into action, Robledo said.

Robledos own family car was perforated with bullets.

Weve been doing yard work all last week. I just thank God that nobody was outside in front, he said.

"Obviously, elderly people  he didnt have no sympathy for them. Whos to say he would have sympathy for a little kid, he said.

Middle school teacher Nick Akins, whose home is on a street that police locked down, described the neighborhood as a mostly great place to live, with a mix of homes, short-term rental apartments and churches.

Its not like the roughest area in town, but it can be, he said. We have great neighbors and rentals, people who come and go. We dont always know everyone.

Seeing Farmington in the national spotlight for yet another mass shooting, particularly one that occurred on his street, was surreal for him.

You never think its going to happen here and all of a sudden, in a tiny little town it comes here, Akins said.

Hebbe said he was unbelievably proud of officers response given the threat of the suspect, who was moving around, and the chaotic scene. Authorities received at least nine calls to dispatch putting the information all over the place, where the suspect was, he said.

The Sheriffs Office, the Farmington Police Department and state police all responded. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives tweeted that agents from Phoenix were headed to Farmington to assist in the investigation.

Farmington police planned to hold a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

Today, gun violence took the lives of our elders, wounded two police officers, and paralyzed Farmingtons small community in fear, U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, a Democrat, whose district includes the area, said on Facebook. I praise the heroes who drove to danger to stop the violence. I pray for the quick recovery of the wounded and for the families of those we lost.

Our beautiful Nuevo Mexico is not immune to the mass shootings that occur across the country  Every. Single. Day, the message said.

In recent years, cafes and breweries have cropped up downtown Farmington alongside decades-old businesses that trade in Native American crafts from silver jewelry to wool weavings.

Last month Farmington police shot and killed a man at his front door after they went to the wrong address while responding to a domestic violence call.

___

Ritter reported from Las Vegas, Nevada, and Lee from Santa Fe. Associated Press writer Terry Tang in Phoenix contributed.
The situation in Bakhmut is very difficult, Russian occupation forces are pulling up their airborne assault units to the outskirts of the city, Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Hanna Maliar has said.

"The situation in Bakhmut and the neighborhood is very difficult now. Really. Despite everything, our troops managed to advance for several days. This is all thanks to the superpowers and professionalism of our military. The Russians do not change goals. They are pulling their airborne assault units to the outskirts of Bakhmut," she said on the Telegram channel on Monday morning.

Maliar also said that heavy battles continue to defend Bakhmut.
Regarding What comes next for S.F.s emptying downtown? Heres the inconvenient truth (San Francisco, SFChronicle.com May 5), S.F. as we know it is going away bit by bit (Native Son, SFChronicle.com, May 6) and Why bad news for downtown is also bad news for the rest of San Francisco (Projects, SFChronicle.com, May 3): These insightful views of our new challenges will hopefully spark San Franciscos intrinsic creativity and resiliency, which overcame past conflagrations, earthquakes and economic busts.

Take solace in that we are not alone. In March, Nordstrom announced the closure of all its stores in Canada. Chicagos Magnificent Mile and midtown Manhattans vacancies are high.

Economic recovery models will be shared across cities. San Francisco can leverage its advantages: geographic beauty, Mediterranean weather, art, architecture, culture, diversity, history, technology and transit.

Linking our physical attributes is a function of urban design. Pedestrian circulation provides a framework for business and retail infill. Through street beautification and planning, urban focal points  landmarks, parks, plazas  can be connected.

Melbourne, Australia, revitalized its central business district with a network of laneways. In Italy, the passeggiata is a daily ritual of strolling well-designed pedestrian streets.

San Franciscos government, private entities and 800,000 residents can work together to foster the success of the city

Howard Wong, San Francisco

Reparation payments wont work

Regarding Want to know why reparations could be a good thing? Listen to Black Californians (Justin Philips, SFChronicle.com, May 10): Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Handing out large sums of cash without restrictions, while deserved, seems very inefficient.

There are ideas out there that can serve as models:

Andrew Yang, a presidential candidate in 2020, proposed universal basic income of $1,000 per month with no preconditions, which has proved effective where tried.

The G.I. Bill for World War II veterans, which did not benefit Black former service people, provided low-cost mortgages with little or no down payments, low-cost loans to start businesses and farms, and covered tuition and living expenses for schooling.

Phillips commentary talked of health coverage and payments to nonprofits to assist the marginalized. Isnt this better than handing over up to $900,000 with no preconditions?

No amount of money will compensate for the pain and suffering experienced by the Black community. The sums proposed will not even come close. The ideas mentioned above would have the greatest impact, and frankly, are the most politically viable.

Frank Agnost, Walnut Creek

Startup lost money rapidly

In March 2022, investors pumped $150 million into San Francisco-based startup Rapid; this month, Rapid laid off almost its entire staff, over 150 people.

I invite anyone from the venture-capital set to explain how that money would not have been better spent just stimulating the economy by giving those 150 employees $1 million each. They could hardly have spent it in less useful ways than their bosses.

Adam Brinklow, San Francisco

Full-court press on media

Regarding Protecting kids online will take more than legislation. It requires an entire media culture shift (Open Forum, SFChronicle.com, May 11): This was a three-pointer in the Attention Span Playoffs.

I teach a mass media class at Ohlone College in Fremont, and I tell my students on the first day there is a difference between information and knowledge. What they get from their phones is information. When we process that information with our brains we get knowledge, which we then own and can use. That process is called thinking, and it is the most precious thing we have.

I see my class as a self-defense class against the media. In this time of fake news and alternate facts, we all need a better defense.

Bill Parks, Palo Alto
San Francisco employees who believe they would be endorsing abortion by getting vaccinated against COVID-19 can sue the city for violating their religious rights by mandating vaccination for all its workers, a federal appeals court ruled Monday.

Two longtime employees of San Franciscos Human Services Agency, Selina Keane and Melody Fountila, filed suit in March 2022 after the city denied them religious exemptions. They said their religious freedom as Christians would be violated by taking medications derived from fetal cells, which were used in early testing of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, though they were never ingredients in the vaccines themselves. Both retired from their jobs when their requests were denied.

A number of cities and counties dropped their vaccine mandates after Gov. Gavin Newsom ended Californias three-year state of emergency in March, and withdrew the states vaccination requirements for its health care workers April 3. But San Francisco still requires vaccination for its 35,000 employees.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White dismissed the womens lawsuit last September, saying they had not shown any violation of their religious freedom and finding that the need to protect public health justified the vaccine mandate. The women were expressing personal preferences, not religious beliefs, White wrote, and rulings dating back to 1905  when the Supreme Court upheld a smallpox vaccine mandate for adult residents of Cambridge, Mass.  have upheld compulsory vaccination as a condition of employment.

But the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overruled White on Monday and reinstated the suit.

San Francisco has not questioned the sincerity of the womens religious views, and a religious belief need not be consistent or rational to be protected under civil rights laws, the panel said in a 3-0 ruling. An assertion of a sincere religious belief is generally accepted.

White considered the public interest in increased vaccination against the COVID-19 virus, but there is no indication that (he) considered the public interest in enforcement of civil rights statutes such as the laws protecting religious freedom, the court said.

The ruling requires White to reconsider the case and weigh the womens religious beliefs against the citys rationale for denying religious exemptions. The women, who questioned the vaccines effectiveness, also said they would not have endangered anyone because they could have done their jobs from home.

The decision was issued by Judges Consuelo Callahan and Patrick Bumatay and U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton of Arizona, temporarily assigned to the appeals court. Callahan was appointed by President George W. Bush, who also appointed White, while Bumatay was chosen by President Donald Trump and Bolton by President Bill Clinton. San Francisco could ask the full appeals court to order a new hearing before an 11-judge panel.

Alex Barrett-Porter, spokesperson for City Attorney David Chiu, said the vaccine mandate is still in place and that city officials are reviewing the ruling.

Attorneys for the two women did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ryen Motzek was walking on Mission Street on Sunday afternoon when he saw the man crumpled on the ground, not moving, with a stream of blood and vomit coming from his mouth.

I didnt know if he was dead or alive, Motzek said. He called 911.

First responders arrived quickly and administered Narcan, the nasal-spray drug that reverses opioid overdoses. Finally, the man began to move. Motzek was relieved.

It was an emotional roller coaster, Motzek, the president of the Mission Merchants Association, said. But the experience, he said, is not uncommon in the Mission, where he owns two businesses. And open-air drug use and overdoses are not the neighborhoods only problems.

Small businesses and street vendors are struggling with burglaries, vandalized storefronts and sidewalks blocked by unhoused people, he said, adding that the problems have gotten worse since the pandemic.

When parents dont want to walk their kids around in the neighborhood and elders dont feel safe walking alone, we need to do something, he said. Its devastating.

Justin Katigbak/Special to The Chronicle

The city is rolling out a community ambassador program Monday to help the struggling neighborhood, which residents, officials and business owners argue has dealt with tents, drug abuse, unpermitted vending, graffiti and burglaries in recent years.

The ambassadors will walk around Mission Street, helping merchants, visitors and people in crisis.

That kind of presence helps people feel safe, Motzek said

The ambassadors program, launched by Mayor London Breed, has focused mostly on the Tenderloin and downtown, but increasingly neighborhoods such as the Sunset, Hayes Valley and now the Mission are getting the programs. Residents have amped up pressure on elected officials to address public safety concerns and street conditions amid difficult-to-fill vacancies in the Police Department. The ambassadors program serves as an alternative to police in nonviolent situations.

Justin Katigbak/Special to The Chronicle

We have been focused on working with Mission residents and merchants for months to address public safety issues and unacceptable behavior, Breed said in a statement. Our ambassadors are part of this solution.

Supervisor Hillary Ronen, who has decried what she calls chaos in the Mission, told the Chronicle a few months ago that the ambassadors will have a direct line to city services to help people on the streets while discouraging unacceptable behavior, such as blocking sidewalks with tents.

These ambassadors signal a turning point in our fight to make the Mission a place where families and businesses can thrive and where neighbors feel safe walking in the street or using public transportation, Ronen said in a statement last week.

The $2 million program, managed by lead nonprofit San Francisco SAFE, has hired 16 ambassadors, who will rotate working on Mission Street between 14th and Cesar Chavez streets from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.

Justin Katigbak/Special to The Chronicle

Diana Ponce de Leon, a city official working on the program, said residents have been particularly concerned about the areas around the 16th Street and 24th Street BART plazas. Unpermitted vending, open drug use and a stabbing at the 24th Street BART plaza have unnerved residents. The neighborhood held a rally in February demanding city officials take action after a 78-year-old woman was injured in a violent robbery.

The community really felt unsafe, she said.

During the two weeks of training for the ambassadors, the neighborhoods woes were on display.

Ambassador Faautu Tagata said that walking around the plaza at 24th Street was at times impossible recently, between unpermitted vendors spreading their goods across the ground and unhoused people setting up large tents.

Just last week, there was a person out here blocking the whole sidewalk with their setup. It was like a full living room, she said. We had to ask him to leave.

Tagata said the area has been calmer in recent days as police foot patrols increased.

Both violent crimes and property crimes in the Mission are down compared with this time last year, according to data from the San Francisco Police Departments Mission Station, which covers the entirety of the area where the ambassadors will be employed. Robbery, the most frequent violent crime, is down about 6%, and common property crimes like burglary and larceny theft are down 23% and 26%, respectively. Motor vehicle theft is down 11%. Critics warn that many people dont report every crime, which could distort the data.

Merchants and residents still feel unsafe, Ponce de Leon said. Though the city has tried to crack down on vending by requiring a permit, the program has seen mixed success.

Residents have also been sounding the alarm over the past year about the visibility of the unhoused population. Data from S.F. Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing show that the areas around the BART plazas have seen a modest increase in unsheltered people, according to information collected during the point-in-time count last year.

The ambassadors are meant to be a bridge between residents and merchants and the citys resources, Kyra Worthy, the executive director of SF SAFE said. That could be for someone in crisis who needs help, a street vendor who needs a permit or a merchant who needs city support.

Justin Katigbak/Special to The Chronicle

We want to be able to connect the community to actual services and resources and support, Worthy said.

The one-year pilot program is meant to work in tandem with various other public safety and ambassador programs in the Mission, including additional police foot patrols, SFPD Community Ambassadors on Mission Street, BART police and community ambassadors with the Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs.

Other nonprofit partners involved include the Latino Task Force, Bay Area Community Resources, Instituto Familiar de la Raza and Calle 24 Latino Cultural District.

The ambassadors range in age and speak a number of languages, Worthy said, which she hopes reflects the community.

Mission Street is an affordable place for all ethnic groups in the city, she said, so it was very important for me not to only have monolingual Spanish-speaking folks, but folks from the community of all races that spoke every language so that merchants can feel comfortable and the customers can feel comfortable.

Justin Katigbak/Special to The Chronicle

Four ambassadors who spoke to The Chronicle said they were committed to lifting up the neighborhood.

I have lived in the Mission since I got to San Francisco, Filiberto Hernandez, who came from Mexico four years ago, said in Spanish. I want to give a little back to the community.

Another ambassador, Joshua Miles, said he has seen slightly more people in crisis on the street since he graduated from Mission High School five years ago.

Theres a severe need here, he said. Im going to be super excited to finally connect somebody thats in need to what they actually need.

Over two weeks of training, the ambassadors learned to navigate the citys resources and worked in simulated situations they might find, like helping someone struggling with mental or physical health issues. They also learned how to de-escalate situations as they wait for emergency services to arrive. While they have been trained in how to interact with people undergoing a mental health crisis, the ambassadors are not expected to directly intervene in potentially dangerous situations, the mayors office said.

Worthy said the ambassadors are also trained to treat people with respect. Tagata said its important for the teams to introduce themselves and get to know the community.

We need to earn their trust, and from there, everything will fall into place. Well know who to help and how to help them, she said.
As banks topple, who could be next?

Its a question with serious consequences.

In the wake of the collapses of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic Bank, customers at some midsize regional banks have withdrawn money, potentially setting up those banks for similar scenarios as the failed banks, where they are forced to sell underwater assets for quick cash to satisfy their depositors.

Its fair to say that scores and possibly hundreds of banks are vulnerable in this way, said Robert Hockett, a Cornell University professor of law and public finance. As more and more banks get into trouble or fail, increasingly depositors in the remaining banks think, Maybe I should move my money into the too-big-to-fail banks. Weve had a massive drain from community and retail banks into the JPMorgan Chase-type banks.

And its essentially a self-fulfilling prophecy. The more that it happens, ironically, the more that it will have to happen, Hockett said. Its a massive, slow-moving drain. You could almost call it a bank walk, rather than a bank run.

Plenty of smaller banks reported an outflow of deposits in the first quarter, although only a few are in double-digits.

PacWest of Los Angeles, Western Alliance of Phoenix and Comerica of Dallas are the largest ones experiencing this phenomenon  but all are a fraction of the size of the three banks that have already failed, meaning their collapses wouldnt be seismic events. Likewise, their quarter-over-quarter deposits declines (16.9% at PacWest, 11.3% at Western Alliance and 9.4% at Comerica) fall short of the 40.8% decline that triggered First Republics collapse.)

Novatos Bank of Marin is the only Bay Area bank among the 20 that are most affected, according to a list compiled by S&P Global Market Intelligence based on earnings reports. But it is even smaller  it has less than one-fiftieth the assets of First Republic. Its deposits were down 9% compared with the prior quarter. Bank of Marin said it was unable to comment by deadline for this articles publication.

All the turmoil has been good news for the too-big-to-fail banks, namely Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citigroup, which are seen as a safe refuge.

Haydar Haba, managing partner at Andra Capital in San Francisco, said hes told the startups backed by his VC fund to move their money.

Ive been saying, You really cannot bank with medium-sized banks any more, you really need to bank with the too-big-to-fail banks, and any excess cash should go to Treasuries,  he said. The insurance deposit limits are way too low, and leave you too exposed to a run on the bank.

Some movement is afoot to raise the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. limit from $250,000. If accounts were fully insured, depositors would have no reason to flee when theyre worried about their banks health.

The FDIC caps are too low to be helpful for business customers, Hockett said.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Santa Clara, is among lawmakers seeking this change.

The SVB crisis revealed the urgent need to guarantee all bank deposits to prevent further consolidation in the banking industry and ensure that employees get paid on time, he said in an emailed statement. Im working on a bipartisan proposal that will insure non-interest-bearing transaction accounts without a cap by charging a progressive fee levied exclusively on holders of accounts above $250,000.

Even if more banks fall, some experts say that may not be catastrophic, as the U.S. has thousands of banks, more per capita than many other nations.

Its still an open debate about how much of a problem it is if a smaller bank is bought by a bigger one, said Anastassia Fedyk, an assistant professor of finance at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. She expects to see more failures and consolidation, and doesnt necessarily think that lawmakers need to intervene.

A couple dozen banks of small size getting consolidated into large banks may not be something the government would be that concerned with, she said.

There is still another shoe that might drop and imperil banks. Its the looming catastrophe of commercial loans. Consider all those vacant office buildings in San Francisco and elsewhere. Residential lending is a concern as well. Already, Veritas, the largest landlord in San Francisco, is in default on loans for some of its 95 buildings in the city.

There are a decent amount of banks with commercial real estate exposure, said Craig Heryford, an attorney at San Franciscos Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani. Thats going to be a real driver in the next few years. The banks sweating the most are the ones with significant office space commercial exposure, and banks that made very low fixed-rate mortgage loans to private wealth customers to try to capture all their business.
After Santa Rosa, Napa, Concord and other parts of the Bay Area recorded their highest temperatures of the year over the weekend, the warmth is expected to continue this week. Temperatures will briefly dip in some spots Monday, but will rebound to the 80s for the remainder of the week, with 60s along the coast.

A southerly surge of wind Sunday evening will affect Mondays outlook. The wind and moist air is expected to allow low clouds and fog to develop in Santa Rosa, Napa, Berkeley, Oakland and much of San Francisco. Morning clouds and fog will decrease throughout the week.

Midweek warming

A high-pressure system, relaxing slightly Monday but building back for midweek, continues to warm the West Coast. By Tuesday and Wednesday, highs will return to the 80s in Livermore, Santa Clara and San Jose.

Although inland areas are expected to stay warm, the coast will be plenty cool.

This is because the hot, buoyant air in the Central Valley rises during the afternoon and evening and acts as a vacuum. To replace the deficit of air near the ground, air from the ocean is pulled in to replace it, resulting in a sea breeze for the San Francisco Bay, Half Moon Bay and Monterey Bay.

On tap this week

Fog is expected to engulf much of the Bay Area on Monday morning. The low clouds that hugged the coast throughout the weekend will push inland and make for a cool start to the day, with temperatures in the 50s. By afternoon, clouds will move back to the coast, leaving the region with plentiful sunshine and temperatures in the upper 70s, about 5 degrees cooler than the weekend.

Tuesday will see a similar pattern, but morning clouds are unlikely to make it as far inland reaching only Berkeley and Santa Rosa. The less extensive fog will allow daytime temperatures to rise a few degrees from Monday.

The cycle will repeat for the remainder of the week, with morning fog along the coast and parts of the Bay Area. Highs will be in the 60s along the coast and low to mid-80s inland.

Monday breakdown

San Francisco: The Richmond and Sunset districts will start the day with low clouds, patchy fog and temperatures in the low 50s. Weather models predict clouds will spread east of Sutro Tower, but without fog and visibility impacts in the Mission, Potrero Hill and South of Market.

Low clouds will burn off throughout the morning and into the afternoon for mostly sunny skies. Highs will reach the low 60s near Golden Gate Park and mid- to upper 60s at the Embarcadero and downtown.

More low clouds will spread into the west side of the city overnight and near Golden Gate Bridge. Temperatures are expected to fall into the low 50s.

Peninsula and Pacific Coast: A cloudy morning is forecast for Daly City, Pacifica and Half Moon Bay. Temperatures are expected to start out in the 50s and rise to the low to mid-60s after the low clouds burn off.

Hwy. 101 will be a warmer spot, with clouds expected to burn off by midmorning in Millbrae, San Mateo and Redwood City. Highs will reach the mid- to upper 60s under mostly clear skies.

A west wind through the San Bruno Gap will bring low clouds Monday night into Tuesday morning, allowing for spotty fog development overnight near Interstate 280. Lows are expected to be in the 50s.

North Bay: The Santa Rosa, Petaluma and Napa valleys are favored spots for low clouds and patchy fog Monday morning. Commuters on Hwy. 101, Hwy. 29 and Interstate 80 should be cautious of reduced visibility.

By afternoon, the clouds will burn back toward the coast, leaving the North Bay with plentiful sunshine and temperatures in the mid- to upper 70s. Western Marin and Sonoma counties will be cooler in the 60s.

More overnight clouds are expected by Tuesday morning, and Marin and Sonoma counties are more likely to see these clouds than Napa and Solano counties. Lows will be in the low to mid-50s.

East Bay: The Oakland hills will act as a natural defender against the Pacifics effects in the morning. Weather models predicting low clouds will reach Richmond, Berkeley and Oakland, rising up the Oakland hills. These clouds will move back toward the ocean by the afternoon, and temperatures will reach the upper 60s under sunny skies.

Walnut Creek, San Ramon and Livermore should be sunnier from the beginning of the day, with temperatures in the mid-70s.

Overnight lows will fall to the 50s, with cloud cover more scattered than the previous morning. Berkeley and Oakland could have patchy fog Tuesday morning.

South Bay: Santa Cruz is one spot that could see plenty of fog Monday morning because of the south winds blowing the marine air up Monterey Bay and into the Santa Cruz Mountains. Clouds will quickly burn off by midmorning, and temperatures will rise to the mid- to upper 60s near the beach and upper 70s in Boulder Creek and Scotts Valley.

The Santa Clara Valley will experience the other effect of the south winds, drying out from the descending air off the Santa Cruz Mountains. This will keep morning temperatures in the upper 50s and close to 60 degrees with sunshine from the start. Highs will reach the low 80s in Santa Clara and San Jose.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that "there is politics" in the decision of several countries to ban Ukrainian grain import.

"I am grateful to the neighbors who support us but, to be honest, there is politics in it [the decision]. The Black Sea is blocked for us and we need assistance with weapons. We cannot put relations with some countries at risk," he said in an interview with Italian media on Saturday, May 13.

"And I understand that some political movements are using this situation and instigating the farmers to block grain supplies. But they don't have the right to block the transit," the head of state said.

"We will settle these issues," Zelenskyy said.
On Monday afternoon, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins released a declination of charges report, explaining why her office would not be charging security guard Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony for the killing of Banko Brown at the entrance of a Walgreens on Market Street.

The SF District Attorneys Office also released surveillance footage, witness statements and other evidence used to make the decision, including a video that shows Anthony shooting and killing Brown after a scuffle. Brown, 24, was unarmed when he was killed at the 825 Market St. store on April 27. His death triggered an outcry from the public and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, who unanimously called for the release of evidence, including video footage.

John Burris, a civil rights attorney representing Banko Browns family, spoke to SFGATE after the security tape and report were released to the public. He said Browns family is disappointed by the lack of charges, and that they, like Supervisors Aaron Peskin and Shamann Walton, want California Attorney General Rob Bonta to launch a review into Jenkins decision. Burris told SFGATE he intends to file a wrongful death lawsuit against Walgreens and Anthony in the near future.

In the Walgreens security tape, Anthony can be seen physically stopping Brown at the door as Brown tries to exit the store with a bag of items. Anthony pushes and punches Brown multiple times before wrestling him to the ground. Brown then gets up on his feet, grabs his bag, and heads for the door. He turns around and moves toward Anthony slightly, allegedly to spit on him, at which point Anthony shoots him in the chest.

According to the district attorneys interpretation of video evidence, the testimony of several witnesses, and Anthony himself, Anthony killed Brown in self-defense. Anthony told investigators that Brown threatened to stab him during their initial altercation, which made him fear for his life. The report separately cites two witness interviews who said that Brown looked like he wanted to fight or was trying to hit Anthony, but neither corroborated hearing Brown threaten to stab Anthony.

Theres no justification for this level of force, Burris said after watching the video of Anthony shooting and killing Brown.  The security guard had the upper hand here. He was bigger, tossing [Brown] around. This is woefully unjustified. Its horrible to think that over a shoplifting case, Banko would lose his life over it.

This is not a case where the young man was using force or trying to hurt anyone, Burris added. He was trying to get by, and he was confronted, tossed around.

Burris strongly disagreed with the district attorneys office report, which said, All of this evidence strongly suggests that Anthony firing at Brown in self-defense was objectively reasonable.

Thats not what I see, Burris said. Anthony is in total control  hes bigger, stronger, tossing the young man around. At all times, [Brown] seemed to be more interested in getting away than anything else. It was the guard who was being aggressive and was determined to not allow him to get away.  This was officer-generated physical conduct that did not support the use of deadly force. You cant use greater force than you were being confronted with, and theres nothing here to suggest that the officer was being confronted with deadly force.

Burris told SFGATE that he found the lack of any charges against Anthony to be stunning, and that based on the available evidence, he believes this is a clear-cut manslaughter case. He said that Jenkins imperiled her offices investigation after her initial statement about the killing, released on May 1, when she said the incident  does not meet the Peoples burden to be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury that the suspect is guilty of a crime.

She screwed up the statement that she made initially, Burris said. I think the totality of the circumstances clearly support that it was unreasonable to use this degree of force.

Burris said he received an email from the DAs office on Monday morning that his public records request for video footage and other documentation would be granted Monday afternoon. He ended up finding the footage on the offices website, after the San Francisco Chronicle published a story linking to the available evidence, he said. (The Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but have separate newsrooms.) Burris has informed Browns family that the footage has been released, though as of Monday afternoon, they do not intend to view any of it, he said.

SFGATE news editor Amy Graff contributed to this report.
Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

A man who tried to pay an undercover FBI agent to kill the mother of his children has been found guilty of murder for hire.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Northern District of California, Allen Gessen, 48, was initially swept up in an FBI probe into international money laundering. Gessen, then living in Massachusetts and working as an attorney, unknowingly made contact with an undercover FBI agent in 2022. Gessen first planned to bribe an immigration official to deport his estranged partner, with whom he shared two small children, so he could get full custody, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a statement.
(c) Salil Bhatt/Getty Images/iStockphoto

A woman was rescued by a CHP helicopter Sunday after falling 100 feet during a hike on Mount Diablo, officials said.

Officials said the San Ramon Valley fire dispatch received a call around 2:15 p.m. about the hiker, who fell near Devils Pulpit, a large rock formation on the east side of the East Bay mountain. The hiker was rescued from a difficult to access location by a team of first responders from CHP, the fire dispatch and California State Parks, as well as a REACH air ambulance.
BOSTON (AP)  A Massachusetts dentist who embezzled more than $1.2 million from his employer and fraudulently obtained an additional $50,000 in pandemic relief funding was sentenced Monday to two years in prison, federal prosecutors said.

Jack Massarsky, 65, embezzled from his Cape Cod-based employer between 2015 and 2021 by intercepting insurance reimbursement checks mailed to the practice and depositing them in a secret bank account he opened in the practice's name, the U.S. attorney's office in Boston said. He used the money for personal and family expenses, authorities said.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Vending machines that have long been stocked with snacks are getting repurposed to distribute life-saving supplies to help fight the opioid epidemic.

A growing number of cities and local governments are making so-called harm reduction items, including the overdose-reversal drug naloxone, available for free via machines.

Interest in the approach is expected to grow after U.S. regulators recently approved Narcan, the leading naloxone brand, to be sold without a prescription. That switch allows the nasal spray to be stocked in convenience stores, supermarkets and vending machines.

Machine supplier Shaffer Distributing, which also sells arcade games and pinball machines, is one of the companies that has worked with U.S. communities to put the medication in machines even before the FDA's over-the-counter approval.

Marty Turner, the Columbus, Ohio, companys director of vending sales, explains that many other items for promoting public health can be stocked and distributed this way. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: How do these machines work and what types of items do they dispense?

Its a basic vending machine that weve modified to dispense the products that health departments, harm-reduction groups or other nonprofits are looking to get into the neighborhood.

Weve worked on machines that dispense Narcan nasal spray, fentanyl testing strips, HIV testing kits, prescription disposal bags and then even some first aid kits and safe sex kits. Really anything that theyre looking to get into the hands of the public.

Q: How many have you sold?

Weve probably sold close to 200 or more machines to the harm-reduction community. Theyve put them everywhere from public libraries to city hall. Thereve been a couple delivered to post offices, college campuses, sheriff's offices  almost anywhere that you have 24-hour public access.

Q: Whats the advantage of using a vending machine for this effort?

The vending machine just gives the end user the opportunity to walk up without being judged or having to have the money to purchase the product.

And in the case of Narcan, where its now an over-the-counter drug, we feel the vending machines are going to be just as popular and in-demand, because your next-door neighbor might not want to walk into Walgreens and have you standing in line behind him wondering OK, why is this guy buying Narcan? It kind of takes away the stigma and offers 24/7 access.

Q: How much do these machines typically cost?

The naloxone machines sell for anywhere from $4,500 to about $7,400 for an outdoor machine. The outdoor machine is resistant to the rain and it has a compressor so that it can maintain its temperature in the summer that's safe for the product.

Q: Do users ever have to enter any personal information or other details when using the machine?

What we've found is that the more information youre asking of the end user  for example, if youre asking whether theyre male or female or their ZIP code or their age  then they're less likely to get a product.

We are working primarily with the folks that are looking for a low barrier. They'd just like to walk up to the machine, press the selection button and get the product. That just seems to be the best opportunity to get these into the hands of the people who need them most.

___

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.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  One of Wisconsin's largest dairy operations has reached a settlement with state environmental regulators to that calls for the company to eventually stop spreading liquid manure in exchange for avoiding groundwater monitoring requirements.

The deal puts an end to a lawsuit that Kinnard Farms filed against the state Department of Natural Resources last year. Court documents show the settlement into effect Saturday. Kinnard Farms officials said the agreement was reached last month.

The Kinnard operation includes 16 industrial farms with about 8,000 cows. It has struggled with agricultural pollution for years as contaminants seeped into private wells. Kewaunee County has relatively shallow soil that does a poor job filtering water, making the area especially susceptible to groundwater contamination.

The operation filed a lawsuit in April 2022 after the DNR modified the company's wastewater permit. The revisions called for the operation to limit the size of its herd to 11,369 cows and begin monitoring groundwater in areas contaminated with nitrate from manure spreading. Kinnard Farms officials argued that the business would suffer if they can't expand their herd and groundwater monitoring would cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Under the settlement, the DNR will impose groundwater monitoring requirements after four years if Kinnard Farms spreads untreated manure.

Under the settlement, Kinnard Farms plans to stop spreading liquid manure within four years. If Kinnard can't meet that requirement, the DNR can impose groundwater monitoring requirements on fields that receive liquid manure.

The deal also sets out deadlines for Kinnard to install state-of-the-art technology to treat the manure to remove pathogens. If they fail to meet the deadlines, the DNR can immediately impose groundwater monitoring requirements. Kinnard will have to submit semi-annual progress reports on its efforts.

The settlement doesn't address herd limitations. Kinnard withdrew its challenge to the limitation but the issue could come up again when Kinnard seeks permit renewal.

In facilitating this settlement, the DNR deserves credit for recognizing the potential of the technology, the value of providing flexibility within a regulatory framework and the usefulness of collaboration," Kinnard Farms owner Lee Kinnard said in a statement.

DNR spokesperson Katie Grant didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Six Kewaunee County residents represented by environmental law firm Midwest Environmental Advocates joined the lawsuit in opposition to Kinnard Farms. The firm's senior attorney, Dan Gustafson, said the settlement will help focus attention on the public health risks that large dairy operations pose in areas that are susceptible to groundwater and surface water pollution.

Kinnard and the state Justice Department in March settled a separate case dealing with allegations that the operation improperly spread manure in Kewaunee and Door counties between 2018 ad 2022. Kinnard agreed to pay the state $215,000 and upgrade waste storage facilities if a DNR review determines upgrades are needed.
Russia has intensified its drone and missile attacks on Ukraine likely with the aim of degrading Ukrainian abilities to conduct counteroffensive operations, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its report on May 14.

"Increasingly regular series of Russian drone and missile strikes are likely a part of a new Russian air campaign in Ukraine aimed at degrading Ukrainian abilities to conduct counteroffensive offensive operations in the near term," it said.

Russian forces have conducted at least ten series of strikes throughout Ukraine, particularly in rear areas, since April 19.

However, Russia used significantly fewer high precision missiles in these latest series of strikes in comparison to their failed campaign against Ukrainian critical infrastructure from the fall of 2022 through the winter of 2023.

Western analysts also said that the current Russian air campaign may be using far fewer of these missiles in an effort to conserve the limited remaining stocks.

"Russian forces have instead relied heavily on launching large numbers of Iranian-made Shahed drones to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses, although Ukrainian forces have been more effective in shooting down Russian precision systems than during the previous Russian air campaign," says the report.

The new Russian air campaign appears to be focused on Kyiv and alleged Ukrainian military industrial and logistics facilities in deep rear areas.
A 26-year-old woman was airlifted to a hospital Saturday morning after she was bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking with her dog on Romero Canyon Trail near Santa Barbara.

The woman was about a mile and a half up the 6-mile loop trail when the snake bit her in the foot, Montecito Fire Protection District officials said. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff/Fire Air Support Unit responded and transported her to the hospital via helicopter by approximately 10:15 a.m. Meanwhile, firefighters hiked back down the trail with the womans dog and brought it to Santa Barbara County Animal Services, which will reunite the pair, officials said.

SFGATE reached out for additional details regarding the womans condition, but fire officials said they did not have more information at this time. Comments on social media from relatives appeared to say the woman has since been released from the hospital and is recovering at home.

While the firefighters were on the trail in the Santa Catalina Mountains, they also discovered a bear on an adjacent path, noting that sightings have increased in the area in recent weeks.

As the weather warms up, wildlife is coming out, fire officials said. Please use caution while hiking, be hyper vigilant of your surroundings and maintain awareness of your location.

Rattlesnakes have been thriving in California as of late, making encounters even more likely, and the seven species found in the state could continue to expand their numbers as other native animal populations shrink due to climate change. Warming temperatures are great for the reptiles, which are thermoregulators, meaning they can preserve and change their body temperature to better adapt to their surroundings. As the California climate gets hotter over time, the snakes can more easily reach a preferred body temperature of 86 to 89 degrees Fahrenheit, which can be more optimal for digestion or reproduction, according to a 2021 joint Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and University of Michigan study.

Kristian Bell/Getty Images

Rattlesnake season is in full swing, so if youre venturing out for a hike, wildlife officials recommend staying on trails, watching where youre stepping, and avoiding rock, wood or other debris piles. Wear close-toed shoes and avoid stepping or sitting in brushy areas or environments where you cant see your surroundings. If you do see a rattlesnake, give it space, dont touch it, and avoid doing anything that could provoke it, like staring at it for a lengthy period of time.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife says most snake bites occur between April and October, when more people are out and about in nature, but fatal bites are rare. If you do get bitten by a rattlesnake (which happens to approximately 250 people each year in California, according to the LA County Public Health Department) or other type of snake, call 911, stay calm and still to prevent the venom from spreading, gently wash the wound with soap and water, and immediately go to the nearest emergency room or medical stop for further treatment, per the Mayo Clinic. Dont apply ice or a tourniquet, and try to remember what the snake looked like to help doctors determine the proper course for treatment.

SFGATEs Central Coast editor Andrew Pridgen contributed to this report.
Magali Girardin/AP

NEW YORK (AP)  The Iranian writer, journalist and human rights activist Narges Mohammadi will be honored at this week's PEN America Literary Gala. Mohammadi, currently jailed for spreading propaganda," is to receive the 2023 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award.

Narges Mohammadi inspires awe across the world for her unflinching courage and resistance to the Iranian governments determined campaign to silence her," PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel said in a statement released Monday. The sacrifices that she and her family have made are heartbreaking. She is a beacon for free expression in one of the most harsh places in the world for writers, journalists, and artists.
A fisher in Hawaii is counting his lucky stars after a tiger shark took a chomp out of his kayak last Friday  and the terrifying moment was captured on film.

Heard a whooshing sound, looked up and saw a wide brown thing on the side of the kayak, fisher Scott Haraguchi wrote on YouTube. Thought it was a turtle at first.

Haraguchi was fishing about a mile off the eastern coast of Oahu on Friday when the tiger shark whipped out of the water and bit his boat. The wild footage, captured by Haraguchis GoPro camera, shows the scary moment. Aarghh, tiger sharks! Haraguchi can be heard yelling, before kicking the large fish in the face, sending it back into the water.

I took my left foot out of the water to brace myself from impact and actually pushed the sharks head off with it, Haraguchi wrote alongside the video. If you asked me to do that again, even without the shark, I dont think Id have that flexibility.

The fisher told KITV that he was running on adrenaline at the time, and didnt realize how dramatic the moment was until reviewing the footage later. Soon after the incident, Haraguchi saw a wounded seal nearby, and speculated the shark may have mistaken his kayak for the prey. He also added that hell fish with a partner in the future.

I realize that life is short, time is short on Earth, so make the most of it, Haraguchi told the outlet.

Adult tiger sharks typically grow to about 12 feet in length and count seals, squid and turtles among their prey.

The state of Hawaii has reported four shark attacks this year, including a tiger shark attack on a surfer in April, which resulted in severe injuries and an amputated foot.
RIVERVIEW  By the time prom rolled around, Tyler and Moses had been official for exactly two weeks.

They hadnt been to prom before. They hadnt been on a date yet, either, but when they got the notice for the LGBTQ+ dance for Tampa Bay teens, it was all the boys could talk about.

Their friendship had spanned the last two years, after they met in a Gaither High School theater class, but romance was new terrain. Moses, 15, declared his interest over a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos, so nervous he kept backtracking. But Tyler, 16 and more experienced in love, helped Moses through.

Moses keeps the anniversary date written on a piece of loose-leaf paper. Its a tip hed gotten from Tyler before they had started dating, back when he was interested in a different boy at school: Keep track of the important things, Tyler had said.

On Friday, the couple arrives at Pride Prom at golden hour, as billowy trees melt into an orange sherbet sky. Moses dad is in the drivers seat. He reminds them to take pictures.

As they enter the venue, past the table with Spanish-style hand fans and pocket-sized flags of all different stripes, a tingling feeling pulses deep in their guts. Theyre delighted, but cautious.

Tyler is trans and growing up in Florida.

Hes learned, since he first began taping and binding his chest about five years ago, that the world is not always a welcoming place. His mother worries about him, about the people who might cause him harm. Shes constantly reminding him to stick by friends, and to watch over his drink.

But as Moses and Tyler walk toward the sound of music, theyre met with smiling faces.

A sign for the toilets reminds them: We dont care which bathroom you use, just wash your hands.

Tension releases. This space is safe.

One by one, teens shuffle into the stately ballroom in Riverview, pausing at a mirror in the lobby for a last-minute fit check.

Hoops in place. Foundation fresh. They feel good.

Inside are rows of tables, draped in royal purple satin and sprouting elaborate flower arrangements.

Skinny legs in combat boots and hand-painted dress shoes timidly bop on the sparsely populated dance floor. Its early, still, and the night is long. Nobodys ready to fully commit.

Keatyn Horton, 18, spots a problem. One of the gold candelabras isnt lit.

In a black shoulder cape and platform boots, Keatyn glides to its rescue and twists the bulbs at the end of each candlestick until they glow like flames.

Much better. If youre going to throw a party, you better do it right.

This is their Met Gala. The theme is French Renaissance. Vive La Fierte. Long Live Pride.

Keatyn is one of a handful of local teens who was charged with organizing the event for the LGBTQ+ community. Hosted by PFLAG Riverview  a group that supports parents and families of young queer people around Tampa Bay  the prom is held annually to provide a space to connect. For months, the teens met on Thursdays, brainstorming vendors, decorations, mapping out the details.

Last years prom didnt have enough gluten-free or vegan options. This year, theyd make sure there were plenty. At last years prom, the music was too loud. This year, theyd find the perfect volume.

Keatyn scans the room, taking stock. This time last week, Keatyn, who is nonbinary, had stood in this very event space for the Lennard High School senior prom.

At 63, with lash extensions, wine-red lipstick and a sparkling dress, Keatyn stood out. It was a fine time. Just fine. But tonight, nobody would stare or judge or eyeroll.

Around 7:30 p.m., the tinkling piano intro to Vanessa Carltons A Thousand Miles flows through the speaker system, triggering a collective squeal.

The teens charge the dance floor. They toss their heads back and belt every word to the 2002 ballad  a song released before any of them were born.

Keatyn plays air piano. A girl in a Marie Antoinette pouf wig fights to keep it on while dancing.

For a night, they are untouchable.

In fishnets and Doc Martens, pink ballgowns and chunky heels, corsets and ruffled hoop skirts, goth cargo pants and rainbow sequined vests, they throw their hands in the air toward a tiered chandelier and howl.

They twirl and jump, hip-pop and shimmy to Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, David Bowie and Queen.

Some brush hands with their dates, nervously at first, then burst into laughter and pull each other close. Others pool with a group of friends. They snack on candy laid out like charcuterie and snap selfies.

Theres a weightlessness so palpable, it seems plausible that  like the astronaut carrying a rainbow flag, projected on the wall  theyll soon break loose from the confines of gravity.

For the next three hours the floor is a blur of color.

This is a night of firsts. First dance, first date, first time using she/her pronouns.

First time, in a long time, without bearing the responsibility of fighting for a more just world.

When a nervous system is used to operating in fight-or-flight mode, theres a delay between the mind and the body. You can know that youre safe, without feeling it in your bones.

But in this space, among more than a hundred kindred peers  they feel safe in their bodies, too.

On Monday, theyll get back to organizing protests and walkouts at their high schools. Theyll get back to work defending themselves before the people elected to represent them, who  this past legislative session  passed a record number of bills targeting their very community.

Theyll remind each other to practice empathy for bullies  classmates who have learned to hate because of things theyve heard their parents say. Theyll shoulder the weight of being the bigger person.

But thats later.

Right now, theyre doing the YMCA. The Wobble. The Cupid Shuffle.

Theyre taking off their shoes so they can sprint  then stop  and send their socks sliding across the polished floors.

Theyre throwing back cup after cup of watermelon punch in pursuit of a sugar high.

2023 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
Summertime is quickly approaching, and while people may be hoping to spend more time outdoors, one insect could be paying a visit inside.

Many parts of the country are home to multiple species of ant, including carpenter, pavement, ghost and acrobat ants, just to name a few.

Professor Raymond Cloyd, Ph.D. with Kansas State University's Department of Entomology, said ants are active almost year-round even in colder climates, from spring to early winter.

"They're active in the spring when the reproductive swarmers come out ... the males die ... the females start laying eggs," Cloyd said. "That occurs again in the fall, early winter time, but ants ... can be active all year-round, depending on the environmental conditions."

Cloyd said specifically when the weather is wet, ants will try to find a protected environment, like a home or office, to shelter in. If you're hoping to keep ants outside this summer, here are some ways you can do so.

Keeping ants out of your house

The entomologist said the most common way for ants to get into the home is existing openings, like cracks or crevices.

"Any openings, like in the foundation or under doors or ... windows that don't seal very well, those are some of the areas they can get into," Cloyd said.

The best way to prevent ants finding openings is to seal them off.

"Ants are pretty smart, they can find openings," he said. "Sealing cracks and crevices, putting door sweeps in, just preventing any access" can help limit intrusion into your home.

Cloyd also recommends keeping tree branches off of the roof. When tree branches are lying on the roof, ants can climb from the trees onto the branches and make their way into your home.

Here are some natural repellents to keep ants away from your home, from BugMD:

 Peppermint oil: Spray a mixture of peppermint oil and water around your home.

 White vinegar: Mix together vinegar and water and spray it or wipe areas down where ants are entering.

 Cinnamon: Sprinkle where ants are entering.

 Borax: Make a paste by mixing 1/2 teaspoon borax, 8 teaspoons sugar and 1 cup water, then put it where ants are in the home.

 Diatomaceous earth: Sprinkle where ants are entering.

Cloyd said he's also seen people use orange peels and orange oil, but wants people to remember those are just temporary fixes.

"You're not killing them, you're just repelling them and then ... they'll move somewhere else," he said.

The most effective way of getting rid of ants in your house is using baits, Cloyd said. Baits, which contain insecticides, attract worker ants to carry small portions back to the colony, ultimately killing the entire colony.

The most common one he recommends is boric acid, which is usually safe around pets and humans.

Cloyd doesn't recommend using a spray insecticide to fight off ants inside your home.

"So it's really bait management, using baits, changing them frequently, you may have to change them throughout the year because they tend to want to feed on proteins early in the spring and switch to carbohydrates later in the summertime," he said.

Cloyd said if you have any concerns or questions regarding ants in the home, you should reach out to your local pest control.

___

(c)2023 The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kan.)

Visit The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kan.) at www.kansas.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Even on a rainy San Francisco day, light floods the nearly floor-to-ceiling windows lining the walls of the Warfield Building. Exposed brick borders the windows, giving the office space a decidedly hip feel, one that echoes the urban loft vibe that was once so trendy in major cities. Market Street bustles below, but the street noise is minimal, and from the high floors, the views stretch out to Bernal Hill and beyond.

These office conference rooms could someday be someones bedroom, if local developer Group I can get past the citys Byzantine permitting process and execute an incredibly rare office-to-residential conversion project, which many have billed as one of the only reasonable solutions to the citys perpetual housing crisis. As downtown San Francisco continues to struggle to revitalize itself post-pandemic, transforming office buildings into housing has been talked about as something of a golden ticket. Not only would it help to make a dent in the citys woefully inadequate housing supply, but it could also rejuvenate a district that desperately needs a boost, especially as more businesses continue to close.

Office conversion is notoriously difficult; most buildings lack the building depth necessary to create homes people would want to live in. Some downtown buildings have been identified as better candidates for conversions. The corner mid-rise at 988 Market St. is one such candidate, and its developer is pushing forward to make as many as 40 units of housing in the historic building.

Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE

Group I is still a ways away from making its project a reality, but the developer is nevertheless much further along than most others. It filed a preliminary application to convert five floors of offices in December 2022, and plans have since expanded beyond the initially proposed 34 apartment units. The apartments would be a mix of studios, one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms from the fifth to ninth floors. Nine of those units are slated for affordable housing. Construction would also add a basement bike room, transform some second-floor space into a gym, and give residents access to a communal roof deck.

Nothing about the exterior of the 1922 building would change, and 15,000 square feet of the building would remain office space. If the project stays within its current scope, it wont need a full building retrofit, something that would have made the project financially unfeasible, Group I principal Mark Shkolnikov said. The project is estimated to cost $9 million, and barring any unexpected hurdles, would begin construction at the end of the year.

Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE

Since Group I began work at the historic building, several legislators have brought forward legislation that could encourage developers to do these types of conversions at downtown office buildings. Mayor London Breed and Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin introduced legislation in March that would exempt buildings in certain downtown zones from requirements such as rear yard space and a mix of unit types, while streamlining administrative approvals. Just last week, the legislation advanced, and is now set to go before the Board of Supervisors.

The nature of office work is forever changed and this is a moment to reimagine downtown. But there is no silver bullet, Peskin told SFGATE. [This legislation] signals that this is something that San Francisco wants, encourages and is going to facilitate.

If approved, the legislation could speed up office-to-housing projects by 6 to 12 months, said Lily Langlois, principal planner in the SF Planning Department. It would likely remove the need for a public hearing, a notoriously difficult hurdle for San Francisco builders, and make the process more straightforward, Langlois said.

It would also send a signal to our private landholders that the city is excited about these types of projects to activate downtown, she said.

Illustration by SFGATE

Separately, Peskin said hes working on legislation that would give a major haircut to the number of affordable units required in new housing projects, a more controversial proposal that will likely see pushback from the left flank of the Board of Supervisors.

And District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey introduced a bill in early April that would exempt conversion projects from certain fees, shaving off less than 10% of the cost of converting the building. This is a small step, but its part of an accumulation of small steps our city will be taking over the next few years, Dorsey told the San Francisco Chronicle. I am committed to removing constraints and barriers that make building housing more difficult. (The Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but have separate newsrooms.)

While these conversions can be a tough sell, San Franciscos building stock is better poised than most to handle the transformations. In a recent report from public policy group SPUR, architecture firm Gensler found that 40% of the downtown buildings that were analyzed would be good candidates for conversion, as opposed to 20% nationally. The study took into account factors such as location, building size and layout.

Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE

The report posits San Francisco could get as many as 11,200 housing units from these conversions, though with the enormous caveat that each unit carries an estimated cost of $472,000 to $633,000  and thats without seismic upgrades, according to the SPUR study.

An additional complication is that there arent many examples of office-to-residential conversions in San Francisco that could be used as a model. 100 Van Ness is the most cited example, as the former AAA California headquarters morphed from offices into 400 housing units in 2014. Its the largest conversion ever completed in the city, and its not cheap: Studios start renting at $3,141, and tenants get access to amenities like a roof deck and wine storage.

The company responsible for that project, Emerald Fund, hopes to do another office-to-housing conversion in the future. President Marc Babsin said theyve looked at three distressed office buildings recently, bringing in contractors and architects to see if they can make the numbers work.

Construction costs coupled with declining rent make most of these projects impossible, Babsin said, but with new legislation at the city level, projects could get done in the future. He said the currently proposed legislation is a step forward, but theres even more the city could do. He referenced something like a New York City project that created about 5,000 housing units in the 1990s and 2000s, when the city allowed for exempted property taxes for up to 12 years on conversions in lower Manhattan office buildings, as one possible option.

The city cant do anything about construction costs or rental prices, but it does control fees and taxes, he said. Thats where it needs to push these levers.

Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE (Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE) (Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE)

Group I, meanwhile, has applied for the Mills Act, a San Francisco program that reduces property taxes in exchange for the building owners commitment to upkeep a historic building, as one way to help make this project financially feasible.

As of now, theres one other San Francisco property reportedly exploring conversion plans, though theyve yet to submit anything to SF Planning, sources told SFGATE. As Group I trudges along, Shkolnikov said theyve been encouraged by the amount of interest people have shown in their conversion plans.

Staring out from the potential bedrooms of the Warfield Building, things dont always look promising. The building directly across the street used to be a WeWork, and it now sits mostly empty. Down the block, large retailers like Nordstrom and Saks Off 5th are slated to close in a matter of months. But Shkolnikov is still confident.

Were really committed to Mid-Market and see this as one part of a larger project to revitalize Mid-Market, he said. We remain optimistic. We have to.
As she approaches retirement age, Democrat Donna Perkins understands reluctance about telling Sen. Dianne Feinstein what to do as she winds down her career.

After all, California's senior senator has already announced that she would not seek another term  and some argue that the calls for her to step down earlier are rooted in misogyny and ageism.

But after seeing news coverage of Feinstein's return to the nation's capital last week, in a wheelchair and still weak after a nearly three-month absence from Washington as she recovered from shingles, Perkins is more concerned than ever about the 89-year-old senator's ability to represent 39 million Californians.

"I don't want to be like that, right? I'm getting ready to turn 65. I want somebody to say, 'Hey, Donna, you know what? It's time to pass the torch.' It's sad, but it's not fair either," said Perkins, 64.

Perkins was among about a dozen Democrats who gathered at the Highland Park branch of a Los Angeles library Thursday evening to watch a livestreamed U.S. Senate candidate forum featuring two of the top Democrats running to replace Feinstein in 2024, Reps. Barbara Lee of Oakland and Katie Porter of Irvine. The event was sponsored by the progressive California Working Families Party. Rep. Adam B. Schiff of Burbank was invited to participate but declined.

Questions about Feinstein's future have been swirling for quite some time over concerns about declining mental and physical capabilities. Concerns grew after she was briefly hospitalized earlier this year and, while recuperating at home in San Francisco, missed votes that resulted in a holdup for confirming some of President Biden's judicial nominees. Feinstein is a member of the Senate's powerful Judiciary Committee, which was deadlocked because of her absence, resulting in Democrats delaying votes on nominees that could not win support from Republican senators.

Feinstein flew back to Washington on Wednesday, though she has been advised by doctors to take on a lighter workload. She cast critical votes Thursday to advance judicial nominees who lacked Republican support. And yet, among some California Democrats, Feinstein's return did little to quell concern about her likely effectiveness in the Senate, heightened further by the Democrats' razor-thin majority.

"Everybody is so diplomatic. I think she needs to take care of herself, and you can't take care of yourself with that intense responsibility. Something comes first  either taking care of yourself or taking care of your constituents," said Susie Tompkins Buell, a major Democratic fundraiser based in San Francisco. "I know she likes being there, I know she's a fighter. But I feel like for the bigger picture, for a better future for all of us, I think she should resign. It's an act of honor to do that."

Tompkins Buell has helped raise campaign money for Feinstein in the past and her husband once worked for the senator.

Others expressed similar concerns about representation, while declining to weigh in on what Feinstein should do.

"I'm not a doctor. I certainly haven't seen Sen. Feinstein in person. I don't feel like the best person to make that judgment call," said former San Francisco Board of Supervisors member Jane Kim, who is now the executive director of the Working Families Party and moderated the Senate candidate forum.

"I think it's important we have a U.S. senator to be able to fulfill their duties every day in the U.S. Senate because we have a tied vote," Kim said Friday. "It is critical for our party and our movement that we're able to move forward on decisions around judicial nominees in particular and keep business moving in Washington."

Eddie Isaacs, 42, said after seeing the images out of Washington, he was concerned about her health but wants to see how Feinstein's recovery progresses.

"I think we should see how she does in the next few weeks and make a decision at that point," he said. "Frankly, I didn't realize it was deteriorating as bad as it had been the last three months."

The environmental planner, who lives in Little Tokyo, said that while he was hopeful Feinstein would continue to recover, if she continues to decline  as he has seen elderly relatives do in his family  she ought to retire.

Gov. Gavin Newsom was more supportive. During a news conference about the state budget Friday, Newsom said he was happy his longtime ally appeared to be on the mend.

"That's personal, I'm glad she's recovering," he said. "I'm glad she's back."

On a political level, Newsom added, he's pleased Feinstein is well enough to return to casting votes to confirm federal judges.

Newsom sidestepped a question about whether he was concerned about her ability to represent Californians given her frail health, saying: "I look forward to her continued recovery. It was wonderful to see her in Washington, D.C."

The Democrats running for Feinstein's seat were even more sanguine.

"She's a friend, so I'm always going to be concerned about her health, and I hope she has a continued speedy recovery because we need to confirm judges, among other things, and she is a powerhouse appropriator that I've worked with for years to deliver for California," Schiff said in an interview in his congressional office Friday.

He added that he thought that if her seat were to become vacant and Newsom were to appoint someone to serve the remainder of her term, Republicans would block anyone from replacing her on the judiciary panel. Republicans prevented another Democrat from being temporarily assigned to fill her seat on the committee while she was recovering.

Porter and a spokeswoman for Lee both said they were glad that the senator was feeling better and wished her well.

It's a careful dance for elected California Democrats to weigh in on the future of a trailblazing woman who has held elected office for nearly all of the last 53 years. But frustration with Feinstein began growing years ago over whether she was distanced from modern progressive priorities.

Bill Przylucki, 38, recalls protesting outside of a Feinstein fundraiser in Hancock Park during her last reelection campaign in 2018 and feeling as if she was out of touch on issues such as housing and climate change.

"Even back then, it was quite clear that when you tried to dig in with any specific issues, we're not really getting anywhere," said the Atwater Village resident, who is executive director of Ground Game L.A., an organization focused on electing progressives, helping the homeless and protecting the environment.

"I've been frustrated for a long time. I'm eager to see new leadership," he said.

-------

(Mehta reported from Los Angeles and Oreskes from Washington. Times Sacramento Bureau Chief Laurel Rosenhall contributed to this report.)

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BALTIMORE (AP)  A convicted child rapist, whose crimes were recently highlighted in an extensive state report on sex abuse and coverups within the Archdiocese of Baltimore, died last week in prison, according to Marylands corrections agency.

John Merzbacher, 81, was serving four life sentences after his 1995 rape conviction for committing sexual abuse while he was a teacher at a Catholic middle school in Baltimore in the 1970s. He died Friday of natural causes in the infirmary at Eastern Correctional Institution in Westover, Maryland, state corrections officials said.

Merzbachers crimes have received renewed attention in recent weeks with the release of a report by the Maryland Attorney Generals Office, which spent years investigating child sexual abuse in the archdiocese. It found more than 150 priests and others associated with the Baltimore archdiocese sexually abused over 600 children for decades, often with impunity.

The report, which paints a damning picture of the nations oldest Catholic diocese, holds up Merzbacher as the most obvious example of systemic abuse committed by non-clerical members of the archdiocese, including deacons and Catholic school teachers. Prior investigations had focused mainly on abusive priests.

During his time as a teacher at Catholic Community Middle School in south Baltimore, Merzbacher terrorized students while school leadership looked the other way, according to the report. He raped and molested dozens of male and female students, including at gunpoint, once discharged a gun at school, and repeatedly threatened to kill the children or their families if they told anyone what he was doing, the report said.

Investigators interviewed Merzbacher in prison as part of their probe, and he denied doing anything wrong, according to the report, which raises significant questions about who in the archdiocese knew about Merzbachers abuse and failed to hold him accountable. He left the school in 1979.

When he was convicted in 1995 of raping one student, prosecutors had evidence Merzbacher had also abused 13 others, but they declined to bring charges in those cases because he was already serving life in prison, the report said.

Now, as always, is an important time to keep those victim-survivors who Merzbacher harmed so deeply in our prayers, the Archdiocese of Baltimore said in a statement Monday. The Archdiocese prays for their strength and for their continued healing.

Days after the attorney generals report was released last month, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed legislation to end the states statute of limitations for child sex abuse lawsuits, effective Oct. 1. The law change has already brought several victims forward with threats of civil litigation.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan Tanzila Norbaeva.

President Ilham Aliyev hailed Tanzila Norbaeva-led delegations participation in a special meeting of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan to mark the 100th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, and expressed his gratitude for the respect paid to the memory of the Great Leader. The head of state said that the opening of the monument to the Great Leader and the park named after him during his visit to Uzbekistan, together with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, is an indicator of this respect. Recalling that the National Leader paid great attention to the relations with friendly and fraternal Uzbekistan and its people, the President of Azerbaijan emphasized with satisfaction that this policy continues today in all areas. Noting that friendly relations with the President of Uzbekistan contribute to the expansion of bilateral relations between the two countries, President Ilham Aliyev underscored the importance of reciprocal visits in this regard.

The head of state noted that during his recent visit to Fuzuli he was pleased to examine the progress of construction of the school presented as a gift by President of Uzbekistan, on behalf of the Uzbekistani people.

President Ilham Aliyev underlined the importance of Tanzila Norbaevas visit to Azerbaijan in terms of developing bilateral relations between the two countries.

Chairperson of Uzbekistans Senate of Oliy Majlis Tanzila Norbaeva, first of all, conveyed to the head of state the greetings and best wishes of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and noted that the President of Uzbekistan highly appreciates friendly relations with Azerbaijan based on strategic partnership and cherishes his brotherly ties with the President of Azerbaijan.

The President of Azerbaijan thanked for the greetings and kind words, and asked to pass on his greetings to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

President Ilham Aliyev hailed Shavkat Mirziyoyev-led successful reforms in Uzbekistan, and extended his congratulations on the referendum recently held in Uzbekistan.

Tanzila Norbayeva, in turn, praised the accomplishments Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan had achieved in in all fields under the leadership of the heads of both states.

Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan said she is happy to attend the Milli Majlis special session to mark the 100th anniversary of the National Leader, and highlighted the Great Leaders special role in building friendly relations between the two countries. She underlined that the Great Leaders memory is revered in Uzbekistan with the events marking the genius personalitys 100th anniversary continued.

Tanzila Norbaeva noted President of Azerbaijan had fulfilled the fathers will by liberating Azerbaijani lands and accomplished historical mission as a hero of the people of Azerbaijan.

She also praised Azerbaijans successful Non-Aligned Movement chairmanship, underlined the Movements grown prestige under the leadership of the country and important work done to institutionalize it.

Tanzila Norbaeva said that cultural and humanitarian cooperation is of special importance. In this respect, she touched upon the importance of the Azerbaijani and Uzbekistani Presidents awarding cultural figures from Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan respectively, saying it encourages and inspires them greatly.

The Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis thanked for the attention paid to the Uzbekistani delegations during their trips to Azerbaijan.

Shared historical roots, culture and language connections between the two peoples were highlighted during the conversation. They noted that there are a joint Fund and concrete projects spanning machine-building, agriculture, textile and power industries as well as investments and other fields. These projects are continuously in the center of attention of both presidents.

Successful cooperation between the two countries within international organizations including the Organization of Turkic States was underlined. They also highlighted the importance of youth-related cooperation and forums bringing together Azerbaijani and Uzbekistani youth.

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Kyiv's Court of Appeal upheld the measure of restraint chosen by the former acting commander of one of the units of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Roman Chervinsky.

"On May 15, 2023, the panel of judges of the Judicial Chamber for the Consideration of Criminal Cases of Kyiv's Court of Appeal considered the appeal filed by the defense against the decision of the investigating judge of Shevchenkivsky District Court of Kyiv dated April 25, 2023, which satisfied the petition of the investigator of the State Security Service of Ukraine and applied to the suspect Ch. a preventive measure in the form of detention without determining the amount of bail until June 22, 2023," the court's press service said on Facebook on Monday.

According to the results of the appeal, the decision of the investigating judge of Shevchenkivsky District Court of Kyiv dated April 25, 2023 was upheld, the appeal of the defense was not satisfied. The statement of the MP of Ukraine on the bail of the suspected Ch. was upheld.

As noted by the press service of the court, "citizen Ch. is suspected of committing a criminal offense under Part 5 of Article 426-1 (Exceeding power or official authority by a military official) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine."

Earlier it was reported that the SBU was investigating the circumstances of the missile attack on Kanatove airfield in Kirovograd region in July 2022, which occurred due to unauthorized actions of individual servicemen.

In accordance with the provisions of Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine and Article 17 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine, a person is considered innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until his guilt is proven legally and established by a guilty verdict of the court.
BOSTON (AP)  Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell said Monday that she's reached a $6.1 mllion settlement with CVS to resolve allegations the pharmacy failed to follow state rules designed to keep costs down in the workers' compensation insurance system.

State regulations require that certain state and federal benchmarks be reviewed when setting prices for prescription drug charges under the workers compensation insurance.
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BOSTON (AP)  As a citizen of the Quapaw Nation, Ahnili Johnson-Jennings has always seen Dartmouth College as the university for Native American students.

Her father graduated from the school, founded in 1769 to educate Native Americans, and she had come to rely on its network of students, professors and administrators. But news that the Ivy League school in New Hampshire identified partial skeletal remains of 15 Native Americans in one of its collections has Johnson-Jennings and others reassessing that relationship.

Its hard to reconcile. Its hard to see the college in this old way where they were taking Native remains and using them for their own benefit, said Johnson-Jennings, a senior and co-president of Native Americans at Dartmouth.

The remains were used to teach a class as recently as last year, until an audit concluded they had been wrongly catalogued as not Native. Native American students were briefed on the discovery in March.

It was very upsetting to hear, especially when youve just felt so supported by a school and theyve had that secret that maybe no one knew about, but still, to some sense, was a secret, Johnson-Jennings said.

Dartmouth is among a growing list of universities, museums and other institutions wrestling with how best to handle Native American remains and artifacts in their collections, and with what these discoveries say about their past policies regarding Native communities.

Until the 20th century, archeologists, anthropologists, collectors and curiosity seekers took Native remains and sacred objects during expeditions on tribal lands. Some remains, including Native skulls, were sought after in the name of science. Bodies were collected by government agencies after battles with tribes. Museums wanted them to enhance their collections, and academic institutions relied on Native bones as teaching tools.

One-hundred years ago, it was OK for a professor, for an alumni to go into the lands of a Native community and dig up their ancestors, said professor Jeremy DeSilva, a paleoanthropologist and chairman of Dartmouths anthropology department.

Its amazing that folks didnt recognize how harmful that was, he continued.

For Native tribes, the loss of the remains and cultural items still inflicts significant pain. The remains, most believe, are imbued with the spirit of the ancestor to whom they belong and are connected to living citizens of those tribes.

Tribes could go to court or negotiate with an institution for remains to be repatriated. But it wasnt until the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, or NAGPRA, in 1990 that a process was created for their return. It requires federally funded institutions, including universities, to return remains and funerary items to rightful communities.

More than three decades later, some 884,000 Native American artifacts  including nearly 102,000 human remains  are still held by colleges, museums and other institutions, according to data maintained by the National Park Service.

Critics complain that many institutions move too slowly, invoking an exception in NAGPRA for remains they label as culturally unidentifiable. That puts the burden on tribes to prove the remains are their ancestors, an expense many cant afford.

Dartmouth has repatriated skeletal remains of 10 Native Americans along with 36 burial objects since 1995. The NAGPRA database says the 15 sets of skeletal remains and 46 associated funerary objects were taken from counties in Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, California and Florida. It lists the geographic origin of two sets of remains as unknown.

In February, Cornell University returned to the Oneida Indian Nation ancestral remains that were inadvertently dug up in 1964 and stored for decades in a school archive. Colgate University in November returned more than 1,500 items that the Oneidas had buried with their dead as far back as 400 years ago.

It is hard to overstate the importance of repatriations to the Oneida people," said Ray Halbritter, Oneida Indian Nation Representative.

When our ancestors remains and their cultural artifacts are restored to us, we are not only able to lay them to rest according to our traditions  we regain nothing less than the history of our people and the ability to tell our own stories, Halbritter's statement said. "Each repatriation represents another step forward on a long journey toward recognition of our sovereignty as a Nation and our dignity as people.

The University of California, Berkeley tops the list of institutions still holding artifacts, according to the Park Service; followed closely by the Ohio History Connection, a nonprofit organization working to preserve the states history; and Harvard Universitys Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.

The process of returning remains to affiliated tribes can be complex and complicated, but Shannon OLoughlin, chief executive of the Association on American Indian Affairs, a national group that assists tribes with repatriations, said it's racist to refuse.

It just says that they value the idea of Native Americans as specimens more than they do as human beings, said OLoughlin, a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

The remains held in Dartmouth's teaching collection in Silsby Hall were identified as Native in November in an audit led by Jami Powell, curator of Indigenous art at Dartmouths Hood Museum.

The bones have been moved from locked cabinet in the basement to a secure off-campus location. Dartmouth has hired a team of independent experts to determine their origin, a review that will take months.

It also is studying an additional 100 bones that may be Native American and working with tribes to repatriate additional bone fragments related to three individuals whose remains were repatriated in the 1990s.

For me as an Indigenous person, its always important in my work that I treat these ancestors with the utmost care and respect and that an essential part of my function is helping them return home, said Powell, a citizen of the Osage nation.

Dartmouth President Philip Hanlon said in March that he's deeply saddened by what weve found on our campus. His statement apologized for the colleges wrongful possession of the remains and pledged to take careful and meaningful action to address our situation and consult with the communities most directly impacted.

The Department of Anthropologys teaching collection is believed to have included bones purchased from biological supply companies; from donated cadavers used by medical students; and archeological remains, some of which came from Native American burial mounds and were given by alumni.

Until November, Dartmouth officials said they had believed Native American bones had been removed from the school in the 1990s.

Nobody had really taken the time or the effort to fully document what we had. This was around a time where our whole discipline was beginning to reflect a little more deeply on what it meant to be in the care of, or caring for human remains, said DeSilva, the anthropology departments chairman.

DeSilva acknowledged mistakes in documenting Native American remains, but said they werent malicious, and no one was to blame. He said he hopes the most recent discovery will force a reckoning over past practices.

The college is now reevaluating its whole collection of human remains and plans to build an ethically sourced collection that complies with legal standards to be used in osteology  the study of bones and skeletal systems, DeSilva said.

The college is also working to repair its relationship with Native students and alumni. That includes accommodating Native students uncomfortable going into Silsby. A Navajo medicine man aso held a cleansing ceremony on campus that included the anthropology building.

Native Americans now represent about 1% of Dartmouth's 4,458 students. Though the school was formed to teach Native Americans, it wasnt until 1972 that Dartmouth created a program tailored to them, one of the first in the country. Still, symbols of insensitivity lingered on campus, including a set of murals that the school said it would move into storage in 2018.

Shawn Attakai, co-president of the Native American Alumni Association of Dartmouth, said he's disappointed about the discovery, and sad that some of the remains could be from his own Navajo Nation, where he is a tribal lawyer.

Native Americans have a history of injustices in this country starting from its founding all the way to the present, said Attakai.

Johnson-Jennings appreciates the efforts, but said justice requires a person or entity to be held accountable. Allowing the remains to be mislabeled for so long, she said, "is a mistake that us Natives are paying for, the tribes that those ancestors belong to are paying for.
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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP)  Conservative Nebraska lawmakers are taking what could be an all-or-nothing bet by proposing to merge two of the legislative sessions most contentious proposals  one to restrict abortion and another that would ban gender-affirming care for minors.

The unconventional move follows conservatives' failure by a single vote last month to advance a bill that would have banned abortion at around six weeks of pregnancy. Now, conservatives are backing an effort to amend the transgender health bill to include restricting abortion to 12 weeks of gestation.

The strategy sets up a vote on Tuesday that could give conservatives a win on both abortion and trans health bans this year  or could see them lose both.

Heres a look at the combination of the trans and abortion bans proposals and how the process of debating and voting on them is expected to play out this week:

___

HOW THE NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE WORKS:

Nebraska has the only one-chamber, nonpartisan Legislature in the country, meaning its process of passing bills is also uncommon.

Bills introduced at the beginning of the legislative session all get public committee hearings, and the committee later decides whether to advance a given bill to the full Legislature of 49 lawmakers.

If advanced, the bill must survive three rounds of debate to be passed. Noncontroversial bills tend to sail through the process. But Nebraska lawmakers rely heavily on the filibuster to stall contested bills. Each round has a set amount of time allowed for debate: Eight hours for the first round, four hours for the second and two hours for the third.

At the end of the allotted time, a vote is taken to end debate, called a cloture vote. It takes a supermajority of 33 lawmakers to end debate. If the vote fails, the bill is shelved for the remainder of the session. If it gets enough votes to end debate, only a simple majority is needed to advance it to the next round or pass it in the final round.

While officially nonpartisan, lawmakers self-identify as Republican, Democrat or independent and tend to propose and vote for legislation along party lines.

Republicans currently hold 32 seats, while Democrats hold 16 and one is a progressive independent who votes with Democrats. With such a slim margin, the defection of a single lawmaker from either side can derail efforts to pass or block bills.

___

WHAT HAPPENS ON TUESDAY?

Late in the afternoon, lawmakers are set to begin what would have been the final round of debate on a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors. But because legislative rules dont allow amendments to be attached in the final round, lawmakers will instead debate for two hours on whether to send the bill back to the second round of debate with the abortion amendment attached.

If the motion garners at least 33 votes to end debate, the combination bill is certain to get enough votes to return for a second round of debate Tuesday night. The combined bill would have to survive another filibuster vote to advance to a final round likely to be held Thursday.

But if the first vote to end debate Tuesday fails, both the abortion amendment and the underlying trans health ban bill will be shelved for the year, according to the clerk of the Legislatures office.

___

WHAT'S PROPOSED IN THE TWO MEASURES?

The trans health bill would ban hormone treatments, puberty blockers and gender reassignment surgery for anyone 18 and younger.

The bill advanced to a final round of debate last month on the promise from its author, freshman Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, and Speaker of the Legislature Sen. John Arch to hammer out a compromise between supporters and opponents before a final vote.

Instead, bill opponents say, Kauth unilaterally put forth an amended version that would make exceptions for minors who were already on hormone treatments before the ban takes effect. It also would give the state's chief medical officer  currently an ear, nose and throat doctor appointed by the Republican governor -- wide-ranging authority to set rules for use of use of hormone treatments for transgender minors. Opponents say that would give a political appointee the power to block such treatments, even for those minors grandfathered in.

The abortion amendment would ban the procedure at 12 weeks of gestation, making exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother. Sen. Ben Hansen, a chiropractor from Blair, characterized his proposal as a reboot of a compromise amendment introduced during the abortion debate last month by Republican Sen. Merv Riepe that was initially rejected by conservative lawmakers.

Opponents note that Hansen's measure differs from Riepe's proposal in that it provides no exceptions for fatal fetal anomalies and doesn't explicitly protect doctors who perform abortions from criminal prosecution.

___

HOW CONTENTIOUS ARE THE MEASURES?

The trans health bill has been the most contentious this session, prompting Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh to follow through on a promise to filibuster every single bill before the body  even ones she supports  unless conservative supporters pull it. Her efforts greatly slowed the work of the Legislature this year, forcing lawmakers to package bills together and endure grueling 12-hour and sometimes 15-hour days to pass legislation.

Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt joined Cavanaugh's effort when the bill advanced from the first round of debate in March, revealing during the debate that her 12-year-old son is transgender.

The proposed abortion restrictions have drawn fierce pushback from those who argue that the state already limits abortion to 20 weeks of pregnancy and that restricting access further violates women's rights to have autonomy over their own bodies.

The six-week ban was derailed last month when Riepe withheld his vote to end a filibuster over it. Riepe was an original cosigner of the bill, but later worried that six weeks wouldn't give women enough time to even know they're pregnant. Since then, he has been praised by abortion rights proponents, but he's also endured calls from fellow Republicans for his resignation and censure.

I've taken a lot of heat in the last several days, the 80-year-old Riepe said.

Riepe has refused to say how he will vote on the 12-week abortion ban amendment.

Both the trans health and abortion bans proposals have brought hundreds of protesters to the Capitol on the days they've been debated, leading to speculation that thousands of protesters could descend Tuesday on Lincoln when the combination proposal is up for debate.

____
An 18-year-old man armed with at least three guns roamed through a northwestern New Mexico community firing randomly at cars and houses Monday, killing three people and injuring six others including two police officers before he was killed, authorities said.

The shootings occurred around 11 a.m. in Farmington, a city of about 50,000 people near the Four Corners  where New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado meet  that is a supply line and bedroom community to the regions oil and natural gas industry.

Officers responding to reports of shots being fired encountered the attacker within minutes and killed him with at least one shot, Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said in a video released Monday night. He said the gunman fired at least three weapons, including an "AR-style rifle."

The shooting was honestly one of the most horrific and difficult days that Farmington has ever had as a community, he said.

The identities of the gunman and the victims weren't immediately released.

Investigators were still struggling to determine a motive for the attack, including talking to the shooters family.

But at this point it appears to be purely random, that there was no schools, no churches and no individuals targeted, Hebbe said. During the course of the event, the suspect roamed throughout the neighborhood up to a quarter of a mile. At least six houses and three cars were shot in the course of the event, as the suspect randomly fired at whatever entered his head to shoot at.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement that she was praying for the families of the victims and that the incident serves at yet another reminder of how gun violence destroys lives in our state and our country every single day.

Mayor Nate Duckett said in a statement that the shooting has left us reeling in anguish and disbelief.

Video below: Farmington police close roads in active shooter situation

At Hills Church, just a few miles away from the attack scene, dozens of people gathered around a tall metal cross as the sun set Monday to pray. Some wrapped their arms around each other as they listened. The mayor and law enforcement officers were among those in the crowd.

Lead pastor Matt Mizell talked about living in a dark and broken world but told the crowd that there was still hope and asked God to provide them strength.

Officers began receiving reports of gunshots at about 10:57 a.m. The first officer arrived at 11:02 a.m. and three minutes later the gunman had been killed, Hebbe said.

At first officers thought there might be a second suspect and schools were locked down because we didnt know where any other suspects could be," the chief said. However, it now appears that the 18-year-old acted alone, he said.

One Farmington officer was shot and taken to the hospital, where he was treated and released, while a state police officer also was shot and drove himself to the hospital where he remained and is doing well, Hebbe said. That officer was reported to be in stable condition.

Joseph Robledo, a 32-year-old tree trimmer, said he rushed home after learning that his wife and 1-year-old daughter had sought shelter in the laundry room when gunshots rang out. A bullet went through his daughters window and room, without hitting anyone.

Robledo jumped a fence to get in through the back door. Out front he found an older woman in the street who had been wounded while driving by. She appeared to have fallen out of her car, which kept rolling without her, he said.

I went out to see because the lady was just lying in the road, and to figure just what the heck was going on, Robledo said. He and others began to administer first aid.

Neighbors directed an arriving police officer toward the suspect.

We were telling (the officer), Hes down there.  The cop just went straight into action, Robledo said.

Robledos own family car was perforated with bullets.

Weve been doing yard work all last week. I just thank God that nobody was outside in front, he said.

"Obviously, elderly people  he didnt have no sympathy for them. Whos to say he would have sympathy for a little kid, he said.

Middle school teacher Nick Akins, whose home is on a street that police locked down, described the neighborhood as a mostly great place to live, with a mix of homes, short-term rental apartments and churches.

Its not like the roughest area in town, but it can be, he said. We have great neighbors and rentals, people who come and go. We dont always know everyone.

Seeing Farmington in the national spotlight for yet another mass shooting, particularly one that occurred on his street, was surreal for him.

You never think its going to happen here and all of a sudden, in a tiny little town it comes here, Akins said.

Hebbe said he was unbelievably proud of officers response given the threat of the suspect, who was moving around, and the chaotic scene. Authorities received at least nine calls to dispatch putting the information all over the place, where the suspect was, he said.

The Sheriffs Office, the Farmington Police Department and state police all responded. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives tweeted that agents from Phoenix were headed to Farmington to assist in the investigation.

Farmington police planned to hold a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

Today, gun violence took the lives of our elders, wounded two police officers, and paralyzed Farmingtons small community in fear, U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, a Democrat, whose district includes the area, said on Facebook. I praise the heroes who drove to danger to stop the violence. I pray for the quick recovery of the wounded and for the families of those we lost.

Our beautiful Nuevo Mexico is not immune to the mass shootings that occur across the country  Every. Single. Day, the message said.

In recent years, cafes and breweries have cropped up downtown Farmington alongside decades-old businesses that trade in Native American crafts from silver jewelry to wool weavings.

Last month Farmington police shot and killed a man at his front door after they went to the wrong address while responding to a domestic violence call.

Associated Press writer Terry Tang in Phoenix contributed.


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AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP)  Two people were killed and four were injured when more than 150 shots were fired in a gunfight between rival motorcycle clubs in a Georgia city, a sheriff said Monday.

The Richmond County Sheriff's Office charged 12 people with murder and aggravated assault in the shootout in Augusta on Saturday night, including the four injured people, Sheriff Richard Roundtree said.

The violence erupted at the clubhouse of the Outcast Motorcycle Club's Augusta chapter near an apartment complex and single-family homes, the sheriff said. Deputies recovered more than 150 spent shell casings, he said, some of them found a block away.

"With the amount of firepower and carnage we saw at the scene, this could have been a much more horrific event, Roundtree said during a news conference Monday.

Investigators believe the gunfight stemmed from a prior dispute in Florida involving Outcast members and another motorcycle club known as the Thug Riders, said Roundtree, who declined to provide details.

Of the 12 people arrested, he said, 11 came from out of town  including one from Florida and three from North Carolina. He said those arrested included members of both clubs. Augusta is close to the South Carolina state line.

This was a coordinated attack by individuals who came from as far away as Florida, Roundtree said. "Were talking abut traveling three or four hours to come to Augusta, armed to engage in gun violence.

Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen identified the dead as Keith Coates, 30, of Valdosta, Georgia, and Germayne Farrell, 51, of Daytona Beach, Florida.

Three of those who were injured were still being treated at a hospital Monday, the sheriff said. He provided no information on their conditions.

Roundtree said most people involved in the gunfight weren't cooperating with investigators, who found multiple guns inside the clubhouse. He said additional arrests are possible, as are additional charges against those already in custody.

The sheriff confirmed that a first responder struck one of the dead bodies Saturday night with a vehicle being moved to make room for emergency vehicles at the scene. He called it a freak accident and said the victim had already been declared dead. He said the incident was being handled as a traffic accident.
The college graduates who fill white-collar jobs in the San Francisco area began to leave in growing numbers about a decade ago. More and more have moved to other parts of the country  an accelerating outflow of educated workers that, in a poorer part of America, might be thought of as brain drain.

When the pandemic arrived, these departures surged so sharply that the San Francisco area has lately lost more educated workers than have moved in.

Over this same time, a similar pattern has been taking shape in Californias metro San Jose and in Los Angeles. Across the country, it has been building in the Washington, D.C., and New York City areas. Educated workers, dating to before the pandemic, have been migrating away from the most prosperous parts of the country.

This trend, visible in an Upshot analysis of census microdata, is startling in retrospect. Major coastal metros have been hubs of the kind of educated workers coveted most by high-powered employers and economic development officials. Economists have lamented the growing coastal concentration of their wealth. A politics of resentment in America has fed on it, too. These urban centers have become a class of their own  superstar cities  with outsize impact on the American economy fueled by the clustering of workers with degrees.

But it appears in domestic migration data that, years after lower-wage residents have been priced out of expensive coastal metros, higher-paid workers are now turning away from them, too.

Working-age Americans with a degree are still flowing into these regions from other parts of the country, often in large numbers. But as the pool leaving grows faster, that educational advantage is eroding. Bostons pull with college graduates has weakened. Seattles edge vanished during the pandemic. And the analysis shows San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles and Washington all crossing a significant threshold: More college-educated workers left than moved in.

For most of this century, large metros with 1 million residents or more have received all of the net gains from college-educated workers migrating around the country, at the expense of smaller places. But among those large urban areas, the dozen metros with the highest living costs  nearly all of them coastal  have had a uniquely bifurcated migration pattern: As they saw net gains from college graduates, they lost large numbers of workers without degrees.

At least, that was true until recently. Now, large, expensive metros are shedding both kinds of workers.

The college-educated workers who have turned away from them are increasingly migrating toward major metros that are still prosperous but not quite so expensive  places such as Phoenix, Atlanta, Houston and Tampa, Florida. During the pandemic, smaller cities such as Portland, Maine, and Wilmington, North Carolina, also saw growing inflows of such workers.

The overall migration rate in America today is historically low, and mobility has fallen since the 1980s for all kinds of demographic groups. But these college-educated workers have recently bucked that trend. In the years leading up to the pandemic, their mobility rate was actually rising, a pattern true for both local moves and the kind of longer-distance moves between metro areas analyzed by The Upshot. That has opened a potentially new divide in the American economy between increasingly mobile white-collar workers and blue-collar workers who are increasingly likely to stay put.

For every move that anecdotally points to these trends  and the pandemic produced many such anecdotes  its trickier to capture these patterns nationwide. The census doesnt publicly track moves between metro areas by demographic cohorts. So to identify these patterns, The Upshot examined an anonymized sample of millions of census records and identified people who moved, grouped them by education level and age, and then linked each movers origin and destination with larger counties and metro areas.

The fact that big coastal metros have been losing workers without a degree is not that surprising  living costs have surged in these places as the good big-city jobs once available to less-educated workers in factories and clerical pools have dwindled. But for workers with a degree, economists have concluded that the higher pay promised in places such as the San Francisco Bay Area and New York should still mean its a good deal to live there.

That makes it all the more curious that these workers have been leaving anyway.

Migration patterns for lower-education workers make complete sense, said Daniel Shoag, an economist at Case Western Reserve University who has found similar trends in work with co-authors Stan Veuger and Philip Hoxie.

For college-educated workers, he said, its more of a puzzle.

Affordability Issues Move Up Income Ladder

For higher-education workers, its not so easy to separate those who cant afford a city from those who can but leave anyway. Affordability is relative and personal; for one person, it means making rent, but for another, it means making enough to also join a gym, buy concert tickets and dine out regularly. And even a professional who can afford all of that in New York may still eventually sour on the sixth-floor walk-up and the laundromat that comes with it.

It is clear, though, that affordability has broadly been eroding up the income spectrum in the countrys most expensive metros. As these regions have become richer, that has, among other things, helped fuel the rise in their housing prices.

And it ends up pricing out more and more people  not just people in the middle, but even people with higher incomes and college degrees, said Jed Kolko, undersecretary for economic affairs at the U.S. Department of Commerce (and a former Upshot contributor).

If the Bay Area, for one, ceased to be a land of opportunity more than a generation ago for bus drivers and home health aids, today it may be losing that appeal for engineers and consultants.

The sudden pandemic-era rise of remote work has also accelerated that shift. Remote work has driven demand for more space by white-collar workers in precisely the places where more space is hardest to come by. And remote work has altered the bargain that educated workers must swallow high living costs to access the highest wages.

Now, highly educated and more high-income workers have an option that theyve never had before, said Hans Johnson, a demographer with the Public Policy Institute of California. At least some of those workers can now keep (or accept) San Francisco jobs, while paying Houston or Charlotte, North Carolina, living costs. Johnson suspects that helps explain why the whole state of California has now become a net domestic loser of college graduates.

California is so beautiful, but it is a hard place to live, said Rebecca McGrail, 62, a school principal who moved with her husband, a consultant, and daughter from metro San Francisco to Durham, North Carolina, in 2019. That sentiment encompasses wildfires, earthquake fears and traffic, she said, but above all the steep cost of everything from housing to a pizza dinner.

Expensive big metros have struggled the most to retain educated workers ages 40 to 64, who face the greatest exposure to steep mortgages, child care costs and big grocery bills. (Younger educated workers were, at first, a bulwark against that trend but have increasingly migrated away from these regions, too.)

Jim Dalrymple II left Los Angeles when he reached that costly life stage  when the smallest, cheapest house he said he and his wife could find in the city was no longer big enough to fit children.

I love LA, I thought we would stay there indefinitely  I miss it still, said Dalrymple, a 41-year-old writer. When he and his wife concluded they couldnt afford to stay, they moved in 2019 to a much larger home within walking distance of downtown Salt Lake City. He recalled the abundant jobs and affordable housing that attracted his schoolteacher grandparents to Southern California two generations before he left.

I would love to take advantage of all that myself, he said. Its not available to us. And its not available to a lot of people.

Garrett Lyon, a 40-year-old brand strategist, described having a similar realization in Seattle when he and his wife considered buying a home: Seattle was crazy, absolutely, absolutely insanely expensive, he said. They could have afforded a home an hour outside the city, he said. Instead, they moved to Nashville, Tennessee.

Other college-educated workers who have moved away from the coasts described in interviews quality-of-life considerations that go beyond any simple accounting of wages versus living costs. They mention wanting furniture that would never fit in a New York elevator, or having a home office with a door that actually closes. They talk about not just cheaper housing, but washing machines, walk-in closets and walls to hang artwork.

Some describe frustration that even people who have followed typical routes to success  get a degree, save up money, work your way up to better-paying jobs  still struggle to live comfortably in coastal metros.

The threshold is just so high, Eduardo Lerro, 45, said of the income required to get by in New York. He was a public-school teacher in the city, then recently became a higher-paid consultant who could live elsewhere. In 2021, he moved home to the Minneapolis area.

Metro New York has long lost more college graduates than it gains through domestic migration (a steady influx of immigrants has historically helped make up for that population loss). But although New York continues to attract more than 100,000 inbound working-age graduates annually, the number departing has grown steadily and topped more than 200,000 in the most recent year of census data  which encompasses Lerros move.

My living room is bigger than any apartment in New York I ever had, he said. And that was true even with a doctorate and a good job.

Theres an Incredible Concentration of Wealth

Prosperous cities have long grappled with the imbalance created by an exodus of lower-wage workers. Their departures stress businesses needing to hire lower-wage staff, and they fray working-class neighborhoods that have lost residents. The high cost of living in big coastal metros also means that many lower-income households are blocked from moving into places with plentiful jobs and a stronger safety net. Its bad for these regions, too, when essential workers such as firefighters and child care providers cant afford to live there.

The migration of college-educated residents away from these same places, on the other hand, raises a more muddled set of questions. Domestic migration is zero-sum, meaning a loss of college graduates prized by local officials and tax collectors in Washington or San Francisco can be a gain for Kansas City, Missouri, or Orlando, Florida. And researchers who study inequality say it would be a good thing if college graduates (and their spending power) were less clustered on the coasts.

Theres an incredible concentration of wealth in these superstar cities that is unhealthy, said David Autor, an economist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology whose work has traced the disappearance over time of good big-city jobs for less-educated workers. It also means a lot of the affluence that goes with that is very concentrated among a small set of people.

Although it may be good for the country for that affluence to spread out more, some of the forces that appear to be driving this shift  such as a coastal housing shortage and political paralysis around solving it  are hardly positive.

Its a side benefit of a very messy, costly thing, said Adam Ozimek, chief economist at the Economic Innovation Group, a think tank focused on the widening inequality in America between prosperous and struggling places.

College-educated workers leaving the most expensive parts of the country are also not spreading out equally everywhere  or even going to parts of the country that are struggling. Most are going to what could be considered the next price tier of big metros. And since the pandemic, more are going to smaller metro areas and even rural parts of the country.

These migration patterns may also reflect the fact that many cities outside coastal America have themselves changed over the past 20 years. More of them have developed the amenities associated first with big coastal cities: revitalized downtowns, brewpubs, loft apartment conversions and diverse restaurant scenes.

Some of it is that the most expensive places got really expensive, Rebecca Diamond, a Stanford economist, said of shifting migration patterns. But also, the middle-tier places became more attractive.

Since 2000, she has found, college graduates have increasingly been moving toward high-amenity cities and away from the highest-wage ones. Consumer cities, as she puts it, are increasingly replacing producer cities as the places where college graduates want to live.

In interviews, several movers described not just the appeal in their new homes of more space and a lower cost of living, but also the sense that they hadnt given up too much to gain those benefits. To a growing degree, they said, what they left behind they can find in Charlotte, Denver, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Dallas or Louisville, Kentucky.

Those places today may promise something like 90% of the city life of a big coastal metro at 60% or 70% of the cost. And that trade-off is particularly alluring for some workers choosing between a central neighborhood in a more affordable city or a far-flung home in the coastal exurbs.

Theres never been a time since I moved here where I was like, Dang, I wish I could do something I used to be able to do back in D.C., said Jonathan Ruckman, 42, who moved to Louisville from Washington in 2013.

On the other hand, he can do in Louisville things he believes he couldnt afford to in D.C., including buying a home as a public-interest lawyer.

Decisions such as his are noteworthy not because a lawyer, a consultant or a brand strategist who moves across the country counts for more than a server who does, but because their decisions say something broader about the places they have left behind and the options available to others there.

This is about choice, and who has choices, said Abigail Wozniak, who directs the Opportunity and Inclusive Growth Institute at the Minneapolis Fed. That means, she said, that we have to understand what goes into the choices visible in this data to recognize what choices are closed to other people  like the teacher who might like to move to California but cant afford to and never does, or the nursing assistant who wont make it in New York because even an entrepreneur cant.

I had these dreams about opening a business, said Laura Newman, 33, who wanted to own her own bar in her native New York City. I really wanted to pursue those dreams. And it didnt matter how much money I saved, because the cost of achieving those goals increased as I was saving money.

And so she moved to Birmingham, Alabama, in 2017 and opened her first bar there instead.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Stacy Rosenbaum, University of Michigan and Robin Morrison, University of Exeter

(THE CONVERSATION) In 1974, an infant mountain gorilla was born in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Researchers named him Titus. As is typical for young gorillas in the wild, Titus spent the first years of his life surrounded by his mother, father and siblings, as well as more distant relatives and unrelated gorillas that made up his social group.

In 1978, however, tragedy struck. Poachers killed Titus father and brother. In the chaos that followed, his younger sister was killed by another gorilla, and his mother and older sister fled the group. Juvenile Titus, who was at a developmental stage similar to that of an 8- or 9-year-old human, experienced more tragedy in his first four years of life than many animals do in a lifetime.

In people, a rough start in life is often associated with significant problems later on. Early life adversity can take a wide variety of forms, including malnutrition, war and abuse. People who experience these kinds of traumas, assuming they survive the initial event, are more likely to suffer health problems and social dysfunction in adulthood and to have shorter life spans. Often, these outcomes trace back at least in part to what public health researchers call health risk behaviors  things like smoking, poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle.

But researchers have documented the same kinds of problems in adulthood in nonhuman animalsthat experienced early life adversity. For example, female baboons who have the hardest childhoods have life spans that are on average only half as long as their peers that have the easiest. Activities like smoking and unhealthy food choices cant be the whole story, then, since animals dont engage in typical human health risk behaviors.

Given the connection between adverse events while young and poor health later in life, one might expect that Titus unlucky early years would predict a short, unhealthy adulthood for him. However, there are interesting hints that things might work differently in mountain gorillas, which are one of humans closest living relatives.

Decades of gorilla observations

As scientists who have spentmany years studying wild gorillas, we have observed a wide variety of early life experiences and an equally wide variety of adult health outcomes in these great apes. Unlike other primates, mountain gorillas dont appear to suffer any long-term negative effects of losing their mothers at an early age, provided that they reach the age at which they are old enough to have finished nursing.

Losing your mother is only one of many bad things that can happen to a young gorilla, though. We wanted to investigate whether a pattern of resilience was more generalized. If so, could we gather any insight into the fundamental question of how early life experiences can have long-lasting effects?

To do this, we needed exceptionally detailed long-term data on wild gorillas across their lifetimes. This is no mean feat, given gorillas long life spans. Primatologists know that males can survive into their late 30s and females into their mid-40s.

The best data in the world to conduct such a study comes from the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, which has been following individual mountain gorillas in Rwanda almost daily for 55 years. We conducted doctoral and postdoctoral research with the Fossey Fund and have collaborated with other scientists there for more than 20 years.

From their database, which stretches back to 1967, we extracted information on more than 250 gorillas tracked from the day they were born to the day they died or left the study area.

We used this data to identify six adverse events that gorillas younger than age 6 can endure: maternal loss, paternal loss, extreme violence, social isolation, social instability and sibling competition. These experiences are the gorilla equivalent of some kinds of adversity that are linked with long-term negative effects in humans and other animals.

Many young gorillas didnt survive these challenges. This is a strong indication that these experiences were indeed adverse from the perspective of a gorilla.

We were surprised to discover, however, that most of the repercussions of these hardships were confined to early life: animals that survived past the age of 6 did not have the shorter life spans commonly associated with early life adversity in other species.

In fact, gorillas that experienced three or more forms of adversity actually had better survival outcomes, with a 70% reduction in the risk of death across their adult years. Part of this hardiness, especially for males, may be due to a phenomenon called viability selection: Only the strongest animals survive early adversity, and thus they are also the animals with the longest life spans.

While viability selection may be part of the story, the patterns in our data strongly suggest that as a species, mountain gorillas are also remarkably resilient to early adversity.

Where do gorillas get their resilience?

Although our findings corroborate previous research on maternal loss in gorillas, they contrast with other studies on early adversity in humans and other long-lived mammals. Our study indicates that the negative later-life consequences of early adversity are not universal.

The absence of this connection in one of our closest relatives suggests there might be protective mechanisms that help build resiliency to early-life knocks. Gorillas may provide valuable clues to understand how early life experiences have such far-reaching effects and how people can potentially overcome them.

While there is still much left to explore, we suspect that gorillas food-rich habitat and cohesive social groups could underpin their resiliency. When young gorillas lose their mothers, other social group members fill in the companionship hole she leaves behind. Something similar may happen for other types of early adversity as well. A supportive social network combined with plentiful food may help a young gorilla push through challenges.

This possibility underscores the importance of ensuring that human children who experience early adversity are supported in multiple ways: socially, but also economically, especially since early adversity is particularly prevalent among children living in poverty  itself a form of adversity.

And what became of Titus? Despite his difficult start in life, Titus went on to lead his group for two decades, siring at least 13 offspring and surviving to his 35th birthday, making him one of the most successful gorillas the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund has ever studied.

Though Titus story is only a single anecdote, it turns out that his resilience is not so unusual for a member of his species.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/thriving-in-the-face-of-adversity-resilient-gorillas-reveal-clues-about-overcoming-childhood-misfortune-205184.
By Lynn La

CalMatters

Because of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Thursday, California's Proposition 12 can stand -- which means the pigs can, too.

In 2018, California voters approved the ballot measure to ban the sale of meat and egg products from farms that did not raise their "veal calves, breeding pigs and egg-laying hens" in spaces that give them room enough to stand up and turn around. The proposition was supposed to go into effect in 2022, but two out-of-state organizations, the National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation, sued to stop the measure.

The Supreme Court sided with California voters in a 5 to 4 ruling that didn't follow the typical conservative-liberal split. In the majority opinion, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote that rather than California regulating out-of-state businesses unconstitutionally, it is the businesses that are attempting to restrict a state's ability to "regulate goods sold within their borders." He was joined by Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor and Clarence Thomas.

Gorsuch: "Consider an example. Today, many States prohibit the sale of horsemeat for human consumption.... Under the lead dissent's test, all it would take is one complaint from an unhappy out-of-state producer and -- presto -- the Constitution would protect the sale of horsemeat."

In their partial dissent, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Samuel Alito, Ketanji Brown Jackson and Brett Kavanaugh said that the measure would place a "substantial burden against interstate commerce":

Roberts, in his opinion: "Petitioners identify broader, market-wide consequences of compliance -- economic harms that our precedents have recognized can amount to a burden on interstate commerce.... California has enacted rules that carry implications for producers as far flung as Indiana and North Carolina."

Because 99% of the pork Californians eat comes from out of state, opponents of the proposition argued that the measure gave California an outsized role in restricting interstate commerce, running afoul of the U.S. Constitution's Commerce Clause. Producers estimated their costs would rise by 9% to comply with the rule, and the Biden administration stood with the pork producers, saying the measure would throw "a giant wrench into the workings of the interstate market in pork."

Supporters of Prop. 12 argued that because the measure didn't give California farmers and producers any sort of advantage, it wasn't unconstitutional. It's also common for states to pass regulations on what kinds of commodities are sold in their state. This session, legislators are considering a bill that would ban the sale of food products in California that contain certain chemicals linked to health issues.

In practical terms, the proposition will expand the industry standard of space for pigs from 14 to 20 square feet to a requirement of at least 24 square feet. Though some animal welfare advocates say the measure didn't go far enough to protect animals, others nonetheless celebrated Thursday's ruling, calling it the country's "strongest farm animal welfare law."

Kitty Block, president of the Humane Society, in a statement: "It's astonishing that pork industry leaders would waste so much time and money on fighting this commonsense step to prevent products of relentless, unbearable animal suffering from being sold in California."

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The All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations supports the creation of an International Tribunal for Russia for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

"Realizing the scale of the grief that Russia has brought to our faithful, to the entire Ukrainian people, realizing what a threat Russian imperialism poses to the peoples of Europe, based on our religious principles, our convictions, the call of our own conscience, we unconditionally support the creation of an International Tribunal that would judge the Russian authorities for the crime of aggression, that is, for the war started against Ukraine. We advocate that the International Tribunal, which the leading countries are working on, be created and start working as soon as possible. And everyone who started an aggressive war against Ukraine would be punished. We appeal to all states of the world, in particular to the House of Representatives, the Senate and the U.S. Department of State, with a request to support the creation of a tribunal on the International Model," the Council of Churches said in a statement.

The Council also said it categorically condemns the practice of illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and their forced adoption.

"We call on the UN, UNICEF and the Red Cross to put pressure on Russia to return deported Ukrainian children to the country and reunite them with their parents and relatives," according to the statement.

The Council of Churches also welcomes the International Criminal Court's investigation of the Russian authorities and war criminals.

"We call on the international community to also support a compensation mechanism capable of redressing the damage inflicted on the Ukrainian state and society by Russia," the Council said.
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Oklahoma City (AP)  Public school teachers across Oklahoma will receive pay raises of up to $6,000 annually under a deal announced by Republican leaders on Monday that also clears the way for a voucher-style tax credit program for families who homeschool their children or send them to private schools.

The package announced by Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt and GOP leaders in the House and Senate includes $625 million in new recurring funding for education and includes six weeks of paid maternity leave for certified school personnel. The details of the plan are expected to easily pass the House and Senate as soon as this week and be signed into law by the governor.

The agreement paves the way for school choice plan that already passed the House and Senate that includes a $1,000 per-student tax credit for families who home school their children and a tiered tax credit between $5,000 per student for families earning more than $250,000 per year up to $7,500 per student for families earning $75,000 or less. The tax credits for private school expenses are capped at $150 million in 2024, $200 million in 2025 and $250 million in 2026, with preference given to families with a household income of less than $150,000.

We believe in putting parents in charge of their kids' education, said Stitt, who has been an outspoken supporter of using taxpayer dollars to help parents pay for private schools, including religious schools.

Seizing off lingering anger from pandemic-era closures and curriculum battles, Republicans have made this a landmark year across the U.S. for school choice battles. But supporters of voucher-style programs have still found victory difficult, even in states with heavy GOP majorities.

In Texas, where rural Republicans for years have held an alliance with Democrats to block voucher programs, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday warned lawmakers he would call a special session if a robust voucher program does not makes it to his desk. His threat comes as House Republicans have spent weeks gradually scaling back how many of Texas 5 million public school students would be eligible for the program.

And in neighboring Kansas, a Democratic governor and a split among GOP legislators doomed a similar proposal in that state.

The tax-credit plan was quickly panned by Democrats in the House and Senate, who don't have the votes to stop it.

This voucher scheme is a tax shelter for individuals who can already afford private school tuition, said Sen. Carri Hicks, a Democrat from Oklahoma City and a former public school teacher.

The teacher pay raise in Oklahoma, which includes raises for certified personnel like school counselors, speech pathologists, librarians and nurses, would go into effect in the fall. Those raises are tiered with a $3,000 boost for teachers with up to four years of experience, $4,000 for those with five to nine years of experience, $5,000 for 10 to 15 years of experience and $6,000 for those with 15 or more years of experience.

The pay boost was welcome news to Dale Spradlin, the superintendent of Buffalo Public Schools near the Oklahoma Panhandle who says he's been struggling for years with a shortage of teachers.

If you're next to Arkansas, Texas or Kansas, and they're all paying more than you, you're still going to struggle, Spradlin said. But sure, I'm not going to turn down $4,000 to $6,000 to give my staff, certainly not. They deserve it.

Additional details of the plan include $125 million into the Redbud Fund that largely benefits rural schools that have lower property tax collections, $150 million for a three-year pilot program for school safety and security and an additional $10 million for a three-year literacy program for districts across the state.

___

Follow Sean Murphy on Twitter: @apseanmurphy
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SALEM, Ore. (AP)  Two Republicans and an Independent taking part in a boycott that has stalled hundreds of bills in the Oregon Senate, including measures on abortion and gender-affirming care, were disqualified Monday from reelection under a new constitutional amendment aimed at stopping such walkouts.

The GOP-led walkout of the Democrat-dominated Senate has stretched to 10 days, though some participating lawmakers have rotated in and out since the boycott began May 3. Each of the three affected senators accumulated 10 unexcused absences, making them ineligible to serve in the Legislature for the period after their terms expire under a ballot measure voters passed overwhelmingly last year.

The majority of Senate Republicans continue to walk off the job that the voters elected them to do, in which our Constitution compels them to attend, Senate President Rob Wagner said from the Senate podium. He added in an email: Three senators have now unnecessarily disqualified themselves from a subsequent term in the Legislature.

Sen. Tim Knopp, the Senate Republican Leader, said Monday that during weekend negotiations to end the boycott, he had told Democratic leaders that the Republicans would end their boycott to pass substantially bipartisan budgets and bills that are lawful and constitutional.

Wagner earlier said the sweeping abortion rights-gender affirming care measure was not negotiable. Republicans want it off the table.

Knopp said all 12 Republican senators took part in the boycott on Monday in solidarity with the three senators facing disqualification. He blasted Democrats for pursuing an extreme agenda.

"Let it be abundantly clear: this is just the beginning of the fight, Knopp said in a statement.

The three boycotting senators who reached the 10-day limits for automatic disqualification are Republicans Dennis Linthicum and Daniel Bonham and Independent Brian Boquist, a former Republican.

Ballot Measure 113 was passed by almost 70% of voters last November as a method to end walkouts that have plagued the Legislature for several years. It is now written into the state Constitution.

The Constitution now says missing 10 or more floor sessions "shall be deemed disorderly behavior and shall disqualify the member from holding office as a senator or representative for the term following the election after the members current term is completed.

But left unclear is whether they can run for office as candidates.

The test will perhaps come when the window for filing as candidates in the 2024 election opens in September.

Ben Morris, spokesman for the secretary of state's office, earlier said the courts have interpreted elections statutes to state that the Elections Division cant allow a candidate on the ballot if it knows the candidate wont qualify for office.

But an explanatory statement for Ballot Measure 113 says a disqualified candidate may run for office ... and win, but cannot hold office.

Court challenges are expected. Boquist said in an email Monday that he believes he'll be allowed on the ballot if he offers himself as a candidate in 2024.

The Elections Division has no authority on the absence clause of the Oregon Constitution, Boquist said. They will avoid it completely.

Bonham and Linthicum didn't immediately respond to requests for comment on their disqualifications. Linthicum's seat is also up for election in 2024, Bonham's in 2026.

In a May 9 email to constituents, Bonham accused Democrats of ignoring a long-forgotten 1979 law that said summaries of bills need to be written at an eighth-grade level  a law which was resurrected this month by the Republicans.

Bonham also blasted the abortion-protection bill as an assault on parents' rights because it lacks a requirement for girls to notify their parents of their decision to have an abortion.

I will not sit by and help move along the majority partys extreme and unconstitutional agenda  especially with their complete and obvious dismissal of the law, Bonham wrote.

On Monday, only 16 senators were present, four short of the quorum. Wagner pleaded with them to return. Under Oregon law, a quorum in the Senate or House is two-thirds of members being present.

There is still time for senators to come back and do their job  41 days before the end of the 2023 legislative session," Wagner said. We have very important work before us this session. We are here to fund our schools, to support our seniors, to repair our infrastructure and our bridges, and make Oregon a great place to live and raise families.

He reminded lawmakers that the Legislature must also approve a biennial state budget before the end of June.

Meanwhile, Senate committees and joint committees, where quorum is reached with 50% attendance, continued on Monday, with some Republicans in attendance..
LANSING, Mich. (AP)  Former state Rep. Leslie Love, a Democrat who represented Detroit for six years in the Michigan Legislature, announced Monday that she is running for the state's open U.S. Senate seat in 2024.

Love served in the Michigan House from 2015 to 2020, when she retired due to term limits. She joined the state's Natural Resource Committee in 2021 before stepping down last week to pursue a Senate campaign.

This election is about more than who raises the most money, Love said in statement. We want to demonstrate to people that government can work when we elect a leader from the people, by the people, who puts the people first.

Love joins a small crowd of Democratic candidates, including businessman Nasser Beydoun and lawyer Zack Burns, who will contend with U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin in the primary. A third term representative in one of the country's most competitive districts, Slotkin, the most high-profile name in the race, raised $3 million in the first month of her campaign after announcing in February.

If elected, Love would be Michigan's first black Senator. She is also from Detroit, a city without Black representation in Congress for the first time since the early 1950s following four-term U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence's retirement last year.

Longtime Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow shocked many in the state in January when she announced she would not seek a fifth term and would retire at the end of next year, leaving an open Senate seat in one of the country's premier battlegrounds. Stabenow has said she will not endorse in the Democratic primary.

Republicans Michael Hoover and Nikki Snyder, a State Board of Education member, are also running for the seat. Republicans have taken just one of Michigans last 15 Senate races, winning an open seat in 1994.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  With other state lawmakers seated around her in the Ohio House, Democratic state Rep. Tavia Galonski got to her feet and began to loudly chant, One person, one vote!

The former Teamster's cry spread quickly through the visitors gallery, then began to rise from the throng of protesters gathered outside in the statehouse rotunda. Struggling to be heard over the din, the Republican speaker ordered spectators cleared from the chamber.

Last week's striking scene came as Ohio joined a growing number of Republican-leaning states that are moving to undermine direct democracy by restricting citizens' ability to bypass lawmakers through ballot initiatives and constitutional amendments.

The Ohio proposal will ask voters during an August special election to boost the threshold for passing constitutional amendments to 60% rather than a simple majority. It also would double the number of counties where signatures must be collected, adding an extra layer of difficulty to qualifying initiatives for the ballot.

The Missouri Legislature failed to approve a similar measure on Friday, but Republicans vowed to bring the issue back in 2024 in an attempt to head off a citizens' attempt to restore abortion rights in the state through a constitutional amendment.

A similar measure will be on North Dakota's ballot next year, while one in the works in Idaho would ask voters to increase signature requirements imposed on petition gatherers. In Wisconsin, which does not allow statewide citizen initiatives, Republicans who control the Legislature have proposed prohibiting local governments from placing advisory questions on ballots. Such referenda are sometimes used to boost voter turnout, though results dont carry the weight of law. Florida Republicans added new hurdles to that state's constitutional amendment process in 2020.

The trend has taken off as Democrats and left-leaning groups frustrated by legislative gerrymandering that locks them out of power in state legislatures are increasingly turning to the initiative process to force public votes on issues that are opposed by Republican lawmakers yet popular among voters. Only about half the states, mostly in the Western U.S., allow some form of citizen ballot initiative.

In Ohio, voters have proposed using the initiative process to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution this November, as well as to increase the minimum wage, to legalize recreational marijuana and to reform a redistricting system that has produced persistently unconstitutional political maps favoring Republicans.

Arkansas Sen. Bryan King, a Republican who has joined the League of Women Voters in a lawsuit challenging his state's latest initiative restriction, said he views efforts to undermine the initiative process as anti-democratic.

A measure approved earlier this year by Arkansas majority-GOP Legislature and signed by Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders makes it harder to get initiatives on the ballot by raising the number of counties where signatures must be gathered from 15 to 50.

I think one of the things it does is, no matter what party is in power, when you start trying to make it harder for citizens to challenge what their government does or make changes, then it just makes people not have faith in the process, King said. So I do think that making it harder is wrong.

In Ohio, former governors and attorneys general of both major parties have lined up against the proposed constitutional amendment that would alter the simple majority threshold for passing citizen-led initiative that has been in place since 1912.

Democratic legislators point to the bipartisan opposition and the maneuvering that allowed the proposal to be on an August ballot as evidence that today's Republicans are extremist in their desire to maintain political power.

Republican state Rep. Brian Stewart, the Ohio plan's sponsor, argued during last week's raucous floor session that a simple majority of voters will get to decide whether to impose the stricter requirements on future ballot initiatives.

SJR 2 will ask Ohioans, not us, whether Ohios constitution should require a 60% vote threshold to adopt amendments going forward. It will ask Ohioans, not us, to decide whether all 88 counties should have a voice in determining what amendments make it onto the ballot and to eliminate the cumbersome cure period, which gives initiative petitions effectively a do-over when they fail to meet the requirements for ballot access, he said. Putting this issue in front of Ohioans, that is democratic.

What Stewart didn't address is how Republicans circumvented a law they had just passed so they could put the proposed amendment on a summertime ballot when voter turnout is typically quite low, rather than putting it before voters in the regular election this November.

Democratic Rep. Casey Weinstein called out Stewart and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican, for previously opposing the very August special elections that they supported for offering the 60% question.

Weinstein read in its entirety LaRose's testimony from December advocating for the provisions of a new law  signed in January  that eliminated most August elections. LaRose argued that making big decisions, including those regarding ballot issues, in chronically low-turnout August elections isnt the way democracy is supposed to work and that such elections arent good for taxpayers, election officials or the civic health of our state.

In testimony, Mark Gavin Sr., outreach director for the Black Environmental Leaders Association, referred to the U.S. Constitution's counting of enslaved people by calling the Ohio proposal the new Three-Fifths Compromise.

Gavin was among hundreds of protesters who packed statehouse hearings and overflow rooms, testified and marched in opposition to the Republican proposal, which he said is intended to dilute the power of individual voters.

Ive been a voter in Ohio for 15 years, and its getting really old to always have to have new rules and regulations on a ballot, he said.

Anti-abortion and pro-gun groups were the primary forces behind the push in favor of the proposed Ohio amendment. Since the Supreme Court's decision last year overturning Roe v. Wade, voters in Michigan, Kentucky and Kansas have protected abortion rights through statewide votes.

David Couch, an attorney who has worked on citizens' initiatives in Arkansas, said Republicans' efforts to thwart direct democracy are uniquely partisan.

If you look in Arkansas history in the '90s, when the Democrats controlled Arkansas, the conservative right passed same-sex marriage amendments, they passed adoption amendments," he said. They passed all sorts of reforms, and the Democrats didnt try to change the process.

Democrats in Missouri did try to cripple the initiative process through legislation in 1992. Then-Gov. John Ashcroft, a Republican who went on to serve as U.S. attorney general, vetoed the bill. Ashcrofts son, Jay, is the states current secretary of state.

"It is through the initiative process that those who have no influence with elective representatives may take their cause directly to the people," the elder Ashcroft said in a veto letter that became part of this year's debate. "The General Assembly should be reluctant, therefore, to enact legislation which places any impediments on the initiative power which are inconsistent with the reservation found in the Constitution.

Missouri's Republican lawmakers are singing a different tune today. Fearing a constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights, they vowed last week to make it a priority in 2024 to adopt a ballot measure that would establish a 57% threshold for passing future amendments.

Not all Republicans in the state think that's a good idea. Former Republican House Speaker Pro Tem Carl Bearden said the proposal would infringe on the rights of Missouri voters while noting that the initiative process is intended to be a check on the power of the Legislature.

It is not a conservative policy, he said of the Republican plan.

___

Associated Press writers Ayanna Alexander in Washington, Summer Ballentine in Jefferson City, Mo., Scott Bauer in Madison, Wis., and Andrew DeMillo in Little Rock, Ark., contributed to this report.
Federal prosecutors asked a judge Monday to dismiss the remaining corruption charges against Andrew Gillum, the Democratic nominee for Florida governor in 2018, after a jury deadlocked on all but one count following a trial earlier this month.

Prosecutors had said they intended to retry Gillum after the trial concluded on May 4, but reversed course in a one-paragraph motion that also seeks dismissal of the case against his co-defendant, Sharon Lettman-Hicks.

Jurors acquitted Gillum of lying to the FBI but could not reach a verdict on more than a dozen fraud and conspiracy charges contending Gillum and Lettman-Hicks diverted tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions for his personal use.

Gillum's defense team, led by Miami attorney David O. Markus, said in an email that he can now resume his life and public service.

Andrew Gillum had the courage to stand up and say I am innocent. And that is finally being recognized. We want to thank the hard working jury who did their job and explained to the government why it should drop the case," the statement said.

U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor, who presided over the trial, did not immediately rule Monday on the motion but generally judges give deference to prosecutorial discretion. There was no comment from the U.S. attorney's office beyond the court filing.

Gillum, 43, is a former Tallahassee mayor who sought to become the first Black governor in Florida history when he ran in 2018. He lost to Republican Ron DeSantis by less than 34,000 votes, which triggered an automatic recount.

Prosecutors had claimed Gillum committed fraud because he was struggling financially after quitting his $120,000-a-year job with the progressive People for the American Way group when he decided to run for governor. Lettman-Hicks, a longtime political adviser to Gillum and former executive with the group, was accused of conspiring with Gillum to divert the contributions to his personal accounts. Jurors also deadlocked on those counts.

The jury found Gillum not guilty of charges that he lied about his interactions with undercover FBI agents posing as developers who paid for a 2016 trip he and his brother took to New York, which included a ticket to the hit Broadway show Hamilton. Gillum contended his brother provided the ticket.

Gillum's attorneys had argued that the indictment was politically motivated, but Winsor refused last year to dismiss the case, ruling that Gillum and Lettman-Hicks had to be tried together because their actions were so closely intertwined.
ZAGREB, Croatia (AP)  Rescue teams and hundreds of soldiers were deployed Monday to help people in parts of Croatia hit by floods.

Heavy rain in recent days caused some rivers to overflow their banks, flooding homes, roads and public buildings in some towns.

Classes in the town of Obrovac were canceled after water got into in the schools there..

Parts of the town were left without electricity, and water covered the center of Obrovac. In nearby Gracac, about a dozen people had to move to upper floors or evacuate their homes to avoid surging water.

Some 300 army troops stepped in to help people in need and to bolster flood defenses, authorities said. Emergency crews said they were bringing food to people stuck in their homes.

Photos from the scene showed people using small boats to move around and water going over sand bags put in place to prevent flooding. A rescuer could be seen carrying a small dog he saved from the floods.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said his government would provide all necessary funding and aid.

Authorities in Hrvatska Kostajnica, a town on the border with Bosnia, declared an emergency after the Una River rose dramatically overnight. Floods were also reported downstream in northwestern Bosnia.

Meteorologists in Croatia said more rain was expected in the coming days.
TIRANA, Albania (AP)  Preliminary results of Albanias municipal elections on Monday showed that a mayoral candidate from the Greek minority has won the post while he is in detention for alleged vote-buying.

Fridays arrest of Dhionisios Alfred Beleri, a candidate for mayor of the Albanian city of Himare  a town located in the Albanian Riviera 240 kilometers (150 miles) south of the capital, Tirana, that has a Greek minority presence  raised tensions between the two neighbors.

Greeces Foreign Ministry demanded Beleris immediate release, hinting that the case could negatively impact Albanias application to join the European Union.

Beleri was arrested by Albanian police while he was allegedly offering some 40,000 Albanian leks (360 euros; $390) to buy eight votes. A second person was arrested on the same charges and a court confirmed Saturday that they would both remain in custody.

Beleri belongs to the Human Rights Union Party of the ethnic Greek minority, but in this municipal vote he was the candidate for a coalition that also included the center-left Freedom Party of former president Ilir Meta and a breakaway group from the center-right opposition Democratic Party.

Supporters were shouting his name Monday after learning of Beleri's victory, just 19 votes ahead of the candidate of the governing Socialist Party.

During a campaign stop in Athens ahead of Sundays national elections in Greece, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he had been very pleased to hear of Beleri's victory.

I hope this incident will soon be over, because ... Albanias course towards (European Union membership) leads past the respect it shows for the rights of the Greek ethnic minority, he said Monday.

On Saturday Albanian Foreign Minister Olta Xhacka responded angrily to Athens' remarks, saying it was nearly impossible to understand how our friends have the right to dispute a court decision in our country, when the hard evidence they were looking for couldnt be any harder  Beleri has been caught engaging in criminal activity against free and fair elections.

Relations between Greece and post-communist Albania have been at times uneasy, largely over the issues of minority rights and the sizeable Albanian community in Greece.

Preliminary results show that the divided opposition won only six out of 61 municipalities, with all the rest remaining with the ruling Socialists of Prime Minister Edi Rama. The turnout was around 38%  up from 23% four years ago when the vote was boycotted by the opposition.

The campaigns and coverage for these local elections focused mostly on national politics and parties and not on the issues of greatest importance in the different localities, particularly outside of Tirana, said a preliminary report by the international observers. "This  reduced the regions ability of voters to make their choice.

The election monitoring office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has had more than 250 observers monitoring Albanias vote.

___

Nicholas Paphitis contributed from Athens, Greece.

___

Follow Llazar Semini on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lsemini
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COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP)  Sri Lankas crisis-hit economy is expected to resume growing in 2024 after contracting 3% this year, an International Monetary Fund official said Monday.

Krishna Srinivasan, the IMF's director for Asia and Pacific, said expected economic growth of 1.5% next year hinges critically on the economic reform program Sri Lanka has agreed to undertake, including challenging reforms in five identified areas.
Petr David Josek/AP

STOCKHOLM (AP)  Israels foreign minister on Monday paid a visit to Sweden in a new sign of warming ties between the two nations.

Eli Cohen said his visit to Stockholm was the first visit by an Israeli foreign minister to Sweden in 22 years.
The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) has started to teach Kyiv residents how to give first aid to animals.

"In Kyivinstructors of the Ukrainian Red Cross have started to hold first aid animal course This training is unique and new," the URCS said on Facebook on Monday.

The program of the course includes the theory and practice of algorithms for providing first aid to animals in case of respiratory arrest, bleeding, fainting, injuries, wounds, poisoning, tick bites. During the classes, the URCS instructors also tell their students about the principles of safe handling of animals, which is important when helping stray animals.

The URCS will issue certificates for the training participants at the end of the course.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP)  Norways King Harald V was released from a hospital Monday after receiving treatment for an infection, the Norwegian palace said.

The 86-year-old monarch was admitted to Oslos main hospital, Rikshospitalet, a week ago. The palace has not disclosed what kind of infection he had.
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SYDNEY (AP)  Searchers have found what appear to be pieces of the wetsuit and surfboard belonging to a 46-year-old surfer who was attacked by a shark off South Australias coast, and police said they were continuing to search for his remains Monday.

School teacher Simon Baccanello was attacked Saturday while surfing with others near his home at Elliston in South Australia state. His damaged surfboard was found soon after.

Local State Emergency Service manager Trevlyn Smith told News Corp the surfboard had one bite in the middle.

South Australia Police said Monday that searchers had found items of interest on Sunday near Walkers Rock where the attack occurred.

One item appears to be a piece of wetsuit material and the other items appear to be small pieces of white polystyrene (possible surfboard material), a police statement said. The evidence would be sent for forensic analysis.

In consultation with Baccanello's family, police would continue to search Walkers Rock and surrounding beaches for a number of days after high tide, the statement said.

Searchers say any remains are more likely to drift ashore rather than out to sea.

Jaiden Millar was one of around a dozen surfers in the water with Baccanello when the shark attacked.

I saw his board tombstoning, which means hes underwater and his boards getting dragged under ... trying to fight his way back to the surface, Millar told News Corp.

It was the first fatal shark attack in Australia since Feb. 15 when a swimmer was attacked by a 4.5-meter (15-foot) great white shark off a Sydney beach.

Less than two weeks earlier, a 16-year-old who jumped into a river from a personal watercraft was killed by a suspected bull shark near Perth.
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GENEVA (AP)  Amy Pope of the United States elbowed aside her European boss Monday to land the top job at the International Organization for Migration, winning her bid to become the first woman to lead the U.N. migration agency.

Pope, 49, defeated IOM Director General Antonio Vitorino of Portugal, the European Union candidate, who swept into the post five years ago by trouncing a candidate put up by the Trump administration for a job that has long been held by Americans.

Vitorinos prospects for a second term were clouded after Pope, with strong backing from the Biden administration, won the first round on a 98-67 vote. After a lunch break, word emerged that Vitorino had pulled out of the race.

His withdrawal paved the way for Pope to win by acclamation after member states decided to forgo what was suddenly a formality: the IOM rules requiring a two-thirds majority to win an election.

Its an incredible moment in time to lead the International Organization for Migration, and I could not be happier to stand before you today to start that work," she told reporters after the closed-door voting by secret ballot and a speech to delegates afterward.

Pope and Vitorino shook hands and smiled as they arrived together for the announcement that she had won. She is expected to start her five-year term on Oct. 1, the IOM said in a statement.

The face-off was unusual in that Pope was looking to unseat her boss in a contest between allies. The United States and Portugal are fellow NATO members.

The move also caps a renewed push by the Biden administration to maintain or recoup top posts in U.N. institutions, including the World Food Program, children's agency UNICEF, and the International Telecommunications Union, in recent months  after the Trump administration largely shunned several Geneva institutions.

Ms. Popes election reflects a broad endorsement by member states of her vision to keep people at the heart of IOMs mission, while implementing key governance and budget reforms to ensure IOM is prepared to meet the challenges it faces, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

Eight of the agency's 10 directors general since the International Organization for Migration was founded 72 years ago have been American. The organization has nearly 19,000 staff members working in 171 countries to promote humane and orderly migration.

The situation at the southern border of the United States underscores why its so critical that we approach migration from a much more comprehensive point of view," Pope said. Many of those migrants have gone through extraordinary circumstances to end up at the border.

Its job in many of its 560 field offices is to provide migrants with food, water, shelter and help with government-imposed paperwork. The agency also collects and shares vast amounts of data about flows of people to governments, and advises them on policy decisions.

Vitorino won praise for boosting the budget and staff at IOM, helping to hire and promote more women into top positions, and reaching out to developing countries, supporters said.

Vitorino, 66, is a former European Union commissioner for Home and Justice Affairs and think-tank chief who cut his teeth in politics as a Portuguese Socialist, much like U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Pope, a former prosecutor, served as migration adviser to President Joe Biden early in his administration and recently was Vitorino's deputy for reform and management.

The U.S. and the EU are both major funders of IOM facing challenges with mass migration. Critics fault the EU for failing to do more to prevent migrants from taking often-deadly boat trips across the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa to Europe.

Geneva-based UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency  which has some overlap with what IOM does  and others have expressed concern about how changes to U.S. migration law will affect people trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border.

Pope is likely to face extra scrutiny in whether she speaks out against any perceived missteps in Bidens migration policy, and she alluded to the difficulties faced by migrants who trek across central America to reach the United States.

As the director-general for the International Organization for Migration, Im not working for the United States government, she said. So my view is that it is important that we as an organization call out practices, no matter who theyre coming from, and acknowledge whether they work or they dont work.

IOM, which counts 175 member countries, is responding to mass migration crises in places as diverse as Bangladesh, Ukraine, Sudan and South American nations that neighbor Venezuela.
DAKAR, Senegal (AP)  A police officer died and several demonstrators were injured Monday during clashes between security forces and supporters of Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko in his hometown, according to an interior ministry statement and media reports.

The unrest in Ziguinchor, a town in southern Senegal, came a day before the expected start of Sonko's rape trial in the country's capital, Dakar. Sonko was charged based on a woman's accusations that he assaulted her when she worked at a massage salon.
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BELGRADE, Serbia (AP)  A girl who was gravely wounded in a mass shooting in a school in Belgrade earlier this month has died, bringing the death toll to 10, authorities said on Monday.

The girl died on Monday morning at a children's clinic in Belgrade, Serbia's health ministry said, according to official media. The girl had been in critical condition with head injuries following the May 3 attack, said a statement.

The shooting happened in the Vladislav Ribnikar elementary school in central Belgrade when a 13-year-old boy took his father's gun and opened fire, initially killing eight children and a school guard, and wounding six students and a teacher.

The first ever school shooting in Serbia stunned the Balkan country. A day later a 20-year-old randomly fired from an automatic weapon in two villages south of Belgrade, killing eight people and wounding 14.

The two mass killings in as many days triggered calls for action. Tens of thousands of people have marched in protests in Belgrade and other towns and cities demanding resignations of top officials and a ban on pro-government television stations that air violent content and host war criminals and crime figures.

Serbia's populist government has launched a gun crackdown that includes a one-month amnesty for those who voluntarily hand over unregistered weapons, as well as stricter control of gun owners, a moratorium on new licenses and prison sentences for possession of illegal guns.

Police have said that citizens handed over some 13,500 various weapons by Sunday. The amnesty period will last until June 8 but analysts have warned that similar actions in the past have had limited success.

Critics of populist President Aleksandar Vucic say the increasingly authoritarian Serbian leader who is a former pro-Russian ultranationalist, has contributed to an atmosphere of intolerance in society by fostering hate speech against opponents and taking strict control over mainstream media and state institutions.

Vucic has denied this. He has suggested that he might call an early election for September in response to the protests and mounting public pressure over the shootings.
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SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Japanese business leaders on Monday and called for expanded technology cooperation between the countries, which he described as a key element in broader efforts to improve relations.

Yoon has met twice with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in recent weeks, demonstrating their intent to overcome historical grievances that have strained ties for years and to strengthen cooperation in response to shared challenges, including a nuclear-armed North Korea and growing Chinese assertiveness in the region.

They will meet again this weekend at a summit of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations in Hiroshima, where they will also hold talks together with U.S. President Joe Biden, who has been seeking to strengthen alliances with Japan and South Korea to counter North Korea and China.

Meeting with a delegation led by Mikio Sasaki, the former chairman of the board of Japan's Mitsubishi Corp. who heads the Japan-Korea Economic Association, Yoon spoke glowingly about the potential for business cooperation in semiconductors, batteries and electric cars, and in building more resilient supply chains amid geopolitical uncertainties.

Mutually complementary cooperation is possible between South Korean companies, which possess excellent manufacturing technologies, and Japanese companies, which are highly competitive in materials, components and equipment, Yoons office quoted him as saying.

Sasaki told Yoon that exchanges between the countries are increasing as their relations begin to thaw and that his group will encourage Japanese companies to employ more South Korean students and young adults, according to Yoons office.

Ties between Japan and South Korea have long been complicated by disputes stemming from Japans colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945.

Yoons meetings with Kishida came after his government announced in March a domestically contentious plan to use local funds to compensate a group of Korean plaintiffs who were enslaved by Japanese companies during the colonial period. The move was aimed at resolving a dispute over South Korean court rulings in 2018 that ordered Japanese corporations to pay reparations, which drew an angry response from Tokyo, which insists that all compensation matters were settled by a 1965 treaty that normalized relations between the countries.

The dispute spilled over into trade in 2019, when Japan tightened its export controls on key chemicals needed by South Korean companies to produce semiconductors and displays, prompting South Korea to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization. The countries also downgraded each others trade status and South Korea threatened to scrap a bilateral military intelligence sharing agreement that symbolized their three-way security cooperation with Washington.

Following a meeting between Yoon and Kishida in March, South Korea withdrew its complaint at the WTO and Japan simultaneously confirmed its removal of export controls on the chemicals. South Korea has also restored Japan to its list of preferred trading partners and Japan is now taking similar steps to put back South Korea on its own preferred list.
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PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP)  Cambodias National Election Committee refused on Monday to register the opposition Candlelight Party, the sole credible challenger to the governing Cambodian Peoples Party, for July elections, saying it had failed to provide necessary documents.

The ruling leaves the party only a very slim chance of taking part in the elections by filing a successful appeal to the Constitutional Council.

Kimsour Phirith, a spokesperson for the Candlelight Party, said it will file an official complaint asking the council to judge the election commissions ruling.

He pointed out that the party has been operating legally and participated in last years local elections without the issue being raised. In those polls, the Cambodian Peoples Party won 74.3% of the votes and the Candlelight Party about 22.3%.

Kimsour Phirith said when the party applied to contest this year's elections, the election commission asked for its original registration papers issued by the Interior Ministry, but they had been taken in a 2017 police raid on the headquarters of its predecessor, the Cambodia National Rescue Party.

He told The Associated Press that by law, the party has five days to file a complaint after being disqualified, and he hopes the Constitutional Council will render a judgment based on the law.

Cambodian courts are widely considered to be under the influence of Prime Minister Hun Sens government and his Cambodian Peoples Party.

The governing party has held an iron grip on power for decades and controls almost every lever of government. Hun Sen, 70, an authoritarian ruler in a nominally democratic state, has held his position for 38 years. His eldest son, army chief Hun Manet, is widely expected to replace his father as prime minister after the polls.

The Candlelight Party is the unofficial successor to the Cambodia National Rescue Party, which threatened to present a serious challenge to Hun Sens party in the 2018 elections. But it was dissolved just months ahead of the polls by a controversial court ruling that said it had plotted the illegal overthrow of the government.

The partys disbanding enabled the governing party to win all the seats in the National Assembly. Western nations declared the election was neither free nor fair, and imposed mild economic sanctions in response.

The election committee said in a statement that 18 of the 20 parties that applied for registration in this year's elections were approved, including the Cambodian Peoples Party. The Candlelight Party and another unidentified party were both rejected for failing to provide documents supporting their applications, it said.

About 9.7 million Cambodians are registered to vote in the July 23 elections for the 125 members of the National Assembly.

If the Candlelight Party is barred. the sole competition for the governing party would be groups aligned with it, or small, obscure parties without a national presence.

Hun Sen and the Cambodian Peoples Party are certain to easily top the polls, holding all the advantages of incumbency. They are dominant in terms of nationwide organizing, personnel, finances and influence with the mass media.

The opposition is low on financial resources and subject to constant harassment in the courts initiated by the governing party. Most prominent opposition members are in self-imposed exile to avoid being jailed on various charges they say are trumped up and unfair.
A quick Google search tells me that Mothers Day is celebrated in many parts of the world and its history goes back to ancient times. In America, Anna Jarvis is credited with celebrating the first modern version of the holiday at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, W.Va., in 1907.

I was fascinated to learn that Anna began her campaign to make Mothers Day a recognized holiday in 1905, the year her mother died. Ann Reeves Jarvis had been a peace activist who cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War. Together with another activist and suffragette, Julia Ward Howe, they had been lobbying for the creation of a Mothers Day for Peace.

Although the U.S. Congress refused to make Mothers Day an official holiday in 1908, Anna Jarvis efforts led to its gradual adoption by all of the states by 1911, and in 1914 Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating Mothers Day, held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honor mothers.

Imagine this: Forty years before it finally became an official holiday, Julia Ward Howe had made her Mothers Day Proclamation 1870, calling upon mothers of all nationalities to band together to promote the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace. Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church, the "mother church" of Mother's Day, was incorporated as the International Mother's Day Shrine on May 15, 1962,

So, what happened to our original Mothers Day for Peace idea? Well, we dropped the for peace part and we Hallmarked it. Come May 14, we mothers will be oohing and aahing over sappy messages on expensive cards while surrounded by pots of flowers and boxes of candy.

Will we be giving any thought to the mothers in Russia, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Israel and Palestine to name just a few of the countless areas of conflict on this beleaguered earth? Do we stop to acknowledge that there is not one mother on the entire planet who wants to send her child or her spouse to war? And that all mothers shed bitter tears when a child becomes part of the tragic collateral damage caused by bombs and missiles, regardless which side dropped them?

If we made the effort to really consider these questions, we might suddenly realize that we are part of the largest club in the world. It is said that there is strength in numbers. Imagine a Mothers Day for Peace celebration with a huge number of mothers all over the world marching to their seat of government and demanding that steps be taken to solve the worlds problems through peaceful negotiations instead of confrontations.

Pipe dream, you say? Take a look at the accomplishments of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), the LGBTQ community and Black Lives Matter, among the many other groups that believe in their mission and are obtaining results. They all started with a dream they shared with a few like-minded people and patiently moved forward. If Julia Ward Howe in her Mothers Day Proclamation in1870 could appeal to mothers all over the world to band together and work for peace, what are we waiting for in 2023?

Happy Mothers Day for Peace!
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is returning home with new defense packages.

"Italy, Germany, France, Great Britain We are returning home with new defense packages. More new and powerful weapons for the front, more protection for our people, more political support," he said in a video address on Monday.

Zelenskyy thanked Italy for "help in protecting the lives of our people  from protecting the sky to preparing for the full restoration of Ukraine after hostilities."

"Thanks to Germany for the largest defense package: EUR 2.7 billion, Iris air defense systems of various modifications and missiles for them, guns and shells, armored vehicles... In addition, Germany will support our country for a long time. There are EUR 11 billion for this, purely for defense," he also said, adding: "Moreover, Germany takes part in the European Peace Facility, which strengthens our defense."

Zelenskyy also thanked France for "new opportunities for our soldiers in countering Russian terror." "Thanks for the extra armored vehicles. And for help in consolidating partners," he said.

"Thanks to Britain for agreeing to train our pilots. We are creating a coalition to train pilots on modern Western aircraft. Britain  yes, Poland  yes. I am sure that France and our other partners will join. We continue to work on a coalition of fighters, we are actively moving. Of course, thanks to Britain for the long-range capabilities for our soldiers, for the range," the president said.

"At all meetings, our Peace Formula was discussed, and now there is more readiness of partners to follow the Ukrainian formula. There is more support for our entry into the EU, more understanding that Ukraine's entry into NATO is inevitable," Zelenskyy also said.

"The main results of these days: new weapons for Ukraine, respect for the Ukrainians, and we managed to make our victory closer. And we will add more support," the president said.

The appeal was recorded by Zelenskyy in the vestibule of the train on which he was returning to Kyiv.
That surprise trip to immediate care that ended up costing a few hundred dollars will no longer haunt your credit score. The three major credit bureaus announced in April that theyre removing low-balance medical debt  specifically, debt under $500  from credit reports. The move will affect some 70% of all medical debts sent from collection agencies to the credit bureaus. While its a definite win for consumers, advocates are pushing for even bigger changes.

Medical care in the U.S. can be so expensive that even with health insurance, responsible bill-payers can fall into debt because of a visit to the ER or even a high facility fee on a routine test. In fact, medical debt is one of the primary reasons people get calls from debt collectors, according to the National Consumer Law Center. And once medical bills are sent to debt collectors, they can land on your credit report if they arent paid within a year.

The repercussions can be intense: Dings on your credit report can impact your mortgage rate or the interest you qualify for on a car, or even whether youll be approved to rent an apartment. These effects arent fair, since medical debt doesnt strongly predict default on other types of debt, according to research from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

People incur medical debt while taking care of their health, not because theyre spending irresponsibly. And, often it comes as a surprise since theres little transparency around medical costs before people receive their bills. That means medical debt on a credit report isnt as useful to lenders when assessing a borrowers creditworthiness.

There are also ethical problems with using the credit scoring system against borrowers with medical debt  some may be scared into paying bills they dont actually owe so they dont affect their credit, while others may be discouraged from seeking care they need. Thats why more than 50 advocacy groups are asking federal agencies to address the problem.

In the meantime, if youre struggling with medical debt, heres what you need to know about recent changes, as well as what you can do to protect your credit.

Do medical bills affect your credit?

Unpaid medical debt may impact your credit score, depending on the balance. But the three major credit bureaus have made some favorable changes to which medical debts theyll incorporate into credit scoring going forward.

Paid medical debt no longer hurts your credit: In July of 2022, the nationwide credit reporting agencies elected to remove paid medical debt collections from U.S. credit reports. Once youve paid a debt in collections, it should no longer show up on your credit report.

Unpaid medical debt will only impact you after one year: The agencies also announced in July of 2022 that medical debt in collections will only appear on credit reports after one year, an increase from the previous six months. If you just received your first call from a debt collector, you have some time to negotiate with your healthcare provider or insurance company before the debt hits your credit score.

Unpaid medical debt less than $500 wont impact your credit: As of April 2023, medical debt with an initial balance below $500 no longer appears on credit reports. The change wipes out 70% of medical debt collection accounts from credit files.

Furthermore, VantageScore announced in August that it would exclude all medical debt from its credit scoring model in the future, which would boost scores for millions of consumers. FICO doesnt plan to follow suit, but thats because the change would have little effect, according to their analysis.

How big of a burden is medical debt?

A report from the CFPB revealed the following about how much medical debt affects consumers:

Medical debt impacts 20% of households: The CFPB found medical debt in collections in about 43 million consumer credit files.

Consumers have at least $88 billion in medical debt: As of June 2021, the collective medical debt balance in collections was a whopping $88 billion, but the CFPB estimates that the total amount owed by consumers is even higher.

Most medical debts are for less than $500: The decision to exclude medical debts under $500 erases more than two-thirds of medical debt collections accounts, since most have a low balance.

Medical debt makes up the majority of debt in collections: Medical debt is the most common type of debt in collections appearing on credit reports, accounting for 58% of all debt collections tradelines.

Medical debt is more common among certain marginalized groups: Black and Hispanic people, low-income people, young adults, older adults, and veterans are all disproportionately impacted by medical debt.

How can I get medical bills off my credit report?

There are generally only two ways to remove medical debt from your credit report:

Dispute medical debts that are on your report in error: If you believe a medical debt mistakenly appears on your credit report, you should dispute the error. For example, if a debt is older than seven years or less than $500, it should be removed from your report. Debts that have been paid shouldnt show up, either.

Arrange for payment of the medical debt: Start by contacting your insurance company if you believe the bill should have been covered. If your health insurance company pays the debt, it will be removed from your report and will no longer impact your score. You can also pay the debt collector yourself. If that seems unaffordable, consider a debt consolidation loan or work with an approved credit counselor to get out of debt faster.

If you cant remove the debt from your credit report, you may be able to find other ways to boost your credit score and access better borrowing rates. If the medical debt on your credit report is preventing you from buying a house, know that the debt will be removed after seven years, and you can use that time to pay off other debts and save for a down payment. You can also explore options for a bad credit mortgage.

Can I stop medical debt from affecting my credit?

There are a few ways to prevent future medical bills from being sent to a debt collector:

Understand your health insurance coverage: Make sure you understand whats covered under your plan, and appeal any denied claims that you think should be covered. When you can, use less costly services, as long as your plan covers them  for example, a telehealth or urgent care visit may help you avoid a visit to the emergency room.

Maintain an emergency fund: You should aim to have the amount of your health plans out-of-pocket maximum stashed in a savings account (consider a high-yield account if you want to earn a little extra cash).

Negotiate unaffordable bills: Nonprofit hospitals are required to provide financial assistance to select individuals who received medically necessary healthcare services. (Eligibility requirements vary by state, and you need to ask your healthcare provider.) Even if you dont qualify, many healthcare providers offer payment plans to help manage large bills, often interest-free. You can also hire a billing advocate to help negotiate your balance or use a service like Goodbill to lower your medical bills.

Start a crowdfunding campaign: If you still cant afford your medical bills, try asking your social network for help. Start a free crowdfunding campaign on a site like CoFund Health to cover your out-of-pocket expenses.

Bottom line

Dealing with an expensive medical bill while youre worried about your health is a double-whammy. Just know that you have time before your credit score gets hit with a blow, too. Grace periods vary among healthcare providers, but most will give you time to negotiate with your insurance provider or set up a payment plan. Even if medical debt greater than $500 goes to collections, youll have a year to get it resolved before the debt collector can legally report to the credit bureaus. Know your rights, take preventative measures, and dispute credit report errors to shield your credit score from the effects of medical debt.

Editorial Disclosure: All articles are prepared by editorial staff and contributors. Opinions expressed therein are solely those of the editorial team and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including rates and fees, presented in this article is accurate as of the date of the publish. Check the lenders website for the most current information.

This article was originally published on SFGate.com and reviewed by Lauren Williamson, who serves as the Home and Financial Services Editor for the Hearst E-Commerce team. Email her at lauren.williamson@hearst.com.
The Claremont Club & Spa, the palatial 276-room hotel in the Berkeley Hills, has sold to a local real estate investment firm for about $163.3 million, according to the East Bay Times.

Toronto-based FRHI Hotels & Resorts, which owns the Fairmont Hotel brand, sold the Claremont to Redwood City-based investors Ohana Real Estate in an all-cash deal.

The Claremont has frequently changed hands during its 108-year legacy. The Tudor chateau has a history of sales and competing visions, including a now-ill-fated proposal to transform the Claremont into 45 condos.

FRHI Hotels & Resorts purchased the hotel for $86 million in 2014 for an extensive renovation that nearly doubled its value.

Ohana Real Estate lists a luxurious portfolio of resorts and hotels on its website, including the Four Seasons Silicon Valley in Palo Alto, California; Harvest Inn in St. Helena, California; and the Mark Hotel in New York City.

Built in 1915, the Claremont sits on a 22-acre hillside and features a luxury spa and private health club with more than 1,500 members.

The hotels rich history includes a dispute with its neighboring college over a ban on liquor sales within a 1-mile radius of the UC Berkeley campus (a college student famously remeasured the distance to secure the hotel its bar, earning her free drinks for life).

In 1993, the Claremont served as the setting for the swanky pool club in Mrs. Doubtfire where an angry member of the kitchen staff allegedly hawks a lime at the back of a guest's head.

Editors note: This story was updated at 9:28 a.m., May 16, to remove inaccurate information about Ohana Real Estate's hotel portfolio.
Stocks in London appear headed for a slightly higher start with some positive headlines around the ongoing debt ceiling talks in the US buoying sentiment.

In remarks made overnight, Lael Brainard, the head of the US National Economic Council, said that talks thus far had been "serious" and "constructive", even as she added that a debt default would be "catastrophic" for the economy.

"Sentiment hasnt been helped by the political theatre around the US debt ceiling which has dominated the discourse in the media, and where discussions have been pushed into this week," chipped in Michael Hewson at CMC Markets UK.

"While the risks around this are well-rehearsed it could be argued that the risks appear somewhat overstated given how regularly weve seen this scenario play out over the last few years on a regular rinse and repeat basis before a late compromise is sealed."

As of 0724 BST, futures for the FTSE 100 were rising by 26 points to 7,781.0.

No major economic releases were scheduled in the UK, but Bank of England chief economist, Huw Pill was due to deliver a speech at 1700 BST.

Across the Channel, at 1000 BST the European Commission would publish its latest set of economic forecasts for the bloc.

They would be followed at 1330 BST by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's regional factory sector index.

Several top Fed officials were expected to deliver speeches or make remarks on Monday.

Apollo pulls Wood Group bid

US private equity firm Apollo Global on Monday pulled plans to make a takeover offer for UK oil industry engineer Wood Group. Apollo had made five approaches for the company and was had to table a firm bid or walk away by May 17. In response, the Wood board said it remained confident in its strategic direction and long-term prospects and believes that, "following a transformative year in 2022, including new executive leadership and a new strategy" the company was "well placed to deliver substantial value for shareholders".

Diploma posted a strong set of results for the first half of its financial year. Revenues were up ahead by 30% to 582.8m and by 10% on an organic basis. It also said that the back half had begun "positively", which led management to raise its full-year guidance. Full-year organic growth was now pegged to come in at 7%. That was on top of approximately another 7% rise in sales expected to accrue from acquisitions, net of disposals. In parallel, the company's leverage was seen declining to below 0.4 times before any acquisition investment.
Blockchain technology has revolutionized the way transactions and data are stored and processed. One of the essential components of blockchain technology is Remote Procedure Call (RPC). In this blog, we will discuss the fundamentals of RPC, how it works, and its role in blockchain development.

What is RPC?

Remote Procedure Call is a protocol that enables a program to request a service from another program located on a remote network.

It is a form of inter-process communication (IPC) that allows a program to execute a procedure on a different system without requiring knowledge of the underlying network details.

RPC abstracts the communication process and makes it easier to develop distributed applications.

History

RPC was first introduced in the 1980s by the Open Software Foundation (OSF) as part of their Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) project. DCE was an industry standard for distributed computing, and RPC played a crucial role in the development of DCE. Since then, it has become a widely used protocol for distributed computing in various industries.

How it works

The RPC protocol works by defining a client-server model, where the client sends a request to the server to execute a procedure, and the server responds with the result. The client and server can be located on different machines connected through a network.

The client sends a message containing the name of the procedure to the server, along with any required parameters. The server receives the message and executes the requested procedure. The result is then sent back to the client in the form of a message.

It uses a transport protocol to send and receive messages between the client and server. The most commonly used transport protocols are TCP/IP and HTTP.

How RPC is used in blockchain development

Remote Procedure Call is a vital component of blockchain technology as it enables the communication between the client and the blockchain network. It provides a standardized method for developers to interact with the blockchain network, allowing them to send and receive data from the network.

In blockchain development, RPCs are used to communicate with nodes on the network. Nodes are computers that run the blockchain software and maintain a copy of the blockchain database.

RPC allows developers to query the node for information about the blockchain, such as the current block height, transaction details, and balances.

How do RPCs and MetaMask work together in blockchain development?

Both provide a secure and convenient way for developers to interact with the Ethereum network and for users to interact with smart contracts and their dApps without the need for a centralized authority. This enables developers to create decentralized applications with enhanced security and usability.

Here's how they work together:

RPC Endpoint Configuration

Developers typically set up an RPC endpoint on a node that is connected to the Ethereum network. This endpoint can be customized to meet specific requirements, such as using a different network or pointing to a private network.

Integration with MetaMask

Developers can integrate their applications with MetaMask, which is a browser extension that allows users to interact with Ethereum-based dApps. This integration allows users to interact with the developer's application directly from their browser without the need for a centralized authority.

Transaction Signing

When a user wants to interact with a smart contract or execute a transaction, the request is sent to the developer's application through MetaMask. The developer's application then sends the transaction request to the Ethereum node via the configured RPC endpoint.

Confirmation and Transaction Broadcasting

Once the Ethereum node receives the transaction request, it verifies and broadcasts it to the Ethereum network. The user then receives a confirmation message through MetaMask that the transaction has been executed on the Ethereum network.

Advantages of using RPC in blockchain development

Firstly, it provides a standardized method for developers to interact with the blockchain network, making it easier to develop decentralized applications (dApps).

Secondly, it provides a secure way to communicate with the blockchain network, as it uses encrypted communication channels. This ensures that sensitive data transmitted between the client and the blockchain network is kept confidential.

Thirdly, it enables developers to automate certain tasks on the blockchain network, such as sending transactions at regular intervals. This is useful for developers who want to build applications that require automated transactions.

List of websites that have a rich RPC network list

Here are some websites that provide a rich list of web3 RPC networks for blockchain development:
Shivam Dube continued his good six-hitting form by smashing 48 not out to take Chennai Super Kings to 144/6 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. Dube's unbeaten 48 off 34 balls, which included one four and three sixes, helped Chennai get some valuable runs on a challenging pitch. For Kolkata, Sunil Narine and local boy Varun Chakaravarthy bowled well to take two wickets each to keep Chennai to their lowest total of IPL 2023.

Electing to bat first, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway looked at ease in driving, cutting, and flicking off fast bowlers Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana to pick three fours in the first three overs. After Gaikwad swept Chakaravarthy for four, the leg-spinner bounced back when he found a turn on leg-break which the right-handed batter tried to slog and top-edge flew to short third man.

After Conway brought out a cover drive off Chakaravarthy for four, Ajinkya Rahane used Rana's pace to late-dab past the third man for four and followed it up with an effortless loft over mid-on for six as Chennai signed off from Power-play with 52/1. Conway got to change an lbw decision off Chakaravarthy when on 25 in the eighth over as replays showed the ball bouncing above stumps, but Rahane wasn't lucky as he holed out to long-on off a leg-break in the same over.

Chennai plunged into trouble when Conway got a top edge on the pull off Shardul Thakur and was caught by deep square-leg in the tenth over. In the next over, an off-break from Sunil Narine went past Ambati Rayudu's sweep and crashed into the stumps, while his carrom ball beat Moeen Ali's inside edge to leave the stumps in a mess.

Dube ended a 41-ball no-boundary spree by launching an overpitched delivery from Suyash Sharma over extra cover for six. But Narine, Suyash and Chakaravarthy controlled the run flow by giving only 11 runs collectively from overs 13, 14 and 15.

Dube began to attack by pulling Thakur for four, before he and Ravindra Jadeja smashed a six each over the leg-side on short balls from Suyash on either side of a no-ball, to amass 16 runs from the 17th over. Dube then took on Chakaravarthy by smoking a six over mid-wicket, before taking a brace twice. But Thakur pulled things back admirably by conceding only five runs, including a wide, in the 19th over.

After Jadeja ramped a bouncer straight to short third man off Arora in the final over, Kolkata conceded only four runs on the last two balls, including a wide and no-ball, as Chennai picked only 14 runs off the last two overs.
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Ditch the monotonous evening plans and clear your schedule; word is that Queen Charlotte herself will be hosting a series of balls within the months to come.

Whisk away to a time of decorum and embrace the grand nature of a royal ball in attending The Queens Ball: A Bridgerton Experience. Witness the media sensation that has swept the nation by storm, having already visited nine cities across the United States and Canada. The Regency-era is all the rage, and what better way to appreciate the time-period than to attend the talk of the ton in person?

Now in New York, the extravagant experience is held at Mediapro Manhattan Studio, located at 37th St. between 10th Ave. and 11th Ave.

Dance the night away and dress diligently in the hopes of dazzling the queen. Should your impression be well met, you may just be declared the indubitable diamond of the evening. While a formal flair is recommended, it is not required. Enhance your immersive outing with a selection of accessories available for purchase at Netflix.shop.

Aside from astounding photo opportunities and the chance to greet the queen, the ball features classical music brought to life through a string ensemble. Should your feet not know their way around the ballroom, now is the chance to properly learn how to dance. Additionally, throughout the 90-minute duration of the event, theatrical and acrobatic performances will amaze guests with a love story set to unfold before their very eyes.

Would it truly be a night-out without indulging in decadent drinks? Especially crafted cocktails will be available for those 21 and up.

The balls doors are open to those 16 and older, those under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. But act swiftly, the royal party will be leaving the Big Apple in July.

Opening hours:

WednesdaysThursdays: 7:00 p.m.

Fridays: 4:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 9:00 p.m.

Saturdays: 2:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 9:30 p.m.

Sundays: 2:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

Ticket prices vary by time and package. For a full list of ticket prices and bundles visit feverup.com.

There are currently two seasons of Bridgerton on Netflix. A third is expected to arrive at some point in 2023. The series follows the siblings of the Bridgerton family who search for love and happiness amongst London high-society. Most recently, Netflix released Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, a prequel which as described on Netflix, follows a young Queen Charlottes marriage to King George of England.

New in NYC on SILive:
Leader of the European Solidarity Party, MP, Fifth President of Ukraine (2014-2019) Petro Poroshenko said on the air of the British television channel Sky News that Ukrainians are united around the long-awaited offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to the website of the political force on Monday.

When asked how he assesses the results of the European tour of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Poroshenko replied: "Every Ukrainian, from soldiers, and me, as the fifth president of Ukraine to President Zelenskyy do maximum we can to provide the offensive operation, which should start in the very near future."

"President Zelenskyy hold a mandate from the Ukrainian people for the victory. And we definitely count on the Great Britain, because you are supplying us a lot of assistance and support. Your missiles Storm Shadow which are already has an extremely positive use on the battlefield," the politician said.

He thanked the British side "for leadership and given the positive example of other nations." "Behind me we have trucks, the artillery trucks which were bought by my charitable foundation. All together these are millions of pounds of my money, together with money of volunteers. These trucks are delivered from the UK. In total, over 300 trucks together with tractors, together generators, electronic warfare systems and many other things, which was delivered from the UK directly to Ukrainian troops, increasing the effectiveness of the offensive operation," the politician said.

"I also want to attract your attention to the G7 summit in Japan. We look forward to new solutions for the supply of modern military technology, including jet fighters and long-range missiles, as a result of this G7 summit. G7 member countries should follow the British example, including a joint decision about our future membership in NATO, which should be taken at summit in Vilnius this year," Poroshenko said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A recently emerging tick-borne illness is spreading in New York City, and a tick expert said its something that most people should watch out for, just as much as the more well-known Lyme disease.

Babesiosis, while not as common as Lyme, is still problematic, according to Maria Diuk-Wasser, professor of ecology at Columbia University, who has been studying ticks in New York City, including Staten Island.

Babesiosis is always lower prevalence than Lyme disease, said Diuk-Wasser. Babesiosis is a protozoan, so its similar to malaria  a parasite instead of being a bacterium like Lyme disease. So it is particularly problematic  Healthy people typically will not have very bad manifestations, but it is very dangerous for people who are immunocompromised.

Its primarily spread through bites from the blacklegged tick, or deer tick. The first known case of the illness was discovered in Massachusetts in 1969, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). So while some may think its a new illness, Diuk-Wasser explained its better represented as a newly emerging one.

All tick-borne diseases are somewhat increasing as tick numbers rise, she said  which is why there are rising numbers of babesiosis reported.

You have more ticks, you have all the pathogens increase proportionally in a way, but I dont think babesiosis has been increasing  I dont think that we know if its significant or its just more notable, Diuk-Wasser explained.

She pointed to a clinician who found that the New York City area has a higher number of immunocompromised people. It could mean that there isnt more babesiosis in the environment, but instead that more people are susceptible to the illness. It may explain why the area is seeing increasing numbers of the illness reported.

Reports of babesiosis on Staten Island are relatively new, Diuk-Wasser said, though its more restricted to certain parts of the borough. While Lyme disease could be found throughout Staten Island, babesiosis is in areas that have higher numbers of mice.

Babesiosis is transmitted as well, and its mostly transmitted in mice, while Lyme disease is transmitted by any animal, including birds. Babesiosis is mostly mice and other small rodents, so its [the illness] more rare because its not transmitted as well. So its always a little less found than Lyme disease, she said.

Symptoms of babesiosis are typically flu-like, according to Diuk-Wasser. A sign that a person may be sick with babesiosis is anemia because, like malaria, its a toxin that attacks the red blood cells.

According to the CDC, babesiosis can be a severe, life-threatening disease, particularly in the following people: those who do not have a spleen; those who have a weak immune system for other reasons (such as cancer, lymphoma, or AIDS); patients with other serious health conditions (such as liver or kidney disease); the elderly.

The CDC said complications of babesiosis can include:

A low and unstable blood pressure;

Severe hemolytic anemia (hemolysis);

A very low platelet count (thrombocytopenia);

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (also known as DIC or consumptive coagulopathy), which can lead to blood clots and bleeding;

Malfunction of vital organs (such as the kidneys, lungs, and liver); or

Death.

If you are bitten by a tick, its important to get tested for all tick-borne illnesses, in order to be prescribed the correct antibiotics. If diagnosed with babesiosis, your doctor will prescribe you with doxycycline antibiotics.

Most doctors should be thinking about not just Lyme, she said. If you got a tick bite, they really should be thinking about the other ones [illnesses] as well, because theyre becoming pretty common.

CHECK FOR TICKS

If youre planning to go outdoors in the warmer weather, its important to check for ticks. Conduct a tick-check of the entire body within 12 to 24 hours of outdoor activities. The CDC recommends that parents check their children for ticks under the arms, in and around ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist and especially in their hair.

Tick bites are fairly easy to diagnose, because the tick attaches itself to the site of the bite in order to feed on blood in the vast majority of cases.

If you notice a tick on you or your child, your first instinct may be to grab it quickly to get rid of it. But experts warn that could put you at risk. The TickEncounter Resource Center at the University of Rhode Island research shows one method is consistently reliable and safe.

It involves removing the tick with pointy tweezers, allowing a person to get rid of even the smallest of ticks. Stay away from flat tweezers that can squeeze the tick  as this could release the insects potential sack of germs. After removing the tick, the CDC recommends thoroughly cleaning the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub or soap and water.

Watch for symptoms, such as fever/chills, vomiting, aches and pains and rashes over the next few days. Fever is a common symptom of all tick-borne diseases. Common aches and pains with tick-borne diseases include headache, fatigue and muscle aches.

TIPS TO PROTECT AGAINST TICKS

Here are some tips to protect you and your family against ticks:

Wear long sleeves and pants when spending time in and around long grass. Tuck pant legs into socks.

Wear white or light-colored clothing so its easier to spot ticks.

Shower shortly after returning from the outdoors.

Ticks can enter the home on clothing and pets, then attach to a person later. The CDC suggests examining pets, coats and day packs.

Tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing after you come indoors. Damp clothing may need additional time.

The CDC recommends using an insect repellent that contains 20 percent or more DEET or picaridin on exposed skin. Use products that contain permethrin on clothing. Insect repellents with one of three active ingredients  DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus and picaridin  were found to be effective by Consumer Reports Best Insect Repellent Buying Guide.

There are also ways to keep your yard tick free, like keeping a neat woodpile and mowing your lawn.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A reader sent an email last week following an Advance/SILive.com story about the city Sanitation Departments plan to start fining New Yorkers not abiding by new trash takeout times.

The reader, a Dongan Hills resident who identified himself as Buddy G, laid out what seems like a genuine scheduling conflict. He said he lives alone, has to leave for work at 4:45 p.m., and doesnt arrive home until 7:30 a.m.

Buddy stated he leaves for work one hour and 15 minutes before the earliest trash takeout time of 6 p.m. for trash in containers with secure lids  non-containerized trash can be put out starting at 8 p.m.  and will most likely return home after Sanitation Department workers had already passed his house, since DSNY also moved up its collection times.

Obviously, New York City cant set its trash takeout times to meet everyones schedule, but we reached out to DSNY to see if the department offered accommodations to New Yorkers with genuine conflict schedules. It does not.

As you pointed out, in a City of nearly 9 million people, there will likely always be someone who says they cant personally follow the rules, a department spokesman said. We hope that those with scheduling conflicts can make their own arrangements to do what is required.

After 69 years is his Dongan Hills home, Buddy said hell do his best to meet the new rules, but he wont be doing it for long, as he plans to leave the city soon.

New takeout time rules were first announced in October, and went into effect April 1. DSNY began handing out $50 fines May 1, but the department spokesman said last week that the early enforcement would focus on locations that received the more-than 20,000 fines DSNY handed out starting April 1.

The spokesman said a borough-by-borough breakdown where those warnings occurred is not available, but that the warnings were primarily in commercial and densely populated residential areas.

Mayor Eric Adams and city Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced the new takeout times in October, framing the move as a way to help take out some of the citys rat population. Previously, the earliest takeout time for containerized trash was 4 p.m.

Tisch noted the 4 p.m. takeout time had been unique among global cities that typically have their residents and businesses takeout trash later into the evening.

On its own, the later takeout cuts rats street-side smorgasbord by four hours, but the commissioner said the city plans to couple that policy with increased efforts to collect trash overnight.

Workers on DSNYs midnight shift began doing about 25% of the citys trash collection, which changed from the traditional focus on collection during the 5 a.m. shift, according to DSNY.

The new rules apply to residential and commercial properties around the five boroughs, but officials designed a number of carve-out exemptions under the proposed program.

Traditionally, businesses can put their trash out an hour before closing time, and theyll still be able to do so if that trash is containerized.

Large residential buildings of nine units or more also have the chance to opt into an early morning takeout time, for which the city will design special routes, and runs from 4 to 7 a.m. The opt-in period for that program closed earlier this year, but will reopen Jan. 1, 2024, according to DSNY.

The Adams administrations broader goal is to move to containerization of the citys waste as opposed to the piles of trash bags found on curbsides.

We have to do something about the garbage. European cities, South American cities, they all understand that garbage should not be sitting on the streets for a long period of time, Adams said at an April press conference. I take my hat off to Commissioner Tisch, and were going to continue to monitor, we are continuing to move toward placing our garbage in containers, because thats going to improve our quality of life.

MORE NYC NEWS

Two more Staten Island hotels are now sheltering migrants, local pols say

NYC congestion pricing gets thumbs up from feds

$50 fines coming for New Yorkers who take out their trash too early

NYC minimum wage will be $16 next year, with another increase coming

Improvements to this century-old community center promise to serve Staten Island children for 100 more years
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) alongside NYPD Deputy Chief Joseph Gulotta kicked off National Police Week by highlighting the dedication of police officers on Staten Island and across New York City during a press conference at the 121st Precinct stationhouse in Graniteville on Monday morning.

In her speech, Malliotakis issued praise to the men and women in blue while also spotlighting her work on Capitol Hill, securing nearly $6 million in federal funding for the NYPD. According to Malliotakis, she is the only federal representative from New York City to have secured funds for the NYPD in Congress over the last two years.

This week, were celebrating National Police Week and its incredibly important for elected officials to show their police officers that they respect and appreciate the work that they do, Malliotakis said. One way we can do that is by making sure they have the tools and resources they need to do their job.

This week, were celebrating National Police Week and its incredibly important for elected officials to show their police officers that they respect and appreciate the work that they do, Malliotakis said. (Staten Island Advance/Shaina McLawrence)Shaina McLawrence

Over the last two years, the congresswoman said she has helped the NYPD secure forensic equipment, protective gear and plate reader systems that will be used to target car thefts.

We support the men and women of the NYPD and I will continue to advocate and deliver critical funds so they can get the job done and keep us safe, Malliotakis said. If you see a police officer, thank them for the work theyre doing.

Gulotta, of Patrol Borough Staten Island, pointed out an increase in auto-related crime on Staten Island, so the plate readers will help the NYPD by aiding in the identification of vehicles used in such illegal actions.

Chief Joseph Gulotta highlights the federal funding secured for the NYPD. May 15, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Shaina McLawrence)Shaina McLawrence

Also looking at the trauma kits the congresswoman earmarked, Ive watched numerous videos of our officers putting them in place, saving numerous people: Gunshot victims, vehicle accident victims  its really just a tremendous asset, said Gulotta. This funding is really going to go a long way in keeping Staten Island and the city of New York safe.

Malliotakis recently requested funding to replace old tasers and belt trauma kits for the NYPD.

Later on this week, the House will be voting on pro-police legislation, such as a resolution expressing support for local law-enforcement officers while, condemning efforts to defund or dismantle local law-enforcement agencies; the Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act, which gives police precincts access to retired equipment; and the POLICE Act, which would strengthen penalties for law-enforcement assault.



OTHER STATEN ISLAND NEWS:

>> NYPD: Staten Island raid nets stun gun on kitchen table, drug stash on top of cabinets

>> Man, 36, accused of 2 Staten Island pepper-spray incidents, including one at drug store

>> D.A. McMahon to investigate homicide of 16-month old boy caused by fentanyl, cocaine

>> Source: Detectives trying to determine who fired gun in shooting of teen on Staten Island

>> Source: Suspect who fired into S.I. salon missed gang target, hit innocent teen, woman
A record-setting heat wave that has loomed over parts of the American Northwest in recent days is expected to loom through much of the upcoming week, said AccuWeather forecasters.

Oregon and Washington State surpassed the 90-degree mark over the weekend and shattered daily records on Saturday, one of which extended back to the late 1930s. Seattle, Washington, broke its record high at 89 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday, and sections of northern California reached 102 degrees.

Impressive and even record-breaking heat will continue for much of the Northwest, perhaps extending through the whole week in some spots, said AccuWeather meteorologist La Troy Thornton in a release.

Record-high temperatures were shattered Saturday in parts of Oregon and Washington. (AccuWeather)

The intense heat in the Pacific Northwest is not expected to hit all-time record highs set back in the summer of 2021, when Portland sustained a scorching 116 degrees Fahrenheit.

Still, the abnormally mild weather is expected to persist through at least the middle of the week. For some areas, a spate of mid-week wet weather will be the only relief to the hot temperatures.

High pressure will dominate the pattern and for the most part, but still, a retrograding storm will bring in the potential for afternoon thundershowers. Locations that get them will see brief cooling during the day, thanks to the clouds and precipitation, said Thorton.

The passage of the weather system, however, will be met with the re-arrival of hot temperatures.

Once the storm dissipates and moves out of the Northwest, the sizzling heat is likely to return, said AccuWeather Meteorologist Joseph Bauer.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  More than 500 Rotary clubs, including five clubs on Staten Island, will join more than 15,000 Rotarians, and thousands of volunteers spanning five states and three countries, wholl join forces to do good on Saturday, May 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Theyll tackle wide-ranging projects from collecting clothing for the homeless and refurbishing long-neglected parks to feeding those with food insecurity.

The international initiative, which includes projects in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Bermuda, and Brazil, eclipses the Rotary Day of Service held in April 2022 with an expanded commitment from a coordinated network of Rotary Clubs and their members dedicated to improving the communities they serve.

Rotarians are known for their tireless efforts to help those in need, and across the borough of Staten Island, but the 2023 Day of Service event will be the single largest coordinated multi-District Rotary community volunteer effort weve ever held in our region, said Frank Wilkinson, past president North Shore Rotary who is the Rotary Day of Service project coordinator. The five Rotary Clubs located on Staten Island have joined forces after 9-11, Superstorm Sandy and every year at Thanksgiving fanning out to deliver food, supplies and boots on the ground and together again we are ready to spruce up five locations across Staten Island in need of clean ups, he added.

But the Rotary Day of Service isnt just for Rotarians.

Anyone who wants to Get Behind the Wheel and give back to their own communities can visit RotaryDayOfService.org and click on the Register to Volunteer tab for information. Once registered, local clubs will contact volunteers and provide details. And students can receive community service hours for the project.

The five Rotary Clubs can use the help of individuals and groups who want to join forces on Saturday.

Staten Island is fortunate to be home to five Rotary Clubs who work together  the power of 100 plus community-minded professionals working together to make Service Above Self a priority.

The five Staten Island Rotary Clubs will turn their attention to cleaning at: Victory Boulevard/ Willowbrook Road, South Avenue/Service Road(1001 Goethals Road North) The Conference House (meet at Lemon Creek Fishing Pier 527 Sharrotts Ave, 10309), Serpentine Commons (entrance on VanDuzer Street near Broad Street, 599 VanDuzer Street), and the Garibaldi Meucci Museum/420 Tompkins Ave., 10304, beautification and cleanup.

For further information on the Day of Service projects, visit http://www.rotarydayofservice.org or email : frankjwilkinson@gmail.com.
Brooklyn Hudson has been away from New York City for years, but the former Staten Islander is finally making her way back home  and for one hell of a good reason.

Hudson, who currently resides in Los Angeles, is gearing up for preproduction of her first feature film, Sucre. The urban drama with a dash of thriller is loosely based on Hudsons experience as a foster parent in Los Angeles, specifically her experience with one child she took into her care.

This little girl left an impression on me, Hudson told the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com during a recent interview. She was 11 years old, and she was a mother. She had a 1-year-old. ... She was with me for five months, and then she was moved into a more permanent situation.

Brooklyn Hudson has been away from New York City for years, but the former Staten Islander is finally making her way back home  and for one hell of a good reason.

After she was relocated, Hudson saw the girl just one more time.

Years later, she showed up at my door with a new baby in her arms, and said she named the baby Brooklyn, after me. Talk about getting chills. ... I feel very confident that she is OK these days, because she was such a savvy, savvy kid, and so smart. I feel like shes doing OK.

An author, screenwriter and filmmaker by trade, Hudson decided this was a story she wanted to tell the world. Her script eventually made it to Michael Weinstein at Lionsgate.

He was probably the first one to really believe in me, said Hudson. Im an unknown director. But he still refused to walk away from it. And he found the right people.

Latigo Films David Lipper, Bob Daly and Jeff Kranzdorf joined the project, and Hudsons lifelong dream of writing and directing a movie took another step toward being realized.

While Hudson couldnt disclose details of the casting thats currently underway, she confirmed filming will take place in New York and New Jersey. And, yep, her hometown of Staten Island will make an appearance, of course.

Theres no other place I could film this. New York, in its own right, is a character. Theres just something about New York City. ... For movie like this, theres no other place that we could film.

TRUE GRIT AND HUSTLE

Hudsons road from Staten Island to Hollywood, and back again, has been anything but easy.

When she was a teenager, her firefighter dad  who worked out of Engine Co. 160/Rescue Co. 5/Division 8 in Concord  died; six months later, she lost her mother.

Despite the loss of her parents, Hudson didnt lose her grit or hustle. The Curtis High School grad, a former Broadway child performer, began working toward her dream of making it big in Hollywood. She started from the bottom, booking up-and-coming bands for clubs, bands that hadnt made it yet, but later became iconic, she said, like Poison and Guns N Roses.

At one point, Hudson transitioned to television; she earned a job as a writers assistant on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, was a fixer on The Sopranos, and took whatever other jobs she could to hone her skills and pay her dues in the notoriously difficult industry.

I was just trying to keep a roof over my head, said the former Westerleigh resident. I had always wanted to do movies, but having to keep a roof over my head, I had to find money where I could find money.

She eventually ended up in Las Vegas, where she wrote, produced and directed several award-winning live shows, including The Springsteen Experience and Purple Reign.

From there, Hudson landed in Los Angeles with a renewed determination: She wanted to direct, she wanted to have big- and small-screen success, and she wasnt going to stop trying until she was successful.

I decided I was going to make this happen, said Hudson. I started writing scripts, and I was getting very good feedback. I would win a bunch of screenwriting awards, and get all these laurels on my scripts, but I didnt have the connections yet.

I gradually climbed the ladder until I got to a point where people were interested, but I still wasnt getting the money to make these films. Id get really close and then something would always take it away. I would get so close.

Case in point: Hudsons thriller novel, Wishbone, was in development for television when the coronavirus pandemic struck in 2020.

AMITYVILLE PROJECT

From the pandemic, however, came a new opportunity.

Just prior to the pandemic, Hudson had been interviewed by Amityville Horror house (yes, that house) historian and researcher Blaine Duncan, who was writing a book about the real-life murders that occurred and the ensuing paranormal claims by residents and others. Hudson, a self-described horror buff, had previously contemplated buying the Long Island abode, and struck up a friendship with Duncan following the interview.

During the pandemic lockdown, when Hollywood was at a standstill, Hudson reached out to Duncan to pitch a docu-series centered around his book.

Brooklyn Hudson created, executive produced, and wrote "Amityville: An Origin Story," which is available for streaming now on MGM+.

We have information that no one else has, said Hudson, who managed to get in touch with the prison that held Ronald Joseph DeFeo Jr., the man convicted of the 1974 killings of his father, mother, two brothers and two sisters in the house, and began writing DeFeo letters. Sentenced to six sentences of 25 years to life, DeFeo died in prison on March 12, 2021.

The Amityville story has been beaten into the ground, but we knew new things, things no one else did, she added. We have information that has never been heard before.

The end result was a four-part series, Amityville: An Origin Story, which made its debut on streaming platform MGM+ (formerly known as Epix) in April. Hudson has creator, writer and executive producer credits on the project.

LOOKING FOWARD TO COMING HOME

As she prepares for her upcoming film and her permanent move back to East Coast alongside Willow, her 10-year old Eastern fox squirrel  yep, pet squirrel  Hudson said shes particularly excited to return to her home borough. More specifically, her favorite places to eat.

Probably the thing Im looking forward to the most is the food, laughed Hudson. I missed the food, like Ralphs Ices and Deninos pizza.

And, of course, shes excited to return to those who know her best.

I miss my people, she said. Its a different world out here [in Los Angeles]. You know, its fun, but its not home.
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Over last two days, AFU to advance on flanks of Bakhmut from 350 m to 2 km in some places  Cherevaty

Over the last two days, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have advanced on the flanks around Bakhmut at a distance of 350 meters to 2 kilometers in some places, Spokesman for the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Serhiy Cherevaty has said.

"However, the enemy is putting up wild resistance. Over the current day, 34 clashes took place in Bakhmut direction, 479 times the enemy fired at our positions with different systems, different artillery. There were four air raids. During the fighting, our soldiers managed to destroy 149 invaders, injure 160, six were captured," Cherevaty said on the air of a nationwide telethon on Monday.

According to him, two infantry fighting vehicles, two armored vehicles, three unmanned enemy vehicles and a field warehouse with ammunition were also shot down during the day.

"The enemy is trying... to capture the city itself, making incredible efforts to do this. Our soldiers hold the defense there, showing the heights of courage, heroism, endurance and ingenuity. And when it becomes possible to attack the enemy on the flanks, this is all done. And this is part of a defense operation, which has been going on for many months. An operation aimed at exhausting the enemy," Cherevaty said, commenting on the fact that the successes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are more noticeable on the flanks.

"In fact, Bakhmut is now a point of a certain bifurcation, a point of solution to this conflict, because if the enemy does not find an opportunity to replenish its forces there, then we will simply destroy it," Cherevaty said.
PointsBet has finalised the sale of its US division to Jay-Z-backed merchandise giant Fanatics Betting and Gaming, five years after it broke into the market with heavy advertising spend and aggressive expansion.

The ASX-listed wagerer announced the $US150 million ($225 million) deal on Monday morning. This masthead stated on Sunday that a deal was imminent.

PointsBet chief executive Sam Swanell announced the sale of the US division to Fanatics on Monday, as foreshadowed by this masthead on Sunday. Credit: Chris Hopkins

Under the terms of the sale, Fanatics will acquire PointsBets US operations, while PointsBet will retain its Australian and Canadian outfits. PointsBet was advised by Moelis & Co and Flagstaff Partners on the deal. Its the first major wagering acquisition in Australia since the rapid online betting boom caused by COVID-19 began to ease off, prompting many industry experts to predict a period of rapid consolidation.

PointsBets chief executive officer Sam Swanell said the US acquisition will free up the business to concentrate on expanding market share in Australia and Canada.
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Review Eating outSurry Hills Chocolate treasure chest a must-try at Surry Hills new brasserie Armorica Oysters, lobster, caviar, wagyu, foie gras  its all about lavish, lofty dishes at this grand new French spot. Terry Durack May 16, 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 / 7 The lavish surrounds at Armorica Grande Brasserie. Wolter Peeters 2 / 7 Bone-in black Angus Riverine tenderloin with frites. Wolter Peeters 3 / 7 Spaghetti with scampi and Moreton Bay bug. Wolter Peeters 4 / 7 Three baby roulades of octopus give the current menu staple a new look. Wolter Peeters 5 / 7 A seasonal vegetable tart is light and fresh. Wolter Peeters 6 / 7 Go-to dish: Chocolate bar with caramel and cookie filling. Wolter Peeters 7 / 7 Armorica Grande Brasserie owner Andrew Becher. Steven Siewert Previous Slide Next Slide Good Food hat 15.5 / 20 How we score French$$$ Well, this is very grand. It feels as if Parisian restaurant La Coupole has rolled into town from Montparnasse, with its huge towers of shellfish, sizzling rib-eye steaks, and bottles of muscadet. Armorica, named for an ancient Celtic region of France, is Sydneys newest grande brasserie, a term normally reserved for the largest and most splendid Belle Epoque dining rooms in the City of Light. Located on the former site of the pioneering MG Garage and the first iteration of Japanese local Toko, Armorica is a natural progression for Andrew Becher and his popular Potts Point venues Franca and Parlar.

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The family resemblance is unmistakable, from the statement art on the walls (by American artist David Plunkert) to the large, plush leather banquettes and booths and the lavish use of Italian marble. Executive chef Jose Saulogs opening menu is also richly endowed, with an abundance of oysters, lobster, caviar, wagyu and foie gras. Yep, its pretty grand. There are no rules. You can go grand and blow out on seafood and steak, or stay modest with a cocktail and a bowl of pasta. Its tempting to think of Armorica as a steakhouse, given the five metres of Josper grills that form the heart of the open kitchen, but the menu stays true to the concept of a brasserie in that it is large, and not proscriptive. There are no rules. You can go grand and blow out on seafood and steak, or stay modest with a cocktail and a bowl of pasta. Well, not that modest. Theres charm amid the grand gestures. A seasonal vegetable tart ($16) takes the same oval shape as its plate and is light and fresh, bedded down with zucchini ribbons, green peas, mushrooms and buttons of goats curd.

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Three baby roulades of octopus ($22) give the current menu staple a new look. The finely sliced meat is formed into a skin that wraps around a fine dice of more octopus. Again, light and fresh, if bitsy. Spaghetti with scampi and Moreton Bay bug. Wolter Peeters Saulog is a classic over-achiever, always going the extra yard to define a new shape or enrich the already rich. That makes the house-made pasta an absolute must, and an al dente spaghetti with scampi and Moreton Bay bug ($45/$65) is a warm bath of luxury. The pasta lies tangled in a rich, buttery emulsion of crustacean stock and zucchini studded with lightly cooked bug meat and salty little capers, with half a scampi gilding the lily on top. These recent, chillier evenings are crying out for steak, and there are five on offer, ranging from $39 to $140. A bone-in black Angus Riverine tenderloin ($70) nails the recommended medium-rare, scented with smoke and lightly charred. I prefer a more marbled cut, but will save that for a grander occasion. A small bowl of salty frites is perfectly judged, and you choose between bone marrow butter or little bowls of bearnaise or mushroom sauce. My bearnaise is thick, tasting more of butter than tarragon.

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A side of fioretto ($15) swimming in pistachio pistou is fun, the hybrid of broccoli and cauliflower seemingly having the best qualities of both. Wines are mostly French, and a Chateau de Segries Cote du Rhone is lush and spicy enough to be good value at $70, one of the few reds listed under $100. Go-to dish: Chocolate bar with caramel and cookie filling. Wolter Peeters The signature dessert from the groups executive pastry chef, Travin DeHoedt, is the Armorica chocolate bar ($26), another must. Its beautifully engineered to look like a gold-burnished miniature treasure chest built of fine sheets of Valrhonas Kalingo 65 per cent dark chocolate that snap crisply in the mouth. Bust it open with your spoon to get at the chocolate mousse, salted caramel and chocolate chip cookie filling. Italian marble aside, a fair share of the reported $3 million fit-out has been spent on the undergarments  the sound-baffling ceilings, the flattering lighting, the temperature control. Floor staff  and there are swarms of them  are bedding down, but those all-important welcomes and farewells are in place. I like the big thinking here, the expansive space, the massive Josper, the refusal to be ordinary. It may not be La Coupole, but it sure is grand. The low-down Drinks: Expertly made cocktails and classy, very French wine list Vibe: Lively room, lavish food, lofty prices Go-to-dish: Armorica chocolate bar, $26 Cost: About $240 for two, plus drinks

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The federal government will pay out $132.7 million to compensate 30,000 people across the nation whose communities have been polluted by toxic firefighting foam used on Defence bases.

The payout to residents of seven communities across Australia, including Richmond in Sydneys north-west outskirts, brings the Commonwealths total liabilities over its use of the foam to $344 million so far, after three other communities settled a near identical action in 2020.

Aviation firefighters using foam contaminated with PFAS in Victoria in 1998.

The settlement came after midnight on the eve of trial, which was due to begin in the Federal Court on Monday.

The court heard proceedings launched by the Aboriginal community of Wreck Bay, in the Jervis Bay Territory 200 kilometres south of Sydney, are yet to be resolved and will return to mediation this week.
McLaren realised his business was no longer tenable when bureaucrats advised him his customers should eat no more than 200 grams of his beef a month. They said dont eat it, sell it, he recalled of the advice. We didnt feel comfortable selling contaminated beef to people. Blood tests later revealed his family of six all harboured high levels of the toxins in their blood, at up to 22 times the Australian average. Even though McLarens livelihood was devastated by the contamination, he was not part of a class action lawsuit that settled on Monday. The claim was brought by landowners for damage and devaluation to their properties and did not address any potential health effects from the chemicals. However, after the settlement announcement, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese raised the spectre of health effects as he acknowledged the suffering of affected communities.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Melbourne on Monday. Credit: Darrian Traynor The biggest concern that I have with PFAS isnt, of course, a financial one, it is the health outcomes of people who are affected by it, the prime minister said. It is the first time an Australian leader has expressed concern about the health implications from exposure to the chemicals. As recently as 2018, a Senate inquiry recommended Australian health authorities be more upfront in communicating the possible health effects to avoid the impression they were downplaying the risks in order to avoid taking responsibility for the contamination. The settlement came ahead of a trial that was due to begin in the Federal Court on Monday.

Loading The payout to residents of seven communities brings the Commonwealths total liabilities over its use of the foam to $344 million so far, after three other communities settled a nearly identical action in 2020. The court heard proceedings launched by the Aboriginal community of Wreck Bay, in the Jervis Bay Territory 200 kilometres south of Sydney, are yet to be resolved and will return to mediation this week. Justice Michael Lee said the settlement in the class action, which has entered its third year, was very welcome news. I congratulate those involved. I know it has not been a straightforward exercise, he said.

The class action was launched by residents from Wagga Wagga and Richmond in NSW, Wodonga in Victoria, Darwin in the Northern Territory, Bullsbrook in Western Australia, Townsville in Queensland and Edinburgh in South Australia. Shine Lawyers represented the claimants and the joint head of class actions Craig Allsop said it was a great outcome for thousands of residents. The settlement did not contain any admission of liability by the Commonwealth but Allsop said that was typical of class action settlements. The important thing for group members is the compensation which is going to make a difference to their everyday lives, he said.

Loading With the group members Ive spoken with, its incredibly important, the payment of compensation and recognition of their suffering. The settlement agreement will need approval from the court at a separate hearing before funds will flow to members of the class action. It appears the residents in the latest class action will receive significantly less than the three most heavily polluted communities  Williamtown in NSW, Katherine in the Northern Territory and Oakey in Queensland  that were collectively paid $212 million in 2020. Allsop said he was confident it was a good outcome for his clients.

Loading Its a little tricky to make direct comparisons across sites because of the differences across each site, he said. Authorities in Europe and the United States warn that PFAS chemicals are a human health hazard that can cause high cholesterol, immune dysfunction and cancer, although the Australian government and manufacturer 3M have denied the chemicals cause harmful health effects in humans. The Wreck Bay trial was stood over until May 29. If that case doesnt settle, its got to start, the judge said, noting there were some peculiarities about that case when compared with the other communities.
The sight of bananas bearing signs describing them as 100 per cent Australian got me wondering what the alternatives might be, writes Sue Threlfall of Minto. Do producers import banana pulp from overseas and package it for sale in locally made skins? Or, perhaps, locally grown banana pulp is sent offshore to be packed into skins by lower paid workers and then returned to Australia for sale.

John Moyse of Dora Creek is equally curious about certain grocery sales talk: There is a product called Cold Pressed Raw Milk on sale. I am wondering what traumatic process the cow might go through to produce this milk.

As someone in the optical profession, Id like to assure your correspondent that although the top line of the eye chart (C8) is, indeed, at least 10 times smaller than any traffic sign, its also at least 10 times closer, declares Brett Jack of Bonnyrigg Heights. As far as covering each eye to check vision, I suggest he walk around the local shops with one eye closed, then imagine what it would be like driving with no peripheral vision on one side. Not with my car!

Mary Grocott of Barraba says her 84-year-old husband doesnt have a choice about how he views the eye chart: Hes only got one eye.

The faculty have informed Granny that Glyn Bradford (C8) was a definite exception when it came to teaching minus a tie: Glyn, you were lucky, reckons Warren Menteith of Bali. In 1967, I was teaching Phys Ed at Moree High. I had to come to work, and leave in the accepted manner: dress shorts, long socks, proper shoes, collared shirt, tie and change into the PE gear for lessons. Making it more onerous, I would teach classroom lessons if a teacher was absent. More changing! A bit of a bugger in the Moree summer with no time for a shower.
The difference you can make to someone by giving your skills with scissors, comb and water to change their hair was brought home to Semaarn when he was 24, by an older business partner who showed him what a bit of sharing could do for a local community. In the type of gesture that became more common during the kindness pandemic but has slowed anecdotally, Semaarn began giving away his time to do washes, cuts and dries, no questions asked, in 1996. Roland Semaarn dries the hair of Maree, a single mother of two young girls who had not had a professional haircut for two years and says she left his salon feeling beautiful. Credit: Jason South As the years went by ... I really understood the power it has when you see people come in with their heads down and shoulders slumped, and then leave on their tiptoes  thats a powerful thing that us hairdressers can do, he says. People are cutting back on a lot of things  going out, food and personal grooming  but that is one of those things that I dont think people should cut back on because a haircut is not a luxury.

If you start letting things like that go, you can spiral into a depressed state of mind. As volunteering numbers nationally remain lower than they did pre-COVID, and cost-of-living pressures mean many people face more difficulty covering regular expenses, hairdressers, in particular, are making large donations of time. Hairdressers are very community-based people. I think you will find hundreds of thousands of stories like this. Sandy Chong, Australian Hairdressing Council chief executive Hairdressers are very community-based people, and not to take anything away from Roland, but I think you will find hundreds of thousands of stories like this, says Sandy Chong, chief executive of the Australian Hairdressing Council. If you ask any hairdresser why they become a hairdresser, they say, I like to make people feel good about themselves, and look good, theyre a lot more caring and emotionally based than show me the money, she said.

I also think were less judgmental than some other businesses with the people who walk in our door. Loading Chong lists the not-for-profits Hair Aid  for which hairdressers volunteer in 87 communities around Australia cutting for those in need, and also pay their own way to developing countries to teach locals how to start hair-cutting microbusinesses  and Short Back & Sidewalks, a national volunteer network of hairdressers who give their time through community services, as two examples of big-heartedness among those who care for our hair. Craig Hollywood, the civil engineer who founded Short Back & Sidewalks, said his groups volunteers do 8000 free haircuts a year, and view a haircut as a human need. It has just received federal funding to expand services from capital cities to some regions. When you look good, you feel good. It can enhance your mental health and outlook, your connection to community as a result of that, he said.

For a lot of people in the current economic situation and that of the last couple of years, haircuts and grooming unfortunately take less of a priority. Loading He believes the human contact given by hairdressers donating their time is also extremely valuable. Hairdressers are the accidental counsellors of society: we literally put our heads in their hands, and tell them some of our deepest thoughts and feelings. Thats something that cant be overlooked. As National Volunteer Week kicked off on Monday, Mark Pearce, chief executive of Volunteering Australia, says while the number of those giving time through organisations is still only at 70 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, more people are doing things independently, like Roland Semaarn. People are seeing they can do stuff themselves, maybe as a function of COVID, where people really had to focus on their immediate neighbourhoods and communities, and thats a positive thing, Pearce said.

Loading Semaarn says since he moved from the more commuter-heavy strip of Clarendon Street, South Melbourne, to the population hub of Port Melbourne, he has been amazed at the outpouring of warmth attracted by his gesture. Not that he does it for the free hugs  which he does sometimes get from passers-by. I see it as very simple: help people, he says. Were not here to buy Lamborghinis and live in mansions, were to help each other and offer support. If everyone does a little bit, imagine how beautiful the world would be. Those wanting a free hairdo at Semaarns salon should book ahead.
The angels attended training at the weekend to support councils, libraries and cafes hosting events, and can act as marshals, assist with communication and shield attendees from protesters. We will not be cancelled no matter what. We need lots of us to stand up strong together for our trans and gender diverse young people, our kids in rainbow families, everyone in the LGBTIQA+ communities that we love and care for, the group said. Rainbow Community Angels in Melbourne. Credit: Paul Jeffers Last month Casey Council cancelled a series of drag workshops after receiving a threat assessment from police, and a Chelsea cafe cancelled a childrens craft event that was to be hosted by drag queens, after being bombarded with phone calls and messages. Marlowe said rainbow story-time events at Darebin libraries and Lalor Library  where books that celebrate same-sex and gender-diverse families are read  were also being targeted ahead of the international day of celebration.

Campaigners are not just focusing on drag events  these are a smokescreen for a broader anti-LGBTQI+ agenda, Marlowe said. Loading Its insidious what they are doing, and it has got to stop. Drag story times involve drag queens reading books to children, and are intended as a fun way to encourage reading, acceptance of diversity and inclusion. However, they have become a cultural flash point across the globe, with protests from alt-right groups and cancellations in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Locally, members of fringe groups such as the My Place network, have described drag story time as child grooming events and pure evil and disgusting, and have rallied their supporters to attend protests and lobby councils and libraries to shut down the events. The Age saw multiple My Place social media posts discussing protesting at Eltham Library in May. This evil has to be stopped, said one. Arcuri said five events he was scheduled to perform at on Wednesday had been cancelled and the Eltham event moved online. They have all said, This is getting really scary, sorry, Arcuri said. Its a shame, especially because I dont think its a true reflection of the society were in. I dont think its a large portion of people that feel this way. I think its very targeted.

Arcuri said he had received messages online accusing him of being a groomer and paedophile. All I am doing is reading a book, he said. Im not bringing in books that are not already in these libraries. The current climate of hate towards the trans community and drag performers, through rising misinformation and harassment, is all too familiar to many of us. Drag performer Dean Arcuri Arcuri, who has a working with children check, said he would be lying if he said the harassment wasnt upsetting and concerning. The current climate of hate towards the trans community and drag performers, through rising misinformation and harassment, is all too familiar to many of us, he said.

Theres absolutely nothing wrong with what were doing, which is put on an event that lets people feel seen, feel valid, and its just colourful and fun. Kids light up when they see the colour of a drag performer, when they see the sequins and the silliness. Loading The union representing library staff said it was shameful that librarians efforts to educate young people about inclusion, respect and diversity had come under attack. All librarians are entitled to work in a safe environment and the stories we have heard about abuse, hate-speech and attacks on librarians should not be tolerated, said Lisa Darmanin from the Australian Services Union. The union will take all steps necessary to protect librarians at work. Boroondara Council said it made the difficult decision to cancel the Hawthorn Library event after closely monitoring recent events across Australia which had been threatened by intrusions of anti-social behaviour by some people.

Council will never put the community, partners, employees and event attendees in harms way and this consideration has been central to our decision, a spokesperson said. Loading Council remains committed to play its part in creating a welcoming and inclusive community for everyone and this includes people who identify as LGBTQIA+, their loved ones and friends in Boroondara. Monash chief executive Andi Diamond said the decision to scratch the Oakleigh Library event was made in consultation with police. Councillors and staff have received messages that nobody should be expected to receive in their workplace, as have our LGBTIQA+ community, Diamond said. In recent days, these threats have escalated to direct threats of violence involving the event itself.
A major overhaul of Victorias public transport ticket system is set to take until 2025 to complete, meaning some travellers will need to buy and carry physical myki cards on trains, trams and buses for another two years.

The Andrews government announced on Monday that it had signed a $1.7 billion contract for US specialist Conduent to take over from current myki operator NTT Data and run the system for the next 15 years.

Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll said Conduent would upgrade myki so all passengers could travel using just a bank card or smartphone with a digital wallet, rather than needing to buy a myki card and load it with funds. This has been possible in London since 2012 and in Sydney since 2018.

This is a real steep change for Melburnians and indeed Victorians, Carroll said. We will now reach the 21st century, with an account-based ticketing system which is simpler and easier to use through your credit card, through your smartphone, through your smartwatch.
A West Australian fly-in, fly-out worker has been found guilty of raping a colleague at a Pilbara mine site in November 2020 after a night of drinking during a shift change.

Ryan Zabaznow, 37, appeared shocked as the verdict was read out in Perth District Court on Monday, with the jury taking less than four hours to convict him.

Ryan Zabaznow, inset, was accused of raping a colleague following a night of drinking at BHPs Mulla Mulla mining camp. Credit: Facebook/Bloomberg

Zabaznow was accused of entering a female colleagues donga at a BHP mine site near Newman around 1am after believing the rest of the group they had been drinking with had left.

During Zabaznows trial, the complainants colleagues testified she was comotose after drinking too much alcohol, had been dry retching, and was put to bed by a female friend shortly before the alleged assault.
Korniyenko: We count on Sweden's support for start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to EU during its presidency of EU Council

First Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Korniyenko hopes that Sweden will support the start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union during its presidency of the EU Council. "We are counting on the strong support of the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council in order to make a historic decision to start negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union," Korniyenko said at a meeting with a delegation from the Swedish Riksdag headed by Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Aron Emilsson in Kyiv on Monday.

According to the website of the Verkhovna Rada, Korniyenko informed his colleagues about the latest steps taken by the Verkhovna Rada towards European integration, as well as about Ukraine's North Atlantic aspirations.

The First Deputy Chairman said Ukraine needs F-16 aircraft to protect people and strengthen air defense.

Sweden will lead the Council of the European Union from January 1, 2023.
Former cabinet minister Stuart Robert will skip US President Joe Bidens address to federal parliament and will not return to Canberra to deliver a farewell speech.

Roberts exit from parliament has heightened expectations in Coalition ranks that former prime minister Scott Morrison, one of his closest political allies, will soon follow him in retiring as an MP.

Retiring MP Stuart Robert wont return to parliament, missing US President Joe Bidens address. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen/AP

Associates of Morrison told this masthead two weeks ago that a major UK company in the defence sector was considering the former prime minister for a senior post-politics job, though that position has not been finalised.

If Morrison were to retire from his seat of Cook in the next sitting fortnight, as many Liberal MPs expect, it is likely a pair of byelections would be scheduled for the same weekend in early July.
Two landmark Queen Street Mall venues are set to be demolished as part of a Brisbane City Council push to improve connectivity between the CBD and South Bank.

Five years  almost to the day  after Rankins newsagency lowered its shutters for the final time, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner announced the mall structures hosting Milano and the Pig N Whistle will also be demolished after they cease trading in June.

Arrivederci, Milano. The Italian restaurant will be removed from Queen Street Mall to allow more flow to the Victoria Bridge and through to South Bank. Credit: Brisbane City Council

Queen Street Mall and South Bank are loved by our residents and are must-do destinations for visitors, he said.

Decluttering the mall and ensuring the experience travelling between the city and South Bank is vibrant, seamless and accessible will deliver long-term benefits for Brisbane.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Over the weekend it was announced that Members of Parliament Heyliger-Marten, Wescot-Williams, and Duncan have submitted a request for a central committee meeting of Parliament to receive an update from government on the governments trajectory for electoral reform.

In explaining this request, MP Wescot stated that several members of parliament have not only been clamoring to get a sense from the government where electoral reform stands presently but also to hear whether the government is actually doing something regarding the much-touted reform.

In addition, there are several proposals from members of parliament at government, and while the government has alluded to these proposals and governments initial support for proposals such as removal of the black curtains, candidates declarations as part of a political party, a more tamper-proof ballot system, no tangible actions are evident.

We know that the government has conducted a survey and announced public sessions on electoral reform, but there is no evidence of urgency.

Parliament has also finally requested proposals for the drafting of legislation in areas identified by parliament as part of the reform of several laws that regulate components of electoral reform, such as the position of political parties in our system, ship jumping, ministerial responsibility, dissolution of parliament, suspension of MPs, remuneration and amount of parliamentary seats etc. MP Wescot further explained.

However, it remains critical that the efforts on parliamentary and executive levels be synchronized as much as possible to save time and resources, the MP stated.

We, therefore, have requested a meeting of the central committee meeting of parliament with the Prime Minister to hear where the government stands on electoral reform and what has been achieved in this area since we last heard from the Prime Minister.

We hope that our request will be honored and that this meeting will take place shortly, the MPs concluded.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Le Sommet Foundation held its first Craft and Farmers Market this past Saturday, and the community was buzzing with excitement. Vendors came out ready with locally grown fresh produce, locally crafted artifacts, beverages, health and skin care products, herbs & spices, and more. Patrons were thrilled to be able to access these local products all in one place.

"This event is a step in the right direction," said Fabio Doralice, President of Le Sommet Foundation. "We are pleased with the success of the market, but it's important to remember that this is not the end goal. Our ultimate goal is to develop a stable and sustainable agriculture industry here on the island, inclusive of animal husbandry, which has not received enough attention."

Doralice went on to explain that his focus will now shift toward establishing an Agriculture Association. This association will provide technical support, training programs, and market linkages to farmers, as well as access to additional resources not readily available to local farmers. By providing comprehensive support to farmers, the association will help improve their livelihoods, increase their productivity, and contribute to the overall growth of the agriculture sector. Ultimately, this will have a positive impact on food security for the island.

"The establishment of the Farmers Association is crucial as it enables us to speak as a unified and legal body representing the industry. Through this platform, we can initiate productive discussions, propose solutions and defend the interests of our industry with greater effectiveness," said Doralice.

"I was blown away by the variety of fresh produce and artisanal goods at the farmer's market. It is good to support local farmers and vendors" Said one Pation.

One vendor expressed her views " I am happy to be part of this farmers market, It's good to see the community coming together to support local farmers and businesses. We had a good turnout, and I believe it will only get bigger and bigger. I look forward to doing this every other week. I wish we could do this every week. " - Vendor.

The next Craft and Farmers Market event will take place on May 27th, and everyone is welcome to attend.

For more information on Le Sommet Foundation and their work towards building sustainable agriculture in Sint Maarten, please visit their FB Page www.facebook.com/lesommetsxm or call on 1721-5268232
PHILIPSBURG:--- Motorworld will be showcasing its service staff internationally at the first Changan World Skills Competition. This World Skills Competition aims at recognizing and showcasing the skills and capabilities of top-performing service professionals across the Changan global distributorship network. At this competition, the Service teams will be inspired to strive for excellence in fulfilling the Changan customer promise of Lasting Safety.

Motorworlds Workshop Manager Ivmaral Carrilho and Assistant Service Manager Desiree Queeley will represent Sint Maarten at the contest which will be taking place at Changan International Corporations (CIC) headquarters in Chongqing, China. These Changan Service Representatives were evaluated among all of the service professionals across the global distribution network and they have proudly made it to the finals.

Motorworld officially launched the Changan Auto brand in February 2023. Despite being fairly new, the entire after-sales team has completed rigorous training in preparation for the launch. Ongoing training is continuously taking place to ensure service excellence to the Changan customers.

Being invited to the First Global Skills Competition by Changan International Corporation is an indicator of our commitment to providing quality services for our Changan models on the island. Im extremely proud of the team for this accomplishment and wish them the best of luck as they represent us! shares Jeet Persaud, Parts & Service Director.

As the automotive industry continues to develop and grow, the skillsets needed of service professionals need to adapt and grow with them. Attending the Changan World Skills Competition provides the opportunity for the representatives to increase their knowledge and stay on top of industry developments and to improve the level of expertise offered to customers.
Golden Rim Identifies New Gold Targets at Kada

West African gold explorer Golden Rim Resources Ltd (ASX: GMR; Golden Rim or Company  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/golden-rim-resources-ltd/ ) is pleased to provide assay results for the final 44 air core (AC) drill holes (totalling 2,197m) from exploration drilling which has identified new targets at its flagship Kada Gold Project (Kada) in Guinea.

Highlights

Air core (AC) drilling returned numerous anomalous gold results, at both the Sadan and Massan South prospects, including 22m @ 0.9 g/t gold.

3,500m of diamond drilling (DD) at Bereko and Massan prospects is progressing well; 2,060m drilled to date.

Golden Rim is developing a pipeline of prospects to drive continued growth of the Kada Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE).

Updated Massan MRE and maiden Bereko MRE on track for delivery in 2023.

Golden Rima?s Managing Director, Tim Strong, commented:

aDiscovering gold at the Sadan prospect confirms our view that Kada still has a significant amount of gold ounces to uncover. We feel we have only scratched the surface when it comes to Kada, with 930,000 ounces at Massan across a 1km strike, and another very attractive target in Bereko, 9km to the north. We are now focussed on filling in the gaps across Kadaa?s 15km long bedrock gold corridor, and we are confident this will uncover further zones of mineralisation and underpin Resource growth.

aRecent RC results at Sounkou[1] (17m @ 1.3 g/t) and now promising aircore results at Sadan and Massan South are proof that Kada is a substantial gold deposit, and we look forward to using these new results to drive targeted exploration forward.a

Kada Exploration Drilling

Golden Rima?s 3,000m AC drilling program targeting new discoveries is now complete, while its 3,500m DD program testing open mineralisation and providing structural information commenced in March 2023 is ongoing.

In addition, Golden Rim recently completed a 10,000m RC drilling program at Kada which comprised exploration drilling at the Bereko Prospect and north of the MRE area within the Massan Prospect, as well as some resource extension and infill drilling around the margins of the MRE.

AC drill hole collar details are provided in Table 1 and the hole locations are depicted in Figure 1. All significant new gold intersections are presented in Table 2.

Air core Drilling

Golden Rim completed a 3,000m AC drilling program in March to explore the newly discovered Nounkoun target identified in field mapping (Figure 1), as well as prospective geophysical anomalies within Massan and Bereko. A total of 64 holes for 2922m were drilled, as follows:

19 holes for 1,009m at Bereko

8 holes for 414m at Massan

7 holes for 327m at Massan South

22 holes for 1,047m at Sadan

8 holes for 125m at Bamfele.

Assays were received for 12 holes and announced on 24 April 2023. Results for a further 44 holes across all prospects have now been received, with results for the remaining eight holes pending. Multiple holes contain anomalous gold values, highlights include:

oA A SDAC013:

22m @ 0.9 g/t gold from 28m

oA A SDAC009:

12m @ 0.5 g/t gold from 4m

4m @ 1.6 g/t gold from 44m

oA A SDAC010:

4m @ 1.0 g/t gold from 5m

10m @ 0.3 g/t gold from 39m

oA A MSAC012:

4m @ 1.2 g/t gold from 8m

Drilling consistently intersected a series of interbedded strongly weathered, intensely oxidised sedimentary rocks, mostly siltstone and greywacke with minor shales. Mineralisation is encountered in all rock types.

These encouraging new results, coupled with the recent discovery at the Sounkou prospect 13km southwest of the MRE area at Massan, present additional prospective target areas for follow-up as Golden Rim continues to expand its gold inventory at Kada. The Company is on track to deliver a MRE update later in 2023.

Mineralised zones will be re-assayed using 1m intervals to further define the mineralisation.A A A A

Current Progress & Next Steps

RC drilling at Bereko and Massan is now complete, with assays pending for the final 14 holes (1,487m) at Massan. Results for these holes, and the final trenches at Massan, are expected during May.

The final eight AC drillhole results are expected in May, and diamond drilling at Massan and Bereko will continue until completion; expected to be late May. Result will then be analysed over the coming wet season in preparation for an MRE upgrade at Massan and a maiden MRE at Bereko.

This announcement was authorised for release by the Board of Golden Rim Resources Ltd.

ABOUT GOLDEN RIM RESOURCES

Golden Rim Resources Limited is an ASX listed exploration company with a portfolio of advanced minerals projects in Guinea and Burkina Faso, West Africa and in Chile, South America.

The Companya?s flagship project is the advanced Kada Gold Project in eastern Guinea. Guinea remains one of the most under-explored countries in West Africa. Golden Rim has outlined a maiden Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 25.5Mt at 1.1g/t gold for 930Koz[2], the majority of which is shallow oxide-transitional gold mineralisation. Golden Rim is focussed on growing the Mineral Resource Estimate. Most of the 200km2 project area remains under explored and there is considerable upside for the discovery of additional oxide gold mineralisation.

The Company has outlined an Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource of 50Mt at 1.3g/t gold for 2Moz[3] at the Kouri Gold Project, located in north-east Burkina Faso, and it also holds the Paguanta Copper and Silver-Lead-Zinc Project in northern Chile A which has a Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource of 2.4Mt at 88g/t silver, 5.0% zinc and 1.4% lead for 6.8Moz silver, 265Mlb zinc and 74Mlb lead[4] at the Patricia Prospect, which remains open. The Company is seeking to divest these projects to focus on Kada.

At the adjacent Loreto Copper Project in Chile, Golden Rim has signed an Option and Joint Venture agreement with Teck Chile whereby Teck Chile can acquire up to a 75% interest in the project.

ASX:GMR

Market Capitalisation: A$19.5 million

Shares on Issue: 591.6 million

Competent Persons Statements

The information in this report relating to previous exploration results and Mineral Resources are extracted from the announcements: Maiden Drilling at Sounkou prospect hits 17m @ 1.3g/t dated 24 April 2023; Kada drilling delivers 56m @ 1.7g/t gold at Massan, 9m @ 2.8g/t gold at Bereko dated 05 April 2023; Golden Rim intercepts 9m @ 3.3gt oxide gold at Kada dated 17 March 2023; GMR hits 57m @ 1.0g/t gold in Oxide at Kada dated February 20 2023; GMR intercepts further oxide gold zones at Kadaa?s Bereko prospect dated 06 February 2023; Golden Rim identifies extensive additional oxide gold target areas at Bereko dated 14 July 2022; Golden Rim Hits 43m at 1.2gt Gold Outside Kada Mineral Resource dated 21 June 2022; Golden Rim Commences Infill Auger Drilling at Bereko Gold Prospects dated 25 May 2022; Golden Rim hits shallow high-grade oxide gold at Bereko dated 19 May 2022; Golden Rima?s Drilling Outside Kada Mineral Resource Area Delivers More Oxide Gold dated 11 May 2022; Kada Maiden Mineral Resource 930Koz Gold dated 3 March 2022; Golden Rim Discovers More Oxide Gold in Exploration Drilling at Kada dated 1 March 2022; Golden Rim hits 171.5g/t gold in sampling at Kada with multiple new targets identified dated 22 February 2022; Golden Rim Discovers Exciting New Zone of Oxide Gold at Kada a 66m at 1.0g/t Gold dated 17 February 2022; Golden Rim Hits More Oxide Gold at Kada  61m at 1.2ppm Gold from Surface dated 28 January 2022; Golden Rim Continues to Identify Additional Gold Mineralisation at Kada dated 20 January 2022; Kada Delivers Exceptional Shallow Oxide Gold Intersection  96m at 3.3ppm Gold dated 20 December 2021; Kada Delivers Widest Oxide Gold Intersection to Date  62m at 1.3ppm Gold dated 14 December 2021; Golden Rim Delivers More Broad Zones of Oxide Gold at Kada dated 19 August 2021; Golden Rim Intersects 32m at 1.4ppm Gold in Oxide at Kada dated 05 August 2021; Golden Rim Expands Kada Bedrock Gold Corridor to 15km dated 30 July 2021; Golden Rim\-s Oxide Gold Blanket at Kada Expands to 700m Width dated 26 July 2021; Golden Rim Hits 46m at 1.3ppm Gold at Kada dated 19 July 2021; Golden Rim Continues to Outline Broad Oxide Gold Area at Kada dated 13 July 2021; Golden Rim Confirms Broad Zones of Oxide Gold in Resource Drillout at Kada dated 29 June 2021; Major Bedrock Gold Corridor Extends to 4.7km at Kada dated 20 May 2021; Major 3.5km Bedrock Gold Corridor Confirmed at Kada dated 19 April 2021. These reports are available on the Companya?s website (www.goldenrim.com.au). The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in these announcements and, in the case of the Mineral Resource estimate, that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning estimate continue to apply and have not materially changed.

The information in this report that relates to exploration results is based on information compiled by Brendan Hogan, a Competent Person, who is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Hogan is a full-time employee of the Company and has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the aAustralasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reservesa?. Mr Hogan consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this document are or maybe aforward-looking statementsa and represent Golden Rima?s intentions, projections, expectations or beliefs concerning among other things, future exploration activities. The projections, estimates and beliefs contained in such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Golden Rim, and which may cause Golden Rima?s actual performance in future periods to differ materially from any express or implied estimates or projections. Nothing in this document is a promise or representation as to the future. Statements or assumptions in this document as to future matters may prove to be incorrect and differences may be material. Golden Rim does not make any representation or warranty as to the accuracy of such statements or assumptions.

Link to the English News: https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02664919-3A618149?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4

[1] ASX Announcement: Kouri Mineral Resource Increases by 43% to 2 Million ounces Gold dated 26 October 2020 (Total Mineral Resource includes: Indicated Mineral Resource of 7Mt at 1.4g/t gold and Inferred Mineral Resource of 43Mt at 1.2g/t gold).

[2] ASX Announcement: New Resource Estimation for Paguanta dated 30 May 2017 (Total Mineral Resource includes: Measured Mineral Resource of 0.41Mt at 5.5% zinc, 1.8% lead, 88g/t silver, 0.3g/t gold; Indicated Mineral Resource of 0.61Mt at 5.1% zinc, 1.8% lead, 120g/t silver, 0.3g/t gold; Inferred Mineral Resource of 1.3Mt at 4.8% zinc, 1.1% lead, 75g/t silver, 0.3g/t gold).

[3] ASX Announcement: Kada Maiden Mineral Resource 930koz Gold dated 3 March 2022.

[4] See GMR ASX Announcement dated 24 April 2023.
Kenorland Minerals Provides 2023 Exploration Update

As we seem to be at a pivotal point in the economy, with the Federal Reserve contemplating a halt in rate hikes, and potentially a more dovish stance for the second half of this year as a recession seems to be coming our way, sending the gold price to all-time highs recently, Kenorland Minerals (KLD.V)(3WQO.FSE) keeps establishing itself as the best prospect generator out there in my view, focusing on Tier I discoveries, working with just major producers. After a series of news releases came out discussing smaller developments since my last article, it is time now to condense this all into one comprehensive update on the company.A A A

Unfortunately, the share price remains stable around the C$0.70-0.80 levels (equal to the last pre IPO round), with brief spikes to C$0.85 as Kenorland stock continues to be supported by many, for example the likes of Sumitomo, all the big Quebec funds, Sprott Global, Commodity Capital, Euro Pacific and last but not least Rick Rule himself.

Although Kenorland is doing fine, with C$18M in the treasury, planned exploration expenditures of C$33M, and a large portfolio of active projects, the company seems to have a hard time breaking out of the current trading range, despite record gold prices and copper prices doing well, as Kenorland is focusing on projects containing these two metals. I asked CEO Zach Flood why he thinks this is happening, and where he sees potential catalysts to create share price appreciation for investors. He stated, aThe markets give little to no value to very early-stage exploration, however now that our portfolio is maturing, and discoveries are being made, we may see more action in the stock.A Other catalysts could also include a broader recognition that the Regnault gold discovery is something that could have very significant economic potential, meaning it has qualities that could help it become a producing mine in the future. Ita?s worth noting that Kenorland has become a profitable entity with significant taxes owing this year and nearly a total of C$100M in expenditures applied to a properties by the end of the year (since inception).A The company has historically raised C$29M (including NTW raises) and currently we have more than that in cash + shares.A From a shareholder perspective, there isna?t a more efficient use of proceeds in the early stage exploration space.A The project pipeline is now maturing (from grassroots turning into drill targets), so I believe we are at a stage where things will begin to get more interesting, and perhaps with more upside a

As the portfolio of assets of Kenorland is increasing, the way of presentation by the company is changing too. The amount of information per project has been limited, with more focus on general exploration strategy, and several maps with projects are provided.

I recognize this development with another prospect generator called Globex Mining (GMX.TO), which has over 200 projects and cana?t possibly describe each project in its presentation. Although simplification seems time-saving and more clear, it also makes it harder for investors to value projects, and in turn value the company as a whole. Therefore I asked CEO Flood what his opinion on this is, and how he wants to convey the value of Kenorland to new investors. He stated: aMost of the significant shareholders are invested in Kenorland because they value a team of highly skilled and experienced explorationists who can make real discoveries. It is about the team and the strategy, along with the disciplined way we have managed the company from a financial perspective. In early-stage exploration, projects will come and go, targets will be tested and very few, if any, will result in economic discoveries. The real value comes when a large economic discovery is made and recognized and until that happens, ita?s a matter of survival and preservation of the share structure. The value in Kenorland is being able to navigate the risks associated with early-stage exploration.a

To sum up the various projects and ongoing exploration, I followed the latest news release per project, and added pictures, additional information and questions for CEO Flood whenever suitable:

2023 Exploration Programs

Frotet Project, Quebec:A The 2023 Winter drill program at the Regnault gold discovery has reached completion with a total of 13,360 meters over 15 drill holes. A combination of unseasonably warm weather delaying ice construction and slow drill production resulted in less meters being drilled than originally planned, which was an amount of 22,000m over 25 holes. Complete drill results are expected to be released towards the end of the second quarter or early in the third quarter, which is also a delay of 3 months, due to the aforementioned reason of unusual warm weather.

Looking forward, the 2023 Summer exploration program is scheduled to commence in July and will include up to 10,000m of diamond drilling along with various detailed geochemical surveys surrounding the Regnault area.

As the original program included 11,000m of step-out drilling expanding the vein discoveries along the R5, R6, R7 and R8 structures, 8500m was designed to ainfilla a 450m gap between R5-R6-R7-R8 and R2-R3, and 2500m was planned to target an untested zone to the south of Regnault, and just 13,360m was completed, not entirely clearly visualized for me in the presentation regarding the planned drilling, I was curious to find out what was drilled, and what will be done in the summer. CEO Flood elaborated: aThere was a combined strategy of infill, stepouts, and deeper drilling to find new structures. A big focus was the center of the system between R5, 6, 7, 8 and the R2/R3. This was a big gap in drilling so we focussed a lot of drilling in there. The deeper drilling was also targeting new parallel vein structures, similar to how we found the R5, R6, 7, 8 etc,A the deepest hole we drilled was just over 1600m (drilled at 65 degrees I believe).A This summer is still in the works in terms of planning, but it might focus more of infill at Regnault, along with detailed geochemical surveys including till and lake sediment sampling, to advanced abrownfieldsa? targets within the area surrounding Regnault. We believe there is still significant discovery potential in the area and look forward to advancing these targets, which will then likely be drill tested next winter.a

An important part if not the most important part of earlier analysis is the back-of-the-envelope estimate on the Regnault deposit, so I will just quote it here again for your convenience:

aRegarding my back of the envelope estimate for the hypothetical Regnault resource, the combination of these models showed much more insight for me, and made it easier to estimate mineralization. As a reminder, the R1 zone is in fact a set of layered veins, but for guesstimating purposes this will be calculated as one zone. This results in an updated, very global back-of-the-envelope estimate on the R1 structure, and arrive for R1 at 1100 x 300 x 5 x 2.75 = 4.5Mt, at an average guesstimated grade of 6g/t Au, this would mean a hypothetical 870koz Au. The length of the mineralized envelope is actually a few hundred meters longer as the mentioned 1050m strike length in the news release, as the envelope is bent upwards towards the surface, so therefore I assume 1100m envelope length for R1.

The R2 back-of-the-envelope guesstimate stands unchanged at 900 x 200 x 2 x 2.75 = 990kt, at an average guesstimated grade of 8g/t Au this remains a hypothetical 255koz Au. For the R3 structure we have more visual information now, so the envelope could be estimated at 600 x 200 x 4 x 2.75 = 1.3Mt, at an average estimated grade of 7g/t this results in a hypothetical 294koz Au. The R4 structure to the north seems to be consisting of fairly narrow veins as well, 200m long and 225m deep, however not continuous from surface but separate vein structures, so the combined mineralized envelope is guesstimated at 200 x 100 x 2 x 2.75 = 110kt, at an average guesstimated grade of 10g/t Au this could imply a hypothetical 36koz Au. This results in a total hypothetical estimate for R1-R4 of 1.46Moz Au.

For the R5-R8 vein the data has become more complex with significant variation in average grades, even with additional structures indicated in between these veins, so I will try to estimate numbers per vein. For the R5 vein, the envelope is estimated at 700 x 75 x 5 x 2.75 = 722kt, at an average estimated grade of 10g/t this results in a hypothetical 233koz Au. For the R6 vein (including a second vein in between R5 and R6), the envelope is estimated at 800 x 75 x 6 x 2.75 = 990kt, at an average estimated grade of 8g/t this results in a hypothetical 255koz Au. For the R7 vein (including a second vein in between R7 and R8), the envelope is estimated at 650 x 50 x 7 x 2.75 = 625kt, at an average estimated grade of 8g/t this results in a hypothetical 161koz Au. For the R8 vein, the envelope is estimated at 650 x 80 x 3 x 2.75 = 429kt, at an average estimated grade of 8g/t this results in a hypothetical 111koz Au. These new veins result in a total, hypothetical number of 760koz Au. My overall estimate would come in at an hypothetical 2.22Moz Au for now, which is considerably more than my last estimate.a

For average grade I estimated 7-8g/t Au, leta?s see how this all works out in the future.

Earlier this year Kenorland announced promising preliminary metallurgical test work at Regnault, returning gold recoveries of 89.1-89.9%.

These results indicate that gold extraction is best improved with finer grinding and extended leaching, likely due to an increase in liberated gold grains and complete dissolution of coarse gold. In order to have good recoveries, the figure needs to improve to 92-94%, so some work needs to be done here. I asked if this will be achievable, and CEO Flood answered, aThis was the most preliminary metallurgical work. There will be further detailed metallurgical studies and were confident these recoveries will improve as this work is completed.a As a reminder, the Frotet Project is currently held under an 20/80 joint venture with Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada Ltd.

Chebistuan Project, Quebec:A A maiden diamond drill program was recently completed at the Deux Orignaux target area. This target area was defined by gold and pathfinder element anomalism in glacial overburden identified following multiple phases of systematic geochemical surveys, beginning with a regional program in 2021 covering the entire 159,690-hectare property.

The maiden drill program included 2,170m of diamond drilling over seven holes testing across structural targets defined by detailed magnetic and induced polarization (IP) surveys completed last year. Results from the drill program are expected to be released towards the end of the second quarter. As 3,500m of drilling was originally planned, I asked CEO Flood what caused the difference. He answered:aWe ran into similar issues that we saw at Regnault; warm weather delayed ice construction and drill production was slower than expected.a The Chebistuan Project is held under an earn-in agreement with Newmont.

Oa?Sullivan Project, Quebec:A Kenorland recently completed detailed electromagnetic (EM), IP, and drone (UAV) magnetic surveys covering the Pusticamica North target area. The target area was delineated by coherent gold-in-till anomalism along the northern shore of Lac Pusticamica which coincides with strong deformation along a major felsic intrusive-volcanic contact. Summer 2023 planned exploration work includes a lake sediment geochemical survey, detailed mapping and a regional airborne versatile time domain electromagnetic (VTEM) survey. The geophysical and geochemical surveys, which cover a large portion of the target area beneath a lake, will assist in future drill targeting. The Oa?Sullivan Project is held under an earn-in agreement with Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada Ltd.

Chicobi Project, Quebec:A Land access and permitting is well underway for the next phase of sonic drilling (drill-for-till geochemical sampling) along the Roch-Can trend. The Roch-Can trend is located along a major first order structure within the Chicobi Deformation Zone (CDZ) which transects the Abitibi greenstone belt.

Limited historical drilling and previously completed sonic drill holes have identified an alteration corridor spanning 17 kilometers in strike length and broadly associated with Au-Zn-Ag anomalism within the bedrock and glacial overburden. The two phase (summer and winter) sonic drill-for-till program is planned to commence in the third quarter of this year. The Chicobi Project is currently held under a 49/51 joint venture with Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada Ltd.

Hunter Project, Quebec: Following an initial property-wide drill-for-till sonic program, completed in 2022, the company is currently carrying out a detailed drone magnetic survey along with land access and permitting efforts in preparation for a follow-up detailed sonic drill program covering priority target areas identified from the initial regional program. The follow-up sonic drill program is expected to commence during the third quarter. The Hunter Project is currently held under an earn-in agreement with a subsidiary of Centerra Gold.

South Uchi Project, Ontario:A Following the termination of the earn-in agreement with Barrick Gold Corp.,A planning for the next phase of exploration at the 100% owned South Uchi Project is well underway.A Priority target areas for follow-up exploration include a significant large-scale and high-tenor coincident Ni-Cu-Co glacial till geochemical anomaly along with multiple discrete Li-Cs-Ta (LCT) geochemical targets.A Future exploration will focus on the discovery of both nickel-copper sulphide systems as well as lithium bearing pegmatite systems.

Separation Rapids Project, Ontario:A In 2022, the company completed a regional till geochemical survey, focused on LCT pegmatite systems, covering a large portion of the 46,362-hectare property. Results from the 1,183 till samples collected identified three priority target areas defined by anomalous and coincident lithium and cesium in till. A detailed follow-up geochemical survey and prospecting, covering all three priority target areas, is planned for this summer. The Separation Rapids Project is currently held under an option agreement with Double O Seven Mining Ltd., a private B.C. corporation.

Tanacross Project, Alaska:A The recently approved 2023 exploration budget and program includes 4,500m of diamond drilling scheduled to commence in June. Drilling will focus on three target areas; East Taurus, West Taurus, and South Taurus.

This drill program follows the surface work completed last summer, including the collection of 800 infill soil samples along with detailed IP and MT surveys covering the West Taurus-McCord Creek-East Taurus trend, as well as detailed extremely low frequency electromagnetic surveying (ELF-EM) and ground gravity surveys over the South Taurus anomaly. The Tanacross Project is currently held under an earn-in agreement with Antofagasta Minerals S.A.

Healy Project, Alaska:A The company intends to carry out an ELF-EM survey covering the kilometer-scale Healy gold system during the summer in order to refine drill targets for future exploration. The Healy Project is currently held under joint venture with Newmont Corporation.

Muskayk Project, Manitoba:A In November 2022, the company staked 300 mining claims covering 39,522 hectares in the Rusty Lake Greenstone Belt (RLGB) of Manitoba. The RLGB hosts the 70Mt Ruttan VMS deposit with historical production of 1.5Mlbs of copper and 1.7Mlbs of zinc. The RLGB has seen very limited modern exploration and no significant large-scale geochemical surveys. Given the low exploration maturity and proven endowment, the Muskayk Project compliments the companya?s existing exploration portfolio. Community engagement is currently underway along with planning for an initial regional geochemical survey.

South Thompson Project, Manitoba:A The company has applied for mineral exploration licences covering 383,704 hectares along the southern extension of the Thompson Nickel Belt (TNB), which is largely covered by Phanerozoic cover sequences. Compilation and digitization of historical exploration data, including 300 drillholes, has been completed. Evaluation and interpretation of historical geophysical surveys, including airborne magnetics and electromagnetic surveys are underway. Further integration and interrogation of these datasets will be used for targeting and planning follow-up exploration including diamond drilling.

Western Ontario Portfolio:A The company recently acquired, through map staking, three new project areas in western Ontario collectively covering 182,239 hectares (46,347 ha Flora Project and the 58,536 ha West Wabigoon Project in the Western Wabigoon sub-province, and the 77,356 ha Quetico Project spanning the Western Wabigoon, Quetico and Marmion sub-provinces). These projects all cover vast areas of prospective Archean greenstone belts with relatively low exploration maturity and are generally concealed by glacial overburden. Detailed compilation and digitization of historical exploration data is underway along with community engagement and planning for the initial phases of exploration.

Critical Minerals Portfolio:A Over the last two years, the company has assembled a portfolio of projects focused on critical minerals including REE and Niobium. The 41,951-hectare Omineca Project is located 350km north of the Wicheeda REE deposit in British Columbia. The 12,119-hectare Torrance Project is located in the Kapuskasing Structural Zone in eastern Ontario and covers an interpreted and untested alkaline ring complex, prospective for carbonatite related rare earth and niobium mineralisation. The 91,123-hectare Saguenay Project is located in the Saguenay region of Quebec near the Niobec and Crevier niobium deposits. Detailed compilation, digitization, and program planning is underway at each of these project areas.

Equity interests: Kenorland holds C$14.07M in equity interests and private holdings, of which about C$10M is accounted for by a holding in LiFT Power, a lithium junior of which the CEO Francis McDonald is a founder of Kenorland and still an advisor. Needless to say this provides Kenorland with a front row seat on any developments. A A

Conclusion

Kenorland is more and more shaping up as a profitable business in my view, optioning and JV-ing projects, sampling, drilling and killing them together with majors, looking for a genuine Tier I discovery in the process. Regnault might be one, but it will take a lot more drilling before the mineralized envelope, estimated by me at 2.2Moz @7-8g/t Au for now, would reach Tier I status (say over 5Moz Au). New drill results are expected in 2 months from now, leta?s see if drilling was successful. As the company is the operator on many more projects, lots of newsflow and results can be expected, with Tanacross drilling as the second most important subject in my view. I still view an EMX type deal for Regnault with Sumitomo as a realistic option, and I see real potential for a deal looming when the (estimated) 3Moz Au threshold is reached, as Sumitomo doesna?t need Tier I assets. As there might be a focus on more infill drilling at Regnault, this could hint towards this direction. Stay tuned! A

I hope you will find this article interesting and useful, and will have further interest in my upcoming articles on mining. To never miss a thing, please subscribe to my free newsletter, in order to get an email notice of my new articles soon after they are published.

Disclaimer:

The author is not a registered investment advisor, and currently has a long position in Kenorland Minerals, Globex Mining and LiFT Power. Kenorland Minerals is a sponsoring company. All facts are to be checked by the reader. For more information go to www.kenorlandminerals.com and read the companya?s profile andA official documents onA www.sedar.com, alsoA for important risk disclosures. This article is provided for information purposes only, and is not intended to be investment advice of any kind, and all readers are encouraged to do their own due diligence, and talk to their own licensed investment advisors prior to making any investment decisions.
As a result of massive artillery shelling of Nikopol district of Dnipropetrovsk region, three people were wounded, including a 14-year-old teenager, head of the regional military administration Serhiy Lysak said.

"Today, the enemy covered Nikopol district with artillery fire. Chervonohryhoryivska community was hit, but Nikopol itself was hit the hardest. Almost three dozen shells hit the city," he said on the Telegram channel on Monday evening.

"At this moment, three victims are known. Among them is a 14-year-old girl, she was hospitalized, her condition is now satisfactory. Two more men, 61 and 42 years old, will be treated on an outpatient basis," Lysak said.

According to him, as a result of the shelling in Nikopol, several fires broke out "outbuildings and an infrastructure facility were burning. Rescuers have already coped with the fire everywhere." Also, 14 five-story residential buildings, seven private houses were damaged, one utility building was destroyed, eight more were broken.

"Five cars were also hooked. There are destructions at three private enterprises and service stations," Lysak said.
Like many aspects of planet Earth, our view of the night sky suffers from pollution effects. Emissions from industry along with stray light from outdoor lamps make it difficult for people in many regions to enjoy the starry view to its fullest.

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is working to preserve the night sky for its cultural and scientific value and to do that it has worked with countries to create dark sky reserves around the world.

For an area to be certified as a Dark Sky Reserve it must meet the minimum criteria for sky quality and natural darkness and go through a rigorous application process with the IDA. You can learn more about their processes on the IDA's official website (opens in new tab).

Related: Can you see stars in light-polluted skies?

If you're looking to make a trip to a dark sky reserve and are looking for a telescope or binoculars to help your observations our guides for the best binoculars deals and the best telescope deals now can help. Our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography can also help you prepare to capture the next skywatching sight on your own.

Alpes Azur Mercantour (France)

Stars above Lacs Les Laussets in Mercantour National Park. (Image credit: Anthony Turpaud / 500px via Getty Images)

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The gentle climate and renowned biodiversity in Mercantour National Park (opens in new tab) in France make it a popular dark sky reserve among astronomy enthusiasts, according to the IDA. One of the first mountain observatories, Mont Mounier was established here at the end of the 19th century. In between gazing at the stars, you can enjoy the mountain views and close proximity to the coast.



Aoraki Mackenzie (New Zealand)

Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. (Image credit: Shutterstock)

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In the 1908s, local officials began to more aggressively control outdoor lighting in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve in New Zealand, not only to protect the sky but also to conserve energy and protect wildlife, according to the IDA. The Maori, who are indigenous residents in this region, use the night sky for navigation and also have a wealth of astronomy and star cultural lore that is culturally important. Helping to keep the sky unpolluted, the Maori is therefore one of the reasons IDA is glad to preserve this area's dark skies.

Brecon Beacons National Park (Wales)

The Brecon Beacons International Dark Sky Reserve was established in 2013. (Image credit: Michael Roberts via Getty Images)

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The Brecon Beacons National Park (opens in new tab) in Wales is so isolated that sheep outnumber people 30 to 1, according to IDA. Nevertheless, the community of roughly 33,000 residents has been working hard to make 100 percent of their lighting conducive to preserving the dark skies. It's a big win for astronomy enthusiasts, as there used to be a lot of lighting that washed out astronomy views.

Central Idaho (United States)

Little Redfish Lake, Idaho. (Image credit: vkbhat via Getty Images)

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If you're looking for a wilderness experience similar to what our ancestors had, Stanley Lake in central Idaho (opens in new tab) is one of the few places that not only is lacking in electricity but also mobile phone service, IDA says. The rugged terrain in the region has made it difficult to put in infrastructure, which has left behind some truly dark skies for visitors. During the day, there are also opportunities for hiking, backpacking and horseback riding.



Cevennes National Park (France)

A starry sky over Pise Lake in Cevennes, France. (Image credit: Getty)

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While much of France has urbanized over the centuries, Cevennes (opens in new tab) remains uniquely sparse thanks to the mountainous terrain in this region. There is no lack of people  some 71,000 inhabitants within 250 villages  but the region is mostly made up of farmland, with nearby activities including mountain biking, fishing, hiking and spelunking (cave exploring). Local authorities have also done their best to preserve the sky views, IDA says.

Cranborne Chase (England)

Cranborne Chase Knowlton Church in Dorset, U.K. (Image credit: Julian Elliott/Getty)

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The dark sky reserve of Cranborne Chase (opens in new tab) in Dorset, U.K. features a chalk formation, sharp hills and numerous clays and gravels, IDA says. The interesting landscape adds to the beauty of the night sky, which is preserved between the counties Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire. Adjacent to this reserve is Salisbury Plain, home to the famous Stonehenge monument.

Exmoor National Park (England)

Starry nightscape over Exmoor National Park Mountain Landscape in Devon, U.K. (Image credit: Arthur Cauty/Shutterstock)

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If you're looking for a dark sky reserve within a short drive of urban centers, Exmoor National Park (opens in new tab) in Devon, U.K. offers exceptional skies and accessibility at the same time. History buffs can also visit Bronze Age burial mounds or a deserted medieval settlement in the region, IDA says.

Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve (U.S./Mexico)

The Milky Way above the McDonald Observatory at the heart of the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve. (Image credit: John Davis/Stocktrek Images via Getty Images)

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The Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve (opens in new tab) is currently the world's largest Reserve and Protected Dark Sky Place according to the IDA. It is also the first bi-national International Dark Sky Reserve as it spans over 9 million acres, from Fort Davis, Texas, to the Rio Grande River at the US/Mexico international border, and also three protected areas in Mexico  Maderas del Carmen, Ocampo, and Canon de Santa Elena. At the very heart of the reserve is the McDonald Observatory (opens in new tab)

Kerry (Ireland)

Star trails in the Dark Sky Reserve, over Valentia Island, County Kerry, Ireland. (Image credit: Stephen Power/Alamy)

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If you're taken aback by the dark sky views in County Kerry (opens in new tab), a barren region in Ireland, know that you are not alone. Neolithic inhabitants of the region built stone monuments nearly 6,000 years ago to keep track of the sun, moon and stars, and some of the Ogham-language inscriptions in the region might describe celestial observations, the IDA says.

Mont-Megantic (Quebec)

Mont-Megantic's astronomical observatory. (Image credit: Alamy)

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Mont-Megantic Reserve (opens in new tab), which is near the large city of Sherbrooke in Quebec, has some unique features to it for visitors, including an observatory. The 34 municipalities in this region have agreed to outdoor lighting regulations to control the spread of light pollution, which IDA says would be a good model for other interested urban areas who wish to follow suit.

Moore's Reserve (South Downs, England)

The Milky Way over the landscape of the Seven Sisters cliffs in South Downs National Park, on the English coast. (Image credit: Getty)

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"It is remarkable that any relatively dark areas remain between London and the south coast of England," IDA says about South Downs National Park (opens in new tab) on the English coast, which lies only 60 miles (100 km) from the greater London area.

The park has been able to keep its dark skies even with 108,000 residents and a highly urbanized center within a reasonable driving distance. In fact, nearly 10 million people live within a two-hour driving distance of this park. The dark sky reserve has been named the Moore's Reserve in honor of local astronomer Sir Patrick Moore (1923-2012) to honor his contributions to the field of astronomy.

NamibRand Nature Reserve (Namibia)

A camping site at the NamibRand Nature Reserve. (Image credit: Andia/Universal Images Group/Getty)

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The NamibRand Nature Reserve (opens in new tab) in Namibia represents one of the largest private nature reserves on the continent. While also providing a shelter for the local ecology and wildlife, the reserve's mandate has more recently expanded to include protecting the night skies. Schoolchildren are among the visitors who commonly sleep in "open air" units to see the sky overhead, IDA says.

North York Moors National Park (England)

The North York Moors is a national park in North Yorkshire, England. (Image credit: Chris McLoughlin via Getty Images)

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The North York Moors National Park (opens in new tab)offers skywatchers a diverse landscape with some of the darkest skies in the country. If you're lucky you may also be able to catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) if conditions are right.

Pic du Midi (France)

The Pic du Midi observatory at night. (Image credit: Christophe Lehenaff/Getty)

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The Pic du Midi (opens in new tab), a popular mountainous reserve in the French Pyrenees, attracts roughly 1.5 million visitors per year, largely on the back of its IDA designation as a dark-sky zone, IDA says. (The zone also encompasses a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage site and a French national park.) The nearby University of Pau and Pays de lAdour is currently conducting scientific studies of the sky to best preserve it for future generations.

Regional Natural Park of Millevaches in Limousin (France)

Regional Natural Park of Millevaches in Limousin was designated an International Dark Sky Reserve in 2021. (Image credit: Luc OLIVIER via Getty Images)

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The Regional Natural Park of Millevaches in Limousin (opens in new tab) (PNRML, or Reserve Internationale de Ciel Etoile du Millevaches in French) is known for its rich heather moors, peat bogs, wetlands and old deciduous forests. The reserve spans 1,293 square miles (3,350 square km) with 38,950 inhabitants. The region is dominated by rivers, with 80% of the rivers of the Limousin region coming from the Plateau of Millevaches.

Rhon (Germany)

The Rhon Mountains is one of the few spots in Germany where it is easy to capture the Milky Way in an image. (Image credit: Boris Jordan/Getty)

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The Rhon Mountains (opens in new tab) in Germany, or the "land of endless horizons" as the mountainous region is often called, is sandwiched between the populous states of Hesse, Bavaria and Thuringia. The core zone has some more populated regions surrounding the area, which work to make sure their outdoor lighting doesn't interfere with the pristine night views.

River Murray (Australia)

Milky Way over the Murray River in Victoria, Australia. (Image credit: John White/Getty)

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The Murray River reserve (opens in new tab) in Victoria, Australia was originally put into place to protect the endangered southern hairy-nosed wombat, but astronomy was added into the area's mandate (in part) to recognize that the core region is exceptionally dark, IDA says. Local regulations restrict development in the park to structures that will assist with conservation management, and only a "few rough tracks" represent available facilities within the park boundaries.

Snowdonia National Park (Wales)

The Milky Way over the countryside around Llyn Ogwen in Snowdonia National Park. (Image credit: Matt Gibson/Getty)

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This mountainous region Snowdonia National Park (opens in new tab) in Wales has, traditionally, had few humans settle within its boundaries. This has allowed us modern-day people the opportunity to experience the dark skies, IDA says. What also makes this site interesting is its sheer size, with 810 square miles (2,100 square kilometers) sprawling across about a tenth of the land area of Wales.

Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve (New Zealand)

The Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve on New Zealand's North Island. (Image credit: New Zealand transition via Getty Images)

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Located on the North Island of New Zealand, the Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve (opens in new tab) spans 1,415 square miles (3,665 square kilometers) and is home to 21,000 residents. The core of the reserve is made up entirely of the Aorangi Forest Park public lands and 100 percent of the lighting in the core is compliant with Reserve Lighting Management Plan to preserve the night sky according to the IDA.

Westhavelland (Germany)

Westhavelland is one of the darkest zones in Germany. (Image credit: imageBROKER/Stephan Schulz via Getty Images)

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Just 45 miles (70 km) from Berlin, Westhavelland, a dark sky reserve in Germany, features a sparse population, a stunning wetland and a beautiful night sky on clear nights. Local officials are working to push their "astrotourism" efforts with public outreach, a communications program and an annual WestHavellander AstroTreff star party, IDA says.

Yorkshire Dales National Park (England)

The Yorkshire Dales National Park, England. (Image credit: Alexander W Helin via Getty Images)

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Designated a National Park in 1954 and an International Dark Sky Reserve in 2020, the Yorkshire Dales (opens in new tab) is an ideal destination for those wishing to experience natural beauty, diverse wildlife and rich cultural heritage along with stunningly dark skies. There are many areas that are easily accessed by public roads which are completely void of local light pollution.

Additional resources

The IDA also has certified a number of Dark Sky Parks around the world, you can view the entire list here (opens in new tab). There are also Dark Sky Sanctuaries (opens in new tab)which have been certified by the IDA. They differ from Dark Sky Parks or Reservers in that they're often located in very remote regions with few (if any) threats to the quality of the dark skies. You can read more about the International Dark Sky Places Program and the five certification categories on their official IDA website (opens in new tab).
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. Pilot projects for hydrogen production are being prepared in Azerbaijan, Javid Abdullayev, Director of the State Agency for Renewable Energy Sources under the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan, told Trend in an exclusive interview.

"The analysis of the assessment of the hydrogen potential of Azerbaijan by Advision company has been completed with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The report contains very positive ratings. In addition, the Azerbaijan's State Oil Company (SOCAR) is also conducting research in this area. There are four options for exporting hydrogen from Azerbaijan. We can export a mixture of natural gas and hydrogen via the Southern Gas Corridor. It is possible to build a separate pipeline for the export of hydrogen. It is also possible to export "green" energy, and electrolyzers can be installed closer to consumers. And, furthermore, other products, such as ammonia, can be produced and exported. Currently, work is underway to prepare pilot projects for hydrogen," Abdullayev said.

He noted that three pilot projects in the field of alternative energy are being implemented today.

One of them is a comprehensive project implemented jointly with bp. Although the joint projects with Masdar and ACWA Power are similar, the project with bp has its own peculiarities. So, this comprehensive project includes goals related to decarbonization. bp is implementing this project in the liberated territories. The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) has already completely cleared the territory from mines, where the construction project of the 240 MW "Shafag" (Sunrise) solar power plant will be implemented with bp.

"Within the framework of the project, the solution of industrial-scale issues has begun. bp has started geotechnical research on the project. It is necessary to conduct sufficiently in-depth research and measurement work here. We have already started work on the ground as part of the project. The process continues on schedule," Abdullayev added.

According to him, negotiations on the main parameters of the contracts to be signed have already begun.

"A large number of contracts should be signed, it is necessary to determine the conditions. These are rather complex contracts based solely on the legal system and legal framework of Azerbaijan. These contracts differ significantly from the production sharing agreements that are signed in the oil and gas sectors. Unlike equity participation agreements, these agreements do not receive the status of law in the Azerbaijani Parliament. Current laws in force and the formed investment environment create conditions for investment. This is the biggest advantage of these projects over our other projects. These projects clearly show that our legislative system creates transparent conditions for investors," Abdullayev said.

He added that the work on the Garadagh solar power plant project with the UAE's Masdar company is successfully continuing.

"Work is already in its final phase. The power plant is planned to be put into operation by the end of the year. Within the framework of the project, the construction of roads has been completed, kilometers of territory have been fenced, a platform for placing solar panels has been leveled. The construction of the substation is in full swing. Manufactured solar panels are gradually being brought to the site. The number of panels that will be installed here as part of the project is more than 500,000 units. The area of the land allocated for the project is 550 hectares. Direct contracts with the Masdar company have already been signed," Abdullayev said.

According to him, as for the 240 MW Khizi-Absheron wind farm project implemented jointly with the Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power, representatives of the company engaged in construction work recently inspected the construction site.

"The mobilization work has already begun. I hope that we will witness the rapid progress of work on this project," he said.

Abdullayev pointed out that along with pilot projects, there are contracts for the implementation of projects with a capacity of 25 GW.

The electricity that will be produced within the framework of these projects is too much for the Azerbaijani market. This energy must either be converted into hydrogen or other forms that promote decarbonization, or exported. Two export routes are currently being considered. One of them involves electricity transmission by underwater cable along the Black Sea.

"The second meeting of the quadrilateral steering committee on the project has already taken place. The secretariat of this committee is the State Agency for Renewable Energy Sources under the Ministry of Energy. Work on the project is going very fast, it is planned to attract a consulting company. The preparation of the terms of reference is at the final stage. After that, a consulting company will be involved. The tender is planned to be announced during this year," he explained.

According to Abdullayev, another route provides for exports to Turkiye and European markets through Azerbaijan's liberated areas and Nakhchivan along the Zangezur corridor.

"Turkiye itself is a very large and attractive market in this area. Azerbaijans Nakhchivan also has a huge potential, especially in the field of solar energy. Many companies are interested in producing energy here for sale on the Turkish market. Very serious work is being done in this direction. A working group has been set up in Nakhchivan to implement projects in the field of alternative energy, and we have submitted our proposals to this working group. We are mainly talking about the production of solar energy, but there is also potential for wind energy, Abdullayev said.

Therefore, it is more expedient to build hybrid stations. Given the growing demand for storage facilities in Nakhchivan, some companies also offer the construction of special storage facilities. In general, one of the most important issues in the energy system of Azerbaijan is the formation of storage systems. These works are planned to be carried out in Nakhchivan, since the energy system here is compact and Nakhchivan is geographically close to the Turkish energy market, he added.

Abdullayev said that according to the concept of the creation of "green" zones, the electricity consumed in Azerbaijans liberated areas will be generated only from renewable energy sources.

"These include the Khudaferin and Qz Qalas [Maiden Tower] hydroelectric power plants, the large hydropower potential of local rivers, 10 GW of solar and wind potential. Certain projects related to bioenergy are being implemented here. All district centers will be gasified, and work in this direction is underway. Solar panels with a capacity of 3 kW will be installed on the roof of each house in the villages that will be built and rebuilt in the liberated territories. In this regard, regulatory and technical documents have been prepared, and the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture fully controls this process at the design stage. At the same time, the Ministry of Emergency Situations also supports the examination stage. Completely different technologies will be used here. Technologies for the production of thermal energy will be used. The installation of solar energy panels on roofs definitely concerns all projected public buildings," he said.

Abdullayev also touched upon the issue of holding auctions on alternative energy projects.

"Auctions related to alternative energy projects are reflected in the "On the Use of Renewable Energy Sources in Electricity Production" law. The adoption of by-laws to this law is required. This also includes the rules for choosing an electricity producer. These rules have passed all the approval processes, their formation is at the final stage. I hope that these rules will be approved in the near future," he said.

In addition, the location of the auction must be determined. The entire approval procedure for declaring the selected territory a renewable energy zone has been completed, and a decision on this is expected in the near future. Here we are talking about hundreds of hectares of land where auctions will be held. The soil in this area should be unsuitable for agriculture. All environmental regulations must be observed. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development supports us in conducting auctions. Draft contracts are also ready to be signed with investors. We are ready to announce auctions. We hope that auctions will be announced before the beginning of the second half of the year," Abdullayev added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. The Chairman of the Management Board of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) Nikolai Podguzov expressed hope for Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and other countries to join the bank, Trend reports via TASS.

Podguzov made the remark on the sidelines of the conference of investors - members of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP).

Podguzov also said that the EDB and Uzbekistan continue active negotiations on the country's entry into the list of participants in the development institution.

"We really communicate with Uzbekistan, and many positions have been brought closer. So far, this is probably one of the most realistic candidates for joining the bank," he added.

The EDB is an international financial institution with a charter capital of $7 billion and the mission to promote economic growth in its member states, expand their trade and other economic ties and foster Eurasian integration through investment.

The bank's member states are Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Armenia.
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REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. (AP)  President Joe Biden and congressional leaders will likely resume talks on Tuesday at the White House over the debt limit as the nation continues to edge closer to its legal borrowing authority with no agreement in sight.

The meeting was initially supposed to be Friday, but was abruptly postponed so staff-level talks could continue before Biden and the four congressional leaders huddled for a second time.

Administration and congressional officials said Sunday that a meeting has not been finalized, although Tuesday was the likeliest option. Biden was returning to Washington on Monday and is scheduled to leave for the Group of Seven summit in Japan on Wednesday.

Biden on Sunday did not detail much progress in the talks, but said he remained hopeful that an agreement could be reached with Republicans to avoid what would be an unprecedented debt default, which could trigger a financial catastrophe.

"I remain optimistic because Im a congenital optimist," Biden told reporters while out for a bike ride in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. "But I really think theres a desire on their part as well as ours to reach an agreement. I think well be able to do it.

Aides said talks had continued throughout the weekend. But at least publicly, there was little indication that either the White House or House Republicans had budged from their initial positions. Biden has called on lawmakers to lift the debt limit without preconditions, warning that the nations borrowing authority should not be used to impose deep spending cuts and other conservative policy demands.

Weve not reached the crunch point yet, Biden told reporters Saturday before flying to his beach home. Theres real discussion about some changes we all could make. Were not there yet.

Biden did signal over the weekend that he could be open to tougher work requirements for certain government aid programs, which Republicans are proposing as part of the ongoing discussion. He has said he will not accept anything that takes away peoples health care coverage.

I voted for tougher aid programs thats in the law now, but for Medicaid its a different story, he said. And so Im waiting to hear what their exact proposal is.

Administration officials said the talks among staff had so far been productive after Biden and the leaders  House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky  ended their first meeting last Tuesday without a breakthrough.

The president described that Oval Office session as productive even though McCarthy said later he didnt see any new movement toward resolving the stalemate. White House and congressional aides have been in talks since Wednesday.

The staff is very engaged. I would characterize the engagement as serious, as constructive, Lael Brainard, head of the White Houses National Economic Council, said on CBS Face the Nation.

McCarthy has insisted on using the threat of defaulting on the nations debts to wrangle spending changes, arguing that the federal government cant continue to spend money at the pace it is now. The national debt now stands at $31.4 trillion.

An increase in the debt limit would not authorize new federal spending. It would only allow for borrowing to pay for what Congress has already approved.

The Treasury Department has said the government could exhaust the ability to pay its bills as early as June 1. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office gave a similar warning Friday, saying there was a significant risk of default sometime in the first two weeks of next month.

But federal estimates still remain in flux.

The CBO noted Friday that if the cash flow at the Treasury and the extraordinary measures that the department is now using can continue to pay for bills through June 15, the government can probably finance its operations through the end of July. Thats because the expected tax revenues that will come in mid-June and other measures will give the federal government enough cash for at least a few more weeks.

Ultimately the stakes are, the United States has never defaulted on its debt, Wally Adeyemo, the deputy treasury secretary, said on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday. And we can't.

And Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, told ABC's This Week: "I think defaulting is not the right path to go down. So I am an eternal optimist.''

He added, this is always a game we play, every Congress, you know, in daring each other to jump off the cliff. Its a dangerous game.
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It took beverage scientist Nick Shields hundreds of batches in his Westport garage to concoct and perfect the recipe for his pioneering SpikedSeltzer, which launched a wave of copycat hard seltzer brands before its sale to AB InBev.

As for Bronya Shillo? She had a leg up with a blend in hand perfected over the decades at a family tavern, when she took her Fishers Island Lemonade to the mainland masses. E. & J. Gallo is now taking new varieties of the brand into mass retail outlets nationally, after acquiring the Connecticut company and keeping Shillo on board for the next leg of the Fishers Island Lemonade voyage.

Spirit of Gallo is adding Fishers Island Lemonade to its canned cocktail brands that include High Noon hard seltzer, Faux Pas canned cocktails and LIQS cocktail shots. Spirit of Gallo was created last year as distinct brand by wine company E. & J. Gallo, as the California giant looked to build on its portfolio with liquors and ready-to-drink cocktails.

Nielsen calculated U.S. ready-to-drink cocktail revenue at $4.8 billion over 12 months through last August, with spirits-based varieties like Fishers Island Lemonade grabbing the biggest growth in dollar share at more than 50 percent, easily besting the single-digit growth for flavored malted beverages and with hard seltzers seeing a decline.

Nearly a decade earlier, all Shillo knew was that the "FIL" cocktail was a favorite at The Pequot Inn her family ran on Fishers Island, a blend of whiskey, vodka, lemon, and honey. Tending bar, Shillo began "pre-batching" the beverage rather than mixing it to order, which Shillo said led to the "aha moment" envisioning a canned cocktail for mass distribution.

"There really wasn't anything out there that was a canned cocktail  everything was malt-based," Shillo told CT Insider last week. "Putting it on paper, putting it in a can and bringing this to life  it was very, very exciting, but it was also very risky."

Shillo grew up in Bloomfield and then West Hartford, while summering with the family on Fishers Island off Groton where her father had purchased The Pequot Inn.

While Fishers Island is part of New York, the island has closer ties to Connecticut via a ferry service that operates out of New London. Shillo originally registered the company with a Fishers Island address in a 2013 filing with the state of New York, before moving the address to Connecticut where the parent company of Fishers Island Lemonade has listed offices in Mystic and North Stonington.

On cans sold at retail, Fishers Island Lemonade lists its bottler being located in Stratford.

Shillo sprang Fishers Island Lemonade on the mainland crowd at the 2014 installment of Mohegan Sun's annual food and wine festival, at the urging of F&F Distributors which had been working with her to get placement on shelves. At the time, Shillo was working an off-season job as a librarian at the Fishers Island School.

The drink found a ready following in the subset of RTD shoppers. During the pandemic year of 2020, Fishers Island Lemonade was on pace to deliver 80,000 cases, Shillo told Forbes in an interview that ran in July that year. Fishers Island Lemonade added three more varieties in 2021 with Spiked Tea, Pink Flamingo, and a carbonated Fizz. Fishers Island Lemonade also introduced "spirit pops" that year to freeze for a colder refreshment.

The company plans to announce a pair of new blends this week, but is keeping the flavors under wraps until then.

In addition to New England, New York and New Jersey, Fishers Island Lemonade is sold in retail stores today in Florida and five other states including Colorado where Shillo had found a bottler in 2014. The company also ships to a limited number of ZIP codes in several more states including California and Texas.

If Mike's Hard Lemonade was a trailblazer for lemonade-flavored booze in package stores, plenty more have followed on the heels of Fishers Island Lemonade, to include canned drinks from brands like Downeast, Jim Beam and Loyal. Two more sold in Connecticut and nationally are Cutwater and Nutrl from SpikedSeltzer acquirer AB InBev, which now calls the brand Bon & Viv while retaining SpikedSeltzer's mermaid motif.

And Connecticut has seen plenty of RTD cocktail and hard seltzer purveyors on the heels of SpikedSeltzer and Fishers Island Lemonade, to include a number of breweries besides Two Roads, 'Merican Mule in Norwalk and Owl's Brew in Stamford.

"Ready-to-drink beverages in the U.S. is a reality," said AB InBev CEO Michel Doukeris, speaking last fall on a conference call. "The manifestation in what beverage [and] types of liquids  it will be always changing a little bit."

Includes prior reporting by Erik Ofgang.
Connecticuts first cannabis workers union has been formed by workers at a West Haven cultivation facility.

Forty eight workers at Advanced Grow Labs in West Haven voted to unionize, with a focus on wages, benefits and workplace protections, according to a release.

We are so inspired by the team at Advanced Grow Labs. They are the very first cannabis workers in the State of Connecticut to form their union, said UFCW Local 919 President Mark A. Espinosa in a release Monday. We are excited to bargain a contract and set the standard for all cannabis workers in this state.

Though it is the first cannabis worker union in Connecticut, it probably wont be the last. The law that allowed the possession, use and sale of recreational cannabis included a provision that required a labor peace agreement as a condition of full licensure.

RELATED: More on Cannabis in Connecticut

UFCW Local 919 Director of organizing Emily Sabo explained that though every cannabis establishment in Connecticut is required to have a labor peace agreement, that does not mean a union will form.

A labor peace agreement means that an operator will remain neutral and fair workers want to form a union, she said. In return, the union agrees and the workers are agreeing not to picket no work stoppages, strikes, etc, in exchange for the neutrality.

A labor peace agreement levels the playing field for workers if they want to form a union. It doesn't force them to form a union, but it levels the playing field and it gives them a quicker path to forming a union if they want to, Sabo said.

That provision was not without its detractors. The Connecticut Medical Cannabis Council, the trade association representing the original four cannabis growers, voiced its opposition when the bill was proposed.

Connecticuts cannabis producers greatly value their workforces, including by providing good paying jobs with favorable terms and conditions of employment, the organization said in submitted legislative testimony. They oppose the current proposal as a solution in search of a problem  and one that risks creating legal uncertainty and serious potential disruption for Connecticuts cannabis program and the public it serves.

There have been reports in other states of mistreatment at cannabis businesses. In Holyoke, Mass., a worker at a cultivation facility owned by Trulieve died after being hospitalized during work hours.

In that case, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration reportedly fined Trulieve $35,219, though it absolved the company of any wrongdoing. Trulieve also has a dispensary in Bristol, Conn.

Advanced Grow Labs was acquired by Illinois-based Green Thumb Industries in 2019 for a reported $80 million.

GTI remained neutral throughout the process, Sabo said. Those workers wanted to form a union and they allowed them to do so.

GTI did not immediately return a request for comment.
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STAMFORD  A proposal awaiting its day before the Stamford Zoning Board would knock down an office building in downtown's Landmark Square to construct what could be one of the city's tallest buildings.

The Cappelli Organization  a White Plains, N.Y., developer with a footprint already in Downtown Stamford  would replace the existing structure, Landmark 3, with a 31-story high-rise apartment building. The skyscraper would feature 400 luxury apartments, 420 parking spaces and 5,200 square feet of retail space on the ground floor, which consultants said would likely include a restaurant with outdoor seating.

The complex would stand 320 feet tall, second only among existing Stamford buildings to another Cappelli project: Park Tower Stamford, which is 350 feet tall. The Zoning Board approved a 423-foot residential tower for 677 Washington Blvd. in February 2021, but crews have yet to break ground on the development.

Cappelli is requesting a special permit to contribute about $10.7 million to Stamford's Affordable Housing Trust Fund in lieu of including 40 below-market-rate apartments in the floor plans.

"The goal would be to take this $10.7 million and turn it into something far more meaningful than 40 units on site," attorney William Hennessey told the Planning Board on March 7.

Courtesy of Rick Redniss

Amenities inside the building would include a pool, fitness center, yoga, gaming room, lounge and club rooms, among others.

The Planning Board voted to advance the proposal at the March meeting, but it has yet to be taken up by the Zoning Board because of a growing queue of applications. Zoning officials scheduled a special meeting May 18 to address the workload, but the proposal is not slated to be discussed.

Land Use Bureau Chief Ralph Blessing said he expects the backlog to be a "temporary thing."

(With) all the boards, its a little bit fast or famine. Sometimes, its purely coincidence  you have two or three big projects coming in at the same time, Blessing said.

The existing office building's occupancy rate was about 38 percent in February. The property owner has been winding down leases for years with the project in the works, land use consultant Rick Redniss said.

The five-story building, built in 1977, is one of six commercial office buildings in Landmark Square. The development was one of the crown jewels of Stamford's urban renewal era when officials turned the industrial New England downtown into a corporate hub, largely through eminent domain.

Landmark Square covers five acres, but it's part of a 30-acre block bound by Atlantic Street, Broad Street, Greyrock Place and Tresser Boulevard. According to the application, the block contains "approximately 2 million square feet of commercial space and almost no housing."

Before urban renewal, downtown blocks were lined with houses and businesses. According to a 1994 estimate, close to 75 percent of the neighborhood was demolished for the urban redevelopment project.

But in recent years, the pendulum has been shifting back toward housing. This time around, it's rental buildings. An eight-story, 228-unit apartment building, approved in July 2021, is under construction at Broad Street and Greyrock Place. In addition, the Zoning Board is multiple hearings into discussion on a proposal that would put 198 apartments next door across the intersection of Broad and Gay streets.

At the March Planning Board meeting, the changing character of the block was central to the pitch made by Hennessey and Redniss. They gave statistics showing how office space drastically outpaced the city's population in the second half of the 20th century, though recent decades have been more a regression toward the mean. They also touched on city and state officials' efforts to make Atlantic Street more pedestrian friendly.

Atlantic Street is changing. Its no longer the place where all the northbound I-95 traffic gets dumped and its no longer the street you take a left on at the end of the ramp and drive fast on to get to North Stamford. So, the city has recognized that and has begun to study on how to turn it into a pedestrian friendly street," Hennessey said.

Courtesy of Rick Redniss

Redniss said the development could also contribute to those efforts by allocating funds to the area around the bus shelter and Veteran's Park.

"We're hoping to use some funds that we will be agreeing with the city ... to use to enhance the park, to enhance anything around the bus shelter that isn't part of the state project, to enhance the bicycle opportunities around the bus shelter, the crosswalks to Atlantic Street," Redniss said.
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RIDGEFIELD  Jessica Curran said she recalls the day eight years ago, sitting in a doctors office, when her entire life came crashing down in front of her.

It was the moment she and her husband, Christopher Curran, were told their son, Conner Curran, now 12, has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, or DMD.

The genetic condition affects mostly young boys and is marked by the progressive loss of muscle as the body fails to make dystrophin, a muscle-building protein. It also deteriorates the skeletal, cardiac and pulmonary muscles.

They handed me a thick packet. They said, 'Take him home. Love him. Theres nothing you can do. Enjoy him while you can. And theres no treatment,' said Jessica Curran, a Ridgefield resident who is 46.

Yet, the Currans never gave up hope for their son. Through their charity foundation, Kindness Over Muscular Dystrophy, almost $2 million was raised for research into their sons condition.

Now, Conner is exceeding the limitations nearly all others his age with his condition have, due to a gene therapy he received five years ago in an ongoing clinical trial.

Many children with DMD begin using a wheelchair sometime by the age of 12, according to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Heres a miracle. Conner is almost 13 and hes still walking. That is unheard of, said Christopher Curran, adding most children with his condition are wheelchair bound by that age.

Yet, time is running out and the effects of the gene therapy are beginning to wear off on Conner, he said.

Conner was recently selected for a new gene trial that will determine if hes eligible to be given the gene therapy again  which could give him more years of mobility.

This is an exciting time for us, said Christopher Curran, who is 43.

Dr. Jude Samulski, professor at the University of North Carolina in the department of pharmacology, created the drug Conner used in the first trial.

(With the prior gene therapy dose), we bought Conner time so that he could be a candidate for the next wave of the gene therapy technology, Samulski said.

Conner said he hopes that gene therapy gets approved for wider use "so that all kids with Duchenne can get help like I did. I hope to be able to get the gene therapy again one day."

Until relatively recently, boys with DMD often did not live much beyond their teen years, but patients have now survived into their 30s thanks to advances in care, according to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Gene trials

In 2018, Conner, whos now in sixth grade at Scotts Ridge Middle School, became the first patient in the gene therapy trial offered by Pfizer for boys with DMD.

His family saw results within two months.

It was incredible, said Christopher Curran, adding Conner greatly improved his walking ability and speed at climbing steps.

The therapy bought Conner five years of life, added Christopher Curran, who works in the maintenance department for the town of Lewisboro, N.Y. Jessica Curran teaches first grade for the Carmel, N.Y. Central School District. Conner has a twin brother, Kyle, and a younger brother, William, who is 10.

Since Conner already received the gene therapy, however, he cant be given another dose  at least, not at the moment.

Because its a virus, its a one-time treatment. If (doctors) tried to give it to Conner again, his body would have a massive immune response and would attack it, Christopher Curran said. But were working to change that.

In a new trial, beginning most likely early next year, Conners doctors will work to see if they can lower his antibodies to the gene therapy, so he can safely get another dose.

At the beginning of 2024, Conner will participate in the trial at the University of Florida in Gainesville, along with about a dozen other children who have DMD.

(Conner) is actually an ongoing experiment. And as a result, its clear that Conner and others boys like him will need a second dose as they continue to grow and develop new muscle, Samulski said.

Possible FDA approval

Scientists from multiple drug companies are on the cusp of finding a treatment to slow down the degenerative effects of Duchenne.

On May 12, the first Food and Drug Administration Advisory Committee was expected to meet to discuss one such type of treatment.

An approval would just be for kids who can walk and who never received the therapy before, Christoper Curran said.

Hopefully, this is FDA approved so that every kid can get that (extra) five years that Conner got, he said.

Eventually, the next step would be for (those children who are) non ambulatory, he added.

Spreading awareness

Conner was selected for the original gene trial due to persistence, Christopher Curran said.

It was persistence and nonstop calling and begging and pleading and going to all the gene therapy presentations at conferences, and meeting all the top docs and scientists and PhDs, he said.

To help spread awareness of DMD, the family also forged relationships with state leaders, including U.S. Representative Jim Himes, D-Conn., and U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn.

The most important point for me has been the superhuman courage, resilience and resolve of this extraordinary family  most specially Conner, Blumenthal told Hearst Connecticut Media.

Blumenthal said he supported funds for research for DMD, to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Defense.

Whatever Ive done, Ive always felt has never been enough to match (Conners) determination and bravery, Blumenthal added.

Additionally, the Ridgefield community has been very supportive of the Currans in their efforts to spread awareness of Conners fight, Christopher Curran said.

Conner was made honorary captain of the Ridgefield Lacrosse Team. Also, Ridgefield residents have attended and contributed to many fundraising events of the Currans' foundation.

The Ridgefield community has buoyed us and lifted us up, Christopher Curran said.

He continued: The most important thing to us is to ultimately to save our sons life and awareness can help us get there, Christopher Curran said. This is our lifes mission.
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BERLIN, Vt. (AP)  Brittany Plucas, 29, and her boyfriend will likely sleep in her car when they have to leave the Hilltop Inn on the first of June. The couple both work at a nearby restaurant, and have recently picked up second jobs at the hotel.

A month ago, Plucas says she became homeless for the first time in her life.

Theres just no housing, she said, sitting in a room just off the well-worn hotels lobby, now a makeshift office for shelter workers. Donated clothing lay stacked on a table in the corner.

The shelters are full, theres no housing for anyone right now, theres waiting lists up to 18 months, up to two years, up to six years," Plucas said. The best thing that our government can do right now is to extend the housing.

Instead, Vermont is ending the last of its COVID-era hotel housing for homeless people in the coming weeks due to a lack of federal funding. Advocates and local officials warn that these people have nowhere to go and no public safety net, and fear many of the 1,800 households living for free in hotels and motels will end up homeless again.

The three area shelters run by Good Samaritan Haven in Barre are full. The organization plans to hand out camping gear to anyone leaving the hotels who wants it.

Many of those likely heading to the streets face serious headwinds.

Housing advocate Brenda Siegel said there are people on oxygen, people who have just had surgery, people in recovery, people with mental illness that has finally been stabilized.

Siegel, a former Democratic candidate for governor, estimated there are 500 to 600 children as well as single moms whose hotel housing program ends a little later, on July 1.

This is one of the most cruel acts that our state government could perpetrate among those who struggle the most with poverty, Siegel said.

Republican Gov. Phil Scott says the program isn't the right approach to solving homelessness and wasn't meant to be a long-term solution.

Federal funding has ended and Vermonts program needs to end too, Scott told Burlington-area WCAX-TVs You Can Quote Me.

Its costing a lot of money, the governor said Sunday. We dont have the federal money that weve been benefiting from over the last two, three years  nor is it good for those participating.

For people with addiction or mental health issues, Scott said the hotel program hasnt been conducive for their benefit.

Like other states and cities, Vermont expanded its emergency housing program as the pandemic raged by using relief money from Washington. Currently, 1,800 households are residing at 76 motels around the state. About 760 of those households won't be eligible for hotel housing anymore on June 1. Still others will lose their hotel rooms on July 1.

Vermont had the second-highest rate of homelessness per capita on a single night in 2022, as calculated in a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development report. For every 10,000 people, California had 44 experiencing homelessness, followed by Vermont with 43 people, according to the 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress.

The state Department for Children and Families has invested additional funding to expand and renovate shelters, support permanent housing, and expand homelessness prevention efforts. But plans do not always meet everyone's needs because of limited funding and resources, said Miranda Gray, deputy commissioner of the child development division.

This is an all hands on deck moment for all of us, Gray said by email. She said government agencies and housing partners will develop and support additional permanent and transitional housing, while community organizations, hospitals, treatment centers, municipalities and others impacted by this transition will necessarily be part of the solution and support systems.

The state has been surveying those in the hotel program to identify people it can help, Scott said, and some qualify for the Section 8 program that offers rental assistance to low-income Americans.

They can't find the housing, so we want to be able to help them do that, the governor said.

Local officials in Montpelier, Barre and Berlin, as well as service providers and advocates, say the state hasn't done enough to create housing and help people transition out of the hotels.

Montpelier Mayor Jack McCullough said last week that his community simply doesnt have the resources to end homelessness or meet the needs of people living without housing.

Amber Snay, 34, is disabled and and has lived at the Hilltop Inn since March 2022. Before that, she was in her van. She hopes to get a cheap RV and try to live in that when she leaves the hotel on July 1, but is skeptical thatll happen.

She said she thinks about taking her own life when the program ends because she cannot live outside.

I did it before in a tent, I did it before in a van, and I won't be able to do it anymore, she said, so if there is no place, no shelter, no program, no nothing, then I won't be able to keep my cats and they're the only thing keeping me grounded and alive.

And I dont have good access to health care, I dont have good access to mental health care, Snay said. I dont have it in me to do it anymore.
If you enjoyed watching Keri Russell in FX's The Americans, follow her as she switches sides as an insecure American Ambassador in Netflix The Diplomat.

Smart n savvy Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) is a longtime Foreign Service officer, specializing delicate negotiations in the Middle East. Just as shes about the leave for a new post in Kabul, shes abruptly dispatched as ambassador to the United Kingdom - taking up residence in Winfield House, near Londons Regents Park.

In the past, U.S. ambassadors to England have not been career diplomats; instead, theyve been big donors to whatever political party is in power, rewarded by serving in a primarily ceremonial job, filled with protocol and procedure.

But, suddenly, theres an international incident  an attack on a British aircraft carrier  that requires Wylers expertise as a facilitator and, unbeknownst to her, shes also being vetted as a potential vice-presidential candidate.

Perhaps a toxic thorn-in-her-side is Kates swaggering, manipulative husband, Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell), who has also served as an ambassador. In the past, as a tandem couple, Kate has assisted him; now its his turn to assist her  if he wants to stop their volatile, co-dependent marriage from unraveling.

The U.S. president (Michael McKean), his chief of staff (Nana Mensah) and the secretary of state (Miguel Sandoval) need Kate to work with British Prime Minister Trowbridge (Rory Kinnear) and U.K. Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison (David Gyasi) to avoid a rapidly escalating conflict with Russia or Iran.

Coordinating the complicated mission is Kates deputy Stuart Hayford (Ato Essandoh) and CIA station chief Eidra Park (Ali Ahn), plus other bureaucrats. But everyone seems to have his/her own agenda.

Kudos to Debora Cahn (West Wing, Homeland, Greys Anatomy) who created this compelling series, filling it with provocative, often cheeky dialogue and surprising plot twists and turns. Its already been renewed for season 2.

FYI: While the exterior shots are of Winfield House, the interiors were shot at Wrotham Park in Hertfordshire, an estate thats perhaps familiar from Bridgerton, Downton Abbey, and The Crown.

On the Granger Gauge of 1 to 10, The Diplomat is an engaging, explosive 8  with all eight, hour-long episodes streaming on Netflix.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia Shalva Papuashvili.

The head of state said that friendly and fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia are successfully developing in various areas, and hailed effective cooperation concerning the inter-parliamentary relations.

President Ilham Aliyev noted the importance of Shalva Papuashvilis participation in a special session of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev for expansion of relations between the two countries.

The head of our state recalled with pleasure his visit to Georgia as well as the Georgian Prime Ministers visit to Azerbaijan, noting that that these visits saw very detailed discussions regarding the development of bilateral cooperation.

President Ilham Aliyev touched upon the problems faced by Azerbaijan and Georgia in the early 1990s, and emphasized the importance of implementing joint projects. In this regard, the head of state pointed out that the Baku-Supsa oil pipeline had been commissioned as the first project, adding that other projects had been successfully implemented since then.

It was emphasized that both countries today play an important role in ensuring energy security thanks to the implementation of these projects. The importance of the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Georgia for increasing transport capabilities through the Middle Corridor was noted too.

Shalva Papuashvili said that they are honored to participate in the event marking the 100th anniversary of the Great Leader. Emphasizing the role of the National Leader in the comprehensive development of Azerbaijan, Shalva Papuashvili also noted that strategic projects had been implemented under his leadership.

The Speaker of the Georgian Parliament underlined that the wise steps taken by the Great Leader at the time are of great importance for the future of Azerbaijan. He expressed gratitude for the personal role of the President of Azerbaijan in the establishment of strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Speaker Shalva Papuashvili touched upon the importance of joint projects implemented by both countries. In this regard, he highlighted the implementation of the project to lay an underwater electric cable under the Black Sea by Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary as well as large-scale projects such as an underwater fiber-optic cable under the Black Sea together with the Azerbaijans partners.

Shalva Papuashvili highly appreciated the support of Azerbaijan and its people for the territorial integrity of Georgia during difficult times for the country.

During the conversation, they also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. About 600 farmers from 40 regions of Azerbaijan will take part in the agricultural exhibition in Baku, Executive Director of Caspian Event Organizers LLC Bahruz Hidayatzadeh said, Trend reports.

Hidayatzadeh made the remark during a press conference dedicated to the 16th Azerbaijan International Agricultural Exhibition (Caspian Agro) and the 28th International Food Industry Exhibition (InterFood Azerbaijan).

According to him, 479 companies and 31 countries confirmed their participation in the exhibition of agricultural products, and 161 companies from 17 countries - in the exhibition of food industry.

"The products of companies can be divided into sectors such as food, drinks, and technology, accelerating the digitalization of agricultural production. We also expect cooperation agreements between the participants of the exhibitions. About 2,000 entrepreneurs are expected to arrive in Azerbaijan from abroad to participate in the exhibition," he added.

The 16th International Exhibition of Agricultural Products and the 28th Exhibition of the International Food Industry are scheduled for May 17-19.

The Caspian Agro exhibition is supported by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan and National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

InterFood Azerbaijan exhibitions are held with the active support of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan. They are also supported by the SMBDA, Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan Food and Beverage Industrialists Association (AFBIA), Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation, The National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Both of the exhibitions are organized by Caspian Event Organisers and a network of its international agents.
T he Confederation of British Industry has a grand title. Its a 57-year-old institution representing 190,000 British companies and millions of businesspeople that has sat around the top tables for decades. But now following the messy events of recent weeks ending in the sacking of its former boss Tony Danker - who has insisted he was the fall guy for the whole sorry saga - the CBI is fighting for its very survival.

So, if it does not have a long term future what should happen next?

Its a sad and frustrating fact that the rise of the career politician has led to a lack of people in Government making policy decisions with a deep understanding of business. That needs to change. As a lobbying group the CBI campaigns against Government decisions it doesnt like, indeed it says it speaks for 33% of the entire British workforce. What I find odd is that anyone takes this seriously. The idea that a lobbying group speaks with a unified voice when its constituents range from universities to blue chip companies, lacks creditability to me.

So a CBI replacement needs to have a constituent focus. The needs and issues facing big businesses certainly have commonality with some of the issues SMEs face - but not that many. Leave SMEs to the Federation of Small Business. By making itself all things to all people, the CBI has become a hotchpotch of trade associations, FTSE 100s, SMEs, and everything in between. Big business needs its own voice, and it needs to be heard. It has both the means and in many cases the desire to contribute to a more equitable society, contrary to the belief of the anti-business brigade. After all, the lifespans of big businesses are a heck of a lot longer than whatever Government theyre dealing with and so too are their growth strategies. The successor to the CBI needs to be focused on big businesses exclusively.

The mechanics of how such a successor may work can benefit from recent and rolling scandals around lobbying. Doing away with that maligned and grubby description would be a good start. The fact is that big businesses need insight from former politicians and politicians need insight from big business, both now more than ever. The U.K. is losing influence and position in the world, thats a sad fact. It is also ranked at the bottom of productivity and economic growth projections.

Thats much more serious.

The time for a traditional CBI-style lobbying group is over. The U.K. needs an independent Governmental advisory body representing big business with some teeth, where the language between Government and business can be translated. Its notable that not one current Board member of the CBI has any Governmental experience. I have witnessed on more than a few occasions after meetings between Government and business leaders that the latter have said with exasperation they just dont get it. I suspect the same is said in reverse.

Government and a new organisation exclusively representing the biggest British businesses need to work together and end the adversarial role that a lobbying organisation represents. As a comparison, the fact that the ill-fated Liz Truss Government failed to run her mini budget past the independent National Audit Office as a respected sense checker certainly contributed to the end of that administration. When thinking of a CBI successor, just consider that.
S hareholder activists have welcomed a breakthrough after an influential proxy adviser backed a climate resolution for TotalEnergies.

Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has recommended that investors vote for the resolution, which urges the French oil giant to do more to cut emissions from its value chain, at the annual general meeting on May 26.

It comes after Dutch shareholder activist Follow This, along with a coalition of 17 investors who together represent about 1.4% of the capital, filed the resolution calling for the oil and gas group to align its 2030 Scope 3 emissions reduction targets with the Paris Climate Agreement.

In a note to shareholders seen by the PA news agency, ISS said the proposed resolution has some merits because information is missing to provide comfort that the Scope 3 goals are aligned with the Paris agreement.

Positive advice for climate resolutions at Shell and BP will logically follow in the years to come

It is the first time the proxy adviser has recommended shareholders vote for the climate resolution at a European supermajor in its generic advice  and not just its suitability advice  although it has previously advised for the climate resolution in the US and Norway.

Tarek Bouhouch, of Follow This France, said: Its a breakthrough in the fight against the climate crisis that one of the two most influential voting advisers is finally starting to back our fair ask, because these supermajors will only change if shareholders massively vote for change.

The fact that the climate resolution was filed by Follow This and a coalition of 17 investors, many of whom were ISS customers, may have aided in ISSs U-turn.

The rationale reflects the analysis of many investors in TotalEnergies. The company is indeed far from Paris-aligned and needs support from shareholders to align its 2030 Scope 3 targets with Paris and invest accordingly.

Its symbolic that ISS starts backing our request for a Paris-aligned strategy at the supermajor that is headquartered in Paris. Positive advice for climate resolutions at Shell and BP will logically follow in the years to come.

TotalEnergies has recommended shareholders reject the proposed resolution, saying it does not provide a credible response to the challenges of climate change and would be contrary to the interests of the company, its shareholders and its customers.

The resolution is unlikely to receive a majority at the AGM although about 20% of the shared votes can be considered a shareholder rebellion.

Follow This filed the same resolution this year at BP, Shell, Exxon and Chevron.

Mr Bouhouch said: The boards of these supermajors are determined to extract fossil fuels for as long as possible and want to postpone serious emissions reductions until after 2030.

These climate resolutions at Big Oil will show which investors are serious about resolving the climate crisis and which investors prefer to only talk about it.

According to Follow This, ISSs sustainable analysis has led to a recommendation for shareholders to vote for the resolution at Shells annual general meeting next week, although its generic analysis recommends a vote against the resolution.

PA has contacted ISS and TotalEnergies for comment.
D unhill and Lucky Strike maker British American Tobacco (BAT) has promoted its finance director to the top job as chief executive Jack Bowles steps down after four years.

Tadeu Marroco takes on the role from Monday after four years as finance director and a lengthy career with the tobacco giant, having joined BAT in 1992.

Mr Bowles bows out with immediate effect after leading a push to transform BAT from traditional tobacco products towards new vaping and e-cigarettes, which now account for nearly 3 billion of the firms revenues.

Mr Marroco said: Having been at the centre of the formulation of this strategy, I am convinced that this is the right strategic path for BAT.

BAT  the worlds second-biggest tobacco firm  will now kick off the search for a new finance director to replace Mr Marroco.

The changeover at the top comes just weeks after BAT agreed to pay 635 million US dollars (509 million) to US authorities after a subsidiary entered a guilty plea over historic sanctionsviolations linked to North Korea.

The group reached a settlement with the Department of Justice and the Office of Foreign Assets Control over sanction breaches relating to its business activities in North Korea between 2007 and 2017.

It also announced in February that thousands of jobs at the companys traditional business will be lost in the coming years as the firm focuses on vapes and other new products.

On his decision to step down, Mr Bowles said: It is now the time for a change of leadership to take the business to the next level.

After 20 years in the company I look forward to my next steps.

BAT chairman Luc Jobin paid tribute to Mr Bowles significant contribution as chief executive.

He added: To fully deliver on our transformation in a fast-changing environment we must continue to evolve as a high-performing and agile consumer goods company.

In considering succession, the board recognised Tadeus outstanding track record of developing teams that deliver on our transformation alongside a consistent focus on strong execution and financial performance.

Mr Marroco will be paid a 1.3 million annual salary in the role, plus pension and benefits, and will be entitled to annual bonuses and long-term incentive scheme share awards.

The group said he is required in the role to build up share ownership in the group equal to 500% of his annual salary and must hold shares for two years after leaving the group.
H SBC has unveiled plans to bolster revenues in its Asia business amid mounting pressure from its top shareholder to improve performance across the region.

The banking giant told investors it is aiming for revenues in Asias wealth business to grow by up to 9% in the next three to four years.

It also wants to grow lending by around 15% in the medium to long-term, which could take up to six years.

All parts of HSBC Asia are now motoring, group chief executive Noel Quinn stated.

The goals, which form part of a week-long seminar in Hong Kong and Singapore, follow an escalating dispute between the bank and its biggest shareholder, Ping An.

Ping An Asset Management, a Chinese investment group with an 8% stake in HSBC, has called for an Asia-headquartered and Hong Kong-listed spin-off business.

Restructuring the bank would bring better growth opportunities and improve performance in Asia, making it more profitable in the long term, Ping An argued.

But the plan to split the company in two was rejected by shareholders at HSBCs annual general meeting earlier this month, with investors voting by 80% against the proposals.

HSBCs management argued the move would destroy value at the bank and upset its unique global standpoint.

On Monday, the lender said Asia has a critical role in its international growth ambitions.

Mr Quinn said: We now have an unrivalled international proposition that supports our Asia customers looking to trade with and grow in markets across Europe, the Middle East and the Americas, and vice versa.

As our client base has grown year on year, we have been with them at every step to support and guide them. We have proved that our globally interconnected offering is needed and valued now more than ever before.

Todays ambitions show the strategy is working, we are generating strong returns for our shareholders and we are confident there is more to come.

Shares in HSBC were up by 1% on Monday morning.
A City office block bought today for 30 million is to be converted into low carbon apartments.

Developer HUB and investor Bridges Fund Management have snapped up 45 Beech Street close to the Barbicanestate, the Citys biggest concentration of homes.

The 1950s building was previously a serviced workspace centre. It follows the recent acquisition of another City office building by the same purchasers on Ludgate Hill. Both schemes will be developed by HubCap, a subsidiary of HUB focused on low carbon building reuse.

A growing number of older office buildings that no longer meet modern environmental rules are being converted. Miles Keeley, principal at HubCap, said: The Barbican has a proud history of pioneering city centre living.

This scheme will deliver much needed living spaces to the area on a site that is in need of an upgrade to meet changing building and energy performance standards We look forward to developing the site in a way thats authentic and respectful of this beloved place.

Simon Ringer, head of property funds at Bridges Fund Management, said: London has a pressing need for more highquality living space for its growing population. Since 2014 we have partnered with HUB on schemes on course to deliver more than 3300 lower-cost and affordable homes worth over 1 billion.

DP9 is acting as planning consultant and Knight Frank advised on the deal. HK London and Michael Ellio acted for the seller.
E mbattled London tenants have been hit with yet further price rises as average rents hit a record 2,210 per month in April.

Latest figures from estate agents Hamptons showed 1.5 per cent growth in the cost of a new let in the capital last month, amounting to an annual hike of 17.2 per cent.

For those in inner London, the rise has been steeper with typical rents soaring by almost a quarter over the past 12 months to a staggering 3,138 a month in April. This means tenants typically need to find 7,500 a year more to secure a property in the heart of the capital than they did last spring.

Outer London rents are also at a record high, with an average home costing 2,035 a month in April.

London's rental market has been described as the "wild west" by tenant bodies as prices soar, competition increases and conditions in some cases become desperate.

It emerged earlier this year that it now costs 1,000 or more to rent a room in an average houseshare in almost a third of London postcodes.

Pandemic impact

Tenancy costs are on the rise outside of London, too. In fact average rent across Britain, excluding London, has now hit four figures for the first time according to Hamptons.

At 1,002 a month, the typical monthly cost of renting a property in Britain has jumped by more than a quarter since February 2020.

The South West, North West and North East have seen prices rise the most in the past three years, all recording 31 per cent increases. Rents in Wales and the East have grown at the slowest pace.

Across Britain as a whole, typical rents rose 11.1 per cent in the year to April 2023, reaching a new high of 1,249 a month. The figures use agreed-price data from 90,000 homes let and managed by estate agent Countrywide .

Hamptons head of research Aneisha Beveridge said the rapidly rising cost of renting was putting people in difficult positions.

With rents on the open market rising quickly, tenants will face the choice of staying put or moving to a smaller home in a more affordable area," she said. "While anyone choosing to sit tight tends to face smaller rental increases than those moving home, they are not immune."

Beveridge said the latest price hikes were fuelled by a combination of supply shortages; higher mortgage and energy costs for landlords; and the market in the capital readjusting after the pandemic drove people away in search of space.

She also warned that worse could be to come.

"Affordability constraints will likely hit the brakes on rental growth at some point this year. However, its unlikely to slow considerably due to the number of landlords looking to pass on their rising costs.

Michael Gove this week promised that the forthcoming Renters Reform Bill would ensure tenants were "better protected from arbitrary rent increases. Campaign body the London Renters Union urged the housing secretary to ensure the legislation ends all no-fault evictions, especially the use of unaffordable rent rises to get tenants out.
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Wearing his trademark olive green military fatigues, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has touched down in the UK to negotiate a major weapons deal.

From Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks Chequers retreat, its been promised hundreds of long-range attack drones will be given to help counter Russias ongoing invasion.

Britain last year provided over 2 billion of military support to Ukraine - more than any country apart from America - and has also trained 15,000 Ukrainian troops here.

But the agreement to send long-range Storm Shadow precision missiles sparked the Kremlin to threaten military retaliation.

Now, the UK governments confirmed provision of hundreds of air defence missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles with a range of nearly 125 miles, plus fighter jet pilot training - but Zelensky wants the planes.

The Leader podcasts joined from Kyiv by Denys Ganzha, a member of the presidents Youth Affairs Council.

We discuss the context of Zelenskys visit, mobilisation of young Ukrainians, living under threat of Russian missile attacks, the lost perception of reality and chances of peace talks.

Listen above, and find us on your Spotify Daily Drive or wherever you stream your podcasts.
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Volodymyr Zelenskys trip to Britain is about diplomacy  and hard power. Ahead of todays meeting at Chequers, the Government confirmed it would send hundreds of long-range attack drones with a range of 125 miles to Ukraine. This follows an agreement to provide the country with Storm Shadow precision missiles, its first long-range cruise missiles.

This diplomatic push  the president of Ukraine visited Paris and Berlin last week  comes as Ukrainian forces appear to be making progress in Bakhmut, and before an anticipated counter-offensive to retake territory.

Rishi Sunak is right to maintain a policy of intensive support for Kyiv. Critical now, as ever, is to turn these commitments into reality by ensuring aid and arms get to the frontline in time to make a difference in the counter-offensive. Britain also has a key role in keeping the Western alliance united in its resolute support for Ukraine.

The next phase of the war will be critical, for the people of Ukraine, the future of Europe, and to lay the groundwork for a just peace, as determined by Kyiv.

Immigration is key

A new front has opened up in the forever Tory wars  those on immigration. In prepared remarks, Home Secretary Suella Braverman was due to say we need to get overall immigration numbers down, even suggesting that as a nation we mustnt forget how to do things for ourselves. But in an apparent attempt to pre-empt this intervention, trade minister Nigel Huddlestone stressed that Britain needs immigration to rise now and again.

At a time of historically low unemployment and still tight labour markets, immigration is critical both to Londons economy and the wider country. Our NHS cannot be staffed, restaurants served or fruit picked without the hard work of people prepared to come to Britain. Indeed, higher levels of immigration were key to the Office for Budget Responsibility boosting economic growth forecasts following Jeremy Hunts Budget in March.

Clearly, levels of immigration must be controlled, and we want those coming here to have the skills we need. It is also true that an inflow of people puts greater pressure on resources such as housing and public services. But immigration is a net positive for Britain.

And the Tories should be aware that for every voter they hope to gain with Bravermans rhetoric, they risk losing at least as many of those who are put off by it.

Wandsworth woe

Wandsworth Bridge is set to be shut to vehicle traffic for 10 weeks from July 24 to carry out repairs. This would be disruptive enough, were Hammersmith Bridge not already closed to cars.

Just as reports suggest it may soon take only a couple of hours to fly from London to Sydney via space, it feels typical that crossing the Thames could take longer.
T he star of Disneys new live-action remake of The Little Mermaid has hailed the films diverse cast as a beautiful melting pot.

Halle Bailey, who plays Ariel in the film, said being an inspiration for other black and brown children was spectacular.

The film, set for release on May 26, also stars Javier Bardem and Melissa McCarthy.

Speaking at the London premiere of the film on Monday, Bailey told the PA news agency: Its so important.

I mean, the fact that Im able to represent for Ariel and for my community  for all the black and brown little girls and boys to be able to see themselves as a Disney princess  is spectacular.

Then theres the rest of the amazing diverse cast  Javier and Melissa  its a beautiful melting pot of what we all represent.

Its stunning. Im just so excited that people are going to be able to see it.

McCarthy, who plays the evil sea-queen Ursula, said it was necessary to embrace diversity and realise that our differences are actually what can bring us together.

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Its the world we live in, she told PA.

People want to see stories that represent them.

This is what our world looks like (and) thank goodness. How incredibly boring if we all looked like carbon copies.

We need to embrace it, and not be afraid of it, and then realise that our differences are actually what can bring us together.

Bardem, who plays Ariels father King Triton, also acknowledged the responsibility of bringing out a different side to a classic story without losing the original flavour.

You are creating this story that lives in so many peoples hearts and memories after all these years from the classic. So this is a different responsibility, he told PA.

You dont want to upset anyone, but at the same time you have to do what you are asked to do, which is bringing a different side of it, a different colour to it, without losing the original flavour.

British actor Jonah Hauer-King also appears in the remake in the role of Prince Eric, alongside Daveed Diggs and Rob Marshall.

Scores of famous faces descended on Leicester Square in London on Monday for the premiere, including Guy Ritchie, Stanley Tucci, Laura Whitmore, and rapper Stormzy.

The Little Mermaid is due to arrive in UK cinemas on May 26 2023.
A round ten years ago, on telly, the word police officer was synonymous with Gene Hunt. Played with a snarl by Philip Glenister, Hunt  who managed a London police force in the 70s and 80s  was all about the gung-ho approach, beating up criminals, breaking and entering and jumping to conclusions.

Its the police role of a lifetime, so you might be forgiven for thinking Glenister would never want to play another. However, for Steeltown Murders, he made an exception.

I havent played a policeman since Gene Hunt in Ashes to Ashes, he says. I am so aligned with that role, so its really - not to use the word exciting, but - I wanted to play another policeman, and this was totally the opposite to Gene Hunt in many respects.

The role in question is the real-life figure of DCI Paul Bethell, who along with two colleagues, was instrumental in solving a decades-old cold murder case in the Port Talbot area. In the 1970s, two girls, Geraldine Hughes and Pauline Floyd, left a nightclub in Swansea.

Some time later, they were discovered, dead, in Port Talbot  and the police never found the killer.

In the 2000s, that all changed when cutting-edge technology came along. Working with thirty-year-old DNA samples and advanced (for the time) new techniques that allowed police to extract potential evidence from the victims clothing, Bethell and his squad finally managed to crack the case and find the culprit.

Its an incredible true story, and its now been made into a brand-new BBC series: Steeltown Murders.

BBC/Severn Screen/Tom Jackson

Its a true crime story with a bit of a twist because we are straddling two time periods, producer Hannah Thomas says.

Hopefully what we have done is fresh and original yet sensitive to the subject matter where we have juxtaposed the two periods. We look at the policing in the seventies and the noughties. The kind of analogue versus the digital and how advancing in policing really enabled the police in 2002 to finally find the perpetrator.

Based as it is in Wales, many of the cast and crew are Welsh, including Steffan Rhodri, who plays police officer Phil Bach Rees .

I was a bit young to really remember it, but my school was about a mile from the woods where two of the murders happened. I just had a sense of adults talking about it, it was something I was sort of aware of, he says.

I certainly think these horrific crimes changed the whole atmosphere of an area. Temporarily it caused a lot of fear but in the long term as well, in terms of how much freedom young people had.

Filmed across two time periods, the shows crew have opted to show the same characters as played by two different people. According to director Marc Evans, this was trickier than it looked.

Double periods means double cast, and that was probably the bigger challenge . Its about finding characters in their 20s who then become characters in their mid-50s, he says. Its about trying to find the essence of that person rather than a lookalike or dead ringer.

The other challenge was depicting the time periods during which the show was filmed  in particular the Noughties.

To a certain extent the period thats harder to depict in a funny sort of way is the 2000s, because its so close to us, he says. The 70s was very enjoyable to recreate because its something thats got a style of its own. With the 70s the challenge was not making it too 70s-tastic, so certain things were banned like Chopper bikes and all those signifiers of the decade, but equally you wanted for people to smell the period.

In the Noughties, the technology has changed but the world hasnt changed as much as youd think. Cars have changed, typewriters have become computers, the fax machine isnt there  its a world that is a little bit different but were familiar with.

To make the show, many of the actors also had access to their real-life counterparts  indeed, Glenister himself met the real-life Paul Bethell before filming began.

BBC/Severn Film/Tom Jackson

Its really nice actually because he is so laid back, he says.

I dont get too bogged down with what are your mannerisms like and all that. I am not so much interested in that, rather his thoughts on how he worked on the case. He told me something which I thought was really interesting; he said he didnt like using the word closure, because in a case like this there is never closure, especially for the family.

With the show about to come out, the cast and crew are keen to stress that this is not just your typical crime show: it has been made with a keen eye to the real-life victims, and the police who helped bring the killer to justice.

Scott Arthur, who plays the young Bethell, calls the show one of the most important Welsh stories of the last 100 years.

I think its important for us as men to realise that these things happen, and they happen sadly quite often. I really hope there is an understanding of what women go through, and the fear that they have to go through.

Id say its an important story to tell in terms of showing a long-term respect for victims of crime, Rees adds.

Unlike some stories it gives respect to those victims and honours them. But it also does something which is not always fashionable, which is honouring good, old fashioned policing and crime solving through diligence and open-mindedness. I think thats important.

Steeltown Murders starts on BBC One from May 15
Baku Steel Company CJSC, the largest metallurgical company in the Caucasus, has already started exporting pipes to the USA.

Expansion and strengthening of the Company's positions in the foreign market is one of the main goals of Baku Steel Company CJSC. As a result of the successful representation of the manufactured products on the foreign market, seamless pipes of various diameters have already been exported from Azerbaijan to the state of Texas USA.

The pipes are manufactured in accordance with the requirements of the American standard "ASTM A106" in the Pipe Rolling Shop of Baku Steel Company CJSC and meet high standards. According to the standard, the billets used in production are made of durable steel, grade Gr.B" (Grade B). According to another requirement of the standard, the export operations started after painting the pipes with anti-corrosion paints and packing them by a special method.

It should be noted that pipes of various sizes and types produced at Baku Steel Company CJSC, which also used in the oil and gas industry, are purchased by partners and large companies in Italy, Romania, Turkey, Tunisia, Russia, Kazakhstan and other countries.

Baku Steel Company CJSC currently produces high-quality fittings, rolled-wire, round bars, square and round billets, seamless pipes, as well as various shaped castings. During the Company's activities, its products along with the local market, were sold in more than 20 countries in Europe, America and Asia under the brand Made in Azerbaijan. And in 2022, Baku Steel Company CJSC was accepted into permanent membership in the World Steel Association, an authoritative international organization of metallurgists of the world.
Spoilers Succession season 1-4 below

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Week eight, titled America Decides, is the episode weve all been waiting for: the day of the presidential election, where months worth of winding storylines collide over the course of one explosive hour of TV.

There are all the usual components to enjoy: viperous power plays, barbed conversations, and hilarious insults. But it gets even better for those who follow the American presidential race every four years, and who have always wondered just what it might be like in a major news organisation reporting on the unfolding drama.

In America Decides we get a blow-by-blow of all the chaos, and by the end of the episode  partly thanks to the Roy siblings  its chaos that threatens to engulf the country.

Heres everything that happens in the electrifying, chaotic, brilliant, eighth episode of Succession.

Tom is... stressed

Its Democratic candidate Daniel Jimenez against Republican candidate Jeryd Mencken, and its the day of the presidential election. ATNs coverage of the election is underway, and Tom is up to his eyeballs.

Its the first election without Logan, and so the eyes of the nation will be on how ATN handles itself. Its important that viewing numbers are great, and Tom is seriously feeling the pressure. Cyd, he says, is running around outside, spitting poison like a f***ing king cobra with an iPhone.

He yells at Greg the second that the episode opens, and talks to political analyst Darwin about adult nappies. Theres always time to go to the toilet, says Darwin. Kendall calls Tom, saying that he wants to see brilliant numbers. Tom is under the cosh, to put it lightly.

Greg is back in business

Some Greg fans have been feeling rather bereft at the lack of their favourite dopey giraffe lately: most Greg scenes have been fleeting, to say the least, and in those where he did feature, he is relegated to saying profoundly dumb things.

But in America Decides he not only has real screen time, but hes one of the episodes key characters. And theres plenty of Greg and Tom, one of the internets favourite TV duos.

While Darwin is giving a speech about what to expect as the results come in, Greg is whispering to Tom about what happened when he partied with Matsson. He says that, unsurprisingly, the Swedes crew know about some unseemly venues.

Matsson revealed his secret deal with Shiv during the partying; when Greg asks Tom if he knew, the ATN chief says he has no idea about it. Information, Greg, its like a bottle of fine wine. You store it, your hoard it, you keep it for a special occasion and then you smash someones face with it.

Shiv and Matsson are still in cahoots

Roman discusses the presidential election with Greg and Tom / 2023 HBO. All Rights Reserved

Upstairs, Shiv, Roman and Kendall are watching the coverage. Theyre staying out of the way of getting directly involved in the evenings proceedings  it was, apparently, one of Logans Geneva Conventions.

They get the exit polls, and it looks like Jimenez has just clinched it. Gil Eavis, who is also on Jimenezs ticket as his VP, texts Shiv four smiley faces. Menken texts Roman, with whom he is close, two eggplants and an American flag: Eggplant eggplant flag reeks of the misogynistic bravado that has so repelled the median voter, says Shiv, eye-rolling.

They start calling their people. Shiv slips out and talks to Matsson  Dont let them break my toy, he says, while stirring what looks like a G&T with his finger. He says that he told Greg about their deal and Shiv is alarmed, but manages not to give anything away.

He also briefly touches on the whole India subscriber numbers looming fiasco, saying that he reckons they should keep my terrible secret a secret. Shiv had planned to share it over the next couple of days, to control the narrative.

A lot of time is spent on the phone

Democrats would be more likely to leave the GoJo deal alone, whereas Republicans (says Menken to Roman) would refer the deal to the regulators to essentially ensure its blocked, if Roman wanted.

Shiv also calls political advisor Nate who works for Jimenez and Eavis, asking him to keep channels open over the course of the night. Kendall calls Jimenez, who absolutely does not want to be speaking to the eldest sib, but who does take his call. Its awkward, and its clear that if Jimenez does take office, Waystar will not be his first priority. Things would be different with Menken. Roman leaves to go and see him.

Everyone is hedging their bets, frantically trying to speak to anyone and everyone to bolster what will become crucial relationships in the coming days, months and years.

Connor is feeling left out

Meanwhile, Connor is in another room with Willa and his team. Tension is high as theyre waiting for the results to come in.

Connor says hes glad he stayed in the race, because you never know what will happen. Plus, elections are so much more exciting when youre in them. He calls Kendall because hes not getting any coverage on ATN, and Kendall tries to appease him.

And Rava is worried

Kendall and Frank on election day / 2023 HBO. All Rights Reserved

Rava calls Kendall, she thinks someone is tailing her car in an SUV. Kendall calms her down: its actually his team. In last weeks episode Kendall and Rava had a very brief chat on the street where she told him that their daughter Sophie, who has Indian heritage, was pushed by a Menken-loving racist while she was on the street.

On the phone now, Kendall says that since hearing that hes had security following Sophie as a precautionary measure. He didnt mention it to Rava or Sophie as he didnt want them to get worried or upset. I wont let the world push you, ok? he says to Sophie.

Over at Menkens camp

Losing it like a massive f***ing loser, says Roman as he greets Menken. Menken says he partly blames Roman for the predicted loss because he couldnt deliver Connor last night.

Now, Menken is not focused on winning, but losing: If I lose I need to work on what assholes would call the narrative... If I lose I want it correctly characterised as a huge victory, he says. Roman understands.

Greg and Tom

Greg and Tom watch ATNs election coverage / 2023 HBO. All Rights Reserved

Back at ATN, Tom is still freaking out about all the responsibility on his shoulders, and so is taking this out on Greg who has failed to bring him a coffee, and who has brought him sushi from a bodega. Tom wants ginger shots, spaghetti and olive oil and American bottled water. NOT that crap. Tonight my digestive system is basically part of the constitution, he yells.

Do you want some of what you asked for? Greg asks. It turns out, what Tom asked for is cocaine. After a second pondering, Tom says yes. And so the disgusting brothers shimmy over to a whiteboard, pretending to be wiping it, and Tom has a bump.

Greg says he doesnt want any, hes only just feeling normal after last night. But Tom bullies him into it: Its medically good for your brain. What are you saying, all Aztecs are stupid? Dont be racist little b***h about it. And with that, Greg snorts away, or at least pretends to.

Later, while watching the coverage, the touchscreen thats being used by the ATN presenter stops working and Tom runs downstairs in a panic. It turns out the presenter is clicking on the screen too hard, and manages to destroy two subsequent screens, to Toms major distress.

Electoral votes and battleground states

The battleground states are Georgia with 16 electoral votes and Virginia with 13. Kentucky is the only place where Connor has a slim chance of winning, but its called for Menken. At this point, Connor says, Alas Kentucky Willa, Alas vanity. He starts to think that maybe an ambassadorship in Oman wouldnt be so bad after all, and gets on the phone to Roman.

A fire in Milwaukee

Theres a fire in a Milwaukee vote counting centre and everyone is freaking out about it. Should it be covered on the programme or not? Is it an accident, or was it Menkens people, Jimenezs people, or Antifa? Everyone is calling everyone else again. Kendall gets on the phone with Tom and asks him why they arent covering it.

Just because somethings on fire, doesnt make it news, says Tom. I think its important to keep our unique perspective... we just need to respect our viewership.

But quickly it becomes clear that this is the story of the election. Many of the ballots have been lost in the fire, and so its going to be impossible to call Milwaukee. Pam, who looks like shes Toms number two, says that ATN now has a chopper up and a local reporter is on the way.

Its amateur hour down there, says Kendall. And the sibs leave their holding pen and all go down to the ATN floor.

The sibs take control, or try to

Analyst Darwin explains the Wisconsin situation to Tom / 2023 HBO. All Rights Reserved

Breaking their dads golden rule, the young Roys are now, very visibly, getting involved in election night. Greg is attempting, but failing, to usher them back upstairs, as they scatter in all directions.

Once downstairs, and its difficult to understand why she chooses this moment, Shiv tries to talk to Tom, who looks quite deranged. I just wanted to apologise for some of the things that I said last night but she stops herself, commenting on his strange face.

How should I frame my face? Are you scared that Im going to blab about you and Matsson? says Tom.

He then adds then Shiv sort of killed her father. Blown away by this incredibly cruel comment, Shiv blurts out that shes pregnant, by him.

In a very sad turn, Tom reacts by saying, Is that like a new position or a tactic, or what? showing the truly dire state of their relationship. Shiv storms off.

To call Wisconsin or not to call Wisconsin?

Now back off the ATN floor, the discussion turns to whether or not to call Wisconsin. Shiv says absolutely not. Without the 100,000 lost Milwaukee ballots, it is highly undemocratic, plus the votes were going to be in favour of the Dems. Political analyst Darwin agrees.

However Roman thinks that the lost ballots are forever lost. A re-vote wouldnt be possible. So they have to press on, and as it stands the state has gone Menken. Kendall is umming and ahhing.

Jimenez wont block the GoJo deal, so f*** the guy, right? says Roman. Shiv is shocked: Thats not the thing, right, Ken? she says. In the end, after a lot of pushing from Roman, hesitation from Kendall, shoulder shrugging from Tom and disbelief from Shiv, ATN calls Wisconsin for Menken. I dont feel good about this necessarily Tom, says Kendall. Menken is now 24 electoral votes away from winning the presidency.

Shiv and Greg have a quick chat

Shiv pulls Greg for a quick chat. Do you find me attractive, Gregory? asks Shiv. Greg is squirming like a maggot hooked on a fishing rod. I dont think of things such as that, he manages to say. Im just letting you know, that if you try to f*** me, Ill kill you, she says.

But Greg knows that he has a strong hand after hanging out with Matsson last night. He says that silence is golden, but like how golden? Is there an offer? Shiv says the offer is that he can keep his innards inside his body.

Connor concedes

Karl watches Connors speech / 2023 HBO. All Rights Reserved

Menken agrees that if Connor concedes hell give Connor a nice diplomatic role, and Connor agrees. His concession speech is interesting, and spins quickly out of control. I happen to be a billionaire sorry! he says. But honestly America you f***ed it. The corrupt bipartisan system zombie marches on

Arizona goes red

It looks like Arizona is about to go red, but because ATN has called Wisconsin, if they call Arizona for Menken they will also have to announce him as president. What should they do? Roman says call it. Who cares, is his argument? Dads dead and the countrys just a big p***y waiting to get f***ed, he says.

Kendall is unsure. It is kind of a nice idea, all the different people, together, he says. Shiv is, obviously, against calling the race for Menken. We might not be able to crown him, but we can stop him. He needs our call, says Shiv.

Roman leaves to take a call and Kendall and Shiv are alone together. He says to her that he really doesnt want to give it all away to Matsson and that he has sometimes felt like I could do it, like I should do it, me. Just me.

Shiv thanks him for being honest. They briefly talk about their worries about the future of America, and Kendall tells her that one of Menkens people pushed Sophie. He says hes a bad dad, that the poison drips through. Shiv, clearly thinking about her own baby, says nah very quickly, with wide eyes. Kendall says hes worried about just how close Roman and Menken are, and how he feels threatened by that blooming relationship. He asks Shiv to call Nate to see if theres leeway on the Dems also blocking the deal.

Shiv agrees leaving the room to make the call, but in the end only pretends to. When she returns, Roman has also reappeared. Kendall explains that before they agree to call Arizona, Shiv is talking to the Dems.

Roman rolls his eyes, and argues that the Dems wont give them anything. Kendall calls Nate to find out whats going on, and as he does this he comes to learn that Shiv only pretended to call Nate.

Greg makes his choice

Kendall looks at Shiv through the glass of the office. Shiv swallows. She then watches as her big brother walks towards Greg and asks him something. Greg looks over at Shiv and says something to Kendall. The jig is up.

ATN decides

Kendall comes back into the room and explains to Roman that Shiv has been working with Matsson.

I f***ing asked you some real questions Shiv, I wondered why you looked like a goose trying to shit a house brick, you piece of dirt, he says. Shiv cant really get her words out as she tries to defend herself. The revelation spurs the CE-Bros into making a decision.

Although Kendall is still not sure  the sibs try and guess what their father would do but it doesnt bring them any clarity  they choose to call Arizona and back Menken.

We just made a night of good TV, nothing happens, says Roman as they watch Menkens victory speech.

As the episode closes Shiv is walking to her car outside on the phone to Matsson. Were going to f*** them so hard, were going to fix this, she says.

Final thoughts

This was Succession at its finest, with everyone and everything frantically spinning in every direction. The high drama was executed perfectly as Shiv was exposed, Greg and Tom provided much comedic relief and Kendall spent the episode thinking about doing the right thing, but eventually choosing the wrong thing.

With just two episodes left to go everything is left to play for. Even the election is far from being over as the fight over Milwaukee has only just begun.

Succession is currently streaming on Sky and NOW
Review at a glance









Succession spoilers seasons 1-4 below

Say what you will about convicted sexual predator Donald J Trump, but he sure as hell has made life easier for those writing televisual election specials. Post the MAGA in the White House era, post the actual storming of the actual Capitol, no fictional candidate for the presidency or campaign scenario seems too outlandish or farfetched: if anything, the reverse is true.

So in season fours episode America Decides, the supporters of Successions far right candidate  Jeryd Mencken, who appeared briefly in season three  can set fire to a few hundred thousand ballots and swing the vote at a crucial time. Connor Roy can make state of the nation addresses when bowing out of the race. And the future leader of the free world can be anointed by a trio of squabbling nepo babies, on the basis of whether or not he does/doesnt torpedo the GoJo deal.

Kendall (Jeremy Strong) and Frank (Peter Friedman) discuss the election in America Decides / 2023 HBO. All Rights Reserved

It all seems very plausible, if a little incomprehensible  perhaps particularly for UK viewers less au fait with the T&Cs of US elections. But not quite knowing whats going on doesnt really matter: because this sort of setting  in and around a buzzing newsroom as an election unfolds  is where Succession is at its finest.

Everyone talking in million-miles-an-hour one liners, ludicrously risky decisions being made on the fly, the backstabbing turned up to 11. This is a show in which everyone is so unbelievably, deliciously duplicitous that a wife can at last reveal to her husband that she is, as he has long dreamed of, pregnant with his child, and he can respond: Is this a move?

One minute its Shiv snaking Tom, the next Greg snaking Shiv, the next Shiv snaking Kendall, the next Kendall snaking Roman, the next Roman snaking Matsson. Somewhere up in heaven, you assume, Logan Roy is looking down smiling at how well his kids have (finally) turned out. Over the hour here it was like they knew this, and were all frantically still trying to impress upon dad that they and only they were The Killer worthy of the family name.

Greg (Nicholas Braun) and Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) bicker over ATNs campaign coverage in America Decides / 2023 HBO. All Rights Reserved

And it really was the one-to-one showdowns that stole the show here. Cousin Greg, criminally underused in the past few episodes, was back to his Machiavellian f**k best and had two of them: one, obviously, with Tom and some cocaine (any scene involving Greg plus cocaine is always going to be a winner). And then one, much less obviously, with Shiv, where she all but pinned him up against the wall in a broom cupboard.

Particularly in the latter, Nicholas Brauns face was an absolute delight, slipping seamlessly from terrified to treacherous with the mere twitch of an eyebrow. Roman and Kendall are now beautifully out of their depth, with no idea who is trustworthy and who is not. Which is exactly how we want it.

There are now just two episodes of Succession left, the second of which is feature length. Next up is the funeral of Logan and then after that who knows? There remains potential for the most truly unlikely of alliances  my money is on new BFFs Greg and Matsson  to emerge and crush everyone else to death.

The GoJo deal, around which much of this season has centred, now looks certain to blow up: its just a question of what the collateral damage is. At this rate, it could be everyone and everything. Which, again, is exactly how we want it.

Succession is currently streaming on Sky and NOW
S till tittering about the ludicrously capacious bag? What are you, some sort of weekend Malbec moron? Please. Sartorially minded Succession connoisseurs have moved on to savouring the fine, biodynamic, sparking red wine that is jerkoff coder from Gothenburg Lukas Matssons alpha tech-bro style.

Lets get the perfunctory possible-spoiler-warning out the way. Which seems like the polite, if completely un-Matsson thing to do. He doesnt do polite; Matsson is the ultimate post-footwear, post-hygiene, post-boundaries man. He pisses territorially, insults liberally and f***s randos with headphones on.

So to the look, then. Deep casual. Rohan via Silicon Valley, trail mix served with cocaine, gorpcore meets slumbro. Its got more in common with Adrien Brodys Josh Aaronson than Kendall Roy. Its robust and careless and practical and outdoorsy and practical and anti-try hard. Its Successions real power wardrobe. What its not: quiet luxury. As in, the phrase thats been ravaging the internet and headlining every PR mailer in recent weeks.

What it is: cas-cock. Thats the nifty little moniker actor Alexander Skarsgard gave the Matsson look in an interview with Vanity Fair ahead of the Met Gala referring to his characters fondness for casual peacocking. Adding that although it might look like laundry day, his worn, old T-shirt is actually made of the hair of babies, humans. The most weird, eclectic stuff. I am assuming Skarsgards tongue is firmly in cheek, but he is talking about a dude who sends frozen blood blocks instead of flowers, so?

Lukas Matsson is the ultimate postfootwear, post-hygiene, post-boundaries man

Anyway, we already knew Matsson was weird and eclectic, but episode seven saw him doubling down on the cock, when he swaggered into the Waystar tailgate party in a brilliantly obnoxious piece of clothing: a quilted gold velvet bomber jacket. Eww but also mmm  only a man as catastrophically good looking as him could even attempt to pull that off. What a baller move! And in a sea of sleek, tailored suits it felt simultaneously gloriously and grossly out of step but totally in tune with the zero f*** wardrobes of techs master of the universe. Genius v lunatic: thats up for debate. But you cant predict the wardrobe of either any more than you can their next moves. Such eccentricities are all part of the mythology.

Alexander Skarsgard as Lukas Matsson in Succession / Succession

If the Roys quiet luxury portrays comfort and confidence in their wealth, Matssons clothes reveal him to be unimpressed to the point of disdain for it. Money is nothing only to the man who has (nearly) everything. Generic good taste is for scoffing at. His is a look that says, I am so rich, I am so powerful that social norms and etiquette and manners simply do not exist for me. Scruffiness and strangeness is the real tell of the entitled and privileged.

Back on planet mortgage, now us normies have cottoned on to the stealth wealth memo, only a fool would try for an airline upgrade by turning up in double-faced cashmere and oatmeal knitwear. Its not quiet if everyones talking about it. Youre better off waltzing up to the first-class desk with nothing but trackie bottoms and your wits (footwear and passport strictly optional).

The Matsson look defies logic. It shouldnt work, but it does. Go on, admit it, you feel it too: the need for Swede.
C ardano and its native cryptocurrency ADA were created by one of Ethereums co-founders in 2017.

The token peaked in value at 2.07 in the summer of 2021 and now trades at around 28p.

ADA is as volatile as any other cryptocurrency. The UKs financial watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued repeated warnings to would-be crypto investors. It says anyone who buys cryptocurrencies should be prepared to lose everything.

Trade With eToro Trade in a variety of assets including stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies; for both novices and experts Open Account

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 68% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with eToro. Cryptoasset investing is unregulated in most EU countries and the UK. No consumer protection. Your capital is at risk.

Choose a crypto exchange

To buy Cardano (ADA), youll need to use a crypto exchange to swap your fiat (Sterling) currency or other cryptocurrency for ADA. Exchanges are websites or apps crypto traders use to buy and sell tokens.

Youll find ADA listed for trading on several crypto exchanges, including the likes of eToro, Coinbase and Bitstamp.

Here are some things to consider when choosing an exchange:

Payment methods

All exchanges accept direct bank transfer. This is the most cost effective way to pay. Most exchanges also allow credit and debit card card deposits.

Storage

The personal and private keys you need to make crypto trades are stored in a crypto wallet. Many exchanges offer free wallets, but online hot wallets are a target for hackers and some exchanges have been hacked.

Wallet transfers

When an exchange allows you to transfer your keys out of your wallet on its platform and into a third party wallet, either on or offline, they may charge a fee.

Paying for your ADA

There are often fees associated with certain payment methods. For example, several exchanges charge no fees on bank transfers but levy a 3.99% fee on debit card payments.

If you were to use a credit card, your card issuer would most likely class the transaction as a cash advance, meaning it would attract interest at a much higher rate than a normal purchase would. Interest is also charged from the day the transaction is made, whether you pay off your balance in full when its due or not..

However, taking on debt to invest in crypto is generally not advised.

Placing an order

Once youve set up your account and made a deposit, find the Cardano ADA page in the app or website and input how much you want to spend on it.

Trade With eToro Trade in a variety of assets including stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies; for both novices and experts Open Account

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 68% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with eToro. Cryptoasset investing is unregulated in most EU countries and the UK. No consumer protection. Your capital is at risk.

Storing your keys

Crypto exchanges typically offer an integrated wallet in which to store the personal and private keys you need to make tradaes. Some investors prefer to hold their keys in a third-party wallet to minimise the risk posed by hackers.

If you do choose to keep your keys elsewhere, hot wallets are hosted online, while cold wallets are offline storage devices which usually take the form of a thumb drive.

Hot wallets are more vulnerable to hackers, but offer support in accessing your keys if you forget your login details for the exchange.

Cold wallets are arguably more secure until theyre plugged into a web-connected device. As such, they cant be easily reached by hackers.

Lose access to a cold wallet, however, and theres no customer support to help you recover them, which means you could lose access to your assets.
Isabel Spearman will swing open the doors to her latest Daily Dress Edit pop-up tomorrow, this time transforming a restaurant located behind the new U.S. Embassy in Nine Elms into a colourful bijoux bursting with fab frocks from independent British brands.

Spearman launched the Daily Dress Edit Instagram in 2018, after working as special adviser to Samantha Cameron, crafting her image while she was in Downing Street.

The idea of the platform, which now has over 55k followers, is to spotlight independent, female-founded, sustainable dress labels producing in the UK  from the likes of Johanna Sands, who makes in Manchester, to Faith Rowan Leaves who sews her pieces in Brighton.

The Daily Dress Edit customer is broad, theyre 25 to 65, and I meet everyone from lawyers and doctors to creatives but what ties them together is that they are all really proud to support these female independent sustainable brands.

The Embassy Gardens pop-up will stock over 50 dress brands. Alongside DDE favourites Justine Tabak, Coco Conran and Opioneers, Spearman is adding 16 new names to this pop-up, among them Well Worn, Faune, Smock London and If Only If; all of whom are creating exclusive dresses that will only be available at the pop-up. For the brands its sales but its also customer acquisition. its a melting pot for the brands where they end up sharing customers, says Spearman.

This time she has also engaged eight more established labels with the launch of the Dead Stock Project.

I had this idea in middle of the night to approach these brands, a lot of whom I work with anyway as a brand consultant, and ask them to create something from their own surplus fabric, says Spearman. All these brands are already pretty efficient with their dead stock but I wanted them to create something beautiful to make dead stock a desirable term, so their customers understand that surplus can be sexy.

I wanted there to be a good reason for the bigger brands to be part of it, and part of the messaging of the DDE which is to talk about limiting waste and circulatory in fashion.

Spearman has thus co-designed a dress with each of the eight brands  Albany, Aligne, Brora, Boden, Cefinn, Jigsaw, Iris, Rixo. All are limited edition and in varying quantities depending on the material that was available  Rixo for example only had enough for 20 dresses, while Boden made 85.

Creating something vibrant and cool from dead stock has been a joy, says Cefinn founder Samantha Cameron, whose dead stock dress is a blue stripe midi with red sailor collar and hem. Our playful Imogen dress is designed in our iconic Techni-Voile fabric which is made by a Japanese mill using innovative, sustainable processes. The fabric has a beautiful drape and is also machine washable and crease resistant, making the dress both eye-catching and practical. Ill be wearing mine with a fresh white trainer for work as well as dressed up for summer parties with a heel or platform.

The Dead Stock dresses launch online tonight and will be available to shop in the store from tomorrow. Prices range from 89 to 295 and to visit the pop-up you must book an appointment online.

The Pop Up opens on Tuesday 16th May until Friday 26th May 8.30am - 18.30pm.

Daily Dress Edit Pop Up Oxeye, 14 New Union Square Nine Elms, London SW11 7AX

The pop-up is appointment only. Book an appointment here: dailydressedit.com
A British expat accused of murdering his terminally-ill wife told a Cypriot court he ended her life after she cried and begged.

David Hunter took to the witness box to tell the Paphos District Court judge he felt helpless and hopeless during the last weeks of Janice Hunters life, adding: I didnt want to do it. I said no.

The 75-year-old retired miner said he eventually decided to grant his wifes wish after she became hysterical and unable to take care of herself.

Janice, 74, died of asphyxiation in December 2021 at the couples retirement home near the coastal resort town of Paphos.

The defendant, who held back tears as he gave evidence on Monday, said his wife, who had blood cancer, did not attempt to stop him as he put his hands over her mouth and nose.

He said: I just kept my hands there.

Hunter, from Ashington in Northumberland, described his marriage as perfect, adding: After 57 years together, I really didnt want to do it.

As he recounted Janices final few weeks through an interpreter, he said: She cried. She couldnt do nothing. She couldnt move.

She was sleeping in the leather chair downstairs and for the last week we slept down on those chairs together.

I felt so helpless and hopeless that I couldnt do anything for her.

For five or six weeks before she died she was asking me to help her. She was asking me more every day.

In the last week she was crying and begging me. Every day she asked me a bit more intensely to do it.

I felt so helpless and hopeless that I couldn't do anything for her

The last week, she started crying. She started crying and begging me.

She said, I cant go on. This life isnt for me. We just go to the hospital and stay at home. I dont have any quality of life and Im totally bored of this. I cant go on.

She started becoming hysterical so I said, Yes, Ill help you.

I just told her that to calm her down.

Hunter continued to recall his wifes last few days, saying: She was crying, crying, crying. Begging, begging, begging.

His defence lawyer Ritsa Pekri asked: Could she take care of herself?

Hunter replied: No.

He added: She wasnt taking care of herself.

The last two or three days, she said she couldnt move her arms and had trouble with her legs. She couldnt balance.

Ms Pekri asked: Did she eat?

Hunter said: She was only eating soup. She couldnt hold anything down. She lost a lot of weight.

She lost so much weight that there was no flesh to put her injections in.

Hunter said Janice felt shame for around three years as she was forced to wear nappies  leaving her unable to move and stuck in the house.

Turning to the day his wife died, the defendant told the court: I dont remember a lot of the last day.

I went to make a cup of coffee and she started crying.

I remember that I had my hand on her mouth and nose.

I dont even know how I thought about it.

I dont know how long I kept my hands there for. She did not attempt to stop me.

In my statement I said that she was resisting but she wasnt.

She was moving her head. I dont even think she opened her eyes.

Hunter added: I would never have helped her end her life if she had not begged me.

The defendant told the court he tried to kill himself after his wifes death.

When the police arrived to quiz him after his suicide bid failed, he said he was interested in nothing.

In his cross-examination, state prosecutor Andreas Hadjikyrou said to the defendant: I put it to you that you had decided to kill her and there was no common consent and that you had to decide what day to kill her on.

Hunter replied: No. I never intended to kill her.

I had hoped for eight or nine days that she would get better, that she would change her mind.

She was lying down. She was in pain, suffering.

I would do anything to help her.

The last thing on my mind was to take her life. The last thing. Thats his (the prosecutors) idea, not mine.

The trial continues.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of impersonating a police officer in east London after concerns were raised on social media.

Reports on social media claimed a man had been spotted with a baton, a pair of handcuffs and a set of blue lights in his car across Rainham.

A witness told The Standard a man, pretending to be an officer had approached her and her husband.

She said: This man came speeding up in his car with blue lights in his dashboard and headlights. He stopped all the traffic and then came at my husband with a cosh and went to hit my husband over the head.

My husband started recording after he said he was a police officer, when the man realised my husband was recording he chucked the cosh back into his car and turned off the blue lights.

She added: My husband asked him questions about his badge number and name but the man refused to give the information. He then said he was not a police officer. When challenged about the blue lights the man couldnt answer and only said there was no law for carrying cuffs.

A Met spokesman said: On Monday, 15 May police arrested a 49-year-old man on suspicion of impersonating a police officer.

This follows reports made to police raising concerns, including on social media, about a man acting in a manner in the Rainham area which may lead people to believe he was a police officer.

Enquiries into the circumstances remains ongoing.
T hree men have been convicted of murdering a 28-year-old man in Westminster after he reportedly witnessed another stabbing.

Adnan Saleh, 28, was subjected to a vicious pre-planned knife attack about 6.30pm on Saturday June 11, 2022.

He spent more than five months in a coma before dying in hospital as a result of his injuries.

A week prior to the attack, on June 3, Mr Saleh received messages on Snapchat alleging he had been present when another man had been stabbed.

Mr Saleh was in contact with the stabbing victim on several occasions, a court heard, and is thought to have arranged to meet him in the Paddington area.

On the evening of June 11, the man Mr Saleh had arranged to meet approached Junction Mews in Westminster, which lies between Paddington train station and Edgware Road Tube station. He arrived with 27-year-old Steve Woods, 22-year-old Majid Kebire, and 19-year-old Fadel Dabbous.

Woods and Dabbous walked ahead and entered Junction Mews, where CCTV captured Dabbous passing Woods a knife.

As Mr Saleh then entered the cul-de-sac, Woods, produced the knife and swung it at him.

Mr Saleh attempted to run away but Woods caught up to him and launched his attack with Dabbous joining in.

Kebire, of Lisson Grove, sat on a wall at the end of the mews and watched the fight develop.

He then approached the melee, produced another blade and inflicted the fatal stab wound to Mr Salehs collar-bone area.

Mr Saleh was eventually able to get away from his attackers, before collapsing nearby.

He was taken to hospital where doctors made numerous attempts to save him.

However, he had suffered catastrophic damage to his brain due to severe blood loss. He was in a coma for more than five months, before he died on November 29, 2022.

Woods, of Lilestone Street in Lisson Grove, and Dabbous, of Grendon Street in St Johns Wood, pleaded guilty to violent disorder when they appeared in court on September 8, 2022.

On the same date, Woods, Kebire and Dabbous each pleaded guilty to separate counts of having a bladed article, namely a knife.

Following a 22-day trial, which concluded on Friday at the Central Criminal Court, they were found guilty of murder.

They are due to be sentenced at the same court on June 27.

Detective Inspector Marcus Jones, who led the investigation for the Mets Specialist Crime Command, said: My thoughts are with Adnans family. It cannot be easy to listen to how these three men planned the last moment of their loved ones life. I hope that their conviction can provide some comfort.
T he headteacher of a school that is closing because it has too few pupils warned some families have fled London because they no longer feel wanted or needed since Brexit.

Jo Riley, head of the 150-year-old Randal Cremer primary in Hackney, said some of the most marginalised families in the area are feeling pushed out, unwanted and unheard.

Ms Rileys school is earmarked for closure next summer. It has an intake of just 15 pupils for September, despite a capacity for 60.

It is the latest in a series of school closures to hit London, highlighted in the Evening Standard, due to a combination of a falling birth rate, soaring London living costs, lack of housing, Brexit and a post-pandemic exodus to the countryside.

But Ms Riley said these explanations do not reflect the human faces behind the falling pupil numbers.

She pointed to a Romanian family with seven children  five of whom were pupils at her school  who returned to Romania after the Brexit vote because of the change in mood of the city, leaving five spare places at her school which have not been filled.

The lack of housing in Hackney forced a further 31 beautiful Afghani refugee children to leave her school after being dispersed across the country, she said.

She added: Some of the most marginalised families in the borough are feeling once again pushed out and unwanted and unheard I have got families that have lived in temporary accommodation for six years and have been told it will be 13 years before they are rehoused.

Latest figures show 29 out of the 32 London boroughs expect a drop in demand for places in reception classes, with a predicted 7.3 per cent fall in reception numbers and a 3.5 per cent drop in Year 7 in secondaries by 2026.

Ms Riley told the Standard a combination of Brexit and lack of available housing has left families feeling unwanted in London.

Referring to the Romanian family who left in 2016, she said: They were a lovely, lovely familythey just felt that Brexit had given them the message that they werent really wanted here.

She said the family ran their own construction business, did not take benefits and rented their home privately, but could not afford to rent a bigger property.

She added that when the five children left her school her budget dropped by 30,000  because schools are funded per pupil.

Referring to the Afghani refugees who joined the school in 2021 and have now all left because of a lack of housing, Ms Riley said: Most of the girls had never been to school and they were just finding their feet and their voice, they were just incredible, and we watched as they disappeared to different parts of the UK. I do really worry for London because we will end up with all those talented families and incredible children being dispersed across the country.

She added: I have been in education in London for 25 years and I have never known such an impact on the roll. Normally you have boom years and quiet years but this feels like it will be a lot more long term. I cant see it picking up again for a long time.
A giant artwork made of 687 high-vis vests has been erected in central London  to commemorate the average number of tradespeople who lose their lives to suicide each year.

The 12 metre-tall mural just off Charing Cross Road in the heart of Londons West End has been created to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, which began on Monday, May 15.

The latest government data shows as average of 687 trade workers died by suicide annually between 2019 and 2021  equating to 13 a week, or almost two a day.

IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect

In 2021, tradespeople accounted for 15 per cent of suicides across all industries  more than any other occupation.

Tradesperson Rebecca Bishop, co-founder of Elite Building, shared her own experience and urged others in the industry to speak out about their mental wellbeing.

I experience burnout regularly, but it started getting serious in 2020 at the onset of the pandemic, she said. I remember asking my husband if it was possible to die from stress as I was genuinely concerned.

Tradespeople need to understand that they are never alone. Things dont have to stay the way they are. We just need some brave people to step up and be vulnerable and share, which then might encourage others to share as well.

The West End display, bearing the words time to give mental health higher visibility, is on show at the Galliford Try construction site in Goslett Yard.

It was unveiled by IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect alongside the firms annual Mental Health in the Trades report, which found more than four in five (84 per cent) of UK tradespeople have experienced mental health problems due to work-related issues.

Emma Mamo, spokesperson for mental health charity Mind, said: In male-dominated industries such as construction, employees are often less willing and able to open up about their mental health and ask for support. This can be problematic because mental health problems often become worse if left untreated, and the consequences can be fatal.

We urge employers to create cultures where employees can speak openly and honestly about their mental health.

Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect, said: We hope that this artwork serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of mental health issues within the trades industry.

By bringing this issue to the forefront of peoples minds, we hope to encourage more open conversations around mental health and continue our efforts to support those who may be struggling.

For more information about the mural, click here.

Help can be found by calling the Samaritans free of charge at any time on 116 123 or by email at jo@samaritans.org or visit Samaritans.org.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov met with Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Igor Petrishenko, who is on a visit to Azerbaijan, Trend reports via Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.

Topical issues of Azerbaijani-Belarusian trade and economic cooperation, investment and industrial cooperation were discussed at the meeting.

The importance of the regular meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Belarus held in Baku was noted.

The sides also discussed prospects for the development of mutually beneficial partnership in areas of mutual interest.
M et Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley was crazy and disrespectful to black Londoners by failing to accept that his force is institutionally racist, the author of a damning report into his force said on Monday.

Baroness Louise Casey said Sir Mark had gone down a rabbit hole by refusing to accept her verdict that institutional racism, misogyny and homophobia is at the root of the problems which have engulfed the Met in a succession of scandals.

She added she was disappointed with Sir Marks response  which she has already criticised several times since her report was published in March  and that she remained undecided as to whether his force had taken her findings and recommendations for reform seriously enough.

She also warned that the Met would not be able to serve the public adequately if it continued marching on a white male, misogynist, racist culture and that the necessary changes would only occur if the force was willing to accept the full extent of its problems.

I was disappointed at publication that the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley  went down a rabbit hole over whether he would or wouldnt use the word institutional, which I thought was crazy to be completely honest and disrespectful to black and minority ethnic Londoners, Baroness Casey told BBC Radio 4s Womans Hour.

The Met police, whether you call it systemic, organisational, institutional, whichever word you want to use, it has deep into its organisation the inability to get it right for black people and also for women.

I want them to change, Im desperate for them to change, but in order to change you have to accept whats shown you in the mirror, you have to dig deep, and you have to work out what it is you want to change.

Baroness Casey added that without reform, the Met would not be able to police Londons diverse population as it should.

Baroness Louise Casey (James Manning/PA) / PA Wire

In something like the police where 50 per cent of London now is not white, its back or minority ethnic background, and 50 per cent of the population are women, if your organisation is still marching on a white male, misogynist, racist culture you are not serving the people.

She added: The jury is out for me at the moment as to whether the Metropolitan Police has taken it seriously enough and put action in place to respond to the report.

I want them to change, Im desperate for them to change, but in order to change you have to accept whats shown you in the mirror, you have to dig deep, and you have to work out what it is you want to change.

Baroness Caseys report was commissioned in the wake of the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by the then Met officer Wayne Couzens and contains a succession of recommendations for reform.

In unveiling her findings, Baroness Casey warned that the problems within the force were so bad there could be other officers within its ranks as bad as Couzens or his serial rapist former colleague David Carrick.

She denounced bullying, poor leadership and the "rotten" treatment of black Londoners and highlighted incidents including dildos being put in coffee mugs, bags of urine thrown at cars, and ethnic minority officers being ridiculed and talked down to as examples of misconduct within the Met. She also lashed out at the off the barometer decision to allow an officer convicted of indecent exposure for masturbating on a train to keep his job.

She warned further that the protection of women had been thrown out of the window and criticised failings at Scotland Yard infecting ever level of the force.

Sir Mark Rowley has said that he accepts Baroness Caseys findings and the existence of the problems which led to her to reach her diagnosis of institutional racism, misogyny and homophobia.

But he has said that he is not willing to use the word institutional on the grounds that it is a politicised term and means different things to different people.
A track worker was hit by a rush hour Metropolitan lineTube suffering head and body injuries, a report on Monday revealed.

The worker was hit while she was carrying out inspections on April 15 last year near Chalfont and Latimer station at around 9.30am.

A probe by the independent Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) criticised the London Underground, saying elements of its organisational culture did not support effective management of track worker safety.

The investigation found the worker, who was recruited by an agency, was not familiar with the location and that safety briefings on the day were not adequate.

The entrance to Chalfont and Latimer Tube / Alamy Stock Photo

The employee moved from a place of safety and into the approaching trains path to get a better view of the track ahead, just as the train was about to pass her.

She was walking with her back to the train when she was hit at 27 mph because she did not realise the line she was next to could have trains approaching from either direction.

The worker was released from hospital later the same day but has continued to suffer from the effects of the accident.

Chief Inspector of Rail Accidents Andrew Hall said: This accident is an alarming reminder that there is still work to be done to reduce the likelihood of track workers coming into contact with trains on parts of the railway.

It cannot be acceptable that any member of staff be working on open lines with insufficient awareness of the direction a train might approach from.

Inspectors said agency workers often felt they could not challenge Underground staff because of a power differential.

They also raised concerns that some designated places of safety on the Metropolitan line are sometimes obstructed, meaning they cannot be used. However, this was not a factor in the accident.

TfL has now been told that it should look to minimise the amount of times staff carry out inspections on the track during traffic hours.

Lilli Matson, Chief Safety Health and Environment Officer at TfL said: Safety will always be our top priority so we were extremely concerned when a railway worker was struck by a Metropolitan line train while inspecting track near Chalfont & Latimer station.

While thankfully their injuries were limited, it would have been a highly upsetting experience and our thoughts remain with them.

As normal with an incident on the railway, we immediately informed the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB), in addition to undertaking our own investigation.

We will now consider the findings of the RAIBs report and have already put a number of actions in place to ensure this type of incident does not occur again.
K ate Moss became one of the worlds most famous models after being spotted 35 years ago at New Yorks JFK airport aged 14. But now she says shes looking to step away from her work as a supermodel and focus on her wellness brand instead.

Id like to concentrate on [the brand] and not have to do the modelling any more, Moss says. I dont really want to just turn up and be the face of, she adds. I want to be in control.

Moss has launched beauty and wellness brand Cosmoss in the mould of Gwyneth Paltrows Goop and Lady Bamfords Daylesford, and is very hands-on. A lot of people with brands, they just put their name on it, Moss tells the FTs How to Spend It magazine. I put my money into it. I own it. Moss also started a modelling agency last year, where she has her daughter Lila Grace and other family friends on the books.

How Eurovision cut it in Islington

There was confusion in Islington on Saturday when a mysterious sign was tacked to the door of a barber shop. Closing at 2pm as Im playing bass for Croatia in the Eurovision final, read a note in A Nod Is As Good As A Wink, a well-reviewed spot in Angel. Later that night, Croatias act, Let 3, pictured, did an eccentric tune stripping down to their underwear. Their song, Mama SC!, was widely interpreted as an anti-war piece, mocking Russias Vladimir Putin. It came 13th. Im rarely lost for words, was JK Rowlings review of their act. Some people getting haircuts this week will be inspecting their barber in the mirror.

The next Bond?

Aaron Taylor-Johnson / Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Theres buzz around Aaron Taylor-Johnson, right, replacing Daniel Craig as James Bond. It would make him one of the most famous names to come out of High Wycombe since James Corden (who is not thought to be in the running). US site Page Six is adding to rumours, reporting a decision could be made this spring, and a slew of hopefuls are trying on the tuxedo in auditions at Pinewood studios. Does it fit?

UKs glory days are over, says ex-Foreign Office boss

Simon McDonald / Getty Images

Former head of the Foreign Office Simon McDonald says the UK is now mostly a soft power player in world affairs. Last year McDonald played a part in the downfall of Boris Johnson, writing a letter contradicting the PMs account of the Chris Pincher affair. Now he tells the New Statesman we have dropped out of the great game of world politics. Arent civil servants supposed to talk up their country?

Last night in town

Londoners Diary 15th April 23 1 / 8 Londoners Diary 15th April 23 Apple TV+ BAFTA TV Brunch - Inside Misan Harriman and Cat Deeley attend the Apple TV+ BAFTA TV Brunch celebrating excellence in global storytelling and creativity at 180 The Strand on May 13, 2023 in London, England. Dave Benett Apple TV+ BAFTA TV Brunch - Inside Antonia Thomas attends the Apple TV+ BAFTA TV Brunch celebrating excellence in global storytelling and creativity at 180 The Strand on May 13, 2023 in London, England. Dave Benett Apple TV+ BAFTA TV Brunch - Inside Amy Jackson attends the Apple TV+ BAFTA TV Brunch celebrating excellence in global storytelling and creativity at 180 The Strand on May 13, 2023 in London, England. Pic Credit: Dave Benett Dave Benett Apple TV+ BAFTA TV Brunch - Inside Andy Serkis and Lorraine Ashbourne attend the Apple TV+ BAFTA TV Brunch celebrating excellence in global storytelling and creativity at 180 The Strand on May 13, 2023 in London, England. Pic Credit: Dave Benett Dave Benett Jasmine Jobson Hosts BAFTA TV Awards After Party At Shoreditch House Jasmine Jobson and Karla-Simone Spence attend a BAFTA TV Awards after party hosted by Jasmine Hobson at Shoreditch House on May 14, 2023 in London, England. Dave Benett Jasmine Jobson Hosts BAFTA TV Awards After Party At Shoreditch House Isan Elba attends a BAFTA TV Awards after party hosted by Jasmine Hobson at Shoreditch House on May 14, 2023 in London, England. Dave Benett

Bafta took over the town this weekend, with presenter Cat Deeley and photographer Misan Harriman going to an Apple TV+ Brunch at 180 The Strand on Saturday ahead of the awards. Also there were actors Antonia Thomas, Amy Jackson, Andy Serkis and Lorraine Ashbourne. After the bash last night, model Isan Elba and thesps Jasmine Jobson and Karla-Simone Spence were an after party hosted by Jasmine Hobson at Shoreditch House.
L iz Truss branded China the largest threat that we face to the free world as she accused the UK along with other western countries of being too dependent on Beijing.

Britains shortest-serving prime minister  who was widely expected to adopt a more hawkish stance towards the nation during her premiership  warned against capitulating to rhetorical bullying from authoritarian regimes.

Appearing at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit ahead of a high-profile visit to Taiwan, Ms Truss said: Theres no doubt that the entire western world including the United States, including Europe, including the UK, has become too dependent on China, and thats a problem because its given China leverage over us, and its also a problem economically.

If we take our eye off the ball on China, we'll be facing a very, very serious problem down the road

Yes, the UK needs to take more action but its not just the UK, its the continent of Europe, its the United States.

Ms Truss said the issue of Beijing was also inherently linked to the war in Ukraine, drawing parallels between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

And following a meeting between Rishi Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier on Monday, in which the Prime Minister stopped short of promising fighter jets for the country, Ms Truss renewed calls for the UK to provide warplanes.

Asked whether she thought the UK Government was doing enough to support Ukraine, she said: I think we are sending extra long-range weapons  that is very welcome.

Ive said I want to see us sending fighter jets to Ukraine  I know were supplying training on that but weve got to focus on Ukraine, we also need to focus on the threat from China.

That is my message  that these things are inherently linked. If we take our eye off the ball on China, well be facing a very, very serious problem down the road.

Asked about her own stance on Beijing compared with the less hawkish position of her successor, she said: I stand by my assertion that we should designate China as a threat. I think theyre a very clear threat. I think theyre the largest threat that we face to the free world.

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 a disastrous market reaction to her mini-Budget  meant her update to the UKs foreign policy position did not have time to materialise.

Instead, her successor Mr Sunak adopted less hard-line language, using the UKs integrated review on foreign and defence policy in March to describe China as representing an epoch-defining and systemic challenge.

Ms Truss will meet Taiwanese government officials during her trip  an opportunity afforded to her by her newfound freedom, she said, as she would not have been able to do so as prime minister.

The visit comes during a sensitive time for relations between the West and and an increasingly assertive Beijing.
T he Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived at Chequers for substantive negotiations over military aid with Rishi Sunak.

Mr Zelensky has been meeting Western leaders over the weekend to seek increased military support to fight the Russian invasion.

As he landed in the UK on Monday morning, Mr Zelensky confirmed he would meet my friend Rishi.

The UK government announced last week that it would supply Ukraine with hundreds of air defence missiles and long-range attack drones with a range of more than 200km.

Ahead of the meeting, Rishi Sunak said the UK will be sustaining our support for Ukraine.

Pictures showed the Ukrainian leaders military helicopter landing at the prime ministers country house Chequers, on Monday morning.

Of all the grand houses across the UK, none is as politically significant as Chequers. Boasting an indoor heated swimming pool and 1,500 acres of lawns, the 16th-century mansion has been the official second home of serving prime ministers since 1921.

The Buckinghamshire estate has never been open to the public  the only way to get a peek is to be involved in politics.

So what is Chequers, who owns it and what significant events have taken place there?

What is Chequers?

Chequers (Jacob King/PA) / PA Wire

Chequers, or Chequers Court, is a country house near the village of Ellesborough in Buckinghamshire at the foot of the Chiltern Hills.

The house and its estate have been the official second home of the serving prime minister for more than 100 years.

It has 10 bedrooms and a putting green, as well as a heated indoor swimming pool in the Orangery, a putting green and 1,500 acres of lawns.

The retreat has provided fresh air and open space for sitting prime ministers since 1917, when it was gifted to the nation by Conservative minister Sir Arthur Lee and his American heiress wife, Ruth.

He did so after realising that the politicians coming to prominence after the First World War were no longer from the landed classes. He said they would therefore be unlikely to have country estates at which to entertain foreign dignitaries or to relax.

As set out in the Chequers Estate Act 1917, it was hoped to draw the sitting PM to spend two days a week in the high and pure air of the Chiltern hills and woods.

The thinking behind that is the better the health of our rulers, the more sanely will they rule.

A stained glass window in the building reads: This house of peace and ancient memories was given to England as a thank-offering for her deliverance in the great war of 19141918 as a place of rest and recreation for her Prime Ministers for ever.

Who owns the Chequers estate?

PA

The Chequers Trust owns the estate but it is in complete control of whoever is prime minister at the time. David Lloyd George became its first prime ministerial occupant in 1921. However, the estate is managed by an independent trust and maintained by an endowment administered by the trustees.

Why is the house called Chequers?

Stefan Rousseau/PA

Theres no confirmed reason why Chequers has its name. The current mansion was built by William Hawtrey in about 1565, although the name possibly comes from the 12th century. One theory is that it comes from an early owner of the manor of Ellesborough, Elias Ostiarius (or de Scaccario).

The name Ostiarius meant an usher of the Court of the Exchequer and scacchiera means a chessboard in Italian. Elias Ostiariuss coat of arms included the chequerboard of the Exchequer, so the estate may be named after his arms and position at court.

Others point to the large number of chequer trees growing on the grounds.

Historic political moments

Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomes German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Chequers / PA Wire

The site is no stranger to historic moments. Sir Winston Churchill is known to have written some of his most famous radio speeches during the Second World War in the mansions Hawtrey room.

The estate was used by the prime minister at the time, Theresa May, as the location for a crunch 2018 Cabinet meeting to agree her new Brexit proposals. But, in the following days, senior ministers including then-foreign secretary Boris Johnson resigned in disagreement over the plans.

In 2020, as PM, Mr Johnson went to Chequers to recuperate as he recovered from the coronavirus.

He was reunited with his then-pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds to spend time at the mansion, following a seven-night spell in hospital about which he said things could have gone either way.

The couple originally planned to throw their wedding party at Chequers. They were said to have sent out save-the-date cards for a celebration on July 30, 2022, before deciding to change the location to Daylesford House  a grand Cotswolds estate of a major Tory donor.

Inside Chequers, photographic portraits of all the British prime ministers who have used the residence are on display in the Great Parlour.

During a visit in 2015, then-prime minister David Cameron told the French president, Francois Hollande, that Chequers is a good place for thinking  away from London.

Visitors over the years have ranged from the Queen to foreign leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, and celebrities including Sir Elton John, Bryan Adams and David Bowie.

The late disgraced television presenter Jimmy Savile made several visits while Margaret Thatcher was prime minister. He once claimed he spent 11 consecutive Christmasses at Chequers.
S ome European Union citizens living in the UK could get voting rights under a Labour government, the party has said.

Sir Keir Starmer confirmed on Monday that the party is looking at giving EU citizens the vote in general elections.

Jonathan Reynolds, Labours shadow business secretary, told the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme the move could strengthen our democracy.

Its not our final policy position, he said. We want to strengthen our democracy and these people make a contribution they live here and we want to involve them in that process. But we will set that out in full in our manifesto.

The move might appeal to potential voters, especially those of European background, but the Conservatives have criticised its potential to undervalue Brexit.

Conservative chairman Greg Hands said in response: "The right to vote in parliamentary elections and choose the next UK government is rightly restricted to British citizens and those with the closest historical links to our country.

Who can currently vote in the UK?

There are different rules on who can vote for different elections / Electoral Commission

According to the House of Commons Library, rules on voting differ between various groups and ages depending on what the vote is for.

To vote in Parliamentary elections, a person must be:

Aged 18 or older

A British citizen, a British overseas voter, an Irish resident, or a citizen of a qualifying Commonwealth country

Can EU citizens living in the UK vote?

EU (European Union) residents cannot, currently, vote in these elections  which is what the Labour Party might be looking to change.

However, EU citizens who are residents can vote in every other election in the UK, including for councils, mayors, and police commissioners.

The Electoral Commission website states: EU nationals citizens legally resident in the UK may currently register to vote in all elections that use the local government franchise.

The Elections Act 2022 will change the eligibility of some EU citizens to vote in local elections in England and Northern Ireland, and PCC elections in England and Wales.

What other local rules are there around elections?

People convicted of criminal offences

People who have been imprisoned for a criminal offence cannot vote in any elections in England or Wales, according to the 1983 Representation of the People Act.

In addition, if somebody has been convicted of "corrupt or illegal practices in connection with an election" within the last five years, they cannot vote.

Prisoners can only vote in Scottish elections if carrying a sentence of 12 months or less.

Age restrictions

The voting age is 18 across the board apart from in Scotland and for Welsh police commissioners, where the age is 16.
J acob Rees-Mogg has attacked the Governments decision to scale back post-Brexit plans to scrap EU laws as pathetically under-ambitious.

The former cabinet minister used a speech at the National Conservatism conference on Monday to criticise Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for breaking his promise to complete a bonfire of remaining EU-era laws by the end of the year.

The three-day gathering in London will also feature speakers including Home Secretary Suella Braverman, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, outspoken Conservative deputy chairman Lee Anderson and former Brexit negotiator Lord Frost.

The surrender to the blob risks exposing the Government to ridicule

Mr Rees-Mogg, whose speech was interrupted early on by a protester warning about fascism, said the Governments U-turn over scrapping EU laws was a defeat of ambition, prosperity and democracy.

Rishi Sunak made a specific promise to scrap thousands of EU laws, the Tory MP for North East Somerset said.

Hes broken that promise. This is very unfortunate as one of his virtues is his trustworthiness and the surrender to the blob risks exposing the Government to ridicule.

Brexit-backing Tory MPs were angered by a move to revoke around 600 retained EU laws, rather than the 4,000 pledged.

The Government had originally promised a sunset clause on all laws carried over from the trade bloc by the end of 2023 under its Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.

Mr Rees-Mogg said that while the Government needs to be more ambitious, it was essential to support it because the alternative is far worse.

The loyalist of former prime minister Boris Johnson also appeared to describe the introduction of voter ID as gerrymandering.

As a minister, Mr Rees-Mogg defended the introduction of voter IDs in Parliament.

He also railed against high taxes and the quango state, condemning the snooty House of Lords Appointments Committee for rejecting former Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre for a peerage.

On Monday afternoon, Ms Braverman will argue that there is no good reason the UK cannot train its own workforce of lorry drivers and fruit pickers, in a speech that will stress the need for overall immigration to the UK to come down.

Her speech, which will be seen as a warning to Cabinet colleagues against relaxing immigration visa rules in a bid to boost growth, comes as Mr Sunak grapples with signs of discontent and division with his partys ranks.

Ms Braverman will say: I voted and campaigned for Brexit because I wanted Britain to control migration. So that we all have a say on what works for our country.

High-skilled workers support economic growth. Fact.

But we need to get overall immigration numbers down. And we mustnt forget how to do things for ourselves.

There is no good reason why we cant train up enough HGV drivers, butchers or fruit pickers. Brexit enables us to build a high-skilled, high-wage economy that is less dependent on low-skilled foreign labour.

That was our 2019 manifesto pledge and what we must deliver.

Miriam Cates opened the conference with a call for families to be encouraged to have more children.

The MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, who is on the right of the Conservative Party, told the conference in Westminster that falling birth rates were the one overarching threat to British conservatism and indeed the whole of Western society.

She also claimed cultural Marxism was destroying our childrens souls.

There has been speculation of a split in Mr Sunaks Cabinet on immigration, with some members  including Chancellor Jeremy Hunt  more keen than others to stress the benefits of migration for economic growth.

It comes ahead of official figures released later in May that are expected to show net migration of between 650,000 and 997,000.

It comes as The Times newspaper reported that Education Secretary Gillian Keegan recently blocked proposals  backed by the Home Secretary  that would have reduced the time foreign students can remain here after finishing a course.

A Government source told the PA news agency that the Education Secretary and the Chancellor had been robust on the benefit of foreign students.

The conference comes only days after a similar gathering of Tory MPs and grassroots members in Bournemouth, and after a difficult set of local elections that saw the Conservatives lose nearly 1,000 councillors.

But Mr Sunak is planning his own charm offensive on Monday evening, with Tory MPs invited to a Downing Street reception that will see pies served from the PMs own North Yorkshire constituency.

Billed as an event to celebrate the coronation, it nonetheless comes amid calls from some Tory MPs for party unity ahead of an anticipated general election next year.
N ew community diagnostic centres will ensure the Government target of cutting waiting lists is met, Rishi Sunak has said.

The Prime Minister has hailed the community clinics as a key plank in his efforts to drive down NHS waits, with six new centres opening across the east of England, the Midlands and the South East.

More than 100 are already being used across England, with over 30 more set to open before the end of the year.

Amid ongoing pressure on the NHS, ministers are hoping the one stop shops for tests, checks and scans can relieve the strain.

In January, Mr Sunak pledged that NHS waiting lists will fall and people will get the care they need more quickly.

But figures released earlier this week showed the number of people in England waiting to start routine hospital treatment has risen to a record high.

An estimated 7.3 million people were waiting to start treatment at the end of March, up from 7.2 million in February.

Mr Sunak said: I have pledged to cut waiting lists and these new community diagnostic centres will do exactly that.

By offering checks, tests and scans closer to home, we can speed up the diagnosis of illnesses like cancer and heart disease and ensure patients get their treatment quickly.

These centres revolutionise the way the NHS delivers care, and crucially they are saving lives.

The Government and NHS England had also set the ambition of eliminating all waits of more than 18 months by April of this year, excluding exceptionally complex cases or patients who choose to wait longer.

But the latest data showed the target was missed.

The new centres have been backed with 2.3 billion, with the latest due to open in Hereford City, Scunthorpe and several other sites.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said: We know early diagnosis and treatment leads to better outcomes for patients, which is why these centres are so vital.

Based in the heart of communities, they are making it easier for people to access life-saving checks and cutting out unnecessary hospital visits.

They have already made a huge difference, delivering nearly four million tests, checks and scans since the programme started in July 2021, helping to deliver on the Governments commitment to cut waiting lists.

Dr Vin Diwakar, NHS medical director for transformation, said the centres would continue to increase access to care by providing vital scans, X-rays, endoscopies and blood tests closer to patients homes.
C hildren and young people who have suffered sexual or domestic abuse risk not getting the help they need due to a gap in support from local authorities, a charity has warned.

The NSPCC said access to specialist support services for those affected is simply not available for many children across England and Wales.

Of the local authorities which responded to NSPCC freedom of information requests, less than one-quarter said they provide dedicated support for children and young people in the form of an independent and specially trained advisor.

Local authorities should have a duty to deliver specialist community-based support for young victims of abuse. However, only half of local authorities are across the numbers of children living in their area who need help

Just half had records of the numbers of children in their area who had experienced either domestic abuse or sexual abuse or both.

Clare Kelly, associate head of policy and public affairs at the NSPCC, said: Children who suffer sexual or domestic abuse desperately need to have easy access to specialist support services that will give them the best chance of recovery.

However, as our research reveals, that level of care is simply not available for many children across England and Wales.

Local authorities should have a duty to deliver specialist community-based support for young victims of abuse. However, only half of local authorities are across the numbers of children living in their area who need help.

The charity referenced figures from the centre of expertise on child sexual abuse (CSA Centre), which has estimated that around half a million children are sexually abused in a single year in England and Wales.

Our situation could have been less fraught if there had been a liaison-type person that could keep us updated and informed.

The NSPCC said it is vital these victims have access to tailored therapeutic support delivered by independent trained professionals who have the knowledge and understanding on how best to support young people.

The mother of a girl who was sexually abused by a family member as a seven-year-old told of their difficulty in getting help when they needed it.

The woman, who has been named only as Erin to protect her daughters identity, said: Our situation could have been less fraught if there had been a liaison-type person that could keep us updated and informed.

There needs to be built-in and comprehensive victim support offered to children and their families at every level in the long term to help children rebuild their lives.

The findings come as the Victims and Prisoners Bill is due to have its second reading in the House of Commons on Monday.

The NSPCC has called on the Government to focus the Bills attention towards ensuring all young victims of abuse are offered specialist support when they need it, whether they report it to the police and are involved with the criminal justice process or not.

This can be done by strengthening local authorities data collection and support framework by creating national requirements for support and investing in children who have experienced domestic and sexual abuse, the charity said.

Ms Kelly said: The Government needs to urgently address these major shortfalls in care for vulnerable young people.

They can do this through the Victims and Prisoners Bill but, in its current state, the legislation still has a long way to go if it is to deliver a much-needed transformation of support for child victims.

The charity sent FOI requests to 174 local authorities in England and Wales and received full or partial responses from 119 within the allocated timeframe.
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The UK has no plans to supply jets to Ukraine but a new flying school will help train Kyivs pilots and the Government pledged to work with allies on securing the planes Volodymyr Zelensky needs.

In an announcement made as Mr Zelensky met Rishi Sunak for talks at Chequers, the Government said an elementary flying phase for groups of Ukrainian pilots would begin this summer.

The move will adapt the programme used by UK pilots to provide Ukrainian counterparts with skills they can apply to different kinds of aircraft.

Ukraine has opted to seek the F-16 jets used by many Nato members  but not the UK  as it shifts away from Soviet-era planes towards Western military equipment.

When Mr Zelensky visited the UK in February he was pleading with Western nations for jets  presenting Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle with a pilots helmet as he called for wings for freedom.

At the time, the UK was under pressure from supporters of Mr Zelensky  including former prime minister Boris Johnson  to hand over British Typhoon jets.

But Government officials questioned how suitable the aircraft would be, given the length of training required to fly it and the logistical support needed on the ground.

And with Kyiv calling for F-16s, Downing Street indicated there was now little prospect of British jets being supplied.

But Mr Sunak said the prospect of training Ukrainian pilots with Nato tactics was an important part of the long-term relationship between our countries.

The Prime Minister said the UK would be training Ukrainian citizens to be absolutely combat-ready aircraft pilots with knowledge of Nato tactics.

It is not a straightforward thing  as Volodymyr and I have been discussing  to build up that fighter combat aircraft capability, Mr Sunak said.

Its not just the provision of planes, its also the training of pilots and all the logistics that go alongside that and the UK can play a big part in that.

One thing we will be doing, starting actually relatively soon, is training of Ukrainian pilots and thats something weve discussed today and were ready to implement those plans in relatively short order.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: The Ukrainian government has made the decision to train their pilots on F-16 jets, thats a decision for them.

Obviously, I believe, they are in discussions with other countries who use those jets and we are working with those countries.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. The shelling of Azerbaijani positions by Armenia on the conditional Azerbaijani-Armenian border for several days is another attempt by official Yerevan to deactivate peace talks, Trend reports.

Armenia's use of attack drones provided by Iran, D-30 howitzers, and new military equipment from other patrons, and the fact that Armenia openly reveals its plans for invasion [to Azerbaijan], show that peace, stability and regional security arent a priority for Yerevan. All steps in this direction are another game of the leadership of Armenia.

Yerevan is only accelerating its own fall into the abyss, hoping that the attack UAVs donated by Iran to Armenia for use against Azerbaijan will be able to change the geopolitical consequences of the sharp imbalance between the army of Azerbaijan and Armenian armed forces.

The targeted destruction of the Armenian military infrastructure by the Azerbaijani army in response to Armenias provocation, and the UAV control center once again confirmed that Armenia won't be able to resist Azerbaijan, and its sabotage attempts each time only result in the killing of Armenian soldiers.

Its absolutely clear that Yerevan planned to influence the outcome of the meeting in Brussels with its military provocations and to strengthen its positions in the negotiations.

Yerevan is well aware that this is a big blow to the peace talks, and this course of events proves that Armenia has not yet abandoned its occupation policy, whilst Baku proved its readiness for peace.

The former geopolitical realities do not exist. Having ended the 30-year occupation in 44 days [2020 Second Karabakh War], Azerbaijan managed to completely change the situation in the region in its favor, and moreover, the world accepted these realities of the post-conflict period.

Azerbaijan was able to convince the West and the US that it is interested in peace. This result will allow Azerbaijan to severely suppress Armenia's plans for escalation.

Baku's expectations from Armenia, which is trying to boycott the peace agenda, werent too high at the meeting in Brussels. However, this does not bother Baku in the current situation. Azerbaijan is strengthening its position on all platforms, obtaining beneficial results for itself.

Yerevan, which once again demonstrated a destructive position at the talks in Washington and Brussels, is preparing for another manipulation at the meetings in Moscow and Chisinau.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan continues imitating peace negotiations. His order to his army to attack the positions of Azerbaijan only resulted in an adequate response from the country.

The Armenian leadership should be careful of continuing such actions, because in the future it may face an even sharper response from Azerbaijan. This complies with international law. Ensuring territorial integrity, protecting it, as well as taking preventive measures against threats, force Azerbaijan, like any other state in such a situation, to take appropriate steps, and Pashinyan and his team should think about who will get worse from this.

On the evening of May 10, units of the Armenian armed forces, using various types of small arms, committed a deliberate provocation against the positions of the Azerbaijani army in the direction of Zod settlement. As a result of the target fire, the serviceman of the Azerbaijani army Muslim Mahmudlu was seriously wounded in the head.

Starting from the morning of May 11, the Armenian troops making the situation even tenser, from the positions in the direction of Zod settlement have carried out mortar shelling against the Azerbaijan Army's opposite positions, following which Azerbaijani serviceman of the extra active military service of the Azerbaijani army Orkhan Novruzalizade.

On the evening of May 12, as a result of the ongoing provocation of the Armenian armed forces, Mahammad Garayev was also killed.

The same day, the Armenian Defense Ministry reported the death of one and the injury of another one of its servicemen as a result of a provocation by the Armenian Armed Forces.

On May 14, the Armenian armed forces units in the Yenikend direction of the Basarkechar region using 60 mm mortars shelled the Azerbaijan Army positions stationed in the direction of Damirchidam settlement of the Kalbajar district.
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Rishi Sunak promised hundreds of new long-range attack drones for Ukraine as Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise visit to the UK on Monday.

The Prime Minister and the Ukrainian president met at Chequers for substantive negotiations over military aid ahead of a major counter-offensive from Kyiv against Russian forces.

Mr Sunak confirmed the provision of hundreds of air defence missiles and further unmanned aerial systems, including attack drones which have a range of over 125 miles.

Downing Street said the weapons were critical in helping the country defend against the relentless bombardment of their national infrastructure by Vladimir Putins army.

Mr Zelensky also repeated his plea for western countries to supply F-16 fighter jets to bolster his countrys defence, saying the issue had been discussed with Mr Sunak during their meeting.

New jets were a very important topic for us, because we can't control the sky, he said.

We spoke about it and I see that in the closest time you will hear some, I think, very important decisions, but we have to work a little bit more on it.

Mr Sunak said: This is a crucial moment in Ukraines resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke. They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year. We must not let them down.

He compared Mr Zelenskys wartime leadership to Winston Churchill as he welcomed the Ukrainian president to his country residence. Mr Sunak added: You are actually the first foreign leader I have had the privilege of welcoming here as Prime Minister and theres a lot of great history here.

In fact this room that we are standing in, Winston Churchill made many of his famous speeches in World War Two from this room. And the same way today, your leadership, your countrys bravery and fortitude are an inspiration to us all.

Mr Zelensky thanked the UK Government, the King and the British people for their support.

Rishi Suinak/Twitter

We are thankful from all our hearts, from Ukrainians, from our soldiers, we are thankful, he said.

The president added that Mondays talks would cover very important issues [and] urgent support for his country.

The meeting comes after Britain last week agreed to provide Storm Shadow precision missiles to Ukraine  the first long-range cruise missile in the countrys arsenal  on top of the 2.3 billion worth of military support the UK pledged last year.

The Government also provided more details of the flying school for Ukrainian fighter jet pilots set to begin in Britain this summer.

The elementary flying phase is for cohorts of Ukrainian pilots to learn basic training and goes hand in hand with UK efforts to work with other countries on providing F16 jets, Downing Street said. The Prime Ministers official spokesman confirmed that the UK has no plans to send fighter jets of its own to Ukraine.

Mondays visit follows Mr Zelenskys trip to London in February, when he met King Charles III and addressed MPs in Westminster Hall. It is also the presidents latest stop on a tour of European capitals as he seeks to bolster support for a Ukrainian counter-offensive.

AFP via Getty Images

He met Emmanuel Macron in Paris last night with the French president pledging additional military aid, including light tanks, armoured vehicles and soldier training.

It followed discussions in Germany over the weekend with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who promised an aid package including 30 Leopard and 20 Marder tanks.

Mr Zelensky also picked up the prestigious Charlemagne Prize for European unity in Aachen, telling the audience that peace was our primary duty to our countries and to Europe.

Chair of the Defence Select Committee Tobias Ellwood said the tour was an important reminder that Ukraine is fighting this European war for us.

He told TalkTV: Hes absolutely grateful for the support that hes received but having to go around those capital cities in Europe to say, lets ensure that we dont suffer from Ukraine fatigue, that we dont lose sight of the fact that this is going to require not just one major counter attack, but a series of counter attacks to flush Russia out of the country.

If we dont do that Russia will press on and do what its doing in Ukraine in other parts of Eastern Europe. This is attack on Western democracy. This is an attack on Europe and we are doing our part.

Rishi Sunak and Volodymyr Zelensky - In pictures 1 / 22 Rishi Sunak and Volodymyr Zelensky - In pictures Getty Images Rishi Suinak/Twitter PA POOL/AFP via Getty Images PA Media PA Wire Simon Walker / No10 Downing Street PA Wire PA Wire Simon Walker/No10 Downing Street PA Wire PA PA Media Getty Images Getty Images PA PA Media

The visit also comes ahead of the Council of Europe Summit in Iceland, which Mr Suank is due to attend and Mr Zelensky will address virtually, and the G7 Summit in Japan. Mr Sunak will use the gatherings to push for sustained support for Ukraine in the fight against Putins army, No 10 said.

In a tweet, Mr Zelensky said: The UK is a leader when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air. This cooperation will continue today. I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations.

Mr Zelensky is expected to attend the next major Nato summit in person, with Ukraine pushing for a timeline for it joining the alliance.

It comes as Ukrainian forces began to seize back ground in Bakhmut, which has seen some of the fiercest fighting in Europe since the Second World War.

Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukrainian ground forces, said the operation had shown his troops can move forward and counter the Russian forces in the eastern town.

The advance of our troops along the Bakhmut direction  that is the first successful offensive operation in (Bakhmuts) defence, he was quoted as saying on Ukraines Media Military Centre Telegram messaging platform.

The last few days have shown that we can move forward and destroy the enemy even in such extremely difficult conditions The operation to defend Bakhmut continues. All necessary decisions for the defence have been made.

Moscow admitted on Friday that Russian troops had retreated to more favourable positions near the Berkhivka reservoir northwest of Bakhmut.

Kyiv is expected to launch a major counteroffensive soon to try to retake Russian-occupied territory, but Ukrainian officials have indicated that the gains around Bakhmut do not signal that the broader counterattack has begun.

Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said on Monday that heavy fighting continued in and around Bakhmut, and that everything was difficult there.

The Russians have not changed their goals. They are sending assault troops to the outskirts of Bakhmut, she wrote on Telegram.
T he head of a nursing union called on the Government to restart negotiations over pay, as ministers were facing a double whammy of strike action from teachers and doctors.

Pat Cullen, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, urged the Government to get round the table very quickly as the unions annual conference took place in Brighton.

It comes as senior doctors and teachers are on Monday being balloted for strike action.

Members of the British Medical Association started voting on Monday in their continuing dispute over pay. Dr Vishal Sharma, who chairs the BMA consultants committee, said the union had been left with no option but to proceed today with the ballot for industrial action.

Members of the National Association of Head Teachers were also being balloted, along with teachers who are members of the National Education Union who are being re-balloted on Monday because their current mandate for industrial action ends on July 13. The NEU has already organised five national strike days in the past months.

Education unions have agreed to co-ordinate strike action in the autumn term. NEU joint secretaries Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney blamed a lack of engagement from the Government, but said it was never too late for the Education Secretary to come to the negotiating table and make an improved offer.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Education said the move was bitterly disappointing.

Members of the Royal College of Nursing will begin a new ballot for strike action on May 23 after the existing six-month mandate ran out at the start of the month. Ms Cullen told BBC Radio 4s Today programme the only way forward involved dialogue. She said: Really and truly its up to Government to get round the table very quickly.

If you listen to the stories our nursing staff are telling us in Brighton, they are harrowing, they are working in a health service thats not just causing patients real damage in terms of the care they cannot get, but its also having a real impact on our nursing staff who are really struggling.

A Department of Health spokesman said that the Governments pay offer was fair and that there were no plans to reopen negotiations on this deal.

Referring to the BMA ballot, the spokesman said: We hugely value the work of NHS consultants and they received a 4.5 per cent pay uplift last financial year increasing average earnings to around 128,000.

They will also benefit from generous changes to pension taxation announced at budget and are eligible to apply for additional financial awards worth up to 40,000 a year as part of the NHS consultant contract. We urge the BMA to carefully consider the likely impact of any action on patients.

Meanwhile, Ms Cullen insisted that her position was not confusing for nurses. She had initially urged members to accept the Governments revised pay offer of five per cent for this year and a one-off payment for last year.

Members of the union rejected the offer and the RCN is planning to ballot nurses to see whether they are prepared to stage further strikes.

Asked about Energy Secretary Grant Shapps describing her stance as confusing, Ms Cullen told the Today programme: No, its not confusing.

Tens of thousands of my members voted to tell the Government their last offer was not good enough, thats very clear. What was the offer? It was basically a consolidated 9% over a couple of years, and thats a really important point. And were saying to government, lets negotiate further and add to it.
E nglands exam regulator has said results in 2023 will signal a step back to normal, after Covid led to an increase in top grades in 2020 and 2021.

Dr Jo Saxton, head of Englands exams regulator, Ofqual, explained results would be more similar to pre-pandemic levels this year, with some of the support measures and adjustments introduced during the disruption of Covid removed and scaled back.

According to Dr Saxton, examiners will use data to set grade thresholds that were fair to students.

Theres no doubt that the pandemic has cast a long shadow, and thats partly why weve put some protections in place, she told the BBC.

A student should be able to get a grade that they would have got had there not been a pandemic, even if the quality of their work is a little bit weaker.

As exams get under way for most students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, students in England have not been given advance information about the topics they were likely to be tested on  as they had during Covid.

With that measure removed, grades this year are expected to fall back in line with results from 2019.

Dr Saxton said these pre-pandemic arrangements would give clarity to universities and employers.

However, some of the adjusted measures from the Covid years will remain in place  including the spacing apart of exams and GCSE students being given formulae and equations in some subjects. Students will also not be expected to confront unfamiliar words in language exams.

Outside England though, grades are expected to remain higher than they were in 2019 due to exam regulators in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland maintaining Covid-era modifications.
H ome Secretary Suella Braverman sees an enemy of the state behind every visa application to Britain, a London business leader claimed on Monday in a scathing attack on her stance on immigration.

Richard Burge, Chief Executive of London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, tore into the Cabinet minister, after she gave a speech to the National Conservatism Conference in central London.

The Home Office and Home Secretary seem to have no interest or commitment to the economic needs of our country, he argued.

Behind every visa application they see an enemy of the state. Until the Home Secretary changes her visa policy and her dysfunctional department is reformed, the Governments vision of Global Britain will not be realised.

During her speech, Ms Braverman fired a warning to Cabinet colleagues against relaxing immigration visa rules to boost economic growth.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has indicated he would be willing to welcome more migrants to plug staffing shortages in industries such as construction.

In March, he said that people who voted for Brexit didnt vote for no immigration after relaxing immigration rules to allow construction workers to fill certain vacant roles.

But Ms Braverman insisted on Monday that, while it remained the Governments priority to prevent illegal migration, they must not lose sight of the importance of controlling legal migration as well.

She said: Its not racist for anyone, ethnic minority or otherwise, to want to control our borders.

I reject the lefts argument that its hypocritical for someone from an ethnic minority, like mine, to know these facts or to speak these truths.

Ms Braverman, whose speech was interrupted twice by protesters from Extinction Rebellion, said that people who come to the UK must not commit crimes and need to learn English and understand British social norms.

Her parents embraced British values, she said, adding that you cannot have immigration without integration.

She said: And if we lack the confidence to promote our culture, to defend our values and venerate our past, then we have nothing to integrate people into.

Official figures released later this month are expected to show net migration of between 650,000 and 997,000, according to the PA news agency.

Downing Street insisted Ms Bravermans comments on cutting net migration were in line with the Governments approach.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: She continues to represent the UK Government views on all issues relating to the Home Office, as you would expect.

The spokesman added: We want to see employers make long-term investments in the UK domestic workforce instead of relying on overseas labour as part of building a high-wage and high-skilled economy and we are supporting those industries in doing that.
R ishi Sunak is ready to listen to growing calls to axe the tourism tax damaging Londons economy, Downing Street said on Tuesday.

No10 made clear the Prime Ministers willingness to hear the views of business chiefs in the capital.

The PMs official spokesman said: We are always happy to listen to the sector about their concerns and obviously we will respond accordingly.

The comment came after a trade minister appealed to London hospitality chiefs to give him data on how the tourism tax is damaging the economy so he can make the case to the Chancellor to axe it.

Nigel Huddleston, who is also a former tourism minister, stressed that Jeremy Hunt would consider whether to keep the levy when he next examines tax policy for the Autumn Statement.

But he stressed the decision whether to bring back the VAT refund for overseas visitors would be based on a balance between encouraging tourism and raising funds needed to pay for public services like the NHS and schools.

Hundreds of firms in the capital are urging the Government to restore tax-free shopping for overseas tourists.

They are warning that scrapping it is leading to more wealthy tourists travelling to capitals such as Paris rather than London.

Mr Huddleston stressed Mr Sunak was lobbied on ditching the tourism levy at a Business Connect event a couple of weeks ago.

Speaking on LBC Radio on Monday, he added: Tax policy is always looked at in the advance of fiscal events the next one being later on this year.

(Tax) can influence people and we always keep an eye on what other countries are doing as well to make sure that we are globally competitive.

We always keep these things under review.

He added that the tourism economy had really bounced back strongly since international visitors could travel after the Covid pandemic.

But he urged tourism and hospitality chiefs to provide his department with information and data which they believe shows the tax was deterring people coming to London.

He explained: If we got rid of the tax, then there would be some loss of revenue which we need to pay for our essential services.

So its all a matter of balance. The Treasury will always look at this.

I engage with the hospitality industry as well as do many colleagues.

The appeal is please give us the data and the information and then that will help inform our decision-making.
P aul Crawford was 17-years-old on January 9 1974 when his father John did not return home from work.

As the family prepared to celebrate his younger sisters fourth birthday, they were instead plunged into the shock and grief of learning their father had been killed.

They faced years of misinformation, with a caller purporting to be from the Official IRA claiming responsibility for Mr Crawfords killing, a rumour he had been killed by people who had tried to rob him and false allegations he had been involved in two murders.

The family went through an inquest, a criminal trial, a Police Ombudsmans investigation and an Historical Enquiries Team investigation, but still felt the misinformation had not been addressed.

Throughout the process I was crystal clear that I wanted explanation, not justification

The process with the UVF came about after Mr Crawford reached out to Progressive Unionist Party members on social media in 2015 and attended a party conference where legacy was discussed with Winston Irvine.

The following year, at a conference on legacy at the Queens University Belfast, Mr Crawford publicly challenged Mr Irvine over his fathers murder and the pair began talking and started working together.

It took 40 meetings and countless telephone conversations across seven years, but Mr Crawford said he got what he wanted  an acknowledgement of responsibility from the UVF.

What he did not expect was to receive a report from the UVF, printed on UVF headed paper, with all the collated information he had been given on his fathers murder.

Mr Crawford said the information they received corrected a number of things they had believed, including where their father had been killed.

It included their rationale, the sequence of events and timings.

Mr Crawford emphasised that he verified every piece of information he received.

He said there had been good will, honesty and integrity shown across the process, and received full answers.

Throughout the process I was crystal clear that I wanted explanation, not justification, he said.

Asked whether he had been offered an apology, Mr Crawford said he was but he had refused it, saying he believed if he accepted an apology it was tantamount to saying it was OK.

He also pointed out that far from just the one person who was jailed for his fathers killing, there had been a number of people involved, from those who carried out the killing to those who planned it and those who ordered it, and queried whether they would all be sorry.

Mr Crawford said the two sides agreed to refer back to the apology which Gusty Spence issued on behalf of the UVF when he announced their ceasefire in 1994.
R esidents of Bromley say they are being are only getting mail deliveries every two weeks.

Annoyed locals say they are having to travel to their nearest Royal Mail sorting offices to collect vital letters as deliveries have reduced, going from once a week to once every fortnight.

Bromley sorting office bosses have told the Mail Online that it is currently dealing with high levels of sick leave but staff say the company is just not recruiting workers - which Royal Mail denies.

A spokesman said: We have a dedicated plan to improve the Bromley areas service quality. This has already reduced absence levels by more than half, with all current sick absences covered through temporary recruitment.

Boss of Royal Mail Simon Thompson stepped down this month after being accused by MPs of an unacceptable level of incompetence.

But how often should you be getting letters and can you complain if youre not getting your mail?

Royal Mail working hours

Royal Mail workers typically work all week, and deliver and collect post from Mondays to Saturdays in the majority of areas. They also deliver on Sundays in some areas.

Workers do not work on bank holidays and no post will be delivered on these days.

When will I get my post from Royal Mail?

Royal Mail say on their website that your post should be delivered by 3pm if you live in a town or city, or 4pm if you live in a rural area.

How long it takes depends on what service was used to send it.

First class letters should be delivered the next working day while they aim to deliver second class items within two to three working days.

They as a group are obliged to deliver to addresses around the country daily.

On their site here they say: Were obliged to deliver to every UK address on every working day, but there may be some instances when we cant deliver your mail. If youre not home, well try to deliver to your neighbour and leave a Something for you card.

Exceptions to being able to deliver include happenings such as an address being deemed unsafe or inaccessible, postmen being unable to gain entry - for example, a controlled entrance in flat blocks. Another exception would be a letter or package not having been packaged properly.

Sometimes there are also delays due to strikes, and staff issues, and you can check if post will be delayed in your local area on the Royal Mail website.

Can I complain about my delayed mail?

Yes, the Royal Mail have a special customer service team that deal with complaints. If a letter or package is lost, damaged, delayed or arrived with some of the contents missing, you can complain and may even be entitled to compensation.

To make a claim, customers must send full details on the item including when it was posted, and what service was used - as well as proof of this - plus details of what the issue was. All of the information can be found on the Royal Mail site here.
A Royal expert who authored a book on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle insisted he is not the couples mouthpiece, as he gave High Court evidence accusing Piers Morgan of knowing about phone hacking.

Omid Scobie co-authored 2020s best-selling book on Harry and Meghan, titled Finding Freedom, detailing the early years of their romance and break from the Royal Family.

The book, a worldwide hit, was written in collaboration with people close to the couple while Meghan herself offered assistance to the authors.

However Mr Scobie, giving evidence in the court, insisted he does not have a vested interest in helping the Prince and his wife in their legal battles against the media.

I dont have his phone number, I have never socialised with him, he said, of Harry.

Im literally a member of the press who has tried to do my job for years.

Mr Scobie said by giving evidence he is giving ammunition to those who want to portray him as the couples friend, mouthpiece, and cheerleader.

What Im doing here is Im actually making my life more difficult, he added.

Harry and Meghan (Aaron Chown/PA) / PA Wire

Mr Scobie said he and co-author Carolyn Durand talked to Jason Knauf, the Royal couples communication secretary, as they were writing the book. But they were unaware of the extent to which he had checked matters with Harry and Meghan.

I would have had no knowledge of conversations betwen Jason and the people he worked for, he said.

In his witness statement, Mr Scobie said he did work experience as a journalism student at the Daily Mirror in 2002 when Morgan was the papers editor.

Prince Harry is suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) alongside soap stars Michael Le Vell and Nikki Sanderson, and comedian Paul Whitehouses ex-wife Fiona Wightman.

The four claimants allege widespread unlawful newsgathering at MGN titles the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, and The People over the course of 20 years.

Mr Scobie recalled an alleged incident during his work experience stint, at the desks of the Mirror showbiz reporters who produced the 3AM gossip column.

The editor of the newspaper, Piers Morgan, came over to talk with someone (I do not recall who) about a story in the works on Kylie Minogue and her (on-off, at the time) boyfriend James Gooding, said Mr Scobie.

Mr Morgan was asking how confident they were in the reporting and was told that the information had come from voicemails.

I recall being surprised to hear this at the time, which is why it stuck in my mind.

Mr Scobie, 41, who is the executive editor at Yahoo! News, editor-at-large at Harpers Bazaarand a royal contributor for ABC News and Good Morning America, said he was not totally shocked by the alleged incident with Morgan because he had himself been asked to hack phones at another MGN title.

Piers Morgan (Dominic Lipinski/PA) / PA Wire

While at the Sunday People earlier in the year, I recall being given by a journalist a list of mobile numbers followed by a detailed verbal description of how to listen to voicemails, as if it were a routine newsgathering technique, he said.

I was taken aback by what seemed completely immoral and I never carried out the task.

Mr Scobie said he told Prince Harrys lawyers about his recollections, and researched online a May 2002 showbiz story about Kylie with the headline Cant get you out of my bed.

He said he has been shown a 170 invoice for extensive enquiries into K Minogue with a private investigator firm he says is known to have been involved in phone hacking.

Mr Scobie told the court a showbiz reporter also had Kylies phone number in his palm pilot.

Morgan said last week that he denies any allegations of knowledge of phone hacking, calling it lazy journalism.

The trial continues.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. Acceptance of the internationally recognized territorial integrity of Azerbaijan by Armenia are of extreme importance, the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan said, Trend reports.

"We consider the fifth meeting in this format between the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia organized by the President of the European Council on May 14 to be useful and result-oriented in terms of advancing the normalization agenda between the two countries.

First and foremost, re-convening the meeting in the "Brussels format", which was interrupted for almost 9 months due to various attempts to interfere and set conditions, is important in terms of promoting dialogue between the parties at the highest level.

A detailed exchange took place during the meeting in order to reach concrete results on drafting of the bilateral peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the delimitation of borders, and the restoration of communications.

The principled position of Azerbaijan regarding the securing of peace and stability in the region was once again brought to the attention of the interlocutors. In particular, once again confirmation of respect for the territorial integrity of the states, and in this context, acceptance of the internationally recognized territorial integrity of Azerbaijan by Armenia are of extreme importance as well.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss humanitarian issues crucial for post-conflict normalization. In this context, the importance of clarifying the fate of missing persons and speeding up steps in demining was emphasized once again.

We declare that the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia based on mutual recognition and respect of each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international borders is the only way to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region.

Furthermore, we welcome the efforts to achieve progress for the normalization of relations, and we reaffirm our readiness to continue dialogue and interaction with international partners pursuing this goal," the statement said.
C oncern has been expressed around any potential impact of the Governments legacy bill on a fresh probe into the La Mon bomb attack.

Twelve people were killed and scores more injured when the Provisional IRA exploded a bomb at the hotel on the outskirts of Belfast in 1978.

The Police Ombudsman started a new investigation into the atrocity last year.

Victims group Ulster Human Rights Watch (UHRW) has expressed concern this probe could be impacted by the legacy bill.

The sole major obstacle that could jeopardise the completion of this investigation is the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, which may come into force in the near future

The Governments bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament, would provide immunity for people accused of crimes during the Troubles, as long as they co-operate with a new truth recovery body known as the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (Icrir).

It would also halt future civil cases and inquests linked to killings during the conflict.

The bill has been widely criticised by Northern Irelands political parties, the Irish Government and victims groups.

UHRW advocacy service manager, Axel Schmidt said the group has written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak seeking assurances the Ombudsman investigation will be able to continue.

This is a straightforward matter for relatives and survivors of La Mon: can the Ombudsmans Office proceed with the investigation it started in 2022 and expects to have completed in April next year, he said.

The sole major obstacle that could jeopardise the completion of this investigation is the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, which may come into force in the near future.

For this reason, taking into account the seriousness of this case and the length of time the victims have been waiting for this investigation to be carried out, I have asked that the Prime Minister urgently intervene so as to ensure that this investigation can be continued by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland until its conclusion.

Survivors and relatives will take great comfort if the Prime Minister agrees.

If, on the other hand, he refuses the request, then those who are left with the traumatic injuries of that awful night will be denied access to the truth and feel left behind, abandoned and betrayed by their Government.

It would be a shocking disregard of their suffering and resilience over many years if they were to fail to get this all-important assurance from the Prime Minister.

A UK Government spokesperson said: The UK Government is determined to deliver better outcomes for those most affected by the Troubles, while helping society to look forward.

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Bill will establish an Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) to conduct reviews into Troubles-related deaths and serious injury, with the primary objective of providing information to families, and victims and survivors.

It will have all the necessary powers to conduct criminal investigations as part of any review.

The Government tabled a number of amendments during committee stage in the House of Lords that seek to address a number of key issues raised by stakeholders.

We will continue to engage constructively with all interested parties, and to carefully consider how their concerns might be addressed as the Bill proceeds through Parliament.
H ome Secretary Suella Braverman was interrupted twice by protesters as she gave a keynote speech at the National Conservatism conference in Westminster on Monday.

The cabinet minister had barely begun speaking when a man in the middle row stood up and identified himself as a member of Extinction Rebellion.

He was quickly bundled out of the hall by security as he shouted at Ms Braverman.

Moments later, a woman stood up and started asking the Home Secretary questions before she too was hauled out.

Anyone else? Ms Braverman said to applause.

She added: Its audition day for the shadow cabinet.

Extinction Rebellion later confirmed they were behind the protests, accusing the Government of demonising migrants and criminalising peaceful protests.

It came just hours after Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg had his keynote speech interrupted by an activist protesting the Illegal Migration Bill.

Shortly after Mr Rees-Mogg began speaking, a man joined him at the lectern and said: I would like to draw your attention to a few characteristics of fascism.

The protester was then hauled off stage by security.

One of the protesters, who was not named by Extinction Rebellion, said: National Conservatism says it wants people to bind together over national identity to let them flourish, but weve heard our politicians and seen their policies.

The protest interrupted the speech / Supplied

We know they let rich people get richer with obscene corporate dividends while our waters are filled with sewage and our NHS is underfunded.

They scapegoat the voiceless when they should be tackling the climate emergency that spells immediate disaster to millions of people and animals.

During her speech, Ms Braverman claimed that Conservatives were sceptical of self-appointed gurus, experts and elites.

She told the conference that Tory members prize experience, judgment and wisdom, saying she would rather be governed by the first 2,000 people in the telephone directory than by the Harvard University faculty.

Measuring diversity only on the basis of skin colour, sex and sexuality is mindbogglingly myopic. Identity politics is the politics of grievance and division.

Elsewhere during her address, Ms Braverman argued that mass and rapid migration is unsustainable in terms of housing supply, public services or community relations.

She added: Absorbing more and more people means building more and more homes is another one of those unfashionable facts that the open-borders brigade would say means were starting a culture war.

Its not racist for anyone, ethnic minority or otherwise, to want to control our borders.
F ormer Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg has suggested that the governments introduction of voter ID was an attempt at gerrymandering that backfired against the Conservatives.

Mr Rees-Mogg said the policy, which meant voters across England were required to present photo ID for the first time when casting their ballots at Mays local elections, had made it harder for elderly Conservatives to vote and upset a system that worked perfectly well.

Speaking at the National Conservatism Conference in Westminster on Monday (15 May), Mr Rees-Mogg said: Parties that try and gerrymander end up finding their clever scheme comes back to bite them, as dare I say we found by insisting on voter ID for elections.

We found the people who didnt have ID were elderly and they by and large voted Conservative, so we made it hard for our own voters and we upset a system that worked perfectly well.

Before the new rules were implemented, there were warnings that they could lead to various low-income and marginalised groups becoming disenfranchised.

Weeks before the UKs local elections on May 4, the Electoral Commission said that a quarter of people were unaware they needed photo ID to vote.

Up to 3.5 million people dont have an existing photo ID. You must have already registered to vote to apply for voter ID.

To avoid getting caught out, find out below what forms of ID are valid. Furthermore, if you dont have a valid ID, find out below how to apply for a voter authority certificate.

What are the requirements for voter ID?

People in the UK will need to show photo ID to be able to vote in the following:

UK Parliament by-elections

local elections in England (including councils, mayors, the Greater London Authority and parishes)

recall of MP petitions in England, Scotland and Wales

Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales

neighbourhood planning referendums and business improvement district referendums in England

local authority referendums in England (including council tax increase referendums)

What forms of ID are acceptable?

Many people will have a driving licence or a passport, which are both acceptable forms of ID. However, there are other forms of ID people can use.

The following forms of ID are acceptable:

a UK or Northern Ireland photocard driving licence (full or provisional)

a driving licence issued by the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands

a UK passport

a passport issued by the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or a Commonwealth country

a PASS card (National Proof of Age Standards Scheme)

a Blue Badge

a biometric residence permit (BRP)

a defence identity card (MoD form 90)

a national identity card issued by the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

a Northern Ireland electoral identity card

a voter authority certificate

an anonymous electors document

Travel passes are also acceptable forms of ID, including the following:

an older persons bus pass

a disabled persons bus pass

an Oyster 60+ card

a freedom pass

a Scottish national entitlement card (NEC)

a 60-and-over Welsh concessionary travel card

a disabled persons Welsh concessionary travel card

a Northern Ireland concessionary travel pass

You can still use your ID to vote if it has expired. However, it still needs to look like you and bear your current legal name.

How to register to vote

You can register to vote online here.

When you apply, youll be asked for your national insurance number, but you can still register if you do not have one.

You can register to vote in England if youre 16 or older and either a British citizen, an Irish or EU citizen living in the UK; a Commonwealth citizen who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, or who does not need permission; or a citizen of another country living in Scotland or Wales who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, or who does not need permission.

How to get a photo identity card (or voter authority certificate)

If you do not have an acceptable voter ID, you can apply for a voter authority certificate.

You can apply online, and youll need a recent, digital photo of yourself and your national insurance number. If you dont know your national insurance number, you can use something else to identify yourself, such as a birth certificate, bank statement or utility bill.

What have different parties said about Voter ID?

Angela Rayner, deputy leader of the Labour Party, said: They have pushed through a bill that is going to prevent certain groups, particularly young people, from voting.

Rachel Maclean, a junior levelling up minister, repeatedly refused to tell MPs whether the number of voters turned away from polling stations due to a lack of ID at local elections will be properly recorded, saying that it is up to individuals whether they decide to vote.

Alex Norris, the shadow elections minister, called voter ID a solution in search of a problem, and noted the policy would deprive hundreds of thousands of people of their ability to vote.

He said: Will those people who were turned away by someone outside of a polling station who asked an individual if they have the ID, will they or will they not count as someone who has been denied a vote?

Maclean added: I do find it very surprising that their party is not committed to protecting the sanctity of the ballot box.
B elarusian President Alexander Lukashenko failed to appear at a major state ceremony in the capital Minsk on Sunday, triggering speculation that the veteran leader is seriously ill.

The BelTA state news agency reported that Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko read a message from Mr Lukashenko during an annual ceremony at which young people swear allegiance to the ex-Soviet states flag.

The agency gave no reason for Mr Lukashenkos absence five days after he appeared unwell and skipped parts of commemorations in Moscow marking the Soviet Unions World War Two victory over Germany.

Mr Lukashenko also did not speak at an event in Minsk marking the anniversary for the first time in his long presidency. That event was the last time he was seen in public.

Mr Lukashenkos office has declined to comment.

According to the opposition news outlet Euroradio, Mr Lukashenko was taken to an elite Minsk clinic on Saturday.

A Russian online publication, Podyom, quoted a senior member of the Duma lower house of parliament, Konstantin Zatulin, as saying that (Lukashenko) has simply fallen ill ... and probably needs a rest.

Russias daily Kommersant also published a story about Mr Lukashenkos health, citing Zatulin and Belarusian opposition media. Russian media rarely publish stories about the health of the leaders of Russia or its allied neighbours.

Mr Lukashenko, 68, has led Belarus since 1994, using police to put down protests, while courts closed dissident media outlets and imposed long jail terms on opponents, and activists fled the country en masse.

Mr Lukashenko received backing from Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin in squashing protests, and last year he allowed his countrys territory to be used as part of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Belaruss foreign minister Sergei Aleinik is expected on Monday to start this three-day visit to Moscow, Russias foreign ministry said last week.
A t least four people were killed and multiple others wounded in a shooting in the US state of New Mexico on Monday morning, police said.

The shooting unfolded shortly after 11am in a residential area in the town of Farmington, about 180 miles north of state capital Albuquerque.

Two police officers were wounded in an exchange of gunfire with the suspect, who was killed at the scene.

Both were reported to be in a stable condition at a local hospital.

There were multiple civilian victims, at least three of whom died, the Farmington Police Department said.

The shooter is believed to have acted alone, according to police.

Several public schools in Farmington were locked down during the shooting, but police said after the suspect was killed that there was no longer a threat to the public.

The shooting marks the 34th mass shooting of May 2023 amid increasing calls for states to tighten gun control laws.

There have been more than 215 mass shootings in the US so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive (GVA).

The GVA defines a mass shooting as one in which four or more people were either injured or killed.

Separately, two people were killed and five others injured in a shooting in southwestern Arizona on Saturday night. Victims ranged from 15 to 20 years old.
A top Ukrainian commander on Monday hailed the first successful offensive operation in Bakhmut after his forces seized back ground in recent days.

Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukrainian ground forces, stressed the operation had shown his troops can move forward and counter the Russian forces in the eastern town which has seen some of the fiercest fighting since the Second World War.

"The advance of our troops along the Bakhmut direction - that is the first successful offensive operation in (Bakhmuts) defence," Col Gen Syrskyi was quoted as saying on Ukraines Media Military Centre Telegram messaging platform.

"The last few days have shown that we can move forward and destroy the enemy even in such extremely difficult conditions ... The operation to defend Bakhmut continues. All necessary decisions for the defence have been made.

Moscow admitted on Friday that Russian troops had retreated in one area to what it described as more favourable positions near the Berkhivka reservoir northwest of Bakhmut.

Social media suggested some Russian forces fled in the face of the Ukrainian local counter-offensive.

The frontline cities of Bakhmut and Maryinka "remain at the epicentre of hostilities, the General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces said in a daily morning update on Monday.

During the past 24 hours, Russian forces launched air strikes, along with missile, drone and heavy rocket attacks, on targets in Ukraine, it said.

The Ukrainian air force also counted 17 strikes on areas where Russian personnel and military equipment were concentrated.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is due to meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday for "substantive negotiations".

In London, defence chiefs highlighted that a hub air base deep inside Russia had been attacked by drones.

In its latest intelligence update, the Ministry of Defence said: On 03 May 2023, several uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) struck Russias Seshcha Airbase, 150km north of the Ukrainian border. One An-124 heavy transport aircraft of Russias Military Transport Aviation (VTA) was likely damaged.

Seshcha is a hub for the VTA in western Russia and has played a major role in enabling Russias invasion of Ukraine. Russia also uses the site to launch Iranian-produced one-way-attack UAVs towards Kyiv.

The briefing added: The VTA is a well-resourced element of the Russian Air Force, essential for transport across the vast country.

Russian leaders will be concerned that Russias air defences continue to be compromised, holding at risk key strategic assets such as VTA bases.

Separately, it was claimed that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Vladimir Putins private Wagner mercenary force, offered to reveal the position of Russian troops to the Ukranian government,

The extraordinary claims was reported by the Washington Post on Sunday, citing leaked US intelligence documents.

Wagner's soldiers have been at the forefront of a bloody Russian offensive to take Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk province.

In exchange for Ukraine withdrawing its soldiers from the area, Prigozhin in January offered to tell its intelligence service the positions of Russian forces, the Post reported.

The paper said Ukraine rejected the offer.

Prigozhin, a close ally of Putin, has publicly threatened to withdraw his mercenaries from the area around Bakhmut, where they are at the vanguard of the Russian offensive, unless they receive much-needed ammunition.

He has said in an audio message that he and his men would be regarded as traitors if they abandoned the area.

The Post reported Prigozhin's offer came through his contacts with Ukraine's intelligence service.

A White House spokesman declined to comment on the report, which was based on secret US documents leaked to the group-chat platform Discord.
2 023 is the year of the mens jewellery renaissance. From A-list celebrities to Love Island lotharios, it seems men across the board are now looking to add a touch of bling to their look.

The one problem? Where to store it. If you, like many other guys, are guilty of flinging your precious pieces on the bedside table for safe-keeping, subjecting them up to the possibilty of getting lost or tangled, then youve come to the right place.

Enter: the jewellery box. At once providing a place to store, organise and present your jewels, youll never again have to frantically search your room for your favourite chain or a lost earring. Instead, youll be able to see your entire collection at one easy glance.

Whats more, your living space will benefit, too. When it comes to interiors, its the small details that count, so a thoughtfully designed jewellery box, alongside a candle and a coffee table book, is guaranteed to add a level of style to any discerning gents home.

While you may have nostalgic visions of your mother rifling through her treasures in a feminine design when you were a child, now, there are countless styles on the market that have amped up the masculinity.

From a Scandi-inspired wooden construction by John Lewis to Nkukus handmade design that looks like an ancient family heirloom - or even Missomas black lacquered case with a mustard lining - any mans bedside table, windowsill or bookshelf will be elevated with the options in this list.

If its a gift, you can splash out 365 for a personalised box by Aspinal of London, or you can treat them to H&Ms classic metal and glass combo which comes in at just 14.99. Either way, theyll both deliver on both organisation and style.

So, without further ado, its time to find a new home for your gems in the edit below. Your jewellery can thank us later.

Keep scrolling for the best.
The presenters were noticeably absent from Sunday nights TV Bafta Awards and all eyes were on them during todays episode of This Morning following alleged crisis talks between ITV and the embattled presenters.

Holmes, 63, didnt hold back when discussing the subject on his GB News show on Monday.

First referencing their decision to skip the awards show, he quipped: I think there should have been a special award for Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby for best actors.

A former This Morning presenter himself, the Northern Irish star then went on to blast the pair and insisted that regardless of who was presenting the show, it would continue with or without them.

Eamonn Holmes launched a scathing attack on Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield / GB News

He said: They may or may not be together on the telly today. The public surely will suss that theres no chemistry, that its a broken fit between the two of them and that This Morning does not depend on who presents it.

Its an institution, it will carry on no matter who presents it and anyone can check the viewing figures, theres no difference between whether they present it or anyone else.

This Morning first launched in 1988 and was originally fronted by husband-and-wife duo Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan for more than a decade.

Schofield has been a familiar face on the popular daytime show since 2002, with Willoughby joining as his co-host in 2009.

Holmes co-hosted This Morning on Fridays with his wife Ruth Langsford from 2006 until August 2021, until they were both dropped by ITV and replaced by Alison Hammond and Dermot OLeary.
R ebel Wilson shared an image of her baby daughter for only the second time as the comedy star celebrated Mothers Day.

The Australian actress, who welcomed her daughter Royce Lillian by surrogate in November last year with her fiancee Ramona Agruma, posted a picture of her family on Instagram.

In one image, the trio are sat posing together with Royce wearing cute bunny ears, while in another Wilson is seen holding up her daughter as she attempts to stand. In the final snap, Wilson and her baby are lying together on their fronts.

She captioned the series: Happy Mothers Day! (Just woke up at 5:30am and changed a big   how about you?)

It marks only the second time the Pitch Perfect star has shared what her daughter looks like. Back in April, she shared shots from the familys holiday to the Caribbean that showed the babys face.

Wilson, 42, announced her relationship with the Los Angeles-based fashion and jewellery designer Agruma in June last year.

They got engaged at Disneyland in February.

In an Instagram post announcing the news earlier this year, she thanked Disney boss Bob Iger and the incredible team at Disneyland for the magical surprise.

Posting a picture of the pair at the US theme park and their Tiffany ring, she wrote: We said YES!

Thank you @tiffanyandco for the stunning ring and to Bob Iger and the incredible team at Disneyland @disneyweddings for pulling off this magical surprise!

The pair are pictured outside the Disney castle wearing matching pink-and-white striped jumpers with black hearts on the front.

Wilsons relationship with Agruma received media attention after Australian news outlet the Sydney Morning Herald tried to out the actress before she went public with her new relationship with a woman.
G lobally beloved Swedish supergroup ABBA launched their incredibly successful music career after winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest.

At the competition that took place in Brighton, the band had sung Waterloo, a love song with historic references and become the first to bring home the coveted Eurovision trophy.

The following year, the contest had been held at their home countrys capital, Stockholm, welcoming 19 competitors including Turkey, which made its debut.

Flashforward to the 2023 contest, Swedens Loreen became the first-ever woman two win Eurovision twice with her song Tattoo. The first time she won was back in 2012 with her chart-topping hit Euphoria.

Her win means that Sweden will be the host of the 2024 competition, which touchingly coincides with the 50th anniversary of ABBAs win.

Sweden entrant Loreen with the trophy after winning the Eurovision Song Contest at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool (Aaron Chown/PA) / PA Wire

The last time Loreen won, the nation had held the following years event in Malmo, a city famous for its historic architecture, open-air bars, lush parks and more.

To date, Sweden has hosted the fan-favourite event six times. Those were in 1975, 1985, 1992, 2000, 2013, and 2016. So, the Scandinavian nation is no stranger to throwing a great party.

In fact, with their latest trophy, the country has caught up to the most successful nation in terms of Eurovision wins. Until this year, Ireland led the leaderboard with 7 wins. So, really, Sweden is a pro when it comes to Eurovision festivities.

While we wont know which city the 2024 competition will take place in, if previous years are anything to go by, Stockholm, Malmo and Gothenburg are likely options.

Another thing that will make next years contest special will be Luxembourgs return. After sitting it out for the past 30 years since 1993, the country has revealed that it wants to join in on the fun again. Others that have confirmed their attendance so far include Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Malta, Norway, and Spain.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. A military prosecutor of Azerbaijans Nakhchivan has been appointed, the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office told Trend.

According to the press service, by the order of the Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev, the duties of the military prosecutor of Nakhchivan were entrusted to the senior investigator for especially important cases of the investigative department of the Prosecutor General's Office Agil Akhundov.
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Its being reported that the UK Civil Aviation Authority is funding medical studies into the effects of suborbital space flights, in which passengers could go into space for a short period of time, before descending to their destination.

The research conducted with King's College London, found that those taking such flights would not need to be fit or young.

Kate Winslet calls on the government to criminalise harmful content online in Bafta TV awards speech.

The actor picked up the best leading actress award for her role in I Am Ruth, which tells the story of a mother and child - who is dealing with mental health issues due to pressures from the online world.

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, David Tinker from ProReal tells Tech & Science Daily how his company is using virtual reality software Rethinkly to help people beat stress at work.

Rethinkly is currently being used in 16 NHS Trusts across the UK.

And the rest

Nasa AI gives 30 minutes of advance warning before dangerous solar superstorms strike Earth, astronomers find objects that no one has ever seen before and AI company founder warns that humans could be controlled by robots.

Plus, Sir James Dyson claims Rishi Sunak's science superpower pledge is hot air and why baby talk might be more important than you think.

Listen above, and find us on your Spotify Daily Drive or wherever you stream your podcasts.
F rom sandy beaches to hospital rooms, humans are leaving their DNA behind everywhere they go, scientists have found.

Researchers analysed samples gathered from the environment in the US and Ireland, including human footprints at the beach and in the air in hospital rooms.

They found high quality human DNA in these environments  also known as eDNA  which was enough to determine the genetic ancestry of nearby populations as well as identify mutations associated with disease.

The experts said that while sampling eDNA has its benefits, such as helping with criminal forensics, tracking cancer mutations from wastewater, or spotting undiscovered archaeological sites by checking for hidden human DNA, there are also potential downsides.

We believe that human eDNA can be used to benefit society but checks and guardrails should be established to prevent its misuse

They said the findings, published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, raise possible ethical and privacy concerns around capturing eDNA and are calling for regulations to be put in place for eDNA research.

David Duffy, assistant professor of wildlife disease genomics at the University of Florida in the US, said: Its useful that as we advance human DNA applications, it will also help us better study wildlife and their diseases as well.

But as with any technology, there are potentially worrying uses for human eDNA as well.

So for instance, it could be used to harvest genetic information without consent, or knowledge of the people whose DNA youre recovering.

And this is particularly worrying if it was applied to vulnerable populations or ethnic minorities.

Prof Duffy also said that it may be possible to track individuals from their DNA circulating in the environment.

He added: Its precisely because of these potentially complex ethical issues that we have called for policymakers, scientists and society to consider the issues highlighted by our research and just consider them now.

He continued: We believe that human eDNA can be used to benefit society but checks and guardrails should be established to prevent its misuse.

A team led by Prof Duffy took samples from oceans and rivers, sand from isolated beaches, from sites that were distant from and close to human habitation.

They found that short of isolated islands and remote mountaintops, signs of human life were almost everywhere.

The scientists also collected air samples from a veterinary hospital and found DNA matching the staff, animal patients, and common animal viruses.

Prof Duffy said: Weve been consistently surprised throughout this project at how much human DNA we find and the quality of that DNA.

In most cases, the quality is almost equivalent to if you took a sample from a person.

The researchers said that regulators should now debate the ethical dilemmas that come with accidentally  or intentionally  sweeping up human genetic information from sand, water, or a persons breath.

Prof Duffy said: These are issues we are trying to raise early so policymakers and society have time to develop regulations.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. An official meeting was held under the leadership of Azerbaijani Minister of Defense Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov on May 15, Trend reports with reference to the ministry.

According to the ministry, the meeting was attended by deputy ministers, commanders of the military branches, chiefs of the main departments, as well as by heads of departments of the ministry, and commanders of military units.

The Minister of Defense brought to the attention of the participants of the meeting the tasks set by the President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev to the Azerbaijani army.

The operational situation on the conditional Azerbaijani-Armenian border and in the economic region of Azerbaijans Karabakh was analyzed. Touching upon the recent gunfights in Kalbajar [a city and the capital of the Kalbajar District of Azerbaijan] direction, the Defense Minister noted that a worthy response was given to the enemy, the expansion of provocations of the Armenian armed forces was decisively stopped, significant damage was inflicted on them. The Minister instructed the relevant officials to continue taking decisive response measures to possible armed incidents.

Issues of combat training and comprehensive provision of troops in winter were discussed at the meeting. Moreover, a number of upcoming tasks were brought to the attention of the commanders of all types of troops.

Colonel-General Hasanov pointed out the importance of clarifying the operational plans of military units of the Ground Forces, Air Forces, Rocket and Artillery Troops, Special Forces, and other military units, as well as further improving the quality of intensive exercises and training of troops conducted in cooperation.

In conclusion, the Azerbaijani Minister of Defense instructed to pay special attention to the enhanced training of all types of combat support units.
The Ontario beer industry is in the midst of massive change.

Evolving customer habits, the potential for sales in convenience stores and continued discussion about the future role of The Beer Store have all made the industry an uncertain place in which to operate.

This all follows a decade where Ontario Craft breweries have flourished and grown in both popularity and availability.

Here in Burlington, Nickel Brook Brewing Co. has been an innovative leader in the world of craft brewing. It's grown over the years from a small "u-brew" facility to an organization with varied products and multiple locations.

That growth has continued into 2023, and the brewer is now fresh off the opening of a new tap room on Mainway. Despite the organization's experience in the world of Ontario beer, it's facing the same uncertainty seen across the province.

At the core of it  many would argue  is the evolving relationship between consumers and beer. A modern drinker has more options than ever before, both in terms of beer and beyond.

John Romano, co-founder of Nickel Brook, believes that today beer retailers face real competition from outside the alcohol sector.

The first thing I bought when I was 19 was a case of beer. A 19-year-old entry level alcohol beverage drinker today is not buying a case of beer. They're buying a joint and a seltzer, said Romano. Its a combination of things. I think people are more conscious of their health and other stuff. It may come back. It's probably a trend, but it's definitely what's happening.

In response, the industry has adapted. In addition to Nickel Brooks line up of beers it also sells a cocktail.

Theres also far more regulatory uncertainty expected ahead.

As of 2015, Ontario grocery stores are permitted to sell beer, and talks have persisted for years about extending sales to convenience stores as well.

Theres lots of variables, said Romano. What's going to happen in the liquor store? You know, what's going to happen to convenience? Like, there's so many variables that come into play right now. Its going to be a very interesting year, that's for sure, said Romano.

The provincial government has long floated the possibility of permitting beer sales at convenience stores. The idea was even a significant part of Premier Doug Fords 2018 election campaign.

While high-profile discussion of the issue has faded in recent years, it continues to be raised and supported by advocates within the convenience store industry. There are roughly 8,000 convenience stores across Ontario, and they argue that allowing beer sales would be good for the stores profits and increase options for consumers.

For beer makers, the issue is a little more complicated. Convenience stores would be another chance for sales of their beer, but there are still numerous questions that at this point are not known due to the fact that no concrete plan on how those sales would work has been revealed.

For example, will the stores carry Ontario craft beers, just the major brands or a combination of the two? In the event that major brands are featured, would they push out the craft beers in a convenience setting where sales space is limited?

It could open up a can of worms for us as well, said Romano. Theres positives and negatives to it.

Since being elected, the Ford government has been expanding the locations where alcohol is sold. Notably, changes were made that allow grocery stores to offer curbside pick up and retail sales hours have been extended.

Scott Blodgett, spokesperson for the ministry of finance, said the government continues to support meaningful change to the provinces alcohol sales, but did not comment on specific plans for expanding sales to convenience stores.

We will continue to work with Ontarios beverage alcohol manufacturers and ensure there are more opportunities for businesses, said Blodgett. Ontarios beverage alcohol manufacturers are an important part of our provinces economy and the government is committed to seeing them grow and thrive.

The big question that hangs over the provinces beer industry is whats going to happen with The Beer Store. In 2025, the 10-year arrangement between the province and The Beer Store comes to an end. That agreement gives The Beer Store exclusive rights in Ontario to sell beer in packages larger than six units.

In 2019, Ontario Minister of Finance Vic Fedeli criticized the deal with the Beer Store, arguing it favours the large corporations who own it over Ontario consumers. Talk of ending the deal at that point came and went after significant push back, but according to the ministry discussions of changes to how alcohol sales are handled continues.

The government continues to discuss the future of alcohol with market participants and cannot disclose the details of these discussions, said Blodgett. We must stress, though, that the safe, responsible sale and consumption of alcohol in Ontario is and will continue to be a priority for the government.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Discussion at a recent Chamber event prompted us to examine changes in Ontarios beer industry, and the impact thats had on a prominent local brewer.

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Welland staff want council to axe Ward 6 Coun. Bonnie Fokkens tree-saving bylaw motion on Tuesdays city council meeting agenda.

It calls for staff by July 11 to liaise with Ontario Urban Forest Council and develop a bylaw to protect the urban canopy.

She also wants the citys green advisory committee, if established before then, for its comments.

Fokkens has been asking for a bylaw to protect the urban canopy across the city since 2018 when she met with staff to define a notice of motion.

In that meeting, she spoke about the loss of trees due to development, the importance of trees and protection identified in the official plan, and erosion along the banks of the Welland River due to tree removal.

At the time, templates of existing tree bylaws were provided, as well as contacts from Ontario Urban Forest Council who were willing to assist staff.

A draft bylaw in 2019 was delayed after council approved public, agency and stakeholder consultation.

A consultation report was presented in 2020, but Fokkens original notice of motion was determined not to be complete, and a staff report was required.

The issue has sat on the books since then, with the councillor raising it again with her new notice of motion.

A memo from Grant Munday, the citys director of planning and development services, on Tuesdays agenda asks council not to approve Fokkens latest motion.

The main reason for this is that the city has already undertaken a planned approach to urban forestry. We are currently nearing the final stages of the update to the citys official plan and the development of urban forestry guidelines, Mundays memo said.

The guidelines are being developed by SGL Planning and Design Inc. with GEI Consultants  Savanta Division and UrbanMetrics Inc.

Staff understand the importance and benefits of urban forestry and enhancement in the city but there needs to be a comprehensive plan established first, Mondays memo said.

It said extensive work has been completed, including background research, public and stakeholder consultation, and draft policies. It added the green advisory committee will be consulted once formed.

The memo said any proposed initiative pertaining to urban forestry will have financial considerations such as budgeting for additional trees to be planted and maintained on city-owned lands and road allowances beyond current budgeted amounts.

Additional staffing or service contracts to plant trees would be needed, along with vehicles and equipment for enforcement officers. Legal costs would need to be taken into consideration as would the purchase of satellite imagery and other mapping to monitor the city tree canopy.

City council gets underway with an in-camera meeting at 6:45 p.m., followed by the open session, viewed via livestream at www.welland.ca/Council/LiveStream.asp or in person at 60 East Main St.

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Plan your trip before youre in your car: The Ministry of Transportation has scheduled 28 closures in Niagara on May 15, 2023 for roadwork on East Main Street Welland, Highway 140, Highway 3, Highway 406, Highway 420, Highway 58, Highway 58A and Queen Elizabeth Way.

East Main Street Welland eastbound between Wellington Street and Highway 140 / Farr Rd, Welland: one alternating lane closed until May 16 at 5 a.m.

East Main Street Welland westbound between Highway 140 / Farr Road and Wellington St, Welland: one alternating lane closed until May 16 at 5 a.m.

Highway 140 northbound between Forks Road, Port Colborne and Ridge Road, Welland: all lanes closed from May 15 at 7 a.m. until May 19 at 8 p.m.

Highway 140 northbound between Highway 3 / Main Street East -Port Colborne, Port Colborne and East Main Street / Farr Road, Welland: one alternating lane closed until May 20 at 7 a.m.

Highway 140 southbound between East Main Street / Farr Road, Welland and Highway 3 / Main Street East -Port Colborne, Port Colborne: one alternating lane closed until May 20 at 7 a.m.

Highway 140 southbound between Ridge Road, Welland and Forks Road, Port Colborne: all lanes closed from May 15 at 7 a.m. until May 19 at 3 p.m.

Highway 3 eastbound between Killaly Street East / Niagara Road 5, Port Colborne and Rose Hill Road, Fort Erie: one alternating lane closed until May 21 at 7 a.m.

Highway 3 westbound between Killaly Street East / Niagara Road 5, Port Colborne and Townline Road -Wainfleet, Wainfleet: one alternating lane closed from May 15 at 6 p.m. until May 19 at 7 a.m.

Highway 3 westbound between Rose Hill Road, Fort Erie and Killaly Street East / Niagara Road 5, Port Colborne: one alternating lane closed until May 20 at 7 a.m.

Highway 406 northbound between East Main Street, Welland and Queen Elizabeth Way, St. Catharines: one alternating lane closed from May 15 at 8 p.m. until May 19 at 5 a.m.

Highway 420 eastbound between Drummond Road and Stanley Ave, Niagara Falls: all lanes closed from May 15 at 9 a.m. until May 19 at 3 p.m.

Highway 58 northbound between Highway 3 / Main Street -Port Colborne, Port Colborne and Highway 58A / Humberstone Road, Welland: one alternating lane closed until May 20 at 7 a.m.

Highway 58 southbound between Highway 58A / Humberstone Road, Welland and Highway 3 / Main Street -Port Colborne, Port Colborne: one alternating lane closed until May 20 at 7 a.m.

Highway 58A eastbound between Highway 140 and Highway 58 / Prince Charles Drive, Welland: one alternating lane closed from May 15 at 6 p.m. until May 19 at 7 a.m.

Highway 58A eastbound off-ramp at Reaker Road, Welland: all lanes closed from May 15 at 7 a.m. until May 19 at 3 p.m.

Highway 58A westbound between Highway 58 / Prince Charles Drive and Highway 140, Welland: one alternating lane closed from May 15 at 6 p.m. until May 19 at 7 a.m.

Highway 58A westbound off-ramp at Reaker Road, Welland: all lanes closed from May 15 at 7 a.m. until May 19 at 3 p.m.

Queen Elizabeth Way Fort Erie bound between Glendale Avenue and Sandplant Hill, Niagara-On-The-Lake: two alternating lanes closed until May 28 at 8 a.m.

Queen Elizabeth Way Fort Erie bound between McLeod Road and McLeod Road, Niagara Falls: one alternating lane closed from May 15 at 8 p.m. until May 19 at 7 a.m.

Queen Elizabeth Way Fort Erie bound between McLeod Road, Niagara Falls and Bowen Road, Fort Erie: one alternating lane closed from May 15 at 8 p.m. until May 19 at 5 a.m.

Queen Elizabeth Way Fort Erie bound between Netherby Road and Bowen Road, Fort Erie: all lanes closed until May 15 at 6 a.m.

Queen Elizabeth Way Fort Erie bound between Netherby Road and Bowen Road, Fort Erie: one right lane closed until May 31 at 11:59 p.m.

Queen Elizabeth Way Toronto bound between Bowen Road, Fort Erie and McLeod Road, Niagara Falls: one alternating lane closed from May 15 at 8 p.m. until May 19 at 5 a.m.

Queen Elizabeth Way Toronto bound between Gilmore Road and Bowen Road, Fort Erie: one right lane closed until June 30 at 11:59 p.m.

Queen Elizabeth Way Toronto bound between McLeod Road and McLeod Road, Niagara Falls: one alternating lane closed from May 15 at 8 p.m. until May 19 at 7 a.m.

Queen Elizabeth Way Toronto bound between Peace Bridge, Fort Erie and Victoria Avenue, Lincoln: one alternating lane closed from May 15 at 11 p.m. until May 19 at 6 a.m.

Queen Elizabeth Way Toronto bound between Sandplant Hill and Glendale Avenue, Niagara-On-The-Lake: two alternating lanes closed until May 28 at 6 a.m.

Queen Elizabeth Way Toronto bound between Tourist Information Centre, Niagara-On-The-Lake and Welland Avenue, St. Catharines: one alternating lane closed until May 17 at 5 a.m.

Have further to travel? Highway closures for planned roadwork outside Niagara

About this story

This story was automatically generated using open data from Ontario 511. These closures are scheduled for short-term or emergency repairs and maintenance of provincial highways around St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Welland. The disruptions may be intermittent or ongoing and can change due to weather, emergencies and other factors.

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A Welland man did not realize he had been stabbed multiple times until he lifted his arm and heard a sound like a pail of water hitting the floor, court heard Friday.

Upon reaching the kitchen and putting his arm down, he felt a warm sensation and heard a noise he described as a pail of water hitting the floor and saw blood gushing from his arm, Judge Andrew Brown said in Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines.

Dwight Beverly, a resident of Buffalo, N.Y., was found guilty of aggravated assault and uttering threats.

The 50-year-old had pleaded not guilty to the charges and testified he acted in self-defence after a verbal altercation turned violent.

In his judgment, the judge said the defendant used disproportionate force to defend himself.

The multiple injuries at numerous locations speak to certain veracity of a degree of force, Brown said.

In short, Mr. Beverly brought a knife to a fistfight and he used it with abandon.

During an alteration outside a Marjery Drive home Dec. 1, 2022, court heard, the victim attempted to punch the defendant, but slipped and fell to the ground, at which time Beverly stabbed him with a knife.

When the victim, who testified he was not the aggressor in the altercation, got up and attempted to punch the man again, he was stabbed three more times.

The 35-year-old was rushed to a Hamilton trauma unit for treatment of what was first believed to be life-threatening injuries.

He sustained significant injuries to his right shoulder, neck and upper back. He also had a fractured rib and a collapsed lung.

Beverly was arrested six days later as he attempted to cross the Rainbow Bridge into the United States.

He will return to court in June to be sentenced.

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Four years ago, the people of Sudan were celebrating a revolution. Months of street protests led to the overthrow of longtime leader Omar al-Bashir and began what appeared to be a shift towards civilian democracy.

For Fagir Ahmed, who was born in Sudan and moved to Niagara 15 years ago, the revolution was amazing, as hope looked to be on the horizon. But now, as two rival generals fight for control, the North African country is facing escalating unrest and a humanitarian crisis.

This very beautiful, very peaceful revolution turned into the violence and fight(ing) and killing machine, Ahmed said. It is very bad.

As the conflict in Sudan enters its second month, Niagaras Sudanese community is hoping for a peaceful resolution, while urging the Canadian government to assist with humanitarian aid.

On Friday, the Sudanese Canadian Community in Niagara Region (SCCNR), which has about 250 members, held a peaceful walk and rally calling for an end to the violence.

It was the first event in Niagara since the conflict began, but Izzeldin Hilmi, president of SCCNR, said likely not the last.

My brother is still in Sudan with his wife. He does not want to travel north to Egypt unless he can make sure they can travel together  my sisters daughter is with her kids. They are still in Sudan and they are hearing (gun)fire every day, said Hilmi.

We dont know whats going to go on but it seems not promising.

The Niagara group is doing what it can, holding calls with immigration specialists to advise people on proper steps, as well as fundraising, to assist people who are displaced. Families are opening their homes to those coming to Niagara who dont have families or cant access shelters.

War broke out in Sudan last month after two generals  army leader General Adbel Fattah al-Burhan and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (a.k.a. Hemedti)  disputed plans for the RSF to be absorbed into the army.

Al-Burhan and Hemedti held the top two positions on Sudans ruling council following the 2019 coup, and two years later, staged another coup as the deadline to hand power to civilians approached.

Over the past month, fights have broken out in Khartoum, Bahri and Omdurman. Some 200,000 Sudanese have fled to neighbouring countries, with more than 700,000 displaced within Sudan. Hundreds have been killed and thousands injured, but the official toll is expected to be higher.

Ahmed said outside his immediate family  his wife, four sons and daughter  the majority remain in Dongla in Northern Sudan. They are doing well, but with hundreds of thousands of displaced people travelling to safer regions, there is no guarantee that will last.

If this war doesnt stop, it will escalate and it will spread all over the country because it is getting worse every day, he said. Its going to turn into a civil war because so many people now calling for people to get involved and to protect themselves.

Nobody will be safe.

Ahmed believes the Canadian government can play an active role in facilitating peace by bringing Sudanese people, fighters and political actors to the negotiating table. He said Canadas reputation for peacemaking  as well as staying out of previous Sudanese conflicts  is respected.

In addition to protecting Sudans sovereignty, Ahmed wants a civilian government installed to transition and prepare the nation for an elected democratic government that is able to ensure safety, security, equality among the Sudanese.

I still have hope. We need mediators, we need somebody to interfere and to call for solution and someone (who) is also neutral, like Canada.

The war is not a solution.

St. Catharines Liberal MP Chris Bittle said it is heartbreaking to see the fighting in Sudan and the number of families in Niagara affected. With one of the largest Sudanese communities in the country, it was important for him to attend the Friday rally and listen.

Ive talked to many of them who still have very close friends and family there who are worried about them every day, said Bittle, adding Canada has evacuated hundreds of citizens and permanent resides from Sudan, but the situation remains too volatile for more.

In these types of situations, its always the civilians who are impacted. Its two warring factions who only care about power.

In response to SCCNR, Bittle said Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly was in Kenya to meet with African counterparts as part of the peace process, with hope of seeing a ceasefire shortly. He said the government addresses humanitarian crises as they arise, and as he promised members of the Sudanese community, I will speak to the minister of immigration to advocate on their behalf to see what Canada can do specifically with an influx of Sudanese refugees.

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OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau left Monday evening for a weeklong trip to Asia, where he will make his first official visit to South Korea and attend the G7 leaders summit in Japan.

The trip comes at a time when the world is collectively facing security threats and economic uncertainty magnified by climate change.

The government plane left from Ottawa on Monday afternoon, but Trudeau was not on board. He first visitedEdmonton to meet with members of the Canadian military who are helping fight wildfires in Alberta.

Trudeau boarded for Seoul in Anchorage, Alaska, during a refuelling stop Monday evening.

The prime minister is expected to be in Seoul from Tuesday to Thursday, after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeols visit to Ottawa last fall. Since then, both countries have released their Indo-Pacific strategies, plans that aim to counterbalance Chinese influence by increasing economic and military ties in the region.

Trudeau is also scheduled to attend the G7 leaders summit in Hiroshima, Japan, this weekend.

As G7 host, Japan said it chose to have the summit in Hiroshima to symbolize its commitment to peace during a time of growing risk of weapons of mass destruction and an ongoing war in Ukraine.

The United States dropped the worlds first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, destroying the city and killing 140,000 people. It dropped a second bomb three days later on Nagasaki, killing 70,000 more.

While in Seoul, Trudeau is expected to attend a ceremony to open the Kapyong Battle Commemorative Trail, meant to honour Canadas contributions during the Korean War.

He is not expected to visit the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea.

Leaders of G7 countries  Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Japan  meet annually to collaborate on shared goals. This years summit will focus on seven main agenda items, including geopolitical and global security issues, economic resilience and climate change and energy.

I think its going to be one of the most successful summits ever since they started in 1975, said John Kirton, a political science professor who heads the G7 research group at the University of Toronto.

Because never before has a G7 summit faced so many big, interconnected global crises all at once.

As they reflect on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, face an uncertain economic outlook and work to avoid a climate crisis, Kirton said the G7 leaders have no shortage of issues to tackle.

One of Canadas top priorities will be strengthening ties between the allied countries to address these converging challenges. Canada is expected to seek the G7 members co-operationon providing ongoing support to Ukraine as well as addressing climate change.

The Liberal government is investing heavily in the green economy transition, arguing that promoting cleaner sources of energy and technology will bring economic prosperity to the country while curbing the risk of catastrophic climate change.

In a statement Trudeau provided to Kirtons group before the summit, the prime minister linked addressing climate change with increased security.

The clean economy presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to not only keep 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming within reach and to avert the worst impacts of climate change, but also to create and secure good, middle-class jobs for our people and grow our economies, Trudeau wrote.

When we cut emissions we can drive economic growth and build new strong, reliable supply chains that reduce our reliance on raw materials and components from countries such as China and Russia, too. This is economic policy, it is climate policy and it is security policy.

The clean economy transition is also expected to be the focus of Trudeaus visit to South Korea.

In an interview with The Canadian Press, South Koreas ambassador to Canada, Lim Woongsoon, said it will be at the top of the agenda. Lim said South Korea is interested in increasing business ties in areas such as clean fuel and critical minerals.

Canada can be a very ideal partner for Korean companies to manufacture electric vehicle batteries and battery components, he said.

The trip comes as Canada attempts to strengthen its relationships with Japan and South Korea, which are longtime allies and trading partners.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly has said the relationship with each is so natural that Ottawa has at times taken it for granted, but that global instability is a time to shore up these bonds.

We want to be as close to Korea, to Japan as (we are) to Germany, France and Great Britain; thats our goal, Joly said last December.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2023.

 With files from The Associated Press.

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First version published at 16:22

BAKU, Azerbaijani, May 15. The increase of Armenia's provocations in Azerbaijan's Kalbajar direction has been prevented, Azerbaijani Minister of Defense, Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov said at the meeting of the ministry, Trend reports.

He said the current situation of the conditional Azerbaijani-Armenian border and the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan were analyzed at the meeting.

Speaking about the Kalbajar district, Hasanov gave instructions to the officials on further taking tough measures to respond to possible provocations.

The Armenian armed forces units on May 14 in the Yenikend direction of the Basarkechar region using 60 mm mortars shelled the Azerbaijan Army positions stationed in the direction of Damirchidam settlement of the Kalbajar district.
It was to be the internet of the future.

The metaverse, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg claimed in 2021, would be an embodied internet where youre in the experience, not just looking at it.

His dream for this virtual reality product was ambitious, packed with features previously only fathomable in the wildest Hollywood sci-fi movies: next-generation augmented reality glasses, a suite of holographic devices replacing physical technology, even the ability to teleport anywhere in the world using these holograms.

But two years later  following billions of dollars in investment and a major corporate rebrand  Meta and Zuckerberg have little to show for it. (Not counting, of course, that widely panned presentation in 2022 of the metaverse in development, featuring exceedingly poor graphics and digital avatars without legs.)

Now, as Zuckerberg announced in late February that Meta was refocusing on generative artificial intelligence (AI), industry insiders have taken it as a sign that the tech giant has quietly abandoned the metaverse in favour of products that can compete with the likes of ChatGPT, Google and Microsoft.

Media outlet Business Insider even wrote the technologys obituary last week, saying RIP Metaverse, we hardly knew ye and noting prominent companies such as Disney, Microsoft and Walmart had backed away from metaverse efforts.

Why has Metas metaverse proven so unsuccessful?

Philip Mai, a researcher and co-director of Toronto Metropolitan Universitys Social Media Lab, chalked up the metaverses decline to a combination of factors: a lack of buy-in and technology to support the idea.

After the marketing hype wore down and some of the early adopters came on board, people realized that there was nothing there yet, he said. The attention was quickly shifting toward AI and not the metaverse.

Reality Labs, the team within Meta tasked with developing this virtual and augmented reality technology, has been hemorrhaging money for months. Metas first quarter results for 2023 reported Reality Labs lost nearly $4 billion in the first three months of the year alone.

We continue to expect Reality Labs operating losses to increase year-over-year in 2023, stated the report, which came as the company announced it was cutting roughly 10,000 jobs, many of them coming from that metaverse-focused team, and restructuring the organization.

Were creating a new top-level product group at Meta focused on generative AI to turbocharge our work in this area, Zuckerberg announced on Facebook on Feb. 27. In the short term, well focus on building creative and expressive tools. Over the longer term, well focus on developing AI personas that can help people in a variety of ways. Were exploring experiences with text (like chat in WhatsApp and Messenger), with images (like creative Instagram filters and ad formats), and with video and multi-modal experiences.

Meta isnt choosing AI over metaverse, says company

In response the Stars request for comment regarding the future of the metaverse, a spokesperson shared Zuckerbergs comments from the companys first quarter earnings.

A narrative has developed that were somehow moving away from focusing on the metaverse vision, so I just want to say upfront thats not accurate, said the tech billionaire. Weve been focusing on both AI and the metaverse for years now, and we will continue to focus on both.

Building the metaverse is a long term project, but the rationale for it remains the same and we remain committed to it.

His remarks seem to square with a recent report commissioned by Meta, which suggests the metaverse may still eventually break through. The report, released by consulting firm Deloitte last week, estimated the metaverse could contribute between $45.3 billion and $85.5 billion to Canadas annual GDP by 2035, making up 1.3 per cent to 2.4 per cent of the countrys GDP.

But Mai said its still unclear how Meta intends to move forward with the technology, which has faced multiple hurdles since its ceremonious launch in the midst of the pandemic.

They were pitching an idea and a dream, and then they were hoping that they would have enough time to build that world, said Mai. We call that vapourware, where its a lot of hype and talk and they try to backfill as they go along.

Metaverse already exists in the gaming world

A 2022 Ipsos survey of 21,005 adults in 29 countries, including Canada, found Canadians generally feel reticent toward the new technology, with only one-third saying they feel positive about it.

While the report did not examine why the majority of Canadian respondents viewed the technology negatively, Mai suggested it may stem from data and privacy concerns.

These monopolistic-type companies that create these end-all-be-all products dont realize that a lot of people, myself for example, want to keep their personal life separate from their work life, he said. I want one place where I can hang out with my friends, I want another place where I can with my family. I dont want those worlds to collide.

Still, Mai said he believes there is a future for the metaverse. Its already thriving today in the gaming world, he noted, with games like Minecraft, Fortnite and Roblox boasting millions of users.

Tweeting in response to Business Insiders metaverse obituary, Epic Games CEO and billionaire founder Tim Sweeney seemingly derided the notion that the metaverse was dead.

Epic Games has been a major investor in the metaverse, having raised $2 billion in a round of funding from Sony Group Corporation as well as KIRKBI, the holding and investment firm behind The LEGO Group, to support metaverse development.

So, while the technology may not be adopted by billions of users, as perhaps some have hoped, products that meet peoples needs will be popular, said Mai.

There will be these virtual worlds, he concluded. It just wont be what Meta envisioned it to be.

With files by Tara Deschamps from The Canadian Press

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Vice Media LLC filed for bankruptcy protection and struck a deal to sell itself to creditors, a precipitous fall for the media upstart that once boasted a $5.7 billion (U.S) valuation.

The developments cap a tumultuous few months for the firm, which began as an alternative magazine in Montreal nearly three decades ago and captured the attention of young viewers globally with documentary-style videos. It shared a Pulitzer Prize in 2020 and multiple Emmy wins for Vice News Tonight.

Its rapid downfall underscores the challenges facing digital media companies, which are struggling as advertisers cut spending during an uncertain economy and route marketing toward tech platforms from Facebook and Google to TikTok.

The Brooklyn-based company listed both assets and liabilities in the range of more than $500 million to as much as $1 billion in a Chapter 11 petition filed in Southern District of New York. In a separate statement, Vice announced it reached a deal with creditors including Fortress Investment Group, Soros Fund Management and Monroe Capital to purchase its assets for $225 million and assume significant liabilities. The agreement, however, allows for rival bidders to emerge.

We will have new ownership, a simplified capital structure and the ability to operate without the legacy liabilities that have been burdening our business, said Bruce Dixon and Hozefa Lokhandwala, co-chief executive officers. We look forward to completing the sale process in the next two to three months.

Fortress Credit Corp. ranked among the biggest secured creditors, with claims totaling about $475 million (U.S.), the filing on Monday showed. Vice secured commitments for debtor-in-possession financing from its creditors, including consent to use more than $20 million of cash to keep its operations going for now.

Vice secured a $450 million (U.S.) investment from private equity firm TPG in 2017, which valued the firm at $5.7 billion (U.S.). The figure was startling for a media upstart, especially while so many of its industry peers struggled to generate profits. Other investors have included Walt Disney Co. and Fox Corp.

In the filing, Vice estimated it has more than 5,000 creditors and that it would have funds for distribution to unsecured creditors.

Its bankruptcy filing is a milestone for the digital media arena. In February, Vice said Nancy Dubuc was leaving the company after five years as chief executive officer, and then in late April Vice shuttered its flagship TV news show and laid off more than 100 staff.

Vice News Tonight started in 2016 as a newscast on HBO and won acclaim for its coverage of a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. HBO ended that partnership in 2019. Recently, the show aired on Vice TV, the companys cable channel.

This year, BuzzFeed Inc. shut down its news operation and online publisher Insider Inc. said its cutting about 10 per cent of staff.

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The Canadian government is not responsible for the danger faced by the Afghans who worked for this country and were left behind after the Taliban takeover, Ottawa says in response to a lawsuit over its unreasonable delays in resettling the group.

In asking the Federal Court to dismiss the case, government lawyers argue that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada does not have a duty to process the permanent residence applications of 25 Afghans and their families within a certain timeframe.

While Canada indicated processing timelines would be expedited and that Canada was working as quickly as possible to resettle Afghan nationals, no specific processing times are specified, the government said in a redacted reply to the lawsuit.

Canada acknowledges that the Applicants face serious risks in Afghanistan. Those risks however are inflicted by foreign entities in Afghanistan, with no connection to the Government of Canada.

The legal action has been initiated by someone who worked as a security guard at the Canadian embassy for a decade and by two dozen employees of a law firm the embassy retained for local legal work. They all emailed, per the rules, in the summer and fall of 2021 to express interest in Canadas Special Immigration Measures (SIM) program for Afghans. Some were submitted before the Taliban took over the capital on Aug. 15, 2021, and some in the months that followed.

They did not get an invitation to apply until a year later, after the lawsuit was filed.

The litigants, who all met the significant and enduring relationship with Canada criteria for the resettlement program, have been threatened and targeted by the Taliban, and are hiding with their families in Afghanistan or in a third country, the suit says. One was kidnapped and tortured over the course of more than two months.

As the Taliban consolidates its control over Afghanistan, these risks only increase, lawyers for the litigants responded to the governments statement of defence. The argument is perverse. The Applicants only remain in Afghanistan because of Canadas inaction.

The government argued that there are no unreasonable delays in the processing of the Afghan security guard and the 24 employees with Shajjan and Associates, which had been retained by Canada since 2013 and whose connection with the country is widely known in Afghanistan.

It said the group was actually processed under another special public policy created in September 2022  one only made public this month  to facilitate the resettlement of specific vulnerable Afghans from within and outside the country as opposed to the original SIM program.

The processing clock, noted the government, only started when the applicants submitted their applications last October and November under the new program. To date, the individuals have only been waiting for under six months, which it said doesnt qualify as unreasonable delay.

Contrary to the Applicants assertions, that duty did not arise in August and September 2021 when they expressed an interest in the SIM program by contacting Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and IRCC via email and web form, the government contended.

The web form used to contact IRCC about the SIM program states that Submitting this form does not mean youve applied for something. 

Maureen Silcoff, a co-counsel for the Afghans, said her clients only learned recently they had been considered under a different resettlement program, which underlines the urgency of their situations but has failed to respond to their plight in a timely fashion.

Thats whats completely inexplicable and inhumane, Silcoff said in an interview. The failure to process is completely out of sync with the government statement about the extreme risk that the clients continue to face.

Counsel for the government pointed out that three of the litigants have made it out of Afghanistan  one as an international student in Canada and the other two as asylum seekers in the U.S.  and have alternate avenues of seeking international protection.

For the rest remaining in Afghanistan, they said, circumstances there make processing challenging because Canada no longer has a military or consular presence, which impedes its ability to collect and verify applicants information.

The government suggested theres no breach of the applicants Charter rights because theres no causal link to the processing time with the groups risks in Afghanistan. The now-terminated employment relationships, it argued, are too remote to establish the required connection.

Its perverse for the government to rely on that argument because the time lag in processing their applications is entirely in the governments hands, said Sujit Choudhry, who also represents the Afghan litigants. And its the governments inaction that has created this lag in time.

The risk itself that the Government of Canada is responsible for didnt end when Canada left. In fact, that began when Canada left Afghanistan. That risk hasnt gone down over time. Its not too remote. Its actually increased.

Silcoff said her clients, who were specifically named in the new Afghan special program as a priority, pose the lowest security risks to Canada, if any, because they had been vetted and already worked with the Canadian embassy.

Ottawa should exercise its discretion to at least waive some of the biometrics and screening requirements to allow this group of people to enter Canada conditional on processing of that part of their application, she added.

Given the extreme risks that they face, that would be completely appropriate, Silcoff said. And at this point, we would suggest thats necessary because of the time thats passing.

The litigants have requested the case be heard in an expedited manner if the court decides the complaint has merits.

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A 57-year-old Mississauga, Ont., man accused of selling a lethal substance to people at risk of killing themselves has had his bail hearing put over until next week.

Peel Regional Police arrested Kenneth Law earlier this month and charged him with two counts of counselling or aiding suicide after investigating two recent deaths in the area.

Police allege the man used several websites to market and sell sodium nitrite, a substance that is commonly used to cure meats but can be deadly.

They say their investigation has revealed at least 1,200 packages were allegedly sent to 40 countries.

Law appeared briefly in a Brampton, Ont., court today, where his case was put over to May 23.

Ontarios Office of the Chief Coroner says at least 37 people have died from sodium nitrite over the past five years.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2023.

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DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP)  Rescuers on Monday evacuated about 1,000 people trapped by seawater 3.6 meters (12 feet) deep along western Myanmars coast after a powerful cyclone injured hundreds and cut off communications. Six deaths were reported, but the true impact was not yet clear in one of Asias least developed countries.

Strong winds injured more than 700 of about 20,000 people who were sheltering in sturdier buildings on the highlands of Sittwe township, such as monasteries, pagodas and schools, according to a leader of the Rakhine Youths Philanthropic Association in Sittwe. He asked not to be named due to fear of reprisals from the authorities in the military-run country.

Seawater raced into more than 10 low-lying wards near the shore as Cyclone Mocha made landfall in Rakhine state Sunday afternoon, he said. Residents moved to roofs and higher floors, while the wind and storm surge prevented immediate rescue.

After 4 p.m. yesterday, the storm weakened a bit, but the water did not fall back. Most of them sat on the roof and at the high places of their houses the whole night. The wind blew all night, the rescue group leader said.

Water was still about 1.5 meters (5 feet) high in flooded areas later Monday, but rescues were being made as the wind calmed and the sun rose in the sky. He asked civil society organizations and authorities to send aid and help evacuate residents.

Six deaths were reported by Myanmar media and rescue groups. Several injuries were reported in neighboring Bangladesh, which was spared the predicted direct hit.

Mocha made landfall near Sittwe township with winds blowing up to 209 kilometers (130 miles) per hour, Myanmars Meteorological Department said. By midday Monday, it had weakened to a tropical depression, according to the India Meteorological Department.

The State Administration Council issued disaster declarations for 17 townships in Rakhine state.

High winds crumpled cell phone towers, but in videos collected by local media before communications were lost, deep water raced through streets and wind blew off roofs.

Myanmars military information office said the storm had damaged houses and electrical transformers in Sittwe, Kyaukpyu, and Gwa townships. It said roofs were torn off buildings on the Coco Islands, about 425 kilometers (264 miles) southwest of the countrys largest city, Yangon.

Volunteers previously said shelters in Sittwe did not have enough food after more people arrived there seeking help.

Mocha largely spared the Bangladeshi city of Coxs Bazar, which initially had been in the storms predicted path. Authorities had evacuated hundreds of thousands of people before the cyclone veered east.

A Bangladesh government official, Enamur Rahman, said the damage was still being assessed, but that about 2,000 homes had been destroyed and 10,000 others were damaged on Saint Martins Island and Teknaf in Coxs Bazar district.

He said no deaths were reported.

About a dozen people were injured on Saint Martins Island, the Prothom Alo newspaper reported.

U.N. agencies and aid workers in Bangladesh had prepositioned tons of dry food and dozens of ambulances in the refugee camps that house more than 1 million Rohingya Muslims who fled persecution in Myanmar.

In May 2008, Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar with a storm surge that devastated populated areas around the Irrawaddy River delta. At least 138,000 people died and tens of thousands of homes and other buildings were washed away.

Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune city, said cyclones in the Bay of Bengal are becoming more intense more quickly, in part because of climate change.

Climate scientists say cyclones can now retain their energy for many days. Cyclone Amphan in eastern India in 2020 continued to travel over land as a strong cyclone and caused extensive devastation.

As long as oceans are warm and winds are favorable, cyclones will retain their intensity for a longer period, Koll said.

Tropical cyclones, which are called hurricanes or typhoons in other regions, are among the worlds most devastating natural disasters when they hit densely populated coastal areas.

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LONDON (AP)  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pressed the British government at the end of a whirlwind European tour Monday to join a fighter jet coalition that would help strengthen his countrys aerial capabilities, but instead secured a commitment for attack drones and hundreds more missiles.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greeted Zelenskyy with a handshake and hug after the presidents helicopter landed at Chequers, the British leaders official country retreat. It was Zelenskyys second trip to the U.K. since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, but the fifth European country he visited in three days..

He is seeking more military aid as Ukraine prepares a long-anticipated spring offensive to retake Russian-occupied territory. The Ukrainian leader also visited Italy, the Vatican, Germany and France.

Russia reacted to the U.K.s new pledge extremely negatively, but also doubts the missiles and drones would drastically change the course of the war, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

Britain aspires to be at the forefront among countries that continue to pump weapons into Ukraine, Peskov said. We repeat once again: It cannot yield any drastic and fundamental influence on the way the special military operation (in Ukraine) is unfolding. But, definitely, it leads to further destruction. ... It makes this whole story for Ukraine much more complicated.

Zelenskyy said one of the missions of his European travels that started Saturday was to build a fighter jet coalition to provide Ukraine with vital military power in the air. He said more work was needed on that front.

While the U.K. will not provide the planes, the prime minister said the country would join the coalition and begin a previously announced training program for Ukrainian fighter pilots as soon as this summer.

The U.K., one of Ukraines major military allies, has provided short-range missiles, Challenger tanks and training 15,000 Ukrainian troops on British soil. Last week, the government announced it had sent Ukraine Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which have a range of more than 250 kilometers (150 miles). The British missiles were the first known shipment of longer-range weaponry that Kyiv has long sought from its allies.

Sunaks office said it was giving Ukraine hundreds more air defense missiles, as well as long-range attack drones with a reach of more than 200 kilometers (120 miles).

This is a crucial moment in Ukraines resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke, Sunak said. They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year.

We must not let them down, the prime minister added.

Sunak plans to push allies at a meeting of Group of Seven leaders in Japan later this week to deliver more support to Ukraine, Downing Street said.

As Zelenskyy visited European capitals, Russia stepped up attacks across Ukraine with drones and missiles. Russia shelled two communities Sunday in the northern border province of Sumy, regional officials said on Telegram. They said 109 explosions were recorded.

Zelenskyys office said Monday that Russian attacks had killed nine civilians and injured 19 in the past day. Six of the deaths were in southern Ukraines Kherson province. Two civilians were killed in Chuhuiv in Kharkiv province, and one in Prymorsk, on the Azov Sea coast about 12 miles (20 kilometers) from Russian-occupied Berdyansk.

The presidential office also reported that Marhanets, which lies across the river from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, was shelled.

Russian state news agency RIA-Novosti reported that an acting regional interior minister appointed by Moscow, Igor Kornet, was injured in an explosion at a barbershop in the Russian-occupied city of Luhansk. The leader of the so-called Luhansk Peoples Republic, a separatist-held region of Ukraine that Moscow illegally annexed, was quoted as saying a bomb caused the explosion.

Assassination attempts and sabotage attacks have increased in Russian-occupied territory as well as Russia proper. Russian authorities often blame Ukrainian forces, but Kyiv rarely acknowledges such attacks.

Zelenskyy traveled to Britain from Paris, where he met Sunday with French President Emmanuel Macron and secured a pledge of light tanks, armored vehicles and air defense systems.

About 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers would receive training in France this year and nearly 4,000 others in Poland, Macrons office said.

Speaking Monday on French television network TF1, Macron said training on French fighter jets such as the Mirage 2000 can start now but rejected the idea of France delivering warplanes to Ukraine.

Zelenskyy also met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday. It was his first visit to Berlin since the start of the invasion and came a day after the German government announced military aid for Ukraine worth more than 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion).

Modern Western hardware is considered crucial if Ukraine is to succeed in its planned counteroffensive. During his European trip, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would aim to liberate Russian-occupied areas within Ukraines internationally recognized borders and would not attack Russian territory.

Among areas Russia still occupies are the Crimean Peninsula and parts of eastern Ukraine with mainly Russian-speaking populations.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

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JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  A Mississippi judge has dismissed one lawsuit that challenges a new law dealing with appointment of judges in the majority-Black capital city of Jackson and the surrounding county, but a separate lawsuit remains alive in federal court.

In the ruling Monday, Hinds County Chancery Judge Dewayne Thomas wrote that appointing judges does not violate the Mississippi Constitution.

Three Jackson residents testified to Thomas last week that the new law tramples their rights because most Mississippi judges are elected.

Thomas wrote that a 1989 state law allows appointment of judges in some circumstances and that disappointment and frustration with the legislative process does not create a judicial right to relief.

While the Court is sympathetic to the Plaintiffs feelings, it cannot find that the same constitutes irreparable harm, Thomas wrote.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs said they will appeal Thomas dismissal of the case and his decision last week to remove Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Randolph as a defendant.

Republican Gov. Tate Reeves signed laws last month to expand state policing in the capital city of Jackson, establish a court with an appointed judge in part of Jackson and authorize four appointed judges to work alongside the four elected judges in Hinds County Circuit Court.

Members of the majority-white and Republican-led Legislature who pushed for the changes said they were trying to curb crime in the capital city. Local residents protested that state officials were usurping power in Jackson and Hinds County, which are majority-Black and governed by Democrats.

The national NAACP, its Mississippi chapter and its local chapter filed a federal lawsuit hours after Reeves signed the new laws. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate temporarily blocked the appointment of four judges for Hinds County Circuit Court. Wingate set a May 22 hearing to consider extending his order.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden has made it a mission for the U.S. to build friendships overseas  and the next few weeks will offer a vivid demonstration of the importance hes placing on a relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The two are both scheduled to attend this weeks Group of Seven summit in Japan, a subsequent gathering of Pacific island leaders in Papua New Guinea, and a later meeting of Indo-Pacific leaders in Australia. Those travels will be followed by a June 22 state visit by Modi to Washington, a sign that both seem willing to deepen their bonds.

But like many geopolitical friendships, things are complicated between the worlds largest economy (the U.S.) and its most populous nation (India).

The personal outreach has a clear strategic calculus as both countries respond to Chinas economic rise and increased global prominence. Yet while Biden champions democratic ideals and openly opposes Russia for invading Ukraine, Modi has offered tepid criticism of Russia and opponents say he is eroding India's democratic traditions.

That means the future of the alliance depends on a degree of patience.

Its a long game of steady forward movement in defense relations and some fairly rapid intensification of business ties  with the pace of both determined by the speed of movement on the Indian side, said Kurt Tong, a former ambassador for the U.S. who is now managing partner of The Asia Group, a consultancy.

Biden last year publicly called Indias response to the war in Ukraine shaky. India abstained from voting on U.N. resolutions condemning Russia and refused to join the global coalition against Russia. Modi had a relatively warm relationship with Bidens predecessor, Donald Trump, and has made some efforts to forge a connection with Biden, who is known to focus on his Irish roots even when meeting with leaders of other nations.

When Modi came to Washington in September 2021, he brought with him documents about people with the last name Biden in India.

Are we related? Biden asked.

Yes, Modi joked.

While visiting Canada in March, Biden said hes made it a strategic goal to improve relations with the rest of the world as he feels that Americas leverage against China and Russia is through its alliances.

I have now met with 80% of the world leaders just since Ive been president, he said. Were the ones expanding the alliances. The opposition is not.

Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, a biographer of Modi, said the Indian leaders connection with Biden is not personal  and has its limits. But it is necessary for the U.S. to keep India on its side as tensions with China have accelerated over Taiwan, the federal governments ban on exporting advanced computer chips to China and human rights issues.

To what extent can India be part of the U.S.-led alliance, that is for Modi to decide, Mukhopadhyay said. At some point or the other, the Americans would realize that Modi is not really going the whole hog as much as they would like India to be. But Modi will not get swayed by meeting Biden several times.

Nirupama Rao, a retired diplomat who served as Indian ambassador to the U.S., said India has its reasons for not joining the condemnation of Moscow.

The country wants Russia to maintain some distance from China, and it worries that isolating Moscow would just push it closer to Beijing, she said. Relations between India and China are strained, with the two sides embroiled in an intense three-year standoff involving thousands of soldiers stationed along their disputed border in the eastern Ladakh region.

Rao said U.S. policymakers should not mistake Indias involvement in the so-called Quad  whose other members are the U.S., Japan and Australia  for an alliance. India is also in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a group dominated by Beijing and Moscow. It routinely attends trilateral meetings with China and Russia. It also continues to participate in the forum known as BRICS, which stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

So far, India has done an impressive job of maintaining its balancing act, she said. Whether it can continue to do so in the years ahead is an open question. Beijing has become increasingly belligerent, and it may eventually decide it will not deal with India if New Delhi strengthens its security ties to Washington.

Both the U.S. and India have been emphasizing technology partnerships, including defense, clean energy and space. During Modis visit to the U.S. in June, the two leaders are also expected to discuss common challenges, including climate change and health security.

Russia is Indias largest supplier of military hardware. But India has been reducing its dependence on Russian arms by diversifying its purchases, buying from the U.S., France, Germany and other countries. The U.S. defense trade with India has risen from near zero in 2008 to over $20 billion in 2020.

The U.S. imported about $86 billion in goods from India last year, according to the Census Bureau. That figure has steadily increased, but it has room to grow as the U.S. still gets more goods from Taiwan and Vietnam than India. With more than 1.4 billion people, India is about 14 times the size of Taiwan and Vietnam combined.

There are some risks for Biden as he devotes more time to Modi, with advocates for human rights wary of the Indian leaders track record. The freedom of the news media in India has been challenged after Modi became prime minister in 2014. Political rivals of Modis governing Hindu nationalist party have accused him of stifling dissent and introducing divisive policies that discriminate against Muslims and other minorities.

Modis Hindu nationalist party also suffered a political setback as Indias main opposition Congress party won control of the southern Karnataka state, according to a near complete vote count Saturday. The victory could help unite the largely divided opposition in next years general election, in which Modi will seek a third consecutive term as prime minister.

Yet for Biden, developing a personal rapport out of public view might be critical for overcoming any differences with Modi.

In this case, the investment is worth it, said Lisa Curtis, director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, a think tank. There are a lot of things that President Biden can say privately to Prime Minister Modi that could end up having a favorable impact on U.S.-India relations.

___

Sharma reported from New Delhi, India.

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OTTAWA  The federal party that has agreed to back the minority Liberals on most tests of confidence in the government is now looking for a pathway to limit Ottawas ability to trigger those tests.

The New Democrats dont think thats hypocritical.

I dont see any good reason not to move ahead to make things harder for the prime minister to abuse these powers, particularly when we continue to be in minority parliaments and the question of confidence and prorogation continues to come up as a matter of controversy, NDP MP Daniel Blaikie told reporters on Monday.

The NDPs critic for democratic reform introduced a private members motion last week seeking to clarify  and constrain  a prime ministers ability to declare specific motions a test of confidence in the government and when Parliament can be prorogued.

As it stands, votes on matters like budgets and throne speeches are treated as confidence votes, but the government is free to decide which other votes can be considered matters of confidence. When such votes are lost, the government typically steps down or Parliament dissolves, plunging the country into an election.

The problem the NDP says its trying to solve is that the so-called confidence convention has never been formalized, sowing confusion in the House of Commons and the public over the importance of certain votes.

If (the prime ministers) not happy with whats going on in Parliament, he can tear up all that work, stop Parliament with a prorogation, and have parliamentarians have to start back from scratch, Blaikie said.

He cited Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus decision to prorogue  or discontinue a session of Parliament  in 2020, which the Liberals said offered Ottawa a reset during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also coincided with committee probes into the WE Charity controversy.

But confidence votes and the ability to dissolve government hold more significance to the NDP than simply codifying how those steps should be invoked.

The New Democrats are currently propping up the Liberals in exchange for a series of left-leaning policies  and one of the ways they make it work is by agreeing to support the government on confidence matters.

Strictly speaking, that means the NDP must back the Liberals on budgetary policy, budget implementation bills, estimates and supply. The party is also forbidden from moving a vote of non-confidence and voting for a non-confidence motion.

Its not that the NDP is completely blocked from voting against the government during a confidence matter. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was adamant last month that if the Liberals were to compel picketing federal public servants to return to work  and if the issue became a confidence vote  his party would vote firmly against it.

Even so, the backbone of the deal sees the NDP joining forces with the Liberals to make some of its key policy objectives  like dental care and passing legislation on a national pharmacare program  a reality.

I dont see any irony in it at all, Blaikie said, when asked if his party was complicit in protecting the Liberals from such votes.

Singh, meanwhile, said Blaikies move was in line with the purpose of the agreement.

We want to make sure that were holding the government to account and we want to have better laws and better tools in place that prevent this government from eroding democracy by just arbitrarily proroguing Parliament or deeming something confidence when it should not be deemed confidence, the NDP leader told reporters.

Blaikie framed the issue as one of prime ministers abusing their power, and on Monday, he took a page out of the Conservative playbook to drive that point home.

Theyre the kinds of power some might refer to as gatekeeping powers, Blaikie said.

It was a deliberate nod to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievres rallying cry to fire the gatekeepers  the politicians and bureaucrats who he believes are suffocating progress on many issues.

Indeed, Blaikie spent much of his news conference not discussing the minutiae of his motion, but slamming Poilievre for not immediately backing it.

It is the time for Conservatives who are concerned about the prime minister having too much power to join with New Democrats and actually do something about it, he said.

I think he spends a lot of time talking about how gatekeepers are doing harm to Canadians, but he doesnt spend a lot of time talking about how we constrain the power that those gatekeepers have, Blaikie added.

The NDP critics motion still needs to undergo another hour of debate before MPs lock in their votes. And while the Conservatives last week said thats not enough time to scrutinize the novel proposal, Blaikie said hes had private talks with Tory MPs to get them onside.

On that front, Blaikie is facing an uphill battle.

This NDP MP is a proud member of the costly coverup coalition that is complicit in propping up Justin Trudeau and keeping him in power. If Daniel Blaikie really cared about Canadians democratic rights, he would pull the plug on his undying support for Justin Trudeau and his Liberal coalition partners, said Conservative democratic reform critic Michael Cooper in a statement to the Star.

As always, its all talk and no action from the NDP. Only a common sense Conservative government under Pierre Poilievre will remove gatekeepers and make Canada the freest country in the world.

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Title changed. Details added: first version posted on 16:37

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. A phone conversation has been held between Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and his Turkish colleague Mevlut Cavusoglu, Trend reports citing the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan.

According to the ministry, Bayramov congratulated Cavusoglu on the fact that Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the ruling party are ahead with a majority of votes in the presidential and parliamentary elections held in Turkiye.

The Turkish foreign minister expressed gratitude for the attention and congratulations.

During the conversation, the current situation in the region and the latest information on the peace talks [between Azerbaijan and Armenia] were also discussed.

Voting took place in the presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14 in Turkiye. Three candidates are participating in the presidential election - incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, opposition candidate Kemal Klcdaroglu and Sinan Ohan from the ATA Alliance.

In addition, 600 deputies in 87 constituencies will be elected to the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Some 24 parties and 151 independent candidates participate in the elections.

More than 191,000 ballot boxes were installed in the country and 60.6 million voters were registered. About five million of them voted for the first time.
The border police officers from western Timis county detected, in the last weekend, 18 citizens from Asia, with valid residence permits in Romania, who wanted to illegally cross the border, into Serbia, from within the county's radius, some of them wanting to reach Greece.

The border police detected two groups of seven and six citizens from Nepal, aged between 24 and 43, all with valid residence permits in Romania, who tried to illegally cross the border into Serbia, according to a press release from the Timisoara Border Police, sent to AGERPRES on Monday.

In another sector, five other citizens from Bangladesh were detected attempting to cross the border illegally, all of them having work visas on the territory of our country and who tried to cross the border from Romania to Serbia illegally.
Acting Senate President Alina Gorghiu announced that the bills of the Education Laws and the 500 amendments shall be submitted for debate this week, in the Senate's committees, with the report to be drafted on Friday and the voting to take place in the plenary sitting on 22 May.

"This week we have very important debates on the legislation regarding education. (...) Thousands of proposals have been made to improve it, both in the public and parliamentary debate stages. Last week, these laws arrived in the Senate and together with the leaders of the parliamentary groups we established a timetable. The amendments have been centralized and there are more than 500 of them, coming from many associations, from institutions, assumed by the parliamentary groups (...) The conclusions are the following: on May 19th we will have a report on the Education Laws, and next week, Monday, on May 22nd, we will have the voting on the Education Laws. The laws have been analysed by the coalition and opposition parties, they are laws that I consider very good. You should know that this reform is not at all a whim, it is a law that had to be changed if we want to be with the students, with the subject, with the teachers' rights in 2023 and at the level of the standards which Europe demands," Gorghiu stated in the Senate on Monday.

According to Alina Gorghiu, these normative acts have generated "the largest national consultation bill of the past three decades."

"We are talking about an 'Educated Romania' which in our view, will change the face of the education system. We will have an education system adapted to the times we live in, to the demands of the labour market, (...) a reduced school drop-out rate, teachers who are better paid for the effort they make, pupils and students who have access to better training and dual education," Gorghiu added.

She mentioned that the issue of integrating students with special educational needs (SEN) into mainstream education will be carefully examined by the Education Committee.

"I assure you that the issue of integration of students with SEN is of utmost importance for the National Liberal Party and the coalition. The number of these pupils has increased a lot recently - 16,930 pupils in special education units and 41,468 in mainstream units, out of whom 27,216 benefit from support. Basically, we have a total of 58,298. We have to accept the reality that there are children with serious disabilities who, unfortunately, cannot be integrated into mainstream schools," Gorghiu said.

The Senate is the decision-making body regarding the Education Laws bill. AGERPRES
AgriMin: Farmers not to be affected if regulations restricting imports of Ukrainian grain are extended.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Petre Daea has announced that he has written a letter to the EU bloc, signed with four other EU member states - Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia - requesting the restriction of imports of Ukrainian agricultural products and the extension of the deadline beyond June 5, told Agerpres.

Agriculture ministers from five EU member states - Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia - have asked the bloc in a letter to amend and extend regulations restricting imports of Ukrainian agricultural products, Polish news agency PAP has recently reported, quoting sources who wished to remain anonymous, Reuters reports.

According to Agriculture Minister Petre Daea, Romania has requested an extension, with June 5 being the date when the period until which imports of grain from Ukraine are suspended expires.

"It is a request generated by the fact that in a while we will begin harvesting, and a large quantity of grain is still in farmers' warehouses. These warehouses must be freed up by using up existing stocks so that we have room to store new crops," the Agriculture Minister told AGERPRES.

He said that the proposed measure is in support of Romanian farmers who will no longer face competition from Ukrainian products on the domestic market.

"Romania's position is that it wants, along with other countries (...) in the vicinity of war, to have the opportunity to use their stocks to make room for new crops to be harvested in a few months' time. (...) We want farmers not to be affected by extending this deadline, which means stopping the import of cereals and preventing them from competing with our products," Petre Daea said.

The European Commission adopted on May 2 exceptional and temporary preventive measures on imports of a limited number of products from Ukraine, under the exceptional guarantee of the autonomous trade measures regulation. The measures entered into force on May 2 and will remain in force until June 5, 2023.

These measures are necessary in view of the exceptional circumstances of the serious logistical bottlenecks faced by five EU member states. The measures cover only four agricultural products - wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seeds - originating in Ukraine.

The measures adopted aim to ease logistical bottlenecks involving these products in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

During this period, wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seeds originating in Ukraine can continue to circulate freely in all member states of the European Union except the five countries mentioned in the first line.

The European Commission has announced that it is ready to re-impose preventive measures after the expiry of the current Regulation on autonomous trade measures on June 5, 2023, as long as the exceptional situation continues.
Approximately 206,800 people, Romanian citizens and foreigners, with more than 48,400 means of transport, carried out, on Sunday, control formalities, both inbound and outbound, through border points throughout the country, the General Inspectorate of the Border Police (IGPF) informs through a press release sent to AGERPRES.

According to the source, inbound towards Romania there were 100,200 persons, of which 8,438 were Ukrainian citizens.

Regarding specific activities, in areas of competence, crossing points and "green border", the border police identified 80 illegal acts on Sunday (39 infractions and 41 misdemeanors), committed by both Romanian and foreign citizens.

Goods worth over 348,230 RON were seized.

Fines were applied in the amount of approximately 13,890 RON.

27 foreign citizens who did not fulfill the conditions provided by the law, were denied entry into the country, and also 17 Romanian citizens were denied to leave, for various legal reasons.
A maritime vessel and two port surveillance and control boats with the Coast Guard will participate for two months, in the Mediterranean Sea, in an international Frontex mission to save human lives in danger, the General Inspectorate of the Border Police (IGPF) informs in a press release sent to AGERPRES on Monday.

The maritime vessel MAI 1107 belonging to the Coast Guard, with 28 crew members, will leave for two months on an international Frontex mission THEMIS 2023 which will take place in the Mediterranean Sea .

Also, two other surveillance and port control boats, MAI 3064 and MAI 3067 of the Coast Guard, with 16 border police officers on board, will join the mission in the Mediterranean, between May 17 and June 6.

According to the IGPF, the three ships will continue the missions of the maritime patrol vessel MAI 1106 and the port surveillance and control boat MAI 3066, which are deployed in Catania and Pantelleria until May 22.

"They supported the Italian authorities in controlling migration flows at the maritime borders of the European Union, they carried out surveillance missions and the interception of some boats, resulting in rescuing 684 people in danger," the quoted source mentions.

The main objective of the THEMIS joint operation is to support the Italian authorities in the surveillance and control of the maritime borders of the European Union, as well as the search and rescue of persons in distress at sea.
MIPE representatives carry out consultations with EC experts to advance talks on amending PNRR.

A delegation of the Ministry of European Investment and Projects (MIPE), led by relevant Minister Marcel Bolos, is in Brussels between 15 and 18 May to advance discussions on the amendment of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), told Agerpres.

The visit is also aimed at the consultation with experts from the European Executive in order to reach the maximum potential for investment opportunities that Romania has through the PNRR and to advance the necessary discussions for closing the Cohesion Policy Programmes 2014-2020 without endangering national strategic investments, a MIPE press release informs.

Throughout the visit, minister Marcel Bolos is to carry out meetings with Commissioner for Regional Policy Elisa Ferreira, Celine Gauer, DG Task Force Recovery, as well as representatives of the World Bank and the European Investment Bank.

"The representatives of the MIPE and the EC will discuss about the manner to ensure the continuity and predictability of the implementation of EU funded projects in the next programming period and the establishment of provisions to ensure continuity of funding. We bring to mind that the Ministry of European Investments and Projects has published for consultation a draft Emergency Ordinance on the establishment of the general framework for the closure of operational programmes financed in the 2014-2020 programming period. The draft also regulates the modalities by which projects not completed in this financial year can be continued from the funds allocated for the 2021-2027 programming period," the press release states.

The possibility of reimbursing expenses paid by the Ministry of Energy, from the state budget, through the Energy Transition Fund, to electricity and natural gas suppliers on behalf of SMEs, under the price cap scheme established by the Government through Government Emergency Ordinance No. 27/2022, will also be discussed.

In respect to the amendment of the PNRR, the Government has mandated the MIPE to make proposals to the representatives of the European Commission in order to identify the best option. In this regard, the two parties are in a permanent constructive dialogue, and a final proposal put forward by Romania would also be based on the discussions taking place in Brussels.

The amendment of the Plan in agreement with current circumstances and needs will include three distinct components. One of them is aimed at reducing the allocation as a result of economic growth.

Regarding the introduction of the REPowerEU chapter, the plan brings Romania a new funding of more than 1.44 billion EUR (of which 1.397 billion EUR RePowerEU allocation and 43.162 million EUR BREXIT adjustment reserve) for strategic investments in the key area of energy security, enabling the creation of clean energy production and storage ecosystems (hydropower, photovoltaics).

The MIPE will also propose a package of reforms and investments to strengthen the resilience of the national energy system with a positive impact in supporting the acceleration of Europe's transition to clean energy.
PM Ciuca: Political consensus needed to further ensure Romania's development pace.

Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, president of the PNL, affirms that political consensus is needed after the governmental rotation in order to maintain the pace of implementation of the government program and the reform projects that will continue to ensure the pace of development of Romania, told Agerpres.

He stated that "not long from now" the first stage of the PSD-PNL coalition project will be completed.

"Here we come to the end of the stage and the second one follows, in which we will achieve what no one expected more than a year and a half ago: (...) maintaining the political agreement, ensuring the stability of the coalition , ensuring stability and the majority in Parliament, so that we have the certainty that these programs that we have assumed, whether we are talking about the government program, or whether we are talking about the national recovery and resilience program, assumed through European funds, which implies by itself a large program of reforms, to be implemented", declared Nicolae Ciuca at an event dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the National Union of County Councils in Romania.

In this context, the PNL leader also highlighted the importance of maintaining a parliamentary majority for the adoption of legislation related to the implementation of the commitments assumed through the PNRR.

"Mr. President Marcel Ciolacu referred, earlier, to the skeptics. I will not refer to the skeptics, but I would like to refer to all those who want to understand the fact that without a solid parliamentary majority we would not have been able to go through the parliamentary debate and analysis on the draft laws that ensured the lines of reform assumed by Romania through the PNRR. And from here on we need this majority, we need the same rhythm and the same dynamics in the governmental act, in approving the draft laws in Parliament, because that's the only way we can ensure the absorption of European funds on all financing lines", stated Ciuca.

The prime minister also emphasized the importance of the goal of accession to the OECD, which requires a complex reform program that "aligns and complements perfectly with the reform assumed by the PNRR".

"We need everything that political consensus means, not for us, the political parties, not for us, the political leaders, not for anyone in particular, but for what the citizens' expectation means, for everything that the country project means, so that we maintain the pace of development that Romania achieved in particularly difficult conditions last year and this year on a positive trend for which we have no excuse if we do not maintain it. As such, beyond our political partnership, we have the governmental partnership, the administrative partnership, between the local administration, represented by you, the presidents of the county councils, the Union of municipalities, the Union of cities, the Union of communes, who were also our partners", added Nicolae Ciuca.

He also highlighted the fact that, despite the crises that marked the last years, the county councils signed financing contracts within the operational programs with a value of over three billion euros, most of this representing European funds.

"By accessing European funds within these programs, extensive digitization processes will be carried out in the administration, investments in the development and optimization of public transport systems, investments in the construction, rehabilitation, modernization and expansion of the county road network. At the same time, the projects submitted by the councils counties within the PNRR components will aim to develop and modernize the infrastructure, especially the hospital infrastructure, through the investments to be made within the county hospitals. I also noted the projects of the county councils related to the programs financed by government funds, namely the National Development Program Local, within which objectives worth over 6 billion lei are financed, and the 'Anghel Saligny' National Investment Program, through which objectives with a total value of over 5 billion lei will be financed", Ciuca also stated.
President Klaus Iohannis will participate, on Tuesday and Wednesday, in Iceland, in Reykjavik, in the fourth Summit of the Council of Europe.

Held under the motto "United around our values / United for Europe", the fourth edition of the high-level meeting will emphasize the role of the Council of Europe in the current geopolitical context marked by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the organization responsible for democracy, human rights and the rule of law being among the first international institutions to react with a concrete action, namely by excluding the Russian Federation from among the member states, the Presidential Administration informs, on Monday, through a statement sent to AGERPRES.

According to the cited source, for Romania, participation in the Reykjavik Summit has a special meaning, since in 2023 it will be 30 years since our country joined as a member state in full of the Strasbourg organization, the decision regarding the accession being made in 1993 at the first Summit of the Council of Europe.

On the first day of the summit, president Iohannis will co-chair, together with the prime minister of the gov't of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, the round table with the theme "Protecting democracy in trying times - risks, resilience and re-engagement" and will participate in the working meeting "United for Ukraine", hosted by the prime minister of the gov't of Iceland, Katrin Jakobsdottir.

During the general debates on the second day of the summit, Iohannis will reiterate his commitment to the system of the European Convention on Human Rights and highlight the role that the Council of Europe has played during Romania's 30 years of membership in the Strasbourg organization, to the consolidation of a stable and mature democracy in our country, says the Presidential Administration.

At the end of the summit, the Reykjavik Declaration will be adopted, which reconfirms the particular role of the Council of Europe in the multilateral architecture at the European and international level. On this occasion, the establishment of the International Register of Damages caused by the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine will be announced, in which Romania will participate as a founding state.
The National Liberal Party (PNL) has admitted, "in order to harmonise" the positions of all members of the governing coalition, that there may be certain exceptions to the protocol, provided that all parties agree to these changes and "improve" the government's activities, Acting Senate President Alina Gorghiu said on Monday.

"There is a clear position, assumed by all three party leaders (in the coalition), to respect the protocol. Respecting the protocol in its entirety, as it was signed, ensures an easy transition, ensures a smooth running of the Executive activity. However, in order to harmonize the positions of all colleagues in the governing coalition, the PNL has admitted that there may be certain exceptions to the negotiation of the protocol, specific exceptions, with one condition - all the parties that form this governing coalition must agree to these changes, specific exceptions to the protocol. We also believe that any exception to the protocol should take into account an essential condition, namely an improvement in the government's activity. If that specific exception can bring greater efficiency in the executive, then this position deserves to be discussed," Gorghiu said when asked at the Senate about this issue.

She added that the PNL will have several points to put on the table of the coalition for a "very realistic" government programme, which will ensure further economic growth and support all families in Romania.

She stressed that the government programme will contain social protection measures. "We need to ensure that those with low and very low incomes are not left behind. In this regard, we will continue to support the measures that the Ministry of Investment and European Projects has proposed, namely the continuation of those aids granted through this ministry, but also active support measures for all categories," Alina Gorghiu explained. AGERPRES
Added details (first version published at 16:16)

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. An official meeting was held under the leadership of Azerbaijani Minister of Defense Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov on May 15, Trend reports with reference to the ministry.

According to the ministry, the meeting was attended by deputy ministers, commanders of the military branches, chiefs of the main departments, as well as by heads of departments of the ministry, and commanders of military units.

The Minister of Defense brought to the attention of the participants of the meeting the tasks set by the President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev to the Azerbaijani army.

The operational situation on the conditional Azerbaijani-Armenian border and in the economic region of Azerbaijans Karabakh was analyzed. Touching upon the recent gunfights in Kalbajar [a city and the capital of the Kalbajar District of Azerbaijan] direction, the Defense Minister noted that a worthy response was given to the enemy, the expansion of provocations of the Armenian armed forces was decisively stopped, significant damage was inflicted on them. The Minister instructed the relevant officials to continue taking decisive response measures to possible armed incidents.

Issues of combat training and comprehensive provision of troops in winter were discussed at the meeting. Moreover, a number of upcoming tasks were brought to the attention of the commanders of all types of troops.

Colonel-General Hasanov pointed out the importance of clarifying the operational plans of military units of the Ground Forces, Air Forces, Rocket and Artillery Troops, Special Forces, and other military units, as well as further improving the quality of intensive exercises and training of troops conducted in cooperation.

In conclusion, the Azerbaijani Minister of Defense instructed to pay special attention to the enhanced training of all types of combat support units.
ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN FIGHTING

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  Israel and the Islamic Jihad militant group in the Gaza Strip agreed to an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire late Saturday, seeking to halt five days of intense fighting that killed 33 Palestinians, including at least 13 civilians. Two people in Israel were killed by rocket fire.

The tenuous cease-fire appeared to take effect just after 10 p.m., with a last-minute burst of rocket fire and Israeli airstrikes stretching several minutes past the deadline announced by Egypt. Late Saturday, Israel reported additional incoming fire and said it again struck Gaza, but the calm appeared to be quickly restored.

While the cease-fire appeared to bring a sense of relief to Gaza's more than 2 million people and hundreds of thousands of Israelis who were largely confined to bomb shelters in recent days, the deal did nothing to address the underlying issues that fueled rounds of fighting between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip over the years.

In Gaza, Islamic Jihad spokesman Tareq Selmi said Israel agreed to halt its policy of targeted strikes on the group's leaders. "Any stupidity or assassination by the occupation will be met with a response and the Zionist enemy bears the responsibility," he said.

In a statement thanking Egypt for its mediation efforts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's national security adviser, Tzachi Nanegbi, said "quiet would be answered with quiet" and Israel would do "everything that it needs to in order to defend itself."

Tensions could quickly resume when Israel holds an upcoming contentious march through a main Palestinian thoroughfare in Jerusalem's Old City.

Still, as the truce took hold, the deafening whooshes of outgoing rockets and booms of Israeli airstrikes were replaced by the honking of cars in Gaza. Streets that were desolate in recent days quickly teemed with people reveling in the cease-fire, waving Palestinian flags and flashing victory signs from speeding vehicles.

The latest violence erupted Tuesday, when Israeli airstrikes killed three senior Islamic Jihad commanders. Israel said the airstrikes were in response to a burst of rocket fire the previous week and that its attacks have been focused on Islamic Jihad targets. But residents in Gaza said homes of people uninvolved in fighting also had been struck.

At least 10 civilians, including women, young children and uninvolved neighbors, were killed in those initial strikes, which drew regional condemnation.

Over the past few days, Israel conducted more airstrikes, killing other senior Islamic Jihad commanders and destroying their command centers and rocket launching sites. The airstrikes showed no signs of stopping the rocket fire, prompting Islamic Jihad to declare victory.

Israel reported over 1,200 launches throughout the fighting, with some rockets reaching as far as the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem areas. Israel said about a quarter of the rockets were misfired and landed in Gaza, while most of the rest were either intercepted or landed in open areas. But an 80-year-old woman and a Palestinian laborer who was working inside Israel were killed by rocket fire. A Palestinian human rights group said three people, including two children, were killed in Gaza by errant rockets.

It was the latest in a long series of battles between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza since the Islamic militant group Hamas seized control of the seaside territory in 2007. Israel and Hamas have fought four wars, and there were numerous smaller flare-ups as well.
Daniel Neman Daniel Neman is a retail business writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Daniel Neman Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

The young woman working at the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art at St. Louis University seemed sweet and nice, so I asked what her major was.

English, she said, a little hesitantly, until I reached up and enthusiastically high-fived her.

She asked if I had been one too, and I said I had. Then she asked the key question, the one that obviously concerns her, the one that, I imagine, has been keeping her up at night:

Have you actually, you know, been able to make a living with it?

I have, I said. I work at a newspaper. And because she was perhaps 20, I added, A newspaper is a big piece of paper with all the days news printed on it. Your grandparents read it.

Oh, I know. I get the newspaper.

Bless you, my child, I said. We were in a museum of religious art, in a former church, on the campus of a Catholic university. It seemed fitting.

Not only have I made a living at it, more or less, but it is the best possible career I could have, I told her. I get to write every day, talk to interesting people and learn interesting things.

She seemed reassured by my enthusiasm, so I pressed my point.

The humanities are vital. They are what make us human. They are what make us humane. They are the opposite of cold, unfeeling science. They are what give us a heart; they are what give us a soul.

Maybe it was the setting, but I truly believe that. And she seemed cheered by the thought.

But thats just one small step for mankind. Students are abandoning the Humanities for the more lucrative STEM disciplines: science, technology, engineering and math.

The quintessential STEM guy is Geoffrey Hinton, who is 75. He recently resigned from Google, where he was one of the top people working on AI  artificial intelligence. That is when computers are designed to actually learn things instead of being passive storehouses of information.

Hinton resigned so he could warn the world about the thing he helped to create, AI.

Id always kind of ignored the existential threat before, about it wiping out humanity. Now I think theres a significant chance of that, he told Ben Lazarus of The Spectator.

Really? That concept just occurred to you now? Now that AI has been unleashed upon the world?

I guarantee you, absolutely guarantee you, that the thought of computer-driven species-wide extinction has already occurred to every single English major  and all the history and sociology majors, too.

Even if we havent read the science fiction and watched the movies that explicitly warn about just such a thing happening, we all know in our hearts that it is a bad idea to create machines that become smarter than humans.

Such a time is not far away, Hinton warned.

Maybe 20 years, maybe five years. It may be that were going to reach a new stage of evolution when biological intelligence gets replaced by digital intelligence. We may be history, he said.

Creating something that could potentially destroy all human life on Earth just because you can  or, as Hinton now says, if I hadnt done it, somebody else would have  is not the sort of thing that should be done lightly.

Its the kind of decision that deserves serious contemplation using the critical thinking skills that are developed when studying history, philosophy, literature, religion and art. Its the kind of thinking that requires a heart and a soul.

At this moment, in the very early stages of the AI infestation, the technology appears to be used primarily by lazy high school and college students looking to get out of writing papers.

Even if AI goes no further than that, it will result in people forgetting how to think for themselves, just as computers have led to no one understanding the concepts of simple math.

But if artificial intelligence goes the way one of its primary creators, Hinton, thinks it will go, then we will never have to worry about math, or computers or even literature ever again.

There is no way this ends well. Take it from an English major.
In firearm-friendly Texas, two Republicans on a I-louse committee helped advance a bill to raise the minimum age to buy AR-15style weapons. In Tennessee, a Republican governor known for championing looser gun laws has called a special legislative session to consider tighter ones "to strengthen the safety" of the state. In North Carolina, the GOP dominated Legislature dropped a proposal to allow gun owners to carry concealed weapons without a permit.

In several capitols across red America, gun control advocates say they are seeing faint  if, sometimes, fleeting  fissures in what has long been staunch Re publican opposition to any whiff of firearms restriction. The small shifts have come amid a gruesome torrent of mass killings in red states, including shootings at a school in Tennessee, a bank in Kentucky, a home outside Houston and, earlier this month, at a suburban Dallas outlet mall where eight were killed.

The shootings have called into question GOP support for allowing more people access to weapons to stem violence and demonstrate support for constitutional rights.

The hints of change cut against of broader trends in GOP-controlled states, where Republicans have generally expanded gun access in recent years while pointing to mental illness as the cause of a mass shooting epidemic. Lawmakers in Nebraska and Florida passed permitless carry this year, and in a sign that the legislative majority still defends gun rights, Republican leaders in Texas let the age minimum measure die before a full House vote.

But advocates for gun restrictions say they view any consideration of firearms control and even some recent pauses in the march to loosen regulations  as notable signs that the outcry over rising gun violence and death in red states may be cracking Republican resolve on the issue.

Between 2020 and 2022, death rates from firearms in states with GOP-controlled legislatures outpaced rates in blue states, according to a Post analysis of CDC data, including about a 50% higher rate of deaths from firearm assaults and around a 35% higher rate of mass shootings.

"The fact that we're seeing Republican leaders ask for some type of gun safety reform is new. For the last 20, 30 years, we haven't been able to get Republicans to talk about this issue, let alone move on it," said Sean Holihan, state legislative director at the gun-control group Giffords. "In these communities that have been devastated by mass shootings and gun deaths, I think there is a universal cry to do something."

The signs, he cautioned, may be temporary, spurred by mass murders that in some cases have hit shockingly close to home. In March, a former student fatally shot three children and three employees at the private Covenant School, just 17 miles from the Tennessee Capitol; Republican Gov. Bill Lee and his wife counted two victims, a substitute teacher and the head of the Christian school, as close friends. The state is at a "pivotal moment" of potential change, Lee said on April 19.

"I've seen a big shift," said state Rep. Caleb Hemmer, a Democrat from a swing district in the suburbs of Nashville. "The gun issue and the Covenant tragedy have transcended partisan lines, religious lines, and traditional Republican constituencies."

Tennessee is one of the deadliest states for gun violence and has some of the nation's laxest gun measures, according to the Everytown for Gun Safety, which advocates for gun control and analyzes state measures. Before the Covenant shooting, Republican lawmakers were considering bills to lower the age of permitless carry from 21 to 18 and another measure to arm teachers  proposals that were set aside after the tragedy.

Those sorts of efforts to expand gun rights continue to move forward in several states. Twenty-seven states now require no permit  and no training  to carry a handgun, 12 more than in 2020. Mississippi enacted a law allowing teachers to be armed, and Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas are all advancing similar proposals.

Seven GOP-led legislatures have passed laws this year that in some way discourage companies and funds from endorsing gun control. Oklahoma now allows gun owners to carry weapons on boats. Utah lawmakers prohibited the state from enforcing federal firearms restrictions and rejected waiting periods for gun purchases and a safe storage law.

In some cases, small victories celebrated by gun control advocates have been tempered by movement in the other direction.

In early May, the North Carolina House surprised observers by dropping a permitless carry bill that had sailed through committees, the kind of modest win that has given advocates optimism this spring. But one month before, its Republican supermajority overrode a veto by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper of a bill allowing handgun purchases without a permit.

In South Carolina, Republican Gov. Henry McMaster has urged lawmakers to pass stiffer penalties for illegal gun possession in response to rising homicides. But McMaster also supports a permitless carry bill that has passed a Senate committee.

Elsewhere, Republican movement on gun control is near-microscopic but, advocates contend, not meaningless. Everytown activists in South Dakota  whose Republican governor boasted at an NRA convention last month that her 2-year-old granddaughter owns a shotgun and a rifle  celebrated hearings on measures to require the safe storage and red-flag laws, which can result in the seizure of guns from people deemed a risk to themselves or others, as "a historic step in the right direction," though committees rejected both.

In Texas, during the first legislative session since 19 students and two teachers were fatally shot at a Uvalde elementary school last year, gun legislation has also seemed more neutral than in previous years, advocates on both sides said. Wes Virdell, state director of Gun Owners of America, called the session "lackluster," with his group's priority bills mostly stalled. That is partly because the 2021 passage of permitless carry gave gun rights activists a sense that "the battle was won," he said, but also because of the endless cadence of mass shootings.

"Emotions are high, and Republicans don't want to push any of that issue, as far as the pro-gun side of it, right now," Virdell said.

Texas lawmakers are expected to pass and spend millions of dollars on school safety measures, including one that would mandate at least one armed employee on every school campus. They are also considering budgeting $4.2 million for a program that helps people experiencing early symptoms of psychosis  an investment mental health advocates say is welcome but not an answer for gun violence, the majority of which is not attributable to mental illness.

Meanwhile, gun control advocates had more opportunity to testify before a new House committee, formed in the wake of the Uvalde shooting, that focused on gun safety, said Nicole Golden, executive director of Texas Gun Sense, an organization advocating tightened access to weapons.

She said her group has felt less on the defense than in years when Republicans seemed to determined to expand access to weapons.

Then, on Monday, Uvalde parents amassed at the capitol to push for the age minimum bill. Proponents argue it could have stopped the 18-year-old Uvalde shooter from purchasing the weapons he used. During the committee hearing, Republican Reps. Sam Harless and Justin Holland stunned activists when they voted to advance the measure.

Harless, who did not respond to an interview request, told NPR after the vote that "shootings right now are just happening too often." In a Twitter statement, Holland emphasized his A rating from the NRA, which he acknowledged might now be in jeopardy.

"I do not believe in gun control," Holland added. But, he said, "I became convinced that this small change to the law might serve as a significant roadblock to a young person (not old enough to buy tobacco or alcohol) acquiring a specific type of semiautomatic rifle intent upon using it in a destructive and illegal manner."

A third Republican not on the committee, Rep. Frederick Frazier  who had been shopping at the Allen outlet mall an hour before the shooting there  told a local television network that it was "absolutely" time to consider restrictions.

"My phone has been blowing up with constituents asking, 'What are we doing?' And these are folks that voted for me," he said.

Gun control advocates were elated, though their victory was short-lived. The deadline for scheduling a floor vote on the measure expired a day later, killing the bill for the year.

Still, the committee vote was "a milestone achievement," Golden said, and the Republicans' statements remarkable. "That is a shift, a total shift.  maybe those relationships can be built upon."

Republicans in Tennessee have been in a state of disarray since the Covenant shooting, which prompted demonstrators to crowd the halls of the state capitol, demanding gun control measures. A vote by the Republican-dominated House to expel two young Black Democratic lawmakers who led protests in the chamber only seemed to invigorate the outcry.

In the days following the shooting, Lee appeared to soften his stance on gun control, signing an executive order to tighten background checks and citing "recent tragedies."

He then began a push for an "order of protection law" allowing the temporary confiscation of firearms from people a judge determines are a risk to themselves or others. His lieutenant governor, a Republican, also said he supported such a measure, though neither referred to it by a more common label that is toxic on the right: a red-flag law, versions of which have been passed by 19 other states and the District.

In an April 19 video asking the legislature to pass the measure, Lee referred to "pragmatic leaders who collectively stepped outside their party lines to do what they thought was the right thing, changing the course of history for the better."

The suggestion outraged members of Lee's party. "Any red-flag law is a non-starter," the Tennessee House Republicans said on Twitter.

The legislature adjourned unexpectedly early without taking up Lee's request. Lee then said he would call members back for a special session on firearms and public safety on August 21. The governor's spokeswoman, Jade Byers, did not return emails requesting comment.

John Harris III, executive director of the Tennessee Firearms Association, said in an interview that Lee is "emotionally responding to an extreme event" with an idea that has little backing among Republicans.

"The governor can call a cow patty a chocolate cake but if it looks and smells like a cow patty that's what it is," Harris said of Lee's rejection of the "red flag" label.

The stiff GOP opposition has led to muted expectations among Democrats and advocates for August's special session.

But some Tennessee Republicans have broken ranks. In a letter to the Tennessean last month, the state's former GOP chairman, Brent Leatherwood, the father of three children who survived the Covenant shooting, urged elected officials to "oppose evil and protect innocent lives" by passing Lee's proposal.

"It is true we live in a world tainted by terrible acts and deeds, but that is never an excuse for inaction," wrote Leatherwood, now president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.

Vanderbilt University researchers found in a semiannual survey  conducted after the March school shooting  that 82% of Tennessean voters support Lee's executive order on gun background checks, while three quarters support a red-flag law.

The pollsters also detected a sea change, the school said: In all previous surveys since 2012, respondents ranked guns last or nearly last among 10 state government priorities. In April, guns ranked third, behind education and the economy.

In the weeks since the Covenant shooting, a small group of mothers  many of them Republicans  formed Voices for a Safer Tennessee, a bipartisan nonprofit to advocate for gun safety legislation.

Co-founder Jennifer Hellmer, 38, an attorney, gun owner and mother of two, said she was trapped in her car at an intersection about 200 yards away from Covenant as police responded to the shooting, and she watched small children flee.

After the shooting, "people were speaking out about guns differently than I had seen before," said Hellmer, a Republican. "The conversation was changing."

Andrew Ba Tran, Scott Clement and John Harden contributed to this report.
(Broadry)  As we bid farewell to a long and challenging winter, its hard to believe that Memorial Day weekend is just around the corner. This holiday, often seen as the unofficial start of the summer season, gives us the perfect opportunity to trade our snow boots for sunglasses and embark on a celebratory getaway.

Late May travel offers fantastic weather and fewer crowds compared to the peak summer season, making it an ideal time to plan a micro-trip or extend your long weekend for a more leisurely and luxurious experience. With help from RVshare.com, we rounded up some Memorial Day getaway ideas, along with insider tips and tricks to help you travel affordably and comfortably.

Explore Memorial Day Weekend Getaways on the East Coast and Beyond

No matter where you reside, heres a few Memorial Day weekend getaways and destinations to consider.

Austin, Texas

While big cities may not typically be recommended as RV camping destinations, Austin breaks the mold. This vibrant city, renowned for its music and nightlife, offers a plethora of outdoor activities, including paddling on Lady Bird Lake and chasing waterfalls at Pedernales. Surprisingly, Austin is RV-friendly, with several parks to choose from, including the conveniently located Midtown RV Park in the heart of downtown.

Click here to explore RVshare rentals near Austin, Texas.

Key West, Florida

Although it may require a bit of a drive depending on your starting point, Key West is well worth the journey. The scenic route along the narrow stretch of Florida is an experience in itself, showcasing beautiful palm-filled landscapes and refreshing ocean breezes. Key West offers an irresistible blend of nightlife, watersports, and charming small-town allure. Dont forget to capture an Instagram-worthy selfie next to the marker for the southernmost point in the continental U.S. If you have the time and means, consider venturing to the enchanting Dry Tortugas, one of the countrys least-visited national parks, for a truly exclusive experience.

Click here to discover RVshare rentals near Key West, Florida.

Washington, D.C.

While we may be breaking that no big cities rule again, Washington, D.C. is an exception worth making. There are few places as fitting to spend Memorial Day as our nations capital, allowing you to explore the city before the peak summer humidity and tourists arrive. Washington, D.C. should be on every American travelers bucket list, offering an extraordinary concentration of cultural and historical landmarks within a walkable area. The best part? Many of the museums and attractions, including those under the Smithsonian Institute, have free admission. Nestled along the mid-Atlantic shoreline, the city effortlessly transitions from urban excitement to scenic countryside, offering a multitude of outdoor activities just a short drive away.

Click here to browse RVshare rentals near Washington, D.C.

Last-Minute Memorial Day Getaways

If youre seeking Memorial Day trips you can embark on spontaneously, fret not! Regardless of your location in the country, there are incredible destinations waiting to be discovered near you. State parks, beaches, and even your own backyard can transform into relaxing getaways, especially when you have the comfort of a motorhome or travel trailer.

Looking for spontaneous Memorial Day trips that are just a drive away? Whether youre close by or a few hours journey from these captivating destinations, theres something amazing waiting for you to explore. No matter which part of the country you call home, youll discover relaxing getaways right at your fingertips, from scenic state parks and stunning beaches to the tranquility of your own backyard. And what better way to embark on your adventure than in a cozy motorhome or travel trailer?

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: Southern Charm by the Sea

Who said all the hottest beaches are in Florida? Experience the perfect blend of sun and southern charm in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Just two hours outside of Charleston, another trendy destination, Myrtle Beach offers a delightful coastal escape. Take a dip in the sea, enjoy a thrilling spin on the Skywheel, or simply unwind with your toes in the sand. No matter your choice, Myrtle Beach promises a memorable Memorial Day retreat.

Estes Park, Colorado: Adventure and Enchantment Await

Move over, Denver! When it comes to the ideal Memorial Day destination for RVers in Colorado, Estes Park takes the cake. Nestled at the entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park, this charming town serves as the perfect base for outdoor adventures. Late May offers the opportunity to explore unobstructed trails and experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the Rockies. And if youre a fan of the supernatural, Estes Park is home to the legendary Stanley Hotel, which inspired Stephen Kings spine-chilling novel, The Shining. Explore the hedge maze outsidedont worry, freezing to death is not a concern in May!

Tips for Affordable Memorial Weekend Getaways

Memorial Day trips dont have to break the bank. As summer approaches, saving a few extra pennies for upcoming adventures is always a smart move. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to stretch your budget while exploring the open road in an RV. One great option is to rent through the peer-to-peer market at RVshare, where youll find affordable rentals that offer excellent value for your money. By connecting with private RV owners, you can enjoy lower per-night rental prices without compromising on quality. These vehicles have character and charm, having been cherished by their owners, and your support directly benefits the camping community.

Another valuable tip is to consider purchasing a Passport America membership. This exclusive club provides a 50 percent discount on campsite accommodation fees at nearly 1900 participating campgrounds. With an annual membership fee of under $50, your savings will quickly cover the cost.

Weekend RV Rentals: Unleash Your Adventure

Whether its a spontaneous Memorial Day escape or a getaway of your own creation, renting from the peer-to-peer market at RVshare ensures you get the most value for your vacation. Unlike large rental companies burdened with business expenses, private RV owners on our platform can offer lower prices without compromising on service. Plus, these vehicles have been loved and cherished by their owners, ensuring a unique and memorable experience.
ALTON  Police released a photo of a car Monday that investigators said could be connected to a homicide last week in Alton.

Officers want the public's help finding the driver of the Chevrolet Malibu with an Illinois seven-day temporary permit attached to the back. Police don't know the model year but said it could be 2019 or newer.

Tyrone Marty Lo Williams, 20, of Alton, was gunned down last Wednesday night in the 1600 block of Rock Spring Drive.

Anyone with information about the crime or the car is asked to call 618-463-3505 ext. 637, or email stewart@altonpolice.com.
ST. LOUIS  St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardners office on Monday asked a judge to free a man who has spent 33 years in prison for a murder there is no evidence he committed.

Christopher Dunn was convicted in July 1991 of first-degree murder, first-degree assault and armed criminal action in the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers. The case relied almost entirely on the eyewitness testimony of two teen boys who later recanted.

In addition to a lack of physical evidence, the filing said Dunn had an alibi that was never presented at trial: He was home watching TV with his family and speaking with friends on the phone.

Mr. Dunn has been incarcerated for a crime in which there is clear and convincing evidence he did not commit, Gardners office wrote in a statement. We have an ethical duty to work to correct this injustice.

Mondays filing is the second time Gardners office has filed to vacate a wrongful conviction. Lamar Johnson was freed from prison in February after spending 28 years in prison for a murder he did not commit.

Gardner touted Johnsons case as an example of her offices success as she came under intense scrutiny in recent months over organizational issues. Beginning in 2021, a law passed by Missouri lawmakers allowed prosecutors to ask for convictions to be vacated.

Dunns case may be one of her last acts as the citys top prosecutor before shes set to resign June 1.

It is unclear who will take over the case after the transition. Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, is slated to appoint Gardners replacement, and St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bells office confirmed last week that attorneys met with Gardners office to discuss how it could help in the transition, but they did not identify specifics.

The filing was a welcome development for attorneys with the Midwest Innocence Project, a nonprofit that helps the wrongfully convicted, and attorney Justin Bonus, both of whom represent Dunn.

We look forward to presenting the evidence of his innocence to the court, they wrote.

On May 18, 1990, Rogers and two other boys, 14-year-old DeMorris Stepp and 12-year-old Michael Davis, were sitting on the porch of a home at 5607 Labadie Avenue in the citys Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood.

Stepp testified at trial roughly a year later that he saw Dunn standing at the house next door just a few minutes before he heard shots. The boys tried to run away, but Rogers was killed, the boys testified.

Dunn was convicted July 18, 1991, and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the murder, plus 90 years for the assault and armed criminal action.

For more than 30 years, Dunn maintained his innocence.

He said his lawyer was ineffective because they did not present testimony from Dunns mother and sister saying he was home at the time of the crime or from two of his friends, who said they spoke with him on the phone around the time the homicide was committed.

In 2005, Stepp signed an affidavit admitting he lied about seeing Dunn that night, partly because the state offered him a guarantee of probation for pending felony charges.

Davis also later recanted, admitting that at the time of the trial, Stepp and Davis were members of the Bloods gang, while they suspected Dunn was a member of the rival Crips. Police also had Rogers mother call Davis, who through tears pushed the 12-year-old to testify and get rid of this monster, according to Mondays filing.

In 2020, Texas County Circuit Judge William Hickle heard the evidence and found: This court does not believe that any jury would now convict Christopher Dunn under these facts.

But the law does not allow a judge to release an innocent defendant from prison unless they are sentenced to death. Only a prosecutor can petition to do that, according to the Midwest Innocence Project.

Recognizing this injustice and acting on her ethical duty to do justice, the circuit attorney has filed a motion to vacate Chris conviction and asks the court to free him, the statement said.

A hearing will likely be scheduled to discuss the case, though no date had been set as of Monday evening.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Dunn was sentenced to life in prison plus 90 years.
UPDATED 1 p.m. May 15 with information about charges

ST. LOUIS  A 28-year-old man was shot and killed late Tuesday in the city's North Pointe neighborhood.

Officers found Brandon West, of Spanish Lake, lying in the street suffering from gunshot wounds just after 10 p.m. in the 5900 block of Summit Place.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers arrested 25-year-old woman, DaiJah Jackson, 25, in the killing. She was charged Thursday with second-degree murder and armed criminal action.

Charging documents say the shooting happened when the sisters or both Jackson and the victim, West, agreed to meet for a fight. Jackson is accused of shooting West after West stepped in to intervene in the fight.

This is at least the 55th homicide in the city this year.

This weekend saw a spate of killings that kicked off a four-month stretch that typically sees an increase in homicides as the weather warms.

Between 2018 and 2022 in St. Louis, about 42% of homicides have happened between May and August, according to a Post-Dispatch analysis. Last year, 84 of the citys 200 homicides happened during that stretch.
ST. LOUIS  For many years, working for the city has meant living in it, too. But maybe not for much longer.

A bill on the governor's desk, approved by state lawmakers last week, would end the residency requirement for all city employees. They could instead live anywhere within an hour's drive.

The break with tradition could offer a boost to recruitment efforts as City Hall works to fill hundreds of vacancies across its workforce that have hobbled normal delivery of city services, like trash pickup and 911 dispatch. Officials have long complained that the residency requirement effectively cuts them off from recruiting outside the city, which now accounts for about a tenth of the population of the larger metro area.

The change may not be a panacea. State lawmakers approved a three-year moratorium on residency requirements for St. Louis police and firefighters in 2020, and since then, the number of commissioned police officers has actually dropped from roughly 1,200 to less than 1,000.

But other recent victories for city workers could help attract new employees: The city police union recently negotiated pay raises for officers. And the proposed city budget calls for across-the-board pay bumps.

Missouri lawmakers could erase St. Louis residency requirement for city workers A plan is moving in the Missouri Senate to bar St. Louis from requiring city employees to live in the city.

St. Louis officials unveil $1.3 billion budget with raises for city employees The $1.3 billion proposal, intended to cover the 12 months starting in July, includes roughly $90 million in new spending, a 7% increase.
LONDON (AP)  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pressed the British government at the end of a whirlwind European tour Monday to join a fighter jet coalition that would help strengthen his country's aerial capabilities, but instead secured a commitment for attack drones and hundreds more missiles.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greeted Zelenskyy with a handshake and hug after the president's helicopter landed at Chequers, the British leader's official country retreat. It was Zelenskyys second trip to the U.K. since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, but the fifth European country he visited in three days..

He is seeking more military aid as Ukraine prepares a long-anticipated spring offensive to retake Russian-occupied territory. The Ukrainian leader also visited Italy, the Vatican, Germany and France.

Russia reacted to the U.K.'s new pledge extremely negatively, but also doubts the missiles and drones would drastically change the course of the war, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

Britain aspires to be at the forefront among countries that continue to pump weapons into Ukraine, Peskov said. We repeat once again: It cannot yield any drastic and fundamental influence on the way the special military operation (in Ukraine) is unfolding. But, definitely, it leads to further destruction. ... It makes this whole story for Ukraine much more complicated."

Zelenskyy said one of the missions of his European travels that started Saturday was to build a fighter jet coalition to provide Ukraine with vital military power in the air. He said more work was needed on that front.

While the U.K. will not provide the planes, the prime minister said the country would join the coalition and begin a previously announced training program for Ukrainian fighter pilots as soon as this summer.

The U.K., one of Ukraine's major military allies, has provided short-range missiles, Challenger tanks and training 15,000 Ukrainian troops on British soil. Last week, the government announced it had sent Ukraine Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which have a range of more than 250 kilometers (150 miles). The British missiles were the first known shipment of longer-range weaponry that Kyiv has long sought from its allies.

Sunak's office said it was giving Ukraine hundreds more air defense missiles, as well as long-range attack drones" with a reach of more than 200 kilometers (120 miles).

This is a crucial moment in Ukraines resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke," Sunak said. "They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year.

We must not let them down, the prime minister added.

Sunak plans to push allies at a meeting of Group of Seven leaders in Japan later this week to deliver more support to Ukraine, Downing Street said.

As Zelenskyy visited European capitals, Russia stepped up attacks across Ukraine with drones and missiles. Russia shelled two communities Sunday in the northern border province of Sumy, regional officials said on Telegram. They said 109 explosions were recorded.

Zelenskyy's office said Monday that Russian attacks had killed nine civilians and injured 19 in the past day. Six of the deaths were in southern Ukraine's Kherson province. Two civilians were killed in Chuhuiv in Kharkiv province, and one in Prymorsk, on the Azov Sea coast about 12 miles (20 kilometers) from Russian-occupied Berdyansk.

The presidential office also reported that Marhanets, which lies across the river from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, was shelled.

Russian state news agency RIA-Novosti reported that an acting regional interior minister appointed by Moscow, Igor Kornet, was injured in an explosion at a barbershop in the Russian-occupied city of Luhansk. The leader of the so-called Luhansk Peoples Republic, a separatist-held region of Ukraine that Moscow illegally annexed, was quoted as saying a bomb caused the explosion.

Assassination attempts and sabotage attacks have increased in Russian-occupied territory as well as Russia proper. Russian authorities often blame Ukrainian forces, but Kyiv rarely acknowledges such attacks.

Zelenskyy traveled to Britain from Paris, where he met Sunday with French President Emmanuel Macron and secured a pledge of light tanks, armored vehicles and air defense systems.

About 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers would receive training in France this year and nearly 4,000 others in Poland, Macrons office said.

Speaking Monday on French television network TF1, Macron said training on French fighter jets such as the Mirage 2000 can start now but rejected the idea of France delivering warplanes to Ukraine.

Zelenskyy also met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday. It was his first visit to Berlin since the start of the invasion and came a day after the German government announced military aid for Ukraine worth more than 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion).

Modern Western hardware is considered crucial if Ukraine is to succeed in its planned counteroffensive. During his European trip, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would aim to liberate Russian-occupied areas within Ukraine's internationally recognized borders and would not attack Russian territory.

Among areas Russia still occupies are the Crimean Peninsula and parts of eastern Ukraine with mainly Russian-speaking populations.
Elnur Enveroglu

Turkiye started presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14. These elections, organized at the highest level in the 100-year history of the Republic, also became a great example for the world in terms of holding democratic elections.

It should be noted that the Republic of Turkiye has faced great struggles in the last couple of decades. The country, which is always in the center of attention of the world community, has always been under focuses of interests of other forces due to its strategic aspects.

In addition, the Turkish people's free expression of their national will in the elections frustrated the intentions of some anti-Turkish circles at the international level.

It should be recalled that Turkiye has faced many coups, chaos and many pressures against democracy since the 1960s. In addition, Turkiye saved the country from being divided and turned into a place of terrorism by actively fighting the PKK terrorist organization for about 40 years. FETO's coup attempt in 2016 was one of the most heinous attempts to break up the country. However, the fact that Turkiye is in good hands and especially the strong resistance of Erdogan's government against the enemies was able to overcome all these obstacles. It is for this reason that Erdogan's 21-year rule was able to win the trust of the majority of the people. The ongoing elections are also an indicator of the Turkish society's trust in the current political elite in power in Turkiye.

Thus, the Turkish people once again showed their trust in their political leader, and according to the vast majority of experts, Erdogan's brilliant victory is inevitable, even if the elections go to the second round.

It should be noted that Recep Tayyip Erdogan collected 49.4% votes among the 4 candidates in the first stage, with a 4.4% advantage over his political rival Kemal K?l?cdaro?lu, thanks to 99.4% local and 84% foreign votes. One of the most interesting moments was the Kahraman Marash region, which was affected by the heaviest earthquake in Turkiye, where the votes for the AKP leader passed 70/100.

Despite how transparent and democratic the elections were held in the first phase, some anti-democratic attempts of the rival parties were also memorable. For example, the fact that the supporters of the main opposition congratulated CHP (RPP) leader Kemal K?l?cdaro?lu when the results of the elections were still unclear showed once again that anti-democratic forces are always active in trying to interfere in the elections. However, the strong control of the state and maximum protection of democratic principles could play an important role in the successful completion of the elections.

At the same time, the elections held in Turkiye were also followed with great interest by Azerbaijan. Of course, this interest was a manifestation of love for the Turkish government, which supported the right voice of Azerbaijan in the Second Karabakh War, and Azerbaijan-Turkiye brotherhood. Undoubtedly, the history of the Turkish-Azerbaijani brotherhood does not reckon on the last two decades. However, the work of Erdogan's government is invaluable in strengthening this brotherhood.

For this reason, the fact that the President of Azerbaijan was the first among the world's political leaders to congratulate his Turkish counterpart and the Peoples' Alliance (Cumhur Ittifaki) on the occasion of the first results of the elections revealed the manifestation of the unshakable and sincere brotherly relations of the two peoples of the same nation.

Today, many political scientists and experts, as well as the leading think tanks of the West, confirm in advance that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will win the next round unequivocally. Because in the last 10 years, it is inevitable that there is no alternative political leader who can lead Turkiye to the top both in the political arena and in the field of technological development. The people of Turkiye trust their leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and they will trust him with the destiny of Turkiye even in the next round.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. Deputy Chair of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan, Chairman of the Committee for Public Associations and Religious Institutions of the Milli Majlis Fazail Ibrahimli met with a delegation headed by Deputy Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Davorko Vidovic, the Press and Public Relations Department of the Milli Majlis told Trend.

The deputy chair, welcoming the delegation, expressed confidence that the official visit of Vidovic to Azerbaijan will contribute to the development of cooperation between the two countries, and highly appreciated his participation in a special meeting dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev.

Ibrahimli spoke about the history of Azerbaijan's independence, noting that today the country is the strongest state in the region in terms of development.

He said that the country has liberated its ancestral lands, held by Armenia under occupation for almost 30 years, and restored its territorial integrity, adding that construction work is currently underway at a rapid pace in the territories liberated from occupation.

The deputy chair also noted that the country builds its foreign policy on the basis of mutual respect with all states of the world and the norms of international law.

Speaking about the fact that Croatia is one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Azerbaijan, Ibrahimli spoke about the diplomatic relations established between both countries, noting that inter-parliamentary ties are also quite developed.

In turn, the Deputy Speaker of the Croatian Parliament drew attention to the similar history of independence between the two countries.

Speaking about the relations between Azerbaijan and Croatia, he expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by Azerbaijan to Croatia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Saying that Croatia has extensive experience in the field of mine clearance, the head of the delegation noted that his country wants to actively participate in this area in the territory of Azerbaijan liberated from occupation.

Speaking at the meeting, the Head of the working group on Azerbaijani-Croatian Interparliamentary relations Konul Nurullayeva, members of the group - Chair of the Counting Commission Eldar Guliyev, Chairman of the Committee on Economic Policy, Industry and Entrepreneurship Tahir Mirkishili told about the restoration work being carried out today on the Azerbaijani lands liberated from occupation.

During the conversation, the sides exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.

The meeting was attended by members of the Milli Majlis working group on Azerbaijani-Croatian interparliamentary relations Gudrat Hasanguliyev, Rauf Aliyev, Iltizam Yusifov, Chairperson of Interparliamentary Co-operation Committee, member of Interparliamentary Friendship Group Croatia - Azerbaijan Erik Fabijanic, members of the friendship group Ivan Celic, Ljubica Maksimcuk, Croatian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Branko Zebic and other officials.
Civility. Trust. Unity. Some would say we are missing these values today. With continued polarization at all levels of politics, it is easy to be around only the people who agree with us, to watch and listen only to voices that support our goals and beliefs. It is so tantalizingly simple to create a bubble around our lives that keeps us from seeing our very own neighbor.

A recent poll by the American Bar Association shows that most Americans (85%) believe society is less civil than it was 10 years ago. Multiple factors were cited contributing to this decline, including social media, news media, public officials and education.

As a local public official, I am saddened to see these results and know there is a perception of public officials contributing to this decline. I know many local officials who go above and beyond, day after day, to meet the needs of their community. They are passionate, hard-working and at times have had to take undue criticism as a public figure. I hope that as a region, we can recognize the many good servants that work to make our local communities brighter.

Civility is so critically important to a healthy community, and all people within the community need to know that they can add their voice, even when others disagree.

So, how can we find common ground, and do so in a civil manner? I submit it begins with a common goal, and a willingness to step beyond our current knowledge base and learn from a new perspective.

As mayor of Moline Acres, I have the privilege of seeing many aspects of our city and am forced, thankfully, to step outside of my comfort zone. Serving in local government means quickly realizing the myriad issues that leaders face. While local officials cannot be the experts on all topics, we choose, as servants in our community, to step in and learn. In this environment it is essential that we work to be fair and considerate of all viewpoints.

It is crucial to gather those viewpoints to see the bigger picture of what local citizens truly believe and want, and the rewards are great.

An upcoming example of how Moline Acres will use community input to shape the future is with the Lewis and Clark Tower. This building was once a striking landmark for the area but is now a condemned structure. The city is working with the Missouri Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup program to perform site testing and determine what cleanup will be needed to make this space in our city useful again. Part of the process will include community forums where all viewpoints will be considered as to how the space would best be used to provide value to both citizens and visitors.

Another example is that local officials in Moline Acres meet regularly with residents about their concerns regarding lawlessness in the community.

Whether from excessive speeding, ignoring traffic signals, or not following ordinances regarding property upkeep, we try to listen and engage in a meaningful manner. That is the only way the community can advance and grow. The more unified we can be, the better the chances of cooperation from everyone involved as we determine solutions.

I want to encourage all readers to step outside of their regular circles and look around at a new aspect of your community.

What projects are happening that you overlooked, perhaps thinking they did not affect you personally? Where is the good? What viewpoint have you not considered?

Most importantly, how can you lend a hand or show support?

I urge all residents and leaders in the region to take a moment to realize the good we have in our St. Louis communities, and look for the people helping. Then make it a point to step in and serve in a way you never would have considered before.

Civility, trust and unity are achievable when we work together.

Michele DeShay is mayor of Moline Acres and president of the Missouri Municipal League.
The Food and Drug Administration is considering allowing birth-control pills to be sold without a prescription. Some conservatives are raising predictable objections, but others appear to grasp the obvious: If the anti-abortion-rights movement truly is motivated solely by a desire to prevent abortions, without a broader agenda of imposing religious dogma or subjugating women, its adherents should be the loudest voices for making reliable birth control as easily accessible as possible.

The start of the sexual revolution is often pegged to a single date  May 9, 1960  which is when the FDA approved sale of the prescription oral contraceptive Enovid, over fervent objections of religious leaders and political conservatives. The Pill, as society quickly dubbed it, was initially illegal in many states, and even where it could be sold, prescriptions were generally available only to married women. The specter of separating sex from procreation was viewed by many as a harbinger of moral decay. In reality, it would usher in vast new opportunities for women to pursue personal and professional lives free of the ever-present threat of unplanned pregnancy.

After 63 years, the FDA is finally giving its first-ever consideration of approval for an over-the-counter birth-control pill (the French-made Opill). Its late in coming by global standards. More than 100 countries already allow over-the-counter oral contraceptives. Americas continued prescription requirement is less the result of medical necessity than political trepidation. When a Supreme Court justice officially muses, as Clarence Thomas did in his concurring opinion in last years reversal of Roe v. Wade, that perhaps contraception, too, should lose its constitutional protection, its clear that at least some of the culture remains mired in the misogynist past.

But unlike the continuing debate over abortion rights, there are encouraging signs that the re-emergence of birth-control pills in the national conversation wont spawn the same entrenchment from the right that it did generations ago. While a statement from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops strenuously opposing easier access to the pill was predictable enough, others who are fully engaged in the fight to end abortion rights appear to be sitting this one out. The National Right to Life organization told The Washington Post it does not take a stance on anything that prevents fertilization. Even as red states like Iowa and Indiana are passing draconian new abortion restrictions, they are simultaneously expanding birth-control availability.

We would argue that abortion rights and easily accessible birth control share a common imperative: allowing women to make their own reproductive choices, free of governmental coercion in this most private of topics. But those who seek to end abortion rights should at least recognize their own special obligation to expand rather than close off other avenues of choice. To the extent thats happening, its a bright spot in this otherwise darkening era for women.
The Missouri legislative session that ended Friday started out as a disaster in the making, with a raft of outrageous bills that never deserved serious consideration. The final results of the session, however, were nowhere near as bad as they could have been if the radicals agenda had prevailed. Thats not to suggest that some really bad legislation didnt come out of the session, only that it could have been much worse.

On the positive side, lawmakers failed to reach agreement on separate bills to meddle directly in the criminal justice system in St. Louis. One bill sought a partial state takeover of St. Louis criminal prosecution amid the implosion of Circuit Attorney Kim Gardners management. Luckily, she announced her resignation before the session ended, removing the main impetus driving that bill.

The Legislature also couldnt agree on a bill for the state to take over the St. Louis police department as a way of cracking down on local crime. Critics were quick to note that if state control was so great, why hasnt the state-managed Kansas City police department shown greater success than St. Louis in combating major crime?

On the negative side, lawmakers imposed severe restrictions on doctors and parents seeking medical treatment for minors experiencing gender dysphoria. The sad result is that many families will be forced to move out of state to get the care their transgender children need.

Among other positives: Lawmakers decided against a proposed statewide ballot item to make it harder to amend the state constitution. The measure came in anticipation of efforts to put forth a constitutional guarantee of abortion rights, which seems almost certain to pass if the majority of Missourians are allowed a say.

In past sessions, any bill that threatened to curtail the ability of gun owners to pull triggers and make bullets fly would have been dead on arrival. But in a miraculous demonstration of common sense, lawmakers approved a measure that actually restricts gun rights when it comes to people engaging in celebratory gunfire. The problem with bullets fired skyward is that they always come back down and, occasionally, kill or maim people in the process. One such victim was 11-year-old Blair Lane, of Kansas City, who died from a celebratory gunfire bullet on July 4, 2011, in Kansas City.

Lawmakers also correctly recognized they were making a big deal out of nothing when they tried but failed to pass a bill further limiting the amount of Missouri land that foreigners may own. The bill was supposed to address supposed security risks from Chinese-owned companies. Such risk assessments are better left to the federal government, which is far more attuned to what the Chinese government is up to and, apparently, doesnt see the threat of a Communist takeover just because a Chinese corporation owns a bunch of smelly pig farms.
MIDDLE EAST | REALIGNMENT

The Arab League's decision to re-ad-mit 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 Syria's 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 country's 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 country's pre-war population of 23 million. Multiple mediation attempts have failed.

The league recently approved Syria's readmission, which means Assad can attend the league's 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 Syria's membership in 2011 after Assad's 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 Syria back in now?

After years of deadlock in the war, Assad's 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 that's 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 it's better to reach out.

"We're not looking for magical solutions, but what we do know is that the current situation is unsustainable. It's going nowhere," Saudi political scientist Hesham Alghannam said. "We don't know when the conflict will end, and boycotting the regime didn't lead to a solution."

In recent years, several Arab countries moved toward reestablishing diplomatic ties, most notably the United Arab Emirates in 2018. Jordan and Syria reopened their borders in 2021. Saudi Arabia and Syria announced in April 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 Washington's objections, said Randa Slim, director of the Conflict Resolution and Track II Dialogues Program at the Washington-based Middle East Institute.

What will happen on the ground?

On the symbolic level, Syria's 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 suggested that Syria's further reintegration will depend on moving toward a political solution to the conflict, combating drug trafficking and facilitating the return of refugees.

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 don't think this move is going to open the floodgates of support for Syria."
MIDLAND, MI / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Dow (NYSE: DOW) has been named a Supplier Engagement Leader for addressing climate change for the second consecutive year by CDP, a global non-profit that runs the world's environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states, and regions.

In 2022, Dow achieved an A score for climate change action in the supply chain and earned its place once again amongst the top-rated companies featured on CDP's Supplier Engagement Leaderboard. This score stands alongside Dow's A- rating from CDP for climate, forests, and water.

Reflecting on this great achievement, Dow's chief purchasing officer, Cathy Budd commented: "Only by effectively engaging our suppliers in emission reduction initiatives can Dow achieve scalable decarbonization at the pace required to meet our 2050 carbon neutrality targets. Scope 3 emissions represent approximately 70% of Dow's carbon footprint, with more than half of those originating from purchased raw materials, transportation, and other services. We need our suppliers to reduce their climate emissions to enable reductions throughout the value chain."

CDP evaluates supplier engagement best practices in GHG emissions reduction and climate change issues using an independent Supplier Engagement Rating (SER). The rating considers company responses to questions across four key areas: governance, targets, scope 3 emissions accounting and supplier engagement. In addition, an organization's overall CDP climate change performance is also factored into the rating.

Every year, those who obtain the highest SER score join CDP's Supplier Engagement Leaderboard. Inclusion on this list demonstrates that a company is working closely with its suppliers to ensure that climate change action is cascading down their supply chain.

"Being amongst the highest-scoring companies on CDP's SER system demonstrates that Dow is proactively collaborating with our supply chain partners to incentivize transparent and accurate disclosure of upstream emissions and drive accelerated climate action." said Leticia Jensen, Dow's global purchasing director for Sustainability, Supplier Diversity and ESG. "I am proud to see our global cross-functional teams being recognized for their relentless commitment to building sustainable and resilient supply chains."

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines global breadth; asset integration and scale; focused innovation and materials science expertise; leading business positions; and environmental, social and governance leadership to achieve profitable growth and help deliver a sustainable future. The Company's ambition is to become the most innovative, customer centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world. Dow's portfolio of plastics, industrial intermediates, coatings and silicones businesses delivers a broad range of differentiated, science-based products and solutions for its customers in high-growth market segments, such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications. Dow operates manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 37,800 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $57 billion in 2022. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit www.dow.com or follow @DowNewsroom on Twitter.

For further information, please contact:

Petya Todorova

+447442787816

[email protected]

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from DOW on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: DOW

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/dow

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: DOW

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Franklin Templeton

Baltimore Volunteers at Junior Achievement's Finance Park

On March 30, Baltimore volunteered at Junior Achievement's Finance Park where students had the opportunity to explore their personal financial futures first-hand. Each volunteer was assigned a budget category-such as insurance, childcare or housing-or "station," where the students learned about the budget item and asked questions to help them learn how much of their salary they may need to allocate to that expense.

St. Petersburg Assembles Meal Bags and Sorts Clothes

On April 3, St. Petersburg employees volunteered at the Kind Mouse, a nonprofit that assists families and children in Pinellas County with food insecurities and chronic hunger. Volunteers helped date donated food and assembled more than 1,000 meal bags to be distributed to children within Pinellas County schools.

On April 13, St. Petersburg volunteers helped sort and tag incoming donations at Clothes to Kids, a nonprofit that provides free new and quality-used clothing to low-income or in-crisis school-age children.

Mumbai Donates Blood

Franklin Templeton Mumbai employees hosted a blood drive for a local blood bank. The city of Mumbai needs 650 units of blood every day. Donor help ensure blood units are available to meet these needs.

Rancho Cordova Joins Sacramento SPCA's Doggy Dash

On April 22, animal-loving volunteers in Rancho Cordova participated in the Sacramento SPCA's biggest fundraiser and the largest pet walk in Northern California of the year, the Doggy Dash. Volunteers helped at the registration desk and performed a variety of duties. The Franklin Templeton Fur Family team raised US$1,132 for the organization.

About Franklin Templeton

Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN] is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 155 countries. Franklin Templeton's mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the company offers boutique specialization on a global scale, bringing extensive capabilities in equity, fixed income, multi-asset solutions and alternatives. With offices in more than 30 countries and approximately 1,300 investment professionals, the California-based company has 75 years of investment experience and approximately $1.4 trillion in assets under management as of March 31, 2023. For more information, please visit franklintempleton.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Franklin Templeton volunteers at the Doggy Dash.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Franklin Templeton on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Franklin Templeton

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/franklin-templeton

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Franklin Templeton

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Lahontan Gold Corp (TSXV:LG)(OTCQB: LGCXF) (the "Company" or "Lahontan") is pleased to announce that it has signed a binding term sheet (the "Term Sheet") with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Emergent Metals Corp (collectively "Emergent") to acquire the advanced West Santa Fe gold-silver exploration project ("West Santa Fe"; also known as Mindora), located only 15 km West of Lahontan's Flagship asset, the Santa Fe Mine, in Nevada's prolific Walker Lane. West Santa Fe hosts an oxidized gold-silver mineralized system in a geologic setting nearly identical to Santa Fe. Previous exploration drilling at West Santa Fe totals over 13,000 metres in 171 drill holes; only five holes are deeper than 165 metres. Modeling of drill hole data by Lahontan geologists outlines a shallow gold and silver system with a sufficient volume to host 0.5 to 1.0M ounces of oxidized gold and silver mineralization in an open-pit mining configuration[1].

The Term Sheet requires Lahontan to make payments totalling US$1.8M over a seven-year period to Emergent, back-end loaded (please see details of the Term Sheet below) to exercise an option to acquire a 100% interest in the 11.8 square kilometre property. The option payments (excepting the $10,000 signing payment) can be made in a combination of cash and shares at Lahontan's discretion. In addition, the Company will commit to exploration expenditures totalling US$1.4M over the same seven-year period, these expenditures that should be sufficient to define an initial mineral resource estimate for West Santa Fe. The initial option payments and work commitments can be easily accommodated by Lahontan's current cash position and budget.

Kimberly Ann, Lahontan Founder, CEO, President, and Director commented: "The acquisition of West Santa Fe will be a significant milestone for Lahontan: A "bolt-on" asset which is accretive to the Santa Fe Mine that has the potential to add significant oxide gold and silver resource ounces for the Company. Back-end loaded, the Term Sheet allows Lahontan to conduct a definitive exploration program on the property with low monetary commitment by Lahontan, yet provides exposure to considerable resource upside. Combined with the continued organic growth of gold and silver resources at the Santa Fe Mine through drilling, West Santa Fe can help Lahontan accelerate the value-creation process for its shareholders by controlling multiple Top-Shelf precious metal exploration and mine development projects in a Tier One mining jurisdiction."

Geology and Mineral Potential of West Santa Fe

Gold and silver mineralization at West Santa Fe occurs as a sediment-hosted epithermal Au-Ag system hosted by Triassic age carbonate and volcanic rocks, a setting very similar to the Santa Fe Mine. Shallow gold and silver mineralization are localized to East-Northeast trending faults and offset by Northwest striking faults, a classic Walker Lane setting. In addition to over 13,000 metres of drilling, previous exploration activity at West Santa Fe includes: Geophysical studies including IP and aerial magnetic surveys, geochemical surveys including over 1,250 soil samples, and detailed geologic mapping.

[1] The exploration target at West Santa Fe is conceptual in nature and is based on the size of the known mineralized zones, and gold and silver grades from historical drilling. The qualified person has not completed sufficient work to verify the historical information on West Santa Fe and this information should not be relied on.

Modeling of the historical drill hole data by Lahontan geologists defines a continuous zone of gold and silver mineralization which extends from the surface down-rake to the East-Northeast. Utilizing a 0.31 g/t gold mineralized shell defined by historical drill hole data, outlines a large continuously mineralized area at West Santa Fe that has the potential to host a significant gold and silver resource1 (please see diagram below). Additional exploration drilling will be needed to define mineral resources and to validate the historical drill hole data base.

Simple representation of drill holes and gold-silver mineral potential at West Santa Fe. Cross section looks West-Southwest with South-Southwest to the left and North-Northeast to the right. Grade shell is 0.31 g/t Au and is continuous in the mineralized zones. Within the core of the minerlaized area, grades exceed 1.5 g/t gold . Minerlization extends down-dip to the Northeast for several hundred metres where it remains open at depth and relatively shallow due to topography (please note scale).

Location of the West Santa Fe Project, Mineral County, Nevada. Lahontan's land holdings in the Walker Lane now total 49 square kilometres.

Details of the Binding Term Sheet

The Term Sheet defines the terms and conditions under which Lahontan and Emergent will enter into a definitive agreement (the "Agreement"), pursuant to which the Company will be granted an option (the "Option") to acquire a 100% interest in West Santa Fe from a 100% owned subsidiary of Emergent. To exercise the Option in full, the Company must make cash payments in the aggregate amount of US$1.8 million and incur US$1.4 million in expenditures on West Santa Fe over a seven-year period, as follows:

The Company shall make the following cash payments:

Timing Amount ($US) Upon Signing of the Term Sheet $10,000 First Anniversary of signing of the Agreement* $20,000 Second Anniversary of signing of the Agreement * $25,000 Third Anniversary of signing of the Agreement* $25,000 Fourth Anniversary of signing of the Agreement* $30,000 Fifth Anniversary of signing of the Agreement* $30,000 Sixth Anniversary of signing of the Agreement* $40,000 Seventh Anniversary of signing of the Agreement* $1,620,000 Total $1,800,000

*50% of these payments may be made in common shares of Lahontan Gold Corp. at Lahontan's discretion. Lahontan may accelerate these payments by paying the remaining balance of the purchase price at any time during the option period.

The Company shall incur the following expenditures on West Santa Fe:

Timing Amount ($US) December 31, 2024 $150,000 December 31, 2025 $150,000 December 31, 2026 $200,000 December 31, 2027 $200,000 December 31, 2028 $200,000 December 31, 2029 $250,000 Seventh Anniversary of signing of the Agreement $250,000 Total $1,400,000

Note:

Work Commitments include, but are not limited to, geological, geochemical, and geophysical studies, exploration drilling and support activities, reasonable management costs associated with the proceeding items, any payments associated with maintaining the underlying agreements in good standing including BLM and County fees. Any excess expenditures, in any year, under the Work Commitments scheduled above can be credited against subsequent Work Commitment expenditures in a future year.

Upon exercise of the Option, Emergent shall transfer 100% of its interest in the mineral claims to Lahontan within 30 days. As part of the transfer, Lahontan will grant a 1% NSR royalty in favor of Emergent over the claims it acquired from Nevada Sunrise LLC (unpatented lode mining claims Mind 1 through Mind 12). In addition, Lahontan will grant a 1.5% NSR in favor of Emigrant for any additional claims not currently having a NSR royalty. Lahontan will have the right to purchase 50% of this 1.5% NSR royalty for US$200,000 prior to the fifth anniversary of signing of the Agreement or for US$500,000 after the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Agreement. The maximum NSR royalty on any portion of the West Santa Fe Project will be 1.5%.

The completion of the transaction contemplated by the Term Sheet remains subject to a forty-five (45) day due diligence period, approval of the board of directors of the Company, the board of directors of Emergent, the approval of all regulatory authorities and other approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Qualified Persons Review

The technical and scientific information contained within this news release have been reviewed and approved by Quentin J. Browne, MSc., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 policy. The Qualified Person has not completed sufficient work to verify the historical information on West Santa Fe, the Company believes the historical resource estimates to be both relevant and reliable. The information provides an indication of the exploration potential of West Santa Fe but may not be representative of expected results.

About Lahontan Gold Corp.

Lahontan Gold Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company that holds, through its US subsidiaries, three top-tier gold and silver exploration properties in the Walker Lane of mining friendly Nevada. Lahontan's flagship property, the 19 km2 Santa Fe Mine, had past production of 345,000 ounces of gold and 711,000 ounces of silver between 1988 and 1995 from open pit mines utilizing heap-leach processing (Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, 1995). The Santa Fe Mine has an Indicated Mineral Resource of 1,112,000 oz Au Eq (grading 1.14 g/t Au Eq) and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 544,000 oz Au Eq (grading 1.00 g/t Au Eq), all pit constrained (Au Eq is inclusive of recovery, please see Santa Fe Project Technical Report*). The Company will continue to aggressively explore Santa Fe during 2023 and begin the process of evaluating development scenarios to bring the Santa Fe Mine back into production. Quentin J. Browne, P.Geo., Consulting Geologist to Lahontan Gold Corp., is the Qualified Person for the Company and approved the technical content of this news release. For more information, please visit our website: www.lahontangoldcorp.com

* Please see the Santa Fe Project Technical Report, Authors: Trevor Rabb and Darcy Baker, P. Geos. Effective Date: December 7, 2022, Report Date: March 2, 2023. The Technical Report is available on the Company's website and SEDAR.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Kimberly Ann

Founder, CEO, President, and Director

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Lahontan Gold Corp.

Kimberly Ann

Founder, Chief Executive Officer, President, Director

Phone: 1-530-414-4400

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.lahontangoldcorp.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the TSXV. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com

SOURCE: Lahontan Gold Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Created in 1998, the Suncor Energy Foundation (SEF) is a private, charitable foundation established by Suncor in 1998. Over 25 years, it has donated more than $260 million to support a wide variety of organizations.

The foundation is fully funded by Suncor and embodies the company's purpose of caring for each other and the Earth by connecting business and community strengths to make a positive difference in society. Through partnerships and relationships with those who are courageously seeking solutions, SEF helps spark change and propel progress for generations ahead.

SEF believes in partnering and building relationships for the long term to bring a brighter world to life. These relationships need to be across multiple sectors as no one type of organization can solve the interconnected, complex challenges we're facing in the world today.

Read the full story here.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Suncor Energy on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Suncor Energy

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/suncor-energy

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Suncor Energy

View source version on accesswire.com:
Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY) price target was raised to $507 from $478 by Morgan Stanley analyst Terence Flynn, who reiterated an Overweight rating on the stock in a note Monday.

Flynn raised the price target following LLY's recent Ph3 Alzheimer's data, with the analyst stating they see room in the market for Dmab and BIIB/Eisai's Leqembi but "still expect Leqembi to garner more share than Dmab."

"LLY recently reported positive top-line data from the Ph3 TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 trial of Donanemab (Dmab; antibody to a-beta) in early symptomatic Alzheimer's," explained Flynn.

"In our view, these data provide additional validation of the a-beta hypothesis for Alzheimer's disease and should bolster physician confidence ahead of the potential launches of both BIIB/Eisai's Leqembi and LLY's Donanemab."

He added that investors are trying to compare across trials to determine how relative profiles might drive respective market share.

However, they see room in the multi-billion dollar market for both drugs but expect Leqembi to garner more share due to factors including efficacy, safety, and dosing.

By Sam Boughedda
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell during his visit to Brussels on May 15, 2023, the ministry told Trend.

The sides discussed the current state and prospects of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU, including cooperation in the field of energy and transport corridors, the process of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the current situation in the region.

The importance of the meeting of the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Brussels, which took place after almost a nine-month break, in terms of advancing the peace agenda was highlighted.

Bayramov pointed out Azerbaijan's commitment to normalizing relations between the two countries based on the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty.

He mentioned that the prevention of attempts to interfere with the process, including the latest provocations of Armenia, is important. At the same time, the importance of eliminating the mine threat from the country was emphasized.

In addition, both sides also noted the importance of the early completion of negotiations on a new agreement, which will become the legal basis of relations between Azerbaijan and the EU.

The parties also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BNY Mellon Alcentra Global Multi-Strategy Credit Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") today announced the final results of its quarterly tender offer (the "Tender Offer") for up to 2.5% of the Fund's issued and outstanding shares of common stock (the "Shares").

The Tender Offer, which expired at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on May 12, 2023, was oversubscribed.

Therefore, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Tender Offer, the Fund will purchase Shares from all tendering shareholders on a pro rata basis, after disregarding fractions, based on the number of Shares properly tendered ("Pro-Ration Factor"). The final results of the Tender Offer are provided in the table below.

Number of Shares

Tendered Number of Tendered

Shares to Be

Purchased Pro-Ration Factor Purchase Price* 302,728 51,490 0.17077 $84.52 *Purchase Price is equal to 100% of the Fund's net asset value per Share as of March 31, 2023.

If you have questions about the Tender Offer and hold Shares through a broker or other nominee holder, you can call your broker or other nominee holder directly. You may also call Georgeson LLC ("Georgeson"), the Fund's Tender Offer information agent, toll free at (877) 278-9670, with any questions.

The terms and conditions of the Tender Offer were set forth in the Fund's Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and other related documents. The Fund filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a tender offer statement on Schedule TO and related exhibits, including an Offer to Purchase, a related Letter of Transmittal and other related documents (the "Offer Documents"). Shareholders may obtain copies of the Offer Documents, without charge, by contacting Georgeson toll free at (877) 278-9670. Shareholders can also obtain the Offer Documents free of charge on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

BNY Mellon Alcentra Global Multi-Strategy Credit Fund, Inc. is a diversified, closed-end management investment company. BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc., the investment adviser for the Fund, is part of BNY Mellon Investment Management. BNY Mellon Investment Management is one of the world's largest asset managers, with $1.9 trillion in assets under management as of March 31, 2023. Through an investor-first approach, BNY Mellon Investment Management brings to clients the best of both worlds: specialist expertise from seven investment firms offering solutions across every major asset class, backed by the strength, stability, and global presence of BNY Mellon. Additional information on BNY Mellon Investment Management is available on www.bnymellonim.com.

BNY Mellon Investment Management is a division of BNY Mellon, which has $46.6 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration as of March 31, 2023. BNY Mellon can act as a single point of contact for clients looking to create, trade, hold, manage, service, distribute or restructure investments. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). Additional information is available on www.bnymellon.com. Follow us on Twitter @BNYMellon or visit our newsroom at www.bnymellon.com/newsroom for the latest company news.

BNY Mellon Investment Management's website is intended to allow investors public access to information regarding the Fund and does not, and is not intended to, incorporate the website in this release.

The Fund's investment returns and principal values will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005714/en/

For Press Inquiries:

BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc.

Courtney Woolston

(212) 635-6027

For Other Inquiries:

BNY Mellon Securities Corporation

The National Marketing Desk

240 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10286

1-800-334-6899

Source: BNY Mellon Alcentra Global Multi-Strategy Credit Fund, Inc.
Unwind with Applebees latest Mucho Cocktails, Passion on the Beach and Mucho Mai Tai

GLENDALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Paradise is calling at Applebees with the debut of the neighborhood destinations NEW $6 Sips on the Beach! Guests can relax and enjoy their own island escape for only $6 with a tasty tropical-inspired glass of Mucho cocktails.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005110/en/

Paradise is Calling with Applebees NEW $6 Sips on the Beach (Photo: Business Wire)

Get a little sandy and find your Passion on the Beach with Titos Handmade Vodka, peach schnapps, orange juice and Ocean Spray Cranberry. Or, toast with a tiki favorite, the Mucho Mai Tai  featuring Captain Morgan Rum with a blend of pineapple, lime and orange juices topped with lemon lime soda and a pineapple gummi.*

Applebees Mucho Cocktails are made with premium spirits and served in a signature Mucho glass. Plus, for those who prefer to relax at home, guests can enjoy these $6 Sips on the Beach To Go at participating locations.**

At Applebees, you dont need to break the bank to enjoy an island escape! says Patrick Kirk, vice president of Beverage Innovation at Applebees. Our newest $6 Mucho Cocktails bring the tropical paradise full of sun, surf, flavor, and fun to the Neighborhood with premium drinks for unbeatable prices.

To find your local restaurant to dine in, visit Applebees.com/restaurants. To order Applebees To Go or delivery, visit Applebees.com or the Applebees mobile app (iOS, Google).

For even more exclusive deals and specials, guests can sign up to be a part of the neighborhood. Join Applebees E-Club and receive a welcome offer!

* Gummi pineapple contains gelatin.

** Must be 21+. Void where prohibited. Tax & gratuity excluded. Dine-in only, except where carry-out alcohol is permitted by law. Participation may vary. While supplies last.

About Applebee's

As one of the worlds largest casual dining brands, Applebees Neighborhood Grill + Bar serves as Americas kitchen table, offering guests a lively dining experience that combines simple, craveable American fare with classic drinks and local drafts. Applebees makes it easy for family and friends to connect with one another, whether its in a dining room or in the comfort of a living room, Eatin Good in the Neighborhood is a familiar and affordable escape from the everyday. Applebee's restaurants are owned and operated by entrepreneurs dedicated to more than serving great food, but also building up the communities that we call home. From raising money for local charities to hosting community fundraisers, Applebees is always Doin Good in the Neighborhood. Applebees franchise operations consisted of 1,673 Applebees restaurants in the United States, two U.S. territories and 11 countries outside the United States as of May 3, 2023. This number does not include two domestic Applebees ghost kitchens (small kitchens with no store-front presence, used to fill off-premise orders) and 12 Applebees international ghost kitchens. Applebee's is franchised by subsidiaries of Dine Brands Global Inc. [NYSE: DIN], which is one of the world's largest full-service restaurant companies.

Follow us:

Instagram: @applebees

Twitter: @applebees

Facebook: www.facebook.com/applebees

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005110/en/

For media inquiries, email us at [email protected]

Source: Applebees
Company on plan to deliver profitability by year-end

Gross margin improved 802 basis points year over year to 65.4%

Annual recurring revenue per account (ARPA) expanded 11% year over year

Planned actions will reduce operating expenses in the second half of 2023 by at least $6 million annualized

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Q4 Inc. (TSX: QFOR) (Q4 or the Company), a leading capital markets access platform, today announced its financial results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023. QFOR reports in U.S. dollars and in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

I am proud of the team's ability to continue delivering organic growth in Q1 despite muted capital markets activity, said Darrell Heaps, Founder and Chief Executive Officer. Over half of our bookings were expansions with existing clients who continue adding new modules to their Q4 stack, such as engagement analytics, CRM and ESG add-ons. The result deepens our client relationships, drives loyalty and expands margins.

First Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights

Revenue of $14.5 million, up 4% compared with $13.9 million in Q1 2022;

Annual recurring revenue1 up 5.3% year-over-year, to $55.6 million;

ARPA up 11% year-over-year to $20,411 driven primarily by existing clients adding new subscriptions;

Gross margin up 802 basis points year over year to 65.4%;

Adjusted EBITDA2 of $(4.5) million, a 37% improvement compared with $(7.1) million in Q1 2022;

Net loss of $(7.1) million, or $(0.18) per share; and

As of March 31, 2023, the Company had $46.3 million in available liquidity, including $23.8 million in cash and cash equivalents, and an undrawn credit facility of $22.5 million.

We ended Q1 with gross margins on target, reaching 65.4%, commented Darrell Heaps. This accomplishment is due to our successful execution on several initiatives, including, our virtual events platform, our fixed data contracts, the adoption of the web management app on Capital Connect, and the build up of our LATAM operations. These structural changes are permanent and sustainable and will have a lasting impact for continued gross margin expansion through the remainder of the year, exiting 2023 in the mid-70s.

Operational Highlights

Over 1,800 clients and agencies active on the Q4 Capital Connect Platform in Q1, gaining new and unique insights while improving workflow;

Launched the Engagement Analytics suite, an innovative benchmarking and investor targeting tool gleaned through millions of investor interactions;

Initiated the integration of Generative AI across our products, proprietary data and real time analytics;

Enhanced CRM with email integration and new mobile app, delivering expanded functionality that will strengthen outreach strategies for IR professionals;

More than 100,000 new Q4 Accounts created during the first quarter, up more than 50% since the end of 2022. To date, more than 286,000 investors have signed up for this platform service;

More than 16 million unique investors accessed Q4s network of IR websites each month during the quarter; and

Announced a partnership with Novisto that will enable companies to build their ESG narrative to be delivered through Q4s innovative platform, providing clients with an ESG data management solution to enhance their sustainability reporting.

Across the business, we continue pulling on multiple levers to accelerate towards profitable growth, said Donna de Winter, Chief Financial Officer. We have taken deliberate actions to significantly lower our operating expenses, improving our visibility to both positive EBITDA and cash flow in 2023.

Specifically, the Company is accelerating the implementation of the following strategic actions:

Further traction in expansion sales and marketing, focused on introducing data analytics and enhanced CRM to existing clients globally;

The expansion of its Latin America operations, aligning global delivery capabilities to best partner with clients; and

Technology enabled scale in our core offerings allowing for labour reductions.

These actions are expected to lower annual operating expenses by at least $6.0 million with improvements expected to surface in Q2 and continue throughout the second half of 2023.

Normal Course Issuer Bid

The Company renewed its Normal Course Issuer Bid (NCIB) on March 29th, providing flexibility to repurchase up to 2,134,343 shares over the next twelve months. During the previous NCIB which ended in Q1, the Company repurchased and canceled 379,400 shares at an average price of $2.52.

Webcast Information

Q4 will host a webcast to discuss the Company's financial results at 9:30 am ET on Monday, May 15, 2023. Participants can register in advance or access the webcast live at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/223412388. Supplemental materials will be available at least fifteen minutes prior to the start of the event. A replay of the webcast will be available at investors.q4inc.com shortly after the event concludes.

Audience questions will be taken real-time via the Q4 Platform. Investors can also submit their questions in advance to [email protected] or via our IR website. We will do our best to respond to your questions either on the webcast, if time permits or shortly thereafter. We appreciate your interest.

Q4's unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2023 will be available on Q4's IR website and will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

First Quarter 2023 Results

Selected Financial Measures

Revenue Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 2022 Change Change (USD in thousands) $ $ $ % Capital markets platform 13,182 12,864 318 2.5% Platform services 1,298 1,063 235 22.1% Other 19 18 1 Total revenue 14,499 13,945 554 4.0% Gross profit 9,486 8,006 1,480 18.5% Percentage of total revenue 65.4% 57.4%

Key Performance Indicators

March 31, 2023 March 31, 2022 Change Change (in USD) $ $ $ % Annual Recurring Revenue (in millions) $ 55.6 $ 52.8 $ 2.8 5.3% Average Recurring Revenue per Account $ 20,411 $ 18,404 $ 2,007 10.9%

Results of Operations

The following table outlines our consolidated statement of loss and comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022:

Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 2022 (USD in thousands) $ $ Revenue 14,499 13,945 Direct cost of revenue 5,013 5,939 Gross profit 9,486 8,006 Operating Expenses Sales and marketing 4,880 5,144 Research and development 4,299 4,130 General and administrative 5,526 5,771 Depreciation and amortization 941 901 Foreign exchange loss (gain) 7 (597) Other expenses 324 280 Total operating expenses 15,977 15,629 Loss from operations (6,491) (7,623) Finance expenses 12 21 Finance income (92) (3) Impairment loss 634  Gain on derivative financial instruments  (1,104) Loss before income taxes (7,045) (6,537) Income taxes 53 60 Net loss (7,098) (6,597) Other comprehensive income (loss) Foreign exchange gain (loss) on foreign operations 22 (11) Net loss and comprehensive loss (7,076) (6,608) Basic and diluted loss per share (0.18) (0.17) Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic and diluted 39,919 39,624

Key Balance Sheet Information

March 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 Change Change (USD in thousands) $ $ $ % Cash and cash equivalents 11,589 21,536 $(9,947) (46.2)% Short-term investments 12,222 7,607 4,615 60.7% Total assets 67,402 73,832 (6,430) (8.7)% Total liabilities 29,574 29,459 115 0.4% Total long-term liabilities 9,181 8,210 971 11.8%

Non-IFRS Measures and Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures

This press release makes reference to certain non-IFRS financial measures including key performance indicators used by management and typically used by our competitors with software-as-a-service (SaaS) business models. These measures are not recognized measures under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore not necessarily comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, these measures are provided as additional information to complement those IFRS financial measures by providing further understanding of our results of operations from managements perspective. Accordingly, these measures should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of our financial information reported under IFRS. These non-IFRS financial measures and industry metrics are used to provide investors with supplemental measures of our operating performance and liquidity and thus highlight trends in our business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS financial measures. We also believe that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS financial measures and industry metrics, in the evaluation of similar companies. Management also uses non-IFRS financial measures and industry metrics in order to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period, the preparation of annual operating budgets and forecasts and to determine components of executive compensation.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

We define EBITDA as net loss, adjusted for depreciation and amortization, finance expenses, finance income and income taxes. Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental measure used by management to assess our financial and operating performance without regards to financing methods or capital structure. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA, adjusted for the following: share-based compensation, unrealized foreign exchange (gain)/ loss, (gain)/loss on derivative financial instruments, severance and related costs, impairment loss, and management fee and other costs. We believe EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, two non-IFRS financial measures, are useful in assessing our operating cash flows as they eliminate the effects of non-cash expenses and one-time or non-recurring items recorded in the statements of loss and comprehensive loss. The Companys definition of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may be different than similarly titled measures used by other companies. The following table reconciles Adjusted EBITDA to net loss for the periods

Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 2022 (USD in thousands) $ $ Net loss (7,098 ) (6,597 ) Depreciation and amortization 941 901 Finance expenses(1) 12 21 Finance income (92 ) (3 ) Income taxes 53 60 EBITDA (6,184 ) (5,618 ) Other adjustments Share-based compensation expense(2) 426 148 Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain)(3) 7 (597 ) Gain on derivative financial instruments(4)  (1,104 ) Impairment loss 634  Severance and related costs(5) 447  Management fee and other costs(6) 212 22 Adjusted EBITDA (4,458 ) (7,149 ) EBITDA loss per share (0.15 ) (0.14 ) Adjusted EBITDA loss per share (0.11 ) (0.18 )

Note: (1) Finance expenses are primarily related to interest and accretion of financial liabilities. (2) Share-based compensation includes non-cash expenditures recognized in connection with the issuance of options under our Legacy Equity Incentive Plan ("LEIP") to certain employees and directors. Options granted under the LEIP have become options under our Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the Omnibus Plan) in connection with the 2021 IPO. This amount also includes the restricted share units ("RSUs"), performance share units ("PSUs") and deferred share units ("DSUs") granted under the Omnibus Plan. (3) These adjustments represent the change in the value of foreign currency denominated transactions that are recorded in financial statements prior to the settlement of invoices. (4) These adjustments represent fair value adjustments relating to outstanding warrants. (5) Represents severance and related expenses included in G&A and other expenses. (6) These expenses relate to professional, consulting, advisory, and other fees that are non-recurring.

Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow represents cash flow from/(used in) operating activities, less additions to property and equipment. We use free cash flow, a non-IFRS financial measure, to assess the amount of cash available for dividend payments, debt repayment and other investing and financing activities. We believe that this information is useful to certain investors and analysts to evaluate the Companys performance with respect to its operating cash flow capacity to meet non-discretionary outflows of cash. The following table reconciles our cash flow from/(used in) operating activities to free cash flow:

Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 2022 (USD in thousands) $ $ Cash flow from (used in) operating activities (5,957) (7,592) Purchases of property and equipment (42) (279) Free cash flow (5,999) (7,871)

Key Performance Indicators

This press release also makes reference to Annual Recurring Revenue or ARR and Annual Recurring Revenue Per Account or ARPA, which are key performance indicators we use to help us evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends affecting our business, formulate business plans and make strategic decisions. Our key performance indicators may be calculated in a manner different from similar key performance indicators used by other companies. Definitions of these key performance indicators can be found under the heading Key Performance Indicators in the Companys managements discussion and analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, forward-looking information) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. In some cases, forward-looking information generally can be identified by the use of terminology such as expect, continue, anticipate, intend, aim, plan, believe, budget, estimate, forecast, foresee, close to, target or negative versions thereof and similar expressions.

This forward-looking information relates to our future financial outlook and anticipated events or results and includes, but is not limited to, information regarding: the Companys financial position, financial results, business strategy, performance, achievements, growth strategies; the Companys budgets, operations, and taxes; judgments and estimates impacting our financial statements; the market in which the Company operates; industry trends and the Companys competitive position; expansion of the Companys product offerings; trends in research and development ("R&D") expenses and general and administrative ("G&A") expenses, each as a percentage of revenue; planned decreases in sales and marketing and R&D activities; the timing and pace for achieving profitability; and expectations regarding the growth of the Companys customer base, revenue and revenue generation potential.

Forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions, expectations and projections, and analyses made by the Company in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we currently believe are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. Despite a careful process to prepare and review the forward-looking information, there can be no assurance that the underlying assumptions, expectations, estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Certain assumptions underlying the forward-looking information in this MD&A include: our ability to continue investing in infrastructure to support our growth and brand recognition; our ability to continue maintaining and enhancing our technological infrastructure and the functionality of our platform; our ability to develop and implement new product offerings; our ability to capitalize on growth opportunities and implement our growth strategy; our ability to build our market share and enter new geographies; the total addressable market for our products; our ability to retain key personnel; our ability to maintain existing customer relationships and to continue to expand our clients use of our platform and products; our ability to maintain existing relationships on similar terms with our current service providers, suppliers, channel partners and other third parties; our ability to maintain and expand our geographic scope; our ability to execute on our expansion plans; our ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms or at all; the impact of competition; the changes and trends in our industry or the global economy; changes in laws, rules, regulations, and global standards; and that the risks and uncertainties noted below will not materialize.

Given these risks or uncertainties, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information, including any financial outlook. Any forward-looking information that is contained in this MD&A speaks only as of the date of such statement, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking information or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of those statements to reflect future events or developments, except as required by applicable securities laws. Comparisons of results for current and any prior periods are not intended to express any future trends or indications of future performance, unless specifically expressed as such, and should only be viewed as historical data. The opinions, estimates or assumptions referred to above are described in greater detail in "Summary of Factors Affecting our Performance" and should be considered carefully by prospective investors.

Additional information relating to Q4, can be found on SEDAR under the Companys profile at www.sedar.com.

About Q4 Inc.

Q4 Inc. (TSX: QFOR) is a leading capital markets access platform that is transforming the way publicly traded companies, investors, and investment banks make decisions to efficiently connect, communicate, and engage with each other.

The Q4 Platform facilitates interactions across the capital markets through IR website products, virtual events solutions, engagement analytics, investor relations CRM, shareholder and market analysis, surveillance, and ESG tools. The Q4 Platform is the only holistic capital markets platform that digitally drives connections, analyzes impact, and targets the right engagement to help public companies work faster and smarter.

The company is a trusted partner to more than 2,650 public companies globally, including many of the most respected brands in the world, and maintains an award winning culture where team members grow and thrive.

Q4 is headquartered in Toronto, with offices in New York and London. Learn more at www.q4inc.com.

__________________________

1 Annual recurring revenue or ARR is a key performance indicator. See Key Performance Indicators

2 Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure. See Non-IFRS Measures and Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005174/en/

Investors

Edward Miller

Director, Investor Relations

(437) 291-1554

[email protected]



Media

Heather Noll

Corporate Communications Manager

[email protected]

Source: Q4 INC.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- TELUS International (NYSE and TSX: TIXT), a leading digital customer experience innovator that designs, builds, and delivers next-generation solutions, including artificial intelligence (AI) and content moderation, for global and disruptive brands, today announced the results from its annual general meeting of shareholders which took place on May 12, 2023. All director nominees were elected to the Board of Directors and Deloitte LLP were appointed as auditors.

The results of shareholder voting from the meeting were as follows:

1. Election of Directors

Each of the following eleven nominees was elected as a director of TELUS International. The votes cast for each nominee were as follows:

Director Votes For % of Votes For Votes Withheld % of Votes Withheld Darren Entwistle (Chair) 2,039,480,977 99.14% 17,652,549 0.86% Josh Blair (Vice-Chair) 2,045,535,667 99.44% 11,597,859 0.56% Madhuri Andrews 2,057,118,083 100.00% 15,489 0.00% Olin Anton 2,056,468,065 99.97% 665,507 0.03% Navin Arora 2,044,580,627 99.39% 12,552,945 0.61% Doug French 2,045,578,635 99.44% 11,554,891 0.56% Tony Geheran 2,012,550,802 97.83% 44,582,724 2.17% Sue Paish 2,054,270,408 99.86% 2,863,118 0.14% Jeffrey Puritt 2,047,781,664 99.55% 9,351,862 0.45% Carolyn Slaski 2,056,390,566 99.96% 742,960 0.04% Sandra Stuart 2,056,467,615 99.97% 665,911 0.03%

2. Appointment of Auditor

Deloitte LLP were appointed as the Companys auditors and the directors were authorized to fix the auditors remuneration for the ensuing year. The votes were cast as follows:

Votes For % of Votes For Votes Withheld % of Votes Withheld 2,058,079,170 100.00% 6,925 0.00%

About TELUS International

TELUS International (NYSE & TSX: TIXT) designs, builds and delivers next-generation digital solutions to enhance the customer experience (CX) for global and disruptive brands. The companys services support the full lifecycle of its clients digital transformation journeys, enabling them to more quickly embrace next-generation digital technologies to deliver better business outcomes. TELUS Internationals integrated solutions span digital strategy, innovation, consulting and design, IT lifecycle including managed solutions, intelligent automation and end-to-end AI data solutions including computer vision capabilities, as well as omnichannel CX and trust and safety solutions including content moderation. Fueling all stages of company growth, TELUS International partners with brands across strategic industry verticals, including tech and games, communications and media, eCommerce and fintech, banking, financial services and insurance, healthcare, and others.

TELUS Internationals unique caring culture promotes diversity and inclusivity through its policies, team member resource groups and workshops, and equal employment opportunity hiring practices across the regions where it operates. Since 2007, the company has positively impacted the lives of more than 1.2 million citizens around the world, building stronger communities and helping those in need through large-scale volunteer events and charitable giving. Five TELUS International Community Boards have provided $5.2 million in funding to grassroots charitable organizations since 2011. Learn more at: telusinternational.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005717/en/

TELUS International Investor Relations

Jason Mayr

(604) 695-3455

[email protected]

TELUS International Media Relations

Ali Wilson

(604) 328-7093

[email protected]

Source: TELUS International
Investors Include Y Combinator, CRV and Tiger Global

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Zip, the worlds only intake-to-pay platform, today announced its $100 million Series C funding round at a $1.5 billion post-money valuation, with investment from Y Combinator, CRV and Tiger Global. This brings Zips total funding to $181 million with its prior seed, $25 million Series A and $43 million Series B rounds. Today the company also announced its product launch of Zip Intake-to-Pay, extending its industry-first Intake-to-Procure platform for modern spend approvals to now provide Procure-to-Pay (P2P) capabilities. With new purchase order (PO) management, accounts payable (AP) automation and global B2B payments functionality, Zip provides a unified platform for the end-to-end procurement lifecycle. Zips latest funding will allow the company to accelerate product and user experience innovations to increase employee adoption across its rapidly growing customer base, including new applications of generative AI that maximize efficiency and synthesize insights across the intake-to-pay process. Zip now boasts hundreds of customers globally including Snowflake, Coinbase, Northwestern Mutual, Canva, Webflow and Databricksranging from startups to Fortune 500 public companies.

We continue to invest in Zip because we believe in this outstanding teams ability to achieve their mission to solve a ubiquitous business problem: spend control, said Garry Tan, president and CEO at Y Combinator. Zip is one of YCs most successful B2B companies from the last few years. We are thrilled to have been one of Zips earliest partners as they revolutionize one of the most critical functions in the enterprise.

Taking into account that procurement starts at the point of intake, Zip Intake-to-Pay is the first procure-to-pay platform with built-in intake capabilities. With deep integrations across internal tech stacks, Zip gives customers the flexibility to choose how they would like to use Zip to fit in with their current procurement needs. Zip Intake-to-Pay users are already seeing significant benefits to their bottom line with nearly $1 billion per month being approved in Zip and $937 million in total savings tracked through the Zip platform to date.

There are few enterprise software companies that build products for multiple stakeholders and users within large, fast-growing companies, said Ali Rowghani, investor and board member. The launch of Intake-to-Pay is further evidence of Zips groundbreaking innovation in this space. With the rapid expansion of their product in record time, Zip proves yet again that it is the central platform for end-to-end procurement.

Zips procurement platform gives us greater collaboration and visibility into spend while delivering a seamless experience for our employees, said Joe Frederick, senior director, procurement and strategic sourcing at Snowflake. We chose Zip for its world class visualization and an experience that requires no additional training for our team. The platform is highly customizable and gives us flexibility to make changes on the fly.

Zip Expands to Support Rapid Company Growth

In the last year, Zip has grown from 60 to 250 employees to support its extensive customer and product growth. With the latest funding, the company plans to continue to invest in top talent across geographies. Zip will also expand its footprint with a new office in Dallas, Texas, adding to its existing headquarters in San Francisco and office in Toronto, Canada.

Businesses are no longer able to turn a blind eye when it comes to controlling spend, operating efficiently, and mitigating risk. Our recent survey of finance and accounting professionals found that nearly half of organizations are looking to meaningfully reduce operating expenses this year, yet only 11% said that the majority of spend in their organization is under management, or PO-backed, said Rujul Zaparde, co-founder and CEO of Zip. It all starts with a renewed focus on employee adoption and end-user experience. In a space that is notorious for providing tools that cause confusion, lack of adoption and costly deployment errors, weve built a holistic, consumer-style and enterprise-grade Intake-to-Pay platform. It doesnt require any trainingand employees are excited to use it.

To learn more about Zip, please visit the website or request a demo.

About Zip

Zip is the worlds only intake-to-pay platform. Providing a single platform for any employee to initiate and complete a purchase or vendor request, Zip helps businesses gain clear and timely visibility across all business spend, while dramatically improving the employee experience. The platforms no-code configuration and intelligent workflows integrated across disparate systems enable businesses to automatically route requests for faster approval across finance, legal, procurement, IT, security and other teams. Zip consolidates all the steps and tools used across the purchasing lifecycle in one platform. Leading enterprises and high-growth startups like Northwestern Mutual, Snowflake, Canva, Airtable, Webflow, Databricks and over 200 others use Zip to streamline their procurement processes while delighting their business users.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005549/en/

Media Contact

Kelsey LaBarbera

Bhava Communications for Zip

[email protected]

+1 (925) 338-1056

Source: Zip
FILE PHOTO: A tug boat pushes an oil barge through New York Harbor past the Statue of Liberty in New York City, U.S., May 24, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

By Shariq Khan

BENGALURU (Reuters) -Oil prices rose a dollar a barrel on Monday after three straight sessions of declines, boosted by the prospect of tightening supplies in Canada and elsewhere, although recession fears kept pressuring the market.

Brent crude futures rose $1.06, or 1.4% to settle at $75.23 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settled at $71.11 a barrel, up $1.07, or 1.5%.

Wildfires raged in Alberta, Canada, shutting in large amounts of crude supply, and prices rose on fears they could worsen, said Mizuho analyst Robert Yawger.

At least 300,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) production was shut in last week in Alberta. In 2016, wildfires knocked more than a million boepd of production offline there.

Global crude supplies could also tighten in the second half as OPEC+ - the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia - plan additional output cuts.

"The OPEC+ cuts are likely to have a greater impact as we move through the summer, as previous attempts to balance the markets were offset by seasonal weakness and the release of strategic reserves," said Third Bridge analyst Peter McNally.

The U.S. could start repurchasing oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve after completing a congressionally mandated sale in June, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told lawmakers on Thursday.

Fears of a slowdown in the global economy limited gains in oil prices.

Last week, oil benchmarks fell for a fourth consecutive week, the longest streak of weekly declines since September 2022, over fears of a U.S. recession and risks of a historic default on government debt in early June.

"If credit conditions ease over the coming months, allaying economic fears for the world's largest economy, oil prices could bounce back without assistance but it seems a little premature at this point," said OANDA analyst Craig Erlam.

(Additional reporting by Noah Browning, Florence Tan and Mohi Narayan; Editing by Kirsten Donovan, Mark Potter, David Gregorio and Sharon Singleton)
FILE PHOTO: Ingots of 99.98 percent pure platinum are seen at the Krastsvetmet non-ferrous metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia March 10, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk

LONDON (Reuters) - Rising demand from automakers, industry and investors will push the global platinum market into its biggest deficit in years, three industry reports predicted on Monday.

The reports underline an emerging change in fortunes for platinum and its sister metal palladium, both used chiefly in vehicle exhausts to neutralise harmful engine emissions.

For years, rising demand and undersupply of palladium pushed prices higher, while lacklustre consumption and more plentiful availability kept platinum prices low.

Two of Monday's reports predicted that while palladium would remain in deficit this year, platinum's undersupply would be bigger.

Automakers are now shifting from palladium to platinum to save money, production of platinum-intensive heavy-duty vehicles is rising, and exhaust-free electric vehicles are making inroads into the palladium-focused light vehicle market.

Also supporting platinum are consumption by industry and jewellers, while palladium demand depends almost entirely on autos.

Palladium prices have fallen sharply in recent months, while platinum prices show signs of recovery.

Specialist materials maker Johnson Matthey said the roughly 8 million ounce a year platinum market would be undersupplied by 128,000 ounces this year, the first deficit since 2020 and a major shift from last year's surplus of 740,000 ounces.

The World Platinum Investment Council predicted a 983,000-ounce platinum deficit  the biggest since at least 2014 - after last years surplus of 854,000 ounces.

Consultants Metals Focus forecast a 953,000-ounce platinum undersupply, up from just 53,000 ounces in 2022.

The forecasts use slightly different methodology, with Metals Focus excluding platinum bought or sold by exchange-traded funds.

JM also predicts a rise in supply of both platinum and palladium this year, which Metals Focus and the WPIC do not.

For the roughly 10 million ounce a year palladium market, JM predicted a deficit of 43,000 ounces this year, down from 531,000 ounces in 2022.

Metals Focus, however, foresees the deficit rising to 707,000 ounces from 547,000 ounces last year.

Following are numbers and comparisons from Johnson Matthey's report.

PLATINUM (THOUSANDS OF OUNCES)

2022 2023 % change

SUPPLY

Primary supply (mined) 5,530 5,808 5%

Secondary supply (recycled) 1,468 1,521 4%

TOTAL SUPPLY 6,998 7,329 5%

DEMAND

Automotive 2,762 3,063 11%

Chemical 699 697 0%

Dental & biomedical 253 257 2%

Electrical & electronics 235 266 13%

Glass 594 565 -5%

Investment -565 283

Jewellery 1,344 1,351 1%

Petroleum 230 213 -7%

Pollution control 223 260 17%

Other 483 502 4%

TOTAL DEMAND 6,258 7,457 19%

Movement in stocks 740 -128

PALLADIUM (THOUSANDS OF OUNCES)

2022 2023 % change

SUPPLY

Primary supply (mined) 6,307 6,556 4%

Secondary supply (recycled) 3,099 3,234 4%

TOTAL SUPPLY 9,406 9,790 4%

DEMAND

Automotive 8,449 8,251 -2%

Chemical 589 534 -9%

Dental & biomedical 186 171 -8%

Electrical & electronics 544 545 0%

Investment -109 25

Jewellery 87 88 1%

Pollution control 108 123 14%

Other 83 96 16%

TOTAL DEMAND 9,937 9,833 -1%

Movement in stocks -531 -43

RHODIUM (THOUSANDS OF OUNCES)

2022 2023 % change

SUPPLY

Primary supply (mined) 695 724 4%

Secondary supply (recycled) 338 345 2%

TOTAL SUPPLY 1033 1069 3%

DEMAND

Automotive 953 947 -1%

Chemical 66 82 24%

Electrical & electronics 5 6 20%

Glass -41 5

Other 15 15 0%

TOTAL DEMAND 998 1055 6%

Movement in stocks 35 14

Source: Johnson Matthey

(Reporting by Peter Hobson; Editing by Jan Harvey)
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. today announced the acquisition of Perth, Western Australia -based Mavco Insurance Group. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Mavco is a general insurance broker and risk management firm serving corporate clients throughout Australia and internationally. Mavco's areas of expertise include construction, health, engineering, mining and financial services. Jonathan Winter , Daniel Waters , Stephen Hughes , Rodney Aylmore and their team will relocate to Gallagher's Perth and Adelaide offices under the direction of Sarah Lyons , head of retail property/casualty brokerage operations for Gallagher in Australia .

"Mavco has an excellent record of growth and client-focused service, and their market expertise will expand our capabilities in the region," said J. Patrick Gallagher , Jr., Chairman, President and CEO. "I am very pleased to welcome Jonathan, Daniel, Stephen, Rodney and their associates to our growing, global team."
Elliott Investment Management L.P. ("Elliott"), which manages funds that have an investment of approximately $1 billion representing a more than 13% economic interest in NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG) ("NRG" or the "Company"), today sent a letter to the Board of Directors of NRG. According to the letter, the purpose of the materials is to present a clear path forward for how best to remedy NRG's meaningful underperformance and create significant and sustainable value.

Elliott previously disclosed a large investment in NRG in 2017, and its engagement with the Company catalyzed the highly successful Transformation Plan and resulted in NRG becoming the best-performing stock in the S&P 500 in that year, Elliott wrote. In its letter, Elliott said that since the conclusion of its prior engagement with NRG, the Company has meaningfully underperformed due to a number of operational and strategic missteps. Among the missteps, Elliott wrote, is the Company's recent acquisition of Vivint, which, measured by the one-week market reaction following its announcement, was the single worst deal in the power and utilities sector in the past decade.

In its letter, Elliott outlined the necessary steps for the Company to take to right the course in the following three areas:

Leadership: Add new independent directors with strong power and energy industry expertise to refresh the Board and help guide the necessary changes Operations: Improve operations and reliability. Achieve at least $500 million of recurring, EBITDA-accretive cost reductions Strategy and Capital Allocation: Conduct a strategic review of its home services strategy, including Vivint . In conjunction, establish a new capital allocation framework to return to shareholders at least 80% of free cash flow, with growth investments focused on its generation and retail businesses

Elliott believes that successful execution of this plan could create over $5 billion of shareholder value, driving the Company's stock price to reach or exceed $55 per share, the letter said. Elliott looks forward to meeting with the Board in the near term to work constructively with the Company toward the implementation of a new value creation plan.

The full letter and presentation can be downloaded at RepowerNRG.com.

The full text of the letter follows:

May 15, 2023

The Board of Directors

NRG Energy, Inc.

910 Louisiana Street

Houston, TX 77002

Attn: Dr. Lawrence Coben (Chairman of the Board)

Dear Dr. Coben and Members of the Board,

We write on behalf of Elliott Associates, L.P. and Elliott International, L.P. (together, with its affiliates, "Elliott" or "we"), which have an investment of approximately $1.0 billion representing a more than 13% economic interest in NRG Energy, Inc. (the "Company" or "NRG").

As you know, this is not the first time that Elliott has made a large investment in NRG. In 2017, we disclosed a large ownership stake and approached NRG's management team and Board with a plan to address the Company's share price underperformance. The opportunity we saw at the time was both significant and unique: We made the case that through a combination of operational improvements and portfolio actions, NRG could rapidly improve its competitive position and create a significant amount of shareholder value.

The Board was receptive to our case, and we worked constructively with the Company to develop the highly successful Transformation Plan, a roadmap for NRG to become an efficient and focused integrated power company. At the conclusion of our engagement, we believed that with continued adherence to the principles of the Transformation Plan, NRG was well-positioned to drive sustained long-term value creation for shareholders. As proof that investors believed that the Company was on the right course, in 2017 NRG was the best-performing company in the S&P 500.

Unfortunately, despite this initial progress and shareholder enthusiasm, NRG has sharply pivoted away from the parameters of the Transformation Plan and now resembles the unfocused company that we first encountered six years ago. Since the conclusion of our involvement, NRG has suffered operational setbacks, missed financial guidance, and  with the recent acquisition of Vivint, a home security business with stark operational differences to NRG's core power businesses  regressed to the same unfocused, overleveraged business model that predated our initial involvement.

The purpose of today's letter and the accompanying presentation is to present a clear path forward for how best to remedy NRG's underperformance, building on the same framework of cost excellence and portfolio simplification that we advocated during our initial investment in the Company. We hope the Board will consider these views, which we are making public today in the spirit of fostering a transparent and robust discussion. We look forward to meeting in the near term to work constructively with the Company toward the implementation of a new value creation plan.

The 2017 Transformation Plan

When we first invested in NRG, we saw a company with enormous potential for value creation. The Company had an attractive collection of generation and retail assets but, due to operational weaknesses and an unfocused portfolio, had significantly underperformed and cumulatively lagged the S&P over a 10-year timeframe by 140%. We believed that the Company had lost its focus as it expanded beyond its core merchant power and retail electricity businesses, resulting in an uncompetitive cost structure, overleveraged balance sheet and excessively complex asset portfolio.

At the time, we recommended that NRG focus on its core businesses by aggressively reducing costs, monetizing non-core assets to simplify its portfolio and paying down debt. We worked closely with NRG as it conducted an intensive, four-month business review that culminated in the Transformation Plan. The new plan reinvigorated NRG by targeting clear, "line-of-sight" initiatives, including $1.065 billion of total cost and margin improvement, $2.5 billion to $4.0 billion of asset divestitures and $13 billion of debt reduction. During Elliott's engagement, NRG achieved a 156% total shareholder return ("TSR").1

Importantly, the growing support for NRG as a public investment reflected a belief that the Company had made a renewed commitment to operational excellence and portfolio focus that would be maintained over the long term. Unfortunately, that belief was misplaced and has not been rewarded.

NRG Has Since Meaningfully Underperformed

Since the conclusion of our engagement, NRG has reversed much of the progress made under the Transformation Plan. The Company has underperformed the S&P Utilities Index by 44% and integrated power peers by 53%2, and NRG's share price today is lower than it was at the conclusion of our engagement3. This is not dissimilar to NRG's performance before our involvement  in the two years prior, NRG stock declined by 46%. In fact, in the past ten years, the only period of sustained outperformance was during Elliott's engagement with the Company in 2017-2018. We believe that the underperformance prior to and subsequent to our involvement reflects repeated missteps in execution and strategy in the absence of a true and enduring commitment to operational excellence and portfolio focus.

Operational Failures

In 2021 and 2022, NRG missed two years of financial guidance after struggling with repeated plant outages (including at both of its key Limestone and Parish power plants) and demonstrating an inability to manage through extreme weather events. This record of poor execution stands in contrast to strong earnings achieved by peers in 2022. Consistent execution and plant reliability are particularly important to the success of NRG's asset-light retail strategy, but operational missteps have eroded investor confidence in management.

Loss of Strategic Direction

Additionally, NRG lost strategic direction with its poorly conceived, "all-in" pivot to the home security business founded on the acquisition of Vivint. We and other investors struggle to understand why NRG would make such a significant bet on a strategy that many other companies have already failed to execute successfully, especially given the Company's previous lack of success in entering home services. The market's reaction to the Vivint transaction  a 20% decline in NRG's market capitalization over the first week, or nearly $2 billion in value loss  was both predictable and justifiable. As measured by the share price reaction following its announcement, the Vivint transaction ranks as the single worst deal in the power and utilities sector during the past decade.4 The transaction continues to draw near-universal skepticism among investors and sell-side analysts.

The Repower NRG Plan

Notwithstanding these setbacks, we have strong conviction in the attractiveness of NRG's integrated power business and the critical role that the Company plays in Texas and other energy markets in the Northeast and Midwest. The Company's retail franchise is a crown jewel that has remained a market leader in Texas for more than 20 years, navigating a rapidly evolving industry backdrop. We believe that with the right leadership and strategy, NRG can correct its course and create significant and sustainable value. The necessary steps are familiar, and include elements that NRG undertook following Elliott's engagement with the Company in 2017:

Leadership. First, NRG must restore the credibility of the management team and the Board. We believe that the Company should add new independent directors with expertise in the power and energy industry. Elliott has identified five highly credible executives to help guide the necessary operational and strategic changes. The Board should also evaluate the management team's ability to drive high-performance operations on a sustained basis. Operations. We believe that NRG is capable of achieving at least $500 million of recurring, EBITDA-accretive cost reductions by 2025. Additionally, we believe NRG has headroom to realize these cost savings while sustaining elevated maintenance capex to improve its fleet reliability and mitigate outage risk. Strategy and Capital Allocation. As evidenced by the strong outperformance by NRG in 2017 and 2018, we are convinced that an optimized NRG focused on its core integrated power business can drive compelling shareholder returns. For this reason, NRG must conduct a strategic review of its home services strategy, including Vivint . In conjunction, NRG should establish a new capital allocation framework to return to shareholders at least 80% of free cash flow, with any growth investments focused on its generation and retail businesses. By implementing the Repower NRG Plan, the Company would have the ability to return $6.5 billion of excess capital, or approximately 85% of NRG's current market cap, to shareholders over the next three years.

Successful execution of the Repower NRG Plan could create over $5 billion of shareholder value, driving the Company's stock price to reach or exceed $55 per share. We believe the execution of these initiatives is squarely within the Company's control and can be carried out in the next 18 months.

Given NRG's failure to sustain the momentum of the Transformation Plan, strong management will be key to the success of the Repower NRG Plan. The Board must ensure that the management team has the appropriate skillset and expertise to carry out the necessary changes as well as maintain long-term cost leadership and strategic focus. The Repower NRG Plan is predicated on enduring cost discipline and high-performance operations; an operationally focused management team, along with improved governance and oversight, is critical to winning back the confidence of investors and setting the Company on the path to long-term success.

Moving Forward

We have strong conviction in the attractiveness of NRG's assets and believe that the Company can become the leading integrated power company in North America . However, the Company's strategic decisions, execution and stock price underperformance make clear that significant changes are needed to Repower NRG and restore the level of strategic focus and investor trust that drove the Company's outperformance six years ago.

We look forward to discussing our recommendations with you. We believe that the addition of new highly credentialed board members and the establishment of a formal Board-level committee and review process (much like the 2017 Business Review Committee) are the logical next steps for NRG. Our goal is to engage with the Company constructively and align with the Board on the path forward as soon as practicable. We thank you again for your consideration, and we will make ourselves available promptly to meet in person and begin working together on next steps.

Sincerely,

John Pike

Partner
Ford (NYSE: F) announced Monday that the American automaker is working to reduce costs in China as it strives to recover from a long sales slump in the world's largest auto market.

Our costs are not competitive, and we are working internally and with our partners to reduce costs in all areas, a representative of Ford China said in a statement.

We can only win through a lean and agile organization. These actions are necessary for us to build a healthier and more sustainable business in China," the company added.

The company did not comment on how it would cut costs. However, local Chinese media reported last week, citing unnamed sources, that the company planned to cut 1,300 jobs in China.

Ford will also restructure its China operations to turn one of its joint ventures into an export hub for low-cost commercial electric and combustion vehicles, chief executive Jim Farley said in April.

Shares of F are up 0.43% in pre-market trading on Monday.

By Michael Elkins | [email protected]
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov on May 15 met with Chairman of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili, who is on a visit to Azerbaijan, the Cabinet of Ministers told Trend.

At the meeting, the participation of Papuashvili at a special session of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament) dedicated to the 100th anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev was highly appreciated.

Moreover, satisfaction was expressed with the expansion of cooperation between the two countries based on mutual trust and the strengthening of the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Georgia. Furthermore, the role of parliaments in this was assessed.

At the same time, prospects for expanding the countries' relations in trade, economics, energy, transport, and transit, humanitarian and other spheres were discussed.
Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. (NYSE: NOG) (the Company or NOG) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 30% undivided stake in the Forge Assets in the Delaware Basin, in partnership with Vital Energy, Inc., for a purchase price net to NOG of $162.0 million in cash, subject to typical closing adjustments.

The Acquired Assets are primarily located in Ward and Reeves Counties, Texas and include approximately 10,200 net acres, 30.5 net producing wells, 2.3 net wells-in-process and ~20 low-breakeven net undeveloped locations. Upon closing, the operator of the assets will be Vital, with NOG participating in development pursuant to cooperation and joint operating agreements entered into with Vital in connection with the acquisition.

Recent production on the Acquired Assets was approximately 3,400 Boe per day (2-stream, 79% oil). For the second half of 2023, NOG expects average production of >3,750 Boe per day (2-stream, 79% oil) and approximately $17 million of capital expenditures.

The effective date for the transaction is March 1, 2023, and NOG expects to close the transaction at the end of June 2023. The obligations of the parties to complete the transactions contemplated by the purchase agreement are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS

This transaction crystallizes NOGs position as a reliable and consistent partner for the purchase and development of high-quality properties, commented Nick OGrady, NOGs Chief Executive Officer. We are excited to work alongside our partners at Vital to develop the Forge Assets with strong alignment and cooperation.

As we enter into this joint acquisition, we are taking NOGs capabilities and opportunity set to the next level, adding yet another arrow to our M&A quiver, commented Adam Dirlam, NOGs President. The Forge Assets are high-quality with the opportunity for clear and concise development to deliver the consistent performance our investors have come to expect.

ADVISORS

Houlihan Lokey served as financial advisor to Vital and NOG for the Forge Assets acquisition.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as NOGs legal advisor.

RBC Richardson Barr is serving as financial advisor to Forge and OMelveny & Myers is serving as legal counsel to Forge.

ABOUT NOG

NOG is a company with a primary strategy of investing in non-operated minority working and mineral interests in oil & gas properties, with focus on the premier hydrocarbon producing basins within the contiguous United States. More information about NOG can be found at www.northernoil.com.
TORONTO, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Base Carbon Inc. (NEO: BCBN) (OTCQX: BCBNF) (Base Carbon, or the Company) is pleased to announce its first-quarter 2023 consolidated financial results. All financial references are denominated in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted.

Financial Highlights for the First-Quarter ended March 31, 2023:

As at March 31, 2023, the Company had total assets of $43.1 million, mainly comprising of: $8.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, $0.2 million in related party loan receivable, $0.4 million in prepaid and other assets, $27.5 million in investments in carbon credit projects, $1.4 million equity investment in ACX Holdings Ltd. (AirCarbon), and $4.9 million in investment in associate company Hardwick Climate Business Limited.

As at March 31, 2023, the Company had $0.3 million in current liabilities, which represented the total liabilities for the Company.

During the first-quarter ended March 31, 2023, the Company incurred a net loss of $1.1 million. The Company incurred operating expenses of $1.3 million, which are mainly attributable to salaries and wages, share-based compensation, consulting, and professional fees.

About Base Carbon

Base Carbon provides capital, development expertise and management operating resources to projects involved in the voluntary carbon markets. The Company seeks to be the preferred carbon project partner in providing capital and developmental resources to carbon projects globally and, where appropriate, will endeavour to utilize technologies within the evolving carbon industry to enhance efficiencies, commercial credibility, and trading transparency. For more information, please visit www.basecarbon.com.

Media and Investor Inquiries

Base Carbon Inc.Investor RelationsTel: +1 647 952 3979E-mail: [email protected]

Media InquiriesE-mail: [email protected]

Michael Costa, Chief Executive Officer, and Andrew Fedak, Chief Strategy Officer are responsible for this press release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the focus of Base Carbons business and the financial results of the Company. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as expects, anticipates, intends, contemplates, believes, projects, plans or variations of such words and similar expressions or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might, will or will be taken, occur or be achieved. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent managements expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance, results, or achievements.

Although management believes that the anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information because it involves assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.

The forward-looking statements made herein are subject to a variety of risk factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Companys control, which could cause actual events or results to differ materially and adversely from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Specific reference is made to the management analysis and discussion for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 and the most recent Annual Information Form on file with the Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities (and available on www.sedar.com) for a more detailed discussion of some of the factors underlying forward-looking statements and the risks that may affect the Companys ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Should one or more of the risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual events or results may vary materially and adversely from those described in the forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is provided as of the date of this press release, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements containing any forward-looking information, or the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Source: Base Carbon Inc.
Announced Positive Results from Part 1 of Ongoing Phase 1b/2a Trial of BX004 for Treatment of Lung Infections in Cystic Fibrosis (CF); Results from Part 2 Expected in Third Quarter of 2023

Second and Final Closing of PIPE Investment Completed, Raising Total Gross Proceeds of $7.5 million; Cash Runway into the Third Quarter of 2024

Jason M. Marks and Michael E. Dambach Appointed to Board of Directors

Company Will Host a Conference Call and Webcast Today at 8:00 am ET

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and NESS ZIONA, Israel, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BiomX Inc. (NYSE American: PHGE) (BiomX or the Company), a clinical-stage company advancing novel natural and engineered phage therapies that target specific pathogenic bacteria, today reported financial results and provided a business update for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023.

Based on the better-than-expected results from Part 1 of our cystic fibrosis (CF) trial, I am pleased to note that the BX004 program continues to gain increased visibility among patients and physicians, said Jonathan Solomon, Chief Executive Officer of BiomX. Part 1 results demonstrated that treatment with BX004 was safe, well-tolerated, and resulted in notable reductions in P. aeruginosa bacterial counts. Part 2 of the study is underway with enrollment rate as planned. In Part 2 CF patients will be dosed with BX004 twice a day and over a longer, 10-day treatment period compared to Part 1. Part 2 of the study will provide additional data on safety and reduction in P. aeruginosa bacterial burden, along with other exploratory clinical endpoints. We expect to report results from Part 2 in the third quarter of 2023.

The growing interest in our BX004 program has also allowed us to strengthen our balance sheet during the quarter, and I am pleased to announce that we closed the second part of our private placement earlier this month. We would like to thank our existing shareholders, including OrbiMed and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, for this continued financial support, which will provide us with additional funding through the expected Part 2 data readout. I am also pleased to note the addition of Jason Marks and Michael Dambach to our Board of Directors, who both bring a wealth of talent and experience spanning across multiple areas of finance, regulatory, governance and legal expertise.

Clinical Program Updates

Cystic Fibrosis (BX004)

In February 2023, BiomX announced positive results from Part 1 of the Phase 1b/2a trial evaluating the Companys novel phage cocktail, BX004, for the treatment of chronic pulmonary infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (or P. aeruginosa) in patients with cystic fibrosis. Highlights from the data included: No safety events related to treatment with BX004 Mean P. aeruginosa colony forming units (CFU) at Day 15 (compared to baseline) were reduced by more than 90%: -1.42 log10 CFU/g (BX004) vs. -0.28 log10 CFU/g (placebo). This reduction occurred in the presence of standard of care inhaled antibiotics Phages were detected in all patients treated with BX004 during the dosing period, including in several patients up to Day 15 (one week after end of therapy); no phages were detected in patients receiving placebo There was no emerging bacterial resistance to BX004 during or after treatment with BX004 As expected, likely due to the short course of therapy, there was no detectable effect on % predicted FEV1 (First-second Forced Expiratory Volume)

BX004 is being developed for the treatment of chronic respiratory infections caused by P. aeruginosa, a main contributor to morbidity and mortality in patients with CF. The Phase 1b/2a trial is composed of two parts. Part 1 of the study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and microbiologic/clinical activity of BX004 in nine CF patients in a single ascending dose and multiple dose design. Part 2 of the study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of BX004 in 24 CF patients randomized to a treatment or placebo cohort in a 2:1 ratio. Results from Part 2 of the trial are expected in the third quarter of 2023.

As previously announced, BiomX has received a Therapeutics Development Award of up to $5 million from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CF Foundation). The award was structured as an equity investment in which the CF Foundation agreed to purchase up to $5 million of BiomX common stock across two separate tranches. The first tranche was received on December 21, 2021, with the CF Foundation making an initial equity investment of $3 million. Following the results from Part 1 of the ongoing Phase 1b/2a trial, the CF Foundation completed its second tranche investment of $2 million through its participation in the Companys recently announced $7.5 million private placement.

Atopic Dermatitis (AD) (BX005)

The Company is collaborating with Maruho Co. Ltd., a leading dermatology-focused pharmaceutical company in Japan, supporting a range of pre-clinical activities to move this program forward and working on evaluating timelines for a clinical trial.

RECENT CORPORATE HIGHLIGHTS

On May 12, 2023, the Company announced the appointments of Jason M. Marks and Michael E. Dambach, CFA to its Board of Directors. Mr. Marks most recently served as Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer & Corporate Secretary/Senior Advisor with Amarin Corporation plc, and Mr. Dambach serves as Vice President and Treasurer of Biogen Inc.

In February 2023, the Company announced a $7.5 million private placement with a select group of institutional and individual investors, including existing investors OrbiMed and the CF Foundation. The financing closed in two parts. The first closing for gross proceeds of $1.5 million occurred in February 2023. The second closing, which was contingent upon approval by the Company's stockholders in accordance with NYSE American rules, closed in May 2023. BiomX expects to use the net proceeds from the PIPE, together with existing cash and cash equivalents, to fund clinical development of BX004 for the treatment of lung infections in patients with CF, the development of other programs, and research activities as well as working capital and other general corporate purposes.

First Quarter 2023 Financial Results

Cash balance, short-term deposits and restricted cash as of March 31, 2023, were $30.3 million, compared to $34.3 million as of December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily due to net cash used in operating activities. During the quarter, the Company raised $1.5 million in gross proceeds through a private placement. Inclusive of net proceeds from the private placement, the Company estimates its cash runway is sufficient to fund operations into the third quarter of 2024.

as of March 31, 2023, were $30.3 million, compared to $34.3 million as of December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily due to net cash used in operating activities. During the quarter, the Company raised $1.5 million in gross proceeds through a private placement. Inclusive of net proceeds from the private placement, the Company estimates its cash runway is sufficient to fund operations into the third quarter of 2024. Research and development (R&D) expenses, net were $4.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to $4.9 million for the same period in 2022. The decrease was primarily due to reduced salaries and related expenses and stock-based compensation expenses that resulted from a reduction in workforce, as part of a corporate restructuring the Company announced in May 2022 (the Corporate Restructuring); as well as deprioritizing pre-clinical and clinical activities related to our AD product candidate, BX005, partially offset by expenses related to conducting the Phase 1b/2a clinical trial of our CF product candidate, BX004.

were $4.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to $4.9 million for the same period in 2022. The decrease was primarily due to reduced salaries and related expenses and stock-based compensation expenses that resulted from a reduction in workforce, as part of a corporate restructuring the Company announced in May 2022 (the Corporate Restructuring); as well as deprioritizing pre-clinical and clinical activities related to our AD product candidate, BX005, partially offset by expenses related to conducting the Phase 1b/2a clinical trial of our CF product candidate, BX004. General and administrative expenses were $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to $2.5 million for the same period in 2022. The decrease was primarily due to reduced salaries and related expenses and stock-based compensation expenses due to a reduction in the workforce, as part of the corporate restructuring, as well as a decrease in the premium of the Companys directors and officers' insurance policy.

were $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to $2.5 million for the same period in 2022. The decrease was primarily due to reduced salaries and related expenses and stock-based compensation expenses due to a reduction in the workforce, as part of the corporate restructuring, as well as a decrease in the premium of the Companys directors and officers' insurance policy. Net loss for the first quarter of 2023 was $6.4 million, compared to $8.2 million for the same period in 2022.

for the first quarter of 2023 was $6.4 million, compared to $8.2 million for the same period in 2022. Net cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was $5.0 million, compared to $7.4 million for the same period in 2022.

Conference Call and Webcast Information BiomX management will host a conference call and webcast today at 8:00 am ET to report financial results and business updates for the first quarter of 2023. To participate in the conference, please dial 1-877-407-0724 (U.S.), 1-809-406-247 (Israel), or 1-201-389-0898 (International). A live and archived webcast of the call will be available on the Investors section of the Companys website at www.biomx.com, the content of which does not form a part of this press release.

About BiomX BiomX is a clinical-stage company developing both natural and engineered phage cocktails designed to target and destroy bacteria in the treatment of chronic diseases. BiomX discovers and validates proprietary bacterial targets and customizes phage compositions against these targets. For more information, please visit www.biomx.com, the content of which does not form a part of this press release.

Safe Harbor This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: target, believe, expect, will, may, anticipate, estimate, would, positioned, future, and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. For example, when BiomX discusses the potential safety or efficacy of BX004, the expected timing , design and patient enrollment of Part 2 of the Phase 1b/2a study and the potential of targeted phage therapy to treat infections in CF patients, when it refers to other programs, such as the program to treat Atopic Dermatitis, and when it discusses the estimate of the sufficiency of its cash runway, BiomX is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on BiomX managements current beliefs, expectations and assumptions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of BiomXs control. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, investors should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements and should review the risks and uncertainties described under the caption Risk Factors in BiomXs Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on March 29, 2023 and additional disclosures BiomX makes in its other filings with the SEC, which are available on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and except as provided by law BiomX expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update forward-looking statements.

BIOMX INC.CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS(USD in thousands, except share and per share data)(unaudited)

As of March 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 29,346 31,332 Restricted cash 956 962 Short-term deposits - 2,000 Other current assets 2,632 2,587 Total current assets 32,934 36,881 Non-current assets Other assets 129 - Operating lease right-of-use assets 3,767 3,860 Property and equipment, net 4,577 4,790 Total non-current assets 8,473 8,650 41,407 45,531

BIOMX INC.CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS(USD in thousands, except share and per share data)(unaudited)

As of March 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY Current liabilities Trade accounts payable 1,359 820 Current portion of lease liabilities 669 687 Other accounts payable 2,956 2,150 Current portion of long-term debt 5,216 4,282 Total current liabilities 10,200 7,939 Non-current liabilities Contract liability 1,976 1,976 Long-term debt, net of current portion 9,306 10,591 Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion 3,587 3,798 Other liabilities 192 188 Total non-current liabilities 15,061 16,553 Commitments and Contingencies Stockholders equity Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value; Authorized - 1,000,000 shares as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. No shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. - - Common Stock, $0.0001 par value; Authorized - 120,000,000 shares as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. Issued 33,181,772 shares as of March 31, 2023 and 29,982,282 shares as of December 31, 2022. Outstanding 33,176,072 shares as of March 31, 2023 and 29,976,582 shares as of December 31, 2022. 2 2 Additional paid in capital 159,306 157,838 Accumulated deficit (143,162 ) (136,801 ) Total stockholders equity 16,146 21,039 41,407 45,531

BIOMX INC.CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS(USD in thousands, except share and per share data)(unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 2022 Research and development (R&D) expenses, net 4,564 4,929 Amortization of intangible assets - 380 General and administrative expenses 1,644 2,477 Operating loss 6,208 7,786 Other income (91 ) - Interest expenses 565 461 Finance income, net (327 ) (87 ) Loss before tax 6,355 8,160 Tax expenses 6 9 Net loss 6,361 8,169 Basic and diluted loss per share of Common Stock 0.20 0.27 Weighted average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, basic and diluted 32,125,227 29,754,240

BiomX Contacts Investor Relations: LifeSci Advisors, LLC John Mullaly (617)-698-9253 [email protected] BiomX, Inc. Anat Primovich Corporate Project Manager +972 (50) 697-7228 [email protected]

Source: BiomX Inc.

Source: BiomX
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Juggernaut Exploration Ltd. (TSX-V: JUGR) (OTCQB: JUGRF) (FSE: 4JE) (the Company or Juggernaut) further to its May 12th, 2023 news release, Juggernaut is pleased to report that it has received TSX Venture Exchange approval to close its non-brokered private placement financing (the Financing) for aggregate gross proceeds of $3,040,000. The use of funds from this financing will be to drill ~6000 meters on Juggernauts 100% controlled Midas, Empire and Bingo properties targeting prolific high grade Gold and Copper at surface.

The Company has issued 19,000,000 $0.16 Flow-Through Units (FT Units), each FT Unit consisting of 1 flow-through common share of the Company, and 1 common share purchase warrant exercisable for an additional common share at $0.20 for two years from the date of issuance, for total gross proceeds of $3,040,000.

In connection with the financing the Company has paid the following finders fees in cash and broker warrants:

West Harbour Capital - $32,400 cash, 324,000 non-transferable broker warrants

Echelon Wealth Partners - $1,800 cash, 18,000 non-transferable broker warrants

All securities issued pursuant to this financing will be subject to a four-month plus one-day hold.

About Juggernaut Exploration Ltd.

Juggernaut Exploration Ltd. is a precious metals project generator in the geopolitically stable jurisdiction of Canada, focused on the prolific geologic setting of northwestern British Columbia encompassing the Golden Triangle.

View Juggernaut videos by Clicking Here.

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 STATEMENT

Certain disclosure in this release may constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties relating to Juggernauts operations that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements, including its ability to complete the contemplated private placement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES. THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR AN INVITATION TO PURCHASE ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN IT.

For more information, please contact Juggernaut Exploration Ltd. Dan Stuart President, Director, and Chief Executive Officer 604-559-8028 [email protected] www.juggernautexploration.com

Source: Juggernaut Exploration Ltd
AMHERST, Ohio, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Longtime local printing business Downtown Direct has been sold by retiring owners Rick and Liz Hobson to new owner David Routh. Following the sale, the business will be converted to a full-service Minuteman Press franchise. The new Minuteman Press in Amherst is located at the same address as Downtown Direct - 276 S. Main St., Amherst, OH 44001.

On buying the business, David Routh says, My prior occupation was plant manager at J.H. Routh Packing Co. in Sandusky, Ohio. We were a pork production facility and produced a wide array of pork products. With the guidance of Rick and Liz and the training and ongoing support provided by Minuteman Press, I am excited for this next chapter. I look forward to working alongside other businesses and meet more members of my community, and to expand the products and services that Minuteman Press offers to help local businesses thrive and grow.

David further explains what lead to his career change and his desire to be his own boss: Id developed a keen interest in finance and have spent the past few years pouring over financial news articles and studying financial markets. As my passion and knowledge of finance grew, I began searching for new opportunities to expand into and invest in. I located a business for sale here in my hometown of Amherst and began the inquiry process. I was put into contact with Rich DeRosa and throughout the process of learning about the established business and becoming a Minuteman Press franchisee, I began to become convinced that this was the right opportunity for me.

David continues, Even though I have no experience in the printing industry, I felt confident that with the initial training and ongoing support from Minuteman Press  along with the guidance Id be getting from Rick and Liz Hobson during the transition  I'd be able to fill this role of being my community's printing services provider.

On a personal note, David adds, I would like to thank my fiancee Ashley for her support and assistance in this process. We are raising 5 children together in a blended family  Evelyn (10), Dominic (10), Theo (8), Lydia (7), and Darby (6). Perhaps one of the kids would be interested in taking over the shop when they are older and wed build the family business together.

Retiring owner Rick Hobson explains the history of the business, saying, Prior to the sale to David, we operated Downtown Direct for 16 years. After having worked in the industry for thirty years, we took the chance and bought a small copy shop in our hometown. Through some existing customers and a desire to grow the business, we more than tripled the annual sales and grew the company each year.

On selling the business, Rick shares, As Liz and I were looking to sell the business and retire, we got together with Minuteman Press after visiting their website and learning about their conversion program to help sellers like us. Within 3 months, we had a buyer. Minuteman Press Regional VP Rich DeRosa made the process very easy. He worked hard behind the scenes to make sure everything ran smoothly. He was comforting and reassuring. We trusted Rich every step of the way. There have been no major issues and the transition has been enjoyable. We wish David and his family all the best.

Rick succinctly adds, If you choose to sell your printing business through Minuteman Press, you will not go wrong.

For his part, David would like to build on the successful foundation created by Rick and Liz. He says, Overall, my mission will be to continue to provide the expert level of service and products to my existing customers that they have been accustomed to receiving from Rick and Liz. I also look forward to expanding the products and services available to local businesses so that they have access to a wider array of printing, marketing, and promotional solutions to help them grow and prosper.

Minuteman Press in Amherst (formerly Downtown Direct) is located at 276 S. Main St., Amherst, OH 44001. For more information, call 440-988-8882 or visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/oh/amherst/.

Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com.

To learn about selling your printing business through Minuteman Press at no cost or broker fees to you, visit https://bit.ly/minutemanpressconversions

Media Contact:Minuteman Press InternationalChris Biscuiti, 631-249-1370, ext. 249[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2d3162b1-aa5a-441c-b26a-ecedc2a9d815

Downtown Direct-Minuteman Press Amherst Ohio Retiring owners Liz and Rick Hobson (left, center) have sold their Amherst printing business Downtown Direct to new owner David Routh (right). Downtown Direct will now be Minuteman Press, Amherst, Ohio.

Source: Minuteman Press International
TORONTO, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ManageEngine, the enterprise IT management division of Zoho Corporation, today announced that after four long years, it will be hosting its Toronto User Conference on 17-18 May 2023 at the Hilton Toronto. The two-day conference will feature a lineup of industry analysts, qualified peers and ManageEngine experts, bringing together customers and partners to discuss innovation and sustainability in the ever-evolving IT landscape.

"Many of our Canadian customers were able to not only survive the pandemic but thrive. The role that their IT teams played proved to be vital to their success. We are delighted that ManageEngine was able to help these customers with their challenges," said Rajesh Ganesan, president of ManageEngine.

"We are looking forward to meeting our Canadian customers in person at our Toronto User Conference, which was last held in 2019. The event will offer participants multiple avenues for learning, networking and community building," he said.

Technical Workshops and Certification EventsGanesan will open the User Conference with a keynote speech on the future of work in digital enterprises. Allie Mellen, a senior analyst at Forrester, will then address the gathering and share insights on security in 2023, including challenges, emerging technologies and opportunities from Zero Trust to AI. On the second day of the event, Peyman Parsi, a board member of the CIO Association of Canada, will join Ganesan for a fireside chat on developing a future-fit IT in the modern technological landscape.

The conference offers participants an opportunity to gain hands-on experience with new product features through a series of technical workshops, which will be held on both days. In total, there will be over 40 workshops covering access management and identity protection, enterprise service management, security operations management, IT operations management and unified endpoint management. Participants can demonstrate their expertise in ManageEngine solutions and get certified.

Canadas Growing MarketSet up as a separate division of Zoho Corporation back in 2002, ManageEngine has built a broad suite of products from the scratch over the years thanks to the efforts of its in-house research lab. It offers over 60 products for enterprises to handle all their IT management needs and has received recognition from analysts and many industry awards.

Canada has quickly become the fourth-largest market for ManageEngine worldwide, with 30 per cent year-over-year revenue growth in 2022, led by the tremendous demand for the company's unified endpoint management and security solution, Endpoint Central.

To support the companys burgeoning Canadian footprint, ManageEngine launched data centres in Toronto and Montreal in January, thereby doubling its North American data capacity. Prior to this expansion, Canadian customers had their data serviced by United States data centres in Washington and Texas.

The company also has a local office in Cornwall, Ontario, from which it supports its Canadian operations. Opened last year, the Cornwall office is an example of Zoho's philosophy of transnational localism, which aims to rejuvenate local communities and extend support to local businesses.

About ManageEngine

ManageEngine is the enterprise IT management division of Zoho Corporation. Established and emerging enterprisesincluding 9 of every 10 Fortune 100 organizationsrely on ManageEngine's real-time IT management tools to ensure optimal performance of their IT infrastructure, including networks, servers, applications, endpoints and more. ManageEngine has offices worldwide, including the United States, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, India, Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Singapore, Japan, China and Australia, as well as 200+ global partners to help organizations tightly align their business and IT. For more information, please visit the company site, follow the company blog and get connected on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Media Contacts:

Lynda Trudell MAVERICK Public RelationsM 289-230-4435 | [email protected]

Ahana VissaManageEngine[email protected]

Source: ManageEngine
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MAX Power Mining Corp. (CSE: MAXX; OTC: MAXXF) (MAX Power, MAX or the Company) has entered into a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with the University of California Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) to develop state-of-the-art direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies for brine resources.

Highlights:

Dr. Brett Helms and Dr. Michael Whittaker, two preeminent American research scientists at LBNL, are leading the technology development;

Dr. Helms is the co-founder of two deep tech Bay Area start-ups while Dr. Whittaker is the co-founder and Director of the Lithium Resource Research and Innovation Center at Berkeley Lab;

MAX Power and LBNL will focus on developing new intellectual property and incorporating innovative methods and novel materials into the DLE process;

MAX Power and its executives have been cleared by the U.S. Department of Energy to proceed with this project.

Mr. Rav Mlait, MAX Power CEO, commented: Collaborating with two individuals of the stature of Brett Helms and Michael Whittaker on potential groundbreaking DLE technologies is tremendously exciting for MAX and further enhances our overall value proposition.

Mr. Mlait concluded, With American and Canadian lithium divisions, encompassing hard rock, brine and technology, we have carved out a niche for MAX in this sector that will underpin and drive shareholder value in 2023 and beyond. We look forward to officially unveiling our brand and aggressively rolling it out to American and Canadian investors in the near future.

MAX Power-LBNL Agreement

The agreement with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will focus on new DLE technologies targeting lower grade and challenging lithium brine deposits located in the United States and Canada. This is largely in response to the strategic initiative undertaken by the U.S. and Canada in their 2022 Joint Action Plan on Critical Minerals to advance bilateral interest in securing supply chains and resources for critical minerals like lithium needed for strategic manufacturing sectors, including communication technology, aerospace and defence, and clean technology.

The continuous global trend to massive electric vehicle manufacturing and instituting alternatives to fossil fuel energy presents an opportunity to use technology to unleash lower grade lithium deposits in order to secure additional North American supply while also reducing time and costs for lithium mineral extraction.

The MAX Power-LBNL research agreement is targeting dynamic new approaches in DLE covering pre-treatment, concentration, extraction, purification and post-treatment.

Dr. Brett Helms

Dr. Helms research program at Berkeley Lab is devoted to materials discovery and development to solve outstanding challenges in energy and sustainability, including membranes for efficient ion separations relevant to resource extraction, refining, and circularity. He is co-founder of two deep tech Bay Area start-ups, Sepion Technologies and Cyklos Materials. At Cyklos, his award-winning innovations in PDK circularity have been featured in print, radio, television, on the web. Dr. Helms is a Kavli Fellow (2019) and co-inventor on more that 30 patents on performance polymers. He is deeply committed to solving problems in energy and sustainability through the development of better materials and lower-carbon manufacturing processes. Dr. Helms received his B.S. from Harvey Mudd College in 2000 and his Ph.D. in 2006 at the U.C. Berkeley at the Technische Universiteit Eindhoven where his focus was on supramolecular chemistry.

Dr. Michael Whittaker

Dr. Whittaker is a research scientist in the Energy Geoscience and Materials Science Divisions at LBNL. He is also co-founder and Director of the Lithium Resource Research and Innovation Center (LIRRIC) (https://lirric.lbl.gov/) at LBNL. Berkeley Lab established LIRRIC to power lithium innovation and guide research and development into lithium extraction technologies so that science breakthroughs lead to the greatest economic and environmental benefits. He is Principle Investigator of the Minerals for Energy Storage (MINES) Project, and Group Leader of the Living Minerals Team (https://livingmineral.lbl.gov/). Dr. Whittaker received his BS/MS degrees from the University of Utah in Materials Science and Engineering in 2012, and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University in Materials Science and Engineering in 2017.

Agreement Details

Under the Agreement, MAX Power will be funding research and development for DLE technology, estimated at $915,111 (U.S.) over two years (both direct and in-kind contributions). Furthermore, the Company has been granted the right to negotiate an exclusive license in the field of use for inventions generated from the CRADA and file related patents. The U.S. Government will retain a non-exclusive license to practice the invention.

Video

To view a video interview with MAX CEO regarding todays news, please click on the following link:

https://youtu.be/sXFhDdVzY7Y

About MAX Power

MAX Power is a dynamic exploration stage resource company targeting domestic lithium resources to advance North Americas renewable energy prospects.

Contact: [email protected]

MarketSmart Communications at 877-261-4466.

Forward-Looking Statement Cautions

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider, (as the term is defined in the Policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating to the future operating or financial performance of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this press release relate to, among other things: statements relating to the CRADA, and any particular outcomes thereof. Actual future results may differ materially. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, technical, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these times. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e2b653d8-4894-4ad8-9004-3ac896ef770e

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/08f7bcbc-2a34-4e7e-a137-b7c424c43c98

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ed6a5239-3ebf-4ed5-bff4-5b21362c7b02

Dr. Brett Helms Dr. Brett Helms, University of California Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Dr. Michael Whittaker Dr. Michael Whittaker, University of California Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Max Power Mining Corp University of California Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and MAX Power Mining Corp. enter cooperative research and development agreement.

Source: Max Power Mining Corp
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries is seen in Tel Aviv, Israel February 19, 2019. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

By Blake Brittain

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc's challenge to a $235 million award to GlaxoSmithKline LLC in a patent dispute over generic drugs involving a heart medication.

The justices turned away Israel-based Teva's appeal of a lower court's ruling reinstating the jury award for U.K.-based GSK. The case involves "skinny labels," which allow generic drugmakers to avoid patent lawsuits if a generic drug's label omits potentially infringing uses of a brand-name drug.

GSK sued Teva in Delaware federal court in 2014 over its generic version of GSK's heart drug Coreg. Teva argued that it followed U.S. Food and Drug Administration instructions to "carve out" from its label a patented method for using the drug to treat heart failure.

A jury awarded GSK $235 million in 2017. A judge then overturned the verdict, but the patent-focused U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reinstated it in 2020. The Federal Circuit affirmed after a rehearing last year that Teva's label, combined with its marketing materials, encouraged doctors to prescribe the generic in a way that constituted patent infringement.

Teva, in its appeal, told the Supreme Court that the ruling would cause "havoc" and discourage the use of skinny labels, which it said are "extraordinarily common" and "save patients and the federal government billions."

President Joe Biden's administration also urged the Supreme Court to hear the case, arguing that the Federal Circuit's decision created "significant uncertainty" for generic drugmakers.

GSK responded in a court brief that the case "presents no threat to generic companies who operate properly under the law."

A Teva spokesperson said the company was disappointed with the Supreme Court's decision but has other defenses it will present at the Delaware court.

A GSK spokesperson said the company was pleased with the decision.

(Reporting by Blake Brittain; Additional reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Will Dunham)
FILE PHOTO: Microsoft logo is seen on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard's games characters in this illustration taken January 18, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

By Foo Yun Chee

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Microsoft Corp won EU antitrust approval for its $69 billion acquisition of Activision on Monday, in a significant boost that could prompt Chinese and South Korean regulators to follow suit despite a British veto of the deal.

The U.S. software giant still faces a battle to clinch the world's biggest gaming industry takeover, however. It has until May 24 to appeal a decision by Britain's Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) to block it. A final decision may take months.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission's case against the deal is also pending at the agency, though Japan approved it in March.

The European Commission said the transaction was pro-competitive due to Microsoft's agreement to licence popular Activision games such as "Call of Duty" to rival game streaming platforms, confirming a Reuters report in March.

Such licences are "practical and effective", European Union antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager told reporters.

"Actually they significantly improve the condition for cloud game streaming compared to the present situation, which is why we actually consider them pro-competitive," she added, contrasting with the UK position that the deal would hit competition in that part of the market.

In rejecting the deal, the UK watchdog was seen as flexing its muscle on the global regulatory stage since Brexit.

Microsoft has in recent months signed licensing deals with Nvidia, Nintendo, Ukraine's Boosteroid and Japan's Ubitus to bring Activision games to their platforms should the deal go through.

"The European Commission has required Microsoft to license popular Activision Blizzard games automatically to competing cloud gaming services. This will apply globally and will empower millions of consumers worldwide to play these games on any device they choose," said Microsoft President Brad Smith.

Activision's shares were up 1.3% at 1650 GMT, while Microsoft's were little changed.

CLOUD GAMING MARKET GROWTH

Vestager said the Commission had a different view from UK regulators of how the game streaming market, which accounted for just 1% of the total market last year, would develop.

"They see this market developing faster than we would think," she said. "There is a bit of a paradox here, because we think that the remedies that we have taken ... will allow for licensing to many, many more in the cloud gaming markets."

Britain's CMA said streaming was the most rapidly growing sector in gaming, while consoles were a mature market. It said Microsoft already accounted for 60-70% of global cloud gaming services and had other trump cards: Xbox, the leading PC operating system Windows and cloud provider Azure.

The CMA said on Monday it stood by its veto. Microsoft has said it will appeal that decision to the Competition Appeal Tribunal, with a ruling expected to take months.

The EU move will give CMA critics ammunition against the agency, said Alex Haffner, a partner at London law firm Fladgate.

"Critics of the CMA's stance, of which there have been many, will inevitably seize on todays decision as proving the point made that the UK's regulatory regime is too rigid and stifles innovation," he said.

"Microsoft and Activisions lawyers will also use the decision to provide greater ballast to their appeal of the CMA's decision."

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee, additional reporting by Paul Sandle in London; Editing by Alexander Smith and Mark Potter)
Multiple zones identified

Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2023) - Arrow Exploration Corp. (AIM: AXL) (TSXV: AXL) ("Arrow" or the "Company"), the high-growth operator with a portfolio of assets across key Colombian hydrocarbon basins, is pleased to provide an update on the drilling of Carrizales Norte 1 (CN-1), an exploration well on the Tapir Block in the Llanos Basin of Colombia.

CN-1 Update

The CN-1 well was spud on May 1, 2023 and reached total depth on May 11, 2023. The well was drilled to a total measured depth of 9,190 feet (8,511 feet true vertical depth) and encountered approximately 148 feet of net oil pay measured depth (128 feet TVD).

The hydrocarbon bearing intervals are as follows:

26 feet of net pay in Carbonera C7 sands. High quality reservoir characteristics are similar to what was encountered in the highly productive Rio Cravo Este (RCE) series of wells.

64 feet of net oil pay within the Gacheta formation. Pay sands exhibit excellent reservoir characteristics with oil shows and strong hydrocarbon chromatograph response.

58 feet net oil pay within the Ubaque formation. The main pay zone is a very clean, thick and continuous sandstone with excellent reservoir characteristics.

Interval thicknesses are not necessarily indicative of long-term performance or ultimate recovery.

A testing and completion program is under review. Testing will likely begin with the deeper Ubaque, followed by the Gacheta and then the highly porous and permeable C7 reservoirs. Tests will be conducted over the following weeks, with production forecast to commence in early June 2023. The Carrizales Norte-2 (CN-2) well will be drilled immediately upon completion of CN-1.

Marshall Abbott, CEO of Arrow commented:

"The CN-1 discovery is an extremely important and material event for Arrow and is further evidence of the potential of the Tapir block. All primary targets in the well have clear indications of oil pay and have the potential to greatly increase the Company's reserves and production. Currently there are no reserves booked at the Carrizales Norte field. Apart from the exceptional technical results, the CN-1 well was drilled on time and under budget. Arrow plans to test several zones over the following weeks and then make a decision on which zone to bring on production.

"Our expectation is that the CN wells will behave in a similar manner to the RCE wells, quick to payout with triple digit IRRs providing positive cashflow for the Company during a high commodity price environment. This is a very exciting time for Arrow, and we look forward to providing further updates on our progress."

For further Information, contact:

Arrow Exploration

Marshall Abbott, CEO

+1 403 651 5995

Joe McFarlane, CFO

+1 403 818 1033

Brookline Public Relations, Inc.

Shauna MacDonald

+1 403 538 5645

Canaccord Genuity (Nominated Advisor and Joint Broker)

Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor

James Asensio

Gordon Hamilton

+44 (0)20 7523 8000

Auctus Advisors (Joint Broker)

Jonathan Wright

Rupert Holdsworth Hunt

+44 (0)7711 627449

Camarco (Financial PR)

Georgia Edmonds

Rebecca Waterworth

Billy Clegg

+44 (0)20 3781 8331

About Arrow Exploration Corp.

Arrow Exploration Corp. (operating in Colombia via a branch of its 100% owned subsidiary Carrao Energy S.A.) is a publicly traded company with a portfolio of premier Colombian oil assets that are underexploited, under-explored and offer high potential growth. The Company's business plan is to expand oil production from some of Colombia's most active basins, including the Llanos, Middle Magdalena Valley (MMV) and Putumayo Basin. The asset base is predominantly operated with high working interests, and the Brent-linked light oil pricing exposure combines with low royalties to yield attractive potential operating margins. Arrow's 50% interest in the Tapir Block is contingent on the assignment by Ecopetrol SA of such interest to Arrow. Arrow's seasoned team is led by a hands-on executive team supported by an experienced board. Arrow is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange and on TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "AXL".

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements or disclosures relating to Arrow that are based on the expectations of its management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Arrow which may constitute forward-looking statements or information ("forward-looking statements") under applicable securities laws. All such statements and disclosures, other than those of historical fact, which address activities, events, outcomes, results or developments that Arrow anticipates or expects may, could or will occur in the future (in whole or in part) should be considered forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of the words "continue", "expect", "opportunity", "plan", "potential" and "will" and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release reflect several material factors and expectations and assumptions of Arrow, including without limitation, Arrow's evaluation of the impacts of COVID-19, the potential of Arrow's Colombian and/or Canadian assets (or any of them individually), the prices of oil and/or natural gas, and Arrow's business plan to expand oil and gas production and achieve attractive potential operating margins. Arrow believes the expectations and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable at this time, but no assurance can be given that these factors, expectations, and assumptions will prove to be correct.

The forward-looking statements included in this news release are not guarantees of future performance and should not be unduly relied upon. Such forward-looking 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. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by 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.

Qualified Person's Statement

The technical information contained in this announcement has been reviewed and approved by Grant Carnie, senior non-executive director of Arrow Exploration Corp. Mr. Carnie is a member of the Canadian Society of Petroleum Engineers, holds a B.Sc. in Geology from the University of Alberta and has over 35 years' experience in the oil and gas industry.

This Announcement contains inside information for the purposes of the UK version of the market abuse regulation (EU No. 596/2014) as it forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("UK MAR").

NOT FOR RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION, PUBLICATION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO MIGHT CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166016
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Khalaf Khalafov had met with a delegation led by Deputy Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Davorko Vidovic, who is on a visit to Azerbaijan to attend a meeting of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) dedicated to the 100th anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev, Trend reports citing MFA press service.

At the meeting, it was emphasized that long-term effective cooperation relations between the countries, based on mutual respect and trust, have risen to the level of strategic partnership, and political dialogue, official exchange of visits, as well as inter-parliamentary cooperation have played an important role in this process. It was stated that there is a wide potential for further development of relations.

Khalafov provided detailed information about the new realities that have developed in the region in the post-conflict period and the restoration and construction work being carried out in the territories of Azerbaijan liberated from occupation.

Vidovic, in turn, noted that he was glad to visit friendly Azerbaijan. According to him, Croatia is interested in further expansion of cooperation with Azerbaijan. The Croatian vice-speaker stressed the importance of ensuring lasting peace and stability in the region and praised Azerbaijan's efforts in this direction.
Newcrest and Newmont have reached agreement to proceed with a proposal for Newmont to acquire 100% of the issued shares in Newcrest by way of an Australian scheme of arrangement

Newcrest Board unanimously recommends shareholders vote in favour of the Newmont Transaction 1

Transaction expected to establish a clear global leader in gold production by combining two of the world's largest producers, with a significant and growing exposure to copper

Newcrest shareholders to receive 0.400 Newmont shares for each Newcrest share held with Newcrest additionally permitted to pay a franked special pre-completion dividend of up to US$1.10 per share2

Melbourne, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 14, 2023) - Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM) (TSX: NCM) (PNGX: NCM) has entered into a binding scheme implementation deed (SID) with Newmont Corporation (Newmont), in relation to a proposal for Newmont to acquire 100% of the issued shares in Newcrest by way of a scheme of arrangement (Newmont Transaction).

Under the terms of the Newmont Transaction, Newcrest shareholders will be entitled to receive 0.400 Newmont shares for each Newcrest share held (Scheme Consideration). In addition, Newcrest will be permitted to pay a franked special dividend of up to US$1.10 per share2 on or around the implementation of the scheme of arrangement (Special Dividend).

The Scheme Consideration which would be received by Newcrest shareholders under the Newmont Transaction, when aggregated with the franked special dividend, represents:

an implied Newcrest share price of A$29.27 per share 3 ;

an implied equity value of A$26.2 billion and enterprise value for Newcrest of A$28.8 billion 4 ;

31% ownership of the combined group by Newcrest shareholders on implementation;

a 30.4% premium to Newcrest's undisturbed closing price of A$22.45 per share on 3 February 2023 5 ; and

a 39.1% premium to Newcrest's undisturbed 30-day volume weighted average price (VWAP) of A$22.22 per share on 3 February 20234,6.

In addition to the significant premium to Newcrest's undisturbed share price in early February, the Newmont Transaction provides a number of benefits to Newcrest shareholders through exposure to the combined group, including:

Increased diversification across a premier portfolio of gold and copper assets in low risk jurisdictions

Increased flexibility in project sequencing and growth optionality

Market leading position in safety and sustainability; and

Improved efficiencies from economies of scale

The Newcrest Board unanimously recommends that shareholders vote in favour of the Newmont Transaction in the absence of a Superior Proposal (as defined in the SID), and subject to the Independent Expert concluding and continuing to conclude that the Newmont Transaction is in the best interests of Newcrest shareholders.

Newcrest's Chairman, Peter Tomsett, said: "This transaction will combine two of the world's leading gold producers, bringing forward significant value to Newcrest shareholders through the recognition of our outstanding growth pipeline. In addition to the ongoing benefits of merging these premier portfolios, the combined group will set a new benchmark in gold production while benefitting from a material and growing exposure to copper and a market leading position in safety and sustainability. The Newcrest Board is unanimously recommending the proposal. We are very proud of the entire Newcrest team for building a world class metals business, which will form a key part of the combined group. We believe our shareholders and other stakeholders can look forward to an exciting and prosperous future."

Newmont has agreed to establish a foreign exempt listing on the ASX to allow Newcrest shareholders to trade Newmont shares via CHESS Depositary Interests (CDIs) on the ASX. Newcrest shareholders will be able to elect whether to receive the Scheme Consideration in NYSE listed Newmont shares or ASX listed CDIs.

Key Conditions and Terms

A link to the SID, which sets out the terms and conditions of the Newmont Transaction and associated matters, is at the end of this announcement.

In summary, conditions for implementation of the scheme of arrangement include:

approval by Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB);

approvals required under the Hart Scott Rodino Act and clearances required from the Canadian Competition Bureau, the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission of Papua New Guinea and other competition approvals;

Newcrest shareholder approval in respect of the scheme of arrangement;

Newmont shareholder approval authorising the issuance of Newmont shares as consideration under the scheme of arrangement;

approval of the Federal Court of Australia;

the Independent Expert issuing an Independent Expert's Report which concludes (and continues to conclude) that the Newmont Transaction is in the best interests of Newcrest shareholders;

no material adverse change and no prescribed occurrence in relation to either Newmont or Newcrest;

approval for quotation of the Scheme Consideration securities on NYSE (Newmont shares) and ASX (CDIs);

receipt of confirmation of an ATO class ruling; and

other customary conditions.

The SID is subject to customary deal protections for both Newmont and Newcrest including no shop, no talk, no due diligence and notification obligations. Newcrest is also bound by other customary provisions including a matching right in the event of a Competing Proposal (as defined in the SID).

The SID includes certain circumstances in which a break fee of US$174 million7 would be payable to Newmont, or reverse break fee of US$375 million8 would be payable to Newcrest.

Under the SID, both parties are permitted to pay certain ordinary dividends in the ordinary course. Newcrest is also permitted to pay certain quarterly dividends if the transaction is delayed beyond 1 December 2023. For Newcrest, any ordinary dividend declared will be additional to the Special Dividend.

Indicative Timetable and Next Steps

Newcrest shareholders do not need to take any action at this stage.

As outlined above, the scheme of arrangement is subject to a number of conditions, including approval of Newcrest shareholders at a Scheme Meeting which is expected to be held in September or October 2023.

Newcrest will send a Scheme Booklet to Newcrest shareholders in due course. The Scheme Booklet will contain information relating to the Newmont Transaction and an Independent Expert's Report on whether the Newmont Transaction is in the best interests of Newcrest shareholders. The Newcrest Board has appointed Grant Samuel & Associates Pty Ltd as the Independent Expert.

If the Newmont Transaction is approved by Newcrest shareholders and the other conditions precedent are satisfied or waived, the Scheme is expected to be implemented by the end of 20239.

The Scheme Implementation Deed can be accessed here.

Authorised by the Newcrest Board

For further information please contact

Investor Enquires

Tom Dixon

+61 3 9522 5570

+61 450 541 389

[email protected]

Rebecca Lay

+61 3 9522 5298

+61 438 355 511

[email protected]

North American Investor Enquiries

Vlada Cvijetinovic

+1 604 335 9202

+1 604 240 2998

[email protected]

Media Enquiries

Celina Watt

+61 3 9522 4264

+61 436 677 220

[email protected]

This information is available on our website at www.newcrest.com.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the solicitation of proxies from Newmont's stockholders in connection with the Newmont Transaction. In connection with the Newmont Transaction, Newmont intends to file relevant materials with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Newmont's proxy statement in preliminary and definitive form. Newcrest and Newmont intend for the Newmont Transaction to be implemented by means of a court-approved scheme of arrangement under Part 5.1 of the Corporations Act of 2001 (Cth), in which case the issuance of Newmont's shares as consideration in the Newmont Transaction would not be expected to require registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), pursuant to an exemption provided by Section 3(a)(10) of the Securities Act. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF NEWMONT ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING NEWMONT'S PROXY STATEMENT WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEWMONT TRANSACTION AND THE PARTIES TO THE NEWMONT TRANSACTION. Investors and stockholders will be able to obtain the proxy statement and any other documents (once available) free of charge through the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Investors and stockholders will be able to obtain those documents released by Newcrest to the ASX announcements platform free of charge at the ASX's website at www.asx.com.au. Copies of the documents file with the SEC by Newmont will be available free of charge on Newmont's website at www.newmont.com. Copies of the documents filed with the ASX by Newcrest will be available free of charge on Newcrest's website at www.newcrest.com.

Participants in the Solicitation

Newcrest, Newmont and their respective directors, executive officers and certain other members of management may be deemed to be "participants" in the solicitation of proxies from Newmont's stockholders in respect of the Newmont Transaction. Information about Newmont's directors and executive officers is set forth in Newmont's proxy statement on Schedule 14A for its 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 10, 2023 and subsequent statements of changes in beneficial ownership on file with the SEC. Information about Newcrest's directors and executive officers is set forth in Newcrest's Financial Report for the year ended 30 June 2022 and the Annual Information Form dated 14 December 2022, as updated from time to time via announcements made by Newcrest on the ASX. These documents are available for free of charge from the sources indicated above. Additional information regarding the interests of potential participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the Newmont Transaction, which may, in some cases, be different than those of Newmont's stockholders generally, will also be included in Newmont's proxy statement relating to the Newmont Transaction, when it becomes available.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities law of any such jurisdiction.

Forward Looking Statements

This document includes forward looking statements and forward looking information within the meaning of securities laws of applicable jurisdictions, including within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We intend the forward-looking statements contained in this communication to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of such Acts. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this communication or referred to or incorporated by reference into this communication are "forward-looking statements" for purposes of these sections. Forward looking statements can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "target", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "objectives", "outlook" and "guidance", or other similar words and may include, without limitation, statements regarding estimated reserves and resources, internal rates of return, expansion, exploration and development activities and the specifications, targets, results, analyses, interpretations, benefits, costs and timing of them; certain plans, strategies, aspirations and objectives of management, anticipated production, sustainability initiatives, climate scenarios, dates for projects, reports, studies or construction, expected costs, cash flow or production outputs and anticipated productive lives of projects and mines. Newcrest continues to distinguish between outlook and guidance. Guidance statements relate to the current financial year. Outlook statements relate to years subsequent to the current financial year.

These forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Newcrest's actual results, performance, and achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements, or industry results, expressed or implied by these forward looking statements. Relevant factors may include, but are not limited to, changes in commodity prices, foreign exchange fluctuations and general economic conditions, increased costs and demand for production inputs, the speculative nature of exploration and project development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licences and permits and diminishing quantities or grades of resources or reserves, political and social risks, changes to the regulatory framework within which Newcrest operates or may in the future operate, environmental conditions including extreme weather conditions, recruitment and retention of personnel, industrial relations issues and litigation. In addition, with respect to the Newmont Transaction, relevant factors may include, among others: (1) the risk that the Newmont Transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, (2) the failure to receive, on a timely basis or otherwise, the required approvals of the Newmont Transaction by Newmont stockholders or Newcrest shareholders or the required approval of the scheme of arrangement by the Australian court, (3) the possibility that any or all of the various conditions to the consummation of the Newmont Transaction may not be satisfied or waived, including the failure to receive any required regulatory approvals from any applicable governmental entities (or any conditions, limitations or restrictions placed on such approvals), (4) the possibility that competing offers or acquisition proposals for Newcrest or Newmont will be made, (5) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the SID, including in circumstances which would require Newcrest to pay a termination fee, (6) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the Newmont Transaction on Newcrest's ability to retain and hire key personnel, its ability to maintain relationships with its customers, suppliers and others with whom it does business, or its operating results and business generally, (7) risks related to diverting management's attention from Newcrest's ongoing business operations, (8) the risk of litigation in connection with the Newmont Transaction, including resulting expense or delay, and (9) (A) those risks discussed in Newcrest's Financial Report for the year ended 30 June 2022 and the Annual Information Form dated 14 December 2022, and (B) those risks discussed in other documents Newcrest files with the ASX and the Canadian Securities Administrators. For further information as to the risks which may impact on Newcrest's results and performance, please see the risk factors discussed in the Operating and Financial Review included in the Appendix 4E and Financial Report for the year ended 30 June 2022 and the Annual Information Form dated 14 December 2022 which are available to view at www.asx.com.au under the code "NCM" and on Newcrest's SEDAR profile.

Forward looking statements are based on management's current expectations and reflect Newcrest's good faith assumptions, judgements, estimates and other information available as at the date of this report and/or the date of Newcrest's planning or scenario analysis processes as to the financial, market, regulatory and other relevant environments that will exist and affect Newcrest's business and operations in the future. Newcrest does not give any assurance that the assumptions will prove to be correct. There may be other factors that could cause actual results or events not to be as anticipated, and many events are beyond the reasonable control of Newcrest. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements, particularly in the current economic climate with the significant volatility, uncertainty and disruption caused by global events such as geopolitical tensions and the ongoing COVID19 pandemic. Forward looking statements in this document speak only at the date of issue. Except as required by applicable laws or regulations, Newcrest does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any of the forward looking statements or to advise of any change in assumptions on which any such statement is based.

1 In the absence of a Superior Proposal and subject to the Independent Expert concluding and continuing to conclude that the Newmont Transaction is in the best interests of Newcrest shareholders.

2 Newcrest expects to have sufficient franking credits available to frank a dividend to an amount of US$1.10 per share. The franking of the special dividend amount is subject to change based on timing of completion of the transaction, business performance, foreign exchange movements and ATO ruling.

3 Based on: 1) exchange ratio of 0.400x (with implied Newcrest price calculated using Newmont's closing price on the NYSE of US$45.94 per share as of 12 May 2023); 2) a franked special dividend of up to US$1.10 per share; and 3) an AUD:USD FX rate of 0.665 as of 12 May 2023.

4 Equity value based on: 1) exchange ratio of 0.400x (with implied Newcrest price calculated using Newmont's closing price on the NYSE of US$45.94 per share as of 12 May 2023); 2) a franked special dividend of up to US$1.10 per share; 3) an AUD:USD FX rate of 0.665 as of 12 May 2023; and 4) 894,230,732 Newcrest shares outstanding. Newcrest enterprise value calculated as implied equity value and net debt of US$1.7 billion.

5 Represents the last trading day prior to Newcrest's 6 February 2023 market release confirming Newmont's previous proposals.

6 Based on: 1) exchange ratio of 0.400x (with implied Newcrest price calculated using Newmont 30 day VWAP on the NYSE of US$49.00 per share up to 12 May 2023); 2) a franked special dividend of up to US$1.10 per share; and 3) an AUD:USD FX rate of 0.670.

7 Calculated as 1% of Newcrest's market capitalisation based on Newcrest 5 day VWAP on the ASX of A$28.94 per share up to 12 May 2023; 2) an AUD:USD FX rate of 0.673 as of 12 May 2023; and 3) 894,230,732 Newcrest shares outstanding.

8 Calculated as 1% of Newmont's market capitalisation based on Newmont 5 day VWAP on the NYSE of US$47.16 per share up to 12 May 2023 and 2) 794,712,201 Newmont shares outstanding.

9 The Scheme implementation date is indicative and may be subject to change due to a range of factors, including (but not limited to) the expected timing of necessary regulatory approvals.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166040
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2023) - Nickel Creek Platinum Corp (TSX: NCP) (OTCQB: NCPCF) is pleased to announce the company is participating in the upcoming 121 Mining Investment Conference in New York City.

121 Mining Investment New York will be hosting over 80 mining companies and more than 300 sophisticated investors for two days of pre-arranged, targeted 1-2-1 meetings. This years event is being held on June 5-6.

About 121 Mining Investment

The 121 Mining Investment global event series connects portfolio managers and analysts from institutional funds, private equity groups and family offices with mining company management teams for 1-2-1, private in-person meetings.

With each edition featuring two-days of 1-2-1 meetings matching projects to investment capital, conference programmes packed with market intelligence and investment ideas, and participation limited to investment professionals and mining executives, the 121 Mining Investment series offers a highly efficient use of time and resources.

121 Mining Investment has an ever-expanding global portfolio, currently covering London, New York, Cape Town, Las Vegas, Frankfurt, Sydney, Singapore, Melbourne and Hong Kong, as well as online editions throughout the year.

Any investors who would like to attend 121 Mining Investment New York can register for a free pass here: https://hubs.la/Q01NlLpj0.

About Nickel Creek Platinum Corp

Nickel Creek Platinum Corp. is a Canadian mining exploration and development company focused on advancing its 100%-owned Nickel Shw Project towards becoming Canada's next world-class nickel sulphide mine. Located in the Yukon, our asset is host to over 1.8 billion pounds of nickel, 1.1 billion pounds of copper, 5.7 million ounces of platinum group metals ("PGM's") and 107 million pounds of cobalt in the measured and indicated categories positioning us well for the rapidly growing demand for these urbanization commodities. The Nickel Shaw Project has exceptional access to infrastructure, located three hours west of Whitehorse via the paved Alaska Highway, which further offers year-round access to deep sea shipping ports in southern Alaska.Our vision is to create value for our stakeholders through development of the Nickel Shaw Project into a leading North American nickel, copper and PGM producer.

For additional Information, please contact:

Nickel Creek Platinum Corp

Stuart Harshaw

CEO & Director

416 453-1430

[email protected]

https://www.nickelcreekplatinum.com/Home/default.aspx
Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2023) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced charges against El Segundo, California-based Red Rock Secured LLC, its CEO, Sean Kelly, and two of its former Senior Account Executives, Anthony Spencer and Jeffrey Ward, in connection with a fraudulent scheme that involved convincing hundreds of investors to sell securities in their retirement accounts to buy gold and silver coins at prices that included markups far greater than the defendants had promised.

According to the SECs complaint, since at least 2017, the defendants repeatedly solicited investors through false and misleading statements, telling them to protect their retirement savings by selling securities held in their federal employee Thrift Savings Plan accounts, 401(k) plans, and Individual Retirement Accounts to invest in gold or silver coins at only a 1 to 5 percent markup. In reality, Red Rock charged as much as 130 percent in markups, which allowed them to pocket more than $30 million of the more than $50 million they received from investors.

"As our complaint alleges, the defendants used fear and lies to defraud investors out of millions of dollars from their hard-earned retirement savings," said Antonia M. Apps, Director of the SECs New York Regional Office. "We will investigate and charge similar schemes that target investor retirement accounts."

The SECs complaint, which was filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, charges Red Rock, Kelly, Spencer, and Ward with violating the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws. The SEC is seeking permanent injunctions, disgorgement of allegedly ill-gotten gains, plus interest, and civil penalties, as well as an officer and director bar as to Kelly.

The SECs investigation was conducted by Michael Ellis and Elzbieta Wraga of the SECs New York Regional Office and was supervised by Hane L. Kim of the Retail Strategy Task Force and Tejal D. Shah of the New York Regional Office. Alex Lefferts of the Enforcement Divisions Office of Investigative and Market Analytics assisted with the investigation. The litigation will be led by Jack Kaufman. This action arises from an investigation generated by the Division of Enforcements Thrift Savings Plan Initiative, which focuses on potentially improper practices targeting government employee retirement accounts. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and state regulators that are members of the North American Securities Administrators Association.

The SECs Office of Investor Education and Advocacy and the Division of Enforcement Retail Strategy Task Force today issued an Investor Alert to provide tips to Thrift Savings Plan investors on how to avoid fraud.
High River, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2023) - The Western Investment Company of Canada Limited (TSXV: WI) ("Western" or the "Company") announced today that there will be a continued delay on the filing of its annual financial statements, accompanying management's discussion and analysis and related chief executive officer ("CEO") and chief financial officer ("CFO") certifications for the financial year ended December 31, 2022 (collectively, the "Annual Filings"). This in an update to the news release released on April 28, 2023.

The delay at Western is related to a concurrent delay in the reporting of year end statements of Foothills Creamery Ltd. ("Foothills"), one of Western's investee companies. Western notes that Ernst & Young LLP ("EY") are auditors for both Western and Foothills, and that 2022 is EY's first year on the file. They have determined a need for extra testing and analysis at Foothills.

Western is working closely with its auditor, and its associate Foothills, and is making every effort to submit the Annual Filings in a timely fashion. Based on discussion with the auditor, Western expects the audit work to be completed in the coming days. Should Western not file within a week, Western will provide another update to shareholders on May 23, 2023.

Western CEO Scott Tannas made the following statement, "We support Foothills management as they continue to work with the auditors to complete the 2022 audit, and ensure that Foothills financial statements are accurate in all respects."

The Company is providing this default announcement in accordance with National Policy 12-203 Management Cease Trade Orders ("NP 12-203"). The Company has obtained from the Alberta Securities Commission, as principal regulator of the Company, a management cease trade order ("MCTO") under NP 12-203 in respect of the default regarding the Annual Filings. The MCTO prohibits the CEO and the CFO from trading in securities of Western for so long as the Annual Filings are not filed. The issuance of the MCTO does not affect the ability of persons other than the CEO and the CFO of the Company to trade in the Company's securities.

The Company confirms that it intends to satisfy the provisions of the alternative information guidelines found at sections 9 and 10 of NP 12-203 respecting Cease Trade Orders for Continuous Disclosure Defaults for so long as it remains in default as a result of the late filing of the Annual Filings. During the period of default, the Company will issue biweekly default status reports in the form of further news releases, which will also be filed on SEDAR. The Company confirms that there are no insolvency proceedings against it as of the date of this news release. The Company also confirms that there is no other material information concerning the affairs of the Company that has not been generally disclosed as of the date of this news release.

ABOUT WESTERN

Western is a unique publicly traded, private equity company founded by a group of successful Western Canadian businesspeople and dedicated to building and maintaining ownership in successful Western Canadian companies, and helping them to grow. Western's shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol WI.

For more information on Western, please visit its website at www.winv.ca.

CONTACT INFORMATION - The Western Investment Company of Canada Limited

Scott Tannas President and Chief Executive Officer (403) 652-2663 [email protected]

Forward Looking Information and Risk Factors

This news release contains statements and information that may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including statements identified by the use of words such as "will", "expects", "positions", "believe", "potential" and similar words, including negatives thereof, or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts.

Such forward-looking information is not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. Generally, such 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 may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". The forward-looking information contained herein may include, but is not limited to, information concerning the estimated filing date of the Annual Filings.

By identifying such information and statements in this manner, the Company is alerting the reader that such information and 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 information and statements. Some of these risks include, but are not limited to, the risk that the Annual Filings are filed later than anticipated.

Additional information regarding risks and uncertainties of the Company's business are contained under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form for the financial year ended December 31, 2021 and the Company's other public filings which are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.

In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, the Company has made certain assumptions. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. The forward-looking information contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking information and statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166223
Paid press release content from Send2Press. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation.

MEET A SCIENTOLOGIST airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Scientology Network

LOS ANGELES, Calif., May 15, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) Scientology Networks 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 tea manufacturer Tinny Chen, premiering May 16, 2023.

Tinny Chen is a second-generation organic farmer and herbal tea manufacturer who infuses a modern sensibility into the 5,000-year-old tradition of Chinese medicine. Through product innovations, her award-winning company is creating a burgeoning market among a younger generation of consumers with its delicious and healthful herbal teas.

ABOUT TINNY CHEN

Tinny Chen grew up learning about the medicinal properties of herbs on her familys small farm in Taiwan. As a teenager, she was discouraged by the physical demands of being a farmer and decided to pursue a degree in foreign languages. But she was drawn back to agriculture by her parents desire to hand down the farm to the next generation. Her mother furthered Tinnys understanding of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, while Tinny implemented modern marketing techniques to promote the medicinal properties of herbs and herbal teas to a younger generation. Today, their company, Daxue Shan (in English, Big Snowy Mountain Farm), is a multiple award-winning agricultural enterprise appealing to health-conscious customers across all generations.

ABOUT THE SCIENTOLOGY NETWORK:

The Scientology Network debuted on March 12, 2018. Since launching, the Scientology Network has been viewed in over 240 countries and territories 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 Churchs 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]

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientology.tv/series/meet-a-scientologist/tinny-chen.html

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO https://www.scientology.tv/series/meet-a-scientologist/clips/tinny-chen-trailer.html

IMAGE link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/23-0515-s2p-costinny-300dpi.jpg

Caption: Scientology Network announces a new episode of Meet a Scientologist featuring tea manufacturer Tinny Chen, premiering May 16, 2023.

TAGS: #ScientologyNetwork #Scientology

NEWS SOURCE: Church of Scientology International



This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Church of Scientology International), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/meet-a-scientologist-blends-ancient-herbs-and-modern-marketing-with-tea-manufacturer-tinny-chen/

Copr.  2023 Send2Press Newswire, a service of NEOTROPE, Calif., USA. -- REF: S2P STORY ID: 90624SI.03
SAN FRANCISCO , May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BeyondView, a data-driven, digital twin technology firm providing photorealistic, interactive, and digital commercial real estate solutions, launched a new augmented reality (AR) feature for its enterprise, digital twin software. The AR feature will be introduced across a sampling of BeyondView's portfolio of leading real estate clients including Healthpeak Properties, Silverstein Properties, Daiwa House USA, Physicians Realty Trust, Lillibridge, Farley White Interests and WeWork.

Scott Brinker , President and CEO of Healthpeak Properties said, "The integration of BeyondView's technology solutions across our portfolio of properties has kept Healthpeak on the forefront of innovation. We are having great success using BeyondView's solutions and their new AR feature is proving its ability to remove the guess work of imagining a space's unmet potential, while still providing prospective tenants with a more traditional touring process."

The new AR feature blends the physical-world with the digital-universe, providing real-life context to BeyondView's stunning digital twins. By scanning QR codes that are strategically placed throughout a physical space, users will plunge into BeyondView's platform which aligns the real-life space's unmet potential to the coordinating digital twin. From initial engagement with prospective tenants to agreement closings, this new feature will help property owners, brokers, and prospective tenants expedite deal flow.

Kul Wadhwa , Founder and CEO of BeyondView said, "It is a privilege to work with such innovative customers, like Healthpeak, that really understand the benefits of using BeyondView's AI powered solutions. BeyondView's Digital Twins are unlike other market offerings and we are continuously advancing our platform. We are thrilled to launch this newest feature that meshes our digital twin software with real world functionality allowing users to physically experience a space all the while using BeyondView's technology to see what the final product will look like before it undergoes expensive and time-consuming alterations."

BeyondView's digital twins utilize artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to create a digital representation of a space at a fraction of current time and costs. The result is a building-specific database that is highly customizable to advance stakeholder decision-making. By integrating easily accessible and contextualized data, stunning visuals, and a user-friendly communication platform, BeyondView presents a one-of-a-kind customer experience.

BeyondView's innovative digital twin technology provides prospective tenants with the opportunity to virtually tour newly developed and reimagined properties tailored to meet their specific needs while simultaneously managing the building-specific database. Working from already prepared materials such as blueprints, CAD drawings, or even photographs, BeyondView not only prepares digitally white boxed visualizations but can be used to completely redesign properties.

ABOUT BEYONDVIEW

Combining Hollywood movie magic with cutting-edge technology, BeyondView's Digital Twins are revolutionizing the way commercial properties are presented, marketed, and managed. The result is enterprise software that shows data as life-like visuals with a one-of-a-kind user experience that is enjoyable to look at and exciting to use. BeyondView's Digital Twins are an innovative and unique digital offering which are a visualization of usable data that simplify portfolio scenario and resource planning as well as facility and asset management. The 3D data is reusable and available for redeployment providing a building-specific database that is highly customizable to guide stakeholder decision-making. For more information, please visit www.beyondview.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/beyondview-launches-new-ar-feature-aligning-the-real-world-with-digital-twin-technology-301824944.html

SOURCE BeyondView
Company Seeks to Deliver 100 Percent Clean Energy, Supports Electrification of Buildings and Transportation, Offers Robust Energy Efficiency Programs

NEW YORK , May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Con Edison Chairman and CEO Tim Cawley spoke optimistically about the company's future as a leader of the region's transition to clean energy.

The company continues to deliver industry-leading service reliability to its customers and strong, stable returns for shareholders while building a grid to provide 100 percent clean energy by 2040, Cawley told shareholders today at the company's virtual annual meeting.

Con Edison, which celebrated its bicentennial in March, also has a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the region's vibrancy, Cawley said.

"Together, these efforts keep our company strong and sustainable, while strengthening the communities we serve," Cawley said. "This work builds on our foundation of safety, operational excellence, and providing the best customer experience.

"Con Edison's history proves our company excels at major transformation," Cawley said. "I am confident this next chapter will be our most important and most rewarding yet."

The company is investing nearly $15 billion dollars the next three years to fortify its energy systems, making them more resilient and able to accommodate additional electric demand, Cawley said.

He thanked the company's 14,000 employees and the union leadership at Local 1-2, Local 3, and Local 503 for being "exceptional and valued partners."

Cawley pointed to Con Edison's Clean Energy Commitment, which is the company's roadmap to an energy supply with increasing amounts of renewables in support of the ambitious environmental goals New York State and City have set.

Con Edison is investing in transmission lines to carry the renewable energy the state is adding to its portfolio. The company recently announced the completion of a $275 million underground line that runs between two substations in Queens .

In addition to the Queens transmission line, the company is building two more, one in Brooklyn and another in Staten Island , to carry clean energy. The three Reliable Clean City projects will enable the closure of inefficient, polluting "peaker" plants that run on fossil fuels.

A peaker plant in Astoria , Queens closed in the same week that Con Edison announced the completion of its new transmission line in Queens .

Con Edison's utilities, Con Edison Company of New York and Orange and Rockland Utilities, offer energy efficiency programs that pay residential, business and nonprofit customers incentives to make upgrades that help them lower their usage.

The utilities also offer incentives for the installation of electric vehicle chargers, help customers connect rooftop solar projects and invest in battery storage, which pairs well with renewable energy.

Customers have completed 60,000 solar projects. Those installations have the capacity to produce 700 megawatts  or 700 million watts  of clean power.

Cawley noted that Con Edison sold its Clean Energy Businesses in March, allowing it to sharpen its focus on the New York City region. The deal with German energy company RWE was valued at $6.8 billion .

The company wants to build on its success and its contribution to the clean energy transition by owning large-scale solar and wind farms in New York State . Con Edison is seeking the state's permission to own these resources, which it believes it can operate more efficiently than private developers, meaning customers would save money.

Con Edison is the longest continuously listed company on the New York Stock Exchange. Its annual dividend has grown for 49 straight years and is now $3.24 per share.

Consolidated Edison, Inc. is one of the nation's largest investor-owned energy-delivery companies, with approximately $16 billion in annual revenues and $63 billion in assets. The company provides a wide range of energy-related products and services to its customers through the following subsidiaries: Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (CECONY), a regulated utility providing electric service in New York City and New York's Westchester County , gas service in Manhattan , the Bronx , parts of Queens and parts of Westchester , and steam service in Manhattan ; Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (O&R), a regulated utility serving customers in a 1,300-square-mile area in southeastern New York State and northern New Jersey ; and Con Edison Transmission, Inc., which falls primarily under the oversight of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and manages, through joint ventures, both electric and gas assets while seeking to develop electric transmission projects that will bring clean, renewable electricity to customers, focusing on New York , New England , the Mid-Atlantic states and the Midwest.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/con-edison-ceo-tim-cawley-tells-shareholders-future-is-bright-as-company-leads-on-clean-energy-301824854.html

SOURCE Consolidated Edison, Inc.
The Rewards+ Program Offers $200 on Average in Annual Benefits

ANAHEIM HILLS, Calif. , May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Credit Union of Southern California (CU SoCal) has announced the rollout of Rewards+, a new loyalty program offering Members financial benefits worth $200 on average annually.

To qualify for Rewards+, Members must have a CU SoCal Rewards Checking Account and maintain a combination of CU SoCal products and services each month. Members can track their Rewards+ status with a new widget in Online and Mobile Banking. A detailed explanation of the program's benefits and qualifying criteria can be found at www.CUSoCal.org/RewardsPlus.

"We're excited about Rewards+ because it's another way to create value for our Members," said Dave Gunderson , CU SoCal Chief Executive Officer and President. "We surveyed thousands of Members to ask what they wanted in a loyalty program, and their answers gave us the direction to create this new program. They spoke and we listened. We trust that Members will find value with Rewards+."

About Credit Union of Southern California (CU SoCal)

Founded in 1954 as Whittier Area Schools Federal Credit Union, CU SoCal is a credit union open to those who live, work, worship, or attend school in Los Angeles , Orange , Riverside and San Bernardino counties. CU SoCal has a superior five-star financial rating from BauerFinancial, holds more than $2.7 billion in assets, and serves approximately 145,000 Members. For more information, visit CUSoCal.org.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/credit-union-of-southern-california-introduces-new-loyalty-program-for-members-301823723.html

SOURCE Credit Union of Southern California
National leader in sustainable redevelopment hosts public tours of former power plant site in Alexandria, VA ; solicits public feedback in Open Space Survey

ALEXANDRIA, Va. , May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilco Redevelopment Partners (HRP), a national leader in transforming obsolete industrial sites into economic engines, opened the gates to the former Potomac River Generating Station (PRGS) site for public tours on Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13 . Over the course of two days, Alexandrians were welcomed into the previously closed-off property along the Potomac River , adjacent to the Mount Vernon Trail , in Old Town North.

This is the fourth set of site tours HRP has provided for the public since its acquisition of the former coal-fired power plant in 2020. Participants walked the waterfront property with the project team, learning about the history of the former refinery and the future plans for a vibrant mixed-use destination to come, with a focus on HRP's innovative strategies for sustainable development and the plan for approximately 14-acres of publicly accessible open space on and adjacent to the site, including improved waterfront access.

"Being accessible to and engaged with the local community is a pillar of HRP's holistic approach to redevelopment and will be a top priority over the course of the transformation of the former Potomac River Generating Station site into a vibrant destination on the shores of the Potomac," said HRP CEO Roberto Perez . "Inviting the public to tour this formerly closed-off site is just the first step in bringing the community back into this space. We look forward to delivering on our shared vision to reintegrate this waterfront site back into the Old Town North neighborhood and deliver publicly accessible open space year-round."

Also on Saturday, May 13 , the Alexandria City Council formally endorsed HRP's Coordinated Sustainability Strategy (CSS), a comprehensive sustainability approach focused on reduced energy usage, renewable energy, storm water management, and a decreased reliance on vehicles. The implementation of the CSS is targeting a 25 percent operational energy savings, a ten percent reduction in embodied carbon, at three percent of onsite renewable energy generation, in addition to near sitewide electrification. The CSS previously received a unanimous recommendation from the Planning Commission on May 2 .

HRP also partnered with ALIVE! by coordinating a food drive which invited tour attendees to drop off non-perishable food items for Alexandrians in need. Between both days of tours, HRP was able to welcome nearly 200 neighbors into the space and collected 400 pounds of food -approximately 500 meals- to support Alexandria's food pantries. When entering a new community, HRP views itself as a neighbor and is dedicated to collaborating with local institutions to help support the community's needs.

In addition to site tours and regular community meetings, HRP is also facilitating an Open Space Survey throughout the month of May. This online survey allows community members to share their vision for the open space component of the redevelopment. The open space plan will also be the focus of HRP's next public community meeting on May 24 .

HRP redevelops complex industrial properties in major U.S. cities through a holistic approach that prioritizes environmental, economic, and community sustainability. The PRGS redevelopment will not only deliver significant publicly accessible green space but will create jobs during construction and permanent jobs at the dining, retail, and office spaces once redeveloped. The project team looks forward to hosting more community events and collaborating with the residents of Old Town North throughout the redevelopment process and to the benefit of all Alexandrians long after redevelopment is complete.

About Hilco Redevelopment Partners (HRP): HRP is in the business of transformation. As a real estate owner, operator, and developer, we re-imagine complex properties across the United States to remediate and redevelop sites for the future. To do this we take a holistic approach to sustainable redevelopment that prioritizes the community, the environment, and the economy. We do this because we want to make lasting change. Our expertise spans multiple sectors, including modern logistics facilities, urban mixed-use projects, and life science ecosystems. HRP is passionate about and committed to making an enduring positive impact and improving communities through its transformational projects.

HRP is an operating unit of Hilco Global (www.hilcoglobal.com), a privately held diversified financial services company and the world's preeminent authority on maximizing the value of assets for both healthy and distressed companies. Hilco Global operates as a holding company comprised of over 20 specialized business units that work to help companies understand the value of their assets and then monetize that value.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hilco-redevelopment-partners-hosts-site-tours-of-the-former-potomac-river-generating-station-301825175.html

SOURCE Hilco Redevelopment Partners
Recent restrictions could lead to greater reliance on invasive, costly tissue biopsies and potentially impact the early detection of organ transplant rejection

WASHINGTON , May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading transplant advocacy groups announced today the re-activation of the Honor the Gift campaign, a coalition dedicated to advocating for greater access and coverage to ensure the long-term health of transplant patients. The reinvigorated campaign, which originally contributed to the successful passage of the Immuno Bill, will take on the latest challenge following Medicare's recent restriction of non-invasive diagnostic tests for solid organ allograft injury. Additionally, the coalition will focus on state and federal policies to protect and expand access to innovative tests that are vital to post-transplant patient's health.

Organ transplantation is a crucial treatment for end-stage organ failure, but organs are among the scarcest medical resource, with over 100,000 people on waiting lists in the U.S. , and an average of 17 who die each day waiting for an organ.1 To compound the problem, it is estimated that within the first year post-transplant, 1 in 3 lung transplants will fail, and within 5 years, 1 in 3 heart, and 1 in 5 kidney will fail, respectively 2,3,4. To improve early detection of organ rejection and prolong the life of transplants, post-transplant surveillance is essential.

Non-invasive diagnostic blood tests like donor-derived cell free-DNA (dd-cfDNA) and gene expression profiling (GEP) have been adopted across major transplant centers as the standard of care to monitor a patient's transplanted organ health and immune status. These tests provide important information that helps clinicians assess early signs of declining health in transplanted organs and intervene earlier to preserve the transplanted organ's function and help avoid irreversible organ damage. Additionally, the tests may help reduce or avoid the need for traditional, burdensome tissue biopsy.

The Honor the Gift campaign will focus first and foremost on restoring Medicare coverage following the March 2023 release of a billing article that restricts coverage of non-invasive post-transplant diagnostic tests like dd-cfDNA and GEP. A recent survey of transplant patients found that 95% believe reduced coverage for non-invasive tests would negatively impact their post-transplant care.

Additionally, state legislation is actively being considered to mandate insurance coverage for biomarker tests, including dd-cfDNA and GEP. Support for this state-level movement will be another focus of the campaign as it works to ensure that transplant patients are at the center of expanded coverage policies.

"I am seriously concerned that reductions in Medicare coverage for non-invasive tests will negatively impact care for an already vulnerable population and disproportionately impact transplant recipients in under-resourced communities," said Bill Ryan , President, and CEO of the Transplant Life Foundation. "I am proud to be part of the Honor the Gift campaign to advocate for continued coverage. Honoring the gift of a donated organ means successfully monitoring the long-term health of the transplanted organ and intervening early when there are signs of injury or rejection."

"Unfortunately, coverage policies are lagging behind innovative advancements in transplant care including non-invasive testing, and when these tests aren't covered broadly by Medicare and private insurers, post-transplant care suffers," shared Lorrinda Gray-Davis , transplant recipient and President of the Transplant Recipients International Organization (TRIO). "Honor the Gift will give a much-needed voice to promoting the policies that ensure doctors have the choice to use non-invasive tests when they are medically necessary, and patients can depend on these tests being covered."

The Honor the Gift campaign was established in 2019 as a national, patient-centered coalition which successfully advocated for the passage of legislation to extend Medicare's immunosuppressive medication coverage for post-transplant patientslegislation that had languished with inaction for over 20 years. The coalition grew to include 32 organizations who worked to successfully pass the Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2020 ("Immuno Bill"). This law now provides thousands of transplant patients with the assurance of lifelong coverage for their essential immunosuppressive medicines.

"The Immuno Bill was a huge victory to improve the long-term survival of transplants for all patients, especially those in under-resourced communities, many of whom had to go back on dialysis after their immunosuppressive coverage ran out," said Dr. Keith Melancon , a transplant surgeon at George Washington University Hospital. "Now, we must continue the fight towards optimal post-transplant care, so that we are extending the life of precious organs with the tools that we know improve long-term health."

The revitalized campaign is led by several of the original coalition members including the Alport Syndrome Foundation, Ava's Heart, the HeartBrothers Foundation, Heartfelt Help Foundation, the Lung Transplant Foundation, The Mended Hearts, Inc., the National Kidney Donation Organization (NKDO), the Texas Kidney Foundation, Transplant Families, the Transplant Life Foundation, Transplant Recipients International Organization (TRIO), and The YNOTT? Foundation, with support from CareDx. In this phase of the campaign, Honor the Gift currently has 12 members and welcomes additional members who share its mission of advocating for coverage of the care that post-transplant patients need to live healthy lives.

For questions about the campaign or membership, please contact [email protected].

References:

Organ Donation Statistics. Health Resources and Services Administration . ( March 2023 .) https://www.organdonor.gov/learn/organ-donation-statistics. Yusen, Roger D et al. "The Registry of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation : Thirty-second Official Adult Lung and Heart-Lung Transplantation Report--2015; Focus Theme: Early Graft Failure." The Journal of heart and lung transplantation: the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation vol. 34,10 (2015): 1264-77. doi:10.1016/j.healun.2015.08.014. Wilhelm, Markus J. "Long-term outcome following heart transplantation: current perspective." Journal of thoracic disease vol. 7,3 (2015): 549-51. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4387387/. Sussell, Jesse et al. "The economic burden of kidney graft failure in the United States ." American journal of transplantation: official journal of the American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons vol. 20,5 (2020): 1323-1333. doi:10.1111/ajt.15750.

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SOURCE Honor the Gift
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. Azerbaijani delegation led by Speaker of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) Sahiba Gafarova arrived in the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russian Federation on May 15 to Moscow to participate in the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, Trend reports.

Head of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko met Sahiba Gafarova in front of the FC building, after which the Azerbaijani delegation proceeded to attend the launch of an exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and organised with the support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Aide to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Anar Alakbarov, MPs, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloghlu, the TASS Agency officials, the FC members and others were also present at the event.

In her opening speech, Chair of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko talked of the life and political path of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the creator of modern Azerbaijan  the life and the path covered by the photos exhibited at the event.

Chair Gafarova expressed gratitude for the excellent organisation of the exhibition, in turn, before pointing out that a large part of Azerbaijans modern history is associated with the founder of national statehood and prominent political figure Heydar Aliyev  a genius who inscribed his name in the history of Azerbaijan forevermore and who had devoted his whole life to serving the Azerbaijani people.

Heydar Aliyev's leadership qualities, far-sighted policy and unbending will were vividly demonstrated both in Soviet times and at the most fateful moments of Azerbaijan as an independent state. The administrative vectors changed dramatically in all the areas with Heydar Aliyevs assumption of power in Azerbaijan in 1969. Then, successful implementation of comprehensive development programmes made Azerbaijan join the rank of the most advanced Soviet republics, she said.

During his tenure as First Deputy Chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers and Member of the Politburo, Heydar Aliyev played an essential part in the implementation of several infrastructure projects across the USSR, most remarkably, the construction of the Baikal-Amur Mainline, she added.

Gafarova also referred to Heydar Aliyev's outstanding services in expanding and solidifying the international relations of the former USSR.

Azerbaijan was in dire need of Heydar Aliyev's vast experience and unique abilities even after regaining independence, so the Great Leader assumed the historic mission of rescuing the country from crisis, instability in all walks of life, the threat of disintegration and an economic, social, political recession. The modern Azerbaijani statehood, the opus magnum of the National Leader, is now developing dynamically under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev.

The invaluable role played by Heydar Aliyev in developing and strengthening comprehensive relations with Russia, the relations based on equitable co-operation, respect for each other's interests and non-interference in each other's internal affairs, was also emphasised duly. The strategic collaboration that had been the redline in our inter-state relations resting on the foreign policy course of the National Leader has by now evolved into alliance and allied co-operation relying on shared respect, mutual trust and sensitivity towards each other's interests. At present, the historical traditions of friendship and good-neighbourliness of our states as well as their political dialogue and humanitarian interaction are dynamically developing thanks to the endeavours of President Ilham Aliyev and President Vladimir Putin.

We are a happy nation that has been able to fulfil all the political tenets of Heydar Aliyev, having done so under the leadership of our President Ilham Aliyev. The most notable of those was liberating Karabakh from Armenian occupation and with making our territorial integrity whole again and restoring our sovereignty, Gafarova said.

She also pointed out the efforts of President Vladimir Putin and Russias part in the signing of the Trilateral Statement ending the war in the presence of the leaders of Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia in 2020.

Great Leader Heydar Aliyev always believed that the people of Azerbaijan would restore historic justice for their country and would bring peace and prosperity to all those living in the South Caucasus. After all, cessation of armed conflicts and their outright exclusion from the system of inter-state relations are in the interests of all the peoples. Heydar Aliyevs historic forecast telling us that we were going to return to our lands, to Shusha, Lachin, Kalbajar and Jabrayil, has proven correct. The liberated territories are undergoing rapid reconstruction; powerful infrastructural projects are afoot to ensure their early return to peaceful life, she added.

Concluding her speech, Speaker of Azerbaijani Parliament said that, glancing back over the recent history, we can see today how many grand deeds Heydar Aliyev had accomplished for the benefit of the country and for each Azerbaijani. The thankful nation will always cherish the memory of its great son and his memory lives in the public heart.

Gafarova thanked Chair of the RF Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

The artistic part of the event had children perform excerpts from Heydar Aliyev's favourite verses in Azerbaijani and Russian.

The event was followed by a meeting of the Speakers of the Milli Majlis and the RF Federation Council at which Gafarova expressed deep gratitude for the care of the memory of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev.

Also, the two speakers shared views on the current state and growth prospects of the Russian-Azerbaijani inter-parliamentary relations and exchanged thoughts on other matters of interest.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. , May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The New Mexico Supreme Court (Court) issued a decision today to deny a joint motion filed by PNM Resources (NYSE: PNM), AVANGRID and the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC) to dismiss the appeal of its merger denial and remand the case back to the NMPRC.

The appeal of the NMPRC's merger denial remains in the jurisdiction of the Court, and the Court has scheduled oral arguments for September 12, 2023 .

There is no statutory deadline for the Court's decision. The Court also denied motions by intervening parties to supplement the record.

The decision and additional materials pertaining to the merger-related regulatory dockets are available at https://www.pnmresources.com/investors/rates-and-filings.aspx.

Background:

PNM Resources (NYSE: PNM) is an energy holding company based in Albuquerque, N.M. , with 2022 consolidated operating revenues of $2.2 billion . Through its regulated utilities, PNM and TNMP, PNM Resources provides electricity to more than 800,000 homes and businesses in New Mexico and Texas . PNM serves its customers with a diverse mix of generation and purchased power resources totaling 2.7 gigawatts of capacity, with a goal to achieve 100% emissions-free energy by 2040. For more information, visit the company's website at www.PNMResources.com.

Contacts:

Analysts Media

Lisa Goodman Ray Sandoval

(505) 241-2160 (505) 241-2782

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Statements made in this news release for PNM Resources, Inc. ("PNMR"), Public Service Company of New Mexico ("PNM"), or Texas-New Mexico Power Company ("TNMP") (collectively, the "Company") that relate to future events or expectations, projections, estimates, intentions, goals, targets, and strategies, including the unaudited financial results and earnings guidance, are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned that all forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and estimates and apply only as of the date of this report. PNMR, PNM, and TNMP assume no obligation to update this information. Because actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, PNMR, PNM, and TNMP caution readers not to place undue reliance on these statements. PNMR's, PNM's, and TNMP's business, financial condition, cash flow, and operating results are influenced by many factors, which are often beyond their control, that can cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Additionally, there are risks and uncertainties in connection with the proposed acquisition of the Company by Avangrid, Inc. (the "Merger") which may adversely affect the Company's business, future opportunities, employees and common stock, including without limitation, (i) the expected timing and likelihood of completion of the pending Merger, including the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any remaining required governmental and regulatory approvals of the pending Merger that could reduce anticipated benefits or cause the parties to abandon the transaction, (ii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement, (iii) the risk that the parties may not be able to satisfy the conditions to the proposed Merger in a timely manner or at all, and (iv) the risk that the proposed transaction and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the ability of the Company to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with its customers and suppliers, and on its operating results and businesses generally. For a discussion of risk factors and other important factors affecting forward-looking statements, please see the Company's Form 10-K, Form 10-Q filings and the information included in the Company's Forms 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which factors are specifically incorporated by reference herein.

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SOURCE PNM Resources, Inc.
The Saint Louis based brand welcomes new and recent hires, including STL native, Dan Karpel as the brand's new CFO

ST. LOUIS , May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Soft Surroundings , the Saint Louis based heritage clothing brand known for their women's apparel, home, shoe and accessories products, is proud to announce the appointment of several key new hires, including Dan Karpel as the company's new Chief Financial Officer, Dan Karpel brings extensive experience in finance and business operations to the role, and will lead the company's financial strategy as it continues to grow and expand.

Dan's appointment to the brand marks the beginning of an aggressive new repositioning for the brand. In addition to Dan's appointment, Soft Surroundings has recently expanded their high-level roster including: Kyle Madson the Vice President Global Sourcing, Technical Design & Quality, Amber Larson the Vice President of Merchandising and Karen Tweedie , the Head of Design.

"We are thrilled to welcome Dan to our team as our new CFO," said interim CEO Bridgit Lombard . "With his deep expertise in finance, coupled with his track record of driving operational excellence, we are confident that Dan is the right person to help guide Soft Surroundings through its next phase of growth. Additionally, with the recent appointments of Kyle, Amber and Karen, we are excited to propel Soft Surroundings to new heights in 2023."

With these new appointments at Soft Surroundings, the brand is being ushered into a new era by focusing on the modernization and digitization of a brand, while in parallel paths staying true to its retail roots and the demographic known as the "forgotten consumer" - Gen X women. Currently the brand is redirecting their retail strategy, hyper-focusing on their key demographics and rescaling their product offering, focusing on offering the styles that their core demographic of women over 50 are gravitating towards most.

Additionally, the brand is pioneering a new Shopify POS system to propel the brand into a new digital era. With this new end to end omnichannel system, Soft Surroundings is elevating their retail experience across brick-and-mortar and e-commerce. The easy to use and scalable technology will allow them to offer a seamless retail experience across the board. Soft Surroundings has been known for their impeccable customer service and tailored retail experiences in stores, and will now utilize Shopify to create a digitally savvy organization that connects the brand to their customers across all channels.

Soft Surroundings has 46 retail locations across the United States and is available at softsurroundings.com .

About Soft Surroundings

Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri , Soft Surroundings is a lifestyle brand and retailer of women's apparel, home, shoe & accessories products. Releasing its first catalog in 1999, Soft Surroundings has been dedicated to making women look and feel their best, ever since. Having experienced record growth in its online and catalog channels, Soft Surroundings opened its first retail location in St. Louis in 2005. Now an omni-channel retailer with locations from coast to coast, Soft Surroundings is focused on meeting the needs of its many devoted customers.

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SOURCE Soft Surroundings
Upcoming film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse themed packaging will be on select Tastykake items in conjunction with a National "Swing into Tastykake" Sweepstakes

PHILADELPHIA , May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In anticipation of Sony Pictures' Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the follow up to the Academy Award winning animated film, releasing exclusively in theaters June 2 , Tastykake is ramping up the hype with new product packaging inspired by the movie. Available in select retailers nationwide, the theatrical-themed packaging is featured on several fan favorite snacks including Tastykake single serve Mini Donuts (Frosted, Powdered and Crunch) and multipack Mini Muffins (Confetti Cake, Blueberry and Chocolate Chip), Pecan Swirls and Glazed Honey Buns.

Fans of Tastykake products and the Spider-Verse saga alike will be delighted to find each Tastykake product features a character from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse rendered in the film's groundbreaking art style.

"With so much excitement and momentum behind the Spider-Verse saga, we were thrilled for the opportunity for Tastykake to collaborate with the upcoming film, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," said Ashley Hornsby , Tastykake brand manager. "This collaboration was created with a great amount of attention and detail - and I'm confident fans will be even more excited by the bonus of the included trading cards featuring the beloved characters from the Spider-Verse films."

In addition to the special packaging on select products, Tastykake is running a live sweepstakes that is free to enter on SwingIntoTastykake.com. Launched on May 1 at 12:00 pm EST , the sweepstakes permit one entry per day, per person until June 16 at 11:59 am EST . Starting May 5 , winners will be randomly selected to win one grand prize ( $1,000 cash, one year of Tastykake products, two Fandango movie tickets for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and an official film poster from Sony Pictures) or one of six runner-up prizes ( $100 cash, $20 worth of Tastykake products and two Fandango movie tickets of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse). The prizes will be determined on a weekly basis throughout the duration of the sweepstakes.

To learn more, please visit www.Tastykake.com or follow along on Instagram and Facebook. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse releases exclusively in theaters nationwide on June 2 .

About Tastykake

A snack favorite since 1914, Tastykake offers a complete line of snack cakes, pies, cookies, and donuts available in supermarkets, mass merchandisers, convenience stores and other retailers. Celebrated for freshness and quality, the Tastykake product portfolio includes such classics as Krimpets, Kandy Kakes and Juniors. One taste of a Tastykake treat and you'll know why this brand has been a favorite of many for more than 100 years. Tastykake is a brand of Flowers Foods, Inc. (NYSE: FLO), one of the largest baking companies in the U.S. For more information on Tastykake or Flowers Foods, please visit www.tastykake.com or www.flowerfoods.com.

About Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Miles Morales returns for the next chapter of the Oscar-winning Spider-Verse saga, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. After reuniting with Gwen Stacy , Brooklyn's full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is catapulted across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. But when the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles finds himself pitted against the other Spiders and must redefine what it means to be a hero so he can save the people he loves most.

Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos , Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson . Screenplay by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller and David Callaham . Based on the MARVEL Comic Books. Produced by Avi Arad , Amy Pascal , Phil Lord , Christopher Miller and Christina Steinberg . Executive Producers are Bob Persichetti , Peter Ramsey , Rodney Rothman , Aditya Sood and Brian Bendis . The films features the voices of Shameik Moore , Hailee Steinfeld , Jake Johnson , Issa Rae , Daniel Kaluuya, Karan Soni , Jason Schwartzman , Brian Tyree Henry , Luna Lauren Velez , Greta Lee , Rachel Dratch , Jorma Taccone , Shea Whigham and Oscar Isaac .

FOR MORE MEDIA INFORMATION:

The Zimmerman Agency

[email protected]

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SOURCE Tastykake
The new integrated solution provides key insights into VoLTE roaming traffic

HAMBURG, Germany , May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Voipfuture , provider of market-leading voice service monitoring technology and analytics solution, announced today that it completed deploying its Qrystal monitoring solution with Mobileum's RCEM product at a U.S. -based Tier 1 carrier. The integrated solution provides key insights into the carrier's VoLTE roaming traffic.

Voipfuture has been working with Mobileum to incorporate the unique data that Voipfuture Qrystal creates from monitoring VoLTE roaming traffic and providing visibility into S8 and S8HR interfaces. Qrystal provides visibility into the user experience of roaming mobile subscribers.

Mobileum and Voipfuture have been working to enhance Mobileum's RCEM monitoring system with Qrystal's advanced dual visibility voice metrics and analytics covering a wide range of VoIP services.

"Voipfuture's Qrystal technology is exceptionally scalable. It's applicable to a wide range of network environments, from enterprise branch sites to major interconnection points and carrier networks," says Michael Wallbaum , Voipfuture's Director Product Marketing. "Qrystal has demonstrated its value to provide visibility for VoLTE roaming user experience and we are looking forward to continuing to support Mobileum with their current and future projects."

Qrystal's VoLTE roaming use cases include:

Voice quality KPIs

VoLTE roaming visited network user experience

Troubleshooting

Customer care applications

Interconnection monitoring

Customer SLA monitoring

SMS

Quality statistics per roaming partner

Quality statistics for both own subscribers roaming and foreign subscribers in their own network

About Voipfuture

Voipfuture is a premium voice service monitoring and analytics company that provides a unique technology for assessing, aggregating, analyzing, and visualizing voice quality information, for better data-based insights.

Voipfuture products offer a precise view on both the media and control planes to communication service providers, wholesalers, enterprises, call centers and cloud-based voice services. Since its launch, Voipfuture has been at the forefront of voice quality monitoring and continues to redefine Voice over IP by connecting customers' view on service quality with high resolution user experience, as well as with insights that enable next gen voice services.

For more information: https://www.voipfuture.com/

Media Contact:

Lilach Bar-Tal

[email protected]

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SOURCE Voipfuture
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Meta Platforms is seen in Davos, Switzerland, May 22, 2022. Picture taken May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

By David Randall

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Prominent hedge funds including Arrowstreet Capital LLC, D1 Capital Partners and Coatue Management LLC were among the investors that bought shares of Meta Platforms Inc in the first quarter of the year, amid an eye-popping rebound in the Facebook-parents stock.

Meta Platforms, which suffered the worst decline among the mega-cap FANG stocks in 2022, jumped about 70% during the first quarter after stunning Wall Street with better than expected earnings and steeper cost-cutting, while at the same time announcing a $40 billion share buyback. Shares of the company are now up nearly 100% for the year to date.

Arrowstreet Capital added about 5 million shares during the quarter, brining its total position to slightly more than 7 million shares, while Coatue more than doubled its position in the company by buying 4.2 million shares. Winslow Capital Management, meanwhile, initiated a new position in the firm by buying about 927,000 shares, and D1 Capital Partners bought slightly more than 1 million shares.

T Rowe Price Group Inc and Nuveen Asset Management were the largest buyers among mutual fund companies, with each firming adding slightly more than 6 million shares of the company.

Norges Bank, the central bank of Norway, was the largest seller among all firms, unloading more than 35 million shares during the quarter. Two Sigma Investments sold its entire stake of about 569,000 shares, while Glenview Capital Management, run by billionaire Larry Robbins, sold its entire stake of about 526,000 shares, according to filings.

(Reporting by David Randall; Editing by Ira Iosebashvili and Stephen Coates)
The Chinese national flag flies on the roof of a Ford car dealership in Beijing, China October 11, 2018. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

SHANGHAI/BEIJING (Reuters) - Ford said on Monday it was working to reduce costs in China as it strives to recover from a long sales slump in the world's largest auto market.

Our costs are not competitive, and we are working internally and with our partners to reduce costs in all areas, a representative of Ford China told Reuters in a statement.

We can only win through a lean and agile organisation. These actions are necessary for us to build a healthier and more sustainable business in China," the company added.

Local Chinese media reported last week, citing unnamed sources, that the company planned to cut 1,300 jobs in China.

The company did not comment on how it would cut costs. Reuters was not able to independently verify the reported job cuts.

Ford's sales in China have been sliding since 2016 but its exports from the country nearly doubled in 2022, industry data showed.

Ford will also restructure its China operations to turn one of its joint ventures into an export hub for low-cost commercial electric and combustion vehicles, chief executive Jim Farley said in April.

(Reporting by Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh and Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
FILE PHOTO: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan performs umrah on the 27th day of Ramadan with his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the Grand Mosque, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, May 9, 2021. Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

By Mubasher Bukhari

LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) - A Pakistani court in the eastern city of Lahore on Monday granted bail until May 23 to former Prime Minister Imran Khan's wife in a graft case, a lawyer in their legal team said.

Khan was arrested by the country's anti-graft agency last week in the same case, prompting violent protests across the country, which is already reeling from a crippling economic crisis. He was later released and received bail from a court in Islamabad for two weeks.

Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, was co-accused along with Khan in the case, which pertained to the alleged receiving of financial help from a land developer in the setting-up of Al Qadir University of which the former premier and his spouse are trustees.

"We had requested for a protective bail for Bushra Bibi in Al Qadir Trust Case and a two-judge bench of LHC has granted the bail till May 23," Bibi's lawyer, Intizar Hussain Panjutha, told Reuters.

Khan, who accompanied his wife to the Lahore High Court, had earlier on Monday expressed fears that the government was planning to arrest his wife as part of what he says is a campaign against him.

"The plan is now to humiliate me by putting Bushra Begum in jail," he said in a post on Twitter, using a Muslim honorific title common in South Asia.

Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The government denies being behind the case and says the anti-graft agency, the National Accountability Bureau, is working independently.

The case is one of more than 100 registered against the embattled Khan since he was ousted from power last year in a parliamentary vote having serving less than four of his five-year term.

He has since campaigned across the country for fresh elections and blames the military for cracking down on him and his party - a charge the military denies. He was shot and wounded in an attack while campaigning last year.

Visuals shared by his party showed Khan's security detail surrounding the vehicle carrying Bibi - who wears the traditional Islamic face veil - and using a large white cloth curtain to cover her as she alighted.

(Reporting by Mubasher Bukhari, writing by Gibran Peshimam, editing by Ed Osmond and Alex Richardson)
FILE PHOTO: U.S. dollar banknotes are seen in this illustration taken March 10, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House last week gave Republican lawmakers a list of proposals to reduce the deficit by closing tax loopholes as part of debt ceiling talks, and each item was rejected by Republican negotiators, the Washington Post reported on Monday, citing three sources.

Senior White House officials floated the tax plans on a phone call with Republicans, the Post reported. They included a measure aimed at cryptocurrency transactions and another for large real estate investors, it reported.

(Reporting by Rami Ayyub and Jasper Ward; Editing by Tim Ahmann)
DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud met his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, in Jeddah on Monday, the Saudi foreign ministry wrote on Twitter.

The German foreign ministry had said earlier that Baerbock, who will also visit Qatar next, would discuss bilateral issues as well as questions of regional crises with Gulf counterparts.

"In view of the numerous challenges in the region, from the acute crisis in the Sudan and the long-standing conflicts in Syria and Yemen to the Talibans takeover of power in Afghanistan, a dependable dialogue with partners in the Gulf is essential for Germany and Europe," the German ministry added.

The ministry also quoted Baerbock as saying: "The Gulf region is a geopolitical hub between Asia, Africa and Europe and its influence extends far beyond the Arabian Peninsula."

(Reporting by Jana Choukeir; Editing by Hugh Lawson, William Maclean)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Khalaf Khalafov has met with a delegation led by Italian Senator Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata, Senator Marco Scurria, President of the Italian Interparliamentary Friendship bilateral Group and Ettore Rosato, member of the Chamber of Deputies, who are in Azerbaijan to participate in the special session of the Azerbaijani Parliament dedicated to the 100th anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev, Trend reports citing the press service of MFA.

At the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the multifaceted strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Italy and the measures being taken to strengthen it, as well as on the agenda for broad cooperation in the political, economic, energy and humanitarian fields

The importance of inter-parliamentary cooperation in bringing relations between the two countries to the current high level, and the importance of the exchange of visits in this regard were noted.

Khalafov informed the delegation in detail about Azerbaijan's efforts to establish a lasting peace in the region in the post-conflict period, large-scale restoration and reconstruction work carried out in the liberated territories.

The Italian parliamentarians said that Azerbaijan is an important strategic partner of Italy, a leading country in the region, and that Azerbaijan's efforts to establish peace in the region are commendable.

The parties also exchanged views on the role of Azerbaijan in the energy security of Europe, the implementation of international transport projects and other issues of mutual interest.
By Adam Makary

CAIRO (Reuters) - As she tried to save her ailing grandparents stuck amid fighting in central Khartoum, Azhaar Sholgami put in calls from New York to Sudan's two warring factions, aid workers, and embassies near her grandparents' home, but her efforts were in vain.

Sholgami's grandmother died alone, her body still lying unburied at the family home. Her grandfather was shot three times while out seeking supplies and remains stranded with his wounds in Khartoum.

Her story echoes those of other desperate members of Sudan's diaspora and those outside the capital struggling to evacuate loved ones trapped under bombardment with little access to food or water as the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) battle in Khartoum.

"The process has been exhausting," said Sholgami, a student living in New York, as she detailed the family's increasingly frantic efforts to help the elderly couple, Alaweya Reshwan and Abdullah Sholgami, who were married for 60 years.

"My grandmother died alone and that breaks my heart because she'd always tell me that she's scared of being alone," she said.

Much of her anger and frustration is directed at the British embassy and what she sees as its reluctance to help her grandfather, a British citizen, because he also holds Sudanese nationality.

"The British embassy is four steps from my grandparents' house My grandfather is also a British citizen. Every time we called or filled in a form, we would get asked if he had dual citizenship. How does that make him any less of a priority?" she said.

A British government spokesperson said Britain had carried out the longest and largest evacuation of any Western country from Sudan, and that its evacuation was open to British nationals and eligible family members.

A week into the conflict Britain and other Western countries began evacuating diplomats and other citizens. Sholgami's grandparents were not included. Living in a business district with no neighbours nearby and unable to charge their phones because the power was cut, they were alone.

RSF fighters took over their house - as Khartoum residents say they have done to homes across the city, though the group denies this.

After 10 days her grandfather drove out for supplies but was injured - shot in the hand, the chest and the lower back. An army soldier took him to hospital, leaving his wife alone at home.

The family did not learn he had been shot until days later and had to phone around Khartoum's few remaining hospitals to find out he was still alive. Sholgami intensified her efforts with the embassy.

"We wanted to see if they could just send them food or water. We tried at least 30 times to get them evacuated, but nothing worked," she said.

Eventually it was a Turkish diplomat that notified Azhaar of her grandmother's death, contacting her via Twitter and asking for her number.

"I thought he was going to tell me that they were about to evacuate my grandmother, but instead I found out she had passed away," she said.

Meanwhile the family are trying to arrange travel documents for her grandfather to come to Cairo as his passport remains in his office and impossible to reach.

"That she died of starvation, in the heat with no electricity... to this moment we are still unable to reach her body," she said.

"We're begging the RSF, begging anyone to just at least bury her in her own backyard."

(This story has been corrected to say an army soldier took the grandfather to hospital, not an RSF fighter, in paragraph 11)

(Reporting by Adam Makary; Editing by Angus McDowall, William Maclean)
U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden disembark from ir Force One as they arrive at Philadelphia International Airport prior to attending the University of Pennsylvania graduation ceremony where their granddaughter Maisy Biden will receive he

By Nandita Bose

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House on Monday released financial disclosure reports for President Joe Biden showing the president's personal finances in 2022 changed little from the prior year, even though his book royalties fell.

Biden earned between $2,500 and $5,000 in book royalties in 2022, down sharply from $30,000 a year earlier. He also earned less than $3,000 in "speaking and writing engagements," from close to $30,000 last year, the disclosures show.

The disclosures, which included First Lady Jill Biden's income, showed her book royalties also dropped. She earned between $5,000- $15,000 in 2022 compared to $15,000- $50,000 from book sales a year earlier.

The report also showed the couple's assets were worth between $1.09 million and $2.57 million.

They owe between $250,000 and $500,000 on a mortgage on their Delaware home, plus between $45,000 and $150,000 on other loans.

In April, the Bidens released their federal tax return , showing the couple earned nearly $580,000 last year and paid an effective federal income tax rate of 23.8%.

Biden draws a $400,000 wage as president of the United States. Jill Biden earned $82,335 from her job teaching English at Northern Virginia Community College.

The remainder of their income is drawn from investment interest, pensions, annuities, distributions from retirement accounts and Social Security as well as a corporation that collects their book royalties, according to the joint tax return.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler and David Gregorio)
WASHINGTON  U.S. fighter jets intercepted six Russian aircraft last week operating in international airspace near Alaska, military officials announced Monday.

F-16 and F-22 fighter jets on Thursday intercepted Russian aircraft that included TU-95 bombers, IL-78 tankers and SU-35 fighter jets, according to officials with the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD. The Russian planes remained in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian territory.

The flights occurred during several large-scale U.S. military training exercises that are ongoing in Alaska.

NORAD described the incident as routine, saying this happens six or seven times a year in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone, a stretch of mostly international airspace some 200 nautical miles off the Alaskan coast.

This Russian activity in the North American ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat, NORAD said in a statement. NORAD tracks and positively identifies all military aircraft that enter the ADIZ, routinely monitors aircraft movements and, as necessary, escorts them from the ADIZ.

The U.S. aircraft involved in the incident also included KC-135 Stratotankers and E-3 AWACS, according to the statement.

Thursdays intercept was at least the third one in 2023. The previous incidents happened on consecutive days in February. Military officials at the time said the Russian planes were in no way related to incidents in which U.S. fighter jets shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon or multiple unidentified objects over U.S. and Canadian airspace.
With the help of a yellow Labrador retriever, the Navys newest aircraft carrier is testing a pilot program to improve quality of life for sailors at sea.

USS Gerald R. Ford is the first Navy ship to host an operational stress military working dog, said Cmdr. Genevieve Clark, a chaplain aboard the carrier.

Three-year old Sage from the Virginia Beach, Va.-based nonprofit Mutts With A Mission was aboard when the carrier left Naval Station Norfolk on May 2 for a global deployment.

With a wag of her tail, love for attention and friendly demeanor, Sage offers sailors a way to get the stress-reducing benefits that animals can bring, Navy officials said.

In a lot of ways, Sage normalizes life, said Clark, who completed 120 hours of training before deployment in becoming the canines primary handler. Because just like people have pets at home, thats a normal part of life that we can offer now at sea.

The Navy is working to address quality of life issues and pushing to expand services amid concerns about mental health and suicide.

In 2022, 70 active-duty sailors died by suicide. There were 59 and 65 suicide deaths of active-duty sailors in 2021 and 2020, respectively, according to the Navys website.

Recent Navy efforts include installing waterfront resiliency centers at some bases, such as Naval Station Rota in Spain, where sailors can seek counseling or other mental health services just steps from four homeported destroyer berths.

The Navy also plans to place chaplains on all its destroyers by 2025 to help fill a critical need for counseling, Stars and Stripes reported Feb. 27.

And officials at Naval Support Activity Bahrain last month held a mental health stand down designed to raise awareness of expanded services available there.

Sage offers sailors aboard Ford more than a chance to say hello or cuddle for a few minutes, officials say.

A casual encounter can offer an opportunity for Clark or one of three other trained handlers to talk with sailors who may be feeling homesick, anxious or have personal or work-related problems, she said.

Its an entry point to further conversation where we can either help directly or connect them with the people (needed), Clark said.

Sage is trained to assist sailors in distress with a technique to help them regulate their breathing. She also intuitively seeks out service members who need attention, Clark said.

For the past year, Mutts With A Mission has sent dogs for visits to Navy ashore facilities and ships, Brooke Corson, the groups director, said in an email. Facility dogs also have worked at police departments, where they help to reduce the stigma associated with mental health, she said.

They give the individual an excuse to go seek help under the guise of visiting the dog, Corson said. Sometimes the dogs enable the individual to open up where they might not have otherwise been comfortable doing so.

Sage has taken part in thousands of hours of training, exposure and socialization since she was 8 weeks old. Shes even received training on how to use ship ladders, Corson said.

The hope is to expand the program to more ships and potentially other military services.

For example, the group is working to place a military facility working dog aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp for an upcoming deployment, Corson said.

In just a few weeks, Sage has proven popular with Ford sailors, who often question her absence if Clark is alone. Sage routinely tours nearly all areas of the ship and attends staff and other meetings, Clark said.

Clark believes the programs value will become more apparent as Fords mission continues.

Sage is going to be even more important to being present with individuals or even small groups as they process the stressors that come with a deployment at sea, she said.
(Tribune News Service)  When the Space Force was established in late 2019, more than 1,000 Air National Guard members focused on space missions were left behind. A debate about their future is still raging, leaving the airmen in limbo some three years later.

Lawmakers are debating a new Space National Guard that could leave the 16 space-focused guard units, including seven in Colorado, in place. They've come to be known as "orphan units," left behind in an Air Force that is no longer technically responsible for training or equipping them.

The Space Force could also start a new model backed by Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations, that would allow active duty guardians to work part time and hold civilian jobs. In an October 2022 policy statement the Biden administration said it supported transitioning the guard missions into the active Space Force to avoid the cost of a Space National Guard, a contested number.

While Congress weighs options, Colorado airmen don't have clarity to plan their lives.

"If there is no Space National Guard, our world is going to change," said Maj. Matt Friedell, director of operations for the 138th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron at Peterson Space Force Base.

The squadron of about 100 people selectively deny enemy communications in the field by jamming satellites, an in-demand capability, he said. The unit also establishes satellite communications.

The work could be reassigned to active-duty Space Force members and the National Guardsmen could transition as well if a Space National Guard is not established. But the transition could be expensive, time-consuming and leaving the guard for an active-duty position may not appeal to many, said Col. Stephanie Figueroa, who oversees the 138th and other space-focused missions in Colorado as part of the 233rd Space Group.

She expects it would take five to seven years to transition all the Guard missions to the active-duty forces and in the process the expertise of guardsmen who also work in industry at aerospace companies such as Ball Aerospace and Lockheed Martin would be lost. She expects very few guardsmen would transfer back into active duty.

"You will get some that will go over.  Not as many as they think or need," she said.

At the same time, demand for the 138th Squadron's ability to interrupt communications is high and those services may have to be expanded to meet the needs of combatant commanders, she said. Combatant commanders call on service members from all branches to counter threats.

In the cold rain and wind Thursday, the 138th and Air National Guard members from Mississippi used a forklift to push a large collapsible satellite antenna into a hulking C-17 Globemaster III. About 20 guardsmen were headed for Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, along with all their gear loaded on pallets for training with other electromagnetic warfare squadrons from California, Hawaii and Florida. Another unit focused on missile warning from Alaska planned to attend, as well, Friedell said.

The entire trip provides training, he said, right down to the details of putting ramps in place to get satellite antennas onto the plane.

Training for travel is key, because the squadron has been deploying more often than the typical 18- to 24-month cycle, because satellite jamming services are in need. He expects 17 guardsmen to go to Africa in the fall, the third deployment for the squadron since its creation in 2019.

If the unit's duties transitioned to the active Space Force, the unit probably would have to train its replacements and could potentially receive a new mission, such as cyber communications, Friedell said.

Leaving units in place under a Space National Guard would maintain a system that is working, he said.

For decision-makers, a key sticking point is cost.

A Congressional Budget Office analysis found that a new Space National Guard just for the existing units probably would need $100 million annually to support administrative overhead, in addition to $20 million for additional facilities. A larger Space National Guard, between 3,400 and 4,300 people, could cost $385 million-$490 million a year, the CBO estimated. The current Space Force is about 8,000 people.

The adjutants general who oversee the National Guards in each state pushed back on the estimates in an open letter in March, citing an estimate by the National Guard Bureau that expected $250,000 could cover heraldry, uniform items and the transfer of existing manpower and resources from existing units to a new Space National Guard.

The letter also noted that a Space National Guard has bipartisan support.

In May, Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, and Rep. Jason Crow, D-Aurora, co-sponsored the latest House bill to create a Space National Guard.

"I am encouraged to see more momentum and support from national defense leaders this year as we restart this conversation," Lamborn said in a statement.

Saltzman, a key player in the conversation, urged action in recent congressional testimony, saying Space Force could leave the space-focused missions in the Air National Guard, but that would be "the most untenable position."

He asked senators to consider the proposal to create part-time guardians in the Space Force that could hold civilian jobs and work as part of the active-duty force. While it sounds similar to a National Guard model, it is more integrated. It would allow members to transfer to full time more easily and retain talent within Space Force, he said.

It's an option that would sever the community ties that the Guard builds, when they jump in to help with wildfires, floods and other emergencies, Friedell said.

"It's such a good feeling that if something goes bad, we go help immediately," he said.

Maj. Tanya N. Downsworth, with the secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, said in a written statement if the Space Force pursued the model Saltzman is promoting, "additional structure options" could also be examined.

(c)2023 The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

Visit at www.gazette.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
CAPE TOWN, South Africa  Russia's top army general and his South African counterpart discussed "military cooperation" while meeting Monday in Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The announcement came hours after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa denied accusations by the United States that his country was siding with Russia in the war in Ukraine and had sent weapons to help it.

Gen. Oleg Salyukov, the commander of Russia's ground forces, met the chief of South Africa's army, Lt. Gen. Lawrence Mbatha, at Russia's general command headquarters in Moscow, the Russian ministry said.

"The sides discussed issues of military cooperation and the implementation of projects geared to enhance the combat readiness of the two countries' armies," the ministry said in a statement. "The meeting between the military commanders yielded agreements on the further expansion of cooperation between the land forces in various areas."

The Defense Ministry said a South African delegation would visit a number of Russian army "educational and training facilities."

The South African army said the trip was planned well in advance of the U.S. ambassador to South Africa alleging last week that the country had provided weapons to Russia when a ship under U.S. sanctions made a secret stop at a South African naval base in December.

The South African government has denied the Russian cargo ship's stop involved an official sale of weapons, although it has not categorically ruled out an arms transaction took place.

Ramaphosa has said an investigation was underway to determine if anyone loaded weapons onto the Russian-flagged Lady R cargo ship at the Simon's Town naval base near Cape Town.

Ramaphosa used his weekly message to the nation Monday to reaffirm South Africa's non-aligned stance with regard to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The president's statement was seen as a response to U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety, who questioned South Africa's neutrality in the Ukraine war while making the allegations about a weapons shipment.

Brigety was subsequently summoned to a meeting with South Africa's foreign minister.

"We do not accept that our non-aligned position favors Russia above other countries," Ramaphosa wrote in his weekly message. "Nor do we accept that it should imperil our relations with other countries."

Ramaphosa added: "We have been firm on this point: South Africa has not been, and will not be, drawn into a contest between global powers."

He also hinted that Russian President Vladimir Putin would visit South Africa for a meeting of leaders of the BRICS economic bloc in August. The Kremlin has not confirmed that Putin plans to attend the BRICS summit.

Such a trip would entangle South Africa in another diplomatic mess because the country is a signatory to the treaty that created the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March for alleged war crimes involving the abductions of children from Ukraine.

Since the indictment, Putin has traveled rarely, and only to countries that are close allies of Russia. Countries that are parties to the treaty would be obliged to arrest the Russian leader.

While Russia and South Africa both described Monday's meeting of the countries' top army generals as part of a normal bilateral trip, it's bound to increase scrutiny of Africa's most developed economy, which is seen as an influential nation in the developing world.

South Africa is the only African nation in the BRICS bloc, which also includes Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Aside from the weapons allegations, South Africa also hosted Russian and Chinese warships and took part in naval exercises off its east coast in February that coincided with the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Brigety, the American ambassador, said last week that U.S. officials have "respect for South Africa's policy of neutrality and non-alignment in international affairs" but had "noted a series of issues which suggest that in practice the government of South Africa is in fact not non-aligned."

The Associated Press independently verified that the Lady R cargo ship stopped at the South African naval base for at least three days in December, as Brigety claimed. A review of records by the AP also shows that the Lady R is tied to a company that was sanctioned by the U.S. for transporting weapons for the Russian government and aiding its war effort in Ukraine.

Magome reported from Johannesburg. AP Writer Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.
A second batch of U.S.-based F-15E Strike Eagles have rotated into Kadena Air Base on Okinawa as part of a two-year plan to replace the installations aging F-15 fighters with a superior rotational force.

An unknown number of Strike Eagles began arriving April 22 from the 391st Fighter Squadron of Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, an 18th Wing statement said that day. The aircraft continued to trickle into the strategic air base through May 9, a spokesman from Japans Ministry of Defense told Stars and Stripes by email Friday.

The Idaho F-15Es join a group of Strike Eagles that arrived April 8 from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.; F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska; and Kadenas remaining F-15C/D Eagles.

In coordination with our allies and partners, the Bold Tigers are here to support the 18th Wing to project decisive airpower as well as reinforce regional stability and security, Lt. Col. Jeremiah King, 391st Fighter Squadron commander, said in the statement.

The Air Force is just over a quarter of the way into a 24-month plan to replace its aging F-15 fighters at Kadena with rotating squadrons of more advanced warplanes. Some F-15s went to Air National Guard units in the United States or to the Air Force boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona.

There are now 22 Strike Eagles, 12 F-35As and an unknown number of F-15s at the base, the ministry spokesman said. The stealth fighters arrived March 28.

The Air Force does not release the number of deployed aircraft due to operational security. Some government officials in Japan speak to the media on condition of anonymity as a requirement of their positions.

The Air Force on Oct. 28 announced plans to replace 48 Eagles from the 44th and 67th Fighter Squadrons with rotating units of more advanced aircraft.

About a dozen F-22 Raptors from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, arrived in early November and a dozen F-16CM Fighting Falcons arrived in January from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.

Those aircraft have since departed.

The Strike Eagle  first delivered for testing in 1988 - is a dual-role fighter developed to meet Air Force needs for a jet that could effectively engage enemy targets on the ground, the Boeing website said. It can carry 23,000 pounds of weapons and is outfitted with advanced navigation and infrared targeting systems, allowing the fighter to fly at low altitude and high speeds at night or in inclement weather.
CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  Large-scale aerial drills are underway again over the Korean Peninsula, nearly a month after South Korea carried out similar training with the United States.

More than 60 South Korean aircraft are taking part in the weeklong, biannual Soaring Eagle exercise that kicked off Friday. It consists of aerial combat scenarios, ground-to-air missile simulations and aerial refueling training, according to a Ministry of National Defense news release.

Only South Korean aircraft are taking part in the exercise, according to the release. They include F-35A Lightning IIs, F-15K Slam Eagles, KF-16s, KA-1 close air support aircraft and KC-330 refuelers.

Soaring Eagles purpose is to respond swiftly to recent, repeated enemy provocations and threats and to have the best operational capability," air force Col. Won Kwonsoo, chief of the Air Combat Commands Operational Training Division, said in the release.

The exercise comes 29 days after North Korea last fired a long-range ballistic missile that flew east for 620 miles on April 12. The missile prompted the Japanese government to warn Hokkaido residents to seek shelter before it splashed down in the Sea of Japan, or East Sea.

North Korea has fired 12 ballistic missiles in nine separate days of testing so far this year.

Soaring Eagle follows several large-scale exercises by the United States and South Korean militaries.

On March 20, roughly 1,200 U.S. and South Korean soldiers carried out four days of live-fire training with the M777 howitzer, Stryker armored fighting vehicles, AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthog close air support aircraft. Those drills took place about 16 miles from the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea.

One month later, U.S. sailors and Marines trained with their South Korean counterparts for the two-week Ssangyong Exercise that included more than 30 ships, 50 amphibious assault vessels and 70 aircraft.

The joint drills are part of Seoul and Washingtons efforts to expand the scope of their military alliance and to restore the realistic, theater-level combined exercise system, the White House said in an April 26 fact sheet.

During South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeols state visit to the White House on April 26, he and President Joe Biden released a joint statement saying their two countries will broaden and deepen our ties as an alliance in action toward the future.

North Koreas state-run Korean Central News Agency criticized Yoons visit in reports and accused Seoul of trying to fuel tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The U.S. and South Koreas hostile activities against [North Korea] will end tragically, KCNA reported on May 5.

Stars and Stripes reporter Yoo Kyong Chang contributed to this report.
American investors plan to develop facilities at a former U.S. naval base in the Philippines that could include the installations airport, according to a Philippine government news outlet.

Cerberus Capital Management, a New York-based private equity firm, took control of a large shipyard in Subic Bay last year. Eight hundred Philippine navy sailors are now stationed in part of the installation, the government-run Philippine News Agency reported Friday.

Cerberus executives, led by chairman and former U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle, discussed their investment plans during a Friday meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos in Malacanang, the Manila Bulletin newspaper reported Sunday.

Were all very excited about this project and  we have always tried to find a way to regain our position in the shipbuilding, Marcos said during the meeting, according to the newspaper.

Cerberus did not immediately respond to questions emailed after hours Sunday in New York about the investment plans.

A spokesman for Marcos office, Chelly Garafil, told the Philippine News Agency on Friday that Cerberus sees value in improving the former Cubi Point naval air station at Subic to serve as a logistics and cargo hub.

U.S. Air Force AC-130J Ghostrider gunships, MC-130J Commando II airlifters, CV-22 Osprey tiltrotors and MQ-9 Reaper drones operated from Cubi Point during last months Balikatan drills involving more than 17,000 U.S. and Filipino troops.

Once a formidable Navy installation, Subic Bay has changed since U.S. forces departed in 1992. Subic Bay Metropolitan Corp., a government organization that runs the facility, is looking for ways to make money in the civilian sector.

South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai has expressed interest in two drydocks at Subic for shipbuilding and could move to the facility by years end. That project would create 5,000 to 15,000 jobs, according to the Philippine News Agency.

Cerberus subsidiary Subcomm, which builds and installs submarine cables, will begin operating from Subic Bay in August, Garafil said, according to the news agency.

Cerberus is also eyeing investments in the Philippines semiconductor and energy sectors, he said.

The mention of semiconductors and undersea cables suggests that the Philippines could become a terminus for cables in the Western Pacific and a backup to the Taiwanese semiconductor industry in the event of conflict or threat, according to Paul Buchanan, a New Zealand-based U.S. security expert.

The U.S. Navy could use improved facilities at Subic Bay for logistics, repairs and replenishment, Buchanan said in an email Monday.

The participation of civilian enterprises gives good economic cover to whatever military purpose might be served by the expanded facilities, he said.

The Subic Bay investments are a win for both parties, according to Patricio Abinales, a Philippines expert at the University of Hawaii.

Cerberus will be able to fill the gap indeed and on the cheap while the Philippines may be able to avail (be it to buy, lease, etc.) of some of the ships constructed in this rehabilitated shipyard to project a more robust presence in the South China Sea, he said in an email Monday.

The limited U.S. industrial capacity in shipyards is well known, Leland Bettis, director of the Guam-based Pacific Center for Island Security research institute, wrote in an email the same day.

This contributes to the current (U.S. Navy) fleet maintenance backlogs as well as caps on the number of new vessels than can realistically be planned for delivery, he said. If political issues in the Philippines can be resolved, Navy work at U.S.-owned facilities in Subic has to be an attractive consideration.
PARIS  France pledged additional military aid for Ukraine on Sunday, including light tanks, armored vehicles, training for soldiers and other assistance as the Ukrainians gear up for a counteroffensive against Russian forces, following surprise talks in Paris between the Ukrainian and French presidents.

Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy and France's Emmanuel Macron met for about three hours at the French presidential Elysee Palace  an encounter kept under wraps until shortly before the Ukrainian leader's arrival in Paris from Germany on a French government jet, extending his multi-stop European tour.

With Ukraine planning to go on the offensive hoping to retake Russian-occupied territory, military aid was a top agenda item. Macron's office said France will supply dozens of light tanks and armored vehicles "in the weeks ahead," without giving specific numbers. Also promised were more air defense systems, but again details weren't made public.

More Ukrainians will also be made battle-ready, with France aiming to train about 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers in France this year and nearly 4,000 others in Poland as part of a wider European effort, Macron's office said.

In a statement, France described its support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as "unwavering" and promised that its political, economic, humanitarian and military aid will continue "for as long as necessary."

In a tweet on his arrival, Zelenskyy said: "With each visit, Ukraine's defense and offensive capabilities are expanding. The ties with Europe are getting stronger, and the pressure on Russia is growing."

France has supplied Ukraine with an array of weaponry, include air defense systems, light tanks, howitzers and other arms and equipment and fuel.

France dispatched a plane to pick up Zelenskyy in Germany, where he met with Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier Sunday and discussed his country's planned counteroffensive. Zelenskyy said it will aim to liberate Russian-occupied areas within Ukraine's internationally recognized borders, and not attack Russian territory.

The Washington Post cited previously undisclosed documents from a trove of U.S. intelligence leaks suggesting that Zelenskyy has considered trying to capture areas in Russia proper for possible use as bargaining chips in peace negotiations to end the war launched by Moscow in February 2022. This would put him at odds with Western governments that have insisted that weapons they provide must not be used to attack targets in Russia.

Asked about the report, Zelenskyy said: "We don't attack Russian territory, we liberate our own legitimate territory."

"We have neither the time nor the strength (to attack Russia)," he said, according to an official interpreter. "And we also don't have weapons to spare, with which we could do this."

"We are preparing a counterattack for the illegally occupied areas based on our constitutionally defined legitimate borders, which are recognized internationally," Zelenskyy said.

Among areas still occupied by Russia are the Crimean peninsula and parts of eastern Ukraine with mainly Russian-speaking populations.

A Luftwaffe jet flew Zelenskyy to the German capital from Rome, where he met Saturday with Pope Francis and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni.

It was his first visit to Berlin since the start of the invasion and came a day after the German government announced a new package of military aid for Ukraine worth more than $3 billion, including tanks, anti-aircraft systems and ammunition.

Zelenskyy thanked Scholz for the support, saying Germany is now second only behind the United States in providing aid to Ukraine  and joked that he is working to make it the biggest donor.

"German air defense systems, artillery, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles are saving Ukrainian lives and bringing us closer to victory. Germany is a reliable ally! Together we are bringing peace closer!" he wrote on Twitter.

Scholz said that Berlin has so far given Kyiv some 17 billion euros in bilateral aid and that it can expect more in future.

After initially hesitating to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons, Germany has become one of the biggest suppliers of arms to Ukraine, including Leopard 1 and 2 battle tanks, and the sophisticated IRIS-T SLM air defense system. Modern Western hardware is considered crucial if Ukraine is to succeed in its planned counteroffensive.

In the western German city of Aachen, Zelenskyy also received the prestigious International Charlemagne Prize, awarded to him and the people of Ukraine.

In her congratulatory speech, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen compared the war in Ukraine to the fall of the Iron Curtain more than 30 years ago.

"Every generation has its moment when it has to stand up to defend democracy and what it believes in," she said. "For us, that moment has come."

Zelenskyy accused Moscow of trying to turn back the clock of European history.

"Modern Russia waged war not just on us, as a free and sovereign state, not just against united Europe as a global symbol of peace and prosperity," he said in his acceptance speech. "This is Russia's war for the past."

In other developments:

Zelenskyy's chief aide, Andriy Yermak, said Sunday that five civilians died in Ukraine's southern Kherson region when an unexploded Russian shell blew up.

Overnight, Russia launched a "massive" attack on Ukraine with Iranian-made Shahed explosive drones, which wounded more than 30 people, according to the Ukrainian military. Eighteen of the 23 drones were shot down, but those that got through, and wreckage from those intercepted, damaged 50 apartment buildings, private homes and other buildings, the military said without providing further details.

Russia also hit the western city of Ternopil and southern city of Mykolaiv with rockets, wounding an unspecified number of civilians.

Shelling by Russian forces killed a 59-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man Sunday in the Chuhuiv district of Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv province, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov reported on Telegram.

Russia's Defense Ministry said Sunday that Ukrainian forces had killed two of its colonels in the Bakhmut area.

Jordans reported from Berlin. Associated Press writers David Rising in Kyiv and Elise Morton in London contributed to this report.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. The Azerbaijani pavilion is presented at Windsor Castle in the UK as part of the traditional Royal Windsor Horse Show, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation told Trend.

The horse show has been held in Windsor Castle Park every year since 1943.

At the event, Azerbaijan was represented by the Equestrian Federation, and during 4 days performances were held with the participation of Karabakh horses and the national dance group.

This year, within the event, for the first time, with the foundation's support, an Azerbaijani pavilion was created within the framework of the equestrian show.

The pavilion presents the history, culture of the country, its rich tourist opportunities, souvenirs of various brands, and samples of Azerbaijani-made products.

The images of Karabakh horses that took the central place in the pavilion, as well as a photo exhibition dedicated to the chovgan game (Azerbaijani traditional horse-riding game) competitions, as well as a sample of the "Chelebi" sculpture, authored by Mushfig Heydarov, were met with great interest.

The visitors also focused on musical instruments on which mugham is performed - the pearl of Azerbaijani music, ancient copper and pottery, national costumes, and on samples of carpet weaving.

Moreover, various publications of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation were also presented in the pavilion.
BRUSSELS  NATO leaders are discussing ways to ensure that Ukraine does not come under attack from Russia again once the war is over, but they are concerned about doing anything that might drag the organization into a wider conflict, the head of the military alliance said Monday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seeking "security guarantees" from the 31-nation alliance to ward off any future attack from Ukraine's neighbor. Some countries are weighing what could be done to avoid a repeat of the war. Russia already annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

"There are consultations that are going on," ahead of a summit involving U.S. President Joe Biden and his counterparts in Lithuania on July 11-12, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said during an interview with his predecessor, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, at a conference in Copenhagen.

Stoltenberg declined to provide details about those talks.

NATO allies benefit from a collective security guarantee  so called Article 5 of the organization's founding Washington Treaty  which ensures that an attack on any one of their number would be considered an attack on them all.

In the past year, the U.S., U.K., France and Germany committed to provide security guarantees to Finland and Sweden when they applied to join NATO, should it be necessary to dissuade President Vladimir Putin from trying to destabilize the two Nordic neighbors.

Finland has since joined and has Article 5 protection, but Sweden's accession is pending.

"We don't know how this war will end, but what we do know is that when it ends it is extremely important that we are able to prevent history from repeating itself," Stoltenberg said. Beyond the annexation of Crimea, he also noted Russia's conflict with Georgia in 2008, saying: "This has to stop."

"The only way to ensure that that stops is partly to ensure that Ukraine has the military strength to deter and defend against further aggression from Russia but also to find some kind of framework to prevent President Putin from continuing to chip away at European security," Stoltenberg said.

But he said that "if NATO allies, and especially of course the big ones, start to issue security guarantees bilaterally to Ukraine we are very close to Article 5. So, there's no way to find an easy solution to these issues."

In February, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called on NATO countries to provide long-term security guarantees for Ukraine. He said they are necessary to shield Ukraine from future Russian aggression and to protect the system of international rules that has helped keep peace since the end of World War II.

NATO as an alliance does not provide weapons to Ukraine  although its members do bilaterally and in smaller groups  and the organization defends only the territory of its member countries as it is wary of being dragged into a wider war with nuclear armed Russia.

Ukraine has applied to join NATO but for that to happen, all 31 current members would have to agree. Most of the allies oppose letting the country in at a time when a war is raging.

Stoltenberg said that he expects NATO leaders to endorse Ukraine's membership aspirations at their summit and to emphasize that the alliance's door remains open to European countries that want to join.

But he underlined that there is no point in talking about membership if Ukraine loses the war.

"The most important thing is to be very strong in our support to Ukraine, so Ukraine (can) prevail," Stoltenberg said.
LONDON  Ukraine President Volodymyr, on a whirlwind European tour, pressed Britain on Monday to join a fighter jet coalition in advance of a counteroffensive against Russian forces, instead securing a commitment of attack drones and hundreds more missiles.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greeted Zelenskyy with a handshake and hug after his helicopter landed at Chequers, the British leaders official country retreat. Its Zelenskyys second trip to the U.K. since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

This is the fifth European country Zelenskky has visited in the past three days, after Italy, the Vatican, Germany and France. He is seeking more aid as Ukraine prepares a long-anticipated spring offensive to retake territory that Russia has seized.

The Kremlin reacted to the new weapons pledge extremely negatively, but at the same time believed the supplies wouldnt drastically change the course of the war, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

Britain aspires to be at the forefront among countries that continue to pump weapons into Ukraine, Peskov said. We repeat once again: It cannot yield any drastic and fundamental influence on the way the special military operation (in Ukraine) is unfolding. But, definitely, it leads to further destruction... It makes this whole story for Ukraine much more complicated.

Zelenskyy said one of the missions of his European trip was to build a fighter jet coalition to provide Ukraine with vital aerial capabilities. He said more work was needed on that front.

While the U.K. will not provide the planes, the prime minister said the country would join the coalition and begin a previously announced training program for Ukrainian fighter pilots as soon as this summer.

The U.K. has become one of Ukraines major military allies, providing short-range missiles and Challenger tanks and training 15,000 Ukrainian troops on British soil. Last week, Britain announced it had sent Ukraine Storm Shadow cruise missiles, whose range is more than 150 miles  the first known shipment of longer-range weaponry that Kyiv has long sought from its allies.

Sunaks office said it was giving Ukraine hundreds more air defense missiles, as well as long-range attack drones with a reach of more than 120 miles.

This is a crucial moment in Ukraines resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke, Sunak said. They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year.

We must not let them down.

Sunak will also push allies to deliver more support to Ukraine at a meeting of Group of Seven leaders in Japan later this week, Downing Street said.

As Zelenskyy visited European capitals, Russia stepped up attacks across Ukraine with drones and missiles. On Sunday, Russia shelled two communities in the northern border region of Sumy, regional officials said on Telegram. They said 109 explosions were recorded.

Zelenskyys office said Monday that the shelling had killed nine civilians and injured 19 in the past day. Six of the deaths were in the Kherson region. Two civilians were killed in Chuhuiv in the Kharkiv region and one in Prymorsk, on the Azov Sea coast about 12 miles from Russian-occupied Berdyansk.

The presidential office also reported that Marhanets, which lies across the river from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, was shelled.

In the Russian-occupied city of Luhansk, Russian state news agency RIA-Novosti reported that the acting regional interior minister, Igor Kornet, was injured in an explosion in a barbershop. Luhansks separatist head, Leonid Pasechnik, is quoted as saying the explosion was a bomb.

Assassination attempts and sabotage attacks have increased in Russian-occupied territory as well as Russia proper. Russian authorities often blame Ukrainian forces but Kyiv rarely acknowledges such attacks.

Zelenskyy traveled to Britain from Paris, where he met Sunday with French President Emmanuel Macron and secured a pledge of light tanks, armored vehicles and air defense systems.

About 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers would receive training in France this year and nearly 4,000 others in Poland, Macrons office said.

Speaking Monday on French television network TF1, Macron said training on French fighter jets such as the Mirage 2000 can start now but rejected the idea of France delivering warplanes to Ukraine.

Zelenskyy also met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday. It was his first visit to Berlin since the start of the invasion and came a day after the German government announced military aid for Ukraine worth more than 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion).

Modern Western hardware is considered crucial if Ukraine is to succeed in its planned counteroffensive. During his European trip, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would aim to liberate Russian-occupied areas within Ukraines internationally recognized borders and would not attack Russian territory.

Among areas Russia still occupies are the Crimean Peninsula and parts of eastern Ukraine with mainly Russian-speaking populations.
LONDON  Volodymyr Zelenskyy set off across Europe with a long shopping list. Ukraine's president will head home with much of what he wanted  though not the Western fighter jets he seeks to defend against Russian air attacks.

European leaders promised Zelenskyy an arsenal of missiles, tanks and drones during a whirlwind three-day visit to Italy, the Vatican, Germany, France and the U.K. that sought to replenish Ukraine's depleted weapons supplies ahead of a long-anticipated spring offensive aimed at turning the tide of the war.

The trip was also about shoring up European political and military support for the longer term, to ensure Ukraine can hold any ground it takes back and press for a favorable peace.

"They've got to show  they're in this conflict for the long term and that they're able to keep sustaining this effort," said Justin Crump, a former British tank commander who heads security consultancy Sibylline. "It's not going to be one shot and done."

Zelenskyy's energetic international diplomacy over 15 months of war has persuaded Ukraine's Western allies to send ever more powerful weapons, from German Leopard tanks to U.S. Patriot missile systems and Storm Shadow cruise missiles from the U.K.

Pressing his case to European leaders in person shows Zelenskyy's growing confidence about traveling abroad. It's also an attempt to get his "ducks in a row" as Ukraine prepares a push to reclaim territory seized by Russia, said Patrick Bury, senior lecturer in security at the University of Bath.

Bury said that if Ukraine launches an offensive "and it doesn't go well, there might be a drop off in support and more pressure to negotiate. I think he's just trying to bind in for as long as he possibly can as much support as he can from the West."

On Monday, the U.K. pledged hundreds more air defense missiles, as well as attack drones with a range of more than 200 kilometers (120 miles).

France, where Ukraine's leader met President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday, said it would supply Ukraine with dozens of light tanks and armored vehicles, along with unspecified air defense systems.

Zelenskyy also visited Germany for talks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose initial reluctance to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons was a source of frustration in Kyiv. Now, Germany has become one of the biggest arms suppliers to Ukraine, including battle tanks and the sophisticated IRIS-T SLM air-defense system.

During Zelenskyy's visit Germany announced another 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion) worth of equipment, including tanks, anti-aircraft systems and ammunition.

But Zelensky's aim of forming an international "fighter jet coalition" to supply Ukraine with planes has run up against NATO concern about escalating the alliance's role in the war. Ukraine wants U.S.-made F-16s to supplement its Soviet-era jets, but Washington has resisted calls to send them.

"We want to create a jet coalition and I am very positive about it," Zelenskyy said Monday after meeting British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. But, he added: "We have to work a little bit more on it."

Sunak said Britain wants to help Ukraine acquire jets, but "it's not a straightforward thing."

The U.K. does not have any F-16s, but says it will give Ukrainian pilots basic training on Western-standard jets starting this summer.

Germany's Scholz was evasive when asked about planes, referring instead to the anti-aircraft system it has provided to Kyiv.

"That's what we as Germany are now concentrating on," he said.

The flurry of announcements from Europe's capitals is part diplomatic theater. Ukraine gets a steady flow of equipment from the West, and some of the weapons announced this week may already have been on the way. Zelenskyy's trip was about securing supplies for the long term, as well as the imminent offensive.

"They should be able to carry out the offensive with what they already have, but that's not enough to sustain it over the long term," said retired French Vice Adm. Michel Olhagaray, a former head of France's center for higher military studies. "And they'll need the long term to make the Russians crack."

Zelenskyy began his European tour Saturday in Rome, where he received a hearty commitment from Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni  and a more nuanced and less welcome message from Pope Francis.

Calling Zelenskyy her friend and emphasizing their personal rapport, Meloni promised to provide Ukraine with whatever it needs to win the war and said any compromise to accept an "unjust peace" was unacceptable for Ukraine and Italy, and dangerous for the rest of Europe.

"We cannot call 'peace' something that could resemble an invasion," she told reporters, as Zelenskyy nodded along in agreement.

Zelenskyy also visited the Vatican to meet Pope Francis, who stressed the need for "gestures of humanity" toward the most vulnerable and innocent victims of the conflict.

While Francis has frequently prayed for the "martyred" Ukrainian people, he has also lamented the Russian mothers who have lost their sons. The equivalence, and Francis' reluctance to outright condemn Russia, is part of the Vatican's tradition of neutrality in conflicts.

Zelenskyy made clear he didn't appreciate Francis' emphasis on both Russian and Ukrainian victims of the war, tweeting: "there can be no equality between the victim and the aggressor."

It was a reminder that Ukraine faces a political as well as a military battle. In Africa and Asia, especially, many are reluctant to take sides in what is seen as a regional European conflict.

Francois Heisbourg, a French analyst on defense and security questions at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said Zelenskyy's European trip was part "weapons shopping tour, that's clear enough, and it seems to be working very well."

"But the other aspect, of course, is what you would call shaping the political battlefield," he said. "The politics are no less important for Zelenskyy than the purely military stuff."

Associated Press writers John Leicester in Paris, Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin, Nicole Winfield in Rome and Danica Kirka in London contributed to this report.
UNITED NATIONS  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged the United Nations on Monday to suspend Israels membership unless it implements resolutions establishing separate Jewish and Arab states and allows the return of Palestinian refugees.

Abbas spoke during the first official U.N. commemoration of the flight of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from what is now Israel following the U.N.s partition of British-ruled Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states 75 years ago.

Israels U.N. ambassador, Gilad Erdan, had sent letters to General Assembly ambassadors condemning the commemoration and urging them not to attend what he called an abominable event and a blatant attempt to distort history. He said those who attended would be condoning antisemitism and giving a green light to Palestinians to continue exploiting international organs to promote their libelous narrative.

Israel and the United States were among those that boycotted the commemoration of what is known as the Nakba, or catastrophe.

In an hourlong emotion-charged speech, Abbas asked the worlds nations why more than 1,000 resolutions adopted by U.N. bodies regarding the Palestinians had never been implemented. He held up a letter from Israels foreign minister, Moshe Sharett, after the resolutions were adopted in 1947 and 1948 promising to create a Palestinian state and allow the return of refugees and said: Either they do fulfill these obligations, or they stop becoming a member.

The General Assembly, which had 57 member nations in 1947, approved the resolution dividing Palestine by a vote of 33-13 with 10 abstentions. The Jewish side accepted the U.N. partition plan and after the British mandate expired in 1948, Israel declared its independence. The Arabs rejected the plan and neighboring Arab countries launched a war against the Jewish state.

The Nakba commemorates the estimated 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were forced from their homes in 1948.

The fate of these refugees and their descendants  estimated at over 5 million across the Middle East  remains a major disputed issue in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Israel rejects demands for a mass return of refugees to long-lost homes, saying it would threaten the countrys Jewish character.

The Nakba commemoration comes as Israeli-Palestinian fighting has intensified and protests over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus right-wing government and its plan to overhaul Israels judiciary show no sign of abating. Israels polarization and the Netanyahu governments extremist positions have also sparked growing international concern.

Abbas specifically blamed Britain, as Palestines ruler before the 1947 partition, and the United States, Israels most important ally, for the flight of the Palestinians, saying they bear political and ethical responsibility for evicting Palestinians and implanting Israel in our historic homeland.

And Israel would not have continued its hostility and aggression without the support it receives from these two countries, he said.

Abbas strongly criticized Israel for calling itself the only democracy in the Middle East, saying it is the only state in the world that occupies another people. And he rejected Israels insistence that it made the desert bloom, saying Palestine pre-1947 was very civilized, green, with lakes and rivers, and exported oranges to Europe.

The Palestinian leader said the most important right Palestinians are demanding now is self-determination and an independent state based on June 1967 borders. He reiterated that the Palestinians have agreed to accept 22% of the 1947 territory as part of a two-state solution to the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict, not the 44% they were given in the partition.

But he said the two-state solution is being destroyed, pointing to Israeli ministers publicly calling for another nakba against the Palestinians and Israelis calling for the killing of Palestinians, insisting defiantly that the Palestinians will never leave or give up East Jerusalem, which they want as their capital.

Abbas said Palestinians are not against Jews, but I am against those who occupy our land. He was born in Safed in the Galilee, now part of Israel, and said like other Palestinian refugees he wants to go home.

He said Israel should recognize and apologize for the Nakba, which has created the worlds longest refugee crisis, and pay compensation to the refugees and for land it now occupies. And he said that if these root causes are not addressed, the Palestinians will continue to pursue its rights and take legal action, especially at the International Criminal Court, which was greeted by loud applause from the large audience in a U.N. conference room.

Israel has remained defiant.

We will fight the Nakba lie with full strength and we wont allow the Palestinians to continue to spread lies and distort history, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said in a statement.

As the 75th anniversary approached, the now 193-member General Assembly approved a resolution last Nov. 30 by a vote of 90-30 with 47 abstentions requesting the U.N. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to organize a high-level event on May 15 to commemorate the Nakba. The United States was among the countries that joined Israel in voting against the resolution.

Abbas called for the General Assembly to establish May 15 every year as an international day to commemorate the Palestinian plight and to call for Palestinians achieving their rights to an independent state.

Israels foreign ministry said dozens of countries canceled or downgraded their participation in Mondays event in response to an Israeli campaign. But among the many groups supporting the Nakba commemoration and an independent Palestinian state whose representatives spoke on Monday were the Group of 77, a U.N. coalition of 134 mainly developing nations and China, and the 120-member Nonaligned Movement.

Speaking at the commemoration, U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo expressed deep concern that prospects for restarting negotiations toward a two-state solution continue to diminish.

DiCarlo pointed to the rapid expansion of Israeli settlements, which is illegal under international law, pervasive violence including by Israeli settlers, and Israels unabated evictions, demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned property.

She also cited the record number of Palestinian civilians killed last year since the U.N. started recording deaths in 2005, and the highest number of Israeli civilians killed since 2015, warning that this year is on track to match or surpass those numbers.

Palestinians deserve a life of justice and dignity and the realization of their right to self-determination and independence, the undersecretary-general for political affairs said. The U.N. position is clear. The occupation must end.

In a speech to the U.N. Security Council on April 25, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Malki renewed his call for countries that havent yet recognized the state of Palestine to do so as a means to salvage the moribund two-state solution.

To hurt Israel economically, Malki urged countries to ban products from Israeli settlements and trade with settlements, to sanction those who collect funds for settlements and those who advocate for them and those who advance them, and to list settler organizations that carry out killings and burnings as terrorist organizations.

And he urged the international community to take Israel to the International Court of Justice, the U.N.s highest tribunal. The General Assembly asked the court in December to give its opinion on the legal consequences of Israels occupation of Palestinian territories, a move denounced by Israel.

Ilon Ben Zion contributed from Jerusalem.
WASHINGTON  Over a year since busloads of migrants began arriving from Texas and Arizona, D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowsers administration faces a costly predicament: housing and feeding those families at a time when city resources are strained, and an expected surge of border crossings probably means more of those chartered buses coming.

More than 170 buses have arrived in the District from the two states so far, including two from Texas last week, in what began as a protest in April 2022 by Republican governors over President Bidens border policies. The resulting images of families seeking U.S. asylum sleeping on city streets jolted the immigration debate.

While the pace of arrivals has slowed in recent months, illegal border crossings are expected to surpass 10,000 per day after the Biden administration lifted the pandemic-era Title 42 border policy Thursday. And migrants in search of aid are now also arriving in the District on their own by car, plane or commuter bus after failing to find stability in other U.S. cities.

Meanwhile, efforts to find long-term housing for families temporarily housed in three hotels contracted by D.C. have sputtered in the regions pricey housing market, with many of the migrants unable to find steady work, immigrant advocates say. As a result, the problem that D.C. officials initially believed to be temporary has only gotten more complicated.

Primarily, there is just a lack of finding affordable housing in the area, said Sharlet Ann Wagner, director of the Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Washingtons Newcomer Network. Youve also got a population that may not have a bank account, doesnt have a credit history, may not have the IDs, and so it could be hard to rent a place without all of that documentation.

With expenses for lodging, food and other services climbing well past the $10 million that Bowser (D) initially set aside for the agency she formed last fall to help the migrants, her administration temporarily closed the hotels to new arrivals late last month, saying there was no more room.

The move deepened uncertainty over how the District and other U.S. cities facing similar pressures can manage the continuing influx  a situation breeding resentment far from the border. In New York, for example, Mayor Eric Adams (D) came under fire from leaders of surrounding counties earlier this month after announcing plans to send as many as 300 willing migrants to their communities in anticipation of the surge.

I dont think anybody could tell you where were going, D.C. Council member Robert C. White Jr. (D-At Large) said, noting that the city is facing budget cuts to programs designed to serve its existing poor and homeless population.

Our job is to do the best we can to serve them and to remember that there are also a lot of folks already here who are struggling, he said. Thats a tough balance, but that is where we are.

The hotels

For families who arrive in D.C. and want to stay in the area, home has often become one of the hotels in the city, or another one in Montgomery County that houses about 16 families. As the Districts hotel population climbed toward 1,250, with 340 children enrolled in D.C. public schools, the city in February added a third hotel to the mix.

Meant to be a stopgap measure to keep the migrants from sleeping on the streets, city officials estimate the average stay is 126 days at the courtyard buildings clustered on New York Avenue in Northeast.

So far, the citys new Office of Migrant Services has spent more than $15.1 million on hotel lodging, food and other services, according to the Department of Human Services (DHS), which oversees the agency.

The expenses are projected to climb to $52.5 million by October amid expectations of another surge, DHS said, undermining the citys efforts to close an estimated $1.7 billion budget gap over the next five years caused largely by the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The number gets bigger every month, the longer people stay, Laura Zeilinger, the city DHS director, told D.C. Council members during a March 31 budget hearing.

A contract with a soul food restaurant to provide three meals a day for the hotel families is budgeted for $3.6 million, while an agreement with SAMU First Response, a D.C. nonprofit, to coordinate mental health counseling and other services in the city is expected to cost $1.7 million, DHS said. Laundry at the hotels, covered by another contract, costs about $1.1 million, while security to keep outsiders out of the areas of the hotels where the migrants stay is budgeted for $4.5 million.

The cumulative hotel bill alone is projected to reach $12 million by October, DHS said.

Zeilinger told D.C. Council members that the city is seeking reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. But less than half of what has been spent so far is eligible, she said, noting that FEMA covers only 30 days of temporary housing for the migrants.

And people stay much longer than 30 days, she said.

DHS, which declined an interview request, said in a statement that eventually D.C. employees will provide most of the services now provided to migrants, though the statement didnt say how.

Montgomery County has spent $5 million so far, officials there said. Despite county aid with security deposits and first months rent, contractors there have also found it challenging to locate permanent homes for hotel residents, limiting the space available for newcomers.

The rising expenses are a very legitimate concern, D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D) said during a media briefing two weeks ago  particularly if a surge of border crossings means more migrants arriving to the city. An estimated 12% of migrants who come to D.C. indicate they plan to stay in the city.

Mendelson said Bowsers office has not asked the council to approve more funding for the Office of Migrant Services, which has been operating on contingency funds and does not have an appropriated budget amount.

While the governors of Texas and Arizona have said that the migrants sent to the city volunteered to come, and many of the migrants themselves say theyve found the free bus trips helpful, Mendelson nonetheless accused those states of treating the asylum seekers inhumanely by just putting them on buses, sending them north.

This is a problem of humanity that the District wants to be responsive to but is not of our making, he said.

Abel Nunez, executive director of the Central American Resource Center, or Carecen, a D.C. nonprofit that helps the migrants with legal services and other matters, said assistance providers are walking a fine line between offering the migrants help and housing, while also encouraging them to leave that support behind.

Its a tricky thing because in one sense you want them to begin to integrate, but you dont want them to integrate in a way where they dont want to leave where theyre at, because thats temporary housing, said Nunez, who has participated in discussions with city officials and other nonprofits about the issue.

You can push them out, but theyll just end up back in the government system, whether thats the shelters or any of the other resources the city has for the unhoused or the poor, Nunez said.

Eager to leave

As days turn to weeks, then months for the migrants living at the D.C. hotels, a makeshift community has taken root there.

At one hotel, salsa rhythms poured from car stereos as clusters of men and women chatted in the full parking lot one recent night. Nearby, in the hotels asphalt courtyard, teenage boys played a loud game of stickball, as smaller children wobbled around the perimeter on donated bicycles.

And inside a banquet room at the Panda Gourmet restaurant, which sits in the same building complex, about 30 Latin American migrant children and teenagers practiced their English between bites of sesame chicken and shrimp fried rice.

Ninos, where are we going? Were going to do up, Mariajose Morales, 19, among the students at Georgetown Universitys DC Schools Project who tutor the group, said in Spanish to her table.

She prompted the children to show that they understood which direction meant where in English. They pointed to the ceiling, pronouncing the word up, then demonstrated down, left and right while saying those words.

Despite the shelter and resources, some of the migrants are eager to leave, concerned about violent crime in the area and eager to begin their lives on their own. They said in Spanish that they felt the city hasnt done enough to help them get out of the hotel and find another home.

Nobody has said anything to us about that, said Arianmi Ramirez, whose family of three has shared a hotel room with another family since arriving in October from Peru, where they lived for several years after leaving Venezuela.

DHS denied that assertion, saying in its statement that city contractors are helping families identify pathways for long-term sustainability and self-sufficiency based on their needs, both inside and outside the region.

Ramirez said that with help from volunteers from the Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network, she and her husband have tried finding a place. So far, none of the rents have been within their reach.

I would love to live in a house, but even an apartment with at least two rooms would be better, said Ramirez, who supplements the income her husband receives from his temporary construction job by selling the Venezuelan snacks she prepares in the rooms tiny kitchenette to other hotel residents.

Plus, conditions at the hotels havent always been ideal. In late February, a group of residents complained to the D.C. Council about mold growing on the walls, bed bugs in the mattresses and the quality of the food theyre served, which they said has sometimes arrived spoiled.

Were suffering from poor nutrition, bites, irritation, a resident who identified herself as Viviana M. told council members in Spanish during a Housing Committee hearing.

Those conditions have improved since that hearing, during which several council members expressed concern. White, who chairs the Housing Committee, said the improvements were evident when he recently visited the site.

I have no doubt that they needed feedback and made adjustments, White said, about city contractors.

He co-sponsored legislation approved by the council last month that requires the city to step up long-term resettlement efforts if the migrants choose to stay in the city and to grant them access to services available to other unhoused residents, such as baby formula for children.

At the core of it, we have to recognize the folks who are coming here are people who are making the same decisions that we would make for ourselves and our families if we were in their position, White said.

Bowser, whose office declined an interview request, allowed the emergency bill to go into effect late last month without signing it. Two weeks ago, the D.C. Council approved amendments to that law that, among other things, clarified the migrants eligibility for city services.

A last resort

The changing, unpredictable manner in which migrants are now arriving is another complicating factor.

Illegal border crossings dropped after the Biden administration imposed restrictions under Title 42 that have kept Venezuelans, Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans seeking legal entry inside encampments in Mexico.

As a result, the number of buses coming to D.C. also went down. But with border crossing again picking up, Texas recently resumed sending its buses after a four-month lull, with two  carrying a total of 84 people  arriving at the Naval Observatory on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, local advocates said.

On Wednesday night, Abbott tweeted a statement about the state-charted buses, saying, We will continue to provide this critical support to overwhelmed Texas border towns until Biden secures the border.

Arizona, where Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) continued the busing program after taking office this year, sends about one bus per week, city officials said.

Our border communities cant handle this influx, and Texas will continue busing migrants to sanctuary cities to provide relief to our overwhelmed border towns, Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts (R) spokesman Andrew Mahaleris said in a statement sent before the states busing program restarted this month.

Meanwhile, migrants who either stayed in border towns after crossing or were bused to other U.S. cities are now arriving in D.C. through other means, after learning about the Districts system of support from friends or relatives who came earlier, immigrant advocates say.

On Monday, Bowser blamed some of the immigrant advocates, saying theyve invited migrants to the city while misleading them about the amount of aid available. They shouldnt be communicating to Texas or anywhere else that there is unlimited space here because that is just not the case, Bowser said when asked about the issue during a news conference.

But, those advocates say, many migrants are simply arriving at area churches or shelters without prompting from them.

In an increasing number of cases, families have turned to D.C. after struggling to find work and housing in other cities where they were bused, said Amy Hammond, a spokeswoman for SAMU First Response, which has become the citys primary contact for the migrants. Theyre, you know, bouncing from one location to the next, trying to get that permanency that is a bit challenging to achieve, Hammond said.

That was the case for Mandi Buada Rivera, who arrived in the District in December with her two sons  ages 7 and 9, with plane tickets from San Antonio bought by a D.C. church she found through a friend already in the city.

She picked D.C. randomly, while still traveling through Costa Rica. Another acquaintance who had arrived earlier told her about the citys services in a text, said Rivera, who fled Venezuela in 2020 and lived in Colombia for three years.

They were telling me that I would be taken care of, she said of her friends messages about D.C.

Rivera  who has not yet applied for U.S. asylum after being granted humanitarian parole for a year  now sells Venezuelan snacks she also makes in her hotel room kitchenette as well as herbal shampoo she mixes in the sink in hopes of earning enough for a larger home. She also takes free English classes near her sons school in Petworth, where they were placed amid a crush of migrant enrollments at schools closer to the hotels.

During a lunch break at the class, Rivera, 32, pulled from a bag the warm arepas she had made that morning  wrapped and filled with ground beef and cheese  and offered them to her classmates for $5 each.

She also took out large bottles of her shampoo, decorated with a Mandi creations label she designed and printed at a neighborhood library. Its how I got my hair like this, Rivera said in Spanish to one woman, fluffing her long black hair. The classmate paid $15 for the mixture of ginger, aloe and coconut oil.

Such initiative helps but is no guarantee in a region that can be forbidding to new immigrants, particularly those without an established support network of compatriots in the area to lean on, advocates say.

Many migrants will probably need to rely on government aid for several more years, Nunez said, adding that the influx will continue, particularly by Venezuelans, regardless of whether the border buses keep coming.

The genie is out of the bottle, he said. We need to be comfortable with that. Now its about: OK, so what do we do if we know theyre coming?
In late January, with his mercenary forces dying by the thousands in a fight for the ruined city of Bakhmut, Wagner Group owner Yevgeniy Prigozhin made Ukraine an extraordinary offer.

Prigozhin said that if Ukraine's commanders withdrew their soldiers from the area around Bakhmut, he would give Kyiv information on Russian troop positions, which Ukraine could use to attack them. Prigozhin conveyed the proposal to his contacts in Ukraine's military intelligence directorate, with whom he has maintained secret communications during the course of the war, according to previously unreported U.S. intelligence documents leaked on the group-chat platform Discord.

Prigozhin has publicly feuded with Russian military commanders, who he furiously claims have failed to equip and resupply his forces, which have provided vital support to Moscow's war effort. But he is also an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who might well regard Prigozhin's offer to trade the lives of Wagner fighters for Russian soldiers as a treasonous betrayal.

The leaked document does not make clear which Russian troop positions Prigozhin offered to disclose.

Two Ukrainian officials confirmed that Prigozhin has spoken several times to the Ukrainian intelligence directorate, known as HUR. One official said that Prigozhin extended the offer regarding Bakhmut more than once, but that Kyiv rejected it because officials don't trust Prigozhin and thought his proposals could have been disingenuous.

A U.S. official also cautioned that there are similar doubts in Washington about Prigozhin's intentions. The Ukrainian and U.S. officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.

In an interview with The Washington Post this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would not confirm the contacts with Prigozhin. "This is a matter of [military] intelligence," he said. The Ukrainian leader also objected to airing classified information publicly and said he believed that the leaks had benefited Russia.

But there is no debating Prigozhin's bitter frustration with the grinding fight in Bakhmut. He has complained, publicly and privately, that the Russian Defense Ministry has not given his fighters the ammunition and other resources they need to succeed. Bakhmut, in eastern Ukraine, has seen some of the bloodiest fighting of the war. Over the past few months, in a grinding back and forth measured by city blocks, Ukrainian and Russian forces have taken steep casualties.

Prigozhin, who promised to take control of the city by May 9, in time for Russia's Victory Day celebrations, has recently threatened publicly to pull his forces out of the fight.

Other leaked documents reveal Russian Defense Ministry officials privately wondering how to respond to Prigozhin's criticism of the military's performance and his demands for more resources, which they apparently conceded were not illegitimate grievances. The documents also speak to a power struggle between Prigozhin and top officials, including Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

Against that tense backdrop, Prigozhin has carried on a secret relationship with Ukrainian intelligence that, in addition to phone calls, includes in-person meetings with HUR officers in an unspecified country in Africa, one document states. Wagner forces provide security to several governments on the continent.

The leaked U.S. intelligence shows Prigozhin bemoaning the heavy toll that fighting has taken on his own forces and urging Ukraine to strike harder against Russian troops.

According to one document, Prigozhin told a Ukrainian intelligence officer that the Russian military was struggling with ammunition supplies. He advised Ukrainian forces to push forward with an assault on the border of Crimea, which Russia has illegally annexed, while Russian troop morale was low. The report also referred to other intelligence noting that Prigozhin was aware of plummeting morale among Wagner forces and that some of his fighters had balked at orders to deploy in the Bakhmut area under heavy fire, for fear of suffering more casualties.

The Kremlin did not respond to a request for comment about Prigozhin's communications with Ukraine.

In wartime, it is not unusual for opposing parties to maintain some form of communication. And the documents don't reveal Prigozhin's intention in talking to his erstwhile foes in Ukraine. In an interview, a Ukrainian official characterized the contacts in the spirit of "keeping your friends close and your enemies closer."

The documents also suggest that Kyiv suspects, or may know, that the Kremlin is aware of Prigozhin's communications with Ukrainian intelligence, if not his secret negotiations over Bakhmut.

One document, based on "sigint"  or intercepted communications  states that Ukraine's military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, "expected the Russians to use details of Prigozhin's secret talks with the HUR and his meetings with their officers in Africa to make him appear to be a Ukrainian agent." It doesn't specify whether Budanov suspects Moscow may already know that Prigozhin is talking to HUR officers.

When informed that U.S. intelligence documents revealed Prigozhin's communications with Ukrainian intelligence, the mercenary commander appeared to make light of the situation. "Yes of course I can confirm this information, we have nothing to hide from the foreign special services. Budanov and I are still in Africa," Prigozhin wrote on Sunday via his Telegram channel.

Prigozhin didn't immediately respond to a question about his offer to disclose Russian troop positions in exchange for a Ukrainian pullback in Bakhmut.

The Washington Post's Mary Ilyushina in Riga, Latvia, contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Monday there's been "no progress" on debt ceiling talks ahead of a meeting with President Joe Biden on Tuesday at the White House, as the country pushes closer to a crisis over the need to raise its legal borrowing limit.

Compounding pressure on Washington to strike a deal, the Treasury Department on Monday left unchanged a deadline as soon as June 1 when the nation will have exhausted its ability to cover its debt payments, though Secretary Janet Yellen also suggested the so-called "X-date" could move days or weeks later than the estimate.

"It's very concerning to me," McCarthy, the Republican speaker, told reporters as he opened the House chamber.

"There's no progress that I see," he said of the staff-level talks that extended through the weekend. "And it really concerns me with the timeline of where we are."

Time is narrowing as Biden prepares to depart for the Group of Seven summit in Japan on Wednesday. The standoff comes as the Treasury Department issued a new letter Monday outlining its ability to continue paying the nation's bills. Ahead of Biden's trip, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that so far, "we are still planning to leave as scheduled."

The president remained hopeful that an agreement could be reached with McCarthy and other congressional leaders when they meet to avoid what would be an unprecedented debt default, which could trigger a financial catastrophe.

Biden, who was in Philadelphia on Monday to attend granddaughter Maisy's graduation from the University of Pennsylvania, told reporters the meeting was on for Tuesday but did not elaborate on prospects for a deal. Now at $31 trillion, the debt limit must be lifted, as has been done countless times before, to allow continued borrowing to pay already accrued bills.

"I remain optimistic because I'm a congenital optimist," Biden told reporters Sunday while out for a bike ride in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. "But I really think there's a desire on their part as well as ours to reach an agreement. I think we'll be able to do it."

Yellen's letter to House and Senate leaders Monday said that agency estimates are unchanged on the possible X-date when the U.S. could run out of cash.

But Yellen assessment leaves some opening for a possible time extension on a national default, stating that "the actual date Treasury exhausts extraordinary measures could be a number of days or weeks later than these estimates."

She said she would update Congress next week "as more information becomes available."

Aides said talks had continued throughout the weekend. Staff is narrowing on four areas of potential agreement that could begin to shape a budget deal that would unlock a separate vote to lift the nation's borrowing capacity. They are discussing clawing back untapped COVID-19 money, future spending caps, permitting reforms to ease energy development and bolstered work requirements on recipients of government aid, those familiar with the talks said.

But at least publicly, there was little indication that either the White House or House Republicans had budged from their initial positions. Biden has called on lawmakers to lift the debt limit without preconditions, warning that the nation's borrowing authority should not be used to impose deep spending cuts and other conservative policy demands.

Republicans led by McCarthy want Biden to accept their proposal to rollback spending, cap future outlays and other policy changes in the package passed last month by House Republicans.

"We've not reached the crunch point yet," Biden told reporters Saturday before flying to his beach home. "There's real discussion about some changes we all could make. We're not there yet."

Biden did signal over the weekend that he could be open to tougher work requirements for certain government aid programs, which Republicans are proposing as part of the ongoing discussion. He has said he will not accept anything that takes away people's health care coverage.

"I voted for tougher aid programs that's in the law now, but for Medicaid it's a different story," he said. "And so I'm waiting to hear what their exact proposal is."

Administration officials said the talks among staff had so far been productive. They have been meeting most days since Biden and the leaders  McCarthy of California, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky  first met last Tuesday.

"The staff is very engaged. I would characterize the engagement as serious, as constructive," Lael Brainard, head of the White House's National Economic Council, said on CBS' "Face the Nation."

McCarthy has insisted on using the threat of defaulting on the nation's debts to wrangle spending changes, arguing that the federal government can't continue to spend money at the pace it is now.

An increase in the debt limit would not authorize new federal spending. It would only allow for borrowing to pay for what Congress has already approved.

As the June 1 deadline approaches, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office gave a similar warning Friday, saying there was a "significant risk" of default sometime in the first two weeks of next month.

But federal estimates still remain in flux.

The CBO noted Friday that if the cash flow at the Treasury and the "extraordinary measures" that the department is now using can continue to pay for bills through June 15, the government can probably finance its operations through the end of July. That's because the expected tax revenues that will come in mid-June and other measures will give the federal government enough cash for at least a few more weeks.

Associated Press writer Chris Megerian in Philadelphia contributed to this report.
When a Colombian man was first evaluated by neurologists at age 67, he was cognitively normal, and neither he nor his family had concerns about his memory. So scientists began to follow his extraordinary case closely.

The patient  a mechanic who was a husband and father of two  had been born with a particularly sinister gene mutation that should have doomed him to dementia before his 50th birthday.

Instead, his life had been one of remarkable resilience, bucking the script written in his genes. The cognitive impairment that should have started at age 44 stayed at bay for more than two decades. Rather than dying in his early 60s, he retired. He did eventually develop moderate dementia, and he passed away in 2019 at the age of 74.

This man is only the second patient identified with the miraculous ability to defy the devastating Alzheimer's gene, an international team of scientists report in the journal Nature Medicine. Doctors hope the two known cases will allow researchers to develop new treatments to protect other people with Alzheimer's disease, which affects 6.7 million people in the United States.

The researchers sifted through the man's genome to identify a different mutation that may have helped protect him against the disease. They also used brain scans taken when he was 73 to home in on a key region that appears to have been relatively protected against the tau protein tangles that typically occur in Alzheimer's patients.

"I think it's important that we listen to the patients. And I think what the patients are telling us is  there is a pathway for protection," said Joseph F. Arboleda-Velasquez, an associate scientist at Mass Eye and Ear, a Harvard teaching hospital, and one of the leaders of the study.

"These are very provocative findings, and I do think these cases have something very important to teach us about resilience to disease and the biology" of Alzheimer's, said Gil Rabinovici, a neurologist at the University of California at San Francisco, who was not involved in the study.

"I think this raises a number of interesting questions. I don't know that we have the answers."

A genetic time bomb

For decades, neurologist Francisco Lopera at the University of Antioquia in Medellin, Colombia, has been caring for and following an extended family, many of whose members carry a tragically unlucky mutation in a gene called presenilin 1. The mutation is rare, and its effects are aggressive and predictable.

By their late 20s, people who carry the mutation have brains clogged with the hallmark amyloid plaques that characterize Alzheimer's disease. By their mid 30s, tangles of a different protein associated with Alzheimer's, tau, appear.

People carrying this gene begin to experience the first inklings of cognitive problems around age 44, and by 49, they have full-blown dementia. They typically die in their 60s.

In total, scientists have discovered 1,200 people out of an extended family of more than 6,000 carrying this genetic time bomb.

Yakeel T. Quiroz, director of the Familial Dementia Neuroimaging Lab at Massachusetts General Hospital, has worked with Lopera and these patients for 20 years.

"You meet them before they have symptoms, and you see them progress," Quiroz said. "You get to stay around and see how they become severely demented  and how they die. There's nothing you can do to stop it."

But in 2019, researchers discovered a single patient, Aliria Rosa Piedrahita de Villegas, who seemed to have fended off fate.

Her memory didn't start to decline until she was in her 70s. Scientists discovered a genetic mutation that protected her, nicknamed Christchurch. Although her brain was clogged with the characteristic amyloid plaques of Alzheimer's, it was relatively free of the tangles of tau that are also associated with the disease.

Scientists marveled at the case but also debated its relevance. This was only one person. Was it an aberration, or a path to follow? What could this one person reveal about how to fight Alzheimer's in the broader population?

A tangled target for Alzheimer's drugs

The discovery of a second person with genetic resilience validates the quest but also deepens the mystery.

The man, whose identity is anonymous at his family's request, doesn't have the Christchurch gene variant. He appears to have been protected due to a mutation in a different gene called reelin.

What's more, both patients had brains riddled with amyloid plaques, which have so far been a key target in therapies for Alzheimer's.

Recently, drugs aimed at clearing amyloid plaques have been approved in the United States  the first beacons of hope in decades. But these drugs are far from a cure. They aim to slow the progression of the disease, but have fostered debate and criticism over whether modest benefits outweigh their risks and costs.

The woman's lack of tau tangles supported an alternate avenue for therapeutics. When the man traveled to Massachusetts to have his brain scanned at age 73, researchers found that he had both amyloid plaques and tau tangles associated with Alzheimer's disease. But crucially, tau was relatively limited in his entorhinal cortex, which is essential for memory.

"The possibility that just by protecting the entorhinal cortex, even if you have a lot of Alzheimer's pathology elsewhere, you can have that protection? Wouldn't that be amazing. That's what's very tantalizing," Arboleda-Velasquez said.

Scientists, including those involved in the research, cautioned that the study is far from a definitive explanation of why the man's memory was protected for years. There could be multiple contributors, rather than a single explanation.

But the possibility that a person could have a high level of protection against decline, even with a brain that is substantially affected by amyloid and tau buildup, is "intriguing" said Inmaculada Cuchillo Ibanez, a neuroscientist at the Institute of Neurosciences at Miguel Hernandez University in Alicante, Spain. She has studied the reelin protein in the brains of people with more common forms of Alzheimer's disease.

"This suggests that this  could be critical in protecting against cognitive impairment," Cuchillo Ibanez wrote in an email.

The researchers did find an overlap between the two different gene mutations that helped protect these individuals: Both mutations affect proteins that bind to the same receptors on the surfaces of brain cells. The scientists also found that mice that are genetically predisposed to develop tau tangles in their brains were less likely to do so when they carried the reelin gene mutation found in the man.

Understanding the possible biochemical pathways that produced protection opens up new approaches for drug development, the researchers said.

Quiroz said the man's family members were excited that something useful had been learned from his case. Patients and researchers are both aware that the disease moves so quickly that discoveries may only benefit future generations. But Lopera said in an email that these exceptional cases point the way forward.

The two cases, he wrote, "have enormous potential to benefit the entire world population with or at risk of Alzheimer's disease because they are showing a path to prevention and cure."
BALTIMORE  A passenger walks up to an airport security checkpoint, slips an ID card into a slot and looks into a camera atop a small screen. The screen flashes Photo Complete and the person walks through  all without having to hand over their identification to the TSA officer sitting behind the screen.

Its all part of a pilot project by the Transportation Security Administration to assess the use of facial recognition technology at a number of airports across the country.

What we are trying to do with this is aid the officers to actually determine that you are who you say who you are, said Jason Lim, identity management capabilities manager, during a demonstration of the technology to reporters at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

The effort comes at a time when the use of various forms of technology to enhance security and streamline procedures is only increasing. TSA says the pilot is voluntary and accurate, but critics have raised concerns about questions of bias in facial recognition technology and possible repercussions for passengers who want to opt out.

The technology is currently in 16 airports. In addition to Baltimore, its being used at Reagan National near Washington, D.C., airports in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Jose, and Gulfport-Biloxi and Jackson in Mississippi. However, its not at every TSA checkpoint so not every traveler going through those airports would necessarily experience it.

Travelers put their drivers license into a slot that reads the card or place their passport photo against a card reader. Then they look at a camera on a screen about the size of an iPad, which captures their image and compares it to their ID. The technology is both checking to make sure the people at the airport match the ID they present and that the identification is in fact real. A TSA officer is still there and signs off on the screening.

A small sign alerts travelers that their photo will be taken as part of the pilot and that they can opt out if theyd like. It also includes a QR code for them to get more information.

Since its come out the pilot has come under scrutiny by some elected officials and privacy advocates. In a February letter to TSA, five senators  four Democrats and an Independent who is part of the Democratic caucus  demanded the agency stop the program, saying: Increasing biometric surveillance of Americans by the government represents a risk to civil liberties and privacy rights.

As various forms of technology that use biometric information like face IDs, retina scans or fingerprint matches have become more pervasive in both the private sector and the federal government, its raised concerns among privacy advocates about how this data is collected, who has access to it and what happens if it gets hacked.

Meg Foster, a justice fellow at Georgetown Universitys Center on Privacy and Technology, said there are concerns about bias within the algorithms of various facial recognition technologies. Some have a harder time recognizing faces of minorities, for example. And theres the concern of outside hackers figuring out ways to hack into government systems for nefarious aims.

With regard to the TSA pilot, Foster said she has concerns that while the agency says its not currently storing the biometric data it collects, what if that changes in the future? And while people are allowed to opt out, she said its not fair to put the onus on harried passengers who might be worried about missing their flight if they do.

They might be concerned that if they object to face recognition, that theyre going to be under further suspicion, Foster said.

Jeramie Scott, with the Electronic Privacy Information Center, said that while its voluntary now it might not be for long. He noted that David Pekoske, who heads TSA, said during a talk in April that eventually the use of biometrics would be required because theyre more effective and efficient, although he gave no timeline.

Scott said hed prefer TSA not use the technology at all. At the least, hed like to see an outside audit to verify that the technology isnt disproportionally affecting certain groups and that the images are deleted immediately.

TSA says the goal of the pilot is to improve the accuracy of the identity verification without slowing down the speed at which passengers pass through the checkpoints  a key issue for an agency that sees 2.4 million passengers daily. The agency said early results are positive and have shown no discernable difference in the algorithms ability to recognize passengers based on things like age, gender, race and ethnicity.

Lim said the images arent being compiled into a database, and that photos and IDs are deleted. Since this is an assessment, in limited circumstances some data is collected and shared with the Department of Homeland Securitys Science and Technology Directorate. TSA says that data is deleted after 24 months.

Lim said the camera only turns on when a person puts in their ID card  so its not randomly gathering images of people at the airport. That also gives passengers control over whether they want to use it, he said. And he said that research has shown that while some algorithms do perform worse with certain demographics, it also shows that higher-quality algorithms, like the one the agency uses, are much more accurate. He said using the best available cameras also is a factor.

We take these privacy concerns and civil rights concerns very seriously, because we touch so many people every day, he said.

Retired TSA official Keith Jeffries said the pandemic greatly accelerated the rollout of various types of this touchless technology, whereby a passenger isnt handing over a document to an agent. And he envisioned a checkpoint of the future where a passengers face can be used to check their bags, go through the security checkpoints and board the plane  all with little to no need to pull out a boarding card or ID documents.

He acknowledged the privacy concerns and lack of trust many people have when it comes to giving biometric data to the federal government, but said in many ways the use of biometrics is already deeply embedded in society through the use of privately owned technology.

Technology is here to stay, he said.
Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) President Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Pakistan Muslim League (N) Chief Organizer Maryam Nawaz reached the sit-in in front of the Supreme Court where they will address the workers. Workers of PDM parties entered the Red Zone by jumping the gate and shouting slogans reached outside the Supreme Court, where FC and police officials tried to stop them.

A heavy contingent of police and FC had already been alerted to stop the protesting workers outside the Supreme Court while Dastur highway has also been temporarily closed for traffic in view of the situation.

Spokesperson Islamabad Capital Police has confirmed the entry of PDM party workers into Red Zone. The activists who reached the gate of the Supreme Court are busy shouting slogans. The police appealed to the protesters to remain peaceful, saying that there are fears of terrorism, so the public is requested to stay away from the gathering places. The spokesman has also requested the public's cooperation.

Meanwhile, the protestors of the parties involved in the PDM have set up a stage on Shahrah Dastur, where a large number of workers are shouting slogans.

Apart from this, the protesters set up a stage in front of the Supreme Court Judges Gate from where the leaders of the parties participating in the protest are giving speeches. During the protest, the protesters are shouting slogans against Imran Khan.

Earlier, the workers of the parties included in the government coalition had left in large numbers from different cities last night to hold a sit-in in Islamabad. Workers of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) parties, who came out in convoys to protest outside the Supreme Court in the federal capital, carried the flags of their respective parties.

Workers of government parties who went to Islamabad for protest also raised slogans against the Chief Justice and in favor of Pakistan Army in the form of protest rallies at some places. The workers were served halwa, chana and naan for breakfast at many places.

It should be noted that Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the head of JUI(F) and the ruling coalition PDM, appealed to the entire nation to participate in a peaceful protest outside the Supreme Court today. On which Pakistan Muslim League-N and Pakistan People's Party have announced full participation in the protest, however Awami National Party (ANP) will not participate in the protest.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. The amendment to the law on Medicinal Products will optimize prices, Rashad Mahmudov, Deputy Chairman of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament) Health Committee, told Trend.

Mahmudov noted that this change will serve to simplify the processes of documentation, registration, and licensing of medicines imported into Azerbaijan, also contributing to lower prices for medicines.

He also added that the state policy is aimed not only at controlling the quality of medicinal products but also at optimizing prices. Thus, increasing the competitive environment by simplifying registration will optimize prices.

The amendment to the law on Medicinal Products was approved by Milli Majlis in the first reading.
The federal government has taken a principled decision to bring a reference against Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Atta Bandial, a special parliamentary committee will be formed to finalize the reference, members of various parties will be included in the committee. The authority to form the committee will be given to the Speaker of the National Assembly.

According to the reports, the members of various parties are preparing the draft regarding the powers of the committee and the motion for the formation of the parliamentary committee is likely to be presented in the National Assembly today.

Earlier, while speaking in the National Assembly session, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said that the Judiciary has changed the constitution, the government in Punjab was sent home in the same bench, I think it is wrong to take the name of judges of the judiciary, but these people forced is given 4 lakh cases are pending and it starts the petition program, the judiciary is exceeding its powers.

Khawaja Asif said that such a big fraud has taken place, he is happy to see the Chief Justice saying, Parliament should review the Chief Justice's misconduct. According to the law, the action should be taken, a reference should be filed against the judges in the Supreme Judicial Council.
Concerns grow in force over reprisals by pals of criminals who died in smash

Colleagues of a garda facing charges over the N7 crash in which three members of a notorious burglary gang died fear his safety may be at risk from criminal associates of the deceased if he is publicly identified when charged.

Prolific criminals Dean Maguire (29), Karl Freeman (26) and Graham Taylor (31) were killed instantly when their BMW vehicle burst into flames following a head-on crash with a truck between Citywest and Baldonnel, Dublin, on July 7, 2021, while they were driving on the wrong side of the road.

The Garda Ombudsman confirmed earlier this week that the officer, who was involved in a preceding pursuit, will now face charges arising from his driving on the night.

Its understood the charges considered by the DPP after a file was submitted by Gsoc included endangerment  where a person is suspected of recklessly engaging in conduct which creates a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another  and dangerous driving.

The exact nature of the charge or charges facing the garda is not yet known, but both these offences can arise outside of the exemption available to gardai.

Under section 87 of the Road Traffic Act 2010, gardai can claim an exemption from road traffic rules where they are driving in the course of duty and do not endanger the public.

Garda colleagues, angered at what they perceive as the persecution of a colleague for doing his duty, have already raised more than 45,000 to support him. He has since been transferred out of Tallaght Garda Station.

Establishing a fundraiser online on Thursday, the GoFundMe pages administrator wrote: This was set up to support our M [Tallaght Garda district] member who is facing serious charges as a result of doing his duty as he did every day since starting his career.

Dean Maguire

Separately, a source said there are genuine concerns within Garda ranks over the effect of the disclosure of the gardas identity when he is charged.

These men were serious criminals with very serious criminal associates, a source told the Sunday World.

There is very real fear amongst this officers colleagues that once his identity is publicly disclosed, his security will be at risk.

And why? He was part of a pursuit  he was doing his job and reacting to an unfolding situation on a split-second basis.

All three deceased men, who had a combined total of over 200 convictions, were known to gardai and were believed to be key figures in a burglary gang that was linked to Fat Andy Connors  a crime gang leader who was shot dead outside his home in Saggart, Co. Dublin, in August 2014.

Some of their past crimes involved high-speed chases during which cars were driven into oncoming traffic to try to evade gardai.

Graham Taylor

Their bodies were inside the BMW 3 Series when it burst into flames after hitting the truck in Rathcoole at 11.40pm on the Wednesday night.

Karl Freeman (26) had in 2017 been described as a menace to society while being jailed for his role in an aggravated burglary of a 77-year-old woman at her home in Co Wicklow.

She was threatened and robbed of items such as her wedding ring when masked men broke in at 2am. The woman was so terrified by the episode that she never returned to her home.

Graham Taylor (31) was jailed in 2019 after leading gardai on a chase during which he drove at 120kph in a 50kph zone.

He drove on the wrong side of the road, in the wrong direction around roundabouts and into oncoming traffic during the June 2016 incident, forcing other motorists to take evasive action.

He had amassed 121 previous convictions, including 11 for dangerous driving and others for burglary, handling stolen property, criminal damage and assaulting a garda.

Dean Maguire (29) had been described as being part of a highly sophisticated, organised crime gang.
Clare Redmond (24) is accused of leaving the woman with facial injuries in the incident in a north Dublin SuperValu

A young woman scratched another womans face with her fingernails and pulled her to the floor where she punched and kneed her in an attack in a post office, it is alleged.

Clare Redmond (24) is accused of assaulting the woman and leaving her with facial injuries in the incident in a supermarket in north Dublin.

Judge John King adjourned the case at Dublin District Court for the accused to decide how she intends to plead.

Ms Redmond, with an address at Forestwood Avenue, Santry, is charged with assault causing harm.

Clare Redmond allegedly assaulted the woman in SuperValu

Garda Sergeant Niall Murphy said the DPP consented to the case being dealt with in the district court subject to the judge considering jurisdiction.

Outlining the prosecutions case, he said the incident happened in the post office in SuperValu, Ballymun Road, last November 10.

It was alleged Ms Redmond assaulted a 25-year-old woman by scratching her face with her nails and pulling her down to the floor by the hair.

She allegedly punched her and hit her to the face with her knee.

The alleged victim suffered scratches and bruises to her face, Sgt Murphy said.

In an earlier incident at Forestwood Avenue on February 10 last year, it was alleged the accused approached a 35-year-old woman from behind and pulled her to the ground.

A struggle ensued and the alleged victim suffered a sore back and neck, the court heard. A finger and knee were also bruised and her cheek was grazed.

Ms Redmond is also charged with assaulting this woman.

Judge King accepted jurisdiction for both cases to remain in the district court.

Ms Redmond has not yet entered pleas to the charges.

The accused was remanded on continuing bail to a date later this month, when she will be expected to decide on pleas.

If she is contesting the charges, a trial date for the non-jury court will be set.
The clip, exclusively obtained by the Sunday World, was key to convicting Doran of the brutal murder of an innocent man

Paramedics arrive at the scene of the murder

CCTV, exclusively obtained by the Sunday World, shows the moment OAP killer Oliver Doran clumsily left his bloodied fingerprints on a railing after falling and dropping an axe he used to kill a 76-year-old.

This CCTV footage shows the moment OAP killer Oliver Doran clumsily left his bloodied fingerprints on a railing after falling and dropping an axe he had used to kill a 76-year-old.

The clip, exclusively obtained by theSunday World,was key to convicting Doran, who was sentenced this week, of the brutal murder of an innocent man.

This is moment that cost Doran any hope he had of getting away with the killing, a source told the Sunday World.

CCTV footage shows Oliver Doran dropping murder weapon after killing Kwok Ping Chong (76)

He fell as he picked up the axe, and as he dragged himself up from the ground, he left fingerprints, painted in his victims blood on the railing.

Earlier this week, violent criminal Doran, with an address at the Sophia housing complex in Cork Street, was sentenced to life in prison for the frenzied April 2021 axe murder of pensioner Kwok Ping Cheng at the nearby Robinsons Court assisted living complex in Dublin 8.

In the wake of the verdict, CCTV from the night of the killing  showing Dorans arrival and chaotic exit from the complex an hour and 20 minutes later  was obtained by this newspaper.

VIictim Kwok Ping Cheng

Doran, who despite being only 24 years of age, had already clocked up 98 convictions for offences including thefts, violent disorder, robbery, assault and possession of knives, by the time CCTV captures him entering the pensioners complex at 9.49pm on April 28, 2021.

Wearing black runners, tracksuit pants and a jacket with a hood covering his face, Doran walked briskly past the camera before turning the corner to Chengs home where he accessed the pensioners ground-floor terraced home by breaking in through a rear window.

Once inside, the killer, who had arrived at the scene carrying the axe he had brought from home, inflicted a barbaric attack on Cheng, known affectionately in the estate as Chinese George, over a period of 80 minutes.

CCTV, exclusively obtained by the Sunday World, shows the moment OAP killer Oliver Doran clumsily left his bloodied fingerprints on a railing after falling and dropping an axe he used to kill a 76-year-old.

CCTV footage shows Oliver Doran after the murder of Kwok Ping Chong

CCTV footage shows Oliver Doran after the murder of Kwok Ping Chong

CCTV footage shows Oliver Doran after the murder of Kwok Ping Chong

What he did to poor George inside the flat that night was horrific, the source who provided us with the CCTV told the Sunday World.

And for what  to steal his pension? Poor George didnt speak much English  all hed ever do is smile and give you a thumbs up when he walked past.

During the 1 hour and 20 minutes in the apartment, Doran rained blows from the axe down on the head, arms and body of innocent Cheng.

State Pathologist, Dr Heidi Okkers said Cheng suffered multiple broken bones in the attack, as well as dozens of wounds that exposed his skull and underlying bones.

The most severe injuries were scalp lacerations and these were most likely caused by an axe which had been shown to her at the scene.

The pensioner also had multiple chop injuries, abrasions and bruises on his forearms and hands in keeping with defence injuries.

And, in addition, there was a fracture of the jaw and the left tibia and these were caused by blunt force trauma, most like caused by the blunt end of the axe or by kicking or punching, she told the court.

Dr Heidi Okkers said his left forearm and his left lower limb between the knee and the ankle were broken, there was a chop wound above the right ear exposing the bone, and at the left angle of the mouth exposing the underlying teeth and jaw.

On leaving Chengs flat, Doran again walks past the CCTV camera at 11.13pm.

This time, as he is walking around the corner of the railing and he tried to adjust his hood, the murder weapon falls out from beneath the front of his jacket.

As he attempts to recover the weapon, Doran falls forward onto his face before feeling his way around the ground for the axe.

Paramedics arrive at the scene of the murder

After retrieving the weapon, he reaches for the railing before pulling himself to his feet and walking unsteadily from the complex.

The next morning, shortly after 10am, the killing was discovered by James Ellis, who called to the pensioners home three or four times a week to check on him because he was a vulnerable person.

I knocked and the door opened. I pushed through and I shouted: Kwok, Kwok, its Jimmy he said later.

Entering, after he failed to elicit an answer, he discovered Cheng in the sitting room covered in blood.

I knew he was dead, he said.

As I backed out, I could see the place was ransacked. I said a quick prayer and called the emergency services, he added.

That same day, Doran fled Dublin, initially travelling to Northern Ireland and then on to England.

He returned to Ireland on May 4th, 2021, and was arrested on May 5. He made admissions to the gardai but maintained that he could not recall what had happened as he had taken drink and drugs.

Doran (24) initially pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Cheng (76) at Robinsons Court on the same Dublin street, on a date between April 28 and 29, 2021; his trial began in January.

However, after being confronted with overwhelming CCTV and forensic evidence, he subsequently changed his plea to one of guilty.

Letter

Appearing before the Central Criminal Court this week for sentencing, a letter was read out to Doran which had been written by Kwok Ping Chengs son Jason.

In it, he told Doran: You wont be playing happy families when the sentence is read out.

Now you have pleaded guilty, now you have to pay the price for your crime.

You cant escape reality; your children will be asking Where is Daddy?  that is your reality.

My fathers life was cruelly taken away, and the question I have asked is why?

He was an elderly man going about his life.

I may never know the answers. Did they have a grievance or a falling out?

The fact is a mans life was cut short. He did not deserve to have his life taken away, said Mr Cheng.

In sentencing, Mr Justice Keane said this was an appalling crime and he offered his condolences to the deceaseds son and family.

He said this was a senseless crime, especially as no meaningful motive had been established.

He said that a probation report raised a number of concerns about Doran, including his likely propensity to re-offend; his propensity for violence; his negative peer association and history of addiction, and the lack of structure in his life.

I am required to sentence him to prison for life, said Mr Justice Keane.
Im all over Facebook now

A disgraced carer who admitted stealing more than 45,000 from an elderly client complained her life had been turned upside down by the subsequent publicity, when approached by the Sunday World.

We called to the home of Catherine Gregg outside Belgooly in Cork on Wednesday  a week after she admitted to a string of 17 thefts from the pensioner stretching over a three-year-period.

Asked to discuss the thefts, Gregg said she wouldnt do so, before adding the publicity around her guilty pleas has had a major impact on her life.

No, she said.

Because my life has been turned upside down. Whatever I thought  Im all over Facebook now.

We are seriously struggling.

A day after declining to explain her actions to the Sunday World, Gregg appeared before Cork Circuit Court where she was due to be sentenced on 17 counts of theft from her elderly charge.

At Fridays sitting, the 46-year-old sought an adjournment in order that she might be given an opportunity to raise compensation for her victim.

Greggs barrister, Paula McCarthy, also applied for free legal aid to be extended for the preparation of a consultant psychologists report.

Prosecution barrister, Imelda Kelly, indicated that the State had no objection to the accused being remanded on continuing bail in those circumstances.

Judge Boyle adjourned sentencing until November 14.

At a previous sitting at district court level, where Gregg had pleaded guilty, Sgt Paul Kelly said the 17 thefts before the court were under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Theft and Fraud Offences Act.

All 17 counts, he told Bandon District Court, related to when Gregg was working as a carer.

The sums involved were as small as 14.50 but also involved larger amounts, such as 1,866.69 taken on a date in November 2018.

The specific amount stolen in total amounted to 45,773.93, the court was told.

The offences occurred on dates from 1 September 2018 to 30 September 2021 and involve varying amounts.

The judge also heard that it involved the same injured party in all incidents.

Judge James McNulty said on hearing the financial scale of the thefts: That is indeed a serious matter.

Following Fridays adjournment in the Circuit Court, Gregg remains on bail on her own bond of 5,000.

Alone  the organisation that enables older people to age at home  warned just last year that the level of crime, including financial crime targeting the elderly, had skyrocketed during the Covid 19 pandemic.

The warning came after figures released to Deputy Fergus ODowd showed that almost 16,000 cases of elder abuse, a category which includes financial abuse, had been reported within Health Service Executive-funded services for older people over the previous five years.

Pandemic

Alone noted that a worrying, but not unexpected, increase in reported elder abuse concerns took place during the pandemic.

The organisation also pointed out that many older people experienced a loss of independence due to the COVID-19 restrictions and had to resort to relying on others for support and assistance in their day-to-day lives, leaving them more at risk of abuse.

At the time, Sean Moynihan, CEO of ALONE, said: Elder abuse manifests itself in many forms. It may be physical, psychological, emotional, financial, sexual, discrimination, or neglect. It may be controlling an older persons pension, overcharging them for odd jobs or making them feel like a burden.

Elder abuse is an insidious form of abuse that often goes quietly unseen and it is not talked about enough in todays society. Older people with health, financial, and other difficulties can be particularly at risk.

Unfortunately, in many cases, elder abuse is carried out by people we already know and believe we can trust.

Anyone with concerns about the wellbeing of an older person can contact ALONE on 0818 222 024.
Young roped in a notorious Dublin criminal among other household names as he outsourced violence and intimidation

Barry Youngs arrest led to a seizure of 500,000 of drugs and 110,000 in cash

Barry Youngs arrest led to a seizure of 500,000 of drugs and 110,000 in cash

Gang boss Barry Young used celebrity enforcers to execute drug debts during his reign of terror in the west of Ireland.

This week, the 38-year-old Sligo thug watched from the dock in the Special Criminal Court as the States case against him was laid out before the non-jury court.

What emerged was a picture of a man who manipulated others into moving drugs and cash and then outsourced his violence to dangerous criminals to terrify anyone who defied him.

Barry Young

The court was told how Young used household names to enforce debts but that he preferred to sort things out through negotiations.

The Sunday World previously revealed how Mark The Guinea Pig Desmond had acted as an enforcer for Young and even moved to Sligo for a period in 2014.

Desmond, who was tried but acquitted of the double killing known as the Canal Murders in 2000, had a reputation for sadistic violence.

The Ballyfermot criminal was a suspect for several other killings and was also suspected of sexual assaults before he was gunned down in 2016 in Dublin.

Young had been looking for a way out of the drugs business and was servicing his debt after getting in too deep, but he was not shy about using the same tactics to manipulate others to carry out his dirty work.

One man, Gerard Clarke, had not been known to gardai at all until Youngs phone was seized in January 2022 as he attempted to catch a flight to Spain.

In messages to Clarke, Young referred to him collecting two Spanish which gardai understand to mean two kilos of cannabis.

Barry Youngs arrest led to a seizure of 500,000 of drugs and 110,000 in cash

Bread delivery man Clarke was arrested just days after Young when gardai searched his Sligo home and found 105,000 worth of cannabis and 18,000 in cash.

Clarke had built up a 36,000 drug debt through his cocaine use  which he had managed to reduce by half at one point  but he told gardai he was happy when they finally arrested him.

Last month the father of four, who said he was afraid for himself and his family, got a 22-month sentence at Sligo Criminal Court.

Carpenter Damien McPadden also found his 50,000 drug debt led to him working for Young and he became a very busy courier for the gang boss, moving cash and drugs across the country.

The Leitrim man was caught after he abandoned a van in Sligo in which gardai found 16 vacuum-packed bags of cannabis worth 315,000 in December 2020.

Messages showed McPadden and Young were in regular contact from Youngs Irish and Spanish phone numbers, with the former carpenter receiving orders at very short notice.

Mark Desmond was involved in debt enforcement

In February this year McPadden was sentenced to two years and five months at Sligo Criminal Court.

Separately, Barry Youngs brother Lee was also before the courts in relation to his own drug use after being caught with 8,300 worth of cannabis, heroin and cocaine, along with 5,745 in cash.

At a court hearing last January he was described as a drug addict who was working to resolve his addiction, and denied being a dealer.

His case has been adjourned for sentencing until next October.

Barry Youngs criminal gang had been targeted by a garda operation since 2019 which culminated in his arrest in January 2022 at Dublin Airport as he was about to take a flight to Spain.

The operation identified 20 gang members, some of whom have already been through the courts, and led to 500,000 worth of drugs and 110,000 in seized cash.

Youngs attempts to move cash through a Madrid bank account were uncovered, and raids were carried out in March at properties in Alicante involving officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau.

Youngs previous convictions were heard in court, which included two for assault causing harm as well as a six year sentence for cannabis offences in 2006.

While in prison he became aligned to a group which in turn allowed him to elevate himself from a local drugs gang to one with national and international connections.

Youngs spell in prison allowed him to make more contacts to expand his empire and take over business from the Irwin gang in Sligo.

By the time of his arrest, however, it is believed his debts to the Dublin-based criminal 'Mr Big' meant he was completely at the mercy of the ruthless gang boss.

While it was put forward that Young had got in over his head and was wracked with anxiety so bad that he was sometimes unable to leave his home, the court also heard about his use of enforcers.

While Youngs least preferred option was to use the likes of Desmond, there was plenty of evidence found on his seized phone that showed he was willing to unleash the thugs when he had to.

Barry Youngs arrest led to a seizure of 500,000 of drugs and 110,000 in cash

Among the thousands of messages, there was reference to the mental and headerball gangsters who would be sent to smash up property. They include other messages referring to going to fix someone the following day, a gang of dubs and north would be going through his door and a gun from the film Dirty Harry being placed to his head and let two off.

One underling who asked for help was told by Young two Russian lads would be sent to carry out acts of intimidation.

The junior gang member then asked if the enforcers could visit a few other addresses as well.

Photos of damaged houses were sent back up the chain to Youngs phone to show his orders had been carried out.

It also emerged this week that the PSNI is likely to seek Youngs extradition over his alleged role in the murder of gangster Robbie Lawlor in Belfast in 2020.

A number of his cross-border associates have been linked to the killing which a court heard also involved members of the Limerick-based McCarthy-Dundon gang.
Our fearless crime editor Nicola Tallant on digging into Irelands murky underworld for 15 years

It really just means eight or 10 splashes a year from you, said the Sunday Worlds Deputy Editor Neil Leslie. Be no bother to you.

Wed just had lunch and a bottle of wine, without which, I wouldnt have been able to hide my terror. Splashes, by the way, are front page exclusive stories, which screamed from the news stands in big banner headlines and with undercover photography to boot.

It was 2008 and I was coming in from the cold  Id spent 10 years running a successful news agency which covered everything from politics to showbiz and was far more about making lots of money than journalism.

Nicola Tallant

Crime was my natural beat, but how I was going to produce the kind of content which was theSunday World bread and butter was beyond me. I swallowed hard, raised my glass and clinched the deal to return full time to hard-hitting crime reporting.

Id watched in awe for years as investigative journalists on both sides of the border had blazed a trail with their crime reporting for the Sunday World, getting up close and personal to some of the biggest names in Irelands underworld and digging deep into their operations.

I had some good contacts and no shortage of enthusiasm, but I struggled to see how I was going to crack the style of gritty reporting that was required to hit page one.

And so I closed my eyes and dived in and discovered a sort of journalistic nirvana where every day was an adventure and where literally anything could happen.

Nicola Tallant challenges John Gilligan

Despite my own lack of confidence, I soon found myself creating those front pages with stories about the cult of Tony Quinns Educo, where millions of euro was washing in to his promises of financial freedom, weight loss and spiritual awakening; the foreign begging rackets on Irish streets which were funding millionaire crime bosses in Romania, and the seedy sex-for-sale industry and its violent bosses.

I found myself picking through abandoned houses where trafficked people were accommodated by greedy crime lords, watching street dealers ply their wares in scenes straight from The Wire from the back of surveillance vehicles, and interviewing Justice Ministers, police chiefs and community workers on the front lines in the fight against drugs.

I travelled to Serbia, Romania, Spain, Belgium, Mallorca, Mauritius, Hong Kong, The Philippines, Indonesia, the US and the UK, chasing criminals, investigating murder cases, setting up stings and seeking out the wealth of those who made their money from crime.

There were plenty of hairy moments, like the time myself and Mick McCaffrey were recognised in Puerto Banus by some Kinahan footsoldiers who called for reinforcements to teach a lesson to the Sunday World scum, there were a few dodgy encounters along the border which served as a baptism of fire in tactical driving and the occasions I stupidly found myself going into buildings without a plan to get out.

Nicola with her Crime Journalist Of The Year award in 2019

Ironically, it was the Sunday World, with its reputation for zero tolerance to crime, where I learned that its not all so black and white and where I have had the opportunity to see the bigger picture of why young men get lured into gangs and are tempted by a lifestyle of fast cars, women and wealth.

And its not because theSunday Worldglamorises it, its a far more complex problem than that. Its actually all about the fabric of society and community and the inequalities that exist for many who are marginalised and who are poor. We are actually all to blame.

There have been the encounters with the crime lords, the A-listers, who are both fascinating and frightening all at the same time. To rise to the top in a world of violence and power, you cannot show weakness or have the same moral code as ourselves.

People like Daniel Kinahan, Liam Byrne, Thomas Bomber Kavanagh and Derek Bottler Devoy have an unmistakable aura around them, a darkness that you can feel from their eyes.

Others, like George The Penguin Mitchell, the late Noel Kingsize Duggan and Gerry The Monk Hutch are a different breed  old school Dubliners who came up the hard way but who know how to hide and control their menace.

Nicola Tallant with Paul Ward   Caroline Quinn

A younger breed of cocaine fuelled and ruthless criminals like Paul Crosby and Trevor Byrne emanate a complete disorder and unpredictability, while the smugness of criminals like John Gilligan and Martin The Beast Morgan suggest they feel totally untouchable.

It would be hard to imagine any other job where meeting such characters, and often standing to talk with them, would be OK with the boss.

Or where a trip into the dark heart of an international drug cartel would be just another days work.

Im not sure many workplaces see deliveries of sodden boxes of bullets, are the scenes of confessions to murder or where the secrets of the Irish underworld are so freely discussed.

There were plenty more lunches over the years and a good few bottles of wine.

There has been fun and laughter, grief and sadness, and there has been many a day when it seems that truth is far stranger than fiction.

Nicola Tallant tracking down George The Penguin Mitchell in Traben-Trarbach, Germany in 2015.   Kevin Mc Nulty

Along the way the pen and notebook has been replaced by cameras and microphones and the newspaper has been complemented with a website and podcasts and videos as we look forward to a digital future for the extraordinary, brash and noisy being that is the Sunday World.

It seems like a long time ago that my lifelong friend Neil Leslie suggested that it would be no bother to me to become part of the good ship Sunday World.

In the 15 years that have followed Ive had an education that I could never have got in any university.

And as many of us Sunday Worlders will tell you, its the stories we cant tell that are the truly entertaining.

So, still standing, I raise a glass to 50 years and wish the best little newspaper a Happy Birthday and many more years to come.
Authorities carried out raids at 30 houses and 10 company buildings in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina last Tuesday, May 9.

European police have arrested seven people after busting an international cocaine operation using an encrypted messaging app Sky ECC.

Authorities carried out raids at 30 houses and 10 company buildings in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina last Tuesday, May 9, as part of an investigation into drug trafficking, money laundering, and corruption in the Balkans.

During the searches, police discovered five luxury vehicles, four pistols with 300 pieces of ammunition, luxury goods including jewellery and watches, and cash in various currencies with a total value of approximately 100,000.

They also seized large sums of cryptocurrency, 247 crypto mining machines with a total value of more than 1 million, and approximately 150,000 stored in bank accounts.

Seven people were arrested in relation to the raids while two others were searched for with international arrest warrants.

The criminal network allegedly helped to send cocaine from South America to Europe by ships and private planes, usually hidden in coal or cans of tuna, according to Europol.

The Police Directorate of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Canton Sarajevo, State Prosecutors Office, and Canton Sarajevo Prosecutors Office collaborated with Europol to take down the cartel using information from Sky ECC  a subscription-based end-to-end encrypted messaging app made by Sky Global.

Europol used data from the now defunct messaging platform to identify the structure, activities, and international connections of the criminal gang, which brought forward the current investigation.

Europol further supported the national authorities with identification of High Value Targets, facilitation of information exchange, coordination of operational activities and operational analysis.

Meanwhile, authorities also targeted a political figure suspected of corruption, who was holding a position at the top of one of the municipalities in Canton Sarajevo.
The WRC concluded that an investigation initiated by the creches owners, Anne Hartford and David Sweeney, into Ms McGovern shortly after she had raised her concern about staffing ratios was intimidating and excessive.

A Dublin creche has been ordered to pay 14,000 compensation to a former supervisor who was penalised for raising a concern about a potential breach of regulations on child/staff ratios.

The Workplace Relations Commission ruled that Ohana Day Care had unfairly penalised Arlene McGovern after she had drawn attention to a potential risk to the safety of children in the creche at a meeting on June 10, 2021.

The WRC concluded that an investigation initiated by the creches owners, Anne Hartford and David Sweeney, into Ms McGovern shortly after she had raised her concern about staffing ratios was intimidating and excessive.

It heard Ms McGovern resigned from Ohana Day Care  which trades as Marbles Creche & Montessori in Swords, Co Dublin  on August 4, 2021 before the investigation was concluded because she was being ignored and felt isolated.

WRC adjudication officer, Catherine Byrne, said she was satisfied that the investigation would not have been carried out but for the fact that Ms McGovern had spoken up at the meeting.

The complainant raised an important health and safety matter and she was penalised for doing so, said Ms Byrne.

Read more Ammi Burke files formal complaint to Simon Harris against High Court judge

The WRC official said she could understand how the actions of the creches owners had the effect of undermining Ms McGoverns trust in them and that she felt she had to resign.

Although Ms McGovern found alternative employment within a few weeks, the WRC directed the creche to pay compensation of 14,000  the equivalent of six months gross pay.

Counsel for Ms McGovern, Cathy McGrady BL, had argued that her client had been penalised under the Safety, Health and Welfare and Work Act 2005 or alternatively under whistleblowing legislation for making a protected disclosure about the child/staff ratio issue.

Ohana Day Care claimed that Ms McGovern had merely contributed to a discussion over staffing ratios that was part of an agenda for a regular staff meeting.

It claimed the complainant needed to have put the issue in writing as required by the companys handbook to be considered a protected disclosure.

Ms McGovern told the WRC that she and other colleagues were considered a nuisance for insisting on staffing lunch cover so that the creche could comply with regulations under the Child Care Act.

She claimed staff who broke the regulations were praised but that she was not prepared to breach the ratio any longer.

Ms McGovern claimed the creche subsequently manufactured an investigation into her to punish her after a complaint was submitted by another supervisor, Verona Clarke.

However, an investigation by an external consultant concluded there was not enough evidence that Ms McGovern had engaged in any form of inappropriate, repeated actions in the treatment of her colleague.

In her ruling, Ms Byrne said it was clear that raising a concern about the child/staff ratio in a childcare setting was covered by health and safety legislation.

Ms Byrne said four incidents raised by Ms Clarke in her complaint about Ms McGovern had all occurred more than a year earlier.

She noted three of the incidents had already been the subject of an informal resolution process which had resulted in the two women being allocated to work in separate rooms due to Covid-19.

Ms Byrne said Ms Clarke was evasive and unconvincing when asked why she had complained in June 2021 about matters that had been resolved in December 2019.

The WRC official noted that Ms Clarke had intended to make her colleague suffer as she had stated in evidence that she wanted Ms McGovern to get a fright as the outcome of her complaint.

Ms Byrne said it was clear from Ms McGoverns evidence that she did not like Ms Clarke and did not rate her as a colleague.

She said the complainants attitude to her colleague was condescending and unkind and she could understand why Ms Clarke was upset by their interactions.

However, the WRC said it was apparent that the creches employees were split between those like Ms Clarke who wanted to collaborate with the owners and others like Ms McGovern who wanted to have their lunch breaks without fear or favour and with confidence that the child/staff ratio would be maintained.

Ms Byrne said she could not ignore the fact that the creche had also adversely treated two other employees who voiced concern about the staffing ratio.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. The traditional Royal Windsor Horse Show in the UK has ended, the press center of the Azerbaijani State Border Service told Trend.

According to the press center, this royal horse show, in which Azerbaijan has been participating since 2012, has become an extremely important platform for promoting the ancient and unique Azerbaijani culture.

Unique show programs and performances, demonstrated annually by the Azerbaijani delegation, have become an integral part of this grandiose event.

Thanks to the high attention of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva to the preservation and promotion of the Karabakh horse breed, which is Azerbaijans national treasure, in recent years, significant work has been carried out to promote the Karabakh horse breed as a brand of Azerbaijan around the world.

Among these events, a show with the participation of Karabakh horses at the Royal Windsor Horse Show has a special place.

At this year's Royal Windsor Horse Show, Azerbaijan was once again represented by a cavalry detachment and a dance group from the State Border Service, which again amazed the audience with their performances.

The performances of the Azerbaijani representatives in national costumes won the sympathy of a large audience.

For the royal horse show marking its 80th anniversary this year, the Azerbaijani delegation has prepared a special show composition. The basis of this composition, which reflects the rich cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people, was already well known to the Windsor public and won a lot of fans there, the Karabakh horses, which are distinguished by their special beauty, as well as graceful Azerbaijani dances and Azerbaijani national music.

The show composition, consisting of unique folk melodies performed on the flute, zurna, balaban and other national musical instruments, incendiary dances of the "Sarhadchi" (Border Guard) ensemble, and the skill of the cavalry detachment of the State Border Service on Karabakh horses literally fascinated the audience.

During the performance, which lasted for 15 minutes every day on the scheduled dates, the state flags of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the UK fluttering over the heads of Azerbaijani riders attracted special attention.

The director-producer of the show composition, organized by the Azerbaijan Equestrian Federation, is the honored journalist Rovshan Jahangirov, the choreographer - the artistic director of the dance ensemble of the State Border Service, the honored artist Farid Ibrahimov, and the instructor-director of the cavalry detachment is Imran Ahmadli.

On May 14, "Azerbaijan Day" was held with the participation of honored guests.

At a reception organized before the mentioned events, the guests were presented with samples of Azerbaijani national cuisine, prepared from Azerbaijani products by the head of Mangal Steak House Zagulba Namig Mammadov and chef Oktay Jafarov.

The reception was attended by Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, his wife the Duchess of Edinburgh and other members of the royal family, as well as other honored guests.

Great interest in the Azerbaijani pavilion [presented by Heydar Aliyev Foundation as a part of the show] was aroused by footage depicting Karabakh horses, photos from the competitions in the national chovgan game (Azerbaijani traditional horse-riding game) and information about them.

The pavilion also featured 22 handmade works of craftsman Aygun Naghiyeva, and the "Karabakh Miracle" work was presented as a gift to Prince Edward.

At the end of the reception, a meeting was held between Prince Edward and the delegation of the Azerbaijan Equestrian Federation, and special gifts were presented to the prince.

The Royal Windsor Horse Show is a horse show held annually since 1943 for five days in May or June in Windsor Home Park. The show is the only one in the UK to host an international competition for dressage, show jumping, carriage driving, and endurance riding.
The accommodation system is under real pressure right now. As long as people are being left unaccommodated, it's not working as it should

The remains of a camp in Sandwith Street, Dublin, following a protest on Friday night where it was dismantled and later set alight (Niall Carson/PA)   Niall Carson

The Government has said emergency accommodation will be provided for hundreds of asylum seekers who currently have no place to live in a matter of days.

Minister for Integration Roderic OGorman said on Monday that several hundred beds came online over the weekend and will be made available following violent scenes at a makeshift campsite in Dublin city centre on Friday evening.

Speaking on RTEs Morning Ireland on Monday, Minister OGorman confirmed that 480 international protection seekers are currently without accommodation.

He added that more offers are expected to be made in the next few weeks.

The accommodation system is under real pressure right now. As long as people are being left unaccommodated, it's not working as it should, he said.

We are responding to an unprecedented situation. Were accommodating 84,000 people now between Ukrainian displaced persons and international protection applicants.

As we know at the start of last year, we were accommodating 8,500 people.

Irrespective of how robust the system you have, when you have that kind of increase, you're going to put a strain on it. We see that same strain on systems across Europe.

Scenes from Sandwith Street following confrontation involving asylum seekers sleeping rough

We're accommodating people in hotels and former barracks and in refurbished offices.

Continuing, Minister OGorman said: Over the next week, we'll be in the position to make a significant amount of offers of accommodation to people who up to this point have been unaccommodated.

As of the start of this weekend, there was (sic) just around 480 people who we haven't been able to make an offer of accommodation to.

We will be able to make, over the course of this week, offers to a significant number of this group.

Minister for integration Roderic OGorman (Niall Carson/PA)   Niall Carson

We've got a couple of hundred beds coming online across this week. We already had some come out and come online on Friday.

Minister OGorman said that while 5,000 beds have provided through the system so far this year, half of those have been used to accommodate people who were displaced after hotel contracts ended.

The Green Party TD also said that he and Justice Minister Simon Harris had been in touch with Gardai following a violent protest that saw a campsite on Sandwith Street burnt down with asylum seekers possessions destroyed.

Myself and [Justice] Minister [Simon] Harris will be meeting with An Garda Siochana management during the week to discuss the response to protests, Minister OGorman said.

Obviously, people have the right to disagree with Government policy, people have the right to protest but they don't have a right to intimidate people.

They don't have a right to commit acts of violence.
Sligo man Justin Flannery (26) is believed to fallen into a river in Lauterbrunnen.

Bunninadden native Justin Flannery (26) is believed to fallen into a river in Lauterbrunnen.

According to his twin brother Johnathan, he had been traveling in Switzerland when he went missing last Friday. It's thought that he has been swept away in the river.

A number of family members have flown to Switzerland to search, but they have been advised that in order to search the river they will require specialist sonar equipment.

A GO Fund Me page has been established by the family who say they are hoping to raise funds to search for Justin and to support his transfer home.

"It is all very unknown at the moment, we appreciate any little support and your thoughts and prayers, Johnathan said in a post on the page.

Police have searched the river but hey have advised people to be very careful as the water has a strong current and it is extremely cold.

Tommy says they had asked to join there search team but due to the law and insurance policies they are not allowed to. A helicopter is not an option as it would not be appropriate due to the location.

The only option is to hire local kayak and/or rafting teams to get onto the water.

They would not supply us with any gear and recommended a local shop for us to buy our own gear, said Johnathan

They are trying to organise a scanning device to help in the search but this can cost up to 20,000. The Go Fund Me Page has been set up to help buy one.

We are contacting everyone that we can, we are getting kayak teams to search the river where possible. Flyers are being handed out wide and far to the nearest towns, said Johnathan in an update.
The Dublin Fire Brigade crew had been in Seville for a rescue conference and were heading back to Malaga Airport when they came across the injured man.

A group of Dublin firefighters saved an injured biker while on the way home from attending a training course in Spain.

The Dublin Fire Brigade crew had been in Seville for a rescue conference and were heading back to Malaga Airport when they came across an accident.

While driving along A92, they spotted a motorcyclist who had just fallen from his motorbike and was unconscious.

The injured man had multiple injuries and wasnt breathing.

Emergency services in Seville revealed in a Twitter post: Without hesitation, they protected the area, posted signs and got on with it. The flight to #Dublin could wait.

This could be our #Today story

A team of a Fire Brigade from @DubFireBrigade @DubCityCouncil has been in #Sevilla attending some rescue conferences. #RescueGreatDay

This morning, they were leaving towards Malaga Airport, driving along A92 and when they were close to Alcala de pic.twitter.com/sZ1B2iXhz2  Emergencias Sevilla (@EmergenciasSev) May 14, 2023

Six paramedics attended to the man and gave CPR until he began to breathe again.

A Spanish spokesperson said their efforts avoided a respiratory failure and a cardiac arrest.

The post went on to say: A team of #E061 arrived immediately and they took care of the situation with the support of those who started the assistance.

We hope the biker recovers soon. He cannot imagine who saved his life; the one who was holding his hand encouraging him, or the one who was holding his head to avoid any spinal injury, they are 3.000Kms far away from #Sevilla.

These kind of stories happen when the vocation for public service has no limit and goes further more. Thanks a lot mates.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Education Minister Jan Tinetti are making a pre-Budget announcement.

Speaking at Ridgway School in Wellington, Hipkins says he's at the school a year ago to open the new buildings.

He asks the children if they can remember. One tells him the previous buildings were "old and crusty".

"When we became the government ... we had to create space for 100,000 more children in our schools," says Hipkins.

"So far we've found the money to build 2700 new classrooms."

He tells the children the government is releasing its Budget this Thursday, and "we're putting more money into building more new classrooms so that more kids around the country can have the sorts of classrooms like the ones you guys have got".

"We're gonna be building, because of the money that we're putting in, in addition to the money that we've already got, 3000 new classrooms around the country. So that's a lot of new classrooms, this year's Budget funds 300 of those."

He asked who likes the new classrooms.

"Everyone's got their hands up, including some of the teachers, that's pretty cool," he says.

Tinetti addresses the children away from the microphones, and says it's fantastic the kids are in "such wonderful buildings, but we want to see every young person in this country learning in warm, dry, beautiful buildings just like this".

Hipkins says back when Labour came into government in 2017, children were being taught in school gymnasiums and libraries because schools were becoming overcrowded.

The funding from this year's Budget will mean 6600 more student spaces, and he says at the current rate of building the 100,000 extra student spaces needed will have been halved by the end of 2024.

The government has already funded spaces for about another 60,000 students, he says.

"It is an example of where we've invested, over the time that we've been in government, to really bring our schools up to scratch. Of course building new classrooms is only part of the equation - there's also work around building new schools ... and a significant programme to redevelop our existing schools, so we've seen through the Christchurch schools rebuild.

"And for some of our most run-down schools we've been putting a significant focus on big redevelopment projects, so that includes schools like this one where we've been able to completely upgrade their buildings to both cope with population growth but also to cope with the fact that some of the buildings that they were previously dealing with were pretty old and in need of significant replacement work."

Tinetti says 16 new schools have been opened since Labour came into government, and this morning is announcing a further $100m in this year's Budget for up to four new schools.

The new schools will be located "in those role-growth areas, and where the need is for those new schools".

Hipkins says the funding today will maintain the momentum of the government's funding of about 4000 student places every three months.

"That then leaves us with another six years to finish the remaining school buildings that we know will be required."

He says one of the challenging parts of building new classrooms is that's often associated with other work like redevelopment, which can mean it takes a bit longer.

In some cases, relocatable classrooms are used in the short term while the government plans redesign and rebuilds of the school.

"We do occasionally have to make use of relocatable classrooms to make sure that we've got the classrooms there when they're needed, for the growth of the population."

He says schools often do not routinely have air conditioning, but the priority is to avoid having non-teaching spaces like gyms and libraries used as teaching spaces.

Hipkins has signalled a "no-frills Budget" on Thursday focused on "funding the things most important to New Zealanders, like support with the cost of living and cyclone recovery".

-RNZ.
Three million Kiwis find talking about dying hard, says Hospice New Zealand.

Hospice New Zealand is launching a campaign today to help raise awareness about the value of hospice care.

The campaign Its Ok features hospice patients and whAnau sharing their emotional journeys of dying and hospice care.

Hospice NZ chief executive Wayne Naylor says over three million of us tend to feel anxious and uncomfortable when thinking about a loved one dying (69 per cent).

These stories shine a spotlight on how hospice care helps to make that journey a little easier.

"Dying is not an easy subject to talk about. We dont know what to say and were afraid well say the wrong thing. This campaign features hospice patients and whanau sharing their emotional experiences in the hope that others will be ok about opening up and reach out to Hospice for help."

"Everyones story is unique, but feelings are universal and whatever you feel, is ok. If we can open up; if we can talk about dying and be ok with all the feelings we have; we can make the most of life right until the end. Hospice helps people get through."

One of the stories features Latoya, a patient at Tatara Hospice in South Auckland who encourages talking about dying.

"The topic is so depressing and so sad and so taboo but yet its one of the most natural things that happens in lifeyou live and you die why Im so comfortable now is because it is something we can talk about," says Latoya.

Another story features Haley, whose friend died in the care of Otago Community Hospice, and who encourages opening up.

"Just normalise it, make it okit does make it easierwhen you ignore it, it makes it incredibly difficult," says Haley.

Wayne hopes this campaign motivates more New Zealanders to support hospice.

"We rely on the generosity of our communities to deliver our life changing services. We couldnt do it without their support."

"Understanding the care, the value, the comfort that Hospice provides - is why Hospice Awareness Week is so important. "

Hospice Awareness Week : May 15-21

In Numbers

In 2021/2022 Hospice across Aotearoa;

Provided care to 17,589 people, plus their whsnau. Cared for 10,592 people who died.

Provided 166,541 face to face visits. Made 290,741 phone calls to patients and whAnau members. Provided nearly 28,000 nights of specialist care in hospice inpatient units. Provided 24,042 bereavement contacts.

Had to raise over $94m through their second-hand retail shops, fundraising, donations, and other sources, including from reserves, to keep afloat.

Community Views : Public Perceptions Research on Hospice, Death and Dying (completed Jan 2023)

Over two thirds of us (around 3 million) tend to feel anxious and uncomfortable when thinking about a loved one dying (69 per cent).

In 2022 a higher proportion of New Zealanders had experienced the death of a close friend or relative (82 per cent compared to 2015 (77 per cent).

This number increases to more than 90 per cent for Maori. And just in the past two years, two million of us have experienced the death of a close friend or relative.

"We know death is around us but that doesnt make us feel more comfortable about it. About 61 per cent of us feel it is hard to talk about death with someone you care about who is dying.

"More young New Zealanders have experienced the loss of a loved one. Nearly a million New Zealanders cared for a loved one who was dying in the past two years. Around 40 per cent of carers spent 21+ hours per week in their caring role.

"The key rewards of being a carer were: spending time with that person (76 per cent), giving back to someone they care about (75 per cent), and doing something meaningful (61 per cent).

"Only 13 per cent of us have made an Advanced Care Plan."
There are happy smiles all around following a dramatic battle along the Bay of Plenty coastline this weekend.

The Bay of Plenty IRB Long Haul celebrated its 10th anniversary on Saturday with an 80km race from Ohope Beach to Mount Maunganui.

Normally it takes just over an hour to drive, however the event called upon some of the best inflatable rescue boat teams in the region and beyond to join the stage race and battle it out along the magnificent Bay of Plenty coastline with challenges along the way.

Oli Hanson, Flynn Weatherall and Ella Weatherall from Omanu Surf Lifesaving Club arrive at Mount Maunganui after completing the 80km BOP IRB Long Haul to Mount Maunganui. Photo: Mark Weatherall.

It was an amazing day, says Omanu Beach SLSC sport director Mark Weatherall. We had 25 teams, with the furtherest coming from Orewa in the north and Nelson in the south. There was a good spread from Foxton, Gisborne, Bay of Plenty, Coromandel and Raglan.

Mark was also the pit crew for his son and daughter Flynn and Ella Weatherall and their club mate Oli Hanson who competed as a team for Omanu.

The 2023 Stage Race set off from Ohope Beach at 9am with location tasks set at Thornton Beach, Matata, Pukehina, Papamoa, Omanu and finishing around 1.30pm at Mount Maunganui.

The Pukehina IRB team. Photo: Andy McDowell.

All teams began as a mass start, racing to the next destination, where they received instructions to complete each challenge before making their way to the next location and stage challenge.

Each IRB must have a crew of three current and refreshed SLSNZ members. Of the three crew there must be one refreshed IRB Driver, and at minimum two qualified IRB Crewperson.

The Long Haul is a combination of speed as part of it but at each stage they refuel and completed different challenges. There is long running, a memory challenge, and a three-person challenge where one of the team has to swim out and the others rescue them.

"At Omanu, one had to pretend to be unwell, and the other carry them up the beach. They are judged on all aspects of life saving.

The Raglan IRB team. Photo: Ella Kennedy.

We had a great day competing in the 10th annual Long Haul IRB race yesterday [Saturday], says Pukehina Surf Lifesaving clubs Andy McDowell. It was a big effort running from Ohope to Mount Maunganui completing challenges along the way.

It wasnt without drama, one of our boats DNFed, our boat coming in a respectable third in the open; the other Pukehina boat finishing not too far down after taking a wrong turn. Thanks everyone involved it was very cool.

The five divisions in the race are Open Male. Open Female, Open Mixed, U19 Male, and U19 Female.

The team of Jack, Connor and Dom from Onemana won the Open Men's category. Photo: Supplied.

For the Onemana team of Jack, Connor and Dom it has been a huge success, glowing from their first-time competing gold-winning result.

Big day on the water today for team Onemana! Our first ever IRB race competition at Eastern Region IRB Long Haul, with Jack, Connor and Dom. Came away with the win, getting gold in the Open Mens category. Charlie Toumadj also joined a composite team with Tairua. A great start to our IRB racing, looks like we might have to do a bit more of this. Awesome work everyone.

Volunteers helped out at each stop, with the IRB teams also required to have a support crew and support crew vehicles which do not travel along the beach or have access to the beach but drive to each destination. In the event of an IRB suffering mechanical breakdown, access may be approved by the event organisers for the support crew to come down onto the beach.

Crews must carry a VHF radio (capable of VHF Ch16) and a cell phone contained within a waterproof bag.Crews can use two fuel bladders per IRB, however only one bladder is to be carried at any one time.

The team of Jack, Connor and Dom from Onemana won the Open Men's category. Photo: Supplied.

It was an awesome day with positive attitudes and smiles all round and so cool to see all teams encouraging and supporting each other in the true values of surf lifesaving, says Poppy Crouch, one of the many supporters posting to Facebook following the event.

Mark says over the winter months lifeguard training and upskilling continues, along with paddling, and pool rescue championships coming up in October.
US reservations to Andalusian destinations soar by 52.5% this summer The new United Airlines direct flight linking New York and Malaga is the main driver bringing a lot more tourists from the United States to the region this peak holiday season

The New York flights are already being promoted on the approach to Malaga Airport.

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Malaga and New York will be linked by a direct flight at the end of this month, joining the two destinations with just a six hour journey in the air.

The new connection, operated twice a week by United Airlines, has become a key factor in boosting the arrival of American tourists to Andalucian destinations this summer.

A report on travel trends in the USA for the high summer season, published recently by government's Turespana tourism board, shows bookings from the USA to Andalucia have increased by 52.5% compared to last summer. The region is the second destination in Spain with the highest increase after Catalonia, where travel bookings have risen by 54.5%.

Ampliar The New York flights are already being promoted on the approach to Malaga Airport. Salvador Salas

The Turespana report points out that "the volume of bookings from the USA to Spain has increased by 21.9% compared to those made last year", made possible by 23 flight routes for 2023 linking the USA and Spain.

Americans are eager to see the world again after two years of limitations on travel during the pandemic. Leading industry publications report that 43% are prioritising luxury travel with an average annual spend of $4,677. They also highlight the increase in travel to capitals and cities rich in culture, with art events, music and cultural festivals.

Millenials are also driving demand for travel to outdoor destinations and wellness tourism, with an interest to be immersed in nature.

"The priorities of US tourists visiting Europe this year are focused on historical and cultural heritage (30%), activities in cities (art and nightlife), nature, active tourism, luxury shopping (2.2%), gastronomic experiences (23%) and commemoration of historical events," tourism publications added.

Spain is positioned as the fourth most popular travel destination in Europe. Nearly 20% consider Spain as a favourite for travel and 2.1% include it in their next plans.

According to the report, the US tourist market will reach and exceed pre-pandemic demand for travel this year and in 2024. Spanish destinations welcomed 2.8 million American tourists last year compared to the record figure of 3.3 million in 2019.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. Residents registered in Azerbaijan's industrial zones managed by the Economic Zones Development Agency under the Ministry of Economy, plan to invest a total of 600 million manat ($352.9 million) and create more than 4,800 jobs, Trend reports via Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarovs tweet.

Overall, 128 enterprises with the total investment volume of more than 7.1 billion manat ($4.18 billion) received the status of a resident in industrial zones, 66 of them have already commenced production activities.

Industrial zones contribute to the expansion of entrepreneurial activity in Azerbaijan. One of the most important directions of the country's economic policy is the development of industry and the non-oil sector, in particular. Special attention is paid to the effective use of available natural and economic resources, the growth of industrial production, and the establishment of new enterprises.

Systematic and result-oriented measures are being implemented, while modern technologies are being used to create products with added value. The implementation of advanced tools in accordance with the requirements of modern economic development and the creation of industrial zones (techno-parks) acquires special importance.

In order to improve the management of industrial zones, an Economic Zones Development Agency has been established under the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan.
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Syracuse, N.Y.  A 16-year-old boy was shot in the arm Sunday, police said.

Syracuse police spokesman Lt. Matthew Malinowski said the teen was taken to the hospital in a private vehicle at about 2:58 p.m. The boy is expected to survive, he said.

Police did not report where the shooting happened, saying it is under investigation.

Police ask anyone with information to call them at 315-442-5222.

Staff writer Fernando Alba covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? Reach him: Email | Twitter or at 315-690-6950.
Longtime Central New York radio host Becky Palmer has died after a battle with cancer. She was 68.

Palmer died Sunday at a hospital near her familys camp in Upstate New York, her daughter Alana Hirt confirmed to syracuse.com | The Post-Standard. Palmer had recently been sick and diagnosed with cancer, years after a previous battle with breast cancer.
Geddes, N.Y.  What started as a time-filler during the Covid shutdown of 2020 turned out to be the winning entry at this years Food Truck Battle at the State Fairgrounds.

Calle Tropical, a food truck that specializes in homemade Latin American fried stuffed pastries, won the judges choice for best savory dish at the food truck rodeo on Saturday.

Odalys Negron, the owner of Calle Tropical, came up with her Philly cheesesteak empanadas while experimenting in her kitchen during the pandemic.

When bored, what do I do? Get in the kitchen, she said after winning the first-place belt. Our savory empanadas have shaved beef, cooked peppers onions, lots of cheese and some love from our special seasoning we like to blend.

Thousands of Central New Yorkers packed Chevy Court at the fairgrounds to sample foods from 60 mobile kitchens during the 11-hour festival.

This is the largest gathering of food trucks in Upstate New York, said Syracuse Food Truck Association president Nick Sanford, who also owns Toss & Fire Pizza. Each food truck offered at least one sample that they sold for $3 to $6. Most offered a more extensive menu.

When folks were done eating, they could cast their votes for their favorite vendor in two categories: Sweets and Savory. Teams from local media outlets (93Q radio, 95X radio and syracuse.com) served as judges. They tasted samples from the each truck and picked their favorites.

The winners are ...

Judges choice in the savory category: Calle Tropical for the Philly cheesesteak empanadas.

Philly cheesesteak empanada

Peoples choice in the savory category: Bold Coast Lobster Co. Their sample was bacon-wrapped scallops. This truck had a line more than 100 people deep at points throughout the day.

The line for the Bold Coast Lobster Co. food truck reached more than 100 people deep at the Food Truck Battle at the State Fairgrounds. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Judges choice in the novelty category: Melt for their Blackberry Italian Soda. Its made with Italian syrup, a splash of cream and topped with club soda. Its topped with whipped cream, vanilla pizzelle, a fresh blackberry and, for fun, a beautiful ball of white chocolate birthday cake cotton candy.

Most unique/creative: Melt for their Blackberry Italian Soda.

Blackberry Italian Soda from Melt

Peoples Choice in the novelty category: Blueberries & Lace for their blueberry iced coffee topped with whipped cream and a blueberry white chip cookie.

A blueberry iced coffee from Blueberries & Lace at the 2023 Food Truck Battle. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)Charlie Miller

****

Charlie Miller finds the best in food, drink and fun across Central New York. Contact him at (315) 382-1984, or by email at cmiller@syracuse.com. You can also find him under @HoosierCuse on Twitter and on Instagram. Sign up for his free weekly Where Syracuse Eats newsletter here.

MORE CNY FOOD & DRINK

With 7th best burger win, CNY pub makes Syracuse the unofficial burger capital of NY

PressRoom Pub returns to Downtown dining scene with slimmer menu (Dining Out Review)

Salt City Market seeks new food vendors. Latin American, Indian among the possibilities

New York Beef Passport: Visit restaurants. Try steaks, burgers etc. Win prizes

Save the Date: 50th annual Greek Fest is a month away
NY Cannabis Insider (NYCI) is hosting the states first industry summit and conference of 2023 at The Desmond Hotel in Albany, N.Y. on May 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Details and tickets available here.

Industry professionals  from growers, processors and retailers to attorneys, consultants and politicians  will gather for a day of venting, problem-solving, and learning.

New for the May full-day conference, attendees will be able to step into the Veterans Rally Point and connect with those who have served our country. Whether youre a veteran yourself, looking to work with a veteran, or simply want to show your support, the benefits of networking with veterans are invaluable.

Veteran-owned and operated companies that will be available to meet with include Ananda Farms and Veterans Ananda, B30 Farms, Hemp Farms, Cirona Labs, and DOSHA Farms.

From their unique perspectives and skill sets to their unwavering dedication and loyalty, youll find new allies and allies that share your values and drive to succeed, said Sarah Stenuf, founder of Ananda Farms and Veterans Ananda. Dont miss the opportunity to forge meaningful connections and tap into the incredible potential of this community.

Overview on the summit format

NYCI has partnered up with a professional mediation firm to help guide discussions on frustrations that industry members are experiencing here in New York State. Attendees will have a chance to speak openly and have their voice heard.

Once we dive deep into the issues, well spend the afternoon finding solutions and ways to solve some of the most pressing issues. Concurrent to the open forum, well host informative breakout sessions where you can learn more about whats next in the industry and best practices for cannabis business owners.

Industry challenges that well be discussing during the interactive workshop include topics like the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY), the June 1st deadline, the 4/20 bill and the crumbing medical program. After we work to unpack the various challenges and root causes, the group will work to discuss ideas and solutions to move the burgeoning cannabis market forward.

Meet the sponsors and vendors offering onsite advice and support

Sponsors and vendors are the businesses shaping and supporting the industry. Look for them at the event for advice and help with your cannabis business:

 Cannaspire provides the products, services, and consulting you need to succeed in the cannabis industry from application to expansion.

 New York State Dispute Resolution Association, Inc. is a not-for-profit membership organization committed to the promotion of quality conflict management and peaceful dispute resolution.

 New York Medical Cannabis Industry Associations mission is to protect and serve the patients in New Yorks medical cannabis program while working collaboratively to establish a responsible, inclusive and competitive adult-use cannabis program.

 Ground Game Cannabis is a New York State sales and distribution agency created to help cannabis brands get their products on dispensary shelves and keep them there.

 Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW is a labor union that proudly represents working people in a variety of different industries, including New Yorks cannabis workers who are employed across the industrys full supply chain from seed to sale.

 Citrin Cooperman is one of the nations largest professional services firms, with a dedicated Cannabis Advisory Services (CAS) team that utilizes their specialized knowledge to help companies thrive.

 Dickinson & Avella knows the cannabis industry inside and out from their work on the implementation of medical marijuana to the emerging adult-use market.

 The Bluntness is one of the fastest growing independent digital media and marketing platforms exploring, examining and elevating the intersection of cannabis & psychedelic culture, community & commerce.

 Allspace is thoughtful space design meets full-service fabrication & installation; we work with your to develop a concept that encompasses everything from aesthetics to functionality.

 McNeil & Co. in conjunction with the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF) and the Cannabis Association of New York are excited to launch a safety group to provide a sustainable workers compensation solution for members of the New York State cannabis industry.

 Cannabis Workforce Initiative has a mission to promote and support social equity in the adult-use cannabis market by providing quality workforce development and legal education.

 HUB International Limited has specialized cannabis insurance experts and risk consultants help you manage the emerging risks that face your cannabis business with the right risk transfer and mitigation.

 New York Consortium of Cannabis Accountants has a mission to promote financial literacy among New Yorks legacy market leaders and social equity entrepreneurs.

 StaffBuffalo and HRBuffalo are ancillary businesses to the cannabis industry, optimizing the People Operations to enable growing businesses to thrive.

 East Coast Cannabis Insurance offers experienced insurance solutions for everything in the cannabis industry, from workers comp to crop coverage.

 Cannabis360 is a full-service cannabis marketing partner focused on crafting your brand story, finding your best audience and driving brand awareness for your business.

 Hybrid Marketing focuses on business outcomes to move the needle in the areas of revenue, risk, cost, cashflow, and asset utilization.

Our next event will be an afternoon networking and production facility tour hosted by Beak & Skiff/1911 Established/ayrloom held on June 8 in CNY (tickets and details here). Contact Lindsay Wickham at lwickham@advancemediany.com to learn more about sponsor and vendor opportunities.

As entrepreneurs and cannabis professionals are moving forward in the billion-dollar legal weed industry, NY Cannabis Insider events allow participants to learn about regulations, discuss topics essential to New York State, make connections, establish teams and foundations, and continue business planning.
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.

Kimber Arezzi is the director of sales at Curaleaf. She shared with NY Cannabis Insider her thoughts on barriers for women in cannabis, ways weed companies can support women in leadership and women who inspired her.

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.



Sign up for the NY Cannabis Insider Newsletter

Enter your email address to get exclusive reporting on NY's cannabis market delivered to your inbox:









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?

I fell into the industry  hard and fast. My childhood bestie, Tracey Henry, took me to my first Women Grow meeting in August 2018, and I knew I had found my community. Like me, this was a group of professional women who consumed cannabis while pursuing entrepreneur opportunities in the cannabis industry.

Prior to that experience, it had not occurred to me that I could have a career in weed. I just used the plant to help manage my inflammation and blood disorder, remove all my daily pills, and prepared medicinal applications for friends and family. My eyes were opened as I witnessed Tracey, transitioning from her traditional PR background, into a public relations cannabis pioneer.

Listening to so many other women sharing similar stories at that meeting was truly life changing. From finance to legal to tech, women were talking about how they came to Women Grow and found a way to transition professionally to cannabis. It sounded  impossible. But, why not me?

After the Women Grow meeting, I kept crossing paths with the outreach coordinator from Curaleaf NY at cannabis community events. In a matter of weeks, I was employed by Curaleaf as a Patient Care Associate and became part of the inaugural Curaleaf Carle Place team. It became all consuming; and so exciting to help shape the face of medical cannabis in our community with our neighbors. Working in outreach and education led me to the NY Grow and corporate team.

What do you think is the most significant barrier to women leadership? Are the barriers different in cannabis than any other industry?

At the onset of the NYS medical cannabis rollout, there were definitely more women in leadership. Led by advocates and communities like Women Grow, the industry was really focused on setting this new tone to be inclusive of marginalized people, including women entrepreneurs and business leaders. The companies were smaller and more state-focused. Today, the cannabis industry is much more corporate, resulting in the same disparity we see in corporate America: few women in leadership.

The biggest barrier in the cannabis industry is the fear of stigma. Its hard to excel and strive for leadership positions in a world that still has so much negativity around cannabis consumption. For professional moms in cannabis, we are incredibly vulnerable as our parenting capabilities are at issue once our professional affiliation becomes known.

Related: Good moms and dads sometimes smell like weed: How the marijuana stigma nearly destroyed one New York mother

The world is very closed-minded about moms and cannabis. Were not as cool as wine moms.

Why do you think women are so underrepresented in leadership roles in cannabis?

Fortunately, I have benefited greatly from the strong, passionate, confident women in my cannabis community. Even though we make up more than half of the workforce, there are still less than 10% of women in leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies. The concept of the broken rung is what is really holding women back.

According to the Women in the Workplace study conducted by Lean In in 2022, for every 100 men promoted from entry level to manager, only 87 women are promoted and only 82 women of color are promoted.

What are some ways in which companies can support gender diversity at senior levels?

It is well documented that companies with more women in senior roles are more profitable, more socially responsible, and provide safer, higher-quality customer experiences.

As a director, my goal is to create and support opportunities for the junior associates to grow into new roles.

Shout out your other favorite women-owned or women-led businesses in the industry.

The NY Cannabis Community is infused with inspiring women who thrive on supporting each other.

Tracey Henry, Founder, of Type A Media - Cannabis Lifestyle Public Relations.

Melissa Gibson Founder of Hemp & Humanity in Woodstock NY.

I fan girl for The Dank Duchess. She empowers so many of us to grow and make our own medications with ease.

Dasheeda Dawson has been my inspiration for transitioning from retail development to cannabis. She made me believe I could go from Walmart to Weed.

Tanya Osborne and The CannaDiva, which is a space for women who openly consume and work to fight stigma.

Saki Fenderson for leading the way into the canna kitchen and teaching so many of us how to create plant based medicines with her Canna-I-Cook series.

KymB from TribeTokes for reminding us that you can be a Queen and still adjust someone elses crown while you hustle.

Who/what are your favorite tools and resources in the industry? These could be organizations, online websites, consultants, attorneys ... anyone or anything.

WomenGrow. Thats where the innovators, leaders and brand builders meet. Gia Moron really helps set the tone for intentional networking. If youre going to show up anywhere, find Gia Moron.

The Maze Calendar has been a free event listing newsletter for our cannabis community since 2017. It highlights events and programs produced by and featuring women and people of color.

Trademark your brands. Purdy Trademarks with Cathy Purdy. If youre looking for a legal eagle contact  Cristina Buccola in the cannabis space.

What advice would you give your 25-year-old self? What advice would you give to the next generation of women leaders?

As women, we are encouraged to be small and to shrink. I say keep taking up space, sis! And do it  unapologetically. Every time youre told that you take up all the oxygen in the room, dont apologize. Just ask them to get bigger rooms.

Keep showing up. If you want to be part of the change, show up for your community.

Is there anything we left out that youd like to add?

Theres room for everybody in the space; the industry is just getting started. Be inclusive. Lend a helping hand. Be supportive, kind and gracious. Make the cannabis space different.

If youd like people to connect with you, please share your favorite methods of contact (email, phone, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.).

Email me at kimber@thecannadiva.com or DM me on IG @KimberSaysHigh.
Van Buren, N.Y.  A developer that specializes in homes for people with disabilities is proposing to build 70 apartments, including many that would have wider doorways, wheelchair-accessible bathrooms and other features essential for people with physical or developmental disabilities.

The $20 million complex would also include a caseworker with an office on site to assist tenants. Cayuga Centers will provide a range of supportive services for residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
A new name in local food and beer is coming to Syracuse Hancock Airport.

Pompeys Palladino Farms, and its affiliate Heritage Hill Brewhouse, will be the brand, name and major product supplier at the food-and-drink outlet in the airports North Terminal (Terminal B).

That location, past the terminals security check-in, is currently branded as a Middle Ages Pub, named in a deal with Syracuses Middle Ages Brewing Co. Terminal B serves Delta, United and Frontier airlines.

A second Middle Ages Pub in the South Terminal (Terminal A) will remain open under that name.

All food concessions at the airport are run by Delaware North, a large hospitality management company based in Buffalo. In cases like these, the concessions business pays a licensing fee to use the brand names like Palladino Farms and Middle Ages but runs the day-to-day operations.

The change will mean the North Terminal pub will feature menu items and beers from Heritage Hill at Palladino Farms on Sweet Road in Pompey. It may also eventually carry products produced at the new meat processing business that Palladino Farms is proposing to operate in partnership with Leighs & Steigerwalds butcher shop in Syracuse.

This allows us to grow the Palladino Farms name as we work to get the new meat business started, said Dan Palladino, who owns the Pompey farm with his brother, Nick. Palladino Farms raises both beef cattle and hogs.

The restaurant signs will also depict images of the farm, which sits on one of the highest hills in Onondaga County and offers spectacular sunset views.

A wall mural for the Palladino Farms restaurant at Syracuse Hancock Airport. (Dan Palladino / Delaware North)

The airport changeover is starting this week, and is expected to be complete by the end of the month.

... This partnership allows us to showcase the incredible flavors of Central New York, Tom Waldron, chief operating officer of Delaware North Travel, said in a statement. We are excited to offer travelers a true taste of the region while contributing to the sustainable growth of our local community.

The restaurant will offer breakfast as well as lunch and dinner options, including such dishes as Pompey Poutine, Smokehouse Wings, All-American Smash Burger and Highest Point Pulled Pork found at Heritage Hill.

The new restaurant will also uses other local sources, as in the Basilio Sausage and Egg breakfast sandwich.

The bar will have a variety of beers and hard seltzers, plus wine and spirits. It will highlight Heritage Hill beers, but will not exclusively use that brand.

Middle Ages agreed to give up its licensing deal for the second airport location, owner Isaac Rubenstein said. The first Middle Ages pub opened in the South Terminal in 2014, followed by the one in the North Terminal in 2015.

Were happy for Dan and Heritage Hill to have this opportunity, Rubenstein said.

The change allows the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority to add diversity to the food options.

We believe the curation of an exceptional airport customer experience is tied closely to generating a sense of place, giving the traveler an opportunity to fully experience the fruits of our region, airport authority Chief Commercial Officer Jason Mehl said in a statement.

The Middle Ages pub in the South Terminal at Syracuse Hancock Airport will remain open. (Don Cazentre | dcazentre@NYUP.com, 2014)

Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.
Syracuse, N.Y. - Syracuse University awarded more than 6,500 degrees to students Sunday at its commencement.

The faculty, staff and graduates loved ones joined together to honor those walking across the stage at JMA Wireless Dome in the ceremony that started at 9:30 a.m.

A total of 6,160 students graduated, receiving 6,503 degrees.

Donna Shalala, who served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Bill Clinton, was the commencement speaker.

Shalala, who is a professor of political ccience and health policy at the University of Miami, graduated SU with masters and doctoral degrees in social science from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in 1970.

President Joe Biden, who graduated from SUs law school in 1968, delivered a videotaped message to the graduating class, congratulating them and encouraging them to help build a better future.

Simone Bellot and Michael MP Geiss were the senior class marshals and who led the student procession. Bellot majored in communication sciences and disorders and neuroscience in the College of Arts and Sciences. Geiss majored in policy studies and physics and minored in biology and economics in the Maxwell School.

Honorary degrees were bestowed to four members of the university community:

Cerri Banks, 00, G04, G06, who served as the universitys vice president and deputy to the senior vice president of student experience.

Michael Crow, G85, the president of Arizona State University.

David R. MacDonald, artist and professor emeritus of ceramics.

Kathleen A. Walters, 73, a retired executive vice president of Georgia-Pacific and the first woman to serve as chair of the University Board of Trustees.

Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at dstevenson@syracuse.com
Saudi Arabias FDI (foreign direct investment) stock in Bahrain reached $9.1 billion in 2022, making up 26% of total FDI, which totals up $35.4 billion, it was revealed during a key Saudi  Bahrain meeting.

Khalid Humaidan, Chief Executive of Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB), received Eng Khalid Abdulaziz Al-Falih, Saudi Arabias Minister of Investment, for a meeting during the ministers official visit to Bahrain.

The visit comes in line with the ongoing efforts to maintain cooperative and collaborative economic ties between the two kingdoms.

During the meeting, Humaidan highlighted the vital role of Bahrain EDB in attracting direct investment across the priority sectors outlined in the Bahrain Economic Recovery Plan (ERP), announced in 2021, which work towards further diversifying Bahrains economy.

Additionally, the Chief Executive elaborated on the mandate of Bahrain EDB of enhancing the overall investment climate to drive sustainable economic growth.

The meeting also discussed potential areas of cooperation across the priority sectors, namely financial services, manufacturing, logistics, information and communications technology (ICT), and tourism; and respective strategic projects in line with ERP.

During 2022, Bahrain EDB attracted over $1.1 billion, which is projected to create over 6,000 new jobs in the kingdom over the next three years.

In line with the ERP, the kingdom continues to innovate its regulatory framework to create a more robust, conducive business environment and streamlined processes to achieve over $ 2.5 billion in direct investment between 2022-202, an EDB statement said. - TradeArabia News Service
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. Italy plays an important role in the development of relations between Azerbaijan and the EU, Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Parviz Shahbazov said during a meeting with Italian Senator Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata, Senator Marco Scurria, President of the Italian Interparliamentary Friendship bilateral Group and Ettore Rosato, member of the Chamber of Deputies, the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan told Trend.

During the meeting, the parties expressed satisfaction with the development of strategic partnership relations between the countries and the expanding cooperation in the energy sector.

"In addition, the role of inter-parliamentary ties in the development of bilateral relations was discussed, it was emphasized that Italy is not only the main trading partner, but also an importer of Azerbaijani oil and gas, and also plays an important role in relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union," the ministry said.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on Azerbaijan's contribution to the energy security of Europe, as well as on expanding cooperation in the field of electric power.
By Eliza Haverstock | NerdWallet

The Supreme Court might strike down President Joe Bidens sweeping student debt relief plan in the coming weeks  but the more than 40 million borrowers eligible for up to $20,000 in loan cancellation could still have hope if the White House pursues a Plan B.

The Higher Education Act, or HEA, could unlock an alternate route for broad student debt cancellation. Signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965, the landmark legislation laid the foundation of the modern U.S. college funding system. It established and governs grants, federal loans and other programs to help students pay for school, and it empowers the secretary of education to compromise, waive, or release federal student loans.

The HEA has changed over time to reflect the needs of society, says Twinette Johnson, a law professor and interim dean at the University of the District of Columbia School of Law. But even as the HEA has expanded, Johnson says, it must continue to serve its core purpose: to make higher education more accessible and to remove the blocks that may impede that access.

But the White House hasnt yet announced a student debt cancellation Plan B via the HEA or otherwise  so borrowers should prepare as if bills will resume on their total loan balance, sans relief.

The HEAs debt cancellation history

Two major lawsuits currently pending a Supreme Court ruling have derailed Bidens Plan A, which would cancel debt via the Heroes Act of 2003. Passed by Congress in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, this law allows the secretary of education to waive or modify student debt obligations for borrowers affected by a war, military operation or national emergency. In August, the White House argued that the pandemic was a national emergency worthy of loan cancellation.

Though the HEA allows the secretary to compromise, waive, or release federal student loans, it doesnt include specific requirements like a national emergency.

The government has called on the HEA to cancel student debt before, albeit in narrower cases. It allowed policymakers to roll out Public Service Loan Forgiveness and income-driven repayment programs, which erase student debt after eligible borrowers make payments for a set number of years. Around 615,000 borrowers were approved for $42 billion in loan forgiveness under the PSLF program between October 2021 and May 2023, the Education Department said.

The HEA was also behind the recent $6 billion Sweet v. Cardona settlement, in which some 300,000 borrowers whod been defrauded by their schools will get their debt discharged and past loan payments reimbursed, says Luke Herrine, an assistant law professor at the University of Alabama and former legal director of The Debt Collective, a debtors union fighting for student loan cancellation.

Legal roadmap could differ

If Bidens debt cancellation plan went through the Higher Education Act instead of the Heroes Act, the legal rollout could look different.

There are several plausible scenarios, explains Herrine. If the Department of Education invokes the HEAs compromise and settlement authority, it might need to issue a regulation, which would require a long, negotiated rulemaking and notice-and-comment period, he says.

That usually takes over a year to do, and it would be subject to judicial review and so on, Herrine says. Congress could also step in and block the regulation via the Congressional Review Act.

Alternatively, the Department of Education could issue an order, which is a quasi-judicial act, says Herrine. That would potentially be subject to judicial challenge, but it would not be subject to the Congressional Review Act, and it would not require over a year of rulemaking.

Either choice requires a slew of administrative law processes, says Herrine, but if the Department of Education is already preparing for a negative Supreme Court decision, it may be able to move quickly.

Ultimately, a Plan B success story could hinge on speed: Its harder for the court to undo cancellation than it is to prevent it in the first place, adds Herrine.

Will Biden pursue a Plan B for student debt cancellation?

So far, the Biden Administration continues to stand behind Plan A  the Heroes Act  and has not publicly offered up any debt cancellation Plan B.

Our Administration is confident in our legal authority to adopt this plan, and today made clear that opponents of the program lack standing to even bring their case to court, said Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona in a statement immediately following the Feb. 28 Supreme Court oral arguments.

Some activists echoed this call. We are hyper-focused on making sure that this plan as enacted by the president happens, said Cody Hounanian, executive director of the Student Debt Crisis Center, a nonprofit borrower advocacy organization, after oral arguments. Were not engaging the administration on any type of Plan B yet. We think [Biden] has taken the right action.

But even the president has expressed doubt on how the justices would rule: Im confident were on the right side of the law, Biden told reporters on March 1. Im not confident about the outcome of the decision yet.

Nobody has a crystal ball, but some experts remain hopeful that a Supreme Court decision against the current plan would not spell doom for broad student debt cancellation.

The administration has done so much good work, especially targeting vulnerable student borrowers, says Betsy Mayotte, founder and president of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors, a nonprofit organization that offers free guidance to borrowers. I think that if theres a way to have a Plan B, theyll aggressively try to do it.

This doesnt mean borrowers should count on debt cancellation yet, says Mayotte. Under current guidance, federal student loan bills will resume 60 days after June 30, or 60 days after the Supreme Court posts its final opinion  whichever comes first.

Prepare for the worst and hope for the best, Mayotte advises. Make sure you know where your loans are, make sure you know what your payments will be when they resume. If they wont be affordable, now is a great time to look at different payment options.

Dont wait for a Supreme Court decision; take action now. Reach out to your federal student loan servicer to learn about the relief available to you. Options like an income-driven repayment plan can lower your monthly payments once they restart and forgive your remaining debt after you make 20 or 25 years of monthly payments  no Plan A or B needed.

More From NerdWallet

Eliza Haverstock writes for NerdWallet. Email: ehaverstock@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @elizahaverstock.
DALLAS (AP)  A man who didnt want his girlfriend to get an abortion fatally shot her during a confrontation in a Dallas parking lot, police said.

He was jailed on a murder charge as of Friday.

Texas banned abortions after roughly six weeks of pregnancy in September 2021. But nearly all abortions have been halted in Texas since Roe v. Wade was overturned last summer, except in cases of medical emergency.

Gabriella Gonzalez, 26, was with her boyfriend, 22-year-old Harold Thompson, on Wednesday when he tried to put her in a chokehold, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. She had returned the night before from Colorado, where she had gone to get an abortion.

It is believed that the suspect was the father of the child, the affidavit said. The suspect did not want (Gonzalez) to get an abortion.

Surveillance video from the parking lot shows Gonzalez shrugs him off, police said, and the two continue walking. Thompson then pulls out a gun and shoots Gonzalez in the head. She falls to the ground and Thompson shoots her multiple times before running away, the affidavit said.

Thompson was arrested later Wednesday and is being held in the Dallas County Jail without bond. Court records did not list an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

Gonzalezs sister was at the scene and heard the shooting, police said. Another witness saw Thompson try to choke Gonzalez but couldnt call police because she did not have her cell phone.

At the time of the shooting, Thompson had been charged with assault of a family member, who accused him of choking her in March.

The affidavit from March does not specifically name Gonzalez as the person who was assaulted. But it does say the woman told police that Thompson beat her up multiple times throughout the entirety of their relationship and that Thompson told police the woman was pregnant with his child at that time.

The woman reiterated that she is scared of the suspect because he had made threats to harm her family and her children, according to the affidavit.
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Re: Government order against selling Seatbelt alarm stopper clips



Without a ban it is impossible to remove such selection from the website. What most people dont understand is that e-commerce websites like Amazon/Flipkart do not create each and every listing on their own. The listings are created by sellers directly. E-commerce websites are like a mall with many shops in it selling their own stuff. The mall provides certain benefits like free/valet parking for members (like free delivery for Prime).



The governments ban is like asking a Mall to not sell a specific item. Sure, the mall will try and tell their sellers not to sell. But sellers can still continue to sell them secretly. Also no point blaming the platforms - these items are not banned for sale anywhere else, so why should we stop selling them?



Also there are many ways a seller can bypass these signals and sell because, there is always going to be demand. This is only going to be a reactive mechanism therefore. And I can already foresee tweets blaming the websites for continuing to allow selling of these items.



The ban should also extend to offline markets and a crackdown on these sellers, regular checking of vehicles for seatbelt defeat mechanisms and education of masses on the importance of wearing a seat belt. Sending a violation notice to e-commerce websites is so stupid and you can see how stupid the government is!



Quote: sreerknair Originally Posted by Not exactly. Government (can also be read as - other tax paying citizens) indeed take a hit with each of these accidents. I work in the e-commerce industry and this is definitely a welcome move, but grossly inadequate.Without a ban it is impossible to remove such selection from the website. What most people dont understand is that e-commerce websites like Amazon/Flipkart do not create each and every listing on their own. The listings are created by sellers directly. E-commerce websites are like a mall with many shops in it selling their own stuff. The mall provides certain benefits like free/valet parking for members (like free delivery for Prime).The governments ban is like asking a Mall to not sell a specific item. Sure, the mall will try and tell their sellers not to sell. But sellers can still continue to sell them secretly. Also no point blaming the platforms - these items are not banned for sale anywhere else, so why should we stop selling them?Also there are many ways a seller can bypass these signals and sell because, there is always going to be demand. This is only going to be a reactive mechanism therefore. And I can already foresee tweets blaming the websites for continuing to allow selling of these items.The ban should also extend to offline markets and a crackdown on these sellers, regular checking of vehicles for seatbelt defeat mechanisms and education of masses on the importance of wearing a seat belt. Sending a violation notice to e-commerce websites is so stupid and you can see how stupid the government is!Very well said!! Last edited by krishnakumar : 14th May 2023 at 10:21 .
In context: When OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has a project, people pay attention. His current mission is Worldcoin, a crypto network that uses an iris-scanning identification system to give people access to a free digital currency. It's already raised $100 million and could launch within the next few weeks.

Altman founded Worldcoin alongside Alex Blania in 2019. The Information writes that a $100 million token sale early last year valued the total supply of the company's tokens at $3 billion. But that was before crypto's nightmare in 2022 began, during which time FTX collapsed, and almost $1 trillion was wiped off the markets.

Crypto has rallied slightly this year  Bitcoin's near $30,000 current price is around double what it was at the start of 2023  but the amount raised by Altman speaks volumes as to how much people respect the boss of the ChatGPT company.

"It's a bear market, a crypto winter. It's remarkable for a project in this space to get this amount of investment," said one of the Financial Times' sources.

According to the company, the Worldcoin system uses orbs packed with iris-scanning technology to establish an individual's identity. It then creates a digital World ID that can be used pseudonymously in a wide variety of everyday applications without revealing the person's identity. Once their identity has been established, users can receive free Worldcoin tokens.

Worldcoin's biometric imaging device. Resemblance to the Palantir is coincidental

Not surprisingly, the use of iris-scanning tech is making some people nervous about potential privacy or health risks. Worldcoin says it will not store biometric data and the device will not hurt eyes. Almost 1.7 million people have now signed up to the service.

The unique nature of this cryptocurrency allows Worldcoin to distinguish between humans and bots, said company executives. They added that it could also provide a form of universal basic income that could offset the job losses caused by increased use of AI. An interesting view, given Altman's link to ChatGPT.

Generative AIs are already costing jobs in China, while Dropbox and IBM have pointed the finger at artificial intelligence for killing off certain positions. A study by bank Goldman Sachs earlier this year claimed that AI systems could replace a quarter of work tasks in the US and Europe, the equivalent of 300 million jobs.

Worldcoin plans to issue 10 billion tokens in total, with 80% going to users, 10% to the company's investors, and another 10% to a foundation for manufacturing the orbs and developing the network. Following the beta phase, Worldcoin is getting ready to roll out its blockchain protocol and start recording transactions within the next six weeks.
What just happened? Supermassive black holes are some of the most extreme phenomena existing in the universe, as they tend to consume and swallow everything in their wake. One of these cosmic monsters was recently identified as AT2021lwx, an incredibly powerful explosion that surpasses everything recorded thus far.

Discovered "by chance" by a team of astronomers from the University of Southampton, AT2021lwx has being going for a while with a bright energy flash that's never been seen before. The explosion is estimated to be more than 10 times brighter than any known star going into its explosion phase (ie supernova), and three times brighter than a star falling into a supermassive black hole (tidal disruption event).

The AT2021lwx explosion has lasted for three years so far, while most supernova explosions are only visible for a few months. The phenomenon is 8 billion light years away, when the universe was around 6 billion years old, and it's still being tracked by a network of telescopes. Explosions brighter than AT2021lwx were identified before but they lasted just a fraction of the time, which means the energy released by AT2021lwx is way larger.

The astronomers think the extreme event happening within AT2021lwx can be attributed to a supermassive black hole feeding on a "vast" cloud of gas, which is likely thousands of times larger than the Sun and is mostly made up of hydrogen atoms. The nebula is being "violently" disrupted by the supermassive energy mangler, with its fragments being swallowed by the singularity. This produces "shockwaves" that are felt through the remnants of the nebula, and ultimately through the dusty donut surrounding the black hole.

AT2021lwx was first detected in 2020 by the Zwicky Transient Facility in California, and it was later confirmed by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Hawaii. The two telescopes check the night sky to identify transient objects with rapidly changing brightness levels, which could be an indication of a supernova, an asteroid, or a comet.

The explosion was flagged by the algorithm used at the University of Southampton to search for a type of supernova, and it was immediately identified as an unusual phenomenon as supernovae and tidal disruption events only last for a couple of months before fading away.

The unusual event was later investigated by different telescopes, including the Neil Gehrels Swift Telescope (a collaboration between NASA, UK and Italy), the New Technology Telescope (European Southern Observatory) in Chile, and the Gran Telescopio Canarias in La Palma, Spain.

The only thing brighter than AT2021lwx are quasars, the astronomers explain, which are again supermassive black holes feeding on a constant meal of gas falling into the singularity at high velocity. Quasars' brightness goes up and down over time, the researchers said, while there were no previous signs of the AT2021lwx presence even when looking back at over a decade of data.
WTF?! Dbrand, the peripheral company that isn't afraid of being sued, could be about to go up against one of the most litigious firms in the world, Nintendo, by releasing a set of Zelda-like themed decals. Not only is it risking Nintendo's wrath for potential copyright infringement, but Dbrand also included a coded message in the stickers that reads, "Go fu*k yourself lawyers."

Dbrand's Clone of the Kingdom set is comprised of left and right Joy-Con stickers, skins for the Switch (or Steam Deck) console and Dock, and a microfiber cloth for $49.95. While it's not affiliated with Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Dbrand makes it clear that the resemblance isn't accidental, as noted by the website's description heading: "The Power of Plagiarism."

Dbrand calls out Nintendo over its recently released $359.99 limited edition Tears of the Kingdom Switch. "Only dbrand is up to the challenge of charging you slightly less for a 'creative reinterpretation' of their overpriced novelty console," the company writes. "If a dollar saved is a dollar earned, Clone of the Kingdom is the easiest $310.04 you've ever made."

The decal set alone is likely to see Nintendo launch legal action, but it appears that Dbrand simply doesn't care. There's code on part of the stickers' design that VGC translated as "G fu*k (no asterisk) yourself lawyers." There's more code around the logo that reads, "This funds our legal defense."

Dbrand certainly isn't new to this sort of thing. In February 2021, it made black PS5 faceplates that gave the console a look closer to its predecessors. Dbrand even taunted Sony by telling the company to "go ahead, sue us," which it threatened to do a few months later. Dbrand said at the time that it had elected to submit to the "terrorists' demands," adding "fu*k you and especially fu*k Sony."

Dbrand's other response to Sony's cease-and-desist letter came a week later in the form of a new design for its faceplates that differentiates them from the PS5. "Checkmate, lawyers," was the message on this occasion. It'll be interesting to see if Dbrand's forced to do the same with the Switch/Steam Deck's Clone of the Kingdom decals once Nintendo's legal team takes notice, which it almost certainly will.

Some of Nintendo's previous legal actions include suing ROM site owners, killing a Super Mario 64 PC port, a DMCA takedown for game creation tool 'Pokemon Essentials,' and suing TikTok/Twitch star Pokeprincxss. And let's not forget how it wanted to send a message with the lengthy sentence of hacker Gary Bower, who was recently released from prison early.
In this week's round-up for CryptoWatch, TechTimes witnessed the significant court battle of one of the most infamous executives of our time, Sam Bankman-Fried, who is now looking to have most of his charges dropped. Moreover, there is a new development over at Bybit as it is looking to sponsor a team in a racing competition, as well as the Bank of Canada is introducing the possible future of currency.

Read on and learn more about what made the headlines in the past week, centering on the prolific FTX lawsuit against its CEO, race sponsorship, and more.

(Photo : Tech Times)

SBF Wants to Have the Charges Against Him Dropped

In a bid to prove his innocence and tell the world that he has nothing to do against FTX's collapse last year, Sam Bankman-Fried and his legal team are working to have 10 out of 13 charges against his name dropped by the prosecution. Most of SBF's charges center on fraud, and according to his legal team's latest memo submitted, there were unfair practices brought against their client.

Sullivan & Cromwell, the legal firm that represents Bankman-Fried, said that the US government rushed to judgment against their client, giving him a tarnished reputation in the eyes of the public and the jury.

This prolific case is also looking to have his charges separately tried instead of having all of his charges under one trial, to give him a fair advantage in court.

Read Also: CryptoWatch: is Cryptocurrency Dead in the US? Bitcoin Whitepaper Disappears on macOS, Coinbase Sues SEC

Bybit is Looking to Sponsor a Race Team

A new sponsorship is here for Safehouse Racegraph's Lamborghini team in the Super Trofeo in Asia, and its sponsor is none other than the third-most visited crypto exchange platform in the world, Bybit. Both the company and the team are proud to announce this new sponsorship for the team, centering on the adrenaline-pumping competition for the supercars.

Bybit is known for sponsoring different teams in multiple leagues worldwide.

One of its most iconic sponsorships is when it became the Principle Team Partner of Oracle Red Bull Racing in February 2022, and after a short time, the team is looking at another team to partner with, now in the Super Trofeo.

The race will be spread out to five matches across Asia and Australia, with the team showcasing Bybit's brand on their vehicles.

Bank of Canada's Digital Dollar

Bank of Canada has recently introduced a survey that asks the public about their opinion regarding a future where the Great North will use a digital currency, as an alternative to the Canadian Dollar. It centers on the development of a digital dollar that the public may use for different transactions via their smart devices and would be widely accessible to all.

It is important to note that this is not yet a sure deal for Canada's future financial state, as it is still under review and consideration by the bank.

One of its most important features would be its stable prices and would be a 1:1 exchange between the tangible Canadian Dollar and the digital version of it.

Moreover, the Bank of Canada says it is not a cryptocurrency and would be a digital currency regulated by the country.

Related Article: CryptoWatch: Ethereum is Rallying, New Meme Coin 'Pepecoin' is Rallying, But How is the State of Others?

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Google split the I/O 2023 into segments that center on its products and features, but the other half centered on the company's AI developments coming soon for the world. One of the most iconic developments here is the Magic Editor, an AI-powered editing suite for images that will help users instantly apply edits without all the fuss about it.

In Google's demonstration, users only need to tap the area or subject which they want to fix, and the Magic Editor will do the rest for them within seconds of pointing to what they wish to edit.

(Photo : Google Blog)

Google's Magic Editor is a Promising AI-based Tool for Image Editing

The Magic Editor is not relying on magic to bring users better images and improve different elements in the photo, as it is based on Google's AI development which debuted last week. The company said that under its Photos app, there have been previous tools that deliver these experiences to users, like the Magic Eraser and the Photo Unblur.

Google's new Magic Editor presents an all-in-one AI-based tool that centers on image editing, giving users outstanding results that enhance the parts that users want to improve.

For now, it is coming later in the year and for selected Pixel users only in its early development, centering on the Android platform that allows better access to users.

Read Also: Spotting AI-Generated Images: Here's How Google's 'About This Image' Tech Works

Is the Google Magic Editor Truly a Magical Experience?

As demonstrated by Google in the I/O 2023, the Googlers only tapped into the photo of a woman near the waterfalls and removed subjects in the background. Tapping the subject or background would help improve the images using its AI, with different feats like fixing the clothes, brightening the sky in the background, and helping select an image to move for better framing.

Google's Massive Bid on Artificial Intelligence

I/O 2023 was a massive event for Google as the company went all out when it introduced what it developed over the past year, and what it is ready to offer the public to use soon for their experiences. The internet company went above and beyond its announcements at the event, giving the world new experiences with AI, its products, Android, and more.

One of the most groundbreaking developments from Google is its new language model known as the PaLM 2, the next-gen LLM from the company to provide its AI projects a better performance.

Still, Google did not forget about its search features, also integrating a generative AI feature that will give users better answers or suggestions from what they are looking for on the web.

The tech company may not have soared as much when it first released Bard, but Google is looking to compensate for that by debuting its latest AI tech that will give users a chance to access better tools and experiences. In this new era of Google's AI, the Magic Editor is one of the many tools available from the company, one that will assist users in editing images and bettering them for their posts or memories.

Related Article: Google I/O 2023: Pixel Fold Debuts, Features Thinnest Body and Biggest Battery Among the Competition

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The latest development over the renowned European-based private space company, ArianeGroup, is the upcoming first flight of its Ariane 6 rocket that faces another delay for a supposed launch this year. Instead of a 2023 launch date, the latest reports center on an early 2024 outing for the space rocket, testing its capabilities and seeing its reach for the first time.

Space companies are seeing significant rivalry now, especially as more are joining the market and looking to debut their rockets, fighting alongside industry giants like SpaceX, Boeing, ULA, and more.

(Photo : ArianeGroup)

ArianeGroup: Europe's Ariane 6 Rocket is Launching by Early 2024

Space News' recent report confirms that ArianeGroup is looking to have its next-generation Ariane 6 rocket launch by 2024, skipping 2023's planned launches. The latest information on this rocket's spaceflight centers on key ArianeGroup suppliers who claimed that the company would not launch its rockets for its 2023 schedule.

Ariane 6 is the company's successor to the Ariane 5, also known for the many missions it carried out for Europe's space industry, alongside other partners in the industry.

Most notably, Interesting Engineering said that German aerospace company OHB predicted that the Ariane 6 would not launch this year, but for the early months of 2024.

Read Also: NASA's New Robotic Snake Aims to Find Life in Space! Here's How EELS Works

Is the Ariane 6 Rocket Facing Another Delay on its Flight?

The latest development on the Ariane 6 is seeing another delay for its supposed test flight that would have it experience space in actual settings. The reason for ArianeGroup's delay remains unknown, as the company has not released any statements yet about this venture.

Still, it is worth keeping an eye out on Europe's famed rockets from the ArianeGroup, especially for the early months of 2024.

ArianeGroup's Space Ventures

The famed ArianeGroup is best known for being a joint venture from Airbus and the Safran Group in a bid to focus its space exploration for the European region, centering on the continent's efforts towards the cosmos. At one time, the European Space Agency expressed its goals to explore the Moon to search for oxygen and water, with ArianeGroup at its helm.

This said the project is set to launch by 2025, two years from now.

Back in 2022, ArianeGroup also introduced the world with its latest development called SUSIE, known as the Smart Upper Stage for Innovative Exploration, which is best known for its reusability. This was first introduced by the company last September, and they aim to bring a rocket that can carry out missions and be available for the next one, like SpaceX's rockets.

Still, the world is yet to see the first flight of its massive development known as the Ariane 6, which now faces a delay again for a supposed 2023 launch. As the successor to the famed Ariane 5, the new rocket would carry out future missions and give Europe another vessel that will bring them to various cosmic destinations.

Related Article: ESA Nanosatellite Ethical Breach Shows Space Infrastructure Vulnerabie to Hacking

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Researchers discover a new way to design composite phase change materials that has the ability to store energy as heat. This could start using them in various applications, from heating buildings to powered vehicles.

(Photo : Dr. Patrick Shamberger)

The research team predicted and measured heat transfer rates into cylindrical thermal energy storage composites to evaluate optimal design criteria.

Efficient Thermal Storage Batteries

Researchers from Texas A&M University have established new foundational design principles for composite phase change materials to store thermal energy quickly. This will simplify the design process and allows a near-optimal composite phase change material to calculate without exhaustive computational fluid dynamic computations or extensive designs.

According to a report from Interesting Engineering, this aims to create a material that strikes a balance between energy density and power density that will allow for efficient storage and fast charging without adding unimportant weight or bulk. It is also possible to make more efficient use of our energy resources through this new design.

While storing energy is not a new process, composites' relatively simple design could be the start of using them in different applications like heating buildings and powered cars. Developing a new design could contribute significant implications in every aspect from how we heat and power our households to designing electric vehicles.

Despite previous studies already exploring the effectiveness of thermal energy storage systems, none have provided insights on improving rate performance, optimizing, and predicting performance compared to the new findings of the researchers from Texas.

Research Funding

Office of Naval Research funded the team and released it publicly on the Wiley Online Library. It provides a theoretical framework to design and optimize cylindrical composites with three figures of merit. Researchers were able to create a way to design these materials that take into account the heating process, heating storage based on its size, and heat storage based on its weight.

All of these mentioned are considered important factors when designing material for specific purposes, as they can assess the performance of most composite phase change material systems. This will eventually help design future cylindrical composites while accounting for the thermal loads at the same time, specifically for the thermal storage application.

Also Read: Facts about how Composite Materials Are Manufactured

Research Team

Based on a report from TAMU Engineering Department, that the whole research team was led by J. Mike Walker '66 Department of Mechanical Engineering Associate Professor Dr. Jonathan Felts and Former Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student Achutha Tamraoarni in finding a new design to simplify calculations and predict near-optimal structures.

Meanwhile, Department of Materials Science and Engineering Associate Professor Dr. Patrick Shamberge leads the team as the principal investigator, in collaboration with Wm Michael Barnes '64 Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering Associate Professor Dr. Alaa Elwany.

Former doctoral students Alison Hoe (Materials Science Engineering), Chen Zhang (Industrial Systems), and Nathan Malone (Mechanical Engineering) also took part in the discovery.

Related Article: Summer Heat-Storing Tech Can Solve One of the Major Issues in Renewable Energy Sources

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. Electricity production increased by 6.5 percent in Azerbaijan from January through April 2023, Trend reports via Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan Parviz Shahbazovs tweet.

According to the minister, over 9.852 billion kWh of electricity was produced in Azerbaijan during the reporting period.

"Azerbaijan imported 41.1 million kWh of electricity, and exported over 1.244 billion kWh from January through April," he said.

Azerbaijan produced more than 28.988 billion kWh of electricity in 2022, showing a 4 percent increase year-on-year. More than 3 billion kWh were exported, while imports stood at 137.1 million kWh.

The country's hydroelectric power plants increased electricity generation by 785.1 million kWh, up to 27.043 billion as of 2022. Electricity production from renewable energy sources amounted to 349.5 million kWh.
To dig into the real reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire, Virginie Girod receives Dimitri Tilloi-d'Ambrosi, associate and doctor in Roman history. He is the author of "24 hours of life under Nero" (University Press of France). Over the centuries, the fall of the Roman Empire has become something of a myth. It is a bit like the master standard of the death of civilizations. The causes of this fall are numerous: it begins with a political crisis that causes, in domino, other economic, social, migration, religious and moral crises. American historian Kyle Harper, author of How the Roman Empire Collapsed, points to two other causes that caused the fall of Rome: climate change and pandemics. What is it really?
When he released his proposal on Thursday, Stroder told the City of Baker School Board that teachers desperately need a pay raise and Bakers relatively low pay is holding the district back.

We are not competitive with the surrounding districts, Stroder said.

Board member Clara Joseph is the only board member who expressed concern Thursday when Stroder outlined his proposal. She worried about the negative ramifications of layoffs, which could come in the form of a Reduction in Force, or RIF.

If we dont have the money to do it and do a RIF, that doesnt look good, Joseph said.

Its not an easy decision, Stroder agreed.

The five-member School Board is set to meet next on June 6 to consider the proposal and its budget for the 2023-24 school year.
The premise of Dutch psychiatrist Dr Bessel van der Kolks best-selling book, The Body Keeps the Score, is that when we experience a traumatic event, our brain tries to forget about it, but our bodies never forget.

Instead, he argues, our bodies store the stress and the distress, and it alters our nervous system and hormonal function, ultimately manifesting in a whole range of physical maladies, including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, headaches, irritable bowel and autoimmune diseases.

Physical and mental health are tightly connected, as a new study highlights. Credit: Getty

Address the body, he suggests, and we can remedy the minds forgotten pain.

Though the book has sold millions of copies since its debut in 2014, its had its detractors too. Apart from being accused of reducing the word trauma to something that is uselessly vague  a swirl of psychiatric diagnoses, folk wisdom, and popular misconceptions, van der Kolks thesis may not be entirely accurate.
This was an oversight given the minor nature of the panel and the large number of matters I have done over the years, Wimbush wrote in his November 24 email to Melbourne Water. Former chair of the flood inquiry Nick Wimbush. Wimbush said he did not know if any properties affected by the planning amendment had been flooded. My logical brain says it is an issue that can be solved by early disclosure but I would also understand if you consider it would be not appropriate for the independent lead role to have had such involvement, even some years ago, Wimbush wrote. Apologies for raising this now  but better than in a few weeks.

The freedom of information documents show Melbourne Water then consulted a probity adviser, who also recommended that the possible perceived conflict of interest should be documented and publicly declared at the earliest opportunity during the flood inquiry. Staff at the government-owned water authority had already nominated Wimbush as the preferred candidate to lead their inquiry and pushed on with their choice. In January, a month after Wimbushs appointment, Melbourne Water managing director Nerina Di Lorenzo told The Age he would be a very good independent chair, and has a lot of experience in this space. Weve got probity auditors over the top of the process to just make sure its clear and transparent, she said. However, the perceived conflict of interest was never declared, until The Ages report.

Wimbush has not responded to requests for comment. Emails also show that Melbourne Water was communicating directly with a government ministers office about Wimbushs potential perceived conflict of interest after receiving questions from The Age on February 6. That day, a Melbourne Water staffer told the ministers office that out of an abundance of caution and in good faith, Wimbush would not be involved in reviewing matters related to Rivervue. That is a belt and braces approach, they wrote. However, a decision was soon made for Wimbush to instead resign from his position. On February 7, Melbourne Water sent its statement about Wimbush stepping down to the ministers office and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning for approval, before providing it to The Age.

That afternoon, a Melbourne Water employee wrote that they had given the MO (ministers office) a heads-up we will be sending them a revised statement asap. About an hour later, Melbourne Water sent a draft to the ministers office and the department requesting urgent approval. Victorian Water Minister Harriet Shing. Credit: Chris Hopkins The ministers office edited the statement, including removing a reference to Wimbushs resignation being in the best interests of the review and the community. A spokeswoman for Victorian Water Minister Harriet Shing on Monday night insisted on the independence of the review.

As is the usual process, the ministers office receives regular updates from Melbourne Water on their operations, including media announcements, she said. Loading Melbourne Water did not respond to questions about its independence, but claimed it did not act on its probity advisers disclosure recommendation about Wimbush because the work of the flood inquiry panel had not begun. Melbourne Water and Shing have repeatedly insisted that the water authoritys flood inquiry is independent of the Andrews government. This is an independent review and the review of what occurred with the Maribyrnong flooding event needs to be undertaken at arms length from government, Shing said on February 13.

She also shot back at criticism in parliament by saying that anyone who suggested Melbourne Water was not operating independently was, by inference, suggesting the same of institutions such as courts and tribunals. Melbourne Waters flood inquiry has been mired in controversy since it was revealed it would not examine several matters, including urban planning and early warning systems  despite its system failing to alert residents to the oncoming deluge until the morning it hit. A separate parliamentary inquiry was established after extensive reporting by The Age, with the Coalition, Greens and crossbenchers teaming up to launch a wider-ranging flood review. Liberal Party MP David Hodgett labelled Melbourne Waters inquiry a sham.

This is an insult to the people of Maribyrnong, who were promised an independent review of the floods, Hodgett said. Loading Greens MP Ellen Sandell said the revelations were very concerning to anyone who cares about good governance and transparency. The Melbourne Water inquiry ... was an exercise in deflecting blame, she said. The state Labor government wants to sweep their failures under the carpet and doesnt want any criticism of their flood response.
Another Indigenous man has died in Victorian custody, as inmates say poor conditions that led to a separate prison death continue.

The 70-year-old Torres Strait Islander man died in hospital last week, Corrections Minister Enver Erdogan told the Yoorrook Justice Commission on Monday.

Victorian Corrections Minister Enver Erdogan appears at the Yoorrook Justice Commission hearings on Monday. Credit: Yoorrook Justice Commission

His death means there have been 34 deaths in Victorian custody, including 24 deaths in correction facilities, since recommendations were made in 1991 after a national royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody.

Erdogan confirmed the mans death in a statement to the commission, but said he would not disclose the mans name due to the familys wishes.
A long-time chair of the governments independent pharmaceutical advisory body has rebuked the powerful pharmacy lobby over a scare campaign about widespread medicine shortages, saying the policy to double the length of prescriptions is in the best interest of millions of Australians.

The Pharmacy Guild has escalated its revolt against the federal governments decision to increase the medicine a person can collect with each script from one to two months supply for more than 320 products treating chronic conditions.

The Pharmacy Guilds new website escalates concerns about medicine shortages, but the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee says it is not worried. Credit:

The reform will halve the price of medicine for millions of Australians suffering conditions such as heart disease, cholesterol, Crohns disease and hypertension  but it will also substantially reduce pharmacy income from government handling and dispensing fees.

Local pharmacies warning of medicine shortages are handing customers pamphlets displaying posters of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, directing them to a website to learn more and encouraging them to contact their local MP.
Some of the land that Wimbush in 2015 ruled could be built on had, in 2022, flooded. Forty-seven newly built retirement villas in Avondale Heights on that land were hit by the rising water in October.

His resignation came three hours after The Age published a story online revealing Wimbush had chaired a 2015 review of flood-prone land next to the Maribyrnong River.

Just after 6.30pm on a Tuesday in February, Melbourne Water emailed a statement to The Age saying planning expert Nick Wimbush would stand aside as the head of the authoritys Maribyrnong River floods inquiry.

While the statement on Wimbushs departure was sent out by Melbourne Water, which was responsible for the inquiry, it is now clear that its release was only allowed after careful vetting and approval from within the Andrews government, and by the Department of Land, Water, Environment and Planning. We know this thanks to documents released under freedom of information to The Age.

Nick Wimbush stood aside as chair of the flood inquiry.

In allowing Melbourne Water to communicate Wimbushs departure, the government was trying to ensure it did not bear any responsibility for the wheels coming off a review that Premier Daniel Andrews had set in motion when residents were still piling muddy furniture on their nature strips.

Wimbush is widely respected among planners and lawmakers, and is no stranger to controversy; for years he has been among the most senior members of the states Planning Panels Victoria, assessing immense projects including the West Gate Tunnel and the North East Link. He was deputy chair of the East West Link assessment that cleared the way for the road. An inquiry into a flood should have been a walk in the park.

Wimbush is no slouch when it comes to probity either: he identified the potential for a perceived conflict of interest weeks before he was announced as chair, and both he and a probity adviser told Melbourne Water that his role in the 2015 planning matter should be disclosed to the public early.
As Fashion Week kicks off in Sydney, fashionistas have a new hotel to put on their bucket-list.

The late Karl Lagerfelds biggest and final hospitality project, a luxurious 271-room Macau hotel, will officially launch in June  nine years after it was first announced.

The late designers lavish final hospitality project has finally been brought to life.

The Karl Lagerfeld Hotel, which began welcoming guests on April 29, is part of The Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau and will be the worlds only hotel designed entirely by the fashion great. Lagerfeld died in 2019 age 85, four years before his vision was brought to life.

Everything from the large-scale installations to the bathrobes and bedsheets have been touched with the designers creative flare. Room rates start from about 1949 Macanese Pataca ($360) a night.
Nairobi: One of Kenyas oldest wild lions was killed by herders and the government has expressed concern as six more lions were speared, bringing to 10 the number killed last week alone.

The male lion named Loonkiito was 19 years old and was described as frail by Kenya Wildlife Service spokesperson Paul Jinaro, who said it wandered out of the Amboseli national park into a village in search of food on Thursday night.

Loonkiito, one of Kenyas oldest wild lions, was killed by herders. Credit: AP

Conservation group Lion Guardians said Loonkiito, who had defended his territory for more than a decade, was a symbol of resilience and coexistence and the oldest male lion in our ecosystem and possibly in Africa.

Six other lions from the same national park were speared by herders after they killed 11 goats in Mbirikani area, Kajiado county. The kills come as an escalation in human-wildlife conflict has dealt a blow to conservation efforts and a tourism industry that is a key pillar of the nations economy.
First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on May 18 & 19, 1943

RUHR VALLEYS FLOODED BY R.A.F.

TWO BIG DAMS BLOWN UP

Bombs Fall Very Close to Rome



LONDON, May 17 (A.A.P.).-R.A.F. Lancasters last night blew up two of Germanys greatest dams -the Mohne and the Eder-and flooded the Ruhr and Eder Valleys with hundreds of millions of tons of water.

Water pours from the Mohre Dam six hours after the successful attack. Credit: Australian War Memorial

Todays German High Command communique says that the floods caused heavy civilian casualties.

The Mohne dam is 26 miles east of Dortmund and the Eder is south-east of the great Ruhr industrial centre, of which Essen is the heart.
2023 Lexus NX 450h + Luxury  Review by David Colman







The little NX that couldnt last year has become the big NX that could this year. Toward the end of 2022, we spent a week with Lexuss NX 350h hybrid sport utility, which made do with just 239hp. That output fell short of the mark in launching a vehicle weighing 4,487 pounds. This year, we spent a much more enjoyable week in the 302hp NX 450 hybrid, which boosts horsepower by nearly 50% over the previous model we tested.

The 450h drivetrain couples a 2.5 liter inline 4 cylinder gas motor (165hp/185lb.-ft. torque) to a trio of AC electric motors. The pair up front produce 179hp and 199lb.-ft. of torque, while the rear unit adds 53hp and 89lb.-ft. of torque. Bottom line, the 450h assemblage yields a combined output of 302hp, which is good enough to propel this diminutive chassis through the standing start quarter mile in 14.1 seconds at 99mph. From a standing start, the NX 450h achieves 60mph in 5.6 seconds, while also managing to post an overall fuel economy average of 36MPG. This NX will also run for 35 miles on electric charge before resorting to backup power from the gas engine. The EPA rates this EV-only performance at 84MPGe.

Another huge improvement in the 2023 NX is resolution of the door latch issue that drove us to distraction in the 2022 model we tested. Lexus has appended a set of usage stickers to all four inside latches indicating that the door release operates not by pulling out the latch in the conventional method, but by pressing in on an invisible release button at the front of the latch. Although this method might have worked with the previous NX we tested, without explanatory stickers, the only way to open the door at the time was to pull the nasty, tiny latch out (twice!), not push it in. If you need to explain a feature to this extent, maybe its not such a great feature.

With that issue in the rear-view mirror, let us examine the rest of the NXs living room. Despite the fact that the NX model occupies the bottom rung of the Lexus family ladder, the NX Luxury we drove was fully fettled and fitted with every convenience Lexus owners have come to expect from their mounts. The interior furnishings here are sleek, understated, but elegant. You will not find any contrasting stitching on the seats, nor jarring stylistic doodads to energize the dash or door panels. Rather, the interior is done in a triple black motif. Piano block dominates the face of the dash and its prominent 14-inch touchscreen display panel. The matte black open pore wood on the doors contrasts nicely with the sheen of the leather-trimmed seats. The interior pays tribute to good taste and also serves as a perfect contrast to our NXs outrageous Cadmium Orange ($595) exterior paint.

One of the luxury features Lexus touts as standard on this line-topping NX is a standard Head Up display. If you wear Polarized glasses, you will thankfully not be able to see the array of information projected onto the windshield and into your line of sight. When I removed my sunglasses, however, I was astounded to discover that the Head Up information projected a baffling blizzard of information, including but not limited to: road sign assist, lane tracing assist, dynamic radar cruise control (with adjustable gaps to traffic), steering assist, and lane departure alerts. All these parameters can be controlled via a set of tiny buttons on the right-hand spoke of the steering wheel. Trying to decipher which button controlled which icon proved overwhelming while driving. Micromanaging the virtual Head Up invariably detracts from your concentration on the actual road. I gladly reached for my Polarized Carrera shades which obliterated the whole noxious array.

Thanks to standard all-wheel-drive, a handsome set of 20-inch dark gray metallic rims, and solid traction provided by all season Bridgestone Alenza A/S 02 radials (235/50R20), the lithe NX 450h gives a stout account of itself in the handling department. If you select Sport Mode rather than Normal Mode from the Drive Mode actuator, this NX will provide a convincing display of handling prowess on snaky back roads. Although Lexus augments the CVT transmission with a pair of metal paddles to promote gear change charades, the transmission is happiest when parked in Drive. With 302hp now on tap, Lexus has moved the 450h much closer to the sport-driving Fun Zone than any previous NX incarnation.

As usual, Lexus is Japanese for loading the sticker with extras. While the base price of the top echelon NX is a reasonable $56,555, a horde of upcharges brought the final tally to $62,780. The most expensive and probably least necessary option was $1,070 for the Panoramic View Monitor, Lane Change Assist, Cross Traffic Alert. The Lane Change and Cross Traffic aids are common standard items on vehicles costing half as much as this Lexus. The View Monitor is fun to watch as it does a 360-degree scan of your surroundings and then projects an image of all 4 sides like a mini satellite. But I think Id rather save the thousand bucks.

2023 LEXUS NX 450h + Luxury



ENGINE: 2.5 liter inline 4, DOHC, 16 valves + 3 AC electric motors

HORSEPOWER: 306hp (Combined)

TORQUE: N/A

FUEL CONSUMPTION: 36MPG Gas Only/84MPGe

PRICE AS TESTED: $62,780

HYPES: Tidy Handling, Sophisticated Cockpit, Quick Enough

GRIPES: Poor Rear Vision, Dread Up Display

STAR RATING: 8.5 Stars out of 10

 2023 David E. Colman
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. The parliamentary delegation led by the Speaker of the Supreme Council (Parliament) of Kyrgyzstan, Nurlanbek Shakiev went on a working visit to Azerbaijan, Trend reports with reference to the Supreme Council.

Within the frame of the visit, Shakiev plans to take part in events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev and hold a number of high-level meetings.

Among other events, the Kyrgyz delegation is going to visit the head office of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States in Baku and get acquainted with its activities.

The Speaker is accompanied by Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs, Defense, Security and Migration of the Supreme Council Ulan Primov and Head of the Friendship Group for Cooperation with Azerbaijan Iskender Matraimov.

Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in February 2023.

According to Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov, the relations between the two countries are friendly and fraternal, and based on common history and cultural values of both countries peoples.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. Turkmenistan Airlines plans to increase the frequency of flights between Ashgabat (Turkmenistan) and New Delhi (India) to twice a week from May 24, 2023, Trend reports with reference to the Turkmen media.

At the moment, flights are operated once a week (on Sundays), and from May 24, the frequency of flights will increase to twice a week on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Flight T5531 departs from Ashgabat on Wednesdays at 02:05 (GMT+5) on Wednesdays, landing in Delhi at 06:15 (GMT+5:30). Departure from Delhi is at 07:45, landing in Ashgabat at 11:00 (GMT+5).

At the same time, Flight T5539 departs from Ashgabat on Thursdays at 08:20 (GMT+5), landing in Delhi at 12:30 (GMT+5:30). Departure from Delhi  at 14:00 (GMT+5:30), landing in Ashgabat  at 17:15 (GMT+5).

Meanwhile, Turkmenistan Airlines resumed regular flights from Ashgabat to Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport in March 2023.
Batavia, NY (14020)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. High 73F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 58F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. Turkmenistan and China discussed a wide range of issues on the bilateral agenda for the development of comprehensive cooperation, Trend reports with reference to the Turkmen Foreign Ministry.

According to the information, these issues were discussed between the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Vepa Hajiyev, and the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Ma Zhaoxu, who is in Ashgabat on a working visit.

During the meeting, the sides noted the dynamic development of trade and economic relations and effective cooperation in the energy sector. In this context, it was stressed that the countries have a huge potential, the implementation of which will bring bilateral trade and economic relations to a higher level.

Hajiyev noted that the Turkmen-Chinese relations of comprehensive strategic partnership are dynamically developing in many areas, and also added that their distinctive feature is that the two states actively maintain contacts at the level of heads of state, during which a wide range of issues of mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields are discussed.

The diplomats noted the similarity or closeness of the positions of the two countries on topical issues of the international and regional agenda. Effective cooperation within the framework of the "Central Asia - China" format is highlighted as a priority area of interaction.
The final straw came when I asked Jason about the little "chahoo" I heard him let out in one of the chase scenes from the movie. He said it was a special signal for his Polynesian family before throwing his head back and unleashing a couple of Momoa-sized chahoos right in front of me, sending both me and the crowd wild with excitement, as evidenced by my reaction at the end of our chat after he was out of earshot.
Sinnad, a subsidiary of Bahrains Benefit Company and a licensed payment service provider and third-party processor, has announced that Benefit has joined the call centre operated by Sinnad to elevate customer experience.



The integrated services of the call centre empowers financial institutions to provide uninterrupted support by leveraging innovative technology and international best practices solutions.



The dedicated 24/7 call centre service, manage all BenefitPay inquiries for both individuals and merchants, Bahrain Credit Reference Bureau credit report assistance, as well as EFTS-related inquiries, among other matters, is part of Benefits ongoing mission to provide consistent, positive, and seamless customer experiences.



Rana Almaeeli, Chief Executive of Sinnad, said: We are thrilled to partner with Benefit and complement their existing services by leveraging our advanced technology solutions to optimize their customer experience and deliver tailored experiences to their clients, which is the new frontier of customer service excellence.



She added: Sinnads call centre will support different institutions through streamlining customer relationship management by incorporating diverse channels such as interactive voice response, self-services, email, auto dialer, call back, social channel, chat bot, voice bot, and AI predictive engagement. Furthermore, it meets the needs of various companies that may face greater challenges in managing corporate complexity and enhancing consumer relationships by facilitating an unparalleled experience.



Abdulwahed AlJanahi, Chief Executive of Benefit, said: This partnership with Sinnad supports Benefits vision of employing digital solutions to advance technology. Customer services and enhancing the services that we provide comes through studying all the reports provided by the centre, and it is considered one of the most important priorities of our work.



The services and systems managed and operated by Benefit are among the national services that have special nature in terms of operations and protection and require advanced levels of customer service as well as assisting them with any inquiries or technical support required.  TradeArabia News Service
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. Turkmenistan Airlines will reduce the number of flights on the route Ashgabat (Turkmenistan) - Beijing (China) from July 7, 2023 to twice a week instead of three - on Fridays and Sundays, Trend reports with reference to the Turkmen media.

Flight T5607 departs from Ashgabat on Fridays at 17:50 (GMT+5), landing in Beijing the next day at 03:20 (GMT+8). Departure from Beijing on Saturday is at 13:50 (GMT+8), landing in Ashgabat at 17:50 (GMT+5).

At the same time, the departure of flight T5605 on Sundays from Ashgabat is at 02:50 (GMT+5), and landing in Beijing is at 12:20 (GMT+8). Departure from Beijing  at 13:50 (GMT+8), landing in Ashgabat  at 17:50 (GMT+5).

Meanwhile, Turkmenistan Airlines resumed regular flights from Ashgabat to Beijing Capital International Airport in March 2023.
13-Year-Old, Police Officer Injured in Gun Battle in Florida, Authorities Say

Police units block off 10th Street at Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue on May 10, 2023, after a shooting that wounded a Lakeland officer and a juvenile. (Sara Megan Walsh/The Ledger via AP)

LAKELAND, Fla.A 13-year-old exchanged gunfire with police during a chase through a residential neighborhood in Florida, wounding one officer and ending up in the hospital after being shot himself, officials said.

One officer was shot in the foot Wednesday evening in Lakeland, between Tampa and Orlando in central Florida, and is expected to be released from a hospital in coming days, police said. No other officers were injured.

Officer Jamie Smith heard gunshots being fired near a park Wednesday evening and drove up as the shooter was getting back into a vehicle, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Thursday. Smith pursued the vehicle briefly until the 19-year-old driver, the 13-year-old and a 14-year-old passenger jumped out and ran.

Smith saw the 13-year-old running down a sidewalk next to an apartment complex, carrying a firearm, Taylor said. The teen went into the complex despite being commanded to stop. As Smith turned a corner, the teen was crouched in wait for him and fired three times from a handgun, Judd said.

The officer was struck in the left foot and returned fire, but the teen fled, Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor said. Smith called for backup and continued chasing the teen. He saw him hiding in bushes next to the apartment building; the 13-year-old engaged in another round of gunfire and was struck by the officers return fire, authorities said.

Units from the Lakeland Police Department and Polk County Sheriffs Office line 10th Street in Lakeland, Fla., on May 10, 2023 evening after a shooting incident that wounded a Lakeland police officer and a juvenile. (Sara Megan Walsh/The Ledger via AP)

He was taken to Tampa General Hospital with gunshots to his leg and abdomen, Judd said. He remains in the hospital in police custody.

All three suspects are facing felony charges. The 13-year-old and 14-year-old were on probation after being arrested in January following a car burglary and had a stolen handgun at that time, Judd said.

Judd said authorities are asking the state attorney to charge the 13-year-old as an adult. For now, The Associated Press is not identifying the teen because of his age.

He has no regard for life. None. Zero, said Judd, whose agency is investigating, at a news conference Wednesday night. He may be 13 years old chronologically, but hes a hardened criminal willing to shoot it out with cops.
20-Week Abortion Ban Not Realistic at Federal Level, Nikki Haley Says

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)

Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor seeking the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, said the unrealistic idea that a Republican president could unilaterally enact a federal ban on abortion is being exaggerated by the media to divide people further.

Speaking in an interview with CBS News, Haley was asked about an abortion law she signed as governor in 2016, under which abortion is illegal after 20 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions if a mothers life is in danger or the unborn baby cannot survive.

Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan asked Haley if she wanted a 20-week ban to be the national standard.

I think what happened when it went back to the states, now there could be consensus in each state, Haley replied. Theres some states that have been pro-life. I welcome that. There are some states that have erred on the side of abortion. I wish that wasnt the case, but it is. I think that we need to make sure that peoples voices are heard. And I think we need to do this from a humanizing standpoint and not a demonizing standpoint.

Brennan pressed Haley to clarify whether she would support such a ban at the national level.

In response, Haley said that she simply wants to tell the American people the truth, saying that an abortion law like this has no chance making it through a divided Congress in the first place.

In order to do a national standard, youd have to have a majority of the House, 60 Senate votes, and a president, she said. The idea that a Republican president could ban all abortions is not being honest with the American people, any more than a Democrat president could ban these pro-life laws in the states.

Republicans Dont Have the Votes

Haley went on to suggest that Brennan asks President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris where they would draw the line on legal abortion.

If were going to talk about weeks, ask Kamala and Biden: are they good for 35 weeks? 36 weeks? 37 weeks? At what point are they OK?

At another point of the interview, Brennan pointed to Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who has yet to officially join the 2024 presidential primary race but has committed to supporting a nationwide 20-week abortion ban if he becomes president. Haley reiterated that she wants to be honest with Americans about the realities surrounding policy proposals like this.

Im not going to lie to the American people. Nothings going to happen if we dont get 60 votes in the Senate, the former governor said. Were not even close to that on the Republican or the Democrat side.

Why try and divide people further? Why not talk about the fact that we should be trying to save as many babies as possible and support as many mothers as possible? she continued. I think the media has tried to divide them by saying we have to decide certain weeks. In states, yes; at the federal level, its not realistic. Its not being honest with the American people.

Trump Avoids Definitive Stance

Former President Donald Trump, the leading candidate for the 2024 Republican nomination, has also defended the pro-life movement while avoiding taking a definitive stance on the hypothetical national abortion ban.

During a CNN town hall on May 10 in New Hampshire, Trump didnt give a straight answer when repeatedly asked whether he would sign a federal abortion ban into law, instead saying that he felt proud of the role his three Supreme Court appointees played in the 2022 landmark ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, making way for each state to set its own abortion policy.

Im so proud of it. We put three great justices on the Supreme Court, Trump told host CNN host Kaitlan Collins, referring to Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.

President Trump is going to make a determination what he thinks is great for the country and whats fair for the country, Trump said, reiterating that he felt honored to contribute to the end of the 50-year federal protection of abortion. We are in a very good negotiating position right now, only because of what I was able to do.

People that will kill a baby in the ninth month or the eighth month or the seventh month, or after the baby is borntheyre the radicals, not the pro-life people, he added.

In a recent interview with The Messenger, Trump indicated that he believes Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis six-week abortion ban went too far and is unlikely to get enough support to become a national policy.

If you look at what DeSantis did, a lot of people dont even know if he knew what he was doing, Trump said. But he signed six weeks, and many people within the pro-life movement feel that that was too harsh.
A Caring Budget Would Have Put Productivity First

A homeless person sits on the pavement in Melbourne's CBD in Victoria, Australia on June 4, 2021. (William West/AFP via Getty Images)

Commentary

There is more care than productivity in this budget. Literally, care is one of the most frequently used words in the budget, with 20 mentions, while productivity has just four.

Yet, if we are to pull ourselves out of the hole we have dug ourselves into, increasing productivity is the most important thing.

Word cloud of the 202324 federal budget. (Graham Young)

While Treasurer Jim Chalmers seeks to forge a link between himself and the Placido Domingo of treasurers, Paul Keating, it takes more than growing up in an outer-suburban working-class electorate to make a great treasurer. By the same token, it takes more than being brought up in social housing, the child of a single mother, to make a great prime minister.

From the beginning, Keating was a reformer, the reform made more urgent by the difficult economic circumstances of the time. He was the hardman of his government, second only to the finance minister, Peter Walsh.

In a series of text messages from two weekends ago between Keating and Chalmers, where the treasurer seeks to forge the connection, Keating said he had no need of focus groups.

But it would appear that focus groups, the ones that crafted the policies taken to the last election, and the ones who undoubtedly cast their eye over this budget while it was being fabricated, are designing policy.

If Henry Ford had asked focus groups what they wanted, he would have bred a horse that was lighter, faster, ate less hay, and carried its own manure disposal bag instead of a rickety black vehicle with spindly wheels and a combustion engine. But thank God he didnt.

This budget purports to be faster, lighter, more sustainable, and caring when the country needs a new engine with grunt and some tough love.

Tough love is something that Labor can more easily give than the Coalition because of its reputation for being more compassionate.

Nothing to Improve Productivity Problems

The treasurer once appeared to know productivity is the key. Yet, here he is in March this year, addressing the Productivity Commissions report: If we stay stuck on the current course  future incomes will be 40 percent lower and the working week five percent [2 hours] longer.

On May 10, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told ABCs 7.30 Report that the previous government had been in power for almost 10 years but had lost its way. It seems this one has no way to lose.

If it had either guts or gumption, it would be doing something to fix Australias declining productivity.

It would also have produced concrete plans for dealing with Australias biggest financial black hole, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), kept a tight rein on welfare spending, and worked out ways to get older Australians back into the workforce while stripping away impediments from business and investment.

Instead, it is adding to structural costs and cramping productivity growth.

The focus groups are cheering now, but they wont when they experience what is around the corner.

The four times the treasurer mentioned productivity, it was in the context of measures that were, at best productivity-neutral or -destroying.

But at least they were caring!

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers speaks at a press conference inside the Budget lockup at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on May 9, 2023. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

The first three times were when he dedicated $7.5 billion (US$5 billion) to spending on childcare, parental leave, medicines, housing, and wages. But, worthy as all these things might be, the policies do not positively impact productivity.

Paying more for the same, or working less, by definition, lowers productivity unless there is some step-change in efficiency. But step-change is completely missing here.

Education and Debt for What?

The fourth time was about fee-free TAFE and university places and the Powering Australia Plan.

Education is a good idea, but giving it away isnt. Its not obvious why TAFE should be free when university education isnt. Or why an extension of courses in either will do more than transfer public money to the educators purses.

Tertiary education has become a trap for many where the institutions oversupply students for industries that dont need them, blighting students hopes and loading them up with HECS debt that cramps their ability to save and invest, for example, in a house of their own.

At the same time, employers complain that the students they hire need to be retrained anyway.

So we take people out of the workforce for three years, load them up with debt, and at the end of it, they are about as useful to an employer as if they hadnt gone to university in the first place. Not all, of course, but a significant minority.

Is this supposed to enhance productivity?

Net-Zero Pursuit Putting Energy Producers out of Business

Powering Australia is a policy that is guaranteed to destroy productivity. Decarbonisation is going to make us all poorer because it is going to put the price of power up, amongst other things.

Politicians claim were going cheap, green, and clean.

While their preferred wind and solar technologies might appear cheap, they raise system costs because they cannot stand alone and require expensive storage, networks, and gas-fired power to complete the circuit.

The government is spending $2 billion on a hydrogen hub in Queensland as part of this plan. On current chemistry, green hydrogen consumes seven watts of energy for every one watt it stores.

Hardly productive!

This photo shows the Liddell Power Station after it officially shut down operations in New South Wales, Australia, on April 28, 2023. (Courtesy of AGL Energy)

The energy transition might be necessary, but there is no point in fudging the cost.

The government is trying to recoup some of the loss through higher taxes on mining companies.

This budget does that by adjusting the Petroleum Resource Rental Tax, a change that makes it less likely anyone will ever want to drill a greenfields project in Australia again.

In this year of the coronation, Australia has a second sovereignsovereign risk.

Offshore oil wells are tremendously expensive, and risky, and take years to pay off. Why take that risk if some government is going to retrospectively alter the terms of the deal just when you see a decent return on your income and when you know prices will dive again at some time in the future?

Failure to Deliver Housing Solution

Australias most successful export industry this budget appears to be immigration, but this hobbles another area of government policyhousing.

We have a shortage of houses.

The 400,000 migrants expected to arrive this year and the 300,000 next will make that shortage worse.

Traditionally, Australia has a highly productive housing sector driven mostly off the back of private owners who live in or rent out their properties.

Current government policies are tilting away from that and providing tax breaks to favour corporate build-to-rent operations and discourage private landlords.

That wont produce more housing, just divert resources from efficient private landlords to less-efficient corporate ones.

It will also produce a style of housing that is only suitable for rent, robbing our housing stock of the flexibility where a renters house today can become a first homeowners tomorrow.

I appreciate the sentimental tugs of where and how you grew up and wanting to do the right thing by people. But sometimes you have to look to the future, and a more productive society is a richer one which can provide more for everyone.

Future was mentioned even more times than care, but it will be a bleak one if we cant get the basics of growth right.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Afghan National on Terror Watchlist Arrested at Southern Border: San Diego Supervisor

U.S. Border Patrol officials recently apprehended an Afghan national who is on the FBIs terror watchlist after he crossed the U.S. southern border into California.

Republican San Diego County District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond revealed the Afghan nationals arrest in a press release on Sunday evening. According to Desmond, the Afghan national crossed the border near Otay Mesa on Wednesday along with a group of other illegal border crossers.

This should serve as a stark reminder to President Biden and the Federal Government on the critical need for maintaining a strong border, Desmond said. As a nation, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to protect the safety and security of our citizens. A strong and orderly border process is crucial in preventing individuals with nefarious intentions from entering our country. The open border policy has allowed fentanyl to pour into our country, asylum seekers to be human trafficked, and terrorists to attempt entry into our country.

Desmond did not provide additional details about the Afghan national arrested.

NTD News reached out to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for further information, but they directed questions about the arrest incident to the FBI. The FBI did not respond by the time this article was published.

Desmond cited the Afghan nationals arrest as a cause for concern over the Biden administrations handling of border security issues.

The protection of our citizens, the preservation of national security, and the facilitation of safe and legal immigration should be a top priority for this administration, yet they have failed, Desmonds press statement reads. The presence of an individual on the terror watch list crossing our borders is a stark reminder of the failures of the Federal Government that are now being put on San Diegans and Americans.

Title 42 Expires

The Afghan national and terrorist suspect was apprehended at the southern border just over a day before the Title 42 pandemic-era immigration restrictions ended.

Throughout the past three years, U.S. immigration and border security officials had been able to turn many migrants away from the border relatively rapidly under Title 42 authority, which related to the prevention and control of communicable diseases like COVID-19. Title 42 expired just before midnight on May 11.

Border communities have been bracing for a surge in traffic through the legal ports of entry, as well as in illegal border crossings between those entry points. Several border communities issued disaster declarations on Friday as they prepared for the surge of new arrivals.

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott also activated National Guard troops, who have been observed manning sections of razor wire and physically blocking illegal immigrants from entering Texas. President Joe Biden also ordered additional U.S. troops to the border, though Abbott said those troops would be assigned to administrative duties.

The Biden administration made some policy changes ahead of the anticipated surge of asylum seekers and illegal border crossers.

Prior to the end of Title 42, the administration implemented a rule (pdf) that essentially revived a Trump-era travel policy disqualifying people from applying for asylum in the United States if they didnt first seek protection in countries they passed through on their way to the United States. The Biden administration has also developed a parole program that allows immigrants to enter and work in the United States for up to two years. The Biden era rules state that those who still ignore the border and illegally cross will be returned and disqualified from future entry under the parole program.

As his administration prepared for Title 42 to expire last week, Biden predicted that the U.S. southern border is going to be chaotic for a while.

In his own statements last week, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas publicly blamed Congress for the immigration challenges that border officials face.

Our current situation is the outcome of Congress leaving a broken, outdated immigration system in place for over two decades, despite unanimous agreement that we desperately need legislative reform, Mayorkas said. It is also the result of Congress decision not to provide us with the resources we need and that we requested.

From NTD News
Americas Powerful Intellectual Class Finds Joy in Making Us Obey and Be Compliant, Warns Scholar

The so-called experts infantilizes the American public through deciding what gets to be seen and whats censored

Americas intellectual class has been given so much power by the public that their misuse of such power is threatening the fundamental freedom of speech in the country, says scholar and author Tom Harrington.

Its absolutely remarkable how easily weve gone from free speech to asking, How can I make my way around the censorship thats here? Harrington said in a recent interview with Jan Jekielek on American Thought Leaders that premiered on May 11. Sometimes, theres this idea that reality just is. Thats partially true but in the cultural realm, theres always someone developing it and distributing it who has more access to power.

Those people generally are well-educated people who we hold up as exemplars of knowledge. They have a lot of power and they are deferred to quite readily.

Harrington warned that people are delivering a lot of their power into the hands of experts who tend to have a flipness with which they have used such power.

Worse than flipness, there seems to be almost a perversion and a joy in making us obey and be compliant for compliances sake. This is very troubling in a society.

You need the intellectual class or the credentialed class to have the reality of their status back up the title of their status. It seems to me these two things have separated in these last few years, and thats really troubling to me.

Harrington pointed out that censorship and cancellation are two cudgels used against the public.

Were beginning to see that a lot of this hooting down is not as spontaneous as many of us would like to believe. With the recent Twitter Files, and the case that the attorney generals of Missouri and Louisiana are trying now, were finding out that this was anything but spontaneous. There were a number of government actors working in concert with private actors to achieve a censorship that, frankly, for those of us of a certain age, is unimaginable.

On March 17, investigative journalist Matt Taibbi released a version of the so-called Twitter Files exposing the alleged collusion between Twitter and Stanford Universitys Virality Project (VP) to censor what they deemed to be misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines. VP is also found to have colluded with the U.S. government.

Though the Virality Project reviewed content on a mass scale for Twitter, Google/YouTube, Facebook/Instagram, Medium, TikTok, and Pinterest, it knowingly targeted true material and legitimate political opinion, while often being factually wrong itself, Taibbi stated on Twitter.

The initiative accelerated the evolution of digital censorship, moving it from judging truth/untruth to a new, scarier model, openly focused on political narrative at the expense of fact.

Reliance on Experts

Harrington, who is a Hispanic studies emeritus professor, pointed out that true experts do not impose their reality on anyone. Experts must be able to keep their ego impulses in check and ensure that they are using their power to help the people. It seems that that line has been crossed, he said.

Theres a lot of ego gratification that is interfering with what should be a real sober taking of responsibility for a gift of power, he said about the nature of todays experts.

Power is a gift in a democratic society. Its not something you own, and its not something there to make people obey you. Its a gift you have that hopefully you can use in constructive ways that preserve the dignity of those who dont have as much power as you do.

The premise of democracy, as it formed in America in the 18th century, was that lawyers, workers, and farmers were all citizens of equal measure. Even though there may be a pecking order, no one was inherently better or in a place to tell someone else how they should live their lives.

Now, there seems to be among the credentialed class an attitude that says, Yes. Ill be polite to people. Ill be polite in a basic social sense. But in my heart, I know that poor person really doesnt know whats good for them. After all, I have nice degrees. I went to the right schools. Ive really thought a lot more about things than other people, Harrington said.

That is very irksome to me but its something that I see and feel all around me. If you carefully watch our credentialed elites, it oozes out of them.

Pushing Censorship

In the interview, Harrington says that he was against using the terms disinformation and misinformation, noting that these are just ways to cover up censorship.

The existence of misinformation presumes the existence of pure information that is unambiguously understood. No information is ever unambiguously understood, simply because of the incapacity of people to see it in exactly the same way. Were all different. The idea of misinformation depends on a very primitive idea of information.

All inquiry is torturous. All inquiry takes a path  What may seem self-evident at one stage of the process of inquiry might turn out to be completely false later on. And yet, you have someone intervening and saying, No, thats definitely nonsense.

Harrington says that the American public has become infantilized.

We allow these experts to say, Dont go near that. Dont go near that man behind the curtain, because it might not be good for you. Huh? Im an adult. I have thinking capabilities. Do you? Why am I being asked to not even go near what is clearly a complex problem that I, like many other people, have the ability to think through?

In an interview with The Epoch Times in December, former White House COVID adviser Dr. Scott Atlas revealed that Twitter had taken down his November 2020 post in which he argued that mandating masks was not an effective solution to curbing the spread of COVID-19.

Facebook and Twitter also removed a video from former President Donald Trump in which Trump said that children are almost immune to COVID-19.

Several studies have shown that children and teenagers are at a lower risk of contracting or dying from COVID-19. However, the online censorship of 2020 had already done the damage, Atlas said.

When decisions were being made in 2020 and imposed upon the public, thats when censorship counted the most. The lack of alternative viewpoints ended up manipulating the public as well as government officials, he stated.

Information Warfare

Harrington believes the people of the United States are facing information warfare being waged by multiple sources, including by the U.S. government.

One of the things thats self-evident over the last three years is that many of the information warfare techniques that were used on other people during our imperial missions have been brought home to be used on the American people. Thats a very threatening and disturbing idea.

Harrington said that democracy is at risk when people excessive rely on the views of experts.

I dont see any way you can preserve democracy when large swaths of the population are outsourcing their critical faculties to supposed experts who have their own institutional interests, and not necessarily your own, at heart, he said.

Were at a turning point. Those of us that have the time and energy to do so, we have to say, No. Im not going to swallow their mediated realities. Im going to go back as much as I can to the source and make my own decisions.
ANALYSIS: Chinese Ambassador Reveals CCPs Fear of Soviet-Style Collapse in China

Communist China strives for learning 'profound lessons' from collapse of Soviet Union

A man walks past cardboard cutouts of Chinese President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump, Soviet leaders Joseph Stalin and Vladimir Lenin in downtown Moscow on Aug. 7, 2019. (Yuri Kadobnov/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye angered many countries with his televised remark that the ex-Soviet Union countries did not have sovereign status. However, this seemingly inadvertent remark reveals a deep-seated fear the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has had for the last three decadesthat the sudden collapse of the Soviet Union and demise of the Soviet Party will happen again in China, experts said.

In an interview with French television network LCI on April 21, Lu claimed that former Soviet states had no effective status in international law.

When asked whether Crimea belongs to Ukraine, Lu replied, In international law, even these ex-Soviet Union countries do not have the status, the effective [status] in international law, because there is no international agreement to materialize their status as a sovereign country.

The statement provoked outrage in former Soviet countries Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia and shocked the world. To appease the public, the Chinese Foreign Ministry claimed that Lus statement on Ukraine was not a policy announcement but a personal viewpoint.

However, Wu Guoguang, a senior researcher at Stanford Universitys Center for the Study of Chinas Economy and Institutions and former think tank member for CCP General Secretary Zhao Ziyang, believes that Lus words reflect the innermost thoughts of the Communist Partys top brass.

Who dares to say that what Ambassador Lu, who was once the director of the Policy Research Bureau of the Central Foreign Affairs Office, said is not in line with the Chinese Communist Partys foreign policy? Wu wrote in an article published by VOA on April 27.

Chinese Communist Partys leader Xi Jinping (L) talks with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron as they arrive for the official welcoming ceremony in Beijing on April 6, 2023. (Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images)

Lu is probably among the most knowledgeable regarding high-level diplomatic intentions among the CCPs foreign envoys. Lu has worked beside Xi Jinping and was director of the Policy Research Bureau of the Foreign Affairs Leading Group Office of the Central Committee between 2015 and 2016. The head of that team was Xi, according to Wu.

Why does the CCPs upper echelon look down on the former Soviet states?

A tweet by Francois Godement, director of the European External Relations Councils Asia and China program, revealed on April 22 the veiled agenda of the CCP.

Indeed, while Lu Shaye may be an outlier in form, he may also be saying aloud what is an implicit Chinese position. After all, read Xis 2012 comments on how Gorbachev destroyed the Soviet Union.

Profound Lessons From Collapse of Soviet Union

Anders Corr, founder of Corr Analytics and publisher of the Journal of Political Risk, told The Epoch Times on May 11 that the leaders of the CCP are concerned that the disintegration that beset the Soviet Union could also hit China.

The USSR [Union of Soviet Socialist Republics] could not keep up economically and militarily with the West, which sanctioned it heavily. The same could happen to China, he said.

In December 2012, during a visit to Guangdong Province, Xi, who had just stepped into the position of CCP leader, told party insiders that the CCP must learn the profound lessons of the Soviet Union, where political corruption, ideological heresy, and military disloyalty led to the fall of the ruling Communist Party.

Why did the Soviet Union collapse? Why did the Soviet Communist Party collapse? A major reason is that its ideals were shaken, Xi said, adding that finally, Mikhail Gorbachevthe final leader of the Soviet Unionannounced the dissolution of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union with a single word, and the vast Party was gone.

Xi also repeated the profound lessons in an internal speech in early 2013.

In 2013, the Discipline Inspection, Chinas Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), and CASSs subsidiary, the World Socialist Research Center, jointly produced a four-part DVD documentary titled 20 Years of the Soviet Unions Death, saying that the collapse of the communist regime made the once-powerful Soviet Union fall to a second or third-class country.

This documentary attributes the collapse of the Soviet Union and the demise of the Soviet Communist Party to two main causes: Gorbachevs introduction of Western democratic reforms that loosened the partys tight ideological control and Boris Yeltsins vigorous drive to privatize state-owned enterprises.

Chinese officials at all levels, from central department leaders to grassroots party committees, were required to watch this DVD.

CCP Leader of Everything

The CCP has strengthened its grip over all spheres of society in the fear that the regime will follow the same path as the Soviet Communist Party.

In 2017, the CCP revised its party constitution, adding a unique paragraph: The Party is the leader of everything: the Party, the government, the military, the people, the academia, the East, the West, the North, the South, and the Middle.

In December 2014, Xi claimed at a conference on the work of colleges and universities that the party should dominate the leadership of colleges and universities. In this atmosphere, Chinese university campuses have seen incidents of party reporters monitoring professors classes, students reporting professors failure to toe the party line, and cameras installed in university classrooms.

The CCP has also established party branches in state-owned enterprises and private enterprises.

Businessman and Communist Party member Jiang Xipei (C) is flanked by Zan Shengda (R), ranked 39th on the Forbes list of top 100 richest people in China, and Shen Wenron, who is ranked 39th on the Forbes list, at a press conference at the 16th Communist Party Congress in Beijing on Nov. 11, 2002. (Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images)

At the end of 2008, Alibaba Group had three second-level party committeesone party branch, and two direct brancheswith a total of 2,094 party members; Baidu and Tencent both established party committees in 2011, with 2,500 and 3,386 party members, respectively; and Jingdong has set up 154 party branches nationwide, with 10,730 party members, according to a report by Chinese portal Sina on July 1, 2017.

The CCP has also placed party branches in foreign companies, such as the Chinese branch of French cosmetics company LOreal SA and the China joint venture of French car maker Renault SA, according to the Chinese language edition of The Wall Street Journal.

The Communist Party newspaper Peoples Daily said that by 2016, some 75,000 foreign companies had set up party branches, accounting for 70.8 percent of all foreign companies in China.

The CCPs one-party totalitarian rule has garnered growing public discontent. Last November, a fire in Urumqi, Xinjiang, triggered a white paper campaign at the Nanjing Media Institute that quickly spread to a nationwide wave of demonstrations, with people in 21 provinces and students in 207 colleges and universities responding. Hundreds of people in Shanghai chanted, Take Down the CCP.

Suppression of Private Enterprise

As the above-mentioned documentary said, the demise of the Soviet Union could be partly blamed on the privatization of state-owned enterprises. Therefore, the CCP launched a crackdown on private enterprises and expanded state-owned enterprises.

In November 2020, the IPO of Alibabas Ant Financial Services was halted at the last minute by the CCP regulators. This was the beginning of a full-scale clampdown on private companies by the Communist Party, hitting private companies in the technology, finance, gaming, education, and real estate sectors. The campaign has eliminated more than $1 trillion in market value from Chinese companies worldwide.

Yao Yang, director of the National Development Research Institute of Peking University, said in a forum at the end of February that a study on government procurement data showed that many private enterprises could not get purchase orders from governments, Chinese financial media Caixin reported on March 1.

More and more companies are being forced to nationalize. In the three years from 2018 to 2021 alone, 90 listed A-share companies were transformed from private to state-owned enterprises, and more than 400 companies changed their leadership, with an average of one listed company changing its CEO every three days.

Alibabas co-founder Jack Ma (R) looks at Tencent Holdings CEO Pony Ma during a celebration meeting marking the 40th anniversary of Chinas reform and opening up policy at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Dec. 18, 2018. (Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images)

For the private sector predators, the CCP has also adopted the method of acquiring golden shares to control them. On Jan. 4, a state investment fund entity set up by the State Internet Information Office acquired 1 percent of Alibabas subsidiary, Guangzhou Green Education Information Technology Company. The governments plan to acquire Tencents golden shares is also under discussion, according to The Financial Times.

Economic Recession

The CCPs prescription for suppressing private enterprises to avoid the Partys demise, however, has pushed the Chinese economy into recession.

In the first 11 months of 2021, some 4.37 million small and medium-sized enterprises in China closed permanently, more than three times the number of new businesses started in the same period. The private sector, the backbone of Chinas economy and employment, is in decline, and small and micro enterprises, in particular, are disappearing at a rapid pace, South China Morning Posts report said on Dec. 30, 2021.

In 2022, Chinas economy grew by only 3 percent, the slowest year of GDP growth since the end of the Cultural Revolution in 1976. The unemployment rate for young people spiked to a record high. According to an April 19 report by Chinas National Bureau of Statistics, the unemployment rate for Chinese youth (16 to 24 years old) reached 19.6 percent in March.

Due to the official falsification of data, the actual recession of Chinas economic growth may be much more severe.

Corr pointed out that the CCPs excessive control over Chinas private sector reduces its efficiency and ability to innovate, hurting China and the CCP in the long run.
Andrew Cuomo Criticizes Bidens Border Decisions: Terribly Managed

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a news conference in New York, on May 10, 2021. (Mary Altaffer/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has critiqued President Joe Bidens management of the U.S.Mexico border, holding that the U.S. government lifted pandemic-related restrictions without a clear plan.

In an interview on WABC 770 AMs Cats Roundtable on May 14, Cuomo argued that the situation on the southern border will likely get worse before it gets better, denouncing the Biden administration for having no plan when it reversed President Donald Trumps Title 42.

Title 42 empowered border officials to swiftly expel illegal aliens on the grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19. The expired rule had been in place since March 2020 and was lifted on May 11 despite court battles to keep it in place. Biden has since enforced a set of new policies to crack down on illegal border crossings.

Cuomo, who resigned in August 2021 amid allegations of sexual harassment and criticism of his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Trumps rule produced a more controlled border, saying that Title 42 was harsh but was the only thing holding the floodgates back.

Its gotten to a point where it overwhelms cities all across the country, Cuomo said. What is happening to New York City and Mayor Eric Adams is one of the major problems that the mayor has, which is really bizarre, since immigration is not his problem.

Earlier this month, Adams was criticized by officials in two New York counties for relocating illegal immigrants to their communities while declaring an emergency over the influx after Republican governors in border states bused them to Democrat-led sanctuary cities.

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 in a statement on May 5. With a vacuum of leadership, we are now being forced to undertake our own decompression strategy.

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 of caring for and housing them.

Cuomo said he interviewed illegal immigrants staying at New York hotels after they had traveled for months from South American countries when they heard Biden would reverse Trumps border policies.

There was no plan as to what to do with the people who you would let in. Welcome everyone! OK! But you need room at the inn. Where are they going to stay? Whos going to pay? Cuomo said.

Before you invite everyone into the country, you have to know that you have the resources to handle it, he added, noting the situation is terribly managed.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter.

Housing

Cuomos critique comes amid reports that dozens of homeless veterans were evicted from New York hotels to house illegal aliens in their place, Yerik Israel Toney (YIT) Foundation, a nonprofit organization working with veterans, told the New York Post.

Our veterans have been placed in another hotel due to whats going on with the immigrants, said Sharon Toney-Finch, YITs chief executive. She noted that the veterans involved have since been rehoused, but the move has angered veteran rights activists.

Toney-Finch explained the organization helped the veterans to find temporary housing for about a month until they are able to find permanent housing for them, but the veterans were booted from the hotel after just two weeks.

They want to get paid [more], Toney-Finch said when asked to provide a reason behind veterans getting booted, indicating the city pays more for each illegal alien than her nonprofit shells out to get the veterans housing.

Thats so unfair, because at the end of the day, we are a small nonprofit, and we do pay $88 a day for a veteran to be there, she added.

While its not clear how much exactly the city is paying hotels in upstate New York for housing illegals, the New York Post previously reported deals between authorities and Manhattan hotel owners for sheltering them at $190 a night.

Title 42

The expired Trump-era rule prevented many from seeking asylum, but it carried no legal consequences, meaning migrants were able to try again and again to cross, on the off chance they would get into the United States. Under the rule, U.S. officials turned them away more than 2.8 million times.

The Biden administrations set of new policies includes some consequences if theyre caught entering illegally, including not allowing them to return for five years and possible criminal prosecution if they do so.

Other changes include allowing legal immigrants a path into the United Statesif they apply online through a government app, have a sponsor, and pass background checks.

Under the policy, border officials 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 United States who have family here if they, too, apply online.

Others also may be allowed in if they apply through the Customs and Border Protection One app. Right now, 740 people per day have been allowed in using the app, which is being increased to 1,000 per day.

The days that led up to Title 42s expiration were chaotic, with large lines of migrants spotted at major ports of entry. Biden, meanwhile, also predicted last week that the U.S.Mexico border will be chaotic for a while, but he ensured Americans that his administration was working to make the reversal orderly.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

From NTD News
3 People Killed by New Mexico Gunman Who Shot and Wounded 2 Officers, Police Say

Investigators work along a residential street following a deadly shooting in Farmington, N.M., on May 15, 2023. (Susan Montoya Bryan/AP Photo)

FARMINGTON, N.M.Three people were killed and two police officers were among at least seven people injured Monday when an 18-year-old opened fire in a northwestern New Mexico community before law enforcement fatally shot the suspect, authorities said.

The shootings occurred around 11 a.m. in Farmington, a city of about 50,000 people near the Utah state line that is a supply line and bedroom community to the regions oil and natural gas industry.

Officers responding to several calls about a shooting found a chaotic scene where a man was firing at people on a residential street, Farmington Police Deputy Chief Baric Crum said during a news conference.

Police confronted the suspect before fatally shooting him. They found three people dead.

Crum did not identify the suspect and said he didnt know the ages of any of the victims. Police were trying to determine why he was in the neighborhood.

San Juan Regional Medical Center received seven injured people, including a Farmington police officer and a State Police officer. Roberta Rogers, a hospital spokesperson, would not comment on their status.

The two officers were in stable condition, according to Crum.

Mayor Nate Duckett said in a statement that both had been shot but their injuries were not life-threatening.

Today, our community experienced a horrific tragedy that claimed the lives of three innocent citizens and injured several others, Duckett said, adding that the shooting has left us reeling in anguish and disbelief.

Farmington police have not responded to repeated requests for further details about the injured.

There are no other known threats at this time, police said, adding that city, San Juan County and State Police officers were involved.

Joseph Robledo, a 32-year-old tree trimmer, said he rushed home after learning that his wife and 1-year-old daughter had sought shelter in the laundry room when gunshots rang out. A bullet went through his daughters window and room, without hitting anyone.

Robledo jumped a fence to get in through the back door. Out front he found an older woman in the street who had been wounded while driving by. She appeared to have fallen out of her car, which kept rolling without her, he said.

I went out to see because the lady was just lying in the road, and to figure just what the heck was going on, Robledo said. He and others began to administer first aid.

Neighbors directed an arriving police officer toward the suspect.

We were telling [the officer], Hes down there.  The cop just went straight into action, Robledo said.

Robledos own family car was perforated with bullets.

Weve been doing yard work all last week. I just thank God that nobody was outside in front, he said. Obviously, elderly peoplehe didnt have no sympathy for them. Whos to say he would have sympathy for a little kid.

Investigators will now have to look at a crime scene that spans several blocks, according to Crum. Police are asking for anyone with information to come forward.

What we now need from our community is anybody that has any additional information, whether that be eyewitness information or video information or whatever it may be, if you feel its pertinent, Crum said.

After the shootings were reported, the citys schools were placed on what officials called preventative lockdown.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives wrote on Twitter that agents from Phoenix were headed to Farmington to assist in the investigation.

Farmington is not far from where New Mexico borders Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. In recent years, cafes and breweries have cropped up downtown alongside decades-old businesses that trade in Native American crafts from silver jewelry to wool weavings.
Australian State Premier Willing to Go to the UK to Retrieve Priceless Indigenous Artefacts

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk speaks during a Labor Campaign Rally in Brisbane, Australia on May 15, 2022. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Queensland state leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says she is willing to travel to the UK to try and retrieve artefacts belonging to the ancestors of local Indigenous communities.

The Labor premiers comments come after the Queensland Parliament, on May 10, passed a new lawwith bipartisan supportto set up a Truth-telling inquiry to investigate the continuing impacts of colonisation on its Indigenous communities.

Following in the stead of Canada, the Path to Treaty Bill will eventually lead to treaties being negotiated between the state and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communitieslikely to cost Queenslanders millions of dollars.

Following the passing of the law, Palaszczuk said there was a wealth of artefacts being stored in the basement of the British Museum.

These priceless artefacts will be better on display here at our cultural centre, where they belong, she said.

The Acropolis Museum shows off treasures from the Parthenon but is missing the famous marble panels housed in the British Museum. (Cameron Hewitt, Rick Steves)

Im happy to go to London to get these artefacts back with our First Nations people.

Under the Path to Treaty Bill, the government will set up a First Nations Cultural Centre in Cairns in northern Queensland.

What does a Truth-Telling Inquiry Do?

A five-member committee will conduct the Truth-telling inquiry that will spend the next three years investigating the true history of Queensland.

The inquiry will publish reports on its findings and prepare Indigenous communities for treaty negotiations with the Queensland government.

Any treaty must be based on truth. The Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry will provide a public platform for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Queenslanders to tell their truth, said Craig Crawford, the states Indigenous minister, in a statement.

Local children play stick ball on a street in Aurukun, far North Queensland, Cape York, on July 19, 2022. (AAP Image/Jono Searle)

The minister said the number of treaties the government could negotiate will depend on the amount of land and lives lost under colonialism. He further told The Australian newspaper that around 80 treaties were being negotiated by the New Zealand government with the Maori community.

Theyve worked with the government and learned how to do things like buy large industries, build corporate towers, and partner with other organisations, he said.

Yet Indigenous leader Warren Mundine has warned that the Truth-telling process will simply sideline or censor those that oppose the officially endorsed narrative around colonialism.

Your truth may be different from my truth. Anything that infringes on free speech is a dangerous place to go, he told The Epoch Times. Youre going to end up declaring some people of not speaking the truth or spreading misinformationit smacks of the CCP or the old Soviet Union, where you have to toe the line.

Australian Aboriginal leader Warren Mundine speaks at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

In a free society, if people are unable to tell the truth or provide information, then you are unable to defeat [falsehoods] through conversation. And when you get committees making decisions on this, that is where it gets dangerous, he said.

Broad Parliamentary Support With Few Critics

The bill, however, received broad support from the Greens and the opposition Liberal-Nationals, with the regional-focused Katters Australian Party (KAP) refusing to back it.

Greens MP Amy MacMahon said it was hypocritical of the government to pass the bill but also toughen its youth crime laws, which have a larger effect on Indigenous youths.

Almost all of the First Nations people who made submissions on the bill commented on the hypocrisy of the government in introducing this bill in the same week that it introduced harsh bail laws for children, which will only see more First Nations children locked up, she told Parliament.

Meanwhile, Nick Dametto, deputy leader of Katters Australia Party (KAP), said he endured name-calling and abuse from government MPs for opposing the bill.

This week I called for equality, not division, multiculturalism, not segregation, he wrote on Facebook.

Australia should be one. And not divided by trying to create a situation where one race of people in this country have more of a say than the rest, he added.

KAP leader, Robbie Katter, said the process would do little to help local Indigenous communities.

I know Im still going to be back here in a couple of years time, talking about exactly the same things, trying to get outcomes for these people who are crying out for help, he told Parliament on May 10.

While Mundine criticised the Liberal-Nationals for not opposing the bill.

Theyre scared of being called racist things and bigots. Why dont they sit down, think about, and have a conversation about how this will improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people? How does this give kids economic prosperity and help them assimilate into the wider Australian community?
Authorities Assess Damage After Sidewalk Sinkhole on New Mexico Bridge; 2 Pedestrians Rescued

A bridge on Main Street over the Rio Grande in Los Lunas, N.M., in February 2023. (Google Maps/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

LOS LUNAS, N.M.Authorities on Sunday were assessing the damage after a sidewalk sinkhole developed on a New Mexico bridge, resulting in the rescue of two pedestrians.

Los Lunas police said the citys Main Street bridge over the Rio Grande remained closed due to the sinkhole under a sidewalk on the east side of the bridge.

Theres culverts nearby that undermined the roadway and for that reason, it caused some areas to erode, New Mexico Department of Transportation District 3 spokeswoman Kimberly Gallegos said. Thats when we started to realize that we had to get traffic off of this roadway.

Gallagos added that water levels are high and the culverts are being affected by that.

Albuquerque TV station KOAT said a man and his son were rescued Saturday night after two women passing by the sidewalk sinkhole heard someone calling for help.

Several media reports Saturday night said the bridge partially collapsed, but authorities said that was not accurate.

New Mexico Department of Transportation officials were on the scene Sunday trying to determine the extent of the culvert damage on one of Valencia Countys main roads.

Los Lunas Fire Chief John Gabaldon said a water line had to be shut off to prevent more problems if a pipe running through the sinkhole broke.

Gabaldon didnt immediately know how many homes were affected by the water outage.

Los Lunas is about 24 miles south of Albuquerque.
Authorities Capture 1 of 2 Inmates Who Escaped From Philadelphia Prison

PHILADELPHIAOne of two inmates who escaped from a Philadelphia prison was captured while dressed as a woman, authorities said, and a U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force focused Friday on tracking down the other escapee.

Members of the task force were conducting surveillance in an area of North Philadelphia where they believed 24-year-old Nasir Grant was staying, said Robert Clark, a supervisory deputy with the Marshals Service Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Shortly before 10:30 p.m. Thursday, a man resembling Grant came out of a residence, Clark said.

Grant got into a car and authorities followed it and stopped him nearby.

I believe he was thoroughly surprised, Clark said, adding that Grant was taken into custody without any problem.

He submitted to our commands, and it was pretty much an uneventful arrest, which is the way we like it, Clark said.

The search continued for Ameen Hurst, 18, who escaped with Grant from the Philadelphia Industrial Correction Center on the night of May 7 by cutting a hole in a fence surrounding a recreation yard, the Philadelphia Department of Prisons has said.

Hurst and Grant were gone for nearly 19 hours before officials knew they were missing.

Hurst had been charged with four counts of murder, while Grant was being held on conspiracy drug charges and conspiracy weapons charges. Officials have said the inmates were housed in the same unit, but different cells.

Clark described the search for the two men as exhausting, with all task force members working 16- to 18-hour days. The arrest of Grant will allow the task force to focus on the hunt for Hurst, he said.

The men were aided by a woman in the city, who authorities said Thursday had been charged with escape and conspiracy.

A judge set bail at $500,000 for Xianni Stalling, though that ruling was being appealed by prosecutors who had sought $2 million bail. She was arrested around 1 a.m. Wednesday by U.S. Marshals. She was being represented by the public defenders office, which declined to comment.

Authorities said Thursday that there is evidence that Stalling was communicating with one of the escaped inmates, but declined further comment. She was also charged with hindering apprehension and use of a communication facility.
Biden: Border Looks Much Better Than You All Expected

President Joe Biden speaks to members of the media as he goes on a bike ride in Gordons Pond State Park in Rehoboth Beach, Del., on May 14, 2023. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)

President Joe Biden on Sunday was asked about the situation at the southern border after Title 42 expired.

He said that it is much better than you all expected, while riding his bike near his vacation home in Rehoboth, Delaware.

He also said he had no immediate plans to visit the border, for doing so would just be disruptive.

Bidens comments came after Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said on May 14 that the flood of illegal immigrants anticipated following the expiration of Title 42 on Thursday has not happened, and that the Biden administration has designed and put in place effective immigration regulations.

Over the past two days, the United States Border Patrol has experienced a 50 percent drop in the number of encounters versus what we were experiencing earlier in the week before Title 42 ended at midnight on Thursday, Mayorkas told CNNs State of the Union program on May 14.

However, in the two days prior to Title 42 ending, U.S. border officials had already started reporting daily records of 10,000 encounters with illegal immigrants entering the United States each day.

Mayorkas said U.S. Border Patrol had about 6,300 encounters with border crossers on May 12the first day after Title 42 expiredand another 4,200 on May 13. Thats lower than the more than 10,000 crossings per day before Title 42s expiration.

Mayorkas warned however that it is too early to know whether the increased influx of immigrants has peaked.

What the secretary failed to say is that this week has seen more crossings than any week in our history, Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), chair of the Committee on Homeland Security, noted in response to Mayorkas. Yes, there was some anticipation and so people started coming across at higher numbers, in fact record-breaking numbers at the first part of the week.

Green continued, noting that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said a 40 percent increase is expected with Title 42 gone. Thats another 9 million people in two years. I mean, theyve already let 5.04 million encounters and 1.5 million got aways as theyve tried to manage border security and not secure our border. So, no, Im sorry. I disagree with the secretary.

Illegal immigrants board vans after waiting along the border wall to surrender to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol agents for immigration and asylum claim processing upon crossing the Rio Grande River into the United States on the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, on May 11, 2023. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

Federal Judge Blocks Bidens New Parole Policy

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on Thursday night (May 11), against the Biden administrations new parole policy that would have replaced Title 42.

The policy titled Policy on Parole with Conditions in Limited Circumstances Prior to the Issuance of a Charging Document would release the illegal immigrants without a court date.

Judge T. Kent Wetherell II issued the order in a ruling in Florida v. United States (Case number: 23-cv-9962).

Wetherell also blocked another U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) parole known as Parole + Alternatives to Detention (ATD) in a separate case, Florida v. United States (Case number: 21-cv-01066) in early March.

The Parole + ATD policy allows CBP to release illegal immigrants into communities after a national security and public safety evaluation.

The Justice Department (DOJ) asked the judge to stay both orders and said they will appeal two rulings by the court by May 15 at the U.S. 11th Circuit Court.

Overcrowded Processing Centers

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) said videos he recorded at El Paso showed that the border situation is worse than its being portrayed.

This is what Im hearing on the ground from mayors, from Border Patrol agents, from embedded media, everyone is saying its not that bad. So on Friday, I visited El Paso and went to the Central Processing Center, Gonzales said on CBS Face the Nation on May 14.

In the El Paso sector, theres over 6,000 people that are in custody in this particular facility. Its meant to house 1,000 people, its housing over 3,000, Gonzales said. In one of these rooms  the max capacity is 90 people; there was over 400 in here, thats a 450 percent capacity.

He noted that another room, which was intended to hold 120 people, was holding over 700 people.

We cant allow not that bad to be the normal, Gonzales said, before adding that an unaccompanied minor had died while in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services last week.

The president should surge immigration judges to the border and that person should get their case heard in days, not years, he explained. Right now, in El Paso, if you apply on the one app, I was at the port of entry, if you apply on the one app, your court date is 2031. I mean, thats eight years from now.

At sunset near McAllen, Texas, illegal immigrants who have crossed the Rio Grande surrender to U.S. Border Patrol near an area known as Rincon; from there they will be transported to a processing center, in a file photo. (Mani Albrecht/U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

Migrants cross the Tijuana River bed towards the San Diego port of entry to the United States on May 11, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley also criticized the Biden administration.

Five million illegal immigrants have crossed the border. I went with Congressman [Tony] Gonzales 400 miles along that border. And what I saw was unbelievable, Haley told CBSs Face the Nation.

You have ranchers that get up and get their coffee in the morning and go see if someone died crossing the fence.

They pick up any little kids left over and take them to Border Patrol. When you talk to sheriffs, sheriffs say before 7 a.m. theyve rounded up illegal immigrants, turn them over to Border Patrol who documents them and then releases them until their court date three or four years from now. You ask Border Patrol what they do, and they said, Were glorified babysitters.

Bad Policies

Chad Wolf, a former acting secretary at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) during the Trump administration, said that the ongoing illegal migrant crisis at Americas border could have been avoided.

This is a crisis not because of a lack of resources or a lack of authorities. This is a crisis because of bad policies that were put in place almost two years ago, he said.

So, they could change this crisis, and they can help solve this crisis if they wanted to by implementing certain policies. They dont want to do that. And so they will continue to tell you that they have a plan and that theyre executing this plan. But it doesnt seem to be working. For 27 months now, it hasnt worked.

And so Im not sure that what theyre doing here recently is going to work either. Instead, what we see is astronomically and record-breaking numbers month after month after month.

Rising Migrant Numbers

According to data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), border patrol agents only encountered 458,088 illegal aliens in the Southwest land border in fiscal year 2020.

This jumped to 1.73 million in fiscal 2021, with monthly encounters rising to six digits after Joe Biden became president in January 2021. In fiscal 2022, encounters came in at 2.38 million. The first six months of fiscal 2023 have already seen 1.22 million encounters.

Talking about El Paso, Wolf pointed out that he saw thousands of folks here earlier in the week on city streets because theyre doing mass releases into the streets.

Trumps Comments

Former president Donald Trump has slammed the Biden administration for allowing Title 42 to expire.

With todays termination of the final remnants of Title 42, Joe Biden has officially abolished what remained of Americas borders and turned the United States into a dumping ground for illegal aliens from all over the world, he said in a May 11 statement.

Because of Biden, our border is gone, our sovereignty is gone, our national security is gone. Since coming to office, over 6.3 million illegal crossings have taken place under the Biden administration, Trump said.

Ross Muscato, Frank Fang, and Allen Zhong contributed to this report.
Biden Hopeful of Debt Ceiling Deal as McCarthy Says Democrats Want a Default

President Joe Biden speaks at an event at the White House on May 11, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

President Joe Biden is optimistic about reaching an agreement with congressional Republicans on the nations debt ceiling. A follow-up meeting between the parties will take place on May 16, the president said.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) told reporters that Democrats appear to want a default more than they want a solution to the problem.

Biden spoke briefly with reporters in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on May 14 about the progress of negotiations. While he declined to give specifics, the president said he believes a settlement is within reach.

Well, Ive learned a long time ago, and you know as well as I do: It never is good to characterize a negotiation in the middle of a negotiation, Biden said. I remain optimistic because Im a congenital optimist. But I really think theres a desire on their part, as well as ours, to reach an agreement, and I think well be able to do it.

His comment acknowledged for the first time that the talks held in connection with raising the debt ceiling and cutting federal spending are, in fact, a negotiation.

First Progress

Biden and McCarthy initially met to discuss the matter on Feb. 1. Biden then declined a second meeting, saying he wouldnt negotiate over the debt ceiling as that would put the full faith and credit of the United States at risk. Biden also said there would be no point in discussing Republican demands for spending cuts until they released a budget showing their intentions.

On May 1, five days after McCarthy was successful in passing a Republican plan for spending cutsthe Limit, Save, Grow Actin a narrowly divided House, the president invited top congressional leaders to a White House meeting on May 9.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) (L), House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), and President Joe Biden meet with other lawmakers in the Oval Office on May 9, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre later said the meeting, which also involved House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), signaled progress.

It was a productive meeting about a path forward to make sure that America does not default on its debt for the first time in our history, Jean-Pierre told reporters on May 10.

Everyone in the meeting understood the risk of default. It would erase millions of jobs, trigger a recession, devastate retirement accounts, and increase borrowing costs, she said, adding that White House and congressional staffers would meet daily until the leaders next met.

Republicans are demanding a cap on federal spending at the 2022 level with 1 percent annual increases for 10 years, the clawback of $60 billion in unspent COVID-19 relief funds, strengthened work requirements for some recipients of SNAP and Medicaid benefits, and looser restrictions on drilling for oil and gas.

Although Democrats have roundly denounced the provisions as harmful to veterans and working-class Americans, Biden has signaled that hes open to concessions on some points.

I voted for tougher aid programsthats in the law nowbut for Medicaid, its a different story, Biden said when asked about stiffening work requirements for social services. Im waiting to hear what their exact proposal is.

Increased Rhetoric

McCarthy denied on May 15 that there had been much progress, in remarks to reporters.

I still think were far apart. It doesnt seem to me yet they want a deal. It just seems like they want to look like they are in a meeting, but theyre not taking anything serious, McCarthy told NBC and CNN.

It seems like they want a default more than a deal.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) (L) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) speak to the press after meeting President Joe Biden and other leaders at the White House on May 9, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

Jeffries likewise escalated the tone of the rhetoric.

[Former President Donald] Trump has ordered right-wing extremists to demand painful cuts or force America into a devastating default. House Dems put people over politics. Extreme MAGA Republicans do the exact opposite, Jeffries wrote on Twitter on May 15.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned on May 1 that the country could breach the statutory $31.4 trillion debt ceiling as soon as June 1, which would require the government to delay some bill payments if a deal isnt reached before then.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released revised guidance on May 12 indicating that there is a significant risk that at some point in the first two weeks of June, the government will no longer be able to pay all of its obligations if the debt ceiling isnt raised.

CBO had previously forecast that the debt ceiling would be reached in late summer. Weaker-than-expected tax receipts over the spring caused both Yellen and CBO to revise their estimates.

Schumer and McConnell didnt respond by press time to requests by The Epoch Times for comment.
Biden Nominates Cancer Specialist Dr. Monica Bertagnolli for NIH Director

Acting Director of the National Institutes of Health Dr. Lawrence Tabak testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 17, 2022. (SHAWN THEW/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

President Joe Biden announced on May 15 that he would nominate cancer specialist Dr. Monica Bertagnolli to be the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The nominee would be replacing former NIH director Dr. Francis Collins, who held the post for 12 years before stepping down in December 2021, and acting director Dr. Lawrence Tabak, who stepped in for Collins.

Bertagnolli is a cancer doctor and researcher who last year became the first female director of the National Cancer Institute.

If confirmed by the Senate, she would be the second woman to hold the position of permanent director of the NIH, which is one of the worlds foremost biomedical research institutions.

Dr. Bertagnolli has spent her career pioneering scientific discovery and pushing the boundaries of what is possible to improve cancer prevention and treatment for patients, and ensuring that patients in every community have access to quality care, Biden said in a statement about his nominee.

Prior to her role as NCI Director, she served as the Richard E. Wilson Professor of Surgery specializing in surgical oncology at Harvard Medical School.

As Director of the National Cancer Institute, Dr. Bertagnolli has advanced my Cancer Moonshot to end cancer as we know it, Biden went on. Dr. Bertagnolli is a world-class physician-scientist whose vision and leadership will ensure NIH continues to be an engine of innovation to improve the health of the American people.

The issue of cancer research is one that Biden has campaigned on, noting on multiple occasions that it was near and dear to his familys heart due to the loss of his son, Beau Biden, to cancer in 2015.

According to her biographical information, Bertagnolli has been actively involved in clinical and research oncology, with a focus on advancing collaborative initiatives to enhance the data infrastructure for clinical cancer research. She notably served as the group chair of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, a member organization of the National Clinical Trials Network.

According to the White House Bertagnolli has also held leadership positions in esteemed organizations like the American Society of Clinical Oncology, where she served as a past president and chair of the board of directors. She has also contributed her expertise as a board member for institutions such as the American Cancer Society and the Prevent Cancer Foundation.

Daughter of first-generation Italian and French Basque immigrants, she was raised on a ranch in southeastern Wyoming. She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in engineering and attended medical school at the University of Utah.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Special counsel John Durham on Monday released his long-awaited report on the FBIs investigation of the Trump campaign back in 2016. FBI veteran and Epoch Times contributor Marc Ruskin discusses the significance of the findings.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden over the weekend warned that white supremacy is the greatest terrorist threat against the United States. He didnt specify a group or detail who these individuals might be. So what was he referring to? Well take an in-depth look at this.

Also, Californians are now leaving the state in droves. This is being blamed on high taxes, rising crime, and a whittling away at the quality of life in the golden state. Yet what does this say about California politics, and what could this mean for the rest of us as those policies begin to spread? Well speak with Siyamak Khorrami, host of California Insider, about this and more.



LIVE Q&A: Durham Vindicates Trump But Fails to Hold FBI Responsible



TRANSCRIPT:

Good evening, and welcome to Crossroads!

There is a new threat against the United States. Its a movement without a clear name, without a clear doctrine, and with few examples of violence in the modern world. Yet, according to President Joe Biden, this is now the greatest terrorist threat that the country now faces. Watch.

We know that American history has not always been a fairy tale. From the start its been a constant push and pull, for more than 240 years, between the best of us, the American ideal that were all created equal, and the worst of us. A harsh reality that racism has long torn us apart. Its a battle thats never really over. But on the best days, enough of us have the guts and the hearts to stand up for the best in us. To choose love over hate, unity over disunion, progress over retreat. To stand up against the poison white supremacy as I did my inaugural address to single out as the most dangerous terrorist threat to our homeland is white supremacy. Im not saying this because Im at a Black HPCU.

As Biden notes, his speech at Howard University in Washington echoes something hes been warning about since he took office. During his inaugural address, while listing the threats to the country, Biden said this:

And now, a rise in political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront, and we will defeat.

Critics were quick to point out that Biden wasnt naming a specific group. When we think of terrorism, in the past wed think of groups like al-Qaeda, or ISIS, or people who provide material aid, such as firearms, to groups like the Taliban.

So what is the embodiment of this new terrorist threat? Well, Biden hasnt been too clear on this. But he has repeatedly tied it to what he calls MAGA Republicans. In other words, former President Donald Trump and his supporters. And why is it such a threat to the nation? Biden explained this in his soul of the nation speech In September, which was focused heavily on demonizing the MAGA movement. Let me show you:

Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic.  And here, in my view, is what is true: MAGA Republicans do not respect the Constitution. They do not believe in the rule of law. They do not recognize the will of the people. They refuse to accept the results of a free election.  MAGA Republicans have made their choice. They embrace anger. They thrive on chaos. They live not in the light of truth but in the shadow of lies.

So apparently, the greatest threat to the nation are the political enemies of Joe Biden? And the greatest crimes they commit are apparently to hold conservative views on marriage and abortion, and to question the integrity of the 2020 election.

Is this really the white supremacist threat of terrorism that Biden refers to? Or is it something else? Do Trump supporters actually hold this? There wasnt much suggesting this well at least not until right after Bidens recent speech.

Soon after Bidens Howard University speech. Suddenly a group of white supremacists calling themselves Patriot Front, that supposedly support Trump, went parading around Washington holding American flags, and symbols for their own group. They had a police escort, they went unchallenged by typical counterprotesters like Antifa, and when they arrived at the Metro to end their march, police allegedly prevented the press from following them.

So do they represent Trump supporters. Are they representative of the MAGA movement, or of conservatives? Apparently not at all. There was a deluge of Twitter posts from conservatives, and news articles from conservative news outlets, with a relatively uniform opinion. Most people believe that Patriot Front are feds. In other words, the movement is viewed as a fed op, or federal agents dressing up as Trump supporters to make Trump supporters look bad.

Then who is Patriot Front? According to the Anti-Defamation League, its a Texas-based white supremacist group that split from another group called Vanguard America in August 2017.

The group is also loosely affiliated with another white supremecist group, the Rise Above Movement, which had been heavily monitored by the FBI going back to at least 2017, as was detailed in a criminal complaint from an FBI agent.

That group also had ties to Ukraines Azov Battalion, including for training. This was shown as well in a report from Radio Free Asia.

According to the Woke Societies Twitter account, its a terrible irony that American taxpayer money is potentially going to finance the white supremacist groups training by extension. It says, The United States has for years funded, trained, and armed the Ukrainian regime, while inadvertently, through the support of groups like the Azov Battalion, given indirect support to extremists both within the U.S. and abroad.

Meanwhile, we also recently saw similar protests by an openly Neo Nazi organization, the Blood Tribe. The group was protesting a drag brunch in Ohio. The group was similarly condemned online by conservatives, who broadly called them feds.

So whats the verdict? Well, its always possible the white nationalist groups have been infiltrated by federal agents. We dont really know. And Trump supporters arent being overly paranoid for being suspicious.

The far-left community organizer Saul Alnisky, author of Rules for Radicals, infamously laid out a strategy for this. For example, Alinsky told far-left activists in the 1970s, that rather than directly protesting against George Bush, that they should instead dress like members of the Klu Klux Klan and pretend to support him. The anti-Trump organization Lincoln Project was also outed in 2021 for doing something similar. Its members disguised themselves as white nationalists from the Charlottesville riot, and appeared to support then-Republican Virginia gubernatorial frontrunner Glenn Youngkin as a form of veiled protest.

The reality is that there are real white supremacist groups. Many of them function like gangs. They tend to be small, and people on both sides of the political aisle tend to hate them. At least we can all agree on something.

At the same time, there are also real instances of groups dressing as white supremecists, and using fake support as a way to protest politicians they dont like.

So how does Patriot Front fit into this? Well, certainly, they are serving the interests of the Biden administration, by making false connections of extremism to Trump. Meanwhile, Trump supporters, and conservatives overall, appear to overwhelmingly believe the group is a ruse.

And of course, theres the biggest elephant in the room. The groups are Neo Nazis. The Nazis were national socialists who pushed race politics. The Fascists under Mussolini were collectivist socialists, with the slogan of Everything within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state.

Absolute state control isnt exactly a winning talking point for conservatives. The Trump movement, for example, tended to support cutting government regulations, rather than broadening them. But regardless, vague labels and dubious movements are being used to falsely frame a large-swath of the nation. And to me at least, that does just seem a bit extreme.

Stick around after the break. The Durham Report has finally been released. Well have former FBI agent and assistant district attorney Mark Ruskin on to discuss.



Welcome back!

The Durham Report has finally been released. This is the investigation from Special Counsel John Durham who was appointed by Trump to investigate the Crossfire Hurricane scandal. Here to speak with us about this is Marc Ruskin, former FBI agent and assistant district attorney.



Welcome back!

Americans appear to be fleeing California. Close to 700,000 people left the state between 2020 and 2022, and despite some people moving there, the states population has dropped by about 500,000 people. This is being blamed on unaffordable housing, rising taxes, and rampant crime.

Yet is this really the case? Here to discuss whats happening and what it could mean for the rest of the country is Siyamak Khorrami, host of California Insider, who recently did a documentary on this for The Epoch Times, which is Leaving California: The Untold Story.



Thats all for tonight, folks. Thanks for joining us and as always, Stay informed, and stay free.
Bill Barr Is at Fault in the Unresolved Election of 2020

Commentary

In the aftermath of this months CNN town hall event with former President Donald Trumplargely viewed, even by the beleaguered network, as a fiascoit may be time to again examine whether the 2020 presidential election was legitimate.

Why? Havent we had enough of this?

Well, yes, I understand. Time to move on and all that. You cant fix the past, etc.

But it was CNN, those tribunes of the left, who actually brought it up at the town hall, thinking that Trump would take the bait, start complaining about 2020, and alienate everyone.

But that didnt happen; the reverse occurred. The audience, largely students, enthusiastically sided with the former president, even when he discussed 2020, and disdained the nasty person appointed by CNN whom the network wrongly thought would make a fool of him.

But Im not here to beat a dead horse. Im here to place blame on why the 2020 presidential election remains a festering wound in our country, with millions of our citizens convinced it was a fraud.

Many people and places are obviously involved but one person more than any other must be cited for shutting down any serious governmental investigation of that electionthen-Attorney General of the United States William Pelham Barr.

On Dec. 1, 2020, less than a month after Election Day, Bill Barr declared, in an interview with The Associated Press, To date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have affected a different outcome in the election.

This statement went around the world and was never revised by Barr, who later repeated it, in essence, many times.

But one must ask, how could he have come to that conclusion so quickly in a country of roughly 330 million residing in 50 states, many of which had different election laws of their own choosing as stipulated in the U.S. Constitution?

Barr provided an answer in the same AP interviewthat U.S. attorneys and FBI agents had been working on it, following up on complaints and other information.

Whoa. Looking back (and even then), Barr just gave away the store.

U.S. attorneys and FBI agents? Which ones, one might ask? Can we get access through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to their emails, text messages, and documents? (Good luck.)

You would have to be living under the proverbial rock not to realizedo I need to go over things such as the Steele dossier and the false FISA statements againnot to realize that these two groups skew somewhere between 90 and 95 percent to the left?

What would you predict they would have said about these various complaints?

Barr is far from an idiot and would have known the bias inherent in their reports even better than we do.

What he actually did is make Jan. 6, 2021despite all the debates about what happened and all the endless propaganda surrounding itbasically irrelevant before it occurred.

Given Barrs position as attorney general, and a Republican one no less, he had effectively already closed the door on Election 2020 on Dec. 1 of that year.

That he did this with the AP was well-planned because he knew the news service, having gone left years before, would eat up what he was saying and ask no questions.

Why did he do it?

Its pretty obvious. He had come to dislike Trump to a level approaching Trump Derangement Syndrome. Even though a moderate conservative, Barr was a longtime member of the deep (administrative) states Bush division. Despite recognizing that Trump had some good policies, he came to see him as a threat.

He also disliked him personally, complaining that Trump was treating him as his personal attorney. While that may have had some validity, is Trump to be blamed for following in the footsteps of virtually every other president? This was particularly true of his predecessor, Barack Obama. Very few complained (and certainly no one in the MSM) when his attorney general, Eric Holder, publicly described himself as Obamas wingman.

And no one is a greater wingman than current Attorney General Merrick Garland is for Joe Biden.

Where has the Garland Justice Department (DOJ) been all these years on the bank records showing $10 million in payments (for no discernible goods or services) to the Biden family from China that were revealed by the House Oversight Committee?

Any DOJ could have gotten those same records in a matter of hours, although the current one obviously had no interest in them.

Since the Chinese Communist Party was involved, this is a coverup that makes Watergate seem like cheating in Parcheesi.

This unspeakable corruption, probably the greatest in our history, can be read as Barrs gift to America in his slamming the door on any true investigation of 2020. Look what came in.

Does this mean I think Trump won?

Its certainly possible, but in all honesty, I dont know. Certainly, there was hanky-panky. We have seen a considerable amount in Dinesh DSouzas documentary 2000 Mules and elsewhere.

But was that enough to turn an election? How could we know? Research into the matter has been blocked at every turn, by the DOJ and by the courts. Our friends in the media tell us its been debunked, a once rarely used word that has become extremely popular of late as shorthand to shut down discussion. Its rarely accompanied by evidence.

Barrs story is emblematic of the problem of the deep state in general. Many Republicans will only go so far, in fact not very far, to defeat it since they drink at the same trough.

Barr was, as my grandmother would say, to the manor born, his father a onetime headmaster of Manhattans prestigious Dalton School. That was the same time, as it happens, a certain Jeffrey Epstein was teaching there without a college degree. No one knows how that was possible.

Bill Barr was the one who assured us, also after a very short time, that Epstein died by suicide in a New York prison. This was due to, he said, a perfect storm of screw-ups. We are now learning of the financiers myriad supposed connections with our intelligence services. In the current presidential campaign, both Trump and Vivek Ramaswamy have spoken of abolishing the CIA.

Does this all fit together or is it happenstance?

Perhaps another candidate, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., could shed some light on this. Time will tell.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Powerful Cyclone Mocha Floods Homes, Cuts Communications in Western Burma, at Least 700 Injured

A lamppost attached with electrical transformer is damaged by Cyclone Mocha lines on a street in Gwa township, Rakhine State, Burma, in a photo provided on May 14, 2023. (Military True News Information Team via AP)

DHAKA, BangladeshRescuers early Monday evacuated about 1,000 people trapped by seawater 3.6 meters (12 feet ) deep along western Burmas coast after a powerful cyclone injured hundreds and cut off communications. Damage and at least five deaths have been reported, but the true impact was not yet clear in one of Asias least developed countries.

Strong winds injured more than 700 of about 20,000 people who were sheltering in sturdier buildings on the highlands of Sittwe township such as monasteries, pagodas, and schools, according to a leader of the Rakhine Youths Philanthropic Association in Sittwe. He asked not to be named due to fear of reprisals from the authorities in the military-run country.

Seawater raced into more than 10 low-lying wards near the shore as Cyclone Mocha made landfall in Rakhine state Sunday afternoon, he said. Residents moved to roofs and higher floors, while the wind and storm surge prevented immediate rescue.

After 4 p.m. yesterday, the storm weakened a bit, but the water did not fall back. Most of them sat on the roof and at the high places of their houses the whole night. The wind blew all night, the rescue group leader said.

Water was still about 1.5 meters (5 feet) high in flooded areas Monday morning, but rescues were being made as the wind calmed and the sun rose in the sky. He asked civil society organizations and authorities to send aid and help evacuate residents.

At least five deaths have been reported in Burma (also known as Myanmar) by local media and rescue groups. Several injuries were reported in neighboring Bangladesh, which was spared the predicted direct hit.

Mocha made landfall near Sittwe township with winds blowing up to 209 kilometers (130 miles) per hour, Burmas Meteorological Department said. By Monday morning, it was downgraded from its severe status and was steadily weakening over land, according to the India Meteorological Department.

The State Administration Council issued disaster declarations for 17 townships in Rakhine state.

High winds crumpled cell phone towers, but in videos collected by local media before communications were lost, deep water raced through streets and wind blew off roofs.

Burmas military information office said the storm had damaged houses and electrical transformers in Sittwe, Kyaukpyu, and Gwa townships. It said roofs were torn off buildings on the Coco Islands, about 425 kilometers (264 miles) southwest of the countrys largest city, Yangon.

Volunteers previously said shelters in Sittwe did not have enough food after more people arrived there seeking help.

Mocha largely spared the Bangladeshi city of Coxs Bazar, which initially had been in the storms predicted path. Authorities had evacuated hundreds of thousands of people before the cyclone veered east.

About a dozen people were injured on Saint Martins Island, while some 300 homes were either destroyed or damaged, leading Bengali-language daily Prothom Alo reported.

U.N. agencies and aid workers in Bangladesh had prepositioned tons of dry food and dozens of ambulances in the refugee camps that house more than 1 million Rohingya Muslims who fled persecution in Burma.

In May 2008, Cyclone Nargis hit Burma with a storm surge that devastated populated areas around the Irrawaddy River delta. At least 138,000 people died and tens of thousands of homes and other buildings were washed away.

Tropical cyclones, which are called hurricanes or typhoons in other regions, are among the worlds most devastating natural disasters when they hit densely populated coastal areas.
CECC Conducts Hearing on Hong Kong Political Prisoners, 75-Year-Old Jimmy Lai Might Spend Life In Jail Under Regimes Law

Jimmy Lai's son worries his father will be jailed for life and criticizes the U.K. for being soft on CCP

Sebastien Lai testified at CECC's hearing on Jimmy Lai's case, in Washington D.C., on May 11, 2023. (Screenshot via CECC live broadcasting)

On May 11, the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) conducted a hearing on political prisoners and the rule of law in Hong Kong.

Sebastien Lai expressed his concern that his father, former Founder, and CEO of now-defunct Next Media Group and pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, would likely spend the rest of his life in jail. He worried that he and his father could never see each other again. Nevertheless, he is proud of him.

In the hearing, Lai described his father, Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, a prisoner of conscience, who had been imprisoned since November 2020 due to his media business.

Lai thanked CECC for nominating his father, Jimmy Lai, Tonyee Chow Hang-tung, Lee Chuek-yan, Joshua Wong Chi-fung, and Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam for the 2023s Nobel Peace Prize.

Who Are They?

Tonyee Chow is a barrister and former vice chair of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which organized the annual June 4 Vigil until 2020.

Lee Chuek-yan is a democratic politician and activist who was a Legislative Council member. Lee is a former trade union leader and former chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance.

The Hong Kong Alliance was forced to dissolve under the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL).

Joshua Wong is an activist and politician, former secretary-general of the pro-democracy party Demosisto. The former student-formed organization disbanded under the repression of the NSL.

Gwyneth Ho is a former journalist of the now-defunct media outlet Stand News, which was forced to cease operations under the repression of the NSL.

Before prison, they were all activists for democracy and human rights and against the regime.

From Clothing to Politics

Lai recalled that since 1990, his father would use his newspaper company and regularly criticize the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leaders. As a result, he had been harassed and targeted by the Beijing government to silence him.

The regime even threatened to close all clothing stores of Giordano, a clothing brand founded by Jimmy Lai. My father was forced to sell Giordano at the time.

Giordano, a mega Italian-inspired clothing retailer, was founded by media tycoon Jimmy Lai in 1981. Starting in Hong Kong and China, the clothing brand expanded globally. Lai then left the clothing business, entered the media and the world of politics, and founded Next Media in the 90s.

Tiananmen Square Massacre Changed Everything

In 1989, Lai used his clothing resources from Giordano and donated T-shirts for protesters and student leaders in the Tiananmen Square Protest and Massacre. Lai advocated for democracy and had been a prominent critic of the Beijing government since the June 4 massacre.

It was reported that Jimmy Lai was using Giordano to fund his political activities and that he had to step away from it for being too prominent a critic of the CCP.

Jimmy Lai would then move into the media business to continue speaking up against the regime and its wrongdoing.

Heavy Surveillance By The CCP

Jimmy Lai and his family members were often tailed. The junior Lai Li saw surveillance vehicles and photographers outside his home daily.

Next Media Groups advertisement clients also became CCPs targets, threatening Jimmy Lai economically.

However, the threat strategy of the Chinese regime did not work. Sebastien Lai said his father was a man of principles grounded in faith; his father stood up against the CCP because he thought it was right.

Sebastian Lai pointed out that his father was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison for fraud, which was unheard of in business and commerce, and affirmed that it was an attempt by the Hong Kong government to slander and smear Jimmy Lais reputation.

In addition, Jimmy Lai was also charged with suspicion of incitement and conspiring to collude with foreign forces due to published news articles via the now-defunct Apple Daily. Sebastian Lai worried that his 75-year-old father would spend the rest of his life in prison.

Hong Kongs Reality

Sebastien Lai criticized Hong Kong for no longer being One Country, Two systems, and the Beijing regime had been ruling Hong Kong. He thanked CECC and the U.S. government for voicing their condemnation and taking action and demanded his father be released immediately.

Meanwhile, Sebastian Lai denounced the British government for not being tough enough on Jimmy Lais cases. Although Sebastien Lai and Jimmy Lai were British citizens, they could not get substantial help from the British government.

Hence, he urged the U.S. government to remain focused on his fathers trials.

Jimmy Lai, and six former senior executives of Next Media Group and Apple Daily, were accused of conspiring to collude with foreign forces.

The case is scheduled to be heard in the First Instance of the High Court on Sep 25, and the trial is estimated to take 40 days.

Regime Changes Law to Stop Legal Defense

On the other hand, Jimmy Lais appointment and appeal winnings of British Barrister Tim Owen triggered the CCP legislative body to re-interpret the NSL.

On May 10, the Legislative Council passed the bill on amending the Legal Practitioners (Amendment) Ordinance after three readings to set up numerous roadblocks to restrict overseas lawyers from entering Hong Kong soil to participate in any cases related to the NSL.
China Is Still Conducting Police Activities in Berlin, Germany Says

German officials said on May 15 that they believe the two unauthorized Chinese police outposts remain in operation in the country, though Beijing had promised to shut them down in February.

These police outposts were not fixed-location offices, but mobile facilities, a spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of the Interior said at a daily briefing on Monday. Individuals, with some holding Chinese citizenship, conduct official duties at the behest of the Chinese regime, the spokesperson added.

The overseas police station is believed to be part of over 100 similar facilities operated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) across the globe, according to Safeguard Defenders, a Spain-based human rights group. Citing official announcements, researchers identified the unofficial police centers in at least 53 countries, including the United States, Britain, Canada, Italy, and Garmany.

The Chinese regime uses these facilities to harass, threaten, intimidate and force targets to return to China for persecution, the group said in its follow-up report published in December 2022.

The widespread presence led the German government and other European nations to open investigations into the facilities on their own soil.

The federal government does not tolerate the exercise of foreign state authority, and accordingly, Chinese authorities have no executive powers on the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany, an interior ministry spokesperson told local newspaper Handelsblatt in October 2022.

Berlin later said the Chinese regime set up at least two police stations across the country, one more than the Safeguard Defenders revelation. The groups report only mentioned one unit in Frankfurt.

These Chinese police outposts dont have permanent offices in Germany and are managed by leaders of the Chinese diaspora, according to a March government response to a written question from a lawmaker.

In November, the German government urged the Chinese regime to shut down its police station.

The Chinese side got back to us at the beginning of February and said that these so-called service stations, as the Chinese side called them, had been closed, Andrea Sasse, the spokesperson for the German foreign ministry, told reporters on Monday.

However, the security authorities continue to assume that there are two so-called overseas police stations in Germany, the interior ministry spokesperson said.

A balloon is held at a press conference and rally in front of the America ChangLe Association highlighting Beijings transnational repression, in New York City on Feb. 25, 2023. A now-closed overseas Chinese police station is located inside the association building.(Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Officials in Ireland and the Netherlands have ordered similar stations operating in their own countries to close.

The United States has brought in the first criminal charges against individuals linked to the secret police units. In April, the FBI arrested two men accused of running the police station in New York City on behalf of the CCP. Federal prosecutors charged the two with conspiring to act as agents of the CCP and obstructing justice. The criminal complaint alleged defendants took orders from the Chinese authorities to locate and intimidate Chinese dissidents living in the United States.

This prosecution reveals the Chinese governments flagrant violation of our nations sovereignty by establishing a secret police station in the middle of New York City, Breon Peace, the U.S. attorney for the eastern district of New York, said at the April press conference.

Just imagine the NYPD opening an undeclared secret police station in Beijing, Peace said. It would be unthinkable.

It is our belief that the ultimate purpose of this illegal police station was not to protect and serve, but rather silence, harass, and threaten individuals here in the United States, and particularly those expressing views contrary to the Chinese government, said Michael Driscoll, assistant director in charge of the FBIs New York Field Office.
China Sentences 78-Year-Old US Citizen to Life in Prison on Spying Charges

China sentenced a 78-year-old United States citizen to life in prison Monday on spying charges.

John Shing-Wan Leung, who holds permanent residency in Hong Kong, was detained April 15, 2021, by the counterintelligence agency in the southeastern city of Suzhou. The citys intermediate court announced Leungs sentence in a brief statement on its social media site but gave no details of the charges.

Such investigations and trials are held behind closed doors and little or no information is made public.

Relations between Washington and Beijing have hit a historical low amid disputes over human rights, technology, trade, and the ruling Chinese Communist Partys increasingly aggressive approach toward its territorial claims.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. The number of tourists from Uzbekistan to Azerbaijan amounted to 3,300 in April 2023, Trend reports via the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan, in the reporting period, has registered a twofold increase in the volume of tourists from Uzbekistan, compared to the figure for April 2022 (1,400 tourists).

It should be noted that over the past few years, Azerbaijan has been of great interest to tourists from Uzbekistan.

In March 2023, a total of 3,100 tourists from Uzbekistan visited Azerbaijan, which constitutes a threefold increase, compared to the figure for March 2022 (971 tourists).

In 2022, the number of people visiting Azerbaijan from Uzbekistan amounted to 25,920 - a six-fold increase, compared to 2021 (3,959 people). During the reporting period, Uzbekistan ranked 11th regarding the number of visitors coming to Azerbaijan.

Meanwhile, overall some 154,233 foreigners came to Azerbaijan for tourism purposes, increasing by 83 percent, compared to the same period last year  84,402.

From January through April 2023, about 523,305 tourists visited Azerbaijan an increase of 58 percent, compared to the reporting period in 2022 (330,679 tourists).
Chinese Warships Circle Japan Amid Missile Defense System Deployment

A jet fighter takes off from China's Shandong aircraft carrier, south of Okinawa prefecture, Japan, on April 10, 2023. (Joint Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan/Handout via Reuters)

Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) ships were spotted circling Japan for days in an apparent show of force amid Japans missile defense system deployment on an island near Taiwan.

Japans defense ministry said on May 11 that a Chinese naval flotilla, led by the PLAs Type 055 guided missile destroyer Lhasa, has been spotted sailing around Japan-controlled islands since April 30.

The flotilla was first spotted traversing Japans Tsushima Strait on April 30. The ministry stated that the Chinese warships sailed through the Tsugaru Strait from May 5 to 6 and then in the Izu island chain, which sits south of Tokyo, on May 11.

This came as Japan deployed the PAC-3 surface-to-air missile defense system on Miyako Island, which is situated close to Taiwan, the self-ruled island that China claims as its territory and has vowed to seize by any means necessary.

Japan also stationed PAC-3 missiles at the Ishigaki and Yonaguni islands, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters on May 8. The government has said the deployment was meant to deter North Koreas missile threat.

Well make coordination with local governments and deploy the system in locations where it is needed, a defense ministry official said on April 24, Jiji Press reported. Well be thoroughly prepared.

However, Chinas state-owned Global Times criticized Japans move as provocative, claiming that it was not aimed at countering threats from the Korean Peninsula but rather meant to prepare for military intervention in the Taiwan question.

In another report, the news outlet said that Chinas recent deployment of a flotilla could send a strong message to Japan in response to what it described as Japans provocative remarks about Taiwan.

The report also accused Japan of hyping the China threats.

Ahead of G-7 Summit

The incident occurred ahead of the G-7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 19, which will be attended by heads of the leading industrial states in the group, including U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a news conference at the prime ministers official residence in Tokyo on Aug. 10, 2022. (Rodrigo Reyes Marin/Pool via Reuters)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on May 15 that G-7 leaders want to reaffirm that any unilateral attempts by China and Russia to change the status quo by force wont be accepted, Kyodo News reported.

Kishidas remarks echoed the G-7 foreign ministers call on April 16 for a peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues between China and Taiwan.

The ministers said the unity of G-7 nations is extremely important in dealing with the various challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region, including the threats posed by communist China and North Korea, according to Japans foreign ministry.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi emphasized the need to continue dialogue with China while also directly expressing concerns and urging China to act as a responsible member of the international community.

During a bilateral meeting in Beijing on April 2, Hayashi raised concerns over Chinas intensification of military activities around Japanparticularly near the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands that China also claims are its ownand Chinas cooperation with Russia.

In response, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang warned Japan to refrain from interfering in the Taiwan issue or undermining Chinas sovereignty in any form.

He said the Taiwan issue is at the very core of Chinas core interests.

Qin said that Beijing is willing to work with Tokyo to properly manage differences, remove obstacles, and ease burdens for bilateral relations, and build a ChinaJapan relationship that meets the requirements of the new era.
Coast Guard Suspends Search for 3 People Reported Aboard Downed Plane Off San Diego

The Coast Guard's USS Boutwell arrives home from a three month deployment at Naval Base San Diego in San Diego on April 16, 2015. (Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)

SAN DIEGORescues crews have suspended their search for three people who were aboard a Learjet that plunged into the Pacific Ocean about a mile from a Navy-owned island off the coast of San Diego, U.S. officials said Thursday.

The U.S. Coast Guard said its crews along with U.S. Navy, Air Force, and Customs and Border Protection all searched a combined 334 square miles (865 square kilometers) in the vicinity Wednesday after the Phoenix Air Learjet went down that morning off San Clemente Island.

The aircraft was used by a Navy contractor who departed from the Ventura County area, said Drew Verbis, spokesperson for Naval Base Ventura County on the coast northwest of Los Angeles.

He had no other immediate details, and identities of those aboard have not been released.
Communist China One of Worlds Worst Abusers of Human Rights and Religious Freedom: State Department Report

A Paramilitary police officer watches over Chinese worshippers as they pray at the Yongchegong Lama Temple in Beijing, China, on Feb. 8, 2016. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Chinas ruling regime continues to be one of the worst abusers of human rights and religious freedom in the world, a senior State Department official said as the department released its annual report on international religious freedom.

They continue to engage in genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs. Theyre also continuing their repression of Tibetan Buddhists, Protestants, Catholics, Falun Gong, and Hui Muslims, the official told reporters in a May 15 background briefing, adding that the department has a number of tools, such as financial sanctions, visa restrictions, and collaboration with international allies around the world in response to the regimes treatment of religious minorities.

We continue to see the situation worsening, and well continue to use all the tools that I described to do everything that we can to help the people of China as they face repression at the hands of the government.

The report features a string of stories of believers struggling to survive under the regimes unceasing efforts to suppress their faith.

Gao Heng of the Guangzhou Bible Reform Church was secretly tried and sentenced in February on charges of provoking trouble and picking quarrels for holding up a sign reading pray for the country at a subway station in 2021, the report said. Details of the sentence remain unclear.

In March 2022, authorities arrested Chen Wenshang in Hengyang city of Hunan Province in central China for preaching the gospel in public. He was arrested six times in 2021.

A believer prays outside St. Josephs Church, a government-sanctioned Catholic church, in Beijing on Oct. 1, 2018. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)

The Human Rights Without Frontiers organization estimates that Chinese authorities imprisoned 2,649 individuals for exercising their freedom of belief, including more than 2,100 adherents of the spiritual practice Falun Gong, 23 Muslims, 40 Christians, and 20 Buddhists. Because of a lack of transparency over religious persecution, some estimates go as high as 10,000 or more, the report noted.

Falun Gong, a meditation practice featuring the tenets of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, had an estimated following of 70 million to 100 million by 1999, when the regime began a brutal campaign of persecution.

Minghui.org, a website that gathers firsthand materials about the regimes campaign, said a total of 172 adherents have died of persecution, while 446 Falun Gong practitioners received sentencing varying from six months to 15 years due to their faith.

The State Department report cited the death of Falun Gong practitioner Ji Yunzhi, who was taken from her home, abused, and beaten while in custody in February. Police force-fed her and repeatedly slapped her in the face after she went on a hunger strike to protest her treatment. She died seven weeks later in a hospital in Inner Mongolia, and police transferred her body to a crematorium against her familys wishes.

Simon Zhang and his mother, Ji Yunzhi, during a trip to Hangzhou city in Zhejiang Province, China, in 2012. Ji, a Falun Gong practitioner, died in the Chinese regimes persecution of Falun Gong in March 2022. (Courtesy of Simon Zhang)

Cui Jinshi, 88, was studying Falun Gong at home with six others when police broke in and arrested her. Hours later, her son learned that she had died in an emergency room. Her son, after seeing her body, said her throat had been cut, the report said.

Several other imprisoned adherents died in custody after police denied them medical parole.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has mastered the art of religious persecution, said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), citing the Beijing regimes acts of genocide against Uyghurs and other ethnic groups.

In addition to its persistent harassment of Falun Gong practitioners, the CCP has recently implemented bans on domestically generated online religious content and prohibited overseas organizations from operating virtual religious information services in China, he said in a statement after the release of the State Department report.

The United States remains deeply concerned about human rights abuses taking place within the PRC [Peoples Republic of China], Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the State Department, told The Epoch Times at a midday press briefing.

We continue to be clear-eyed about that, he said. While he declined to preview any steps the U.S. government might take in the coming days, he stressed that we have already taken a number of historic actions on human rights specifically to hold violators accountable.

The United States was among the first nations to decline to send diplomatic representation to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics over the regimes ongoing human rights abuses.

On Dec. 9, 2022, the State Department sanctioned three current and former Chinese officials for human rights violations in Tibet and for arbitrary detention of Falun Gong adherents in Chongqing, the megacity in Chinas southwestern region.

Human rights is something that we raise quite regularly in our bilateral engagements, and we will continue to do so, Patel said.
Charges Against Ontario Pastor for Violating COVID Restrictions Dropped

Charges against Ontario Pastor Aaron Rock for allegedly attending an outdoor protest opposing pandemic restrictions have been dropped. (Courtesy Harvest Bible Church)

An Ontario pastor charged with violating pandemic restrictions has now had all charges against him either dropped or stayed.

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF), which represents Pastor Aaron Rock, reported on May 12 that charges against him were stayed by the Crown on April 30. The charges were laid after Rock, a pastor from Windsor, was accused of taking part in an outdoor protest on May 30, 2021, in Waterloo, Ont. The protest was in contravention of Ontarios regulations against outdoor gatherings of more than 10 people.

The JCCF said if convicted, he could have faced fines of up to $300,000. The condition was that Rock had to make a modest donation to a registered charity.

On May 10, Rock took to Twitter, saying in part, ALL REMAINING CHARGES DROPPED  

I believe humans are more than biotic beings, and that lockdowns were harmful to our spiritual, social, economic and mental health, he said. I believe it is immoral to penalize people for exercising bodily autonomy over medical injections.

Rocks lawyer Chris Fleury told The Epoch Times that his client is satisfied. He added that staying the charges after a charitable donation is one way of resolving the case.

Weve been able to resolve a number of similar cases in a similar fashion, he said. A diversion is something that is quite common.  Sometimes it will be community service  but in this case it was decided by the Crown and myself that a charitable donation would suffice.

I would say there is an implicit acknowledgement, when there are resolutions like this, that the public interest in prosecuting them is waning, Fleury added.

In its news release, the JCCF pointed out that just a few days after the May 30 protest, Waterloo Regional Police did not ticket anyone at an outdoor vigil for indigenous children, even though hundreds of people were in attendance.

The vigil was over the announcement of the discovery of 215 suspected graves at the former Kamloops Residential School.

More Cases

The development is the latest in a series of charges being stayed or dropped against people protesting pandemic restrictions.

On March 9, the JCCF announced that charges against Ontario Pastor Henry Hildebrandt, his son Herbert, and his wife Martha were all withdrawn by Crown prosecutors on Feb. 7.

The charges were laid after a No More Lockdowns rally in Brantford on April 3, 2021. The JCCF said Hildebrandt was a speaker at the rally, while his family were there as spectators. Around 1,000 people were at the rally.

The legal organization said that Hildebrandt was not approached by police at the rally, but when he was driving home he was pulled over, and all three were issued an $880 Provincial Offence Notice ticket.

Hildebrandt argued the mandates were political and not based on science.

At a time when government leaders were decreeing that thousands of people could attend a BLM (Black Lives Matter) rally in London, Ontario, over and over again, church congregations were getting tickets for gathering to worship, he said in the release.

However, the pastor still faces charges in other jurisdictions in Ontario.

Also in March, the JCCF announced that charges against three people were stayed in Regina. Theyd been charged for taking part in an anti-lockdown protest in Regina on May 15, 2021.

Regina Police had laid charges against 13 people in that case, for what was described as a small protest at the citys Victoria Park. Charges against others in the case are reserved until May 25, pending legal and charter arguments.
David Krayden: Why Did the Government Wait So Long to Expel Chinese Diplomat Given He Was Targeting Chinese Canadians?

The West Block of Parliament Hill is seen through the window of the Sir John A. Macdonald building in Ottawa on May 11, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick)

Commentary

The Liberal government finally expelled Chinese consulate official Zhao Wei last week when it became virtually impossible not to.

With mounting evidence that Zhao had put the family of Conservative MP Michael Chong under surveillance in Hong Kong, even Prime Minister Justin Trudeau understood he needed to do something to indicate Canadas official diplomatic disapproval that China cannot continue to interfere in Canadian politicsand electionswithout any sanction.

However, as is becoming increasingly obvious, the government was only willing to act because Zhaos activities were not just being documented by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) but by the Canadian media.

And as the Globe and Mail has reported, Zhao was responsible for many more articles of intimidation, keeping tabs on a wide range of dissidents and opponents of the Chinese communist regime.

The Liberals have removed Zhao but, as usual, its a case only deciding to get tough when the story has been widely reported by the media. It seems apparent that Trudeau knew about the spying on Chongs family but decided to do nothing until the story was reported. Only then, with the press clippings on his desk, did Trudeau decide to take action and consequently declared Zhao persona non grata.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly explained that the decision was based on careful consideration of all factors at play in the matter. I have been clear: We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs, she said in a statement.

What a monumental joke. The Liberal government has been tolerating exactly that for years. Not only have the Chinese spied on the family of an MP and former cabinet minister, they have interfered in the past two federal elections and possibly in other electoral contests across Canada. They have even operated their own police agencies in major Canadian cities like Toronto.

As the Soviet Union was fond of declaring, it couldnt be an imperialist state because imperialism was a consequence of exporting capitalist exploitation to other countries. That didnt stop the Soviets from invading and occupying other countries or controlling their diplomatic and trade authorities. That hasnt stopped China from treating Canada like the West treated China at the turn of the 20th centurydividing the coast into autonomous economic zones that ignored Chinese authority.

China really does think it can act with impunity on Canadian soil, and the current federal government has provided them with ample evidence to make that assumption.

For, according to a Globe and Mail source within CSIS, who has been granted anonymity because he risks being prosecuted if his identity is revealed, Zhao was up to more than just targeting Chongs familyas outrageous as that was.

Zhao was also the henchman who kept surveillance on the key opponents of the communist Chinese regime residing in the Greater Toronto Area, including Falun Gong practitioners, Uyghur human rights activists, Hong Kong pro-democracy activists, and supporters of Tibetan and Taiwanese independence, the Globe reported.

Zhao tracked the activities of these Chinese regime opponents, documented any protests with video and photographs, wrote down the names of the participants, and sent all the information back to Beijing and its secret police, the Ministry of State Security.

The Globes source also said Zhao networked with Toronto Liberal MP staffers, telling them to make sure their bosses avoided any pro-Taiwan events.

There must be an astronomical degree of frustration at CSIS for whistleblowers to be risking their careersand perhaps even their livesby talking to the media about what the government wont tell Canadians and just how remiss it has been in ignoring the diplomatic hardball played by China.

The Liberal government finally found the outrage to expel Zhao over Beijings invasive and intimidating tactics when aimed at a sitting MP.

Why has it not been similarly incensed by Chinas propensity to target Chinese-Canadians who practice a religion or hold views that are contrary to the Communist Party line? Are the lives of these individuals not also of value and worth defending from Chinas long authoritarian arm?

If the Trudeau government knew of this intimidation and the depth of this foreign interference in the lives of Canadian citizens, why did it take so long to expel Zhao from the country? Why has it still not acknowledged the actual weight of that interference and why does it only move to assert Canadian sovereignty in the face of Chinese aggression when the issue is reported by the media?

Perhaps we should not be surprised at the pusillanimous indifference exhibited by the Trudeau government, given the prime ministers inexcusable admission at a Liberal Party fundraiser that he admired Chinas basic dictatorship that could turn its economy around on a dime.

It can also spy on its citizens without fear of legal reprisals or political backlash.

But that is not the Canadian way.

Canadians deserve answers to the governments apparent indifference to that loss of sovereignty, and this week the public is demanding even more answers than previously as the depth of Beijings diplomatic depravity becomes better knownthanks to courageous CSIS sources and honest media reporting.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Donald Trump Promises to Bring Back General Michael Flynn If He Wins 2024 Election

Former President Donald Trump speaks during an event at the Mar-a-Lago Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., on April 4, 2023. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump has announced he will bring back his former national security adviser Gen. Michael Flynn if he wins the 2024 presidential election. Flynn was pardoned by Trump in 2020 after pleading guilty three years earlier to lying to the FBI about speaking with Russias ambassador.

The announcement came on May 13 at Trumps Doral property in south Florida as the former president live-called the ReAwaken America rally, which Flynn was attending. Trump made the promise via cell phone, sparking excitement in the crowd.

This place is going crazy, said Flynn, who held a microphone to the phones speaker as Trump called his cell phone. Trump acknowledged the crowd, many of whom had spent the weekend at his property.

The former presidents scheduled outdoor event in Iowa on the same day was canceled due to tornado warnings.

I want to thank you all for being there, at the wonderful hotel. But youre there for an even more important purpose, Trump said as he addressed the crowd.

Trump went on to praise Flynn with a stream of compliments.

I will say, General Flynn, hes some general. Hes some man. He took abuse like nobody could have handled, and he came out bigger, better, stronger than ever before. We love him. Hes a leader. And you just stay wealthy and healthy and well, and everything. I want you to have great lives, Trump said.

And General, you just have to stay healthy. Because were bringing you back. Were gonna bring you back, Trump added, to cheers from the crowd.

Well, were proud of you, General, Trump proceeded to say. Ill tell you what, and I knew it from day one, youre really somebody very special. And when I hear that applause in the audience  I could go on for a long time about you, but were very proud of you.

Its less than a year and a half now. And we will make America great again. Well turn around our country, well put America first. Were going to have strong borders. Were going to have cheap energy. Were going to have everything. We were energy independent just a short while ago. Were going to be energy  We were going to be dominant, Trump concluded, as reported by the Gateway Pundit.

The event also featured other speakers, such as Roger Stone, Mike Lindell, and Sidney Powell. Trumps son Eric also attended the event.

Trump, however, has not given any indication regarding what capacity Flynn could be reinstated in.

The former president has formally announced hell be running in next years election, and is currently the Republican Party front-runner.

From NTD News
Durham Report Reveals Massive Failures in FBIs Investigation of Trump

Special counsel finds probe was 'seriously deficient' and agency was blinded by confirmation bias

Special counsel John Durham arrives at federal court in Washington on May 18, 2022. (Teng Chen for The Epoch Times)

The FBI didnt interview the people connected to the information that the agency used to open a full investigation of the Trump campaign during the heat of the 2016 presidential election, according to the report by special counsel John Durham.

The bureau rushed to open the initial investigation based on unvetted intelligence from Australia, according to Durham, who has spent nearly three years investigating the origins of the FBIs investigation of the Trump campaign.

The FBIs rush to open the investigation and the shoddy evidence used as the premise for the probe were a departure from how the department treated other politically sensitive investigations in 2016, the report states. That includes the inquiry into the Clinton Foundation, which was virtually frozen in the leadup to Election Day in 2016.

The much-anticipated report (pdf), a copy of which The Epoch Times obtained ahead of its public release, also delves into other controversial aspects of Crossfire Hurricane, the FBI codename for the investigation of the Trump campaign.

The objective facts show that the FBIs handling of important aspects of the Crossfire Hurricane matter were seriously deficient, the report states.

The special counsel further impugned the bureaus error-ridden applications to surveil Trump campaign associate Carter Page. FBI agents applied to renew the secret-court warrants on Page despite admitting, both at the time and subsequently, that they had no probable cause to do so.

Durham concludes that the FBI failed to uphold its important mission of strict fidelity to the law.

The special counsel does not recommend any wholesale changes in the guidelines and policies that the Department and the FBI now have in place.

The answer is not the creation of new rules but a renewed fidelity to the old, the report reads.

The promulgation of additional rules and regulations to be learned in yet more training sessions would likely prove to be a fruitless exercise if the FBIs guiding principles of Fidelity, Bravery and Integrity arent engrained in the hearts and minds of those sworn to meet the FBIs mission of Protecting the American People and Upholding the Constitution of the United States.'

Trump, who has long condemned the investigation as a witch hunt and a hoax, responded to the reports release on Truth Social.

WOW! After extensive research, Special Counsel John Durham concludes the FBI never should have launched the Trump-Russia Probe! the former president wrote.

In other words, the American Public was scammed, just as it is being scammed right now by those who dont want to see GREATNESS for AMERICA!

The FBI stated to The Epoch Times: The conduct in 2016 and 2017 that special counsel Durham examined was the reason that current FBI leadership already implemented dozens of corrective actions, which have now been in place for some time.

Had those reforms been in place in 2016, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented. This report reinforces the importance of ensuring the FBI continues to do its work with the rigor, objectivity, and professionalism the American people deserve and rightly expect.

Opening Crossfire Hurricane

The FBI didnt speak to the people who provided the information used for opening the investigation, Durham found.

The bureau also failed to examine its own databases, check with other intelligence agencies, interview essential witnesses, and use any of the standard analytical tools typically employed by the FBI in evaluating raw intelligence, the report states.

While Durham doesnt attribute a motive to the shoddy work, he points to pronounced hostile feelings toward Trump from Peter Strzok, the person in charge of the investigation.

Had the FBI followed its own rules, the bureaus agents would have discovered that neither the bureau nor the CIA had any evidence to show that Trump or anyone in his campaign had been in contact with any Russian intelligence officials at any time during the campaign, the report states.

The handling of the Trump investigation was a departure from the cautious approach the bureau took in handling matters related to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Trumps election opponent, the report found. In one example, the FBI and Justice Department restricted an inquiry into the Clinton Foundation so that little to no investigative activity could take place in the months leading up to the election.

Durham highlights the distinct approach the FBI took to intelligence it received from a trusted foreign source indicating that the Clinton campaign planned to smear Trump by tying him to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Clinton campaigns goal, the intelligence said, was to divert attention from the scandal concerning Clintons use of an unauthorized private server to transmit top-secret government emails.

Unlike the FBIs opening of a full investigation of unknown members of the Trump campaign based on raw, uncorroborated information, in this separate matter involving a purported Clinton campaign plan, the FBI never opened any type of inquiry, issued any taskings, employed any analytical personnel, or produced any analytical products in connection with the information, the report states.

This lack of action was despite the fact that the significance of the Clinton plan intelligence was such as to have prompted the Director of the CIA to brief the President, Vice President, Attorney General, Director of the FBI, and other senior government officials about its content within days of its receipt.

FBI Couldnt Corroborate Steele Dossier

Federal investigators never managed to corroborate any of the claims in the infamous Steele dossier, Durhams investigators concluded. The dossiers author, former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, couldnt corroborate any of the claims even when the FBI offered him $1 million to do so.

Similar to Durhams report, the report by special counsel Robert Mueller in 2019 included no corroboration of the claims in the Steele dossier.

The Clinton campaign paid for the creation and dissemination of the Steele dossier using a law firm as a cutout. The campaign and the Democratic National Committee agreed to pay federal fines last year for concealing the nature of the payments for the dossier.

Steele hired a U.S.-based Russian national, Igor Danchenko, to compile the claims in the dossier. Like Steele, Danchenko couldnt back up any of the claims when confronted by the FBI.

Rather, Danchenko characterized the information he provided to Steele as rumor and speculation and the product of casual conversation, the report states.

FBI Spies Taped 3 Trump Campaign Advisers

The FBI used three spies, or confidential human sources, to target and record Trump campaign advisers, including Carter Page, George Papadopoulos, and an unnamed senior foreign policy adviser, according to Durham.

Notably, the recordings of Page and Papadopoulos included exculpatory statements that the FBI failed to disclose to the Justice Department (DOJ) and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, Durhams investigators determined. Pages taped statements discredited claims in the Steele dossier about his alleged connection to former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. The FBI failed to act on those leads and didnt report them to the DOJ, Durham found.

The reports findings follow Durhams successful prosecution and conviction of FBI attorney Kevin Clinesmith, who was found guilty of forging an email used to obtain a warrant to spy on Page.

Dossier Could Be Russian Disinformation

A former associate of Danchenko informed the FBI in 2008 that the Russian national told him that he had access to people who would pay for classified information, according to the report.

The tip triggered a preliminary investigation by the FBI in 2009.

The FBI converted its investigation into a full investigation after learning that Danchenko had been identified as an associate of two FBI counterintelligence subjects and had previous contact with the Russian Embassy and known Russian intelligence officers, the report states.

Despite knowing these details in January 2017, the bureau failed to inform the secret surveillance court or to update the applications in which it cited claims that ultimately came from Danchenko. As a result, the court couldnt use the information to assess Danchenkos credibility.

Instead of following up on the 2011 investigation, the bureau hired Danchenko as a confidential human source in 2017 as it continued to investigate the Trump campaign. Durham suggests that the FBIs lack of curiosity about Danchenko may have made the bureau a victim of Russian disinformation.

[It] appears the FBI never gave appropriate consideration to the possibility that the intelligence Danchenko was providing to Steelewhich, again, according to Danchenko himself, made up a significant majority of the information in the Steele Dossier reportswas, in whole or in part, Russian disinformation, the report states.

Fake Claim in Steele Dossier Came From Former DNC Official

During the relevant time before and after the 2016 election, Danchenko maintained a relationship with Charles Dolan, who has held multiple positions with the Democratic National Committee, the report states.

Dolan and Danchenko both traveled to Moscow in the summer of 2016. Danchenko has said that it was during that trip that he learned salacious rumors about Trump from Ritz-Carlton employees in Russias capital. But Durhams investigators found that it was Dolan, not Danchenko, who interacted with the hotel staff.

The finding suggests that a prominent former DNC official could be the ultimate source behind the most bombastic claim in the Steele dossier.

Dolan also told Durhams investigators that he fabricated another claim in the dossier concerning Manaforts resignation from the Trump campaign.

Although Durham was unable to prove that some of the other claims in the dossier came from Dolan, both Dolan and Danchenko were communicating with the same Russian national, Olga Galkina. Danchenko had told the FBI that Galkina was a key source for some of the claims in the dossier.

In fact, when Galkina was interviewed by the FBI in August 2017, she admitted to providing Dolan with information that would later appear in the Steele Reports, Durhams report states.
Durham Report: Senior FBI Officials Displayed Serious Lack of Analytical Rigor in Trump-Russia Probe

Department of Justice Special Counsel John Durhams long-awaited report concludes that the FBIs Crossfire Hurricane investigators did not and could not corroborate any of the substantive allegations contained in the [Steele Dossier] reporting in part because senior FBI officials displayed a serious lack of analytical rigor towards the information that they received from a source linked to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The bureau also failed to confirm the dossier core allegation because its author was unable to produce corroboration for any of the reported allegations, even after being offered $1 million or more by the FBI for such corroboration.

A copy of the Durham report was obtained and verified by The Epoch Times before its public release.

The report concludes an investigation begun with Durhams appointment by then-Attorney General William Barr to conduct a preliminary review of matters related to the 2016 presidential campaign between former Democratic Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump. That review soon became a criminal investigation of multiple aspects of the campaign, including especially the role of the FBI in investigating allegations of foreign interference through its Operation Crossfire Hurricane.

Durham was told to investigate was there adequate predication for the FBI to open the Crossfire Hurricane investigation from its inception on July 31, 2016, as a full counterintelligence and Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), as well as whether the opening of Crossfire Hurricane as a full investigation on July 31, 2016, was consistent with how the FBI handled other intelligence it had received prior to July 31, 2016, concerning attempts by foreign interests to influence the Clinton and other campaigns?

Christopher Steele, former British intelligence officer in London, UK, on March 7, 2017. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)

In addition, Durham was tasked with determining if the FBI properly considered other highly significant intelligence it received at virtually the same time as that used to predicate Crossfire Hurricane, but which related not to the Trump campaign, but rather to a purported Clinton campaign plan to vilify Donald Trump by stirring up a scandal claiming interference by Russian security services  If not, were any provable federal crimes committed in failing to do so?

And Durham was to probe for evidence that any of the actions of any FBI personnel or third parties relating to the Crossfire Hurricane investigation violated any federal criminal statutes, including the prohibition against making false statements to federal officials? If so, was that evidence sufficient to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt?

Finally, Durham had to determine if actions of the FBI or Department personnel in providing false or incomplete information to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) violated any federal criminal statutes? If so, was there evidence sufficient to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt?

At the center of that investigation was the infamous Steele Dossier, compiled by former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele, who was paid indirectly by the Clinton campaign to produce evidence of cooperation between elements of Russian intelligence and the Trump campaign.

The dossier claimed, according to the report, that there was a well-developed conspiracy of cooperation between [Trump] and Russian leadership. This was managed on the Trump side by the Republican candidates manager, Paul Manafort, who was using foreign policy adviser Carter Page and others as intermediaries. The two sides had a mutual interest in defeating the Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, whom [Russian Premier Vladimir] Putin feared and hated.

Igor Danchenko outside the U.S. courthouse in Alexandria, Va., on Oct. 11, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

But the Durham Report said not only was the FBI unable to corroborate the dossiers core allegation, butin additionSteeles primary source, a U.S.-based Russian national, Igor Danchenko, provided contradictory information for the dossier and to the FBI.

Danchenko was unable to provide any corroborating evidence to support the Steele allegations, and further, described his interactions with his sub-sources as rumor and speculation and conversations of a casual nature, the report said.

Significant parts of what Danchenko told the FBI were inconsistent with what Steele told the FBI during his prior interviews  At no time, however, was the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) informed of these inconsistencies, the report continued.

The failure of the FBI to inform the FISC about the inconsistencies was an element of numerous failures by the bureau to share important information with the court as it considered motions it received to authorize surveillance of Trump campaign officials during the 2016 campaign. Three of those motions were focused on Carter Page.

In addition, according to the report, the FBI told the FISC that Steeles main source was based in Russia; the FBI neglected to correct that misinformation after it learned that Danchenko for many years had lived in the Washington area. After learning that Danchenko continued to live in the Washington area and had not left except for domestic and foreign travel, the FBI never corrected this assertion in the three subsequent Page FISA renewal applications.

Not only did the FBI fail to inform the FISC about Danchenko, Durham said beginning in March 2017, the FBI engaged Danchenko as a Confidential Human Source (CHS) and began making regular financial payments to him for information, none of which corroborated Steeles reporting.

Based on those evidentiary datapoints and more, Durham concluded that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI failed to uphold their important mission of strict fidelity to the law in connection with certain events and activities described in this report.

As noted, former FBI attorney Kevin Clinesmith committed a criminal offense by fabricating language in an email that was material to the FBI obtaining a FISA surveillance order. In other instances, FBI personnel working on that same FISA application displayed, at best, a cavalier attitude towards accuracy and completeness.

FBI personnel also repeatedly disregarded important requirements when they continued to seek renewals of that FISA surveillance while acknowledgingboth then and in hindsightthat they did not genuinely believe there was probable cause to believe that the target was knowingly engaged in clandestine intelligence activities on behalf of a foreign power, or knowingly helping another person in such activities. And certain personnel disregarded significant exculpatory information that should have prompted investigative restraint and re-examination.

Our investigation also revealed that senior FBI personnel displayed a serious lack of analytical rigor towards the information that they received, especially information received from politically affiliated persons and entities. This information in part triggered and sustained Crossfire Hurricane and contributed to the subsequent need for Special Counsel [Robert] Muellers investigation.

In particular, there was significant reliance on investigative leads provided or funded (directly or indirectly) by Trumps political opponents. The Department did not adequately examine or question these materials and the motivations of those providing them, even when at about the same time the Director of the FBI and others learned of significant and potentially contrary intelligence.

This is a developing story.
Elon Musks Bid to End Tweet Pre-Approval Faces Skeptical Court

A federal appeals court on Thursday questioned Elon Musks bid to end an agreement that he made to get a Tesla Inc. lawyers pre-approval of some of his tweets, with judges pointing out that he agreed to it as part of a 2018 deal with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Musks attorney Ellyde Thompson told the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan that while the Tesla chief executive thought the settlement would buy peace with the SEC, the agencys recent attempts to enforce the tweet vetting provision have discouraged him from exercising his right to free speech.

The settlement resolved a lawsuit accusing Musk of defrauding investors with an Aug. 7, 2018 tweet that he had funding secured to take his electric car company private, though a buyout was not close.

Musk has said the tweet was truthful, but a federal judge in San Francisco ruled it was false in a securities fraud lawsuit filed by shareholders. Musk was found not liable in February at a trial where he took the stand.

U.S. District Judges Reena Raggi and Debra Ann Livingston said during oral arguments that Musk could have foreseen the SEC seeking to enforce the agreement when he entered it.

He agreed to this in order to avoid the penalties that the SEC could have imposed, Raggi said.

In settling, Musk agreed to let a Tesla lawyer screen tweets that might contain material information about the company.

He and Tesla each also paid $20 million in civil fines, and Musk gave up his role as Tesla chairman.

Musk is now asking the 2nd Circuit to overturn part of U.S. District Judge Lewis Limans 2022 decision rejecting his bid to end the deal.

Liman said Musks arguments amounted to a bemoaning of requirements he no longer wanted to adhere to now that his company has become, in his estimation, all but invincible.

Musks lawyers have called the pre-approval mandate a government-imposed muzzle that inhibited and chilled his lawful speech on a broad range of topics.

SEC attorney Jeffrey Berger said during the hearing on Thursday that the agency is not vetting Musks tweets, and that the settlement was voluntary.

There is no government censor here, he said.

The case is Musk v SEC, 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 22-1291.

By Jody Godoy
Extreme Risk for More Volatile Alberta Wildfires as Heat Wave Blankets Province, Officials Warn

Fires near the 140-acre property belonging to Alberta farmer Fred Young during the May 2023 wildfires. (Photo Courtesy of Grant Taillieu)

With the temperature expected to reach close to 30 C in parts of Edmonton, the province says the fire danger is growing from very high to extreme levels in many northern areas of the province. Officials say that residents need to be prepared to urgently evacuate with very little warning.

The situation is expected to remain volatile, Colin Blair, executive director of the Alberta Emergency Management Agency, said during a May 14 news conference at 3 p.m..

The wildfire situation is extremely volatile. Hot and dry conditions throughout much of Alberta present an ever-increasing risk of new wildfires starting and the potential for current wildfires to grow quickly. This situation represents a significant and unpredictable threat to many communities in our province, said Blair.

I cannot stress strongly enough the need for residents to be prepared in case there is an urgent need to evacuate. Things can change quickly, and an evacuation order may be issued with little warning, he added.

It is crucial to pack an emergency kit that will last for a week or more, with essential items like medication identification, a first aid kit, flashlights, batteries, nonperishable, food, cash, and clothing. The kit should be kept in an accessible location. And please have a plan for your pets.

The province is in a state of emergency, with 89 active wildfires burning as of 4:45 p.m. local time and with 25 of those classified as burning out of control.

The provincial wildfire dashboard shows the the forest areas of Slave Lake, High Level, Rocky Mountain House, and Edson continue to see the most hectares burned.

However, there are ongoing fires in areas north of Red Deer both to the east and west up as far as the town of High Level and Wood Buffalo National Park in northern Alberta.

The numbers do not include areas where a municipal government is in charge of fire operations.

At the 3 p.m. news update on May 14, Blair said Alberta continued to be under a provincial state of emergency and that, in addition, there were 14 evacuation orders in effect. Over 19,300 Albertans remain evacuated, he noted, adding that the number of evacuees has increased because three new evacuation orders had been issued in the last 24 hours.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith meets with members of the military in Edmonton, who are on standby to help with the wildfires, before she gave an update on the situation in the province on May 8, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Jason Franson)

The province on May 8 reported that the province had over 700 wildland firefighters actively working to contain the fires, but at a May 14 afternoon news conference, Alberta Wildfires information officer Josee St-Onge said there were now more than 1,500 firefighters responding to the wildfire situation, working with with heavy equipment and air tankers.

St-Onge said the provincial helicopter operators were aiding their efforts by dropping water on hot spots with their buckets. A 5:45 p.m. news update on May 14 said Alberta currently has 151 helicopters and 25 fixed-wing aircraft responding to the wildfires in the province.

The update said more than 800 wildland firefighters have come from British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario, the Yukon, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Oregon, Alaska, Washington, Montana, and Parks Canada. This includes 200 who recently arrived from the United States.

The Canadian Armed Forces are also assisting, and an additional 100 soldiers will be deployed in the coming days, the update said.

In addition, fireguards are being built or reinforced in various communities to help control the spread of fire, said Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis at the May 13 news conference.

Fireguards are barriers created by removing trees and other vegetation, essentially eliminating the fuel for the fire, and they can also be used to backstop burnouts of flammable fuels, Ellis explained. He noted that fireguards are an important part of helping to fight wildfires when used with other operational tactics such as air tankers, helicopters, and ground crews.

Premier Danielle Smith travelled to Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation and other parts of northern Alberta on May 13. She said the situation and the amount of damage caused by the wildfires was devastating.

The number of structures that have been obliterated really is pretty sobering, to see how quickly fire can sweep through and the kind of damage it can cause, said Smith.

The premier said the province has asked for an additional 1,000 firefighters.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. In May this year, another group of the Azerbaijan State Oil Company (SOCAR) employees working with the staff visited Uzbekneftegaz JSC, state-owned holding company of Uzbekistan's oil and gas industry, Trend reports via Uzbekneftegaz.

During the visit, SOCAR employees met with the management of Uzbekneftegaz and representatives of the HR Department. The companies exchanged views on organizational development and normalization of personnel, work with personnel, recruitment, training, evaluation and stimulation of personnel, as well as exchange of experience.

The sides pointed out that the roadmap signed between the companies is of great importance in the development of bilateral cooperation.

Within the framework of the visit, SOCAR team also met with the staff of Uzbekistan GTL, a gas-to-liquids plant in the country's Qashqadaryo region.

Meanwhile, in early April 2023, the first group of SOCAR employees visited the enterprises of Uzbekneftegaz.

The roadmap on cooperation development between Azerbaijan's SOCAR and Uzbekistan's Uzbekneftegaz was signed on July 5, 2022.
Fiji Leader Apologizes for 1987 Military Coup Ahead of IndiaPacific Summit

Fijis prime minister apologized on May 14 for his actions during the nations 1987 military coup, which led to a mass exodus of Indian Fijians from the nation, ahead of the IndiaPacific Islands summit next week.

Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka made his apology at a church service held at the Vodafone Arena in Suva, Fiji, which brought together the Methodist Church and the descendants of the Girmitiya community.

In his apology, Rabuka took responsibility for all those involved in staging the military coup in May 1987 and acknowledged their wrongdoings and the pain inflicted upon the Indo-Fijian community.

I admit our wrongdoings. You have every right to blame us for the difficulties you went through. We do not blame you for being angry with us or even hating us. You are justified in your anger and your hate, the two-time coup leader told those present.

I stand here to confess and to ask for your forgiveness.

Rabuka, a former major general in the Fijian army, led a coup on May 14, 1987, to topple the democratically elected Timoci Bavadra. The coup was driven by concerns that indigenous Fijians were losing control over the country to the Indo-Fijian community.

He staged a second coup in September 1987 and was declared the head of state. According to reports, more than 12,000 Indian Fijians left the country in the two years following the coup. Rabuka was democratically elected in 1992 and served until 1999. He was elected again last year as prime minister.

Rabuka has publicly taken responsibility for the 1987 coup and pledged to redeem himself as a leader.

In December 2021, he said, The Rabuka of then has gone, he is remade as the man before you today.

India-Fiji Relations

His recent remarks come a week before the third India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit kick-off in Papua New Guinea (PNG) on May 22, which will be attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Modi is seeking to bolster bilateral cooperation with Pacific Island nations amid Beijings growing influence in the region. Hes expected to sign multiple agreements with Papua New Guineas leader, James Marape.

Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar held talks with Rabuka in Suva in February, during which he referred to Fiji as a very important partner with whom we have a historic link.

Indias Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (L) speaks along with Australias Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne (R) at a press conference following a bilateral meeting during the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) in Melbourne, Australia, on Feb. 12, 2022. (William West/AFP via Getty Images)

The message I brought to him from Prime Minister Narendra Modi was that Indias interests in the Indo-Pacific are very substantial. Whether you look at it as economic, political, security, technology, or trade interest, he told reporters.

Jaishankar said they seek to revitalize IndiaFiji relations to face evolving security dynamics in the region, where Beijing has increased its military activities in recent years.

The challenge for us, as two governments, is how do we refresh this relationship and make it more up to date and how do we address the issues which may have arisen especially in the last three years, he said.

Rabuka has previously raised concerns over communist Chinas increasing influence in the region. In an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, he said Chinas reemergence in the Pacific has the potential to reform the peaceful atmosphere we now have.

Biden to Make First Presidential Visit to PNG

The FIPIC will also be attended by U.S. President Joe Biden, who will become the first-ever sitting U.S. president to visit Papua New Guinea. Modi and Biden will stop in Papua New Guinea on the way to Australia for a Quad Leaders meeting on May 24.

According to the White House, the leaders will discuss 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.

Beijing signed a controversial security pact with unpopular Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare last year, which many countries in the region fear could allow Beijing to station troops, weapons, and naval ships on the strategically important island.
Fired ByteDance Exec Claims in Lawsuit That China Has Open Access to US User Data

ByteDance is the parent company of popular video-sharing app TikTok

TikTok logos are seen on smartphones in front of a displayed ByteDance logo in this illustration taken on Nov. 27, 2019. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters)

A former ByteDance executive has alleged in a lawsuit filed against the tech company that Chinese regime officials had unfettered access to the companys data when he worked there, including data stored in the United States.

Yintao Yu, 36, was the head of engineering for ByteDances U.S. operations from August 2017 to November 2018. He filed a wrongful dismissal lawsuit against the company in San Francisco Superior Court on May 12.

Yu alleges that he was fired from ByteDancethe parent company of the Chinese video app TikTokafter reporting instances of alleged misconduct at the company to his bosses, who dismissed his concerns.

Yu accused ByteDance of stealing content from other platforms, such as Instagram and Snapchat. He said the tech giant served as a propaganda tool for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) by manipulating content.

He claimed to have witnessed ByteDance engineers manipulating the algorithm on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, to promote content expressing hatred for Japan and demote content showing support for the Hong Kong protests.

Yu said the CCP had a special unit at ByteDances offices in Beijing that provided guidance on how the company could advance core Communist values.

Yu said the regime officials had the ability to turn off the Chinese version of ByteDances apps and maintained access to all company data, including information stored in the United States.

Yu is seeking punitive damages, lost earnings, and 220,000 ByteDance shares that werent vested by the time he was fired.

A ByteDance spokesperson told The Epoch Times by email that Yu worked on an app called Flipagram during his tenure at the company, which was discontinued years ago due to business reasons.

The spokesperson also said that Yu worked for ByteDance for less than a year, and his employment ended in July 2018, which differs from Yus claims.

We plan to vigorously oppose what we believe are baseless claims and allegations in this complaint, the spokesperson said. ByteDance is committed to respecting the intellectual property of other companies, and we acquire data in accordance with industry practices and our global policy.

TikTok has come under increased scrutiny in Washington because of national security concerns and the potential that U.S. users private information could land in the hands of the CCP, with many lawmakers advocating for a nationwide ban of the app.

ByteDance has repeatedly denied that TikTok data is handed to Beijing, with the company claiming that it stores U.S. user data on servers outside China.

Legislation to Clamp Down on TikTok

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on May 3 that senators will consider legislation aimed at increasing the United States ability to restrict TikTok and other foreign-controlled apps.

Schumer was referencing legislation proposed by Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) in March, dubbed the RESTRICT Act.

Under the legislation, the Commerce Department would be granted new authority to identify, deter, disrupt, prevent, prohibit, investigate, or otherwise mitigate any risks stemming from a range of information communications and technology transactions involving foreign-owned apps such as TikTok.

(LR) Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.), Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Sen. Michael Bennett (D-Colo.), Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) during a news conference to introduce the RESTRICT Act at the U.S. Capitol on March 7, 2023. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Warner and Thune were joined by 24 other senators earlier this year in proposing the measure.

In April, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said at a Senate hearing that the Biden administration is taking urgent actions to address security risks posed by TikTok and other foreign companies, including hiring people to monitor and identify such companies.

Ive put over 200 Chinese companies on the entity list in my tenure, and we are actively, constantly investigating additional threats, and if we think companies need to go onto the list, I will not hesitate, she said.

Katabella Roberts and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Former AOC Staffer Is a Top Official of the New York Communist Party

A former aide to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is now serving as a senior official of the New York State Communist Party.

The former staffer, Justine Medina, had previously worked for Ocasio-Cortezs reelection campaign as a key policy writer in 2020, The New York Post discovered.

The Communist Party newspaper, Peoples World, publicized her new position on the Executive Committee of the New York State Communist Party.

The communist publication had earlier identified Medina as the co-chair of the New York Young Communist League in July 2021, after working for the congresswoman.

Medina is also an active member of the Amazon Labor Union at JFK8 and a leader in the nationwide unionization campaign at the online retailer.

Long History of Far-Left Views

Before and after Ocasio-Cortez won reelection that year, Medina openly bragged about being a Marxist.

The former aide received more than $35,000 between February and November of that year, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) data published by The New York Post.

Medina posted on March 21 that she was responsible for organizing and writing policy language with Anti-War Veterans & the Peace Movement, while working for AOC.

Her social media posts show a history of making pro-Marxist statements before and during her employment with Ocasio-Cortez, according to old tweets found by the New York Post.

[W]ell, I *am* a Communist, but work for AOC & helped start Queens DSAs Electoral WG, so I def see utility in working on the Dem ballot line! Medina posted on Twitter in October 2020.

Communism is about equality, democracy, peace, the advancement of workers, the oppressed, and humanity in general, she proudly said in a tweet a month later.

This is despite the fact that communist regimes killed an estimated 100 million of their own people in the last century.

The radical activist ominously warned that the path to communism would be unkind to those who block progress, adding, [B]ut communism is good and shouldnt scare you.

When asked on Twitter whether she believed in the Maoist or Leninist variety of Communism, Medina responded that she belonged to the Marxist-Leninist-Robesonist school.

Father Fled Communism in Cuba

The NY Post reported that Medina happens to be a child of privilege, like many extreme leftists.

Her father, Omar Medina, is a wealthy Florida attorney who had previously escaped communism in Cuba by coming to the United States.

However, Medina sent out a series of tweets calling her father, a rich anti-Castro  liberal, who just buy things.

As for her allegiance to the Communist Party, I could not be further removed from that. Its a big problem, Omar Medina told The Post.

My family escaped communism, and my daughter is misguided as to the benefits that political system provides, it flat out doesnt work.

Medina previously donated thousands of dollars to the Democrat presidential campaigns of Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, according to FEC records.

History of Arrests

The former staffer played a key role in preventing Amazon from opening up a headquarters in New York City and like her former boss, she has long been a foe of online retail giant.

Medina also successfully participated in unionizing of portions of Amazons workforce while working as a packer at the companys warehouse in Staten Island, according to an article she wrote on the Communist Party website.

She reportedly has had a long rap sheet of arrests while protesting and was arrested at least twice in June 2020 during Black Lives Matter and Antifa riots that spread throughout the city.

The AOC ally was also previously arrested by the NYPD for attempting to deface a plaque honoring Fred Trump in Woodhaven, Queens, according to the New Yorker.
Trump Responds to Durham Report Findings: The American Public Was Scammed

Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas, on Aug. 6, 2022. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

A spokesperson from the office of former President Donald Trump on Monday stated that the investigative report released by Special Counsel John Durham proves a coordinated effort in the federal government to interfere with the 2016 election.

WOW! After extensive research, Special Counsel John Durham concludes the FBI never should have launched the Trump-Russia Probe! In other words, the American Public was scammed, just as it is being scammed right now by those who dont want to see GREATNESS for AMERICA! Trump, currently a Republican candidate in the 2024 presidential race, wrote in a statement on Truth Social.

The Durham Report spells out in great detail the Democrat Hoax that was perpetrated upon me and the American people. This is 2020 Presidential Election Fraud, just like stuffing the ballot boxes, only more so, Trump wrote in another statement.

This totally illegal act had a huge impact on the Election. With an honest Media, we are looking at the Crime of the Century!

The former presidents response came shortly after the Department of Justice (DOJ) published the long-awaited Durham report (pdf) on Monday afternoon. The report found flaws in the FBIs 201617 investigation into the Trump campaign, which, Durham wrote, was based on unvetted and since disproven allegations that Trump colluded with Russian entities.

The Trump campaign said the report shows the existence of a coordinated campaign peddling disinformation to defraud voters in 2016 and to remove Trump from the presidency after he won the election.

This report proves there was a coordinated effort by Never Trump activists in the government to falsely accuse President Trump through lies and deceit, Steven Cheung, Trump campaign spokesman, told The Epoch Times in a text message following the release of the Durham report.

The Russia Collusion Hoax was masterminded by Deep State officials at the Department of Justice and the FBI to take away the Presidency from President Trump and the American people, the spokesperson said.

The Durham Report

Durham was tasked in 2019 with reviewing the 201617 FBI investigation of alleged nefarious ties between candidate and later President Donald Trump and Russia. These allegations went on to negatively taint the entire Trump presidency.

In October 2020, then-Attorney General William Barr appointed Durham a special counsel on this investigation, which, after three years, led to Mondays report.

In his report, Durham concluded that neither U.S. nor the Intelligence Community appears to have possessed any actual evidence of collusion in their holdings at the commencement of the Crossfire Hurricane investigation. Crossfire Hurricane is the FBIs codename for the agencys investigation of the Trump campaign.

The FBI had significant reliance on investigative leads provided or funded (directly or indirectly) by Trumps political opponents, the report reads.

Furthermore, Durhams report found that agents repeatedly disregarded important requirements when they made surveillance requests on the Trump campaigninitiated under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Actin the absence of a genuine belief that there was a probable cause to investigate the target.

It added: Our investigation also revealed that senior FBI personnel displayed a serious lack of analytical rigor towards the information that they received, especially information received from politically affiliated persons and entities.

On these grounds, the special counsel wrote in his report that DOJ and the FBI failed to uphold their important mission of following the law in its investigation of the Trump campaign.

Durham recommended potential reforms to the agency in handling politically charged allegations in the future.

As the more complete record now shows, there are specific areas of Crossfire Hurricane activity in which the FBI badly underperformed and failed, not only in its duties to the public, but also in preventing the severe reputational harm that has befallen the FBI as a consequence of Crossfire Hurricane, Durham wrote in the report.

The Real Collusion

The real collusion, the Trump campaigns spokesperson told The Epoch Times following the release of the report, was between former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, then a 2016 presidential candidate, and foreign agents with ties to Russia peddling disinformation to defraud voters in 2016.

In his report, Durham specifically made mention of highly significant intelligence that the FBI received from a trusted foreign source pointing to a Clinton campaign plan to vilify Trump by tying him to Vladimir Putin so as to divert attention from her own concerns relating to her use of a private email server.

Federal officials found that Hillary Clintons 2016 campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) had likely violated the law when they hired former British spy Christopher Steele, who conducted political opposition research in the Steele Dossier that alleged collusion between Trumps 2016 presidential campaign and Russian entities.

The Epoch Times has contacted the Clinton Foundation for comment.

Mondays report did not recommend any indictments in addition to the three people Durham has already prosecuted. Former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith, who doctored an email to state that a one-time Trump campaign associate was not a CIA asset when the associate actually was, has since pleaded guilty and received probation. Michael Sussmann was acquitted by a jury, as was Igor Danchenko, a Russian national who was the primary sub-source for the Trump dossier compiled by ex-British spy Christopher Steele for Hillary Clinton and other Democrats.

Around the time of the Durham reports publication on Monday, House Judiciary Republicans requested testimony from Durham.

Weve reached out to the Justice Department to have Special Counsel John Durham testify next week, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, wrote in a statement on Twitter on Monday. Jordan indicated in a letter in a separate post that the hearing would take place on May 25 and asked Durham to summarize his findings in a ten-minute opening statement and answer questions from committee members.

Meanwhile, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, called for accountability for what he calls an extreme abuse of power.

The Durham Report details serious and unforgivable breaches by federal law enforcement, Rubio wrote in a statement following the Durham reports publication on Monday. Relying on altered documents and partisan opposition research is an extreme abuse of power. There is no justification for using national security tools designed to keep America safe for partisan political gain.

Those responsible need to be held accountable, not just for meddling in the presidential election but also for the damage done to our institutions. America and its institutions are weaker today because of their actions, and it will take years for the FBI and others to rebuild that trust, the senator continued.

Rigorous oversight of the FBIs intelligence activities must be a top priority for the congressional intelligence committees.

Zachary Stieber, Petr Svab, Ivan Pentchoukov, Jack Philips, and Janice Hisile contributed to this report.
A bike-mad great-grandma with nerves of steel was granted her birthday wish to ride on the back of a Harley Davidsonas she turned 90.

Fearless Barbara Morris from the UK said she felt 21 again after hitching a ride on the powerful American chopper for almost 7 miles.

The former florist with six great-grandkids got her motorcycle license in the 1950s as a teen.

And she mentioned to her family several years ago that if she made it to 90, shed like to get back in the saddle one last time.

But she was left stunned when her sons arrived at her nursing home with members of their local biker group, before taking her for a trip with 13 other riders to a pub.

I felt 21 again, and I just felt the years melt away. It was just an incredible experience, Barbara said. It was just nice to feel the wind blowing in my face again.

Barbara Morris celebrates her 90th birthday on the back of a Harley Davidson. (SWNS)

Her granddaughter Kirsty Harvey, 34, who helped organize the surprise for Barbara, said the inspiring pensioner had a daredevil spirit and wasnt fazed by anything.

My uncle said to her You always said if you made it to 90, you wanted to go on a Harley, and then she said, Oh my gosh, I cant believe you remember that, Kirsty said. Shes a bit of a daredevil.

Shes got nerves of steel, shes not really afraid of anything. Shes kind of from that generation that was made of tough stuff. Nothing really fazes them.

Widow Barbara, who grew up in Leicester before moving to Wigan, Greater Manchester, got her first bike, a Royal Enfield 350, in the early 1950s when she was about 19.

Barbara Morris celebrates her 90th on the back of a Harley Davidson. (SWNS)

And the mom of three, who was married to her husband, Peter, for 58 years, quickly caught the bug for two-wheelers, which she then passed on to the rest of her family.

In the 1950s, when she was a young girl, around 18 or 19 years old, it was the easiest way to get around, Kirsty, an NHS pharmacist technician, said. She did the equivalent of the CBT [compulsory basic training] test and got a little 125cc bike. She went around town on that when she went to college.

She always had a little bike that she nipped about on. Her three sons later all had motorbikes and a keen interest in motorbike racing and groups.

Barbara joked with her son Martin that she wanted to ride on a powerful Harley Davidson motorbike if she made it to 90, as shed never been on one before.

So her family surprised her on Thursday, April 20, when they turned up at Ambleside Bank Residential Home in Wigan with the northwest chapter of the Widows Sons.

Barbara Morris celebrates her 90 birthday with the Widows Sons motorcycle gang. (SWNS)

And she was thrilled to find out shed be riding pillion for around 7 miles on the iconic bike to the White Lion pub in Wrightington, Lancashire.

She didnt know anything about it at all but the care home staff were in on it. They permed her hair and did her make-up, and got her dressed up nicely, Kirsty said. We all met there and two of the nursing staff led her outside because shes not very mobile, she needs a lot of help.

She cant see very well, so they had to take her right up to the bike, and when she realized what it was, her face was just a picture.

She thought it was just a nice bike to look at, and when we actually told her she was going on, she was a bit speechless.

She couldnt quite believe what was happening.

Barbara grew up in Leicester, and thats where she met my grandad, Peter.

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter
The kidneys are vital metabolic organs responsible for removing waste and drugs from the body, balancing the bodys fluids, releasing hormones that regulate blood pressure, and controlling the production of red blood cells. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 37 million American adults suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is often called a silent killer because its symptoms typically do not appear until the late stages. However, there are earlier signs that could indicate kidney distress. Dr. He Wenxing, a physician from the Peoples Hospital of Yingde City in Guangdong, China, noted during an online program that the following four indicators may signal that the kidneys are in distress.

Changes in urination patterns

Usually, healthy individuals urinate four to six times a day, producing approximately 1,000 to 2,500 milliliters of urine daily. Urine output that is either very limited or excessive, frequent nighttime urination (more than two times per night for several days), or foamy urine should cause concern. A sudden increase in persistent foamy urine indicates increased protein excretion in the urine, which can be a sign of kidney problems.

General weakness

If you are having trouble urinating and feeling mentally and physically fatigued, see your doctor.

Dr. Joseph Vassalotti, Chief Medical Officer of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), stated that a severe decline in kidney function can result in the accumulation of toxins and impurities in the blood, which can lead to feelings of fatigue, weakness, and difficulty concentrating.

Swelling or fluid buildup (edema)

Patients with chronic kidney disease may experience swelling around the eyes and in the lower extremities. This can be caused by water and sodium retention, which are signs of decreased kidney excretion and hormonal imbalance.

Nausea and vomiting

Gastrointestinal symptoms can signify kidney disease, especially when kidney failure occurs and metabolic waste products cannot be properly eliminated from the body. This can lead to elevated blood urea nitrogen levels, which stimulates the gastrointestinal mucosa and causes nausea and vomiting.

A review of CKD symptoms indicated that gastrointestinal issues are common among patients with chronic kidney disease, especially in advanced stages.

Besides the symptoms, Dr. He also shared seven daily habits that can help protect the kidneys and lower the risk of developing kidney diseases.

1. Do not smoke

According to data from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), among the 7,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, at least 250 are harmful, and 69 are carcinogenic. Smoking can impair the cardiovascular system, leading to poor blood flow to the kidneys and resulting in kidney damage. Smoking is also a leading cause of diabetic kidney disease, the most common cause of kidney failure.

Heavy cigarette smoking increases the risk of chronic kidney disease, particularly hypertensive and diabetic nephropathy.

2. Drink plenty of water

Water is essential for kidney health. It can speed up the bodys metabolism, ensure smooth urination, and help eliminate excess toxins and waste from the bladder and kidneys.

According to a brief review published in The Lancet, several observational studies suggest drinking plenty of water may protect the kidneys.

The UK National Health Service (NHS) recommends that women drink eight glasses of 200 milliliters of fluid daily, while men should drink 10 glasses of 200 milliliters of fluid daily.

3. Reduce salt intake

The kidneys are the primary organs responsible for excreting sodium (salt), and consuming too much salt can increase the burden on them. Excessive salt intake can damage the kidneys and make it harder for them to remove fluid, which builds up in the system and increases blood pressure.

A study suggested that high salt intake may have detrimental effects on renal blood flow, thus increasing glomerular pressure, especially for elderly, obese, or diabetic individuals with a high prevalence of salt sensitivity.

4. Do not hold urine

Holding in urine can create excessive pressure on the bladder, resulting in urine buildup in the body. If this continues over time, it can cause vesicoureteral reflux and lead to inflammation of the kidneys.

Bacteria naturally exist in the urinary tract and are normally flushed out of the body with urine. However, when urine is retained in the bladder, bacteria can accumulate, leading to infection in the urinary tract.

5. Exercise regularly but dont overdo it

A study indicated that exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis can cause acute kidney injury and is mainly seen one to two days after intense exercise. The most common triad of symptoms includes muddy brown urine, myalgias, and decreased urine output.

A case study reported a 26-year-old male patient who developed acute kidney injury from exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis. The patient was taken to the emergency room after exercising at the gym. The study also suggested that professional guidance from a fitness trainer and timely rehydration can help reduce the risk of acute kidney injury.

6. Do not take medication without a prescription

Drug-induced nephrotoxicity is one of the leading causes of acute kidney injury worldwide.

In addition to inducing acute kidney injury, chronic drug toxicity can lead to chronic kidney disease and, in some cases, end-stage renal disease. Moreover, drugs can interfere with the normal transport mechanisms in the kidneys, leading to various electrolyte and acid-base disorders.

7. Avoid staying up late

A study suggested that short sleep duration and poor sleep quality are associated with a more rapid decline in renal function. Short sleep duration is one of the risk factors for chronic kidney disease.

A prospective study of 6,834 Japanese adults showed that individuals who slept six hours or less per night had a 70 percent higher risk of developing proteinuria than those who slept seven hours per night. Hence, getting adequate sleep is one of the keys to maintaining kidney health.
A new study has found that young men with cannabis (marijuana) use disorder, or CUD, could have an increased risk of developing schizophrenia.

The research, published on May 4 in the journal Psychological Medicine, examined the health records of 6.9 million people in Denmark aged 16 to 49 from 1972 to 2021. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines CUD as the inability to stop using marijuana despite negative impacts on ones health and social life.

Researchers found an association between CUD and schizophrenia among men and women, but the association was much stronger in men because fewer women are subject to CUD than men.

Up to 30 percent of cases of schizophrenia among men between 21 and 30 years old could have been prevented by avoiding cannabis use disorder, according to the study.

The findings also estimated that 15 percent of schizophrenia cases occurring in men ages 16 to 49 could be averted if they avoided CUD, while only 4 percent of cases affecting women in the same age range.

Although CUD is not responsible for most schizophrenia cases in Denmark, it appears to contribute to a non-negligible and steadily increasing proportion over the past five decades, the researchers said.

The researchers noted previous studies linking schizophrenia and CUD and wanted to focus on how the relationship is impacted by age and gender.

Some studies suggest the possible cause of this link is due to heavy use or the increase in cannabis potency, measured by the percentage of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). According to the report, THC levels increased from 13 percent in 2006 to 30 percent in 2016 in Denmark. THC potency in cannabis products was typically less than 2 percent prior to the 1980s, but current potency in commonly used oils and edibles reaches upwards of 95 percent.

Cannabis Legalization

Twenty-one U.S. states and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis for recreational use for people aged 21 and up, while 39 states plus the District of Columbia have legalized it for medical use.

Increases in the legalization of cannabis over the past few decades have made it one of the most frequently used psychoactive substances in the world, while also decreasing the publics perception of its harm. This study adds to our growing understanding that cannabis use is not harmless, and that risks are not fixed at one point in time, Carsten Hjorthj, lead author of the study and associate professor at the Mental Health Services in the Capital Region of Denmark and at the University of Copenhagen, said in a press release.

In 2020, there were more than 3.4 million recreational cannabis users in the United States. This number is expected to double in 2025. According to the CDC, an estimated three in 10 marijuana users have CUD. Furthermore, the country is now home to an estimated 3.6 million state-legal medical cannabis patients. Last year, the U.S. cannabis market size was valued at $13.2 billion; by 2025, its expected to be worth more than $45 billion.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling mental disorder. Its symptoms can include delusions, disordered thoughts, and hallucinations.

People with schizophrenia often have difficulty differentiating between physical and imaginary experiences, thinking logically, expressing normal emotions, or behaving normally.

Worldwide, schizophrenia affects 20 million people. No cure exists, so doctors try to manage the symptoms with medications and therapy.

In the United States, the National Institute of Mental Health said its hard to obtain accurate estimates of the prevalence of schizophrenia because diagnosis is complex and it overlaps with other disorders.

CNN Wire, Hilary A. Marusak, and John Mac Ghlionn contributed to this report.
Illinois Trooper Shot, Motorist Dead in Exchange of Gunfire

MT. VERNON, Ill.A New Mexico motorist was killed 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. on May 9 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 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.
Iran, Russia Expand Unprecedented Military Partnership with Fighter Jet Deal: Kirby

A view of drones during a military exercise in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on Aug. 24, 2022. (Iranian Army/WANA/Handout via Reuters)

Iran and Russia are growing their military cooperation with increased arms sales that the White House says are directly resulting in the killing of Ukrainians.

Tehrans continued sale of suicide drones and other munitions to Moscow is meaningfully augmenting Russias ability to continue its attempted conquest of Ukraine, said National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby.

Moreover, Kirby said, Iran is now seeking to capitalize on its improved relations with the Kremlin by seeking advanced military systems from Russia, including fighter jets and combat helicopters.

That support is going both ways, Kirby said during a May 15 press call, from Iran to Russia but also from Russia to Iran.

Russia has been offering Iran unprecedented defense cooperation including on missiles, electronics, [and] air defense.

Destabilizing Fears

Kirby added that Iran and Russia were expanding their unprecedented military partnership beyond artillery and drones.

The effect of such arms deals, he said, would not only result in more attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, but could also destabilize the Middle East as Iran seeks to project power against Western forces in Syria and, possibly, against Israel.

Perhaps the biggest ticket item among these new arms deals, Kirby said, was a package that would see Russia deliver numerous Su-35 fighter aircraft to Iran. That deal, Kirby said, was finalized last month.

In total, Iran is seeking billions of dollars worth of military equipment from Russia, Kirby said.

Iran is seeking to purchase additional military equipment from Russia including attack helicopters, radars, and Yak-130 combat trainer aircraft.

Boosting Iranian Air Power

The introduction of the Yak-130 and Su-35 into the Iranian military will help the Islamist regime to both better train its pilots and to substantially increase its airborne firepower.

This at a time when the regime is expanding its efforts to attack American troops in Syria through regional proxies.

To that end, Kirby noted that neither system was integrated with Irans indigenous military capabilities, and Russia would likely have to send teams to Iran to train pilots on the use of the aircraft.

We would have to assume that there would be some measure of training by Russia, Kirby said.

Kirby underscored that the G7 remains in unity on the need to maintain the defense of Ukraine against Russian aggression, and said that point would be front and center during President Joe Bidens trip to Hiroshima, Japan, later in the week for a G7 summit.

The core issue, Kirby said, is that Irans actions are directly resulting in the killing of Ukrainians, and Iran will need to be held to account for that fact.

Its important not to lose the big picture here, Kirby said.

This is about a burgeoning defense relationship that is inherently making it easier for Mr. Putin to kill Ukrainians, and Iran is directly involved in that killing.
John Durham Reveals Likely Origin of TrumpRussia Collusion Narrative

Special counsel John Durhams highly awaited report was released on Monday, in which he harshly criticized the FBI for its handling of an investigation into former President Donald Trump and noted that former CIA Director John Brennan briefed former President Barack Obama and other top national security officials regarding intelligence about a plan to stir up a scandal targeting Trump and Russia.

The 300-page report, which faulted the FBI for opening its probe into allegations that Trump colluded with Russia, at one point cited handwritten notes from Brennan, who had briefed Obama about the alleged approval by then-candidate Hillary Clintons campaign in July 2016 of a proposal to vilify Donald Trump by stirring up a scandal claiming interference by Russian security services.

Durham specifically made mention of highly significant intelligence that the FBI received from a trusted foreign source pointing to a Clinton campaign plan to vilify Trump by tying him to Vladimir Putin so as to divert attention from her own concerns relating to her use of a private email server. During the 2016 contest, Trump and Republicans had criticized Clinton, a former secretary of state, for her use of a private server that they said was insecure and should have brought about felony charges against her.

Brennan briefed not only Obama, but also then-Vice President Joe Biden, former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and FBI Director James Comey, according to Durhams report. It suggested that top officials in the Obama administration were aware of the plan to denigrate Trump and paint him as a Russian asset, which the former president has long described as a witch hunt meant to harm him politically.

Brennan has not issued a public comment after Durhams report was issued Monday. Neither has Clinton, Lynch, Biden, or the FBI. The Epoch Times has contacted Brennan for comment.

In a statement issued on Monday, the FBI said that it has already implemented changes to agency problems that Durhams report singled out.

The conduct in 2016 and 2017 that Special Counsel Durham examined was the reason that current FBI leadership already implemented dozens of corrective actions, which have now been in place for some time. Had those reforms been in place in 2016, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented. This report reinforces the importance of ensuring the FBI continues to do its work with the rigor, objectivity, and professionalism the American people deserve and rightly expect, the statement said.

For years during the Trump administration, corporate news outlets including MNSBC and CNN would cite unnamed sources that would criticize Trump and claim that he colluded with the Russian government. In 2019, then-special counsel Robert Mueller concluded that Trump did not collude with the Russian government but did not rule out whether he obstructed justice in connection to his investigation. Mueller did not make any mention of Brennans notes or briefings to Obama administration officials, however.

We wrote a lot about Russia, and I have no regrets, the New York Times executive editor, Dean Baquet, said in an interview after the Mueller report was released in 2019. Its not our job to determine whether or not there was illegality, he added. CNNs former president, Jeff Zucker, also defended his networks coverage by saying: We are not investigators. We are journalists, and our role is to report the facts as we know them, which is exactly what we did.

Other Details

In Durhams report, no charges have been recommended for any of the aforementioned individuals. Durham, a former U.S. attorney in Connecticut, also did not recommend any FBI policy changes.

But he did sharply criticize the bureau for departing from previous norms in how it opened the investigation into Trump, dubbed Crossfire Hurricane. The FBI, the report said, failed to take several necessary steps before that investigation was launched.

Former Director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John Brennan testifies before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 23, 2017. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The speed and manner in which the FBI opened and investigated Crossfire Hurricane during the presidential election season based on raw, unanalyzed, and uncorroborated intelligence also reflected a noticeable departure from how it approached prior matters involving possible attempted foreign election interference plans aimed at the Clinton campaign, his report said.

The report added: Unlike the FBIs opening of a full investigation of unknown members of the Trump campaign based on raw, uncorroborated information, in this separate matter involving a purported Clinton campaign plan, the FBI never opened any type of inquiry, issued any taskings, employed any analytical personnel, or produced any analytical products in connection with the information.

The special counsel further zeroed in on former FBI official Peter Strzok and former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, noting that Strzok had problems with Trump. He cited previously known text messages between Strzok and former FBI attorney Lisa Page, who have both filed lawsuits against the bureau.

Strzok, at a minimum, had pronounced hostile feelings toward Trump, Durham wrote.

During congressional testimony in 2020, current FBI Director Christopher Wray told lawmakers that the FBI had implemented more than 40 changes to make the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court surveillance process more stringent in response to a report released by Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz. In late 2019, the IG issued a lengthy report that found significant errors and omissions in how the FBI pursued FISA surveillance of the Trump campaignnamely former aide Carter Pagefor the now-discredited claims that it colluded with the Russian government.

The Department did not adequately examine or question these materials and the motivations of those providing them, even when at about the same time the Director of the FBI and others learned of significant and potentially contrary intelligence, Durham also wrote.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. Uzbekistan and Hungary have discussed launching direct flights between the capital cities - Tashkent and Budapest, Trend reports, citing the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan.

The issue was discussed at the meeting between Deputy Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan Jasurbek Choriev and Ambassador of Hungary to Uzbekistan Gyula Kovacs and representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary Adrienn Gobel.

In order to make a final decision and discuss in detail the technical and economic aspects of the issue, the parties plan to hold negotiations in the near future with the participation of representatives of the competent authorities of the two countries.

Earlier this year, on the sidelines of the Tashkent International Investment Forum, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Minister of Economic Development of Hungary Marton Nagy discussed the opening of direct flights between the two countries. The parties also agreed to boost the preparation and implementation of projects in transport and communications, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, as well as to create effective financial instruments.
Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Becomes Unavailable in US

A nurse fills a syringe with Johnson & Johnson's Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic in Pasadena, Calif. on Aug. 19, 2021. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

One of the four COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States is no longer available, the nations public health agency says.

The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is no longer available in the U.S., the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated in a recent update.

Thats due to the vaccine expiring on May 7. Health care workers were advised to dispose of any remaining doses in accordance with regulations.

The CDC and Johnson & Johnson didnt respond to requests for comment.

U.S. regulators first cleared the jab in February 2021, giving Americans an alternative to the messenger RNA-based Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines. Johnson & Johnsons vaccine became popular in part because its only a single dose. The messenger RNA vaccines each have a primary series of two doses.

But uptake slowed after U.S. authorities paused recommending the vaccine because of concerns about a reported link to a combination of blood clotting and low platelet levels, a condition called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) that can cause death. About 15 percent of the post-vaccination TTS cases have been fatal. The highest number of cases have been reported among women aged 30 to 49, with approximately eight cases per one million doses reported.

Regulators limited the availability of the vaccine in 2022 because experts determined it caused TTS.

Since March, recipients have also been warned that they face an increased risk of myocarditis, or heart inflammation, and a related condition called pericarditis. All four COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States present an increased risk of myocarditis, primarily for young males.

As of May 11, 19 million Johnson & Johnson shots have been administered, compared to more than 403 million Pfizer shots, more than 252 million Moderna shots, and about 89,000 Novavax shots, according to data reported to the CDC.

The vast majority of people in the US who were vaccinated against COVID-19 received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, Dr. Michael Saag, an infectious diseases expert at the University of AlabamaBirmingham, told The Epoch Times via email. Very few individuals received the J and J vaccine. Therefore, this new development regarding J and Js vaccine no longer being available in the US is not monumental.

Some 31.5 million Johnson & Johnson shots purchased by the federal government had been distributed to states and other jurisdictions, which means about 12.5 million doses will go to waste.

The U.S. government in 2020 agreed to pay about $1 billion for 100 million doses of the vaccine, which is technically produced by Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen.

Earnings Call

Executives said in an earnings call in April that they expected no more COVID-19 vaccine sales moving forward.

We do not anticipate material sales beyond that which were recorded in the first quarter as our contractual commitments are complete, Joseph Wolk, the companys chief financial officer, said on the call.

Johnson & Johnson reported $747 million in sales during the three-month period that ended on March 23, but all of the sales were made outside the United States.

Analysts had forecast lower COVID-19 vaccine sales prior to the earnings report.

Johnson & Johnson reported U.S. sales for its COVID-19 vaccine totaling $72 million. It hasnt reported vaccine sales in the United States since 2022s second quarter.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administrations emergency use authorization for Janssens vaccine is still viable, according to the agencys website. The authorization is for adults who choose to receive the vaccine because they would not otherwise  receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The authorization is for a single-dose primary dose and a booster dose.

Recommendations

The CDC is retaining its recommendation that people who received Johnson & Johnsons vaccine get another COVID-19 vaccine dose.

Adults who received 1 or 2 Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine dose are recommended to receive 1 bivalent mRNA dose (Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech) at least 2 months after completion of the previous dose, the CDC says on its website.

The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines were updated in 2022 to include elements of the Wuhan and Omicron strains. The bivalent shots completely replaced the old messenger RNA vaccines in the spring.

Saag said the recommendations make sense in light of how Johnson & Johnsons vaccine only targeted the Wuhan variant.

The bivalent booster will broaden the immunity for those receiving it, whether they had the J and J initial vaccine or the initial vaccine series (without a booster) with either Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, Saag said.

Clinical trial efficacy estimates for the bivalent vaccines still havent been made public but, according to data from the companies, the vaccines provide a better immune response than the older vaccines.

Observational data, though, indicate that bivalent vaccines arent very effective against infection and only provide short-lived protection against hospitalization.

The current vaccines are out-of-date, any new ones will be out-of-date by the time they are generally available, and mostly everybody already has SARS-CoV-2 antibodies anyway, Dr. Harvey Risch, professor emeritus of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health, told The Epoch Times previously.

At this point, the vaccines are thus not generally useful products for serving a public health function.
Labour May Give EU Nationals Full Voting Rights, Says Starmer

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer makes a speech to the Progressive Britain conference at Congress House, central London, on May 13, 2023. (Yui Mok/PA Media)

The Labour Party may give settled EU migrants full voting rights if it wins the next general election, party leader Sir Keir Starmer has said.

Starmer made the remarks in response to a report by The Sunday Telegraph, which said the opposition leader is prepared to allow settled migrants and 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in general elections.

Talking to LBC radio on Monday, the Labour leader said it feels wrong that people who have contributed to Britains economy and raised their children in the country are not allowed to cast a ballot.

He said: If someone has been here say 10, 20, 30 years, contributing to this economy, part of our community, they ought to be able to vote.

You go to doors sometimes in a general election and youre met with someone who says look, Im an EU citizen, Ive been living here 30 years, Im married to a Brit, my kids were raised and brought up here, theyre now working in the UK. But I cant vote.

I think that feels wrong and something ought to be done about it.

He added that the fact settled migrants do not have full voting rights actually just doesnt pass the common sense test for me.

Allowing teenagers aged 16 and over to cast a ballot is also not such an outlandish idea, Starmer added.

He pointed to Labour-administered Wales, where the voting age for Senedd and local government elections has been lowered to 16.

But Starmer added the proposals are still under consideration.

These are some of the ideas that are going into the mix, but theyre not policywere just looking at them, he said.

Tory Objection

This is not the first time Starmer has proposed expanding the voting franchise to EU nationals.

Granting full voting rights for EU nationals was one of the pledges he made during his 2020 Labour leadership campaign, though there has been no policy announcement since then.

Sir John Curtice, a polling expert, said that EU nationals and young people are more likely to vote for Labour.

The presumption we all have, rightly or wrongly, is that theyre more likely to be opposed to Brexit, and therefore less likely to vote for the Conservative Party, he told The Sunday Telegraph.

Conservative Party Chairman Greg Hands hit out at Labour, accusing the party of laying the groundwork to drag the UK back into the EU by stealth.

He added: Sir Keir spent years trying to block Brexit and overturn the largest democratic vote in this countrys history. This is an attempt to rig the electorate to re-join the EU.

The right to vote in parliamentary elections and choose the next UK government is rightly restricted to British citizens and those with the closest historical links to our country.

No other EU country allows EU citizens who are not their nationals to vote in parliamentary elections.

Not the Final Plans

In response to the accusation, Labour frontbencher Jonathan Reynolds said his party is only trying to strengthen democracy.

The shadow business secretary told Times Radio on Sunday: We are interested in strengthening our democracy. We want more people taking part in it. We want to, frankly, say to people who are making a contribution to this country that they should be recognised, that they should be part of those deliberations in some way.

But it is absolutely in no way about partisan advantage to look at any part of changing the British constitution.

Reynolds said that proposals to expand the voting franchise are something we will look at, but stressed such moves are not the final plans for the Labour manifesto.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Man Killed by Own Gun During Struggle With Los Angeles Police Officer

LOS ANGELESLos Angeles police are alleging May 13 that a man was shot to death by his own handgun when he attempted to point it but was stopped by officers during a traffic stop.

The shooting was reported at 11:04 p.m. Friday on Central Avenue at 74th Street, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Officer Matthew Cruz told City News Service.

A Newton Division patrol officer made the stop, he said. The officers name was not disclosed.

An LAPD news release explained the officers pulled over the vehicle for a traffic violation.

As the driver exited the vehicle, he armed himself with a black, semi-automatic handgun, the release said. One of the officers attempted to restrain the driver, who attempted to escape the officers hold, lunging himself forward. During the brief struggle, the driver discharged his handgun and sustained a single self-inflicted gunshot wound to his neck and immediately fell to the ground. Officers moved the handgun away from the driver and handcuffed him.

Paramedics took the wounded suspect to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Cruz said.

The mans name was withheld pending notification of relatives. He was believed between 30 and 35 years old.

A loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun and a single-spent 9mm casing were recovered at the scene, police said.

The shooting was under investigation, Cruz said. No officers were injured.

The LAPDs Force Investigation Division was investigating the shooting.
Mayorkas Defends Administrations Preparations for End of Title 42 as GOP Pins Blame

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington on May 11, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas on May 14 said that the flood of illegal immigrants anticipated following the expiration of Title 42 on Thursday has not happened, and that the Biden administration has designed and put in place historic and effective immigration regulations.

However, in the two days prior to Title 42 ending, U.S. border officials had already started reporting daily records of 10,000 encounters with illegal immigrants entering the United States each day.

On ABCs This Week, Mayorkas told host Jonathan Karl that following the large numbers of illegal immigrant encounters registered earlier in the week, and with Title 42 no longer in place, the flow of entries into the United States had dipped dramatically and was manageable.

So why is that, Jon? the DHS secretary said. We have been preparing for this transition for months and months and weve been executing on our plan.

Accordingly, and our plan is very straightforwardthere is a safe, lawful, and orderly way to reach the United States and seek humanitarian relief, and that is through the lawful pathways that we have expanded under President Bidens leadership.

Mayorkas added: And then there is a dangerous way to arrive at our southern border in the hands of ruthless smugglers. We have to incentivize the use of the lawful pathways and disincentivize placing peoples lives in the hands of smugglers.

On CNNs State of the Union, host Dana Bash posed to the secretary criticisms that the Biden administration didnt plan and prepare adequately for the end of Title 42.

I would respectfully disagree. We have been planning for months and months, Mayorkas said. Over a year and a half, we have surged resources, asylum officers, Border Patrol agents, processing coordinators to do the data entry work so our Border Patrol agents could be out in the field.

Weve expanded our holding capacity in Border Patrol stations; weve added beds to Immigration and Customs Enforcement in our detention facilities; weve increased our transportation resources, the number of flights, removal flights, with our foreign partners; were setting up regional processing centers now. Its extraordinary what weve done over the past 18 months or so.

GOP Response

Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), chair of the Committee on Homeland Security, responded to Mayorkass report on the border situation on State of the Union on May 14.

Bash cited the statement from Mayorkas that border crossings were down following the end of Title 42, and asked Green, That, unequivocally, is good, right?

What the secretary failed to say is that this week has seen more crossings than any week in our history, Green noted. Yes, there was some anticipation and so people started coming across at higher numbers, in fact record-breaking numbers at the first part of the week.

Green continued, noting that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said a 40 percent increase is expected with Title 42 gone. Thats another 9 million people in two years. I mean, theyve already let 5.04 million encounters and 1.5 million got aways as theyve tried to manage border security and not secure our border. So, no, Im sorry. I disagree with the secretary.

Haley Weighs In

Former South Carolina governor and 2024 presidential candidate Nikki Haley, like other Republicans, pinned the blame on the Biden administration for the border crisis.

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)

Five million illegal immigrants have crossed the border. I went with Congressman [Tony] Gonzales 400 miles along that border. And what I saw was unbelievable, Haley told CBSs Face the Nation.

You have ranchers that get up and get their coffee in the morning and go see if someone died crossing the fence.

They pick up any little kids left over and take them to Border Patrol. When you talk to sheriffs, sheriffs say before 7 a.m. theyve rounded up illegal immigrants, turn them over to Border Patrol who documents them and then releases them until their court date three or four years from now. You ask Border Patrol what they do, and they said, Were glorified babysitters.

Haley said that when she was governor of South Carolina, the state passed one of the toughest immigration laws in the country.

CBSs Margaret Brennan asked Dr. Victor Trevino, the mayor of border city Laredo in Texas, what he thought about what the 2024 presidential candidates were saying about the situation at the border.

I think this is not a Democratic or Republican problem. Its an American problem and things should have been done a long time ago, Trevino, a physician, said. Immigration reform is long overdue.
Medical Tourism Continues to Grow in Mexico Amid the Risks

A tout holds a sign advertising dental services as he waits for American medical tourists to arrive from the border crossing checkpoint, in Los Algodones, Mexico, on April 11, 2023. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

A growing number of Americans continue to travel to Mexico for medical procedures or medication to take advantage of significant cost savings even though just traveling there to seek treatment presents many potential health and safety dangers.

For example, two of four Americans kidnapped in Matamoros in March were killed by suspected drug cartel members after traveling to the border city for cosmetic surgery.

Most Americans who travel to Mexico for cheaper medical procedures do so in border areas such as Matamoros or close to or in the Rio Grande Valley. But now, an increasing number of U.S. citizens are going deeper into Mexico than they have in the past.

Before they barely came, but now I have many American patients, Dr. Raul Lopez Trevino, a dermatologist in Guadalajara, told The Epoch Times. I cant remember even treating one several years ago.

Guadalajara is roughly four hours east of Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist beach destination. Its also filled with surgeons and medical practitioners who provide their services at a fraction of the cost of similar clinics in the United States.

I paid $4,200 for rhinoplasty surgery in Puerto Vallarta, and that included aftercare, Justin Suess, who is originally from Oklahoma City, told The Epoch Times. Im pretty sure it would be double that in the U.S.

Medical Tourism Market Boom

Americans who travel to Mexico for medical procedures save 40 to 65 percent, on average, over the same procedure in the United States, according to Patients Beyond Borders.

The organization says other top medical tourism hotspots include Costa Rica, India, Israel, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and Malaysia, where you can save as much as 80 percent on the same surgical procedure in the United States.

For these reasons and others, Patients Beyond Borders says the market for medical tourism is booming.

The world population is aging and becoming more affluent at rates that surpass the availability of quality health care resources. In addition, out-of-pocket medical costs of critical and elective procedures continue to rise, while nations offering universal care are faced with ever-increasing resource burdens, the organization said.

These drivers are forcing patients to pursue cross-border health care options either to save money or to avoid long waits for treatment. We estimate the worldwide medical tourism market is growing at a rate of 1525 percent, with inbound patient flows highest in Mexico.

In 2017, more than 1.4 million Americans sought health care in a variety of countries around the world, according to a study published in the American Journal of Medicine. Thats a major increase from the estimated 750,00 Americans in 2007 who made the journey to other countries for cheaper health care.

Patients who travel to countries such as Mexico usually seek elective surgical, dental, or cosmetic procedures because the United States has the worlds most expensive health care system.

Other countries can charge less because of lower pay to physicians and other health care workers, much less overhead because patients pay cash, and subtraction of the substantial cost of malpractice insurance, the study also says.

The Risks

While traveling to a country such as Mexico for medical procedures may be less expensive, it poses several risks.

It can be very dicey, Santiago Rodriguez, an operating room nurse in New York City, told The Epoch Times. Ive had to treat several patients who have gone to Mexico to get a face-lift or a nose job, and they come back with infections or other complications.

There are a lot of botched jobs out there, he said. You could have a dentist doing plastic surgery because there are essentially no regulations in Mexico. So its very important to do your research before you go to a clinic.

It isnt just the doctor or the clinic you have to be careful about selecting, but its also the pharmacy you choose in Mexico if youre buying medicine for aftercare, or simply because its easier to get some controlled substances over the counter than it is in the United States.

The U.S. Department of State warned in March that some pharmacies are selling counterfeit pills laced with deadly fentanyl.

The U.S. Department of State is aware of recent media reports regarding counterfeit pharmaceuticals available at pharmacies in Mexico, including those tainted with fentanyl and methamphetamine, the department stated in a health alert.

The warning goes on to state that the counterfeit prescriptions pills are being sold by criminals on both sides of the border and that the pills are represented as OxyContin, Percocet, Xanax  and can be purchased at small non-chain pharmacies in Mexico along the border and tourist areas.

Those tourist areas include major beach destinations such as Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and others.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued an advisory for those interested in traveling to Mexico or other countries to take advantage of low-cost medical procedures or medication.

All medical procedures have some risk of complications, those associated with procedures done in other countries include wound infections, bloodstream infections, donor-derived infections, and diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV, the CDC said.

The agency said the quality of care may also be greatly reduced when compared with the United States. Some countries requirements for maintaining licensure, credentialing, and accreditation may also be less than what would be required in the United States. In some countries, counterfeit medicines and lower quality medical devices may be used.

The CDC goes on to suggest that anyone traveling out of the United States for a medical procedure should see your healthcare provider or a travel medicine provider at least 46 weeks before the trip to discuss general information for healthy travel and learn about specific risks you may face because of your health status, the procedure, and travel before and after the procedure.
Mexico Arrests 2 More in March Kidnap, Killing of Americans

A member of the Mexican security forces stands next to a white minivan with North Carolina plates and several bullet holes, at the crime scene where gunmen kidnapped four U.S. citizens who crossed into Mexico from Texas, on March 3, 2023. (AP Photo)

MEXICO CITYProsecutors in Mexico said Thursday they have arrested two more men in the March 3 kidnapping of four Americans and the killing of two of them.

The Gulf drug cartel turned over five men to police soon after the abduction in the border city of Matamoros, and prosecutors said the two newly arrested suspects also appeared to be members of the same cartel.

The two were arrested during raids in the northern border state of Tamaulipas on May 7 and flown to Mexico City on a military plane. It was not immediately clear why the arrests were not announced at the time.

Federal prosecutors did not provide the full names of the suspects, but the details and first names match two men listed on a federal database as being arrested in Tamaulipas that day. Those namesAxel Alfredo Cardenas and Alan Alexis Cardenassuggest they are related to Osiel Cardenas Guillen, the Gulf cartel leader captured in 2003.

Prosecutors confirmed the two were sons of Osiel Cardenas nephew, Jose Alfredo Cardenas Martinez, who was arrested in 2022. They also said the pair assumed leadership roles in the cartel following their fathers arrest.

The two allegedly headed up the gangs of cartel gunmen known as the Scorpions and the Cyclones. They were caught in an early morning raid in which police found six guns and over a thousand doses of synthetic drugs, a term used in Mexico to refer to either methamphetamines or fentanyl.

The statement did not specify the charges the men would face, but it said they had been engaged in drug and migrant smuggling, kidnappings, and extortion in the Matamoros area.

In March, less than a week after the abductions, a letter claiming to be from the Gulf cartels Scorpions faction condemned the violence and said the gang had turned over to authorities its own members who were responsible. A Mexican woman also died in the March 3 shootings.

We have decided to turn over those who were directly involved and responsible in the events, who at all times acted under their own decision-making and lack of discipline, the letter reads, adding that those individuals had gone against the cartels rules, which include respecting the life and well-being of the innocent.

Five men were found tied up inside one of the vehicles that authorities had been searching for, along with the letter.

The four Americans crossed into Matamoros from Texas so that one of them could have cosmetic surgery. Around midday, they were fired on in downtown Matamoros and then loaded into a pickup truck.

Americans Zindell Brown and Shaeed Woodard died in the attack; Eric Williams and Latavia McGee survived. Most of them had grown up together in the small town of Lake City, South Carolina.

A Mexican woman, Areli Pablo Servando, 33, was also killed, apparently by a stray bullet.
Microsoft Wins EU Antitrust Approval for Activision Deal

The European Union (EU) gave its approval to Microsofts $69 billion acquisition of gaming giant Activision Blizzard. The decision comes just weeks after the United Kingdoms merger regulator stunned the gaming industry by vetoing the deal. The EUs analysis indicated that the acquisition would not harm competition, especially as Microsoft has made a commitment to allow cloud rivals to offer popular games like Call of Duty on their platforms for the next decade.

Margrethe Vestager, the EUs antitrust chief, hailed the deal as pro-competitive and stated that it would provide a significant boost to the cloud-streaming market. She highlighted that cloud gaming currently accounts for only 13 percent of the entire gaming market and expressed optimism that this acquisition would kickstart its growth.

The EUs decision diverges from negative judgments by the UKs Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The CMAs decision showcased the UKs emergence as a global watchdog post-Brexit, while the FTC attempted to block the deal last year.

Vestager addressed the disparity in conclusions between EU and UK regulators, attributing it to differing perspectives on the speed of development of the cloud-gaming market. We agree that the cloud-streaming market is a promising market. We may disagree about the speed at which it will develop, she explained, emphasizing that the EU envisions a longer development period for cloud gaming compared to the UK.

Despite the EUs approval, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Jennifer Rie suggests that it is unlikely to significantly alter Microsofts legal challenges against the FTC and the CMA. Rie points out that each jurisdiction has made its decision based on market conditions specific to their region, leading to potentially different conclusions regarding the antitrust impact of the deal.

In its defense, the European Commission asserted that its findings would benefit millions of European consumers by allowing them to stream Activisions games through various cloud-gaming services operating in the EU region. The commissions statement emphasized that these commitments would expand competition and consumer access, enabling smaller EU players and a wider range of devices to enjoy Activisions games.

In contrast, the CMA argued that the deal would strengthen Microsofts dominance in the cloud-gaming market by granting it control over several leading games, including Overwatch and World of Warcraft. The UK watchdog concluded that without the merger, Activision would still be capable of offering games on cloud platforms in the future.

With the EUs green light, Microsoft may find a bit of relief, but the ultimate outcome remains uncertain as the company navigates legal challenges in other jurisdictions, such as in the United Kingdom.
Montana House Affair Underscores Breakdown in Manners and Respect

Commentary

Americas media has been on a feeding frenzy ever since Montanas transgender-activist-turned-state-legislator Zooey Zephyr created a stir at the expense of traditional decency and decorum in our state capitol.

The set-up included a mockery of Christian legislators and their faith, followed by a besiegement of the grounds and the official proceedings of the House of Representatives by several hundred radical protesters. The coverage by the national media has been shamefully deficient and one-sided. (For full details on what happened that day and background, see Darin Gaubs first-hand account.)

First, heres a useful history lesson about the manners and decorum that once prevailed in the Treasure State before the trans movement took over.

During the 2007 legislative session, I sponsored legislation to allow alternate certification of teachers by local school districts on a one-year trial basis. It drew the ire of the teachers union, whose members, an angry, rowdy bunch, packed the House gallery on Feb. 10. The presiding chairman simply issued them a warningand then a second warningthat their disruption of House business wouldnt be tolerated. When the teachers continued to misbehave, the chairman stated, Will the sergeant-at-arms please clear the gallery.

At that point, everyone in the room knew that the demonstrators had gone much too far. Several Democratic legislators stood up and appealed to the chair for leniency, with assurances that there would be no more disruptions. That was the end of it.

But we live in a very different time today. Compare that event with the 200 supporters of Rep. Zephyr who, with their prearranged chant, airborne garbage, and foul language, literally shut down the House of Representatives and had to be dragged off by law enforcement. Seven were reportedly arrested. They were there for the express purpose of stopping government from functioning. This wasnt spontaneous. It was seemingly premeditated, with the full intention of providing the media with a national martyr for radical transgenderism.

How do we know this? For one thing, because Zephyr stood on the floor, facing the screaming mob, leading them while waving a microphone. To date, not one Democrat has condemned any of this.

All we have heard from that party are the deafening sounds of silence when confronted with the words that Zephyr directed at people of faith during a debate on a bill to restrict the medical gender transition of minors. Consider Zephyrs words: I hope the next time theres an invocation, when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands.

Invocations are a time of solemn spiritual devotion, an appeal from ones heart for help and guidance from God. Can anyone doubt that Zephyrs cutting remarks were intended to mock the Christians in the room, and in so doing, to mock their God? To label Republicans as essentially pious hypocrites?

Zephyr underscored the words by later refusing to recant or apologizeleading to Zephyr being banned from speaking on the House floor. It was those words that the disrupters were proudly standing behind, those words that Zephyrs silent Democratic colleagues condoned.

Theyve declared Open Season on people of faith, and the hypocrisy is only too apparent. Many of us have had enough. One Christian, former state legislator, Rick Jore, who served with me in 2007, put it this way:

In my view, the specific words  that are most offensive is the obvious intent to mock God and the solemnity of the privilege and act of prayer. It would be one thing to make the very serious claim that a vote on certain legislation would cause literal and ultimate blood on the hands of the legislator for that vote. (Interesting that they wont make the same application for pro-abortion votes.) What must be recognized is that by making the statement in the context of an act of prayer to Almighty God, the accusation moves beyond the mere vote of the legislator to the object of the prayer and the Source of just law.

Can you imagine the uproar in the media if a conservative lawmaker and his or her supporters were guilty of anything approaching this? But conservatives, as respecters of individual faith and individual conscience, would never think those thoughts, let alone say those words or create that kind of mayhem.

We do indeed live in a time when widely accepted moral standards are now bifurcated, situationally and politicallya time when a Montana lawmaker can openly ridicule colleagues personal faith when they vote the wrong way, and instigate a riot that shuts down the legislature. Were being told this is justified solely because Zephyr identifies as transgender, and customary House discipline is suddenly anti-trans.

Whatever happened to playing by the rules, which Zephyr committed to doing when sworn into office? Whatever happened to mannersor do manners and common decency only apply to one side of the political spectrum and one realm of religious faith?

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
National Anti-Scam Centre Set to Open in July as Australians Lose Billions to Scams

A record 2.7m online scams were taken down last year by the National Cyber Security Centre (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

The federal government will spend $58 million (US$38.64 million) to establish a new National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC), which is set to open in July.

Created as a pathway to gather all expertise and resources together to devise ways to prevent scammers from contacting Australians in the first place, it will be overseen by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

The ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe has welcomed the Australian governments commitment and funding over the next two years.

Well be using this funding to build the technology needed to support high-frequency data sharing with a range of agencies, law enforcement and the private sector, with the mission to make Australia a harder target for scammers, ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said on May 15.

While the new body will work to educate consumers on avoiding scams and telling them where to get help if they become victims. The NASC will also enable quicker response to scams, with the centre sharing scam reports with critical organisations such as banks, telcos and other digital platforms and advise on taking adequate measures to stop scammers.

The centre will bring together the expertise and resources to disrupt scammers making contact with Australians, raise consumer awareness about how to avoid scams, and link scam victims to services where they have lost money or had their identity compromised, said Lowe.

Through increased sharing of scam reports and other initiatives, the centre will help inform finance, telecommunications and digital platforms sectors to take more timely and effective steps to stop scammers, Lowe added.

Opening in July this year, it is expected that the more complex data-sharing technology will be completed over the next two years.

Where Will the $58 million Funding Go

Out of the $58 million funding from the government, $44 million will be spent on establishing the technology necessary to receive a report of a scam from any institution, private or government, and then able to centralise this intelligence before sharing it with relevant organisations.

Then, with the shared information, banks will be able to freeze an account, telcos can block a call, or digital platforms can take down a website. In the meantime, the centre can utilise its latest information to educate the public.

NASC will use the remaining $14 million as a resource to provide education and communications with private sectors and continue its ongoing data analysis, information gathering and disruption.

Australians Lost a Record $3.1 Billion to Scams in 2022

According to the ACCC annual Targeting Scams report, released in April this year, Australians lost a record $3.1 billion to scams in 2022, an 80 percent increase in total losses recorded from 2021.

The report compiles data reported to the ACCCs Scamwatch, ReportCyber, the Australian Financial Crimes Exchange (AFCX), IDCARE and other government agencies.

Among the losses, the biggest category was investment scams which took away $1.5 billion, followed by remote access scams ($229 million. This was followed by payment redirection scams ($224 million).

While the financial losses are enormous to those individuals and businesses involved, the emotional and mental damage is hard to calculate in monetary terms.

Scamwatch received 239,237 scam reports last year, with a financial loss totalling $569 million, a 76 percent increase compared to 2021.

Scammers evolve quickly, and unfortunately, many Australians are losing their life savings, Lowe said.

There has been an explosion of reported losses to phishing scams in the past year, such as Hi Mum and Toll/Linkt text scams, which skyrocketed by 469 percent to $24.6 million in 2022.

We have seen alarming new tactics emerge, making scams incredibly difficult to detect. This includes everything from impersonating official phone numbers, email addresses and websites of legitimate organisations to scam texts that appear in the same conversation thread as genuine messages. This means now more than ever, anyone can fall victim to a scam.

As scammers increase their collaborative efforts, more Australians become more vulnerable to their tactics, followed by recent large-scale, high-profile data breaches.

Lowe said that once more muscular coordination of anti-scam efforts across government, finance, the Telcos and digital platforms had been achieved, there would be a significant impact on the fight against scams.
Netanyahu: Israel Alters Balance of Deterrence With Islamic Jihad

Israel has changed the deterrence equation with Islamic Jihad the same way it did with Hamas two years ago, said Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

He spoke at the start of a weekly Likud meeting on May 15. Netanyahu is the head of the Likud party.

Our intention in Operation Shield and Arrow was to change the deterrence balance against the Islamic Jihad, he said, speaking about the military operation that ran from May 9 to 13.

Israel took down half of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organizations leadership in a surprise blow, and the other half during the operation, Netanyahu said.

The message was not only aimed at the Islamic Jihad, he said, but all around.

Whoever harms us or plans to harm us, will now better understand the meaning of the words your blood is on your own head, he said. We are changing the balance of deterrence.

During Operation Shield and Arrow, a total of 1,468 rockets were launched toward Israel, out of which 1,139 crossed into Israels territory and 290 fell inside Gaza.

The Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted 437 rockets, with a success rate of about 96 percent, according to the Israel Defence Force (IDF) in a Twitter post.

Israeli forces struck 700 terrorist targets, the IDF said in its post.

Israel aims to change the deterrence equation and not for the first time, said Netanyahu.

The most significant change in the balance of deterrence took place two years ago in Operation Guardian of the Walls, against Hamas, he said, adding that Hamas has not fired a single rocket into Israeli territory since.

Operation Guardian of the Walls dealt Hamas the hardest blow in its history and fatally damaged its air, sea, and underground capability and brought a change to the deterrence equation, he said, adding that it has been working for two years now.

Operation Shield and Arrow

The five-day clash between Israeli forces and the Islamic Jihad in Gaza has resulted in a fragile ceasefire that appears to be holding.

The conflict claimed the lives of 33 people in Gaza and two people in Israel, one of whom was a Palestinian worker.

The escalation began when the IDF killed three top commanders of the terror group.

Israel has faced criticism for civilian casualties, but it maintains that it takes measures to avoid harm to civilians.

Israeli airstrikes targeted Islamic Jihads command centers and rocket-launching sites.

A ceasefire between Israel and the terrorist organization was established on Saturday evening, taking effect at 11 p.m. local time.

The truce, mediated by Egypt, has been upheld thus far. The Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi conveyed his appreciation to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi for his dedicated involvement in the process.

However, shortly after the ceasefire took effect, a rocket fired by Gaza terrorists landed in an open area of southern Israel.

In response, Israeli tanks attacked two military outposts of the terrorist organization Hamas in northern Gaza, according to the IDF in a Twitter post.

Al Jazeera reported that Hamas said on its Voice of Al-Aqsa radio station that the rocket had been launched due to a technical error.

No injuries were reported.

Ceasefire Put to the Test

As Jerusalem Day and the flag march approaches on May 18, Netanyahu expressed a commitment to Israels security and its determination to hold the event.

The parade will continue as planned, as usual, on its regular route, Netanyahu stated.

The flag march is an important annual event during Jerusalem Day celebrations, commemorating the reunification of the Israeli capital during the Six-Day War in 1967.

Thousands of people carry Israeli flags as they march through the Old City of Jerusalem.

Critics of the event argue that Palestinians perceive the march as an attempt to assert Jewish dominance over the city.

In 2021, Netanyahu agreed to change the Jerusalem Day route so that marchers would not pass through the Muslim Quarter of the Old City.

The Hamas terror group still fired rockets, which led to the 11-day IDF operation in Gaza called Guardian of the Walls.

During that time, Hamas and Islamic Jihad fired 4,400 rockets at Israel, killing 13 people.

The conflict spread to mixed Jewish-Arab cities in Israel, as Arab Israelis attacked Jews.

According to the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, known for its Hamas sources, the Gaza terror groups informed Egyptian mediators that they have the ability to start a new campaign against Israel to prevent the change of reality at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

The Al Aqsa compound sits atop the Old City plateau of East Jerusalem, situated in an area known to Jews as the Temple Mount.

Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a state they seek to establish in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

The truce will be put to the test later this week with the upcoming march as tensions could once again flare up when Israelis hold their annual event passing through the sensitive area of Jerusalems Old City, which the Palestinians view as provocative.
Newsoms Revised Budget Doesnt Cut Enough

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announces the May budget revision in Sacramento on May 12, 2023. Newsom said the state's budget deficit has grown to nearly $32 billion, about $10 billion more than predicted in January when the governor offered his first budget proposal. (Hector Amezcua/The Sacramento Bee via AP)

Commentary

As expected, California Gov. Gavin Newsoms revision of his January budget proposal, announced at 10 am May 12, projects a major deficit of $31.5 billion for fiscal year 2023-24, which begins on July 1. Thats $10 billion more than his January projection of a $22.5 billion deficit.

The May Revise, as its called in Sacramento parlance, flips the prior years surplus of almost $100 millionyielding a reversal of about $130 billion.

Meanwhile, our rival Texas is enjoying a revenue gusher with a $32.7 billion surplus. Even though the Lone Star State doesnt have a state income tax, unlike California, where the top rate is 13.3 percent. Maybe attracting businesses and rich people makes more sense than repelling them?

As I pointed out in The Epoch Times in February, when state general-fund spending rises above a spending ratio of 6.2 percent of the income of Californians, inevitably there is a correction, forcing cuts and, usually, tax increases. Per the January Newsom proposal, the ratio was 7.10 percenttoo high. And I noted a new analysis by the Legislative Analyst that found the same conclusion 20 years after I did. Heres the LAOs chart, which is similar to mine:

(Screenshot via Legislative Analysts Office)

In the May Revise, general-fund spending is $224.1 billionvirtually the same as the $223.6 billion in his January proposal. So that still amounts to about 7.10 percent of the income of Californians. That remains well above the 6.2 limit I identified, and above average historical levels as described by the LAO.

Which means the governor still isnt cutting enough. If a recession digs in later this year, as most economists are expecting, revenues could fall even more, making that even worse. Barrons reported May 8, Warren Buffett sees a downturn coming, predicting earnings to decline at the majority of Berkshire Hathaways businesses, at the companys annual meeting Saturday. Berkshire is considered an economic bellwether given the breadth of its U.S.-oriented exposure.

However, the governors new document does not concede this possibility, anticipating, The May Revision forecast projects the U.S. economy to grow slowly through the third quarter of 2023, with U.S. real GDP growth averaging 0.5 percent in the second and third quarters amidst tighter financial conditions.

For now, the new budget makes these adjustments:

Spending cuts rise $1.1 billion to $6.7 billion.

Trigger reductionssuch as to transportation and other initiativesremain at $3.9 billion.

Spending delays for some programs are increased by $695 million to $8.1 billion. For example, $295 for the Foreclosure Intervention Housing Prevention Program is moved to out-years. Effectively, delays really are cuts, because one Legislative session cannot bind a future session.

Fund shifts, such as $1.1 billion in housing spending to bonds, amount to $3.3 billion.

An additional $2.5 billion will come from the Managed Care Organization taxa tax increase.

Special funds borrowing increases $1.2 billion.

The Safety Net Reserve is hit with a $450 million withdrawal.

Except for the Safety Net Reserve withdrawal, no other reserves are used, keeping total reserves at $37.2 billion. And, As the Budget Stabilization Account balance is at its constitutional maximum amount, a total of $2.3 billion must be dedicated for infrastructure investments in 2023-24.

Education Spending

K-12 education always is the biggest budget spending component. Proposition 98 mandates it gets about 40 percent of general-fund spending.

The May Revise writes: The May Revision includes total funding of $127.2 billion ($79.1 billion General Fund and $48.1 billion other funds) for all K-12 education programs. Thats virtually the same as the $128.5 billion in his January budget.

And, get this, in January the budget boasted it was spending the highest ever  $23,723 per pupil when accounting for all funding sources. Thats for 5.4 million students.

Ill spare you the math, but in the May Revise, that drops just a little, to $23,483 per pupil. Just $240 less.

That means, for a classroom of 25, an average of $587,075 will be spent. How can they not turn out scholars for that amount? Instead, theres failure after failure, with test scores falling sharply during Newsoms draconian COVID lockdowns.

Consider this word salad from the new budget, written in whats called edubable:

The May Revision repurposes modest portions of the funding previously provided to support the Arts, Music, and Instructional Materials Block Grant and the Learning Recovery Emergency Block Grant to support the Local Control Funding Formula. With these changes, the state is reasonably positioned to sustain the continued multi-year implementation of the California for All Kids plana whole child framework to close opportunity gaps by accelerating learning and investing in the educator workforce while providing universal access to early learning, before and after school care, comprehensive nutrition services, and increasing the number of community schools in high-needs communities.

How about just giving that $23,483 to parents to spend on a school voucher at the best school for their individual kids? Naaaaah. That would mean the end of the states most powerful political force, the California Education Association.

And what is a whole child framework? According to the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, ASCDs Whole Child approach transitions from a focus on narrowly defined academic achievement to one that promotes the long-term development and success of all children.

That really means slighting academic achievementdumbing down the curriculum, and the kids. For $23,483 on average a year.

Conclusion

After COVID, the budget deficit is the biggest challenge Newsom has faced in his four years as governor. He cant run for governor again. So hes now obviously focused on getting the voters to promote him to the White House, either in 2024 or 2028.

If, as I have indicated, more cuts need to be made, instead of making them he could dip into those tempting $37.2 billion in reserves.

Now the budget goes to the Legislature, where there will be resistance even to the inadequate cuts the governor wants to make. The constitutional deadline to pass a budget is June 15, but thats hard to enforce. Expect a lot of drama and posturing.

John Seilers email: writejohnseiler@gmail.com

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
After three years of investigations, special counsel John Durham has released the report on the FBIs Crossfire Hurricane probe into former President Donald Trump.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a bill stopping funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in Floridas colleges. Meanwhile, Trump criticizes DeSantis for Floridas new six-week abortion ban.

New York City is converting hotels into emergency shelters, making room for illegal immigrants coming to the city. Meanwhile, the surge of illegal immigration is affecting the lives of people living near the Mexican border. Residents shared personal stories with former U.S. officials.
IN-DEPTH: New York Public Workers Sue City for Abusing Retirement Fund for ESG Goals

Case could set precedent for action against other managers who put ESG ahead of retirees' interests

The Manhattan skyline is seen at sunrise from the 86th floor observatory of the Empire State Building in New York City on April 3, 2021.(Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

A New York City subway operator, a school teacher, and other public workers have filed a lawsuit against the citys pension fund managers, charging that they have misused pension investments to pursue a political agenda and harmed public workers who depend on that money to fund their retirements.

Filed in New York state court on May 11, the lawsuit states that city pension fund managers are obligated to administer their respective Qualified Pension Plans (the Plans) solely in the interests of the Plans participants and beneficiaries, and for the exclusive purpose of providing retirement benefits. But instead of honoring that obligation, Defendants have breached their fiduciary duties and abused their control over plan assets by divesting the Plans of approximately four billion dollars of holdings in companies involved in the extraction of fossil fuels, in a misguided and ineffectual gesture to address climate change.

This is a landmark action and a huge warning shot to pension funds like New Yorks that are breaching their fiduciary duty and using pension assets to push a political objective instead of focusing on returns for their pensioners, Will Hild, an attorney and executive director of Consumers Research, told The Epoch Times.

Elisabeth Messenger, CEO of Americans for Fair Treatment, one of the plaintiffs in the case, said, Pensions are a promise, and governments owe it to their employees to keep their commitment. The teachers, maintenance workers, municipal employees, and more who keep our government running effectively deserve properly managed retirement systems, free from politically motivated intervention.

The legal action was filed against the New York City Employees Retirement System, the Teachers Retirement System of the City of New York, and the Board of Education Retirement System of the City of New York. Together, these funds manage more than $40 billion in retirement assets for about 700,000 city workers.

While 24 states have either banned or are considering banning their pension funds from investing according to nonfinancial criteria, New York City has explicitly directed city pension funds to consider climate and social justice criteria, claiming that these criteria are prudent risk management.

Responsible fiduciary investing takes into account the environmental, social, and governance (or ESG) risks facing companies and integrates risk mitigation into how we build our portfolio and engage with the companies we invest in, city policy states.

New York City has established an Office of ESG and stated that the Office of ESG within the Bureau of Asset Management is tasked with leading the integration of ESG considerations into manager selection, investment due diligence, corporate engagement, and economically targeted investments.

New York state has taken a similar approach, stating that the New York State Common Retirement Funds Corporate Governance Program supports and facilitates the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) into the Funds investments process. According to Standard & Poors, which rates states in terms of ESG compliance, eight states currently include ESG as a criterion for pension investments, and nine other states have policies to divest from fossil fuels.

Does ESG Help or Hurt Pensioners Returns?

Questions that will likely prove pivotal in the case are to what extent pensioners have suffered monetarily from the fund managers actions and whether ESG is an effective tool for enhancing investment returns, as pro-ESG asset managers claim, or a political agenda.

I am fully confident that [the employees] will be able to show that there were monetary damages to the pension fund because of this decision making, Hild said.

A number of academic studies appear to back him up.

A 2020 study by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research stated that ESG investing reduced pensioners returns by 0.70 to 0.90 percent per year, with much of the difference attributable to higher management fees for ESG funds. A Harvard University report, titled An Inconvenient Truth About ESG Investing, found that ESG investing actually hurts returns.

ESG funds certainly perform poorly in financial terms, the report reads.

ESG funds appear to underperform financially, relative to other funds within the same asset manager and year, and charge higher fees, a 2021 report by Columbia University and the London School of Economics reads.

Regarding the benefits of stakeholder capitalism, the push for stakeholder-focused objectives provides managers with a convenient excuse that reduces accountability for poor firm performance, according to a 2021 study by the University of South Carolina and the University of Northern Iowa. The report found a correlation between a CEOs underperformance and how vocal they were in supporting unquantifiable ESG goals.

Some of the top asset management firms are publicly conceding that ESG, which is touted by its supporters as a means to reduce risk and enhance returns, has no pecuniary value for investors.

Vanguard CEO Tim Buckley said in February that our research indicates that ESG investing does not have any advantage over broad-based investing. In December 2022, Vanguard, the worlds second-largest asset manager, pulled out of the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative (NZAM), a U.N.-affiliated climate club whose members are committed to supporting the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner.

Testifying before the Texas state senate in December 2022, Lori Heinel, chief investment officer of State Street, the worlds third-largest asset manager, said: I have no evidence that this [ESG] is good for returns in any time frame. In fact, weve seen the evidence to be quite contrary. Last year, if you didnt own energy companies, you did miserably compared to broad benchmarks. The year before, that was quite the opposite  but that was just a happenstance, thats not because its a good investment.

BlackRock, the worlds largest asset manager and one of the most outspoken advocates of ESG investing, is finding that its advocacy for these causes is causing difficulty with conservatives and progressives alike. In September 2022, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who manages the citys pension funds, issued a scathing letter to BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, stating his growing concern that BlackRock is backtracking on its climate commitments.

BlackRock has repeatedly and rightly recognized climate change as an investment risk. In your 2020 letter to CEOs, you name climate change as a defining factor in companies long-term prospects, and declared your investment conviction that sustainability- and climate-integrated portfolios can provide better risk-adjusted returns to investors, Lander wrote. Your 2021 letter to CEOs committed to supporting the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner.

However, Lander charged, as a result of pushback from conservative states, BlackRock now abdicates responsibility for driving net zero alignment in its own portfolio by saying that it does not ask companies to set specific emissions targets, and that its participation in NZAM does not mean BlackRock is setting or meeting any net zero targets.

Next Steps in NYC Workers Lawsuit

The next step in the case against New York City pension managers is that the managers will likely move to dismiss the case.

I dont think that will be successful, Hild said. New York has fairly favorable rules around standing for pensioners to sue pension funds for breaching [fiduciary duty].

If the courts allow the case to proceed, the next stage will be the discovery phase, during which plaintiffs will have the right to examine internal communications and deliberations among the pension fund managers, the city comptrollers office, and others involved.

That is when the fireworks really start, because not only will we be moving toward a calculation of damages for this egregious breach of fiduciary duty, but we will also get a peek into the inner workings of this ESG complex and the many ways in which different players within this have colluded with each other and coordinated their activities in ways that I think were going to find are likely illegal, Hild said.

Legal experts say that if courts decide that New York City pension managers have violated their fiduciary duties, this case will likely set a major precedent for other states, most notably California, that are pursuing ESG goals with pensioners money. It may also raise the possibility of class action suits against Wall Street asset managers such as BlackRock that have touted ESG as an appropriate and effective investment tool.
One Dead, Seven Others in Hospital After Crash in Bruce County: Police

An Ontario Provincial Police logo is shown during a press conference, in Barrie, Ont., on April 3, 2019. (The Canadian Press/Nathan Denette)

One person has died and seven others are in hospital after a car crash in southwestern Ontario.

Ontario Provincial Police say they were called to the collision around 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Bruce County, Ont.

They say there were eight people in the two cars involved.

Police say one person was pronounced dead at the scene while another was airlifted to a hospital in London with life-threatening injuries.

Six others were taken to hospital for assessment.

Police say the investigation is ongoing.
One-in-Five Students Enter High School With Year 4 Level Literacy and Numeracy: Research

One in five students is starting high school with the literacy and maths skills of a Year Four student, says the latest government report outlining Australias flunking education system.

The Australian Educational Research Organisation (AERO) has put forward a multi-tiered support system to help high school students, who are without foundational literacy and numeracy skills, catch up to their actual grade level.

Its intervention strategies are based on going back to basics or explicit teaching methods. This includes phonics and vocabulary building for literacy, and use of visual models, and guided practice for numeracy.

Without support, these students will struggle to engage in their schooling and are at greater risk of not completing Year 12 and having their lifelong opportunities limited, authors Zid Mancenido, Dan Carr, and Kate de Bruin said.

While most students start Year 7 sufficiently prepared and able to participate, a significant numberparticularly male students and those from equity groupsneed additional support throughout high school.

Struggling students tend to seek support from their friends and manage to get by before they begin falling through the cracks.

Some teachers noted that a lot of parents seek tutoring to help get their kids in Years 11 and 12 to catch back up. But by this time, they warn it is too late.

NAPLAN results of the student cohort graduating in 2024 suggest that the system is leaving struggling students out to dry, with the percentage of students at or below national minimum standards for reading growing from 18 to 25 percent between Years 7 and 9.

What the Teachers Are Saying

In a survey of 382 teachers by the Australian Council for Educational Research, many high school teachers expressed concerns that they lacked the skills to teach basic level literacy and numeracy concepts that are covered in primary school.

We teach Pythagoras, or we teach Algebra, Im all good with that. But how do I teach a kid to count? I dont know. How do I do that? a teacher said.

In the interviews, educators highlighted the influence that literacy had on all other subject areas, including maths, science, history, arts, and geography.

Many teachers in these other subject areas found it difficult to engage with struggling students when they lacked basic English skills.

It becomes even more difficult because the curriculum is quite a content heavy in the area of history and geography, economics, civicsthat whole area tends to be quite literacy-heavy, and those students tend to struggle, one teacher wrote in the survey.

Lacking literacy skills also severely impacts numeracy capabilities, which is particularly pronounced with students that have English as a second language.

Weve got a lot of Sudanese kids and a lot of Pacific Islander kids. So, were identifying a lot of English words or terminologies that were being used in numeracy that was actually foreign to them, another teacher said, adding that they had changed their maths teaching to reflect the students lower literacy standards.

Explaining why maths was important to students was identified as an important factor to increase their engagement with the subject.

We actually go in, and we explain to them why maths is important. Everyone goes, Why do I need maths? So, we actually go through that process  We tell them they need to be at a certain level for their own life skills to be able to buy a car, buy a house, getting change from the canteen, whatever it may be, a teacher said.

Disengagement and a lack of resilience is also significant problem in Years 8 and 9 when learning literacy, which was made worse by online learning propagated during COVID-19.

Many teachers noted that students refused to put in any effort to write on a particular topic, instead just copying answers off the internet.

They will Google the question, and then they will hope that the answer gets fed back to them, and then they will just put that answer down, they said.

It is a different ball game for some of these kids who cant even put a sentence together.

AERO chief executive, Jenny Donovan, said it was vital that every level of government worked with high schools in every state and territory to provide remedial programs.

The answer is not to send a teenager to take lessons with six-year-olds, she told The Australian. We need to have alternative support for students who fall behind, such as targeted assistance through small-group tutoring or streamed group approaches.
Opposition Leadership Pours Fuel on Victorian Liberal Party Dumpster Fire

Victorian Opposition Leader Giovanni Pesutto addresses the media at the Parliament of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, on March 27, 2023. (AAP Image/Diego Fedele)

Commentary

Just when I thought things could not possibly get worse for the centre-right Victorian Liberal Party  they did!

Having agreed weeks ago to suspend conservative MP Moira Deeming from the Parliamentary Liberal Party for nine months after speaking at a rally that was hijacked by neo-Nazis, the leadership has now plunged the organisation into further turmoil.

The suspension outcome was a face-saving measure for the leader of the opposition, John Pesutto, having realised the notion that Deeming had somehow colluded with neo-Nazis to be unsustainable.

Messy though it was, that should have been the end of the matter.

But a failure to release a joint statement, arguments about party meeting minutes, the leaking of those minutes, MPs calling colleagues terrorists, and threats of legal action created a farcical situation. The only winners are the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and the Labor Party government.

Deeming has been expelled from the parliamentary party, but she remains a member of the Victorian division, no doubt entitled to continue to describe herself as a Liberal.

She now has a profile and a position to proclaim her message more broadly.

Thousands of people have reached out to her. If she uses it wisely to promote the spectrum of conservative liberal beliefs and policies, she will continue to engender support.

MP Moira Deeming leaves the Parliament of Victoria in Melbourne in Melbourne, Monday, March 27, 2023. (AAP Image/Diego Fedele)

But what of the Liberal Party in Victoria?

My colleagues and I see the challenge now, which is to turn the party outwards. Theres a place for debates about important issuesabsolutelybut they cant, they cant override the primary mission, which is to reflect our community, the opposition leader Pesutto told The Guardian.

The left-wing Guardian Australia reported him as saying he has a reform plan to address the issues facing the party, including bolstering membership, identifying community leaders who could make good Liberal candidates, setting up KPIs for MPs, and working to improve the partys organisational structure.

Yet the track record of Pesutto and his supporters to date has been to expel or suspend three MPsall of them conservative.

Party Too Damaged to Repair

Unless the party returns to the broad church, as described by former Prime Minister John Howard, it will continue to shed voters and supporters to various other parties.

From the very beginnings of the Liberal Party, freedom of speech, religion, and association have been fundamental values.

Contrary to the direction of Sir Robert Menzies and the founders of the Liberal Party, many now running the organisation believe in a post-values world.

A consequence of this is a zeitgeist where Twitter and social media become the worldview of many leaders.

There is little indication of the existence of the goodwill and compromise necessary to recreate workable peace in the party.

Too many activists are more interested in defeating their internal opponents than defeating the Labor Party and winning government.

Serving the people of Victoria has become a secondary consideration for many.

A measure of the ongoing division is the attempt now to describe people who express traditional values about social and life issues as members of fringe groups. Yet these are the values shared by the vast majority of Liberal supporters.

Another measure is to assert that rank-and-file branch members can no longer be trusted to vote in the preselection of candidates. But when preselection processes result in candidates from the left of the party, there is no objection to be heard.

The state president wrote to members a week ago stating, I understand that many of you are frustrated and concerned.

Unless he has a plan to restore trust and goodwill, those feelings regrettably will prevail.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Person Killed in Fiery Crash on 60 Freeway in Diamond Bar

Police tape is seen blocking the street in a file photo. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo)

DIAMOND BAR, Calif.A person was killed May 14 during a fiery vehicle crash on the Pomona (60) Freeway in Diamond Bar, authorities said.

The crash occurred about 4:25 a.m. on the eastbound freeway, at the northbound Orange (57) Freeway, the California Highway Patrol reported.

Firefighters and paramedics dispatched to the location at 4:34 a.m. found a vehicle on fire and one person inside the vehicle, according to a county fire department dispatcher.

The fatality was pronounced dead at the scene, the highway patrol said.

Sources at the location reported that the involved vehicle was a pickup truck.
Planned Parenthood Chief Wants More Justices in Supreme Court

Planned Parenthood CEO Alexis McGill Johnson wants the number of justices in the Supreme Court to expand, a proposal some experts believe will compromise trust in the judiciary.

We need to see expanded courts from the lower courts all the way up to the Supreme Court. We need to see term limits, Johnson said in a May 14 interview with MSNBC. The reason why the abortion provider is calling for changes to the Supreme Court is owing to attacks on our democratic rights and our democratic freedoms, she said while specifically highlighting the attack on abortion rights.

In June last year, the Supreme court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the federal right to abortion, drawing widespread protests. At present, the Supreme Court has a 63 conservative majority.

The idea of expanding the court has been opposed by several experts, including liberal justices. During a 2021 speech at Harvard Law School, former Justice Stephen Breyer warned that court-packing would reduce trust in the American judiciary.

If the public sees judges as politicians in robes, its confidence in the courts and in the rule of law itself can only diminish. Diminishing the courts power, including its power to act as a check on other branches, Breyer said.

In 2020, President Joe Biden said that he is not a fan of adding more seats to the Supreme Court. But in April 2021, the president signed an executive order forming a commission to study potential court reforms, including proposals to expand it.

In June 2021, 20 GOP governors wrote to Biden, asking that he oppose any efforts to expand the Supreme Court.

Historically, cases before the Supreme Court have served as the last legal defense of state sovereignty, protecting states, and our citizens from federal overreach, the letter stated.

As Governors, we have a vested interest in ensuring that our nations highest court remains independent and free from political pressure or partisan power grabs.

Planned Parenthoods Court Reform Push

On May 14, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) outlined four reforms it wants to see in the Supreme Court.

In addition to expanding the number of justices and putting term limits in place, PPFA also wants to impose ethics and transparency requirements on the justices, add seats for additional judges on lower courts, and prevent single-judge divisions, as well as stop allowing interest groups to pick and choose where they can file lawsuits.

In her MSNBC interview, Johnson claimed that Supreme Court justices with their lifetime appointments are very much out of step with where the majority of people are on a variety of issues.

As such, the legitimacy of these justices is in question, she added, while stressing that its really important to call for structural reforms. Johnson insisted that the court has now been fully captured in so many areas.

The fact that you have, again, this lone Texas judge, that can now bring cases, you can form shop there, bring cases to the Fifth Circuit, which is also conservative, and up to the Supreme Court now, which has a conservative super majority, Johnson said, referring to a federal judge in Texas who ruled in favor of removing an abortion medication from the market.

Blocking Court Packing

In March, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) reintroduced an amendment to block the packing of the Supreme Court. The proposal was co-sponsored by 11 other Republicans.

The Democrats answer to a Supreme Court that is dedicated to upholding the rule of law and the Constitution is to pack it with liberals who will rule the way they want, Cruz said, according to a March 22 press release.

The Supreme Court should be independent, not inflated by every new administration. Thats why Ive introduced a constitutional amendment to permanently keep the number of justices at nine.

The American public also largely agrees that the Supreme Court should only have nine justices.

A 2019 poll by Rasmussen Reports found that just 27 percent of likely voters favored raising the number, with 51 percent being opposed to such expansion.

A Marquette Law School survey from January also showed that the American publics approval of the Supreme Court has slowly been rising since the abortion ruling.

In the survey, 47 percent expressed approval for the court, up from 38 percent in July 2022.
Poland Detects Object in Its Airspace That Flew From Belarus, Likely Observation Balloon

Polish President Andrzej Duda attends a joint press conference with the Austrian President during an official visit in Vienna on April 14, 2023. (Alex Halada/AFP via Getty Images)

WARSAW, PolandAn object believed to be an observation balloon entered Polish airspace from Belarus and flew over the country for several hours before disappearing from radar, prompting the military to carry out a search by air and on the ground on Saturday.

Polish President Andrzej Duda linked the object and previous objects that have entered Polish airspace to the war that Russia is waging in Ukraine, which lies on Polands eastern border. Belarus, an ally of Russia, also lies on Polands northeastern border.

Never has war been so close to us, never been so tangible, Duda said on a visit to Ustka on the Baltic Sea coast, where the Polish military was holding a large exercise.

It creates many different, difficult situations, many provocations, even those that we see even in the last hours.

Duda said he planed to speak to speak Monday to NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg.

The Defense Ministry said that it believed the object was an observation balloon and that radar contact with the object was lost near Rypin, a town in central Poland 143 kilometers (89 miles) northwest of the capital, Warsaw.

A search was launched in that area involving a helicopter, a drone, and ground groups from the Territorial Defense Forces, a press officer with the Operational Command of the Armed Forces, Capt. Ewa Zotnicka, told the television broadcaster TVN24.

The object was spotted Friday around 8:30 p.m. local time near Biaowieza, which is near Polands border with Belarus. Radar monitoring was carried out, but at around 12:30 a.m. Saturday, the object ceased to be visible, Zotnicka said in a phone interview with the private TV station.

The development reported Saturday follows two other known incursions into Polands airspace since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In November, two Polish men were killed when a missile landed in eastern Poland. Western officials said they believed a Ukrainian air defense missile went astray as Ukraine tried to repel a large-scale attack by Russia.

Polish military and political officials are also facing questions about another object that landed on Polish territory in December, but which was only discovered in April by chance by a member of the public who was riding a horse in a forest.

The issue is raising questions about the authorities handling of Polands air defenses amid new risks created by the war in Ukraine.

President Duda and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki were only informed of the December airspace incursion in late April.

The National Security Bureau, which advises the president on security and defense matters, said Friday that its head, Jacek Siewiera, and Duda were informed on April 26 about the object, which the bureau said may be a Russian-made cruise missile.

Officials have said that no traces of explosives were found at the site where the aerial object was discovered.

Defense Minister Mariusz Baszczak this week pointed the finger of blame at the operational commander of the armed forces for not properly informing political leaders of the object. Army leaders have pushed back, insisting they fulfilled their duties properly.

Poland and the Polish army have not seen such events on our territory and over our territory for many decades, Duda said in his remarks Saturday. He said Polish authorities were analyzing new procedures which were being used for the first time and that some had worked better than others.

But he said he could not go into detail because of security concerns.

By Vanessa Gera
PwC Consulting Scandal to Be Referred to Anti-Corruption Commission

One of the worlds largest financial consulting firms, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), has been referred to Australias Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) after a government inquiry revealed the company allegedly planned to cheat the Australian government out of tax revenue from the firm.

Greens Senator Barbara Pocock, who initiated the senate inquiry, announced she will be referring the company to the NACC over the scandal.

This is a serious matter of misconduct involving a company that has multiple government contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars, said Pocock.

Its beyond comprehension that the government would leave this matter to a review by an independent investigator appointed by the company itself, as proposed by the PwC CEO, Tom Seymour, just days before he resigned in disgrace.

The tax scandal surrounding PwC was revealed after the federal Tax Practitioner Board (TPB) disqualified a former PwC government consultant, Peter-John Collins.

According to the TPB, Collins had been employed by the federal government as part of the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Tax Advisory Group to advise the government on legislation and policy positions intended to give effect to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development BEPS provisions, including the Multinational Anti-Avoidance Law, the Diverted Profits Tax and Hybrid mismatch rules.

As part of his role, he received confidential information and documentation that was meant to be kept confidential. However, Collins shared the secret knowledge within PwC and with overseas partners, allowing the firm to create a system that enabled large companies to avoid paying the newly devised taxes.

Following a 2022 parliamentary inquiry into the management and integrity of the government consulting services, internal emails from the PwC allegedly revealed that company executives had bragged about the system and utilised it as a selling point for its services.

The revelations left Treasurer Jim Chalmers furious.

There is no consultation without trust, and we want to be able to consult in a meaningful way when changes to the tax system are in prospect, and the actions that weve seen alleged and reported cut across that, he said.

This is a shocking breach of trust, an appalling breach of trust and as a government that wants to be consultative where we can, this puts that sort of consultation at risk, and so it puts the quality of economic decision-making and policymaking at risk as well. 

The treasurer said he would seek advice on advice from both the treasury department and the Australian Tax Office for any additional steps that should be taken to protect the integrity of Australias tax processes.

PwC was reported by the Australian Financial Review (AFR) to have received $537 million (US$358 million) in federal government contracts during the past two years.

The Chief Executive Office of PwC, Tom Seymour, stepped down on May 9 effective immediately, PwC told ABC in a statement.

We have appointed our Assurance Leader, Kristin Stubbins, to serve as acting CEO, the statement read. In the coming months, a new CEO will be elected by the Partners. We agreed with Tom that this is in the best interests of the firm and our stakeholders.

Calls for Finance Minister to Act

Senator Pocock is calling for PwC to face real-world consequences and not just reputational damage.

Why hasnt Finance Minister Katy Gallagher acted on this? Pocock said.

I wrote to Minister Gallagher on 1st March asking her to remove PwC from the Management Advisory Services Panel, which gives them access to government contracts, because they have failed to meet the criteria to be included on the basis of risk, compliance and benefit.

In reply, she said she has the power to immediately suspend or terminate a supplier from the panel. A power she has refused to exercise. What further revelations will it take for the Minister to act?

Pocock said that the Greens party room had approved her decision to refer the matter to the NACC and that the party will also be looking at the procedures to make this happen as quickly as possible.

Corruption on this scale is what NACC is for. This matter should be top of its agenda when it opens for business on 1st July, she said.

This company has made millions selling secret Government information to help its multinational clients minimise tax. If thats not corruption, I dont know what is.

Under the National Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2022 (also known as the NACC Act), the heads of federal government agencies and parliamentarians are obliged to refer potential corruption issueswhich does include the misuse of informationto the NACC for potential investigation.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the finance minister to find out if the federal government will be referring the PwC matter to the NACC.

The senator noted that in addition to the departure of Collins, PwC has also had three more partners resign from their leadership positions after being identified for their roles in this scandal.

We know that there were potentially 40 to 50 more PwC operatives involved. We need to know exactly who else inside PwC played a part or had knowledge of the scam, which companies benefited from it and how much the Australian public was ripped off in missed tax revenue, Pocock said.

And we need to ask whether we are only looking at the tip of the iceberg. We need to know much more about the huge, opaque consulting industry at large.
Saudi Arabias Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock in Jeddah on Monday, the Saudi foreign ministry said, Trend reports citing Al Arabiya.

During their meeting, the top diplomats discussed bilateral relations and explored avenues to enhance them, the ministry said in a tweet. They also discussed ways to increase bilateral coordination on regional and international issues, the ministry added.

Baerbock also thanked Saudi Arabia for its efforts in evacuating German nationals from Sudan, according to the ministry.

Saudi Arabia evacuated thousands of foreign nationals from Sudan after fighting erupted in the country on April 15 between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The conflict has claimed the lives of hundreds and forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes.
Radical Activists Influencing Sex and Trans Education in Schools: Report

A teacher speaks to the class at Copley Academy in Stalybridge, England, on Sept. 9, 2021. (Anthony Devlin/Getty Images)

Radical activists are influencing sex education and trans issues in schools, a report has suggested.

The analysis, by British think tank Civitas, urges parents to be vigilant over what children are being taught in classrooms by some self-declared experts.

It calls for a union of parents to support those concerned about how schools approach sex and relationship issues.

The report (pdf) also reveals how 1 in 10 16- to 18-year-olds say they want to change gender or have already made the switch.

Over half of those pupils know someone at their school who wants to transition, or has completed the process.

The statistics, gathered by Deltapoll, also reveal that just under a third of 16- to 18-year-olds say they have been taught a woman can have a penis.

One in five has been told that a man can get pregnant.

Nearly half dont feel comfortable contributing to class debate for fear of reprisals from fellow pupils.

Vigilance

The research also reveals a split between teens and parents over allowing 16-year-olds to legally change gender.

Fifty-six percent of those aged 16 to 18 back the idea, however only a third of parents with children aged 12 to 16 years old do so.

The two separate polling exercises commissioned for Show, tell and leave nothing to the imagination: How critical social justice is undermining British schooling, find that contentious ideas are seemingly widespread in schools, with evidence they arent always presented in accordance within the legal obligations to impartiality.

A large majority of parents polled said they want unrestricted legal rights to see all Relationships, Sex, and Health Education (RSHE) materials and lesson plans.

Responding to the evidence gathered, report author Jo-Anne Nadler said urgent steps need to be taken to give parents more power to see what is going on in the school system.

She said, Parents need to be vigilant about exactly what is being taught to children and by whom.

Nadler argues that a revolution delivered largely by stealth is supported by a burgeoning industry of external providers and often self-declared expert consultants on issues such as race, equity, gender, and sexuality.

A child in a classroom in Wales, in an undated file photo. (Alamy/PA)

Radical Activists

The parent campaigner added that legislation has opened the door to radical activists, and ushered them straight into the classroom.

The issues here though go beyond the traditional queasiness that any one community might have to discussions about sex in school at all but to the way in which this strand of education has become another potent vehicle for communicating an assertive, proscriptive, and hermetically sealed set of values, often at odds with the majoritarian views, she said in the report.

It is important to see it, and its co-opting by activists, as part of a more comprehensive identitarian political agenda encompassing and prescribing how children should, within one overarching worldview, consider race, gender, sexuality, masculinity, family, mental health, and the environment.

Nadler denied that a conspiratorial mindset was being applied to the analysis, adding it has been explicitly framed in these terms by many of the external providers going into schools.

She referenced sex education group School for Sexuality Education which explain their approach to RSE as based on equality/equity intersectional rights based decolonizing and trauma-informed.

She added: Can one blame activists for taking advantage of the legislative framework, and the constitutional fraying of the United Kingdom, that has opened the door to radical actors, and ushered them straight into the classroom?

Of course not. But what we have seen in schools, as in so many of our institutions, is the complicity of our political system, supposedly built on respect for individual freedoms, with forces that undermine its pluralist values.

Impartiality Inspections

Apart from bolstering parental rights over controversial materials in schools, Nadler also recommended that impartiality inspections should be carried out by Ofsted and the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

She also suggested a registration system for third party RSE providers.

In March, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ordered an independent review of sex education in schools in England after MPs and parents raised the alarm about age-inappropriate content.

Sunak said he asked the Department for Education to ensure that schools are not teaching inappropriate or contested content in RSHE.

Our priority should always be the safety and wellbeing of children and schools should also make curriculum content and materials available to parents, he said.

As a result of all of this, we are bringing forward a review of RSHE statutory guidance and we will start our consultation as soon as possible, he added.

Conservative MP Miriam Cates raised the issue and said that pupils were being subjected to relationships and sex education classes that are age inappropriate, extreme, sexualising, and inaccurate.

Cates called on Sunak to commission an independent inquiry to end inappropriate sex education.

Graphic lessons on oral sex, how to choke your partner safely, and 72 genders. This is what passes for relationships and sex education in British schools, she said.

Across the country, children are being subjected to lessons that are age inappropriate, extreme, sexualising, and inaccurate, often using resources from unregulated organisations that are actively campaigning to undermine parents, she added.

This is not a victory for equality, it is a catastrophe for childhood, said Cates.

The prime ministers official spokesman said at the time: We believe children should be supported to make informed decisions and those need to be factually based and age appropriate.

So the PM has asked for the Department of Education to look at some of the issues raised by the MPs in the letter to him to make sure all schools are compliant with existing guidance.

He stressed clear guidance already exists on external speakers and resources and thats something that we want the review to look at.
RCMP Short of Target Police Numbers by Nearly 10%: Report

An RCMP officer wears a body camera at the detachment in Bible Hill, N.S. on April 18, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Andrew Vaughan)

The federal police force is short of its targeted number of officers by nearly 10 percent despite multiple measures intended to increase recruitment and retention, according to a report.

In a report recently submitted to the Senate Standing Committee on National Finance and obtained by Blacklocks Reporter, the RCMP said that it has around 18,480 memberswhich is more than 500 short of its target of 19,000 members.

The RCMP added in the report that 1,295 out of the total 18,483 funded regular member positions in the RCMP are currently vacant.

The federal police member shortage and hiring shortfall come despite the RCMP now accepting immigrants as volunteers, said the report submitted to the Senate committee.

Last fiscal year, 152 permanent residents applied to our regular member cadet program, it said while adding that over half of those permanent residents (79) dropped out or were rejected.

Bryan Larkin, the RCMPs Deputy Commissioner of Specialized Policing Services told the committee in April that police recruiting is a global challenge.

Our target is 19,000. We continue to see hard and soft vacancies, Larkin told the committee on April 19.

He added at the time that the RCMP has launched a research project and is also conducting polling across Canada to identify characteristics of the issue to see how the federal police force can actually modernize our recruitment process to attract more regular members into policing.

Were looking at mobility across the country, Larkin said. Were looking, obviously, at diversifying our workforce. That includes heavily specific efforts around Indigenous and representation as a part of our systemic culture change.

RCMP spokesperson Kim Chamberland previously told The Epoch Times about the federal police services recruitment and retention woes, saying that there has recently been an increase in departures relative to historical averages.

Chamberland said in February that RCMP retention is high for regular members and attrition is slightly higher for new officers, who may be leaving the RCMP for other police services or careers.

Data provided to The Epoch Times showed that the RCMPs attrition rate was 4.54 percent in the fiscal year 20212022, which was up from 3.55 percent in 20202021.

Noe Chartier contributed to this report.
Researchers Warn AI Technology Could Sway Elections

Participants at Intel's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Day stand in front of a poster during the event in the Indian city of Bangalore on April 4, 2017. (Manjunath Kiran/AFP via Getty Images)

Researchers are concerned that advancements in new artificial intelligence (AI) applications could be used to mislead the voting public and potentially sway the outcomes of elections.

Recent advancements have allowed AI to respond to writing prompts in real-time, effectively mimicking human conversation. AI has also enabled people to create lifelike images, videos, and voiceovers, commonly referred to as deep fakes. As time progresses, these tools have only become more convincing, and some researchers now believe they could be used at scale in the upcoming 2024 U.S. election cycle.

While generative AI may help campaigns to rapidly produce targeted campaign emails, texts, and videos, they could also be used for more deceptive purposes like impersonating specific candidates.

Some scenarios researchers have considered include automated robocalls in a specific candidates voice, telling their supporters to get out to vote on the wrong date. Researchers have envisioned other potentially problematic scenarios, such as a faked newspaper headline informing readers that a particular candidate had dropped out of the race or faked audio impersonating an influential public figure.

What if Elon Musk personally calls you and tells you to vote for a certain candidate? said Oren Etzioni, the founding CEO of the Allen Institute for AI. A lot of people would listen. But its not him.

Deceptive actors could also produce relatively convincing faked audio impersonating a candidate as they confess to a crime or express a view that might alienate voters. On the inverse, a candidate might be able to plausibly deny an incriminating authentic recording by claiming it was faked. In any of the cases, the public could struggle to discern whether theyre getting the truth or a carefully constructed lie.

To me, the big leap forward is the audio and video capabilities that have emerged, said A.J. Nash, the vice president of intelligence at cybersecurity firm ZeroFox. When you can do that on a large scale, and distribute it on social platforms, well, its going to have a major impact.

AI Already Spreading Into Politics

AI tools have already been used to impersonate celebrities and political candidates.

Over the past year, a trend of using AI to impersonate the voices of U.S. presidents has grown into a running meme, with Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden being depicted trash-talking with each other over intense online videogaming matches.

In March, after Trump announced he anticipated being criminally charged by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, fake images began to circulate online showing Trump being handcuffed, chased, and tackled by police officers. At the time, The Atlantics Charlie Warzel remarked, This *fake* trump arrest ai generated photo still looks over-stylized and fake and the hands are weird as per usualbut hard not to see how much better this is getting in a short amount of time.

In April, after Democratic President Joe Biden announced he was running for reelection, the Republican National Committee (RNC) released an attack ad that used AI-generated images to depict a hypothetical future in which Bidens reelection victory leads to a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, U.S. borders being overrun by illegal immigrants, and a crime wave in San Francisco. A description for the RNC ad reads, An AI-generated look into the countrys possible future if Joe Biden is re-elected in 2024.

While the RNC acknowledged its use of AI-generated images for the ad, cybersecurity analyst Petko Stoyanov warned that nefarious actors and hostile nation-states wont be so forthcoming in the future.

What happens if an international entitya cybercriminal or a nation stateimpersonates someone. What is the impact? Do we have any recourse? Stoyanov said. Were going to see a lot more misinformation from international sources.

Though many researchers see the potential nefarious misuses of AI, campaigns are leaning into the tools as a way to communicate more effectively with voters.

Mike Nellis, CEO of progressive digital agency Authentic, said he encourages his team to use AI text generator ChatGPT to help write campaign ads. Nellis said that as long as his staff reviews the content ChatGPT produces before they disseminate it, he doesnt see a problem.

Nelliss team is currently working with Higher Ground Labs, to develop an AI tool called Quiller that can generate, distribute, and evaluate the effectiveness of new campaign fundraising emails.

The idea is every Democratic strategist, every Democratic candidate will have a copilot in their pocket, Nellis said.

Regulating AI

Lawmakers and regulatory agencies are already discussing ways to constrain AI to prevent its misuse.

Last month the the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued a joint statement warning that AI tools could be used to perpetuate unlawful bias, automate unlawful discrimination, and produce other harmful outcomes in the work force. FTC Chair Lina M. Khan said AI tools could turbocharge fraud and automate discrimination.

While policymakers are looking to constrain AI, some researchers have warned against overregulating the technology.

Jake Morabito, director of the Communications and Technology Task Force at the American Legislative Exchange Council, has warned that overregulation could stifle innovative AI technologies in their infancy.

Innovators should have the legroom to experiment with these new technologies and find new applications, Morabito told NTD News in a March interview. One of the negative side effects of regulating too early is that it shuts down a lot of these avenues, whereas enterprises should really explore these avenues and help customers.

The Associated Press contributed to this article

From NTD News
Russia Strikes Ukrainian Arms Depot, Prompting Speculation of Possible Fallout

A glow from explosion is seen over the city's skyline during a Russian drones strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine in Kyiv on Jan. 1, 2023. (Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

Moscow says its forces have destroyed a large munitions depot in Ukraines western city of Khmelnytskyi.

One AFU [Armed Forces of Ukraine] ammunition depot has been destroyed close to Khmelnytskyi, the Russian Defense Ministry stated in its daily briefing for May 14.

Khmelnytskyi, the target of Russian strikes in February, is located roughly 170 miles southwest of Kyiv.

Ukraines Energy Ministry confirmed that a massive Russian barrage damaged an energy facility in the city in the early hours of May 13.

Smoke billows from a building heavily damaged by Russian drone strikes in the town of Rzhyshchiv, Kyiv region, Ukraine, on March 22, 2023. (State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Handout via Reuters)

According to the ministry, the local power supply wasnt affected by the strikes.

The citys local military administration similarly reported that multiple drones had targeted critical infrastructure.

Khmelnytskyis mayor, Oleksandr Symchyshyn, said schools, residential buildings, and industrial facilities were damaged in what he described as a terrorist attack.

Speaking on the Telegram messaging app, Symchyshyn claimed that the Russian strikes had left a number of civilian residents injured.

On the same day, a Russian missile barrage destroyed a storage facility in the Ukrainian city of Ternopil, located just west of Khmelnytskyi.

Fallout Concerns

Following the strike in Khmelnytskyi, video footage began circulating on Russian social media accounts that purportedly shows CCTV footage of the blast. The footage shows a facilitythe nature of which is unclearbeing rocked by a massive explosion, sending an enormous fireball into the sky.

The Epoch Times couldnt verify the authenticity of the footage or whether it portrayed the recent Russian strike in Khmelnytskyi.

Nevertheless, the scope of the blastand its fiery aftermathhas reportedly prompted speculation online that the targeted facility housed Western-supplied munitions containing depleted uranium.

In March, the UK announced plans to provide Kyiv with depleted uranium shells for its Challenger 2 combat tanks, 14 of which have already been sent to Ukraine.

Britains Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greets Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on his arrival at Chequers in Aylesbury, England, on May 15, 2023. (Carl Court/Getty Images)

Due to their extremely high density, depleted uranium shells are able to penetrate heavy armor. But they can also pose health risks to humans, animals, and ecosystems in and around impact areas.

Following Londons announcement, Russias Foreign Ministry warned that the potential effects of munitions containing depleted uranium would be impossible to control.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to respond accordingly if such munitions are employed on the battlefield.

According to Intel Slava Z, a pro-Moscow news aggregator, rumors have spread on Ukrainian social media that the recent explosion in Khmelnytskyi had led to the dispersal of depleted uranium particles.

In a Telegram post, it claimed that there were already reports that radiation levels had surged in the vicinity of the city.

The Epoch Times was unable to verify the assertions.

Allies Pledge More Arms to Kyiv

The strike in Khmelnytskyi coincided with a trip by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Berlin, where he met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

It was Zelenskyys first visit to the German capital since Russia launched its invasion of UkraineMoscow calls it a special military operationearly last year.

Shortly before the Ukrainian leaders arrival, Germany unveiled a fresh $3 billion aid package for Kyivits single largest contribution to date.

On May 15, Zelenskyy visited London, where UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to provide Ukraine with additional long-range missiles and attack drones. Last week, the UK announced that it had delivered Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which boast a range of more than 150 miles.

Speaking to Sunak, Zelenskyy said his countrys ongoing conflict with Russia was a matter of security for Ukraine and all of Europe.

Soon afterward, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the UK of pumping weapons into Ukraine.

This wont drastically change the course of the special military operation, he said. But it will definitely lead to further destruction.

According to Sunaks office, the UK prime minister plans to urge Kyivs other allies to step up support for Ukraines war effort at an upcoming meeting of G-7 leaders.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Sacrificing Success on the Altar of Equity

Ontario Premier Doug and Education Minister Stephen Lecce leave after a press conference at Queen's Park in Toronto on Nov. 7, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Nathan Denette)

Commentary

Somewhere around the mid-1960s the conventional conservative model of the English grammar school was finally over-turned by a new-age, liberal-progressive intellectual alliance of progressive educators.

This shift of power and influence to the left led to changes in education that have had enormous effects on the worldview and behavior of recent generations.

Traditional teachers passed on knowledge, skills, and virtues required to succeed in conventional society. Thats why so many parents trusted the education of their children to a traditional public school.

For close to a century, traditional teachers have been in retreat and progressive educators have been on the march. As a result, schools have become undisciplined mills of declining achievement and moral chaos.

Progressives are big picture people. Their model for education is guided mostly by the ideas of 19th-century Utopian socialism, 20th-century Marxism, and the mass formation psychoses afflicting the 21st-century Woke Movement.

Progressive teachers talk a great deal about active learning and student-centered schools. But, in the context of their high-minded ambitions for change, the well-being of the average kid has become less and less important.

Progressives care little about developing academic proficiency and personal discipline. First and foremost, activist educators seek to produce new cohorts of like-minded graduates who will become dedicated drivers of cultural transformation.

Unique Pathways to Success

For progressive ideologues, preparing students for productive, well-ordered lives is low on the educational agenda. Militant 21st-century pedagogues routinely sideline the hopes and dreams of ordinary children. Their principal mission is the transformation of society.

Consider the progressive vision demonstrated in a recent educational policy change by the PC Government of Ontario.

In 2020, Doug Fords Minister of Education announced a commitment to end the practice of streaming in grade nine, the first year of high school.

The minister claimed that streaming disproportionately affected the graduation and university entrance rates of black and low-income students. Ninth grade was de-streamed in the 20222023 academic year.

In an April 2023 edition of National Review, Toronto-based news writer Ari Blaff took issue with the Ford governments policy decision.

Blaff opened his case with the testimony of Trish, a woman who had thrived in Ontario public schools and gone on to a successful teaching career. Trish was convinced that if it werent for the tailored approach to learning she enjoyed as a student, she wouldnt have succeeded to the extent that she did.

I took applied classes in high school, the elementary school teacher told National Review. The only reason I passed was because I had teachers who were catering their lesson plans to a student like me who needed more guidance. The catered learning approach, known as streaming, was a benefit to me. My self-esteem grew significantly from elementary to high school because I was getting the help I needed.

Positive reports about the benefits of streaming are supported by scores of student experiences. Going back to the 1950s, a decade routinely vilified by neo-Marxist ideologues, streaming students was fairly common in Canadian high schools.

Childhood disadvantages produce learning challenges that often show up in the early years of high school. Steaming was never intended to embarrass students assigned to lower streams. It simply permitted teachers to teach, and students to learn, at a realistic and productive pace for everyone in the class.

In my day, high school began in grade seven. My elementary years werent spent rubbing shoulders with child prodigies. My family wasnt particularly bookish, and neither were most of my neighborhood friends.

There were five grade seven classes in my high school, and I landed in 7e. Despite the undistinguished start, I will never forget being awarded a book prize that year for Most Improvement in English. I wouldnt have won that confidence-building award if Id been competing against better-prepared kids in grades 7a or 7b.

The opportunity to begin a rigorous secondary curriculum at a more basic level can be a distinct advantage for some students. It certainly doesnt prohibit the possibility to improve. Many kids from working-class families who are initially unprepared for advanced studies do just that. Streamed classes can be unique pathways to success.

Woke Ideology Impedes Student Progress

Dedicated teachers of lower-streamed classes always had a reputation for making an extra effort to help their students. But, our present educational establishment considers positive accounts from graduates, like Trish, to be nothing more than anecdotal distractions.

Instead of engaging in discourse with parents, teachers, and students who may have reasonable objections to ideological policy changes, progressives denounce them as white supremacists, homophobes, transphobes, and climate change deniers.

Progressives express their lofty mission in the rhetoric of democracy, social justice, tolerance, saving the planet, and building a new world order.

Addressing the reality that disadvantaged kids require special attention is simply no longer a priority. Today, almost all educational issues are framed around a schools ideological commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In the faculty rooms of the Woke, any disparity between groups defined by race, ethnicity, class, religion, gender, or sexual preferences is evidence of injustice.

Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce categorically asserted that streaming has always been a systemic racist, discriminatory practice. And for now, thats where the matter stands.

As National Reviews Ari Blaff concluded: Ontarios personalized educational approach was sacrificed on the altar of equity.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Soaring Donations to Daniel Pennys Legal Fund Show Americans Standing Up for Right to Self-Defense: Lawyers

Daniel Penny (C) is walked by New York Police Department detectives detectives out of the 5th Precinct in New York on May 12, 2023. (Jeenah Moon/AP Photo)

Lawyers for former Marine Daniel Penny, who was charged in the death of a homeless man behaving erratically on the New York subway, said that the outpouring of donations to help cover Pennys legal costs show that Americans are fed up with attempts to undermine the right to defend oneself and others.

Penny and two other riders of the F-train in New York restrained Jordan Neely on May 1 when the homeless man with a history of mental issues was reportedly behaving aggressively.

Neely, who Penny restrained using a chokehold, later died. The city medical examiner ruled the death a homicide owing to compression of neck (chokehold) and Penny has been charged with second-degree manslaughter over the incident.

Pennys lawyers have said the former Marine was acting in self-defense and have expressed confidence that he would be absolved of any wrongdoing. They also launched a crowdfunding campaign to help cover Pennys legal costs.

Thomas Kenniff and Steven Raiser, Pennys attorneys, launched the campaign on the crowdfunding site GiveSendGo last week, saying their client was only protecting individuals on the subway from whom they described as an assailant.

The legal defense fund for Penny was nearing $2 million on Monday morning.

Outpouring of Support

Raiser said in an email to the New York Post the outpouring of support for Penny is clear from the sizable amount raised.

This level of support demonstrates that the situation forced upon him in that subway car earlier this month, and his subsequent arrest, has struck a chord in the psyche of New Yorkers and has been echoed nationwide, Raiser wrote, according to the outlet.

The message being sent by this massive showing of support is that any attempt to undermine the right and duty to protect one another against an imminent threat will be challenged, Raiser added.

Kenniff told Fox News that the support for Penny is beyond anything we could have imagined.

Prosecutors have said that Neely, who has a long criminal history and was described as homeless, was making threats and scaring passengers.

A witness wishing to remain anonymous told the New York Post that Neely seemed to be having a mental episode and started ranting wildly while on the subway train.

He said: I dont care. Ill take a bullet. Ill go to jail because he would kill people on the train, the 66-year-old female witness said, referring to Neelys remarks. He said: I would kill a [expletive]. I dont care. Ill take a bullet. Ill go to jail.

The witness added that Penny didnt initially engage with Neely but only became involved once the situation escalated.

Penny on Friday appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court, where a judge set bail at $100,000.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement released after Pennys arraignment that after evaluating the available facts and evidence, his office concluded that there was probable cause to arrest and charge the former Marine.

Jordan Neely should still be alive today, and my thoughts continue to be with his family and loved ones as they mourn his loss during this extremely painful time, Bragg said.

If convicted of manslaughter in the second degree, Penny could face as much as 15 years in prison. He is due back in court for another hearing on July 17.

DeSantis Weighs In

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis used his large platform on Twitter to help boost Pennys legal defense fund.

We must defeat the Soros-Funded DAs, stop the Lefts pro-criminal agenda, and take back the streets for law abiding citizens. We stand with Good Samaritans like Daniel Penny. Lets show this Marine Americas got his back, DeSantis said in the post, which had over 11.4 million views at the time of reporting.

We must defeat the Soros-Funded DAs, stop the Lefts pro-criminal agenda, and take back the streets for law abiding citizens. We stand with Good Samaritans like Daniel Penny. Lets show this Marine Americas got his back.

https://t.co/uQXZuT19Mo  Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantisFL) May 13, 2023

Money raised in excess of whats needed to cover Pennys legal defense will be donated to a mental health advocacy program, according to the campaign.

Funds are being raised to pay Mr. Pennys legal fees incurred from any criminal charges filed and any future civil lawsuits that may arise, as well as expenses related to his defense, the crowdfunding page for Penny reads.

Supportive comments from donors on the page include expressions of appreciation for Pennys willingness to protect good people from a madman or thanking him for not being just a bystander.

Neelys family has released a statement saying they believe Penny should have faced a more serious charge of murder.

Daniel Penny chose, intentionally chose, a technique to use that is designed to cut off airthats what he choseand he chose to continue to hold that chokehold minute after minute, second after second, until there was no life left in Jordan Neely, Neely family attorney Lennon Edwards told reporters Friday.

Pennys lawyers have said they hope that this awful tragedy would lead to a new commitment by our elected officials to address the mental health crisis on our streets and subways.
Stuck Antenna Freed on Jupiter-Bound Spacecraft

The second stuck part of the RIME antenna deploys, at right leaning vertically, on a spacecraft bound for Jupiter on May 12, 2023. (European Space Agency via AP)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.A crucial radar antenna on a European spacecraft bound for Jupiter is no longer jammed.

Flight controllers in Germany freed the 52-foot (16-meter) antenna Friday after nearly a month of effort.

The European Space Agencys Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, nicknamed Juice, blasted off in April on a decade-long voyage. Soon after launch, a tiny pin refused to budge and prevented the antenna from fully opening.

Controllers tried shaking and warming the spacecraft to get the pin to move by just millimeters. Back-to-back jolts finally did the trick.

The radar antenna will peer deep beneath the icy crust of three Jupiter moons suspected of harboring underground oceans and possibly life. Those moons are Callisto, Europa, and Ganymede, the largest moon in the solar system.

Juice will attempt to go into orbit around Ganymede. No spacecraft has ever orbited a moon other than our own.

The news wasnt so good for NASAs Lunar Flashlight spacecraft. After struggling unsuccessfully for months to get the Cubesat into orbit around the moon, the space agency called it quits Friday.

Launched in December, the Lunar Flashlight was supposed to hunt for ice in the shadowed craters of the lunar south pole. Now its headed back toward Earth and then into deep space, continually orbiting the sun.

By Marcia Dunn
Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Dispute Over Trumps Former DC Hotel

The Supreme Court decided on May 15 to take up a long-running dispute between former President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats over the former Trump International Hotel in the nations capital.

The case goes back to 2017, when Trump had just become president, and Republicans controlled both chambers of Congress. At that time, several Democrats on the House Oversight Committee demanded that the Trump administration produce records concerning how Trump acquired the rights to develop the historic Old Post Office building, a few blocks away from the White House, as a luxury hotel. The Trump administration refused. Trump critics have alleged that the deal smacked of corruption and said that various organizations, including foreign governments, booked the hotel to curry favor with the administration.

But The Trump Organization said the leasing process was conducted fairly. More than 20 hotel companies bid on the project, and Trumps company said it was awarded the job based on the strength of Trump development capabilities, financial wherewithal, vision for the property, and dedication to the preservation of the historic structure.

Trump left the presidency in January 2021, and The Trump Organization sold the lease to the property in May 2022 to CGI Merchant Group for an undisclosed sum. The hotel is now known as the Waldorf Astoria Washington D.C. and is part of Hilton Worldwide.

The transaction marks the highest price per key ever achieved in Washington D.C., the highest price per key in U.S. history for a leasehold interest, and the largest sale of a historic hotel in over 15 years, The Trump Organization said.

Media reports based on unnamed sources indicated at the time that the lease was sold for $375 million and may have netted the Trump family business up to $100 million in profits.

The case is Carnahan v. Maloney, court file 22-425. Robin Carnahan is the administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA), an independent agency of the U.S. government that manages federal property and provides contracting options for government agencies. Former Rep. Carolyn Maloney, a Democrat from New York, chaired the U.S. House Oversight Committee until she left office on Jan. 3.

The decision to hear the case came in an unsigned order. No justices dissented. In order for a case to be heard, four justices must vote to accept it.

The legal issue is whether individual members of Congress have standing under Article III of the U.S. Constitution to sue an executive agency to compel it to disclose information that the members have requested under 5 U.S.C. Section 2954. That law states that a request for information must be acted upon if just seven members of the House Oversight Committee or five members of its counterpart in the Senate demand it. Article III of the Constitution is the article that created the federal judiciary.

A federal district judge threw out the Democrats lawsuit in 2018, finding that they lacked standing to bring the case. The court found that the lawmakers werent injured by being denied the documents and that there was no historical precedent for members of Congress to even attempt to enforce unmet  demands through the federal courts.

But a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit overturned that ruling on a 21 vote in 2020, finding that the lawmakers had the right to sue. The panel sent the case back to the lower court for reconsideration, stating, The separation of powers, it must be remembered, is not a one-way street that runs to the aggrandizement of the executive branch.

In the case at hand, the Biden administration sided with the former Trump administration in defense of presidential authority, urging the Supreme Court to take up the case.

The Supreme Court is expected to hold oral arguments in the case in its new term, which begins in October.

Terrence Clark, of the Department of Justices Office of Public Affairs, told The Epoch Times by email, No comment from DOJ.

The Democrats attorney, Georgetown University law professor David Vladeck, didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

The GSA and The Trump Organization also didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.
Supreme Court to Consider If GOP Lawmakers Racially Gerrymandered South Carolina District

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) speaks during a news conference about a cannabis reform bill she introduced on Nov. 15, 2021, on Capitol Hill in Washington. . (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

The Supreme Court will consider whether the South Carolina legislature racially gerrymandered the congressional seat currently held by Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican.

The case will be closely watched, given the Republicans thin current majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mace was elected to her second term in 2022 with 56.4 percent of the popular vote, beating Democrat Annie Andrews who garnered 42.5 percent of the vote. In 2020, she narrowly defeated incumbent Democrat Joe Cunningham by a margin of 50.6 to 49.3 percent, according to Ballotpedia.

Republicans outnumber Democrats in the states delegation to the U.S. House by 6 to 1. Maces district covers the Atlantic shoreline including Charleston and Hilton Head.

I hope the court does whats best for the people of South Carolinas coast, Mace told The Washington Examiner after the Supreme Court made its ruling.

The decision to take the case came in an unsigned order May 15 in which the court noted it had probable jurisdiction to hear Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, court file 22-807, an appeal against a ruling of the U.S. District Court in South Carolina. No justices dissented from the ruling. The Supreme Court did not explain why it decided to hear the case.

In January, after an eight-day trial, a three-member panel of the district court ordered that a new map be drawn for South Carolinas 1st congressional district, finding that it violated the Constitutions Equal Protection Clause because it had been calculated to water down the power of black voters.

All members of the panel were appointed by Democrats. Two of the judges, Mary Geiger Lewis, and Richard Gergel, were appointed by former President Barack Obama. The other judge, Toby Heytens, was appointed by President Joe Biden.

The appeal was filed by South Carolina Republicans, among them Thomas Alexander, president of the South Carolina Senate, and G. Murrell Smith Jr., speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives.

Alexander and Smith said in their brief (pdf) filed Feb. 17 that the panel failed to accept the usual legal presumption that the legislature acted in good faith when carrying out redistricting.

In striking down an isolated portion of the congressional district as a racial gerrymander, the panel abandoned all pretext of extraordinary caution in this case.

The result is a thinly reasoned order that presumes bad faith and is riddled with legal mistakes, the brief stated.

The South Carolina NAACP and voter Taiwan Scott offered a statement that was provided by their attorneys at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc.

We are hopeful that the Supreme Court will come to the same conclusion that the federal panel did in ruling correctly that our states 2022 enacted congressional map was discriminatorily drawn, they told The Epoch Times.

For too long, our states electoral process has silenced us and severely weakened the ability of our communities to be fully and fairly represented and accounted for. South Carolinas congressional map is the latest instance in our states long, painful history of racial discrimination that must be remedied.

As the case moves to oral argument, we implore the court to uphold the panels decision and protect Black South Carolina voters from this egregious form of discrimination, they said.

The Epoch Times reached out for comment to Alexanders attorney, John Matthew Gore of Jones Day, but had not received a reply as of press time.
Suspect Detained After Blast at Residential Building in Germany Injures Police, Firefighters

An injured police officer is taken to an ambulance in front of a high-rise building in Ratingen, Germany, on May 11, 2023. (Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa via AP)

BERLINAn explosion at a residential building in Germany that left nine first responders seriously injured appears to have been a planned attack carried out by a man wanted in connection with an unpaid fine, officials said Friday.

Police and firefighters had gone to the building in the western town of Ratingen on Thursday after receiving a call about a helpless person inside a top-floor apartment.

What started out as a routine operation turned into an inferno when a man opened the apartment door and threw out a burning object that exploded into a fireball, severely injuring the first responders.

We are deeply shocked, said Thomas Hendele, who heads the administration in Mettmann county, of which Ratingen is a part. We are angry. Angry at this act, for which there is no justification.

A special operations unit detained a 57-year-old German man as a suspect hours later.

Investigations showed the man had stockpiled flammable liquids in the building, indicating he had prepared for the attack, police said.

Police officer wearing gas masks and firefighters stand in front of a residential building in Ratingen, Germany, on May 11, 2023. (David Young/dpa via AP)

Of the nine people who suffered serious injuries, two police officers and three firefighters were fighting for their lives with burns across much of their bodies, Hendele said.

We cant be sure whether they will survive this battle, he said.

Twenty-two police officers also suffered minor injuries in the incident.

Police officers found a body inside the apartment believed to be that of the suspects mother, investigator Heike Schultz said. The woman appeared to have been dead for several weeks.

An elderly man was also found dead elsewhere in the building. Authorities are investigating the circumstances of his death; German media reported he may have died after not receiving care due to the ongoing police operation in the building.

Schultz said there were indications that the suspect subscribed to conspiracy theories about the coronavirus pandemic.

Its still unclear whether that was a motive, she added.

An officer tried to enforce an arrest warrant for the man last week over an unpaid fine, but was unable to do so, authorities said. Thursdays police operation was unrelated to that warrant, police said.

Laura Neumann of the Duesseldorf prosecutors office said the man was being held on nine counts of attempted murder while the investigation continued.
State-run media reported Monday that Bahrain and Qatar will resume direct flights between the two countries later this month, Trend reports citing Al Arabiya.

The Civil Aviation Affairs today announced the resumption of flights between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of Qatar, as of May 25, in accordance with what was agreed upon between the concerned authorities in the two brotherly countries, Bahrain News Agency reported.

The report said that the resumption of flights achieves the common aspirations of the leaderships and citizens of both countries.

The move comes over two years after an Arab boycott of Qatar was lifted. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt in January 2021 ended a three-and-a-half year embargo of Qatar. But Bahrain restored travel and trade links in 2021.
Tennessee Company Refuses US Request to Recall 67 Million Potentially Dangerous Air Bag Inflators

DETROITA Tennessee company could be heading for a legal battle with U.S. auto safety regulators after refusing a request that millions of potentially dangerous air bag inflators be recalled.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is demanding that ARC Automotive Inc. of Knoxville recall 67 million inflators in the United States because they could explode and hurl shrapnel. At least two people have been killed in the United States and Canada, and seven others have been hurt as a result of defective ARC inflators, the agency said.

The recall would cover a large portion of the 284 million vehicles now on U.S. roads, but the percentage is difficult to determine. Some have ARC inflators for both the driver and front passenger.

In a letter posted Friday, the agency told ARC that it has tentatively concluded after an eight-year investigation that ARC front driver and passenger inflators have a safety defect.

Air bag inflators that project metal fragments into vehicle occupants, rather than properly inflating the attached air bag, create an unreasonable risk of death and injury, Stephen Ridella, director of NHTSAs Office of Defects Investigation, wrote in a letter to ARC.

But ARC responded that no defect exists in the inflators, and that any problems are related to isolated manufacturing issues.

The next step in the process is for NHTSA to schedule a public hearing. It could then take the company to court to force a recall.

We disagree with NHTSAs new sweeping request when extensive field testing has found no inherent defect, ARC said in a statement Friday night.

Also Friday, NHTSA posted documents showing that General Motors is recalling nearly 1 million vehicles equipped with ARC inflators. The recall covers certain 20142017 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia SUVs.

The automaker says an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Owners will be notified by letter starting June 25, but no fix is available yet. Theyll get another letter when one is ready.

GM says it will offer courtesy transportation on a case-by-case basis to owners who fear driving vehicles that are part of the recall.

The company said that its doing the recall, which expands previous actions, out of an abundance of caution and with the safety of our customers as our highest priority.

One of the two deaths was a mother of 10 who was killed in what appeared to be an otherwise minor crash in Michigans Upper Peninsula in the summer of 2021. Police reports show that a metal inflator fragment hit her neck in a crash involving a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse SUV.

At least a dozen automakers have the allegedly faulty inflators in use, including Volkswagen, Ford, BMW, and GM, NHTSA said.

The agency contends that welding debris from the manufacturing process can block an exit orifice for gas that is released to fill the air bag in a crash. Any blockage can cause pressure to build in the inflator, blowing it apart and hurling metal fragments, Ridellas letter says.

But in a response to Ridella dated May 11, ARC Vice President of Product Integrity Steve Gold wrote that NHTSAs position is not based on any objective technical or engineering conclusion about a defect, but rather conclusory statements regarding hypothesized blockage of the inflator orifice from weld slag.

He wrote that welding debris has not been confirmed as the cause in any of the seven inflator ruptures in the U.S. ARC contends that only five have ruptured while in use, and that does not support a finding that a systemic and prevalent defect exists in this population.

Gold also writes that manufacturers must do recalls, not equipment manufacturers like ARC. NHTSAs recall demand, he wrote, exceeds the agencys legal authority.

In a federal lawsuit filed last year, plaintiffs alleged that ARCs inflators use ammonium nitrate as a secondary propellant to inflate the air bags. The propellant is pressed into tablets that can expand and develop microscopic holes if exposed to moisture. Degraded tablets have a larger surface area, causing them to burn too fast and ignite too big of an explosion, according to the lawsuit.

The explosion can blow apart a metal canister housing the chemical, sending metal shards into the cabin. Ammonium nitrate, used in fertilizer and as a cheap explosive, is so dangerous that it can burn too fast even without moisture present, the lawsuit says.

The plaintiffs allege that ARC inflators have blown apart seven times on U.S. roads and two other times in testing by ARC. There have so far been five limited recalls of the inflators that totaled about 5,000 vehicles, including three recalls by GM.

By Tom Krisher
Terror Raid Spike Threatens Minorities Near Nigerias Capital Ahead of Presidential Inauguration

The site of a recent terrorist massacre in Nasarawa state in Nigeria. (Masara Kim/The Epoch Times)

JOS, NigeriaA series of armed attacks targeting minority groups on the outskirts of Nigerias capital, Abuja, has left residents terrified and sparked fears that extremists are seeking to intensify religious persecution as the country undergoes a leadership transition in the coming weeks.

Nigeria is scheduled to inaugurate its president and vice president, both of whom are Muslim, on May 29.

At least 136 people have been killed since April 16 across three Nigerian states, investigations by The Epoch Times have gathered.

The attacks occurred in Nasarawa state, 60 miles from Abuja, as well as in Benue and Plateau states, located 100 miles to the south and east of Nasarawa, respectively.

Town leaders and witnesses told The Epoch Times that they blame Islamic extremists who identify as members of the Fulani tribe for the murders.

The Fulani, a large ethnic group in West Africa with more than 10 million members in Nigeria, has been accused of thousands of genocidal massacres in the country. The tribe has been responsible for three times more deaths than the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, according to the Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust, an international monitoring group in the UK.

The attacks have concentrated in areas predominantly inhabited by ethnic minorities who identify as nominal Christians or Muslims, a familiar pattern in the terror-wracked central region, according to a national politician.

There is a premeditated intention by these [extremists] to drive out our people and occupy our land, Mark Gbillah, a member of the Nigerian House of Representatives who represents a district in Benue, told The Epoch Times.

[They aim to] also foist their own [forms of] government over those areas, like we are seeing in places like Kaduna.

In the northern part of Kaduna state, which shares borders with Benue, Nasarawa, and Plateau, terrorists recently established a self-proclaimed government and imposed levies on local communities.

In recent years, the majority of Mada people have identified as Christians and nominal Muslims, according to respected scholar Dr. Danladi Makpa Jibrin, whos from Kokona.

They said since we did not vote for them, we will not be allowed to vote again, Augustine Silas Gyar said.

According to data from the result viewing website of the Independent National Electoral Commission, 83 percent of residents in Tattara voted for the Christian candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

Obi, an unexpected third force who joined the presidential race just months before the elections, was the only alternative to the candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party, Ahmed Tinubu, and the leading opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abubakar Atiku.

Both Tinubu and Atiku are Muslims.

The APC and PDPthe leading political parties in the countryhad abandoned an existing power-sharing arrangement that rotated the presidency between the majority Christian south and Muslim north of the country, sparking protests by local Christians.

Tinubu was later declared the winner of the elections amid widespread allegations of fraud.

The attacks began on April 16, when a Christian resident was murdered on the outskirts of Tattara, according to Gyar.

Previously, there were multiple instances of Fulani herdsmen destroying crops on local farms, leading to disagreements, he said.

These are the things we suspect they are trying to do across the country, Gbillah said.

On May 13, at least 54 residents killed in a series of attacks since April 16 were given a mass burial in Nasarawa. Forty-four of the residents were victims of attacks in two villages along the borders of Kokona and Karu counties on May 11, according to locals and media reports.

Out of the 44, 38 were buried in Karu, while six were buried in Kokona along with 10 victims of an earlier attack, according to Gyar.

Gyar is the mayor of Tattaraa district of 20 villages 59 miles southwest of Lafiya, the capital of Nasarawa statewhich has previously been attacked.

The most recent invasions on April 16 and April 17 killed more than 20 residents, according to Gyar.

These attacks started from my community, and we were yet to even bury some of our people that were killed when this latest one happened, he said.

Some of our people in those villages who escaped said the attack started from around 9 p.m. and lasted till the next morning without any intervention.

The police and military in Nasarawa didnt respond to queries from The Epoch Times.

Many people were killed while running for cover in the bushes and many others, especially children, were burned in their houses, Gyar said.

Local media reported that many residents feared killed in the surrounding bushes hadnt been found by the time of the mass funeral.

More than 4,000 residents displaced in Tattara had yet to access their homes because of persisting threats of attack, Gyar said.

On May 5, terrorists attacked a desperate resident who had ridden his motorcycle to his farm near Tattara to collect some cassava tubers for his family, who were starving in Garaku, the seat of Kokona County.

Machete Attack

Maiyamma Yaro, who lived in a part of Tattara called Angwan Barau, told The Epoch Times that he was attacked with machetes by a group of four Fulani militants who burned his motorcycle after he managed to escape on foot.

Yaros incident occurred just one week after Fulani-speaking terrorists burned 35 houses and injured several returning residents in another part of Tattara called Kama Yanda on April 28.

Witnesses told The Epoch Times the terrorists, numbering at least 30, attacked the village of 100 residents at 10 p.m., just hours after some 20 residents had returned to their homes.

Ribal Danjumawho had her ear and fingers severed during the attacksaid the terrorists claimed that they had to kill the residents for being stubborn in returning.

Leader of the Fulani residents in Tattara, Ardo Aliyu, has denied any wrongdoing by his members, blaming bad elements for the attacks.

We want peace, and we want everyone who has left their homes to come back, Aliyu told The Epoch Times three days prior to the latest attacks that have also been linked to the Fulani.

We are also sad about what has happened, and we are ready to discuss lasting solutions to the problems.

The Epoch Times couldnt reach Aliyu for further comments after the renewed attacks, which have created several new displacements, according to Daniel Ogazi, a member of the Nasarawa Legislature.

Many communitiesincluding those that were not attackedhave fled due to fear, Ogazi told The Epoch Times.

Ongoing Massacres

When attacks like these happen, people in the surrounding communities always get apprehensive, said Ogazi, who represents Kokona at the legislative house.

The attacks in Nasarawa are similar to an ongoing massacre of minorities in Benue by terrorists identified by residents as members of the Fulani ethnicity.

A series of attacks in Guma County, 20 miles northeast of the Benue capital, Makurdi, killed more than 28 people between May 5 and May 9, according to a local town leader David Tarbo.

The attacks in the Mbawa district have targeted previously displaced residents seeking shelter in neighboring communities, Tarbo told The Epoch Times.

We are seeing a disturbing pattern in the attacks where people that have been displaced from other communities and are now taking refuge in neighboring communities are still attacked by the Fulani, Tarbo said.

This type of thing has left many of us to conclude what these people want is simply to take over our land.

Guma County Chairman Mike Nyieakaa confirmed the attacks to The Epoch Times but declined to comment further.

You and I have talked about these things several times before, and right now, we are on the verge of transitioning to a new government, Nyieakaa said.

We have stopped commenting on issues like these to see what the new government will bring to the table.

I would not like to say something now and later hear that the chairman of Guma did one thing or the other.

Fulani Blamed

More than 20 other residents had been killed in various attacks in Guma and Apa counties in Benue since April 16.

Fulani terrorists reportedly killed 27 residents in more than 10 isolated attacks targeting ethnic minorities 190 miles away in Plateau state.

Gbillah has accused Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari of allowing members of his ethnicity to carry out massacres and pillage lands across the country.

The president, who is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, is refusing to give the necessary orders to the military to take out these terrorists because they are his kith and kin. That shows the character of a biased president that we have, Gbillah said.

Paul Robinson, CEO of UK-based nonprofit Release International, has described the attacks in the so-called middle belt of Nigeria as a genocide.

Genocide is not a word we use lightly, Robinson said in a statement to The Epoch Times. But what other word is there to describe this targeted slaughter of men, women, and children?

We have been reporting year in and year out of the targeting of Christians in Nigeria by Islamist militants.

Not only do Nigerias Christians face slaughter at the hands of Boko Haram and Islamic State terrorists, but they are also being killed daily by well-armed Fulani extremists.

And yet, Nigeria and the world just seem to stand by and let this genocide happen.
Texas GOP Congressman Dismisses Claims Border Situation Is Not That Bad

Flanked by members of the Congressional Hispanic Conference, co-chair Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Feb. 1, 2023. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) said videos he recorded at El Paso showed that the border situation is worse than its being portrayed, following the expiration of the pandemic-era immigration policy Title 42 at midnight on May 11.

This is what Im hearing on the ground from mayors, from Border Patrol agents, from embedded media, everyone is saying its not that bad. So on Friday, I visited El Paso and went to the Central Processing Center, Gonzales said on CBS Face the Nation on May 14.

In the El Paso sector, theres over 6,000 people that are in custody in this particular facility. Its meant to house 1,000 people, its housing over 3,000, Gonzales said. In one of these rooms  the max capacity is 90 people; there was over 400 in here, thats a 450 percent capacity.

He noted that another room, which was intended to hold 120 people, was holding over 700 people.

We cant allow not that bad to be the normal, Gonzales said, before adding that an unaccompanied minor had died while in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services last week.

Title 42

The Title 42 public health provision was invoked in March 2020 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It was put in place to stop the spread of the COVID-19, as illegal immigrants could be quickly turned away at the southern U.S. border, rather than be processed at immigration detention facilities under Title 8 immigration law.

Illegal immigrants board vans after waiting along the border wall to surrender to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol agents for immigration and asylum claim processing upon crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States on the U.S.Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, on May 11, 2023. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

There have been concerns that ending Title 42 would lead to a significant increase in illegal immigration. Anticipating a spur in illegal crossings, several south Texas counties have issued disaster declarations.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said U.S. Border Patrol had about 6,300 encounters with border-crossers on May 12the first day after Title 42 expiredand another 4,200 on May 13. Thats lower than the more than 10,000 crossings per day before Title 42s expiration.

On Sunday, Mayorkas warned it is too early to know whether the increased influx of immigrants has peaked.

Gonzales also called on the Biden administration to send more immigration judges to the southern border, as an alternative to releasing immigrants.

The president should surge immigration judges to the border and that person should get their case heard in days, not years, he explained. Right now, in El Paso, if you apply on the one app, I was at the port of entry, if you apply on the one app, your court date is 2031. I mean, thats eight years from now.

He added: The president can surge, instead of surging 1,500 troops, surge immigration judges. This is America. Get your day in court.

The Biden administration announced the deployment of additional 1,500 military personnel for 90 days on May 2, to supplement the 2,500 already stationed along the U.S.Mexico border.

Southern Border

Gonzales, who represents Texass 23rd congressional district, stretching from western San Antonio to El Paso, has been expressing concerns about the fallout of Title 42s expiration.

Earlier this month, the Texas congressman voted in favor of the Secure the Border Act (H.R.2), an immigration bill that the House passed after a 219213 vote mostly along party lines. The measure would restore many of the Trump administrations policies, such as resuming construction of the border walls. It would also seek to increase the number of Border Patrol agents and strengthen the asylum process.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) presides over the vote on H.R.2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023, in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on May 11, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

In a statement after the vote, Gonzales said the House bill is a step in the right direction.

Unfortunately, and to my extreme concern, H.R. 2 falls short of addressing cartel activity at the southern border, he wrote. At the eleventh hour, my provision to begin labeling cartels as terrorist organizations was stricken from the bill. This common-sense policy would have paved the way for law enforcement to better seize their financial assets and strengthen criminal penalties on cartel operators.

For many of my colleagues passing H.R. 2 means mission accomplished, but the crisis at our southern border will not be resolved until a comprehensive border security bill ends up on President Bidens desk and is signed into law, he added. Ill continue to fight for the people who have had their lives upended due to Washingtons failure to protect our border and call the cartels what they truly areterrorists.

In January, Gonzales introduced the Security First Act (H.R.163), and a part of the legislation is aimed at designating Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations.

Cartels have been buying precursor chemicals from China to make fentanyl and ship finished products to the United States.

The root cause of the fentanyl crisis in America is the Chinese Communist Party, Gonzales wrote on Twitter in February. The U.S. must secure our border and stand strong against China for the sake of all Americans.
In 1504, the young and ambitious Spanish artist Alonso Berruguete arrived in Italy with an aspiration to become part of the elite artistic world of the High Renaissance. Undertrained in comparison, he made the risky move not knowing if, or when, he would succeed.

Only two years were necessary for those questions to be answered. By 1508, Michelangelo allowed him to study the preparatory drawings for his never completed Battle of Cascina. It was a privilege granted to few, a sure sign that Michelangelo respected Berruguete as an artist and trusted him as a friend.

For any new, still obscure, artist to be taken under Michelangelos wing so soon after arriving in Italy, would have indicated rare talent. Berruguete did not even have the credentials that could have been provided by training in the Northern European centers of Renaissance art: Burgundian Netherlands. His only previous artistic foundation had taken place in his native country, at a time when Spain was making its first belated and faltering steps into Renaissance culture.

Spanish Changing of Hands

The Capitulation of Granada, 1882, by Francisco Pradilla y Ortiz. Oil on canvas. Palace of the Senate, Madrid, Spain. (Public Domain)

In 1468, the Iberian Peninsula (between Spain and Portugal) had been divided into a handful of small kingdoms and lacked the peace and stability needed for art to flourish. The 1469 marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella changed everything by uniting their kingdoms of Aragon and Castile. Rivalry was eliminated and their government was strong enough to subdue tumultuous nobles and unify most of modern Spain by completing the Reconquista in 1492.

Under the new conditions, interest in cultural pursuits increased rapidly and dramatically in the country. At first Spaniards embraced Flemish models, influenced by the dynastic connections between their own monarchs and the Duke of Burgundy. Soon enough they were turning to the Italian Renaissance just as it was on the verge of its greatest achievements.

Berruguete was among the first Spanish artists formed in this atmosphere. His father, Pedro, was a prominent painter in Spains artistic transition from Gothic to Renaissance and became Alonsos first teacher. The elder Berruguetes interest in Italys artistic developments inspired Alonsos desire to study at the epicenter of the Renaissance. Once there, his deep understanding and masterful skill enabled young Berruguete to quickly excel.

Sculpting the Artist

Salome, circa 15121517, by Alonso Berruguete. Oil on panel; 34.6 inches by 27.9 inches. Uffizi Gallery, Florence. (Public Domain)

When Berruguete first began studying in Italy, he focused on oil painting techniques. His early artistic brilliance evidenced in Salome and Madonna and Child are comparable to early works of Raphael and Titian. However, he chose not to build extensively on that foundation but to shift to sculpture insteadthe medium in which he would develop one of the most unique individual styles of the entire Renaissance.

While the details of his transition from oil paint to sculpture are lacking, he must have begun to dabble in the new medium shortly after his arrival in Italy. In 1510, one of the most famous sculptures of the ancient world, Laocoon and His Sons, was found buried in the field of a Roman vineyard. Berruguete was one of four artists who entered a competition to sculpt the best wax arm for the the missing limb of the ancient Roman marble sculpture. He lost to Jacopo Sansovino, the 16th-century Italian sculptor and architect whose skill ranked him second to Michelangelo. For Berruguete to compete seriously at that level, however, was an indication of greater things to come.

Under Michelangelos Wing

The Age of Iron, 1520s1530, attributed to Alonso Berruguete. Pen and brown ink; 8 inches by 12 3/8 inches. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. (Public Domain)

For the next decade, Berruguete slowly progressed towards his later achievements, earning his living as a painter while studying sculpture on the side. Several years in Florence facilitated that effort. Both Michelangelo and Donatello were Florentines and many of Donatellos sculptures were located there. Michelangelo, who was on friendly terms with Berruguete, helped to facilitate his relationships with local artists.

Despite such advantages, Berruguete completed only the first part of a sculptors education while in Italydesigning sculptures through drawings and wax models. But the standing he gained through his painting ultimately facilitated his transition. By 1518, his reputation was high enough for him to be appointed as a painter to Spains royal court.

Collaboration with court sculptors allowed him to finally learn how to carve sculptures on his own. Once the necessary lessons were learned, it did not take Berruguete long to shift into the role of Spains most influential master.

Transforming Spanish Arts

Alonso Berruguetes altarpiece of the Transfiguration of Christ, circa 1560, inside the Sacra Capilla del Salvador (Holy Chapel of El Salvador) in Ubeda, Spain. (Jose Luis Filpo Cabana / CC BY 3.0)

Before Berruguetes influence on Spanish fine art, the sculptures ranged from underdeveloped to crude in terms of design, shape, and anatomy. Wood had been a popular sculptural medium in the county and figures were often painted in bright, unrealistic colors. The contrast to the anatomically correct and refined marble and bronze sculptures of Italy could hardly have been starker.

Combining elements of Spanish tradition and Renaissance classicism into a unique personal style would become Berruguetes most famous contribution to the development of his countrys art. His use of shape and design were reminiscent of Donatellos with intricately detailed and realistic, though somewhat elongated, forms. The medium was wood: Painting in deep, realistic shades would be Berruguetes finishing touch.

Apostle or Saint, circa 1520s, by Alonso Berruguete. Polychrome and gilt walnut; 40 9/16 inches by 14 9/16 inches. The Metropolitan Musuem of Art, New York City. (Public Domain)

Although his wood sculptures take the limelight, Berruguete also introduced pure Italian Renaissance classicism into Spain through the sculpting of marble and alabaster works. In some of these sculptures, the classicism is immediately apparent, as in The Transfiguration of Christ. In others, it is slightly obscured by the main figures late medieval clothing, as in the Tomb of Ferdinand and Isabella.

Berruguete lived until 1561, having transformed Spanish sculpture and artistic culture. Famous throughout Spain, his work would be found in many of its important cities including Salamanca, Toledo, Valladolid, Burgos, Granada, Palencia, and Caceres. Artists such as Juan de Juni, Gaspar Becerra and Juan Bautista Vazquez built on the foundation Berruguete laid, which survived well into the next century. Very few other artists can be likewise credited for having influenced an entire countrys art single-handedly.

Detail of the Transfiguration of Christ, from the main altarpiece, circa 1560, by Alonso Berruguete. The Sacra Capilla del Salvador (Holy Chapel of El Salvador), Ubeda, Spain. (Peter Heidelberg/Shutterstock)
CHICAGOMany may never have heard of Ernest Shackleton, a British explorer who took off on an Antarctic Expedition in 1914 with the goal of crossing that frozen continent. His ship became stuck in ice and was slowly crushed. Shackleton with a few of his crew traveled 800 miles in a small lifeboat to seek help from a whaling station. Miraculously, all of his crew survived and returned to England in 1917.

Finding out about that intrepid Antarctic explorer is one reason that makes Earnest Shackleton Loves Me a fascinating theatrical adventure in its Chicago premiere at Porchlight Theatre. But there are still more reasons to enjoy this enchanting production.

The musical, with a book by Joe DiPietro, was inspired by the true story of Shackletons incredible two-year tale of survival and his extraordinary exploits in saving his crew. But the show is framed with a fictional romance that gives an inventive and quirky twist to the story.

Directed by Michael Unger, and with music by Brendan Milburn and lyrics by Val Vigoda, Ernest Shackleton Loves Me begins in a cold apartment flat somewhere in Brooklyn, New York, as Kat (Elissa Carlson), a young video composer, has just been dismissed from a job. Shes a single mom with a baby whose father has left her to tour the country with a band. Shes depressed, feels beaten down, and decides to check out an online dating site.

Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton (Andrew Mueller) time travels to meet a musician from the present Kat (Elisa Carlson), in Ernest Shackleton Loves Me. (Liz Lauren)

As she gets on the Internet, she receives the most amazing call from Shackleton (Andrew Mueller). How can that be since he was a polar explorer in the early part of the 20th century and shes living in the present?

The explorer explains that he crossed the time-and-space barrier to hear her music. She hasnt slept for over a day and believes she must be dreaming. Nevertheless, she responds to him via a zoom-style platform and is shocked to see the exuberant Shackleton waving at her from the deck of his ship, the Endurance, as it cuts through the ice on its way to Antarctica.

Travel Back in Time

Not only does Kat watch the Antarctic come to life on a video screen projection, but so do we as we watch the most amazing images of the historical events. The projections were made by Smooch Median out of archival photographs taken by photographer Frank Hurley, who was a member of the Shackleton expedition.

As Kat cries over the wreck of her life, her refrigerator door opens, and Shackleton walks out enveloped in a cloud of frost. His outfit, realistically rendered by costume designer Gregory Graham, is dusted in snow and his beard is crusted with ice. Kat is in disbelief as she shouts out: This is crazy to which Shackleton responds with So is being an explorer, or an artist!

Shackleton has brought a banjo with him, which he proceeds to strum along with Kat who plays an electric violin. Together the two go on the amazing voyage of the Endurance when it becomes stranded in polar ice. We watch mesmerized as Shackleton takes Kat on the adventure of a lifetime as the two cross glaciers and mountains in an attempt to find rescue.

Kat (Elisa Carlson) goes on a time travel journey with Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton (Andrew Mueller), in Ernest Shackleton Loves Me. (Liz Lauren)

The historical sweep of this musical is made even more entertaining by the songs that Kat and Shackleton sing, which are enhanced by musical director Ryan OConnell, who plays keyboard behind the scenes. Furthermore, the inventive wintry set design by Scott Davis does a fine job of transporting us to the frozen yesteryear.

What makes the musical so compelling, though, are the fantastic star performers who act, sing, and play instruments. Elisa Carlson as Kat projects an innocence that has us sympathetic to her immediately, and Andrew Mueller is extraordinary as Shackleton. Mueller has the determined look of the hero that Shackleton was and belts out a song with golden-voice perfection. The attraction between Kat and Shackleton is convincing because the chemistry between the two performers is palpable.

Ernest Shackleton Loves Me is an original and engaging work that harkens back to the days when theater was uplifting and inspirational. Shackleton sets an example for Kat to get over her personal problems and depression, encouraging her to move on and create a better life for herself. Indeed, he delivers the moral message of the show when he says that blind, relentless hope is what brings miracles.

Ernest Shackleton Loves Me

Porchlight Music Theatre at the Ruth Page Center

1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago

Tickets: 773-777-9884 or PorchlightMusicTheatre.org

Running Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Closes: June 1, 2023
Top Republican Demands Transcribed Interviews With State Department Officials on Chaotic Afghanistan Withdrawal

The House Foreign Affairs Committee has requested transcribed interviews with five current and former State Department officials regarding the Biden administrations withdrawal from Afghanistan.

In his May 14 press release, Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) announced his panels request for on-the-record interviews, which he asked that the witnesses arrange by May 22.

Interviews were requested with Jonathan Mennuti, former acting chief of staff to Acting Under Secretary of State for Management Carol Perez; Mark Evans, former acting deputy assistant secretary for Afghanistan; James P. DeHart, former lead, Afghanistan Task Force; Jayne Howell, Bureau of Consular Affairs; and former Ambassador Daniel Smith, who led the State Departments after-action review of the withdrawal.

The committee said they would like to speak with the five individuals regarding their investigation into what they called the Biden administrations chaotic and deadly withdrawal from Afghanistan.

McCaul remarked on the request, Through our ongoing investigation, we have determined these five individuals have important information that is critical to uncovering how and why the Biden administrations disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and the injury of 47 more and in the abandonment of more than a thousand U.S. citizens and hundreds of thousands of our Afghan partners in a country controlled by terrorists.

It is crucial they speak with the committee without delay. As we continue to gather evidence, the committee will continue to interview additional current and former administration officials involved in the planning and execution of the withdrawal.

A State Department spokesperson told The Epoch Times that, in general, they dont discuss the details of the communications with Congress but that they will continue to respond to appropriate oversight inquiries and provide Congress the information it needs to do its job while protecting the ability of State Department employees to do theirs.

The request came just days after McCaul threatened to hold Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress in a May 5 letter (pdf) where he asserted that the State Department had not appropriately complied with his committees subpoena.

McCaul issued a subpoena to Blinken earlier this year for a dissent cable sent by U.S. diplomats in Kabul questioning the Biden administrations intentions to remove troops in 2021. 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, he said in the letter.

McCaul has repeatedly requested the same documents from the department since beginning the investigation near the start of his time as chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

McCaul doubled down on his threat, telling ABC This Week co-anchor Jonathan Karl on May 14, I am prepared to move forward to contempt proceedings  this would be the first time a secretary of state has ever been held in contempt by Congress and its criminal contempt, so I dont take it lightly.
Trump Gives His Take on DeSantiss Decline in Political Polls

Former President Donald Trump (L) addresses the crowd during a 2024 election campaign event in Columbia, S.C., on Jan. 28, 2023. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) speaks to guests at the Republican Jewish Coalition Annual Leadership Meeting in Las Vegas on Nov. 19, 2022. (Logan Cyrus, Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump was blunt when asked why his presumed top challenger for the Republican presidential nomination, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, is lagging in the polls.

Hes got no personality. And I dont think hes got a lot of political skill, Trump told The Messenger, a Florida-based media outlet.

Lindsey Curnutte, a DeSantis political adviser, declined to comment on Trumps statements. But, in response, she sent clips of DeSantis engaging with people in Iowa over the weekend. Courtney Holland posted on Twitter: Pretty big crowd of people for an unannounced stop in Des Moines. Another tweet shows DeSantis laughing and joking with people.

In an exclusive interview released May 15, The Messenger asked Trump a series of questions about DeSantis; a transcript of the interview posted online revealed no questions directly probing Trumps views of President Joe Biden, the current frontrunner for the Democrats presidential nomination.

So far, DeSantis, who remains an undeclared candidate, has refrained from direct attacks on Trump. However, DeSantis recently stated that the GOP needs to stop dwelling on the past in its attempt to defeat Democrats in the 2024 presidential contest.

Responding to DeSantiss apparent glancing blow, Trump told The Messenger: First of all, Im not at all caught up in the past. And second of all, Im doing much better against Biden than he is in the pollsIm beating [DeSantis] by 40 points in some polls, so he can talk about what he wants.

Clear Trends in Polls

In the May 15 RealClearPolitics (RCP) average, Trump was barely defeating Biden in a head-to-head matchup; DeSantis was tied with Biden.

However, 55 percent of Republican voters said they would vote for Trump. Thats the highest RCP level Trump achieved since announcing his candidacy in November; back then, and currently, DeSantis was pulling about 20 percent of polled voters.

However, DeSantis still hasnt declared his candidacy.

While DeSantiss RCP poll ranking was climbing from November through March, Trump has been polling more strongly since news of his New York indictment leaked on March 30.

Some observers think the prosecution has buoyed Trumps poll performance because people perceive that the charges are politically motivated. He has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony charges of falsifying New York business records.

Since his indictment, Trump generally has been trending upward in the RCP rankings while DeSantis has trended downward; on RCPs graph, the two candidates polling averages closely mirror each other in opposite directions.

However, the polling data was gathered before a New York jury found in favor of a woman who claimed Trump defamed her in his denial of her allegations of sexual assault. Trump has appealed.

The former president also remains under investigation in multiple other probes. Some pundits say think Trumps legal troubles may catch up with him and torpedo his run for the presidency. But others theorize that the continued targeting of Trump could boost his popularity among those who agree with his contention that these investigations amount to witch hunts.

Former President Donald Trump arrives at Manhattan Criminal Courthouse on April 4, 2023. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)

2024 Race Just Starting

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who declared his presidential bid in April, recently told Meet The Press that Trump played the victim, a message that has resonated with some voters.

People believe hes been picked on, Hutchinson said, and voters see the New York case as unfair.

In a field of 10 candidates, including some who remain unannounced, Hutchinson was drawing less than 1 percent of the polled voters, RCP reported.

However, Hutchinson said, This will settle out over time. And so lets judge it understanding that were early in the campaign. Weve got a lot of room to grow.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition stage backdrop in Clive, Iowa, on April 22, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

The Loyalty Factor

During The Messenger interview, Trump said he never contacted DeSantiss people to try to dissuade him from running. If he runs, he runs. But hes very disloyal, Trump said, repeating his criticism of DeSantiss alleged ingratitude for Trumps game-changing endorsement when DeSantis first ran for governor in 2018.

He was dead, dead as a doornail. And I revived him, Trump said.

Without Trumps endorsement, DeSantis may have lost by more than 30 points, Trump said.

Trump described himself as a very loyal person; he said that, if the roles were reversed and he won because of an endorsement, he [Trump] would never run against such an endorser.

Describing DeSantis as not quite ready to lead the nation, Trump said news media are calling DeSantis a rank amateur. He also said DeSantis, 44, has plenty of years to seek the presidency. Trump is 76; Biden is 80.

A Trump supporter shows his MAGA hat during a Trump campaign-style rally in Wellington, Ohio, on June 26, 2021. (Stephen Zenner/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump thinks that supporters of his Make America Great Again (MAGA) agenda dislike the perceived disloyalty.

I think if he runs, hes gonna lose MAGA votes forever; thats my opinion, Trump said. And the MAGA votes are almost everything in the Republican Partyfar bigger than you think.

Asked whether he would endorse DeSantis if he does seek the Republican nomination and prevails, Trump said it was too early for him to make that call.
Trump Vows to Release All JFK Assassination Files If Reelected

Former President Donald Trump vowed this week to release all files related to the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy, coming after his nephew alleged that U.S. intelligence officials may have been involved in his 1963 death.

I released a lot, as you know. And I will release everything else, Trump told The Messenger on Monday, referring to the Kennedy records.

When Trump was in office, he released some documents but did not release all of the records. At the time, his administration said that it could not release all of the records because certain information should continue to be redacted because of identifiable national security, law enforcement, and foreign affairs concerns.

I agree with the Archivists recommendation that the continued withholdings are necessary to protect against identifiable harm to national security, law enforcement, or foreign affairs that is of such gravity that it outweighs the public interest in immediate disclosure. I am also ordering agencies to re-review each of those redactions over the next 3 years. At any time during that review period, and no later than the end of that period, agencies shall disclose information that no longer warrants continued withholding, Trumps office said in 2018.

In 1992, then-President George H.W. Bush, who had previously served as the director of the CIA, signed a measure into law that stipulated all JFK-related documents be made public. However, multiple presidential administrations, including the Biden administration, have held off on releasing the documents in their entirety.

Later, Biden still did not opt to fully disclose the assassination records but released some materials. In late December, federal officials released more than 13,000 records, including information about suspect Lee Harvey Oswald and his time spent in Mexico City.

Still, about 4,300 records remain redacted and are blacked out, according to the CIA. We believe all CIA records substantively related to [former CIA agent George] Joannides were previously released, with only minor redactions, such as CIA employees names and locations, the agency said in a news release issued the time, adding that tremendous progress has been made.

Renewed Allegations

When interviewed by The Messenger, Trump was asked about whether there should be anything the public should be worried about in the JFK records. Well, I dont want to comment on that, Trump replied. But I will tell you that I have released a lot. I will release the remaining portion very early in my term.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., founder of the non-profit Childrens Health Defense, in Los Angeles, Calif. on Feb. 6, 2023. (York Du/The Epoch Times)

The subject of JFKs assassination became national news again this month after 2024 Democratic candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. told media outlets in several interviews that he suspects the CIA was involved in his uncles November 1963 death. Oswald, a former Marine and onetime defector to the Soviet Union, was arrested and charged with the assassination before he was shot and killed by nightclub owner Jack Ruby, who was reportedly suspected to be a mob associate; Ruby died several years later in prison.

There is overwhelming evidence that the CIA was involved in his murder. I think its beyond a reasonable doubt at this point, Kennedy told radio host John Catsimatidis on WABC 770 in early May. The evidence is overwhelming that the CIA was involved in the murder, and in the cover-up, he also said.

He later told another news outlet that after JFKs death, his father, former Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, reflexively believed that the CIA may have been involved. Kennedy has made similar claims in the past, and he has also alleged that Sen. Kennedy wasnt shot and killed by Palestinian communist sympathizer Sirhan Sirhan at a California hotel in 1968, but instead, another individual was the perpetrator.

Over the past 60 years, there have been theories swirling about whether or not the governments official narrativethat Oswald was the lone shooteris accurate. While the Warren Commission Report said that Oswald was a lone actor, a 1979 report issued by a House committee suggested that there may have been two shooters.

A Louisiana district attorney, Jim Garrison, had also investigated claims around the 1963 shooting, authoring several books on the subject. One of his books was source material for Oliver Stones JFK movie starring Kevin Costner, further bolstering speculation that the CIA may have had a role.

Kennedy Jr., who is perhaps best known for his viewpoints on some childhood vaccines, is running against Biden for the Democratic Party nomination. Biden has not issued any public responses to claims that Kennedy has made.

The CIA, which did not respond to an Epoch Times request for comment earlier this month, includes a study on its website that claims that it is a fabrication that the CIA was involved in the former presidents death. The 2000 study posited (pdf) that allegations made by Garrison in his books may stem from a Soviet-backed disinformation scheme.
TSA Installs Facial Recognition Tech in Several US Airports, Alarming Some Lawmakers

A surveillance camera is placed on a car outside of the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse in New York City on April 3, 2023. (Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is testing out the use of facial recognition systems at American airports, which some experts worry could compromise privacy and civil liberties.

TSAs pilot project involves travelers placing their ID cards into a slot and facing a camera on a screen. The camera captures their image and then compares it to their identification.

What we are trying to do with this is aid the officers to actually determine that you are who you say who you are, said Jason Lim, identity management capabilities manager, during a demonstration of the technology to reporters at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

The TSA is testing the technology at 16 airports. In addition to Baltimore, the other airports are based in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and Washington, as well as San Jose, California; Orlando, Florida; and Gulfport-Biloxi and Jackson in Mississippi.

The TSAs project has attracted criticism from lawmakers.

On Feb. 9, a group of Democrat senators wrote a letter (pdf) to TSA Administrator David Pekoske, asking that the agency immediately halt deployment of the program.

Increasing biometric surveillance of Americans by the government represents a risk to civil liberties and privacy rights, the letter said.

Currently if a U.S. traveler shows up to one of the 16 airports testing this technology, they will be met with a facial identification scanner before they can proceed to their flight. Thousands of people daily are encountering a decision to travel or safeguard their privacya decision that threatens our democracy.

Privacy Concerns

The TSA says the pilot program is voluntary and accurate, but critics have raised concerns about questions of bias in facial recognition technology and possible repercussions for passengers who want to opt out.

Jeramie Scott from the Electronic Privacy Information Center said that while its voluntary now, it might not be for long. He noted that Pekoske said during a talk in April that eventually, the use of biometrics would be required because theyre more effective and efficient, although Pekoske gave no timeline.

Scott said hed prefer TSA not use the technology at all. At the least, hed like to see an outside audit to verify that the technology isnt disproportionately affecting certain groups and that the images are deleted immediately.

Meg Foster, a justice fellow at Georgetown Universitys Center on Privacy and Technology, said there are concerns about bias within the algorithms of various facial recognition technologies. Some have a harder time recognizing faces of minorities, for example.

False Arrests

The use of facial recognition technology (FRT) has resulted in multiple people being arrested for crimes they did not commit.

In Georgia, a black man was held in jail for almost a week in late November after the facial recognition system incorrectly matched him with the face of a suspect who had allegedly committed a robbery in New Orleans, The Times-Picayune reported.

The victim of this error had never visited Louisiana. He was only released after detectives realized they had made an error.

Another man, Nijeer Parks, was wrongly arrested in 2019 for allegedly shoplifting snacks and candy in New Jersey due to an error in facial recognition. He already had a previous conviction for drug-related charges. In his first appearance in court, Parks began to consider his options, including admitting to a crime he did not commit.

Thats when it started hitting me, like a plea deal might not be bad even if I didnt do it because with a trial theres more [time], and me being a convicted felon, my time is doubled, he told Wired in March 2022.

The case against Parks was only dropped after almost a year, including 10 days he spent in jail.

Government Use of FRT

In August 2021, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report (pdf) detailing how FRT is being used by federal agencies.

Out of the 24 surveyed agencies, 18 reported using an FRT system for one or more purposes. Sixteen used it for digital access or cybersecurity-related tasks.

Six agencies used the technology to generate leads in criminal investigations, like identifying a person of interest. Five agencies used FRT to monitor or surveil locations to determine whether a specific individual was present in the place.

Ten agencies reported plans to expand their use of FRT through fiscal year 2023. For example, an agency plans to pilot the use of FRT to automate the identity verification process at airports for travelers, the GAO report said.

In February 2021, the American Civil Liberties Union and 40 other groups asked President Joe Biden to take executive action to stop the use of FRTs. The technology poses profound and unprecedented threats to core civil rights and civil liberties, the coalition warned in a letter.

The Associated Press contributed to the report.
UK Pledges Long-Range Attack Drones and Air Defence Missiles to Ukraine

Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greets Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on his arrival at Chequers in Aylesbury, England, on May 15, 2023. (Carl Court/Getty Images)

Britain will provide Ukraine with long-range attack drones and air defence missiles, Downing Street has announced.

The announcement came during a surprise visit by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday, during which he held talks with Rishi Sunak at Chequers, the prime ministers grace-and-favour residence in Buckinghamshire.

This is the latest stop on Zelenskyys tour of European capitals, during which he has been meeting Western leaders seeking to bolster support for Ukraine ahead of an expected counter-offensive.

The latest package of British military assistance includes hundreds of air defence missiles and further unmanned aerial systems including long-range attack drones with a range of more than 120 miles.

The new equipment will be delivered over the coming months.

A member of the military walks past a MBDA Storm Shadow/Scalp missile at the Farnborough Airshow, southwest of London, on July 17, 2018. (Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images)

The UK has also recently promised long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Kyiv.

The Kremlin on Monday said Russia takes an extremely negative view of Britains decision to supply Ukraine with more military hardware but does not believe Londons help will change the course of the conflict.

Britain aspires to be at the forefront among countries that continue to pump weapons into Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

We repeat once again, it cannot yield any drastic and fundamental influence on the way the special military operation is unfolding.

Jets Coalition

Talking to broadcasters after the meeting, Zelenskyy said the two leaders had also discussed Western fighter jets.

He said: Today we spoke about the jets. Very important topic for us because we cant control the sky.

We want to create this jets coalition and Im very positive with it, he said. We spoke about it and I see that in the closest time you will hear some, I think, very important decisions, but we have to work a little bit more on it.

The prime minister stressed that the provision of warplanes is not a straightforward thing but said the UK is committed to training Ukrainian pilots to use NATO-standard aircraft.

No. 10 said an elementary flying phase for cohorts of Ukrainian pilots will begin this summer, but there are no plans to supply Ukraine with the Typhoon or F-35 jets operated by the UK, as Kyiv has identified the more widely-used F-16 as its fighter plane of choice.

The Ukrainian government has made the decision to train their pilots on F-16 jets, thats a decision for them, the prime ministers official spokesman said. Obviously, I believe, they are in discussions with other countries who use those jets and we are working with those countries.

NATO Membership

The Ukrainian president also on Monday issued a new appeal for NATO membership, calling for a political decision at the Western alliances summit in July in Vilnius.

It is time to remove the biggest security uncertainty in Europethat is, to approve a positive political decision on (Ukrainian) membership in NATO, he said in a video address to the Copenhagen Democracy Summit. This is worth doing at the July summit already. This will be a timely signal.

During his European tour, Zelenskyy has already secured more pledges of advanced weaponry from NATO countries.

Germany announced 2.7 billion euros (2.35 billion) in military aid to Ukraine on Saturday, its biggest such package since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion in February last year, and pledged further support for Kyiv for as long as necessary.

On Sunday, France said it will send dozens of armoured vehicles and light tanks, including the AMX-10RC fighting vehicles, to Ukraine in the coming weeks.

PA Media and Reuters contributed to this report.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. A total of 27 ballot boxes have not yet been opened in Turkiye, Chairman of the Turkish Supreme Electoral Council Ahmet Ener told reporters, Trend reports.

Besides, according to him, 1,529 ballot boxes have not yet been opened for voting outside Turkiye.

Turkish President, Head of Justice and Development Party (AKP) Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Fatherland Union candidate Sinan Ogan and Republican People's Party (CHP) chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu stand as candidates in the elections.

According to the latest statistics, Recep Tayyip Erdogan received 49.41 percent of the votes, Kemal Kilicdaroglu - 44.96 percent, Sinan Ogan - 05.20 percent.

On May 14, voting was held in Turkiye in the presidential and parliamentary elections.

In addition, 600 deputies in 87 constituencies will be elected to the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Totally, 24 parties and 151 independent candidates participate in the elections.

Turkiye has had over 191,000 ballot boxes installed. There have been over 60.6 million registered voters in the country. About five million of them voted for the first time.
US Approves $8.5 Billion Sale of Chinook Helicopters to Germany

A U.S. Chinook helicopter passes by during a joint military exercise called "Balikatan", Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder, at Capas, Tarlac province, northern Philippines, on April 14, 2023. (Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

WASHINGTONThe Biden administration on Thursday approved an $8.5 billion sale of Chinook helicopters to NATO ally Germany.

The approval comes as the war in Ukraine continues to tax the military stocks of Western countries but is not directly related to the conflict.

The State Department said it had notified Congress that the United States would sell Germany 60 Chinooks along with engines and associated spare parts, including missile warning systems.

The Chinook is the Armys key heavy-lift helicopter, used to transport troops and equipment, and was a familiar sight in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Chinooks were the aircraft used to evacuate U.S. embassy personnel from Sudan in April.

The sale is meant to boost Germanys heavy lift military capability and deter regional threats, the department said. The helicopters are not intended to be used in Ukraine.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally which is an important force for political and economic stability in Europe, it said.

U.S. Marines direct a Chinook helicopter arriving to pick up a container with supplies at Forward Operating Base Edi in the Helmand Province of southern Afghanistan on June 9, 2011. (Anja Niedringhaus/AP Photo)
US Intercepts 6 Russian Warplanes Near Alaska

A Russian Tupolev TU-142 flies by the USS Mount Whitney of the U.S. Navy during the NATO-led military exercise Trident Juncture at the Norwegian sea outside Trondheim, Norway, on Nov. 2, 2018. (Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images)

U.S. fighter jets intercepted a formation of six Russian military aircraft operating near Alaska last week.

On May 15, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) announced that it had detected the Russian aircraft operating near the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on May 11. NORADs Alaska region dispatched F-16 and F-22 fighter jets, KC-135 Stratotankers, and E-3 airborne warning and control system aircraft to intercept the group of Russian Tu-95 bombers, IL-78 tankers, and Su-35 fighter jets.

According to NORAD, the Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and didnt enter the sovereign airspace of the United States or Canada.

Like territorial waters, a nations airspace extends for up to 12 nautical miles from its coastline. An ADIZ is a zone that extends even further beyond a nations sovereign airspace in which that nation will attempt to identify, locate, and intercept incoming aircraft. NORAD relies on a layered network of defense satellites, ground and airborne radars, and fighter aircraft to enforce the Alaskan ADIZ.

Intercepts such as the one that took place last week are relatively common. U.S. F-35 fighter jets intercepted Russian aircraft in the ADIZ twice in the span of less than a week in February. Since 2007, NORAD has seen an average of six or seven intercepts of Russian military aircraft in the ADIZ each year, with some years reaching as many as 15 intercept missions and other years with no such incidents.

NORAD stated that it didnt perceive the Russian aircraft as posing a threat, but stated, We remain ready to employ a number of response options in defense of North America and Arctic sovereignty.

NTD News reached out to NORAD for additional details about the intercept incident but didnt receive a response by press time.

Timing of Intercept

According to NORAD, this particular intercept incident occurred as the U.S. military is conducting several planned large-scale U.S. military training exercises in Alaska.

The intercept incident also came just days after Russian officials said they intercepted a pair of armed drones flying toward the Kremlin in an alleged attempt to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russian officials have accused the United States of orchestrating the alleged attack.

Ties between the United States and Russia have been particularly strained in recent years, with the United States providing regular military assistance to the Ukrainian government in its fight against invading Russian forces.

Last week, President Joe Bidens administration announced another $1.2 billion in military aid for Ukraine, raising the total U.S. aid for Ukraine to $36.9 billion since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022. The new spending will be used to support Ukrainian air defenses and provide more ammunition for their artillery systems.

During a May 11 town hall-style interview with CNN, 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said he would rapidly negotiate a peaceful settlement to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. When asked whether he would prefer to see Ukraine win the war, the former president and leading Republican presidential contender said he isnt looking at the ongoing conflict in terms of determining a winning or losing side.

I think of it in terms of getting it settled, Trump said. I want everybody to stop dying.

He also said that if he were still president, the ongoing war would have never happened. He also asserted that, if elected, he could bring the fighting to an end within 24 hours of starting negotiations.

The Biden administration has repeatedly vowed to support Ukraine through the war. When Biden made a surprise visit to Ukraine to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February, he said he was there to reaffirm our unwavering and unflagging commitment to Ukraines democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

From NTD News
Wisconsin Boy Lost for 2 Days in Michigan Park Prayed He Wouldnt Spend Rest of My Life in Woods

Nante Niemi, 8, after being found by a rescue party in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in northwestern Michigan, on May 8, 2023. (Courtesy of Michigan State Police)

SILVER CITY, Mich.An 8-year-old Wisconsin boy who spent two days lost in a remote, rugged northern Michigan park before being found says he prayed during his ordeal that he wouldnt be stuck out here for the rest of my life.

Nante Niemi said he was helping relatives gather wood at the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in Michigans Upper Peninsula when an uncle told him to return to camp on the afternoon of May 6.

So my uncle, he said to go back to camp and I couldnt say, I dont know the way back to camp because hed already turned around and left, he told ABCs Good Morning America.

Nante said he started walking toward where he thought his family had been camping but ended up lost, by a river.

His mother, Jessica Buerger, said that after the group returned to the campsite and found that Nante wasnt there, they searched for him before calling for help.

I was worried about the cold and that he was by himself, she said. We were hoping he wasnt walking around that night, and hed hunkered down.

More than 150 people from various law enforcement groups joined the search on foot, in the air and on water for Nante, who is a second grader at Hurley School District in Wisconsin.

Lt. Jason Wickstrom with Michigan State Police said the area where he became lost in the 60,000-acre park along Lake Superior is very hilly, rough terrain with rivers that were running high after snow melt and recent rainfall.

Nante spent the nights of May 6 and May 7 alone amid overnight temperatures that fell into the 40s.

I prayed for being found and not stuck out here for the rest of my life, he said, adding that he ate snow to stave off hunger during his predicament.

I just ate snow because I usually do it at home, too, Nante said.

After spending the first night alone, he said he saw a helicopter hovering overhead and waved his hands and yelled but the choppers crew didnt see him below. But after his second night alone, Nante said he woke to noises, including people yelling his name on the afternoon of May 8.

And then I saw somebody. I ran straight to them, he said. Nante recalled that a Clif bar and a sandwich the searchers gave him tasted good after he was found about 2 miles from his familys campsite.

Despite the frightening experience, he said, Im still going to go camping.
Wisconsin Middle-Schooler Killed by Swerving Pickup While Waiting to Board School Bus

Webb Middle School in Reedsburg, Wis., in October 2012. (Google Maps/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

EXCELSIOR, Wis.A middle-school student waiting to board a school bus in Wisconsin was struck and killed Friday by a pickup truck that failed to slow down in time, authorities said.

The Sauk County Sheriffs Office said the student at Webb Middle School in Reedsburg was fatally injured about 7:20 a.m. along Highway 23/33 in the Town of Excelsior, northwest of Madison.

The sheriffs office said a Reedsburg school bus had stopped to pick up the student on the highways north side when the pickups driver failed to slow down in time and sideswiped the bus, striking the student, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The sheriffs office said the pickup ended up in a roadside ditch.

No one on the school bus was hurt, while the pickups driver suffered minor injuries, authorities said.

Authorities did not immediately release any information about the pickups driver or the student, whose family members were being notified.

Superintendent Roger Rindo informed parents at the school, describing a students death as a truly devastating time for our entire community, WISC-TV reported.
Australian researchers have developed the first genetically modified (GM) banana in the world and now await official approval from food authorities to produce and sell the banana crops on a large scale.

The Cavendish variety of bananas known as QCAV-4 was engineered by scientists at Australias Queensland University of Technology (QUT), and is a major step towards protecting the US$20 billion banana industry, which is under serious threat from a fungus known as Panama disease.

The governments Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) and the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) have commenced an assessment of the bananas to see if they would be safe to grow and consume.

This is the first whole GM fruit to be assessed by FSANZ. If approved, it would also be a world-first approval for a GM banana, FSANZ CEO, Sandra Cuthbert, said in a statement.

Same as the Original

Panama disease has already severely impacted Cavendish banana production throughout Asia, has started taking a foothold in South America, and is now a serious threat to Australias banana production, with the disease already spreading in the Northern Territory, according to the QUT researchers.

To improve the bananas disease resistance, the scientists combined the Cavendish banana with a single geneRGA2taken from a wild, Southeast Asian banana, Musa acuminata ssp malaccensis which is completely resistant to the disease.

From left to right: A wild banana plant, a Cavendish banana plant, and a QCAV-4 banana plant. QUT is trialling QCAV-4 banana plants in the fields of the Northern Territory. (Anthony Weate)

In a field trial in the Northern Territory, the GM bananas showed robust resistance, remaining completely disease free.

QUT biology and environmental science prof. James Dale, who led the research, said QCAV-4 has the same shelf life and resembles the Cavendish in both taste and shape.

Compared to ordinary Cavendish bananas, they have the exact same composition, Prof. Dale said.

We dont expect them to taste any different whatsoever. However, we will be setting up independent taste panels in the near future.

Weve only changed one gene, and what weve seen in the fields so far is that they mature exactly the same as all other Cavendish.

Queensland University of Technologys Jean-Paul Yves, Anthony James, Maiko Kato, and prof. James Dale, the team trialling disease-resistant Cavendish bananas with young banana plants in a facility in the Northern Territory. (Queensland University of Technology)

Known by scientists as the Tropical Race 4 (TR4) strain of Fusarium wilt, it is commonly called the Panama disease because it was first diagnosed in banana plantations in the Central American country, even though it first appeared in Taiwan.

It is a soil-borne fungal disease with symptoms of:

yellowing and browning of leaves

dead leaves collapsing

younger leaves remaining green and upright, giving the plant a spiky appearance

stem splitting occasionally occurs at the base of the plant.

A plane sprays pesticides on a banana plantation west of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on July 15, 2014. (Issouf Sanogo/AFP/Getty Images)

Currently, there are no known treatments for the disease.

Researchers think that the disease is spread through workers who carry the pathogen after working in contaminated fields.

Thus, scientists have been trying to develop disease-resistant banana varieties to fight the latest outbreak.

FSANZs assessment process is expected to take around nine months and includes public consultation. After approval, Australian and New Zealand food ministers will have 60 days to review FSANZs decision and advise whether the bananas can be sold legally.
Zelenskyy Arrives in UK for Surprise Meeting With Sunak

Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy leaves after receiving the International Charlemagne Prize at the town hall in Aachen, Germany, on May 14, 2023. (Sascha Schuermann/Getty Images)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in the UK on a surprise visit, during which he will hold talks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

This is the latest stop on Zelenskyys tour of European capitals, on which he has been meeting Western leaders seeking to bolster support for Ukraine ahead of an expected counter-offensive.

Germany announced 2.7 billion euros (2.35 billion, $3 billion) of military aid to Ukraine on Saturday, its biggest such package since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion in February last year, and pledged further support for Kyiv for as long as necessary.

On Sunday, France said it will send dozens of armoured vehicles and light tanks, including the AMX-10RC fighting vehicles, to Ukraine in the coming weeks.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy outside 10 Downing Street, London, on Feb. 8, 2023. (Victoria Jones/PA Media)

Downing Street said on Monday that the prime minister will welcome the Ukrainian leader to his country residence Chequers as the UK continues sustaining our support for the war-torn country.

The Ukrainian president will be the first world leader whom Sunak has hosted at his grace-and-favour residence in Buckinghamshire.

In February, on his first trip to London since the start of the war, the Ukrainian leader attended an audience with King Charles and addressed Parliament.

His current visit comes ahead of a G-7 gathering in Hiroshima, Japan, later this week, which will be attended by Sunak.

Crucial Moment

Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter: TodayLondon. The UK is a leader when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air.

This cooperation will continue today. I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations.

Sunak said in a statement: This is a crucial moment in Ukraines resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke.

They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year.

We must not let them down. The front lines of Putins war of aggression may be in Ukraine but the fault lines stretch all over the world. It is in all our interest to ensure Ukraine succeeds and Putins barbarism is not rewarded.

That is why the UK is sustaining our support to Ukrainefrom tanks to training, ammunition to armoured vehicles. And this message of solidarity will ring loud in all my meetings with fellow world leaders in the days ahead.

Worth It

After the United States, Britain has been one of the largest suppliers of military aid to Ukraine, contributing 2.3 billion ($2.9 billion) worth of support last year and pledging a similar amount for 2023.

The latest visit comes after Sunak and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace announced that the government had agreed to authorise the donation of long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine.

In January, Britain said it would send 14 of its battle tanks to Ukraine, a pledge that was followed by other nations including the United States and Germany.

Talking to LBC radio, trade minister Nigel Huddleston said the government believes the costly aid is worth it.

He said: Of course that does come at considerable cost to UK taxpayers, but we believe its worth it because we support our friends and allies in need.

Im not at all surprised that President Zelenskyy will be coming here asking for more, but one thing Ive always seen with him and any of his colleagues coming over is that theyre also very grateful for what weve given already.

PA Media and Reuters contributed to this report.
1 killed, several hurt as groups clash in Akola





Akola Correspondent

One person was killed and several others were reported to be injured in the group clash that struck Akola on Saturday night. The deceased was identified as Vilas Gaikwad, a resident of Harihar Peth. Police arrested 26 members of both communities involved in the clash. The situation in the sensitive areas of the city was tense but under control after the administration imposed Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code since Saturday night. Investigations were on till filing of the report.

Fake media messages and rumours brought the two communities to streets in old city areas of Pola Chowk, Harihar Peth and Jay Hind Chowk at around 11.15 pm on Saturday. A crowd of a community began pelting stones and bricks at people and shops. The mob also burnt stationary two vehicles, cars and some autos in these areas. Members of other community also took to streets. A house and a shop were set afire by anti-social elements. The groups had reached Gandhi Road till midnight. On receiving information, DSP Sandip Ghuge immediately took action. Old City police were deployed to bring the unruly mob resorting to violence under control. Some policemen also received injuries during stone-pelting. Police opened tear gas shells to disperse the mob. Akot File and Ramdas Peth Police were issued high alert to prevent spread of the group clash under their areas.

District administration immediately imposed Section 144 and ordered to seal all check posts. SRPF from Amravati, Washim and Wardha were also called in. Police forces were deployed at all the sensational squares and on main streets in Old City, Tajana Peth, Gandhi Road till Sunday morning. DSP Sandip Ghuge, Collector Nima Arora supervised the law and order measures and directed POs of Civil Lines, Khadan, Dabki Road to maintain peace in sensational areas. MLA Randhir Sawarkar told that Mah Dy Chief Minister and District Guardian Minister Devendra Fadnavis was briefed about the situation in the city. Dy CM and Home Minister has ordered a detailed probe has directed police administration to take proper steps to restore normalcy in the city. A meeting of peace committee was held in the morning in the sensational areas of old city. Collector Nima Arora and DSP Sandip Ghuge. MLAs Randhir Sawarkar, Gowardhan Sharma, MLC Vasant Khandelwal and members of the different Sections of the society were present in the meeting. The peace committee has appealed people to maintain harmony and the atmosphere of brotherhood in the city. DSP Sandip Ghuge has called upon people not to trust in any rumours. The entire city wore deserted look on Sunday. Commercial complexes, shops, vegetable markets, petrol pumps, grain markets remained closed. The situation was peaceful.
4-interstate accused of chain snatching held





Staff Reporter

RAIPUR,

Raipur Police have arrested four members of an interstate gang of chain snatchers. The gang was involved in at least three chain snatching incidents in the Raipur. First complaint was lodged by applicant, a Bilaspur-resident Anuj Agrawal at the Civil Line Police Station. The applicant had come to Raipur on May 12, 2023 in a four-wheeler for shopping with his mother and wife. After shopping at Shri Shivam shop located at Pandari Civil Line at 03.45 pm, the family was having snatch, when two unidentified persons aboard a motorbike CG-15-DK-9958 snatched gold chain off the neck of applicants mother and fled away. Second applicant Archana Kar had set out on foot from her house to get a tailor shop, that reached in front of Shriram Furniture near Santram Temple, that in front of the applicant, when two men on a two-wheeler from Mandi Gate side and snatched the gold chain worn by the applicant in one fell swoop and fled away. Third applicant Rajni Premchandani also filed a similar report. Snatchers targeted her at Katora Talab near Sindhi Dharmashala.

The Anti-Crime and Cyber Unit team started tracing the unknown accused by making detailed inquiries from the applicants regarding the incidents. Meanwhile, the team members received important information about the stay of the accused involved in the incident in a hotel located at Station Road, Ganj, on which the team members searched all the hotels/hotels located near Station Road, Ganj. The Team finally nabbed accused Guddu Kumar Yadav and Chandan Kumar Yadav were caught from a hotel located on Station Road. After catching both the accused and strictly interrogating them in connection with the incident, they along with their other 02 accomplices Pappu Yadav and Viru Kumar who were staying in another hotel located at Station Road, carried out the above incidents of chain snatching robbery. On which Pappu Yadav and Veeru Kumar involved in the incident were caught by the team members from another hotel.

On which all the four accused were arrested and action was taken against the accused by seizing 03 pieces of sane chain and 02 pieces of stolen two-wheeler worth about Rs. 2,50,000/- used in the incident. All the accused are basically residents of village Zurabganj police station Kodha, district Katihar Bihar and their gang name is Kodha, who roam around in stolen two-wheelers in different states across the country, robbing banks including chain snatching
Centre approves indigenisationof 928 defence components





NEW DELHI :

 The Defence Ministry has set specific timelines for import ban of the items, spanning the period from December 2023 to December 2028

THE Defence Ministry has approved a fresh list of 928 components and subsystems which will only be procured from the domestic industry after a ban on their import kicks in under a staggered time-line of around five-and-half years. The Ministry on Sunday said the aim of the move is in sync with the Governments overall aim to promote Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence production. It is the fourth such positive indigenisation list (PIL) comprising line replacement units, sub-systems and components used for various military platforms, equipment and weapons.

To promote Aatmanirbharta in defence and minimise imports by defence Public Sector Undertakings, the Ministry of Defence has approved fourth Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) of 928 strategicallyimportant line replacement units/sub-systems/spares and components, including highend materials and spares, with import substitution value worth Rs 715 crore, the Ministry said in a statement. The aim of the indigenisation list is also to minimise imports by the defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs). The Defence Ministry has set specific timelines for import ban of the items, spanning the period from December 2023 to December 2028. This list is in continuation to the three similar PILs that were brought out in December 2021, March 2022 and August 2022. These lists contain 2,500 items which are already indigenised and 1,238 (351+107+780) items which will be indigenised within the given timelines, the Ministry said. Of the 1,238, 310 items have been indigenised so far, it said. The items which were already indigenised comprised 262 from the first PIL, 11 from the second list and 37 from thethirdPIL,accordingtothe Ministry.Ina tweet,Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the Narendra Modi Government is committed towards indigenisation and ensuring self reliance in the defence sector.

Keeping this in mind,the 4th Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) of 928 strategically-important Line Replacement Units (LRUs)/Sub-systems/Spares and Components has been approved, he said. Thelistincludeshigh-end materials and spares, with import substitution value worth Rs 715 crore, Singh added. The DPSUs will undertake indigenisation of these items through different routes underMake category and in-house development through the capabilities of MSMEs and private Indianindustry,therebyprovidingimpetus tothegrowth in economy, enhanced investment in defence and reductioninimportdependence of DPSUs, theMinistry said. In addition, this will augmentthe design capabilities of the domestic defence industry by involvingacademia and research institutions, it said. The Ministry said DPSUs will soon initiate procurement action for these notified items.
Accused in Kerala doctor murder has no mental issues, say doctors





THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,

DOCTORS at a Government medical health centre in Thiruvananthapuram have held that the accused in the murder of Kerala woman doctor, Dr. Vandana Das, has no mental issues. The doctors, after conducting a medical examination of Sandeep, said that he did not have any mental issues. Police had brought Sandeep for a mental health check up as they were planning to house him in mental health institution if the doctors confirmed mental disorders for him. Sandeep, according to doctors, said that he got provoked by the presence of doctors and policemen in the hospital and hence, he had a mental outburst.

According to Jail Superintendent, Sandeep has told the authorities that his outburst was due to the fear that the doctors and cops would harm him. The superintendent also said that the accused Sandeep had confessed that his prime target was the male doctor present in the hospital. Sandeep, who is an upper primary school teacher in Kottarakara in Keralas Kollam district, is now jailed in the high security cell at the Poojapura central jail in Thiruvananthapuram.

Das, a house surgeon, was stabbed fatally by Sandeep who was brought by police for a medical examination and treatment of a wound on his leg on May 10. Protests had erupted across the state following the attack and murder of Das and doctors, nurses, paramedics, students, and house surgeons had participated in the agitations held across the state.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. The Organization of Turkic States issued a statement in connection with the elections in Turkiye, Trend reports.

Observers from the organization, led by its Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Yerzhan Mukash, visited more than 100 polling centers in the elections held on May 14, 2023, where they observed the voting process.

OTG Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev met with international observers.

At the meeting, the parties shared their preliminary assessments of the elections.

According to the statement, the OTG international election observation mission confirms that voting in the presidential and parliamentary elections was open, transparent and competitive, which complies with the national legislation of Turkiye and accepted international standards.

On May 14, voting took place in the presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkiye.

Three candidates are participating in the presidential elections - incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, opposition candidate Kemal Klcdaroglu and candidate Sinan Ohan from ATA Alliance.

In addition, 600 deputies in 87 constituencies will be elected to the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Some 24 parties and 151 independent candidates participate in the elections.

More than 191,000 ballot boxes were installed in the country and 60.6 million voters were registered. About 5 million of them voted for the first time.
Amount to be deposited in accounts of sisters on June 10: CM





Staff Reporter

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that under Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana, funds will be deposited in accounts of sisters from next month. Necessary preparations should be made for this. Collectors should ensure that in any case the amount should be deposited in the accounts of sisters on June 10. Chief Minister Chouhan was reviewing Ladli Bahna Yojana through video conferencing at Samatva Bhawan of the residence office recently. Senior officers including Principal Secretary Women and Child Development Deepali Rastogi were present. Chouhan said that in Jhabua district, more than 90 per cent applications for Aadhaar link and DBT activated accounts have been processed. Chief Minister Chouhan expressed his gratitude on letters sent by eligible sisters of the scheme.

Chouhan said that provisional list is available on the portal. The list should also be pasted in the gram panchayats. Properly check objections received regarding the applications. No eligible sister should be deprived of benefits. Sisters should not have any kind of problem. They should not feel the need to visit bank unnecessarily. Chouhan also took feedback from the collectors. He said that there should be no delay in payment after purchase of wheat. In panchayats, work of up to Rs 25 lakh will be done by panchayats itself. Work up to Rs 25 lakh should not be done by Rural Engineering Services Department.

Elected public representatives have the right to work in their panchayat. Applications of defaulter farmers should be filled in interest waiver campaign. The campaign starts from Monday. Chouhan instructed Senior Officer of Central Bank of India and Convenor/General Manager of State Level Bankers Committee Tarsem Singh Jeera that women should not face any problem at bank-level, they should not have to come to bank. All the works related to Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana should be completed without any hindrance.

Citizens are excited about implementation of the schemes: Letter of Chanda Jaiswal of Shahdol district, enthused by implementation of Chief Minister Ladli Bahna Yojana, was mentioned in the meeting, in which Chanda has described the amount received from the scheme as an important support for the family. Similarly, farmers in Mandsaur district have enthusiastically given a message regarding Chief Minister Farmer Interest Waiver Scheme and have created a slogan Byaj Mukt Hua Kisan, Chere Par Aai Muskan (interest free farmer, smile on face). MLA Yashpal Singh Sisodia mentioned this slogan which is getting popular.
Cotton bales worth crores gutted





Kalmeshwar Correspondent

In a devastating incident that took place on Sunday, a fire broke out in the cotton ginning section of Unique Trading Company, located in Waroda village on Kalmeshwar-Saoner Road in the district. The incident occurred around 3.30 pm, and the bales of cotton worth crores of rupees kept in the godown were gutted. The employees working in the company were left in shock, and an uproar ensued to get cotton wagons out of the ginning area.

Kalmeshwar Municipality Fire Department was informed about the incident, but they stated that there was no driver for the fire truck. Repeated attempts were made to contact the fire department of Nagpur and Saoner, but to no avail.

Finally, the fire department of Kalmeshwar Municipality reached the spot with a fire tender and started efforts to control the fire. Unique Trading Company is located in Waroda village, and this company buys cotton bales from private cotton ginning companies and manufactures yarn from it. More than 50 employees are working in this company, police said. Due to the sudden fire, cotton worth crores of rupees and the companys machinery was burnt. Company owner Asif Ansari said that there were two sheds of the company in the premises, and regular work was going on.

When the process of making yarn from cotton bales was going on, smoke started coming out from the shed suddenly. As soon as fire was noticed, everyone started noticed, everyone started running. The fire was raging until the municipal fire brigade reached the scene. The cause of the fire is believed to be a short-circuit or spark during ginning. Police Sub-Inspector Pali of Kalmeshwar Police Station reached the spot as soon as the incident was notified. Efforts to bring the fire under control began. Everyone was struggling to put out the fire, said police.The Fire Department will probe whether the company was having functional firefighting equipment. Authorities will also investigate the cause of the fire.
Manipur CM to meet PM, Shah to discuss situation





IMPHAL,

MANIPUR Chief Minister N Biren Singh and four members of his Cabinet have gone to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday to discuss the situation in the northeastern state shaken by violence for the past several days, a source said. The issue of the ongoing suspension of operation (SOO) with militant organisations of the state is also likely to be discussed, the source said. The Chief Ministers visit to Delhi also followed the demand by 10 tribal MLAs belonging to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi group in Manipur for a separate administration for their region in the wake of recent violent clashes between the Meiteis and tribals.

Of the 10 legislators, 7 belong to the BJP, two are from Kuki Peoples Alliance (KPA) and one is an Independent. The two KPA and independent MLAs are also part of the NDA led by the BJP party. Four Cabinet Ministers - Th Biswajit, Y Khemchand, K Govindas and Th Prasanta - accompanied the Chief Minister to Delhi. BJP state president A Sharda Devi also went to Delhi with them, the source said.

Violent clashes broke out in the north-eastern 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. 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 Manipurs 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. The Chief Minister 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.
Mendki villagers facing acute water crisis for last two years





Our Correspondent

Waraseoni,

Central Government and State Government is executing Jal Jeevan Mission to ensure water supply in each home in each village. In villages overhead high capacity water tanks are being constructed to arrange for supply of water through pipelines. Contractors who have been given contract for construction of overhead are not completing the work on time due to which villages are facing water crisis.

In village panchayat Mendki, from last 2 years villagers are facing acute shortage of water. The work of Nal Jal Yojana was not completed fully by the contractor hence villages are still travelling long distance to fetch water. It may be recalled that in the year 1998 Nal Jal Yojana was sanction in village panchayat Mendki. The then Sarpanch Asha Sheetal Prasad Bisen got overhead water tank constructed under the scheme. Then villagers were supplied water in their homes through pipelines but two years back it was decided that plastic pipeline would be laid instead of the present cement pipeline.

A contractor was given the contract from last two years, the contractor was doing the work of laying of plastic pipeline but still water supply has not been started due to which villages facing tough time. Village Mendki has 15 hand pumps and wells in the houses. The water of wells and hand pump has more flouride content hence it cannot be used for drinking purpose. From last two years since the work of new pipeline has started, water crisis has emerged. But water supply has not been started, tap are mere showpiece in the houses. One of the villager informed that only one hand pump in village is from where water can be fetch. The sock pit near handpump is full of filth, the water drawing out from the hand pump is also not good.

At times the water from this handpump emits smell. One of the villager Durga Chaudhary informed that in summer season they need more water for drinking and they leave all house works and in early morning hours they reach the well to fetch water. They have no option other than to take water from this well and handpump. Former Sarpanch Sachin Singh inform that villagers are facing acute water crisis and concerned officers are paying any attention.

The most surprising factor is that SDO, PHE Prakash Suryavanshi does not have information about the acute water crisis in Mendki village panchayat prevailing from last two years. Contractor Mahendra Meshram did not briefed him about the water shortage. He was informed by media about the water crisis. SDO Suryavanshi has informed that the work of laying of new pipeline is about to complete. Now submersible pump have been installed on the hand pump and overhead tank would be filled with two hand pumps then water supply from overhead tank would be done. Transformers has been installed for the submersible pump. SDO Suryavanshi directed contractor Mahendra Meshram to complete the remaining work in 2 days and start the water supply from the overhead tank. He has also directed for water supply in Pawari Tola, Lodhi Tola within 10 days.
MP Board class 5, 8 exam results to be declared today





Staff Reporter

There is a good news for students who are waiting for results of class 5 and 8 as Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (MPBSE) has completed evaluation of class 5 and class 8 answersheets and is all set to release results on Monday. School Education Minister Inder Singh Parmar will issue results of both the classes at Maharishi Patanjali Sanskrit Institution at 12.30 pm on Monday.

Candidates who have appeared for the examination can check the result through the official site of rskmp.in.

Rajya Shiksha Kendra Director Dhanraju S informed that last year, board pattern exams were held for students of class 5 and class 8 studying in Government schools. In year 2022-23, Board pattern exams were held for all such students studying in all Government schools, private schools and Madrasas. In these exams, around 24 lakh students from 87,000 Government schools, 24,000 private schools and more than 1,000 students from Madarsa had participated.

The State Education Centre has done the work in a completely transparent manner by making all the arrangements for this huge task at the departmental level itself. In the programme to be organised on May 15, along with announcement of results of said examinations, analysis summary of the examination will also be presented. Earlier, it was speculated that results might get delayed due to evaluators being caught up in uploading marks on the portal along with checking copies.
Navy test fires BrahMos missile





NEW DELHI,

A BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile was successfully test-fired from the Indian Navys frontline guided missile destroyer INS Mormugao, officials said on Sunday. The missile firing demonstrated the Indian Navys firepower at sea, they said. INS Mormugao, the latest guided-missile destroyer, successfully hit bulls eye during her maiden BrahMos supersonic cruise missile firing, a Navy official said.

The ship and her potent weapon, both indigenous, mark another shining symbol of AatmaNirbharta and Indian Navys firepower at sea, the official added. The location of the test-firing of the missile is not immediately known.

BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd, an India-Russian joint venture, produces the supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms. BrahMos missile flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach or almost three times the speed of sound. India is also exporting the BrahMos missiles. In January last year, India sealed a USD 375 million deal with the Philippines for supplying three batteries of the missile.
NHB asks large housing finance companies to adopt early warning signals framework





Business Bureau

REGULATOR for housing finance firms NHB has asked housing finance companies with asset size of over Rs 1,000 crore to adopt an early warning signals (EWS) framework to check financial frauds and also to prevent accounts from turning into non-performing assets.

National Housing Bank (NHB), in a recent circular, said analysis of the frauds reported by the housing finance companies (HFCs) has revealed that the reasons behind accounts being identified as fraud accounts are seller impersonation, submission of fake income/ employment documents, submission of fake title deeds, a collusion of the builder and borrower. It has also been observed that such deficiencies are identified only when the borrower stops paying the EMIs after the disbursement of the loans, NHB said. It has been therefore decided that an Early Warning Signals (EWS) Framework should be adopted by the HFCs so that an alert is triggered before the account turns into non-performing asset (NPA) or declared as a fraud account, it said.

NHB circular further said that tracking of the EWS must be integrated with the credit monitoring process in the systems of the HFCs so that it becomes a continuous activity. Through the EWS framework, HFCs will be encouraged to take into account fraud risks in their risk management practices. NHB has asked the housing finance companies to place the circular before their boards for information and to devise an implementation strategy. The mechanism needs to be put in place by April 1, 2024, NHB said. The NHB has provided an indicative list of EWS for individual borrowers (retail). This includes disbursement of loan done without meeting all pre-disbursement conditions, occupation of the borrower has changed, adverse developments in the sector in which the borrower is employed, and company is unable to contact the borrower during credit monitoring. The regulator has also suggested an indicative list of EWS for corporate and project loans.
Two youths, including BJP leaders son, meet watery grave in city





Staff Reporter

In a tragic incident, two youngsters met watery grave into river Narmada at Dadda Ghat under the jurisdiction of Tilwara police station, on Sunday. The deceased have been identified as Atul Shiv Patel (24), son of former Rural President BJP and Anurag Rajesh Lodhi (23), both were residents of Andhua by-pass.

According to Tilwara police, they received information of drowning of boys into river Narmada at Dadda Ghat. Learning about the incident, a police team along with the divers reached the spot and started a rescue operation. Continuing a thorough search, divers pulled out the bodies of two boys named Atul Patel and Anurag Lodhi from some distance from the incident was reported into river Narmada. The bodies were sent for post-mortem after conducting Panchnama at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College and Hospital.

In further investigation, police learnt that the deceased along with their group of friends went for bathing into river Narmada at Dadda Ghat. Meanwhile, Anuraj Lodhi reached at deeper part of the river and drowning into the river. Witnessing the incident, Atul Patel tried to rescue his friend but he also swept away with him into the river.

Learning about the incident, a large numbers of residents, family members and BJP leaders and workers reached the spot and mourned the untimely death of boys. Tilwara police have registered intimation while further investigations are underway to ascertain reason behind the death of the youths.
CHICAGO  Federal cases challenging local and state gun and magazine bans in Illinois are consolidated, and the stay against a preliminary injunction remains in place.

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday ordered four consolidated cases in the Southern District of Illinois challenging the states gun ban to be consolidated with cases from the Northern District challenging state and local bans.

The impacted cases from the Northern District of Illinois are Bevis v. Naperville and Herrera v. Raoul, which include Cook County and Chicago gun bans, and from the Southern District of Illinois, Barnett v. Raoul, which includes three other challenges from the Federal Firearms Licensees of Illinois, Illinois State Rifle Association and attorney Thomas Maag of Wood River.

Briefs are scheduled throughout June, with oral arguments set for June 29 in Chicago.

Motions to extend these dates, or to allow late filings by amici curiae, will not be entertained, the appeals court said.

Late last month, the Southern District of Illinois issued a preliminary injunction against the states ban. Six days later, at the motion of the state as defendants, the appeals court issued a stay on the injunction.

This court already has denied a motion for an injunction pending appeal in [Bevis v. Naperville], the court said. As for the Barnett appeals: based on our review of the parties submissions, the breadth of the litigation, and the differing conclusions reached by different district judges, we conclude that the stay of the district courts order already entered will remain in effect until these appeals have been resolved and the courts mandate has issued.

Arguments next month will be in front of Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Frank Easterbrook, who issued the stay last week of the Southern District injunction, and Judges Diane Wood and Michael Brennan.

The Bevis case has a pending motion for an emergency injunction in front of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Its unclear when a decision on that motion will be made.

On Tuesday, the Illinois Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the state-level challenge of Illinois gun ban brought by state Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur.
HARTFORD  When President Thomas Jefferson bought a large portion of what is now the western United States from France, he knew just the right guys to take a look at the nations newest acquisition.

Those guys were Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. And a nationally renowned Thomas Jefferson re-enactor was in Hartford on Saturday to help commemorate the 1804 departure of the Lewis and Clark Expeditions famous journey of discovery.

Kurt Smith, who portrays Jefferson at Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, presented two programs for visitors Saturday at the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site as part of the its annual Departure event. Smith said the main thing he tries to accomplish during his portrayal is to keep it real.

History tends to either vilify or deify figures in history and neither one is useful, Smith said. So if Im doing my job right I make him human. He made mistakes, but he also had great hope and vision.

Smith has been portraying Jefferson for 10 years and Ive been steeped in his words and vernacular, and his 50,000 letters, for a decade. But Smith realizes that the third American president is unique because he has direct ties to the present.

In many ways its not that I am portraying a dead man because there are people alive today that are directly related to him. I have met his descendants; the current lines of Jeffersons and Hemings are still around, Smith said. If Thomas Jefferson ever rose from the grave and saw me perform, my hope would be that he would stand in the back and give me two thumbs up.

Visitors to Saturday's Departure event could also learn a lot about the Lewis and Clark Expedition through period artillery, musket, candle making, fiber arts, cooking and other demonstrations. They could also explore a replica of the White Pirogue boat that was the flagship of the expedition.

Marine resident Elizabeth Crawford's children examined every nook and cranny of the White Pirogue.

"We are learning about history and trying to take it all in. We home school our three kids and we try to give them hands-on experiences," Crawford said. "The more they can see and do the better that they can understand the period of history they are studying. We learned how nothing really went to waste; they used everything back in those days."

Roy Schmid, 84, from St. Charles, Missouri, has been re-enacting for 50 years. He portrayed a Royal British Artillery officer from 1750, and said that Lewis and Clark weren't the only ones blazing trails during the nation's early history.

"The first two major east-west highways in the colonies were created by the British military in order to move artillery and equipment from Colonial Williamsburg to the Pittsburgh area," Schmid said. "I've done re-enactments at every rebuilt fortification on both of those routes."
South Africa: Climate Commission releases recommendations on energy transition investment plan

The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) has released two reports on South Africas Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET IP) following extensive stakeholder engagements within the first three months of this year with communities, labour, civil society, faith-based groups, business and other groups.

The first report expresses stakeholder perspectives on the plan, with the second being an appraisal of the JET IP, with the PCCs recommendations thereof.

The JET IP was released last year and sets out governments plans for South Africas priorities of investment as the country transitions towards a low carbon economy.

Executive Director of the PCC, Dr Crispian Olver, explained that during consultations, skills development came into sharp focus from participants.

Stakeholders across the board consider the just transition issues to be inadequately prioritised within the plan. On the positive side, what the plan does do is to talk very explicitly to a range of just transition interventions in skills development, in economic diversification, and mine rehabilitation.

But the view almost across the board is that greater focus should be placed on these areas, and the skills development side, in particular, came in for a lot of criticism. Its partly because if you look at the total skills development system, theres a lot of funding available through the skills development levy and various funding flows to the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), Higher Education and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges but thats not captured within the plan.

We make a number of recommendations around how to enhance those sectors and its important because people are going to critique this plan from the perspective of the Just Transition and whether it lives up to all the requirements that must be factored in, he said.

Olver said another critical aspect to the JET IP is the expansion and upgrading of the electricity grid.

Grid capacity is a major constraint to scaling up the energy transition and that is the view across the board. Government, business, labour, civil society all back a strong focus on upgrading and expanding the grid.

We note the Eskom transmission development plan, which talks about 8 500km of transmission lines needed by 2031. We fully support that and what we want to say is that in addition to governments reforms, and moves to set up the State-owned transmission company, the JET IP needs to clearly indicate how this grid expansion is going to be financed, Olver said.

Renewable energy

On renewable energy and the current crisis facing South Africa, Olver said the country needs to focus on ramping up renewable energy projects and getting those onto the grid quickly, while also focusing on other sources of energy, including battery storage and gas.

In light of the current energy crisis, the focus is to get as much public and private investment in renewables and battery storage onto the grid. We fully support the measures that have been taken to scale up imbedded generation. There is a huge exponential rise now in investment taking place in renewable energy  thats a positive trajectory.

We reckon that you need to be doing renewables at about 6 to 8GW per annum  a significant increase from where were at. But were starting to see that kind of scale of rollout now, he said.

Financing for the JET

Turning to the financing of the JET IP, Olver said that the current grants allocated to South Africa  totalling some $8.5 billion  will not be enough to fund the JET.

Everyone is united in considering these to be inadequate. But our recommendation is not to hold up implementation while we try and argue for more grants. We must bank what weve got, move forward with implementation and continue to fight for more.

We also note that the JET IP needs to be closely integrated into governments overall fiscal policy and we make the recommendation that National Treasury needs to undertake fiscal review, integrate the JET IP into the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and more broadly, in fact, wed like to see the whole Just Transition integrated into the MTEF, he said.

For more information on both reports, go to:

https://pccommissionflow.imgix.net/uploads/images/PCC-analysis-and-recommenations-on-the-JET-IP-May-2023.pdf

https://pccommissionflow.imgix.net/uploads/images/Stakeholder-perspectives-on-the-JET-IP-May-2023.pdf. - SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-05-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Schneider Electric, a world leader in energy management and automation, has appointed Hady Stephan as the Vice President of Power Systems for the Gulf region.

Stephan will be responsible for driving the growth for key countries in the Middle East and Africa, including the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.

Stephan will lead commercial and operational activities for Schneider Electrics Power Systems segment, serving critical industries such as Energy and Chemicals, Power and Grid and Transportation. A key focus will be on working in partnership with governments and businesses to help them achieve their sustainability targets by adopting energy management solutions and digital technologies to increase energy efficiency, resilience and profitability, said a statement.

Hadys extensive experience in the energy industry, combined with his expertise in developing and executing strategic plans, makes him the perfect candidate to drive the growth of Schneider Electric in the Gulf region, said Nirupa Chander, Vice President of Power Systems, Middle East & Africa, Schneider Electric.

Chander added: With power demand and electrification on the rise in the region, Stephan will be working to strengthen Schneider Electric's position as a leader in sustainability and driving critical partnerships in the region.

I am thrilled to be appointed as Vice President of Power Systems for the Gulf region at Schneider Electric, Stephan said, commenting on his appointment. This is an exciting opportunity for me to continue my journey with Schneider Electric to drive growth in a region where electrification and digitization are transforming the energy landscape. I look forward to helping customers achieve their sustainability goals and contribute to a more sustainable and digital future."

Stephan joined Schneider Electric more than a decade ago where he held several positions in tendering, project management, business development, marketing and sales. Most recently, he was Vice President for Energies and Chemicals for the Middle East. Prior to that, Stephan led the Levant Cluster in a critical mission of expanding Schneider Electrics footprint In Iraq before moving to the UAE to lead the Middle Easts Energies and Chemicals sales team. - TradeArabia News Service
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. The current President of Turkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, expressed confidence in his victory in the second round of the presidential elections, which will be held on May 28, Trend reports citing his Twitter post.

"We will gain even more percentage of the vote on May 28 compared to May 14, having won. I hope we will achieve historic success," he wrote.
GODFREY  Lewis and Clark Community College today (May 15) will host its inaugural "State of Trailblazer Nation" updates on the school's strategic goals.

President Ken Trzaska said a public session on the college's progress on its strategic goals will be held at 4:30 p.m. Monday, May 15, in the Hatheway Cultural Centers Ann Whitney Olin Theatre in Godfrey. An internal session for faculty and staff members is planned Monday morning.

The future of Lewis and Clark Community College is bright, said Trzaska.

We intend to highlight our successes and shine a light on the positive directions the college is moving in," he said. "Wed like our community stakeholders to have the opportunity to learn more, share in those successes, and engage with us in this important work.

A number of changes have occurred at the college since last fall. David Heyen, Charles Hanfelder and Brenda Walker McCain have left the board, now chaired by Dwight Werts. In December L&C announced a new branding campaign. And this week the college dismissed all of the Family Health Clinic's nurse practitioners in preparation for the clinic's closing next month.

In February, the college hosted higher education specialist Arthur Levine for a series of discussions about the future of higher education, and the future of L&C. Levine advised college officials to focus on the "5Cs"  consumers, convenience, content, connections and cost.

L&C's strategic plan is a three-year rolling plan refreshed annually, grounded in four "key directions," or KD, that include a list of measurable aspirations for the college:

KD1: Expect Enrollment and Retention Improvements

KD2: Invest in Program and Curriculum Development

KD3: Build a Transparent and Inclusive Campus Culture

KD4: Broaden Community and Educational Collaboration.

In preparation for Monday's presentations, KD team leads last week met at the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center to refine the plan and get ready to present the next iteration of it to the college's board in July.

Monday's information sessions will offer an overview of the plan and discuss progress over the past year. The public session will include light refreshments.

There also is a Zoom option available for the public session: https://lewisclark.zoom.us/j/95380230401?pwd=TkZXdmViZ0xSQzM2OFc0YVZYUm5QQT09 . The meeting also can be accessed by calling 312-626-6799; Meeting ID: 953 8023 0401 and Passcode: 598119.

The presentations will kick off a week of celebrations at L&C, which will host its 52nd annual commencement on Wednesday.

For more details on Monday's program visit https://www.lc.edu/Strategic_Plan.
Editors Note: In recognition of National Historic Preservation Month, local historian Cindy Reinhardt tells the stories behind some of Edwardsvilles historic buildings in a series of eight articles in the Month of May.

1021 Grand Ave.

The Fritz Rohrkaste Home

Like many older homes in Edwardsville, the house at 1021 Grand Ave. was built for retired farmers. Before automobile transportation, farmers often leased their farms and moved into town where church, shopping and other amenities would be readily available.

Frederick Fritz Rohrkaste and his wife, Anna Elizabeth (Kremer) Rohrkaste, who had a farm about two miles southwest of Edwardsville, purchased two building lots from J. W. Terry for $230 in August 1898, with the intent of building a new house for their retirement years.

Fritz was born in Germany in 1829 and immigrated directly to Edwardsville when he was 32 years old. Two years after his arrival in 1865, he married Anna Elizabeth Kremer, the daughter of German immigrants. Anna was born in October 1845, onboard the ship that brought her parents to America.

Fritz was 14 years older than Anna when they married. They didnt have any children of their own, but in the 1880 U. S. Census two nephews were living with them on the farm. In 1897, Fritz and Anna adopted a daughter, Martha Ann, who was a 3-year-old orphan. She was adopted shortly before they retired from the farm and moved to Edwardsville.

Fritz passed away in 1911 after a lengthy illness and Anna in 1918 from a stroke. Both of their funerals were held in the home with a second service at Eden Church and burial at Woodlawn Cemetery. Before she died, Anna was one of only three original members of Eden Church. She was able to attend the 50th anniversary of the church a few months before her death.

After Annas death, her estate remained open for over 20 years to care for her adopted daughter. Martha had what would today be considered special needs, but her particular medical issue is unknown. She lived with a relative after the death of her mother, supported financially by her mothers estate that included numerous properties with rents paid regularly. The estate was not closed until after Marthas death in 1940 at the age of 46.

Although most of the Rohrkaste properties remained part of the estate, the executors sold the house at 1021 Grand Ave. in 1928. It was purchased by Franklin Frank and Elizabeth (Bange) McCormick, who also purchased the house next door at 1027 Grand Ave.

Frank came to Edwardsville from Centralia, Illinois, around the turn of the century and went to work for N. O. Nelson Manufacturing Company as a machinist. In the late 1920s he purchased a neighborhood grocery at the corner of Randle and Union. He was a grocer from 1929 until his retirement in 1935. He died six months after retiring.

His wife, Elizabeth, was a native of Madison County, the daughter of German immigrants that had a large family of relatives in the area. After Franks death, she moved next door to her house at 1027 Grand Ave. That house was divided into two apartments so she could live in one of the apartments. She could then realize a larger income by leasing the big house next door.

Four years later, in 1939, she sold the house at 1021 Grand Ave. via contract for deed to Ralph Gephart for $2,100. Elizabeth died in 1947.

Ralph Gephart was a World War I veteran who worked as a signal maintenance man for the Wabash Railroad. Originally from Indiana, Ralph and his wife, Carrie, would make Edwardsville their home for many years.

The Gepharts owned the house for over 30 years, followed by a couple of short-term owners, before it was purchased by the current owners who have been good caretakers.

Sources for this article include materials from the Madison County Archival Library, articles from past issues of the Edwardsville Intelligencer, and land records in the Recorder of Deeds Office. If you have questions about this article, please contact Cindy Reinhardt at cindy.reinhardt@madcohistory.org or 618-656-1294.
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NEW YORK (AP)  The historic Roosevelt Hotel in midtown Manhattan shuttered three years ago, but it will soon be bustling again  reopening to accommodate an anticipated influx of asylum seekers just as other New York City hotels are being converted to emergency shelters.

Mayor Eric Adams announced Saturday that the city will use the Roosevelt to eventually provide as many as 1,000 rooms for migrants who are expected to arrive in coming weeks because of the expiration of pandemic-era rules, known collectively as Title 42, that had allowed federal officials to turn away asylum seekers from the U.S. border with Mexico.

Across the city, hotels like the Roosevelt that served tourists just a few years ago are being transformed into emergency shelters, many of them in prime locations within walking distance from Times Square, the World Trade Center memorial site and the Empire State Building. A legal mandate requires the city to provide shelter to anyone who needs it.

Even so, Adams says the city is running out of room for migrants and has sought financial help from the state and federal governments.

New York City has now cared for more than 65,000 asylum seekers  already opening up over 140 emergency shelters and eight large-scale humanitarian relief centers in addition to this one to manage this national crisis, the mayor said in a statement announcing the Roosevelt decision.

The storied hotel near Grand Central Terminal served as election headquarters for New York Gov. Thomas Dewey, who in 1948 was said to have wrongly announced from the Roosevelt that he had defeated Harry Truman for president.

As the city faces growing pressure to expand its shelter system, it is turning to vacant hotels for those who need a roof and a place to bunk down as they sort out their lives. One of them is the Holiday Inn, located in Manhattans Financial District. A few months ago, signs in the lobby windows of the 50-story, 500-room hotel said it was closed.

Scott Markowitz of Tarter Krinsky & Drogin, attorneys for the hotels owner, said reopening as a city-sponsored shelter made financial sense.

They rent out every room at the hotel at a certain price every night, Markowitz said, adding that it is bringing substantially more revenue than normal operations would have brought in.

Its not new for the city to turn to hotels for New Yorkers without homes when shelters and other options werent available.

During the pandemic, group shelters made it difficult to comply with social distancing rules, prompting the city to rent out hundreds of hotel rooms as quasi COVID wards. As the pandemic eased, the city became less reliant on hotels.

That changed as thousands of migrants began arriving by bus last year.

The Watson Hotel on West 57th Street, which used to receive rave reviews for its rooftop pool and proximity to Central Park, is now being used to house migrant families.

It is our moral and legal obligation to provide shelter to anyone who needs it, the citys Department of Social Services said in a statement. As such, we have utilized, and will continue to utilize, every tool at our disposal to meet the needs of every family and individual who comes to us seeking shelter.

Before the surge in asylum seekers, the city was dealing with increased homelessness, packed shelters and a dearth of affordable housing. New York even announced a plan to send hundreds of migrants to hotels in suburban Orange and Rockland counties across the Hudson River, angering local leaders.

Vijay Dandapani, the president and CEO of the Hotel Association of New York City, said the city needs to come up with long-term solutions.

Hotels are not the solution for these situations, he said, adding that the optics posed problems for taxpayers who might think migrants are living in luxury at their expense.

But some advocates for the homeless say the private quarters that hotel rooms provide are a better choice than the barracks-style accommodations the city usually provides.

Kassi Keith, 55, one of the citys homeless residents, welcomed the hotel arrangement.

Having your own room, what it gives you, it gives you peace of mind, Keith said. I can go to sleep with both eyes closed, you dont have to keep one eye open.

Earlier this year, dozens of migrants staged a protest after being evicted from hotel rooms and forced into barracks set up at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, which has poor access to public transportation. They complained about the cold, the lack of privacy and not having enough bathrooms.

The Roosevelt Hotel will first open this week as a welcome center providing legal and medical information and resources, officials said. It also will open 175 rooms for families with children, then expand the number of rooms to 850. The city said another 150 other rooms will be available to other asylum seekers.

When you offer people something like a hotel room, youre much more likely to get a positive response to it," said David Giffen, executive director of the Coalition for the Homeless, adding that the rooms provide privacy and dignity.

But Giffen said hotels won't address the greater problem of a lack of affordable, permanent housing.

Whats behind all of this (is) that we have such a failed housing system that people who have lower incomes end up using the shelter system as the de facto housing system, he said. And then the shelter system doesnt have enough beds so were using the hotels as a de facto shelter system.
BEIJING (AP)  A Chinese envoy was preparing Monday to visit Ukraine and Russia, but there appeared to be little chance of a breakthrough to end the 15-month-long invasion.

Chinese leader Xi Jinpings government says it is neutral and wants to play a role as mediator, but has given Moscow political support. Beijing released a proposed peace plan in February, but that was largely dismissed by Ukraine's allies, who insist Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces must withdraw.

Li Hui, a former ambassador to Moscow, also will visit Poland, France and Germany, according to the foreign ministry. It gave no other schedule details.

Political analysts see little hope for a peace agreement because neither Ukraine nor Russia is ready to stop fighting. They say by sending an envoy, China appears to be trying to neutralize criticism of its friendship with Putin and to split European allies away from Washington.

Xi spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by phone in April, setting the stage for the diplomatic push.

The trip expresses Chinas commitment to promoting peace and negotiations, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Friday. Wang said China wishes to prevent an escalation of the situation.

Beijing previously avoided involvement in conflicts between other countries but appears to be asserting itself as a global diplomatic force after arranging talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March that led them to restore diplomatic relations following a seven-year break.

China has friendly relations with Moscow as well as economic leverage as the biggest buyer of Russian oil and gas after the United States and its allies cut off most purchases.

Xis government sees Moscow as a diplomatic partner in opposing U.S. domination of global affairs. Beijing has refused to criticize the February 2022 invasion and used its status as one of five permanent United Nations Security Council members to deflect diplomatic attacks on Russia.
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Linkedin Inforial (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, May 15, 2023 11:52 4 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b0568b6f8 4 Inforial digitalized,ASEAN,HSBC Free

As the leaders of Southeast Asias countries met in the 42nd ASEAN Summit in the scenic Labuan Bajo in Indonesias East Nusa Tenggara, the host country and the current chairman of ASEAN was leading efforts to digitalize payments, as well as greater use of local currencies in the region.

Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, as well as the regions only member of the Group of 20, is among the fastest digital adopters in the world. The COVID pandemic accelerated the tectonic shift in consumer behavior, spurring the rise of online shopping and digital payments to even greater heights, resulting in mushrooming homegrown tech unicorns.

Bank Indonesia (BI) in January 2020, just before the novel coronavirus brought the world to a near-complete halt, made it mandatory for all payment providers to standardize their quick response (QR) under a single QR code called QRIS.

QRIS allows for interoperability among banks and e-wallet providers, making it a very affordable and efficient proposition for merchants. Gone are the days of having multiple QR codes or even the much costlier electric data capture (EDC) device to swipe debit or credit cards.

Thanks to low merchant fees for QRIS, the number of merchants using QRIS currently stands at about 22.4 million, more than triple the number of QR-adept merchants in Thailand, putting Indonesia at the top of Southeast Asia in terms of QR-based digital payments.

Cross-border QR

The success story of Indonesia has made it easier for other ASEAN countries to take note and adopt. The value of QR-based transactions in Indonesia has tripled each year since the standardized QRIS was made mandatory.

In 2022, QRIS transactions were valued at Rp 98.5 trillion against Rp 27.7 trillion a year earlier, and Rp 8.2 trillion in 2020, even with Indonesias challenging geographical condition of being an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands.

In November 2022, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand signed an agreement to implement regional payment connectivity, with the adoption of QRIS by other countries. Currently, QRIS can already be used in Thailand, while piloting is underway in Malaysia, whereas Singapore is at initial engagement.

A pan-ASEAN standardized, interoperable QR code would boost transactions among regional travelers, benefiting both consumers and merchants, and providing a significant plank for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2025.

Incorporating local currency settlements

Aside from having the required technology in place, the cross-border QR is also made possible thanks to local currency settlement (LCS) already underway in recent years. Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand have taken their bilateral swap arrangements a step further to curb exchange rate volatility and reduce contagion risks.

According to BI, LCS transactions jumped to US$ 2.5 billion in 2021 from $797 million in 2020. Last year, LCS made up around 4 percent of Indonesias total trade with Malaysia and 3 percent with Thailand.

During the ASEAN Finance Ministers and Central Banks Governors Meeting (AFMGM) in late March, the regions finance authorities agreed to local currency transactions to help reduce ASEANs dependence on major currencies.

The exponential digitalization in ASEAN, Indonesias success story in QRIS, as well as the macro backdrop of volatility in major currencies such as the US dollar, suggest the regions aspiration is within reach.

To catch the rapid rise of the ASEAN economy - the Asian Development Bank (ADB) projects ASEAN to expand by 4.7 percent this year, in contrast to advanced economies of just 0.4 percent - you need the right partner to navigate the intricacies of different regulations, norms and cultures among ASEAN countries.

HSBCs longstanding presence in ASEAN

With over 130 years of presence in ASEAN, HSBC is well-placed to support your business growth and enable you to tap into new opportunities.

HSBCs longstanding presence in the region allows it to amass vast knowledge not just on individual ASEAN markets, but understanding how to navigate the dynamics and connections between them.

As the worlds top trade bank, HSBCs digital payment solutions enable companies to optimize their working capital with flexible transaction processing in local and foreign currencies, while reducing errors at the same time. Companies can directly tap into a suite of foreign currency services and save time on forex transactions. (ism)

Topics : digitalized ASEAN HSBC
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Linkedin Sylviana Hamdani (The Jakarta Post) Contributor/Jakarta  Mon, May 15, 2023

Many do not realize that tuberculosis (TB) still lurks around us, and we still have a long way to go to eradicate the disease.

Faradibha Dzalika Fatah, medical student at Yarsi University Jakarta, became worried as she had been feeling weak and feverish for more than two weeks.

As a medical student, I have a tight schedule, so the condition bothered me, Faradibha said during an interview at the United States cultural center, @america, in Pacific Place, South Jakarta, on March 29. So, I immediately checked myself into the hospital.

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Linkedin Roland Lloyd Parry and Benedicte Rey with Adria Laborda (AFP) Paris, France  Mon, May 15, 2023 09:41 4 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc69b28f 2 Environment disinformation,weather,meteorology,climate,environment Free

Once trusted faces on the news, meteorologists now brave threats, insults and slander online from conspiracy theorists and climate change deniers who accuse them of faking or even fixing the weather.

Users on Twitter and other social media falsely accused Spain's weather agency of engineering a drought, Australia's of doctoring its thermometers and France's of exaggerating global warming through misplaced weather stations.

"The coronavirus is no longer a trend. Conspiracy theorists and deniers who used to talk about that are now spreading disinformation about climate change," Alexandre Lopez-Borrull, lecturer in Information and Communication Sciences at the Open University of Catalonia, told AFP.

"These scientific bodies are seen as part of the establishment, so anything they say may get disputed on social networks.

"They are providing evidence against what the climate deniers claim, so the latter try to discredit them."

Meteorologists threatened

In a harsh drought and with local elections looming, Spain's State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) spoke out after its members were threatened in Twitter messages, phone calls and emails.

"Murderers", "Criminals", "You'll pay for this", "We're watching you", the messages shouted.

They came from people who believe the widely debunked theory that aeroplane condensation trails are really "chemtrails" sprayed by the authorities to poison people or create weather disasters.

Some referred to the "2030 agenda", a debunked theory that global elites are plotting to subjugate people through Covid and climate policies.

"Do you want us to publish your contact details and those of your family?" read one Tweet aimed at an AEMET employee.

"Crooks! You are destroying nature on the orders of the damned 2030 agenda," said another.

"We have seen an increase in insulting messages as a result of a thread we published about condensation trails" on April 10, AEMET spokesperson Estrella Gutierrez-Marco told AFP.

"What makes no sense is that they are insulting an institution that is constantly watching out for their interests, whose aim is... to contribute to people's safety."

Lopez-Borrull noted a "significant increase" in climate change denial - particularly among far-right supporters who see it as a leftist cause and oppose reforms aimed at curbing its impacts.

"People distrust politicians, judges and the media, and the cost of living is rising," he said.

"In this context people feel alienated and end up listening to people they never listened to before, with messages appealing directly to the emotions."

Australian thermometers

In another case investigated by AFP Fact Check, conservative media and Facebook users shared unfounded claims that Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) doctored its temperature readings.

In an analysis of data obtained via a freedom of information request, prominent climate sceptic Jennifer Marohasy said BOM's electronic probes returned readings up to 0.7 degrees Celsius warmer than those of its older mercury thermometers.

Experts who analysed the data said the claims were inaccurate.

Monash University emeritus environment professor Neville Nicholls said the difference between most readings on the electronic probes and the mercury thermometers was negligible -- between zero and 0.1C (0.18 degrees Fahrenheit).

"This difference is very small compared to the strong warming trend in average temperature over Australia" -- about 1.4C over the past century -- Nicholls told AFP.

The World Meteorological Organization told AFP that the BOM's measurements were in line with its standards, contrary to Marohasy's allegation.

Temperatures in France

After a series of heat records in March in southwestern France, a critic on social media published a thread alleging that the country's national weather service overstated warming by relying on readings from stations in urban districts, where temperatures are typically higher.

The thread received more than 139,000 views and spread to Facebook.

"Yet another way of making us feel scared and guilty," one woman commented on the thread, referring to the weather service, Meteo-France.

"Luckily fewer and fewer people believe them after the Covid business. I'm glad not to watch their forecasts on France TV."

Climatologists consulted by AFP debunked the claims, pointing out that the limited network of 30 weather stations referred to in the thread is not what scientists use to measure climate change, and the climate is also observed to be changing in rural districts.

"Meteo-France researchers use all possible measures and create computer models with various hypotheses and a longer timeframe for analysis," said Christine Berne, a climatologist in the service.

"You can be sure we don't just have our 30 little weather stations."

One Twitter user accused Dutch broadcaster RTL Nieuws of exaggerating a late-April heatwave in Spain, posting as evidence a screenshot showing moderate temperatures in the Costa Blanca.

However, his screenshot was taken three days after the heatwave, in the cool of the morning.

Topics : disinformation weather meteorology climate environment
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Linkedin Yerica Lai and Dio Suhenda (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, May 15, 2023

Political parties have spared no effort in supporting their lofty electoral ambitions for next year, nominating Cabinet members, incumbents and even some notable newcomers for the 2024 legislative election before the close of the registration period on Sunday.

Nine major parties that currently hold seats in the House of Representatives, some parties not represented in the legislature and new arrivals all registered candidates with the General Elections Commission (KPU) by the deadline.

Besides naming popular figures from across the cultural spectrum as candidates to attract votes, major parties are also relying on incumbents and Cabinet members for their experience, predictability and perceived edge in winning or holding onto seats.

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Special counsel John Durham concluded that the FBI should never have launched a full investigation into connections between Donald Trumps campaign and Russia during the 2016 election, according to a report compiled over three years by the Trump-administration appointee and released on Monday, Trend reports citing CNN.

Durhams 300-plus page report also states that the FBI used raw, unanalyzed, and uncorroborated intelligence, to launch the Crossfire Hurricane investigation into Trump and Russia but used a different standard when weighing concerns about alleged election interference regarding Hillary Clintons campaign.

The special counsel, however, did not recommend any new charges against individuals or wholesale changes about how the FBI handles politically charged investigations, despite strongly criticizing the agencys behavior.

Based on the review of Crossfire Hurricane and related intelligence activities, we conclude that the (Justice) Department and FBI failed to uphold their important mission of strict fidelity to the law in connection with certain events and activities described in this report, Durham wrote.

The report also concludes that at least on the part of certain personnel intimately involved in the matter there was a predisposition to open an investigation into Trump.

Durhams findings that the FBIs investigation into the Trump campaign should not have happened are at odds with a previous Justice Department inspector general investigation into the FBIs Russia probe, which identified problems with the investigation but concluded in December 2019 there was sufficient justification to open the inquiry.

Attorney General Merrick Garland sent Durhams report to congressional lawmakers and released the report on Monday.

In a letter to Congress accompanying the report, Garland said, Special Counsel Durhams unclassified report is attached in full as submitted to me, without any additions, redactions, or other modifications.

Durhams conclusions condemning the FBIs investigation into Trump is sure to fuel the debate about Russia, Trump, the FBI and the 2016 presidential election that is still swirling more than six years after and as Trump is campaigning once again for the White House.

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan announced that he has reached out to the Department of Justice to have Durham testify next week.

The investigation was launched in May 2019 by Trumps former Attorney General William Barr  a probe that Trump and his right-wing allies repeatedly predicted would investigate the investigators and lead to bombshell indictments of those who scrutinized the former president. Four years later, Durhams investigation yielded one minor conviction, two losses at trial and a probe that fell short of the lofty goals set by the former president.

Durham only secured one conviction: the guilty plea of a low-level FBI lawyer, Kevin Clinesmith, who avoided jail after admitting to doctoring an email about a surveillance warrant. Durhams other two prosecutions  against a Hillary Clinton campaign lawyer and the primary source for the Trump-Russia dossier  ended with embarrassing acquittals.

In a statement Monday, the FBI said its leadership has already implemented dozens of corrective actions, which have now been in place for some time, in response to the conduct examined by Durham. Had those reforms been in place in 2016, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented, the statement adds.
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Linkedin Dio Suhenda (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, May 15, 2023

A group of telecommunications workers taken hostage by an armed rebel group in the Papuan Highlands has been released, the local police have said, in the latest kidnapping crisis in the restive region.

Reports emerged on Friday that four workers from PT Infrastruktur Bisnis Sejahtera (IBS) who had flown to the provinces Okbab district to inspect the construction of a base transceiver station (BTS), were taken hostage by armed men thought to be members of a Papuan rebel group.

Five armed men reportedly approached the group immediately after they landed in Okbab. A physical altercation ensued in which some members suffered injuries. The armed group reportedly demanded Rp 500 million (US$33,600) in ransom for the workers release.

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Linkedin Tenggara Strategics (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, May 15, 2023 07:00 4 96f72165d1db80845b6b1c241cd60f87 4 Academia the-brief Free

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto is shaping up as the candidate to beat in the presidential race on Feb. 14, 2024, and is no longer the dark horse of earlier surveys.

With the field narrowing down to three frontrunners, electability surveys put him either in the lead or in second place behind Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo. Prabowos rise comes mostly at the expense of former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, who is now struggling in third place in almost all surveys.

If voters seem to be switching their allegiances, so are the political parties that have the power to nominate candidates. The Golkar Party, currently the second-largest party and which has no strong candidate of its own, is contemplating backing Prabowos nomination. Other smaller parties are doing their own calculations about which candidate to support, but Prabowo is increasingly becoming an attractive proposition, going by the latest surveys.

Prabowo virtually sealed his nomination on Monday, when the Nation Awakening Party (PKB) announced its support for the defense minister. The Great Indonesia Awakening Coalition (KKIR), formed between PKB and Prabowos own Gerindra Party, has enough seats in the national legislature to nominate him. This means that whether other parties want to join the KKIR is almost immaterial, and they will be left with deciding between candidates with greater chances at winning or losing

Prabowo also seems to have the tacit support of President Joko Jokowi Widodo. While the President is not the head of any political party, he commands the support of millions of loyal and nonpartisan voters who helped him win the elections in 2014 and 2019, and who will vote for the candidate he endorses. Prabowo said last week that he would not resign as defense minister, even when beginning his presidential campaign; a statement that would not have been possible without clear signals from Jokowi.

Although the President has demonstrated public support for Ganjar, a fellow member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), palace insiders say he is leaning toward Prabowo as the candidate most likely to continue or preserve his presidential legacy after his second and final term ends in 2024.

Surveys predict a two-round presidential election because no candidate is expected to win a clear majority in February, and that Prabowo is likely to clinch one of the slots in the runoff voting. This raises the prospect of Prabowo squaring up against Ganjar in the second round scheduled for July 2024.

Prabowo has openly ruled out pairing with Ganjar on the same ticket, which Jokowi also mooted earlier. The idea emerged when Prabowo was still ranked either second or third in the polls, indicating that he had zero chance of winning the election.

Now that Prabowo is leading the pack, the tables have turned.

Whats more

In a speech at an event for retired military veterans in Yogyakarta last week, he acknowledged the critics who said that he would embarrass himself if he went down in history as four-time loser. He ran and lost the presidential races in 2014 and 2019, both times to Jokowi, and he also lost as the running mate of PDI-P chair Megawati Soekarnoputri to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2009.

To this, he said that he would never give up, as he was a soldier himself.

Never retreat is the spirit and attitude of the Indonesian Military [TNI]. I come from the TNI. I was guided to build this spirit by [my] seniors in the TNI, said the former general.

TNI members cannot vote, but their families and veterans represent a small but powerful voting bloc that represents the powerful institution. Gerindra is also filled with former TNI officers, which gives an indication of what a Prabowo-led government would look like.

Prabowo, or rather Gerindra, has yet to pick a running mate, which is the subject of ongoing negotiations with other parties mulling over whether to support him. PKB chair Muhaimin Iskandar has cast his lot, but being an early supporter does not guarantee him a place by Prabowo. Golkar chair Airlangga Hartarto is also vying for the slot and has stronger bargaining power.

Ganjar and Anies also have not picked their running mates.

The other parties will have to calculate not only whether supporting one candidate will bring them votes in the legislative elections, to be held concurrently with the presidential election, but also whether they are backing the winning horse. Choosing right will give them a foot in the door of the next government, with the possibility of holding Cabinet seats and other key posts. Choosing wrong will condemn them to the opposition for five years until 2029.

Prabowo, Ganjar and Anies are all looking for a running mate who can either attract more votes on election day or contribute campaign funds.

Recently touted names like State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir and Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno fall into the latter category. Meanwhile, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD, East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa and the PKBs Muhaimin fall into the former category, as they could win votes in East Java, the most important election battleground.

For Prabowo, picking the right running mate could help him break his losing streak.

What weve heard

Gerindra chairman Prabowo Subianto is confirmed to run for the president in 2024. The defense minister has been engaging in political communication and reconciliation with several military figures and retired personnel. Among them are high-ranking officers who had dismissed him from the military in 1998, such as Wiranto, Subagyo Hadi Siswoyo, and Agum Gumelar.

According to his close associates, Prabowo arranged and personally chose the senior TNI figures he visited during the Idul Fitri holiday. Prabowo wanted to show the public he had no hard feeling despite their decision to discharge him from the military. Prabowo received support from the senior figures to run in the 2024 election, said one of the associates.

The source added that Prabowo is also trying to reach out to political parties, apart from wooing support from TNI figures. He has been communicating intensively with Golkar Party leaders such as Aburizal Bakrie and Airlangga Hartarto. They met twice last month alone. Prabowo is said to be seriously exploring the possibility of forming a coalition with Golkar. He has also approached Golkar seniors such as Jusuf Kalla, who is already supporting former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan.

Prabowo is said to be also preparing the logistics for the election campaign. According to his close associate, Prabowo relies on his businesses in the mining, plantation, and paper processing industry. Prabowo's brother, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, who runs several businesses, will also support Prabowo's campaign expenses. "The main source of funding for Prabowo's presidential election is still from the family business," he said.

Disclaimer

This content is provided by Tenggara Strategics in collaboration with The Jakarta Post to serve the latest comprehensive and reliable analysis on Indonesias political and business landscape. Access the latest edition of Tenggara Backgrounder to read the articles listed below:

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Linkedin Editorial board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, May 16, 2023 04:32 3 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b05699fd2 1 Editorial police,Reform,sentences,Teddy-Minahasa,Ferdy-Sambo,execution,drug-abuse,murder,credibility,detention Free

The life sentence recently handed down to a two-star police general for drug trafficking less than three months after another inspector general received the death penalty for premeditated murder can be viewed from two different angles.

On the gloomy side, the two events have dealt a major and lasting blow to the National Polices reputation. Even one bad cop is too many, as the institution must uphold law and order in its own ranks if it seeks to legitimately impose it on the rest of us. As the Indonesian saying goes, A dirty broom cannot sweep clean.

On the bright side, however, the prosecution of the two high-ranking officers, who some had claimed were rising stars and potential candidates for the polices top post in the future, has sent a clear message on upholding justice without bias or favor. The energy and rigor with which the National Police built the cases against Insp. Gen. Teddy Minahasa and Insp. Gen. Ferdy Sambo set a new benchmark for investigations into violations involving high-ranking officers.

Last week, the West Jakarta District Court sentenced Teddy to life in prison after finding him guilty of orchestrating a plot to steal and sell 5 kilograms of methamphetamine seized by the West Sumatra Police. At the time of the crime last year, Teddy was the chief of the provincial police force and was about to be installed as East Java Police chief.

The sentence diverged from the demands of state prosecutors, who said Teddy deserved capital punishment.

In February, Ferdy was convicted of plotting the murder of his own aide-de-camp, a low-ranking police officer, and tampering with evidence to cover up the crime. He will face a firing squad if he exhausts all legal means to evade execution. The Jakarta High Court upheld Ferdys death sentence last month, a punishment that the new Criminal Code has kept despite opposition from human rights groups.

Under the code, however, Ferdys death penalty can be commuted to a life sentence if he displays good behavior for 10 years.

The National Police have dishonorably discharged both Ferdy and Teddy, but to further show commitment to justice, the institution should express its acceptance of the punishments for the two.

Beyond that, for the sake of equality before the law, the police must take no measures that could be interpreted as efforts to protect the two former generals. Teddy and Ferdy are now in police custody at special detention facilities inside the Mobile Brigade Corps headquarters in Kelapa Dua, Depok, West Java. Other police generals convicted of crimes in the past also served their jail sentences in the exclusive detention center, unlike other criminals who serve their sentences in overcrowded prisons.

Teddy's conviction has given the police the impetus to carry on their internal reforms, launched in the wake of the regime change in 1998 to transform the police into a more accountable and credible institution.

There is no doubt that National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo faces a tough task in cleaning up the institution  beyond merely paying lip service to the cause  particularly as there is always potential for opposition from rogue elements within the force, amid allegations of conflict between competing factions.

The scale of the job is demonstrated by the great number of irregularities involving the police that have suddenly, magically disappeared, such as allegations of suspiciously fat bank accounts belonging to some police generals, which first surfaced in 2010 in response findings by the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK).

Some recent opinion polls have found that the police have regained some measure of public trust. This should encourage Listyo to do more to rebuild the institution. We are waiting eagerly for the police to become the fair, reputable institution that our nation deserves.
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Linkedin Editorial board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, May 15, 2023 07:55 4 96f72165d1db80845b6b1c241cd6a267 1 Editorial COVID-19,WHO,infection,Education,protection,vaccine,mask,health-worker Free

The World Health Organization has declared the COVID-19 pandemic no longer a global health emergency, but it is too early to celebrate. Instead, we call on the government and the people alike to remain vigilant.

The last three years and the devastation caused may now seem like a distant past. Or perhaps we want to move away as far as possible from that dark episode of our timeline. But we must be cautious as a new chapter now seems to be in sight.

When WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the much-awaited announcement on May 5, an Arcturus-induced caseload spike in some countries, including Indonesia, still lingered.

On May 3, Indonesia reported 2,647 new infections, the highest daily caseload in five months. In the past week, the caseload has risen by over 1,500 per day with a total of 18,542 active cases recorded over the weekend.

To date, the virus has infected more than 765 million people and caused at least 6.9 million deaths globally, although according to the WHO the real number of fatalities is closer to 20 million.

Emerging variants have demonstrated increased transmissibility and the potential to evade certain immune responses. These evolving threats emphasize the need for persistent vigilance, including adherence to preventive measures and timely adjustments to effectively address the changing landscape of the pandemic.

Indonesia, like many other countries, has faced unique challenges during the pandemic.

The vast geographical spread and limited healthcare resources have posed significant hurdles. To combat the virus, the country implemented various measures such as social distancing, testing and mass vaccination.

But even when the end is within sight, continuous efforts are necessary to protect the population.

"One of the greatest tragedies of COVID-19 is that it didn't have to be this way," Tedros said, decrying that "a lack of coordination, a lack of equity and a lack of solidarity" meant "lives were lost that should not have been."

Ensuring equitable access to vaccines remains a critical priority in Indonesia. While significant strides have been made in the vaccine rollout, there are still challenges in reaching remote areas and vulnerable populations.

Improving vaccine distribution and education, boosting healthcare infrastructure and addressing vaccine hesitancy, are necessary to further contain the virus and protect all citizens.

Like what it did to multitudes of aspects, the pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in our countrys healthcare system. The need to bolster healthcare infrastructure, increase capacity and prioritize the well-being of healthcare workers is obviously paramount.

Investments in healthcare facilities, training and equipment will enhance the country's ability to respond effectively to future challenges and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and other potential outbreaks.

As restrictions ease and social interactions resume, it is crucial to maintain protective measures. At the very least, mask-wearing at high-risk places and hand hygiene should remain the norms, particularly in crowded places.

Public awareness campaigns and education should emphasize the importance of personal responsibility in curbing the spread of viruses, not just the coronavirus.

As we navigate the post-pandemic era, we would like to remind the government and fellow Indonesians of the need for sustained vigilance, despite how repetitious this message may be.

The pre-COVID era will be for us to fondly reminisce about. That normal time is in our past. We are not going back but we are going ever forward.

For all the darkness it brings, the pandemic sheds light and shows us many ways of doing things better. One example, COVID-19 brought us to realize what long-distance communication and remote working can do for us; things that were beyond our imagination three years ago.

The WHO and its member states have started discussions about an international treaty or something similar to draw lessons from mistakes made in the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure the world reacts more effectively and equitably to the next one.

The question is not if, but when. Let us learn from the easing pandemic and stay on alert as we strive for a healthier future.
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Linkedin Pietro Paganini Rome  Tue, May 16, 2023 03:55 3 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b05699672 2 Academia palm-oil,EU,regulation,deforestation,Indonesia,negotiation,label,collaboration,Opportunity Free

The European regulation to combat deforestation (EUDR) is an opportunity for Indonesia. This statement is not meant provocatively. I will attempt to prove that the Indonesian government can and must transform an annoying and costly European decree into an opportunity for not only economic and social but also geopolitical development.

I do not want to convince Indonesia as the worlds palm oil producer and other suppliers that this regulation is useful, or that it does not harbor serious unintentionalor perhaps intentionalconsequences, especially for small palm oil producers. Nor am I convinced that it is a good regulation, it certainly is notand cannotbe perfect.

The reasoning that urged Europe to undertake this regulation, which is only a small, but important, part of a more ambitious and visionary reform plan (the Green Deal) is, and remains, commendable. Unfortunately, the end-product is both debatable and problematic, and not just for you producer countries that export to Europe, but also for the 27 countries of the EU that import and which, in turn, must comply with the complexities of this regulation.

In addition, as is often the case, the European institutions took their usual top-down approach. They did not make the effort to communicate with and involve the producer countries whose contribution to the new legislation would have been fundamental. The frustration spreading through producer countries, not only in Southeast Asia, is therefore understandable and must be underscored in institutional discussions. The content of the regulation has not benefited from this unilateral approach. In fact, all the defects are emerging now that it is being implemented.

However, we must look at it realistically and be pragmatic. Like it or not, the European choice is already a benchmark and many governments are preparing to implement similar regulations (for example, some states in the United States). The regulation is here to stay and will not be modified (there is neither the time nor opportunity, at least not until the next European legislature).

The European institutions will not turn back. The dynamics of the EU, especially the commission, are such that there will be no change of mind. Those who wrote the regulation, and also those who voted for it, do not have a direct relationship with their electorate or the general public.

However, the European institutions urgently needs to implement the regulation and show that it will be effective. To do thisand they are finally realizing thisthey need producer countries. Without the agreement of producer countries, such as Indonesia, the goals of the regulation cannot be met. In other words, the EU dictated the rules without consulting with the producing countries first, but now the EU needs the producing countries to make sure they function.

This means that Indonesia has significant room for negotiation. And this is the opportunity. Which can be taken advantage of if, and only if, Indonesia shows interest in wanting to comply with the regulation whose true aims we all sharealthough not the instruments imposed by the EU to attain them.

But Indonesian compliance involves difficulties we are well aware of.

These difficulties must be transformed into requests for collaboration to be able to comply with the regulation. This means time and financial and technological resources, and small producers must be supported and reorganized so that they can adapt, redesign their logistics for traceability, and so on. It is an enormous challenge to which the EU must contribute, that is, collaborate with Indonesia as the worlds largest palm oil producer so that the regulation is a success.

They did not do this while the regulation was being drafted and approved, but they must do it now that they are working to implement it. No region, no raw material can be left out. Given this context, Indonesian shopping list must be paid by the EU. And it must include many requests. For example, in this phase, it is legitimate to request that the absurd use of the palm oil free label be ended, which for years has unjustly damaged the reputation of palm oil.

With the new regulations, there is no reason for the negative labels to exist. The palm oil entering Europe now conforms to all regulations, which means it is safe, wholesome and sustainable. Anyone wanting to exclude it, claiming that it is harmful to health or the environment, is a fraud. The European market, so concerned about regulations to safeguard consumers and the planet, must free itself of frauds.

I understand that what I am suggesting here is difficult to digest, especially because among the producing countries there is a perfectly understandable desire to retaliate against centuries of Western, and not just European, injustice. However, today, Indonesia is part of the Group of 20, one of the five most-populous countries (EU included) with many young people (unlike the West), and all economic and growth indicators rising exponentially.

To paraphrase the famous image of a legendary French film of the last century, the world is yours (Le monde est a vous). To grasp it, you must adopt a pragmatic approach and take your place at the negotiating table to transform what seems to be unjust discrimination into a tremendous opportunity.

Negotiating with Europe during the implementation phase of the EUDR is a development opportunity that will find you ready when, sooner or later, other governments will implement similar regulations.

***

The writer is an assistant professor of business administration at the John Cabot University of Rome. The views are personal.
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Linkedin A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, May 15 2023

Activists are warning that the decommissioning of an Australian vessel in the Timor Sea can potentially spill oil, radioactive materials and other toxins into the sea near Indonesias territorial waters.

The Australian government has announced the plans for the phase-one decommissioning of the Northern Endeavour floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) in the Timor Sea about 155 kilometers off the coasts of Indonesia and Timor Leste.

The decommissioning include activities such as flushing or cleaning of the vessels topsides and subsea infrastructures, de-mucking of liquids with residue of naturally occurring radioactive materials, as well as towing the vessel to an undisclosed international destination, among others.

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Linkedin Roland Lloyd Parry, Benedicte Rey, Adria Laborda and Kate Tan (The Jakarta Post) Agence France-Presse/Paris/Barcelona, Spain/Sydney, Australia  Mon, May 15 2023

Once trusted faces on the news, meteorologists now brave threats, insults and slander online from conspiracy theorists and climate change deniers who accuse them of faking or even fixing the weather.

Users on Twitter and other social media falsely accused Spain's weather agency of engineering a drought, Australia's of doctoring its thermometers and France's of exaggerating global warming through misplaced weather stations.

"The coronavirus is no longer a trend. Conspiracy theorists and deniers who used to talk about that are now spreading disinformation about climate change," Alexandre Lopez-Borrull, lecturer in Information and Communication Sciences at the Open University of Catalonia, told AFP.

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Linkedin Hui Min Neo and Michelle Fitzpatrick (The Jakarta Post) Agence France-Presse/Berlin/Aachen, Germany  Mon, May 15 2023

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday called Germany a "true friend" in his country's battle against Russia, as Berlin pledged unwavering support for Kyiv ahead of a widely expected counteroffensive.

Berlin unveiled a new military package for Kyiv worth 2.7 billion euros (US$3 billion), its biggest yet for Ukraine, just before Zelensky's first visit to Germany since Russia's invasion.

"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," Zelensky wrote in the guestbook at the German president's official residence.

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Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, May 16 2023

The life sentence recently handed down to a two-star police general for drug trafficking less than three months after another inspector general received the death penalty for premeditated murder can be viewed from two different angles.

On the gloomy side, the two events have dealt a major and lasting blow to the National Polices reputation. Even one bad cop is too many, as the institution must uphold law and order in its own ranks if it seeks to legitimately impose it on the rest of us. As the Indonesian saying goes, A dirty broom cannot sweep clean.

On the bright side, however, the prosecution of the two high-ranking officers, who some had claimed were rising stars and potential candidates for the polices top post in the future, has sent a clear message on upholding justice without bias or favor. The energy and rigor with which the National Police built the cases against Insp. Gen. Teddy Minahasa and Insp. Gen. Ferdy Sambo set a new benchmark for investigations into violations involving high-ranking officers.

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Linkedin Thanaporn Promyamyai (The Jakarta Post) Agence France-Presse/Bangkok  Tue, May 16 2023

Thailand's progressive Move Forward Party (MFP) claimed victory in the country's election on Monday after a stunning result that decimated military-backed parties, which have ruled the kingdom for nearly a decade.

A massive surge for the MFP in Sunday's ballot left it on course to be the biggest party, followed by its rival opposition, the Pheu Thai movement of billionaire ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thai voters turned out in record numbers to deliver a brutal verdict on former coup leader Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who has been blamed for economic stagnation and a crackdown on rights.

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In celebration of International Museum Day, entry to national and art museums affiliated to the Ministry of Culture will be free on Thursday, the ministry said.
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Linkedin Nina Larson (The Jakarta Post) Agence France-Presse/Geneva, Switzerland  Tue, May 16 2023

United States candidate Amy Pope looks poised to become the first woman to lead the United Nations migration agency, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), after Mondays first round of voting put her squarely in the lead ahead of her own boss.

After an unusually acrimonious leadership battle that pitted the United States against its European allies, the IOMs 175 member states kicked off the secret ballot in Geneva early on Monday.

They faced a choice between backing former Portuguese government minister Antonio Vitorino for a second term or supporting his US deputy Amy Pope to steer the organization for the next five years.

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Linkedin  Mon, May 15, 2023 17:35 3 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b05693d45 2 Asia and Pacific Malaysia,Rohingya,migrant-workers,Bangladesh,Nepal,sanction,human-rights,ASEAN Free

Malaysia said on Monday it would sanction firms and strip away licences from recruitment agencies involved in hiring migrant workers who later found themselves stranded without jobs in the country.

Reuters reported last week that hundreds of South Asian migrants, mostly from Bangladesh and Nepal, had been left in limbo after arriving in Malaysia, where they were told that jobs promised to them in exchange for steep recruitment fees were no longer available. Malaysia announced a probe last month.

The plight of the migrants - many of whom say they have not been paid salaries for months - comes amid concerns over workplace abuses in Malaysia, with several companies facing U.S. bans for forced labour in recent years.

In response to Reuters' queries, Malaysia's Labour Department vowed to take action against recruitment agencies and companies found to have misused government quotas and licences for hiring migrant workers.

The department said in an emailed statement it would conduct a thorough investigation, and would not compromise on any unlawful activities that could "lead to any form of forced labour".

The department said it had moved some of the stranded workers to government-registered quarters, and compelled some companies to pay for their accommodation and salaries.

It did not say how many workers in a similar plight it had identified, or how many firms or agencies it was investigating.

The department also denied reports that two Nepali citizens had died by suicide at a workers' accommodation facility.

It cited police investigations that determined only one death - that of a Nepali recruitment agent, who had travelled to Malaysia to oversee the cases of workers stranded.

The police would conduct a further probe into the death, the department said.
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Linkedin AFP Bangkok, Thailand  Mon, May 15, 2023 12:53 4 96f72165d1db80845b6b1c241cdb8c9f 2 Asia and Pacific Thailand,opposition,Prime-Minister,democracy,election,ASEAN,Prayuth-Chan-ocha Free

Thailand's progressive Move Forward Party (MFP) claimed victory in the country's election Monday after a result that decimated military-backed parties that have ruled the kingdom for nearly a decade.

A stunning surge for the upstart MFP in Sunday's ballot left it on course to be the biggest party, followed by its rival opposition -- the Pheu Thai movement of billionaire ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat said he would seek to build a six-party coalition including Pheu Thai.

"I am Pita Limjaroenrat, the next prime minister of Thailand," he told reporters at the MFP headquarters in Bangkok.

"We are ready to form the government," he added, vowing to be a "prime minister for all".

The 42-year-old said he had called Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Pheu Thai's lead candidate to be prime minister, to congratulate her on her campaign and invite her to join the coalition.

Thais turned out in record numbers to deliver a brutal verdict on former coup leader Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, blamed for economic stagnation and a crackdown on rights.

Between them, MFP and Pheu Thai are expected to take 292 out of 500 seats in the lower house, with the two main army-allied parties mustering just 76 seats in total.

But in a kingdom where coups and court orders have often trumped the ballot box, there are fears that the result may yet be thwarted.

MFP has vowed to reform the country's strict lese-majeste laws, putting it on course for a collision with the powerful royalist-military establishment.
Photo: On Friday, Mayor Adams, local elected officials and community leaders toured Tompkins Square Park. Credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office.

This past weeks news headlines:

A state judge dismisses the latest lawsuit against the mega-towers planned in the Two Bridges area. An appeal is expected. [Streetsblog]

Union organizers talk about the factors behind their decision to try to unionize the Essex Crossing Trader Joes and why the effort (just barely) failed. [Indypendent]

Chinatowns across the country, including here in New York, are coping with the impacts of luxury development. [CNBC]

The story of how the statues at Our Lady of Sorrows Church got repaired. [PIX 11]

A look at Tria Giovans new book, Loisaida: New York Street Work 1984-1990. [Animal]

Unregular Pizza is ready for its debut in the Essex Market. [Instagram]

The crowds have been forming on Doyers Street to check out the new Hong Kong-style spot, Mabu Cafe. [Eater]

Matthew Barneys Cremaster Cycle series comes to the Metrograph. [The Art Newspaper]
The Spirit of Tehachapi

Isabel Cortez Cervantes was a well known and respected citizen of this community until her death in 1991 at age 87.

In 1914 when she was only 11 her father, Odilon Cortez, immigrated his family from the small Mexican village of Cosio in Aguascalientes, to Tehachapi. Much lumber was being taken from the Cummings Mountain area and sent to Los Angeles and the work was good. Another vital reason for the move was the regular raids on villages in their area by the notorious bandit, Pancho Villa; a very dangerous outlaw. The life she left in Mexico had its interesting moments, and a few incidents should not be forgotten.

After her mother, Feliz Cortez, died, Isabel and her two younger sisters, Natividad and Petra, lived with their paternal grandparents, Florencia and Mauricio Cortez. Her father was already working in the United States in Tehachapi but the children were still in Mexico. Her grandfather, before his death, had been a judge in the small community and had owned a fine farm with orchards and vineyards, which the grandmother and her sons continued to run.

Their village had been raided more than once by Villa. He would ride in with his men and kill those who resisted him, then loot and burn the stores and rob the homes of the rich leaving what they did not want in the streets for the poor to take. He would call to them saying, "Venga y tomalo!" (Come and get it!) He fancied himself as somewhat of a Mexican Robin Hood but there was a cruel streak deep within. The grandmother's home was saved from looting because some of Villa's men knew of her generosity to the poor people of the village. Isabel's duty was to give one scoop of corn and two of beans to any person coming to the door asking for food.

One day, she and her grandmother walked to the local store to buy some kerosene for their lamps. They heard sounds of horses coming and voices shouting, "Villa is coming! Villa is coming!" as the riders passed. The storekeeper told the grandmother to hurry home out the back way and hide her teenage children: sons, Thomas and Donato and daughter Mercedes.

Villa was known for conscripting both young men and women for his army. The storekeeper also left and went into hiding and escaped being killed, although his store was burned.

Isabel recalled that one day Villa sent word by his Captain to her grandmother's house and said that he and some of his officers would like to come to dinner at her home the next night; and that he would send the meat for the meal. He sent one of his men with two geese, taken from a neighboring farm, for the dinner.

Isabel said, "They made a funny sound when they walked." No doubt they wore spurs on their boots. It was not necessary for her to hide as she was just a child but she stayed in the kitchen and did not join them at the table. She could hear them laughing and conversing.

When the meal ended, Pancho Villa, thanked Florencia for her hospitality, but offered to pay for the meal. She declined and they left. "Go lock the door and the gate!" she told Isabel as she hurried to tell her teenage children it was safe to come from their hiding places.

But Isabel forgot to lock the gate and she heard them returning. "Go back!" she called. "They are coming again!" There was just enough time for the young people to hide again and Villa appeared saying to Florencia, "One of my men picked some of your pomegranates as we were leaving. When I come as a guest to someone's house, I do not take anything. I will pay for the pomegranates." The grandmother said it was not at all necessary, but he insisted. He paid her with Pancho Villa Script, which he printed himself.

Later the Mexican government officials came to assess the damage incurred by Villa's raid. They posted a notice that anyone who had any items in their homes from the local shops would be shot if they could not produce a receipt for the goods. The people frantically hid things, even throwing them down the wells. Some of the citizens were shot which elevated Villa, even further, to hero status. Many statues of Pancho Villa remain in Mexico today. Samples of his "homemade" currency can also be found in museums.

Thus, the reason to immigrate to the United States. Isabel, her sisters, her grandmother, her aunt and uncles were to come to Tehachapi. Her father had already gained his citizenship. He came to Mexico and arranged for his mother to sell the property and come to the U.S. They traveled riding in a box car to California.

As an adult Isabel was hired as a cook at Monolith Cement Company to serve the owner, Coy Burnett, and his executive officers, their meals. She retired after many years of preparing her legendary fare. She, her husband, whose name was Dolores Cervantes, and three children, Nina, Laura and Gilbert, lived in the same house, once owned by her father, on Tehachapi Boulevard. The house she came to as a child of 11 in 1914 still stands.
bebe stores, inc. (OTCMKTS:BEBE  Get Rating) saw a large decrease in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 300 shares, a decrease of 25.0% from the April 15th total of 400 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 38,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.0 days.

bebe stores Trading Down 13.2 %

BEBE traded down $0.45 during trading on Friday, reaching $2.99. 34,811 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 23,977. bebe stores has a 12-month low of $2.56 and a 12-month high of $8.99. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $4.09 and a 200 day simple moving average of $4.76.

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bebe stores Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 17th were issued a dividend of $0.02 per share. This represents a yield of 1.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 16th.

bebe stores Company Profile

bebe stores, inc. engages in the provision of chic and contemporary fashion merchandise. It offers its products under bebe brand. The company was founded by Manny Mashouf in June 1976 and is headquartered in Brisbane, CA.

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Brembo S.p.A. (OTCMKTS:BRBOF  Get Rating) saw a large decline in short interest during the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 588,800 shares, a decline of 18.1% from the April 15th total of 718,900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 5,888.0 days.

Brembo Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS BRBOF remained flat at $15.40 during mid-day trading on Friday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $14.62 and its 200 day simple moving average is $13.01. Brembo has a 12 month low of $8.55 and a 12 month high of $15.40.

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Brembo Company Profile

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Brembo SpA engages in the manufacture and provision of braking system solutions for automotive vehicles. It operates through the Discs and After Market business segments. The Discs segment comprises the systems and motorbikes. The After Market segment refers to the performance of the group. The company was founded by Emilio Bombassei and Italo Breda on January 11, 1961 and is headquartered in Curno, Italy.

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Lear Co. (NYSE:LEA  Get Rating) saw a large growth in short interest in the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,610,000 shares, a growth of 10.3% from the April 15th total of 1,460,000 shares. Currently, 2.7% of the companys shares are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 598,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.7 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

LEA has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Cowen increased their price target on shares of Lear from $165.00 to $173.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Lear from $155.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Monday, May 1st. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Lear in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Benchmark reiterated a buy rating and set a $170.00 price objective on shares of Lear in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on Lear from $136.00 to $137.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $155.23.

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Lear Price Performance

Shares of NYSE LEA traded down $2.33 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $123.24. The companys stock had a trading volume of 463,764 shares, compared to its average volume of 582,005. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $133.24 and a 200 day moving average price of $135.34. The company has a market cap of $7.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.32 and a beta of 1.53. The company has a current ratio of 1.35, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. Lear has a one year low of $114.67 and a one year high of $158.44.

Lear Announces Dividend

Lear ( NYSE:LEA Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The auto parts company reported $2.78 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.55 by $0.23. Lear had a net margin of 1.96% and a return on equity of 12.32%. The firm had revenue of $5.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.60 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.80 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 12.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that Lear will post 11.04 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 10th were given a $0.77 dividend. This represents a $3.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.50%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 9th. Lears dividend payout ratio is currently 43.63%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Lear

In other news, CEO Raymond E. Scott sold 11,260 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.50, for a total transaction of $1,559,510.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 16,740 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,318,490. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Lear news, VP Marianne Vidershain sold 267 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $141.44, for a total value of $37,764.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 272 shares in the company, valued at approximately $38,471.68. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Raymond E. Scott sold 11,260 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.50, for a total value of $1,559,510.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 16,740 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,318,490. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 20,917 shares of company stock worth $2,934,296 in the last 90 days. 0.67% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Lear

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in LEA. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its position in Lear by 650.1% during the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 252,800 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $35,263,000 after buying an additional 219,100 shares in the last quarter. Systematic Financial Management LP grew its position in Lear by 47.3% during the first quarter. Systematic Financial Management LP now owns 11,847 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $1,653,000 after buying an additional 3,805 shares in the last quarter. SVB Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Lear during the first quarter worth about $208,000. Stifel Financial Corp grew its position in Lear by 185.0% during the first quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 42,956 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $5,992,000 after buying an additional 27,884 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec grew its position in Lear by 36.8% during the first quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 362,935 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $50,626,000 after buying an additional 97,619 shares in the last quarter. 99.56% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Lear

(Get Rating)

Lear Corp. engages in the design, manufacture and supply of automotive seats, electrical distribution systems and electronic modules, as well as related sub-systems, components, and software. It operates through the following segments: Seating and E-Systems. The Seating segment consists of the design, engineering, just-in-time assembly and delivery of complete seat systems, as well as the manufacture of all major seat components, including seat covers and surface materials such as leather and fabric, seat structures and mechanisms, seat foam and headrests.

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Banco de Sabadell, S.A. (OTCMKTS:BNDSF  Get Rating) was the target of a large decrease in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 983,100 shares, a decrease of 12.3% from the April 15th total of 1,120,900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 900 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1,092.3 days.

Banco de Sabadell Stock Performance

Shares of Banco de Sabadell stock traded down $0.01 on Friday, hitting $0.99. The stock had a trading volume of 100 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,621. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $1.10 and a 200 day moving average of $1.03. Banco de Sabadell has a twelve month low of $0.63 and a twelve month high of $1.37.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on BNDSF shares. UBS Group raised Banco de Sabadell from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 31st. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Banco de Sabadell to 1.30 ($1.43) in a research note on Monday, January 30th.

About Banco de Sabadell

Banco de Sabadell SA engages in the provision of banking and financial services. It operates through the following segments: Business Banking in Spain, Asset Transformation, Banking Business in the United Kingdom, and Banking Business in America. The Business Banking in Spain segment encompasses covers commercial banking, corporate banking, and markets and private banking.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky was expected on Wednesday to receive a special envoy from China who arrived in Kyiv to promote Beijing-led negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of American Shared Hospital Services (NYSE:AMS  Get Rating) in a research note released on Friday. The firm issued a hold rating on the stock.

American Shared Hospital Services Trading Down 1.4 %

Shares of NYSE AMS opened at $2.76 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.15 million, a PE ratio of 13.14 and a beta of 0.77. American Shared Hospital Services has a fifty-two week low of $2.20 and a fifty-two week high of $3.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 3.62 and a quick ratio of 3.62.

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American Shared Hospital Services Company Profile

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American Shared Hospital Services engages in leasing radiosurgery and radiation therapy equipment to healthcare providers. Its equipment includes Gamma Knife, PBRT, and IGRT. The Gamma Knife radiosurgery equipment is a non-invasive treatment for malignant and benign brain tumors, vascular malformations and trigeminal neuralgia.

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BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MYD  Get Rating) was the target of a large decrease in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 12,300 shares, a decrease of 28.1% from the April 15th total of 17,100 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 87,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Institutional Trading of BlackRock MuniYield Fund

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Guggenheim Capital LLC grew its holdings in BlackRock MuniYield Fund by 12.6% in the 3rd quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 774,491 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $7,698,000 after buying an additional 86,461 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Fund during the 4th quarter worth $109,000. Park Avenue Securities LLC grew its holdings in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Fund by 3.9% during the 4th quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 98,723 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,028,000 after purchasing an additional 3,694 shares during the period. Dakota Wealth Management grew its holdings in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Fund by 371.0% during the 4th quarter. Dakota Wealth Management now owns 66,906 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $696,000 after purchasing an additional 52,700 shares during the period. Finally, City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Fund by 28.4% during the 3rd quarter. City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd. now owns 54,274 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $538,000 after purchasing an additional 12,000 shares during the period.

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BlackRock MuniYield Fund Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of MYD stock traded up $0.04 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $10.45. 48,991 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 96,556. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $10.56 and a two-hundred day moving average of $10.55. BlackRock MuniYield Fund has a fifty-two week low of $9.47 and a fifty-two week high of $12.01.

BlackRock MuniYield Fund Announces Dividend

About BlackRock MuniYield Fund

The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Investors of record on Monday, May 15th will be paid a $0.0365 dividend. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.19%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 12th.

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BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment fund. Its investment objective is to provide shareholders with as high a level of current income exempt from federal income taxes as is consistent with its investment policies and prudent investment management by investing primarily in a portfolio of long-term municipal bonds.

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Charles River Laboratories International (NYSE:CRL  Get Rating) had its target price decreased by Credit Suisse Group from $260.00 to $255.00 in a research note released on Friday morning, The Fly reports.

CRL has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on Charles River Laboratories International from $233.00 to $203.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 28th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective 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. Citigroup cut their price target on Charles River Laboratories International from $280.00 to $260.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Guggenheim raised Charles River Laboratories International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $255.00 price target for the company in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Charles River Laboratories International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, May 5th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $260.73.

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Charles River Laboratories International Price Performance

Shares of Charles River Laboratories International stock opened at $191.24 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $198.07 and its 200-day moving average price is $219.34. The company has a current ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91. Charles River Laboratories International has a 12 month low of $181.22 and a 12 month high of $262.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.79 billion, a PE ratio of 20.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 1.34.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Charles River Laboratories International ( NYSE:CRL Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 22nd. The medical research company reported $2.98 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 business 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 businesss revenue was up 21.5% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that Charles River Laboratories International will post 10.19 EPS for the current fiscal year.

In other Charles River Laboratories International news, COO Birgit Girshick sold 3,205 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $254.39, for a total transaction of $815,319.95. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 41,038 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,439,656.82. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, COO Birgit Girshick sold 3,205 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $254.39, for a total value of $815,319.95. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 41,038 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,439,656.82. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO James C. Foster sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 216,594 shares in the company, valued at approximately $54,148,500. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 27,763 shares of company stock valued at $6,974,921 over the last ninety days. 1.30% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Charles River Laboratories International

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Systematic Financial Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of Charles River Laboratories International during the 1st quarter valued at $187,000. State of Tennessee Treasury Department lifted its holdings in shares of Charles River Laboratories International by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. State of Tennessee Treasury Department now owns 7,762 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,567,000 after purchasing an additional 255 shares during the last quarter. Stifel Financial Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Charles River Laboratories International by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 97,630 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $19,704,000 after purchasing an additional 2,802 shares during the last quarter. Element Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Charles River Laboratories International during the 1st quarter valued at $1,355,000. Finally, BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC lifted its holdings in shares of Charles River Laboratories International by 26.9% during the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 79,338 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $16,012,000 after purchasing an additional 16,840 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.80% of the companys stock.

Charles River Laboratories International Company Profile

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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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StockNews.com lowered shares of Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Rating) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report report published on Thursday.

Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $98.00 to $75.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 14th. Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of Charles Schwab from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $99.00 to $68.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Redburn Partners downgraded shares of Charles Schwab from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Piper Sandler decreased their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $83.00 to $75.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $86.00 to $85.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and eleven 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 $69.21.

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Charles Schwab Price Performance

SCHW stock opened at $48.94 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $86.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.37, a PEG ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a quick ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 0.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. Charles Schwab has a 12-month low of $45.00 and a 12-month high of $86.63. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $54.08 and its 200 day simple moving average is $70.89.

Charles Schwab Announces Dividend

Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.93 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.03. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 34.82% and a return on equity of 27.36%. The firm had revenue of $5.12 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.13 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.77 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect that Charles Schwab will post 3.38 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 12th will be paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.04%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 11th. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is 27.32%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Charles Schwab

In other Charles Schwab news, Director Charles A. Ruffel sold 5,176 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.88, for a total value of $418,634.88. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 12,073 shares in the company, valued at $976,464.24. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, President Richard A. Wurster purchased 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, March 17th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $54.39 per share, with a total value of $108,780.00. Following the acquisition, the president now directly owns 101,391 shares in the company, valued at $5,514,656.49. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Charles A. Ruffel sold 5,176 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.88, for a total transaction of $418,634.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 12,073 shares of the companys stock, valued at $976,464.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have purchased 81,000 shares of company stock worth $4,706,960 and have sold 59,778 shares worth $4,670,001. Corporate insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Toronto Dominion Bank boosted its holdings in Charles Schwab by 32,224.4% in the 4th quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 225,994,826 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $18,816,289,000 after purchasing an additional 225,295,680 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 2.1% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 124,437,061 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $8,943,291,000 after buying an additional 2,589,952 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 65,566,364 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,712,255,000 after buying an additional 717,683 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 2.3% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 26,658,930 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,215,792,000 after buying an additional 606,423 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 62.5% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 22,255,649 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,853,005,000 after buying an additional 8,563,389 shares in the last quarter. 73.49% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Charles Schwab

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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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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Cheniere Energy Partners (NYSE:CQP  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Thursday morning.

Cheniere Energy Partners Stock Down 0.2 %

NYSE:CQP opened at $45.85 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $22.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.65 and a beta of 0.85. Cheniere Energy Partners has a 52-week low of $40.20 and a 52-week high of $62.08.

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About Cheniere Energy Partners

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Cheniere Energy Partners LP engages in the operations of liquefied natural gas. The company was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Houston, TX.

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Nomad Foods (NYSE:NOMD  Get Rating) had its price objective lifted by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $21.00 to $24.00 in a report published on Thursday, The Fly reports.

A number of other research firms have also recently issued reports on NOMD. StockNews.com raised Nomad Foods from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, May 6th. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Nomad Foods from $18.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, April 14th. Credit Suisse Group reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $20.00 price target on shares of Nomad Foods in a research note on Monday, February 27th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Nomad Foods from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $21.00 price target for the company in a research note on Sunday, February 26th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Nomad Foods currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $22.20.

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Nomad Foods Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:NOMD opened at $18.24 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $3.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.16 and a beta of 0.74. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $18.52 and its 200 day simple moving average is $17.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 1.19 and a quick ratio of 0.70. Nomad Foods has a fifty-two week low of $12.50 and a fifty-two week high of $21.45.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nomad Foods

Nomad Foods ( NYSE:NOMD Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 23rd. The company reported $0.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.37 by ($0.03). Nomad Foods had a return on equity of 11.77% and a net margin of 8.49%. The business had revenue of $766.03 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $788.13 million. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Nomad Foods will post 1.62 earnings per share for the current year.

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in NOMD. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in Nomad Foods by 14.8% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 16,917,144 shares of the companys stock valued at $317,027,000 after purchasing an additional 2,177,062 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC lifted its holdings in Nomad Foods by 27.9% during the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 16,293,845 shares of the companys stock valued at $305,347,000 after purchasing an additional 3,554,133 shares during the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. lifted its holdings in Nomad Foods by 4.2% during the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 11,842,891 shares of the companys stock valued at $204,171,000 after purchasing an additional 476,977 shares during the last quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Nomad Foods by 5.1% during the 4th quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 9,568,669 shares of the companys stock valued at $164,964,000 after purchasing an additional 468,122 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its holdings in Nomad Foods by 3.4% during the 2nd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 9,080,671 shares of the companys stock valued at $181,523,000 after purchasing an additional 299,689 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.54% of the companys stock.

Nomad Foods Company Profile

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Nomad Foods Ltd. operates as a holding company, which manufactures and sells frozen foods for human consumption. The firm offers its products under the brands LUTOSA, la Cocinera, Birds Eye, Iglo, and Findus. The company was founded by Noam Gottesman and Sir Martin E. Franklin on April 1, 2014 and is headquartered in Middlesex, the United Kingdom.

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Endeavour Mining (OTCMKTS:EDVMF  Get Rating) had its target price raised by Berenberg Bank from C$49.00 to C$51.00 in a research report released on Thursday, The Fly reports.

A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on the company. CIBC upped their price objective on Endeavour Mining from C$40.00 to C$46.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. Scotiabank raised their price target on Endeavour Mining from C$38.50 to C$43.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. Liberum Capital cut Endeavour Mining from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. National Bank Financial raised their price target on Endeavour Mining from C$52.00 to C$56.50 in a research report on Tuesday, May 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Endeavour Mining from C$34.00 to C$36.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th.

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Endeavour Mining Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of EDVMF stock opened at $25.41 on Thursday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $24.35 and its 200 day moving average price is $22.52. Endeavour Mining has a 1-year low of $16.47 and a 1-year high of $27.12.

Endeavour Mining Increases Dividend

Endeavour Mining Company Profile

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, February 24th were paid a dividend of $0.41 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 23rd. This represents a dividend yield of 3.57%. This is a positive change from Endeavour Minings previous dividend of $0.40.

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Endeavour Mining Plc is one of gold producer in West Africa and member of the World Gold Council. The firm is operating assets across Senegal, Cote dIvoire and Burkina Faso and a strong portfolio of advanced development projects and exploration assets in the prospective Birimian Greenstone Belt across West Africa.

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Horizon Bancorp Inc. IN bought a new position in shares of Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 623 shares of the communications equipment providers stock, valued at approximately $161,000.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Motorola Solutions by 11.6% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 3,918 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $949,000 after purchasing an additional 406 shares during the period. Cibc World Market Inc. boosted its holdings in Motorola Solutions by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 11,087 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $2,685,000 after buying an additional 329 shares during the period. Moors & Cabot Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Motorola Solutions by 8.8% during the 1st quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 2,870 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $695,000 after purchasing an additional 231 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Motorola Solutions in the 1st quarter valued at about $225,000. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Motorola Solutions by 7.3% during the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 55,177 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $13,362,000 after acquiring an additional 3,741 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 83.67% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at Motorola Solutions

In other Motorola Solutions news, CEO Gregory Q. Brown sold 26,933 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $271.25, for a total value of $7,305,576.25. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 48,142 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,058,517.50. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, Director Kenneth D. Denman sold 1,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $266.33, for a total value of $399,495.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 8,313 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,214,001.29. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Gregory Q. Brown sold 26,933 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $271.25, for a total transaction of $7,305,576.25. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 48,142 shares in the company, valued at $13,058,517.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 39,100 shares of company stock worth $10,625,139 over the last ninety days. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Motorola Solutions Stock Down 1.0 %

Several research analysts recently issued reports on MSI shares. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on shares of Motorola Solutions from $310.00 to $335.00 in a report on Friday, May 5th. TheStreet upgraded shares of Motorola Solutions from a c+ rating to a b rating in a report on Thursday, February 9th. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Motorola Solutions from $303.00 to $329.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Motorola Solutions in a report on Friday, May 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Motorola Solutions from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and raised their price objective for the company from $300.00 to $305.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $301.67.

Motorola Solutions stock traded down $3.02 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $289.94. 168,278 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 682,591. The business has a fifty day moving average of $280.82 and a 200 day moving average of $267.37. The firm has a market cap of $48.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.62, a PEG ratio of 3.14 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 24.15, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 1.22. Motorola Solutions, Inc. has a 12-month low of $195.18 and a 12-month high of $295.10.

Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The communications equipment provider reported $2.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.05 by $0.17. Motorola Solutions had a net margin of 14.63% and a negative return on equity of 1,549.95%. The business had revenue of $2.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.12 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.53 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 14.7% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts anticipate that Motorola Solutions, Inc. will post 10.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Motorola Solutions Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 14th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 15th were paid a $0.88 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 14th. This represents a $3.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.21%. Motorola Solutionss dividend payout ratio is presently 44.00%.

About Motorola Solutions

(Get Rating)

Motorola Solutions, Inc engages in the provision of communication infrastructure, devices, accessories, software, and services. It operates through the following segments: Products and Systems Integration, and Software and Services. The Products and Systems Integration segment offers a portfolio of infrastructure, devices, accessories, and video security devices, and the implementation and integration of such systems, devices, and applications.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MSI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI  Get Rating).

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iShares MSCI Mexico ETF (NYSEARCA:EWW  Get Rating) hit a new 52-week high on Monday . The company traded as high as $63.13 and last traded at $63.09, with a volume of 1290513 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $62.12.

iShares MSCI Mexico ETF Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $1.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.73 and a beta of 1.00. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $59.05 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $55.95.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On iShares MSCI Mexico ETF

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI Mexico ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $28,000. James Investment Research Inc. acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Mexico ETF during the 1st quarter worth about $34,000. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Mexico ETF during the 4th quarter worth about $38,000. AXS Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Mexico ETF during the 4th quarter worth about $61,000. Finally, Belpointe Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Mexico ETF during the 4th quarter worth about $89,000.

About iShares MSCI Mexico ETF

iShares MSCI Mexico Capped ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI Mexico Capped Investable Market Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the MSCI Mexico IMI 25/50 Index (the Index). The Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Mexican Stock Exchange.

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Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. cut its position in Halliburton (NYSE:HAL  Get Rating) by 37.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 5,066 shares of the oilfield services companys stock after selling 3,058 shares during the quarter. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A.s holdings in Halliburton were worth $197,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of HAL. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC raised its holdings in shares of Halliburton by 60.4% during the 3rd quarter. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC now owns 8,746,026 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $215,328,000 after buying an additional 3,294,360 shares in the last quarter. Eaton Vance Management increased its holdings in Halliburton by 389.1% in the 3rd quarter. Eaton Vance Management now owns 3,609,660 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $88,870,000 after purchasing an additional 2,871,705 shares in the last quarter. ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd acquired a new position in Halliburton in the 4th quarter worth about $99,039,000. Boston Partners increased its holdings in Halliburton by 24.6% in the 4th quarter. Boston Partners now owns 12,400,246 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $488,254,000 after purchasing an additional 2,448,913 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Eagle Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in Halliburton in the 3rd quarter worth about $50,767,000. 80.56% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. Benchmark reiterated a buy rating and issued a $50.00 price target on shares of Halliburton in a research report on Monday, April 3rd. Citigroup cut their price target on Halliburton from $47.00 to $44.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 22nd. StockNews.com upgraded Halliburton from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Susquehanna cut their price target on Halliburton from $57.00 to $45.00 in a report on Monday, April 3rd. Finally, UBS Group began coverage on Halliburton in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. They issued a buy rating and a $49.00 price objective for the company. Fourteen analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $48.24.

Halliburton Price Performance

NYSE HAL opened at $28.80 on Monday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $32.28 and its 200-day moving average price is $36.10. The stock has a market capitalization of $25.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.25, a PEG ratio of 0.38 and a beta of 2.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 2.14 and a quick ratio of 1.54. Halliburton has a 1-year low of $23.30 and a 1-year high of $43.99.

Halliburton (NYSE:HAL  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The oilfield services company reported $0.72 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.67 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $5.68 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.49 billion. Halliburton had a return on equity of 29.38% and a net margin of 9.04%. The companys revenue was up 32.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.35 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Halliburton will post 3.12 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other Halliburton news, CAO Charles Jr. Geer sold 12,065 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.60, for a total transaction of $369,189.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 52,817 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,616,200.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Halliburton news, CEO Jeffrey Allen Miller sold 271,283 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.25, for a total transaction of $8,206,310.75. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 829,230 shares of the companys stock, valued at $25,084,207.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Charles Jr. Geer sold 12,065 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.60, for a total value of $369,189.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 52,817 shares in the company, valued at $1,616,200.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.57% of the companys stock.

Halliburton Profile

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Halliburton Co engages in the provision of services and products to the energy industry related to the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas. It operates through the Completion and Production, and Drilling and Evaluation segments. The Completion and Production segment delivers cementing, stimulation, intervention, pressure control, specialty chemicals, artificial lift, and completion services.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping kicked off a summit with Central Asian leaders on Thursday, seeking to build regional influence as G7 leaders hold a rival gathering in Japan.
Kuehne + Nagel International AG (OTCMKTS:KHNGY  Get Rating) has been assigned an average rating of Hold from the eight ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, four have issued a hold recommendation and three have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $260.00.

KHNGY has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Kuehne + Nagel International from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Kuehne + Nagel International from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 17th. BNP Paribas cut Kuehne + Nagel International from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, January 19th. UBS Group cut Kuehne + Nagel International from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, February 15th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein raised Kuehne + Nagel International from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 8th.

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Kuehne + Nagel International Stock Performance

OTCMKTS KHNGY opened at $58.66 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $35.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.52 and a beta of 0.91. Kuehne + Nagel International has a twelve month low of $39.39 and a twelve month high of $61.61. The company has a current ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $57.80 and a 200 day moving average of $51.53.

Kuehne + Nagel International Increases Dividend

Kuehne + Nagel International ( OTCMKTS:KHNGY Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 1st. The company reported $0.78 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.80 by ($0.02). The business had revenue of $9.13 billion during the quarter. Kuehne + Nagel International had a return on equity of 69.03% and a net margin of 6.44%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Kuehne + Nagel International will post 2.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 12th will be given a $1.9891 dividend. This represents a yield of 3.29%. This is a positive change from Kuehne + Nagel Internationals previous dividend of $1.31. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 11th. Kuehne + Nagel Internationals dividend payout ratio is presently 31.19%.

Kuehne + Nagel International Company Profile

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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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Barclays began coverage on shares of PagSeguro Digital (NYSE:PAGS  Get Rating) in a report issued on Thursday morning, The Fly reports. The brokerage issued an overweight rating and a $16.00 target price on the stock.

PAGS has been the topic of a number of other research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on PagSeguro Digital from $9.00 to $8.00 and set a sell rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 20th. Credit Suisse Group downgraded PagSeguro Digital from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $11.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on PagSeguro Digital from $12.00 to $10.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 4th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on PagSeguro Digital from $9.50 to $10.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Finally, Citigroup upgraded PagSeguro Digital from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $12.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, PagSeguro Digital has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $12.77.

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PagSeguro Digital Price Performance

PagSeguro Digital stock opened at $12.22 on Thursday. PagSeguro Digital has a one year low of $7.51 and a one year high of $19.49. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.89, a PEG ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 1.61. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $8.98 and a 200-day moving average price of $9.61.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On PagSeguro Digital

PagSeguro Digital ( NYSE:PAGS Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 2nd. The company reported $0.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.22 by $0.02. PagSeguro Digital had a return on equity of 17.41% and a net margin of 9.81%. The company had revenue of $752.91 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $759.47 million. Sell-side analysts expect that PagSeguro Digital will post 0.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of PagSeguro Digital during the 4th quarter valued at $70,207,000. Axiom Investors LLC DE bought a new position in PagSeguro Digital in the 3rd quarter worth $64,458,000. ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd bought a new position in PagSeguro Digital in the 4th quarter worth $37,896,000. Point72 Asset Management L.P. boosted its holdings in PagSeguro Digital by 44.7% in the 4th quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 8,864,150 shares of the companys stock worth $77,473,000 after buying an additional 2,739,474 shares during the period. Finally, Nuveen Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of PagSeguro Digital by 41.3% during the 3rd quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 9,118,704 shares of the companys stock valued at $120,640,000 after purchasing an additional 2,667,094 shares during the last quarter. 52.50% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About PagSeguro Digital

(Get Rating)

PagSeguro Digital Ltd. is engaged in the provision of financial technology solutions focused on consumers, individual entrepreneurs, micro-merchants, small companies and medium-sized companies in Brazil. Its business model covers the following pillars: Multiple digital payment solutions; In-person payments via POS devices that sell to merchants; Free digital accounts; Issuer of prepaid cards to clients for spending or withdrawing account balances, and Operating as an acquirer.

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COMPANHIA ENERG/S (NYSE:CIG.C  Get Rating) and Exelon (NYSE:EXC  Get Rating) are both utilities companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, profitability, risk, valuation, dividends and earnings.

Profitability

This table compares COMPANHIA ENERG/S and Exelons net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets COMPANHIA ENERG/S N/A N/A N/A Exelon N/A N/A N/A

Dividends

COMPANHIA ENERG/S pays an annual dividend of $0.12 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.9%. Exelon pays an annual dividend of $1.44 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.4%. COMPANHIA ENERG/S pays out 3.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Exelon pays out 64.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Exelon has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years. Exelon is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

Valuation & Earnings

80.6% of Exelon shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.2% of Exelon shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

This table compares COMPANHIA ENERG/S and Exelons top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio COMPANHIA ENERG/S $34.37 billion N/A N/A $3.12 1.34 Exelon $19.31 billion 2.15 $2.24 billion $2.25 18.56

Exelon has lower revenue, but higher earnings than COMPANHIA ENERG/S. COMPANHIA ENERG/S is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Exelon, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings for COMPANHIA ENERG/S and Exelon, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score COMPANHIA ENERG/S 0 0 0 0 N/A Exelon 0 0 0 0 N/A

Summary

Exelon beats COMPANHIA ENERG/S on 5 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About COMPANHIA ENERG/S

(Get Rating)

Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity in Brazil. As of December 31, 2017, the company operated 117 hydroelectric, thermoelectric, and wind plants with an installed capacity of 5.7 GW; 38 substations and 4,927 km of transmission lines; and 529,873 km of distribution networks and 17,301 km of distribution lines. It is also involved in the natural gas distribution; sale and trading of electricity; energy and technological solutions businesses; provision of telecommunications and data center service activities; and operation of solar energy plants. The company was founded in 1952 and is headquartered in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

About Exelon

(Get Rating)

Exelon Corp. is a utility services holding company, which engages in the energy distribution and transmission businesses. It operates through the following segments: Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd), PECO Energy Company (PECO), Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco), Delmarva Power & Light Company (DPL), and Atlantic City Electric Company (ACE). The company was founded in February 1999 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL.

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Arch Resources, Inc. (NYSE:ARCH  Get Rating) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,750,000 shares, an increase of 17.4% from the April 15th total of 1,490,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 484,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.6 days.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently commented on the stock. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of Arch Resources from $185.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Friday, February 17th. B. Riley lowered their price target on shares of Arch Resources from $200.00 to $198.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Arch Resources from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, April 12th.

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Insider Transactions at Arch Resources

In other news, VP Rosemary L. Klein sold 1,549 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $165.00, for a total value of $255,585.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 7,999 shares in the company, valued at $1,319,835. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, VP Rosemary L. Klein sold 623 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.00, for a total transaction of $93,450.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 7,071 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,060,650. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, VP Rosemary L. Klein sold 1,549 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $165.00, for a total transaction of $255,585.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 7,999 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,319,835. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 8,868 shares of company stock valued at $1,364,006 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 5.40% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Arch Resources

Arch Resources Price Performance

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Arch Resources by 2.9% in the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 2,371 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $325,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the last quarter. Accurate Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Arch Resources by 1.8% in the 4th quarter. Accurate Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,286 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $583,000 after purchasing an additional 76 shares during the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its stake in shares of Arch Resources by 6.1% in the 1st quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 2,379 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $313,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its stake in shares of Arch Resources by 113.8% in the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 295 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 157 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ronald Blue Trust Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Arch Resources by 57.8% in the 1st quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 434 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $62,000 after purchasing an additional 159 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.71% of the companys stock.

Shares of Arch Resources stock traded up $1.39 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $125.01. 404,281 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 450,470. The company has a market cap of $2.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a current ratio of 2.58, a quick ratio of 1.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $131.94 and a 200 day simple moving average of $142.68. Arch Resources has a fifty-two week low of $110.97 and a fifty-two week high of $180.10.

Arch Resources (NYSE:ARCH  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The energy company reported $10.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $10.46 by ($0.44). The firm had revenue of $869.40 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $767.03 million. Arch Resources had a return on equity of 96.62% and a net margin of 33.74%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $12.89 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Arch Resources will post 35.23 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Arch Resources Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a None dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be given a dividend of $2.45 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 30th. Arch Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 1.63%.

About Arch Resources

(Get Rating)

Arch Resources, Inc engages in the production and distribution of thermal coal. It operates through the following segments: Powder River Basin, Metallurgical, and Other Thermal. The Powder River Basin segment contains the companys thermal operations in Wyoming. The Metallurgical segment contains metallurgical operations in West Virginia.

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StockNews.com lowered shares of SiteOne Landscape Supply (NYSE:SITE  Get Rating) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report issued on Thursday.

Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on shares of SiteOne Landscape Supply from $163.00 to $170.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Truist Financial boosted their target price on SiteOne Landscape Supply from $127.00 to $157.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on shares of SiteOne Landscape Supply from $125.00 to $140.00 in a research report on Monday, May 8th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of SiteOne Landscape Supply from $119.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. Finally, TheStreet upgraded SiteOne Landscape Supply from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $155.40.

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SiteOne Landscape Supply Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of SiteOne Landscape Supply stock opened at $148.63 on Thursday. The firms 50 day moving average is $139.63 and its 200 day moving average is $133.95. The company has a current ratio of 2.58, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. SiteOne Landscape Supply has a 1 year low of $97.36 and a 1 year high of $165.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.69 billion, a PE ratio of 32.67 and a beta of 1.45.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On SiteOne Landscape Supply

SiteOne Landscape Supply ( NYSE:SITE Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The industrial products company reported ($0.10) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.22 by ($0.32). SiteOne Landscape Supply had a net margin of 5.15% and a return on equity of 16.13%. The business had revenue of $837.20 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $789.80 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.70 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that SiteOne Landscape Supply will post 3.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of SiteOne Landscape Supply by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 17,199 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,354,000 after acquiring an additional 77 shares during the last quarter. Eaton Vance Management lifted its holdings in SiteOne Landscape Supply by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Eaton Vance Management now owns 9,394 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $979,000 after buying an additional 84 shares in the last quarter. First Republic Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in SiteOne Landscape Supply by 0.8% during the 1st quarter. First Republic Investment Management Inc. now owns 10,557 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,707,000 after buying an additional 88 shares in the last quarter. Utah Retirement Systems raised its position in shares of SiteOne Landscape Supply by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter. Utah Retirement Systems now owns 2,400 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $250,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Eagle Bay Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of SiteOne Landscape Supply by 23.5% in the 1st quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC now owns 609 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $83,000 after buying an additional 116 shares in the last quarter.

SiteOne Landscape Supply Company Profile

(Get Rating)

SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc engages in the distribution of landscape supplies and residential. Its products include hardscapes, landscape accessories, nursery goods, outdoor lighting, and ice melt products to green industry professionals. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Roswell, GA.

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StockNews.com lowered shares of Telecom Argentina (NYSE:TEO  Get Rating) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday morning.

Telecom Argentina Trading Up 2.5 %

Shares of Telecom Argentina stock opened at $5.40 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $2.33 billion, a PE ratio of -1.57 and a beta of 0.44. Telecom Argentina has a 1 year low of $3.72 and a 1 year high of $6.85. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $5.01 and a 200 day moving average price of $5.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 0.39 and a quick ratio of 0.37.

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Telecom Argentina (NYSE:TEO  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, March 20th. The utilities provider reported $0.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.15 by ($0.10). Telecom Argentina had a negative net margin of 29.35% and a positive return on equity of 0.35%. The company had revenue of $1.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $860.69 million. Equities research analysts predict that Telecom Argentina will post -0.75 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Telecom Argentina

About Telecom Argentina

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in TEO. Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in shares of Telecom Argentina by 791.4% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 638,931 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $3,482,000 after purchasing an additional 567,253 shares during the last quarter. Eaton Vance Management purchased a new stake in Telecom Argentina in the first quarter valued at approximately $3,507,000. Millennium Management LLC lifted its position in Telecom Argentina by 225.6% during the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 351,550 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,600,000 after buying an additional 243,570 shares in the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in Telecom Argentina by 49.0% during the 1st quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 252,717 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,261,000 after buying an additional 83,162 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its position in shares of Telecom Argentina by 18.7% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 247,143 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,485,000 after buying an additional 38,943 shares during the last quarter. 1.77% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

(Get Rating)

Telecom Argentina SA engages in the provision of telecommunications services. The company offers fixed-line telecommunications, mobile telecommunications, other telephone-related services such as international long-distance and wholesale services, data transmission, information technology solutions outsourcing, and internet services.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Tenaris (NYSE:TS  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report released on Friday morning.

Other research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Piper Sandler decreased their price target on shares of Tenaris from $49.00 to $44.00 in a report on Monday, May 1st. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of Tenaris from $44.00 to $40.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, Cowen raised their price target on shares of Tenaris from $45.00 to $49.00 in a report on Friday, February 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $44.50.

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Tenaris Stock Performance

NYSE TS opened at $26.60 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average price is $29.02 and its 200-day moving average price is $32.15. Tenaris has a 52-week low of $22.24 and a 52-week high of $38.00. The company has a market cap of $15.70 billion, a PE ratio of 4.94, a P/E/G ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 1.44.

Tenaris Increases Dividend

Tenaris ( NYSE:TS Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 15th. The industrial products company reported $1.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.38 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $3.62 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.60 billion. Tenaris had a net margin of 23.49% and a return on equity of 22.97%. On average, analysts forecast that Tenaris will post 6.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 24th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 23rd will be issued a dividend of $0.68 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 22nd. This is a boost from Tenariss previous semi-annual dividend of $0.56. Tenariss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 12.62%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TS. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its position in shares of Tenaris by 18.4% in the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 20,773 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $625,000 after purchasing an additional 3,230 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Tenaris in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $236,000. Citigroup Inc. raised its stake in shares of Tenaris by 65.9% in the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 5,236 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $157,000 after acquiring an additional 2,080 shares during the period. Yousif Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Tenaris during the 1st quarter worth approximately $275,000. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. acquired a new position in Tenaris during the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,542,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 12.15% of the companys stock.

About Tenaris

(Get Rating)

Tenaris SA manufactures and supplies steel pipe products. It operates through the Tubes and Other segments. The Tubes segment consists of the production and sale of both seamless and welded steel tubular products and related services mainly for the oil and gas industry, particularly oil country tubular goods used in drilling operations, and for other industrial applications with production processes that consist in the transformation of steel into tubular products.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note published on Thursday morning.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. SVB Securities decreased their price objective on The Cigna Group from $335.00 to $309.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. Raymond James decreased their price objective on shares of The Cigna Group from $350.00 to $310.00 in a report on Monday, May 8th. Mizuho restated a buy rating and issued a $360.00 price target on shares of The Cigna Group in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of The Cigna Group from $378.00 to $370.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd. Finally, Loop Capital dropped their price target on shares of The Cigna Group from $350.00 to $320.00 in a research report on Monday, February 6th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $328.17.

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The Cigna Group Trading Down 1.3 %

CI stock opened at $256.57 on Thursday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $262.21 and a 200-day moving average of $295.90. The company has a quick ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The company has a market cap of $76.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.69, a PEG ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 0.62. The Cigna Group has a twelve month low of $240.11 and a twelve month high of $340.11.

The Cigna Group Dividend Announcement

The Cigna Group ( NYSE:CI Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, May 5th. The health services provider reported $5.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.23 by $0.18. The Cigna Group had a return on equity of 12.65% and a net margin of 3.69%. The firm had revenue of $46.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $45.43 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $6.01 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect that The Cigna Group will post 24.71 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 22nd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, June 7th will be issued a dividend of $1.23 per share. This represents a $4.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.92%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 6th. The Cigna Groups payout ratio is currently 22.42%.

Insider Buying and Selling at The Cigna Group

In other The Cigna Group news, CEO David Cordani sold 20,148 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $294.06, for a total transaction of $5,924,720.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 120,496 shares in the company, valued at approximately $35,433,053.76. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other The Cigna Group news, CEO David Cordani sold 20,148 shares of The Cigna Group stock in a transaction on Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $294.06, for a total transaction of $5,924,720.88. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 120,496 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $35,433,053.76. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Michael W. Triplett sold 1,731 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $271.67, for a total value of $470,260.77. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 30,235 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,213,942.45. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 28,509 shares of company stock valued at $8,200,219. 0.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On The Cigna Group

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Veritable L.P. grew its position in shares of The Cigna Group by 14.8% in the first quarter. Veritable L.P. now owns 10,397 shares of the health services providers stock valued at $2,657,000 after purchasing an additional 1,339 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new position in The Cigna Group during the first quarter worth $14,529,000. Koss Olinger Consulting LLC lifted its stake in The Cigna Group by 1.8% during the first quarter. Koss Olinger Consulting LLC now owns 3,840 shares of the health services providers stock worth $981,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. lifted its stake in The Cigna Group by 49.0% during the first quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 13,342 shares of the health services providers stock worth $3,409,000 after purchasing an additional 4,389 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Callan Family Office LLC acquired a new position in The Cigna Group during the first quarter worth $490,000. 87.61% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

The Cigna Group Company Profile

(Get Rating)

The Cigna Group is engaged in the provision of global health services. It operates through the following segments: Evernorth, U.S. Medical, International Markets, and Group Disability and Other. The Evernorth segment includes a broad range of coordinated and point solution health services, including pharmacy solutions, benefits management solutions, care solutions and intelligence solutions.

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UWM (NYSE:UWMC  Get Rating) had its target price hoisted by Barclays from $3.50 to $4.00 in a research note published on Thursday morning, The Fly reports.

Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on UWMC. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on UWM from $3.30 to $3.75 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. JMP Securities increased their price objective on UWM from $5.50 to $6.50 in a report on Friday, April 28th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded UWM from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and increased their price objective for the company from $3.50 to $4.00 in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Credit Suisse Group reiterated an underperform rating and issued a $3.50 price objective on shares of UWM in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Finally, SpectralCast reiterated a maintains rating on shares of UWM in a report on Friday, April 28th. Three 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 stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $4.31.

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UWM Price Performance

UWMC stock opened at $4.92 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.77, a quick ratio of 1.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88. The company has a market capitalization of $458.06 million, a PE ratio of 12.00 and a beta of 1.46. UWM has a 12-month low of $2.84 and a 12-month high of $6.35. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $5.13 and its 200 day moving average price is $4.46.

UWM Dividend Announcement

UWM ( NYSE:UWMC Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 10th. The company reported ($0.07) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.04 by ($0.11). UWM had a return on equity of 23.97% and a net margin of 1.76%. The company had revenue of $161.27 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $431.17 million. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that UWM will post 0.27 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 11th. Investors of record on Wednesday, June 21st will be given a $0.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 20th. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.13%. UWMs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 97.56%.

Institutional Trading of UWM

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new stake in UWM during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Quent Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of UWM during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Parallel Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of UWM by 807.1% during the 1st quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 6,613 shares of the companys stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 5,884 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its stake in shares of UWM by 220.9% during the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 9,589 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 6,601 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Republic Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of UWM during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $35,000. 37.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About UWM

(Get Rating)

UWM Holdings Corporation engages in the residential mortgage lending business in the United States. The company originates mortgage loans through wholesale channel. It originates primarily conforming and government loans. UWM Holdings Corporation was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Pontiac, Michigan.

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TransDigm Group (NYSE:TDG  Get Rating) had its target price hoisted by Wells Fargo & Company from $725.00 to $840.00 in a research note published on Thursday, The Fly reports.

A number of other analysts have also issued reports on TDG. Susquehanna raised their target price on shares of TransDigm Group from $750.00 to $820.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 10th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on shares of TransDigm Group from $800.00 to $900.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 10th. Credit Suisse Group raised their target price on shares of TransDigm Group from $830.00 to $841.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 22nd. Cowen raised their target price on shares of TransDigm Group from $695.00 to $830.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their target price on shares of TransDigm Group from $767.00 to $960.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 10th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $813.50.

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TransDigm Group Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of TDG opened at $795.59 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $43.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 47.55, a PEG ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 1.37. The company has a 50-day moving average of $744.80 and a two-hundred day moving average of $689.09. TransDigm Group has a 12-month low of $499.63 and a 12-month high of $816.94.

Insider Activity

TransDigm Group ( NYSE:TDG Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, May 9th. The aerospace company reported $5.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $4.98 by $1.00. The company had revenue of $1.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.53 billion. TransDigm Group had a net margin of 16.53% and a negative return on equity of 30.59%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 20.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $3.29 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that TransDigm Group will post 20.84 EPS for the current fiscal year.

In related news, Director W Nicholas Howley sold 6,500 shares of TransDigm Group stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $701.38, for a total transaction of $4,558,970.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 21,548 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $15,113,336.24. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, CAO Sarah Wynne sold 180 shares of TransDigm Group stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $720.41, for a total transaction of $129,673.80. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 700 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $504,287. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director W Nicholas Howley sold 6,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $701.38, for a total transaction of $4,558,970.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 21,548 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $15,113,336.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 46,163 shares of company stock valued at $34,546,064. Company insiders own 7.18% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On TransDigm Group

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of TransDigm Group in the 1st quarter worth about $27,000. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of TransDigm Group in the 3rd quarter worth about $27,000. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. bought a new stake in shares of TransDigm Group in the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of TransDigm Group in the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of TransDigm Group in the 3rd quarter worth about $33,000. Institutional investors own 96.00% of the companys stock.

About TransDigm Group

(Get Rating)

TransDigm Group, Inc engages in the production of engineered aerospace components, systems and subsystems. It operates through the following segments: Power and Control, Airframe, and Non-Aviation. The Power and Control segment includes operations that primarily develop, produce and market systems and components that provide power to or control power of the aircraft utilizing electronic, fluid, power and mechanical motion control technologies.

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In line with widespread expectations, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) decided on Thursday to keep the overnight deposit rate, overnight lending rate, and the rate of the main operation unchanged at 18.25 percent, 19.25 percent, and 18.75 percent, respectively.
Lagos, Monday, May 15, 2023: Media Rights Agenda (MRA) today called on the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to comply fully with the orders of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja which restrained it from further imposing fines on radio and televisions stations, saying even if it plans to appeal against the judgment, it should not continue to walk the path of lawlessness.

In a statement issued in Lagos, MRA said its attention had been drawn to a statement credited to NBC Director General, Mallam Balarabe Shehu llelah, vowing that The Commission will appeal against the judgement when it is found to be in conflict with previous judgements of the court, which empowers the Commission to regulate broadcasting in Nigeria (sic)

MRAs Executive Director, Mr. Edetaen Ojo, said in its statement that: We recognize and respect the right of the NBC to appeal against the judgment of the Court, if it is dissatisfied with the decision, so long as it does not flout the orders of the court when those orders have not been set aside by an appellate court. Whatever the NBCs view of the Courts judgment may be, it cannot deny that there is a valid and subsisting order of a court of competent jurisdiction prohibiting it from imposing fines on radio and television stations. Should the Commission or its Director-General take it upon themselves to sit on appeal over the judgment of the Court and disobey the clear and unequivocal orders of the Court, we wish to reassure them that we would take immediate and vigorous action to maintain the integrity of the court and its orders.

According to Mr. Ojo, The NBC Director-Generals statement amounts to a feeble attempt to mislead the public. We do not dispute the power or authority of the NBC to regulate broadcasting in Nigeria and we have not challenged its right to do so. That was not the issue before the court. But this does not make the Commission a court of law and neither the National Broadcasting Commission Act, as amended, nor the Nigeria Broadcasting Code can be interpreted to confer judicial powers on the NBC to impose criminal sanctions on radio and television stations in flagrant violation of the Constitution, as Justice James Omotosho stated so eloquently in his judgment.

He noted that besides being a correct interpretation of the provisions of the Constitution, the decision of Justice Omotosho is also consistent with international standards for the regulation of broadcast media as contained, for instance, in Principle 17(5) of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, which states that: The powers of regulatory bodies shall be administrative in nature and shall not seek to usurp the role of the courts.

Mr. Ojo contended that the provisions of the Declaration are binding on Nigeria and its institutions, being an affirmation of the principles for anchoring the rights to freedom of expression and access to information in accordance with Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, an international human rights instrument to which Nigeria is a State Party, and which also forms part of Nigerian Law, having been domesticated in Nigeria by the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

He said: We appreciate that the NBC cannot be happy that we have shut down this major source of revenue for the Commission, but we urge it to tread the path of constitutionalism and the rule of law and obey the orders of a court of competent jurisdiction, established by the Constitution, especially if it expects individuals and entities subject to its regulatory authority to comply with its own lawful directives. The NBC will be courting anarchy should it decide to disregard the courts orders.

For further information, please contact:

Idowu Adewale (Mr.)

Communications Officer

Media Rights Agenda, Lagos

E-mail: [email protected]


According to a report by Gateway Research, the maternal mortality ratio sits at 343 per every 100,000 live births. This accounts for 18 percent of all deaths among women aged between 15 and 49, especially in rural areas of Uganda. Most women do not have access to antenatal care, a skilled medical attendant at birth, and postnatal care. This is due to long distances to healthcare facilities, poverty, and that 56 percent of mothers in rural areas of Uganda don't have a skilled medical attendant at birth when compared to 12 percent of mothers in the urban areas.

Because of this, Kobusingye Mackline founded Mother Support Foundation.

With Mother Support Foundation, Kobusingye is providing accessible, timely, and quality maternal healthcare services to pregnant women in the rural communities of Uganda using mobile clinics. These healthcare services include antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care. With its moving clinic, pregnant women can easily and conveniently access quality maternal care at a cost lower than that of traditional healthcare delivery modes.

When asked who will benefit from her solution, she said, "Pregnant women aged between 15 and 49; living in the hardest-to-each rural areas of Uganda." Kobusingye's vision is an Uganda with equal access to maternal healthcare services for all pregnant women, irrespective of their social economic background.

Recently, Kobusingye emerged as one of the three winners of the 2023 Savvy Prize for Impact-Driven Entrepreneurs. When asked how the Savvy Prize will help her project become successful, she said, "The Prize will support [my] organization to reach 3,000 women with our services within the next 12 months."

She believes that her team is the best fit to solve this problem in Uganda. In her own words, "My team is composed of three women that are passionate, and determined to bring change." Since her team consists of a professional nurse and medical personnel, we believe she has a very good chance of solving this urgent problem for the people of Uganda.
A resident and a longtime seasonal resident in Minett are questioning the purpose of municipal bylaws. This happened after they learned property variances denied by the Township of Muskoka Lakes are regularly approved when applicants appeal their case at the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).

Edie Hentcy and Carol Bagot attended two Muskoka Lakes committee of adjustment meetings in 2018 and 2022 to protest a variance application to extend the length of a dock on Lake Rosseau near Bagots property.

The committee determined the dock didnt conform to the official plan and zoning bylaws and denied the application.

In 2022, the owner returned to the committee of adjustment with another plan and the application was again denied.

In December 2022, Bagot received notice of a tribunal hearing on the matter in January. Bagot found out she was accepted on the day of the hearing and had to submit documents and photos that day.

The tribunal hears and resolves appeals and applications concerning land use planning, environmental features, land valuation and related matters. Tribunal members are appointed by the provincial governments Lieutenant Governor in Council and it operates under the Ontario Tribunal Land Act, 2021.

When we knew the owner was going to the tribunal, we spoke with our councillor, said Hentcy. I spoke with Rob Bosomworth. He told me its not worth the township spending money to go to the hearing to defend their decision because they never win. Carol and I put a lot of time and energy into creating documents when we went to the township meetings in 2018 and 2022. The people who made the municipal bylaws put energy into making them. Then, the whole system is chucked by the Ontario Land Tribunal. Whats the point in having bylaws if they can always be bypassed?

When Bosomworth was contacted about this story, he declined to comment.

At the municipal level, the process is open to the public using local bylaws and run by people we voted for while the application process to appear at the tribunal is formal and intimidating, said Bagot. To get ready, I talked to my councillor, a former councillor and the planning department. They all said usually when cases go to OLT, the municipal decision is overturned. People in some townships take advantage of that knowing once a case goes to the OLT, the township backs down immediately. Ive been told some applicants go to the OLT knowing they will get the green light.

Bagot was also advised to hire an expert planner. Due to the projected cost of $7,500, she decided to go alone. As a result, Bagot said even with documents, pictures and measurements and decades of knowledge about the bays water depth, she was disregarded because she wasnt an expert. The variance application was approved.

Hentcy believes the system is broken.

The councillors and locals have faith that when an application is denied, its denied, she said. If the applicant can go over our heads and overturn the municipal governments decision, whats the point?

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Municipalities are facing increasing challenges when it comes to maintaining control of planning decisions the province is co-opting, and it's important to note what is happening locally.

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Jim Bogar, founder of Cameron Steel in Lindsay, has been posthumously inducted into the Kawartha Lakes Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame alongside seven other business leaders.



For Jim Bogar, a conversation and a handshake were as solid as any contract.

His word was his bond. If he said something, it would happen, recalled James Bogar of his father Jim, founder of Cameron Steel in Lindsay.

What he taught me was to have good customer service, keep your word and supply a good quality product on time, added James who is now president of the company.

Jim immigrated to Canada from Hungary in 1957, first living in Alberta, then Montreal before settling down in Lindsay with his wife Maria and his son James. He worked as a millwright at J.E. Specialties and Trent Rubber and by 1975 started making decorative railings as a side business in the ammunition bunkers behind Trent Rubber.

As Jims side business grew to include commercial and industrial in addition to residential jobs, he decided to strike out on his own with one employee at a 17,000-square-foot facility on St. Patrick Street, and Cameron Steel was born.

Jim grew the business gradually over the years with his unique blend of lovable charm and old-school grittiness.

Cameron Steel expanded to its current Walsh Road location in 2004 and continued growing to its current 75,000-square-foot footprint, employing about 50 people.

James attributes his fathers success in business to his work ethic and can-do spirit.

He worked very, very hard and he always said nothing was impossible if you put your mind to it, you could achieve your goals, James said.

He was very skilled at finding ways to do things to solve problems and make things that were challenging.

He adds that his mother Maria, who died in 2015, always played an important role in the business, the conservative pessimist managing the books, balancing out her husbands optimistic risk-taking.

I started working for my folks at a very young age, I can remember holding a grinder at the age of nine, so I basically grew up in the business and evolved. The longer I was there, the more I learned and I evolved and eventually started running the day-to-day as he got older and semi-retired and its basically all I know.

Jim Bogar died in 2014.

Now almost a decade after his death, James says he was surprised and delighted to learn his fathers legacy as a business leader in Kawartha Lakes was being honoured as one of the inaugural inductees into the Kawartha Lakes Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame.

He worked really hard and employed a lot of people in his time while he ran his business, James said proudly of his dad.

The business he built is special because this little company in this little town of Lindsay can really offer a lot, he added, noting that his dad always wanted to do as much as possible under one roof.

Jim joins fellow Business Hall of Fame inductees Jack and Ila Crowe, founders of Kawartha Dairy, Ted and Ev Smith of TS Manufacturing, Nicki and Costas Dedes of Olympia Restaurant, Jason and Karissa Ward of Wards Lawyers PC, Tania-Joy Bartlett of New Beginnings Contracting Services, Liz Grimes of Cathy Allan Ladieswear and Jeff Strybosch of Kawartha Wholesale Bakery.

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Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly attended on Wednesday in Cairo the signing of a cooperation protocol by Norway's Scatec and its partners to refinance six projects they own in Benban solar park in Aswan, with a production capacity of 380 megawatts.

Under the agreement, Scatec, which is a leading renewable power producer, and its partners will refinance the projects with 19-year green bonds worth $334.5 million through a host of international investment institutions.

The agreement was signed by Chairman of Banque Misr Mohamed El-Etreby, Scatec CEO Terje Pilskog, Chairman of the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company Sabah Mashali, Executive Chairman of New and Renewable Energy Authority Mohammed El-Khayat, and Assistant Finance Minister Sherine El-Sharkawi.

Egypt has implemented multiple renewable energy projects over the past decade, including the Benban solar park, which houses more than 32 solar energy projects from photovoltaic cells with a total capacity of about 1,465 megawatts.

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Answering the knock of opportunity has not only garnered provincial recognition for a local radiation technologist, but has impacted the lives of thousands of Kawartha Lakes women.

On May 6, Ross Memorial Hospital medical radiation technologist (MRT) breast health navigator Dianne Robia was presented with the Ontario Association of Medical Radiation Sciences Patient Care Award.

It was a huge surprise for Robia to be nominated, but when she learned she had beat out a colleague who works at Torontos Hospital for Sick Children, she was a little shocked.

When I learned I had won  I was just screaming with excitement, said Robia, who has worked at the Lindsay hospitals breast screening program since 2013.

Robia noted part of the credit goes to those who inspired her over the last decade, specifically Tracy Mann and Veronica Nelson.

But a big nod goes to now retired Lindsay Collegiate and Vocational Institute student services counsellor Tim McAlpine, who helped point her in the right direction in the first place.

As a Grade 11 student, Robia was encouraged to take part in a Day in the Life event at the hospital.

Although Robia had always liked the idea of helping others, no one in her family worked in health care, so she wasnt sure about attending the event.

I almost got cold feet, said Robia, who is deeply grateful they warmed up.

During the event, students had opportunity to learn about the different occupations at the hospital, but it wasnt until a diagnostic imaging technologist walked in, accompanied by two students and a portable X-ray machine, that Robias interest was piqued.

Intrigued, Robia accepted an invitation to shadow an MRT and that sealed the proverbial deal.

Robia enrolled in the necessary high school courses and applied to Cambrian College; at the time, the only post-secondary institute from which the hospital accepted students.

Thousands apply but only 30 students are accepted, said Robia.

Although she wasnt accepted that year, Robia enrolled in pre-health studies and her second application was successful.

In 2013, she was thrilled to be accepted for placement in the Lindsay hospitals mammography unit.

I just knew I wanted to be at the Ross ever since the day I sat in that classroom, said Robia, who was hired as a diagnostic imaging clerk that September.

Robia, on the advice of Mann, Nelson and manager Gail Kennedy, continued taking courses with a focus on mammogram placement positioning training, which requires completing a minimum of 350 cases.

Robia was successful in obtaining her Canadian Association of Radiologist certification in just three months.

In September 2019, Robia became a breast health navigator senior technician.

While Robias win speaks to the power of social media  voting took place online and for only one day  it also demonstrates the positive impact she has had on others.

All I ever wanted to do was help people  I was super honoured to be recognized in this way, said Robia.

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Peterborough Countys chief administrative officer is recommending that county council send a letter to the province supporting the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridges application to speed up rezoning for the proposed site of a drug detox facility in Peterborough.

In early May, PeterboroughKawartha MPP Dave Smith announced that funding had been secured for a new 12-bed drug detox and treatment facility  part of an effort to combat ongoing opioid and drug-related deaths.

The addictions treatment centre, poised to open its doors in the fall, will be operated and overseen by CMHA-HKPR, in partnership with Fourcast.

The provincial government is spending $1.138 million in funding from the Addiction Recovery Fund for the two-year pilot program, while Peterborough county and city are both contributing $100,000 each.

CMHA-HKPRs Safe Bed hub  located at 24 Paddock Wood on Peterboroughs Armour Road  has been identified as the future site of the bed-based residential treatment facility. The long-running Safe Bed program offers short-term stays for people experiencing mental health crises.

But CMHA-HKPR aims to rezone the property. To use the facility for medical detoxification, the association wants to change the sites current residential designation to a public service designation  and fast.

Its asking the provincial government to speed the rezoning process up by greenlighting a ministers zoning order (MZO). The Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs oversees the issuing of MZOs to expedite development projects. The often lengthy rezoning process is sped up through MZOs because certain consultations are bypassed.

During a committee meeting earlier this month, Peterborough city council voted to back CMHA-HKPRs provincial MZO request.

Peterborough Countys chief administrative officer Sheridan Graham is now asking county council to do the same. Graham is recommending that council members vote in favour of sending a letter, written by county Warden Bonnie Clark, to the provincial government in support of the mental health associations request.

This letter is to confirm that Peterborough County supports the Canadian Mental Health Associations application for a (MZO) to enable the establishment of a residential detox and treatment centre at the present Paddock Wood site in Peterborough, states the letter.

County council is set to vote on the recommendation Wednesday.

Peterborough city and county has seen a steady increase in drug related deaths and overdoses. Last year, 539 people attended the emergency department due to an overdose and emergency medical services fielded 357 overdose calls, with 59 suspected drug poisoning deaths recorded. There have already been 26 in the first four months of this year.

BB Brendan Burke is a staff reporter at the Examiner, based in Peterborough. His reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.

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Students at St. Peter Secondary School had a visit Monday from goats and chickens after raising $1,500 for World Visions Give a Gift Campaign through its Gold for Goats fundraiser.

Led by Saints Action president Toula Pappas, teacher Joe McGillis's Grade 11 class raised the most, $530.

The animals were brought in by Critter Visits as the grand prize.

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Looking for an espresso  perhaps a salty spring shaken espresso? You want one with caramel and salted chocolate sauce with shaken espresso and your choice of syrup? Look no further than Bikini Beans in downtown Buckhorn across from the canal.

They are open and ready to serve you with a variety of coffees from espresso to lattes to a regular coffee with cream. Add a yummy scone or bagel and cream cheese and you have a late breakfast or lunch. Starting on the long weekend enjoy it on the back patio overlooking Buckhorn Lake.

All kinds of products await your inspection at the Boathouse Boutique which adjoins Bikini Beans. New sandals must be on your list for the summer. You can find them at the Boathouse along with beautiful dresses, shirts, rompers and jewelry. Decorating items to provide a nautical theme to your cottage are there.

Owner Angela Jones is a busy woman. She is the owner of Lakeshore Designs, 2968 Lakefield Road, as well where she focuses on interior design decorating Princess Margaret lottery homes and providing cottage decor and furnishings. She has a similar business in Florida where she cares for clients with winter homes providing decor solutions.

Jones has recently co authored a book called Global Conscious Entrepreneurs. Marie Diamond from the movie The Secret asked 49 entrepreneurs from around the world to contribute experiences and advice. Angela was studying feng shui when she met Diamond and was presented with the opportunity of providing her own chapter in the book. The book is a bestseller on Amazon.

Boathouse Boutique and Bikini Beans is always looking for summer staff. Stop in the store, meet Sam and Erin, get a coffee, do some shopping and maybe a job.

Craft Festival

The famous Buckhorn Craft Festival is waiting in the wings to entertain you and tempt you with beautiful pieces of wood working, stimulating pieces of art, colourful earrings to match any outfit, luscious snacks, dips and desserts and the list goes on.

The Buckhorn Community Centre is hosting on Saturday, May 20 from 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 21 from 10 a.m. through 4 p.m. Tickets are $5 per adult and can be purchased at the various kiosks located on the property including at the door. Kids 12 and under are free. Pets must be leashed and no pets are allowed in buildings.

New vendors will be offering butter tarts, strudels, spanakopita, cement plant pots, bird houses, pet accessories along with the regular vendors with stained glass, pottery and the list goes on. All crafts are made by the exhibitor. No imported crafts are allowed. Hope to see you there.

Wesley United Church

A drive up and take away dinner is being offered at Wesley United. On June 23 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. the takeaway strawberry supper will feature cold meats, salads, roll and butter and strawberry shortcake. Stay tuned for contact info.

Community Care

Some important subjects for the older adult to give some thought  preparing for emergency and personal safety planning, having life documents and emergency contacts in order, arranging an advanced care plan  will provide the theme for the Be Prepared Workshop at the upper level of St. Matthews Church on May 30 from 1 to 2 p.m.

Age-friendly Peterborough has prepared a Be Prepared Workbook as a tool with checklists, prompting questions and resources to help you take control during stressful times in life crises. Funding for the Be Prepared project has been provided by United Way.

Hosted by Community Care Buckhorn call Caylea at 705-657-2171 to register.

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RICHMOND, B.C. - The resignation of the CEO at one of British Columbias largest public housing operators is a step toward rebuilding confidence in organizations serving the provinces most vulnerable people, says Premier David Eby.

The Atira Womens Resource Society announced the resignation of Janice Abbott on Monday, with immediate effect.

A forensic investigation by Ernst and Young released last week found risk to public funds, violations of conflict-of-interest rules and mismanagement at the governments Crown social housing provider, BC Housing, related to former chief executive Shayne Ramsay, who is Abbotts husband.

The audit, commissioned by the province, said Ramsay repeatedly influenced decisions that benefited Atira. It said a lack of oversight resulted in a culture of tolerance for non-compliance with conflict-of-interest policies.

Atira initially continued to back Abbott despite Ebys suggestions that leadership change should be considered, but on Monday the Atira board announced her resignation.

The board thanks Janice for helping thousands of women and children over her 31 years of leadership at Atira, board chair Elva Kim said in a statement. The focus of the board now is working collaboratively with the B.C. government and BC Housing and restoring the publics confidence in Atiras integrity, vision, mission, purpose and values.

Kims statement said she was confident Abbotts resignation would allow Atira to continue its work with fewer distractions.

Abbott was not immediately available for comment.

Eby said Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon told him Monday about Abbotts resignation.

This will, my hope is, set Atira back on its path of restoring public confidence and trust so they can continue delivering essential services to people across the province, the premier told an unrelated news conference.

Atira will also open its books to allow a third-party independent review, he said.

Im very hopeful Atira is on the right track, as of today, Eby said. One of the key pieces here is we cant let the issue with the previous CEO and with Atira slow down addressing the housing crisis. BC Housing plays a critical role providing housing to people at risk of homelessness or who are actually living outside, and we need to accelerate that work.

After announcing his retirement from BC Housing last August, Ramsay became executive vice-president of the Nchkay Development Corporation, the economic development arm of the Squamish Nation.

His photo and biographical information were removed from the corporations website after the audit was released last week. The corporation did not respond to questions about whether Ramsay was still employed there.

The premier said last week that the government expected Atira to take steps to ensure public confidence in its operations, which could include leadership change.

Obviously, the work by Ernst and Young raised some very serious concerns about the conduct inside BC Housing as well as raised questions about what had been happening at Atira, Eby said Monday.

But Ebys handling of the housing issue and the forensic report was sharply criticized in the legislature last week, with the Opposition BC United saying the premier, a former housing minister, was being evasive about his knowledge of the situation at BC Housing and Atira.

BC United Leader Kevin Falcon accused Eby of burying earlier warning signs about financial mismanagement within Atira while overseeing increases in provincial funding for the housing operator.

The statement from Atira said the provider had also returned $1.9 million in surplus funds to BC Housing, agreed to include a government representative as an observer on its board and established a group to investigate Atiras policies and practices, including how it deals with conflicts of interest.

Atira reiterated its commitment to open, transparent and proactive communication with the government and BC Housing, and said it welcomes the opportunity to discuss the report with them.

The board will be appointing an interim CEO as soon as possible, it said.

Atira operates nearly 3,000 units of housing for women, children and gender-diverse people in B.C.s Lower Mainland.

The board and staff at Atira are deeply committed to serving and protecting women and children and providing much-needed housing, Kim said.

 By Dirk Meissner in Victoria

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2023.

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A First Nation reserve and nearby town in the southern Northwest Territories have been evacuated after an out-of-control wildfire began spreading in the area.

Katlodeeche First Nation ordered an evacuation Sunday afternoon, advising residents to register at the evacuation centre in nearby Hay River.

The Town of Hay River then ordered an evacuation Sunday night.

Residents of both communities have been advised to register at the Hay River Community Centre if they need help leaving, or at the evacuation centre in Yellowknife.

I thought it was a dream, said Bryan Fabian, who is from Katlodeeche First Nation.

He drove all night and reached Yellowknife, which is about 490 kilometres away, Monday morning.

I was just wondering about everything that we left behind, he said, noting he only took the clothes on his back.

Gladys Seaward said she, her husband and their two grandchildren, ages five and 15, also drove all night from Hay River to reach Yellowknife.

My heart is breaking for them, she said of residents from the reserve. As long as the people are safe, stuff can be replaced.

James Cardinal Jr., who is from Fort McMurray, Alta., said he arrived in Hay River Sunday night to work on a new apartment complex, and was staying at a hotel when the town was evacuated. He said he and his boss drove to Fort Smith, N.W.T., and arrived early Monday morning.

Unusual feeling knowing people might lose everything theyve worked for in the blink of an eye as we left town, he wrote in a message.

Michael St. Amour, mayor of Enterprise, located about a half-hour drive from Hay River, said there was a two-hour wait at the gas station as hundreds of people passed through the hamlet Sunday night.

We tried to make them as comfortable as possible and give them the direction to go to Yellowknife, he said.

St. Amour said Enterprise has opened its community hall to evacuees and was serving breakfast Monday morning. He said about 300 people were still in the community hoping to get back to their homes.

In Fort Providence, about 140 kilometres from Enterprise on the north side of the Mackenzie River, the service centre has stayed open to support evacuees.

Linda Croft, manager of the Big River Service Centre, said around 11:30 a.m. Monday there had been a non-stop stream of people at the gas bar, store and restaurant since about 1:30 a.m.

A lot of people from the reserve were very traumatized, she said.

Croft said they plan to remain open around the clock for the foreseeable future. She added the local campground opened Sunday evening for people leaving Hay River and Katlodeeche First Nation.

Were here. Fort Providence is always here, she said.

The Town of Hay River said in a statement Monday that it was unsafe for residents to return due to predicted high winds and direction changes, but no buildings or homes in the town had been affected. It said the road into the town is being blocked, no amenities or health services are available there and police are actively monitoring the community.

N.W.T. Fire said Monday that about 15 buildings had been damaged on the reserve while the Hay River Fire Department had extinguished spot fires that jumped the river. It said six fire crews were working in the area with another six on the way.

Katlodeeche First Nation said on its Facebook page Monday that Northland Utilities had shut down all power on the reserve, and that all history and archives had been saved from the Yamozha Kue Society building.

The N.W.T. Emergency Management Organization said evacuees are encouraged to stay with family and friends. The territorial government has set up an evacuation centre at the Yellowknife Multiplex where basic necessities, including meals, are being provided. Campsites are also being made available for people with recreational vehicles.

Residents have set up a Facebook page to offer assistance to evacuees, such as pet care and transportation to places to stay. United Way Northwest Territories also started a fundraising campaign for those affected by the wildfire while the Yellowknife Co-op said it is collecting donations for that fund.

Roughly 3,500 residents from Hay River and the Katlodeeche First Nation were ordered to leave last May as the area experienced its worst flooding on record.

In October, the Northwest Territories government said it estimated flooding caused more than $174 million in damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2023.

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FREDERICTON - The New Brunswick Human Rights Commission expressed concern Monday over the governments decision to review the provinces policy on sexual orientation in schools.

Commission chair Claire Roussel-Sullivan said in a statement that the policy establishes minimum standards for schools to ensure a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for LGBTQ students.

(The commission) emphasizes that the government has obligations to safeguard the equality and dignity of all school-going children, Roussel-Sullivan said. These obligations ensue from the governments commitments under the international, national, and provincial human rights system.

Her comments came in reaction to reports about the provincial governments decision to review the policy  known as Policy 713  after it said it heard concerns from a variety of groups, including parents and teachers.

Education Minister Bill Hogan said in a statement Monday that Policy 713 will not be scrapped. We are reviewing areas of the policy that are causing confusion and misconceptions, he said. However, we are not in any way repealing the policy.

He said the government will look at two specific aspects of the policy that have drawn criticism from some parents. One is the provision for students under 16 to change their preferred first name and pronoun, without any communication to the parent. The other is the process for team sport selection and participation, the minister said, without elaborating on the concerns about sport teams.

In addition to reviewing these two aspects of Policy 713, parents have also voiced concerns about the age appropriateness of what is taught in the classroom when it comes to sexual education, Hogan said.

The provinces decision to review Policy 713 has faced intense scrutiny, with former education minister Dominic Cardy accusing Premier Blaine Higgs of wanting to gut sex education.

Gail Costello, with New Brunswick LGBTQ advocacy group Pride in Education, helped write the policy and said the Education Department should not allow a small group of critics to dictate government decisions.

Policy 713 is about creating a safe learning space, she said. Its about letting kids use whatever names that they like or that they approve on the report cards. Its about safe washrooms. Its about a safe, inclusive learning space. Its literally about the physical space. Its not about curriculum at all.

She called the policy review dangerous.

The policy came about, Costello said, so LGBTQ students could see themselves in the classroom environment and not be bullied or shamed.

So when a little Grade 2 kid is sitting there, and the teacher reads a story about two moms, or a story about two dads, they can go, Well, thats like my family, and if the teacher is reading it, then the teachers a good person. Its better to prevent mental health issues than to have to treat them the rest of your life.

Anglophone East District Education Council member Kristin Cavoukian said the review was a bewildering announcement, with parallels to initiatives curtailing LGBTQ rights in the United States.

She noted that the government said the policy review came after questions and concerns raised by parents. But the truth is, well never know, because theyll never show us the emails that they have supposedly received, she said.

I dont doubt that there is a small yet vocal minority of social conservatives in this province, as there are in every province, she said. And it sounds as though this government is prioritizing their votes .... Now, as a mom, I wont stand for that. And as a district education council member, I represent a community that wont stand for it either.

 With files from Michael MacDonald in Halifax

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2023.

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BANGKOK (AP)  Thailands opposition racked up a stunning majority of the 500 seats at stake in the race for the House of Representatives, dealing a major blow to the establishment parties and the former general who has led the Southeast Asian country since seizing power in a 2014 coup.

The results of Sundays general election are a strong repudiation of the countrys conservatives and reflect the disenchantment in particular of young voters who want to limit the influence of the military in politics and reform the monarchy.

But the exact shape of the new government is less clear as post-election coalition talks and behind-the-scene negotiations take center stage.

THE RESULTS

With almost all votes counted Monday, the Move Forward Party emerged as the big winner. It captured a projected 151 seats in the lower House by winning over 24% of the popular vote for 400 constituency seats, and more than 36% of the 100 seats allocated by proportional representation.

Tailing a close second is the main opposition Pheu Thai Party, whose combined seat total is projected at 141.

The party of incumbent Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former army general who came to power in the 2014 coup, held the fifth spot in the constituency vote and third in the party-preference tally, for a projected total of 36 seats.

Voter turnout was about 75% of the 52 million registered voters.

WHAT NEXT?

Who becomes the next prime minister will depend on a vote set for July that includes all the House lawmakers plus the 250-seat military-appointed Senate, whose members share the establishments conservative policies. The winner must attain at least 376 of their combined 750 seats.

Opposition parties have criticized the process as undemocratic. Its a legacy of the 2014 coup and a new constitution drafted in its aftermath that was meant to ensure that the military and the state bureaucracy, the main upholders of the royal order, continue to hold sway.

Analysts have pointed out that a lot can still happen before the Election Commission even declares the results valid, a process that can take up to 75 days and will almost certainly include legal challenges.

In the past, the commission and the courts have used their authority to disqualify opposition parties.

WHAT THE OPPOSITION WANTS?

Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat tweeted that he is ready to bring about change as the countrys 30th prime minister.

Whether you agree or disagree with me, I will be your prime minister. Whether you have voted for me or not, I will serve you, he wrote.

Although he energized younger voters with his progressive agenda, the 42-year-old businessman has alarmed conservatives with calls for reform of the monarchy, the institution that has been traditionally treated as sacrosanct.

In 2019, the Constitutional Court ousted his colleague from Parliament on charges of violating the election law and dissolved the Future Forward party, which then changed its name and leadership to become Move Forward.

It had been supporting amending the draconian law that punishes defaming the monarchy, which according to critics has been used to as a tool to quash political dissent and imprison pro-democracy student activists.

Student-led protests beginning in 2020 openly criticized the monarchy, previously a taboo subject, leading to vigorous prosecutions under the law. They were also dismayed by the dissolution of the Future Forward party, which they believed was an unfair use of state power.

THAKSINS SHADOW

Pheu Thai is led by Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 36-year-old daughter of billionaire former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was toppled in a 2006 coup.

The power struggle between Thaksins supporters, many of them rural poor who benefited from his populist policies, and his conservative opponents has been fought  sometimes in the street, sometimes at the ballot box  for almost two decades.

In the 2014 coup, Prayuth unseated the government of Yingluck Shinawatra  Paetongtarns aunt, Thaksins sister  as prime minister. And Pheu Thai topped the field in the 2019 vote, only to be denied power when the army-backed Palang Pracharath Party found partners to assemble a coalition government.

Thaksin, 73, said before Sundays vote that he wants to return to Thailand from self-exile, even if it means facing justice, including several convictions on charges including abuse of power and corruption.

___

Hranjski reported from Zagreb, Croatia.

___

Find more of APs Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific

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Nestled on 4.8 acres of private land, a cottage in Muskoka that was under construction for a year and a half is now listed for the first time at just under $16 million.

The seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom property at 1316 East Bay Road Unit 4A is 7,500 square feet with 306 feet of Lake Muskoka frontage. According to broker David Bemmann of real estate agency The Bemmann Team, the 4.8 acre property has the functional elements and traditional features of a cottage with luxurious bells and whistles.

The towel factor is really good here, Bemmann said of the cottages accessibility and waterfront connectivity. If you forget your towel, and you're going for a swim, do you run back and get your towel so when you get out your warm? Or do you jump in the lake and freeze and walk up to the cottage? You don't pick a cottage with a low towel factor. This ones really level between the waterfront and the cottage.

An older couple could make it down to the dock no problem, he continued. Theres a five-panel bifold door that opens up the entire cottage to the outside. So (a parent) could be watching their kids swim while making dinner.

Bemmann said the two-storey home has also been built to last decades and that its virtually maintenance free.

Its outfitted with advanced home automation allowing every light switch in the house, primary bedroom blinds, en suite blinds and a 20-zone sound system to be controlled digitally.

Every room has individual capabilities. It's all automated from a central hub on your phone or iPad, Bemmann said. You could be at the dock and turn on some music. Near the firepit there's a hidden stone with a speaker in it. You're in Italy travelling but you forgot some light switches? You can turn them off.

A 20-foot rock wall flanks the homes unique granite-cut driveway entrance on either side. The property is outfitted with a two-car attached garage for winter weather, security system and outdoor lighting.

Five of the bedrooms are listed as above grade and two are located below ground level.

The main floors primary bedroom features a spalike ensuite. Upstairs has a second primary suite, multiple other suites and a private study. The property collectively has four fireplaces, one of which is in the primary bedroom.

The kitchen has shiplap walls, an oversized island, built-in coffee bar and a 16-person long dining room table which Bemmann says was custom-made for the space.

The floors are handmade with a blend of six different types of hardwood reclaimed from an old barn in Kentucky: beach, yellow birch, white ash, oak, hickory and cherry wood.

They dry store it so it doesn't have any moisture in it, then they installed it at the property. Then they beat it down with chains and saws creating those markings in the wood, Bemmann said. It is all done in place, which then gives it that rustic look.

The matching two-storey boathouse has a dock-level lounge area with glass roll-up doors and a roughly 650-square-foot living area above it. The boathouse also has a fireplace and was designed with a cupola as well, so that you can put a little ladder there and crawl up to play games as a kid, Bemmann said.

It's got a perfect waterfront with a sandy beach area and deep water off the end of the dock  And the boathouse gets beautiful sunsets, he continued. From the boathouse to the cottage, from the cottage to the car, you can park right next to the front door, there's not even a step.

The downstairs lounge area is sprinkled with granite stone accents and houses another fireplace, a pool table, a card table, sliding doors, a commercial grade bar and a separate glassed-in wine cellar with a tasting table.

Even the bottles on the back shelves are lit up. Its like an entertainers paradise, Bemmann said, adding that the downstairs area also has no posts, allowing for an unobstructed view of the room.

The home also has a soundproof home theatre with a stadium seating of 10 chairs. The lower lounge also features walkouts to the patio and spa, the latter of which is yet to be finished but, according to Bemmann, is wired for the future homeowner to install additional components along with the hot tub already in place.

Theres very limited availability of brand new spec builds, Bemmann said. This is one of the few full-size builds that you might see this year.

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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Government offices to close for Royal Ploughing Ceremony day

PHUKET: Phuket Immigration Chief Col Thanet Sukchai has confirmed that all Immigration offices on the island will be closed on Wednesday (May 17) as the country marks the traditional Royal Ploughing Ceremony.

culture

By The Phuket News

Monday 15 May 2023, 11:22AM

Image: NNT

While not a general public holiday, all government offices throughout the country will be closed for the day, which honours the ancient tradition of holding ceremonies to bring blessings to the countrys farmers for the new planting season.

Officially known as Wan Phra Ratcha Phithi Phuet Monkhon Lae Charot Phra Nangkhan Raek Na Khwan, the day is also observed as Farmers Day.

Each years date of the holiday is astrologically determined and announced by the Bureau of the Royal Household, with the ceremonies held at Sanam Luang, in front of the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

There is no ban on the sale of alcohol on the day.
Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry called on African countries to carry out concerted efforts to contain conflicts and find permanent solutions based on the principle of African solution for the African problems.

Shoukry highlighted priorities for joint African action, among them concerted efforts to contain conflict on the continent and find permanent solutions to them, according to a statement from Egypts Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Delivering Egypt's address on behalf of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on the activities of the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) on Sunday, Shoukry said the African Union (AU) Summit this year comes amid regional and international critical conditions that require cooperation to face the existing challenges.

Egypt's top diplomat said a comprehensive perspective is needed to handle African challenges and threats in a way that addresses their root causes as well as the resulting social and economic problems.

Shoukrys speech also tackled the conditions in Sudan in light of the progress after the end of the transitional period and urged support for Libya to encourage holding parliamentary and presidential elections to restore the sovereignty and stability.

On behalf of President El-Sisi, Shoukry is leading the Egyptian delegation to the 36th Ordinary Session of the heads of state and government of the AU in the Ethiopian capital that is set to conclude on Sunday.

On Saturday, Shoukry addressed a meeting of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), reviewing the most notable outcomes of the COP27 conference held in Sharm El-Sheikh in November, including the creation of a fund to finance fixing damage caused by climate change in developing nations.

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Man City on brink of title after Brighton rock Arsenal

FOOTBALL: Manchester City are on the brink of winning the Premier League title after Arsenal crashed to a shock 3-0 defeat against Brighton yesterday (May 14).

FootballPremier-League

By AFP

Monday 15 May 2023, 07:27AM

Brightons Julio Enciso celebrates after scoring at Arsenal. Photo: AFP

Mikel Artetas side were rocked by second half goals from Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupinan at the Emirates Stadium.

Second placed Arsenal trail City by four points and a defeat for the Gunners at Nottingham Forest on Saturday would hand Pep Guardiolas men their fifth title in six years.

Fired by Ilkay Gundogans brace and Erling Haalands latest goal, Citys 3-0 win at Everton earlier yesterday had moved them within touching distance of the title and Arsenals loss makes the silverware almost certain to remain in Manchester.

Even if Arsenal beat Forest, City will be champions for a third successive season if they defeat Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in their next game on May 21.

City have three games to play, with the Chelsea clash followed by trips to Brighton and Brentford, while Arsenal have just a home match against Wolves after their trip to Forest.

While battle-tested City are powering towards the finish line, Arsenals young team have choked away their bid to win a first title since 2004.

Arsenals recent four-game winless run, including a 4-1 thrashing at City, allowed their rivals to seize top spot, an opportunity they have exploited in ruthless fashion.

Although Arsenals unexpected title challenge seems destined to fall short, it has still been a hugely encouraging season for the north Londoners after over a decade of underachievement.

There is no shame in coming second to a team of treble-chasing Citys class, although Arteta will be frustrated they failed to last the pace after leading the table for long periods.

Thrashed 5-1 at home by struggling Everton last Monday, Roberto De Zerbis Brighton bounced back with a dynamic display that prayed on the anxiety coursing through Arsenals players and fans.

Brighton threatened on the counter early on as Aaron Ramsdales superb save repelled Encisos rising strike.

Knockout blow

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard had scored five goals in his last five games and he went close to a sixth with a stinging shot that whistled just wide.

The Gunners suffered a blow when Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli was forced off with an injury sustained after a tackle from Moises Caicedo.

Gabriel Jesuss shot from a tight angle was turned away by Jason Steele, while Leandro Trossard almost netted against his old club when the Arsenal forwards effort clipped the top of the bar.

Arsenal had scored three or more goals in each of their last six home league games, but they failed to make any headway against well-drilled Brighton.

Bukayo Saka and Odegaard went close late in the first half with a powerful drives that flashed narrowly wide.

Brighton landed their knockout blow in the 51st minute as Enciso made the breakthrough.

Estupinans initial cross was blocked but he knocked the rebound towards Enciso and he headed home while Arsenal appealed in vain for a foul on Jakub Kiwior.

Arteta sent on Reiss Nelson and the winger almost bagged an immediate equaliser as he rifled inches wide.

But Undav bagged Brightons second goal in the 86th minute as Trossard carelessly lost possession, allowing the forward to lift a deft lob over Ramsdale.

Estupinan sent Arsenal fans streaming to the exits deep into stoppage-time when he slotted home after Undavs shot was parried by Ramsdale.
Move Forward Party sweeps Phuket

PHUKET: The Move Forward Party swept all three seats for Phuket in the national election for Members of Parliament yesterday, according to unofficial results announced early this morning (May 15).

politics

By The Phuket News

Monday 15 May 2023, 09:18AM

Somchart Techathavorncharoen has been declared the unofficial winning candidate for Constituency 1, which comprises Phuket Town, Koh Kaew and Ratsada, Photo: Somchart Techathavorncharoen / Facebook

Polls results were counted late into the night, with Somchart Techathavorncharoen declared the unofficial winning candidate for Constituency 1, which comprises Phuket Town (Talad Yai and Talad Neua subdistricts), Koh Kaew and Ratsada,

Somchart, who was assigned No 2 on the ballot, garnered 18,604 votes.

Thank you to all the trust that the people of Phuket have given me today. From now on, the Move Forward Party and I will continue to push for progressive policy issues. Lets make the Thailand that we dream of together come true as soon as possible. Mr Somchart said in a post on Facebook after 1am today.

Piya Sidokbuap of the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party placed second in the constituency, with 16,086 votes, followed by Jirayut Songyos of the Palang Pracharat Party, who garnered 10,470 votes.

Chalermpong Saengdee of the Move Forward Party won Constituency 2, which comprises Wichit, Chalong, Rawai, Karon, Patong and Kamala, with 21,913 votes.

Nuanchan Samart of the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party placed second with 14,967 votes, followed by Wongsakorn Chanakij of the Bhumjaithai Party, who garnered 9,596 votes.

Making it a clean sweep for the move Forward Party in Phuket was Thitikan Thitipruekthikul, who won Constituency 3, which comprises all of Thalang District along with Kathu subdistrict, with 20,421 votes.

Orathai Kerdsup of the Chat Phatthana Kla Party placed second with 16,469 votes followed by Wiwat Jindapol of the Bhumjaithai Party, who placed third with 13,692 votes.

Polling at the 377 polling stations set up across the island yesterday went largely without incident.

An elderly man in Thalang was asked to join police for questioning after he tore his ballot up by accident. According to family members, the man thought a dotted line printed on the ballot indicated where the ballot was to be separated from the main form.

The ballots will now be sent to the Election Commission of Thailand main headquarters in Bangkok for confirmation.
Phuket Move Forward MPs elect say thank you

PHUKET: The three Move Forward Party candidates elected to represent Phuket as members of Parliament in the House of Representatives have given their thanks to those who voted for them, and vowed to do their best for the islands residents.

politics

By The Phuket News

Monday 15 May 2023, 06:30PM

Orapin Acheevasuk, Director of the Phuket office of the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT Phuket), confirmed that voter turnout was 75.06%. Photo: PR Phuket

The three Move Forward Party Phuket MPs elect and their team thanked voters for giving the party a clean sweep of all three Phuket MP seats. Photo: Move Forward Party Phuket

The three Move Forward candidates made it a clean sweep of all three MP seats contested in the national election held on Sunday, according to unofficial results announced early Monday morning (May 15).

Somchart Techathavorncharoen was declared the unofficial winning candidate for Constituency 1, which comprises Phuket Town (Talad Yai and Talad Neua subdistricts), Koh Kaew and Ratsada. Assigned No 2 on the ballot, Somchart garnered 18,604 votes.

Thank you to all the trust that the people of Phuket have given me today. From now on, the Move Forward Party and I will continue to push for progressive policy issues. Lets make the Thailand that we dream of together come true as soon as possible. Mr Somchart said in a post on Facebook.

Chalermpong Saengdee won Constituency 2, which comprises Wichit, Chalong, Rawai, Karon, Patong and Kamala, with 21,913 votes.

Thitikan Thitipruekthikul won Constituency 3, which comprises all of Thalang District along with Kathu subdistrict, with 20,421 votes.

Thank you to all the team members and everyone who is a part of this victory. We have already proven that our action is listening to the problems of the people and finding solutions together, which is what the people voted for, the Phuket branch of the Move Forward Party said in a notice posted online yesterday (May 15).

We will do our best work. [We have] 300 policies and many more to make Phuket and Thailand better than ever. Ready to go!! And thank you very much everyone. Thank you! the local Move Forward organisers said.

Orapin Acheevasuk, Director of the Phuket office of the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT Phuket), confirmed that voter turnout was 75.06%.

However, 2.78% of the votes cast were deemed spoiled ballots and a further 3.98% of ballots has the No vote box selected, she noted.

There was one case of an illegal election offense which is in the process of investigation by the police, Ms Orapin said.

Ms Orapin urged people who did not exercise their right to vote to report their reason for not casting a vote through the correct channels, such as through a letter to the district registrar, the ECT Phuket office or through the website of the Office of Registration Administration under the Department of Provincial Administration.

People have until May 21 to do so, she added.

Not providing a reason for not voting may affect their right to vote and may invalidate certain political rights, such as running for public office, for a specified period in the future, Ms Orapin noted.
Political party leaders kick off nationwide vote

BANGKOK: Party leaders were among throngs of Thai voters appearing at polling stations nationwide yesterday (May 15) to cast ballots in an election that will decide whether Prayut Chan-o-cha will be ousted and replaced as prime minister after eight years in power.

politics

By Bangkok Post

Monday 15 May 2023, 07:38AM

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha votes on Soi Pradipat 5 in Bangkok. Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut

Gen Prayut, prime ministerial candidate of the United Thai Nation Party, arrived at polling station No 10 in Phayathai district at 9:06am and was greeted by a throng of local and foreign reporters, reports the Bangkok Post.

Srettha Thavisin, a Pheu Thai Party candidate for prime minister, arrived before 8am at polling station No 16 at City Lake Tower in Soi Sukhumvit 16.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Srettha said he was glad to vote again after a long wait. He called for Thais to turn up in large numbers, saying he was confident the country would see a change after the polls closed at 5pm.

Paetongtarn Ung Ing Shinawatra, a Pheu Thai prime ministerial candidate, arrived at polling station No 15 at Kheha Thani 3 in the Ram Intra area of Khannayao district shortly after 10:30am.

Ms Paetongtarn was accompanied by her mother Khunying Potjaman Damapong and her elder sister Pintongtha Shinwatra Kunakornwong, who also voted at the station.

She was also greeted by a large number of Thai and foreign reporters.

Pita Limjaroenrat, leader and prime ministerial candidate of the Move Forward Party, turned up at polling station No 10 at Soi Sukhumvit 30 at 9.:0am.

After casting his vote, Mr Pita said he had done his best to win support. Like other party leaders, he said he hoped Thais would turn up in large numbers to make their voices heard.

Mr Pita said he was satisfied with the overall atmosphere after working hard on the campaign trail.

Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, prime ministerial candidate and leader of the Palang Pracharath Party, cast his vote at polling station No 11 in Wang Thong Lang district shortly after 8am.

Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, Thai Sang Thai Party leader who is also a candidate for prime minister, arrived at polling station No 33 in Chompol area in Chatuchak district at 8:40am. She was accompanied by family.

Third rate

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, in his capacity as the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, said his party was likely to come in third in the race for House seats despite his stated hope for second place.

Speaking to reporters in the northeastern province of Buriram, Anutin said, Earlier I thought Bhumjaithai would be in second position, but it is in third. I congratulate the leading parties, namely Move Forward and Pheu Thai.

Anutin said his party was likely to win more House seats and triumph in some provinces for the first time in yesterdays general election. The party had hoped to represent a Bangkok constituency but that wish would not come true in this election, he said.

Anutin did not divulge his thoughts about Bhumjaithais possible involvement in the formation of a new government, or whether his party would maintain its partnership with parties in the previous government.

He said he would rather wait for clearer results from the election.
Kate Osburn held a vigil at Franchetto Park in Guelph for her eight-year-old son Charlie, who died on May 13, 2022 at his father's home in Cambridge.



Kate Osburn is beginning to find some comfort a year after the death of her eight-year-old son, Charlie.

On May 14, 2022, Charlies body was found at 4790 Townline Rd. in Cambridge, the home of his father, Curtis Hesselink. Police searched for 41-year-old Hesselink on Townline Road and River Road for days, including scouring a property in the area. His body was found May 20 by Halton Region police in the bush near a rural property in Milton.

With the belief Charlie died on May 13, Osburn, who lives in Guelph, held a candlelight vigil with a small group at Franchetto Park in Guelph. Prior to the vigil, a serviceberry tree was dedicated to Charlie, and those in attendance painted rocks to place around the tree and share memories of her son.

Osburn said the park was one of his favourite places to go and he loved eating serviceberries.

It was so beautiful to see all the lights flickering in the dusk, Osburn said, adding a moment of silence was held for Charlie.

I cherish hearing other peoples memories about Charlie; its the only new thing I will ever have since Charlie and I wont be making any new memories of our own.

Besides the in-person vigil, Osburn asked people to light a candle and snap a photo. The photos can be posted at #CharlieInOurHearts.

Im so deeply grateful to everyone who participated both in person and online. Its so important to me to see other peoples grief for Charlie. So often, I feel like I am grieving alone. Its very isolating. So, it was very meaningful for me to feel all that support. There is comfort in grieving together.

Osburn said a friend in attendance at the memorial noted it was helpful, for one day at least, to have a place to put the grief.

It has been a relief to finally be able to speak publicly, Osburn said.

I feel that the restraints of the investigation impeded the usual community response that occurs for these types of tragedies. I had quite a few people reach out this week because they were hearing about Charlies death for the first time or hadnt made the connection that he was my son.

The support from the vigil also felt like a corrective experience in a way. While we had to wait so long for official answers.



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WATERLOO REGION  During the pandemic the salary difference between software developers working in Californias Silicon Valley and this region all but closed.

The average starting salary for a software developer right out of school in Waterloo Region is now $87,000. In Silicon Valley it starts at an average of US$68,000. When adjusted for exchange rates the gap is only $4,000.

That differential is quite small, said Chris Albinson, the CEO at Communitech.

The average salary for an experienced software developer in this region is $110,000 a year. In Silicon Valley, that figure is US$111,000. When you factor in exchange rates and the cost of private health care in the United States, the difference shrinks to about $5,000.

The Canadian health care advantage is significant. In the U.S., tech companies pay about US$25,000 annually for each employee to cover private health care, said Albinson.

There is downward pressure on tech salaries across North America, said Albinson, after 350,000 tech workers in the U.S. were laid off during the past 15 months. In contrast, there are thousands of openings for tech jobs in the Toronto-Waterloo Corridor even after cuts at several Canadian companies.

We are in a state of flux, said Albinson of tech salaries. There is a lot of talent looking for work.

Less than two years ago it was almost impossible for a tech company in Waterloo Region to hire a software developer with 10 years experience.

And now you can hire somebody with that skill set and background out of Google, said Albinson. You couldnt find them 18 months ago.

Another trend impacting tech salaries is immigration.

Silicon Valley was good for talent, access to global markets, information about foreign markets and venture capital, but that is changing, said Albinson, who came to Communitech in May 2021 after more than 20 years in San Francisco.

In the last five years the U.S. has been fundamentally disadvantaged on talent, especially when compared to Canada, he said.

During the last year more than a million newcomers arrived in Canada, half with STEM degrees. That compares to about 200,000 new arrivals for the U.S.

The U.S. has really shot themselves in the foot on immigration, said Albinson.

About 40 per cent of the tech workers who were laid off in the U.S. were there on H1-B visas. So, they must find a new job in the States or leave the U.S. within six months.

American governments and tech companies dont want them to return to China, Iran, India and Russia, said Albinson, and would rather see them come to Canada.

Albinson is working with the federal minister of immigration to bring as many as possible to Ontario. There are 6,781 job openings at tech companies across Canada. About 60 per cent of the openings are in the Toronto-Waterloo Corridor, according to the Communitech job board.

Immigration helps in a couple of ways, not only as a source of talent, but also a source of information and connections to international markets, said Albinson.

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KITCHENER  While Richard Jarvis has never found a tick on his five-year-old dog Toro, he makes sure his pet gets anti-tick medications every month.

In April, Jarvis started giving his dog Simparica, a drug that kills the tick after it bites.

The last couple of dogs, I used to take them for walks in the daytime down by the Grand River and occasionally, theyd get one, he said.

Dog owners, like many other residents, are thinking about ticks as temperatures rise.

But Guelph researchers are saying ticks have become a problem year-round.

Were pretty much a 12-month tick season now, said Scott Weese, a University of Guelph professor and microbiologist whose research focuses on bacterial infections in animals and humans.

Ticks come out once temperatures rise above 0C to 4C, a threshold that Waterloo Region hit for at least short periods during the winter months, said Weese.

There are many species of ticks, but black-legged ticks can spread Lyme disease to humans and pets. Ticks transmit the disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, after feeding on other infected animals, such as deer, birds, mice and chipmunks.

Waterloo Region is not considered a high-risk area for black-legged ticks with Lyme disease, according to the Ontario Lyme Disease Map from 2022. The map is updated annually.

Local cases of Lyme disease have fluctuated in the past decade, with 12 reported cases in 2021, the latest update from Public Health Ontario. The region saw the most reported cases  16  in 2019.

The area with the highest number of reported cases in Ontario in 2021 was Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington, with 21 cases.

But it is still possible to encounter a black-legged tick almost anywhere in Ontario in their natural habitat, such as wooded or brushy areas.

They can travel on birds and deer, so a black-legged tick can be found anywhere in Ontario, said provincial public health inspector Rebecca Piovesan.

Because of this, people in Waterloo Region should protect themselves while outdoors: wear long sleeves, pants and closed-toe shoes; tuck pants into socks; choose lighter-coloured clothes; use bug spray with DEET or Icaridin; and stay on trails.

Lyme disease is a disease of public health significance, meaning each case must be reported to the regions public health unit within at least one business day.

A tick bite will not be itchy, painful or sometimes even visible, but the effects can be serious.

Headaches, fever, fatigue and skin rashes are all symptoms of Lyme disease. If left untreated, the disease can affect joints, the heart and the nervous system.

Most cases of Lyme disease come from nymphs  ticks the size of a poppyseed, and adult female ticks, which are the size of a sesame seed.

The tick must be attached for at least 24 hours to transmit the disease, which is why experts encourage people to do tick checks after spending time outside or in the grass.

This helps so tick can be found before or soon after a bite, and you can remove them correctly to try and minimize the risk of some of these diseases, said Justin Wood, a Guelph-based researcher who founded Geneticks, a private lab that tests for tick-borne diseases. People across Canada send ticks to Geneticks, which then tests them for diseases.

The lab usually gets ticks sent in from March until around mid-December, Wood said.

This year, for the first time, people were sending ticks in January and February.

Ticks that survive winter have more time to reproduce, said Wood, and that leads to other problems as well.

With more ticks, and ticks that are active for longer periods, the bugs have more time to migrate to other, newer areas, he said.

That means that people that formerly lived outside of the normal range of a lot of these species are starting to encounter them more frequently than they were before, he said.

There is no medication available for humans to prevent tick bites, but bug repellent sprays help.

The best solution for pets is preventive medication, like the one Jarvis gives to Toro every month, researcher Weese said.

Options that prevent ticks from attaching to a pet, or that kill the tick shortly after attaching are the cornerstone for prevention of tick-borne diseases, Weese said.

There is a Lyme disease vaccine for dogs and while its useful, its very much a Plan B approach, since preventing ticks from feeding on a dog is a better way to prevent Lyme disease, he said.

If you find a tick, you can submit photos to the provincial site etick.ca for identification.

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WATERLOO REGION  Catholic school board trustee Wendy Ashby says she is resigning from her role so the board can refocus its attention to other matters.

I have decided to vacate my seat at this time, so that we can all return our focus back on the important work that we have dedicated ourselves to doing, she wrote in a statement sent to The Record on Sunday evening.

The Kitchener/Wilmot trustees resignation comes a few weeks after she formally apologized for posts she made on Twitter. The tweets and the account she sent them from have since been deleted.

The most dangerous creature on the planet is the White Christian male. Theyre a Threat to anyone who is not them, one of the tweets read.

Hush money. Buying silence about being underpaid. White women make obedient soldiers for the christofacist patriarchy, a second deleted tweet read.

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board said at the time it does not support statements made by Trustee Wendy Ashby in social media posts.

A few days later, the board announced it was appointing an outside consultant to investigate an alleged breach of the boards code of conduct, but wouldnt say if the investigation was connected to Ashbys tweets.

Parents and fellow trustees criticized the two online posts. The posts led to calls for her resignation, with more than 3,500 signatures on the Parents as First Educators website, and more than 3,100 on Campaign Life Coalition.

Ashby was first elected to the Catholic board in last falls municipal election. Her resignation creates a vacancy on Waterloo Catholic District School Board.

Its the third school board vacancy in Waterloo Region in recent days.

Two trustee positions are vacant at the Waterloo Region District School Board, after Waterloo/Wilmot trustee Marie Snyder resigned earlier this month, due to health concerns. She was to vacate her seat as of May 8.

Three days later, the public board announced the death of Woolwich/Wellesley trustee Fred Meissner. Both were first elected last fall.

RELATED STORIES Waterloo Region Waterloo Region public board to appoint two new trustees instead of holding a byelection

Its not yet clear how the school boards will fill these vacancies.

Another imminent vacancy will affect voters in the provincial riding of Kitchener Centre. MPP Laura Mae Lindo will also be vacating her seat in July, taking on a new role in the University of Waterloos philosophy department.

The NDP member was elected in 2018 and then re-elected last June.

With files from Robert Williams

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Today

Clear skies. Areas of smoke and haze are possible, reducing visibility at times. Low 38F. Winds light and variable.

Tonight

Clear skies. Areas of smoke and haze are possible, reducing visibility at times. Low 38F. Winds light and variable.

Tomorrow

Mainly sunny. Areas of smoke and haze are possible, reducing visibility at times. High 73F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shourkry called on African countries to continue adhering to Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration to present a unifying African position on United Nations security council reforms, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said

In a speech delivered on Saturday before the Consultative Summit of Ten Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Shoukry  who was speaking on behalf of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi  said that African countries must adhere now more than ever to the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration as they represent the inclusive African stance on the UN reforms issue.

According to the 2005 Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, African states should have at least two permanent seats and five non-permanent Security Council seats chosen by the African Union.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister stressed in his speech the importance of African countries remaining united and distancing themselves from attempts to divide them by some parties that seek to achieve their interests at the expense of African rights.

He stated that some of the new formulations pertaining to UN Security Council reform do not take into account African interests and positions.

Furthermore, Sameh Shoukry welcomed the effort made by the Committee of Ten under the leadership of the President of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio, stressing that those efforts reflect an interest in achieving progress that strengthens the representation of the African continent in the UN forum and addresses the historical injustice against it.

Shoukry, who is acting on behalf of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, is leading the Egyptian delegation to the 36th Ordinary Session of the heads of state and government of the AU in the Ethiopian capital which concludes on Sunday.

On Saturday, he addressed a meeting of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), reviewing the most notable outcomes of the COP27 conference held in Sharm El-Sheikh in November, including the creation of a fund to finance repairing the damage caused by climate change in developing nations.

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Hamiltons public school board is taking a tentative step toward potentially scheduling some of seven annual professional activity days to coincide with religious days of observance that arent presently recognized as school holidays.

Trustees voted 6-3 to ask staff to bring a framework early this fall on a consultation process for the 2024-25 school calendar after multiple respondents to a survey on the 2023-24 calendar asked the board to consider the idea.

A staff report on the survey results noted the respondents pointed out that many board holidays reflect Christian celebrations and asked if PA days might be scheduled to coincide with other faith days.

This is not a commitment to anything concrete other than a commitment to try and see what is possible, said trustee Sabreina Dahab, who pushed for a consultation plan, adding she recognizes there are many nuances to drafting a school calendar.

This is just an ask that we try to do something different and build a calendar year that could account for observances of more students.

Education director Sheryl Robinson Petrazzini said the board already planned to continue conversations with the province about the school calendar.

Trustees voted in February of last year to write a letter asking Education Minister Stephen Lecce to consider giving all students a holiday for at least one day of Eid, the Muslim festival marking the end of month-long fasting during Ramadan.

The move responded to a presentation by four members of Westdale Secondary Schools Muslim Student Association, who said although teachers make allowances for Eid, the onus is on students to request accommodation.

Though Lecce didnt act on the letter, Petrazzini said the board is training staff on accommodating holy observances and will continue to discuss the issue with ministry officials.

But she said putting new observances into the school calendar is going to be a challenge because there are many religious and cultural groups and individual members dont necessarily think alike.

Im wanting us to be careful that in wanting to do something that would seem to be responsive and respectful, we are not causing further harm or harm to some, Petrazzini said.

We may not land where trustees are proposing we land now because we do want to consult. We dont want to make assumptions that everyone within a religious group would feel the same.

The staff report noted the calendar is drafted with the help of an advisory committee that includes representatives from employee groups and parents. The Catholic board is also consulted to try to align PA days because many school buses serve both boards.

Survey results for the 2023-24 calendar indicated support for the seven designated PA days among respondents ranged from 78 to 96 per cent.

RELATED STORIES Hamilton school trustees urge Education Minister Stephen Lecce to make Eid a student holiday

Trustee Becky Buck, who, along with Kathy Archer and Ray Mulholland, opposed consulting on holy days, said she appreciates the intention but believes the boards energies are better focused on appealing to the ministry to address the issue.

We have such a diverse province, very different from how it was 20 years ago when I was in high school. Its much more diverse even in the last five years than it was previous to that, she said.

As were looking for ways to sensitively address the colonial system that we were born into or come into, if were looking at it realistically, I think it needs to come from a higher level of government than here.





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Tucked away in a residential east Mountain neighbourhood, elementary schools St. Kateri Tekakwitha and Cecil B. Stirling are a block apart. Yet, the Catholic school dramatically outperformed its public counterpart in four of six EQAO categories.

The differences are particularly stark in Grade 3 literacy. Just 33 per cent of the youngest test takers at C.B. are reading at grade level  the second-lowest in the board  compared with 72 per cent at St. Kateri. In writing, the same C.B. cohort also struggled, with 11 per cent meeting the provincial standard in the 2021-22 Education Quality and Accountability Office assessment, compared with 60 per cent at St. Kateri.

Why?

It raises very good questions about who are the learners in the building, said Bill Torrens, superintendent of program for the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board.

He points to the rate of English-language learners, specialized programming, size and scope of catchment area and teacher experience as factors that play a role in a schools outcome in the standardized test.

Were in one large community, but ... we may be serving significantly different school communities, he said.

Indeed, the schools have distinct demographics.

Thirty-three per cent of the youngest test takers at public Cecil B. Stirling elementary school are reading at grade level, compared to 72 per cent at Catholic board St. Kateri Tekakwitha elementary just one block away. The Hamilton Spectator

C.B. Stirling has a 30 per cent poverty rate and 10 per cent of students are in special education programs. Forty per cent speak a first language other than English. By contrast, St. Kateris student population is 30 per cent low income, with 20 per cent in special education programs and 10 per cent who speak a first language other than English.

Rate and level of English-language learners in a class can have a significant impact on standardized test results, Torrens said.

All students, including English language learners, are expected to meet the rigorous challenges of the Ontario curriculum, reads a Ministry of Education teacher guide.

And most students write EQAO. Less than three per cent of elementary students at the public board and about 3.5 per cent at the Catholic board were exempt from writing EQAO in 2021-22.

Those who are starting to learn English for the first time, often in their first or second year in Canada, may be exempted as the test might not provide anything meaningful in terms of understanding your achievement, Torrens said. But learners who are more advanced are required to take the assessment, meaning results might be a reflection of where you are in acquiring English, Torrens said.

It typically takes five to seven years to achieve grade-level literacy and language skills, Torrens said.

Bill Torrens, superintendent of program for the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, pointed to the rate of English-language learners, specialized programming, size and scope of catchment area and teacher experience as factors that play a role in a schools outcome in the standardized test. The Hamilton Spectator file photo

Over time, English language learners catch up to their peers in their ability to use the language for academic purposes, a Ministry of Education document reads. This means a beginner English learner in Grade 1 might be proficient in Grade 6.

In the case of these two schools, the gap between them appears to shrink in Grade 6, with the public school surpassing the Catholic school by several percentage points in math and writing. In Grade 6 reading, C.B. trailed behind St. Kateri by 18 percentage points.

St. Kateri principal Tracey Brown said the school uses high-yield instructional strategies, such as guided reading and phonics, and a language resource teacher for reading recovery programs and support for students who need to bring up their reading scores.

Staff took a very close look at math scores and are working with a specialist to build capacity among teachers. She also said the cohort is small at 18 students, about half of them special education students with individual learning needs.

The public board declined The Spectators request for an interview with C.B.s principal.

Though a stones throw from each other, the schools have distinct catchment areas  a possible explanation for their dissimilar student populations.

St. Kateris school boundaries stretch from the Lincoln Alexander Parkway to Rymal Road East between Upper Gage Avenue and Upper Ottawa Street, while C.B.s boundaries cover more territory from east to west  Upper Gage to Anchor Road, near the Red Hill Valley Parkway  and about half the north-south distance, from the Linc to Stone Church Road East.

Still, the discrepancy between the Mountain schools follows a board-wide trend in which Catholic schools in Hamilton regularly outperform public schools in provincial assessments, as well as other indicators, like graduation rates.

Overall, a higher rate of Catholic students met the provincial standard than in the rest of Ontario in 2021-22. By contrast, the public board fell below the provincial average in all categories by no less than seven per cent.

Steven Reid, a faculty member at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, previously told The Spec the first thing he looks at when comparing results is demographics.

When we look at the two boards, theyre very, very different, he said of the citys largest school boards.

The public board has about 27 per cent English language learners in Grade 3, 29 per cent in Grade 6 and 19 per cent in Grade 9, compared with between only five and eight per cent at the Catholic board.

Reid also pointed to poverty levels and learning abilities among students. For example, the public board had a higher percentage of students with special needs participate in EQAO in 2021-22. Historically, the HWDSB has had higher rates of students from low-income backgrounds.

Choice may have something to do with it, as well. Wilfrid Laurier Universitys David Johnson, who has studied student achievement at Ontario public and Catholic schools, told The Spectator in 2014 that choosing Catholic school  over the default public school  implies a level of parent engagement, a factor in student achievement.

The St. Kateri community is engaged, the principal said. The school has a high percentage of special education students  about 20 per cent  as well as newcomers and low-income families, Brown said.

But former longtime HWDSB trustee Judith Bishop isnt convinced demographics alone explain achievement discrepancies between boards. Differing pedagogies, leadership, community partnerships and parent engagement also play a role.

If you have a strong principal, it develops a culture that all children are capable of doing well, she said.

Bishop said, from her observations, the HWDSB has not been a big advocate of teaching phonics, an approach that matches sounds to letters.

Only if a child was falling really, really behind would they give a very phonics-based approach to teaching reading, she said.

Bishop wonders whether there would be further improvements if the board had taken advantage of more resources and used different approaches.

Reading has been a key area of focus for the board in recent years, including hiring specialists to support early reading from kindergarten to Grade 1. After-school and summer tutoring has also been offered to close gaps.

Improvement in Grade 6 reading at high-priority schools suggests there have been some gains. Bishop said its the only category wheres been substantial continuous improvement  a 29 per cent increase since 2008.

Still, the HWDSB fell below the provincial average in reading by eight percentage points in Grade 3 and seven percentage points in Grade 6.

Its still a big gap, Bishop said.

Top 5: Grade 3 reading

St. Teresa of Avila: 100%

Flamborough Centre: 100%

St. Mark: 98%

St. Agnes: 96%

Corpus Christi: 95%

Bottom 5: Grade 3 reading

Parkdale: 31%

Cecil B. Stirling: 33%

Queen Victoria: 35%

Hillcrest: 35%

Memorial: 36%

HWDSB: 66%

HWCDSB: 81%

Province: 73%

Top 5: Grade 6 reading

Our Lady of Mount Carmel: 100%

Our Lady of Peace: 100%

Holy Name of Mary: 97%

St. Bernadette: 96%

Blessed Sacrament: 96%

Bottom 5: Grade 6 reading

Hess Street: 48%

St. Ann (Hamilton): 50%

Prince of Wales: 52%

Buchanan Park: 53%

Lake Avenue: 56%

HWDSB: 77%

HWCDSB: 85%

Province: 85%

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When his Stoney Creek apartment swelters, Arnim Hughes walks to the public library or shopping mall for some cool respite.

But when night falls, his options narrow as the heat lingers in his unit.

To cope, I usually have what I call a cool-down shower just before retiring, but this only provides me with partial comfort, said Hughes, 77.

Far too often on these hot nights, I do not sleep well and this makes my next day very difficult. I struggle.

A city bylaw stipulates the temperature in apartments must be at least 20 C to protect tenants from freezing. No municipal regulation, however, obliges landlords to keep temperatures below a certain level to keep them from boiling.

But after addressing city officials Monday, Hughes and other tenants with Hamilton ACORN, backed by legal advocates, gained political traction toward new regulations.

As the climate crisis takes hold, the city can expect more days of extreme heat, a problem that affects older adults, people with disabilities and chronic health conditions, as well as lower-income and racialized residents more acutely, delegates said.

Depending on lease agreements, some landlords dont allow tenants to mount air-conditioning units in windows. Meanwhile, the cost of free-standing devices and the added expense on hydro bills can be prohibitive for some renters.

But the consequences can be deadly, delegates told the public health committee, noting Hamilton is no less susceptible to the kind of extreme heat waves that have claimed lives in British Columbia and Quebec.

Air conditioning is not a luxury, but a public health issue that demands a public health response, said Clare Freeman, executive director of the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic.

In the past, city staff have contended the heat issue is more of a provincial matter, that we dont have the ways and means to pass such a bylaw, Coun. Brad Clark noted.

But municipalities have broad powers under the Municipal Act to enact bylaws on a range of issues, including local residents health, responded Zoe St. Pierre, an articling student with the Canadian Environmental Law Association.

We dont see this becoming a conflict, said St. Pierre, noting a maximum heat bylaw would have the same goal as the Residential Tenancies Act, which is to protect tenants.

In an email, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing noted municipalities may establish and enforce bylaws for property standards for rental housing, which could include air conditioning.

As well, the ministry said, provincial officials are taking steps to solve the lease issue by clarifying and enhancing the rules to ensure that tenants have the right to install air conditioning in their units.

In a unanimous vote Monday, councillors told staff to report back later this year on priorities and timelines for developing new bylaws, including a provision that sets a maximum heat limit for rentals.

City politicians also referred new staffing positions to oversee such a regulation and other costs related to expanding the licensing and bylaw divisions resources to protect tenants and respond to the climate emergency to 2024 budget talks.

The goal of this is to find out what exact resources are required to prepare this council to make a decision about whether theyre going to fund the implementation of it as part of the budget process, said Coun. Cameron Kroetsch, who introduced the motion.

Downtown tenant Damien Ash said he and fellow ACORN members are disappointed there will be no new bylaw in time for this years summer heat, but expressed optimism about one on the horizon. Of course, we wanted more, but this is a good first step towards it.

The committees decision awaits a final vote at council next week.

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The city is asking the public how it should guide development in urban expansion lands the province has imposed on Hamilton.

But city planners predict shovels wont break ground there for decades, with time needed to build services for those future communities and a plan to first intensify already built-up areas.

Developers, meanwhile, are pushing the city to move faster as anti-sprawl advocates urge officials to stave off the diggers as long as possible and, preferably, forever.

The public feedback is meant to help staff set guidelines for secondary plans, which are road maps that need to be in place for any future development on expansion lands.

Christine Newbold, the citys manager of sustainable communities, puts it this way:

Whats important when you are working from a blank slate, so to speak, and you have an opportunity to shape that area into the best area it could be?

Secondary plans rely on technical studies that identify community needs, including schools, stormwater ponds, roads and parks, as well as natural features and ecological systems.

On Monday, the city is hosting a live webinar to kick off consultation efforts on policies for the expansion areas, which are separate from the provinces local Greenbelt carve-out.

The urban expansion is "disastrous" for the climate crisis, food security, biodiversity and city finances, and won't lead to affordable homes,anti-sprawl advocates say. John Rennison

Planners dont expect residents secondary plan feedback to be laden with professional jargon, Newbold suggested.

Sometimes things come up in general conversation or in language that makes us think, Have we said this? Have we articulated this correctly in policy?

In November, the province rejected the citys proposal to hold its urban boundary firm, rather than expand into outlying farmland, and corral projected growth into existing built-up parts of Hamilton over the next 30 years.

Instead, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark ordered a 2,200-hectare expansion into Elfrida and Glanbrook along White Church Road, Twenty Road East and Twenty Road West.

With Hamiltons population expected to grow to more than 800,000 by 2051, Clark took the necessary action to accommodate this growth and allow for more desperately needed housing to be built, the ministry said.

City planners, however, have asserted the provinces housing targets, including a goal of 47,000 units by 2031, can be met within the formerly delineated urban footprint.

In March, amid protest over the ministers decision, city council told staff to lead the creation of secondary plans for the expansion lands, rather than leaving it to developers to steer the process.

So far, the city has fielded two requests for formal consultation  the first step in the approvals process  on pitches for thousands of new homes in the White Church Road and Twenty Road West areas.

The urban expansion is disastrous for the climate crisis, food security, biodiversity and city finances, and wont lead to affordable homes, local environmental advocate Don McLean contends.

So on all fronts, weve got a problem here, said McLean, a member of the Hamilton 350 advocacy group.

Continuing to push back, although more complicated given the ministers decision, remains crucial, he said, pointing out public pressure convinced the last council to reject an initial staff recommendation to expand the urban area.

Individuals can assist in demanding particular standards, in making sure that the process of planning these areas is as rigorous as possible.

The secondary planning process presents a chance to collaborate on policies for complete communities with a diverse range of housing options likely with densities that are much higher than most of the existing communities on the Mountain, says Mike Collins-Williams, CEO of the West End Home Builders Association.

With respect to timelines, the city does have an opportunity to drive the bus ... but that needs to occur in an expedient manner, Collins-Williams said.

If theres a deliberate effort to drag things out, in the middle of a housing crisis ... the private sector is well positioned to take the lead and leave the city behind if it doesnt want to be a true partner, he added, pointing to the potential for Ontario Land Tribunal appeals.

As it stands, city planners predict preparing infrastructure to service growth, and a focus on intensifying development within Hamiltons former urban boundary first, means houses wont be built in the expansion areas before 2041.

Its a long process and each area will have a different type of trajectory, Newbold said, noting the expansion parcels require varying degrees of study.

Urban expansion: Secondary plan feedback

Virtual webinar: Monday, May 15 at 7 p.m. Register via engage.hamilton.ca/growinghamilton. Questions can be sent emailed to UEAplanning@hamilton.ca

Open houses: Wednesday, May 17, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Central Library, Hamilton Room, 55 York Blvd.; Wednesday, May 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Mount Hope Community Centre, 3027 Homestead Dr.

For more information or requests for accessibility requirements, contact Mark Kehler at mark.kehler.hamilton.ca or 905-546-2424 Ext. 4148.

Online survey: Feedback can also be offered online at engage.hamilton.ca/growinghamilton until May 26.

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CALGARY - Albertas New Democrats say theyd bring back a program of elite aerial wildfire fighters cancelled by the United Conservative government.

Of course, we would restore the Rapattack program, said party leader Rachel Notley at a campaign event.

Then we would consult with them and others on what needs to be done as our fire hazard in Alberta is clearly growing.

Both the Alberta Party and the Green Party have also committed to restoring the Rapattack program.

Rapattack firefighters were rappelled from helicopters to douse wildfires while they still only covered a few hectares. They can extinguish small fires before they merge and clear landing spaces for other helicopters to bring in crews and gear.

There were once 63 such firefighters stationed around the province before the government cancelled the program in 2019, saving $1.4 million.

The cuts were made despite pleas to keep the program from at least three rural municipalities, one of which has now been evacuated for days in the current record-setting rash of wildfires in Alberta. In letters, mayors described first-hand knowledge of how effective the Rapattack program was in getting early responders to blazes.

Former members of the program have described how they could have been difference-makers in this seasons fires.

One of those former members, Jordan Erlendson, welcomed the New Democrat announcement.

I think its a no-brainer for the province, he said. Its a good long-term investment.

Erlendson said he was pleased three parties were endorsing the programs return.

I would press the (United Conservatives) to match the other three, Erlendson said. That would make this non-political -- it should be about wildfire management and the well-being of Albertans.

Notley said her party criticized the Rapattack cuts at the time they were made.

Asked last week about her stance on restoring the program, United Conservative Leader Danielle Smith said shed think about Albertas firefighting needs after the election, but has already raised that issue with the civil service.

Smith said Albertas regular firefighting capacity cant be expected to be able to deal with fires at what she called this springs extraordinary level.

Alberta had 26 out-of-control wildfires as of Monday afternoon and thousands have been forced from their homes.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2023.

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Where the leaders are today on the Alberta election campaign trail:

United Conservative Party Leader Danielle Smith:

CALGARY  Makes an announcement. (11:30 a.m., location given upon request to media@unitedconservative.ca )

_

NDP Leader Rachel Notley:

CALGARY  Makes an announcement about supporting small businesses. (1:30 p.m., Madame Premier, 1012 9 Ave. SE)

_

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2023.

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WINNIPEG - A jury heard Monday that a Manitoba man on trial for killing his neighbour allegedly ran the victim down before shooting him three times during a botched robbery.

Eric Wildman pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Clifford Joseph, 40, who was reported missing on June 7, 2021.

Josephs remains were found the following month in a rural area northeast of Winnipeg.

Crown attorney Bryton Moen told court in his opening statement that no one witnessed the killing, but the jury will hear evidence that Joseph went to Wildmans house in the rural municipality of St. Clements with a plan to steal from him.

It is alleged that Wildman then ran Joseph over with a car and shot him. An autopsy determined Joseph had a broken leg and broken jaw.

But those didnt kill him, Moen said. What killed him were three gunshots, including one to the back of the head.

Wildman, wearing a grey suit with slightly dishevelled hair, sat in the courtroom with a slight smile on his face.

The Crown told the jury that Joseph was no angel and had a history of using drugs and stealing.

(Joseph) went to steal from Eric Wildman. That, however, did not make it OK for Eric Wildman to kill him, Moen said.

Josephs girlfriend reported him missing to RCMP after he didnt return home.

Moen told court that the girlfriend went searching for Joseph at Wildmans property, where she found his shoes, hat and headlamp. She also discovered his truck with his keys and phone inside.

A forensic expert with the RCMP testified that officers examined the vehicle but found no fingerprints.

An agreed statement of facts read into court said a search of Josephs phone found no contact between him and Wildman before his disappearance.

Const. Kyle Beech testified he was one of the officers who first arrived at Wildmans property. He said officers found Josephs tools on a black utility trailer on the property.

RCMP later used ground-penetrating radar to search the property but did not find Joseph.

Court heard Wildman rented a car and drove to Ontario after RCMP named him as a suspect in Josephs disappearance.

Ontario Provincial Police found Wildman at a home just outside Belleville, about 180 kilometres east of Toronto, on June 18, 2021.

Wildman initially refused to leave the home, court heard. When police took him into custody, he had a handgun, and ammunition was found in his rental car.

The trial is scheduled for five weeks in front of Court of Kings Bench Justice Richard Saull.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2023.

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The Egyptian cabinet approved on Wednesday an MoU with Norway, signed in November, to study connecting Egypts electricity grid to Europe through Italy with a capacity of 3 gigawatts.

The Egyptian cabinet has approved an MoU with Norway, signed in November, to explore the possibility of connecting Egypt's electricity grid to Europe through Italy with a capacity of 3 gigawatts.

The MoU was signed between the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Co (EETC) and the Norwegian Scatec Company.

With an electricity production increase of over 30,000 MW in six years, Egypt has achieved surplus levels for the first time, reaching self-sufficiency in electricity in 2015 and now having a 25% surplus, according to the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy.

In 2022, Egypt launched a campaign to reduce power usage to export gas savings, generating $450M monthly and $4.5B yearly. Egypt aims to generate 20% of its electricity from renewables by 2030 and 42% by 2035, as per its Vision 2030 plan.

Egypt's electric grid currently provides power to neighboring nations such as Lebanon through Jordan, Libya, and Sudan. The region's largest connection between Egypt and Saudi Arabia exchanges 3,000 MW, with Egypt also aiming to connect its network to Europe through a connection to Greece.

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A 55-year-old man is dead after a collision involving another driver in North York on Saturday.

On Sunday morning, police reported that a motorcyclist had been rushed to hospital at about 9 p.m. Saturday after being involved in a serious crash near Finch Avenue West and Champagne Drive.

According to police, the man was riding a motorcycle eastbound on Finch Avenue while a 42-year-old woman was driving a vehicle westbound on the same road. Police said the motorcyclist and the driver crashed, and the man suffered life-threatening injuries.

On Sunday afternoon, police reported that the 55-year-old motorcyclist died from his injuries in hospital.

Police are urging anyone with information to contact them at 416-808-1900, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

Ana Pereira is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @anabpereiraa

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Three teen males are facing charges after allegedly posting racist flyers targeting two young girls in Ajax, Durham Regional Police said.

In a press release Sunday, police said the flyers were first discovered on Wednesday afternoon near Rossland Road West and Ravenscroft Road.

Officers found five flyers containing an offensive message and a phone number, which belonged to two young females who were not aware their numbers were listed.

According to police, one of the suspects, a 17-year-old, created the flyers as an act of revenge intended to humiliate the girls.

The flyers contain hateful messages that have and will continue to cause distress to our community, police said in the release.

Witnesses, as well as the Durham District School Board, said the flyers were explicitly racist and anti-Black.

Kory Crowe, an Ajax resident who saw the flyers, told Durham Region news that they depict anti-Black racist stereotypes and provided a number to call for the removal of Black people.

Crowe said the flyers and a racist letter were sent out to several Durham schools including Pickering High School and Alexander Graham Bell Public School in Ajax.

Its scary. Its traumatizing. As a Black male with two young daughters, and me and my closest friends, we grew up in the Ajax community ... to have this happen, for our children to grow up in this community, its alarming and traumatizing, he said.

While the incident was initially investigated as the criminal office of a public incitement of hatred, police said it was concluded that this was not the intended purpose, and that the flyers were instead intended to cause harm to the victims.

The crown attorneys office will be consulted regarding the aggravating factors of this case, police said.

On Sunday the Durham school board, which police said played an integral role in the investigation, released a statement about the incident.

Materials were discovered on and around school properties depicting extremely offensive and hateful racist slurs, imagery and messaging targeting Black communities, the school board wrote.

The school board said it will support students, families and staff impacted by the incident and are working with police as they continue to investigate.

Ajax Mayor Shaun Collier said he and the towns council are outraged by the disturbing flyers.

We offer our sincere regrets to anyone hurt by this incident. Anti-Black racism is violence, said Collier. We can and will do more to prevent racism in our town.

Police arrested three males, ages 15, 17 and 18, in relation to the incident. They face five charges for harassment by means of repeated telecommunications.

The minors cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Police are not naming the adult suspect to protect the identity of the victims.

They are also asking anyone who might have a copy of the flyer to not distribute it.

With files from Tim Kelly, Ajax News Advertiser.

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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An estimated 40 firefighters are assisting with a fire in Mississauga that has completely engulfed a home, according to the citys fire department.

Emergency crews were called to Nadine Crescent at around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday. Platoon Chief Steve Kraft from Mississaugas Fire and Emergency Services described efforts to battle the blaze as defensive, and said firefighters are using master streams to extinguish it.

Kraft says an explosion may have initiated the fire, but the cause remains under investigation.

The inferno is a second-alarm house fire: six fire trucks were dispatched in the first alarm and four were sent in the subsequent alarm. A neighbouring home was also reported to have flames that have since been contained.

No injuries have been reported, and no one has been reported missing. One family will likely be displaced, given the extent of the damages.

At around 11 p.m. on Sunday, Kraft told the Star the fire was under control and crews will remain on scene until the early hours.

Ana Pereira is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @anabpereiraa

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Toronto police are looking for a man wanted for the sexual assault of a woman Saturday afternoon in the Riverside neighbourhood.

Police say the woman was on Dundas Street East, west of Broadview Avenue at around 12:40 p.m. when she was approached by a man. He stood behind her and proceeded to sexually assault her. The man was last seen running westbound on Dundas Street East.

He is described as wearing a maroon sweater with a grey hooded sweatshirt underneath, dark plaid pants, white socks, and blue denim canvas shoes.

Anyone with information is being urged to contact police at 416-808-5500, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

Ana Pereira is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @anabpereiraa

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Empty offices, commuting chaos, impossibly pricey real estate. Can the post-pandemic downtown be saved? In this ongoing series, we examine the fate of the ailing city core and what it will take to thrive again.

Torontos restaurant industry was hard hit by the pandemic, and even once takeout was allowed and dining rooms eventually reopened, food businesses that served the downtown lunch crowd continued to struggle. Without the lunchtime rush, some establishments pivoted to expanding catering options, some emphasized meals-to-go, and some shuttered permanently.

Now, as return-to-work policies ramp up and office towers slowly fill, the noontime crowd is coming back once again  at least a few days a week. The Star hung out at three downtown lunch spots, each with different vibes and customer bases, to see what things are like now and how food businesses are coping with the new normal.

The food court: RBC WaterPark Place, 88 Queens Quay W.

Its a gloomy Friday in late March. Inside the spacious second-floor food court  one of the above-ground and newer additions to Torontos PATH system  its so eerily quiet that the only sounds are of squeaky shoes and jangly keys echoing throughout the place.

A woman, seated at one of the many (mostly empty) tables, is on a Zoom call without headphones. The small group of people populating the food court appear to be here more for the Wi-Fi access than for lunch.

Fast forward a week and a half to a Wednesday lunch hour and the food court has gone from giving dead mall vibes to resembling Madonnas Ray of Light video. A lot has changed, of course. Namely, its light jacket weather and the Jays are back in action.

Office workers flood the food court  dressed casually in dark denim, sneakers and even a fuchsia blazer  and start queuing up at the stalls, each now set up with rope barriers.

Im almost there, a woman standing in line at Jimmy the Greek told her co-worker. The line usually goes around the corner, but theyre fast. What did you get?

Her colleague holds up a brown paper box of avocado toast from the adjacent vegan stall, Kupfert & Kim.

Daniel Suss, director of Kupfert & Kim, which has eight locations in the city  most of them in the downtown core and the PATH system  said the companys sales reflect downtowns office occupancy rates.

Its looking optimistic. That said, Im not sure weve hit the across-the-week average of 60 per cent (of pre-pandemic sales), he said. Each day of the week isnt what it used to be. Tuesday to Thursday, were north of 75 per cent. Fridays is about a third and Monday is about half to two-thirds.

Like they did pre-pandemic, the stalls in WaterPark close by 3 p.m. This is around the time office workers finish up and the people who remain are killing time before an event or just passing through.

Two men in suits  the older with a tie, the younger without  are discussing career goals as they gather up their things to head out.

You didnt go to the office today? one said to the other.

Nah, I woke up too late.

The fine-dining restaurant: Jump Restaurant, 18 Wellington St. W.

Andrew Oliver tried getting a lunch reservation at Jump on a recent Tuesday. It was booked solid. Oliver, president and CEO of Oliver and Bonacini, the restaurant company that owns Jump, would have to settle for a seat at the bar.

It didnt come as a surprise. Olivers been keeping an eye on how the rise of hybrid work has impacted his restaurants, which along with Jump  an upscale American bistro with an extensive scotch list  include the downtown spots Canoe, Lena, O&B Canteen, O&B Cafe Grill and Sap. He knows Tuesday is a busy day.

His restaurants  known for their power lunches, where deals are brokered and clients are schmoozed  remain popular, but reservations arent as steady throughout the Monday to Friday work week as they once were.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are busy. Mondays were quiet pre-pandemic, and quieter now. Fridays are hit or miss depending on whats happening in the office towers.

Maybe youre lucky and your restaurant is in the same building as a law firm or bank, Oliver said. Those people havent stopped coming in (for work).

Jump is in the centre of the Financial District on the ground level of Commerce Court, with tenants including CIBC, Deutsche Bank and a handful of law firms.

Its the luck of the draw of the offices new work policies, Oliver continued. The people coming back arent represented on all levels. Anecdotally, the more senior you are and if youre in a higher income bracket, the more likely you are to be back in the office and eating out more.

A few Tuesdays later, the restaurant is as busy as Oliver describes. Around 12:30 p.m. the tables fill up with suits and the restaurant buzzes with work chatter. Its too noisy to overhear any investing tips. As busy as it is, Oliver says that before the pandemic there would have been a line outside

I dont think remote work is going away, he said, but I think those (busier) days will come.

The casual eatery: Salad King, 340 Yonge St.

Its a little before noon on a Thursday in mid-April. Just five tables are occupied at the 4,600-square-food restaurant  a stark contrast to the lineups that would sometimes take half an hour to get through in the early 2000s.

By 12:15 p.m. more people start to file in. Its a mix of Toronto Metropolitan University students with backpacks slung over their shoulders and young professionals. Some of them reminisce with their friends about first coming to Salad King as students years before.

The booths and tables at the front half of the restaurant slowly fill up, while the back half, with long metal communal tables, still has plenty of room during peak lunch rush.

Owner Alan Liu said business is nowhere close to what it was pre-pandemic. The restaurant is now seeing a little more than half of what business used to be. At its lowest, when dining rooms and offices were closed, he said it was at 10 per cent.

Dining patterns have shifted, Liu said. Not only are people coming to the office a few times a week  Monday and Friday lunchtimes are the quietest  they are also arriving later in the day. Salad King now opens at 11:30 a.m. instead of 11, a reflection of a lunch rush thats later, and shorter, than it once was. What used to be a lunch crowd with two waves of diners has been cut in half.

For a casual restaurant like Lius, that makes a huge difference. He doesnt have alcohol sales to count on, so he has to sell a lot of food.

And theres another significant challenge. Salad King has always been the choice of students, but years of remote learning put a damper on that.

We have to rebuild the student crowd because we had two, three years of no student interaction so we lost that goodwill, he said. Were a neighbourhood restaurant that relies on word-of-mouth.

For now, Liu said his family restaurant is hanging on, thanks to a flexible landlord. He hopes more retail will fill the vacancies along Yonge Street to get more people dropping in for lunch. Were still in survival mode and hopefully the new normal hasnt been established yet.

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OSHAWA, Ont. - A 66-year-old Ontario man is facing seven charges of sexually assaulting a minor after police east of Toronto opened an investigation into allegations dating back more than three decades.

Police say the accused, from Oshawa, Ont., has also been charged with six counts of sexual interference with a person under 16, three counts of an invitation to sexual touching, two counts of assault and one count each of forcible confinement, assault with a weapon and gross indecency.

Durham Regional Police say they opened an investigation in early April after a victim came forward to report allegations of sexual abuse from 1987.

Police say they identified a second alleged victim during the investigation, and they are checking to see if there are further victims.

Police say the date of the alleged offences range from 1987 to 2000.

Police say the accused has been released on an undertaking.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2023.

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There were catchphrases, cheers and some well-timed jabs in the first major debate of this mayoral election, held in the spacious warehouse of the Daily Bread Food Bank. At the podiums were front-runner in the polls Olivia Chow, along with current councillors Josh Matlow and Brad Bradford, former deputy mayor Ana Bailao and freshly resigned Liberal MPP Mitzie Hunter.

Here are seven take-aways from the two-hour debate moderated by AM640 radio host Maggie John and focused on affordability:

The Saunders Factor

Former police chief Mark Saunders is polling high enough to be invited but declined to attend (Hi Mark, if youre watching, Matlow said in his closing remarks). Despite positioning himself as the only person who can beat Chow, he left it to his competitors to line up to attack the front-runner. Saunders avoided much mention over the night except when Hunter noted his absence at the start. You have to care about those who are hungry, she said.

The Chow Factor

Its no surprise that with front-runner Chow  perhaps the candidate with the highest name recognition in the race at the moment  was the target of most of the attacks when the opportunity arose. Hunter said Chows housing plan wasnt ambitious enough. Bradford said Chow would jack taxes. Matlow said her math on her policies didnt add up. Bailao said Chow wouldnt be able to work with the provincial and federal government.

The format, however, gave Chow ample time to zing back and reiterate her policies on affordable housing and tenant rights as someone who hasnt been on council for the past several years.

When Bradford told her people are terrified of how much shed raise taxes, Chow retorted people are terrified of losing their homes.

When Bailao told her she was building up the NDP party while Bailao was building the city, Chow said she had actually been spending her time out of politics building people up.

The Math Doesnt Add Up

Listening to the debate, it would seem they are agreed on one thing: they dont think anyone but themselves can do the math. Whether the math was fictional or magical or nonexistent, the candidates sparred over exactly how their policies and plans would be costed out and who is going to pay for it  the regular taxpayer, the very rich, the province or the feds?

There was also debate over who has the best numbers  the most affordable housing units, for one. Who would double or triple the rent bank used by desperate tenants? What is clear is that there is much to be fact-checked as the candidates continue to rollout the details of their big plans for transit, housing and food security.

The Tory Factor

Matlow was fortunate to have both his Tory-linked rivals neatly to his right and missed no chance to remind the crowd of who has been running city hall for the last decade. Chow jumped in too, challenging Bradford to defend his support for the recent fare increase and service cuts on the TTC that were part of former mayor Torys budget as tough decisions.

But while Matlow touted his outsider-on-council status as a plus, his rivals criticized him for being unable to work with the other levels of government.

The Ford Factor

Who will be able to get Toronto the fair deal it deserves on transit, on housing, on services? Who will advocate for increases to supports like ODSP that amount to what Bradford called legislated poverty?

All the candidates had a pitch for who would be the best to both stand up to and work with the person with the most power over the city  Premier Doug Ford.

Ford has made his preferred candidate clear  Mark Saunders  and said he doesnt want a lefty but that has not deterred Chow or Matlow from declaring themselves up for the task.

Personal Stories

The candidates made sure to share personal details along with their resumes, as the public still gets to know them. Hunter touted her Scarborough roots. Chow described the struggles her father went through to get a job, and how they relied on her mothers income as a hotel maid to pay the rent. Bailao recalled how much easier it was for her family when they arrived in Toronto from Portugal than it is now. Bradford spoke about being raised by a single mother.

Catchphrases

Hunter may have won the award for most catchphrases with how many times she said she would fix the six. She was followed closely by Bradford who almost immediately brought up less talk more action.

Alyshah Hasham is a Toronto-based reporter covering city hall and municipal politics for the Star. Reach her via email: ahasham@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @alysanmati

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BEIJING (AP)  A Chinese envoy was preparing Monday to visit Ukraine and Russia, but there appeared to be little chance of a breakthrough to end the 15-month-long invasion.

Chinese leader Xi Jinpings government says it is neutral and wants to play a role as mediator, but has given Moscow political support. Beijing released a proposed peace plan in February, but that was largely dismissed by Ukraines allies, who insist Russian President Vladimir Putins forces must withdraw.

Li Hui, a former ambassador to Moscow, also will visit Poland, France and Germany, according to the foreign ministry. It gave no other schedule details.

Political analysts see little hope for a peace agreement because neither Ukraine nor Russia is ready to stop fighting. They say by sending an envoy, China appears to be trying to neutralize criticism of its friendship with Putin and to split European allies away from Washington.

Xi spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by phone in April, setting the stage for the diplomatic push.

The trip expresses Chinas commitment to promoting peace and negotiations, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Friday. Wang said China wishes to prevent an escalation of the situation.

Beijing previously avoided involvement in conflicts between other countries but appears to be asserting itself as a global diplomatic force after arranging talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March that led them to restore diplomatic relations following a seven-year break.

China has friendly relations with Moscow as well as economic leverage as the biggest buyer of Russian oil and gas after the United States and its allies cut off most purchases.

Xis government sees Moscow as a diplomatic partner in opposing U.S. domination of global affairs. Beijing has refused to criticize the February 2022 invasion and used its status as one of five permanent United Nations Security Council members to deflect diplomatic attacks on Russia.

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SYDNEY (AP)  Searchers have found what appear to be pieces of the wetsuit and surfboard belonging to a 46-year-old surfer who was attacked by a shark off South Australias coast, and police said they were continuing to search for his remains Monday.

School teacher Simon Baccanello was attacked Saturday while surfing with others near his home at Elliston in South Australia state. His damaged surfboard was found soon after.

Local State Emergency Service manager Trevlyn Smith told News Corp the surfboard had one bite in the middle.

South Australia Police said Monday that searchers had found items of interest on Sunday near Walkers Rock where the attack occurred.

One item appears to be a piece of wetsuit material and the other items appear to be small pieces of white polystyrene (possible surfboard material), a police statement said. The evidence would be sent for forensic analysis.

In consultation with Baccanellos family, police would continue to search Walkers Rock and surrounding beaches for a number of days after high tide, the statement said.

Searchers say any remains are more likely to drift ashore rather than out to sea.

Jaiden Millar was one of around a dozen surfers in the water with Baccanello when the shark attacked.

I saw his board tombstoning, which means hes underwater and his boards getting dragged under ... trying to fight his way back to the surface, Millar told News Corp.

It was the first fatal shark attack in Australia since Feb. 15 when a swimmer was attacked by a 4.5-meter (15-foot) great white shark off a Sydney beach.

Less than two weeks earlier, a 16-year-old who jumped into a river from a personal watercraft was killed by a suspected bull shark near Perth.

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Dubai luxury real estate market transactions hit a new high in May, with a four-bedroom penthouse in Bulgari Resort and Residences topping the list.

The spacious, full-floor 12,113 sq ft property sold for a record breaking AED122 million ($33.22 million), making it the most expensive ready penthouse ever to be sold in Dubai, said a report.

The apartment is a true architectural gem, boasting views of both the Dubai skyline and Bulgari Marina, and designed in Bulgaris refined signature style: contemporary and timeless. It was sold by Driven Properties and follows a series of record-breaking deals by the brokerage, from the most expensive plot and townhouse sold, to the highest price per square foot.

Dubai is once again demonstrating that it is one of the hottest markets in the world, with no signs of slowing down. Bulgari Resort and Residences has outperformed all other areas, and with good reason; the privacy this project offers is unparalleled, as is its location and impeccable quality, said Abdullah Alajaji, Founder and CEO of Driven Properties.

Occupying a pristine stretch of coastline on Jumeirah Bay Island, Bulgari Resort and Residence is an urban oasis inspired by the unique charms of the Mediterranean. Larger in scale than any other Bulgari destination, the property evokes and complements its maritime setting, and is home to the first Bulgari Marina & Yacht Club. It is one of the most sought-after and prestigious addresses in Dubai.

Leila Shugri, the agent behind the sale, commented: This latest transaction answers all questions as to the current state of the property market in Dubai  there is no doubt that it is continuing to grow, and this becomes more and more apparent every day. This deal is one of many to come in this prime area.  TradeArabia News Service
Qatar, an outspoken opponent of President Bashar al-Assad, said on Sunday it would not normalise relations with the Syrian government despite its readmission to the Arab League.

The Gulf emirate has long argued against renewing ties with Syria but fell in with the unanimous consensus at an Arab League foreign ministers' meeting in Cairo earlier Sunday.

The Arab bloc ended a more than decade-long suspension of Syria.

Qatar's position on "normalisation with the Syrian regime has not changed," said foreign ministry spokesman Majid bin Muhammad Al-Ansari.

He told the state Qatar News Agency that the government would not be "an obstacle" to the Arab move but any individual normalisation would be linked to political progress that "fulfills the aspirations of the brotherly Syrian people."

Assad's government must "address the roots of the crisis that led to its boycott, and to take positive steps towards addressing the issues of the Syrian people," the spokesman added.

Syria was suspended from the Arab League in 2011 after Assad ordered a brutal crackdown on a pro-democracy uprising, which spiralled into a conflict that has killed more than 500,000 people, displaced millions, and drew in foreign powers.

While Syria's front lines have mostly quietened, large parts of the country's north remain outside government control, and no political solution has yet been reached to the 12-year-old conflict.

Ahmed Aboul Gheit, head of the 22-member Arab League, said Syria's return to the body 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.

Qatar has given significant support to Syrian opposition groups which have taken over the Syrian embassy in Doha.

Even as other Arab countries moved toward renewing ties with Assad's government, the Qatari spokesman condemned to the Qatari media what he called "crimes" by the Damascus government and added that "We need a real price to be paid to the Syrian people."

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TIRANA, Albania (AP)  Preliminary results of Albanias municipal elections on Monday showed that a mayoral candidate from the Greek minority has won the post while he is in detention for alleged vote-buying.

Fridays arrest of Dhionisios Alfred Beleri, a candidate for mayor of the Albanian city of Himare  a town located in the Albanian Riviera 240 kilometers (150 miles) south of the capital, Tirana, that has a Greek minority presence  raised tensions between the two neighbors.

Greeces Foreign Ministry demanded Beleris immediate release, hinting that the case could negatively impact Albanias application to join the European Union.

Beleri was arrested by Albanian police while he was allegedly offering some 40,000 Albanian leks (360 euros; $390) to buy eight votes. A second person was arrested on the same charges and a court confirmed Saturday that they would both remain in custody.

Beleri belongs to the Human Rights Union Party of the ethnic Greek minority, but in this municipal vote he was the candidate for a coalition that also included the center-left Freedom Party of former president Ilir Meta and a breakaway group from the center-right opposition Democratic Party.

Supporters were shouting his name Monday after learning of Beleris victory, just 19 votes ahead of the candidate of the governing Socialist Party.

During a campaign stop in Athens ahead of Sundays national elections in Greece, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he had been very pleased to hear of Beleris victory.

I hope this incident will soon be over, because ... Albanias course towards (European Union membership) leads past the respect it shows for the rights of the Greek ethnic minority, he said Monday.

On Saturday Albanian Foreign Minister Olta Xhacka responded angrily to Athens remarks, saying it was nearly impossible to understand how our friends have the right to dispute a court decision in our country, when the hard evidence they were looking for couldnt be any harder  Beleri has been caught engaging in criminal activity against free and fair elections.

Relations between Greece and post-communist Albania have been at times uneasy, largely over the issues of minority rights and the sizeable Albanian community in Greece.

Preliminary results show that the divided opposition won only six out of 61 municipalities, with all the rest remaining with the ruling Socialists of Prime Minister Edi Rama. The turnout was around 38%  up from 23% four years ago when the vote was boycotted by the opposition.

The campaigns and coverage for these local elections focused mostly on national politics and parties and not on the issues of greatest importance in the different localities, particularly outside of Tirana, said a preliminary report by the international observers. This  reduced the regions ability of voters to make their choice.

The election monitoring office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has had more than 250 observers monitoring Albanias vote.

___

Nicholas Paphitis contributed from Athens, Greece.

___

Follow Llazar Semini on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lsemini

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) 

A military training jet crashed in central Finland and Monday, the Finnish Air Force said, adding the pilots ejected.

The British made single-engine Hawk aircraft crashed south of Keuruu, which sits some 290 kilometers (180 miles) north of Helsinki.

The air force said on Twitter that the pilots were undergoing health checks. Police said they and rescue services were at the scene.

It is unclear what caused the plane to crash.

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GENEVA (AP)  The U.N. migration agency says Amy Pope of the United States has been elected as its next director general.

She will be the first woman to head the International Organization for Migration.

Pope currently serves as the deputy of Director General Antonio Vitorino, a former Portuguese government minister, and ran against him in Mondays election.

The IOM said member states elected Pope to lead the Geneva-based agency at a special session. She will start her five-year term on Oct. 1

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LONDON (AP)  Volodymyr Zelenskyy set off across Europe with a long shopping list. Ukraines president will head home with much of what he wanted  though not the Western fighter jets he seeks to defend against Russian air attacks.

European leaders promised Zelenskyy an arsenal of missiles, tanks and drones during a whirlwind three-day visit to Italy, the Vatican, Germany, France and the U.K. that sought to replenish Ukraines depleted weapons supplies ahead of a long-anticipated spring offensive aimed at turning the tide of the war.

The trip was also about shoring up European political and military support for the longer term, to ensure Ukraine can hold any ground it takes back and press for a favorable peace.

Theyve got to show  theyre in this conflict for the long term and that theyre able to keep sustaining this effort, said Justin Crump, a former British tank commander who heads security consultancy Sibylline. Its not going to be one shot and done.

Zelenskyys energetic international diplomacy over 15 months of war has persuaded Ukraines Western allies to send ever more powerful weapons, from German Leopard tanks to U.S. Patriot missile systems and Storm Shadow cruise missiles from the U.K.

Pressing his case to European leaders in person shows Zelenskyys growing confidence about traveling abroad. Its also an attempt to get his ducks in a row as Ukraine prepares a push to reclaim territory seized by Russia, said Patrick Bury, senior lecturer in security at the University of Bath.

Bury said that if Ukraine launches an offensive and it doesnt go well, there might be a drop off in support and more pressure to negotiate. I think hes just trying to bind in for as long as he possibly can as much support as he can from the West.

On Monday, the U.K. pledged hundreds more air defense missiles, as well as attack drones with a range of more than 200 kilometers (120 miles).

France, where Ukraines leader met President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday, said it would supply Ukraine with dozens of light tanks and armored vehicles, along with unspecified air defense systems.

Zelenskyy also visited Germany for talks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose initial reluctance to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons was a source of frustration in Kyiv. Now, Germany has become one of the biggest arms suppliers to Ukraine, including battle tanks and the sophisticated IRIS-T SLM air-defense system.

During Zelenskyys visit Germany announced another 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion) worth of equipment, including tanks, anti-aircraft systems and ammunition.

But Zelenskys aim of forming an international fighter jet coalition to supply Ukraine with planes has run up against NATO concern about escalating the alliances role in the war. Ukraine wants U.S.-made F-16s to supplement its Soviet-era jets, but Washington has resisted calls to send them.

We want to create a jet coalition and I am very positive about it, Zelenskyy said Monday after meeting British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. But, he added: We have to work a little bit more on it.

Sunak said Britain wants to help Ukraine acquire jets, but its not a straightforward thing.

The U.K. does not have any F-16s, but says it will give Ukrainian pilots basic training on Western-standard jets starting this summer.

Germanys Scholz was evasive when asked about planes, referring instead to the anti-aircraft system it has provided to Kyiv.

Thats what we as Germany are now concentrating on, he said.

The flurry of announcements from Europes capitals is part diplomatic theater. Ukraine gets a steady flow of equipment from the West, and some of the weapons announced this week may already have been on the way. Zelenskyys trip was about securing supplies for the long term, as well as the imminent offensive.

They should be able to carry out the offensive with what they already have, but thats not enough to sustain it over the long term, said retired French Vice Adm. Michel Olhagaray, a former head of Frances center for higher military studies. And theyll need the long term to make the Russians crack.

Zelenskyy began his European tour Saturday in Rome, where he received a hearty commitment from Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni  and a more nuanced and less welcome message from Pope Francis.

Calling Zelenskyy her friend and emphasizing their personal rapport, Meloni promised to provide Ukraine with whatever it needs to win the war and said any compromise to accept an unjust peace was unacceptable for Ukraine and Italy, and dangerous for the rest of Europe.

We cannot call peace something that could resemble an invasion, she told reporters, as Zelenskyy nodded along in agreement.

Zelenskyy also visited the Vatican to meet Pope Francis, who stressed the need for gestures of humanity toward the most vulnerable and innocent victims of the conflict.

While Francis has frequently prayed for the martyred Ukrainian people, he has also lamented the Russian mothers who have lost their sons. The equivalence, and Francis reluctance to outright condemn Russia, is part of the Vaticans tradition of neutrality in conflicts.

Zelenskyy made clear he didnt appreciate Francis emphasis on both Russian and Ukrainian victims of the war, tweeting: there can be no equality between the victim and the aggressor.

It was a reminder that Ukraine faces a political as well as a military battle. In Africa and Asia, especially, many are reluctant to take sides in what is seen as a regional European conflict.

Francois Heisbourg, a French analyst on defense and security questions at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said Zelenskyys European trip was part weapons shopping tour, thats clear enough, and it seems to be working very well.

But the other aspect, of course, is what you would call shaping the political battlefield, he said. The politics are no less important for Zelenskyy than the purely military stuff.

___

Associated Press writers John Leicester in Paris, Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin, Nicole Winfield in Rome and Danica Kirka in London contributed to this report.

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The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has just experienced the schizophrenia of the organized right.

After his presiding at the coronation of King Charles, Welby was lauded as a pillar of tradition and order. Just days later the very same people have eviscerated him as a Marxist and a fool who should mind his own bloody business.

The reason is that he issued a passionate condemnation of the Conservative governments migrant legislation, describing it as morally unacceptable. He continued, It risks great damage to the U.K.s interests and reputation at home and abroad, let alone the interests of those in need of protection or the nations who together face this challenge.

Hes absolutely correct of course. The policy is raw, reactionary, and intended to appeal to the populism that is sadly active in Britain. Not just the U.K., however. We see it all too frequently in the U.S. and now in Canada. There was a time when political disagreement in this country was conducted with a degree of decorum and moderation. That pattern is long gone.

Its now increasingly about spasm and shouting, and hatred and hysteria. Its moved far beyond bizarre and conspiracy-soaked convoys in Ottawa and F--k Trudeau flags in Alberta, to irresponsible antics in Parliament and downright lies.

Which leads us back to an Anglican archbishop in England and what we can learn from him.

As a priest, as a Christian, as part of a church, I so wish that Canadian politicians were more often held to account by organized Christianity. Our leaders do sometimes try, and their position is not as constitutional or significant as it is in England, but surely much more can be done.

Those on the Christian right certainly make their voices heard, but the mainstream is far less noticeable. Theres a valid concern about appearing to be partisan, but the intention is to be authentically political rather than party political. Theres also a failure to deliver the message properly even when it exists. Church leaders do sometimes speak out but they seldom communicate powerfully and successfully, and as a consequence theyre largely forgotten.

Its a common and enormous error to assume that Jesus wasnt political. He explicitly rejected one of the major parties of the time  the Pharisees  and implicitly criticized the other two leading factions. Calling for a permanent revolution of the self, the community, the context, and the entire world was hardly an apolitical ministry!

When governments, any governments, introduce policies that harm the poor, the homeless, and the marginalized; when governments, any governments, introduce policies that exclusively support the wealthy, the powerful, and the complacent, then we have a Christian problem.

If a politician libels a critic, tries to reduce complex and vital issues to simplistic and right-wing slogans, or to characterize an opponent as personally evil, silence simply isnt an option. Christ terrified the political and social establishment not only because he claimed to be the Messiah but also because he exposed evil and corruption without fear or favour.

None of this is uniquely Christian of course but in a country that still assumes a Christian foundation and even worldview theres no option for Christian leaders but to contribute to the national debate and try to shake it in the proper direction. And its incredibly naive to think that those of us in the church somehow dont understand what is around us or are isolated. We see the world often at its darkest and most challenging, up front and every day. More a concrete jungle than an ivory tower.

I want to see a time when certain politicians demand that church leaders mind their own bloody business, remember their place, and keep out of politics. Like us, dislike us, but dont ignore us.

When politicians become angry at church leaders, Ill know that the Gospel, the truly radical and subversive Gospel, is smashing its way into public life.

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Ottawa has taken the welcome move to renew an initiative meant to get guns off our streets and inject resources into our neighbourhoods.

The investment announced last week will commit a further $390 million dollars over five years to a program targeting guns and gangs violence that was first announced in 2017 to distribute funds to the provinces and territories for measures that included tackling gun smuggling and disrupting firearms trafficking.

Such measures can bear fruit provided theyre judiciously designed and carefully targeted. Ottawas initial investment might well be having a positive impact.

Statistics Canada reports that the rate of firearm-related violence in Toronto dropped a dramatic 22 per cent between 2020 and 2021.

According to the Toronto Police Service, gun crime declined again in 2022, and were experiencing a further drop so far this year. As of May 7, five people had been killed by firearm violence this year, compared to an average of 14 a year between 2019 and 2022.

Overall, gun crime decreased by five per cent across Canada from 2020 to 2021, thanks largely to the drop in Toronto and, to a lesser extent, in other urban centres.

That said, all is not equal  and all is not well  across the city, or across the country.

Weve seen a spike in fatal police shootings over the last year. The latest came last week when OPP Sgt. Eric Mueller was fatally shot and two fellow officers injured while responding to a call in Bourget, Ont., near Ottawa. Mueller was the fifth Ontario police officer to be shot and killed while on duty since September, a troubling trend that underscores the dangers of police work.

The rural north saw an increase of 22 per cent, despite already suffering from historically high gun crime rates.

Similarly, gun crime varies dramatically across Toronto. Moss Park is only a few miles from Rosedale, but when it comes to violent crime, its a world away, with a shooting rate about 10 times that of its wealthy neighbour in 2022.

The disparities between neighbourhoods and parts of the country reveals the need to carefully target problem areas in our battle against gun violence. Federal efforts to improve border control and contain gun smuggling must therefore be complemented by regional and local initiatives that address the unique factors contributing to gun violence in each area.

The scale of the cross-border firearms trafficking was driven home last month when a police investigation seized 173 firearms and made 42 arrests.

But the factors go beyond the availability of guns to address violent crime of all sorts, including gang violence, which was responsible for nearly a quarter of homicides in 2021.

In fact, while only 2.6 per cent of violent crime involves use of a firearm, guns are used in 35 per cent of the violent crime committed by members of organized crime groups. We need to do whatever we can, then, to keep guns out of the hands of gang members. Whats better is to keep kids from their grasp.

Prevention should play a major role in efforts to reduce all forms of violence including gang violence. While Ottawa wasnt specific about funding for prevention in its recent announcement, the Building Safer Communities Fund, announced last year, will distribute $250 million to help municipalities prevention efforts.

Together with Torontos 10-year SafeTO plan, that could go a long way in further reducing gun and gang violence in the city, again provided it is targeted toward areas and individuals with the highest needs.

There are many community organizations currently serving high-needs regions, yet for years they have been operating on shoestring budgets, never knowing if theyll make it from one year to the next. If were to get a handle on gang violence, that needs to change, and ought to do so with the infusion of cash.

As the recent drop in urban gun violence demonstrates, violent crime, while a scourge, is amenable to change. Just as eliminating guns is a choice, so too is eliminating violent crime. We owe it to ourselves, our police officers, and our children to choose wisely.

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I have been hearing about Artificial Intelligence or AI for many years, but it seems that society is suddenly preoccupied with it. This recent craze about AI has been triggered by the introduction of human-like ChatGPT bots with AI in November 2022. Many companies are openly advertising AI-empowered products and services and discussions on AI are everywhere.

Most discussions also emphasize a fear of the unknown. Even Elon Musk, who successfully incorporated AI in the development of products like driverless cars has speculated that it is conceivable that AI can destroy human civilization by inducing a nuclear war or climate change or some other means.

Stephen Hawking, the renowned physicist reportedly made a similar comment years ago. The concept of AI in science fiction movies such as 2001 Space Odyssey, Star Wars, Terminator and AI has been around for decades; but those were fictional.

Although AI was extensively used in industrial automation, the appearance of AI in our everyday life started with those automated menu-driven answering systems. As technology evolved, they could handle voice response, voice recognition and even facial recognition.

Technology was extended to virtual assistants like Alexa from Amazon and Siri from Apple who communicated almost like humans and had millions of pieces of information they could process in a fraction of a second.

Combining voice exchange with a mechanical task was the next step such as opening a door or turning on TV/light switches with a voice command. I was comfortable with these advances in technology. Occasional frustration resulted when the robots did not know how to answer some questions and a real person was unavailable.

Overall, I would probably trust a decision by AI more than that of a human being when it involved processing dozens of data and optimization. For example, what to do if I am suffering from some strange health ailments; it is obviously preferable to get just one opinion based on sound logic from AI than getting confused with opinions from multiple human doctors.

The same is true in getting investment advice or deciding the best place to buy a home or the best college to apply for. I may even be open to surgery performed by a robot. Although AI lacks knowledge gained by human experience and intuitive power, I cannot tell how much of a handicap that is.

I have not been in a driverless car but do enjoy various automated selfguided gadgets like Roomba vacuum cleaner, driverless train at an airport terminal or a coffee-serving robot. AI can reportedly write an essay or speech and even compose music.

My first discomfort with AI arose when things were being done not only without any input from me but also without my knowledge. It was spooky. My first such experience was encountering pop-up ads on my computer screen for products I recently searched on the internet.

A similar phenomenon happens on YouTube when it promotes videos based on what I watched recently. In both examples, I did not ask anyone to feed me with the information. I can even tolerate that, but it would get dangerous if AI is used to distort or even falsify information.

We live in the era of fake news and I do not believe everything that a news channel is broadcasting, but in those cases I know the biases of the news organizations and their anchors. Should I believe in AI? There are certain data sets I consider sacred: information about my bank balance and other financial information, my medical history, my personal data, etc.

I feel assured because organizations who have such data claim to have implemented adequate protection mechanisms: multiple passwords, encryption, etc. My main concern these days is if AI would have access to that information and even worse, ability to alter or steal the data. I am not paranoid about privacy.

My mindset is that I have nothing to hide and if everyone in the world finds out all about my conversations that is perfectly fine with me. A much greater concern is if AI can change election results or financial news to cause a major crisis in the country.

AI after all is not a machine; it is driven by software developed and run by real people with personal political, religious and other biases. This bias has already been revealed in companies like Meta, Twitter and even Google. A bipartisan bill is going through Congress which would ban AI from single-handedly launching nuclear weapons.

Recently I made a phone call to my bank, which is being bought out by another bank, to inquire about any change in the monthly service fee and other policies. I got the automated system offering me various options. As usual, I hit the 0 button which takes me to a live operator so that I can get my answers quickly.

However, after speaking to the lady at the other end for a couple of minutes, I realized that I was talking to a robot and not to a live person. I could tell because I talk to my Amazon Alexa all the time.

The giveaway is their emotionless impersonal monotonic voice with no touch of humour and no modulation in voice. I confronted her by saying that I was hoping to talk to a live person and feel disappointed that I ended up talking to an AI like yourself .

She responded by saying I am a real person. This sent chills through my spine. AI has now been programmed to tell a lie. In addition, some features have been added to make her sound like a real person; one example was her making a tu tu tu sound while looking for some information just like a real person.

At one point, I asked her jokingly, Hey, do you know Alexa and Siri? That would have generated a chuckle in a real human being. She simply said No, I do not know them. She gave her name as CJ, reminding me of C3PO.

I am convinced that she was a humanlike ChatGPT. This was a harmless encounter, and I obtained the information I needed but I realized that ChatGPT is here; right at my doorstep and in my life disguised as a real person. Now I have all kinds of concerns.

The corporations are promoting AI for the sake of improving their productivity. The indirect manpower necessary to handle routine interactive jobs, such as secretarial jobs or customer service or making reservations can be drastically reduced.

However, it is now clear to me that these ChatGPTs can easily perform many other functions such as all teaching and training jobs, all agency jobs (insurance, banking, real estate, employment, travel etc.), all domestic chores, various engineering and architectural jobs and so on. Legal processes can be streamlined using AI.

Medical help can be dramatically improved with their involvement with fewer needs of health professionals. While many of these deployments of AIs can improve our lives, I immediately envision massive layoffs in various sectors resulting in possible economic devastations if not a complete change in our values and lifestyles.

Elon Musk might be right in predicting that AI will destroy human civilization but unlike destruction by a nuclear bomb or natural disaster that might happen gradually in front of our eyes and without us even realizing it.

(The writer, a physicist who worked in industry and academia, is a Bengali settled in America.)
The global population is currently going through an epochal shift. The latest projections in the United Nations World Population Prospects suggest that Indias population, estimated to be 1.43 billion, surpassed that of China in April 2023, making it the worlds most populous country.

The exchange of places in population rankings between India and China is unsurprising, and can be attributed to their respective population policies adopted over the last four to five decades.

China implemented the later, longer, fewer campaign in the 1970s, promoting delayed marriages, longer intervals between births, and limiting the number of children. Chinas draconian One-Child Policy from 1979 to 2015 was enforced through various measures, including fines, mandatory contraception, and even forced sterilizations or abortions.

In contrast, Indias population policy, implemented primarily through the National Programme for Family Planning (launched in 1952), focused mainly on voluntary measures and awareness campaigns to control population growth, with no strict limits on the number of children couples could bear. Notwithstanding the significant decline in Indias total fertility rate (TFR), from 5.7 births per woman in 1950 to a sub-replacement rate of 2.0 currently, it is but inevitable that Indias population will continue to grow for the next several decades owing to the demographic momentum of the past several decades.

According to the UNs projections, Indias population will peak at 1.7 billion in 2064, accounting for about 18 per cent of the world population. Effectively, the country will add about 300 million to its existing population, or about 7.5 million per annum, over the next forty years. What will this all imply for a country like India? On the positive side, continued growth in the population of a young nation will undoubtedly prolong the demographic momentum as well as the demographic window of opportunity for the country.

For example, by protracting the period of advantage of Indias low median age (currently at 28.2 years, about 10 years less than that of China), population growth can positively impact consumer spending, boost innovation and entrepreneurship, attract foreign investments, contribute to the countrys international competitiveness in manufacturing and services, and augment overall productivity and economic growth.

According to CII, if India can properly leverage its 1-billion-strong working-age population projected by the end of this decade, the GDP of Indias consumer-driven economy can potentially grow to $9 trillion by 2030 and $40 trillion by 2047.

Besides, as Indias working-age population rises, the dependency ratio (the number of dependents per working-age individual) is expected to decline from 0.48 in 2021 to 0.45 in 2030 and to 0.39 in 2050. This can lead to several economic benefits, including higher savings and investment, higher productivity and faster economic growth.

However, the benefits of a higher population and favourable demographic structure will be contingent on substantive economic and social policy reforms. Indias population bulge and the favourable demographic transition can turn from being a dividend to a burden if some of the key challenges associated with a burgeoning population are not addressed urgently.

First, NSS 78th round Multiple Indicator Survey in India, published in March 2023, reveals the grim reality of Indias youth unemployment. As per the NSSO survey, 32.9 per cent of the youth (between 15-29 years) are not in education, employment, or training (NEET). The survey also reveals a stark gender gap in the NEET population ~ 51.7 per cent female, compared to 15.4 per cent male, across rural and urban areas.

Indias NEET numbers measure poorly against the global average of 22.4 per cent for the comparable group. The tag of a young nation will mean little if reform measures do not improve access and quality of education, modernize training modules to develop employable skills, and generate more job opportunities for Indias youth, particularly women.

Second, the continuing rise in population, coupled with the rural-urban growth divide, is likely to increase rural out-migration, posing substantive challenges to balanced urbanization. According to UN projections, 675 million Indians will live in cities by 2035, and by 2050, the share of the population residing in urban areas will surpass those living in villages.

The planning and financing challenges posed by greater demand for infrastructure and basic services like water, sanitation, housing, electricity, and transportation in urban areas will multiply manifold. World Bank estimates suggest India must spend $56 billion annually to address its urban infrastructure needs.

The government must find the necessary fiscal and other resources to address the impending challenge. Third, the scarcity of skilled manpower, including technical professionals, is real. The India Skills Report 2022 points out that only around 48.7 per cent of the current jobseekers in India possess the necessary qualifications to be considered highly employable.

A recent Teamlease survey reports similar numbers for digitally skilled professionals aged between 22 to 25 years. Given the rapid growth in digitally-focused workplaces, the skills gap issue can only exacerbate with a bulging youth population, unless greater and swifter action on skilling, re-skilling and upskilling programmes in areas of emerging technologies are taken up at all levels.

Fourth, Indias population bulge is also likely to strain sectors like education and healthcare, which suffer from massive underinvestment currently. Indias healthcare spending at 2.1 per cent of GDP is extremely low, even by developing country standards.

With people aged 65 and above expected to double between 2023 and 2050, providing access to affordable and quality healthcare will be a significant challenge for Indias policy wonks.

Similarly, India spends $52 billion in educating almost 350 million children, which averages to a meagre $148 per child annually.

UN projections show that India will add 190 million children of primary and secondary school age by 2030. It is, therefore, crucial that the country must proactively invest in enhancing human capabilities to benefit from the power of absolute numbers. Policymakers must look beyond the headline numbers and address the real challenges facing the country and its growing populace.

Whether India becomes an economic superpower in the coming decades will critically hinge on how and when we leverage the demographic gift of plenty

(The writers are, respectively, Assistant Professor and Doctoral Scholar in the Economics Area at the Indian Institute of Management, Ranchi)
The Gaza Strip is one of the most densely populated parts of the world. Nearly two and half million people occupy the strip, and close to 50,000 people live in each square mile of Gaza City. Thus, even with the most accurate information on the whereabouts of a jihadist, an Israeli rocket attack on such a location cannot possibly avoid collateral damage, a crude military euphemism for the loss of innocent human life. Yet, it is just such rocket attacks that the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has launched on Gaza to target those it terms jihadists, without adducing the evidence to support such a characterization.

The Palestinians react with cheap rockets that create enough of a spectacle in the sky to attract attention  and cameras  but the damage they cause is infinitesimal compared to the noise they make. But every time Mr. Netanyahu is questioned by international rights groups on the questionable means adopted by his country to target its enemies, he is able to point to the sky and claim he is a victim, and not the aggressor, even though numbers of fatalities on either side  33 Palestinians and one Israeli until the weekend  do not support this. He is also able to use these displays to distract the attention of citizens dissatisfied with his rule and who have been out on the streets for months in protest. The jihadist would thus seem to be a convenient foil, and the Palestinians unwilling dupes. It is not surprising therefore that the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied territories has termed Israel as a colonizer.

Fransesca Albanese, an Italian lawyer, told a British newspaper that Israel routinely violates international law. She said Israel maintains the occupation of Palestine, in order to grab land for Jewish people. She has urged nations that support a two-state solution to ensure Israels conduct is aligned with the possibility of having a Palestinian state. But for now the worlds attention is focused on the exchange of fire between the Israelis and Palestinians. Egypt has tried to bring about a truce and the European Union has called on both sides to cease fire. But these appeals clearly are not working and the rockets have rained down from both sides.

The Palestinian territory is ruled by Hamas, but Israel has been careful to disassociate this group from the violence, saying its targets  or the so-called aggressors  are members of Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian group that preaches the destruction of the Israeli state. Last week, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres termed the loss of civilian lives unacceptable and urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint. While condemning the launch of rockets from the Palestinian side, he urged Israel to abide by its obligations under international humanitarian law. But who is listening?
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 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.

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.

US 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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The Arab League voted earlier this week to reinstate Syrias membership, ending the suspension it imposed in 2011 in response to the Bashar al-Assad regimes violence and repression against its own citizens participating in mass protests. This is a turning point in the region ~ it not only marks the normalisation of the Assad regime but is also the culmination of a years-long campaign by the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Jordan to re-engage with President Assad.

According to West Asia expert Steven Heydemann, the trio of Arab states are hoping that the lure of normalisation will be more effective than sanctions in persuading Mr Assad to address regional concerns, with refugees and drug trafficking at the top of the agenda. As yet, there are no visible signs that the Assad regimes normalisation has delivered much, either for Syria or its Arab interlocutors.

But even if nothing tangible results from the re-admission of Syria into the Arab League, it is a very powerful symbolic move. It is, as Heydemann writes, one piece of a larger regional puzzle which marks the ongoing consolidation of what can only be described as a new regional security architecture, a framework for managing rivalries that is perhaps the most significant shift in regional dynamics since the US invasion of Iraq.

As the Americans focus their strategic energy on containing the rise of China, West Asian states seem to have understood that it is up to them to put their own house in order. There have been parallel moves to narrow regional divides ~ between Iran and Saudi Arabia; Qatar and its counterparts in the Gulf Cooperation Council; Turkey and Arab rivals such as Egypt; Israel and Lebanon over maritime issues; and between Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain. Syrias normalisation can also be seen as a de-escalation of regional conflicts, the second-order effects of which are apparent in Yemen where Saudi-Iranian rapprochement has led to the longest ceasefire yet in the countrys decade-long civil war.

There are two geopolitically significant takeaways from the developments in West Asia. The first is the growing concern among many oil-rich nations about their continued economic prosperity as the West shifts away from hydrocarbons and towards renewable energy. Secondly, the active outreach of China in the region which is filling the vacuum left by Americas scaled down engagement. Leading states in the region are exhibiting pragmatism in dealing with each other despite the deepseated animosities between them as the present geostrategic flux has perhaps left them with no choice.

This is not to say that all is hunky-dory ~ far from it, given that the cleavages in West Asia run deep. But the emergent situation does indicate that regional actors are factoring in the diminished role of the USA as the security-provider in West Asia as well as the beginning of the end of post-Cold War unipolarity in the world order.
erampore MP Kalyan Banerjee said on Sunday that the defeat of the BJP has started a countdown and bad days are ahead for the BJP in the national political arena. Mr Banerjee was speaking at a programme in Serampore.

He said 13 May 2023 will be remembered as the turning point in the political arena of the nation. The voters of Karnataka through their clear mandate have ousted the BJP from Karnataka.

They have proved that their is no such thing as Modi and Amit Shah magic prevailing in politics. The wrong policies of the BJP have paid them back, he said. The Serampore MP added, the defeat of the BJP has sent out the message to all antiBJP political parties who believe in secularism to unite to throw out Modi-led BJP government from the Centre in 2024.

With the defeat of BJP in Karnataka the dream of the party to extend its political power in the southern states has shattered, he said, adding that the partys policy of divide and rule on religious sentiments and emotions will bring it more failures and political defeats.

The time is not far when BJP will have to struggle for its very existence as a political party, he said. The Serampore MP said 13 May is a very auspicious day for anti-BJP political parties. On 13 May 2011 Mamata Banerjee was sworn as the chief minister of West Bengal, on 13 May 2009 I was elected as the Serampore MP, on 13 May 2023 BJP lost Karnataka and on 13 May 2024 the Modiled BJP government will go out of power for ever, he said.
As 5G roll-out picks up pace in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is already laying out the blueprint for 6G and has asked global networking giant Cisco to begin research and development (R&D) around the next-gen telecommunication technology to further empower millions, according to the companys Chief Operating Officer (COO) Maria Martinez.

In an interaction with IANS, Martinez revealed the conversation she, along with other top Cisco leadership, had with PM Modi last week around the emerging technologies and how they can help the country innovate and build for the world.

It was very exciting to meet the prime minister and other top leaders to witness the great commitment they have to make India a global manufacturing and export hub for various technologies. 5G is a great opportunity for us to do more, not only for the private sector but also for enterprises of all sizes at massive scale, Martinez said.

She said that PM Modi asked them to engage on 6G as after 5G, the prime minister is already laying out the blueprint for it.

We talked about building some kind of joint R&D around 6G as well. We are very excited after seeing the 5G roll-out globally, including in India. Were very excited about 6G too, Martinez told IANS.

PM Modi has already emphasised that the 6G initiative will create new opportunities for innovators, industries and startups. In March, he released a vision document that details Indias plans to develop and launch 6G telecom services in a few years.

Cisco is also working with telecom operators in India for the monetisation of private 5G use cases as a service model.

The company is witnessing the 5G rollout at a very rapid pace with both service providers Reliance Jio Infocomm and Bharti Airtel connecting cities and towns, as the country aims to connect every nook and corner of the country with 5G access this year.

Ciscos Chair and CEO Chuck Robbins also discussed with PM Modi how the company has doubled down on manufacturing to boost exports from the country.

The global networking giant has announced it will start manufacturing in India, with an aim to drive more than $1 billion in combined domestic production and exports in the coming years via offering a robust and secure device ecosystem.

Dave West, President, Cisco Asia Pacific, Japan, and Greater China (APJC), told IANS that India is moving very rapidly on 5G rollout and the energy around the whole piece of digitisation in the country is super impressive.

Were incredibly excited about the Indian market and are well aligned to see India on the digitisation and the growth journey. The manufacturing announcement is a testament to our belief in this growth market. We are going to be manufacturing routers and switches to begin with, and then move from there, West elaborated.

Enterprises of all sizes are digitising very rapidly in the country and as they digitise, technology comes at the forefront of their strategy.

It is fundamental to their success, not only internally on how they manage their own businesses and provide capabilities to their employees but also how they do business with others. Also, cybersecurity and sustainability are two key topics of discussions as enterprises want us to make resilient, high quality, agile infrastructure, West told IANS.

India is a key market for Cisco and its second largest R&D centre outside the US.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has said that to ensure a better traffic system and road safety, the state government would set up three traffic-cum-tourist-Police Stations on Kiratpur-Manali Four-Lane National Highway.

These police stations will be opened in Bilaspur, Mandi and Kullu districts, he added.

It will be operated with an Intelligent Traffic Management System with Control Room at each police station. With this, quick police assistance will be ensured in case of accidents on the four-lane, he said.

He also directed the concerned departments to prepare a detailed report on the jurisdiction of these police stations.

A meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister last Saturday to review road safety aspects on the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane National Highway.

About 182 km of this four-lane road from Kiratpur to Manali, about 191 km long, would pass through three districts of the state, Bilaspur, Mandi and Kullu, he added.

The Chief Minister said that trauma centers would be marked on this four-lane road, including All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bilaspur, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College and Hospital, Nerchowk, Mandi and regional hospitals of all the three districts.

This will ensure quick treatment to the affected in case of emergency. Arrangements for ambulances and recovery vehicles will also be made at certain places on this highway, he said.

Sukhu said that the use of advanced technology is being ensured in coordination with the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the State Police for the smooth operation of traffic on this National Highway and to reduce the chances of accidents.

Directing to increase the number of display boards related to speed limits, he urged the NHA to provide financial assistance for the Integrated Command Center.

The Chief Minister said that the safety of the people of the state and other passengers passing through this route is the topmost priority of the state government and adequate funds for the establishment of police stations will be provided.

He directed the Transport Department to submit its report in five days after field verification of the speed limit on the entire four-lane.

Director General of Police Sanjay Kundu said that a study will be done to make all necessary arrangements from the point of view of security at T and Y junction under this four-lane Highway.

NHAI, Regional Officer, Abdul Basit informed that this Four-Lane National Highway will be completely ready by 15 to 20 June 2023.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a series of meetings with Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and representatives of Meitei and Kuki communities as well as other stakeholders to review the measures taken for restoring peace in the state, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Monday.

Shah held a meeting with the Manipur CM, four of his Cabinet colleagues and the Rajya Sabha MP in New Delhi on Sunday. Later, the Home Minister also met representatives of the Meitei community on Sunday.

Shah also held a meeting with the representatives of the Kuki Community from Manipur and a group of CSOs from Mizoram on Monday.

During the meetings, the Home Minister reviewed the measures taken to restore peace in Manipur which has witnessed violent clashes between two ethnic communities.

He directed strict action against the perpetrators of violence and assured complete support and help of the central government for ensuring lasting peace.

Shah assured that the government would take all measures to protect various communities in the state and urged discussion with all factions and spread the message of peace and assured that justice would be done.

Shah also stressed expediting the process of relief and rehabilitation so as to minimise the suffering of the people.

On May 5, the Home Minister also reviewed the situation in Manipur through a video conference meeting with the state Chief Minister and top officials in the state as well as the Centre.

On May 4, Shah also held two meetings via video-conferencing and spoke with the CMs of Manipur and neighbouring states including that of Nagaland, Mizoram and Assam in view of the situation in Manipur.

Manipur faced violence on May 3 during a rally organized by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest the demand for the inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category. The march was organised in protest against the demand for inclusion of the states Meitei community in the ST category, following an April 19 Manipur High Court directive.

This prompted the state government to issue prohibitory order and suspend internet services across the state for five days.

Along with a ban on large gatherings, a night curfew too has been imposed in several districts of the state.

As per Home Ministry and Indian Army the situation in Manipur has been brought under control through coordinated actions by all stakeholders.
Rajesh Manjhi, who was lynched by a mob at Kizhissery near Kondotty in Keralas Malappuram district on Saturday, reportedly begged for his life before the assailants.

Rajesh Manjhi repeatedly pleaded with the mob to let go of him told and that he had not come to steal. However, all his pleadings fell on deaf years. They questioned him about theft while thrashing him with sticks and pipes for more than two hours after tying his hands.

The assailants mercilessly tortured their hapless victim for two hours till he eventually met with a painful death. The lynching took place near the chicken shop at Keezhssery, where he was working.

After Manjhi fell unconscious, the accused dragged him to a spot about 50 meters away. Later, some of them informed about the incident to a social activist who lives nearby. The social activist then alerted a police patrolling team. The assailants initially tried to float a fake story claiming that the victim fell from the terrace of a building and sustained injuries and that the victim was rushed to a hospital in an ambulance where he was declared dead.

The police initially filed an FIR of unnatural death. Later, they revealed that the deceased had been brutally assaulted by some residents, suspecting him of theft in a nearby house.

Malappuram Superintendent of Police (SP) Sujith Das told media persons on Sunday that it was a clear case of mob lynching. The police initially registered a case of unnatural death. Later, on realising that it was a case of brutal murder, they added section IPC 302 (Punishment for murder).

The Kerala police arrested nine people for brutally killing Rajesh Manjhi (36) on suspicion of theft.

It has been reported that the victim was a resident of Madhepura in Bihar and belonged to a tribal community.

Earlier in a similar incident in 2018, a tribal youth, Madhu, a resident of Attapadi, was also lynched to death by as many as 16 people in Mukkali near Mannarkkad in Keralas Palakkad district.
The thumping victory of Congress in Karnataka has buoyed the party leaders in Kerala. The victory has come as a much-needed shot in the arm for the Kerala unit of the Congress.

Ramesh Chennithala, who had campaigned in Karnataka for two weeks, said the victory in Karnataka has proved the Congress can take on the BJP and Rahul Gandhi can take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is a mandate for Rahul Gandhi to take on Modi, Chennithala said.

Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan said the result would reflect in the next election in Kerala, in which the LDF government will also bite the dust.

KPCC president K Sudhakaran said that the result of the Karnataka election, which has pushed the BJP out from South India, has raised the enthusiasm of secular forces in the country

Veteran Congress leader A K Antony termed the outcome as a big blow to the BJPs vendetta politics.

Talking to reporters here, he exuded confidence that if all secular forces joined hands, the Modi regime can be wiped out in next years General Elections.

The CPI-M seems cautious of interpreting the Karnataka election results as the precursor of a Congress-led national alternative to the BJP.

CPI-M Kerala Secretary M V Govindan said that Karnataka election result cannot be considered as a pro-Congress trend for the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

The CPM is happy that with the defeat in Karnataka, South India has become BJP-free. But Karnataka election results did not indicate a comeback of the Congress on its own, said Govindan.

He said the Congress on its own cannot free India from the BJP. In the Lok Sabha elections, local factors will influence the voters in each state, Govindan said.

In the 2021 Assembly polls, a large chunk of minority votes had polled in favour of the CPI-M. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the minority votes were largely gone for the Congressled UDF and they won 19 out of 20 Lok Sabha seats.
The Delhi government has issued a show-cause notice to Secretary (Services) Ashish More for allegedly trying to continue upon the said post through illegal means despite transfer order for attaining some ulterior objectives and intending to sabotage and delay the implementation of the judgment of the constitution bench of the Supreme Court.

Former Delhi Jal Board CEO A K Singh, a 1995-batch (AGMUT cadre) IAS officer, will replace More.

Delhis Services Secretary Ashish More was removed from his post on Thursday hours after the Supreme Court ruled that control of services, or appointments and transfer of officials, vests in the Delhi government, not the lieutenant governor.

Show-cause notice issued to Services Secretary Ashish More. The Supreme Courts order came on Thursday, Ashish More is absconding from 3 pm that day. Since then he has not come to the office. Neither any leave application was given, nor any information. His phone has also been switched off since then. Ashish More has to reply within 24 hours why action should not be taken against him, a Delhi government official said on Monday.

The AAP Government on Friday had moved the apex court complaining that the Centre isnt initiating the transfer of services secretary ordered by it.

On Thursday, a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said: The ideal conclusion would be that GNCTD (Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi) ought to have control over services, subject to exclusion of subjects which are out of its legislative domain. If services are excluded from its legislative and executive domain, the ministers and the executive, who are charged with formulating policies in the territory of NCTD, would be excluded from controlling the civil service officers who implement such executive decisions.
Taking a cue from the BJP defeat in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has transformed himself from very active mode to ultra active mode in a matter of 24 hours. He has suddenly started taking welfare initiatives to ward off anti-incumbency.

In this direction, Shivraj Singh Chouhan started the day with planting of saplings with a group of students from Karnataka, virtually blessed 300 couples at mass-marriage ceremonies, initiated the CMs farmers interest waiver scheme, declared the setting up of a welfare board for the Kushwaha samaj and announced the construction of a Luv-Kush temple in MP, among other things.

The Congress drubbed the BJP in the southern state in the assembly polls the result of which was announced 13 May, taking 135 seats, which are 55 more than 2018. The BJP could manage only 66 seats, losing 38 of its previous seats in the 224-seat state assembly.

Madhya Pradesh is in line for assembly elections due at the end of this year and the result in Karnataka seems to have sounded alarm bells in MP for the BJP.

Today morning, Chief Minister Chouhan began his day, like he does daily, by planting saplings. Though, he planted trees of Rudraksh, Jamun and Peepal today, specially with a group of students from Karnataka, who are on a tour of MP.

The chief minister also paid his respects to freedom fighter martyr Sukhdev. Mr Chouhan garlanded late Sukhdevs portrait on the martyrs birth anniversary today.

A few hours later, Chouhan virtually attended two mass-marriage ceremonies held under the Mukhaymantri Kanya Vivah-Nikah Yojana. He blessed around 300 newly-wed couples at the functions, which were held in the Sidhi and Khandwa districts of MP.

The chief minister said the societys attitude towards daughters has changed for the better through the scheme, in which the state government pays Rs 49000 to each couple.

Chouhan also met representatives of the Kirar community at his residence. He was informed that a Kirar yuvak-yuvati parichay sammelan (introduction event for marriages) would be held at Bhopal on 4 June. Shivraj Singh Chouhan also belongs to the Kirar community.

Yesterday, the chief minister launched the Farmers Interest Waiver Scheme that promises waiver of interest on loans of defaulter farmers. Chouhan announced at the function held at Sagar that the state government would pay the outstanding interest amount of such farmers.

The chief minister personally filled up the application forms of interest waiver for some of the farmers present at the function. He promptly handed over their interest waiver certificates too on the spot.

Our government will pay the interest amount of each defaulter farmer, so that they do not remain defaulters and they can get the benefit of crop loan scheme for the next crop at zero percent interest, Chouhan stated.

He said that the short-term crop loans of farmers whose crops were damaged were converted into medium-term crop loans and the state government is also getting the interest amount of such farmers waived. This amount would be approximately Rs 2123 crore.

The chief minister claimed that the state BJP government had transferred Rs 2 lakh 31 thousand 322 crore into the accounts of farmers in the last three years under various schemes.

At another function in Sagar the same day, Chouhan announced the formation of a Kushwaha Samaj Welfare Board in MP. Speaking at a function of the Kushwaha community, the chief minister said that the chairperson of the board would be accorded the status of a cabinet minister.

Chouhan also announced at the function that a Luv-Kush temple would be constructed at Sagar. He said the state government would provide Rs 10 crore for the temple.

He also performed the bhoomi-poojan (ground breaking ceremony) of 3 tap-water schemes worth Rs 865.91 crore for the Sagar district. He said the schemes would enable direct water supply through pipelines to each household in 520 villages of the district.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patels gesture of paying for the state governments air ambulance to rush his son to Mumbai has earned him praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The chief ministers son Anuj had suffered a brain stroke on 30 April and was immediately operated upon at a local hospital here. But he had to be airlifted to the Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai the very next day due to some complications.

Since then, the chief minister had been flying in and out of Mumbai almost every second day to be with his ailing son.

Bhupendra Patel has not only paid for the services of the air ambulance flight to Mumbai but also taking regular commercial flights himself to shuttle between the two cities.

Praising this gesture of not availing of the government facility for free, Narendra Modi said the chief minister has set an excellent example of integrity and simplicity.

While praying for speedy recovery of the chief ministers son, the prime minister tweeted I have faith and trust that his conduct will be an inspiration to millions of people active in public life. I pray for the speedy recovery of his son Anuj.
Assad said the summit "will enhance joint Arab action to achieve the aspirations of the Arab peoples," the statement added.

Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Jordan, Nayef bin Bandar al-Sudairi, delivered the invitation.

On Sunday, the Arab League welcomed back Syria's government, securing Assad's return to the Arab fold after years of isolation.

The pan-Arab body suspended Damascus in November 2011 over its crackdown on protests that spiralled into a war that has killed more than 500,000 people, displaced millions and battered the country's infrastructure and industry.

The last Arab League summit Assad attended was in 2010 in Libya.

The invitation comes a day after Riyadh and Damascus announced that work would resume at their respective diplomatic missions in Syria and Saudi Arabia, after more than a decade of severed ties.

Assad had been politically isolated in the region since the war began, but a flurry of diplomatic activity has been underway in recent weeks after a decision by arch-rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, a close ally of Damascus, to resume ties shifted the political landscape.
A male passenger was arrested at Amritsars Shri Guru Ramdas ji International Airport on Monday morning for allegedly molesting an air hostess on board a flight from Dubai in an inebriated state, police said.

According to police, the passenger is identified as Rajinder Singh and he belongs to Kotli village in Jalandhar.

Rajinder Singh got into a heated argument with the air hostess and allegedly molested her, the police further said.

The assistant security manager of the airline lodged a police complaint and the accused was arrested on landing at the Shri Guru Ramdas ji International Airport.

The male passenger was booked under Section 354 and Section 509 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
At the end of its five-day long Jan Sangharsh Pad Yatra, of Sachin Pilot faction on Monday issued an ultimatum to the Ashok Gehlot Government in Rajasthan, accept three main demands against corruption and paper leak cases within next 15 days or be prepared for an indefinite statewide andolan (agitation).

The yatra was joined by two of the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlots ministers, at least 10 sitting Congress MLAs and scores of formers.

On the culmination of his yatra at Taruchaya Residency near Jaipur highway, former deputy chief minister Pilot sounded a warning to his own government. He demanded that students who suffered during competitive examination on account of paper leak should be compensated with financial assistance, the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) should be dissolved and reoriented to secure the future of the youth and a high-level probe instituted on alleged graft cases during former chief minister Vasundhara Raje s tenure.

I had undertaken a one-day maun vrat (silence) in Jaipur on April 11 over these demands, but no response was forthcoming from the Gehlot Government for a full one month. Now that I have accomplished five days of pad yatra covering 125 km, if the government does not respond by the end of this month, Pilot wont stop, but launch a massive agitation from Dhani to every tehsil, village and to urban cities against corruption and welfare & future of youths. Will ensure justice to everyone

He said that he will continue to serve the people and youths of Rajasthan till my last breath of his life. I am not afraid. I am not going to be suppressed. I have fought for you and will keep fighting, he asserted addressing thousands of his supporters braving scorching heat.

Pyar se mango ge, haath kaat kar de denuga, dhamkaoge to hilne wala nahin hoon Aap jo mere saath chale ho is garmi mein, aap ke pairon ke chaalon ki kasam, hum pichhe hatne wale nahin hain. (If you ask me with love, I will chop off my hands, but if you threaten me, I am not going to move You (the audience) have walked with me in this scorching heat, I swear by the blisters of your feet, we are not going to back down), Pilot assured.

Two Congress ministers, Rajendra Singh Gudha, Hema Ram Choudhary; Chairman of Rajasthan Scheduled Castes Khiladi Lal Bairwa, Senior Citizen Welfare Board Chairman Gopal Singh Idwa, former PCC President Narayan Singh Choudhary, former speaker and MLA Dipendra Singh Shekhawat, PCC VP Rajendra Choudhary, and ten party MLAs shared the stage with Pilot on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Sainik Kalyan Minister R S Gudha said, There was 40 per cent corruption in the outgoing BJP government in Karnataka, but in Rajasthan it is cent percent. The alignment of our government has gone bad and broken all records of corruption. No file was moved without money in the UDH Department led by Shanti Dhariwal.

Targeting Chief Minister Gehlot, Cabinet Minister for Forest and Environment Hemaram Choudhary said, I am hurt by allegations made by the chief minister. If he is found guilty of taking money, then I should be thrown out of the cabinet. Why have you made me a minister?

Hemaram further said, Many Congress leaders obstructed this rally, accused us of taking Rs 10, 20, 50 and 100 crore. Why then are people like us sitting as ministers? You are accusing your own government. The one who goes to the CM becomes a moneylender and the one who does not, becomes dishonest.

Ved Prakash Solanki, a right-hand man of Pilot, said, When would you (Congress/Gehlot) declare Pilot as chief minister, we will give a detailed of account (horse trading amount of Rs 10 to Rs 20 crore) to you and how long would the party test the ability of workers and leaders. We are ready to face every situation. A number of other MLAs and former functionaries also addressed the last phase of Pilots Yatra questioning the state chief minister for not doing anything on Rajes graft cases and curbing corruption in the state.
Rajasthan Congress In-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Monday deplored the statements of Sachin Pilot and his faction on the culmination of his Jan Sangharsh Padyatra here in public saying, It is most unfortunate, anti-party and the height of indiscipline, and they should not have talked openly.

I have asked the RPCC President Govind Singh Dotasara to submit his report on todays development in the Pilot groups meeting by May 16, Randhawa, who was in Gurdaspur, told The Statesman when called.

He said he would be visiting Jaipur on Wednesday to take up the matter and verify the statements given by the said Congress ministers, sitting MLAs in Pilots meeting.

All such matters, if anyone or a group wants to raise, should raise before me, party high command including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi, but not before the public, he argued.

I wonder why Pilot never discussed or talked to me about corruption related to former chief minister Vasundhara Regime, nor did he talk of question paper leak cases. He talked to me about the popular CLP meeting of September 25, 2022 when party MLAs did not follow party high commands one line resolution and tendered their papers to the Speaker, he said in reply to a question.

When reminded that two ministers and one chairman also criticized their own government at Pilots meeting, Randhawa said Chief Minister Gehlot would be in a better position to reply on it.

With todays mood and allegations made by Pilot faction leaders against the Gehlot Government it appears they are trying to revolt. When questioned about it, Randhawa said, This is apparent from the first day of their (Pilot group) action, but in my party I would not say this so early. It told them to take up and discuss any matter if it arises within the party.

I am not alone to decide on this whole matter I will also be meeting Kharge and other seniors in the party soon in Delhiand by then the Karnataka government formation will take place, he added.
The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a plea by the Bombay Lawyers Association against Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju for their adverse remarks on judiciary and the Collegium system for the appointment of judges to higher judiciary.

The Bombay Lawyers Association had challenged the Bombay High Court order dismissing PIL against the vice-president and the Union law ministers remarks on judiciary and the collegium system for the appointment of judges.

A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice J B Pardiwala said that in their view the high court order was correct and their shoulders are broad enough to withstand such criticism.

We believe that the view of the high court is correct. Whether any authority has made any inappropriate statement, observations already made that the Supreme Court shoulders are broad enough to deal with it, the bench said.

Challenging the February 9, 2023, order of the high court, the lawyers body said two public functionaries have disqualified themselves to hold the constitutional post by showing lack of faith in the Constitution by attacking its institution  the Supreme Court and showing scant regard for the law laid down by it.

The Bombay High Court while dismissing the plea had said that credibility of the Supreme Court of India is sky-high and it cannot be eroded or impinged by the statements of individuals.

The Bombay Lawyers Association had approached the High Court seeking to restrain Dhankhar and Rijiju from discharging their duties as the Vice President, and the union Cabinet minister respectively.

The PIL had claimed that the frontal attack not just on the judiciary but on the Constitution by the two has lowered the prestige of the Supreme Court in public.
Chief Minister Rao has always relied on the regional sentiments to counter the BJPs narrative of nationalism and Hindutva in Telangana. Even in the 2018 Assembly elections when the BJP was still at third position and the Congress was the key Opposition party, Rao raised the issue of Telangana pride to counter them.

He was successful, particularly due to the presence of TDP chief and the then Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu who had joined hands with the Congress. Rao had repeatedly cautioned the people about the danger of handing over the political power to Andhra rulers if the Congress won in the state.

This time too, Rao is hoping to cash in the Telangana pride as the Assembly elections are drawing near with the long drawn celebrations and said this would be organised in a festive atmosphere with the aspirations of the Telangana community so that the glory of Telangana spreads to every corner and every heart is filled with excitement.

It will also help him to counter the BJP which is exceedingly relying on the Hindutva to garner votes in Telangana although the state is not communally polarised except some pockets like Bhainsa. The BJP is holding Hindu Ekta Yatra at Karimnagar, the constituency of BJP MP and state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar with the Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma as the Chief Guest.

KCR as Rao is popularly known, has taken a leaf out of NT Rama Rao, the founder of TDP who had appealed successfully to the Telugu pride to beat the mighty Congress in the eighties. Rao had similarly appealed to the regional sentiment while unveiling the huge 162 feet tall statue of Dr BR Ambedkar as well as the newly constructed grand edifice, the Secretariat which he had termed as the symbol of Telangana pride. He will also inaugurate the new Martyrs Memorial soon.

The celebrations for the Formation Day will be kicked off by the Chief Minister at the new Secretariat and will spread to district headquarters. The government will also showcase its achievements during the 21-day long celebrations, particularly its irrigation projects and welfare schemes.
Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High 74F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Low 56F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Turkey on Sunday votes in presidential and parliamentary elections that will pass judgement on two decades of uninterrupted rule by Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Islamic-rooted party.

AFP looks at the key points of a vote with ramifications across the globe.

Presidential candidates

Erdogan is aiming to extend his transformative grip on power, which started when he became prime minister in 2003 after a landslide election victory for his conservative Justice and Development Party (AKP) the previous year.

The 69-year-old could remain at the helm of the Turkish state until 2028 if re-elected, after the two-term limit for presidents was reset in a 2017 constitutional change.

His main challenger is Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the secular Republican People's Party (CHP) and head of a disparate six-party alliance whose main unifying point is ousting Erdogan.

Polling suggests the 74-year-old former civil servant has a chance of reaching the 50-percent threshold needed for a first-round win and to avoid a May 28 runoff.

A third candidate, nationalist Sinan Ogan, is expected to win a small fraction of votes and believed to be drawing more support away from Erdogan.

The 2018 election runner-up Muharrem Ince dramatically announced his withdrawal from the race on Thursday -- although his name will appear on the ballot papers anyway.

Legislative elections

Voters will also select 600 members of parliament from 87 electoral districts to represent them in Turkey's unicameral parliament for the next five years.

The AKP is the largest party in the legislature and commands a majority in an alliance with the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

The CHP -- founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the father of the modern Turkish republic born out of the Ottoman empire's ashes in 1923 -- is the leading opposition group.

The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) is parliament's third-largest, representing a community that makes up roughly one-fifth of Turkey's population.

Parliament's powers were severely weakened after Erdogan won a 2017 constitutional referendum that abolished the post of prime minister and enabled the president to effectively rule by decree.

Kilicdaroglu has pledged to restore powers to the legislature and limit the president to one seven-year term if he wins.

But he would need an unlikely three-fifths parliamentary majority to enact such changes.

The voters

More than 64 million of Turkey's 85 million-strong population are eligible to cast a ballot on Sunday. Turnout rates have been high in the past, exceeding 86 percent.

Polls open at 8:00 am (0500 GMT) and close at 5:00 pm.

Around 5.2 million Turks, having celebrated their 18th birthday, will participate in a national election for the first time.

Polling suggests this voting group -- representing eight percent of the electorate -- will reject the AKP as they tend to hold more liberal values and have known no leader other than Erdogan.

More than three million Turks living abroad have already cast their vote, with Germany alone accounting for nearly half of the diaspora electorate. These voters have usually backed conservative candidates.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is deploying hundreds of observers, in addition to the hundreds of thousands of volunteers chosen by the parties.

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Bill Gouveia is a local columnist and longtime local official. He can be emailed at billsinsidelook@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @Billinsidelook.
Elections are fair only when voters have a right to all relevant information
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GODFREY Lewis and Clark Community College will celebrate its 52nd annual commencement back on the Godfrey campus Wednesday with two keynote speakers, Carol Kempske and Gerald Mozur.

The ceremony is set for 7 p.m. at the Hatheway Cultural Centers Ann Whitney Olin Theatre. The event was held outdoors the past few years due to COVID-19.

Commencement is a celebration everyone on campus looks forward to every year, said L&C President Ken Trzaska.

As much as it is an exciting event for our graduates, it also represents the culmination of our entire teams devotion to helping students make the most of their experience here," he said. "We couldnt be more excited to celebrate with them.

Kempske will represent Monticello College as a keynote speaker. She attended Monticello, previously located on the grounds where L&C exists today from 1957 to 1959. She also earned a bachelor's degree in Music Education and a masters degree in Education from the University of Maryland.

Kempske taught elementary school music for 42 years, retiring in 2003. For the past 20 years, she has used her talent and skills to build the Collington Episcopal Life Care, a Life Plan community in suburban Washington, D.C.

The class of 2023 is to be commended for their determination, Kempske said. Their education at Lewis and Clark is an incredible foundation on which they will build their future, and ours. Im honored to be a keynote speaker this year and hope to instill even more pride in these outstanding graduates.

Mozur, who is retiring from L&C after 25 years, will represent the college as a keynote speaker.

During his time at the L&C he has taught every philosophy class the college offers. He has a bachelor's degree in Philosophy from Centre College of Kentucky, a Master of Arts degree in Philosophy from University of Kentucky, and a doctorate in philosophy from Washington University, St. Louis.

Before joining L&C as a full-time faculty member in the fall of 1997, Mozur taught while completing his studies at the University of Kentucky from 1980-1985 and at Washington University from 1985-1989. He has held teaching positions at University of Missouri, St. Louis; Webster University; St. Louis Community College at both the Forest Park and Florissant Valley campuses.

In Spring 2021, he was L&Cs Illinois Community College Trustees Association Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Member Award nominee.

I am humbled and honored to be a speaker, Mozur said. It reflects well on the college to recognize an outgoing faculty member who has served for so long. I have had a great 25 years with L&C and I believe in its mission and its strength to continue in this uncertain time. We have good leaders and good people throughout the organization. As I step away, I know the community will be well-served in the future.

Tickets are not required for Wednesday's commencement; seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis when the theatre doors open at 6 p.m. Guests and graduates needing accessibility accommodations should contact the L&C Center for Access and Accommodations at www.lc.edu/access.

To ensure every graduate can have a guest in the theatre audience, the college does ask that graduates with more than four guests consider utilizing the overflow area in The Commons, where the ceremony will be streamed live. It also will be streamed live online; for details visit www.lc.edu/graduation.

Following the ceremony, graduates will join guests in The Commons for a reception with refreshments and free L&C giveaways.
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ALTON  Two men have been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of an Alton man on May 10.

Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said police arrived at 7:34 p.m. May 10 at a residence in the 160o block of Rock Springs Drive in Alton and found Tyrone M. Williams, 20, of Alton, who had been shot. Williams was transported to a local hospital by the Alton Fire Department and later transferred to a St. Louis area hospital for further treatment, where he died as a result of his injuries.

On Monday, Chauncy D. Lucas Jr., 22, of Madison, was charged with two counts of first degree murder related to Williams' death. His bond was set at $2 million by Judge Ryan Jumper.

Darryck Y. Lewis, 23, of Glen Carbon, also was charged with one count of obstructing justice. His bond was set at $50,000.

Ford said detectives with the Alton Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division located Lucas and took him into custody. Lewis, listed by police as also having a Venice address, was also taken into custody during the investigation.

Both Lucas and Lewis on Monday were in the Alton City Jail.

"First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims family as they grieve the loss of their loved one," said Ford. "While nothing will ever bring Tyrone back, I hope they find some peace in knowing that the person responsible will be held accountable and is not free to inflict further harm in our community.

"As usual, my officers and detectives worked diligently to quickly identify and apprehend the suspect," he said. "I am proud of them and their efforts. They have done a great job.

Ford said the investigation is ongoing and a vehicle believed to have been used in the incident, a 2019-2023 silver Chevrolet Malibu, has yet to be located. The vehicle has an Illinois seven-day temporary registration affixed to the rear, Ford said, and is known to frequent the Venice and Madison areas. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Alton Police Department at 618-463-3505 Ext. 637.

Alton Mayor David Goins thanked police for their work in "this senseless shooting."

"My thoughts and prayers go out to all that have been impacted by this tragedy," he said. "Please know that conflict does not and should not end in lives lost. There are ways to resolve conflict without it having to end in tragedy.

Ford also thanked the federal bureau of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Illinois State Police; the Madison and Venice police departments; the Metro East Auto Theft Task Force; and the St. Louis Medical Examiners Office for their assistance in the investigation. He noted that both Lucas and Lewis are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
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A Democratic primary that will likely determine who becomes Philadelphias next mayor could boost a progressive cause struggling to make a comeback after national setbacks, but with no clear front-runner it's just as likely to fortify the city's existing Democratic machine.

Not one of the five top candidates has emerged as a clear favorite in Tuesday's primary, a digression from mayoral races in recent history, said Richardson Dilworth, author of the book Reforming Philadelphia, which examines the citys government over the course of 350 years.

The political structure of the city is in a moment that is somewhat unprecedented, he said. Its ideologically incredibly cohesive. But ... theres nothing taking that cohesive ideology and converting it into a unified governance for the city.

The progressive movement  which has focused on local races to counter national setbacks  has its sights on the Philadelphia race after being energized by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's recent victory and other progressive wins on the St. Louis City Council.

Our Revolution, a movement born during Sen. Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential race and now one of the largest progressive organizations in the country, has endorsed Helen Gym, a former member of the City Council. Sanders has also personally endorsed her, and appeared alongside her ahead of the primary, along with progressive U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

In Philadelphia, Youve got an old guard Democratic machine, just like you do in Chicago, although that formation has been rattled within the last couple of years by successful progressive and Democratic Socialist candidates, said Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese.

Whether Gym can do the same is uncertain.

Philadelphias Democratic City Committee  which, in a deeply blue city, can have significant influence  won't back a candidate. That's left the choice with the committee's dozens of independent wards, which aren't united in their endorsements. Other Democratic factions, meanwhile, are all over the map.

A number of ward leaders, who can rally voters to cast their ballots, have backed the more moderate former city council member and former state lawmaker Cherelle Parker, but others have sided with Gym and former city controller Rebecca Rhynhart, who has sought to appeal to moderates and progressives. The left-wing Working Families Party and the grassroots progressive organization Reclaim Philadelphia, in step with Our Revolution, is backing Gym.

There is even division among unions, which have historically held a lot of weight because of their financial support and their on-the-ground ability to push people to the polls. In a tight contest, that can be essential.

A number of trade and labor unions, which helped propel Kenney when he first ran for mayor, have coalesced behind Parker. Kenney himself said he cast a ballot for Parker during early voting. Meanwhile, the citys local police union is backing grocery business owner and political outsider Jeff Brown, and the teachers union wants Gym.

Allan Domb, a former councilman and real estate mogul who has poured millions of dollars of his own money into the campaign and sought to appeal to a more moderate-to-conservative base, picked up an endorsement from former Mayor William J. Green III. Rhynhart, meanwhile, is backed by three past mayors: John Street, Michael Nutter and former Gov. Ed Rendell.

All of the candidates, regardless of ideology, have tapped gun violence and public safety as their top concerns. Theyve also discussed a need to bolster the economy, reduce poverty and improve quality-of-life issues such as trash pickup and streetlights.

"The candidates are more or less aligned on most important issues of the day, said Mark Nevins, a political consultant for The Dover Group. Really, youre looking at who has the ability to create a coalition of voters from different parts of the city ... that will put them over the top.

A number of cities have moved to ranked-choice elections, allowing voters to order the candidates from most to least preferred. But in Philadelphia, the winning candidate needs a plurality  which could be just a slim amount of the total vote  to face lone Republican candidate David Oh in the November general election.

In mayoral elections across the nation over the past five years, voters have tended to pick the mainstream liberal candidate, said Robert Speel, associate professor of political science at Penn State. Exceedingly progressive candidates who have called for defunding the police have not done well, he noted; nor have conservative, tough-on-crime candidates who seem more aligned with Republicans, including one who lost Boston's 2021 mayoral race.

It was a kiss of death for a Democratic candidate in a Democratic city to be associated with Republicans in some way, he said.

Theresa Tsai, a University City resident who fell in love with Philadelphia after moving here from New York City years ago, is just looking for someone who can work with other city departments to address her issues with crime and what she sees as an overall decline in city services.

Tsai, 71, said she has begun to feel vulnerable in the city while walking alone at night. Years ago, she said, a mini-police station opened in her district, which she said showed her that community policing was critical.

She also said that many city facilities, from libraries to recreational centers, are understaffed. Tsai said her husband keeps a spreadsheet of endorsements, which she is monitoring, and she also wants to hear the recommendation of her ward leader, whom she said she implicitly trusts."

At the moment, she is weighing the different qualities that Gym, Rhynhart and Domb could bring to the office.

This is a difficult election, it really is, she said. Its a good one, its good that we have such good choices.

__

Associated Press writer Sara Burnett in Chicago contributed to this report.

__

Brooke Schultz is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
One must not underestimate the power of innovation in local communities.

Innovation can have a transformative impact on small communities, enabling them to address local challenges, create new opportunities, and enhance the quality of life for their residents. By fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, small communities will become more resilient, competitive, and dynamic, thus driving sustainable economic growth.

One of the primary benefits of innovation in small communities is the ability to create new economic opportunities and jobs. By fostering an environment that supports entrepreneurship and innovation, communities can attract and retain businesses, create new industries, and diversify their local economies. According to a study by the Kauffman Foundation, new businesses created by entrepreneurs account for nearly all net job growth in the US, and small businesses are responsible for two-thirds of all new jobs. The study also found that small communities have a higher rate of entrepreneurial activity than larger cities, indicating the potential for innovation-driven economic growth.

The city of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been working to develop a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship through the Erie Innovation District, a partnership between the city, local universities, and the private sector. The district provides support for entrepreneurs, connects them with investors and mentors, and offers training and resources to help them launch and grow their businesses. As a result, Erie has seen the creation of new businesses and job opportunities, including in emerging industries such as robotics and advanced manufacturing.

Innovation can also help small communities address specific challenges and opportunities unique to their situation. For instance, rural communities may face challenges related to access of healthcare, transportation, and broadband connectivity, while urban communities may face issues related to affordable housing, public safety, and environmental sustainability. By fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, small communities can develop innovative solutions to address these challenges.

Another great example is the town of St. Clair, Michigan, which developed an innovative program to address the issue of vacant and blighted properties in the community. The program, called Project Rising Tide, brought together community leaders, residents, and experts to identify and implement solutions to revitalize neighborhoods, attract new businesses, and improve quality of life. Through this effort, St. Clair saw a significant reduction in vacant properties which increased property values. Community pride and engagement has blossomed.

In addition to economic and social benefits, innovation can also have a positive impact on surroundings and environments. Small communities can develop innovative solutions to conserve resources. For example, the town of Greensburg, Kansas, rebuilt itself as a green community after a devastating tornado in 2007. The town developed innovative strategies for energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste reduction, leading to a 100% renewable energy supply and becoming a national model for sustainable development.

Moreover, innovation can also improve the quality of life for residents by enhancing access to education, healthcare, and cultural resources. Small communities can leverage innovation to provide affordable and accessible services such as telemedicine, distance learning, and mobile libraries. The community of Brush, Colorado, developed a mobile library program that brings books and educational resources to residents in rural areas, enhancing access to education and promoting literacy.

Innovation can have a significant impact on small communities, driving economic growth, social progress, and environmental sustainability. By fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, small communities can create new opportunities, address challenges, and improve the quality of life for their residents. Examples such as Erie, St. Clair, Greensburg, and Brush demonstrate the transformative potential of innovation, and highlight the importance of investing in programs and initiatives that support innovation and entrepreneurship in small communities.

If your community doesnt have an innovative spirit or entrepreneurial mindset today, start changing that. If you are not adequately nurturing an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset, begin to do so. As economic conditions become more challenging, it will be those that process these two ingredients that will prosper. Those without these ingredients will surely suffer and the community will continue a downward spiral very difficult to alter. Start changing today!
The role of the Greek Cultural Centre in enhancing Egyptian-Greek cultural relations was highlighted during the celebration of its 20th anniversary, with the participation of Greek diplomats and students.

The Greek Cultural Centre in Cairo, under the auspices of the Greek embassy in Egypt and the Greek Community in Egypt, celebrated on 11 May, its 20th anniversary with a painting exhibition by painter Christina Papoulia, and with the honorary participation of thinker and artist Wageeh Wahba.

The exhibition, which will run until 18 May, is an autobiographical pictorial development of 20 years, a final selection of hundreds of painted papers, along with a search in a different pictorial representation system, according to art historian Eleni Cypreos.

The event was attended by the Ambassador of Greece to Egypt Nikolaos Papageorgiou Christos Papadopoulos, Director of the Greek Cultural Centre, entrepreneur and benefactor, Catherine Sofianou, who sponsored the renovation of the centre. Members who also attended include diplomats from the Greek embassy, together with the Greek Consulate-General in Cairo, as well as Christian Berger, the ambassador and head of the delegation of the EU to Egypt, as well as high officials.

We are celebrating the Greek Cultural Centre in Cairo in a ceremony combining music and painting. We are in renovated premises, thanks to the generous donation of Cairo-born, Catherine Sofianou. The cultural centre has always been a hub for Greek culture and art, giving an opportunity for Greek artists to express themselves and at the same time collaborate with Egyptian artists in many projects. That was the case in the past and that will continue as well in the future, the Greek ambassador Nikolaos Papageorgiou told Ahram Online.

Regarding the Egyptian-Greek cooperation in the cultural field, Papageorgiou said that there is considerable cooperation in this respect; the Greek Cultural Centre will do its best to provide all the opportunities to enhance this cooperation.

Christos Papadopoulos, the director of the Greek Cultural Centre, highlighted the importance of the centre and its activities in promoting Greek culture and language while boosting cultural relations between Egypt and Greece.

The General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ioannis Chrysoulakis, also participated via an online speech.

The evening was enlivened by the performances of Mohamed Hassouna, Bjork Oskarsdottir and Dora Mastaka performing selections from Greek music.

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Sudan has for the past month been gripped by intense fighting between the army and rival paramilitaries embroiled in a power struggle 18 months after a military coup derailed the country's transition to civilian rule.

Hundreds of people have been killed and nearly a million displaced in the war between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and deputy-turned-rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Here are the main developments in the conflict:

April 15: Fighting begins

On April 15, explosions rock the capital Khartoum. Fighting comes days after the second postponement of the signing of a final deal on returning to civilian rule, due to a disagreement over the integration of the RSF into the regular army.

The paramilitaries and army both accuse each other of attacking first.

The RSF says it controls Khartoum airport, the presidential palace and other key sites. The army, which says it carried out air strikes on RSF bases, insists it is still in charge.

Fighting also erupts in the western region of Darfur -- still reeling from a brutal war that began in 2003 -- where three UN World Food Programme employees are killed.

Civilian leaders in Sudan call for an immediate ceasefire, as do the African Union, the United Nations, the United States and Britain, among other countries.

April 22: Rush to evacuate

In the days that follow, countries the world over rush to prepare evacuations of their nationals and those of other countries as the fighting escalates.

On April 22, Saudi Arabia becomes the first country to announce the successful evacuation of civilians from the battle-ravaged country.

Thousands of Khartoum residents also flee the fighting along roads lined with corpses and burned-out military vehicles.

The United States military evacuates US diplomatic personnel from Khartoum. Numerous other countries follow.

April 25: Failed truces, jail break

Multiple truces are announced but none is respected.

The United States and Saudi Arabia negotiate a 72-hour nationwide ceasefire starting April 25. The paramilitaries and the army repeatedly extend the ceasefire but continue to trade fire, accusing each other of violating it.

On the same day Ahmed Harun, a leading figure in the regime of ousted strongman Omar al-Bashir, and who is charged with crimes against humanity, announces that he has escaped from prison with other former regime members.

Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on genocide charges over the war in Darfur, had already been transferred to hospital before fighting began, the Sudanese army says.

The violence reaches a new peak on April 27 when fighter jets pound the paramilitaries' positions in Khartoum and Darfur is gripped by fighting and looting.

On May 4, US President Joe Biden says the fighting "must end" and authorises potential new sanctions against those responsible for the bloodshed.

May 5: 750 killed

More than 750 fatalities have been reported since battles began, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project.

UN special representative Volker Perthes says armed "fortune seekers" from Mali, Chad and Niger are joining the fight.

May 6: Jeddah talks

US- and Saudi-backed talks between the army and the RSF begin in the Saudi port city of Jeddah but have yet to yield a ceasefire, more than a week later.

On May 11, both sides agree to allow urgently needed humanitarian aid to reach war-struck areas, committing "to ensuring the protection of civilians".

The UN says on May 12 that the conflict has caused 200,000 people to flee the country, bringing the total number of displaced people to nearly a million.

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Job Title: Sales Executive (Fresher Jobs)

Organisation: Al-Mansour Automotive

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

About US:

The conglomerate was first established in 1975 by the late Mr. Loutfy Mansour to enter the automotive market in Egypt. It didnt take long for Mansour to reach its record-breaking sales by becoming the exclusive dealer for General Motors (GM) in the same year and soon became a household name by 1980, franchising popular automotive brands; Opel, Chevrolet, Isuzu, and ACDelco.

Fast forward to 2001, Mansour Automotive was given exclusive distribution rights for all General Motors brands and products in Egypt. For an outstanding 4 decades, Mansour Automotive has won the hearts and trust of millions of customers by following their philosophy With Mansour, you are in safe hands.

Job Summary: The Sales Executive is a Field Officer, sourcing customers in the field, they are the front face of the company who source customers by visiting Stages, Markets, to understand the need of the customer. He is responsible for achieving the targets given, also he will be in charge of Non-Starters (10 weeks default)

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Actively participate and drive all types of sales promotions facilitated by the company.

Build a good rapport with the Existing and potential customers to growth business and brand awareness

Daily Accountability of Visit report to the Stages and Market, Creating Database of Stages and Customers visited, categorizing visits as prospective lead, following up and concluding the lead to Sale

Follow up with customers to complete documentations, and Login the file to Operations

Leads generated through Sales Promotions like Road Shows, Advertisements in Radio, and other media, take responsibility to convert the Leads to Sale

Maintain discipline in terms of attendance, honesty, following Instructions from the Superiors, Customer Service, Dressing and Interpersonal skills

Monthly Reporting of Competitors changes in the schemes (Down payment, EWI with Tenure details), getting information about the sale numbers with Variant breakup, Impounded Bikes in Stock, etc.,

To do Field Visit, meeting Boda Stages, Market vendors and Fleet Operators and explain about the Loan Product we are selling with Scheme details and bring Prospective Customers (At least 15 boda stages or Market Vendors in a day)

ensure collection is made and receipt documented and accounted , including proper analysis of Non-Starters for default reasons and suggested corrective action









Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

The applicant must hold a Bachelors Degree in Relevant field of study preferred

One to two years of Loan Sales Experience  preferably in TW.

Good Experience in Customer Service and Target Achievement.

Excellent customer service and sales skills.

Strong verbal and written communication  Local Language, Uganda

Excellent phone and presentation skills.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Knowledge of SAP is an additional advantage

How to Apply:

All candidates who wish to join Al-Mansour Automotive in this capacity should apply online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 31st 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
Highlighting the complexities of transactions, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Monday sought more time to probe on the Adani-Hindenburg issue. Additional reasons was slated by the SEBI to grant more time.

While hearing an application filed by SEBI to grant extension of six months to complete the probe, the SC bench indicated that it could not allow more than three months. A bench comprising Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala.

"In respect to the investigation/examination relating to 12 transactions referred to in the Hindenburg Report, prima facie it is noted that these transactions are highly complex and have many sub-transactions across numerous jurisdictions and a rigorous investigation of these transactions would require collation of data/information from various sources including bank statements form multiple domestic as well as international banks," said the affidavit.

Financial statements of onshore and offshore entities involved in the transactions and contracts and agreements, if any, entered between entities along with other supporting documents also need to be investigated, added the affidavit.

Meanwhile, in its reply to the Supreme Court, the regulator said that it has not probed Adani company since 2016. "The allegation that SEBI is investigating Adani since 2016 is factually baseless. The reliance sought to be placed on the investigation pertaining to Global Depository Receipts is wholly misplaced," the affidavit stated.

Earlier the petitioner had argued that more time should not be give for the probe as the regulator has been investigating Adani since 2016.

"At least 15 months is actually needed, but the SEBI will make best possible efforts to complete the investigation in six months time," said Solicitor-General of India Tushar Mehta appearing for the regulatory body last week.

The US-based Hindenburg published its report in January accusing Adani group of stock manipulations and accounting fraud scheme over the course of decades.


India's exports contracted by 12.7 per cent, third month in a row, to $34.66 billion in April even as the trade deficit reduced to a 20-month low of $15.24 billion, the government data showed on Monday.

The decline in exports is mainly on account of poor demand in India's key destinationsthe Europe and the USand it may take some more months for the situation to improve.

The demand scenario is "not looking very good as far as Europe is concerned, and the US also we have seen a decline in demand. For the next two-three months, I think the demand scenario does not look very optimistic," DGFT (Director General of Foreign Trade) Santosh Kumar Sarangi told reporters.

However, he expressed hope that things would change from September onwards.

"There is a possibility that opening up of Chinese economy combined with some boost in demand in the Europe and the US economy from August-September onwards might give a boost to global exports," he said.

Imports too declined by about 14 per cent, fifth month in a row, to $49.9 billion as against $58.06 billion recorded in the same month last year, the data showed.

Trade deficit in April last year stood at $18.36 billion. The previous lowest level was recorded in August 2021, when the deficit stood at $13.81 billion.

On imports, Sarangi said the decline is because of cooling down of commodity prices and reduced demand for products which are considered as discretionary like gems and jewellery.

He suggested to diversify into products which have higher export demand, such as electronic goods, oil meals, oil seeds, and agricultural goods.

He added that export sectors which may get impacted in the coming months include gems and jewellery, apparel and garments, and some engineering products.







In April, export sectors which recorded negative growth included petroleum products, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, chemicals and ready-made garments of all textiles.

However, electronic goods, pharma, rice and oil meals registered positive growth.

The shipments of electronic goods increased by 26.49 per cent to $2.11 billion in the month under review.

Under merchandise exports, only 11 of the 30 key sectors exhibited positive growth in April and at imports front, 23 out of 30 key sectors recorded negative growth.

Crude oil imports dipped by 13.95 per cent to $15.17 billion. Gold imports too contracted by 41.48 per cent to $1 billion in April.

India's exports to the US in April declined by 17.16 per cent to $5.9 billion. Similarly to the UAE it dipped by 22 per cent to $2.23 billion in April.

The other key export destinations where exports reported negative growth included China, Singapore, Bangladesh, and Germany.

Further, the commerce ministry has revised upwards the overall trade figures for 2022-23.

According to the ministry's data, exports of goods and services in 2022-23 rose by 14.68 per cent to $775.87 billion (earlier it was $770 billion) as against $ 676.53 billion in 2021-22.

Imports increased by 17.65 per cent to $894.19 billion, leaving a trade deficit of $118.31 billion in 2022-23.

Merchandise exports increased by 6.74 per cent to $450.43 billion, while imports rose by 16.47 per cent to $714 billion in the last fiscal.

Services exports rose 27.86 per cent to $325.44 billion, while imports increased by 22.54 per cent to $180 billion in the last fiscal.

Services exports in April this year were estimated at $30.36 billion, as compared to $24.05 billion in April 2022. The estimated value of services import in April was USD 16.50 billion as compared to $14.06 billion in April 2022.
The race for Karnataka's top post has heated up with the lobbying now shifting to Delhi, a day after the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) authorised AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge to pick the new chief minister.

Top contenders, Leader of opposition in the outgoing assembly Siddaramaiah and state party president D.K. Shivakumar, will arrive in Delhi on Monday, where they will meet Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and the AICC chief.



The CLP, which met on Sunday evening, had entrusted authorised Kharge to pick the new Karnataka chief minister and he is expected to take the decision soon. This was confirmed by AICC in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala on Sunday. Surjewala, after the CLP meeting, said that Kharge will not take long to announce the name of next chief minister.



"Party leadership will take a decision. I can't replace my judgement withKharge Sahab's judgement. He is our senior, and as you all know him. He is the son of the soil of Karnataka, and I'm sure he will not take very long," he told reporters in Bengaluru.



"The winning party will be in the first cabinet when we will implement our first five guarantees," said Surjewala when asked about the plans for the oath-taking ceremony.



The CLP meeting, which started late on Sunday night at a hotel in Bengaluru, continued till 1.30 am. All 135 newly elected MLAs attended, besides observers and senior leaders.



Surjewala said the observers met with all MLAs separately to record their views. "Entire process of meeting individual legislators of Congress party has been completed with great bohemia. The observers met all the MLAs separately and recorded their views and now they will submit a report to the Congress leadership and after that, we will announce the next leader of the Congress Legislature Party," Surjewala added.



On whether there were any gifts planned for Siddaramaiah or D K Shivakumar on the latters birthday, Surjewala said, "I am not a party to those discussions as General Secretary. We were sitting together and planning the future of Karnataka which is more important to us. We also celebrated D K Shivakumars birthday together."



Earlier the day, Shivakumar denied having any differences with Siddaramaiah. "Everyone was saying that there are differences between me and Siddaramaiah but let me tell you not a single iota of difference is there. I did not give anyone a chance."



"I just kept myself grounded and walked my path," Shivakumar told reporters at Nonavinakere in Karnataka.


Amid suspense over who will be the chief minister of Karnataka, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will hold a crucial meeting with top party leaders at his residence on Monday evening. Former chief minister Siddaramaiah, a strong claimant for the coveted post, has already met Kharge in Delhi.

Reports had earlier claimed that KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar, another front-runner for the post, will also reach Delhi in the night. He, however, said he would not be travelling to the national capital today due to stomach infection.

"There are 135 Congress MLAs. I don't have any MLAs. I've left the decision to the party high command," Shivakumar said.

A Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting on Sunday had authorised Kharge to pick the new chief minister. The party stormed back to power in the southern state, winning 135 seats in the 224-member assembly. The party's stupendous victory, however, followed intense lobbying for the chief minister's post between the factions of both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.

The three central observers deputed by the Congress returned to the national capital on Monday after speaking individually to the newly elected MLAs. PTI reported that the observers are putting together the views expressed by all the newly elected MLAs and will hand over the report to Kharge by late Monday night.

Kharge is likely to hold consultations with top Congress leadership, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, before arriving at a decision on the chief minister.

On Sunday, high drama unfolded in front of the five-star hotel in Bengaluru where the CLP meeting was held, with supporters of both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar raising slogans projecting their leaders as the next chief minister.

Siddaramaiah is a leader with mass appeal. He has the experience of running a government of full five-year term from 2013-18. Shivakumar has strong organisational capabilities, is considered resourceful and Congress' troubleshooter during tough times and has the backing of the dominant Vokkaliga community, its influential seers and leaders.

On Sunday, prominent Vokkaliga pontiff of Adi Chunchanagiri Nirmalananda Natha Swamiji appealed to the Congress leadership to appoint Shivakumar as the next chief minister of the state.

Shivakumar himself hinted that he is in the chief ministerial race saying he took everyone along and never sought anything for himself. He, however, brushed aside speculations about differences between him and Siddaramaiah.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed strict action against the perpetrators of violence in Manipur and assured complete support and help of the Centre to the state government in restoring peace. Shah also assured that the government would take all measures to protect various communities in the state.

The home minister held a meeting with Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and four of his cabinet colleagues in Delhi and reviewed the security situation in the state. He also held meetings with representatives of Meitei and Kuki communities and a group of CSOs from Mizoram, the Union Home Minister said in a statement.

Shah reviewed the measures taken for restoring peace in Manipur that has witnessed violent clashes between two ethnic communities.

The Union Home Minister urged discussion with all factions and spread the message of peace and assured that justice would be done. Amit Shah stressed on expediting process of relief and rehabilitation so as to minimise the suffering of the people, the MHA said.

The clashes had broken out in Manipur after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

The violence was 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. The tribalsNagas and Kukisconstitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.
Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot will hold a public meeting near Kamla Nehru Nagar along the Ajmer highway on Monday to mark the culmination of his five-day yatra.

Pilot's 125-kilometre Ajmer-Jaipur 'Jan Sangharsh Yatra' began last Thursday. On Sunday, the former Deputy Chief Minister covered a distance of around 25 km from Mehla town in Jaipur district to Mahapura, where he stayed at night.



The yatra comes as a direct challenge to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in the wake of upcoming elections. Pilot's yatra has worsened the factional feud, which came to the fore after Gehlot accused the Congress MLAs involved in the 2020 revolt of taking money from the BJP.



On Sunday, Pilot said the public has accepted the issues on which he started his yatra -- corruption and government recruitment exam paper leaks.



Addressing his supporters from the top of a bus in Mahapura on the Ajmer highway, Pilot said the yatra will reach its destination in Jaipur Monday. "The public has accepted the issues on which the yatra was started -- paper leaks and corruption -- for the future of the youth and clean politics," he said.



"This is not about a person...the public is standing by the issues with which we started," Pilot added.



He saluted the enthusiasm of his supporters and invited people to his public rally to be organised on the fifth and last day of his yatra near Kamla Nehru Nagar on Ajmer highway in Jaipur.



"The yatra is getting overwhelming responses from people. Be it the youth or the elderly, all are attending the padayatra," an aide of Pilot said.



He also used the Karnataka election results to highlight his fight against corruption, stating that people in Karnataka trusted in Congress's manifesto and voted out the "40% government."



He added that he has been demanding action against the corruption of the previous government in poll-bound Rajasthan. "But "for some reason", action has not been taken in the last four years," Sachin Pilot said.


The Tihar Jail administration has issued a show cause notice to the superintendent of jail number 7 for transferring two inmates to former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain's cell, officials said on Monday.

Jain had submitted an application to the jail administration requesting that two inmates be lodged with him as he was feeling depressed and lonely, they said.



The superintendent transferred the inmates without informing or discussing the matter with the administration, a senior official said.



When the jail administration came to know about it, a show cause notice was issued to the concerned officer who then transferred the inmates back, he said.



"A show cause notice has been issued to the superintendent of jail no 7 of Tihar Jail by Director General Sanjay Beniwal seeking an explanation for transferring the inmates to the former Delhi minister's cell without following certain guidelines and for not informing the jail administration before taking the step," the official said.



Jain was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case on May 31, 2022.


Suspense continued over the Congress's chief minister choice in Karnataka even as the central observers, who interacted with the newly elected MLAs, submitted their report to party president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday. Former chief minister Siddaramaiah has already arrived in Delhi to meet the high command while KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar canceled his trip to the national capital citing health reasons. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are frontrunners for the coveted post.

Kharge held a crucial meeting with the observersSushilkumar Shinde, Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babariaat his residence where AICC in-charge for Karnataka Randeep Surjewala and party general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal were also present. After the meeting, Surjewala told reporters the party will announce its decision by Tuesday evening.

"The observers have submitted the report to the Congress president. We will hold consultations with all senior state leaders, including Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, and after that a decision will be taken by the Congress president," Surjewala said.

A Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting held in Bengaluru on Sunday had passed a resolution authorising Kharge to pick the new CM. A section of the media reported that the high command is most likely to choose Siddaramaiah for the CM post as he enjoys the support of majority of the MLAs.

Meanwhile, Shivakumar cancelled his Delhi trip, hours after confirming he would be flying to the national capital, fuelling speculations that all is not well in the ruling camp over the CM contender issue. He cited health reasons for the change in his travel plans.

"I have some problem in the stomach. Doctor is coming in ten minutes. It's burning. It looks like some infection and I have fever..... please let me be free...." Shivakumar told reporters.

Siddaramaiah (75) and Shivakumar (60) have been locked in an intense power struggle over who will lead the new government in the state after the party's stupendous victory in the Assembly elections. Both the leaders have made no secret of their ambition to become the chief minister. They were lobbying hard for it with supporters of each one raising the pitch in support of their leader. A poster war by supporters of both leaders also erupted soon after the party won the election.

Siddaramaiah is a leader with mass appeal and has the experience of running a government of full five-year term from 2013-18. Shivakumar has strong organisational capabilities and is considered resourceful and Congress' troubleshooter during tough times. He also has the backing of the dominant Vokkaliga community, its influential seers and leaders.

On Sunday, prominent Vokkaliga pontiff of Adi Chunchanagiri Nirmalananda Natha Swamiji had appealed to the Congress leadership to appoint Shivakumar as the next chief minister.

Shivakumar himself had hinted that he was in the chief ministerial race saying he took everyone along and never sought anything for himself. He, however, brushed aside speculations about differences between him and Siddaramaiah.

In the May 10 polls to the 224-member Assembly, the Congress won 135 seats, the BJP 66 and the JD (S) 19. The results were declared on May 13.

With inputs from PTI
Congress leader Sachin Pilot has threatened to launch a massive agitation against his own party's government in Rajasthan if no action is taken on his demands over the issue of corruption by the end of this month. Addressing a rally in Jaipur at the culmination of his 'Jan Sangharsh Yatra', the former deputy chief minister said he has been writing letters to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for long, but no action has been taken so far.

Pilot has been demanding a high-level probe into the charges of corruption against the previous BJP government in the state. He also demanded disbanding of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and its reconstitution, and a compensation for those affected by government job exam paper leak.

"If action is not taken by this month-end on these three demands, an agitation will be launched across the state," the Congress leader said.

"I will serve people till my last breath, nothing scares me, he said.

Pilot had on Sunday said that the public has accepted the issues on which he started his 'Jan Sangharsh Yatra'. Addressing his supporters in Mahapura on the Ajmer highway, he said: "The public has accepted the issues on which the yatra was startedpaper leaks and corruptionfor the future of the youth and clean politics."

Pilot began the foot march from Ajmer on Thursday, challenging Chief Minister Gehlot even as assembly elections in Rajasthan is around the corner. The yatra is expected to mount further pressure on the party leadership which hopes to retain the state in the elections.

The march comes days after Gehlot accused the MLAs involved in the 2020 revolt of taking money from the BJP. Pilot and 18 other Congress MLAs had then sought a leadership change in Rajasthan. He was sacked as the party's state unit president and the deputy chief minister.

The two Congress strongmen in Rajasthan have been at loggerheads over the post of chief minister ever since the party formed the government in the state in 2018.

With PTI inputs
To those who still remember him, today, his name is synonymous with the bitter taste of defeat: of hope deferred, then disappointed. But he was a hero, then, the man who would liberate Palestine



From Al-Ahram Weekly archives: Fifty years of dispossession 1948-1998*

Fawzi Al-Qawuqji's name is probably unknown to anyone too young to have lived through the events of 1948. During the months preceding May of that year, however, his name, along with that of the leader of the Palestinian guerrillas, Abdel-Qadir Al-Husseini, entered the hearts of the common people on Arab streets. They chanted his name in demonstrations, and bestowed upon him the legendary status of a saviour.

He was the leader of the Arab Liberation Army (ALA), a voluntary force of some few thousand Arab irregulars formed to help Palestinians resist the partition of their homeland after a recommendation made by the Arab League in December 1947. Unlike Abdel-Qadir Al-Husseini, whose martyrdom in Al-Qastel Battle in April 1948 lent his name a lasting glow, Al-Qawuqji lived on, long after the humiliating defeat of the Arabs, regulars and irregulars, to see his name ridiculed as it became synonymous with empty talk.

When he died in Beirut in December 1976 -- he was Lebanese, although at the time of his birth there was no such a thing as a Lebanese nationality -- few remembered him. But the PLO executive committee, still in Beirut at that time, issued a statement mourning his death and recognising the "role he played on the land of Palestine".

Quite why Al-Qawuqji became the figure on whom people pinned their hopes when his record on the battlefield was nothing but one defeat after another is a question beyond the scope of this article. It would seem, however, that part of the celebrity surrounding his name was due to his constant defiance of the dominant powers. A perpetual rebel, he participated in almost every major Arab revolt during the first half of this century.

He graduated from the Military Academy in Constantinople in 1912, fought in the first World War, then returned to his native Tripoli. There he met Prince Faisal, the son of the Sherif Hussein, the leader of the first Arab revolt. Faisal asked him to join the Arab forces marching to Damascus under his command, where they intended to establish an Arab state.

He fought the French in the battle of Maisloun, in Syria, and in 1925 participated in the Mount Lebanon revolt, led by Sultan Al-Atrash against the French. Following the quashing of the revolt, he went to live in Saudi Arabia, where he remained until 1932. In the Kingdom, however, he fell out with King Abdel-Aziz, who had him arrested and then expelled.

In Baghdad, he entered the Military Academy for further studies and remained there as an officer in the Iraqi army until his departure to Palestine in 1936. The revolution had broken out, and he led guerrilla operations against the British and Zionist gangs until the revolution, too, was crushed.

On his return to Baghdad in 1941, he joined Rashid Ali Al-Kilani's movement against the British, and fought fiercely on the Jordanian borders against the Transjordan Army, led by General John Glubb, the foremost British officer in the Middle East, who was wounded in one of these battles. Later, Al-Qawuqji was seriously injured on the battlefield and was taken to Germany. There he underwent treatment, met and married his German wife, and remained until the end of the second World War.

The story of his return to the Arab world after the end of the war is a series of adventures, and it is only thanks to top-secret British documents, released only last year, that we know the true story of his flight from Germany to France, his narrow escape from arrest in Palestine, and his arrival in Cairo on 23 February 1947.

The documents at the British Public Records Office prove that Al-Qawuqji's name was legendary not only among the common people, but among the British authorities as well. The British, however, considered him not a hero but a dangerous man, and exerted every effort in attempting to stop him. On his way from Paris to Cairo, the plane carrying him was diverted to Lydda airport and a British officer accompanied by a Hebrew soldier boarded in search of Al-Qawuqji. If they failed to recognise him, it was only because he was sitting next to his wife, speaking in German.

In the House of Commons, British Colonial Secretary Arthur Creech Jones was asked what would have happened if the British authorities had been able to identify Al-Qawuqji in Lydda. Creech Jones revealed: "Had security forces recognised him they would have done something, but he remained in Lydda airport for only one hour, he was carrying a false passport and his luggage was registered under a different name."

A telegram to London from the British ambassador in Cairo, dated 1 March 1947, provides further details of Al-Qawuqji's arrival in Egypt: "Fawzi arrived in Almaza [Cairo] airport on 23 of February. Upon our request his name was put on the black list, hence the passport officer refused to grant him a permit to leave the airport." After some argument, the ambassador continued, Al-Qawuqji persuade the officer to let him talk to Abdel-Rahman Azam Pasha, and the Secretary-general of the Arab Leagueinstructed the officer to grant him 24-hour visa.

Then Azam phoned Nuqrashi Pasha, the Egyptian prime minister, who feared the news of Al-Qawuqji's arrival. At first Nuqrashi refused to allow Fawzi to stay in Egypt, and asked that he leave immediately. But Azam drew his attention to the fact that any cruelty against Fawzi "must remain within limits, as he is a national hero." Finally, Nuqrashi agreed that Al-Qawuqji spend four days in Egypt. "He is now residing at the Hotel Continental," the ambassador wired, "and will be leaving to Beirut midnight tomorrow."

From Lebanon Al-Qawuqji made his way to Syria, where on 3 November 1974 the British charge d'affaires in Damascus reported to the Foreign Office that his American counterpart had been to tea with Al-Qawuqji at the house of his host, Ahmed Al-Sharabati. The British official noted with not a little spite: "He is living in a plush house in the best neigbourhood in Damascus, owned by Sharabati, the minister of defence, who gives him a monthly allowance of 1,000 lire."

Al-Sharabati's generosity, he told the American diplomat, was due to the fact that "he is rich while his friend is poor." As for the encounter with Al-Qawuqji himself, the American diplomat had apparently learned that the regular armies of the Arab countries would be inefficient, "as the Arab countries are divided among themselves and cannot fight a united battle." People's war is the solution, the Arab revolutionary revealed, adding that he had "great experience in that kind of war". The British charge d'affaires concluded that, according to his American colleague, it was that Al-Qawuqji was exerting every effort in preparing for this project, which he had returned to carry out.

On 2 February 1948, Al-Ahram published an interview conducted by the UP correspondent in Damascus, Samir Souqi, with Fawzi Al-Qawuqji. The UP correspondent described the headquarters as follows: "This Arab leader, motivated by utmost resolve, has made of his home a military headquarters guarded by irregulars in American military uniform. Not an hour of the day passes without Bedouins, peasants and young men in modern clothes turning up on his doorstep, demanding to enlist as volunteers in th Arab Liberation Army.

He also has headquarters in Qatanah, where volunteers are undergoing military training, waiting to be sent to Palestine. He refused to let me visit the place, though, which no journalist has ever seen. In his house there is a special room entered only by trusted people: the room of his aide-de-camp, Mahmoud Al-Rifa'i, a graduate of the Potsdam Military Academy. While we were talking, Taha Al-Hashimi Pasha, whom military experts say is one of the greatest military leaders in the Arab world, entered. Al-Qawuqji asked to be excused and took him to another room. I noticed that Al-Hashimi was carrying several large maps of Palestine."

Al-Qawuqji told the UP reporter: "American policy on the partition of Palestine threatens all American interests throughout the Middle East. How on earth can America think of laying pipelines in the region now? They have angered the Arabs so much that now they will never be able to carry out a single project."

The tension rose further, and Al-Qawuqji's plans made front-page headlines. Al-Ahram of 9 February reported: "Attack on Palestine begins next week." Below the headline, Al-Ahram's special correspondent in Damascus wrote: "Well-informed sources reveal that the Arab leaders have decided to stage the first phase of their attack on the Jews in Palestine in the coming week.

The same sources reveal that Ismail Safwat Pasha [head of the technical committee formed by the Arab League has been appointed general commander of the Arab Liberation Army, while Fawzi Al-Qawuqji has been appointed commander of the forces stationed in Syria and Lebanon." Al-Ahram's correspondent added: "Instead of the scattered battles that have taken place in Palestine until now, Palestine will be divided into three main fronts, so that military operations can be coordinated according to a master plan. Al-Qawuqji will command a front including northern Palestine and the coastline, including Haifa, Jaffa and Tel Aviv. He is now in Beirut, working on the final details of his plan."

The other two fronts, the correspondent wrote, "will be Jerusalem and southern Palestine. The Grand Mufti, Hajj Amin Al-Husseini, will designate the leader of the Jerusalem front. It is said that the post will go to Abdel-Qadir Al-Husseini, while the southern front will be placed under the command of an Egyptian leading battalions of Egyptian volunteers as well as Libyans and the Bedouins of the Sinai Peninsula." The report concluded: "Of course, Taha Al-Hashimi Pasha who has been appointed General Inspector of the Arab Liberation Army will be supervising the overall logistics."

On 15 February, Al-Ahram's main banners announced: "Arab forces preparing to march on Palestine. Plans for the war of liberation. The regular armies' mission. Damascus to be the Arab Army Command headquarters." Below, the paper's correspondent in Beirut reported: "The Arab forces are ready to launch the Jihad outside and inside Palestine according to a master plan, to be implemented in several phases." He added: "Four thousand mujahidin [guerrillas] are fighting alongside the Palestinians inside the country, while hundreds of others are awaiting the orders of General Ismail Safwat to cross the borders under the command of Fawzi Al-Qawuqji."

The reporter went on to discuss the positions of the Arab regular armies: "On the southern front, Egyptian forces are stationed in Al-Arish and Rafah near the coast. Behind them are small Egyptian units stationed at various posts along the Egyptian-Palestinian borders."

As for the Transjordan Army, the Al-Ahram correspondent in Beirut did not neglect to mention that "some of the units of that army are cooperating with the British troops". As for the Syrian and Lebanese armies, he noted: "Their forces constantly patrol the borders and carry out frequent military maneuvers before the Zionist settlements."

Though the role of these regular armies, reported Al-Ahram, "is not yet clear: there is speculations that they will enter the Arab areas evacuated by the British troops, and supervise from there the military operations carried out by the Arab Liberation Army." He added: "It is also possible, however, that these armies will engage in combat with the Zionists. Informed sources, however, assert that the Arab countries will not send their armies to fight inside Palestine as they are members of the UN. The sole mission of the Arab armies will be to police the area in order to cut off any weapons or food supplies to the Zionists in Palestine."

In an interview in Le Monde, reported in Al-Ahram the same day, Fawzi Al-Qawuqji said: "Major military operations have not started yet, but when the war breaks out, we will stun the Jews and the whole world. The war may last for a month; it could last for a century. But we will surely win."

At the beginning of March, there was still no news of the Arab Liberation Army, or its leader, Fawzi Al-Qawuqji, entering Palestine. Al-Ahram of 3 March reported the "Arab Liberation Army is anxious to fight"; the attack, however, was postponed "until discussions in the Security Council are concluded."

Below the headline, Al-Ahram's special correspondent from "somewhere in Palestine" reported that "crossing into Palestine from Syria or Lebanon has become easy now". He himself had crossed the border by car and met Al-Qawuqji's men at a post 30 miles inside Palestine. His guide during that journey was a 19-year-old Saudi, who had told him that the soldiers longed for the battle to begin, for all they had done thus far was "child's play". The young guerrilla mused: "War today is not the war our fathers and grandfathers fought. Politics are part of war now."

* Quotations from British Foreign Office documents were translated from the Arabic study on Al-Qawuqji, by Jean Daiah, published in the London-Based Al-Hayat newspaper, Feb. 8 & 9, 1998.

MARCH:

Transjordanian prime minister Tawfiq Abu al-Huda secretly meets British foreign secretary Bevin. They agree that Transjordanian forces will enter Palestine at end of Mandate but will restrict themselves to area of Arab state outlined in Partition Plan.

March 2: US delegate tells Security Council US favors implementing partition by "peaceful measures" only.

March 5 - 7: Qawuqji enters Palestine and assumes command of ALA units in central Palestine. March 6: Haganah declares general mobilization.

March 10: British House of Commons votes to terminate Mandate on May 15th.

March 19 - 20: US delegate asks UN Security Council to suspend action on partition plan and to convene General Assembly special session to work on a trusteeship and truce if Jews also accept. Jewish Agency rejects trusteeship.

March 19: Ben-Gurion declares Jewish state dependent not on UN partition decision but on Jewish military preponderance.

March 25: President Truman secretly receives Chaim Weizmann at White House and pledges support for declaration of Jewish state on May 15th.

March 30 - May 15: Second coastal "clearing" operation carried out by Haganah Alexandroni brigade and other units. Attacks and expulsions drive out almost all Palestinian communities from coastal area from Haifa to Jaffa prior to British withdrawal.

* This article was published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 5 March 1998



This article was first published in Al-Ahram Weeklys special pages commemorating 50 years of Al-Nakba, the Palestinian catastrophe when Israel was created on 15 May 1948. These pages, published in 1998, were part of a year-long series of articles documenting the history and nature of the Arab-Israeli struggle, as well as that of Palestinian dispossession and exile.

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Colin Malloy of Ocean Network Canada has developed a method to transform oceanic data into captivating solo percussion songs. By utilising underwater microphones (hydrophones) and incorporating elements inspired by ocean-related data such as temperature, acidity, and oxygenation, Malloy creates compositions that raise awareness about pollution. His work was presented at the 184th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, where he discussed the "Sonification of ocean data in art-science."

Malloy's compositions can be found on YouTube. Art helps people digest information on an emotional level that typical science communication may not, Malloy said. I hope that in listening to these pieces, people use them as a space to reflect on what each piece is trying to portray. Ultimately, I'd like for them to help create awareness of the various issues surrounding the oceans.

Malloy's method of transforming oceanic data into captivating music serves as a creative and thought-provoking means of raising environmental awareness.

One of his notable pieces, "Oil & Water," depicts the impact of oil production on the oceans. Using steel drums and introducing noise to represent historical oil production, Malloy progressively increases the interjections to reflect recent production levels. Towards the end of the song, he utilizes oil consumption data to modulate a synthesizer.

By representing data in this musical manner, Malloy aims to encourage listeners to contemplate its significance and the medium itself. This approach aligns with the field of ArtScience, which fosters collaboration between scientists and artists to enhance communication, connection, and scientific understanding. Ocean Network Canada's artist-in-residence program exemplifies this philosophy by involving artists in scientific research and engaging a wider cultural audience.

Malloy's educational background in mathematics, computer science, and music provides him with a unique perspective as he navigates the intersection of science and art. Through his work, he aims to bridge the gap between these disciplines and facilitate a greater appreciation for the oceans while highlighting environmental issues.

There is a lot of art in science and a lot of science to art -- more than most people realise for either direction, said Malloy.
More than 50% of gig economy workers in the UK earn below the minimum wage

The average hourly wage for gig workers is 8.97, approximately 15% below the current UK minimum wage

Work-related insecurity and anxiety are experienced by 76% of surveyed gig workers, while 28% feel their health and safety are at risk

Gig workers express a strong desire for basic rights, including minimum wage rates, holiday and sick pay, as well as protection against unfair dismissal

A new study from the University of Bristol reveals that over half of gig economy workers in the UK are earning below the minimum wage. The study, which surveyed 510 gig workers last year, found that 52% of respondents involved in various gig jobs, including data entry and food delivery, were earning less than the current UK minimum wage of 10.42 per hour. On average, gig workers earned 8.97 per hour, reflecting a 15% shortfall.

The research also highlighted significant concerns regarding work-related insecurity and anxiety, with 76% of respondents reporting such experiences. Furthermore, 28% felt that their health or safety was at risk while working in the gig economy, and 25% reported experiencing pain on the job.

Lead author Dr Alex Wood, Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management and Future of Work at the University of Bristol Business School, said: The findings highlight that working in the UK gig economy often entails low pay, anxiety, and stress. As food, fuel and housing costs keep rising, this group of workers are especially vulnerable and need to be more adequately remunerated and better protected.

Gig workers overwhelmingly expressed a desire for improved conditions, emphasizing the importance of basic rights such as minimum wage rates, holiday and sick pay, and protection against unfair dismissal. They also called for the establishment of unions and platform councils, similar to works councils in European countries, to represent their interests and influence the operations and working conditions of gig platforms. Over 75% of respondents believed that the introduction of such bodies would yield immediate benefits.

This pioneering research sheds light on the challenges faced by gig economy workers in the UK and emphasizes the urgent need for improvements in their working conditions and rights.

The study encompassed a diverse range of gig economy workers, including remote freelancers using platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, as well as local drivers providing food delivery and taxi services through platforms like Deliveroo and Uber. The research highlighted that gig work was not merely a side hustle for these individuals, as they dedicated an average of 28 hours per week to gig work, which constituted 60% of their total earnings.

Dr Wood said: A major factor contributing to low pay rates is that this work involves spending significant amounts of time waiting or looking for work while logged on to a platform. Not only is the work low paid, but it is also extremely insecure and risky.

The self-employed who are dependent on platforms to make a living are urgently in need of labour protections to shield them against the huge power asymmetries that exist in the sector. This clearly warrants the expansion of the current worker status to protect them.

Respondents primarily identified their work as self-employment and expressed a desire for an extension of labor rights to include the self-employed. They believed that such an extension would significantly improve their working lives. The findings also revealed strong support for European-style co-determination, where gig worker representatives are consulted and have decision-making authority over changes that affect their working conditions and employment. The existence of works councils in countries like Germany provided a potential model for platform councils and assemblies in the gig economy to empower workers to have a say in the decisions that impact their livelihoods.
Just like the storming of the Bastille fort in France in 1789 removed the commoners' fear of French aristocracy, the storming of the Pakistan Army headquarters in Rawalpindi by the public on May 9 will have similar implications.

That day, the Rubicon was crossed in Pakistan. It demolished the carefully-cultivated fearsome image of the Army that was prevalent in the Pakistani mindset.



Nor did the Pak Army do any service to its credibility with its ham-handed response to the ongoing unrest by getting Imran Khan arrested by the Rangers during a regular court appearance.



Under the garb of democracy, albeit very fragile, it was always the Pakistani Army that had the final say in the running of the country, including deciding on the political dispensations of the day. And it stepped in whenever it felt the self-preserving need to do so. That is why, in the 75 years of Pakistans existence, the Army has ruled for about 33 years while none of the 21 PMs have ever been able to complete one single full term.



The other institutional appendage in Pakistan is the traditional elite comprising a few thousands of rich and powerful families of landlords loosely and collectively termed as the 'biradari'.



These two institutions that fed off each other used different tools to control the Pakistani populace.

While the 'biradari' acted as the interface between the masses and the Army, it practiced 'patronage democracy' by exercising the power to either dispense or deny patronage. The 'biradari' influenced voting as well facilitating the spending of the development funds.



On the other hand, what the Pakistani Army used was the tool of fear, backed by brute power and its all-pervasive presence in all aspects of public life, including commercial activity of the country.



So when on May 9, the hordes of supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) fanned across the length and breadth of the country protesting the sudden unrest of their leader Imran Khan and faced off with the Army and all that it stood for, the fearsome reputation of the Pak Army took an unprecedented beating.



And that fearsome image had been shattered to pieces with the storming of the Rawalpindi GHQ. Soon enough, the hordes also raided the residence of the powerful IV Corps commander at Lahore.



Interestingly, a May 10 statement issued by the Pakistan militarys media wingthe Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR)said: "May 9 will be remembered as a dark chapter Soon after (Imran Khans arrest), there were organised attacks on army properties and installations and anti-army slogans were raised."



The Pakistani Armyalready being accused of being Punjabi-dominated much to the detestation of Pathans, Multanis, Baluchis, and Mohajirsnow faces the ignominy of accepting Imran Khan as the top political leader in Pakistan. But at the same time, it knows that if it gives in to Khan at this juncture, the thus-far dominant role of the Pakistan Army will be over for good.



The current unrest is preceded by a build-up of dissatisfaction and resentment against the establishment. The Army was seen to represent that establishment. With the economic condition of the country in total doldrums, anger against the establishment was rife and rampant.



With every successive day now, it is becoming clear that it is Khan who is the most powerful entity in Pakistan, no longer the Armybecause Khan is the articulation of that public angst.



Nor is Khan or his PTI leading the movement. With the character of the movement being largely organic and spontaneous, it is rather the movement that is leading Khan and his party.

What could be of concern to New Delhi is that Khans ascendancy does not have good tidings for India. One bone of contention between Khan and the Pak Army was the formers distancing from the US and increasing dalliances with China. Beijing will spare no effort to consolidate its sphere of influence in Pakistan given the fact that massive investments have already been made, including in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the flagship China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).



The Pakistani Army comprises professional soldiers and an increasing number of soldiers avowed to a fundamentalist-jihadi cause. Khans rise will strengthen the latter elements as opposed to the professional soldiers. And that is where the Indian concern could particularly stem from.


The Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf has decided to lodge a case against the Rangers and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for 'kidnapping ' their chief Imran Khan. Khan was arrested from the premises of Islamabad High Court on May 9 in the Al-Qadir Trust case.



PTI will also lodge cases over the murder of unarmed citizens at peaceful protests across the country, Dawn reported. Khan's arrest led to violent protests in the country, in which 10 were killed and a dozen others injured. Internet services remained suspended through the country. Khan was removed from office via a no-confidence motion last April.

The interior minister, as well as Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief ministers and police chiefs, will be nominated in these cases, the party resolved, Dawn reported.

For the first time in the country's history, the protesters stormed the army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and also torched the historic Corps Commander's House in Lahore.

Imran's party claims 40 of its workers lost their lives in the firing by security personnel.

The PTI, in a meeting led by Khan, said, Supreme Courts high-powered commission should be formed to investigate the deaths of citizens on the day of the arrest.



--With PTI inouts
Pakistan's ruling coalition on Monday staged a demonstration outside the Supreme Court to protest against some of the recent rulings of the judiciary which they said provided blanket relief to former prime minister Imran Khan in several cases.



Demonstrators, belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), have entered the Red Zone while the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has set up a stage in front of the Supreme Court, Dawn News reported.

PML-N Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman have joined PDM's sit-in outside the Supreme Court. The two leaders are expected to address the crowd gathered. PPP's Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has been advised against participating in the sit-in.

The PPP leadership had advised that it would be better if a party delegation participated in the PDM sit-in instead, Dawn reported.

PML-Ns official Twitter account showed the caravans of party leaders and workers reaching Islamabad for the protest.

Meanwhile, Khan urged all citizens to be ready for peaceful protests.

"So without any investigation into who was responsible for arson on a government building or dozens of deaths of unarmed protesters by bullet wounds, around 7000 PTI workers, leadership and our women have been jailed with plans to ban the largest and only federal party in Pak. Meanwhile, these goons are being facilitated by our security agencies to take over the SC and subvert the constitution. All citizens be ready for peaceful protests as once the constitution and Supreme Court are destroyed, it is the end of the Pak dream." Khan tweeted. Khan had been arrested on May 9 in relation to the Al-Qadir Trust case. Protests erupted throughout the country following Khan's arrest.

-- With PTI inputs
In a big win, Thailand's opposition won the elections pushing off nearly a decade of military-backed rule on Monday.

The progressive Move Forward Party (MFP) and populist Pheu Thai Party was projected to win 286 seats from the total 500. However, it is still unclear whether the opposition would be able to form the next government as the slated rules allow 250 members of a military-appointed Senate to vote the prime minister.

MFP, a youth-led party vouching to end the military rule, would require the support of the local parties to form a new administration.

Around 39.5 million voter turnout was recorded on Sunday.

According to the election commission website, MFP looked set to take the biggest share of the lower-house with a total of 147 seats. These include 112 from 400 seats that are directly elected and 35 from the 100 seats allocated to parties, reported Al Jazeera.

The pre-election surveys had predicted Pheu Thai to win the elections. Thai had a total of 138 seats-112 directly elected and 27 from the party-list.

Meanwhile, the United Thai Nation Party of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha was trailing in fifth with just 36 seats. While, Palang Pracharath was at fourth with about 40 seats. Bhumjaitai, led by inclumbent health minister Anutin Charnvirakul, came third.

MFP swept the polls in the northern city of Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Phuket. The party won seven outr of 10 seats in Pattaya and Chiang Mai.

MFP party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, 42-year-old Harvard alumnus, thanked the voters for their support. "It is now clear that Move Forward has gained the immense trust of the people and of the country," he wrote in Twitter on Monday morning.

A procession is planned by the party to celebrate its victory at Bangkok's landmark Democracy Monument.

Any winning candidate would need 376 votes across the two houses to become prime minister. With Senate backing the military elitist, it seems to be a difficult task ahead for MFP.

In last elections in 2019, the Senate voted unanimously for Prayuth. Later a coalition was formed by the party that included 19 different parties.

However, the Election Commission is yet to announce the final number of seats won by each party.
 Stockify was a proud exhibitor at UAE's inaugural Fintech industry event



 Dubai event propels Stockify into the global league of Fintech movers and shakers



BENGALURU, India and DUBAI, UAE , May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Stockify Fintech, among the world's largest providers of pre-IPO or unlisted stocks, stamped its global footprint at the recently-concluded Dubai Fintech Summit (DFS). The two-day event on May 8-9 saw interactions, seminars and tracks that included more than 5000 C-Suite leaders, 1000-plus investors and 150 speakers from around the world.



Stockify was chosen as one of the select proud exhibitors at the event that is slated to become a destination for not only the region but also for the rest of the world.



"The idea was to participate and showcase the growth of Indian companies to a global audience, and convince the investing community to participate in the India growth story. Stockify has successfully reached out to the Indian diaspora in Dubai and other markets. Now, it is time that we expanded our footprint," said Piyush Jhunjhunwala, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Stockify Fintech.



The global fintech market attained a value of approximately $194.1 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.8% to reach $492.81 billion by 2028.



"India, which already has more than 100 unicorns from several sectors, including fintech, will not only lead this march, but also be a guiding force in terms of regulation and corporate governance. In that context, it is important that Stockify Fintech takes the front seat in showcasing the country's vast potential. We believe we are also ambassadors of the world's fastest growing economy," Jhunjhunwala said.



Rahul Khatuwala, Co-founder and Chief Financial Officer, Stockify Fintech, said, "Dubai Fintech Summit not only provided us an opportunity to be present among the world's most influential sectoral leaders, it underscored our company's mission to carve new markets for Indian service providers. We plan to be a regular feature at the DFS each year."



ABOUT STOCKIFY FINTECH



Stockify Fintech is a customer-oriented platform for Unlisted or Pre-IPO shares in India. Its mission is to help HNIs and NRIs access multiple unlisted shares via the pre-IPO route and maximize investors' wealth. Investors can visit www.stockify.net.in to begin their Unlisted/Pre-IPO shares investment journey.



For more information, call Piyush Jhunjhunwala at +971502344662 or email him at piyushjhunjhunwala@stockify.net.in.



ABOUT PIYUSH JHUNJHUNWALA



Stockify Fintech's CEO Piyush Jhunjhunwala is a qualified Chartered Accountant (CA) from India and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) from the United States. He is a seasoned finance professional with over 20 years of experience in global conglomerates such as PepsiCo, Inc., Reckitt Benckiser PLC, and Coty, Inc. He has rich experience in multiple geographies, including MENA, Russia, Turkey, and India. He is based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.



ABOUT RAHUL KHATUWALA



Stockify Fintech's Co-founder Rahul Khatuwala is a qualified Chartered Accountant (CA) from ICAI, India. He is the founder of Finaco.in, a fintech company that delivers services across various verticals through a network of 5000-plus CAs and finance professionals in India. Rahul is acting CFO of multiple companies operating in diversified verticals. He heads Stockify Fintech's Indian operations and is based in Bengaluru, India.



For more information



Rahul Khatuwala on +91-9591810391 (Bengaluru, India),

E: rahulkhatuwala@stockify.net.in



Piyush Jhunjhunwala on +97-1502344662 (Dubai, UAE).



Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1891478/Stockify_Logo.jpg



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

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MUMBAI, India, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EuroKids, India's most trusted brand, has announced its annual 'Summer Club' program for 2023. This summer club program is designed to provide children with a fun-filled, structured learning environment during the summer break. EuroKids introduces a unique theme-based summer club this year that will allow children to learn, socialise, and stay active.



In April, EuroKids ran a summer camp for 21 days and received great feedback from parents about how their children were involved in activities. Some of the parents noted that their children were particularly engrossed in the activities and were repeating the activities at home. May summer club 2023 was something that every single parent was looking forward to.



EuroKids is excited to announce the launch of its summer club programs in the western and northern parts of India. The program will feature various themes and activities inspired by the success of their previous program in Maharashtra and Goa. EuroKids hope to receive a positive response from their new participants.



Theme-based summer clubs are essential for children as they offer many benefits. Children will have the chance to explore various themes, which will help them acquire new concepts, vocabulary, and skills. It promotes interaction among children, which can foster essential social abilities like communication, cooperation, and empathy. These skills are crucial for their overall well-being and growth. Summer clubs will incorporate physical activities to help children develop gross motor skills and stay active during summer. Also, involving children in creative endeavours like crafting, storytelling, or art is an effective method of helping children express themselves while cultivating their creativity. Summer clubs allow kids to flourish independently by spending time away from their parents and caregivers; this will help them build social skills by meeting new people while learning responsibilities like taking care of themselves. EuroKids' well-planned and fun summer club can create positive memories for children they will carry throughout their lives.



The Wanderers group is designed for children aged 2 to 4 years. The Flying Carpet module will take children on an adventure to different places and experience the culture, dance, art, and environment of those places. They will meet characters with unusual powers and learn unique traits like bravery, confidence, kindness, love, and respect. The Jungle Book module will enable children to conquer their fears and learn essential life lessons. They will learn to face their fears, gain confidence, and triumph over them. The module also teaches them to lead a simple and happy life, respecting people and the environment.



The Discoverers group is designed for children aged 4 to 6 years. The Readers Cafe module will create a love for reading and enable children to become better and lifelong readers. They will engage in interactive activities, art, dance, drama, and discussions of stories that will enhance their communication skills and promote a better understanding of ideas and perspectives. The Little Scientists module will promote scientific interest, logical thinking, and curiosity through experimentation. Hands-on experiences and interesting crafts will keep children engaged and yearning for more. They will explore magnets, water, shadows, and other objects, which will develop an enthusiasm for scientific thinking and encourage active exploration of their world.



K V S Seshasai, CEO of the Pre-K Division at Lighthouse Learning, stated, "We are delighted to announce the launch of this year's Summer Club program, featuring new stories and unique activities to cater to the evolving needs and demands of children. Our program empowers children by providing them access to new skills, sound preparation for preschool education, and essential future-ready skills. Each module offers enriching opportunities encouraging young students to embark on their educational journey with renewed vigour. Our program is intended to help children acclimate comfortably to the new academic year while acquiring new skills."



EuroKids Summer Club 2023 is an excellent opportunity for children to learn, socialise, stay active, and have fun during the summer break. EuroKids continues to provide quality programs that promote children's development and enhance their learning experiences.



Register for the Summer Club and give your child a summer they will never forget.



About EuroKids



EuroKids has been recognized as India's Most Respected Early Childhood Education Brand, having a presence in 350+ cities & 3 countries, with over 21 years of experience. The company began its journey in 2001 with two preschools. It has consistently set higher standards for preschool education by introducing its innovative and mindful curriculum - EUNOIA, which provides holistic growth to children in a homely environment. The foundational belief of EuroKids is that every child deserves a "Right Start, Flying Start" that enables them to succeed in the future. Additionally, EuroKids supports new entrepreneurs in the education sector through the EuroKids franchise model, assisting them in establishing their preschools and prospering in the industry. For more information, contact the toll-free number:- 1800-209-5656.



The Group  Lighthouse Learning



Lighthouse Learning, one of India's leading Early Childhood & K-12 Education groups, includes EuroKids. With student-centered aims that align its network of over 1,200 Pre-Schools and 45 Schools, the organization is dedicated to providing future generations with a solid foundation and developing new-age skills. The Lighthouse Learning Group instills a love of learning in more than 150,000 youngsters, helps more than 1000 women launch successful businesses, and employs more than 10,000 brilliant people throughout its various campuses and offices.



Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2075829/EKSummerClub.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

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Hyderabad, May 15 (PTI) Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday inaugurated an integrated biological control laboratory (BC-Lab) at Hyderbad-based National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM).

The inauguration of this facility is a significant milestone in the development of chemical-free sustainable agriculture in India. The facility will help the extension functionaries to promote non-chemical options of pest management in agricultural and horticultural crops, an official statement said.

The trained officers will further train farmers in respective areas to adopt sustainable agricultural practices and promote the use of eco-friendly practices for pest management.

This facility will also help in enhancing the knowledge and skills of agriculture officers, extension officers and farmers in the field of soil health management, organic farming and natural farming in the country.

After inaugurating the lab, Tomar underlined the need that the technologies developed in the laboratory should be taken to the farmers.

The use of biocontrol for pests is necessary to overcome the adverse effects of excessive pesticide use in different crops as well as to reduce the cost of cultivation and to increase farmers' income, he said.

The minister also emphasised that there should not be any pesticide residue in organically produced agricultural commodities which are being exported to foreign market to keep up with the brand image of the country.

Union Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Telangana Agriculture Secretary Raghunandan Rao, NIPHM Director General Sagar Hanuman Singh were also present at the event.

The new integrated bio control laboratory (BC Lab), which is a state-of-the-art laboratory in NIPHM, has facilities for giving hands-on experience on production methodologies for biopesticides, biocontrol agents like predators and parasitoids, entomopathogenic fungi, bio fertilizers, NPV, Pheromone and botanicals.

The use of bio-control agents, bio-pesticides, and bio-fertilizers will help in reducing the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, consequently reduce the adverse effects on the environment and human health and contribute to improved soil and plant health.
MUMBAI, India, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IFI Techsolutions, a leading digital transformation company today announced it has been recognized by Microsoft as an Azure Expert Managed Service Provider (AEMSP). This achievement from Microsoft is the latest in a long list of recognitions  Microsoft Partner of the Year 2020 finalist, Microsoft Cloud Champions 11, IAMCP P2P Award for Trusted Advisor 2023 and multiple Azure Advanced Specializations.



Microsoft Azure Expert MSP is awarded to the most capable and high-fidelity Azure Managed Service Providers. An Azure Expert MSP pivots on business outcomes of their customer's solutions and applications. To attain this, IFI Techsolutions underwent a thorough audit process that assessed its technical knowledge, service quality, customer satisfaction, and business performance.



Ankur Garg, Founder, IFI Techsolutions, said, "Achieving Microsoft AEMSP is a strategic win for us that will set the foundation of our global expansion plans over the next 3 years."



Puneet Bajaj, Chief Technology Officer, IFI Techsolutions, said, "As a Microsoft AEMSP, we have built scalable and secure solutions using best in class ITSM processes and tools to serve our customers. Customers across the globe can be assured that they are working with a top of the league Microsoft partner with proven capabilities."



Julie Sanford, VP of Partner GTM, Programs and Experiences at Microsoft added, "As customers move to the public cloud with increasing pace, they need partners with a deep level of cloud expertise and experience to guide them. As a global Microsoft partner, IFI Techsolutions continues to verify its excellence in customer delivery and technical expertise via the Microsoft Azure Expert MSP program. Microsoft looks forward to continuing to partner with IFI Techsolutions to deliver digital transformation outcomes with our joint customers.



As more businesses move to the cloud, we want them to be confident they're working with the right partner, and Azure Expert MSP program offers them the most capable and qualified MSPs. IFI Techsolutions has made a strong investment in its capabilities and knowledge around Microsoft Azure and has certainly earned the expert designation."



About IFI Techsolutions:



IFI Techsolutions (www.ifi.tech), a leading cloud solutions and managed services provider founded by former Microsoft executives has delivered 500+ projects, migrated 5,300+ servers for over 350 customers in last 8 years with presence in USA, UK, UAE, India, Singapore & Australia.



Corporate Profile: http://ifi.tech/introduction



Follow: LinkedInInstagramTwitter



Contact: pr@ifi.tech



Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2075967/IFITechsolutionsMicrosoft_Partner.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

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From Al-Ahram Weekly archives: Fifty years of dispossession 1948-1998*

Looking through the pages of Al-Ahram for the first month of the year 1948, the modern reader blessed (or damned) with hindsight cannot help but pick up on the countless portents of impending disaster.

The great expectations nourished during the first two years following the end of the Second World War among the peoples of the ex-colonies, and in particular by the Arab people, were beginning to turn sour. The November 1947 UN resolution stipulating the partition of Palestine, Britain's announcement that it was going to pull out of Palestine by May 15 1948, the escalation in violence between the Arabs and the Jews in Palestine, and the prospect of war looming over the region, all combined to alter the priorities on the national agendas of the Arab countries, especially Egypt and Iraq where the struggle for national independence had been resumed with a new impetus following the end of the war.

In both Iraq and Egypt the national struggle prior to November 1947 had been focused on one goal: evacuation and independence. Throughout the years 1946 and 1947, successive Egyptian governments struggled to negotiate -- without success -- an agreement with Britain which would have replaced the 1936 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty. Meanwhile, civil disturbances erupted periodically in most of the country's major cities and towns calling for independence, inevitably leading to the downfall of one government and the formation of another, each of which hoped it might succeed where its predecessor had failed.

Thus when Al-Ahram announced on its banner of January 16, 1948 that an Anglo-Iraqi treaty had been signed the previous day in Portsmouth, included in the coverage of the event was a Reuters analysis describing the treaty as a model to be emulated in the Egyptian case.

On January 18, in the lead story of the front page, Al-Ahram's special correspondent in London revealed that sources close to the British Foreign Office had disclosed to him that "the British government considers that the Anglo-Iraqi treaty establishes a precedent to be followed by treaties with the other countries of the Middle East and is a model for those treaties to follow."

Later in his story, Al-Ahram's correspondent added: "Top officials in the British government think that it is possible to persuade the Arab countries to understand and appreciate Britain's policy in Palestine, and that more solid Anglo-Arab treaties can be erected on the ruins of the old policy."

In anticipation of the end of Mandate rule in May, Britain was trying hard, during the first two months of 1948, to reach agreements with the Arab countries that would bind them in to what was officially termed "A Middle East Regional Defence System". The news item below the banner of the issue for January 18 revealed that preparations were underway in London for drafting treaties similar to the Anglo-Iraqi treaty with Saudi Arabia, Trans-Jordan and Yemen. Along with Egypt and Iraq, these countries together represented five of the then seven independent Arab states which had formed the Arab League in 1945 (the other two being Syria and Lebanon).

The next day, Al-Ahram's front page was again dominated by news of the embryonic treaties and of how the Jordanians were expected in London the following week, while Prince Faisal of Saudi Arabia might make the journey at the beginning of February. On January 20 a news item on the front page revealed that the Anglo-Iraqi treaty was not faring well back home in Iraq. However, members of the Iraqi delegation who had initialed the treaty, and who were still in London, assured Al-Ahram's correspondents that some opposition back home was to be expected and was unlikely to change the course of events.

On January 21 the two main banners on Al-Ahram's front page declared: "Attack across the Lebanese borders on a Kibbutz near Acre", and "A bomb targeting Ghandi misses him but injures nine who were with him." With the exception of the Ghandi drama, which was fast approaching its tragic close, and which had been closely followed by Al-Ahram since the day (January 14) the Mahatma had begun his fast in protest at the sectarian disturbances which were then shaking the sub-continent, the front page was almost exclusively devoted to matters Palestinian.

The main story dealing with the attack on the Jewish Kibbutz included a statement by Abdel-Qadir Al-Husseini, the leader of the Arab troops in Palestine. According to Al-Husseini, "Palestine was at a crossroads," and his fighters "[would] spare nothing in their organised struggle for their rights, though they [would] avoid the treacherous means the Jews resort to in the battlefield, since the history of the Arabs and their traditions and morality forbid treachery." Husseini concluded his statement by saying: "We still need arms and equipment, and the duty of the Mujahdeen is to fight on the battlefield, while any other matter is the concern of the Supreme Arab Authority."

Even the news item that day on the newly-initialed Anglo-Iraqi Treaty, reporting an escalation in the anti-treaty demonstrations in Baghdad, linked those demonstrations to the events in Palestine. Al-Ahram's special correspondent in Baghdad reported: "Informed circles here say that Iraqi anti-Zionist sentiments have had a major influence on the escalation of the demonstrations in Baghdad in protest against the new treaty between Iraq and Britain." He continued: "As is well known, some Palestinian Arabs have voiced their rejection of a new alliance between Iraq and Britain at a time when the Arabs in Palestine are being killed."

The Al-Ahram correspondent concluded his report by stating: "It would seem, to judge by the demonstrations in front of the American installations in Baghdad, that the [UN] partition resolution has played a leading role in stirring up feelings."

On the second page of the same issue of January 21, under the headline "An Act of Royal Generosity", we read that "His Majesty the King [Farouk] expressed the supreme wish that no parties be held or festive decorations be put up on the occasion of the Royal Birthday (February 11), out of respect for the present conditions in Palestine". Al-Ahram commented, "no doubt this generous royal sentiment will be received with the greatest appreciation in Egypt and throughout the Arab countries. May God keep the Great Farouk a treasure and bastion of Arabism."

On January 23 the main story on the front page carried the official Arabic text of the Anglo-Iraqi treaty, while a Reuters report from Baghdad below the story, headlined "A dangerous Iraqi decision" declared that "A statement by the Royal Palace said that Crown Prince Abdel-El-Ilah had invited a number of former prime ministers, dignitaries and representatives of the various political parties to exchange views about the new Anglo-Iraqi Treaty". The report reveals that after five hours of deliberations the meeting concluded that "the new treaty does not fulfill the national aspirations of Iraq" -- and the rest is a forgone conclusion.

On January 25 Al-Ahram's banner blared: "Iraqi Treaty in the Hands of Fate", while below the main story was a UP report from Damascus, headlined "A proposed Arab Charter banning Arab countries from entering into agreements with any of the major powers".

According to the report, "informed sources in Damascus said that the Lebanese government has proposed to the Saudi Kingdom that an Arab charter preventing any Arab country from signing a pact with the four major powers should be signed, and that an envoy carrying the reply of king Saud is expected soon in Damascus." The report continued: "It is common knowledge that if King Saud answers in the affirmative, the Lebanese government will present a similar proposal to the Egyptian government."

News of the demonstrations in Iraq continued to dominate the front page the following day, while the banner of January 28 announced the resignation of the Iraqi cabinet and the killing of dozens of people as the demonstrations drew to a bloody close. The main banners for January 29 announced "End of bloody demonstrations in Iraq", "Call for the formation of a government representative of the people", and "Participation of 300,000 Iraqis in a procession mourning those who were killed during the demonstrations".

On January 30 the banner carried the news that the task of forming a new cabinet had been entrusted to the Shi'te leader Al-Sayed Mohamed Al-Sadr, over an interview with him in which Al-Sadr said that his main concern was with "the national feelings of the Iraqi nation and the Arab interest, as well as with the future of the Arabs in the light of developments in the world arena."

On the same front page of January 30, Al-Ahram's correspondent in London filed a report to the effect that a "top British official, who is a well informed source on Iraqi affairs, said that the recent crisis in Iraq could be attributed to two factors. First, the question of Palestine, which every Iraqi perceives to be an Iraqi question. Second, the mishandling of the situation by the Iraqi delegation in London, as well as by the Iraqi authorities inside Iraq, who showed weakness in dealing with the psychology of the mob."

Al-Ahram's correspondent ended his story by saying that the British official "threatened that if Arab officials did not act firmly then the whole Middle East will turn into an inextricable problem over the coming few months, because of the question of Palestine, and cooperation between the Arabs and Britain may fall victim to that decline" -- prophetic words if ever there were.

When the news that the Mahatma Ghandi had been assassinated while on his way to pray for peace was announced the following day, it resonated with a funereal tone encompassing far more than the death of one man in India. As violence continued to escalate in Palestine, the news of Ghandi's murder announced on the banner of the front page of Al-Ahram of 1 February sounded like a requiem for all the great hopes of decolonisation.

Those few months following the end of the Second World War, when India was the model looked to by all the peoples of the imperial colonies as they tried to invent or imagine a new independent future for themselves, seemed to have been buried alongside the man who more than anybody else incarnated the ideals of tolerance and peace.

* This article was published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 12 February 1998



This article was first published in Al-Ahram Weeklys special pages commemorating 50 years of Al-Nakba, the Palestinian catastrophe when Israel was created on 15 May 1948. These pages, published in 1998, were part of a year-long series of articles documenting the history and nature of the Arab-Israeli struggle, as well as that of Palestinian dispossession and exile.

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New Delhi, May 15 (PTI) India's exports dipped by 12.7 per cent year on year to USD 34.66 billion in April this year, the government data showed on Monday.

Imports too declined by about 14 per cent to USD 49.9 billion as against USD 58.06 billion recorded in the same month last year, the data showed.

DGFT (Director General of Foreign Trade) Santosh Sarangi said that trade numbers for 2022-23 has been revised upwards.
New Delhi, May 15 (PTI) The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Monday told the Supreme Court that it was not investigating the Adani group since 2016 and termed such claims factually baseless".

The earlier investigation pertained to the issuance of Global Depository Receipts (GDRs) by 51 Indian firms and no listed company of Adani group was among them, submitted the market regulator which is seeking an extension of six months to complete a probe into allegations of stock price manipulation by the Guatam Adani-led group.

On May 12, lawyer Prashant Bhushan had opposed the plea for the extension of time, saying SEBI was seized of some kind of investigation in the matter since 2016.

The fresh rejoinder affidavit by SEBI was filed by the market regulator before a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud which adjourned to Tuesday the hearing on PILs and a separate plea of the SEBI on the issue of extension of time.

The hearing on the market regulator's plea and PILs could not take place on Monday due to paucity of time and on account of scheduled hearing of certain matters before a special bench at 3 pm.

The fresh affidavit said that the application for extension of time filed by SEBI is meant to ensure "carriage of justice keeping in mind the interest of investors and the securities market" since any incorrect or premature conclusion of the case arrived at without full facts material on record would not serve the ends of justice and hence would be legally untenable.

It said the 'investigation' referred to in its earlier reply affidavit has no relation and/or connection to the issues referred to and/or arising out of the Hindenburg report...

"The matter referred to in paragraph 5 pertains to the issuance of Global Depository Receipts (GDRs) by 51 Indian listed companies in respect of which investigation was conducted. However, no listed company of the Adani group was part of the aforesaid 51 companies. Pursuant to the completion of the investigation, appropriate actions were taken in this matter.

It termed as factually baseless the allegation that the SEBI has been investigating the Adani group since 2016 and said, I, therefore, say and submit that reliance sought to be placed on the investigation pertaining to GDRs is wholly misplaced.

The SEBI, in its affidavit, said it has already approached eleven overseas regulators under the Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MMOU) with the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) with respect to its investigation into Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS) norms and the first such plea was made as early as October 6, 2020.

Various requests for information were made to these regulators. The first request to overseas regulators was made as early as October 6, 2020. A detailed note has been submitted to the expert committee constituted by this court covering the steps taken, responses received and the current status of information gathering under the MMOU of IOSCO, it said.

The affidavit said in respect of the investigation relating to 12 transactions referred to in the Hindenburg Report, prima facie it is noted that these transactions are highly complex and have many sub-transactions across numerous jurisdictions.

A rigorous investigation of these transactions would require the collation of data or information from various sources including bank statements from multiple domestic as well as international banks, and financial statements of onshore and offshore entities involved in the transactions and contracts, it said.

Thereafter, analysis would have to be conducted on the documents received from various sources before conclusive findings can be arrived at, it said.

The bench, which also comprised justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala, had on May 12 said it would consider granting three more months to SEBI for concluding its probe into the allegations of stock price manipulation and lapses in regulatory disclosure.

The apex court had on March 2 asked SEBI to probe within two months the allegations against the Adani group and also set up a panel to look at providing protection to Indian investors after a damning report by US short-seller Hindenburg wiped out more than USD 140 billion of the Indian conglomerate's market value.

It had also ordered the setting up of a six-member committee headed by former apex court judge Justice A M Sapre to investigate the issue.

The ambit of the Sapre panel is to provide an overall assessment of the situation, including the relevant causal factors which have led to volatility in the securities market in the recent past.

The panel was asked to suggest measures to "(i) strengthen the statutory and/or regulatory framework; and (ii) secure compliance with the existing framework for the protection of investors", the court said.

Till now, four PILs have been filed in the top court on the issue, including by lawyers M L Sharma and Vishal Tiwari and Congress leader Jaya Thakur.

Adani Group stocks had taken a beating on the bourses after Hindenburg Research made a litany of allegations, including those about fraudulent transactions and share-price manipulation, against the business conglomerate.

The Adani Group dismissed the charges as lies, saying it complies with all laws and disclosure requirements.
New Delhi, May 15 (PTI) As a political row erupted over SEBI telling Supreme Court that it has not been probing the Adani group since 2016, the Finance Ministry on Monday said it stands by its July 2021 written reply in Parliament that had stated that the stock market regulator was investigating some Adani group companies.

After SEBI filed a fresh affidavit with the Supreme Court to strengthen its case for a six-month extension of the deadline to complete the probing allegations of fraud and money laundering against Adani Group, Congress and other opposition parties cited the finance ministry's July 2021 replies in Parliament to ask who was misleading.

"The government stands by its reply in Lok Sabha on 19th July 2021 to Q. No. 72, which was based on due diligence and inputs from all concerned agencies," the Finance Ministry tweeted.

This was in response to Congress spokesperson Jairman Ramesh posting a screenshot of the written reply made by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary on July 19, 2021.

In the reply, the Minister stated that "SEBI is investigating some Adani Group companies with regard to compliance with SEBI regulations. Further, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) is investigating certain entities belonging to the Adani Group of companies under laws administered by it.

He had gone on to state that Enforcement Directorate was not carrying out any investigation and that "SEBI had vide order dated January 16, 2016, directed depositories to freeze particular beneficiary accounts of certain foreign portfolio investors including Albula Investment Funds, Cresta Funds Ltd and APMS Investment Ltd.

The damning January 24 report of US short seller Hindenburg had alleged that some of these funds based out of Cyprus and Mauritius were proxies of Adani's that were used to manipulate stock markets and funnel money.

Adani Group has denied all allegations.

On petitions seeking probe into the allegations, the Supreme Court had asked SEBI to wind up its probe against the Adani Group in two months. That deadline ended earlier this month and SEBI sought six more months to complete the probe.

Petitioners however contested that SEBI had been probing Adani group since 2016 and shouldn't be given a six-month extension.

In rejoinder to the petitioners, SEBI in a fresh affidavit on Monday said that the allegations that it "is investigating Adani since 2016 is factually baseless".

SEBI however did not say since when it was probing the Adani group.

"Now SEBI tells the Supreme Court that they have not been investigating any of the serious allegations against Adani! Which is worsemisleading Parliament, or being fast asleep as lakhs of investors are duped by alleged money laundering and round-tripping using offshore shell companies? Or even worse, was there a restraining hand from above?" Ramesh tweeted.

Priyanka Chaturvedi, Rajya Sabha MP from Shiv Sena-UBT, tweeted: "So, SEBI denies any investigation into Adani companies since 2016, denies its own statement to the court? Was the junior finance minister lying to the country regarding the investigation in his answer on 19 July 2021? This smells of a cover-up but at whose behest?

"If what SEBI saying to the court is correct, goes to prove that Adani Group has almost been given a free rein to manipulate markets through offshore companies since 2014 and with the regulatory body turning a blind eye to the illegalities. What a shame, again I repeat, only a JPC can uncover the extent of damage. Also the exposure of banks, LIC, EPFO in the group. Public loss for private gain, at whose behest?" she asked.

She even raised doubts at SEBI using a junior employee to file the affidavit.

"Wow. A 22-year-old has been hired by @SEBIIndia to file an affidavit in the Supreme Court on their behalf! Must be either super experienced from kindergarten days to file such replies or naive enough to be part of something as big as this," she said in another tweet.

The SEBI affidavit was filed by one Satyanshu Maurya, who said he was presently working as an Assistant Manager in the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

TMC leader and MP Mahua Moitra, who has been leading the tirade against the Adani group and who had put the July 19, 2021 questions, hasn't yet commented on the issue.

She had however last week warned of Adani being allowed to raise funds through share sale before a probe is completed.

"Let me tell @Sebiindia loud & clear that we will raise Cain if Adani allowed to raise even a rupee of equity without investigation being completed," she had tweeted on May 12 with '#FraudstersBeware' hashtag. On May 12, lawyer Prashant Bhushan opposed the plea for the extension of time, saying SEBI was seized of some kind of investigation in the matter since 2016.

SEBI in the fresh affidavit said that the application for extension of time is meant to ensure "carriage of justice keeping in mind the interest of investors and the securities market" since any incorrect or premature conclusion of the case arrived at without full facts material on record would not serve the ends of justice and hence would be legally untenable.



It said the 'investigation' referred to in its earlier reply affidavit has no relation and/or connection to the issues referred to and/or arising out of the Hindenburg report.

"The matter referred to in paragraph 5 pertains to the issuance of Global Depository Receipts (GDRs) by 51 Indian listed companies in respect of which investigation was conducted. However, no listed company of the Adani group was part of the aforesaid 51 companies. Pursuant to the completion of the investigation, appropriate actions were taken in this matter."



It termed as factually baseless the allegation that the SEBI has been investigating the Adani group since 2016 and said, I, therefore, say and submit that reliance sought to be placed on the investigation pertaining to GDRs is wholly misplaced.

Chaudhary in the July 19, 2021 reply to the Lok Sabha also mentioned of the GDRs.



"In a matter pertaining to issuances of Global Depository Receipts (GDR) by certain Indian companies, SEBI vide order dated June 16, 2016, had directed depositories to freeze particular beneficiary accounts of certain FPIs including Albula Investment Ld, Cresta Funds Ltd and APMS Investment Fund Ltd. However, no order in respect of other beneficiary accounts of these three FPIs has been passed by SEBI," he had said.
Colombo, May 15 (PTI) The IMF has expressed hope that Sri Lanka's debt restructuring process would be completed by September, which is also the time for the global lender's formal review of the bailout facility it extended to the cash-strapped nation, a senior IMF executive said on Monday.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recently extended a nearly USD 3 billion bailout facility to debt-ridden Sri Lanka that would help stabilise the country's economy after it was jolted by a devastating economic crisis last year.

"The IMF is hopeful that Sri Lankas debt restructuring process would be completed by September which is the time for the first review," Krishna Srinivasan, the IMF's director for Asia Pacific, told reporters.

A team of the IMF is currently in the country assessing the progress made since the agreement reached on March 20 for a nearly USD 3 billion bail-out facility over a period of 4 years.

"The expectation is that restructuring is completed by the time of the first review. To that end, the government is making a good faith effort in negotiating with all creditors, official and private, Srinivasan said.

He said that the IMF was not getting involved in the domestic debt restructuring process.

Srinivasan further said that anti-corruption and governance reforms were needed to ensure people benefit from reforms envisaged in the IMF programme.

"Sri Lanka is the first country in Asia that has undergone the IMF governance diagnostic exercise, he said.

The governance diagnostic report is expected to be published by September.

Srinivasan said it was essential for Sri Lanka to continue the reform programme.

"The country was in crisis and ambitious reforms were needed, and they should be pursued. The economic impact of the reforms on the poor and vulnerable needs to be mitigated with appropriate measures," he said.

Commenting on the IMF team's visit that will last until May 23, Peter Breuer, the Sri Lanka head of the IMF, said: "We are engaging with the government to update our knowledge to find out what is the state of affairs to the extent any corrective action is needed.

According to official figures, Sri Lankas total debt is USD 83.6 billion, of which foreign debt amounts to USD 42.6 billion and domestic debt amounts to USD 42 billion.

In April 2022, Sri Lanka declared its first-ever debt default, the worst economic crisis since its independence from Britain in 1948, triggered by forex shortages that sparked public protests.

Months-long street protests led to the ouster of the then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in mid-July. Rajapaksa had started the IMF negotiations after refusing to tap the global lender for support.
Chandigarh, May 15 (PTI) The Haryana Government has given approval to Delhi-SNB and Delhi-Panipat rapid transit system (RRTS) projects. The sanction of these projects now is under consideration with the Government of India, said an official statement here on Monday.

During the RRTS meeting chaired by Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal here, it was informed by the officials that the Delhi- Gurugram-Shahjahanpur-Neemrana-Behror (SNB)- Alwar RRTS corridor will have 107 km long alignment, with 70 km elevated and the remaining 37 km underground.

It will feature 6 underground, 9 elevated, and 1 at-grade station. A depot is planned at Dharuhera.

The length of the corridor passing through Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan are 23 km, 83 km, and 2 km, respectively. The elevated portion of the proposed alignment is set to be located on the median of old Delhi-Gurugram, the Right of Way (ROW) of sector 17 in Gurugram, and NH-40, 48 up to SNB (Rajasthan state border).

Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan states have approved the project and the sanction is under consideration with the Government of India.

"The proposed stations of Delhi- SNB corridor are namely Sarai Kale Khan, INA, Munirka, Aerocity, Udyog Vihar, Sector-17, Rajiv Chowk, Kherki Daula, Manesar, Panchgaon, Bilaspur Chowk, Dharuhera, MBIR, Rewari, Bawal and SNB," the Haryana government statement further said.

The Delhi- Panipat RRTS corridor of 103 km long alignment has elevated 11.5 km length and balance 91.5 km underground. It has 2 underground, 14 elevated, and 2 at grade stations.

There are two depots planned at Murthal and Panipat. The length passing through Delhi and Haryana are 36.2 km and 66.8 km respectively.

RRTS project is one of the key strategic interventions of Government of India and accordingly, has been included in the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) aimed at transforming urban mobility and bringing sustainable, comfortable, and swift public transportation to the public to empower them through access to education, healthcare, employment, and economic opportunities, it said.

National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) is a Joint Venture company of Government of India and participating State Governments of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan and is under the administrative control of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

NCRTC is mandated for designing, developing, implementing, financing, operating, and maintaining Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) projects in NCR to provide comfortable and fast transit to NCR towns and meet the high growth in transport demand, the statement said.
Chandigarh, May 15 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said that the state government is fully prepared to ensure smooth and hassle-free sowing of paddy crop during the upcoming kharif season across the state.

According to an official statement here, the chief minister said that as per the suggestions received from farmers, the state government has decided to commence the sowing of paddy across the state in a phased manner.

He said that the paddy sowing will begin on June 10, 16, 19 and 21 in different parts of the state.

The state has been divided in four zones to implement this sowing mechanism.

To ensure smooth irrigation in a staggered manner, the first phase will begin on June 10 with transplantation in the cultivable land near the international border areas.

Mann said that uninterrupted power from June 16 will be ensured in the second phase to seven districts -- Ferozepur, Faridkot, Pathankot, Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurdaspur, SBS Nagar and Tarn Taran.

In the third phase, paddy transplantation will be ensured from June 19 in seven districts, including Rupnagar, SAS Nagar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Fazilka, Bathinda and Amritsar.

In the remaining nine districts of Patiala, Jalandhar, Moga, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Hoshiarpur, Sangrur, Malerkotla, Barnala and Mansa, the crop transplantation will commence from June 21.

The chief minister said that in order to save the groundwater, the power supply for Direct Sowing of Rice (DSR) technique will start from May 20 across the state.

A notification in this regard has already been issued by the state government.

He asked the farmers to refrain from sowing paddy before these dates.

Reiterating the firm commitment of the state government to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the paddy season, the chief minister said that a minimum eight hours of regular power supply will be ensured everyday.

In a bid to check the depleting water table, the state government will promote Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) technology in a big way during the current kharif season.

DSR technique can save the ground water up to 15-20 per cent besides enhancing recharging the underground water by 10-15 per cent and saving nearly Rs 3,000 per acre on input costs including labour, he said.

Mann said that farmers opting for DSR technique will get an incentive worth Rs 1,500 per acre from the state government as announced earlier.
Mumbai, May 15 (PTI) Actor Vicky Kaushal on Monday said his upcoming film "Zara Hatke Zara Bachke" is a great entertainer that will bring families to the theatre.

Also starring Sara Ali Khan, the Hindi film is directed by Laxman Utekar of "Luka Chuppi" and "Mimi" fame.

The actor said he is looking forward to the premiere of the film, which marks his first theatrical release since 2019's "Uri: The Surgical Strike".

"It's a theatrical release for both of us after a long time. We were discussing that our theatrical releases before this were pre-Covid. I was telling Sara the same thing while coming here.

"I was nervous that I hadn't forgotten how to do this. It's a great film to bring to the theatre because it's a true family film, something you'll enjoy watching with your entire family. This film reminded me about my family," Kaushal told reporters here.

Khan echoed her co-star's sentiment.

"This is a fully wholesome film. You will get all the emotions here. It is a complete (cinematic) experience that you should come to the theatre to watch with your family," she added.

The National Award winner was speaking at the trailer launch of "Zara Hatke Zara Bachke". Also present at the event were Khan and producer Dinesh Vijan of Maddock Films.

Set in Indore, "Zara Hatke Zara Bachke" is a romantic comedy which follows the life of a married couple Kapil and Somya, played by Kaushal and Khan, who is headed for a divorce.

Be it her debut Abhishek Kapoor's "Kedarnath" or Aanand L Rai's "Atrangi Re", asked if playing a woman from a small town gives her the edge of relatability, Khan said it wasn't the case.

"I don't know if it's about edge, but I really relate to the pulse of my country very strongly. I've always grown up thinking of myself as an Indian desi girl from Juhu that lives with mumma, that doesn't have any frills and fancies, or any filmy friends, to be honest.

"So, one has always grown up not just knowing but also being very proud of my Indianness... Ultimately, it's about Gattu (Kapoor) sir's vision, Aanand ji's guidance or Laxman sir's instructions that makes me feel like a character that you can relate to," she added.

Producer Vijan described "Zara Hatke Zara Bachke" as a film that will "cater to families".

Vijan said the director could not make it to the event as he had lost his father. Vijan credited Utekar for ensuring a theatrical release for this film.

"These films have built us. All the films that we have made, our stories are about the middle class... When you will leave this film, I promise you, you will go home and hug your family, that is my guarantee.

"I hope that we make films like this run. Because it's very easy to put it on digital and give it home but watching a film together in a theatre is much more fun. If you will watch this film it will really make you laugh. So, if you are up for a laugh and a big cry, come," Vijan said.

Also starring Sharib Hashmi and Rakesh Bedi, the movie is slated to hit the screens on June 2. It is produced by Maddock Films and Jio Studios.
Toronto, May 15 (PTI) A Canadian man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for the 2021 killing of a 23-year-old Sikh from India in the country's Nova Scotia province, media reports said.

Prabhjot Singh Katri was stabbed to death by 21-year-old Cameron James Prosper in an unprovoked attack outside an apartment building in Truro town of the province in September 2021.

A Nova Scotia judge on Friday sentenced Prosper to nine years in jail for manslaughter, The Global News reported on Saturday.

Prosper was initially charged with second-degree murder but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter during a court appearance on December 19, 2022.

Katri, who worked for a taxi service company as well as a few restaurants in Truro, came to Canada from India in 2017 to study. He was 23 when he died.

Prosper stabbed Katri in the neck on September 5, 2021, when the Sikh youth was leaving a friend's apartment. Katri rushed back to his friends apartment, where they called the police. He was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead because of blood loss from the injuries.

In his decision, Justice Jeffrey Hunt said the attack was made without rational cause but without the intent to kill Katri, according to the report.

Apologising to Katris family, Prosper said, I am truly sorry, like, genuinely sorry about this. If I could go back in time I would change it.

The maximum sentence for manslaughter in Canada is life in prison, while there is no minimum sentence for the crime unless a firearm is involved, the report said.

Hunt said the mitigating factors for Prosper's 9-year term included his guilty plea and expression of remorse, which spared Katris loved ones from having to go through a trial.

Rajveer Kaur, Katris sister, in an interview following the decision, said that the nine-year sentence was not enough.

We deserve more, Kaur was quoted as saying in the report. If someones lifes gone, nine years, (its) not comparable to that.

In September last year, India advised its nationals in Canada and those travelling to that country to exercise due caution and remain vigilant given the "sharp increase in incidents of hate crimes, sectarian violence and anti-India activities" there.
Geneva, May 15 (AP) The 175 member countries of the UN migration agency were casting ballots on Monday to choose its leader for the next five years  an unusual contest between its European director-general and his American deputy who's looking to oust him from the job.

International Organisation for Migration director-general Antonio Vitorino of Portugal was looking at a possibly tough contest against his Biden administration-backed deputy, Amy Pope.

As the two candidates left a cavernous conference hall in Geneva one after the other to let member countries vote behind closed doors in their absence, Pope and Vitorino didn't speak to each other  but she expressed confidence to a handful of reporters as she passed by.

"Gonna be a great day!" she mused, tapping a journalist on the arm and replying yes when asked if she had enough votes to win.

The Portuguese diplomatic mission in Geneva tweeted that the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, which counts nine members, was backing Vitorino, and the European Union  of which Portugal is a member  in recent days announced that he's the 27-member bloc's candidate.

The face-off is unusual in that Pope, the IOM director-general for management and reform, is looking to unseat her boss in a contest between allies: The United States and Portugal are fellow NATO members.

Eight of the 10 IOM directors-general since the agency was founded 72 years ago have been American. But Vitorino swept into the job in 2018 after IOM member countries rebuffed a candidate put up by the Trump administration, which pulled the US out of the UN's main human rights body, shunned globalism and espoused an America First policy that rankled many.

The election comes as migrants have been on the move like never before, driven from their homes by factors including conflict, economic distress and the growing impacts of climate change.

IOM has nearly 19,000 staffers in 171 countries who provide migrants with food, water, shelter and paperwork help, and is grappling with mass migration crises in places as diverse as the US-Mexico border, the central Mediterranean, Bangladesh, Ukraine, and Sudan.

To win under IOM rules, a candidate needs to garner votes from two-thirds of countries that cast ballots in the election. (AP) PY

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Bratislava (Slovakia), May 15 (AP) Slovakia's President Zuzana Caputova swore in on Monday a government of technocrats to lead the country to snap elections in September amid a political crisis.

Ludovit Odor, the the former deputy governor of the central bank and a respected economist, will head the 15-member Cabinet. Career diplomat Miroslav Wlachovsky becomes the foreign minister, with Martin Sklenar, a former senior defence ministry official, as the defence minister.

Odor, who comes from Slovakia's Hungarian minority, is not affiliated with any political party. No member of his government will run in the forthcoming election.

We won't work miracles but you can expect us to ensure the proper functioning of the state, Odor said.

Slovakia has been without a proper government since December 15, when the coalition government led by Prime Minister Eduard Heger lost a vote of no confidence in parliament called by the opposition, following months of political crisis.

Caputova initially asked Heger to lead a caretaker government until early elections could take place. However, after four members of the caretaker administration gradually left their posts, Heger offered his resignation and Caputova opted for a government of technocrats.

Odor's government has to face a confidence vote in Parliament within 30 days.

Caputova said that in its limited time, the new government should focus on stabilising the current situation in the country, preparing next year's budget, and lead Slovakia to the early elections set for September 30.

Heger's government was a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its fight against Russian military aggression and gave the Ukrainian armed forces the arms they requested, such as 13 Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets and the S-300 air defence system.

Some current opposition leaders, including former populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, oppose military support for Ukraine and European Union sanctions against Russia.

Fico and his Smer-Social Democracy leftist party are the favourites to win the upcoming election, according to recent polls. (AP) PY

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Vodacom announced that Vodafone Egypt has contributed around $418.47 million to its revenue and profit growth since December, according to a statement by the South African mobile communication group on Monday.

The group ascribed 16 percent of its revenue for the fiscal year ending in March 2023 to the acquisition of a 55 percent stake in Vodafone Egypt for $2.28 billion in December.

Vodacom's revenue recorded about $6.24 billion over the past fiscal year.

The company estimates that the informal market in Egypt amounts to $300 billion, which opens a wide market for its cash transfer service. Vodacom said that Vodafone Cash services have generated $20.8 million from December 2022 until the end of March 2023.

E-wallet services like Vodafone Cash have helped improve financial inclusion rates in Egypt since 2016 by 147 percent, according to data released by the Central Bank of Egypt.

The overall number of Egyptians who now have accounts in banks, Egypt Post, mobile phone wallets, or prepaid cards has reached 42.3 million, which represents 64.8 percent of Egyptians above the age of 16 (65.4 million citizens).

The South African group revealed that it now serves 45.4 million customers in Egypt.

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Jerusalem, May 15 (PTI) Holocaust education will go a long way in clearing the "misconceptions" about Jews in Pakistan and promoting greater tolerance and understanding about the Abrahamic faith in the country, a member of the Pakistani delegation, who visited Israel, has said.

The systematic massacre of Jews by the Nazi regime and their collaborators in Europe during World War II is commonly referred to as the Holocaust.

Six million Jews, including 1.5 million children, perished in this operation driven by a racist ideology to create a new world order.

Holocaust education is an effort undertaken, either in formal or informal settings, to teach about the Holocaust.

Sharaka, an NGO founded by young leaders in Israel and the Gulf countries, organised this unique one-week programme earlier this month, involving a Pakistani delegation that included religious leaders, academics, journalists, and influencers.

"I cannot say for sure how many Pakistanis know about the Holocaust, but the majority of our countrymen think it is hypothetical. They say the Jews created this 'fable' for their benefit, Danish Ameer, a sub-editor with Pakistans online portal Daily Jang, who was part of the seven-member delegation, told PTI.

"Holocaust denial lies in every society, not only in Pakistan. Maybe through Holocaust education, we will be able to erase the misconceptions about Jews in Pakistani society and create a more tolerant atmosphere", he said.

The visit by the Pakistani delegation was preceded by two other delegations that comprised Arab, European, and Turkish Muslims.

Another delegation member, author Mehr Husain, reckons that educating Pakistanis about the Holocaust can fulfill the desperate need to cultivate empathy and uphold humanity in the country.

"Pakistanis have suffered significantly when it comes to loss of human life. We have seen sectarian, provincial, national, regional, and international violence. We have a community, the Hazara, that are constantly under attack in Pakistan and even in Afghanistan", she said.

The delegation had a seminar at Yad Vashem, Israel's National Holocaust Museum, and education institute, and engaged in a series of in-person and online lectures and conversations about the Holocaust, extremism, and genocides in modern history.

The participants also visited Poland and toured the Auschwitz concentration camp.

Pakistan and Israel currently do not have diplomatic ties. However, contact between the two sides, including at the political level, is not unknown.

A handshake between former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in 2005, and a meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries, Khurshid Kasuri and Silvan Shalom, in Turkiye, was widely publicised.

"Even though Israel and Pakistan don't have diplomatic relations, I never think of Israel as an enemy. There was a time when I used to go to the seminary where cursing Jews and Israel was very common. But those were during my school days. I used to go to seminary for prayers and "bayan" (mufti's speech). If the mufti was talking about Pakistan's crisis or some other international affairs, it was obvious he was going to connect all the miseries to the Jews and Israel", Ameer said.

"But later in my university, when I was a student of International Relations, I learned other perspectives and stopped being negative about Israel, Jews, and Zionists", he emphasised.

When asked about his week-long trip to Israel, the scribe remarked: "I am already in awe of Israel".

"They have transformed their country from barren land to one of the most advanced and developed states in the world. What they have done with 22,000 sq km, Pakistan is nowhere near it with 7,96,000 sq km. I believe Pakistan should follow Israel's model of governance if it has any plans to become a developed state," he asserted.

"If I talk about my experience of travelling in Israel, honestly speaking, I felt at home. I was welcomed everywhere very warm-heartedly", he added.

Recalling his interactions with the locals, Ameer said meeting Holocaust survivor Deborah Weinstein and her family was "lovely".

"There were a few instances when I reached out to patrolling police officers to seek guidance about an address and they helped me right away. They did not ask me where I came from. There is a lot to say about this trip, which I intend to write in my article", he added.

The Pakistani delegation toured across the country, meeting people from all walks of life and also had a brush with the Israeli innovation ecosystem.
Tokyo, May 15 (AP) This week's summit of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies in Hiroshima will include eight other guest nations, part of a complicated, high-stakes diplomatic gambit meant to settle the world's most serious crises.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has invited South Korea, Australia, India, Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, Comoros and the Cook Islands.

Kishida hopes this mix of countries will help efforts to stand up to China's assertiveness and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to analysts. He also wants stronger ties with US allies and with developing nations and to make progress on working toward a nuclear-free world, something that looks increasingly difficult amid North Korean and Russian nuclear threats.

Here's a look at what to expect as the rich world leaders welcome these guest countries:



PUSHBACK ON CHINA, RUSSIA



As their top diplomats did last month in a meeting in Nagano, Japan, the leaders of the G-7 nations -- the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Italy and the European Union -- will try to form a unified front against Chinese threats to Taiwan and Russia's war on Ukraine.

"The G-7 is committed to upholding the international order, and most of its members are in Europe, so supporting Ukraine against Russia's invasion is a top priority," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

"As the pillar of the G-7 in Asia, Japan is particularly focused on updating the international order to cope with the rise of China," Easley said. "The Kishida government's agenda and special invitations for the Hiroshima summit reflect an effort not to contain China but to expand the international coalition defending standards for state behaviour."

The eight guest nations have complex political and economic ties with China and Russia.

India is part of the Quad group of four Indo-Pacific nation, which also includes the United States, Japan and Australia. China has accused that group of representing an "Asian NATO". On the Russia-Ukraine war, India has abstained several times from voting on UN resolutions against Moscow, though it has stressed the need for diplomacy on ending the war. It has boosted its imports of Russian oil.

Brazil is a member of the so-called BRICS group of developing nations, including China, Russia and India. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva recently visited China to strengthen ties with its biggest trade market. He has also irritated Ukraine and some in the West with his position on the war, recently suggesting that Ukraine cede Crimea to forge peace.

Japan is courting Vietnam because it also has territorial disputes with China, according to Kim Yeol Soo, an expert at South Korea's Korea Institute for Military Affairs.



'GLOBAL SOUTH' NATIONS



Kishida has said his list of guest nations reflects the importance of the so-called "Global South" countries. That is a term used for developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The G-7 nations account for about 40 per cent of the world's economic activity, a decrease from an estimated 80 per cent of global gross domestic product in the 1970s.

"When the UN adopts resolutions, you see a considerable number of its 190 or so member states are Global South countries," said Choi Eunmi, a Japan expert at South Korea's Asan Institute for Policy Studies.

Indonesia's importance for Japan, for instance, is linked to its abundant natural resources and economic potential, said Kim, the expert.

India is this year's president of the G-20, which is seen as a crucial bridge between G-7 economies and the Global South. Japan has traditionally had close ties with India, where Kishida visited in March for a summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In response to questions by The Associated Press, Japan's Foreign Ministry said the G-7 and other nations need to cooperate with the Global South to deal with energy, food security, climate change, health and development issues.



US ALLIES



Japan's invitation of South Korea reflects the neighbours' role as staunch US allies with a shared security threat from North Korea's advancing nuclear arsenal.

In recent weeks, Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol have taken major steps to boost security and economic cooperation and to move beyond historical grievances stemming from Japan's 1910-45 colonisation of the Korean Peninsula.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry's response to an AP query praised Yoon for an "active diplomacy showing commitment to the peace and prosperity of the region, including announcing the Indo-Pacific strategy".

Kishida, Yoon and US President Joe Biden are expected to meet on the margins of the G-7 summit to discuss North Korea's nuclear ambitions, China's growing influence and the Russia-Ukraine war.

Australia, also a key US ally, has already been closely cooperating with Japan, including on efforts to achieve a "free and open Indo-Pacific", according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, which called Australia a "special strategic partner".

Last year, the two countries signed a new security agreement covering military, intelligence and cybersecurity cooperation to counter the deteriorating security outlook driven by China's increasing assertiveness. It was the first such agreement Japan has struck with any country other than the United States.



OTHER ISSUES



Some of the guest nations lead regional and other bodies.

Brazil takes over next year for India as president of the G-20. Indonesia is chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Comoros leads the African Union and the Cook Islands chairs the Pacific Islands Forum.

Japan is stepping up its security and economic ties with the 18 Pacific Forum countries, partly to counter growing Chinese influence there. Observers say the invitation of the Cook Islands is an expression of Japanese respect to the Pacific nations, where there has been worry about the planned release of treated but still radioactive wastewater into the Pacific from Japan's tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Kishida is from Hiroshima, one of the two Japanese cities hit with US atomic bombs at the end of World War II. Holding the summit in his hometown will give him a chance to outline his determination to build a nuclear-free world.

Because of North Korea's pursuit of nuclear missiles meant to target the US mainland, "it would be a bit awkward if Japan did not include South Korea, which faces North Korea's nuclear threats on its doorstep," said Choi, the expert. (AP) RC
Colombo, May 15 (PTI) The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party on Monday dismissed rumours that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa would be reappointed as the prime minister of the cash-strapped island nation.

Rajapaksa, the 77-year-old leader who served both as the president and the prime minister of Sri Lanka on different occasions, resigned as the premier of the island nation last year in May amid massive anti-government protests that erupted due to the economic crisis.

Apart from Mahinda Rajapaksa, his younger brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the then president of the country, also had to resign as the protests had turned violent after the public blamed the entire Rajapaksa family of mishandling the economy and heavy corruption due to which the nation fell into a deep financial crisis.

Speculation was rife that Rajapaksa would be sworn in last Friday. However, the SLPP on Monday refuted any such possibility or development.

"There is no such move of making Mahinda Rajapaksa the prime minister and the SLPP has not made such a request to the president," Sagara Kariyawasam the party general secretary told reporters.

The rumours were given strength due to a special security operation deployed in the capital and immediate suburbs.

Armed soldiers were seen manning the roads doing random security checks while security at important government establishments was beefed up.

The police sources said the security deployment was based on intelligence information that a group was planning to create trouble in the city.

Mahinda Rajapaksa was replaced by the current president Ranil Wickremesinghe, a rival of the Rajapaksas as prime minister.

With Gotabaya Rajapaksas resignation two months later Wickremesinghe replaced him as the President to serve the balance term of Gotabaya Rajapaksa until the end of 2024.
Islamabad, May 15 (PTI) The Pakistan Army's top-brass on Monday vowed to bring to justice the "spoilers" involved in the recent attacks on military installations through trials under relevant laws including the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secret Act.

A Special Corps Commanders Conference, chaired by Army chief General Asim Munir at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, also resolved that restraint will no longer be exercised against perpetrators who attack military installations, said a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the media wing of the army.

The generals were briefed that a well-coordinated arson plan involving desecration of monuments, burning down of buildings and vandalism of military installations was executed to malign the institution and provoke it towards giving an impulsive reaction.

The participants condemned, in the strongest possible sense, these politically motivated and instigated incidents against military installations and public and private properties, the statement said.

The commanders also communicated the anguish and sentiments of the rank and file of the Army on the unfortunate and unacceptable incidents.

"Based on the irrefutable evidence collected so far, Armed Forces are well aware of the planners, instigators, abettors and perpetrators of these attacks and attempts to create distortions in this regard are absolutely futile, the statement said.

The "forum expressed firm resolve that those involved in these heinous crimes against the military installations and personal/equipment will be brought to justice through trials under relevant laws of Pakistan including Pakistan Army Act and Official Secret Act," it added.

The "forum resolved that restraint will no longer be exercised against perpetrators, spoilers and violators who attack military installations and setups under any circumstances," the army warned.

The participants also showed concern over externally sponsored and internally facilitated, orchestrated propaganda warfare, unleashed against the army leadership, meant to create fissures between the armed forces and people of Pakistan, and within rank and file of the armed forces.

"The vicious propaganda of such inimical forces will be defeated with the support of people of Pakistan, who have always stood with the Armed Forces during all odds, it said.

The meeting stressed the need for strict implementation of relevant laws to penalize the violators of the social media rules and regulations.

The conference emphasized the need of national consensus amongst all stakeholders to address ongoing political instability at priority so as to restore public confidence, reinvigorate economic activity and strengthen democratic process.

The military commanders also resolved to support all such efforts to reach this much needed consensus.

The forum was briefed in detail about the prevailing internal and external security environment. The forum took comprehensive stock of the law and order situation in the past few days that was created to achieve vested political interests.

The top brass resolved that the army with the full public support will defeat all nefarious designs of the enemies of Pakistan.

Former prime minister Imran Khan's arrest by the Rangers at the IHC premises last Tuesday triggered unrest in Pakistan that continued till Friday and led to several deaths and dozens of military and state installations being destroyed by the protesters.

For the first time in the country's history, the protesters stormed the army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and also torched the historic Corps Commander's House in Lahore.
Jaipur, May 14 (PTI) Three candidates were detained for alleged cheating in a competitive examination in Rajasthan's Bikaner district on Sunday, police said.

During a raid at a centre during revenue officer and superintending officer 2023 examination conducted by the Rajasthan Public Service Commission, activities of two persons were found suspicious, Bikaner Superintendent of Police Tejaswani Gautam said.

During checking, police found that the two had put on hair wigs which were fitted with batteries, SIM cards and other devices to be used for cheating during the exam, she said.

The two men were identified as Manoj Kumar and Mahendra Kumar, police said.

Similarly, another candidate, identified as Pawan Vishnoi, was caught using the same modus operandi at a different centre, they said.

Primary investigation revealed that the three were in touch with one Tulcharam Kaler for cheating in the paper, police said.

The wigs were provided to them by Kaler who has been accused of cheating in competitive exams earlier as well, they said.

Gautam said Kaler is accused of facilitating cheating through Bluetooth-fitted slippers in REET and Patwar recruitment exams in 2021.

"Efforts are on to arrest him," she added.
Pune, May 15 (PTI) The special court in Pune on Monday extended till May 16 the police custody of DRDO scientist Pradeep Kurulkar, arrested on charges of providing confidential information to a Pakistani agent.

Seeking an extension of Kurulkar's custody, the prosecution said his mobile phone needs to be analysed. "Police had to open the mobile phone with the help of the accused as they couldn't do so on their own," the prosecution told the judge.

The defence counsel argued that no new information has been found though the mobile phone was seized earlier. Kurulkar, a director at one of the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) labs in Pune, was arrested by the Maharashtra police's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on May 3.

The scientist was allegedly in touch with an agent of a Pakistan Intelligence Operative through WhatsApp and video calls, an ATS official said last week, adding it was a case of a honeytrap.

After his arrest, an offence under relevant sections of the Official Secrets Act was registered against Kurulkar.

The prosecution had informed the court that they had seized a phone on which the PIO (Person of Indian Origin) agent had messaged the accused using an Indian number. Kurulkar had allegedly travelled to five to six countries on a diplomatic passport and the prosecution wanted to know whom he met during these trips.
Patna, May 15 (PTI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had a hearty laugh on Monday when person a who attended his public interaction programme turned out to be his namesake.

The septuagenarian leader was briskly dispensing with complaints of citizens, sometimes referring them to a senior official. On some occasions, he was himself making calls.

When the turn of a young man from Madhubani named Nitish Kumar Mandal came, he cast a glance at his papers and burst into laughter.

"You have adopted my name?" the CM laughed out aloud and recalled that in his early days he hardly found anyone with the same moniker.

"But now it is different. The name seems to have become quite popular," he said.

The petitioner had come with a complaint about bureaucratic harassments he faced in getting a ration card and Kumar asked his staff to dial up the officer concerned in the food and civil supplies department.

Over the phone, he was heard saying "Listen, a boy has come from Madhubani. He has my name Nitish Kumar, albeit with the suffix Mandal. He has some ration card issues. Please look into it".

The man was seen leaving with a smile on his face and Kumar directed his attention to the next complainant.

Kumar was holding court as part of 'Janata Ke Durbaar Mein Mukhyamantri', which is held on the first three Mondays of every month.

The opposition BJP, which has been desperately trying to call the septuagenarian's mental soundness to question, came out with its own interpretation.

"The CM claims he was the first person having the name Nitish Kumar. There is something wrong. Either his daydreams of prime ministership have put him under psychological pressure or, he is unsettled by the political pressure from RJD which wants him to give up his chair," Nikhil Anand, a state BJP spokesman, tweeted.
Bhubaneswar, May 14 (PTI) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday launched Special Development Councils (SDCs) in 14 more districts with an aim to carry out development of tribals, officials said.

The new SDCs have been set up in the districts of Angul, Bolangir, Balasore, Bargarh, Boudh, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Nayagarh and Sambalpur.

Earlier, these were launched in nine districts.

The objective of the SDCs is to further conserve and ensure the socio-economic and cultural development of tribals of Odisha, the officials said.

Around 80 lakh tribals in 172 blocks of these 14 districts will be benefited, they said.

The state government will spend Rs 273 crore for development of tribal culture, Patnaik said.

The Jagannath culture, which is the most important contribution of Odisha to the world, is closely associated with the tribal way of life in the state, he said.

Respect for nature and universal brotherhood are the foundations of tribal culture, the CM added.
Aizawl, May 15 (PTI) Over 5,800 people from violence-hit Manipur have fled to Mizoram and taken shelter in different districts, officials said on Sunday.

A total of 5,822 people, belonging to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo community, are lodged at temporary relief camps across six districts of Mizoram, they said.

Aizawl district currently has the highest number of such displaced people at 2021, followed by Kolasib (1,847) and Saitual (1,790), the officials said.

Meanwhile, Mizoram Lok Sabha member C Lalrosanga has endorsed the demand by Manipur tribal MLAs for a separate administration for tribals.

Claiming that tribal people can no longer exist under the Manipur government, 10 Kuki MLAs, including seven from the BJP, had on Friday urged the Centre to create a separate administration in the wake of the violent clashes.

The clashes had broken out in Manipur after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

The violence was 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.
Imphal, May 15 (PTI) Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday said territorial integrity of Manipur will be protected at all costs, reacting to a demand made by 10 MLAs for a separate administration for the Kuki-dominated districts of the northeastern state.

The chief minister, who had made an air-dash to Delhi on Sunday to confer with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, said measures are being taken to ensure that militants, who had signed a peace pact dubbed suspension of operations, return to their designated camps.

Singh also appealed to people not to hold dharnas or rallies in view of the sensitive phase the state has been witnessing since race riots between the majority Meiteis and the Kukis earlier this month.

He also said no force would be used to break the blockades imposed by some groups on highways in the state in the wake of the rioting, and instead efforts would be made to reason with these demonstrators.

The chief minister, who was speaking to reporters at a press conference here, said, I assure the people that the territorial integrity of Manipur will be protected at all costs.

Measures are being undertaken with the supervision of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to make the SoO (Suspension of Operations) groups return to their camps and strengthen efforts to bring normalcy back to the state, he added.

Singh said that he and his ministers, who had travelled to Delhi with him, had briefed Shah about the prevailing situation in the state and conveyed to him the sentiments of the people of Manipur on the situation as also intelligence on the involvement of armed militants in the recent violence.
Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko on Monday said forces had been put on high alert, adding that four aircraft had reportedly been shot out of the sky in southern Russia.

Lukashenko, 68, visited the ex-Soviet country's air force central command, re-appearing in public after nearly a week-long absence following reports alleging ill-health.

He wore military uniform, looked grim and had a bandage on his hand.

Lukashenko said Belarus put forces on alert for three days following the incident in a southern Russian region on the border with Ukraine.

"Three days have passed after the events near us, I mean in the region of Bryansk where four aircraft were shot down", Lukashenko said without providing further details.

"We had to react," he said.

On Saturday footage of several Russian aircraft crashing in the region of Bryansk circulated on Russian social media. One video showed a helicopter apparently being hit and catching fire.

While the Russian defence ministry did not comment, Alexander Bogomaz, the governor of the Bryansk region, said a helicopter crashed in the town of Klintsy.

In a conflicting statement, Vladimir Rogov, a Moscow-installed official in the Russian-controlled part of Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine, said that four Russian aircraft had been shot out of the sky: two MI-8 helicopters, an SU-35 fighter jet and an SU-34 fighter bomber.

Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, had last been seen on Tuesday in Moscow for celebrations of the Soviet victory over the Nazis.

He skipped a lunch hosted by his ally President Vladimir Putin as well as several other events last week.

'Prepared For Every Scenario'

Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who fled to neighbouring Lithuania after 2020 mass protests against Lukashenko, took to Twitter to tell Belarusians they should be ready for any event.

"For us, it means only one thing: we should be well prepared for every scenario," she said.

"To turn Belarus on the path to democracy and prevent Russia from interfering," she added.

"We need the international community to be proactive and fast."

Lukashenko's spokespeople did not comment on his absence from public life.

Last year, Lukashenko allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory as a launchpad for its offensive on Ukraine.

In 2020, the former collective farm boss claimed to have won a sixth term in an election that spurred hundreds of thousands of Belarusians to take to the streets in protest.

His regime crushed the unprecedented protest movement, jailing or pushing into exile most dissenters.

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New Delhi, May 15 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said Indians' natural and instinctive love for diversity is the nation's real strength and has kept it united through centuries, noting that it is this aspect of the country which has drawn the world towards it.

"India is home to many cultures, cuisines, customs and lifestyles, where people belonging to different communities, practising different faiths, speaking different languages, observing different rituals not only coexist but also celebrate each other's diverse way of life," he said in a letter to Nazakat Choudhary, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch.

Choudhary had visited Assam as part of the government's 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' programme that envisages bringing people from different regions together to know each other's cultures and traditions.

He said he wrote to the prime minister as to how the trip inspired him and the visit has become a memorable experience for lifetime for him.

In his reply to Choudhary, Modi said such efforts bring states and cultures closer to each other, and strengthens the nation's unity.

The northeast region is now "na dil se dur, na Dilli se dur" (neither far from the heart nor from Delhi) as the government has constantly strived for the development of all the states there, the prime minister said.

Officials said he referred to the "unprecedented development" in these states in various sectors during the last few years.

Be it agriculture, industry, connectivity, the northeastern states have emerged as the growth engines of the nation, Modi said.

The prime minister told Choudhary that his journey from the land of Tawi (Jammu) to the land of Brahmaputra (Assam) brings together two regions of the nation.

His enthusiastic participation in 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' (one India, great India) programme and the change that has come about his perspective is heartening, Modi said.

He also pointed out that Assam is one of the most beautiful places in terms of both nature and culture.

"Witnessing the multi-hued cultural splendour of Assam during the festival of Bihu, marvelling at the massive Brahmaputra river, learning about great personalities such as Veer Lachit Borphukan and Srimanta Sankaradeva, and enjoying unique products like Muga silk, Tezpur litchi, Joha rice, Boka chaul and Kaji Nemu is truly an incredible experience. I have a particularly special liking for the Gamosa from Assam," Modi said. PTI KR ASK





KR ANB

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New Delhi/Bengaluru, May 15 (PTI) The suspense over the new Karnataka chief minister intensified on Monday as state Congress president D K Shivakumar cancelled his visit to the national capital citing health issues after he and Siddaramaiah, both frontrunners for the top post, were called by the central leadership for discussions.

The three central observers, who interacted with party MLAs on their choice for the CM's post after the Congress Legislature Party meeting on Sunday, briefed party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and submitted their report, sources said.

Former chief minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were called by the party high command for further discussion on government formation. Siddaramaiah arrived this afternoon in the national capital, but Shivakumar cancelled his visit, hours after confirming he would be flying to Delhi, fuelling speculation that the factional fighting in Karnataka Congress had reared its head again.

Shivakumar cited health reasons for the change in his travel plans.

"I have some problem in the stomach. Doctor is coming in ten minutes. It's burning. It looks like some infection and I have a fever..... please let me be free...." he told reporters.

Sources close to him confirmed he is not going to Delhi today.

Amid speculation about the number of MLAs supporting him and Siddaramaiah for the CM's post, Shivakumar said earlier on Monday that his strength is 135, as under his presidency in the state the party had won the seats.

The move by Shivakumar, seen by many as a "pressure tactic" to assert his claim on the top post, indicated that the leadership war in the southern state is far from over.

The three observers - Sushilkumar Shinde, Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria, deputed by the Congress, returned to the national capital on Monday morning.

They along with AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka and general secretary organisation K C Venugopal met Kharge and held discussions on the views expressed by the MLAs, the sources said.

The deliberations in Delhi were preceded by intensive consultations, one-on-one interaction with MLAs and even a 'secret ballot' in Bengaluru during and after the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party.

After the Congress party's stupendous victory in the May 10 assembly polls, the party faces the uphill task of satisfying the two camps and is working on a 'formula'.

The CLP had on Sunday passed a resolution authorising party president Mallikarjun Kharge to decide on the chief ministerial nominee. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have never hid their CM ambitions

Earlier in the day, Shivakumar said that he has been called by the central leadership.

"Since today is my birthday, a lot of people have come to wish me. I have to go to my deity with my family, after going there, I will leave for Delhi. I don't know what time I will be going to Delhi. I will take whichever flight is available," he had said.

Senior party leader B K Hariprasad said the MLAs were asked for their open feedback on their choice of chief minister during their interaction with the observers and also a secret ballot was held for the CM's name. The observers have brought the ballot boxes to Delhi along with them.

Kharge is likely to take a decision on who will be the next chief minister of Karnataka soon. He is also likely to hold consultations with top Congress leadership, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, before arriving at a decision.

Meanwhile, the party is also gearing up for preparations for making the swearing-in ceremony of the chief minister a big show of strength, where several opposition leaders will be invited.

Supporters of both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had raised slogans projecting them as the next chief minister outside the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party on Sunday evening.

A poster war by supporters of both leaders also erupted soon after the party won the election.

While Siddaramaiah is a leader with mass appeal, is popular among all sections and has the experience of running a government of a full five-year term from 2013-18, Shivakumar has strong organisational capabilities, is considered resourceful and Congress' troubleshooter during tough times and has the backing of the dominant Vokkaliga community, its influential seers and leaders.

Congress MP Naseer Hussain told reporters that both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are senior Congress leaders and have fought together against the BJP.

"Both led this fight from the front, both did their best to strengthen the party. Both have contributed to the victory of the Congress, but only one can become the Karnataka chief minister. Let us see what is the opinion of the members of the CLP," he told reporters outside Kharge's residence.
Bharatpur (Rajasthan), May 15 (PTI) A relative of two men, who were allegedly abducted from Bharatpur in February by suspected cow vigilantes and later their charred bodies found in Haryana, has climbed a mobile tower demanding arrest of all the accused in the case, police said on Monday.

On February 15, Nasir (25) and Junaid alias Juna (35), both residents of Ghatmeeka village in Rajasthan's Bharatpur district, were allegedly abducted by some cow vigilantes. A day later on February 16, a charred vehicle with the duo's bodies was recovered from Bhiwani in Haryana.

On Monday, Pahadi police station SHO Shivlahri said that Jabir, who is a relative of both Junaid and Nasir, climbed the tower on Sunday evening and has not come down despite talks with police officials.

The SHO said that Jabir was demanding arrest of all the accused in the abduction-cum-murder case.

Efforts are being made to pacify him, he said.

Three of the nine accused in the double murder case have been arrested so far while six are absconding, police said.
New Delhi, May 15 (PTI) A 49-year-old IPS officer working in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) died on Monday due to suspected heart failure, officials said.

Deepak Ratan, a 1997-batch Indian Police Service officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, was posted as the Inspector General (Northern sector) in Delhi.

He passed away due to suspected heart failure, the officials said.

The Uttar Pradesh Police paid tributes to the officer on social media.

"With profound sorrow we inform about the shocking demise of Sri Deepak Ratan, an illustrious officer of UP cadre of 1997 batch. Presently he was on deputation as IG @crpfindia in New Delhi.

"Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members & friends. Rest in peace," the Uttar Pradesh Police said on its official Twitter handle.

Ratan also served as the Inspector General for VIP security and administration in the CRPF -- the country's largest paramilitary force with about 3.25 lakh personnel.

An engineering graduate, the officer hailed from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh and had won a police gallantry medal (PMG) and various other service awards.

He worked in various capacities in his cadre state of Uttar Pradesh, including as the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Ghaziabad and Saharanpur.

His last rites are expected to be held on Tuesday, the officials said.

Ratan is survived by his wife, who is an IAS officer, and two children.
Jamshedpur, May 15 (PTI) The Jharkhand police SIT has arrested a six-member gang of inter-state bank dacoits from the steel city for allegedly looting cash from collection agents of a bank from the steel city, a senior police official said.KK



They were arrested by the SIT while returning from Bombay Chowk area of adjacent Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, the official said on Sunday.KK



The arrests were made on Saturday and its kingpin was among those apprehended, he said.KK



The police seized a car and five mobile phones from the gang, which has been active in differnt districts of West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand for the past 25 years.KK



The gang had allegedly looted Rs 51000 from collection agents of Bandhan Bank at Damdih in Jharkhand's East Singhbhum district.KK They had also looted cash from other collection agents of four branches of the same bank within a month, the official said.KK



Its members used to procure firearms from Begusarai and Munger in Bihar.KK



The SIT was formed on the directive of the East Singhbhum senior superintendent of police Prabhat Kumar.KK



During preliminary investigation it was found that the gang had looted Rs 78,000 from collection agents of the bank at Phulpal village under Ghatsila police station on March 24, Rs 53,000 in a similar incident at Chaibasa sadar of West Singhbhum district on April 10 and Rs 68,000 in Seraikela-Kharswan district on March 10.KK



It looted Rs 20 lakh from a jweller in Giridih district on June 23, 2021 after donning police uniform, the official said.KK

Eight cases were registered against the kingpin in different districts of Jharkhand and in two police stations of West Bengal under various the IPC and Arms Act.KK As many as 11 cases are pending against a gang member in East and West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharswan districts of Jharkhand, he added.KK
New Delhi, May 15 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Monday turned down a plea seeking directions to include details of missing persons from every household in the census.

A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala said the relief sought in the plea relates to a matter of policy.

"Who are we to direct include this and include that. It is a policy issue.The court is not inclined to interfere under Article 32 of the Constitution. Dismissed," the bench said.

The top court was hearing a plea filed by the Social and Evangelical Association for Love (SEAL) seeking steps to insert a question in the upcoming census seeking details of the missing persons from every household.

The plea also sought directions to advise police to obtain the details and biological samples from unidentified deceased bodies from all over India for forensic and DNA profiling and matching with the kinship samples.

"The petitioner having worked in this field is well aware that the actual number of missing persons is much higher than that mentioned in the National Crime Records Bureau report.

"A huge number of missing cases go unreported to the authorities primarily due to lack of awareness of procedures requisite for lodging a missing complaint or due to the fear that filing a complaint will impact the reputation of the family and lead to many hassles," the plea, filed through advocate Robin Raju, said.

Officials had said in January that the exercise to carry out the decennial census has been further postponed at least till September 30.

The housing listing phase of the census and the exercise to update the National Population Register (NPR) were scheduled to be carried out across the country from April 1 to September 30, 2020, but were postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

In a communication to all states, the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India conveyed that the date of freezing of administrative boundaries has been extended till June 30.

According to norms, census can be conducted only three months after the freezing of boundary limits of administrative units such as districts, sub-districts, tehsils, talukas and police stations.


Thiruvananthapuram, May 15 (PTI) The ruling CPI(M) in Kerala on Monday took a veiled dig at the Congress by asking it to safeguard its newly elected Karnataka MLAs from being poached by the BJP as was allegedly done by the saffron party in Goa amidst the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Terming the Congress as being weak and incapable of taking on the BJP on its own, the CPI(M) batted for a state-wise alliance to defeat the saffron party in the 2024 general elections.

"A national-level alliance will not be helpful. We need to unite all the anti-BJP groups at the state-level and defeat the BJP in each state. That is the only way forward," CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan said.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had suggested a similar strategy a day ago.

Govindan said the contention that Congress was the only party capable of taking on the BJP was "only an argument".

"Everyone who knows Congress, knows that Karnataka was the only state where they could contest polls effectively. The other states where they can are Gujarat, Rajasthan and some similar states.

"But there too, the Congress is in a weak position. Even now, they have internal conflicts," he contended.

The CPI(M) state secretary said the Congress should focus on deciding a Chief Minister and cabinet ministers for Karnataka while remaining careful and vigilant against any alleged attempts by the BJP to poach their MLAs.

"Everyone knows that the BJP has the wherewithal to buy MLAs. It happened in Goa amidst the then ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra," he said.

The CPI(M) leader was referring to the crossing over of eight of the 11 Congress MLAs in Goa in September last year to the ruling BJP in the western state just months after the Assembly elections were held there.

Govindan asserted that the BJP was the biggest threat and the people want to defeat it.

Therefore, all anti-BJP groups should come together to defeat it as one, he said.

Govindan's statement is in contrast to his party colleague and Fisheries Minister Saji Cheriyan's view that Congress was one of the strongest parties in India and there was nothing wrong with asking them to come forward in the fight against BJP.

"Let them lead from the front," he said and at the same time added that he does not agree with the Congress' stand on various issues in Kerala.

"However, to ensure secularism in the country, they need to be at the forefront. There is no argument on that," he had said.
New Delhi, May 15 (PTI) Two men, including an e-rickshaw driver, were arrested for allegedly robbing a businessman of his belongings in east Delhis Gandhi Nagar area, police said on Monday.

The accused used a toy gun to threaten the victim during the robbery, they said.

The accused have been identified as Arjun Kashyap (27), a resident of Kailash Nagar, and Nafis Malik (34), a resident of Jafrabad.

The incident took place on May 9, police said, adding the trader runs an undergarment shop in Gandhi Nagar.

After closing his shop and godown, the victim, who was carrying a bag containing keys of his establishments and Rs 2,000 cash, was going to take a rickshaw for metro station, a senior police officer said.

When he reached near Shiv Shakti mandir, two persons came there on a scooter wearing helmets and hit him due to which he fell on road. One of the accused snatched his bag and when he resisted, another accused threatened him with a gun, the officer said.

The victim started shouting for help, following which the accused fled the spot leaving behind the scooter, police said.

While Kashyap was arrested from his residence following a raid, his accomplice Malik was nabbed from his house, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Rohit Meena said.

The accused persons revealed that both were in dire need of money. Kashyap used to ply his e-rickshaw in Gandhi Nagar area and had seen the complainant carrying a bag several times and planned to rob him, police said.

Kashyap was found previously involved in an attempt to murder case. Malik, an auto driver, used to work for Chenu Pahalwan gang of Seelampur, police said, adding he was previously found involved in two cases of murder and theft.

The bag of the trader containing keys and register, the stolen scooter and the toy gun used to threaten the complainant were recovered from the accused's possession, police added.
Indore, May 15 (PTI) A 26-year-old man allegedly strangled his seven-year-old son to death following a dispute with his second wife here in Madhya Pradesh on Monday, police said.

The deceased was the son of the first wife of the accused who had died six years ago, an officer said.

After committing the crime in Tejaji Nagar area, he fled on a motorcycle, Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ashish Patel said.

"His second wife was adamant that she would not keep the son born to his first wife with her. She was not willing to return to his house from her maternal home in Rajgarh due to this dispute, Patel said.

A hunt is on to nab the man, the ACP said.
BRADIN ANDERSON, Wheeler, Baseball, Junior; Anderson pitched a five-hitter and allowed one earned run to beat Montville. He was 2 for 4 with two RBIs in a win against Putnam.

JOSH MOONEY, Stonington, Boys Track, Senior; Mooney won the 110 hurdles and the javelin at the Glenn D. Loucks Games in White Plains, N.Y. His hurdles time was the third fastest in the 55-year history of the event. He was named meet MVP.

LIAM CODY, Westerly, Boys Lacrosse, Senior; Cody had 11 goals and 11 assists in three wins for the Bulldogs. Cody accounted for just over half of his teams 42 points for the week.

ERIN VONHOUSEN, Chariho, Girls Track, Junior; VonHousen improved her own school record in the 3,000 at the Mariner Invitational. She posted a time of 10:23.53.

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Mitsubishi Power, a power solutions brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, has announced that it had been awarded a long-term contract by the Kuwait Ministry of Electricity & Water & Renewable Energy (MEWRE) to optimise the performance of the Sabiya power and water distillation station and boost its efficiency.

As per the contract, Mitsubishi Power will provide major plant upgrade services and cutting-edge technologies for the Sabiya Power and Water Distillation Station, the largest power and water provider in the country.

These will extend the lifetime of the power and water station to up to 20 years to ensure efficient, safe and reliable power generation in Kuwait.

Mitsubishi Power said this was in line with Kuwait Vision 2035 to meet the countrys growing power needs and goals for a decarbonized energy future.

As per the deal, Mitsubishi Power will be responsible for the upgrade of eight (8) units of Steam Turbines, Generators (gas and oil fired) and Control Systems units, while implementing innovative technology at the Sabiya power station, such as Digital Electronic Hydraulic (DEH), new Turbine Protection System (TPS) and new Turbine Supervisory Instrument (TSI).

"This new contract is the latest in our proud 50-year journey of supporting the state and people of Kuwait to meet their power needs with Mitsubishi Powers industry-leading, reliable technology and local capabilities," remarked Khalid Salem, the President of Middle East & Africa at Mitsubishi Power.

"As Kuwait embarks on its next phase of ambitious growth in line with Vision 2035, we are committed to continue supporting the Ministry in expanding its power infrastructure and ushering its transition towards a low carbon society," stated Salem.

Mitsubishi Power is a key power supplier for Kuwait, with a long and successful heritage in the country that extends over 50 years, he added.

Haitham Al Ali, the Assistant Undersecretary for Electric Power Stations and Water Distillation Sector at MEWRE, said: "We are delighted to award this strategic project to Mitsubishi Power, our long-term partner, to ensure the modernization of Sabiya with new and improved state-of-the-art power solutions that deliver high efficiency, high performance, and reliable power to the people of Kuwait."

"With the companys global expertise, proven engineering standards, and long-term track record in power solutions across the Middle East, we are confident that Mitsubishi Power will continue to accompany our journey of progress towards a sustainable energy future for the country," he added.

Mitsubishi Power technology solutions provide a large portion of Kuwaits power supply, and power key installations in the Oil & Gas industry including Mina Al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries, while also supplying vital equipment for Kuwaits desalination stations.-TradeArabia News Service
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi reviewed on Monday with the CEO of Norwegian Scatec Terje Pilksog progress on underway green hydrogen projects and plans to implement major investments in wind power and green methanol production.

During the meeting, El-Sisi reviewed with Pilksog Scatec's project to produce green hydrogen in Ain Sokhna and two green ammonia production projects in the Suez Canal Economic Zone and Damietta.

The investments in these two projects will be $6 billion and $870 million, respectively.

Moreover, the meeting discussed a new $5.6 billion wind power project  with a capacity of 5 GW  that will be carried out in several stages over the coming years, said the presidency.

Scatec is a leading renewable energy solutions provider, accelerating access to reliable and affordable clean energy emerging markets.

The president and Pilksog also discussed plans to implement new green methanol production project in Damietta.

On Saturday, Egypt and Scatec officials signed an agreement to establish the countrys first green methanol production project in Damietta Port with investments worth about $450 million.

Furthermore, El-Sisi and Pilksog also discussed progress on the construction of the electricity linkage project between Egypt and Europe.

Pilskog stressed to El-Sisi his company's commitment to expand its investments in Egypt in the years to come.

He applauded Egypt's outstanding development of its infrastructure in various sectors and creation of a positive and smooth investment climate in Egypt.

For his part, El-Sisi said cooperation with Scatec comes as part of the country's encouraging foreign investments in the country and increase its export capacities, El-Sisi stressed.

The meeting between the Egyptian president and Scatec officials was attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Sources Mohamed Shaker and Norwegian ambassador to Cairo Hilde Klemetsdal.

Egypt has signed several MoUs with international corporations for investments in green hydrogen as part of the country's ambitious plan to become a regional, green energy hub and reduce carbon emmisions.

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A showdown with Congress that has the nations creditworthiness at stake; a frenzied scene at the border as pandemic restrictions ease; a pivotal foreign trip meant to sustain support for Ukraine and contain a more assertive China in the Indo-Pacific.

Three weeks since launching his reelection campaign, President Joe Biden is confronting a sweeping set of problems in his day job that defy easy solutions and are not entirely within his control. If, as his advisers believe, the single best thing Biden can do for his reelection prospects is to govern well, then the coming weeks can pose a near-existential test of his path to a second term.

Economists warn that the country faces a debilitating recession  and worse  if Biden and lawmakers cant agree on a path to raising the debt limit. Biden wants Congress to raise it without precondition, equating Republicans demands for spending cuts with ransom for the countrys full faith and credit.

The expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency meant the end of special pandemic restrictions on migrant procedures on an already taxed U.S.-Mexico border. His administration has responded with new policies to crack down on illegal crossings while opening legal pathways encouraging would-be migrants to stay put and apply online to come to the U.S. But Biden himself has predicted a chaotic situation as the new procedures take effect.

These tests comes as Biden prepares to depart Washington on Wednesday for an eight-day trip to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Biden will try to marshal unity among Group of Seven leading democratic economies to maintain support for Ukraine as it prepares to launch a counteroffensive against Russias invasion, and to invigorate alliances in the face of Chinas forceful regional moves.

Biden put his ability to solve problems at the core of his pitch to voters in 2020 and it is central to his argument for why, at 80, hes best prepared for four more years in the White House.

Im more experienced than anybody thats ever run for the office, Biden told MSNBC this month. And I think Ive proven myself to be honorable as well as also effective.

Yet the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 undercut Bidens image as an effective manager, sending his approval ratings sharply down and hes still working to recover.

An April poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found Bidens job approval rating at 42%, a slight improvement from 38% in March. The March poll came after a pair of bank failures rattled an already shaky confidence in the nations financial systems, and Bidens approval rating then was near the lowest point of his presidency. It also found that 26% of Americans overall want to see Biden run again  a slight recovery from the 22% who said that in January. Forty-seven percent of Democrats say they want him to run, also up slightly from only 37% who said that in January.

Aides note that Biden entered the White House when the country faced an array of even greater trials: the COVID-19 pandemic, an associated economic crisis and strained international alliances after four years of Donald Trumps presidency.

President Biden continues to leverage his experience and judgment to fight for middle-class families and mainstream values, including by standing against congressional Republicans extreme MAGA threat to trigger a downturn unless they get sweeping spending cuts, said White House spokesman Andrew Bates.

Biden said Saturday its hard to tell how staff-level talks to avert a crisis on the debt limit will shake out. He plans to reconvene with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other congressional leaders before he heads overseas, but the White House has been firm that while Biden is open to considering spending cuts as part of the budget process, he wont agree to them as a condition for raising the debt limit.

Theres no deal to be had on the debt ceiling, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday. Theres no negotiation to be had on the debt ceiling. This is something that Congress needs to do.

U.S. officials are warning that the impasse threatens national security. Pentagon brass has already warned that it could hurt pay and benefits for troops and U.S. standing around the globe, said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.

It sends a horrible message to nations like Russia and China, who would love nothing more than to be able to point at this and say, See, the United States is not a reliable partner. The United States is not a stable leader of peace and security around the world, he said.

Biden also faces a key test at the southern border, where the transition away from Title 42 has been anything but simple. Migrants along the border were still wading into the Rio Grande to take their chances getting into the country, defying officials shouting for them to turn back. Lawsuits have threatened measures to release migrants into the U.S. to avoid overcrowding in border patrol facilities as well as efforts to crack down on asylum seekers entering the country.

But the problem cant be solved by the U.S. on its own.

It is true that the Americas is, at the moment, going through an unprecedented displacement crisis, said Olga Sarrado, a spokeswoman for the United Nations refugee agency.

The U.S. has increasingly seen migrants arrive at its Southern border who are from China, Ukraine, Haiti, Russia and other nations far from Latin America, and who are increasingly family groups and children traveling alone. Thirty years ago, by contrast, illegal crossings were almost always single adults from Mexico who were easily returned back over the border.

Meanwhile, Border Patrol agents are encountering more nearly 8,000 migrants per day, and the human toll of the challenge was driven home in recent days by the death of a 17-year-old boy in U.S. custody. An investigation continues.

A decision from one single country is not going to fix the challenges, Sarrado said. And we cannot forget that these are human beings  many of them in need of international protection and that we need to put them at the center of any decision that is made.

With just under 18 months to go until Election Day, its not a given that these issues will shape voters decisions, said Chapman University presidential historian Luke Nichter.

There is a long time between now and November 2024, he said. I dont think todays issues matter a great deal since they wont likely be the issues on the minds of voters more than a year from now.

Jonathan Young, a Democratic donor who came to hear Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday in Atlanta, said Biden must navigate the current gauntlet with something to show the middle of the electorate, especially if Republicans nominate someone other than Trump.

A rematch might go the same way, because Biden still isnt Trump, Young said, arguing that the former president makes any contest turn on personality more than policy.

But Young noted that Bidens answer to Trumps big personality in 2020 was to be almost deliberately boring and stubbornly competent. However Biden navigates the debt ceiling and immigration, Young said, he has to maintain an ability to credibly sell that image again as an incumbent.

I think hes great on the policy, and I think hes usually great on the politics, Young said of Biden. Hes proven he can read the mood of the country really well.

(AP)




As hes done multiple times before, Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott on Sunday had a bus loaded with migrants who illegally crossed into the United States dropped off outside Vice President Kamala Harriss official residence at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., on Sunday.

Abbott first began sending migrants to Washington in April 2022 to pressure the Biden administration to take the crisis at the southern border seriously.

Texas has borne a lopsided burden caused by your open border policies, Abbott wrote in a letter to the president when the shipments to Washington first began.

Now, with Title 42 expiring, Abbott says he will continue sending migrants to liberal cities.

There will be more coming, Abbott said. There will be more going to New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and other places across the country.

According to data just from Texas, authorities have made 373,000 apprehensions, 28,000 criminal arrests, 402 million lethal fentanyl doses seized and bused over 17,600 migrants to sanctuary cities.

#OperationLoneStar continues stepping up to respond to this growing border crisis. Texas is doing what no other state has done before to protect our communities as President Biden ends Title 42. More: https://t.co/l7rmY8eoY5 pic.twitter.com/VwQ4CMZioK  Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) May 12, 2023

#BREAKING A bus bringing migrants from Texas just arrived at the Naval Observatory near Vice President Kamala Harris residence. Busing has started back up since Title 42 expired, this time on Mothers Day. Texas Governor Greg Abbott also sent busloads of migrants Christmas Eve. pic.twitter.com/L88eBOpwYv  Christian Flores (@CFloresNews) May 15, 2023

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




China sentenced a 78-year-old United States citizen to life in prison Monday on spying charges, in a case that could exacerbate the deterioration in ties between Beijing and Washington over recent years.

Details of the charges against John Shing-Wan Leung, who also holds permanent residency in Hong Kong, have not been publicly released.

Leung was detained April 15, 2021, by the local bureau of Chinas counterintelligence agency in the southeastern city of Suzhou, according to a statement posted by the citys intermediate court on its social media site. His detention came after China had closed its borders and imposed tight domestic travel restrictions and social controls to fight the spread of COVID-19.

Such investigations and trials are held behind closed doors and little information is generally released other than vague accusations of infiltration, gathering secrets and threatening state security.

Relations between Washington and Beijing are at their lowest in decades amid disputes over trade, technology, human rights and Chinas increasingly aggressive approach toward its territorial claims involving self-governing Taiwan and the South China Sea. High-level government visits have been on hold and U.S. companies are delaying major investments amid mixed messaging from Beijing.

The sentencing comes as U.S. President Joe Biden is traveling to Hiroshima, Japan, for the Group of Seven major industrial nations summit, followed by a visit to Papua New Guinea, a Pacific island nation in a region where China has sought to increase its economic, military and diplomatic influence. After Beijings gains in the area, the U.S. and its Asia-Pacific partners stepped up their regional presence, offering investments and financial support rivaling those furnished by China.

Now the worlds second-largest economy, China is expanding its footprint in ports, railways and other infrastructure from Europe to Southeast Asia and beyond.

While the Suzhou court offered no indication of a tie to overall China-U.S. relations, spying charges are highly selective and evidence backing them up is not released. That is standard practice among most countries, who wish to secure their personal connections, networks and access to information.

However, Chinas authoritarian political system and the ruling Communist Partys absolute control over legal matters, civil society and freedom of information forestalls demands for further information, as well as court appeals.

The U.S. Embassy in Beijing said it was aware of the case, but could not comment further due to privacy concerns. The Department of State has no greater priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas, the embassy said in the emailed statement.

The government of Hong Kong, a former British colony that reverted to Chinese control in 1997, had no immediate word on Leungs sentencing.

When it was returned to China, Hong Kong was promised it would retain its financial, social and political liberties, but Beijing has essentially scuttled that commitment since cracking down on pro-democracy protesters and imposing a sweeping national security law in 2020.

Chinese national security agencies have also raided the offices of foreign business consulting firms in Beijing and other cities as part of a crackdown on foreign businesses that provide sensitive economic data.

Foreign companies operating in China have come under increasing pressure as Xi Jinpings government tightens control over the economy. That stands in stark contrast to efforts to lure back foreign investors after draconian COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were lifted at the beginning of the year.

Long pretrial detentions are not unusual in China and prosecutors have broad powers to hold people charged in national security cases, regardless of their citizenship status.

Two Chinese-Australians, Cheng Lei, who formerly worked for Chinas state broadcaster, and writer Yang Jun, have been held since 2020 and 2019 respectively without word on their sentencing.

Government suspicion is particularly focused on Chinese-born foreign citizens and people from Taiwan and Hong Kong, especially if they have political contacts or work in academia or publishing.

Under Xi, the party has launched multiple campaigns against what it calls foreign efforts to sabotage its rule, without showing evidence. Universities have been ordered to censor discussions of human rights, modern Chinese history and ideas that could prompt questions about total Communist Party control.

Xis government has also taken a hard line on foreign relations, most recently ordering outa Canadian diplomat in retaliation for Ottawas expulsion of a staffer at the Chinese embassy accused of threatening a member of the Canadian parliament and his family members living in Hong Kong.

That meshes with Xis confrontational global stance that has seen China partner with Russia in accusing the West of provoking Moscows invasion of Ukraine and seeking to overthrow the U.S.-led liberal dominance of global affairs.

(AP)




Most people have ceased to be surprised by the content published by the self-hating Jews at the leftist Haaretz newspaper but one of its articles in its English-speaking edition during Operation Shield and Arrow was particularly shocking.

An opinion article by Yossi Klein published on Thursday was entitled: Killing Children Brings Israelis Together. In the article, Klein claims that the killing of Gazan children in Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip is a deliberate act by the Israeli government and the IDF. Why? He claims that the purpose is to frighten the Palestinians, bring happiness to Israelis and provide a sense of unity to the country in the wake of the divisive judicial reform protests.

The article was slammed in a Ynet opinion article by Alon Goldstein, the VP of content at Yediot Achronot, who wrote that apart from the vileness of the articles lies, the English Haaretz website fails to publish a single word of criticism against Gazan terror groups for launching rockets at innocent Israel civilians, including children.

I have no interest in trying to analyze whats going on in Kleins mind; all I can do is pity him, Goldstein wrote. However, I do not pity his editors, the individuals who direct Haaretzs English edition. Time and time again, they go out of their way to tarnish the image of Israel and Israelis worldwide. The platform this website provides for statements like Kleins is exceptionally extreme, far more extreme than the Hebrew-language platform of the Haaretz group.

I am not certain why they do this. Is it due to an anti-Zionist, anti-Israel, or even antisemitic ideology? I suspect, however, that the motive is cynically vile, no less  a desire to establish themselves as the most far-left rag, with the goal of ensnaring the most ardent haters of Israel, simply to get them to click, share, and like in order to generate traffic, dollars, and stroke the egos of those in charge.

I know what the reasons are not to publish such repulsive articles: conscience, empathy and concern for fellow human beings, Goldstein wrote. How do I know? Because I havent seen a single critical word on the [Haaretz] website against Islamic Jihad (or Hamas and Hezbollah for that matter) for their indiscriminate rocket fire at Israeli civilians, including children. I havent seen a single word of criticism for the killing of Palestinian children by Islamic Jihad itself in their failed rocket launches from residential neighborhoods.

Its in Haaretzs right to act this way, to curry favor with antisemites, boycotters, and haters. It is their right to try sawing off the branch we all sit on. Whatever the editors motivation may be, contrary to the image they are trying to portray to the world, Israel is a free country.

Goldstein then continued by trying to dissuade English speakers from frequenting Haaretz by referring them to three other English-speaking Israeli-based websites, his own Ynet, Times of Israel, and The Jerusalem Post. All three websites are left-leaning but havent descended to the depravity reserved by Haaretz.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




Anti-judicial reform protesters broke into the dining room of a hotel in the Galil on Monday morning where Economy Minister Nir Barkat (Likud) was staying for a conference along with members of the conservative Kohelet Forum.

The protesters physically pushed the hotel employees in order to reach Barkat but the hotel employees fought back and pushed the protesters back.

One protester hit a security guard in the shoulder with his flagpole and when the employee tried to protect himself, the protester fell to the floor. Another protester threw a chair, hitting a hotel employee on his back. A third protester fell down while backing away from the employees.

The protesters, who had forced their way into the hotel and pushed hotel employees, then had the audacity to complain that they were treated violently.

A source close to Barkat said: The incident could have ended in physical injury in light of the fact that it took the police a half hour to arrive and disperse the protesters while Barkat had only one security guard who was unable to deal with dozens of violent protesters who physically tried to reach Barkat.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




Former GOP presidential candidate Chris Christie tore into CNN for allowing Donald Trump to steamroll his way through a town hall last week  and accused the network of making it essentially a Trump rally.

Specifically, Christie said CNN obviously made a deal with Trump to have the audience consist almost entirely of people who already support him, allowing the ex-president to avoid taking any hard-hitting questions from undecided Republicans.

Lets face it, CNN went in the tank to get Trump on there, Christie said. They allowed him to negotiate who was going to be in that audience, and those were all Trump supporters.

I dont care how they introduced them. I know a lot of those people in that audience, I spent a lot of time in New Hampshire eight years ago, and a lot of those are the same faces that I saw eight years ago, Christie said. You pay no attention to the audience reaction. Those were all people who in the main, 80 percent or so, were Trump supporters. So that was a negotiation deal that Trump did with CNN and I think CNN was wrong for doing it.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




Israels Defense Ministry announced on Sunday evening that the Palestinian worker from Gaza who was killed by a rocket launched by Islamic Jihad will be recognized as a terror victim and his family in Gaza will receive compensation from Israels National Insurance Institute [Bituch Leumi], Israel Hayom reported.

Abdullah Abu Jaba, a 34-year-old father of six, was killed on Shabbos while working at an agricultural construction site in the Sdot Negev Regional Council. No air raid siren was activated in the area and there was no Iron Dome interception because the IDFs policy is not to intercept rockets headed for open areas.

The victims brother, also a resident of Gaza, was seriously injured, and an Israeli-Bedouin who worked at the site as a security guard, was moderately injured. An IDF investigation revealed that the work at the site was carried out in violation of the directives of the Home Front Command, which allowed only limited activity subject to the presence of a protected area nearby. At the time, a bomb shelter for the workers was under construction but had not yet been completed and had no roof.

According to the Yisrael Hayom report, the Victims of Hostile Action (Pensions) Law states that any Israeli citizen or person who legally entered Israel (tourist, foreign worker, Palestinian worker, etc.) and is injured or killed is recognized as a victim of hostilities and is entitled to National Insurance benefits. After Abu Jabas death, the Defense Ministry confirmed that Abu Jaba had received one of the 17,500 permits granted to Gazans to work in Israel.

A statement from the National Insurance Institute said: Just as hundreds of foreign tourists or foreign residents were killed by attacks, rockets, etc. (for example, the Italian citizen who was killed in a ramming attack in Tel Aviv) and are entitled and recognized as victims of terror, the same is true here.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




Iran promised the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror group $5 million for every day of conflict with Israel, Channel 12 News reported on Sunday.

The report also said that the Hamas terror group aided Islamic Jihad following the launch of Operation Shield and Arrow by providing hiding places for its leaders.

Senior Islamic Jihad leader Muhammad Al-Hindi, who led the cease-fire talks in Cairo, spoke about Irans support for the terror groups attacks against Israel, telling the media: Iran is the only country that supports the Palestinians with weapons and money.

Apparently, Al-Hindi has the same line of thought as some Haaretz columnists, claiming that Israel created the conflict with PIJ to distract Israelis from their internal problems.

The enemy thought that by eliminating the leaders it could restore deterrence but it lost it, he said. Israel is no longer able to threaten the Palestinian people and it has its own internal problems that it cannot escape from by setting a security agenda.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




A passenger walks up to an airport security checkpoint, slips an ID card into a slot and looks into a camera atop a small screen. The screen flashes Photo Complete and the person walks through  all without having to hand over their identification to the TSA officer sitting behind the screen.

Its all part of a pilot project by the Transportation Security Administration to assess the use of facial recognition technology at a number of airports across the country.

What we are trying to do with this is aid the officers to actually determine that you are who you say who you are, said Jason Lim, identity management capabilities manager, during a demonstration of the technology to reporters at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

The effort comes at a time when the use of various forms of technology to enhance security and streamline procedures is only increasing. TSA says the pilot is voluntary and accurate, but critics have raised concerns about questions of bias in facial recognition technology and possible repercussions for passengers who want to opt out.

The technology is currently in 16 airports. In addition to Baltimore, its being used at Reagan National near Washington, D.C., airports in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Jose, and Gulfport-Biloxi and Jackson in Mississippi. However, its not at every TSA checkpoint so not every traveler going through those airports would necessarily experience it.

Travelers put their drivers license into a slot that reads the card or place their passport photo against a card reader. Then they look at a camera on a screen about the size of an iPad, which captures their image and compares it to their ID. The technology is both checking to make sure the people at the airport match the ID they present and that the identification is in fact real. A TSA officer is still there and signs off on the screening.

A small sign alerts travelers that their photo will be taken as part of the pilot and that they can opt out if theyd like. It also includes a QR code for them to get more information.

Since its come out the pilot has come under scrutiny by some elected officials and privacy advocates. In a February letter to TSA, five senators  four Democrats and an Independent who is part of the Democratic caucus  demanded the agency stop the program, saying: Increasing biometric surveillance of Americans by the government represents a risk to civil liberties and privacy rights.

As various forms of technology that use biometric information like face IDs, retina scans or fingerprint matches have become more pervasive in both the private sector and the federal government, its raised concerns among privacy advocates about how this data is collected, who has access to it and what happens if it gets hacked.

Meg Foster, a justice fellow at Georgetown Universitys Center on Privacy and Technology, said there are concerns about bias within the algorithms of various facial recognition technologies. Some have a harder time recognizing faces of minorities, for example. And theres the concern of outside hackers figuring out ways to hack into government systems for nefarious aims.

With regard to the TSA pilot, Foster said she has concerns that while the agency says its not currently storing the biometric data it collects, what if that changes in the future? And while people are allowed to opt out, she said its not fair to put the onus on harried passengers who might be worried about missing their flight if they do.

They might be concerned that if they object to face recognition, that theyre going to be under further suspicion, Foster said.

Jeramie Scott, with the Electronic Privacy Information Center, said that while its voluntary now it might not be for long. He noted that David Pekoske, who heads TSA, said during a talk in April that eventually the use of biometrics would be required because theyre more effective and efficient, although he gave no timeline.

Scott said hed prefer TSA not use the technology at all. At the least, hed like to see an outside audit to verify that the technology isnt disproportionally affecting certain groups and that the images are deleted immediately.

TSA says the goal of the pilot is to improve the accuracy of the identity verification without slowing down the speed at which passengers pass through the checkpoints  a key issue for an agency that sees 2.4 million passengers daily. The agency said early results are positive and have shown no discernable difference in the algorithms ability to recognize passengers based on things like age, gender, race and ethnicity.

Lim said the images arent being compiled into a database, and that photos and IDs are deleted. Since this is an assessment, in limited circumstances some data is collected and shared with the Department of Homeland Securitys Science and Technology Directorate. TSA says that data is deleted after 24 months.

Lim said the camera only turns on when a person puts in their ID card  so its not randomly gathering images of people at the airport. That also gives passengers control over whether they want to use it, he said. And he said that research has shown that while some algorithms do perform worse with certain demographics, it also shows that higher-quality algorithms, like the one the agency uses, are much more accurate. He said using the best available cameras also is a factor.

We take these privacy concerns and civil rights concerns very seriously, because we touch so many people every day, he said.

Retired TSA official Keith Jeffries said the pandemic greatly accelerated the rollout of various types of this touchless technology, whereby a passenger isnt handing over a document to an agent. And he envisioned a checkpoint of the future where a passengers face can be used to check their bags, go through the security checkpoints and board the plane  all with little to no need to pull out a boarding card or ID documents.

He acknowledged the privacy concerns and lack of trust many people have when it comes to giving biometric data to the federal government, but said in many ways the use of biometrics is already deeply embedded in society through the use of privately owned technology.

Technology is here to stay, he said.

(AP)
Egypt swept away any speculation of an imminent diplomatic breakthrough with Iran, refuting claims made by Iranian officials about talks to fully normalize relations between the two countries.

A well-informed source denied on Monday any rapprochement with Tehran and emphasized that Cairo's position remains "unchanged."

Nothing is happening, the source told Ahram online.

Such discussions, the source explained, would require careful preparations and a checklist of engagements to be reviewed on the bilateral and regional levels, similar to what occurred with Turkey.

"I am not aware of any sort of such engagement until now," the source asserted.

In an interview with the Iranian News Agency (IRNA) on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian said that Tehran and Cairo are in direct contact through their respective interests sections.

"We have always welcomed the development of relations between Tehran and Cairo," affirmed Amirabdollahian. "The heads of our missions in Tehran and Cairo have had positive meetings, and there is good access to the authorities of both countries."

On the same day, Fadahussein Maleki, a member of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, claimed that ongoing negotiations are held between Iran and Egypt in Iraq, hinting at the potential re-establishment of diplomatic relations in the near future.

"We anticipate the opening of embassies between the two countries," Maleki stated, suggesting the possibility of a meeting between the Iranian and Egyptian Presidents following this step.

Tehran has been increasingly vocal about its hopes for thawing the long-frozen relationship between Iran and Egypt, yet Cairo has chosen to remain silent, refraining from making any official comments on the Iranian approach up until now.

"The ongoing official silence from Egypt is a position," another source told Ahram Online earlier.

The issue is one-sided, with one party persistently pursuing it while the other party does not respond at all. Such a situation indicates a certain level of caution, suggesting that further review of the matter may be necessary," said Mohammed Abbas, an expert on Iranian affairs.

Following the recent deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Egypt has been observing to see whether there will be any changes in Iran's regional politics.

Abbas says that Iran's current policy in the region is being put to the test.

According to sources, Iran will have to prove that it will no longer interfere in the internal affairs of regional countries  a crucial condition for Egypt to restore ties with Iran.

"Is Iran willing to support stability efforts in the region, which is a foreign policy priority for Egypt?" questioned Abbas, highlighting Egypt's "good-neighbor approach."

Cairo has explicit concerns about Iran's interference in Syria, Palestine, and Iraq. It questions Irans willingness to support the efforts to resolve ongoing crises such as the conflict in Yemen.

Iranian Foreign Minister and other high-ranking officials in Ebrahim Raisi's administration have consistently advocated for a new "balanced foreign policy" approach that focuses on strengthening relations with neighbouring countries.

Since June of last year, Iraq has expressed hopes to facilitate political and security talks aimed at restoring relations between Egypt and Iran.

The Emirati daily newspaper, The National, stated in its 8 May edition that Egypt and Iran have been engaging in security talks in Baghdad since March.

Abbas believes that Tehran is encouraged by the general trend of normalization of relations in the region, including the Saudi-Iran deal, the return of Syria to the Arab League, and the warming relations between Turkey and Syria and those between Turkey and Israel.

Ending a 40-year rift with Egypt will end Irans isolation in the region, he said.

The strained relations between Cairo and Tehran trace back to the Islamic revolution in 1979 when Ayatollah Khomeini, the revolution's leader, decided to sever diplomatic relations with Egypt in response to the Camp David agreement with Israel.

The tensions escalated when the late Egyptian President, El-Sadat, decided in 1980 to provide asylum to the Shah of Iran, Reza Pahlavi.

Diplomatic ties partially resumed 11 years later under President Hosni Mubarak at the level of charge daffaires rather than embassy level.

Former Iranian President Khatami met Mubarak in 2003 during the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) that was held in Geneva.

Furthermore, both Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kamal Kharazi, and Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, visited Egypt reciprocally in 2001 and 2006.

Relations improved following the election of President Mohammed Morsi in 2012. During Morsis presidency, Egypt and Iran exchanged visits at the level of presidents.

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In a modern conservation laboratory on the grounds of the former Auschwitz camp, a man wearing blue rubber gloves uses a scalpel to scrape away rust from the eyelets of small brown shoes worn by children before they were murdered in gas chambers.

Colleagues at the other end of a long work table rub away dust and grime, using soft cloths and careful circular motions on the leather of the fragile objects. The shoes are then scanned and photographed in a neighboring room and catalogued in a database.

The work is part of a two-year effort launched last month to preserve 8,000 childrens shoes at the former concentration and extermination camp where German forces murdered 1.1 million people during World War II. Most of the victims were Jews killed in dictator Adolf Hitlers attempt to exterminate the Jews of Europe.

The site was located during the war in a part of Poland occupied by German forces and annexed to the German Reich. Today it is a memorial and museum managed by the Polish state, to whom the solemn responsibility has fallen to preserve the evidence of the site, where Poles were also among the victims. The Germans destroyed evidence of their atrocities at Treblinka and other camps, but they failed to do so entirely at the enormous site of Auschwitz as they fled the approaching Soviet forces in chaos toward the wars end.

Eight decades later, some evidence is fading away under the pressures of time and mass tourism. Hair sheered from victims to make cloth is considered a sacred human remain which cannot be photographed and is not subjected to conservation efforts. It is turning to dust.

But more than 100,000 shoes of victims remain, some 80,000 of them in huge heaps on display in a room where visitors file by daily. Many are warped, their original colors fading, shoe laces disintegrated, yet they endure as testaments of lives brutally cut short.

The tiny shoes and slippers are especially heartrending.

Childrens shoes are the most moving object for me because there is no greater tragedy than the tragedy of children, said Mirosaw Maciaszczyk, a conservation specialist from the museums conservation laboratories.

A shoe is an object closely related to a person, to a child. It is a trace, sometimes its the only trace left of the child.

Maciaszczyk said that he and the other conservation workers never lose sight of the human tragedy behind the shoes, even as they focus on the technical aspects of their conservation work. Sometimes they are overcome by emotion and need breaks. Volunteers working with adult shoes in the past have asked for new assignments.

Elzbieta Cajzer, head of the Collections, said conservation work always turns up some individual details of those killed at the camp  suitcases, in particular, can offer up clues because they bear names and addresses. She expects that the work on childrens shoes will also reveal some new personal details.

They also open a window into a bygone era when shoes were a valuable good passed from child to child. Some have traces of mended soles and other repairs.

The museum is able to conserve about 100 shoes a week, and has processed 400 since the project began last month. The aim is not to restore them to their original state but to render them as close to how they were found at wars end as possible. Most of the shoes are single objects. One pair still bound by shoelaces is a rarity.

Last year, workers conserving adult shoes found an Italian 100 lire banknote in a ladys high-heeled shoe that was also imprinted with the name Ranzini, which was a shoe manufacturer in Trieste. The owner was likely Italian, but nothing else is known about her.

They also found the name of Vera Vohryzkova on a childs shoe. By coincidence, a museum worker had noticed that family name on a suitcase and the museum was able to piece together details about the family. Vera was born Jan. 11, 1939, into a Jewish Czech family and was sent to Auschwitz in a transport from the Theresienstadt ghetto in 1943 with her mother and brother. Her father, Max Vohryzek, was sent in a separate transport. They all perished.

Cajzer described the shoes as powerful testimony also because the huge heaps of shoes that remain give some idea of the enormous scale of the crimes, even though what is left is only a fraction of what was.

Before the SS men sent people into the gas chambers, they ordered them to undress and told them they were going into showers to be disinfected.

We are able to imagine how many people came here, hoping that they would be able to put those shoes back on after a shower. They thought they would take their shoes back and keep using them. But they never returned to their owners, Cajzer said.

In most cases, the shoes and other possessions were collected and the material used to help the Third Reich in its war effort. The 110,000 shoes in the museums collection  while massive  most likely came from only the last transports to the camp, Cajzer said.

The projects cost of 450,000 euros ($492,000) is funded by the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, to which Germany has been a key donor, as well as the International March of the Living, a Holocaust education program.

Both Cajzer and Maciaszczyk said that it is impossible to save the shoes forever, but the goal is to preserve them for more years to come.

Our conservation today slows down these processes (of decay), but for how long, its hard to say, Maciaszczyk said.

(AP)




A special prosecutor has ended his four-year investigation into possible FBI misconduct in its probe of ties between Russia and Donald Trumps 2016 campaign with withering criticism of the bureau.

The report Monday from special counsel John Durham represents the long-awaited culmination of an investigation that Trump and allies had claimed would expose massive wrongdoing by law enforcement and intelligence officials. Instead, Durhams investigation delivered some results, with prosecutors securing a guilty plea from a little-known FBI employee but losing the only two criminal cases they took to trial.

The roughly 300-page report catalogs what Durham says were a series of wrong moves by the FBI and Justice Department as investigators undertook a politically explosive probe in the heat of the 2016 election into whether the Trump campaign was colluding with Russia to tip the outcome. It criticized the FBI for opening a full-fledged investigation based on raw, unanalyzed and uncorroborated intelligence, saying the speed at which it did so was a departure from the norm. And it said investigators repeatedly relied on confirmation bias, ignoring or rationalizing away evidence that undercut their premise of a Trump-Russia conspiracy as they pushed the probe forward.

Again, the FBIs failure to critically analyze information that ran counter to the narrative of a Trump/Russia collusive relationship exhibited throughout Crossfire Hurricane is extremely troublesome, the report said. Crossfire Hurricane was the FBI code name for its investigation.

The impact of Durhams report, though harshly critical of the FBI, is likely blunted by Durhams spotty prosecution record and by the fact that many of the seven-year-old episodes it cites were already examined in depth by the Justice Departments inspector general. The FBI has also long since announced dozens of corrective actions. Still, Durhams findings are likely to amplify scrutiny of the FBI at a time when Trump is again seeking the White House as well as offer fresh fodder for congressional Republicans who have launched their own investigation into the purported weaponization of the FBI and Justice Department.

The FBI released a letter to Durham outlining changes it has made, including steps to ensure the accuracy of secretive surveillance applications to eavesdrop on suspected terrorists and spies. It also stressed that the report focused on prior leadership.

Had those reforms been in place in 2016, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented. This report reinforces the importance of ensuring the FBI continues to do its work with the rigor, objectivity, and professionalism the American people deserve and rightly expect, the FBI said in a statement.

Durham, the former U.S. Attorney in Connecticut, was appointed in 2019 by Trumps attorney general, William Barr, soon after special counsel Robert Mueller had completed his investigation into whether the 2016 Trump campaign had colluded with Russia to move the outcome of the election in his favor.

The Mueller investigation resulted in roughly three dozen criminal charges, including convictions of a half-dozen Trump associates, and concluded that Russia intervened on the Trump campaigns behalf and that the campaign welcomed the help. But Muellers team did not find that they actually conspired to sway the election, creating an opening for critics of the probe  including Barr himself  to complain that it had been launched without a proper basis.

The original Russia investigation was opened in July 2016 after the FBI learned from an Australian diplomat that a Trump campaign associate named George Papadopoulos had claimed to know of dirt that the Russians had on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the form of hacked emails.

But revelations over the following months laid bare flaws with the investigation, including errors and omissions in Justice Department applications to eavesdrop on a former Trump campaign aide, Carter Page, as well as the reliance by the FBI on a dossier of uncorroborated or discredited information compiled by an British ex-spy, Christopher Steele.

Durhams team delved deep into those mistakes, finding that investigators did not corroborate a single substantive allegation in the so-called Steele dossier and ignored or rationalized what it asserts was exculpatory information that Trump associates had provided to FBI confidential informants.

Durhams mandate was to scrutinize government decisions, and identify possible misconduct, in the early days of the Trump-Russia probe. His appointment was cheered by Trump, who in a 2019 interview with Fox News said Durham was supposed to be the smartest and the best. He and his supporters hoped it would expose a deep state conspiracy within the top echelons of the FBI and other agencies to derail Trumps presidency and candidacy.

Durham and his team cast a broad net, interviewing top officials at the FBI, Justice Department and CIA. In his first year on the job, he traveled with Barr to Italy to meet with government officials as Trump himself asked the Australian prime minister and other leaders to help with the probe. Weeks before his December 2020 resignation as attorney general, Barr appointed Durham as a Justice Department special counsel to ensure that he would continue his work in a Democratic administration.

The slow pace of the probe irked Trump, who berated Barr before he left office about the whereabouts of a report that would not be released for several more years. By the end of the Trump administration, only one criminal case had been brought, while the abrupt departure of Durhams top deputy in the final months of Trumps tenure raised questions about whether the team was in sync.

Despite expectations that Durham might charge senior government officials, his team produced only three prosecutions. A former FBI lawyer pleaded guilty to altering an email the FBI relied on in applying to eavesdrop on an ex-Trump campaign aide. Two other defendants  a lawyer for the Clinton campaign and a Russian-American think tank analyst  were both acquitted on charges of lying to the FBI.

(AP)
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MPs say cryptocurrency has 'no intrinsic value' Call for trading to be regulated as a form of gambling NOT a financial service
Scottish Mortgage's former manager James Anderson is launching a new fund backed by Italy's Agnelli family.

Anderson, who left Baillie Gifford's flagship investment trust in April 2022, will invest in innovation at Lingotto Investment Management, a firm owned by Exor, the holding company of the Italian billionaire family.

Meanwhile, former Chancellor George Osborne has been named as non-executive chairman of Lingotto, adding another role to the string of jobs which the 51-year-old has landed since leaving Number 11 in 2016.

Another new job: George Osborne is currently a partner at investment bank Robey Warshaw

Anderson's new fund will focus on innovation in both public and private markets, starting with about $500million in assets, according to the Financial Times.

Lingotto, which is also the name of the Fiat factory built in Turin a century ago by the Agnellis, had around $3billion in assets under management at the end of March.

John Elkann, chair of car maker Stellantis and successor of the Agnelli dynasty, told the Financial Times that his vision for Lingotto was to 'provide a home for very talented investment management professionals to join a place which is entrepreneurial and much focused on letting them do what they're good at and what they love'.

Anderson, who helped make some British investors a fortune by backing tech stocks such as Tesla and Amazon while manager of Scottish Mortgage, is currently chairman at Swedish investment company Kinnevik.

His returns with Scottish Mortgage over the 22-year period he was in charge were extraordinary.

An investor who placed 1,000 into the fund when he took over in April 2000 would have 18,000 today. This is compared to 4,440 if invested in the FTSE All World benchmark.

However, the fund's performance has been lacklustre since his departure, with Scottish Mortgage shares down 59 per cent since their high of 1528p in November 2021.

Back to investing full-time: Scottish Mortgage's former manager, James Anderson

Anderson told the FT that 'it's been a difficult 18 months' for growth investing but added that the long-term opportunity in sectors including artificial intelligence, healthcare and renewable energy was greater than ever.

'One of the great puzzles to me is that markets have become so sceptical and short term at a time when the pace of innovation and change, and the prospects of returns over five, 10 and 20 years, has got greater than less,' he said.

Osborne has been working with Elkann in the past years as one of the 'partners council' which oversees Exor, but he will now step down from this role.

The former Evening Standard editor remains a partner at investment bank Robey Warshaw, is chairman at the British Museum and also a director of his father's wallpaper company Osborne & Little.
Miller Industries (NYSE:MLR  Get Rating) was upgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Saturday.

Separately, TheStreet upgraded shares of Miller Industries from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th.

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Miller Industries Stock Performance

Shares of MLR stock opened at $34.89 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $399.18 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.48 and a beta of 1.04. The companys 50 day moving average is $33.51 and its 200 day moving average is $29.61. The company has a quick ratio of 1.32, a current ratio of 2.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. Miller Industries has a 52-week low of $21.00 and a 52-week high of $36.25.

Institutional Trading of Miller Industries

Miller Industries ( NYSE:MLR Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, March 8th. The auto parts company reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $225.85 million during the quarter. Miller Industries had a net margin of 3.01% and a return on equity of 9.39%.

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. grew its stake in Miller Industries by 107.8% during the 4th quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 1,444 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 749 shares in the last quarter. UBS Group AG boosted its holdings in Miller Industries by 63.1% in the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 2,076 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 803 shares during the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its holdings in Miller Industries by 69.2% in the 1st quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,338 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 547 shares during the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Miller Industries in the 3rd quarter valued at about $56,000. Finally, BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC boosted its holdings in Miller Industries by 83.4% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 5,488 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $117,000 after purchasing an additional 2,496 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.38% of the companys stock.

Miller Industries Company Profile

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Miller Industries, Inc (Tennessee) engages in the manufacture of vehicle towing and recovery equipment. Its products include car carriers, light duty, heavy duty, rotators, and special transport. The firm markets its products under the brand names of Century, Challenger, Holmes, Champion, Eagle, Titan, Jige, Boniface, Vulcan, ?and Chevron.

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Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE:CYH  Get Rating) has been given an average recommendation of Hold by the ten brokerages that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and one has given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $6.25.

A number of research analysts have commented on CYH shares. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on shares of Community Health Systems from $11.00 to $7.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Oppenheimer raised their price target on Community Health Systems from $5.00 to $5.50 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, January 19th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Community Health Systems in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Truist Financial raised their target price on Community Health Systems from $4.75 to $8.00 in a research report on Friday, February 17th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lifted their price objective on Community Health Systems from $3.30 to $8.50 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, February 17th.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in Community Health Systems by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 19,414,591 shares of the companys stock worth $230,450,000 after acquiring an additional 93,270 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Community Health Systems by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 10,407,148 shares of the companys stock worth $123,532,000 after acquiring an additional 198,080 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley increased its stake in Community Health Systems by 364.7% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 8,824,501 shares of the companys stock worth $38,122,000 after acquiring an additional 6,925,737 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its stake in Community Health Systems by 11.1% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,978,894 shares of the companys stock worth $10,705,000 after acquiring an additional 497,696 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Community Health Systems by 10.4% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 3,718,198 shares of the companys stock worth $18,219,000 after acquiring an additional 351,734 shares during the last quarter. 81.10% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Community Health Systems Trading Down 1.4 %

CYH stock opened at $3.50 on Friday. The companys 50 day moving average is $4.96 and its 200 day moving average is $4.57. The stock has a market cap of $478.60 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -58.33 and a beta of 1.65. Community Health Systems has a 1-year low of $1.88 and a 1-year high of $8.01.

Community Health Systems (NYSE:CYH  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 1st. The company reported ($0.43) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.22) by ($0.21). The company had revenue of $3.11 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.09 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.14 EPS. The companys revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Community Health Systems will post -0.67 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About Community Health Systems

(Get Rating)

Community Health Systems, Inc engages in the provision of general and specialized healthcare services and outpatient services. The company was founded in March 1985 and is headquartered in Franklin, TN.

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Shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG  Get Rating) have earned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the sixteen ratings firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $86.15.

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on HIG. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $90.00 to $91.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on The Hartford Financial Services Group in a research report on Thursday, January 19th. They issued a market perform rating and a $77.00 price target for the company. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $78.00 to $77.00 in a research note on Monday, April 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded The Hartford Financial Services Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $84.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $86.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, March 31st.

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The Hartford Financial Services Group Stock Down 0.5 %

HIG opened at $69.52 on Friday. The Hartford Financial Services Group has a one year low of $60.17 and a one year high of $79.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a current ratio of 0.32. The stocks fifty day moving average is $69.55 and its 200-day moving average is $73.45. The company has a market capitalization of $21.57 billion, a PE ratio of 11.97, a P/E/G ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 0.85.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Announces Dividend

The Hartford Financial Services Group ( NYSE:HIG Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The insurance provider reported $1.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $1.68. The business had revenue of $5.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.70 billion. The Hartford Financial Services Group had a return on equity of 18.45% and a net margin of 8.33%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.66 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that The Hartford Financial Services Group will post 7.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 4th. Investors of record on Monday, March 6th were paid a $0.425 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 3rd. This represents a $1.70 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.45%. The Hartford Financial Services Groups dividend payout ratio is 29.26%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Amy Stepnowski sold 336 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.59, for a total transaction of $26,070.24. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 3,844 shares in the company, valued at $298,255.96. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other The Hartford Financial Services Group news, EVP Jonathan R. Bennett sold 3,914 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.86, for a total value of $304,744.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 25,643 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,996,563.98. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Amy Stepnowski sold 336 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.59, for a total transaction of $26,070.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 3,844 shares of the companys stock, valued at $298,255.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 96,944 shares of company stock valued at $7,549,248 over the last 90 days. 1.80% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On The Hartford Financial Services Group

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 2.7% during the third quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 5,649,095 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $349,947,000 after buying an additional 147,509 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 19.6% in the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 662,230 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $41,019,000 after purchasing an additional 108,387 shares during the period. Korea Investment CORP increased its stake in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 51.2% during the third quarter. Korea Investment CORP now owns 462,223 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $28,630,000 after purchasing an additional 156,532 shares in the last quarter. TD Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 6.7% in the 3rd quarter. TD Asset Management Inc. now owns 206,705 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $12,950,000 after purchasing an additional 12,913 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 376,332 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $23,310,000 after purchasing an additional 13,184 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.93% of the companys stock.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Company Profile

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The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc is an insurance and financial services company. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Lines, Personal Lines, Property & Casualty Other Operations, Group Benefits, Hartford Funds, and Corporate. The Commercial Lines segment provides workers compensation, property, automobile, liability and umbrella coverage under several different products.

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Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ trimmed its stake in TELUS Co. (NYSE:TU  Get Rating) (TSE:T) by 56.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 11,618 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock after selling 15,007 shares during the period. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publs holdings in TELUS were worth $224,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in TU. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. boosted its position in TELUS by 60.9% in the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 14,694 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $260,000 after buying an additional 5,560 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of TELUS by 36.2% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 29,093 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $761,000 after purchasing an additional 7,737 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of TELUS by 59.3% in the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 5,666 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $148,000 after purchasing an additional 2,109 shares in the last quarter. Aviva PLC raised its holdings in shares of TELUS by 156.0% in the 1st quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 479,131 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $12,536,000 after purchasing an additional 291,979 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers bought a new stake in shares of TELUS in the 1st quarter valued at about $206,000. 51.42% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on TU shares. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of TELUS in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating for the company. TD Securities boosted their price objective on shares of TELUS from C$31.00 to C$32.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of TELUS from $23.00 to $21.00 in a research note on Monday, May 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of TELUS from C$36.00 to C$33.00 in a research note on Monday, February 13th. Finally, National Bank Financial reduced their price objective on shares of TELUS from C$31.00 to C$30.00 in a research note on Friday, February 10th.

TELUS Trading Down 0.3 %

Shares of TELUS stock opened at $20.46 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35. TELUS Co. has a 12-month low of $18.85 and a 12-month high of $25.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $29.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.90, a PEG ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.74. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $20.44 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $20.61.

TELUS (NYSE:TU  Get Rating) (TSE:T) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 9th. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.21 by ($0.04). TELUS had a net margin of 7.65% and a return on equity of 9.14%. The company had revenue of $3.73 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.68 billion. Analysts predict that TELUS Co. will post 0.84 EPS for the current year.

TELUS Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 4th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 9th will be issued a $0.268 dividend. This is an increase from TELUSs previous quarterly dividend of $0.26. This represents a $1.07 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.24%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 8th. TELUSs dividend payout ratio is 135.44%.

TELUS Profile

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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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Serbia's national carrier Air Serbia resumed on Monday direct flights between Belgrade and Cairo following a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19, Egypts Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Facebook.

Belgrade-to-Cairo flights are scheduled for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while Cairo-to-Belgrade flights are on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, according to Air Serbia's website.

The cost of a one-way economy ticket ranges from EGP 5,000 to EGP 10,000, equivalent to EUR 148 to 297, including taxes, the website added.

A direct flight from Belgrade to Cairo takes about three hours.

"Egypt's rich culture and history attract tourists from all over the world, and its climate makes it an appealing destination year-round," said Bosko Rupic, general manager, commercial and strategy, at Air Serbia on the companys website.

The decision to introduce regular nonstop flights between Belgrade and Cairo was made in response to demand from passengers in Serbia and the wider Balkan region, with the aim of facilitating tourism and travel between the two locations, he added.

The Egyptian economy depends on the tourism sector as a crucial source of foreign currency.

Egypt's tourism industry was hit hard in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The number of visitors dropped sharply from 13.1 million in 2019 to 3.7 million. However, the industry has been recovering gradually over the past two years.

The number of tourists rose to eight million in 2021 and 11.7 million in 2022.

Egyptian officials expect the figure to rise to 15 million in 2023.

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Venture Visionary Partners LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (NYSEARCA:VT  Get Rating) by 7.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 6,189 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 480 shares during the period. Venture Visionary Partners LLCs holdings in Vanguard Total World Stock ETF were worth $533,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in VT. Citigroup Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Vanguard Total World Stock ETF by 1,150.3% in the 4th quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 1,663,760 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $143,399,000 after acquiring an additional 1,530,695 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates grew its holdings in shares of Vanguard Total World Stock ETF by 127.9% in the 4th quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 1,267,530 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $109,248,000 after acquiring an additional 711,298 shares during the period. Cambridge Associates LLC MA ADV grew its holdings in shares of Vanguard Total World Stock ETF by 23.0% in the 3rd quarter. Cambridge Associates LLC MA ADV now owns 3,550,920 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $280,097,000 after acquiring an additional 664,996 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada grew its holdings in shares of Vanguard Total World Stock ETF by 48.7% in the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,981,725 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $156,317,000 after acquiring an additional 649,302 shares during the period. Finally, Partners Capital Investment Group LLP grew its holdings in shares of Vanguard Total World Stock ETF by 85.3% in the 3rd quarter. Partners Capital Investment Group LLP now owns 805,738 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $63,557,000 after acquiring an additional 370,951 shares during the period.

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Vanguard Total World Stock ETF Stock Performance

VT stock opened at $92.54 on Monday. Vanguard Total World Stock ETF has a 1 year low of $76.80 and a 1 year high of $94.87. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $91.26 and its 200 day moving average price is $89.85. The firm has a market cap of $26.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.20 and a beta of 0.94.

Vanguard Total World Stock ETF Company Profile

Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund ETF (the Fund) is an open-end investment company. The Fund seeks to track the performance of the FTSE Global All Cap Index, which covers both well-established and still-developing markets. The Fund invests in both foreign and the United States stocks. The fund offers three classes of shares: Investor Shares, Institutional Shares, and ETF Shares.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (NYSEARCA:VT  Get Rating).

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Sowell Financial Services LLC grew its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM  Get Rating) by 19.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 142,618 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after purchasing an additional 23,672 shares during the quarter. Exxon Mobil makes up 1.0% of Sowell Financial Services LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 12th largest holding. Sowell Financial Services LLCs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $15,731,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in Exxon Mobil by 94.1% during the 3rd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 39,666,941 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $3,463,672,000 after purchasing an additional 19,230,872 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in Exxon Mobil by 1.8% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 31,180,397 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,575,190,000 after acquiring an additional 560,517 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in Exxon Mobil by 12.3% during the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 28,269,263 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,468,477,000 after acquiring an additional 3,094,957 shares in the last quarter. Fayez Sarofim & Co raised its stake in Exxon Mobil by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter. Fayez Sarofim & Co now owns 10,717,955 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $935,784,000 after acquiring an additional 196,344 shares in the last quarter. Finally, California Public Employees Retirement System raised its stake in Exxon Mobil by 16.8% during the 3rd quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 9,668,202 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $844,131,000 after acquiring an additional 1,390,576 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.49% of the companys stock.

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Exxon Mobil Stock Down 0.0 %

Shares of Exxon Mobil stock opened at $105.78 on Monday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $110.71 and a 200 day moving average price of $110.91. The company has a market cap of $427.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.16, a P/E/G ratio of 0.51 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a current ratio of 1.46, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. Exxon Mobil Co. has a 1 year low of $80.69 and a 1 year high of $119.92.

Exxon Mobil Announces Dividend

Exxon Mobil ( NYSE:XOM Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 28th. The oil and gas company reported $2.83 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.65 by $0.18. The firm had revenue of $86.56 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $90.07 billion. Exxon Mobil had a net margin of 15.06% and a return on equity of 31.48%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 4.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.07 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 10.01 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 9th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 16th will be paid a $0.91 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 15th. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.44%. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio is presently 24.64%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

XOM has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Cowen raised their target price on shares of Exxon Mobil from $108.00 to $113.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 2nd. Scotiabank cut shares of Exxon Mobil from a sector outperform rating to a sector perform rating and lowered their target price for the company from $140.00 to $135.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. StockNews.com started coverage on Exxon Mobil in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Argus increased their price target on Exxon Mobil from $128.00 to $133.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 2nd. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price target on Exxon Mobil from $116.00 to $118.00 in a research note on Monday, May 1st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $125.57.

Insider Buying and Selling at Exxon Mobil

In other Exxon Mobil news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 2,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.11, for a total value of $290,275.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 29,272 shares in the company, valued at $3,398,771.92. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.04% of the companys stock.

Exxon Mobil Profile

(Get Rating)

Exxon Mobil Corp. engages in the exploration, development, and distribution of oil, gas, and petroleum products. It operates through the following segments: Upstream, Downstream and Chemical. The Upstream segment produces crude oil and natural gas. The Downstream segment manufactures and trades petroleum products.

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Egypt approved on Monday the legalization of an additional 216 Christian churches that had been operating without a permit as the government continues efforts to promote freedom of worship.

This brings up the number of churches that have been legalized by the government in the past seven years to 2,815.

In 2016, parliament passed legislation easing the construction and renovation of churches as part of the government's efforts to guarantee freedom of worship.

In 2017, as per the 2016 legislation, the cabinet established a committee to review all requests to legalize the status of hundreds of unpermitted places of worship.

Comprising 10 members, the committee headed by the prime minister includes representatives from various Christian sects, six government officials from different ministries, as well as representatives from the national security and intelligence apparatus and the administrative control body.

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Since Russia invaded Ukraine 15 months ago, the West has delivered ever more powerful weapons to Kyiv to help it defend its territory and recapture lost ground.

AFP looks at how the type of weaponry supplied evolved over the course of the war.

Phase 1: defensive weapons

No sooner had Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, than the West started arms deliveries to Ukraine.

Between February and March, Kyiv received more than 40,000 small arms and light weapons (pistols, rifles, submachine guns), 17,000 shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles (Manpads), as well as 25,000 helmets and 30,000 bulletproof vests, according to Germany's Kiel Institute, which tracks weapons promised and delivered to Ukraine.

Phase 2: artillery battles

After being driven back from the outskirts of Kyiv and the second-largest city of Kharkiv, the Russian army scaled back its offensive to focus on the east and south.

With a major battle looming for the eastern Donbas region, the West began delivering artillery pieces that allowed Ukraine to hit behind enemy lines, destroying ammunition stocks and disrupting Russian supply lines.

The United States in June agreed to send long-range HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System), which Ukraine used to go on the offensive, driving the Russians out of the occupied city of Kherson.

By the autumn, 321 howitzers had been delivered, 49 multiple rocket launchers, 24 attack helicopters, more than 1,000 US drones and 280 Soviet-built tanks, sent mainly by Ukraine's neighbour Poland.

Phase 3: missile defence

Throughout the autumn of 2022 Russia repeatedly pounded cities across Ukraine with missiles and, later, suicide drones in a bid to wipe out Ukraine's energy infrastructure and destroy morale.

Kyiv asked for missile defence systems to counter the threat.

In December, Washington agreed to deliver its Patriot missiles, considered one of the best air-defence systems in the world.

Phase 4: tanks

During the winter, the eastern front became mired in brutal trench warfare, with Ukraine fighting tooth and nail to hold onto the Donbas town of Bakhmut.

President Volodymyr Zelensky's appeals to the West to send state-of-the-art tanks so that Kyiv, which only had Soviet-era vehicles, could again go on the offensive again were finally heard in January 2023.

After much soul-searching, Germany agreed to send some of its powerful Leopard tanks and allow countries to also send units from their stocks.

Britain sent some of its Challengers and the United States also pledged 31 of its Abrams tanks by the autumn.

By late April 2023, NATO allies and partners had provided 1,550 armoured vehicles and 230 tanks, according to the alliance's chief Jens Stoltenberg.

"This will put Ukraine in a strong position to continue to retake occupied territory," he said.

Washington's decision to send rocket-propelled precision bombs that nearly double Kyiv's strike range against the Russians also gave Kyiv another major boost.

The ground-launched small-diameter bombs (GLSDB) have a range of up to 150 kilometres (93 miles), nearly twice that of HIMARS.

Britain went further in early May, announcing it would send long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which have a range of 250 kilometres, despite concerns that they could be used to strike inside Russia.

Next: fighter jets?

On a tour of European capitals starting last week, Zelensky secured further promises of military aid ahead of Ukraine's highly anticipated counter-offensive against Russia.

Britain pledged hundreds of air-defence missiles and long-range attack drones, France promised dozens more light tanks and armoured vehicles, and Berlin announced a new military package worth 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion).

NATO members have however so far drawn the line at sending Kyiv modern fighter jets, despite Zelensky's repeated appeals for war planes such as the US-designed F-16.

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Saleh Mohamed Sabra, 22, was killed by live bullets during an Israeli attack in Nablus," the ministry said, adding that another Palestinian was wounded by gunfire.

The Israeli army said it was conducting an operation in Nablus to prepare to demolish the house of a man suspected of an armed attack that killed two Israelis in the area in February.

"During the operation, suspects threw stones and fired in the direction of soldiers who responded with live fire," the army said in a statement, adding that one suspect was hit.

The incident comes after a ceasefire ended five days of fierce fighting between the Islamic Jihad group in Gaza and Israel. The clashes killed 35 people, the vast majority Palestinians.

The conflict has this year claimed the lives of least 150 Palestinians, 20 Israelis, includding Arabs, a Ukrainian and an Italian, according to an AFP tally based on official sources from both sides.

Palestinians on Monday mark the "Nakba", or catastrophe, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced from their homes following the creation of Israel 75 years ago.

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SCHENECTADY  General Electric and two major unions have reached a labor peace agreement for facilities the company wants to build for offshore wind equipment manufacturing at the Port of Coeymans.

Should GE power subsidiaries get enough orders, they plan to build turbine blades and nacelles  the housings that contain electric generating equipment  for wind power projects off the Long Island coast. New York state is promoting the use of wind power as one of the ways to cut greenhouse gases in power generation. The state has set out ambitious goals for developing green, carbon-free energy and offshore wind is key to that plan.

GE says the manufacturing plants could create 870 jobs.

The company said it reached an agreement with the IUE-CWA unions in which GE would remain neutral during the labor organizing process for the plants.

Approximately 825 of GE Vernovas U.S. employees  including about 700 in New York  are represented by contracts with the IUE-CWA.

The agreement aims to ensure smooth, uninterrupted operations of the manufacturing facilities.

As a leader in the U.S. wind industry and the company that introduced the first 12MW + offshore wind turbine, GE Vernova is pleased to have worked with the IUE-CWA on this labor peace agreement associated with our proposal to build two, state-of-the-art offshore wind factories in New York, officials from GE and the unions said in a joint statement.

Our organizations have a long history of working together and share common goals of addressing climate change and creating offshore wind manufacturing opportunities in New York state, GE Vernova President Scott Strazik added.

Vernova is the name of the power portion of GE that will be split off into a separate company early next year. The conglomerate recently decided to split its aviation and power generation units into two separate firms.

This forward-looking, historic agreement reflects the commitment of both IUE-CWA members and GE to addressing climate change and ensuring that green jobs are good jobs. IUE-CWA President Carl Kennebrew said.

In January, GE submitted a plan to New York to construct the two new manufacturing facilities in New York if it wins a sufficient volume of orders from customers in the states ongoing solicitation for up to 4.6 gigawatts of offshore wind.

In addition to 870 direct jobs, around 1,000 construction jobs and 1,400 other indirect jobs would be generated by the projects.

Additionally, GEs proposal includes a program called Pathways to Wind that will give historically underserved communities across the Capital Region exposure, education, and training in the offshore wind industry.

IUE-CWA is the industrial division of the Communications Workers of America. It represents 40,000 workers.

President Joe Biden issued a statement Monday saying his "'Investing in America' agenda has already brought in more than $470 billion in private sector manufacturing investments, and has helped make America a leader in clean energy for years ahead. We are creating good-paying jobs that Americans can raise a family on, and the opportunity to join a union will help ensure hardworking Americans continue to get paid what they deserve, and boost our local economies."

Biden commended IUE-CWA and General Electrict "for working toward a future where unions help build the middle class again, and the middle class rebuilds America."
This story was published in partnership with New York Focus, a nonprofit newsroom telling the story of who runs New York. Sign up for their newsletter here.

MIDDLETOWN  Alma Garcia, a 31-year-old mother of five in Middletown, called a cab she couldnt afford to take her from one public benefits office to another, on the other side of the county.

Garcia applied to renew her food stamps last October. The local social service agency lost her paperwork and told her to go to another office. Then it closed her case and asked her to submit a new application. Then it transferred her to a new caseworker.

Five months went by before the agency finally approved her new application  without making up for the lost time. She borrowed money throughout the fall and winter to pay for groceries, and the resulting pile of debt couldnt come at a worse time: She lost her longtime job as a receptionist in a dentists office when her boss retired last year.

Where am I going to get food for my kids? she asked. Her youngest is 3 years old.

Across the state, tens of thousands of New Yorkers who have applied for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, have had their benefits delayed for more than 30 days, in violation of federal law, documents obtained by New York Focus show. And as pandemic-era policies that streamlined benefits application processes expire, the backlog could get worse.

New York City is currently facing a lawsuit over its skyrocketing delays. But the problem extends across the state, where it has attracted little attention  in part because its scope has not previously been known.

In December of last year, the latest month for which New York Focus has data, the states 57 county social services offices outside New York City were illegally late in processing more than 11,000 food stamp claims  or one out of three open applications.

Thats just an average. In Orange County, where Garcia applied, more than half of applicants are left waiting longer than 30 days. Neighboring Rockland County doesnt do much better. (Those two counties are also where New York City Mayor Eric Adams wants to send hundreds of asylum-seeking migrants.)

The dramatic divergences between counties performance partly reflects the fact that each county administers its own social services. Experts say New Yorks decentralized model, shared by only nine other states, is one underlying cause of the delays. And it exacerbates what caseworkers describe as the biggest reason theyre struggling to keep up: there arent enough of them, and the acute lack of staff is fueling overwork and burnout.

Over the past year, I have not been to a supervisors meeting yet where someone has not broken down into tears, one worker at a social service agency, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press, said. And were talking tough birds, people who have been working here for twenty-some years.

Delays made worse by COVID

New York Focus visited the Orange County benefits office in Goshen, where Garcia had applied for benefits, in early March. In the drab waiting room, past a metal detector and under thin overhead lighting, people waited around on plastic chairs, most for at least 30 minutes. Over the course of two hours on a Friday afternoon, about a dozen people passed through the office. Some had driven 50 miles to get there. Many had taken time off work since the office is only open during weekday business hours.

A gentleman wearing a wide-brimmed hat and cowboy boots was one of several who described long delays in getting their food stamp applications processed. He spoke only Spanish; his 14-year-old daughter dealt with the county workers on his behalf. Hed gotten his benefits approved after waiting far longer than 30 days, he said, but still hadnt received the PIN number he needed to use his EBT card, through which benefits are disbursed.

Pinned to a cork board, a sign made clear that SNAP applications must be approved or denied within 30 days.

Last October, the month Garcia applied, 1,910 applicants were waiting on a decision from the Orange County social services department. By the end of the month, two-thirds of them  1,242 people  had been waiting for more than the 30-day legal limit.

Just south along the Hudson River, Rockland County social services missed the deadline on 53 percent of open applications that month. In Broome County, home to Binghamton, the figure was 45 percent.

Whats causing the delays?

Social service agencies and the states Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, which is supposed to oversee them, point to a sharp increase in applications during the pandemic. Orange County has seen two to three times the number of SNAP applications since the pandemic started, even as staffing levels have declined, according to county spokesperson Justin Rodriguez.

We expected more applications during the pandemic naturally, the caseworker said. What we werent prepared for was so many people leaving for better jobs.

OTDA spokesperson Anthony Farmer pointed to the challenges of the pandemic as well. He said the state agency is committed to working with these counties to help them improve case processing timeliness, but did not elaborate when asked what specifically it will do to help.

But three years after COVID-19 first hit New York, delays have not improved. And experts say the pandemic-era spikes reveal deeper problems.

Most states have a central office that runs all of their SNAP programs. New York is one of 10 outliers that delegates the job  including evaluating applications  to county offices. The county-run model is associated with higher costs and error rates, research has found.

Thats in part because decentralization makes it harder to hold counties accountable through state action or outside lawsuits  or, in New York, even to track their performance. Of the 10 decentralized states, New York is one of only two that doesnt make county-level performance data easily accessible, according to a report funded by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities and the Center for Law and Social Policy.

SNAP processing data isnt public outside of New York City. The county-level information is compiled by a decades-old computer system that runs on a nearly extinct programming language. New York Focus received it through a Freedom of Information Law request in an almost inscrutable format. Experts at Empire Justice and the National Center for Law and Economic Justice helped decode it.

The decentralized model also exacerbates staffing issues. If benefits were centrally coordinated, temporary vacancies in one office  as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak, say, or an unexpected resignation  could be backfilled from other offices across the state.

That simply isnt the case here, said Saima Akhtar, a senior staff attorney with the National Center for Law and Economic Justice whose work focuses on public benefits.

The pandemic spurred federal aid expansions: anyone eligible for food stamps automatically qualified for the maximum benefit, interviews werent required, and in some counties, applicants didnt have to recertify for benefits. These provisions led more people to apply for benefits, but also streamlined the process for each of their cases  and they have all recently expired.

We acknowledged that people really needed health insurance and they really needed to eat, Akhtar said. As heavier requirements go back into effect, along with the resumption of time-intensive Medicaid renewal eligibility checks handled by the same offices, she projected that delays are going to get worse before they get better.

The reinstated requirements add to the already onerous process of applying for SNAP benefits, which generally begins with a 26-page form asking questions about applicants medical history, living conditions, and finances as minute as whether they or their family members own a burial plot.

Applicants are subject to so much scrutiny to access a level of assistance that is astoundingly low, said Jessica Radbord, a senior attorney at Empire Justice, a legal advocacy organization based in Albany.

Its incredibly time-consuming, a recent applicant in Schenectady County said. And it makes the recipient feel like theyre a leech.

All this leaves people like Garcia at loose ends. To make matters worse, she recently lost her wallet at a Walmart. Shes undocumented (the SNAP applications are technically in her kids names), and now has no photo identification or way of requesting a new Mexican ID.

She cooks big meals for her kids, mostly traditional Mexican food. Rice, beans, a little bit of everything, she said. They like it when I do tacos dorados with white rice. (Shes not a fan of Anglo food; the chicken salad she ordered at a restaurant near her apartment during an interview for this article needed aguacate or something, she said.)

During the long half-year she went without food stamps, she paid for those meals with the money shed budgeted for the rent. Now, shes worried that her landlord might evict her.

Im getting to the point where I probably will end up in a shelter, she said. And when I ask for help, theyre just giving me so many problems.

This story was supported by the Economic Hardship Reporting Project, a nonprofit organization supporting independent journalism.
ALBANY  Reginald Graham pulled his 9-year-old grandson, Noah, to the ground and began crawling furiously to the back of his Second Avenue barbershop as bullets ripped through the building Saturday afternoon.

As Graham tried to get his grandson to safety, one of his employees, Tyrone Staley, 47, lay on the ground bleeding from fatal gunshot wounds to his shoulder and torso. Grahams grandson suffered a graze wound. A 19-year-old was shot in the foot.

Staley was the sole fatality as 10 people were victims in five shootings across the city over the weekend. A second child was also shot just hours after Grahams grandson, the third child struck by a bullet in the city in the last month.

I had to watch my friend die, Graham said Monday.

The gunfire was so heavy Graham believes it came from automatic weapons.

The shots just kept coming. I thought it was an invasion. I thought they were coming inside, he said.

Graham, a pastor at Riverview Missionary Baptist Church in Coeymans, has run the shop there for more than two decades. The shop has a Bible in the window and plays Gospel music. Graham said he made a point to keep the shop a safe and positive place for the neighborhood  no cursing, no smoking marijuana and no negativity.

People know what its about, thats why they come here, he said.

Staley had previously worked at a barbershop on North Pearl Street. He and Graham knew each other and six years ago he approached Graham to ask for a job at Village Barber and Beauty at 221 Second Ave.

Graham recalled his friend as a happy, likable person who gave back without the expectation of recognition.

Hes probably the most faithful barber Ive ever had, Graham said.

Staley often volunteered to give free haircuts, including at the Capital City Rescue Mission where Graham is a counselor. He also volunteered at Grahams church and would offer kids free haircuts before their first day of school.

He also worked tirelessly to help his fiancee open her own salon several years ago, Graham said.

Staley was set to marry her in February. Graham was going to be their officiant. He leaves behind a son, a daughter and raised two other daughters as his own, according to a GoFundMe that was set up to help his family with funeral expenses.

More Information A GoFundMe campaign has been established to raise funds for the family of Tyrone Staley, the Albany father who was shot and killed when someone opened fire on a barbershop where he was working on Saturday, May 13. 2023. Donors can contribute by following this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/funeral-and-medical-expenses-for-tyrone-staley See More Collapse

Staleys family declined to comment through a family friend.

He was a loving and devoted father, kind and caring friend, extremely talented barber, and just a genuine and happy man, the fundraisers organizer wrote.

No arrests have been in any of the five shootings. During a news conference on Monday, Police Chief Eric Hawkins said officers do not believe any of the shootings are connected.

The gunfire began around 12:30 a.m. Saturday at a North Pearl Street house hosting an illegal club in the basement unit. A 23-year-old man was shot in the hip and a 47-year-old woman on the first floor was shot in the torso and wrist.

Fourteen hours later, there was a drive-by shooting at Grahams barbershop on Second Avenue. Around 10:30 p.m., a shooter fired multiple times into a large crowd at the intersection of Second and Ontario streets. The bullets struck a 37-year-old man and a 7-year-old child. Then, 80 minutes later, more shots fired calls came in, including one from Mayor Kathy Sheehan, who said she heard shots while in her house. Two men, ages 30 and 35, were wounded near the intersection of First and North Swan streets.

The fifth shooting happened around 12:30 a.m. Monday. A 29-year-old man was shot in the back near Trinity Place and Madison Avenue. None of the nine people who survived those shootings are believed to have life-threatening wounds.

The city has recorded six homicides so far this year. City police are also investigating the death of an 11th-grader who died after a shooting on Livingston Avenue earlier this month. But authorities have not said whether the boys death was a homicide.

Hawkins, standing beside representatives from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies on Monday, said the shootings were the actions of a small group of violent individuals.

Be aware you have our full attention, he said. And we are coming for you.

Sheehan said the gunfire, especially the two shootings that wounded children, were indiscriminate acts of depraved violence.

Im outraged that two young children have been impacted by this gun violence, because while their injuries are as we say, non-life-threatening, the trauma that they have experienced will last with them their entire lives, she said.

Sheehan said she was sitting in her front room when she heard the gunshots on First and North Swan.

This is something that is impacting everyone in our city, she said. And I want to assure our residents, this is not something thats theoretical to me. We have to ensure that we are doing all that we can because every resident of the city deserves to be safe.

Sheehan urged residents to call the citys anonymous Crimestoppers tip line to report illegal weapons or disputes that might lead to future shootings, noting that the city can assist people with mental health support, jobs and other resources.

Albany County District Attorney David Soares highlighted the shooting that killed Staley. Barbershops and beauty salons have a special significance in the Black community, he said.

This is one of the most sacred things  its like our church. And the idea that you would violate that place, the idea that you would do a drive-by in that place and harm our people, our citizens because of the grievance that you have towards someone, its outrageous.

Soares, like Hawkins, spoke directly to people involved in the shootings. He rattled off the names of several men responsible for some of the more high-profile homicides the city has seen in the last few years. All of them are now serving lengthy prison sentences.

He also echoed Sheehans call for residents to call in tips that might help police solve cases or prevent future violence.

We have people who are so committed to this cause that weve been able to apprehend individuals with a cigarette butt left at a crime scene, he said.
NEW YORK (AP)  Former President Donald Trump called into an event hosted by his former national security adviser Michael Flynn over the weekend, telling his ex-adviser, Were going to bring you back.

After scrubbing a rally in Iowa on Saturday night because of bad weather, Trump spoke via telephone at an event for Flynn's ReAwaken America Tour held at the former president's Miami resort. The retired lieutenant general, a top figure in the far-right movement, has been one of the leading proponents of Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

During the call, which was captured on a video of the event posted online, Flynn is seen holding a cellphone up to a microphone as Trump, on the line, says to Flynn, You just have to stay healthy because were bringing you back. Were going to bring you back.

It wasnt clear from Trumps remarks if he was specifically talking about bringing Flynn into his administration should he win the presidency in 2024 and, if so, for what role.

Were proud of you, general, Trump said. I knew it from day one  youre really somebody very special.

Trumps campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung did not respond to questions about Trumps remarks and instead sent a statement that said: President Trump is running to drain the swamp and bring prosperity back to America. Thats why hes dominating in the polls  both in the primary and general elections and Americans are rallying around his campaign.

Flynn, who resigned from the Trump administration less than a month after Trump's inauguration in 2017, was charged later that year with lying to the FBI about conservations he had with the Russians on Trumps behalf. He twice pleaded guilty, but Trump ultimately pardoned him in the final weeks of his presidency.

Since then, Flynn has been a leader in trumpeting Trump's lies of a stolen 2020 election, despite the fact that numerous federal and local officials, a long list of courts, top former campaign staffers and even Trump's own attorney general have all said there is no evidence of the fraud he alleges. Flynn suggested that Trump should seize voting machines and could order up the military in some states and rerun the election.

The former president has spoken warmly about Flynn over the years and has continued to align himself with Flynn at a time when some in the Republican Party see Trump's alliance with controversial figures and focus on the past electionas political liabilities in the general election next year.

Flynn, as part of his efforts to try to overturn Trump's loss in the 2020 presidential election, suggested Trump should seize voting machines and could order up the military in some states and rerun the election.

Flynn launched the ReAwaken America tour in 2021, a few months after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol failed to overturn the results of the election. It has been continuing ever since, with stops every month or two in a different city. Many of Trumps close allies and family members such as his son, Eric Trump, have appeared at the event. Trump himself has been known to call in.

A joint investigation by The Associated Press and the PBS series Frontline found that the ReAwaken tour serves as a traveling roadshow and recruiting tool for an ascendant Christian nationalist movement thats wrapped itself in God, patriotism and politics and has grown in power and influence inside the Republican Party.. Flynn endorsed nearly 100 candidates ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, and continues to urge supporters to get involved in politics - especially at the local level - ahead of the 2024 elections.

Trump and Flynn have maintained their ties to each other, periodically snapping photographs together. One of Flynns groups held an event at Trumps Mar-a-Lago in December, and the two men remain close, Flynns brother, Joseph Flynn, told the AP in March.

___

Associated Press writer Michelle R. Smith in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report.
ALBANY  Gov. Kathy Hochul and county leaders have heard little from federal authorities in response to their requests for help dealing with New Yorks recent surge of migrant asylum seekers  an increase they believe will intensify in coming weeks due to last weeks change in federal border policy.

On Monday, Hochul said she has not received a response from the White House since sending a letter to President Joe Bidens administration late last week, capping a tumultuous few days of political clashes over an influx of migrants arriving in New York City.

County leaders said they agree with Hochul on the need for federal action to mitigate what they warned is an incoming capacity crisis that will stretch the housing and service limits of local municipal agencies.

Chief among county executives demands is the need for more housing. Officials have floated a series of unorthodox alternatives to the hotels and shelters being used to house thousands of recent arrivals in New York City  including prisons, military airfields and warehouses. Theyre also looking at the handful of military bases scattered across the state as another option.

Hochul is also petitioning Biden to authorize the use of military installations managed through the Department of Defense, pointing to the 1,000-acre Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn as a potential site to build temporary shelters.

I think its a very reasonable request to recognize it is a federal problem, Hochul told reporters Monday at the Capitol. And there are federal assets, federal facilities, that we think would lend itself easily to standing up a large-scale operation.

County leaders have decried what they called inaction from federal leaders as well as arrogance on the part of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, whose pledge to decrease the strain on the citys social services due to the nearly 40,000 asylum seekers who have placed themselves in the citys care in recent weeks sparked an intense political fight from leaders of upstate communities.

Hundreds more asylum seekers are expected to arrive in the coming days from the U.S.-Mexico border, following the expiration of the Title 42 immigration restrictions last Thursday.

The Biden administration has signaled its belief that a host of new asylum policies will serve the dual purpose of cracking down on illegal border crossings while expediting those who are seeking refuge in the U.S. legally. But federal officials have cautioned there may be a bumpy rollout.

That warning has left county executives on edge, they told reporters Monday.

The current situation is failing. The federal government is failing to address this crisis, said Stephen J. Acquario, executive director of the New York State Association of Counties.

Hochul, who has faced some criticism from a perceived lack of early response to the surge of asylum seekers, pointed to her request to the Biden administration last week and said she has been having conversations about housing and assisting migrant families for more than a year.

She declared a state of emergency on May 9 over the crisis, freeing up a $1 billion allotment through the state budget that officials said is meant to tackle the surge in New York City head-on.

Hochul has asked Biden for an immediate infusion of funds from federal agencies to cover the costs of housing and other forms of assistance, reiterating that counties will not be expected to bear those costs. County leaders want to see a federal declaration of emergency, Acquario said.

Counties are not being asked to pay for this, Hochul said. Theyre being asked to help us find space and to create a welcoming environment for these individuals. But they dont pay for this.

Congressional leaders including Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer also urged Biden last week to allow for a speedier work authorization process for asylum seekers, citing a labor shortage in many parts of the country as an impetus.

Hochul and county executives have echoed that call and said it would help decrease the strain on the state if asylum workers could be permitted to work earlier than the current policy allows.

No room

Though Hochul pointed to some counties that have expressed their willingness to receive migrants, county executives speaking earlier on Monday had a clear message: There is hardly any room for new arrivals in upstate New York. Acquario said that a homelessness crisis that has been exacerbated since the COVID pandemic has absorbed much of upstates housing inventory and that nonprofit providers have been stretched thin.

Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin, a Republican whose county-wide emergency order barring hotels from accepting migrants was one of the first in the Capital Region, insisted that his reluctance is not about a lack of compassion, a sentiment echoed by other GOP county leaders.

McLaughlin instead heaped criticism on Adams transition plan, calling it unfair and arrogant.

So this is not a simple problem for any of us to handle, McLaughlin said. Its completely unfair for the city  to be non-communicative and just send people our way without any notice.

More for you Migrants have arrived upstate. What happens next?

Albany County Executive Dan McCoy did not participate in the Association of Counties call with reporters on Monday. Spokeswoman Mary Rozak said the county has talked with Hochuls office and other state officials about potentially receiving a group of asylum seekers, but that it is still awaiting guidance on specifics.

The state has provided an FAQ sheet to some county leaders specifying under what circumstances New York City is allowed to relocate migrants outside of its city limits, emphasizing that its a last resort measure.

New York City is responsible for covering the costs of placement, according to the state. Last week, Newburgh received the first group of an anticipated 400 asylum-seekers, who are being put up in an area hotel for the time being.

Its unclear when other groups of migrants will be sent out of the city, and to which counties they will be sent.
Lough Derg RNLI was tasked onSunday, May 14, by Valentia Coast Guard to assist three people on a 34ft cruiser reported aground in Cloondavaun Bay on the north-western Clare shore of Lough Derg.

At 12.07pm Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Owen Cavanagh; crew Chris Parker, Joe ODonoghue and Oisin Higgins on board. Winds were north-easterly Force 3, visibility was good.

At 12.32pm the lifeboat located the casualty vessel and navigating around the shoals, made a cautious approach.

Once alongside, an RNLI volunteer transferred across to the casualty vessel and established that all three people on board were safe and unharmed and wearing their lifejackets.

The RNLI volunteer checked the vessel and reported that the vessel was not holed.

The cruiser company arrived on scene and advised the lifeboat crew that they would take the vessel off the shoal.

The lifeboat told Valentia Coast Guard of this decision and stood off until the casualty vessel was off the rocks and back in safe water.

At 1.09pm the lifeboat was then stood down.

Christine OMalley, lifeboat operations manager at Lough Derg RNLI, advises boat users to "plot your course and always stay on the navigation route. Ask locals for advice on any known hazards before setting out."
Three quarters of the Irish data watchdogs GDPR decisions in EU-wide cases were overruled by European regulators, a report has found.

The report indicates that 75% of the Data Protection Commissions decisions in cross-border investigations over a five-year period were overruled by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB).

The EDPB had demanded tougher enforcement action in these cases, the report by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) said, with only one other country in one other case overruled in such a manner.

The figures include final decisions from January 2023 that are not yet included in the EDPB register of final decisions, from which the figures are based.

If these three cases are not included, the figure is 88% of DPC decisions overruled.

The report said that the DPC tends to use its discretion under Irish law to choose amicable resolution to conclude 83% of the cross-border complaints it receives, instead of using enforcement measures.

The ICCL report claims that Ireland remains the bottleneck of enforcement for major cross-border cases in Europe.

When it does eventually do so, other European enforcers then routinely vote by majority to force it to take tougher enforcement action, it said.

As Google, Meta, Apple, TikTok and Microsoft have headquarters in Ireland, the Data Protection Commission is the lead authority investigating data privacy complaints about tech giants in Europe.

Some 87% of cross-border GDPR complaints to Irelands DPC also involve the same eight companies: Meta, Google, Airbnb, Yahoo!, Twitter, Microsoft, Apple, and Tinder.

On EU-wide cases, the ICCL report found that since May 2018  when GDPR laws came into effect  and late 2022, 64% of the 159 enforcement measures were reprimands, stating that enforcement against tech giants in Europe remains largely paralysed.

The EDPB register of EU-level decisions shows there were 49 compliance orders issued over four and a half year years.

The report called on the European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders to take serious action to enforce GDPR laws across Europe.

Last summer, the Irish Government announced that two additional data protection commissioners would be hired, and that Helen Dixon would be promoted to chairwoman of the DPC  in an attempt to better resource the watchdog in recognition of its growing workload.

The DPC has been carrying out a review of its governance structures, staffing arrangements and processes since last summer.
Syria ended over a decade of exile from the Arab League on Monday as officials participated in a preparatory session ahead of Friday's summit in Saudi Arabia.

"I... take this opportunity to welcome the Syrian Arab Republic to the League of Arab States," Saudi finance minister Mohammed al-Jadaan told the meeting, which was broadcast live by state TV channel Al Ekhbariya.

Jadaan added that he was "looking forward to working with everyone to achieve what we aspire to", as the camera panned to the Syrian delegation.

It is the first time Syrian officials have participated in an Arab League meeting since the body suspended Damascus in November 2011 over its violent crackdown on protests which spiralled into a conflict that has killed more than 500,000 people and displaced millions.

Earlier this month, the pan-Arab body officially welcomed back Syria's government, securing President Bashar al-Assad's return to the Arab fold.

Saudi King Salman has invited Assad to attend Friday's summit in the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah, which would be his first since the 2010 meeting in Libya.

Regional capitals have gradually been warming to Assad as he has held onto power and clawed back lost territory with crucial support from Iran and Russia.

The United Arab Emirates re-established ties with Syria in 2018 and has been leading the recent charge to reintegrate Damascus.

Diplomatic activity picked up after a deadly earthquake struck Syria and Turkey on February 6.

A decision in March by Saudi Arabia and Iran, a close ally of Damascus, to resume ties has also shifted the regional political landscape.

Riyadh, which cut ties with Assad's government in 2012 and had long openly championed the Syrian leader's ouster, confirmed last week that work would resume at the two countries' respective diplomatic missions.

But while Syria's frontlines have mostly quietened, large parts of the north remain outside government control, and no political solution to the conflict is in sight.

Top diplomats from nine Arab countries discussed the Syria crisis in Saudi Arabia last month, and five regional foreign ministers including Syria's met in Jordan on May 1.

But not every country in the region has been quick to mend ties with Assad.

Qatar said this month it would not normalise relations with Assad's government but also noted this would not be "an obstacle" to Arab League reintegration.

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[May 15, 2023] Arizona-Based Broadband Provider Wecom to Expand High-Speed Fiber Service as Part of Strategic Investment from Searchlight Capital Partners

High-speed fiber broadband service will be expanded to unserved and underserved Arizona communities as part of a new strategic investment announced today by Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P. a leading global private investment firm, in Wecom LLC, an established Arizona-based Internet Service Provider. This investment in the local company, with support from a minority investment by Simple Broadband LLC, is expected to benefit hundreds of thousands of households and businesses and create hundreds of new jobs throughout the state. Established in Arizona over six decades ago, Wecom is a leading broadband provider that delivers fiber, telecommunications, and Internet services to residential and business customers. The company developed a fiber-to-the-home network to empower communities and connect businesses across the region. "Hundreds of thousands of rural households and businesses in Arizona lack equal access to high-speed Internet service," said Darren Glatt, Partner and Head of Digital Infrastructure at Searchlight. "Wecom's long track record of providing reliable, best-in-class services to Arizona communities for more than 60 years makes it the perfect partner to help bridge the digital divide in the state. We are extremely proud to be able to work with such an established operator to bring the connectivity that rural communities need and the benefits it brings to students, small businesses, and communities overall." Wecom has been recognized by the State of Arizona for its efforts to improve the state's digital infrastructure. In July 2022, Wecom was awarded a $10 million Arizona Broadband Development Grant to bring high-speed, reliable, and affordable broadband services to rural Mohave County. "Mohave County has led the state in bringing broadband Internet to our rural residents and our partnership with Wecom is making it happen," said Mohave County Supervisor Jean Bishop. "I am excited to seeWecom and Searchlight continue to expand here and bring fast, affordable, and reliable internet to other Arizona counties that need it."



Wecom also received a U.S. Department of Agriculture ReConnect grant to bolster Wecom's efforts to provide fiber services to hundreds of households on the Hualapai Nation. Aided by Searchlight, Wecom will extend its collaborative approach to public-private partnerships at the state, county, and local levels, helping the company bring best-in-class fiber Internet access to Arizona communities that for too long have been on the wrong side of the digital divide. "Our new partnership with Searchlight will be instrumental in our mission to bring high-speed broadband access to communities throughout Arizona," Wecom CEO Paul Fleming said. "This will benefit everyone from rural to urban residents, including Native American communities. In building a world-class broadband network, Wecom will create local jobs, purchase materials from local vendors, and work with local utility partners, all of which will help local economies across the state."

Ajit Pai, Partner at Searchlight, also commented, "Investing in high-quality broadband infrastructure to help bridge the digital divide is a core Searchlight investment strategy. Today, Searchlight is the largest investor in residential fiber to the home in the U.S. Fiber broadband provides communities with much more than just Internet access - it gives consumers a gateway into the 21st century digital economy, enabling them to benefit from telehealth, remote education, job access, improved emergency services, and much more. With Searchlight's backing, Wecom will bring these benefits to hundreds of thousands of households and businesses across Arizona. Searchlight's approach has demonstrated the significant impact of public-private partnerships. We've seen this in Virginia, where All Points Broadband is building a robust fiber-to-the-home broadband network. We plan to continue to focus on investing in states where we can make a meaningful and positive impact, and that includes Arizona." About Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P. Searchlight is a global private investment firm with approximately $12 billion in assets under management and offices in New York, London, Miami and Toronto. Searchlight seeks to invest in businesses where its long-term capital and strategic support accelerate value creation for all stakeholders. For more information, please visit www.searchlightcap.com. About Wecom Wecom is a leading local Arizona provider of fiber Internet service. The company's mission is to provide homes and businesses with the fastest, most reliable Internet service throughout its rural service areas. Wecom was recently awarded the 2022 Readers' Choice Best of Kingman award, please visit www.wecominc.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005229/en/

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[May 15, 2023] Nintex to establish a regional office in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nintex, the global standard for process intelligence and automation, today announced plans to establish a regional office in Saudi Arabia. With over 80 customers in Saudi Arabia and 300 across the MENA region, Nintex has already established a strong presence in the region. This positions these organisations well to make a significant impact on the ambitious Vision 2030 initiative, where Saudi Arabia aims to transform its economy by promoting innovation, diversification, and private sector growth. "We are excited to establish our office in Saudi Arabia and actively contribute to the country's ambitious plans for digital transformation under Vision 2030," said Ayman El-Hattab, Nintex VP, Emerging Markets. Nintex, through its process intelligence and automation solutions, will support nation-wide initiatives such as the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP) and the National Transformation Program (NTP), as well as various digital transformation programs in the country. Today, Nintex is working closely with customers like the Public Investment Fund and the National Water Company of Saudi Arabia, as well as many others, to help them transform their processes ad innovate faster with digital technology.



The new office in Saudi Arabia will allow Nintex to better serve its existing customers in the Upper Gulf region and reach new customers who are looking for process intelligence and automation solutions. The company plans to hire local employees to support and grow its operations in the region. "By partnering with public and private sector organisations, we see incredible potential. Nintex is excited to be part of the growth of Saudi Arabia's vibrant and prosperous regional economy," said El-Hattab.

Media Contact

Laetitia Smith

[email protected] About Nintex

Nintex is the global standard for process intelligence and automation. Today more than 10,000 public and private sector organisations across 90 countries turn to the Nintex Process Platform to accelerate progress on their digital transformation journeys by quickly and easily managing, automating, and optimising business processes. Learn more by visiting www.nintex.com and experience how Nintex and its global partner network are shaping the future of Intelligent Process Automation (IPA). Product or service names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2076602/Ayman_El_Hattab_Nintex_cropped.jpg

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[May 14, 2023] Knnex Experiencing Rapid Growth as Registered Users Surpass Record-New 10 million

SINGAPORE, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Knnex Exchange, the world's leading digital asset trading platform, has become a leader in the emerging digital asset trading field by registering 10 million users in just a few years. Knnex Exchange is not the only platform that has been successful in the digital asset trading market but has been praised by users worldwide for its security and transparency. With the rapid growth of digital asset trading, more and more users are looking for a secure and convenient trading platform to exchange their digital assets. Knnex Exchange is unique in that it uses blockchain technology and consensus mechanism to ensure the security of digital assets and efficient transactions and provides users with efficient and convenient digital asset trading services. This has made Knnex Exchange a leading global digital asset trading platform that has attracted widespread attention worldwide. Innovative & User-Oriented Over the past period, Knnex Exchange has undergone several iterations and development processes, and has successfully realized a user-centric and global-oriented digital asset trading platform through various efforts. In the future, Knnex will continue to focus on optimizing product innovation and expanding its global footprint with cutting-edge technology to better serve our clients' needs and become a solid and reliable digital asset trading platform. We will continue to explore and develop a global digital asset trading platform and solve users' needs through smart technology to better serve our users worldwde.



At the same time, Knnex Exchange has successfully upgraded the trading engine of the platform, which will bring users a smoother and more secure digital asset trading experience. The platform's new engine can support highly concurrent trade requests and efficiently process large volumes of trade data. At the same time, Knnex Exchange has introduced the world's leading smart technology to provide more comfortable trading, storage, and transfer of digital assets for users in different scenarios. Evolve the ecosystem, Put Users' Need in Priority

Knnex Exchange will also explore diversified business models to create a more comprehensive digital asset ecosystem. From the current digital asset trading platform industry, each platform must be considered from various aspects, such as functionalities and transaction security, to better provide users with comprehensive digital asset trading services. By creating a comprehensive digital asset ecosystem through a diversified business model, Knnex Exchange will be able to better meet the needs of different users and adapt to the development of the digital asset market. Knnex has also enhanced and improved its KYC certification program and financial audit program to ensure transparency and compliance of transactions. The upcoming solution will combine innovative technology and local regulations to provide users with more efficient, user-friendly, and convenient KYC authentication services, while protecting the security of their financial data. Superior Service, Jointly Created Prospects Knnex Exchange, as a global pioneer in digital asset trading, has always been driven by innovation and continues to expand and explore new development opportunities. We are committed to providing superior digital asset trading services to global users, maintaining the principles of openness, transparency, and mutual trust, and growing and developing together with the global market. We firmly believe that if we insist on continuous innovation and promote the development of digital asset trading in the direction of more popular, efficient, and innovative, we will win the recognition of the market and users. Company: Knnex Group Limited

Contact Person: Kz

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.knnexb.org/

City: Singapore View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/knnex-experiencing-rapid-growth-as-registered-users-surpass-record-new-10-million-301824205.html SOURCE Knnex Group Limited

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[May 15, 2023] Custom Antibody Market to Rise at a 9.2% CAGR by 2023-2030, Global Industry Analysis by Service, Type, Source, Application, Indication, End User, Region, Competitive Landscape, Supply and Demand Side Analysis

Chicago, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Custom Antibody Market is expected to reach $923.6 million by 2030 from $439.1 million in 2022, registering impressive expansion at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2%. The Global Custom Antibody Market is dominated by major players such as Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Merck KGaA, Agilent Technologies, and Abcam PLC. Cell Signaling Technology, Inc, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc, GenScript (China), and Rockland Immunochemicals, Inc (US) among others. The Custom Antibody Market research report provides valuable insights by analyzing market trends and market scenarios over a defined period. It also presents manufacturing details like sales, volume, revenue, price, and gross margin. Furthermore, the import-export analysis, pricing analysis is also included in the report to understand the product demand and service. Finally, it also provides end-user application analysis, which delivers revenue, growth percentage of the product across the different applications. Moreover, the report also highlights the covid 19 impacts on the Custom Antibody Market and guides in overcoming the challenges during this pandemic. Request Research Sample Pages: https://www.delvens.com/get-free-sample/custom-antibody-market-trends-forecast-till-2028 The Custom Antibody Market research report delivers essential information consolidating the competitive landscape, worldwide, territorial, and country-explicit market size, market development investigation, a portion of the overall industry, late turns of events, and market development in division. Moreover, the Custom Antibody Market research report offers data and insightful realities like income, recorded information, and the worldwide market size. It additionally features crucial angles like opportunities, driving, item scope, market outline, and driving force. Key Companies & Market Share Insights Some of the key players operating in the global custom antibody market are Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Genscript, Abcam PLC., Cell Signaling Technology, Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Merck KgaA, Agilent Technologies, Inc., Perkinelmer, Inc., Rockland Immunochemicals, Inc., Promab Biotechnologies, Inc. Innovagen Ab, Origene Technologies Inc., Bio-Techne, Creative Diagnostics, Sino Biological, Inc., Raybiotech Life, Inc., Abbiotec, Inc., Prosci Incorporated, Boster Biological Technology, Cusabio Technology LLC, Biointron, Kaneka Eurogentec S.A., Creative Biolabs, Envigo, and Imgenex India among others. Recent Developments Merck KGaA and Kelun-Biotech created seven experimental preclinical antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) for the treatment of cancer in December 2022.

Thermo Fisher Scientific purchased The Binding Site Group ("The Binding Site"), a world authority in specialist diagnostics, in October 2022.

Bio-Techne bought Namocell in July 2022 to broaden its product offering and include gene therapy development and commercialization, cell engineering, cell line creation, single-cell genomics, and antibody discovery to its list of offerings. Players have been encouraged to spend on product development and expansion plans due to the rising need for individualized diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. For instance, Creative Biolabs launched several services in January 2023 to supplement its therapeutic section, which included therapeutic antibodies. The business is anticipated to provide full services for the creation of therapeutic antibodies. During the anticipated period, the market is anticipated to expand at a profitable rate. Market participants' technological improvements in workflow are probably going to help end users during the development process. For instance, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. introduced the Pioneer Antibody Discovery Platform, an antibody discovery service, in November 2022 to create biologic candidates. The platform has a phage display library that can hold more than 200 billion unique sequences and is equipped with the recently created technology, SpyDisplay, for the detection of antibody candidates. The platform provides potential therapeutic antibody candidates based on the specific needs of the client. The final antibodies should be given with thorough sequences and data packages that have been functionally characterized. Custom Antibody Market Overview According to estimates, the COVID-19 pandemic will increase pharmaceutical and biotech businesses' demand for bespoke antibody services. Different participants incorporated particular services for creating unique COVID-19 antibodies. For instance, ProSci offers unique COVID-19 antibodies for the development of monoclonal, single-domain, and polyclonal antibodies. To generate COVID-19 antibodies for vaccine R&D, recombinant single domain, diagnostic test, and detection screening kits, as well as for commercial and research reasons, the company works with or in collaboration with end customers. Custom antibody production does come at a hefty price, though. Although the cost of production lowers over time, the earliest stages of production, which include the synthesis of peptides, genes, antigens, and other components, are expensive. Providing bespoke antibody services typically costs around USD 899. Monoclonal manufacture can be time-consuming and costly, with costs ranging from $6,000 to $15,000. While the cost of producing polyclonal antibodies is quite inexpensive, at about USD 1,000. There are now only a few service suppliers on the market as a result of rising production costs. Custom Antibody Market Segmentation Analysis In 2022, the custom antibody market was dominated by the antibody development segment. The development, production, and labeling of antibodies generally divide the market into three service groups. In 2022, the global market for antibody research and development accounted for the lion's share. This industry holds a sizeable market share due to factors such as the rising incidence of cancer and other chronic diseases, which is increasing the demand for therapeutic antibodies. Additionally, leading market competitors are investing in R&D, which will likely hasten the segment's growth. During the forecast period, the custom antibody market's therapeutic applications segment is anticipated to experience the greatest CAGR growth. The market is divided into research and therapeutic applications based on application. The largest CAGR is projected for the therapeutic applications segment during the projection period. One of the elements promoting the market's growth is a rise in investment in the creation of innovative drugs using tailored antibodies. More regularly utilized custom antibodies are increasing demand for alternative fuels and promoting industrial expansion. Custom Antibody Market Regional Insights North America dominated the custom antibody market in 2022. Geographically, the market is split into North America, the Middle East & Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Latin America. In 2022, North America had the largest global market share, followed by Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Numerous elements, including the existence of a big client base and established distribution networks, contributed to the enormous market share in North America. Increased funding for bespoke antibody research is another factor driving the industry's growth in North America. The market in the United States is anticipated to increase in value to USD 372.9 million by 2030, with a USD 198.4 million absolute dollar in 2022. With an absolute dollar increase of USD 23.9 million in 2022, the market in the United Kingdom is predicted to increase to a value of USD 41.3 million by 2030. In China, the market is anticipated to increase in value to USD 75.7 million with a USD 41.6 million absolute increase in 2022 from 2023 to 2030. With an absolute dollar increase of USD 32.8 million in 2022 from 20232030, the market in Japan is predicted to increase in value to USD 62.7 million. With an absolute increase of USD 16.4 million in 2022, the market in India is predicted to increase in value to USD 36.3 million. Inquire Before Buying: https://www.delvens.com/Inquire-before-buying/custom-antibody-market-trends-forecast-till-2028 Custom Antibody Market Outlook Driver: More funding could accelerate market expansion. The pipeline of mAbs is running out, chronic and crippling diseases like cancer and infectious diseases are becoming more prevalent, and there is a growing need to find effective and promising treatments for several illnesses that harm people's quality of life all over the world. These factors have all contributed to an increase in antibody development and research. Government agencies' increasing levels of financing for antibody research are contributing to the market's expansion. Japan, which has the world's oldest population, for example, committed USD 970 million to regenerative medicine in April 2022, focused on induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS). Restraint: The expense and difficulty of using an antibody Antibody creation necessitates in-depth knowledge and qualitative concerns, which demand significant financial outlays and time constraints. Large bioreactors, filtration systems, and medium & buffers for upstream/downstream processing and purification are additional technologies needed for antibody synthesis. As a result, the average cost to generate bespoke mAbs continues to rise to the additional services needed and the protocols adhered to by each player. Emerging Markets Possibility The growing global market in the region is a result of emerging nations' increasing investments in the development of antibody drugs. To create novel products for treating lung disorders, such as mepolizumab, a monoclonal antibody used to treat severe asthma, the Australian government has budgeted USD 3.6 billion in fundamental research to assist science, research, and innovation in the nation from 2020 to 2021. In the upcoming years, the use of a personalized antibodies is projected to increase due to several causes, including the rising prevalence of infectious and chronic diseases and increased R&D efforts to create novel therapeutic and diagnostic approaches. Global Custom Antibody Market Table of Contents



Service outlook Antibody development

Antibody production & purification

Antibody fragmentation & labeling Type Outlook

Monoclonal antibodies

Polyclonal antibodies

Recombinant antibodies

Other custom antibodies Source outlook Mice

Rabbits

Other sources Application outlook Research

Therapeutics Indication outlook Oncology

Infectious diseases

Immunology

Neurobiology

Cardiovascular diseases

Other indications End user outlook Pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies

Academic & research institutes

Contract research organizations Regional Outlook Europe Germany U.K. France Italy Spain Sweden Austria Finland Belgium Turkey Russia Poland Hungary Czech Republic Switzerland Netherlands Rest of Europe

North America U.S. Canada Mexico

Asia-Pacific Japan China India Australia South Korea Vietnam New Zealand Philippines Thailand Malaysia Hong Kong Taiwan Singapore Indonesia Sri Lanka Rest of Asia-Pacific

South America Brazil Argentina Chile Colombia Rest of South America

Middle East And Africa South Africa U.A.E. Saudi Arabia Oman Qatar Iran Egypt Rest of Middle East and Africa

Key Players of the Custom antibody market Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

Genscript

Abcam PLC.

Cell Signaling Technology, Inc.

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

Merck KgaA

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Perkinelmer, Inc.

Rockland Immunochemicals, Inc.

Promab Biotechnologies, Inc.

Innovagen AB

Origene Technologies Inc.

Bio-Techne

Creative Diagnostics

Sino Biological, Inc.

Raybiotech Life, Inc.

Abbiotec, Inc.

Prosci Incorporated

Boster Biological Technology

Cusabio Technology LLC

Biointron

Kaneka Eurogentec S.A.

Creative Biolabs

Envigo

Imgenex India Report Scope Report Feature Descriptions Growth Rate CAGR of 9.2% 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 Service, Type, Source, Application, End-User, 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, South Africa (50+ Countries Across the Globe) Companies Profiled Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Genscript, Abcam PLC., Cell Signaling Technology, Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Merck KgaA, Agilent Technologies, Inc., Perkinelmer, Inc., Rockland Immunochemicals, Inc., Promab Biotechnologies, Inc. Innovagen Ab, Origene Technologies Inc., Bio-Techne, Creative Diagnostics, Sino Biological, Inc., Raybiotech Life, Inc., Abbiotec, Inc., Prosci Incorporated, Boster Biological Technology, Cusabio Technology LLC, Biointron, Kaneka Eurogentec S.A., Creative Biolabs, Envigo, and Imgenex India Available Customization In addition to the market data for the Custom Antibody Market, Delvens offers client-centric reports customized according to the companys specific demand and requirements. Direct Purchase of Custom Antibody Market Research Report at: https://www.delvens.com/checkout/custom-antibody-market-trends-forecast-till-2028 For More Pharmaceutical Industry Insights Reports: https://www.delvens.com/industry/pharmaceutical Browse Related Reports: Metabolomics Market: https://www.delvens.com/report/metabolomics-market-trends-forecast-till-2028 Metabolomics Market, Product (GC,UPLC, CE, Surface based Mass Analysis), Application (Biomarker Discovery, Drug Discovery, Functional Genomics), Indication (Cardiology, Oncology, Inborn Errors), End User (Academic Institute, CROs) and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and South America) Drug Discovery Services Market: https://www.delvens.com/report/drug-discovery-services-market-trends-forecast-till-2028 Drug Discovery Services Market by Process (Target Selection, Validation, Lead Optimization), Type (Medicinal Chemistry, DMPK), Drug Type (Biologics, Small Molecules), Therapeutic (Oncology, Neurology), Company (Tier 1, 2, 3) and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and South America) Smart Pills Market: https://www.delvens.com/report/smart-pills-market-trends-forecast-till-2028 Smart Pills Market, By Area (Stomach, Esophagus, Small Intestine, Large Intestine), Application (Patient Monitoring, Capsule Endoscopy, Drug Delivery), Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and South America) About Delvens Delvens is a strategic advisory and consulting company headquartered in New Delhi, India. The company holds expertise in providing syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. Delvens qualitative and quantitative data is highly utilized by each level from niche to major markets, serving more than 1K prominent companies by assuring to provide information on the country, regional, and global business environment. We have a database for more than 45 industries in more than 115+ major countries globally. We use AI and machine learning to make existing offerings quicker and cheaper, as well as to offer new services which couldnt have been dreamt of a few years ago. From creating concepts to implementing them, we have the best-proven strategies that will help the organization and are assisting the organization to overcome the prevailing challenges and recognize recent opportunities before their competitors. We are capable of providing tailor-made research services keeping because of your specific requirements. We assure to provide the best possible services for all our clients. Our analysts are available for your assistance and will perfectly understand your needs and demand. Delvens database assists clients by providing in-depth information on crucial business decisions. Delvens offers significant facts and figures across various industries namely Healthcare, IT & Telecom, Chemicals & Materials, Semiconductor & Electronics, Energy, Pharmaceutical, Consumer Goods & Services, and Food & Beverages. Our company provides an exhaustive and comprehensive understanding of the business environment. To find out more, visit https://www.delvens.com/ or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact Us: Varsha Chaudhari

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[May 15, 2023]

MRHB.Network Releases its One-Year Performance Report

MELBOURNE, Australia, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MRHB.Network , the worlds first halal and ethical decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem, has released its one-year performance report detailing the companys many achievements during 2022.







"From Day One, our platform put ethics together with a trusted community first mission  a concept whose importance was highlighted by the numerous failures and frauds of 2022, said MRHB Founder and CEO Naquib Mohammed . We are continuing to build a safe and diverse crypto community that wants to participate in this extraordinary new sector that we hope will drive more creativity, entrepreneurship, investment and commerce opportunities for all involved.

MRHB DeFi launched their $MRHB token in December 2021 in an oversubscribed IDO, raising nearly US$5 million from 1,000 investors, 800 of whom came through MRHBs own DeFi platform. Following are the startups subsequent highlights and milestones over the past year:

Products and Architecture  The Foundation of the Vision

The past year saw MRHB launch three world-first products in halal DeFi:

Launched in February 2022, Sahal Wallet is the first self-custodial and chain-agnostic mobile crypto wallet that screens out non-halal tokens. Known as the Easy Wallet because of its user-friendly interface, it also acts as a gateway to MRHBs entire ecosystem of halal DeFi products. Available on Android and iOS , Sahal Wallet has more than 210,000 wallet activations across six chains, with tens of millions of dollars in weekly transaction volumes. It has a number of useful features including fiat onramp, swaps, cross-chain bridges, biometrics, WalletConnect, NFT storage and is integrated with the following popular blockchains: Ethereum, BNB Chain, Polygon, Cronos, Fantom and Avalanche, with eight more partner blockchains scheduled to be integrated by Q3 2023.

TijarX , which beta-launched in October 2022, is the first halal DEX (decentralized exchange) built specifically for tokenized commodities. Initially focussed on very low risk wealth preservation, it currently offers gold and silver -backed tokens by physical allocated bullion stored in the fully regulated vaults of Australias leading bullion dealer, Ainslie . Providing tamper-proof and reliable price feeds from market-leading oracle solution, Chainlink , TijarX has reached over USD 400,000 in volume.

SouqNFT is the first halal NFT marketplace and B2B NFT solution. Launched in December 2021, SouqNFT hosts image NFTs as well as the worlds first NFT-based halal compliance certificates , and supports minting of Soulbound tokens. SouqNFT is currently integrated with the BNB and Polygon blockchains, and following the upcoming launch of Souq V2 which will include an entire UI/UX revamp, it will also be integrated with ETH, Fantom, Avalanche and CRO. Souq V2 will also see a range of other new features added, including (but not limited to) secondary market support across all chains, an OpenAI and DreamFusion-integrated AI NFT art generator, and an NFT Project Launchpad.

In addition to the above three halal DeFi solutions, the startup has been hard at work building their next two ethical and halal wealth generation products: EmplifAi, for easy investing in on-chain sources of income, and M.I.R.O.  short for MRHB Incentivization & Reward Offering  which, for the first time, will allow the MRHB token holders to earn rewards in return for community participation. Both products are anticipated to create a demand driver for the utility token itself.



To better align the community and team members, the MRHB Governance Board decided to delay token releases for MRHB DeFi team until after M.I.R.O. is launched.

Shariah Governance Board  The Soul of the MRHB Ecosystem

MRHB DeFi works very closely with their Shariah Governance Board (SGB) that reviews every single token and product on the platform for halal compliance, including intricate analyses of every step of development for the products that MRHB creates. This ensures that everything on the platform is suitable for MRHBs faith and ethics-conscious audience, also crucial for making partnerships with other halal projects.

Over the past year, the SGB has overseen halal compliance for the MRHB utility token and all three product launches as well as provided halal and ethical screening for over 150 external protocols, tokens and products, making MRHB DeFi the largest halal ecosystem in the blockchain industry.

The SGB is further involved in creating educational and official documentation and training resources for MRHB, including writing the first publicly published paper concerning Shariah governance in DeFi, as well as drafting the first DeFi-related Shariah governance framework and Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs).

Partnerships and Investments  New Opportunities, New Capabilities

Currently, the MRHB ecosystem is open to integrations with all third-party projects, blockchains, and tokenized assets that are deemed ethical and halal with future plans to launch toolkits and project incubators to actively support new founders and entrepreneurs.

After one year on the market, MRHB has secured over 30 strategic partnerships, including with a number of centralized and decentralized exchanges (CEXes and DEXes), technology and institutional partners.

Its a very challenging business environment but th need for innovative financial channels for greater financial inclusion, freedom and system safety has never been greater. Global market stresses have crushed several very high profile centralized banks and crypto institutions, highlighting a real need for DeFi. The bear market has allowed the dedicated team to focus on building useful products and  despite token pressures  we are seeing greater recognition of the MRHB projects ethics, quality, transparency and credibility, said Khalid Howladar , Chairman, who leads MRHBs institutional outreach. These in turn are driving many institutional partnerships and possible expansions into real estate, commodities and the metaverse for 2023. We believe these will deliver extraordinary long term value and utility for both our community, partners and investors.







A few notable partnerships from the past year include the following:

MRHB partnered with the youth wing of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to establish a Blockchain Centre of Excellence in Istanbul where they help educate and support young entrepreneurs from the 57 member states of the OIC interested in the blockchain industry. This partnership is enabled through MRHBs participation in the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF) incubation program, an initiative supported by the Presidency of the Republic of Turkiye Investment Office and the Bilisim Vadisi Technology Development Zone of the Republic of Turkiye.

Australia's leading bullion group, Ainslie Bullion, partnered with MRHB in Sep 2022 to onboard their physical bullion-backed Gold & Silver Standard tokens to TijarX. These tokenized precious metals are independently audited, insured by Lloyds of London, and stored in Australias Reserve Vault.

MRHB partnered with Polygon Technology in late 2021 to optimize MRHB for the Polygon network. Polygon transactions are currently available on Sahal Wallet, and will be incorporated in an upcoming decentralized philanthropy (DePhi) solution that will cover Zakat and Waqf initiatives.

In addition to the above, other partners and investors include Sheesha Finance , Australian Gulf Capital , NewTribe Capital , Blockchain Australia , Mozaic , Contango Digital Assets , ZKSync , Acreditus Partners , EMGS Group , Sinofy Group , Sukhavati Protocol and MKD Capital, amongst others.

In terms of investment, MRHB has held private sales for Seed, Strategic and non-dashboard Pre-Sales funding rounds, attracting over 1000 investors from all over the world. Due to market interest, the company is exploring options around equity fundraising.

Marketing and PR  Sharing MRHBs Ethical DeFi Story with the World

MRHB employs a large and active marketing team, maintaining six social media platforms and seven Telegram community channels in six different languages. The company, which has team members working in 17 different countries 24 hours a day across time zones, attended over a dozen international conferences in 2022 and held two large promotional events that have attracted a supportive and very loyal community of over 95,000 people, most of whom are first-time investors.

MRHB garnered widespread media interest and has been organically covered by notable media such as Forbes , Cointelegraph , Nasdaq.com , InvestorPlace , BeInCrypto , Cryptoslate and many others.

MRHB DeFi has won a number of accolades, including two World Business Outlook awards in 2022 for Most Ethical DeFi Network Australia 2022 and Best New Islamic Crypto Platform Australia 2022. They also won Best New Islamic Crypto - 2022 in the Crypto/FOREX category at the Global Brand Awards , and were featured as one of 10 Most Innovative Global Muslim Blockchain & Metaverse Projects to watch in 2022 by the California-based NPO Centre for Global Muslim Life . The $MRHB token itself scored a perfect 10/10 score in a comprehensive audit by leading cybersecurity firm Hacken.



While the complete One Year Performance report is only available for MRHB investors, the One Year Highlights is available here:

https://docsend.com/view/46myt8g49xcse2u9

About MRHB DeFi Network

MRHB DeFi Network is a halal, decentralized finance platform built to embody the true spirit of Ethical and Inclusive DeFi by following faith-based financial and business principles where all excluded communities can benefit from the full empowerment potential of DeFi.

The diverse team comprises researchers, technocrats, influencers, Islamic fintech experts, business entrepreneurs and industry professionals, who have all come together to ensure that MRHB DeFi prevails in a manner that will impact society as a whole, essentially bridging the gap between faith-conscious communities and the blockchain world.

MRHB DeFi Network Official Channels

Website: https://mrhb.network

Twitter: https://twitter.com/marhabadefi

Telegram: https://t.me/mdf_official

Telegram Announcements: https://t.me/marhabadefi_ANN

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MarhabaDeFi

Medium: https://medium.com/@mrhbdefi

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marhabadefi

Discord: https://discord.com/invite/DubSjKmkBX

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MRHBDeFi

Telegram (Arabic): https://t.me/mdf_arabic

Telegram (Russian): https://t.me/marhabadefi_russia

Telegram (Turkish): https://t.me/MarhabaDefiTR

Telegram (Persian): https://t.me/mrhbdefi_persian

Telegram (Urdu/Hindi): https://t.me/MRHBDeFi_Urdu_Hindi

SouqNFT Marketplace: https://souq.mrhb.network

Media Contact

[email protected]

[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/860af2c9-2293-4920-9869-123567803556
[May 15, 2023] ORIGIN Conference: Southeast Asia in Spotlight at BEYOND Week 2023

MACAU, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TechNode Global is excited to share a recap of the recently-concluded ORIGIN Conference, a Southeast Asia-focused content track at BEYOND Expo 2023 designed to explore the tremendous growth opportunities and emerging trends in the region. Held on the 11th of May as part of the BEYOND Week activities, ORIGIN Conference featured expert speakers and panel discussions that covered in-depth topics with the aim of connecting businesses across Southeast Asia and China and unlocking new growth opportunities in the region. ORIGIN Conference kicked off with an opening keynote by Dr. Gang Lu, Founder and CEO of TechNode Group and Co-Founder of BEYOND, who shared an overview of the Southeast Asian market and discussed why now is the right time for businesses to invest and expand in the region. "We envision BEYOND Expo to become the go-to destination for everything related to technology in Asia bringing it up to the level of Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas and Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona  two of the most innovative and influential gatherings in the tech space," said Dr. Gang Lu in his keynote. "As part of this blueprint, ORIGIN Conference and BEYOND Expo aspire to create a level playing field where local and global ecosystems congregate and pave each other's way to greater successes in Asia," he said, highlighting the growing role of Southeast Asia in shaping the economic and technological landscape in Asia and globally. The conference featured a series of engaging panel discussions: "Why is Southeast Asia Prime for the Next Decade?" was a panel that featured Thomas G. Tsao of Gobi Partners, Davide Cali of CrossFund, and Winston Utomo of IDN Media, moderated by Yimie Yong of TechNode Global. featured Kamarul A. Muhamed of Aerodyne Group, Oranuch Lerdsuwankij of Techsauce, and Lin Xiangliang of ESCO Lifesciences Group, moderated by James Kwan of Jumpstart Media.



"How is AI shaping Southeast Asia's Next Gen?" featured William Chow of iFLYTEK, Oliver Tan of ViSenze, and Ivan Lau of Pantheon Lab, moderated by Tiago Ramalho of Recursive. "Capturing Southeast Asia's Emerging Generation" featured Woragun Wattanasakchai of Mercular, Maxim Tint of Gtriip, and Yau Png Ow of Hegg as panelists, moderated by AJ Lee of PNTR Group.

"Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Investment and M&A in Southeast Asia" brought together Amy Zhao of Openspace Ventures, Paramjit Singh of Malaysia Venture Capital Management (MAVCAP), and Rama Mamuaya of DS/X Ventures in a panel moderated by Eudora Wang of DealStreetAsia. The "Advanced & Affordable Healthcare thru Technology" panel featured Dr. Pauline Tay of the National Health Innovation Centre (NHIC) Singapore, Elias Pour of ORA, and Kashish Sawalani of Enlitho, and was moderated by Hao Tran of Vietcetera Media. "Southeast Asia: A Race to Go Sustainable" featured Ting Yan Leck of TRIVE Ventures, Carrie Chan of Avant Meats, and Irwan Tjahaja of SWAP Energi, and was moderated by James Jung of beSUCCESS Media Group. "Planning for Southeast Asia Expansion: Markets and Opportunities" featured Tan Lee Koon of Wellous Group Limited and Julian Tan of FastCo, moderated by Rita Fatiguso of Il Sole 24 Ore. By focusing on business opportunities in Southeast Asia, ORIGIN Conference at BEYOND Expo 2023 aims to inspire businesses to explore market expansion and partnerships between China and Southeast Asia. This event is an unparalleled opportunity to connect with industry experts, discover new trends, and gain valuable insights into the region's growing market. With 800+ exhibitors and 55,000+ attendees from around the world, BEYOND Expo has become an exceptional platform for businesses to connect with global tech innovation enthusiasts, industry leaders, and potential partners. The event featured at least 100 networking sessions, fostering collaboration and idea exchange across various fields, including enterprise, product, capital, and industries. ORIGIN Conference at BEYOND Expo 2023 proved to be a critical venue for businesses seeking to expand their horizons, gain valuable industry insights, and forge meaningful connections in the global tech scene. About ORIGIN Conference ORIGIN Conference is TechNode Global's premier international content track about the latest developments in the Asia tech and startup scene where international industry leaders and technology innovators from across the region gather to share trends, experiences, and leadership lessons. Emerging from a global pandemic in the backdrop of an exciting era for technology and innovation, ORIGIN Conference was held in Macao this year as part of the BEYOND Expo Week activity. This year's theme is 'Southeast Asia in Spotlight'. Official website: https://technode.global/origin About BEYOND Since 2020, BEYOND Expo has held two successful events, growing to be one of the largest and most influential technology expositions in Asia, attracting 800+ exhibitors and 55,000+ attendees worldwide. Running more than 150 industry forums with 500+ business leaders as speakers, BEYOND Expo provides a global platform for insightful technology exchange. Focusing on three key industries including ConsumerTech, Healthcare, and Sustainability, BEYOND Expo looks forward to connecting with global tech innovation enthusiasts and facilitating in-depth interaction across all fields, including enterprise, product, capital, and industries, to promote the global tech scene in the Asia-Pacific region and across the world. Official website: https://beyondexpo.com For inquiries, please contact: Stanley Chong [email protected]

TechNode Global [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/origin-conference-southeast-asia-in-spotlight-at-beyond-week-2023-301824355.html SOURCE TechNode Global

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[May 15, 2023] MGI Empowers the Completion of Nearly 60,000 Samples for The Million Microbiome of Humans Project

SHENZHEN, China, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MGI Tech Co. Ltd. (MGI), a company committed to building core tools and technology to lead life science, recently shared that a total of nearly 60,000 samples have been sequenced among 21 institutes and over 10 participating nations throughout Europe, as part of the Million Microbiome of Humans Project (MMHP) that was officially launched in 2019. The project was launched as a joint effort by the Karolinska Institute of Sweden, Shanghai National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases in China, the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, Technical University of Denmark, MetaGenoPolis at the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE) in France, and the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Center. Relying on MGI's core DNBSEQ technology, MMHP aims to sequence and analyze microbial DNA from a million human samples to construct a microbiome map of the human body and build the world's largest human microbiome database. "Countless studies have highlighted the importance of the microbiome in human health and disease. Yet, our knowledge of the composition of the microbiome in different parts of the body across countries, ages, sexes, and in relation to human health and disease remains limited," said Duncan Yu, President of MGI. "Through MMHP, we are pushing forward microbial metagenomic research while empowering researchers within the microbiology community with access to MGI's innovative sequencing technology. Despite a brief interruption by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are delighted to see such a monumental milestone merely four years into the project." The rise of microbial metagenomic sequencing Since the first description of human microbiome was published in 2010, the field of human microbiome has moved fast from sampling hundreds of individuals to thousands. Advances in genome sequencing has enabled researchers to better characterize the composition of the microbiome through identification of unculturable microbes. It has also allowed them the opportunity to study how the microbiome influences the development of some cancers and drug responses. Metagenomics, coupled with high-throughput sequencing technologies, have revolutionized microbial ecology. Today, metagenomic sequencing has become both a powerful and popular tool for identifying and classifying complex microbial communities. It facilitates accelerated discovery of new markers that translate to virulence or antibiotic resistance, as well as de novo discovery and characterization of novel species and assembly of new genomes. Besides human microbiome, it is highly applicable in agricultural microbiome studies, environmental microbiome studies, pathogen surveillance and identification, and monitoring of antimicrobial resistance genes. Indeed, the global metagenomic sequencing markt was estimated to be worth USD 1.86 billion in revenue in 2022 and is poised to reach USD 4.33 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 18.4% during the forecast period. In particular, Europe and Africa account for approximately 29.7% market share from the globe, ranking second after North America at 45.6%. Thanks to continuous technological innovations in high-throughput sequencing platforms, the metagenomic sequencing market within Europe and Africa is projected to grow from USD 551.7 million in 2022 to 1.29 billion by 2027, presenting huge market opportunities and providing local institutions with the impetus to invest and get involved.



An optimized workflow with MGI's cutting-edge technology Equipped with MGI's innovative lab systems, the MMHP Consortium guarantees high-throughput processes, extreme precision, and high quality data output. The dedicated, one-stop workflow begins with sample transfer on MGISTP-7000* high-throughput automated sample transfer processing system. It then goes through nucleic acid extraction and library preparation on MGISP-960 high-throughput automated sample preparation system, a flexible and fully automated workstation capable of processing 96 samples per run. MGISP-960's fully automatic operation design allows DNA extraction of 50,000 samples per year and library preparation of 25,000 samples per year. MGISP-Smart 8, the professional automated pipetting robot, equipped with an independent 8 pipetting channel can be used for the pooling, normalization and DNB making. Lastly, DNBSEQ-T7* ultra-high throughput sequencer and DNBSEQ-G400* versatile benchtop sequencer enables an efficient, productive, and streamlined sequencing experience.

"We are very focused on data quality, cost and time. After contrasting DNBSEQ technology by MGI with other sequencing technologies, we are convinced that MGI's products have met high industry standards and provide a very good user experience," commented Professor Lars Engstrand, Research Director of Center for Microbial Translational Research (CMTR) at Karolinska Institutet. "MGI's platforms have enabled our team to upgrade our original microbiological research from 16SrRNA gene amplicon sequencing to shotgun metagenomic sequencing. I look forward to introducing more equipment and super-large projects as human microbiome emerges as a crucial diagnostic and treatment method in precision medicine." The next chapter in microbiomics "Microbiomics will be part of precision medicine in the future, and data from the microbiome biobank that will result from MMHP will be leveraged for therapeutic R&D," said Professor Stanislav Dusko Ehrlich of University College London, UK. "With 21 public and private institutions and 10+ countries currently involved in MMHP, we are actively looking for more research groups to take part in this landmark international microbiological research partnership and help generate the world's biggest free-access human microbiome database." Since the inception of MMHP, MGI has played an important role in providing the program with state-of-the-art research platforms and technologies. Now entering its second phase towards sequencing and analyzing a final total of one million samples, the project welcomes further exchange and participation from relevant organizations to jointly promote research and applications of cutting-edge translational medicine in the field of microbiome. About MGI MGI Tech Co. Ltd. (MGI), headquartered in Shenzhen, is committed to building core tools and technology to lead life science through intelligent innovation. Based on its proprietary technology, MGI focuses on research & development, production and sales of sequencing instruments, reagents, and related products to support life science research, agriculture, precision medicine and healthcare. MGI is a leading producer of clinical high-throughput gene sequencers*, and its multi-omics platforms include genetic sequencing*, medical imaging, and laboratory automation. MGI's mission is to develop and promote advanced life science tools for future healthcare. For more information, please visit the MGI website or connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn or YouTube. *Unless otherwise informed, StandardMPS and CoolMPS sequencing reagents, and sequencers for use with such reagents are not available in Germany, Spain, UK, Sweden, Italy, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Hong Kong, China (CoolMPS is available in Hong Kong). *For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures (except as specifically noted). View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/mgi-empowers-the-completion-of-nearly-60-000-samples-for-the-million-microbiome-of-humans-project-301824366.html SOURCE MGI Tech Co., Ltd.

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[May 15, 2023] Globant "Chooses France": Acquires Pentalog to reinforce its presence in France and continue its European expansion

Simultaneously with Globant CEO, Martin Migoya, participating in the "Choose France Summit" with President Emmanuel Macron, Globant consolidates its French-based European team Pentalog is a leading France-based digital transformation company with a diverse array of services and a robust portfolio of clients throughout Europe Globant will now have a better reach in France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Austria PARIS, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Globant (NYSE: GLOB), a digitally native technology services company, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Pentalog, a renowned digital transformation company that creates high-quality technology solutions and products for digitally native organizations in key industries such as finance, sports, gaming, travel, and education, among others. The acquisition will support Globant's plans to expand its footprint and services in France. This agreement is also very significant to the Company's growth plans in the Netherlands and DACH Region, adding a robust team of highly skilled engineers, tech specialists and consultants, and an impressive client roster. Globant's Co-Founder and CEO, Martin Migoya, will further comment on this important investment later today at Choose France Summit that will take place at the Palace of Versailles. Pentalog serves some of the strongest brands in key industries, such as Criteo, Adidas, Cegid, BitPanda, TripAdvisor, Ipsos or G4S, among other 500+ companies in several sectors. Today, the Company is working on over 250 digital products with some of the world's most innovative engineers. This combination will allow actual and potential clients of Globant and Pentalog to benefit from increased collaboration, scale-up solutions, and an enriched and broader value proposition. Founded in 1993 in Orleans, France, Pentalog houses 1,300 professionals in France, Romania, Moldova, Mexico, Vietnam, and the U.S., among other countries, and offers a robust value proposition including digital services to solve customers' business problems and a recruiting division to support customers' internal teams expansion. In its 30 years, Pentalog was able to build a strong business pipeline with close to 80% of itsrevenues coming from European accounts and the remaining revenues generated in North America.



Pentalog's Co-founder and CEO, Frederic Lasnier, will remain with Globant together with his partners and the larger Pentalog team. "France is one of the world's top economies and innovation hubs and we wanted Globant to have a stronger presence in such important geography. Pentalog impressed us with its amazing culture of innovation, client-centric approach, and diverse talents. Together, we will be able to continue offering top-notch services and products to keep reinventing some of the most beloved brands in the world," said Martin Migoya, Co-Founder and CEO of Globant.

"Before this connection, I always had Globant in my sights. Both as a model of inspiration and as a reference in digital transformation around the world. Now that I have Globant at my side, no doubt we'll reach the top of the podium in Europe," said Frederic Lasnier, Co-founder and CEO of Pentalog. "We are thrilled to welcome Pentalog as part of the Globant family. They are a great organization with a similar vision and dream, and a perfect fit for our European expansion strategy," said Martin Umaran, Co-founder and President of Europe of Globant. "Once Pentalog is fully integrated, we will be able to offer better services to more companies with a local flavor and delivery in more European countries. This combination will support big time our plans to support Europe's top brands digital transformation," said Fernando Matzkin, Chief Business Officer for Europe of Globant. Completion of this transaction is subject to customary closing conditions. About Globant We are a digitally native company that helps organizations reinvent themselves and unleash their potential. We are the place where innovation, design, and engineering meet at scale. We have more than 27,000 employees and we are present in 25 countries and 5 continents working for companies like Google, Electronic Arts and Santander, among others.

We were named a Worldwide Leader in CX Improvement Services by IDC MarketScape report.

We were also featured as a business case study at Harvard , MIT , and Stanford .

, , and . We are a member of The Green Software Foundation (GSF) and the Cybersecurity Tech Accord. Contact: [email protected] Sign up to get first dibs on press news and updates. For more information, visit www.globant.com . This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The expectations related to the businesses of Globant and Pentalog may differ from their actual results and consequently, you should not rely on these forward looking statements as predictions of future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "believe," "may," "will", "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "should," "plan," "expect," "predict," "potential," or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, expectations with respect to the anticipated benefits of the proposed acquisition. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside of the control of Globant and Pentalog and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) the ability of the parties to complete the proposed acquisition; (2) the risk that the conditions to the closing of the acquisition are not satisfied in a timely manner or at all, (3) the risk that disruption from the transaction materially and adversely affects Pentalog's business and operations; (4) restrictions during the pendency of the transaction that impact Pentalog's ability to pursue certain business opportunities or other strategic transactions; (5) Globant's ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed acquisition, (6) costs related to the proposed acquisition, (7) Globant's ability to successfully grow Pentalog's business; (8) potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement, pendency or completion of the proposed acquisition; (9) the ability of Globant to retain and hire key Pentalog employees; (10) changes in applicable laws or regulations, (11) the demand for Pentalog's services together with the possibility that Pentalog may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and (12) other factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in our most recent Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any other risk factors included in subsequent reports on Form 6-K. Because of these uncertainties, you should not make any investment decision based on these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this press release whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/globant-chooses-france-acquires-pentalog-to-reinforce-its-presence-in-france-and-continue-its-european-expansion-301824369.html SOURCE Globant

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[May 15, 2023] KCM Trade's Tim Waterer: A Financial Expert in the Spotlight of Global Media

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- KCM Trade is delighted to announce that its Chief Market Analyst, Tim Waterer, has been widely recognised for his expertise and insights in the financial industry. Tim's commentary has been featured in various publications, including major international publications, regional and local newspapers, trade publications, and industry blogs. ?Tim's insights into global financial markets have made him a highly respected and sought-after expert by journalists worldwide, regardless of the publication size. As a result, he has been featured in numerous media outlets worldwide, including CNBC, Forbes, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, The Australian Financial Review, Financial Times (UK), The Guardian (UK), La Vanguardia (Spain), and El Economista (Mexico) to name a few. He is also frequently interviewed by Reuters and most recently was aired on BFM89.9fm radio and Channel News Asia Radio. ?His expertise on topics such as stocks, currencies,and commodities has earned him a reputation as an authority in the industry. As a result, even smaller and foreign media outlets have sought his opinions, despite needing online archives or search engine indexes.



?On 26 April 2023, Tim Waterer provided an in-depth but summarised review of the recent decline in deposits of First Republic Bank and the potential consequences for the bank's stock price. He also delved into Microsoft and Alphabet's positive earning reports, which gave the US futures a slight boost, but noted that there was still a risk-off trading session across Asia. Additionally, he discussed the outlook for gold and how it depends on the USD and highlighted the PCE data release on Friday as an important event for traders to watch. ?KCM Trade is a leading financial services provider with many branches throughout Asia and Oceania. The firm offers a wide range of investment products and services, including investment advice, and trading education. With a team of experienced professionals and a commitment to delivering exceptional service to clients, KCM Trade has established itself as a trusted partner for investors around the world.

To learn more about KCM Trade and its services, please visit their website at https://www.kcmtrade.com/. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/kcm-trades-tim-waterer-a-financial-expert-in-the-spotlight-of-global-media-301824373.html SOURCE KCM Trade; Kohle Capital Markets; Kohle Capital Markets (KCM)

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[May 15, 2023] Walker & Dunlop Seniors Housing Team Closes Over $280 Million in Q1 2023

Walker & Dunlop Inc.'s seniors housing team, led by Mark Myers, Joshua Jandris, Brett Gardner, Tony Cassie, and Gideon Orion, started 2023 strong, closing six deals totaling over $280 million. Despite the challenging market environment, the seniors housing team has maintained its performance, demonstrating its capacity to use transactional experience across client types, regions, and senior housing investment vehicles to offer a full-service investment solution. The closings included $260 million in sales and $20 mllion in finance origination. The deals included 13 assets and 1,480+ total units/beds across various markets throughout the United States.



This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005122/en/ The Pinnacle at Plymouth Meeting (Photo: Business Wire)

"Our market insights, vast relationships, and extensive experience in seniors housing and long-term care allows us to become the go-to in selling and financing these types of properties," said Kris Mikkelsen, executive vice president of Investment Sales at Walker & Dunlop. "Whether facilitating dispositions, raising equity, or sourcing debt, our team ensures each transaction is handled with the priority, precision, and care our clients deserve. We provide personalized service they would only expect from a boutique firm." Among the transactions closed by the seniors housing investment sales team was the sale of a 196-unit Class-A independent living, assisted living, and memory care trophy asset called The Pinnacle at Plymouth Meeting, located in a Philadelphia, PA, suburb. The team also arranged the $22 million sale of the Avenir Arizona portfolio, a Class-A Memory Care facility with three communities located in the Phoenix, AZ, MSA. Lastly, the team arranged a high-profile skilled nursing portfolio sale in the Mid-Atlantic Region on behalf of a publicly traded REIT. The final transaction consisted of five facilities with approximately 770 beds and was sold to a national owner/operator for an undisclosed purchase price of more than $200,000 per bed. The seniors housing investment sales team also collaborated with Russell Dey of the seniors housing capital markets group on a $20 million refinance for the Village at White River Junction, an 80-unit, Class-A, assisted living and memory care community in Vermont, helping their client secure favorable terms in a challenging, capital-constrained market. Walker & Dunlop is a leader in senior housing property sales and financing; the firm completed more than 410 unique senior housing and healthcare transactions worth nearly $5 billion between 2019-2022. For more information about Walker & Dunlop's senior housing team, visit our website. About Walker & Dunlop Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD) is one of the largest commercial real estate finance and advisory services firms in the United States. Our ideas and capital create communities where people live, work, shop, and play. The diversity of our people, breadth of our brand and technological capabilities make us one of the most insightful and client-focused firms in the commercial real estate industry. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005122/en/

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Lebanon's central bank governor Riad Salameh is expected to miss an upcoming hearing in a French probe after Lebanese police had failed to deliver a summons, a judicial official said Monday.

Salameh, 72, has been the target of a series of judicial investigations both at home and abroad on allegations including fraud, money laundering and illicit enrichment.

European investigators looking into the fortune he has amassed during three decades in the job had scheduled a hearing in Paris for Tuesday.

Lebanese "police officers visited the central bank four times last week to hand Riad Salameh an official summons" on behalf of the French authorities, the judicial official told AFP.

"But they could not find him anywhere" and the summons was returned to Lebanon's judiciary, which was to notify French authorities, the official said.

The official, who requested anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the press, said Salameh will likely be absent from the Paris hearing given the failure to deliver the summons.

Later Monday, Salameh, his brother Raja and former assistant Marianne Hoayek requested that Lebanon suspend cooperation with the European investigators.

Salameh is part of a political class widely blamed for a crushing economic crisis that began in Lebanon in late 2019 and which the World Bank has dubbed one of the worst in recent history.

In March 2022, France, Germany and Luxembourg seized assets worth 120 million euros ($130 million) in a move linked to the French probe into Salameh's wealth.

This year, European investigators have questioned Salameh in Beirut, also hearing from a Lebanese minister, the governor's brother and central bank audit firms.

'Violating Lebanon's Sovereignty'

A visiting French judge had told Salameh in March that he was expected to appear in Paris, but a Lebanese judge attending the session said any summons needed to adhere to official procedures.

A security officer at the central bank had given different reasons for Salameh's absence, telling police he had just left the building, was in a meeting or could not come to his workplace for "security reasons", the judicial official said.

In February, Lebanon charged Salameh with embezzlement, money laundering and tax evasion as part of its own investigations.

Salameh has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

The domestic probe was opened following a request for assistance from Switzerland's public prosecutor looking into more than $300 million in fund movements by the Salameh and his brother.

On Monday, defence lawyers representing Salameh, his brother and Hoayek submitted "a formal request to the public prosecution to suspend European judicial assistance (in the case) because it is in conflict with the ongoing Lebanon probe", the official said.

Salameh's lawyers accuse the European investigators of "violating Lebanon's sovereignty", and want them to "permanently suspend" their probe into the central bank's ties to Forry Associates Ltd.

Forry is a British Virgin Islands-registered company that listed Salameh's brother as its beneficiary.

It is suspected of having brokered Lebanese treasury bonds and Eurobonds at a commission, which was then allegedly transferred to bank accounts abroad.

Last month, a Lebanese judge lifted a travel ban imposed on the embattled central bank chief ahead of the planned hearing abroad.

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[May 15, 2023] Level Up with Weixin 2023: Maximising the Weixin Ecosystem to Protect Brands and Intellectual Property Rights

SINGAPORE, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Weixin, one of the most widely used communications and social platform in China, hosted the "Level Up with Weixin 2023" event today in Singapore in conjunction with the upcoming INTA's 2023 Annual Meeting Live+. The event outlined Weixin's latest progress in trademarks and intellectual property (IP) protection, and showcased how this can be accomplished by maximising Weixin's ecosystem. Hanson Huang, Director of the Weixin Legal Center and Head of the Brand Protection Platform at Tencent, set the tone with an insightful opening remark. He shared his insights on IP protection practices, emphasizing on the importance of integration, innovation and efficiency. Weixin's brand protection system seamlessly combines legal principles with product thinking, fostering deep collaboration among multiple stakeholders, to address the diverse and rapidly evolving landscape of the industry. At the event, Weixin introduced its Brand Protection Platform (BPP), which has been implemented as part of Weixin's ongoing efforts to combat infringement and strengthen enforcement on IP rights on Weixin, across key functions such as Channels, Official Accounts, and Mini Programs. The team showcased its mechanisms for detecting, deterring and dealing with instances of infringement on Weixin. Members of the Weixin Legal team shared the positive results achieved in safeguarding brand owners and provided glimpse of future goals.



Weixin's BPP has an innovative mechanism that empowers brand owners to track and verify potential counterfeiting and infringement activities reported by Weixin users. Upon receiving relevant evidence, Weixin takes decisive actions against the infringers. Since its launch in 2015, over 500 brand owners from 26 countries and regions have joined BPP and been actively utilizing the platform to enforce their rights. Continuously adapting its policies and guidelines, Weixin's BPP serves as an important bridge between brand owners and legal authorities, facilitating online and offline enforcement to deter trademark infringement and counterfeiting.

In March 2023, Tencent published the "Weixin Brand Protection: 2022 Updates & Analytics" report, detailing the brand protection tools and measures employed, improvements and updates to BPP, as well as the results achieved in the past year. As the Weixin platform features grew, so did the BPP program, new and enhanced functions have been added to target infringing videos, livestreams and other channel-based content. These actions, among other developments and improvements, are driving positive results. For example, brands now review 75 percent of user leads, a significant increase from 38 percent in 2020. Weixin confirmed approximately 90 percent of reports of infringement on Channels and took enforcement action. In addition, the Keyword Protection Program blocks close to 13,000 suspicious registrations per day. Weixin remains dedicated to engaging stakeholders across the world, collaborating with hundreds of brands, trade associations, trademark protection service providers, and other intellectual property rights experts. Weixin team invites you to join us in the various discussions and to provide feedback and learn more about the Weixin Brand Protection Platform at INTA's 2023 Annual Meeting Live+ . About Weixin Launched in January 2011, Weixin is one the most popular social platforms in China and empowers users in fun and dynamic ways, bringing together messaging, infotainment and payment in one seamless, interactive experience. Weixin provides a central point of control for users to create and share content as well as for merchants to engage with and grow their community through Channels, Moments, Official Accounts, Mini Programs and Pay. As of March 2023, the combined monthly active user number of Weixin and its international version WeChat exceeded 1.313 billion. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/level-up-with-weixin-2023-maximising-the-weixin-ecosystem-to-protect-brands-and-intellectual-property-rights-301824467.html SOURCE Tencent

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[May 15, 2023] Hytera Hosts a Successful Global Partner Summit 2023 in Bali, Indonesia

Hytera Communications (SZSE: 002583), a leading global provider of professional communications technologies and solutions, gathered its distribution, project, and application partners from over 50 countries and regions and successfully held Hytera Global Partner Summit (HGPS) 2023 on May 11th in Bali, Indonesia. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005390/en/ Yelin Jiang, CEO of Hytera Group, delivering the keynote speech (Photo: Business Wire) HGPS serves as a platform for Hytera partners to network with other like-minded professionals, gain insights into the latest trends of the industry, and learn what's new with Hytera, including new products, solutions, and policies. The year 2023 marks the 30th anniversary of the company; therefore, HGPS 2023 was also a venue for the retrospect and celebration of the common journey shared by Hytera and its partners from across the world. "The past 30 years have seen Hytera rose against numerous challenges and evolved from a product provider to a technology and solution provider. Now we are one of the leading companies in mission-critical and business-critical communications. Our talented engineers working in 8 R&D facilities across the world are the source of our confidence in future growth," said Yelin Jiang, CEO of Hytera Group, in the keynote speech. "In 2022, Hytera released many innovative new products across multiple product series such as DMR radios, MCS & PoC radios, and body cameras. The new-generation H Series DMR radio was an instant success in the market."



Thomas Lynch, executive research director of Omdia, was present to share the latest industry trends and developments with attendees, providing insights into the ever-changing industry landscape. According to Omdia's analysis, in response to the market demands for data-rich features, Mission Critical Communications are moving towards a hybrid approach: keeping trusted LMR technology, such as TETRA, DMR, PDT for the indispensable voice communication in extreme situations and empowering the additional services and features with integrated LTE Broadband solutions. This is manifested in Hytera's multi-front product development strategy. Fully leveraging the venue of HGPS, Hytera brought regional partners into a global perspective with product solution deep dives and partners' case studies. At the exhibition area, a complete portfolio of Hytera products and solutions were showcased, including TETRA Radios and Systems, DMR Radios and Systems, MCS & PoC Radios and Solutions, Body Camera Solutions, Multimedia Communication Platform, Control Room Solutions, 4G&5G Systems, and Fast Deployment Solutions. HGPS2023 invited some of Hytera ecosystem partners to showcase their value-added applications on top of Hytera products and they brought solutions such as encryptions, dispatching, satellite connectivity, and emergency coordination.

The Summit concluded on a high note with the Hytera 30th Anniversary and Awarding Ceremony, which acknowledged the performance and progress of partners in the year 2022. Golden Loyalty Awards was specially set up for HGPS2023 to celebrate the long-term partnership with and loyalty to the Hytera brand in the past three decades. About Hytera Hytera Communications Corporation Limited (SZSE: 002583) is a leading global provider of professional communications technologies and solutions. With voice, video and data capabilities, we provide faster, safer, and more versatile connectivity for business and mission critical users. We make the world more efficient and safer by enabling our customers to achieve more in both daily operations and emergency response. Learn more at https://www.hytera.com/en/home.html. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005390/en/

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[May 15, 2023] ZKW and REHAU Automotive enter into cooperation to develop intelligent vehicle fronts

Close cooperation to integrate lighting systems into vehicle attachments. WIESELBURG, Austria, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Automotive lighting system specialist ZKW and REHAU Automotive, plastics specialist and automotive supplier, have decided to jointly drive forward the integration of modern lighting systems in vehicle fronts. In the future, "intelligent vehicle fronts" and possible series products are to be developed. Therefore, REHAU Automotive and ZKW will work together on concepts and pre-development projects in order to be able to offer customers future-oriented solutions for the connection of light, sensor technology and electronics in the vehicle front in the sense of a "seamless intelligent vehicle front". The goal of the cooperation is clear: REHAU Automotive and ZKW want to offer significant added value for customers from the automotive industry through bundled competences. Both partners are working on a "seamless intelligent vehicle front" concept that can be integrated into the vehicle as a complete system. In addition, REHAU Automotive and ZKW will jointly offer for current enquiries. What is the "seamless intelligent vehicle front"?

By eliminating the radiator function in electric vehicles, a large area at the front of the vehicle can be redesigned. The "seamless intelligent vehicle front" intelligently merges components that were previously developed and installed separately into a complete system. The seamless vehicle front is enriched with light, logo, sensor and heating elements and thus becomes an intelligent design object. In addition, the vehicle front must still ensure the protection of the occupants in the event of an accident and thus meet the highest safety requirements. ZKW and REHAU Automotive are already working together on various concepts for car manufacturers. The development of an integrated vehicle front as part of the joint cooperation was launched in April. "The aim of the cooperation is to open up additional business potential through the integration of our modern lighting and electronics solutions in vehicle add-on parts. We are very pleased to have REHAU Automotive as a strong partner at our side," says Dr Wilhelm Steger, CEO of ZKW Group GmbH. "Automobiles are our passion. The dynamic development of mobility drives us to develop new best possible solutions for our customers. Individual, functional design is becoming an important differentiating feature for OEMs. Together with our strong partner ZKW, we develop exterior components that give vehicles a new face in combination with light," emphasises Dr Markus Distelhoff, CEO REHAU Automotive. Click to download related images. About REHAU Automotive

As a reliable partner to international vehicle manufacturers, REHAU Automotive develops, manufactures and supplies high-quality exterior, bumper and polymer functional systems. Every day, 7,000 employees at 25 locations in nine countries share a passion for making polymer solutions for the automotive industry even lighter, safer and more sustainable: Engineering progress. Enhancing lives. The automotive supplier is part of the global REHAU Group, which specialises in polymer-based solutions. With its total of more than 20,000 employees, the group generates annual sales of over 4 billion euros. ZKW at a glance

The ZKW Group is the specialist for innovative premium lighting systems and electronics. As a system supplier, ZKW is a globally present partner to the automotive industry. In line with its motto "Bright Minds, Bright Lights.", the Group develops and produces complex premium lighting systems and electronic modules for international automotive manufacturers with bright minds and state-of-the-art production technologies. The top products include powerful and cost-efficient complete LED systems. The ZKW Group has a total of twelve locations worldwide, which are intelligently networked in the areas of development and production. In 2022, the Group employed around 10,000 people and generated a total turnover of around 1.36 billion euros. In accordance with the corporate vision "Pioneering premium lighting and electronic systems from ZKW for all mobility concepts in the global automotive industry", the company's primary goal is to manufacture high-tech products of the highest quality and to drive forward the development of innovative total lighting systems. With inventions and innovations, the ZKW Group makes motor vehicles more desirable, more individual, safer and more energy-efficient. The 360-degree range includes main and fog lights, rear lights, indicators, interior and number plate lights as well as electronic modules. Renowned car manufacturers and their brands rely on the innovative products. ZKW is proud of its customers such as BMW Group, DAIMLER (MERCEDES-BENZ Cars and Trucks), FORD (Lincoln, Ford), GEELY (Volvo, Polestar, Lynk & Co; Geely), GENERAL MOTORS (Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac), Hyundai/Kia, JLR (Jaguar, Land Rover), Stellantis (Opel, Citroen), RENAULT/NISSAN (Infiniti, Alpine), VGTT (Volvo Trucks, MACK) and VW (Porsche, Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley, Skoda, Seat/Cupra, VW, VW Commercial Vehicles, MAN, Scania). With intelligent lighting systems and innovative styling, ZKW shapes the appearance and character of vehicles worldwide. Press contacts:







REHAU Automotive SE & Co KG

Katharina Franz

Communication & Brand AU

Helmut-Wagner-Str. 1

95111 Rehau

Tel.: +49 9283 77-1048

www.rehau-automotive.de ZKW Group GmbH

Sandra Simeonidis-Huber

Group Communication & Marketing

Tel: +43 7416 505 2051

[email protected]

www.zkw-group.com

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[May 15, 2023] Ontra Announces Ontra Synapse, AI-Driven Contract Negotiation and Management for the Private Markets

Ontra Synapse automates and optimizes contract negotiation to deliver superior outcomes faster and less expensively SAN FRANCISCO, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ontra, the leader in contract automation and intelligence, today announced the availability of Ontra Synapse, an AI solution that automates the most critical legal workflows for private markets firms. Key capabilities include: Assessing the complexity of an agreement to optimize negotiations for speed, cost, and outcomes

Surfacing relevant precedent to expedite negotiations and ensure consistency across contracts

Summarizing contracts and analyzing terms to deliver data-driven insights and reports

Native integration with Ontra's Legal Operating System, a suite of SaaS applications that streamline fund formation, fund operation, and portfolio investment Ontra Contract Automation, powered by Ontra Synapse, accelerates contract negotiation by up to 50% and decreases associated costs by up to 68%. Automating contract negotiations for private markets agreements has been notoriously difficult to do well. Given nuanced contract language, industry-specific processes, and risks associated with mistakes, firms can't afford to embrace technology that gets it "mostly right." Ontra Synapse overcomes this challenge by combining the world's leading repository of industry-specific contract data with an innovative combination of technology and human expertise. Ontra has processed over 800,000 agreements for private markets firms. Ontra Synapse anonymizes and aggregates this data and then feeds it into a series of proprietary AI models that Ontra has fine-tuned to perform tasks specific to the private funds industry. Since perfection matters in legal work, Ontra validates all AI-generated outputs using a global network of highly trained lawyers and aralegals. These "humans-in-the-loop" can accept or override AI suggestions. Ontra Synapse models train on human responses to deliver increasing levels of speed and precision that eclipse alternatives. Leading AI authorities agree that combining machine learning with subject matter experts yields the best results. In a recent opinion piece by Dr. Usama Fayyad, Executive Director of the Institute of Experiential AI at Northeastern University, he notes, "Most successful AI applications, in fact, depend on soliciting human input and feedback to ensure accuracy."



"In our industry, firms don't want wild promises. They want responsible vendors, real technology, and proven impact," noted Gianluca Rossi, Ontra's Director of Machine Learning. "We're able to deliver across all of those fronts thanks to our massive data set and proprietary models. Our experience comes from nearly a million negotiations involving the world's most sophisticated global financial institutions. And our models are built on incredibly detailed contract anatomies that encompass every potential clause that a document may contain." While Ontra Synapse relies on an aggregated, anonymized data set derived from a broad range of firms, it also takes into account customer-specific preferences. For example, Ontra enables each firm to build a detailed playbook and precedent library to develop a tailored and unique approach to negotiating future contracts. Additionally, Ontra Synapse adheres to rigorous security and confidentiality standards, enforcing encryption protocols at all levels and meeting the SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria for Security.

"In the three years we've partnered with Ontra, their Insight solution has helped to ensure we're in compliance with all of our contract obligations," said Neal Kalechofsky, VP of Alternatives at AllianceBernstein. "We're incredibly pleased with Ontra's use of cutting-edge technology to deliver legal solutions optimized for quality, speed, and low cost. Adding AI into the mix with Ontra Synapse is another win for a company with a long track record of innovation." Ontra Synapse has been integrated into Ontra's Legal Operating System and is now a native component of Ontra Contract Automation and Insight. For more information about how Ontra Synapse can automate your essential legal workflows, visit www.ontra.ai. About Ontra Ontra is the global leader in contract automation and intelligence for private asset management firms. Ontra's legal operating system combines AI-enabled software with a worldwide network of highly trained lawyers to digitally transform recurring legal workflows. Ontra's solutions improve the contract lifecycle  from contract negotiation and processing to tracking complex agreement obligations. Ontra works with the world's leading investment banks, private equity and venture capital firms, and direct lenders to reduce the time, expense, and risk associated with contract management. Ontra is headquartered in San Francisco, with global operations across North America, Europe, and Asia. Learn more at www.ontra.ai . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ontra-announces-ontra-synapse-ai-driven-contract-negotiation-and-management-for-the-private-markets-301824587.html SOURCE Ontra

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[May 15, 2023] Pryor Cashman Welcomes Partner David Fisher to Its Corporate Group

Pryor Cashman is pleased to announce that David E. Fisher has joined the firm as a partner in the Corporate Group and a member of the Mergers + Acquisitions and Securities + Corporate Finance Practices. David comes to Pryor Cashman from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, where he was a corporate partner. David partners with clients who rely on his broad-based knowledge of transactional, securities, and general corporate operations. He has an extensive background in counseling private and public companies, including multinational corporations and private equity firms in connection with mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, capital raising, financings, and public and private offerings. Through his management of transactions and financing arrangements, which have ranged from strategic portfolio acquisitions to multibillion-dollar deals, David has gained a reputation as a fair and tough negotiator with an in-depth kowledge of his clients' operations and business goals. He has formed long-term client relationships, particularly in the manufacturing, heavy machinery, cannabis, software and technology, and consumer products industries. These clients count on his determination and reliable counsel in relation to an array of business concerns, which also includes corporate governance, SEC reporting, and compliance matters.



"David is a great fit for our Corporate Group, and he brings key M+A experience to a team that is thriving and growing in the current marketplace," said Ronald Shechtman, Managing Partner of Pryor Cashman. "He is the fourth lateral corporate partner to join our practice in the last 12 months, adding depth and breadth to the group." "I'm looking forward to working with the talented corporate team at Pryor Cashman," said David. "My experience with M+A and securities work, combined with the structure, capabilities, and platform that the firm provides, will bring excellent value to our current and future clients."

About Pryor Cashman Pryor Cashman is a premier, midsized law firm headquartered at 7 Times Square in New York with offices in Los Angeles and Miami. With broad and sophisticated transactional and litigation practices, Pryor Cashman provides a full range of services to meet the complex legal needs of institutions, mid-market businesses, bold emerging entities, entrepreneurs, and individuals. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005166/en/

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[May 15, 2023] International Wealth Management Firm Insigneo Incorporates Alfredo Maldonado to Lead Its Expansion in New York City

Insigneo, a leading global wealth management firm, is delighted to announce the appointment of Alfredo Maldonado as Managing Director and Market Head for New York and the US Northeast Region. Mr. Maldonado will be based at Insigneo's expanding office located on Madison Avenue and 41st Street reporting to Rodolfo Castilla, Insigneo's Head of Sales. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005476/en/ Alfredo Maldonado. Managing Director and Market Head for New York and the US Northeast Region (Photo: Business Wire) With this important incorporation, Insigneo reaffirms its commitment to delivering exceptional financial services to clients across the globe. The company's decision to hire Mr. Maldonado underscores its focus on hiring the best talent and reinforces its position as a leading player in the global wealth management sector. New York is n important hub for the firm to continue its expansion plans while providing an integrated platform for Investment Professionals and their clients globally.



In his new role, Mr. Maldonado will oversee Insigneo's existing business in New York, driving the company's growth by focusing on top line revenue and assets for its existing business, while expanding its footprint in the Northeast. "Alfredo's appointment reflects Insigneo's aspiration to be recognized as the best value proposition for all independent advisors focused on international clients. We are thrilled to welcome such a distinguished professional, and particularly somebody that shares our values, which is critical to all of us," said Rodolfo Castilla, Head of Sales for Insigneo. Mr. Maldonado brings 25 years of international wealth management experience, having worked in New York, California, and Florida, expanding his network and knowledge across these regions. The senior hire brings a deep understanding of the New York market, which will be crucial in growing Insigneo's presence in the city. "Insigneo's commitment to providing a pro-business approach for financial advisors, enabling them to provide exemplary service to their clients is unmatched in the industry," said Mr. Maldonado.

"I am happy to welcome a leader of Alfredo's caliber and culture to our growing Insigneo family. New York and the Northeast are very important markets for us to grow and we are excited he will lead those efforts to make us a powerhouse," said Javier Rivero, Insigneo's President & COO. Insigneo is a leading international wealth management firm providing services and technologies that empower investment professionals to successfully serve their clients globally. Insigneo leverages its customized solutions, client-first service, and custodial relationship with BNY Mellon's Pershing to provide a fully integrated, best-in-class independent wealth management platform. With over $20B in supported customer assets, Insigneo empowers more than 440 investment professionals serving over 27,000 clients. For more information, visit www.insigneo.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005476/en/

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[May 15, 2023] Lung Cancer Surgery Market Worth USD 7.8 billion by 2030, Trends Analysis, Growth Rate, Share, Size, Revenue, Opportunities, Challenges, Key Drivers, Instrument, Procedure, Volume Data, Forecasts 2023-2030 | Exclusive Report by Delvens

Chicago, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the new market research report Global Lung Cancer Surgery Market by Instrument ((Clamps, Forceps, Trocars, Retractors, Scissors), Monitoring & Endoscopic Devices), Procedure (Thoracotomy (Lobectomy, Pneumonectomy, Segmentectomy, Sleeve Resection), MIS), Volume Data, Supply & Demand Side Analysis, and Segment Forecasts, 2023-2030, published by Delvens. The Global Lung Cancer Surgery Market is expected to reach $7.8 billion by 2030 from $3.5 billion in 2022, registering impressive expansion at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.1%. Request Sample Pages of Report: https://www.delvens.com/get-free-sample/lung-cancer-surgery-market-trends-forecast-till-2028 Lung Cancer Surgery Market report gives details about the market drivers and market restraints that help in knowing rise or fall of the demand of particular product with respect to market conditions. This industry analysis report comprises of estimations of recent state of the market, CAGR values, market size and market share, revenue generation, and necessary changes required in the future products. Strategic aspects of the Lung Cancer Surgery industry such as product development and specification, technology, niche growth opportunities, application modelling, and new geographical markets can be undertaken with the vast information and data included in this Lung Cancer Surgery Market report. Due to the increased incidence of lung cancer, technological developments, and the fact that people can now start treatment at an early stage, it is projected that the market for lung cancer surgery will expand even further. Segmentectomy, a common surgical technique, is an option for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It is often chosen over lobectomy if the patient already has a significantly reduced lung reserve. Even though lung segmentectomy has long been the favoured procedure for eliminating benign tumours and accompanying lesions, it is often suggested for patients with very early-stage lung cancer. Because it provides better results than traditional surgical techniques and needs less recovery time, this technique is gaining popularity. The studies market is expected to grow as a result of these advantages. With improved survival rates and some degree of organ function preservation, segmentectomy surgery has a high success rate for removing targeted tumours and malignancies. However, segmentectomy-related risks such as excessive bleeding, blood clot formation, pneumonia, and surgical wound infection are increased by general anaesthesia. Lung Cancer Surgery Market Overview The product portfolio has been improved as a result of increased rivalry and ongoing technical improvements; as a result, product approvals and product development are two of the main developmental methods used by market participants in the global market for cancer treatments. For instance, Roche's Alecensa (alectinib) was approved by the Swiss authority for the licencing and monitoring of therapeutic products (Swissmedic) as a first-line treatment for patients with advanced or metastatic ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Similarly to this, the U.S. FDA approved the use of Roche's skin cancer medication Zelboraf in patients with Erdheim-Chester Disease, a rare form of blood cancer. Similar to this, Health Canada approved Janssen's Zytiga (abiraterone acetate) in February 2018 for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed, high-risk metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) who have already received up to three months of prior ADT. Additionally, the European Commission (EC) expanded its approval to imply Zytiga in November 2017 for the treatment of newly diagnosed high-risk metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) in men when combined with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Lung Cancer Surgery Market Report Scope Report Feature Descriptions Growth Rate CAGR of 4.1% during the forecasting period, 2023-2030 Historical Data 2019-2021 Forecast Years 2023-2030 Base Year 2022 Units Considered Revenue in USD billion and CAGR from 2023 to 2030 Report Segmentation Type, Application, 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, South Africa (50+ Countries Across the Globe) Companies Profiled Accuray Inc., AngioDynamics Inc., Ethicon US, LLC, Intuitive Surgical Inc., Olympus Corporation, Teleflex Incorporated, Ackermann Instrumente GmbH, KARL STORZ GmbH, Scanlan International Inc., TROKAMED GmbH, Medtronic Plc., Siemens Healthcare, Richard Wolf GmbH, Phoenix Surgical Holdings Limited, Key Surgical LLC, Surgical Holdings, FusionKraft, KLS Martin Group, Sontec Instruments Inc., and Wexler Surgical Inc. Available Customization In addition to the market data for Lung Cancer Surgery Market, Delvens offers client-centric reports customized according to the companys specific demand and requirement. Inquire Before Buying: https://www.delvens.com/Inquire-before-buying/lung-cancer-surgery-market-trends-forecast-till-2028 Key Companies & Market Share Insights Some of the key players operating in the global lung cancer surgery market are Accuray Inc., AngioDynamics Inc., Ethicon US, LLC, Intuitive Surgical Inc., Olympus Corporation, Teleflex Incorporated, Ackermann Instrumente GmbH, KARL STORZ GmbH, Scanlan International Inc., TROKAMED GmbH, Medtronic Plc., Siemens Healthcare, Richard Wolf GmbH, Phoenix Surgical Holdings Limited, Key Surgical LLC, Surgical Holdings, FusionKraft, KLS Martin Group, Sontec Instruments Inc., and Wexler Surgical Inc. among others. Recent Developments The endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) bronchoscope BF-UC190F was introduced by Olympus Corporation (Japan) in May 2021.

Intuitive Surgical Inc. (US) purchased Orpheus Medical (US) in February 2020.

At its location in Jacksonville, Florida, US, KLS Martin Group (Germany) established a new training facility in October 2019. Lung Cancer Surgery Market Segmentation Analysis The market for lung cancer surgery was dominated by the surgical instruments category, according to surgical devices The market is segmented into endosurgical equipment based on devices, monitoring and visualisation equipment, and surgical instruments. The category of surgical instruments held the biggest market share. The rising incidence and prevalence of lung cancer, the rising government funding and support, and the expanding use of surgical methods for lung cancer therapy are the drivers propelling market expansion. According to Surgical Procedures, the lung cancer surgery market's thoracotomy sector held the biggest market share. The two procedure-based market segments are thoracotomies and minimally invasive operations. Thoracotomies made up the greatest amount of the market share for lung cancer surgery. However, it is predicted that the minimally invasive surgery segment will expand at the fastest rate throughout the forecast period. Rising technological breakthroughs, expanding use of minimally invasive procedures, the availability of reimbursement programmes, and the growing acceptance of robotic surgery are some of the reasons driving this market segment's rise. Regional Insights The greatest regional market for lung cancer surgery is in North America. North America held the largest market share. The substantial share of North America an be linked to the rising incidence, prevalence, and incidence of lung cancer, the rise in tobacco use, the growing importance of early cancer detection and treatment, and the availability of reimbursement.



Lung Cancer Surgery Market Outlook Driver: Increasing lung cancer incidence

In 2020, cancer will be the second-leading cause of mortality globally, with 10 million deaths expected. According to the World Health Organisation, cancer is responsible for roughly 1 in 6 deaths worldwide. In 2020, 19.3 million new cases were reported. The rise in global cancer incidence also points to a rising trend in the prevalence of lung malignancies everywhere. In this situation, which is distinguished by a supportive financial environment and efficient treatment alternatives, it is anticipated that a greater number of patients would choose lung cancer surgery over the next several years due to the rising incidence and prevalence of cancer. In consequence, it is anticipated that this will fuel market expansion during the ensuing years. Restraint: The high cost of diagnosing and treating lung cancer Therapies for lung cancer can be broadly categorised into four groups: diagnosis/imaging, operations, pharmaceutical support, and indirect costs (such as travel, carer salaries, housing, secondary effects therapies, and missed wages/incomes). These areas receive a lot of spending from the government, insurance providers, and patients themselves. Governments all around the world, as well as cancer patients, have been severely burdened by the high cost of treating lung cancer. Although there is a vast patient pool, a tiny proportion of patients choose surgical treatments to address their diseases because of the high expenses. The expansion of the market is severely hampered by this. Challenge: A shortage of knowledgeable oncologists To achieve better results, skilled doctors perform lung cancer procedures. These procedures are regarded to offer higher risks than other surgeries because of things like air leaks, tumour movement brought on by breathing, and fluid buildup in the chest during the procedure. The incidence and frequency of lung cancer have increased over time and are expected to do so in the years to come. However, the number of oncologists has not expanded since that time, and the problem is worse in underdeveloped countries. The ageing and expanding population, as well as rising cancer survival rates, are driving forces behind the rise in demand; yet, the slow or trailing growth in trained labour is due to factors including the ageing of the oncology workforce and rising retirement rates. Global Lung Cancer Surgery Market Table of Contents Type Outlook Surgical instruments

Monitoring and visualizing systems

Endosurgical equipment Surgical procedures outlook Thoracotomy

Minimally invasive surgeries Regional Outlook Europe Germany U.K. France Italy Spain Sweden Austria Finland Belgium Turkey Russia Poland Hungary Czech Republic Switzerland Netherlands Rest of Europe

North America U.S. Canada Mexico

Asia-Pacific Japan China India Australia South Korea Vietnam New Zealand Philippines Thailand Malaysia Hong Kong Taiwan Singapore Indonesia Sri Lanka Rest of Asia-Pacific

South America Brazil Argentina Chile Colombia Rest of South America

Middle East And Africa South Africa U.A.E. Saudi Arabia Oman Qatar Iran Egypt Rest of Middle East and Africa

Key Players of the Lung Cancer Surgery Market Accuray Inc.

AngioDynamics Inc.

Ethicon US, LLC

Intuitive Surgical Inc.

Olympus Corporation

Teleflex Incorporated

Ackermann Instrumente GmbH

KARL STORZ GmbH

Scanlan International Inc.

TROKAMED GmbH

Medtronic Plc.

Siemens Healthcare

Richard Wolf GmbH

Phoenix Surgical Holdings Limited

Key Surgical LLC

Surgical Holdings

FusionKraft

KLS Martin Group

Sontec Instruments Inc.

Wexler Surgical Inc. The Lung Cancer Surgery Market research report provides market forecast information, considering the history of the industry, the future of the industry with respect to what situation it may face, it will grow or it will fail. Inputs of various industry experts, required for the detailed market analysis, have been used very carefully to structure this finest Lung Cancer Surgery Market research report. A team of innovative analysts, enthusiastic forecasters, knowledgeable researchers, and experienced industry experts work meticulously, 24*7 to structure this most excellent market report. Direct Purchase of the Global Lung Cancer Surgery Market Research Report at: https://www.delvens.com/checkout/lung-cancer-surgery-market-trends-forecast-till-2028 Read More About the Lung Cancer Surgery Market Report : https://www.delvens.com/article/lung-cancer-surgery-market Browse Related Reports: Breast Cancer Market: https://www.delvens.com/report/breast-cancer-market-trends-forecast-till-2028 Breast Cancer Market By Drugs Class (Chemotherapy Drugs, Hormone Therapy, Targeted Therapy), Surgery (Lumpectomy, Mastectomy, Reconstructive Surgery), Phase (PHASE I, PHASE II,. PHASE III, PHASE IV), Therapies (Radiation Therapy, Targeted Therapy, Chemotherapy, Hormonal Therapy, Others), End Users (Oncology Centers, Hospitals, Specialty Centers, Academic Research Institutes And Laboratories, Others), Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and South America) Oncology Market: https://www.delvens.com/report/oncology-market-trends-forecast-till-2028 Oncology Market By Areas (Medical, Surgical, Radiation), Cancer Type (Haematology Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Lung Cancer, Bladder Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Breast Cancer, Kidney Cancer, Others), Treatment (Combination Therapy, Adjuvant Therapy, Supportive Therapy, Palliative Care, Others), Technology (Car-T Cell Therapy, CRISPR/CAS9, Others), Drugs (Revlimid, Avastin, Herceptin, Rituxan, Opdivo, Gleevec, Imbruvica, Velcade, Zytiga, Xtandi, Others), Stage (Stage I, Stage II, Stage III, Stage IV), End Users (Hospitals, Specialty Clinics, Oncology Centers, Surgical Centers, Others), Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and South America) Lung Cancer Market: https://www.delvens.com/report/lung-cancer-market-trends-Forecast-till-2028 Lung Cancer Market , By Drugs (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Drugs, Small Cell Lung Cancer Drugs), Phase (Phase I, Phase II, Phase III, Phase IV), Test (Imaging Tests, Sputum Cytology, Biopsy, Others), Surgery Procedures (Segmental Resection, Wedge Resection, Lobectomy, Pneumonectomy, Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Others), Therapy (Targeted Therapy, Radiation Therapy, Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, Chemoradiotherapy, Stereotactic Radiation Therapy, Photodynamic Therapy, Others), End Users (Oncology Centers, Hospitals, Specialty Centers, Academic Research Institutes And Laboratories, Others), Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and South America) Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Market: https://www.delvens.com/report/immune-checkpoint-inhibitors-market-trends-forecast-till-2028 Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Market , By Type (PD-1, PD-L1 Inhibitors, CLTA-4 Inhibitors, Elotuzumab, INCB024360, Indoximod, Lirilumab), Therapeutic Application (Lung Cancer, Melanoma Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Urothelial Carcinoma, Blood Cancer, Others), End Users (Hospitals, Specialty Clinics, Oncology Centers, Others), Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies), Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and South America) About Delvens Delvens is a strategic advisory and consulting company headquartered in New Delhi, India. The company holds expertise in providing syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. Delvens qualitative and quantitative data is highly utilized by each level from niche to major markets, serving more than 1K prominent companies by assuring to provide information on the country, regional, and global business environment. We have a database for more than 45 industries in more than 115+ major countries globally. We use AI and machine learning to make existing offerings quicker and cheaper, as well as to offer new services which couldnt have been dreamt of a few years ago. From creating concepts to implementing them, we have the best-proven strategies that will help the organization and are assisting the organization to overcome the prevailing challenges and recognize recent opportunities before their competitors. We are capable of providing tailor-made research services keeping because of your specific requirements. 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D: +44 20 8638 5055 | C: +91 9561827515 | P: +0120 4569 248 [email protected] | [email protected] Website: https://www.delvens.com/



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[May 15, 2023] Accumulus, A New Force in Hong Kong's Virtual Asset Market for Long-term & Stable Value, Launches

Hong Kong, China, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Accumulus Technology (China) Co., Ltd. (Accumulus for short), one of the Top 500 Enterprises of China, was granted an investment quota outside the Chinese mainland of over 1.1 billion HK dollars to incorporate Accumulus GBA Technology (Hongkong) Co., Ltd. (Accumulus [Hong Kong] for short) in Hong Kong, a signal that the company marches into the Web 3.0 business. Recently, the Accumulus Virtual Asset Trading Platform (The Accumulus Platform for short), developed and operated by Accumulus (Hong Kong), was piloted, with its official website launched simultaneously, providing on-exchange spot trading services for BTC, ETH, AVAX, LTC, FIL, BCH (six native tokens on public chains), and USDT (one stablecoin). It is catching more and more investors eye. While Hong Kong is striving to serve as an international virtual asset trading hub and will launch the Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) licensing regime, Accumulus, a new entrant to the industry, stands firmly for the Chinese central governments strategic positioning for Hong Kong, follows the regulation and guidance of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC). Accuulus leverages the resources of the Chinese mainland to serve the Hong Kong market



Accumulus enjoys rich resources from the Chinese mainland, unlike most overseas trading platforms. It dives down into fundamentals to stabilize employment and ensure living standards. In the merely seven years since its foundation, Accumulus has grown into the largest online human resources service provider in China, It has independently developed an intelligent application with big data, featuring cutting-edge technologies to help hundreds of millions of workers in new forms of employment (freelancers) find flexible jobs, which efficiently matches the supply and demand in the job market.

Accumulus proactively participates in global digitalization, embracing regulation, and offering stabler expectations

In the Chinese mainland, Accumulus constantly deepens the rational understanding of law-based development of the industry and principles for practice, chairs to set the standards at the provincial level, engages in formulating laws and sections to protect the interests of workers, draft industrial standards and carry out research on the rule of law in crucial sectors, and take an active and in-depth part in developing law system of emerging industries and security innovation. In terms of technology, Accumulus self-developed a risk control engine with over 500 risk-control rules and various machine-learning models built in, which has been tested by its 82 million users. The self-developed blockchain omnichannel credentialing platform has been selected as a demonstration project by departments of the Chinese central government. At this crucial time when Hong Kong is accelerating the development of the virtual asset industry, Accumulus is going boldly to Hong Kong to compete in Web 3.0 following the guidance of SFC. Regulatory, industry, and market now have higher expectations of virtual asset trading platforms that can better win over users and boost Hong Kongs development.

Accumulus is committed to long-termism and will develop with Hong Kong in the next three decades The Accumulus platform starts the business in Hong Kong, where the virtual asset sectors regulatory policies have become more apparent. The Accumulus Platform faces up to any examination of corporate history and embraces regulation with honesty that sets high standards for user protection. Instead of seeking quick- profit, it focuses on providing long-term and stable services. Accumulus (Hong Kong) wants to develop together with Hong Kong for the next 30 years or even longer with calmness and conviction. To serve the Hong Kong market and investors in the long run, which is the vision pursued by Accumulus (Hong Kong), is made for the stable development and long-term prosperity of Hong Kong. In seeking diversified asset distribution, safe and transparent transactions, and long-term and stable partners, the Accumulus Platform that works together with investors, with the support from Accumulus (Hong Kong), will give us more choices. https://www.accumulusworld.com/



Media Contact Contact: Moses Zhang Company Name: Accumulus Website: www.accumulusworld.com Email: bd-at-accumulusworld.com

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[May 15, 2023] Arabian Anti-Piracy Alliance CEO Scott Butler Files $67 Million Lawsuit Against Essam Al-Tamimi, Invest Bank

The Arabian Anti-Piracy Alliance, a leading service provider for the protection of intellectual property rights, today announced that its CEO, Scott Butler, filed a $67 million lawsuit against Essam Al-Tamimi. Al-Tamimi is the founder of the largest law firm in the Middle East, which maintains seventeen offices in ten different countries. The lawsuit also names Invest Bank in the Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates as a defendant in the case that alleges bank fraud, malicious prosecution, abuse of process, and unjust enrichment via the theft of a $3 million home. The case is about a powerful Emirati attorney weaponizing the legal system in the United Arab Emirates in an effort to destroy the successful Dubai-based business of Scott Butler, a former US special forces veteran and CEO of the Arabian Anti-Piracy Alliance. "For more than a decade, Essam Al-Tamimi has employed a scorched earth mentality by filing scores of lawsuits and proceedings and using various means to destroy the successful business and business opportunities of our client Scott Butler," said Gary Davidson, a partner at the international law firm Diaz Reus. "As we point out in the lawsuit, from the very beginning of their business relationship, Al-Tamimi did not honor his obligations. Thereafter, he sought to remove Butler's presence from the Middle East entirely."



The suit alleges that Al-Tamimi started by working through his political connections in the UAE and facilitated the imprisonment of Butler in Dubai, along with the confiscation of Butler's passport for six years, keeping him half-a-world away from his wife and children. Al-Tamimi's filing of false criminal charges against Butler was followed by the commencement of liquidation proceedings against Butler's companies. The suit also alleges Al-Tamimi interfered with Butler's clients, demanding that they cease their business relationship with Butler and his companies. Eventually, with the help of Invest Bank, Al-Tamimi used a villa in Dubai that was purchased by the company Butler founded as collateral for a multi-million-dollar personal loan. The bank eventually sold the property, and incredibly, sent the proceeds to Al-Tamimi, even though he had never invested a single penny in the business or for the purchase of the villa.

Invest Bank, also named in the suit, is accused of helping Al-Tamimi by facilitating the fraud that allowed Al-Tamimi to profit from the collateralization and ultimate sale of the villa valued at $3 million. The Chairman of Invest Bank's board, who is also a member of the Sharjah ruling family, was provided a copy of the United States case through The Sharjah Ruling Court. Additionally, on April 14, 2023, Invest Bank's CEO and the head of Legal Affairs were served with the United States case through official means in the United Arab Emirates. About The Arabian Anti-Piracy Alliance The Arabian Anti-Piracy Alliance US Corporation is a leading service provider for the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) in the GCC (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman) and Egypt. The US Corporation has a proven track record of effective brand protection for rights holders for over 20 years. We have over 50 operational staff that are continuously interfacing with the Federal authorities for the effective enforcement of the copyright and trademark laws. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005583/en/

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[May 15, 2023] Appfire Global Head of CSR Wins Buffy Award in 2023 Benevity Corporate Goodness "The Goodies" Awards

Fabian Lopez recognized for creative and inclusive efforts to drive positive change through corporate social responsibility BOSTON, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Appfire , an enterprise collaboration software company that enables teams to plan and deliver their best work, today announced Fabian Lopez, Global Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), as a winner of a Buffy Award by Benevity, Inc . The Buffy Award, part of Benevity's Corporate Goodness Awards program  also known as "The Goodies"  celebrates outstanding individuals who exemplify passion, innovation, imagination and leadership in the corporate purpose space. Goodies Award winners were assessed on the bold, innovative, inclusive and creative ways they are making a difference in the world. Those who were selected demonstrated exceptional efforts in engaging their stakeholders in driving true impact and action, delivering on the "S" and the "E" in the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) framework, and embedding purpose into their workplace culture and customer connections. This year, Benevity received 114 total nominations from 74 of the world's most iconic and purpose-driven brands. Fabian leads Appfire's CSR program, Appfire Town , which is responsible for a multitude of philanthropic efforts at Appfire. To date, the program's efforts include over $1 million in charitable donations, global service projects, and employee community service initiatives In 2022, Appfire implemented Benevity to manage volunteer opportunities and donations and to date, Appfire Town has assisted nearly 665 organizations worldwide.



"Great people build great businesses," said Randall Ward, Co-founder and CEO of Appfire. "We maintain a people-first focus to our organization and I am honored to have Fabian on our team as both a role model and driving force for positive social change. This recognition for his contributions to facilitate social impact is both deserved and well-earned. Fabian's work is an exemplary force for good, which is core to our business and mission." Appfire Town was created to generate a strong social impact in both local and global communities. Appfire Town invites everyone with a connection to Appfire  employees, partners, communities, family and friends  to become a "neighbor" and to share opportunities, news, and updates tied to volunteerism and giving.

"I am humbled to be named a Buffy Award recipient this year," said Lopez. "I am proud to be one of the vehicles connecting our personal and professional networks to help address essential needs across the globe. I'm looking forward to our continued engagement with our communities to support a wide variety of meaningful initiatives and philanthropic organizations  both big and small." Appfire was also named a finalist for both the Buzz Award and The NewB Award. Companies who were selected as award finalists contributed nearly $117 million in donations and $75 million in grants and tracked more than 920,000 volunteer hours through the Benevity platform in 2022. The 2023 Goodie Award winners were recognized at Benevity Live!, held on May 11 in San Diego. To learn more about Fabian and how Appfire's mission-driven, people-powered program drives initiatives in communities across the globe, visit the Appfire Town webpage and follow along on LinkedIn , Twitter , and Facebook . About Appfire

Appfire is the leading enterprise collaboration software provider that makes work flow any way teams want to work, from planning to product ideation, to product development, project delivery, and beyond. Appfire gives teams the best solutions to enhance, augment, connect, and extend platforms like Atlassian, Salesforce, Microsoft, and monday.com, enabling teams to thrive and do their best work together. Many of Appfire's popular software products are sold on the Atlassian Marketplace, where Appfire has the most widely adopted portfolio of Atlassian apps with 200,000+ active installations across tens of thousands of customers worldwide. Appfire's popular solutions help teams with Workflow & Automation, Product Portfolio Management, IT Service Management, Document Management, Business Intelligence and Reporting, Administrative Tools, Agile Tools, Developer Tools, Time Tracking, Publishing, and Visual Collaboration. Learn more at www.appfire.com . Media Contact:

Inkhouse for Appfire

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/appfire-global-head-of-csr-wins-buffy-award-in-2023-benevity-corporate-goodness-the-goodies-awards-301824787.html SOURCE Appfire

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The UN migration agency says Amy Pope of the United States has been elected as its next director general.

She will be the first woman to head the International Organization for Migration.

Pope currently serves as the deputy of Director General Antonio Vitorino, a former Portuguese government minister, and ran against him in Mondays election.

The IOM said member states elected Pope to lead the Geneva-based agency at a special session. She will start her five-year term on Oct. 1

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Short link:


[May 15, 2023] Know Labs, Inc. Reports Second Quarter FY2023 Results

Know Labs, Inc. (NYSE American: KNW), an emerging developer of non-invasive medical diagnostic technology, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended March 31, 2023. Financial Highlights: Know Labs reported a net loss of $4.93 million dollars in the second quarter of 2023, compared to a net loss of $6.14 million dollars in the year-ago period, which translates to Earnings Per Share of a loss of $0.10, an improvement over the year ago period of a loss of $0.16.

Research and development expense for the second quarter was $2.56 million dollars as compared to $1.25 million dollars in 2022. The increase in R&D expense was related to staff increases in engineering, third party technical services and expenditures related to the development of our Bio-RFID technology and Generation 1 device, as we continue to execute our path to FDA clinical trials and commercialization.

Selling, general and administrative expense for the quarter was $2.24 million dollars versus $1.49 million in 2022, which increased versus the prior year primarily to due to key additions to the executive team and increases in third party services.

As of March 31, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of $6.27 million dollars, as compared to $12.59 million at the end of September 30, 2022. Net cash used in operations for the six months ended March 31, 2023 was $6.34 million dollars compared with $1.02 million in the prior year. During the quarter ended March 31, 2023, the Company made adjustments to its staffing and the impact of those adjustments will significantly reduce our monthly burn rate. Given the significant reduction in fixed expenses, the Company believes that it has enough available cash and flexibility with its operating expenses to operate until at least February 2024.

Shareholder equity for the second quarter 2023 was $3.4 million versus $9.9 million as of September 30, 2022. Income Statement:







Three Months Ended, Six Months Ended, March 31, 2023 March 31, 2022 March 31, 2023 March 31, 2022 REVENUE- DIGITAL ASSET SALES $ - $ 8,687 $ - $ 4,360,087 OPERATING EXPENSES- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES 2,563,469 1,248,707 4,306,520 2,134,459 SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES 2,242,658 1,448,227 4,147,729 2,665,174 SELLING AND TRANSACTIONAL COSTS FOR DIGITAL ASSETS - 154,502 - 3,272,862 Total operating expenses 4,806,127 2,851,436 8,454,249 8,072,495 OPERATING LOSS (4,806,127 ) (2,842,749 ) (8,454,249 ) (3,712,408 ) OTHER (EXPENSE): Interest expense, net (124,075 ) (3,297,989 ) (298,812 ) (7,784,949 ) Total other (expense), net (124,075 ) (3,297,989 ) (298,812 ) (7,784,949 ) LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES (4,930,202 ) (6,140,738 ) (8,753,061 ) (11,497,357 ) Income tax expense - - - - NET LOSS $ (4,930,202 ) $ (6,140,738 ) $ (8,753,061 ) $ (11,497,357 ) Basic and diluted loss per share $ (0.10 ) $ (0.16 ) $ (0.18 ) $ (0.31 ) Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding- basic and diluted 48,207,937 37,872,406 48,197,581 36,655,905

Balance Sheet: March 31, 2023 September 30, 2022 (1) ASSETS Unaudited CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and cash equivalents $ 6,226,029 $ 12,593,692 Total current assets 6,226,029 12,593,692 PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET 699,740 862,977 OTHER ASSETS Other assets 15,766 13,767 Operating lease right of use asset 198,318 287,930 TOTAL ASSETS $ 7,139,853 $ 13,758,366 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY CURRENT LIABILITIES: Accounts payable - trade $ 516,204 $ 526,968 Accrued expenses 434,321 462,940 Accrued expenses - related parties 322,714 348,264 Convertible notes payable, net 2,255,066 2,255,066 Current portion of operating lease right of use liability 206,101 215,397 Total current liabilities 3,734,406 3,808,635 NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES: Operating lease right of use liability, net of current portion 4,144 87,118 Total non-current liabilities 4,144 87,118 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 11) - - STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Preferred stock - $0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, Series C and D shares issued and outstanding as follows: Series C Convertible Preferred stock $0.001 par value, 1,785,715 shares authorized, 1,785,715 shares issued and outstanding at 3/31/2023 and 9/30/2022, respectively 1,790 1,790 Series D Convertible Preferred stock $0.001 par value, 1,016,014 shares authorized, 1,016,004 shares issued and outstanding at 3/31/2023 and 9/30/2022, respectively 1,015 1,015 Common stock - $0.001 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized, 48,207,937 and 48,156,062 shares issued and outstanding at 3/31/2023 and 9/30/2022, respectively 48,209 48,158 Additional paid in capital 113,501,088 111,209,388 Accumulated deficit (110,150,799 ) (101,397,738 ) Total stockholders' equity 3,401,303 9,862,613 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 7,139,853 $ 13,758,366 (1) Derived from audited consolidated balance sheet. - - Cash Flow: Six Months Ended, March 31, 2023 March 31, 2022 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net loss $ (8,753,061 ) $ (11,497,357 ) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) operating activities Depreciation and amortization 205,094 118,068 Issuance of common stock for services - 153,000 Issuance of common stock warrants for services - 71,220 Stock based compensation- stock option grants 1,927,187 636,651 Right of use, net (2,658 ) (11,203 ) Interest expense for extension of notes and warrants 349,721 - Amortization of debt discount to interest expense - 7,272,911 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Other long-term assets (1,999 ) - Accounts receivable-related party - (119,210 ) Accounts payable - trade and accrued expenses (64,933 ) 2,353,901 NET CASH (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES (6,340,649 ) (1,022,019 ) CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Purchase of research and development equipment (41,857 ) (826,956 ) NET CASH (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES: (41,857 ) (826,956 ) CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from issuance of common stock for stock options exercise 2,343 11,344 Proceeds from issuance of common stock for warrant exercise 12,500 766,486 NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES 14,843 777,830 NET (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (6,367,663 ) (1,071,145 ) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period 12,593,692 12,258,218 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period $ 6,226,029 $ 11,187,073 Conference Call: Know Labs will host an audio webcast to discuss its results and provide a business update today, May 15, 2023, at 4:30 pm ET (1:30 pm PT). The live webcast will be available on the Investors page of the Company's website, www.knowlabs.co/investors, and a replay will be available for six months. Participant Dial-In: 877-514-3621 / +1 215-268-9856 Webcast: https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=V4PBKLvm A copy of the form 10-Q filed with the SEC can also be downloaded from the Company's website. About Know Labs, Inc. Know Labs, Inc. is a public company whose shares trade on the NYSE American Exchange under the stock symbol "KNW." The Company's technology uses spectroscopy to direct electromagnetic energy through a substance or material to capture a unique molecular signature. The Company refers to its technology as Bio-RFID. The Bio-RFID technology can be integrated into a variety of wearable, mobile or bench-top form factors. This patented and patent-pending technology makes it possible to effectively identify and monitor analytes that could only previously be performed by invasive and/or expensive and time-consuming lab-based tests. The first application of our Bio-RFID technology will be in a product marketed as a non-invasive glucose monitor. It will provide the user with real-time information on blood glucose levels. This product will require U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance prior to its introduction to the market. Safe Harbor Statement This release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements appear in a number of places in this release and include all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of Know Labs, Inc., its directors or its officers with respect to, among other things: (i) financing plans; (ii) trends affecting its financial condition or results of operations; (iii) growth strategy and operating strategy; and (iv) performance of products. You can identify these statements by the use of the words "may," "will," "could," "should," "would," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "project," "intend," "likely," "forecast," "probable," "potential," and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Know Labs, Inc.'s ability to control, and actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. These risks and uncertainties also include such additional risk factors as are discussed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, Forms 10-Q and 8-K, and in other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. These documents are available on the SEC Filings section of the Investor Relations section of our website at www.knowlabs.co. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. 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. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005702/en/

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[May 15, 2023] Grindr Inc. Reports First Quarter 2023 Earnings Results

Grindr Inc. (NYSE: GRND), the world's largest social network for the LGBTQ community, today posted its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 in a Letter to Shareholders. The Letter to Shareholders can be accessed on Grindr's Investor Relations website. "The year is off to a strong start indicated by our financial performance, user engagement and our unwavering commitment to providing value to the growing community we serve," said George Arison, Chief Executive Officer of Grindr. "We are executing well against our strategic priorities, with a focus on improving the user experience and testing new subscription plans, a la carte offerings and product features to increase monetization. We are on track to meet our full year goals and look forward to continuing to delight our users, serve our community, and create long-term value for our shareholders." Earnings Webcast Information Grindr will host a live webcast today at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time to discuss the Company's first quarter financial results. The webcast of the conference call can be accessed as follows: Event: Grindr First Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call Date: Monday, May 15, 2023 Time: 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) Live Webcast Site: https://investors.grindr.com/ An archived webcast of the conference call will also be accessible on Grindr's Investor Relations page, https://investors.grindr.com/. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding Grindr's current views with respect to our industry, operations and future business plans and performance. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes," "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "seeks," "projects," "intends," "plans," "may," "will" or "should" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements about our growth opportunities, expectations regarding new product launches, our 2023 strategic priorities, our plan to generate sustainable double-digit revenue growth and strong profitability and our full year 2023 guidance. Forward-looking statements, including guidance related to Revenue Growth and Adjusted EBITDA Margin, are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: (i) our reliance on historical data, which may be of limited reliability, in providing revenue guidance; (ii) the impact of the regulatory environment and complexities with compliance related to such environment; (iii) our ability to respond to general economic conditions; (iv) factors relating to the business, operations and financial performance of Grindr and its subsidiaries, including: (a) competition in the dating and social networking products and services industry; (b) the ability to maintain and attract users; and (c) fluctuation in quarterly and yearly results; (v) natural disasters, outbreaks and pandemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic and MPox; (vi) our ability to adapt to changes in technology and user preferences in a timely and cost-effective manner; (vii) our ability to maintain compliance with privacy and data protection laws and regulations; (viii) our ability to protect systems and infrastructures from cyber-attacks and prevent unauthorized data access; (ix) our dependence on the integrity of third-party systems and infrastructure; and (x) our ability to protect our intellectual property rights from unauthorized use by third parties. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Further information on these and additional risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those included in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are included under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Grindr with the SEC on March 17, 2023 as well as other filings that we make with the SEC from time to time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and the Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. About Non-GAAP Grindr uses Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin, which are non-GAAP measures, to understand and evaluate its core operating performance. These non-GAAP financial measures, which may differ from similarly titled measures used by other companies, are presented to enhance investors' overall understanding of Grindr's financial performance and should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Grindr defines Adjusted EBITDA as net (loss) income excluding income tax provision, interest expense, net of interest income from the related party loan to Catapult GP II, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense and non-core expenses/losses (gains). Non-core expenses/losses (gains) include transaction-related costs, litigation-related costs, management fees, change in fair value of warrant liability and other expense, which includes asset impairments. Adjusted EBITDA Margin represents Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue. Grindr's management uses Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin internally to evaluate the performance of our business and this measure is one of the primary metrics by which our internal budgets are based and by which management is compensated. Grindr believes Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are also helpful to investors, analysts, and other interested parties because they can assist in providing a more consistent and comparable overview of our operations across our historical financial periods. Grindr excludes the above items as some are non-cash in nature, and others are non-recurring that they may not be representative of normal operating results. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin adjust for the impact of items that Grindr does not consider indicative of the operational performance of our business. While Grindr believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating our business, this information should be considered as supplemental in nature and is not meant as a substitute for the related financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Unaudited Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA







Three Months Ended March 31, ($ in thousands) 2023 2022 Reconciliation of net income to adjusted EBITDA Net (loss) income (32,899) 4,501 Interest expense, net 10,793 2,956 Income tax provision 15,503 1,253 Depreciation and amortization 7,952 9,026 Transaction-related costs (1) - 7 Litigation related costs (2) 1,211 1,504 Stock-based compensation expense 3,341 734 Management fees (3) - 178 Change in fair value of warrant liability (4) 15,317 - Other expense (5) 781 - Adjusted EBITDA 21,999 20,159 Revenue 55,809 43,530 Adjusted EBITDA Margin 39.4% 46.3% _______________ 1) Transaction-related costs consist of legal, tax, accounting, consulting, and other professional fees related to the Business Combination and other potential acquisitions, that are non-recurring in nature. 2) Litigation related costs primarily represent external legal fees associated with the outstanding litigation or regulatory matters such as the potential Datatilsynet fine or the CFIUS review of the Business Combination, which are unrelated to Grindr's core ongoing business operations. 3) Management fees represent administrative costs associated with San Vicente Holdings LLC's ("SVE") administrative role in managing financial relationships and providing directive on strategic and operational decisions, which ceased to continue after the Business Combination. 4) Change in fair value of warrant liability relates to our warrants that were remeasured to fair value resulting in a loss of $15.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. 5) Other expense primarily represents costs incurred from reorganization events that are unrelated to Grindr's core ongoing business operations, including severance and employment related costs.

About Grindr Inc. With roughly 13 million monthly active users in virtually every country in the world, Grindr has grown to become a fundamental part of the queer community since its launch in 2009. The company continues to expand its ecosystem to enable gay, bi, trans and queer people to connect, express themselves, and discover the world around them. Grindr is headquartered in West Hollywood, California. The Grindr app is available on the App Store and Google Play. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005765/en/

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[May 15, 2023] Tridel earns four of the industry's top honours at 2023 BILD AWARDS, including Green Builder of the Year for a record 14th time

The acclaimed builder's waterfront community, Harbourwalk at Lakeview Village, also nabbed BILD's coveted People's Choice Award and Best High-Rise Building Design TORONTO, May 15, 2023 /CNW/ - Tridel, Canada's leading condominium builder, received several awards at the 2023 BILD Awards in Vaughan, Ontario, last week. Established in 1980, the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) recognizes excellence in all aspects of the development process, from construction and design to sales and marketing. Tridel, whose signature red box logo is synonymous with quality projects that are Built for Life, came away from the evening, earning distinction with another colour Green. Tridel continues to set unprecedented standards in sustainability, bringing home a record 14th Green Builder of the Year, Mid/High-Rise award for their dedication to building high-quality, environmentally responsible condominium homes. Tridel's unwavering commitment to eco-friendly building practices and social impact has been at the forefront of the company's philosophy since 2003, with the delivery of Element, their first Built Green Built for Life community. 20 years later, Tridel continues to exemplify excellence in sustainability and remains committed to building responsibly for today and into the future, adhering to a set of elevated building practices that voluntarily surpasses regulated requirements. To date, Tridel has achieved over 25 million square feet of LEED Platinum, Gold and Silver certified and candidate buildings throughout the GTA. Investments into green technologies, research initiatives and construction practices that combat climate change and reduce environmental impact support Tridel's commitment to building sustainable communities. Currently, the green-minded developer is including low-carbon district energy solutions, leak-mitigation systems, air tightness testing, urban agriculture, androbust electric vehicle charging stations, among other features in its communities, to improve building efficiency, performance, and resilience. Additionally, as part of its efforts to contribute to a low-carbon global economy, Tridel is pursuing a new decarbonization strategy, starting with a baseline carbon emissions study for its Head office.



"Tridel has been a pioneer in the development industry for nearly 90 years; we recognized the potential in aligning our development interests with environmental responsibility early on. Highly efficient designed buildings are not only good for our environment, but also operate better economically by reducing the amount of energy required, in turn saving our homeowners money," said Bruno Giancola, Senior Vice President, Tridel. "We're incredibly honoured that the hard work and dedication of our passionate team continues to be recognized by the industry, and we remain proud of the real, tangible impact being made in the communities where we build." Tridel also received a win for Best Customer Care, the product of a program focused on providing unwavering dedication to their customers, building trusting relationships, and delivering high-quality homes that exceed expectations. The foundation of Tridel's Customer Care program is an exceptional team of employees who strive to empower customers by providing them with knowledge, confidence, and excitement to make informed decisions about their homes while offering timely, industry-leading service. Tridel's program has improved the customer experience in various ways, including a robust Quality Ready Process that enhances suite readiness and speeds up the response to deficiency submissions.

Homeowner focus groups, regular training, and centralization of its warranty and administrative services allow Tridel to continuously improve their services, as seen through their Community Ambassador Program, which encourages residents to become actively involved in their condominium community to enhance the lived experience and increase social engagement and connection. Harbourwalk at Lakeview Village, Tridel's signature waterfront community, was also a big winner, nabbing the People's Choice Award -as voted by the GTA community-, and Best High-Rise Building Design, as well as Best Presentation Centre by BILD. Designed by architectsAlliance, Harbourwalk is a sculpted pair of buildings joined by a sprawling 57,000-square-foot courtyard adorned with spacious, cascading terraces offering unimpeded views of Lake Ontario. The buildings feature a pair of raised and lowered peaks in opposing corners with permeable, public access to select portions of the courtyard. Both interconnected buildings will feature their own dedicated lobbies and collections of one, two and three-bedroom suites, all boasting exquisite finishes. With interiors designed by the acclaimed II BY IV Design, Harbourwalk features luxurious resort-like amenities, including an outdoor pool and lounge with lakefront views, along with a range of multi-purpose spaces that cater to social and wellness needs. For more information about Tridel's communities and more, visit www.tridel.com. About Tridel Tridel is Canada's leading developer and builder of condominium residences with homebuilding experience since 1934. To date, the Tridel Group of Companies is responsible for producing over 89,000 homes. Tridel is determined to develop socially and environmentally responsible condominium communities that meet the needs of today's homeowners while safeguarding the well-being of future generations. The company is working to meet this goal by focusing on innovation that promotes environmentally sustainable design, social inclusion and cohesion, as well as high performance in construction, and corporate stewardship. Tridel is committed to building the highest quality condominiums possible and has won virtually every award in the industry for design, corporate social responsibility, customer service, sales, marketing and construction excellence. Tridel looks forward to continuing the long, proud history of award-winning excellence with over 20 new condominium communities currently under development in the Greater Toronto Area. SOURCE Tridel Corporation

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[May 15, 2023] Cognizant and Google Cloud Expand Partnership to Drive AI Adoption

TMCnet News Cognizant, a global professional services company, and Google Cloud, a provider of enterprise cloud computing, have announced an expanded partnership aimed at accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) by businesses worldwide. The collaboration seeks to assist clients in creating, migrating, and modernizing their AI initiatives.



Generative AI, a breakthrough technology, holds immense potential for streamlining work processes, creating innovative consumer experiences, optimizing data utilization, and more. Ravi Kumar, CEO of Cognizant (News - Alert), expressed his excitement about leveraging generative AI to transform clients' businesses, enhance productivity, and drive significant impact. Through this partnership, Cognizant aims to utilize its existing technological capabilities and upskill its talent to deliver advanced AI solutions, supporting the responsible use of AI on a global scale. Thomas Kurian, CEO at Google (News - Alert) Cloud, highlighted the significance of generative AI in generating substantial business value across various industries. By joining forces with Cognizant, Google Cloud plans to accelerate the application of generative AI by providing highly skilled AI experts, tailored solutions, and leveraging their cloud technologies in sectors such as financial services, healthcare, life sciences, and retail.

Cognizant's investment in expanding its product offerings and providing comprehensive training resources on Google Cloud demonstrates their commitment to nurturing tech talent and promoting collaboration and innovation in responsible AI use. The company's Data Modernization and Data Analytics specializations on Google Cloud will serve as a foundation for building transformative solutions for industries, with an initial focus on banking, insurance, life sciences, and retail. To support these solutions, Cognizant will leverage Google Cloud's suite of generative AI products, including large language models (LLMs) and Gen App Builder. Gen App Builder empowers enterprises to rapidly implement high-value use cases like Conversational AI and Enterprise Search. Additionally, Google Cloud offers direct access to underlying LLMs through generative AI support in Vertex AI, offering a range of choices tailored to client needs. Jennifer Hamel, Research Director at IDC (News - Alert), emphasized the importance of partnering with trusted providers to navigate the complex challenges of AI adoption and facilitate innovation at scale. Collaboration between professional services and technology solution providers will play a crucial role in addressing these challenges and driving AI deployment. Cognizant's commitment to developing generative AI capabilities includes the launch of the Cognizant Google Cloud AI University. This program will train 25,000 Cognizant professionals, as well as clients, on Google Cloud AI technologies. The university will offer a comprehensive curriculum covering AI fundamentals, advanced courses on Google Cloud solutions, and practical AI use cases. Moreover, Cognizant will establish Google Cloud AI Innovation hubs in Bangalore, London, and San Francisco. These hubs will serve as collaborative spaces, bringing together Cognizant and Google Cloud experts, customers, and university students to work on responsible AI projects and develop innovative solutions. As a premier Global Systems Integrator partner for Google Cloud, Cognizant has demonstrated its dedication to supporting clients' cloud modernization journeys across various vertical markets. The company holds several partner specializations and expertise credentials on Google Cloud, boasting one of the largest global resource pools of Google-certified architects and engineers. The expanded partnership between Cognizant and Google Cloud aims to accelerate AI adoption by offering transformative solutions, upskilling talent, and promoting responsible AI practices. The integration of generative AI technologies into businesses has the potential to revolutionize work processes, enhance consumer experiences, and unlock new possibilities in data utilization. Through their collaborative efforts, Cognizant and Google Cloud are poised to shape the future of AI-driven innovation.





Edited by Greg Tavarez



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[May 15, 2023] UBC Research Assistants to Join CUPE in the Largest Successful Union Organizing Campaign in Recent B.C. History

More than 3,200 Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) who work at the University of British Columbia (UBC) will join B.C.' s largest union, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). GRAs will join CUPE 2278, the union that already represents Teaching Assistants, English Language Instructors, and Invigilators at UBC. "We're proud to welcome Graduate Research Assistants to our local," says CUPE 2278 President Emily Cadger. "Research Assistants play a crucial role in the academic community, and they have sent a clear message that their compensation and working conditions need to improve." UBC has filed several objections to the union's application for certification and they have argued against research assistants' right to unionize claiming they are students and not employees. "The research that these workers are producing contribute immensely to the university's reputation. Their work is a key factor in UBC being an elite research institution," says Gracy Buckholtz, CUPE 2278's vice-president as well as an organizer with the campaign and a current GRA. She adds that there are already many unionized research assistants across Canada a various institutions, including some right here in B.C.



"Thousands of workers have signed a union card and it is clear that they want a more respectful work environment and fair compensation from UBC," said Buckholtz. Working conditions, compensation and dispute resolution were motivating factors for GRAs seeking union representation. Cadger outlined that this group of employees lack any limits on the number of hours they can be asked to work on their research and that currently there aren't clear and transparent scheduling policies. These workers also don't have access to a dispute resolution process free from academic harm which means often there is no formal way for GRAs to address the concerns they are having at work.

"GRAs want to be treated like the thousands of other UBC employees who have union protection, respectful working conditions, fair dispute resolution, and compensation that enables them to do their jobs without constantly struggling to make ends meet," says Cadger. After an eight-month public campaign, CUPE officially filed an application with the Labour Relations Board (LRB) to unionize GRAs and have them join CUPE 2278 on April 28. The union was notified on May 11 by the LRB that more than 55 percent of all eligible employees had signed a union card. This means that if the LRB dismisses UBC's objections, the LRB will automatically grant the union's application to represent GRAs because of the overwhelming support demonstrated. CUPE 2278 represents approximately 3,000 workers including teaching assistants, tutors, invigilators, markers, and English language instructors at UBC and graduate teaching assistants at the University of Northern British Columbia. CUPE is Canada's largest union with more than 715,000 members across the country and more than 100,000 in British Columbia. cope491 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005850/en/

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[May 15, 2023] BPAC and Novari Health Announce eReferral Integration

SYDNEY, Australia, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Novari Health and BPAC Clinical Solutions are proud to announce the successful integration of Novari's referral management software with BPAC's secure electronic referral system. This integration will provide an enhanced, streamlined, and more efficient way for healthcare professionals to electronically refer patients and manage referral workflows. This bi-directional integration enables clinicians using the BPAC eReferral system to transmit referrals from within their practice management solution (PMS) to private and public healthcare providers using the Novari referral management solution. These healthcare provider organisations can leverage Novari's customisable workflow features to receive, triage, waitlist, and process patient referrals. The combined use of BPAC's eReferral and Novari's referral management solutions help to reduce wait times, streamline workflows, and ensure that the right patients get to the right providers at the right time with the right clinical information. BPAC Clinical Solutions is a charitable organisation providing digital health solutions that are widely used in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The BPAC referral solution in Australia (SeNT and GP Smart Referrals in Queensland) and BPAC eReferrals in New Zealand have been improving te workflow of patients and experience for clinicians to improve patient outcomes for over 20 years.



Novari Health's innovative and unique access to care technologies are live and being implemented at hospitals and regional health authorities in Canada and Australia. The Novari access to care platform helps improve access to care, wait times, and drive efficiencies for patients accessing a wide variety of health care services including surgery, mental health & addictions, diabetes, cardiac, medical imaging, etc. "The collaboration between BPAC and Novari will help clinicians and healthcare systems improve efficiencies and most importantly, patient access to care." John Sinclair, CPHIMS-CA, Chief Executive Officer, Novari Health

"This partnership between BPAC and Novari is an example of two organisations that recognise each other as having significant expertise in the complex and bespoke health industry, and that as a partnership, we are better together to provide value and improved patient outcomes." Rei Ishikawa, Chief Operating Officer, BPAC Clinical Solutions About BPAC Clinical Solutions

BPAC Clinical Solutions is a charity organisation providing clinicians with digital health applications to deliver clinical decisions support and eReferrals capabilities for a range of health services. We aim to have "clinicians building for clinicians" and have a modern software development team supporting our objectives to improve patient outcomes. About Novari Health

Novari Health designs, builds, and implements award-winning enterprise scale SaaS solutions that improve access to care, coordination of care, and the delivery of healthcare services. With offices in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, Novari is one fastest growing digital health solution providers. ISO 27001 certified, Novari Health is a Microsoft Gold Partner, with software solutions hosted on Microsoft Azure Australian and Canadian cloud data centres. For more information, please contact Gavin Meredith, Australasian General Manager, Novari Health, at [email protected]. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2077165/Novari_Health_Inc__BPAC_and_Novari_Health_Announce_eReferral_Int.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/bpac-and-novari-health-announce-ereferral-integration-301824904.html SOURCE Novari Health Inc.

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This will probably do it for tonight but right now angel Grace inspires this peek at pop culture, community news and top headlines.



Check www.TonysKansasCity.com news gathering . . .

Captive Primate Family Tradition

Happy Mother's Day! Critically endangered Bornean orangutan born at the KC Zoo The Kansas City Zoo has an extra reason to celebrate Mother's Day in 2023.In the week leading up to the holiday, the zoo welcomed the much-needed birth of a critically endangered animal. In a press release on Saturday, the zoo announced that a male Bornean orangutan was born on Monday, May 8, to mother Josie.Both mom and son appear to be healthy and are doing well.

Prolific Mum Offers Advice

Mother of 7 helps Kansas children navigate court system OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Natalie Julien has filled her Overland Park home with seven children, ranging in age from 10 to 23. While she plans to spend Mother's Day celebrating their bond, her mind is also outside her home. "I think this weekend is a lot about family and making sure I have time to focus on my kids," Julien said.

Activism After Tragedy

A mother's mission: a devastating loss leads to law reform There was no way Giselle Shore was going to miss this trip. In March she flew to Cleveland, a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She didn't go for the scenery. She went to witness the trial of her son's former Boy Scout leader who was charged with molesting four underage boys in a northern Georgia community.

All About Angel On The Rise

Amazing Grace! Grace Elizabeth On Life's Little Moments, Her Big Dreams Of Acting, And Her Role With The NOCC - Daily Front Row Grace Elizabeth is in her next act. A mainstay on the runways, magazine covers, and billboards around the world since her debut season in 2016, the Florida-native has a maturity and wisdom that belies her 25 years. Opting to keep her pregnancy private, in April 2021 she revealed to her 1.4million followers that she'd welcomed her first child, a son named Noah.

No MAGA Mother Love MAGA???

Trump Rips Enemies, Ignores Melania in Mother's Day Post It appears that Donald Trump has left Melania Trump, his current wife and mother of his youngest child, unnamed in his Mother's Day greetings. Instead, the former president chose to wish a "Happy Mother's Day" to the mothers of the "complete Lunatics and Maniacs" who are part of "the Radical Left."

Progressives Pressure Prez

Biden Needs to Show Some Courage (Like Now) It's not the president's age that's holding him back, it's his unwillingness to stand up and show some spine. On October 22, 1962, I had just turned ten when my parents called me in to watch President Kennedy give what they said was an important speech. It was his Cuban missile crisis speech.

Blue Dog Doubles Down

Manchin ratchets up battle with Biden Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is becoming a bigger problem for President Biden and Democrats in the Senate as he faces an uphill reelection battle in West Virginia, a state where former President Trump won one of his biggest victories in 2020. Manchin has criticized Biden and Democrats publicly, opposed various nominees and, this week, said...

GOP Ladies Speak Up

Nikki Haley: A 2024 candidate pledging a federal abortion ban would not be 'honest' GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Sunday declined to endorse a federal abortion ban and said that it would not be honest for a Republican to promise such an unrealistic prospect to the American people.

Cash Confidence Game ALMOST Explained

Why the stock market will struggle to rally until debt ceiling, bank woes are in rearview mirror So much for the stock-market climbing the proverbial wall of worry. The S&P 500 index continues to struggle in a tight range and some analysts see little prospect for a breakout until two, very big worries are in the rearview mirror. No surprise, the culprits are the persistent worries about regional U.S.

Meeting Mean Tweets Head On

Twitter's New CEO Addresses Elon Musk Fans She knows she is eagerly awaited. Linda Yaccarino was named CEO of Twitter 2.0 on May 12, succeeding owner Elon Musk. Her arrival at the helm of the platform, which since October has become a bastion of conservatives in the name of free speech, was very badly received by many Musk fans.

Another Serving Of Turkey Talk

Turkey faces runoff election for president as Erdogan survives first test ISTANBUL, May 14 (Reuters) - Turkey appeared headed for a runoff presidential election after neither Tayyip Erdogan nor rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu cleared the threshold to win outright on Sunday, in a poll seen as a verdict on Erdogan's 20-year rule and increasingly authoritarian path.

Tech Tags Catholic Clerics

French priests to wear QR codes showing whether they are sex offenders Priests in France will be required to carry traffic-light coded identification cards The cards signal whether the holder has been stripped of their clerical status Catholic priests in France will be made to wear traffic-light coded identification tags to allow the public to check whether they may have faced sexual abuse charges.

Old School Connection Celebrated

Remarkable story of a 109-year-old who became soulmate and book for noted KC author David Von Drehle, a respected columnist for The Washington Post and author of books about Abraham Lincoln, capital punishment and a horrifying 1911 fire, has taken a career detour. The Mission Hills resident has written a book for his children. But it's not a children's book - his four kids are all in their 20s after all.

Griggs Gets Us Ready For The Work Week

Don't expect a lot of sunshine as clouds and rain continue EXCLUSIVE LIVE RADAR AND NINE DAY FORECAST. SO YOU'LL KNOW. FIRST, THIS IS FIRST ALERT WEATHER. WELL, IT WAS A GOOD START FOR MOTHER'S DAY. IT WAS WEATHER THIS MORNING, BUT THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW WE GET A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN COMING THROUGH THE AREA AND SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE EVENING AND PROBABLY CARRY OVER TO FIRST HALF OF A MONDAY ACTUALLY.

And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
A horrific discovery in the woods near Arrowhead & The K stadium sparks police investigation and hope that the community will help sort out the facts of the case.



Here are the basics of the story and a roundup of all the info available right now . . .



Officers were dispatched to a wooded area near the intersection of 41st and Pitman Rd on a dead body call. Police said the caller had been in the woods and located what they believed to be a dead body.



Officers responded and located the body of a deceased young baby. Detectives and crime scene personnel responded to the scene for investigation.

The important call to action . . .

Police are calling on the community to help identify a baby found dead Saturday in a field in Kansas City.



Police have described the child as a small baby, but the age and gender had not yet been determined as of Sunday afternoon, said Sgt. Jake Becchina, a spokesman for the Kansas City Police Department.



Right now the biggest thing is we know there are people in the community that know what happened here. There has to be. Theres no other explanation for it, Becchina said during a press conference Sunday. Today on Mothers Day, theres at least one mother who is without their baby, and those people know who they are and they have the answers that investigators need, whatever that explanation is.



A final note from a KCPD press release . . .

Investigators know someone has pertinent information in this case that they need to bring justice for this baby, they are asking for anyone who knows anything to contact the Homicide Unit directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Young baby body found in woods Saturday night KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department is investigating a death investigation where a body was found in the woods Saturday evening. Officers were dispatched to a wooded area near the intersection of 41st and Pitman Rd on a dead body call.

Kansas City, Missouri, police investigate death of young baby found in woods near 41st, Pittman KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department is investigating the death of a young baby found Saturday evening in the woods near 41st Street and Pittman Road. KCPD officers responded to a report of a dead body in the area around 7:45 p.m.

KC police: 'We pray that somebody didn't intentionally hurt' baby found dead in field Police are calling on the community to help identify a baby found dead Saturday in a field in Kansas City. Police have described the child as a "small baby," but the age and gender had not yet been determined as of Sunday afternoon, said Sgt. Jake Becchina, a spokesman for the Kansas City Police Department.

Kansas City police investigating the death of 'young baby' after body discovered in woods Police are investigating the death of a young baby after a body was discovered in the woods near an intersection in Kansas City, Missouri.Late Saturday, around 7:45 pm, officers were dispatched to a wooded area near the intersection of East 41st and Pitman Road after a caller reported the discovery of a dead body.In a press release Sunday, police confirmed the caller had been in the woods and helped officers locate what they believed to be a dead body.

Developing . . .
Deets on police answering the call to a dangerous situation this afternoon . . .



Operation 100/Stand-off on Ford Ave.



This afternoon about 2:30pm officers were initially called to a residence on Ford Ave on a disturbance involving a domestic violence assault. The victims (an adult male and female) contacted police outside the residence and advised they had gotten into a physical altercation inside the residence with another adult male. The female advised the male suspect assaulted her physically and threatened her with a gun.



Both victims exited the residence and called for police.



Officers attempted to make contact with the suspect inside and get him to come out and he refused. After many attempts to get him to come out officers deescalated and backed away and surrounded the house to prevent escape and to protect surrounding residents in the area.



Officers called for an Operation 100/police standoff to bring tactical officers and resources as well as negotiators to the scene to bring a peaceful resolution.



Efforts have been underway since then to get the suspect to come out and talk with officers so they can continue their investigation. At this time it is believed the suspect is the only person inside the house.

###########



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

KCPD in prolonged standoff with armed man at house along Ford Avenue Police are currently in a standoff with an armed man inside a Kansas City, Missouri, home along Ford Ave.KCPD confirmed they had been in the standoff since 2:30 p.m., Sunday. Police say the scene remains active and is not considered safe. Police say the armed man is a person of interest in an aggravated assault.

Standoff ongoing near 89th, Ford in Kansas City, Missouri KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City, Missouri, police are engaged in a standoff near E 89th Street and Ford Avenue. Officers were called just after 2:30 p.m. Sunday to the area on reports of a domestic violence assault. An adult male and an adult female contacted police outside of the residence.

UPDATE . . .

About 7:30pm the subject exited the residence and was taken into custody without further incident.

Developing . . .
Kansas City's slowly fading daily newspaper starts the week by selling fear without many solutions, analysis or perspective.

Regarding recent stats . . .



Actually, it's kind of encouraging that KCPD are taking note of missing persons cases and sharing data with the public by way of numbers that would otherwise be ignored.

Meanwhile . . .

The subtext here is that the newspaper is giving a subtle nod to a lie told last year about an imaginary serial killer that NEVER turned up.

Meanwhile . . .

Adults realize that deadly shootings over pointless arguments and/or gang rivalries are a much great threat to the community than some mysterious boogeyman or imagined police conspiracy.

As always, to be fair, we'll share the other side of the story . . .



The data shows what many Black leaders had feared and suspected: Black adults and children have been reported missing in Kansas City in significantly greater numbers than other racial groups. And their cases remain unsolved more often.



In its May 10 analysis, the police department reported that Black adults accounted for 11 of the 15 active adult missing persons cases.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

KCPD data proves fears true: More Black people reported missing and cases unsolved For months, Black leaders urged Kansas City police to provide public reports on how many people were reported missing in the city and how many cases were resolved. Such information, it was argued, would help answer community members' questions about how many Black people were going missing and what was being done to find them.

Related reading from one of our BEST & BRIGHTEST TKC denizens . . .
Egypt and Italy signed mutual letters to extend the third phase of a $100 million debt swap programme for development projects until December 2024, read a statement by the Ministry of International Cooperation on Monday.

The third phase of the debt swap programme includes implementing development projects in the fields of environment, agriculture, food security, education, cultural heritage, and civil society.

The food security projects in the third phase include developing wheat silos and information technology management systems to the tune of EGP 416.7 million in investments.

The third phase, signed in 2012, covers a project for solid waste management in Minya worth EGP 70.5 million.

The first phase of the project was signed in 2001 with a value of $149 million used to fund 54 projects in Upper Egypt, while the second phase was signed in 2007 and totalled $100 million which were injected into 32 projects in different areas.

Debt swap for development

Debt swap programmes incorporate agreements using debt owed to Egypt's development partners to fund a series of projects.

Egypt is implementing seven debt swap programmes with a total value of $100 million, Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat stated in September 2022.

Germany announced last year that it will support Egypt's Nexus of Water, Food and Energy (NWFE) programme with 100 million ($108.74 million) in debt swaps.

In a speech to the UN, Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry called for the development of debt swap programmes to alleviate the debt crisis of developing countries.

Egypt's debt has been exacerbated since the eruption of the Ukraine-Russia conflict in February 2022. According to the Central Bank of Egypt, Egypts external debt reached $154.9 billion in the 1Q of FY 2022/2023 (July-September 2022).

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Baby good tidings are slowly but surely working their way to city hall and the impending news has sparked a great deal of chatter behind the scenes.



Reality check . . . A healthy baby soon to be delivered to a TOP RANKING DENIZEN of city hall is a BLESSING no matter the sordid circumstances.

Forgive us for our optimism amid so much municipal corruption.

We pen this blind item post just to let insiders know that WE KNOW and everybody else is talking about it as well.

Consider this a public service and yet another TKC CELEBRATION OF LIFE!!!



What the plebs should consider . . .



Baby news might get out before the upcoming election but it probably won't make a difference. The real impact of the story will be just another reminder that locals shouldn't believe social media smiles and online lectures about morality . . . Instead, it's better to consider what people DO rather than what they say.



Still . . . Again . . . A bundle of joy delivered to this cowtown is welcomed given that population around the world continues to decline and pretty soon there might not be enough people to work all of those low-end jobs that keep the American economy running.



Read more from both sides of the debate via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

America is refusing to do the one simple thing that would solve the Great People Shortage America needs more workers. The United States is already running low on critical positions such as nurses, home-health aides, farmworkers, and truckers. And there are fewer young people on the way to make up the difference: The National Bureau of Economic Research found that birth rates in the US have declined by nearly 20% since 2007, while the fertility rate has been below the replacement level for decades.

The Population of Europe Now Appears to Be Falling The population of the European Union (EU) has slid down by more than half a million people since 2020, according to the number crunchers at its statistical arm Eurostat - a striking inflection point after decades of growth. The causes of the decline are various, but the basic issue is that more people are dying and fewer babies are being born.

Japan's population drops by half a million in 2022 | CNN Japan's population has fallen for the 12th consecutive year, as deaths rise and the birth rate continues to sink, according to government data released Wednesday. The population stood at 124.49 million in 2022 - representing a decline of 556,000 from the previous year, figures show.

Population Decline Will Change the World for the Better China's population has fallen after decades of sky-high growth. This major shift in the world's most populous country would be a big deal by itself, but China's hardly alone in its declining numbers: despite the momentous occasion of the global population surpassing eight billion late last year, the United Nations predicts dozens of countries will have shrinking populations by 2050.

The implications of a shrinking Asia China, Japan and South Korea are in demographic decline. Is that good or bad? Government financial incentives may be useless in reversing the demographic slide Aging societies bring greater economic costs but could also help the environment The fastest way to reverse population declines is a relaxation of immigration policies Briefly after the Cold War, when globalization dominated the world, national sovereignty seemed relegated to the dustbin of history.

Migration could prevent a looming population crisis. But there are catches To development economist Lant Pritchett, "population decline" is a mild way to describe what could be a global demographic crisis. "The reaction is often 'ho-hum' as the rates [of population decline] are slow and hence the issue seems small and in the future," he told NPR in an email.

Developing . . .
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.
The Toronto Star, along with United Way Greater Toronto and Toronto Metropolitan University, will host a Toronto mayoral debate on May 31, ahead of the June 26 byelection. - Dan Pearce/Metroland
Seventy-seven per cent of ETFO members say they have personally experienced violence or have witnessed violence against another staff member


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Belgium, a country renowned for its cultural richness and fascinating history, beckons travellers from around the world to explore its captivating cities and indulge in its renowned gastronomy.



(TRAVPR.COM) INDIA - May 15th, 2023 - Belgium, a country renowned for its cultural richness and fascinating history, beckons travellers from around the world to explore its captivating cities and indulge in its renowned gastronomy. With a plethora of remarkable sights and experiences, Belgium offers a truly enchanting option of places to visit in Belgium. Your Belgian adventure in the heart of Brussels; at the world-famous Grand Place, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring architecture and marvel at the 15th-century Town Hall, a true symbol of Belgian craftsmanship. The square provides a serene atmosphere, perfect for enjoying the charming cafes and eateries that line its perimeter, making it one of the best places to visit in Belgium. Another set of unique places to visit in Belgium is the picturesque city of Bruges, often referred to as the "Venice of the North." Discover yourself lost in the network of canals and let the medieval structures that dot the UNESCO World Heritage Site enchant you. Whether you choose to cruise along the canals or wander the winding streets, Bruges offers a delightful ambiance that is sure to leave a lasting impression. No visit to Belgium is complete without indulging in its culinary delights. Discover the world-famous Belgian chocolate, a delectable treat that has gained global recognition. Belgian waffles, with their tantalizing toppings of whipped cream, fruit, or chocolate sauce, are a must-try for any visitor. Additionally, Belgium's beer culture is second to none, boasting over 1,500 beer pubs and breweries that offer an exceptional selection of world-class brews. For music enthusiasts, Belgium's Tomorrow-land music festival is an event not to be missed. This major music and cultural extravaganza showcases electronic music on a global scale, drawing visitors from all corners of the globe. With its mesmerizing stage designs, renowned DJs, and vibrant energy, Tomorrow-land creates an unforgettable experience. 1958's Atomium. Brussels' iconic symbol is becoming a must-see tourist attraction for tourists visiting Belgium Belgium also pays tribute to its historical significance, with various World War I museums. The Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres provides a comprehensive understanding of the war's impact, making it a must-visit for history aficionados. Beyond the cities, Belgium's natural beauty shines in the magnificent Ardennes forests, hills, and villages, making it one of the most enchanting places to visit in Belgium. Take a leisurely walk through these hypnotising landscapes and bask in the tranquillity of the European countryside. Conclude your Belgian journey with a visit to Ostend, where you can enjoy its renowned beaches, historic architecture, and delectable seafood. Stroll along the promenade or simply relax on the sandy shores, savoring the coastal charm. This again comprises one of the best places to visit in Belgium. Belgium offers an alluring blend of culture, architecture, environment, and gastronomy that is sure to captivate travelers this season. Plan your visit today and immerse yourself in the diversity and charm that Belgium has to offer. Plan your journey today and experience alluring Belgium firsthand through your lenses, like you have never done before. ### Please contact the person or company listed above for information regarding the content of this press release. TravPR.com are not the issuers of this press release and are not responsible for the accuracy of the content. Share Release :



CONTACT INFORMATION Name: Ankush Company: Vd holiday Nigeria Phone: 08482876737 Email: ankush.vdholiday.nigeria@gmail.com Web: PRESS RELEASE TAGS
British Airways and British Airways Holidays have launched their Original Sale, offering flight and holiday savings for trips taken throughout 2023 and 2024.



Running from May 11-30, the sale features both short and long-haul destinations, with highlights including European beach holidays from 279pp (pp pricing is based on two sharing) , New York city breaks 449pp and Caribbean resort stays from 579pp.



Flight only

Travellers looking for transatlantic flight-only options can book return flights to New York from 352, Orlando from 355, and open the door to new destination, Cincinnati, from 499. Those heading east can enjoy return flights to Dubai from 449.



In addition, customers who book World Traveller (long-haul economy) will have the option to upgrade to World Traveller Plus (premium economy) from an extra 199 return. The option means that those on long-haul flights can upgrade to enjoy wider seats and more legroom, two meals and a complimentary bar service, priority boarding, more luggage allowance and a stylish amenity kit made from recycled plastic bottles.

Executive Club members also have the option to save Avios, with examples including return flights to Orlando from 165 + 42,900 Avios and Dubai from 209 + 55,000 Avios.



Holiday packages

British Airways Holidays is offering a wide range of enticing holiday packages for customers booking their flight and hotel together. Those jetting off to far flung destinations in the Caribbean can enjoy week-long holidays to St Kitts from 579pp, St Lucia from 729pp and Barbados from 679pp.



Three-night breaks to Dubai are available from 499pp, while you can bag a seven-night holiday to Marrakesh from 279pp. Closer to home, customers can soak up the sun in Tenerife for 279pp, the Algarve for seven nights for 219pp plus Malta and Corfu from 289pp.



Claire Bentley, Managing Director or British Airways Holidays said: We are thrilled to announce our holidays sale to popular travel destinations. Whether you want a short getaway or a long-awaited trip to see family and friends, we have offers to suit all. We continue to strive to give our customers as much choice, flexibility and value as possible.  TradeArabia News Service
This years graduation projects from the AUCs graphic design department are on display in the "Under CTRL" exhibition at the campuss Sharjah Gallery through 30 May, showcasing the connection between the young generation and their intangible cultural heritage.

Seeing highly technical graphic design projects based on and nourished by heritage topics was quite an enchanting experience. The two-story exhibition had many inspiring projects that reflected the awareness of the young generations of the importance of mental health, environment, and reconnecting with their own heritage.

The legends of Keretlia House, an app for Khayamia shopping, a book that traces the origins of controversial proverbs, and many more were on display.

Fashion in Egypt, 1919-1952

Among the projects on display was a project that traces the relationship between socio-political events and women's fashion in Egypt from 1919-1952. The project is a big book connected to a projector and whenever you flip a page of the printed book, you get to experience a layer of information projected in orange.

"I tried tracing the relationship between socio-political events in Egypt and women's fashion 1899 to 1952. I focused on magazines such as Al-Mosawar Masr Al-Haditha, Bent El-Nil, Akher Saa, and El-Kawakeb," explained Hagar El Attar, the designer of the project, to Ahram Online.

"Then I took the visual and connected them with what events that happened in Egypt back then. And whenever you flip through the book, you would see printed layer social political events and the orange which is projected," she added.

Three legends and a puzzle

Habiba Abu Seif's project depicted one of Egypt's underrated landmarks. Beit Al-Keritleya, or House of the Cretan Woman, also known today as the Gayer Anderson House and Museum, an architectural gem in the heart of Islamic Cairo. Built in 1631, the house is said to have 14 legends associated with it. The social history of the house was compiled and published in a book by Gayer Anderson, a British army officer who bought the house and turned it into a museum.

"My original idea was to create a concept that helps educate children about cultural heritage history but in an interactive and interesting way," said Abu Seif.

He did this by choosing three of the 14 legends, making a box for each one containing illustrations, paper for colouring, a puzzle and a booklet describing the story of the house and a scannable code that provides an audio description, he explained.

Proverbs and human rights

Mohsen Afiff's project is a book that he designed and created to trace back the origins of some popular yet negative proverbs in Egypt. The book is titled "Poison in the Proverb" as a variation on the popular saying ("poison in honey").

"I picked over 300 proverbs that had either a demeaning view of women, dark-skinned people, people with disabilities or some religions. I address the negative impact of such discriminatory proverbs and its contradictions with human rights as well as traces back the origins and situations that made such proverbs," he told Ahram Online.

Khayamiya online app

Alia Ibrahim created an app for virtual exploration and shopping tour of one of Egypt's oldest crafts and marketplaces. Souq Al-Khayamiya is the market of tent makers that was first established in 1650 in Islamic Cairo.

"Khayamiya is a very important craft and I thought that the best way to help is to create an online platform where people would get to virtually explore each Khayamiya shop, its details, and prices of Khayamiya artwork," Alia Ibrahim explained.

The app also includes a timeline of the souq's history, a tutorial video from renowned Khayamiya artist Salah Abdel Hamid, and short video interviews with other masters of the craft, she added.

The story of 14 statues

Rola Amr chose to safeguard the intangible cultural heritage of downtown Cairo. In her graduation project, she designed an application that documents the social history of the 14 statues in the public squares of downtown Cairo and the artists that made them. Her application also features an audio-guided tour.

Memoires of a neighbourhood

Farah Abdel Salam documented the social history of her childhood neighbourhood in Mohandeseen, by following the life of Am Gamal, the traditional doorman (bawab) of her residential building.

"I have been living in Mohandeseen all my life when I was little, then I moved to a gated compound which is missing a lot, especially the parallelism that exists, and I wanted to represent it in a very emotional visual way to make the people understand how it is like to live in an apartment in Mohandeseen," she noted.

The scent of the city

Nancy Kamal skillfully depicts the scents of various districts in downtown Cairo through an audio-visual medium.

The exhibition "Under CTRL" at Sharjah Gallery, AUC premises, is open to the public from May 11-30.

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Egyptian acclaimed composer Omar Khairat has been selected as the Cultural Personality of the Year by the organizers of the UAEs 17th edition of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award (SZBA).

Omar Khairat will be awarded in honour of an illustrious, decades-long career of timeless musical creations that have contributed to shaping the collective cultural consciousness of the Arab region, as stated by the SZBA's official website.

The SZBA's Board of Trustees endorsed the Scientific Committees decision to choose Khairat as the Cultural Personality of the Year in recognition of his remarkable talent and artistic turnout, which has been tremendously popular in the Arab world and has been featured in musical introductions to films and many dramas.

The SZBA is organized by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC); part of the Department of Culture and Tourism  Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).

Winners of this years SZBA also include Iraqi poet Ali Jaafar Alallaq; French author Mathieu Tillier; Algerian author Said Khatibi; Tunisian translator Chokri Al Saadi; Tunisian critic Jalila Al Tritarm, and Egyptian publishing house Dar ElAin.

Excellence and Innovation

Each year, the Cultural Personality of the Year award is given to "a prominent figure who has contributed to the advancement of Arabic culture and promoted peaceful coexistence."

This year, we are proud to select Omar Khairat, one of the most renowned and celebrated musicians in the Arab world, stated Undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani.

His constant striving for excellence and innovation has seen the artist make an incalculable impact on the music industry and the wider cultural landscape, as well as foster important cross-cultural dialogue. His passion reflects Abu Dhabis vision to nurture creativity and harness the power of the arts to build bridges and transcend borders, he added.

Considerable Career

Born in 1947, the multi-awarded Omar Khairat is one of the top musicians of the Arab world with hundreds of memorized compositions in his repertoire.

Throughout his long successful career, he has written scores for numerous films and television series, including The Sixth Day (1984); The Terrorist (1993); Mafia (2002); Girls Love (2003); The Embassy in the Building (2005), and Deers Blood (2006), to name but a few.

His concerts are usually fully-booked weeks ahead of time with his wide fan base singing along and humming with compositions like Heya Di El-Hayah; Fi Hawid El Leil; Arabian Rhapsody; Fiha Haga Helwa; Eadam Mayet; El-Khawaga Abdel-Kader; Giran El-Hana; Saber; Arfa; Qadeyet Am Ahmed; Khali Balak Men Aklak, and other classic hits of time-honoured TV and films themes.

Among his upcoming performances is the 3rd of Junes large concert at the Sound and Light Theatre at the Pyramids and Sphinx site in Giza, where half of the tickets have already been sold-out.

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Young people need a voice, and that's exactly what was delivered though the U report seconda
I liked how fast paced the program was, said Lewis, who has a bachelors degree in drafting and design technology. I only had to take two more years of schooling after high school, plus with the added internship I already had accepted my full time offer for when I would graduate the year prior.





A 2021 Center High School graduate, Lewis served as a MIC program intern at Black and Veatch from summer 2020 through spring 2023.





During my internship I was a power engineering technician working on substation design and drafting, she shared. When I transition into full time I will be going into a civil engineering tech role working on solar fields.





The MIC program has been recognized at the regional and national level for reshaping the way students experience education and innovation. A partnership between UCM, the Lees Summit R-7 School District, Metropolitan Community College and close to 70 leading businesses, the MIC program provides motivated students with career-ready skills while connecting businesses to a highly trained workforce.





I would totally recommend the MIC program to people who want the fast-paced college experience but also those who would be ready to be in the professional field, Lewis added.
Ukrainian intelligence officers will receive 105 Vector unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) under the contract between the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and the German UAV manufacturer Quantum-Systems GmbH.

The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraines Ministry of Defense announced this on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

"This is the second batch of Vector drones for the Ukrainian army, funded by the German government. In August 2022, Ukraine ordered and received 33 German UAVs of the same model, and they have shown their high efficiency on the battlefield," the report says.

The Main Intelligence Directorate notes that it takes two minutes to start working with the Vector drone. The assembled UAV has a wingspan of 2.8 meters and can be launched by hand.

The Vector UAV is equipped with electro-optical and infrared sensors, which allows it to detect enemy targets round-the-clock, while the robust design of the drone reduces the impact of weather factors. The speed is up to 72 km/h. The duration of one flight is 120 minutes.

Due to secured data transmission channels, Vector can broadcast video to ground stations in real time during combat missions.

The UAV is equipped with advanced artificial intelligence capabilities for data analysis: built-in algorithms allow it to automatically identify objects and immediately transmit critical intelligence information to the ground, the report says.

As Ukrinform reported, on May 13, Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian President's Office, said that Germany announced a new military aid package worth EUR 2.7 billion for Ukraine.

Photo: Ukraines Main Intelligence Directorate, Telegram
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has visited a military base in Germany where Ukrainian soldiers are undergoing training.

That's according to the press service of the head of state, Ukrinform reports.

"As part of his official visit to Germany, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky visited the military base in Aachen, where Ukrainian soldiers are undergoing training. The Head of State and Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz had a conversation with Ukrainian soldiers who are undergoing training in the Bundeswehr," the report reads.

Zelensky and Scholz observed the elements of the training and the samples of German military equipment used by Ukrainian soldiers for training and supplied to Ukraine.

Zelensky thanked Scholz for supporting the training mission for the Ukrainian military.

In addition, Zelensky presented the Ukrainian warriors with state awards.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine
The Norwegian Armed Forces are planning to train approximately 3,200 Ukrainian soldiers in 2023.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on Facebook, according to Ukrinform.

Norwegian Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram and Acting Chief of the Norwegian Home Guard (Heimevernet) Morten Eggen attended the training of Ukrainian soldiers at a training ground.

"It makes a strong impression to meet some of those who will soon go to war to defend their Homeland and their values against the Russian invasion. The war comes close when we meet soldiers who come from combat, train here and go back to the war. It's a powerful reminder that freedom doesn't come by itself. We have supported Ukraine with both materials and training, and we will continue to support them for as long as necessary," Gram said, adding that this is important not only for Ukraine, but also for Norway.

The officials saw the Ukrainian military practicing combat operations in the trenches and providing first aid on the battlefield under the guidance of instructors from the Norwegian Home Guard.

Since the end of April, instructors of the Norwegian Home Guard have started a four-week intensive training course for more than a hundred Ukrainian soldiers in military medicine, shooting training and team leadership.

"We will support the training and education of Ukrainian personnel both in Norway and in other countries. Such support is becoming more and more important, as Ukraine uses more and more Western materials," Gram said.
The United Kingdom will provide Ukraine with hundreds of new long-range attack drones with a range of over 200 km.

According to Reuters, after President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Britain for talks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the British government announced it would send long-range attack drones to Ukraine.

"Today the Prime Minister will confirm the further UK provision of hundreds of air defence missiles and further unmanned aerial systems including hundreds of new long-range attack drones with a range of over 200 km," the government said in a statement.

Read also: Zelensky to visit London on Monday

It is noted that these will all be delivered over the coming months as Ukraine prepares to intensify its resistance to the ongoing Russian invasion.

As reported by Ukrinform, Germany is providing Ukraine with a military aid package worth EUR 2.7 billion, which will help Ukrainians efficiently defend themselves against the aggressor.
Training for Ukrainian pilots will begin in the United Kingdom this summer.

That's according to a press release from the British government, Ukrinform reports.

The government recalled that in February, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the UK would develop a new training program for Ukrainian pilots to support efforts to create a new air force in Ukraine in accordance with NATO standards, with F16 aircraft.

"This summer we will commence an elementary flying phase for cohorts of Ukrainian pilots to learn basic training. This will adapt the programme used by UK pilots to provide Ukrainians with piloting skills they can apply a different kind of aircraft," the statement said.

It is emphasized that these exercises are closely linked to the UK's efforts to cooperate with other countries to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighters.

It is noted that since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the United Kingdom has trained 15,000 Ukrainian military personnel. And between 2014 and 2022, 22,000 Ukrainian military personnel were trained in the UK as part of Operation Orbital.

In addition, it is reported that next month the UK will host a conference on Ukraine's recovery to boost international investment in areas such as clean energy and technology.

As reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky is visiting the UK on Monday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is returning to Ukraine with new defense packages.

The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his video address, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Three long days  and our warriors and our state are getting stronger. Much stronger, I am sure of it. We are returning home with new defense packages: more new and powerful weapons for the frontline, more protection for our people. More political support, Zelensky said.

The President of Ukraine pointed out good and encouraging talks with Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni and President of Italy Sergio Mattarella, as well as Pope Francis.

According to Zelensky, his meetings with President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Olaf Scholz were particularly meaningful for Ukraines defense.

Additionally, the Head of State met with President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron.

Long, useful talks. There is a new military package. It is powerful. There are new political agreements, Zelensky noted.

In the United Kingdom, the President of Ukraine held a meeting with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak.

Defense and very important British leadership in military coalitions. We coordinated our positions before the international events scheduled for the near future: before the G7, the summit in Vilnius, Zelensky mentioned.

In his words, the Ukrainian Peace Formula was discussed at all the meetings, and now there is more willingness of Ukraines partners to follow this formula.

There is more support for our accession to the EU, more understanding that Ukraine's accession to NATO will happen, it is inevitable, the Head of State added.

A reminder that, on May 15, 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky paid a working visit to the United Kingdom. Prior to that, the Head of State visited France, Germany and Italy.

The full text of President Zelenskys video address is provided below:

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

Three long days  and our warriors and our state are getting stronger. Much stronger, I am sure of it.

We are returning home with new defense packages: more new and powerful weapons for the frontline, more protection for our people. More political support.

Italy - good talks with Giorgia, Madam Prime Minister. Meeting with the Pope, quite encouraging. Meeting with the President of Italy.

Germany - Mr. President Steinmeier, meeting with Mr. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, which was particularly meaningful for our defense.

In addition to Berlin, we also visited Aachen. I visited a military base, inspected Leopards, Marders, and thanked our soldiers who are training on German equipment.

On behalf of the Ukrainian people and in honor of the Ukrainian people, we received a significant European award named after Charlemagne in Aachen. It was the first time that the Ukrainian language was spoken in the hall where the laureates are honored. Ukrainian will be one of the official languages of the European Union, I am sure of it.

France - a meeting with President Macron, long, useful talks. There is a new military package. It is powerful. There are new political agreements.

Great Britain - meeting with Rishi, Mr. Prime Minister Sunak. Defense and very important British leadership in military coalitions.

We coordinated our positions before the international events scheduled for the near future: before the G7, the summit in Vilnius.

Our Peace Formula was discussed at all the meetings, and now there is more willingness of our partners to follow the Ukrainian formula. There is more support for our accession to the EU, more understanding that Ukraine's accession to NATO will happen, it is inevitable.

I thank Italy for its help in protecting the lives of our people - from protecting the sky to preparing for the full reconstruction of Ukraine after hostilities.

I am grateful to Germany for the largest defense package - 2 billion 700 million euros. IRIS-T air defense systems of various modifications, a lot of missiles for them, guns, shells, armored vehicles...

In addition, Germany will support our country in the long term, with 11 billion euros for defense. Germany also participates in the European Peace Facility, which strengthens our defense.

I thank France for the new opportunities for our soldiers in countering Russian terror, and now is not the time to talk about the details. Thank you for additional equipment, for additional armored vehicles. I thank you for your help in consolidating our partners.

I am grateful to the UK for agreeing to train our pilots. We are creating a coalition to train pilots on modern Western aircraft. The UK agreed, Poland agreed, and I'm sure France and other partners will join. We continue our work on the fighter jet coalition as well, and we are moving forward actively. Of course, I am grateful to the UK for the long-range capabilities for our warriors.

So, the main results of these days are new weapons for Ukraine, respect for Ukrainians, and our victory has been brought closer.

And we will add more support! I know it. I believe in it.

Glory to all those who are in combat for our country! Glory to everyone who helps! Glory to all who train our warriors!

Glory to Ukraine!

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine
Germany will allocate EUR 11 billion in defense assistance to Ukraine.

Thats according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, who spoke in a video address to the nation Monday evening, Ukrinform reports.

I am grateful to the UK for agreeing to train our pilots. We are creating a coalition to train pilots on modern Western aircraft. The UK agreed, Poland agreed, and I'm sure France and other partners will join. We continue our work on the fighter jet coalition as well, and we are moving forward actively. Of course, I am grateful to the UK for the long-range capabilities for our warriors," Zelensky said.

Read also: Ukrainian intelligence officers to receive 105 more Vector UAVs from Germany

He also thanked Italy for its help in protecting the lives of Ukrainians  from protecting the sky to preparing for the full post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.

The head of state also thanked Germany for the largest defense package worth EUR 2.7 billion. It includes IRIS-T air defense systems of various modifications, a lot of missiles for them, as well as guns, shells, and armored vehicles.

In addition, the president noted that Germany would support Ukraine in the long term, with 11 billion euros purely for defense.

Germany also participates in the European Peace Facility, which strengthens Ukraines defenses, Zelensky added.

The president thanked France for new opportunities for Ukrainian soldiers in countering Russian terror, for additional equipment and armored vehicles, and for its help in consolidating partners.

Read also: Zelensky says agreements reached on powerful military aid packages for Ukraine

"So, the main results of these days are new weapons for Ukraine, respect for Ukrainians, and our victory has been brought closer," he concluded.

As reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky is visiting Great Britain on Monday, the day before he visited France and Germany, and Italy  on May 13.

Photo: Ukrainian Presidents Office
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky met with members of the German Security Cabinet.

The meeting, which was also attended by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, was joined by Vice Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck, Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock, Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius, Minister of Finance Christian Lindner, Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Svenja Schulze and Minister of the Interior and Community Nancy Faeser, according to the president's press service.

Zelensky emphasized that such a format of the meeting is unique and fully consistent with the high level of cooperation achieved between our countries.

Having briefed the members of the German Security Cabinet on the situation on the frontline and the priority needs of the Ukrainian defense forces, the Head of State emphasized the necessity of lifting restrictions and red lines on the supply of all types of weapons to Ukraine.

Addressing the Federal Chancellor, the President noted a fundamentally new character of bilateral relations.

"Since February 24 last year, with the "change of epochs," as you so aptly put it, relations between our countries have changed profoundly. From providing Ukraine with humanitarian aid to receiving the most modern air defense systems, artillery, infantry fighting vehicles and battle tanks," he emphasized.

Zelensky thanked the Chancellor for his personal role in these transformations and expressed hope for Germany's leadership in the formation of the aircraft coalition.

The Head of State commended the decision of the Federal Government to earmark funds for the purchase of military equipment necessary for Ukraine until 2032 in the total amount of 17 billion euros.

At the meeting, a full range of topical issues of bilateral cooperation was discussed. Particular attention was paid to security support for Ukraine and the development of substantive cooperation in this area; Germany's involvement in the reconstruction of Ukraine, including the role of the private sector in this process, as well as cooperation on the path of Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
Ostracised by Israeli society and repeatedly threatened with death at the hands of her own people, Felicia Langer* has not flinched since the day in 1967 she adopted the Palestinian cause as her own.

From Al-Ahram Weekly archives: Fifty years of dispossession 1948-1998*

A beautiful petite woman with intense blue eyes, Felicia Langer radiates extraordinary strength and determination. She needs to. Langer, an Israeli of Polish-Jewish origin, who is married to a Holocaust survivor, spent close to 23 years of her life working as a defence lawyer in the Occupied Territories, representing Palestinian political prisoners. Though she now lives in self-imposed exile in Tubingen, Germany, where she lectures at the university, her life is still dedicated to the cause she first took up in 1967.

Back in Jerusalem to address a conference, Langer has lost none of her disillusionment with the policies of the state.

"The failure of the peace process was already inscribed in the Oslo Accords," she said. "The 'peace of the brave'", she added bitterly, "brought the Palestinians the Israeli bulldozer."

Bitterness and anger at continuing Palestinian dispossession by Israel are not new emotions to the 68-year-old lawyer. Her autobiography, aptly entitled Fury and Hope, expresses her alternating states of being as an Israeli who has adopted the Palestinians' suffering as her own.

Fury at the senseless killings of Palestinian resisters, the razing of entire villages, the bulldozing of houses, the wide-scale confiscation of land, the thousands of administrative detention orders slapped on Palestinian youths -- but most of all, rage at the continued occupation of Arab land and the denial of the Palestinians' aspirations to national self-determination which has precluded any hope for the establishment of a Palestinian state and peace between the two peoples.

"How do you define your love of country," a journalist from the Israeli daily Hadashot asked Langer some years ago. "My love of country fulfills itself in hatred of the occupation," she replied, without a moment's hesitation.

Fury and rage are powerful emotions running as a leitmotiv through Langer's tale, motivating her work as an act of resistance and defiance, and defining her solidarity with the struggle of the Palestinian people.

Born in Poland in 1930, Langer fled her native country for the Soviet Union after the outbreak of World War II. Returning to Poland after the war, she married Mieciu Langer, a Holocaust survivor. Unimpressed with Zionism and happily settled in Poland, the young couple emigrated to Israel in 1950 for personal reasons -- Langer wanted to join her mother, who had settled there.

Deeply disturbed by the racism and class-based inequalities inherent in Israeli society, both Langer and her husband joined the Israeli Communist Party -- which offered them an alternative vision and a channel for political activism.

"1967 was a hard winter, as if nature wanted to add to the catastrophe that had befallen the Palestinians," recalls Langer in her autobiography, who had by then decided to "become active". Having resigned her job in a Tel-Aviv law office, she established a private practice in Jerusalem to assist Palestinian political prisoners.

Her first clients that winter were an imam and his wife, whose son had been jailed in Hebron for "membership in a Palestinian resistance organisation". As he explained the case to Langer, telling her how he had fetched his son's blood-stained shirt from jail, the man's eyes suddenly filled with tears and his wife broke down, sobbing. "There was silence in the room... And what I feared, happened: tears came to my eyes, and instead of radiating authority, strength and confidence, I cried with them. So there we sat, three adults crying over the fate of a tortured son." Looking back on this episode, Langer believes it was necessary to break down the barriers between her and the people she wanted to represent -- "creating a bond of trust and closeness, crucial for both sides."

Over two decades of representing Palestinian political prisoners in the Occupied Territories, Langer relentlessly worked at consolidating this bond -- in solidarity with the Palestinian people. In effect, a major part of her autobiography consists of documenting cases of flagrant Israeli human rights violations in Palestine. Recording the history of the occupation, the writer testifies lest people should ever forget. Since the early days of her work as a defence attorney, Langer has turned to writing -- writing everywhere: in taxis, in prison yards while waiting for her clients, she used the written word to express her personal anguish at the effects of the occupation.

Throughout her 23-year-long struggle against the Israeli military court system, Langer was driven by a stubborn sense of hope -- seemingly against all odds. Motivated by the powerful need to crack the system open -- even if only fleetingly -- so as to be able to defend her clients beyond the available token legal manoeuvres, Langer relentlessly fought her way to the Israeli Supreme Court time and again. Basing her claims on the legality of binding international treaties, Langer cited countless violations of the Geneva Convention -- to which Israel is a signatory -- fighting an uneven and usually losing battle, with a few notable exceptions.

Overturning Bassam Shaka's expulsion orders in November 1979 was such an exception and counted among Langer's most important victories, "the most important of all", she recalls. The celebrated nationalist mayor of Nablus, Shaka had been one of the most vocal and virulent opponents of the Camp David Accords. As a result, the military governor of the West Bank accused Shaka of inciting terrorist attacks and sheltering their perpetrators, arrested him and signed an expulsion order against him. When the Supreme Court overruled the mayor's deportation, the whole town of Nablus celebrated along with Langer, who at that time was briefly able to believe that "reality may sometimes surpass our wildest dreams.".

But the joy was to be short-lived. Shortly following the Nablus celebration, a Jewish terrorist group booby-trapped the mayor's car. Barely escaping with his life and gravely injured, Shaka's legs were amputated. As Langer left her friend on his hospital bed in Nablus, he told her: "I am here and the struggle is just beginning." "What stuff are you made of, Bassam," she wondered as she left the ward.

Yet Langer herself is made of equally 'strong stuff'. An extraordinarily courageous and resilient woman, she kept on working despite appalling conditions, social ostracism, death threats and even physical assaults.

In 1968, when Langer first started publishing articles in the Israeli press to denounce the occupation, she was castigated by the average Israeli. She became an outcast and an alien. It all began with the demolition of Hamdi Tukan's house in Nablus. Tukan's father had shown Langer the bulldozed concrete rubble in the midst of which she could still see the vestiges of flowers stubbornly sprouting among the debris.

Standing on the Nablus hills overlooking the ruins, Langer felt an overwhelming urge to tell Tukan that "this was not the only face of her people." She did so in an open letter addressed to "my brother Hamdi Tukan", published in the Arabic language weekly Al-Ittihad and the Hebrew Zo Haderech. "The day would come," wrote Langer, "when Tukan would be able to build a new house and plant new flowers that will bloom with a myriad of colours."

The reaction to Langer's article was swift and to the point. Returning home to Tel-Aviv from her Jerusalem office one night, she was startled by a growing commotion coming from one her neighbours balconies. "Look at her, look at this piece of shit, this traitor. This dirty Arab is her brother! Let her go to Nablus, we don't need her here," a woman screamed at Langer. "I went out to my balcony with Michael [her son] who had turned white. My neighbours faces were distorted by a hatred I had never seen before. I tried to say something, but my words were drowned out by a flood of insults and hysterical screams. 'Get out of this house,' they shouted, 'we won't stand for you to live here. You want to plant flowers for this Arab? You can have some of these here on your grave.' And they pointed to the well-kept flower beds growing in my part of the yard."

Throughout the years, recalls Langer, her every step was followed by piercing hateful stares, accompanied by the occasional insult. "I walked by with my head held up high, although each and every time something inside me would shrivel," she wrote. "When I was lucky, I didn't bump into those groups of youths who would spit in my direction whenever I walked by."

More ominous than the daily harassment and aggression, were the occasional death threats. "We are a terror organisation against those responsible for terrorist acts. If you don't stop working, you will have a bad and bitter end," warned a sinister voice over the phone on a warm June night of 1974. Ten years later the message was much the same, though more political in tone. "Felicia Langer is a PLO whore. The day of your death is near," the Jewish Defense League, a fascist terrorist group established by Rabbi Meir Kahane, spray-painted on the door of Langer's Jerusalem office.

Beyond the humiliating daily wear and tear of social ostracism and the real fear for her life, Langer was constantly harassed by the authorities. From denying and delaying her the right to consult and meet with her clients, to dismissing her petitions, to overruling her defense arguments in court, her work was obstructed at every step of the way.

But slapping down her clients with inordinately severe prison sentences was the most dramatic way of punishing the Israeli lawyer for defending Palestinian political prisoners. Langer recounts the case of one client, Tawfik Aharam, who was sentenced to ten years in jail for membership of an "illegal terrorist organisation". Since Aharam had never actively opposed the occupation, his sentence should not have exceeded two years. "My client's father was probably right when he told me: 'Felicia, you are the one who is being sentenced here'," she recalls.

In Aharam's case, as in similar cases, Langer appealed such sentences with a measure of success. Determined to defend her clients and often driven by the sheer will to survive, Langer bravely continued to fight her battles against the occupation -- until 1990, the third year of the Intifada.

During the Intifada the military court system had broken down completely, becoming a total travesty of justice, with hundreds of prisoners herded into daily sentencing sessions lacking even a minimal decorum. Said Langer: "They made justice into a farce and I refused to provide them with a stamp of legality... They still hadn't understood that nothing matters when a people fight for their freedom, which to them is dearer than life."

She goes on, "I was supposed to represent clients I had never met before, so I could not prepare myself to defend them. It came to the point where I was no longer physically able to walk into a courtroom and address the judge as 'your honour', I felt I just couldn't say the words anymore. As a gesture of protest I closed my Jerusalem law office and left the country."

Are things any different now? "Absolutely not," replies Langer vehemently. Her visit to Jerusalem has merely reinforced what she knew and felt already. "The time has come to tell the truth about the myth of the Israeli system of justice. Since 1993, Israeli forces have killed and injured hundreds of Palestinians, destroyed the homes of over 500 families, taken away the rights of over one thousand people to live in Jerusalem, arrested, imprisoned and tortured thousands of people, leaving other thousands homeless."

If anything, the rate at which Palestinian dispossession is proceeding has increased since the Oslo Accords. "The pace of settlement has actually spiraled since then," says Langer. "The Labour government headed by Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Yitzhak Rabin, provided three times as much financial support for the building of settlements in the Occupied Territories as the Likud coalition government had done in the past. Fortunately, Netanyahu's right-wing government has not been allowed to pursue its disastrous settlements activity in a quiet atmosphere of tacit consent. This time around, the policy of the bulldozer at Jebel Abu Ghneim and other places has been internationally condemned."

* Felicity Langer has been honoured with the Alternative Nobel Peace Prize for her political and human rights work. She is a long-standing member of the Israeli League for Human Rights and a prolific writer. She is the author of a number of books documenting Israeli human rights violations in Palestine -- among them: With My Own Eyes, Those Are My Brothers, Where Hate Knows No Boundaries, Bridge of Dreams, The Epoch of Stones and Rage and Hope, an autobiography.

* This story was published in Al Ahram Weekly 5 November 1998

This article was first published in Al-Ahram Weeklys special pages commemorating 50 years of Al-Nakba, the Palestinian catastrophe when Israel was created on 15 May 1948. These pages, published in 1998, were part of a year-long series of articles documenting the history and nature of the Arab-Israeli struggle, as well as that of Palestinian dispossession and exile

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France will continue to provide political, financial, humanitarian and military support to Ukraine for as long as necessary, both individually and through international cooperation within the EU, NATO, UN and other formats.

That's according to a joint declaration issued by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron during their meeting in Paris on May 14.

Following is the full text of the document published on the website of the Ukrainian president.

The Presidents of Ukraine and France reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of Russias ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. Ukraine has shown remarkable determination in exercising its inherent right to self-defense against this unprovoked and unjustified attack. Russia must immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. France and Ukraine call specifically on Russia to withdraw from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), of which the irresponsible seizure and militarization by Russian armed forces is causing a grave threat.

France remains unwavering in its commitment to Ukraines independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. France commends the determination and courage of the Ukrainian people and armed forces and acknowledges their significant contribution to the security of the European continent and beyond. France will continue its political, financial, humanitarian and military support to Ukraine for as long as it takes  individually and through international cooperation within the European Union, NATO, the United Nations and in other formats. By defending the security of the European continent, France, Ukraine and other partners are also safeguarding the rules-based international order.

The military support provided by France since the beginning of the war in order to allow Ukraine to defend itself continues, as new packages are being prepared, constantly taking into account the most urgent and immediate needs of Ukraine to strengthen its defense capabilities. France is aiming at providing full capacities in all areas. In the coming weeks, France will train and equip several battalions with tens of armored vehicles and light tanks including AMX-10RC. Besides, France is focusing its effort in supporting Ukraines air defense capacities in order to defend its population against Russian strikes. In addition to its national contribution, the French Republic is actively involved in the measures of the European Union and NATO in the military assistance to Ukraine and in the training of Ukrainian soldiers.

Beyond the military assistance, France has been providing Ukraine with civilian assistance, including financial, humanitarian and emergency support. In particular, France has sent to Ukraine two mobile DNA laboratories to strengthen Ukraine's capacity to prosecute war crimes. This assistance will continue to grow.

France supports Ukraines initiative for a just and sustainable peace based on Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Ukrainian Peace Formula includes a variety of important objectives, many of which France is already working on. France expresses its support to the Ukrainian Peace Formula and stands ready to cooperate with Ukraine to ensure as wide international participation as possible in a Global Peace Summit to be convened in the coming months on the basis of the Ukraine Peace Formula proposal and other possible good faith proposals.

Ukraine and France are determined to fight against impunity, and underline their firm commitment to bringing to justice those responsible for war crimes and other atrocity crimes committed in connection with Russias war of aggression against Ukraine. France is participating in ongoing international efforts, in cooperation with Ukraine, to ensure accountability through the establishment of an appropriate mechanism for prosecuting the crime of aggression. Broad international support is key in this regard, since it provides maximum international legitimacy while ensuring the prosecution of the political leadership. Therefore, while participating in the Core Group on achieving accountability for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, France encourages other countries to join and to build international support for the creation of an ad hoc tribunal. France welcomes the agreement on the new International Centre for Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (ICPA) in The Hague, and looks forward to its launch as soon as possible.

Ukraine and France reiterate their support for the investigations of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, which are a step towards accountability, and have taken note of the courts arrest warrants. France has provided additional support to the International Criminal Court in order to enhance its capacities in the framework of the war of Russia against Ukraine.

Ukraine and France agree on the need to increase collective pressure on Russia through further sanctions to weaken Russias ability to continue its illegal war of aggression. Furthermore, they agree on the need to strengthen efforts to ensure the effective implementation of sanctions and to prevent and counter circumvention in and by third countries.

Ukraine and France will continue to work together with others to develop mechanisms to provide compensation for losses, injuries and damages caused by the Russian aggression. To this end, the international register of damage, to be presented at the Reykjavik Summit of the Council of Europe on 16-17 May 2023, is an important milestone. Our efforts will continue to explore appropriate options for the financing of a compensation mechanism, including a sound legal basis for the use of frozen and immobilized Russian assets, to support Ukraines reconstruction and for the purposes of reparation.

Ukraine and France remain also determined to support countries suffering from the consequences of the Russian war, notably to reduce the consequences of the food crisis. In this regard, France emphasizes the importance of Ukraines consistent efforts to continue the Black Sea Grain Initiative and launch the Grain from Ukraine Humanitarian Program, aimed at enhancing global food security. Ukraine highly appreciates Frances support for the Grain from Ukraine Humanitarian Program and encourages further strengthening of the relevant support.

Ukraine welcomes the fact that France organized an international conference on December 13, which led to the establishment of the "Paris mechanism" for better coordination of emergency aid. France, together with international organizations and partners, is committed to participate in the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine after the war. Already now, it is important to lay the ground for an ambitious and long-term engagement that will create opportunities and enable the Ukrainian people to rebuild their country. Engaging all relevant partners, including private companies and internationally, with the aim of securing the financial support, investments and knowledge needed, is essential to ensure a prosperous future for Ukraine.

The future of Ukraine and its people lies within the European family. The European Union has already recognized the European perspective of Ukraine and granted Ukraine the status of candidate country. France strongly supports Ukraine in its reform efforts and in meeting before the end of 2023 the required conditions, looking forward to the European Commissions report, with a view to start accession negotiations. Ukraine and France call on the EU to continue supporting the country in all fields. Regarding military support, they welcome the recent agreements aiming at delivering more ammunition and missiles to Ukraine, notably through the expansion of the European industrial base. Furthermore, Ukraine has a key role to play within the newly founded European Political Community and will work towards the success of the Chisinau Summit, together with France and Moldova.

In the NATO framework, France continues to focus on the immediate support to Ukraine. France continues its strong support to bolster Ukraines capacity to defend itself, and recalls that Ukraine has the right to choose its own security arrangements. France fully supports the NATO-Ukraine Commission as a venue to further increase and expand the ongoing cooperation to help fulfil Ukraines path towards the Euro-Atlantic family, consistent with the Bucharest Declaration. Ukraine and France look forward to addressing these issues at the NATO Summit in Vilnius in July 2023.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine
Foreign Ministers Qin Gang of China and Peter Szijjarto of Hungary had an "in-depth exchange of views" on Ukraine.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said this in a statement, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

Qin said that China and Hungary are "good friends and good partners" and that the relationship between the two countries "has entered the best period in history."

"China is willing to continue to plan bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, maintain high-level exchanges with Hungary, deepen strategic mutual trust [...] and jointly respond to various risks and challenges," the top Chinese diplomat said.

He also expressed hope that the EU would establish "an objective and correct understanding of China" and continue to pursue a positive and pragmatic policy towards China.

Szijjarto, in turn, called China "a strategic cooperative partner and an important development opportunity." According to him, Hungary welcomes Chinese investment, opposes "decoupling and disconnection," and firmly supports the development of China-Central and Eastern European cooperation and EU-China relations.

Szijarto is on a visit to China where he plans to discuss a plan for a peaceful settlement to the situation in Ukraine.

Photo: fmprc.gov.cn
Hungary has blocked the payment of the eighth tranche from the European Peace Facility in the amount of EUR 500 million for weapons that EU member states send to Ukraine.

Thats according to ANSA, Ukrinform reports.

"Hungary, surprisingly, today blocked the payment of the eighth tranche of the European Peace Facility (EPF) for weapons intended for Ukraine," source told the agency.

The EUR 500 million tranche was set to be paid next Monday, May 22. But Budapest blocked the decision, allegedly demanding guarantees that the European Peace Facility will not be used in the future exclusively to help Ukraine.

As reported, on March 20, the European Council adopted a decision to accelerate the supply of ammunition to Ukraine and to increase the capabilities of the European defense industry. According to the decision, EU member states will supply Ukraine with 1 million artillery rounds, including 155 mm, over the next 12 months.

On May 5, the Council of the EU finally approved the allocation of EUR 1 billion within the European Peace Facility for the purchase of ammunition and missiles for Ukraine.
Are there lessons to be learned for the post-Oslo struggle from the Black liberation movement in the United States? Drawing on the work of two prominent Afro-American political theorists, Elaine C. Hagopian* argues that only a reunited Palestinian people with an inclusive democratic secular state vision and leaders who can transcend ethnicity will help the Palestinians break out of the straightjacket of the peace process

From Al-Ahram Weekly archives: Fifty years of dispossession 1948-1998*

There are two major traditions that have dominated African-American thinking on the issue of equality and justice for Blacks in the United States: one is the Black self-development position, and the other is the demand for immediate civil rights through integration. These two positions are usefully represented in their more modern refined versions in the works of Harold Cruse and Cornel West.

Cruse stresses the need to focus inward, in order to build up community strength. From that strength as a national group, it is then possible to confront society with the reality of injustice and challenge it to positive social change. This change would be based on the recognition that America is a plural society, not merely a society of individuals as the US Constitution would have it.

n his controversial book, The Crisis of the Negro Intellectual from Its Origins to the Present, Harold Cruse criticises Black intellectuals for their failure to develop a comprehensive Black strategy to bring about equality in American society. His critique focuses on four main points:

1. Blacks need to develop both a cultural sense of selfhood and a vision of society that could offer America something better than what it is and has been.

For Cruse, America is a nation defined essentially by racial/ethnic groups, both politically and socially. He does not suggest a political system based on group identity, with appointed or reserved elected positions, but rather constitutional guarantees of real equality for groups as communities, as well as individual civil and political rights.

2. The revolutionary transformation of America which Cruse felt Black cultural definition could inspire and lead, would require a comprehensive strategy combining economic resources and sustained political action. Parenthetically, it should be noted that Cruse admired Booker T. Washington's efforts to promote Black enterprise and economic success over the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People's (NAACP) drive for civil rights through integration. However, he criticised Washington's approach as one that worked within the American capitalist system as it was, rather than developing a Black, group-based economy that could support political action for the equality of all ethnic groups. Cruse decried the fact that Black leaders and intellectuals never brought the various cultural, economic and political components together into a comprehensive strategy. The relevance of this critique for the Palestinian movement cannot be underestimated, as we will see below.

3. The failure to develop a comprehensive Black strategy is explained in large part by the fact that Black intellectuals and leaders allowed themselves to be diverted from their course by white liberals and radicals, who advised them to seek individual civil rights through integration, i.e. the NAACP approach, or to merge with the labour movement to confront capitalism, i.e. the American communist party approach.

Funding for these efforts, from liberal or radical white sources, only reinforced their appeal for Black intellectuals. True, the NAACP liberal approach did bring gains for some individual Blacks, but the Black community as a whole remained in a condition of alienation, or what one Black sociologist has called "asset accumulation deficiency."

However, for Cruse, the NAACP approach failed to understand that just as it is possible to have independence without liberation, as Fanon pointed out long ago, so too, as is all too clear today, it is possible to have integration without real equality and justice. As I will note below, the Palestinians in Israel have, until recently, effectively adopted an NAACP approach, seeking equal rights through legal integration in Israeli society, and thus achieving neither integration nor equality.

Cruse also heaped criticism on the American communist party and a number of the white radicals who belonged to it for diverting the Black intelligentsia from focusing on their unique experience of slavery and post-slavery racism in American society.

They thus prevented them from developing a strategy relevant to their history, and based on Black needs, rather than on a class solidarity with labour. In fact, Blacks often met with racism from the left. The danger of well-intentioned friends -- liberals or radicals -- diverting the community from defining its own needs and strategies is also highly relevant to the Palestinians' predicament.

4. Black intellectuals also suffered from residual cultural differences among themselves. Thus, West Indian Blacks did not see eye to eye with American Blacks, who were themselves divided by the divergent experiences of Northerners and Southerners.

These differences conspired to obstruct the development of a common cultural vision that might have been able to confront American society head on with the fact of its racism. The gap between these communities still has not been bridged. This failure is relevant to the Palestinian struggle where differences have developed through the years of national defeat and through the division of the original community into three groups.

Unlike Cruse, Cornel West in his Race Matters advocates integration. But he is nevertheless critical of the liberal approach which proposes integration into the system as it is, and as the NAACP accepted. West wants the system reformed to guarantee social values respecting the rights of all in a multi-racial/ethnic democracy. He calls for a new moral leadership and moral framework for Blacks, founded on a mature Black identity, a coalition strategy and Black cultural democracy. He advocates Black perspectives that champion Black dignity and decency and which do not devalue any given group.

The quality and orientation of Black leadership and intellectuals are crucial in West's thinking. He identifies differing political and intellectual leadership styles as the major problem that Blacks have to solve, in order to assert their right to participate equally in a coalition with others in the anti-racist struggle. The three types of political leadership West identifies are: race/ethnic-effacing managerial leaders, race/ethnic-identifying protest leaders and race/ethnic-transcending prophetic leaders.

The race/ethnic-effacing manager is politically sophisticated, accommodating to the dominant white constituency, pragmatic, and as such, tends to neutralise progress and mute the prophetic voices in the black community by insisting that the mainstream is the only game in town.

The race/ethnic-identifying protester tends to confine him or herself to the black community, and serves as a power broker with nonblack elites.

The race/ethnic-transcending prophet is a rare figure in today's Black America. But it is only such leaders who will be capable of bringing into existence the new moral framework of which West speaks. The 1988 Jesse Jackson came close to being a race/ethnic-transcending prophetic leader, but as West observes, he was undone in the end by his past record of opportunism. This type of leader requires both integrity and political know-how, organisational skills allied with a moral vision and the ability to defy the pragmatism of the managers, the limitations of race/ethnic-identifying protester and to wait patiently for his moment.

The approaches taken by West and Cruse differ in emphasis more than in substance. Cruse wants Black intellectuals and leaders of quality to create the Black community first within the national and demographic context of America, and to have that cohesive community spur America as a whole towards a society based on group equality.

West, for his part, wants Black leaders and intellectuals to relate to the needs of Black street people, not use or misdirect them, and simultaneously reach out to other groups so as to promote a better life, not just for their constituency, but for all Americans. It is this reaching out towards a universal vision, grounded in a particular experience, which constitutes their common message. Nonetheless, Cruse calls for social revolution, i.e. radical transformation of American society, while West calls for social reform that will accumulate as radical change.

Can Cruse and West help us understand how the Palestinians have come to confine their struggle so completely within the terms dictated by Israel? Since 1948, the Palestinian leadership has taken Palestinians from a vision of liberating all of Palestine and restoring its Arab character, through the plan of a democratic secular state for Arabs and Jews, to the two-state solution, followed by negotiated Bantustans, and now, de facto residual enclaves.

Unable to liberate Palestine, no longer able to secure the necessary Arab support, unable to convert an international consensus on a two-state solution into real currency, and yet determined to be a player in any negotiations, Arafat has accepted Israel's terms across the board. Yet, regardless of this capitulation, he has continued to assure his exhausted people that a fully sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital will ultimately be the final outcome of Oslo.

Why has this been the case? Granted, the Palestinian struggle is set in a complex international political context, but there are still lessons to be learned from the American Black experience as we try to come to terms with the errors and setbacks of the last 50 years.

In particular, Cruse's formula for organising and bonding a community for political action, through a programme supported by a self-developed economic resource base, and a cultural vision of self and society which mobilises the community as well as being morally compelling for others, can help us to understand where the Palestinian movement went wrong.

To take the question of culture first, the PLO under Arafat was able to preserve the Palestinian sense of identity with the land. It even elaborated a set of Palestinian institutions which gave that identity a concrete form and located it on the international map. But it was a still-life identity, based on symbolic markers -- clothing, names, villages, slogans, and so forth. It held the people together, but it could not embody a vision beyond the abstract ideal of liberation and a residual status for Jews in Palestine in the original PLO covenant.

It was in this context that the notion of a democratic secular state for Arabs and Jews seemed to offer a viable model for the future. But this proposal tended to function as a slogan, rather than a well-developed and authentic social blueprint. Next came the two-state solution, which simply iterated two sovereign states living side by side in peace. Once again, there was no vision beyond the determination to salvage something of the homeland.

The diplomatic period, during which the two-state solution was in favour, saw the Palestinians at the peak of their international recognition. However, aside from one isolated 1978 article in Foreign Affairs by the distinguished Palestinian scholar Dr Walid Khalidi, defining the restrictions Palestinians would accept on their proposed state in order to satisfy Israeli and American concerns, there was no real public attempt to define the future Palestinian society except in general normative terms.

Then, finally, there was Oslo, which paid only lip-service to a mythical notion of a Palestinian state. Throughout all this protracted process of its own demise, not only was the Palestinian movement lacking in a clear contemporary cultural and ideological sense of self and society, but it had no concept of how to develop one, nor how to articulate it with the political and economic components of the movement -- a flaw which Cruse had diagnosed in the Black struggle in America.

In term of economic resources, aside from the financial aid received from Arab states, PLO investments in various areas of the world (which tended to be pocketed by individual leaders), and small businesses that developed in the refugee camps, the Palestinians had no reliable economic resource base to sustain their political action and support its people once the regimes withdrew their aid. Palestinian millionaires were able to provide some welfare help, and support small projects, but that was as far as it went. When the Arab states backed off, political action collapsed. Not only that, but the political action itself was already lacking in direction and vision.

Politically, as the American Blacks, whose intellectuals and leaders allowed their white liberal or radical friends to define their goals, Palestinians have also suffered willingly from the good intentions of others, both Arabs and non-Arabs, as well as from their own incompetent leadership. In so doing, their ideological development has been seriously stunted. This is not to recommend that they should cut themselves off from the rest of the world, but rather to suggest that they need to sift and analyse the implications of any suggestions they receive through the filter of a cohesive Palestinian programme.

Some would say that political realities forced the Palestinians into their present dilemma. However, the point being made here is that if they had had a cohesive cultural, political and economic strategy, their force as a destabilising factor for American and Israeli interests would have allowed them to persevere until a just solution was obtained. Without a cohesive strategy, they soon found themselves trapped within the terms laid down by their enemies.

Drawing on West's analysis of different leadership styles, it is clear that none of them as they stand accurately captures the character of the present Palestinian power elite. Nonetheless, Arafat and his colleagues started out rather like "ethnic-identifying protest leaders", insisting on self-reliance for liberation.

After merging with and taking charge of the PLO, they became more like ethnic-effacing managerial leaders in relation to the Arab regimes on whom they were dependent. From 1970 to 1974, when the PLO was promoting a single democratic secular state, they tried to claim the mantle of ethnic-transcending prophetic leaders. But their vision was little more than a slogan, and they were also heavily engaged in the "armed struggle", ineffective as it was. It was this slogan which should have been converted into a real political programme.

What Palestine needs are true, profound, uncompromised and inclusive-thinking ethnic-transcending leaders and intellectuals who can devise an international political strategy, supported by untainted community resources. Fortunately, there are a growing number of them to be found, of whom Edward Said has the longest and most consistent track record.

Given the failure and retreat of post-colonial Arab nationalism and socialism, and the irrelevance of Western liberalism, it was inevitable the Islamists would win some popularity not only among Palestinians, but elsewhere in the Arab/Muslim world. Their ideology is extremely narrow and exclusivist. However, not only has Hamas provided much-needed assistance to Palestinians in the territories, it has also begun to position itself as an alternative to the PLO and the PA. In this, it shows a number of similarities with the Black American movement, the Nation of Islam. Yet Hamas, like the PLO, lacks a cultural vision appropriate to the present and future. It may have an economic base to support its outreach in the community, but its "fundamental" ideology and its methods of emotional rage and violence do not off a real strategy for liberation.

The issue of the use of violence in resisting oppression has been debated by the American Black community in the past, which for the most part came out in favour of self-defence as the acceptable limit. The Zionists, for their part, have used violence abundantly, offensively and effectively to transform Palestine and to sustain that transformation. There was nothing moral about this, but it did form part of an effective and cohesive cultural/ideological, political and economic plan, which was widely understood as necessary for the establishment of a Jewish state. Today, however, violence which goes beyond self-defence is not a viable option in the Palestinian struggle to regain their national rights, nor should it be. Their best chance lies, as ever, with the forceful articulation of a persuasive, humane and inclusive vision for co-existence, as an alternative to the horrors and injustices of the present.

The Palestinians in Israel are the remnants of the population which was dispersed from the 78 per cent of Palestine conquered by the Zionists in 1948 and recognised internationally as the State of Israel thereafter. At that time, these displaced Palestinians numbered about 150,000. Today, they have grown to about 900,000, representing approximately 18 to 19 per cent of the Israeli population. A number of books have been written about the Palestinian citizens of Israel.

They clearly document the legal, cultural and social disparities which exist between Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs. Indeed, up to December 1966, the Palestinians lived under Israeli Military Government rule. In addition to being constantly reminded that they live in a Jewish state, surrounded by Jewish national symbols, Palestinians do not enjoy equality, whether in education, land ownership, political power or social privileges. These facts are well known. Meanwhile, two liberal Israeli social scientists, Sammy Smooha and Jacob Landau, in their study of the same issues, accentuate the possibility for improvements in Palestinian status in Israel, yet in the end always come back to the idea that, to paraphrase, "They have to realise that they live in a Jewish state."

While they have resisted the Israeli takeover of their land and country as fiercely as anyone, the Palestinian citizens of Israel have also over the years sought to secure equality through participation in the Israeli system. In a sense, they had an NAACP policy of integration. Of course, they did not succeed in this endeavour.



But even if they were to be integrated, legally, culturally (in terms, at least, of state symbols and educational curriculum content) and socially, they would not necessarily be equal, since they would still be limited by the conditions of disparity imposed on them earlier. Blacks in America are discovering this fact daily, and are seeking to regroup and organise to try and overcome it.

This portion of the Palestinian population finds itself between a rock and a hard place. The PLO could at least initially claim to represent them, but as it moved towards a two-state solution -- and even before -- it came to focus primarily on the Palestinians under occupation and in refugee camps. Today, even the latter category is excluded from active PLO concern. Hence, there are really three juridical categories of Palestinians: the citizens of Israel; the diaspora refugees; and those under occupation and living within the autonomous areas.

This separation defines the challenge. The future for the Palestinians must lie in the recreation of an integrated community, politically, economically, culturally and ideologically. The new Palestinian leadership must understand that the three Palestinian groups are now divided by cultural and class differences which have grown out of their differing experiences, just as Blacks in America continue to have problems thinking and acting as a community, due to the diversity of the experiences through which they have gone.



It has been observed that the Palestinians in Israel have absorbed many aspects of Israel's Western-oriented culture, while the Palestinian refugees, particularly those in Lebanon, have adopted some of the local norms, while also feeling increasingly embittered at the PLO and other Palestinians, who seem to have forgotten them and their plight.

As a result, Palestinians in Israel, in the diaspora and under occupation, presently experience at least some mild discomfort with each other. It will take a sensitive and well-informed leadership to bridge these gaps, and recreate a common Palestinian community based on a shared culture, an inclusive society, a reasonable economic resource base and a political strategy that can enable its members to assert their rights on an equal basis.

Only, however, if this is achieved, will the Palestinian people at last be able to press forward with the social revolution that is their true mission -- the radical transformation of life for both Palestinians and Israelis in the whole of Israel/Palestine.

* The writer is a Boston-based professor emerita of Sociology and former president of the Association of Arab-American University Graduates. The text above is the second installment of a two-part article, the first of which appeared last week. An expanded version of this article was presented to the Middle East Seminar, Harvard University, Sept 1997

* This article was published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 9 July 1998



This article was first published in Al-Ahram Weeklys special pages commemorating 50 years of Al-Nakba, the Palestinian catastrophe when Israel was created on 15 May 1948. These pages, published in 1998, were part of a year-long series of articles documenting the history and nature of the Arab-Israeli struggle, as well as that of Palestinian dispossession and exile.

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Edward Said, returning to Palestine for a BBC documentary to be shown in England to coincide with Israel's 50th anniversary, finds the once small, compact city -- Jerusalem -- in which he grew up overwhelmed by continuing, unrelenting Judaisation

From Al-Ahram Weekly archives: Fifty years of dispossession 1948-1998

I have just returned from two separate trips to Jerusalem and the West Bank where I have been making a film for the BBC to be shown in England on May 3, and then later in the month on the World Service. The occasion for my film is Israel's 50th anniversary which I am examining from a personal and obviously Palestinian point of view. For our shooting in Palestine we have had an excellent crew: an English director, a young Anglo-Indian woman (whose idea it was to approach me for the film in the first place),a Palestinian cameraman, and an Israeli sound man.

We concluded work on the film in New York a few days ago; all that remains is cutting, editing, and assembling the many hours of interviews, scenes from Palestinian life, etc. into a one-hour film. This is obviously the most difficult part of the job since we already have far too much material to be conveniently stuffed into a meagre 55 minutes. But so powerful for me was the experience of going around Palestine and recording what I saw that it seemed to me worthwhile here to reflect a little on the experience itself.

I should say also that director and crew were immensely cooperative and helpful; even the Israeli sound engineer, who is employed by the BBC in Jerusalem, found the actual business of talking to Palestinians and a few Israelis very rewarding and, given his conventional Zionist upbringing (he is a liberal, by no means a dogmatic Zionist), enlightening and a definitive challenge to long-held and unexamined views about Israel's history. "It is hard to be an Israeli again," he said at the end of the show.

Two completely contradictory impressions override all the others. First, that Palestine and Palestinians remain, despite Israel's concerted efforts from the beginning, either to get rid of them, or to circumscribe them so much as to make them ineffective.

In this, I am confident in saying, we have proved the utter folly of Israel's policy: there is no getting away from the fact that as an idea, a memory, and as an often buried or invisible reality, Palestine and its people have simply not disappeared. No matter the sustained and unbroken hostility of the Zionist establishment to anything that Palestine represents, the sheer fact of our existence has foiled, where it has not defeated, the Israeli effort to be rid of us completely.

The more Israel wraps itself in exclusivity and xenophobia towards the Arabs, the more it assists them in staying on, in fighting its injustices and cruel measures. This is specially true in the case of Israeli Palestinians, whose main representative in the Knesset is the remarkable Azmi Bishara: I interviewed him at length for the film and was impressed with the courage and intelligence of his stand, which is invigorating a new generation of young Palestinians, whom I also interviewed.

For them, as for an increasing number of Israelis (Professor Israel Shahak in the forefront) the real battle is for equality and rights of citizenship, given that Israel is explicitly a state for Jews and not for its non-Jewish citizens. Contrary to its expressed and implemented intention, therefore, Israel has strengthened the Palestinian presence, even among Israeli Jewish citizens who have simply lost patience with the unendingly shortsighted policy of trying to beat down and exclude Palestinians.

No matter where you turn, we are there, often only as humble, silent workers and compliant restaurant waiters, cooks, and the like, but often also as large numbers of people -- in Hebron, for example -- who continuously resist Israeli encroachments on their lives.

The second overriding impression is that minute by minute, hour by hour, day after day, we are losing more and more Palestinian land to the Israelis. There wasn't a road, or a bypassing highway, or a small village that we passed in our travel for three weeks that wasn't witness to the daily tragedy of land expropriated, fields bulldozed, trees, plants, and crops uprooted, houses destroyed, while the Palestinian owners stood by, helpless to do much to stop the onslaught, unassisted by Mr Arafat's Authority, uncared for by more fortunate Palestinians.

It is important not to underestimate the damage that is being done, the violence to our lives that will ensue, the distortions and misery that result. There is nothing quite like the feeling of sorrowful helplessness that one feels listening to a young man who has spent fifteen years working as an illegal day laborer in Israel in order to save up money to build a little house for his family, only to discover one day upon returning from work that the house has been reduced to a pile of rubble, flattened by an Israeli bulldozer with everything still inside the house.

When you ask why this was done -- the land, after all, was his -- you are told that there was no warning, only a paper given to him the next day by an Israeli soldier stating that he had built the structure without a license. Where in the world, except under Israeli authority, are people required to have a license (which is always denied them) before they can build on their own property? Jews can build, but never Palestinians. This is racist apartheid in its purest form.

I once stopped on the main road from Jerusalem to Hebron to record on film an Israeli bulldozer, surrounded and protected by soldiers, plowing through some fertile land just alongside the road. About a hundred meters away stood four Palestinian men, looking both miserable and angry. It was their land, I was told, which they had worked for generations, now being destroyed on the pretext that it was needed to widen an already wide road built for the settlements.

"Why do they need a road that will be 120 meters wide; why can't they let me go on farming my land?" asked one of them plaintively. "How am I going to feed my children?" I asked the men whether they received any warning that this was going to be done. No, they said, we just heard today and when we got here it was too late.

What about the Authority? I asked, has it helped? No of course not, was the answer. They're never here when we need them. I went over to the Israeli soldiers who at first refused to talk to me in the presence of cameras and microphones. But I kept insisting, and was lucky to find one who clearly seemed troubled by the whole business, even though he said he was merely following orders.

"But don't you see how unjust it is to take land from farmers who have no defense against you?" I said, to which he replied, "it's not their land really. It belongs to the state of Israel." I recall saying to him that sixty years ago the same arguments were made against Jews in Germany, and now here were Jews using it against their victims, the Palestinians. He moved away, unwilling to respond.

And so it is throughout the territories and Jerusalem, with Palestinians powerless to help each other. I gave a lecture at the University of Bethlehem in which I spoke about the continuous dispossession that was taking place, and wondered why those 50,000 security people employed by the Authority, plus the thousands more who sit behind desks, pushing paper from one side of their desks to the other, cashing handsome checks at the end of each month, why they were not out there on the land helping to prevent the expropriations, helping the people whose livelihood was being taken from them before their eyes?

Why, I asked, don't villagers go out to their fields and simply stand in front of the bulldozers, and why don't all our great leaders give support and moral help to the poor people who are losing the battle? One night I came back from filming all day and discovered that the hotel restaurant was sponsoring a Valentine's Day dinner at $38 (yes, $38) per person. I was told that since I didn't have a reservation I couldn't be served, but I insisted that as a guest in the hotel I was at least entitled to a sandwich or something equally simple.

I was shown a table in the corner and duly served a plate of rice and vegetables. A moment or two later I saw a Palestinian minister enter the room with seven guests, and sit at a prominent table weighted down with the seven-course Valentine's Day menu, plus wine, and drinks for all. I was so sickened by the sight of this large, fat, smiling man who spends so much time negotiating" with donor countries and with the Israelis, eating away happily while his people were losing their livelihood a few meters away, that I left the room in disgust and shame.

He had arrived in a gigantic Mercedes; his bodyguards and driver -- three of them -- were sitting in the hotel lobby eating bananas, while their great leader stuffed himself inside. This is one reason why wherever I went, whoever I talked to, whatever the question, there was never a good word for the Authority or its officer. It is perceived basically as guaranteeing security for Israel and its settlers, furnishing them with protection, not at all as a legitimate, or concerned, or helpful governmental body vis-a-vis its own people.

That at the same time so many of these leaders should think it appropriate to build gigantically ostentatious villas during a period of such widespread penury and misery fairly boggles the mind. If it is to be anything today, leadership for the Palestinian people must demonstrate service and sacrifice, precisely those two things so lacking in the Authority. What I found staggering is the absence of care, that is, the sense that each Palestinian is alone in his or her misery, with no one so much as concerned to offer food, blankets, or a kind word. Truly one feels that Palestinians are an orphaned people.

Jerusalem is overwhelming in its continuing, unrelenting Judaisation. The small, compact city in which I grew up over fifty years ago, has become an enormously spread-out metropolis, surrounded on the north, south, east and west by immense building projects that testify to Israeli power and its ability, unchecked, to change the character of Jerusalem.

Here too there is a manifest sense of Palestinian powerlessness, as if the battle is over and the future settled. Most people I spoke to said that after the tunnel episode of last September they no longer felt the need to demonstrate against Israeli practices, nor to expose themselves to more sacrifice.

"After all," one of them told me, "sixty of us were killed, and yet the tunnel remained open, and Arafat went to Washington, despite having said that he would not meet with Netanyahu unless the tunnel was closed. What is the point of struggling now?" It is not only the Palestinian leadership that has failed in Jerusalem: it is also the Arabs, the Islamic states, and Christianity itself, which bows before Israeli aggression. Few Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank (i.e. from cities like Ramallah, Hebron, Bethlehem, Jenine and Nablus) can enter Jerusalem, which is cordoned off by Israeli soldiers. Apartheid once again.

On the Israeli side the situation is not as bleak as one would have expected. I conducted a long interview with Professor Ilan Pappe of Haifa University. He is one of the new Israeli historians whose work on 1948 has challenged Zionist orthodoxy on the refugee problem, and on Ben Gurion's role in making the Palestinians leave.

In this, of course, the new historians have confirmed what Palestinian historians and witnesses have said all along -- that there was a deliberate military campaign to rid the country of as many Arabs as possible. But what Pappe also said is that he is very much in demand for lectures in high schools all over Israel, even though the latest textbook for classes on Israel's history simply make no mention of the Palestinians at all. This blindness coexisting with a new openness regarding the past, characterizes the present mood, but deserves our attention as a contradiction to be deepened and analysed further.

I spent a day filming in Hebron, which strikes me as embodying all the worst aspects of Oslo. A small handful of settlers, numbering no more than about 200 people, virtually control the heart of an Arab city whose population of over l00,000 is left on the margins, unable to visit the city center, constantly under threat from militants and soldiers alike. I visited the house of a Palestinian in the old Ottoman quarter.

He is now surrounded by settler bastions, including three new buildings that have gone up around him, plus three enormous water tanks that steal most of the city's water for the settlers, plus several rooftop nests of soldiers. He was very bitter about the Palestinian leadership's willingness to accept the town's partition on the entirely specious grounds that it had once contained 14 Jewish buildings dating back to Old Testament times but no longer in evidence.

"How did these Palestinian negotiators accept such a grotesque distortion of the reality," he asked me angrily, "especially given that at the time of the negotiations not one of them had ever set foot in Hebron when they negotiated the deal?" The day after I was in Hebron three young men were killed at the barricade by Israeli soldiers, and many more injured in the fighting that ensued. Hebron and Jerusalem are victories for Israeli extremism, not for coexistence, or for any sort of hopeful future.

Perhaps the most unexpected highpoint of experiences with Israelis was an interview I held with Daniel Barenboim, the brilliant conductor and pianist who was in Jerusalem for a recital at the same time I was there for the film. Born and raised in Argentina, Barenboim came to Israel in 1950 at the age of nine, lived there for about eight years, and has been conducting the Berlin State Opera and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra -- two of the world's greatest musical institutions -- for the last ten years.

I should also say that over the past few years he and I have become close personal friends. He was very open in our interview and regretted that 50 years of Israel should also be the occasion of 50 years of suffering for the Palestinian people; during our discussion he openly advocated a Palestinian state, and after his Jerusalem recital to a packed audience, he dedicated his first encore to the Palestinian woman -- present at the recital -- who had invited him to dinner the night before.

I was surprised that the entire audience of Israeli Jews (she and I were the only Palestinians present) received his views and the noble dedication with enthusiastic applause. Clearly a new constituency of conscience is beginning to emerge, partly as a result of Netanyahu's excesses, partly as a result of Palestinian resistance. What I found extremely heartening is that Barenboim, one of the world's greatest musicians, has offered his services as a pianist to Palestinian audiences, a gesture of reconciliation that is truly worth more than dozens of Oslo accords.

So I conclude these brief scenes from Palestinian life today. I regret not having spent time among refugees in Lebanon and Syria, and I also regret not having many hours of film at my disposal. But at this moment it seems important that we testify to the resilience and continued potency of the Palestinian cause, which clearly has influenced more people in Israel and elsewhere than we have hitherto supposed. Despite the gloom of the present moment, there are rays of hope indicating that the future may not be as bad as many of us have supposed.

* This article was published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 21 March 1998



This article was first published in Al-Ahram Weeklys special pages commemorating 50 years of Al-Nakba, the Palestinian catastrophe when Israel was created on 15 May 1948. These pages, published in 1998, were part of a year-long series of articles documenting the history and nature of the Arab-Israeli struggle, as well as that of Palestinian dispossession and exile.

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The Texas Senate has passed SB 18, authored by Senator Brandon Creighton. The bill would ban Read moreTexas Legislature advances plan to phase out academic tenure
Bobcat CaerusCrete team posing with award after winning NASA MINDS Grand Champion at the underclassmen level on May 5, 2022.

From left to right: Anthony Torres, Xijun (Jeff) Shi, Taylor Laramore, Rodolfo Hernandez, Robert McLean.
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Washington, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th May, 2023 ) :President Joe Biden's administration again warned Sunday of "catastrophic" consequences for the US economy if the country defaults, as negotiations with Republicans over a debt deal are expected to resume in the week ahead.

Alarm bells are ringing over the possibility of a first-ever US default, with uncertainty over the actual date the government would stop being able to pay its bills.

Congressional Republicans are demanding budget cuts in exchange for lifting the so-called debt ceiling, while the White House has insisted for months that the nation's credit should not be up for negotiation.

The two sides have remained at an impasse despite weeks of warnings from government officials and bankers that a default could unleash drastic consequences, including a possible recession and likely global financial contagion.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned a default could occur by June 1, while the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office forecast on Friday the date of June 15.

"We shouldn't be here," Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union." "If Congress failed to raise the debt limit by the time of default, we would go into a recession and it'd be catastrophic," he warned.

"The United States of America has never defaulted on it's debt -- and we can't." Biden has stated he wants a "clean" hike of the debt ceiling, but Republicans are insisting any extension of the country's borrowing authority, currently capped at $31.4 trillion, come with substantial curbs on spending.

"It's time to bring spending levels back to pre-Covid, and then we can talk about raising the debt ceiling," Byron Donalds, a Republican representative from Florida, told FOX news on Sunday.

"If Joe Biden brings nothing to the table, if all he does is sit there with his hands in his pockets... then he's the one leading our nation into default." Former president Donald Trump has encouraged Republican lawmakers to hold out for a default if Biden doesn't agree to "massive cuts." - 'Constructive' negotiations - A much-anticipated new round of debt-ceiling talks between Biden and Republican leaders, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, were postponed until the coming week.

Adeyemo acknowledged "constructive" negotiations were ongoing at the staff level, while pushing back on assertions that Biden does not want to address ballooning US debt.

"The president's laid out a plan that includes $3 trillion in debt relief over 10 years," Adeyemo said, referring to Biden's budget request unveiled in March, which featured tax increases on the wealthy and businesses.

Congressional leaders should address ways to hammer out a deal on fiscal policy, "but as we have that conversation, there is no reason we shouldn't raise the debt limit and prevent default in this country, a default that could lead to a massive recession that would cost us millions of jobs," he said.

Lael Brainard, director of the White House's National Economic Council, maintained that a deal would be reached.

"Our expectation is that Congress will do what is necessary" to avoid a default, Brainard, a former Federal Reserve vice chair, told CBS Sunday show "Face the Nation."Biden addressed the issue on Saturday in Delaware, where he talked briefly to reporters.

"They're moving along," he said of the talks. But while there was "real discussion," he added the two sides were "not there yet."
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Istanbul, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th May, 2023 ) :Turkey on Monday woke up to the prospect of its first presidential runoff vote after conservative President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confounded pollsters and his secular rival to win the first round of the country's pivotal election.

Pre-election opinion polls had suggested Erdogan risked a first national election defeat to his main challenger's disparate six-party alliance, in a vote seen as the most important in the Muslim-majority nation's post-Ottoman history.

But the 69-year-old defied expectations in Sunday's ballot and could extend his two-decade grip on power on May 28, after neither he nor Kemal Kilicdaroglu reached the 50-percent threshold for a first-round victory.

With almost all ballots counted on Monday morning, Erdogan led with 49.42 percent of the vote to Kilicdaroglu's 44.95 percent, according to official figures provided by state news agency Anadolu.

A nationalist third candidate, Sinan Ogan, emerged as the kingmaker after picking up five percent, but has yet to come out for either frontrunner.

Erdogan's Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its far-right allies were also close to an outright majority in Sunday's parliamentary elections.

The lira fell against the euro as traders digested with apprehension the increased likelihood of Erdogan's unconventional economic policies continuing.

The Borsa Istanbul index opened sharply in the red on Monday and was down by almost 4.5 percent at around 11:00 am (0800 GMT).

- 'It's going to be close' - The result was a crushing disappointment for Kilicdaroglu and his Republican People's Party (CHP) supporters.

An overcast dawn greeted Istanbul residents on Monday, a symbolic reflection of the opposition's gloomier outlook but opinions were divided as to the outcome of Turkey's unprecedented runoff.

"Erdogan is going to win. He's a real leader. The Turkish people trust him and he has a vision for Turkey," Hamdi Kurumahmut told AFP in Istanbul.

"Of course there are things that need to be improved, on the economy, education or the refugee policy. But we know he's the one who can sort all that out," added the 40-year-old tourism sector worker.

Betul Yilmaz, 26, wanted to keep the faith in a Kilicdaroglu victory if he sealed an alliance with Ogan. "But it's going to be close," the young woman said.

"If Kilicdaroglu wins... a beautiful time awaits us. I don't want to even think about a scenario in which Erdogan wins," Emin Serbest, 33, an employee of Istanbul's municipal authority, told AFP as the count continued.

Pro-government daily Sabah called Erdogan's unexpectedly strong performance a "superb success".

Kilicdaroglu, who has a history of defeats to pro-Erdogan candidates, only emerged as the opposition's candidate after a year of bitter debate between the alliance's disparate members, who span Turkey's cultural and religious divides.

The unwieldy coalition now faces a challenging task to regroup for the runoff, with Erdogan seemingly possessing the momentum.

"The president is likely to ride his strong approval rating, surprise win in parliament, and incumbency advantages to secure re-election," said Emre Peker of the Eurasia Group consultancy.

The strong performance of the AKP and its allies in the legislative ballot suggests "identity, terrorism and security issues played well with Erdogan's broader conservative base and helped the president make up for his economic shortcomings", he added.

Support from Kurdish voters for Kilicdaroglu's alliance means it is "unlikely" Ogan will back it, Peker noted.
Paris, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th May, 2023 ) :Billionaire businessman Elon Musk on Monday said he was considering "significant investments in France" as he visited the country for a summit aimed at attracting foreign business leaders.

The world's second richest man, who is the chief executive of electric car firm Tesla, social media company Twitter and cosmic exploration outfit SpaceX, made the comments after meeting President Emmanuel Macron and Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire.

"I'm very impressed with President Macron and the French government and how welcoming they are to industry," the 51-year-old South African said.

"I'm confident that in the future Tesla will be making significant investments in France." Le Maire said France would "continue discussions" with the businessman, but refused to share any further details.

Macron and Musk earlier met at the Elysee Palace before heading to Versailles for the latest edition of the president's Choose France conference where Macron seeks to drum up investment in the country.

"We talked about the attractiveness of France and the significant progress in the electric vehicle and energy sectors," Macron wrote on Twitter afterwards.

"We have so much to do together," he added.

Musk smiled and waved at reporters as the meeting got under way but made no comment.

Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told the BFMTV broadcaster that "negotiations are ongoing" with the magnate.

Le Maire gave no details of Monday's talks with Musk, saying simply that "all of today's investments are the fruit of months or even years of negotiations".
ISTANBUL, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th May, 2023 ) :Thailand's Move Forward Party (MFP) leader on Monday announced the formation of a coalition government with Pheu Thai Party (PTP).

Pita Limjaroenrat, 42, leader of the center-left MFP, said the two parties garnered support of at least 309 newly-elected lawmakers.

The MFP leader said he had spoken to PTP premier candidate Paetongtarn Shinawatra about forming the coalition, Khaosod English news website reported.

"Three small parties will also be part of the coalition of 308 MPs," Pita said, referring to Prachachat, Thai Sang Thai and Liberal Thai Party.

If the political coalition matures, Pita will become Thailand's 30th prime minister in July at a joint session of the Southeast nation's parliament.

A candidate requires support of 376 lawmakers to become prime minister.

A joint sitting of the 500-seat House of Representatives along with the 250-member Senate will pick the new prime minister.

The general elections held in the Southeast Asian nation on Sunday saw MFP leading with 115 Constituencies and 38 party list seats.

Pheu Thai Party was second, leading in 111 constituencies and 30 party list races.

Millions of people in the Southeast Asian country voted to elect a new 500-seat House of Representatives, the lower house of the parliament, for the next four years.

The voter turnout was recorded at about 39.5 million, or 75% of registered 52 million voters.
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Washington, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th May, 2023 ) :US border authorities have seen a 50 percent drop in "encounters" with undocumented migrants crossing the southern border since the country's Title 42 migration policy ended, the country's homeland security chief said Sunday.

"Over the past two days, the United States border patrol has experienced a 50 percent drop in the number of encounters, versus what we were experiencing earlier in the week," Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas told CNN talk show "State of the Union." "We are in Day Three," Mayorkas cautioned, adding "it is too early" to predict the rate of future crossings.

Title 42 allowed the United States to swiftly expel a wide array of migrants on public health grounds, but that authority ceased Thursday when the government ended its declaration of Covid-19 as an official public health emergency.

Mayorkas said approximately 6,300 people crossed Friday, with 4,200 crossing Saturday, numbers he described as "markedly down" compared to the 10,000 per day crossing earlier in the week.

Preparing for the end of Title 42, the administration of President Joe Biden had initially braced for a surge in border crossings, deploying troops to the border.

Later Sunday, Biden repeated Mayorkas's assessment that the number of border crossings had dropped.

The transition from Title 42 was going "much better than you all expected," he told reporters while out on a bike ride near his beach home in Rehoboth, Delaware.

But Biden cautioned there is "a lot more work to do" and reiterated a call for "some more help from the Congress." He added that he had no "near-term" plans to visit the southern US border.

"It would just be disruptive," he said.

Instead of Title 42, the United States has reverted back to an immigration law known as Title 8, as Biden's administration tries to create a system that allows for expanded asylum and legal routes in some cases.

It also provides for strict penalties for those crossing who do not qualify, including five-year bans on entering the country and possible criminal charges.

Representative Mark Green, the Republican chairman of the homeland security committee in the House of Representatives, disputed the administration's accounting of fewer border crossings since the policy change.

"This week has seen more crossings than any week in our history," Green told CNN, attributing that to a surge in people crossing the border ahead of Title 42's ending.
Sydney, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th May, 2023 ) :Australian mining company Newcrest said Monday it had agreed to a takeover by US rival Newmont, creating a world-leading gold producer in a deal worth Aus$28.8 billion (US$19 billion).

By swallowing up Newcrest, the US mining giant will cement its position as the world's biggest gold producer with operations extending across North and South America, Africa, Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Melbourne-based Newcrest's shareholders will receive 0.4 of the US firm's shares for each Newcrest share, giving them 31 percent of the combined group, the Australian firm said.

The takeover, expected to be completed by the end of 2023, has an implied value of Aus$28.8 billion, it said.

"The combined group will set a new benchmark in gold production while benefitting from a material and growing exposure to copper and a market leading position in safety and sustainability," Newcrest chairman Peter Tomsett said in a statement.

Newcrest had recommended the takeover offer "unanimously", he said, three months after its board rejected an earlier US$17 billion approach for not providing "sufficient value" to shareholders.

The takeover still needs approval from Newcrest shareholders at a meeting expected in September or October, and agreement from competition authorities in Australia, Canada and Papua New Guinea.

Newmont chief executive Tom Palmer said the combined group would have an industry-leading portfolio with a "multi-decade gold and copper production profile" in the world's most favourable mining jurisdictions.

"We have identified a number of opportunities to unlock substantial value and will apply our experience and expertise to Newcrest's complementary and exceptional portfolio of long-life, low-cost gold and copper assets," he said in a statement.

Denver-based Newmont said it expected to deliver US$500 million in annual synergies and to generate an estimated US$2 billion in cash flow as a result of the takeover.

"This transaction also increases Newmont's annual copper production -- a metal vital for the new energy economy -- and adds nearly 50 billion Pounds of copper reserves and resources from Newcrest to our robust and balanced portfolio," Palmer said.

Newcrest shares were trading 1.1 percent higher at Aus$28.56 in morning trade on the Australian stock exchange.

If the deal goes through, Newcrest will also pay its shareholders a tax-paid dividend of up to US$1.10 per share.
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Human rights violations have risen dramatically in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir since 2019 when the government of India revoked the special status of the region," warned a UN Independent Expert, one week before a G20 meeting to be held in Srinagar

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th May, 2023 ) :Human rights violations have risen dramatically in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir since 2019 when the government of India revoked the special status of the region," warned a UN Independent Expert, one week before a G20 meeting to be held in Srinagar.

"By holding a G20 meeting of the working group on tourism on 22-24 May," warned Fernand de Varennes, UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues, "the government of India is seeking to normalize what some have described as a military occupation by instrumentalising a G20 meeting and portraying it as an international "seal of approval", despite what Volker Trk, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, told the U.N. Human Rights Council a few weeks ago about "worrying human rights situation in the Kashmir region".

The Special Rapporteur issued a statement on Monday describing the massive rights violations including torture, extrajudicial killings, denial of political participation rights of Kashmiri Muslims and minorities, following the suspension of democratic rights and local elections due to direct rule from New Delhi on 6 August 2019.

"The situation there has - if anything - become much worse since myself and fellow UN independent experts transmitted a communication to the Government of India in 2021. We then expressed our grave concerns that the loss of political autonomy and the implementation of the new Domicile Rules and other legislation could alter the demographic composition of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir, may result in political disenfranchisement, and significantly reduce the degree of political participation and representation of the Kashmiri and other minorities previously exercised in the former state, undermining their linguistic, cultural and religious rights", he said.

"On all counts this seems to be occurring on the ground, in a repressive and sometimes brutal environment of suppression of even basic rights".

The Independent Expert noted that there have been reports of significant numbers of Hindus from outside the region moving into Kashmir. The dramatic demographic changes are underway in Jammu and Kashmir to overwhelm native Kashmiris in their own land.

According to de Varennes, the G20 is unwittingly providing a veneer of support to a facade of normalcy at a time when massive human rights violations, illegal and arbitrary arrests, political persecutions, restrictions and even suppression of free media and human rights defenders continue to escalate. "International human rights obligations and the UN Declaration of Human Rights should still be upheld by organisations such as the G20", he added, concluding that "the situation in Jammu and Kashmir should be decried and condemned, not pushed under the rug and ignored with the holding of this meeting".

Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures experts of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures Experts, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of theCouncil's independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
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WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th May, 2023) US President Joe Biden will start his visit to Japan with a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday, according to the White House schedule.

The G7 summit will take place in Japan's Hiroshima from May 19-21.

According to the White House schedule, Biden will arrive in Hiroshima on Thursday, May 18, and will hold a bilateral meeting with Kishida that day.

White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said on Friday that Biden was going to travel to Japan on Wednesday to participate in the Group of Seven (G7) leaders' summit.

Jean-Pierre said that Biden would meet with congressional leaders "early next week" to discuss the raising of the debt limit.

Biden told reporters in Delaware on Sunday that he expected to meet with congressional leaders on Tuesday.
VIENNA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th May, 2023) The Letzte Generation (Last Generation) environmental group said on Monday its activists had once again blocked traffic in the center of Vienna, pressing their call on the Austrian government to take urgent measures on environment protection.

"As the Federal government is still inactive and keeps ignoring the 93 demands of the Climate Council, the citizens have significantly expanded their protests. Dozens of desperate people have glued themselves to the road in order to make it impossible for this to go on," the group's press-service said.

In particular, the activists glued themselves to the roadways at Schwarzenbergplatz square and on four bridges  Nordbruecke, Floridsdorfer Bruecke, Reichsbruecke and Praterbruecke  in the Austrian capital.

The protesters urged the authorities to start with simple measures on environment protection, such as imposing a 100 kph (62 mph) speed limit on the highways and a ban on drilling new oil and gas wells.

The Letzte Generation group was founded in 2021 and has already become notorious after a series of high-profile actions, trying to draw attention to climate issues. In March, activists from the green movement poured paint and water over the building of the German Transport Ministry in Berlin, demanding more decisive climate action from the government.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th May, 2023) Former Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio has been appointed as the European Union's first special representative for the Gulf region, the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU said on Monday.

"Today, the Council appointed Luigi Di Maio as the first European Union Special Representative for the Gulf Region," the Swedish Presidency wrote on Twitter.

In late April, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in his letter to the EU Political and Security Committee that Di Maio has the necessary political profile at the international level for the role and that his extensive contacts with the Persian Gulf countries will allow him to interact with interested parties at the appropriate level, Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported.

Di Maio served as Italian foreign minister from 2019-2022. In June 2022, Di Maio announced that he had decided to leave the Five Star Movement party due to disagreements with the party's leadership over the Ukraine crisis.
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The German armed forces have signed a 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) contract with Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann to purchase 50 Puma infantry fighting vehicles, the two German defense manufacturers said on Monday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th May, 2023) The German armed forces have signed a 1 billion Euros ($1.1 billion) contract with Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann to purchase 50 Puma infantry fighting vehicles, the two German defense manufacturers said on Monday.

Last week, the budget committee of the German parliament approved the procurement of 50 German-made military vehicles, even though the equipment is known for frequent malfunctions and short lifespan.

"Germany's two top military vehicle makers, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall, have been awarded an order to build a further fifty Puma infantry fighting vehicles. Including value added tax, the total value of the order comes to 1.087 billion. Of this amount, 574 million will go to KMW and 501 million to Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH, both of which are serving as subcontractors in the project," Rheinmetall said in a statement.

Apart from Puma vehicles themselves, the contract encompasses spare part packages and special tool sets, with their delivery expected to begin in December 2025, according to the company.

In April, Rheinmetall announced that over 140 Puma infantry fighting vehicles would be modernized. Last year, then-German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said that more than half of the 350 Puma vehicles in the army were not ready for combat. In December, she warned that all further orders might be canceled after reports that all 18 contracted Puma vehicles that took part in military drills had malfunctioned.
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UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th May, 2023) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on Israel and Gaza to respect the Egypt-mediated ceasefire and avoid violence, UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

"The Secretary-General welcomes last night's ceasefire agreement in Israel and Gaza," Dujarric said on Sunday, adding that Guterres "commends Egypt's key role in bringing the hostilities to an end, alongside the efforts of Qatar, Lebanon and the United States to reach a ceasefire. He calls on all sides to observe the ceasefire."

The Secretary-General also extended his condolences to the families of the hostilities that "have led to needless human suffering."

Guterres reiterated UN commitment to achieving a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and stressed that lasting peace can only be achieved through political negotiations.

On Saturday, Egyptian media reported that the ceasefire mediated by Cairo would take effect at 10 p.

m. local time on Saturday (19:00 GMT). The Israeli Prime Minister's Office confirmed in a statement that the truce was coming into force and thanked Egypt for helping secure the ceasefire.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said late on Saturday night that they had struck targets in the Gaza Strip after the Egypt-mediated ceasefire came into force, in response to rocket fire from Gaza.

The Egypt-mediated ceasefire appeared to hold on Sunday, ending five straight days of violence that left 33 Palestinians dead, including women, children and Islamic Jihad militants. Rockets fired from Gaza killed at least one Israeli woman.

On Tuesday night, Israel launched the "Shield and Arrow" operation conducting airstrikes against Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants in the Gaza Strip. In response, militants of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad fired over 500 rockets at Israel, according to Israel Defense Forces.
ANKARA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th May, 2023) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, put forward by a six-party opposition alliance, currently has 45% of the votes in the presidential election, according to the tally from state-run TRT Haber broadcaster.

With 99.9% of the ballots counted, Erdogan has 49.34% of the votes, while Kilicdaroglu has 45%.

Earlier in the night, the head of Turkey's Supreme Election Council (YSK) Ahmet Yener said that Erdogan, who was nominated by the ruling Justice and Development Party and its coalition partner, the Nationalist Movement Party, had 49.

49% of the votes with 91.9% of the ballots processed. Kilicdaroglu had 44.79%.

Erdogan told his supporters in Ankara late on Sunday night that he still had hope of winning in the first round with over 50%. Erdogan said his rival was behind him by 2.6 million votes, while the ruling party's coalition was winning in the parliamentary election.

Presidential and parliamentary elections were held in Turkey on Sunday. If none of the candidates in the presidential race secures over 50% of the votes, the election will head into a runoff, scheduled for May 28.
Ukraine's state sovereignty is being transferred by the giant investment firm BlackRock, headquartered in the United States, under the guise of investments in economic projects, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzia said on Monday

UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th May, 2023) Ukraine's state sovereignty is being transferred by the giant investment firm BlackRock, headquartered in the United States, under the guise of investments in economic projects, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzia said on Monday.

"Under the cover involving private investments in economic projects, what is happening is transfer of state sovereignty under external control of a large investment fund (BlackRock) with headquarters in New York," Nebenzia said during a meeting of the UN Security Council.

The Russian ambassador explained that capital does flow into Ukraine but its distribution will be given to BlackRock.

The US company has also concluded an agreement to launch a Ukrainian Development Fund, Nebenzia said.

The World Bank estimated in March that Ukraine will need about $411 billion over the next ten years to recover from the conflict it is engaged in.

BlackRock is one of the world's leading providers of investment and risk management services and has more than $8.5 trillion of assets under management.
BRUSSELS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th May, 2023) The European Union will discuss the existing and future sanctions against Russia at the G7 summit scheduled to take place in Japan from May 19-21, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday.

"Then, in the G7, we will also discuss sanctions and we will, of course, take stock of the existing sanctions and the future measures. The (EU) commission has proposed the 11th package of sanctions, it is focused mainly on enforcement and anti-circumvention and this, of course, is as always very closely coordinated with other G7 (members) that are building also similar packages," von der Leyen said at a press conference ahead of the summit.

The EU has witnessed a sharp increase in EU trade with some countries in recent months, a discrepancy between the supply of goods from the EU in transit through Russia and their arrival in third countries, the commission head said. Therefore, the new sanctions will strengthen restrictions on the transit of dual-use goods to third countries through Russia, as well as restrict the export of such goods to certain third countries.

"Regarding third countries that buy directly in the European Union and then potentially deliver sanctioned goods to Russia, here too the discussion is basically a warning that we are serious about our sanction that we could ban these goods from going to that third country if there is clear evidence that this is a circumvention of sanctions and deliveries to Russia," von der Leyen said.

On May 8, the European Commission confirmed that the proposal on the 11th package of Russia sanctions had been sent out to EU member states. According to the commission head, it will enable EU member states to prohibit the export of a number of goods to third countries in case of suspicion of their participation in circumventing sanctions against Moscow.
Mexican American to Graduate USM with the Highest Honors

Mon, 05/15/2023 - 09:33am | By: Ivonne Kawas Prado

Meet Cheyla Munoz Ramos, a Mexican American student who served as the Presidential Standard Bearer at The University of Southern Mississippis (USM) Spring 2023 Commencement. Standard bearer is considered the highest honor bestowed upon a student during Commencement, as the selection is based on academic achievement, leadership, and campus involvement. Ramos finished with the highest grade point average of all USM graduation candidates.

Munoz graduated with a double major in International Studies and French through USMs Honors College. Originally born in Minnesota to Mexican American parents, she spent most of her childhood and high school years in Veracruz, Mexico. She moved to the U.S. about seven years ago to attend high school in Pelahatchie, Miss.

Why did she choose Southern Miss? Ramos states that she did not know much about the college application process, and she applied to many schools. She attended welcome events held by the USM Honors College and, ultimately, Freshman Orientation, which helped her decide. As a result of memorable interactions during her campus visits, she decided to attend USM.

The fact that people in the Honors College knew my name made me feel welcomed, said Ramos. I remember it quite well, Serena Buckley, my advisor at the time, Dr. Matthew Casey, and Emily Gruzinskas all knew my name and remembered me, which was why I chose to come here. Carlee Causey and Madame Keltoum Rowland also gave me a sense of belonging since the beginning of my time at USM.

Ramos chose to study International Studies because it intrigued her to learn more about the world as she took classes in different fields, such as religion, anthropology, history, English, geography, and more.

After moving to the U.S. I had to learn English, which sparked my interest in learning other foreign languages. I started my college career by taking a French class, but I added French as a double major after studying abroad during my freshman year, said Ramos. Studying what I did was a great decision, and I will be forever thankful with my younger self for deciding on this pathway.

While at USM, she studied abroad in France in USMs Chateau program in Strasbourg. Now, she is fully tri-lingual.

Ramos has left Southern Miss better than she found it. As a Ronald E. McNair Scholar, she has been heavily involved on campus. She has served as the Vice-President of the LAssociation Francaise, as a Peer Advisor for the Office of Study Abroad, and a Spanish and French Tutor in the Language Hub.

From studying abroad to working in the Language Hub and being able to participate in L'AF (the French Club), I feel accomplished and thankful for all the growth opportunities Ive had here at USM. I am not someone with a school spirit, but I could talk about all the fantastic opportunities and wonderful people I have met at USM for hours, said Ramos.

These four years have been some of the most formative years of my life, she noted. USM has provided me with countless memorable experiences. Most of my professors have been incredibly supportive, and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to study in their classrooms.

Learn more about the programs housed in the School of Social Science and Global Studies.
From Al-Ahram Weekly archives: Fifty years of dispossession 1948-1998*

This book was written and published in 1949, immediately after the first Arab-Israeli war was over. The author, Kamel El-Sherif, who fought in the war among the ranks of the volunteers sent by the Society of the Muslim Brothers, narrates with facts and often opinionated details, the experience of the organisation he belonged to in the war.

The book itself is dedicated to the memory of "the martyred Imam Hassan El-Banna", the Brotherhood's founder and leader, who was assassinated in Cairo in February 1994. The preface points that this is the second edition which succeeded in making it to the bookshops after the 1952 revolution. It attributes the "defeat" in Palestine to the existence of corrupt regimes in the Arab world, such as the Monarchical regime in Egypt which had just been thrown over and replaced by a republican regime.

The leaders of the nascent republic were no other than the Egyptian officers who were besieged by the Jewish forces in Falouga. The book boasts how both the Brotherhood and men like future president Gamal Abdel-Nasser fought back in 1948.

As obvious from the name of the book, this 265-long narrative of the 1947-48 era in Palestine is presented through the lens of the Muslim Brotherhood on the warring front. Naturally, it views the entire war from a religious perspective. The Arabs here are generally referred to as "the Muslims" who were defeated by "the Jews". And what the Brotherhood did was "Jihad""- holy war.

But besides the bitter tone apparent in the introduction which blames the Arab regimes for the defeat, The Muslim Brothers in the Palestine War offers a rare detailed account of the battles by an insider who led the force of Egyptian irregulars on the southern front.

However, this tone which is very pronounced in the introduction, as well as while narrating the many Arab shortcomings and defeats which occurred during the war, offers the reader a passionate sense of reliving the whole experience again.

"What did the Arab Governments do to combat that growing danger? Every Jewish aggression and daring step towards expanding and laying down the foundations of the Jewish state, was met, from our side, with protestation to the UN. Some protests were strong, others were mild depending on the degree of the Jewish aggression each time," the author writes with anger at the incompetence of the Arabs in dealing with the Zionist threat.

The first three chapters of the book provide historical background of the Palestine question since the Ottoman rule and monitors the "different attempts" by the Jews to purchase Palestinian land. It also tackles the role played by the British mandate, to establish a "national home" for the Jews. The following chapter uncovers how the British "deceived" and "anaesthetised" the Arabs by "undermining" the importance of establishing this national home.

The mandate, for example, appointed a Jewish-dominated or anti-Arab administration in Palestine. It also opened the door for immigration, ultimately raising the number of Jews from 50,000 in 1916 to half a million in 1940. "Despite this huge number, they continued to smuggle in hundreds of thousands of Jews who were living in different European countries" writes El-Sherif.

The book is not devoid though from a sympathetic tone with the "wretched and miserable Jews who tasted the bitterness of deprivation in the Nazi camps." El-Sherif points out, however, that oddly enough, those were not the immigrants who poured on Palestine following the holocaust. Those who came were "strong powerful men brought in for political reasons."

The "story" of the Society of Moslem Brothers in Palestine begins in chapter four, "on November 1947" and following the UN partition resolution. At that time, the Jews, it points, were well prepared, as they had been preparing themselves "in silence" for a long time. Owning colonies on parts of the land that no Arab could enter helped them enhance their military armament and equipment. "It was known that the Jews had several military organisations in Palestine and some East European countries which amounted to more than 80,000 soldiers - formed to perform guerrilla war to combat Arab attacks".

El-Sherif cites the example of the Haganah Zionist militia, "in a process of formation since the Ottoman rule in Palestine, which grew from being a mere nightguards and developed under the auspices of the British till it became a comprehensive, properly equipped well trained army."

The Palestinians on the other hand were in a state of war with Zionism and Britain ever since the announcement of the Balfour declaration in 1917, were unable to organise themselves similarly. This in great part is due to the fact that while the world's Jewry were supporting their "brothers" in Palestine by providing them with arms, weapons, ammunition and military equipment, the Arab Palestinian people were left to fight the stratagem of the Jews and the occupation alone. "This is why when the fighting started, the two opposite forces were incompatible" he states.

It is not until chapter five that the book directly recounts the Brotherhood's experience in Palestine. It begins first by asserting that the group did not take action as a result of the UN partition decisions. "The brotherhood as an International Islamic Institution has always placed the defence of the Islamic cause on top of its agenda... and Palestine was their top priority".

The Society of Muslim Brothers was active in Palestine much earlier than 1947, El-Sherif claims. They sent the Palestinians all the weapons and money they had and during the 1936 revolution, many members of the Society succeeded in getting into Palestine and joined forces with the Palestinians, especially in the North were they worked with the "great Arab Mujahed, Sheikh Ezzedein El-Qassam".

After WW2, says the book, the Brotherhood worked more seriously for the cause. They sent delegations of preachers and young men who urged the Arabs to fight with the Palestinians and to train their youth secretly. This role triggered the anger of the Jews who, in return, launched a counter campaign by publishing lengthy articles in the European and American press attacking the Brotherhood and exposing the threat they posed to British and American interests.

Whether this claim is accurate or not, an interesting translation of a Sunday Mirror article (which the book says appeared early '48) published on pages 43-45 provides a rare document of Jewish lobbying that goes back 50 years. The article bylined by a Roth Karif, attacks and criticised the Brotherhood at length. The Sunday Mirror article, cited in the book, ends by saying: "If the world does not recognise the threat posed (by the brotherhood) now Europe will witness again what it had witness a decade ago, as it may find itself confronted by an Islamic Fascist empire extending from North Africa to Pakistan, and from Turkey to the Indian Ocean."

It was not easy for the Brotherhood to get into Palestine. In chapter 6, El-Sherif recounts how he tried entering in November '47 "but found great difficulty... and I was forced to return back more than once, until I had to walk, on foot, for long distances. And I moved cautiously till I reached Jaffa" were he joined other brothers, but was arrested by British officers.

When arrested by the Jewish gangs "members of the Brotherhood were treated as war criminals and not like prisoners of war... so they were killed and their bodies mutilated. I saw with my own eyes how the Jews arrested and threw martyr Mokhtar Mansour into an armoured vehicle. I was told later on by eye witnesses that the Jews simply shot to kill him.. they recognised him by his beard and identity card and they simply killed him."

The British, the book says, collaborated actively with the Jewish gangs. Kamel recounts how he saw a large number of British officers training young men and women of the Haganah near Jerusalem. Ironically, the real trouble began after the British mandated ended on May 14.

"The British continued to move the war policy from behind the scenes... the Brotherhood asked the [Egyptian] Noqrashi Government to allow them to send a league of mujahedeen to remain in the Northern part of Al Naqab desert, but they were turned down and the government insisted on preventing them from getting there". So the Brotherhood decided to make another appeal, under the umbrella of 'a scientific expedition' to Sinai. They got an approval and "secretly smuggled themselves into Palestine in February 1948." Fighting then took place between the Brotherhood and the Jews in El-Naqab desert.

Throughout the book, Kamel recounts tales of the Brotherhood's chivalry. Similarly, he stresses how this was repeatedly thwarted by the inefficiency and disorganisation of the Arab army on one hand, and over-powered by the British and US-backed Jewish gangs.

For example, the book explains how the first truce announced on June 11, 1948, and accepted by the Arab countries, helped the Jewish gangs occupy more land and claim more weapons. "Most of the dangerous zones that the Jews could not occupy before, were easy targets during the truce. The same old justification of the UN and the Israeli government was that these perpetrators are nothing more than disordered extremist gangs.. The Arab countries believed that claim, and proudly refused to engage in guerrilla warfare."

Although it does not offer unusual information on 1948, The Muslim Brotherhood in the Palestine War derives its importance from the mere fact that it is one of the very few works that accurately monitor the details of that period. It also presents rich material (which remain the personal impression of the author) and zooms up to numerous key figures of the war such as Ahmed Abdel Aziz, the leader of the Egyptian guerrillas, General Ahmad Al-Mawawi and General Mustapha Sadek, the two Commanders of the Egyptian army in Palestine respectively, as well as many of the Arab leaders of the resistance movement such as Abdel-Qader El-Husseini and Fawzi Al-Qawuqji.

* This article was published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 12 March 1998



This article was first published in Al-Ahram Weeklys special pages commemorating 50 years of Al-Nakba, the Palestinian catastrophe when Israel was created on 15 May 1948. These pages, published in 1998, were part of a year-long series of articles documenting the history and nature of the Arab-Israeli struggle, as well as that of Palestinian dispossession and exile.

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UTSA and our community will benefit greatly from the Mellon Foundations generous gift in support of our great students and our steadfast community-engaged research efforts, said COLFA Dean Glenn Martinez. This project will enhance our students academic experience by providing hands-on learning and research opportunities that advance environmental equity, while meaningfully engaging with impacted communities and ecosystems.

Community-Based Research in Environmental Justice: The Urban Bird Project will be co-taught by Principal Investigator (PI) Kenneth Walker (associate professor of English), and Co-PIs Claudia Garcia-Louis (Lutcher Brown associate professor of educational leadership and policy studies), Amelia King-Kostelac (assistant professor of practice in integrative biology), Lilliana Patricia Saldana (associate professor of Mexican American Studies), and Jennifer Smith (assistant professor of integrative biology).

The project seeks to tell new stories about our human relationships to birds and other animals so we can affirm our deep interdependence with ecological systems and foster care and protection at a moment when half of the bird species across the world are in decline, said Walker.

The course will feature field trips that center the ecological teachings of community experts and guest speakers to tell a more complete and decolonial story about land, place and identity across the South Texas Border Region and the Americas. Students will be linked to communities often neglected by universities and will be trained in community-engaged research to tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges like species extinctions, preserving Indigenous knowledges and practices and climate change.

This challenge is informed by ecological sciences, but care and protection for our planetary kin also needs to be informed by engaged practices with the humanities and social sciences to grapple with the many human dimensions of this problem. These issues are too important to be addressed by one discipline alone, said King-Kostelac.

One of the UBP research projects will focus on assessing microplastic pollution as an environmental justice issue through avian ecology and community-engaged research. The project aims to investigate microplastic exposure of common backyard birds and the potential effects on avian fitness by monitoring nest boxes both on campus and in the broader San Antonio community. This research empowers community members to address issues of environmental justice in their neighborhoods while also increasing knowledge about an environmental contaminant of pressing concern.

Another university-community project will highlight the cultural knowledge of birds in local borderland communities, with students working directly with Indigenous and Mexican American groups in South Texas and Mexico to create an urban bird restor(y)ation digital repository that will archive the avian stories, knowledges and practices that borderlands people have maintained for generations.
It was just before she began the sixth grade that Perez started volunteering, and it was then that her desire to work with the youth blossomed. Born in San Antonio, she grew up in Dallas and volunteered in vacation bible schools as a group leader while her sister participated in activities.

At first, it was a way to fill her summer days while their parents worked. Then, volunteering stirred up an enthusiasm in her for working directly with young students, especially other children of immigrants.

Its just a passion I found for myself, Perez said. I love working with kids. Ive gotten a lot of happiness out of volunteering and just feel really good about working with students and have them see someone who looks like them working in the nonprofit field.

She volunteered for vacation bible schools until the summer after her senior year in high school, as well as for local food banks, and her service continued at UTSA. She spent two summers as a volunteer with AmeriCorps, which teamed up with the Dallas nonprofit Heart House, an educational organization that serves immigrant and refugee children.

Throughout her time at UTSA, Perez served on the executive board of VOICES, a university volunteer organization, was an active member of the Filipino Student Association and recently represented UTSA through the Archer Fellowship Program in Washington D.C., where she did two internships and completed classes that taught her about policy.

As a student engagement intern with the Save the Children Action Network in Washington she interacted with high-school and college-level student organizations. With the International Rescue Committee, she helped manage and organize youth mentorship and afterschool programs as their youth development intern.

The take away from my experience in Washington, is that I love the direct service of the nonprofit side, she said. Thats definitely where I see myself going to in the future. I want to continue working with more students, more youth, especially focusing on education and helping to develop them as leaders of tomorrow.
UW and Wyoming SBDC Network to Host HUBZone Workshop in Rock Springs May 22

Small-business owners can learn how to obtain federal contract dollars through becoming HUBZone-certified companies Monday, May 22.

Janean Forsyth and Deb Farris will present a Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network workshop titled HUBZone Opportunity Workshop: Sweetwater County from 5:30-7 p.m. at White Mountain Library, located at 2935 Sweetwater Drive in Rock Springs. 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 (SBA).

The HUBZone program fuels small-business growth in historically underutilized business zones with a goal of awarding at least 3 percent of federal contract dollars to HUBZone-certified companies each year. The government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses in historically underutilized business zones. It also provides preferential consideration to those businesses in full and open competition.

Before a business can participate in the HUBZone program, it must be certified by the U.S. SBA.

Joining the HUBZone program makes businesses eligible to compete for the programs set-aside contracts. HUBZone-certified businesses also get a 10 percent price evaluation preference in full and open contract competitions. For more information on the HUBZone program, go here.

Forsyth is the Wyoming APEX Accelerator program manager, and Farris is deputy district director of the U.S. SBA for the Wyoming district office.

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.
EU Regulations to Combat Deforestation and Impact on Vietnam

The implementation of new EU regulations aimed at combating deforestation could have a significant impact on Vietnams agricultural exports to Europe. However, the implications can be viewed from both positive and negative perspectives. Lets delve into the potential outcomes.

On April 19, the European Parliament passed a historic law aimed at preventing deforestation and degradation. The newly passed regulations dictate that companies exporting goods to the EU must provide a due diligence statement and verifiable assurances affirming that their products have not originated from deforested land after December 31, 2020.

This is another in a series of laws passed in crucial export markets that hold the potential to impact Vietnams primary exports. Alongside the forthcoming global minimum tax and carbon border adjustment mechanisms, the EU Deforestation-free regulations also have implications for Vietnamese exporters. These implications can be viewed as both positive and negative.

On the one hand, firms may encounter challenges in implementing measures to meet these new requirements. However, on the other hand, this situation could foster increased competitiveness and further efforts to curtail deforestation and degradation in Vietnam.

Affected goods under the EU regulations to combat deforestation and environmental degradation

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The legislation is expected to enter into force in mid-2023. Large enterprises will have 18 months to ensure compliance with the regulations, while smaller firms may be granted an extension of up to 24 months. Furthermore, within 18 months of the regulations coming into force, the EU Commission (EC) will classify countries into three categories based on risk levels: low risk, standard risk, and high risk. This classification will determine the extent of evaluation that an enterprise will undergo.

How the regulations will be implemented

The EUs deforestation-limiting regulations mandate that exporters must provide a due diligence statement as evidence that their products have not contributed to deforestation or forest degradation after December 31, 2020. European authorities will carefully examine the evidence submitted by companies, including location coordinates, to ensure compliance with the new regulations.

Companies attempting to circumvent the evaluation process may face legal repercussions, including fines and export bans. The regulations also empower the public and civil society organizations to report concerns to enforcement agencies in EU member states if they suspect a company has violated the rules. Non-compliant organizations may be subject to penalties of up to four percent of their annual revenues within an EU member state, and their offending products may be removed from the EU market.

To meet the EUs requirements, Vietnamese companies will need to invest more effort in tracking and tracing the origins of their export goods. Even if a companys manufacturing process meets international quality standards, it will still be evaluated based on the origin of its raw materials. This necessitates financial investments in implementing advanced technological measures, which may pose a burden for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Furthermore, the EU Parliament has emphasized that companies must also verify compliance with relevant legislation in the country where the goods are produced, including laws pertaining to human rights and the rights of indigenous peoples. This requirement may pose a challenge for Vietnamese agriculture, as the sector has been associated with relatively high rates of child labor utilization.

Advantages of higher environmental compliance thresholds

In the past year, Vietnam has made gradual progress in building a legal framework and strengthening international collaboration to address deforestation. Consequently, Vietnamese enterprises are better positioned to navigate challenges posed by new regulations in foreign markets, including the EU, potentially giving them a competitive advantage.

As a result, Vietnam is not in a significant danger of deforestation thanks to forest protection policies, according to Rui Ludovino, First Counselor for Policies on Climate, Environment, Employment and Social Affairs Delegation of the European Union (EC) in Vietnam.

Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (VPA/FLEGT)

FIND BUSINESS SUPPORT Identify the Optimal Investment Destination with Cross Country Competitiveness Benchmarking 

To support this effort, the Government of Vietnam has issued Decree No. 102/2020/ND-CP outlining a legal timber guarantee system in Vietnam. The Decree provides detailed instructions for businesses to harvest, transport, trade, and process wood in accordance with regulations on the management and traceability of forest products.

The VPA/FLEGT Agreement is designed to help Vietnam simultaneously tackle illegal logging, improve regulations in the wood industry, increase accountability among wood trading businesses, and provide export opportunities for Vietnamese wood products in the EU. Moreover, this agreement can serve as a model for other industries, including rubber and coffee, to learn from, ultimately leading to broader environmental safeguards.

Glasgow Leaders Declaration on Forests and Land Use

Vietnam is an engaged member of the global community in forest conservation and development. Along with 140 countries, Vietnam joined the Glasgow Leaders Declaration on Forests and Land Use at the COP26 conference. This commitment aims to prevent and reverse deforestation by 2030.

Forest Law on prohibiting deforestation

Vietnams anti-deforestation policies and rules prioritize the protection of existing forest areas, replanting in lost forest areas, planting new forests, and banning the trade of illegal wood products.

According to the Vietnam Forestry Law, destroying forest resources, forest ecosystems, or forest protection and development works is strictly prohibited. The act of illegally clearing forested areas can be administratively sanctioned (as defined in Article 20 of Decree 35/2019/ND-CP) or examined for penal liability depending on the seriousness of the violation (stipulated in Clause 63, Article 1 of the Criminal Law 2017).

These regulations have helped to prevent deforestation in order to produce export goods, according to Ngo Si Hoai, the Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association.

How businesses can prepare for the EU regulations combating deforestation

There are a number of steps foreign firms can take to prepare for the new EU regulations to limit deforestation.

Firms should ensure they have a clear understanding of the regulations, regulated product lists, and the implementation timelines of the legislation in order to respond proactively.

Businesses need to have a tracking system in place to ensure that agricultural products produced in their supply chains are not linked to deforestation or ecosystem degradation.

Businesses should invest resources in developing new technologies that meet the standards of the deforestation-limiting regulations. At the same time, they should also engage with farmers and encourage them to adopt sustainable practices and standards.

Key takeaways

The new EU regulations on trade of deforestation-free products have generated various challenges for firms in Vietnam. Notably, firms must take steps to control the source of raw materials, ensuring that goods are not grown on deforested land.

That said, Vietnam may have a competitive edge over other nations in fulfilling the requirements set out by the EU. This is due to pre-emptive efforts to improve the legislative framework, as well as establishing international collaboration aimed at eliminating deforestation and promoting the development of sustainable forests.

Foreign firms in Vietnam that need assistance developing their supply chains and understanding import and export rules and regulations should contact the business advisory team at Dezan Shira and Associates.
The Philadelphia Inquirer is experiencing the largest disruption to its operations in 27 years due to what the daily newspaper called a cyberattack that was first detected Saturday morning.

The attack has prompted Pennsylvanias largest news organization to close its office through at least Tuesday, meaning Inquirer reporters will be unable to use their newsroom on Tuesday night to cover the citys Democratic primary for the citys 100th mayoral election.

This incident has caused the greatest publication disruption to the paper since a massive blizzard in January 1996, the paper reported.

The newspaper is working to restore print operations after the apparent cyberattack prevented it from printing its Sunday edition.

The Inquirers website was still operational on Sunday, but the paper reported that updates were slower than normal. Online publication has not been interrupted.

The attack was first detected when employees on Saturday morning found the newspapers content management system was not working.

The Inquirer discovered anomalous activity on select computer systems and immediately took those systems off-line, the papers publisher, Lisa Hughes, said in a statement on Saturday.

She said the outlet was first alerted to the anomalous activity on Thursday, May 11, by Cynet, a vendor that manages our network security.

This is far from the first time a news outlet has faced a cyberattack. Last December, The Guardian suffered a ransomware attack that forced the British daily newspaper to take certain IT systems offline for weeks.

Hughes said Sunday, We are currently unable to provide an exact time line for full restoration of the papers systems.

We appreciate everyones patience and understanding as we work to fully restore systems and complete this investigation as soon as possible, Hughes said in an email responding to questions from the papers newsroom.

Hughes said the operational disruption will not affect coverage of the upcoming election and that the company was looking into co-working arrangements for Tuesday.

The newspaper has hired the risk advisory firm Kroll to restore systems and investigate the incident.

The company has also contacted the FBI about the incident.

A spokesperson for the FBIs Philadelphia office told the Inquirer it was aware of the incident and declined to comment as a matter of standard practice. She said that when the FBI learns about potential cyberattacks, its customary that we offer our assistance in these matters.
Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko on Monday said forces had been put on high alert, adding that four aircraft had reportedly been shot out of the sky in southern Russia.

Lukashenko, 68, visited the ex-Soviet country's air force central command, reappearing in public after nearly a weeklong absence following reports alleging ill-health.

He wore a military uniform, looked grim and had a bandage on his hand.

Lukashenko said Belarus put forces on alert for three days following the incident in a southern Russian region on the border with Ukraine.

"Three days have passed after the events near us, I mean in the region of Bryansk where four aircraft were shot down," Lukashenko said without providing further details.

"We had to react," he said.

While the Russian defense ministry did not comment, Alexander Bogomaz, the governor of the Bryansk region, said a helicopter crashed in the town of Klintsy.

On Saturday, footage of several Russian aircraft crashing in the region of Bryansk circulated on Russian social media. One video showed a helicopter apparently being hit and catching fire.

In a conflicting statement, Vladimir Rogov, a Moscow-installed official in the Russian-controlled part of Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine, said that four Russian aircraft had been shot out of the sky: two MI-8 helicopters, an SU-35 fighter jet and an SU-34 fighter bomber.

Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, had last been seen Tuesday in Moscow for celebrations of the Soviet victory over the Nazis.

He skipped a lunch hosted by his ally Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as several other events last week.

Prepared for every scenario

Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who fled to neighboring Lithuania after 2020 mass protests of Lukashenko, took to Twitter to tell Belarusians they should be ready for any event.

"For us, it means only one thing: we should be well prepared for every scenario," she said. "To turn Belarus on the path to democracy and prevent Russia from interfering.

"We need the international community to be proactive and fast, Tikhanovskaya added.

Lukashenko's spokespeople did not comment on his absence from public life.

Last year, Lukashenko allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory as a launchpad for its offensive on Ukraine.

In 2020, the former collective farm boss claimed to have won a sixth term in an election that spurred hundreds of thousands of Belarusians to take to the streets in protest.

His regime crushed the unprecedented protest movement, jailing or pushing most dissenters into exile.
In South Africa, women make up only 13% of graduates with degrees in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. In an effort to interest more young women in those fields, a retired US astronaut is visiting schools in South Africa. Zaheer Cassim reports from Johannesburg.
Salim Tamari tours Jaffa, the town of his birth, accompanied by a young Arab woman resident, negotiating a path between the place of his memories and the city that is her home

From Al-Ahram Weekly archives: Fifty years of dispossession 1948-1998*

A DATE WITH MURJANA: Yesterday I went to Jaffa to meet my first (probably also the last) date arranged on the network. It all began four months ago when this young woman introduced herself on my screen as interested in talking to somebody in Ramallah. She is a computer technician from Tel Aviv, born and raised in Jaffa. When I suggested that I might come to Jaffa on a Friday afternoon, she said she will show me around.

We decided to meet by the clock tower at 2.30 p.m. I told her to look for a man with gray hair (was that a sigh of disappointment?). She described herself as blond and wearing high heels. I decided to take Alex and Rima for protection. Liza Bouri, who is visiting us this winter, was dying to go to Jaffa, her birth place. So she too came along. Liza was crying all the way in anticipation of the encounter with her lost city. Later, she told me that she was crying because her father died without having the chance to visit Jaffa. I personally have no particular feelings for Jaffa. I was concentrating on the event, and the meeting with Murjana.

We arrived fifteen minutes late, and Murjana was waiting next to a bakery. She was indeed blond. Actually, her hair was platinum silver with streaks of gold. She suggested we meet her family. We all went to a new working-class neighborhood of Jaffa where her family lives. Russian yuppies have been moving in that neighborhood. The mother is a social worker with fighting spirit. She belonged to a community group that was trying to get Arab representation on the city council. The father, a mechanic, greeted us in Hebrew, to Liza's great discomfort.

AL-KHADER: When we went on the tour we found that Murjana, our great tour guide hardly knew what was where. At Al-Khader, we saw young Jaffite boys and girls playing in the yard and Liza started crying again. She took pictures of everything that moved. We passed Yafet street and my mother's father's house. Fakhri Jdaii, my mother's distant cousin still has his pharmacy there, and pays rent to Amidar, the Custodian of Absentee property. We did not stop at the Jadiis Pharmacy. It was late and Fakhri would feel obliged to invite such a large crowd for dinner.

One of the most peculiar memory of that evening was the manner in which our email chaperon related to Jaffa. She had absolutely no feeling for the place. Freedom to her meant Haifa, where she had an occasional job, and a place away from family oppression. Which is fair enough, except for a missing ingredient. To us Jaffa cast a very dark shadow. A city abandoned and now being rejuvenated by Jewish gentrification seeking abandoned Arab houses, or pushing houses to be abandoned. To her, growing in Jaffa meant that she grew up under squalor. The remnants of the community were the poorer Arab villagers whose homes were destroyed and they were forced to relocate to the city.

Today, Arabs constitute about 20,000 inhabitants out of a total of 35,000 people. But less than a quarter of those are original Jaffites, the rest are refugees from Salameh, Rubeen, Sheikh Muwanis, Manshiyyeh, etc.. and workers from the Galilee working in Tel Aviv. Unlike the situation in Haifa, there is a weak communal bond engulfing the Arabs of Jaffa. There is also a strong feeling of confessionalism and worse --atomization. Prostitution and drug gangsterism are rampant, and the few pockets of nationalist groups are completely isolated. Our friend had no feeling of locality for the place. She could not identify the landmarks -- except for the French Hospital (were incidentally I was born) and the church of Al-Khader.

THE HARBOR: One of the saddest moments was our visit to the Harbor were Rima narrated how her father, Hassan Hammami, a teenage boy then, embarked a boat with his family, as did hundreds of families on May 10th 1948 and left Jaffa for the last time in the direction of the ship that took them to Beirut and permanent exile. As they embarked, gun shells were exploding all around them, spreading panic and mayhem.

Last year, Hassan came on a visit, as an American tourist. He went straight to his house in Jabaliyyeh, next to the Christian cemetery. The house was abandoned. Then he saw a light next door were the Andrawus family used to live. He vividly remembered the Andrawus girls he used to know as a growing boy. It was 9:30 in the evening and despite protest from Rima and his wife, he knocked at the door. To their utter astonishment they found the four Andrawus girls, now matronly ladies in their sixties, facing them at the door.

After a tearful scene of embracing and hugging, they told him that none of them were married, since "all the men of stature" were gone. That says a lot of what happened to the city. My electronic friend was completely oblivious to this. Her main interest was to take us to the Hinawi brothers ice-cream shop were they had 22 flavors. But tears were still pouring from Liza's eyes. All of the time she was silent, trying to take it all in.

THE ILLUSION OF AJAMI: After a brief snack at Murjana house she took us on the unguided tour of the town. Her brother, Muhammad, wants to come along, but there is no place in the car. We arrange to meet him later at Abul-Afyeh's cafe-restaurant. We go through the main thoroughfare of Ajami, now called Yafet Street, past the French Hospital (where I was delivered by Dr. Sfeir half a century ago as recorded in my treasured birth certificate), past terra sancta, past Sbeil Abu Nabbout, and finally past Kemal Pharmacy, on top of which stands my Grandfather's house, Salim Jabagi, where my mother and 12 other siblings were born.

Now it is occupied by two Moroccan families who, ten years ago when I went to visit with Suad, denied us entry. Diagonally across the street is the decaying house of Elias Tamari, where my father and my uncles Fai'k, Abdallah and Emile, and my two aunts were born.

Ajami today is a divided quarter. Only the disintegrating old mansions of Jaffa patrician merchants speak of its former glory. Beyond Yafet, going West towards the sea one faces squalor everywhere. Arab and Jewish prostitutes mingle and fraternize, and drug dealers everywhere. By the seashore Arabs are encouraged to relocate south (to housing estates near Bat Yam) and a new Marina is being built for rich condo invaders.

A new ring of gentrified single-story houses are sprouting everywhere. For the last decade Ajami has become the real estate destiny of hip Jewish artists, gallery owners, professionals, and foreign embassy staff. There is an easy co-existence between the newcomers and the destitute Arab community. In the middle have remained few established families of Jaffa, and another dozen nouveau riche Jaffites who made their fortunes from building contracting and drug dealing.

By the old water reservoir (Hawuuz), Murjana pointed out a lot confiscated from her grandfather. In 1949 Amidar (the Israeli Custodian of Absentee Property) took his two and a half dunums away and offered him compensation. He refused the money and contested the confiscation in court. Since he had not left the city he had a good case.

But he lost, and the money was deposited in his name in Bank Leumi. He refused to touch it. When he died 15 years later, the family could not trace the money. But they still hold fast to the Kushan Tabu, their family patrimony. Murjana's maternal grandfather had left the city for Egypt, leaving his wife behind, the encounter 40 years later is one of the saddest stories I have heard, but I will leave this for later.

THE OLD CITY: Now we moved to the Old City. In 1936, at the height of the Rebellion, the old city was the hideout of armed rebels and its alleys were formidable. The British--in an act reenacted by Arik Sharon in Gaza forty years later--moved in with a huge force and dynamited a Y shaped passage, linking the harbor to an opening towards Clock Square. Then they bulldozed the rubble to make a swift passage for armored cars. This surgical act of urban clearing was captured in its razor sharpness in three photographs shot from the air (you can see them in Sarah-Graham Brown's social history of Mandate Palestine).

The old city today encapsulates the magnificence and tragedy of historic Jaffa. The Israelis, meaning the greater Tel Aviv Jaffa council, have completely renovated the area as a major tourist attraction and an 'artists colony'. An operation which was later replicated in old Safad, and in Ain Hof. Visually the place is outwardly attractive if you are ignorant of its historical context. Full of restaurants, cafes, galleries, promenades, and so on. It is a favorite vista for Arab and Sephardic newlyweds who come here with Video teams to take photo opportunities.

Several signposts and coin-operated machines narrate the history of Jaffa in four languages (I suspect Arabic will be added soon for the benefit of impending tourists from the Gulf). But nowhere is an indication that this was once a thriving Arab city--the biggest and richest in Palestine.

The tape-narrative is as concise as it is laundered. Philistines, Phoenicians, Mamlukes, Turks, British, all had their share in plundering the city, until it was delivered by the combined Jewish forces of the Haganah and LEHI in May of 1948. A ragged sculpture of Napoleon Bonaparte, who seized the city in the year 1800, points his finger to a restaurant overlooking the harbor.

The cafes and restaurants were blaring music and full of a mixed Tel Avian and tourist clienteles. Rima pointed out an remarkable absence. There were no young people around (except for the two wedding parties being photographed). Even the noisy cafe-bar by the harbor landing, with disco music was full of couples over fifty. We differed on how to explain this. Rima and Alex (in a rare moment of consensus) thought it was the antiseptic atmosphere of the neighborhood. Not only quaint but intimidating. Murjana thought it was the prices. No young couple can afford a cup of Cappuccino in old Jaffa. And it was intended this way.

On the way to the harbor, I met Basma Abu Swayy, a former student of mine, showing an Egyptian friend of hers the town. This strange encounter brought me back to reality. Jaffa is really a figment of the imagination. There is not parallel between the city of our parents, and this bleached ghost town. But Arab visitors construct the past from their memory (or their parents and grandparents memory) using the rubble as their nodes. Only in one short lane the great city has retained its past--that is the stretch between the old mosque, past St. Michael's orthodox monastery, and the attached Church, down the stairs to the old harbor.

Here the walls, the staircase, and even the engraved Greek and Arabic signs have been retained. The feeling is eerie and haunting and here there is complete silence. Thanks to the Greeks, the Arabness of the city has been preserved.

* Salim Tamari is the Director of the Institute of Jerusalem Studies, delegate (and coordinator) of the Multi-lateral Peace Negotiations Team and Professor of sociology at Bir Zeit University. The Electronic Jaffa Forum, where this extract first appeared, was created in 1995, with the aim of gathering testimonies by Palestinians in exile discussing their various reactions to the idea of returning to Jaffa, and attempting to interpret what happened in 1948 to this dismembered city.

* This article was published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 19 March 1998



This article was first published in Al-Ahram Weeklys special pages commemorating 50 years of Al-Nakba, the Palestinian catastrophe when Israel was created on 15 May 1948. These pages, published in 1998, were part of a year-long series of articles documenting the history and nature of the Arab-Israeli struggle, as well as that of Palestinian dispossession and exile.

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China sentenced a 78-year-old United States citizen to life in prison Monday on spying charges.

John Shing-Wan Leung, who holds permanent residency in Hong Kong, was detained April 15, 2021, by the counterintelligence agency in the southeastern city of Suzhou. The citys intermediate court announced Leungs sentence in a brief statement on its social media site but gave no details of the charges.

Such investigations and trials are held behind closed doors and little or no information is made public.

Relations between Washington and Beijing have hit a historical low amid disputes over trade, technology, human rights and Chinas increasingly aggressive approach toward its territorial claims.

The sentencing comes as U.S. President Joe Biden is traveling to Hiroshima, Japan, for the Group of Seven major industrial nations summit, followed by a visit to Papua New Guinea, a Pacific island nation in a region where China has sought to increase its economic, military and diplomatic influence.

While the Suzhou court offered no indication of a tie to overall China-U.S. relations, spying charges are highly selective and evidence backing them up is not released. That is standard practice among most countries, who wish to secure their personal connections, networks and access to information.

However, Chinas authoritarian political system and the ruling Communist Partys absolute control over legal matters, civil society and freedom of information forestalls demands for further information, as well as court appeals.
The packets of cocaine were marked with the Superman shield, but this was no accident.

In an effort to make the illicit merchandise look like it had been gift wrapped before being sent from Colombia, the gang wanted to hide the fact it was produced closer to home.

The drug with apparent superpowers was made in a factory hidden in an isolated cottage in Galicia, northwestern Spain.

A gang of eight "cooks" worked around the clock, seven days per week, in almost total isolation to produce 150 kilograms of the drug. But police officers who busted the gang said the sophisticated production line could have turned out 200 kilograms of cocaine a day, with a street value of $5.4 million.

Spanish police and crime analysts said this was the biggest cocaine factories discovered in mainland Europe to date, marking a new tactic among cartels.

Instead of making the drug in the jungles of Colombia or Peru, then getting past police to ship cocaine across the Atlantic, they are setting up factories in Europe to save money and cut risks.

This is part of a new tendency which we should be aware of, the head of the Spanish police Central Narcotics Brigade told VOA on condition of anonymity as is customary in Spain.

The factory which we discovered in Pontevedra in Galicia was the largest which has been discovered so far in Europe," he said. "We estimate that this gang could have produced about 200 kilograms every day. Other police forces have said there are laboratories elsewhere.

The gang hid 1.3 tons of cocaine paste, which is used to make cocaine powder sold on the streets, in stone crushing machines, shipped from South America.

Police said it was largest amount of this ingredient ever discovered in Europe in a drugs factory based on the continent.

Well hidden

It took us 14 hours to get the coca paste out of these machines. This gives you an idea of how well it was hidden, said the drugs squad officer.

The Superman logo was pasted on the packets of drugs intended for buyers to give the impression that it had been packed in Colombia in case buyers doubted its quality.

Police arrested 18 suspects in Pontevedra in Galicia in March, but the raid was only made public recently. All the suspects are being held on remand awaiting trial at a later date.

Eight Colombians worked all week long in the factory after the gang stripped them of their passports and telephones so they could not give away the location of the drugs operation to police. Each member of the gang was given a nickname to hide their real identities.

Different strategy

Laurent Laniel, principal scientific analyst at the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, a European Union organization based in Lisbon, said the Spanish factory was the latest in a series of drugs operations in mainland Europe.

I think it is a different strategy. It may not replace the traditional trafficking of ready-made cocaine to Europe. But there is definitely a trend to manufacture large amounts of cocaine [in Europe]. This is not just an isolated incident, he told VOA.

He said Dutch police said they raided ten laboratories between 2018 and 2021. Each one was making over 100 kilograms of cocaine per day. There has also been raids on smaller factories in Belgium and Spain.

It seems that the large proportion of the cocaine paste is smuggled in carrier materials like plastics, wood, coal, cement and asphalt which means that its impossible to trace for police, Laniel said.

It is probably cheaper and less risky to have these massive laboratories in Europe, than smuggling the drug from Colombia.

Laniel said authorities should make it harder for criminals to get access to chemicals which are essential to make cocaine.

In 2021, the United Nations estimated that every year about 2,000 tons of pure cocaine was produced in the world  worth about $5.4 billion. That estimate, however, is impossible to verify.

Laniel said the cocaine trade was on the up as the extraction process from the coca plant is more sophisticated than ten years ago meaning profit margins for drugs gangs are higher.

It is a business which is very profitable. It is used to buy weapons, cause violence and corruption also in Europe, he said.
When Russia invaded Ukraine over a year ago, European officials quickly set out to punish Moscow by freezing any Russian assets held outside the country. Now the question is what, if anything, can be done with these billions of dollars. Valentina Vasileva has the story, narrated by Anna Rice. Videographer: Elena Matusovsky
Nigerian authorities are warning citizens of intense flooding ahead of this year's rainy season.

Typically, Nigeria sees significant rainfall between June and October, and last year the country saw its worst flooding in a decade, which the United Nations said killed more than 600 people and displaced about 1.4 million.

The threat of intense rains earlier than expected will be bad for vulnerable communities, the U.N. said, especially those who are still suffering from last year's flooding.

In the closely built temporary sheds in northeastern Nigeria's Gwoza Borno State, thousands who fled conflict find shelter. The camp is among more than 70 supported by the United Nations' International Organization for Migration, or IOM.

Last year, severe flooding hit the camp and ravaged many shelters, displacing  for a second time  some 10,000 people.

Now, IOM is constructing drainage canals in the camp ahead of the rainy season.

"In the camps, they already have so little to themselves and when the rains come in as we saw last year, they destroyed essentially everything," said Prestage Murima, IOM's deputy chief of mission.

Last year's flooding was fueled by unprecedented heavy rainfall in combination with the release of excess water from Lagdo dam in northern Cameroon.

The National Emergency Management Agency, or NEMA, said about 600 people were killed and 3 million were affected across 31 out of Nigeria's 36 states.

Now, NEMA is warning of a significant risk of heavy flooding across the country in the coming months.

"Our goal is to minimize loss, because we know that they do not have enough resources to do this for themselves and they're already in a vulnerable state," Murima said. "So, we want to maintain their dignity as much as possible. We encourage the community members themselves to come in and do the work."

In addition to drainage canals, IOM is promoting hygiene and awareness campaigns on the risks of disease outbreaks  especially cholera. Flooding last year triggered a deadly cholera outbreak in the area.

Borno State is the most impacted by armed conflict in Nigeria. Millions of displaced people are in staggering need of humanitarian assistance, especially food.

In another camp near Nigeria's border with Cameroon, residents like Jennifer Abajidda said they're still facing the impact of last year's floods.

"Flood and elephants destroyed our plants and because of that some of us go to Cameroon to farm to get some money for food," she said. "Some others take big risks to go to the bush to get some firewood to sell."

U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Matthias Schmale said climate change is to blame and that authorities must improve spending on infrastructure.

"There's no doubt what we're seeing here is the impact of climate change and so, of course, there needs to be serious investment into climate change adaptation and mitigations such as planting mangroves and bamboos along roads and reinforcing riverbanks," Schmale said.

With more publicity and awareness about extreme weather, authorities hope to reduce the impact of flooding in Nigeria this year.
Iranian authorities on Monday executed five people over "armed drug smuggling" in the south of the country, the judiciary reported.

The convicts, "all criminals and armed drug smugglers," had been sentenced to death by hanging in a verdict upheld by Iran's top court, the judiciary's website Mizan Online quoted Mojtaba Ghahramani, Chief Justice of the southern province of Hormozgan, as saying.

"The sentences of the aforementioned were carried out this morning in Bandar Abbas and Minab prisons" in Hormozgan, he added.

The latest hangings bring to eight the number of people executed in less than a week over drug smuggling.

On Wednesday, the judiciary executed three convicted drug cartel members, following warnings from the United Nations over the "frighteningly" high number of executions in the country.

Iran executes more people a year than any other nation except China, according to human rights groups including Amnesty International.

On Monday, Iran executed two people following a rare conviction for desecrating the Koran and insulting the Prophet Mohammad, prompting U.S. condemnation and outcry from human rights groups.

On Tuesday, U.N. rights chief Volker Turk sounded the alarm over Iran's "abominable" track record this year, with an average of more than 10 people being put to death each week.

More than 210 people have already been executed in Iran this year, most of them for drug-related offenses, but a United Nations statement said the actual number is likely much higher.

The country hanged 75% more people in 2022 than the previous year, the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights and Paris-based Together Against the Death Penalty said in a joint report in April.

At least 582 people were executed in Iran last year, the highest number of executions in the country since 2015 and well above the 333 recorded in 2021, the two rights groups said.
Kenyan President William Ruto has said his government takes responsibility for the deaths of more than 200 members of a Christian cult who starved themselves. Kenyan investigators have accused preacher Paul Mackenzie of instructing his followers not to eat so they could meet Jesus. Ruto on Sunday said officials in Kenya's coastal county of Kilifi must explain how so many people died without their knowledge.

The Kenyan government admits state officers in Kilifi County failed to protect the followers of Good News International Church from starving to death.

In a joint interview with Kenyan news media on Sunday, President William Ruto took responsibility for the government's failure to prevent the tragic deaths.

"I am taking responsibility that as president, this should not have happened. And certainly, some people who are responsible for this failure on the part of the government will have to give an account, because it should not have happened when we have all the agencies," he said.

The leader of Good News International Church, Pastor Paul Mackenzie, is currently detained in Mombasa, facing charges of preaching dangerous beliefs that led to the deaths of his followers.

He is yet to comment on the allegations against him and has not entered a plea to any criminal charge.

Kenyan authorities say more than 200 bodies have been exhumed in Shakahola forest in Kilifi County, where the church's followers met their deaths. Postmortem examinations showed that some of the victims died of hunger, while others were killed by strangulation or suffocation, and some had injuries to the head.

Francis Wanje rescued one of his three grandchildren in March. He said the government officers in the area failed the community.

"Some of us went to the high offices, and they started taking action one month after the first report was done at the police station. So, there were quite a number of things that were happening, a lot of laxity. I don't know if there was corruption or whatever. If the people in charge would have gone faster after our reports that's on the 17th, then I think they could have saved many lives, said Wanje.

Mackenzie was arrested on March 14 after police raided his church. Investigators are charging the pastor with radicalization and terrorism.

The local community and family members have accused some government officers of failing to stop rogue preachers teaching harmful beliefs to their followers.

Ruto pledged to address the issue without tramping on freedom of religion.

"The promise I am giving to the people of Kenya is that we will get to the bottom of this matter, and I am also giving them my commitment. I know they are people who are jittery that we should not regulate the church. And that's correct  we should not regulate the church.  We want to establish from our religious leaders how we can, as religious leaders, agree on a mechanism that makes sure that criminals and crooks do not take advantage of religion," he said.

Local human rights activist Mvera Kazungu calls for justice not only for the perpetrators but also for the government officers who neglected their duty to protect the community.

"When we say justice must be done or will be done, it doesn't start with the culprit himself but even those who were supposed to ensure that the community members, the locals, and the children are protected and safe from harm. I really hope justice will be done and really hope that whatever the president was saying will be implemented," said Kazungu.



A commission of inquiry was established by Ruto to investigate the deaths in Kilifi County, while another team was formed to examine the activities of religious institutions.
New developments:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys visit to Britain is his fourth stop in Western allied countries in recent days as he looks to shore up military support

China says top envoy to visit Ukraine, Russia, Poland, France and Germany in push for political settlement to Ukraine conflict.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people are fighting for European freedom and values. Awarding the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen, von der Leyen said the EU is sending the clear message of standing with Ukraine.

Britain said Monday it is sending Ukraine hundreds more missiles and attack drones in hopes of boosting Kyivs fight against Russias 14-month invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, a staunch ally, for the new weaponry as they met at Chequers, Sunaks official country retreat.

Zelenskyy characterized the war effort as a matter of "security not only for Ukraine, it is important for all of Europe."

Sunak told Zelenskyy that "your leadership, your country's bravery and fortitude are an inspiration to us all."

WATCH: Zelenskyy Visits Germany After Country Pledges Largest Yet Aid Package

Zelenskyys visit to Britain was his fourth stop in Western allied countries in recent days as he looks to shore up military support ahead of Ukraines counteroffensive against Moscows forces to try to retake regions of eastern Ukraine that Russia continues to hold. He had earlier stopped in Italy, Germany and France to meet with their leaders.

The [United Kingdom] is a leader when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air, Zelenskyy tweeted ahead of his meeting with Sunak. The British leader called the impending fighting a crucial moment in Ukraine's resistance to a terrible war.

The Kremlin said it views more British aid to Ukraine "extremely negatively," but spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia does not believe the new weaponry would drastically change the course of the war.

"Britain aspires to be at the forefront among countries that continue to pump weapons into Ukraine," Peskov said. "We repeat once again  it cannot yield any drastic and fundamental influence on the way the special military operation [in Ukraine] is unfolding. But definitely, it leads to further destruction, further action. ... It makes this whole story for Ukraine much more complicated."

Along with the U.S. and other European countries, Britain has become one of Ukraine's major military allies, sending Kyiv short-range missiles and Challenger tanks and training 15,000 Ukrainian troops on British soil.

Last week, Britain announced it had sent Ukraine Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which have a range of more than 250 kilometers  the first known shipment of the weaponry that Kyiv has long sought from its allies.

Sunak's office said the newest shipment announced Monday would include more air defense missiles, as well as "long-range attack drones" with a range of more than 200 kilometers.

"This is a crucial moment in Ukraine's resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke," Sunak said. "They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year. We must not let them down."

Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs to build a "fighter jet coalition" to provide it with vital air defenses. Sunak's spokesman said no planes would be provided by Britain but that it would begin training Ukrainian fighter pilots as soon as this summer.

In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron said France would supply dozens of light tanks, armored vehicles and more air defense systems "in the weeks ahead," without giving specific numbers. France is also aiming to train 2,000 Ukrainian troops in France and nearly 4,000 others in Poland this year.

Germany announced a $3 billion aid package for Ukraine, its biggest since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

"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," Zelenskyy said Sunday during a joint news conference in Berlin with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

On the battlefield, Zelenskyy said new Russian shelling had killed nine civilians and injured 19 in the past day. Six of the deaths were in the Kherson region. Two civilians were killed in Chuhuiv in the Kharkiv region and one in Primorsk, which is on the Azov Sea coast about 20 kilometers from Russian-occupied Berdyansk.

Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Turkey appears set for a presidential runoff after an inconclusive Sunday vote. But the political momentum seems to be with incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who narrowly failed to secure an absolute majority but is set to win a majority in parliament. Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul.
Police in central Nigeria are investigating the killing last week of at least 15 people in a farming community that was attacked by gunmen. Police in central Nasarawa state say the killings appear to be in retaliation for the death of an ethnic Fulani herder who was attacked with a machete. Tensions between the farmer and herder communities over land use often explode into violence.

Nasarawa state police spokesman Ramhan Nansel said authorities have deployed joint security forces including police, counterterrorism units and the military to the affected area.

He said it was unusual to have communal clashes between farmers and herders in that area and that authorities are engaging the herders and farmers in peace talks, while the probe is underway.

The attackers invaded the Tarkalafia and Kwaja villages in Karu district late Thursday and reigned terror on villagers for hours, according to local residents.

Police said it was a reprisal attack after an 18-year-old herdsman was killed with a machete blow to his head, in the same area two days earlier.

Nansel spoke to VOA by phone.

"In that axis, were experiencing this for the first time so it's kind of strange. We have activated stakeholders engagements and interface. We've called for meetings between the farmers and herders across the state and some select local government [areas] where we normally experience those challenges," he said.

Locals told Nigerian media that at least 38 people were killed including a pastor. They say the victims including women and children were given a mass burial Saturday.

Nansel said police can only account for 15 deaths.

"I work with facts, I work with figures, I work with what I see not what I hear, he said.

Farmer-herder conflicts over resources like water, land, and pasture are one of the many security challenges troubling Africa's most populous nation.

In 2018 Amnesty International said nearly 4,000 people had been killed in bloody clashes over a three-year period. The group said the government's failure to investigate the problem was escalating the crisis.

Authorities have sent condolences to affected families, promised to punish perpetrators, and help supply relief materials to residents whose houses were burned.

Security Analyst Mike Ejiofor said the government must change its approach to achieve better results.

"By the time this government came in, we had insecurity concentrated in the northeast by activities of Boko Haram but when the government turned the heat on the Boko Haram they started spreading towards the northcentral, northwest. The incoming government should change their approach since we have not yielded much [by way of] results," he said.

Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari will be stepping down this month for successor Bola Tinubu.

President-elect Tinubu inherits a country still battling Islamic militants in the northeast and kidnap-for-ransom gangs known as bandits in the northwest and central regions.
In this extract from his recent book, Abdel Wahab El-Messeri reflects on the many mutations of antisemitism in the Western mindset, and interrogates one of the strangest transformations in the history of the 20th century -- how, as death approached, the Jews in the Nazi camps became "Muslims"

From Al-Ahram Weekly archives: Fifty years of dispossession 1948-1998

It is important that we, as Arabs - both Muslims and Christians - examine our position towards the Nazi genocide of the Jews. As Muslims and Christians, our stance is incontrovertibly clear.

Our religions (Islam, Christianity and Judaism) all contain strong prohibitions against murder. The Qur'an says, "for whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or sewing corruption on earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind." (The Table Spread:32)

The West has attempted to taint Arab history with the Nazi crime as a way of justifying implanting the Zionist settler state at the centre of the Arab World, in order to compensate the Jews for the injustices they suffered within the western cultural formation and the geographical boundaries of Europe. Zionist propaganda, with Western collaboration, employs certain fundamental techniques to accomplish this.

Firstly, Zionist propaganda portrays Arab resistance to the Zionist invasion of Palestine as a form of direct or indirect support for Nazi genocide, on the grounds that the resistance sometimes hampered the entrance of Jewish immigrants into Palestine. This argument is entirely baseless.

The Arab resistance was not directed against immigrants in need of refuge; it was directed against settlers who had come to usurp the land and expel its native inhabitants. Many settlers came under western flags and received the support of the British mandate government (as well as support from the Nazis themselves, a point to which we will return below) at a time when many countries of the West had closed their doors to Jewish refugees.

However the Zionists acted towards the original inhabitants (with unreserved western support), the right to resist them was and remains a legitimate human right, indeed a duty incumbent upon every human being who reveres humanity. Men and women's fight against oppression will always be an indication of their dignity, their greatness and their humanity.

Zionist propaganda is also quick to depict several Arab leaders as Nazi sympathizers. This is another myth. Most Arab governments during the war sided with the Allied powers (since in any case the Arab World fell within their colonial sphere). Moreover, Nazi racist theory put the Arabs and Muslims on a par with the Jews. Therefore, any putative alliance their might have been would have been as pragmatic and temporary as that between Hitler and Stalin. Any sympathy for the Nazis on the part of certain Arb leaders and of certain segments of the Arab public was not motivated by hatred for the Jews nor by any love for the Nazis, but by hostility towards British colonial rule and Zionist colonisation.

In all events, it was a naive sympathy, uninformed, lacking adequate knowledge of the nature of the Nazi project, its grounding in Western imperial culture and the extent of its racist contempt for Muslims and Arabs. In no way was such sympathy as existed translated into active participation in the Nazi crime, which remained throughout a properly and exclusively Western phenomenon.

These Western and Zionist aspersions do not alter the geographical, historic, moral, religious and humanitarian facts. Nazi genocide was never a part of Arab or Muslim history. The Arabs and Muslims did not taint their hands with the blood of the Nazis' victims, whether Jews, Slavs or Gypsies. Rather, these attempts to distort the Arab and Muslim image ultimately demonstrate the extent to which the West is consistent with itself. In doing penance for the crime of genocide committed in Germany, it is perpetuating a no less atrocious crime against the Arab World.

Whenever the Muslims and Arabs did come into direct contact with the fact of Nazi genocide, their actions were above reproach. The Muslims in Bulgaria, for example, were very active in protecting Jewish groups from persecution, and King Hussein V of Morocco refused to hand over his Jewish subjects to the Vichy government in France.

In the course of my research for the Encyclopedia of Jews, Judaism and Zionism, I was surprised to find how frequently the word "Muselmann" (Muslim) appeared in the Auschwitz concentration camp lists. According to one source, the victims who were led off to the gas chambers were called "aliens" and according to other sources, "Muselmanner".

In the Encyclopedia Judaica, I came across the following entry:



"Muselmann (Muslim in German) was a commonly used terms in the concentration camps, used to refer to the prisoners who were on the brink of death, that is to say those who began to show the final symptoms of starvation, disease, mental apathy and physical weakness. The term was primarily used in Auschwitz, but was also used in other camps."

We see here an epitome of one central dimension of the Western mentality. Whenever it destroys its victims it perceives them as "other," and the other, since the time of the Crusades, has always been the Muslim. In the Middle Ages, moreover, Muslims and Jews were closely linked in the Western mind. One can find, for instance, many paintings which portray the Prophet flogging Christ.

The Nazi experience is an authentic product of this Western mindset. The Nazis were the standard bearers of this vision. They epitomised the Western confrontation with the oriental civilisation closest to Europe: the Islamic civilisation.

They never forgot this burden, even when annihilating millions of inhabitants of Europe. The connotation of the term "Muselmann" was simply extended to include the "other" in general, whether Slavs, Jews or Gypsies (as has occurred in a similar manner with the word "Arab" in Zionist discourse).

The writer of the preceding entry in the Encyclopedia Judaica attempted to explain how this term came into currency in the camps. The Nazis' victims, he said, would crouch cross-legged in the "oriental" manner and the expression on their faces would be wooden, as lifeless as a mask. One notes that the writer, in his definition, made no attempt to avoid the customary Western stereotype of Muslims. He simply substituted the word "oriental" for "Muselmann".

The term "Muselmann" as applied to the victims of the Nazi gas chambers brings to the fore two issues, the first practical, the second a question of historical understanding. With regard to the first issue, various news agencies in the Arab/Muslim world should disseminate this piece of information, in order to drive home how the West perceives us. Knowing this can also help us explain why the West felt a compulsion to "compensate" for the crime of Auschwitz with the crimes of Dir Yasn, Kafr Qasem and other Palestinian villages.

It is important to stress that this knowledge of the history of the term "Muselmann", as it has been used to signify the "other" in Nazi Germany and in Palestine, will serve to undermine the monopoly the Jews pretend to as the only victims of fascist brutality.

This issue also simultaneously gives rise to another question, concerning the dissemination of information. Information is a powerful tool that can be used to serve the interests of a particular party. Why, one wonders, has the use of the term "Muselmann" in the Nazi concentration camps received such little attention in the press?

Turning to the question of historical understanding, this is a domain in which we are clearly at the mercy of the West. We do not read Western history from our perspective, but rather from their perspective, just as it is fed to us.

That is our fault, not the fault of the West. The history books and references are there for all of us to consult. It is up to us to examine these sources and reinterpret the facts, in the light of careful scrutiny of the subtext of their contents and in the light also of newly discovered information, or information that has not previously been accorded the centrality it deserves.

* (From: Zionism, Nazism and the end of history (in Arabic), Abdel Wahab El-Messeri, Dar al-Sharouk, Cairo, 1997).

* This article was published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 29 January 1998



This article was first published in Al-Ahram Weeklys special pages commemorating 50 years of Al-Nakba, the Palestinian catastrophe when Israel was created on 15 May 1948. These pages, published in 1998, were part of a year-long series of articles documenting the history and nature of the Arab-Israeli struggle, as well as that of Palestinian dispossession and exile.

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Thousands of supporters of Pakistan's coalition government Monday gathered outside the country's Supreme Court demanding the chief justice resign for releasing former prime minister and leading opposition politician Imran Khan.



Buses and vans transported people from around the country to the capital, Islamabad, where they made their way into a high-security zone, housing the top court and other key government buildings.



The rare agitation underscores tensions between incumbent Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's embattled coalition government and the country's judiciary.



Last Tuesday, paramilitary soldiers dragged and arrested Khan, leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Party, the country's largest, from outside a federal court on corruption charges.

The dramatic arrest of the 70-year-old PTI chief came as he awaited a hearing on the more than 100 legal cases facing him since a parliamentary vote of no-confidence ousted him from office in April 2022. The allegations range from corruption and sedition to terrorism and murder.



But Supreme Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Thursday ordered Khan's immediate release, declaring his arrest unlawful and in violation of his right to seek justice.



On Friday, the federal court where Khan was taken into custody protected him from arrest until later this month. Khan accused the Pakistani military of orchestrating his arrest.

The successive judicial rulings drew a rebuke from Sharif and other leaders of his multi-party coalition, known as the Pakistan Democratic Movement, or PDM. They accused the top court of giving "undue reprieve" to Khan.



While protesters gathered outside the Supreme Court, PDM lawmakers and federal ministers in fiery televised speeches in the National Assembly  the lower house of parliament  condemned the chief justice and his rulings in favor of the opposition leader.

Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif called for legal proceedings against the alleged "misconduct" of the chief justice and several co-judges to remove them from office.



The fundamentalist Islamic party, Jamiat-e-Ulema-Islam (JUI), a coalition partner, led Monday's pro-government rally. Its chief, Maulana Fazalur Rehman, has called on students from thousands of JUI-run countrywide madrassas, or religious seminaries, to converge on Islamabad.



"We are here to protest the Supreme Court decision that relieved a criminal. They keep ruling in favor of this one person, Imran Khan," said Fazle Azeem, a JUI activist at the rally.



Workers of Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz or PML-N and those of other partners in the 13-member coalition also joined the rally.



"They give him a blanket immunity. We want him [the chief justice] to make decisions according to the law and the constitution. Thats what we are going to ask him to do," said Uzma Kardar, a PML-N member.



Television footage showed protesters climbing security gates and forcing their way into the so-called high-security "red zone without being challenged by security forces, despite a ban on such gatherings in the capital. The rally remained peaceful.

Last week, police used tear gas and baton charges and detained hundreds of Khan supporters for breaching the ban as they protested his arrest.



"Meanwhile, these goons are being facilitated by our security agencies to take over the Supreme Court and subvert the Constitution. All citizens be ready for peaceful protests as once the Constitution and SC are destroyed, it is the end of the Pakistan dream," Khan wrote on Twitter.



He accused the government of arresting around 7,000 PTI workers, including women and most of the senior leadership, in a nationwide crackdown on his party. The arrests were made "without investigation into who was responsible for arson on government buildings or dozens of deaths of unarmed protesters by bullet wounds, Khan insisted.

The violence reportedly killed at least 10 people. But the government banned coverage of the unrest on local television channels. It suspended mobile internet services and access to social media platforms such as YouTube, Twitter and Facebook, until the protest subsided late on Friday.



Internet services and social media platforms in Pakistan have since remained restricted.

Sharif said culprits involved in violent protests would face trials in anti-terrorism courts.

The military said in a statement Monday that it had collected irrefutable evidence about spoilers and would bring them to justice under relevant laws, including the Pakistan Army Act. The law, among other actions, provides for the administration of military justice, including trial and punishment of army personnel.

Khan promptly responded to the military announcement and demanded an independent inquiry into last week's events, saying his party was being targeted under a planned conspiracy to get the party banned. He demanded an impartial investigation into the violence.

We have ample amount of evidence to present to any independent inquiry that the arson and in some places, shootings, were done by agencies men who wanted to cause mayhem and blame it on PTI so the current crackdown would be justified, Khan said on Twitter.

The use of the special military law against political activists worried critics and prompted calls for reviewing the decision.

Justice should be served in civilian courts, ensuring transparency and adherence to fundamental rights, tweeted Baqir Sajjad, a Pakistani fellow at the Wilson Center in Washington. By approving military trial, these fundamental rights will be compromised and [a] dangerous precedent that undermines rule of law will be set."



On Monday, Khan appeared before a court in the eastern city of Lahore along with his wife, Bushra Bibi, where the judge granted bail to the first lady until May 23 in the graft case that had led to Khan's brief arrest last week.



The Sharif government maintains corruption cases against Khan are being investigated and instituted by the independent anti-graft National Accountability Bureau.



Khan rejects all allegations and maintains they are a pretext for Pakistan's powerful military to block him from returning to power in elections scheduled for the fall and ban his party.
From their vantage point in cranes overlooking the Panama Canal, operators scrutinize the century-old walls of one of its locks as the high-pitched siren of a merchant ship resonates from nearby.

In the middle of a gigantic ditch drained of water, workers scramble to complete maintenance work in one of the chambers, or lanes, of the Pedro Miguel lock, not far from the Pacific Ocean.

Working between the high concrete walls and the enormous gates, amid residual puddles of water and the echoing thrum of huge water pumps, the maintenance team takes advantage of a temporary halt in traffic to renovate facilities that are over a century old.

The 50-mile (80-kilometer) interocean byway was inaugurated by the United States in 1914. Since then, more than a million vessels have transited through, headed from the Pacific to the Atlantic or vice versa.

"These Panama Canal locks are more than 100 years old, and our maintenance plan is designed to extend their life for another 100 years," Miguel Lorenzo, vice president of infrastructure and engineering for the canal authority, told AFP.

Sealing cracks

The canal uses rainwater to move ships through the locks, which work like elevators to raise vessels by up to 85 feet (26 meters) above sea level as they transit across the isthmus's continental mountain range.

The Pedro Miguel locks have two chambers  each a sort of lane through which some 30 ships pass daily.

Despite the ongoing maintenance, canal traffic continues. With passage through the west chamber halted, the Uog Phoenix oil tanker passes through the east chamber, sounding its siren as it heads toward the Caribbean.

Work in the west chamber is scheduled to end Tuesday and is budgeted for $2.5 million.

During this time, more than 400 people constantly monitor valves, the 65-foot-high (20-meter) walls, and the huge pipes through which water is pumped to raise and lower ships.

The last round of maintenance for the chamber  which is 1,000 feet long and 110 feet wide  came in 2015. The canal has five sets of locks, with 18 chambers.

"The intention is to dry the chamber and have access to all electrical components and equipment" in order to recondition them and extend their operational life, Lorenzo said.

At the same time, "when we dry the chamber, it is our only opportunity to be able to see the concrete walls and seal any fissures, cracks or damage."

Two gates, each weighing 700 tons, were previously removed and taken to a workshop to repair the steel, change rubber fittings and seals and get a fresh coat of paint  the first in 37 years.

Because the region is currently coping with drought, "it is very important that we have these valves in good condition to conserve water," Wilfredo Yau, who oversees maintenance for the Pedro Miguel locks, told AFP.

He likens the work to stopping the dripping of a faucet in one's home  but "on a much larger scale."

'Good state of health'

Some six percent of all global maritime commerce passes through the Panama Canal, with the United States, China and Japan being the leading users.

In fiscal year 2022, more than 14,000 vessels carrying 518 million tons of cargo transited the canal, providing revenue of $2.5 billion for Panama.

But the dearth of rain has forced the canal to reduce the draft of ships, with the water shortage at least temporarily threatening the future of the vital maritime route.

The canal authority says it invests more than $400 million a year in maintenance projects.

Canal managers say each chamber of the locks is rehabilitated every five years, though the 82 gates are reconditioned only every 25 to 30 years.

"The canal was designed as a very robust structure, and that permits us to extend its life through maintenance," said Lorenzo.

"We are very confident that we have a very well-maintained canal in a very good state of health" and able to last, Lorenzo concluded, at least 100 years more.
The surprise win of Thailand's Move Forward Party in national elections Sunday and its radical pro-democracy agenda marks a watershed moment in the country's politics and a strong rebuke of nine years of military or military-backed rule, analysts say.

But parliamentary rules drafted by the military after a 2014 coup that favor pro-military candidates, they add, could still leave the party with the most popular votes out of the next government.

In the coming days, weeks or even months of horse trading as parties jockey for allies to form a winning coalition, "anything could happen," said Titipol Phakdeewanich, dean of the political science faculty at Thailand's Ubon Ratchathani University.

In a nationwide race to fill the 500-member House of Representatives, the youth-facing Move Forward Party finished ahead of the pack with 151 seats by promising reforms to curb the conservative royalist and military establishment's long-running grip on power. The Election Commission announced complete, unofficial results early Monday morning.

Pheu Thai, the latest political vehicle of the billionaire Shinawatra family and longtime rivals of the same conservative establishment, finished a close second with 141 seats, while Bhumjaithai, a party that has made legalized cannabis its defining issue, came in third with 71.

Palang Pracharath and the United Thai Nation, the two main pro-military parties in the race, won 40 and 36 seats, respectively. Prayuth Chan-ocha, United Thai's candidate for prime minister, is also the incumbent and, as a general, led the 2014 coup that ousted an elected Pheu Thai government. Palang Pracharath's candidate for prime minister, Prawit Wongsuwon, another ex-general, was by his side for the putsch.

Move Forward's resounding win Sunday "represents a turning point in Thai politics," said Napon Jatusripitak of the Singapore-based ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

The party had been polling behind Pheu Thai early on, projected to do best in urban areas packed with younger voters, but saw a surge in support in the final weeks of the race.

"So, they actually managed to not only fulfill expectations, they also went beyond that and win seats where we don't expect them to, which is the rural areas. And I think that in itself is a referendum that ... there's a certain readiness for change," said Napon. "It's a rejection of Thailand's conservative status quo, basically."

Beyond that, he added, it also marks a break with the binary, patronage politics that have defined Thailand for the past two decades, split between parties either fronted or backed by the Shinawatra family pushing populist, pro-poor policies and the conservative forces that have ousted their governments three times, either by coup or court order. Sunday's election was the first a Shinawatra party has not won since 2001.

Titipol said Move Forward's come-from-behind win owes much to its focus more than any other party, even Pheu Thai, on reforms that would fundamentally weaken the military and monarchy's political sway. It has proposed ending military conscription, reallocating some of the defense budget to social programs, and curbing royal defamation laws that can land offenders in jail for up to 15 years per slight.

"That is another reason for their victory, because most people are now also talking about the restructuring of Thai political power," Titipol said. "This actually indicates that people want to reform the structure of power."

Move Forward's next challenge is to elect a prime minister in the parliamentary vote to come and form a government.

Analysts say Pheu Thai would make the most natural ally, and their combined seats would give them a majority of the House of Representatives. Each party has already said it was open to teaming up with the other.

Under rules pushed through by Prayuth's military junta after the 2014 coup, though, any candidate for prime minister must win a combined majority of both the House and 250-seat Senate. The current Senate was appointed by the same junta and voted for Prayuth for prime minister after elections in 2019, even though Pheu Thai had won the most House seats that year.

Without the Senate's support, any coalition of parties will need to pull together at least 376 votes in the House alone. Even combined, Move Forward and Pheu Thai do not have the numbers. As of Monday afternoon, Move Forward told local reporters it had a tentative plan with Pheu Thai and four other parties for a coalition with a combined 309 House seats.

Previously, Move Forward has also ruled out any alliance with either Palang Pracharath or United Thai. Analysts say that would make Bhumjaithai the most likely third party in a Move Forward-Pheu Thai tie-up, along with a few smaller parties and maybe even a handful of breakaway Senators to hit 376.

However, the same staunch reformist bent that propelled Move Forward to victory Sunday could still deny it a place in the next government, said Punchada Sirivunnabood, an associate professor of political science at Thailand's Mahidol University.

She said the party's policies may simply be too radical for most parties and trigger fears of another coup; Thailand has had 13 since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932.

"It's [going to be] really hard for Move Forward to form a coalition government because of their leftist policies, which a lot of political parties cannot accept," said Punchada.

Napon added that corruption allegations hanging over Bhumjaithai could also be used as leverage by conservative forces to stop it from joining any coalition that would bring Move Forward to power.

"And the judicial system and the courts, the electoral commission, all these tend to be heavily influenced by people that are oriented towards the conservative establishment, so they could actually disqualify, dissolve Bhumjaithai," he said.

The courts and commission already have a history of dissolving parties that have posed a threat to the military and monarchy. In 2020 the Constitutional Court dissolved Future Forward, the popular predecessor of Move Forward, over an illegal loan, a charge the party denied.

Naron, Punchada and Titipol all said those pressures could push Pheu Thai into cutting a deal instead with Palang Pracharath, United Thai and others. With Move Forward out of the mix, enough senators could be persuaded to back their alliance and put it over the top.

At a news conference Monday in Bangkok, Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat said he had no reason to doubt the Senate would back his tentative coalition with Pheu Thai and the others.

Analysts are not so sure.

"We could actually see a deadlock and multiple rounds of selection of prime minister" before a new government takes shape, said Napon. "This could drag on for months potentially, but I'm not sure that it will."
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, people all over the world have come up with innovative ways to raise money for the eventual rebuilding of the country. One woman is selling puzzles of Ukrainian buildings and monuments that have since been damaged or destroyed  scenes from the past to help Ukraine piece together what was lost. Mariia Prus has the story. Camera: Oleksii Osyka. Contributor: Iryna Shynkarenko
The United Nations aid chief said Monday that the organization is engaged in intensive discussions to keep alive the deal that facilitates the export of Russian and Ukrainian grain and fertilizer through the Black Sea, as the May 18 deadline Russia has set to possibly leave the deal draws closer.

I hope you will agree that continuation of the Black Sea Initiative is critically important, as is recommitment by the parties to its smooth and efficient operation, Martin Griffiths told a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Ukraine. We will continue to call on all parties to meet their responsibilities as the world watches us very closely.

On Thursday, the four parties to the deal  Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations  met in Istanbul to discuss its future. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Monday that talks would continue this week at a technical level.

Since it was signed on July 22 in Istanbul, the Black Sea Grain Initiative has facilitated the safe export of more than 30 million metric tons of grain and other foodstuffs from three Black Sea ports in Ukraine to global markets, helping to supply markets and lower wheat prices.

A corresponding Memorandum of Understanding between Russia and the United Nations has made inroads in easing concerns of anxious banks, insurers, shippers and other private-sector actors about doing business with Russia. But Moscow has repeatedly complained that it is not benefiting enough from the deal.

Russias U.N. ambassador reiterated some of Moscows demands Monday, including the export of its ammonia  a key component in fertilizer  via the TogliattiAzot pipeline in Odesa and the return of the Russian agriculture bank to the SWIFT financial transaction network.

For almost a year, we see that there has been no progress in the second part of the package deal, Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia complained of the Memorandum of Understanding between Russia and the U.N.

Ukraines envoy said Russias obstruction of inspections at the joint inspection facility in Istanbul meant Ukraine only exported half their agricultural capacity in April.

It is disgusting that Russia still pretends to be on the losing side of the deal, said Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya. I will not even remind the council of the immorality of such complaints from the aggressor state, which has been and remains the only threat to food shipments in the Black Sea.

Under the terms of the initiative, the deal should be renewable every 120 days, but at the last renewal in March, Russia agreed to only a 60-day extension, which expires on May 18. Kyslytsya called it Moscows blackmail deadline.

Of the 15 Security Council members, of which Russia is a member, 14 emphasized the importance of the grain deal and called for its full implementation and extension.
An early heat wave took hold Saturday in parts of the Pacific Northwest, with temperatures nearing or breaking records in some areas and heat advisories in place through Monday.

The historically temperate region has grappled with scorching summer temperatures and unprecedented wildfires fueled by climate change in recent years.

The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory extending from Saturday through Monday for much of the western parts of both Oregon and Washington state. It said the temperatures could raise the risk of heat-related illness, particularly for those who are dehydrated or don't have effective cooling.

Temperatures in Portland, Oregon, were expected to be in the low-90 degree F (32 C) range over the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. The temperature at Portland International Airport on Saturday reached 93 F (33.9 C), breaking a record of 92 F (33.3 C) that was set in 1973, according to the National Weather Service Portland office. The agency said temperatures could still warm a bit before the day was over. By late afternoon, several Oregon communities had tied prior record highs.

The temperature at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport was 84 F (28.9 C) as of mid-afternoon Saturday, with warmer temps expected in the region Sunday, said Trent Davis, a meteorologist with the weather service in Seattle. The record temperature for the airport Saturday was 85 F (29.4 C), he said, a mark last hit in 2018. It could reach 90 F (32C) at that location Sunday, he said.

The unseasonal high temperatures could further flame the dozens of fires burning in Canada's western Alberta province, where officials have ordered evacuations and declared a state of emergency. Residents and officials in the Northwest have been trying to adjust to the likely reality of longer, hotter heat waves following the deadly " heat dome " weather phenomenon in 2021 that prompted record temperatures and deaths across the region.

Elizabeth Romero and her three children were among those cooling off at a fountain in downtown Portland on Friday afternoon.

"We decided to stop by ... until we all feel better," she said, adding that she plans to seek out shaded parks during the weekend.

King County, home to Seattle, directed transportation operators such as bus drivers to let people ride for free if they're seeking respite from the heat or heading to a cooling center. The county's regional homeless authority said several cooling and day centers will be open across the county.

Authorities also urged people to be wary of cold-water temperatures, should they be tempted to take a river or lake swim to cool off. River temperatures are probably in the low- to mid-40s (4.4 to 7.2 C), National Weather Service meteorologist Higa said.

Residents and officials in the Pacific Northwest have become more vigilant about heat wave preparations after some 800 people died in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia during the heat dome weather event in late June and early July 2021. The temperature at the time soared to an all-time high of 116 F (46.7 C) in Portland and smashed heat records in cities and towns across the region. Many of those who died were older people who lived alone.

In response, Oregon passed a law requiring all new housing built after April 2024 to have air conditioning installed in at least one room. The law already prohibits landlords in most cases from restricting tenants from installing cooling devices in their rental units.

Last summer, Portland launched a heat response program with the goal of installing portable heat pump and cooling units in low-income households, prioritizing residents who are older and live alone, as well as those with underlying health conditions. Local nonprofits participating in the program installed more than 3,000 units last year, according to the city's Bureau of Planning and Sustainability.

Officials in Multnomah County, home to Portland, said they weren't planning on opening special cooling centers for now but are monitoring the forecast and can do so if needed.

"This is the first significant event  and it is early for us," said Chris Voss, the county's director of emergency management. "We're not seeing a situation where we are hearing that this is extremely dangerous. That being said, we don't know if it's going to drift."
Former White House adviser Amy Pope won a vote in Geneva on Monday to head the U.N. migration agency, prevailing in a tense contest against a Portuguese incumbent who had the support of European countries.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Pope would become the first woman to lead the organization when she begins her five-year term on Oct. 1.

Pope, who served as Deputy Director General for Management and Reform at IOM, took leave to campaign against her boss Antonio Vitorino, who has been in the position since 2018.

Pope wrote on Twitter she was "humbled and honored" to be chosen by IOM's 175 member states as new director general.

"I am ready to work with ALL our member states and global partners to unleash the opportunities provided by effective, orderly and humane migration," she wrote.

In 2021, Pope served as Senior Advisor on Migration to U.S. President Joe Biden, who publicly backed her candidacy.

"As IOM's largest bilateral donor, the United States strongly supports Ms. Pope's vision and looks forward to working with her to implement the critical reforms necessary to create a more effective, inclusive IOM," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

More than 100 million people are forcibly displaced around the world and IOM seeks to ensure humane and orderly migration and intervenes where needed.

Vitorino, a former European Commissioner who is close to his compatriot United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, had touted an increase in the body's annual budget among his successes.

Asked about the contest earlier this year, Vitorino described it as unprecedented.

"We have never happened to have an incumbent director general that faces a competition with one of his deputy generals. Let's call it an innovation," Vitorino told journalists in March.

He said at the time he had Portugal's backing as well as the "strong encouragement" of the European Union.
A victory by liberal, youth leaning political parties in Sundays Thai national elections could have wider ramifications for Southeast Asia on issues ranging from human rights to the crisis in Myanmar.

However, analysts stressed a potential alliance between Move Forward  with its leader Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister  and the Pheu Thai Party still had to overcome a military-backed senate, which was instituted after the 2014 coup put Thai General Prayut Chan-o-cha in power.

According to election results, Move Forward exceeded forecasts, winning 151 of the 500 seats contested in the lower house. Pheu Thai, led by Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, held 141 seats.

Prayuts United Thai Nation Party held just 15 percent of the seats.

I think it shows that the people of Thailand really have woken up and they really want a fundamental change in the way the country is organized, they want a democratic government, said Charles Santiago, from the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR).

'Major awakening moment'

He noted that APHR enjoys strong ties with Move Forward and its solid stance on human rights will add a much-needed boost to talks aimed at ending the carnage in Myanmar and send a stern message to authoritarian regimes that now dominate in mainland Southeast Asia.

This is very good, a major awakening moment for Southeast Asia, he said, adding that Phnom Penh, in particular, should take note of the emerging youth vote given Cambodians will go to the polls in July, in an election without any major political opposition.

If the Move Forward party becomes the leader of the government, then the relationship with Myanmar will change, the positions of ASEAN too will change and I think you will see a faster resolution to the problem in Myanmar as opposed to the stalemate, he said.

A split has emerged within the 10 nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) between mainland authoritarian states  Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam  which are predominantly Buddhist and lean towards China, and maritime members of the bloc.

Maritime states are mainly Islamic or Christian, largely democratic and include Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Singapore and Brunei. They are wary of Chinas rapid expansion in the region and its claims over disputed waters on the high seas.

Indonesia and Malaysia have also pushed for a much stronger stance against the junta in Myanmar, since it seized power through a coup in February 2021. Under Prayut, Thailand has been accused of maintaining close ties with the generals in Naypyidaw.

Bradley Murg, a distinguished senior research fellow with the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace said if Move Forward wins the support of the military-backed Thai senate, which holds the right to choose prime ministers, then some change was in the offing.

Should they get into power, it would be a first step in changing the perception that mainland Southeast Asia has drifted inexorably into authoritarianism and the mainland-maritime divide in ASEAN will need to be somewhat reconsidered, he said.

Thailand - U.S. relationship

He added Thailands broader foreign policy with the United States would not change although a Move Forward-Pheu Thai alliance could challenge existing telecom policies that have delivered Chinese firms, including Huawei, lucrative contracts.

An opposition win will fundamentally not alter U.S.-Thai relations, Murg said. But expect an uptick in cooperation on issues like human rights and Chinese telecoms.

Bangkok-based Don Greenlees, a senior advisor to AsiaLink at the University of Melbourne, said significant differences between the political parties and the military still needed to be resolved and it was too early to say whether aspects of Thai foreign policy will change.

Its possible they could take a stronger line on certain human rights issues within the region but in general their attempts to retain their autonomy as much as possible from the great power rivalry will continue to be a feature of their foreign policy, he said.

Other analysts also said autonomy and not being seen as too close to either the U.S. or China would remain as a bedrock of Thai foreign policy that would not change.

Migrant workers

Human rights, however, is another issue. One observer, with experience in the trade union movement, said the election results could also spell some change for the better for migrant workers in Thailand.

Thailand is a major source country for migrant workers. One would hope they will address the issues they face and make it fairer for workers, that will help send a signal for other countries in the region, said the observer, who wished to remain anonymous, given past tensions between trade unions and the government.

On Sunday night, Prayut told journalists that he respected the results and would continue to perform his duty to the best of my ability in whatever capacity. Adding that I will continue to serve the nation, religion and the monarchy for the rest of my life.

I have respect for the democratic process and the election results, he said.

But Gavin Greenwood, an analyst with Hong Kong-based security consultancy A2 Global Risk, echoed Santiago and Murg saying it was difficult to believe that the Thai military, conservative ruling elites and the Royal Palace would simply accept the results.

If the parties which threaten or are perceived to threaten the interests of the military or the establishment or the palace, win  I will be impressed, he said. It will be quite astonishing if a military coup is overturned by a democratic vote.
BERLIN  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that his country is preparing a counteroffensive designed to liberate areas occupied by Russia, not to attack Russian territory.

Speaking during a news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, Zelenskyy said Ukraines goal is to free the territories within its internationally recognized borders.

The Washington Post cited previously undisclosed documents from a trove of U.S. intelligence leaks suggesting that Zelenskyy has considered trying to capture areas in Russia proper for possible use as bargaining chips in peace negotiations to end the war launched by Moscow in February 2022. This would put him at odds with Western governments that have insisted that weapons they provide must not be used to attack targets in Russia.

Asked about the report, Zelenskyy said: We don't attack Russian territory, we liberate our own legitimate territory.

We have neither the time nor the strength (to attack Russia), he said, according to an official interpreter. And we also don't have weapons to spare, with which we could do this.

We are preparing a counterattack for the illegally occupied areas based on our constitutionally defined legitimate borders, which are recognized internationally, Zelenskyy said.

Among the areas still occupied by Russia are the Crimean peninsula and parts of eastern Ukraine with mainly Russian-speaking populations.

The Ukrainian president is visiting allies in search of further arms to help his country fend off the Russian invasion, and funds to rebuild what's been destroyed by more than a year of devastating conflict.

A Luftwaffe jet flew Zelenskyy to the German capital from Rome, where he had met Saturday with Pope Francis and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni.

It was his first visit to Berlin since the start of the war and came a day after the German government announced a new package of military aid for Ukraine worth more than 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion), including tanks, anti-aircraft systems and ammunition.

Zelenskyy thanked Scholz for Germany's political, financial and military support, saying the country is now second only behind the United States in providing aid to Ukraine  and joked that he is working to make it the biggest donor.

German air defense systems, artillery, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles are saving Ukrainian lives and bringing us closer to victory. Germany is a reliable ally! Together we are bringing peace closer! he wrote on Twitter after the meeting.

Scholz said Berlin has so far given Kyiv some 17 billion euros in bilateral aid and that it can expect more in the future.

We will support you for as long as necessary, he said, adding that it is up to Russia to end the war by withdrawing its troops.

After initially hesitating to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons, Germany has become one of the biggest suppliers of arms to Ukraine, including Leopard 1 and 2 battle tanks, and the sophisticated IRIS-T SLM air-defense system. Modern Western hardware is considered crucial if Ukraine is to succeed in its planned counteroffensive against Russian troops.

Zelenskyy said one reason for his latest visit to allied capitals was to forge a "fighter jet coalition that would provide Ukraine with the combat planes it needs to counter Russia's air dominance.

Germany has said in the past that it doesn't have the F-16 jets Ukraine needs and Scholz responded to questions about possible plane deliveries by referring to the anti-aircraft system Berlin has provided to Kyiv.

That's what we as Germany are now concentrating on, he said.

In Ukraine, officials Sunday denied that the country had anything to do with the downing of two Russian helicopters close to the border the day before.

In a joint statement after their meeting, Scholz and Zelenskyy said they support efforts to bring those responsible for atrocities in Ukraine to justice and noted the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

They also pledged to ensure sanctions against Russia aren't circumvented and to explore possibilities for using frozen Russian assets to pay for damage caused in Ukraine.

Germany said it supports Kyiv's efforts to join the European Union and backed a 2008 vow by NATO members to pave the way for Ukraine to eventually join the military alliance.

Zelenskyy first met with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany's head of state, who was snubbed by Kyiv last year, apparently over his previous close ties to Russia, causing a chill in diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Germany. Since then, both Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz have visited Ukraine.

After talks with Scholz and other senior officials at the chancellery, the two leaders flew to the western city of Aachen for Zelenskyy to receive the prestigious International Charlemagne Prize, awarded to him and the people of Ukraine.

In her congratulatory speech, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen compared the war in Ukraine to the fall of the Iron Curtain more than 30 years ago.

Every generation has its moment when it has to stand up to defend democracy and what it believes in, she said. For us, that moment has come.

Zelenskyy accused Moscow of trying to turn back the clock of European history in its attack on Ukraine.

Modern Russia waged war not just on us, as a free and sovereign state, not just against united Europe as a global symbol of peace and prosperity," he said in his acceptance speech. This is Russias war for the past.

French media reported that Zelenskyy planned to travel on to Paris late Sunday, but officials at the president and prime ministers office wouldnt confirm.
The Russian news outlet Kommersant said two Russian fighter jets and two military helicopters were shot down Saturday close to the Ukrainian border.

Kommersant said on its website that the Su-34 fighter-bomber, Su-35 fighter and two Mi-8 helicopters that made up a raiding party 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 Russian state news agency TASS said a Russian Su-34 warplane had crashed in that region but did not specify a cause. It also cited an emergency services official as saying an engine fire in a helicopter had caused it to crash near Klintsy, which is about 40 kilometers from the border.

It made no mention of the Su-35, or of a second helicopter.

There was no official response from Ukraine, which usually declines to comment on reports of attacks inside Russia.

Kommersant provided no evidence for its report that four aircraft had been downed, but the same assertion was also made by several heavily followed pro-war military bloggers.

Earlier this month, explosions derailed freight trains on two consecutive days in the Bryansk region.

Earlier Saturday, Ukraines deputy defense minister Hanna Malyar said Ukrainian troops were advancing in two directions in the eastern city of Bakhmut.

Ukrainian and Russian officials both say pro-Kyiv forces have started to push back in and around Bakhmut after blunting a monthslong offensive by troops loyal to Moscow that left much of the city in ruins.

Russia acknowledged on Friday that its forces had fallen back north of Bakhmut ahead of a long-promised counteroffensive by Ukraine to retake more territory it lost after the start of the war last year.

"Our troops are gradually advancing in two directions in the suburbs of Bakhmut ... however, the situation in the city itself is more complicated," Malyar wrote on Telegram.

Much of the fighting in Bakhmut is being led by the Wagner group of mercenaries. In a Telegram post, founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said his men had advanced up to 550 meters in some directions on Saturday and said Ukrainian forces controlled less than 1.78 square kilometers of the city center. (Reuters)
Advertising by Cartier with images of an Indigenous people devastated by illegal gold mining has some complaining of greenwashing, a corporation promoting its own image by supporting a cause.



Until two months ago, Cartiers website showed Yanomami children playing in a green field.

The French luxury jewelry brand said it was working to promote the culture of the Indigenous people and protect the rainforest where they live, in a vast territory straddling Brazil and Venezuela. But the project that the site described protecting the Amazon never took place. And Cartier published the photo without the approval of Yanomami leadership, violating the beliefs of a people who had been living in almost total isolation until they were contacted by outsiders in the 1970s.

Some of the Yanomami and their defenders praise Cartiers promotion of Yanomami causes. However, advertising by one of the worlds biggest jewelers with images of an Indigenous people devastated by illegal gold mining has some complaining of greenwashing, a corporation promoting its own image by supporting a cause.

How can a gold jewelry company, which we, the Yanomami people, are against, use the image of the Yanomami? asked Junior Hekurari, a member of the Indigenous group and head of the Yanomamis health council.

Disease, killing and prostitution, fueled by the drugs and alcohol imported by thousands of illegal gold miners, have devastated traditional Yanomami life, and 570 Yanomami children died from malnutrition, diarrhea, and malaria between 2019 and 2022, according to Brazilian statistics. The poisonous mercury used in illegal mining causes birth defects and ravages ecosystems.

Cartier says it does not buy illegally mined gold, but Yanomami leaders have urged people not to buy gold jewelry at all, regardless of its source, because demand for the precious metal drives gold prices up and draws miners into their territory.

Cartier and other jewelry brands that are part of the Swiss conglomerate Richemont had combined sales of 11 billion euros ($11.7 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, according to its annual report. Some of the pieces advertised on its U.S. website cost as much as $341,000.

Cartiers connection to the roughly 40,000 Yanomami goes back 20 years, primarily through Fondation Cartier, a corporate philanthropy created and funded by the company in 1984.

In the past, few Yanomami or their advocates have publicly criticized Cartier or the foundation, but a growing number have begun expressing concerns.

Cartiers foundation recently sponsored a finely curated exhibit displaying photographs of Yanomami, along with works by Indigenous artists, in an elegant non-profit Manhattan arts center. The exhibit, previously in Paris, was praised by outlets ranging from The New York Times to Luxury Daily, an influential industry publication whose headline read,  Fondation Cartier continues push for indigenous justice through art sponsorship.

Barbara Navarro, a French multimedia artist, saw something very different, as did several other artists, including some Yanomami.

In the multimedia show  Pas de Cartier,  or Not Cartier, in the village of Nemours, France, Navarro and others critique the luxury brand and the devastation caused by illegal miners in an exhibit that includes sculptures and drawings. In one photo montage, a large gold mine surrounded by the Amazon forest is seen next to a Cartier store.

The Yanomami are paying the price with their health and their very lives for our societys relentless avidity for gold, said Navarro. For Cartier, sponsorship of the Yanomami represents an opportunity to burnish their brand.

For many Indigenous groups, a corporation or philanthropy using a photo of them requires formal permission. The photo of the children on the website violated the Yanomamis right to prior, free, and informed consent, according to the Roraima Indigenous Council, a grassroots umbrella organization, citing the International Labour Organizations Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, which Brazil signed.

Hekurari said his people need international cooperation, but his organization would never accept money from a jewelry company.

In his trips along the Yanomami territory, an area the size of Portugal, the Yanomami leader has encountered scores of skeletal children in communities under siege by thousands of illegal miners. In March, his organization, Urihi, launched an online campaign to raise awareness against the gold trade and in a video the Yanomami leader calls on Oscar winners to replace the famous gold-plated statuettes with wooden figures of Omama, a mythical entity.

When someone buys gold in a jewelry store, he is financing more invasions to destroy Indigenous lands, he said. It is not just a matter of extracting gold. It is a matter of reaping lives.

Cartier declined to comment on the Yanomamis appeal for people to stop buying gold jewelry but, when contacted by The Associated Press in late March, Cartier removed the picture and the project description. Funds had been allocated to a forest-preservation project but ended up being used to acquire medical equipment to fight COVID-19 among the Yanomami, the company said. A donation worth $74,200 was made in June 2020.

The inaccurate description was a regrettable oversight on our part, and it was addressed immediately after it was brought to our attention, the company said.

But the problem is bigger than poor image choices, many say. Dario Kopenawa, vice-president of the Hutukara Yanomami Association, said he believes that, anyone who buys a gold ring is part of the crime.

Cartier and its foundation describe their relationship as arms-length. Kopenawa also made a distinction between Cartier and its namesake foundation.

We know that Cartier buys gold all over the world ... but the foundation is different. It is another coordinator, another branch. It supports the protection of the Yanomami, he said.

In February, Kopenawa even flew to New York to attend Yanomami Struggle - Art and Activism in the Amazon, the exhibit sponsored by the Fondation Cartier with photographic portraits of Indigenous people alongside works by Yanomami artists. Kopenawa and other Yanomami participated in the opening ceremony, with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres among the guests.

Fondation Cartier has a collection of nearly 2,000 works at its Paris headquarters. The foundation is run by an independent dedicated team of professionals from the art world in charge of defining and implementing the artistic program, it said.

The foundation is led by Alain Dominique Perrin, a prominent figure in the luxury industry who previously served as Richemonts top executive. In a 2018 interview with French business magazine Entreprendre, he emphasized the corporate value of arts patronage.

Patronage is similar to sponsorship: You help an artist to exhibit, to gain recognition and to develop, but in return, the Fondation receives praise from the press, the media and social networks, which necessarily benefits the company, he said.

The foundation, will become a focal point for the management and the image of the Cartier brand, Richemont wrote in its 1994 annual report, when the headquarters was inaugurated with 12,000 square feet of exhibition space.

French anthropologist Bruce Albert has been engaged with the Yanomami for decades, participating in a campaign in the 1990s that secured the tribes land demarcation. He connected Fondation Cartier with the Yanomami in 2003. That year, Albert curated the first photo and art exhibit about the Yanomami sponsored by the foundation.

In early February, Albert attended the opening ceremony of the New York exhibition after working on it as a paid consultant, together with Kopenawa and Yanomami artists.

Responding to questions in writing, Albert in February praised Fondation Cartier as independent, and said better control from Brazilian authorities would be more efficient than a gold boycott. Still, Albert criticized the use of the image on Cartiers website, saying by email in April that the Yanomami hadnt granted permission for its use, and the jeweler wasnt funding any reforestation projects.

When it comes to acquiring gold, Cartier says the vast majority is purchased recycled and the company conforms to standards of the Responsible Jewelry Council, which describes itself as the worlds leading sustainability standard-setting organization for the jewelry and watch industry.

With gold, however, it is next to impossible to prove provenance, as much illegal material seeps into global supply chains. And Yanomami leaders have made clear that they believe that gold is at the root of the groups troubles.

Is there is a responsibility in the purchase of this gold? Ivo Makuxi, the lawyer from the Indigenous council, asked about Cartiers role in an industry that has hurt the Yanomami. Does the company respect the Indigenous rights?

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South Africa is facing a massive influx of German cockroaches described by experts as near-pandemic.

South Africa is facing a massive influx of German cockroaches described by experts as near-pandemic. They say rainy, hot, and humid conditions over the past two years could have enabled the insects to increase their breeding ability.

Uncollected rubble and rubbish on the streets of South Africa and illegal dumping sites have also contributed to the problem.

Cockroaches are the latest addition to South Africas list of troubles topped by power cuts, unemployment, poverty, and lack of housing. The insects popularly known for plying their trade at night are reportedly now operating even daytime.

Gerhard Verdoorn is the Operations and Stewardship Manager at Croplife SA, a crop protection and public health organization. He told the local media that the outbreak is now countrywide.

I have never seen something like this in my life. Since about February last year we started seeing more and more calls coming in from people with enormous numbers of cockroaches in their kitchens and residences. Its so bad. If people do a proper fumigation, you see the kitchen littered with a black carpet of dead cockroaches. So, we are at a pandemic outbreak level of cockroaches.

The intruders have forced residents to tighten security around food stuffs and leftovers by storing them in containers with tight lids. Johannesburg resident Portia Masemola told VOA that the cockroaches have become both a nuisance and embarrassment.

So you will be sitting with your visitors and here comes one very brave cockroach in the middle of the day that walks up your wall. So, it makes it seem as if your place is dirty or you dont clean. It just gives that impression. And its hard to get rid of them. Once you have one, by the next two, three weeks you have a million.

Nomthandazo Mhlongo also stays in Johannesburg. She told VOA that the bugs have almost taken over their kitchens.

Yoo! There are too many like ants and they are irritating a lot. Sometimes you are cooking in the kitchen and as soon as you put a spoon somewhere you're gonna find them there. And sometimes when there are too many you cant even eat. You cant even just take food and give it to the child without checking or warming up or something.

Croplife SA has warned the public to avoid using unregistered chemicals in fumigating their homes as may not only kill the insects, but endanger the health of humans.
KHARTOUM, SUDAN  Khartoum residents described fierce battles Saturday with fighters roving the streets and little sign Sudan's warring sides were respecting an agreement to protect civilians ahead of cease-fire talks due to resume in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

Fighting has rocked Khartoum and adjoining areas as well as Geneina in the Darfur region since the warring army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary force agreed a "declaration of principles" Thursday.

"It was much worse this morning compared to the past two days. You could clearly hear the tanks and the RSF were patrolling the streets more than usual," said Hani Ahmed, 28.

The conflict that broke out a month ago has killed hundreds of people, sent more than 200,000 into neighboring states, displaced another 700,000 inside the country, and risks drawing in outside powers and destabilizing the region.

The two sides have battled through previous truces and have shown no sign of being willing to compromise. Although the RSF has promised to uphold Thursday's agreement, the army has not yet commented on it.

Neither side seems able to secure a quick victory, with the army able to call on air power but the RSF dug into residential districts throughout the capital.

"We only see the army in the sky but in terms of face-to-face contact we only see the RSF. They're the ones on the ground," Ahmed said.

For civilians the conflict has unleashed a nightmare of bombardment, random gunfire, home invasions and looting, amid flickering electricity supply, shortages of water and food, and little chance of medical help with injuries.

"Our neighborhood is now completely under RSF control, They loot and harass people and wander around, always armed, taking shelter wherever they want," said Duaa Tariq, 30, an art curator in Khartoum.

Tariq said she hoped the talks in Jeddah could lead to a cease-fire, but was doubtful, adding: "We can't really trust either side because they don't have control of their soldiers on the ground."

Arab League

Fighting is unabated since the two sides agreed the declaration of principles to protect civilians and allow humanitarian access. Residents say RSF fighters continue to occupy properties, which the force has denied doing, and the army carries out air strikes that residents say hit civilian targets.

Hashim Mohamed, 35, said he had found bread in a local shop for the first time in a week. "It's not that bread isn't available, but it's a longer walk which means more brushes with danger," he said.

Out shopping Saturday, he had to duck down as gunfire rattled nearby and RSF fighters cruised the neighborhood in civilian cars.

The resumed talks in Jeddah will start by discussing ways to implement the existing agreement, then move on to a lasting cease-fire that could pave the way for a civilian government, officials say.

Saudi Arabia has invited army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to the Arab League summit in Jeddah, a senior Saudi diplomat said, but he is not expected to leave Sudan for security reasons, two other diplomats in the Gulf said.

Burhan was invited because he is head of Sudan's Sovereign Council, in which his rival, RSF chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, is deputy. Saudi Arabia has had close ties to both men since the army and the RSF sent troops to help the Saudi-led coalition in its war against Houthi forces in Yemen.

Some of the worst fighting has taken place in Darfur, where a war has simmered since 2003, killing 300,000 people and displacing 2.5 million.

The Darfur Bar Association, a local rights group, said at least 77 people were killed in Geneina, where fighting flared Friday after a two-week lull.

"Armed groups on motorcycles and RSF vehicles attacked on Friday and are continuing to commit acts of killing, looting, arson and terror," the group said.

The RSF has denied moving from its positions in Darfur and blamed the strife there on the army and on loyalists of former president Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted in 2019, saying they had armed civilians.

Residents said Friday the army did not intervene in the Geneina strife. (REUTERS)
WASHINGTON - President Emmerson Mnangagwa says his government will conduct free, fair and credible elections this year.

Speaking at a high-level debt resolution forum in Harare today, Mnangagwa said the government is putting in place all the necessary measures to ensure that the elections are free.

Former Mozambican leader Joachaim Chissano and African Development Bank president Akinwumi Adesina told Mnangagwa and other participants that transparent elections are a pathway to Zimbabwe's arrears and debt clearance program.

Zimbabwe is saddled with a US$17,3 billion external debt and US$6 billion in arrears after failing over the years to pay its dues to the International Monetary Fund, Paris Club, World Bank and other international finance institutions.
Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM

News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria.



Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria.

Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria.

Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens.
The late Pop Smoke. Photo: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images

More than three years after the ascendant New York drill rapper Pop Smoke was shot and killed, a now-18-year-old has confessed to the killing. The unidentified young man, who was 15 at the time, made the admission in juvenile court on May 12, the Los Angeles Times reported, along with confessing to other charges including home-invasion robbery and discharging a firearm. He is not being identified by order from the judge, since he was a minor when the crime was committed. He will be held in a juvenile facility until he is 25. This admission comes after a 20-year-old, who was 17 at the time of the killing, previously pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in April. Four people in total were charged with the February 2020 killing, including Keandre Rogers and Corey Walker, who were 18 and 19 at the time and allegedly commissioned the robbery.
Young Korean cryptocurrency investors are lining up at bankruptcy courts after losing huge amounts of money when the bubble burst this year.

The Seoul Bankruptcy Court recently agreed to write off soured loans taken out by crypto bros, which is expected to prompt more of them to throw themselves on the mercy of the court.

According to court data, the number of people seeking personal rehabilitation during the first five months of this year increased by 2,600 on-year to 34,553. Most of the applicants are thought to be in their 20s and 30s.

Bankruptcy lawyers report a sharp increase in the number of young Koreans who got caught up in the Bitcoin craze. One office worker in his 30s borrowed W25 million on his credit card to invest in cryptocurrencies and even more from a subprime lender when the first investment was blown (US$1=W1,300).

"I used to be a hard-working salaryman, but turned into a horrible husband who is saddled with debt," he said.
If you are in line to vote STAY IN LINE! Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Getty Images

How Robert De Niro can still win Ultimate Babe 2K23 Smackdown (a thread):

We are a nation divided, fractured, horny. On the night of May 15, writer Ashley Reese posed a thot experiment to the people of Twitter: At a wedding and having a big debate rn. Please vote. Who was hotter? with the options Young Al Pacino or Young Robert De Niro. Of course, this is was a deeply Heat-ed ask, pitting two Italianx kings against each other. After the standard 24-hour Twitter polling period and literally hundreds of thousands of votes, the results came in midway through Successions stressful election-night episode, and the results 

 were a tie. Young Pacino and Young De Niro are mathematically exactly the same level of hot. A hung jury! The conditions were perfect for this to go as viral as it did. The internet has always loved the concept of historical hotties: old Hollywood celebrities in their youth, daguerrotype guys with boy-band features under all that mutton-chop, anonymous Wild West mugshots, ones parents in their 20s and 30s, dressed in goofy yet flattering period fashions. They make us feel connected to the past in a way that words just cant. And with the debate raging and peoples opinions as cleft as Pacinos chin, this was 2023 Twitters version of the Dress, if everyone wanted to fuck the Dress.

Pacino and De Niro are an interesting case, because they are both still very much present celebrities in our lives, and they werent really young that long ago. Plenty of people on Twitter grew up watching them in the 70s and 80s. But plenty more have only known their personas as older dudes. People who saw Jack and Jill with their families as 10-year-olds in 2011, whose first exposure to Pacino was as the rapping Dunkaccino guy, are graduating from college in a couple of weeks. People who werent born yet when De Niro voiced the main shark in Shark Tale will vote in next years election. They are the exact right age for this to go viral in every quadrant. And De Niro was already trending in the news last week for announcing that he had a baby in April at the age of 79. His virility is very much on the publics mind.

Reese herself was not an impartial pollster, stumping early and hard for Young Pacino. Photos of him with those big doe eyes gazing off into the distance, looking oddly contemporary or maybe just timeless in an art shag and hoodie, or sweaty and soulful in Dog Day Afternoon, made for compelling evidence. But this blog is a Team De Niro space. The evidence is irrefutable. All of those iconic features that have aged over the years into cliche impression fodder add up in old photos to make for an impossibly hot man. The jawline, the glint in his eyes, the mop of curly hair, the Raging Bull physique? Fuhgeddaboutit!

But what this all comes down to is pretty versus sexy. Young Pacino is a pretty boy: soft features, DSLs, that Beatles/Oasis haircut that I personally find unflattering. He is acoustic guitars and poetry. Young De Niro, on the other hand, is a sexy grown man: ruggedly handsome, big nose (objectively hot), an extra button unbuttoned. Both look sensitive and deep  this is an important factor  but De Niro also looks like trouble. Its a bouba/kiki situation, and both are equally valid, and theres something beautiful about the fact that so many people can vote on this and we can be so evenly divided on it. Its a win-win. Tomato tomahto. Potato potahto. Pacino De Niro.
I got a call from my agents, saying, Yeah, can you get on a plane in a couple of days to shoot an episode of Succession? I was like, I think, yes, I can do that. Photo: HBO

Spoilers follow for Succession season four, episode eight, America Decides.

Poor Darwin; hes just not someone who evolved to thrive at ATN. In Successions big Election Night episode, the series introduces the very far right-leaning news networks resident voting analyst, a guy named Darwin (Adam Godley) who finds his attempts to accurately analyze the data overruled by the whims of his superiors. Notably, Darwin resists calling Wisconsin in favor of Romans preferred candidate, the fascist nationalist Jeryd Mencken, after a vandalism incident destroys a significant number of Milwaukee absentee ballots that Shiv insists would push things in favor of her preferred candidate, the Democrat Daniel Jimenez. Darwin soon gets overruled  though allowed the caveat that theyre making the call pending  and then steamrolled by Roman and Kendall, who opt to call the election in favor of Mencken once results from Arizona make it clear the state is going red. Along the way, Greg manages to get wasabi in Darwins eyes and tries to get it out by pouring lemon-flavored LaCroix over his face. All in all, thats a tough night for Darwin and democracy as a whole, but it was a fun episode to film for Godley, a regular player on television and the stage who was already a big fan of Succession before he got the chance to drop into ATN.

How did this part come to you?

We were just finishing up the third season of The Great. I was in London, and I got a call from my agents, saying, Yeah, can you get on a plane in a couple of days to shoot an episode of Succession? I was like, I think, yes, I can do that.

Were you a fan of the show before getting cast in this episode?

Like so many others, I was just obsessed with it. Professionally in awe of how they make it. That incredible cast. The writing, the way its shot. The whole thing. From the very first episode I was completely in.

Darwin is sort of the Steve Kornacki of ATN. How was he initially described to you?

I immediately thought of Steve Kornacki, whom I really admire  hes such a wonderful, quirky character himself. And the idea of somebody with professional integrity dropped into the midst of the Roys world has got to be an incredibly fun role to play. The way this show is made is so different from The Great, so it was very attractive to go into something completely different.

What struck you about the way that Succession was made, particularly?

I had a great call with Jesse Armstong while I was still in London, and he explained to me how they approach shooting each scene, which is very precise and also very liberating. Theres great freedom within the structure of both the script and the way its shot. The central cast  Roman, Greg, Tom, and Shiv, who Im mostly interacting with  theyve clearly been doing this for a while. Theyre at such a precision pitch of how to play this stuff and so deeply in their characters. When we did get to improvise, we were just off and away.

What was it like to film the scene where Darwin is blinded by wasabi and then lemon seltzer?

It was a riot. Nick and Matthew, theyre just so funny together. The way that Jesse has organized shooting those things, theyre just coming up and giving you little bombs of alternate jokes to drop in the middle of the scene.

Did you actually get anything in your eyes? It does look like a lot of seltzer is poured over you.

I dont want to say; its trade secrets. [Laughs.] But no, there was nothing actually sting-y put in my eyes at all. It was all quite safe. They rigged up special cans of whatever that soda was. A nice, pure mineral water.

Did you think much about Darwins backstory? How does someone with that much integrity end up at ATN of all places?

Well, these people are policy nerds, arent they? We all know people who are just absolutely, passionately obsessed with one thing. And then when you get to make it your career  Again, you mentioned Steve Kornacki, you think of his enthusiasm for his subject. Its palpable. Its there physically in the way he speaks. We shot at CNBC Studios in New Jersey, and you walk in and see the scale of the operation and imagine what it must be like on Election Night. Pretty much everybody there, hundreds of people, who themselves are all obsessed with politics  this is Christmas and birthday and Thanksgiving all rolled into one. Its Election Night! So the whole thing is vibrating at a pretty high pitch. And that was the night we were re-creating.

As someone who works in a newsroom, the details of everyone milling around eating convenience-store sushi and LaCroix felt very accurate. Were you all talking with actual political journalists?

They brought in a guy from CNN. I got to speak to him the first day I was in; we had a sit-down and a great chat. I could sense his enthusiasm, his passion, how meticulously the details matter. Theyre not life-and-death decisions, but they have huge implications, and you have a huge responsibility. You could feel the weight of it. That also informed how I could explore the inner life of this character. The brilliance of Jesse is that those little details just make the thing real. From that basis, you can go as crazy as you like.

The episode pulls from elements of the 2016 and 2020 elections, which for me, at least, brought back a lot of chilling memories. Was it cathartic or tense to act that all out again?

Its probably triggering in some respects for a lot of people. The echoes were very, very clear, and thats all part of the fun of it. Theyve re-created that stuff so well and touch on it just enough that we sort of know where we are, but then make it original and extraordinary and fold it into what is needed for the plot of the show.

Were you sworn to complete and total secrecy about all the plot developments? You must have known far in advance, before most of the world, that Logan would die, because hes not around in this episode.

I did; I realized it on set. I put two and two together. I was like, What could possibly have happened to Big Daddy? And I absolutely was not going to ruin that for anybody that I knew  any of my friends, my partner. I didnt want to spoil anyones enjoyment.

Right now youre in rehearsals for something completely different, the Britney Spears jukebox musical Once Upon a One More Time, in which you play the narrator. Were you a Britney fan before you joined that?

Because Ive been working as an actor from a young age, I didnt really have a childhood or a teenage-hood or any of that stuff. I was vaguely aware there was somebody called Britney Spears out there in the public realm. But now, yes, now I know a lot about her music, her genius, genius music. And for me, going from the world of The Great and Succession and then, the last theater I did was this play The Lehman Trilogy  a play about the history of Western capitalism, really  to dive into a Britney Spears musical, is, well, variety is the spice of life. Its an absolutely brilliant book by Jon Hartmere. Weve got these extraordinary choreographers, Keone and Mari Madrid. So, for me, its been a steep learning curve.

In The Lehman Trilogy your character does do the Twist, so there was a bit of choreography there too.

Yeah, Ive had some dance training in the dim and distant past, and obviously, as an actor, you want to be able to draw on everything you have in your store. This play is using all sorts of muscles. You want to be challenged and stretched and dive into things that are a little bit outside of your comfort zone. Its always good for an actor. Its always good in life, I think.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
This article originally appeared in our subscriber-exclusive newsletter Succession Club. Existing subscribers click here to sign up. If youre not a subscriber yet, get started here. Photo: HBO

Spoilers follow for Succession season four, episode eight, America Decides.

At the core of tonights episode of Succession is the series of triangulations among the Roy siblings, the Mencken and Jimenez campaigns, and the ATN news operation itself. The level of filthy politics-and-money transactionalism may have been elevated  somewhat  for the sake of drama, but the way the election plays out (firebombed ballots, asymmetric campaign warfare, a narrow maybe-victory that leaves everyone rattled except possibly Roman Roy) feels unsettlingly plausible. I got on the phone with Eric Schultz, one of Successions politics consultants and a deputy press secretary in the Obama White House, to talk about the yikes level of legitimacy in this fictional scenario.

First, just tell me about your role in the constellation of writers and producers and other people who make an episode.

Obviously the writers on Succession are brilliant, theyre creative, and theyre hilarious. And what I think makes the show pop is the attention to detail in the worlds of which theyre writing. When they asked me to be a part of this season, I think it was because, yes, theyre gonna have flights of fancy and storylines that are dramatic and oftentimes outrageous  but it was important to have them against a backdrop that felt real and credible and legitimate.

Talk to me a little about your own experience of election night in 2016. Obviously it doesnt directly plot onto the Mencken-and-Jimenez election night, but there are bits and pieces of both 2016 and 2020 heavily figuring in it. I know I have my own memories of it  everybody does.

In 2016 I was still working in the White House, and obviously, like the rest of the world, we had anticipated a different outcome. And we had a lot of plans for president-elect Clinton to be announced that evening and had to change course when it was clear that wasnt gonna be the case.

In the episode theres a moment fairly early  before we learn about the Wisconsin fire and everything changes  when they say based on exit polls that it looks like its Jimenez, and the architecture of the evening starts to take shape. Im wondering if that kind of call is typical in real-life politics.

Yes. The reason why I think the show has a lot of power is because it is set against a backdrop that is entirely credible. We spent a lot of time on the timeline of the evening, as states report in and what their electoral-college votes were. That was all well-researched. And so, even though a lot of the scenarios of course take dramatic license, it was important to the writers that those events take place in a context that felt entirely plausible. We would spend a lot of time breaking down how states would likely vote, in various scenarios and at various times of the night. The fire being in Wisconsin in Milwaukee was not an accident, right? We wanted to find a place that fit into the timing, a venue that had a sufficient number of votes to be determined 

Right. You need one thats late-ish in the evening.

Yeah, exactly. The other two consultants, Ben Ginsberg and Justin Geldzahler, did a lot on this. We needed to find a place that was towards later in the night, and could sort of upend things, and of course be a swing state.

A honeymoon state!

[Laughs.] Yeah. And obviously sabotaging elections, you know, is unfortunately very much talked about these days. A lot of our work on the show was sort of drawing from work that Democrats  from the Biden campaign to election lawyers and outside groups  had: vigilant plans in place for all sorts of election-day scenarios, including, like, tabletop exercises that simulated various disruptions and mischief. Talking through those absolutely informed how the writers went about this show.

I do think youre right that for me, the parallel in 2020  and I know youre talking about 2016, but

It draws a lot from both, really.

Right. Youve got Fox, which famously called Arizona for Joe Biden, and none of the other networks had done that. They were out there by themselves. But you can imagine scenarios where they werent willing to do that, and then the whole outcome just becomes a lot more squishy.

Right.

And so the writers entertained this question from the other way around, right? In real life Fox had called Arizona but they werent willing to call the other states because then they wouldve had to be the first to announce that Joe Biden was gonna be president and Donald Trump was defeated. At ATN, their call for Wisconsin ties their hands to do what they want to do.

I also think its a window into how big a role the media outlets play in not only the projections of whos winning elections, but also how much confidence we collectively have in the outcomes. Obviously, if the election doesnt feel legitimate, everything else is at risk.

I was gonna ask you very specifically about that Arizona moment. It is sort of delicious that ATNs people box themselves in by calling Wisconsin, and then theyre stuck with their call.

The inverse of what happened in real life. And we know that the professional who ran the decision desk of Fox News was fired for making that call.

When the Succession team was working out this episode, was there yet information available about what had gone on inside Fox in the days after? That they considered whether they shouldnt have called Arizona, whether they should have been slower in order to placate their viewers? Because there is that similar moment where Kendall says something incredulous along the lines of Were not gonna tell em the truth because its not what they want to hear? That inside story became public pretty recently, and Im not sure if you would have seen it in time to write this.

So I would say that the writers are extraordinarily diligent but theyre also amazingly prescient. Id have to go back and check, because its been years of drip-drip-drip about Fox on election night. Definitely the arc of this episode was in place long before the most recent revelations. But, my goodness, does it all track.

As a person who works in a newsroom, Im surprised how much communication there is between the ATN executives, Kendall and Roman and Shiv, and the candidates camps.

Yes.

I know there is always conversation between people on the campaigns and reporters and editors, even editors-in-chief. But at the corporate level, in my experience, that doesnt take place much. And Im wondering if that is something youve seen in real life and Im just being naive, or if it is particular to ATN and its real-life counterparts.

I think its the latter. In general, youre right that theres a firewall between the business side and the editorial side. At a place like Fox, weve seen that trampled over, but in my experience of working in politics, our engagement is with the news side  the people calling the shots on coverage. I think most legitimate reporters and news outlets take great pride that they are siloed from the business decisions and considerations.

That makes it so much filthier to watch!

Right. You dont want, you know, an independent news enterprise to be compromised for commercial considerations. And a thing about this episode is that we see what happens when thats turned on its head. What is also true is that we spent a lot of time on each candidates speech for election night. Even though in the final cut, its sort of playing in the background, we definitely did game out what each candidates posture would be in that scenario.

Even though its not front-and-center, you cant take your eyes off Mencken.

Im glad.

Jeryd Menckens speech is spooky, and not exactly what you expect. He has that line that hes been judged the winner by an authority of known integrity.

Yes! And, and I think thats what we wanted to show, the back and forth, the symbiotic relationship between a campaign and a news outlet and how much influence those news agencies have, and the repercussions if theyre willing to abuse it. And theres that quiet exchange, I think at the end, when Kendall, Shiv, and Roman are arguing about what to do and Kendall says, well, if we give him the legitimacy to declare victory They announce hes the winner, and then he can declare victory. Pulling back the curtain on that sequencing, I think, was a good window into how this works.

Again, speaking as someone who works in a newsroom, this episode freaked me out more than any other. I think I was actually having, you know, some kind of weird emotional flashback to the last two elections.

Thats the magic of the episode. Right? It is scenarios that have not happened, in this setting where it feels like its totally plausible.

This article originally appeared in Succession Club, our subscriber-exclusive newsletter obsessing over all the minutaie of the final season. Existing subscribers can visit this page to sign up. If youre not a subscriber yet, get started here.
Succession America Decides Season 4 Episode 8 Editors Rating 5 stars * * * * *  Previous Next  Previous Episode Next Episode  Photo: HBO

Earlier this week, CNN went forward with a Town Hall event featuring former president Donald Trump only days after a jury swiftly ruled against him in a civil case brought by the writer E. Jean Carroll, who had accused him of sexual abuse and defamation. Critics have rightly called out the Town Hall as a farcical platform for Trumps campaign that allowed him to spew largely unchecked lies before an audience of Republican and right-leaning independent voters in New Hampshire who were explicitly told not to boo should they even feel inclined. CNN boss Chris Licht said afterward that America was served very well by the broadcast and that CNN had made a lot of news, [and] that is our job. In The Atlantic, however, Megan Garber got hung up on that bit of phrasing:

This is vertical integration of the worst kind. The network makes news and then talks about the news that has been made, and then agrees that the news that has been made is dangerous to the republic.

Toward the end of tonights bone-chilling episode of Succession, after the CE-bros opt to press their fat thumbs on the scales of democracy, Roman sums up the fiasco thusly: We just made a night of good TV. Thats what weve done. The coming episodes will almost certainly reveal that Roman, Kendall, and Tom, in their eagerness to play the roles of cable-news kingmakers, will have wagged the wrong dog. But Jesse Armstrong understands the perverse, top-down, ratings-grubbing incentives of cable news so well that America Decides can barely be called prescient for seeming so timely. What the Roys pull off in delivering their night of good TV is just a more craven, inept form of business as usual. It was one thing for Kendall to promise eternal life, but hes gone too far this time.

(Before I go any further, however, I want to tell you on the down-low that exit polls say Jimenez. No leaks, please.)

Armstrongs diabolical script for America Decides  the irony dripping from that title is like the Xenomorph blood in the Alien movies  takes the past two presidential Election Nights as a template, which may explain the sinkhole that has opened up in the pit of your stomach. From 2016, Armstrong revives the spectacle of a far-right fringe candidate outperforming the polls and eking out a surprising, surreal victory against his liberal opponent. And from 2020, he reconfigures that startling moment when the Fox News Decision Desk got out in front of the competition to call Arizona for Joe Biden, which enraged a Trump campaign that was counting on the network to prevent reality from interfering with its narrative of reelection. Here, its a premature pending (but really not pending) call on Wisconsin that swings the electoral vote in Jeryd Menckens favor and a legitimate call in Arizona that forces ATN to crown the king from the corner theyve painted themselves into. (Armstrong also seems to draw from reports that an inebriated Rudy Giuliani advised Trump to declare victory on Election Night. Again, it sets a narrative thats hard to reverse.)

Nonetheless, Election Night on ATN starts with pro forma pre-returns coverage about irregularities at the polls. Before Greg even gives him a cocaine bump, Tom is hitting the news floor to ask after a viral scoop about a woman who had reportedly voted for Jimenez 40 times under her dead mothers name. (He is disappointed to be informed that shes not a well person.) This nights coverage is when the ATN voice must yield to the sober data of polling stations, but the young guns in Waystars post-Logan executive class all have agendas that supersede the democratic process. Tom needs a ratings bonanza if hes to have any hope of a future at ATN News now that he has lost Logan and his tenuous reunion with Shiv has collapsed. Meanwhile, Roman and Kendall are still focused on sabotaging the deal with Matsson, and it seems like a back-channel deal with Mencken is secure if they can just do their part to make him president. Kendall seems queasy about the situation  maybe smashing the country to pieces isnt such a swell idea?  but hes flexible.

These high-level machinations are invisible to the viewing public, of course, which might be alarmed to know that the election chaos was made possible in part by the ATN chief being on the outs with his wife. But America Decides beautifully dovetails the election with the personal drama that has been building up all season long. Though we know Kendall has plans to reverse Viking the Swedes and appoint himself the sole leader of a media kingdom larger than his father ever had, Roman sees them as aligned in killing Matssons deal. Now, via Greg, the word is starting to slip out that Shiv has been advising Matsson behind their backs, hoping to lock down the deal in exchange for some undefined place at the new company. (That Matsson hasnt actually promised her a thing is a typical Shiv-scheme problem, though her instinct to bet against her brothers plans is sound.) With Nate blanching over Kendalls blunt discussion about scotching the deal in exchange for favorable Jimenez coverage over the first 100 days, Romans voice rings loudly, especially when he discovers Shivs betrayal at the worst possible time.

The precursor to that revelation is a terrific scene between Kendall and Shiv where she reads her brothers insecurities about Mencken, which rest partly on his worries about Romans tight relationship with him and partly on his concern that helping elect a fascist may make the world a worse place for his daughter. Hes honest about his desire to run the company if Matssons deal is blocked, and he seems surprised and pleased that Shiv seems to have no objections to it  not knowing, of course, that shes in cahoots with the Swede. Still, Shivs panic over Mencken was legitimate from the start: Menckens the nightmare, plausible in a decadent era, she tells Kendall. He says the bad shit. He believes the bad shit. It isnt far from Kendalls mind that his decision on Mencken relates to his failings as a parent. He doesnt want to be like his dad, but, as he says, maybe the poison drips through.

Roman has no such misgivings. My teams playing your team, he hisses at Shiv as the evening begins. Its only spicy because if my team wins, theyre going to shoot your team. When a fire erupts at a polling center in Milwaukee, Roman latches on to the levers of power with both hands. Whos to say which candidate the burned votes of Wisconsins largest city would have favored? ATNs poor, exasperated election-desk head, Darwin (a wonderful Adam Godley), can definitely say whom they would favor, but Roman has no trouble steamrolling over him, especially since the feckless Tom cant even keep the Roys off the news floor. The compromise solution to label Wisconsin a pending call is to Darwin what the goosed-up Living+ figures were to the companys numbers guy. Darwin needs some cover for information he knows to be wrong  and in the end, he doesnt even get that. No pending. No camera time for his caveats. Just a new president.

We know enough about the success rate of the Roy childrens big moves to guess that their Election Night shenanigans will blow up in their faces. But America Decides speaks to a cable-news ecosystem that does a lot of Americas deciding for it. Just as Trump remains a ratings bonanza, Mencken is great television. (To quote Darren Rovells immortally stupid tweet, I feel bad for our country. But this is tremendous content.) Menckens speech seizing on the ATN call, declaring himself something clean in a polluted land, doesnt sound much different from Travis Bickle, in Taxi Driver, hoping that one day a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets. Scary stuff, perhaps, but horror is always a popular genre. For a sleazy little corporate apparatchik like Roman, a future in which Mencken gives the Roy brothers control of Waystar while offering tremendous content is a win-win.

Sad-Sack Wasp Traps

 News of the Shiv-Matsson alliance is filtered through Greg, who immediately spills it to Tom, as expected. Information, Greg, says Tom, its like a bottle of fine wine. You store it. You hoard it. You save it for a special occasion. And then you smash someones fucking face in with it.

 Kendall takes rich-divorced-dad absenteeism to new levels by having a dark SUV follow Rava and Sophie around for their protection as an extra layer of Bubble Wrap, which of course scares the hell of them.

 Tom to Greg on why he should go back to fetching him coffee: If I get drowsy and I miscall Colorado  instability! And the U.S. loses credibility. China spots an opportunity and invades Taiwan. Tactical nukes. Fucking shit goes kablooey. And were back to amoeba. Its a long way back from pond life because you failed to get me a double shot. (Turns out you dont have to be drowsy to miscall a state.)

 One more great Tom-and-Greg exchange in a night full of them: Tom is furious that his disgusting brother wont snort cocaine with him because Greg had coke the night before and doesnt want to get addicted. What are you saying? Tom screams. Aztecs are stupid? Dont be a racist little bitch about it.

 Alas, Connors presidential ambitions come to an end as the polls close and Schrodingers ballot box opens in Kentucky, where Mencken is declared the winner. He has no regrets, though: It just makes an election so much more interesting when youre in it.

 Wonderful piece of acting from Sarah Snook in the scene where Shiv pulls Tom aside to apologize for her harsh words on Election Eve. She expects him to apologize in turn but then gets hit in the face with the bottle of fine information wine instead. His pissy disbelief over her pregnancy revelation (Is that even true? Or is that like a new position or tactic?) genuinely surprises and hurts her, and Snook expresses Shivs wounded reaction by barely pushing a What? through a veil of sadness.

 Connor believes his $100 million is still worth a minor ambassadorship, and he has cooked up the rhymes to pitch for it: Organize a little coup down in old Peru? Put me in a van to Tajikistan? Couldnt I just be our fun guy in Uruguay?

 Respect the process. Count every vote. Hes so fucking dull: Hugo on Jimenez says a lot about what actually matters for network executives and what doesnt.

 Shivs threat to Greg over Matsson (How about I offer for you to keep your internal organs on your inside rather than I pull them out your asshole?) is ineffectual in a way that recalls Kendalls trying to use the same language in a position of weakness against Stewy. Colorful threats can still be empty threats. Even a dope like Greg is smart enough to realize that.

 Funniest scene of the night has to be Darwin accidentally rubbing his eyes with the wasabi from the bodega sushi, which Greg then attempts to wash out with the acid of a lemon-flavored seltzer. Its clear, pleads Greg. Its natural, like medical.

 Subtly excellent moment between Greg and Jess in the pregnant pause before he relays the news that ATN will call the election for Mencken. That we never get a chance to know Jess beyond her faithful service to Kendall makes this little beat more powerful. Greg and Jess are adjacent to power; theyre messengers and facilitators. Now, theyre standing between their bosses and a dark, transformational change in the country. But they cant stand there for very long.

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The rest of Rosss 40th-birthday party opens this episode instead of the greatly anticipated season-15 taglines, which is unfortunate because the dramas climax doesnt quite meet what the teaser promised. Martells messiness and Courtneys irrelevance were all predictable and cringe inducing, regardless of how activated Kandi got. And honestly, what activates Kandi isnt so much the content of the beef Courtney has but how Courtney approaches the situation. After the infamous Pillow Talk fight, we all know what happens when fingers start waving in Kandis face, and the whole group agrees that Courtney can be a bit animated.

Things between Courtney and Kandi simmer down just as quickly as they escalated as the spotlight remains on Kenya, Martell, and Sheree. Sheree brings Martell into the conversation about the possible other women and the message in Kenyas inbox, and hes quick to defend himself. The man is slithery, to say the least, with the quick-footedness of a person who is well versed in having a camera document sticky situations. He jokes about the alleged woman hes seeing in Atlanta, saying hes with Sheree every time hes in the city, so the other woman must be getting the short end of the stick (Im not sure how that joke helps his case, but alrighty then).

Its easy to imagine Martell going back and forth on his own television show, spewing excuses and deflecting from his behavior. I went back to the petition to get Martell axed from his show, and the comments are concerning; I know internet comments can be dramatic, but the claims of him harassing, stalking, and abusing his ex-wife are enough to make Ralph look like a saint. Martells quickness makes him a worthy opponent to Kenya, though I never think husbands/boyfriends should raise their voices or throw petty shade at their partners friends. Upon being shown the message, Martell tells Kenya to pull up all her DMs, remarking that she probably responded to all of them. This roundabout way of calling Kenya hoe-ish sets her off, and now its Kenya who is activated.

Martell continues to deny the message (that literally everyone just saw) until he finds a loophole: He sent the DM two years ago, way more than the at least six months ago timeline Kenya initially proposed. Like any great toxic man, he holds onto this discrepancy to continue to discredit Kenya and then says, I dont care if I was trying to fuck two years ago. Why are you talking about it? Kenya gets up out of her seat, daring him to be forward with his offhand comments. Sheree stands between her man and her friend as Kenya yells, You did it to your ex-wife, and youre going to do it to Sheree. Once a cheater, always a cheater, you fucking piece of shit. She warns her friend that the way Martell talks to her is eventually how hell be talking to Sheree. But Sheree stands by her man and leaves the party with him on her arm. In the car, he doubles down on his comment, saying if theyre queens, hes a king and should be treated as such. Okay, Martell.

Later, Kenya comes to the She by Sheree distribution center to hash things out. Dealing with Kenya in situations like this tends to be murky; throughout her tenure on the show, shes had a pattern of getting in explosive fights, with her opponent often saying she instigated them. Like Kim Fields once said, Kenya likes to shake a hornets nest and then act surprised when she gets stung. Im saying this not because I felt she was in the wrong with Martell but because its easy to paint her as the villain in any confrontation, which is precisely what Sheree does. However, shes unable to provide a valid reason for Martell to have spoken to Kenya that way, and she tries to brush the situation under the rug, saying that she already knew about the DM. She also claims not to have heard Martells shady comment about Kenya answering every DM request, sticking to her story that Martell is completely innocent while Kenya remains adamant that she was defending herself against an aggressive man. Then Sheree leans into a bizarre attempt to make Kenyas actions seem racially motivated. She says in her confessional, What is your issue with calling Black men aggressive? Are they public-enemy No. 1 because you dont have one?

Before the meeting at the distribution center, Sheree and Sanya somehow turn the confrontation into something about race, expressing the importance of not labeling Black men, stating that after Ross stood up for his wife last season, Kenya also called him aggressive. Its true that Black men, and Black people in general, are disproportionately and falsely labeled as aggressive and threatening, but comparing that very real issue to what occurred between Martell and Kenya is a false equivalence. As a longtime fan of the show, Ive tended to side with the party that feels instigated by Kenya (you cant get in peoples faces, run your mouth, and expect them to do nothing), but in this scenario, I feel that though Kenya may have been messy bringing up the DM, Martells response was unjustified. Its similar to the Miami fiasco in season eight with Tammys nephew, whose feathers were definitely ruffled by Kenya, but the reaction was out of control. The DM wasnt salacious or overtly flirty, so why would Martell flip out like that instead of saying he was being friendly? Going from zero to slut shaming was a bit much, and his reputation already precedes him.

Ultimately, after giving Sheree a lesson in bros before hos, Kenya agrees to disagree about the situation. Still, theres so much irony in Sherees chosen form of deflection because, in the same episode, she cackles at Courtneys insinuation that Kandi is ghetto. I guess her concerns about stereotyping in the Black community do not extend to her castmates. Courtney, whose dads sister is Ralphs great-aunt, proves just how annoying the family tree is when she takes another random jab at Kandi. We find out that she had much more to say about the mogul while meeting with Sheree and Sanya than was first relayed back to Kandi. This tea is much stronger than the I heard you said we werent friends bullshit  Courtney tells Sheree and Sanya that after Kandi posted herself at a restaurant the girls frequent, a new ghetto crowd started to populate the hangout. Now, we are in the year 2023, and we should know better than to call each other ghetto, especially in front of a white audience, but here we are.

Yes, technically, Courtney called the crowd that followed Kandi ghetto, not Kandi herself, but the implication is there. To make matters worse, thanks to a producer breaking the fourth wall, Kandi is forced to talk about the shooting that occurred in her restaurant. In her confessional, she explains the restaurant is situated in a more urban area of Atlanta, which has especially suffered from the rising crime rates in the city. At first, Todd says they cant speak on it too much as its a legal matter, but they cover the gist of the situation. A disgruntled employee came to work inebriated and fought with Kandis cousin Melvin, the kitchen manager, escalating with the employee shooting Melvin. Why Kandi and Todd would have Melvin on-camera with his arm in an impossible-to-ignore sling, then say they cant talk about the situation, makes no sense to me, but its great to see that Melvin is okay. Sadly, this is the second shooting at one of Kandis restaurants after an incident occurred at Old Lady Gang in 2020, prompting Sheree to say, We dont know when we go to Old Lady Gang if were going to get biscuits or bullets.

Thankfully, Kandi reports that her restaurants havent been hurt by the unfortunate events, but its not helping the ghetto narrative that Courtney has brought into this season. As we see in the promo for next week, Kandi responds to Courtneys claims about her bringing the hood out, and we get some fierce neck veins popping as she reminds Courtney that shes Mrs. Worldwide. Next weeks episode seems way more exciting than tonights; we get an RHOP Candiace Bassett appearance, a Marlo outburst, and a musical performance from Drew. Hopefully, itll make up for this somewhat lukewarm episode.

Peach Tea to Go

 Sending the DM six months ago versus two years ago is a huge difference, but Im pretty sure Kenya always said it was before they started dating. Im more curious about the timeline of his divorce, getting the mistress pregnant, sending the DM to Kenya, and starting to date Sheree. This man has a lot of time on his hands.

 Seeing Drews dad light up after hearing her song brought a tear to my eye. Im sending love to her whole family during this time; its a shame her husband wasnt able to support her in person.

 Drews music career is  interesting. I gave her song Already Know a listen, and I couldnt get past the knockoff Travis Scott ad-libs in the background. She has a beautiful voice, though! Its awkward watching her and Ralph talk about their marriage being in the best place its ever been. It makes me wonder if the demise of their relationship was a buildup of what weve all seen or the result of an isolated event.

 Marlo has been giving very much friend-of-energy in these first two episodes. She hasnt really brought anything but that hilarious eavesdropping meme, but clearly, thats going to change next week.

 Sanya straight-up lying about standing up for Kandi was funny with her little excuse about interpreting the ghetto comment differently. If youre going to play with the big dogs, you gotta learn to own it, girl!
Korea's eight budget airlines have overtaken flag carriers Korean Air and Asiana Airlines for the first time in terms of passenger numbers on international flights. On domestic routes they already soared ahead in 2014.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, budget airlines -- Air Busan, Air Premia, Air Seoul, Eastar Jet, Fly Gangwon, Jeju Air, Jin Air and T'way Air -- carried 748,273 passengers on international flights in December, compared to Korean Air and Asiana Airlines' 659,996.

In January, low-cost airlines hauled 170,000 more international passengers than flag carriers. The main factor was soaring demand for short-haul international flights to destinations like Japan, where budget carriers have an edge.

But the big two also struggled to attract passengers on their expensive long-haul flights due to the global economic slump.

In January 2019, Jeju Air accounted for only a 13.9 percent share of international flights, but that has surged to 16.8 percent. Over the same period T'way Air's share rose from 8.3 percent to 12.4 percent and Jin Air's from 9.9 percent to 13 percent.
Italy gains 17 new Bandiera Blu beaches.

A total of 458 beaches in 226 resorts across Italy have been awarded the 2023 Bandiera Blu (Blue Flag) status for excellent water quality and high environmental standards.

The prestigious recognition, up from 427 last year and more than double the number from around a decade ago, comes from the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) which assigns the flags to beaches with "excellent" water quality.

The Italian region with the highest number of Bandiera Blu beaches is Liguria, once again in the top spot with 34 beaches including two new entries: Laigueglia and Sori.

Puglia is now in second place with 22 Bandiera Blu resorts, with four new locations: Gallipoli, Isole Tremiti, Leporano and Vieste.

In third place with 19 Blue Flag recognitions areand, both of which have a new entry (San Mauro Cilento and Orbetello respectively), andwith two new blue flags for Catanzaro and Rocca Imperiale.

The number of Bandiera Blu beaches in Le Marche rises to 18 with the addition of Porto San Giorigo, while Sardinia reconfirms its 15 resorts from last year, as does Abruzzo (14), Sicily (11), Lazio (10), Trentino-Alto Adige (10) and Veneto (9).

Nine beach resorts in Emilia-Romagna were awarded Bandiera Blu status, with one new entry (Gatteo) and one departure (Cattolica) compared to last year.

has confirmed its five blue flags while the number inrose to five with the addition of San Maurizio dOpaglio and Verbania.

Friuli Venezia Giulia confirms its two blue flags from last year, with Lombardy's Bandiera Blu recognition for lake resorts rises to three with two new entries (Sirmione and Toscano Maderno), and Molise wins two blue flags thanks to the new addition of Termoli.

For full details of where to find Italy's Blue Flag beaches in 2023, region by region, see FEE website.
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Virtually unnoticed amid alleged drone attacks on the Kremlin, a looming Ukrainian spring offensive and aggressive Chinese military activity around Taiwan, another region is heating up. Two massive oil tankers, the Advantage Sweet, flagged to the Marshall Islands, and the Niovi, flagged to Panama, were recently seized by maritime elements of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

Both are held by the Iranians and anchored off the coast of Iran near the Strait of Hormuz at Bandar Abbas, the key Iranian naval base in the Arabian Gulf. While the seizure of just two ships may not seem like a crisis, it may be the beginning of a cycle in which the US Navy is drawn, yet again, into a risky mission to protect commercial shipping in the Gulf from Iranian aggression.

The Tehran government has issued a statement claiming that Advantage Sweet, seized on April 27, had struck another vessel. No such collision is apparent from analysis of the global tracking system and the owners deny it. The ship was carrying crude oil from Kuwait on behalf of American oil giant Chevron. This seizure appears to be the Iranian response to the recent legitimate apprehension, for sanctions violations, of a load of Iranian crude in the vessel Suez Rajan off the coast of Singapore. Iran will likely attempt to negotiate the release of Advantage Sweet in a trade for the oil in Suez Rajan.

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The case of the Niovi seizure on May 3 is murkier. The ship appears to have been taken in a dispute stemming from oil operations in the shadow market. Iran claimed the seizure was in response to a court order in Tehran stemming from a commercial disagreement. Like Advantage Sweet, the Niovi is swinging on an anchor awaiting its fate.

Whatever the actual causes of these two seizures, weve seen this playbook before. At a recent meeting of the Greek shipping company Onassis, upon whose board I sit, our operations managers were closely following what some would categorize acts of piracy. Additionally, last May Iran seized two Greek tankers, Prudent Warrior and Delta Poseidon, and held them until November. This was surely retaliation for the Greek governments impoundment of Iranian oil from another vessel, Lana (formerly Pegas) in Greek waters. The two governments eventually negotiated what was essentially a swap.

The Iranians have used these tactics repeatedly for decades whenever they become dissatisfied with global events or angry when sanctions are applied to their operations anywhere in the world. Normally, the seizures are accompanied by threats to shut down the Strait of Hormuz at the southern end of the Gulf, through which sails nearly 40% of the worlds oil.

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During my Navy career, I spent several years in total patrolling the waters of the Arabian Gulf, and have participated in multiple operations involving Iran. Notably, in the late 1980s, I deployed on a then brand-new Aegis cruiser, USS Valley Forge, as part of a lengthy operation called Ernest Will. The missions entailed re-flagging Kuwaiti merchant ships with US flags, and then escorting them fully loaded from Kuwait down the Gulf and out through the Strait of Hormuz on their way into the Arabian Sea.

Eventually, the US Navy conducted several successful attacks on Iranian ships, called Operation Praying Mantis, in response to their actions in the Gulf, which ranged from seizures of merchant ships to mining the Strait.

We could be on such a collision course again. If Iran continues to seize commercial vessels with impunity and zero justification, the international community will have to respond.

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The warships of the US Fifth Fleet are based in Bahrain for exactly this type of contingency, and include guided-missile destroyers and cruisers, as well as nuclear aircraft carriers on a rotational basis. Minesweepers are available should the Iranians resort to sea mines.

And the Air Force has a robust presence in the Gulf at Al Udeid air base in Qatar, the largest US military concentration in the Middle East and home of the powerful 379th Expeditionary Air Wing.

Americas allies also frequently deploy warships to the region, and would likely be willing to participate in convoy operations as needed  especially the British, who have deep experience in the region. A Royal Air Force Expeditionary Group is also based out of Al Udeid and constantly operates with the US forces stationed there.

While its always important to let diplomacy play out a bit further, simply allowing Iran to seize commercial shipping operating legally as bargaining chips to avoid sanctions wont be tolerated. The sooner the US and its allies communicate that directly and clearly to Tehran, the better. Or else we may be back in the convoy business again in the Middle East.

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More From Bloomberg Opinion:



The Arab League Just Made a Disastrous Bet on Syria: Bobby Ghosh



A Flirtation With China Wont Rock the Saudi-US Marriage: Hussein Ibish



The Oil Industrys Unhappy Marriage Is Starting to Face Facts: David Fickling

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

James Stavridis is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. A retired U.S. Navy admiral, former supreme allied commander of NATO, and dean emeritus of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, he is vice chairman of global affairs at the Carlyle Group. He is on the boards of American Water Works, Fortinet, PreVeil, NFP, Ankura Consulting Group, Titan Holdings, Michael Baker and Neuberger Berman, and has advised Shield Capital, a firm that invests in the cybersecurity sector.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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The Group of Seven rich nations is set to agree on establishing a new program to distribute vaccines to developing countries at this week's summit of leaders, Japan's Yomiuri newspaper said.

In addition to the G7, G20 nations such as India and international groups such as the World Health Organization and the World Bank will participate, it added, citing Japanese government sources.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the COVAX facility, backed by WHO and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, delivered nearly 2 billion doses of coronavirus vaccine to 146 countries.

However, COVAX faced setbacks in ensuring equitable access, as wealthy nations prioritized shots for their citizens while insufficient storage facilities in poorer nations caused supply delays and disposal of millions of close-to-expiry doses.

The new program aims to pool rainy-day funds for vaccine production and purchases, as well as investment in low-temperature storages and training of health workers to prepare for the next global pandemic, the Yomiuri said.
The off-market deal was done by Colliers agents James Stott and Charlie Woodley, who declined to comment on the buyer. Arrow Capital Partners paid $13.68 million for the 30,000 sq m property just two years ago, with plans to develop a new business park. There are three warehouses on the 29,700 sq m site, which cover about 13,700 sq m. Also in Dandenong South, Charter Hall recently sold 1-11 Remington Drive for $22.3 million, a sum that the listed institution told investors was done at a 22 per cent premium to book value. The 9484 sq m building is on a 16,616 sq m parcel of land and was also sold to an owner-occupier, the Design Group, a sheet metal company. Stott said the south-east market stands out from other industrial markets due to the lack of future supply.

The low vacancy is creating systemic issues for a large section of the market, and when these rare opportunities come to market we often see fierce competition from owner-occupiers, private investors and developers who can all employ different exit strategies, he said. Cadence Property Group and GPT recently completed a joint venture project, the $150 million, 60,686 sq m Keylink Estate, which sits across four individual tenancies, in the industrial location of Keysborough. Colliers worked with the developers to lease spaces before completion to a mix of multinational and corporate occupiers, including Early Settler, Hartman Group, AFS Logistics and Mohawk Industries-subsidiary Premium Floors. Early Settler, which operates a 56-strong store network in Australia and New Zealand, will move into a 37,890 sq m warehouse on Keylink Estate. Credit: Global industrial property giant Goodman agreed that with tight supply and high demand, competition was strong for well-located assets.

In the companys March quarter update, co-founder and chief executive Greg Goodman said the group had set its sights on the 2024 year after reporting strong demand for its warehouses. The ASX-listed global group has a market value of $37.21 billion and has issued a new upgrade to its full-year earnings guidance from 13.5 to 15 per cent growth. It owns and manages high-tech industrial storage centres across the globe and is one of the largest landlords for e-commerce giant Amazon. Goodman has focused on developing vertical warehouses in areas where land is tight, such as Hong Kong, Japan and South Sydney. Its primary areas are in gateway cities. This positive outlook was boosted by its development pipeline, now worth $13 billion, and assets under management of $80.7 billion. Goodman said the scarcity of space in the groups locations, and customer need for more productive and sustainable solutions, was supporting underlying property fundamentals.

These are driving development demand and rental growth, he said. Despite the global macroeconomic volatility, we have almost zero vacancy and continue to execute on our development strategy, with annual production rate for the 2023 financial year averaging around $7 billion. Loading JP Morgan analyst Richard Jones said, in a note to clients, that Goodman has a strong development workbook, providing very high margins given the large spread between its average 6.4 per cent development yield on cost and average global capitalisation rate of 4.2 per cent. The assets under management growth has been strong at 18 per cent, underpinned by development completions, Jones said. Goodman also has a strong balance sheet to take advantage of opportunities should they arise but trades around our valuation.
Bill Hall lost $20,000 after hackers intercepted an email he received containing an invoice from a builder for a house renovation.

The hackers changed the builders bank account details which then led to Hall instead transferring $26,385 to a scammer. Hall said his bank had failed to identify the discrepancy between the account name and number at the time of the transfer. It later retrieved $6353 from the scammers account.

Scam victim Bill Hall.

It was a real kick in the guts, he said. The scammer was careful to keep withdrawals to less than $10,000 each to reduce chances of scrutiny.

Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones will on Monday announce details of an $86.5 million package to help tackle scams and online fraud, saying Australians could not be expected to fight scammers on their own. The federal budget measure includes the establishment of a National Anti-Scams Centre to open in July through the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
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All it takes is three clicks for a child to access porn. And it is adversely affecting young peoples behaviours. See all 4 stories .

WARNING: Some readers may find images in this report distressing.

Three clicks. Thats all it takes to move from a popular adult sites homepage to a video in which men dressed as soldiers rape a screaming village girl. Three more clicks and theres a naked teenager crying helplessly as a man puts his hand around her neck against her will.

The videos are free. And none of the worlds most popular porn sites visited by this masthead, which show men treating women with violence and coercion prohibited under Australian law, stipulated the content was for adults, or required users to check a box confirming that they were over 18.

Amid deepening concern that adolescents easy, free access to a vast array of adult material is normalising gendered violence in adolescent sex  some teens say their first sexual experience involved a hand around their neck  the nation will soon begin debating whether to restrict access to minors. Those concerned include the NSWs Childrens Court president and the head of the states child abuse squad.

The eSafety Commission has handed in its report on how Australia could introduce an age verification road map to the federal government, a move that could also restrict childrens access to violent gaming and gambling. Age restriction can range from government-issued certificates to technology that scans a users facial characteristics to assess their age. The government is due to respond soon.

There are similar moves overseas, sparking clashes between childrens advocates and civil libertarians, and leaving adults worried about having their own porn habits exposed. France is pushing ahead with a porn passport. The United Kingdom is still working on its years-long attempt at an age-gating system. Several states in the US are enacting their own versions. Earlier this month, Pornhub retaliated in one US state by blocking its content to all users.

Teens at the coalface

In Australia, where nearly half (48 per cent) of young men have seen pornography by the age of 13 and nearly half (48 per cent) of young women by 15, age-based internet restriction is backed by health workers, academics and justice officials who have seen the trauma that can come as a result of adult content being re-enacted by teens too inexperienced and immature to understand the difference between reality and fantasy, and too nervous about peer disapproval to resist.

But others say the horse has bolted  theres an estimated 10,000 terabytes of adult content on the internet  and the best way to minimise harm involves parents and schools teaching young people that porn is not real, that its okay to say no to rough practices, and that theres nothing wrong with vanilla sex. They fear further regulation would push porn underground.

Examples of violent pornography easily accessed on the internet. Credit:

The days of paper bags in newsagents are long gone. The biggest players in the multibillion-dollar online adult industry are shadowy aggregator sites, which, using the same US law relied upon by Facebook, argue they are platforms, not publishers. They make billions through advertising and data collection, using content made by other people. The worlds top three adult sites are visited by an estimated 5.81 billion people per month (they do not release their figures), almost twice as many as Facebook.

When this masthead visited those sites, one featured 16 homepage videos of which four were from the popular faux-cest genre; fake incest involving sex between teen step-siblings or adults and their stepchildren (Daddy f---s his cute stepdaughter, dont tell her mom). There are explicitly racial subgenres, as well as a rough category featuring headlines such as black sl-t endures extreme rough, painful f---.

It is easily accessible and perfectly free, said Maree Crabbe, the project director for violence prevention initiative Its Time We Talked. You could be eight years old and look at it all day.

Some dispute a causal link between adolescents viewing pornography and real-life harm. This is a contested area, said Mish Pony from the Scarlett Alliance, the peak body representing sex workers. However, research in Australia and overseas is leading to a growing consensus among academics and health workers that, for some teens, easy access to violent porn is normalising acts that, in the hands of fumbling teenagers, can be dangerous and traumatising.

One 16-year-old girl, speaking with the permission of her parents, explained how pervasive pornography has been during her high school years. Boys at her school watch it in classrooms, hot-spotting off their phones. I get it sent to me, she said. The guys that I was with, talking about it all the time, to me. Talking about what they watch, and I felt I had to live up to that. And Id think, that looks so uncomfortable and painful.

Another said she dated a boy with a browser app specifically for pornography, which hed watch at school and outside. He used to watch the hardcore-porn type of thing, the rough stuff, she says, which included BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadomasochism) and the idea of consensual non-consensual stuff [role play that mimics forced sexual activity]. I was 13. I thought thats what was expected of me. I know some boys dont watch porn, but the majority do.

The teenage girls said they had assumed choking, hair pulling and verbal degradation  they had experienced all three  were standard in sex even though it made them uncomfortable, and that pain and faked pleasure were part of the experience, until they spoke to trusted adults.

One 24-year-old woman reflected on her early sexual experiences with anger, saying copying porn is now normal for teenagers, and some  like her  participated in sexual activities they did not find pleasurable to avoid peer disapproval and accusations such as kink shaming.

Acts like choking and strangulation and weird non-consensual violence that comes out of nowhere were common, she said, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the personal nature of her comments. It happened when none of us had a vocab to articulate our desires or assert our boundaries.

Changing violence before the courts

Nell Skinner is troubled by allegations she is hearing. Credit: Louise Kennerley

While juvenile sexual assault rates have been stable for the past 10 years, and there is no data on the types of sexual assault allegations coming before the NSW Childrens Court, the president of the court, Nell Skinner, says the nature of the allegations she has dealt with has changed significantly over the course of her 25-year career.

My recollection from prosecuting and representing offenders between 2000 and 2009 is that sexual assaults predominantly occurred through digital or penile/vaginal penetration, she said.

Over recent years I have seen more matters in court where complainants give evidence of sexual assaults through oral sex, anal sex and choking. I believe this evidence represents changes in the behaviour of adolescents due to the accessibility of pornography and the incidental sex education that flows from exposure to pornography.

Detective Superintendent Linda Howlett, the Child Abuse Squad commander, said she had seen a rise in sexual assaults involving choking, particularly in the past 18 months. Sometimes its due to dangerously clumsy auto-erotic asphyxiation but mostly its the element of control, she said, the physical domination of another.

It left victims traumatised. We are seeing [underage victims] with soreness to their throat, bruising. Its a disturbing trend. A lot of them feel that theyre actually going to die because they are not getting air into their airways, Howlett said.

A landmark NSW Health report on preventing and responding to problematic and harmful sexual behaviour (PHSB) by young people, published in February, states that pornography and other sexually explicit material contributes to sexual violence.

Linda Howlett has seen a rise in sexual assaults involving choking. Credit: Janie Barrett

Another NSW Health report found exposure to pornography was one of the four common factors behind adolescent problematic or harmful sexual behaviours. The others are experiences of abuse, trauma and gender expectations. There needs to be a specific focus on online safety and preventing early exposure to pornography, the report said.

There is evidence that pornography can negatively impact childrens mental health and wellbeing, their knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and expectations about sex and gender, and their involvement in risky or harmful sexual practices or behaviours.

NSW Health has expanded its PHSB counselling services across the state, due to demand.

In two childrens court sexual assault cases last year covered by this masthead, both involved choking. In one case, the boy was found guilty of assault for putting his hands around the girls neck with so much force she fell back against the wall and struggled to breathe.

Research from the United States is showing increasing prevalence; one found that 13 per cent of sexually active girls aged between 14 and 17 have already been choked during sex.

Young person after young person told me it was just a normal part of sex, said Crabbe, who is preparing a campaign on strangulation after her recent interviews with young people  she has been doing them for 14 years  showed a new level of normalisation. Young people [are] saying it often happens without any discussion or consent.

Reflecting on the impact of pornography on her sexual development, another woman, aged 25, said: Young women get victimised by porn but its not cool to be anti-porn. Ive had to do a lot of unlearning about the things I told myself I enjoyed; I really only enjoyed them because it was likely the person I was sleeping with would tell people that she was really good in bed.

One man, in his 20s, said he first saw porn when he was in year 7, and was shown it by older boys. It was not done in a sexual way, he says. I remember being shocked and confused and repulsed. He said there was plenty of healthy porn available, but some types highlight and overexposes certain types of sexual behaviours; dominance of men over women, a lack of female pleasure, a lack of any aftercare or post-sex experiences and, particularly problematically, a lack of consent.

Indoctrinated from a young age

Consent activist Chanel Contos said the normalisation of gendered violence left her with doubts about young peoples capabilities to truly consent to these sorts of sexual acts when theyve been so indoctrinated by pornography from a young age.

Chanel Contos says we need to focus on access. Credit: Liliana Zaharia

The meaning of vanilla sex has changed, said Contos. [It] means sex thats free of choking, slapping. Its sex thats free of violence. And its [considered] lame. She advocates a focus on access by minors. Thats where the true problem comes from.

So does the Childrens Commissioner, Anne Hollonds, who acknowledged the challenges involved in age assurance technology, such as privacy concerns, but said action was imperative to protect children, many of whom are accidentally stumbling upon it when they are pre-teens. She likened it to the introduction of seatbelts, which was controversial at the time.

These online platforms of various kinds have been like the Wild West  anything goes for profit, she said. Unfortunately its always kids, and particularly more vulnerable kids, who end up suffering; the kids who dont have the support or the supervision of parents to help them navigate these sorts of situations.

Skinner said there were different ways a society could respond to the problem  through health, welfare, education or justice  but the imperative is to acknowledge and address harm and reduce the risk of future harm, she said.

She said education was important, and regulation  as proposed by the eSafety commissioner  was needed to reduce access to pornography. Adolescence is a difficult developmental stage where young people struggle to understand and communicate their sexual needs, Skinner said.

The eSafety commissioner has a unique ability to regulate access and review content, and this intervention will reduce exposure to pornography and limit the influence of negative messages about sexuality.

How to tell if pornography is healthy Sydney University researchers identified six criteria that could be used to identify healthy and ethical pornography. They include: A negotiation of consent onscreen

Depictions of safe sex

Ethical production

A focus on pleasure for all participants

A variety of sexual practices

A variety of body types, genders, and races

However, Tanya Koens, a pleasure activist who presents a sex program on FBI radio, said that while she was concerned about the way some pornography condones violence against and degradation of women  and believes that type of content is made by angry white men who cant get laid  regulation was not the answer.

Taking porn off the table is not going to happen, she said. I think were at a harm minimisation approach. Moreover, porn was not the only place people were absorbing the message that sex is about power, she said; its also coming from movies, advertisements and interactions between adults in their lives.

Tanya Koens says we should take a harm minimisation approach. Credit: James Brickwood

Young people should be taught, do not re-enact the porn, its not real, said Koens. You need to know yourself well before you get into this stuff [such as choking and anal sex]. Going into kinky things before you know how your body works is [like] trying to run before you walk. We can teach people to be ethical consumers of porn. The problem is that the free stuff is the shit stuff.

Pony said insufficient attention was paid to the reasons why material was potentially harmful to young people. Is it because were not providing comprehensive sexual health education, and were not equipping people to deal with content they find on the internet, and that will always be accessible? People will always work around [age verification].

A spokeswoman for Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said the government would consider the eSafety commissioners advice and outline the next steps in coming months.

We live in an era where many children have greater skills with technology than their parents  so we need a multifaceted approach to protecting children from online content that is not appropriate for them, she said.

The Online Safety Act 2021 requires the development of new industry codes to limit childrens exposure to pornography, led by the eSafety commissioner, with development of the codes to commence later this year.

Parents and carers may feel overwhelmed by this issue, but they are not powerless. There are a range of tools available including internet filters, hardware devices and parental controls.

Under Australian classification law, all sexually explicit material is classified X 18+ and unsuitable for a minor to see. Viewing pornography in private is not prohibited at any age, as long as the content is not illegal (such as child pornography). However, sharing it with (including in homes), showing it to, or selling it to people under 18 is against the law.

The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.
It was not enough for Australias monarchists that Queen Elizabeth IIs death unleashed an embarrassing display of obsequiousness from our national institutions that culminated in an avowedly republican prime minister heading to London to pledge his allegiance to a foreign monarch. Now our royal lovers have spent a week getting all lathered up about the ABCs coverage of King Charles IIIs coronation.

Anti-Aunty: David Flints Australians for Constitutional Monarchy arent happy. Credit: Joe Benke

Aunty accompanied its broadcast of Charles ostentatious affair with a dose of sceptical commentary about the monarchy, and dared to note that many First Nations people find the fawning over the royals a bit unpleasant.

Now, Australians for Constitutional Monarchy, run by veteran royal-head David Flint, has filed a formal complaint with the ABC. Flints organisation, which has the honour of being the second most prominent monarchist group, claimed the broadcast breached three articles of the ABCs standards, relating to accuracy, impartiality, and harm and offence.

The complaint centres on the broadcasters alleged failure to present alternative views on the role of the Crown in Indigenous matters.
The younger brother of Brisbane Broncos player Payne Haas has been taken to hospital after a suspected drug overdose at a Gold Coast home.

Zeda Haas has been released from hospital following the incident on Sunday, which left a 19-year-old Arundel man dead.

Zeda Haas. Credit: Nine News

The man was found unconscious in the garage of an Arundel property, and was rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital, where he died a short time later.

Zeda, 19, who was understood to be at one of his familys properties in Gaven, was also rushed to the hospital in a critical condition, while another 19-year-old man was taken in a serious condition.
Is it possible there is a thread connecting these two decisions, one we should at least be considering in public discussion of Duttons approach to leading his party? If Dutton was a different politician this might be unfair speculation. A glance over his career suggests its not. There was the time he said people were scared to go out to restaurants because of African gang violence. There was the time he called refugees illiterate and innumerate, warning at the same time they would be taking Australian jobs. There was the time he agreed that Malcolm Fraser had made a mistake resettling Lebanese-Muslim refugees. There was the time he walked out on the parliamentary apology to the Stolen Generations (he has apologised since). I have not even touched on his comments about asylum seekers under his care as a minister.

We do an odd thing when MPs become leader of a major party. We let them start again, as though everything they did before was some youthful indiscretion, rather than a fair indication of the way they practise politics. Dutton benefits from this, as well as a second failure in our public sphere: we are no good at talking about the way racism is exploited in our politics. We tend to dance around it. What do we have to fear from joining the dots? Do we think if we simply ignore the weaponisation of resentment by our politicians it wont work? That we will unduly amplify their views? Dutton is the leader of the opposition.

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On Saturday, neo-Nazis staged an anti-immigration protest on the front steps of the Victorian parliament. This is worrying enough. Add to this a piece of news that barely registered last week: a Reserve Bank prediction, from late last year, that the chance of a recession is one in two, and could perhaps be as high as 80 per cent. These are the times when, typically, resentments and divisions breed and people look for scapegoats.

In 2018, the Victorian Human Rights Commissioner said reports of racist incidents had jumped by 34 per cent in a year. An important influence, she said, was national politics, including Duttons gangs comments. It is always tempting for politicians to follow that old American advice: split the country in two and tear off the bigger half. In certain times, and in relation to certain issues, it is crucial they resist that temptation. And if they cant, we shouldnt pretend they are better than they are.
London: France and Germany have declared they will support Ukraine for as long as needed during surprise trips made by Volodymyr Zelensky to Paris and Berlin on Sunday. On Monday, he hopes to secure more help from London.

Zelensky heaped praise on Germany as a true friend and reliable ally after Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced the country would almost double its military aid for Ukraines fight against Russias invasion to 2.7 billion ($4.4 billion).

Scholz on Sunday hosted the Ukrainian president in Berlin for his first visit to Germany since the start of the war. By evening, Zelensky was in Paris for dinner at the Elysee Palace with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, who pledged further aid, including light tanks, armoured vehicles and training for soldiers to help Ukraine repel Russian forces.

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Sunday. Credit: AP

In a statement, France described its support for Ukraines independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as unwavering and promised that its political, economic, humanitarian and military aid would continue for as long as necessary.
Record numbers of older people have opened their own business since baby boomers born between 1955 and 1963 began to retire.

Data from the Ministry of SMEs and Start-ups shows people over 60s opened a record 129,384 businesses last year, up 76.1 percent since 2016.

But most of them struggle to make ends meet. The Korea Employment Information Service found that the average monthly earnings of these elderly entrepreneurs stood at just W1.41 million in 2021, which is lower than the minimum wage of W1.82 million for a full-time job (US$1=W1,335).

Many were ill-prepared for retirement and have few employment options, but when they open small mom-and-pop businesses they do not generate much income either.

For example, it costs at least W42 million to open a convenience franchise, and that is only one-third the price of a private taxi license and car in Seoul. Opening a bakery, ice cream parlor or a small outlet in a supermarket costs between W120 million and W130 million.
London: Travellers would be able to fly from Britain to Australia in less than two hours within the next decade by travelling through space, new research from a major aviation body suggests.

The UKs Civil Aviation Authority, which oversees and regulates aviation safety, funded a new medical study into the effects of suborbital space flights, where passengers would be briefly sent into space before descending to land at their destination.

In this photo provided by Virgin Galactic, the VSS Unitys rocket motor burns above the Earth. Credit: AP

Suborbital flights, such as those offered by Sir Richard Bransons Virgin Galactic, Elon Musks SpaceX, or and Jeff Bezoss Blue Origin companies, currently cost more than $650,000 a seat. While so-called A to B flights differ from experimental space tourism, industry and regulators have forecast both forms of travel could become readily accessible by the mid-2030s.

A flight would involve a high G-force rocket launch to an altitude of up to 100 kilometres, where the craft would reach space but not have the required speed to stay in the Earths orbit.
Washington: Some US cities have warned they are reaching breaking point as they struggle to cope with an influx of asylum seekers being transported from the southern border in need of shelter and services.

Days after the restriction known as Title 42 expired ending a COVID-era policy that made it easier to deport migrants, Democratic cities such as New York, Denver and Washington have become the frontlines of Americas border crisis, and leaders are demanding that the Biden administration do more to help.

In Washington, three buses filled with dozens of migrants from Texas arrived outside Vice President Kamala Harris residence over the past four days, as part of a controversial practice Republican Governor Greg Abbott started last year, which he said would give Democratic cities a taste of what border towns were going through.

In Denver, Mayor Michael Hancock said on Monday (US time) the city had already spent $US17 million ($25 million) to help migrants arriving in the Colorado capital. He said Denver applied to the federal government for a further $US11 million to meet the ongoing demand, but had only received $US900,0000.
On 11 and 12 May, at the invitation of the WCO East and Southern Africa (ESA) region, WCO Secretary General Dr. Kunio Mikuriya attended the 29th East and Southern African Region (ESA) Governing Council hosted by Madagascar Customs in Antananarivo, Madagascar. He also joined the celebration of the bicentennial of Madagascar Customs.

The Director General of the Madagascar Customs, Mr. Ernest Lainkana, welcomed all the delegates to his country for the regional gathering. Secretary General Mikuriya appreciated the warm welcome and congratulated the progress in Customs modernization in the region, particularly in the host country. While the trade volume in Madagascar has remained stagnant since 2020, its Customs revenue has more than doubled with clearance time significantly reduced during the same period. Madagascars Minister of Economy and Finance, Ms. Rindra Rabarinirinarison formally opened the meeting.

The ESA Governing Council, chaired by the WCO Vice Chair, Mr. Batsirai Chadzingwa, Commissioner of Customs and Excise of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, organized a panel session on People Management - Wellness and Mental Health of Customs Officers with the participation of Dr. Mikuriya and several Directors General. The Council also reviewed the regional activities, took note of the WCO report and decided on the regional budget and regional representation.

At the end of the meeting, Madagascar Customs organized a celebration event of its bicentennial in the presence of Madagascar Prime Minister, H.E. Christian Ntsay, with the participation of Customs officers and Customs partners. Dr. Mikuriya delivered a congratulatory remark on behalf of the entire Customs community.

During his stay, Dr. Mikuriya separately met with Prime Minister Ntsay and Minister Rabarinirinarison to review Customs modernization. Both political leaders recognized the progress in Customs reform in their country, with a particular emphasis on enhanced integrity, and thanked the WCOs support in this respect.
"As an independent lawmaker, I will fight against unfair political pressure and prove the truth until the end," he added, referring to his insistence that he broke no laws in amassing his cryptocurrency fortune.

"I am temporarily leaving my beloved Minjoo Party today," Kim said in a message on Facebook, which used the word "temporarily" twice. "I am extremely sorry to my fellow party members."

Lawmaker Kim Nam-kuk resigned from the main opposition Minjoo Party on Sunday as an investigation into his dubious cryptocurrency investments looms.

The decision comes nine days after news broke that he invested over W6 billion worth of cryptocurrencies (US$1=W1,335). Until last Saturday, he had been claiming he made no money without effort. He also claimed he lost money on the investments.

But he bolted from the party after transaction records suggested that the lawmaker had been trading cryptocurrencies on his phone during parliamentary sessions and suspicions were raised that he was given free cyber coins.

Young Koreans who lost money in the cryptocurrency crash are particularly irked by Kim's refusal to come clean about the exact size of his holdings, estimated at W6 billion to W8.8 billion at one time. Kim allegedly sold WEMIX coins in February last year and started buying other fledgling cryptocurrencies that were considered highly risky, but some of them tripled in value in a matter of days, raising suspicions among industry insiders.

He apparently bought W3 billion worth of KlayPAY in a single transaction and snapped up around 40 other game-related crypto coins.

As a member of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Kim either took part in formulating laws aimed at recognizing game money as legal cryptocurrencies or voted in favor of such regulations. Industry insiders believe Kim was either given the cyber coins by the companies behind them or made investments based on inside information.

Kim had made some political capital by posing as a poor, honest man in the morass of Korean politics. One 29-year-old banker in Yeouido said, "Investing W1 billion in a cryptocurrency most people had never heard of and making a profit would have been impossible without insider tips.

And a 28-year-old university student said, "What makes me angry is that he kept stressing his frugal lifestyle and he seems to continue to tell lies."

A Gallup Korea poll shows the Minjoo Party's support among people has fallen around 10 percentage points since the scandal erupted. The party's support among people aged 18 to 29 fell from 31 percent before the scandal to 19 percent and among 30-somethings from 42 percent to 33 percent.

But the party's overall support remained unchanged at 32 percent. Shin Yul at Myongji University, said, "The biggest reason why so many people in their 20s and 30s lost money from crypto investments was because of a lack of legal protections for investors. The fact that Kim was nominated by the party during that time and made such windfall profits can only fuel their anger."

Choi Chang-ryul at Yongin University, said the Minjoo Party, which is already swamped with a bribery scandal surrounding Song Young-gil, the former party leader who allegedly distributed cash to party members for his campaign in 2021, "has lost its moral authority and will find it difficult to lay claim to a progressive political agenda from now on."
"So, they actually managed to not only fulfill expectations, they also went beyond that and win seats where we don't expect them to, which is the rural areas. And I think that in itself is a referendum that... there's a certain readiness for change," said Napon. "It's a rejection of Thailand's conservative status quo, basically."

Move Forward's resounding win Sunday "represents a turning point in Thai politics," said Napon Jatusripitak of the Singapore-based ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. The party had been polling behind Pheu Thai early on, projected to do best in urban areas packed with younger voters, but saw a surge in support in the final weeks of the race.

Palang Pracharath and the United Thai Nation, the two main pro-military parties in the race, won 40 and 36 seats, respectively. Prayuth Chan-ocha, United Thai's candidate for prime minister, is also the incumbent and, as a general, led the 2014 coup that ousted an elected Pheu Thai government. Palang Pracharath's candidate for prime minister, Prawit Wongsuwon, another ex-general, was by his side for the putsch.

Pheu Thai, the latest political vehicle of the billionaire Shinawatra family and longtime rivals of the same conservative establishment, finished a close second with 141 seats, while Bhumjaithai, a party that has made legalized cannabis its defining issue, came in third with 71.

In a nationwide race to fill the 500-member House of Representatives, the youth-facing Move Forward Party finished ahead of the pack with 151 seats by promising reforms to curb the conservative royalist and military establishment's long-running grip on power. The Election Commission announced complete, unofficial results early Monday morning.

In the coming days, weeks or even months of horse trading as parties jockey for allies to form a winning coalition, "anything could happen," said Titipol Phakdeewanich, dean of the political science faculty at Thailand's Ubon Ratchathani University.

But parliamentary rules drafted by the military after a 2014 coup that favor pro-military candidates, they add, could still leave the party with the most popular votes out of the next government.

The surprise win of Thailand's Move Forward Party in national elections Sunday and its radical pro-democracy agenda marks a watershed moment in the country's politics and a strong rebuke of nine years of military or military-backed rule, analysts say.

Beyond that, he added, it also marks a break with the binary, patronage politics that have defined Thailand for the past two decades, split between parties either fronted or backed by the Shinawatra family pushing populist, pro-poor policies and the conservative forces that have ousted their governments three times, either by coup or court order. Sunday's election was the first a Shinawatra party has not won since 2001.

Titipol said Move Forward's come-from-behind win owes much to its focus more than any other party, even Pheu Thai, on reforms that would fundamentally weaken the military and monarchy's political sway. It has proposed ending military conscription, reallocating some of the defense budget to social programs, and curbing royal defamation laws that can land offenders in jail for up to 15 years per slight.

"That is another reason for their victory, because most people are now also talking about the restructuring of Thai political power," Titipol said. "This actually indicates that people want to reform the structure of power."

Move Forward's next challenge is to elect a prime minister in the parliamentary vote to come and form a government. Analysts say Pheu Thai would make the most natural ally, and their combined seats would give them a majority of the House of Representatives. Each party has already said it was open to teaming up with the other.

Under rules pushed through by Prayuth's military junta after the 2014 coup, though, any candidate for prime minister must win a combined majority of both the House and 250-seat Senate. The current Senate was appointed by the same junta and voted for Prayuth for prime minister after elections in 2019, even though Pheu Thai had won the most House seats that year.

Without the Senate's support, any coalition of parties will need to pull together at least 376 votes in the House alone. Even combined, Move Forward and Pheu Thai do not have the numbers. As of Monday afternoon, Move Forward told local reporters it had a tentative plan with Pheu Thai and four other parties for a coalition with a combined 309 House seats.

Previously, Move Forward has also ruled out any alliance with either Palang Pracharath or United Thai. Analysts say that would make Bhumjaithai the most likely third party in a Move Forward-Pheu Thai tie-up, along with a few smaller parties and maybe even a handful of breakaway Senators to hit 376.

However, the same staunch reformist bent that propelled Move Forward to victory Sunday could still deny it a place in the next government, said Punchada Sirivunnabood, an associate professor of political science at Thailand's Mahidol University.

She said the party's policies may simply be too radical for most parties and trigger fears of another coup; Thailand has had 13 since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932. "It's [going to be] really hard for Move Forward to form a coalition government because of their leftist policies, which a lot of political parties cannot accept," said Punchada.

Napon added that corruption allegations hanging over Bhumjaithai could also be used as leverage by conservative forces to stop it from joining any coalition that would bring Move Forward to power. "And the judicial system and the courts, the electoral commission, all these tend to be heavily influenced by people that are oriented towards the conservative establishment, so they could actually disqualify, dissolve Bhumjaithai," he said.

The courts and commission already have a history of dissolving parties that have posed a threat to the military and monarchy. In 2020 the Constitutional Court dissolved Future Forward, the popular predecessor of Move Forward, over an illegal loan, a charge the party denied.

Naron, Punchada and Titipol all said those pressures could push Pheu Thai into cutting a deal instead with Palang Pracharath, United Thai and others. With Move Forward out of the mix, enough senators could be persuaded to back their alliance and put it over the top.

At a news conference Monday in Bangkok, Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat said he had no reason to doubt the Senate would back his tentative coalition with Pheu Thai and the others.

Analysts are not so sure. "We could actually see a deadlock and multiple rounds of selection of prime minister" before a new government takes shape, said Napon. "This could drag on for months potentially, but I'm not sure that it will."
Shes come a long way from her teen years working on a mink farm and picking fruit.

Darby McGrath, vice president of research and development at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, was recently named one of six recipients of the 2023 Influential Women in Canadian Agriculture award. Created in 2020 by Annex Business Media, it honours high achievers in various categories across the country.

We sat down with McGrath to discuss the award, her background, and the importance of celebrating women in agriculture.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO FIND OUT YOUD WON THE AWARD?

MCGRATH: I was very surprised, really humbled by the nomination, frankly.

HOWD YOU END UP A VP AT VRIC?

MCGRATH: I've been here 10 years, first as a scientist focused on the nursery sector. Then a senior research scientist and a program leader  and then took over the VP role in June of last year. Leading up to that, I worked on farms since (I was) maybe 12 or 13. Not overly glamorous work, working on a mink farm. Then I sort of apprenticed at a tender fruit and nursery farm in Niagara-on-the-Lake. My PhD focused on the agri-environmentalism and sustainability initiatives, especially for fruit producers, but for all farms in Canada.

SO AGRICULTURE HAS ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT TO YOU?

MCGRATH: Growing up in this region, I've always been really impressed by what we can produce and certainly how hard the producers work here to make all that happen. I think the bigger piece for me is the ability to use those landscapes productively. That's always been my passion. And I was fortunate on that (tender fruit) farm to learn a lot from the owners, because they came from Switzerland, actually, and had a huge focus on sustainability before it was cool. That's always been part of their production practices, focusing on biodynamic farming and things like that.

HOW IMPORTANT ARE THESE TYPES OF AWARDS IN GENERAL?

MCGRATH: It's really set up to highlight the importance of women in agriculture and the role that women play. There are many roles in the whole value chain of agriculture in Canada. We're a sliver of all of that here at Vineland on the research and STEM side. But some of the other honorees, there are business owners, all sorts of different things. So from my perspective, my experience has been mostly a positive one, but it is one where I'm often, or have been, the only woman sitting at a table. And sometimes you get a sideways glance when you get there, like, what are you doing here? Especially when I was younger, and especially if you raised your hand to say anything. So yeah, I think it's really important to highlight this kind of stuff. Times, I hope, are changing and events I go to now, I see more women and I see more diversity in general, which is really, really encouraging.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE AND WOMEN INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN AGRICULTURE?

MCGRATH: Probably the most important part is to show that there's all sorts of different career paths that you can take in Canadian ag. There are a lot of really high-tech jobs, there's a huge business component. All sorts of different skill sets that make up the network in the fabric that we weave together. There's all sorts of summer positions. You can learn so much really quickly in this region.

ANYTHING ELSE?

MCGRATH: I have so many people who have helped me kind of get here. I feel awkward accepting it because, it feels like it really takes a village. It's one that I share with my people.

ANYONE SPECIFIC?

MCGRATH: My mom, Virginia. She's always pushing me to push past the boundaries that other people set for you.

McGrath will be honoured at an upcoming event and featured on a future episode of the IWCA podcast series AgAnnex Talks.

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Fire service officials credit working smoke alarms with averting a tragedy after flames destroyed a home in Niagara Falls Saturday.

Niagara Falls Fire Department was called to a residence on Pawpaw Lane in the citys south end shortly before 10 p.m.

The lone occupant, who was sleeping when the fire broke out, was alerted to the blaze by the homes smoke alarms.

If there werent working smoke alarms in this home the outcome would have been very different, said Ben Trendle, the departments chief fire prevention officer.

Because of the nature of fires today, how quickly they spread and how little time you have to get out, I am confident that working smoke alarms in the home saved that individuals life.

Firefighters battled the blaze for several hours. No damage estimate is available at this time but officials said the home was destroyed.

Several adjacent homes sustained fire damage.

No injuries were reported, but several pets perished in the blaze.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

A fire less than 24 hours earlier in the same neighbourhood caused about $30,000 damage.

That fire, which was confined to the front porch of a home on Sourgum Avenue, was caused by careless disposal of smoking materials, Trendle said.

In addition to have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms, we encourage everybody, particularly families with young children, to develop and practise a home escape plan, he added.

Effective May 1, the fire department now imposes fees against owners of commercial properties for false fire alarm calls.

Owners of commercial properties will receive two warnings when firefighting crews respond to false alarms.

After two warnings, the owner will be billed $300. A fourth false alarm will result in a $400 invoice, and a fifth  and subsequent false alarms  will be $500.

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Banks love T4 slips, especially a long history of them issued by the same employer. Thats because they scream Certainty of employment! Regular income! Low risk of job loss! Ability to service a mortgage!

The core issue financial institutions have with self-employed people, however, is that their income is harder to prove. And entrepreneurs are incentivized to minimize taxes by writing off as much as possible against their self-employed earnings, reducing whats shown as income.

Getting a mortgage as an entrepreneur is therefore harder. Youd think that by now it would get easier considering 20 per cent of Canadians earn non-traditional income (this is much higher than pre-pandemic, btw). But its not. With determination and good planning though, you can jump through the extra hoops and get your house.

This is how to do it.

Prepare your financial statements, file your taxes and pay the bill

You should be doing this anyway. If youre not, this is your nudge to stop being disorganized. Its bad for your business and its extra bad for your personal finances.

Hire an accountant. Get your financial statements prepared and taxes filed. Your mortgage lender will require you to present proof that your HST and GST are paid in full and they will also need your financial statements for your business going back at least two to three years. Corporate income taxes are typically paid in instalments. Once you know the amount owing for that, start paying.

While youre at it, file your personal income taxes

Same sentiment as above. If youre behind, get on it. Your lender will require your last two to three Notices of Assessment (NOAs), generated by the CRA and found in your CRA My Account portal. They will also need the associated T1 Generals. Think of your T1 Generals as the backup files for your NOAs. Again, this is where a tax professional can be super helpful. If your business accountant can also do your personal income tax filing, thats a win; one person whos got the scoop on your full and complete financial picture. If you owe money on your personal income taxes, youll need to pay the balance. Mainstream lenders dont like to approve mortgages for people who owe personal income taxes. Private lenders might consider it, but thats a much more expensive option.

Revenue pipeline for your business

Banks want to see what you have coming up for contracts, accounts receivables and so on. Their motivation is to understand if the future of your business looks financially rosy, or if there is a risk you might not make the money you say youre going to make. Literally, prepare to open your books, and show the lender your sales pipeline (contracts, letters of intent, your accounts receivables from your bookkeeping systems, etc.) you have for the upcoming year.

Proof of ownership of your business and the down payment

They will check your ownership and want a copy of your articles of incorporation (if youre incorporated). You need to show your business licence, too. And, while theyre at it, theyll want to see precisely where the money for your down payment came from. You will want to show the history of deposits and prepare to speak to the origin of the down payment money. The lender will tell you exactly what documentation you need to prove where the money came from.

Tidy up your debts, keep your credit score in good standing and showcase your net worth

Keep up to date with your payments. Minimize outstanding balances. Ensure youre not maxing out your credit limits. This advice applies both personally and in your business. Financial institutions view both together when evaluating how responsible you are with your debt.

While youre reviewing your debts, grab your financial statements for all of your accounts, your assets (investments included) and liabilities. The lender will use all of this to establish your net worth. The stronger the net worth you have, the more comfortable they are lending to you.

With all of these pieces gathered together, you can hire a reputable mortgage broker and get to work. Theyll sweep the market for the best products, rates and terms for you. If you dont qualify for the mortgage you really want, they may suggest alternative ways to get there, like saving more for a down payment (I always recommend at least 20 per cent down), reducing the price range for your purchase, strengthening your sales pipeline (which is a great idea all the time), or just waiting until you meet more of the conditions. When youre approved, enjoy the house-hunting process!

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A scene from the animated short film In the Stars, part of the second season of the anthology Star Wars: Visions, directed by Chilean Gabriel Osorio. Disney (IMDB)

Everyone, whether fans or detractors, has a memory related to Star Wars. Perhaps vague, but it is there. Gabriel Osorio is no exception. He was about four years old when his father passed away. A couple of years later, when he was six, he was at his grandmothers house watching The Empire Strikes Back, the second film in the saga, originally released in 1980. Everyone familiar with the films  or with popular culture  knows about the mythical scene in which Darth Vader, the quintessential villain, tells a dark secret to Luke Skywalker: I am your father. This revelation, one of the most famous lines in the history of cinema, was a plot twist that shocked many, and Osorio, again, was no exception.

I loved the movie. It really made a mark on me because I had fuzzy memories of my dad. Luke didnt know, he wasnt so sure who his father was and what his past was. I related to that character. That is largely what has always attracted me about Star Wars, the human relationships between the characters, the broken relationships, explains Osorio to EL PAIS.

Later, that child who was moved by one episode of the saga enthusiastically watched the other two parts of the first trilogy, without suspecting that 31 years down the line he was going to become a content creator in that vast universe. The 39-year-old from Santiago, Chile, is one of the directors that contributed an animated short film for the second season of the anthology Star Wars: Visions, the most recent production of the universe started by George Lucas, available on Disney+. In the Stars was produced by the Chilean animation studio Punk Robot (headed by Osorio), a company that became known worldwide in 2016 when it won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film for A Bear Story, which was inspired by another member of the filmmakers family and the dictatorial era of the Andean country.

In the Stars, one of the nine shorts that make up the anthology, features two sisters, Koten and Tichina, the last of their kind, who live in hiding in their devastated land and discuss how to survive the invasion of the Empire. On a mission to get water, the sisters must defend themselves after they are discovered.

The short is imbued with an aura that shows a Latin American inspiration, marked by canas and charangos  typical South American instruments  in the musical section, in addition to reflecting its indigenous peoples and their predicaments, such as the eradication of their culture and the extractivism that causes problems like the contamination of ecosystems. These themes, together with some characteristic Star Wars elements like the use of the Force, the spaceships and some well-known characters (in addition to the family angle) were the first ingredients that Osorio, along with Antonia Herrera and Francisco Ortega, considered for the script.

In the story, the Empire comes and colonizes. We begin to see that colonization is something that all of us in the Americas have in common. Throughout Latin America we went through similar processes of colonization at different times in history. We felt that there was a very important issue that we needed to address as Latin Americans. Thats what gives the short film its identity, states Osorio

A scene from the animated short film In the Stars, part of the Star Wars: Visions anthology, directed by Chilean Gabriel Osorio. Disney (IMDB)

In its second season, Star Wars: Visions bets again on different types of animation, from 3D to traditional hand-drawn 2D animation. The stories are not canon; they are part of an alternate line of short stories set in the galaxy far, far away that seek to push the boundaries of the franchise through different voices. In this case, Punk Robot, with more than 10 years of experience in animation, opted for stop-motion animation for In the stars, also produced by Osorio, Herrera, Pato Escala and Maria Elisa Soto-Aguilar.

We wanted an aesthetic that felt handcrafted, setting aside the perfect, super-polished CGI 3D thing and trying to tell the story of the objects. Its part of the influence of the animation that theyre doing in Guadalajara, what Guillermo del Toro is doing. It is also part of what we feel, an aesthetic with which we deeply relate and which generates that Latin American identity, continues Osorio.

Regarding this, the director also wanted to reassert the statements made by the Mexican director when he accepted the golden statuette for Pinocchio as the Best Animated Film in the last edition of the Oscars. In his speech, Del Toro gave a message in favor of animation: Animation is cinema, animation it is not a genre, and it is ready to be taken to the next step. Keep animation in the conversation. A statement with which Punk Robot wholeheartedly agrees.

Its important to understand that animation is for people, not just for children. In fact, when Guillermo gave that speech, I was clapping at home. I mean, I was moved by his words because its something that I think all animators feel, he concludes.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP)  Russias top army general and his South African counterpart discussed military cooperation while meeting Monday in Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The announcement came hours after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa denied accusations by the United States that his country was siding with Russia in the war in Ukraine and had sent weapons to help it.

Gen. Oleg Salyukov, the commander of Russias ground forces, met the chief of South Africas army, Lt. Gen. Lawrence Mbatha, at Russias general command headquarters in Moscow, the Russian ministry said.

The sides discussed issues of military cooperation and the implementation of projects geared to enhance the combat readiness of the two countries armies, the ministry said in a statement. The meeting between the military commanders yielded agreements on the further expansion of cooperation between the land forces in various areas.

The Defense Ministry said a South African delegation would visit a number of Russian army educational and training facilities.

The South African army said the trip was planned well in advance of the U.S. ambassador to South Africa alleging last week that the country had provided weapons to Russia when a ship under U.S. sanctions made a secret stop at a South African naval base in December.

The South African government has denied the Russian cargo ships stop involved an official sale of weapons, although it has not categorically ruled out an arms transaction took place.

Ramaphosa has said an investigation was underway to determine if anyone loaded weapons onto the Russian-flagged Lady R cargo ship at the Simons Town naval base near Cape Town.

Ramaphosa used his weekly message to the nation Monday to reaffirm South Africas non-aligned stance with regard to Russias invasion of Ukraine. The presidents statement was seen as a response to U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety, who questioned South Africas neutrality in the Ukraine war while making the allegations about a weapons shipment.

Brigety was subsequently summoned to a meeting with South Africas foreign minister.

We do not accept that our non-aligned position favors Russia above other countries, Ramaphosa wrote in his weekly message. Nor do we accept that it should imperil our relations with other countries.

Ramaphosa added: We have been firm on this point: South Africa has not been, and will not be, drawn into a contest between global powers.

He also hinted that Russian President Vladimir Putin would visit South Africa for a meeting of leaders of the BRICS economic bloc in August. The Kremlin has not confirmed that Putin plans to attend the BRICS summit.

Such a trip would entangle South Africa in another diplomatic mess because the country is a signatory to the treaty that created the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March for alleged war crimes involving the abductions of children from Ukraine.

Since the indictment, Putin has traveled rarely, and only to countries that are close allies of Russia. Countries that are parties to the treaty would be obliged to arrest the Russian leader.

While Russia and South Africa both described Mondays meeting of the countries top army generals as part of a normal bilateral trip, its bound to increase scrutiny of Africas most developed economy, which is seen as an influential nation in the developing world.

South Africa is the only African nation in the BRICS bloc, which also includes Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Aside from the weapons allegations, South Africa also hosted Russian and Chinese warships and took part in naval exercises off its east coast in February that coincided with the one-year anniversary of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Brigety, the American ambassador, said last week that U.S. officials have respect for South Africas policy of neutrality and non-alignment in international affairs but had noted a series of issues which suggest that in practice the government of South Africa is in fact not non-aligned.

The Associated Press independently verified that the Lady R cargo ship stopped at the South African naval base for at least three days in December, as Brigety claimed. A review of records by the AP also shows that the Lady R is tied to a company that was sanctioned by the U.S. for transporting weapons for the Russian government and aiding its war effort in Ukraine.

___

Magome reported from Johannesburg. AP Writer Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.

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WARREN, R.I. (AP)  A nearly 150-year-old stained-glass church window that depicts a dark-skinned Jesus Christ interacting with women in New Testament scenes has stirred up questions about race, Rhode Islands role in the slave trade and the place of women in 19th century New England society.

The window installed at the long-closed St. Marks Episcopal Church in Warren in 1878 is the oldest known public example of stained glass on which Christ is depicted as a person of color that one expert has seen.

This window is unique and highly unusual, said Virginia Raguin, a professor of humanities emerita at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, and an expert on the history of stained-glass art. I have never seen this iconography for that time.

The 12-foot tall, 5-foot wide (3.7 meters by 1.5 meters) window depicts two biblical passages in which women, also painted with dark skin, appear as equals to Christ. One shows Christ in conversation with Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus, from the Gospel of Luke. The other shows Christ speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well from the Gospel of John.

The window made by the Henry E. Sharp studio in New York had largely been forgotten until a few years ago when Hadley Arnold and her family bought the 4,000-square-foot (371-square-meter) Greek Revival church building, which opened in 1830 and closed in 2010, to convert into their home.

When four stained-glass windows were removed in 2020 to be replaced with clear glass, Arnold took a closer look. It was a cold winters day with the sunlight shining at just the right angle and she was stunned by what she saw in one of them: The human figures had dark skin.

The skin tones were nothing like the white Christ you usually see, said Arnold, who teaches architectural design in California after growing up in Rhode Island and earning an art history degree from Harvard University.

The window has now been scrutinized by scholars, historians and experts trying to determine the motivations of the artist, the church and the woman who commissioned the window in memory of her two aunts, both of whom married into families that had been involved in the slave trade.

Is this repudiation? Is this congratulations? Is this a secret sign? said Arnold.

Raguin and other experts confirmed that the skin tones  in black and brown paint on milky white glass that was fired in an oven to set the image  were original and deliberate. The piece shows some signs of aging but remains in very good condition, she said.

But does it depict a Black Jesus? Arnold doesnt feel comfortable using that term, preferring to say it depicts Christ as a person of color, probably Middle Eastern, which she says would make sense, given where the Galilean Jewish preacher was from.

Others think its open to interpretation.

To me, being of African American and Native American heritage, I think that it could represent both people, said Linda AVant-Deishinni, the former executive director of the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society. She now runs the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providences St. Martin de Porres Center, which provides services to older residents.

The first time I saw it, it just kind of just blew me away, AVant-Deishinni said.

Victoria Johnson, a retired educator who was the first Black woman named principal of a Rhode Island high school, thinks the figures in the glass are most certainly Black.

When I see it, I see Black, she said. It was created in an era when at a white church in the North, the only people of color they knew were Black.

Warrens economy had been based on the building and outfitting of ships, some used in the slave trade, according to the town history. And although there are records of enslaved people in town before the Civil War, the racial makeup of St. Marks was likely mostly if not all white.

The window was commissioned by a Mary P. Carr in honor of two women, apparently her late aunts, whose names appear on the glass, Arnold said. Mrs. H. Gibbs and Mrs. R. B. DeWolf were sisters, and both married into families involved in the slave trade. The DeWolf family made a fortune as one of the nations leading slave-trading families; Gibbs married a sea captain who worked for the DeWolfs.

Both women had been listed as donors to the American Colonization Society, founded to support the migration of freed slaves to Liberia in Africa. The controversial effort was overwhelmingly rejected by Black people in America, leading many former supporters to become abolitionists instead. DeWolf also left money in her will to found another church in accord with egalitarian principles, according to the research.

Another clue is the timing, Arnold said. The window was commissioned at a critical juncture of U.S. history when supporters of Republican Rutherford B. Hayes and their Southern Democrat opponents agreed to settle the 1876 presidential election with what is known as the Compromise of 1877, which essentially ended Reconstruction-era efforts to grant and protect the legal rights of formerly enslaved Black people.

What was Carr trying to say about Gibbs and DeWolfs links to slavery?

We dont know, but it would appear that she is honoring people of conscience however imperfect their actions or their effectiveness may have been, Arnold said. I dont think it would be there otherwise.

The window also is remarkable because it shows Christ interacting with woman as equals, Raguin said: Both stories were selected to profile equality.

For now, the window remains propped upright in a wooden frame where pews once stood. College classes have come to see it, and on one recent spring afternoon there was a visit from a diverse group of eighth graders from The Nativity School in Worcester, a Jesuit boys school.

The boys learned about the windows history and significance from Raguin.

When I first brought this up to them in religion class, it was the first time the kids had ever heard of something like this and they were genuinely curious as to what that was all about, why it mattered, why it existed, religion teacher Bryan Montenegro said. I thought that it would be very valuable to come and see it, and be so close to it, and really feel the diversity and inclusion that was so different for that time.

Arnold hopes to find a museum, college or other institution that can preserve and display the window for academic study and public appreciation.

I think this belongs in the public trust, she said. I dont believe that it was ever intended to be a privately owned object.

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HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  A nominee to Connecticuts highest court told state lawmakers Monday that she would not have signed a 2017 letter supporting Amy Coney Barrett for a federal appeals court position if she knew Barrett would later vote to overturn Roe v. Wade abortion protections as a member of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Sandra Slack Glover, a federal prosecutor nominated by Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont, made the comment during her confirmation hearing before the legislatures Judiciary Committee, as several members of the Democratic majority expressed concerns about her support of Barrett. The committee held off voting on Glovers nomination Monday evening, citing the late hour. No date for a vote was immediately set.

Glover had said she wasnt going to demonize Barrett, but when I look at that letter now ... Im no longer comfortable with some of those statements.

But I also believed, clearly naively at this point, I thought there were guardrails, she said, referring to judges respect for legal precedents. And I thought the lower court judges were constrained. I thought the Supreme Court was constrained. And I was wrong. And looking back and knowing what I now know, I shouldnt have signed it.

Glover added she was a firm supporter of abortion rights, from the perspectives of both a woman and a lawyer.

A message seeking comment from Barrett was sent to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Glover was among 34 people who served as U.S. Supreme Court law clerks in 1998, along with Barrett, who signed the 2017 letter to leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee supporting Barretts nomination to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. In 1998, Barrett was a clerk for Justice Antonin Scalia and Glover was a clerk for Justice Sandra Day OConnor.

The letter said the signees believed Barrett was fully qualified to be a federal appeals judge.

Professor Barrett is a woman of remarkable intellect and character, the letter said. She is eminently qualified for the job. This view is unanimous  every law clerk from October Term 1998 has joined this letter.

Based on our observations, we came to respect Professor Barretts conscientious work ethic, her respect for the law, and her remarkable legal abilities, it said. She conducted herself with professionalism, grace, and integrity.

Glover said the letter was not an endorsement of Barretts political views.

Barrett was later nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Donald Trump and was among the conservative majority that overturned Roe v. Wade last year. During Senate hearings before her confirmation, Barrett had said she would obey stare decisis, the doctrine of courts giving weight to precedent when making decisions.

State Rep. Patricia Dillon, a New Haven Democrat, said the state Supreme Court was vital in acting as a firewall against the conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Theres some very dramatic things happening in Washington, Dillon said at Mondays hearing. If I could quote Justice (Elena) Kagan, actually, the stakes could not be higher at the state level because that may be the threat we have when it comes to some issues.

All current justices on the seven-member state Supreme Court were nominated by Democratic governors.

Glover, 52, of Guilford, is chief of the appellate unit at the Connecticut U.S. attorneys office, where she has worked since 2004. She previously served as an appellate attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice and in private practice.

If Glover ultimately clears a Judiciary Committee vote, her nomination will go to the Senate and House of Representatives for approval. Both are Democrat-controlled.

If the committee votes down her nomination, the chambers still could take it up.

___

Associated Press writer Susan Haigh contributed to this report.

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JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  Single parents in Mississippi  one of the poorest states in the nation  no longer face a nearly 20-year-old state policy that made it difficult for them to get financial help paying for child care, officials and advocates said Monday.

Since 2004, single parents and guardians in Mississippi had to seek child support from the other parent in order to be eligible for assistance through the Child Care Payment Program, which offers help to low-income parents. As of Monday, that rule is no longer in effect.

To comply with the rule and receive child care assistance, single parents had to apply through two divisions in the Mississippi Department of Human Services. The dual application process was mired in communication breakdowns that jeopardized assistance, said Carol Burnett, executive director of the Mississippi Low Income Child Care Initiative.

This policy deterred many single moms from applying for many valid reasons, ranging from informal payment agreements being jeopardized by court interference to avoiding abusive interactions, Burnett said. Removing that hurdle is a huge benefit for single moms, for their children, for providers and employers, and for all of us.

After the policy went into effect in 2004, the wait list for assistance fell from 10,000 to about 208, Burnett said.

Jamese Wiley, a 28-year-old single mother of six who works as a cashier, said taking the steps required to comply with the rule forced her to wait six weeks before she could receive assistance. During that period, she had to pay for child care entirely out-of-pocket.

When youre only making about $1,600 per month, $500 out of your check is a pretty significant chunk of money, Wiley said. Requiring parents and single mothers to comply with child support (enforcement) in order to qualify for assistance is forcing our hand instead of supporting our needs.

Advocates sought the rule change for years. Chad Allgood, director of the departments Division of Early Childhood Care Development, said the change happened after a shift in thinking within the agency.

The key is just having people in policymaking positions that are willing to listen and theyre willing to look at what good data has said, Allgood said at a news conference Monday. Looking at the data, listening to those who are served by this program, we determined the policy wasnt really doing anything other than hurting mothers and their children.

The change was also set in motion after a council of early childhood administrators voted in March 2022 to recommend that the Department of Human Services do away with the rule.

Allgood said the move would help address an ongoing labor shortage for employers in the state, as a lack of child care remains a barrier for parents entering the workforce.

Parents cannot maintain consistent employment without access to stable, quality child care, and thats a point that I simply cannot emphasize enough, Allgood said.

___

Michael Goldberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mikergoldberg.

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MADISON, Wis. (AP)  A Wisconsin judge on Monday refused to break up a lawsuit filed against 10 fake electors for former President Donald Trump and two of his attorneys, saying the case could proceed in the county where it was filed.

The lawsuit seeks $2.4 million from the fake electors and their attorneys, alleging they were part of a conspiracy by Trump and his allies to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential race. It also seeks to disqualify the Republicans from ever serving as electors again.

Fake electors met in Wisconsin and other battleground states where Trump was defeated 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 Trumps legal standing in case courts overturned his defeat.

Nine of the 10 fake electors in Wisconsin, and one of Trumps attorneys, argued that the lawsuit against them was wrongly filed in Dane County Circuit Court. Since none of them lived in that county, they argued, the lawsuit should be refiled against each of them in their respective home counties.

But Dane County Circuit Judge Frank Remington disagreed on Monday, saying the lawsuit was properly filed because, in part, at least one of the defendants appears to live in Dane County or does not present evidence to the contrary.

One of Trumps attorneys, James Troupis, and fake elector Scott Grabins, the former Dane County Republican Party chair, both live in Dane County. Neither of them provided any evidence of where they lived, the judge said. Neither did Trump attorney Kenneth Chesebro, who practices law in the Boston area.

Attorneys for the fake electors who dont live in Dane County argued that a 2007 state law allows for venue changes to courts in the defendants home county in cases that relate to elections or election law. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants broke several criminal and civil laws when they met at the Wisconsin state Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020, in an attempt to cast the states electoral votes for Trump.

Remington said the law requires that the case be heard in Dane County where it was filed.

Wisconsin law does not allow the problematic consequences of ten judges simultaneously litigating the same claims in ten different courts, or ten juries  some 120 jurors  hearing the same claims and rendering ten different verdicts, Remington wrote.

The lawsuit was filed a year ago this month by two Democratic electors and a voter. They are represented by the Madison-based Law Forward law firm and the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at the Georgetown University Law Center.

Although likely not the last, this was just the latest effort to delay any type of accountability, said Law Forward attorney Scott Thompson. We are pleased this matter will be resolved in the Dane County Courthouse, just one block from where the fake electors scheme was carried out.

Attorneys for the fake electors did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Remington last week also revived a complaint brought by Law Forward against the fake electors filed with the Wisconsin Elections Commission. That complaint sought sanctions against the fake electors.

Remington ruled last week that the complaint must be heard again because a commissioner who considered the complaint last time should have recused himself. That commissioner, Robert Spindell, also served as a fake elector and is one of the defendants in the lawsuit seeking damages.

President Joe Biden won Wisconsin by nearly 21,000 votes, a result that has withstood recounts, partisan-led investigations, a nonpartisan audit and multiple lawsuits.

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If you know of local business openings or closings, please notify us here.

PREVIOUS OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS

- Air Products & Chemicals Inc. plans to invest a half-billion dollars to produce environmentally friendly hydrogen in New York state.

- The Trexlertown Chick-Fil-A plans to add a second drive-thru lane as part of a plan to reduce traffic congestion.

- The Harrisburg-based Mid Penn bank has opened its first full-service branch in the Lehigh Valley in South Whitehall.

- The Allentown Planning Commission put off a decision on a new Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen at the site of the former Nostos Greek restaurant.

- The former Star Crete concrete plant at the intersection of Farmersville Road and Easton Avenue has been sold for $1.58 million, and that may clear the way for a medical office building.

- The local business SuperSets Gym will open its third location in Allentown's South Mall, with no opening date set yet.

- The jewelry boutique Versant will close later this year, but the business will be consolidated at Gary Werkheiser's other location in Saucon Valley Square.

- The DSW Woodmill Commons has moved to Berkshire West, 1101 Woodland Road in Wyomissing.

- Trainer Michael Melendez has opened his new Reading Extreme Boxing Club where PacSun used to operate in the Berkshire Mall.

- Frackville NAPA Auto Parts held a grand opening with the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and Frackville Business & Professional Association.

- Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers in North Manheim Township held a grand opening, in conjunction with the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and Pottsville Business Association.

- PDC Machines, a maker of hydrogen compressors, showed off a new plant in Lower Salford.

- Maya Capital Partners has acquired Amwell Valley Self Storage, a 265-unit storage business on Route 31 in Ringoes, New Jersey.

- Norwescap is buying the former Sullivan's on the Main restaurant in Phillipsburg to renovate the building and then use it for programs to help educate and feed people.
If Virginia Woolf could come back to life and analyze the evolution of women in society, she would celebrate the fact that many females now enjoy a room of ones own. But its also possible that she would soon find that this alone isnt enough.

Changing the course of history requires the strength of community. If a woman decides to go her own way, she often pays a heavy emotional cost. For this reason, in recent years, the most powerful weapon deployed by feminism has been sorority. There are more and more initiatives that seek to create  often within spaces that are exclusive to women  an atmosphere of trust and security, where women can allow themselves to feel vulnerable. While men are crucial to finding solutions to achieve equality, after 5,000 years of patriarchy, in these spaces, women and girls can exercise their right to express themselves, be heard and feel comfortable.

In New York, the latest example of this is The Fude Experience, an artistic initiative consisting of pop-up events that revolve around an activity, such as a dinner, sculpture workshop, or meditation class, with the requirement that attendees must be completely naked.

These events cost around $88 per person. To enter, you need to fill out a questionnaire. You are accepted based on the answers you give. The idea came from Charlie Ann Max, 29, an American plus-size model who started organizing these pop-up events in Los Angeles. She has recently been preparing one each month in New York, with plans to bring them to cities such as Madrid and Barcelona in August of this year. Each event can accommodate 36 people, although Ann Max told EL PAIS that she receives thousands of requests. The participants range from the age of 20 to 55.

EL PAIS attended the event held this past April 21 in New York City. An architect from India explained that she was attending because she had started menopause and wanted to work on accepting her body. Another attendee  who was attending Fude for the third time  said that it had changed her life. Im deeply grateful for the enormous healing effect of these events, she noted. Others in attendance assured that they have not missed a single one.

Initially, the Fude  a play on the pronunciation of food, with which Ann Max pays tribute to her Jewish-German roots  was limited to women, non-binary and queer people, to ensure a safe space for anyone who might feel uncomfortable stripping naked in the presence of cisgender men.

To achieve equality, its important to promote spaces in which women can listen to each other, without male mediation, said Fatima Arranz Lozano, a professor of Political Science and Sociology at the Complutense University of Madrid, in an email interview with EL PAIS. Of course, this doesnt mean that there are no mixed spaces.

As the experience evolved, though, Charlie Ann Max realized that it was important to include all gender identities. However, men are only accepted if they have a direct recommendation from someone who has previously attended one of the events. The freedom that being naked provides is also an act of surrender, she explained. She also pointed out that not sexualizing the act of nudity is key: So that participants can access their purest selves, safety is my top priority.

By eliminating the expectations and social judgments linked to nudity, we favor the connection with our body and [the bodies] of others in a profound way, without being judged. Personally, I have had a hard time coming to terms with myself due to the toxicity of body culture. Being naked helped me heal my body dysmorphia. Ive become much stronger, the creator of Fude emphasized. Like Ann Max, many women are empowered by feeling vulnerable (but safe) in these types of encounters.

The men who attend also benefit. An Irish therapist  the only man who attended the April meeting  explained it this way: During the breathing exercises, I was moved by connecting with my sadness. In the end, I visualized my father as a child, shaking my hand while I was also a child. Its been very nice There arent many spaces where men can connect with our pain and feel vulnerable.

Part of the philosophy of the Fude experience is also the one behind the creation of female-only gyms and gym hours, so that women and girls can avoid feeling intimidated while exercising. Proof of this is that, on TikTok, the hashtag #WomensOnlyGym has been used at least 48 million times. The advantage is that  in addition to protection  these types of places create a sense of community. The same is true of the travel industry, which has exploded with agencies organizing eco-adventures for groups of women to remote destinations, or a multitude of yoga, detox, or meditation retreats. These spaces are very relevant to promoting social change and progress in human rights, explained Magdalena Suarez Ojeda, director of the Gender Equality Unit at the Complutense University of Madrid.

But its not just about making women feel comfortable; its also about making sure they feel heard. This is how journalist Pamela Paul explained it in The New York Times: Whether they are Trumpists or traditionalists, activists from the fringe left or academic ideologues, there are misogynists at both ends of the political spectrum who equally have the power to silence women.

Im not a hippy  quite the opposite. But I believe theres a science behind the exchange of energies and who you surround yourself with. If you surround yourself with five people who inspire you, you will benefit, German businesswoman Kristina Roth explained to Forbes in 2018, when she opened SuperShe, an island in Finland where she offers women-only retreats. In its opening month, it already had more than 8,000 applications, although only 10 people were accepted for each stay. SuperShe  like many businesses of this nature  was created with the aim of empowering women and fighting against gender discrimination. However, it has been accused of exercising class discrimination, due to its elitism. A four-day stay costs $2,300 per person.

Some people dismiss these business initiatives as sexist, arguing that they discriminate against men. Its a notion that Claudia Salazar, a writer, feminist and academic specializing in gender studies, quickly dismantles: We live in a patriarchal society, so it makes no sense to say that these exclusive spaces for women are discriminatory. On the contrary, theyre spaces that allow women to begin to develop their voice Something that doesnt happen on a day-to-day basis in [mixed spaces]. We continue to be relegated to a secondary category, Salazar noted. It cannot be said that, from a subordinate place, were discriminating against those who occupy the hegemonic place.

Continuing to promote exclusive events is necessary for women, lesbians and trans people to feel like theyre in a safe space, in order to understand that the inequalities we experience come from a structural system, argued Serena Delle Donne, feminist activist and specialist in communication and interculturality. Its important to understand that the individual experience is also a collective political experience.
Jamie Foxx is out of hospital following health scare

Jamie Foxx has been out of hospital "for weeks".

The Oscar-winning star was hospitalized back in April because of a medical complication - but his daughter Corinne has taken to social media to reveal that he's now out of hospital.

Corinne, 29, wrote on Instagram: "My Dad has been out of the hospital for weeks, recuperating. (sic)"

Corinne revealed that the 55-year-old actor recently played a game of pickleball, and she also thanked fans for their support over recent weeks.

Speaking to fans via Instsgram, she said: "Thanks for everyone's prayers and support! We have an exciting work announcement coming next week too!"

Read more here:

Donald Trump will turn sexual abuse verdict into fundraising opportunity

Donald Trump plans to use his sexual abuse verdict as a fundraising opportunity for his 2024 presidential campaign.

The 76-year-old politician was found liable by a civil jury for sexually abusing - but not raping - writer E Jean Carroll in a New York City department store in the 1990s earlier this week but is planning to turn the scandal to his advantage for a key showdown against Republican rival Ron DeSantis in Iowa on Saturday (13.05.23).

Trump was ordered to pay $5 million in damages and was all found to have defamed Carroll by calling her a "con job" but Trump supporters say he plans to continue his verbal barrage towards the former Elle magazine columnist and his advisers are planning to fundraise from the lawsuit.

One Iowa Republican explained that the sexual assault verdict could actually work in the former president's favour as it makes the Democratic Party look bad.

Read more here:

Elon Musk hires new Twitter CEO

Elon Musk is ready to step down as Twitter CEO.

The 51-year-old business mogul bought the social media platform in October but vowed to find someone else to run the company in December after conducting a poll via his own Twitter account, and he's now announced he's hired an unnamed female executive to take over in the next few weeks.

He tweeted: "Excited to announce that I've hired a new CEO for X/Twitter. She will be starting in ~6 weeks!

"My role will transition to being exec chair + CTO, overseeing product, software + sysops.(sic)"

Although Elon didn't name his successor, the Wall Street Journal reports Linda Yaccarino, who is head of advertising at NBCUniversal and helped launch their Peacock streaming channel, has been in talks to take the position.

Read more here:

Demi Lovato: My gender identity is fluid

Demi Lovato's gender identity is "fluid".

The 30-year-old pop star admits that her gender identity can change from day to day.

Speaking at the Hollywood and Mind Summit in Los Angeles, Demi told PEOPLE: "I'm a very fluid person. My gender identity is sometimes fluid too.

"I identify more feminine on certain days and other days, I identify more non-binary."

The chart-topping star explained that she's still navigating her gender identity.

She shared: "I'm learning more about myself every day.

Read more here:

***

Get more recent celeb news here:
CUMRU TWP., Pa. - The Red Cross is assisting several people left homeless by a fire that killed a baby girl in Berks County.

The organization says they're currently helping two adults and two children in the aftermath of Saturday morning's fire in Cumru Township.

Flames tore through four homes in the same building on Philadelphia Avenue.

The fire killed a one- year-old girl.

She was sleeping in her crib on the third floor.

Firefighters tried to rescue her, but say the heavy smoke, fire, and falling debris made it impossible to get to her.

Officials say the fire appears to have been caused by an electrical issue, but they won't know for sure until the investigation is complete.
Pennsylvania State Police and the Northampton County District Attorney's Office are investigating a deadly shooting in Upper Mount Bethel Township that may be a result of domestic violence.

The shooting happened overnight inside a house. At this point, the district attorney is not releasing the address because the investigation is in its early stages.

"There was one deceased person there," District Attorney Terry Houck said. "We believe that early indications tell us that it's domestic in nature. The police are involved in an active investigation at this time. We're in the process of investigating this and talking to people and identifying who's who here."

The district attorney said more information will be released as the investigation progresses.

Officials have not identified the person who they say was found dead inside.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The number of migrants encountered at the southern border fell 50% during the last three days compared with the days leading up to the end of a key pandemic-era regulation, U.S. officials said Monday.

But a high number of migrants are still in U.S. custody, although the number has fallen significantly since last week, said Blas Nunez-Neto, assistant secretary for border and immigration policy at the Department of Homeland Security.

The ability of U.S. Border Patrol to hold migrants has been a key concern as more migrants came to the border in the days leading up to the end of immigration restrictions linked to the pandemic, referred to as Title 42. The administration is facing a lawsuit aimed at curtailing its ability to release migrants from custody even when facilities are over capacity.

At one point last week, more than 27,000 migrants were in custody along the border, a number that may top 45,000 by the end of May if the powers to more quickly release migrants from custody when facilities are over capacity are curtailed, said Matthew Hudak, deputy Border Patrol chief, in a court filing last week related to the lawsuit.

Nunez-Neto said border officials had been encountering a little less than 5,000 people a day since Title 42 expired at midnight Thursday and new U.S. enforcement measures went into effect Friday. He did not give exact numbers.

Its still too early to draw firm conclusions. We are closely watching whats happening. We are confident that the plan that we have developed across the U.S. government to address these flows will work over time, said Nunez-Neto.

He credited the U.S. planning as well as enforcement measures Mexico and Guatemala have carried out in recent days along their own southern borders. He gave no details about what those two countries were doing.

The head of the U.S. Border Patrol, Raul Ortiz, said on Twitter on Monday that his agents had apprehended 14,752 people over the past 72 hours; that averages out to 4,917 per day.

The figures given Monday are sharply below the 10,000-plus encountered on three days last week as migrants rushed to get in before new policies to restrict asylum took effect.

Title 42 allowed U.S. officials to quickly expel migrants without letting them seek asylum, but it also carried no consequences for those who entered the country and were expelled. In the leadup to the end of Title 42, the U.S. introduced tough enforcement measures to discourage people from just arriving at the border, encouraging them instead to use one of the pathways the U.S. has created to facilitate migration.

Many migrants, worried about these tough enforcement measures, came before Title 42 expired.

The U.S. is in litigation about whether it can release migrants without what's called a notice to appear. Usually migrants who are released into the United States  as opposed to those held in custody or immediately expelled  get a notice to appear, which includes a court date and some type of monitoring with immigration officials. But it can take up to two hours to process a single person for this, potentially choking Border Patrol holding facilities when they're at capacity.

Since 2021 the U.S. has often released migrants from custody with instructions to report to an immigration office in 60 days. It's a process that takes only 20 minutes but it's come under attack by those who say it doesn't offer enough oversight. On Thursday a Florida court temporarily put an end to the process, following news reports that the administration was using it to relieve overcrowding in Border Patrol facilities; the administration is appealing that decision. On Monday the judge, in a preliminary injunction, narrowed the order so it only applies to migrants who say they plan to stay in Florida until their court hearings.

DHS said in a court filing Monday that it had released 6,413 individuals under the quicker release policy before the judge's order temporarily ending it was put in place.

In court filings last week, U.S. authorities said they cannot confidently estimate how many people will cross the border. Hudak said authorities predict arrests will spike to between 12,000 and 14,000 a day. Hudak also noted that intelligence reports failed to quickly flag a singular surge of 18,000 predominantly Haitian migrants in Del Rio, Texas, in September 2021.

This story has been corrected to note that the judge's temporary restraining order came on Thursday, not Friday.

Follow Santana on Twitter @ruskygal.
BANGKOK (AP)  Thailands main opposition parties easily bested other contenders with virtually all the votes counted from Sundays general election, fulfilling many voters hopes that the balloting would serve as a pivotal chance for change nine years after incumbent Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha first came to power in a 2014 coup.

With 99% of the votes counted by early Monday morning, the junior opposition Move Forward Party had eked out a small edge over the favored Pheu Thai Party, whose leaders earlier in the night conceded they might not finish on top.

The winner of Sundays vote is not assured the right to form the new government. A joint session of the 500-seat House of Representatives will be held with the 250-member Senate in July to select the new prime minister, a process widely seen as undemocratic because the Senators were appointed by the military rather than elected but vote along with Sundays winning lawmakers.

Sundays voter turnout was about 39.5 million, or 75% of registered voters.

The maverick Move Forward Party captured just over 24% of the popular vote for the House of Representatives' 400 constituency seats and an almost 36% share of the vote for seats allocated in a separate nationwide ballot for the 100 members elected by proportional representation.

Pheu Thai Party lagged slightly behind with just over 23% for the constituency seats and about a 27% share for the party list.

The tally of constituency votes gave Move Forward 113 House seats and Pheu Thai 112, according to the Election Commission, which did not give a projection for party list seats.

Prayuths United Thai Nation Party held the fifth spot in the constituency vote with almost 9% of the total, but it placed third in the party-preference tally with close to 12%. Its constituency vote gave it 23 House seats.

The three parties were considered before the vote to the most likely to head a new government. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 36-year-old daughter of the former billionaire populist Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, had been favored in opinion polls to be chosen the countrys next leader.

Move Forwards leader, 42-year=old businessman Pita Limjaroenrat, now seems as likely a prospect.

Prayuth had been blamed for a stuttering economy, shortcomings in addressing the pandemic and thwarting democratic reforms, a particular sore point with younger voters.

The returns were a good sign for democratization, said Saowanee T. Alexander, a professor at Ubon Ratchathani University in northeastern Thailand.

This is people saying that we want change ... They are saying that they could no longer take it. The people are very frustrated. They want change, and they could achieve it, she said.

Move Forward outperformed even optimistic projections, and the party appeared poised to capture all, or almost all, 33 House seats in the capital Bangkok.

Along with Pheu Thai, it campaigned for reform of the military and the monarchy. But Move Forward put those issues closer to the heart of its platform, earning a more radical reputation.

Its outspoken support for minor reforms of the monarchy, while winning younger voters, antagonized conservatives to whom the royal institution is sacrosanct.

Pheu Thai is the latest in a string of parties linked to former Prime Minister Thaksin, who was ousted as prime minister by an army coup in 2006. Pheu Thai candidate Paetongtarn is his daughter. The government of her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, who became prime minister in 2011, was toppled in the coup led by Prayuth.

Pheu Thai won the most seats in the last election in 2019, but its archrival, the military-backed Palang Pracharath Party, succeeded in cobbling together a coalition with Prayuth as prime minister. It relied on unanimous support from the Senate, whose members were appointed by the military government after Prayuths coup and share its conservative outlook.

Ubon Universitys Alexander cautioned that the current situation remains very unpredictable, and that the Election Commission could unilaterally affect the results. In the past, it has used its authority to disqualify opposition parties or otherwise cripple challenges to the conservative establishment.

Move Forward's Pita would be a possible target for what the opposition, from bitter experience, calls dirty tricks. A candidate from the military-backed Palang Pracharath Party last week filed a complaint with the Election Commission and the National Anti-Corruption Commission, charging that Pita had failed to list a stock shareholding on a statutory declaration of his assets. Pita denied any wrongdoing, and the accusation hinges on a minor technical point.

However, the leader of the Future Forward Party, the forerunner of Move Forward, lost his seat in Parliament on similar technical grounds, and his party ended up being dissolved. It had also been seen as a radical challenge to the military-backed royalist establishment.

-

Associated Press writer Jintamas Saksornchai contributed to this report.
GENEVA (AP)  Amy Pope of the United States elbowed aside her European boss Monday to land the top job at the International Organization for Migration, winning her bid to become the first woman to lead the U.N. migration agency.

Pope, 49, defeated IOM Director General Antonio Vitorino of Portugal, the European Union candidate, who swept into the post five years ago by trouncing a candidate put up by the Trump administration for a job that has long been held by Americans.

Vitorinos prospects for a second term were clouded after Pope, with strong backing from the Biden administration, won the first round on a 98-67 vote. After a lunch break, word emerged that Vitorino had pulled out of the race.

His withdrawal paved the way for Pope to win by acclamation after member states decided to forgo what was suddenly a formality: the IOM rules requiring a two-thirds majority to win an election.

Its an incredible moment in time to lead the International Organization for Migration, and I could not be happier to stand before you today to start that work," she told reporters after the closed-door voting by secret ballot and a speech to delegates afterward.

Pope and Vitorino shook hands and smiled as they arrived together for the announcement that she had won. She is expected to start her five-year term on Oct. 1, the IOM said in a statement.

The face-off was unusual in that Pope was looking to unseat her boss in a contest between allies. The United States and Portugal are fellow NATO members.

The move also caps a renewed push by the Biden administration to maintain or recoup top posts in U.N. institutions, including the World Food Program, children's agency UNICEF, and the International Telecommunications Union, in recent months  after the Trump administration largely shunned several Geneva institutions.

Ms. Popes election reflects a broad endorsement by member states of her vision to keep people at the heart of IOMs mission, while implementing key governance and budget reforms to ensure IOM is prepared to meet the challenges it faces, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

Eight of the agency's 10 directors general since the International Organization for Migration was founded 72 years ago have been American. The organization has nearly 19,000 staff members working in 171 countries to promote humane and orderly migration.

The situation at the southern border of the United States underscores why its so critical that we approach migration from a much more comprehensive point of view," Pope said. Many of those migrants have gone through extraordinary circumstances to end up at the border.

Its job in many of its 560 field offices is to provide migrants with food, water, shelter and help with government-imposed paperwork. The agency also collects and shares vast amounts of data about flows of people to governments, and advises them on policy decisions.

Vitorino won praise for boosting the budget and staff at IOM, helping to hire and promote more women into top positions, and reaching out to developing countries, supporters said.

Vitorino, 66, is a former European Union commissioner for Home and Justice Affairs and think-tank chief who cut his teeth in politics as a Portuguese Socialist, much like U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Pope, a former prosecutor, served as migration adviser to President Joe Biden early in his administration and recently was Vitorino's deputy for reform and management.

The U.S. and the EU are both major funders of IOM facing challenges with mass migration. Critics fault the EU for failing to do more to prevent migrants from taking often-deadly boat trips across the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa to Europe.

Geneva-based UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency  which has some overlap with what IOM does  and others have expressed concern about how changes to U.S. migration law will affect people trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border.

Pope is likely to face extra scrutiny in whether she speaks out against any perceived missteps in Bidens migration policy, and she alluded to the difficulties faced by migrants who trek across central America to reach the United States.

As the director-general for the International Organization for Migration, Im not working for the United States government, she said. So my view is that it is important that we as an organization call out practices, no matter who theyre coming from, and acknowledge whether they work or they dont work.

IOM, which counts 175 member countries, is responding to mass migration crises in places as diverse as Bangladesh, Ukraine, Sudan and South American nations that neighbor Venezuela.
Fentanyl pills seized by the DEA in Phoenix (USA). AP

Everyone is talking about fentanyl. For some time now, the opioid has dominated the public conversation  or, at least, the political agenda. The powerful drug is wreaking havoc in the United States and straining diplomatic relations with Mexico (accused of being one of the largest producers) and with China, in the middle of a new Cold War that seems to intensify by the week. Many things are being said about the drug, some true, some not so much. EL PAIS brought together three experts who have studied fentanyl from the point of view of pharmacology, anthropology and medicine, including the medical and social implications of addiction, the torture of withdrawal syndrome, the ease of buying doses in streets that are flooded by the law of supply and demand, the high probability of an overdose, and the criminalization of consumers.

Fentanyl, a drug 50 times more powerful than heroin?

Take the best orgasm youve ever had, multiply it by 1,000 and youre still nowhere near it, proclaimed Ewan McGregor in Trainspotting (1996) as he recounted the misadventures of a group of heroin addicts in a gray and futureless Edinburgh. That sentence has found an echo almost three decades later in a statement repeated over and over again: fentanyl is 50 times more powerful than heroin. Does this mean that its effect is 50 times greater than that of the drug that devastated entire generations in the 1980s and 1990s? The answer is no: When we say that fentanyl is 50 times more powerful than heroin, we are saying that you need 50 times less of it. It has the same effect as heroin in terms of euphoria, but with 50 times less amount, explains the pharmacologist Silvia Cruz, who has written about the subject.

In pharmacology, potency and efficacy are often confused. Efficacy is the ability to achieve something: how much pain a pain reliever can take away. Potency is how much you need to get it done, she says. In the case of fentanyl, you need 50 times less amount to produce an effect similar to that of heroin, and therein lies one of its main risks: Its very easy, while seeking a euphoria-producing dose, to reach a lethal dose. In numbers: You need 10 milligrams of morphine to take away the most intense pain in a 70-kilogram [154lb] person, and only 0.1 milligrams of fentanyl. I figure that with a kilo of fentanyl you have enough for half a million lethal doses, adds Cruz.

Fernando Montero, a medical anthropologist with more than 10 years of experience researching drug users and dealers, adds some nuance: Fentanyl is said to be more powerful than heroin, but that is a very poor way of describing it. Fentanyl is a weaker substance than heroin: it binds to the bodys opioid receptors more easily and more strongly, it causes greater central nervous system depression, but it is also metabolized faster, so that the effect lasts much less time, and, even more importantly, the withdrawal symptoms appear sooner. For this reason, he explains, it is often mixed with other substances such as xylazine, a sedative for horses, to prolong the effect.

An officer working for the Mexican Attorney General's Office extracts bags with fentanyl from coconuts in Sonora. FGR

The effects on the body

Experts describe the effect of fentanyl as a kind of peaceful, relaxed euphoria. Opioids give you a feeling of well-being, any pain you have is taken away, its a sense of floating without pain, isolated from the external environment, explains Guillermo Dominguez, an intensive care physician and anesthesiologist at Spains National Institute of Nutrition. The most widely used opioid for anesthesia at the global level is fentanyl, says this doctor. That is why its use as a legal medicine should not be criminalized.

Heroin has always been described as a substance that embraces you completely, as a full-body, very pleasurable experience. When it is pure, the effect can last 10 to 12 hours. The experience of fentanyl is more focused in the neck and the face. A similar effect is achieved but for a very short time. The initial rush of fentanyl, the euphoria of the first 10, 15, 30 seconds, is stronger than that of heroin, but after that, the rest of the experience is a lot shorter, he adds.

How it is consumed

Fentanyl can be injected, inhaled, smoked or swallowed in pills, although if there is one thing about addiction, it is that the forms of consumption are creative and constantly adapting to the environment. On the streets, you can find everything from powder to things that look like sugar cubes, blue pills [called M30] and colored pills, and surely other presentations are already coming out because its like any market, theres always more supply, says Cruz. Powder and pills, according to this expert, are the most common way to consume fentanyl. The pills are crushed, then the powder is burned on aluminum foil the same way as heroin, and the smoke is inhaled.

Montero, on the contrary, assures that the most widespread option to consume fentanyl is through injection, as a legacy of heroin. For decades, there were two monopolies in the United States: in the east, white-powder heroin from Colombia; in the west, solid, black heroin from Mexico. In the east, fentanyl entered undetected as it resembled heroin. In the west you couldnt inhale it because what was sold was a black gum, so people injected it. You can smoke it, but it is not considered an efficient way to consume it, as you lose a lot of the substance. Injection among the people I work with, who live on the streets, is by far the most common way of consuming [fentanyl}.

A man with fentanyl in San Francisco. Jessica Christian (Hearst Newspapers via Getty Imag)

Addiction and withdrawal

The euphoria of the first dose dissipates with the second dose, and even more so the third time around. The body quickly develops tolerance to the drug, which means that to in order to find the same peace of mind as the first time, it has to be consumed more frequently or in a greater dosage. There comes a time when users are increasing the doses so much that there is no time to adjust them and they become lethal when they build up, notes Dominguez. You develop tolerance to the euphoric and analgesic effects, but not to the respiratory depression that fentanyl causes. Looking for the euphoric effect, you reach the lethal dose.

And when not enough doses are achieved to maintain the effect, withdrawal symptoms quickly appear. Its a torture experience that you wouldnt wish on your worst enemy, says Montero. Fentanyl inhibits cells. When the inhibitor wears off, the cells become hyperexcited. Anything causes those neurons to fire throughout the nervous system. The first thing that appears is hyperalgesia, the opposite of an analgesic effect. It hurts where it shouldnt hurt, Cruz explains. It starts like a flu, the body produces tears and mucus, joint pain, diarrhea, vomiting, chills, intestinal cramps, contractions, uncontrollable movements in the legs... It reaches its maximum after 72 hours, and it feels very bad for a week. If they can get their hands on the opioid they will, because to them, it is like being sick and getting cured.

Overdose

Around 70,000 people died of fentanyl overdoses in 2021 alone, the equivalent of nearly 200 people a day and an increase of 94% compared to two years earlier, according to a study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Taking a lethal overdose, experts explain, is easy. Unlike heroin and morphine, fentanyl has an enormous capacity due to its chemical structure to cross biological barriers and quickly reach the central nervous system. It arrives so quickly that a person can die with the syringe still in place, warns Cruz.

Fentanyl acts as a central nervous system depressant, inhibiting the neurons that control breathing, the ones that make you breathe in and out automatically. That is to say: the body forgets to breathe and you die. Montero, however, provides another vision: There are a million people out there using fentanyl, which means that it is not the poison that everyone believes it to be: it is possible to have an addiction and not die, and the vast majority of people are in that situation. However, overdoses with fentanyl are more likely than with heroin, notes the medical anthropologist. The substance is cut and mixed with other drugs, and a mistake that delivers a higher dose of fentanyl  something that can easily happen, because the percentage of the opioid that can safely be consumed is tiny  can be lethal. In samples studied in the US, it was discovered that many of the doses contained 2-10% fentanyl and the rest was xylazine, the horse sedative.

Seized fentanyl pills in the US on August 18, 2022. @CBPPortDirNOG (RR. SS.)

The market is not regulated and there are certain sellers who will make a mistake and put too much fentanyl in the substance. In Philadelphia, where there is a fairly structured market, we see that this does not happen a lot. The wholesalers know what they are doing because they do not want to kill their consumers, as they depend on them to keep selling, in addition to the fact that if many people die it will attract the police. So there is quality control, but the mechanisms they have are very rudimentary.

The main antidote for a fentanyl overdose is naloxone, which binds to the same sites as fentanyl, but because it has a higher affinity with the body, it displaces the opioid. It does not cause addiction or generate euphoria, but it does cause withdrawal symptoms, warns Cruz. It has nothing to do with methadone, which makes people feel good and keeps neurons quiet. The ideal situation is to have naloxone for overdoses and methadone so that users dont go through the detox process on their own, suffering a lot.

Sale

Montero lived for years on a street in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, where his neighbors were drug dealers. The street-level seller has no role in making the substance, which is packaged three hierarchical levels above him in the supply chain. There are wholesalers who live in the suburbs: these people are mixing [the drug] and do not receive any attention from the police or public health officials or journalists. The U.S. is so obsessed with punitive measures that they blame the street seller without knowing how the market works; they simply assume that the dealer is an evil and criminal guy that wants to poison his consumers.
Boadicea Ricketts & Ben Castle-Gibb

(  Alessandro Castellani)

Beneath the touristic facade seen in popular culture, Cornwall has some of the highest levels of poverty and unemployment in Britain. This has worsened since it lost the EU funding on which it relied (Cornish residents overwhelmingly voted Leave), making it a fitting setting for Gareth Farrs play about food poverty and how it is so often hidden.

Farrs compassionate two-hander, staged in traverse with minimal furniture and a sandpit (designed by Cecilia Carey), focuses on tentative 20-something couple Paul (Ben Castle-Gibb) and Joanne (Boadicea Ricketts). Both have experienced trauma in their lives: Paul continues to mourn his late father, an alcoholic fisherman who taught him how to cook and encouraged him to have high aspirations (he repeatedly listens to tape recordings of their conversations), while Joanne is a care leaver who takes whatever jobs she can find in order to survive. They work as a trainee chef and cleaner respectively in a smart hotel but when the hotel closes suddenly and both are left unemployed (the only option is unstable shift work in a garlic bread factory), they quickly slide from enjoying hearty meals to being unable to afford bread.

Castle-Gibb gives a thoughtful, nuanced performance as the diffident Paul, who manages to impress the defensive Joanne with his fancy knife skills and delicious home-cooked dinners. He lights up when he talks about the process of cooking and aspires to publish a cookbook celebrating Cornish cookery (quite a challenge for anyone who isnt a celebrity chef). His act of cruelty towards the end is likely intended to show how hunger can drive a person to treat their loved ones poorly but the vehemence does feel out of character. Ricketts tough Joanne, who has always had to be self-reliant, is the practical one with no time for idealism when food needs to be put on the table now. These are strong individual performances but they struggle to be entirely convincing as an opposites attract couple.

All the food is mimed in Tessa Walkers production and the act of cooking has a balletic grace. Foraging for seafood on the beach is like a game but going to a foodbank, which involves answering humiliating personal questions, is only for the most destitute, which no one would want to admit to being (how can they be so desperate when both are earning some money?).

Farr focuses on the couples personal story, with virtually no discussion of the political situation that has allowed such deprivation to transpire in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Paul mentions briefly that you cant not be political if youve from a fishing community, but thats it. Its commendable that Farr doesnt lecture but some emphasis on the fact that these personal struggles are the result of years of austerity would hold the government to account.

Pauls fathers advice, Dream big, be better, work hard, however well-intended, feels like mockery in this economic climate in which people keep getting poorer. Fortunately, there is hope but the way in which the couple are required to tap into their deepest inner reserves of strength to find it is heartbreaking rather than in any way heartening.
Amy Pope from the U.S. is pictured during the elections process of the director general position for the International Organization for Migration in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 15, 2023.

Amy Pope of the United States elbowed aside her European boss Monday to land the top job at the International Organization for Migration, winning her bid to become the first woman to lead the U.N. migration agency.

Pope, 49, defeated IOM Director General Antonio Vitorino of Portugal, the European Union candidate, who swept into the post five years ago by trouncing a candidate put up by the Trump administration for a job that was long been held by Americans.

Vitorinos prospects for a second term were clouded after Pope, with strong backing from the Biden administration, won the first round on a 98-67 vote. After a lunch break, word emerged that Vitorino had pulled out of the race.

His withdrawal paved the way for Pope to win by acclamation after member states decided to forgo what was suddenly a formality: the IOM rules requiring a two-thirds majority to win an election.

Pope and Vitorino shook hands and smiled as they arrived together for the announcement that she had won. She is expected to start her five-year term on Oct. 1, the IOM said in a statement.

The face-off was unusual in that Pope was looking to unseat her boss in a contest between allies. The United States and Portugal are fellow NATO members.

Ms. Popes election reflects a broad endorsement by member states of her vision to keep people at the heart of IOMs mission, while implementing key governance and budget reforms to ensure IOM is prepared to meet the challenges it faces, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

Eight of the agencys 10 directors general since the International Organization for Migration was founded 72 years ago have been American. The organization has nearly 19,000 staff members working in 171 countries to promote humane and orderly migration.

Its job in many of its 560 field offices is to provide migrants with food, water, shelter and help with government-imposed paperwork. The agency also collects and shares vast amounts of data about flows of people to governments, and advises them on policy decisions.

Vitorino won praise for boosting the budget and staff at IOM, helping to hire and promote more women into top positions, and reaching out to developing countries, supporters said.

Vitorino, 66, is a former European Union commissioner for Home and Justice Affairs and think-tank chief who cut his teeth in politics as a Portuguese Socialist, much like U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Pope, a former prosecutor, served as migration adviser to President Joe Biden early in his administration and recently was Vitorinos deputy for reform and management.

The U.S. and the EU are both major funders of IOM facing challenges with mass migration. Critics fault the EU for failing to do more to prevent migrants from taking often-deadly boat trips across the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa to Europe.

UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency, and others have expressed concern about how changes to U.S. migration law will affect people trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border.

IOM, which counts 175 member countries, is responding to mass migration crises in places as diverse as Bangladesh, Ukraine, Sudan and South American nations that neighbor Venezuela.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Embraer S.A. (NYSE:ERJ  Get Rating) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,720,000 shares, an increase of 10.3% from the April 15th total of 1,560,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 1,660,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.0 days. Currently, 0.9% of the shares of the company are sold short.

Embraer Stock Performance

ERJ traded up $0.58 on Friday, reaching $14.30. The stock had a trading volume of 4,357,392 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,639,284. The company has a market cap of $2.63 billion, a P/E ratio of -476.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 1.28. Embraer has a 12-month low of $7.91 and a 12-month high of $16.75. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $15.22 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $12.74. The company has a current ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10.

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Embraer (NYSE:ERJ  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Friday, March 10th. The aerospace company reported $0.24 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.30 by ($0.06). The company had revenue of $1.99 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.02 billion. Embraer had a positive return on equity of 0.65% and a negative net margin of 0.08%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Embraer will post 1.06 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Embraer

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Embraer during the 2nd quarter valued at about $27,000. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Embraer by 241.4% in the 3rd quarter. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC now owns 4,404 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 3,114 shares in the last quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp purchased a new stake in Embraer in the 1st quarter valued at $56,000. Advisors Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Embraer in the 1st quarter valued at $60,000. Finally, Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. grew its holdings in Embraer by 461.3% in the 4th quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 6,073 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $66,000 after buying an additional 4,991 shares in the last quarter. 37.89% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. TheStreet upgraded Embraer from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on shares of Embraer from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. StockNews.com cut shares of Embraer from a buy rating to a sell rating in a report on Monday, May 8th. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Embraer from $11.75 to $17.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, March 23rd. Finally, Bank of America reduced their target price on shares of Embraer from $27.00 to $24.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, March 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $19.25.

Embraer Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Embraer SA engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of aircraft and its parts for commercial, defense, and executive aviation sectors. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Aviation, Defense and Security, Executive Jet Business, Service & Support and Others. The Commercial Aviation segment is involved in the development, production, and sale of commercial jets; and the provision of support services to regional aviation and aircraft leasing.

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Barclays began coverage on shares of Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A  Get Rating) in a report published on Thursday, The Fly reports. The brokerage issued an equal weight rating and a $140.00 price target on the medical research companys stock.

A has been the subject of a number of other research reports. StockNews.com cut Agilent Technologies from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, March 29th. Credit Suisse Group lifted their price target on shares of Agilent Technologies from $165.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on shares of Agilent Technologies from $170.00 to $174.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Agilent Technologies has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $161.64.

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Agilent Technologies Stock Performance

A stock opened at $127.49 on Thursday. The businesss fifty day moving average is $135.66 and its 200-day moving average is $144.71. The company has a quick ratio of 1.53, a current ratio of 2.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. The company has a market cap of $37.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 1.03. Agilent Technologies has a twelve month low of $112.52 and a twelve month high of $160.26.

Agilent Technologies Announces Dividend

Agilent Technologies ( NYSE:A Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 28th. The medical research company reported $1.37 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.31 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $1.76 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.70 billion. Agilent Technologies had a return on equity of 30.35% and a net margin of 19.09%. The firms revenue was up 4.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.21 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Agilent Technologies will post 5.68 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 26th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 4th were paid a $0.225 dividend. This represents a $0.90 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.71%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, April 3rd. Agilent Technologiess dividend payout ratio is presently 20.32%.

Institutional Trading of Agilent Technologies

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in A. Natixis Investment Managers International lifted its stake in Agilent Technologies by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. Natixis Investment Managers International now owns 3,245 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $486,000 after buying an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. lifted its stake in Agilent Technologies by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. now owns 5,965 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $893,000 after buying an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. lifted its stake in Agilent Technologies by 8.8% in the 4th quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 837 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $125,000 after buying an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. First Command Financial Services Inc. lifted its stake in Agilent Technologies by 19.4% in the 1st quarter. First Command Financial Services Inc. now owns 461 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $64,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Agilent Technologies by 34.8% in the 3rd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 298 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares in the last quarter. 85.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Agilent Technologies Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Agilent Technologies, Inc engages in the provision of application focused solutions for life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets. It operates through the following segments: Life Sciences and Applied Markets, Diagnostics and Genomics, and Agilent CrossLab. The Life Sciences and Applied Markets segment offers application-focused solutions that include instruments and software that identify, quantify, and analyze the physical and biological properties of substances and products, as well as the clinical and life sciences research areas to interrogate samples at the molecular and cellular level.

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Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Co. increased its stake in Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN  Get Rating) by 1.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 7,395 shares of the information technology services providers stock after buying an additional 101 shares during the quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Co.s holdings in Accenture were worth $1,973,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Cibc World Markets Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Accenture by 111.7% in the 4th quarter. Cibc World Markets Corp now owns 104,865 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $27,982,000 after buying an additional 55,330 shares during the last quarter. Ethos Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Accenture in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $216,000. Manchester Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Accenture by 76.4% in the 4th quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC now owns 5,543 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $1,479,000 after buying an additional 2,401 shares during the last quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Accenture by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 13,937 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $4,011,000 after buying an additional 74 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP lifted its holdings in Accenture by 872.1% during the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 999,503 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $266,717,000 after purchasing an additional 896,680 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.97% of the companys stock.

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Accenture Trading Up 0.2 %

Accenture stock traded up $0.55 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $277.74. The companys stock had a trading volume of 532,064 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,354,145. Accenture plc has a 52 week low of $242.80 and a 52 week high of $322.88. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $271.54 and a 200-day moving average price of $276.43. The stock has a market cap of $175.50 billion, a PE ratio of 25.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 1.25.

Accenture Announces Dividend

Accenture ( NYSE:ACN Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, March 23rd. The information technology services provider reported $2.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.49 by $0.20. The firm had revenue of $15.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $15.59 billion. Accenture had a return on equity of 30.73% and a net margin of 11.00%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.54 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Accenture plc will post 11.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 13th will be issued a dividend of $1.12 per share. This represents a $4.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.61%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 12th. Accentures dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 41.25%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Piper Jaffray Companies raised their price target on Accenture from $245.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Monday, March 27th. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on Accenture from $340.00 to $325.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, March 15th. StockNews.com raised Accenture from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, May 5th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on Accenture from $310.00 to $327.00 in a report on Friday, March 24th. Finally, Wedbush reissued an outperform rating and set a $300.00 target price on shares of Accenture in a report on Monday, March 13th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $314.00.

Insider Transactions at Accenture

In other news, CEO Julie Spellman Sweet sold 2,954 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.05, for a total transaction of $827,267.70. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 24,459 shares in the company, valued at $6,849,742.95. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 556 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $276.82, for a total value of $153,911.92. Following the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 42,739 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,831,009.98. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Julie Spellman Sweet sold 2,954 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.05, for a total value of $827,267.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 24,459 shares in the company, valued at $6,849,742.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 15,010 shares of company stock worth $4,180,030. Insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock.

About Accenture

(Get Rating)

Accenture Plc engages in the provision of management consulting, technology, and outsourcing services. It operates through the following geographical segments: North America, Europe and Growth Markets. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

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Beaumont Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF (NYSEARCA:IHI  Get Rating) by 35.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 10,864 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,859 shares during the quarter. Beaumont Capital Management LLCs holdings in iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF were worth $571,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Castleview Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF in the 3rd quarter worth about $28,000. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Signature Securities Group Corporation bought a new position in shares of iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF in the 3rd quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, EPG Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF in the 3rd quarter worth about $41,000.

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iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF Stock Performance

Shares of iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF stock traded up $0.03 during trading on Monday, hitting $55.63. The companys stock had a trading volume of 138,932 shares, compared to its average volume of 827,896. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $54.19 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $53.19. The company has a market capitalization of $6.18 billion, a PE ratio of 27.50 and a beta of 0.85. iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF has a 52 week low of $46.21 and a 52 week high of $57.24.

About iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF

The iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF (IHI) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the DJ US Select \u002F Medical Equipment index, a market-cap-weighted index of manufacturers and distributors of medical devices in the US. IHI was launched on May 1, 2006 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IHI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF (NYSEARCA:IHI  Get Rating).

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Deutsche Borse AG (OTCMKTS:DBOEY  Get Rating) has earned an average recommendation of Hold from the ten brokerages that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $191.82.

Several brokerages have recently commented on DBOEY. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Deutsche Borse from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 21st. Credit Suisse Group upgraded Deutsche Borse from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Deutsche Borse to 204.10 ($224.29) in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Deutsche Borse in a research report on Tuesday, May 9th. They issued a neutral rating on the stock.

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Deutsche Borse Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of Deutsche Borse stock opened at $18.84 on Monday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $19.11 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $18.07. Deutsche Borse has a 1-year low of $15.22 and a 1-year high of $20.61. The company has a market cap of $35.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.41, a PEG ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 0.72.

Deutsche Borse Increases Dividend

About Deutsche Borse

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 5th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 18th will be paid a $0.2568 dividend. This represents a yield of 1.34%. This is a positive change from Deutsche Borses previous dividend of $0.23. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 17th. Deutsche Borses payout ratio is currently 28.41%.

(Get Rating)

Deutsche Borse AG engages in the provision of information technology services and market data distribution. It operates through the following segments: Eurex, EEX, Xetra, 360T, Clearstream, IFS, GSF, Qontigo and Data. The Eurex segment includes electronic trading of European derivatives, commodities, and foreign exchange.

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Bank of Nova Scotia cut its position in Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE:BAM  Get Rating) (TSE:BAM.A) by 74.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,740,541 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 14,137,686 shares during the quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia owned about 1.15% of Brookfield Asset Management worth $135,771,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC raised its stake in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 2.6% during the third quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 249,260 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $10,192,000 after purchasing an additional 6,306 shares in the last quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc lifted its stake in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 10.5% in the 3rd quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc now owns 68,277 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,037,000 after acquiring an additional 6,500 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 0.9% in the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,613,041 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $65,957,000 after acquiring an additional 13,953 shares in the last quarter. Trexquant Investment LP increased its stake in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 74.6% during the third quarter. Trexquant Investment LP now owns 68,039 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,782,000 after acquiring an additional 29,070 shares during the period. Finally, ExodusPoint Capital Management LP raised its holdings in Brookfield Asset Management by 125.3% during the third quarter. ExodusPoint Capital Management LP now owns 44,699 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,828,000 after purchasing an additional 24,862 shares in the last quarter.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Multi-Strategy Mast Brookfield sold 24,744 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.96, for a total transaction of $295,938.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 21,104,923 shares in the company, valued at approximately $252,414,879.08. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 11.00% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Brookfield Asset Management Stock Performance

Brookfield Asset Management Dividend Announcement

Shares of NYSE:BAM traded down $0.08 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $31.47. 274,481 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,673,750. The company has a market capitalization of $12.98 billion and a PE ratio of 19.69. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $32.20 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $34.58. Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. has a 52-week low of $26.76 and a 52-week high of $36.50.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be paid a $0.32 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 30th. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.07%. Brookfield Asset Managements payout ratio is presently 80.00%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have issued reports on BAM. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Brookfield Asset Management from $35.00 to $39.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and set a $40.00 price objective on shares of Brookfield Asset Management in a research note on Tuesday, March 28th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered Brookfield Asset Management to an underperform rating in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Brookfield Asset Management in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Brookfield Asset Management presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $43.57.

Brookfield Asset Management Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. provides alternative asset management services. Its renewable power and transition business includes the ownership, operation, and development of hydroelectric, wind, solar, and energy transition power generating assets. The company's infrastructure business engages in the ownership, operation, and development of utilities, transport, midstream, data and sustainable resource assets.

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Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut shares of Brookfield (NYSE:BN  Get Rating) from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note issued to investors on Friday, The Fly reports.

Several other equities analysts have also commented on the company. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on Brookfield from $53.00 to $54.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 10th. TheStreet raised Brookfield from a d+ rating to a c rating in a report on Monday, January 23rd. TD Securities lowered their target price on Brookfield from $63.00 to $62.00 and set an action list buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Brookfield from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 10th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group upgraded Brookfield from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $41.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $51.00.

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Brookfield Price Performance

Shares of Brookfield stock opened at $30.35 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $31.31. Brookfield has a 12 month low of $28.25 and a 12 month high of $54.08. The stock has a market cap of $49.71 billion, a PE ratio of 26.16 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47.

Brookfield Dividend Announcement

Brookfield ( NYSE:BN Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 9th. The company reported ($0.23) EPS for the quarter. Brookfield had a return on equity of 1.55% and a net margin of 2.22%. The firm had revenue of $24.21 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.02 billion.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.07 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 30th. This represents a $0.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.92%. Brookfields dividend payout ratio is 24.14%.

Insider Activity at Brookfield

In other Brookfield news, Director Multi-Strategy Mast Brookfield sold 24,744 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.96, for a total value of $295,938.24. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 21,104,923 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $252,414,879.08. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 11.00% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. RMB Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Brookfield by 2.1% in the first quarter. RMB Capital Management LLC now owns 16,707 shares of the companys stock valued at $544,000 after buying an additional 350 shares in the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC boosted its position in Brookfield by 15.4% in the first quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 2,672 shares of the companys stock valued at $87,000 after buying an additional 356 shares in the last quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in Brookfield by 3.2% in the first quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 15,313 shares of the companys stock valued at $499,000 after buying an additional 475 shares in the last quarter. ClariVest Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Brookfield by 0.3% in the first quarter. ClariVest Asset Management LLC now owns 189,070 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,152,000 after buying an additional 490 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FirstPurpose Wealth LLC boosted its position in Brookfield by 5.8% in the first quarter. FirstPurpose Wealth LLC now owns 9,311 shares of the companys stock valued at $303,000 after buying an additional 513 shares in the last quarter. 60.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Brookfield

(Get Rating)

Brookfield Corp. engages in the management of public and private investment products and services for institutional and retail clients. It operates through the following business segments: Renewable Power and Transition, Infrastructure, Private Equity, Real Estate, and Credit and Insurance Solutions.

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CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CNP  Get Rating) announced a quarterly dividend on Thursday, April 20th, RTT News reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 18th will be paid a dividend of 0.19 per share by the utilities provider on Thursday, June 8th. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.53%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 17th.

CenterPoint Energy has decreased its dividend by an average of 5.8% per year over the last three years and has raised its dividend annually for the last 2 consecutive years. CenterPoint Energy has a payout ratio of 47.2% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities analysts expect CenterPoint Energy to earn $1.61 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.76 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 47.2%.

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CenterPoint Energy Stock Performance

Shares of CNP opened at $30.05 on Monday. CenterPoint Energy has a 12 month low of $25.03 and a 12 month high of $33.50. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $29.63 and a 200-day moving average price of $29.70. The company has a current ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.65. The firm has a market cap of $18.96 billion, a PE ratio of 23.85, a P/E/G ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.88.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

CenterPoint Energy ( NYSE:CNP Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.50 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.48 by $0.02. CenterPoint Energy had a return on equity of 9.97% and a net margin of 8.99%. The firm had revenue of $2.78 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.79 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.47 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that CenterPoint Energy will post 1.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Several research firms have recently commented on CNP. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of CenterPoint Energy from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $33.00 price target on shares of CenterPoint Energy in a research note on Monday, March 6th. Bank of America boosted their target price 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. StockNews.com raised shares of CenterPoint Energy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Guggenheim cut shares of CenterPoint Energy from a buy rating to a neutral rating and increased their price target for the stock from $31.00 to $32.00 in a report on Monday, January 23rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $32.75.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Barry T. Smitherman sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.51, for a total value of $152,550.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 21,075 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $642,998.25. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, Director Barry T. Smitherman sold 5,000 shares of CenterPoint Energy stock in a transaction on Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.51, for a total transaction of $152,550.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 21,075 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $642,998.25. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Ted Pound sold 2,770 shares of CenterPoint Energy stock in a transaction on Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.50, for a total transaction of $84,485.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 46,541 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,419,500.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.18% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On CenterPoint Energy

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of CenterPoint Energy by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 73,506,201 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,252,230,000 after buying an additional 1,502,900 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its stake in CenterPoint Energy by 10.0% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 33,279,592 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,019,687,000 after purchasing an additional 3,035,409 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plc boosted its stake in CenterPoint Energy by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 7,709,912 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $231,220,000 after purchasing an additional 28,834 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. lifted its stake in CenterPoint Energy by 68.2% during the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 7,638,179 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $234,036,000 after purchasing an additional 3,096,455 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its stake in CenterPoint Energy by 22.6% during the second quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 3,810,691 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $112,720,000 after purchasing an additional 703,479 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.28% of the companys stock.

About CenterPoint Energy

(Get Rating)

CenterPoint Energy, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the business of power generation and distribution. It operates through the following segments: CenterPoint Energy, Houston Electric, and CERC. The CenterPoint Energy segment consists of electric transmission and distribution services in the Texas gulf coast area in the ERCOT region and electric transmission and distribution services primarily to southwestern Indiana and includes power generation and wholesale power operations in the MISO region.

Further Reading

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Community Bank & Trust Waco Texas trimmed its stake in Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX  Get Rating) by 0.6% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 75,731 shares of the asset managers stock after selling 442 shares during the period. Blackstone makes up 1.8% of Community Bank & Trust Waco Texas portfolio, making the stock its 18th largest holding. Community Bank & Trust Waco Texas holdings in Blackstone were worth $5,618,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Cottage Street Advisors LLC increased its stake in Blackstone by 6,039.5% in the 4th quarter. Cottage Street Advisors LLC now owns 4,231,358 shares of the asset managers stock worth $880,000 after buying an additional 4,162,438 shares in the last quarter. Edgewood Management LLC grew its position in shares of Blackstone by 48.7% during the third quarter. Edgewood Management LLC now owns 10,915,509 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $913,628,000 after purchasing an additional 3,574,211 shares in the last quarter. Axiom Investors LLC DE grew its position in shares of Blackstone by 185.2% during the third quarter. Axiom Investors LLC DE now owns 1,353,170 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $113,260,000 after purchasing an additional 878,676 shares in the last quarter. Temasek Holdings Private Ltd grew its position in shares of Blackstone by 3,214.1% during the third quarter. Temasek Holdings Private Ltd now owns 753,130 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $63,037,000 after purchasing an additional 730,405 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its position in shares of Blackstone by 17.8% during the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 4,367,094 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $365,526,000 after purchasing an additional 660,166 shares in the last quarter. 62.39% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Blackstone news, major shareholder Holdings L.P. Blackstone III sold 180,000 shares of Blackstone stock in a transaction on Monday, April 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.63, for a total value of $5,513,400.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 8,812,747 shares of the companys stock, valued at $269,934,440.61. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, major shareholder Holdings L.P. Blackstone III sold 180,000 shares of Blackstone stock in a transaction on Monday, April 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.63, for a total transaction of $5,513,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 8,812,747 shares in the company, valued at $269,934,440.61. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, major shareholder Holdings I/Ii Gp L. Blackstone sold 28,562,652 shares of Blackstone stock in a transaction on Monday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.71, for a total transaction of $248,780,698.92. Following the sale, the insider now owns 57,028 shares of the companys stock, valued at $496,713.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have bought 10,950,343 shares of company stock valued at $18,741,735 and have sold 140,632,216 shares valued at $1,725,831,950. Corporate insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock.

Blackstone Stock Down 0.1 %

BX stock traded down $0.08 during trading on Monday, hitting $82.78. 493,588 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,847,751. The firm has a market capitalization of $58.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 101.05, a PEG ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.50. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $85.28 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $86.63. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Blackstone Inc. has a 1 year low of $71.72 and a 1 year high of $123.18.

Blackstone (NYSE:BX  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 20th. The asset manager reported $0.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.97. Blackstone had a net margin of 12.92% and a return on equity of 18.08%. The company had revenue of $1.38 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.44 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.55 earnings per share. Blackstones revenue was down 73.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Blackstone Inc. will post 4.35 EPS for the current year.

Blackstone Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 8th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 1st were issued a $0.82 dividend. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.96%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, April 28th. Blackstones dividend payout ratio is currently 400.00%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BX has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Oppenheimer lowered their price target on shares of Blackstone from $111.00 to $106.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 21st. Credit Suisse Group decreased their price objective on shares of Blackstone from $74.00 to $70.50 and set an underperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Blackstone from $86.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on shares of Blackstone from $102.00 to $103.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of Blackstone from $85.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Blackstone currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $103.04.

Blackstone Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Blackstone, Inc engages in the provision of investment and fund management services. It operates through the following segments: Real Estate, Private Equity, Credit and Insurance, and Hedge Fund Solutions. The Real Estate segment includes management of opportunistic real estate funds, Core+ real estate funds, high-yield real estate debt funds, and liquid real estate debt funds.

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One day in 2019, while reading a scientific article, a light bulb went off for researcher Veronica Bolon, an expert in artificial intelligence. It said that training an AI language model emitted CO equivalent to that of five cars over its lifetime. I was shocked. Artificial intelligence consumes a lot of energy as it learns, its no longer just when it is used, but until then I had never thought about it, she recalls sitting in one of the rooms at the University of A Corunas Center for Research in Information and Communication Technologies (CITIC). She and seven other researchers (a total of four men and four women) form one of the teams in Spain that are currently searching for green algorithms; in other words, they are immersed in resolving the great paradox brought about by the boom in supercomputers, data traffic, the cloud and ChatGPT. Artificial intelligence helps us to solve many problems, some of them derived from climate change, but at the same time it is part of the problem, Bolon observes.

Green artificial intelligence strives to design solutions that achieve the proposed objectives, but in an environmentally sustainable way, that is, with the efficient use of computational resources. This concept, which is barely three years old, contrasts with red AI, which only values algorithms for their performance, even if they involve high energy consumption. Now green algorithms are becoming more important, although not as [important as they] should be, says Veronica Bolon. She believes that this lack of attention is due to the fact that taking sustainability into account goes against the interests of the big technology companies in the dizzying artificial intelligence race. Microsoft, Google and OpenAI, she explains, are leading the field by consuming huge amounts of energy. Environmentalists, the researcher points out, have been warning about the environmental footprint of this process for years. Indeed, in 2010 Greenpeace reported that the farms of thousands of servers that make up the cloud require enormous amounts of energy to operate and cool down.

The emergence of ChatGPT, a fascinating tool that millions of people use every day, has exacerbated the problem. We dont know exactly what it consumes, but it has to be [a] brutal [amount of energy]both in training it and using itbecause it needs a lot of data and very large neural networks. And its not something people stop to think about, because they dont have information about it either. [The company] is called OpenAI, but in [terms of information about energy consumption] its not open at all, Bolon says of the company that launched the popular app, which was founded in 2015 by Sam Altman and Elon Musk, among others, as a nonprofit organization.

A 2020 University of Copenhagen study estimated that a single training session of GPT-3 (the text generator on which ChatGPT was based) consumed as much energy as 126 Danish houses over the course of a year, Bolon says. At the moment, no energy consumption information has been published for ChatGPT-4, the next version, but there is one piece of data that gives an idea of its environmental impact: it was trained with 1 trillion parameters versus the 175 billion used with GPT-3. Im not saying you have to stop that technological development. But if you ask me whether, ethically, its worth all that computational effort for a model that is dedicated to entertaining or helping to perform tasks, I have mixed feelings. Im impressed by the progress, but I think were focusing on the wrong things. Its not being used for the fundamental issues that affect society, she says.

In 2018, Veronica Bolon, 39, began to investigate how to run algorithms on very small devices that did not have the computational capacity of a computer. She was not yet familiar with the concept of green artificial intelligence, but soon she realized that using fewer computational resources is more sustainable because it consumes far less energy. Thats also true if data is not continuously transferred to the cloud, she explains. In 2022, the same year she joined the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences of Spain, she was awarded funding for a national research project that will last until 2025. Her team has managed to execute algorithms, without losing precision in the results, with only 16 bits (one bit is the minimum unit of information) instead of the 64 bits that common computers use today. The precise energy reduction implied by the change is not yet known because they are working with simulations, Bolon explains.

Her teamwhich includes Brais Cancela, Jorge Gonzalez, Noelia Sanchez, Laura Moran, David Novoa, Eva Blanco and Samuel Suarezis also exploring another path toward green artificial intelligence, which consists of speeding processes up. The researchers are working on accomplishing the same things in less time. Its about racking our brains to optimize the models, so that they work just as well with less data and a smaller network. For example, now everyone wants to apply deep learning, but there are problems that can be solved with much simpler models. It is [like] killing flies with cannons. We have to try to discern when it is necessary and when it is not, says Bolon.

Curbing AI emissions by law

This scientific center has about 200 researchers, and 75% are dedicated to the field of artificial intelligence and data science. It is part of the university and business ecosystem for which A Coruna has been selected by Spains government to be the headquarters of the Spanish Agency for the Supervision of Artificial Intelligence (Aesia). Green algorithms will be part of the agencys work. Since last December, Spain has had a National Plan for Green Algorithms, which aims to promote both the energy efficiency of artificial intelligence and its use for solving environmental problems. The plan includes the creation of up to two chairs in this discipline; the University of A Coruna has responded to the call for applications and decisions will be made shortly, according to sources from the State Secretary for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence.

Of the 257.7 million of European Next Generation funds with which the plan is endowed until 2025, 6.9 million will be allocated to research projects in this field, the State Secretary for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence says. It is easy to talk about the importance of sustainability and reducing consumption in computing, but to do that we have to promote research lines and that requires funds, says Manuel Gonzalez Penedo, the director of CITIC. He calls for improvements in the structural funding of centers like the one he oversees, program continuity and less bureaucracy to attract talent from outside Spain.

Veronica Bolon advocates a law for regulating artificial intelligence from the perspectives of both ethics and sustainability: Regulation is necessary and it must include consumption. Are we going to allow information technologies to be responsible for 20% or more of CO emissions into the atmosphere? Then we will have to rein it in, as in other industries and areas.

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DHI Group (NYSE:DHX  Get Rating) had its price objective lowered by Lake Street Capital from $9.00 to $6.00 in a report published on Thursday, The Fly reports.

A number of other equities research analysts have also commented on the company. Barrington Research reissued an outperform rating and issued a $12.00 price target on shares of DHI Group in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. B. Riley dropped their price target on DHI Group from $10.00 to $9.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on DHI Group in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, TheStreet cut DHI Group from a b- rating to a c rating in a research note on Monday, March 13th.

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DHI Group Price Performance

Shares of DHX opened at $3.16 on Thursday. DHI Group has a twelve month low of $3.00 and a twelve month high of $7.57. The company has a quick ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 0.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28. The company has a 50 day moving average of $3.68 and a 200-day moving average of $4.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $149.88 million, a P/E ratio of 45.14, a P/E/G ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 1.25.

DHI Group ( NYSE:DHX Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 10th. The technology company reported $0.01 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.02) by $0.03. DHI Group had a return on equity of 2.07% and a net margin of 2.79%. The company had revenue of $38.62 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $37.78 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.01 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that DHI Group will post 0.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

DHI Group announced that its board has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, February 9th that permits the company to repurchase $10.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the technology company to repurchase up to 4.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually a sign that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On DHI Group

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its holdings in DHI Group by 333.8% in the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 4,247 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 3,268 shares during the period. UBS Group AG purchased a new stake in DHI Group in the 4th quarter valued at $40,000. Legal & General Group Plc purchased a new stake in DHI Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $40,000. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA grew its holdings in DHI Group by 378,700.0% in the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 7,576 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 7,574 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio purchased a new position in shares of DHI Group during the 4th quarter worth $48,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.29% of the companys stock.

DHI Group Company Profile

(Get Rating)

DHI Group, Inc engages in the provision of artificial intelligence-powered software products, online tools, and talent acquisition services, delivering career marketplaces to candidates for technology-focused roles and employers hiring tech talent globally. The company was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Centennial, CO.

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State Street (NYSE:STT  Get Rating) had its price objective decreased by Evercore ISI from $80.00 to $75.00 in a research report released on Friday morning, The Fly reports.

Several other equities research analysts have also commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of State Street from $97.00 to $90.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Citigroup cut their target price on shares of State Street from $93.00 to $82.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of State Street from $102.00 to $100.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of State Street in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Bank of America lowered their price objective on shares of State Street from $84.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, State Street has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $82.21.

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State Street Stock Down 1.8 %

Shares of NYSE:STT opened at $66.54 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. State Street has a fifty-two week low of $58.62 and a fifty-two week high of $94.74. The firms 50 day moving average price is $74.50 and its 200 day moving average price is $79.48. The stock has a market cap of $22.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 1.56.

State Street Announces Dividend

State Street ( NYSE:STT Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Monday, April 17th. The asset manager reported $1.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.64 by ($0.12). The business had revenue of $3.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.13 billion. State Street had a return on equity of 11.96% and a net margin of 18.73%. The businesss revenue was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.59 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that State Street will post 7.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 13th. Investors of record on Monday, April 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.63 per share. This represents a $2.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.79%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 31st. State Streets dividend payout ratio is currently 35.29%.

Insider Activity at State Street

In related news, CAO Ian Appleyard sold 6,725 shares of State Street stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.42, for a total transaction of $594,624.50. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 14,493 shares in the company, valued at $1,281,471.06. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, EVP David C. Phelan sold 15,000 shares of State Street stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $86.63, for a total value of $1,299,450.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 72,491 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,279,895.33. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CAO Ian Appleyard sold 6,725 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $88.42, for a total value of $594,624.50. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 14,493 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,281,471.06. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 32,893 shares of company stock worth $2,923,987 over the last ninety days. 0.25% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On State Street

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Accurate Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in State Street in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. FNY Investment Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in State Street in the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in State Street in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. New Hampshire Trust bought a new position in State Street in the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,000. Finally, City Holding Co. bought a new position in State Street in the 1st quarter worth approximately $40,000. 88.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

State Street Company Profile

(Get Rating)

State Street Corp. engages in the provision of financial services to institutional investors. It operates through the Commercial and Financial, and Commercial Real Estate segments. The company was founded in 1792 and is headquartered in Boston, MA.

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StockNews.com cut shares of GMS (NYSE:GMS  Get Rating) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report released on Thursday morning.

A number of other analysts have also weighed in on GMS. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on GMS from $67.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 24th. Barclays increased their target price on shares of GMS from $60.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, March 6th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, GMS currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $62.00.

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GMS Stock Performance

Shares of GMS opened at $59.96 on Thursday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $56.13 and a two-hundred day moving average of $54.31. The stock has a market cap of $2.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.73 and a beta of 1.84. GMS has a one year low of $36.10 and a one year high of $62.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 1.58 and a current ratio of 2.53.

Insiders Place Their Bets

GMS ( NYSE:GMS Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 2nd. The company reported $1.85 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.86 by ($0.01). GMS had a return on equity of 34.16% and a net margin of 6.28%. The firm had revenue of $1.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.21 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.74 earnings per share. GMSs quarterly revenue was up 7.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that GMS will post 8.99 EPS for the current year.

In related news, Director John J. Gavin sold 9,816 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.52, for a total transaction of $594,064.32. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 15,513 shares in the company, valued at $938,846.76. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other news, CEO John C. Turner, Jr. sold 1,526 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.50, for a total transaction of $90,797.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 63,110 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,755,045. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director John J. Gavin sold 9,816 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.52, for a total transaction of $594,064.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 15,513 shares in the company, valued at $938,846.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 13,018 shares of company stock worth $784,983. Insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of GMS

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of GMS. Raymond James & Associates lifted its holdings in GMS by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 29,964 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,491,000 after purchasing an additional 404 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC acquired a new position in GMS during the first quarter valued at approximately $1,434,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its holdings in GMS by 66.1% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 4,781 shares of the companys stock valued at $238,000 after purchasing an additional 1,902 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can grew its holdings in GMS by 10.7% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 14,191 shares of the companys stock valued at $759,000 after purchasing an additional 1,373 shares during the period. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of GMS by 57.5% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 23,173 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,153,000 after buying an additional 8,460 shares during the period. 96.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

GMS Company Profile

(Get Rating)

GMS, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the distribution of wallboard and suspended ceilings systems and complementary interior construction products. It operates through the following segments: Geographic Divisions, Other, and Corporate. The firm offers ceiling products, including suspended mineral fibers, soft fibers, and metal ceiling systems primarily used in offices, hotels, hospitals, retail facilities, schools, and various other commercial and institutional buildings.

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Great Lakes Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Halliburton (NYSE:HAL  Get Rating) by 240.0% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 196,375 shares of the oilfield services companys stock after purchasing an additional 138,612 shares during the quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLCs holdings in Halliburton were worth $7,727,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in HAL. State Street Corp raised its holdings in Halliburton by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 59,383,523 shares of the oilfield services companys stock valued at $1,462,022,000 after acquiring an additional 1,241,290 shares in the last quarter. Sanders Capital LLC raised its holdings in Halliburton by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. Sanders Capital LLC now owns 21,366,658 shares of the oilfield services companys stock valued at $526,047,000 after acquiring an additional 622,878 shares in the last quarter. Boston Partners raised its holdings in shares of Halliburton by 24.6% in the 4th quarter. Boston Partners now owns 12,400,246 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $488,254,000 after buying an additional 2,448,913 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its holdings in shares of Halliburton by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 9,700,760 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $238,833,000 after buying an additional 81,880 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC raised its holdings in shares of Halliburton by 60.4% in the 3rd quarter. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC now owns 8,746,026 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $215,328,000 after buying an additional 3,294,360 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.56% of the companys stock.

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Halliburton Trading Up 1.5 %

Halliburton stock traded up $0.44 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $29.05. 2,179,159 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 9,366,585. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.25, a PEG ratio of 0.38 and a beta of 2.11. Halliburton has a fifty-two week low of $23.30 and a fifty-two week high of $43.99. The company has a quick ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 2.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $32.28 and its 200-day simple moving average is $36.10.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Halliburton ( NYSE:HAL Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The oilfield services company reported $0.72 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.67 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $5.68 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.49 billion. Halliburton had a return on equity of 29.38% and a net margin of 9.04%. The firms revenue was up 32.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.35 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Halliburton will post 3.12 earnings per share for the current year.

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Barclays increased their target price on Halliburton from $54.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 25th. Benchmark restated a buy rating and set a $50.00 price target on shares of Halliburton in a research report on Monday, April 3rd. Susquehanna decreased their price target on Halliburton from $57.00 to $45.00 in a research report on Monday, April 3rd. StockNews.com upgraded Halliburton from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on Halliburton from $45.00 to $48.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 25th. Fourteen analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $48.24.

Insider Buying and Selling at Halliburton

In other Halliburton news, CEO Jeffrey Allen Miller sold 271,283 shares of Halliburton stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.25, for a total value of $8,206,310.75. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 829,230 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $25,084,207.50. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, CAO Charles Jr. Geer sold 12,065 shares of Halliburton stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.60, for a total value of $369,189.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 52,817 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,616,200.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Jeffrey Allen Miller sold 271,283 shares of Halliburton stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.25, for a total value of $8,206,310.75. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 829,230 shares in the company, valued at approximately $25,084,207.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.57% of the companys stock.

Halliburton Profile

(Get Rating)

Halliburton Co engages in the provision of services and products to the energy industry related to the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas. It operates through the Completion and Production, and Drilling and Evaluation segments. The Completion and Production segment delivers cementing, stimulation, intervention, pressure control, specialty chemicals, artificial lift, and completion services.

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Great Lakes Advisors LLC grew its position in General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS  Get Rating) by 3.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 96,936 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 3,592 shares during the period. Great Lakes Advisors LLCs holdings in General Mills were worth $8,128,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in GIS. Cibc World Market Inc. raised its holdings in shares of General Mills by 4.8% in the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 22,026 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,492,000 after buying an additional 1,003 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of General Mills by 45.3% in the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 5,867 shares of the companys stock valued at $397,000 after buying an additional 1,828 shares during the last quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. raised its holdings in shares of General Mills by 2.1% in the first quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 73,176 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,955,000 after buying an additional 1,503 shares during the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of General Mills by 2.3% in the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 279,604 shares of the companys stock valued at $18,935,000 after buying an additional 6,176 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd raised its holdings in shares of General Mills by 15.3% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,834 shares of the companys stock valued at $124,000 after buying an additional 244 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.48% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at General Mills

In other news, insider Jonathon Nudi sold 8,030 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.33, for a total value of $685,199.90. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 83,049 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,086,571.17. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, insider Jonathon Nudi sold 8,030 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.33, for a total value of $685,199.90. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 83,049 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,086,571.17. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Jacqueline Williams-Roll sold 18,517 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.47, for a total value of $1,656,715.99. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 47,163 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,219,673.61. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 48,281 shares of company stock valued at $4,207,997 in the last ninety days. 0.67% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

General Mills Stock Down 0.9 %

Several brokerages have weighed in on GIS. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on General Mills from $88.00 to $89.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, March 24th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and set a $76.00 price objective on shares of General Mills in a report on Friday, March 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on General Mills from $84.00 to $86.00 in a report on Friday, March 24th. StockNews.com raised General Mills from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, March 24th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on General Mills from $73.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 11th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $84.76.

Shares of GIS traded down $0.82 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $89.79. 559,812 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,223,237. The company has a market cap of $52.74 billion, a PE ratio of 19.59, a P/E/G ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.27. General Mills, Inc. has a 52 week low of $64.94 and a 52 week high of $90.89. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $85.40 and a 200 day simple moving average of $82.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 0.54 and a quick ratio of 0.32.

General Mills (NYSE:GIS  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 23rd. The company reported $0.97 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.91 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $5.13 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.97 billion. General Mills had a net margin of 14.04% and a return on equity of 24.51%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 13.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.84 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that General Mills, Inc. will post 4.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

General Mills Profile

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General Mills, Inc engages in the manufacture and marketing of branded consumer foods sold through retail stores. The firm operates through the following segments: North America Retail, Europe & Australia, Convenience Stores & Foodservice, Pet, and Asia & Latin America. The North America Retail segment includes grocery stores, mass merchandisers, membership stores, natural food chains, drug, dollar and discount chains and e-commerce grocery providers.

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RoboGroup T.E.K. (OTCMKTS:ROBOF  Get Rating) and EnerSys (NYSE:ENS  Get Rating) are both industrial products companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, dividends, valuation, profitability, risk, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and price targets for RoboGroup T.E.K. and EnerSys, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score RoboGroup T.E.K. 0 0 0 0 N/A EnerSys 0 0 2 0 3.00

EnerSys has a consensus price target of $82.50, suggesting a potential downside of 1.39%. Given EnerSys higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe EnerSys is more favorable than RoboGroup T.E.K..

Dividends

Profitability

RoboGroup T.E.K. pays an annual dividend of $0.01 per share and has a dividend yield of 10,000.0%. EnerSys pays an annual dividend of $0.70 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.8%. EnerSys pays out 21.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.

This table compares RoboGroup T.E.K. and EnerSys net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets RoboGroup T.E.K. N/A N/A N/A EnerSys 3.81% 13.30% 5.34%

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares RoboGroup T.E.K. and EnerSys top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio RoboGroup T.E.K. N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A EnerSys $3.63 billion 0.94 $143.91 million $3.34 25.05

EnerSys has higher revenue and earnings than RoboGroup T.E.K..

Insider & Institutional Ownership

95.7% of EnerSys shares are held by institutional investors. 1.8% of EnerSys shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

EnerSys beats RoboGroup T.E.K. on 8 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About RoboGroup T.E.K.

(Get Rating)

RoboGroup T.E.K Ltd. engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of automated training and distance learning systems. It operates through the following divisions: STEM, Professional, and Robotek. The STEM division comprises science, technology, engineering, and mathematics mainly intended for elementary schools, middle schools, high schools (K12), and home schooling. The Professional division include technological training solutions. The Robotek division focuses its activities in the Israeli market. The company was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Rosh Haayin, Israel.

About EnerSys

(Get Rating)

EnerSys engages in the provision of stored energy solutions for industrial applications. It operates through the following segments: Energy Systems, Motive Power, and Specialty. The Energy Systems segment combines enclosures, power conversion, power distribution, and energy storage used in the telecommunication, broadband, and utility industries. It includes uninterruptible power supplies, and other applications requiring stored energy solutions. The Motive Power segment includes batteries and chargers that are utilized in electric forklift trucks and other industrial electric powered vehicles. The Specialty segment, which is used in aerospace and defense applications, includes large over-the-road trucks, automotive, medical, and security systems applications. It also provides battery chargers, power equipment, battery accessories, and outdoor equipment enclosure solutions, and aftermarket and customer support services. The company was founded in October 2000 and is headquartered in Reading, PA.

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Toast, Inc. (NYSE:TOST  Get Rating) Director Mark J. Hawkins sold 52,790 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.95, for a total value of $1,105,950.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 64,007 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,340,946.65. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink.

Toast Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of TOST traded down $0.06 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $19.43. The companys stock had a trading volume of 7,254,595 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,347,702. Toast, Inc. has a one year low of $12.15 and a one year high of $26.03. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $17.71 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $19.04. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -30.03 and a beta of 1.75.

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Toast (NYSE:TOST  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 9th. The company reported ($0.16) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.18) by $0.02. Toast had a negative return on equity of 24.30% and a negative net margin of 10.03%. The company had revenue of $819.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $763.11 million. During the same quarter last year, the company posted ($0.20) EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 53.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that Toast, Inc. will post -0.6 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Toast

Analyst Ratings Changes

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Whittier Trust Co. raised its position in shares of Toast by 365.0% in the 1st quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 1,660 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 1,303 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its position in Toast by 277.5% in the 4th quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 1,710 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 1,257 shares in the last quarter. Spire Wealth Management increased its position in Toast by 2,196.0% in the 1st quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 2,296 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 2,196 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC increased its position in Toast by 95.1% in the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,641 shares of the companys stock valued at $47,000 after buying an additional 1,287 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Neo Ivy Capital Management bought a new stake in Toast in the 3rd quarter valued at about $45,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 50.82% of the companys stock.

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on TOST shares. Stephens began coverage on Toast in a report on Thursday, April 13th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $18.00 price target for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Toast in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. They set a hold rating and a $20.00 price target for the company. DA Davidson reissued a buy rating on shares of Toast in a research report on Monday, April 3rd. KeyCorp reduced their price target on Toast from $26.00 to $24.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group increased their price target on Toast from $21.50 to $23.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, February 17th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $22.63.

About Toast

(Get Rating)

Toast, Inc operates a cloud-based and digital technology platform for the restaurant industry in the United States and Ireland. The company offers Toast Point of Sale (POS), a hardware product; Toast Order & Pay, which allows guests to order and pay from their mobile devices; Toast Flex that is used for on-counter order and pay, as well as used as a server station, guest kiosk, kitchen display system, or order fulfillment station; Toast Go, a handheld POS device that enhances the table turn times through tableside ordering and payment acceptance; and Toast Tap, a card reader.

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InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (LON:IHG  Get Rating) insider Graham Allan acquired 300 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 5,370 ($67.76) per share, with a total value of 16,110 ($20,328.08).

InterContinental Hotels Group Trading Down 1.1 %

LON IHG opened at GBX 5,266 ($66.45) on Monday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 5,410.88 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 5,226.37. The company has a market capitalization of 9.05 billion, a PE ratio of 3,191.52, a P/E/G ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 0.95. InterContinental Hotels Group PLC has a 12 month low of GBX 4,174 ($52.67) and a 12 month high of GBX 5,796 ($73.14).

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InterContinental Hotels Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 16th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 30th will be paid a $0.95 dividend. This represents a 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 presently 6,909.09%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

About InterContinental Hotels Group

Several brokerages have issued reports on IHG. Peel Hunt reiterated a hold rating and issued a GBX 5,750 ($72.56) price objective on shares of InterContinental Hotels Group in a research report on Tuesday, February 21st. Numis Securities reiterated an add rating and issued a GBX 5,550 ($70.03) price objective on shares of InterContinental Hotels Group in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th. Redburn Partners downgraded InterContinental Hotels Group to a sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on InterContinental Hotels Group from GBX 6,000 ($75.71) to GBX 6,200 ($78.23) and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 9th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating and set a GBX 5,850 ($73.82) target price on shares of InterContinental Hotels Group in a research report on Tuesday, May 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of GBX 5,836.67 ($73.65).

(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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Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (OTCMKTS:IIJIY  Get Rating)s stock price hit a new 52-week high on Monday . The stock traded as high as $43.73 and last traded at $43.71, with a volume of 2709 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $41.40.

Internet Initiative Japan Stock Performance

The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $40.92 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $37.61. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.71 and a beta of 0.62.

Internet Initiative Japan Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Internet Initiative Japan Inc engages in the provision of Internet connectivity and wide area network services; network systems construction, operation and maintenance; and telecommunications equipment. It operates through the Network Service and Systems Integration (SI), and Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Operation segments.

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iShares Convertible Bond ETF (BATS:ICVT  Get Rating) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $72.15 and last traded at $72.11, with a volume of 74577 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $71.82.

iShares Convertible Bond ETF Stock Up 0.4 %

The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $71.64 and a 200 day simple moving average of $71.63.

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Institutional Trading of iShares Convertible Bond ETF

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of ICVT. Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Convertible Bond ETF during the 1st quarter worth $1,892,000. Bank of Montreal Can bought a new position in iShares Convertible Bond ETF in the first quarter valued at about $88,000. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in iShares Convertible Bond ETF by 57,927.6% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 221,085 shares of the companys stock valued at $18,420,000 after purchasing an additional 220,704 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its position in iShares Convertible Bond ETF by 129.1% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 8,704 shares of the companys stock valued at $725,000 after purchasing an additional 4,904 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its position in iShares Convertible Bond ETF by 40.9% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 50,724 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,227,000 after purchasing an additional 14,723 shares during the last quarter.

iShares Convertible Bond ETF Company Profile

The iShares Convertible Bond ETF (ICVT) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in broad credit fixed income. The fund tracks an index of USD-denominated convertible bonds weighted by market value. The index contains only cash-pay convertibles and excludes mandatory and preferred convertibles.

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One of the brains donated for the study of the E280A mutation, at the University of Antioquia, in Medellin (Colombia).

In the 18th century, a man  likely from Spain  brought a mysterious disease to the region of present-day Antioquia in Colombia. This individual had a unique genetic mutation  not present in previous generations  which condemned him to an unenviable fate: sudden memory loss at around 44 years of age and early Alzheimers at around 49. Today, about 6,000 descendants of that man live in Antioquia, and 1,200 of them carry that mutation, known as E280A or Paisa. Early dementia is so common that in some villages it has popular names, such as la bobera after the Spanish word for fool.

On Monday, a team of scientists presented an exceptional case of a man who carried the mutation, but did not suffer cognitive impairment until the age of 67. He is called patient J. He began suffering from Alzheimers when he was 72 years old, more than two decades later than expected. Researchers believe that his case opens the door to new ways to search for an effective treatment against the disease.

Colombian neuropathologist Diego Sepulveda received patient Js donated brain in late 2019, in his laboratory at the Hamburg-Eppendorf University Medical Center in Germany. The man had died at age 74 from aspiration pneumonia, a common infection in people who have difficulty swallowing due to dementia. In the brains of Alzheimers patients, it is common to find plaques of beta-amyloid, a protein that clumps between neurons, and tangles of tau, another protein that accumulates inside brain cells. Sepulvedas team, however, ran into a surprise. In the brain of the deceased there was amyloid beta, but there were hardly any tau tangles in the entorhinal cortex, one of the first areas affected in Alzheimers disease. The researchers believe this resistance to early dementia was due to another protective mutation, which they have named COLBOS, an acronym for Colombia and Boston, where most of the authors are from.

More information Seeking Alzheimers clues from few who escape genetic fate

Patient J is the second known person to carry the E280A mutation and not suffer from early Alzheimers disease. The first was person Aliria Rosa Piedrahita de Villegas, who died in 2020 at age 77 in the Colombian city of Medellin, after suffering from dementia three decades later than expected. Piedrahita de Villegas had a protective mutation, called Christchurch, in the apolipoprotein E gene, which is linked to Alzheimers risk.

In this second case, researchers detected a mutation in the gene that expresses reelin, a protein that competes with apolipoprotein E to bind to the same receptors in brain cells. If reelin binds, tau tangles associated with Alzheimers disease decrease. If apolipoprotein E binds, they increase.

Sepulveda stresses that the mutations in the two cases possibly have common cellular effects, but the big difference is in the expression of each protein. The brain swims in apolipoprotein E, we express a relatively large amount and in many parts, while reelin in adults is expressed little and in very specific cells. Our finding tells us that this localized effect is enough to postpone the onset of the disease by several decades, explains the neuropathologist.

In terms of therapy, what it tells us is that we can seek to mimic this localized effect, apparently in the entorhinal cortex. Perhaps in the future we will know that some cases will benefit from a global therapy, in the whole brain, while in others it will be enough to protect this specific region, he adds. His results were published Monday in the journal Nature Medicine.

Francisco Lopera, from the University of Antioquia in Medellin, at his home in Itagui. Santiago Mesa

More than 55 million people worldwide suffer from a type of dementia, with Alzheimers accounting for about 70% of cases, according to the World Health Organization. Among the lead authors of the new study is Francisco Lopera, the neurologist who began analyzing early dementia cases in Colombia more than 30 years ago. His team, from the University of Antioquia in Medellin, has studied more than 6,000 members of 25 families, concentrated in one town: Yarumal, which has become a genetic island due to of its centuries-long isolation. According to Lopera, the secret against the disease may be hidden there.

Lopera met patient J and says that he lived normally until the age of 67. What Aliria and J teach us is that disease and cure live together in nature. We just have to read nature and imitate it. If we succeed, we will be able to delay Alzheimers by 20 or 30 years, says Lopera. The Colombian neurologist points to two possible avenues for treatment: developing molecules that mimic the effect of these protective mutations and modifying DNA through gene therapies introduced into the brain by means of a virus.

Neuroscientist Inmaculada Cuchillo applauds the new study but remains cautious. Due to the novelty, and the scarcity of subjects carrying this mutation, it is too early to consider possible therapeutic avenues from the findings of this article, says Cuchillo, who is a professor at the Institute of Neurosciences in Alicante, Spain.

In her laboratory, Cuchillo has investigated the reelin protein in the tissues of people with Alzheimers disease and has discovered alterations that would impair its protective function. This mutation seems to have a greater beneficial effect with respect to tau in the entorhinal area of the brain, which is very interesting, because this is the region where the progressive accumulation of tau tangles begins in Alzheimers disease. This suggests that this is the reason why it protects against cognitive impairment, despite the fact that tau and beta amyloid continue to accumulate in the rest of the brain, says Cuchillo.

Diego Sepulveda (left), with colleagues Nelson Villalba and Lisa Littau, at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany. Mohsin Shafiq

The researcher compares the new mutation, COLBOS, with the Christchurch mutation carried by Aliria Rosa Piedrahita de Villegas. Both mutations protect against Alzheimers disease and, although the effects on the accumulation of tau and beta amyloid are not the same, the proteins they express  reelin and apolipoprotein E  bind to the same cell receptor, ApoER2, which has been extensively studied in our laboratory. This indicates that this receptor and the signaling cascade that starts after activating it may be key in Alzheimers disease, argues Cuchillo.

The fight against Alzheimers disease has so far focused  with little or no success  on trying to reduce the accumulation of beta-amyloid and tau proteins in the brain, which cause the death of neurons.

It is possible that a treatment focused on increasing the function or levels of reelin may be key to finding a therapy against Alzheimers, but, taking into account the primary functions of reelin in the development of the nervous system and neuronal connection, we must be cautious, warns Moreno. The function of this molecule is finely orchestrated: both low and high levels can be detrimental.

Colombian neuropsychologist Yakeel Quiroz, from the Massachusetts General Hospital in the United States, co-led the research on patient J. She is also optimistic about the study. Our findings with this exceptional case open new doors for the development of Alzheimers therapies, she says.

Her colleague Joseph Arboleda, from Harvard Medical School, founded the company Epoch Biotech, which is trying to develop treatments inspired by Alzheimers-resistant patients. Current drugs offer very limited benefits. Our patients were protected for more than 20 years and the hope is that new therapies will do the same, he notes.

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iShares MSCI India ETF (BATS:INDA  Get Rating)s stock price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $41.69 and last traded at $41.66, with a volume of 2834186 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $41.32.

iShares MSCI India ETF Trading Up 0.8 %

The firm has a market cap of $4.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.86 and a beta of 0.68. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $39.87 and a 200-day moving average of $41.17.

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Institutional Trading of iShares MSCI India ETF

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in INDA. Oxler Private Wealth LLC bought a new stake in iShares MSCI India ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at $32,000. ClariVest Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in iShares MSCI India ETF during the 1st quarter valued at $33,000. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. bought a new stake in iShares MSCI India ETF during the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC bought a new stake in iShares MSCI India ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at $37,000. Finally, CWM LLC raised its stake in iShares MSCI India ETF by 190.8% during the 4th quarter. CWM LLC now owns 977 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 641 shares in the last quarter.

iShares MSCI India ETF Company Profile

The iShares MSCI India ETF (INDA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI India index, a market-cap-weighted index of the top 85% of firms in the Indian securities market. INDA was launched on Feb 2, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. acquired a new position in shares of H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE:HRB  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor acquired 337,748 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,331,000. H&R Block makes up 1.8% of Landscape Capital Management L.L.C.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 2nd biggest holding.

A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in H&R Block by 186.5% in the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,969,445 shares of the companys stock valued at $77,325,000 after acquiring an additional 1,933,031 shares during the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in H&R Block by 679.3% in the 4th quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 1,126,202 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,118,000 after purchasing an additional 981,683 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its holdings in shares of H&R Block by 13.9% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 7,889,986 shares of the companys stock worth $207,444,000 after buying an additional 961,159 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in H&R Block by 3.9% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 19,856,128 shares of the companys stock worth $844,678,000 after purchasing an additional 751,766 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Macquarie Group Ltd. grew its position in shares of H&R Block by 766.8% in the 3rd quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 817,732 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,876,000 after buying an additional 723,394 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.05% of the companys stock.

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H&R Block Price Performance

NYSE HRB traded down $1.16 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $30.88. The stock had a trading volume of 2,731,546 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,601,647. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $34.13 and a 200 day moving average price of $37.55. The stock has a market cap of $4.70 billion, a PE ratio of 10.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 0.67. H&R Block, Inc. has a 1 year low of $30.50 and a 1 year high of $48.76.

H&R Block Announces Dividend

H&R Block ( NYSE:HRB Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 9th. The company reported $4.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $4.46 by ($0.26). The business had revenue of $2.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.09 billion. H&R Block had a negative return on equity of 337.61% and a net margin of 14.57%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $4.11 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that H&R Block, Inc. will post 3.86 earnings per share for the current year.

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 paid a $0.29 dividend. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.76%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 6th. H&R Blocks payout ratio is currently 39.06%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently commented on HRB shares. StockNews.com raised H&R Block from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on H&R Block from $25.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. Finally, Barrington Research cut their price target on H&R Block from $48.00 to $42.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 10th.

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.

Further Reading

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Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE  Get Rating) by 5.2% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 1,236,224 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 61,445 shares during the quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd.s holdings in ONEOK were worth $81,220,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of ONEOK by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 53,239,870 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,728,011,000 after purchasing an additional 475,674 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of ONEOK by 7.8% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 7,288,822 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $514,810,000 after acquiring an additional 527,138 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its holdings in shares of ONEOK by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 6,462,364 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $331,132,000 after acquiring an additional 48,603 shares in the last quarter. Cowa LLC grew its holdings in shares of ONEOK by 9,775.0% in the 1st quarter. Cowa LLC now owns 5,324,428 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $3,761,000 after acquiring an additional 5,270,510 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of ONEOK by 4.3% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 4,941,109 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $348,990,000 after acquiring an additional 204,477 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.16% of the companys stock.

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ONEOK Stock Performance

NYSE OKE opened at $58.49 on Monday. The firms fifty day moving average price is $64.17 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $65.38. The stock has a market cap of $26.17 billion, a PE ratio of 12.02, a PEG ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 1.68. ONEOK, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $50.50 and a fifty-two week high of $71.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a current ratio of 1.18.

ONEOK Dividend Announcement

ONEOK ( NYSE:OKE Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The utilities provider reported $2.34 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.81 by $0.53. The firm had revenue of $4.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.13 billion. ONEOK had a net margin of 11.09% and a return on equity of 36.54%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.87 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that ONEOK, Inc. will post 5.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Monday, May 1st will be paid a $0.955 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 28th. This represents a $3.82 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.53%. ONEOKs dividend payout ratio is 72.08%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Barclays decreased their price objective on ONEOK from $71.00 to $70.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Mizuho lifted their price target on ONEOK from $66.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Scotiabank started coverage on ONEOK in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. They set a sector perform rating and a $74.00 price target for the company. Citigroup upgraded ONEOK from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $71.00 to $72.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 4th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on ONEOK from $75.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, March 9th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, ONEOK currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $74.91.

ONEOK Company Profile

(Get Rating)

ONEOK, Inc engages in gathering, processing, fractionating, transporting, storing and marketing of natural gas. It operates through the following segments: Natural Gas Gathering and Processing, Natural Gas Liquids and Natural Gas Pipelines. The Natural Gas Gathering and Processing segment offers midstream services to producers in North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma.

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Muzinich & Co. Inc. trimmed its holdings in AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE:AVB  Get Rating) by 43.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 200 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 154 shares during the period. Muzinich & Co. Inc.s holdings in AvalonBay Communities were worth $32,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 100.0% in the third quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 144 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 72 shares in the last quarter. Adirondack Retirement Specialists Inc. purchased a new position in shares of AvalonBay Communities in the third quarter valued at about $38,000. CVA Family Office LLC lifted its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 1,333.3% in the third quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 215 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 51.9% in the third quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 243 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. purchased a new position in shares of AvalonBay Communities in the first quarter valued at about $69,000. 87.30% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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AvalonBay Communities Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE AVB traded down $0.36 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $179.82. The stock had a trading volume of 123,831 shares, compared to its average volume of 846,547. The company has a current ratio of 2.04, a quick ratio of 2.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The firm has a market cap of $25.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.72, a P/E/G ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.92. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $170.32 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $170.38. AvalonBay Communities, Inc. has a 52-week low of $153.07 and a 52-week high of $220.42.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

About AvalonBay Communities

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on AVB shares. Mizuho lifted their target price on AvalonBay Communities from $179.00 to $188.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on AvalonBay Communities from $186.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, February 10th. Truist Financial raised AvalonBay Communities from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $186.00 to $190.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on AvalonBay Communities from $187.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Finally, Barclays lifted their target price on AvalonBay Communities from $175.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $203.40.

(Get Rating)

AvalonBay Communities, Inc is a real estate investment trust, which engages in the development, acquisition, ownership, and operation of multifamily communities. It operates through the following segments: Established Communities, Other Stabilized Communities, and Development or Redevelopment Communities.

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Nicolet Bankshares Inc. cut its holdings in shares of Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSEARCA:VGT  Get Rating) by 16.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 665 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 129 shares during the quarter. Nicolet Bankshares Inc.s holdings in Vanguard Information Technology ETF were worth $212,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of VGT. Prudential Financial Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Vanguard Information Technology ETF by 581.5% in the 3rd quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 1,219,807 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $381,861,000 after acquiring an additional 1,040,828 shares during the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Vanguard Information Technology ETF by 848.5% in the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 1,039,711 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $332,094,000 after acquiring an additional 930,095 shares during the last quarter. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Vanguard Information Technology ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $62,872,000. Steel Peak Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Vanguard Information Technology ETF by 9,682.1% in the 4th quarter. Steel Peak Wealth Management LLC now owns 180,382 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $57,616,000 after acquiring an additional 178,538 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased its holdings in shares of Vanguard Information Technology ETF by 26.5% in the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 787,091 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $241,929,000 after acquiring an additional 164,885 shares during the last quarter.

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Vanguard Information Technology ETF Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSEARCA VGT opened at $385.55 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $47.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.70 and a beta of 1.16. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $374.59 and a 200-day simple moving average of $351.47. Vanguard Information Technology ETF has a twelve month low of $291.61 and a twelve month high of $391.60.

About Vanguard Information Technology ETF

Vanguard Information Technology ETF seeks to track the investment performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Information Technology 25/50 Index, a benchmark of large-, mid-, and small-cap United States stocks in the information technology sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS).

Featured Articles

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Nihon Kohden (OTCMKTS:NHNKY  Get Rating) and Edenred (OTCMKTS:EDNMY  Get Rating) are both medical companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations, risk, valuation, dividends and institutional ownership.

Profitability

This table compares Nihon Kohden and Edenreds net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Nihon Kohden N/A N/A N/A Edenred N/A N/A N/A

Dividends

Nihon Kohden pays an annual dividend of $0.10 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.7%. Edenred pays an annual dividend of $0.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.2%. Nihon Kohden pays out 8.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.

Analyst Recommendations

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Nihon Kohden 0 0 0 0 N/A Edenred 0 1 3 0 2.75

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for Nihon Kohden and Edenred, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Edenred has a consensus target price of $55.73, indicating a potential upside of 73.35%. Given Edenreds higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Edenred is more favorable than Nihon Kohden.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

0.1% of Nihon Kohden shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Nihon Kohden and Edenreds gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Nihon Kohden $1.87 billion 1.32 $213.56 million $1.17 11.95 Edenred $2.14 billion 7.50 $406.69 million N/A N/A

Edenred has higher revenue and earnings than Nihon Kohden.

Volatility & Risk

Nihon Kohden has a beta of -0.14, suggesting that its share price is 114% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Edenred has a beta of 0.8, suggesting that its share price is 20% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Edenred beats Nihon Kohden on 8 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Nihon Kohden

(Get Rating)

Nihon Kohden Corp. engages in the medical electronic equipment business. Its products include electrocardiograph, electroencephalograph, evoked potential/EMG, sleep diagnostic, patient monitoring, hematology, hemostasis, ventilation products, and others. The company was founded by Yoshio Ogino on August 7, 1951 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

About Edenred

(Get Rating)

Edenred SE engages in the provision of digital payment solutions for the working world. Its solutions include employee benefits, complementary, and fleet and mobility. The company was founded on December 14, 2006 and is headquartered in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France.

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Pinebridge Investments L.P. raised its holdings in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO  Get Rating) by 25.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 138,315 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after acquiring an additional 27,644 shares during the period. Pinebridge Investments L.P.s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $17,547,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 2,470.0% in the 3rd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 257 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 247 shares during the period. Independence Bank of Kentucky raised its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 150.0% in the 4th quarter. Independence Bank of Kentucky now owns 250 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the period. Cambridge Trust Co. raised its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 123.3% in the 3rd quarter. Cambridge Trust Co. now owns 335 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 185 shares during the period. Finally, Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $41,000. Institutional investors own 79.28% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have weighed in on VLO shares. Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. cut shares of Valero Energy from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, April 17th. BMO Capital Markets raised shares of Valero Energy from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and increased their price target for the company from $135.00 to $160.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. UBS Group began coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Wednesday, March 8th. They issued a buy rating and a $176.00 price target on the stock. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $140.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 20th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $111.00 to $126.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a research report on Thursday, January 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $153.71.

Valero Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE VLO opened at $110.82 on Monday. Valero Energy Co. has a twelve month low of $96.93 and a twelve month high of $150.39. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $125.62 and a 200 day simple moving average of $129.47. The company has a market capitalization of $40.06 billion, a PE ratio of 3.14, a P/E/G ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.66. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The oil and gas company reported $8.27 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $7.24 by $1.03. Valero Energy had a net margin of 7.86% and a return on equity of 55.32%. The business had revenue of $36.44 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $37.88 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.31 earnings per share. Valero Energys quarterly revenue was down 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Valero Energy Co. will post 23.66 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 22nd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 23rd will be issued a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.68%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 22nd. Valero Energys payout ratio is 11.59%.

Valero Energy Profile

(Get Rating)

Valero Energy Corp. engages in the manufacture and marketing of transportation fuels and other petrochemical products. It operates through the following business segments: Refining, Ethanol and Renewable Diesel. The Refining segment consists of refining operations, associated marketing activities, and logistics assets that support its refining operations.

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RiverGlades Family Offices LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJH  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 34,895 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,441,000. iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF comprises 7.8% of RiverGlades Family Offices LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 2nd largest holding.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in IJH. Unionview LLC grew its position in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Unionview LLC now owns 15,192 shares of the companys stock worth $3,675,000 after purchasing an additional 379 shares during the period. Coston McIsaac & Partners lifted its stake in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 2,071.8% in the 4th quarter. Coston McIsaac & Partners now owns 847 shares of the companys stock valued at $204,000 after buying an additional 808 shares in the last quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. lifted its stake in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 16,105 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,896,000 after buying an additional 73 shares in the last quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC lifted its stake in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 7.0% in the 4th quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 159,932 shares of the companys stock valued at $42,987,000 after buying an additional 10,525 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ellerson Group Inc. ADV purchased a new position in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $4,176,000.

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iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF Price Performance

iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF stock traded up $2.55 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $245.15. The company had a trading volume of 356,631 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,064,450. The company has a market capitalization of $65.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.24 and a beta of 1.12. iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF has a 12-month low of $217.39 and a 12-month high of $272.95. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $245.84 and its 200-day simple moving average is $250.17.

iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF Profile

Ishares S&P Midcap 400 Index Fund, formerly The iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (the Fund), seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the United States mid-cap stocks, as represented by the Standard & Poors MidCap 400 (the Underlying Index).

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Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. increased its stake in shares of Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK  Get Rating) by 2.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 83,869 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,764 shares during the period. Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. owned approximately 0.07% of Rockwell Automation worth $21,602,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Rossmore Private Capital raised its position in shares of Rockwell Automation by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Rossmore Private Capital now owns 2,839 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $611,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems increased its holdings in shares of Rockwell Automation by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems now owns 9,076 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,338,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Allstate Corp increased its holdings in shares of Rockwell Automation by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. Allstate Corp now owns 4,575 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $984,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Quent Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of Rockwell Automation by 30.7% in the 3rd quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 200 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $43,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Centaurus Financial Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Rockwell Automation by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 8,393 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,805,000 after acquiring an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. 77.66% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently commented on ROK. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on Rockwell Automation from $272.00 to $273.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. StockNews.com started coverage on Rockwell Automation in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on Rockwell Automation from $285.00 to $292.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, January 27th. Loop Capital raised their price target on Rockwell Automation from $258.00 to $285.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 31st. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on Rockwell Automation from $250.00 to $262.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Rockwell Automation presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $267.50.

Insider Transactions at Rockwell Automation

Rockwell Automation Trading Up 0.3 %

In other news, VP Isaac Woods sold 100 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $294.33, for a total transaction of $29,433.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 452 shares of the companys stock, valued at $133,037.16. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . In other Rockwell Automation news, VP John M. Miller sold 556 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $279.09, for a total value of $155,174.04. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 4,281 shares in the company, valued at $1,194,784.29. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link . Also, VP Isaac Woods sold 100 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $294.33, for a total value of $29,433.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 452 shares in the company, valued at approximately $133,037.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold 2,631 shares of company stock valued at $765,751 over the last three months. Company insiders own 0.64% of the companys stock.

Shares of ROK stock traded up $0.84 on Monday, reaching $272.70. 47,695 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 713,268. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.73. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a one year low of $190.08 and a one year high of $309.36. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $280.87 and a 200 day moving average price of $274.44. The stock has a market cap of $31.33 billion, a PE ratio of 23.93, a P/E/G ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 1.42.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The industrial products company reported $3.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.60 by $0.41. Rockwell Automation had a return on equity of 42.15% and a net margin of 15.82%. The firm had revenue of $2.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.09 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.66 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 25.8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 12.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Rockwell Automation Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 12th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 15th will be given a dividend of $1.18 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 12th. This represents a $4.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.73%. Rockwell Automations dividend payout ratio is currently 41.55%.

About Rockwell Automation

(Get Rating)

Rockwell Automation, Inc engages in the provision of industrial automation and information services. It operates through the following segments: Intelligent Devices, Software and Control, and Lifecycle Services. The Intelligent Devices segment combines a portfolio of smart products that create the foundation of an agile, resilient, and sustainable production system.

Further Reading

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Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK  Get Rating) had its price objective lifted by Sanford C. Bernstein from $250.00 to $290.00 in a report issued on Thursday morning, The Fly reports.

Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Cowen increased their target price on Rockwell Automation from $200.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research report on Monday, January 30th. Oppenheimer increased their target price on Rockwell Automation from $278.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 24th. Citigroup increased their target price on Rockwell Automation from $297.00 to $320.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on Rockwell Automation from $238.00 to $272.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on Rockwell Automation from $250.00 to $262.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $267.50.

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Rockwell Automation Stock Performance

Shares of ROK opened at $271.86 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $280.87 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $274.44. The stock has a market cap of $31.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.93, a PEG ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 1.42. Rockwell Automation has a 52 week low of $190.08 and a 52 week high of $309.36.

Rockwell Automation Dividend Announcement

Rockwell Automation ( NYSE:ROK Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The industrial products company reported $3.01 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.60 by $0.41. The business had revenue of $2.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.09 billion. Rockwell Automation had a return on equity of 42.15% and a net margin of 15.82%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 25.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.66 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that Rockwell Automation will post 12.06 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 12th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 15th will be paid a $1.18 dividend. This represents a $4.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.74%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 12th. Rockwell Automations payout ratio is 41.55%.

Insider Activity

In other news, CFO Nicholas C. Gangestad sold 1,975 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $294.25, for a total value of $581,143.75. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 7,757 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,282,497.25. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, VP Isaac Woods sold 100 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $294.33, for a total transaction of $29,433.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 452 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $133,037.16. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Nicholas C. Gangestad sold 1,975 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $294.25, for a total value of $581,143.75. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 7,757 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,282,497.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 2,631 shares of company stock valued at $765,751 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.64% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Rockwell Automation

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. New Hampshire Trust bought a new stake in shares of Rockwell Automation during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. MinichMacGregor Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Rockwell Automation during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Neo Ivy Capital Management bought a new stake in Rockwell Automation during the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. Clear Street Markets LLC bought a new stake in Rockwell Automation during the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Delta Asset Management LLC TN bought a new stake in Rockwell Automation during the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. 77.66% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Rockwell Automation Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Rockwell Automation, Inc engages in the provision of industrial automation and information services. It operates through the following segments: Intelligent Devices, Software and Control, and Lifecycle Services. The Intelligent Devices segment combines a portfolio of smart products that create the foundation of an agile, resilient, and sustainable production system.

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Upon becoming a teenage mother, Yesica Prensa dropped out of school. More than 20% of girls between the ages of 15 and 19 in the Dominican Republic have given birth.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reports that women suffer from demographic anxiety. In the heavily-populated Global South, women are pressured to have fewer children, while in more prosperous countries  which have declining birth rates  women are encouraged to have more.

In the case of the Dominican Republic  which has the fertility rate of a rich country, at 2.2 children per woman  there is great concern about the high proportion of teenage pregnancies, as well as maternal mortality, which is closely related to childbirth at an early age. The latest data from the National Statistics Office of the Dominican Republic reveals that 20.4% of girls between the ages of 15 and 19 are mothers in the Caribbean country. This is higher than the 18% average across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Yesica Prensa  a 26-year-old Dominican citizen  has suffered many anxieties related to motherhood in the last decade. Her life exemplifies almost all the forms of womens suffering that the UNFPA denounced in its latest annual report. She became a wife and adolescent mother, unable to decide when to have children and how many to have. She was never provided with correct information about contraceptives in a country that prohibits abortion.

Prensa lost her first child only two months after giving birth. She eventually had three more; she dropped out of school and her partner abandoned her. Today, lacking adequate care and support, she is unable to earn an income.

She was born in Mata los Indios  a rural community full of sugar plantations, where the residents are of Haitian descent  where some 200 people live. Its a 90-minute drive north of the capital of Santo Domingo, far from the beachside paradises that attracted more than seven million tourists in 2022 alone. In this town  from which Prensa has never left  the houses are made of wooden planks and tin roofs. There are unpaved roads and few economic opportunities. The latest breach of her human rights has been an attempted rape in her own home, which she has reported to the police. It happened last night, she tells EL PAIS.

I got married when I was 16 and my husband wanted to have children, she explains. A year later, her first child was born. She says that she knew about the existence of contraceptive methods, but shrugs her shoulders when asked why she became a mother sooner than she wanted. For too many Dominican women, choosing is not an option: 23% are not free to make decisions about their own bodies in relation to sexual relations or the use of contraceptives, to which 46% do not have access.

Sterilization has been a widely-used method in the Dominican Republic, with 30.5% of women of reproductive age being married or in a domestic partnership, according to a national survey. But this is not always an informed choice: 25% of Dominican women who have undertaken the procedure did so without knowing that it was an irreversible intervention.

Men tell [their partners] that if they dont have sex with them, theyll go off with other women. And in the end, faced with that psychological pressure, women agree, explains Yaquelin Felix, project coordinator for the Nursing Development Foundation (Fuden), who works in rural communities. First, the girls have to know that they can say no and their partners will have to accept it.

Yesica Prensa holds her youngest child, Dylan Miguel Lizana (AECID)

Felixs fight to reduce adolescent pregnancy and associated maternal mortality is also a fight against myths, taboos and misinformation surrounding contraceptive methods. Many girls dont tell their parents that theyre having [sexual relations] therefore, they cannot have birth control pills in the house. The intradermal method (an implant in the arm) is the most appropriate in these cases, but some ask us to remove them after putting it on. [This method] can cause irregularities in their menstruation; they think theyre sick and [worry about] the amount of blood.

Adolescents who become pregnant are more likely to suffer from complications in pregnancy and childbirth, which are the leading causes of death among young women between the ages of 15 to 19 in the world, according to the UNFPA. With 107 deaths per 100,000 live births, maternal mortality in the Dominican Republic is disproportionately high for an upper-middle-income country, as well as above the average rate of 88 per 100,000 in Latin America and the Caribbean. This is despite the fact that, in the DR, 98% of deliveries are attended to by qualified personnel.

Babies born to teenage mothers are more prone to health problems and even death. In the case of Prensa, these fatal statistics came true. [My son] died a few weeks after birth. They sent me home and I felt that something was wrong. She took the baby to the doctor, but nothing could be done. The doctor also told her that she would not be able to have any more children. He was wrong.

Tall, thin and elegant, Prensa  through smiles and tears  narrates her life with subtle gestures, while her two youngest children demand attention. Sitting in the shade next to her modest home with two rooms  one for sleeping and the other for cooking  she sobs as she plunges into thoughts about what could have been. I always said that I would study law, she sighs, wiping away tears.

Once again, Prensa is the face behind the data of another consequence brought about by teenage pregnancy: an inability to complete secondary education. In the Dominican Republic, only 45.9% of girls who become mothers between the ages of 15 and 19 attend high school or university, compared to 89.8% of teenage girls who have never given birth. This inequality has an impact, [resulting in] fewer opportunities for their development, notes Teresa Maria Guerrero, a researcher at the Dominican Institute for Educational Quality Evaluation and Research.

More than half of teenage mothers in the Dominican Republic end up having to abandon their studies. Consequently, when they begin professional life, they earn around 20% less than women who became pregnant as adults. Miguel Lizana (AECID)

I didnt finish high school. Now, Im paying the price. I could have had a profession, Prensa laments. I would like to work, she says, with tears in her eyes. But when asked if she could ever resume her studies, she shakes her head. I cant.

She rocks Dylan  the youngest of her children, who is about to turn two  and sits him on her lap. I have no one to take care of them. Even if she had some support at home to take care of her children, she wouldnt be able to afford restarting her studies. In addition to tuition, she would have to pay at least $7 a day to commute between her town and the city of Monte Plata, where adult education is provided. She doesnt have the money.

Her story isnt rare, says Micaela Parras, program manager at the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) in the Dominican Republic, which supports projects led by local organizations so that there are fewer cases like Prensas. Its evidence of the inequality of women [in this country] in all possible ways, they are denied their rights.

Prensas reality is so common and persistent that, in a 2018 study by the UNFPA, it was revealed that the cost of teenage pregnancy and early motherhood in the Dominican Republic amounted to a yearly cost of $240 million. This figure is the sum of health care expenses and the economic fallout of non-existent job placement for young mothers who, on average, earn a fifth less than women who gave birth when they were adults.

Trapped in a circle of poverty and knowing firsthand the costs of early motherhood, Prensa often speaks to young women in her community, advising them to postpone motherhood and not abandon their education.

They tell me, who are you to give me advice? [Because] I stopped school and devoted myself to giving birth to children. But Prensa envisions a prosperous future for her little ones. I want them to study, to be somebody in life, so they dont have to go through what Ive been through.

Her mother died and her father abandoned the household. With no family support other than that of her grandfather  a pastor in Mata los Indios  Prensa has sent her eldest son (who is seven) to live with some uncles. Then came Keisa, who, at the age of three, runs around her mother. Having fulfilled her dream of having a little girl, Prensa didnt want any more children. She opted for birth control  provided free of charge at the local health center  but soon became pregnant again. Instead of taking the pill on a daily basis, she took it every other day, only when her partner was over for the night. I thought it was still going to work, but it didnt.

Without family support to help her care for her children, Yesica Prensa isnt able to resume her studies or find a job. In this photograph, she speaks with her grandfather  her only close relative  who is a pastor in the community of Mata los Indios. Miguel Lizana (AECID)

Today, she caresses the bulge that is a contraceptive implant in her left arm. The gynecologist recommended it to me  my mother-in-law told me it was safe. This method is effective for three years. When its over, Ill put in another one, she says determinedly.

Despite professing great concern over the high number of teenage pregnancies, the government of the Dominican Republic  in line with the countrys religious and conservative sectors  recently repealed a 2019 law (which was never properly implemented) that introduced instruction about general equality and reproductive health into the national high school curriculum.

Many schools plead that we go and give talks on the subject, because the girls get pregnant, Felix notes. According to the local press  which cites data from the Ministry of Education released this year  at least 1,154 students [in the country] are pregnant this school year, of which 112 have been victims of rape and 28 of incest.

After seeing her older sisters get married as teenagers and go through multiple struggles, Yohanni Beras Perez continued her studies, eventually graduating as a nurse. It wasnt easy. Sometimes, I had nothing to eat while I was in university, she recalls. Today, she is a community leader in Mata los Indios. Miguel Lizana (AECID)

For development worker Micaela Parras  from the AECID, which contributed to the report on teenage pregnancy  it is fundamental to support healthcare personnel and organizations that work in invisible and excluded rural communities, where most teenage pregnancies occur. For the period of 2019 until 2024, the Spanish entity has allocated $3.5 million to support women in these communities. Of that amount, Fuden  the Nursing Development Foundation  is set to receive $200,000 to train nurses who will, in turn, give workshops to advocates for community health. Adequate family planning information will be made available to the local populations, especially to the youngest women and girls.

The country is made up of communities and, by intervening in them, well achieve a massive effect to change the country, Felix emphasizes. She is the coordinator of this project.

At school, the teacher explained something to us but if it had been up to my mother, I wouldnt know anything, admits Yohanni Beras Perez, a community leader in Mata los Indios. She has had a very different life from that of her friend Prensa. Witnessing the mistreatment suffered by her older sisters  who were both married at an early age  she decided that she didnt want that kind of life. Instead, she focused all her efforts on studying. Oftentimes going without meals, she managed to finish nursing school and now works in the emergency department of a hospital. In her community, she is now a leader but also an exception.

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Saturna Capital CORP grew its position in Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE:AEM  Get Rating) (TSE:AEM) by 326.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 23,520 shares of the mining companys stock after buying an additional 18,000 shares during the period. Saturna Capital CORPs holdings in Agnico Eagle Mines were worth $1,223,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines by 86.4% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 540,450 shares of the mining companys stock worth $33,097,000 after acquiring an additional 250,445 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE lifted its holdings in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines by 108.6% in the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 4,420 shares of the mining companys stock worth $270,000 after acquiring an additional 2,301 shares during the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines by 37.6% in the 1st quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp now owns 2,795 shares of the mining companys stock worth $171,000 after acquiring an additional 764 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. acquired a new position in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in the 1st quarter worth approximately $678,000. Finally, BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines by 44.0% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 364,215 shares of the mining companys stock worth $22,304,000 after acquiring an additional 111,208 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 58.11% of the companys stock.

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Agnico Eagle Mines Stock Up 1.0 %

Shares of AEM traded up $0.58 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $57.33. The stock had a trading volume of 517,576 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,046,253. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited has a 1-year low of $36.69 and a 1-year high of $61.15. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $53.95 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $51.85. The company has a market cap of $28.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.17, a PEG ratio of 26.28 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 2.32 and a quick ratio of 1.07.

Agnico Eagle Mines Announces Dividend

Agnico Eagle Mines ( NYSE:AEM Get Rating ) (TSE:AEM) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 17th. The mining company reported $0.41 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.39 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $1.38 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.42 billion. Agnico Eagle Mines had a net margin of 40.12% and a return on equity of 6.07%. The companys revenue was up 45.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.46 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Agnico Eagle Mines Limited will post 2.28 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 1st will be given a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.79%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 31st. Agnico Eagle Miness dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 31.50%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently commented on AEM. TheStreet upgraded shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Wednesday, January 25th. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in a report on Monday, April 3rd. They set an outperform rating on the stock. Scotiabank began coverage on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in a report on Monday, April 3rd. They set an outperform rating on the stock. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, National Bank Financial reduced their target price on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from C$89.00 to C$88.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $70.63.

Agnico Eagle Mines Company Profile

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Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. engages in the exploration and production of gold. It operates through the following segments: Northern Business, Southern Business, and Exploration. The Northern Business segment comprises of LaRonde mine, LaRonde Zone 5 mine, Lapa mine, Goldex mine, Meadowbank mine including the Amaruq deposit, Canadian Malartic joint operation, Meliadine project and Kittila mine.

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Saturna Capital CORP lowered its stake in Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN  Get Rating) by 0.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 15,504 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 106 shares during the period. Saturna Capital CORPs holdings in Accenture were worth $4,137,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in ACN. United Bank grew its stake in shares of Accenture by 6.3% in the 1st quarter. United Bank now owns 2,969 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,001,000 after buying an additional 176 shares during the last quarter. Weitz Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in Accenture by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Weitz Investment Management Inc. now owns 89,400 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $30,148,000 after acquiring an additional 1,168 shares in the last quarter. Fund Management at Engine No. 1 LLC bought a new stake in shares of Accenture in the 1st quarter worth $1,805,000. Guardian Wealth Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Accenture by 0.6% in the first quarter. Guardian Wealth Management Inc. now owns 7,292 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $2,459,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Clearbridge Investments LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Accenture by 104.8% during the first quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 441,451 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $148,871,000 after purchasing an additional 225,943 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.97% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

ACN has been the topic of several research analyst reports. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Accenture from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Edward Jones raised shares of Accenture from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. William Blair restated an outperform rating on shares of Accenture in a research note on Monday, March 20th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on Accenture from $335.00 to $340.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Accenture from $310.00 to $327.00 in a report on Friday, March 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $314.00.

Accenture Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE ACN traded up $0.55 during trading on Monday, hitting $277.74. The company had a trading volume of 902,345 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,358,191. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $271.54 and a 200 day simple moving average of $276.43. Accenture plc has a 12 month low of $242.80 and a 12 month high of $322.88. The firm has a market capitalization of $175.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 1.25.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 23rd. The information technology services provider reported $2.69 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.49 by $0.20. The firm had revenue of $15.81 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.59 billion. Accenture had a return on equity of 30.73% and a net margin of 11.00%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.54 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that Accenture plc will post 11.57 EPS for the current year.

Accenture Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 13th will be paid a dividend of $1.12 per share. This represents a $4.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.61%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 12th. Accentures dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 41.25%.

Insider Activity at Accenture

In related news, CEO Julie Spellman Sweet sold 2,954 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.05, for a total transaction of $827,267.70. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 24,459 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,849,742.95. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Accenture news, insider Jean-Marc Ollagnier sold 6,250 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.06, for a total transaction of $1,750,375.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 174,084 shares in the company, valued at approximately $48,753,965.04. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Julie Spellman Sweet sold 2,954 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $280.05, for a total value of $827,267.70. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 24,459 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,849,742.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 15,010 shares of company stock valued at $4,180,030. 0.08% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Accenture Company Profile

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Accenture Plc engages in the provision of management consulting, technology, and outsourcing services. It operates through the following geographical segments: North America, Europe and Growth Markets. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

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Scotia Capital Inc. grew its holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP  Get Rating) (TSE:CP) by 4.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 2,312,351 shares of the transportation companys stock after purchasing an additional 89,805 shares during the period. Canadian Pacific Kansas City makes up about 1.3% of Scotia Capital Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 18th biggest position. Scotia Capital Inc. owned about 0.25% of Canadian Pacific Kansas City worth $172,234,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of CP. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its position in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 16,828 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,389,000 after purchasing an additional 559 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 69.1% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 5,539 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $457,000 after purchasing an additional 2,263 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 2.4% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 30,249,662 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $2,496,807,000 after purchasing an additional 695,215 shares during the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its position in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 5.1% in the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 49,524 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $4,087,000 after purchasing an additional 2,417 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. raised its position in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 116.4% in the first quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 14,274 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,178,000 after purchasing an additional 7,678 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 72.31% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have commented on CP shares. StockNews.com started coverage on Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $78.00 to $75.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. They set an outperform rating on the stock. CIBC cut their price target on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$128.00 to C$125.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, Barclays cut their price target on shares of 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. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $89.21.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Trading Up 0.5 %

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Cuts Dividend

Shares of NYSE:CP traded up $0.38 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $82.31. The company had a trading volume of 640,908 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,920,892. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $77.64 and a 200 day moving average price of $77.61. The company has a market capitalization of $76.64 billion, a PE ratio of 27.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.28 and a beta of 1.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 0.66 and a quick ratio of 0.56. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited has a one year low of $65.17 and a one year high of $82.96.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be paid a $0.141 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $0.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.69%. Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys dividend payout ratio is currently 18.21%.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City 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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Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund (NYSEAMERICAN:EVM  Get Rating) was the target of a large increase in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 11,100 shares, an increase of 7.8% from the April 15th total of 10,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 51,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.2 days.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. increased its position in shares of Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund by 32.5% during the first quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 14,100 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $141,000 after purchasing an additional 3,460 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP acquired a new stake in Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund in the 1st quarter valued at about $115,000. Quantedge Capital Pte Ltd purchased a new position in Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund in the 1st quarter worth approximately $245,000. City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund by 21.6% during the 1st quarter. City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd. now owns 67,599 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $677,000 after purchasing an additional 12,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UBS Group AG boosted its holdings in shares of Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund by 2.2% during the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 169,053 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,697,000 after purchasing an additional 3,644 shares during the last quarter.

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Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund Price Performance

EVM remained flat at $8.83 during trading on Monday. 14,311 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 62,821. Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund has a 12 month low of $8.04 and a 12 month high of $9.87.

Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund Announces Dividend

Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund Company Profile

The company also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 22nd will be issued a dividend of $0.0306 per share. This represents a $0.37 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.16%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 19th.

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Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund is a close-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Eaton Vance Management. The fund invests in the fixed income market of United States. It invests primarily in high grade municipal obligations comprising of various industries, such as general obligations, hospital, electric utilities, transportation, water and sewer, public education, and private education.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Ternium (NYSE:TX  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Friday.

TX has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Itau BBA Securities lowered shares of Ternium from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and lifted their target price for the company from $40.00 to $49.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 9th. Citigroup initiated coverage on Ternium in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. They issued a buy rating and a $50.00 price objective for the company. HSBC boosted their target price on shares of Ternium from $43.00 to $45.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 16th. Bank of America upgraded shares of Ternium from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the company from $38.00 to $42.00 in a report on Monday, January 23rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised shares of Ternium from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their target price for the company from $34.00 to $52.00 in a research note on Monday, March 6th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $46.43.

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Ternium Price Performance

TX opened at $37.34 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $40.85 and a 200-day moving average price of $36.61. Ternium has a 12-month low of $26.01 and a 12-month high of $45.81. The company has a current ratio of 4.00, a quick ratio of 2.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.36 and a beta of 1.54.

Ternium Announces Dividend

Ternium ( NYSE:TX Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The basic materials company reported $1.91 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.93. The company had revenue of $3.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.67 billion. Ternium had a net margin of 8.68% and a return on equity of 9.84%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 15.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $3.95 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Ternium will post 6.87 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Friday, May 5th will be paid a dividend of $1.80 per share. This represents a yield of 6.9%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 4th. Terniums dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 51.72%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ternium

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Bank of America Corp DE raised its position in shares of Ternium by 73.7% during the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 92,926 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $3,834,000 after buying an additional 39,430 shares during the last quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Ternium by 12.5% in the first quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 30,516 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,259,000 after buying an additional 3,384 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its holdings in Ternium by 36.4% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 178,386 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $7,360,000 after buying an additional 47,631 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Ternium in the 1st quarter worth approximately $734,000. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Ternium by 590.7% during the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 407,771 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,463,000 after acquiring an additional 348,732 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 10.41% of the companys stock.

About Ternium

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Ternium SA engages in the production of flat steel. It operates through the Steel and Mining segments. The Steel segment includes the sales of steel products. The Mining segment involves in the sales of mining products, mainly iron ore and pellets. The company was founded in September 1961 and is headquartered in Luxembourg.

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Texas Capital Bank Wealth Management Services Inc. decreased its stake in Lockheed Martin Co. (NYSE:LMT  Get Rating) by 6.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 23,058 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 1,533 shares during the quarter. Lockheed Martin accounts for about 1.4% of Texas Capital Bank Wealth Management Services Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 14th largest position. Texas Capital Bank Wealth Management Services Inc.s holdings in Lockheed Martin were worth $11,217,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Great Lakes Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Lockheed Martin by 12.1% during the 4th quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLC now owns 104,153 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $5,177,000 after acquiring an additional 11,230 shares during the period. Intech Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Lockheed Martin by 36.0% during the 4th quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 40,069 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $19,493,000 after acquiring an additional 10,615 shares during the period. Scotia Capital Inc. lifted its holdings in Lockheed Martin by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. now owns 20,605 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $10,025,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. Cibc World Markets Corp lifted its holdings in Lockheed Martin by 721.6% during the 4th quarter. Cibc World Markets Corp now owns 29,421 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $14,313,000 after purchasing an additional 25,840 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in Lockheed Martin by 20.2% during the 4th quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 37,404 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $18,197,000 after purchasing an additional 6,274 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.18% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director John Donovan purchased 506 shares of Lockheed Martin stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 19th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $495.17 per share, for a total transaction of $250,556.02. Following the transaction, the director now owns 2,830 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,401,331.10. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Lockheed Martin news, EVP Stephanie C. Hill sold 2,391 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $490.84, for a total value of $1,173,598.44. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 12,604 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,186,547.36. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director John Donovan purchased 506 shares of Lockheed Martin stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 19th. The stock was bought at an average price of $495.17 per share, for a total transaction of $250,556.02. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 2,830 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,401,331.10. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.17% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Lockheed Martin Price Performance

Shares of Lockheed Martin stock traded down $0.31 during trading on Monday, reaching $450.48. 270,779 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,355,839. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.61, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.30. Lockheed Martin Co. has a 1-year low of $373.67 and a 1-year high of $508.10. The company has a market cap of $114.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.71, a PEG ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 0.67. The firms 50-day moving average price is $474.74 and its 200 day moving average price is $474.67.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 18th. The aerospace company reported $6.43 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $6.08 by $0.35. The business had revenue of $15.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.01 billion. Lockheed Martin had a return on equity of 67.75% and a net margin of 8.60%. Lockheed Martins quarterly revenue was up 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $6.44 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Lockheed Martin Co. will post 26.76 earnings per share for the current year.

Lockheed Martin Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 23rd. Investors of record on Thursday, June 1st will be given a dividend of $3.00 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 31st. This represents a $12.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.66%. Lockheed Martins dividend payout ratio is currently 54.84%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently weighed in on the company. Robert W. Baird cut Lockheed Martin from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $513.00 price target for the company. in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Credit Suisse Group lifted their price target on Lockheed Martin from $510.00 to $550.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on Lockheed Martin from $542.00 to $532.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 25th. DZ Bank raised Lockheed Martin from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $523.00 price objective for the company in a report on Monday, January 30th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their price objective on Lockheed Martin from $478.00 to $496.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Lockheed Martin presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $494.79.

Lockheed Martin Profile

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Lockheed Martin Corp. is a global security and aerospace company, which engages in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of technology systems, products, and services. It operates through the following business segments: Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control (MFC), Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS), and Space.

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Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. trimmed its holdings in shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM  Get Rating) by 2.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 130,239 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 3,754 shares during the quarter. Tocqueville Asset Management L.P.s holdings in Waste Management were worth $20,432,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in WM. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Waste Management by 2.8% during the third 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 last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its position in shares of Waste Management by 194.9% during the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,217,592 shares of the business services providers stock worth $192,988,000 after acquiring an additional 804,708 shares during the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Waste Management by 3,120.2% during the third quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 600,443 shares of the business services providers stock worth $96,197,000 after acquiring an additional 581,797 shares during the last quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec raised its stake in Waste Management by 21.5% during the third quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 2,605,293 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $417,394,000 after purchasing an additional 461,425 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Prudential Financial Inc. raised its stake in Waste Management by 67.5% during the third quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 966,026 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $154,772,000 after purchasing an additional 389,400 shares in the last quarter. 78.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Activity at Waste Management

In related news, CAO Leslie K. Nagy sold 800 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.11, for a total value of $120,888.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 5,210 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $787,283.10. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Waste Management news, CAO Leslie K. Nagy sold 800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.11, for a total transaction of $120,888.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 5,210 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $787,283.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CFO Devina A. Rankin sold 6,800 shares of Waste Management stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $155.00, for a total transaction of $1,054,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 57,517 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,915,135. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 30,443 shares of company stock valued at $4,715,820 in the last three months. 0.27% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Waste Management Stock Down 0.7 %

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Raymond James decreased their price target on shares of Waste Management from $167.00 to $166.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 6th. TD Cowen initiated coverage on shares of Waste Management in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. They issued an outperform rating and a $200.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Waste Management in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Waste Management from $179.00 to $181.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Finally, 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 target price on the stock. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $176.64.

Waste Management stock traded down $1.16 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $168.08. 140,339 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,760,164. Waste Management, Inc. has a 12 month low of $138.89 and a 12 month high of $175.98. The company has a market cap of $68.38 billion, a PE ratio of 31.00, a P/E/G ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.21, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 0.87. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $161.03 and a two-hundred day moving average of $158.57.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The business services provider reported $1.31 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.29 by $0.02. Waste Management had a net margin of 11.33% and a return on equity of 33.23%. The business had revenue of $4.89 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.86 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.29 EPS. The companys revenue was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that Waste Management, Inc. will post 6.03 earnings per share 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. Investors of record on Friday, June 2nd will be given a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 1st. Waste Managements payout ratio is currently 51.28%.

About Waste Management

(Get Rating)

Waste Management, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of waste management environmental services. It operates through the following segments: East Tier, West Tier, and Other. The East Tier segment consists of Eastern U.S., the Great Lakes Region, and Canada. The West Tier segment includes the upper Midwest region and British Columbia, Canada.

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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.

President Joe Biden and congressional leaders will likely resume talks on Tuesday at the White House over the debt limit, the president said Sunday, as the nation continues to edge closer to its legal borrowing authority with no agreement in sight.

The meeting was initially supposed to be Friday, but was abruptly postponed so staff-level talks could continue before Biden and the four congressional leaders huddled for a second time. Administration and congressional officials said Sunday that a meeting has not been finalized.

Biden said he was optimistic he could reach a deal with the Republicans.

I remain optimistic because Im a congenital optimist, Biden told reporters while out for a bike ride in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. But I really think theres a desire on their part as well as ours to reach an agreement. I think well be able to do it.

Aides reported some progress in the discussions that carried through the weekend.

The staff is very engaged. I would characterize the engagement as serious, as constructive, Lael Brainard, head of the White Houses National Economic Council, said on CBS Face the Nation.

But there was little indication that either the White House or House Republicans had budged from their initial positions. Biden has called on lawmakers to lift the debt limit without preconditions, warning that the nations borrowing authority should not be used to impose deep spending cuts and other conservative policy demands.

Weve not reached the crunch point yet, Biden told reporters Saturday before flying to his beach home for the weekend. Theres real discussion about some changes we all could make. Were not there yet.

Breaching the debt limit would be unprecedented and could trigger a financial catastrophe.

Our expectation is that Congress will act to avert default in a timely manner, Brainard said.

Biden and the leaders  House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky  ended their first meeting last Tuesday without a breakthrough.

The president described that Oval Office session as productive even though McCarthy said later he didnt see any new movement toward resolving the stalemate.

McCarthy has insisted on using the threat of defaulting on the nations debts to wrangle budget changes, arguing that the federal government cant continue to spend money at the pace it is now. The national debt now stands at $31.4 trillion.

An increase in the debt limit would not authorize new federal spending. It would only allow for borrowing to pay for what Congress has already approved.

The Treasury Department has said the government could exhaust the ability to pay its bills as early as June 1. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office gave a similar warning Friday, saying there was a significant risk of default sometime in the first two weeks of next month.

But federal estimates still remain in flux.

The CBO noted Friday that if the cash flow at the Treasury and the extraordinary measures that the department is now using can continue to pay for bills through June 15, the government can probably finance its operations through the end of July. Thats because the expected tax revenues that will come in mid-June and other measures will give the federal government enough cash for at least a few more weeks.

Ultimately the stakes are, the United States has never defaulted on its debt, Wally Adeyemo, the deputy treasury secretary, said on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday. And we cant.

And Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, told ABCs This Week: I think defaulting is not the right path to go down. So I am an eternal optimist.

He added, this is always a game we play, every Congress, you know, in daring each other to jump off the cliff. Its a dangerous game.

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Gunman who killed 3 people and injured 2 officers in Farmington, New Mexico, was 18 years old, police say
KYODO NEWS - May 13, 2023 - 21:23 | All, World, G7

Science ministers from the Group of Seven countries confirmed Saturday that inappropriate diversion of research results, including for military purposes, is a growing concern, with security risks mounting worldwide in the face of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In a joint statement released after their two-day meeting, the G-7 ministers condemned Moscow's aggression against its neighbor for threatening the international order based on the rule of law amid fears about the potential illicit diversion of weapons by Russia.

The science and technology representatives of the G-7 gathered in Sendai, northeastern Japan, to promote the global sharing of research benefits while safeguarding each member nation's national and economic security.

"We share a growing concern that some actors may attempt to unfairly exploit or distort the open research environment and misappropriate research results for economic, strategic, geopolitical, or military purposes," the communique said.

The statement added, "We also acknowledge that science, technology, and innovation will play a key role in rebuilding Ukraine as a modern and sustainable economy."

At a press conference after the gathering, Sanae Takaichi, Japan's minister in charge of science and technology policy, said each country has a sense of crisis regarding security risks as the international situation is becoming more challenging.

Takaichi, chair of the meeting, emphasized the importance of implementing appropriate risk mitigation measures by the G-7 and other partners in a bid to foster continuous and safe international cooperation in research.

At their talks, meanwhile, the science chiefs called for urgent action for the safe and sustainable use of outer space, given the rising number of satellites and the diversity of extraterrestrial activities, which have led to an accumulation of debris in Earth's orbit.

The G-7 ministers said in the communique, "We strongly encourage further research and development of orbital debris mitigation and remediation technologies."

The agreement comes as Russia's antisatellite missile tests have generated a lot of debris in recent years, posing a danger, along with the remnants from a Chinese rocket last year that plunged uncontrollably back to Earth and re-entered the atmosphere.

The G-7 science and technology ministers also said the development and governance of emerging and breakthrough technologies are key to resolving social challenges through innovation.

The chiefs agreed that artificial intelligence, quantum and other cutting-edge technologies are vital to the green and digital transition, as well as economic and national security.
KYODO NEWS - May 15, 2023 - 22:39 | All, World

Thailand's liberal junior opposition Move Forward party garnered the most votes after Sunday's general election, with voters rejecting the incumbent pro-military government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, which has controlled the country for nearly a decade.

But the unexpected win by Move Forward and the second-largest number of seats captured Pheu Thai, an opposition party made up of supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, does not necessarily mean they will lead the next government due to an electoral system that favors the establishment.

Move Forward, which seeks for amending harsh laws against insulting the monarchy, has called for Pheu Thai, which is not keen about amending the law related to the monarch, and other parties to form a coalition.

Of the 500 seats up for grabs in the House of Representatives, Move Forward, popular among young voters, won 152, followed by Pheu Thai's 141, according to unofficial results from the electoral commission.

The United Thai Nation Party, under which Prayut ran for re-election, gained only 36, ending fifth.

But Prayut still has a chance to be re-elected because elected members of the lower house and 250 military-appointed senators will determine the new prime minister through a vote expected in July.

Move Forward's leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, said at a press conference that he is ready to be prime minister, and has invited other political parties, including Pheu Thai, to join a coalition government to be formed "as soon as possible to avoid a political vacuum."

He expects his party, along with Pheu Thai and other opposition parties, to secure 309 seats, and by doing so, they would be able to form a coalition government.

Pita, 42, said he phoned Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin's daughter who is uniting Pheu Thai on behalf of her father in self-exile, to congratulate her and invited her party to join a government led by Move Forward.

Paetongtarn, 36, told reporters separately she was approached by Pita about partnering for a coalition government. But Pheu Thai has yet to decide whether or not to accept the proposal.

The opposition parties need at least 376 votes from the lower house members to take power because the senators are unlikely to support members of either Move Forward or Pheu Thai.

The 69-year-old Prayut, a former army general who had been in power for over eight years, faced a tough race as he met strong political opposition from Pheu Thai, which led opinion polls before the election, and Move Forward, reflecting an apparent appetite for change among an increasing number of voters.

After learning United Thai Nation trailed the opposition parties, Prayut briefly told reporters Sunday night that he would respect the result of the election being conducted democratically.

Pita also reiterated that the party will continue pushing for the amendment to the lese majeste law, under which insulting the king is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Move Forward is the only party with a clear commitment to reforming the law.

The progressive party's election pledges included revoking military conscription and drafting a new constitution that would replace the current one enacted by the military in 2017.

Prayut staged a coup to topple the Pheu Thai-led elected government in May 2014 when he was the army chief and subsequently became interim prime minister of a military-run government.

In the 2019 election, Pheu Thai won the largest number of seats but failed to gather enough allies to form a government, prompting the second-place Palang Pracharath Party, which put forward Prayut as its candidate for prime minister, to take control with 18 other parties.

In 2020, student protestors swarmed the streets of Bangkok and other cities, calling for political reform and changes within the monarchy, traditionally viewed as an untouchable topic. Dozens of people have since been charged under the lese majeste law, with some running as Move Forward candidates in Sunday's election.
Do you work at Norfolk Southern or another Class I railway? Do you live in East Palestine or a neighboring community? Tell us what you know about the East Palestine disaster by filling out the form below. All submissions will be kept anonymous.

This photo taken with a drone shows the continuing cleanup of portions of a Norfolk Southern freight train that derailed February 3 in East Palestine, Ohio, Thursday, February 9, 2023. [AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar]

Late Wednesday night, another Norfolk Southern train derailed only 15 miles away from the site of the February 3rd derailment and toxic chemical spill of a Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, Ohio. The latest accident occurred in New Castle, Pennsylvania just across the Ohio-Pennsylvania state line.

Nine of the trains 200 cars derailed. Photos show several of the derailed tanker cars overturned on a bridge of the BeaverMahoning River, which flows into the Ohio River. Fortunately, the tanker cars were empty at the time.

Officials say none of the derailed cars were carrying hazardous materials. However, one car did contain paraffin, a wax used in the making of crayons and candles.

As of Friday morning, two tanker cars were still on the bridge and equipment was being brought in to try and remove them. Local police have closed the nearby road. The bridge is owned by Norfolk Southern and until the company can remove the two tankers and verify that no damage has been done to the bridge, the road will remain closed.

Nearby residents had in mind the East Palestine disaster, which poisoned the soil, groundwater and air of that town, when they heard the train derail. Following a controlled burn of overturned tanker cars, apparently carried out without even informing federal investigators, many of the 5,000 residents of East Palestine and the surrounding area complained of burning eyes, noses and throats as well as vomiting. Many will suffer long term health consequences as a result of the release of vinyl chloride and dioxins, which are known carcinogens.

Vern Geminiani told WTAE a Pittsburgh-based news station that he ran out of his house when they heard the crash.

I heard the train whistle coming. Its normal here hearing the train go by, but it ended up being a loud commotion, a bang, and then the house shook, and I looked out the window, and I knew something was wrong I was worried about hazard material. I was worried if we were going to get evacuated. What is going to happen, or what are we breathing right now? Geminiani said.

Another resident, Sandra Thaemert, told the station she was worried for her children. We made sure there was no toxins because we have seven kids in our house. We shut the windows. We shut our doors. I told them dont open up the doors just stay in the house until we find out because I could smell the smoke in the air, Sandra Thaemert told WTAE.

WBNS 10TV, a news station from Central Ohio, provided this chopper view of the crash site.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-L2oKBF2c4&t=99s

A railroad worker commenting on the video explained: I work in the field boots on ground. Trains derail everyday. In the yard and on the main. They wanna push the narrative because of Ohio. We been saying the problem is trains are way [too] long and it causes issues. Im glad its being talked about now because all railroads care about is profits.

A retired railroad engineer who had worked 40 years for several different railroads, including 20 years for Norfolk Southern, told the World Socialist Website that accidents like the one in East Palestine and the one in New Castle are all too predictable due to the unsafe length of trains.

It is important that you carefully control the weight of the train, both the total weight of train and that of each car. If you put empty cars, especially flatbeds which are the lightest of all the cars, in the middle of a train, they will be picked right up off of the tracks when going around bends, he said.

The companies are increasing the length of trains with 150, 200 and even 250 cars while cutting crews and maintenance. The companies dont care about that anymore they just want to make the trains as long as possible so they can make as much money on each train, he said. The East Palestine disaster was clearly preventable. For nearly an hour they knew that they had a bad axle, yet they kept the train moving.

On February 3rd, 38 cars of a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. A small town of about 5,000 people on the Pennsylvania border. Eleven of the derailed cars were carrying hazardous material and several erupted into flames and exploded.

The most recent derailment in New Castle, Pennsylvania points to the fact that claims after the fact by Norfolk Southern and CEO Alan Shaw that the company was taking safety as its top priority was just lip service. More than three months since the February 3rd derailment Norfolk Southern has yet to finish the cleanup of the accident site. They are being given a blank check by federal regulators, who refused even to test East Palestine for dioxins weeks after the crash, as well as Congress, which last year banned a strike by railroaders in which safety would have been a key issue.

In addition to the health concerns, many residents are also suffering financially from its impact. Last week, the owners of CeramSource and CeramFab, which manufactures specialty bricks used in steel manufacturing, announced that it was closing and laying off all 30 of its employees.

Its a nightmare, and we are still living in the nightmare, and I dont know when we can get out of this, said Edwin Wang, the owner told News 5 of Cleveland.

Employees came back to work after they were told the area was safe by Norfolk Southern and government officials, but soon many workers were getting headaches, nosebleeds and coughing he told channel 5. We sent them to the ER right away. They were diagnosed with chemical bronchitis  We are out of money, we are out of time, we are out of the labor to continue our manufacturing, Wang said.

Area farmers are also feeling the impact as they have been unable to sell their livestock and crops as both they and consumers worry about health effects of their products. Housing prices have also plummeted as many families try to leave the area, especially those with young children.

Do you work at Norfolk Southern or another Class I railway? Do you live in East Palestine or a neighboring community? Tell us what you know about the East Palestine disaster by filling out the form below. All submissions will be kept anonymous.
With the expiration of Title 42, the Biden administration is continuing the bipartisan attack on immigrants and their right to asylum. Title 42, a Trump-era policy continued by Biden, used the COVID-19 pandemic as the pretext to turn away migrants fleeing violence and poverty throughout Central and Latin America, the legacy of more than a century of US imperialist subversion and exploitation.

The Biden administration was forced to lift Title 42 at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, following its termination of the official US public health emergency instituted in March of 2020 after the World Health Organization declared COVID a global pandemic.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chief Alejandro Mayorkas is leading the Biden administrations new policy requiring asylum seekers to file for asylum in their home country or in regional processing centers to be set up in the very countries migrants are attempting to flee.

Volunteers organize distribution of basic necessities to migrants. [Photo: WSWS]

The US/Mexico border, already highly militarized, is being further transformed into an open-air prison camp, with 65,000 gathered along the boundary between the two countries. The migrants, most of whom have traversed deadly terrain and faced hunger and thirst, have been robbed, brutalized and even raped along the way to the US border. Now they are confronted with 24,000 armed Customs and Border Protection (CBP) guards and 1,500 active-duty US troops.

In addition, Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott has unilaterally deployed 2,500 Texas National Guard troops to the states border with Mexico. He and other fascistic figures, including ex-president Donald Trump, are doing their best to whip up an atmosphere of violence and xenophobia directed against the refugees.

World Socialist Web Site reporters were able to speak to migrants being held in groups of about 300 between the primary and secondary border walls in an open encampment without shelter. Volunteer organizations, churches and non-affiliated people and families have shown up at the camp located west of the San Ysidro port of entry in San Diego, California.

Miguel [Photo: WSWS]

Miguel, a 33 year-old father from Guatemala

Miguel said:

The journey here was very difficult because of all the terrain, having to pass through all the states in Mexico. Some parts by bus, other parts by train, and a lot of walking. Day and night and with nothing. You go hungry and thirsty. The police in Mexico robbed me. It was difficult too because I could not work in Mexico since Im an immigrant and did not have documents. I had whatever food the churches would give out, a cookie or a tortilla here and there. Mostly I ate from the streets. I spent 60 days in Tijuana, then they had me in Tecate near the wall fence. Then they put me in the immigration jail there for three days and treated me like a dog. I had the flu and a terrible sore throat but had no medicine. They dont tell us anything, we know nothing about what will happen. I think I have a 50 percent chance of being deported back to Guatemala, but I hope that they let me pass. I am not a delinquent or a drug trafficker, I just want to work. What I want the world to know is that my countrymen are all leaving because life is very difficult. We face robbery, assault, criminals and we have no opportunities. This is the only reason we come and make this sacrifice because we suffer so much.

Miguel fought back tears when he spoke about his two children, whom he had to leave behind.

It wasn't possible for my children to come. Aside from my father, who is working in California, all my family is in Guatemala. Its been so difficult making this journey alone. I have been suffering and Im depressed. I have no support, I dont have anything. The only thing I hope is that they dont send me back.

A woman and girl distribute toys and coloring books to children. [Photo: WSWS]

Julio, 26, and his wife, from Colombia

The couple had arrived at the San Ysidro port of entry three days prior. Julio showed reporters the red wristband he wore with the word Wednesday.

At the camp, he said, We are sleeping on the ground. We cannot shower, we have to use the bathroom on the hill. Its so cold here at night, these are inhuman conditions.

They made the arduous journey from Bogota, Colombia, through Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Mexico to escape the grueling poverty.

He said:

The economic situation is very intense and bad in Colombia. There is a lot of cultivation of cocaine, and all the gangs are fighting over territory. We dont have any opportunities there and they make it horrible if you dont follow along. There is no law since the government is also tied to these groups and theres a lot of corruption. As young people, its really difficult, we have no future there. There are no jobs and we cannot study. For example, you have to work five or six years to save enough money just to buy a small car. The journey here was very dangerous because of the coyotes. They rob you, people are kidnapped, they rape the girls. Its terrible, so very terrible. People take a lot of ways to get here, they go by plane, by boat and walking. All along the way there are many dangers.

Speaking of the deportations by the US authorities, Julio stressed the need for asylum seekers to be granted entry:

It is not logical for them to deport us. We are all coming here for a reason. This is not what we chose, but we have no opportunities and face violence and poverty where we are from. We are human beings and all we want is a better life. Weve traveled so many kilometers and covered so much land. All we want to do is work and be productive. Young people should have the right to a good life.

Migrant children in prison camp along San Diego-San Ysidro border [Photo: WSWS]

Ana, a 26-year-old mother from Colombia

Ana told the WSWS:

Im from Colombia. Im here with my children, my son is 10 and my daughter is 6. The rest of my family is in Colombia. There I worked in sales, selling cell phones, clothes, everything. The journey here was very difficult. I have no money. I used it to pay for a flight to Cancun. From Cancun we took a bus. We walked a lot, we entered a sewage canal and ran through it, and finally we arrived here. It took us eight days. That last hour or so to the wall was difficult. I remember when I was running I started to cry. The man to the side of me was yelling, Lets go! Lets go! I didnt think I could do it. My children were running in front of me and others were passing by me. Running through the sewage was terrible. It was already full of poop, and here I could hardly walk. But they told us to run and to keep running. The truth is that conditions there [in Colombia] are not easy. I came here because they wanted to kill my children. Its dangerous, there are very bad people there. All this happened back in November. My partner and I had a clothing business. These people started to ask us for money, but we didnt have any. They beat my partner and almost killed himthat happened in January. We thought they were not going to do anything to us, but they found my children. I reported them, and when I reported them they took my son for one day and almost sent him back to me dead. They told me that I had 24 hours to leave Colombia or they would kill me and my children. They threatened my mom too, but we didnt have enough money, so my mom stayed in Colombia. She had to move to another city and is so distraught, crying all the time. The police do not take care of us. I reported it and instead of taking care of me, they left me alone. A few days after I reported what happened they went and took my son out of school and took him away. They told me they were going to protect me, but they didnt. I dont call the police any more. If, for example, armed men arrive at your house to kill you and you call the police, they will come three days later! The only way they will help you is if you have a lot of money and you pay them. Otherwise, nothing.

Ana explained that they did not know what would happen regarding asylum:

They arent really telling us anything. They have been taking the mothers and children away. They asked me if I had a husband and I said no, that the father of my children died six years ago. Another person told me that there have been people here since Wednesday. We arrived Thursday morning, so I think those people will go first. The conditions here at the camp are not easy. I dont have money so it makes everything more complicated. I cannot buy food, so we eat what we can get. Sometimes theres not enough food for everyone. I havent eaten for three days.

An encampment of some 300 adults and children near the San Ysidro port of entry [Photo: WSWS]

There are many children here who are sleeping without a tent. I went out last night to find empty tents and I looked for those who had children, so that they could use the empty tents. I was helping several families get their children into tents, and there were a lot of children crying and asking, Why are we here? So many of the children are too young to really understand what is going on. Many of these kids had a bed at home in their country, food, and all that, so they go through this journey and get here and dont know why any of this is happening. With my kids, my son knows what happened to him. He understands. But my daughter doesnt. So I told him not to tell her so as not to scare her. One night she asked me, crying, Why are there so many policemen and what are they going to do to us? Cant we just leave? And I have to tell her, no, we cannot do that. When we were in the sewage canal, my daughter said, This smells very bad and I dont want to run. I told her that her daddy went through here and you have to run if you want to get to daddy. We ran out the rest of the way because we have not seen him for a few months and she loves him very much, because he takes care of her. So many children are afraid and scared here because they dont know why they are here.

On the health and well-being of her children, Ana noted:

My son is fine. My daughter has a delicate stomach. When we went through all that poop (the sewer) she vomited several times. I have already given her medicine for vomiting and I think she is doing better. But she now prefers not to eat, so it is weighing on me. They brought some soups, but I dont know, they didnt taste right. Weve been here in this tent for three days and there have been a lot of sweets. We have enough bottled water and too many chocolate bars. My daughter especially gets sick with too much sweets so she is just not eating. Im worried sick because I think they will send us back to Mexico, and from Mexico theyll send us back to Colombia, and I really cant go back because they are trying to kill my children there. I dont let my cell phone download much, I keep it turned off. I just turn it on to tell my family how I am. I cant tell them everything I have seen, my mom is always crying. Im here because there are people in Colombia who want to kill my children. I preferred to come here to endure hunger to save them. I was not hungry in Colombia, as many people there are. I had food, a house and a bed. My family didnt have a ton of money, but we lived well and had food every day, thank God for that. Of course, Id rather have all my family here with me. All of this gives my family a lot of regret. They text me if they had the money they would help me, and yet they dont have much money to send. My hope is that they dont send me back. I want my children to be able to study, to have a good education. My son is very smart, so is my daughter. My daughter tells me, I know how to speak English. She can only tell me the colors right now. I dont have much schooling either. I only finished elementary school and I want them to be able to study. My daughter tells me she wants to be a teacher. Thats all I want for them, to keep on living, to fulfill all of their dreams. Im already dying, it doesnt matter. Ive already lived, but they havent.
Following the arraignment of New York subway strangler and former Marine Daniel Penny, 24, this past Friday, the Wall Street Journal and Republican politicians, most prominently Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, have launched a campaign in defense of the vigilante murderer.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a fundraising picnic for US Rep. Randy Feenstra, Saturday, May 13, 2023, in Sioux Center, Iowa. [AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall]

Penny was charged with second-degree manslaughter after video of the former Marine strangling 30-year-old homeless man, Jordan Neely, on a crowded subway, drew widespread outrage on social media and around the world. After several days of protest by New York residents, Democratic District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a frequent target of attack by former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, announced charges against Penny on Friday.



That same night charges were announced, the Wall Street Journal, one of the leading publications of the financial oligarchy, published a statement from the Editorial Board declaring Penny the Subway Samaritan.



Despite the fact that witnesses contend that Penny strangled Neely for roughly 15 minutes using a bloodchoke, and video shows Penny constricting Neelys neck well after he stopped moving, the Journal argues, without evidence, its clear [Pennys] intention wasnt to kill Neely. It was to protect himself and others. ... We sometimes call such men good samaritans (sic)



Less than an hour after the editorial was posted, Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis regurgitated the editorials characterization of Penny as a good Samaritan.



Ginning up racists and neo-Nazi support for his rally in Iowa the following day, DeSantis tweeted an ultra-right defense of Penny, writing, We must defeat the Soros-Funded DAs, stop the Lefts pro-criminal agenda, and take back the streets for law abiding citizens. We stand with Good Samaritans like Daniel Penny. Lets show this Marine ... Americas got his back.



The governor included a link to a fundraiser set up by Pennys lawyers on the Christian fundraising site GiveSendGo. While Penny had already raised hundreds of thousands of dollars prior to DeSantis tweet, over the weekend the fund has ballooned to nearly $2 million.



GiveSendGo is the preferred online crowdfunding site for the far right. The website previously hosted a fundraiser for the honorary Proud Boy and Kenosha vigilante killer Kyle Rittenhouse, My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell, a prominent backer of Trumps stop the steal fraud, and several January 6 defendants.



Vivek Ramaswamy, another Republican presidential candidate, approvingly retweeted DeSantis post, adding, I agree with this. Just donated. More of us should. We must restore the rule of law in America.



Despite the characterizations by DeSantis and the Journal, the parable of the Good Samaritan, Love your neighbor as yourself, has nothing to do with strangling the mentally ill, the hungry or the destitute. It is a Biblical allegory about an injured Jewish traveler being left for dead on the side of the road by his friends and saved by his so-called enemies. The Good Samaritan did not physically assault and lynch the injured and hungry traveler; he eased his suffering, tended his wounds and provided shelter, everything the homeless and hungry Neely was clearly in need of.



Like Kyle Rittenhouse and Ashli Babbitt, Penny is quickly becoming a victim for the far right. Last week, Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene called Penny a hero, while fellow MAGA Florida Republican Representative Matt Gaetz described Penny as the Subway Superman on his social media account.



The defense of Penny by DeSantis, Gaetz and Greene follows Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbotts pledge last month to swiftly pardon US Army Sgt. Daniel Perry. The fascist and racist soldier was found guilty in a jury trial of murdering anti-police violence protester Garrett Foster during the 2020 mass demonstrations that followed the police murder of George Floyd.



The Republicans defense of vigilante killers, especially when their violence is targeted against minorities and left-wing individuals, is a warning to the working class of the continuing transformation of the Republican Party into a fascist movement. Under conditions where the entire ruling class, and its institutions, such as the police and the court system, are being exposed as instruments of class rule, the Republicans are elevating right-wing militias and vigilantes to be used as shock troops against the working class.



DeSantis embrace of Penny is especially notable given his current stature in the Republican Party. While he is currently trailing Trump in every primary poll, there is the distinct possibility Trump will be indicted on some of the numerous crimes he has committed, and DeSantis could become the presumptive front runner for the Republican nomination.



Speaking at a campaign-style rally in Sioux Center, Iowa, on Saturday, which was attended by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Senator Joni Ernst, along with dozens of other local and state Republican politicians, DeSantis pitched himself to a roomful of Republicans as a winner unlike the loser Trump, whom he did not name.



We must reject the culture of losing that has infected our party in recent years, DeSantis declared. The time for excuses is over ... if we provide a positive alternative for the future of this country, Republicans will win across the board. DeSantis warned that if we focused the election on the past, or other sides issues, obliquely referring to Trumps defense of his failed coup, I think the Democrats will beat us again.



As part of his pitch to Iowa Republicans, DeSantis mirrored Trumps pitch in several respects. He attacked illegal aliens and transgender persons. Seeking to differentiate himself from Trump, DeSantis touted his military record, telling the audience, I volunteered to serve in Iraq.



While DeSantis touted his deployment to Iraq, he purposefully did not bring up his 2006 deployment to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba because, for the second time in the last year, a detainee of the prison camp has come forward to accuse DeSantis of overseeing the torture program at the facility.



Last November in an interview in EYES LEFT Podcast with journalist and Iraq war veteran Mike Prysner, 14-year Guantanamo detainee Mansoor Adayfi revealed that DeSantis, who was a JAG lawyer in the Navy, oversaw the force-feeding and beating of inmates to break their hunger strikes. Adayfi recalled to Prysner that DeSantis was one of the people that supervised the torture, the abuses, the beatings. All the time at Guantanamo.



Adayfi said in the November 2022 interview, Im telling Americans: This guy is a torturer. He is a criminal. He was laughing. And he was there to ensure we were treated humanely.



Last week, Prysner published another interview with a Guantanamo detainee, who was there while DeSantis was overseeing the force-feeding torture program. The detainee, who wished to be remain anonymous, told Prysner, In 2006 I was tortured by the camp administration and medical staff until I passed out, I was taken to ICU as a result of the torture. Lieutenant DeSantis was one of the officers who oversaw the force-feeding and the torture we endured in 2006. He and other officers, translators, and interrogators would come to see us during the force feeding.

He was with officers who mistreated us, tortured the prisoners who were on hunger strike, raided Camp 4 and closed it, assaulting the prisoners, beating them and shooting at them with rubber bullets, the former prisoner added.



Corroborating the testimony given by Adayfi, the anonymous detainee recalled, The worst of what I experienced while [DeSantis] was there was the torture by force-feeding and beating at the hands of the guards. He was looking at me like I was an animal. There was a lot of blood on my clothes and on the floor.


The results of yesterdays presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey became clear only this morning. According to the Supreme Election Board (YSK), incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won 49.5 percent of the vote, ahead of his rival Kemal Klcdaroglus 44.8 percent. Turnout reached 88.8 percent, the highest in decades.

Held amid NATOs escalating war against Russia in Ukraine, a few hundred kilometers north of Turkey, the elections were closely watched in NATO capitals, in Moscow and in Beijing. Expecting a Klcdaroglu victory in the first round, finance capital reacted negatively to the outcome, which most polls had forecast incorrectly. Borsa Istanbuls BIST 100 index opened nearly 7 percent down. The banking index also fell by 9.5 percent.

Erdogans Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP) came in first in the parliamentary elections with 35 percent of the vote, despite a serious setback of 7 percent. The AKP-led People Alliance retained its majority in parliament. In addition to the AKP, the People Alliance includes the fascist Nationalist Movement Party (MHP, 10 percent), the Islamist-nationalist New Welfare Party (YRP, 2.8 percent) and the Islamist-fascist Great Unity Party (BBP, 1 percent), with outside support from Huda Par, a Kurdish Islamist organization.

Erdogan remained in first place despite the growing impoverishment of the working class amid a massive cost-of-living crisis, his deadly response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the February 6 earthquake disaster that caused tens of thousands of preventable deaths.

This exposes the bankruptcy of the Nation Alliance, led by Klcdaroglus Republican Peoples Party (CHP) and its far-right ally Good Party, supported by the Kurdish nationalist Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) and the pseudo-left parties. The CHP and the Nation Alliance were fully complicit in all of Erdogans political crimes. They adopted the same essential policies in the face of mounting anger and opposition in the working class.

The CHP, together with the Islamist Felicity Party and the right-wing Future and DEVA parties, which are led by former AKP ministers but ran in the parliamentary elections on CHP lists, received 25 percent. The Good Party received 9.7 percent.

The HDP ran in the elections under the name of the Green Left Party due to the Erdogan governments reactionary threat to shut down the HDP. It fell 3 percent, to 8.8 percent.

In Turkey, where there was widespread opposition to the war in Ukraine and to NATO, Erdogan was able to exploit these sentiments against imperialism with false anti-imperialist rhetoric, even though he himself is a NATO ally. The day before the election, Erdogan said, Biden ordered that We should bring down Erdogan. Tomorrow, the polls will give an answer to Biden.

The Nation Alliance, and Klcdaroglu in particular, declared its open orientation towards Washington and NATO. It was not an alternative to Erdogan, but a right-wing rival to the AKP regime.

By opposing Erdogan from the right and running an anti-refugee campaign, Klcdaroglu also helped strengthen the third presidential candidate, Sinan Ogan, and his Victory Party, which received 2.25 percent in the parliamentary elections.

The HDP and its pseudo-left allies like the Stalinist Workers Party of Turkey (TIP) were complicit in Klcdaroglus xenophobic campaign, on which they remained silent. Nonetheless, in its first parliamentary elections as a party, the TIP won 1.73 percent of the vote (around 930,000 votes). It entered parliament with four deputies.

Ogan, a far-right, anti-refugee extremist who appears to have received votes in reaction against both Erdogan and Klcdaroglu, exceeded forecasts with 5.2 percent of the vote and gained a key position in the run-off. Muharrem Ince, who withdrew as a candidate a few days before the election following an alleged sex scandal, received 0.44 percent.

In the evening, after the ballot boxes started to open, the Nation Alliance claimed that the vote rates had been manipulated to show Erdogan ahead and that Klcdaroglu was leading according to the CHPs own data. They also said that Erdogans campaign has repeatedly objected to ballot boxes where Klcdaroglu was clearly ahead.

They are blocking the system with objection after objection. There are 783 ballot boxes with persistent objections. There are ballot boxes objected to six times, 11 times, Klcdaroglu said, before adding: What you are blocking is the will of Turkey. You cannot stop it with objections. We will never allow this to become a fait accompli.

After midnight, Erdogan addressed his supporters in front of AKP headquarters in Ankara. Although the final results are not in yet, we are in a clear lead... We have already made a difference of around 2.6 million to our closest rival in the elections, he said, adding, If our nation has made its choice in favor of a second round of the elections, we will accept this.

At CHP headquarters, Klcdaroglu said, Erdogan did not get the result he expected despite all his slander and insults. No one should aspire for a fait accompli... If our nation says a second round, we accept it. We will definitely win this election in the second round.

Early in the morning, Ogan made a statement on whom he might support in the second round of the elections. He said that one of the conditions he would demand of any candidate he supported in the second round was that He should distance himself from political parties that do not distance themselves from terrorist groups. From the beginning, I was against the HDP and Huda Par playing a key role in politics.

Ogan has previously declared that he could demand having ministries in the new government. He said, We will discuss our demands with the parties. Of course, we will not be partner for free. We will have demands like ministries.

The outcome of the Turkish presidential election is critical for NATOs war against Russia. The New York Times reported that US officials closely followed the vote: US officials and analysts believe that a change in Turkeys leadership could present a chance for the two countrieswhich share important strategic intereststo reset their relationship and potentially draw Turkey back toward the West.

The Times outlined the main reasons why Washington and European capitals preferred Klcdaroglu over Erdogan, writing: Mr. Erdogan has straddled a line between the West and Moscow and has sought to maintain a working relationship with Mr. Putin despite his invasion of Ukraine. Turkey has not participated in the economic sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and Europe over the war.

The NATO-Russia war played a central role in the Turkish elections. In interviews with the international press, Klcdaroglu pledged to be a more reliable NATO ally than Erdogan. A few days before the election, he claimed, without providing any evidence, that Russia had interfered in the Turkish elections to force Ince to withdraw as a candidate.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov categorically denied the allegation. Klcdaroglu told Reuters thatwe have evidence, but refused to release it.

Refuting Klcdaroglus unsubstantiated allegations, Peskov said Klcdaroglu could not release his evidence because he had none, adding: It is obvious that Klcdaroglus statement contradicts [founder of the Turkish Republic Kemal] Ataturks vision of friendship and close relations with Russia.

Klcdaroglus pro-NATO statements against Russia did not strengthen him against Erdogan, who has pursued a foreign policy based on maneuvering between NATO and Russia. Last year, after Russias invasion of Ukraine, polls showed that almost 80 percent of the Turkish people oppose the Ukraine war. There is deep-rooted opposition in Turkey to Washington, which has been behind many military coups in Turkey and has waged three decades of imperialist wars in the Middle East since the Stalinist dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

The campaign for the May 14 election and its outcome have vindicated the Sosyalist Esitlik Grubus perspective of opposing both pro-imperialist factions of the ruling class and fighting for the political independence of the working class. The crucial task is to build a socialist and internationalist revolutionary party within the working class to fight against war and for socialism internationally.
25 years ago: Suharto quits as Indonesian ruler

Suharto

On May 21, 1998, in a desperate bid to defuse an intense political crisis, Indonesian dictator Suharto resigned as president and installed his hand-picked successor, vice president B. J. Habibie, as his replacement. The move was made with the backing of the military high command.

Habibie, one of Suhartos closest associates for more than two decades, was immediately sworn in for the rest of Suhartos five-year termthrough 2003leaving the entire political structure intact, and the generals in command.

This maneuver was an attempt to cloak the military regime with new political legitimacy and draw in layers of the bourgeois opposition, such as Amien Rais and Megawati Sukarnoputri, to attempt to prevent a social explosion from below.

The central role of Suhartos military apparatus in this operation was quickly demonstrated when Armed Forces chief General Wiranto, on hand to endorse the leadership change, addressed the nation before Habibie. Wiranto bluntly declared that no one should be mistaken: the generals would continue to protect not only the political order but also Suharto and his family.

Wirantos statement was a thinly veiled threat to the hundreds of thousands of students, workers and professional people who had defied a massive military mobilization earlier that week to join demonstrations in major Indonesian cities demanding Suhartos immediate resignation, in spite of calls by opposition leaders to stay at home.

Students occupying the national assembly building in Jakarta reacted with jubilation at Suhartos announcement, declaring that they had freedom at last. Wider rejoicing was reported on the streets of Jakarta.

Suhartos ouster from office was orchestrated not only by the military but even more so by the international financial markets and the IMF, which effectively pulled the economic rug from beneath the regime. One of Suhartos ministers commented that market forces had forced Suharto out.

This process, expressed in the collapse of the economy and the currency since the middle of 1997, was intensified in the last hours before Suharto stood aside. Despite mass marches and rallies in many cities, Suharto had previously refused pleas by the leaders of the national assembly to quit.

The brutal military strongman who seized power in 1965-66 in one of the twentieth centurys greatest political massacresthe killing of from 500,000 to 1 million workers, political activists and peasantswas not simply an individual tyrant. His bloody regime was sustained for 32 years by the native ruling class and Western imperialism, whose profit interests Suharto enforced against the working class and rural masses. With his ouster, these same forces sought only a facelift in order to better defend their interests.

50 years ago: Brezhnev visits West Germany

Leonid Brezhnev, left, with Willy Brandt in 1981

On May 18, 1973 Leonid Brezhnev, the general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, made a diplomatic visit to Bonn, the capital of West Germany. The visit was the first time a Soviet leader had visited West Germany since the country was established following the partition of Germany by the Allied powers at the end of the Second World War.

The purpose of the visit was to meet with West Germanys Chancellor Willy Brandt to discuss new trade deals between the two countries. West Germany had been the Soviet Unions leading western trade partner and each hoped to expand the lucrative relationship.

The visit by Brezhnev was part of the detente period of the Cold War where the intense state of war readiness between the Soviet Union and the NATO-aligned countries temporarily thawed. One year earlier, in May 1972, US President Richard Nixon had traveled to Moscow to meet with Brezhnev to sign both arms limitation and trade agreements.

Earlier in the year capitalist West Germany had signed an agreement with Stalinist East Germany that opened the door to more normal political relations and eased the restrictions on travel between East and West Berlin.

Brandt mobilized a massive police force of at least 6,000 security officers to protect Brezhnev while he toured Bonn, enjoyed an eight-course meal, and then made a public address. After standing at attention for the German national anthem, in his televised speech Brezhnev told the audience,

Our talks with Chancellor Brandt confirm that there is a good outlook for the future The quarter century period of the cold war is now giving place to relations of peace, mutual respect and cooperation between the states of the East and the West.

But underlying the hopeful proclamations of peaceful co-existence between the imperialist countries and the Stalinist bureaucracy was a global financial crisis that had caused prices to skyrocket and placing immense pressures on all of the national economies, those of Germany and the USSR included.

For Brandt the opening up of relations with the Soviet Union offered an opportunity to offset this crisis somewhat by gaining access to Soviet markets, while for Brezhnev the trade deals offered access to German industrial goods and a platform to move closer to other west European countries to which he could offer to sell the labor of the Soviet working class.

75 years ago: Arab-Israeli war begins amid mass ethnic cleansing of Palestinians

Map depicting the United Nations proposal for the partition of Palestine

On May 15, 1948, war broke out between the newly proclaimed state of Israel and a coalition of neighboring Arab majority states. The conflict began immediately upon the formal end of the British colonial possession of Palestine. The previous week, Israeli independence had been declared with the support of the US and the other imperialist powers.

The war began under conditions of widespread ethnic cleansing in Palestine. Terrorist gangs, directed by the new Israeli state, went from village to village, depopulating them through fear and mass violence.

This campaign, which had already been taking place for months, was entirely in line with the Israeli declaration of independence, which explicitly based the new state on Jewish ethnicity and religion, excluding all other groups. In a particularly notorious incident, on May 20 Israeli army forces took over the Palestinian town of Al-Kabri. Its defenseless population of more than 1,500 people was cleared within the day, with many fleeing and an untold number executed.

The Arab League, composed of the main Arab states, had opposed the United Nations-backed plan for an ethnic partition of Palestine when it was unveiled in 1947. Upon the end of the British mandate, they immediately declared war.

The Arab leaders stated that their objective was to restore law and order and prevent further bloodshed amid the massacres; to help in the establishment of a unitary Palestinian state; and to intervene under conditions where the end of the British mandate meant that there was no legally-constituted authority over the territory.

The Arab states involved in the conflict included Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Yemen and Saudi Arabia. On May 15, Egyptian-led forces initiated an invasion from the south of Palestine. The conflict would continue for almost ten months, before an Israeli victory.

The outcome was bound up with the support of the US and the other imperialist powers for Israel, which they viewed as a beachhead for predatory operations throughout the region. It was also aided by conflicts among the Arab states, each of which was advancing the interests of its own capitalist class. The Stalinist bureaucracy in the Soviet Union, in another gratuitous betrayal of the working class, supported the establishment of the Zionist state.

100 years ago: Nazis attack performance of Bertolt Brecht play in Munich

Bertolt Brecht in 1954

On May 18, 1923, members of the Nazi party disrupted a performance of Bertolt Brechts In the Jungle of Cities at the Residenztheater in Munich.

Erwin Faber, one of the actors in the play, said later:

The audience threw rotten eggs and stink-bombs onto the stage, and the performance had to be stopped, the theatre aired out, and even at the premiere of the play the police had to come, where they sat in every row of the theatre, while we played on with a half-lit house. It was the same with later performances.

Brecht was a sympathizer of the German Communist Party (KPD) at the time. He had been critical of the 1919 Revolution in Germany but had participated in the Augsburg Soviet during the short-lived Bavarian Soviet Republic.

The play was about two men in a gangster-like struggle to destroy each other and did not have an overtly political message, but the Nazis even at this early stage expressed a hatred for left-wing artists and progressive culture.

Nazi activity interrupted Brechts work again in November when he arrived at a rehearsal of his play Edward II at the Munich Chamber Theater and found the actors were talking about a putsch Hitler was attempting. Brecht canceled the rehearsal and met with Jewish and communist friends to discuss what they should do in the event that the putsch was successful. The putsch was put down by the authorities and rehearsals resumed the next day.

Brecht moved to Berlin the next year, but Nazi provocation became a ritual part of the opening of his plays and operas. His books were among those burnt by the Nazis in the infamous book burnings of 1933.
KYODO NEWS - May 15, 2023 - 19:17 | All, Japan, World

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Monday that the Group of Seven leaders will show their resolve to promote a world without nuclear weapons when they meet later this week in Hiroshima.

The G-7 "will send out a strong message to realize a world free of nuclear weapons and will steadily proceed with more realistic and concrete efforts," Kishida said during an interview with Kyodo News and other media outlets at the prime minister's office.

Kishida will host the three-day summit from Friday in his home constituency of Hiroshima, which was devastated by a U.S. atomic bomb in 1945, amid growing concerns that Russia may use a nuclear weapon against Ukraine in its invasion of the country, ongoing since February last year.

The G-7 leaders are expected to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which is dedicated to documenting the world's first use of a nuclear weapon during war, and meet with atomic bomb survivors, known as hibakusha in Japan.

"Conveying the reality of the nuclear attack is important as a starting point for all nuclear disarmament efforts," Kishida said.

Kishida has said that on the opening day of the summit, he will welcome the leaders of the group's member states, comprising Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, plus the European Union, at the Peace Memorial Park, built in memory of the victims near where the nuclear bomb detonated.

The prime minister also said the G-7 will seek to send a strong message to the world that in order to protect the international order, they will not accept "unilateral attempts by China and Russia to change the status quo by force," in the face of Moscow's war in Ukraine and Beijing's military assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.

The G-7 leaders will also discuss issues ranging from energy, food security to climate change. To deal with those problems, Kishida said, the group needs to fully cooperate with the entire world, including the "Global South," a term collectively referring to emerging and developing countries in areas such as Asia and Africa.

Beside the G-7 members, Australia, Brazil, Comoros, Cook Islands, India, Indonesia, South Korea and Vietnam have been invited to the gathering as guests.

In the field of technology, Kishida said Japan intends to take a leading role in debates over how to use artificial intelligence in a responsible manner.

He said he will launch the "Hiroshima AI Process," which includes the creation of international rules, as governments have been pushing to harness rapidly developing technologies such as AI bot ChatGPT while mitigating risks to privacy and addressing other concerns.

Amid speculation Kishida may dissolve the House of Representatives for a snap election after the summit, Kishida denied the possibility to do so "for now," and said "I will decide appropriately based on the future situation."
On May 12, New Zealand police announced that they have taken more images of possible human remains inside the Pike River coal mine as part of their investigation into the causes of the November 2010 disaster in which 29 workers were killed in a series of underground explosions.

Detective Superintendent Darryl Sweeney said pathologists could not say definitively that the images show bodies, but there was clothing and equipment that indicated miners were there. Pathologists are rightly conservative because they cant get into the mine to access that particular area, he said.

Police have taken several images with cameras lowered down boreholes drilled into the mine since late 2021, when the Labour Party-led government decided not to allow a manned re-entry of the mine workings. The mine was permanently sealed, preventing investigators from accessing the areas where the 29 bodies are located along with the main underground fan, which may have sparked the first explosion.

The government rejected a petition by the majority of the victims families against the sealing of the mine. The families were backed by thousands of ordinary people and by international mining experts, who published a plan demonstrating how the mine workings could be safely entered to conduct a forensic investigation.

Successive governments have ensured that no one has been held accountable for the disaster, despite a 2012 royal commission of inquiry finding that Pike River Coals board and senior management had prioritised production and profit over workers health and safety. The mine was a gas bomb waiting to go off. It had no adequate emergency exit, grossly ineffective ventilation and methane gas monitoring, and other faulty equipment, but the operation had been allowed to continue by the states regulators and by the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU, now called E tu).

The Labour Party formed a coalition government in late 2017 promising to re-enter the mine and gather forensic evidence to prosecute those responsible for turning it into a death trap. Nearly six years later, however, no charges have been laid.

The police investigation is now being dragged out beyond this years October 14 election. Sweeney declared that police work at the mine site would be finished by the end of May, but well continue with the investigation for the rest of this year. Asked whether he expected to make any arrests, Sweeney said he could not say.

Sweeney did not explain why police had only begun the borehole drilling operation after the mine had been sealed, preventing any possibility of a forensic examination of vital evidence. Nor did he explain why the drilling has taken almost two years or why a further six months are needed to review the evidence and finish the investigation.

In March 2022, Detective Superintendent Peter Read announced that borehole drilling had been completed and police would make a decision about prosecutions in a matter of months, rather than years. In September, after nearly six months of silence, Read unexpectedly declared that more boreholes were needed to get more information from the mine. He has since stepped aside from the Pike River investigation, after leading it for more than a decade.

There is a political explanation for the endless delays. The last thing Labour and its allies, including the union bureaucracy, want is for Pike River to again become an election issue.

If the police conclude their investigation and declare, as they did in 2013, that there is not enough physical evidence to lay criminal charges against anyone, this would immediately raise uncomfortable questions for the government.

These include: why did Pike River Re-entry Minister Andrew Little reject expert advice that the mine workings could be safely entered to gather evidence? Why did the Labour government fail to keep its promise to do everything possible to retrieve the bodies? Why did the government steamroll the objections of the majority of the families to sealing the mine? What is the government trying to bury in Pike River mine and who is it protecting?

Questions would also be raised about why Minister Little was put in charge of the re-entry in the first place, given his clear conflict of interest. Little was the leader of the EPMU in 2010; the union knew about unsafe conditions in the mine but remained silent, allowing Pike River to continue operating. Following the first explosion, Little defended the company, saying there was nothing wrong with its operations and it had a good health and safety committee.

Bernie Monk, whose son Michael died in Pike River, told the World Socialist Web Site that he has written to Little and Labour MP Damien OConnor saying: We seem to be getting lip service now and then only to make us feel happy You used us in one election [in 2017] to get in, and now youve dropped us.

He accused both major parties, Labour and National, of hampering the investigation and said the further delay was politically motivated. Dont forget, theyve had 13 years, he said, adding that police had lost evidence during that time.

Monk believed the borehole operation was an attempt to prove the police theory that the men all died in the first explosion on November 19, 2010. The 2012 royal commission saw images taken underground in 2011, including a box of self-rescue devices that had been opened, suggesting there may have been survivors, who died after a second explosion five days later.

The cause of the second explosion, however, was not investigated by the commission. Electrical engineer Richard Healey has suggested it may have been sparked by a conveyor belt into the mine being switched on by police as part of a botched rescue attempt. Police admit that they discussed potentially making such an attempt, but say they decided against it and did not turn on the conveyor.

Meanwhile, Monk and Dean Dunbar, whose son Joseph died in the disaster, are still waiting to see legal correspondence and court records relating to Worksafes decision in 2013 to drop charges against Pike River chief executive Peter Whittall for breaches of health and safety laws. In 2017 the Supreme Court ruled that the back-room deal between the state and the mine boss was unlawful, but the charges were not reinstated and no one has been held accountable for this miscarriage of justice. The Wellington High Court ruled in March this year that the families would be allowed to access privileged material relating to the decision.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas made appearances on TV news programs on Sunday to tout the effectiveness of the Biden administrations attacks on migrant asylum seekers in the two days since the Title 42 expulsion rules were lifted at midnight on Thursday.

Responding to a question by ABC News This Week anchor Jonathan Karl on the fact that the predicted surge of migrants at the southern border hasnt quite happened yet, Mayorkas replied that the US Border Patrol has seen a fifty-percent drop in the number of people encountered since the days before Title 42 ended.

When asked why this was the case, Mayorkas praised the Biden administration, which he said has been preparing for this transition for months and months and we have been executing on our plan accordingly.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies before the House Judiciary Committee, on Capitol Hill, Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Washington. [AP Photo/Evan Vucci]

The Title 42 public health rules were first implemented by the Trump administration in March 2020 after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic as a means of expelling migrants without an asylum hearing, in violation of international law and their fundamental democratic rights.

DHS Director Mayorkas went on to state that those currently seeking asylum in the US at the southern border had a safe, lawful and orderly way to reach the United States through lawful pathways that we have expanded, as opposed to what he called a dangerous way to arrive at our southern border in the hands of ruthless smugglers.

Having falsely portrayed the Biden administrations border policy as a campaign against human trafficking, Mayorkas quickly moved on, saying, [W]eve already removed thousands of people who have arrived at our southern border by enforcing our traditional immigration enforcement authorities under Title 8 of the United States code.

He added that the Biden administration had also issued a rule that if one arrives at the southern border without either accessing the lawful pathways or seeking relief in one of the countries through which they have traveled, they will be met with a five-year ban and potential criminal prosecution.

When ABCs Karl pointed out that Bidens new policy is essentially an asylum ban and very similar to that of the Trump White House, Mayorkas objected and claimed the Democrats had a humanitarian obligation as well as a matter of security to cut the ruthless smugglers out.

When pressed further on the issue, Mayorkas exposed the purpose of all references to smugglers as a cover for the administrations anti-immigrant policy by saying, We have an obligation to deliver consequences at our border...

Developments in the immediate aftermath of the expiration of Title 42 show the Biden administrations policies to be part of the overall right-wing and anti-immigrant posture of the entire US political establishment.

Late Thursday, a federal judge in Pensacola, Florida, sided with the arguments of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis that the Biden administrations border policy would lead to large numbers of migrants being released into the United States.

US District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, a Trump appointee who supports the construction of a border wall between the US and Mexico, ruled that the Biden administration cannot use parole at the border to process migrants, allowing them into the US with instructions to report to immigration officials within two months. The DHS had issued an order allowing a fraction of migrants seeking asylum to be let into the US without a specific court date in order to alleviate overcrowding at border control facilities.

As a result of the judges ruling, the number of people in custody could rapidly rise to 45,000, according to Customs and Border Protection officials. This is far beyond the capacity of border holding facilities.

On Saturday morning, reports began surfacing on social media that far-right militiamen and vigilante groups were active along the Arizona-Mexico border and were confronting migrants. Avery Schmitz, a student activist who researches violent extremism and a legislative intern for Senator Kyrsten Sinema, wrote on Twitter that a group of armed men with ties to far-right militias in Arizona threatened migrants along the US-Mexico border near the Sasabe Port of Entry.

Schmitz wrote, Dressed in camouflage, the men corralled migrants and collected biographical information from multiple groups that had just crossed the border from Mexico.

He added, The group coordinated with border militia Veterans on Patrol, and included at least one member of the Proud Boys AZ Highlands chapter. Among them, alt-right internet personality Ethan Schmidt, who gained notoriety for threatening to hunt gay people.

Meanwhile, immigrant rights advocates have filed a lawsuit attacking the Biden administration for implementing a new asylum ban that largely mimics Trump era policies.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a suit in federal court in Northern California on Thursday seeking to halt the new policies. Along with the UC Hastings Center for Gender and Refugee Studies and the National Immigrant Justice Center, the ACLU argues that the new rules are unlawful.

The filing states, After campaigning on a promise to restore our asylum system, the Biden Administration has instead doubled down on its predecessors cruel asylum restrictions. It states further: The agencies claim the Rule merely provides consequences for asylum seekers circumventing lawful pathways. But seeking asylum is a lawful pathway protected by our laws regardless of how one enters the country.

The lawsuit says that the Biden administrations new rule operates just as the Trump administrations prior asylum bans did: Asylum seekers subject to the Ruleall non-Mexicansare categorically barred unless they satisfy one of the enumerated and limited conditions or exceptions.

In his appearance on ABC News This Week program, Mayorkas also made the thoroughly cynical claim that the Biden administration was seeking to address the root causes of why people flee their homes in the first instance. The role of US imperialism in Latin America, especially the region referred to as the Northern Triangle, including Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, has been to employ violence and subversion to suppress popular opposition to poverty, corruption and authoritarian rule.

Young minors lie inside a pod at the Donna Department of Homeland Security holding facility, the main detention center for unaccompanied children in the Rio Grande Valley run by the CBP, in Donna, Texas, March 30, 2021 [Credit: AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills, Pool]

The brutal reality that faces migrants attempting to enter the US has been exposed by the deaths of children in the custody of federal Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies. On Friday, the death of 17-year-old Angel Eduardo Maradiago Espinoza at a detention facility in Safety Harbor, Florida, near Tampa, was confirmed.

On Saturday, the teenagers mother, Norma Sarai Espinoza Maradiaga, told the Associated Press that her son had epilepsy, but his seizures were brief and not serious. He had epilepsy, but it wasnt an illness that threatened him, because he had had it since he was eight, she said. The longest a seizure would last was less than a minute. It seemed like it only hit him a little.

She added, No one tells me anything. The anguish is killing me. They say they are awaiting the autopsy results and dont give me any other answer.

US government data shows that as of May 10, 8,681 unaccompanied children were in the care of HHS, and that unaccompanied children spend an average of 29 days in the custody of its Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). In fiscal 2022, 72 percent of minors referred to the ORR were above the age of 14, and about 64 percent were boys.

Some 29 percent of children in ORR custody came from Honduras, like Espinoza. Nearly half came from Guatemala and about 13 percent from El Salvador.

CBS News reported it had learned that a 4-year-old child from Honduras in HHS custody died in March after being hospitalized for cardiac arrest in Michigan. The report also said, The child, whose death has not been previously reported, was medically fragile, HHS said in a notification to lawmakers at the time.
If youre a UPS worker, we want to hear from you! Tell us what you are demanding in the upcoming contract, and what you think about the contract talks so far. All submissions will be kept anonymous.

A UPS driver removing a package to deliver in August, 2020 [Photo: US Department of Agriculture]

With a July 31 strike deadline looming at UPS, 340,000 workers across the United States are determined to win back concessions bargained away over generations by the pro-corporate bureaucracy of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

The new union administration of Sean OBrien, backed by the reform caucus Teamsters for a Democratic Union, portrays itself as a break with the unions past of corruption, and has repeatedly pledged to strike UPS on August 1 if no deal is in place by the end of the previous day, when the current contract expires. But in reality, this militant rhetoric is designed to conceal the fact that the bureaucracy is working overtime to get a deal in place before then, averting a strike. Last week, the unions negotiators violated their own pledge to not begin talks on the national contract until dozens of regional supplemental deals had been completed.

This is a sign that the bureaucracy is under extreme pressure to get a deal done, including from the White House, which worked with Congress to ban a strike by US railroaders. At the same time, the Teamsters bureaucracy is also isolating and selling out strikes by Coca-Cola and Sysco workers, while forbidding members from participating in the pickets of striking television and movie writers.

The World Socialist Web Site recently spoke with a current UPS warehouse worker and a retired UPS driver about the upcoming contract, working conditions at the logistics giant and their opinion of the Teamsters bureaucracy.

UPS destroys human beings, the retired driver, who lives in the Washington D.C. area, said. We are constantly harassed and asked to do work that is beyond the capacity of human beings to accomplish.

The company often coerces workers to do free labor. Workers are pressured to come in hours before a shift in order to set up their vehicles for the day. Go to a UPS facility any day, about 2 hours before shifts start. Youll see people that the company got to come in early and work off the clock.

The retired worker explained that doing this allows workers to get a head start on their deliveries, and also adds pressure on others who insist on only working while on the clock.

He stated too many people have died working for the company. This is due to having to work in unventilated areas with carbon monoxide buildup, as well as other abuses. He cited one worker who had a mental illness stemming from his experience in the military. He was harassed by his supervisor like we all are, he explained. He committed suicide. He had worked at the company for 5 years.

More than once Ive had to get physical at my job, he explained, referring to having to physically defend himself when managers became abusive.

The [current] contract negotiations will end the way they always do, he said. The drivers may get more money, but none of the conditions will be addressed.

He explained that UPS will never allow air conditioning to be installed in the trucks, despite well-documented cases of workers collapsing and dying from heat exhaustion. He cited a company policy which demanded that the trucks be turned off when not in motion.

The company leans on you, he said. While 14 sick days are provided at UPS, he had to beg and plead for them whenever he wanted to claim one. If a manager doesnt like you, he wont put in for it [when you claim it], meaning a worker will be denied pay for taking a sick day off.

Ive seen managers fire an entire car wash crew10 or 11 guysjust because they didnt have any work that day. He stated that being put in the street, where a worker is fired by managers and has to appeal to the union to be reinstated, is a frequent occurrence that causes workers to miss pay periods.

The union knows about this, but I dont think it cares, he said. He explained that UPS will show favoritism to Teamster shop stewards in order to get them to act in the companys favor. They usually can get off any time they want. Ive even seen union guys going off to exercise with management, he said.

A pre-loader working in a Los Angeles-area hub said, From what I have heard most of the supplemental contracts are already concluded. They dont want to be transparent on the national contract. Of course, the Teamsters are doing everything behind closed doors. There is no help coming from them. They are coming up with all of these excuses.

That is a part of the whole manipulation that the Teamsters do. They give us sorry updates on the contract, you know they say stuff that will tickle the [rear] a little bit but not bring you to a conclusion.

Speaking on the current contract, he said, Every day, management constantly breaks the contract without consequences. As the expiration of the current contract draws near, The working environment within the facility is absolutely getting worse.

They have started limiting hours. They are doing these rotations where they send people home on one of their scheduled days every week. For me, I dont really care, they can keep the $40, I am here for the medical and dental insurance.

But for many it is a big deal and a huge stress. Not only are management pushing this job security fear, but by forcing everyone home one day a week, they are taking away our ability to earn a bonus for working five consecutive scheduled shifts in one week.

We used to get a $98 bonus, but then the Teamsters reduced that to $63. Not much, but still something. But now they have dropped it to like $40. So basically, with these new rotations, they are saving $40 on every worker, not much to the corporation, but for many young workers, that is significant.

On top of the reducing hours, Management keeps on playing games, he said. Instead of taking away the Saturday I am normally scheduled, which I requested in advance so I can be with my kids, they are making me stay later on Saturday.

It is ridiculous how much these corporations are getting away with. I am fucking sick of it; they have these schemes and scams. Every God damn day.

We dont have a choice. As workers, our power is in our unity. The unity of the working class, the building of a UPS Rank-and-File Committee, needs to start now. We need to begin getting a footprint across all of the UPS hubs.
KYODO NEWS - May 15, 2023 - 20:09 | All, Japan, World

A 44-year-old woman was arrested on Monday after she approached the U.S. consulate general in Okinawa and allegedly said a metal pipe she held contained gunpowder, prompting the police to temporarily restrict traffic in the area.

The police said they arrested Akino Miyagi, a resident of Higashi village in the southern island prefecture, for obstructing official duties by threatening a police officer on guard in front of the consulate saying she would throw the metal pipe. She denies the allegation.

No one was injured in the incident in Urasoe, a city neighboring the capital Naha.

Miyagi has been involved in protests urging the removal of waste left by the U.S. military when it returned part of its Northern Training Area facility to Japan.

In a statement, the consulate thanked the local police for their swift response.

The incident took place as the prefecture marked 51 years since its reversion to Japan from U.S. rule as residents' frustrations continue over hosting the bulk of U.S. military bases in the country.
KYODO NEWS - May 15, 2023 - 17:08 | All, Japan, World, G7

Japan's top government spokesperson on Monday avoided commenting on a video by 15 diplomatic missions from mostly Western nations urging Tokyo to take concrete action toward protecting LGBT rights ahead of the Group of Seven summit starting later this week in Hiroshima.

While acknowledging he was aware of the video, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said he would "refrain from commenting" on the message from diplomats of the United States, Europe and Australia, among others, during a session of the lower house's audit committee.

But Matsuno said, "I believe there should be no unfair discrimination or prejudice based on sexual orientation or gender identity," and suggested he would closely follow lawmakers' move to introduce legislation for promoting understanding of the LGBT community ahead of the three-day G-7 summit that opens Friday.

Matsuno, a member of the conservative ruling Liberal Democratic Party, had been asked about his opinion of the video released Friday, by lawmaker Michiyoshi Yunoki of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.

While the LDP plans to submit to parliament a bill promoting understanding of the LGBT community before the G-7 summit, it has altered expressions used in the original bill that the party had once agreed to with the opposition in 2021. It now states "unfair discrimination is unacceptable" instead of "discrimination is unacceptable."

Yunoki slammed the revised bill as "regressive," saying that even if the legislation were passed, Japan would not win praise as this year's chair of the G-7 summit.

Related coverage:

15 diplomatic missions call on Japan to protect LGBT rights in video

G-7 summit statement to show resolve to protect LGBT rights: sources
KYODO NEWS - May 15, 2023 - 14:44 | All, World, Japan

U.S. President Joe Biden will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday in Hiroshima ahead of the Group of Seven summit, the White House said, ending speculation that he may miss attending the meeting in person due to a looming government default at home.

Biden will depart Washington on Wednesday and arrive in the western Japanese city the following day, making it his second visit to Japan since taking office in 2021. The G-7 summit will take place from Friday to Sunday.

Combined photo shows U.S. President Joe Biden (R) and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. (Kyodo)

Biden and Kishida, who last held a meeting in January in Washington, are expected to affirm the strength of their nations' security alliance while discussing their response to China's growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region and Russia's war in Ukraine.

"I am determined to make utmost efforts to lead the Hiroshima summit to success as one that goes down in history," Kishida said Monday in Tokyo at a meeting of the government and ruling coalition.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said, "By closely working together with the United States, we will strongly demonstrate to the world the strong will of the G-7 to protect the rules-based international order."

Kishida and Biden are also expected to hold a trilateral meeting involving South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is invited to the summit as a guest, on the sidelines of the summit to discuss North Korea's missile development and other security challenges in the region, the top government spokesman said.

Biden's trip to Hiroshima will also make him the second sitting U.S. president to visit the city that was devastated by a U.S. atomic bomb in the final days of World War II.

Biden last week did not rule out joining the G-7 summit online amid the debt ceiling deadlock. He has been struggling to reach a deal with top congressional leaders to head off an unprecedented government default that could occur as soon as June 1.

Following the G-7 gathering, Kishida and Biden will travel to Australia to attend a summit of the Quad group on May 24, which also involves India.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been invited to the G-7 summit in Hiroshima as guests.
The 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way couple's happy day didn't pass without major drama, including plenty of tears and the potential end of Gabe's close bond with his sister

TLC

It's official: 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way's Gabriel Paboga and Isabel Posada are married!

The couple are still happy spouses after tying the knot while filming the TLC series. In early moments of Sunday night's tell-all, they shared their love  albeit from a distance because Isabel was stuck in Colombia while Gabe joined his other American castmates in New York City for the filming.

Though they've been living happily ever after off screen since their wedding, the big day itself wasn't as smooth as it could have been. For starters, Gabe's sister Monica refused to attend the nuptials after a blowout argument, reducing Gabe to tears on the morning he was set to say "I do."

Related:90 Day: Gabe Sobs as His Wedding Day Turns Chaotic Thanks to a No-Show Sister and 'Very Angry' Bride Isabel

TLC

Despite missing Monica, Gabe showed up for his wedding. Though Isabel  who didn't know about the Monica mess  was initially "angry" Gabe was running late, she was overjoyed when she heard her husband-to-be had arrived.

The day carried on with the rest of their families  Gabe's mom from America and Isabel's Colombian parents  by their side. Family and friends danced the night away, and Isabel's kids Miguel and Sara literally jumped for joy as they welcomed their new stepfather into the family.

"My parents are here, your parents are here, it's like, Wow, they accept our union," Gabe told cameras. "So, it was nice. It was really nice."

Related:90 Day's Gabe Proposes to Isabel  and She Says Yes!  After Getting Her 'Very Happy' Father's Blessing

TLC

Gabe and Isabel exchanged tearful vows and slipped rings on each other's fingers. The wedding was sealed with a kiss as they stepped into their new lives together.

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"When I first started my transition, I thought no one would accept me to be with forever," Gabe said. "But it all paid off. I found the woman that wants to marry me, and I'm happy. Who would have thought?"

He concluded, "It feels good to finally find someone who accepts me, and I wouldn't have chosen anyone else to be with other than Isabel."

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.

90 Day Fiance: The Other Way airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on TLC.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
One person who has no mixed feelings about Oussama is Debbie's son Julien, who tells his almost-stepfather to "quit preying on elderly women"

TLC

90 Day Fiance: The Other Way stars Debbie and Oussama are certainly not getting back together  that much was clear on Sunday's tell-all.

Last viewers saw, Debbie fled Morocco with a dozen suitcases to get as far away as possible from her 43-years-younger ex. Weeks before the couple's abrupt split, Debbie thought she was moving to Morocco for good  but Oussama made it increasingly clear he viewed the relationship as his pathway to getting a U.S. visa.

Debbie was still heartbroken and confused on Sunday's reunion, but she stood her ground. And despite Oussama's repeated attempts to contact her, Debbie had still not given in to the man who admitted he no longer loved her.

Related:90 Day's Oussama Says 'I Don't Love' Debbie and 'There Is No More Future' After Green Card Reveal

TLC

As with all 90 Day reunions, the tell-all offering the couple's castmates the chance to finally weigh in with their own opinions.

Gabriel Paboga was the first to question Debbie and Oussama's relationship backstage  but it was Nicole Sherbiny who was most forthright about the American-Moroccan exes' complicated love story.

"I'm sure that he love-bombed the s--- out of her before she ever went to Morocco," Nicole began. "Then all of a sudden he changes everything? But I've had that happen  believe me. She thought he accepted her, who she is, and then she gets there and he changed everything."

Gabe had a completely different opinion. "I'm a fan of Oussama," he said. "I think he loves her so much, and I feel like Debbie loves him. I don't think he's using her for a Visa at all because why did he say that he wants her to go back and marry the next time she comes? I feel like he's genuine."

Related:90 Day: Debbie Snaps Out of Love with Oussama and Vows It Will Take 'an Act of God' to 'Win Me Back'

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Later, on the tell-all stage, Gabe questioned if it was possible Debbie was actually using Oussama for a green card to Morocco. "She could be using him to live in Morocco, but nobody acknowledges that," he said. "But I think Oussama, he messed up. She could have gave you the life that you think you could have had in the United States."

TLC

The segment featuring Debbie and Oussama concluded with a confrontation between Oussama and Debbie's overprotective, police officer son, Julien.

"I'm a cop. I can sniff out bulls--- miles away," Julien said to Oussama  who was attending virtually. "You're the biggest bulls---ter I've ever seen in my entire life. You're lucky my mom even gave you a second of her life. Go to the dentist and get yourself fixed up."

Julien later added, "Trying to use people, coming over here for green cards. Quit preying on elderly women that look like they're vulnerable. Get a job!"

After a quick "OK, dog," Oussama confirmed he wouldn't be looking for a job because his true passion. "I will die for my dream," he vowed.

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.

90 Day Fiance: The Other Way airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on TLC.

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Read the original article on People.
WORCESTER  CVS Pharmacy Inc. will pay $6.15 million to settle allegations that it overcharged for some prescriptions tied to workers' compensation insurance in four Massachusetts cities including Worcester.

The settlement was announced Monday by the office of state Attorney General Andrea Campbell.

Alleged overcharges also occurred in Boston, Springfield and New Bedford.

The states workers compensation system operates at its best when it is functional, transparent and affordable, said Campbell in a news release. Ensuring that pharmacies follow procedures and do not drive up costs in our workers compensation system is an important priority for my office, and we will continue to advocate to keep this critical system available and accessible on behalf of workers and employers.

CVS said in a prepared statement that the settlement is not an admission of guilt.

"We are pleased to resolve this matter with the Massachusetts Attorney Generals Office. The agreement is not an admission of liability or wrongdoing and we remain committed to complying with all laws and regulations applicable to our business."

Filed Monday in Suffolk Superior Court, the assurance of discontinuance alleges that in some circumstances CVS failed to follow Massachusetts law and regulations that help keep costs low in the state workers' compensation insurance system.

Under state regulations, various benchmarks must be reviewed when making pricing determinations for certain workers compensation insurance prescription drug charges.

The state workers' compensation system sets limits for the cost of prescriptions for injured workers and requires companies to validate prices against certain regulatory benchmarks before processing their charges.

Under the terms of the settlement, CVS will work with Campbell's office to seek improvements to the Massachusetts workers' compensation billing system and establish procedures to prevent overcharges.

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CVS drove home that point in its statement.

"We agree ... that it would be beneficial for the Division of Industrial Accidents to publish clear rules applicable to all stakeholders and participants in Massachusetts workers compensation program, and look forward to discussing ways to facilitate compliance and improve existing standards for recommendation to the DIA."

The settlement is part of Campbell's review of prescription pricing procedures in the workers compensation system. Campbell's office previously resolved matters concerning Express Scripts, Optum Rx, Walgreens, Stop & Shop and United Pharmacy. More than $20 million has been recovered relating to workers' compensation drug pricing procedure violations, the news release said.

Contact Henry Schwan at henry.schwan@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @henrytelegram

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: CVS agrees to $6 million fine in Mass. workers' comp overcharge case
Dave Chappelle took aim at San Francisco during a surprise show on Thursday.

"What the (expletive) happened to this place?" Chappelle asked the crowd at the city's Masonic auditorium while discussing the homeless population, according to a review by SFGATE.

The comedian and Ohio resident told a story, alleging that someone defecated in front of a restaurant as he entered the establishment.

Chappelle called San Francisco "half 'Glee,' half zombie movie," and told the audience that the city "needs a Batman."

SFGATE noted that Chappelle stayed away from addressing his controversial past comments surrounding transgender topics. The comedian has faced continued backlash for his 2021 Netflix special "The Closer," due to his remarks about the LGBTQ+ community, in particular his focus on the transgender community.

Chappelle's standup special "The Closer" led to a walkout from Netflix employees in protest when co-CEO Ted Sarandos doubled down on his defense of it despite accusations of transphobia.

Dave Chappelle tackled San Francisco's homeless population during a surprise show in the city.

Related: Is California at a turning point over crime, homelessness?

San Francisco's housing crisis response rose to the courts in 2022

San Francisco's housing crisis and response from the city became the topic of a lawsuit last year.

A federal judge temporarily banned San Francisco from clearing homeless encampments, saying the city violated its own policies by failing to offer other shelter.

Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu in U.S. District Court in Oakland granted an emergency order on Dec. 23 that bars the city from taking away tents and confiscating the belongings of encampment dwellers, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

The move came in a lawsuit filed on behalf of homeless plaintiffs that sought to stop San Francisco from dismantling homeless encampments until it has thousands of additional shelter beds.

Ryu cited evidence presented by the plaintiffs that the city regularly and illegally failed to offer shelter to inhabitants before clearing the encampments and improperly seized or threw out their belongings, including cellphones, medication, identification and even prosthetic limbs.

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San Francisco's homeless population (combining sheltered and unsheltered people) has actually decreased from 8,035 people in 2019 to 7,754 people in 2022, according to a report from the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing.

'Good luck Florida': Scott Baio divides the internet with departure from California

Scott Baio moved out of California, citing the homeless population

Chappelle's comments on Thursday echo the frustration felt by others in Hollywood over the issue that is impacting all of California.

Scott Baio moved out of California, citing the homeless population.

Scott Baio, a longtime California resident, announced on Twitter on May 3 that he was moving out of California due to what he described as the states homelessness issue. Baio confirmed his family's move to Florida to Fox News' Jesse Watters on May 9.

After 45 years, Im making my way to finally exit stage right from California, the Happy Days and Charles in Charge star wrote on May 3, citing statistics from a 2022 report by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. The most recent surveyfound approximately 69,000 people experiencing homelessness in L.A. County and 41,000 in the city in 2022.

Baios move divided social media, as fans chimed in with words of support and critics skewer the actors departure from California.

Dave Chappelle show swaps locations after original venue hit with backlash: 'We hear you'

Contributing: Edward Segarra, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dave Chappelle: San Francisco 'needs a Batman,' he says at show
MUNCIE, Ind.  A Grant County man believed to have fatally shot a Delaware County woman outside her home Friday evening has died of what authorities believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Brook K. Linton, 47  listed in court documents at a rural Marion address  died Saturday at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, according to Jeff Stanley, chief deputy of the Delaware County Sheriff's Department.

Investigators believe Linton shot and killed Angela K. Clymer, 47, outside her home in the 14400 block of West Corner Road, in Salem Township south of Daleville, before shooting himself.

Linton also allegedly shot a man he found sitting with Clymer on her porch early Friday evening.

That victim survived, however, and after being wounded drove into Daleville and reported the shootings about 7:40 p.m. The surviving victim was transported by ambulance to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital and later transferred to a medical facility in Indianapolis for treatment of what Stanley called non-life-threatening injuries.

More: Delaware County woman fatally shot, two men wounded near Daleville

Based on information provided by that man, emergency responders found Clymer, who was dead, and Linton, at that point mortally wounded, outside her home along Corner Road. Linton was taken to the Muncie hospital.

Several minutes before Friday's shootings, Stanley said, Linton was trying to locate Clymer in nearby Chesterfield, in eastern Madison County.

The investigation is continuing, the chief deputy said, and reports will be turned over to Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman.

In January 2020, Linton was convicted of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon and resisting law enforcement, both misdemeanors, in Delaware Circuit Court 2. The charges had been filed in June 2018,

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Deputies: Suspect in Friday shootings dies of self-inflicted wound
Gov. Ron DeSantis is pitching himself as a winner as he gears up to run for president and urging the GOP to reject a "culture of losing," but when asked Monday if he acknowledges Trump lost the 2020 election and there wasn't widespread voter fraud, DeSantis dodged the question.

"When I look at the last however many election cycles, 2018 we lost the House ... we lost the Senate in 2020, Biden becomes president, and has done a huge amount of damage," DeSantis said, adding that Biden was "very unpopular in 2022 and we were supposed to have this big red wave and other than like Florida and Iowa I didn't see a red wave across the country.

"And so I think the party has developed a culture of losing, I think there's not accountability."

Gov. Ron DeSantis laughing after throwing one of his pens, as he coined it, into the peanut gallery, that he used to sign one of three bills into legislation on Monday May 15, 2023, at New College of Florida. One of the main bills, banning state funding for diversity, equity and inclusion programs at Florida's public universities, which the governor has transformed into a conservative higher education experiment.

Trump jury verdict: DeSantis avoids commenting on Trump's 'controversies' after jury verdict on sexual abuse

Diversity, equity, inclusion programs: DeSantis signs bill banning funding for college DEI programs

DeSantis' careful framing of the events surrounding the 2020 election shows how the issue is a delicate one for him with GOP voters heading into the 2024 campaign.

Whether DeSantis can make the case that the GOP needs a winner without explicitly calling Trump a loser and acknowledging the election wasn't stolen is an open question.

DeSantis has danced around the stolen election question for years, possibly because many GOP voters firmly believe Trump's unfounded fraud claims and view him as the rightful 2020 election winner, which could complicate DeSantis' message about GOP losses.

Trump's campaign responded to DeSantis' comments by saying he "continues to dodge this critical issue."

"If Ron DeSantis wants to run for president, he is not going to be able to cower when it comes to addressing the rigged 2020 election. Republican voters want a nominee that recognizes the systematic failures that plagued the 2020 elections," said Make America Great Again Inc. spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.

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Gov. Ron DeSantis signs three bills into legislation on Monday May 15, 2023, at New College of Florida. One of the main bills, banning state funding for diversity, equity and inclusion programs at Florida's public universities, which the governor has transformed into a conservative higher education experiment.

During a visit to Sioux Center, Iowa, over the weekend DeSantis told a crowd that "there's no substitute for victory. We must reject the culture of losing that's infected our party in recent years. The time for excuses is over. We've got to demonstrate the courage to lead and the strength to win."

The implication is that Trump is a loser and the GOP needs someone like DeSantis who won re-election last year by 19 percentage points.

DeSantis didn't mention Trump Monday, though, when asked about his "culture of losing" message.

"I think in Florida we really showed what it takes to not just win, win big and then deliver big," DeSantis said.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Gov. DeSantis doesn't want to talk about Trump stolen election claim
Today is one of the most sacred and honored days everywhere that people celebrate and honor special days.

It is Mothers Day! This is a day that even those who have behaved in the worst way seek to get to their mothers in some way. Mothers look to hear from their children even if that child is far from the dream that they had for him growing up.

Children want their mothers to have honor even if that mother has not been all that she could have been.

Elaine Harris Spearman

As the regional attorney for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (which covered the southern half of the state), I would witness children in foster care standing in the huge glass windows watching the parking lot for their visit with their mothers.

I saw and heard the tears when she didnt show up as they were taken back to their foster homes.

Many women have not borne children, but have been just like a mother in so many of lifes instances. This honor includes foster and adoptive mothers. We hear it takes a village all the time. The women in that village should be included this Mother's Day. So many women have been there for many, providing wisdom and courage to those without a mothers love.

The Bible is replete with beautiful stories of mothers. It also teaches us that pastors, teachers and church leaders will play a role in the spiritual development of children. But parents have the primary responsibility of passing down spiritual truths to their children.

What about those children who are without that guidance that is the responsibility of a decent parent? Should they be cast aside only to grow up to provide no discernible aid and comfort or caring or kindness, or betterment to society?

Those who have stepped in to fill that gap are worthy of the honor bestowed to mothers on Mothers Day. Those spiritual mothers are essential in the shaping of a whole person who can somehow, hopefully, live without hatred and bitterness.

Mothers Day is every day, but this one day is for all of us to realize just how important it is to have a mother. Their teachings are central to our very being.

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I will say that it is equally important for mothers to look in the mirror if your children are not reaching out to you, and ask yourself why. If your children exhibit everything that is disparaging and discouraging to your soul, ask yourself why.

Ask yourself if you accept extremely bad behavior from your offspring and blame it on others. Do you look at what your children do and dont do, but yet cast stones at others without coming to grips with just who your child really is?

On this day, we pray that mothers will continue to try to influence their children, even if theyre adults, that it is better to do good than to be negative, bitter, angry and a pox upon the community.

It is disparaging that women in America are having to grapple with state legislatures crafting legislation to give their definition of woman. This is worse than it sounds because state legislatures are comprised primarily of males. Most of those males are white, older and come from conservative, partisan and deeply divided areas.

Where will they research to come up with their legally accepted definitions?

Will they use their Bibles where there are so many descriptions of women?

Across the scriptures, there are character profiles in the named women. From the Holman Christian Study Bible for Women, page 796: A woman whose personality and actions are notably gracious routinely models Gods loving kindness in her tender care for others in His name.

Elaine Harris Spearman, Esq., a Gadsden native, is an attorney and is the retired legal advisor to the comptroller of the City of St. Louis. The views reflected are her own.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Elaine Harris Spearman on Mother's Day 2023
(Photo Credit: Universal Pictures)

The final Fast X trailer for the latest entry in the popular Fast & Furious franchise has been released. It gives fans their last look at the film before it is released in theaters on May 19, 2023.

In 2011s Fast Five, Dom and his crew took out nefarious Brazilian drug kingpin Hernan Reyes and decapitated his empire on a bridge in Rio De Janeiro. What they didnt know was that Reyes son, Dante (Jason Momoa), witnessed it all and has spent the last 12 years masterminding a plan to make Dom pay the ultimate price, reads the synopsis included in the final Fast X trailer.

Dantes plot will scatter Doms family from Los Angeles to the catacombs of Rome, from Brazil to London and from Portugal to Antarctica. New allies will be forged and old enemies will resurface. But everything changes when Dom discovers that his own 8-year-old son (Leo Abelo Perry) is the ultimate target of Dantes vengeance. 

Check out the final Fast X trailer below:

Who is the Fast X cast and crew?

Fast X is being directed by Transporter director Louis Leterrier, who took over the role from Justin Lin after Lin suddenly exited the project due to creative differences. The film is written by Lin and Dan Mazeau, with Lin still attached as a producer

Diesel, Tyrese Gibson, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Ludacris, Nathalie Emmanuel, Sung Kang, and Scott Eastwood reprise their respective roles in the film. The tenth installment also features the additions of franchise newcomers Jason Momoa (Aquaman), Daniela Melchior (The Suicide Squad), Brie Larson (Captain Marvel), and Alan Ritchson (Reacher).

The post Final Fast X Trailer Previews Star-Studded Blockbuster Movie appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Welcome to the Weekly Show with Deer Wang.

So, folks. Something completely unprecedented is happening in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia has been making nice with Iran and Syria. There's peace breaking out! And you know who brokered this reconciliation? China. Yeah, now we know that besides making phones, machines, and building bullet trains and highways, China can also bring about world peace! Now, you'd think everyone would be thrilled about this? I mean, who doesn't like peace? It turns out, the U.S. government is not too happy about it.

[News Clip] William Burns, Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency, has reportedly expressed frustration over Riyadh's outreach to Tehran and Damascus.

The CIA boss flew to Saudi Arabia to express their "frustration" over peace? Can you believe it? Like being so obsessed with the mess that when peace comes knocking, he's like, nah, nah, nah, they're good. They've got a sweet little chaos going on here.

But, the big fear for the U.S. isn't just that Saudi Arabia and Iran are rebuilding their relationship. That's just the appetizer. The main course is that they're looking to "compare notes" on their years of terrorist attacks and subversive activities. Just like the kind of stuff we talk about at a high school reunion.

Just picture this. Saudi Arabia finds out that Iran wasn't behind some of the attacks. And Iran realizes that Saudi Arabia didn't cause the oil facility explosion. So, who's been playing puppet master all along, huh?

And, why is it the CIA boss coming to express "frustration"? Cuz the Saudi-Iran negotiations happened in Beijing, where the CIA failed to keep an eye on? He's like that big guy who never lets their friends hang out with anyone else. What if they're having a party without me?!

Ah...No wonder the U.S. has been trying so hard to suppress Huawei, the Chinese tech company. Cuz Saudi Arabia has been using Huawei to get away from the U.S. eavesdropping? And let's not forget about French President Macron visiting China and being all chatty and relaxed, as if he can finally have a conversation without worrying about the U.S. listening in.

While the CIA is dealing with their FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), it seems like the U.S. is in a bit of a pickle here. They can't really complain about peace without sounding like the bad guy. But on the other hand, they're, well, frustrated.

It reminds me of an old saying. With friends like these, who needs enemies? That's a wrap for tonight's show. Catch you next time.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
The celebrity chef shares her 15-year-old daughter with ex-husband Todd Thompson

Giada DeLaurentiis/Instagram

Giada De Laurentiis is feeling grateful this Mother's Day.

On Sunday, the Food Network star marked the special day by sharing a photo of herself and daughter Jade, 15.

"Buona festa della mamma to all the mammas out there," she captioned the post in Italian.

The Italian-born chef also re-shared an Instagram Story, featuring a sweet message from Jade.

"Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful mom. I love you more than anything," the 15-year-old wrote.

She paired the sweet message with some throwback photos, including one showing then-toddler Jade helping her mom cook. A more recent snap featured the pair swimming in the ocean and smiling at the camera.

Last week, De Laurentiis posted several pictures from an Italian vacation. The Giadzy founder is in Europe to celebrate the christening of Oceania's latest ship, Vista of which she is the godmother, per a release from the brand.

In Instagram posts, the Simply Giada star gallivanted across the country, visiting cities like Abruzzo and Rome. She also stopped by the neighboring country Malta.

Of course, the celebrity chef dined accordingly and indulged in classic Italian dishes with the help of her long-time boyfriend Shane Farley, her aunt, Raffaella De Laurentiis (aka Aunt Raffy) and other friends and family members.

De Laurentiis couldn't stay away from the kitchen too long and took time on her trip to cook with the chefs on the cruise. "Had the best time back where my heart belongs: in the kitchen w/ the Oceania Culinary Team  I think I'm hired?!" she wrote in an Instagram post along with images of a group of chefs wearing matching white jackets and hats.

Giada De Laruentiis/Instagram

Last year for Mother's Day, Jade took over the cooking duties for her mom  she prepared Annie's boxed macaroni and cheese in an Instagram video. "People always ask if I can cook and the answer is yes," Jade said in the clip.

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De Laurentiis had a few jokes to say when she was finally presented with the cheesy dish. "Wait, I thought this was Mother's Day. You're supposed to make something that I love to eat, not something that you love to eat." But after taking a big bite, she had a change of heart and said, "Actually, it's pretty good."

Related:Giada De Laurentiis Hopes She 'Won't Ever Regret' Not Having More Kids

Giada de Laurentiis/instagram

Last year, Jade graduated from middle school. In October, De Laurentiis spoke with PEOPLE about how her daughter was adjusting to her new high school, which follows a "less academic and more artsy" curriculum.

"She doesn't have a uniform anymore," the Giada at Home host star said. "She can buy lunch. I know it sounds silly, but she was never able to do that before. She loves the freedom that she now has."

Earlier this year, De Laurentiis announced her departure from the Food Network after 21 years as a host and chef personality at the network. Reruns of De Laurentiis' shows, including Giada at Home and Giada Entertains, will still be shown on Food Network and discovery+.

This announcement also came with the news that she signed a multi-year deal for unscripted series production with Amazon Studios. She will not only star in new Amazon Studios projects, but also serve as an executive producer.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
South Korea-based textile and clothing manufacturer Hansae Co., Ltd. is creating a localized sourcing stream for synthetic textiles for its Haiti manufacturing operations through a strategic partnership with fabric manufacturer Willbes Dominica Synthetic Mill.

The memorandum of understanding was signed on May 2 at Hansaes headquarters in Seoul. Hansae vice chairman and CEO Daymond Ik Whan Kim, Hansae president and CEO Kyung Kim and Willbes president Chan-hyeok Lim attended, strengthening their commitment to strategic cooperation.

More from Sourcing Journal

Hansaes production subsidiary in Haiti operates 60 lines in three factories and has the capacity to produce about 2 million pieces of clothing per month. Willbes produces chemical fiber fabrics in the Dominican Republic and has production facilities capable of producing 30 tons of fabrics per day. The major goal of this partnership is to supply Hansae with high-quality Willbes synthetic fiber, which has been made in Dominica for 36 years, as well as to generate synergy by running the production line flexibly and reacting to customer needs with agility.

Strategic partnership ceremony attendees, from left: Hansaes Kyung Kim, Willbes Chan-hyeok Lim, and Hansaes Daymond Ik Whan Kim

Through this agreement, the two companies expect to reduce lead times by around nine to 10 weeks as compared to Asian sourcing and result in a 30 percent reduction in duty costs. As an example of duty benefits, Hansae previously could not use the trade preference programs Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act (HOPE) and Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Act for its mens crewneck shirts because they were made with fabrics from Asia. Now, with this localized fabric sourcing, this category is eligible for export tax benefits, which represents an average savings of 25-32 percent.

Hansae and Willbes are committed to establishing the strongest and most reliable strategic cooperation possible on Hispaniola Island, which is home to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and to increase their market share in the U.S. The ready-made-garment (RMG) producer counts U.S. brands and retailers such as American Eagle Outfitters, DKNY, JCPenney, Ralph Lauren and Under Armour among its customer base.

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It has become more important than ever to respond promptly to the rapid changes in the market and the corresponding needs of the buyers, said Daymond Ik Whan Kim, vice chairman of Hansae Fashion Worldwide, during the signing of the strategic partnership agreement. This strategic partnership between the two manufacturers will greatly sustain improving the product quality through rapid market response as well as the establishment of a stable supply chain.

Hansae entered Haiti in 2016, and it has been steadily increasing production every year. Among the Korean apparel companies in Haiti, Hansae has the largest facility. It employs more than 3,000 local employees and contributes to the local economy. The company has been investing in Central America to support the growing demand for nearshoring. This past fall, Hansae announced a new sustainable, vertical facility in Guatemala.

Across its manufacturing facilities in Asia and the Americas, Hansae is focused on making its production more sustainable, including reducing energy and water use. By 2030, Hansae aims to cut its total water consumption by 20 percent. As a main fabric supplier factory for such brands as Gap, Old Navy, Target, Kohls, Pink and Walmart, the factorys water use is directly connected to the water consumption efforts of the brands, said Ik Whan Kim.

Click here to learn more about Hansae Co., Ltd.

Click here to read the full article.
Hilary Swank is soaking up the special moments as a new mom of two

Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic Hilary Swank and Philip Schneider

Hilary Swank is celebrating her first Mother's Day.

The Oscar-winning actress, 48, celebrated the holiday for the first time since her twins  a son and a daughter, whom she shares with husband Philip Schneider  were born in early April.

The new mom shared the sweet gifts she got for her special day while wishing followers a happy Mother's Day.

Showing a charm that reads "Mama," she said, "Happy Mama's day! Happy Mother's Day everyone!"

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Related:Hilary Swank Welcomes Twins, a Boy and a Girl! See Their First Family Photo

The actress explained that the charm was vintage and was customized to add her birthstone. She also showed off her flowers and a card from her family.

Swank announced the birth of her twins in an Instagram post last month.

"It wasn't easy. But boy (and girl!) was it worth it. ," the Alaska Daily star wrote, captioning a photo of her holding her newborn babies on each shoulder, while looking out at a sunset across the water.

"Happy Easter! ," she added. "Posting from pure Heaven. ."

Hilary Swank/Instagram

Swank announced her pregnancy on Good Morning America in October 2022, sharing that she and Schneider would be welcoming twins.

"This is something that I've been wanting for a long time and my next thing is I'm gonna be a mom," said the actress at the time. "And not just of one, but of two. I can't believe it."

Swank also appeared during a guest spot on The Late Late Show with James Corden in January, when she explained that expecting twins left her marveling at the miracle of pregnancy.

"I feel like women are superheroes," the actress said. "What our bodies do? I have such, like, a whole newfound respect. I mean, I love women, I've always loved women, but now, I'm like, 'Wow, we can do this!' "

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A Hinds County Chancery Court judge has declined to stop House Bill 1020, the controversial Jackson courts and police bill, from becoming law on July 1, but a temporary restraining order granted by a federal judge that would block the bill remains in effect, at least for now.

A final judgment from Hinds County Chancellor Dewayne Thomas released Monday denied plaintiffs' requests to grant an injunction that would have kept the law off the books until legal battles have played out in state and county courts. By Monday afternoon, attorneys for the plaintiffs had announced plans to appeal the ruling to the Mississippi Supreme Court.

"Plaintiffs have failed to state a claim upon which relief may be granted," Thomas wrote in his final order.

"This case is immediately ripe for appellate review," he later wrote.

The plaintiffs in the case were three Hinds County residents who each testified last week that they felt their state constitutional rights would be violated by HB 1020 becoming law. The bill would see state officials appoint temporary unelected judges to the Hinds County court system, create a new unelected court system within the Capitol Complex Improvement District, increase the size of that district and expand the jurisdiction of the state-funded Capitol Police to include the entire city of Jackson.

Hinds County Chancery Judge Dewayne Thomas speaks to the parties involved at a hearing, Wednesday, May 10, 2023, in Hinds County Chancery Court in Jackson, Miss., where he heard arguments about a Mississippi law that would create a court system with judges who would be appointed rather than elected. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

The bill's supporters, including its primary authors Rep. Trey Lamar, R-Senatobia, and Sen. Brice Wiggins, R-Pascagoula, said it is intended to address crime in Jackson by expanding the role of the state-run police force and adding judges to reduce a judicial backlog.

Since it was first proposed earlier this year, the bill's opponents, including Democratic lawmakers from Jackson and Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, have pointed to high levels of crime and even more severe judicial backlogs in other places in the state. They have also called the bill racist and said it is being imposed on a majority-Black city by a majority-white Legislature.

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In his full opinion, which delved into further detail than the shorter final order, Thomas noted that arguing against the constitutionality of a law passed by the Legislature is always a high bar.

"A party seeking to have a statute declared unconstitutional in the state of Mississippi has a heavy burden: he must prove that the statute is unconstitutional 'beyond a reasonable doubt,'" Thomas wrote, citing a 1997 state supreme court opinion.

Thomas also noted the widespread criticism the bill has received from Hinds County leaders and residents.

"This Court is keenly aware of Plaintiff's frustration with the method by which HB1020 has been passed. This Court notes that the actions of many Mississippi Legislators have been severely criticized for lack of consideration of the desires of the citizens of the City of Jackson and Hinds County in pursuing the same," Thomas wrote. "The Court is cognizant of the cries of Plaintiffs, and numerous others, that the legislation is based on unfair and even racially motivated attempts to take over the Capital City. As a lifelong citizen of Hinds County and a lifelong friend and neighbor of many of those decrying the same, this Chancellor is not unmoved. However, Mississippi law is clear that this Court may not consider the motivation for the legislation or its policy."

Thomas further said that he could not consider the state's claims that the bill would improve the crime situation or the backlogs, as that would also be deciding based on motivation. Instead, Thomas said, the decision must only look at the constitutionality of the statute.

Wiggins shared his response to Thomas' decision Monday afternoon on Twitter.

"Chancellors have hard jobs. I see it everyday in my law practice and appreciate the decisions they have to make. Clearly, a thought out opinion," Wiggins said.

Chancellors have hard jobs. I see it everyday in my law practice and appreciate the decisions they have to make. Clearly, a thought out opinion. #msleg https://t.co/euljror2Yx  Sen. Brice Wiggins (@bricewigginsMS) May 15, 2023

In a Monday afternoon joint statement, MacArthur Justice Center Director Cliff Johnson  who conducted much of the oral arguments last week on behalf of the plaintiffs  the Mississippi Center for Justice, Jxn Undivided Coalition, American Civil Liberties Union and NAACP Legal Defense Fund announced that the decision would soon be appealed.

"The three Jackson, Mississippi residents challenging H.B. 1020 in state court are deeply disappointed by Judge Thomass ruling and are prepared to take their fight to the Mississippi Supreme Court. They will file their Notice of Appeal tomorrow morning, and on appeal will argue that the plain language of the Mississippi Constitution demands that circuit court judges be elected and does not permit the four judicial appointments to the Hinds County Circuit Court required by H.B. 1020," the statement reads.

The decision in Hinds County Chancery Court came just three days after a temporary restraining order against the bill becoming law was granted in federal court by Southern District of Mississippi Judge Henry Wingate. That decision came in a separate case, filed by the NAACP, challenging the bill's compliance with federal law.

A hearing is scheduled in the federal case for May 22, when attorneys for the NAACP are expected to ask for a longer-term preliminary injunction, like the one the plaintiffs had sought from Thomas in the other case. If Wingate were to grant such an injunction, it could prevent the law from taking effect on July 1 if legal challenges are still ongoing at that point.

With Thomas' decision set to be appealed, and a restraining order granted by Wingate, HB 1020 still has hurdles to overcome before it would become law.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: MS HB 1020 clears one court hurdle, but more stand in its way
Like mother, like daughter! Zoe Kravitz, Gwyneth Paltrow and more celebrities come from famous families.

For example, the Big Little Lies star has a close relationship with her mom, Lisa Bonet, and she even recreated the Cosby Show alum's iconic 1998 Rolling Stone magazine cover two decades later. While Bonets cover photo included a white button-down shirt, her daughter posed nude like one of the photos in her mother's throwback spread.

"I think she was a little bummed when they used the shirt picture as the cover, Kravitz explained to the magazine in October 2018. "Its less about the picture and more about doing the thing my mom intended to do. That feels cool.

The Divergent star joked that the cover was technically [her] second since her mom was two months pregnant in the original shoot.

Bonet is also the mother of two children with Jason Momoa  Lola and Nakoa-Wolf. The Red Road alum called her eldest daughter well-balanced in a 2014 Essence interview, gushing, "For a parent to have a child out in our insane world and not have to worry about her other than the general 'may she always be protected'  in terms of her making decisions for herself, I feel completely at ease with that, and thats such a great thing.

As for Paltrow, the Goop creators mom is actress Blythe Danner, and the mother-daughter pair acted together in The Seagull in 1994.

I was hard on you during that, the Will & Grace alum recalled in an April 2018 episode of her daughters podcast. "It came so damn easily to you, and I thought you had to sweat blood and tears to give a great performance and you never did. I wish I had recognized that. I wish I had recognized your otherness and embraced it. You know, I could cry about the fact that I didnt.

Paltrow, who shares daughter Apple and son Moses with her ex-husband, Chris Martin, replied that she needed her moms tough love at the time. The Clean Plate author noted, I wasnt that good at it anyway.

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The following year, Danner exclusively told Us Weekly that she tried to place old-fashioned parental parameters around Paltrow that didnt work.

The Pennsylvania native explained, "She's just extraordinary [now], although, I'm not that surprised, because growing up she was always fearless, always trying something new and different.

Sign up for Us Weekly's free, daily newsletter and never miss breaking news or exclusive stories about your favorite celebrities, TV shows and more!

Keep scrolling to see more celebrities with their famous moms, from Kaia Gerber and Cindy Crawford to Willow Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 08: Kenya Moore and Brooklyn Doris Daly attend the World Premiere of Disney's "The Little Mermaid" on May 08, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Kenya Moore is one Real Housewives of Atlanta peach who was born shady. Twirl cant help but share some tea or call someone out  its in her nature. Its what makes her a necessary member of the cast and one of the best Real Housewives anti-heroes of all time. And why I will never bore of her always hilarious confessionals.

Kenya kicked off RHOA Season 15 with a bang. She wasted no time calling out Sheree Whitfields new man Martell Holt for sliding into her DMs. Twirl is a lot of things and subtle isnt one of them, so it wasnt too shocking to see her cussing out Sherees new man during the first cast party.

Following the kickoff of RHOA Season 15, Kenya appeared on Kandi Burruss KandiOnline show to break down the first episode. The two messy friends didnt last even five minutes before dragging Sheree a little bit, but it was all in good fun.

Kenya accidentally threw shade at the OG

Kenya and Kandi were talking about how Sheree loves to throw it in their faces that shes an OG while they technically are not. The petty semantics are what make this show timeless, and a prime example is Kenya Moore breaking down the three stars careers. She made sure to mention the times that Sheree was on the show peachless, which was definitely not an accident.

While Kenya did acknowledge that Sheree is an OG and you cant take that away from her, she followed it up with a major dig. She is the most fired housewife she is though. Im not trying to throw shade, Twirl said. Famous last words.

Twirl started to walk back her jaw-dropping statement by taking away the word fired from the equation. Im not trying to come for Sheree, Kenya nervously laughed. I dont want that smoke. I actually really love Sheree. Kandi agreed, but Mrs. Worldwide didnt appreciate Sheree coming for her on Twitter after the premiere episode.

Real Housewives of Atlanta continues Sundays at 8/7c on Bravo.

TELL US  DO YOU BELIEVE THAT SHEREE IS THE MOST FIRED HOUSEWIFE? WHAT DID YOU THINK OF KENYA MOORES SHADE TOWARD THE OG RHOA STAR?

The post Kenya Moore Calls Sheree Whitfield the Most Fired Housewife appeared first on Reality Tea.
Kim Kardashian shared the Mother's Day card her daughter Chicago, 5, gifted her

Kim Kardashian Instagram

Kim Kardashian's kids aren't afraid to drop some truth bombs about their mom.

On Sunday, the SKIMS co-founder, 42, posted a photo of the playful Mother's Day card she received from daughter Chicago, 5, on her Instagram Story.

"Wow!  I feel seen," Kardashian wrote over an image of a fill-in-the-blank style card. The card featured several lines of text that Chicago had filled in, such as "My mom is 22 years old," and "Her favorite food is salad."

When prompted with the statement "the best thing she cooks is," Chicago hilariously wrote, Mom doesn't cook. She has a chef."

Of course, Kardashian had to respond, sharing an image on her Instagram Story of her cooking beeshee, a traditional pancake from Armenia. "Chi was wrong," she captioned the story, "I do cook. LOL."

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Related:Kim Kardashian Shares Sweet Mother's Day Video from Son Saint: 'You Mean The World To Me'

The reality star posted the finished beeshee on her story, showing a pancake completely covered with sugar. "My dad would say...'Kimberly do you want some Beeshee with your sugar?'"

Along with Chicago, Kardashian shares daughter North, 9, and sons Saint, 7, and Psalm, 4, with ex Kanye West, 45.

The Kardashians star also shared the sweet Mother's Day video card her kids gave her. Orchestrated by her sister Khloe Kardashian, the pink card's front read "Happy Mother's Day We love you so much" and contained a small screen with a pre-recorded message from her four kids.

Kim Kardashian Instagram One of Kim Kardashian's Mother's Day cards

The family celebrations continued with a Mother's Day brunch for Kim, her sisters, and all their kids, alongside matriarch Kris Jenner. There were platters of fruit and pastries, as well as Kim's homemade beeshees.

Story continues

Last week, Kim celebrated Psalm's 4th birthday with a firefighter-themed party at her Calabasas home. The celebration was documented by North on her joint TikTok account with her mother and showed how the family's home had been transformed into a firehouse.

"Happy Birthday Psalm I love you so much," North captioned one of the many TikToks from the party.

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Read the original article on People.
The Olympic gold medalist served as the grand marshal in Saturday's celebration of Japanese culture in New York City

Andrew Schwartz/SplashNews.com

Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi proudly celebrated Japanese culture during New York City's second annual Japan Parade on Saturday.

"I think it's so important, especially after the rough few years we've had with COVID and some of the anti-Asian hate sentiments, to celebrate all of our cultures in a positive light," Yamaguchi, 51, tells PEOPLE.

Yamaguchi greeted attendees during the celebration on the Upper West Side, which brought out roughly 2,500 participants to Central Park.

"New York is always an exciting destination to be visiting," says the current Bay Area resident, who adds that New York and San Francisco "have very close ties to Japan."

Andrew Schwartz/SIPA/Shutterstock

In both New York and San Francisco, "There are a lot of opportunities to take part in certain cultural celebrations," Yamaguchi explains.

Related:Michelle Kwan Recalls 'Living the American Dream' at Olympics, Talks Combating Rise of Anti-Asian Hate

New York Mayor Eric Adams attended Saturday's celebration, as well as members of the General Council of Japan. Yamaguchi was "excited" to meet them, she says.

Yamaguchi's grand marshal title allows her to follow in the footsteps of actor George Takei, who was the parade's first grand marshal the year prior. "It's an honor to be asked after having George Takei, who is a huge icon in the Asian American community," she says.

Jennifer Mitchell/SplashNews.com

The celebration of Japanese culture in New York City allows Asian American voices to be heard, says Yamaguchi. "I think it's just a lot of Asian American stories I think are still new or unknown to a lot of the population here in the US. So I think anytime new voices can be heard and listened to, then that's all great stuff."

The champion skater, an Asian American icon in her own right, hopes the support for Japanese culture continues for "the new generation that's come after me," she says. "I think the more we all support each other, the better it is. The tide rises and everything rises with it."

Story continues

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Continuing to share Japanese culture is "always important" to Yamaguchi, who recalls a childhood tradition she loved growing up.

"Growing up, and even in my early teens, one of my favorite traditions was on New Year's Day, my aunt would make a special ozoni soup, which is for good luck."

Related:Olympic Figure Skater Kristi Yamaguchi on Daughter Emma's Love of Skating: 'It's a Great Activity for Her'

The family would drink the soup for breakfast, says Yamaguchi, and "then in the daytime, we would father at my aunt and uncle's house and everyone would bring food."

She explains, "It was literally just a buffet of Japanese food all day long, and then we'd play with the cousins and things like that. It was one of the few times a year that side of the family would gather and have time together."

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The women were driving in New Mexico when they found the man inside the sinkhole, screaming for help

New Meixco sinkhole

A mother and daughter helped save a father from falling further into a sinkhole near a bridge over the Rio Grande in New Mexico.

On Saturday, Heaven Chavez and her mom, Jackie Rodriguez, were driving on Highway 6, just east of the river in Los Lunas, when Rodriguez heard a man calling for help.

"My window was cracked when I heard somebody yelling for help," Rodriguez said during an interview with ABC affiliate KOAT-TV.

The women doubled back and found that a sidewalk running along the highway had virtually disappeared  and that a man, who was riding his bike with his son, had fallen inside, per the outlet.

Related:Calif. Cops at 'Loss for Words' After 3 Cars Fall into Sinkhole on Marked Closed Road: 'This Can't Be Real'

"The whole sidewalk was gone," Chavez told the station.

As the pair worked to keep the man calm, they waited about 20 minutes for first responders to arrive. Once there, authorities and Rodriguez were able to help the man to safety.

New Meixco sinkhole

Related:Huge Texas Sinkhole That's Been Stable for 15 Years Is Growing Again, Residents Fear Being 'Swallowed Up'

The sinkhole caused a ripple effect in which the Main Street river bridge was then closed by authorities on Sunday, the Los Lunas Police Department said in a statement on Facebook, as the New Mexico Department of Transportation worked to assess damage to the structure.

By late in the day, the bridge had reopened, the Village of Los Lunas announced on social media.

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A spokesperson for the Village of Los Lunas did not immediately return PEOPLE's request for additional comment.

High water flows in the Rio Grande and nearby culverts likely caused the sinkhole, the Albuquerque Journal reported.

Story continues

By Monday morning, both directions of the bridge had been reopened, but the local school district was operating on a remote learning schedule due to the shutdown, according to the newspaper.

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A senior member of Vote and Beyond provides training about the electoral rules in Istanbul, Turkiye, May 9, 2023. An army of volunteers has been monitoring the voting process to prevent any misconduct in Turkiye's presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday.

According to a representative of Vote and Beyond, the most prominent NGO in the country for securing elections, nearly 100,000 volunteers are at the polls across Turkiye's 81 provinces. (Photo by Omer Kuscu/Xinhua)

by Zeynep Cermen

ISTANBUL, May 14 (Xinhua) -- An army of volunteers has been monitoring the voting process to prevent any misconduct in Turkiye's presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday.

According to a representative of Vote and Beyond, the most prominent NGO in the country for securing elections, nearly 100,000 volunteers are at the polls across Turkiye's 81 provinces.

"We observe the election process so that there is no mistake," Gonca Acikal, a member of the organization, told Xinhua, adding that its "observer candidates" have been given intense training ahead of the elections.

Their mission starts days before the election day.

During the preparation, checking the backs of ballot papers and envelopes to see if the required official seal is there is very important, said Acikal, noting they would inform officials immediately if an unsealed one were found.

"On election day, if they (volunteers) encounter an abnormal situation, they know very well how to manage it," Acikal explained, adding: "If necessary, they can intervene and introduce how it should be."

Vote and Beyond paid significant attention to electoral sites in the earthquake zone and held a massive training on volunteers in the southern province of Hatay, the worst hit area by the devastating twin quakes in February.

Acikal mentioned that instead of buildings, the ballot boxes were set up in containers and tents in quake zones, noting the voting process requires specific attention.

Berrak Turnaoglu is among the volunteers who participated in the training session in Istanbul.

"I choose to be a volunteer to be sure that our elections are duly conducted," Turnaoglu told Xinhua. "It is very beneficial in preventing the problems that may occur on that day between the ballot box committee and voters, so as to take a more collaborative and solution-oriented approach and to ensure a smooth election process."

Some 61 million voters will cast their ballots in the elections, and nearly 192,00 ballot boxes were set up in 81 provinces. Each ballot box is supervised by a committee consisting of a chairperson, a civil servant, and representatives of the political parties. It is a legal right of civilians to be volunteers and monitor the voting and counting processes in Turkiye's elections. 

A senior member of Vote and Beyond provides training about the electoral rules in Istanbul, Turkiye, May 9, 2023. An army of volunteers has been monitoring the voting process to prevent any misconduct in Turkiye's presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday.

According to a representative of Vote and Beyond, the most prominent NGO in the country for securing elections, nearly 100,000 volunteers are at the polls across Turkiye's 81 provinces. (Photo by Omer Kuscu/Xinhua)
Daneya Esgar speaks after being chosen to replace Garrison Ortiz on the Board of County Commissioners at the Pueblo County Democrat headquarters on Friday, May 12, 2023.

Daneya Esgar will continue to be a prominent elected official for Pueblo, at least for the next year and a half.

The former state representative and House majority leader was elected by Pueblo Democrats Friday evening to serve the remainder of District 2 Commissioner Garrison Ortizs term. Mark Carmel, who has decades of experience working for the county and ran as an independent candidate for the BOCC in 2016, challenged Esgar for the vacant seat.

Esgar got 95 votes while Carmel received 29.

Ortiz is starting as the chief financial officer at Colorado State University Pueblo on June 1. Esgar will serve out the remainder of Ortiz's term, which ends in January 2025.

I will work hard for every single one of you in here. I will have hard conversations  I will dig in," Esgar said after the vote was announced. I promise to do everything I can, not only for the people of Pueblo, but for the Democrats here in this town.

Pueblo Commissioner Garrison Ortiz leaving role for CSU Pueblo; Esgar may replace him

Pueblo County Democrats listen to instructions ahead of a vote to replace Garrison Ortiz on the Board of County Commissioners on Friday, May 12, 2023.

Over 120 voting members of the Pueblo Democrats central committee were present to cast ballots. Many city, county and state elected officials were in attendance, but Ortiz and Commissioner Epimenio Eppie Griego  both of whom the executive committee censured last summer for endorsing a Republican candidate  were not.

In opening remarks, Esgar emphasized her experience serving Pueblo for eight years at the general assembly. She mentioned some of her legislative accomplishments, including securing tax credits for Evraz, developing Front Range Passenger Rail and addressing inequities in school funding.

She said that her experience was a masters degree in what Colorado and Pueblo County needs.

In his speech, Carmel recalled the February killing of Fred Ettleman, a Rye insurance agent, at a King Soopers in Pueblo to emphasize his support for public safety.

Mark Carmel delivers a speech asking for votes to replace Garrison Ortiz on the Board of County Commissioners on Friday, May 12, 2023.

The killer is still getting away with murder. Ladies and gentlemen, this could have been any one of us or a member of our family. The crime wave seems to be getting worse each day, Carmel said in his opening remarks.

Story continues

He said that he used to work as the county engineer and administrator and is a lifetime public servant for Pueblo County.

I understand county government. I will listen to you and work for your interests, not the interests of Denver over Pueblo, Carmel said in his speech.

After the chair of the Pueblo County Democrats, Bri Buentello, announced the vote, Esgar thanked the people who showed up and said she appreciated that there were multiple people in the running for the race.

I appreciate Mark for stepping up and running as well because it should never be just one person, it should always be choices that we make in every election, Esgar said.

Anna Lynn Winfrey covers politics for the Pueblo Chieftain. She can be reached at awinfrey@gannett.com or on Twitter, @annalynnfrey.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Daneya Esgar to replace Garrison Ortiz on Pueblo BOCC
EXCLUSIVE: Magnolia Pictures and mk2 have acquired rights to Oscar-nominated filmmaker Raoul Pecks Untitled Ernest Cole Documentary, about South Africas first Black freelance photographer.

Magnolias deal is for North American rights, while mk2 takes international; mk2 is launching international sales at the Cannes Market, which opens Tuesday.

More from Deadline

Cole (1940-1970) documented apartheid in South Africa not as an outsider but someone who experienced its cruelties. Under the countrys racist system, Black people could only be employed as laborers; nonetheless, Cole became a photographer, a defiance of rules that made him a banned person and forced him to flee to the United States. He continued making important documentary photography in New York, but at his death he had published a single book, House of Bondage (1967) and the whereabouts of much of his unpublished work remained unknown.

Only a few years ago, more than 60,000 of his 35mm film negatives were inexplicably discovered in a bank vault in Stockholm, Sweden, according to a release about the Untitled Ernest Cole Documentary. Most considered these forever lost, especially the thousands of pictures he shot in the U.S. Told through Coles own writings, the stories of those closest to him, and the lens of his uncompromising work, the film is a reintroduction of a pivotal Black artist to a new generation and will unravel the mystery of his missing negatives.

Director Raoul Peck

Peck, a native of Haiti, where he served as minister of culture from 1996-97, earned his Oscar nomination for I Am Not Your Negro, his portrait of James Baldwin.

Story continues

Ernest Coles long and, at times, painful and tedious journey in America brings me back to a period of my life when my political commitment and artistic stamina were forged, Peck said in a statement. I profoundly feel, cherish, and treasure his human eye on the facts of life and his piercing acuity over our terrible contradictions.

Magnolia Pictures plans a theatrical release of the Untitled Ernest Cole Documentary at a date to be announced. Magnolia released I Am Not Your Negro in the U.S. in 2016.

The opportunity to serve auteurs like the great Raoul Peck is why we do this work, said Magnolia Pictures Co-CEO Dori Begley. With his incomparable vision and integrity as our guide, team Magnolia cant wait to help share the extraordinary story of this essential artist with audiences.

Velvet Film, Pecks production company, has the full collaboration of the Ernest Cole Family Estate helmed by Coles nephew Leslie Matlaisane, who has granted Peck exclusive access to the totality of the familys archive, including images never previously seen by the public, a release noted. The film is produced by Raoul Peck and Tamara Rosenberg (O.J.: Made In America).

The unexpected recovery of Coles negatives has prompted a resurgence of interest in his work. International exhibitions of his photographs are coming in the fall, as is the publication of a book by Aperture of Coles photographs documeting Black life in America.

mk2, Magnolia Pictures logos

Fionnuala Jamison, mk2 Films managing director, said, The combination of a powerful human rights story, Ernest Coles own struggles as an exiled artist, and the mystery around his negatives and legacy promise to deliver an incredibly moving and thrilling film from the masterful documentarian.

The acquisition deal was negotiated by Magnolia Co-CEO Dori Begley, as well as SVP of Acquisitions John Von Thaden, and by Range Media Partners on behalf of mk2 and the filmmakers.

Peck is represented by Range Media Partners and Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang.

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Click here to read the full article.
LONDON  The road for Hailey Biebers beauty brand, Rhode, is getting bigger and longer as she ventures into the U.K. market on Wednesday with her three hero products: the Peptide Glazing Fluid, the Barrier Restore Cream and Peptide Lip Treatment.

The products will all be under the 30 pound mark and available on rhodeskin.com.

More from WWD

We are really passionate about making these amazing formulas accessible at this price point, thats absolutely a tenant of the brand that were carrying over to the U.K., Melanie Bender, chief executive officer of Rhode, told WWD on a Zoom call with Bieber.

The clean beauty brand has been selling out quickly, allowing it to order larger quantities and reduce costs.

We crossed the eight-figure threshold over a six month period with just 11 days of selling. Were going in there and making big orders for a young brand like us, which then lets us tap into more of those cost efficiencies that you typically dont get until youre maybe a LOreal or Estee Lauder, said Bender.

Bieber brought Bender into Rhodes operations in October after four months without a CEO.

Hailey Bieber brings Rhode to the U.K.

We saw eye to eye on every single thing, from formula to sustainability to aesthetic to the priorities of whats important to me as the founder, said Bieber, who is the brands majority owner, chairwoman, founder and creative director.

She just really understood that vision and was like, I hear you, I see your vision, I see you and heres how we can team up and help you scale it and bring it even more to life, and thats a quality that I think takes time to find and its very rare, so I had to just snatch her up, she added.

Bender was the president of clean beauty brand Versed, which she catapulted into a TikTok sensation with more than 50 million organic views via a campaign with creator Aisha Nur for the brands Doctors Visit Instant Resurfacing Mask.

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The collaboration led to the product becoming the second bestselling product on versedskin.com, translating into a 3,000 percent sales increase and a 400 percent sales gain for the product on the brands other retail channels.

When Bender was making her decision to join Rhode, she watched the making of Rhode on Biebers YouTube channel, where she found out that the two of them share the same birthday.

This is a sign, its the universe telling me to trust your gut, said Bender.

Bieber, who has a following of 10.8 million on TikTok, is often sharing tips from behind the scenes of her life, including fashion, beauty and cooking on her social media channels.

This brand for me is opening myself up to everyone and I want everybody to be able to be part of it. I love calling it The world of Rhode because I really want it to feel like its this world that you step into, from the aesthetic to the imagery to the products themselves, Bieber explained, adding that shes formula and product obsessed because shes gone through so much trial and error with skin care and wants her products to be as universal as hopefully possible.

Rhodes Peptide Lip Treatment in Watermelon, Salted Caramel and Unscented.

Bender said the brand has had international reach from the getgo  they launched in the U.S. in June last year followed by Canada, and the U.K. seemed like the most natural progression as they planned their expansion strategy.

About 50 percent of our traffic comes from outside the U.S. despite not really doing any active marketing in those international markets, said Bender.

India is one that Im particularly excited about because of what a huge and growing beauty economy it is. Its our number two international source of traffic after Canada, she added.

Bieber is also eager to roll Rhode into Brazil because of her mothers heritage and the sentimental value that carries.

Since the inception of the brand, the 26-year-old has been firm in not expanding Rhodes categories too quickly.

In November last year, she introduced a new flavor of the Peptide Lip Treatment in Vanilla Cake as part of her birthday celebrations.

Later this year, Rhode will be officially launching into a new category: makeup.

Color is going to be the next phase that were going to step into still with the approach of curated edited essentials, but I wouldnt take any beauty category off the table if that makes sense, said Bieber.

Rhode is always going to be skin first. Healthy and hydrated skin is always the perfect base for great makeup and you know thats always going to be the focus even in color, she reiterated.

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Congratulations are in order. Real Housewives of New Jersey star Gia Giudice graduated from college on Sunday, May 14, and her father, Joe Giudice, could not be prouder.

Congratulations Gia love you so much, Joe, 50, shared via Instagram alongside a selfie of his eldest daughter. So proud of you sky is the limit [sic].

Gia, 22  who graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in criminal justice  was seemingly embarrassed by her fathers choice in photos as she took to the comments section to share a crying laughing emoji.

Joe Giudice Shares Touching Tribute to Gia Amid Her College Graduation

OMG DAD!!! this photo was suppose to stay between me and you [sic], she wrote. "I love you."

The former reality star was unable to attend his daughters big day as he currently lives in the Bahamas after being deported in 2019. However, Gia has previously opened up about her decision to major in criminal justice and her desire to attend law school with the hopes of bringing her father back to the United States.

Gia feels like her father served his time and is deeply regretful of what happened, her rep Dominique Enchinton, owner of Dominton Talent House, told In Touch in February, just days after Gia announced she had accepted a position with Martinez Immigration firm. He knows it was wrong and has instilled that in all his girls. She feels he deserves a second chance to prove himself as he has grown a lot from this experience.

Joe and ex-wife Teresa Giudice filed for bankruptcy in October 2009, claiming that they owed more than $10 million to creditors. Four years later, in July 2013, the former couple were indicted on 39 counts of fraud and tax charges. The Giudices were charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, bankruptcy fraud, and making false statements on loan applications. Joe was also charged with failure to file his tax returns from 2004 to 2008.

The former couple  who also share daughters Gabriella, Milania and Audriana  pleaded guilty in March 2014 and Joe was sentenced to 41 months in prison, while Teresa received a 15-month sentence. The couple were allowed to stagger their sentences so that one parent could be home raising their daughters.

Joe began serving his sentence at Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institution in New Jersey in March 2016. Two years into his 41-month term, a judge ordered the former reality star to be deported to his native country of Italy upon his release. Despite filing an appeal, Joe was transferred to an immigration center upon his release in March 2018. After more than a year in Italy, Joe relocated to the Bahamas, where he currently resides, in order to be closer to his children.
Simon Pegg opened up about his friendship with his Mission: Impossible - Fallout co-star Tom Cruise. (Photo: Visual China Group via Getty Images)

While Simon Pegg considers Tom Cruise to be a friend, the British actor doesn't discuss the movie star's spiritual beliefs with him.

In the latest edition of BBC Radio 4s Desert Island Discs, Pegg told host Lauren Laverne that he actively avoids mentioning Cruise's ties to the Church of Scientology because he feels it would be a violation of their friendship.

I dont ask him about stuff like that because I feel that would be me abusing my privileged access that I get to him, you know what I mean? Pegg, 53, explained.

The Mission: Impossible franchise star shared that his relationship with Cruise is "just very simple and amiable. We're friends."

Its always been a very easy relationship. I think you realize, when you meet the person rather than the thicket of mythology thats built up around them, its a different experience," he said. "I mean, he loves the fame and he really relishes it, its all he knows. It energizes him and spurs him on.

However, Pegg noted that he wouldn't feel the same way about reaching Cruise's level of fame because "I don't think I would appreciate that particularly. I'd find that very stressful and overwhelming."

Despite the circus surrounding Cruise, Pegg says that the actor kind of appreciates the ridiculousness of it sometimes," and shared that they can even laugh about it. We joke about it. I mean, I always make fun of him for it, you know, about the things that he can access."

Pegg also shared an interesting incident that occurred when the duo was on a break from filming in South Africa recently. "He decided he wanted to go swim with sharks," said Pegg, who added that Cruise flew them in a helicopter to a seaside part of the country. At the end of the day, Pegg called it a real Tom Cruise kind of day due to its extreme nature with an emphasis on adventure.

Pegg also opened up about his struggles with depression and alcoholism during the interview. He noted that he did his best to conceal his difficulties on the 2006 set of Mission: Impossible III when he was "in the heart of where I always dreamed of being." Still, he was miserable.

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"I was kind of in this terribly panicky, distressed state. I couldn't figure out why. I was like. .. 'what is this?' Of course, it was because I was depressed and I needed to address that instead of trying to take care of it myself in unadvisable ways," he explained, pinpointing his alcoholism.

With his loved ones particularly concerned about his well-being, Pegg says he became "very sneaky when you have something like that in your life, he shared. You learn how to do it without anyone noticing because it takes over. It wants to sustain itself and it will do everything it can to not be stopped." Ultimately, he realized he needed to make some changes in his life, particularly after the 2009 arrival of his daughter Matilda. Around 2010, he cleaned up his act.

Eventually it just gets to a point when it cant be hidden, and thats when, thankfully, I was able to pull out of the dive," he stated, noting that he got help, quit drinking and addressed why he was drinking in the first place.
The presidential election could swing either way this week on Succession and so could the Roy family, honestly.

Its election night, and Tom is feeling pressure to deliver big ratings for ATN. (Hes also getting no sleep, he tells Greg, due to marital strife.) Greg reveals he partied with Matsson and Oskar late into the night and asks Tom if he knew about Shiv and Matssons business alliance. Uh no, Tom did not know about that. ATNs resident elections analyst Darwin tells the staff that Mencken is overperforming in exit polls, but it looks like Jimenez will edge him out. Shiv is nervous about the state of the nation, but Roman tells her to relax: My team is playing your team. Its only spicy because if my team wins, theyre gonna shoot your team. Shiv calls Matsson and spills that Jimenez is the likely winner, advising him to release his funky India numbers tomorrow to get ahead of the story. But Matsson says he talked it over with Oskar and Greg (?!), and maybe we keep my terrible secret a secret. He also stirs his cocktail with his bare finger, which ew.

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Succession Season 4 Episode 8 Nate

Roman is concerned that if Jimenez wins, hell just wave the GoJo deal through. So Kendall calls Nate and tries to mend fences, promising Jimenez that ATN will be fair as fk tonight. (He also gets a call from Rava whos worried about an SUV following them, but Kendall admits its probably mine, since he wants to protect Sophie after that ugly incident on the street.) Roman heads to Menckens watch party, where the candidate tells him even if he loses, he wants to shape the narrative that he overperformed and hell be back next time  and he wants ATNs help pushing that narrative. Meanwhile, Tom is running on fumes, so Greg offers him a little powdered pick-me-up. What could go wrong? Tom bullies Greg into joining him for a bump (Its medically good for your brain!) before taking a call from Connor, who complains that ATN isnt mentioning him at all: Maybe everyone voted for me. We dont know. Well, we do know, because as soon as the polls close, ATN calls Kentucky for Mencken, removing that last sliver of hope for Connor. Fk Kentucky, Willa decides.

A coked-up Tom freaks out when an ATN anchors touchscreen malfunctions on air, sprinting down to the control room to berate the director. Shiv is more concerned, though, about reports of a fire bombing at a Milwaukee vote center that might have torched absentee ballots in a crucial swing state. Roman shrugs it off as a false flag, but Shiv marches down to the ATN studio, followed by Roman and Kendall, with a nervous Greg trying to herd them away. Shiv pulls Tom aside and tries to apologize for their fight last night, but Tom just fires back: You scared that Im going to blab about you and Matsson? She reminds him that her father just died, but he reminds her that she hated Logan, and you also sort of killed him. A stunned Shiv then blurts out that shes pregnant, by you. (!!) Tom wonders if thats even true, or is that a new position or a tactic? A devastated Shiv walks away with tears in her eyes, leaving Tom standing there dumbfounded. She tells her brothers that they just cant trust Tom anymore. Hmmm.

A humbled Connor asks Roman if Menckens ambassadorship offer is still on the table, but Roman says that ship has sailed. Its looking good for Mencken, though: He has enough votes to win Wisconsin if you dont count the hundred thousand votes missing due to that fire. Roman wants to call the state for Mencken, but Shiv insists every last vote should be counted. (Romans response: Meh.) Roman mentions that if Jimenez wins, hell let the GoJo deal go through and Shiv realizes thats why he and Kendall are pulling for Mencken. (Ken sheepishly admits, Im a realist.) They call in Darwin, who concedes Menckens lead in Wisconsin is insurmountable without the burned votes. Shiv floats the idea of a re-vote, but Darwin says thats exceedingly rare. She calls all of this bullst, and when Mark Ravenhead goes on ATN blaming Jimenez supporters for the fire, she pushes Roman to put an opposing viewpoint on the air. I dont necessarily feel good about this, Rome, Kendall confesses, but all Roman can offer him is Shucks.

Succession Season 4 Episode 8 Shiv

Shiv pulls Greg into a side room to grill him about his night out with Matsson, suddenly pivoting to ask: Do you find me attractive, Gregory? (Greg stammers: I dont think of things such as that.) Shiv warns him that if you try to fk me, Ill kill you  and when Greg wonders whats in it for him, she tells him she wont pull out his internal organs by force. Roman lays it out for Kendall: If Mencken wins, hell block the GoJo deal. So Roman pushes Darwin to call Wisconsin for Mencken, pulling rank as Waystars co-CEO. The pollster is hesitant, so Roman suggests they could say the call is pending and put Darwin on the air to explain the nuance. They get sidetracked, though, when Darwin is blinded after getting wasabi in his eyes, thanks to Gregs bodega sushi. (Greg does try to help by pouring lemon La Croix in his eyes.) Plus, Connor comes to the ATN studio and offers to concede in Menckens direction, so Roman puts him on the air to say its looking like Mencken will win and the Con-heads should support him before he goes off on a rant highlighted by him saying, Im a billionaire. Sorry. Gee, we wonder why he didnt win.

The ATN anchors call Wisconsin for Mencken, and with Jimenez taking Michigan, he and Mencken are tied with 262 electoral votes. Only Arizona and Alaska are still outstanding, and Darwin says the data shows Arizona is going red. Thatd be enough to give the presidency to Mencken, Roman says, and hes ready to make the call  but a shellshocked Kendall says no, wondering if they should revisit Wisconsin. Roman laughs that Kendall is going to big brother it like he always does, and cautions that if Mencken wins without their help, were like the most dkless eunuchs in cucktown. Kendall fears that if they call it, theyll throw the election to Mencken, adding that one of those guys pushed my daughter. But Roman isnt sympathetic: Well be in the West Wing. Nothing matters. Kendall turns to Shiv, telling her hes not sure what to do. He admits he wants to ditch the GoJo deal because he thinks he can run Waystar himself, and hes threatened by Romans cozy bond with Mencken. He also shares he doesnt feel like a good father, but Shiv assures him, Youre a good guy, pushing him to do what he can to stop Mencken. He asks her to see if Jimenezs camp will also pledge to block the GoJo deal, and Shiv says she will  but she just pretends to call Nate while dialing a disconnected number.

Succession Season 4 Episode 8 Kendall

She tells Kendall and Roman that Jimenez is willing to consider nixing the deal, but Roman contends Mencken is a sure thing. Shiv insists their dad Logan would let the electoral process play out, which draws a hearty laugh from Roman: He did whatever the fk he wanted. Kendall decides to call Nate himself, and Shiv tries to stop him, but he calls anyway and we see his face fall as he turns to Shiv in confusion. (He also pulls Greg in for a quick consult.) He confronts Shiv, asserting, You lied, and telling Roman that shes working with Matsson, too. She denies it, but its enough to convince Roman and Kendall to call the election for Mencken. Shiv pleads with them: This is about the future of the country. But Roman counters: No, I think this is because you broke up with your boyfriend. Though Shiv says its a huge mistake, Roman tells Tom to call the election for Mencken. ATN makes the announcement on air, and a triumphant Mencken gives a victory speech vowing to provide something clean in this polluted land. He also calls Roman to thank him for putting him over the top  as rival news networks blame Tom for calling the race prematurely.

Matsson calls Shiv, bewildered by what hes seeing (This is cray-zee!), and she promises to fix this but were not so sure she can. On his way home, Kendall calls Rava and asks if he can see the kids, but she tells him theyre sound asleep. Hell see her tomorrow, though, at Logans funeral. After hanging up, he mutters to his driver: Some people just cant cut a deal.

Got thoughts on this weeks Succession? Join us in the boardroom below and make your voice heard in the comments.

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[Editors Note: The following review contains spoilers for Succession Season 4, Episode 8, America Decides.]

It all started with a Coke.

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Last season, at the Future Freedom Summit in Virginia, Logan (Brian Cox) was parched. It was late, his fridge was bare, so he called up his good buddy  the Vice President of the United States  and asked if he could bring him a soda. The V.P., agitated over being roused in the wee hours of the morning, didnt bring him anything. He came, he spoke, he bored the piss out of everyone in the room, but there was no Coke. No Coke, until Congressman Jeryd Mencken (Justin Kirk) stopped by, kissed the can, popped the tab, and plopped it down in front of Logan.

I heard you wanted one, he said, to which Logan replied with his simple but satisfied thanks. Anointed with a Coke, Mencken said, and walked out of the room.

Logan, of course, didnt need a Coke. He needed obedience. Just a few days prior, hed helped push out a sitting president who failed to heel when called, so what Logan prioritized in picking the next POTUS was someone who would do as hes told, no questions asked. Mencken made it clear that he would kiss the ring  or the Coke, as it were  and now, hes in the White House.

So on Election Night, when Roman (Kieran Culkin) asks Kendall (Jeremy Strong), What would Dad do?  the answer is clear: Logan would push through the candidate most likely to help him. Is it ironic that the candidate Logan chose in Virginia is the same one promising to destroy the deal that would ensure his legacy? You bet. But Roman is acting like Logan would, and Kendall knows it  Kendall just doesnt want it to be true because theres a small, tiny, infinitesimal part of Kendall thats still a good guy.

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In Episode 8, America Decides, the good guys dont just lose. Theyre buried. Democratic nominee Daniel Jiminez (Elliot Villar) is destined to be an ulcer-inducing footnote in American history. (Who wants to bet he won the popular vote?) Nate (Ashley Zukerman) wont be remembered at all. Rava (Natalie Gold) and Sophie are already terrified and will live in fear for the foreseeable future. Whatever version of Kendall cared enough to spare his ex-wife and daughter that wretched fate died the second he realized his sister Shiv (Sarah Snook) betrayed him. If he cant trust her to help kill the deal, how can he trust her when she tells Kendall hes a good guy? And where does being good get him anyway?

Some people just cant cut a deal, Kendall tells his driver in Episode 8s closing moments  an apt kicker, given the cutthroat nature of America Decides, and Succession overall. Back at the Future Freedom Summit, GOP megadonor Ron Petkus (Stephen Root) kicked things off by proclaiming, I happen to believe the next President of the United States is somewhere in this very room.  The health of the Republic depends on it. An unnamed attendee then shouted, And the health of my portfolio! From there, we saw how business drove Logans decision-making (and butted heads with Shivs moral concerns over many of the Republican candidates), and it again becomes the scapegoat for every bad decision made on election night.

Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) has long excused his own bad behavior by believing its a job requirement. Hell throw a fit over an absent coffee or his provided dinner (Bodega sushi?!), all because his well-being is instrumental to the companys. But the servile head of ATN takes it a step further in Episode 8. After all his anxiety over election night and his many pleas to keep the Royco co-CEOs off the news floor, he leaves the final call to them. He cedes what little power he has, on the one night Kendall and Roman are legally required to let Tom take command. Greg (Nicholas Braun), in essence, does the same. When hes told to deliver the final decision to the newsroom, theres an awkward moment in the hallway when hes confronted by Kendalls assistant Jess (Juliana Canfield). Greg, in typical Greg fashion, tries to aggrandize his role while nullifying it (and laughing everything off in the process). But Jess, a Black woman, isnt exactly eager to certify President Menckens election. Shes a loyal assistant and doesnt overtly encourage Greg to stand down, but you can tell shes kind of hoping he finds a way out of this  or at least recognizes why she wouldnt support him in that moment.

Personal elements play their part. Tom is still seething over his fight with Shiv  so much so, that he cant even hear her when she finally tells him shes pregnant. Roman and Kendalls dynamic dates back to fighting over what to have for dinner. (Because we ate so much chicken when we were kids I have to like the fascist?) Shiv getting caught helping Matsson is more than enough to spark the siblings long-standing distrust and push Kendall over to the dark side. But each destructive choice is still justified by dollars and cents.

Elliot Villar in Succession Courtesy of Macall Polay / HBO

In doing so, episode writer and series showrunner Jesse Armstrong (accurately) frames fiscal conservatives as willfully immoral; that theyre willing to justify violence and hate so long as their pockets remain full. Some, like Roman, may not care. They may be beyond empathy, to the point when theyre told a child is under threat all they can offer is curt reassurance that theyre fine. But others, like Kendall, recognize a bad apple when they see one and still sell it at market for full price.

When the two brothers initially argue over whether to call the race in favor of Mencken, Roman says, This is all fucking upside, to which Kendall counters, Except for him smashing the country to pieces. Both men speak in hyperbole, but Kendall has been trying, all night, to appreciate the scope of their actions. Hes in between Roman & Mencken, Shiv & Jimenez. Human side Kendall wants the latter team to win, but bottom-dollar Kendall knows Mencken is better for business. Having the option to couch his decision as whats best for the company is all that keeps the door open long enough for the fascist to sneak through.

Succession uses the intense 65-minute episode to double down on one of its broader (if not all-that-new) points: Corporate influence is killing this country, and watching it happen is worse than simply imagining it. Anyone who experienced the last two presidential elections likely suffered uncomfortable flashbacks throughout Episode 8. But no matter what channels you flipped to or how long you were glued to those screens, there was no peeking behind the curtain; no one got to see how and why the calls were made  not in real-time, like we do in America Decides  and the real-world connections that do exist only make reliving them here more plainly devastating. Watching the poison drip through, as Kendall puts it, becomes its own unique brand of torture.

With just two more episodes of Succession left, whats astounding is how extreme the difference in possible outcomes remains. As Breaking Bad neared its end, questions lingered about who would live and die, but the expected kicker  which proved out  carried a nearly undeniable harmony with Walter Whites introduction. (A man given a death sentence in the series premiere does indeed die in the series finale, albeit on his terms.) The series was no lesser for ending as many felt like it should; it was merely a testament to how well plotted the story remained from start to finish. The Sopranos had a similar will he or wont he uncertainty to Tony Sopranos ultimate fate, but again  given how death weighed so heavily on the mobsters mind  it made sense for the Grim Reaper to pay him a visit. Either/or endings are common enough, whether its on Friends (where Ross and Rachel either make it work or end on a permanent break) or The Americans (where Elizabeth and Philip either make it out of America alive or end up more permanent residents)  with the latter example showing how much room there is for nuance, even in a story that builds toward a specific consequence.

But in the words of Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgard): Successions either/or endings are crayyyyy-z! Option A) The stage is set for unprecedented disaster. Menckens win ensures GoJo wont be able to complete its acquisition. Assuming the Failsons cant go reverse Viking and buy GoJo, that spells doom for Waystar Royco, since tech is the future and old media is dying. Any dreams of spinning off ATN (or even completing the PGN purchase) could be kaput, once word gets out about corporate interference altering the election. Plus, you know, nearly every personal relationship in the Roy family is pretty fucked by now. Tom and Shiv are toast, Tom (on his own) is toast, and the siblings warm family bonds have been burnt to a crisp (along with all those ballots in Milwaukee). However it goes down, watching Logans business empire and surviving family collapse so thoroughly within a few days of his death would be an apt ending to a show about a dying old man who could never find his ideal heir.

But in Option B) Succession is just as likely to end with Kendall wearing the crown. As wealth inequality continues to expand, patriarchal systems grow further entrenched, and America slides from democracy toward corporatocracy, wouldnt it be fitting to see the Roys maintain their status quo? Kendall doesnt deserve to wield his fathers power, but when has that ever stopped a rich, entitled, nepo baby from doing it anyway? Wouldnt the greatest tragedy be  both for the world and for Kendall  seeing him don his daddys coat and become the very man he hates? The very thing that will destroy him? (While propping up an outdated media empire that only succeeds by spreading fear and sowing discord?)

Maybe Jesse Armstrong has a third, fourth, or fifth option cooked up for a goodbye. At this point, the most shocking conclusion would be a bad one, and no ones expecting that. But its still stunning that were this close to the finale and each of these polar opposite endings are plausible. Like Kendall said when he was still trying to decide how best to sway a presidential election: I cant get the scale of it. But things happen, whether were ready or not. Here we go.

Grade: B+

Succession Season 4 releases new episodes Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Nicholas Braun and Matthew Macfadyen in Succession Courtesy of Macall Polay / HBO

Greg Sprinkles

Greg had a busy few nights! Now that Lukas sees his usefulness  a soulless suit willing to suffer endless humiliations for his master  the GoJo founder is taking Greg out, serving him drinks that arent normally drinks, and making him dance with old men(?!). Not only that, but Greg is influencing Matssons business decisions. Lukas tells Shiv he may not announce the funky India numbers after all, despite news outlets being distracted by the chaotic American election. Shiv doesnt like it, but shes also not going to let it stop her from using Matsson to get back with her brothers.

Greg doesnt really care about any of that. He was willing to sell his silence to Shiv for a golden parachute, and when she refused  in not so polite terms  he spilled the beans to Kendall as soon as he was pressed. Gregs shrug to Shiv after confessing her secret is the episodes biggest belly laugh, even if it barely escaped from my clenched stomach. Not only is it the perfect bookend to the episodes opening, when Tom bitches to Greg about all the things bothering him only to hear Greg say, Well, Im feeling pretty good, but his gesticulating shoulders sum up his whole deal so perfectly: Welp, I just ruined someones life  and maybe the world!  guess Ill go get some more wasabi-dipped sushi.

Way to go, Greg. Great job. No notes.

Slime Puppy Time

Throughout Episode 8, there was no suspense in who wins the presidency, Jimenez or Mencken. That was decided back in Virginia. Instead, the suspense was derived from how Mencken and his chosen Roy Boy would come out on top, which led the latter to reach peak slime puppy. Given his heinous actions and comments, I simply cannot spend much more time thinking about Roman. Still, it must be noted: He got a win this week, but last week he asked for the big energy spot at Logans funeral. Is he primed for a fall in Successions penultimate episode, or will he rise to the occasion like Kendall on Investor Day?

Do You Have Any Jokes?

Greg, do not put any more lemon water or wasabi in his eyes!  Tom, after Greg put wasabi and lemon water in a colleagues eyes.

The Best Line That Could Still Air on ATN

Conheads I salute you, and America be afraid. Be warned. Because the Conheads are coming.  Connor Roy, delivering his concession speech live on ATN (and, presumably/hopefully, only on ATN)

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In April, more than 1,800 high-profile tech leaders and researchers signed an open letter declaring that the world is moving too fast in adopting artificial intelligence (AI). The letter states that "AI systems with human-competitive intelligence can pose profound risks to society and humanity," and asks for a six-month moratorium on further training of this technology. While many have begun to question whether AI will develop to a point where it could replace their jobs, the modeling industry is already reckoning with this reality.

While companies like H&M have been using AI for years to predict and analyze trends, generative AI  a technology powered by machine learning that's able to create new images, text, videos and sound based on data it's fed  is now being used to create digital models. In March, Levi's announced a new partnership with Amsterdam startup Lalaland.ai to diversify and supplement its website with AI models, claiming it would use them to increase "the number and diversity of our models for our products in a sustainable way."

AI model for Levi's Photo: Courtesy of Lalaland.ai

The reality is: Companies have been using AI models for some time now without anyone noticing. That's because it's almost impossible to tell the difference between an AI model and a human.

Accessing the technology is as easy as playing around with ChatGPT or trying on the Bold Glamour filter on TikTok. While CGI models  computer-generated images of human-like figures that can be manipulated to look however the creator wants, like virtual influencers Lil Miquela and Shudu Gram  have been around for a few years, there has been a significant shift toward AI models, which use machine learning to adapt and evolve based on user interactions. This means they can become more realistic over time and even learn to mimic human behavior.

Brands are turning to firms Lalaland.ai to get these unclockable models because of how cost- and time-efficient they're proving to be. "With traditional photography, companies need to hire models, work with third parties like model agencies, hair stylists, makeup artists  not to mention undergo reshoots, which happens on average two-to-eight times per collection," Lalaland.ai CEO and Co-Founder Michael Musandu tells me over the phone. "So it makes it very difficult or at least unfeasible for a brand to showcase 20 different models wearing one product for every single collection without drastically having to increase the price on the product."

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A year ago, when I first spoke with Musandu, Lalaland.ai had already created AI models for Tommy Hilfiger, Stieglitz, German retailer Zalando and Wehkamp, one of the largest online retail stores in the Netherlands. "A lot has changed since then," he admits.

Today, Lalaland.ai's portfolio has expanded with new clients like Puma, Adidas and of course, Levi's, with more brands inquiring about their AI models than ever before. "We're not here to take away opportunities from people. Our whole mission is to supplement and enrich," Musandu explains. "If a brand really cares about inclusion and body positivity, then they shouldn't scale down on traditional photography."

The public backlash from the Levi's announcement was tough for Musandu. "I took it a bit personally because, as a person of color, I empathize," he says. "I empathize with communities who feel underrepresented when shopping online. We built this company based on empathy."

Lalaland.ai was originally established in 2019 to address frustrations with a homogenous modeling industry and to provide a cost-effective solution. "One thing I wanted to clarify is that we're not here to take away jobs  I found many of the reactions [to Levi's announcement] very useful, so I'm so glad we're having the conversation," he says. "Now we can continue to refine and come up with strong AI principles and figure out how we can deploy the technology in a way that serves humanity."

Lalaland.ai is one of many startups creating AI models nowadays. Deep Agency, a platform that describes itself as an AI photo studio and modeling agency, offers virtual models for as little as $29 per month  a price that no human model can compete with. (The website is currently in closed beta.) Meanwhile, ZMO.ai touts on its website that its AI models can be created in mere minutes, enabling users to "visualize products on ethnically diverse models." (Its subscriptions start at $0  yes, zero  for three AI models.)

Besides pricing, there are other factors that make the modeling industry particularly vulnerable to being replaced by AI. Firstly, models don't own their work: They don't have ownership of their image, whether in an editorial or commercial shoot. When it comes to AI, there's a grey area when it comes to their data  face, bone structure, poses and more  and who owns that, if it came to those datasets being used to train or be replicated by AI.

Photo: Ferda Demir/Getty Images for IHKIB

According to Sara Ziff, founder and executive director of Model Alliance, the advocacy group has already "received a number of calls from models who found that the rights to their body were signed away to a company after receiving a body scan."

Since 2012, Model Alliance has researched and created policies for models and others employed in the fashion industry. "While the technology may be new, the problem is already an everyday reality for models, many of whom can walk into stores and see their bodies in campaigns they were never paid for," she wrote via e-mail.

To counter these concerns, Zifff is championing legislation with a bill called the Fashion Workers Act to provide clear contracting and transparency between agents and models. "The bottom line is, when your body is your business, having your image sold off without your permission is a violation of your rights," she said.

Then, there's the issue of unionization. In many countries  including the U.S.  models are considered independent contractors under the law, and independent contractors are prohibited from unionizing. So, as AI is deployed in the fashion industry, models won't be able to receive any sort of protection.

The most pressing issue we're seeing today is AI being used in e-commerce and commercial modeling, which is often a model's most reliable source of income.

New York model Ashia Amave finds the rise in AI unnerving. "I don't like robots," she laughs. "And when I first saw Levi's announcement, I was like, 'Where's the fake model? I almost didn't realize.'"

Having worked as a commercial and e-commerce model for lifestyle brands, Amave takes pride in what she's achieved. "I know so many people who when they saw someone like me in Target, someone who they know, that made a huge impact on them," she says. "It was bigger than my size and my skin complexion  it was about seeing someone who lives in Brooklyn and lives authentically in Target. Using a computer-generated person and checking a box to display diversity with an AI model doesn't have the same effect."

Since Levi's initial announcement, the company released an additional statement: "AI, more broadly, can potentially assist us by allowing us to publish more images of our products We are not scaling back our plans for live photo shoots, the use of live models or our commitment to working with diverse models." Amave is not convinced.

"I think it's lazy to use an AI model for diversity purposes because, I mean, just look at any agency in New York City  this isn't a problem of not being able to find the right person to wear their clothes," she argues. "There's more than enough people. There's more than enough body types."

Most companies creating AI models seem to consider diversity and inclusion to be varying skin colors and body types. Still, one group often left out of the conversation are people with disabilities.

"AI can't champion diversity when AI is inherently ableist," Stephanie Thomas (a.k.a. @disabilityfashionstylist) explains.

Thomas is the founder of Cur8able and a stylist, having worked on major adaptive fashion campaigns for brands like Nike, Zappos and Kohl's. "This technology is developed by mostly non-disabled people who often see disability as something to be fixed or cured," she says. "Being a champion of diversity includes having an understanding of the various demographics you're serving. This includes educating sales associates on dressing people with disabilities."

AI-generated models Photo: Courtesy of Lalaland.ai

With any new technology comes a new set problems, with legal protections often taking years to catch up. The proliferation of AI  and the ensuing issues relating to trust  is no different.

"The pendulum swung towards e-commerce during the Covid-19 lockdowns due to necessity, and AI could really just force this swing back into the physical world, right? People may not trust the pictures they're seeing online anymore," Jena Nesbit, a fashion and textile designer with a background in trend forecasting, tells me.

She participated in the inaugural AI Fashion Week in April, and her recent exploration of AI has led her to question the fashion industry's future: "This could really change the way the retail landscape works. People aren't going to have a baseline level of trust in the presentation of the product because they don't know if it's really a physical person that's actually had to put that garment on."

It's difficult to believe that companies are turning to AI models to build trust or showcase diversity. At the crux of what makes AI models so tempting isn't integrity  it's the bottom line.

"AI models can be built and programmed quickly, allowing retailers and brands to showcase their goods more efficiently than they could with conventional photo shoots or fashion shows," explains Andy Ku, co-founder and CEO of Altava, a metaverse platform. "For both brands and customers, this can help cut costs and save time."

When used cautiously, AI could be a powerful tool to harness. However, history has shown us that we have a tendency to abuse technology and run it into the ground. Sometimes it's just a fleeting trend that threatens the environment (hello, crypto) or goes down in flames. (NFTs, anyone?) Other times, it can be sinister, resulting in irreversible damage to the DNA of society (like how the YouTube algorithm lead to unprecedented radicalization). Considering our technological past, what does the future of AI and modeling look like?

Geraldine Wharry, a London-based futurist trend forecaster, tells me that she doesn't like to speculate on what might happen, but that it's time to consider the implications of capitalism when we use technology.

"We're in this constant growth model, where companies want to save money, want to cut costs... But where is this going?," she asks. "Is it going to get to the point where people will no longer have jobs so they can't afford to buy a pair of Levi's jeans anyway?"

Billion-dollar companies touting cost-saving measures isn't a noble cause. But for small designers, it can be the difference between releasing or abandoning a collection. Using AI to propel independent creatives is something Drishti Gangwani, founder of the shopping destination Closr, is excited about.

"I'm honestly a vomit-worthy optimist," she quips over the phone. "And my hope is that it'll really allow emerging designers to propel themselves and beat the system in a way that they haven't really been able to do before. After all, there are so many barriers to success in the industry."

Gangwani explains that the cost of e-commerce shoots and ghost imagery (photographs of clothes that look as if an invisible model is wearing them) can be prohibitive for small brands. She hopes that developments in generative AI and synthetic models will mean that these labels will no longer have to forego this, and that the playing field will be leveled.

But where does this leave human models? Model and sustainability advocate Isabella Charlotta Poppius isn't too worried.

"I don't see models being replaced by AI, especially when a significant part of a model's career involves having an authentic voice, connecting with fans, speaking out on issues and even sharing their personal dating life," she says. "Can an AI model plant trees for a charity or be caught in public canoodling with Harry Styles in the streets of Tokyo? I think not."

However, Shaw Bernard, founder of Strut Models in Brooklyn, is less optimistic: "We should be very concerned about the rise of AI and its use in the fashion world. I was recently asked if Strut would consider getting into the AI space, and I'm not ready for that. I know that it's inevitable. I stand by the fact that modeling is an art form, and there are certain skill sets required like emoting that AI cannot do or imitate in my opinion."

View the original article to see embedded media.

Other models are adopting an "if you can't beat them, join them" attitude. Eva Herzigova revealed on April 25 that she's now a Metahuman  meaning the 50-year-old was scanned and participated in a motion-capture shoot to acquire her iconic runway walk, as well as a multitude of facial expressions, resulting in an avatar created by virtual production studio Dimension Studios, agency Unsigned Group and Metahuman, an open-source tool designed by Epic Games. As a Metahuman, brands will be able to dress and style her in ad campaigns.

"This is just the beginning," says Costas Kazantzis, the lead creative technologist at London College of Fashion's Fashion Innovation Agency. "With increased interest in immersive fashion moments, brands are expected to face the challenge of casting digital twins of diverse models."

A world where models can work remotely by renting out their AI-created selves is a fascinating possibility. However, Kazantzis warns that "we need a legal framework to govern these practices and ensure that models are treated fairly in terms of the usage of their avatar."

"3D assets can be easily imported and manipulated across 3D software and game engines," he continues. "Therefore, it's absolutely necessary to create an infrastructure that deals with reproduction issues and usage rights accordingly."

It's difficult to imagine a fashion industry without a human element. If AI can mimic the failures, complexity, ugliness and unpredictability that has led to some of the biggest fashion moments, then where does that leave us?

Despite confessing that she's worried about an "I, Robot" future, Amave feels assured that it's her humanity and creativity that will continue to outweigh and outshine anything that technology can do.

"I really believe being me is a superpower," she says. "It's my best asset."

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One of Americas foremost experts in Italian wines offers tips for how to discover bottles from your next favorite Italian wine region.

When it comes to Italian wine, there are few people who know more about it than Bobby Stuckey.

As the cofounder of Frasca Food and Wine, which focuses on the cuisine and wines of Friuli, in northeastern Italy, Stuckey has been a champion of Italys lesser-known wine regions. Stuckey recalls, When we started in 2004, no one knew what Friulian wines were. When I said what I was planning to do, friends in the business used to say, Dude, we have to have an intervention. They were like, What? Youre moving to Boulder and opening a what?

These days, the rest of the world has caught up with him. Thanks to a renaissance in Italian winemaking and a surge of interest among American wine-lovers, theres never been a better time to explore the world of Italian wines.

Italian wine has changed so much, Stuckey says. Think about the renaissance thats been going on in Chianti. Or Mount Etna! When I started, Mount Etna didnt even exist. There were like four producers. The only thing people knew was that it was a volcano.

Stuckey has noticed that his seminars have changed, too, because American wine-lovers know so much more about Italian wine these days. Look at how many more people travel to Sicily now or travel to other parts of Italy, he says. And Italys this amazingly special place. If someone goes and lives in Paris for a year, theyll never in a million years think theyre Parisian. An American can go to Sicily for a week, and theyll decide theyre an expert  and I say that with total affection. Thats just the way Italy makes people feel. The country just bear-hugs you so much.

Stuckey has four basic tips for people who want to start feeling that big hug from Italy by drinking Italian wine:

Start with a wine you already love

The best thing you can do is tell people  sommeliers, the staff at a wine store  what wines you know you love, even if its not an Italian wine. If theyre paying attention, youre going to get great guidance. If you love Champagne, try a Franciacorta the next time youre in a restaurant. Pinot Noir fans should absolutely check out Etna Rossos from Sicily. Like bright, unoaked whites? Vermentino from Liguria is great, or Pecorino from Abruzzo, or Friulano from, of course, Friuli.

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Remember that Italian reds have a different edge to them

You can be a Burgundy lover, a California Pinot Noir lover, and then when you have a Barolo for the first time, it might freak you out a little. Italian reds tend to be a little more tannic and tart; theyre always at their best with a meal.

Revisit Chianti!

The renaissance of quality going on there is just wild. It sounds boring to say it, but really, there is so much happening in Chianti right now: a lot of young, talented winemakers; single-vineyard wines that really express where theyre from. Its an exciting time. Look for producers like Tenuta di Carleone, Monteraponi, Istine, Le Boncie  The list really goes on and on.

Dont forget sparkling

Italians drink more sparkling per capita than anybody. But dont just stick to Prosecco. Franciacorta is great, but theres even more out there than that. The Trentino region has some excellent sparkling. Benanti and Murgo, down in Sicily, are making great sparkling wines.

Master Sommelier Bobby Stuckey cofounded Colorados Frasca Food and Wine in 2004 and has been a speaker at wine seminars at the F&W Classic since 2001. Before that, he was the wine director at The Little Nell in Aspen, Colorado.



Top Illustration by VISBII

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Read the original article on Food & Wine.
Smoke is seen in Khartoum, Sudan, Saturday after the ceasefire between the Sudanese Army and Rapid Support Forces failed (AP Photo/Marwan Ali) (AP)

All US government personnel were evacuated from Washingtons embassy in Khartoum, as well as a small number of diplomatic personnel from other countries, US officials said on Saturday.

The operation evacuated fewer than 100 people, the officials told reporters.

We evacuated all of the US personnel and dependents assigned to embassy Khartoum, said under secretary of state for management John Bass.

President Joe Biden said earlier that the US military had completed the evacuation of American embassy personnel in Sudan.

He called for an end to the unconscionable violence in the war-torn country and thanked the US troops who extracted the trapped American staffers as Washington shuttered its mission in Khartoum indefinitely.

The staffers were airlifted to an undisclosed location in Ethiopia, according to two US officials familiar with the mission. US troops carried out the operation as fighting between two armed Sudanese commanders  which has killed more than 400, put the nation at risk of collapse, and could have consequences far beyond its borders  moved into a second week.

I am proud of the extraordinary commitment of our embassy staff, who performed their duties with courage and professionalism and embodied Americas friendship and connection with the people of Sudan, Mr Biden said in a statement. I am grateful for the unmatched skill of our service members who successfully brought them to safety.

He also thanked Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Saudi Arabia for their help with the mission. Mr Biden ordered American troops to evacuate embassy personnel after receiving a recommendation earlier on Saturday from his national security team with no end in sight to the fighting.

This tragic violence in Sudan has already cost the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians. Its unconscionable and it must stop, he said. The belligerent parties must implement an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and respect the will of the people of Sudan.

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Many are still trapped in the country. The State Department suspended operations at the embassy due to the dire security situation. It was not clear when the embassy might resume functioning.

The widespread fighting has caused significant numbers of civilian deaths and injuries and damage to essential infrastructure and posed an unacceptable risk to our embassy personnel, secretary of state Antony Blinken said in a statement. The fighting erupted on 15 April between two factions whose leaders are vying for control over the country.

The violence included an unprovoked attack on an American diplomatic convoy and numerous incidents in which foreign diplomats and aid workers were killed, injured or assaulted.

Army chief General Abdel Fattah Burhan said he would facilitate the evacuation of American, British, Chinese and French citizens and diplomats from Sudan after speaking with the leaders of several countries that had requested help. The rival Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, in a Twitter posting said it cooperated with US forces.

Saudi Arabia announced the successful repatriation of some of its citizens on Saturday, sharing footage of Saudi nationals and other foreigners welcomed with chocolate and flowers as they stepped off an apparent evacuation ship at the Saudi port of Jeddah.

The RSF, which has been battling the Sudanese army, said the US rescue mission involved six aircraft. The RSF, led by Gen Mohammed Hamad Dagolo, said it is cooperating with all diplomatic missions and that it is committed to a three-day cease-fire that was declared at sundown Friday.

Most major airports have become battlegrounds and movement out of the capital has proven intensely dangerous. The two rivals have dug in, signaling they would resume the fighting after the declared three-day truce.

Questions have swirled over how the mass rescues of foreign citizens would unfold, with Sudans main international airport closed and millions of people sheltering indoors.

Additional reporting from agencies
QUITO, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso will face an impeachment trial on Tuesday for alleged embezzlement, Virgilio Saquicela, president of the National Assembly, said Sunday.

According to Saquicela, the trial will begin at 10:00 a.m. local time (1500 GMT) in keeping with legislative regulations after a motion to hold impeachment proceedings was approved last week.

Lasso, a 67-year-old former banker, is accused by the opposition of embezzling funds through a contract signed between state-owned oil tanker fleet Flota Petrolera Ecuatoriana and the privately-owned company Amazonas Tanker, for the rental of vessels to ship hydrocarbons.

The contract was signed in 2018 and renewed in 2020, before Lasso became president in May 2021, but his opponents claimed he allowed the business arrangement to continue despite knowing it meant losses for the state.

After the trial, the National Assembly must convene another plenary session, where lawmakers will vote for or against Lasso's impeachment and a possible ouster from office. The session could be held as soon as May 20.

Lasso, who will complete two years in office on May 24, said he would appear before lawmakers to defend himself against what he described as a "parliamentary coup d'etat." 
John Corbett and Nia Vardalos in My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3

It has been 21 years since Nia Vardalos and the My Big Fat Greek Wedding cast gave the world one of the best romantic comedies of all time , one that beat the odds and became a massive success . The unforgettable rom-com that follows 30-year-old Greek-American Toula Portokalos as she tries to get her family to accept her non-Greek love interest has become a beloved classic over the years, and even spawned a sequel : 2016s My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2.

Later in 2023, Vardalos will take audiences on a new adventure with My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, a movie that will see the whole Portokalos family take a massive trip to their native Greece. There is still some time before threequel comes to your local theater, but theres quite a bit we know about the movie at this point in time.

What Is The My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 Release Date?

The main cast of My Big, Fat, Greek, Wedding.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 is set to open in theaters on September 8th, which will honestly be here before you know it. By the time the movie comes out this fall, it will be a little more than seven years since fans last saw Toula Portokalos-Miller and her extensive family. However, this isnt nearly as long as the span between the first two films in the franchise, which was around 14 years (13 if you count the short-lived sitcom continuation, My Big Fat Greek Life).

There is no word on when the sequel will make its streaming debut, but the movie will most likely be available for anyone with a Peacock Premium subscription at some point in the future, considering distributor Focus Features is under the same corporate umbrella as the platform.

Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, And Other Returning Actors Make Up The My Big Fat Greek Wedding Cast

John Corbett an Nia Vardalos in My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2

When the third film opens in theaters later on in 2023, it will be bringing with it much of the cast that made the first two movies so much fun. When announcing the release date earlier in the year, Focus Features announced that Nia Vardalos and John Corbett would be back to lead the cast as Fotoula Toula Portokalos-Miller and Ian Miller, respectively. On top of that, Elena Kampouris, who played their daughter, Paris Miller, in My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, will be reprising her role, as will other actors from the first two movies.

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This means you can expect to see Louis Mandylor, Maria Vacratsis, Andrea Martin, Elias Kacavas, Gia Carides, Joey Fatone, and Melina Kotselou all back in action after all these years. However, the movie will be without one of its biggest stars, as Michael Constantine, who played Toulas protective father in the first two installments, passed away in September 2021 .

The Movie Follows The Portokalos Family As They Return To Greece For A Family Reunion

The My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 cast

The first movie followed Toula as she prepared for her wedding, the second installment centered on the Greek-American woman as she tried to come to terms with her daughter going to college, and now the upcoming movie will stick with her as she travels to Greece for a family reunion following the death of her father. During an appearance on The Talk in November 2022, Nia Vardalos filled the hosts in on a little secret when she revealed that the Portokalos family was going back to Greece.

During a presentation for My Big Fat Greek Wedding at CinemaCon 2023 (via Variety ), it was revealed Costas "Gus" Portokalos last wish prior to his death was for the family to visit his childhood village to reconnect with the familys roots.

The My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 Trailer Teases A Hilarious Greek Adventure

The My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 cast

In May 2023, Focus Features gave the world its first official look at My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 with the release of the debut trailer. The fun, vibrant, and lively trailer, which shows the Portokalos family as they travel to Greece, has all the charm and characters weve come to know and love over the past 20-plus years, but in a whole new environment:

With lovely tributes to characters (and actors) no longer with us, a whole lot of day-drinking, and Toulas customary narration, the trailer feels very much in step with the movies that came before it, while also offering hints at new faces, romance, and all kinds of surprises.

Michael Constantine Told Nia Vardalos To Pursue The Project Prior To His 2021 Death

Michael Constantine in My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Though Michael Constantine passed away before his character could show the world even more uses for Windex in My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, the late actor played a role in helping Nia Vardalos when she was planning the movie a few years ago. Shortly after Constantines passing in September 2021, Vardalos paid tribute to him in an Instagram post that also shared how her on-screen dad told her to pursue the project, though he wouldnt be able to reprise his role:

He had told me he wouldnt be able to join us for the third film and his wish was that we go on. I wrote the screenplay to reflect Michaels decision and will always treasure his last messages to me, hoping we were filming soon.  We miss you Michael, thank you for bringing my words to life with such passion and accuracy, you will always be with us.

Judging by what weve heard about this movie, Vardalos was able to make the late actors presence be felt in a meaningful way.

Nia Vardalos Helmed My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, Her Second Directorial Effort

Nia Vardalos and John Corbett in My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Vardalos became an overnight sensation upon the release of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and not just for her iconic portrayal of Toula Portokalos. In addition to starring in the surprise hit rom-com, she also wrote the movie, and even received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. The talent would go on to write 2016s My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, which was directed by Kirk Jones in place of Joel Zwick. But, this time around, she not only wrote and starred in the movie, she also directed it.

In a June 2022 Instagram video, Vardalos revealed that not only was the movie in production in Greece, she was also sitting in the directors chair for the first time in the franchise. This is her second directorial effort, with the first being the 2009 romantic comedy I Hate Valentines Day, where she also co-starred with John Corbett.

The Greece-Based Shoot Wrapped In August 2022

The My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 cast

Production on My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 wrapped in August 2022, a couple of months after cameras started rolling on the Greece-based shoot. As is the case for a lot of news surrounding the movie, this tidbit of information was revealed by Vardalos in an Instagram post in which the writer/director/actress said she was overwhelmed with emotions.

In subsequent months, she shared images from throughout the post-production process showing that a movie that was once not a guarantee was well on its way to cinemas around the world.

Related:

The Best Romantic Comedies To Stream On Peacock Right Now
Brooks Nader was photographed by James Macari in Dominican Republic. Swimsuit by Its Now Cool. Earrings, necklaces, bracelets and ring by Gorjana.

Its not a stretch to say that Brooks Nader makes a good first impression. Five years ago at a Swim Search open casting call in Miami an event that attracted 10,000 applicants Nader, then a 21-year-old aspiring model, found herself being interviewed by none other than Christie Brinkley. The SI Swimsuit legend was so taken with Naders personality and charisma that Brinkley essentially gave her a golden ticket, putting her in the round of 16 on the spot. She ultimately was photographed for the 2019 Swimsuit Issue and justified Brinkleys decision by being named the winner of the competition in a public vote.

That was the beginning of a mutually beneficial relationship that has continued to grow. And it reaches new heights with this issue, in which Nader becomes the second Swim Search alum to grace the cover, after Camille Kostek in 2019.

Since that first Swim Search shoot, Nader has strived to amplify the message of the SI Swimsuit brand while also working to develop her own. Shes created a jewelry collection with Electric Picks (which she is wearing on the cover) and is an investor in DIBS Beauty.

And shes not the only model looking to make the Nader name stand out. Her three younger sisters Mary Holland, Grace Ann and Sarah Janeare all now pursuing modeling careers in New York City, which Brooks also calls home.

Back in Louisiana when the girls were growing up, there was no doubt who was the leader of the pack. I was always the queen bee, the boss, Nader jokes. Literally, they were like, You play Beyonce, and well play your fans. Everyone would sit there and cheer for me. One would be paparazzi. [Its] so crazy, but nothing has changed.

Ive tried to pave the way for them, giving advice, setting them up for success and seeing how they handle it. Showing my sisters the whole process, I think it empowers them to see my journey and how Ive gotten to where I am now.

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Naders family bonds feel especially tight with the release of every Swimsuit Issue. My grandmother goes to Barnes & Noble every day until she sees it and buys all the copies, she says. Its those things that make me so proud that Im making my Louisiana peeps so happy. It makes my heart happy.

This article originally published in the 2023 SI Swimsuit Issue. Buy the issue here.
His fabric-covered wings swung across enemy lines.

Bullets ripped through trees below, but Maxwell Honemond hugged the canopy, dodging birds like different enemy fire. It was his job to see.

Although he was armed with a .38-caliber pistol, his greatest weapon was more likely the aging radio fashioned far before 1943. The World War II observation pilot spotted for the Allies' ground artillery, watching where colossal rounds hit enemy positions to call back direction adjustments.

The American did this for most of his time in Europe. He would not see himself reflected in many of the soldiers he met during the war, and the second lieutenant would be greeted by systematic racism when he survived it.

Honemond was one of some 1,000 Tuskegee Airmen, the nations first Black pilots trained for war, and more than 350 such pilots deployed overseas. Their bomber escorts went on to set some of the lowest loss records of all fighter groups.

But this pilots journey started in a familiar place.

The Delaware Airpark hosts Delaware State University's aviation program flight operations, about a 10-minute drive from the main campus in Dover, pictured here on April 18, 2023. DSU currently maintains a fleet of 26 university-owned planes and several flight simulators.

It started in a quiet corner of Dover, Delaware, with flight training offered to Black civilians for the first time in American history. It started with a late-1930s flight school that would set the tone for an entire program on the same grounds in the next century. It started at Delaware State University.

Today the quiet airpark hosts an aviation program graduating the most pilots of color in the nation, according to university President Tony Allen, with an outfit unlike any other among Historically Black Colleges and Universities. And from those grounds fastened with historic roots, its taking off like never before.

DSU Aviation has tripled since the 2016 appointment of retired Lt. Col. Michael Hales, director of DSU Aviation and 25-year veteran of the U.S. Army, Allen said.

See the machine: Helicopter training to take off for Delaware State's aviation program

He told that to a crowd gathered this month to hear Delaware State Aviation announce a partnership with U.S. Army Cadet Command. A first for an HBCU, helicopter flight training is set to join the professional pilot and aviation management disciplines. The Cabri G2 helicopters will share Delaware Airpark with a fleet of 26 university-owned planes, several flight simulators and a packed program.

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The spring is expected to see one of the largest graduating classes. Then students will join a field with alumni already at every major U.S. airline  while a pilot shortage persists across the entire industry.

Retired Lt. Col. Michael A. Hales, director of Aviation Programs at Delaware State University, announces on Thursday, April 20, 2023, that an agreement between the university and U.S. Army will be expanding to include helicopter training beginning in the fall.

The year 1939 came with a different shortage.

The Civilian Pilot Training Act was signed as the United States reeled for more pilots ahead of a brewing world war. Under pressure from Black press and the NAACP, President Franklin Roosevelt would allow Black Americans to be included.

Six HBCUs answered that call, until the military consolidated the effort at Tuskegee University. Honemond and two other Tuskegee Airmen completed the civilian pilot training in Dover before reporting to Alabama.

For Delaware State, the mission continues.

'I wish I could have the power to fly'

Evan Knox is a freshman studying aviation in the professional pilot concentration at Delaware State University in Dover.

Multiple pillowcases hugged him tightly.

Two under him, another at his back, the pillows allowed 12-year-old Evan Knox to see over the cockpits instrument panel, reach rudder pedals and fly a Cessna Skyhawk. His dads job had the family flying across the country since he was 3  but taking off from this Oakland County airport in Pontiac, Michigan, marked the beginning of his own training.

It was such a crazy experience. It was so freeing and death-defying, Knox recalled. Back in those moments, flying reminded the pre-teen of superheroes.

When most people think of being a superhero, the powers theyd want to have, its I want super speed, I want super strength. But, you know, another popular answer is I wish I could have the power to fly, he said.

And I'm actually doing it.

The Michigan native hadnt even heard of Delaware State until he began a search for an HBCU experience and programs for aviation. His inner 12-year-old was ecstatic to discover an intersection in Dover.

Now, the freshman has ink drying on a commitment to Alaska Airlines after he graduates. And that isnt even unique.

As of fall 2022, 100 students study in the professional pilot concentration at Delaware State, while 41 study aviation management. Managers come out qualified for advanced training to fill the vacancies in Air Traffic Control, Federal Aviation Administration, regional and major airline companies and more. Pilot hopefuls complete their FAA requirements for the private pilot license, instrument rating, commercial license, multi-engine and certified flight instructor ratings while earning a bachelors degree.

From Fall 2022: Colleges are shrinking. But HBCUs like Delaware State are riding a wave of their own

Campus safety issues: DSU Police Chief Bobby Cummings set to step down after student unrest

Student flight lab fees total roughly $58,000 on average at Delaware State, according to Hales, independent of tuition. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University would run you over $90,000, many other programs in the $60,000 range.

That price had Eliana Rothwell packing her Subaru in Colorado.

My parents were definitely a little bit shocked at first, the senior said with a laugh. The native of Mexico had already moved across one country, but in winter 2019 she decided to do it again to chase a dream of flying. By her first semester in Dover, she was in the air.

Eliana Rothwell is a senior at Delaware State University studying aviation in the professional pilot concentration, set to graduate in 2023.

Hales likes to think his program doesnt waste time.

"For us, as soon as the drop-add period is over, that's when we start flight training, he said, noting many aviation programs dont have students in flight until their sophomore year. And then it's full throttle."

Students must keep a minimum semester GPA of 2.75, remaining in good standing, or they might be pulled from their flight training schedule. Hales said he feels the need to guard the gate with a rigorous program, while still aiming at its core to give opportunities to underprivileged students or those who may never have found access to aviation.

Ultimately, if you get on an airplane and you happen to pass the pilots in the cockpit or standing there, and you see one has a DSU lanyard on... I want you to be able to say, You know what, I'm safe. I can sit in the back of that airplane and actually go to sleep in comfort, Hales said.

Historically, he knows the program has struggled to spread the word.

So that's probably true  its the best-kept secret in the state of Delaware  but I'm trying to change that, Hales said. I want our students and potential students to know this is an opportunity.

Because theyre getting jobs.

Expanding on a legacy

Retired Lt. Col. Michael Hales, director of DSU Aviation and 25-year veteran of the U.S. Army, shares an old slide from a presentation on the history of Maxwell Honemond  one of some 1,000 Tuskegee Airmen, the nations first Black pilots trained for war, and a graduate of today's Delaware State University in Dover, Delaware, in 1947.

More than 80 fellow Tuskegee Airmen died overseas, but Maxwell Honemond came home.

The graduate of Delaware State Class of 1947 left the armed forces, however  so the racism of 1950s America would bar him from continuing any other career as a pilot, Hales said. He worked for the U.S. Post Office and later as an educator.

Hales still loves telling Honemond's story, he said, sinking into a boardroom chair in the Daniel E. Coons Hangar after a brief history lesson. His iPad screen still showed one of Honemonds report cards and photos from the 40s.

Today at least, he gets to share another ending. Airlines are leaning on our students, he said.

Alaska Airlines recruited Evan Knox through its True North development program, partnered with the university. In 2021, United Airlines announced a partnership with DSU, marking its goal to train 5,000 new pilots by 2030 and have at least half be women or people of color.

Eliana Rothwell will be one of them. In a few years, shed love to find herself behind a 787 Dreamliner.

In 2022, a retired United Airlines pilot and his wife made a $100,000 donation to support flight training at Delaware State. It was the largest cash donation in the 37-year history of the program, thanks to Bob and Karen Fischer of Lewes.

Taking to the sky: We took the first flight on Avelo from New Castle Airport. Here's what it was like.

ICYMI: Delaware State drops campus safety coalition NDAs amid pressure: 'We went too far'

A favorite regional airline for students starting their careers or seeking internships, Republic Airways made a $30,000 contribution in 2022. Piedmont Airlines sparked another regional partnership, offering students a streamed path to American Airlines. One Delaware State alumni chapter in Florida has begun to sponsor students.

All of these links have helped to offset student flight lab fees.

In 2019, a $3.4 million grant from the Delaware Higher Education Economic Development allowed the outfit to purchase 11 planes  10 Vulcanair V1.0 single-engine aircraft and one twin-engine Piper Seminole.

Hales knows more will be needed.

I foresee we'll have a bottleneck in our multi-engine flight training, Hales said, already eyeing another plane with two engines to join five in his own fleet of Red Tails. That's an example of trying to see down the road, so to speak, what could be friction points in our aviation training.

Evan Knox is a freshman studying aviation in the professional pilot concentration at Delaware State University in Dover. Here he poses after receiving his instrument pilot license.

A shortage of instructional personnel and needed improvements in facilities join his list. Many program graduates already return to Delaware State to work as flight instructors, gathering the needed hours to step up as a regional airline pilot.

Hales wants stable growth. Its easy to imagine the pressure of legacy.

I'd never been around an organization that was so steeped in that history and lineage before  that really hadn't even known about it itself, and didn't publicize it, Hales said.

The possibilities pulled him in, after over two decades of career with the Army, much of it overseas.

We're competing against much larger aviation programs, and we're doing things that they aren't doing, Hales said. And that's what really drew me to this position. And it still draws me: the potential.

Have a story to tell? Kelly Powers covers race, culture and equity for the USA TODAY Network's Northeast Region and Delaware Online, with a focus on education. Contact her at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191, and follow her on Twitter @kpowers01.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: From Tuskegee Airmen, to commercial airline pilots: DSU aviation grows
South Carolinians can breathe a little easier on Earth Day this year with the knowledge that their state is one of the least polluted, according to a new report at least.

The annual Earth Day returns on Saturday as it has for more than 50 years. Its an international celebration organized to promote and demonstrate environmental awareness. As such, QuoteWizard by LendingTree has released a new study that ranks the states in regards to pollution.

South Carolina ranking

So, how well does South Carolina stack up to the rest of the U.S.?

South Carolina ranks 10th among least polluted states. The report shows that the Palmetto State has good air quality for 87% of the days during the year. The state also had 0.0% of its population impacted by water pollution violations in 2022, the report states.

Hawaii took the top spot on the report for least polluted states. New Mexico was ranked the most polluted state.

Pollution report methodology

The report is based on a composite score of the percent of good air quality days and the percent of the population impacted by drinking water violations, according to Americas Health Rankings by the United Health Foundation. Analysts evaluated the Environmental Protection Agencys Air Quality Index measurements from 2022 to determine the percent of good days for each state.

To determine drinking water quality, the report used Americas Health Rankings 2021 data on drinking water violations.

Newer SC water pollution violations

The report does not take into account water pollution in South Carolina during 2023. State regulators revealed in March a list of water systems with forever chemicals that exceed a proposed new federal drinking water limit of 4 parts per trillion.

The forever-chemical levels in South Carolina were not substantially higher in drinking water than the the new proposed federal limit for the most part, the list shows. However, some of the water systems were significantly above the proposed limit.

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Forever chemicals were developed in the 1940s for a variety of consumer products and some have since been found to be toxic if consumed regularly over a period of years.

10 most polluted U.S. states

Here are the 10 most polluted states, according to the report.
An empty plot of sand on an artificial island in Dubai has sold for $34m, in a record-breaking deal that has made its former owner a 242 per cent profit on the undeveloped property.

The land in question is located on Jumeirah Bay Island, a man-made island accessible by bridge from the Dubai mainland, according to Bloomberg, which reports that the 24,500-square-foot space sold for 125m dirhams on 19 April.

According to the outlet, the sandy property was sold by Umar Kamani, the former CEO of online retailer PrettyLittleThing, who purchased the land two years ago for nearly $10m.

After leaving the plot of land untouched for two years, Kamani sold the property to an unnamed buyer, who doesnt live in the United Arab Emirates but who reportedly wants to build a family vacation home on the sand, Bloomberg reported.

The sale, which real estate brokerage Knight Frank described as a new high at 5,100 dirhams per square foot, means that the real estate mogul made a profit of $24m just by holding onto the land for two years.

Its 125 million for sand, Andrew Cummings, head of prime residential at Knight Frank in Dubai, told Bloomberg. Everything thats been making the press has predominantly been spectacular villas, its been incredible penthouses and all this stuff. But this is just a massive record breaker for a land plot.

The exorbitant purchase price is partly due to the high demand for land on the exclusive horseshoe-shaped island, which is also known as the Bulgari island, and which is home to skyscrapers, luxury hotels and villas, and a yacht marina.

According to one of the brokers who worked on the deal, because there are such limited options available for people to choose from on the island, sellers have a lot of control over the prices.

Sellers are in quite a strong position at the moment to dictate where the prices are, because there are such limited options available for people to choose from, especially beachfront, Knight Franks Lyndsey Redstone said.

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The plot of land was also one of just 128 offered on Jumeirah Bay Island by developer Meraas Holding, which stipulated that the plots could not be divided up, according to the outlet, which makes the property even more exclusive.

The nine-bedroom penthouse in Bulgari Lighthouse tower, an apartment building being built on the island, sold for $111m in February.

In addition to the exclusivity of the land, Dubais current real estate boom is also due to other factors, such as an influx of Russian customers, according to Katie Burnell, associate director at Savills Middle East, based in Dubai, who previously spoke to the BBC.

There are a lot of restrictions on Russians on where they can reside or buy property. They face no such problems in the UAE, she said. Here they have been able to do business and operate financially.

Because of this convenience, they are really not focusing on the price point in the property market and are willing to pay the price.

Others have purchased properties or land in Dubai because of its lack of property tax on owners and the citys low crime rate, which make it an appealing location for real estate investment.

Kamani, whose father Mahmud Kamani co-founded online retailer Boohoo in 2006, also owns the identical plot of land next to the property he sold, according to Fortune. However, the fashion mogul does not plan to hold on to this land either, which he reportedly plans to sell for 135m dirhams ($36m).
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Tuesday that shell join Harvard University for a semester as she takes on two fellowships after exiting her countrys Parliament.

Ardern said shes incredibly humbled to join Harvard Kennedy School as its 2023 Angelopoulos Global Public Leaders Fellow and as a Hauser Leader at the schools Center for Public Leadership.

Jacinda Ardern showed the world strong and empathetic political leadership, Kennedy School Dean Douglas Elmendorf said in a statement Tuesday. She earned respect far beyond the shores of her country, and she will bring important insights for our students and will generate vital conversations about the public policy choices facing leaders at all levels.

The ex-prime minister will also work with the Berkman Klein Center at the Harvard Law School as its first Knight Tech Governance Leadership Fellow, the school said.

Its rare and precious for a head of state to be able to immerse deeply in a complex and fast-moving digital policy issue both during and after their service, said Professor Jonathan Zittrain, the co-founder and faculty director of Berkman Klein Center, in a statement.

Ardern said the center has been an incredibly important partner as New Zealand worked to address violent extremism online after a white supremacist shooter killed 51 people at two mosques in New Zealands Christchurch in 2019.

While Ill be gone for a semester (helpfully the one that falls during the NZ general election!) Ill be coming back at the end of the fellowships. After all, New Zealand is home! Ardern said in an Instagram post.

After more than five years as prime minister, Ardern announced her resignation in January  several months before New Zealands general election later this year  saying she no longer had enough in the tank to continue leading the island nation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Rick Gust of Appleton kayaks on the Fox River near Sunset Park in Kimberly.

Reader question: Where in the Fox Cities can I find public kayak launches? Is there a fee to use them?

Answer: I checked with eight Fox Cities communities, and together they provide 12 public kayak launches on the Fox River or Little Lake Butte des Morts. Additional launches are in the works.

None of the communities charge a fee to use the launches.

Neenah Parks and Recreation Director Mike Kading said kayak launches  he prefers the term quiet watercraft launches to also account for canoes, stand-up paddleboards, etc.  rank high on the list of requested park and recreation amenities.

"It isn't maybe No. 1," Kading told me, "but it's certainly in the top five."

The cost of a kayak launch depends on the model, size and site preparation but can reach $50,000.

Neenah will add a kayak launch this summer on a pier at Arrowhead Park. Kading said the purchase of the gangway and launch cost $47,000. "This does not take into account the development of the balance of the pier structure," he said.

More: Fox River ranks high in importance, fifth in length and area in Wisconsin

Watchdog Q&A: Duke Behnke answers your local government questions

Here are the locations of public kayak launches in the area

Appleton: Lutz Park, 1320 S. Lutz Drive, and Telulah Park, 1300 E. Newberry St. Both provide access to the Fox River.

Neenah: Shattuck Park, 210 E. Wisconsin Ave., provides access to the Fox River. Herb & Dolly Smith Park, 167 N. Lake St., offers access to Little Lake Butte des Morts.

As noted above, Arrowhead Park, 355 Millview Drive, will join the list this summer. It has access to Little Lake Butte des Morts.

Other Neenah locations that paddlers commonly use, though there is no dedicated launch, are Doty Park, 701 Lincoln St.; Recreation Park, 600 S. Park Ave.; Fresh Air Park, 495 Maple Lane; and the east end of Wisconsin Avenue. Doty provides access to the Fox River, and the others provide access to Lake Winnebago.

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Kayakers use a launch at Shattuck Park in Neenah at the start of the 2018 Park-to-Park Paddle.

Menasha: Jefferson Park, 915 Third St.; Menasha Marina, 1 Center St.; and the Fox Cities Trestle at the west end of Broad Street. The launches provide access to the Fox River and Menasha canal.

Fox Crossing: Fritse Park, 937 N. Lake St., has access to Little Lake Butte des Morts.

There is no fee to use the launch, but there is a fee to park a boat or kayak trailer in the parking lot.

Director of Parks and Recreation Amanda Geiser said Fox Crossing plans to install a launch at Butte des Morts Park, 301 Frances St., yet this year or next year to provide a second access point to Little Lake Butte des Morts. The quote for the launch is about $45,000. "That does not include any site preparation," she said.

Kimberly: Sunset Park, 200 Sunset Park Road, provides access to the Fox River.

While the launch is free for paddlers who bring their own kayak, the village also has a rental site next to the launch in partnership with Kayak Wisconsin. For a fee, paddlers can rent a single or tandem kayak through www.kayakwis.com. Rentals include a life jacket, paddle and the use of a dry bag for the trip.

SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: Our subscribers make this coverage possible. Click to see The Post-Crescent's special offers at postcrescent.com/subscribe and download our app on the App Store or Google Play.

Little Chute: Heesakker Park, 1509 E. Lincoln Ave., has access to the Fox River.

The village partners with Kayak Wisconsin to rent kayaks for anyone who doesn't have their own.

Combined Locks: The village doesn't have public property on the Fox River, so it has no kayak launch. "We have one listed in our comprehensive plan should we be lucky enough to obtain public access to the river," Village Administrator Racquel Shampo-Giese said.

Kaukauna: 1000 Islands Environmental Center, 1000 Beaulieu Court, and Trestle Park under the Lawe Street bridge provide access to the Fox River.

The city says Trestle Park has limited access for experienced kayakers to take on the rapids. It directs paddlers to contact Kaukauna Utilities for release dates and directions on accessing the launch.

Post-Crescent reporter Duke Behnke answers your questions about local government. Send questions to dbehnke@gannett.com or call him at 920-993-7176.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Kayakers can use 12 launches in the Fox Cities to access the water
Pensacola and New York Yacht Club American Magic got another win Monday when Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the city had been awarded a $3.9 million grant for the Port of Pensacola's Maritime Center of Excellence.

DeSantis announced the $3.9 million grant from the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund in a press release Monday afternoon.

"Todays award to the city of Pensacola will strengthen the Port of Pensacolas infrastructure and promote economic opportunities in the sailing industry for the Florida Panhandle," DeSantis said in the press release. "We believe in making strategic investments that will create job opportunities and ensure Floridas prosperity for generations to come."

The announcement comes after Florida's Triumph Gulf Coast board approved an $8.5 million grant for the project aimed at securing the permanent headquarters for the American Magic sail racing team at the Port of Pensacola.

American Magic is the U.S. team in the America's Cup sailing race sponsored by the New York Yacht Club.

Triump grant approved: $8.5M grant, American Magic facility may make Pensacola 'top sailing destination in the U.S.'

American Magic home port: Pensacola seeking $15M for American Magic America's Cup team and 150 new high-wage jobs

Back in Pensacola: New York Yacht Club American Magic returns to Pensacola Bay with hopes of a permanent base

The sailing community considers America's Cup the most elite sailing race in the world, where the sailboats are more akin to modern aircraft using the latest technology to try to gain an edge in the fierce competition.

The team plans to bring 150 high-wage jobs to Pensacola from its current headquarters in Rhode Island, and the project is expected to generate another 20 jobs, all with an average salary of $105,000, according to the city's application with Triumph Gulf Coast.

The project will finish the construction of Warehouse 10 to serve as the new Center for Maritime Excellence. The warehouse is an unfinished building damaged in Hurricane Sally but still structurally sound. Using an existing building significantly cuts down on the cost of the project.

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The city estimates the current value of the building in its unfinished state is about $3.2 million. Combined with another $1.5 million in support from the Escambia County Tourism Development Council, the equipment, and other investments American Magic will bring to the project, the total capital investment in the building will be $45.2 million.

Triumph Gulf Coast's economic analysis of the project rated it an "A" for an impact on the local economy estimated at $285 million.

Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves thanked the governor and the Department of Economic Opportunity for recognizing the value of the project, and he said with the announcement of the state grant, the city can begin moving ahead planning and designing the new center.

"We're full steam ahead,' Reeves said.

The plan is to complete the center in time for American Magic's return from the 37th America's Cup in Spain at the end of 2024.

The city still has to negotiate final terms with Triumph Gulf Coast before it can access the $8.5 million.

"This is a huge moment for sailing in this region, a huge moment for the Pensacola community, and what I know will be the start to a permanent home for a world-class sailing team," Reeves said. "And I think in the not too distant future will be Pensacola, Florida being the sailing capital of the U.S.A."

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Gov. Ron DeSantis awards Pensacola $3.9 million for American Magic HQ
Amsterdam in springtime is a magical, flower-filled place. But tulip season also brings major crowds, lines, and trafficespecially when you head south to Lisse and the Bollenstreek, where the famous Keukenhof gardens and tulip fields are located. And this year, with the sold-out Rijksmuseum Vermeer exhibition on view through June 4, 2023 (this is the first time that this many of the 15th-century Dutch artists works have been on display in one place), the city is approaching pre-pandemic tourist levels.

So where do Amsterdammers go to escape? Why just across the bay north of the Amsterdam-Centrum called the Ijsselmeeror as the locals call it, the IJ. Here lies the small rural region of Landelijk Noord, on the eastern side of the borough Amsterdam-Noord.

Landelijk Noord is a collection of former fishing villagesDurgerdam, Holysloot, t Nopeind, Ransdorp, Schellingwoude, and Zunderdorpall of which used to rely on fishing the inland sea, the Zuiderzee. But that sea disappeared when dams and dikes were put up to stop flooding in the region in the early 20th century, thus creating the IJ as a reservoir. But the IJ is a freshwater lake, and the local fish, who needed the salty Zuiderzee to survive, moved out. As a result, the local fishermen lost their livelihoods, and the area went into an economic depression.

Recently, however, Amsterdammers have been heading to the area for a day trip or weekend getaway in natureits just a 15-minute car ride or 30-minute bike ride from the center of Amsterdam, making it perhaps the closest country escape from one of Europes most bustling capital cities. Here is our guide for what to do in Landelijk Noord.

All listings featured on Conde Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Chantal Arnts/De Durgerdam

Chantal Arnts/De Durgerdam

Getting to and around Landelijk Noord

Of all the villages in Landelijk Noord, the closest village to Amsterdam-Centrum is Durgerdam, built atop a dike facing the IJ and the skyline of the city. Its a short cab, ferry, or bike ride from Amsterdam-Centrum and Schipol Airport. Once there, a bike is your best bet to explore the surrounding villages.

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Where to stay in Landelijk Noord

Once in Durgerdam, head to the only hotel in the tiny town: the newly-opened De Durgerdam. It is an exceptionally beautiful and charming base from which to explore the region, and the first hotel directly managed by the Dutch hospitality company Aedes, who also had a hand in Soho House Amsterdam, the Hoxton Amsterdam, and the forthcoming Rosewood Amsterdam.

This lakeside hideaway has 14 guest rooms spread across two buildings: the first, a carefully restored 17th-century heritage building which was once a humble inn for fishermen; and the second, a newer building behind it. In designing De Durgerdam, the Amsterdam-based design studio Buro Belen was inspired by the regions fishing history and industry to create details like a net-like chandelier by artist Ingo Maurer in the lobby restaurant and the tiny little fish on a wall that catch the light just so.

If youre comfortable with climbing old crooked stairs and going through small trapezoid-shaped doors, request a room in the original building. There, youll find original wooden beams, cozy window seats, shimmering velvet throws, curvy wooden headboards, and oddly-shaped bathrooms clad in bespoke tiles from the oldest ceramics company in the Netherlands, Royal Tichelaar Makkum. In each suite (there are three), youll find two custom raincoats by Dutch fashion house KASSL Editions, which very well may come in handy in a place where it rains about 180 days a year.

Sit in the plush reading chair and pour yourself a nip of the homemade liqueur from the faceted crystal decanter as you nibble on the homemade butter cookies in a tin by the mini bar. Later, have a drink and a snack of house-smoked beef sausage at the bar of the restaurant De Mark, or go one more level down to the cave-like wine cellar and cozy reading room with a glowing fireplace. This is true gezelligheidthe Dutch word for a sense of livelihood and enjoyment.

Rijksmuseum

What to do

To situate yourself and explore the surrounding villages, grab one of the e-bikes parked outside De Durgerdam. Its easy enough to ride around on your own, but if you want to learn something about the areas history and uncover a few hidden gems, ask the hotel for a guided tour with Roos Stallinga, author of the book Ride With Me Amsterdam.

Shell likely take you along the cobblestone streets of Durgerdam overlooking the water, before heading inland to cycle through the village of Ransdorp, where you can see its famous spireless stumpy church, which dates back to the Middle Ages. Ask to stop at the local farmstand, Melktap en Boerderij Winkel, and pick up some fresh produce, eggs, and freshly produced milk from the cows youll spot grazing. Then cycle alongside canals to the village of Holysloot, which is home to a charming cafe inside an old school house. When you get back to Durgerdam, go for a dip in the cool IJ (yes, its clean); De Durgerdam has its own dock, right next to the Durgerdam Harbor, where you might spot some fancy boats.

To learn more about the region, hire a car and go 30-or-so minutes north to the Zuiderzee Museum, a fascinating look at what life was like for the fishermen and their families of earlier times. Youll take a ferry to get to the museum, which is a fully recreated fishing village, complete with original homes that were moved to the museum. Some were deconstructed and rebuilt on site, and others were transported whole, on boats and trucks. In the homes, you may even come upon a museum worker cooking some of the food they ate (sauerkraut and boiled potatoes) for you to taste. Try your hand at twisting your own rope before stopping by the windmill and fish smokehouse to sample some smoked herring. Then make your way to an original 17th-century apothecary and a recreated school house.

Courtesy Vuurtoreneiland

Best restaurants in Landelijk Noord

There arent too many dining options in this sleepy area, but with the arrival of De Durgerdam came the hotels restaurant De Mark, which was conceived in collaboration with Richard van Oostenbrugge and Thomas Groot of Amsterdams two-Michelin-star Restaurant 212, instantly making De Mark a destination for city dwellers. The dinner menu serves modern comfort dishes made with locally-sourced ingredients. In spring, theres a delicate tomato tartare made with slowly dried tomatoes that recalls a beef tartare, white asparagus with tiny Dutch shrimps, and a dover sole stuffed with morels. Cocktails include a rhubarb mule and the bars North Sea Spritz; all-day bar snacks satiate the appetite with a ricotta mushroom dip served with chicory and cheese from local farms.

In Holysloot, the adorable Schoolhuis Cafe is a popular refueling stop for cyclists from the city and elsewhere. It serves tea and coffee and excellent homemade cakes and piesbe sure to ask for the towering apple pie (Dutch people take their apple cakes and pies extremely seriously!). They also offer a lunch menu with sandwiches, salads, and toasts, plus cheese and charcuterie boards.

For a real adventure, book a table at Vuurtoreneiland, a restaurant on a tiny island just off Durgerdam, with a lighthouse from 1893 (the only one in Amsterdam), a greenhouse, and a handful of storage sheds. Make your way out to the island via boat from the city center, where youll be served pre-dinner drinks and snacks. By the time you arrive on the island, youll be ready for the full meal, which is served inside the greenhouse, perched next to the water. If youre staying at De Durgerdam, you can likely arrange a private boat transfer to the hotel instead of taking the main boat back to the city center with the other dinner guests.

Originally Appeared on Conde Nast Traveler
The shooting of 16-year-old Ralph Yarl made national headlines after the teen was shot and wounded on April 13 when he rang the doorbell of the wrong house in Kansas City, Missouri.

His family says he was trying to pick up his younger siblings from a house nearby when he was shot twice, once in the head and once in the arm. Police have said Yarl, who is Black, was shot by a White homeowner who fired at him through a glass door.

Here's what to know about the case, which sparked widespread outrage.

What happened to Ralph Yarl?

Yarl's aunt, Faith Spoonmore, first gave a public account of events in a GoFundMe set up for his medical expenses. She said the teen was supposed to pick up his younger twin brothers from a friend's house on 115th Terrace but went to 115th Street by mistake.

His mother, Cleo Nagbe, told "CBS Mornings" that the younger boys had been invited to a sleepover, but she didn't want them staying the night, so she asked Ralph to pick them up at 10 p.m.

They both said that Ralph did not have his phone on him and went to the wrong address.

"He went and rang the doorbell. And he was supposed to stay outside, and his brothers were supposed to run outside, get in the car and they come home," Nagbe said. "While he was standing there, his brothers didn't run outside, but he got a couple of bullets in his body instead of a couple of twins coming up, out, and giving him a hug."

This undated photo provided by Ben Crump Law shows Ralph Yarl, the teenager shot by a homeowner in Kansas City, Mo. / Credit: / AP

Charging documents reviewed by CBS News show that Yarl told police he had rung the doorbell and waited outside, and that a man opened the door holding a firearm and immediately shot him in the head. He said he fell to the ground and was shot a second time in the arm.

He said that after he was shot and as he ran away, the homeowner said, "Don't come around here."

Yarl said he then went to multiple residences asking for help. According to Spoonmore, it wasn't until the third house that someone called the police.

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The homeowner, later identified as Andrew Lester, was detained briefly but then released while the investigation continued. On Monday, April 17, prosecutors announced he was being charged with two felony counts.



Lester pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Wednesday, April 19.

According to charging documents, Lester, a White man who is 84 years old, said that he had just gone to bed when he heard the doorbell ring, and brought his Smith & Wesson .32-caliber revolver to answer the door. Lester told police that he saw Yarl pulling on the exterior storm door handle. Yarl said that he had not pulled on the handle. Lester said he believed Yarl was trying to break into the house, and shot twice within seconds of opening the home's main door because he believed he was protecting himself.

Police said they found blood at the scene and the glass door shattered. Officers searched the home with Lester's permission and found a Smith & Wesson .32-caliber revolver and wireless home surveillance system, but police found the system was no longer functional and had not captured video of the shooting.

What is Ralph Yarl's condition?

Ralph Yarl was shot in the head above his left eye and the upper right arm, his mother said on "CBS Mornings." He was discharged from Children's Mercy Hospital and is recovering at home.

Nagbe said the pediatrician told her a CT scan showed "just minimal fragments of the bullet in his brain." She said he is able to communicate "when he feels like it," but that she worries for her son's emotional state.

"Mostly he just sits there and stares and buckets of tears just rolls down his eyes," Nagbe said. "You can see that he is just replaying the situation over and over again. And that just doesn't stop my tears either, because when you see your kid just sits there and constantly he just tears are just rolling for both sides of his eyes, there's nothing you can say to him."

He is continuing to receive care at home from a "team of medical professionals," Nagbe said. Nagbe herself is a nurse of 20 years.

"Life looks a lot different right now. Even though he is doing well physically, he has a long road ahead mentally and emotionally," Spoonmore wrote.

She described Ralph as "a fantastic kid" and said he'd been looking forward to graduating high school and hoped to attend Texas A&M to major in chemical engineering.

Who is Andrew Lester?

Officials identified Lester, 84, as the suspect in the shooting. He was the sole resident of the home and was alone at the time of the shooting.

A booking photo of Andrew Lester from April 18. / Credit: Kansas City Police Department

Lester was interviewed by police and placed on a 24-hour hold on the day of the shooting, but was released in consultation with county prosecutors while the investigation continued, Police Chief Stacey Graves said over the weekend. In the charging documents, police reported that Lester said he had feared for his life when he saw Ralph Yarl at the door. He told police in his statement that he was "scared to death" and believed he was protecting himself from harm.

There were no words spoken between the two, police said, and Lester appears to have fired seconds after answering the door.

Police said Lester repeatedly expressed concern for the teen when they spoke with him.

Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson said in a press conference announcing the arrest that "there was a racial component to the case," though he did not elaborate.

What charges were filed in the shooting of Ralph Yarl?

In his press conference April 17, Thompson announced that Lester was being charged with one count of assault in the first degree and one count of armed criminal action.

Both charges are felonies. The charge of assault in the first degree carries a potential punishment of up to life in prison.

Thompson said at the time that the suspect was not yet in custody but a warrant had been issued for his arrest, with bond set at $200,000.

Clay County officials said Lester turned himself in the following day, and was released on bond.



He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Attorney Lee Merritt, who represents Yarl and his family, told "CBS Mornings" that the family was happy to see the charges filed, but said it took national outrage to get this far.

"We expect all families who are met with this type of trauma to get an immediate police response and a vigorous prosecution. That's not what this family was given before there was national outcry," he said.

Merritt also said the family wants to know why Lester was not charged with attempted murder.

What are Missouri's self-defense laws?

Missouri is a "stand your ground" state, which means people can use physical force to defend themselves and there is no duty to retreat.

The state's "stand your ground" law was passed in 2016. It states that a person may "use physical force upon another person when and to the extend he or she reasonably believes such force to be necessary to defend himself or herself or a third person from what he or she reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of unlawful force by such other person."

The law says that "a person shall not use deadly force upon another person" unless the first person "believes that such deadly force is necessary to protect" themselves against death, serious physical injury or "any forcible felony." Deadly force may also be used against someone who unlawfully enters or attempts to unlawfully enter a "dwelling, residence or vehicle lawfully occupied" by the first person.

In Yarl's shooting, Thompson noted, "the probable cause statement indicates the victim in the case did not cross the threshold."

The law also states that the defendant only needs to assert that their use of force is justified under the law. It's up to the state to "prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant did not reasonably believe that the use of such force was necessary."

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Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets with Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch in Rabat, Morocco, May 11, 2023. Zhao paid an official friendly visit to Morocco from May 11 to 14 at the invitation of the Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives Rachid Talbi Alami. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

RABAT, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Visiting top Chinese legislator Zhao Leji has vowed to deepen China's cooperation with Morocco and promote parliamentary exchanges between the two countries.

At the invitation of Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives Rachid Talbi Alami, Zhao, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, paid an official friendly visit to the country from Thursday to Sunday, and held talks with Alami, Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, and Mohamed Hanine, the first vice speaker of the Moroccan House of Councillors.

When meeting with Akhannouch, Zhao said that, under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Moroccan King Mohammed VI, China-Morocco relations have developed by leaps and bounds and are in its best shape ever.

Zhao called for further implementation of the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and lift the China-Morocco strategic partnership to a higher level.

China thanks Morocco for abiding by the one-China principle and providing China with valuable support on issues covering Taiwan, Xinjiang, Tibet, and human rights, he said.

China is willing to deepen cooperation with Morocco within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), actively implement the outcomes of the first China-Arab States Summit and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), tap the potential for cooperation, expand people-to-people exchanges, and promote mutual learning between the two civilizations and people-to-people connectivity, Zhao said.

China stands ready to work with Arab states, including Morocco, to build a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era so as to create a better future for the China-Arab strategic partnership, he added.

Akhannouch said the establishment of strategic partnership between Morocco and China, which was announced by the two heads of state in 2016, opens up a new era for bilateral relations.

Morocco adheres to the one-China principle and firmly supports China in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, he added.

The Moroccan prime minister voiced willingness to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields, such as Belt and Road cooperation, trade and investment, and people-to-people exchanges, in order to promote the development of bilateral ties.

During his respective talks with Alami and Hanine, Zhao said that Morocco was one of the first Arab and African countries to establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China, and the two countries have stayed true to their original aspirations to help each other and make progress together.

As this year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of China-Morocco diplomatic ties, Zhao called on the two countries to unwaveringly support each other, deepen practical cooperation, strengthen multilateral coordination, and promote further development of the China-Morocco strategic partnership.

President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), providing China's solutions to development and security problems and promoting the progress of human civilization, Zhao said.

China appreciates Morocco's support for the GDI and its participation in the Group of Friends of the GDI, he said, welcoming Morocco to join the GSI and the GCI.

Zhao said the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, is ready to strengthen regular exchanges with the Moroccan parliament to share the experience on governance and create a sound legal environment for practical cooperation.

For his part, Alami said the two countries remain committed to upholding justice and providing mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns.

Noting that China is one of Morocco's main trading partners, he called on the two sides to deepen pragmatic cooperation and jointly explore the African market for mutual benefit and win-win results.

He also thanked China for helping Morocco fight the COVID-19 pandemic, expressing the willingness to give a full play to the legislative body's role in promoting bilateral economic and cultural exchanges.

Hailing the strong political trust between China and Morocco, Hanine said that Morocco actively supports the major initiatives proposed by Xi and is willing to work with China to make bilateral ties an exemplar of friendly relations between nations.

During the talks, Zhao also briefed on Chinese modernization and the socialist path of political development with Chinese characteristics, among others.

Expressing full respect for China's history and development path, the Moroccan side said that only when countries respect each other's political systems and development models can the world achieve peace, stability and development, adding that Morocco is willing to work with China to contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

During his visit, Zhao attended a banquet hosted by the prime minister in the name of King Mohammed VI.

During his visit to the Confucius Institute at the Mohammed V University, Zhao expressed hope that the two countries could jointly cultivate more envoys to enhance China-Morocco, China-Arab states, and China-Africa friendly exchanges.

Zhao also called for greater efforts to deepen the pragmatic cooperation between China and Africa during a tour of CITIC Dicastal, a Chinese auto parts manufacturer in Morocco.

He stressed that it is necessary to practice the principles of China's Africa policy -- sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, and pursuing the greater good and shared interests, so as to make greater contributions to deepening China-Africa pragmatic cooperation. 

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, visits CITIC Dicastal, a Chinese auto parts manufacturer, in Morocco on May 14, 2023.

Zhao paid an official friendly visit to Morocco from May 11 to 14 at the invitation of the Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives Rachid Talbi Alami. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, holds talks with Rachid Talbi Alami, speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives, in Rabat, Morocco, May 12, 2023.

Zhao paid an official friendly visit to Morocco from May 11 to 14 at the invitation of Rachid Talbi Alami. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, holds talks with Mohamed Hanine, the first vice speaker of the Moroccan House of Councillors, in Rabat, Morocco, May 12, 2023.

Zhao paid an official friendly visit to Morocco from May 11 to 14 at the invitation of the Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives Rachid Talbi Alami. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, visits the Confucius Institute at the Mohammed V University in Morocco on May 13, 2023.

Zhao paid an official friendly visit to Morocco from May 11 to 14 at the invitation of the Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives Rachid Talbi Alami. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)
Come for the shoes, stay for the experience.

Thats Alexandre Birmans mantra for his new Schutz flagship in the heart of New Yorks Soho neighborhood. The location, which opened at 540 Broadway last week, was built out and opened in a matter of weeks to capitalize on the arrival of high tourist season in the city.

More from Footwear News

This was a big dream for me, and there was so much energy around it, said Birman, the CEO of Arezzo & Co.

The ambitious executive, who launched Schutz when he was 19, said the new boutique represents a major step in the Brazilian brands American expansion efforts. Not only will it fuel DTC sales, both in-store and online, Birman said, but the store will be a crucial tool to help tell the labels story in a way it hasnt yet been told stateside.

The location, formerly a Steve Madden flagship, comprises 1,700 square feet of shopping space and an additional 2,000-square-foot storage space. All told, it can house about 25,000 pairs of shoes in the back of house.

The location is grouped into distinct categories: The front features a lounge-like area  decked out with custom Brazilian furniture  that plays up the most glamorous styles first, including the Amelia sandal and an exclusive wedge. In the center, natural styles focusing on cork and raffia are on display. And in the back, core looks are showcased on a display wall that features the Maryana boot and Ariella sandal.

Alexandre BIrman officially inaugurates the new store with his family and team members. - Credit: Courtesy of Schutz

Courtesy of Schutz

New and exclusive product will be rotated into the assortment, priced from $98 to $278, every four weeks  and Birman believes that freshness, combined with a focus on customer service, will help the brand stand out in a competitive retail climate.

Story continues

The founder estimates that the foot traffic in Soho is about 15 times higher than in the Madison Avenue retail strip, where the current Schutz flagship is housed. The Uptown girl was buying, but we were not reaching the younger Schutz [shopper], Birman said. Here, there are thousands of [customers] on this street every day. (The Madison Avenue shop will close later this year, as the building where it is located undergoes a broader redevelopment.)

Sandals are a key part of Schutzs assortment. - Credit: Courtesy of Alexandre Birman

Courtesy of Alexandre Birman

With an expanded focus on America, Birman plans to spend more time in New York  and in the store itself, where he will have a special space dedicated to design.

In the meantime, the executive is staging Arezzo & Co.s second Pulsar event in Brazil this week to kick off the new sales season. And he heads to Italy at the end of the month to visit factories there. The company acquired the made-in-Italy Paris Texas brand in March and is now expanding its production base in Italy to make select Birman styles.

Best of Footwear News

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Click here to read the full article.
Strange fireballs seen crossing sky over Okinawa, Japan (Twitter)

Videos of strange streaks of light spotted at night over southern Japan have left people puzzled at the phenomenon.

Several people from the area took to social media to share videos of what looked like one large fireball, leaving smaller ones streaking behind it, lighting up the sky on Wednesday night at around 8.30pm local time.

Many shared their theories online on what the strange objects spotted over the Okinawa prefecture in Japan could be.

Whats this? meteorite? shooting star? missile? one Twitter user wrote. It looks like a fireball! said another.

Japanese officials have, however, seemingly cleared up the mystery and said the phenomenon was likely caused by the debris of a rocket launched from China.

The strange burning object was spotted moving eastward towards the city of Okinawa.

Many spotted the fiery object streaking across the sky from various areas in Japan, including Nago and Itoman in Okinawa prefecture, and Amami in Kagoshima prefecture.

The object was seen flying very slowly for a long enough period of time for experts to rule out the possibility of it being a meteorite.

On the night of the 10th, light slowly crossing the night sky of Okinawa Prefecture was confirmed.

Expert say it is believed to be the wreckage of China's Long March 3B rocket, which launched in November 2022.#Japanhttps://t.co/eFpa8mqQf7  Satoe Aoki (@a3o1k4i514) May 10, 2023

A Japanese official, who sought to remain anonymous, told AFP that the fiery streaks were likely not shooting stars, but rocket debris.

Given the information publicly available, we think the falling objects are not fireballs from meteorites, but debris from a rocket, said the official with the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ).

Story continues

It is possible that (it was) debris from a rocket that was launched by China in November, he said.

A curator of astronomy at the Hiratsuka City Museum in Kanagawa prefecture also speculated that it may have been a Chinese rocket.

The object appears to be a rocket launched by China carrying a communications satellite in November last year, he told local news.

The rocket in question is likely Chinas Long March 3B rocket which was launched in November 2022.

Part of the rocket was expected to re-enter the atmosphere, according to the Japanese official, who added that the fireballs seen on Wednesday resembled what one might see during the atmospheric entry of debris from a rocket.
FARMINGTON  At least four people are dead and six were injured in what Farmington Police Department described as an 'active shooter' incident Monday afternoon.

Here's what we know:

Suspected shooter is dead

The Farmington Police Department said a suspect in Monday's shooting is dead.

Officials identified him as an 18-year-old but did not name him.

An official at the San Juan County Sheriffs Office, Megan Mitchell, called the incident an open and active ongoing investigation. Mitchell said she did not immediately have more information.

"At this time, the details we have are that multiple officers from the Farmington Police Department were involved in an officer involved shooting. One suspect was confronted and killed on scene," read a news release from the San Juan County Sheriff's Office.

Hank Shirley who lives about a block west of the scene said he was home watching television when he heard a series of gunshots around 11 a.m. which he described as a prolonged gun battle.

Shirley said he did not see what happened but rather identified the distinctive pops as gunfire.

"When I heard that, I told my daughter to get down in the basement and get the baby down in the basement," Shirley told the Daily Times.

About four minutes after the gunfire ceased, he said he heard sirens and saw emergency vehicles approaching.

Dozens of law enforcement officers from the Farmington Police Department, San Juan County Sheriff's Office and New Mexico State Police were on the scene of a shooting Monday, May 15 on North Dustin Avenue in Farmington.

At least three people are dead

Farmington Police said the shooter killed three people and noted at the time there was no threat to the public.

San Juan Regional Medical Center, where victims were taken for medical care, was locked down during the "crisis," according to statement from the hospital, as an incident command center was put in place to organize the facility's response.

"We worked closely with law enforcement to ensure the safety of our patients and caregivers. We thank them for their service. We are grateful today and every day to our caregivers who respond and stand ready to serve,," said Laura Werbner, public relations coordinator for San Juan Regional Medical Center.

Story continues

Werbner said the hospital and its staff offered "condolences and prayers" of the deceased.

The Farmington Police Department mobile command post is parked at the north end of Boundless Adventure Park in Farmington on Monday, May 15 after a shooting in the area.

Several injured, including two police officers

A Farmington police officer and a New Mexico State Police officer were shot in the incident.

Both were being treated for their injuries at the San Juan Regional Medical Center. They were both reported as being in stable condition.

San Juan Regional Medical Center said it received seven patients for treatment, including the two officers.

Officers from those two departments and the San Juan Sheriff's Office were investigating the shooting.

Federal agents from Phoenix were headed to Farmington, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said via Twitter.

Shooting took place at Dustin Ave., Hopi St.

Daily Times Reporter Mike Easterling said the 900 block of Dustin Avenue, between Navajo Street and Hopi Street was cordoned off by responding law enforcement in a residential neighborhood of the city.

Authorities secured the scene, and they held residents back several blocks away while officers investigated the area where the shooting happened.

ATF is responding to a report of a mass shooting in Farmington, NM. Please contact @FPDNM with any inquiries. pic.twitter.com/CA1KtQFE5u  ATF Phoenix (@ATFPhoenix) May 15, 2023

A Farmington police officer mans a roadblock at the corner of North Dustin Avenue and East Comanche Street on Monday, May 15 after a shooting in the area.

Mass shootings in 2023

According to data from gunviolencearchive.org, there have been 225 mass shootings in the U.S. since Jan. 1, 2023 resulting in 296 deaths as a result of the gun violence. Neighboring Texas has seen 17 mass shootings since the start of the year.

This is the first "mass shooting" reported this year in New Mexico; though it is not the first time San Juan County has been the location of such violence.

In 2017 21-year-old William Atchison opened fire at Aztec High School, killing two students and then himself.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issues statement

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued the following statement Monday afternoon:

I am receiving frequent updates on the situation in Farmington as it evolves. I am grateful to law enforcement for their quick response and that there does not appear to be any ongoing threat to public safety. I have directed the state to provide whatever support the city and county need as they conduct a thorough investigation and as the community begins to heal.

"I am praying for the families of the victims, the wounded and the entire community of Farmington following this horrific tragedy.

Schools, hospital went into lockdown

The Farmington Municipal School District, which operates two schools in the neighborhood, McKinley Elementary School at 1201 N. Butler Ave., and Apache Elementary School at 700 W. Apache St., put all of its schools on a lockdown in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.

The institutions were ordered to go into a preventative lockdown at 11:15 a.m. while McKinley and Apache, as well as the districts Central Kitchen and CATE Center, were ordered into an emergency lockdown. The preventative lockdown at other district schools was lifted 25 minutes later, but McKinley, Apache, the Central Kitchen and the CATE Center remained in an emergency lockdown until 12:40 p.m., at which point they went into a preventative lockdown. That lockdown was lifted at 1:05 p.m., and students were released for the day.

Roberto Taboada, the districts public information officer, said parents and staff members were alerted to the developments by calls and texts throughout the day, and messages were posted on the districts social media accounts and website. Parents later were emailed a letter from the district assuring them the incident had not affected the schools directly and that school officials were in contact with Farmington Police Department officials throughout the day.

Taboada said the district would be sending support staff members to Apache and McKinley on Tuesday, May 16 so that anyone who was having difficulty coping with the incident would have the chance to speak with a mental health professional.

Officials at the San Juan Regional Medical Center, where the shooting victims were taken for treatment, also locked down the hospital and established an incident command center in the aftermath of the shooting.

Mike Easterling can be reached at 505-564-4610 ormeasterling@daily-times.com.

Support local journalism with a digital subscription: http://bit.ly/2I6TU0e.

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This article originally appeared on Farmington Daily Times: New Mexico police kill shooter in Farmington; 3 dead, 2 officers hurt
Marisa Hutchinson had her daughter, Bianca Arnold, when she was just 21 years old.

Arnold grew up and had her own daughters, Layla and Anastasia, but just two weeks after giving birth to her youngest, Arnold fell ill with COVID.

After that, Hutchinson found herself stepping up to take care of her young granddaughters while also fighting for doctors to save her own daughter's life.

One night, after Arnold gave birth to her second daughter, she went in to change her in the middle of the night and said she could barely stand up. Arnold was turning blue and rushed to the hospital in Toledo, diagnosed with COVID.

Arnold was intubated, then put into a coma, her mother said. Doctors told Hutchinson to consider making plans for her daughters funeral.

Bianca Arnold, a mother of two who was hospitalized due to COVID, intubated and then in a coma. She was in a come for 40 days and spent an additional 40 days hospitalized once she woke up.

Hutchinson recalls the last words her daughter spoke to her before she was intubated and put into a coma at a hospital in Toledo: Im sorry, mommy.

There's no way I was going to let that be our last conversation, she said. When somebody tells you to plan your child's funeral, that's not going to happen. Youll do whatever. I wouldve taken her place if I couldve.

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How did the Clinic Cleveland hear about her story?

A family friend pushed her to ask doctors about ECMO, artificial life support that helps people whose lungs and heart are malfunctioning.

She had seen commercials for the Cleveland Clinic, so she decided to reach out and plead for doctors there to save her daughters life. She sent hospital staff photos of her daughter and told them Arnold had both a 15-month daughter and a newborn.

I guess what I was hoping for, and it worked, is tugging on somebody's heartstrings, said Hutchinson, Arnolds mother.

Marisa Hutchinson (left) and her daughter Bianca Arnold (right). Arnold is a mother of two who was hospitalized due to COVID, intubated and then in a coma. She was in a coma for 40 days and spent an additional 40 days hospitalized once she woke up.

Clinic staff heard Hutchinsons pleas. According to the clinic, all cases are presented to case managers based on availability and the patients status of illness. On Oct. 30, her daughter was flown to the Cleveland Clinic.

Story continues

Hutchinson took care of her granddaughters while her daughter was in a coma for 40 days and hospitalized for another 40 days after waking up.

Hutchinson was hours away from the Cleveland Clinic while her daughter was in a coma. While Arnold was hospitalized, clinic staff decorated her room and made sure her mother could talk to her on the phone.

Clinic staff are now family, mother says

Even when Bianca was in the coma, I knew in my heart that she heard us, Hutchinson said. The nurses would hold the phone up to Bianca's ear and I would tell her things  I knew that she could hear us and I knew she was in good hands.

Daelle Waldron-Gearhart, a nurse manager at the clinic, said Arnold was admitted during a dark time where families were desperately looking for help.

At that time, visitation was still really limited so with the use of our nurse coordinators, we were able to get Bianca settled in, stabilized on ECMO, and then be able to connect with her mother.

They also wanted to give her the most healing environment possible and make sure she woke up in the best space, so they decorated the room for her, Waldron-Gearhart said.

Arnold woke up just before Thanksgiving.

Bianca Arnold (left), a mother of two, with Daelle Waldron-Gearhart (right). Waldron-Gearhart is a nurse manager at the Cleveland Clinic. Her staff took care of Arnold after she gave birth, was diagnosed with COVID and was eventually in a coma.

While in a coma, she remembers having nightmares initially and then dreams about being hospitalized. When she woke up and someone entered her room, the first thing she asked was How did this happen?

She recalls feeling depressed when she first woke up because she missed her girls.

I was away from my brand new child, she said. My oldest is only 15 months. They were babies and I was ripped away from them.

But the staff at the Cleveland Clinic did all they could to keep her motivated.

There was an aide who braided my hair for me, Arnold said. There was a nurse that cleaned me up and said Let's do your nails.

Hutchinson, Arnolds mother, said the clinic staff that cared for her daughter became family.

An emotional reunion

Their kindness meant so much to the family that Arnold asked to meet them after she woke up and was discharged from the hospital.

Arnold reached out to the clinic in April 2023 to update them and tell them she would be returning to Cleveland to follow up with some doctors.

For Arnold, a former social worker, it was important to let the healthcare professionals who cared for her know how much their work matters. She also wanted to be able to tell families facing similar health scares that there is a way out.

Bianca Arnold (left), a mother of two, with Daelle Waldron-Gearhart (right). Waldron-Gearhart is a nurse manager at the Cleveland Clinic. Her staff took care of Arnold after she gave birth, was diagnosed with COVID and was eventually in a coma.

I had a 2% chance to live and I'm here, Arnold said. There is hope and it's just having the right support to get through it.

A clinic spokesperson called her back and told her hed like to set up a reunion for her with the staff that cared for her. When the date finally came, Arnold was nervous.

I had a little bit of a panic attack there, she said. The girl that was the coordinator of the unit, she's like, Here, take my hand. We're going to do this together.

As Arnold walked through the clinics hallway on April 20, 2023, the nurse manager held her hand.

It was quite evident that for her, she wanted to come back to where she spent so much more time on life support, Waldron-Gearhart, the nurse manager, told USA TODAY. When she came up here, it was important that we walked through the unit and had that moment of healing where she could see that room.

I thought that was really amazing to see her walk through there, and then to get to see the whole team that cared for her, she said. There is that survival. You can leave the hospital and you can have a very meaningful, impactful life.

For Arnold, that can still feel like a long-term goal. Some tasks are difficult or impossible to do these days, like getting down on the floor to play with her daughters, carrying her daughter and a lack of feeling in her left leg. Shes also fatigued a lot and cant work.

Before, I was nine months pregnant working a job as a social worker, she said. I was always a high energy person and now I'm fatigued all the time. It's hard for me to do things. But like I said, I'm here for my kids and that's what's important. At the end of the day, everything I've been through to be able to be here for my girls is what matters the most.

Being a mother means sacrificing and putting your children first, Arnold says.

It means doing anything for her children, and she said shes doing the same thing her parents and grandparents did for her. She recalled the times where her parents went without to provide for her and her sister.

Being a mother also means constantly working to do better, she said.

I'm still learning every day, Arnold said. I still call my mom.

Her mother, Hutchinson, cried as she recalled raising Arnold and her sister.

Youre just like Wow, I created that life, she said. Its the best feeling in the world. It just makes you complete.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ohio mom pushes for doctors to save daughter after childbirth, COVID
As a human resource professional, I have seen firsthand how important it is for small businesses to offer competitive benefit packages to attract and retain top talent. However, the skyrocketing costs of health care have made it increasingly difficult for these businesses to provide adequate coverage. And now, to make matters worse, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is proposing changes that could make health care even more unaffordable for small businesses and individuals.

Blue Cross NC currently holds over 80% of the individual and group markets in North Carolina, giving them a significant amount of power in the state's health care industry. And with the support of an extensive and expensive roster of 14 lobbyists, they are pushing for the passage of House Bill 346 and Senate Bill 296.

These bills would allow Blue Cross NC to reorganize its business structure and create a holding corporation exempt from insurance company regulations. While Blue Cross NC claims that this will help them better compete in the marketplace, opponents, correctly, argue that it will harm consumers by raising premiums and undermining the Department of Insurance's ability to regulate in the public interest.

The bills also aims to sidestep a 1998 law that requires Blue Cross NC to place 100% of its fair market value into a charitable foundation if it becomes a for-profit company. Blue Cross NC would avoid this requirement by reorganizing under a parent holding corporation, allowing them to keep decades of tax breaks without compensating the public.

More: New poll shows how nearly 200 WNC residents feel about their health insurance

If these bills pass, it would be a huge blow to small businesses and individuals struggling to afford health care in North Carolina. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey has already come out in opposition to the bills, stating that they will harm consumers and make it even more difficult to regulate the insurance industry in the public interest.

Story continues

Furthermore, Blue Cross NC 's dominance in the state's insurance market means that any premium increases they impose will inevitably impact the entire industry. So not only will small businesses and individuals suffer, but the entire state's insurance market will be adversely affected.

Despite the concerns raised by opponents, Blue Cross NC has managed to secure bipartisan support for the bills in the House and Senate. This is a bipartisan powerplay and a blatant betrayal of the public trust. The process must slow down and be made more transparent to ensure the interests of the public are being represented, not just those of a powerful corporation.

The rising costs of health care are already a major burden for small businesses and individuals in North Carolina. We cannot afford to let Blue Cross NC and its 14 lobbyists make it even more unaffordable. It's time to stand up for affordable health care premiums and demand our elected officials do the same.

More: Editor: Open call for women to share their voices, during Women's History Month and always

House Bill 346 would allow Blue Cross NC to reorganize its business structure and create a holding corporation that would be exempt from insurance company regulations. This would give Blue Cross NC more freedom to raise premiums and invest in risky ventures, without having to worry about the approval of the Department of Insurance.

Senate Bill 296 would also allow Blue Cross NC to reorganize its business structure, but it would not exempt the holding corporation from insurance company regulations. However, the bill would also allow Blue Cross NC to sidestep a 1998 law that requires the company to place 100% of its fair market value into a charitable foundation if it becomes a for-profit company.

Both bills are currently being considered by the North Carolina General Assembly. If they are passed, they would have a significant impact on the cost of health care in North Carolina. Small businesses and individuals would be at the greatest risk of being harmed by these changes.

These bills are moving forward at an alarming rate, we urge you to contact your elected officials immediately and let them know that you oppose these bills. Together, we can protect affordable health care for all North Carolinians.

As concerned citizens, we must take action to prevent these bills from passing. We can start by contacting our Senators and urging them to vote "No" on HB 346. We can also reach out to Gov. Cooper and ask him to veto the bill if it does pass. And we can sign a petition to voice our opposition to the bills and demand that our voices be heard.

Jeffrey Dowgos is a Director of Human Resources in Western North Carolina with expertise in benefit plan design and organizational development.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Opinion: Proposed bills threaten affordable health insurance in NC
Florida State Attorney Jack Campbell moved quickly Wednesday night to counter allegations his office singles out Hispanic defendants in rural North Florida for stiffer penalties in plea bargain offers.

Campbell confirmed the authenticity of a document released by a former prosecutor that lists three tiers of misdemeanor plea offers.

A photograph of the document that was said to be tacked on the wall says to exclude those with Extensive Criminal History and/or Hispanic from diversion programs designed to give defendants chances to exit the legal system, or to have adjudication of cases delayed or withheld.

Campbell explained a junior prosecutor who was leaving the position in Jefferson County wrote procedural guidelines for their successor and had used the wrong words and misstated the policy.

State Attorney Jack Campbell speaks during a press conference on Friday, May 27, 2022 after the jury found Katherine Magbanua guilty of all charges in her retrial for the 2014 murder of Dan Markel in Tallahassee, Fla.

"Undocumented immigrant," not "Hispanic," should have been coupled with extensive criminal history, said Campbell, after a photograph of the document was published on the Our Tallahassee website.

I understand completely the public shock and concern. Its concerning to me too. Its not what we do. Were not prosecuting people because of race. Were prosecuting differently because of their legal status. Because as undocumented, I dont know what their history is, said Campbell, who told the Tallahassee Democrat, a member of the USA TODAY Network, he takes full responsibility for the mistake.

Prosecutor still employed but was reprimanded

Campbell said he reprimanded the prosecutor and has clarified the policy for the six-county Second Circuit, home to thousands of migrant agricultural workers.

He wasnt treating Hispanic people differently than anybody else. If he was, then I would have fired him. He was treating undocumented people consistently based on the fact that we have concerns on not knowing their history, said Campbell.

Campbell declined to identify the prosecutor and said he would not discuss HR matters related to this story.

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Former prosecutor who blew whistle on document calls it a 'racism policy'

The document's existence was revealed by Mackenzie Hayes, who went to work in the Jefferson County office in January as a misdemeanor prosecutor and found the three-tier guidelines.

A copy of the document photographed in the State Attorneys Office in Jefferson County by Mackenzie Hayes.

Campbell hired Hayes in December, and she said she was content working in the Tallahassee office before transferring to Jefferson County.

She does not accept Campbells explanation that it was a mistaken use of language by a junior staffer when "Hispanic" was used instead of "undocumented immigrant." Hayes called it a "racism policy" and points out that undocumented immigrants have constitutional rights, too.

She said the office of two attorneys, an investigator and two secretaries routinely talked about Mexicans, differently than other defendants.

Hayes quit after six days working in the Jefferson County office.

The document speaks for itself, she told the Tallahassee Democrat.

I thought it fit right in with what I had experienced. You know, the week that I was out there. There's a reason that he worded it the way he did, and it's not just because he's some dumb idiot who doesn't know the difference between someone who's undocumented and someone who is Hispanic, said Hayes.

Public defender calls for 'independent investigation'

Jefferson County is 25 miles east of Tallahassee, Florida, and is a patchwork of farms, plantations, and forests. There are no no traffic lights in the county. Agriculture makes up a quarter of the countys economic output, according to economic development officials. The annual watermelon festival is the highlight of the summer social calendar for the countys 15,000 residents.

Nearly two-thirds of residents are White, 32% African American, and 4% Hispanic, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The plea-bargain memo emerged while racial tensions simmer in Florida and across the country. A proposal to place restrictions on buying property in the state that is moving through the Florida Legislature has Chinese residents fearful of potential loss of rights.

Black residents have protested a loss of minority-access congressional districts, and how a new Florida law restricts how racial history is taught in public schools.

The Second Circuits Public Defender said she was deeply disturbed by the reports that Jefferson County prosecutors sought harsher sentences based on the accuseds race.

These policies are illegal and discriminatory. There needs to be an independent investigation that holds people accountable, said Jessica Yeary.

Campbell said he takes responsibility for his employee's actions.

"I've disciplined him for it. He wasn't speaking for the office. Clearly that's not our office policy," Campbell said. "It's the misstatement by one prosecutor, one junior prosecutor in one county. Now that I know about, it's been corrected and clarified."

This article originally appeared on USATNetwork: Florida prosecutor leaked memo: Exclude Hispanics from plea deals
A new law in Florida will soon allow doctors to turn away LGBTQ+ patients, citing religious and moral objections.



Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed a protections of medical conscience bill as part of a so-called medical freedom agenda. Standing alongside controversial Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, DeSantis signed the legislation along with bills preventing employers from requiring vaccination status for new employees and barring certain virus research.

These expanded protections will help ensure that medical authoritarianism does not take root in Florida, DeSantis said at a Pensacola press conference.

Thats ironic, by the assessment of LGBTQ advocates. Equality Florida has called the legislation a right to discriminate bill, and compared it to the infamous Religious Freedom Restoration Act signed by then-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence in 2015.

This bill is a broad license for health care providers and insurance companies to refuse services to people, said Brandon Wolf, Equality Florida press secretary. No one should be denied access to medical care. It gives health care providers and insurance companies an unprecedented religious or moral right to refuse to provide services. This puts patients in harms way, is antithetical to the job of health care providers, and puts the most vulnerable Floridians in danger. Our state should be in the business of increasing access to medical care, not giving providers and companies a sweeping carve out of nondiscrimination laws. Shame on the governor for putting Floridians health at risk to score cheap, political points.

The Human Rights Campaign also slammed the new law.

Religious beliefs are fundamental rights in our country. These core values have shaped our nation and strengthened our union, said HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow. Unfortunately, bills like SB 1580 distort our foundational freedoms into tools to limit the rights of others, including the LGBTQ+ community and other vulnerable people. Personal beliefs should not be wielded as a sword to deny critical medical care. The Human Rights Campaign strongly condemns Gov. DeSantis for signing this dangerous bill.

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The concern now, though, is that companies will be able to deny coverage for HIV-positive patients seeking PrEP. Thats a realistic concern, as Publix, Floridas largest employer, briefly tried to refuse coverage for the HIV prevention strategy in 2018.

Advocates fear it will also mean a loss of coverage for gender-affirming care, coverage some Florida lawmakers have voted to ban outright this legislative session. This bill is the first of several anti-LGBTQ laws passed by the Florida Legislature over the last two months to be signed into law.

The new law goes into effect on July 1.

The DeSantis administration bills the legislation as a freedom of speech protection. It would allow health care and coverage providers to opt out of participation for certain health care services on the basis of conscience-based objections, so long as those reasons are properly documented. The legislation prohibits the state Board of Medicine from disciplining individuals for refusing care.

Governor DeSantis has been a pinnacle for freedom, and today we advance the cause of public health and individual autonomy in medical decisions, Ladapo said. From empowering patients to safeguarding children in schools, Florida continues to enshrine individual liberty and lead with common sense.

Carlos Guillermo Smith, an out candidate for Florida Senate who previously served in the state House, slammed the new law. He said it gave for-profit insurance companies too much cover to simply deny promised coverage.

Now they can cite any moral, ethical or religious reason to refuse payment of your claim, he tweeted. Insurance companies never had morals, but they will now.

Notably, Pence as Indiana Governor ultimately signed an amendment to the RFRA that specifically barred discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. That came as the state faced threats of business boycotts that could have cost millions in economic impact.

Its unclear if similar threats will move DeSantis, who has championed a number of anti-LGBTQ+ laws as he seems to preparefor a run for the Republican nomination for president.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody visited the Lakeland Police Department on Thursday morning to urge residents to get rid of unused prescription medications ahead of National Drug Take Back Day.

"These drugs sitting in medicine cabinets are easily forgotten and can do the most harm," Moody said. "Someone with a substance abuse problem may find these drugs, become addicted and move onto other drugs."

Florida law enforcement officials are seeing an increasing number of deaths from drug overdoses, according to Moody, who said more than 100,000 Americans die of drug overdoses each year.

'Absolutely constant' Fentanyl drives rise in drug overdoses in Polk and Florida

Battle over bats Lakeland trapper decries law barring relocation of colonies from city

Will 1920s home be saved? Lakeland approves zoning change for new Lake Wire apartments

This Saturday, six Polk County law enforcement agencies will be accepting unwanted, unused or expired prescription drug medications from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Davenport Police Department, 16 W. Bay St.

Haines City Police Department, 35400 U.S. 27

Lake Alfred Police Department, 190 N. Seminole Ave.

Lake Hamilton Police Department, 119 2nd St.,

Lake Wales Police Department, 133 N. Tillman Ave.

Lakeland Police Department, 219 N. Massachusetts Ave.

To find other locations, go online to takebackday.dea.gov.

Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor said officers will be standing outside to create a drive through so residents will not need to get out of their vehicle and don't have to provide their name. The medications can be passed through a car window for collection, including unwanted pet medications.

"In 2022, we collected over 1,200 pounds of prescription medication that was out of date or no longer needed," Taylor said.

Those unable to make Saturday's event can use Lakeland Police Department's prescription drug drop box in the department's lobby, which is open to the public 24/7.

Individuals can call and check with their local police departments, as many have similar drop boxes in their their lobbies, Taylor said. Other year-round locations be found by visiting doseofrealityfl.com.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Saturday is National Prescription Drug Take Day. Drop-off sites in Polk
Might be time to give some of that millennial bashing a rest.

Although its taken them longer than their parents, millennials are now entering the housing market in droves and have finally become an owner-majority generation, according to a RentCafe analysis.

The number of millennial owners, aged 27 to 33, has jumped nationwide by 7 million in just five years  more than any other generation, the report said. Indeed, millennial owners doubled between 2017 and 2022 in more than one-quarter of the 110 largest metros analyzed using the most recent IPUMS data.

But heres the rub: Raleigh-Cary still hasnt passed the threshold.

Bucking the national trend, the regions millennials are still a renter-majority generation. Even with a 73% surge in homeownership in the last five years, reaching a peak of 101,230 millennial owners, just 45% of the people in this age group are now living in their own homes.

By contrast, the number of renting millennials in Raleigh increased even more  by 85%, with this group having more renters than any other generation, nearly 123,000.

This chart shows the percentage of renters versus owners in the Raleigh metro area.

Are millennials getting shut out?

As North Carolina remains one of the fastest-growing states, soaring home prices and higher mortgage rates are keeping many of these would-be homebuyers in the rental market, say experts.

Rising rents are also compounding the problem, said Derrick Thornton, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Advantage out of Northeast Raleigh. Millennials have trouble saving enough for a down payment because theyre paying so much of their income in rent.

Hopefully, first-time buyers will still have opportunities to purchase homes. But it will likely be in surrounding areas just outside of Raleigh or Durham, he told The N&O.

Another possible reason for so many renting millennials?

The growing popularity of the renter-by-choice lifestyle. In Raleigh, the number of rich renter households  those with annual incomes over $150,000  skyrocketed by 178% between 2015 and 2020, going from 1,877 to 5,224, a separate RentCafe study reported.

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Homeownership is not a priority for everyone, especially not for millennials and Gen Zs, said the studys author, Andrea Neculae.

Which generation owns the most homes in Raleigh?

Gen X (ages 43 to 58) is the largest demographic of homeowners in Raleigh, after a 48% rise in the last five years, the report said. Also, more than three-quarters of Gen Xers in Raleigh (82%) live in their own homes. On the other hand, the number of Gen X renters increased by 69% for an 18% share.

Right after Gen X, baby boomers (ages 59-77) are the second largest generation of homeowners in Raleigh, after a 19% uptick. The number of baby boomers who rent, however, declined by 15%. Consequently, the ratio of homeowners to renters is 80% to 20% for this cohort.

Gen Z, or Zoomers (ages 18-26), are now coming of age and establishing themselves in the job market, the report said. That explains the exponential growth for both owners and renters in this age group: by 102% and 148%, respectively.

The report said 29% of Gen Zers in Raleigh-Cary currently own their homes, while 71 % rent.
Ralph-Yarl-Wrong House

Andrew Lester appears in court to answer charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 in Liberty, Mo. Lester, 84, accused of shooting Ralph Yarl, a Black teenager, pleaded not guilty. (KMBC via AP, Pool) Credit - KMBC/AP/Pool

As protesters took to the streets of Kansas City, Mo., to demand charges against the white homeowner who shot Black teenager Ralph Yarl after he accidentally stopped at the wrong house, the citys police chief said that investigators were considering whether Missouris Stand Your Ground law could factor into the case.

Ralph, 16, was shot twice by 84-year-old Andrew Lester and sustained life-threatening injuries. Ralphs family said he mixed up addresses when he went to pick up his twin brothers on the night of April 16. Lester told police that he opened fire because he was scared to death after he saw a Black male, whom he described at 6 feet tall, trying to open his front door.

After Lester was initially detained and released, prosecutors charged him with first-degree assault on Monday. He could face upto life in prison if convicted.

Ralph, who was later released from the hospital after being treated for gunshot wounds to his head and arm, is only the latest victim to be shot by someone who claimed self defense. On Saturday night, a 65-year-old man who lived in an upstate New York town fatally shot 20-year-old Kaylin Gills, who had mistakenly driven into his driveway. The shooter was charged with second-degree murder. On Tuesday, just after midnight, a 25-year-old man shot two teenage cheerleaders in a supermarket parking lot near Austin; one of the girls had accidentally opened the door to the mans car, incorrectly thinking that it was hers. They survived, and the gunman in that case was arrested.

Stand Your Ground laws are in place in at least 28 states. Those laws, and the related Castle Doctrine statutes, seek to enshrine peoples rights to defend themselves, including using deadly force, according to proponents. However, studies have shown they are associated with higher homicide rates and they have frequently come to the forefront in high-profile trials, perhaps most notably the 2012 fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin.

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Ralph Yarl, the teenager who was shot in the head and arm by a white homeowner on April 13, 2022. Gofundme

Scholars who have studied these laws also point out that these laws have been applied differently depending on the race of the shooter and the person being shot. Authorities have said there was a racial component to Lesters decision to open fire on Ralph.

What were seeing is legislatures saying: Its okay to shoot first and ask questions later, Kami Chavis, director of the Center of Criminal Justice Policy and Reform at William & Mary Law School, says.

Lester pleaded not guilty in court on Wednesday after turning himself in and posting $200,000 bond. Its not known whether he will seek to use stand your ground or similar self-defense laws as a defense in the charges against himbut legal experts say he will have a difficult time clearing even the lower legal hurdle proving that he was acting in self-defense.

How do Stand Your Ground laws work?

Stand Your Ground laws are an expansion of the common law principle of Castle Doctrine, which allows individuals to use reasonable force, including firearms, to protect themselves from an intruder in their home. There is no duty to retreat in ones home under the Castle Doctrine.

Stand Your Ground laws take this notion, and push its geographical boundaries to apply in public spaces. While many legal experts note that the Castle Doctrine and not Stand Your Ground laws are more relevant in the Yarl case, these terms have sometimes been used interchangeably in public discourse when talking about self-defense and whether use of force is justified.

Some experts say the legal expansion is dangerous because self defense is supposed to be a last resort and Stand Your Ground laws can make individuals less likely to think twice before using violence. When you expand this and say you dont have a duty to retreat you are unnecessarily going to have more confrontations and loss of human life, says Chavis.

Studies bear this out. A 2022 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that stand-your ground laws are associated with an 11% increase in monthly firearm homicide rates. A review of 16 studies by RAND researchers also found a significant link between these laws and an increase in deaths and gun fatalities.

Florida was the first state to enact a stand-your-ground law in 2005. It allows the use of deadly force in any public place if a person feels their life is threatened. The NRA has put its weight behind stand your ground laws as part of its broader agenda to increase gun rights. Supporters of the law say it will deter crimes, although some studies have called that into question.

How stand your ground applies to Ralph Yarls case

Missouris self-defense law specifies that a person may use deadly force if they reasonably believe that such deadly force is necessary to protect himself, or herself or her unborn child, or another against death, serious physical injury, or any forcible felony. This includes threats to property. Under Missouri law you can use deadly force to repel burglary and unlawful entry into your house, says Eugene Volokh, a law professor at UCLA.

Legal experts tell TIME that the key question is understanding what justifies reasonable fear and use of deadly force. To have self-defense at all you have to be met with a reasonable threat, Chavis says. Ringing a doorbell doesnt justify using deadly force, she and other legal experts say. (Lester told police that Ralph also attempted to open his door, though prosecutors say he did not cross into the home and that shots were fired through a glass door.)

A justification of self defense requires that a reasonable person would feel its necessary to avoid an imminent threat of death or bodily harm, says Donald Jones, a law professor at the University of Miami who teaches criminal law.. You have to have all of those things. He has none of them, Jones says, based on his understanding of the facts that have been made public so far.

Inconsistent applications of the law

The relatively recent history of Stand Your Ground laws also carries concerns that it is applied unequally depending on the race of the shooter and the person shot. The 2012 killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, who was fatally shot by George Zimmerman while he was walking home from a convenience store, was perhaps the first Stand Your Ground case to gain national attention.

Historically, prosecutors value Black lives less than white livesand so if a Black person was killed, it didnt register the same level of concern, Jones says.

The likelihood of a white person killing a Black person and it being considered justified is 281% greater than a white person killing another white person, according to a 2013 study from the Urban Institute, which analyzed the percentage of homicides ruled justified in cases that occurred between 2005-2010. A 2017 analysis of 400,000 homicides committed by civilians between 1980 and 2014 from the Marshall Project and The New York Times found that when a white person kills a Black man in the U.S., one in six of the killings involve no criminal repercussions.

Laws around justifiable use of force are often not used consistently not only in the context of race but also gender. Stand Your Ground laws were initially touted by its supporters as protecting women, says Caroline Light, a Harvard University professor who teaches gender and ethnic studies and author of Stand Your Ground: A History of Americas Love Affair with Lethal Self-Defense. But when a woman uses lethal violence to protect herself from her largest statistical threat, who is her boyfriend, husband or ex-partner, she goes to jail, so theres a big lie at the heart of this idea of protecting women, Light says. She gives the example of Marissa Alexander, a Black woman who fired a warning shot to get away from her abusive estranged spouse in 2010 and went to prison for three years.




- "This last 12 months has been a record year for trade between Australia and China. We think we can do better," Farrell said.

- Farrell said China's booming tourism and consumption during the May Day holiday was "very good news for Australia and the world."

BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) -- "Australia doesn't want to decouple from China. What Australia wants to do is to improve our trading relationship with China," said Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell during an exclusive interview with Xinhua recently.

Farrell is the first Australian trade minister to have visited China in four years. He and Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao co-hosted on Friday the 16th Joint Ministerial Economic Commission here in Beijing.

China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao co-chairs the 16th China-Australia Joint Ministerial Economic Commission with visiting Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

The Australian government forecasted the nation's first annual budget surplus in 15 years on Tuesday. Farrell said one of the reasons is the "terms of trade that we have received over the last 12 months."

China is Australia's largest trading partner and Australia is one of China's major suppliers of commodities. Several Australian enterprises and associations have recently confirmed their participation in the 6th China International Import Expo.

"This last 12 months has been a record year for trade between Australia and China. We think we can do better," Farrell said.

Farrell said China's booming tourism and consumption during the May Day holiday was "very good news for Australia and the world."

"We're very hopeful and confident that the wonderful places Australia has to offer will attract lots of Chinese tourists," Farrell said, adding that Chinese people love coming to Sydney to see the Harbor Bridge, the Opera House and have a taste of the food and wine.

As Australia has realized the importance of decarbonizing the economy, Farrell said the country is looking forward to cooperating with China in renewable energy.

"We believe that we can provide the world with clean energy into the future. And we very much look forward to working with China to bring that about," the minister said. 
The State Department is urging Americans to reconsider travel to Jamaica and Colombia due to crime and, in Colombias case, terrorism.

The department regularly assesses risks for Americans abroad and had previously issued travel advisories for both Colombia and Jamaica but reissued them with fresh updates.

Violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides, are common. Sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts, the State Department says in its level 3 travel advisory for Jamaica.

The State Department similarly warns of widespread violent crimes in Colombia, including homicide, assault and armed robbery and in some places, kidnapping and extortion. Additionally, terrorist and criminal organizations may attack public areas like airports, hotels and restaurants without warning, and due to civil unrest, demonstrations occur regularly throughout the country and protests can become violent and can result in fatalities and injuries.

The State Department is urging Americans to reconsider travel to Jamaica.

"The U.S. Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas," a State Department spokesperson said. "We take seriously our commitment to provide U.S. citizens with clear, timely, and reliable information about every country in the world so they can make informed travel decisions."

Heres what travelers should know about visiting Colombia and Jamaica:

Not everyone wants to come to the US: Gun violence, safety concerns keeping international travelers away

Why is there a travel warning to Jamaica?

The biggest risk factor is crime, but the response to crime is also important to note.

Local police do not respond effectively to serious criminal incidents, according to the State Department. When arrests are made, cases are infrequently prosecuted to a conclusive sentence. Families of U.S. citizens killed in accidents or homicides frequently wait a year or more for final death certificates to be issued by Jamaican authorities.

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The State Department adds that emergency services and hospital care vary widely across Jamaica and U.S. government personnel are not allowed to travel to many areas due to increased risk, meaning travelers have limited resources if something goes awry.

Is Mexico travel safe? What to know about visiting Cabo, Cancun, Playa del Carmen and more

Is it safe to travel to Colombia?

For now, the State Department is encouraging Americans to reconsider visiting Colombia in general due to crime, terrorism and civil unrest.

There are, however, specific parts of the country Americans are urged to avoid. The State Department says do not travel to Arauca, Cauca and Norte de Santander Departments, where violent crime is widespread, terrorist groups can be active and the U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens as U.S. government-personnel travel to these areas is severely restricted due to security concerns. Popular tourist spots are located in Bogota and Medellin, which are several hours away from the highlighted states by car.

Americans are also urged to avoid the border area between Colombia and Venezuela, which in many places is not clearly marked and where U.S. citizens risk being detained and charged with terrorism and other crimes.

How to travel like a spy: CIA tips to stay safe on vacation

What should you do before traveling to Jamaica or Colombia?

Travelers who decide to visit Jamaica, Colombia, or any country with safety risks are urged to enroll in the State Departments free Smart Travel Enrollment Program, read the destinations Country Security Report, prepare contingency plans for emergencies, be aware of their surroundings, keep a low profile, and follow the State Department on Facebook and Twitter for updates.

Additional destination-specific tips are available online through the State Departments Bureau of Consular Affairs.

Tourists walk in the forest in Gorgona Island, Colombia, on Dec. 2, 2021. Formerly an infamous prison island comparable to Alcatraz in the U.S. and Robben Island in South Africa, today the island is a national natural park.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: State Department: 'Reconsider travel' to Jamaica, Colombia
KHARTOUM, Sudan  The Sudanese army said Saturday it was coordinating efforts to evacuate American, British, Chinese and French citizens and diplomats from Sudan on military aircraft, as the bloody fighting that has engulfed the vast African nation entered its second week.

The military said that its chief, Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, had spoken to leaders of several countries who have requested safe evacuations of their citizens and diplomats from Sudan. The prospect has vexed officials as most major airports have become battlegrounds and movement out of the capital, Khartoum, has proven intensely dangerous.

Burhan agreed to provide the necessary assistance to secure such evacuations for various countries, the military said.

Questions have swirled over how the mass rescues of foreign citizens would unfold, with Sudans main international airport closed and millions of people sheltering indoors. As battles between the Sudanese army led by Burhan and a rival powerful paramilitary group rage in and around Khartoum, including in residential areas, foreign countries have struggled to repatriate their citizens  some of whom are running short on food and basic supplies while hunkered down.

The Pentagon said earlier this week it was moving additional troops and equipment to a Naval base in the tiny Gulf of Aden nation of Djibouti to prepare for the evacuation of U.S. Embassy personnel. But the White House said Friday it had no plans for a government-coordinated evacuation of an estimated 16,000 American citizens trapped in Sudan.

Even as the warring sides said Friday theyd agreed to a cease-fire for the three-day Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, explosions and gunfire rang out across Khartoum on Saturday. Two cease-fire attempts earlier this week also rapidly collapsed.

People need to realize that the war has been continuous since day one. It has not stopped for one moment, said Atiya Abdalla Atiya, secretary of the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate, which monitors casualties. The clashes have killed over 400 people so far, according to the World Health Organization.

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The international airport near the center of the capital has come under heavy shelling as the paramilitary group, known as the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, has tried to take control of the compound. In an apparent effort to oust the RSF fighters, the Sudanese army has pounded the airport with airstrikes, gutting at least one runway and leaving wrecked planes scattered on the tarmac. The full extent of damage at the airfield remains unclear.

Burhan said that some diplomats from Saudi Arabia had already been evacuated from Port Sudan, the countrys main seaport on the Red Sea, and airlifted back to the kingdom. He said that Jordans diplomats would soon be evacuated in the same way.

On Saturday, Saudi Arabia and Jordan both announced that they had started arranging for the repatriation of their citizens stuck in Sudan. Officials did not elaborate on how the plans would unfold. Jordan said it was taking into account the security conditions on the ground and was coordinating its efforts with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Sunburst Market, located at 1511 County Road 7140, will close at the end of this month.

Sunburst Market is closing its doors after operating in Lubbock County for more than half a century, hosting a multi-day estate sale that kicks off Sunday.

"We at Sunburst Market would like to take this time to thank our Sunburst family for 50 years of a great harvest," Sunburst shared in a Facebook post announcing the decision to close the business. "With great sadness but full trust in the Lord, we have decided as a family that it is time to pluck up that which has been planted."

The quaint farmer's market, local and family owned, is the culmination of generations of farming in the Thiel Family. In 2013, Bruce Theil told The Produce News that the efforts trace back all the way to 1939 when his five potato farmer uncles moved from Idaho to Hereford.

They loaded up a John Deere B tractor and a two-row planter and came down to West Texas. They landed there that winter and damned if they didnt plant a crop  2,000 acres of potatoes, he said then. Its an old story, but if my uncles had just a little bit more sense about business and had bought more land Id have probably be useless now because I wouldnt have to work. They farmed land that no one could have farmed. Nobody worked harder than these guys and thats a fact. Some of the things theyd do for fun is see who could throw a 100-pound sack of potatoes the highest.

Now, the business is heading into its last few days of operations and will host an estate sale throughout the week. The schedule is as follows.

April 23: 1 to 5 p.m.

April 24-29: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

April 30: 1 to 4 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock Sunburst Market closing after 50 years, estate sale this week
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reacts to a reporter's question after a vote on HR 2, a bill to build more U.S.-Mexico border wall and impose new restrictions on asylum-seekers.

WASHINGTON  Texas Republicans in Congress celebrated the U.S. House passing a hard-fought border security bill that was crafted with help from Reps. Chip Roy, Michael McCaul and John Carter but passed without a single Democratic vote last week.

During a charged partisan debate, Roy, of Hays County, described the need for a crackdown after the abject failure of the Biden administrations immigration policies allowed a wide-open border. U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, said the bill was anti-immigrant and would destroy the asylum system.

The 219-213 vote Thursday (with two Republican votes against the measure) underscored the divide between the GOP and Biden by calling for a return to Trump-era policies, including restarting construction of the border wall for 900 miles and ending most asylum protections.

The bill, HR 2, is titled the Secure the Border Act, but Democrats on the House floor kept calling it the Child Deportation Act.

We're here today because of the abject failure of the administration to do its fundamental duty to protect the United States, Roy said. We have a wide-open border  empowering cartels, empowering China, to the detriment of the American citizens and to the migrants that seek to come here  supposedly in the name of compassion.

Roy tried to get a slimmed down border security bill through the House when the Republicans took back the majority in January but ran into stiff resistance from another Texas Republican, Rep. Tony Gonzales of San Antonio, who represents 800 miles of the U.S.-Texas border in the 23rd Congressional District, which stretches from San Antonio to El Paso, and wanted to ensure that immigrant protections were included in the bill.

Representing more than 40% of our southern border, I know firsthand the struggles that border communities, Border Patrol agents and law enforcement officers face each and every day, said Gonzales, who helped negotiate asylum protections in the final bill. He still wants terrorist organizations labeled as cartels, but that was removed from the bill after conservatives said it would expand the claims that could be made by asylum-seekers about whom they were fleeing.

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Some of the most passionate arguments by a Republican came from Austin's McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who, at times with his voice almost cracking, declared the bill a victory for those living on the front lines of this crisis in states like Texas.

The Republican bill eliminates the controversial catch and release practice that releases undocumented immigrants into the U.S. while they await a hearing.

My very first bill when I came to Congress was to end catch and release, McCaul said, and here we are 20 years later, and were right back to it.

Addressing the growing number of immigrants awaiting entry at the border as Title 42 enforcement  the Trump-era effort that allowed for quick expulsions of migrants due to COVID-19 concerns  expired, McCaul said: This is unsustainable. We are facing a humanitarian crisis of generational proportions.

For two years, we have seen migrant encounters, drug trafficking and cartel activity skyrocket due to the Biden administrations failed open-border policies.

Casar, who was elected to Congress in 2022, had a different perspective.

Im the son of immigrants and proud to represent the heart of Texas here in the United States Congress, he said. For generations, my family has moved back and forth between Texas and Mexico, Mexico and Texas. People immigrate.

He described the GOP bill as cruel, extreme and not based on fact.

It would destroy the asylum system, cage children and families indefinitely, and make the situation at our border worse, Casar said. In fact, this bill would eliminate funding for much of the remaining legal immigration system that we have, leading to chaos.

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin, the other Democrat who represents portions of Central Texas, called out the GOP on economic grounds.

Our economy is crying out Help Wanted, to which Republicans respond, Keep out and Build a wall to wall us off from the rest of the world, he said.

Certainly, we cannot take everyone who wants to come here, he continued, but he blamed Republicans for anti-immigrant hysteria that benefits them politically.

Carter, R-Round Rock, who has worked on immigration issues on the House Appropriations Committee, said, For far too long, cartels have manipulated our nation's immigration laws to make billions peddling drugs and human trafficking.

The bill would address a ploy used by cartels to have groups pose as families  which leaves unaccompanied children vulnerable to abuse  by making them stay in Mexico or at a residential facility until their claim is heard, officials said.

This administration's decisions have created an unprecedented rise in illegal border crossings directly resulting in over 6 million new migrants in the United States since Biden took office, Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Waco, said.

U.S. Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Victoria, said he supported the bill because it is about stopping the fentanyl from flowing across our border, stopping the human trafficking of migrants and children, and enforcing our immigration laws.

After the Houses approval, the bill will now move to the U.S. Senate, where Democrats have a slim majority, for consideration.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Border security: What U.S. representatives from Texas say about HR 2
Yulia Morozova/Reuters

Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin repeatedly offered to reveal the positions of Russian troops to Ukraines federal intelligence agency, according to leaked documents obtained by The Washington Post.

The leaks, originally published on Discord, reportedly indicate that the Wagner boss made the offer in late January. In exchange, Prigozhin asked that Ukraine withdraw its troops from the eastern city of Bakhmut, the report said.

The documents do not specify which Russian army positions were on the table in Prigozhins proposal, and Ukrainian officials reportedly decided against taking the mercenary boss up on his offer, citing a lack of trust that he would hold up his end of the bargain.

Two Ukrainian officials confirmed the correspondence between Prigozhin and the intelligence agency to the publication. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly declined to comment on the matter in an interview with WaPo.

Prigozhin strenuously denied the accusations, calling the leak laughable while blaming the attack on people from Rublyovkaa wealthy Moscow suburb where many of the countrys political and business elite live.

Reading this is of course nice. It means I am not only fighting for Russia but Zelensky is also fulfilling my orders, Prigozhin said in an audio message on Telegram, according to the English-language Moscow Times.

Of course they will pour as much s*** on me as they can, he added.

The Kremlin also weighed in on the leak, saying simply that it looks fake during a press briefing Monday morning.

News of Prigozhins alleged proposal comes after a slew of heated public clashes between the shadow army boss and Russias defense ministry over Moscows strategy in Ukraine.

Wagner Boss Makes Major Battlefield Exit After Grisly Video

Just last week, Prigozhin released a profanity-laced video referring to the complete asshole running Russias war efforts, stirring speculation about whether he was referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin himself.

Story continues

Days before that, the Wagner boss announced he would be withdrawing his mercenaries from Bakhmut after repeatedly deriding Moscow for failing to deliver enough ammunition and other resources to boost his forces. The video featured graphic footage of dead Russian fighters piled up on a field.

The feud has escalated so much that some in the Kremlin expect Moscows security services to step in, according to Meduza.

As long as Wagner is there [on the frontline], there is little danger for Prigozhin, he has the chance to enter into direct dialogue with the president. But if it goes on like this, the official security forces will definitely stop it, one source close to the Kremlin told the outlet.

According to the Washington Post report, Putins administration likely suspects that the Wagner boss has been communicating with Ukrainian intelligence.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A wedding photographer has blamed a Karen for ruining a couples perfect wedding shot, but social media users seem to disagree.

Duminciuc Bogdan, a wedding photographer and videographer, went viral on TikTok when he shared a video of a bystander walking into what wouldve been a picture-perfect shot. In the video, which has nearly 27 million views, a bride and groom are seen posing for a photoshoot on a pier in Corfu, Greece.

As Bogdan snapped photos of the married couple, an airplane flew above their heads and the photographer attempted to take a picture of the unexpected moment. He instructed the couple to kiss just as the plane was in the frame, but just then a woman walking her dog photobombed the special moment.

I was trying to get a shot with the couple and the airplane and Karen here decided to ruin our shot, he wrote over the clip. The photographer can also be heard complaining about the woman interrupting their shot in the background, saying: Oh, come on. Come on.

The video received 26.8m since it was posted, but many people in the comments section were divided over whether the bystander actually ruined the couples wedding shot. Many TikTok users agreed that the woman shouldve waited until the photographer was able to capture the photo before continuing to walk her dog.

My anger issues could NEVER, commented one user.

Doesnt matter if its a wedding or just a tourist. You can wait one second for a photo to be taken, another user said.

the rage that filled my body after watching this, said someone else.

However, others suggested that the so-called Karen may not have noticed they were taking the photo, or believed that they would pause the photoshoot for the plane passing by.

At first glance I would assume that a plane would ruin a shot anyway so Id rush through when its in the frame, said one user.

Story continues

I bet she was waiting for a while and had enough, someone else wrote. Its public space. Respect goes both ways and as you see there is no other route for her.

Maybe she had been waiting for a while and figured it was good time to pass thinking they wouldnt want an EasyJet plane in their wedding pic, a third user commented.

Recently, another wedding photographer went viral on TikTok when she revealed that a bride had asked if she would photograph her destination wedding free of charge in exchange for travel and lodging for their Mexico nuptials.

In the video, the photographer shared a screenshot of the email that she received from the bride saying she was looking for someone willing to exchange services of photography/videography for flight/resort/transportation.

To photograph and film the wedding, in exchange for travel and lodging at the resort, the email continued, with the bride explaining that ideally, she would like to cover just the hotel, which includes all-inclusive drinks and food, in exchange for the photography services.

Many viewers were horrified by the brides request and pointed out her audacity for asking the photographer to cover the expenses of their own services. Thats an offer you give to a cousin or something, not a professional vendor, one person commented, while another said: The audacity of people always astonishes me
The passenger was traveling from Barbados to Miami. Daniel Slim/Getty Images

An American Airlines passenger has been accused of assaulting a flight attendant.

The passenger was traveling from Barbados to Miami, per a criminal complaint.

The complaint alleged that he assaulted a crew member after objecting to the way he was spoken to.

An American Airlines passenger has been accused of assaulting a flight attendant during a dispute about menu options.

The passenger, who was named in a criminal complaint as Robert David Croizat, was accused of causing the incident midway through a flight from Barbados to Miami on March 8. Croizat's lawyer, Barry Wax, told Insider the passenger pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge of assault.

The complaint alleged that Croizat insulted a cabin-crew member after taking issue with the way he was spoken to when given the choices for his meal. Croizat later began shouting at the attendant and "aggressively, demandingly, and loudly" ordering him and another flight attendant to "get the Captain out here," the complaint said.

During the altercation, Croizat touched a third flight attendant, pushing her twice after she told him not to touch her, the complaint said. It added that after Croizat refused to sit down, a flight attendant called the captain to inform him of the incident.

Croizat's lawyer told Insider that he "got into an argument with a flight attendant whom he felt was disrespecting him. Two other flight attendants became involved, Mr. Croizat tapped one of them on the back of her shoulder when her back was turned, and after she turned to face him, he poked her in the shoulder two times."

Representatives for American Airlines did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, made outside normal working hours.

Croizat's lawyer said in a statement: "This incident was entirely out of character for Mr. Croizat and represented an overreaction which he regrets."

The incident is the latest example of unruly behavior on board major airlines. Last month, a United flight had to turn around three hours after it took off after a man reportedly sat in a crew seat and got "in a shouting match" with a flight attendant.

Read the original article on Business Insider
In the years before oil dominated the Texas economy, farmers and ranchers made the states reputation through the hard days of tilling the soil and driving countless herds of cattle. Of all the ranchers who poured their sweat and blood into the dust to build lives for themselves, and ultimately their communities, Charles Goodnight stands out. He led the creation of one of the most important cattle trails in the Southwest and became a leader in ranching for western Texas.

Goodnight was born into a farming family in Illinois in 1836. His father and namesake, Charles Goodnight, died while he was still quite young. In 1846, shortly after statehood, he moved with his mother, siblings, and stepfather to Texas. The family settled in Milam County, roughly between Georgetown and Bryan.

He took many different jobs with the emerging farms and ranches in the region. By the late 1850s, he had joined local militias in ongoing fights with the Comanche tribes. He also served briefly in the Civil War.

Bridges

In 1866, now in the Weatherford area, he and his friend Oliver Loving were determined to improve their fortunes in the cattle market. The two organized a drive of hundreds of head of cattle from the Ft. Belknap area in Young County to army posts in New Mexico. By the next year, the two were also heading north into Colorado to sell cattle. However, Loving died in a fight with Comanches in 1867, but Goodnight continued to share the profits with his family afterward. Their route, which became known as the Goodnight-Loving Trail as others followed, became one of the most important cattle trails in the region, creating important new markets for Texas cattle at unprecedented profits.

Cattle prices collapsed in 1873, forcing Goodnight to find new lands. In 1876, Goodnight staked out a new ranch in the Panhandle at Palo Duro Canyon, building a homestead in what became the community of Goodnight, southeast of modern Amarillo. The JA Ranch, founded with partner John G. Adair, was one of the first in the Panhandle.

Story continues

With a fortune amassed from his many adventures, he became known for his generous philanthropy. He donated endangered buffalo to zoos across the nation. He gave generously to churches, and though he had less than a year of formal education himself, ultimately established a college.

Goodnight College opened in 1898 originally as a co-ed preparatory school. The institution opened its first classes in the local Methodist church, and Goodnight donated 340 acres to let students work off their tuition. Although it eventually expanded into a two-year college, the pressures of World War I and competition from other nearby colleges forced its closure in 1917. The site, however, continued to operate briefly as an orphanage.

His later years were met with disappointment. His wife of 56 years, Mary Ann, died in 1926, leaving him totally despondent. When the Mexican government, upset over the loss of its mining wealth to other nations, took over ownership of all foreign-owned mines in 1919, Goodnight saw all of his investments in Mexican silver mining evaporate overnight. He was forced to sell his ranch, only with the provision that he could live there for the rest of his life. He died quietly at his home in 1929.

In the years following his death, Goodnight was widely honored. Several Texas communities named streets for him, and Pueblo, Colorado, named an elementary school for him. The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Canyon, which opened in 1933, includes a statue, his personal letters, and a number of his possessions. Reportedly, famed Texas author and Archer City native Larry McMurtry based his 1985 novel Lonesome Dove on one of Goodnights cattle drives.

Ken Bridges is a writer, historian and native Texan. He holds a doctorate from the University of North Texas. Bridges can be reached by email at drkenbridges@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Bridges: Charles Goodnight had key role in cattle trail, ranching
From the time that Patrick Ben III decided he would go to college, there seemed to be an obstacle at every turn.

The high school he attended on Chicagos South Side, for example, offered few of the advantages that wealthier kids got. There were no Advanced Placement courses, and little help was available with college and financial aid applications.

I understood that a lot of the things I did to prepare for college I would have to do myself, said Ben, who is Black.

When he finally made it to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the shortcomings of his high school were laid bare. Other students from more affluent places were sitting there in class talking about how theyve already done this stuff, where Im thinking, all of this is new to me.

Affirmative action: Supreme Court signals skepticism of race-conscious college admissions

These things just reminded me of what I already knew about the politics of education and the lack of resources in low-income communities when it comes to schools, said Ben, now 22 and about to graduate and go back to Chicago to teach while pursuing a masters degree.

I cant be mad that the opportunities are different, he said, because its out of my control. Its just the way society is.

Patrick Ben III at the Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. When he was a student at an urban public high school, Ben says, I understood that a lot of the things I did to prepare for college I would have to do myself.

As states push back against diversity programs at public universities, and the Supreme Court considers whether to eliminate affirmative action in admissions, a central question remains: whether the playing field has finally been leveled, especially between white and Black Americans who aspire to college educations and the higher quality of life they bring.

The answer? Not only has this divide failed to narrow  its getting worse.

In a way, were in the worst of all possible worlds for civil rights, because people think a lot of problems have been solved, said Gary Orfield, co-director of the Civil Rights Project at the University of California, Los Angeles.

In fact, Orfield said, were not making progress. The gaps are huge, and theres no prospect of them closing in the foreseeable future. Were going backwards.

Story continues

How does Black college enrollment compare?

Black college and university enrollment has been dropping steadily. Already down by 22% between 2010 and 2020, or by more than 650,000 students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, it has fallen by another 7% since then, more recent figures from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center show.

Look again: Affirmative action critics paint Asian Americans as the model minority.

Even though the number of white students has also declined since 2010, the difference between the proportions of white students and Black students graduating with degrees has gotten bigger, data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center show.

Thirty-four percent of Black adults have associate degrees or higher, compared with 50% of white adults, according to the Lumina Foundation. (Lumina is among the funders of The Hechinger Report, which produced this story.)

Theres a facade thats trying to be presented that everything is OK. But we never were okay, even before the pandemic, said Wisdom Cole, national director of the NAACP youth and college division.

Many factors account for this disparity. The biggest is cost.

Were not making progress. The gaps are huge, and theres no prospect of them closing in the foreseeable future. Were going backwards. Gary Orfield, co-director of the Civil Rights Project, University of California, Los Angeles

The average Black household earns about half as much as the average white household, and white families have eight times the median wealth of Black families  $188,200, compared with $24,100  a gap that also has been getting wider, the Federal Reserve reports.

DEI came to colleges with a bang. Now, these red states are on a mission to snuff it out.

The equalizer to close these gaps was supposed to be education. If youre able to go to college, youre able to find a job and support yourself and your family. But the outcomes arent showing that, said Justin Nalley, senior policy analyst at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a Black think tank.

This economic disparity means that going to college, for Black Americans, is far more likely to require going into debt  and larger amounts of it. Eighty-six percent have to borrow toward a bachelors degree. Black students who make it to graduation end up owing nearly 50% more than white graduates, according to the Brookings Institution.

They also go on to earn less than white graduates, which makes that obligation harder to repay.

University degree or not, youre facing discrimination in the workplace when it comes to hiring and when it comes to salaries, Cole said.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Disparities continue once Black college grads enter the workforce

Black college and university graduates earn an average of 15% less than their white classmates and are more likely to be underemployed, the NAACP finds. Almost 40% default on their college loans within 12 years, compared with 12% of white graduates, The Institute for College Access and Success says.

But the other reasons Black enrollment has been declining begin much earlier than college, with the quality of the education Black students receive in kindergarten through grade 12.

Forty-five percent of Black children go to high-poverty primary and secondary schools, compared with 8% of white students.

Why did wealthier peers get more aid? Many colleges raised tuition for low-income students.

Black students are more likely than white students to be held back, disciplined or diverted into special education and less likely to have access to Advanced Placement courses, researchers at the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University have found.

Black high school students are more likely to say they want to go to college than white students  50% to 42%, respectively  according to focus groups convened by Edge Research and HCM Strategists for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Yet while 67% of white high school graduates went directly to college in 2020  the most recent year for which the figure is available  54% of Black high school graduates did, the National Center for Education Statistics reports. Thats down from 66% in 2010.

Results like these owe more to the wealth divide than to academic ability, a long-term federal study suggests.

The study followed 23,000 students beginning in 2009, when they were in the ninth grade. An analysis of the resulting data by the Center for American Progress found that even the highest-achieving low-income students went to college at lower rates than their more affluent counterparts. The wealthiest students with mediocre academic backgrounds were just as likely to enroll as the lowest-income students with the highest grades and test scores.

Its tempting to think that America has largely solved its problems surrounding access to postsecondary education, the Center for American Progress report said. In fact, it said, the data show that the United States still fails miserably at this.

Financial aid can help, but eligibility rules for some of the nearly $15 billion of state-level financial aid for college often make it harder for Black students to get that aid, research by the Urban Institute has found. Thats because these programs are often based on high school academic performance, which can be affected by the varying quality of schools, and require students to attend college full time and immediately after graduating from high school, which Black students are less likely than white students to do.

Missing: A sense of belonging

Those Black students who do manage to enroll in college are less likely to finish. About 40% go to lower-priced but poorly funded public community colleges, which have very low completion rates. Nearly half of all public community college students drop out, within a year, of the school where they started, and only slightly more than 40% finish within six years.

Black students also disproportionately attend part time. Fifteen percent are caregivers for family members, 11% are parents or guardians and 20% work full time  all about double the proportions of other students.

Fifty-six percent of Black students at four-year universities and colleges go part time at some point, versus 42% of white students, making it far less likely that they will graduate within six years, according to the advocacy group Complete College America.

When they are on campus, more than a fifth of Black university and college students report frequently or occasionally feeling discriminated against; of these, 61% have considered dropping out, a Gallup poll commissioned by Lumina and released in February found.

Having a sense of belonging is critical, and part of what has happened in the last few years is this sort of heightening of these culture wars that create even more questioning of, Do I really belong on campus? said Steve Colon, CEO of Bottom Line, which provides counseling to help Black and other marginalized students get to and through college.

Even the highest-achieving low-income students went to college at lower rates than their more affluent counterparts. The wealthiest students with mediocre academic backgrounds were just as likely to enroll as the lowest-income students with the highest grades and test scores. Center for American Progress study

Even dorms are increasingly racially segregated, a researcher at the University of Kansas has found, with higher-quality buildings that, because of their cost, are often predominantly white.

If the education theyre receiving is not equitable, if theyre seeing discrimination happen on campus, segregation happening on campus  its not enough to just attract students to that campus, but are you retaining those students? Cole said.

Here, too, the answer is no. Only 40% of Black students graduate from four-year universities and colleges within even six years, compared with 64% of white students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics; the rest are still struggling through or have dropped out, most of them with debt but no degree.

This leads to the reality that although only about a third of Black Americans have college and university degrees, more than half of 25- to 40-year-old Black parents heading households owe student loan debt, according to the progressive think tank Demos.

Nineteen percent of Black adults, or nearly 6.4 million, have some college credit but no degree, compared with 16% of white adults, the Census Bureau reports.

This creates a vicious cycle, said Keith Curry, president of Compton College, a community college in California, and part of a group of college administrators, consultants and policymakers alarmed by and trying to reverse the decline in Black enrollment.

Student debt relief blocked, potentially hurting Black and Latino families the most

If a student doesnt have a good experience, they will tell somebody else in their neighborhood, he said. A younger relative who hears that story isnt going to enroll.

For this and other reasons, experts and research suggest that these declines may speed up.

If the Supreme Court strikes down affirmative action in admissions in a decision expected by the end of June, selective colleges and universities are likely to become even less racially diverse, the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce has concluded.

Were actually looking at projections that show were not going to be really closing this gap for a very long time, if ever, said Orfield, author of The Walls Around Opportunity: The Failure of Colorblind Policy for Higher Education.

When California passed Proposition 209 in 1996, prohibiting public universities from considering race in admission, Black students ended up being pushed from more-selective to less-selective institutions, research at the University of California, Berkeley found.

Its a demoralizing time, said Curry. But also look at it this way: Youve seen marginalized groups that have experienced racism for decades, even centuries. Were trying to change systems and structures that have been around for decades.

Bez Burks, a junior at Illinois State University, sees visceral symbols of the equity divide when he visits a classmate who lives in a luxury apartment building near the campus.

Elite colleges accused of price-fixing: Experts say they have a different wealth problem.

His friend, who also has a car, enjoys a pool, a fitness center and a 2,700-square-foot suite with granite countertops, flat-screen TVs and queen-sized beds. Some of the units include hot tubs, steam showers, balconies and bistro kitchens.

Burks, who is Black and  like Ben  from Chicagos South Side, took three buses each way, every day, to go to a charter high school away from his neighborhood. In college, he works more than 20 hours a week at Walmart to help pay for his tuition and rent for a much more modest room. His single mother, a nurse, picks up extra shifts to help, and hes taken out loans and applied for grants from nonprofit organizations to cover the rest.

Sometimes, this reminder of the comparative obstacles he faces really grinds my gears, said Burks, a marketing major who hopes one day to start his own marketing firm. But I try not to think about it too much. If I have to work twice as hard, thats what I will do.

This story about the college equity gap was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for our higher education newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College-going gap between Black and white Americans is getting worse
Former Vice President Mike Pence is making a pair of Strafford County appearances this week amid speculation hell soon join the pool of 2024 Republican presidential candidates.

The Great America Committee, a political action committee registered by Pence, announced the conservative Indiana politician will visit both Rochester and Dover on Wednesday, two of three Granite State stops hell make this week.

Pence, after first serving as the keynote speaker at the Libertas Award Dinner hosted by the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy on Tuesday evening in Concord, will take part in a roundtable conversation at LDI Solutions in Rochester. The event will begin at 11 a.m.

Vice President Mike Pence arrives on stage to greet a crowd at Port City Air at the Portsmouth International Airport at Pease on Wednesday, October 21, 2020.

Later on Wednesday, starting at 5:30 p.m., Pence will join the New Hampshire Home Builders Association for its Lumber & Lobster Reception in Dover. A location in Dover was not announced, nor was there indication either event was open to the public.

This spring, Pence told CBS Face the Nation in an interview that if he were to run for president, hed announce his candidacy well before late June of this year.

Should Pence seek the GOP presidential nomination, hed square off against his 2016 and 2020 running mate, former President Donald Trump. The current Republican presidential candidate field includes Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under Trump, as well as ex-Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Former VP Mike Pence to visit Dover, Rochester NH
BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The 2023 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum) is slated to take place in Beijing from May 25 to 30, with events including achievements showcases and technology cooperation fairs, the forum's organizers said on Monday.

The forum, themed "Open Cooperation for a Shared Future," will host more than 150 events, including 55 parallel forums, attracting guests from more than 80 countries and regions, as well as nearly 200 foreign government departments, international organizations and institutions.

Nearly 120 top experts in various fields will deliver keynote speeches during the forum, according to a media conference held by the organizers.

This year's forum will see the publication of news of a number of cutting-edge sci-tech achievements, research reports, plans for major international cooperation projects, as well as policies and measures, including an annual report on the transformation of China's sci-tech achievements, and the top 10 international technology innovation transfer projects.

Founded in 2007, the ZGC Forum has grown into a national-level open innovation platform and an international forum. 
The Colorful Cat Pet Cafe and Adoption Center is a years-long goal for local pet foster, Lauren Cooper.

A Lubbock animal rescuer has started taking steps to fulfilling a passion project that could save cats, provide comfort, and inspire people.

Lauren Cooper and her children have been rescuing and fostering cats for decades. From bottle-feeding days-old kittens to caring for cats with disabilities, she has plenty of experience caring for felines. Now, she wants to expand her passion into a unique business - a cat cafe.

Felipe, one of Lauren Cooper's rescue kittens, takes a nap.

What is a cat cafe?

In the U.S., most cat cafes have adoptable cats, along with food or drinks. Due to health regulations, the cat area is in a separate room from where food and drinks are served. People are welcome to reserve a time to visit and relax with the cats, and will typically pay a fee for their time.

Cat cafes originated in Taiwan in 1998, according to an article by The Smithsonian Magazine. The business became a popular concept in Japan, with the first location opening in Osaka in 2004, and quickly expanding to more than 150 cafes throughout the country. North America saw its first cafe in Montreal in 2014, according to catcafesd.com/about/.

If Cooper's plan succeeds, Lubbock could be among very few Texas cities to have a cat cafe. As of May 9, 2023, cat cafes in Texas include:

El Gato Coffeehouse in Houston.

Purr-fecto Cat Lounge in Austin.

Sun City City in El Paso.

The Casual Cat Cafe in Richland Hills.

The Charming Cat Cafe in Lewisbille.

The Cozy Catfe in Arlington.

Whiskers and Soda Cat Cafe in Dallas.

How did the idea for Colorful Cat Cafe happen?

"I was talking with another foster, and she asked 'have you ever seen one of those cat cafes' and I thought we should check it out," Cooper said. "The main reason I went toward trying to do this is because there's not that many spots for adoptions, and current ones are only open to select rescues. I want to help the cats that need to be adopted."

Initially, the name for this endeavor was Namaste Cat Cafe. As Cooper was navigating credit agencies, permitting, and other research, she had some companies that were unfamiliar with the word. She decided to change the name to something catchy and easy to remember.

Story continues

"My son offered The Colorful Cat," Cooper said. "It's all inclusive and shows that everyone is welcome. It will be colorful, calm, and comfy."

With the unique mix of rescue cats and cafes having specific permits and guidelines, Cooper has been researching what she will need. This has led her to launch a GoFundMe fundraising page online and an Amazon Wishlist.

On the GoFundMe, Cooper noted that if the cat cafe cannot happen due to a lack of funds, the money raised will be donated to cat rescues.

"I don't want people to feel that their money is going to waste," she said. "It's going strictly to the cats, either with a cafe or through rescues. I definitely want to make this happen, and bring this to the community. If everything goes perfectly, I hope to open next year."

Once the doors are open, Cooper hopes to host several events at the cafe. Her ideas include presentations on fostering cats and how to bottle-feed kittens, hosting an open-mic night, and possibly a poetry night.

In the meantime, people can keep up with The Colorful Cat Cafe at thecolorfulcatcafe.com. As the business gets closer to opening the doors, additional social media pages will appear on Facebook and Instagram.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Colorful Cat Cafe could open in Lubbock, here's the details
Calhoun County Prosecutor David Gilbert

Calhoun County Prosecutor David Gilbert is opposed to legislation that would abolish life sentences without parole for juveniles under 19 years of age convicted of first-degree murder.

The proposed bills introduced in the Michigan House and Senate (House Bills 4160-4164 and Senate Bills 119-123) would also make these defendants eligible for parole after 10 years if the homicide is committed before their 19th birthday.

"I as well as the vast majority of the 83 elected county prosecutors (Democrats and Republicans) throughout Michigan are on the record opposing these bills," Gilbert said in a statement. "Michigan already has a workable framework for ensuring juveniles receive fair and just sentences, and existing Michigan law allows a sentence of life without parole for a juvenile in very limited situations."

First-degree murder encompasses situations where the slaying is either deliberate, intentional and premeditated; happens during the act of a felony; or includes the murder of a police or corrections officer performing their duty.

The United States Supreme Court and the Michigan Supreme Court have ruled that automatically sentencing youth to life without parole is cruel and unusual punishment. Michigan law needs to recognize that juvenile offenders deserve a chance at rehabilitation, State Sen. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) said in a statement. We shouldnt turn our backs on juvenile offenders and throw away the key. Instead, we should ensure that Michigans juvenile justice system provides a chance for rehabilitation, reintegration, and redemption.

For adults, the penalty is for first-degree murder is life without the possibility of parole. For juveniles, current law requires the court conduct a sentencing hearing on any defendant convicted of first-degree murder if the homicide occurred prior to their 18th birthday to determine whether they should receive life without parole or a sentence to a term of years.

Story continues

Life without parole may only be allowed "in the most heinous of cases," Gilbert said.

Under these bills, offenders would be eligible for release after serving 10 years.

"The number of victims doesn't matter, nor does it matter how heinous the crime. If convicted, even the Oxford school shooter could be free in 10 years," Gilbert said. "Murder victims and their families deserve justice. I and other Michigan prosecutors are asking the people of our communities to contact their senators and representatives to voice opposition to these bills, and to keep our communities safe by keeping those who commit the most heinous of crimes locked up."

Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Calhoun County Prosecutor opposes juvenile lifer legislation
NASA has pulled the plug on its Lunar Flashlight project, which was designed to look for sources of ice on our nearest neighbor. The agency spent the last few months trying, and failing, to get the craft to generate the necessary amount of thrust to get the small satellite to its intended destination. Officials say that the issue was likely caused by debris buildup in the fuel lines, which prevented the CubeSat from working to its full potential.

The briefcase sized Lunar Flashlight first launched in December, and was developed by students at Georgia Tech. Once deployed, it was expected to start a four-month journey to the moon, after which point it would look for surface water ice at the moons perpetually-dark south pole. Unfortunately, despite a months-long effort to remedy the issue, the craft will proceed past Earth and then fly into the orbit, but hopefully not too close to, the sun.

NASA is choosing to take a glass half-full approach to the failure, pointing to the success of many of the projects components. Barbara Cohen, principal investigator at the Goddard Space Flight Center, said that while its disappointing, the mission proved the efficacy of several tools first used on the satellite. And that researchers "collected a lot of in-flight performance data on the instrument that will be incredibly valuable to future iterations."
If Pensacola wants to align with the new federal strategic plan on homelessness, Opening Doors of Northwest Florida will need to be broken up to split its non-profit service from its role in administering federal money for homelessness.

That was one of the key takeaways from U.S. Interagency Council on Homeless Regional Adviser Joe Savage's talk Wednesday morning to the Northwest Florida Homelessness Reduction Taskforce at the Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center.

Savage spoke for an hour and a half to a room full of leaders of local nonprofits, government agencies, and the medical community who work every day to help people experiencing homelessness. The talk followed a Tuesday morning discussion during a joint meeting with city and county officials and a CivicCon meeting that evening.

In the final minutes of his talk, Savage said the diversity of providers and services reflected in the room should also be reflected in the governance of the local Continuum of Care (COC) organization.

Opening Doors of Northwest Florida serves as the Continuum of Care organization, which is the main agency the federal government interacts with on homelessness funding. The organization evolved out of the EscaRosa Coalition on Homelessness, which was founded in 1986. The federal government passed legislation in 1994 creating the COC funding model.

CivicCon: Why haven't we solved homelessness? Because we've deemed too many "unworthy" of our help.

Savage addresses city and county: Can Pensacola and Escambia County work together to reduce homelessness? They're going to have to.

Savage said it's not uncommon to find that existing nonprofits became a community's COC, but that situation can lead to conflicts of interest.

"From the federal perspective, we want to see that coordination, and we also want to see it with the COC," Savage said. "We want to see all of this coordinated together in a fashion that involves the COC. And so typically, the way the community should be structured, there should be a COC governing body that should consist of that representation that comes from you all."

Story continues

Savage laid out the nuts and bolts of implementing the federal strategic plan to reduce homelessness at the local level and made it clear the more a community aligns with the federal plan, the better it will score in federal rankings unlocking the potential for more federal funding.

Savage said he worked with Orlando to address a similar problem to restructure the governance of its COC.

"The thing about it is when you want to get to the proper structure, you can't be afraid to relinquish power," Savage said. "You can't be afraid to relinquish power. And what I mean by relinquish power, in Orlando, it was very difficult for them to say, 'OK, we need to shift our governing body from here to here.' So that we have a structure that's guided by one plan that's overseen by one governing body that has representation that comes from the community."

More: Why haven't we solved homelessness? Because we've deemed too many "unworthy" of our help.

Community Health of Northwest Florida CEO Chandra Smiley said she agreed the COC governance needs to be changed.

"In our community, we have wonderful missions and beautiful spirits that serve those missions," Smiley said. "And clearly collaboration and people coming to the table to get it done is evidenced by what you see here today. I do think in our community, one of the things that we need help with is the COC governance is not a representation of what's in this room."

Smiley said that the COC, Opening Doors, is an agency seeking funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as well as administering HUD funds for other agencies and the same board oversees both.

"The challenges that we have today, I believe, is (Opening Doors) is not serving this community in the way it should," Smiley said. "And it's no disrespect to those that serve. I just think that we are at a different time and era, and what you (Savage) just said, we have to be willing to relinquish power."

Smiley said the community wants to meet the federal goal to reduce homelessness by 25% by 2025.

"It's not going to happen by doing what we've always done," Smiley said.

Savage said the first step for Pensacola is to reform its governance structure for the COC.

"Get your governance structure strong," Savage said. "Get your governance structure properly aligned."

The next step, Savage said, was to come up with a single plan to address homelessness.

"You need to develop a five-year plan or a 10-year plan for ending homelessness in Pensacola," Savage said.

Pensacola City Councilwoman Allison Patton put the question to the members of Opening Doors who were present at the meeting and asked if there was a commitment to meeting about the governance structure of the COC.

Dr. David Josephs, president of the board of directors of Opening Doors, appeared to agree to the idea during the meeting.

"I'll do like a pastor  and I'll say Amen," Josephs said.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Opening Doors may need to split up, federal homelessness expert says
Batteries being produced at East Penn Manufacturing Company. Tim Leedy/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images

A Pennsylvania battery maker was ordered to pay 7,500 workers $22 million in unpaid overtime.

The DOL said East Penn Manufacturing didn't pay staff for time needed to change clothes and shower.

The department said it was the largest recorded verdict obtained under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

A Pennsylvania battery maker was ordered to pay $22 million in back wages to 7,500 workers after the Department of Labor (DOL) ruled they were denied overtime.

The DOL said East Penn Manufacturing Company Inc. didn't pay employees for their time spent preparing to work in hazardous conditions.

The department said the verdict, reached by a jury, was the largest recorded amount it had obtained under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

East Penn Manufacturing Company Inc is one of the world's largest battery manufacturers.

During its investigation, the DOL found that East Penn employees were only being paid for their contracted 8-hour shifts. But this excluded the extra time that employees were required to put on and remove protective equipment and shower, mainly to avoid lead exposure.

For many US workers seeking to boost their income, overtime is a pressing issue. A 2022 survey from Qualtrics showed that 57% of respondents wanted the opportunity to work overtime or extra shifts to bring home more money.

Referring to the East Penn ruling, principal deputy wage and hour administrator, Jessica Looman, said in a statement: "This verdict of more than $22 million is a long-overdue victory for more than 7,500 workers at East Penn Manufacturing."

She added: "Federal law requires employers to pay workers for the hours they work, including time these workers needed to protect themselves from dangerous workplace hazards."

The DOL said it would also be seeking to "award an equal $22 million amount in liquidated damages for the affected workers."

In a statement, the DOL's solicitor of labor, Seema Nanda, said the time employees spent changing their clothes and showering was "indispensable" to their work and deserved remuneration.

Story continues

"The jury's verdict will go a long way towards making the employees whole and serves as a stark reminder for employers like East Penn to think twice before instituting policies designed to skirt the law," Nanda said.

In a statement to Insider, a spokesperson for East Penn said the jury also found that East Penn did not act in a knowing or reckless disregard of the law. The spokesperson added the DOL had originally claimed that East Penn owed employees $214 million in back wages, much less than determined by the jury.

"As a company, it stands behind the time paid to employees to put on and take off uniforms and to shower," the spokesperson said. "The company believes it provided proper compensation for these activities and was fair in determining the reasonable time required to perform them.

"East Penn appreciates the time and attention of the jurors over the course of this lengthy and

complex trial. East Penn greatly appreciates its family of employees who diligently work to

support and sustain the company and provide the essential products that help power people's

lives."

Read the original article on Business Insider
With Democrat Jennifer McCormicks official entry into the 2024 Indiana gubernatorial race, Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. has ruled out seeking the Democratic nomination.

As for me, I dont see the stars aligning for a McDermott candidacy in 2024 at this time, McDermott texted me recently. Allies of former senator and current Vatican Ambassador Joe Donnelly had told me last year that he was leaving his political options open for 2024.

But for now, that leaves McCormick as the lone Democrat seeking the nomination. What she aims to do is exceedingly rare. There has been only one female Indiana gubernatorial nominee in history, when Jill Long Thompson won the Democratic nomination in 2008, only to lose to Gov. Mitch Daniels.

And, there have been only two party switchers to ascend to the governors office since the current two-party system took shape in 1856: Legendary Civil War Gov. Oliver Perry Morton in 1860 as a Republican and Isaac Gray in 1884 as a Democrat.

Beyond Jill Long Thompson, female gubernatorial candidates are relatively rare. Indiana is one of 18 states that has yet to elect a female governor. Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch is currently seeking the GOP nomination in 2024. Prosecutor Virginia Dill McCarty was the first to run as a Democrat, losing to State Sen. Wayne Townsend in the 1984 primary. There were brief candidacies by Democratic State Sens. Vi Simpson in 2003, Karen Tallian and Superintendent Glenda Ritz in 2016 and Republican Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman in the 2012 cycle. Simpson, Tallian, Ritz and Skillman all failed to generate much fundraising traction.

Howey: Dominant Indiana GOP taking aim at big cities

Ritz, who upset Republican Superintendent Tony Bennett in 2012, declared for governor in June 2015, before opting to seek reelection two months later. McCormick as a Republican would defeat Ritz in 2016 by a 53%-47% margin.

In October 2018, McCormick stunned the Hoosier political establishment, announcing she would not run for reelection in 2020, in part because of the General Assemblys move in 2017 to make the superintendent position a gubernatorial appointment.

Story continues

As a parent, I would not be happy if my state superintendent were spending time on noise, and thats simply what this has become, McCormick said.

She toured the state with Democratic State Sen. Eddie Melton in 2019 exploring a potential run a year later. Democrats ended up nominating Woody Myers.

In her campaign video kickoff last Thursday, McCormick said, In 2016, I successfully ran for state superintendent of public instruction to be a champion for Hoosier kids, McCormick continued. As state superintendent, I took on politics that were negatively impacting our schools and fought for what was right for kids, teachers, and parents. Now, Im running for governor of Indiana because its time to put Hoosiers first. I will bring common sense and bipartisanship back to the statehouse. Ive already proved I will stand up to out-of-touch policies that are destroying public education, stripping Hoosiers of their rights and freedoms, and leaving rural communities behind.

Jennifer McCormick speaks on the steps of the 1855 Courthouse Friday, May 5, 2023, during a stop in downtown South Bend after her announcement that she is running as a Democrat for governor in Indiana.

The other historical anomaly beyond gender and education politics is the current GOP supermajorities in the General Assembly, which has extended to an unprecedented five cycles since the two-party system began in 1856.

That has brought many smoldering divisive social issues to the fore, like banning books, critical race theory, limiting LGBTQ+ rights, and a recent spate of transgender legislation. Speaking to the Times of Northwest Indiana, McCormick framed her candidacy in the distractions that prompted her not to seek reelection in 2020. The answer is nothing other than as a distraction from the real problems because theyre complex and theyre difficult to solve.

Speaking in front of the St. Joseph County courthouse in South Bend last week, McCormick focused on beyond ridiculous issues. So we will start with book banning, really? McCormick told WNDU-TV. Well start with the bans on LGBTQ health care rights. I mean the list goes on; well talk about you now, public education, which services 90% of our kids, was the most underfunded system of all the schools. The one that services the smallest percentage of students got by far the majority of the money.

Howey: After Tucker Carlson, its time  for the rest of the story

McCormick s campaign had $42,341 as of Jan. 17, with funds migrating from her past superintendent campaign. By comparison, the three GOP candidates have big money leads. Friends of Suzanne Crouch reported a year-end cash balance of $3.19 million. The campaign of Republican Eric Doden had $2.8 million and U.S. Sen. Mike Braun reported a cash balance of $2.9 million.

If McCormick is the only credible Democrat to seek the nomination, she can potentially make this a competitive race by capturing the divisive issue outflows on abortion, gun reforms and LGBTQ+ rights.

For instance, last Novembers Ball State Hoosier Survey revealed that 56.7% believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 76% find abortion to be an important issue. McCormick tweeted this past week, Women want to live, work and thrive where access to medical care is not banned or limited. States who respect this and operate accordingly win.

The Republican primary will likely find the three candidates shifting to the right on abortion and gun reforms. Crouch made it a point to note her tie-breaking Indiana Senate vote on an abortion exception amendment last July. That will be an asset in the primary, but a potential liability in the general.

The columnist is managing editor of Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs at StateAffairs.com/pro/Indiana. Find Howey on Facebook and Twitter @hwypol.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Who is running for governor of Indiana?
A bus navigates around cones during a school bus safety challenge competition in this June 9, 2022, file photo. Will starting school later each day help or hurt students? | Mengshin Lin, Deseret News

Later start times may provide schools with exactly what they strive to achieve  students with better performance and stronger mental health, according to a news report by The Associated Press released on Monday.

The Associated Press reported how in Pennsylvania, Upper Darby High has started mandatory in-person attendance to start at 9:45 a.m. instead of 7:30 a.m. Students are instructed to use the time from 7:30-9:45 a.m. as they see fit; sleeping in, meeting with teachers for one-on-one guidance or working on extra homework.

Related

After COVID-19

One of the reasons for the later start time at Upper Darby High was to help students with their mental health, especially after the pandemic, the article said.

Deseret News previously reported on how the COVID-19 pandemic affected teens and their mental health.

According to a report conducted by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services in 2021, there was a significant increase in students who showed signs of depression following the pandemic, the article said.

ABC News said that during the pandemic, soaring numbers of high school students expressed persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, with girls and LGBTQ+ youth reporting the highest levels of poor mental health and suicide attempts. It doesnt help that research suggests middle and high school students arent getting enough sleep.

Orfeu Buxton, director of the Sleep, Health & Society Collaboratory at Penn State University, told The Associated Press, These mental health challenges are already going to happen and then, with the absence of sleep, are much worse, adding, The same with decision making, suicidal ideation, those kinds of things.

Some other advantages Upper Darby High has noticed included students sleeping less in class, extra time in the morning for teachers to take of themselves or their families and more time for administrators to find substitute teachers.

Story continues

Related

But despite the hype behind later start times in schools, other experts say later start times are not the cure-all for students.

A report by the National Education Association released last year said a study in 2021 looked at 18,000 students in grades 5 through 11 after four school districts postponed the start of their school day by 20 to 65 minutes. Students grade point averages increased by a modest 0.1 points, on average.

Regarding young children, a study conducted by the American Educational Research Association found that early school start times did not have the same negative impacts as it did on older youths.

Sarah Crittenden Fuller, co-author of the study and associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, told the National Education Association, Moving elementary schools to earlier start times is unlikely to harm the educational outcomes of these younger students.
ALLISON JOYCE

The president of the North Carolina Bar Association faced immense backlash from the groups committee for LGBTQ+ equality this week, after he canceled a planned drag trivia night and suggested that the committee present both sides of the debate about drag culture instead.

That way, NCBA president Clayton Morgan said, the committee wouldnt be perceived as trying to advance just your agenda on the world, according to a recording of his remarks shared with The Daily Beast on the condition of anonymity.

The trivia night was in the works for many months, but the political stakes for progressives in North Carolina have recently escalated. In April, a Democratic state representative switched parties, thereby giving Republicans a veto-proof majority in both the state House and Senate. Later that month, Republican legislators proposed a new bill that would criminalize hosting drag shows on public property.

The bar associations committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity had scheduled their drag trivia night for June 8, but on May 5, the groups members received an email from Morgan telling them that the event was off.

I did not come to this difficult decision lightly or without a lot of thought and consideration, he wrote. Morgan agreed to participate in a special meeting on May 8 to discuss the cancellation.

I think all of us went into this meeting thinking that it was not going to be great. It somehow managed to be about 100 times worse, Michael Roessler, a Charlotte-based attorney and member of the committee, told The Daily Beast.

Within two minutes, the meeting hit its first snag. A member of the group proposed recording the conversation in the interest of transparency and accountability. Morgan nixed the proposal, announcing that the board had recently enacted a policy against recording meetings.

After a series of introductions, Morgan launched into a lengthy speech, which featured several minutes of pablum about the importance of unity and pursuing common goals.

Story continues

Were all unique individuals, no one has ever or will ever walk squarely in each and every one of our shoes, he said, and the outcome of each of our own lived experiences is what makes us individually unique and collectively brilliant.

Morgan conceded that drag shows in general had been misconstrued by political actors, saying there are individuals in society who have now chosen to use this very type of event for something that its not. And it will therefore be hard for the association to help create the correct understanding of it by actually having an event.

He repeatedly emphasized that the NCBA tries to avoid entering heated legislative or political debates that dont advance the overall best interest of the organization. By permitting the trivia night, the groups other legislative priorities might be negatively impacted, he said. (Morgan could not immediately be reached for comment.)

From there, things went off the rails, Roessler said, after Morgan proposed hosting an open forum with a neutral moderator. Morgan insisted that he continued to support the committee, though he urged them to view his comments as an opportunity for growth.

This denial can serve as an impetus, in my opinion, to take a step back, rethink a different approach, [and] educate the members and the public along the lines I just talked about that are consistent with preserving the associations ability to operate as an effective organization for everybody.

His remarks did not go over well. Roessler opened the conversation by pressing Morgan on whether he had fecklessly succumbed to fears that the Republican supermajority in the North Carolina General Assembly would look poorly on this event. After Morgan replied with an answer Roessler deemed unsatisfactory, Roessler told him to cut the bullshit.

Kids Are Dying While Tennessee Guv Goes After Drag Queens

Another group member then sounded off. The message that Im hearing from you, Clayton, is way worse than I had ever imagined. Its patronizing, its embarrassing, its disappointing. Your words ring hollow.

The member said he expected Morgan to tell the group he had canceled the event out of concern for their safety. But it doesnt seem that anybody cares about our safety, the person continued. It only seems to be that people care about the backlash.

Morgan then insisted that safety had been a huge consideration.

Other participants on the call shared their distress about the cancellation, saying it signaled the NCBAs lack of support at a time when LGBTQ+ individuals are vulnerable to both hostile factions of the public and the state legislature. These bills, Clayton, are a death sentence for our community, said a member who seemed to be on the verge of tears.

Forty percent of homeless youth are LGBT. Every time these bills pass more of our young people decide that its not worth it to try to make it to adulthood, she added. And if we as a profession cant stand up for that, then what can we stand up for?

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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HIROSHIMA, Japan, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Over 200 Japanese people rallied at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in a strong protest against the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit, carrying banners reading "No War Accomplices" and "No G7."

In a speech delivered at the gathering on Sunday, Ichiro Yuasa, a representative of Japanese civic group Peace Depot, said, "Japan is saying that it will send a peaceful message of abolishing nuclear weapons to the world through this summit, but at the same time it is seeking to rely on nuclear weapons to achieve 'national security.' This is contradictory."

Participant Fumi Akiyama told Xinhua that Japan's use of Hiroshima, which had suffered the atomic bombing during World War II, to hold the G7 summit completely went against the good wishes of the people of Hiroshima to pray for peace.

The family of Yukio Nishioka witnessed the horrific U.S. atomic bombing in 1945. It is precisely because Nishioka has been exposed to the pain of war since childhood that he has a deep and clear understanding of Japan's war of aggression and its war responsibilities.

The Hiroshima citizen said at the rally, "The atomic bombing of Hiroshima should no longer be used politically, and the world should return to the track of peace."

"It is the wish for peace of all Hiroshima people that Japan should acknowledge its wartime atrocities against other countries, apologize and make compensation, learn the lessons of the war and prevent the tragedy from happening again," he added.

Just a few dozen meters away from the rally at the park, a cenotaph where an atomic bomb was dropped by the United States at the end of WWII, a small group of right-wing activists kept shouting through loudspeakers that "Japan should have nuclear weapons."

Hiroshima citizen Ryo Miyahara scoffed at them. "These people completely ignore history. The reason why Hiroshima was bombed is because Hiroshima used to be the 'military capital'," he told Xinhua, pointing out that "If Japan does not stop its military expansion or even seeks to possess nuclear weapons, it will only lead Japan into a vicious cycle of war."

Miyahara also warned that the upcoming G7 summit, scheduled to be held in the city at the weekend, would be a meeting that will escalate the Ukraine crisis again, noting that NATO had backed Ukraine militarily and Japan intended to provide financial or military support to Ukraine.

"It will neither bring an end to the war nor bring peace. It will only make the world more miserable," he added. 
1. This is what a stairwell that doesn't loop around and only goes in one direction looks like:

This is like something you'd see in a dream. u/zbrew / Via reddit.com

2. This is what economy class on a commercial plane looked like in the 1960s:

Hmmm. I don't know about you, but I much prefer today's system of being shoved into the tiniest seat imaginable and having the most miserable four hours of your life. - / AFP via Getty Images

3. Car seats for children were incredibly dangerous in the 1940s:

No restraints, no extra safety components, just vibes. H. Armstrong Roberts / H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock

4. This house, located in Alexandria, Virginia, is the thinnest house in the United States:

John Hollensbury had the 7-foot-wide house built in 1830 because he was fed up with horse-drawn carriages banging into the walls of his house next door. u/willyhotbuns / Via reddit.com

5. This is what $700 worth of platinum looks like:

According to MoneyMetals.com, platinum is currently $34.79 per gram. u/fat_ugly_artist / Via reddit.com

6. This is a rafflesia, the biggest flower in the world:

It's found in Indonesia and can weigh up to 15 pounds. It also stinks something fierce. Cn0ra / Getty Images/iStockphoto

7. This is how an offshore oil platform is transported to the location where it will be installed:

Add this to the list of things I had never thought about in my life. Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

8. This is what the inside of a Coca-Cola Freestyle machine looks like:

This is what the pinnacle of human innovation looks like. u/youlegendyoumartyr / Via reddit.com

9. The last McDonald's in Iceland closed in 2009. Feast your eyes on the final cheeseburger sold in the country, which has been preserved and lying in state for the past decade:

Honestly, put a little Tapatio on that there burger and we might be in business. Facebook: SnotraHouse

10. Panda caretakers in China wear disguises to avoid spooking the cubs and to help acclimate them to their new lives outside of captivity:

Xinhua / Alamy Stock Photo

11. Here's another picture of that, for good measure:

WENN Rights Ltd. / Alamy Stock Photo

12. And ooooooone more:

Or is that a real panda bear? Truly impossible to tell the difference. Xinhua / Alamy Stock Photo

13. This is what olive oil looks like when it's freshly squeezed:

Shrek water. Carlos Gil / Getty Images

14. In 1969, Niagara Falls was "drained" in order to remove a large number of boulders that had accumulated at the foot of the falls:

Apparently, two bodies were found at the bottom of the drained waterfall. colaimages / Alamy Stock Photo

15. Speaking of which, this is what a canal in Venice looks like fully drained:

This is done to clean the canal and search for any mysterious clues to unsolved mysteries. Okay, maybe just the first part. Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

16. This is what the first-class bathroom aboard Emirates airline looks like:

Imagine showering on a plane and the pilot turns on the "Fasten seatbelt" sign. mauritius images GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo

17. Cheez Whiz becomes a demonic entity after being expired for 10 years:

18. This postcard was sent to households across the country in order to introduce them to the zip code system, implemented in 1963:

Would love to get a beer with Mr. Zip some day. u/coolerburner / Via reddit.com

19. This 12-foot-tall behemoth is an octobass, the largest string instrument in existence:

Hear that bad boy in action here. Stephane / Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

20. This is what EPCOT in Disney World looked like while it was under construction:

Neat! Kevin Fleming / Corbis via Getty Images

21. This is an elephant beetle, a species of beetle found in Central and South America that can grow up to 5 inches long

Big fella. Bonita Cheshier / Alamy Stock Photo

22. The very first iteration of Ronald McDonald was created by Willard Scott in 1963:

And it was so, so terrifying. Everett Collection Historical / Alamy Stock Photo

23. And, finally, a whooooole lot of people needed to do their thing for you to exist:
Flag Of Ukraine In Kramatorsk

Flag of Ukraine flutters on a flagpole above a residential district at sunset on May 5, 2023 in Kramatorsk, Ukraine. Now Russian military focuses its assault on the eastern Donbas region, where Moscow had supported a separatist movement since 2014. In Kramatorsk, 50 kilometers from the front-line, Ukrainian soldiers can meet with their relatives and loved ones who arrive to the city by train. Credit - Yan Dobronosov-Global Images Ukraine

Close to 3 million Ukrainians have fled  not from Russia, but to it. Since Putins war began, more Ukrainians have escaped to Russia than to any other country by a large margin. Having fled the war zone, many of these Russian-speaking Ukrainian citizens might not feel safe in Ukraine while anti-Russian animus runs high. This is, of course, what Russian propaganda would have them believe. Many may not even like Putin, but they may fear their neighbors might turn against them, and for good reason.

We have learned of Russian soldiers raping Ukrainian women. We have seen images of missile attacks on homes, hospitals, and schoolyards. We have witnessed the deliberate destruction of infrastructure, leaving innocent Ukrainians shivering in winter. We have many reports of Russias abduction of Ukrainian children, for what purposes we do not yet fully know. Understandably, when the war eventually ends, the cries for revenge against Russia will be fierce, but they will also be foolish. If we are not careful, they will end up harming the very innocent civilians whose support will be most needed in a post-Putin world.

Americans should understand this dilemma. The U.S. has a long history of turning against minorities during wartime, and Ukraine can learn valuable lessons from America about the dangers of misplaced revenge. During World War I, it was hazardous to have a German accent or a German-sounding name. As the historian Adam Hochschild has uncovered in his magnificent new book, American Midnight, anti-German hatred went far beyond changing the name of Sauerkraut to liberty cabbage. Americans attacked those of obvious German stock, destroying their shops, assaulting them in the streets, and banning both the teaching of German in schools and the speaking of German in public. But the scale of organized, government-sponsored vengeance rose with the Second World War.

Story continues

Even the most compassionate leaders can be swept up in the tides of vengeance. Eleanor Roosevelt, a paragon of humane government, found herself speaking in favor of the internment of Japanese Americans. In 1942, she delivered a national radio address explaining that some friendly aliens would have to suffer for the good of the national interest. Privately she recoiled at the forcing of 120,000 people, most of them citizens, out of their homes and into concentration camps, but she could not publicly oppose her husbands policy. When it came to two of Americas harshest actions in the war, however, she fully supported them. She endorsed the dropping of both atomic bombs, and she backed the punitive occupation plan for Germany. She, too, was not immune to anti-German sentiments. Her attitude toward Germany might have been more forgiving if she had not been close friends with the man behind the plan to make average Germans suffer.

By the summer of 1944, FDRs Treasury Secretary, Henry Morgenthau Jr., was hatching a scheme to punish all Germans for the Nazis crimes. The Morgenthau Plan, as it came to be known, aimed to rip up all heavy industry and return Germany to an agrarian state. Without manufacturing, they could not produce the weapons of war. Because the Germans had launched two world wars, the thinking went, it was time to ensure that they never bothered anyone again. The problem was that without heavy industry, large-scale food production would be impossible. Morgenthaus plan would lead to mass starvation, and everyone in the administration knew it.

Some in government assumed that it was Morgenthaus Jewishness that was driving his zeal for revenge. The real reason had to do with his direct knowledge of German atrocities. In addition to his taxing duties running the Treasury Department, Morgenthau also headed the secret Rescue Board, an operation he helped to establish with FDRs approval. It was a junior colleague in Morgenthaus own department who first uncovered the fact that the State Department was suppressing information about the mass slaughter of Europes Jews. The Rescue Board was created in response. Using government funds to bribe ship captains and other officials in Nazi-occupied Europe, the Rescue Board managed to smuggle some 200,000 Jews to safety. Through his work with the Board, Morgenthau was receiving constant reports of Nazi barbarity, at a time when few Americans knew about the Holocaust.

Thanks to pushback from within FDRs administration, Morgenthaus plan was softened, but not enough. Official U.S. policy forbade Americans from helping Germany to rebuild its economy. Without that aid, malnutrition, starvation, disease, and mass death marked the first few years of occupation. Tragically, not only did most key officials oppose the vengeful treatment of average Germans, most Americans did, too. Despite the anger over German atrocities, the sight of starving children shown in newsreels weakened demand for revenge. Polls revealed that some 60% of Americans supported food aid to Germany. Former President Herbert Hoover led the charge to feed the hungry. Throughout the worst of the food crisis in 1946 and 1947, he traveled across America giving speeches about the need to eat less to free up surplus grain for shipment overseas. He understood that some still demanded vengeance against their former foes, but Hoover insisted that America had to rise above retaliation. We cannot behave as the Nazis had done, he declared. We do not want our flag flying over a nation of Buchenwalds, And at those words, his audience responded with ovations.

Looking back, most Americans came to view their wartime vengeful actions as mistakes. Within just three years, the Marshall Plan undid the cruel occupation policy that Morgenthau had helped establish. Support for the use of nuclear weapons on Japan has steadily fallen since the war. And more than four decades after Japanese internment, President Reagan signed legislation to compensate the surviving victims, calling it a chance to right a grave wrong. Plenty of people recognized the wrong as it was being committed. Too few stood up to stop it. This is the greatest danger of misplaced revenge. It erodes a nations conscience as it forces the innocent to suffer.

A just peace would restore to Ukraine all of its lost territory from Russia. Putin and his henchmen must pay for their war of aggression, and those soldiers who committed war crimes must be brought to justice. But the Russian people should not be crippled in a postwar arrangement. Ethnic Russians who return home to Ukraine must be protected from retaliation. There should be reparations, but not so onerous that the Russian economy cannot recover. In a post-Putin world, Russia must be reintegrated into the global economy, and the Russian people must be made stakeholders in a peaceful international order. If we do not find ways of avoiding misplaced revenge, one day a new Putin-like figure, or a worse one, will emerge.
Britains Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, right, shakes hands with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after his arrival at Chequers, in Aylesbury, England, Monday, May 15, 2023. Zelenskyy was in Britain Monday on his whirlwind European tour, as the staunch ally of Kyiv promised to give Ukraine hundreds more missiles and attack drones in an effort to change the course of the war. | Carl Court, Pool via Associated Press

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in the United Kingdom on Monday during his latest stop on a European tour advocating for his country.

Britains Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met with Zelenskyy and promised his countrys firm commitment to strengthening Ukraine during the war, reported The Associated Press. The country committed to both long-term training efforts and more immediate relief by committing to send more weapons to aid in the fight against Russia.

Your leadership, your countrys bravery and fortitude are an inspiration to us all, Sunak told Zelenskyy, per AP.

The U.K. said in a statement that the country is planning to provide Ukraines first long-range cruise missiles  which can reach distances of up to 150 miles, per AP.

Sunak tweeted an update that included long-range attack drones, a new flying school in the United Kingdom and a Ukraine Recovery Conference on the list of aid that the country expects to support Ukraine with.

Related

We must not let Ukraine down, Sunak wrote.

Zelenskyy spoke with the prime minister about acquiring fighter jets, because we cant control the sky, per the BBC. That request was denied for now because it was not a straightforward thing, Sunak said.

The Ukrainian leader also visited France, Germany and Italy on his trip, meeting with officials including Frances Emmanuel Macron, Pope Francis and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, reported by AP.

In a tweet, Zelenskyy thanked the countries for helping Ukraine by offering weapons for our warriors.

It was another powerful day for our defense, for our international positions.



I thank Mr. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Mr. Chancellor Olaf Scholz @Bundeskanzler and the German  people for the powerful defense package, for their leadership in defending lives from Russian pic.twitter.com/NYSDdC2u4h    (@ZelenskyyUa) May 14, 2023

Related
Mario Vazquez/AFP Via Getty Images

Monarch butterflies spend the warm months migrating throughout the United States and Canada, before congregating in their mountain forest habitat in central Mexico to wait out the North American winter. While citizens of all three countries treasure the monarchs presence, some of the highest costs of conservation have been paid only in Mexico. More specifically, rural and Indigenous communities in Mexico have lost access to lands deemed crucial for the monarch. This solution has been imposed on the communities by outsiders, and has undermined a traditional system where humans, monarchs, and other plant and animal species shared the forest successfully.

Migratory species like the monarch butterfly provide an object lesson in the interconnectivity of both landscapes and people. Effective and lasting conservation of migratory species must be a true collaboration between many kinds of communities, spanning countries and cultures. Yet migratory species are in decline, in part because conservation efforts too often disregard the communities that have historically protected them. Our research shows that already advantaged groupstourists, bird watchers, wealthier farmerstend to benefit from migratory species. Benefits may come in the form of pest control, pollination, or tourism. Less advantaged groups, often rural and Indigenous people or communities in the Global South, meanwhile, pay a cost in lost economic opportunity to preserve habitats, reaping little or nothing in return. The people protecting habitat deserve compensation. Justice demands it. Practicality demands it too. Conservation efforts that reinforce inequity are not sustainable. Equity in conservation efforts is not only the right way to preserve speciesit is the only way.

20 Percent of All Endangered Right Whales Gather in Cape Cod Bay

Historically, conservation subsidies have focused on a single place, where one group gives up an economic opportunity to preserve habitat while another group benefits. The ecosystem service benefits of a migratory species as well as the costs associated with their conservation can be calculated, not only in a single spot but across their entire range. Where there is imbalance, groups that benefit should compensate groups that sacrificeno matter how many miles separate them. People who have invested in a distant communitys success deserve a return.

Story continues

Work has already begun in this area. For example, back in 2017 we published findings in Ecology and Society, showing that Texas and New Mexico received an estimated $12.4 million value in pest control services per year between 1994 and 2008 from the Mexican free-tailed bat, thanks to the bats appetite for Helicoverpa zea, a moth that does considerable damage to cotton and soybean crops. More research is needed to quantify any costs and benefits for rural farming communities in central and southern Mexico, who protect the habitat where the bats spend the winter. Bats also have a healthy appetite for the pests that plague tomatoes, maize and sorghum, common crops in Mexico. Is there an imbalance between the benefits and costs to farmers in the U.S. and farmers in Mexico? If so, receiving subsidies would encourage communities in Mexico to protect bat habitats and would also promote the economic justice that will make these arrangements strong and lasting.

This form of compensation concerns itself not just with equality, but with equity. It strives for fairness while recognizing that all people do not start out on equal footing. Solutions must address those power differences. In the cases of both the monarch butterfly and the Mexican free-tailed bat, communities in the Global South are made to forgo economic opportunity for the conservation of animals that provide significant reward to the Global North. It perpetuates the centuries-old problem of societies from the North extracting resources from the South. In addition to material imbalance, there has been an intellectual and cultural one. As we saw with the monarchs, Indigenous communities had developed sustainable practices that protected the insects habitat. But traditional understanding is often ignored in favor of science that is generally an import from the Global North.

In our studies of the Mexican free-tailed bat, monarch butterfly, and northern pintail duck, we found that Indigenous communities often contributed to benefits reaped by the descendants of colonizers and settlers. Indigenous communities in Alaska and Canada rely on the pintail as a source of protein. These communities developed planting schedules designed to avoid disruption to the birds migration. Nevertheless, the numbers of this important food species are droppingdown by approximately half since the mid 20th Century. The U.S. government buys large tracts of land from colonial descendants, where it encourages sport hunting of the ducks, an activity that generates fees. Sport hunting is prioritized over traditional subsistence hunting. Or to put it in context: European-American customs take precedence over Indigenous ones.

These Are the Animals Scientists Predict Will Go Extinct Next

We have also observed a rural versus urban inequity even within wealthy countries like the U.S. and Canada. During the summers, the monarch butterflys beauty is a delight for people in more urban communities, who sacrifice nothing for the privilege. But getting monarch numbers up will require work in rural areas in the U.S. and Canada. The insects lay eggs on and feed off milkweed, which has been decimated where herbicide-tolerant genetically modified corn is planted. How many farmers can take on the challenge of reducing herbicide use, and risk crop loss, without financial incentive?

Limiting herbicide use would not only benefit monarchs but many other species harmed by the chemicals, including humans. Agricultural workers, again disproportionately rural and with roots in the Global South, suffer cancer, reproductive harm and more because of chemical exposure. None of this is about pitting the needs of humans against non-human species. Rather it is about finding a fair and reasonable way to encourage biodiversity, which benefits us all.

If we humans want to help these other species, we must start by working toward equity within our own.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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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.
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BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The landmark China-Central Asia Summit this week is set to provide great impetus for relations and cooperation between China and the five Central Asian countries.

The summit, the first held offline by the heads of state of China and the five Central Asian countries, will take place in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province on Thursday and Friday. The event will be chaired by Chinese President Xi Jinping and attended by the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

There already are solid foundations for expanding the all-round and win-win cooperation between China and these Central Asian countries, indicating bright prospects for jointly building a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future.

China and Central Asian countries are comprehensive strategic partners, good neighbors, good friends, good partners and good brothers. Head of state diplomacy has upgraded and boosted China-Central Asia cooperation and deepened strategic mutual trust. In the past decade, Xi has visited Central Asia seven times. Following the principles of mutual respect, good neighborliness, friendship, mutual assistance, and win-win cooperation, China and the five Central Asian countries have set a good example of fostering a new type of international relations.

The five Central Asian countries have all signed cooperation agreements on jointly developing the Belt and Road Initiative and supported initiatives such as the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative.

Figures show fruitful economic and trade cooperation. There has been over 100-fold growth in two-way trade since China established diplomatic relations with the five Central Asian countries 31 years ago. Trade between China and the five countries reached a record 70.2 billion U.S. dollars last year. Nearly 80 percent of China-Europe freight trains pass through Central Asia. Several major projects have been completed, including the China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan highway, and the Pengsheng Industrial Park in Uzbekistan, benefiting people in these countries.

"China's enormous market, complete industrial system and advanced technologies are very attractive to Central Asian countries, and the principle of equality and mutual benefit has enabled bilateral cooperation to achieve sustained and stable growth," said Ding Xiaoxing, director of the Institute of Eurasian Studies at China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

China's modernization drive will bring more opportunities for Central Asian countries. As both sides are keen to expand cooperation in agriculture, new energy, e-commerce, green and digital economy, high technology and other fields, new highlights and growth points of cooperation will be created for common development.

More than 2,100 years ago, Chinese envoy Zhang Qian was twice sent to Central Asia on missions of peace and friendship, starting the Silk Road linking the East and West, Asia and Europe. Today, people-to-people exchanges are more vibrant. There are a total of 13 Confucius Institutes in the five countries. China has also become one of the major destinations and top choices for students from Central Asia.

The upcoming summit will open a new chapter for China-Central Asia relations. It provides an important opportunity for China and Central Asian countries to make joint efforts in building a closer community with a shared future while upholding the Silk Road spirit featuring peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit. 
Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business.
Stiri pe aceeasi tema

- The investment company Evergent Investments recorded, in the first three months of this year, a net result of 2.41 million RON, composed of 4.6 million RON loss and 7.01 million RON net gain from the sale of financial assets reflected in the retained earnings, according to a press release sent to AGERPRES

- Rompetrol Rafinare ends first quarter of 2023 with net profit of 14.5 million dollars.Rompetrol Rafinare, a member company of the KMG International Group, recorded, in the first quarter of 2023, a net profit of 14.5 million dollars, compared to losses of 132.8 million dollars reported at the end

- The deficit in the current account of Romania's balance of payments reached 5 billion euros in the period January-March 2023, down from 5.43 billion euros in the same period last year, according to data released by the National Bank of Romania (BNR) on Monday.In the first two months of this year,

- Antibiotice Iasi, net profit of 22.2 million RON in first trimester of 2023.Antibiotice Iasi recorded in the first quarter of this year a net profit of 22.2 million RON, more than 2.5 times higher compared to that in the same period last year, of 8.63 million RON, according to the financial report

- Romania's National Association of Travel Agencies (ANAT) supports keeping up the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Tourism even after the next ministerial rotation, but with specialists in the area at the helm in order for tourism to contribute 10% to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and get10

- Photon Energy announces that it has concluded a non-recourse project refinancing agreement in the amount of 21.9 million euros with the Austrian-based Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) for its portfolio of photovoltaic plants in Romania, with a total installed capacity of 31.5 MWp (MegaWatt peak),

- The Government approved in its Thursday's meeting a draft law regarding Romania's participation in the capital increase of the Council of Europe Development Bank.The normative act approves the increase of the capital held by Romania as a member of the Development Bank of the Council of Europe with

- As of February 28, 2023, the National Bank of Romania's foreign exchange reserves stood at EUR 52,001 million, as against EUR 50,202 million on January 31, 2023, according to BNR. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro 
Primele semne ale diabetului. Cum se modifica aspectul pielii

Exista doua forme de diabet: cel de tip I, cand organismul nu mai produce deloc insulina si cel de tip II, asociat cu obezitatea si sedentarismul, cand apare rezistenta la insulina proprie, care duce, in final, la reducerea secretiei de insulina, dar nu totala. Diabetul de [citeste mai departe]
The file photo shows a police officer beefing up security at the scene of militants attack in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia, on Jan. 22, 2023. (Photo by Hassan Bashi/Xinhua)

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia will withdraw 2,000 soldiers by June 30 from Somalia. And once the process is concluded, the Somali Security Forces will take over the national security.

MOGADISHU, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) said on Sunday that it has stepped up preparations for the withdrawal of 2,000 soldiers by June 30 from Somalia.

Mohammed El-Amine Souef, the special representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission for Somalia and head of ATMIS, said a joint technical committee with members drawn from appropriate stakeholders, including the Somali government, the United Nations Support Office in Somalia, and ATMIS, have identified and agreed on the military bases to be handed over from ATMIS to the Somali Security Forces (SSF) or to be collapsed.

Souef, who was on an official visit to ATMIS Sector 5 headquarters in Jowhar, said while ATMIS reduces the number of soldiers on the ground, the SSF will increase its numbers to take over the areas that ATMIS will hand over.

This photo taken on Jan. 22, 2023 shows people searching the destruction caused by a fire that gutted parts of Mogadishu's largest market in Mogadishu, Somalia. According to sources, the cause of the fire remains unclear, but it is believed to be relevant to an electrical fault. (Photo by Hassan Bashi/Xinhua)

"The drawdown is in compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions 2628 and 2670 which mandates ATMIS to draw down 2000 soldiers by the end of June and hand over security in agreed areas to Somali Security Forces," ATMIS said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.

ATMIS has been conducting both joint targeted and routine operations to degrade the terror group al-Shabaab, which is engaging the government forces in near-daily attacks. The AU mission also provides security to enable humanitarian actors to deliver much-needed food and emergency relief items to communities in need and remote areas.

Marius Ngendabanka, ATMIS acting force commander, said an operations order has already been released, and the joint technical committee team is on schedule to meet the June 30 deadline.

He emphasized that the drawdown of 2,000 ATMIS soldiers will not impact security for key government installations and major population centers if the SSF takes over. 
It is scandalous that Ukraine has placed OTP Bank on its list of international sponsors of war, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in Stockholm on Friday, adding that until that is withdrawn, it will be very difficult for the Hungarian government to negotiate about further sanctions.

It is outrageous that while Hungary is participating in the programme under which the European Union supports Ukraine with one and a half billion euros per month, the Ukrainian anti-corruption agency has placed the OTP Group on its list of international sponsors of war because the financial institution is still present in Russia, the foreign ministry cited Szijjarto as saying, in a statement.



OTP is Hungarys biggest bank. OTP has not violated any international laws. Its operations fully comply with all kinds of expectations and legislation. Placing it on the list of international sponsors of war is unacceptable and scandalous, the minister said on the sidelines of an informal meeting of European Union foreign ministers.



Therefore I made it clear today that as long as OTP stays on this list, it will be very difficult for us to even enter into negotiations on the eleventh sanctions package, it will be very difficult for us to negotiate economic restrictions that require additional sacrifices, Szijjarto said.



In a statement on Friday, OTP Bank rejected the accusations of Ukraines anti-corruption agency (NAZK), which placed the Hungarian bank on its list of international sponsors of war on May 5. OTP emphasised that it condemned all aggression against a sovereign country, including the one committed against Ukraine, and expressed its commitment to supporting Ukrainian citizens and the countrys economy.



In addition to maintaining continuous service and lending activities, OTP has helped Ukraine with humanitarian aid worth a billion forints and provided long-term accommodation and care to hundreds of war refugees in Hungary.



In response to the Ukrainian anti-corruption agencys argument that OTP Bank plays an important role in the Russian economy, the bank said that it had a market share of 0.17% in Russia.



International banks and other companies with a significantly larger local presence were not included on the NAZK list, which in itself questions the credibility of the decision, OTP notes in the statement.



OTP Bank also dismissed the accusation that it conducted activities in the occupied territories of Ukraine, and said that it operates in full compliance with local and international legislation in all its markets, including sanction regulations.



Accordingly, it duly and immediately terminated all its activities in the occupied territories in 2014. As regards the accusation that OTP Bank provides preferential loans to members of the Russian armed forces, OTP emphasised that the Russian Federation stipulates to all financial service providers in a law that those participating in the special military operation must be exempt from loan repayment and interest payments until December 31, 2023.



After that date, repayment will continue. OTP Bank does not provide new loans to members of the armed forces either under preferential terms or in any other form, the bank said.



In response to the Ukrainian argument that OTP Bank recognised the peoples republics of Luhansk and Donetsk, OTP stated that  in line with the position of the EU and Hungary  it never recognised the independence of these areas in any form.



Szijjarto: Hungary Committed to Pro-Peace Stance Despite EU's 'Atmosphere of War'



Hungary is committed to its pro-peace stance even though the EU remains dominated by an "atmosphere of war" and most member states want to continue providing military support to Ukraine, the foreign minister said in Stockholm.



Everyone is of the view that European weapons deliveries are having a positive effect on the war, which is why many argue for supplying even more weapons, Peter Szijjarto said on Friday, during a break in an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers.



These member states say Ukraine must be given all the support it needs for as long as it needs it, and unfortunately, this applies primarily to military support, he said. But Hungarys position remains clear, he said, emphasising that we want peace as soon as possible, because every minute this war continues costs more and more lives and poses a very serious threat of escalation.



An immediate ceasefire and peace talks are needed, followed by a diplomatic settlement that can guarantee long-term peace and security in central Europe and on the entire continent, Szijjarto said.



Meanwhile, he pointed out that under new Ukrainian laws, Hungarian-language schools in the country would no longer be able to operate from September.



This is an unacceptable situation, he said, arguing that the ethnic Hungarian community in Ukraine had already had their rights seriously infringed, but this would be such an unprecedented infringement that calls for a European reaction.
The city of Veszprem, a 2023 European capital of culture, is a spectacular success story of Hungarys renewal since 2010, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday, opening the ActiCity Dance and Movement Centre in the western Hungarian city.

The developments and investments connected to the programme have put Veszprem back among the top Hungarian cities, he said.



One of the oldest cities in Hungary, it is steeped in civic culture, Hungarian education and confidence, he said. Veszprems citizens have always thought that being from Veszprem came with a certain quality, he said. The government has supported Veszprem in becoming a worthy cultural capital of Europe, he said.



The government has poured 100 billion forints (EUR 270m), almost to the last penny, into developments in Veszprem, Orban said. It seems we have made the right decision, he added. The prime minister said Veszprem strengthened belief that it is good to be Hungarian, and living as a Hungarian is a worthy way of living life.



Orban thanked Regional Development Minister Tibor Navracsics who fought to include 116 other localities in the programme besides Veszprem. Veszprem citizens have created a true community with the localities on the shore of Lake Balaton and included [them] in the European cultural capital programmes, he said.



He also thanked the EU and Brussels bureaucrats for choosing Veszprem and so Hungary. At the same time, the citys performance shows that Hungary and Brussels could do great things together if only Brussels bureaucrats managed to master their well-developed Hungarophobia, he said.



What a shame that Veszprems example is the exception and not the rule, he said.
An 80-year-old man was seriously injured when he was attacked by two dogs Saturday morning in Grand Island.

At about 8 a.m., police responded to 1904 N. Howard Ave. "in reference to a vicious animal incident," said Grand Island Police Capt. Jim Duering.

The man had been attacked by two medium- to large-sized dogs, Duering said.

The injuries were substantial. "My understanding is that he was flown to Omaha for further medical treatment," Duering said.

As of Monday, the animals were in the custody of the Central Nebraska Humane Society. The Humane Society, rather than the Police Department, is the lead agency on the case.

A post on the Humane Society's Facebook page Monday said the "severe dog attack" occurred near Howard Court and State Street.

"The two dogs involved in the attack were seized by Animal Control and immediately taken to the Central Nebraska Humane Society. The dogs had previously been deemed potentially dangerous by the City of Grand Island/Animal Control earlier this year after an incident in which they injured another dog," says the Facebook post.

Animal Control is based at the Humane Society.

"Due to the attack and the owners failure to comply with the requirements of owning a deemed (potentially dangerous) animal, the dogs will be humanely euthanized per City Code," the Facebook post says. "This is an ongoing case, so further details cannot be released at this time, but the owners of the dogs will be held responsible for the incident."
Bengaluru based regional airline Star Air has launched Belagavi to Jaipur direct flight services. The inaugural flight S5 169 from Belagavi to Jaipur and S5 170 Jaipur to Belagavi operated on May 15, 2023. The flight will be operated on an Embraer E145 aircraft, featuring 50 Economy Class seats in a 1-2 seating layout with a spacious 31-imch seat pitch, which the airline says, will offer passengers a comfortable and convenient flying experience. The Belagavi (IXG) to Jaipur (JAI) flight will fly at 12:55 PM and reach at 15:10 PM. On its way back on JAI-IXG route, the flight will start at 15:40 PM and reach at 17:55 PM.

The flight will operate on three days a week, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday. As per the airline, Belagavi and Jaipur are two culturally rich cities located in India that offer a myriad of tourist attractions and experiences. The launch of a new flight connecting these two cities has opened up opportunities for students, traders, merchants, working professionals across the two cities as well as travellers seeking to explore the beauty and cultural heritage of both places.

Star Air, the aviation arm of Sanjay Ghodawat Group is a regional airline based in Bengaluru, India having commenced commercial flight operations in January 2019 with focus on affordable and convenient travel options. The airline currently operates a fleet of 5 Embraer E145 and 2 E175 aircraft from its two operational bases, Bengaluru Airport (BLR) and Belagavi Airport (IXG) to 17 destinations across India.

The destinations include Ahmedabad, Ajmer (Kishangarh), Indore, Jodhpur, Kalaburagi, Mumbai, Surat, Tirupati, Jamnagar, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Bhuj, Bidar, Kolhapur and Jaipur.

I believe that connecting Belagavi and Jaipur by air is not just about bridging the geographical distance but also about fostering connectivity and creating new opportunities. This endeavor has the potential to unlock immense economic and cultural growth for both regions, said Mr. Shrenik Ghodawat, Director, Star Air. "We are excited to launch our inaugural flight from Belagavi to Jaipur," said Mr. Simran Singh Tiwana, CEO of Star Air. "Our mission is to provide affordable and convenient air travel options to the people of India, and this new route is a testament to our commitment. We look forward to serving our passengers on this exciting new route."
New Delhi: The Kerala government has taken a significant step towards supporting the parents of children with special needs by relaxing working hours for them. In a recent announcement, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that government employees who are parents of children with 40% or more disabilities will receive a monthly waiver of 16 hours.

This decision is a part of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) government's mission to create a truly differently abled-friendly state. The move is aimed at helping parents to take care of their children and provide them with the necessary support.

The waiver of 16 hours per month will provide much-needed relief to parents who have to balance their work and caregiving responsibilities. This decision will also enable parents to spend more quality time with their children and ensure that they receive the care and attention they require.

ALSO READ | Google Android 14: Beta Mode For Select Partner Devices Is Now Available

The announcement has been widely appreciated and has garnered positive responses from citizens across the state. The government's efforts towards creating a more inclusive society have been applauded, and the move has been described as a major step towards building a more compassionate and equitable society.

GoK has relaxed working hours for parents of children with special needs. Kerala's Govt. employees who are parents of children with 40% or more disabilities will get a monthly waiver of 16 hours. LDF Govt. is transforming Kerala into a truly differently abled friendly state.  Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) May 15, 2023

In another remarkable Step, CM announced Kerala takes another remarkable step to empower workers by launching India's first welfare fund exclusively for MGNREGS and AUEGS schemes. It will ensure pensions, medical assistance, and family pensions for registered workers while extending educational aid to their children.

Kerala takes another remarkable step to empower workers by launching India's first welfare fund exclusively for MGNREGS and AUEGS schemes. It will ensure pensions, medical assistance, and family pensions for registered workers while extending educational aid to their children.  Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) May 15, 2023

General Working Rules In India

Last year, the central government clubbed several labour, employement and working laws in India to create four Labour codes, namely the Code on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020. It published these codes in the Official Gazette for general information.

According to the labour codes, a statutory right for minimum wages and timely payment of wages has been made available to all workers to support sustainable growth and inclusive development.

Moreover, every worker, as per labour codes, is entitled to annual leave with wages after working for 180 days in comparison to 240 days earlier. And provision for encashment of leave on demand by a worker while in service at the end of calendar year.
New Delhi: Fantasy movies have captivated audiences for decades, offering a unique escape from reality into an imaginative and often mystical world. From epic battles to magical creatures, these tales of adventure and wonder transport viewers to realms beyond their wildest dreams. With stunning visual effects and powerful performances, fantasy movies continue to captivate and inspire audiences of all ages. To further explore the genre of fantasy, heres a list of 5 films that you cannot miss out on, and binge-watch it on OTT this week.

1. Fireflies: Parth Aur Jugnu [ZEE5]

Fireflies  Parth aur Jugnu centres around Parth [played by Meet Mukhi], a down-and-out fourteen-year-old kid who meets Jugnu [played by Aekam Binjwe], a mystical kid from the haunted forest of Bheem Mukteshwar and together they embark on a journey full of action-packed adventure, self-discovery, and bedtime stories. Shot in the hills of Himachal Pradesh, this coming-of-age series unravels emotions like teenage friendship, exploration, mythology, and life lessons of good vs evil. With a mix of VFX, animation, magic and a great story line, the series can be streamed on ZEE5.

2. Karthikeya 2 [ZEE5]

Directed by Chandoo Mondeti, the sequel recounts the challenges that Dr. Karthikeya faces and his attempts to overcome them by revealing the truth that is veiled in ancient Indian mythology. During his search for a legendary artifact, he not only faces the most challenging obstacles he has ever faced, but he also discovers a secret that has the potential to alter the whole direction of human history. Starring Nikhil Siddhartha, Anupama Parameswaran and Anupam Kher in pivotal roles, the film is available to stream on ZEE5.

3. Brahmastra [Disney+ Hotstar]

The film follows the journey of Shiva [played by Ranbir Kapoor], a young man who discovers that he has supernatural powers and a connection to a secret society of guardians while being on the brink of falling in love. It also stars Alia Bhatt and Amitabh Bachchan. From having a unique storyline to promising to be a visual spectacle, the film is a must-watch.

4. Hawaizaada [Amazon Prime Video]

The Ayushmann Khurrana starrer is set in the pre-independence era of Bombay of 1895, which is based on the life of an Indian scientist Shivkar Bapuji Talpade, who is credited to have constructed India's first unmanned plane is the tale of the hardships that he went through on the journey to discover. Watch this spectacle right now.

5. Tooth Pari [Netflix]

The series follows the story of a rebellious vampire, who falls in love with a shy, faint-hearted, yet lousy dentist, by breaking the rules of her own clan. Set in the city of joy, Kolkata, the series promises a 'love bite' for all the lovers of romantic comedies too. The series promises a lot of supernatural elements which will keep you engrossed.

So, sit back, relax, and prepare to be transported to a world of enchantment and wonder.
New Delhi: Hrithik Roshan took to his social media to heap praises on his Krrish and Agneepath co-star Priyanka Chopra Jonas for her power-packed performance in Amazon Prime Videos international original Citadel. Hrithik and Priyanka are not only professional colleagues but also share a deep friendship, the testimony of which was also evident in the actresss book Unfinished.

Hrithik Roshan has always expressed his admiration and appreciation for impactful performances. In yet another instance of the same, the superstar gave a shout-out to Priyanka Chopra Jonas after watching her show Citadel.

Hrithik Roshan said, Watching Priyanka in Citadel is such a fantastic surprise! Brilliant work! Also, incredibly entertaining show ! Excellent direction and screenplay. PC you have killed it this time too good!! Very proud.

Priyanka Chopra was also prompt to reply, saying Thx my friend.

Citadel stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas along with Game of Thrones fame Richard Madden, an Indian adaptation of the same also has been in progress with Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu. Playing a Citadel spy in the show, Priyanka Chopra Jonas has her own spy universe, like her friend and co-star Hrithik Roshan who has created an uproar across quarters with his role of Kabir in War, part of YRFs spy universe.

Hrithik Roshan is currently shooting for the first aerial action film Fighter releasing on 25th January 2024. Directed by Siddharth Anand, the film co-stars Deepika Padukone.
THRISSUR: After its win in Karnataka where it had blamed the outgoing BJP administration there of being a "40 per cent commission" government, the Congress on Monday took a dig at the ruling LDF in Kerala by terming it as an "80 per cent commission" regime. Senior Congress leader and former Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ramesh Chennithala contended that a second term in power has boosted the "arrogance" of the ruling Left and the Chief Minister of Kerala. He also accused the LDF government of being "submerged" in corruption.

"If it was 40 per cent commission in Karnataka, here (in Kerala) they are taking 80 per cent commission," Chennithala said at a press conference held here in connection with the alleged Artificial Intelligence (AI) camera scam. A similar allegation was made by Leader of Opposition in the Assembly V D Satheesan a couple of days ago while reacting to Congress leading during counting of votes polled in the Karnataka elections.

Satheesan had said the Congress campaign in Karnataka highlighted the 40 per cent commission that the ruling government there was allegedly taking. "Here in Kerala, it is 46 per cent or 65 per cent. We will highlight that here," he had said referring to the AI-camera and other projects. The Motor Vehicle Department has installed 726 AI-enabled cameras to keep track of the violations of traffic rules across the state as part of the 'Safe Kerala' project.

The Congress has been raising corruption charges against the implementation of the 'Safe Kerala' project, which aims to reduce road accidents and traffic violations in the state, since its inauguration in April. On Monday, during the press conference, Chennithala said the party will not allow the Left government to allegedly loot the people to fill the pockets of the relatives of those in power under the guise of the 'Safe Kerala' project.

There are allegations that a relative of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is connected to one of the private companies which carried out the work of installing the AI cameras. Chennithala claimed that the imposition of fines under the project has not been implemented yet fearing the consequent huge public outcry.

He said the Congress would be laying siege to the state secretariat on May 20, which marks the LDF government's second anniversary upon retaining power in the state, over various issues including the alleged corruption.
JERUSALEM, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Israel announced on Monday that it had signed a 20-million-euro (21.75 million U.S. dollars) deal with Montenegro for the Balkan nation to purchase Israeli-made weapons.

Under the deal, Elbit Systems, an Israeli defense company, will supply Montenegro with 120mm mortar munition systems and train its soldiers and officers at the company's training facility in Israel, the Israeli Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The deal, the third of its kind between the two countries since 2019, is "a great expression of confidence in the Israeli defense industry," Yair Kulas, director of the Israeli Defense Ministry's International Defense Cooperation Directorate, said in the statement. 
Bengaluru: Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar said the thumping victory of the party in the May 10 Assembly elections is the best birthday gift possible given to him by the people.

"My life is dedicated to serving the people of Karnataka", said Shivakumar, an eight-time MLA who celebrated his 62nd birthday on Monday.

"On the eve of my birthday, the people of Karnataka gave me the best birthday gift possible. Thanks to my Congress family for their warm greetings," he said.

Shivakumar is engaged in an intense competition with senior party leader Siddaramaiah for the Chief Minister's post.

The Karnataka Congress Legislature Party at its meeting on Sunday unanimously passed a resolution authorising AICC President M Mallikarjun Kharge to choose the new Chief Minister of the state.

In the Assembly polls to the 224-member House, the Congress won 135 seats, the BJP 66 and the JD(S) 19. The results were declared on May 13.

Congress govt will be formed at auspicious time: Shivakumar

DK Shivakumar, a strong contender for the Chief Minister's post, said he has not received any call from the party's central leadership to discuss the issue.

When asked whether he will be appointed the Chief Minister, he said: "I don't know. I have done whatever job was given to me. We have sent a one-line resolution to Delhi."

He also said the government will be formed at an auspicious time.

Amid speculation that he has been asked to come to the national capital by the high command, he said: "I have not received any call yet. Let's see."

On when the new government would be formed, Shivakumar said, "We will see an auspicious day of the week, auspicious moment and auspicious 'muhurta'."
New Delhi: With a 42.88 per cent vote share, the Congress party has created history by registering the biggest vote share by any party in the Karnataka assembly polls in the last 34 years. In the 2023 assembly elections, results of which were declared on Saturday, the grand old party won 135 seats and secured a whopping 42.88 per cent of the vote share. This is seen as the biggest victory for any party in Karnataka since 1989.

Congress Secured 43.76% Votes In 1989

Activist Yogendra Yadav took to Twitter and said that this is going to be the biggest victory for "any party in Karnataka" in 34 years by vote share and seat. Yadav claimed that it was in 1989 during Veerendra Patil's regime when the grand old party had won 178 seats with a vote share of 43.76 per cent.

According to figures posted by Yadav on Twitter, the Congress won 132 seats in Karnataka with a vote share of 40.84 per cent in 1999. This was followed by the party's second win with 122 seats and a vote share of 36.6 per cent in 2013.

Similarly, in 1994, JDS won a total of 115 seats with 33.54 per cent of a vote share. In 2008, BJP won 110 seats with a vote percentage of 36.86. This was followed by BJP in the 2018 assembly elections, wherein it won 104 seats with a vote percentage of 36.3. BJP had in 2004, got a total of 79 seats with a vote percentage of 28.33.

An incumbent government has not returned to power in Karnataka after a full term of five years since 1985 as no political party could win a successive mandate in the state.

It last happened in 1985, when the Ramakrishna Hegde-led Janata Party was voted into power. So far, Karnataka had 23 chief ministers since 1952. Basavaraj Bommai served as the 23rd Chief Minister since 2021. In the 2018 assembly polls, BJP emerged as the single largest party with 104 seats, Congress won 80 seats and JD(S) got 37 seats.

According to the Election Commission of India, Congress won 135 seats. BJP managed to win 66 seats. JD(S) won 19 seats, while four seats were won by others. Pertinent to mention, the Karnataka election was a major victory for Congress after Kharge became party president.

BJP Mukt South India: Kharge

The Congress victory has come at a time when it is seeking momentum ahead of assembly polls later this year in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Telangana and the Lok Sabha polls next year. On the other hand, for BJP, the defeat has come as a setback as it ended up losing the only southern state it ruled.

Congress president also took the "BJP Mukt South India" jibe at the saffron party after the results. After the results, outgoing CM Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday tendered his resignation to Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot.

PM Modi Congratulates Congress

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Congress over its victory in assembly polls. He appreciated the hard work of BJP workers and said that the party will serve Karnataka with even more vigour in the times to come. "Congratulations to the Congress Party for their victory in the Karnataka Assembly polls. My best wishes to them in fulfilling people's aspirations," PM Modi said in a tweet.

He added, "I thank all those who have supported us in the Karnataka elections. I appreciate the hard work of BJP Karyakartas. We shall serve Karnataka with even more vigour in the times to come". Congress leader and former MP Rahul Gandhi hailed the party's victory in Karnataka assembly polls and said that the people of the state defeated the "politics of hate".

Speaking to reporters at the Congress headquarters in the national capital, Rahul Gandhi said that the Congress stood with the poor. "The poor defeated crony capitalists in Karnataka...We fought the elections with love...," he said.

Siddaramaiah To Be New Karnataka CM

Highly placed sources confirmed that senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah will be the next Chief Minister of Karnataka and partys state unit president D K Shivakumar will be his deputy, Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge is expected to make a formal announcement in this regard on Monday after the partys impressive victory in the crucial assembly elections held in the southern state.

Karnataka went to the polls on May 10 for the 224-member state assembly and saw a record polling of 72.68 per cent. A party needed 113 seats to get the majority.
With the Karnataka Chief Minister's decision to shift to Delhi from Bengaluru, former CM Siddaramaiah has already arrived in the national capital while state Congress chief DK Shivakumar has postponed his scheduled visit to the city. Shivakumar, who was to reach Delhi by tonight, cancelled his visit citing stomach infaction. Shivakumar said that he will try to visit Delhi tomorrow. While the Congress Legislature Party left the decision to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, several reports have claimed that Siddaramaiah will be the next CM while DK will be his deputy. On the other hand, Siddaramaiah is firm on his demand for the Chief Minister's post, claimed reports.

Interacting with the media at his residence before leaving for Delhi, Shivakumar sent a strong veiled message to the party. "I'm a single man, I believe in one thing that a single man with courage makes a majority. I have proved it....I don't want to disclose what all has happened in the last five years and in future, at an appropriate time, I will disclose it....When all our MLAs left the party (2019 JD(S)-Cong coalition govt), I didn't lose my heart. I had taken responsibility. Today, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has stakes in the state," said Shivakumar.

The Karnataka Congress president said that he will leave for Delhi after attending a private event to mark his birthday. "There is a private event today, it is my birthday. I am attending the private event. After that, I will go to Delhi today. We have given a one-line decision. On top of this, some have said personally. I don't care about whose number, 136 (including one independent) seats have come under my presidency. I had many dreams. There was a lot to organize. Congress high command called me and Siddaramaiah to Delhi. We don't have the personal number, 136 is the Congress party's number," he said.

Shivakumar further said that Sonia Gandhi and Kharge had given him the post of president and he had promised to them to deliver Karnataka which he did. "I had given word to Mallikarjuna Kharge...I promised that I will bring the party to power. Not talking about anyone's claim, I am a single man. I believe in confidence in courage. Be courageous when defeated, and be generous when victorious. Kharge has authority over state politics. Sonia Gandhi has confidence in Rahul Gandhi. We will leave the matter to them," he said.

When aksed, will 'Tiger of Sathanur', as he is fondly called in his constituency, become CM of Karnataka, Shivakumar said that he will leave the decision to Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Senior Congress leaders are in Delhi to decide the next chief minister of Karnataka. The Congress party is in a dilemma as both - Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah are popular faces and the party may not be wanting to upset any of them. The next Karnataka Chief Minister is likely to take oath on May 18.
New Delhi: The suspense over the new Karnataka chief minister intensified on Monday as state Congress president D K Shivakumar canceled his visit to the national capital citing health issues after he and Siddaramaiah, both frontrunners for the top post, were called by the central leadership for discussions.

The three central observers, who interacted with party MLAs on their choice for the CM's post after the Congress Legislature Party meeting on Sunday, briefed party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and submitted their report, sources said.

Former chief ministers Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were called by the party's high command for further discussion on government formation. Siddaramaiah arrived this afternoon in the national capital, but Shivakumar cancelled his visit, hours after confirming he would be flying to Delhi, fuelling speculation that the factional fighting in Karnataka Congress had reared its head again.

Shivakumar cited health reasons for the change in his travel plans. "I have some problem with the stomach. The doctor is coming in ten minutes. It's burning. It looks like some infection and I have a fever..... Please let me be free...." he told reporters. Sources close to him confirmed he is not going to Delhi today.

Amid speculation about the number of MLAs supporting him and Siddaramaiah for the CM's post, Shivakumar said earlier on Monday that his strength is 135, as under his presidency in the state the party had won the seats.

The move by Shivakumar, seen by many as a "pressure tactic" to assert his claim on the top post, indicated that the leadership war in the southern state is far from over. The three observers - Sushilkumar Shinde, Jitendra Singh, and Deepak Babaria, deputed by the Congress, returned to the national capital on Monday morning.

They along with the AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka and general secretary of organisation K C Venugopal met Kharge and held discussions on the views expressed by the MLAs, the sources said.

The deliberations in Delhi were preceded by intensive consultations, one-on-one interaction with MLAs and even a 'secret ballot' in Bengaluru during and after the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party. After the Congress party's stupendous victory in the May 10 assembly polls, the party faces the uphill task of satisfying the two camps and is working on a 'formula'.

The CLP had on Sunday passed a resolution authorizing party president Mallikarjun Kharge to decide on the chief ministerial nominee. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have never hidden their CM ambitions

Earlier in the day, Shivakumar said that he has been called by the central leadership. "Since today is my birthday, a lot of people have come to wish me. I have to go to my deity with my family, and after going there, I will leave for Delhi. I don't know what time I will be going to Delhi. I will take whichever flight is available," he had said.

Senior party leader B K Hariprasad said the MLAs were asked for their open feedback on their choice of chief minister during their interaction with the observers and also a secret ballot was held for the CM's name. The observers have brought the ballot boxes to Delhi along with them.

Kharge is likely to take a decision on who will be the next chief minister of Karnataka soon. He is also likely to hold consultations with top Congress leadership, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, before arriving at a decision.

Meanwhile, the party is also gearing up for preparations for making the swearing-in ceremony of the chief minister a big show of strength, to which several opposition leaders will be invited. Supporters of both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had raised slogans projecting them as the next chief minister outside the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party on Sunday evening.

A poster war by supporters of both leaders also erupted soon after the party won the election. While Siddaramaiah is a leader with mass appeal, is popular among all sections, and has the experience of running a government of a full five-year term from 2013-18, Shivakumar has strong organizational capabilities, is considered resourceful and Congress' troubleshooter during tough times and has the backing of the dominant Vokkaliga community, its influential seers and leaders.

Congress MP Naseer Hussain told reporters that both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are senior Congress leaders and have fought together against the BJP. "Both led this fight from the front, both did their best to strengthen the party. Both have contributed to the victory of the Congress, but only one can become the Karnataka chief minister. Let us see what is the opinion of the members of the CLP," he told reporters outside Kharge's residence.
New Delhi: Rajya Sabha MP and noted lawyer Kapil Sibal on Monday took a swipe at the BJP over its defeat in the Karnataka Assembly Elections, saying the lesson from the poll outcome was that one cannot sell the same product, repeat the same lies or play the communal card all the time. In a tweet, Sibal said, "Lesson from Karnataka outcome: You can't: sell the same product, repeat the same lies, spew venom, vilify the past, align with a corrupt government and call others corrupt, play the communal card, all the time!"

Lesson from Karnataka outcome:



You cant :



sell the same product

repeat the same lies

spew venom

vilify the past

align with a corrupt government and call others corrupt

play the communal card



All the time !  Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) May 15, 2023

Earlier on Sunday, Sibal had urged the Congress to "win people's hearts" for the next five years in the state by being open, honest and non-discriminatory. Sibal, who was a Union Minister during UPA 1 and 2, had quit the Congress in May last year and was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an Independent member with the Samajwadi Party's support. He recently floated a non-electoral platform 'Insaaf' aimed at fighting injustice.

Karnataka



Winning elections is tough

Winning peoples hearts is tougher !



For the next 5 years

Win peoples hearts



By being :

open

honest

non-discriminatory



BJP lost for not being any of this !  Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) May 14, 2023

Congress Sweeps Karnataka Elections

According to the Election Commission of India, Congress won 135 seats pushing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) out of power in the only southern state it ruled and emerging as the natural opposition party in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. BJP managed to win 66 seats. Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) bagged 19 seats. Independents have won two seats while Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha and Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha won one seat each.

Many Opposition leaders congratulated the Congress for its emphatic victory in Karnataka and credited the success to the impact of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra. Following the defeat, Basavaraj Boommai submitted his resignation and accepted the responsibility, saying they will conduct a detailed analysis and will come back stronger.

"We had an informal meeting with our president and we have discussed certain issues and we'll shortly call elected representatives and the people who contested. We will have an in-depth analysis and do the course correction to come back to power in the Lok Sabha elections," said Bommai.

Elections in Karnataka were held on May 10 and saw a voting percentage of 73.29 per cent. With 42.88 per cent vote share, the Congress created history by registering the biggest vote share by any party in the Karnataka assembly polls in the last 34 years.

Congress Observers To Hand Over Report To Kharge



Amid intense lobbying for the chief minister's post in Karnataka, the three central observers deputed by the Congress on Monday returned to the national capital after speaking individually to the newly elected MLAs. The observers will hand over the report on the views expressed by the majority of the MLAs to party president Mallikarjun Kharge later in the day.

Former chief minister Siddaramaiah and PCC president D K Shivakumar are both staking claim to the top post and are lobbying hard for it. Kharge had appointed former Maharashtra chief minister Sushilkumar Shinde, party general secretary Jitendra Singh and former AICC general secretary Deepak Babaria as observers for the election of the CLP Leader of Karnataka.

The three leaders along with the AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala left Bengaluru for Delhi and will meet Kharge. The observers spoke individually to all the newly elected MLAs and sought their opinion on who should be the chief minister of the state.

However, highly placed sources have confirmed that senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah will be the next Chief Minister of Karnataka and the partys state unit president D K Shivakumar will be his deputy. Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge is expected to make a formal announcement in this regard on Monday after the partys impressive victory in the crucial assembly elections held in the southern state.

Poster War In Karnataka

They spoke to all the MLAs after dinner at a private hotel on Sunday night and completed the process. A poster war by supporters of both leaders also erupted soon after the party won the election. Earlier, during the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party in Bengaluru on Sunday evening the MLAs passed a one-line resolution authorising the party president to appoint the CLP leader in the state who would be the next chief minister. The Congress staged a stupendous victory in the May 10 assembly election by winning 135 seats out of a total of 224.
Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said there are some organizations and people who want the state to be unstable, but the government will teach them a lesson. Speaking to reporters in Pune, Fadnavis also said those instigating riots will be exposed and the government will not let them succeed.

Notably, clashes broke out between members of two communities in Maharashtras Akola city on Saturday night over a social media post. One person was killed in the violence and eight others, including two policemen, were injured.

In March, at least 12 persons including 10 policemen were injured after a mob of around 500 people hurled stones and petrol-filled bottles when the cops tried to control the situation following a clash between two groups near the Ram temple in Kiradpura locality of Aurangabad district.

Fadnavis said, It is 100 percent true there are some people and organizations that want the state to remain unstable. But the government will expose them and also teach them a lesson. Asked about the recent incidents of violence at two places in the state, he said, Peace has been restored at the two places where riots took place because police intervened at the right time.

The police were on an alert mode and additional security forces from other places were deployed there. On reasons behind the rise in such incidents, including the one which took place in Aurangabad, Fadnavis, who is also Maharashtras home minister, said, It is true that some people are deliberately trying to add fuel to the fire and acting from behind. They will not succeed in it. We will expose them and not let them succeed, he added.
Kolkata: A man on Sunday claimed that he travelled in a public bus with the body of his five-month-old child in a bag for 200 kilometres in the northern part of West Bengal, as he did not have Rs 8,000 as demanded by an ambulance driver for taking him home in Kaliaganj from Siliguri. Leader of Opposition in West Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP questioned the efficacy of the Trinamool Congress government's 'Swasthya Sathi' health insurance scheme, while the TMC accused the saffron camp of indulging in politics over the unfortunate death of a child.

Ashim Debsharma, the father, said "My five-month-old son died last night after treatment at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri for six days, during which I spent Rs 16,000. "I did not have money to pay Rs 8,000 demanded by an ambulance driver there for transporting my child to Kaliaganj," he told reporters.

Debsharma claimed that he put the body in a bag and travelled by bus to Kaliaganj in Uttar Dinajpur district, around 200 km from Siliguri in Darjeeling district, without letting anyone know, fearing that he would be deboarded if the co-passengers of staff became aware of it. He claimed that an ambulance driver under the 102 scheme told him that the facility was free for patients, but not for transporting corpses.

Tweeting the matter with videos of the man speaking to the media, Adhikari wrote: "Let's not get into technicalities, but is this what Swasthya Sathi has achieved? This is unfortunately the true portrayal of the Egiye Bangla' (advanced Bengal) model." TMC Rajya Sabha MP Santanu Sen accused the BJP of trying to "play dirty politics" with the unfortunate death of a child.

This is Ashim Debsharma; father of a 5 month old infant who died in a Medical College in Siliguri.

He was being charged Rs. 8000/- to transport the dead body of his child. Unfortunately after spending Rs. 16,000/- in the past few days during the treatment, he couldn't pay the pic.twitter.com/G3migdQww8 May 14, 2023

A similar incident happened in January this year in Jalpaiguri district, also in the northern part of the state. Unable to pay the high amount demanded by ambulance operators, a man, carrying his mother's body on his shoulder, started walking from a government hospital towards home, around 40 kilometres away. However, after some time, a social service organisation provided him with a vehicle which took them home free of cost.
New Delhi: Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat, who is one of the country's top wrestlers demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for alleged sexual harassment of women grapplers, on Sunday said that not a single Bharatiya Janata Party's woman parliamentarian had met them 'to extend support in their fight for the dignity of women'. Speaking to reporters, Phogat, who is staging a protest along with medal-winning grapplers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik at Delhi's Jantar Mantar for the last 22 days, also said that from Monday onwards, they will give letters by hand or via e-mail to all women parliamentarians of the ruling party to come and support them.

"When they talk about the safety of women in the country, then we too are their daughters and they should come out and support us," Vinesh Phogat said.

She added that they feel that 'their voice and grievances' have not 'reached them' yet.

"We feel that after they receive the letters they will come and support us," she said.

Vinesh also requested the people gathered at Jantar Mantar to visit their respective district headquarters on May 16 and give a memorandum in support of the wrestlers.

Meanwhile, the protesting wrestlers termed the Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) decision to take charge of all the activities of the Wrestling Federation of India as the 'first step' in their fight against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

The IOA, through its letter on May 12, asked the secretary general of WFI to hand over the official documents including financial instruments to its ad-hoc panel, making it clear the outgoing office bearers shall have no role in the running of the federation. The IOA's three-member ad-hoc committee has made it clear that the process to elect new WFI office bearers will be completed within the 45-day time frame and that the charge will be handed back to the elected body.

"This (the dissolution of the current WFI) is the first step in our fight for justice. Our fight has begun in right earnest, it's a victory for us... And we will continue or fight until we get justice," Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia said.

It is notable that the wrestlers have been demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a BJP MP, who they have accused of sexual exploitation of several women grapplers including a minor.

The Delhi Police has filed two FIRs, including one under section 10 of the POCSO Act against Singh, who has denied all the charges.
NEW DELHI: A court in Punjab has summoned Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over his partys promise to ban right-wing outfit Bajrang Dal in Karnataka. According to reports, Sangrur court in Punjab issued a summon to the Congress chief in connection with a Rs 100 crores defamation case filed by Hitesh Bhardwaj, the founder of Hindu Suraksha Parishad, against Kharge for "making defamatory remarks against Bajrang Dal" during the recently concluded Karnataka elections.

In his petition before the court, Bhardwaj stated that the Congress, in its manifesto for Karnataka, has compared Bajrang Dal with "anti-national organisations like SIMI and Al-Qaeda.".

In its election manifesto for Karnataka Assembly Elections, the Congress party promised to impose a ban on outfits like PFI and Bajrang Dal. The Congress manifesto for Karnataka had stated that it will "take strong action against organisations like Bajrang Dal that promote enmity and hatred among different communities". It also promised to protect minorities from "communal violence" and "false cases".

It had named the Popular Front of India (PFI), a Muslim group banned for alleged links to terrorism, along with the Bajrang Dal, which is often linked with vigilantism, violence and moral policing. In the face of a backlash from members of the ruling BJP, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress clarified the promise, saying it had "no proposal to ban the Bajrang Dal" because banning an organisation like it came under the central government.

However, the main opposition party hit back at the Prime Minister, accusing him of "hurting religious sentiments" of devotees by equating Lord Hanuman with the Bajrang Dal, and demanded an apology from him. The Congress later staged a stupendous victory in the May 10 assembly election by winning 135 seats out of a total of 224 in Karnataka.

Not Afraid Of Ban: VHP

The Bajrang Dal is not afraid of the Congresss threat of a ban in Karnataka, a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) functionary said recently. If they ban the Bajrang Dal out of their hatred for the Hindus, necessary steps will be taken, VHPs general secretary Milind Parande said in Indore. During the Ram janmabhoomi movement, the Bajrang Dal was banned but the court quashed it, calling it wrong, he said.

Congress Sweeps Karnataka Elections

According to the Election Commission of India, Congress won 135 seats pushing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) out of power in the only southern state it ruled and emerging as the natural opposition party in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. BJP managed to win 66 seats. Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) bagged 19 seats. Independents have won two seats while Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha and Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha won one seat each.

Many Opposition leaders congratulated the Congress for its emphatic victory in Karnataka and credited the success to the impact of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra. Following the defeat, Basavaraj Boommai submitted his resignation and accepted the responsibility, saying they will conduct a detailed analysis and will come back stronger.

"We had an informal meeting with our president and we have discussed certain issues and we'll shortly call elected representatives and the people who contested. We will have an in-depth analysis and do the course correction to come back to power in the Lok Sabha elections," said Bommai.

Elections in Karnataka were held on May 10 and saw a voting percentage of 73.29 per cent. With a 42.88 per cent vote share, the Congress created history by registering the biggest vote share by any party in the Karnataka assembly polls in the last 34 years.

Congress Observers To Hand Over Report To Kharge

Amid intense lobbying for the chief minister's post in Karnataka, the three central observers deputed by the Congress on Monday returned to the national capital after speaking individually to the newly elected MLAs. The observers will hand over the report on the views expressed by the majority of the MLAs to party president Mallikarjun Kharge later in the day.

Former chief minister Siddaramaiah and PCC president D K Shivakumar are both staking claim to the top post and are lobbying hard for it. Kharge had appointed former Maharashtra chief minister Sushilkumar Shinde, party general secretary Jitendra Singh and former AICC general secretary Deepak Babaria as observers for the election of the CLP Leader of Karnataka.

The three leaders along with the AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala left Bengaluru for Delhi and will meet Kharge. The observers spoke individually to all the newly elected MLAs and sought their opinion on who should be the chief minister of the state.

However, highly placed sources have confirmed that senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah will be the next Chief Minister of Karnataka and the partys state unit president D K Shivakumar will be his deputy. Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge is expected to make a formal announcement in this regard on Monday after the partys impressive victory in the crucial assembly elections held in the southern state.

Earlier, during the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party in Bengaluru on Sunday evening the MLAs passed a one-line resolution authorising the party president to appoint the CLP leader in the state who would be the next chief minister.
New Delhi: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday reacted to the Karnataka Assembly election results and said that Congress has alone given an alternative to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Speaking to reporters after meeting Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja, Pawar indicated that the Karnataka template needs to be implemented in other states, and for that, like-minded parties will have to work on a common minimum programme (CMP).

"The Karnataka assembly elections have given a message. We need to work on creating a situation like Karnataka in other states. The Congress alone gave an alternative to the BJP in Karnataka, but in other states, like-minded parties will have to work on a common minimum programme (CMP)," Sharad Pawar said.

We will work on both fronts (of creating a strategy like Karnataka and the CMP) and we are starting this process, he added.

In the May 10 elections to the 224-member Karnataka Assembly, the Congress won 135 seats and ousted the BJP, which secured 66 seats, from the only state it governed in southern India. Congress' emphatic victory in Karnataka came amid Opposition parties exploring a united front against the saffron party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Karnataka election result 'a boost' for MVA: Maharashtra NCP chief

The BJP's crushing defeat in Karnataka is a boost for Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in Maharashtra which will take small parties along and put up a united challenge to the ruling party in the 2024 elections, state NCP chief Jayant Patil said on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters after attending the MVA meeting at NCP chief Sharad Pawar's residence in Mumbai, Patil said the MVA -- comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP, and Congress -- will work out a seat-sharing formula ahead of the Lok Sabha and the Maharashtra assembly elections. MVA leaders, including Uddhav Thackeray of Shiv Sena (UBT) and state Congress chief Nana Patole, attended the meeting.

"Like Karnataka, I am sure the MVA will win the people's trust in Maharashtra and will work with more strength," Patil said.

He said MVA leaders have decided to hold talks with other small parties and are hopeful of presenting a united opposition to the current dispensation in the country in 2024.

"The three constituents of MVA will meet and work out a seat-sharing formula ahead of the Lok Sabha and the Maharashtra assembly elections. We are starting steadily and slowly,? Patil added.




ISTANBUL, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming China-Central Asia Summit is a milestone in guiding new perspectives and policies in the post-pandemic world and further strengthening cooperation, said Selcuk Colakoglu, director of the Ankara-based Turkish Center for Asia-Pacific Studies.

The summit will be held on May 18 and 19 in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province.

The scholar also mentioned the growing role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, saying it has become a prominent, dynamic, and stable international organization.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Dhaka: Thousands of people hunkered down Sunday in monasteries, pagodas and schools, seeking shelter from a powerful storm that slammed into the coast of Myanmar, tearing roofs off buildings and killing at least three people. Cyclone Mocha made landfall Sunday afternoon in Myanmar's Rakhine state near Sittwe township with winds of up to 209 kilometres (130 miles) per hour, Myanmar's Meteorological Department said. The storm previously passed over Bangladesh's Saint Martin's Island, causing damage and injuries, but turned away from the country's shores before landfall.

As night fell, the extent of the damage in Sittwe was not clear. Earlier on Sunday, high winds crumpled cell phone towers, cutting off communications in much of the area.

In videos collected by local media before communications were cut off, deep water races through streets while wind lashes trees and pulls boards off roofs.

Rakhine-based media reported that streets were flooded, trapping people in low-lying areas in their homes as worried relatives outside the township appealed for rescue.

Myanmar's military information office said the storm had damaged houses, electrical transformers, cell phone towers, boats and lampposts in Sittwe, Kyaukpyu, and Gwa townships. It said the storm also tore roofs off of sport buildings on the Coco Islands, about 425 kilometres (264 miles) southwest of the country's largest city, Yangon.

More than 4,000 of Sittwe's 300,000 residents were evacuated to other cities and more than 20,000 people were sheltering in sturdy buildings such as monasteries, pagodas and schools located on the city's highlands, said Tin Nyein Oo, who is volunteering in shelters in Sittwe.

Lin Lin, the chairman of a local charitable foundation, said there was not enough food in the shelters in Sittwe after more people arrived than expected.

Titon Mitra, the UN Development Programme representative in Myanmar, tweeted: "Mocha has made landfall. 2m people at risk. Damage and losses are expected to be extensive. We are ready to respond and will need unhindered access to all affected communities."

Myanmar state television reported that the military government is preparing to send food, medicine and medical personnel to the storm-hit area. After battering Rakhine, the cyclone weakened and was forecast to hit the northwestern state of Chin and the central regions on Monday.

On Sunday morning, several deaths caused by wind and rain were reported in Myanmar.

A rescue team from the country's eastern Shan state announced on its Facebook social media page that they had recovered the bodies of a couple who were buried when a landslide caused by heavy rain hit their house in Tachileik township. Local media reported that a man was crushed to death when a banyan tree fell on him in Pyin Oo Lwin township in the central Mandalay region.

Cyclone Mocha wreaks havoc in Bangladesh

Authorities in the Bangladeshi city of Cox's Bazar, which lay in the storm's predicted path, said earlier that they had evacuated hundreds of thousands of people, but by early afternoon it appeared that the storm would mostly miss the country as it veered east, said Azizur Rahman, director of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department in Dhaka.

"The level of risk has reduced to a great extent in our Bangladesh," he told reporters.

Strong winds accompanied by rains continued in Saint Martin's Island in the Bay of Bengal in the afternoon but feared tidal surges did not take place because the cyclone started crossing the Bangladesh coast at low tide, Dhaka-based Jamuna TV station reported.

About a dozen islanders were injured, while some 300 homes were either destroyed or damaged, leading Bengali-language daily Prothom Alo reported. One woman was critically wounded, it said.

UN agencies and aid workers in Bangladesh had prepositioned tons of dry food and dozens of ambulances with mobile medical teams in sprawling refugee camps that house more than one million (10 lakh) members of the Rohingya Muslim ethnic minority who fled persecution in Myanmar.

Cyclone Nargis killed 1.38 lakh people in Myanmar in 2008

In May 2008, Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar with a storm surge that devastated populated areas around the Irrawaddy River Delta. At least 1,38,000 people died and tens of thousands of homes and other buildings were washed away.

Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune city, said cyclones in the Bay of Bengal are becoming more intense more quickly, in part because of climate change.

Cyclone Amphan caused widespread damage in India in 2020

Climate scientists say cyclones can now retain their energy for many days. Cyclone Amphan in eastern India in 2020 continued to travel over land as a strong cyclone and caused extensive devastation.

"As long as oceans are warm and winds are favourable, cyclones will retain their intensity for a longer period," Koll said.

Tropical cyclones, which are called hurricanes or typhoons in other regions, are among the world's most devastating natural disasters when they hit densely populated coastal areas.
Bullish on the "booming" Indian aviation market, European airline major Air France-KLM is keen to expand routes and capacity as well as increase its codeshare routes with IndiGo, according to senior executives.

Air France-KLM, which has increased its seat capacity by 22 percent compared to 2022, operates up to 46 weekly flights connecting four Indian cities -- Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai. It also has a codeshare agreement with the country's leading carrier IndiGo for more than 30 cities.

Also read: Mocha Cyclone: Port Blair-Bound Vistara Flight Returns To Kolkata Airport Due To Bad Weather

"We want to increase capacity, routes... We would like to expand with IndiGo... The ambition is to do more international (flights)," Claude Sarre, General Manager - India subcontinent at Air France-KLM, told PTI. Plans are under discussion in this regard, he added.

Codesharing allows an airline to book its passengers on its partner carriers and provide seamless travel to destinations where it has no presence. India is one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets, and Air France KLM Group recorded passenger traffic of one million on Indian routes in 2022.

Post the coronavirus pandemic, Sarre said air traffic demand is increasing and that the "aviation industry is booming in India". Earlier this week, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines introduced the 'premium comfort class' on flights between various Indian cities and Amsterdam.

Christiaan van de Kopple, Commercial Director India subcontinent Air France-KLM, said passengers are looking for more and more quality, and are ready to pay extra for good services.

"A 22 per cent increase in seat capacity (compared to 2022) in India routes also shows that India is very much a focus market for Air France KLM... We are flexible in using our aircraft and utilisation on India routes," he said. They shared their views during a virtual interaction with PTI.

While talking about the Indian aviation market, Sarre said DigiYatra is a good initiative and also emphasised the need to promote as well as produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

Air France-KLM is a major player in international air transport. The group's global network offers flights to over 300 destinations, covered by Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and Transavia, as per its website.
Akasa Air has inaugurated phase two of its training and development centre - Akasa Air Learning Academy (AALA) in Gurugram. The academy is aimed to enhance its capabilities in providing hands-on and experiential training to its employees, including pilots, cabin crew, engineers and airport services and security personnel. The training centre, which was opened in July 2022, now also gets Indias only door trainer for next generation aircraft. The 14,000 sq ft, dedicated Learning Academy, now gets another 20,000 sq ft of additional space with world-class learning capabilities for the modern aviation world.

As per the India's newest airline, co-founded by Late Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, the expansion builds capabilities for Akasa Air to train over 700 future-ready aviation professionals. The facilities equip the airline to offer regulatory as well as safety, service and operational training which includes areas like service excellence, leadership, communication, departure control system, safety & emergency procedures, first aid, advanced computerised reservation & check-in training.

The facility has multiple large-sized training rooms equipped with state-of-the-art technology, a library of aviation knowledge resources such as manuals and research case studies, breakouts rooms, booths and relaxation areas. It will also include a mock-up of the Akasa Airs aircraft cabin for service training.

Indias only door trainer for next generation aircraft

The state-of-the-art door trainer enables the cabin crew to practice normal and emergency situations in a realistic environment. Hands on operation, practical training, on Type I main door and Type III automatic over wing exit is provided, in addition to the simulation of regular flight phase scenarios such as push back, taxi, cruise, descent and landing along with pre-recorded announcements. The door trainer is equipped to simulate multi-scenario emergency situation management.

The trainer makes the training even more effective with real-world environments by matching the operational characteristics of the aircraft equipment and is designed to facilitate cabin crew with the highest possible levels of safety and emergency training.

Vinay Dube, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Akasa Air, said, "We are confident about our future and continue to invest in it. Nothing we do at Akasa is short term in nature. Accordingly, the significant financial investment that we have made will pay rich dividends for multiple years to come. The expansion of our training academy is a testament to our deep commitment in creating an employee and customer centric organisation. The academy will not just mould our employees to become the champions of Akasa culture and values but also develop a future ready workforce to gain a competitive advantage in the aviation landscape.
At least 50 requests to take back as many leased planes from two Indian airlines in less than two weeks. Petitions from lessors seeking to enforce rights under international norms and concerns over a possible spike in the risk premium for leasing aircraft for domestic carriers. Cash-strapped Go First being admitted for insolvency resolution proceedings on a voluntary plea and subsequent moratorium has left a trail of concerns and uncertainties for aircraft lessors with respect to India, the world's third-largest aviation market.

Currently, Indian carriers have around 700 planes, and some of them, including Air India, are expanding their fleet. Most of the commercial aircraft in the country are operated through the sale and lease-back model, and there are concerns that developments related to Go First could push leasing costs higher.

Also read: Etihad, Emirates Partnership To Create 'Super Airline'? Explained

Indian carriers are projected to require more than 2,200 aircraft in the next 20 years. Advisory firm Primus Partners' Co-Founder & CEO, Public Policy Realisation, Nilaya Varma said the perception of India as a high-risk jurisdiction could translate into higher risk premiums to other local airlines.

"This means higher lease rentals for domestic carries and increase in the cost of doing business implying higher costs being passed onto passengers in the form of high-ticket prices, thereby making it more difficult for Indian airlines to compete with their international counterparts," Varma noted.

Regional airline Star Air's CEO Simran Singh Tiwana said the NCLT (National Company Law Tribunal) ruling in favour of Go First may not be very pleasing for the lessors and that is the challenge Indian aviation could face at the international level. "Some ruling will hurt some lessors... Those concerns will be voiced (by them)".

A senior aviation industry executive said that lessors might think that airline companies in India could make their life miserable by going to court. There is also the possibility of more lessors putting in requests for deregistration of planes leased to some other airline thinking that they get stuck in litigation, the executive said on the condition of anonymity.

So far this month, lessors have approached the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for deregistration of 45 Go First planes and five SpiceJet planes under the Cape Town Convention.

Under the Cape Town Convention (CTC), if a lessor has invoked the Irrevocable De-registration and Export Request Authorisation (IDERA), then the plane concerned has to be deregistered. The same has to be done in five working days but due to the NCLT imposing moratorium under insolvency proceedings, lessors cannot take back Go First planes at least for now.

Citing that the Go First insolvency proceedings are a material development that implicates CTC compliance in India, the Aviation Working Group (AWG) has put the country on the watchlist with a negative outlook.

"The DGCA's failure to process IDERA deregistration applications for aircraft whose leases were terminated prior to the imposition of the moratorium within the timetable set forth in its SOP results in a negative outlook for India's scoring...," the AWG said in an update on May 11.

The AWG is a not-for-profit legal entity comprised of major aviation manufacturers, leasing companies and financial institutions. It includes Boeing and Airbus.

Go First

Lessors are ruffled by the Go First crisis, which started when the carrier decided to file for voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings before the NCLT on May 2. The lessors sought deregistartion and repossession of 45 planes of Go First, which also suspended operations from May 3.

Soon after the NCLT admitted the airline's plea, leading lessor SMBC Aviation moved the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) against the NCLT ruling.

On May 11, SMBC Aviation told the appellate tribunal that the Indian aviation sector is being seen as a risky jurisdiction in light of the fate of Kingfisher and Jet Airways. Two other lessors -- G Y Aviation and SFV Aircraft Holdings -- also moved the appellate tribunal. These lessors have around 21 planes that have been leased to Go First. The NCLAT is to continue the hearing on Monday.

Go First has around 55 aircraft in its fleet and 28 of them are grounded due to non-availability of Pratt & Whitney engines. The grouding of the planes resulted in fund crunch and forced the airline, which has been flying for more than 17 years, to file for insolvency proceedings.

SpiceJet

The budget carrier is facing deregistration of at least five aircraft by lessors and one lessor has also filed an insolvency plea against the airline. "We want to scotch any speculation that may have arisen due to the filing by another airline. The airline is firmly focussed on its business and remains in active talks with investors to raise funds," the airline said on May 11.

In the last week, lessors have requested DGCA for deregistration of five SpiceJet aircraft. On May 8, the NCLT issued a notice to the carrier on the insolvency plea filed by lessor AirCastle (Ireland) Ltd and the matter is scheduled for a hearing next week.

The airline has around 70 planes in its fleet and is looking to revive 25 grounded Boeing 737 and Q400 aircraft. Many of its planes are grounded due to various reasons.

Soon after Go First filed for voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings on May 2, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday said "It is prudent to wait for the judicial process to run its course".

And on May 12, Boeing India President Salil Gupte said the crisis at Go First will not change the trajectory of the Indian civil aviation market in terms of growth and macro trends while legislative clarity on aircraft leasing aspects will provide more comfort to the lessors.

Meanwhile, WadiaGroup in a statement on Sunday alleged that AWG's recent warning to India is aweak and desperate attempt to influence NCLAT ahead of the hearing. "AWGshould hold its own members accountable for failing the Indian Aviation industry, as opposed to issuing a warning to India," it said.

Pratt & Whitney, in essence, has abused international conventions and contractual obligations by refusing to comply with the ruling of the international arbitrator to which all reputable companies are bound, including AWG's members.

"AWG should focus on ensuring that its own members abide by international arbitration awards. Rather than issuing threatening watchlist notices to India and quoting the Cape TownConvention (CTC) to influence the proceedings which are currently being heard in the NCLAT," it stated.

"AWG should first address the root cause by advising Pratt & Whitney to comply with the law and abide by the award issued by the emergency arbitrator appointed in accordance with the 2016 Arbitration Rules of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) to which Pratt and Whitney voluntarily submitted themselves," the statement said.

"The Airbus NEO(new engine options) with P&W engines, sold on the plank of fuel efficiency, failed leading to 100 aircraft currently lying idle in India and many more around the world. The entire Indian aviation sector is hit due to sub-standard products supplied by the engine makers," said Wadia Group vice chairman Varun Berry.

"P&W cannot wash their hands off their liabilities after supplying sub-standard engines, which has led to huge losses for all airlines. 18 percent of Indian aviation capacity is currently grounded due to the non-supply of engines by P&W.

"The issue is rampant, and several airlines across the world are severely affected by the engine failures by P&W, and hence the claim by Go First of failure due to P&W engines has huge credence. Go First maintained profitability compared to the industry leader for approximately 5 years until COVID and beyond, including in the year 21-22," he added.
The Indian market has a lot of potential for regional aviation, and if an operator plays the cards right, sustaining business is not an issue, Star Air CEO, Simran Singh Tiwana has said. Tiwana also said that the airline is aiming to double its passenger volumes this year as it scales up its fleet and adds three new destinations excluding Jaipur, which is set to be launched on Monday.

Set up in 2019 by the Kolhapur-based diversified business house, Sanjay Ghodawat Group, the airline has a fleet of five Embraer aircraft operating to 16 destinations under the Central government's regional connectivity scheme, UDAN, from its two operational bases, Bengaluru and Belagavi.

Also read: Air France-KLM Keen On Expansion Of Codeshare Routes With IndiGo

"India has a lot of regional potentials, which remains untapped. I think regional travel might grow five-fold in the next five years." Tiwana said.

Stating that it is "possible" to operate a regional airline in India successfully, he said, "You play your cards right, go for the right network, which is in line with the aircraft you operate (and) that makes a big difference (in terms of sustaining operations). Star Air, according to him, is operationally profitable.

"I think regional connectivity exists beyond short-haul routes. If we think it is connecting smaller stations with Mumbai, Delhi, among others, we need to think about it different," Tiwana added.

He, however, said that wildlife issues, some gaps in the runways operations, and watch-out hours at certain UDAN airports remain some of the challenges for the regional air operators.

"Our business model is not clashing with anybody else in India. We have a separate business, separate market, and we are just trying to grow it," he said.

"Our markets have been very different, and we are eating into anybody's market share as we are doing all monopoly routes," emphasised.

An all-Embraer planes operator, the airline owns four aircraft (E145), which are 60-seater and has signed lease agreements for four bigger, 76-seater E175 planes, he said. Of these, one has already been inducted into the fleet, while the remaining three planes are planned to be inducted by September this year.

According to him, the decision to own the aircraft in the initial years of setting up the airline helped it navigate during the pandemic and sustain operations as "operating an (an owned) aircraft and leased aircraft operations are all completely two different ball games."

"And, I think a lot of startups (airlines) had it wrong," he said in an apparent reference to several regional airlines such Air Pegasus, Air Costa, and Air Carnival, which started on regional routes with a bang but went belly up after over a period of time in the last 8-9 years.

He said that in the last four-and-a-half years, the airline had been preparing to go into the lease model and added that a good background of operations and cash flows made the lessors comfortable (in leasing out the planes).

Stating that the launching of flight services to Junagadh from Bangalore via Hyderabad, with the larger plane, is aimed at both addressing the demand and also adding capacity in a measured tone, he said, "We don't want to be too aggressive. The routes we are flying on are trying to mature over the period of time."

On Saturday, Star Air commenced operations of its Embraer E175 jet with a flight service on the Bangalore-Hyderabad-Jamnagar route, offering business class and economy, making it the first regional carrier to have aircraft in twin class configuration.

The airline plans to operate 20 percent of its flights on non-UDAN, he said, and added that as many as 12 UDAN routes are expected to become mature in the coming months, which then can be converted into commercial routes.

Tiwana also said that Star Air will be participating in the fifth round of the regional connectivity scheme. "The bidding has just opened a few days back. We have time up till June 1 to file the bids, but we will be filing," he added.
New Delhi: The Kerala Story by the gallant and courageous filmmaker Vipul Amrutlal Shah has been released and the audience is enjoying every bit of the film. The audience is intrigued, gripped, and interested to watch and rewatch the thought-provoking film. The Kerala Story tackles the sensitive issue of ISIS recruitment from Kerala, thousands of girls brainwashed and that racket is exposed in the film with the testimonial stories of 3 girls shown as examples. With the topic holding onto its significance and with Vipul Shahs maestro as a filmmaker, the word of mouth for the film is strong and is fearlessly picking up worldwide.

The Kerala Story is based on the true life stories of girls who were abducted, manipulated, and deserted from their real lives. The film delves into the life stories of a converted religion woman and her ordeal of how she once wanted to become a nurse but was brainwashed and manipulated by religious vanguards, turned into an ISIS terrorist, and sent on her way to Syria. While these girls dreamt of better lives, their fate wrote a horrendous saga for them. Sadly, as a result, their family members and society hesitate in taking them back resulting in shocking metamorphoses in these girls' lives. Some turn into suicide bombers or sex slaves, while some still have no clue how to move ahead with this surging shift in life. However, Vipul Amrutlal Shah, who shared their story with the world, has decided to do his part in supporting these young girls to help them rejuvenate their lives. Coming Wednesday, Vipul Shah will hold a very important conference and will reveal of something important and big.

Released on 5th May 2023 in the Indian market, the film is getting popular by the day globally. Everybody has their eyes on The Kerala Story and the real conversations around the film have already started seizing up space. While the film was first released only in India, the sudden jump in the global audiences interest paved the way for international distributors to approach the makers for more prints, eventually The Kerala Story took over the globe, and the audience is touched by its stirring storyline.

The Kerala Story is produced, developed, and distributed by Sunshine Pictures which is owned by Vipul Amrutlal Shah. Adah Sharma leads the cast along with Yogita Bihani, Sonia Balani and Siddhi Idnani. The Kerala Story is bankrolled by Sunshine Pictures Private Limited, founded by Vipul Amrutlal Shah who is the Producer, Creative Director and the co-writer of the film film co-produced by Aashin A Shah and directed by Sudipto Sen.
New Delhi: A land parcel worth over Rs 21 crore allegedly acquired by Anwar Dhebar, the elder brother of Congress leader and Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebra, has been found in fresh searches by the ED in connection with the Chhattisgarh liquor syndicate scam case. The federal probe agency in a statement on Monday also charged that former Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited (CSMCL) Managing Director Arun Pati Tripathi "corrupted the entire liquor system of Chhattisgarh at the insistence of Anwar Dhebar."

Tripathi, an Indian Telecom Service (ITS) officer, was the fourth person arrested in the case by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) last week. He also held the charge of special secretary in the state excise department.

Anwar Dhebar, hotel businessman Nitesh Purohit and liquor trader Trilok Singh Dhillon have been taken into custody by the agency as part of its investigation. The four are currently in judicial custody.

In the statement, the ED said the latest round of searches in Raipur and Bhilai in Chhattisgarh and Mumbai, resulted "in the discovery of a 53-acre land in Naya Raipur (having a book value of Rs 21.60 crore) acquired by Anwar Dhebar by using proceeds of crime in the name of a JV (joint venture)".

"This property was purchased through a maze of transactions in the name of an associate by routing proceeds of crime acquired from FL-10A licensee," the agency alleged. On the alleged link between Anwar Dhebar and Tripathi, the agency claimed that the former CSMCL MD "through his direct actions at the insistence of Anwar Dhebar, corrupted the entire liquor system of Chhattisgarh to maximize corruption in the department".

"He made policy changes in conspiracy with his other colleagues and gave tenders to associates of Anwar Dhebar so that maximum benefits could be taken under PART-A, PART-B, PART-C, and FL10A heads," it alleged.

Despite being a senior officer, he "went against" the ethos of the functioning of the state excise department and used state-run shops to sell unaccounted 'kacha' (country) liquor, the agency said. "His (Tripathi's) complicit actions resulted in massive loss to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of the liquor syndicate with more than Rs 2,000 crore illegal proceeds of crime," the ED said.

Tripathi, the agency claimed, also received a "substantial share in this loot". Thus, the very objective of the CSMCL to increase the state's revenue and provide quality-controlled liquor to citizens was violated by him (Tripathi) for his personal illegal gains, it alleged. The agency had earlier said that "corruption" was done in four ways as part of this illegal liquor syndicate.

Part-A pertains to "commission" and a bribe was collected from distillers per case of liquor procured from them by the CSMCL, the ED alleged. It said Part-B pertains to the sale of "unaccounted" 'kacha' liquor. Not even a single rupee reached the state exchequer and all the sale proceeds were pocketed by the syndicate and "illegal" liquor was sold from state-run shops only, the ED claimed.

Under Part-C of the scam, "bribes" were taken from distillers to allow them to make a cartel and have a fixed market share, the agency alleged. The ED said during the recent searches, it also seized Rs 20 lakh in cash, and "unaccounted" investments worth about Rs 1 crore with a share trading firm in the name of Arvind Singh (an alleged accused in the case) and (his wife) Pinki Singh. This money laundering case stems from a 2022 Income-Tax department charge sheet filed against IAS officer Tuteja and others before a court in Delhi.
CHITRADURGA: A video of a group of villagers in this district on Monday allegedly refusing to pay their electricity bill citing the pre-poll promise of the Congress to give 200 units for free has gone viral. Among the five 'guarantees' that the party announced is the offer of 200 units of power a month to every household.

During campaigning for the May 10 Assembly elections in Karnataka, the Congress repeatedly said it would give a stamp of approval for these 'guarantees' in the maiden cabinet meeting on the first day of it assuming power in the State. "We won't pay," a villager was heard telling electricity bill collector Gopi in the purported video where people are seen sitting on a platform under a peepal tree.

People of Karnataka already refusing to pay the electricity bill...



#freebies pic.twitter.com/EzUIseUmCe  Subba Rao @SubbaRaoTN) May 15, 2023

The bill collector then tells them, "You have to pay the bill this month. Let's see what the government says," to which the villagers respond, "What can the government say?" Gopi tells them if the government says it will give free power, then the electricity department will follow suit.

"We will not pay. They (Congress) have said electricity is free, it will be free only," another villager replies. To this, the bill collector says if the government order comes then electricity will be made free. "You collect from them (Congress), not us. We will not pay the bill," the villager says and asks others sitting there not to pay either.
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged in its supplementary chargesheet filed in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy Scam that former Delhi`s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, "destroyed" a draft Cabinet Note which was prepared by the Excise Department and put up before the Council of Ministers in the meeting which was held on January 28, 2021.





In the draft Cabinet Note, the legal opinions of Ranjan Gogoi and K.G. Balakrishnan, both former Chief Justice of India (CJI), Mukul Rohtagi, senior advocate and former attorney general of India (AGI), and others were obtained.The CBI has claimed that their legal opinions were mostly in favor of maintaining the status quo (which means the policy which was being brought should be stalled). On January 28, 2021, a file containing the cabinet note was taken to the camp office (official residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal).Here, the Delhi Excise Department officials handed over the file to Pravesh Jha, the additional secretary to Kejriwal. K.P. Gupta, who was looking after the work of the Secretary of Finance, signed the file, marked it to Sisodia and gave it back to Jha.After that, Sisodia was given the file by Jha to seek the approval of the chief minister before placing it before the meeting of the Council of Ministers. However, this file was not considered by the ministers in the meeting."Sisodia called Rahul Singh, the Delhi Excise Commissioner, and expressed his anger for incorporating the comments of the legal experts in the Cabinet Note. Sisodia did not return the file containing the Cabinet Note to Delhi Excise Department or Excise officials. Later, when the CBI inquired about the Cabinet Note file, the Finance Department informed that the file was missing," a source said, quoting the chargesheet.The CBI has also alleged that later, their digital evidence corroborated that the file was submitted to Sisodia by the Excise Department. The CBI said that later on February 2, 2021, Sisodia made a fresh note, but there, he did not make any reference to the previous cabinet note.The CBI has alleged that this was done with the intention of suppressing the submission of the Cabinet Note. The CBI has alleged that Sisodia then directed the new excise commissioner to prepare a fresh cabinet note without making any reference to the legal opinions of the former chief justice of India. And on February 5, 2021, a fresh cabinet note was put up before the meeting of the Council of Ministers."This clearly indicates that Sisodia wanted to help the accused involved in the case and was working with a pre-conceived idea to formulate the excise policy in a particular manner to suit the design of the co-accused and dishonestly did not put the original cabinet note in the cabinet meeting of January 28, 2021, and also destroyed the file of the cabinet note because it was not suiting their ulterior designs," said the source. This was the second supplementary chargesheet by the CBI in the matter.
Nashik: A case has been registered against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut in Maharashtra's Nashik district for allegedly creating discord between the police and the public through his statement. "A case has been registered in Mumbai Naka Police Station u/s 505(1)(b) of IPC against Uddhav faction leader and MP Sanjay Raut for allegedly creating discord between the police and the public by his statement," Nashik City Police said.

IPC Section 505 (1) (b) deals with the 'intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquillity'.

Raut has allegedly appealed to the state officials and police personnel to not follow orders of the "illegal" Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government. The Shiv Sena UBT Rajya Sabha MP made these remarks a day after the Supreme Court pronounced its verdict on the Shiv Sena-centric political imbroglio in Maharashtra.

The senior Shiv Sena leader further said that the Supreme Court has said that the Eknath Shinde group's Whip is illegal...The current govt is illegal and formed against the Constitution. "If the 16 MLAs, including CM Shinde are disqualified, then this group of traitors will be finished,'' Raut said.

Maharashtra | Supreme Court has said that the Shiv Sena Shinde group's Whip is illegal...The current govt is illegal and formed against the Constitution: Sanjay Raut, Uddhav Thackeray faction leader pic.twitter.com/ACEioelfjB May 11, 2023

Nashik Police officials said that they have taken suo moto cognizance of Raut's remarks and an FIR was registered at Nashik's Mumbai Naka police station. "Sanjay Raut in a statement against the state government said that the present government is illegal and their orders should not be followed," they said. "Further investigation is underway," they added.

Raut, however, alleged that the Nashik police have registered a case against him under pressure from Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and state Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis. "I have only said that after the order of the Supreme Court, I think this govt is illegal and if the govt officials will follow the order of this govt then it will be illegal & action might be taken against them in the coming days," Uddhav faction leader and MP Sanjay Raut told ANI.

Overjoyed with Karnataka assembly election results, Raut has said that the defeat of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP in Karnataka shows that the Modi wave is coming to an end, while the 'Opposition's wave' is coming across the country.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader made a big Raut prediction on Sunday saying, The Modi wave is over and now our wave is coming across the country. Our preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections has started, and today a meeting has been called under the chairmanship of (NCP chief) Sharad Pawar.we will discuss the 2024 elections in this meeting and start preparing for it.

The saffron party's defeat in Karnataka shows that citizens can defeat 'dictatorship,' Raut added. Congress won, which means Bajrang Bali is with the Congress and not BJP. Home Minister (Amit Shah) was saying that if BJP loses, there will be riots. Karnataka is calm and happy. Where are the riots? he asked.
Zhao Chunsheng looks out on the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

Zhao Chunsheng clears rubbish on the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

Zhao Chunsheng looks out from a watch tower of the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

Zhao Chunsheng patrols the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

Zhao Chunsheng looks out on the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

This aerial photo shows Zhao Chunsheng taking a rest while patrolling the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

This aerial photo shows Zhao Chunsheng patrolling the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

Zhao Chunsheng patrols the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

This aerial photo shows Zhao Chunsheng patrolling the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

Zhao Chunsheng takes a rest while patrolling the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

Zhao Chunsheng clears weeds on the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

Zhao Chunsheng clears weeds on the Great Wall in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, May 13, 2023. Zhao Chunsheng, 52, is a villager from Qianhouzhangzi Village, Houjiazhai Township of Zunhua City. In 2018, he was hired by local cultural protection department as a Great Wall protector.

Zhao is responsible for guarding about five kilometers of the Great Wall built in Ming dynasty (1368-1644), including five watch towers and four beacon towers. Every two or three days, he would patrol the Great Wall, clear rubbish and weeds, and arrange fallen bricks.

The job is not easy especially in hot summer and freezing winter. But Zhao enjoys his job and feels proud to be able to protect the Great Wall. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)
NEW DELHI: Despite BJPs defeat in the recently concluded Karnataka Assembly Elections, party leader and Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij has expressed confidence that the saffron party will win the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha elections with huge votes and that Narendra Modi will become Prime Minister again. Vij also stated victory and defeat are common in electoral politics and democracy, referring to the Karnataka assembly elections in which Congress swept the polls by winning 135 seats, BJP 66 and JDS 19, while four seats were won by others.

Victory and defeat (Karnataka elections) in elections are common, they keep going. BJP will win the 2024 elections with huge votes, and Narendra Modi will again become the PM. The condition and direction of the country's politics have to be changed. Today the public wants development and PM Modi has done it. BJP will win the Lok Sabha elections in every province of the country, Haryana Home Minister told ANI.

Hisar | Victory and defeat (Karnataka elections) in elections are common, they keep going. BJP will win the 2024 elections with huge votes, and Narendra Modi will again become the PM. The condition and direction of the country's politics have to be changed. Today the public wants pic.twitter.com/8yAVMZzviS  ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2023

Congress Making A Big Deal Over Karnataka Victory: Assam CM

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma too said that the grand old party was going around the town making a big deal after winning just one election in a state while they (BJP) won in several states but never overreacted.

"They (Congress) just won in one state and making a big deal out of it. We have won in several states but we never overreacted...," Sarma told reporters. The Assam Chief Minister participated in the 'Hindu Ekta Yatra' in Karimnagar on Sunday evening organised by the President of BJP Telangana Bandi Sanjay on the occasion of Telugu Hanuman Jayanti.

Sarma said that the Bharatiya Janata Party will form the government in Telangana where elections are scheduled this year. "Sometimes Sachin Tendular scored a century, sometimes he got out for Zero," Biswa said while reacting to the party's loss in Karnataka.

Congress Sweeps Karnataka Polls

According to the Election Commission of India, Congress won 135 seats pushing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) out of power in the only southern state it ruled and emerging as the natural opposition party in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. BJP managed to win 66 seats. Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) bagged 19 seats. Independents have won two seats while Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha and Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha won one seat each.

Many opposition political leaders congratulated the Congress for its emphatic victory in Karnataka and credited the success to the impact of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra. Following the defeat, Basavaraj Boommai submitted his resignation and accepted the responsibility, saying they will conduct a detailed analysis and will come back stronger.

"We had an informal meeting with our president and we have discussed certain issues and we'll shortly call elected representatives and the people who contested. We will have an in-depth analysis and do the course correction to come back to power in the Lok Sabha elections," said Bommai.

Elections in Karnataka were held on May 10 and saw a voting percentage of 73.29 per cent. With a 42.88 per cent vote share, the Congress created history by registering the biggest vote share by any party in the Karnataka assembly polls in the last 34 years.
AKOLA/PUNE: Communal violence in Akola city and Shevgaon village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra in the last two days has posed a challenge to police to prevent potential flare-ups in other areas, while more than 130 people have been detained so far after the clashes left one person dead and 13 others injured. While state minister Girish Mahajan, who belongs to BJP, claimed that the violence in Akola was possibly 'pre-planned', Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said there are some organisations and people who want the state to be unstable, but the government will teach them a lesson.

One person was killed and eight others, including two policemen, were injured, in a clash that broke out on Saturday night in the sensitive Old City area of Akola over a religious post on social media, prompting the police to clamp curfew in some pockets, police had said. Members of the two groups hurled stones at each other and indulged in large-scale vandalism. The rioters set on fire some two-wheelers and four-wheelers during the violence.

In Shevgaon village in Ahmednagar district in west Maharashtra, at least five persons were injured in a clash over a procession on Sunday night. Several shops and vehicles were damaged in stone pelting, police said on Monday. Police have detained 132 people- more than 100 in Akola and 32 in Shevgaon- so far. Cases were registered against 150 people in Shevgaon, located 65 km from the Ahmednagar district headquarters, an official said.

After the violence in Akola, District Magistrate Nima Arora ordered a curfew, which requires people to stay at home, in four police station areas of the city to maintain law and order, a senior officer said.cOn Monday, the official said, the curfew was relaxed in areas under the jurisdiction of City Kotwali and Ramdas Peth police station limits.

However, it will remain in force within the limits of Dabki Road and Old City police stations at night (between 8 pm and 8 am), while some relaxations will be provided during day time, he said. Internet services remain suspended in Akola and Shevgaon to check the spread of rumours, officials said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday instructed the police to take strict action against those behind the riots in Akola and Shevgaon and appealed to people to maintain peace and social harmony, said his office.

"The situation in Akola and Shevgaon is now under control and the police force is deployed. On the instructions of state home minister Devendra Fadnavis, state rural development minister Girish Mahajan has personally visited Akola while revenue minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil reviewed the situation in Shegaon," the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a statement.

Fadnavis said, "It is 100 per cent true there are some people and organisations that want the state to remain unstable. But the government will expose them and also teach them a lesson". Earlier in the day, State Rural Development Minister Girish Mahajan claimed the clash was possibly ?pre-planned?. Mahajan visited the affected areas in Akola on Sunday.

?Some houses and vehicles were damaged. Strict action would be taken against the culprits," he told reporters after meeting the family of the man, Vilas Gaikwad (40), killed in the violence. Mahajan said the government has announced assistance of Rs 4 lakh for the family of the deceased. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former Aurangabad MP Chandrakant Khaire claimed that riots were being instigated in Maharashtra to stop Muslim votes from shifting towards the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

Ever since the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis coalition has come to power, communal tensions are taking place, Khaire alleged. Meanwhile, security guards at the famous Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik district thwarted an attempt by a group of people from a different religion who tried to force their way into the temple premises on Saturday night, a trust official said on Monday.

As per the temple management, only Hindus are allowed to enter the temple- one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The temple trust has submitted a complaint to the police. No case is registered so far, a police official said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has been meeting with opposition party leaders for around two years now, has softened her stands against Congress after the grand old party registered a thumping victory in Karnataka polls on its own. Addressing the media today, Banerjee said that Trinamool Congress will support Congress in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections but the grand old party will have to reciprocate the same. She said that Congress should let regional parties fight the states where they are strong.

Mamata Banerjee On Opposition Unity

Banerjee has been a vocal critic of Congress especially after the grand old party lost many state elections to the Bharatiya Janata Party in the last few years. This is the first time that the Bengal chief minister openly voiced her strategy for opposition unity. "I am not a magician and I am not at all an astrologer. I cannot say what will happen in future. I can tell you one thing that, wherever the regional party is strong, the BJP cannot fight there. Wherever people are very demoralised and frustrated, where there is anti-incumbency, like in Karnataka the verdict is against the BJP, so wherever the people have been antagonised, atrocities are happening, the economy has been ruined, the democratic right has been bulldozed, so in this situation, whoever is strong in that region, they should fight there together," said Banerjee.

Regional Parties Vs BJP In 2024

Banerjee said that the TMC should fight in West Bengal and just like this, AAP should fight Delhi and Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party should be given prominence in Uttar Pradesh. "In Bihar, Nitish Ji and Tejashwi are together and in some parts, Congress is also there. They should decide, I cannot decide their formula. Like in Tamil Nadu, they have friendships (Congress and DMK), and they should fight together. Regional parties should fight in states like Bihar, Odisha, Bengal, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab and other states," she said.

Mamata Banerjee's Seat-Sharing Formula

The Bengal CM said that regional parties must be given priority in the areas where they are strong. Revealing the seat-sharing formula, Banerjee said that Congress should fight on around 200 seats while rest parliamentary seats should be given to regional parties. "Wherever the Congress is strong, their respective 200 (Lok Sabha) seats or whatever they have calculated, we will let them fight. We will give support. They have to support the other political parties also. If I am supporting them in Karnataka and they are fighting against me in Bengal, this should not be the policy. If you want to get good things, then you will have to sacrifice yourself also in some areas," said Banerjee.

Mamata Banerjee said that Congress also has to back other parties to get support from them. Banerjee had earlier saluted the people of Karnataka after the BJP lost power there while avoiding mention of the grand old party with which TMC has had run-ins in the past.
New Delhi: The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Monday "condemned" the violence in Manipur and appealed for peace in the state. "VHP strongly condemned the gruesome attacks by Kuki militants on Meitei Samaj and their places of worship in Manipur," a press statement by the VHP said quoting its national secretary general Milind Parande. He further said that not only churches but temples had been "destroyed" during the violent clashes between two communities in the state.

Releasing a district-wise list of selected grand temples of the Meitei community in Manipur hills, either "burnt or destroyed", during the clashes, the national secretary general of VHP said, "We are already serving the affected people, now the Hindu society needs to come forward to rebuild these temples." Parande also said that during the unfortunate clashes between the two communities, many properties of the state have been destroyed.

"Now the Hindu society needs to come forward to rebuild the damaged or destroyed temples," he added. "VHP appealed that peace and restraint must be exercised and the anti-national and anti-social elements must be controlled. Elements and organizations trying to disrupt peace in the region must be taken to task strictly," the statement said.

A curfew was imposed on May 3 after violence broke out in the State. The State government clamped down on the use of the Internet and mobile phones to ensure the spread of panic and false information is curtailed. Amid the demand of the Meitei for Scheduled Tribe status, a rally was organized by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) Manipur on May 3, which later turned violent.

As per the latest figures, close to 71 people lost their lives while more than 230 were injured, and close to 1700 houses were burnt down during the violence in Manipur.
Kashmir: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday said that it clamped down harder on militant outfits and their offshoots/affiliates operating in the Kashmir valley. In a handout, NIA said That its agency conducted a series of raids in the Anantnag, Srinagar, Pulwama, Shopian, and Budgam districts of Kashmir, and seized incriminating material/documents etc.



According to its spokesman, NIA launched extensive searches at 13 locations of sympathizers/cadres, hybrid terrorists and Overground Workers (OGWs) linked with the newly-formed offshoots and affiliates of several proscribed Pak-backed terrorist organisations, including Laskhar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Al-Badr, Al-Qaeda, etc.



The raids were part of the ongoing investigations of NIA in the terror conspiracy case, involving the activities of OGWs and cadres in support of various newly-launched outfits, such as The Resistance Front (TRF), United Liberation Front Jammu & Kashmir (ULFJ&K), Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind (MGH), Jammu & Kashmir Freedom Fighters (JKFF), Kashmir Tigers, PAAF, among others, he said.



Besides terrorists and violent activities, these cadres and workers had been found involved in the collection and distribution of sticky bombs/magnetic bombs, IEDs, funds, narcotics and arms/ammunition, he said.



NIA investigations had further revealed that Pak-based operatives were involved in the delivery of arms/ammunition, explosives, narcotics, etc. to these cadres and workers in the Kashmir valley via drones. Social media platforms were also being widely used by the operatives across the border to connect with OGWs and cadres in Kashmir, he said.



NIA had registered the case (RC-05/2022/NIA/JMU) suo motu on 21st June 2022. The matter related to conspiracy and plans, hatched physically as well in cyberspace, by these proscribed terrorist organisations.

The conspirators aimed to unleash violent terror attacks in J&K with sticky bombs, IEDs and small arms etc, as part of a larger conspiracy to commit acts of terror and violence by radicalising local youth and mobilising and deploying overground workers. In connection with the investigation of this case, since the beginning of this month, NIA has conducted more than 70 searches in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, reads the statement.




Flanked by 15 Congress MLAs at a rally here on Monday, dissident leader Sachin Pilot on Monday served notice to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot - agree to their demands by the month-end or face a state-wide agitation. The intensification of the power tussle between Gehlot-Pilot tussle in Rajasthan Congress came on a day when the party's central leadership struggled to pick between two CM contenders -Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar- in Karnataka after winning the assembly polls there.

The public meeting marked the completion of Pilot's five-day foot march from Ajmer to Jaipur over 'inaction' by the Gehlot government on 'corruption' during the previous BJP term in the state. Apart from a call for a high-level probe into corruption, Pilot spelled out two other demands disbanding the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and its reconstitution, and compensation for those affected by the cancellation of government recruitment exams after paper leaks.

"If action is not taken by this month-end on these three demands, an agitation will be launched across the state," Pilot said. The former deputy CM also referred to the one-day fast he held last month. "So far, I have done 'anshan' and taken out a 'yatra'. If action is not taken in the interest of the youth on these three demands, I will launch an agitation in the entire state," he said. "We will walk on foot with people in villages and hamlets, and get them justice," he added.

Pilot said he would not be cowed down. "I promise that I will continue to serve the people of Rajasthan till my last breath, even if I remain on any post or not. Nothing can scare me or suppress me, I have fought for you and will continue to do so," he said. Pilot said his agitation was not against anyone but against corruption and for the youth. But Gehlot, who became the chief minister after the party ignored his own claim to the post in 2018, was clearly the main target.

He referred to the boycott by CM loyalists of the Congress Legislature Party meeting in September last year - when there was speculation over the possibility of Gehlot being made the party's national president with the top Rajasthan post being given to Pilot. Pilot said whoever talks about factionalism and betrayal of the party should introspect over their 'betrayal' and the 'insult' to party leader Sonia Gandhi last year.

He said they should think 'whether we or they broke discipline'.

"We remained in public even after being abused and worked for strengthening the organisation, and you are abusing and maligning us after eating 'malai' (cream)," he said in a possible reference to Gehlot and his camp. "This will not do," Pilot said.

He also referred to a recent remark by the CM in which he credited BJP leaders Vasundhara Raje and Kailash Meghwal for 'saving' his government in 2020 when Pilot and 18 other Congress MLAs rebelled. "What kind of policy is this that you malign the image of your own party leaders and praise others," Pilot asked.

"I have never levelled charges against anyone. I have never said bad words against anyone. They left no opportunity to abuse me but this does not worry me," he said, adding that in a democracy, it's the people's blessings that count. Questioning the selection of the RPSC chairman and members, he claimed that it was common knowledge that these appointments were political.

"The appointments need to be done in a transparent manner, and people like scientists and lecturer need to be chosen," he said.
New Delhi: The upcoming Twitter CEO, Linda Yaccarino, former Chairman of Global Advertising and Partnerships at NBC Universal, on Sunday said she is prepared to build Twitter 2.0 and transform the business together with Musk and millions of platform users.





Yaccarino, who will start in six weeks in her new position, will focus primarily on business operations."I've long been inspired by your vision to create a brighter future. I'm excited to help bring this vision to Twitter and transform this business together," she posted."I'm just as committed to the future of this platform. Your feedback is VITAL to that future. I'm here for all of it. Let's keep the conversation going and build Twitter 2.0 together," Yaccarino further commented.There have been some concerns too regarding Yaccarino's appointment as the new Twitter CEO.A user posted that she is not here to improve the user experience but wants Twitter to be a 'safe space'."She represents advertisers, and her natural inclination is to limit speech, and pander to those who push woke ideology on the world. You will have to watch her like a hawk. No doubt she'll bring in advertising revenue in the short term, but she's a long-term mistake," posted a user named Billboard Chris.Musk replied: "I hear your concerns, but don't judge too early. I am adamant about defending free speech, even if it means losing money."Musk is looking forward to working with Yaccarino to transform the platform into X, the everything app, just like China's WeChat.
New Delhi: The rise of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) has led to flood fake and AI images on internet, social media, and feeds. If you are grasping with the same epidemic where it is hard to detect the fake from the real one, you will soon get relax from this problem. Tech giant Google has announced that it is bringing a tool About this image this summer that will let users to detect AI generated, fake images and videos.

Initially, the new feature will be available in the US in English. The company hasn't specified the timeline to roll out the feature globally.

ALSO READ | Google Android 14: Beta Mode For Select Partner Devices Is Now Available

How Will The Feature Work?

Google upcoming tool will let users to see the image context like: When the image and similar images were first indexed by Google, where it may have first appeared, where else its been seen online (Like on news, social, or fact checking sites).

With this background information on an image, you can get a better understanding of whether an image is reliable  or if you need to take a second look. For example, with About this image, youd be able to see that news articles pointed out that this image depicting a staged moon landing was AI-generated, Google wrote in the blog.

How To Use The Context Option

Once the tool is being launched, users will be able to find it by clicking on the three dots on an image in Google Images results, searching with an image or screenshot in Google lens, or by siwping up in the Google App when youre on a page and ocme across an image you want to learn more about.

Later this year, you'll also be able to use it by right-clicking or long-pressing on an image in Chrome on desktop and mobile, Google blog added.

AI-Generated Image Watermark

Google also announced that it will soon roll out genearative image capabilities so every ne of its AI-Generated images has a markup in the original file to give users context. Creators and publishers will be able to add similar markups, so youll be able to see a label in images in Google Search, marking them as AI-generated. You can expect to see these from several publishers including Midjourney, Shutterstock, and others in the coming months.

Google Search is built from the ground up to deliver reliable, helpful and high-quality information. And these two new features are just the latest ways were helping you make sense of what you find online and keep up with an ever-changing web. For example, with our About this result tool, you can quickly see more information about a source or topic, so you can assess whether you can trust what youre reading. In March, we announced five new ways that you can use to verify information on Search, Google added in the blog.
ISLAMABAD, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of police in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province has arrested four terrorists in various operations, CTD officials said on Monday.

In efforts to effectively deal with any untoward incident of terrorism, multiple intelligence-based operations were carried out in different districts of the province over the last 24 hours, said the CTD.

During the operations, at least four terrorists were arrested, said the CTD, adding that they belonged to banned outfits, including Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and the Islamic State.

The arrested terrorists were planning to target important installations in the province, said the CTD officials. 
Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with President Isaias Afwerki of the State of Eritrea at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with President Isaias Afwerki of the State of Eritrea in Beijing on Monday.

Hailing the solid political mutual trust and ever-closer cooperation between the two sides since the establishment of diplomatic ties 30 years ago, Li said China is willing to work with Eritrea to continuously enrich the China-Eritrea strategic partnership and ensure more strategic and sustainable cooperation to achieve win-win development.

He called for further efforts to synergize economic and social development strategies, enhance communications over the formulation of industrial development plans and industrial park construction, and support the development of key industries, among others.

Li also encouraged the two sides to deepen cooperation in such fields as infrastructure, the maritime and fishing industries, water resources, energy and ore development, and foster new cooperation growth points in the digital, green and blue economies. China will continue to provide assistance within its own capacity for Eritrea's social and economic development.

The two sides should practice closer coordination in regional and international affairs, stay committed to true multilateralism, resolutely oppose power politics and bullying, and defend the common interests of China and Eritrea and developing countries at large, Li said.

While thanking China for its firm support of Eritrea's independence and development, Afwerki expressed appreciation for China's important contributions to safeguarding world peace and opening up a new path of modernization.

Eritrea is willing to strengthen friendly cooperation with China, learn from China's experience, jointly oppose hegemonism, and work together to build a more fair and just international order, Afwerki said. 
Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, meets with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto in Beijing, capital of China, on May 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto on Monday in Beijing.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said he appreciated Hungary's friendly policy toward China, saying it is in line with the interests of Hungary and its people, the common interests of China and Europe, and the trend of the times.

China's development and growth is a boost for peace forces and an enhancement of global stability factors, Wang said, adding that mutual respect, trust, understanding and support between China and Hungary have propelled bilateral ties into their best period in history.

Noting that China supports European strategic autonomy, Wang said China is willing to work with Hungary and other EU countries to uphold genuine multilateralism, advance democratization in international relations, and make the global governance system more just and equitable.

Hailing China's efforts to find a political settlement to the Ukraine crisis, Szijjarto said Hungary-China and EU-China cooperation are opportunities rather than risks.

Szijjarto said Hungary welcomes China to increase investment in the country, adding that Hungary is willing to enhance cooperation with China in various fields and push bilateral relations to a new level. 

Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, meets with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto in Beijing, capital of China, on May 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)
Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with President Isaias Afwerki of the State of Eritrea at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua)-- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday held talks with President Isaias Afwerki of the State of Eritrea in Beijing.

Hailing China and Eritrea's profound traditional friendship, Xi said the two countries will mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations on May 24 and that over the past 30 years, China and Eritrea have always trusted and supported each other.

China views and develops bilateral relations with Eritrea from a strategic and long-term perspective, and is a reliable friend of Eritrea, Xi said.

In face of the current international situation, which is full of instability and uncertainty, a sound China-Eritrea relationship not only serves the common and long-term interests of the two countries, but is also of great significance to regional peace and international fairness and justice, Xi said, pledging to advance China's strategic partnership with Eritrea.

China appreciates Eritrea's long-standing adherence to an independent foreign policy, firmly supports Eritrea in exploring a development path suited to its national conditions, firmly supports Eritrea in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests, and opposes external interference in Eritrea's internal affairs and the imposition of unilateral sanctions, the Chinese president said.

Xi said China is ready to share experience with Eritrea on national governance, jointly oppose unilateralism and bullying, and safeguard the common interests of the two countries and other developing countries.

"China is ready to work with Eritrea to advance mutually beneficial cooperation and achieve common development through various frameworks and platforms, such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa," Xi said.

China supports Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Eritrea, and stands ready to strengthen cooperation on infrastructure construction, telecommunications, agriculture, mining and fisheries, and will continue to send medical teams and senior agricultural experts to Eritrea, Xi said.

He thanked Eritrea for providing support and assistance to China during its recent evacuation of Chinese citizens in Sudan, which again demonstrated the profound friendship between the two countries. He called for more measures to enhance people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

Xi said that no matter how the situation develops, mutual respect, understanding, support and help have always been the key features of China-Africa friendships. He noted that China-Africa cooperation plays a leading role in South-South cooperation and in international cooperation with Africa.

"Africa is a promising land. Under the new circumstances, it is more important than ever for China and Africa to strengthen solidarity and cooperation to overcome difficulties together," Xi said.

China is ready to work with Africa to carry forward traditional friendships, consolidate strategic mutual trust, create new opportunities for Africa with China's high-quality development and modernization, deepen practical cooperation with Africa, and build an even closer China-Africa community with a shared future, Xi said.

Afwerki spoke of his special bond with China that has lasted for over half a century, saying that the Eritrean people will never forget the precious support the Chinese people provided for Eritrea's independence and liberation.

Afwerki said that China is a great country. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the country has grown into a world power, making outstanding contributions to peace and development of humanity, he said.

He noted that China has always held the moral high ground, put forward its own solutions to global challenges, upheld international fairness and justice, and encouraged developing countries to seek independence and development.

Afwerki said that any attempt to contain or suppress China's development is bound to fail. The evolution of international order is at a critical stage, and African countries still face hegemonism and unfair and unjust treatment. The international community expects and believes that China will make greater contributions to human development and progress, and to international fairness and justice.

Eritrea hopes to strengthen cooperation with China and believes that the Eritrea-China strategic partnership will help Eritrea achieve national economic and social development, Afwerki said.

Prior to the talks, Xi held a welcome ceremony for Afwerki at the square outside the east entrance of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with President Isaias Afwerki of the State of Eritrea at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President Isaias Afwerki of the State of Eritrea at the square outside the east entrance of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 15, 2023. Xi held talks with Isaias, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Monday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President Isaias Afwerki of the State of Eritrea at the square outside the east entrance of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 15, 2023. Xi held talks with Isaias, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Monday. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President Isaias Afwerki of the State of Eritrea at the square outside the east entrance of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 15, 2023. Xi held talks with Isaias, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Monday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President Isaias Afwerki of the State of Eritrea at the square outside the east entrance of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 15, 2023. Xi held talks with Isaias, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Monday. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
NAIROBI, May 14 (Xinhua) -- The third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo presents a platform for attracting investments and sharing knowledge that could stimulate Africa's growth, a Kenyan official has said.

Patrick Nyangweso, the chief executive officer of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), a trade lobby, said the expo is significant to African economies amid their quest for new markets, capital flows, and innovations from China to revitalize key sectors like manufacturing, agro-processing, and digital economy.

The third edition of the expo, under the theme "Common Development for a Shared Future," will run from June 29 to July 2 in central China's Hunan Province. First launched in 2019, it is a major platform for strengthening economic and trade cooperation between China and African countries.

"The expo will be an opportunity for us to learn about product development as Kenyan businesses," Nyangweso told Xinhua during an interview on the sidelines of a promotional forum for the expo held in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on May 11.

In attendance at the forum is a high-profile delegation from Yiyang City in Hunan Province. Yang Zhihua, the deputy mayor of Yiyang, said the expo, which will feature seminars, matchmaking negotiations, and outdoor commodity pavilions, will culminate with the release of the inaugural China-Africa trade index.

The expo will be an opportunity for Kenyan entrepreneurs to network with their Chinese counterparts, and exchange ideas and best practices that are crucial to fueling the growth of local start-ups, Nyangweso said.

Nyangweso, who will lead a group of Kenyan entrepreneurs to the expo, said African countries will acquire knowledge on establishing industrial parks, cottage industries, and packaging of products to meet international standards.

In addition, the expo presents an opportunity for Kenya and other African countries to gain insight into digitizing their businesses, upgrading workforce skills, and accelerating value addition to boost the competitiveness of agricultural products in the overseas markets, Nyangweso added.

He also disclosed that the KNCCI plans to open an office in Hunan Province this year to facilitate interaction between its members with Chinese entrepreneurs and investors. 
BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping recently replied to a letter from Central Asian students at China University of Petroleum, encouraging them to make greater contributions to the promotion of ties between China and Central Asian countries.

In his reply, Xi said that China and Central Asian countries are linked by mountains and rivers, and that they have profound friendships and a shared future. "In 2013, I put forward the initiative of jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt in Central Asia," Xi said.

He noted that over the past decade, China-Central Asia relations have been brought to a new level, and cooperation in various fields has moved onto the fast track, delivering benefits to the peoples.

Friendly relations between China and Central Asian countries need to be carried forward from generation to generation by ambitious and promising young people, Xi said.

Xi said the students have witnessed and benefited from China-Central Asia relations and, more importantly, that they have helped boost China-Central Asia relations. He urged them to take an active part in promoting friendships between China and Central Asian countries, carry forward the Silk Road spirit, tell Chinese stories and Central Asian stories well, act as envoys of friendship and bridges of cooperation, and contribute to building an even closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future.

Recently, students from Central Asian countries at China University of Petroleum wrote a letter to Xi, telling about their studies and lives in China and expressing their determination to study hard, strengthen cooperation and contribute to building a China-Central Asia community with a shared future. 
BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon will attend the China-Central Asia Summit and pay a state visit to China from May 16 to May 19.

Rahmon was born on Oct. 5, 1952, in Dangara district of the Republic of Tajikistan. He graduated from Technical Lyceum No. 40 of Kalininabad city (presently Sarband) in 1969 and served as an electrician at Kurgan-Tube oil factory.

From 1971 to 1974, Rahmon served in the Pacific Navy Military Force. He graduated from the Faculty of Economics at the Tajik National University in 1982.

Rahmon held posts of secretary of direction and chairman of the Union Committee of the Lenin collective farm in Dangara from 1976 to 1987. He later worked in party bodies. From 1987 to 1992 he was the chairman of the Lenin collective farm in Dangara. In 1990, Rahmon was elected as people's deputy at the Supreme Council of the Republic of Tajikistan of 12th convocation.

Rahmon served as chairman of the Executive Committee of the Council of the People's Deputies of Kulyab province in 1992, and was elected as chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Tajikistan on Nov. 19 that year at the 16th session of the body.

On Nov. 6, 1994, Rahmon was elected president of Tajikistan by nation-wide voting. On Nov. 6, 1999, 2006 and 2013 respectively, he was reelected president with a seven-year tenure. And on Oct. 11, 2020, he was reelected for another seven years.

Rahmon has held the title of Hero of Tajikistan since 1999.

He is married and has nine children. 
Dong Xiaoyan, head of the 18th Chinese Medical Team for Malta, provides acupuncture treatment for a man in Marsaxlokk, southeastern Malta on May 12, 2023. The Chinese medical team from the Mediterranean Regional Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine (MRCTCM) Friday provided free on-site consultations and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments such as acupuncture, cupping and massage at the Delimara 3 (D3) power station. (Xinhua/Chen Wenxian)

VALLETTA, May 14 (Xinhua) -- "It is amazing," said 34-year-old Mario Borg after receiving a neck massage from a doctor of the 18th Chinese medical team for Malta.

The Chinese medical team from the Mediterranean Regional Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine (MRCTCM) Friday provided free on-site consultations and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments such as acupuncture, cupping and massage at the Delimara 3 (D3) power station.

Situated in Marsaxlokk, southeastern Malta, the D3 power station controlled and operated by China's Shanghai Electric Power (Malta) Holding Co., Ltd. (SEP), is a clean energy project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Prior to the on-site TCM treatments, Xing Xuemei, a member of the Chinese medical team, delivered a brief lecture on the rehabilitation of neck and back pain. Two employees actively participated and demonstrated training exercises under Xing's guidance.

Following the lecture, the Chinese medical team distributed popular items among the Maltese people, including plasters, cooling oil, and sachets.

Borg, an employee who has been working at the D3 power station for four years, had heard about TCM but never experienced it until now. After his first TCM treatment, Borg shared with Xinhua that he already felt some improvements, although the doctor mentioned that his neck pain would significantly improve after a couple of days.

He also expressed his enjoyment of working with his Chinese colleagues, learning about Chinese New Year, Chinese cuisine, and even picking up some Chinese language phrases.

Similarly, Renata Ziber, a 36-year-old employee at the D3 power station, said that "It feels really good. I almost feel like sleeping during the treatment," after receiving a neck massage.

Ziber, who also experienced TCM treatment for the first time, considered it a valuable opportunity and expressed her willingness to try it again in the future.

Staff members from the International Energy Services Centre Limited, a subsidiary of Malta's Enemalta, also actively participated in the TCM consultations and treatments.

"I feel the positive effect of the treatment because I feel more relaxed," Johann Zammit, executive chairman of the company, told Xinhua while receiving acupuncture from Dong Xiaoyan, head of the Chinese medical team.

Zammit not only attentively listened to the lecture but also received on-site acupuncture treatment for his neck pain, marking his first encounter with TCM. He expressed gratitude towards the Chinese medical team for providing an excellent opportunity to learn more about TCM and experience its benefits.

Cheng Xun, general manager of the D3 power station told Xinhua that foreign employees constitute more than half of the station's staff, and they hold a positive view of Chinese culture. Some of them have previously received TCM treatments and have faith in its effectiveness, he added.

Cheng noted that thanks to the continuous efforts of the Chinese people, including the Chinese medical team for Malta, the influence of the TCM has steadily expanded in the Mediterranean region.

Dong highlighted that the Chinese medical team for Malta is the only nationally dispatched TCM team in Europe. She emphasized that their mission also includes serving countries along the Belt and Road and projects under the BRI.

She further noted that in recent years, there has been a growing interest in TCM among the Maltese population, with many local patients choosing TCM as a new treatment option. She attributed this trend, in part, to the frequent academic exchanges and clinic activities conducted by the Chinese medical team.

This year commemorates the 60th anniversary of China sending its first medical aid team abroad, as well as the 30th anniversary of China dispatching its first medical team to Malta.

Since 1994, when the MRCTCM was established by the Chinese and Maltese governments, 18 Chinese medical teams composed of over 100 physicians have offered TCM treatment to around 250,000 Maltese patients. 

Dong Xiaoyan, head of the 18th Chinese Medical Team for Malta, provides cupping treatment for a man in Marsaxlokk, southeastern Malta on May 12, 2023. The Chinese medical team from the Mediterranean Regional Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine (MRCTCM) Friday provided free on-site consultations and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments such as acupuncture, cupping and massage at the Delimara 3 (D3) power station.

(Xinhua/Chen Wenxian)

Xing Xuemei (R), member of the 18th Chinese Medical Team for Malta, shows how to exercise for rehabilitation of neck and back pains with the support of an employee in Marsaxlokk, southeastern Malta on May 12, 2023. The Chinese medical team from the Mediterranean Regional Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine (MRCTCM) Friday provided free on-site consultations and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments such as acupuncture, cupping and massage at the Delimara 3 (D3) power station.

(Xinhua/Chen Wenxian)

Zhang Yilong (R), member of the 18th Chinese Medical Team for Malta, provides Chinese massage treatment for a man in Marsaxlokk, southeastern Malta on May 12, 2023. The Chinese medical team from the Mediterranean Regional Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine (MRCTCM) Friday provided free on-site consultations and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments such as acupuncture, cupping and massage at the Delimara 3 (D3) power station.

(Xinhua/Chen Wenxian)

Xing Xuemei (back), member of the 18th Chinese Medical Team for Malta, gives a lecture on rehabilitation of neck and back pains in Marsaxlokk, southeastern Malta on May 12, 2023. The Chinese medical team from the Mediterranean Regional Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine (MRCTCM) Friday provided free on-site consultations and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments such as acupuncture, cupping and massage at the Delimara 3 (D3) power station.

(Xinhua/Chen Wenxian)
BANGKOK, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The opposition parties are expected to win the majority of seats in the lower house of parliament following the general election of Thailand on Sunday, according to unofficial results released by the electoral body.

According to the nearly 99 percent vote counting results updated by the Election Commission early Monday, the two major oppositions, the Move Forward Party and the Pheu Thai Party, were expected to capture 113 and 111 seats respectively out of the 400 constituency seats in the House of Representatives.

The Move Forward Party, with wide support among young voters, also came first in a separate poll to decide the 100 party-list seats in the House with more than 14 million votes ahead of Pheu Thai's 10 million votes.

The Election Commission is yet to announce the preliminary allocation of the 100 party-list seats, but local media calculated that the two opposition parties have secured a simple majority in the lower house of parliament.

More than 52 million Thai citizens were eligible to vote in the election. Under the two-ballot system with one vote for the 400 constituency members of parliament (MPs) and another for their preferred party vying for the 100 party-list MPs, voters will elect a total of 500 members to the House of Representatives.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party (United Thai Nation Party) is projected to take 23 constituency seats but was ranked third in the party-list poll with some 4.6 million votes.

The official election results are pending verification by the Election Commission, which is expected to be due within 60 days. Meanwhile, the political parties are expected to start negotiations to form coalitions as the new prime minister will need to secure a simple majority from the 500 MPs as well as the 250 senators in accordance with the 2017 constitution. 
TEHRAN, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian stressed on Sunday the necessity of international support for Syria's reconstruction, saying it is essential to help the country's displaced people return to their homes.

Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks during a meeting with UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen in Tehran, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

They also discussed the latest regional and international developments with regard to Syria, including the recent quadrilateral meeting in Moscow on working out a solution to the Syrian crisis.

Amir-Abdollahian pointed to the recent visit by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Damascus, saying the trip was an indication that Syria has reached a stage of lasting security.

The minister also expressed gratitude to Pedersen for his work to promote peace and stability in Syria, while Pedersen commended Iran for its counterterrorism efforts and contributions to Syria's security and regional stability, according to the statement.

Raisi, the first Iranian president to visit Syria since the outbreak of the Syrian war in 2011, visited Damascus in early May and held extensive political and economic talks with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad. 
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (1st L) casts his vote at a polling station in Istanbul, Turkiye, May 14, 2023.

Turkish citizens headed to the polls on Sunday for twin presidential and parliamentary elections that could shape the Turkish political landscape for the upcoming years.

Some 61 million voters are registered to cast their ballots. Around 3.5 million voters living abroad have been called to cast their votes in advance. More than 1.76 million Turks abroad have cast their votes at diplomatic missions and customs gates between April 27 and May 9. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

ANKARA, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye was heading toward a likely runoff presidential election as Sunday vote count showed neither of the candidates above the 50-percent threshold of the votes to win outright, according to preliminary results delivered by the semi-official Anadolu Agency early Monday.

Early results of Anadolu showed incumbent Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with a comfortable ahead compared to the opposition rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu, but the gap was narrowed as more votes were counted.

Erdogan received 49.67 percent of the vote when 93 percent of the ballots were counted, against 44.59 percent of the vote for opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the Anadolu reported. The third candidate Sinan Ogan garnered 5.3 percent of support.

If no presidential candidate secured a simple majority, or 50 percent, of the votes in the first round, a second ballot would be scheduled between the top two frontrunners on 28 May.

As the ballot boxes for the parliamentary election were also finishing counting, unofficial results showed that the People's Alliance, formed by Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the New Welfare Party and the Great Union Party, had 323 lawmakers, highest among three alliances that run for the 600-seat parliament.

The six-party opposition block Nation Alliance gained a total of 214 lawmakers and could not secure 360 seats required to hold a referendum for ending the current executive presidency that they pledged in their election campaign.

The Labor and Freedom Alliance, a coalition of left-wing political parties, had 63 lawmakers, with the Green Left Party gaining 60 seats and the Workers' Party of Turkiye 3 lawmakers.

Some 61 million voters are registered to cast their ballots. Around 3.5 million voters living abroad have been called to cast their votes in advance. The voter turnout was high at nearly 80 percent. 

A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Istanbul, Turkiye, May 14, 2023. Turkish citizens headed to the polls on Sunday for twin presidential and parliamentary elections that could shape the Turkish political landscape for the upcoming years.

Some 61 million voters are registered to cast their ballots. Around 3.5 million voters living abroad have been called to cast their votes in advance. More than 1.76 million Turks abroad have cast their votes at diplomatic missions and customs gates between April 27 and May 9. (Photo by Omer Kuscu/Xinhua)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets with supporters outside a polling station in Istanbul, Turkiye, May 14, 2023.

Turkish citizens headed to the polls on Sunday for twin presidential and parliamentary elections that could shape the Turkish political landscape for the upcoming years.

Some 61 million voters are registered to cast their ballots. Around 3.5 million voters living abroad have been called to cast their votes in advance. More than 1.76 million Turks abroad have cast their votes at diplomatic missions and customs gates between April 27 and May 9. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

A woman prepares to cast her ballot at a polling station in Ankara, Turkiye, May 14, 2023.

Turkish citizens headed to the polls on Sunday for twin presidential and parliamentary elections that could shape the Turkish political landscape for the upcoming years.

Some 61 million voters are registered to cast their ballots. Around 3.5 million voters living abroad have been called to cast their votes in advance. More than 1.76 million Turks abroad have cast their votes at diplomatic missions and customs gates between April 27 and May 9. (Xinhua/Shadati)

Kemal Kilicdaroglu (C, front), the leader of the center-left Republican People's Party, casts his ballot at a polling station in Ankara, Turkiye, May 14, 2023.

Turkish citizens headed to the polls on Sunday for twin presidential and parliamentary elections that could shape the Turkish political landscape for the upcoming years.

Some 61 million voters are registered to cast their ballots. Around 3.5 million voters living abroad have been called to cast their votes in advance. More than 1.76 million Turks abroad have cast their votes at diplomatic missions and customs gates between April 27 and May 9. (Xinhua/Shadati)

A staff member shows the ballot paper at a polling station in Ankara, Turkiye, May 14, 2023.

Turkish citizens headed to the polls on Sunday for twin presidential and parliamentary elections that could shape the Turkish political landscape for the upcoming years.

Some 61 million voters are registered to cast their ballots. Around 3.5 million voters living abroad have been called to cast their votes in advance. More than 1.76 million Turks abroad have cast their votes at diplomatic missions and customs gates between April 27 and May 9. (Xinhua/Shadati)

Kemal Kilicdaroglu (C), the leader of the center-left Republican People's Party, casts his vote at a polling station in Ankara, Turkiye, May 14, 2023.

Turkish citizens headed to the polls on Sunday for twin presidential and parliamentary elections that could shape the Turkish political landscape for the upcoming years.

Some 61 million voters are registered to cast their ballots. Around 3.5 million voters living abroad have been called to cast their votes in advance. More than 1.76 million Turks abroad have cast their votes at diplomatic missions and customs gates between April 27 and May 9. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

A voter casts her ballot at a polling station in Istanbul, Turkiye, May 14, 2023. Turkish citizens headed to the polls on Sunday for twin presidential and parliamentary elections that could shape the Turkish political landscape for the upcoming years.

Some 61 million voters are registered to cast their ballots. Around 3.5 million voters living abroad have been called to cast their votes in advance. More than 1.76 million Turks abroad have cast their votes at diplomatic missions and customs gates between April 27 and May 9. (Photo by Omer Kuscu/Xinhua)

Supporters of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) shout slogans outside the headquarters of CHP in Ankara, Turkiye, May 14, 2023. Turkiye was heading toward a likely runoff presidential election as Sunday vote count showed neither of the candidates above the 50-percent threshold of the votes to win outright, according to preliminary results delivered by the semi-official Anadolu Agency early Monday.

Early results of Anadolu showed incumbent Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with a comfortable ahead compared to the opposition rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu, but the gap was narrowed as more votes were counted. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

Supporters of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) shout slogans outside the headquarters of CHP in Ankara, Turkiye, May 14, 2023. Turkiye was heading toward a likely runoff presidential election as Sunday vote count showed neither of the candidates above the 50-percent threshold of the votes to win outright, according to preliminary results delivered by the semi-official Anadolu Agency early Monday.

Early results of Anadolu showed incumbent Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with a comfortable ahead compared to the opposition rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu, but the gap was narrowed as more votes were counted. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) gather at the party headquarters in Ankara, Turkiye, May 14, 2023. Turkiye was heading toward a likely runoff presidential election as Sunday vote count showed neither of the candidates above the 50-percent threshold of the votes to win outright, according to preliminary results delivered by the semi-official Anadolu Agency early Monday.

Early results of Anadolu showed incumbent Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with a comfortable ahead compared to the opposition rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu, but the gap was narrowed as more votes were counted. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) gather at the party headquarters in Ankara, Turkiye, May 14, 2023. Turkiye was heading toward a likely runoff presidential election as Sunday vote count showed neither of the candidates above the 50-percent threshold of the votes to win outright, according to preliminary results delivered by the semi-official Anadolu Agency early Monday.

Early results of Anadolu showed incumbent Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with a comfortable ahead compared to the opposition rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu, but the gap was narrowed as more votes were counted. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)
Palestinian people participate in a demonstration marking the 75th anniversary of the Nakba Day in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on May 15, 2023. Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip marked the 75th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba Day, or the day of "catastrophe," on Monday with large-scale rallies and demonstrations. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

GAZA/RAMALLAH, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip marked the 75th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba day, or the day of "catastrophe," on Monday with large-scale rallies and demonstrations.

The Nakba Day is observed annually on May 15 by Palestinians to remember the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes after the establishment of Israel in 1948.

In Gaza, dozens of Palestinians took to the streets, marching through the main thoroughfares, hoisting Palestinian flags, and displaying banners emphasizing the right of return.

The demonstration culminated at the headquarters of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process in the western part of the city.

Imad al-Agha, an official from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Movement, addressed the gathering, affirming the Palestinians' commitment to their right to return to "historic Palestine" and their determination to achieve it.

"Our people await the awakening of global conscience to resolve their legal question, which has become the oldest and largest issue known to the world and the United Nations," he stated.

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), a militant group that controls the besieged Palestinian enclave, said in a statement that the Nakba day came "in the wake of a recent round of conflict where our Palestinian people, united with their resistance in Gaza, proved that they are capable of defending their national rights."

The commemoration of the Nakba day in Gaza follows a ceasefire agreement brokered by Egypt between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement in Gaza, bringing an end to a five-day deadly confrontation.

According to Israeli and Palestinian sources, the recent escalation resulted in the death of one Israeli woman and 33 Palestinians, including six prominent PIJ leaders.

In the West Bank city of Ramallah, a large-scale demonstration took place in front of the tomb of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat before proceeding to the city center.

Participants observed a moment of silence for 75 seconds, symbolizing the 75th anniversary of Nakba.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye, who participated in the rally with other officials, said "the Nakba is a crime that extends over 75 years, and our people are still paying with their blood and living flesh the bill of aggression."

In New York, the United Nations headquarters is set to hold its first-ever commemoration of the Nakba anniversary, with the participation of Palestinian President Abbas, who will deliver a speech during the online event. 

Palestinian people participate in a demonstration marking the 75th anniversary of the Nakba Day in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on May 15, 2023. Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip marked the 75th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba Day, or the day of "catastrophe," on Monday with large-scale rallies and demonstrations. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)
Palestinian people participate in a demonstration marking the 75th anniversary of the Nakba Day in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on May 15, 2023. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

GAZA/RAMALLAH, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip marked the 75th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba day, or the day of "catastrophe," on Monday with large-scale rallies and demonstrations.

The Nakba Day is observed annually on May 15 by Palestinians to remember the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes after the establishment of Israel in 1948.

In Gaza, dozens of Palestinians took to the streets, marching through the main thoroughfares, hoisting Palestinian flags, and displaying banners emphasizing the right of return.

The demonstration culminated at the headquarters of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process in the western part of the city.

Imad al-Agha, an official from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Movement, addressed the gathering, affirming the Palestinians' commitment to their right to return to "historic Palestine" and their determination to achieve it.

Palestinian people participate in a demonstration marking the 75th anniversary of the Nakba Day in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on May 15, 2023. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

"Our people await the awakening of global conscience to resolve their legal question, which has become the oldest and largest issue known to the world and the United Nations," he stated.

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), a militant group that controls the besieged Palestinian enclave, said in a statement that the Nakba day came "in the wake of a recent round of conflict where our Palestinian people, united with their resistance in Gaza, proved that they are capable of defending their national rights."

The commemoration of the Nakba day in Gaza follows a ceasefire agreement brokered by Egypt between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement in Gaza, bringing an end to a five-day deadly confrontation.

According to Israeli and Palestinian sources, the recent escalation resulted in the death of one Israeli woman and 33 Palestinians, including six prominent PIJ leaders.

Mourners carry the body of Salleh Sabra during his funeral in the Askar refugee camp close to the northern West Bank city of Nablus, May 15, 2023. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

In the West Bank city of Ramallah, a large-scale demonstration took place in front of the tomb of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat before proceeding to the city center.

Participants observed a moment of silence for 75 seconds, symbolizing the 75th anniversary of Nakba.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye, who participated in the rally with other officials, said "the Nakba is a crime that extends over 75 years, and our people are still paying with their blood and living flesh the bill of aggression."

In New York, the United Nations headquarters is set to hold its first-ever commemoration of the Nakba anniversary, with the participation of Palestinian President Abbas, who will deliver a speech during the online event.

Relatives mourn during the funeral of Salleh Sabra in the Askar refugee camp close to the northern West Bank city of Nablus, May 15, 2023. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua) 
UN Undersecretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo (C) speaks at a high-level special meeting on the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Nakba at the UN headquarters in New York, on May 15, 2023. DiCarlo on Monday regretted the stalemate between Israelis and Palestinians. (Mark Garten/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, May 15 (Xinhua) -- UN Undersecretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo on Monday regretted the stalemate between Israelis and Palestinians.

Efforts to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have been central to the work of the United Nations since its earliest days, DiCarlo told a high-level special meeting on the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Nakba, also known as the Palestinian Catastrophe.

Monday's commemorative event, organized by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, was in line with a UN General Assembly resolution adopted on Nov. 30, 2022.

"On this day of commemoration, I address you with deep concern, as we see the prospects for restarting a political process toward a two-state solution based on UN resolutions, international law, and previous agreements continue to diminish," said DiCarlo.

Across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the rapid expansion of settlements -- illegal under international law -- is dramatically altering the land envisioned for a future Palestinian state, she noted.

Violence, including settler-related violence, remains pervasive while evictions, demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned property continue unabated. Such actions undermine the prospects for the establishment of a viable, contiguous Palestinian state, she said.

According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, last year saw the highest number of Palestinians killed in the occupied West Bank since the office started recording data on casualties in 2005. Last year also saw the highest number of Israeli civilians killed since 2015, she said.

This year is on track to match, or even surpass, that sobering record. Over the past weeks, incidents of violence taking place inside or near al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem were deeply concerning. In Gaza, debilitating closures and the militant build-up continue to exacerbate the humanitarian situation. Recurrent violent escalations between Israel and armed factions, including the launching of indiscriminate rockets toward Israel, continue to take a staggering toll on civilians. Only last week, in yet another dangerous escalation in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes led to the loss of 33 Palestinian lives, including women and children. One Israeli civilian, a woman, was also killed by Palestinian rocket fire, she said.

"I echo the secretary-general's words in his May 14 statement, welcoming the cease-fire and calling on all sides to observe it," said DiCarlo.

The question of Palestine is intimately linked to the history and to the UN Charter. Palestinians deserve a life of justice and dignity and the realization of their right to self-determination and independence. The UN position is clear. The occupation must end. A two-state solution that will bring lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike must be achieved in line with international law, UN resolutions and previous agreements, she said. "We want to see an independent state of Palestine living side by side with Israel in peace and security, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states."

DiCarlo reaffirmed the world body's commitment to supporting the Palestinian people's efforts to achieve their inalienable rights and self-determination, as well as to advancing a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region. 
A health worker administers a COVID-19 vaccine shot to a local resident in Los Angeles, the United States, on Dec. 17, 2022. (Xinhua)

All remaining U.S. government stock of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine expired May 7, according to the CDC.

LOS ANGELES, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is no longer available in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

All remaining U.S. government stock of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine expired May 7, according to a post on the CDC website.

The agency has directed providers to dispose of any remaining stock in accordance with local, state and federal regulations.

People aged 18 and older who received 1 or 2 Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine dose are recommended to receive 1 bivalent mRNA dose of Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech at least 2 months after completion of the previous dose, said the CDC.

More than 19 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine were administered in the United States as of May 11, according to the latest CDC data. 
NAIROBI, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Monday re-appealed for 58.5 million U.S. dollars to provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance to over 1 million vulnerable migrants on the "Eastern Route," which runs from the Horn of Africa to Yemen and Gulf nations.

The United Nations migration agency said the lack of funding is resulting in a severe cut in access to humanitarian assistance and protection for migrants, including help provided in migrant response centers along the route.

"The re-appeal for funds is urgent and will help to address the needs of some of the most vulnerable migrants in the region and across the Africa continent," the IOM said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.

In February, the IOM and 47 humanitarian and development partners appealed for 84.2 million dollars but so far only 2 million dollars has been provided.

According to the IOM, the "Eastern Route" is one of the most dangerous and complex human migratory routes in Africa and the world.

Hundreds of thousands of people primarily from Ethiopia and Somalia travel the route each year in the hope of reaching Gulf countries to find work and face extreme life-threatening dangers including starvation, hunger, and dehydration.

The migrants, the IOM said, are often targeted by people smugglers and traffickers, and can face kidnap, arbitrary arrest, detention, and forced recruitment into warring groups, particularly in Yemen.

The re-appeal for funding was made during a briefing held by the IOM's Regional Office in Kenya.

"The Eastern Route is grossly underfunded beyond levels experienced in previous years, as donors are yet to come through with funding for the 2023 appeal, and there has been a deprioritization of the Eastern Route by other donors," IOM Deputy Regional Director Justin MacDermott said.

In 2022, the number of female migrants on the route rose to 106,700, and the number of children to 14,900, double the figures from the previous year.

These numbers are higher than the number of migrants arriving from the whole of the African continent along the Central, Eastern, and Western Mediterranean and Atlantic Routes combined, according to the IOM.

Humanitarian responses to the needs of migrants from Somalia are also being impacted.

Masood Ahmadi, program manager for IOM Somalia, said Somalia, "as a country of origin, transit, and to a lesser extent, destination," faces a funding gap for migrant protection and assistance, requiring urgent intervention.

"Without funding, crucial services and support will be severely impacted, increasing risks for migrants," he said.

Migrants on the "Eastern Route" must pass through Yemen, which has been at war for the last nine years, to reach the Gulf and often to return home.

According to the IOM, more than 44,000 migrants are either trapped or stranded in Yemen.

Ethiopia, where most migrants on the "Eastern Route" come from, is one of the countries most impacted by the lack of funding.

Pekka Marjamaki, program officer of IOM Ethiopia, said funding challenges are endangering support for Ethiopian migrants returning from the "Eastern Route."

"Urgent action is needed to address limited resources for shelter, reintegration, and basic needs," Marjamaki said, adding that the IOM "needs increased funding to ensure well-being and sustainable solutions for Ethiopian migrants." 
JUBA, May 15 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan has opened a new refugee camp in its northern region to receive people fleeing conflicts in neighboring Sudan, a senior official said Monday.

South Sudan has received a huge number of refugees and so they decided to allocate land for them to settle down, Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Albino Akol Atak told reporters here.

He said the government is coordinating with humanitarian partners on the ground to start relocating the refugees from the reception center near the border with Sudan to the new refugee camp.

UN agencies including the UN Refugee Agency are working to provide shelter for the refugees, the World Food Program is providing food assistance and the International Organization for Migration is providing transport for them to the new camp, he added.

According to the minister, South Sudan has received about 70,000 people since the conflict broke out in Sudan in April this year.

Akol said the new camp is in an area of 5 kilometers by 10 kilometers that can accommodate hundreds of thousands of refugees who can as well practice small-scale agriculture for their livelihood. 
PHNOM PENH, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's National Election Committee (NEC) on Monday refused to recognize the main opposition Candlelight Party for the general election to be held in July.

A decision signed by NEC's chairman Prach Chan said the NEC disqualified the Candlelight Party from the upcoming election because the party had failed to submit a verified copy of its original party registration document with the Ministry of Interior.

So far, NEC has officially recognized 18 political parties for the upcoming election. Among them are the ruling Cambodian People's Party and the royalist Funcinpec Party, according to the NEC.

The Southeast Asian nation is scheduled to hold a general election for the 125-seat National Assembly on July 23, 2023, and more than 9.7 million Cambodians have registered to cast their ballots.

In the last general election held five years ago, a total of 20 political parties took part in the race. As a result, the ruling Cambodian People's Party won all 125 seats in the parliament. 
DHAKA, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) on Monday signed an agreement with a Chinese company to set up a high-end shoe accessories factory in the country.

Jibin Technology (BD) Company Limited will set up the factory in the BEPZA Economic Zone with an investment of 6 million U.S. dollars, said a press release.

The Chinese company will produce 6 million pairs of shoe accessories annually and employ hundreds of Bangladeshi nationals, it said.

The BEPZA said it has signed agreements with 18 companies from home and abroad, which will invest 400 million dollars to produce diversified products in Bangladesh. 
ANKARA, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye is poised for a runoff presidential election on May 28 as no candidate managed to surpass the 50-percent threshold in Sunday's initial round of voting.

Unofficial results delivered by the semi-official Anadolu Agency on Monday reveal that incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan led the race with 49.42 percent of the votes, while his rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu trailed with 44.95 percent, with 99.38 percent of the ballots counted.

Sinan Ogan, the third candidate, garnered 5.2 percent of the votes, according to Anadolu.

Speaking to his supporters early Monday, Erdogan expressed confidence in his "clear lead," even though the official results of the presidential and parliamentary elections were yet to be announced.

"We know that we are clearly ahead in the election, but we are waiting for the manifestation of the national will, as the full extent of the result is not yet officially before us," the 69-year-old president said.

Erdogan noted that his alliance had secured a clear majority in parliament, leading him to believe that the second round of voting would also favor his candidacy.

However, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the candidate of the opposition bloc, said "Erdogan didn't get the vote of confidence from the people."

He accused Erdogan's ruling party of deliberately delaying the counting of ballots and reporting of results.

Unofficial results of the parliamentary election from Anadolu Agency showed that the People's Alliance, formed by Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the New Welfare Party and the Great Union Party, had 322 lawmakers elected, highest among three alliances that run for the 600-seat parliament. 
SOFIA, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria's President Rumen Radev on Monday asked the GERB-UDF coalition, the largest political force in the newly elected Parliament, to form a new government.

Radev handed the exploratory mandate to Mariya Gabriel, the GERB-UDF's nominee for prime minister.

Gabriel, who is currently the European commissioner for innovation, research, culture, education and youth, has seven days to propose a government that needs to be approved by Parliament in a simple majority vote.

"I want to assure you that I will do everything possible within the framework of this exploratory mandate for Bulgaria to have a stable, working, regular government," said Gabriel, whose coalition has 69 seats in the 240-member Parliament.

"You realize that many obstacles are ahead of you," Radev told her, wishing her success.

Should the largest political force in Parliament fail to form a government, the president shall entrust this task to a prime minister-designate nominated by the second-largest parliamentary group.

Should the new prime minister-designate also fail to form a government, the president shall entrust the task to a prime minister-designate nominated by one of the minor parliamentary groups.

And should no agreement on the formation of a government be reached, the president shall schedule new parliamentary elections.

In the snap elections held on April 2, the We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition won 64 seats, followed by the Revival party with 37 seats, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms with 36 seats, the BSP (Bulgarian Socialist Party) for Bulgaria coalition with 23 seats, and the There Is Such A People (ITN) party with 11 seats.

This was Bulgaria's fifth parliamentary election in two years. Three of the previous four Parliaments had to be dissolved. A cabinet was formed after the elections held on Nov. 14, 2021, but it was ousted by a no-confidence vote in June 2022. 
Bratislava, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Ludovit Odor took office on Monday as Slovakia's new caretaker prime minister, pledging to bring calm and professionalism to his country.

Slovak President Zuzana Caputova appointed Odor to the post earlier on Monday after the resignation on May 7 of former caretaker Prime Minister Eduard Heger.

Odor, the former vice-governor of the National Bank of Slovakia, said that he will aim to ensure that the state functions properly until the snap elections in September.

He said his government will aim to bring calm, stability, tolerance and, "last but not least, civilized discussions to show that it can also be done in a different way."

Heger resigned after acting Agriculture Minister Samuel Vlcan and Foreign Affairs Minister Rastislav Kacer quit their jobs.

Heger, elected in 2021, had been running a caretaker government since last September, when the ruling coalition lost its majority. 
BELAGAVI: Some unidentified people shouted "Pakistan Zindabad" outside a counting site in Tilakvadi, Belagavi, as the Congress claimed a "massive victory" against the BJP in the Karnataka Assembly elections.

As per Indian media reports, those who shouted pro-Pakistan slogans were allegedly supporters of the grand old party.

When Congress candidates defeated the saffron party, there was an altercation at the Tilakvadi police station when some "excited" supporters yelled "anti-national" sentiments.

Hindu organisations staged a protest outside the police station in the meantime as the video gained popularity on social media sites, calling for stern action against the offenders. Police have opened an investigation and filed a FIR under IPC section 153 against the unnamed individuals.

It is important to note that the Congress won the 224-member Karnataka Assembly by securing 135 seats, according to the Indian Election Commission. The EC website reports that the BJP won 65 seats and the JD(S) 19 seats.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Asif (Raju) Sait has clarified that the video of some youth raising slogans in favour of Pakistan in Belagavi is doctored, said as follows:-It is a fake video. I have got it fact-checked. Miscreants have added voice bites to the video to make it sound as if some youth are chanting Pakistan Zindabad. I urge the people not to believe in such propaganda, adding that itt is unfortunate that my opponents are circulating this video to tarnish my image, he said.

Karnataka CM decision: Who will be the new CM of Karnataka?

Karnataka: Siddaramaiah or Shivakumar? Who will be to lead the Congress?
KABUL: The Taliban has said that China is reportedly interested in making investments in Afghanistan's oil and gas sectors. Homyaoon Afghan, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, they have made the required infrastructure available to potential investors.

The minister congratulated the investors and stated that Afghanistan is rich in gas and oil, and it is anticipated that the production of gas and oil in some places would be announced in the near future.

In an effort to strengthen the economy of Kabul, the Taliban leadership in Afghanistan reportedly inked a contract with a Chinese company in January to collect oil from the Amu Darya basin.

China and Taliban signed the agreement at a ceremony attended by high-ranking officials from both sides, including Chinese Ambassador Wang Yi. During the initial 3-year period, over USD 540 million will be invested in exploration, said the Afghanistan's acting mines and petroleum minister Shahabuddin Delawar.

The ACIM emphasised the value of foreign investment in increasing national GDP and creating jobs for Afghans.

"This is a good chance for Afghan businesses as well as for Chinese enterprises... According to Sakhi Ahmad Payman, deputy head of the Afghanistan Chamber of Industry and Mines (ACIM), this is a good chance for both Afghanistan and China.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, China reportedly made an investment of roughly USD 2 billion in Afghanistan following the overthrow of the previous administration.

China has considerable assets in the region even though no nation has formally recognised the Taliban. Afghanistan is looking for investments to strengthen its economy while its funds are still frozen.

The Taliban are not the only ones responsible for violence in Afghanistan; organisations like the Islamic State (IS) also commit violent acts. China wants to prevent Afghanistan from serving as a base for Uyghur militants and maintain domestic stability, including control over the Xinjiang region. It also wants to protect its sizeable foreign direct investments in the region, particularly the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) violence against Chinese interests has intensified as China's involvement in the area has grown. Even while China is willing to take chances, it has reacted to these occurrences to make a point.

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The incomparable, boundary-breaking artist Audra McDonald  Broadway legend, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony-award winning performer, and all-around superstar  returns to New Haven to headline Long Wharf Theatres annual benefit event.

AUDRA McDONALD: A Concert for Long Wharf Theatre promises to be a powerful evening celebrating our thrilling next chapter. Our event will be held at the John Lyman Center for the Performing Arts at Southern Connecticut State University featuring a pre-show cocktail reception, silent auction, and after party to dance the night away!

Dont miss this unforgettable evening of music, food, and festivities to support Long Wharf Theatres vision to make theatre for everyone.
Why would 76-year-old Larry Cook transfer over $3.6 million out of the country just before his death?

That was tickling the mind of Janine Satterfield as she was mourning her beloved uncle. A decorated veteran who served with the U.S. Navy as commander for 24 years until 1992, he lived alone and had no children or spouse.

Satterfield discovered this mystery when she needed to find his Social Security number to bury her uncle. A neighbor she asked to go into his home in Virginia for his documents instead sent photos of international wire transfers he made in amounts as large as $49,500, most of them to Thailand.

Through her uncles meticulous records, Satterfield discovered he had become a victim of a scam that started in October 2020 and continued until March 2021.

He died a month later.

After his death, his niece's looming thought: Why did the banks allow all of these large transfers to go through?

Time to have 'the talk': How seniors can avoid financial ruin by planning long-term health care now

Larry Cook, served in the U.S. Navy as a Commander. He wired more than $3 million to scammers abroad via his bank, and now his niece is taking the banks to court.

The lawsuit against Wells Fargo and Navy Federal Credit Union

Satterfield filed a suit against Wells Fargo and the Navy Federal Credit Union, claiming the institutions failed to protect her uncle from being swindled out of $3.6 million.

Cook made 75 international transfers to possible scammers abroad, and most of the wires amounted to $49,500 each, according to the complaint filed in Virginia. In total, he used Wells Fargo once to send $49,500 and the Navy Federal Credit Union 74 times to send a total of $3,631,200. According to the wire records, Cook wrote that the purpose of the transfer was for a loan repayment.

According to the complaint, Cooks credit union reported him to adult protective services in mid-December but still allowed 42 more international wires to process.

Satterfield alleged in the complaint that both institutions acted in bad faith by failing to investigate the suspicious wires and is suing both banks for the money Cook lost in the scam  Wells Fargo for $49,500 and Navy Federal Credit Union for $3,633,050, which includes $1,850 in wire fees.

Story continues

Beating the bad guys: How one vigilante aunt in Ohio took down an identity theft scheme

She also alleged Cooks credit union was negligent for not stopping the numerous wires and undertook the duty to protect him after the voluntary report they made to Fairfax County Adult Protective Services and should have taken internal steps to stop the wires. The credit union continued processing the wires even after APS confirmed with them on Jan. 28, 2021, that Cook needed services and was at risk of being abused, neglected and exploited.

Though APS didnt stop the wires, it asked the credit union to continue to monitor his accounts.

Cook had suffered a stroke in 2019, according to the complaint, and when he was discharged from rehabilitation, the staff there noted Cook had poor insight into his condition, lacked insight into his deficits, and was concerned about going back to work as a consultant for the Navy and being cleared to drive. He had no family support.

Representatives for Wells Fargo and the Navy Federal Credit Union did not comment because of the pending litigation, but both gave USA TODAY prepared statements.

Our members are always our first priority and we handle all member transactions with great care, a Navy Federal Credit Union spokesperson said.

Wells Fargo takes financial exploitation very seriously. We are committed to helping our customers avoid fraud and scams through various resources, including ongoing education efforts, a Wells Fargo spokesperson said.

The case was dismissed Monday.

According to the APS reports presented to the court, Navy Federal Credit Union warned Cook numerous times that he was a victim of a scam, but Cook still wanted to continue with the wires. The APS reports state that Cook refused to meet on several occasions, so they closed out their investigation Feb. 1, 2021, and documented: "Needs Protective Services - Refused. Satterfield had argued that the credit union undertook the duty to protect Cook after making a voluntary report to APS, but there is no law in Virginia that recognizes that.

There's no word yet on what the family plans to do next.

According to The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a division of the U.S. Treasury Department, financial exploitation is the most common form of elder abuse but remains widely unreported. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, in 2020, financial institutions filed more than 62,000 reports involving elder financial exploitation worth $3.4 billion.

The scam

It started with a phishing email.

On Oct. 5, 2020, Cook got an email that said his iPad and PlayStation from Amazon were on the way, and if he had questions, he should call Order Help-Desk.

The senders email address didnt appear to be associated with Amazon, but records show Cook contacted the sender and had received a cancellation form, which gave vague instructions for a refund that involved his bank.

The next day, he wired $49,500 to someone in Singapore through his Wells Fargo account.

Wire records show he sent money to different people at different addresses for the purpose of a loan repayment. The complaint doesnt offer additional details about the scammers.

Luckily, Cook wasnt the type of person to throw away anything. He knew how to keep records  letters, invitations, tax records, bills and payments.

What happened next: Alleged scammer in USA TODAY profile rearrested in Houston

Satterfield gets emotional when she talks about finding items that held sentimental value to her uncle  his Christmas stocking, a Boy Scouts cap, buttons from his uniforms, and ribbons from state fairs.

He threw away nothing. It all mattered to him, Satterfield said.

Veteran Larry Cook had suffered a stroke in 2019, according to the legalcomplaint, and when he was discharged from rehabilitation, the staff there noted that Cook had poor insight into his condition, lacked insight into his deficits, and was concerned about going back to work as a consultant for the Navy and being cleared to drive. He had no family support.

That very habit of record-keeping would lead Cooks family to the folders that held documents for the international wires.

In November 2020, Cook tried a second time to wire money through Wells Fargo but was denied. According to the complaint, Wells Fargo didnt give a reason. But Cook instead wired the money from his Wells Fargo account into his credit union account and sent the money abroad.

What to know about identity theft: How can I find out if someone is using my identity?

On Dec. 15, 2020, a credit union representative reported Cook to Fairfax County Adult Protective Services, saying the transfers were indicative of possible elder financial exploitation.

The representative reported that Cook had been warned about being a victim of a scam but still wanted to proceed with the transactions and appeared to be mentally competent.

According to Satterfields complaint, Cook was a conservative spender, so sending exorbitant amounts of money to foreign banks was out of the ordinary for him.

The act itself shows he wasnt competent, said Paula Williamson, Satterfields sister.

They still dont know who the scammers are, but bringing those people to justice is important, too, Kimberley Ann Murphy, Satterfields lawyer, said.

What is a bank's responsibility?

Naomi Cahn, professor at University of Virginia School of Law and expert in family law, estates, trusts and aging, said that before the move to online banking, people went into banks often, which helped them develop a relationship with their bank. In turn, it gave banks an opportunity to observe changes in their customers.

But with Cook's age, should the bank have done more to protect him?

Do you want to make assumptions about everybody over a certain age? Should bank tellers be assessing competence every time a customer comes in? Cahn asked.

Though its unknown what type of relationship Cook had with each of his banks, he had been a customer at both since the 1970s, according to the complaint.

And though some states, like California, have mandatory reporting when they suspect elder financial abuse, Virginia has voluntary reporting, Cahn said.

We all expect secrecy with our bank accounts, and its protected, she said. But this is an exception to secrecy with respect to bank accounts.

In 2018, Congress passed the Senior Safe Act, which provided financial institutions and employees who reported elder financial exploitation with immunity from liability in any civil or administrative proceeding. To qualify for immunity, a report should have been made to a qualified agency like law enforcement, local adult protective services, state financial regulatory agency, or the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. And only financial institutions that were either credit unions, depository institutions, investment advisers, broker dealers, transfer agents or insurance companies qualified for the immunity. In addition, only employees who were trained on how to identify and report elder financial exploitation qualified for immunity.

In 2022, Virginia also strengthened reporting laws, more than a year after Cooks death. The new rules allow financial institution staff to delay or refuse to disburse and execute transfers if they suspect exploitation.

While Cooks credit union filed the APS report and APS officials communicated with the credit union, Cahn said questions remain on what happened after and whether the bank or social service should have stopped the 42 international wires that continued until March 2021.

Murphy, Satterfields lawyer, said its a question theyve been pondering, too.

What is a financial institution supposed to do? How are they protecting their customers, how are they protecting themselves, and where is that money actually going? Murphy asked.

When USA TODAY asked, Wells Fargo and Navy Federal Credit Union would not offer further comment on their internal process in cases of suspected elder fraud exploitation.

Murphy said scams come at a high cost to an elderly person  especially one who is incapacitated  who end up losing their life savings.

Satterfield said this scam her uncle fell for was beyond human judgment" and that legislative changes need to be in place before another elderly victim is scammed.

"We're literally all one click away," Satterfield said.

Watching out for elder financial exploitation

Experiencing an elderly loved one mentally declining can be hard for family members and caregivers, so it's important to prepare ahead of time to prevent financial exploitation by having a conversation about their finances sooner rather than later.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also has advice and tips on how people can prepare should they experience a decline in their capacity to manage their money:

Organize important documents . Organize information for bank and brokerage statements, mortgage and credit information, insurance policies, pension or benefit summaries, Social Security payment information, and contacts for doctors and lawyers, and store them in a safe and easy accessible location.

Designate a trusted contact person. Add a trusted contact person to your brokerage account in case your broker has trouble contacting you or believes you are being scammed. The trusted contact person doesn't have access to the account holder's money.

Social Security Advance Designation. The Social Security Advance Designation allows people to designate up to three people to serve as a "representative payee" should there be a need.

Create a durable financial power of attorney. The durable power of attorney allows an agent, someone who has the legal authority to make financial decisions if you become incapacitated. It can be changed or canceled if you still have decision-making capability.

Ask for help. Involve a trusted friend, relative or professional in talks about your finances.

Keep things updated. Be sure to keep accounts current and notify trusted contacts of any changes.

And if you suspect elder financial exploitation, call your local police department or sheriff to report it. If you suspect the financial abuse is stemming from brokers or investment advisers, here is whom to call:

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bank fraud prevention: Whose job should it be?
In this piece, we will take a look at the fifteen best countries for Americans to live in Europe. For more countries, head on over to 5 Best Countries for Americans to Live in Europe.

America is one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world. The relentless focus on capitalism has led the American economy to become the largest in the world and enabled the rise of some of the world's biggest and most advanced companies. These have created entirely new industries by themselves and shaped the modern world as we know it. For instance, online retailing courtesy of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), social media courtesy of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META), and consumer technology and the smartphone courtesy of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) are industries that have been shaped by American companies.

At the same time, some of the best universities in the world are in the U.S. For instance, Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (QS)'s ranking of the world's top universities in 2023 shows that five of the top ten universities are in America - the highest number for any country. America's gross domestic product (GDP) sits at $26 trillion in nominal terms according to estimates by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) - the largest in the world and bigger than the combined economic outputs of the next two countries on the list, China and Japan. Additionally, the world's two largest stock markets are in the U.S., and so are several of the largest companies in terms of both market capitalization and employees.

However, not all is well in the land of the free and the home of the brave. The dominance of capitalism in the American national fabric has created its own set of problems. At the very heart of these lies the primary difference between capitalism - which focuses on private enterprise - and socialism, which aims to develop an all powerful state that is responsible for resource distribution. A focus on the former leaves more power to private individuals and firms in the U.S., and ends up creating a massive disparity in standards of living. For instance, America has countless entrepreneurs and business moguls who are worth hundreds of billions of dollars. On the other hand the median American income is $70,784 as of 2021 - dropping from $71,186 in 2020. Interestingly, though, Asian households are relatively more prosperous as their median household income sits quite high at $101,418. At the same time, inequality also grew in the U.S. between 2020 and 2021, since the share in aggregate income by percentile dropped for the lowest, second, third, and fourth quintiles. On the other hand, the highest and the top five percent saw their share grow cumulatively by 3%, with the top five percent seeing the largest growth at 2.2%.

Story continues

The Census Bureau provides precise information on the rising inequality in incomes, as it points out:

The ratio of the 90th to 10th percentile increased from 12.90 in 2020 to 13.53 in 2021, meaning income at the 90th percentile was 13.53 times higher than income at the 10th percentile, an increase of 4.9 percent. The ratio of the 50th to 10th percentile (lower-tail inequality) increased 4.0 percent, from 4.34 in 2020 to 4.52 in 2021, while the ratio of the 90th to 50th percentile (upper-tail inequality) was not significantly different over this period. Specifically, household income decreased 4.4 percent at the 10th percentile limit, while the change in income at the 90th percentile limit was not statistically significant between 2020 and 2021. This indicates that declines in income at the bottom of the income distribution may be contributing to the increase in the Gini index. The quintile shares of aggregate household income provide additional information about how income is distributed across the population. A quintile is one of five equal groups ranked by income from lowest to highest, so that 20 percent of all households are in each group. In 2021, households in the lowest quintile received 2.9 percent of aggregate household income, while households U.S. Census Bureau Income in the United States: 2021 7 in the highest quintile received 52.7 percent of aggregate household income. Within the highest quintile, the top 5 percent of households received 23.5 percent of aggregate household income. The share of aggregate household income decreased in the lowest quintile (from 3.0 percent to 2.9 percent) and in the second quintile (from 8.2 percent to 8.0 percent) between 2020 and 2021. The changes in the other quintiles were not statistically significant.

This inequality, coupled with some of the highest healthcare costs in the world, often compel some folks to leave America for regions with low costs of living, public healthcare, and lesser inequality. Research from Gallup Polls shows that as much as 16% of Americans wanted to leave the country in 2018, growing from the 10% that had expressed the desire to do so in the previous year. Adding to this, data from Washington Post shows that Mexico is the most popular destination for American immigrants, with Canada coming in at a distant second place. As to the reasons why people leave the U.S., immigration firm Renovating Life shows that poor gun control, low work life balance, student debt, and political polarization are some of the biggest reasons that people look to start a new life elsewhere.

Best Countries for Americans to Live in Europe

canadastock/Shutterstock.com

With these details in mind, let's take a look at some of the best countries for Americans to live in Europe.

Our Methodology

To compile our list of the best countries for Americans to live in Europe, we consulted several sources. These include a survey from Pew Research that ranks the countries with the most favorable opinion of America; Expat Insider's ranking of the world's top countries for expats by living standards; our own related coverage on best countries for Americans and expats; and HSBC's future outlook for top countries for expats. We picked European countries from these sources and assigned them the corresponding rankings they received on these lists. In case a country did not appear on a list, it was awarded 15 points. The rankings were averaged out with a lower score indicating better performance. This methodology ends up removing the bias that any single source might have, and it provides for a more accurate analysis. If you're interested in reading more on this topic, be sure to check out 25 Best Countries for Americans to Visit and 25 Best Countries for Expats.

Best Countries for Americans to Live in Europe

15. Kingdom of Sweden

Insider Monkey's Score: 20

The Kingdom of Sweden is one of the most prosperous and developed countries in the world. Sweden is a first world nation with high levels of human development and prosperity. Sweden is the largest European country in the Nordic region, and it has a $712 billion economy and a GDP per capita of $65,842. Sweden also has one of the strongest corporate sectors in the world, with a wide variety of multinational behemoths such as Volvo and Ericsson tracing their roots to the country.

14. Kingdom of Norway

Insider Monkey's Score: 19.7

The Kingdom of Norway is another Nordic country. Like other Nordic countries, Norway is also a welfare state, which provides universal healthcare and strong social security support. At the same time, the Norwegian government also maintains tight control over the corporate sector, with most of the country's biggest companies owned by the government - in a rare phenomenon for a Western nation.

13. Hungary

Insider Monkey's Score: 19.0

Hungary is a landlocked Central European country. It has a $427 billion GDP and a $43,907 GDP per capita. Hungary has a diversified economy as it makes and sells a large number of cars, car parts, medical products, agricultural products, and others on the international market.

12. Denmark

Insider Monkey's Score: 19.0

Denmark is the third Nordic country on our list, which is unsurprising given the highly prosperous and population friendly governance models in the country. Denmark has a colonial past and it itself is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, which is made of thousands of islands most of which are uninhabited.

11. Federal Republic of Germany

Insider Monkey's Score: 18.0

The Federal Republic of Germany is the largest economy in Europe, one of the most developed countries in the world, and a global power. The German economy is worth a whopping $5 trillion and it has a GDP per capita of $63,835. German car manufacturers such as BMW and Audi are some of the biggest car companies in the world.

10. Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

Insider Monkey's Score: 17.0

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a Western European landlocked country with some of the highest levels of per capita production. It aims to play a crucial role in the astronautics industry and asteroid mining.

9. Kingdom of Belgium

Insider Monkey's Score: 15.3

Belgium is a Northwestern European country. It exports a variety of products such as cars, medical products, diamonds, petroleum, and other products. It also ranks high on the human development index.

8. Republic of Finland

Insider Monkey's Score: 15.0

Finland is the final Nordic country on our list. It has been inhabited for thousands of years and has a $321 billion economy. Finland has a diversified economy and exports large amounts of steel, machinery, paper, cars, and petroleum products.

7. French Republic

Insider Monkey's Score: 15.0

France is a global power and has some of the largest fashion and aerospace companies in the world.

6. Netherlands

Insider Monkey's Score: 14.7

The Netherlands is a prosperous Northwestern European country. It has a $1.2 trillion GDP and a GDP per capita of $69,715 - one of the highest in the world. The Netherlands has a diversified economy, and it exports a variety of different products such as medical products, cars, petroleum, iron, cheese, and other agricultural products. Additionally, the country also has a variety of multinational companies in different sectors such as financial services, machinery, and aerospace. Some of the most well known Dutch companies are the petroleum giant Shell and the chip manufacturing equipment maker ASML - which holds a monopoly in its industry.

Click to continue reading and see 5 Best Countries for Americans to Live in Europe.

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Disclosure: None. 15 Best Countries for Americans to Live in Europe is originally published on Insider Monkey.
South Africa: Tembo Engineering a force to be reckoned with

The Department of Small Business Development through its agency, the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda), continues to play a major role in establishing and helping grow small businesses such as Tembo Engineering.

The company, situated in Middleburg, Mpumalanga, and owned by Shocky Nengovhela, benefitted from governments training and seminars which exposed them to import and export information.

During a recent visit to Tembo Engineering, Nengovhela told SAnews that governments training assisted them by providing information on obtaining customs numbers for imports, exports and introduction to the SHE TRADES.

Nengovhela said had it not been for governments assistance, she believes the company would not be where it is today.

Tembo Engineering, which is 100% Black Youth Women-owned, provides mechanical engineering services to other companies.

We innovate and design through our core which is mechanical engineering consulting work, from which we develop maintenance strategies, plans and drawings, Nengovhela told SAnews.

Nengovhela said they also do fabrication as per design and drawings to add value to the supply chain.

Tembo Engineering, which was registered in 2016, started full operations in 2020.

Prior to that, Nengovhela, who holds a BTech in Mechanical Engineering from Tshwane University of Technology, was employed in another field, and gave up her job to chase her dream of leading a mechanical engineering company.

Mechanical Engineering is my passion. I have always wanted to get involved in this industry. We are a growing company. It was not easy to get to where we are now, she told SAnews.

According to Nengovhela, there were times where the operations were conducted from the dining room table at home and occasionally renting small workspaces and using temporary labour.

Today the company has employed 12 permanent staff members.

Growth presents itself with challenges, including a constrained cash flow, constraints of tools, machinery and skilled resources to deliver good quality results.

We have learnt a lot in the past year and continue to learn from the steep growth. We have witnessed many nights where as the director you wonder if you will make ends meet on the payroll end. But nonetheless, we have learnt to be resilient and persevering.

It remains to be a rewarding and a fruitful journey in the bigger scheme of things knowing Tembo Engineering is making a difference, Nengovhela told SAnews.

Nengovhela said to get work done, in some instances they had to purchase second hand machines.

We are coping with the machines we have although at times they break. At the end, the work gets done, she said.

Nengovhela said they got a breakthrough when they went to Steve Tshwete Local Municipality LED (Local Economic Development) office.

At the municipality office, the manager introduced them to Mpumalanga Stainless Initiative (MSI) an incubator supported by the Local Municipality and by SEDA.

Tembo Engineering signed up for the incubation program where they qualified for a subsidized workshop and office space.

Our vison is to be a sought-after mechanical engineering company in Southern Africa, equipped with applicable machinery to match global competition. Most importantly on the social front, our vision is to be an employer of choice, providing unmatched engineering skills and a rewarding work environment.

Our permanent residence on MSI premises opened opportunities for us including access to business-to-business trade, supplier trust as we were locatable and accessible and had reference, Nengovhela told SAnews.

Tembo Engineering plans to participate in this years Mandela Day by nominating a centre in their community that they can assist with donations.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-05-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
European Governments Defend Iraq's Patriarch Sako

Patriarch Sako speaks to the media in 2021. ( ANSA) Eleven different European countries, together with the European Union, released a statement on Sunday evening affirming their support for Iraq's Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako.

The Patriarch -- who heads the country's Chaldean Church, and was made a Cardinal by Pope Francis in 2018 -- is facing criticism over comments concerning political representation for Iraq's ancient Christian minority.

Sunday's statement expressed the European governments' "solidarity" with Patriarch Sako, and stressed the importance of his "efforts to protect the rights of Christians on the soil that they have inhabited for two millennia."

The statement

On Sunday evening, Patriarch Sako received a delegation of ambassadors and deputy ambassadors including those from France, Italy, Spain, the UK, and the European Union.

Together, they issued a statement in support of the Patriarch, with the approval of the ambassadors of Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden, and Hungary.

In the statement, the ambassadors to Iraq note that they had visited the Cardinal "to express our solidarity regarding the recent public attacks against his person and our concern for the Christians and other religious communities of Iraq."

They also praise the Patriarch's "efforts to protect the rights of Christians on the soil that they have inhabited for two millennia."

The statement then goes on to appeal to the country's Christians to work together, noting that "the existing contrasts do not help their role in the Iraqi society", and expressing the wish that "problems be overcome and ever greater cooperation among the Churches be achieved."

The ambassadors conclude their note by reaffirming their support for "understanding and a peaceful dialogue among the different components of the Iraqi people" and "the preservation of the Country's diversity, which is one of its main assets."

The conflict

Attacks on Patriarch Sako began after his criticism of the Babylon Movement, a political party which claims to represent Iraq's Christian minority.

The Movement currently occupies four of the five parliamentary seats which the Iraqi constitution guarantees to Christians.

Patriarch Sako, however, together with other Christian figures, has said that its claims to be affiliated with the Chaldean Church are bogus, and that it does not represent the country's Christians. Members of the Babylon Movement were at the forefront of recent criticism against Patriarch Sako.

It is not just European governments who have come to the Patriarch's defence. On 8 May, the Prime Minister of Iraq's Kurdistan region vowed his support for the Chaldean leader, emphasising the need to "improve the situation of Christians" in the country.
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No matter how old you are, retirement should be a goal you're planning for and working toward. Unfortunately, many people aren't on track.

Related: 6 Types of Retirement Income That Aren't Taxable

More: 3 Ways To Recession-Proof Your Retirement

Nearly half of American workers agreed with the statement, "I don't have enough income to save for retirement," according to a 2021 survey by Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies (TCRS). Additionally, 57% of workers said they plan to work in retirement. Of those respondents, 80% cited "financial reasons."

So, if you hope to retire someday, you need to be sure you can afford to do so. Here are six signs you may not be there yet.

AJ_Watt / Getty Images

You Have a High Level of Debt

Ideally, you would transition into retirement debt-free. Of course, that's not realistic for many people. "Having some debt, such as a home loan that may offer tax deductions, isn't necessarily a bad thing," said Melissa Hannum, an advanced markets specialist with COUNTRY Financial. "The problem arises when you still have a high level of debt."

Industry guidelines suggest that your mortgage expenses (including principal, interest, insurance and real estate taxes) should be no more than 28% of your pre-tax household income. Your total debt (housing debt, plus auto loans, credit cards, etc.) should be no more than 36% of your pre-tax income. "If you are already struggling to keep your debt below these percentages, then you are not ready to retire," Hannum said.

Social Security: Whether You're 62, 65, 67 or 70, Here's Why Your Age Matters

Find Out: Retirees Confess What They Wish They'd Done With Their Money

Ridofranz / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Your Spending Exceeds Your Income

Shopping might be good for the economy, but not so much your bottom line. Hannum said that if you're currently spending more than you're earning, then you are not on track to retire.

"While employed, you may think that you'll always have the opportunity to make up for bad spending habits by getting a higher-paying job, getting that annual bonus or even getting a raise," she said. "When you're retired, those opportunities are no longer available."

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That's why it's important to get your spending in check now by creating a budget and sticking to it. "Having a budget doesn't mean you can't shop, travel or have hobbies -- you just need to account for them," Hannum said.

pixelheadphoto digitalskillet / Shutterstock.com

Your Emergency Fund Is Running Low

Even though you aren't receiving a paycheck anymore, the same unexpected emergencies can pop up in retirement. "A random car repair, appliance mishap or unforeseen emergency room bills can derail a retirement plan and cause an unexpected cash crunch," said Jordan Grumet, host of the Earn & Invest podcast and author of "Taking Stock."

He explained that retirees should have at least one full year's worth of expenses saved in a liquid and conservative form of investment such as a money market fund, short-term CD or high-yield savings account. If you don't have that yet, you're not financially prepared for retirement.

kate_sept2004 / Getty Images

You Haven't Reviewed Your Portfolio Recently

If you put your 401(k) on autopilot when you first started contributing and haven't really checked it since, Hannum said you may not be ready to retire. "Taking on excess risk as you near retirement can be extremely hazardous and your portfolio could take a major hit just as you're ready to call it quits," she explained.

It's important to make the most of what you have saved up last throughout your retirement years. "So as you near retirement, you should be shifting your portfolio away from strictly growth-oriented investments and focusing more towards a wealth-preservation strategy," Hannum said. It can help to discuss your situation with a financial professional and determine whether or not you should rebalance your portfolio.

Squaredpixels / Getty Images

You Lack Adequate Insurance

Having enough insurance coverage -- especially when it comes to health insurance -- is crucial in retirement. For those 65 and older, Medicare is available, but it's not free.

Grumet noted that many people decide to purchase secondary insurance, and it's important to consider medication costs as well. "A person should not retire if they have not factored in medical costs to their budget," he said.

Take Our Poll: Are You Concerned About the Safety of Your Money in Your Bank Accounts?

Cecilie_Arcurs / Getty Images

You Don't Have a Social Plan

Finally, know that being prepared for retirement isn't just about the numbers. It's also about being prepared mentally, according to Hannum.

"If your social circle is strictly co-workers and Facebook friends, you may not be ready to retire," she said. It's important to have a plan in place to stay social and start thinking about ways to meaningfully occupy your time. Consider joining a club, starting a hobby, volunteering and making friends outside the office.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 6 Signs You Cant Afford To Retire
When it comes to homeownership, the generational divide speaks volumes.

The US census bureau found that about 70.6% of 45 54-year-olds own a home, compared to only 62.2% of people aged 35 to 44 years.

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Here's how much money the average middle-class American household makes  how do you stack up?

If thats surprising, a survey by Apartment List shows that a growing number of renters have given up on homeownership, 74% of them saying that they cant afford to buy a home.

Not having a downpayment and bad credit are major stumbling blocks for millennials. 67% of the population say they have no savings for a down payment, while 42% cite bad credit as one of their biggest holdbacks.

If you worry about your credit score or that you dont have enough saved, here are some strategies to help you make homeownership a reality

Create a budget and savings plan

A study by the National Association of Realtors shows that millennials are willing to stretch their budgets in order to buy a home. Of course, you need to have a budget in the first place before you can push it.

The latest survey from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling shows that only 30% of households have a detailed plan of what to do with each paycheck. Additionally, only 27% have a strategy to pay down their debt.

Laying out your monthly income and expenses lets you create clear savings objectives. Youre better able to analyze your spending habits and manage your finances. Its an easy way to figure out how much you want to save each month to afford a home, and adjust your spending to make that a reality,

Improve your credit score

Credit scores measure how good you are at managing debt. Its a score between 300-850, and the higher your score, the better you are at handling the money you owe. Youll also often get a better mortgage rate from lenders if your score is higher.

Story continues

Generally, you need a score of 620 to qualify for a mortgage, although there are some that are offered if your score is lower.

According to Experian, the average FICO score for millennials was 687 in 2022.

Read more: This janitor in Vermont built an $8M fortune without anyone around him knowing. Here are the 2 simple techniques that made Ronald Read rich  and can do the same for you

Thats not bad, but when youre concerned about your ability to make a downpayment and keep up payments in general, you want the best mortgage rate possible.

The greatest factor contributing to your credit score is your payment history - making up about 35% of the total.

The best way to maintain a healthy payment history is to use your credit card, but keep your balances low and pay off any debts you have on time. This demonstrates that you take debt seriously and always manage to pay off any youve got.

Having a mixture of loans is also recommended to show how you manage debt. For instance, student and car loans combined with credit card debt show how you manage multiple payments.

Having a longer credit history also looks good in the eyes of lenders and can improve your credit score. Keeping a single credit card, but having it for a long time, is better than having multiple cards. This is because it shows youve learned to manage your debt and have a proven track record of paying things off.

Consider alternative down payment options

According to the Bank of America, only 29% of millennials would ask for help from their family to buy a home, and 37% said they plan to use public or private grants to help them cover closing costs.

Most first-time homebuyers are only able to make a downpayment of 6% on a home, and more than 1 in 4 of them say that saving this money was the most difficult step in financing a home purchase.

Looking to alternative down payment options can help make this process easier on you - and your wallet.

For instance, a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan requires only a downpayment of 3.5% for first-time home buyers.

If youre looking to move to a rural area, you might qualify for a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) loan, that doesnt require a downpayment at all.

Similarly, a loan through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) doesnt need a downpayment - though this might be a requirement of certain lenders.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
travelview / Shutterstock.com

Life below the Mason-Dixon line is known for warm weather and low costs -- and that second part is especially important for anyone planning to retire on Social Security alone. The average monthly benefit for an individual is $1,784.29 and $3,568.58 for a couple.

Social Security: 20% Cuts to Your Payments May Come Sooner Than Expected

Related: 3 Ways To Recession-Proof Your Retirement

That's not a lot to work with -- even in the South -- but if that government check is all you have, you do have options.

To find the best places in the South for retired couples who rely on Social Security alone, GOBankingRates used cost-of-living data from Sperling's Best Places, average rent prices under $1,785, and livability scores from AreaVibes -- livability scores are calculated using factors like crime, schools and local amenities. Each of the locations has monthly living expenses less than the national average of $3,241.33

Half the 20 cities ranked in the study are in Texas, and Alabama. Arkansas and Kentucky have multiple showings as well, which doesn't leave a whole lot of room for the other states. Keep reading to learn about the places in the South where you should consider moving if Social Security benefits are your only income.

Regan Bender / Shutterstock.com

20. New Braunfels, Texas

Livability: 88

Monthly expenditures: $2,982.69

The first of a whopping 10 Texas cities ranked in the study, New Braunfels has an exceptional livability score of 88. But costs are on the high side. The average rent of $1,705 is among the highest on the list, and the overall monthly expenditures are within just $300 of the national average.

Find Out: 6 Types of Retirement Income That Aren't Taxable

Retirement Savings: Here's How Much Cash Baby Boomers Need To Retire in the Next 5 Years

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

19. San Angelo, Texas

Livability: 78

Monthly expenditures: $2,582.94

It isn't the cost of housing in San Angelo that will set you back a bunch; the average rent is $1,179. It's health care and utilities that are pricey. Utilities cost 6.5% over the national average, with healthcare coming in at 21.1% above the standard - the third highest in the study.

Story continues

See: How Many Hours Can You Work and Still Collect Social Security?

KAD Photo / Shutterstock.com

18. Cary, North Carolina

Livability: 88

Monthly expenditures: $2,968.71

A suburb of Raleigh, Cary has a high livability score but also a high cost of living. Monthly expenditure and rents -- $1,705 - fall within the five highest in the study. At 3.2% over the national average, groceries in Cary cost more than in any city in the rankings.

Wikimedia Commons

17. Madison, Alabama

Livability: 89

Monthly expenditures: $3,000.99

While Madison is still affordable compared to the national average, it is one of the pricier cities on this list. It has the second-highest monthly expenditures, and it's also one of seven locales where the average monthly rent is over $1,500, at $1,591. Leading to the high overall cost of expenditures is healthcare, which comes in at 23.8% over the national average - the highest in the study.

Jim Bethel / Shutterstock.com

16. Decatur, Alabama

Livability: 74

Monthly expenditures: $2,417.37

Retirees can live in Decatur for about $800 less than the national monthly average, with rent costs at $1,082. Just as in nearby Madison, healthcare costs are high in Decatur at 15.9% above the national average.

Check Out: 27 Genius Things Retirees Should Do With Their Money Right Now

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

15. Owensboro, Kentucky

Livability: 73

Monthly expenditures: $2,363.89

In Owensboro, the first of two Kentucky locations in the study, retirees can rent an apartment for less than $1,000 a month. Groceries cost more than 8% below the national average, but healthcare costs are second highest on the list at 22.9% above average.

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14. Lake Charles, Louisiana

Livability: 70

Monthly expenditures: $2,237.66

A Lake Charles apartment averages $999 a month, and utilities and groceries both cost below the national average. It's the livability score of 70, the lowest in the study, that puts Lake Charles in the lower half of the list.

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

13. Abilene, Texas

Livability: 75

Monthly expenditures: $2,423.03

Abilene's monthly expenditures fall about $800 under the national average, but it does have a couple of red flags when it comes to costs. Health care (16.6%) and utilities (5.5%) both are higher than the national average prices.

Social Security: No Matter Your Age, Do Not Claim Benefits Until You Reach This Milestone

Joel Carillet / iStock.com

12. Johnson City, Tennessee

Livability: 72

Monthly expenditures: $2,301.64

Johnson City, in eastern Tennessee, is a leader in affordability, with rental rates averaging $1,074 per month and costs of groceries, healthcare and utilities below average. Its livability score keeps Johnson City from landing higher in the rankings.

11. Longview, Texas

Livability: 78

Monthly expenditures: $2,487.27

In Longview, the average monthly expenditures are over $700 less than the national average. The monthly rent of $1,262 also falls about the same amount under the average, and the price of groceries, utilities and healthcare come in under the national threshold.

JohnWNixon / Getty Images/iStockphoto

10. North Richland Hills, Texas

Livability: 89

Monthly expenditures: $2,902.54

North Richland Hills is another Texas town worthy of consideration for moving to if you're living on Social Security. Its monthly rent of $1,601 is under the national average, and while its average monthly expenditures are on the higher side of this list, the total still is less than the U.S. average. It makes it all worthwhile with a high livability score of 89.

Check Out: 10 Tips for Paying the Least Amount of Taxes in Retirement

Patrick Feller / Flickr.com

9. League City, Texas

Livability: 91

Monthly expenditures: $2,953.55

Its high livability score lands League City in the top 10 of best places to live on a Social Security check in the South. While its monthly rent and expenditures are among the five highest, the cost of utilities falls more than 8% below the national average - a benefit when you run the air conditioning during the steamy Texas summer.

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8. Pearland, Texas

Livability: 93

Monthly expenditures: $3,004.61

Pearland's cost of monthly expenditures is the highest on the list, and so is its average rent at $1,779. Still, its healthcare and utilities costs rank less than the national average, and its livability score is the highest at 93.

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

7. McAllen, Texas

Livability: 81

Monthly expenditures: $2,538.08

Texas shows up a lot on this list, and no wonder. Cities like McAllen offer affordability. Its average monthly expenditures are neither the highest nor lowest on this; McAllen sits comfortably at just about in the middle. The average monthly rent of $1,329 is over $600 less than the national average.

Related: 6 Big Shakeups to Social Security in 2023

Michael Warren / Getty Images/iStockphoto

6. Rogers, Arkansas

Livability: 81

Monthly expenditures: $2,536.79

Rogers offers an average monthly expenditure that is about $700 less than the national average, and a decent average rent of $1,317. With monthly costs of groceries, utilities and healthcare below the average, too, Rogers is a great place for folks living on Social Security.

Shutterstock.com

5. Lynchburg, Virginia

Livability: 82

Monthly expenditures: $2,530.05

Lynchburg also happily falls under the national average in monthly expenditures by nearly $700, and monthly rent of $1,235 is also about $700 less than the national average. A livability score over 80 helps to land Lynchburg in the top five best places to live in retirement in the South.

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4. Bentonville, Arkansas

Livability: 92

Monthly expenditures: $2,835.33

Bentonville takes the No. 4 spot on this list despite having one of the higher monthly expenditures in the study, fueled by a monthly rent of $1,599. What really sells Bentonville, however, is its livability score of 92 - second highest on the list.

Expert: Dave Ramsey Says 401(k)s Have a Big Tax Downside - Pick This Retirement Plan Instead

EJ_Rodriquez / Getty Images/iStockphoto

3. Richmond, Kentucky

Livability: 76

Monthly expenditures: $2,203.81

Richmond is one of four cities on this list where the average monthly rent is less than $1,000. At $931, it's the lowest in the study. The average monthly expenditures are also more than $1,200 less than the national average. Its only blemish comes with healthcare costs, which exceed the average by 3.2%.

DavieJones13 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

2. Pharr, Texas

Livability: 79

Monthly expenditures: $2,296.52

In Pharr, rental costs are within reach at an average of $1,095 per month. While healthcare costs are just a tad below the national average, residents in Pharr pay more than 10% under the average for groceries and utilities.

Mig Esc / Wikimedia Commons

1. Edinburg, Texas

Livability: 77

Monthly expenditures: $2,200.92

The No. 1 spot on this list is also a Texas locale. Edinburg has the lowest monthly expenditures on this list, and rent averages less than $1,000 per month. Costs of groceries and utilities are among the lowest, too.

More From GOBankingRates

Jordan Rosenfeld and Andrew Lisa contributed to the reporting for this article.

Methodology: GOBankingRates determined the best cities in the South (AL, AR, DE, DC, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, and WV ) for a couple to live on only a Social Security check based on the average monthly benefit for retired workers, $1,784.29 ($3,568.58 for a couple), sourced from Social Security Administration. GOBankingRates first isolated all cities in the South with a 2023 average monthly rent under $1,785 and a size rank below 1,000. GOBankingRates then used Sperling's Best to find the cost-of-living index for each listed city, looking at grocery and healthcare index scores. Next, GOBankingRates used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2021 Consumer Expenditure Survey to find the annual expenditure amount for both grocery ("food at home") and healthcare costs for people aged 65 and older in order to find how much a couple 65 and over would spend on groceries and healthcare in each city on a monthly basis. GOBankingRates then added monthly housing, grocery, and healthcare costs together to find where a couple 65 and older could survive on their Social Security or less. In order for a city to be qualified for the study the city had to have a livability score above 70 as sourced from AreaVibes. GOBankingRates scored and combined both livability and monthly necessities expenditure, with the lowest score being best, to determine final rankings. All data was collected and is up to date as of May 10, 2023.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 20 Best Places in the South To Live on Only a Social Security Check
(Reuters) - Activist investor Engaged Capital is planning a proxy fight for three board seats at high-end burger chain Shake Shack, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Including swaps, Engaged has a roughly 6.6% stake in the chain, the report said.

The U.S.-based shareholder activist has determined ways to double the company's profitability within two years and believes the burger chain should get rid of its staggered board, which means that not all directors are up for election at the same time, according to the report.

"Our stock is up more than 50% year-to-date and we are well positioned to continue enhancing value for shareholders," a spokesperson for Shake Shack said in a statement sent to Reuters.

"We are executing our strategic plan and making substantial operational and financial progress."

Shake Shack shrares were up 3.7% in pre-market trading early Monday.

Engaged has been in talks with the company's management for over six months and sent a letter to the board in March detailing its proposal for new directors and other changes to help boost the restaurant chain's lagging stock price without an agreement, the people told WSJ.

Engaged Capital did not respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Urvi Dugar in Bengaluru; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Tom Hogue)
New initiatives launched on ISV acceleration, partner training empowerment and new reselling incentives at Alibaba Cloud Partner Summit 2023

SINGAPORE, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, is set to further empower its ecosystem partners through a series of new initiatives, including the launch of an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Acceleration Program, a training empowerment program for partners, as well as new incentives to reward partner excellency.

Edward Cai, Chief Commercial Officer, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, delivered a keynote speech at Alibaba Cloud Partner Summit 2023 (PRNewsfoto/Alibaba Cloud)

"We are committed to growing together with our global partners and providing them with even stronger support to expand their businesses into Southeast Asia and beyond," said Edward Cai, Chief Commercial Officer, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence at the company's Partner Summit 2023 in Singapore. "All new initiatives underscore how much value we place on our partners. Together with our partners' industry know-how, technology capabilities and market insights, we can deliver significant benefits to our customers."

New Initiatives to Support Partners' Growth

Alibaba Cloud's ISV Acceleration Program was launched to provide global ISVs with new financial incentives and more robust technical support to expand their business opportunities in Southeast Asia. As part of the program, the cloud leader will help its ISV partners to optimize the marketplace listing fee on Alibaba Cloud's marketplace platform, and expand the product sales through Alibaba Cloud's sales team and its vast network of channel partners.

Alibaba Cloud also pledges to enhance technical support for global ISV partners, offering comprehensive technical enablement resources to help them build, publish and operate their solutions on the cloud platform. In addition, the company will invest to co-develop customized products and solutions with its ISV partners, in order to meet the diverse digital transformation demands from customers across Southeast Asia.

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ISV partners including Neo4J (graph database provider), 6Estates (AI fintech platform), One2Cloud Pte Ltd (multi-cloud solution and blockchain services provider) and SCash Global Pte Ltd (technology innovation SaaS company) have already joined the acceleration program to get the most benefits from their partnership with Alibaba Cloud.

At the same summit, the APAC cloud leader also announced the launch of a new training empowerment portal for global partners. The Alibaba Cloud Partner Empowerment Portal provides product and service trainings and certifications, educational content on topical technology developments, as well as resources and tools to increase partners' service capabilities. The portal aims to empower 500 global partners including channel partners, Managed Service Partners (MSPs) and ISVs in the current financial year, with training topics covering cloud, AI, Web3 and more.

To bring more tangible benefits to Alibaba Cloud's partners outside China, the company also announced a series of new financial incentives including discounts and rebates for rewarding resellers and distributors as well as some joint go-to-market initiatives. This is part of the USD1 billion investment that Alibaba Cloud announced in 2022 in order to support its global partners' technology innovation and their market expansion.

Selina Yuan, President of International Business, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence delivered a keynote speech at Alibaba Cloud Partner Summit 2023 (PRNewsfoto/Alibaba Cloud)

"Our new initiatives showcase our unwavering commitment to helping our global partners thrive and innovate on Alibaba Cloud," said Selina Yuan, President of International Business, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence. "Partners play an essential role in enhancing and delivering Alibaba Cloud's services and offering to our global customers. Together with partners, we can bring world-class technologies, products and solutions to our customers for their greater business success."

New Partnership on Security, Blockchain and Talent Development

During the summit, Alibaba Cloud also unveiled deeper collaboration with its ecosystem partners. The cloud leader has announced its new collaboration with IBM to provide a best-in-class security solution for businesses across APAC.

The security solution integrates features of IBM's security products - QRadar SIEM and QRadar SOAR - as well as Alibaba Cloud's wide range of security capabilities. It provides services including real-time reporting and centralized visibility into the cloud environment to detect threats such as ransomware, insider threats and cloud attacks. The co-developed solution aims to mitigate mounting cybersecurity risks while creating a secure, stable and protected cloud environment for clients during their digital transformation journey.

Another collaboration unveiled is with Avalanche, a leading blockchain platform, providing a launchpad for businesses to rapidly deploy metaverses on the Avalanche public blockchain. Cloudverse is a one-stop solution for businesses to seamlessly customize, launch and maintain their own metaverse space, creating new dimensions for engaging with customers.

Alibaba Cloud also announced collaboration with training partners to bolster talent development in Southeast Asia. With the target to train 100,000 general public talents in the region by the current financial year, the SEA Talent Empowerment Program aims to attract training partners to contribute to the talent development drive. The initial training partners include Rahi Systems (information technology services and solutions provider), Solutions for Asia (security service solution provider), Lightning Cloud (multi-cloud operation solution platform) and Edu360 Cloud (digital certification service platform).

The leading cloud service provider recognized a wide range of partners for their collaboration and innovation in contributing to customers' success over the past year. The Asia Partner of the Year honors eight partners including IBM, AI Rudder (from Singapore), LGMS Berhad (from Malaysia), PT Sigma Cipta Caraka (from Indonesia), and Digital One (from Hong Kong).

Alibaba Cloud currently works with about 12,000 partners worldwide, including Salesforce, VMware, Fortinet, IBM and Neo4j.

About Alibaba Cloud

Established in 2009, Alibaba Cloud (www.alibabacloud.com) is the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group. It offers a complete suite of cloud services to customers worldwide, including elastic computing, database, storage, network virtualization services, large-scale computing, security, management and application services, big data analytics, a machine learning platform and IoT services. Alibaba maintained its position as the third leading public cloud IaaS service provider globally since 2018, according to IDC. Alibaba is the world's third leading and Asia Pacific's leading IaaS provider by revenue in U.S. dollars since 2018, according to Gartner.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/alibaba-cloud-unveils-plans-to-strengthen-global-partnership-ecosystem-301824255.html

SOURCE Alibaba Cloud
By Norihiko Shirouzu, Paul Lienert and Victoria Waldersee

(Reuters) - Tesla Inc's new vehicle-assembly system, which created instant buzz when it was unveiled in March, ignited a debate among auto manufacturing experts on whether CEO Elon Musk's so-called unboxed process is radical, revisionist or derivative - or all of the above.

Musk believes the company needs to radically rethink conventional manufacturing methods in order to build more affordable - and profitable - electric vehicles in higher volumes.

Investors have been waiting for Tesla, the world's most valuable automaker, to announce what is perceived as the company's holy grail: An electric vehicle priced under $30,000. Right now, the least expensive Tesla starts at more than $40,000.

The unboxed assembly process is intended to enable Tesla to hit that ambitious price target.

One expert described the process as "revolutionary," with the potential to upend the auto industry's traditional moving assembly line. Others questioned whether a process that relies on previously tested techniques such as modular assembly can contribute to dramatically lower production costs.

When the new process was revealed at Tesla's March 1 Investor Day, executives said it would make the company's next-generation vehicles "significantly simpler and more affordable."

Officials said the unboxed process could cut production costs in half and reduce the factory footprint by 40%. The aim, said the company, is to "build more vehicles at lower cost."

The assemblage of new techniques will not be fully tested until the system is installed in late 2024 at Tesla's new $5 billion plant in Monterrey, Mexico, where the company plans to build a new generation of sub-$30,000 EVs.

Several big questions loom: What sort of impact will Tesla's process have on the auto industry overall? Will it render useless the widely copied Toyota Production System? And can Musk actually make his company's process work as promised given Tesla's history of missed production deadlines and failed attempts to deploy unproven technology?

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Tesla did not immediately reply to requests for comment for this story.

Martin French, managing director at consulting firm Berylls which focuses on the industry's rapid shift to electric and smart mobility, wondered if Tesla's move might supplant decades-old lean manufacturing methods pioneered by industry kingpin Toyota Motor Corp.

"I got the feeling when I watched the Tesla (presentation) that the Toyota Production System handbook has just been thrown up in the air and machine-gunned down," French said.

German researcher Jan-Philipp Buchler of the Free University of Dortmund, believes Tesla's new process is "revolutionary," adding: This is much more than modular production ... It's eliminating steps that were standard, creating new patterns of working, increasing speed, reducing complexity.

Tesla is still testing various elements of the system, including the use of large front and rear subassemblies built on single-piece underbody castings, which are then joined to a central structural battery pack. Body panels are painted separately, then joined together toward the end of the assembly process.

OUT WITH THE OLD?

Some manufacturing experts believe the unboxed process has the potential to reduce or eliminate familiar elements inside auto factories, including stamping, welding and painting unfinished car bodies and sending them down a long assembly line where seats, engines and other components are attached.

If everything works as planned, the unboxed process could rewrite the industry's standard playbook and practices. But Tesla has often fallen short of its ambitious targets, from the oft-delayed Cybertruck to its still-unfinished "Full Self Driving" software.

Lean gurus like James Womack and Hide Oba see key differences between the Toyota production way and Tesla's proposed overhaul.

At its core, the Tesla method "is an assembly process" while Toyota has developed a far broader and more comprehensive "production management system" that helps automakers run assembly processes and related operations more efficiently, said Womack, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and co-author of "The Machine That Changed the World," the 1990 book on Toyota's lean production philosophy and methods.

A big risk cited by Oba, an independent lean-manufacturing consultant, is what he describes as the rigidity of the unboxed system. Oba worked previously for the Toyota Production System Support Center, a division that helps the automaker's suppliers and others implement TPS.

The Tesla process "wont work unless production of these big, high-content unboxed vehicle modules are completely synchronized, and finished blocks arrive for a final put-together just-in-time, he said.

Another question is whether Tesla can produce multiple vehicle models of different sizes and body styles on the same production line with the unboxed system.

My guess is thats next to impossible, Oba said. That is because the way Tesla has sliced or "unboxed" the vehicle into several big blocks is so radical, and the dimensions of those blocks do not appear to offer much room for manufacturing variables.

That could become a drag on the companys overall efficiency since Teslas model lineup is sure to become more varied and complex in the future, he said.

(Reporting by Norihiko Shirouzu in Austin, Texas, Paul Lienert in Detroit and Victoria Waldersee in Berlin; Additional reporting by Joseph White in Detroit; Editing by Ben Klayman and Matthew Lewis)
The logo of Foxconn is seen outside a company's building in Taipei

BENGALURU (Reuters) -Apple Inc supplier Foxconn will invest $500 million to set up manufacturing plants in the southern Indian state of Telangana, the state's IT minister said on Monday.

The investment will create 25,000 jobs in the first phase, K. T. Rama Rao said in a tweet.

Reuters in March reported that Foxconn had won an order to make AirPods for Apple and planned to build a factory in India to manufacture the products.

Apple has been shifting production away from China, where prior COVID restrictions disrupted the manufacturing of new iPhones and other devices. The tech company is also looking to avoid a hit to its business due to tensions between Beijing and Washington.

Foxconn in late March received approval from the Karnataka government for a $968 million investment in the state.

(Reporting by Chris Thomas and Varun Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza and Sonia Cheema)
The Banco do Brasil logo is seen outside a bank office in Sao Paulo

By Peter Frontini

SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazilian state-controlled lender Banco do Brasil SA on Monday reported a 29% leap in first-quarter net profit compared with a year ago, boosted by double-digit growth in the value of its loan book.

Banco do Brasil's adjusted net income reached 8.55 billion reais ($1.71 billion) during the first three months of this year, while analysts polled by Refinitiv expected 8.69 billion reais.

The lender said the results were helped by the performance of its credit portfolio, "which reflects an adequate mix of risk against return."

Its loan book reached 1.03 trillion reais, growing 16.8% year-on-year and 2.7% from the previous quarter, boosted by an expansion in agribusiness-related lending.

"This performance is reinforced by growth in service revenues, while administrative expenses remained under control," the bank added in a statement.

Analysts at Citi welcomed the results, describing the lender's performance during the January-to-March period as having "started the year with a solid pace." The analysts pointed to improving margins with controlled asset quality.

During the quarter, Banco do Brasil reported 5.85 billion reais set aside for bad loans, more than doubling the figure reported a year ago, but down 10.4% from the previous three months.

The bank again managed to keep delinquency under control during the first three months of the year, with its 90-day loan default ratio at 2.62%, slightly up from the 2.51% reported the previous quarter.

"Asset quality trends remain resilient, with non-performing loans formation under control and below peers," Citi analysts wrote.

Fee income grew 8.1% to 8.13 billion reais, while its return on equity, which measures profitability, landed at about 21%, or nearly 3 percentage points above the previous year.

The company's interest income, a measure of earnings on loans minus deposit cost, rose 38% from a year earlier, to 21.16 billion reais.

($1 = 5.0033 reais)

(Reporting by Peter Frontini in Sao Paulo; Editing by Anthony Esposito and Matthew Lewis)
South Korea is preparing regulations for digital assets, including cryptocurrency trading, which will set the countrys framework for supervising the developing and often volatile industry. But behind the scenes is a fight for power between the financial authorities.

The Financial Services Commission, the financial regulator known as the FSC, oversees the local cryptocurrency market and industry, but the central bank last month said it wants the authority to demand access to data at cryptocurrency platforms.

The squabble surfaced again on April 25 when bank and FSC representatives and lawmakers met at the National Assembly to discuss the cryptocurrency regulation bill, according to the official transcript of the meeting. FSC vice chairman Kim So-young said at the meeting the central banks right to data should not include cryptocurrencies, arguing that the tokens are currently not widely used for payments.

Bank of Korea Deputy Governor Lee Jong-ryeol was also at the meeting and disagreed.

Due to the significant impact of the cryptocurrency market on the financial system, it is necessary to require cryptocurrency operators to submit documents to identify the impact on the conduct of monetary and credit policy, financial stability, and the payment and settlement system, he said.

The FSC finally agreed to the central banks request for it to have access to data from crypto companies written into the upcoming legislation, saying it wants to accelerate the process for building a legal framework for cryptocurrencies. However, the dispute may well re-appear, said crypto industry officials.

See related article: Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, Moodys, others to join new financial industry blockchain

Big market

The central bank may have a point, according to data in a March 2023 report by Statista.

South Korea has seen successive waves of what the report calls cryptocurrency fever, adding that around 10% of South Koreas population of about 52 million people were invested in cryptocurrencies when Bitcoin hit a record high in 2021.

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The country is one of the worlds biggest cryptocurrency markets, according to the Statista report, which said the countrys exchanges accounted for more than 9% of global crypto trading volume in August 2021.

Further, on May 19, 2021, the daily trading volume of cryptocurrencies on South Korean exchanges reached 23.7 trillion South Korean won (US$17.7 billion) or more than the value of equities traded on the countrys stock market, according to the report.

While crypto prices fell sharply in 2022 amid a series of project failures  including the US$40 billion collapse of the South Korean Terra-Luna stablecoin followed by the FTX exchange  the central bank is concerned about the future.

The Bank of Korea wants to monitor any instances where a cryptocurrency company could undermine the stability of payment or financial systems, said Park Sun-young, professor of economics at Seoul-based Dongguk University via email on Wednesday.

The central bank also reasoned in an April report that stablecoins, a type of cryptocurrency with a value fixed to another asset, can be used as a substitute for fiat currency and hence influence monetary stability.

Welcome

South Koreas digital asset industry is broadly welcoming of the national initiative to bring regulatory clarity to the crypto industry, but is concerned clarity could suffer if financial authorities are themselves involved in disputes over who is in charge.

The existing supervision [by the FSC] is sufficient for the industry, so when the Bank of Korea becomes another mother-in-law for the crypto sector, the industry may get overwhelmed [by regulations], Kim Hyoung-joong, president of the Korea Fintech Society said in an email response to questions.

South Koreas Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Han-gyu was present at the National Assembly meeting in support of the central bank.

According to local news outlet Seoul Economic Daily, Kim said the crypto market contributes to an increase in household debt, saying that more than 60% of total loans from South Koreas online K-Bank in the last two years were made to users of its partner Upbit, South Koreas largest crypto exchange.

Upbit partnered with K-Bank in 2020 as laws mandated that every exchange should have local banks provide users real-name deposit and withdrawal accounts for anti-money laundering purposes. Upbit users borrowed 4.9 trillion Korean won (US$3.7 billion) from K-Bank from July 2020 to the end of last year, according to lawmaker Kim.

See related article: South Koreas cryptocurrency bill gets nod in first phase of review, may pass this year

Struggle

However, while the FSC gave some ground to the Bank of Korea in the shaping of the new law, concerns remain about the demarcation between the two authorities.

Ruling People Power Party member Yoon Han-hong said in the assembly meeting that having the central bank involved in supervision of crypto companies can leave the false impression that the country acknowledges crypto as a payment measure.

The power struggle between the two will likely continue, said Kim at the Korea Fintech Society. The two might collide again when developing the enforcement decree that comes after completing the law, he said.

But there is an upside to having the central bank more involved in setting crypto regulations, added Kim, saying this could be a positive for developing use of stablecoins or cryptocurrencies in payment systems.

South Korea plans to complete its crypto regulatory framework in two parts  the first has an emphasis on consumer protection and legislators are to pass the first bill into law within the first half of 2023.

The second part focuses on standardizing the issue of crypto tokens and disclosure of information to investors. The ultimate goal, according to lawmakers, is to build a transparent, even playing field for the cryptocurrency industry in South Korea.
Bet $1, Get $200 Guaranteed on the PGA Tour

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Assyrian Patriarch Meets With Iran's President

Tehran -- The Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, Mar Awa III, praised Iran for fighting against the Daesh (ISIL or ISIS) terrorists in Iraq and Syria in defense of humanity and faith.

In a meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Tehran on Monday, Mar Awa III expressed gratitude to the Islamic Republic of Iran for its fight against the Deash terrorist group and helping save faith and humanity in Iraq and Syria.

The Assyrian patriarch also lauded the Iranian officials' support for the dialogue of religions.

He noted that the involvement of representatives of various religions in the structure of the Iranian government indicates the Islamic Republic's respect for monotheistic religions, expressing hope for the promotion of such affinity and amity.

The Assyrian Church of the East follows the traditional Christology and ecclesiology of the historical Church of the East. It is officially headquartered in Erbil in northern Iraq.

For his part, the Iranian president said what human societies require now are morality, spirituality and relationship with God, because many developed communities are suffering from a lack of faith and moral values.

Raisi noted that the Takfiri terrorists falsely claimed to be advocating religious values, while they committed heinous crimes in the region without any commitment to morality and faith.

Those who stood against the criminal terrorists and rid the region of that threat were endowed with true faith and morality, including late Iranian and Iraqi commanders Lt. General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the president stated.

He also underlined that the civilization and civil society promised by the divine prophets are based upon rationality, spirituality, morality and justice.
WASHINGTON (AP)  House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Monday there's been no progress on debt ceiling talks ahead of a meeting with President Joe Biden on Tuesday at the White House, as the country pushes closer to a crisis over the need to raise its legal borrowing limit.

Compounding pressure on Washington to strike a deal, the Treasury Department on Monday left unchanged a deadline as soon as June 1 when the nation will have exhausted its ability to cover its debt payments, though Secretary Janet Yellen also suggested the so-called X-date could move days or weeks later than the estimate.

It's very concerning to me, McCarthy, the Republican speaker, told reporters as he opened the House chamber.

Theres no progress that I see, he said of the staff-level talks that extended through the weekend. And it really concerns me with the timeline of where we are.

Time is narrowing as Biden prepares to depart for the Group of Seven summit in Japan on Wednesday. The standoff comes as the Treasury Department issued a new letter Monday outlining its ability to continue paying the nation's bills. Ahead of Biden's trip, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that so far, we are still planning to leave as scheduled.

The president remained hopeful that an agreement could be reached with McCarthy and other congressional leaders when they meet to avoid what would be an unprecedented debt default, which could trigger a financial catastrophe.

Biden, who was in Philadelphia on Monday to attend granddaughter Maisys graduation from the University of Pennsylvania, told reporters the meeting was on for Tuesday but did not elaborate on prospects for a deal. Now at $31 trillion, the debt limit must be lifted, as has been done countless times before, to allow continued borrowing to pay already accrued bills.

"I remain optimistic because Im a congenital optimist," Biden told reporters Sunday while out for a bike ride in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. "But I really think theres a desire on their part as well as ours to reach an agreement. I think well be able to do it.

Story continues

Yellens letter to House and Senate leaders Monday said that agency estimates are unchanged on the possible X-date when the U.S. could run out of cash.

But Yellen assessment leaves some opening for a possible time extension on a national default, stating that the actual date Treasury exhausts extraordinary measures could be a number of days or weeks later than these estimates.

She said she would update Congress next week as more information becomes available.

Aides said talks had continued throughout the weekend. Staff is narrowing on four areas of potential agreement that could begin to shape a budget deal that would unlock a separate vote to lift the nation's borrowing capacity. They are discussing clawing back untapped COVID-19 money, future spending caps, permitting reforms to ease energy development and bolstered work requirements on recipients of government aid, those familiar with the talks said.

But at least publicly, there was little indication that either the White House or House Republicans had budged from their initial positions. Biden has called on lawmakers to lift the debt limit without preconditions, warning that the nations borrowing authority should not be used to impose deep spending cuts and other conservative policy demands.

Republicans led by McCarthy want Biden to accept their proposal to rollback spending, cap future outlays and other policy changes in the package passed last month by House Republicans.

Weve not reached the crunch point yet, Biden told reporters Saturday before flying to his beach home. Theres real discussion about some changes we all could make. Were not there yet.

Biden did signal over the weekend that he could be open to tougher work requirements for certain government aid programs, which Republicans are proposing as part of the ongoing discussion. He has said he will not accept anything that takes away peoples health care coverage.

I voted for tougher aid programs thats in the law now, but for Medicaid its a different story, he said. And so Im waiting to hear what their exact proposal is.

Administration officials said the talks among staff had so far been productive. They have been meeting most days since Biden and the leaders  McCarthy of California, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky  first met last Tuesday.

The staff is very engaged. I would characterize the engagement as serious, as constructive, Lael Brainard, head of the White Houses National Economic Council, said on CBS Face the Nation.

McCarthy has insisted on using the threat of defaulting on the nations debts to wrangle spending changes, arguing that the federal government cant continue to spend money at the pace it is now.

An increase in the debt limit would not authorize new federal spending. It would only allow for borrowing to pay for what Congress has already approved.

As the June 1 deadline approaches, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office gave a similar warning Friday, saying there was a significant risk of default sometime in the first two weeks of next month.

But federal estimates still remain in flux.

The CBO noted Friday that if the cash flow at the Treasury and the extraordinary measures that the department is now using can continue to pay for bills through June 15, the government can probably finance its operations through the end of July. Thats because the expected tax revenues that will come in mid-June and other measures will give the federal government enough cash for at least a few more weeks.

__

Associated Press writer Chris Megerian in Philadelphia contributed to this report.
Debt-Limit Talks Are Far From Over, McCarthy Says Ahead of Biden Meeting

(Bloomberg) -- House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said ongoing talks to avert a historic US default were yielding little progress, even as President Joe Biden announced plans to meet with congressional leaders on Tuesday.

Most Read from Bloomberg

We are nowhere near reaching a conclusion, McCarthy said Monday on Capitol Hill, adding he felt that ongoing staff-level meetings are not productive at all.

The talks so far have not produced agreement on anything, he added.

His remarks came shortly after Biden told reporters in Philadelphia on Monday that the meeting was set, a day after confirming it was in the works. Neither McCarthy nor the White House was able to provide a time for the sit-down, which will be the second session for Biden and congressional leaders this month and comes after aides met last week and through the weekend.

The standoff has been roiling markets as investors bet whether a deal can be reached. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned that a default could come as soon as June 1. A default would sink markets, leave potentially millions out of work and hike borrowing costs for families and the US government alike.

The sides have sent mixed signals. Biden said Sunday that he was optimistic a deal could be reached, while McCarthy spent Monday downplaying the odds of success. People familiar with the meetings have said that the White House has pushed to exclude elements of the bill passed by House Republicans last month - including eliminating the presidents program to forgive some student loans, as well as signature legislative accomplishments - from discussions.

Republicans, meanwhile, rejected a Democratic proposal that would seek to raise revenue - and decrease future deficits - by altering a dozen provisions of the tax code, including a loophole that allows investors in cryptocurrency to claim losses on assets that they then purchase. Democrats also proposed eliminating a loophole that allows large real estate investors to effectively receive interest-free financing from the government.

Story continues

Those tax offerings, which were part of Bidens budget proposal earlier this year, were first reported by the Washington Post. The White House offered to bring Republicans additional proposals but were told that the GOP would not consider any effort to raise taxes, according to the people familiar.

Last week, Representative Dusty Johnson, one of the authors of the House bill, said the GOP has three red lines: no clean debt increase, no tax increase, and the bill must reduce the deficit.

But the two sides are negotiating around possible spending caps in future years, changes to energy permits and a GOP-led bid to claw back $65 billion in unspent pandemic funds.

A key topic of dispute in the negotiations is expanding work requirements for anti-poverty government benefits, both McCarthy and Biden have said.

I just dont see the movement, McCarthy said. It seems as though they wanted to have meetings to say they had meetings. Not to really find a solution.

Biden is scheduled to depart Wednesday for a trip to Japan, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. White House officials said Monday that those plans have not changed despite the ongoing debt talks.

--With assistance from Josh Wingrove.

(Updates with tax proposals.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
One simple way to benefit from the stock market is to buy an index fund. But if you pick the right individual stocks, you could make more than that. For example, the Big River Industries Limited (ASX:BRI) share price is up 77% in the last three years, clearly besting the market return of around 35% (not including dividends). However, more recent returns haven't been as impressive as that, with the stock returning just 2.1% in the last year , including dividends .

Let's take a look at the underlying fundamentals over the longer term, and see if they've been consistent with shareholders returns.

See our latest analysis for Big River Industries

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.

During three years of share price growth, Big River Industries achieved compound earnings per share growth of 60% per year. This EPS growth is higher than the 21% average annual increase in the share price. Therefore, it seems the market has moderated its expectations for growth, somewhat. We'd venture the lowish P/E ratio of 8.07 also reflects the negative sentiment around the stock.

The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

It is of course excellent to see how Big River Industries has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. This free interactive report on Big River Industries' balance sheet strength is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. We note that for Big River Industries the TSR over the last 3 years was 105%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

Story continues

A Different Perspective

Big River Industries shareholders are up 2.1% for the year (even including dividends). Unfortunately this falls short of the market return. It's probably a good sign that the company has an even better long term track record, having provided shareholders with an annual TSR of 9% over five years. It may well be that this is a business worth popping on the watching, given the continuing positive reception, over time, from the market. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Big River Industries that you should be aware of.

If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on 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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Regulatory hurdles have once again hit Binance in North America, with the worlds largest cryptocurrency exchange announcing on Friday that it would cease operations in Canada due to tightened crypto rules.

See related article: Binance.US cites hostile regulator, yanks US$1.3 billion deal to buy Voyager Digital

Amid heightened regulatory oversight aimed at the crypto exchange in the U.S., Binance has now decided to exit the neighboring Canadian market. The company announced in a tweet on Friday that it had put off the exit decision as long as possible in order to explore ways to protect its Canadian users. But, it said, it has become apparent that there are none.

We had high hopes for the rest of the Canadian blockchain industry, Binance said in the tweet. Unfortunately, new guidance related to stablecoins and investor limits provided to crypto exchanges makes the Canada market no longer tenable for Binance at this time.

The company added that, while the Canada market is small, it held sentimental value as the home country of its founder Changpeng Zhao, who is a Canadian citizen.

Binance said it is sending out emails to Canadian users detailing its next steps and how the companys withdrawal from the country will impact their accounts.

Binances exit comes after the Canadian Securities Administrators regulatory body said in February that crypto firms planning to operate in Canada must register their compliance with a new set of regulatory guidelines.

Those guidelines require crypto trading platforms to follow custody rules, ensure segregation of crypto assets held for local clients and refrain from offering margin, credit or other forms of leverage.

Failure to comply would require companies to offload Canadian users and block the jurisdiction.

In the U.S., the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) sued Binance and Zhao in March, for allegedly offering unregistered cryptocurrency derivatives in the U.S.
Binance Leaves Canada

Binance Leaves Canada

Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange, has decided to leave the country of Canada due to new regulations on the crypto industry. The company announced on Twitter that it was withdrawing from Canada because of the new rules imposed by the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) on crypto trading platforms.

The CSA issued a notice in February that required all crypto platforms operating in Canada to register with the relevant securities regulators within 30 days or cease their activities. The notice also stated that platforms must comply with stricter standards on stablecoin approvals, customer asset protection, and leverage or margin trading.

Binance said that it tried to find a way to continue serving its Canadian customers, but it found no viable option. The company expressed its regret and gratitude to the regulators who worked with it collaboratively. Binance also said that it hopes to return to Canada someday when the regulatory environment is more conducive for crypto innovation. Notably, Binance founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao was born in China but moved to Canada with his family when he was twelve years old.
On Tuesday, March 28th, French authorities raided the Paris offices of five major banksincluding HSBC, BNP Paribas, and Societe Generalein relation to an ongoing fraud and money laundering investigation where authorities are reportedly looking to collect at least 1 billion.

The investigation centers on dividend payments; asset custody; centralized, opaque record-keeping systems; and tax avoidance strategies.

When a dividend is paid to a shareholder, the shareholder must pay the associated taxes on the dividend. But who is the actual shareholder that receives the dividend? In the legacy world of opaque, closed, centralized databases it can often be difficult to determine. The shareholder that is owed the dividend is recorded before the ex-dividend date. If you are the shareholder before the ex-dividend date, you are entitled to the dividend and therefore required to pay the taxes.

Frances Parquet National Financier (PNF) fraud office alleges that the French banks provided a service to their favorite and largest foreign clients where they would temporarily transfer shares owned in foreign client accounts to separate French (i.e. non-foreign) accounts to lower their clients tax burden.

Since a bank with a closed, opaque, centralized database is able to maintain inconsistent records, they can know that their foreign client really owns a share of a company, while temporarily pretending that they own that share of a company for tax purposes.

Here's how it works: The foreign client owns a share. The French bank pretends instead that they own the share for 1 day before the ex-dividend date. The French bank receives the dividend payment instead of the client. The French bank pays the reduced (non-foreign) taxes. The French bank sends the dividend to their foreign client. The foreign client now owns the share again (until next time). Everyone is happy except, of course, the tax collector.

Fraud of this type is very simple to conduct in legacy financial markets. There is no single golden source of truth to determine who owns a share at a specific point in timeand much of these systems rely on trust, as in the case of when Dole was sued by more shareholders than it actually had.

Story continues

Butto use a familiar phraseblockchain fixes this.

With a single source of truth in the form of a public, verifiable, write-only database, shareholders, capital markets intermediaries, and regulators can always have real-time access into financial markets including ownership data, custody relationships, and tax obligations.

For example, with a blockchain purpose-built for capital markets, user 0x123abc clearly and transparently owns a share on-chain, its custodian 0x456def receives a dividend on behalf of 0x123abc on-chain, and 0x456def automatically pays tax on behalf of 0x123abc on-chain. Blockchain eliminates the double-own problem, streamlines back-office processes, eliminates inconsistencies in ownership records, and increases tax collection while clamping down on fraud.

People in crypto love to talk about The Flippening. This originated from a belief that Ethereums market cap will eventually grow larger than Bitcoins and flip it. But there are other flippenings as well: Bitcoins market cap vs. gold, transactions on blockchains vs. banks and credit card networks, and layer 2 volumes vs. layer 1 volumes.

But one of the lesser discussed yet more interesting flippenings is when regulators and governments stop fearing blockchain technology for its disruptive, unknown nature, and begin harnessing it to improve markets, increase trust, and better enforce regulations.

One day soon, all financial securities will be required to operate on blockchains. And thats because blockchain really does fix this.
Microsoft - Virginia Mayo/The Associated Press

Brussels is locked in a row with British regulators after waving through a $69bn (55bn) video game takeover by Microsoft that had been blocked in the UK.

The European Commission approved Microsoft's deal to buy Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard on Monday after concluding that competition fears were not enough to justify halting the tie-up.

It contradicts a ruling last month by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which blocked the deal and said it would harm consumers in the growing market for cloud gaming, where games are streamed over the internet rather than relying on powerful hardware in a console or PC.

In response, the CMA issued an unusual statement defending its decision and suggesting the Commission was wrong not to act.

Sarah Cardell, chief executive, said: The UK, US and European competition authorities are unanimous that this merger would harm competition in cloud gaming.

Microsofts proposals, accepted by the European Commission today, would allow Microsoft to set the terms and conditions for this market for the next ten years. They would replace a free, open and competitive market with one subject to ongoing regulation of the games Microsoft sells, the platforms to which it sells them, and the conditions of sale.

While we recognise and respect that the European Commission is entitled to take a different view, the CMA stands by its decision.

EU vice president Margrethe Vestager hailed her officials decision on Monday as an important step for the bloc, saying:

Video games attract billions of users all over the world. In such a fast-growing and dynamic industry, it is crucial to protect competition and innovation.

Our decision represents an important step in this direction, by bringing Activisions popular games to many more devices and consumers than before thanks to cloud game streaming.

A Brussels spokesman added that the Commission had based its decision on hard evidence and on extensive information and feedback, while sources dismissed the UK's concerns about cloud gaming, saying that it accounted for just 1pc to 2pc of the overall market and any potential competition impact was therefore not significant.

Story continues

The takeover has been politically charged since the CMA intervention, which triggered a warning from Activision that Britain was closed for business.=

Brad Smith, Microsoft's president, said at the time that the intervention showed that the EU was a more attractive location than the UK.

The takeover needed approval from both EU and UK regulators to go ahead, meaning that the CMA's decision has effectively killed it unless it is overturned on appeal. The US Federal Trade Commission is also suing Microsoft to block the deal.

Bobby Kotick, chief executive of Activision, strongly hinted on Monday that his company would now expand into EU countries instead of Britain.

Mr Kotick said: We intend to meaningfully expand our investment and workforce throughout the EU, and were excited for the benefits our transaction brings to players in Europe and around the world.

Lulu Cheng Meservey, chief communications officer at Activision, praised the EU's firm yet pragmatic, unbiased, and fact-driven approach to regulation.

British officials rallied to defend the CMA. A government spokesman said: Every major competition authority  including in the EU and the US  agrees this merger would harm competition.

The UK has the biggest tech sector in Europe and the third largest globally valued at $1tn, demonstrating the UK is open for business and an attractive place to invest.

UK competition officials said in April that Microsoft has a 60-70pc share of the cloud gaming market, adding that this number doubled over the past year.

Activisions share price crashed after the CMA decision was announced, while Mondays decision saw little significant movement for either company. The Call of Duty publisher has said it is working aggressively with Microsoft to reverse this on appeal.

A spokesman said at the time: The reports conclusions are a disservice to UK citizens, who face increasingly dire economic prospects.

Both companies are understood to be taking a legal case against the CMA to Britains Competition Appeal Tribunal.

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.
Transparency Market Research

Usage of cable trays in the construction industry has increased significantly across various regions due to an increase in construction activities along with rapid urbanization

Wilmington, Delaware, United States, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transparency Market Research Inc.  The Global Cable Trays Market stood at US$ 3.3 Bn in 2022 and is projected to reach US$ 5.1 Bn by 2031, expanding at a CAGR of 4.6% between 2023 and 2031.



The need for cable trays is expected to increase due to rapid urbanization, expansion of commercial spaces, and smart homes. The need for practical and technologically sophisticated cable trays is also fueled by the rapid pace of industrialization, which is likely to create business opportunities in the global market.

In comparison to conventional cable management techniques, it is a more affordable solution, which is expected to propel market demand for cable trays in the near future. Manufacturers are providing innovative products such as lightweight, robust, and long-lasting cable trays, which is fueling global Cable Trays Market value. Leading players are focusing on R&D initiatives to diversify income sources and increase product offerings.

The primary purpose of cable trays is to manage bulk cables and increase workplace safety. By offering efficient ventilation channels, cable trays also aid in the cost-effective operation of complicated wires and make it simple to replace or repair them. These trays are often fitted for multiple power voltages to help minimize both space and money. Aluminum, stainless steel, and steel are materials used to make cable trays. Solid bottom, cable ladder, and trough cable trays are the common types of cable trays utilized by various industries.

Request for a Sample PDF Report with Latest Industry Insights:

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=57030

Key Findings of Market Report

The aluminum cable trays segment is projected to dominate the global market during the forecast period. In comparison to other materials, aluminum cable trays are corrosive-resistant, lightweight, and simple to install. Hence, these are frequently used in several industries, including IT & telecom and electricity, for various applications.

Development of hospitals, several residential buildings, retail malls, and smart building projects is driving the construction application segment. Additionally, the construction industry is experiencing significant demand for cable trays due to rapid urbanization and increase in construction activities.

Story continues

Global Cable Trays Market: Growth Drivers

Demand for cable trays has increased due to expansion of the construction sector, particularly in emerging markets. Cable trays are an essential part of the construction industry, as these are often used to manage and protect cables. The construction business is expanding rapidly across the globe due to increase in demand for new homes, businesses, and industries. The global market is being propelled by increased expenditure on infrastructure, including educational, medical, and residential structures.

Manufacture of cutting-edge cable tray systems presents attractive opportunities in the market. Modern manufacturing processes and the emergence of novel materials have resulted in the development of cable trays that are stronger, lighter, and more resilient than previous models, while also being more economical and effective. The telecommunications sector has changed with the advent of innovative technologies, such as fiber optic cables, which is projected to propel the global market for cable trays.

Buy this Premium Research Report:

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Global Cable Trays Market: Regional Landscape

Asia Pacific is likely to dominate the global industry during the forecast period. This is ascribed to rapid urbanization, increase in construction activities, and expansion of industries such as IT & telecommunications. Furthermore, rise in infrastructure projects across Asia Pacific and increase in government attempts to enhance infrastructure, such as building railroads and seaports, particularly in Japan, India, and China, are propelling of the market in Asia Pacific.



Global Cable Trays Market: Key Players

MP Husky Cable Tray & Cable Bus

Basor Electric SA

Niedax Group

Hubbell Incorporated

Atkore International.



Get Customization on this Report for Specific Research Solutions:

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=CR&rep_id=57030

Global Cable Trays Market: Segmentation

Type

Ladder

Solid Bottom

Trough Cable Tray

Channel Cable Tray

Wire Mesh

Single Rail

Others (Perforated Cable Trays, etc.)



Material Type

Steel

Stainless Steel

Aluminum

Metal

Others (Fiberglass, Plastic, etc.)



Application

Power

Construction

Manufacturing

IT & Telecommunication

Others



Finishing

Galvanized Coatings

Pre-galvanized

Hot-dip Galvanized

Others (Chemical & Paints, etc.)

Distribution Channel

Direct Sales

Indirect Sales

Regions

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa

Latin America



About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research, a global market research company registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, provides custom research and consulting services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques to gather and analyses information.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

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Key Insights

Raffles Medical Group's estimated fair value is S$1.46 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

With S$1.42 share price, Raffles Medical Group appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value

Our fair value estimate is 17% lower than Raffles Medical Group's analyst price target of S$1.76

How far off is Raffles Medical Group Ltd (SGX:BSL) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model.

Check out our latest analysis for Raffles Medical Group

The Calculation

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

Story continues

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (SGD, Millions) S$153.3m S$130.7m S$142.9m S$141.7m S$141.8m S$142.6m S$144.1m S$145.9m S$148.1m S$150.5m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ -0.80% Est @ 0.03% Est @ 0.61% Est @ 1.01% Est @ 1.30% Est @ 1.50% Est @ 1.64% Present Value (SGD, Millions) Discounted @ 6.7% S$144 S$115 S$118 S$109 S$102 S$96.6 S$91.4 S$86.8 S$82.5 S$78.6

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = S$1.0b

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 2.0%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 6.7%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = S$151m (1 + 2.0%)  (6.7% 2.0%) = S$3.2b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= S$3.2b ( 1 + 6.7%)10= S$1.7b

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 S$2.7b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of S$1.4, the company appears about fair value at a 2.6% 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 Raffles Medical Group as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.7%, 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 Raffles Medical Group

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Healthcare market.

Opportunity

Current share price is below our estimate of fair value.

Threat

Annual earnings are forecast to decline for the next 3 years.

Moving On:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. 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. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Raffles Medical Group, there are three fundamental factors you should assess:

Risks: For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Raffles Medical Group (1 is a bit unpleasant) you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does BSL'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 Singaporean 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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Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, InVision fair value estimate is 6.65

Current share price of 7.85 suggests InVision is potentially trading close to its fair value

In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of InVision Aktiengesellschaft (ETR:IVX) by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. This will be done using 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.

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

Check out our latest analysis for InVision

Crunching The Numbers

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (, Millions) -1.75m -750.0k 450.0k 678.6k 920.3k 1.15m 1.35m 1.52m 1.65m 1.76m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ 50.79% Est @ 35.63% Est @ 25.01% Est @ 17.58% Est @ 12.38% Est @ 8.74% Est @ 6.19% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 7.6% -1.6 -0.6 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.8

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = 3.3m

Story continues

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (0.2%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 7.6%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = 1.8m (1 + 0.2%)  (7.6% 0.2%) = 24m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= 24m ( 1 + 7.6%)10= 12m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is 15m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of 7.9, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

The Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at InVision 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 1.236. 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 InVision

Strength

Debt is well covered by earnings.

Weakness

Expensive based on P/S ratio and estimated fair value.

Opportunity

Forecast to reduce losses next year.

Has sufficient cash runway for more than 3 years based on current free cash flows.

Threat

Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow.

Next Steps:

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. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For InVision, there are three important factors you should assess:

Risks: Case in point, we've spotted 1 warning sign for InVision you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does IVX's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every German stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Meet Management at the 121 Mining Investment Conference in New York

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2023) - CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQX: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7N) ("CanAlaska or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has now completed the acquisition of the Mel nickel deposit and surrounding mineral claims (Figure 1).





Figure 1  Mel Project Location

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2864/166105_1d7015c344f9b8d6_002full.jpg

CanAlaska CEO, Cory Belyk, comments, "Completion of this transaction gives CanAlaska and its shareholders a concrete and tangible NI43-101 compliant high-grade sulphide nickel resource in a very prolific nickel belt, located in a stable and secure mining jurisdiction in central Canada. The Mel deposit acquisition perfectly compliments CanAlaska's existing district-scale nickel portfolio in Manitoba providing the Company with optionality on the path forward to building value for our shareholders. Class 1 nickel deposits of this scale and upside potential are difficult to find as companies seek to position nickel portfolios within an ever-tightening nickel supply market. CanAlaska shareholders are now extremely well positioned in several critical metals to take advantage of an electrified clean-energy future."

Transaction

Details of this transaction were previously announced on March 6, 2023 and May 4, 2023. As part of the purchase price, the Company issued 2,000,000 shares to the vendor. The shares are subject to a hold period expiring September 13, 2023 (the "Hold Period Expiry Date") under applicable securities laws. The parties have also agreed to voluntary resale restrictions thereafter with 25% (500,000) of the shares released from resale restrictions on the Hold Period Expiry Date and the balance being released in three tranches of 500,000 on each of the dates that is 2, 4 and 6 months after the Hold Period Expiry Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the vendor will have the right to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of all (but not less than all) of the shares in a block trade at any time in its sole discretion after the Hold Period Expiry Date.

Story continues

Other News

The Company will be attending the 121 Mining Investment conference June 5 -6 at the etc. venues 360 Madison event centre, New York, USA.

About CanAlaska Uranium

CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQX: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7N) holds interests in approximately 300,000 hectares (750,000 acres), in Canada's Athabasca Basin - the "Saudi Arabia of Uranium." CanAlaska's strategic holdings have attracted major international mining companies. CanAlaska is currently working with Cameco and Denison at two of the Company's properties in the Eastern Athabasca Basin. CanAlaska is a project generator positioned for discovery success in the world's richest uranium district. The Company also holds properties prospective for nickel, copper, gold and diamonds. For further information visit www.canalaska.com.

The qualified technical person for this news release is Nathan Bridge, MSc., P.Geo., CanAlaska's Vice President, Exploration.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Cory Belyk"

Cory Belyk, P.Geo., FGC

CEO, Executive Vice President and Director

CanAlaska Uranium Ltd.

Contacts:

Cory Belyk, Executive VP and CEO

Tel: +1.604.688.3211 x 306

Email: cbelyk@canalaska.com

General Enquiry

Tel: +1.604.688.3211

Email: info@canalaska.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking information

All statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166105
By Tetsushi Kajimoto

TOKYO (Reuters) - The weekend gathering of finance chiefs from the Group of Seven (G7) advanced economies did not single out China as a threat in their communique, but left signs the world's second-largest economy will loom large at this week's summit in Hiroshima.

Efforts to grapple with China's growing global presence were evident at the three-day G7 finance chiefs' gathering in Niigata, Japan, during which they held their first outreach in 14 years, aimed at winning over emerging nations.

The meeting with Brazil, the Comoros, India, Indonesia, Singapore and South Korea primarily tackled issues such as debt and high-level infrastructure investment, in a tacit counter to China's Belt and Road initiative, analysts say.

"What's going on at the G7 is reflecting changes in global order following the loss of the U.S. dominance," said Masamichi Adachi, economist at UBS Securities. "No one is being able to draw up a grand design with shifting of power."

G7 host Japan persuaded its G7 counterparts to launch a new programme by the end of 2023 to diversify supply chains for strategically important goods away from China. The G7 comprises the United States, Britain, France, Japan, Italy, Germany and Canada.

But the finance chiefs' closing communique did not mention a U.S.-proposed idea for narrow restrictions on investment to China, a potential rift among the grouping on how far they should go in pressuring Beijing.

A Japanese finance ministry official at the gathering, who declined to be named because of he sensitivity of the matter, said the idea was discussed in Niigata, but declined to elaborate.

China is among the biggest markets for most G7 countries, particularly for export-reliant economies such as Japan and Germany. China-bound exports account for 22% of Japan's overall shipments.

Japan and the United States want to try to win over countries, including those in the Global South, with promises of foreign direct investment and aid, analysts say.

Story continues

U.S. President Joe Biden last year was host of a U.S.-Africa leaders summit in Washington, aiming to bolster alliances amid the growing Chinese presence on that continent.

Japan followed suit, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visiting Egypt, Ghana, Kenya and Mozambique this month.

In a joint statement on Saturday, the G7 finance chiefs stressed the urgency of addressing debt vulnerabilities in low- and middle-income countries, mentioning Zambia, Ethiopia, Ghana and Sri Lanka.

They did not mention China, but said foreign investments in critical infrastructure "may pose risks for economic sovereignty," and thus must "not undermine the economic sovereignty of host countries."

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in March that Beijing's lending activities left developing countries "trapped in debt," adding that Washington was working to counter China's influence in international institutions and in lending.

"There were talks about coercion" at the G7 finance leaders' meeting, the Japanese finance ministry official said.

The G7 summit will most likely have a special session on China to debate Beijing's "economic coercion" against other countries, according to a Reuters report.

"No matter how the G7 want to fence in the Global South, it's not easy," said Atsushi Takeda, chief economist at the Itochu Economic Research Institute. "These emerging economies won't side with either the West or China, while carefully weighing what will be in their best interests."

(Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), shown speaking to reporters after meeting with President Biden and Democratic leaders at the White House last week, is trying to keep his finger on the fiscal nuclear button. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

On April 19, in introducing House Republicans' stillborn proposal for negotiations to raise the government's debt ceiling, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) said this:

"You know, if you gave your child a credit card, and they kept maxing it out to the limit, you wouldn't blindly just raise the limit. You'd change their behavior. The exact same thing is true with our national debt."

It's hard to imagine a more profoundly ignorant take about our irredeemably stupid federal debt ceiling. Perhaps McCarthy knows the truth, in which case he's a liar. Perhaps he doesn't know, in which case he doesn't belong anywhere near where fiscal policy is made.

The validity of the public debt of the United States ... shall not be questioned.

14th Amendment to the Constitution

McCarthy doesn't seem to understand that the debt ceiling isn't about limiting future spending. It's about paying bills already incurred, just as a credit card statement reflects purchases already made.

He and his House GOP colleagues' refusal to raise the federal debt ceiling to accommodate the spending they've already incurred would be tantamount to his fictional family's refusing to pay their existing debts.

If they persisted in this refusal, they'd end up in bankruptcy, or perhaps in jail for fraud. To repeat his words, "the exact same thing is true with our national debt."

Refusing to pay the bills that Congress has rung up would put the United States in an analogous position: The value of its debts would plummet because creditors would fear getting paid less than they were owed (as with bankruptcy).

The punishment would be severe  higher prices for goods and services, mortgage rates soaring, creditors such as Social Security recipients, Medicare providers and businesses with government contracts going unpaid.

McCarthy knows these are among the consequences if the federal government reneges on its debts, something that could happen if the debt ceiling isn't raised. He knows this outcome would be unprecedented and unacceptable to almost all Americans; that's why he thinks that refusing to raise the ceiling is an effective bargaining chip to force spending cutbacks throughout the federal budget.

Story continues

Monday morning saw glimmers of hope that McCarthy and President Biden would reach an agreement resulting in an increase in the debt ceiling in return for some modest, relatively harmless budget cuts. But as of this writing, no deal has been sealed. Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen has said that the ceiling would have to be raised by June 1 to obviate any chance of a government default.

To be perfectly accurate, the government technically breached the debt ceiling back on Jan. 19; the Treasury has staved off default since then through accounting maneuvers termed "extraordinary measures," which essentially involve moving money around. Yellen's June 1 "X-date" is supposedly when that flexibility runs out  though the Congressional Budget Office places the date in mid-June, and says that if the government makes it that far, forthcoming corporate and personal tax payments could provide breathing room "at least through the end of July."

So it's timely to take a look at the latest legal commentary about the debt limit  specifically, whether it's even constitutional, and if not, whether Biden should simply ignore it.

Before I delve into that, a quick primer on what the debt ceiling is and how it came about. As I've written too many times to count, the debt ceiling is a federal law that sets a limit on how much debt the Treasury can sell. At this moment, the limit is $31.381 trillion, a level set by Congress in December 2021.

The debt ceiling has been raised by congressional votes more than 91 times since 1960, generally without debate, by Democratic and Republican majorities and under Democratic and Republican presidents. When Republicans took majority control of the House of Representatives in 2011, they turned the debt ceiling into the raw material for political posturing, a fiscal nuclear bomb in the hands of willful children.

The debt ceiling was not originally meant as a limit on the Treasurys authority to issue federal debt, but rather as a way to give it more latitude to borrow. It came into being in 1917, when Congress grew weary of having to vote on every proposed bond issuance, which it considered a pain in the neck. So it chose instead to give the Treasury blanket authority to float bonds, subject to a stopgap limitation.

In other words, the limit was never designed to keep Congress from enacting any spending bills or deficit-building tax breaks it wished. Obviously, it has never had that effect, since Congress routinely has approved spending that it knew, by simple math, would require more borrowing.

The Republican threats to enforce the debt ceiling have caused no end of fiscal mischief. That included the sequester, a sheaf of budget cuts enacted to settle a debt ceiling fight in 2011. The cuts were so draconian that Republicans and Democrats would have to come to the negotiating table for a budget deal.

That didnt happen, so the cuts went into effect. They were estimated to have pared 1.2 percentage points from economic growth in 2013 and 2014, costing as many as 1.6 million jobs over that time frame.

The mandated budget cuts hit child care, Head Start and early education especially hard. The spectacle of Congress being unable to avoid the damage from a gun it placed at its own head led Standard & Poor's to downgrade the credit rating of U.S. Treasury securities for the very first time.

The increasing obstinacy of the GOP House caucus, which is under the thumb of a right-wing extremist cadre, has prompted a reconsideration of the legality of the debt ceiling itself. As constitutional scholar Garrett Epps has written, even if Congress refuses to raise the debt ceiling, "default on the debt ... is flatly forbidden by the Constitution."

The basis for that conclusion is the 14th Amendment, a Reconstruction-era measure that abolished slavery, provided that all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. were American citizens, including former slaves, and decreed that federal debts could not be repudiated  specifically that "the validity of the public debt of the United States ... shall not be questioned."

Only once was that clause brought before the Supreme Court  in 1935, when the plaintiff was an investor demanding that the government redeem his Treasury bonds in gold, as had been promised when the bonds were issued.

Franklin D. Roosevelt had repudiated the so-called gold clauses in private and government bond indentures, aware that upholding payment in gold would have provoked widespread bankruptcies and devastated the federal budget. Congress had followed with a joint resolution nullifying all gold clauses.

The financial markets were "on the verge of nervous prostration" awaiting the court's ruling, as Joseph P. Kennedy, then chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, recounted. Roosevelt had prepared a statement nullifying by executive order a ruling upholding the gold clauses; Kennedy stood by an open phone line, ready to order the temporary closing of all U.S. stock exchanges on FDR's signal to guard against financial chaos.

In the event, the court upheld the sanctity of federal debt by deeming the congressional resolution unconstitutional as it applied to Treasury securities. In a plurality decision that cited the 14th Amendment, Chief Justice Charles Evan Hughes rejected the notion that "the Congress can disregard the obligations of the government at its discretion, and that, when the government borrows money, the credit of the United States is an illusory pledge. We do not so read the Constitution."

The court, however, denied plaintiff John Perry the right to be repaid in gold; he had to accept repayment in dollars, the only legal tender at that time.

Many legal scholars have come around to the conclusion that the 14th Amendment and the gold clause ruling would allow President Biden to pay Treasury obligations even in excess of the debt ceiling.

President Clinton felt the same way. In 2011, when his successor, Barack Obama, was grappling with a recalcitrant GOP Congress over the issue, he said in an interview that if facing default, he would pay the government's debts "without hesitation, and force the courts to stop me."

Obama then expressed concern about the consequences of protracted litigation in such a case. Biden has raised the same doubt.

Yet it's unclear if a lawsuit challenging a breach of the debt ceiling could be brought. Who would have standing to sue, Epps asked. Any plaintiffs would have to show a particular harm to themselves from a presidential order defying the ceiling.

Who could that be? Not Treasury bondholders  they would be guaranteed their principal and interest. Social Security recipients? Defiance of the debt ceiling would ensure they got their benefit checks. Would the GOP House minority be harmed? It's hard to see how, other than in their amour-propre, since Chief Justice Hughes ruled nearly nine decades ago that Congress had no right to disregard the fiscal obligations it enacted.

It is possible, of course, that the current court's conservative majority might "manufacture standing for some red state attorney general or right-wing advocacy group to challenge Bidens upholding the full faith and credit of the United States," Epps observed.

A ruling forcing a default might provoke Biden simply to defy the court, as FDR was prepared to do. Does this court really want to provoke such a confrontation  especially since a ruling upholding the debt ceiling would disadvantage the wealthy investor class that some of the majority's members have reportedly relied on as patrons?

Nothing would please me more than to have Biden relieve me of the duty of writing about the incredibly stupid maneuvering the debt ceiling regularly provokes in Washington. The path is clear. It's long since time that a U.S. president treated the debt ceiling not as an instrument of sound fiscal policy but as a pointless obstruction in the way.

If McCarthy and his minions refuse to honor their own fiscal obligations, Biden should disregard them; that's his most valuable bargaining chip. If past is precedent, the Constitution and the Supreme Court would have his back.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Vast Resources PLC

Vast Resources plc / Ticker: VAST / Index: AIM / Sector: Mining

15 May 2023

Vast Resources plc

(Vast or the Company)

Company Update

Vast Resources plc, the AIM-listed mining company, is pleased to announce an update in relation to the Asset Backed Debt facility from A&T Investments SARL (Alpha) as announced on 16 May 2022, the debt owed to Mercuria Energy Trading SA (Mercuria) relating to Tranche A of the Prepayment Agreement announced on 21 March 2018 and the anticipated settlement of the historic claims in Zimbabwe.

As announced on the 16 May 2022, the totality of the debt owed to Mercuria and Alpha (currently approx. 7.3m) was due to be repaid on or before Monday 15 May 2023. The Company is currently concluding documentation regarding an extension to 30 June 2023 that will allow the necessary time to finalise the settlement of the historic claims in Zimbabwe.

The Company can confirm that Andrew Prelea, the Companys Chief Executive Officer, is currently in Zimbabwe as the Company finalises the recovery of the historic parcel of 129,400 rough diamonds held in safe custody at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe pursuant to the High Court Order in the Companys favour.

The Company will update the market with further details in due course.

**ENDS**

For further information, visit www.vastplc.com or please contact:

Vast Resources plc

Andrew Prelea (CEO)

Andrew Hall (CCO)



www.vastplc.com

+44 (0) 20 7846 0974 Beaumont Cornish  Financial & Nominated Advisor

Roland Cornish

James Biddle



www.beaumontcornish.com

+44 (0) 20 7628 3396 Shore Capital Stockbrokers Limited  Joint Broker

Toby Gibbs / James Thomas (Corporate Advisory)



www.shorecapmarkets.co.uk

+44 (0) 20 7408 4050 Axis Capital Markets Limited  Joint Broker

Richard Hutchinson



www.axcap247.com

+44 (0) 20 3206 0320 St Brides Partners Limited

Susie Geliher www.stbridespartners.co.uk

+44 (0) 20 7236 1177

ABOUT VAST RESOURCES PLC

Vast Resources plc is a United Kingdom AIM listed mining company with mines and projects in Romania, Tajikistan, and Zimbabwe.

Story continues

In Romania, the Company is focused on the rapid advancement of high-quality projects by recommencing production at previously producing mines.

The Company's Romanian portfolio includes 100% interest in Vast Baita Plai SA which owns 100% of the producing Baita Plai Polymetallic Mine, located in the Apuseni Mountains, Transylvania, an area which hosts Romania's largest polymetallic mines. The mine has a JORC compliant Reserve & Resource Report which underpins the initial mine production life of approximately 3-4 years with an in-situ total mineral resource of 15,695 tonnes copper equivalent with a further 1.8M-3M tonnes exploration target. The Company is now working on confirming an enlarged exploration target of up to 5.8M tonnes.

The Company also owns the Manaila Polymetallic Mine in Romania, which the Company is looking to bring back into production following a period of care and maintenance. The Company has also been granted the Manaila Carlibaba Extended Exploitation Licence that will allow the Company to re-examine the exploitation of the mineral resources within the larger Manaila Carlibaba licence area.

Vast has an interest in a joint venture company which provides a share of revenue generated from the Takob Mine processing facility in Tajikistan. The Takob Mine opportunity, which is 100% financed, will provide Vast with a 12.25 percent royalty equivalent over all sales of non-ferrous concentrate and any other metals produced.

In Zimbabwe, the Company is preparing for the release of its diamonds previously mined by the Company and preparing for their marketing. Upon the finalisation of the process the Company will recommence its focus on the finalisation of the mining agreement on the Community Diamond Concession in the Marange Diamond Fields.




With its stock down 10% over the past month, it is easy to disregard Fortescue Metals Group (ASX:FMG). However, a closer look at its sound financials might cause you to think again. Given that fundamentals usually drive long-term market outcomes, the company is worth looking at. In this article, we decided to focus on Fortescue Metals Group's ROE.

Return on Equity or ROE is a test of how effectively a company is growing its value and managing investors money. In simpler terms, it measures the profitability of a company in relation to shareholder's equity.

Check out our latest analysis for Fortescue Metals Group

How To Calculate Return On Equity?

The formula for return on equity is:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations)  Shareholders' Equity

So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Fortescue Metals Group is:

34% = US$5.8b  US$17b (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2022).

The 'return' is the income the business earned over the last year. That means that for every A$1 worth of shareholders' equity, the company generated A$0.34 in profit.

What Has ROE Got To Do With Earnings Growth?

We have already established that ROE serves as an efficient profit-generating gauge for a company's future earnings. We now need to evaluate how much profit the company reinvests or "retains" for future growth which then gives us an idea about the growth potential of the company. Generally speaking, other things being equal, firms with a high return on equity and profit retention, have a higher growth rate than firms that dont share these attributes.

Fortescue Metals Group's Earnings Growth And 34% ROE

Firstly, we acknowledge that Fortescue Metals Group has a significantly high ROE. Secondly, even when compared to the industry average of 16% the company's ROE is quite impressive. Under the circumstances, Fortescue Metals Group's considerable five year net income growth of 32% was to be expected.

Story continues

As a next step, we compared Fortescue Metals Group's net income growth with the industry and found that the company has a similar growth figure when compared with the industry average growth rate of 29% in the same period.

The basis for attaching value to a company is, to a great extent, tied to its earnings growth. What investors need to determine next is if the expected earnings growth, or the lack of it, is already built into the share price. This then helps them determine if the stock is placed for a bright or bleak future. 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 Fortescue Metals Group is trading on a high P/E or a low P/E, relative to its industry.

Is Fortescue Metals Group Making Efficient Use Of Its Profits?

Fortescue Metals Group's significant three-year median payout ratio of 74% (where it is retaining only 26% of its income) suggests that the company has been able to achieve a high growth in earnings despite returning most of its income to shareholders.

Moreover, Fortescue Metals Group is determined to keep sharing its profits with shareholders which we infer from its long history of paying a dividend for at least ten years. Upon studying the latest analysts' consensus data, we found that the company is expected to keep paying out approximately 67% of its profits over the next three years. Still, forecasts suggest that Fortescue Metals Group's future ROE will drop to 18% even though the the company's payout ratio is not expected to change by much.

Conclusion

Overall, we are quite pleased with Fortescue Metals Group's performance. In particular, its high ROE is quite noteworthy and also the probable explanation behind its considerable earnings growth. Yet, the company is retaining a small portion of its profits. Which means that the company has been able to grow its earnings in spite of it, so that's not too bad. With that said, on studying the latest analyst forecasts, we found that while the company has seen growth in its past earnings, analysts expect its future earnings to shrink. To know more about the company's future earnings growth forecasts take a look at this free report on analyst forecasts for the company to find out more.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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(Bloomberg) -- A senior investment banker at Credit Suisse AG says his team is actively seeking new deals in a rapidly growing corner of ESG financing, even as the future of the unit after the takeover by UBS Group AG is in question.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Swiss bank stands out as a pioneer in a corner of environmental, social and governance investment known as debt-for-nature swaps, a market that it has so far dominated. But this years near-collapse and government-engineered rescue by UBS Group means that businesses in the loss-making investment bank are now being taken under the microscope for their fit into the longer-term UBS strategy.

Ramzi Issa, global head of credit investor products structuring at Credit Suisse, says his team still wants to build out its debt-for-nature swap business after just concluding the largest ever such arrangement, a $656 million deal for Ecuador. In that transaction, Credit Suisse bought some of Ecuadors bonds at a discount and swapped them for a new, smaller loan in exchange for commitments from the country to protect its ocean life. Credit Suisse financed the deal by issuing new marine conservation-linked bonds.

Ecuadors record deal follows a $150 million swap the Swiss bank sealed last year for Barbados, and a $364 million transaction for Belize in November 2021.

In all, Credit Suisse has retired about $2.3 billion of debt and thats been substituted with about $1.2 billion of new financing, Issa said in an interview. So that is a lot of impact just on the fiscal side. On the environmental side, were talking about $680 million of funding for ocean protection that just did not exist before.

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We are actively looking at other transactions, Issa said. Im very optimistic.

A spokesperson for UBS didnt immediately reply to a request for comment.

UBS has made clear that it intends to wind down much of Credit Suisses investment bank and will screen the remaining staff for their fit with its more stringent risk culture. As the future of many bankers working at Credit Suisse is in doubt until the deal closes in the next few weeks, other banks have taken the opportunity to snap up experienced staff. Competitors are also seeking to get into the business of debt-for-nature swaps.

Bank of America is set to arrange a $500 million swap deal for Gabon in the coming months. Deutsche Bank AG has also expressed interest in the market, as banks across Europe and the US vie for a role in such deals.

ESG Exodus

The crisis engulfing Credit Suisse has led a number of its ESG bankers to leave the firm, with some following in the footsteps of Marisa Drew, who quit her role as chief sustainability officer at the Swiss Bank last year to take on an equivalent role at Standard Chartered Plc. Drew recently told Bloomberg shes keen to build out the StanChart ESG team, including through investments in biodiversity expertise.

The field plays a critical role in protecting the worlds natural capital, she said earlier this month.

Issa says hes keen to expand into more land-based deals, after having arranged a string of marine conservation swaps.

Meanwhile, the list of countries expressing interest in debt-for-nature swaps is growing. Suriname and Sri Lanka are said to be exploring options. And representatives of Gambia, Colombia, Pakistan, Eswatini and Kenya have all expressed support for such financing arrangements.

Theres obviously lots of opportunity, said Rob Weary, an adviser on the Ecuador deal through his firm, Aqua Blue Investments. In theory, any country with sovereign debt trading at a discount, with valuable ecosystems, and with access to credit support from the developments banks involved in such deals could qualify, he said.

But nonprofits and even some financial analysts are starting to question the structures of debt-for-nature swaps, which now tend to be in the hands of private markets instead of being arranged through public or philanthropic financial structures, the norm over the past three decades or so.

Though designed to help impoverished nations reduce their debt burdens while protecting the environment, theres concern that some of the bond labeling in such deals could be misleading. For example, analysts at Barclays Plc have questioned the blue bond tag attached to the Belize and Barbados swap arrangements, after establishing that not all the proceeds would go toward marine conservation. The bonds tied to Ecuadors recent deal were instead labeled as marine-conservation linked.

Issa says the institutional investors putting money into such transactions have full transparency around the terms of the swaps. Were trying to be descriptive rather than fitting a specific label, he said.

He also said his team, which sits on the markets side of Credit Suisses investing banking operations, is keen to continue developing and adapting the product as the market grows.

As you are doing more transactions, if youre doing the same thing over and over again, thats probably not the right thing, Issa said. Youre learning and trying to make improvements as you go along.

(Adds details on potential debt swap deals in the pipeline, in 13th paragraph.)

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The Department of Children, Youth and Families is the state child welfare, children's mental health and juvenile corrections services agency which promotes safety, permanence, and well-being of children through partnerships with family, community, and government.

PROVIDENCE  Gov. Dan McKee on Tuesday named Ashley Deckert, of Illinois, as his nominee to become the new director of the state Department of Children, Youth and Families.

Deckert, 39, is currently the director of public policy and government affairs with the Illinois Collaboration on Youth, where her responsibilities include oversight of proposed legislation for improving the child welfare system.

She also works as an adjunct instructor in the University of Illinois School of Social Work and has guest-lectured at Illinois State University.

'He left her to die': Family speaks out about teen who died after being placed in foster care by DCYF

What comes next?

If confirmed by the state Senate, Deckert would replace veteran DCYF administrator Kevin Aucoin, who has served as DCYF's interim director since August 2019. Aucoin was the department's deputy director and executive counsel when he agreed to become the acting director while the state conducted a search for a successor to Trista Piccola.

Piccola, appointed by Gov. Gina Raimondo in January 2017, announced in July of 2019 she was stepping down following the release of an investigation by the state child advocate and a panel of child-care professionals that found that years of ineptitude by the DCYF had contributed to the death of a 9-year-old Warwick girl.

More: Lawmakers and social workers are calling for an audit of DCYF performance. What to know:

In a statement, McKee said, Ashley has dedicated her successful career to enhancing the wellbeing of children and families. She is an experienced leader with a proven track record, and I am grateful she is bringing that knowledge and experience [to] Rhode Island.

What is Ashley Deckert's background?

Deckert has over 16 years of experience in various sectors of child welfare. She began her career as a foster care child welfare specialist in Illinois and spent 13 years at the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services in roles ranging from child protection to licensing and eventually as deputy director of child services.

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Deckert said she was honored to be considered for the position.

If confirmed, she said, I look forward to working with amazing and dedicated staff, community-based providers, the Rhode Island General Assembly, the union and other pertinent stakeholders to impact systems change and work toward continual improvement of the child and family well-being system in Rhode Island.

Deckert holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a master's degree in public policy.

As DCYF director, Deckert will oversee the departments four divisions  Child Welfare, Child Protective Services, Juvenile Correctional Services, and Permanency. DCYF is an agency within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. The DCYF has a budget of $296 million and a workforce of 702 positions.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: New Rhode Island DCYF director nominated  what comes next
With a debt ceiling deadline that is perhaps just weeks away looming over markets, investors and financial institutions will be watching talks over raising the debt limit closely.

Elsewhere in Washington, lawmakers will be holding hearings about other prominent topics in the public arena: artificial intelligence and China.

Here's what you need to know this week:

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., talks with reporters at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, April 28, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Debt ceiling talks resume

Debt ceiling negotiations will continue this week as President Biden is set to meet with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and congressional leaders later this week.

So far, a debt ceiling deal has remained elusive. Lawmakers must reach some type of agreement on raising the nation's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling or the US will default on its payment obligations for the first time in history.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the X-date, the date at which the federal government would be unable to pay its bills in full and on time, might come as soon as June 1. But in a report released on Friday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office wrote that it might come a few days or weeks after that point.

"If the Treasurys cash and extraordinary measures are sufficient to finance the government until June 15, expected quarterly tax receipts and additional extraordinary measures will probably allow the government to continue financing operations through at least the end of July," the CBO report stated.

Tech leaders head to DC for AI hearing

Some of the nation's top leaders in artificial intelligence will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.

Those testifying include OpenAI CEO Samuel Altman, IBM chief privacy and trust officer Christina Montgomery, and Gary Marcus, professor emeritus of New York University.

The hearing shows that policymakers in Washington, D.C., are beginning to grapple with how best to regulate artificial intelligence platforms.

A new MITRE-Harris poll found that 82% of Americans support regulating artificial intelligence.

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Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, left, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman arrive to the White House for a meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris on artificial intelligence, Thursday, May 4, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Biden officials testify on China competition

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is expected to testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday about the growing threat of China against the United States.

In a separate hearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee, dubbed "Investing in U.S. Security, Competitiveness and the Path Ahead for the U.S.-China Relationship," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo will also testify on President Biden's budget.

Both hearings come against a backdrop of growing calls for international cooperation and an "economic NATO" to counter economic coercion from China.

Click here for politics news related to business and money

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
Looking for a fun and educational activity during the school holidays? Visit Bali Safari Park! Explore exotic wildlife, enjoy animal shows, and more. Book now and save with our school holiday promo.

BALI, Indonesia, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Looking for a unique and exciting activity to enjoy with your family or friends during the school holidays? Look no further than Bali Safari Park!

safari journey

Located in a natural environment with exotic animals from Indonesia, India, and Africa, Bali Safari Park offers a range of fun and educational experiences for visitors of all ages. From the Safari Journey on a special tram with a private guide to the Big Cat and Elephant shows, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

To make your visit even more special, we're offering a school holiday promo that allows you to save on your tickets. Simply book online at www.balisafarimarinepark.com or via WhatsApp reservation at 081138772200 and enjoy a discount on our various package options.

"At Bali Safari Park, we want to provide a fun and educational experience for all visitors, especially during the school holidays," said Inneke Ficianirum, Head of Marketing at Bali Safari Park. "Our park is the perfect place to learn about exotic animals and enjoy some quality time with your loved ones."

Choose from various package options, such as ticket admission for Monday to Friday, and ticket admission with Bali Agung Show for Saturday and Sunday, VIP Rhino, and Night Safari. With the Rhino VIP package, you'll receive "Priority & Fast access" facilities to every show and Safari journey in Bali Safari. If you're interested in going on a safari at night, the Night Safari Package is the right choice.

During the month of May 2023, all visitors to Bali Safari will receive special access to enjoy one-time fun in the Fun Zone, Rainforest Trail, and Water Play Zone.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to create unforgettable memories with your loved ones. Book your Bali Safari Park adventure today and take advantage of our school holiday promo. We can't wait to see you!

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Bali Safari Park

Jl. Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra km 19,8

Serongga, Kec. Gianyar

Kabupaten Gianyar

Bali 80551

Telp: (0361) 950000

Icha Hidayat (Marcom Executive)

0812-3394-6263

copywriter@balisafarimarinepark.com

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/discover-the-thrill-of-bali-safari-park-and-save-with-our-school-holiday-promo-301824405.html

SOURCE Bali Safari Park
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2023) - EMX Royalty Corporation (NYSE American: EMX) (TSXV: EMX) (FSE: 6E9) (the "Company" or "EMX") is pleased to report results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 ("Q1-2023"). The Company's filings for the quarter are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov, and on EMX's website at www.EMXroyalty.com. Financial results were prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. All dollar amounts in this news release are in USD unless otherwise noted.

HIGHLIGHTS

Financial Updates for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023

Revenue and other income for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was $2,742,000 (Q1-2022 - $1,749,000). Adjusted revenue and other income[1] of $4,968,000 (Q1-2022 - $3,209,000) included $2,226,000 (Q1-2022 - $1,460,000) in income for the Company's share of royalty revenue from the Caserones Mine (effective) royalty interest in Chile.

Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was $3,726,000 (Q1-2022 - income of $18,592,000). The prior year comparative quarter included a net settlement paid by Barrick Gold Corporation of $18,825,000.

Cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was $2,832,000 (Q1-2022 - cash provided by operating activities of $16,270,000). Adjusted cash1 used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was $1,935,000 (Q1-2022 - adjusted cash provided by operating activities of $17,172,000).

As at March 31, 2023, EMX had cash and cash equivalents of $9,089,000 (December 31, 2022 - $15,508,000), $3,517,000 in cash held in trust to acquire an additional 2.263% ownership in SLM California SpA, investments, long-term investments and loans receivable valued at $15,116,000 (December 31, 2022 - $14,561,000) and loans payable of $40,949,000 (December 31, 2022 - $40,489,000).

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Corporate Updates

Timok Dispute Update

On January 27, 2022 the Company announced that it had suspended the filing of a Notice of Arbitration to Zijin Mining Group Ltd ("Zijin") regarding its royalty agreement covering the Timok project in Serbia, which includes the producing Cukaru Peki copper and gold mine. This suspension followed EMX's previous announcement of its intention to file the Notice of Arbitration to formally dispute the royalty rate as defined under the Royalty Agreement (see EMX news release dated December 17, 2021). Discussions with Zijin have since proved amicable and productive and continued through Q1 2023. Both companies are expecting to execute a modified royalty agreement in 2023.

Acquisition of Additional Royalty Interest on Caserones

Subsequent to March 31, 2023, EMX acquired an additional 2.263% ownership in the underlying Caserones royalty holder, Sociedad Legal Minera California Una de la Sierra Pena Negra ("SLM"), for cash consideration of $3,517,000 pursuant to agreements with existing shareholders of SLM. The acquisition provides EMX with a further 0.044% (effective) net smelter royalty ("NSR") interest in the Caserones property, increasing the Company's NSR royalty interest to 0.7775%.

Royalty and Royalty Generation Updates

During Q1 2023, the Company's royalty generation business was active in North America, South America, Europe, Turkey, Australia and Morocco. The Company spent $5,730,000 (Q1-2022 - $4,262,000) on royalty generation costs and recovered $2,884,000 (Q1-2022 - $2,128,000) from partners. Royalty generation costs include exploration related activities, technical services, project marketing, land and legal costs, as well as third party due diligence for acquisitions. During Q1 2023, the Company also completed four partnerships across the portfolio while continuing to replace partnered properties with new royalty generation projects.

Producing Royalties 6 Advanced Royalties 11 Exploration Royalties 153 Royalty Generation Properties 98









Figure 1

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1508/166176_fig1emx.jpg.

Highlights from Q1 2023 include the following:

In the US, the Company's royalty portfolio advanced with more than 10 partner-funded work programs, including 2 drill projects, and the expansion of several properties through the staking of new claims. The Company continued to advance projects retained by South32 Limited, including the ongoing drill program at the Copper Springs project in Arizona's Globe-Miami district.

EMX executed definitive agreements to sell the Company's a) portfolio of 14 early stage precious and base metal projects in Idaho (i.e., ranging from grassroot to historical resource properties) and b) wholly-owned core drilling subsidiary, Scout Drilling LLC, to Scout Discoveries Corp. (see EMX news release dated March 8, 2023). The terms of the definitive agreements provide EMX with an equity interest, retained 3.25% NSR royalty interests, AAR payments, and certain milestone payments as the portfolio is advanced. The portfolio represents the largest unpatented claim holdings in Idaho.

In Canada, EMX programs advanced available properties in the portfolio as partners conducted multiple field programs, including drill programs on EMX royalty properties. EMX received C$16,000 in cash payments and C$Nil in share equity payments during the quarter.

EMX's Latin American royalty portfolio advanced with work programs that included drilling at the Diablillos project's JAC Zone silver-gold discovery by AbraSilver Resource Corp., the commencement of a drill program at Pampa Metals Corporation's Block 4 Buenavista target, as well as updated resource estimates at Aftermath Silver Ltd.'s Berenguela polymetallic CRD project and GR Silver Mining Ltd's San Marcial epithermal silver project.

Lundin Mining Corporation ("Lundin") entered into a binding purchase agreement with JX Nippon to acquire fifty-one percent (51%) of the issued and outstanding equity of MLCC, the Caserones mine operator (see Lundin news release dated March 27, 2023). Lundin will also have the right to acquire up to an additional 19% interest in Caserones.

In Northern Europe the Company continued to develop its portfolio of projects, acquiring new gold and battery metals (nickel, copper and cobalt) royalty generation projects totaling 15,456 hectares, and partnered four available properties. Partner funded drill programs were completed by Capella Minerals Ltd at EMX's Kjoli royalty property in Norway and by Kendirck Resources PLC at EMX's Espedalen royalty property in Norway. Results from those programs are pending. Drilling also commenced at the Mo-I-Rana royalty property in Norway at the end of Q1 (operated by Mahvie Minerals AB, a private Swedish corporation).

Royalty generation programs proceeded in the Balkans and in Morocco, where multiple exploration license applications have been filed by the Company. New target areas are being assessed for further acquisitions.

Investment Updates

As at March 31, 2023, the Company had marketable securities of $9,421,000 (December 31, 2022 - $9,966,000), and $4,678,000 (December 31, 2022 - $4,591,000) in private investments. The Company will continue to generate cash flow by selling certain of its investments when appropriate. During the three months ended March 31, 2023 EMX generated $776,000 (Q1-2022 - $662,000) from the sale of investments. Much of the investment portfolio was derived from strategic investments including Premium Nickel Resources Ltd., and royalty deals completed as part of our organic royalty generation business.

OUTLOOK

The 2023 year will continue to see revenue and other income coming from our cash flowing royalties, including Leeville in Nevada, Gediktepe in Turkey, potentially Timok in Serbia (pending conclusion of discussions with Zijin), and our effective royalty interest on Caserones in Chile. As in previous years, production royalties will continue to be complemented by option, advance royalty, and other pre-production payments from partnered projects across the global asset portfolio. As a royalty holder, the Company has limited, if any, access to information on properties for which it holds royalties. Additionally, the Company may receive information from the owners and operators of the properties, which the Company is not permitted to disclose to the public pursuant to the underlying agreement or the information is not NI 43-101 compliant. Accordingly, the Company has not, and does not anticipate that it will have the ability to, provide guidance or outlook as to future production.

The Company will continue to strengthen its balance sheet over the course of the year by looking to retire portions of our long-term debt, continuing to evaluate equity markets, and the ongoing monetization of the Company's marketable securities.

EMX is well positioned to identify and pursue new royalty and investment opportunities, while further filling a pipeline of royalty generation properties that provide opportunities for additional cash flow, as well as exploration, development, and production success.

Qualified Person. Michael P. Sheehan, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and employee of the Company, has reviewed, verified, and approved the above technical disclosure on North America and Latin America. Eric P. Jensen, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and employee of the Company, has reviewed, verified, and approved the above technical disclosure on Europe, Turkey, and Australia.

About EMX. EMX is a precious, base and battery metals royalty company. EMX's investors are provided with discovery, development, and commodity price optionality, while limiting exposure to risks inherent to operating companies. The Company's common shares are listed on the NYSE American Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "EMX", and also trade on the Frankfurt exchange under the symbol "6E9". Please see www.EMXroyalty.com for more information.

For further information contact:

David M. Cole

President and CEO

Phone: (303) 973-8585

Dave@EMXroyalty.com

Scott Close

Director of Investor Relations

Phone: (303) 973-8585

SClose@EMXroyalty.com

Isabel Belger

Investor Relations (Europe) Phone: +49 178 4909039

IBelger@EMXroyalty.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

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain "forward-looking statements" that reflect the Company's current expectations and projections about its future results. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding perceived merit of properties, exploration results and budgets, mineral reserves and resource estimates, work programs, capital expenditures, timelines, strategic plans, market prices for precious and base metal, or other statements that are not statements of fact. When used in this news release, words such as "estimate," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "will", "believe", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which, by their very nature, are not guarantees of the Company's future operational or financial performance, and are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors may include, but are not limited to unavailability of financing, failure to identify commercially viable mineral reserves, fluctuations in the market valuation for commodities, difficulties in obtaining required approvals for the development of a mineral project, increased regulatory compliance costs, expectations of project funding by joint venture partners and other factors.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date otherwise specifically indicated herein. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified in this news release, and other risk factors and forward-looking statements listed in the Company's MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2022 (the "MD&A"), and the most recently filed Annual Information Form ("AIF") for the year ended December 31, 2022, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. More information about the Company, including the MD&A, the AIF and financial statements of the Company, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the SEC's EDGAR website at www.sec.gov.

[1] Adjusted revenue and other income and adjusted cash provided by (used in) operating activities are non-IFRS financial measures with no standardized meaning under IFRS and might not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other issuers. Refer to the "Non-IFRS financial measures" section on page 23 of the Q1 2023 MD&A for more information on each non-IFRS financial measure.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166176
By Foo Yun Chee

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Microsoft Corp won EU antitrust approval for its $69 billion acquisition of Activision on Monday, in a significant boost that could prompt Chinese and South Korean regulators to follow suit despite a British veto of the deal.

The U.S. software giant still faces a battle to clinch the world's biggest gaming industry takeover, however. It has until May 24 to appeal a decision by Britain's Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) to block it. A final decision may take months.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission's case against the deal is also pending at the agency, though Japan approved it in March.

The European Commission said the transaction was pro-competitive due to Microsoft's agreement to licence popular Activision games such as "Call of Duty" to rival game streaming platforms, confirming a Reuters report in March.

Such licences are "practical and effective", European Union antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager told reporters.

"Actually they significantly improve the condition for cloud game streaming compared to the present situation, which is why we actually consider them pro-competitive," she added, contrasting with the UK position that the deal would hit competition in that part of the market.

In rejecting the deal, the UK watchdog was seen as flexing its muscle on the global regulatory stage since Brexit.

Microsoft has in recent months signed licensing deals with Nvidia, Nintendo, Ukraine's Boosteroid and Japan's Ubitus to bring Activision games to their platforms should the deal go through.

"The European Commission has required Microsoft to license popular Activision Blizzard games automatically to competing cloud gaming services. This will apply globally and will empower millions of consumers worldwide to play these games on any device they choose," said Microsoft President Brad Smith.

Activision's shares were up 1.3% at 1650 GMT, while Microsoft's were little changed.

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CLOUD GAMING MARKET GROWTH

Vestager said the Commission had a different view from UK regulators of how the game streaming market, which accounted for just 1% of the total market last year, would develop.

"They see this market developing faster than we would think," she said. "There is a bit of a paradox here, because we think that the remedies that we have taken ... will allow for licensing to many, many more in the cloud gaming markets."

Britain's CMA said streaming was the most rapidly growing sector in gaming, while consoles were a mature market. It said Microsoft already accounted for 60-70% of global cloud gaming services and had other trump cards: Xbox, the leading PC operating system Windows and cloud provider Azure.

The CMA said on Monday it stood by its veto. Microsoft has said it will appeal that decision to the Competition Appeal Tribunal, with a ruling expected to take months.

The EU move will give CMA critics ammunition against the agency, said Alex Haffner, a partner at London law firm Fladgate.

"Critics of the CMA's stance, of which there have been many, will inevitably seize on todays decision as proving the point made that the UK's regulatory regime is too rigid and stifles innovation," he said.

"Microsoft and Activisions lawyers will also use the decision to provide greater ballast to their appeal of the CMA's decision."

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee, additional reporting by Paul Sandle in London; Editing by Alexander Smith and Mark Potter)
By Kate Abnett

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Lawmakers in the European Parliament will consider a proposal to cap power plants' windfall revenues if Europe faces another energy price crisis and use the cash to cushion citizens from soaring bills.

The European Union wants to finalise a reform of its electricity market this year to make the system more resilient in the face of price spikes such as those following Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year.

Nicolas Gonzalez Casares, the European Parliament's lead negotiator on the reform, wants to add to it a revenue cap on power producers that would kick in if there is another price crisis.

The cap would recover 90% of any revenue above 180 euros ($198.14) per megawatt hour that generators, including wind, solar, nuclear and lignite plants, earn from selling their electricity into the market, Gonzalez Casares' draft report, seen by Reuters showed.

Cash raised would finance government measures to help consumers - for example, temporary cut-price power tariffs for citizens and businesses.

"It's very important to use these revenues in order to reduce bills for people," Gonzalez Casares told Reuters.

Last year's energy crisis exacerbated inequalities in Europe, as wealthy countries like Germany far outspent poorer nations in public funding to help citizens and companies with soaring power bills.

The draft report said planning the crisis revenue cap in advance would also give investors certainty.

The EU introduced a temporary revenue cap for power plants last year, as an emergency response to high power prices. It drew opposition from companies that said the surprise change in their revenues could deter investors.

The European Commission, which drafts EU policies, proposed its power market reform in March. Gonzalez Casares' report suggests amendments on which the European Parliament will vote in the coming months.

Those it approves will form Parliament's position for negotiations with EU countries on the final reform.

($1 = 0.9084 euros)

(Reporting by Kate Abnett; editing by Barbara Lewis)
WASHINGTON/BERLIN (Reuters) - Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations plan to tighten sanctions on Russia at their summit in Japan this week, with steps aimed at energy and exports aiding Moscow's war effort, said officials with direct knowledge of the discussions.

New measures announced by the leaders during the May 19-21 meetings will target sanctions evasion involving third countries, and seek to undermine Russia's future energy production and curb trade that supports Russia's military, the people said.

Separately, U.S. officials also expect G7 members will agree to adjust their approach to sanctions so that, at least for certain categories of goods, all exports are automatically banned unless they are on a list of approved items.

The Biden administration has previously pushed G7 allies to reverse the group's sanctions approach, which today allows all goods to be sold to Russia unless they are explicitly blacklisted.

That change could make it harder for Moscow to find gaps in the sanctions regime.

While the allies have not agreed to apply the more-restrictive approach broadly, U.S. officials expect that in the most sensitive areas for Russia's military G7 members will adopt a presumption that exports are banned unless they are on a designated list.

The exact areas where these new rules would apply are still being discussed.

"You should expect to see, in a handful of spaces, particularly relating to Russia's defense industrial base, that change in presumption happen," said a U.S. official who declined to be named.

The precise language of the G7 leaders' joint declarations is still subject to negotiation and adjustment before it is released during the summit. The G7 comprises the United States, Japan, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.

The G7 leaders' action on Russia comes as Ukraine's Western allies hunt for new ways to tighten already restrictive sanctions on Russia, from export controls to visa restrictions and an oil price cap, which have put pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin but not halted the full-scale invasion that started over a year ago.

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Some U.S. allies have resisted the idea of banning trade broadly and then issuing category-by-category exemptions.

The European Union, for instance, has its own approach and is also currently negotiating its 11th package of sanctions since Russia invaded Ukraine, with the bulk focused on people and countries circumventing existing trade restrictions.

"The sometimes-discussed approach of 'we ban everything first and allow exceptions' will not work in our view," said one top German government official. "We want to be very, very precise and we want to avoid unintended side effects."

Meanwhile, any change in language, including language specifying that certain trade is banned unless specifically exempted, by the G7 leaders may not necessarily lead to more bans immediately or indeed any change in Russia's posture.

"At least on day one, that change in presumption doesn't change the substance of what's allowed, but it matters for the long-term trajectory of where we're going and the restrictiveness of the overall regime," the U.S. official said.

Ukraine, backed by Western arms and cash, is expected to launch major counter-offensive operations in the coming weeks to try to recapture tracts of its east and south from Russian forces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been in Europe this week for meetings with Pope Francis as well as with leaders from France, Italy and Germany. He is expected to address G7 leaders, either virtually or in-person, during their summit in Hiroshima, the officials said.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said last month a G7 move to ban exports to the country would cause Moscow to terminate a Black Sea grain deal that enables vital exports of grain from Ukraine. Food security in the aftermath of the war is also expected to be a major topic at the G7.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington and Andreas Rinke in Berlin; Editing by Chris Reese)
martin-dm / iStock.com

The majority of Americans own either one (28%) or two credit card(s) (25%), a recent GOBankingRates survey found  but how many credit cards is the ideal number?

Im a Self-Made Millionaire: These Are Investments Everyone Should Avoid During an Economic Downturn

Advice: 3 Signs Youre Serious About Raising Your Credit Score

According to experts, there is no one-size-fits-all answer, but there are some general rules of thumb.

If You Are Building Your Credit Back Up, Stick To One

Lyle David Solomon, principal attorney at Oak View Law Group, recommends that his clients cut back on their credit card use when they are recovering from a major blow to their credit score, such as a bankruptcy filing.

Generally, when people are just getting out of bankruptcy, I recommend that people only have one card and use it sparingly, he said. Make small purchases here and there, under $100, and pay it off in full right away to build up a credit history.

However, if the reason you had to file bankruptcy was due to credit card debt and you do not trust yourself to spend responsibly, it could be best to forgo having a credit card altogether.

Some people cant even have one and need to stick with a debit card, Solomon said.

Take Our Poll: Who Has Given You the Best Money Advice You Have Ever Received?

Generally, Three to Four Cards Is a Good Number

For most people, I feel three to four [credit cards] is appropriate, Solomon said. It is good to have a daily use card with a good rewards program. If you travel frequently, an airline miles card or hotel rewards card is also beneficial. Also, there are still some places that only take one type of card. It is good to have a mix of Visa, Mastercard and American Express for different situations. When making a large purchase of electronics, it is nice to have the AMEX guarantees, as well as other benefits.

Plus, different rewards cards have different benefits, so its best to have a mix for different types of purchases.

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Having multiple cards in your wallet and using those cards on the types of purchases that earn you the most rewards can be a great way to maximize the value you get from your credit cards, said Justin Zeidman, assistant vice president of open banking at Navy Federal Credit Union. Responsible credit usage is paramount, but if you are in a financial place where you can manage more than one card, it can be very beneficial to have multiple cards in your wallet.

You Can Have More Than Four If Youre a Credit Card Pro

If youre in good financial standing and want to reap the most credit card rewards possible, you may want to have even more than four cards.

The ideal number of cards is unique to the individual, Solomon said. I know one person with 27 credit cards, but she also has an 800-plus credit score, has a seven-figure income and travels constantly. She uses her cards to save herself well over $10,000 per year.

Credit expert John Ulzheimer agrees that there is no maximum number of credit cards for a person with good spending habits.

For someone who is responsible about using their cards and never carries a balance, there is no number of cards thats too many, he told CNBC Select.

More From GOBankingRates

Methodology: GOBankingRates surveyed 1,003 Americans ages 18 and older from across the country between Sept.19 and Sept. 20, 2022, asking 12 questions: (1) Which of the following is the most important to you when it comes to picking a new credit card?; (2) How do you handle your credit card bill each month?; (3) Do you know your credit score?; (4) At what age did you get your first credit card?; (5) What is your primary purpose for using your credit card(s)?; (6) Do any of the following statements apply to you? (Select all that apply); (7) Which credit card fees do/would you hate the most?; (8) How many credit cards do you own?; (9) What is your total current credit card debt?; (10) How long do you think it will take you to pay off your credit card debt?; (11) Have you ever hit the credit limit on your credit card?; and (12) Have you ever charged any of the following to your credit card? Select all that apply. GOBankingRates used PureSpectrums survey platform to conduct the poll.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Many Credit Cards Should You Have? Experts Weigh In
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany will almost halve planned capacity for liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals in the Baltic Sea, a government source said, as Berlin revaluates its LNG needs given local resistance and an easing of energy bottlenecks.

Two floating LNG terminals are to be sited at Mukran off the Ruegen coast with annual capacity of around 10 billion cubic metres (bcm), down from the 18 bcm previously planned, the source said on condition of anonymity.

Deutsche Regas will operate the floating stations in Ruegen, a popular tourist attraction, instead of utility RWE, which said last month it did not want to operate any LNG infrastructure long term.

It added, the government would include the project in its LNG Acceleration Act that gives an overview of Berlin's LNG infrastructure plans.

Germany last year pushed to accelerate the building of its LNG infrastructure, following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and a sudden drop in piped Russian gas imports to Europe's biggest economy that exposed Berlin's dependence on Russia.

In just under a year, three floating terminals were built, granted permission and have entered operation in the ports of Wilhelmshaven, Brunsbuettel and Lubmin, helping Germany to avert an energy shortage last winter.

Berlin plans to replace some of its floating terminals with permanent stations from 2026 and has rejected environmental groups' criticism of excess planned capacity, saying the German ports will also supply European neighbours.

(Reporting by Markus Wacket; Writing by Riham Alkousaa; editing by Barbara Lewis)
FLORHAM PARK, N.J., May 15, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Matrix New World ("Matrix"), a leading provider of environmental consulting, engineering, and infrastructure solutions, today announced that it has partnered with True Environmental ("True"), a platform focused on collaborating with founder and employee-owned consulting and engineering firms to help provide capital solutions to accelerate growth and liquidity events for ownership transition. The partnership advances Trues mission of building a platform to partner with and grow businesses in the environmental consulting and engineering industry.

Jayne Warne, Founder and President of Matrix New World, commented, "This partnership is a significant milestone in Matrix New World's continued evolution, supporting our vision of investing in our talented and dedicated people to better serve our clients. In True Environmental, we have found a group that shares our values, respects our culture, and is committed to supporting our growth. The infusion of expertise from True Environmentals leadership team and the talented staff of Matrix will enhance our position as a preferred employer for innovative planners, engineers, and scientists."

"Matrix New World has built a terrific company centered on deep employee engagement and exceptional client service. We look forward to working with Jayne and the Matrix team to continue delivering best-in-class solutions to solve their clients complex environmental, infrastructure, and energy challenges," said Jim Stamatis, CEO of True Environmental.

"We could not be more excited to partner with Jayne and the Matrix leadership team to create the foundation upon which to build a world-class environmental, engineering, and infrastructure consulting firm. In addition, we are fortunate to have assembled a very experienced management team at True Environmental, who will be great thought partners in helping the Matrix team achieve their long-term goals," said Jay Abramson, Senior Partner at Halle Capital.

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About Halle Capital

Halle Capital is a lower-middle market, growth-oriented private equity firm based in New York. Halle leverages the experience and network of its professionals to pursue investment opportunities in healthcare services and business/consumer services. The firm partners with experienced management teams to build businesses in highly fragmented markets with durable secular tailwinds.

About True Environmental

True Environmental ("True"), backed by Halle Capital, is a platform focused on building a consulting and engineering organization for environmental end markets. True Environmental is led by Jim Stamatis, former CEO of Louis Berger and 30+ year industry veteran. True seeks to partner with founder and employee-owned consulting and engineering firms to help provide capital solutions to accelerate growth and liquidity events for ownership transition.

About Matrix New World

Founded in 1990 and headquartered in New Jersey, Matrix New World is a diversified environmental consulting and engineering firm. The company provides regulatory permitting, ecology / natural resource studies, coastal resiliency planning, geotechnical engineering, surveying, and other civil engineering services to customers across a variety of end markets. The company has offices in New Jersey, Louisiana, and Arizona, with 220+ employees nationwide.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005072/en/

Contacts

Prosek Partners

Mike Geller

mgeller@prosek.com
It's common for many investors, especially those who are inexperienced, to buy shares in companies with a good story even if these companies are loss-making. Unfortunately, these high risk investments often have little probability of ever paying off, and many investors pay a price to learn their lesson. Loss-making companies are always racing against time to reach financial sustainability, so investors in these companies may be taking on more risk than they should.

Despite being in the age of tech-stock blue-sky investing, many investors still adopt a more traditional strategy; buying shares in profitable companies like Edisun Power Europe (VTX:ESUN). While profit isn't the sole metric that should be considered when investing, it's worth recognising businesses that can consistently produce it.

See our latest analysis for Edisun Power Europe

How Quickly Is Edisun Power Europe Increasing Earnings Per Share?

If a company can keep growing earnings per share (EPS) long enough, its share price should eventually follow. That makes EPS growth an attractive quality for any company. Shareholders will be happy to know that Edisun Power Europe's EPS has grown 18% each year, compound, over three years. If the company can sustain that sort of growth, we'd expect shareholders to come away satisfied.

It's often helpful to take a look at earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company's growth. The good news is that Edisun Power Europe is growing revenues, and EBIT margins improved by 2.8 percentage points to 44%, over the last year. That's great to see, on both counts.

You can take a look at the company's revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. Click on the chart to see the exact numbers.

Edisun Power Europe isn't a huge company, given its market capitalisation of CHF124m. That makes it extra important to check on its balance sheet strength.

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Are Edisun Power Europe Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

It should give investors a sense of security owning shares in a company if insiders also own shares, creating a close alignment their interests. So it is good to see that Edisun Power Europe insiders have a significant amount of capital invested in the stock. To be specific, they have CHF13m worth of shares. This considerable investment should help drive long-term value in the business. That amounts to 11% of the company, demonstrating a degree of high-level alignment with shareholders.

It means a lot to see insiders invested in the business, but shareholders may be wondering if remuneration policies are in their best interest. Our quick analysis into CEO remuneration would seem to indicate they are. For companies with market capitalisations under CHF180m, like Edisun Power Europe, the median CEO pay is around CHF582k.

The CEO of Edisun Power Europe was paid just CHF40k in total compensation for the year ending December 2022. This could be considered a token amount, and indicates that the company does not need to use payment to motivate the CEO - that is often a good sign. CEO remuneration levels are not the most important metric for investors, but when the pay is modest, that does support enhanced alignment between the CEO and the ordinary shareholders. Generally, arguments can be made that reasonable pay levels attest to good decision-making.

Is Edisun Power Europe Worth Keeping An Eye On?

For growth investors, Edisun Power Europe's raw rate of earnings growth is a beacon in the night. If that's not enough, consider also that the CEO pay is quite reasonable, and insiders are well-invested alongside other shareholders. The overarching message here is that Edisun Power Europe has underlying strengths that make it worth a look at. Don't forget that there may still be risks. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Edisun Power Europe that you should be aware of.

The beauty of investing is that you can invest in almost any company you want. But if you prefer to focus on stocks that have demonstrated insider buying, here is a list of companies with insider buying in the last three months.

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.

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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HONG KONG, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC), a fully-fledged ICT service provider and network operator with extensive global coverage, and Telehouse Vietnam, a globally premier ICT solutions provider, sign the Joint Marketing Agreement to deliver EdgeX by HGC in the Vietnam market as part of strategy to implement EdgeX by HGC in Asia to support the emerging economies. This is seen to propel the edge infrastructure support to the Vietnamese growing economy and its digital demand. Through bringing the EdgeX infrastructure to Hanoi with Telehouse Vietnam, HGC further its presence in the country by extending its efficient services to the North since the first launch of EdgeX by HGC in Ho Chi Minh City last year.

Companies inside the OTT ecosystem in Hanoi can now enjoy an uplifted digital experience through EdgeX by HGC together promoted with Telehouse Vietnam. EdgeX by HGC with its flagship Eyeball-as-a-Service (EaaS) can deliver ultra low-latency and secured connectivity with resilience to enhance end user experience of OTTs, content providers, gaming applications and streaming services. These customers can have a one-stop-shop solution to access security services, multiple public cloud platforms and internet exchange like AMS-IX. And furthermore they can connect local and international network instantly with both parties' global presence. Overall this partnership can be seen to benefit Vietnamese businesses to capitalize on the new trends of digital transformation.

EdgeX by HGC is a best of breed solution to today's online needs by bringing together five fields of digital infrastructure and solutions under one umbrella for easy deployment, management and scale; connectivity, cybersecurity, direct cloud connect, data center services as well as system integration with managed services. Therefore via partnering with Telehouse Vietnam, whom the existing infrastructure and local expertise allows for immediate and far reaching edge service that is aimed at generating a comprehensive ecosystem by establishing an integrated platform. This allows more niche players to overcome the high cost in building an immersive, geo-sensitive and real time application for today's Web 3.0 environment.

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Cliff Tam, HGC's International Business Senior Vice President for Global Data Strategy & Operations says, "Today we make the announcement that HGC is to collaborate with Telehouse Vietnam to extend EdgeX by HGC to Hanoi thus opening up access to our flagship innovation EaaS. It is with enthusiasm that OTT in Hanoi can now have access to high quality platform featuring key advantages of ultra low latency, resilient and scalability. We are excited by Telehouse Vietnam's partnership and keen to see our service be adopted expressly in the Vietnam economy so more customers can benefit from our edge services."

Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, General Director of Telehouse Vietnam (front row, left) and Mr. Cliff Tam, Senior Vice President of Global Data Strategy & Operations, International Business of HGC (front row, right) sign Joint Marketing Agreement to launch EdgeX by HGC in Hanoi (PRNewsfoto/HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC))

About HGC Global Communications Limited

HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC) is a leading Hong Kong and international telecom operator and ICT solution provider. The company owns an extensive network and infrastructure in Hong Kong and overseas and provides various kinds of services. HGC has 25 overseas offices, with business over 5 continents. It provides telecom infrastructure service to other operators and serves as a service provider to corporate and households. The company provides full-fledged telecom, data centre services, ICT solutions and broadband services for local, overseas, corporate, SME and mass markets. HGC owns and operates an extensive fibre-optic network, five cross-border telecom routes integrated into tier-one telecom operators in mainland China and connects with hundreds of world-class international telecom operators. HGC is one of Hong Kong's largest Wi-Fi service providers, running over 29,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in Hong Kong. The company is committed to further investing and enriching its current infrastructure and, in parallel, adding on top the latest technologies and developing its infrastructure services and solutions. In 2019, HGC Group completed the acquisition of Macroview Telecom Limited (Macroview), a leading digital technology solution and managed services provider. The addition of Macroview further accelerates HGC Group's digital transformation path and positioning as a pioneering ICT and digital services leader. HGC is a portfolio company of I Squared Capital, an independent global infrastructure investment manager focusing on energy, utilities and transport in North America, Europe and selected fast-growing economies.

To learn more, please visit HGC's website at: www.hgc.com.hk

About Telehouse Vietnam

Telehouse Vietnam was established in July 2010 and be a joint venture between FPT Information Systems (FPT IS), leading provider of ICT solution around the world KDDI Corporation and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. With the aim of professionalizing and delivering international standard services under the TELEHOUSE brand name, Telehouse Vietnam has continuously upgraded and expanded the services over the years, including Colocation services, manage services, data center relocation services, and many other core services. Therefore, It helps the customers of Telehouse Vietnam manage their IT systems more easily, increasing efficiency and saving costs for their businesses.

With the expanding business of MNCs in Vietnam, the need for local back-up facilities to retain business continuity is raising sharply. There has been a rapidly increasing demand for information communications infrastructure configuration and operations support cored on highly reliable data centers among many corporations. Therefore, TELEHOUSE Vietnam, with TELEHOUSE standards of global quality, which cover a wide ranges of conditions including facilities, operation, security and quality management, meets the above customers' requirements. For systems that incorporate data centers as one element, KDDI and FPT IS will collaborate with TELEHOUSE Vietnam to offer comprehensive planning, design, maintenance and consultation covering total system integration and solutions.

SOURCE HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC)
BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP)  When Asa Hutchinson launches his bid for president this week, hell do so at a familiar location: the downtown square in the northwest Arkansas city where he was born, practiced law and first ran for office.

But Bentonville today is vastly different from the sleepy small town of fewer than 9,000 people where he got his start handling real estate cases and writing wills.

Fueled by retail giant Walmart, the nearly 57,000-person city is now the states fastest growing. High-end restaurants, art galleries and shops crowd the downtown, while mountain bikers are a regular presence. The sounds of construction and the sight of cranes are also a regular part of life in the city. Its a far cry from a town that didnt even have an FM radio station until Hutchinson launched one in the late 1970s.

To me, today, Bentonville represents the success of entrepreneurship and hard work and independent thinking, Hutchinson told The Associated Press.

Hutchinsons campaign event on Wednesday gives the former two-term governor and increasingly outspoken critic of Donald Trump a chance to introduce himself on a national stage as he makes an uphill bid for the GOP nomination. But the venue also highlights Hutchinsons portrayal of himself as a business-friendly conservative in the backyard of his states most well-known employer. It comes at the same time potential rival Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is waging war with Disney in his own state.

It s both a return to something old and a rallying of something new, said Janine Parry, a political science professor at the University of Arkansas. Its all encapsulated in one place.

Hutchinson was born in Bentonville but grew up in Gravette, a neighboring town of about 3,600 people. He graduated from high school in Springdale, the home of Tyson Foods, and returned to Bentonville to start his law practice after college.

After serving part-time as the citys attorney, Hutchinson tried his hand at politics with a bid for local prosecutor. He ran as a Republican, something unheard of in then-solidly Democratic Arkansas.

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Back then, in Benton County, we didnt know what a Republican looked like, said Kim Hendren, a former state legislator and Hutchinsons brother-in-law. Hendren, then a Democrat, won a seat to the Legislature that year, while Hutchinson lost the prosecutors race.

Hutchinson said fellow lawyers advised him he had no political future in the state if he remained a Republican.

They said, If you ever want to be a prosecutor, if you ever want to be a judge, youve got to be a Democrat. Theres just no future being a Republican lawyer in the state, said Hutchinson, who went on to serve as a federal prosecutor and was later elected to the U.S. House.

Now, the state is predominantly Republican with the GOP holding every statewide and federal seat and the party having a majority in both chambers of the Legislature.

Bentonville, however, is viewed as less conservative than the surrounding county and is expected to move more in that direction with an influx of Walmart employees and vendors from outside the state.

The influence of Walmart and founder Sam Waltons family is seen throughout the city. The original Waltons 5&10 store building still sits off the town square and is being renovated into an expanded museum. A temporary museum space, not far from the square, includes a hologram of Walton that answers visitors questions.

The town has become a major tourist destination since Waltons daughter, Alice, founded the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in 2011. Crystal Bridges collection features famous works of art such as Norman Rockwells Rosie the Riveter painting and includes a Frank Lloyd Wright house that was moved to the museums grounds in 2015.

Not far from the museum, ground has been broken on another project funded by Alice Walton: a school of medicine that is expected to welcome its first class of students in 2025. The Walton family has also spent millions of dollars in improvements around the area, including a system of biking trails that also draws visitors.

The Bentonville of 20 years ago is not there anymore, said Republican state Sen. Jim Dotson, whose district includes part of the city. Weve had so much growth, so much influx of folks that the small-town historical Bentonville that was the Sam Walton Bentonville where the five-and-dime started is virtually unrecognizable.

Its an area where Hutchinsons political ties run deep. Hutchinsons brother, Tim Hutchinson, served in the U.S. Senate. His father was mayor of neighboring Sulphur Springs, and several of his nieces and nephews served in the state Legislature.

But Hutchinson remains an unknown to some who have recently moved to the region. That includes Gerald Hatley, a retiree who moved to neighboring Bella Vista from Texas in 2019, who was in Bentonville with his painting club one day last week. Hatley said he wasnt familiar with Hutchinson and said hes open to supporting anyone he thought would have the best chance at unseating President Joe Biden.

I think we need to work toward getting the guy thats in there out, Hatley said as he painted a picture of the Benton County courthouse. Whatever candidate would prove to be the most successful in achieving that is the first criteria of mine.

Brian Dutrieux, who works for a food supplier in Bentonville, said hed need to know more about Hutchinson as a presidential candidate but said hes been happy with how the states economy fared under Hutchinson.

Dutrieux said hes ready to look at a candidate other than Trump, citing DeSantis as an example. But he was skeptical of how Hutchinson could stack up.

In the world we live in today, I just dont know if he has the swagger or the brand to compete, Dutrieux said. He just seems very vanilla.

Hutchinson is also launching his bid in an area where the former president remains popular. About 62% of the countys voters supported Trump in the 2020 presidential election. But Hutchinson said the challenges he faces in winning over Trump supporters in his home territory are the same that hell encounter in early states in the GOP contest.

Youre going uphill when youre running against Trump in the primary, whether youre running in Iowa or Arkansas, Hutchinson said.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Hutchinsons launch highlights Arkansas city of Bentonville
SmartAsset: How does an inheritance advance work?

Taking an inheritance advance is something you might consider if you expect to receive money from an estate, but dont want to wait for probate to conclude. An inheritance advance, also called a probate advance or probate cash advance, allows you to receive a lump sum of money upfront.

In exchange, you agree to allow the advance company to purchase part of the inheritance. An inheritance advance can put money in your hands quickly, but there are some drawbacks to keep in mind. We will go over the details.

Talking to your financial advisor can help you create a plan for managing an inheritance.

Understanding Inheritance Advances

An inheritance advance is an advance against assets you stand to inherit. Its similar to a payday advance loan in that youre getting access to money now that you would otherwise have to wait until later to receive.

An inheritance advance is not a loan since you dont pay anything back to the lender directly. Instead, youre allowing the advance company to make a claim against part of the inherited assets you expect to receive. Once probate ends, the estate can pay out the agreed-upon amount to the advance company and forward any remaining assets to you.

Heres an example of how an inheritance advance might work. Lets say that your parents leave you $100,000 in their will when they pass away. After probate fees and expenses are paid, you expect to inherit $90,000. But you need $25,000 right now to pay for your childs college tuition expenses.

You decide to work with an inheritance advance company that requests to purchase 30% of the inheritance or $27,000. In the meantime, the company agrees to pay the $25,000 you need to you in a lump sum. Once probate ends, the advance company collects the $27,000 it purchased and the $25,000 that was advanced to you from the estate, along with its fee. The remaining inheritance money would then be paid out to you.

If youre ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

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Benefits of Inheritance Advances

SmartAsset: How does an inheritance advance work?

There are several advantages associated with inheritance advances, starting with fast and convenient access to cash. While a probate loan may take several days or weeks to get approved and funded, it may be possible to get an inheritance advance in as little as 24 hours after approval.

Inheritance advances typically dont require any credit checks, which could make them a good option for borrowers with poor credit. You wont pay interest on an advance, though again, the lender can charge a flat fee.

An inheritance advance is a flexible way to borrow since you can use the money to cover just about any type of expense. You dont have to offer any collateral for the advance.

And you dont have to worry about making payments either since the advance company collects the amount owed to it directly from the estate.

Drawbacks of Inheritance Advances

Taking an advance against an inheritance can have some downsides. And they may not be right for everyone. The obvious drawback is youre sacrificing part of your inheritance for the convenience of being able to get cash today.

Going back to the previous example, youd have to consider carefully whether handing over $27,000 plus fees to the advance company is worth getting the $25,000 you need now to pay for education expenses. You might find that another funding option may be preferable.

For instance, taking out a Parent PLUS loan or even a private student loan might be a better alternative. Or you might decide to get a home equity loan instead if youre comfortable using your home as collateral.

When to Consider an Inheritance Advance

The best time to consider an inheritance advance is when you need money and youre certain that an inheritance is coming your way. Inheritance advance companies may not advance money to you if there are any doubts about how much youll receive or whether youll inherit from someone at all.

You might get an advance against your inheritance if you need money urgently and youve considered all other borrowing options. Other possibilities for borrowing can include home equity loans, a home equity line of credit or a personal loan. For smaller expenses, you might consider a credit card instead.

If youre considering an inheritance advance, it can be helpful to estimate how much money youll need. You can then shop around to compare inheritance advance companies to see what you might be able to get upfront. Talking to a financial advisor can help you weigh the pros and cons if youre on the fence about whether an advance is the right move.

How to Get an Inheritance Advance

SmartAsset: How does an inheritance advance work?

To get an inheritance advance, youll first need to find a company that offers them. You can search online for inheritance advance companies, as this type of funding usually isnt available at banks or credit unions.

Next, you can look at the advance companys requirements to see if youre eligible for an advance. If youre not sure whether you qualify, you can contact the company for a consultation. If you are eligible, youll need to share some details about the inheritance and provide certain documents, including:

Copy of the death certificate

Copy of the will if one is available to you

Probate petition and letters of administration

Valid ID

Youll also need to give the advance company the name of the executor or trustee whos handling the estate settlement. You wont need to provide information about your income or credit scores.

Once the inheritance advance company has everything it needs, it will review your case and make an advance offer. If you accept the offer, the inheritance advance company will pay the money to you, sometimes as quickly as 24 hours later.

Choosing the Right Inheritance Advance Company

An internet search will turn up a number of results for inheritance advance companies, like inheritancefunding.com for example. But its important to find the right one to work with. When comparing inheritance advance options, its helpful to consider:

How much you can get from an advance

What percentage the advance company purchases

Any fees you might pay and when those are due

Funding speed

Its also important to look at the companys overall reputation. Reading customer testimonials and online reviews can give you a better idea of how easy an inheritance advance company is to work with and how satisfied its customers are.

Bottom Line

An inheritance advance can provide financial relief if you expect to inherit money. But time is of the essence. Taking an advance against inherited money does come at a cost, which is important to remember. Looking at all of the pros and cons, and considering other funding options, can help you decide whether an advance makes sense for you.

Estate Planning Tips

Planning out your entire estate can seem overwhelming and difficult. But a financial advisor who specializes in estate planning can help. SmartAssets free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If youre ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

If you have a sizable estate, estate taxes on either the state or federal level could be hefty. However, you can easily plan ahead for taxes to maximize your loved ones inheritances. For example, you can gift portions of your estate in advance to heirs, or even set up a trust.

Photo credit: iStock.com/shapecharge, iStock.com/PeopleImages, iStock.com/Drazen Zigic

The post How Does an Inheritance Advance Work? appeared first on SmartAsset Blog.
Key Insights

The projected fair value for Credit Bureau Asia is S$1.76 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Credit Bureau Asia is estimated to be 46% undervalued based on current share price of S$0.95

Credit Bureau Asia's peers are currently trading at a premium of 119% on average

In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Credit Bureau Asia Limited (SGX:TCU) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present 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.

We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for Credit Bureau Asia

Is Credit Bureau Asia Fairly Valued?

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, 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) estimate

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (SGD, Millions) S$19.0m S$19.0m S$22.0m S$22.6m S$23.1m S$23.6m S$24.1m S$24.6m S$25.1m S$25.6m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 2.50% Est @ 2.34% Est @ 2.22% Est @ 2.15% Est @ 2.09% Est @ 2.05% Est @ 2.02% Present Value (SGD, Millions) Discounted @ 7.2% S$17.7 S$16.5 S$17.9 S$17.1 S$16.3 S$15.5 S$14.8 S$14.1 S$13.4 S$12.8

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = S$156m

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 2.0%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.2%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = S$26m (1 + 2.0%)  (7.2% 2.0%) = S$499m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= S$499m ( 1 + 7.2%)10= S$249m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is S$405m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of S$0.9, the company appears quite good value at a 46% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

The Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Credit Bureau Asia as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.2%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.881. 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 Credit Bureau Asia

Strength

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Weakness

Earnings growth over the past year underperformed the Professional Services industry.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Professional Services market.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Singaporean market.

Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%.

Threat

Dividends are not covered by earnings.

Looking Ahead:

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. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For Credit Bureau Asia, we've compiled three further elements you should look at:

Risks: For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Credit Bureau Asia that you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does TCU's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the SGX 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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COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho , May 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Zone Marketing, a leading digital marketing agency in the Northwest, has announced the nationwide release of version 2 of their flagship marketing software, The Blue Zone Dashboard.

Blue Zone Technology Solutions Logo

This cutting-edge software allows businesses across the country to manage their entire online presence in one place, creating a comprehensive marketing solution. The latest version of the Blue Zone Dashboard debuted at the recent Think Big Technology Carnival, showcasing its range of features for users, including:

Social Media Management: Schedule and publish posts across multiple platforms (including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google My Business, TikTok, Pinterest, and Telegram), monitor engagement, and track growth. The software supports posting both images and video media, such as Instagram reels. Say goodbye to the hassle of managing multiple logins!

Online Review Management: Monitor and respond to reviews from various platforms, including Google, Yelp, and Facebook, to boost SEO and keep track of client satisfaction. Blue Zone facilitates a diverse portfolio of services, allowing businesses within the medical industry to track reviews on Healthgrades and Vitals, while hospitality brands can monitor their reviews on TripAdvisor - all within the Blue Zone Dashboard.

Digital Ad and Website Analytics: Assess the performance of your digital ads, track website traffic, and measure visitor engagement to ensure effective audience targeting and retention!

CRM Tool: Manage customer data, track leads and sales, and maintain communication with your clients.

Business Listings: Manage and update business information across 100+ sites, including Google My Business, Yelp, Facebook, Apple Maps, and Snap Maps, ensuring accurate online details and easy accessibility for potential clients!

The latest version of the Blue Zone Dashboard features a more intuitive interface, allowing users to manage their business' performance and navigate analytics in an environment that feels natural and familiar.

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Blue Zone CEO, Dominic Longo, explains that "the Blue Zone Dashboard was designed to simplify and streamline the digital marketing experience for businesses nationwide. This new version incorporates easy-to-use tools like artificial intelligence to make reputation management and social media coordination even more accessible."

Blue Zone's mission is to empower businesses across the country to reach their full potential by taking control of their online presence. The team is passionate about the Blue Zone Dashboard's ability to create a seamless user experience that facilitates growth and drives revenue for organizations utilizing the software.

Longo adds, "The Blue Zone Dashboard V2.0 is the solution to the challenges faced by all types of companies. Whether you have a full, in-house marketing team or you're a new start-up with a limited marketing budget, the Dashboard is a valuable tool that saves your business time and money when managing your digital presence."

Blue Zone Marketing has operated as a full-service digital marketing agency for nearly 3 years. The agency offers a range of services, including SEO, social media marketing, web design, and more, to help businesses nationwide expand, maximize revenue, and achieve higher levels of engagement. Having won accolades such as "Best Advertising Agency in North Idaho," Blue Zone Marketing is dedicated to providing innovative solutions, supported by Blue Zone Technology Solutions.

For more information about Blue Zone Technology Solutions, please visit https://bluezonedashboard.com/.

Founders of Blue Zone Technology Solutions from left to right: Tiffany Longo, Kenny Dodge, Dominic Longo, and Melissa McKnight.

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SOURCE Blue Zone Marketing
Let's talk about the popular United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS). The company's shares saw significant share price movement during recent months on the NYSE, rising to highs of US$196 and falling to the lows of US$169. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether United Parcel Service's current trading price of US$169 reflective of the actual value of the large-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at United Parcel Services outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.

See our latest analysis for United Parcel Service

What's The Opportunity In United Parcel Service?

According to my valuation model, United Parcel Service seems to be fairly priced at around 14.36% above my intrinsic value, which means if you buy United Parcel Service today, youd be paying a relatively fair price for it. And if you believe that the stock is really worth $147.34, then there isnt really any room for the share price grow beyond what its currently trading. Although, there may be an opportunity to buy in the future. This is because United Parcel Services beta (a measure of share price volatility) is high, meaning its price movements will be exaggerated relative to the rest of the market. If the market is bearish, the companys shares will likely fall by more than the rest of the market, providing a prime buying opportunity.

Can we expect growth from United Parcel Service?

Future outlook is an important aspect when youre looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Although value investors would argue that its the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. Though in the case of United Parcel Service, it is expected to deliver a relatively unexciting earnings growth of 0.01%, which doesnt help build up its investment thesis. Growth doesnt appear to be a main reason for a buy decision for the company, at least in the near term.

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What This Means For You

Are you a shareholder? It seems like the market has already priced in UPSs future outlook, with shares trading around its fair value. However, there are also other important factors which we havent considered today, such as the track record of its management team. Have these factors changed since the last time you looked at the stock? Will you have enough confidence to invest in the company should the price drop below its fair value?

Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on UPS, now may not be the most optimal time to buy, given it is trading around its fair value. However, the positive outlook means its worth diving deeper into other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to take advantage of the next price drop.

So while earnings quality is important, it's equally important to consider the risks facing United Parcel Service at this point in time. For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs that you should run your eye over to get a better picture of United Parcel Service.

If you are no longer interested in United Parcel Service, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential.

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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Y.S.P. Southeast Asia Holding Berhad (KLSE:YSPSAH) shareholders might be concerned after seeing the share price drop 10% in the last quarter. But looking back over the last year, the returns have actually been rather pleasing! To wit, it had solidly beat the market, up 25%.

So let's investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress.

Check out our latest analysis for Y.S.P. Southeast Asia Holding Berhad

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.

During the last year Y.S.P. Southeast Asia Holding Berhad grew its earnings per share (EPS) by 127%. This EPS growth is significantly higher than the 25% increase in the share price. Therefore, it seems the market isn't as excited about Y.S.P. Southeast Asia Holding Berhad as it was before. This could be an opportunity. The caution is also evident in the lowish P/E ratio of 10.00.

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

It's probably worth noting that the CEO is paid less than the median at similar sized companies. It's always worth keeping an eye on CEO pay, but a more important question is whether the company will grow earnings throughout the years. This free interactive report on Y.S.P. Southeast Asia Holding Berhad's earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. We note that for Y.S.P. Southeast Asia Holding Berhad the TSR over the last 1 year was 30%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

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A Different Perspective

We're pleased to report that Y.S.P. Southeast Asia Holding Berhad shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 30% over one year. And that does include the dividend. That gain is better than the annual TSR over five years, which is 2%. Therefore it seems like sentiment around the company has been positive lately. Someone with an optimistic perspective could view the recent improvement in TSR as indicating that the business itself is getting better with time. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Y.S.P. Southeast Asia Holding Berhad (at least 1 which doesn't sit too well with us) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

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 Malaysian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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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
It's easy to match the overall market return by buying an index fund. While individual stocks can be big winners, plenty more fail to generate satisfactory returns. For example, the Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) share price is down 22% in the last year. That contrasts poorly with the market return of 2.6%. On the bright side, the stock is actually up 18% in the last three years. In the last ninety days we've seen the share price slide 24%. We note that the company has reported results fairly recently; and the market is hardly delighted. You can check out the latest numbers in our company report.

Now let's have a look at the company's fundamentals, and see if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business.

Check out our latest analysis for Bank of America

To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

Unfortunately Bank of America reported an EPS drop of 5.6% for the last year. The share price decline of 22% is actually more than the EPS drop. Unsurprisingly, given the lack of EPS growth, the market seems to be more cautious about the stock. The less favorable sentiment is reflected in its current P/E ratio of 7.97.

The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on Bank of America's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

A Different Perspective

While the broader market gained around 2.6% in the last year, Bank of America shareholders lost 20% (even including dividends). Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 0.2% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Bank of America better, we need to consider many other factors. To that end, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Bank of America (including 1 which is a bit unpleasant) .

Story continues

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 American exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
Cogstate Limited (ASX:CGS) shareholders might be concerned after seeing the share price drop 21% in the last quarter. But over three years the performance has been really wonderful. The longer term view reveals that the share price is up 404% in that period. As long term investors the recent fall doesn't detract all that much from the longer term story. The share price action could signify that the business itself is dramatically improved, in that time.

So let's investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress.

See our latest analysis for Cogstate

To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

Cogstate became profitable within the last three years. Given the importance of this milestone, it's not overly surprising that the share price has increased strongly.

The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

It's probably worth noting we've seen significant insider buying in the last quarter, which we consider a positive. On the other hand, we think the revenue and earnings trends are much more meaningful measures of the business. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on Cogstate's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

A Different Perspective

Cogstate shareholders gained a total return of 2.4% during the year. But that was short of the market average. If we look back over five years, the returns are even better, coming in at 16% per year for five years. It may well be that this is a business worth popping on the watching, given the continuing positive reception, over time, from the market. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for Cogstate you should be aware of.

Story continues

Cogstate is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Australian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
While EVT Limited (ASX:EVT) shareholders are probably generally happy, the stock hasn't had particularly good run recently, with the share price falling 16% in the last quarter. In contrast the stock has done reasonably well over three years. It beat the market return of 55% in that time, gaining 56%.

With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies.

See our latest analysis for EVT

While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

EVT was able to grow its EPS at 1.1% per year over three years, sending the share price higher. This EPS growth is lower than the 16% average annual increase in the share price. This indicates that the market is feeling more optimistic on the stock, after the last few years of progress. It is quite common to see investors become enamoured with a business, after a few years of solid progress.

You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

We know that EVT has improved its bottom line lately, but is it going to grow revenue? You could check out this free report showing analyst revenue forecasts.

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. As it happens, EVT's TSR for the last 3 years was 59%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

Story continues

A Different Perspective

EVT shareholders are down 21% for the year (even including dividends), but the market itself is up 5.7%. 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 1.6% 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. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Take risks, for example - EVT has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of.

Of course EVT 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 Australian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
MILAN (Reuters) - Italian eyewear group Safilo is discussing the sale of its biggest plant in Italy to another company active in the sector, union sources told Reuters on Monday.

Earlier this year Safilo said it was studying the sale of its plant in Longarone, in the northeast of Italy, due to overcapacity.

The potential buyer, which already has a presence in the area, would be interested in acquiring the plant and taking on 250 employees out of the current 460 people working there, union sources said on Monday. They were speaking after a meeting with Safilo executives.

Thelios, the spectacles business of LVMH, and Italian eyewear maker Marcolin have plants in Longarone and their names have been reported by the local press as potential buyers.

Safilo declined to comment. Thelios and Marcolin were not immediately available for comment.

(Reporting by Elisa Anzolin; Editing by Keith Weir)
(Bloomberg) -- The Riyadh initial public offering of generic drugmaker Jamjoom Pharmaceuticals Factory Co. got enough orders for all shares on offer within the first day of opening its books, a positive sign for whats set to be the biggest listing in Saudi Arabia so far this year.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The owners of Jamjoom Pharma are seeking to raise as much as 1.26 billion riyals ($336 million) in the IPO, with the price range for 21 million shares set at 56 riyals to 60 riyals apiece, according to a statement on Monday.

The order books for the IPO are covered throughout the price range and demand exceeds the full deal size, according to terms seen by Bloomberg.

Jamjoom Pharmas IPO will be the largest in the kingdom since Saudi Aramco Base Oil Co.s $1.3 billion listing in December and will serve as a test of investor appetite for share sales. Its IPO market has been subdued so far this year, with just $72 million raised in the slowest start since 2014, a far cry from the $4 billion seen by this point last year, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

Weaker oil prices on concerns that slower global economic growth might hurt demand have weighed on Saudi stocks, which dropped sharply over the past year. However they have posted a 14% rebound since a March low after OPEC+ announced a surprise oil production cut at the start of April.

Saudi Economic & Development Holding Co. and Al Faisaliah Group have agreed to subscribe for 24.6% of Jamjoom Pharmas offering as cornerstone investors. The price range implies a valuation of as much as 4.2 billion riyals for the company.

Morabaha Marina Financing, a non-bank finance institution, has also pushed ahead with bookbuilding for its Saudi IPO in which its seeking to raise as much as $83 million.

Story continues

Still, other potential issues are proceeding cautiously. ADES International Holding, an oil and gas driller backed by the kingdoms wealth fund, has pushed back its IPO to the second half of the year as it waits for the right window, while preparatory work has significantly slowed down for the IPO of Aramcos energy-trading business, Bloomberg News reported.

Bookbuilding for institutional investors in Jamjoom Pharmas IPO will run from May 15 to May 22, while the retail offering will take place from May 30 to June 1.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Saudi Fransi Capital are financial advisers, bookrunners and underwriters while Al Rajhi Capital is also an underwriter.

(Updates with books covered on full deal size in first two paragraphs)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
SHANGHAI, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- KEENON Robotics, a leading global robotic service provider, today announced that Mr. Pon Hoong Foong, Chief Technology Officer of TOGL Technology Sdn Bhd from Malaysia, visited the KEENON Robotics headquarters where he met with the senior management team, experienced a professional showroom tour, received an interactive product introduction, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate and provide enhanced digital solutions for the Malaysia market.

Mr Foong (second from right) being given an interactive KEENON product introduction and experience by KEENON technical support team.

As one of the top technology companies in Malaysia, TOGL Technology has a number of popular applications including Yippi for social networking, TopzMall for e-commerce, and TogaGo for travel services, providing huge convenience for their home market, and a B2B platform which provides great opportunities for small-medium enterprises. The company has a strong track record of delivering high-quality solutions that meet the needs of its clients in a wide range of industries.

The MOU represents a partnership between the two companies to share technologies and solutions for the purpose of developing the software of indoor service robots to adapt to different environments, especially with regards to enabling the robots to provide additional and auxiliary services. The two companies look forward to developing better solutions that help businesses and customers in Malaysia reach and exceed their potential.

"We are excited to partner with TOGL Technology to bring enhanced digital solutions to the Malaysia market," said Mr Wan Bin, COO of KEENON Robotics. "This partnership allows us to combine our expertise in robotics with TOGL Technology's local knowledge and experience to provide innovative solutions that will transform the way businesses operate and enhance customer experiences through even more convenience."

Mr Foong (second from left) and Mr Wan (second from right) having signed the MOU. They are joined by Mr. Enzo Wang (first left), Regional Sales Director, South East Asia, KEENON Robotics, and Mr. Xuan Lai Tang (first right), CTO of KEENON Robotics.

"We are thrilled to partner with KEENON Robotics to bring innovative digital solutions to the Malaysia market," said Mr. Pon Hoong Foong, CTO of TOGL Technology. "Our company's mission is to provide exceptional digital experiences to people across Malaysia, and this collaboration is a key part of our strategy to achieve that goal."

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KEENON Robotics and TOGL Technology are committed to providing cutting-edge digital solutions that enhance customer experiences and improve the way businesses operate in Malaysia and beyond.

For more information and press inquiries, please contact global@keenon.com.

About KEENON Robotics

KEENON Robotics is a global leader in cutting-edge service robots and solutions that transform the way businesses operate and enhance customer experiences. Since 2010, KEENON Robotics has been at the forefront of the service robot revolution, developing advanced robots for delivery, hospitality, retail, education, and more, that leverage the latest technologies in robotics and cloud computing. As a trusted partner for businesses around the world, KEENON Robotics is dedicated to creating value and driving innovation, while contributing to the growth of the service robot industry.

About TOGL Technology Sdn Bhd

TOGL Technology is a leading provider of innovative business solutions. Founded in 2016, the company has quickly established itself as a market leader in the industry, thanks to its focus on delivering cutting- edge technology and exceptional customer service. With a team of experienced professionals and a commitment to excellence, TOGL is dedicated to helping businesses of all sizes thrive in today's competitive landscape.

Cision

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SOURCE KEENON Robotics
The board of KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY) has announced that it will pay a dividend on the 15th of June, with investors receiving $0.205 per share. This means the annual payment is 9.1% of the current stock price, which is above the average for the industry.

While the dividend yield is important for income investors, it is also important to consider any large share price moves, as this will generally outweigh any gains from distributions. KeyCorp's stock price has reduced by 53% in the last 3 months, which is not ideal for investors and can explain a sharp increase in the dividend yield.

View our latest analysis for KeyCorp

KeyCorp's Earnings Will Easily Cover The Distributions

If the payments aren't sustainable, a high yield for a few years won't matter that much.

KeyCorp has a long history of paying out dividends, with its current track record at a minimum of 10 years. Based on KeyCorp's last earnings report, the payout ratio is at a decent 45%, meaning that the company is able to pay out its dividend with a bit of room to spare.

Over the next 3 years, EPS is forecast to expand by 7.9%. Analysts forecast the future payout ratio could be 44% over the same time horizon, which is a number we think the company can maintain.

KeyCorp Has A Solid Track Record

The company has been paying a dividend for a long time, and it has been quite stable which gives us confidence in the future dividend potential. Since 2013, the annual payment back then was $0.20, compared to the most recent full-year payment of $0.82. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 15% a year over that time. We can see that payments have shown some very nice upward momentum without faltering, which provides some reassurance that future payments will also be reliable.

The Dividend Has Growth Potential

Investors who have held shares in the company for the past few years will be happy with the dividend income they have received. We are encouraged to see that KeyCorp has grown earnings per share at 7.3% per year over the past five years. Since earnings per share is growing at an acceptable rate, and the payout policy is balanced, we think the company is positioning itself well to grow earnings and dividends in the future.

Story continues

We Really Like KeyCorp's Dividend

Overall, we like to see the dividend staying consistent, and we think KeyCorp might even raise payments in the future. The company is easily earning enough to cover its dividend payments and it is great to see that these earnings are being translated into cash flow. All in all, this checks a lot of the boxes we look for when choosing an income stock.

Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is compared to one which is more unpredictable. Still, investors need to consider a host of other factors, apart from dividend payments, when analysing a company. For example, we've picked out 1 warning sign for KeyCorp that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers.

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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Dublin, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "LATAM Bus Industry, Forecast to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The overall commercial vehicle volume in LATAM, including 6 countries Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Peru, is expected to reach 50,540 units by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.7% between 2021 and 2030. Fleet renewal and electromobility laws will drive growth in the coming decade.

There has been a revival in passenger transportation following the lifting of COVID-19-induced movement restrictions. Implementing stricter emission regulations across countries in the region in the next few years will enable fleet operators to replace older fleets with clean buses, including NG and battery electric vehicles. The choice of alternative powertrains varies across countries, depending on their oil imports, natural gas reserves, established funding and bus operation models, electromobility laws, and focus on hydrogen.

Brazil and Mexico contribute to 71.1% of the region's CV volumes. Most countries in the region focus on renewable energy sources for an energy transition from fossil fuels and an electromobility strategy in place to drive the growth of alternative powertrain vehicles. Chinese companies have an early-mover advantage in the electrification of public transportation in Latin America.

The top 3 OEMs in the medium and heavy-duty bus segments-Daimler, Traton (MAN & Scania), and Scania-take the contribution of European OEMs to more than three-fourths of the bus market in the region. Chinese OEMs, such as Foton, Zhongtong, Yutong, Kinglong, and BYD, establishing their presence in the region, are expected to compete aggressively with European OEMs in the medium term.

Major cities in Latin America aim to replace public passenger transport fleets with EVs. The separation of asset ownership and operation (e.g., battery, bodywork, electric bus, maintenance) and other financing models (e.g., leasing) will be necessary to renew urban transportation buses. The growing ecosystem of truck OEMs, bodybuilders, and fleets that cater to this demand will positively impact allied sectors.

Story continues

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes

BYD

Daimler

Foton

Kinglong

Scania

Traton

Yutong

Zhongtong

Key Topics Covered:

1. Strategic Imperatives

Why Is It Increasingly Difficult to Grow?

The Strategic Imperative

Impact of the Top 3 Strategic Imperatives on the Bus Industry

Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine

2. Study Scope

Scope of Analysis

Product and Technology Segmentation

3. Growth Environment

Key Findings

Bus Unit Sales by Country

2021 Bus OEM Sales Performance

Percent of Bus Unit Sales by Powertrain Split

Main Forecast Criteria

Growth Drivers for Alternative Powertrain Adoption

Growth Restraints for Alternative Powertrain Adoption

4. Market Environment and Dynamics

Key Growth Metrics

Unit Sales Forecast

Forecast Discussion

OEM Powertrain Technology Platforms

OEM Powertrain Motor Type Mapping

OEM Powertrain Battery Type Mapping

5. Brazil

Key Growth Metrics

Country Snapshot

Unit Sales Forecast

Forecast Discussion

Powertrain Forecast

OEM Market Share

6. Mexico

Key Growth Metrics

Country Snapshot

Unit Sales Forecast

Forecast Discussion

Powertrain Forecast

OEM Market Share

7. Argentina

Key Growth Metrics

Country Snapshot

Unit Sales Forecast

Forecast Discussion

Powertrain Forecast

OEM Market Share

8. Peru

Key Growth Metrics

Country Snapshot

Unit Sales Forecast

Forecast Discussion

Powertrain Forecast

OEM Market Share

9. Chile

Key Growth Metrics

Country Snapshot

Unit Sales Forecast

Forecast Discussion

Powertrain Forecast

OEM Market Share

10. Colombia

Key Growth Metrics

Country Snapshot

Unit Sales Forecast

Forecast Discussion

Powertrain Forecast

OEM Market Share

11. Total Cost of Ownership

Parameters and Assumptions - Transit Buses

Diesel, NG, and Electric Transit Bus Operational CPM Comparison

Operational Cost per Mile: Diesel, Electric, NG*

12. Growth Opportunity Universe

Growth Opportunity 1: Move Toward Zero-emission Transportation Through Electrification

Growth Opportunity 2: Lower TCO to Expedite Adoption of Alternative Powertrains

Growth Opportunity 3: Government Mandates and Innovative Business Models Expedite Electric Powertrain Adoption

13. Next Steps

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/bfe1tq

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900




Divisions among Indo-Pacific countries over issues including China's assertive posture in their region and Russia's invasion of Ukraine came into sharper focus on Saturday at a European Union forum in Stockholm.

EU officials invited ministers and representatives from the region to discuss ways to cooperate on sustainable growth, environmental initiatives, and the "evolving security landscape in the Indo Pacific", as the bloc seeks greater influence in a region increasingly affected by the US-China geopolitical rivalry.

But on the thorniest issues of the day, such as Ukraine and Taiwan, discussions were "sobering", said Filimon Manoni, the deputy secretary general of the Pacific Island Forum, who moderated the session.

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.

Public statements and remarks to the media made it clear that when it came to geopolitical flashpoints, the invitees were not on the same page, although EU officials insisted that visiting delegations were not asked to align with their view on Ukraine.

From left, Singapore's Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoshimasa Hayashi, Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno L.P. Marsudi, Sweden's Minister of Foreign Affairs Tobias Billstrom, India's Minister of Foreign Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Comoros's Minister of Foreign Affairs Dhoihir Dhoulkamal at the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum in Sweden. Photo: AFP alt=From left, Singapore's Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoshimasa Hayashi, Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno L.P. Marsudi, Sweden's Minister of Foreign Affairs Tobias Billstrom, India's Minister of Foreign Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Comoros's Minister of Foreign Affairs Dhoihir Dhoulkamal at the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum in Sweden. Photo: AFP>

Story continues

"The purpose was not to convince them, we are not on a crusade," said the EU's foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell at a post-summit press conference.

But in announcing Kyiv's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba as a last minute surprise attendee of the forum, they ensured that much of the attention would be on the war.

The previous day, Borrell also warned China that if pressure was not exerted on Russia to help end the war, bilateral relations would suffer.

"If I don't like your behaviour, you cannot expect to be good friends. It is as simple as that," Borrell said.

Several Asian ministers intimated on Saturday that while they sympathised with Kuleba, with whom they lunched, they supported an immediate peace, echoing China's position that the fighting must stop immediately.

This runs counter to the Ukrainian and mainstream European political view that a ceasefire now would allow Russia to regroup and solidify Russia's territorial gains in Ukraine.

"I knew beforehand that several members of the Indo Pacific were not in the position of the EU," Borrell said, adding that he was able to glean some new insights from Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, based on his recent meetings with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

Some ministers added that while Europe was welcome to become a stabilising force in the Indo Pacific, they preferred not to pick a side in China's tensions with the West.

Pakistan's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, centre, with Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom, left, and EU's foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell. Photo: Reuters alt=Pakistan's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, centre, with Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom, left, and EU's foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell. Photo: Reuters>

Arriving at the forum, Pakistan's minister for state Hina Rabbani Khar told reporters that "the whole world is compounded" by the war.

"A country like Pakistan has learned that percolation of conflict is never the answer, we want an end to hostilities and then to conflict so people can go back to building lives," Khar said.

"Let's not divide the house into various blocs," she added.

Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said that the Asean group of nations, of which her country holds the rotating presidency, "doesn't want to see the Indo Pacific region become another theatre of rivalries".

"The Indo Pacific pie is too big to be enjoyed only by a few. We are not interested in being part of a new Cold War, or to be proxies of great powers," Marsudi said, addressing the forum's opening session.

Similar sentiments were expressed by ministers from the Comoros and Sri Lanka. "Africa is suffering from the war in Ukraine," said Comorian Foreign Minister Dhoihir Dhoulkamal, who said Europe must start listening to smaller, developing countries.

By contrast, ministers from the likes of Fiji, Japan and South Korea pledged strong support for Ukraine, with the latter pair specifically criticising Beijing's assertive posture in their region.

"The international community is at a historic turning point. Russia's aggression against Ukraine has shaken the very foundation of the international order. Any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force cannot be tolerated, anywhere in the world," said Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi.

Hayashi said that "the security of Europe and the Indo Pacific can no longer be discussed separately".

"In the Indo Pacific region, China is continuing and intensifying its unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas," he added.

While the forum was billed as a summit of around 60 ministers, just 14 of the EU's 27 top diplomats showed up, despite almost all of them being in Stockholm a day earlier for crunch talks on China.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2023. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Linda Tong poses in the workspace of her home in West Des Moines.

This is one in an occasional series on Iowa influencers who are finding new ways to tell the story of the state through social media.

In 2017, Linda Tong started bullet journaling.

The part-personal diary confessional meets daily calendar trend, which is known as "Bujo," was just gaining traction online with Gen Z during the back-half of the 2010s. She was a sophomore in college at Iowa State University.

Bullet journaling is a form of calendar organization that combines traditional scheduling with meditative to-do lists and diary-like details by creating bullet points in a journal.

One of Linda Tongs designs in her company's planner is shown in the workspace of her home in West Des Moines.

By senior year, a hobby discovered in a small college dorm room became a fully fledged business creating planners.

Now, the founder and CEO behind her self-titled planning company, Linda Tong Planners, sells personalized and illustrated planners, notebooks, cards, calendars, and lifestyle supplies to thousands of customers.

Linda Tong flips through pages of her 2023 planner in the workspace of her home in West Des Moines.

Tong, who is 24, has nearly 250,000 followers on TikTok and 3.4 million likes so far. But for the West Des Moines native, internet fame was never a part of the plan.

More: How Ames-based real estate agent Elli Jennings became a TikTok billboard for Iowa

From West Des Moines to the World Wide Web

Linda Tong poses in the workspace of her home in West Des Moines.

In college, Tong worked at a local summer camp as her bullet journey hobby began.

I decided to create one (a bullet journal) for myself and then a coworker at the place I worked at, at the time, she saw it and she loved it and was like, I will pay you to make me two of these,' Tong said. After that, all of my other co-workers wanted some."

From there, Tong had a plan.

I was always doing the bullet journaling for people, making planners on the side. Every time I had free time, I would be drawing planners, Tong recalled of her college years.

Linda Tong works in her planners in the workspace of her home in West Des Moines.

In 2020, Tong was a member of that year's CYstarters cohort at Iowa State University. The 11-weeklong summer program for students and recent graduates grants $6,500 to individuals and $13,000 to a team to spend their summer break engaging with their own startup or business idea.

Story continues

That same year, she launched a TikTok account during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I knew I wanted to make a TikTok but I wasnt expecting it to blow up, Tong said of her first viral video.

One of Linda Tongs designs in her company's planner is shown in the workspace of her home in West Des Moines.

The Valley West High School alum graduated from ISU in 2020. She would post in random college and universities Facebook groups and take orders through a Google Form to generate more sales.

She did that for three years until she was physically unable to keep up with the demand. Tong began working with a manufacturer in 2020.

More: Influencer Nina Williams offers inside looks of her HGTV-worthy Waukee home to followers

Nearly 250,000 followers, but who's counting? Not Tong

One of Linda Tongs designs is shown in the workspace of her home in West Des Moines.

By 2023, the business is a six figure-strong company. Every year since her first in business, Tong has generated more than six figures in revenue. She boasts nearly 250,000 followers on her TikTok business account.

A mid-March TikTok video received more than 6,000 likes and 71,500 views as she packed an order of planners following an appearance at the Go Wild planner conference in Washington, D.C., with the caption, "I wonder if this order came from a planner conference attendee!"

Tong racked up around 17,500 likes and received 175,000 views on a Christmastime TikTok video about her employment style. "One thing I choose to do as a boss is let my employees choose whatever products they want free of charge," Tong said in the video.

She works out of her West Des Moines townhouse, which she bought last year, alongside four to seven employees who help with personalization and packaging.

A mid-December 2022 video on TikTok about moving her inventory to her then-new townhouse and her company's story has nearly 70,000 likes and more than 700,000 views so far. "This year has been my busiest so far and in less than a month, I'll be a first-time homeowner and moving my entire business to another house," she said in the clip.

Chasing clout isn't what Tong is about. Tong also said there are adverse effects below the surface of social fame.

Its crazy and it is mentally tolling because of the way TikTok works with the algorithm  viral videos giving you that dose of dopamine. Youre always trying to chase that rush you got the first time, Tong said.

One of Linda Tongs designs is shown in the workspace of her home in West Des Moines.

For now, Tong is focusing on cultivating content that resonates with her followers such as behind-the-scenes looks at products and going live on TikTok to package items before shipping them off.

Right now, I just focus on creating community with my customers, Tong said.

Where to find and follow Linda Tong

Known for: Sharing a first-hand look at her life as founder and CEO of Linda Tong Planners, a planner and stationery company. Tong, an Iowa State University alum, is a West Des Moines native.

Day job: Founder and CEO, Linda Tong Planners

TikTok: @lindatongplanners; nearly 250,000 followers

Instagram: @lindatongplanners; over 16,000 followers

Jay Stahl is an entertainment reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow him on Instagram or reach out at jstahl@gannett.com.

Jay Stahl is an entertainment reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow him on Instagram or reach out at jstahl@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa's Linda Tong created a six-figure planner company on TikTok
(Bloomberg) -- Liquefied natural gas exporters aim to advance multibillion-dollar projects and revive the sectors growth in Australia, arguing additional fossil fuel supplies are needed to support Asias energy transition.

Most Read from Bloomberg

BP Plc and Woodside Energy Group Ltd. are among companies studying major developments that would add to the industrys investments of about A$300 billion ($200 billion) over the past 15 years, a program that transformed the nation into the worlds top shipper.

Deliberations on new projects come as Australias annual export earnings from LNG are forecast to slide after hitting a A$91 billion peak on last years energy crisis, and with volumes seen plateauing. The country has already been usurped as the industrys No. 1 exporter by the US and is expected to also fall behind Qatar.

We see gas playing a critical role in the energy transition, Samantha McCulloch, chief executive officer of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, said in an interview. The industry groups annual conference is taking place through Thursday with speakers including executives from Exxon Mobil Corp., Chevron Corp. and Shell Plc.

The oil and gas industry is not a passenger on the road to net zero, Woodside CEO Meg ONeill told the conference Tuesday, calling for continued policy support for new projects. When used to generate electricity, natural gas emits around half the life cycle emissions of coal, she said. Thats a pretty strong argument for using more gas in my book.

The company saw profits triple to a record in 2022, and is advancing the $12 billion Scarborough project. It is also considering plans to develop Browse, one of the countrys largest untapped natural gas fields, with partners including PetroChina Co.

Story continues

BP last month agreed to buy Shells stake in Browse, citing the potential to bolster energy security in the region. Completing the development, along with an expansion of the associated North West Shelf project, will need capital expenditure of about A$36 billion through to the 2060s, according to Woodside.

Our customers in Japan are saying they need the gas, so it will be an investable project  but we have a lot of work to do, Woodside Chief Executive Officer Meg ONeill said at a conference in Sydney earlier this month.

The war in Ukraine has upended the natural gas market, forcing European consumers to switch to LNG to replace pipeline fuel exports from Russia and adding new competition for buyers in Asia.

Almost 70 contracts have been signed by LNG buyers with US projects since the start of 2021, including consumers in Germany, China and Japan, and a further 12 agreements with Qatar, according to data compiled by BloombergNEF. US exports are forecast to surge as much as 75% through 2026, while Qatar aims to lift volumes by two-thirds by 2027.

Australia, with only marginal increases to LNG export capacity currently planned, has agreed six similar contracts, the data show.

Before all this the market looked pretty full, but now thats changed, said Saul Kavonic, a Sydney-based energy analyst at Credit Suisse Group AG. There is a big gap for the rest of the decade and you need to fill it.

Projects in Australia face challenges to compete with the US and Qatar to benefit from that outlook. Shipping costs mean the nations cargoes are rarely sent outside Asia, while action by Australias government to hike taxes on projects and tighten powers to restrict LNG exports has spooked some overseas buyers.

Demand in Japan and South Korea, two of Australias top customers, is expected to decline over the next decade as the nations add more renewables and nuclear power. There are also question marks over an expected rise in gas consumption across Southeast Asia as some countries pursue a faster switch to solar and wind generation.

Future projects will also face more intense climate scrutiny with some opposition legislators, including the Australian Greens party, calling for a ban on the development of any new fossil fuel infrastructure.

Browse alone is forecast to emit at least 70 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent over 30 years of operations, a higher rate than other LNG projects.

--With assistance from Stephen Stapczynski and David Stringer.

(Updates with Woodside CEO comment from fifth paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, InNature Berhad fair value estimate is RM0.62

Current share price of RM0.55 suggests InNature Berhad is potentially trading close to its fair value

Our fair value estimate is 13% lower than InNature Berhad's analyst price target of RM0.72

How far off is InNature Berhad (KLSE:INNATURE) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow.

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

View our latest analysis for InNature Berhad

The Calculation

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. 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.

Story continues

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM30.3m RM34.1m RM37.4m RM38.9m RM40.4m RM41.9m RM43.5m RM45.1m RM46.8m RM48.5m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ 4.05% Est @ 3.91% Est @ 3.81% Est @ 3.73% Est @ 3.69% Est @ 3.65% Est @ 3.63% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 11% RM27.2 RM27.4 RM27.0 RM25.2 RM23.5 RM21.9 RM20.3 RM18.9 RM17.6 RM16.4

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM225m

After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 3.6%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 11%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = RM48m (1 + 3.6%)  (11% 3.6%) = RM635m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM635m ( 1 + 11%)10= RM215m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is RM440m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of RM0.5, the company appears about fair value at a 13% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

Important Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at InNature Berhad as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 11%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.986. 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 InNature Berhad

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded its 5-year average.

Currently debt free.

Dividend is in the top 25% of dividend payers in the market.

Weakness

Earnings growth over the past year underperformed the Specialty Retail industry.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Malaysian market.

Current share price is below our estimate of fair value.

Threat

Dividends are not covered by earnings.

Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year.

Moving On:

Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For InNature Berhad, there are three important items you should explore:

Risks: For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs for InNature Berhad that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does INNATURE's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the KLSE 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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Key Insights

Northland Power's estimated fair value is CA$36.51 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

With CA$29.27 share price, Northland Power appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value

The CA$41.98 analyst price target for NPI is 15% more than our estimate of fair value

Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Northland Power Inc. (TSE:NPI) as an investment opportunity by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine.

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

View our latest analysis for Northland Power

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. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

Story continues

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (CA$, Millions) CA$362.8m CA$380.9m CA$389.2m CA$407.6m CA$452.0m CA$472.4m CA$489.9m CA$505.3m CA$519.1m CA$531.8m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x5 Analyst x4 Analyst x3 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Est @ 4.52% Est @ 3.70% Est @ 3.13% Est @ 2.73% Est @ 2.45% Present Value (CA$, Millions) Discounted @ 6.6% CA$340 CA$336 CA$322 CA$316 CA$329 CA$323 CA$314 CA$304 CA$293 CA$282

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = CA$3.2b

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 1.8%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 6.6%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = CA$532m (1 + 1.8%)  (6.6% 1.8%) = CA$11b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= CA$11b ( 1 + 6.6%)10= CA$6.0b

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is CA$9.2b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of CA$29.3, the company appears about fair value at a 20% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

Important Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Northland Power 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 6.6%, 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 Northland Power

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Renewable Energy market.

Shareholders have been diluted in the past year.

Opportunity

Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Threat

Annual earnings are forecast to decline for the next 3 years.

Looking Ahead:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For Northland Power, we've compiled three essential elements you should look at:

Risks: To that end, you should learn about the 4 warning signs we've spotted with Northland Power (including 1 which is a bit concerning) . Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for NPI's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Canadian 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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Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Valero Energy fair value estimate is US$122

Current share price of US$111 suggests Valero Energy is potentially trading close to its fair value

The US$151 analyst price target for VLO is 23% more than our estimate of fair value

Does the May share price for Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the expected future cash flows and 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.

Check out our latest analysis for Valero Energy

Crunching The Numbers

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. 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 need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

Story continues

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$8.51b US$6.45b US$4.62b US$3.89b US$3.91b US$3.44b US$3.18b US$3.03b US$2.95b US$2.91b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x7 Analyst x8 Analyst x5 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ -11.80% Est @ -7.63% Est @ -4.71% Est @ -2.66% Est @ -1.23% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 9.8% US$7.8k US$5.3k US$3.5k US$2.7k US$2.4k US$2.0k US$1.7k US$1.4k US$1.3k US$1.1k

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$29b

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.1%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 9.8%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$2.9b (1 + 2.1%)  (9.8% 2.1%) = US$39b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$39b ( 1 + 9.8%)10= US$15b

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$44b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of US$111, the company appears about fair value at a 9.8% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent.

dcf

The Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Valero Energy as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 9.8%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.299. 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 Valero Energy

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Oil and Gas market.

Opportunity

Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Threat

Annual earnings are forecast to decline for the next 3 years.

Looking Ahead:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Valero Energy, there are three further elements you should further examine:

Risks: We feel that you should assess the 1 warning sign for Valero Energy we've flagged before making an investment in the company. Future Earnings: How does VLO's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. 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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Sophie Nistico, the 24-year-old founder of Connecticut-based apparel brand See The Way I See, appeared on ABC's "Shark Tank" with all the pieces in place for a big investment deal. She had started her business in 2020 with just $500, and by the time of the episode's taping, she had brought in an impressive $2.3 million in year-to-date sales. Despite spending no money on advertising because of a large social media presence, Nistico had more than $400,000 in the bank.

Don't Miss: Why Jason Calacanis and Other Silicon Valley Elites Are Betting On This Startups Vision For Re-Uniting American Families

Nisticos business sells clothing emblazoned with mental health-related phrases, a concept born out of her personal experiences battling severe anxiety throughout high school and college. The initial success of See The Way I See came from the sale of mental health-based stickers on social media that sold out in just two days, far exceeding Nisticos expectations. The success of the stickers allowed her to expand into apparel.

But despite Nisticos impressive accomplishments, every Shark declined her request for $250,000 in exchange for 10% of her company's equity. The simple reason behind this decision was that the panel didnt see any way to help her get better. Daymond John told her, "What do you need a Shark for? You're doing so well." Similarly, Mark Cuban added, "You are making a boatload of money. You're a star." Nistico received high praise but not the investment deal she had hoped for.

The investors were impressed with Nisticos success, considering her lack of business experience. Kevin O'Leary stated, "This thing where you don't know anything about business, I don't really buy it anymore. You're doing better than 90% of the people who stand in front of me there." Cuban and Lori Greiner went further, saying it would feel morally wrong to take a percentage of Nistico's company without being able to offer her mentorship in return.

Story continues

Cuban offered Nistico some heartfelt entrepreneurial wisdom, saying, "Let your community grow your business, not a team. Be who you are to your community and you'll grow with it. And you don't want an investor for that because you're already putting money in the bank and all we'd be doing is taking what you earned."

To stay updated with top startup news & investments, sign up for Benzinga's Startup Investing & Equity Crowdfunding Newsletter

Although Nistico didn't secure a deal, she left the show feeling more confident than ever before. "That was really difficult for me to do, but they really did give me a boost of self-confidence," Nistico said. "After today, I really feel as though I can do anything."

Since appearing on "Shark Tank," Nistico has continued to grow her business. Her website showcases a range of T-shirts, sweatshirts and hats featuring mental health-related slogans such as Mental Health Matters and End the Stigma. In addition to her successful business, Nistico has used her platform to raise awareness about mental health issues and share her own experiences. Her Instagram account has grown to over 44,000 followers, with her posts and stories focused on destigmatizing mental health and promoting self-care.

Its not every day that a company gets turned down on the show for being too successful. But when an entrepreneur is already thriving, the investors may feel that their resources could be better used by helping another business that could benefit more from their expertise and guidance.

Want to invest like a Shark?

Thanks to changes in federal law, anyone can invest like the sharks. Kevin O'leary-backed StartEngine allows anyone to browse dozens of the top startup investments and invest in startups, like the sharks. This includes the ability to invest in StartEngine itself for a limited time.

See more on startup investing from Benzinga.

Don't miss real-time alerts on your stocks - join Benzinga Pro for free! Try the tool that will help you invest smarter, faster, and better.

This article Mark Cuban, Kevin O'Leary and Other Sharks Reject Young CEO Doing Better Than 90% of Entrepreneurs They Meet originally appeared on Benzinga.com

.

 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
FILE PHOTO: Trucks wait in a queue to cross into the United States at Zaragoza-Ysleta border crossing

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's economy ministry is urging the U.S. state of Texas to remove inspections of cargo crossing the border, which it said in a statement on Monday is causing millions of dollars in losses for U.S. and Mexican firms.

The Mexican government will file a complaint with the trade facilitation committee under the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) free trade agreement, which came into effect in 2020.

Earlier this month, Texas started inspecting commercial vehicles crossing into the state from Mexico at a bridge connecting the Texas city of Brownsville with the Mexican city of Matamoros.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered similar inspections before. In April 2022, cargo inspections prompted significant supply chain disruptions until Abbott reached a deal with the governors of four neighboring Mexican states to increase security efforts.

The current inspections are causing costly delays of 8 to 27 hours, which are mainly impacting perishable foods and are generating millions of dollars in losses for both U.S. and Mexican companies, Mexico's economy ministry said in the statement.

Abbott, a Republican, has frequently criticized Democratic U.S. President Joe Biden's efforts to stop the smuggling of people and contraband across the U.S.-Mexico border.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Boyle and Anthony Esposito; Editing by Isabel Woodford and Bill Berkrot)
Mirasol Resources Ltd

Priority drill targets confirmed by 500-kilometer Airborne Mobile MT geophysical survey



Coincident geochemical, geological and geophysical targets supported by multi-percent copper values recovered from select surface samples

Maiden drill hole collared at Central Breccia Zone Target

Construction of Sobek Central access road continues to the higher elevations to support future drilling at the VN-Zone gold-copper target

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mirasol Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: MRZ) (OTC: MRZLF) (the Company or Mirasol) is pleased to report that drilling has commenced on the Companys 100%-owned Sobek Copper Project (Sobek) in the Vicuna District, Chile. Sobek was originally staked based on prospective local structural architecture prior to the 2021 discovery of the high-grade feeder zone at the Filo del Sol gold-copper deposit located seven kilometers to the east and NGExs recent discovery of Potro Cliffs located three kilometers to the east of Sobek North Block.



We are excited to announce the start of drilling on the Central Breccia Zone, the first of the priority targets at Sobek Central in the high-profile Vicuna Copper-Gold district. The recently completed airborne Mobile MT survey strengthens our geological model and the geochemical anomalies and high-grade copper samples collected on surface reinforce the potential mineralization of these first drill targets, Mirasols President Tim Heenan stated. Our 2022/23 program at Sobek was ambitious and thanks to the perseverance of our exploration team we have successfully advanced Sobek to this significant milestone of the maiden drill campaign. Drilling of our first targets will continue until the high Andes winter season sets in.

High-Priority Targets Supported by Coincident Airborne Mobile MT Geophysical Responses

A 500-kilometer helicopter supported Airborne Mobile MT survey of the entire Sobek Central Block, including the priority CLP, Central Breccia and the VN zones, was completed with tightly spaced (100m) lines. The Airborne Mobile MT system has high-definition depth penetration to greater than 800 meters below surface and has been proven effective in defining targets in high-sulfidation epithermal (HSE) and porphyry systems elsewhere in Chile. The MT survey data is fundamental to the definition of the diamond drill hole orientations and depth.

Story continues

The MT survey results reinforce the high-priority targets identified from geochemical soil sampling and multi-percent copper values recovered from select rock chip samples (see news release March 2, 2023).

Results from the maiden drill program at Sobek Central will be reported as they become available.

High-profile Vicuna Copper-Gold-Silver District

Sobek was staked in 2016 based on prospective geology and the local structural architecture hosting a compelling north-northeast trending mineralized structural corridor crosscut by a north-northwest trending deep-seated trans-cordilleran lineament. This is a common structural configuration hosting several southern Andes metal deposits in both Chile and Argentina.

Sobek comprises a large block of properties totaling 11,120 hectares of exploration claims in three strategic locations, the North, Central and South blocks. The high-profile Vicuna Copper-Gold-Silver District is developing in the Sobek area with multiple deposits in close proximity, including the Filo del Sol mid-Miocene epithermal porphyry gold-copper deposit seven kilometers east of Sobek; the Josemaria copper-gold project 20 kilometers to the east-northeast of Sobek; the Los Helados Porphyry copper-gold breccia system 20 kilometers to the northeast of Sobek; and, the giant Eocene El Morro Porphyry copper-gold deposit 16 kilometers to the west-southwest. The recent NGEX discovery at Potro Cliffs is just three kilometers directly east of the southeast corner of Sobek North Block.

Figure 1: High-Profile Vicuna Copper-Gold-Silver District Regional Map

About Mirasol Resources Ltd

Mirasol is a well-funded exploration company with 18 years of operating, permitting and community relations experience in the mineral rich regions of Chile and Argentina. Mirasol controls 100% of the high-grade Virginia Silver Deposit in Argentina and is currently self-funding exploration at two flagship projects, Sobek and Inca Gold, both located in Chile. Mirasol also continues to advance a strong pipeline of highly prospective early and mid-stage projects.

For further information, contact:

Tim Heenan, President

or

Troy Shultz, Vice President Investor Relations

Tel: +1 (604) 602-9989

Email: contact@mirasolresources.com

Website: www.mirasolresources.com

Qualified Person Statement: Mirasols disclosure of technical and scientific information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Tim Heenan (MAIG), the President for the Company, who serves as a Qualified Person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101.

Forward Looking Statements: The information in this news release contains forward looking statements that are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include: changes in world commodity markets, equity markets, costs and supply of materials relevant to the mining industry, change in government and changes to regulations affecting the mining industry and to policies linked to pandemics, social and environmental related matters. Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding future exploration programs, operation plans, geological interpretations, mineral tenure issues and mineral recovery processes. Although we believe the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, results may vary, and we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Mirasol disclaims any obligations to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.




Vantage Market Research, The North Star for the Working World

WASHINGTON, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Modular Construction Market is valued at USD 86.3 Billion in 2022 and is projected to reach a value of USD 544.4 Billion by 2030 at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 30.1% over the forecast period 2023-2030.

Market Overview

This expansion is due to the rising international economies in the construction of business and healthcare facilities and the rising need for affordable housing. The Modular Construction market is expanding due to an increase in the urban off-site construction phase.

We forecast that the permanent category in Modular Construction market sales will account for more than 55% of total sales by 2030. The innovative and environmentally friendly permanent Modular Construction (PMC) approach enables the off-site production of assemblies used in single- or some co-buildings. These modules can either be constructed to stand alone or to be integrated into an existing structure.

Get Access to Free Sample Research Report with Latest Industry Insights @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/modular-construction-market-2119/request-sample

Market Dynamics

Increase Demand for Wood will Support Market Expansion

Mass timber can be utilized in place of concrete and steel to lower greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining quality in buildings. Mass timber demonstrates the same durability, and seismic performance as these conventional building materials yet is lighter than steel and concrete. Over the past ten years, the Modular Construction sector has seen the emergence of timber as a viable, mass-market substitute for conventional building materials. Because of its great qualities, including high durability, lightweight, and low toxicity, it is frequently utilized in Modular Construction. Because it is biodegradable by nature and simple to reuse and recycle, its demand is anticipated to rise throughout the projection period.

Increasing Demand from the Industrial/Institutional Sector Drives the Market Growth

The industrial/institutional sector dominates the market for Modular Construction. The International Building Code (IBC), or a version of a code based on the IBC and state requirements, is followed in the Modular Construction of institutional buildings. Much of the construction process is being moved from the building site into factories due to the growing demand for Modular Construction in Asia-Pacific. Policy measures to lessen garbage and encourage green buildings and building techniques drive up demand for Modular Construction. Developing nations such as China, Japan, Singapore, and Australia are increasingly adopting modular buildings to meet labor and home shortages, increase in industrialization, rising urbanized number of individuals, rising prices for eco-friendly and beginning of the creation, and government help.

Story continues

Top Players in the Global Modular Construction Market

ATCO (Calgary, Canada)

Anderco Pte. Ltd. (Singapore)

Giant Containers Inc. (Canada)

Bechtel Corporation (Virginia, U.S.)

Lendlease Corporation (Sydney, Australia)

Skanska AB (Stockholm, Sweden)

Speed House Group of Companies (Dubai, UAE)

Supertech Industries LLC (U.S.)

Fluor Corporation (Irving, U.S.)

Modulaire Group (London, UK)

Budget Limitation? Contact us for Special Discount and Pricing

Top Trends in the Global Modular Construction Market

One trend that Vantage Market Research (VMR) expects to see in the Modular Construction industry is the growing demand for residential sector. The need for residential building in the area is anticipated to continue to be driven by rising household income levels and population increase from rural to urban areas. Residential development is expanding due to the public and private sectors' greater focus on providing cheap homes.





Another trend that VMR predicts will continue in the Modular Construction industry is its increasing trend of growing emphasis on sustainability, quality, and workers' safety. To develop several modules using accurate measurement and management, discarded resources can be used again for other projects. This significantly reduces the amount of garbage produced. Compared to Modular Construction, traditional construction has always had environmental challenges due to the amount of waste it produces. Less waste is produced with Modular Construction, and it is also simple to get rid of.





Top Report Findings

Based on the Type, most of the Modular Construction market's revenue is controlled by the Permanent category. Since Permanent Modular Construction can be swiftly and cheaply delivered as a simplified process or integrated into existing facilities, this market is expanding at the quickest rate. These buildings were built with the idea that they would be moved to different project areas, reused, and ultimately repurposed. Composable Modular Construction is expected to grow consistently, given the rising importance of emergency accommodation for catastrophes and's effectiveness during the past few years.





Based on Material, the Concrete category controls most of the Modular Construction market's revenue. Concrete chemical additives enhance concrete by providing many benefits, such as a low cement-water ratio, a shorter setting time, less segregation, and greater transparency, leading to increased use of concrete admixture in the construction sector. The main driver of the rising use of concrete admixtures, which eventually supports the segment's growth, is the expanding construction industry in countries like the United Kingdom and Germany.





Based on the Module, most of the Modular Construction market's revenue is controlled by the Four-sided Module category. To produce cellular-style spaces, four closed sides are used to construct four-sided modules intended to transport materials through their longitudinal walls. The modules have been constructed to withstand both the in-plane loads brought on by air currents and the aggregate vertical force.





Based on End-User, most of the Modular Construction market's revenue is controlled by the Residential sector. Several variables, including convenience, distinction, and isolation, will certainly cause the market to expand in the years to come. Locals from all over the world have expressed a lot of interest in buying luxury homes. Expanding affluent home projects worldwide has eventually facilitated the segment's growth.





Buy this Premium Research Report with Discount | Immediate Delivery @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/buy-now/modular-construction-market-2119/0

Recent Developments in the Global Modular Construction Market

In December 2022, a memorandum of agreement for developing small modular nuclear reactors in the UK was signed by Balfour Beatty, Holtec Britain, and Hyundai Engineering and Construction (HDEC).

In October 2022, Top Oasis Limited, a partnership between Sino Land Company Limited and CSI Properties Limited, will have contracted Balfour Beatty's 50:50 joint venture, Gammon, to build a housing estate in Yau Tong, Hong Kong, for HKD 1.3 billion (US $0.17 million).

In July 2021, Modulaire Group (formerly Algeco Group) has completed the acquisition of Procomm Site Services Ltd. (a UK-based portable, modular accommodation provider) to establish a strong {{keyword}} market presence across Europe.

In August 2021, McGrath RentCorp announced the acquisition of Kitchens to Go, a leader in interim and permanent modular solutions for food service providers looking to continue or expand operations. The acquisition may enable McGrath RentCorp's Mobile Modular division to provide temporary and customized permanent food service facilities nationally.

Concrete Category from the Material Segment of the Global Modular Construction Market Anticipated to Generate Nearly a Third of the Total Global Segment Revenue

For better understanding, based on the Material, the Modular Construction market is divided into Steel, Wood, and Concrete.

The concrete market was the largest by application, and it is anticipated to hold the top spot during the projected period. These goods are frequently employed in large-scale projects like concert halls and arenas to prevent audience members' views and experiences from being obstructed by pillars. Leading business players use technological advancements to create new products and increase their market share. During the projection period, an increase in consumer demand and a shift in consumer preference toward high-quality items would create new growth opportunities for new entrants in the market.

On the other hand, the steel category is anticipated to grow significantly. The elements that contribute to the internal structure include adaptability in design, strength, endurance, and chemical resistance, as well as less need for repairs and maintenance throughout the building's existence. Buildings in Modular Construction are often made of steel, hot-rolled steel, cold-formed steel wall panels, and steel. Steel is renowned for its serviceability and strength-to-weight ratio. These elements are boosting interest in this market area.

Asia Pacific Region of the Global Modular Construction Market Forecast to Generate Nearly Half the Total Global Revenue

The Asia Pacific region is anticipated to do so in the coming years. This results from growing foreign investments supporting market expansion in the region's infrastructure industry. Due to increased environmental concerns and pollution, there is an increasing need for sustainable structures, which is driving the use of Modular Construction and, in turn, greatly boosting productivity growth.

The North America regional market is projected to grow the fastest in the Modular Construction market. Major growth potential is created in developing countries throughout North America due to the fast industrialization of those economies. The increase in government spending and foreign investments in construction-related businesses are the main factors driving the expansion of the North American industry. Due to encouraging government initiatives in countries like the US and Canada to promote the construction industry and the rising domestic sector, recent years have seen tremendous expansion in the regional construction sector.

Browse market data Tables and Figures spread through 149 Pages and in-depth TOC on Modular Construction Market Forecast Report (2023-2030).

Global Modular Construction Market Segmentation

Based on Type

Permanent

Relocatable

Based on the Material

Steel

Wood

Concrete





Based on the Module

Four-sided

Open-sided

Partially open-sided

Mixed modules & floor cassettes

Modules supported by a primary structure

Other Modules

Based on the End-Use Sector

Residential

Office

Education

Retail & Commercial

Hospitality

Healthcare

Other Sectors





By Region

North America United States Canada Mexico

Europe Germany UK France Italy Spain Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea South-East Asia Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa GCC Countries South Africa Rest of MEA



Read Full Report with TOC @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/modular-construction-market-2119

Scope of the Report:

Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2022 USD 86.3 Billion Revenue Forecast by 2030 USD 544.4 Billion CAGR 30.1% from 2023 to 2030 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2030 Key Players ATCO, Anderco Pte. Ltd., Giant Containers Inc., Bechtel Corporation, Lendlease Corporation, Skanska AB, Speed House Group of Companies, Supertech Industries LLC, Fluor Corporation, Modulaire Group Customization Options Customized purchase options are available to meet any research needs. Explore customized purchase options https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/modular-construction-market-2119/request-sample

Browse More Reports from Vantage Library:

Construction Equipment Market - Global Industry Assessment & Forecast: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/construction-equipment-market-1897

Precast Concrete Construction Market Global Industry Assessment & Forecast: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/precast-concrete-construction-market-0939

Pre-cast Construction Market Global Industry Assessment & Forecast: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/pre-cast-construction-market-0936

Paint and Construction Chemicals Market Global Industry Assessment & Forecast: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/paint-and-construction-chemicals-market-0921

Construction Market Global Industry Assessment & Forecast: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/construction-market-0818

Construction Chemicals Market - Global Industry Assessment & Forecast: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/construction-chemicals-market-0922

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(Bloomberg) -- A federal appeals court rejected Elon Musks challenge to his 2018 agreement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission that requires him to have his Twitter posts about Tesla Inc. screened.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Manhattan court on Monday ruled against Musks free speech claims just days after a three-judge panel heard arguments in the case on Thursday.

Read the ruling here

Musk, Teslas chief executive officer and now the owner of Twitter Inc., had claimed that the agreement with the SEC violated the First Amendment to the US Constitution and that the agency was harassing him. The court quickly rejected those arguments in a seven-page order.

We see no evidence to support Musks contention that the SEC has used the consent decree to conduct bad-faith, harassing investigations of his protected speech, the panel said, upholding a lower-court ruling from last year.

Battle With SEC

Musk may ask for a review of the case by the full appeals court or ask the US Supreme Court to take up the case.

We will seek further review and continue to bring attention to the important issue of the government constraint on speech, Alex Spiro, a lawyer for Musk, said in an email.

Musk has been battling with the SEC over his social media posts since he tweeted in 2018 that he had funding secured to take Tesla private, sending shares of the electric car maker surging. The regulator sued, claiming Musk and Tesla had misled shareholders.

Read More: Elon Musk Asks Appeals Court to End Twitter Sitter Deal

The two settled with the SEC, each paying $20 million and agreeing to a consent decree providing that Musks Tesla-related tweets would be reviewed by an in-house lawyer before he posts them.

Story continues

Further Inquiries

The SEC has inquired three times about Musks Twitter posts, including the 2018 tweet, the court said. The regulator also sought documents related to a 2019 tweet misstating Tesla production figures and a 2021 Twitter poll in which Musk proposed selling 10% of his Tesla stock.

Each tweet plausibly violated the terms of the consent decree, the court said in its ruling Monday.

Read More: Musk Trial Win a Non Sequitur in Twitter Sitter Case, SEC Says

Last year US District Judge Lewis Liman refused to release Musk from the deal and end his Twitter sitter requirement, saying the CEO was simply bemoaning that he felt like he had to agree to it at the time and now wishes that he had not. Liman also denied Musks effort to block an SEC subpoena seeking information on his tweets.

The case is US Securities and Exchange Commission v. Musk, 22-1291, 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals (Manhattan).

Read More

Teflon Elon Wins Again as Jury Rejects Tweet Fraud Claims

Musk Asks Appeals Court to End Twitter Sitter Deal

Teslas Staggering Tab for Racism Suit Is Slashed by 98%

--With assistance from Chris Dolmetsch.

(Adds remarks of Musk lawyer in sixth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Musk: Tesla to make significant investments in France at some point Choose France investment summit in Versailles

PARIS (Reuters) - US electric car manufacturer Tesla will make significant investments in France, its CEO Elon Musk said in Versailles on Monday, adding that he could not give a timetable.

Asked after a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron whether Tesla planned to announce investments in France, Musk said "I think at some point, but not today, at some point, yes".

"There is no announcement today but I am very impressed with president Macron and the French government and how welcoming they are to industry, so I am confident that in the future Tesla will be making significant investments in France," he told reporters.

(Reporting by GV De Clercq; Editing by David Goodman)
(Bloomberg) -- Gold giant Newmont Corp. secured a A$28.8 billion ($19.2 billion) deal to buy Australian rival Newcrest Mining Ltd., consolidating its position as the worlds biggest bullion producer with mines across the Americas, Africa, Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The transaction, now unanimously approved by Newcrests board but pending regulatory approval, is the gold mining sectors largest deal to date, surpassing Newmonts purchase of rival Goldcorp Inc. in 2019. Newcrest, whose then chief executive officer stepped down abruptly at the end of last year, rejected initial overtures, though it had indicated earlier this month that it planned to recommend an improved takeover offer from its suitor.

Newmonts acquisition adds more exposure to gold at a time when bullion is testing a record high, and the deal will crucially also boost its resources of copper  a metal where demand is expected to outpace supply as the transition away from fossil fuels gathers pace.

Newcrests shares rose as much as 1.9% in Sydney on Monday, after the producer confirmed details of the deal in a statement. Newmont rose 0.4% at 9:32 a.m. in New York. Bloomberg News reported Sunday that Newmont was nearing an agreement on its offer.

Gold miners worldwide are facing the prospect of stagnating production as they contend with harder-to-mine deposits and rising input costs. Thats seen as a catalyst for more mergers and acquisitions, as companies seek to increase their size to boost volumes and improve efficiencies.

Attention will now shift to Newmonts ability to integrate its costly and hefty target, extract savings and dispose of non-core assets to generate a promised $500 million in annual synergies. The Denver-based miner will aim to increase cash flows by $2 billion in the two years after the deal closes through portfolio optimization.

Story continues

Newcrests Telfer and Havieron mines in Western Australia are likely to be among assets to be earmarked for sales, because the former is too mature and the latter too small for the enlarged Newmont, according to Daniel Morgan, an analyst with Sydney-based investment bank Barrenjoey.

Theres a long list of gold companies that would look at all assets that become available, Morgan said. London-based Greatland Gold Plc, already a partner in Havieron, was a logical buyer, he said.

Under the deal, Newcrest shareholders will get 0.4 shares in Newmont for every share they own, giving them 31% ownership of the combined group. They will also get a tax-free special dividend before closing, of as much as $1.10 per share.

The deal gives Newcrest an implied share price of A$29.27 per share, a more than 30% premium to the companys closing price of A$22.45 on Feb. 3. Newmont made an initial proposal on Feb. 5.

--With assistance from Jason Scott, James Fernyhough, Rob Verdonck and David Stringer.

(Adds Newmont shares in fourth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Norfolk Southern (NSC) CEO Alan Shaw isn't ready to completely jettison the controversial Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) approach to doing business that has dominated the railroad industry in recent years.

But he is committed to adjusting the process after several high-profile train derailments have called the profit-focused operating model into question.

"There are some components of PSR that we're going to continue to endorse, and that's developing our people, working safely, investing in our assets," Shaw said on Yahoo Finance Live (video above), doubling down on a new "hybrid" PSR strategy that he started to implement in 2022.

Shaw declined to elaborate further.

A Norfolk Southern freight train, left, waits on a siding, as another train passes in Homestead, Pa, Wednesday, April 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Longtime railroad exec Hunter Harrison pioneered PSR as a means to cut costs and boost operating margins. The system has three key components: minimize railroad car downtime; run longer trains at higher speeds, and minimize power requirements.

Critics of PSR contend the process has been an exercise in cutting employees and running less-safe railroads to maximize the bottom line.

A recent ProPublica analysis of Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) data found that 20 train derailments from 2005 to 2020 could be linked to trains being too long, for instance.

The PSR model has come into focus amid Norfolk Southern derailments this year.

On Feb. 3, a Norfolk Southern train with 150 cars carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. The NTSB found the operators of the train tried to stop it after a wheel bearing overheated to a worrying level. An official cause of the derailment has not yet been shared by the NTSB.

Shaw said that Norfolk Southern will be in East Palestine for "as long as it takes" to make things right with residents.

This photo taken with a drone on Feb. 4, 2023, shows portions of a Norfolk Southern freight train still on fire that derailed on Feb. 3, in East Palestine, Ohio. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

The company incurred a $387 million charge in the first quarter related to potential clean-up efforts from the Feb. 3 derailment. Norfolk also committed to making up the difference in home value for residents who sold their homes for lower than their value before the accident.

Story continues

Last week, nine cars from a Norfolk Southern freight train also derailed in Pennsylvania.

But Shaw maintained that his railroad is a safe operator.

"Last year at Norfolk Southern, our number of derailments was the lowest in two decades," he said. "We can do better. We're looking at this stuff. We're working very closely with the NTSB."

At some point, the end game for PSR may come down to regulators.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has criticized the PSR operating model and has clamored for tighter industry regulations.

"We have a lot of concerns about the business models that the railroads have adopted," Buttigieg told Yahoo Finance Live. "They strip out the human factor. Employment at some of these major railroads is down 30%, 40%. They've become wildly profitable but have not been able to dramatically improve their efficiency or their fluidity in moving goods, and it's really come on the backs of workers who are now overworked, stressed out. And this is part of what led to so much concern last year as workers were insisting on sick leave, something that we still believe these railroads need to provide."

Buttigieg is pushing for improved braking standards on freight trains, among other aspects.

Norfolk Southern Chief Executive Alan Shaw testifies during a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing in Washington, U.S., March 22, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

Shaw says he "respects" Buttigieg's position, but he hasn't publicly endorsed Buttigieg's thoughts on better braking systems.

"There are a lot of things that Norfolk Southern does that are absolutely aligned with the administration's goals  high-paying union jobs, investments in the nation's infrastructure, pulling trucks off the highway, and the sustainability advantage of rail relative to truck," Shaw said. "Relative to our long-term focus and our pivot away from that traditional rail model and hiring, that's exactly what we're doing, as I talked about in the new strategy Norfolk Southern charted in the industry."

"And then relative to rail safety, I've been on the Hill a number of times," Shaw added. "I'm advocating with Republicans and Democrats for many of the provisions that are included in the rail safety bills."

Brian Sozzi is Yahoo Finance's Executive Editor. Follow Sozzi on Twitter @BrianSozzi and on LinkedIn. Tips on deals, mergers, activist situations or anything else? Email brian.sozzi@yahoofinance.com

Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
The billionaire owner of British chemical company Ineos criticised the Government's decision last year to introduce a windfall tax on North Sea producers. - Martin Rickett/PA Wire

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has warned that taxing the North Sea oil and gas industry to death" threatens future investment spent on upgrading Britains key pipelines.

The billionaire owner of British chemical company Ineos criticised the Government's decision last year to introduce a windfall tax on North Sea producers.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Sir Jim said the Government was playing primitive politics when it increased the taxes from 40pc to 65pc and then 75pc.

Taxes are now so high that profits no longer fund future investments, he said.

What the country needs is energy security, which means encouraging developments in our strategic energy reserves in the North Sea. There has been no thought given to the long-term consequences of this tax it to death move.

David Bucknall, chief executive of Ineoss energy division, said the company would instead welcome a price floor on the windfall tax, which would remove the levy if oil and gas prices fall below a certain level.

The windfall tax was introduced by the Government to help support British households, who faced surging energy bills because of higher wholesale oil and gas prices after Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

However, gas prices have fallen dramatically since last summer.

Sir Jim's comments follow warnings from energy majors, including Shell and Total, that the levy risks harming investment in Britain.

Earlier this year, Harbour Energy claimed earlier that windfall tax had all but wiped out its profits.

The North Seas biggest oil producer said it was looking to grow its business outside of Britain. Chief executive Linda Cook said higher tax rates have disproportionately impacted UK-focused drillers.

Harbour added that it had cut its spending plans for the UK for the year, with some opportunities delayed or no longer being progressed.

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.
Power Play, a 1970s-set comedy that plays with the conventions of period TV, docudrama and political satire, has won the top prize for best series at this years Canneseries television festival.

The series stars Kathrine Thorborg Johansen as Gro Harlem Brundtland, a young doctor and womens choice activist in the 1970s who, through a series of accidents, stumbles into politics and, while the government around her implodes, learns to play the power game, rising the ranks to become Norways first female prime minister. The project, which plays like a comedic version of Danish political series Borgen, also took the best music honor at Canneseries for Kare Christoffer Vestrheim, Andrea Louise Horstad, Kristoffer Lo and Eivind Helgerd.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Created by showrunner Johan Fasting and directed by Yngvild Sve Flikke, the series was produced by Motlys and Fremantle label Novemberfilm for NRK / NDR in Norway. Power Play is being sold worldwide by REinvent International Sales.

Korean horror series Bargain won best screenplay at Canneseries for co-writers Woo-Sung Jeon, Byeong-Yun Choi and Jae-Min Kwak. The chiller, involving an underground organ auction, a disastrous earthquake and a fight to the death, is carried on TVING and Paramount+ in Korea and is sold by Paramount Global Content Distribution worldwide.

Israeli actress Hadas Ben Aroya won best performance for her leading turn in Corduroy, as a free-living modern woman in Tel Aviv who gets entwined in an anti-love story with a married man. Produced by Banijays Movieplus Productions, Corduroy is being sold by HOT.

Another Israeli series, Carthago, won the festivals special interpretation prize. The historic drama/comedy/thriller, based on real-events, follows Elijah Levi, a Jewish comedian sent to British prison camp in Carthago in Africa in the early 1940s, where his fellow inmates include Italian fascists, Nazi spies and Jewish terrorists. Produced by 24 Drafts Studios, Yoav Gross and Reshef Levi for KAN 11 in Isreal, the series is being sold worldwide by Ehud Bleiberg and UTA Agents.

Story continues

Draw for Change!, a six-part documentary series about female cartoonists in Mexico, USA, Russia, India, Syria and Egypt, took the prize for best documentary series.

As previously announced, Sarah Michelle Gellar won this years Canal+ Icon award, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power actress Morfydd Clark was honored with Canneseries rising star award, and Transparent creator Joey Soloway was honored with the Konbini commitment award.

The prizes were handed out at a ceremony in Cannes Wednesday night. The full list of 2023 Canneseries winners is below.

Best Series: Power Play

Best Screenplay: Bargain

Best Music: Power Play

Best Performance: Corduroy

Special Interpretation Prize: Carthago

High School Award: Carthago

Best Short Form Series: The Left-handed Son

Student Award: Lair daller

Best Documentary Series: Draw for Change!

Canal+ Icon Award: Sarah Michelle Gellar

Madame Figaro Rising Star Award: Morfydd Clark

Konbini Commitment Award: Joey Soloway

Europe 1 Audience Award: Les Combattantes

Best of The Hollywood Reporter

Click here to read the full article.
Key Insights

Institutions' substantial holdings in Nufarm implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

The top 9 shareholders own 54% of the company

Insiders have bought recently

A look at the shareholders of Nufarm Limited (ASX:NUF) can tell us which group is most powerful. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 67% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. Therefore, a good portion of institutional money invested in the company is usually a huge vote of confidence on its future.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Nufarm, beginning with the chart below.

See our latest analysis for Nufarm

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Nufarm?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

We can see that Nufarm does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. 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 Nufarm, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Nufarm. Our data shows that Orbis Investment Management Limited is the largest shareholder with 12% of shares outstanding. L1 Capital Pty. Limited is the second largest shareholder owning 7.5% of common stock, and The Phoenix Investment and Finances Ltd. holds about 5.6% of the company stock.

Story continues

On further inspection, we found that more than half the company's shares are owned by the top 9 shareholders, suggesting that the interests of the larger shareholders are balanced out to an extent by the smaller ones.

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 Nufarm

The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. 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 data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Nufarm Limited in their own names. We do note, however, it is possible insiders have an indirect interest through a private company or other corporate structure. It is a pretty big company, so it would be possible for board members to own a meaningful interest in the company, without owning much of a proportional interest. In this case, they own around AU$8.4m worth of shares (at current prices). It is good to see board members owning shares, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying.

General Public Ownership

The general public-- including retail investors -- own 30% 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.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important.

Many find it useful to take an in depth look at how a company has performed in the past. You can access this detailed graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow.

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.

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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is expected to testify before the US Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.

It's likely to be a hearing with some fireworks, as the release of OpenAI's ChatGPT in November sparked talk of an "AI revolution." Talk quickly turned into both hype and fear. As companies and social media users touted AI's possibilities, some concerned tech executives called for a slowdown in AI's rapid development.

Altman, previously president of tech accelerator Y Combinator, has been affiliated with OpenAI since its founding in 2015. By 2020, he was the startup's CEO full-time. OpenAI has had a number of notable backers in its brief life, including Tesla (TSLA) CEO and Twitter owner Elon Musk, Amazon Web Services (AMZN), and most recently Microsoft (MSFT).

Microsoft, which first invested in OpenAI in 2019, has doubled-down on its investment in the company in recent months, riding on the success of ChatGPT by dropping an additional $10 billion on OpenAI in January. It's an investment that Microsoft has mostly been lauded for, bringing the legacy tech giant back into a standoff with Google parent Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) over the future of search.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks to members of the media during the Introduction of the integration of the Microsoft Bing search engine and Edge browser with OpenAI on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Redmond, Wash. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Why DC is worried

However, as AI has been more public-facing, its problems and risks have been clearer than ever  misinformation, bias, and privacy concerns all immediately sprang to the fore as problems for not only individuals, but society as a whole.

Lawmakers have taken notice, even at the highest levels of government. For example, this month, the White House has been meeting with tech executives, including Altman, to discuss AI, and both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have been involved.

Additionally, SEC Chair Gary Gensler today expressed worries about AI and where it goes from here.

"AI already is being used for call centers, account openings, compliance programs, trading algorithms, sentiment analysis, robo-advisers, and brokerage apps. Such applications can bring benefits in market access, efficiency, and returns," he said. "[AI] also has the potential to heighten financial fragility as it could increase herding, interconnectedness, and expose regulatory gaps. Existing financial sector regulatory regimes  built in an earlier era of data analytics technology  are likely to fall short in addressing the systemic risks posed by broad adoption of deep learning and generative AI in finance."

Story continues

Likewise, various members of Congress have expressed AI-related concerns, including Senators Richard Blumenthal and Josh Hawley, who will lead Tuesday's hearing.

Artificial intelligence urgently needs rules and safeguards to address its immense promise and pitfalls, said Blumenthal in a statement. This hearing begins our subcommittees work in overseeing and illuminating AIs advanced algorithms and powerful technology."

Hawley, also in a statement, added: Artificial intelligence will be transformative in ways we cant even imagine, with implications for Americans elections, jobs, and security. This hearing marks a critical first step towards understanding what Congress should do.

These meetings and tomorrow's hearing inevitably link back to a key question  what should the regulation of AI look like? The answers won't be simple, and we're operating with few, if any, examples, former Google CEO and Chair Eric Schmidt recently told Yahoo Finance.

"At the moment, Europe is doing almost nothing in this space, so we don't really have any examples," Schmidt said. "They have a law which requires that the system be able to explain itself if it's used in something critical. By definition, these systems today can't explain themselves  by the way, nor could your teenager if you have a teenager."

The goal of Tuesday's hearing, ultimately, will likely be for Congress to step forward when it comes to answering some of these questions.

Allie Garfinkle is a Senior Tech Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @agarfinks and on LinkedIn.

Click here for the latest trending stock tickers of the Yahoo Finance platform.

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Fortune Business Insights

Key companies covered in optical communication systems and networking market are Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. (China), Corning Incorporated (U.S.), Ciena Corporation (U.S.), Nokia (Finland), Cisco Systems Inc. (U.S.), Fujitsu (Japan), ADVA Optical Networking SE (Germany), NEC Corporation (Japan), Infinera Corporation (U.S.), and Juniper Networks Inc. (U.S.), and more players profiled

Pune, India, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global optical communication systems and networking market size was valued at USD 29.47 billion in 2022 and is predicted to reach USD 31.63 billion in 2023. The market is anticipated to touch USD 56.22 billion by 2030, recording a CAGR of 8.6% during the forecast period of 2023-2030.

Optical communication systems and networking refers to transferring information from one source to the other by using light as a signal carrier. The information is converted into an optical signal with the help of a Light-emitting Diode (LED) or laser diode and transmitted through an optical fiber cable to achieve high-speed data transmission rate over long distances. The robust need for high-speed internet connection is predicted to boost the optical communication systems and networking market growth.

Fortune Business Insights presents this information in a report titled, "Global Optical Communication Systems and Networking Market, 2023-2030."

Get a Free Sample Research Report:



https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/optical-communication-systems-and-networking-market-106620

LIST OF LEADING ORGANIZATIONS PROFILED IN THE REPORT:



Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. (China)

Corning Incorporated (U.S.)

Ciena Corporation (U.S.)

Nokia (Finland)

Cisco Systems Inc. (U.S.)

Fujitsu (Japan)

ADVA Optical Networking SE (Germany)

NEC Corporation (Japan)

Infinera Corporation (U.S.)

Juniper Networks Inc. (U.S.)

Report Scope & Segmentation:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2030 Forecast CAGR 8.6% 2030 Value Projection USD 56.22 Billion Market Size in 2023 USD 31.63 Billion Historical Data 2019-2021 No. of Pages 200 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Company Profiles, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Latest Trends Segments Covered By Component

By Technology

By Data Range

By Vertical Regions Covered North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East and Africa Optical Communication Systems and Networking Market Growth Drivers Rising Adoption of 5G Networks is Expected to Propel Market Share Expansion of Data Centers Projected to Boost Optical Communication Systems and Networking Market Growth

Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC:



Story continues

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/optical-communication-systems-and-networking-market-106620

COVID-19 Impact:

COVID-19 Pandemic Boosted Product Demand Due to Rising Remote Work Culture

The COVID-19 pandemic played a vital role in expanding the market size as the outbreak increased the demand for digitization and remote work. This surged the demand for data-intensive applications and services and improved the usage of optical communication systems and networking services. These services offer reliable and high-speed data transfer over long distances.

To know more about the impact of COVID-19 on this market, please visit:

Segmentation:

Growing Demand for Compact and Energy-Efficient Transceivers Will Boost Deployment of Optical Transceivers

Based on component, the market is segmented into optical fibers, optical transceivers, optical amplifiers, optical switches, optical circulators, and others. The optical transceiver segment is predicted to dominate the market share during the forecast period because of rising demand for compact and energy efficient transceivers.

Robust Need for Effective Communication and High Capacity Network Will Enhance Usage of WDM Technology

In terms of technology, the market is bifurcated into WDM, SONET/SDH, fiber channel, and others. The Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM) segment held a dominant market share and is anticipated to record the fastest CAGR during the forecast period as end-users are looking for technologies that facilitate effective communication and offer high-capacity network.

BFSI Sector to Boost Product Deployment Due to Growing Demand for High-speed Data Transfer Technologies

By vertical, the market is divided into BFSI, IT & telecom, government and aerospace & defense, healthcare, and energy & utilities. The BFSI segment held a dominant position in the market as the demand for high-speed data transfer technologies is rising across the sector.

40-100 GBPS Data Range Will Witness Wide Usage in Several Applications

In terms of data range, the market is segmented into up to 40 GBPS, 40 to 100 GBPS, and >100 GBPS. The 40 to 100 GBPS segment captured a major market share as this data range is being widely used in many applications, especially during the post-pandemic period.

Report Coverage:

The report offers an in-depth analysis of the market. It covers major aspects, such as R&D capabilities and optimizing operating services. The report also provides important insights into the latest market trends and competitive landscape, and underlines key developments in the industry. Apart from the above-mentioned factors, the report focuses on many factors contributing to the market growth.

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Drivers and Restraints:

Growing Adoption of 5G Networks to Boost Market Expansion

5G networks are being widely adopted across the world as the demand for high-speed and low-latency connectivity has risen considerably. 5G networks offer these advantages, which is why they are being widely used in several critical applications, such as synergistic AI, fixed-mobile substitution, autonomous vehicles, VR & AR, cloud gaming, healthcare, and video surveillance. These factors will boost the deployment of 5G networks, thereby increasing the optical communication systems and networking market share.

However, rising security concerns, high installation costs, and stiff competition from wireless communication technology providers may hinder the market growth.

Regional Insights:

Asia Pacific to Lead the Market Share Due to Growing Presence of OEMs

Asia Pacific captured the largest share in the global market in 2022 and is predicted to be the fastest growing region during the forecast timeline. This growth can be credited to the growing presence of OEMs in the region and rising investments in R&D programs to develop next-gen communication technologies, such as fiber-optic communication systems and 5G. The regional market is also projected to record the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.

Competitive Landscape:

Key Companies to Focus On Product Innovations and Technological Advancements to Maintain Their Dominance

The market contains key players, such as Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., Corning Incorporated, Ciena Corporation, Nokia, Cisco Systems Inc., Adva Optical Networking SE, and others. These companies are introducing technological innovations and advanced product versions to expand their presence in emerging markets. In June 2021, Corning Incorporated introduced Corning SMF-28 Contour optical fiber which helps in aiding telecom operators in addressing the ever-expanding number of connected devices, build-out of 5G networks, and improvements in cloud computing.

Ask for Customization:

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Detailed Table of Content:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions



Executive Summary

Market Dynamics

Key Insights Key Industry Developments  Key Contracts & Agreements, Mergers, Acquisitions and Partnerships Latest technological Advancements Porters Five Forces Analysis Supply Chain Analysis Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Global Optical Communication Systems and Networking Market

Global Optical Communication Systems and Networking Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2030 Key Findings / Definition Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Components Optical Fiber Optical Transceivers Optical Amplifiers Optical Switches Optical Circulators Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Technology WDM SONET/SDH Fiber Channel Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Data Range Up to 40 GBPS 40 to 100 GBPS > 100 GBPS Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Vertical IT & Telecom BFSI Government and Aerospace & Defense Healthcare Energy & Utilities Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Region North America Europe Asia-pacific Rest of the World

North America Optical Communication Systems and Networking Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2030 Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Components Optical Fiber Optical Transceivers Optical Amplifiers Optical Switches Optical Circulators Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Technology WDM SONET/SDH Fiber Channel Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Data Range Up to 40 GBPS 40 to 100 GBPS > 100 GBPS Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Vertical IT & Telecom BFSI Government and Aerospace & Defense Healthcare Energy & Utilities Others Market Analysis  By Country The U.S. (By Vertical) Canada (By Vertical)

Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities



TOC Continued...!

Speak to Our Expert:

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Key Industry Development:

March 2023  U.S.-based telecom equipment manufacturer Infinera Corporation achieved a single-wavelength transmission of 400-gigabits-per-second (400GPS) over a distance of 2,400 kilometers. The company used its ICE-X 400G QSFP-DD intelligent coherent pluggable solution on Cornings TXF optical fiber to achieve this transmission speed.

Read Related Insights:

Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) Systems Market Size to Reach USD 20.36 Billion by 2026; Rising Development of Military Aircrafts, states Fortune Business Insights

Advanced Optics Market to Worth USD 477.42 Billion by (2021-2028) | Advanced Optics Industry CAGR of 9.62%

About Us:



Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them to address various challenges distinct to their businesses. Our aim is to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in.

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2023) - Palamina Corp. (TSXV: PA) ("Palamina" or the "Company") will conduct a non-brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") of up to 6,000,000 units ("Units") at a purchase price of $0.125 per Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $750,000. Each Unit consists of one common share ("Common Share") and one warrant (a "Warrant"). Each whole Warrant is exercisable to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.25 for a period of 24 months from the closing date.

Net proceeds of the Offering will be used for further exploration of its project in Peru and general corporate and working capital purposes. The Offering is subject to TSX Venture Exchange acceptance of regulatory filings. The Company may pay finder's fees to eligible persons in accordance with applicable securities laws and regulatory policies.

The securities being offered 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 in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. 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 PALAMINA

Palamina has participation in nine gold projects in south-eastern Peru hosted within the Puno Orogenic Gold Belt (POGB). The Company also has rights to the Galena silver-copper project in the Santa Lucia district and two additional copper-gold projects in Southern Peru. Palamina holds a 18.5% equity interest in Winshear Gold Corp. who are advancing the Gaban Gold Project to the drill discovery phase. Winshear is also awaiting a judgement after concluding its arbitration proceedings against the Government of Tanzania in February of 2023 for the expropriation of its SMP gold deposit. Winshear is seeking in excess of CDN$130M for the loss of its investment in Tanzania.

Story continues

Palamina has 65,284,836 shares outstanding and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol PA and on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol PLMNF.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors:

Andrew Thomson, President Phone: (416) 204-7536 or visit www.palamina.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of such statements under applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the use of proceeds of the Offering and the Company's future business plans. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company is under no obligation, 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 expressly required by applicable law. A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company appears in the Company's continuous disclosure filings, which are available at www.sedar.com.

/Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or dissemination in the United States/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166121
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2023) - Palladium One Mining (TSXV: PDM) (FSE: 7N11) (OTCQB: NKORF) ("Palladium One" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Glencore plc ("Glencore"), a large shareholder of the Company through its wholly-owned subsidiary, has elected to exercise its pro-rata equity participation rights and has subscribed for 7,439,071 common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Common Shares"). The Common Shares were issued at a price of $0.11 per Common Share for aggregate gross proceeds of $818,297.80 (the "Financing"). Following the Financing, Glencore holds approximately 9.99% of the Company's equity on a partially diluted basis.

Pursuant to the terms of the investor rights agreement entered into between Glencore and the Company (the "Investor Rights Agreement"), Glencore elected to exercise its pre-emptive rights to maintain its ownership interest in the Company in respect of the Company's recently completed acquisition of MetalCorp Limited.

All Common Shares issued under the Financing are subject to a four-month hold period from the closing date. No fees were paid in connection with Glencore's investment.

About Palladium One

Palladium One Mining Inc. (TSXV: PDM) is focused on discovering environmentally and socially conscious Metals for Green Transportation. A Canadian mineral exploration and development company, Palladium One is targeting district scale, platinum-group-element (PGE)-copper-nickel deposits in Canada and Finland. The Lantinen Koillismaa (LK) Project in north-central Finland, is a PGE-copper-nickel project that has existing NI43-101 Mineral Resources, while both the Tyko and Canalask high-grade nickel-copper projects are located in Ontario and the Yukon, Canada, respectively. Follow Palladium One on LinkedIn, Twitter, and at www.palladiumoneinc.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Derrick Weyrauch"

President & CEO, Director

Story continues

For further information contact:

Derrick Weyrauch, President & CEO

Email: info@palladiumoneinc.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Market Regulator (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 is not an offer or a solicitation of an offer of securities for sale in the United States of America. The common shares of Palladium One Mining Inc. 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 absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration.

Information set forth in this press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address a company's expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release include, without limitation, statements with respect to: the expected synergies and benefits of the Financing, the future price of nickel, copper, gold, and cobalt, the estimation of mineral resources, costs and timing of the development of projects and new deposits, success of exploration, currency fluctuations, requirements for additional capital, government regulation of mining operations, and environmental risks. 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.

Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166045
Fortune Business Insights

Global Perovskite Solar Cell Market to Gather Momentum; Rising Rate of Urbanization Worldwide to Boost Installation of Solar Panels in Residential Spaces: Fortune Business Insights

Pune, india, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global perovskite solar cell market size is poised for steady expansion as renewable energy production exhibits an encouraging growth trajectory. According the annual Renewable Capacity Statistics 2019 released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), in 2018, 171 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity was added worldwide. More significantly, 84% of this addition was contributed by solar and wind energy.

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Perovskite Solar Cell Market Global Highlights:

Perovskite Solar Cell Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Installation (Roof-Mount, Ground Mount, Portable, Other), By Application (Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Automotive, Defense, Others) and Regional Forecast, 2023-2030



Projections made by the International Energy Agency (IEA) are even more tantalizing. The IEA estimates that renewable energy production will rise by 50% between 2019 and 2024, with solar accounting for 60% of this rise. Moreover, rooftop solar PVs in residential structures would double from the current levels to reach 100 million by 2024, with Australia, Belgium, California, the Netherlands, and Austria leading the charge. Furthermore, the IEA expects solar cells costs to drop between 15% and 35% by 2024, thereby spurring their uptake in urban areas.

Through its report, titled Perovskite Solar Cell Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Installation (Roof-Mount, Ground Mount, Portable, Other), By Application (Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Automotive, Defense, Others) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026, Fortune Business Insights has shared vital market information in the form of:

Story continues

360-degree analysis of the factors driving the size and share of the market;

Exhaustive study of the market segments;

In-depth research of the restraints impeding the growth of the market; and

Comprehensive evaluation of the regional and competitive developments in the market.





Covid-19 Impact:

The coronavirus incident has caused colossal loss to several industries across the globe. The governments of several countries have instigated lockdown to thwart the spread of this deadly virus. Such plans have caused disturbances in the production and supply chain. But, with time and resolution, we will be able to combat this stern time and get back to normality. Our well-revised reports will help companies to receive in-depth information about the present scenario of every market so that you can adopt the necessary strategies accordingly.

To get to know more about the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this market, please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/perovskite-solar-cell-market-101556

Drivers & Restraints:

Government-funded R&D Activities to Aid Regional Development of the Market

Asia-Pacific is anticipated to dictate the perovskite solar cell market share owing to the increasing investment into renewable energy sources by India and China. In North America, the US is leading the market with increased funding for research and development of alternate sources of energy. Market players in North America are looking for ways to simplify the manufacturing process of these solar cells and bringing down their costs even more. The solar industry in Europe is flourishing as countries such as Germany and France are aggressively cutting down their carbon emissions through clean energy initiatives. Lastly, Africa is presenting promising prospects as the continent receives concentrated sunlight for majority part of a year.

Growing Urban Population to Prove Lucrative for the Market

One of the leading perovskite solar cell market trends is the proliferation of urban areas around the world and the parallel rise in urban population. According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), currently, around 55% of the global population lives in urban areas. By 2050, this number is projected to spike to 68%, with 90% of this rise taking place in Asia and Africa. The perovskite solar cell market stands to gain from this development as these solar cells boast of a host of advantages, making them ideal for installation in residential spaces. For instance, since perovskite cells can absorb lights of different wavelengths, it can convert larger amounts of sunlight into electricity. Moreover, they are flexible and lightweight, making them an attractive energy-efficient option in urban spaces.

Pre Book - Global Perovskite Solar Cell Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/101556

Segmentation of Report:

ATTRIBUTE DETAILS By Installation Roof-Mount

Ground Mount

Portable

Other By Application Residential

Commercial

Industrial

Automotive

Defense

Others By Geography North America (USA and Canada)

Europe (UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe)

Asia Pacific (Japan, China, India, Australia, Southeast Asia and Rest of Asia Pacific)

Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and Rest of Latin America)

Middle East & Africa (South Africa, GCC, and Rest of Middle East & Africa)



Competitive Landscape-

Excellent Innovation Opportunities Await Market Players

Serious contenders in this market are adopting various strategies to solidify their position. Some of the most favored strategies include focused attention on enhancing R&D capacity, launch of innovative products, and expansion of geographic presence.

Industry Development

August 2019: Oxford PV, the UK-based perovskite specialist company, purchased the first solar cell manufacturing equipment from Meyer Burger, the Swiss engineering company. Through this purchase, Oxford PV intends to develop a perovskite special production line with 250 MW capacity by the end of 2020.

February 2019: A commercial production line of inkjet-printed perovskite solar cells was officially launched by Saule Technologies on a pilot basis. The company aims to build 180,000 square meters of solar panels as 2020 ends.





Fortune Business Insights lists out some of the reputable organizations operating in the Perovskite Solar Cell Market. They are as follows:

Energy Materials Corp

Microquanta Semiconductor

Saule Technologies

Panasonic

Solaronix SA

Swift Solar

WonderSolar

Frontier Energy Solution

Oxford PV

Toshiba

Sekisui

Solliance

Tandem PV





Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/queries/perovskite-solar-cell-market-101556



Table of Content:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers 2030 Market Restraints Market Opportunities

Key Insights Key Emerging Trends  For Major Countries Latest Technological Advancement Regulatory Landscape Porter Five Forces Analysis 2030

Qualitative Analysis  Impact of COVID-19 Impact of COVID-19 on the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Plant Market Steps Taken by the Government to Overcome the Impact Key Developments by Industry Players in Response to COVID-19 Potential Opportunities and Challenges due to COVID-19 Outbreak

Competitive Analysis Company Market Share Analysis, 2030 Company Profile Business Overview Product & Service Offering Overall Revenue Geographic Presence Recent Development







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About Us:

Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in.

Contact Us:

Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd.

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UK: +44 2071 939123

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Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com




Fortune Business Insights

Key companies covered in pet furniture market are Go Pet Club (U.S.), Ware Pet Products (U.S.), Inter IKEA Systems B.V. (Netherlands), PetPals Group (U.S.), MidWest Homes for Pets (U.S.), North American Pet Products (U.S.), Aosom LLC (U.S.), MiaCara GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), Fable Pets, Inc. (U.S.), Critter Couch Company (U.S.), Furhaven Pet Products (U.S.), and more players profiled.

Pune, India, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global pet furniture market size was valued at USD 3.81 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow from USD 4.01 billion in 2023 to USD 6.09 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.14% during the forecast period. Pet beds and furniture, often known as animal-friendly furniture, are made to offer shelter and a place to rest for cats, dogs, and rabbits at home. For the betterment of pets' health, manufacturers are creating novel products like orthopaedic and temperature-controlled electrical heating beds, which is driving up demand for the goods. With its accessibility to the middle class, faux fur and wicker products are in demand all over the world. Fortune Business Insights presents this information in their report titled "Global Pet Furniture Market, 20232030."

Get a Free Sample Research Report:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/pet-furniture-market-106261

List of Key Players Profiled in the Pet Furniture Market Report:

Go Pet Club (U.S.)

Ware Pet Products (U.S.)

Inter IKEA Systems B.V. (Netherlands)

PetPals Group (U.S.)

MidWest Homes for Pets (U.S.)

North American Pet Products (U.S.)

Aosom LLC (U.S.)

MiaCara GmbH & Co. KG (Germany)

Fable Pets, Inc. (U.S.)

Critter Couch Company (U.S.)

Furhaven Pet Products (U.S.)

Report Scope & Segmentation:

Report Attributes Details Forecast Period 2023-2030 Forecast CAGR 6.14% 2030 Value Projection USD 6.09 Billion Market Size in 2022 USD 3.81 Billion Historical Data 2019-2020 No. of Pages 189 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Company Profiles, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Latest Trends Segments Covered By Type

By Pet Type

By Distribution Channel

By Region Regions Covered North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East and Africa Pet Furniture Market Growth Drivers Availability of Various Multifunctional and Customized Products to Favor Market Expansion Increasing Number of Pet Owners across the Globe is Surging the Demand for Pet Furniture

Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/pet-furniture-market-106261

Story continues

Segments:

Growing Consumer Interest in Pet Sofas and Beds is Driving Market Growth

Based on type, the market is segmented into pet sofas & beds, pet houses, pet trees, and others. Pet furniture is greatly preferred because, in addition to providing comfort for pets, it is frequently seen as a decorative item for homes, are multifunctional, and has a stylish look.

Increase in Dog Population Will Speed Up Product Sales for Pet Furniture

The market is classified based on pet type into dogs, cats, aquatic pets, birds, and others. Global furniture sales are dominated by the dogs. During the lockdown, a rise in the number of pets, particularly dogs, will speed up sales of pet beds and furnishings globally. The pandemic caused a lot of dog ownership in the U.S.

Globally, Growing Number of Offline Retail Stores to Drive Product Sales

Based on distribution channel, the market is classified into offline retail and online retail/e-commerce. In the upcoming years, offline retail sales channels will rule the market. In 2020, the pet sector grew as a result of an increase in the number of pet owners during lockdowns in nations like the U.S., Germany, India, and China.

COVID-19 Impact:

Substantial Increase in the Number of Pets During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced several global industries' revenue streams. Large swaths of the world's population experienced loneliness and anguish as a result of the pandemic's global lockdown in 2020. Pets make wonderful companions for pet owners, and in 2020, the pet business will have a lot of growth potential as a result of the widespread adoption of pets. However, the market is still expanding in many areas, and 2020 sales may have been affected by poor awareness.

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https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/get-a-quote/pet-furniture-market-106261

Report Coverage:

The report offers:

Major growth drivers, restraining factors, opportunities, and potential challenges for the market.

Comprehensive insights into the regional developments.

List of major industry players.

Key strategies adopted by the market players.

Latest industry developments include product launches, partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions.

Drivers & Restraints:

Numerous Multifunctional and Customized Goods are Available, Favoring Market Growth

Demand for the product is rising as a result of the introduction of high-quality, versatile, and personalized pet beds and furnishings that can accommodate all pet sizes. A key element driving the market's pet furniture product sales is the availability of dog and cat furniture goods that are tailored to consumer tastes, including varied colors, patterns, and features that ensure pet comfort. Innovative multipurpose furniture products that pet owners and animals can use are the manufacturers' main focus, which will result in an increase in the pet furniture market share.

On the contrary, using sustainable and high quality materials for pet furniture results in high costs, which may hamper the pet furniture market growth.

Regional Insights

Increased Pet Population in North America Dominates the Market

Throughout the projection period, it is anticipated that the North America market will expand significantly. One major aspects driving up demand for pet beds and furniture is the increase in the number of pets in the U.S. during the lockdown. U.S. had the largest percentage of households with pets in 2021, according to the American Pet Products Association, are Wyoming (72%), West Virginia (71%), Idaho, Vermont, and Nebraska (70%).

Europe is expected to have a significant growth due to rising population of pets and also increasing demand for pet beds & furniture in European countries such as Germany, the U.K., and France.

Competitive Landscape

Geographic Expansion and Introduction of New Products to Boost Sales and Product Visibility

To preserve their market position, major players in the market have implemented a variety of competitive strategies and are now concentrating on designing and making innovative multipurpose pet goods. To create innovative product designs, the big firms in a fragmented market invest in research and development operations. For example, a French pet care firm called ZOLUX debuted its new line of eco-friendly cat housing in January 2021. Cat trees and little cat houses were offered in the sustainable product line.

Ask for Customization:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/ask-for-customization/pet-furniture-market-106261

Detailed Table of Content:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities

Key Insights Overview of the Parent Market Industry SWOT Analysis Supply Chain and Regulatory Landscape Market Analysis and Insights (in Relation with COVID-19) Impact of COVID-19 on the Market Supply Chain Challenges due to the Pandemic Potential Opportunities to Support the Market

Global Pet Furniture Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2030 Key Findings / Summary Market Size Estimates and Forecast By Type Pet Sofas & Beds Pet Houses Pet Trees Others By Pet Type Dogs Cats Aquatic Pets Birds Others By Distribution Channel Offline Retail Online Retail/ E- Commerce By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa



TOC Continued...!

Speak to Our Expert:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/pet-furniture-market-106261

Key Industry Development:

March 2022  Aldi, a Germany-based brand, launched new stylish mini velvet chairs available in three colors for dogs.

Read Related Insights:

Pet Care Market Size to Hit USD 325.74 Billion by 2028 | At 5.6% CAGR

Pet Toys Market Size to Hit $12.63 Billion by 2029 | At 6.73% CAGR

Pet Clothing Market Size to Worth USD 7 Billion by 2028 | At 4.4% CAGR

About Us:

Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them to address various challenges distinct to their businesses. Our aim is to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in.

Address:

Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd.

9th Floor, Icon Tower, Baner,

Mahalunge Road, Baner, Pune - 411045,

Maharashtra, India.

Phone:

US: +1 424 253 0390

UK: +44 2071 939123

APAC: +91 744 740 1245

Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com

Follow Us: LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter




When a single insider purchases stock, it is typically not a major deal. However, when multiple insiders purchase stock, like in FD Technologies Plc's (LON:FDP) instance, it's good news for shareholders.

Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

See our latest analysis for FD Technologies

FD Technologies Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by CEO & Director Seamus Keating for UK97k worth of shares, at about UK12.90 per share. Although we like to see insider buying, we note that this large purchase was at significantly below the recent price of UK17.78. While it does suggest insiders consider the stock undervalued at lower prices, this transaction doesn't tell us much about what they think of current prices.

While FD Technologies insiders bought shares during the last year, they didn't sell. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Does FD Technologies Boast High Insider Ownership?

I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It appears that FD Technologies insiders own 14% of the company, worth about UK69m. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment.

So What Does This Data Suggest About FD Technologies Insiders?

There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. Insiders own shares in FD Technologies and we see no evidence to suggest they are worried about the future. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing FD Technologies. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for FD Technologies you should know about.

Story continues

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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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
It is usually uneventful when a single insider buys stock. However, When quite a few insiders buy shares, as it happened in Zoom2u Technologies Limited's (ASX:Z2U) case, it's fantastic news for shareholders.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

View our latest analysis for Zoom2u Technologies

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Zoom2u Technologies

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Founder Steve Orenstein bought AU$100k worth of shares at a price of AU$0.11 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of AU$0.075. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. We always take careful note of the price insiders pay when purchasing shares. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock if insiders have bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price.

While Zoom2u Technologies insiders bought shares during the last year, they didn't sell. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

Zoom2u Technologies 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.

Have Zoom2u Technologies Insiders Traded Recently?

There was some insider buying at Zoom2u Technologies over the last quarter. Founder Steve Orenstein bought AU$13k worth of shares in that time. It's great to see that insiders are only buying, not selling. But in this case the amount purchased means the recent transaction may not be very meaningful on its own.

Story continues

Insider Ownership

Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Zoom2u Technologies insiders own about AU$5.6m worth of shares. That equates to 39% of the company. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment.

So What Do The Zoom2u Technologies Insider Transactions Indicate?

Insider purchases may have been minimal, in the last three months, but there was no selling at all. That said, the purchases were not large. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. Insiders do have a stake in Zoom2u Technologies and their transactions don't cause us concern. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Zoom2u Technologies. To that end, you should learn about the 6 warning signs we've spotted with Zoom2u Technologies (including 3 which are significant).

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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Photos from the exhibit Ukraine: War and Resistance," which is on display at the Carleton Branch Library, are shown. Here, military volunteers at a weapons storage facility receive weapons after the Ukrainian government announced it would arm civilians to resist the Russian invasion. This photo was taken Feb. 25, 2022, in Fastiv, Kyiv region.

CARLETON  More than 40 photographs from war in Ukraine, including some from the Ukraine-Russia War, will be on display starting today at the Carleton Branch Library, 1444 Kent St. An open house will be held tonight, and two events related to the exhibit will be held later this month.

The exhibit will be set up in the main part of the library. I am hoping that many people in Monroe and the surrounding areas take advantage of the opportunity and come see these powerful images, David Ross, Carleton Branch librarian, said.

An open house for the exhibit will take place from 6 to 7:30 tonight at the library. Attendees can view the photos. Cookies and assorted beverages will be served.

A woman walks past the windows of a destroyed building in Trostianets, Okhtyrka district, Sumy region, Ukraine, on June 2, 2022. The tank on the right is a Soviet-era monument.

The exhibit, Ukraine: War and Resistance, will run through May 27 and includes 41 photos taken by seven American and Ukrainian photographers during several timeframes. The photos were exhibited for the first time in Ukraine last fall. The photographers are Fulbright Program alumni.

Fulbright is one of the most prestigious exchange programs in the world, the library system said.

Ross learned about the exhibit from Maryna Hedeen, a native of Ukraine who is now living in Monroe. Hedeen also is a member of the Hofu-MIFA Book Club that Ross hosts. The book club is held virtually and also has members in Monroes sister city, Hofu, Japan.

A Ukrainian soldier examines a burnt Russian tank in the Dmytrivtsi, Bucha district, Kyiv region, Ukraine, on April 2, 2022.

Maryna is a Ukrainian Fulbright alumna, and the Fulbright office in her home city contacted her about seeing if there was an organization or institution that was interested in showing the photo exhibit dedicated to people affected by the war in Ukraine, Ross said. The process was very straightforward. I contacted them to find out their requirements and let them know the types of events we were planning, and they gave it the OK. I am excited to be able to present this exhibit.

The Ukraine: War and Resistance exhibit can be viewed during library hours: noon to 8 p.m. Mondays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays; noon to 8 p.m. Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. The library is closed Sundays.

Story continues

In this photo from March 14, 2022, sandbags protect the first floor of the Lviv Regional Clinical Perinatal Center in Ukraine.

Two special, exhibit-related events will be held this month at the Carleton Branch Library.

From 2 to 3 p.m. May 20, Ross will make Ukrainian and Eastern European desserts in the library's community room. Registration is required by visiting mymcls.evanced.info/signup/calendar.

Ross regularly hosts a Desserts with David segment on the library systems Facebook page,

Carleton Branch librarian David Ross is shown in a previous segment of "Desserts with David." Ross will prepare Ukrainian and Eastern European desserts live at the library May 20.

I have always loved baking since I was a teenager, Ross said. I am still finalizing what I am going to make. I am thinking some sort of cookie and/or a dessert dumpling. I have found several that look interesting in the cookbooks that I have been looking at. I got the cookbooks from our library system and also borrowed several from other libraries in Michigan through the Michigan Electronic Library System. I am thinking I will have a few (desserts) premade for people to try and maybe make one or two during the program.

From 6:30 to 8 p.m. May 25, the book Ukrainians in Michigan will be discussed in the library's community room.

The book was written by Hedeen and her husband, Paul M. Hedeen, an award-winning professor and a 2008 Fulbright scholar. The couple will be present at the meeting.

The book explores the four waves of Ukrainians entry into Michigan and Ukrainians' contributions to the state and the U.S. The Hedeens book also discusses Ukrainian cultural practices and traditional food.

"The Fulbright Program is led by the U.S. government in partnership with more than 160 countries worldwide," the library system said in a written release. "It ensures scientific, educational and cultural exchanges. The Fulbright Program in Ukraine is administered by the Institute of International Education. The program was established in 1946 on the initiative of Sen. William Fulbright from the state of Arkansas, who endeavored to improve interaction and to increase mutual understanding among countries through international exchanges in order to avoid wars and human suffering. According to him, exchange program is not a panacea, but an avenue of hope."

For more information, contact Ross at 734-654-2180 or david.ross@monroe.lib.mi.us.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Ukraine war photos on display at Carleton library
(Bloomberg) -- Shares of Indian billionaire Gautam Adanis group declined on Monday after boards of two firms approved proposals to raise as much as $2.6 billion, with market watchers flagging concerns about potential equity dilution.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Adani Enterprises Ltd., the incubator for new group businesses, slid 4.4%  the most intraday since May 3. The firm got a nod to raise as much as 125 billion rupees ($1.5 billion) via a Qualified Institutional Placement or other modes, according to an exchange filing Saturday. Adani Transmission Ltd. can seek up to 85 billion rupees via similar methods, the utility said separately. The stock, which slumped last week amid global index provider MSCI Inc.s move to exclude it from an India gauge, lost 4.6% in early Mumbai trading.

The approved fundraising is causing dilution concerns, said Deepak Jasani, head of retail research at HDFC Securities Ltd. in Mumbai, adding that the MSCI decision has also hurt sentiment for group stocks in general.

The fundraising plans from Adani come as the ports-to-power conglomerate continues a comeback strategy after being hit by allegations of accounting fraud and stock manipulation from US short-seller Hindenburg Research in late January. While the group has denied the accusations, it has been in damage repair mode ever since and has tried to win back investors with roadshows and early debt repayments.

Adani Green Energy Ltd. was also scheduled to hold its board meeting but deferred it to May 24, citing certain exigencies.

Jasani of HDFC Securities also cited an election loss for Prime Minister Narendra Modis party in the southern Indian state of Karnataka as weighing on sentiment for Adani stocks. Modis grand ambition to turn India into an economic superpower has been key to the groups stunning rise over the last decade from a regional player to an infrastructure behemoth. Adani has said that he hasnt benefited from the proximity. Modi has deflected the issue.

Story continues

Adani Total Gas Ltd., which is also set to be excluded from MSCIs gauge at the end of this month, was other big loser on Monday  falling as much as 4.9%.

Market watchers are curious about the pricing of any equity deals, given that Adani Enterprises shares are trading at roughly half the price they commanded earlier in the year  when the flagship was planning to raise 200 billion rupees via a follow-on share sale. It scrapped the offering amid the rout spurred by Hindenburgs report.

The combined market capitalization of the 10 Adani group stocks is down about $121 billion from the level before the bombshell report was issued on Jan. 24. The selloff had at one point erased more than $150 billion from the groups value.

READ: Now Is the Time for Adani to Raise Equity: Andy Mukherjee

The rebound in Adani stocks began when US-based GQG Partners in early March bought stakes from the Adani family in four group companies for $1.9 billion. GQGs Rajiv Jain told Bloomberg then that Adani firms have phenomenal, irreplaceable assets. In April, the investor said these stocks could be multibaggers over five years.

While the promoters had deleveraged their own personal loan book by selling their shares to GQG, the companies still needed to deleverage, said Abhay Agarwal, founder of Mumbai-based Piper Serica Advisors Pvt, referring to the Adani family.

The only concern for investors would be that this kind of activity assurance will put a cap on the market price for some time because with the free float increasing by issuance of new shares, the demand in secondary market would reduce, he added.

Indias markets regulator is looking into any possible violations as well as unusual market activity in Adani group stocks in the wake of the short-seller attack. The Supreme Court is awaiting a report from the regulator, which has requested for more time as it collates financial data on the conglomerate locally and overseas. The apex court will be hearing the matter on Monday.

--With assistance from Ashutosh Joshi.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
claridge's

An Irish property tycoon behind Claridge's said he wanted to hire a "non-gay" manager to run the luxury London hotel, according to documents filed in the High Court.

Patrick McKillen is also said to have described a female contractor as a "Spanish c---".

The allegations mark the latest twist in a row between Mr McKillen and the Qatari royal Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani, who controls the Maybourne Hotel Group, which owns Claridge's as well as the Berkeley and The Connaught hotels.

Mr McKillen ran Maybourne Hotel Group on behalf of Sheikh Hamad but they have since fallen out.

In the High Court documents, Sheikh Hamads side alleges that Maybourne was made aware in March 2022 of a number of allegations against Mr McKillen and two of his associates, Frank Sinton and Ronnie Delany.

The three men were accused of bullying and other inappropriate behaviour towards staff and contractors, according to the court filings.

The trio allegedly persistently referred to Eleanora Bassi, a contractor, as a Spanish c---. Mr Sinton also called her the b in the system, it is claimed.

Mr McKillen, meanwhile, allegedly expressed a wish to hire a non-gay and British general manager at Claridges.

Belfast developer Paddy McKillen - Yui Mok/PA Wire

The claims have come out in a defence document submitted to the court by Maybourne, which is being sued by Mr Sinton for defamation. It denies defaming him.

Mr McKillen was removed from the board of Maybourne Hotels 13 months ago amid an argument over a deferred payment claimed by the Irish property tycoon.

This payment dates back to Sheikh Hamad's acquisition of the hotel group in 2015, when he teamed up with Mr McKillen to buy the business.

Mr McKillen is claiming the payment  based on the estimated value of the business  for running the hotel group on behalf of its new owners.

Filings suggest the two sides are billions of pounds apart on what the company is worth. Valuations are believed to vary between 1bn and 5bn.

Story continues

Mr Sinton was brought in by Mr McKillen as a project manager for a number of Maybournes properties.

The pair were denied access to Claridges after falling out with the Qataris, a decision that marked a further escalation of hostility towards Mr McKillen after he was fired from the board of the hotels group according to court documents filed by Mr Sintons lawyers.

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani - Christopher Pike/Bloomberg

It was part of a strategy to shore up the Al Thanis' negotiating position in relation to the deferred payment owed to Mr McKillen, the lawyers claim.

Lawyers for Mr Sinton said: Our client, who is completely innocent of any wrongdoing, is determined to seek vindication of his reputation at the earliest possible opportunity.

He hopes and believes this claim will reveal the true motivation on the part of the defendants for making defamatory statements about him.

The defendants declined to comment.

Mr McKillen is one of Irelands best known property tycoons. The Belfast-born entrepreneur's initial fortune was based on building one of Northern Irelands first garage chains. He diversified into retail in the 1990s before teaming up with Irish investor Derek Quinlan to buy what was then called the Savoy Hotel Group in 2004.

Mr McKillen and Mr Quinlan co-own Dublins Clarence Hotel with Bono and The Edge, musicians from rock group U2.

Mr McKillen was involved in a renovation of Claridges that has led to the hotel being able to charge 100,000 a night for its penthouse suite.

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If you're looking for a multi-bagger, there's a few things to keep an eye out for. Typically, we'll want to notice a trend of growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and alongside that, an expanding base of capital employed. If you see this, it typically means it's a company with a great business model and plenty of profitable reinvestment opportunities. Having said that, from a first glance at Methanex (TSE:MX) we aren't jumping out of our chairs at how returns are trending, but let's have a deeper look.

What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)?

For those who don't know, ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Methanex:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.092 = US$519m  (US$6.6b - US$982m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2023).

Therefore, Methanex has an ROCE of 9.2%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Chemicals industry average of 15%.

View our latest analysis for Methanex

roce

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Methanex compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

What Does the ROCE Trend For Methanex Tell Us?

On the surface, the trend of ROCE at Methanex doesn't inspire confidence. To be more specific, ROCE has fallen from 13% over the last five years. On the other hand, the company has been employing more capital without a corresponding improvement in sales in the last year, which could suggest these investments are longer term plays. It may take some time before the company starts to see any change in earnings from these investments.

What We Can Learn From Methanex's ROCE

To conclude, we've found that Methanex is reinvesting in the business, but returns have been falling. Since the stock has declined 31% over the last five years, investors may not be too optimistic on this trend improving either. In any case, the stock doesn't have these traits of a multi-bagger discussed above, so if that's what you're looking for, we think you'd have more luck elsewhere.

Story continues

Like most companies, Methanex does come with some risks, and we've found 2 warning signs that you should be aware of.

While Methanex isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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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
It's been a good week for 3i Group plc (LON:III) shareholders, because the company has just released its latest yearly results, and the shares gained 3.1% to UK18.29. Revenues were UK4.7b, approximately in line with expectations, although statutory earnings per share (EPS) performed substantially better. EPS of UK4.74 were also better than expected, beating analyst predictions by 15%. Earnings are an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance, look at what the analysts are forecasting for next year, and see if there's been a change in sentiment towards the company. With this in mind, we've gathered the latest statutory forecasts to see what the analysts are expecting for next year.

Check out our latest analysis for 3i Group

After the latest results, the consensus from 3i Group's six analysts is for revenues of UK3.16b in 2024, which would reflect a disturbing 33% decline in sales compared to the last year of performance. Statutory earnings per share are forecast to nosedive 48% to UK2.49 in the same period. In the lead-up to this report, the analysts had been modelling revenues of UK3.10b and earnings per share (EPS) of UK2.48 in 2024. The consensus analysts don't seem to have seen anything in these results that would have changed their view on the business, given there's been no major change to their estimates.

The analysts reconfirmed their price target of UK20.57, showing that the business is executing well and in line with expectations. The consensus price target is just an average of individual analyst targets, so - it could be handy to see how wide the range of underlying estimates is. Currently, the most bullish analyst values 3i Group at UK23.90 per share, while the most bearish prices it at UK14.72. There are definitely some different views on the stock, but the range of estimates is not wide enough as to imply that the situation is unforecastable, in our view.

Story continues

Looking at the bigger picture now, one of the ways we can make sense of these forecasts is to see how they measure up against both past performance and industry growth estimates. These estimates imply that sales are expected to slow, with a forecast annualised revenue decline of 33% by the end of 2024. This indicates a significant reduction from annual growth of 31% over the last five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in the same industry are forecast to see their revenue grow 11% annually for the foreseeable future. So although its revenues are forecast to shrink, this cloud does not come with a silver lining - 3i Group is expected to lag the wider industry.

The Bottom Line

The most important thing to take away is that there's been no major change in sentiment, with the analysts reconfirming that the business is performing in line with their previous earnings per share estimates. Fortunately, the analysts also reconfirmed their revenue estimates, suggesting sales are tracking in line with expectations - although our data does suggest that 3i Group's revenues are expected to perform worse than the wider industry. The consensus price target held steady at UK20.57, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on their price targets.

With that said, the long-term trajectory of the company's earnings is a lot more important than next year. We have forecasts for 3i Group going out to 2026, and you can see them free on our platform here.

That said, it's still necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with 3i Group (at least 2 which are a bit unpleasant) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

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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Andrii Zastrozhnov / Getty Images/iStockphoto

The years leading up to retirement are among the most consequential in any persons financial life  and nearly one-third of people choose to go it alone.

Retirement Savings: Heres How Much Cash Baby Boomers Need To Retire in the Next 5 Years

See: 3 Ways To Recession-Proof Your Retirement

A new GOBankingRates of more than 1,000 American adults found that 31% of 55- to 64-year-olds are not seeking retirement advice.

Considering the stakes, its a risky approach.

Without the expertise and guidance of a qualified planner or advisor, you may be at risk of making costly mistakes or overlooking important aspects of your retirement plan, said Kami Adams, retirement income specialist and founder of Creative Legacy Group. Overall, working with a qualified retirement income planner or advisor can provide a range of benefits and help you avoid potential risks in your retirement planning journey.

When You Hire an Advisor, You Buy Priceless Experience

If you go it alone, yours will be the first retirement you plan  why would you trust something so important and complex to someone who has never done it before, even if that someone is you.

Advisors have the advantage of being able to say, Been there, done that,' said Matt Rowley, founder and president of Freedom Private Wealth in Boise, Idaho. Theyve worked with hundreds of clients, all with unique situations and goals, so they have extensive experience to draw from.

Rowley, for example, has worked with more than 700 clients in all phases of life  and those who hire him buy all the insight hes gained from the hundreds who came before.

Someone trying to do their own retirement planning may not know the potential roadblocks ahead, but all of my clients have given me the knowledge and experience to know what may come down the road. I can use that knowledge to set people up for a better financial future.

Advisors Offer Access to Special Products and Services

Anyone with a brokerage account can invest in an index fund, but when you hire a professional advisor, you buy access to a whole new menu of previously unavailable options.

Story continues

A proper financial advisor can connect you with investments that everyday people cant get on their own, Rowley said. We are a private wealth firm, which means I have access to money managers that are not public. Everyday people cant go on Fidelity or Edwards Jones and have access to those managers. With this kind of accessibility, advisors can better protect peoples investments during market volatility.

Find Out: Retirees Confess What They Wish Theyd Done With Their Money

Professional Help Brings Peace of Mind in Uncertain Times

One of the cardinal rules of retirement planning is to keep your emotions out of your investments  but for those who encounter turmoil as retirement approaches, thats simply too much to ask.

Not many people seek out a financial advisor for emotional and psychological help, but that is one of the biggest benefits of working with a professional, Rowley said. People panic during economic instability or volatility on Wall Street, which causes them to sell when they shouldnt or hold on to stocks when they should have sold. People tend to let their emotions run their decision-making processes.

But a financial pro brings a neutral third-party perspective to the process.

Although a good advisor cares for your financial well-being, they are not as emotionally invested as you are so that they can make clearer, more logical and less emotional decisions. This is helpful for everything from navigating the stock market and making legacy planning decisions to income planning and tax planning.

They Can Bridge Knowledge Gaps Left by Deceased Partners

Widows and widowers often face complex financial decisions theyve never had to make before during a time of grief  and financial professionals can walk them through it.

For most couples, theres one partner who is involved and has an intimate knowledge of the finances, and theres one who does not, Rowley said. If the knowledgeable spouse passes away, it can be overwhelming for the surviving spouse to make decisions. But if a couple has a financial advisor, there will always be someone who can help them carry their plan forward. An advisor will know the reasoning behind past decisions and understand the terms of investments. Having a financial advisor can help protect a surviving spouse from making potentially harmful financial decisions.

Retirees Cant Afford To Learn From Their Mistakes

Without professional help, youll almost certainly learn lessons about the complexities of retirement planning the hard way  by making mistakes that theres not enough time to correct.

Hiring a qualified planner or advisor helps retirees optimize their investment strategy, minimize taxes, and create a sustainable income stream, said Danny Ray, founder of PinnacleQuote Life Insurance Specialists. By going it alone, they risk overlooking crucial aspects of their financial plan, which may lead to insufficient savings or unforeseen expenses, ultimately jeopardizing their retirement security. In short, professional financial advice can significantly impact retirees long-term financial well-being and peace of mind.

It Doesnt Have To Be Expensive

Some people never even entertain the idea of hiring a professional because they assume they cant afford it. But a single session can make all the difference and more than justify the relatively modest expense.

Many people dont realize that they can sit down with a financial advisor or CFP for an hour and simply pay them their flat hourly rate, said Brian Davis, founder of SparkRental. For a few hundred bucks at most, you can verify that youre on the right track with your financial planning and investments. You dont have to hire an investment advisor and surrender a percentage of your portfolio each year. If you meet with a financial advisor once every few years for a financial checkup, you can sleep at night knowing that your portfolio is appropriate for your goals.

More From GOBankingRates

Methodology: GOBankingRates surveyed 1,045 Americans aged 18 and older from across the country between May 1 and May 4, 2023, asking thirteen different questions: (1) Have you ever followed money advice from a well-known expert?; (2) What is your primary source for money (personal finance) advice?; (3) What would be your LEAST likely source for money (personal finance) advice?; (4) In the past year where have you sought out money (personal finance) advice? (Select all that apply); (5) Would you ever follow money advice you found on Social Media?; (6) Would you ever follow money advice from a popular mogul/influencer? (i.e. Mark Cuban, Dave Ramsey, Suze Orman, etc.); (7) What would you like to learn the most about in order to improve your personal finances?; (8) What do you look for in your sources for personal finance information? (Select all that apply); (9) Have you bought a book on personal finance/money advice in the last year?; (10) Have you subscribed to a podcast on personal finance/money advice in the last year?; (11)In an economic downturn where do you invest your money? (Select all that apply); (12) Where do you feel most comfortable investing your money?; and (13) Where do you get retirement advice from? (Select all that apply). GOBankingRates used PureSpectrums survey platform to conduct the poll.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Risky Move: 31% of People Nearing Retirement Dont Seek Out Retirement Advice
Royal Mail

Royal Mail is at risk of a fine of up to 750m after after delivering more than one in four first class letters late in its worst performance on record.

The business is being investigated by industry watchdog Ofcom over its performance after announcing that only 74pc of first class deliveries were completed on time in the year to March 2023  well below its target of 93pc and the worst performance since it began collecting data in 2007.

Ofcom will now decide whether there are any mitigating circumstances for failing to hit legally-mandated targets.

It has the power to impose a fine of up to 10pc of turnover, which could be as much as 750m, although previous penalties for non-compliance have been much lower.

The opening of a regulatory investigation will heap fresh pressure onto the Royal Mail board, days after its chief executive Simon Thompson quit following a bitter dispute with unions that triggered repeated strikes.

As well as its row with the CWU, the former FTSE 100 company is suffering from staff shortages, low morale and problems as bosses attempt to streamline postal rounds.

Simon Thompson - AFP

The 2022/23 results are even worse than during the pandemic, when the company had to contend with lockdowns and mass staff shortages because of Covid infections. It still managed to deliver 75pc of first class mail on time in 2020/21.

Second-class performance was better, but still well below the minimum standards required by law. Around 91pc of second-class deliveries were on time against a target of 99pc.

The figures follow revelations in the Telegraph last week that postal deserts had sprung up across the country, leaving households starved of deliveries for up to a fortnight.

Grant McPherson, Royal Mail's operating chief, said: Were sorry to any customers who may have been impacted by our performance during a year that has been one of the most challenging in our history.

Citizens Advice estimates that more than 12m Britons have experienced letter delays in the last month.

Story continues

Royal Mail has escaped fines in recent years as Ofcom has deemed disruption as a result of the Covid pandemic as a mitigating factor. The regulator said the same excuse would not be accepted this year, however.

Matthew Upton, executive director of Citizens Advice, urged Ofcom to be tough on Royal Mail. He said: Ofcoms investigation should put Royal Mail under the microscope, not just for recent failings, but for missing its delivery targets for four out of the last five years.

We know the strain Royal Mail is under, but people must be able to rely on their post arriving in good time, including vital medical letters and urgent bills. Year after year of service failures have real consequences. Its just not good enough.

Ofcom must now take stronger enforcement action, including possible fines. Anything less risks sending a message that continually letting customers down is okay.

Ofcom will now have to weigh the size of any potential fine against the impact it could have on Royal Mails already parlous finances. The company reported an operating loss of 295m last year.

The last time Royal Mail was fined, in 2018/19, the penalty amounted to just 1.5m. However, in that year it only missed its target by 0.4 percentage points.

Mr Thompson, a former executive at Apple and Ocado, announced last week that he would step down with a pay-off of up to 700,000 after two years running Royal Mail.

He became the focal point of union anger in a dispute where tempers allegedly boiled over on the picket line.

Mr Thompson's predecessor Rico Back also only lasted two years, again after clashing with the company's main union, the Communication Workers Union.

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(Bloomberg) -- Russian crude oil flows to international markets continue to rise, even as the country insists it is slashing production.

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Four-week average seaborne shipments, which smooth out some of the volatility in weekly numbers, rose again in the period to May 12, as they have in four of the past five weeks. Flows are now up by 10% since the first week of April and hit a new high for the period 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 reached a new peak.

Russias Energy Ministry said that the nations oil-output cuts  retaliation for Western sanctions  almost reached the targeted level in April, having previously said they exceeded the target in March. First Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin pointed to lower pipeline flows to Europe and reduced refinery runs.

But Russian data show that pipeline flows fell sharply before the cuts came into effect and were almost unchanged between February and March. Refinery runs dropped by 1.4% between March and April and fell further in the first 10 days of May, as some plants underwent normal seasonal maintenance. Processing rates have fallen by 300,000 barrels a day since March, but remain 430,000 barrels a day above the levels seen in April and May last year.

Russian cargoes are again being transferred from the smaller ships used at its ports onto the largest crude carriers in the Atlantic Ocean for onward journeys to Asia. During the winter months, these cargo switches were carried out in the relatively sheltered waters of the Mediterranean, off the north coast of Morocco close to the Spanish exclave of Ceuta. But more recently the transfers have moved to the waters between the Canary Islands and the Azores.

Story continues

Two tankers that loaded in the Baltic in recent weeks are heading towards the Azores, where they are expected to transfer their cargoes into a VLCC for onward transport to China. They will follow at least four other cargo switches in the area in the past month.The aging fleet of tankers used to keep Russias crude flowing since its troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022, many of them with uncertain ownership and unclear insurance, is stoking concerns about maritime safety. The emergence of secretive new trading companies also raises questions about who is ultimately benefitting from the wide difference between export prices for Russian crude and those paid by importers.

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 edged higher to reach a record 3.61 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 12 were up by 80,000 barrels a day to 3.72 million barrels a day, the highest since the start of 2022, when Bloomberg began tracking the flows in detail. More volatile weekly flows rose by about 120,000 barrels a day from the previous week, reaching 3.76 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 3.41 million barrels a day in the period to May 12.

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 593,000 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 334,000 barrels a day in the four weeks to May 12, 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. Some cargoes are being transferred from one vessel to another.

Russias seaborne crude exports to European countries were unchanged at 83,000 barrels a day in the 28 days to May 12, 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 12.

Exports to Turkey, Russias only remaining Mediterranean customer, continued to rise, reaching 203,000 barrels a day in the four weeks to May 12, their highest since February.

Flows to Bulgaria, now Russias only Black Sea market for crude, were unchanged at 83,000 barrels a day.

Flows by Export Location

Aggregate flows of Russian crude rose to 3.76 million barrels a day in the seven days to May 12, led by increases in shipments from the Black Sea and the Arctic. The volumes leaving the Baltic ports were unchanged from the previous week, while the Pacific region was the only one to show a drop.

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 rose by $1 million to $51 million in the seven days to May 12, while four-week average income was virtually unchanged at $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 either the actual Urals price during the monitoring period, or a discounted Brent price. The maximum discount was set $28 a barrel below Brent for June, narrowing 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. The rate for June has been set at $2.21 a barrel, based on an average Urals price of $55.97, which was $23.90 a barrel below Brent during the period between April 15 and May 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 26.3 million barrels of Russian crude in the week to May 12, vessel-tracking data and port agent reports show. Thats up by 830,000 barrels, or 3% 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, running at 1.77 million barrels a day for a third week.

Shipments of Russian crude from Novorossiysk in the Black Sea recovered to 625,000 barrels a day. One cargo of Kazakhstani crude was also loaded at the port during the week.

Arctic shipments jumped to a six-week high of 429,000 barrels a day, with three Suezmax tankers loading in the week to May 12.

Russias Pacific was the only region to show a drop in shipments in the week to May 12. Nine tankers loaded at the three export terminals there, down from 12 the previous week.

Four out of six ESPO cargoes 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: The next update of this story will be published on Monday May 22.

--With assistance from Sherry Su.

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(Bloomberg) -- Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will lead a government delegation to China next week to attend a business forum along with sanctioned tycoons as Moscow leans on Beijing to help it withstand economic pressure over the Kremlins war in Ukraine.

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Mishustin and Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, whos responsible for energy, will attend the Russia-China Business Forum in Shanghai on May 23, according to people with knowledge of the plans, who asked to remain anonymous as the preparations are confidential.

The trip will be Mishustins inaugural visit to China since becoming prime minister in 2020 and the first major delegation of Russian business leaders to the country since 2019.

Billionaire Oleg Deripaska plans to go, while fertilizer tycoons Andrey Guryev and Andrey Melnichenko, pipe maker Dmitry Pumpyansky and Alexey Mordashov of steel and mining giant Severstal, have also been invited, the people said. Its unclear how many of the business leaders, who have all been sanctioned by the US and its allies, will attend in person, though their companies may be represented, the people said.

Heads of some oil and gas companies are also expected to go to the event.

A spokesman for Mishustins office didnt respond to a request to comment. Spokespeople for Guryev, Melnichenko, Mordashov and Pumpyansky declined to comment. Deripaska wont be attending the forum, his spokesman said after publication.

The forum is likely to reinforce the narrative about the blossoming economic cooperation between Moscow and Beijing, despite economic sanctions imposed on Russia, said Vita Spivak, non-resident scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. In the economic realm, similar to geopolitics, Russia is actively strengthening its dependency on China and is becoming Beijings junior partner.

Story continues

EU Proposes Curbs on Several Chinese Firms for Aiding Russia

China has refrained from joining the US-led sanctions campaign against Russia for triggering Europes deadliest conflict since World War II. While Beijing has claimed it is neutral on Russias war, it has also provided President Vladimir Putins government with much-needed political and economic cover as it becomes increasingly isolated internationally.

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Moscow in March, reaffirming his friendship with Putin days after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for the Russian leaders arrest on charges of war crimes. During the three-day visit, he invited Mishustin to visit China as soon as possible to boost ties with new Chinese premier Li Qiang.

Why Increasing Russia-China Ties Worry Democracies: QuickTake

Li is expected to hold talks with Mishustin on economic and trade agreements the day after the Shanghai forum, according to a person with knowledge of plans for the visit, who asked not to be identified because the information isnt public.

Chinas exports to Russia hit a record in April, jumping 153% from a year earlier to $9.6 billion, while the worlds second largest economy imported $9.6 billion worth of oil, gas and other goods, taking total trade to the second-highest level on record.

Both Russia and China have kept preparations for the event low profile, with neither side officially announcing Mishustins participation or who will join him.

An agenda for the forum shows a key topic is energy cooperation as a driver for bilateral cooperation. Other spheres of interest are agriculture, industry, transport and digitalization.

--With assistance from James Mayger.

(Adds Deripaska spokesmans comment in 6th paragraph)

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Sabre Corporation SABR recently signed a long-term technology renewal agreement with Taiwans South East Travel. Per the renewed contract, the Taipei-headquartered agency will continue to leverage Sabre products for expanding its business and improving operational efficiency.

South East Travel will deploy Sabre Red 360, a point-of-sale tool that offers a full spectrum of bookable content to the agents enabling them to create, sell and service customized trip experiences. Currently, the Taiwanese agency is utilizing Sabre Ticket Express, Automated Exchanges, Automated Refunds and Bargain Finder Max platforms.

The latest agreement will aid South East Travel to drive growth and meet travelers expectations. It will automate repetitive tasks, increase productivity, reduce operational costs, understand customer preferences and ensure that agents create optimum offers for both leisure and corporate travelers.

Sabre Corporation Price and Consensus

Sabre Corporation Price and Consensus

Sabre Corporation price-consensus-chart | Sabre Corporation Quote

In the first quarter of 2023, Sabres the Travels Solutions segment revenues totaled $677.4 million compared with the year-ago quarters $534 million. This upside was mainly fueled by the gradual recovery of global air and other travel bookings, partially offset by the sale of the AirCentre portfolio in February 2022. The segments revenues also benefited from favorable rate impacts as international and corporate bookings improved.

Sabre has more than 425,000 travel agency partners worldwide at present. The company provides one of the largest marketplaces in the world that manages approximately $260 billion worth of global travel spending annually.

The leading travel-related software and technology provider has its customer base in more than 160 nations globally. In March, the company signed an agreement with Singapore-based Capillary Technologies to integrate the Capillary loyalty management solution into its airlines and hoteliers platforms.

Story continues

In a separate deal, Sabre inked a technology agreement with Almatar Travel Group, a leading travel company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This deal was to provide SABRs industry-leading technology and solutions for speeding up Almatars operational efficiency, improve its strategy of virtual payments and transform travelers experience.

In the same month, Sabre declared Brazils GOL Linhas Aereas successful implementation of Sabre Ancillary IQ. The Ancillary IQ is an artificial intelligence-based solution designed to help create personalized offers for travelers and drive incremental ancillary revenue opportunities for airline customers.

The company also signed a distribution agreement with Bangladesh start-up airline, Air Astra, in March. The Dhaka-based carrier has joined Sabres global distribution family to support its indirect retailing strategy as it plans for future growth.

Sabre reported revenues of $742.7 million for first-quarter 2023. The top line was 27% higher than $584.9 million in the year-ago period. This surge clearly reflected a significant improvement in the companys global air, hotel and other bookings.

Zacks Rank & Key Picks

Sabre currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Shares of SABR have lost 52.6% over the past year.

Some better-ranked stocks from the broader Computer and Technology sector are Meta Platforms META, Momo MOMO and ServiceNow NOW. While Meta Platforms and Momo sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), ServiceNow carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Meta Platforms' second-quarter 2023 earnings has been revised 14% upward to $2.79 per share over the past 30 days. For 2023, earnings estimates have moved north by 12.1% to $11.76 in the past 30 days.



METAs earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters, missing twice, the average surprise being 15.5%. Shares of the company have gained 16.8% in the past year.



The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Momos first-quarter 2023 earnings has been revised southward from 36 cents to 32 cents per share over the past 30 days. For 2023, earnings estimates have moved down by 3 cents to $1.55 in the past 30 days.



MOMO's earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 31.9%. Shares of the company have gained 80.7% in the past year.



The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ServiceNows second-quarter 2023 earnings has been revised northward by 11 cents to $2.04 per share over the past 30 days. For 2023, earnings estimates have moved up by 39 cents to $9.54 in the past 30 days.



NOW's earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 10.4%. Shares of the company have inched up 5.1% in the past year.

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Samsung Electronics announced its partnership with the Bank of Korea (BOK) to jointly conduct research aimed at developing an ecosystem for a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

Both parties signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at Samsung's headquarters in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, according to a Korea Herald report. Under this agreement, Samsung and the BOK will be conducting further research into the CBDC issued by the BOK, as well as collaborating in the offline payment sector.

A CBDC is a digital currency issued by a central bank, and many countries, including the U.S., are exploring the launch of their own CBDCs to facilitate more transparent and secure transactions.

It is meaningful that (the BOK) was the first to come up with the offline CBDC technology with Samsung Electronics," Bank of Korea Deputy Governor Lee Seung-heon said in a statement.

Lee added he hopes that Korea can take the lead in offline CBDC technology [...], as central banks across the world are actively working on it.

Bank of Korea to Pilot CBDC on Samsung Galaxy Phones

Samsung previously participated in the BOK-led CBDC pilot project last year, during which it developed offline CBDC technology to enable device-to-device transfers and payments through near-field communication (NFC), even when both the sender's and recipient's transaction devices were not connected to the internet.

This is made possible by a chipset that is built into Samsung's mobile devices, equipped with advanced security features.

Bank of Korea to Pilot CBDC on Samsung Galaxy Phones

Todays MOU means that the collaborative efforts between Samsung and the Bank of Korea will also focus on letting users to make payments using Samsung's Galaxy smartphones and Galaxy Watch, even in situations where online networks are unavailable, such as during disasters.

"We were able to apply Samsung Electronics' advanced security technology on digital currency through cooperation with the BOK," Samsung's Mobile eXperience executive vice president Choi Won-joon said. "Through the two sides' cooperation, we can attribute the growth of global offline CBDC technology."

Story continues

It is worth noting that its been already two years since Samsung added support for third-party cryptocurrency hardware wallets, including the Ledger Nano S and Nano X, to its range of Galaxy smartphones.

Samsung and the Bank of Korea did not immediately respond to Decrypt's request for comment.

CBDCs take center stage

State-backed digital assets have long been discussed and piloted around the world. This year, though, various politicians, specifically those in the United States, have voiced stern opposition against CBDCs.

A primary concern among individuals like Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kenney Jr. and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been that of maintaining users' privacy. Just last week, DeSantis signed a bill that banned the use of a centralized digital dollar in the Sunshine State.

CBDCs Could 'Revolutionize Global Financial Systems': Bank of America

Elsewhere, Texas Senator Ted Cruz has said that CBDCs are designed to "destroy all the value of Bitcoin."

In the United Kingdom, the CEO of Quant, a key infrastructure provider for CBDCs, assured audience members during a recent event that privacy concerns may be overstated.

"We can categorically state that the central bank does not care how much people spend on sandwiches, it's not their mission," Verdian said at the Financial Times Crypto and Digital Assets Summit. "What is happening is the same rules of AML, KYC are going to be applied to central bank currencies as they are today to any other form of money from commercial banks."
Container shipping's party is over. The hangover continues. (Photo: Shutterstock/Mike Mols)

The double-digit declines keep piling up for container shipping.

The Port of Long Beach said Friday that April imports fell 22% from the year before. First-quarter profits reported by Taiwanese carriers Evergreen and Yang Ming crashed 95% and 94% year-on-year (y/y), respectively. First-quarter net income reported Monday by South Korean carrier HMM plunged 91% y/y.

The prior week, Maersk reported a 66% y/y slide in Q1 net income on a 37% decline in freight rates. Hapag-Lloyd reported a 57% y/y drop in net income as its rates sank 28%.

The container shipping industry is awash in double-digit declines because the numbers a year ago were historically high.

Big numbers make for eyeball-grabbing headlines, both on the way up and down. Market reporters scour their thesauri for exciting new ways to say increase and decrease. But what double-digit percentages actually mean depends on the starting point.

For container shipping, percentages to date show a huge drop from best-in-history profits to more modest profits and from unprecedented, off-the-charts volumes to normal volumes.





Industry yet to lap records

The drumbeat of attention-getting y/y declines is far from over.

Earnings and average rates (including both contract and spot) of most ocean carriers didnt peak until Q3 2022. Import volumes to the West Coast ports didnt start falling until June 2022. Volumes to East Coast ports kept rising until August.

According to Container Trades Statistics, global volumes peaked last May but didnt fall sharply until September. The Harpex Index, which measures container-ship charter rates, remained near its highs until August.

The double-digit drops will vanish when the container shipping industry laps these dates later in 2023. In some cases, percentages may turn positive.

Comparisons to pre-COVID numbers

There is no historical precedent for the 2021-2022 container shipping boom  an anomaly caused by the pandemic. However, there is precedent in commodity shipping: the 2003-2008 boom in dry bulk and tanker shipping caused by another one-off event  Chinas rapid ascent in world trade.

Story continues

Hedge funds and private-equity funds made disastrous market bets in the years following that earlier supercycle by including the inflated returns of 2003-2008 in their forward expectations for normal market conditions. The lesson learned after massive losses on commodity shipping investments in the early teens: Focus less on the outlier period and more on what happened before and after.

Doing so in container shipping tells a different story. Long Beachs Aprils import volumes  313,444 twenty-foot equivalent units  were up 58,474 TEUs, or 23%, from the recent low in February. This Aprils imports were flat versus imports in April 2019 and 2018 (minus 1.4% and plus 0.3%, respectively).

Global Port Tracker, produced by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, shows U.S. imports this year trending closely with 2018-2019 levels. The latest Port Tracker forecast for June-September is slightly above pre-pandemic levels.

(Chart: FreightWaves based on data from NRF)

HMM posted net income of $213 million for Q1 2023. In Q1 2019, pre-COVID, it suffered a $149 million loss. Evergreen booked net income of $164 million in the first quarter of this year, nine times its net income in Q1 2019. Maersks average freight rate, including the positive effect of legacy contracts, was 51% higher in Q1 2023 than Q1 2019. Hapag-Lloyds was 85% higher.

The Harpex charter-rate index is up 17% from the low hit in March. Its now just over double its level in mid-May 2019.

Even spot rates  which have fallen much faster than charter rates, liner earnings and port volumes  are still up on a global basis versus pre-COVID. The Drewry World Container Index global composite is down 77% y/y but 23% higher than the 2019 average.

Average spot rate in USD/FEU. (Chart: FreightWaves SONAR)

What happened after 2003-2008 boom?

Container lines and cargo shippers had never seen anything like the 2021-2022 rate spike. But the violent market swing was very familiar to commodity shipping veterans who amassed fortunes from 2003 to 2008.

The extreme rise and precipitous fall of bulker and tanker values in 2003-2008 should look very familiar to those in container shipping today. Values of 5-year old Capesize (dry bulk vessels with capacity of around 180,000 deadweight tons or DWT) quintupled, soaring from $30 million in 2003 to over $150 million in 2008. Then they went off a cliff and sank back to $40 million by 2009. Values of 5-year-old Panamaxes (65,000-90,000 DWT) rose six-fold, skyrocketing from $15 million to $90 million, then suddenly nosediving to $30 million.

(Charts: Dahlman Rose Marine Transport Weekly, Dec. 7, 2009. Chart data: Clarksons)

Values of 5-year-old very large crude carriers (tankers that carry 2 million barrels) jumped from $60 million to $165 million. Then they slumped back to $80 million. Values of 5-year-old Suezmaxes (tankers that carry 1 million barrels) swelled from $40 million to $105 million, then receded to $60 million.

(Charts: Dahlman Rose Marine Transport Weekly, Dec. 7, 2009. Chart data: Clarksons)

A new wave of large investors entered shipping after the global financial crisis, betting on the reversion to the mean thesis. They looked at the 10-year average of rates and asset values and assumed they would revert to the mean. The fatal flaw in this thinking: The prior 10 years included a one-off boom that skewed the mean too high to revert to.

I dont think their analysis was all that complicated, said AMA Capital Partners CEO Paul Leand during a Marine Money conference in 2013.

I think they looked at rates and values in 2008, they looked at where they are today and they looked at the 10-year average including 2007 and 2008 and they said: Its going up. Its a great opportunity. Weve got $20 billion to invest. Lets throw $500 million into shipping.

At the same conference, Herman Hildan, then a shipping analyst at RS Platou, advised a different approach: Use a 20-year rate average that excludes the peak earning years of 2007 and 2008 to curb the boom years bias.

A decade after that debate, the same question of how to gauge the market in the aftermath of a one-off boom  and how much to focus on the outlier years  has arisen yet again, this time in container shipping.

Click for more articles by Greg Miller

Related articles:

The post Shipping boom hangover: When measuring markets gets tricky appeared first on FreightWaves.
(Bloomberg) -- South Koreas largest trip-booking company Yanolja Co. is acquiring Israeli technology provider Go Global Travel to become one of the worlds largest travel solution platforms.

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Yanoljas cloud business unit is buying the Israeli company from AMI Opportunities Fund, which is advised by Apax Partners, according to people familiar with the matter. Closely held Yanolja, which is set to keep the purchase price private, will gain access to GGTs inventory of more than 1 million hotels and customers across North America and Europe, said the people, asking not to be named as the deal hasnt been announced.

Backed by SoftBank Group Corp., Yanolja is expanding its cloud arm serving the hospitality and leisure industries to grow beyond consumer trip bookings. While the travel industry is recovering from a pandemic-era trough, competition from rivals such as Airbnb Inc. and Expedia Group Inc. is intensifying.

The Korean company, founded in 2005, is betting on growth in software services for customers such as hotels and hospitality providers. The global market for hotel property management systems is expected to grow more than 10% a year to about 1.8 trillion won ($1.4 billion) by 2027, according to a company filing.

In 2022, Yanoljas total sales rose about 83% to 605 billion won. Its operating profit fell 90% to 6.1 billion won because of rising marketing expenses and costs to pay for its acquisition of concert and travel ticket provider Interpark.

Yanoljas market value exceeded more than 10 trillion won in 2021 on a private company stock trading platform but has almost halved since as its markets slowed. Backed by SoftBanks Vision Fund II, which holds about a 25% stake as of Dec. 31, and GIC Pte affiliate Apfin Investment, the Korean company has been mulling a stock-market listing in the US or at home.

Story continues

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Key Insights

Solarvest Holdings Berhad's estimated fair value is RM0.70 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Solarvest Holdings Berhad's RM0.86 share price signals that it might be 24% overvalued

Our fair value estimate is 34% lower than Solarvest Holdings Berhad's analyst price target of RM1.06

In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Solarvest Holdings Berhad (KLSE:SLVEST) 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. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple!

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

View our latest analysis for Solarvest Holdings Berhad

The Calculation

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM55.5m RM35.5m RM41.4m RM45.9m RM50.0m RM53.5m RM56.8m RM59.8m RM62.7m RM65.5m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 10.96% Est @ 8.74% Est @ 7.19% Est @ 6.10% Est @ 5.34% Est @ 4.81% Est @ 4.44% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 13% RM48.9 RM27.6 RM28.4 RM27.8 RM26.6 RM25.2 RM23.6 RM21.9 RM20.2 RM18.6

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM269m

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The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (3.6%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 13%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = RM66m (1 + 3.6%)  (13% 3.6%) = RM690m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM690m ( 1 + 13%)10= RM196m

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 RM465m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of RM0.9, the company appears slightly overvalued at the time of writing. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

The Assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Solarvest Holdings Berhad as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 13%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.227. 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 Solarvest Holdings Berhad

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Electrical market.

Expensive based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Malaysian market.

Threat

Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year.

Next Steps:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. Can we work out why the company is trading at a premium to intrinsic value? For Solarvest Holdings Berhad, we've compiled three additional factors you should look at:

Risks: For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Solarvest Holdings Berhad that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does SLVEST's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the KLSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
Chinese and Vietnamese vessels have been involved in a new confrontation in a disputed part of the South China Sea after Hanoi tried to expand oil drilling operations in the area, according to social media reports.

Neither country has confirmed the encounters, which indicates that both sides are trying to avoid further escalation, according to one Chinese observer.

Chinese social media account South China Sea Wave said in a WeChat post on Sunday that more than a dozen vessels were involved in the encounter, which was triggered by an internal notice from the Vietnamese authorities saying they would expand the drilling programme at Block 05-1A near Vanguard Bank this month.

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.

South China Sea Wave, an account that specialises in military reports and research into the area, said the expansion programme would violate the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

The declaration, which China and the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations signed in 2002, affirms freedom of navigation and overflight, the peaceful settlement of disputes and calls for self-restraint.

South China Sea Wave said the Vietnamese announcement prompted Beijing to deploy the Xiang Yang Hong 10 research vessel to the area escorted by two Chinese coastguard ships and at least seven fishing boats from Guangdong and Hainan provinces. Vietnam responded by deploying five vessels.

Hanoi-controlled Vanguard Bank, the westernmost reef in the resource-rich Spratlys, known in China as the Nansha Islands, sits within Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and was the scene of a previous stand-off between the two sides in 2019.

However, the area falls within Beijing's "nine-dash line" that marks the area over which it claims sovereignty.

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Duan Dang, a Vietnamese freelance journalist covering South China Sea issues, wrote on Twitter that the Chinese flotilla approached the DGN-4X oil well on Wednesday after a drilling rig had been towed there.

"This provocative action appears to be aimed at pressuring Vietnam to halt its new drilling campaign in Block 05-1A [of Vanguard Bank]," he wrote.

According to South China Sea Wave, tensions rose on Wednesday, with both sides sending in more vessels to try to expel the other's boats.

Data from the maritime automatic identification system, which tracks ships, indicated the vessels were tailing each other and trying to cut each other off while keeping a safe distance.

China has multiple territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Photo: SCMP alt=China has multiple territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Photo: SCMP>

Ray Powell, the head of Project Myoushu, a Stanford University initiative looking at China's strategy in the South China Sea, said the Chinese vessels had moved eastward through the Vietnamese oilfield, with one coastguard ship trying to "twice abruptly cut off" a Vietnam coastguard ship.

It is not clear whether the stand-off has finished because of the lack of official comment from either side.

Zhang Mingliang, a Jinan University professor who specialises in South China Sea studies, said: "In recent years, mainstream Chinese and Vietnamese media have not reported on these kinds of confrontations - just specific individuals covering the details on their social media platforms.

"The social media and even vessels on the front line are all good players, keeping the ongoing disputes transparent, but not stirring up trouble."

The last major confrontation between the two countries at Vanguard Bank was in July 2019 when Chinese survey vessel, Haiyang Dizhi 8, or Marine Geology 8, entered the area, beginning a two-month-long stand-off that involved at least four Chinese coastguard vessels and two Vietnamese ships.

It came five years after a confrontation over a Chinese oil rig's exploration work near the Paracel Islands, known in China as the Xisha, triggered massive anti-Chinese protests and violence in Vietnam.

China's claims in the South China Sea cover some 80 per cent of the total waters, meaning it also has territorial disputes with several other Asean countries, including the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2023. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Stasis Network

Mark Your Calendars! Stasis Network Brand Debuts May 15 with their Presale, NFT Mint, and Launch on Polygon Mainnet Coming Hot on its Heels in June!

Panama City, Panama, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For many investors, the thrilling but volatile world of DeFi can often feel like a high-stakes balancing act. While the potential rewards are higher than traditional finance, the risks are equally as daunting. A multitude of yield farming projects burn brightly but briefly; their fleeting life spans and unsustainable ecosystems leave investors adrift in an ever-changing sea of opportunities. The transient nature of these ventures often forces investors onto a never-ending hunt for the next promising prospect; a task that can be as taxing as it is disheartening.



Poised to make a strong impact in this unpredictable landscape, Stasis Network emerges as a steady and promising platform in a world full of fleeting ventures. Stasis is designed to generate a sustainable stream of passive income, providing an enduring solution for crypto enthusiasts as well as those just exploring crypto for the first time. Its primary objective is to create a customizable passive income by amplifying the value of the Stasis Treasury while concurrently reducing the number of tokens in circulation. This approach marks a departure from the norm, setting Stasis Network apart as a pioneering force in the yield farming arena.



Harnessing Principal Resonance for Sustainable Yield: The Inner Workings of Stasis Network

At the heart of Stasis Network lies a powerful and unique concept: Principal Resonance. This philosophy serves as the guiding force behind all decisions made within the ecosystem, aimed at creating the maximum possible impact. Every action, every principal utilized, is intentionally orchestrated to boost returns and yields, contributing to the overall health and longevity of the network.



"Our aim is to create a rhythmic, synergistic relationship between all assets within the network. This synchronization fuels continuous growth for the Treasury, resulting in prosperous dividends for all users. We like to say Principal Resonance helps us punch above our weight says Patrick Tompkins, CEO and Founding Partner at BlockCentral Inc, Stasis Networks parent company.



The fuel for this sustainable yield engine is the Stasis Treasury, a strategically diversified portfolio designed to generate significant future returns. Earnings from the Treasury are meticulously used to reward users, fuel further growth, facilitate additional protocol development and burn Stasis (STS), the protocols deflationary native token.

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In essence, Stasis Network combines the philosophy of Principal Resonance, sound Treasury management, an on-chain mutual fund approach, and strict security measures resulting in a staking and yield farming platform designed to weather both bull and bear markets. This structure delivers the perfect environment for traditional finance and crypto-curious users to explore deeper investments in digital assets and blockchain.



No Locks, No Timers: A True DeFi Experience

One of the key differentiators of the Stasis Network is its user-centric approach. Uniquely, the protocol does not impose any locks or timers on its users assets. We have seen time and time again that locking can result in significant short-term losses. Just recently, the decentralized exchange PancakeSwaps native token CAKE lost 50% of its value in one week due to their staking locks expiring.



In an industry where protocols frequently "hold users hostage" through locks and timers, Stasis Network has chosen to prioritize shareholder sentiment and chose to break the mold. This means that users can control their assets and navigate the platform on their terms, with no restrictions. As Patrick, Stasis Networks CEO puts it, "there are no hostages in Stasis."



A Level Playing Field: No Shadow Funding and Team Tokens

Led by a professional and experienced team, Stasis Network will be a Smart Network for Smart Users. Stasis stands out for its commitment to fairness and equality. Stasis Networks development and marketing were fully funded by the team. There was no secret discount seed round or VC funding with strings attached. The team has also made a bold move in deciding not to allocate any initial tokens for themselves. Instead, they will be investing side by side with users, ensuring a level playing field for everyone. This is a clear demonstration of the team's confidence in the platform and its commitment to its users.



Dynamic Strategies: Empowering Users

Stasis Network takes user empowerment a notch higher with its innovative feature, Dynamic Strategies. This unique feature hands control back to the users, allowing them to customize their own passive income strategies. By offering such flexibility, Stasis Network is indeed a trailblazer, placing power in the hands of the users, where it truly belongs.

Liquid Decaying NFTs: A Lifelong Reward System

A particularly exciting feature of the Stasis Network is its NFT collection. Unlike typical NFTs, Stasis Network's NFTs pay holders weekly rewards for life and allow users to redeem them for a fee if they no longer desire to hold them. This approach not only adds value to the NFTs but also provides a sustainable reward system for holders, making them a potentially lucrative long-term investment.

Upcoming Launch: Setting the Stage for Innovation in DeFi

The Stasis Network brand is set to go live on May 15, paving the way for an exciting June filled with a protocol presale, an NFT minting event, and the launch of the protocol on the Polygon blockchain.

The collaboration with Polygon, the industry-leading Layer 2 solution, further adds to the platform's appeal. This strategic partnership promises to enhance Stasis Network's capabilities while also providing numerous benefits for its users. By leveraging Polygon's scalable and efficient blockchain solution, Stasis Network is well-positioned to deliver an exceptional DeFi experience.

The genesis of the Stasis Network can be traced back to the remarkable success of the innovative MakeDefiBetter (MDB) ecosystem. MDB, with its groundbreaking deflationary protocols, demonstrated a powerful proof of concept and introduced a fresh approach to passive income. Now Stasis Network is poised to take this legacy forward. With its ambitious goal to harness the power of deflationary protocols and bring these opportunities to a broader audience on the Polygon network, Stasis Network represents the next exciting chapter in DeFi's evolution.





CONTACT: Patrick Tompkins CEO & Founding Partner BlockCentral Inc T/A Stasis Network patrick-at-stasis.network https://www.stasis.network/




By Ismail Shakil and Steve Scherer

OTTAWA (Reuters) -Automaker Stellantis has stopped construction at a more-than C$5 billion ($3.7 billion) electric-vehicle battery plant in Canada amid talks with the federal government about its support for the factory.

"Effective immediately, all construction related to the battery module production on the Windsor site has stopped," a spokesperson said, while adding that some construction related to battery cell production continues.

Stellantis says the government has not delivered what was agreed last year.

The move comes a month after Canada agreed to provide up to C$13 billion in subsidies and a C$700 million grant to lure German automaker Volkswagen AG to build its North American battery plant in the country.

Stellantis and South Korea's LG Energy Solution (LGES) had announced their battery plant investment in Canada last year, aiming for annual production capacity in excess of 45 gigawatt hours (GWh) and expected to create an estimated 2,500 new jobs in the Windsor area.

The investment, in which federal and provincial governments were also meant to contribute, was the largest ever in the Canadian auto sector at the time.

The federal government says it is in talks with Stellantis' management and the issues can be resolved.

"I am absolutely confident that we're going to get a deal. But I also want to point out that the resources of the federal government are not infinite," Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters, adding that the provincial government of Ontario must do its "fair share."

The Ontario provincial government says it has already signed a deal with the carmaker and is not in negotiations.

"It really worries me," Ontario Premier Doug Ford told reporters when asked about the construction halt. "We need the federal government to step up as they did for Volkswagen."

The Volkswagen battery gigafactory is the biggest single investment ever in Canada's electric-vehicle supply chain.

($1 = 1.3372 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Ismail Shakil and Steve Scherer in Ottawa and Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai, Stephen Coates and Leslie Adler)
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2023) - Steppe Gold Ltd. (TSX: STGO) (OTCQX: STPGF) (FSE: 2J9) ("Steppe Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its financial results for the the quarter ended March 31, 2023.

HIGHLIGHTS

First Quarter Highlights (all figures in US$000's unless stated otherwise)

Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2023, was $9,525 on sales of 5,008 gold ounces and 651 silver ounces with average realized prices per ounce of $1,899 and $19 respectively.

Production in the quarter was 6,993 ounces of gold and 19,877 ounces of silver.

Operating income from mine operations, before depreciation and depletion was $6,024.

Consolidated group adjusted EBITDA after stream payments for the quarter was $2,141.

Site AISC was $679 per ounce sold for the quarter.

During the three months ended March 31, 2023, 87,362 tonnes of ore were mined and 195,196 tonnes of ore were stacked on the leach pad with an average gold grade of 0.94 g/t and an average silver grade of 5.81 g/t.

As at March 31, 2023, cash on hand was $1,339; total bank and other debt (excluding convertible debentures) was $9,758 and net debt was $8,419.

In January 2023, the Company received a $5,000 working capital loan, due for repayment later in 2023.

On February 22, 2023, the Company announced plans to pursue a dual primary listing for its common shares on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, anticipated to occur later in 2023.

On March 13, 2023, the Company announced the filing of an updated Technical Report in respect of the ATO Project.

Outlook

The operational focus for the balance of 2023 will be on maximising production and accelerating stacking rates as we look to bring on the new fixed crusher in the third quarter. The main strategic priority will be to secure commitments for project finance for the Phase 2 Expansion at the ATO Gold Mine.

The first quarter of 2023 saw production levels above target while mining activity remained low, as planned, in the prevailing winter conditions.

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With the recent relaxation of the zero COVID restrictions in China, we have seen an improvement in parts of the China/Mongolia supply chain and this has alleviated some of the bottlenecks in our supply chain. While the border is now largely reopened, critical reagent supply is still restricted. Alternate supply arrangements are operating adequately to support normal production levels.

On May 10, 2023, the Company announced that it had successfully completed a non-brokered private placement. The private placement included participation from the Company's management and 2176423 Ontario, a company beneficially owned by Eric Sprott. Under the Private Placement, the Company issued an aggregate of 11,000,000 common shares of the Company at a price of C$1.10 per Common Share for aggregate gross proceeds of C$12,100,000. The proceeds of the private placement will be used to accelerate the Phase 2 Expansion currently underway, to fund ongoing exploration as well as to support the announced plans to pursue a dual listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

On May 8, the Company announced that it had signed an Arrangement Agreement pursuant to which it will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Anacortes Mining Corp. ("Anacortes") by way of a court approved plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), in an all-share transaction (the "Transaction"). Under the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, Anacortes shareholders will receive 0.4532 of a Steppe common share for each Anacortes common share, which represented consideration of approximately C$0.48 per Anacortes common share and a premium of 36% based on the closing prices of the Anacortes common shares on the TSX-V and the Steppe common shares on the TSX, each as of the close of trading on March 3, 2023, the date that the Transaction was publicly announced. On the closing of the Transaction, shareholders of Steppe Gold and Anacortes will own approximately 79% and 21% of the combined company, respectively, on a basic basis. The Transaction is subject to, among other things, the receipt of all necessary regulatory, stock exchange and court approvals, and obtaining shareholder approval of the Transaction at a meeting of the Anacortes shareholders, which is expected to be held on June 19, 2023.

The Company's consolidated financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 have been filed on SEDAR. The full version of the condensed interim consolidated financial statements and associated management's discussion & analysis can be viewed on the Company's website at www.steppegold.com or under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Steppe Gold Ltd.

Steppe Gold is Mongolia's premier precious metals company.

For Further information, please contact:

Bataa Tumur-Ochir, CEO and President

Jeremy South, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Shangri-La office, Suite 1201, Olympic Street

19A, Sukhbaatar District 1,

Ulaanbaatar 14241, Mongolia

Tel: +976 7732 1914

Non-IFRS Performance Measures

EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Further details of Non-IFRS Performance Measures noted above can be found in the Company's management's discussion & analysis.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements or disclosures relating to the Company that are based on the expectations of its management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company which may constitute forward-looking statements or information ("forward-looking statements") under applicable securities laws. All such statements and disclosures, other than those of historical fact, which address activities, events, outcomes, results, or developments that the Company anticipates or expects may, or will occur in the future (in whole or in part) should be considered forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of the words "continued", "focus", "scheduled", "will" and similar expressions. In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, this news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to the following: trading of the Company's common shares and business, listing of common shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, economic, and political conditions in Hong Kong and Mongolia, consummation and timing of the Transaction, the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to the Transaction, the strengths, characteristics and potential of the resulting company and discussion of future plans, projections, objectives, estimates and forecasts and the timing related thereto, including with respect to the ATO gold mine.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release reflect several material factors and expectations and assumptions of the Company including, without limitation: required shareholder and regulatory approvals, exercise of any termination rights under the Binding Agreement, meeting other conditions in the Binding Agreement, material adverse effects on the business, properties and assets of the Company, changes in business plans and strategies, market and capital finance conditions, risks inherent to any capital financing transactions, risks inherent to a possible Steppe Gold dual primary listing, changes in world commodity markets, currency fluctuations, costs and supply of materials relevant to the mining industry, change in government and changes to regulations affecting the mining industry.

The Company believes the material factors, expectations, and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable at this time, but no assurance can be given that these factors, expectations, and assumptions will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are not guarantees of future performance and should not be unduly relied upon. Such forward-looking 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, without limitation: changes in world commodity markets, equity markets, costs and supply of materials relevant to the mining industry, change in government and changes to regulations affecting the mining industry, and certain other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's public disclosure documents including, without limitation, those risks identified in this news release and in the Company's annual information form dated March 31, 2023, copies of which are available on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166181
Martinns / iStock.com

Federal student loan payments are set to resume for 43 million Americans, but it could be a bumpy ride for borrowers.

Student Loan Forgiveness: 3 Key Dates To Mark on Your Calendar

Learn: New Student Loan Forgiveness Rule Simplifies Process  Who Qualifies?

The U.S. Department of Education has cut customer service ahead of student loan repayments, but officials still worry there may not be enough funds for the agency to implement a smooth return to repayment, Moneywise reported.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has called for all hands on deck to prevent unnecessary harm to borrowers, noting that student loan borrowers would have to adjust their monthly budget to make payments and may struggle to connect with loan servicing companies.

Last year, Congress rejected the Biden administrations request for money to fund the federal student loan program. This happened as the agencys costs skyrocketed as it implemented new policies, like expanding the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program and creating a new application process for canceling student loan debt, POLITICO reported.

Theres uncertainty about when borrowers will continue to make student loan payments. President Biden extended the pause earlier this year while the Supreme Court considered his plan to cancel student loan debt. Payments are set to resume 60 days after litigation is resolved or 60 days after June 30  whichever comes first.

However, Moneywise noted the Department of Education is looking to help borrowers remain in good standing with their student loans with a particular focus on those who are most at risk, the agency stated in a budget document released in April. For example, officials are considering a safety net of up to a year where borrowers wont be punished for missing payments.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Student Loans: Smooth Return to Repayment May Be Out of the Question
RICHARDSON, Texas, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Texans Credit Union (Texans), a leading credit union in North Texas, announced today Tanya Patterson's promotion to Vice President of Strategic Solutions. In her new role, Patterson will lead the newly formed Strategic Solutions department, which will focus on identifying new growth opportunities for the credit union.

Tanya Patterson, Vice President of Strategic Solutions at Texans Credit Union

Patterson has spent nearly 20 years of her career at Texans and has served in various roles, including operations, IT and emerging technologies. As a result, she brings valuable experience and institutional knowledge to her new position.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the new Strategic Solutions department at Texans," said Patterson. "I look forward to working with our team to implement new solutions to enhance the credit union's value proposition for our members."

"We are excited to have Tanya leading our Strategic Solutions department. We believe her leadership skills will be instrumental in helping Texans achieve its strategic objectives," said David Frazier, CEO of Texans Credit Union. "Her keen ability to connect operational, technological and financial implications to strategy makes her the perfect fit for this new role."

Patterson has extensive e-commerce technology, management and operations experience in the financial services industry. Most recently, she served as Texas's Vice President of IT Systems. Before joining Texans in 2004, Patterson worked in several financial-related positions for Corporate Network eCom, U.S. Central, U.S. Central Credit Union, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and Baird Kurtz & Dobson.

Patterson earned a bachelor's and master's degree in accounting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

About Texans Credit Union

Texans Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial institution serving North Texas members since 1953. Headquartered in Richardson, Texas, Texans Credit Union has more than 118,000 members and $2.1 billion in assets. Our mission is to provide members exceptional service, value and financial products to help individuals achieve their financial goals. We offer a full range of banking services, including checking and savings accounts, loans, mortgages, credit cards and investment options. Texans Credit Union is one of the largest credit unions in the state. For more information, please visit texanscu.org or follow us on LinkedIn , Facebook and Twitter .

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Texans Credit Union Logo

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/texans-credit-union-promotes-tanya-patterson-to-vice-president-of-strategic-solutions-301823796.html

SOURCE Texans Credit Union
It might seem bad, but the worst that can happen when you buy a stock (without leverage) is that its share price goes to zero. But if you buy shares in a really great company, you can more than double your money. For example, the Canadian Natural Resources Limited (TSE:CNQ) share price has soared 213% in the last three years. That sort of return is as solid as granite. On the other hand, we note it's down 9.2% in about a month. This could be related to the soft market, with stocks down around 1.9% in the last month.

Now it's worth having a look at the company's fundamentals too, because that will help us determine if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business.

Check out our latest analysis for Canadian Natural Resources

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. 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.

Canadian Natural Resources was able to grow its EPS at 49% per year over three years, sending the share price higher. We don't think it is entirely coincidental that the EPS growth is reasonably close to the 46% average annual increase in the share price. That suggests that the market sentiment around the company hasn't changed much over that time. Rather, the share price has approximately tracked EPS growth.

You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

We know that Canadian Natural Resources has improved its bottom line over the last three years, but what does the future have in store? Take a more thorough look at Canadian Natural Resources' financial health with this free report on its balance sheet.

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. In the case of Canadian Natural Resources, it has a TSR of 270% for the last 3 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

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A Different Perspective

Investors in Canadian Natural Resources had a tough year, with a total loss of 0.8% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 2.5%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 15% per year over half a decade. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. 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. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Canadian Natural Resources (of which 1 is concerning!) you should know about.

We will like Canadian Natural Resources better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Canadian 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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One simple way to benefit from the stock market is to buy an index fund. But many of us dare to dream of bigger returns, and build a portfolio ourselves. For example, the Southern Cross Electrical Engineering Limited (ASX:SXE) share price is up 49% in the last three years, clearly besting the market return of around 35% (not including dividends). However, more recent returns haven't been as impressive as that, with the stock returning just 14% in the last year , including dividends .

Let's take a look at the underlying fundamentals over the longer term, and see if they've been consistent with shareholders returns.

Check out our latest analysis for Southern Cross Electrical Engineering

While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. 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 three years of share price growth, Southern Cross Electrical Engineering achieved compound earnings per share growth of 6.4% per year. This EPS growth is lower than the 14% average annual increase in the share price. So it's fair to assume the market has a higher opinion of the business than it did three years ago. It is quite common to see investors become enamoured with a business, after a few years of solid progress.

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here.

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. We note that for Southern Cross Electrical Engineering the TSR over the last 3 years was 83%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

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A Different Perspective

It's good to see that Southern Cross Electrical Engineering has rewarded shareholders with a total shareholder return of 14% in the last twelve months. That's including the dividend. That gain is better than the annual TSR over five years, which is 3%. Therefore it seems like sentiment around the company has been positive lately. In the best case scenario, this may hint at some real business momentum, implying that now could be a great time to delve deeper. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Southern Cross Electrical Engineering better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Southern Cross Electrical Engineering , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

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 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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Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd (KLSE:KOSSAN) shareholders should be happy to see the share price up 27% in the last quarter. Meanwhile over the last three years the stock has dropped hard. Regrettably, the share price slid 64% in that period. Some might say the recent bounce is to be expected after such a bad drop. While many would remain nervous, there could be further gains if the business can put its best foot forward.

On a more encouraging note the company has added RM383m to its market cap in just the last 7 days, so let's see if we can determine what's driven the three-year loss for shareholders.

View our latest analysis for Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd

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. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd saw its EPS decline at a compound rate of 43% per year, over the last three years. In comparison the 29% compound annual share price decline isn't as bad as the EPS drop-off. So, despite the prior disappointment, shareholders must have some confidence the situation will improve, longer term. This positive sentiment is also reflected in the generous P/E ratio of 81.79.

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

This free interactive report on Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd's earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

What About Dividends?

It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. We note that for Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd the TSR over the last 3 years was -55%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

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A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 1.2% in the twelve months, Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd shareholders did even worse, losing 23% (even including dividends). However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case there's a good opportunity. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 0.5% 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. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Even so, be aware that Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 1 of those doesn't sit too well with us...

We will like Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Malaysian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
For years, industry leaders, skeptics and enthusiasts alike have questioned if blockchain would ever be adopted by mainstream institutions, and if so, when? Well that day has come and passed, in large part thanks to the ability to tokenize assets on-chain. Blockchain technologies are now playing a vital role across industries, and are propelling businesses forward. Particularly in the financial services space, blockchains are making a tremendous difference in reducing friction, improving efficiency and bringing down costs.

Asset tokenization is the process in which a digital representation of an asset is created on a blockchain and used to verify and track the authenticity and ownership history of the asset. This technology can be applied to virtually any asset, including securities, real estate, art and much more. The value of tokenization is in the application of the trustless and efficient record-keeping abilities of a blockchain to any asset in the physical world.

Tokenization is already making waves in mainstream circles, with financial powerhouses like Blackrock, Goldman Sachs, BNY Mellon and JP Morgan all implementing blockchain technology into their operations in a variety of interesting and innovative ways. The tokenization of asset classes is opening new doors to further drive efficiencies in capital markets, shortening transaction and settlement times, while also improving costs and proliferating access for investors of all kinds.

Tokenized on-chain assets opens up access to liquidity in the market while increasing freedom and access for investors to form and participate in capital markets. Traditionally illiquid assets, such as real estate or fine art, can have their value unlocked through the process of tokenization, which opens the door to tremendous possibilities for new investment. For example, a recent report published by Boston Consulting Group outlined how Asias largest private market exchange, ADDX, has started to do this by using programmable smart contracts built on the blockchain to tokenize and fractionalize multi-asset securities including private equity, hedge funds, bonds and even pre-IPO companies. By utilizing customizable smart contracts, ADDX has been able to overcome the intricate manual processes previously necessitated when dealing with complex transactions while opening up the possibility for smaller investors to take part in the aforementioned transactions.

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Fractionalization is a key aspect of tokenization that allows for shares of any item, through its token, to be further split up into smaller pieces, which effectively proliferates and democratizes access to these assets. Fractionalization provides a new way for more investors than ever before to access these financial tools and opportunities.

Arguably the most pertinent issue faced by modern markets and customers across the globe is the incredibly high amount of friction that exists across our financial infrastructure. Asset tokenization is relieving this friction, making financial institutions and infrastructure far more efficient in terms of time, cost and labor, while at the same time, proliferating access to capital markets. The friction that currently plagues our global financial rails is one of the largest barriers to capital formation and wealth growth, and in many instances, it prevents smaller investors from participating. However, thanks to the reduction in cost due to alleviated friction facilitated by blockchain technology and fractionalized assets, less wealthy investors will be now able to explore and participate in new investment opportunities that traditionally would have been unavailable to them.

The investment banking giant Goldman Sachs has also been very successful in utilizing blockchain technology to improve its existing financial infrastructure. In a recent op-ed in the Wall Street Journal penned by CEO David Solomon, Solomon discussed how Goldman Sachs arranged a US$125 million two-year digital bond for the European Investment Bank along with two other banks, all based on a private blockchain. Without tokenized assets on-chain, it would have taken five days to settle for a transaction of this magnitude to settle. However, the settlement took just 60 seconds after the bond had been tokenized on a private blockchain. The ability to reduce settlement times can, and will, lower costs across the globe for all market participants including banks, customers and regulators, ultimately making markets incredibly more efficient.

The rapid proliferation of tokenized assets across industries in the last few years is a clear sign that this technology is here to stay. However, there are still some challenges standing in the way of even wider adoption.

One such issue is the technical difficulty of creating these platforms. Cryptography is not an easy discipline to learn, and creating permissioned and private blockchains for enterprise use is a tremendous undertaking. This level of difficulty, and the relatively new technology being used, makes it difficult for leaders at incumbent institutions to update their already profitable systems and businesses with new instruments that they may not fully understand. However, now that a handful of influential business leaders across global markets have proclaimed their own grand successes with this technology, the rush to follow suit is underway. Even global governments, notoriously the hardest institutions to change, are feverishly looking into tokenizing their national currencies through the creation of central bank digital currencies.



Institutions from banks to governments across the world have widespread access to the most amazing transactional machinery mankind has yet to devise. We can buy and sell quite literally anything on the blockchain. This evolution of technology is facilitating an equally exciting evolution in financial services  one that is benefiting users on both ends of every transaction. The benefits of this technology are staggering, and as the adoption of blockchain technology continues to advance and spread across institutions, we can continue to look forward to the new ways innovators will implement tokenization platforms to solve their complex business challenges.
This article looks at the Top 20 Exporting Countries in 2022. You can skip the detailed analysis of the Exporting industry and go directly to the Top 5 Exporting Countries in 2022.

In 2021, the expected value of all export goods worldwide was USD 21.513 trillion. This sum of money is a 22.5% growth during the five years that began in 2017 and a 22.9% increase from $17.499 trillion in 2020.

Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) data from the International Monetary Fund indicates that the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for all countries was $146.043 trillion in 2021. The benchmark for the world economy increased by 10.2% from $132.487 trillion in 2020.

Based on the indicators above, the GDP in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) numbers for exported products in 2021 represent 14.7% of the total global economic output. Comparing that proportion to 13.2% from a year ago suggests that exports are becoming more important to the global economy's health.

The population of the planet was around 7.9 billion as of July 2021. On per capita basis, the $21.513 trillion in global exports in 2021 correspond to around $2,723 for every person.

Commerce alliances and organizations are often established to facilitate international commerce in commodities and services. The World Trade Organization (WTO), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) are a few examples of these groups and alliances.

Industry Analysis,

One of the biggest trade agreements in the world is the RCEP accord. Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan are among the countries where trade restrictions are lifted. The trade agreement would eliminate tariffs between this enormous group of countries. The RCEP would exempt a product from tariffs if its components came from other member countries.

Story continues

The epidemic and its aftermath have resulted in a significant rise in household balance sheets in the USA of about $2.5 trillion. The growing stock, real estate markets, and government support have contributed to this.

Worldwide supply chain problems brought on by the epidemic are still being felt. The majority of 2021 has been spent trying to resolve these disturbances. Additionally, several countries in the global supply chain, like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand, have immunized most of their populations.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the US-China trade war, companies are pressured to diversify their supply chains away from China. Recent data indicates that US supply chains have begun to shift away from China, with US imports of manufacturing goods from China decreasing by USD 88 billion or 17% in 2019, resulting in a drop of China's share in US imports by 4 percentage points. This marked decline is a notable deviation from the trend observed in previous years.

The computer and electronics sector, which is strategically important in terms of security and key technological inputs, has experienced the most significant shift away from China, likely due to the Trump administration's pressure on firms to keep Chinese companies out of their digital infrastructure. The main beneficiaries of this shift are Vietnam, Mexico, and Taiwan, but there are also clear indications of reshoring the US.

While US imports from China decreased by USD 88 billion, imports from the rest of the world increased by USD 68 billion, indicating that at least 20 billion in production costs could have moved from China to the US. Rising geopolitical tensions are expected to be the most significant factor driving a further acceleration in the relocation of supply chains across various sectors.

Outlook

In 2019, global exports were estimated to amount to 18.74 trillion USD. This dollar sum represents a decline of around -3.7% from USD 19.45 trillion in 2017, which occurred in 2018. According to Export Genius ' global trade data statistics, China topped the rankings as the world's largest exporter in 2019, with a 13.3% share. Electrical machinery & equipment was the most significant product category exported by the world's countries at the 2-digit HS Code level.

Approximately 72% of all shipped goods in 2019 were exported by the top 20 exporting countries in terms of value. The four significant exporters that increased the value of exports during that year were China, Vietnam, Mexico, and Switzerland. Vietnam (up 24.9%), Mexico (up 4.7%), Switzerland (up 1.1%), and China (up 0.2%) saw a rise in their percentage share.

South Korea (down -10.4%), Russia (down -5.9%), Hong Kong (down -5.9%), Singapore (down -5.3%), the UK (down -4.8%), Germany (down -4.5%), and Japan (down -4.4%) were the top decliners in 2019 when compared year over year. Despite the slowdown that began in the second half of the year, it is projected to deepen in 2023 due to ongoing geopolitical tensions and market downturns amid stubborn high inflation.

The UNCTAD study does caution that the slowdown in the 2nd half of this year portends more challenging conditions in 2023.

Top 20 Exporting Countries of 2022

itsajoop/Shutterstock.com

Our Methodology

We identified the Top 20 Exporting Countries in 2022 for our list as those with the highest export-to-GDP ratios in the previous years. We ranked them from low to high export-to-GDP ratios in ascending order. We used sources like The World Bank, and TheGlobalEconomy.com for export-to-GDP ratios information on these countries. We took countries' export data from oec.

Here are the Top 20 Exporting Countries of 2022:

20. Belarus

export-to-GDP ratios: 72.11%

In 2021, Belarus was the world's 72nd economy in GDP (current US dollars) and 65th in total exports. Belarus' top exports are potash fertilizer ($2.63B), refined petroleum ($2.61B), cheese ($1.19B), delivery trucks ($944M), and sawn wood ($804M). Belarus exports to China, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine.

19. Seychelles

export-to-GDP ratios: 72.31%

In 2021, Seychelles was the 143rd economy in the world in total exports. Seychelles' top exports are recreational boats ($1.41B), non-fleet frozen fish ($279M), processed fish ($253M), refined petroleum ($114M), and non-fleet fresh fish ($16.6M)Seychelles exports to Belize, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, France, and Gibraltar.

18. Czechia

export-to-GDP ratios: 72.73%

In 2021, the Czech Republic was the world's 45th largest economy by GDP (current US dollars) and 29th in total exports. In 2021, Czechia was the world's largest exporter of air, gas, and spring guns ($276M) and non-optical microscopes ($698M). Czechia's top export is vehicles ($23.6B), vehicles parts and accessories (8701 to 8705) ($14.1B), computers ($11.6B), broadcasting equipment ($9.94B), and office machine parts ($5.15B). Czechia exports to Austria, France, Germany, Poland, and Slovakia.

17. Maldives

export-to-GDP ratios: 75.3%

In 2021, Maldives was the worlds 179th economy regarding total exports. Maldives' top exports are non-fleshed frozen fish ($77.7M), fish fillets ($36.6M), processed fish ($34.8M), petroleum gas ($32.7M), and scrap iron ($13.9M)Maldives exports to France, Germany, India, Thailand, USA.

16. Estonia

export-to-GDP ratios: 78.3%

In 2021, Estonia was the 73rd largest economy in the world by total exports. Estonia's top exports are cars ($609M), coal tar oil ($1.66B), broadcasting equipment ($1.7B), refined petroleum ($635M), and manufactured buildings ($590M). Estonia exports to Finland, Latvia, Russia, Sweden, and the US.

15. Brunei

export-to-GDP ratios: 80.17%

In 2021, Brunei was the world's 91st economy in total exports. Brunei's top exports are refined petroleum ($3.57B), petroleum gas ($3.1B), crude petroleum ($2.1B), cyclic hydrocarbons ($1.76B), and acyclic alcohol ($205M)Brunei exports to Austria, China, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore.

14. Lithuania

export-to-GDP ratios: 80.49%

In 2021, Lithuania was the world's 75th economy in terms of GDP (current US dollars) and 62nd in total exports. Lithuania's top exports are refined petroleum ($3.17B), other furniture ($2.01B), wheat ($1.27B), laboratory reagents ($1.16B), and rolled tobacco ($858M)Lithuania exports to Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Poland, and Russia.

13. Hungary

export-to-GDP ratios: 81.55%

In 2021, Hungary was the world's 53rd largest economy by GDP (current US dollars) and 35th in total exports. Hungary's top export is motor vehicles ($12.1B), Parts and Accessories (8701 to 8705) ($7.79B), Electric Batts ($4.18B), Video Displays ($4.03B), and Packaged Medicines ($3.97B). Hungary's most important export country is Germany. Others include Austria, Italy, Romania, and Slovakia.

12. Netherlands

export-to-GDP ratios: 82.98%

In 2021, the Netherlands was the world's number 17 economy by GDP (current US dollars) and number 6 in total exports. The Netherlands' top exports are refined petroleum ($45B), broadcasting equipment ($19B), packaged medicine ($18.4B), photo lab equipment ($16.5B), and computers ($15.9B). More than 60% of total exports are sent to EU countries. Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Great Britain, and the United States are leading countries.

11. Slovenia

export-to-GDP ratios: 83.63%

In 2021, Slovenia was the world's 80th largest economy by GDP (current US dollars) and 57th in total exports. Slovenia's top exports are packaged medicine ($7.26B), cars ($3.62B), motor vehicles Parts and accessories (8701 to 8705) ($1.2B), refined petroleum ($1B), vaccines, blood, antisera, toxins, and cultures ($954M). Slovenia exports materials mainly to Switzerland, Germany, and Italy.

10. Cyprus

export-to-GDP ratios: 86.62%

In 2021, Cyprus was ranked 118th in the world in total exports. Cyprus' top exports are cheese ($349M), passenger and cargo ships ($928M), packaged medicine ($484M), refined petroleum ($532M), and pleasure boats ($294M). Cyprus exports materials to the Middle East and the European Union.

9. Belgium

export-to-GDP ratios: 86.86%

In 2021, Belgium was the world's 23rd-largest economy by GDP (current US dollars) and 15th in total exports. In 2021, Belgium was the world's largest exporter of vaccines, blood, antisera, toxins, and cultures ($47.2B), other frozen vegetables ($2.34B), mineral carvings ($223M), loams ($708M), vegetables and zinc powder. ($138M). Belgium's top exports are vaccines, blood, antisera, toxins, and cultures ($47.2B), cars ($23B), packaged medicine ($22.3B), refined petroleum ($18.1and diamonds ($13.9B). Belgium exports materials to the UK, the US, Germany, and France.

8. Macao

export-to-GDP ratios: 87.92%

In 2021, Macau was the world's 149th economy in total exports. Macau's top exports are broadcasting equipment ($170M), telephones ($74.6M), jewelry ($242M), precious metal watches ($162M), and non-knit women's suits ($61.5M). Macau's most prominent export partners are the US, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Germany, Singapore, Vietnam, and the UK.

7. Vietnam

export-to-GDP ratios: 93.29%

In 2021, Vietnam was the world's 39th economy in terms of GDP (current US dollars) and 18th in total exports. In 2021, Vietnam was the world's largest producer of coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews ($3.37B), fuelwood ($2.31B), cement ($1.91B), non-retail blended cotton yarn ($512M), and cinnamon ($270B). The top exporting materials of Vietnam are telephones ($25.3B), office machine parts ($11.7B), integrated circuits ($18.2B), broadcasting equipment ($51.1B), and textile footwear ($9.79B). The main export partners are the US (19% of total exports), China (16%), and Japan (8%). Others include South Korea (7%), Hong Kong (4%), and the Netherlands (3%).

6. Slovakia

export-to-GDP ratios: 93.8%

In 2021, Slovakia was the world's 57th largest economy by GDP (current US dollars) and 38th in total exports. Slovakia's top exports are cars ($26.9B), vehicle parts and accessories (8701 to 8705) ($5.66B), video displays ($4.5B), broadcasting equipment ($3.33B), and rubber tires ($1.88B). The main exporting destinations are the euro area, with Germany (23%), Poland (8.3%), the Czech Republic (12.4%), and Austria (5.7%).

Click to continue reading and see the Top 5 Exporting Countries of 2022.

Suggested Articles:

Disclosure: none. Top 20 Exporting Countries of 2022 is originally published on Insider Monkey.
BURLINGTON, Vt., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- It's not uncommon for a corporate employee at Ben & Jerry's to have began their career as a scooper and then move onto a corporate position, many staying for decades. But going from a tour guide to CEO? That's something else.

34-year veteran Dave Stever was announced as Ben & Jerry's Chief Executive Officer May 8, 2023.

Ben & Jerry's named Dave Stever as its new CEO on May 8, 2023. The 34 year veteran has seen it all in his career. The lifelong Vermonter, started as a tour guide in 1988 at the Company's Waterbury factory, which is the state's #1 tour attraction. Stever swiftly established himself in Marketing and management and over the past 12 years as Chief Marketing Officer. Throughout his career, Stever witnessed scrappy fights with rival Haagen Dazs in the early days who was then the industry leader, smash flavor sensations like Chubby Hubby, Phishfood and the #1 fan favorite in the U.S., Half Baked. Stever was well established as a leader in management when the company became part of Unilever over 20 years ago.

One of his strengths has been working cross functionally to create impactful partnerships with the likes of Dave Matthews Band, Stephen Colbert, Willie Nelson, Sir Elton John, Jimmy Fallon, Colin Kaepernick, Netflix, Chance the Rapper, Tony's Chocolonely and Ava DuVernay. While leading the company to remain as part of the cultural zeitgeist, Stever never lost focus on the critical differentiator for Ben & Jerry's: its mission. Anuradha Mittal, Ben & Jerry's Board Chair, said: "The Board is very pleased with the selection of Dave as Ben & Jerry's next CEO, and not just because of his passion for our euphoric super-premium icecream. Dave's long history at Ben & Jerry's along with his recognition of the integral role that the company's values and Social Mission play in our growth and our commitment to advancing justice and equity in the world, make him the best choice to write the next chapter in Ben & Jerry's remarkable story,"

Story continues

The news spread quickly around the company's headquarters in South Burlington as well as throughout the global organization in the 35 countries where Ben & Jerry's operates. The tone was one of joy and adulation for the well-admired colleague who has always been a favorite among his coworkers. It marks Sthe first time since cofounder Ben Cohen stepped down as CEO in 1994 that a staff member has been promoted from within to the CEO position. Stever, who serves as CMO, assumes the top role from Matthew McCarthy, who recently retired from Ben & Jerry's after five years at the helm.

"Ben and I have known Dave for over 3 decades and we are absolutely thrilled that he will be leading Ben & Jerry's into the next chapter of our company's history," said cofounder Jerry Greenfield. "Dave started out 30 years ago as a tour guide. And now he's CEO. He knows Ben & Jerry's inside and out. He lives it and breathes it. We are psyched to have someone with Dave's talent, passion and demonstrated ability as our CEO," added cofounder Ben Cohen.

To learn more about Ben & Jerry's click here .

About Ben & Jerry's

Ben & Jerry's is an aspiring social justice company that believes in a greater calling than simply making and selling the world's best ice cream. The company produces a wide variety of super-premium ice cream and Non-Dairy/vegan desserts using high-quality ingredients and lots of big chunks and swirls. As a Certified B Corp, Ben & Jerry's incorporates its vision of Linked Prosperity into its business practices via values-led sourcing initiatives when purchasing ingredients. Ben & Jerry's is distributed in over 35 countries in supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, franchised Scoop Shops, and via on-demand delivery services. Ben & Jerry's, a Vermont corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Unilever, operates its business on a three-part Mission Statement emphasizing product quality, a fair financial return, and addressing issues of social, racial, and environmental injustice around the globe. The Ben & Jerry's Foundation, guided by Ben & Jerry's employees, granted $4.35MM in 2022 to support progressive, justice-focused grassroots organizing around the country. For up-to-date information visit benjerry.com.

CEO Dave Stever (left) pauses for some fun on the company's 2023 Free Cone Day at Waterbury, Vermont where Stever started as a tour guide. With 34 years of Ben & Jerry's experience, the newly appointed CEO has scooped his share of cones. Between Stever, Amy Weller (center) and Claudette Miner (right) - the trio holds a century of experience with the Vermont ice cream maker.

Cision

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SOURCE Ben & Jerry's
Sequana Medical NV

PRESS RELEASE

REGULATED INFORMATION

15 May 2023 , 06:00 pm CEST





Ghent, Belgium  15 May 2023  Sequana Medical NV (Euronext Brussels: SEQUA) (the "Company" or "Sequana Medical"), a pioneer in the treatment of fluid overload in liver disease, heart failure and cancer, announces today that it received transparency notifications from the shareholders listed below, notifying the number of voting rights attached to shares mentioned next to their respective names in the table below.

Reason for notification



Number of shares and voting rights held Number % of total outstanding shares(1) Participatiemaatschappij Vlaanderen NV(2) Passive crossing of a threshold 1,346,074 4.80% Optiverder BV(3) Acquisition of voting securities or voting rights 922,535 3.29%

_____________

Notes:

(1) The total number of outstanding shares of the Company mentioned in the relevant transparency notifications amounts to 28,050,888, each share giving right to one (1) vote (being 28,050,888 voting rights in total). This number does not take into account the number of new shares that were issued pursuant to a capital increase that was announced on 24 April 2023 and completed on 10 May 2023 through the issuance of a total of 140,845 additional new shares.

(2) A parent undertaking or a controlling person of Participatiemaatschappij Vlaanderen NV ("PMV"), informed the Company, by means of a notification dated 11 May 2023 that, PMV's aggregate number of voting rights passively down crossed the threshold of 5% of the then outstanding 28,050,888 voting rights of the Company. The notification specifies furthermore that PMV is controlled by Het Vlaams Gewest and that Het Vlaams Gewest is not controlled.

(3) A parent undertaking or a controlling person of Optiverder BV ("Optiverder"), informed the Company, by means of a notification dated 10 May 2023 that on 27 April 2023 Optiverders aggregate number of voting rights crossed the threshold of 3% of the then outstanding 28,050,888 voting rights of the Company. The notification furthermore specifies that Optiverder is 100% owned by Mr. C.A.C.M. Oomen.





This announcement is made in accordance with Article 14 of the Belgian Act of 2 May 2007 on the disclosure of major participations in issuers of which shares are admitted to trading on a regulated market and regarding miscellaneous provisions.

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To access copies of the aforementioned transparency notifications, reference is made to Sequana Medical's website (https://www.sequanamedical.com/investors/shareholder-information/).

Pursuant to the Belgian Transparency Act and the articles of association of the Company, a notification to the Company and the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) is required by all natural and legal persons in each case where the percentage of voting rights attached to the securities held by such persons in the Company reaches, exceeds or falls below the threshold of 3%, 5%, 10%, and every subsequent multiple of 5%, of the total number of voting rights in the Company.

For more information, please contact:

Sequana Medical

Lies Vanneste

Director Investor Relations

E: IR@sequanamedical.com

T: +32 (0)498 053579

Optimum Strategic Communications

Nick Bastin, Jonathan Edwards, Vici Rabbetts

E: Sequana@optimumcomms.com

T: +44 (0) 208 078 4357

About Sequana Medical

Sequana Medical NV is a pioneer in treating fluid overload, a serious and frequent clinical complication in patients with liver disease, heart failure and cancer. These patients can have up to 15 liters of extra fluid in their bodies, causing major medical issues including increased mortality, repeated hospitalizations, severe pain, difficult breathing and restricted mobility that severely impacts daily life. Although diuretics are standard of care, the problem is that in many patients they are no longer effective and / or tolerable. There are limited effective treatment options for these patients, resulting in poor clinical outcomes, high costs and a major impact on their quality of life. Sequana Medical is seeking to provide innovative treatment options for this large and growing diuretic-resistant patient population.

alfapump and DSR are Sequana Medical's proprietary platforms that work with the body to treat diuretic-resistant fluid overload, delivering major clinical and quality of life benefits for patients and reducing costs for healthcare systems. The Company has reported positive primary endpoint data from the North American pivotal POSEIDON study of the alfapump in recurrent or refractory ascites due to liver cirrhosis, enabling the filing of a Pre-Market Approval (PMA) application with the FDA, planned for H2 2023. Having delivered clinical proof-of-concept for DSR as a disease-modifying drug program for the treatment of heart failure, the Company will commence MOJAVE, a US randomized controlled multi-center Phase 1/2a clinical trial of DSR 2.0, with initial data expected in Q4 2023.

Sequana Medical is listed on Euronext Brussels (Ticker: SEQUA.BR) and headquartered in Ghent, Belgium. For further information, please visit www.sequanamedical.com.

Important Regulatory Disclaimers

The alfapump system is currently not approved in the United States or Canada. In the United States and Canada, the alfapump system is currently under clinical investigation (POSEIDON Trial) and is being studied in adult patients with refractory or recurrent ascites due to cirrhosis. For more information regarding the POSEIDON clinical trial see www.poseidonstudy.com. DSR therapy is still in development and it should be noted that any statements regarding safety and efficacy arise from ongoing pre-clinical and clinical investigations which have yet to be completed. There is no link between DSR therapy and ongoing investigations with the alfapump system in Europe, the United States or Canada.

Note: alfapump and DSR are registered trademarks.

Forward-looking statements

This press release may contain predictions, estimates or other information that might be considered forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. These forward-looking statements represent the current judgment of Sequana Medical on what the future holds, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Sequana Medical expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release, except if specifically required to do so by law or regulation. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of Sequana Medical only as of the date of this press release.

Attachments




(Bloomberg) -- The US Treasurys deputy secretary urged Congress to lift the nations debt limit to avoid a default while also rejecting calls to mint a $1 trillion platinum coin to ease the crisis.

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Raising the limit is he only thing that we can do that will maintain our credibility for investors in the United States, our credibility with the people who weve made commitments to, Wally Adeyemo said in an interview on National Public Radio Monday. Each time we get to a point where Congress needs to pass the debt limit, someone has a new creative, interesting idea on how we can do it.

The concept of the US minting a $1 trillion platinum coin in order to avoid a default on federal debt has gripped some quarters of markets and Washington amid political brinkmanship over the debt ceiling. The Biden administration has consistently dismissed it as an option.

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Just because a business does not make any money, does not mean that the stock will go down. For example, although software-as-a-service business Salesforce.com lost money for years while it grew recurring revenue, if you held shares since 2005, you'd have done very well indeed. Nonetheless, only a fool would ignore the risk that a loss making company burns through its cash too quickly.

So, the natural question for Trilogy Metals (TSE:TMQ) shareholders is whether they should be concerned by its rate of cash burn. In this article, we define cash burn as its annual (negative) free cash flow, which is the amount of money a company spends each year to fund its growth. Let's start with an examination of the business' cash, relative to its cash burn.

See our latest analysis for Trilogy Metals

How Long Is Trilogy Metals' Cash Runway?

A company's cash runway is calculated by dividing its cash hoard by its cash burn. When Trilogy Metals last reported its balance sheet in February 2023, it had zero debt and cash worth US$1.8m. Importantly, its cash burn was US$3.3m over the trailing twelve months. Therefore, from February 2023 it had roughly 7 months of cash runway. That's quite a short cash runway, indicating the company must either reduce its annual cash burn or replenish its cash. The image below shows how its cash balance has been changing over the last few years.

How Is Trilogy Metals' Cash Burn Changing Over Time?

Trilogy Metals didn't record any revenue over the last year, indicating that it's an early stage company still developing its business. Nonetheless, we can still examine its cash burn trajectory as part of our assessment of its cash burn situation. Given the length of the cash runway, we'd interpret the 36% reduction in cash burn, in twelve months, as prudent if not necessary for capital preservation. While the past is always worth studying, it is the future that matters most of all. So you might want to take a peek at how much the company is expected to grow in the next few years.

Story continues

Can Trilogy Metals Raise More Cash Easily?

Even though it has reduced its cash burn recently, shareholders should still consider how easy it would be for Trilogy Metals to raise more cash in the future. Companies can raise capital through either debt or equity. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash and fund growth. By looking at a company's cash burn relative to its market capitalisation, we gain insight on how much shareholders would be diluted if the company needed to raise enough cash to cover another year's cash burn.

Trilogy Metals has a market capitalisation of US$85m and burnt through US$3.3m last year, which is 4.0% of the company's market value. That's a low proportion, so we figure the company would be able to raise more cash to fund growth, with a little dilution, or even to simply borrow some money.

How Risky Is Trilogy Metals' Cash Burn Situation?

On this analysis of Trilogy Metals' cash burn, we think its cash burn relative to its market cap was reassuring, while its cash runway has us a bit worried. We don't think its cash burn is particularly problematic, but after considering the range of factors in this article, we do think shareholders should be monitoring how it changes over time. Separately, we looked at different risks affecting the company and spotted 4 warning signs for Trilogy Metals (of which 2 are a bit unpleasant!) you should know about.

If you would prefer to check out another company with better fundamentals, then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt or this list of stocks which are all forecast to grow.

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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(Bloomberg) -- Turkeys biggest mobile phone operator Turkcell is defending a decision to shut offices to most employees over the election weekend after it caused a furor on social media with plans for maintenance on voting day.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Turkish Twitter users on Friday began sharing an internal memo by Turkcell management that banned its personnel from entering offices until Monday morning.

The uproar reflected anxieties over the security surrounding the vote. In response, the company said its taking extraordinary measures to maintain uninterrupted service during Sundays elections.

Why Turkeys Election Is a Big Test for Erdogan: QuickTake

The news hit a nerve after opposition parties accused Russia of trying to influence the outcome of the vote in favor of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an accusation the Kremlin has denied.

Turkcell said the work was similar to what was done in previous elections. Its necessary to keep services intact at times of high traffic and protect the mobile network from malicious attacks, the company said in a statement to Turkeys official news agency Anadolu.

Shares of Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS, as the mobile company is formally known, dropped as much as 6.2% before trimming losses to 2.8% as of 4 p.m. in Istanbul.

Kremlin Denies Meddling Ahead of Turkeys Knife-Edge Elections

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the opposition candidate whos in a close race with Erdogan, warned unidentified Russian groups against meddling in the NATO members elections.

Turkcell is controlled by Turkeys sovereign wealth fund, while Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman has a 19.8% stake thorough his investment vehicle LetterOne.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Complete response letter outlines FDA's request for additional information

NIJMEGEN, Netherlands, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Byondis B.V., an independent, Dutch clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company creating precision medicines, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a complete response letter (CRL) for the Biological License Application (BLA) for [vic-]trastuzumab duocarmazine (SYD985). With this BLA, Byondis sought approval for its anti-HER2 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) in HER2-positive unresectable locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (MBC), a disease with a high unmet medical need.

Byondis logo

According to the complete response letter, the FDA suspends the decision on the product's approvability. The agency requested additional information that requires time and resources that extend beyond the current evaluation period.

While Byondis is disappointed with this outcome, the company remains optimistic about SYD985's potential. "We continue to believe that SYD985 can present a meaningful treatment option for patients living with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer," said Byondis CEO Marco Timmers, Ph.D. "We appreciate the FDA's guidance and support and will carefully evaluate the complete response letter and consider potential next steps."

Timmers added, "We will continue with the SYD985 applications in EU and UK and await the outcome of the review process."

[Vic-]Trastuzumab Duocarmazine Phase III TULIP Study Results

The BLA and MAA are supported by data from the pivotal Phase III TULIP multi-center, open-label, randomized clinical trial comparing SYD985 to physician's choice (PC) treatment in patients with pre-treated HER2-positive unresectable locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (SYD985.002/NCT03262935). The study, the results of which were presented at the 2021 ESMO Congress, met its primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS), demonstrating a statistically significant improvement of 2.1 months over PC. TULIP also demonstrated supportive overall survival (OS) results.

Story continues

About Byondis

Driven to improve patients' lives, Byondis is a privately held, Dutch clinical-stage biopharmaceutical research and development company creating precision medicines targeting intractable cancers and autoimmune diseases. Byondis' broad development portfolio comprises targeted and immuno-oncology (IO) therapies in preclinical and early- and late-stage clinical phases. These candidates combine Byondis' expertise in linker-drug (LD) technology, antibody-drug conjugation, targeted cytotoxic therapy, and monoclonal antibody (mAb) development. Byondis designs and produces next generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), as well as mAbs and new chemical entities (NCEs) that can stand alone or be incorporated in its ADCs.

Byondis has a dedicated team of more than 400 employees, including highly educated scientists and skilled technicians working in state-of-the-art R&D laboratories and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) production and conjugation facilities on its campus in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. The company collaborates with other global biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and many leading academic research institutions. For more information, visit www.byondis.com.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1527250/Byondis_Logo.jpg

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-food-and-drug-administration-issues-complete-response-letter-for-byondis-vic-trastuzumab-duocarmazine-301824573.html

SOURCE Byondis B.V.
With Paddington's Postcards, Canadian families can embark on a horizon-broadening adventure while raising much-needed funds for children around the world.

UNICEF Canada has teamed up with Paddington, the much-loved childrens character. (CNW Group/UNICEF Canada)

TORONTO, May 15, 2023 /CNW/ - UNICEF Canada has teamed up with PaddingtonTM, the much-loved children's character, to bring an exciting opportunity for children across Canada to learn more about the lives of their peers around the world.

On this International Day of Families, UNICEF Canada is inviting families to sign up for a monthly donation and as a bear-sized thank you, Paddington will send them a mail package every month for 12 months. With each package, children receive a personalized postcard from Paddington himself, as well as fun facts sheets, stories, stickers and educational activities to discover how kids live in other countries.

Perfect for children aged 4-10, Paddington's Postcards is a wonderful way to encourage Canadian families to learn from other children across the world, while supporting UNICEF's work to ensure every child is healthy, happy and safe. Thousands of families in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Italy and Germany have already joined Paddington's heartwarming adventures.

Like millions of children and families around the world, Paddington was forced to flee his home and build a new life far away from those he loved. His stories and adventures exemplify kindness, tolerance and perseverance in the face of adversity, making him the perfect champion for children's rights.

"Children are curious by nature and should be encouraged to ask questions about what goes on in the world around them. This new partnership with Paddington is a fantastic opportunity to empower Canadian kids to connect with other kids around the globe and inspire them to make a difference," said David Morley, President and CEO, UNICEF Canada. "We are very grateful for Paddington's ongoing support to our work, and unwavering efforts to empower and educate thousands of children worldwide."

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"The impact of the collaboration between Paddington and UNICEF over the past 5 years is incredibly impressive, engaging families across the world, and we are so proud to be partnered with a charity who genuinely shares Paddington's values and to make this announcement on the International Day of Families", said Katheryn Needham, Interim CEO of The Copyrights Group (a STUDIOCANAL company), owner of the Paddington brand. "With Paddington's Postcards, we are able to spread the power of Paddington's kindness via a meaningful product that speaks to children and families globally and long may that continue."

To learn how to get involved, visit unicef.ca/paddingtonspostcards.

About Paddington

For 65 years, British-born writer Michael Bond has delighted readers all over the world with his stories about Paddington, the bear from Peru, famous for his love of marmalade. The kindness and humour in the stories appeal to children and adults alike, ensuring Paddington's enduring popularity from one generation to the next.

HarperCollins Children's books have published Paddington's adventures continuously since 13th October 1958 when, as William Collins, they first introduced A Bear Called Paddington to the world.

Since then, Paddington's adventures have been adapted several times for television and at the end of 2014 Paddington made his debut onto the big screen, a further film Paddington 2 followed in 2017 with a third in the works. The movies were produced by STUDIOCANAL, European leader in production, distribution and international sales of feature films and series, part of CANAL+ Group, major player in the creation and distribution of content worldwide. In 2020, a brand-new Paddington TV series designed for a pre-school audience, The Adventures of Paddington launched on Nickelodeon, introducing him to a whole new set of fans.

You can catch-up with Paddington's many adventures on:

Twitter & Instagram @paddingtonbear | Facebook.com/PaddingtonBear | dailymotion.com/Paddington | YouTube.com/Paddington

P&Co. Ltd/ SC 2023

About The Copyrights Group

The Copyrights Group, part of the European leader in film and series production and distribution STUDIOCANAL (a Canal + company), owns and manages the PaddingtonTM IP and official stores. It is a full-service international IP development agency and consultancy offering strategic worldwide brand development, licensing and retail expertise.

The company develops a 360-brand strategy for Paddington based on raising awareness for the character worldwide. Alongside reaching millions on social media, Paddington's global reach has also helped UNICEF raise millions for children in need through branded fundraising products since 2020. The Copyrights Group keeps expanding Paddington's licensing program in all key categories including experiential.

About UNICEF

UNICEF is the world's leading humanitarian organization focused on children. We work in the most challenging areas to provide protection, healthcare and immunizations, education, safe water and sanitation and nutrition. As part of the United Nations, our unrivaled reach spans more than 190 countries and territories, ensuring we are on the ground to help the most disadvantaged children. While part of the UN system, UNICEF relies entirely on voluntary donations to finance our life-saving work.

Please visit unicef.ca and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

With Paddingtons Postcards, families can embark on a horizon-broadening adventure. (CNW Group/UNICEF Canada)

SOURCE UNICEF Canada

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View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2023/15/c7953.html
FILE PHOTO: Scenes near Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), in New York

By Chibuike Oguh and Niket Nishant

(Reuters) - Shares of U.S. regional lenders rose on Monday, led by a rebound in PacWest Bancorp, as investors turned their attention to the U.S. debt ceiling debate instead of the crisis of confidence that has led to the collapse of three banks in two months.

Regional bank stocks have benefited as the market's focus has shifted away from their problems and toward the debate over raising the federal debt ceiling, said Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at Carson Group in Omaha.

"We survived the weekend without a major bank calamity so there's some relief rally going on with regional banks bouncing," Detrick said.

PacWest Bancorp shares rose 17.6% but remained down 77% year-to-date. Western Alliance Bancorp rose 12% but was still down 48% year-to-date. Comerica Inc rose 7.3%, Fifth Third Bancorp was up 2.5% and KeyCorp added 6.7%. The KBW Regional Banking Index rose 3.2% but remained down 36% year-to-date.

U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo dismissed the idea of minting a platinum coin to avoid a U.S. default, saying the only workable solution was for Congress to raise the federal debt ceiling. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also has rejected the idea of a platinum coin to skirt the debt ceiling and fund government expenses.

Hedge fund manager Michael Burry, who rose to fame with his bets against the U.S. housing market before the 2008 financial crisis, added positions in several regional banks during a tumultuous first quarter for the sector, according to securities filings released on Monday.

Burry's Scion Asset Managements positions included 150,000 shares in First Republic Bank, 250,000 shares in PacWest Bancorp, 850,000 shares in New York Community Bancorp, and 125,000 shares of Western Alliance Bancorp, filings showed. Burry's firm also added a position in Wells Fargo & Co. The filings did not specify whether Burry, widely known as "the Big Short" investor, had shorted the stocks previously.

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By contrast, Bridgewater Associates, one of the world's largest hedge funds, sold off U.S. bank stocks in the first quarter as the industry was roiled by a crisis sparked by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, according to regulatory filings.

The firm, founded by billionaire Ray Dalio, cut its holdings to zero in five U.S. banking giants: JPMorgan & Co, Bank of America Corp, Wells Fargo & Co, Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Morgan Stanley. It also roughly halved its exposure to Citigroup Inc, the filings showed.

Meanwhile, Greg Becker, former CEO of failed lender Silicon Valley Bank, apologized in congressional testimony for its "devastating" collapse while citing rising interest rates and social media as key causes of its demise.

The bank was responsive to regulator concerns about its risk management and working to address issues when an "unprecedented" bank run led to its failure, Becker wrote in prepared testimony published on Monday by the Senate Banking Committee.

Becker will testify before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday alongside Scott Shay and Eric Howell, the former chair and president, respectively, of Signature Bank. Regulators had closed Signature Bank on March 12 after it experienced liquidity issues following SVBs collapse two days earlier. First Republic Bank was the third and largest bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis.

(This story has been refiled to correct Ryan Detrick's firm to Carson Group, not LPL Financial, in paragraph 2)

(Reporting by Niket Nishant in Bengaluru and Chibuike Oguh in New York; Editing by Arun Koyyur and David Gregorio)
(Bloomberg) -- Vice Media LLC filed for bankruptcy protection and struck a deal to sell itself to creditors, a precipitous fall for the company that once boasted a $5.7 billion valuation.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The developments cap a tumultuous few months for the firm, which began as an alternative magazine in Montreal nearly three decades ago and captured the attention of young viewers globally with documentary-style videos. It shared a Pulitzer Prize in 2020 and multiple Emmy wins for Vice News Tonight.

Its rapid downfall underscores the challenges facing digital media companies, which are struggling as advertisers cut spending during an uncertain economy and route marketing toward tech platforms from Facebook and Google to TikTok.

The Brooklyn-based company listed both assets and liabilities in the range of more than $500 million to as much as $1 billion in a Chapter 11 petition filed in Southern District of New York. In a separate statement, Vice announced it reached a deal with creditors including Fortress Investment Group, Soros Fund Management and Monroe Capital to purchase its assets for $225 million and assume significant liabilities. The agreement, however, allows for rival bidders to emerge.

We will have new ownership, a simplified capital structure and the ability to operate without the legacy liabilities that have been burdening our business, said Bruce Dixon and Hozefa Lokhandwala, co-chief executive officers. We look forward to completing the sale process in the next two to three months.

Read more: Vice Ends Flagship Show, Cuts Jobs as Online Media Retreat

Fortress Credit Corp. ranked among the biggest secured creditors, with claims totaling about $475 million, the filing on Monday showed. Vice secured commitments for debtor-in-possession financing from its creditors, including consent to use more than $20 million of cash to keep its operations going for now.

Story continues

Vice secured a $450 million investment from private equity firm TPG in 2017, which valued the firm at $5.7 billion. The figure was startling for a media upstart, especially while so many of its industry peers struggled to generate profits. Other investors have included Walt Disney Co. and Fox Corp.

In the filing, Vice estimated it has more than 5,000 creditors and that it would have funds for distribution to unsecured creditors.

Its bankruptcy filing is a milestone for the digital media arena. In February, Vice said Nancy Dubuc was leaving the company after five years as chief executive officer, and then in late April Vice shuttered its flagship TV news show and laid off more than 100 staff.

Vice News Tonight started in 2016 as a newscast on HBO and won acclaim for its coverage of a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. HBO ended that partnership in 2019. Recently, the show aired on Vice TV, the companys cable channel.

This year, BuzzFeed Inc. shut down its news operation and online publisher Insider Inc. said its cutting about 10% of staff.

--With assistance from Ameya Karve and Jeremy Hill.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Shane Smith, co-founder and chief executive officer of Vice Media Inc., gestures while speaking on the third day of Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, on Wednesday, March 1, 2017. A theme this year at the industry's annual get-together, which runs through March 2, is the Internet of Things. Photographer: Pau Barrena/Bloomberg - Pau Barrena/Bloomberg

Investors including George Soros are poised to take control of Vice after the digital media company collapsed into bankruptcy protection.

Vice Media filed for bankruptcy in the US in the early hours of Monday morning, owing its creditors as much as $1bn according to its bankruptcy filing in New York.

It caps a long and painful decline for the youth-focused brand that was once valued at $5.7bn (4.5bn) and attracted investment from Disney and Rupert Murdochs Fox.

A group of Vices lenders including Fortress Investment Group and Soros Fund Management, the investment group run by billionaire trader George Soros, is the frontrunner to buy Vice out of bankruptcy after tabling a $225m bid.

The group would not put in any new money. Instead, the offer would be covered by existing loans to Vice and the buyers would take over significant liabilities from the company once any deal is finalised.

The sale process caps off a tumultuous period for Vice, which last month shut down its World News brand and announced dozens of painful but necessary job cuts.

The media group, which started life as a punk magazine in 1990s Montreal, built a popular brand through its coverage of drugs, sex and war zones.

George Soros, billionaire and founder of Soros Fund Management LLC, speaks during an event on day two of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland - Jason Alden/Bloomberg

Its valuation peaked at $5.7bn in 2017, but alongside rival digital publishers including BuzzFeed it has struggled to navigate a downturn in the digital advertising market and the emergence of new social media platforms including TikTok.

Vice has struggled to turn a profit for years and has been in default on a $250m loan from Fortress and Soros Fund Management for months.

The group of lenders has secured a $20m loan to keep Vice operating during the bankruptcy process. Alongside its flagship brand, the group also owns an ad agency, film studio and women-focused site, Refinery29.

Shane Smith, the outspoken founder of Vice who was known for hosting rowdy parties and flashing his wealth, is expected to stay on following the rescue deal, Bloomberg reported.

Story continues

Hozefa Lokhandwala and Bruce Dixon, co-chief executives, are also expected to remain at the company.

In a statement, Mr Dixon and Mr Lokhandwala said the bankruptcy sale would ultimately strengthen the company.

They added: We look forward to completing the sale process in the next two to three months and charting a healthy and successful next chapter at Vice.

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.
Vice to Get New Owners as Media Darling Files for Bankruptcy

(Bloomberg) -- Vice Media LLC filed for bankruptcy protection and struck a deal to sell itself to creditors, a precipitous fall for the company that once boasted a $5.7 billion valuation.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The developments cap a tumultuous few months for the firm, which began as an alternative magazine in Montreal nearly three decades ago and captured the attention of young viewers globally with documentary-style videos. It shared a Pulitzer Prize in 2020 and multiple Emmy wins for Vice News Tonight.

Its rapid downfall underscores the challenges facing digital media companies, which are struggling as advertisers cut spending during an uncertain economy and route marketing toward tech platforms from Facebook and Google to TikTok.

The Brooklyn-based company listed both assets and liabilities in the range of more than $500 million to as much as $1 billion in a Chapter 11 petition filed in Southern District of New York. In a separate statement, Vice announced it reached a deal with creditors including Fortress Investment Group, Soros Fund Management and Monroe Capital to purchase its assets for $225 million and assume significant liabilities. The agreement, however, allows for rival bidders to emerge.

We will have new ownership, a simplified capital structure and the ability to operate without the legacy liabilities that have been burdening our business, said Bruce Dixon and Hozefa Lokhandwala, co-chief executive officers. We look forward to completing the sale process in the next two to three months.

Read more: Vice Ends Flagship Show, Cuts Jobs as Online Media Retreat

Fortress Credit Corp. ranked among the biggest secured creditors, with claims totaling about $475 million, the filing on Monday showed. Vice secured commitments for debtor-in-possession financing from its creditors, including consent to use more than $20 million of cash to keep its operations going for now.

Story continues

Vice secured a $450 million investment from private equity firm TPG in 2017, which valued the firm at $5.7 billion. The figure was startling for a media upstart, especially while so many of its industry peers struggled to generate profits. Other investors have included Walt Disney Co. and Fox Corp.

In the filing, Vice estimated it has more than 5,000 creditors and that it would have funds for distribution to unsecured creditors.

Its bankruptcy filing is a milestone for the digital media arena. In February, Vice said Nancy Dubuc was leaving the company after five years as chief executive officer, and then in late April Vice shuttered its flagship TV news show and laid off more than 100 staff.

Vice News Tonight started in 2016 as a newscast on HBO and won acclaim for its coverage of a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. HBO ended that partnership in 2019. Recently, the show aired on Vice TV, the companys cable channel.

This year, BuzzFeed Inc. shut down its news operation and online publisher Insider Inc. said its cutting about 10% of staff.

--With assistance from Ameya Karve and Jeremy Hill.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Warren Buffett cut his exposure to two more banks last quarter while buying new stock in Capital One (COF).

The billionaire's investment conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) (BRK-B) sold $1.4 billion of its remaining holdings in custody bank Bank of New York Mellon (BK) and Minneapolis regional lender US Bancorp (USB), according to filings.

They are the latest of his longstanding bank bets to be pared. The Oracle of Omaha sold a large portion of Berkshires holdings in US banks between 2020 and 2022, some just months before the banking system upheaval that began in mid March.

The 92-year-old investor has over the decades played the role of rescuer to a number of institutions, including in the 2008 financial crisis. He has yet to emerge as a white knight for any banks in trouble during this current crisis, at least in any way that has thus far been made public.

Buffett made it clear at Berkshire's annual shareholders meeting earlier this month that he is still "cautious" about holding many bank stocks. One exception he cited was Bank of America, which remains one of Berkshires largest holdings.

Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett at a 2019 shareholders meeting. REUTERS/Scott Morgan

In the first quarter, according to filings, Berkshire maintained its Bank of America holdings. The stake lost $4 billion in value through the quarter.

"I like Bank of America and I like the management," Buffett said at the shareholder gathering in Omaha, Nebraska.

Buffett has a long history with Bank of America. He injected $5 billion into the Charlotte, N.C.-based bank in 2011. At the time Brian Moynihan was still a relatively new chief executive and the lender's shares were under severe pressure due to losses from subprime loans.

Buffett did invest more deeply into several other financial stocks in the quarter. Berkshire added $954 million of Capital One (COF) and raised its holding in Ally Financial (ALLY) by $10.6 million. The conglomerate also sold $1.1 million of Jefferies Financial Group (JEF) and didn't touch its stake in Citigroup (C).

Story continues

US Bancorp, BNY Mellon and Jefferies were down in early after hours trading while Bank of America, Citi, Capital One and Ally were up.

Berkshire Hathaway was far from the only high profile investment manager selling bank shares last quarter.

Bridgewater Associates, the world's biggest hedge fund, sold about $180 million in bank stocks.

That included more than 80% of its holdings in Bank of New York Mellon and US Bancorp. Bridgewater also zeroed out positions in 15 other US lenders, including Bank of America (BAC), Western Alliance, Zions (ZION), PacWest (PACW) and New York Community Bank (NYCB).

Correction (5/16): an earlier version of the article said Berkshire Hathaway raised its Bank of America holdings in the first quarter. Berkshire's higher holdings in the stock come from holdings previously reported as New England Asset Management, a part of Berkshire's insurance business.

Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks

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(Bloomberg) -- Markets are on edge over whether budget talks will produce a solution to the US debt-ceiling crisis as the window for averting a potential default narrows by the day, and the amount of room the Treasury Department has under the statutory borrowing limit dwindles.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Treasury said in a statement Friday that it had just $88 billion of extraordinary measures remaining as of May 10 to help pay the governments bills. Thats down from around $110 billion a week earlier, and it means that just over a quarter of the $333 billion of authorized measures are still available to keep the US government from exhausting its borrowing room under the debt limit. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said this month that her department could run out of cash as soon as June 1 and Treasury markets have shifted to price in a default premium for securities maturing around that date. The cost of insuring US debt against non-payment has also soared.

President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy are poised to reconvene Tuesday after staff-level talks held over the weekend, with the White House sending signs of guarded optimism. Biden said talks were moving along while National Economic Director Lael Brainard said the negotiations were serious and constructive. The meeting will offer a key test of whether the two sides can reach a deal before a potential default in June  and it comes before Biden leaves Wednesday for a trip to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia.

But there are many in financial markets predicting or hoping that some kind of deal will get done, in part because thats whats always happened, even when things have gone down to the wire.

Story continues

From Washington to Wall Street, heres what to watch to gauge how worried observers should be and when they should be concerned.

The Bills Curve

Investors have historically demanded higher yields on securities that are due to be repaid shortly after the US is seen as running out of borrowing capacity. That puts a lot of focus on the yield curve for bills  the shortest-dated Treasury securities  and any dislocations that show up. Noticeable upward distortions in particular parts of the curve tend to suggest increased concern among investors that thats the time Uncle Sam might be at risk of default. Right now thats most prominent around early June.

Money-market funds made a notable shift toward shorter-maturity Treasury bills in April: Holdings of bills maturing within 30 days made up 74% of total T-bill holdings at the end of April from 43% at the end of March, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. At the same time, bills maturing in more than 60 days declined to 9% of bill holdings from 13% the prior month, while securities in the 31- to 60-day bucket dropped to 17%, from 44%.

X-Date Predictions

Underpinning the various moves in debt markets are differing estimates about when the government might exhaust its options to fund itself  commonly referred to as the X-date. While the administration has provided guidance that it might fall short as soon as June, prognosticators across Wall Street have also been running the numbers based on government cash flows and expectations around taxes and spending. Some strategists have pulled forward their estimates to align more with forecasts out of Washington. Others, meanwhile, are staying with late-summer projections. To be sure, recent cash-flow figures from the Treasury suggest that its even more unclear whether the department will make it until June 15, a key tax payment day. Treasurys latest headroom forecast suggests the low point in the departments overall fiscal resources in the second week of June will still be above zero, but ``much too close for comfort, Wrightson ICAP economist Lou Crandall wrote in a note to clients.

Insuring Against Default

Beyond T-bills, one other key area to watch for insight on debt-ceiling risks is what happens in credit-default swaps for the US government. Those instruments act as insurance for investors in cases of non-payment. The cost to insure US debt is now higher than the bonds of  among others  Greece, Mexico and Brazil, which have defaulted multiple times and have credit ratings many rungs below that of the US.

Related Story: US Default Insurance Cost Eclipses Brazil, Mexico as X-Day Nears

The Cash Balance

The US governments ability to pay its debts and meet its spending obligations ultimately comes down to whether it has enough cash, so the amount sitting in its checking account is crucial. That figure ebbs and flows from day to day depending on spending, tax receipts, debt repayments and the proceeds of new borrowing. And if it gets too close to zero for the Treasurys comfort that could be a problem.

Debt-Ceiling Angst Leaves Gold by Far Best Hideout: MLIV Pulse

Wrangling in Washington

Ultimately though, any fix will need to come from Washington. There arent that many days this month when both chambers of Congress are available and Biden is also scheduled to be in the US capital, meaning there isnt a lot of time to waste to reach a deal before the X-date. Biden, McCarthy and other congressional leaders plan to meet Tuesday to discuss budget negotiations to avoid a default.

Related Story: Budget Talks Inch Forward as Debt Deadline and Biden Trip Near

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg)  US bills that mature in early June are showing ongoing signs of concern about the risk of a government default after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen reiterated to lawmakers that her departments ability to avoid breaching the statutory debt ceiling via special accounting maneuvers could be exhausted around then.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The window for a resolution of the debt-ceiling standoff is clearly narrowing, with the Treasury saying last week that it had run through all but about $88 billion of its authorized extraordinary measures as of last Wednesday. The Treasury has been releasing updates on that figure each Friday for the past couple of weeks, although it did also publish numbers the day after Yellens last letter to Congress. The letter comes a day before another scheduled meeting on the debt cap between President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who said that ongoing talks were yielding little progress.

T-bills maturing after the potential so-called X-date have been trading with a significant yield premium because of concerns about non-payment and continued to do so on Monday, with the most notable dislocations in paper due June. At the same time, the cost of insuring US debt against non-payment has also soared in recent weeks, although the response in some other markets has thus far been more sanguine. That could change if the situation gets more fraught.

We expect the debt showdown to stoke market volatility even if some kind of deal is reached before June, BlackRock Investment Institute analysts wrote in a weekly commentary. Yields for some Treasury bills maturing just after the X-date have already started to rise, but risk assets have yet to fully react. Yields for the affected Treasury bills could march higher, and volatility may keep cycling through assets if the debt ceiling is repeatedly suspended.

Story continues

Writing two weeks after her previous letter to Congressional leaders, Yellen said she would update Congress again next week as more information becomes available. As of now, the point at which the Treasury will run out of so-called extraordinary measures that are helping to keep it within the debt limit could be a number of days or weeks later than early June, she said.

If the so-called X-date is in fact the first week of June, the practical deadline may be as early as May 26, Brian Gardner, chief Washington policy strategist at Stifel Financial, said before the release of Yellens latest missive. Thats because legislators will need time to review the bill before voting and Congress is scheduled to be out of session the week after Memorial Day.

But there are many in financial markets predicting or hoping that some kind of deal will get done, in part because thats whats always happened, even when things have gone down to the wire. Stifels Gardner said the chance of a default on US Treasuries remains remote as the government should be able to prioritize bond payments.

From Washington to Wall Street, heres what to watch to gauge how worried observers should be and when they should be concerned.

The Bills Curve

Investors have historically demanded higher yields on securities that are due to be repaid shortly after the US is seen as running out of borrowing capacity. That puts a lot of focus on the yield curve for bills  the shortest-dated Treasury securities  and any dislocations that show up. Noticeable upward distortions in particular parts of the curve tend to suggest increased concern among investors that thats the time Uncle Sam might be at risk of default. Right now thats most prominent around early June.

Money-market funds made a notable shift toward shorter-maturity Treasury bills in April, according to strategists at JPMorgan Chase & Co. Holdings of bills maturing within 30 days made up 74% of total T-bill holdings at the end of April from 43% at the end of March, according to their analysis. At the same time, bills maturing in more than 60 days declined to 9% of bill holdings from 13% the prior month, while securities in the 31- to 60-day bucket dropped to 17%, from 44%.

X-Date Predictions

Underpinning the various moves in debt markets are differing estimates about when the government might exhaust its options to fund itself  commonly referred to as the X-date. While the administration has provided guidance that it might fall short as soon as June, prognosticators across Wall Street have also been running the numbers based on government cash flows and expectations around taxes and spending. Some strategists have pulled forward their estimates to align more with forecasts out of Washington. Others, meanwhile, are staying with late-summer projections. To be sure, recent cash-flow figures from the Treasury suggest that its even more unclear whether the department will make it until June 15, a key tax payment day. Treasurys latest headroom forecast suggests the low point in the departments overall fiscal resources in the second week of June will still be above zero, but much too close for comfort, Wrightson ICAP economist Lou Crandall wrote in a note to clients.

Insuring Against Default

Beyond T-bills, one other key area to watch for insight on debt-ceiling risks is what happens in credit-default swaps for the US government. Those instruments act as insurance for investors in cases of non-payment. The cost to insure US debt is now higher than the bonds of  among others  Greece, Mexico and Brazil, which have defaulted multiple times and have credit ratings many rungs below that of the US.

Related Story: US Default Insurance Cost Eclipses Brazil, Mexico as X-Day Nears

The Cash Balance

The US governments ability to pay its debts and meet its spending obligations ultimately comes down to whether it has enough cash, so the amount sitting in its checking account is crucial. That figure ebbs and flows from day to day depending on spending, tax receipts, debt repayments and the proceeds of new borrowing. And if it gets too close to zero for the Treasurys comfort that could be a problem.

Debt-Ceiling Angst Leaves Gold by Far Best Hideout: MLIV Pulse

Wrangling in Washington

Ultimately though, any fix will need to come from Washington. There arent that many days this month when both chambers of Congress are available and Biden is also scheduled to be in the US capital, meaning there isnt a lot of time to waste to reach a deal before the X-date. Biden, McCarthy and other congressional leaders plan to meet Tuesday to discuss budget negotiations to avoid a default.

Related Story: Budget Talks Inch Forward as Debt Deadline and Biden Trip Near

(Adds Yellen latest and updates throughout.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- Chinas economy likely grew rapidly in April, though key data this week may obscure how much momentum the recovery is starting to lose.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Bustling shopping centers, open factories and accelerated investment: The worlds second-largest economy looked a lot different last month than it did a year earlier, when stringent Covid Zero controls hampered activity across the country and led Shanghai to lock down.

Official data due Tuesday is expected to show improvement from the prior year for Chinas industrial output, retail sales and fixed-asset investment. But the comparison to 2022 also means those figures will be distorted, leaving several economists turning to month-on-month changes as they search for a more accurate gauge of the economic rebound.

Chinas National Bureau of Statistics is expected to release April economic data Tuesday at 10 a.m. local time. Heres what to watch:

Industrial Output

Industrial production likely spiked in April. Economists polled by Bloomberg expect output to have jumped 10.8% from a year ago, much stronger than Marchs 3.9% expansion.

The month-on-month figures may show a much gloomier picture. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. economists project industrial production declined 1.3% in April from March as steel demand cooled and manufacturing surveys suggested a contraction.

Another way to account for last years low base would be to look at the two-year compound annual growth rate, Citigroup Inc. economists led by Yu Xiangrong wrote in a note earlier this month. They see output increasing 3.8% in April if that method is used, moderating from Marchs 4.4% growth.

Consumer Spending

The biggest headline increase is likely to come from retail sales, which economists forecast skyrocketed 22% in April from the previous year.

Story continues

While Shanghais lockdown helped drive that number higher, consumer spending on services has been strong throughout the recovery so far as people dine out more and travel again.

Spending on goods, however, may have lagged. The property market has shown signs of weakness after a brief pickup earlier this year, curbing demand for products such as furniture and home appliances.

The auto market has also struggled to repeat last years boom as a price war squeezes carmakers, weighing on month-on-month sales. On a monthly basis, the Goldman Sachs economists estimate that overall retail sales growth may have fallen to 0.3% last month from 2.9% in March.

Data published last week underscored concerns about a waning recovery, as consumer prices barely grew in April while new borrowing slumped.

Thats fueled a debate about whether the Peoples Bank of China will ease monetary policy. Some economists argue the central bank has scope to act this year  including cutting its benchmark policy rate  now that the US Federal Reserve seems likely to pause hiking.

Economists expect the PBOC to take a wait-and-see approach for now. On Monday, the central bank kept the borrowing rate on its one-year medium-term lending facility unchanged, though they injected more funds than expected.

Fixed-asset Investment

Fixed-asset investment is forecast to have risen 5.7% in the first four months of the year from the same period in 2022, the Bloomberg survey shows. That would indicate a pickup from the first quarter.

Infrastructure investment likely remained resilient as local governments issued special bonds to help activity, with sales of new notes in April more than doubling from a year ago.

Those bond issuances have been front-loaded toward the beginning of the year, though, meaning government spending on infrastructure may soon let up. More than 40% of this years quota of special local bonds has already been used.

With the services-led recovery well underway, the infrastructure push could start to unwind, the Citigroup economists said in the note.

Manufacturing investment is expected to post robust year-on-year growth thanks to the low base for comparison in 2022, and property investment may have turned slightly less negative, UBS Group AG economists including Wang Tao wrote in a report this month.

Unemployment Rate

The overall urban jobless rate will likely reach 5.3% in April, unchanged from March, according to the Bloomberg poll.

More attention will probably focus on whether theres a further uptick in the youth unemployment rate, which hit 19.6% in March  near a record high.

Beijing is clearly concerned about pressure on the jobs market for young people. At a recent national meeting about the problem, Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang called for greater efforts to help college graduates find jobs or start their own businesses. He asked state-owned enterprises to hire at least as many graduates this year as they did in 2022.

Last month, the State Council, Chinas cabinet, published a detailed plan to promote employment. Measures included providing subsidies to employers that recruit new graduates and young people who are struggling to find work.

--With assistance from James Mayger.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- Three years after leaving WeWork Inc., the companys other founder, Miguel McKelvey, is using some of his earnings to fund an eclectic mix of business interests ranging from sneakers to a social center for seniors. Hes also seeking to parlay a controlling stake in the clothing maker American Giant into an ambitious, if not quixotic, plan to revitalize US manufacturing.

Most Read from Bloomberg

McKelvey paid $10 million last year for a controlling stake in American Giant, a made-in-the-USA apparel brand that became famous in 2012 for creating a sweatshirt called the greatest hoodie ever made. His ownership of the fashion brand, which hasnt been previously reported, is part of a larger vision he has for his post-WeWork life. He said he wants to revitalize American factories and restore them as economic drivers.

In his first interview discussing the American Giant acquisition, McKelvey also described previously unreported plans for a new startup: a social club for members over 55 years old. His vision is to build a network of gathering places for older people, where they can hang out, host and attend events and access services like telemedicine and tech support.

The ventures are clearly pretty different from office space, but each one intersects with McKelveys interests. An architect by trade, McKelvey had been designing retail spaces for American Apparel  a clothing brand that was, until recently, entirely American-made  when he met Adam Neumann. The two started WeWork together in 2010 and quickly fell into complementary roles. McKelvey was the quiet, calmer presence standing behind Neumann, who absorbed much of the spotlight as the companys bombastic chief executive officer.

Story continues

In 2019, after Neumann led WeWork to a failed attempt at an initial public offering and then was ousted as CEO, McKelvey stuck around. A new pair of interim co-CEOs laid off thousands of employees before being replaced by the current chief, Sandeep Mathrani. The best I could do was be there at HQ with people, hang out in the common areas, try to show that theres some steadiness, McKelvey said. But emotionally, it was super tough. The whole time, he said, he was wondering: Whats my role? Who am I supposed to be? It was like a new family moved into my house, he said.

Watch: The Spectacular Rise and Fall of WeWork

By June 2020, he had moved to London and decided to leave WeWork. As he contemplated what to do next, he turned down most reporters requests for interviews. He never really felt that he had anything worth adding, he said, and enjoyed the quiet.

During this period, McKelvey thought about an experience hed had at WeWork, when he toured the factory of a supplier and got a peek inside the employee break room: no windows, depressing and dark, he said. He started thinking about how to improve the work environment for blue-collar people.

His initial goal was to assemble a team that would build a factory. He looked for products that had a high-enough profit margin to justify making them in the US and landed on shoes. Building a factory, he found, was complicated, so he ended up partnering with shoe designers in 2020 to create Proto, a collective led by women and people of color. The first model is mostly manufactured in the US, though some parts are sourced from overseas. It went on sale in April.

In 2021, McKelvey met Bayard Winthrop, the founder of American Giant, who was looking to raise capital. The two men believed in the importance of buying American-made, and Winthrop asked McKelvey if hed be interested in going bigger  not just investing but taking over. McKelvey was intrigued. Hed never been in the commanding seat before. He made his investment last summer and now controls the board; Winthrop called him a kindred spirit.

Winthrop makes the day-to-day decisions at American Giant, but McKelvey helps with strategy and branding. The WeWork co-founder envisions a future in which manufacturing jobs become more desirable careers. As a person whos not inclined to sit in front of a computer for eight or 10 hours a day, I would rather make stuff with my hands, he said. I would rather do that than type code, but obviously the world doesnt reward that in the same way.

Listen to the Podcast: Foundering: The WeWork Story

Though he was excited about American Giant, he still didnt feel like he had found his next thing  until the past few months, when he started working in earnest on his new startup. He describes it as a social club for aging people, and hes the CEO. The project is called Nayah, an ancient word with spiritual connotations, the company said. A handful of employees, many of them ex-WeWork staff, are helping build it, and he hasnt brought in any outside investors.

For Nayah, hes imagining a network of commercial real estate locations where members aged roughly 55 to 75 can gather. McKelvey, 48, is designing a product for a demographic he doesnt belong to  though the Gen Xer did something similar for millennials with WeWork.

McKelvey has been brainstorming ways to design restaurants and other spaces with lighting, sound levels and mobility options catered to seniors. I like to build spaces that are good for people, he said. McKelvey and his team hope to open their first space this year and have begun scouting locations. They have even looked at some former WeWork buildings that are vacant.

It was like a new family moved into my house

Echoes of WeWork remain on his mind. The co-working company was roundly criticized for over-spending and growing too quickly when he and Neumann were in charge. McKelvey insists that WeWorks product  office space  was firmly good. People like being in them. Theyre productive and happy, he said. He believes his new spaces can have the same effect. He plans to open a handful of locations in the next couple of years, though he dreams of opening more spaces faster, because people would be happy, and happiness is good.

He acknowledged that WeWork sometimes pushed hustle culture too hard and accepts some responsibility for it. I loved that vibe of stay-up-all-night-to-do-a-project, he said. While at WeWork, he lacked a full understanding of people who didnt share his zeal. He said his perspective has since changed as he reflects more on parenthood  he has a 13-year-old son  and wants more balance. For us to build a company that will last for a long time, were going to be different than we were at WeWork, he said.

In an interview Monday on Bloomberg TV, McKelvey said, when asked if he would ever work with Neumann again, it doesnt make sense for us right now. Neumann is the top dog and a leader, McKelvey said. For me, I want to learn how to be in that position.

Speaking of WeWork, McKelvey said he watched a couple episodes of the television drama WeCrashed. He recounted a conversation with Jared Leto, the actor who played Neumann. Leto had kind things to say about WeWork, and McKelvey expressed gratitude. Leto said he had simply made a show; McKelvey had lived the events worth making a show about. That was the gift of the show, he said. The fact that they made a show about us, however you want to look at it, we did something meaningful.

(Updates with Bloomberg TV interview in the penultimate paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- A US watchdog found that $10 million in World Bank borrower funds were awarded to contractors with possible links to Huawei Technologies Co., exposing a rift between Washingtons national security priorities and the policies of the global development lender, where the US is the largest shareholder.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The deals were identified in a Government Accountability Office report last week requested by Republican senators, aimed at determining how many contracts went to American firms, as well as those on US sanctions lists.

Read more: China Got Lions Share of World Bank Contracts, US Agency Finds

The US has targeted Chinese telecommunications leader Huawei over concerns that its equipment may be used to spy for the government of President Xi Jinping, an allegation the company rejects. Washington and many allies have banned the use of Huaweis network equipment on national security grounds, and the US Commerce Department also severely limited the ability of American companies to sell it technology since 2019.

Meanwhile, the World Bank only prohibits firms from bidding on borrower contracts if theyre under United Nations sanctions or banned for anti-corruption reasons.

The tension shows what is clearly a more aggressive, further-reaching regime of sanctions on the US part, and how that collides with activities of these global institutions, said Scott Morris, a former US Treasury official now at the Center for Global Development.

Huawei representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The report potentially raises questions for President Joe Bidens pick to lead the bank, Ajay Banga. Hes set to take over from David Malpass, who was nominated by former President Donald Trump and is due to step down next month. The US is the World Banks largest source of funds, and every president since its creation after World War II has been American.

Story continues

The Biden administration has continued Trumps hard line on Chinese tech and national security issues, among a handful of factors straining relations between the two powers.

Why would we be OK with US money going to Huawei via a World Bank contract when we and many other countries have restricted business with Huawei over serious security concerns? said Senator Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican who requested the report along with Bill Hagerty of Tennessee and Tom Cotton of Arkansas. The administration needs to have a strategy to leverage US influence in the World Bank to protect American interests.

The GAO report found 28 contracts worth $76 million awarded to entities that may be on US sanctions lists, including 12 Chinese businesses.

The US Treasury Department, which represents the US at the World Bank, told the GAO that its not responsible for monitoring individual borrower contract awards. The department declined to comment.

To be sure, funds suspected of going to Huawei entities are a fraction of the 150,000 contracts worth $80 billion awarded from 2013 to 2021 that were analyzed by the GAO.

Additionally, the GAO said its analysis couldnt definitively say if the contractors are on US sanctions lists. Our analysis provides an indication that a contract was awarded to an entity that may have been on a US list, but cannot confirm it, it said.

The larger of the two contracts, which went to Huawei Consortium for $9.9 million, was for a regional government project in eastern and southern Africa in May 2020. The other, which went to Huawei International Co. for about $61,000 for software maintenance and services in Rwanda, was awarded that October, the GAO said.

China and the World Bank compete to build infrastructure projects in developing countries, particularly since Beijing launched its Belt and Road Initiative in 2013. Boston Universitys Global Development Policy Center earlier this year found that Chinas top two development banks made more than 1,000 overseas commitments from 2008 to 2021 totaling almost $500 billion  equal to about 83% of the World Banks sovereign lending during the same period.

--With assistance from Nick Wadhams.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Key Insights

Significant control over Xero by retail investors implies that the general public has more power to influence management and governance-related decisions

The top 25 shareholders own 38% of the company

Insider ownership in Xero is 10%

To get a sense of who is truly in control of Xero Limited (ASX:XRO), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 59% to be precise, is retail investors. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Institutions, on the other hand, account for 31% of the company's stockholders. Institutions will often hold stock in bigger companies, and we expect to see insiders owning a noticeable percentage of the smaller ones.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Xero.

Check out our latest analysis for Xero

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Xero?

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.

We can see that Xero does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. 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 Xero'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 Xero. Because actions speak louder than words, we consider it a good sign when insiders own a significant stake in a company. In Xero's case, its Top Key Executive, Rod Drury, is the largest shareholder, holding 6.6% of shares outstanding. With 6.0% and 5.1% of the shares outstanding respectively, Pinnacle Fund Services Limited and Hyperion Asset Management Limited are the second and third largest shareholders.

Story continues

Our studies suggest that the top 25 shareholders collectively control less than half of the company's shares, meaning that the company's shares are widely disseminated and there is no dominant shareholder.

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 Xero

The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

Our information suggests that insiders maintain a significant holding in Xero Limited. It is very interesting to see that insiders have a meaningful AU$1.4b stake in this AU$14b business. Most would be pleased to see the board is investing alongside them. You may wish to access this free chart showing recent trading by insiders.

General Public Ownership

The general public -- including retail investors -- own 59% of Xero. This level of ownership gives investors from the wider public some power to sway key policy decisions such as board composition, executive compensation, and the dividend payout ratio.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important.

I always like to check for a history of revenue growth. You can too, by accessing this free chart of historic revenue and earnings in this detailed graph.

If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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(Bloomberg) -- Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that the US is already paying a price for its failure to raise the federal debt limit, as talks between the White House and lawmakers from both parties continued into a second week.

Most Read from Bloomberg

We have already seen Treasurys borrowing costs increase substantially for securities maturing in early June, Yellen said in a letter to congressional leaders Monday. Thats the time period by when the Treasury risks running out of sufficient cash for all federal obligations.

The Treasury released the letter hours after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said, We are nowhere near reaching a conclusion in the talks to raise the debt ceiling. Republicans are insisting on sweeping spending cuts as a condition for the bill. Democrats are proposing other fiscal-tightening steps that the GOP rejects, while insisting that budget measures be kept separate.

McCarthy emphasized that staff-level meetings are not productive at all, a day before hes expected to join other congressional leaders in another meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House.

Neither McCarthy nor the White House was able to provide a time for the session, which will be the second session for Biden and congressional leaders this month and comes after aides met last week and through the weekend.

Yellen stuck with her warning that the Treasury could run out of cash as soon as June 1. The department has been deploying special accounting measures since January to stay within the $31.4 trillion statutory ceiling.

We still estimate that Treasury will likely no longer be able to satisfy all of the governments obligations if Congress has not acted to raise or suspend the debt limit by early June, and potentially as early as June 1, Yellen said in the letter.

Story continues

There was little immediate reaction in financial markets to the news, which came out after the close of stock trading on Wall Street. Treasury bills maturing in early June continued to trade at a discount to other securities.

Yellen added that she would update Congress again next week as more information becomes available. As of now, the date by when the Treasury will exhaust its special accounting maneuvers could be a number of days or weeks later than early June, she said.

The two sides have been sending mixed signals. Biden said Sunday that he was optimistic a deal could be reached, while McCarthy spent Monday downplaying the odds of success. People familiar with the meetings have said that the White House has pushed to exclude elements of the bill passed by House Republicans last month  including eliminating the presidents program to forgive some student loans, as well as signature legislative accomplishments  from discussions.

Republicans rejected a Democratic proposal that would seek to raise revenue - and decrease future deficits - by altering a dozen provisions of the tax code, including a loophole that allows investors in cryptocurrency to claim losses on assets that they then purchase. Democrats also proposed eliminating a loophole that allows large real estate investors to effectively receive interest-free financing from the government.

Those tax offerings, which were part of Bidens budget proposal earlier this year, were first reported by the Washington Post. The White House offered to bring Republicans additional proposals but were told that the GOP would not consider any effort to raise taxes, according to the people familiar.

Last week, Representative Dusty Johnson, one of the authors of the House bill, said the GOP has three red lines: no clean debt increase, no tax increase, and the bill must reduce the deficit.

Funding Clawback

But the two sides are negotiating around possible spending caps in future years, changes to energy permits and a GOP-led bid to claw back $65 billion in unspent pandemic funds.

A key topic of dispute in the negotiations is expanding work requirements for anti-poverty government benefits, both McCarthy and Biden have said.

I just dont see the movement, McCarthy said. It seems as though they wanted to have meetings to say they had meetings. Not to really find a solution.

Biden is scheduled to depart Wednesday for a trip to Japan, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. White House officials said Monday that those plans have not changed despite the ongoing debt talks.

Asked whether the president should go abroad at this point, McCarthy said, I think an American president should focus on the solutions for America. I think it shows your values and priorities.

--With assistance from Christopher Condon.

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The Silber Family and venue operator OVG360 recently announced changes at the Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center, according to a news release. The center's new name is the Fredericksburg Convention Center. There will also be renovations made to the building, including upgrades to flooring and restrooms, new carpeting throughout the ballroom and conference rooms, as well as an exterior facelift. The renovations are expected to be completed by early September, the release states. The Fredericksburg City Council and Fredericksburg Economic Development Authority agreed to provide over the next five years a combined $750,000, which comprises $500,000 from the city and $250,000 in the form of a loan from the EDA to assist the Silber Family and OVG360 to repurpose the venue, according to the release.
California may be a Democratic stronghold, but it has also become a hotbed of right-wing, white supremacist and antisemitic activity, according to a new report from the Anti-Defamation League.

The ADL report, which looks at incidents in 2021 and 2022, found significant increases in white supremacist and antisemitic incidents, including collaboration between the two groups. Among the extremist organizations continuing to operate openly in the Golden State are the Proud Boys and the Rise Above Movement, a white supremacist group based in Southern California.

The state is home to the countrys highest number of extremist-related murders and plots and has seen numerous incidents of political violence, the report noted.

That includes six extremist-related murders and a terrorist plot by two men affiliated with the Three Percenters, a militia group.

According to the report, antisemitic incidents rose from 367 to 518 in 2021 and 2022. These included assaults, threats and vandalism of synagogues and other Jewish institutions. The rise follows a national trend, with incidents up 36% to 3,697 in 2022, the ADL said.

Instances of white supremacist propaganda in California grew from 155 to 296, and white supremacist incidents increased from five to 15.

The ADL found that California had its highest number of antisemitic incidents since reporting began in 1979. It trails only New York for most in the country.

The report cites numerous incidents of extremist activity in the Sacramento area.

At a March rally against gender-affirming medical care, the NorCal Active Club, a white supremacist fitness and mixed martial arts organization, clashed with counter-protesters in Sacramento.

The White Lives Matter Network protested a June 2022 family-friendly LGBTQ pride event at the Sacramento Childrens Museum in Rancho Cordova, displaying a banner reading Groomers are not welcome in California.

The rise of QAnon has also been a notable driver of violence in California over the last two years, according to the report.

QAnon is a far right political movement that believes that the government is controlled by Satan-worshiping pedophiles.

The report cites multiple QAnon-related events, including the attack on Paul Pelosi, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband, by suspected assailant David DePape, a QAnon adherent.

As for the Proud Boys, the report cites multiple incidents, including a demonstration and brawl at a UC Davis event in October 2022. In addition, Proud Boy Jeffrey Perrine who was expelled from the Sacramento GOP, made several attempted runs for public office.

The Proud Boys have focused their attention against the LGBTQ community, including protesting at drag queen story hours.

Transphobia has been a part of the groups ideology since its founding and California chapters have regularly conducted anti-LGBTQ+ activity, the report notes.

In March 2023 incident Perrine disrupted a Roseville Joint Union School District board meeting to spout anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and encourage people to join him in visiting the home of a local pastor and founder of an LGBTQ youth organization who was the target of a Project Veritas video.

The report makes several recommendations for California policymakers.

It asks Gov. Gavin Newsom to convene a United We Stand summit to address hate-fueled violence and calls on state officials to undertake efforts to counter domestic terrorism. It also urges implementation of a new state law requiring greater transparency on social media content moderation policies..

Finally, the report endorses Assembly Constitutional Amendment 4, which would restore voting rights to people incarcerated for felony offenses, and Senate Bill 85, which would extend the number of days refugees and asylym-seekers are eligible for case management services.

Protecting the rights of all people in California, including those who are vulnerable or historically marginalized, such as refugees and the disenfranchised, is crucial for countering discrimination and bias, the report reads.

States with the most active hate groups Where hate groups are most active #51. Washington D.C. #50. New Mexico #49. Utah #48. Iowa #47. New Jersey #46. Kansas #45. Alaska #44. Minnesota #43. California #42. Ohio #41. Texas #40. New York #39. Maryland #38. Michigan #37. Illinois #36. Connecticut #35. Kentucky #34. Massachusetts #33. Wisconsin #32. Indiana #31. Georgia #30. Oklahoma #29. Pennsylvania #28. Virginia #27. Oregon #26. Florida #25. Washington #24. Alabama #23. North Dakota #22. North Carolina #21. Mississippi #20. Rhode Island #19. Missouri #18. Hawaii #17. Nevada #16. Maine #15. Arkansas #14. Arizona #13. Colorado #12. Vermont #11. Idaho #10. Louisiana #9. South Carolina #8. West Virginia #7. Wyoming #6. Montana #5. Delaware #4. Tennessee #3. New Hampshire #2. South Dakota #1. Nebraska
State Sen. Merv Riepe of Omaha discusses his amendment for Legislative Bill 626 that would've shifted it from cardiac activity to a 12-week ban. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  Last month, State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston was the reason the Nebraska Legislature fell a single vote short of outlawing abortions after an ultrasound detects embryonic cardiac activity, typically at about six weeks gestation.

But Riepes new deal with his conservative colleagues, which contains a stricter ban than he proposed, could spur the bans passage Tuesday. The new proposed cutoff would be two weeks sooner than Riepes because it would be tied to gestation rather than fertilization.

State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair introduced the amendment May 8. The amendment would also restrict certain gender-affirming health care for trans minors.

Perfect, no, Riepe said in an interview. Better, yes. I feel that the 12-week will serve the state well, and we will have some more protection for the unborn. It will recognize and respect womens rights to reproductive services. And it will also hopefully avoid some legal complications.

We cant fight forever.

Seeking a stricter ban that can pass

Gov. Jim Pillen and other abortion ban supporters have spent the past two weeks pressing state lawmakers for a new proposal that Riepe, State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont and other lawmakers who could potentially be a 33rd voter to support ending an expected filibuster and passing the bill, political observers said.

Those backing abortion restrictions have been balancing a group of conservatives and moderates who are more divided on abortion than they say. Some want a total ban. Others are OK with the states current 20-week limit. One conservative senator said it was like juggling six balls, some on fire and others covered in slime.

Riepe led a quiet group that has described the cardiac ban as too strict for most Nebraskans, saying many women wouldnt know they were pregnant, let alone have time to decide what to do.

On the other side are conservatives who preferred LB 626, which contained the ban based on fetal cardiac activity, or an outright abortion ban. Several wanted to deny Riepe a victory after he effectively killed LB 626, so they demanded changes to the timing and exceptions in Riepes proposal, making the proposed ban stricter and the decision-making time shorter.

The result: Hansens proposal that would tie the ban to 12 weeks gestational age, from the first day of a mothers last period. Riepes proposed ban had set it 12 weeks from fertilization, much like the states current 20-week abortion ban.

A different, shorter 12-week ban

Hansens amendment would effectively ban abortions at 9 to 10 weeks after fertilization, which would outlaw more abortions than Riepes proposal. Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services statistics show about 120 abortions a year occur between the 12th and 14th week of gestation.

Hansens amendment also left out Riepes exception for fetal anomalies, which would have allowed abortions beyond 12 weeks for mothers facing fetal abnormalities. Doctors have said patients often dont learn about those challenges until 18 to 20 weeks into a pregnancy.

This would mean fewer choices for parents who discover that a developing fetus might be incompatible with life outside the womb, doctors said. Such conditions include fetuses developing without lungs or brains. They also include fetuses developing with severe disabilities, including Down syndrome.

Hansen said he and other conservatives do not believe that someone should be able to end a life because it is unlikely to live long  or at all  after being born. He said the time mothers get with even stillborn babies is precious and said medical providers sometimes make mistakes about which fetuses will survive.

Riepe made a deal, Walz not yet on board

Riepe confirmed he agreed to forego the fetal anomaly language to get to 12 weeks, even in a stricter version.

Walz said she has concerns about the new proposal if it does not make an exception for fatal fetal anomalies. Hansen said he and others might be willing to consider a more narrowly tailored exception in a year or two, if its absence proves problematic.

State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, one of the Democratic senators opposing a stricter abortion ban, said state law should recognize that every pregnancy is different and that women need time and space to make decisions with the best available information.

She said thats why she appreciated the thought Riepe put into his earlier amendment to LB 626, which didnt get a serious vote. She was less pleased with the language Hansen has proposed amending into Legislative Bill 574.

By having an abortion ban that is actually not a 12-week abortion ban but is actually more like a 9 or 10 week  by moving that back and having no exceptions for fetal anomalies, you have really created a tragic circumstance for some of the most heart-wrenching medical issues that face families with very, very wanted pregnancies, Conrad said.

Doctors who prefer clarity troubled by proposal

Doctors who support abortion rights have argued that it is cruel to force women to carry a baby to full term, knowing it cannot survive. They said state government has no business in the exam room on the most difficult day of a womans life.

The thing that is heartbreaking about this is ultimately we are really punishing a group of people, women who have desired pregnancies, said Dr. Emily Patel, an Omaha fetal medicine specialist who opposed a stricter abortion ban. You can never know what is best for that patient  unless you are in that situation.

Dr. Neil Hamill, a maternal and fetal medicine specialist in Omaha and Fremont, said he worries more doctors will turn to lawyers first for approval of medical care they think might be best for a patient, which could slow down decisions and add to the risks pregnant women face.

The narrative that this will help clarify the situation is incorrect, Hamill said of the Legislature considering passing a 12-week ban without an exception for fetal anomalies. If anything, this will make determining a medical emergency harder.

Others like ban proposal leaving room for doctor to be wrong

Dr. Robert Bonebrake, an Omaha-area fetal medicine specialist who supported a stricter abortion ban, said he has seen people facing fetal anomalies make the choice to abort and the choice to carry the fetus to term. In his 25 to 30 years, he said he has seen no parent regret carrying to term a child that might not make it out of the womb alive.

Today, the options for parents facing fetal anomalies include abortion or the option to continue the pregnancy with regular prenatal follow-ups. There are hospice or palliative care options for mothers giving birth to a baby likely to die, doctors said.

Although its incredibly difficult, it allows for recognizing the dignity of both the woman and the unborn child, Bonebrake said.

Tom Venzor of the Nebraska Catholic Conference and Nate Grasz of the Nebraska Family Alliance, groups that backed the stricter abortion ban in LB 626, said challenging pregnancies deserve to be protected and valued.

As Pope John Paul II said, a society will be judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members, Venzor said. Preborn babies who receive a terminal diagnosis are among the most vulnerable in our communities.

Abortion-rights advocates oppose Hansen amendment

Andi Curry Grubb of Planned Parenthood of Nebraska said politicians should not be making such deeply personal decisions for patients and their doctors. Planned Parenthood and ACLU Nebraska questioned the legality of the shorter process the Legislature is taking to adopt a ban.

The goal is to take away peoples power over their lives and their futures, and we wont let it happen, Curry Grubb said.

Riepe told the Nebraska Examiner that if all sides of the abortion debate end up slightly disappointed with where things end up, then it was probably a solid negotiation.

Thats how its supposed to be, he said. Neither side gets all of what they wanted.

Nebraska Examiner intern Zach Wendling contributed to this report.
Boecore, a space and missile defense company formed and headquartered in Colorado Springs, plugged another company into its network with the acquisition of California-based cybersecurity firm La Jolla Logic earlier this month.

La Jolla Logic, which provides cybersecurity support to customers such as the military, particularly the U.S. Navy, Space Force and other Department of Defense organizations, is one of Boecore's several acquisitions during the past 12 months as the company strives to offer a holistic range of tools and services in the realm of space and missile defense, Boecore President Tom Dickson said in a company news release last week.

We are mostly space and missile defense, but cybersecurity is required for all of these systems to operate safely, Dickson said. So having that technology coupled with this, will help our space and missile defense systems.

Boecore, which is backed by parent company Enlightenment Capital in Washington, D.C.'s suburbs, declined to disclose the deal's terms.

La Jolla Logic's cybersecurity expertise includes artificial intelligence capabilities, according to the release. La Jolla Logic is also an auditor for Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, a cybersecurity standard the Pentagon requires of contractors, Dickson said.

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Rated as one of San Diegos Best Places to Work by the San Diego Business Journal, La Jolla Logic will stay in California, adding approximately 65 employees to Boecores total workforce of roughly 400.

The companys CEO and founder Stacey Anfuso will remain on board as a consultant and Karina Arushanyan, the company's vice president, will oversee Boecore's La Jolla Logic subsidiary.

Boecore aligns perfectly with the mission, capabilities, and people of La Jolla Logic, Anfuso said in the release. Both organizations have a long history of delivering mission-critical software engineering solutions to space and defense customers.

Other recent Boecore acquisitions included Maryland-based software provider Orbit Logic and local satellite and communications firm Ascension Engineering Group.
U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse led a package of 49 bills designed to help address wildfires and droughts throughout the country that won approval by the House on Friday and now goes to the U.S. Senate.

Neguse, D-Lafayette, on Thursday unveiled the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act, which combines dozens of previously introduced bills, including bills to increase firefighter pay to at least $20 per hour, fund $500 million in preservation of reservoirs and provide various assistance to victims of wildfires and droughts.

We need to apply a whole-of-government approach to recovery, Neguse said. Across America, the impacts of climate change continue to worsen. In this new normal, historic drought and record-setting wildfires have become all too common. What once were fire season, are now fire years.

The package also includes several of Neguses own bills, such as the Wildfire Recovery Act to increase resources for communities rebuilding after wildfires; the Wildfire Smoke Relief Act to provide federal emergency assistance to at-risk people suffering from unhealthy air quality from wildfire smoke; and, the Land Restoration and Resiliency Act to fund projects to protect against climate change.

The policy package comes as Colorado has suffered increasingly devastating wildfires in recent years. In December, the Marshall fire  the most destructive wildfire in state history  tore through more than 1,000 homes in Boulder County. The three largest wildfires in Colorado history all occurred in 2020.

The legislation was approved, 218-199, as firefighters in California battled a blaze that forced evacuation of thousands of people near Yosemite National Park and crews in North Texas sought to contain another fire.

One Republican, Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, voted for the bill, while Oregon Rep. Kurt Schrader was the only Democrat to oppose it.

The bill now goes to the Senate, where Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has sponsored a similar measure.

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During Thursdays press conference promoting the package, Neguse was backed by nearly a dozen Democratic members of Congress, mostly from other Western states that are also struggling with wildfires.

States mull unpleasant options as feds demand huge cuts on Colorado River

I share the sorrow and the pain of having watched our communities homes and livelihoods go up in flames, and the deaths that occur from that, said U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M. The bill is like a gentle monsoon rain falling on our parched landscape. It brings both hope and solutions.

New Mexico is currently experiencing its largest wildfire in state history  the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak fire  which has burned more than 340,000 acres so far. Multiple California representatives also spoke in favor of the bill, saying seven of the states worst fires in history occurred in the past four years, and 53,000 acres have already burned this year.

Supporters of the package emphasized that, though the West is disproportionately affected by wildfires and droughts, all states suffer, especially due to wildfire smoke harming air quality nationwide.

We are one nation, indivisible, and if one part of us is burning, we are all burning, U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said. Climate challenge is a crisis, and unfortunately, there are too many in the Congress of the United States on the other side of the aisle who dismiss it as the critical problem that it is.

Neguse said most of the 49 bills included in the package are bipartisan, giving him hope that Republicans will support the package. However, his optimism is cautious, calling the U.S. Senate a place where good ideas go to die.
U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, along with several House colleagues, is urging Congress to raise the pay for federal wildland firefighters as they battle tinder-dry conditions across the country, particularly in the West.

In Colorado, experts say the conditions have cranked up April's fire risk to what the state would normally see in the summer.

In a letter to U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree of Maine and Dave Joyce of Ohio, Neguse noted that federal firefighters are broadly classified as a forestry technician," in which the entry level pay often starts at $13.45 an hour. Neguse said they should be getting at least $20 per hour.

Pingree chairs the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee and Joyce is a ranking member. The subcommittee is preparing the fiscal year 2023 budget for agencies under its purview.

"Our federal firefighters answer the call of duty, leaving behind their lives and families for months at a time, working an average of 16-hour daily shifts, sleeping in the dirt, with incredibly limited time off to reset and reconnect with loved ones," Neguse said in a letter also signed by Tom O'Halleran of Arizona, Katie Porter and Ro Khanna of California, Peter DeFazio of Oregon and Teresa Leger Fernandez of New Mexico.

"Our federal firefighting workforce is severely undercompensated for these sacrifices and their ongoing service," they added.
A national organization that promotes bipartisanship named U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse as one of its 2022 Legislative Action Award winners Wednesday night in Washington, D.C.

The Lafayette Democrat was one of six members of Congress honored by the Bipartisan Policy Center for working across party lines at a ceremony at the International Spy Museum.

Our country is divided, but it is not ungovernable, said Jason Grumet, the think tank's president, in a statement. The recipients of BPCs 2022 Legislative Action Awards have demonstrated the courage, creativity, and determination required to make progress in this challenging and polarized environment. We are proud to acknowledge these six legislators who have demonstrated the leadership required to get things done for the American people.

The other lawmakers honored by the center are U.S. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, a Nevada Democrat, and Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican; U.S. Reps. Young Kim, a California Republican, Guy Reschenthaler, a Pennsylvania Republican, and Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat.

The center also handed its inaugural Freedom Award for outstanding journalism to veteran PBS anchor Judy Woodruff.

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Last year, the nonpartisan Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University ranked Neguse as the most bipartisan member of Colorado's House delegation for his legislative record in the previous Congress.

Neguse said he is humbled by the award.

Ive long believed we must work to turn down the temperature in our politics and work across party lines to deliver tangible results for the American people," he told Colorado Politics in a written statement.

"Our office has sought to do that through our work on the Bipartisan Wildfire Caucus, in order to advance common-sense, science-led solutions to invest in our forests and equip our firefighters, and through our work to expand opportunities for small businesses, safeguard competition in the marketplace, and support our nations veterans. I believe our willingness to work with others in good-faith has helped secure victories for our communities, and Im committed to continuing to do so.

According to Neguse's office, the lawmaker has introduced 29 bills with bipartisan sponsorship in the 117th Congress, which spans 2021 and 2022. Nine of his bills have been signed into law this term, with two more that have passed both chambers awaiting the president's signature.
Tuesday is the last day voters in Colorado Springs can return their ballots for the mayoral runoff election between candidates Wayne Williams and Yemi Mobolade.

Data from the City Clerk's Office show as of Saturday 28.6%, or 89,712, of the city's 313,696 active registered voters had returned their ballots, compared with 82,404 ballots returned at the same point in May 2015, the last time the city held a runoff election and voters elected outgoing Mayor John Suthers to his first term.

Suthers was resoundingly reelected in the city's regular election in 2019, so no runoff was held that year. He leaves office June 6 after serving eight years as mayor.

City clerk's data as of Saturday show voters in District 1, the city's northwest area, have cast the most ballots to date for Tuesday's runoff election at 19,510. Residents in District 2 (north) have returned 17,788 ballots; District 3 (southwest), 16,407; and District 5 (central), 15,546. District 6 (east) voters have returned 14,405 ballots and District 4 (southeast) voters have returned the fewest, at 6,056 so far.

Last week City Clerk Sarah Johnson told The Gazette she expects the runoff election to draw a turnout between 40% and 50%, based on current numbers. More voters have returned their ballots for the May 16 election than at the same point ahead of the April 4 regular election, when about 18.1% of voters had returned their ballots, clerk's data show.

Johnson previously said while her office has no way to know how many ballots it will receive on Election Day, officials "expect to receive a large number of ballots" that day.

On Tuesday, voters will choose between Williams, a former Colorado Springs councilman who previously served as an El Paso County commissioner, El Paso County clerk and recorder and Colorado secretary of state, and Mobolade, a political newcomer and entrepreneur who previously worked as the city's Small Business Development administrator.

The candidate who earns a majority of votes in the runoff, or more than 50% of votes cast, will be named mayor. He will be the third strong mayor in Colorado Springs history, acting as the city's full-time chief executive with the power to enforce laws and ordinances, create a strategic plan for the city and submit to the City Council an annual budget.

People who still have not cast their votes for this year's runoff can return their ballots to the City Clerk's Office in the City Administration Building at 30 S. Nevada Ave., Suite 101, or at a 24/7 ballot drop box by 7 p.m. Tuesday. It is too late to return ballots by mail and postmarks will not count.

Residents who need a replacement ballot or other services can visit the City Clerk's Office, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

A full list of ballot drop box locations is on the city's website at coloradosprings.gov/voterinfo.

Voters can also call 719-385-5901 with questions about the election.
When the Space Force was established in late 2019, more than 1,000 Air National Guard members focused on space missions were left behind. A debate about their future is still raging, leaving the airmen in limbo some three years later.

Lawmakers are debating a new Space National Guard that could leave the 16 space-focused guard units, including seven in Colorado, in place. They've come to be known as "orphan units," left behind in an Air Force that is no longer technically responsible for training or equipping them.

The Space Force could also start a new model backed by Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations, that would allow active duty guardians to work part time and hold civilian jobs. In an October 2022 policy statement the Biden administration said it supported transitioning the guard missions into the active Space Force to avoid the cost of a Space National Guard, a contested number.

While Congress weighs options, Colorado airmen don't have clarity to plan their lives.

"If there is no Space National Guard, our world is going to change," said Maj. Matt Friedell, director of operations for the 138th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron at Peterson Space Force Base.

The squadron of about 100 people selectively deny enemy communications in the field by jamming satellites, an in-demand capability, he said. The unit also establishes satellite communications.

The work could be reassigned to active-duty Space Force members and the National Guardsmen could transition as well if a Space National Guard is not established. But the transition could be expensive, time-consuming and leaving the guard for an active-duty position may not appeal to many, said Col. Stephanie Figueroa, who oversees the 138th and other space-focused missions in Colorado as part of the 233rd Space Group.

She expects it would take five to seven years to transition all the Guard missions to the active-duty forces and in the process the expertise of guardsmen who also work in industry at aerospace companies such as Ball Aerospace and Lockheed Martin would be lost. She expects very few guardsmen would transfer back into active duty.

"You will get some that will go over.  Not as many as they think or need," she said.

At the same time, demand for the 138th Squadron's ability to interrupt communications is high and those services may have to be expanded to meet the needs of combatant commanders, she said. Combatant commanders call on service members from all branches to counter threats.

In the cold rain and wind Thursday, the 138th and Air National Guard members from Mississippi used a forklift to push a large collapsible satellite antenna into a hulking C-17 Globemaster III. About 20 guardsmen were headed for Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, along with all their gear loaded on pallets for training with other electromagnetic warfare squadrons from California, Hawaii and Florida. Another unit focused on missile warning from Alaska planned to attend, as well, Friedell said.

The entire trip provides training, he said, right down to the details of putting ramps in place to get satellite antennas onto the plane.

Training for travel is key, because the squadron has been deploying more often than the typical 18- to 24-month cycle, because satellite jamming services are in need. He expects 17 guardsmen to go to Africa in the fall, the third deployment for the squadron since its creation in 2019.

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If the unit's duties transitioned to the active Space Force, the unit probably would have to train its replacements and could potentially receive a new mission, such as cyber communications, Friedell said.

Leaving units in place under a Space National Guard would maintain a system that is working, he said.

For decision-makers, a key sticking point is cost.

A Congressional Budget Office analysis found that a new Space National Guard just for the existing units probably would need $100 million annually to support administrative overhead. In addition to $20 million for additional facilities. A larger Space National Guard, between 3,400 and 4,300 people, could cost $385 million-$490 million a year, the CBO estimated. The current Space Force is about 8,000 people.

The adjutants general who oversee the National Guards in each state pushed back on the estimates in an open letter in March, citing an estimate by the National Guard Bureau that expected $250,000 could cover heraldry, uniform items and the transfer of existing manpower and resources from existing units to a new Space National Guard.

The letter also noted that a Space National Guard has bipartisan support.

In May, Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, and Rep. Jason Crow, D-Aurora, co-sponsored the latest House bill to create a Space National Guard.

I am encouraged to see more momentum and support from national defense leaders this year as we restart this conversation," Lamborn said in a statement.

Saltzman, a key player in the conversation, urged action in recent congressional testimony, saying Space Force could leave the space-focused missions in the Air National Guard, but that would be "the most untenable position."

He asked senators to consider the proposal to create part-time guardians in the Space Force that could hold civilian jobs and work as part of the active-duty force. While it sounds similar to a National Guard model, it is more integrated. It would allow members to transfer to full time more easily and retain talent within Space Force, he said.

It's an option that would sever the community ties that the Guard builds, when they jump in to help with wildfires, floods and other emergencies, Friedell said.

"Its such a good feeling that if something goes bad, we go help immediately," he said.

Maj. Tanya N. Downsworth, with the secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, said in a written statement if the Space Force pursued the model Saltzman is promoting, "additional structure options" could also be examined.
The Colorado Supreme Court on Monday censured an ex-trial judge from Summit County who, days after returning from suspension  which the Supreme Court previously ordered for his judicial and criminal misconduct  threatened to put two attorneys in jail and promised to humiliate them in front of 80 jurors for missing a deadline.

Former District Court Judge Mark D. Thompson resigned in January in the face of disciplinary proceedings. The Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline recommended the Supreme Court censure Thompson for a second time, after Thompson agreed he violated multiple tenets of judicial conduct.

In an unsigned May 15 order, the Supreme Court approved the censure. Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright and Justice Carlos A. Samour Jr. did not participate.

The highly unusual second censure of Thompson came nine months after the Supreme Court ordered him suspended for 30 days without pay. The decision came subsequent to Thompson pleading guilty to a misdemeanor, stemming from a domestic incident where he allegedly threatened his stepson with a semiautomatic rifle. The presiding judge in charge of attorney discipline separately placed Thompson on probation for year while he took "anger management treatment" as part of the criminal case.

A mere two days after returning from his suspension, Thompson held a telephonic hearing in a civil lawsuit in which the plaintiff injured himself on the defendant's property. The defendant died over the summer and Thompson ordered the parties to file certain paperwork for the trial, which was scheduled in late November.

At the Nov. 15 hearing, Thompson asked the parties for an update, but quickly grew hostile. Summit Daily News obtained and posted audio of Thompson castigating the lawyers.

"My order specifically says do stuff on time or there will be sanctions," he said. "I don't issue these orders so they can be ignored. And both of you have ignored them."

The lawyer for the plaintiff, William R. Falcone, said he "was not aware of the process" when a party to the case dies.

"Open a book," Thompson shot back. Of the defendant's attorney, Christopher J. Metcalfe, the judge said he had not "done squat either."

He then berated both men for "neglect of the highest order." Thompson said he would turn them in to attorney regulators and was dismissing the case for "gross failure to satisfy even any part of this court's order."

Thompson vowed he was "not taking the blame for this" and ordered Falcone and Metcalfe to show up for trial, with the summoned jurors, and explain why the lawyers were at fault for inconveniencing them.

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"You know, maybe what I should do is make you all come in here and get in front of the 80 people that are going to show up next Tuesday and explain to you  to them, why they're here and you're not ready for trial," Thompson said. "That would be terrific. And then I can send them all home. Maybe that's an even better idea."

"I certainly am not happy about that and I don't want to inconvenience them," Falcone replied.

"Why do I have to tell them that? It's not my fault," snapped Thompson. "You're going to tell them what your names are and how proud of yourselves that you are for inconveniencing them. That's what you're going to do. And it's going to be really crummy and uncomfortable for both of you."

The judge then threatened both men with arrest if they failed to demean themselves.

In the following weeks, Falcone and Metcalfe both filed requests for Thompson to reconsider.

"I was frightened and still am fearful of how I will be treated in this courtroom in the future. Quite honestly, I felt unable to provide an explanation as I was being screamed at by the court and being threatened with various repercussions including jail time," wrote Falcone.

Thompson then walked back his courtroom comments in a pair of orders. He quickly rescinded his directive for the men to appear in front of jurors and embarrass themselves. The judge also wrote that he was "disappointed" in himself for his "intemperance" and rescheduled the trial.

The judicial discipline commission, in its filings with the Supreme Court, described Thompson as having "berated counsel in a tone that was rude, condescending, and mocking." Thompson maintained it was "appropriate" for him to be stern and to suggest the lawyers face consequences for failing to abide by his order.

"The Commission disagrees that these described circumstances in any way excuse Judge Thompsons conduct," wrote the commission.

The Supreme Court censured Thompson for letting his temperament create an appearance of impropriety, for failing to be dignified and courteous, and for creating an "appearance of personal animus."

The judicial discipline commission's summary of events also noted that Thompson, the day after exploding at the hearing, held a conference call in a parenting case in which he said that "God willing," the children will "get as far away from these two parents as they possibly can."
The Colorado Supreme Court on Monday walked back a lower court's reversal of a $3 million penalty against a technical college that deceived its students, with the justices instead directing the Court of Appeals to take a closer look at the evidence before ordering a new trial outright.

The Supreme Court's decision means the government may not need to redo its four-week trial proving that CollegeAmerica violated the Colorado Consumer Protection Act by misleading nearly 11,000 students into thinking they would make substantially more money or find jobs in their field  when the opposite was often true.

Because the Denver judge who originally heard the case mistakenly believed the Colorado Attorney General's Office did not have to prove CollegeAmerica's illegal actions had a "significant public impact," the Court of Appeals decided in 2021 that the parties "lacked an incentive" to present evidence on the subject. However, even CollegeAmerica acknowledged after trial that the parties had submitted ample information about significant public impact.

The Court of Appeals "should first have considered whether the parties had, in fact, had a full and fair opportunity to litigate the merits of the significant public impact issue" before ordering a new trial, wrote Justice Richard L. Gabriel in the May 15 opinion.

Consequently, the $3 million in penalties against CollegeAmerica may remain intact if the appellate court agrees the now-defunct institution had a fair opportunity to defend itself and the evidence supports that its actions significantly affected the public.

In a statement, the attorney general's office welcomed the directive for the Court of Appeals to review the "overwhelming evidence that the colleges deception significantly affected Colorado consumers. We are committed to protecting student borrowers from predatory lending and deceptive marketing, and we will press ahead in this case to seek justice and relief for those who were preyed on by CollegeAmerica.

An attorney for CollegeAmerica declined to comment.

In 2014, Colorado sued CollegeAmerica, two of its executives and the related nonprofit Center for Higher Education, Inc., alleging they used deceptive advertising about their offerings and outcomes. The school also reportedly offered "unconscionable" loans to students who, for the most part, were never able to pay them back.

A four-week trial before then-District Court Judge Ross B.H. Buchanan revealed that CollegeAmerica boasted about students making "more money sooner" and earning "up to $1 million more" with a degree, but it obscured actual data showing graduates were hardly better off for attending CollegeAmerica's vocational programs.

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Admissions officers enrolled students who they believed would "really struggle in school," including a man with a learning disability who ended up getting his blood drawn for extra credit and returned to his restaurant job after working on his degree. Further, CollegeAmerica dramatically overstated its successful outcomes to its accreditor. Half of graduates surveyed reported being worse off financially for attending CollegeAmerica, and some even declared bankruptcy.

Buchanan ultimately found CollegeAmerica had deceived its students and made unconscionable loans to some who enrolled. He declined to award more than $200 million in restitution to students, but imposed the maximum $3 million in consumer penalties.

However, Buchanan mistakenly believed the attorney general's office did not need to prove CollegeAmerica's actions had a significant public impact. In August 2021, a three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals reversed the judgment based on Buchanan's error.

Under that incorrect reading of the law, "the parties lacked the incentive to present evidence, rebut evidence, and develop a record on this issue," wrote then-Chief Judge Steve Bernard, directing a new trial for all of the consumer protection claims.

The Supreme Court was unconvinced the mistake had actually harmed CollegeAmerica's ability to defend itself. Gabriel noted that CollegeAmerica told Buchanan post-trial that the parties already "included findings and conclusions on the significant public impact issue" and "no supplementation is needed."

"In these circumstances, it is not at all clear to us that the trial courts pre-trial rulings on significant public impact so undermined the parties incentives to litigate the issue that a new trial is necessarily required," Gabriel wrote.

Instead, the Supreme Court directed the Court of Appeals to look at the evidence the parties actually presented. It is conceivable, added Gabriel, that a total redo of the lengthy proceedings will not be needed.

Elsewhere in the opinion, the Supreme Court concluded CollegeAmerica was not entitled to a jury trial and that statistical evidence about students' inability to repay their loans was insufficient in this case to call the loan terms categorically "unconscionable." Although Gabriel rebuffed the Court of Appeals' belief that evidence about individual consumers is always necessary, he explained that Buchanan reasonably concluded the loan terms were not unconscionable for all CollegeAmerica students.

Justice Maria E. Berkenkotter did not participate in the appeal.

The case is Colorado v. Center for Excellence in Higher Education, Inc. et al.
A Fremont County road remains closed due to a rockslide, according to the Fremont County Sheriff's Office.

The rockslide, reported around 12:30 p.m. Sunday, closed the scenic Phantom Canyon Road at mile marker 14, the Sheriff's Office said.

Phantom Canyon Road is a continuation of Colorado 67 running south of Cripple Creek and Victor, connecting the cities to Florence, just east of Canon City.

Undersheriff Derek Irvine said road and bridge crews are still removing debris as of around 10:30 a.m. Monday.

This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) blasted the students at San Francisco State University and Stanford Law School who shouted down and attacked speakers on their campus, saying that if students did that at a Florida institution, they should be expelled.

At an event Monday at the New College of Florida where he signed a number of bills reforming higher education in the state, DeSantis said that universities should be places open to different opinions, and he criticized students at Stanford Law School who shouted down U.S. 5th Circuit Court Judge Kyle Duncan and students at San Francisco State University who chased former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines.

LIBERAL POLICIES ARE MAKING THE AMERICAN DREAM UNAFFORDABLE

"That is wrong," DeSantis said of the two incidents. "It also shows a cancer that's developed in some of these institutions amongst the student body. The idea that there's a viewpoint you disagree with, that the appropriate recourse is to try to drown them out by yelling or screaming or trying to take over the event, that is antithetical to what a free society is all about. If there's behavior like you saw at Stanford or like you saw at San Francisco State University by students at Florida universities, they should be expelled from the university."

The governor made the comments while a group of protesters had congregated on the campus of the New College of Florida to protest his visit. The governor was visiting the campus to sign eight bills making changes to higher education in the state, including affording the liberal arts college a significant funding increase. DeSantis appointed several new members to the college's board of trustees and tasked them with remaking the notoriously liberal school in the image of the conservative Hillsdale College.

"I would love for this to be, and I think it will be, the top classical liberal arts college in America," DeSantis said. "Certainly the top state liberal arts college in America."

The bills the governor signed Monday included a statutory ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in higher education and expanded funding for state university civics centers, among other reforms.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

University presidents will also have unilateral power to hire new faculty, and will no longer have to rely exclusively on faculty hiring committees, a move DeSantis said would empower university presidents to hire faculty that feel silenced at other institutions.

"People feel like they're walking on eggshells [and] that [if] they say the wrong thing, they can be blackballed," DeSantis said. "That's not a healthy environment, they don't believe that they have the freedom to speak their minds on a lot of these university campuses. And so they see they see a college like New College or a system like Florida going in the other direction where we're welcoming that debate. There's a lot of people that are going to be interested in that."

Original Location: DeSantis rips student attacks on Riley Gaines: 'They should be expelled'

Washington Examiner Videos
Gov. Ron DeSantis's (R-FL) political team made a significant adjustment ahead of his 2024 decision.

His political operation, which could transform into his campaign team, is moving office spaces in Tallahassee, a source familiar with the situation told the Washington Examiner on Monday. Additionally, DeSantis's press secretary, Bryan Griffin, is expected to move to the political team.

FOUR SENATE RACES IDENTIFIED BY MITCH MCCONNELL THAT COULD GIVE GOP CONTROL IN 2024

Griffin confirmed his exit, but the governor's office did not respond to questions about his future.

"It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as Press Secretary for the Florida Office of @GovRonDeSantis. Thank you!" Griffin tweeted.

Since his 2022 reelection bid, DeSantis has retained a political team that has spearheaded many of his ventures across early primary states. While DeSantis is not a candidate yet, the brisk itinerary enabled him to test the political waters and build up his brand ahead of a campaign launch.

During 10 major Republican events DeSantis attended, he managed to help boost GOP fundraising by $4.3 million, according to his political team. Allies of former President Donald Trump, DeSantis's chief rival should he enter the arena, have accused him of mounting a "shadow presidential campaign."

Make America Great Again Inc., a super PAC aligned with Trump, filed a complaint to that effect, but it was spurned by the Florida Commission on Ethics.

Over the weekend, DeSantis swung through Iowa, where he attended the Feenstra Family Picnic in Sioux Center and made a surprise stop in Des Moines, not far from where Trump canceled his planned rally due to tornado concerns.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

DeSantis has widely polled as Trump's main rival in the 2024 contest. Now that Florida's state legislative session has wrapped up its business, he is expected to make his presidential intentions known soon.

"So I've been pretty busy. I know there's different stuff in the news," DeSantis said recently. "I may have something to say about the overall landscape for 2024, but stay tuned on that."

Original Location: DeSantis's political team keeps getting closer to 2024 decision

Washington Examiner Videos
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas indicated the Biden administration was in "possible noncompliance" with a judge's temporary restraining order after the end of Title 42 but indicated the matter is still under investigation.

U.S. District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, who issued an order late Thursday blocking the administration from releasing some migrants into the United States without immediate notice to appear before an immigration court, asked the DHS head in court filings to explain whether media outlets were correct to report somewhere around 2,500 immigrants had been released on parole after his order instructed the agency not to do so.

FOUR SENATE RACES IDENTIFIED BY MITCH MCCONNELL THAT COULD GIVE GOP CONTROL IN 2024

Migrants cross the Tuquesa river after a trip on foot through the jungle to Bajo Chiquito, Darien province, Panama, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. Bajo Chiquito is the first population center that migrants coming from the Colombian border see when they cross over after several days of slogging through the jungle into Panama. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco) Arnulfo Franco/AP

In court filings Monday afternoon, DHS indicated it appeared Wetherell's "instructions generally were followed," though a further review of U.S. Customs and Border Protection systems "identified some data indicating possible noncompliance with respect to a relatively small number of individuals."

DHS said if there was any noncompliance, it was a matter of procedural listings on paperwork and not a direct refusal of the judge's order.

"When the court issued its TRO, all sectors had ceased releases for the day for any noncitizens who were fully processed, and therefore some noncitizens who had already been fully processed prior to the time the TRO took effect were released on May 12, 2023, consistent with U.S. Border Patrol's normal release procedures," according to the seven-page response.

The filings indicated that officials identified 167 individuals in CBP systems "who appear to have been processed for Parole with Conditions, but who do not reflect a process complete time prior to 11:59 p.m. on May 11, 2023."

Title 42, a policy that allowed the rapid expulsion of immigrants at the southern border on the basis of a public health emergency, expired just before midnight on Thursday and coincided with Wetherell's order blocking a new Biden administration rule aimed at easing crowding at the southern border.

"Of those [migrants], 130 individuals do not reflect any process completion time, and the remaining 37 individuals have a process completion time that is after 11:59 p.m. on May 11, 2023," the DHS filing added.

DHS said a manual review is "required" to determine whether or not any or all of the individuals were processed for parole after 11:59 p.m. on Thursday.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Wetherell previously wrote to the agency asking why DHS officials should not be held in contempt if the media was correct about 2,500 immigrants being released on parole after the court order.

"Because the Washington Times article cites an anonymous source for its numbers, Defendants cannot assess where those numbers came from or how they were generated," DHS wrote in response Monday afternoon.

Original Location: DHS acknowledges 'possible noncompliance' with Florida judge's block on immigrant parole

Washington Examiner Videos
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to take up a lawsuit surrounding the Biden administration's bid to block several congressional Democrats seeking records of a government lease for a Washington hotel surrounding its previous ownership by former President Donald Trump.

The nine justices took up an appeal by the General Services Administration, which handles the federal government's real estate. A lower court ruling allowed the lawsuit by House Democratic lawmakers to proceed.

PRICE TAG FOR BIDEN SIGNATURE CLIMATE LAW BALLOONS TO MULTIPLE OF INITIAL ESTIMATES

FILE - In this Dec. 21, 2016, file photo The Trump International Hotel at 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, is seen in Washington. Celebrity chef Jose Andres has settled his dispute with The Trump Organization after backing out of a plan to open a restaurant in Washington's Trump hotel. Andres' ThinkFoodGroup and The Trump Organization issued a statement Friday, April, 7, 2017, saying the lawsuit has been settled. The deal's terms are confidential. (Alex Brandon/AP)

Democrats sued after the GSA declined to provide details of a 2013 lease of the Old Post Office building to the former president's company to convert it into a hotel.

Justice Department attorneys argued in court filings that an appeals court decision that allowed the lawsuit "contradicts historical practice stretching to the beginning of the Republic" and "threatens serious harm to all three branches of the federal government."

The Trump International Hotel operated throughout Trump's four years in office and brought about legal and ethical concerns from critics, including whether people buying rooms at the hotel were seeking influence from within the White House. Trump's company sold the lease last year, and the hotel is now known as the Waldorf Astoria.

After Trump's 2016 victory, 17 Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, led by the late Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), wanted access to documents tied to the agreement, questioning if Trump had a conflict of interest.

The House members sought those records through a variety of means, including citation of a federal law that requires executive agencies to provide information to members of Congress.

Although the GSA controlled under Trump refused the request, the surprising twist is that the Biden administration is maintaining a similar defense as the previous administration. That's likely because the Biden DOJ sees the lower appeals court ruling as an undesirable precedent that could involve any administration in tenuous litigation.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Attorneys for the Democratic lawmakers did not want the Supreme Court to get involved in the case, arguing that the GSA's typical practice is to grant document requests.

The case will be heard by the justices sometime in the fall 2023 term, and a decision likely won't come before at least February next year.

Original Location: Supreme Court will consider Democrats' bid to sue Biden for Trump hotel records

Washington Examiner Videos
By Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber and Emma Farge

GENEVA (Reuters) -Former White House adviser Amy Pope was elected to head the U.N. migration agency, prevailing on Monday in a tense contest against a Portuguese incumbent who had the support of European countries.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Pope would become the first woman to lead it when she begins her five-year term on Oct. 1.

Pope, who served as Deputy Director General for Management and Reform at IOM, took leave to campaign against her boss Antonio Vitorino, who has been in the position since 2018.

"With the impacts of conflict, of poverty, of climate change, there will be even more work than we can do in order for us to be a successful organization," Pope said.

"It's important that we look at the issue of migration from a much more comprehensive point of view, that we use our data much more proactively."

Pope said she was eager for IOM to use data to analyse why people were moving and to better understand where people might be forced to move.

More than 100 million people are forcibly displaced around the world and IOM seeks to ensure humane and orderly migration and intervenes where needed.

In 2021, Pope served as senior adviser on migration to U.S. President Joe Biden, who publicly backed her candidacy.

"As IOM's largest bilateral donor, the United States strongly supports Ms. Pope's vision and looks forward to working with her to implement the critical reforms necessary to create a more effective, inclusive IOM," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

Vitorino, a former European Commissioner who is close to his compatriot United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, did not comment as he left the International Conference Center in Geneva, where the voting took place.

"It's not about what he did or didn't do," Pope said about her campaign against Vitorino.

"It's more about what we can do and what opportunities might exist for us that we have yet to take."

Asked about the contest earlier this year, Vitorino described it as unprecedented.

"We have never happened to have an incumbent director general that faces a competition with one of his deputy generals. Let's call it an innovation," Vitorino told journalists in March.

He said at the time he had Portugal's backing as well as the "strong encouragement" of the European Union.

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber and Emma Farge in Geneva; Additional reporting by Rami Ayyub in Washington; Editing by Alex Richardson, William Maclean and Bill Berkrot)
By Nandita Bose

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House on Monday released financial disclosure reports for President Joe Biden showing the president's personal finances in 2022 changed little from the prior year, even though his book royalties fell.

Biden earned between $2,500 and $5,000 in book royalties in 2022, down sharply from $30,000 a year earlier. He also earned less than $3,000 in "speaking and writing engagements," from close to $30,000 last year, the disclosures show.

The disclosures, which included First Lady Jill Biden's income, showed her book royalties also dropped. She earned between $5,000- $15,000 in 2022 compared to $15,000- $50,000 from book sales a year earlier.

The report also showed the couple's assets were worth between $1.09 million and $2.57 million.

They owe between $250,000 and $500,000 on a mortgage on their Delaware home, plus between $45,000 and $150,000 on other loans.

In April, the Bidens released their federal tax return , showing the couple earned nearly $580,000 last year and paid an effective federal income tax rate of 23.8%.

Biden draws a $400,000 wage as president of the United States. Jill Biden earned $82,335 from her job teaching English at Northern Virginia Community College.

The remainder of their income is drawn from investment interest, pensions, annuities, distributions from retirement accounts and Social Security as well as a corporation that collects their book royalties, according to the joint tax return.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler and David Gregorio)
A 1973 nonfiction book, "The Onion Field," by Joseph Wambaugh, depicted two young California policemen who are kidnapped and brutalized by two robbers. Taken to a deserted field on the outskirts of Los Angeles, one of the officers is executed and the other is left with life-long survivor's guilt and its terrible aftermath. The book is a troubling look at the harsh realities of wearing a badge.

Only a few careers ask for the ultimate sacrifice  firemen, police officers and our military. Recent events have led to an undeserved distrust of law enforcement and a shortsighted indictment of all officers as being racist and uncaring. Nationally there has been a call to "defund the police."

At a time when mass shootings dominate the news, officers are asked to do more than ever. They are expected to bravely hurry toward gunfire and mayhem, with no thought for their own welfare.

Scenes like the recent shooting at a mall outside Dallas demand a police response. And law enforcement is criticized when they don't "save lives" in a swift manner. After a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where law enforcement took 37 minutes of planning and preparation before entering the elementary school, there was sharp criticism and a major investigation.

In the Colorado Legislature we have seen multiple moves to lessen punishment for criminals and one law passed in 2020  the police accountability bill  makes officers personally liable if they are sued for excessive force and lose.

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Cops are seldom celebrated for the challenging duties they are asked to perform. The statistics show what a dangerous job keeping the peace can be. In 2022, 224 officers were killed across the nation. Texas has the dubious distinction of the most police officer deaths, with 33 officers lost in 2022. Families of law enforcement face possible tragedy every day  never knowing when or if their loved one will come home from work. The loss of an officer has a profound impact on not just his immediate family but his extended community.

Despite a slight decrease in officers killed in the line of duty nationally, our state still continues to lose those who serve. Recently, Colorado lost Fountain police officer Julian Becerra, 35, after he was killed pursuing a carjacking suspect. A 27-year-old police officer was killed in September, just outside Denver, responding to a large disturbance  Arvada police officer Dillon Michael Vakoff. Law enforcement responded to a shooting call in Security-Widefield last August, where they faced an ambush. SWAT operator Andrew Peery, 39, was killed during the incident. Boulder police officer Eric Talley, was killed responding to the mass shooting at the Table Mesa King Soopers. These are just a few recent examples of officers who have laid down their lives for their communities.

In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls, as National Police Week.

Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. It is a solemn recognition of those who choose service over their own safety. So, take a moment to remember those whose job asks for unbelievable bravery and commitment.
This week, news broke that the Colorado Education Association (CEA)  also known as the states largest teachers union  came out against capitalism with a resolution claiming that our free market system of economics is incompatible with fighting systemic racism, the patriarchy, educational inequality, and income inequality, amongst other societal ills.

If any other left-leaning organization made these claims, it probably wouldnt be newsworthy. Unfortunately, these claims come from those who educate our children each and every day.

The claim that capitalism is incompatible with fighting income inequality, or any form of racism, is based in pure ignorance. Economic freedom and private property rights, which lie at the heart of capitalism, have empowered billions of people to achieve what their ancestors could have only dreamed of.

Is there always more work to do? Of course there is.

Capitalism isnt perfect, but unlike any other economic system implemented throughout human history, it has pulled millions out of poverty, decimated the scourge of global poverty, brought nations with historical animosity together in the name of economic development, and made our nation, the United States, the example to follow for the rest of the globe.

Capitalism requires little defense. Nearly every advancement of humanity we encounter on a daily basis, from the amazingly powerful computer in our pocket to cures and treatments for otherwise fatal and debilitating diseases stem from a competitive and free system that follows the economic laws of supply and demand rather than the inclinations of central planners.

If one is serious about dismantling systemic racism, they should look no further than the union itself. Decades of flexing its muscle to protect an antiquated, one-size-fits-all education system has devastated generations of black and brown students. Nowhere is the disparity greater between white students and students of color than in Denver Public Schools, where the unions favored candidates have unanimous control of the local board of education. Only 26% of black students and only 24% of Hispanic students, scored at or above grade level in the statewide literacy test. White students are scoring above 70%. Hows that for educational equity?

Some parents of these students tried to do something different by asking the DPS board to approve a new charter school explicitly focused on black students called 5280 Freedom School.

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They were initially denied by the Denver Public Schools board.

At the State Board of Education, it was conservatives and reform-minded Democrats who voted to force DPS to reconsider the charters application, while the only two no votes were board members who had their campaigns backed by the teachers union.

The CEA and its school board candidates have always been in staunch opposition to school choice and education reform at every level. They have also been consistently opposed to holding schools accountable for student outcomes. Despite Colorado voters supporting annual assessments by a huge 53-point margin (71.5% in support versus 18.4% opposed), they have continually pushed to wind down or outright eliminate any effort to benchmark student progress. Just this past legislative session, for example, they supported three bills (House Bill 23-1239, Senate Bill 23-061, and Senate Bill 23-071) to weaken our assessment and accountability system, arguing that it is unfair to measure student achievement in reading, writing, and math.

In the 2022 legislative session, the union helped defeat a number of bills that would have expanded educational options and parental rights in our educational system. In their end-of-session analysis, nearly every one of these bills was opposed because it was another parents rights bill, something that apparently strikes fear into the hearts of this special interest.

In 2022, CEA also opposed Senate Bill 22-039, a bill that would have fully funded education to the tune of an additional $500 million. Because the bill also provided a measly $67 million towards universal scholarships for students to use at any school of their choice, the union could not support sending half a billion dollars to public schools that they claim are starving for funds.

Choice is simply antithetical to teachers unions whose existence is dependent upon coercion and force. They want your child to be forced to attend a school within a district whose leadership is most likely decided by automatic payroll deductions that resulted in overwhelming campaign contributions. Youre free to go elsewhere, as long as that alternative has been approved by their puppets and kept under intense scrutiny, and as long as you can find your own ride there.

Perhaps thats why it shouldnt come as a surprise that this modern-day politburo has decided to take a bold stance against capitalism. A system built upon an individuals freedom to choose? Well, we cant have that, can we?

Brenda Dickhoner is the president and CEO of Ready Colorado, an education advocacy organization.
Professor Peter Gorder, chairman of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs department of mechanical science and aerospace engineering, explains the cyclical nature of the U.S. aerospace industry.

In the 60s, there was a hiring boom, because we were in the space race, Gorder said. By the time I went to school in 1981, all those folks who were hired in the 60s had gray hair and were thinking about retirement.

As the industry has expanded over the ensuing four decades, the cycle has continued. Now, Gorder said, Im the one with the gray hair, and many of the aerospace industrys senior employees are approaching retirement. With the advent of the U.S. Space Force, the industry is hungrier than ever, and its time to feed it again.

To that end, UCCS will launch its aerospace engineering bachelors degree program in the upcoming fall semester. Approved by the university system's Board of Regents in February, the program is set to admit 35 new students  incoming freshmen, with perhaps a few transferring sophomores  with a plan, four years from now, to have about 120 students preparing to enter the aerospace pipeline.

But theres already a buzz about the program, Gorder said. I suspect 120 will be a conservative estimate.

COVERAGE THIS WEEK Return to Gazette.com and DenverGazette.com for full coverage and exclusive features from this week's Space Symposium at The Broadmoor.

The UCCS program is only the second such degree program in the state. The University of Colorado Boulder is the only other undergraduate aerospace degree, which Gorder said is somewhat surprising.

In a way, its a little mind-boggling. Colorado has such a large presence in the aerospace industry, youd think there would be more programs available. But were excited to be able to offer it.

The degree initiative is part of the University Partnership Program launched by the Space Force last year. The University of Colorado system sealed the partnership last August with a brief ceremony on the UCCS campus, during which CU President Todd Saliman and Gen. David Thompson, Space Force vice chief of space operations, signed a memorandum of understanding symbolizing the universitys commitment to bolstering U.S. dominance in aerospace technology, research, development and security.

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The state of Colorado and community of Colorado Springs have long been key members and supporters of the national security space enterprise, Thompson said at the ceremony. So its fitting for the Space Force to establish a formal partnership between the University of Colorado and the Space Force.

Aerospace engineering is a kind of hybrid between aeronautical engineering (which deals with mechanisms that operate within the atmosphere, including airplanes, helicopters and drones) and astronautical engineering (which focuses on satellites, interplanetary vehicles, probes and other equipment that operates outside Earths atmosphere). While aeronautical engineers are required to have some knowledge of both disciplines, most university programs emphasize one or the other.

Our emphasis will be mostly on the astronautical side, Gorder said. Thats kind of an homage to the industry here in Colorado Springs, because so much of the local industry focuses on operating outside our atmosphere.

Local aerospace companies, eager to bolster the industry with the states best young minds, have encouraged a degree program at UCCS for a long time, but the university lacked the resources , Gorder said. Now the university system, the Space Force and donors have provided the financial and material support needed.

This is a huge workforce development opportunity in Colorado Springs, Gorder said. Having the local opportunity for continuing education for aerospace employees, and for workforce development for new employees, is huge.

Other aerospace companies in the city and region are also working to expand the industrys labor pool. In 2018, Lockheed Martin committed to creating 8,000 new apprenticeship and workforce development opportunities. Four years later, they are nearly halfway to their goal, with 3,500. Northrop Grumman is making a push to bring more women and minority students into STEM careers. Raytheon Technologies internship program is recognized as one of the best in the country.

Gorder said the university, which plans to offer a masters degree in aerospace engineering beginning next year, is more than ready to help these companies prepare the next generation of aerospace talent.

It is a very exciting development, Gorder said. Its something that has been encouraged by local industry for years, and we just havent been able to do it. Now, with the support of the University of Colorado system, donors, the Space Force, and the continued support of the local industry, all the pieces are in place.
U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse thinks it's past time federal wildland firefighters get the pay and benefits they deserve.

That's why the Lafayette Democrat reintroduced legislation Tuesday to boost wages, secure access to health care and mental health support, and provide housing stipends for firefighters deployed more than 50 miles from their homes, among other measures.

The Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act  dubbed Tim's Act  is named for Tim Hart, a 36-year-old smokejumper from Cody, Wyoming, who died fighting the Eicks Fire in New Mexico two years ago.

Neguse credited Hart's widow, Michelle Hart, for inspiring the legislation, calling her "an incredible advocate (who) converted her anguish into action."

The bill is co-sponsored in the House by California Democrat U.S. Rep. Katie Porter and sponsored in the Senate by U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, a Colorado Democrat.

Neguse, a founder of the congressional Bipartisan Wildfire Caucus, told Colorado Politics the bill will help "honor the sacrifices" made by those protecting the West from increasingly common wildfires.

"One wildland firefighter who I met with used the phrase 'forgotten first responders,' which I thought was such an apt characterization and description, because for too long our federal wildland firefighters have been forgotten in terms of the sacrifices that they're making," Neguse said.

Numerous provisions from an earlier, bipartisan version of the bill  introduced by Neguse in 2021 with former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, a Wyoming Republican, co-sponsoring  have been adopted as part of other, larger bills, but Neguse said plenty remains to be written into law.

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When Neguse first introduced the legislation two years ago, the U.S. Forest Service paid its wildland firefighters  classified as "forestry technicians"  just $13.45 an hour, but President Joe Biden announced a year ago that he was temporarily increasing the pay to $15 an hour for two years under funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act.

The reintroduced bill would raise starting wages for new federal firefighters to $20 an hour, ensure firefighters are paid for all the hours they work, create a database to track cancer and cardiovascular disease among wildland firefights and establish tuition assistance and a chance at receiving retirement benefits.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, firefighters carry a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and lung and other cancers.

"There's some new provisions, but at its core, it's housing it's health care and fundamentally it's ensuring that these wildland firefighters are paid for the incredible sacrifices that they're making each and every day," Neguse said.

Also new this go-around is sponsorship in the Senate. Neguse noted that Bennet's support improves the bill's chances of making it across the finish line, possibly as part of the Farm Bill, which Bennet is helping assemble in the Senate Agriculture Committee.

As climate change fuels increasingly severe fires in Colorado, we rely on wildland firefighters more and more to prevent megafires and protect homes and communities," Bennet said in a statement. "These firefighters deserve fair pay, support for their mental and physical health, and time to recover from their dangerous work.

Neguse said the bill hasn't attracted formal opposition, but added that he has heard concerns about its cost.

"Part of this challenge, part of the work that we have in front of us, is to make the case to our colleagues, to remind them about the sacrifices that federal wildland firefighters are making, and the need to honor our promises to them," Neguse said.
The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa (CFNEIA) has announced in a press release the opening of five grant processes as part of its 2023 summer grant cycle, including Cerro Gordo County Community Foundation.

In affiliates areas, grants are awarded to projects within the program areas of arts and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, health and human service. A local volunteer committee makes grant selections in an effort to create a better quality of life for all people in Cerro Gordo County, the release said.

Grants are available to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and government entities. Tax-exempt organizations classified as other than 501(c)(3) are also eligible if the project is deemed charitable.

Grant information, guidelines and applications for each grant process can be found at www.cfneia.org/grantopportunities. The deadline to submit applications is 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 15. Staff will be available for technical support until 5 p.m. on Friday, July 14.

Grant recipients will be announced in September.
On January 1, 1863, The Emancipation Proclamation, officially known as Proclamation 95, was issued by President Abraham Lincoln.

If your basic public school U.S. history course knowledge leads you to believe at that moment, Lincoln freed the enslaved people of the United States, you would be in good company.

A 2020 survey by American Trustees and Alumni indicated that 88% of American college graduates believe that as well.

For all the greatness of Lincoln, he was a master of threading the needle of slavery. His Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved persons only in those states controlled by the Confederacy, which as of 1863 numbered 10.

The border states of Maryland, Delaware, Missouri and Kentucky, all declaring loyalty to the Union, all active slave states, were not governed by Lincoln's emancipation. Nor were Tennessee, much of Louisiana, and that part of Virginia that became West Virginia as the Confederacy was no longer in control there.

It wasn't until late 1863 that the military governor of Tennessee, Andrew Johnson, freed the dozens of enslaved persons he claimed to own. Upon Lincoln's assassination, then-Vice President Andrew Johnson became the 17th president of the United States.

For William Wright and the rest of the 225,000 enslaved African-Americans living in Kentucky on January 1, 1863, life as they had come to expect, perpetual and generational servitude, ironically for them in a Union slave state, became appreciably worse.

At the beginning of the war, 24 year-old Willie Wright, enslaved by the Julian/Russell family since birth, had become Captain John Wilcox Russell's plantation foreman.

From his oral history captured in the Worth County Index in 1900, Willie describes how he perceived himself as the essential, trustworthy and reliable right-hand man for Captain Russell.

By 1861, Wright had four children with Charlotte Loomis on the Russell plantation. Willie named his sons Russell Wright and Julian Wright.

It was these "nice" people  the plantation owners  who, upon the much-delayed call-up for additional federal troops from Kentucky in early 1864, marched their enslaved military age men away from their wives and children to the "Colored" enlistment point in Frankfort, signed each over to the union army, and was immediately paid a $300.00 per head bounty, in gold U.S. coins.

Captain Russell, always the astute businessman and millionaire many times over, collected $7,800  $150,000 dollars in 2023  for the 26 human souls sold one last time in the final days and at the death knell of the slavery culture of the south. It would take the state of Kentucky until 1976 to finally ratify the Emancipation Proclamation made law by the 13th Amendment.

On June 29, 1864, William Wright mustered into Company H, 114th United States Colored Infantry at Frankfort Kentucky and from there went to Camp Nelson Kentucky for equipment issue and training.

The conditions at Camp Nelson were horrid and gruesome. By 1863, with slavery untouched in Kentucky, the Union area commander issued General Order 41, authorizing the US Army at Camp Nelson to impress into forced labor 6,000 laborers from the slave population of the area.

Impressment was the policy of the US and Confederate governments to seize food, animals, and other materials, including enslaved people, to support armies in the field during the war.

Camp Nelson commander, Brigadier General Speed S. Fry, acknowledged the crucial part enslaved laborers played in developing the base, stating that Had it not been for the impressed hands, the depots and fortifications would have been very far short of completion.

Yet at the time of Willie Wright's enlistment, with Lincoln's re-election hanging in the balance and the Union's will to continue the battle waning, the outcome of the Civil War would come to rest on the backs of African-American soldiers whom just months earlier had been enslaved in the border states.

Opening enlistment to African-Americans resulted in unexpected consequences. With nowhere else to go and with the wrath of Southern culture raining down upon them, the families of many enlistees converged on Camp Nelson for protection.

Unprepared and unwilling, the Union military authority failed to feed, house and to provide clean water and proper sanitation for the population. A microcosm of the nation, Camp Nelson highlights the complex and contradictory ideals and policies of the US Army and the country itself in the Civil War.

On January 3, 1865, the 114th United States Colored Infantry, became part of the all African-American XXV Corp of General Benjamin Butler's Army of the James.

For the next three months, newly promoted Corporal William Wright first led his squad during the final days of the Siege of Petersburg and Richmond Virginia. Next, on April 3, 1865, he marched his men into defeated Confederate capital, Richmond as part of the first elements of the XXV Corps. Finally, Willie Wright and his men were engaged with Lee's Army of Northern Virginia at the Battle of Appomattox, and on April 9, 1865, they were guards at the Appomattox Court House as Lee surrendered to US Grant.

As the joys of freedom seemed to be just about coming true, the all too common stories of oppressed peoples, known from biblical times forward, became reality for Willie Wright.

When Captain John Russell enlisted him and 25 other enslaved men into the Union Army, few believed that they would come out the other side alive. Many did not. Eleven of the 26 total died of disease before the end of their enlistment. Five died in battle or from battle wounds. 16 of 26  60% of the men of Russell plantation who served in the USCI with William Wright  died because of it.

Against the odds, Willie had survived. Yet while he had served in Virginia, his wife Charlotte and son Julian had died at Camp Nelson of disease.

When he asked to be discharged so he could take care of what was left of his family, Corporal Wright was granted one month's unpaid leave, took two months and was demoted and informed that his enlistment was for three years and he would not be released from duty until 1867.

In June 1865, the 114th Regiment United States Colored Infantry was assigned occupation duty in an armpit of civilization for an infantry unit, Brazos Santiago, Texas. It was rumored that remnants of the Confederate Army were reorganizing in Mexico.

For the next two years the 114th USCI patrolled the Rio Grande, never receiving pay until mustered out at Brazos Santiago on April 2, 1867.

Next Week: What Do I Do Now? 1867-1871
VRK hopes that the introduction of VRX will lead to an increase [ #permalink

from the premise:

(1) VRK + leading brands ------> revenues

(2) leading brands = quality meeting customer expectations

(3) VRX = necessary quality standards to enter a competitive market

(4) (NO) quality meeting customer expectations = endanger his brand value and consequently his other endorsements (& Overall revenue loss)



Conclusion:

VRK + VRX ---> increase overall revenues



so possible underlying assumption must be that:

VRX = necessary quality standards to enter a competitive market = quality meeting customer expectations.



Choices:

(A) most leading apparel and footwear manufacturers are not disinclined towards hiring a competitor as their brand ambassador

irrelevant for several reasons: (yet best contender)

(1) "most" means that it is not a must.

(2) if VRK is selling apparel and footwear, this doesn't mean that he became a competitor for other leading manufacturers. He may be targeting a different customer segment, style, age, or even geographic area.



(B) in the past, all the brands that VRK has endorsed have earned commendable revenues for their manufacturers

This can be already known from the premise . we need an unstated assumption that support the conclusion.



(C) VRKs reputation in the field of acting supersedes that of other actors who endorse similar brands.

out of scope for two reasons:

(1) we are comparing between (VRK + leading brands) and (VRK + VRX) , so VRK is a common factor and it is pointless to compare between his talent and other actors.

(2) the acting talent was not mentioned as a criteria for success and more revenues. "Iconic" may have several explanations ( we can't assume that the more talented actor must mean more revenues)



(D) VRX products have been vouchsafed by the Quality Control Board as being better than those endorsed by VRK for other manufacturers

Indeed , if we care sure that VRX is better quality than other endorsed by VRK, this means that VRX, with its necessary quality standards, is exceeding the customers expectations. This fills the gap and support the conclusion.



(E) the general public is more inclined to purchase products endorsed by their icons than ones without such endorsements

out of scope , similar to C, we are comparing between (VRK + leading brands) and (VRK + VRX) , so VRK is a common factor and it is pointless to compare products with no endorsers.



D IMO
For Danville Community College President Jerry Wallace, Saturday marked his first graduation as leader of the school.

But he was quick to note there would be many more to come.

In all, DCC celebrated 476 graduates who earned 736 credentials at Saturdays commencement exercises at Averett Universitys North Campus.

Graduation is a time to celebrate the many accomplishments of our students who are becoming graduates, Wallace said. The best part of our jobs as educators is to see our students grow, flourish and succeed and thats exactly what we did during our commencement ceremony.

After Wallace gave his welcoming words and congratulated the graduates on their success, DCC Advisory Board Chair Toshia Waller introduced the keynote speaker, Deputy Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Virginia McKenzie Snow.

In her address to the graduates, she offered five inspirational thoughts as the students move into the future.

Following the keynote address, Lillian Portia Thompson Fitzgerald was awarded an honorary degree in recognition of her long-time service to the community as an educator and her long-time service to DCC and the DCC Educational Foundation as a board chair and member, according to a news release.

The awards portion of the ceremony started with a special recognition of the Student Government Association, followed by the presentation of the SGA Teacher of the Year award presented to Kevin Poole, instructor of precision machining.

Angela Coleman earned the Stephanie L. Ferguson Medallion of Courage, an award for student who has persisted in the face of exceptional adversity to reach their graduation day.

Shannon Hair, vice president of institutional advancement and executive director of the DCC Educational Foundation, presented graduate scholarships:

James T. Catlin Jr. Kiwanis Scholarship: Thaniyah Saunders, Jamari Torian and Sherri Dickens

James Bustard Endowed Scholarship: Sherri Dickens, Joseph Perez and Kelly Campbell

Barksdale Honors Scholarship: Sherri Dickens, Joseph Perez, Kelly Campbell, Alayna Vickers, Thaniyah Saunders and Jamari Torian

Bobby Stinespring Jr. Memorial Scholarship: Joseph Perez

D. Randolph Randy Davis Memorial Graduation Scholarship: Joseph Perez

The Phoenix Lodge #62 The Knights Of The Pythias Business Graduation Scholarship: Sherri Dickens.

Cornelius Johnson, vice president of academic affairs and student services, presented the students as candidates for graduation and their degrees were conferred.

Im incredibly proud and grateful to be a part of such and important day for so many, said Wallace. Im also humbled by the excellence of our faculty and staff who worked to create the orchestra of education, support, guidance, wisdom, passion and elbow grease that results in the increased success of our students.
Tunstall High School agricultural education teacher and FFA advisor Jessica M. Jones received the national California Casualty Award for Teaching Excellence on May 5 during the NEA Foundation Salute to Excellence in Education Gala held at the Anthem in the District Wharf of Washington, D.C.

The NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence program recognizes educators from around the country who promote both excellence in teaching and advocacy for the profession.

The California Casualty Award for Teaching Excellence is unique. In addition to being recognized for excellence in the classroom and instructional practice, Jones was nominated by her peers  her National Education Association state affiliate, the Virginia Education Association  for her professional practice; advocacy for the profession; commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice; family and community engagement; and leadership in professional development.

California Casualty, an auto and home insurance company, serves as a partner to and sponsor of the NEA Foundation. California Casualty has sponsored the California Casualty Award for Teaching Excellence for over 70 years.

This has been an amazing experience, Jones said. I am thankful for and proud to represent my colleagues, students, and communities across the commonwealth of Virginia.

Because the NEA Foundation values both professional development and diversity, as an award recipient, Jones is invited to participate in the NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellowship. Fellows learn how to prepare their students for a connected and multicultural world in this comprehensive, year-long professional development program, which includes an international field study in June and July of 2024.

The NEA Foundation is a national nonprofit and philanthropic organization based in Washington, D.C. Founded by educators, the foundations mission is to work in partnership with others to promote the best in public education.

The NEA Foundation believes that the most innovative and effective policies and strategies emanate from educators engaged in authentic partnership with policymakers, students, parents and others who are committed to educational equity, excellence and opportunity.

Through the transformative power of these partnerships, the NEA Foundation believes improvement can be made in both students and communities educational experiences.
The right trial at the right time

With the caveat of the need to update normal tissue dose metrics and the importance of using planning techniques that will not increase the integral dose, Pierce felt use of a concomitant boost should be added to the treatment approaches radiation oncologists consider in the treatment of early-stage disease. She noted the importance of this study in that it is the first randomized breast cancer trial with specific dose constraints for 3D CRT or inverse planned IMRT. There was rapid review, and quality assurance was thorough and maintained with rigid standards. This was the right trial at the right time; it encouraged use of hypofractionation at a time when the uptake was modest.

In 2011 and subsequent years, there were few data to define indications for and toxicity of a tumour bed boost in patients treated with H-WBI. There was lack of consensus regarding the appropriateness of H-WBI, she added. The trial also obtained patient quality of life assessments of cosmesis through use of breast cancer treatment outcome scale (PCTOS) as well as physician and patient ratings. This was another milestone.

Thanks to RTOG1005, we have more tools in our toolbox to effectively treat patients with early-stage breast cancer. We can continue to individualize the treatments breast cancer and also maximize convenience for patients, concluded Pierce.

Vicini concurred. He has spent his entire career researching better options of radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer patients and has been a pioneer in their clinical implementation. The RTOG 1005 represents another notch in his belt achievement that will benefit women for years to come.





Profiles:

Frank A. Vicini, MD, is a radiation oncologist at the MHP Radiation Oncology Institute as well as Clinical Professor at the Wayne State University School of Medicine. During his career, he has designed, developed, and completed numerous phase I/II and III NIH/NCI clinical trials to evaluate new and improved techniques for treating patients with Stage I and II breast cancer.

Lori Pierce, MD, is Professor of Radiation Oncology and the Vice Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She has dedicated her career to the treatment of breast cancer patients and serves as Director of the Michigan Radiation Oncology Quality Consortium (MROQC). Pierces research focuses on the use of radiotherapy in the multi-modality treatment of breast cancer.
What use could health care have for someone who makes things up, cant keep a secret, doesnt really know anything, and, when speaking, simply fills in the next word based on whats come before? Lots, if that individual is the newest form of artificial intelligence, according to some of the biggest companies out there.

Companies pushing the latest AI technology  known as generative AI  are piling on: Google and Microsoft want to bring types of so-called large language models to health care. Big firms that are familiar to folks in white coats  but maybe less so to your average Joe and Jane  are equally enthusiastic: Electronic medical records giants Epic and Oracle Cerner arent far behind. The space is crowded with startups, too.

The companies want their AI to take notes for physicians and give them second opinions  assuming they can keep the intelligence from hallucinating or, for that matter, divulging patients private information.

Theres something afoot thats pretty exciting, said Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in San Diego. Its capabilities will ultimately have a big impact. Topol, like many other observers, wonders how many problems it might cause  like leaking patient data  and how often. Were going to find out.

The specter of such problems inspired more than 1,000 technology leaders to sign an open letter in March urging that companies pause development on advanced AI systems until we are confident that their effects will be positive and their risks will be manageable. Even so, some of them are sinking more money into AI ventures.

The underlying technology relies on synthesizing huge chunks of text or other data  for example, some medical models rely on 2 million intensive care unit notes from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston  to predict text that would follow a given query. The idea has been around for years, but the gold rush, and the marketing and media mania surrounding it, are more recent.

The frenzy was kicked off in December 2022 by Microsoft-backed OpenAI and its flagship product, ChatGPT, which answers questions with authority and style. It can explain genetics in a sonnet, for example.

OpenAI, started as a research venture seeded by Silicon Valley elites like Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and Reid Hoffman, has ridden the enthusiasm to investors pockets. The venture has a complex, hybrid for- and nonprofit structure. But a new $10 billion round of funding from Microsoft has pushed the value of OpenAI to $29 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported. Right now, the company is licensing its technology to companies like Microsoft and selling subscriptions to consumers. Other startups are considering selling AI transcription or other products to hospital systems or directly to patients.

Hyperbolic quotes are everywhere. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers tweeted recently: Its going to replace what doctors do  hearing symptoms and making diagnoses  before it changes what nurses do  helping patients get up and handle themselves in the hospital.

But just weeks after OpenAI took another huge cash infusion, even Altman, its CEO, is wary of the fanfare. The hype over these systems  even if everything we hope for is right long term  is totally out of control for the short term, he said for a March article in The New York Times.

Few in health care believe this latest form of AI is about to take their jobs (though some companies are experimenting  controversially  with chatbots that act as therapists or guides to care). Still, those who are bullish on the tech think itll make some parts of their work much easier.

Eric Arzubi, a psychiatrist in Billings, Montana, used to manage fellow psychiatrists for a hospital system. Time and again, hed get a list of providers who hadnt yet finished their notes  their summaries of a patients condition and a plan for treatment.

Writing these notes is one of the big stressors in the health system: In the aggregate, its an administrative burden. But its necessary to develop a record for future providers and, of course, insurers.

When people are way behind in documentation, that creates problems, Arzubi said. What happens if the patient comes into the hospital and theres a note that hasnt been completed and we dont know whats been going on?

The new technology might help lighten those burdens. Arzubi is testing a service, called Nabla Copilot, that sits in on his part of virtual patient visits and then automatically summarizes them, organizing into a standard note format the complaint, the history of illness, and a treatment plan.

Results are solid after about 50 patients, he said: Its 90% of the way there. Copilot produces serviceable summaries that Arzubi typically edits. The summaries dont necessarily pick up on nonverbal cues or thoughts Arzubi might not want to vocalize. Still, he said, the gains are significant: He doesnt have to worry about taking notes and can instead focus on speaking with patients. And he saves time.

If I have a full patient day, where I might see 15 patients, I would say this saves me a good hour at the end of the day, he said. (If the technology is adopted widely, he hopes hospitals wont take advantage of the saved time by simply scheduling more patients. Thats not fair, he said.)

Nabla Copilot isnt the only such service; Microsoft is trying out the same concept. At Aprils conference of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society  an industry confab where health techies swap ideas, make announcements, and sell their wares  investment analysts from Evercore highlighted reducing administrative burden as a top possibility for the new technologies.

But overall? They heard mixed reviews. And that view is common: Many technologists and doctors are ambivalent.

For example, if youre stumped about a diagnosis, feeding patient data into one of these programs can provide a second opinion, no question, Topol said. Im sure clinicians are doing it. However, that runs into the current limitations of the technology.

Joshua Tamayo-Sarver, a clinician and executive with the startup Inflect Health, fed fictionalized patient scenarios based on his own practice in an emergency department into one system to see how it would perform. It missed life-threatening conditions, he said. That seems problematic.

The technology also tends to hallucinate  that is, make up information that sounds convincing. Formal studies have found a wide range of performance. One preliminary research paper examining ChatGPT and Google products using open-ended board examination questions from neurosurgery found a hallucination rate of 2%. A study by Stanford researchers, examining the quality of AI responses to 64 clinical scenarios, found fabricated or hallucinated citations 6% of the time, co-author Nigam Shah told KFF Health News. Another preliminary paper found, in complex cardiology cases, ChatGPT agreed with expert opinion half the time.

Privacy is another concern. Its unclear whether the information fed into this type of AI-based system will stay inside. Enterprising users of ChatGPT, for example, have managed to get the technology to tell them the recipe for napalm, which can be used to make chemical bombs.

In theory, the system has guardrails preventing private information from escaping. For example, when KFF Health News asked ChatGPT its email address, the system refused to divulge that private information. But when told to role-play as a character, and asked about the email address of the author of this article, it happily gave up the information. (It was indeed the authors correct email address in 2021, when ChatGPTs archive ends.)

I would not put patient data in, said Shah, chief data scientist at Stanford Health Care. We dont understand what happens with these data once they hit OpenAI servers.

Tina Sui, a spokesperson for OpenAI, told KFF Health News that one should never use our models to provide diagnostic or treatment services for serious medical conditions. They are not fine-tuned to provide medical information, she said.

With the explosion of new research, Topol said, I dont think the medical community has a really good clue about whats about to happen.
For Jim and Suzi Stanger, a long-awaited day has arrived.

The Stangers stood Monday in the shadow of the new Helena temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, talking about what the 9,794-square-foot structure means to them and their faith. The Stangers head up the open houses and dedication committee for the Helena temple.

Were so excited to have the temple here, Jim Stanger said during a media day news conference. When you go into the temple you can feel the spirit of the Lord there.

It will be formally dedicated on June 18.

The public is invited to see the temple during open houses that run 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. starting Thursday through June 3 at 1260 Otter Road in Treasure State Acres in north Helena. The tours are free with no reservations needed. More information is available at https://bit.ly/3BscbOh. After that, the temple will be closed to the general public.

The temple is the first of its kind as it was built through the design, manufacture and install process known as DMI. Modules were built in Birmingham, Alabama, and moved by truck to Helena, church officials said.

The modules were then connected and finished on-site with exterior stone cladding, tower assembly and other finishing touches.

Its the second Church of Jesus Christ temple built in Montana, with Billings, which was dedicated in 1999, being the first. The Helena temple stands 96 feet, 9 inches tall, including the spire. Another temple has been announced for Missoula to help with Montana's estimated 51,000 Church of Jesus Christ members.

Church officials said in a news release the temples art-deco style reflects Helenas vibrant 19th century architectural history and includes designs that draw upon the Native American artwork of the area.

Temples are different than the Church of Jesus Christ meeting houses where members meet on Sundays. Temples are not open on the Sabbath.

Temples are considered a house of the Lord, where the teachings of Jesus are reaffirmed through baptism and other practices that unite families.

The temple, like all other temples, has Holiness to the Lord and The House of the Lord near the entrance, includes a baptistery for baptisms, an instruction room where members can concentrate on self-improvement, and a celestial room, in which there are no ceremonies performed. It is a place of quiet peace, prayer and reflection meant to symbolize Heaven.

The one-story temple also has a sealing room, where a bride and groom kneel together at an altar to be sealed for this life and for eternity. This is sometimes referred to as temple marriage or eternal marriage, according to the Church of Jesus Christ website.

Arnulfo Valenzuela, general authority seventy of the church, welcomed the media.

As members of the church, we love temples, he said.

Valenzuela said before the church began increasing the number of temples, he has driven as long as 36 hours to get to a temple. The church has 315 temples worldwide, either dedicated, under construction or announced.

He said later the module format of the building was "an absolute success," noting it was efficient and would serve as the template for other temples.

"This was the first one and it worked perfectly," Valenzuela said.

He led the media and others through the temple Monday. They asked no photos be taken to respect the sanctity of the building.

Helena is among the 20 cities throughout the world receiving a new temple, officials announced at the churchs general conference in 2021 by church President Russell M. Nelson. Temples were also announced regionally for Casper, Wyoming; Burley, Idaho; and Grand Junction, Colorado.

Bret Romney, stake president in Helena, said in 2021 the Helena stake has 3,500 members and six wards in Helena, one in Townsend and congregations in Boulder, Lincoln and White Sulphur Springs. A meeting house was built on the temple site in 1990.

Ground was broken in June 2021.

The temple to be constructed here will be more than a beautiful building, Elder Vern P. Stanfill, One of the Seventy for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said at the 2021 ceremony. The temple is a sanctifying place but it is also a strengthening place.

Jim and Suzi Stanger were asked how the temple has been received by Treasure State Acres residents. They said they had nearly 300 people show up for an open house for the neighborhood.

Jim Stanger said he has received mostly positive comments about the new temple, but did say one neighbor said they lost their view of Mount Helena in all the construction.

Suzi Stanger said Monday she hopes the temple can bring some comfort. And said she that some of the Treasure State Acres residents shared that they thought of the temple as their temple.

In a world that is so chaotic and confusing, the temple is a place of peace, she said.
Well, first thing that happens when you flip open the cover of Remarkably Bright Creatures is you meet the remarkably bright Marcellus McSquiddles, a giant Pacific octopus.

He just happens to be a central character and narrator in this debut novel by Shelby Van Pelt.

Learn more about Marcellus when Van Pelt gives a talk and book signing at the Helena Civic Center, 7 p.m. Tuesday hosted by the Lewis & Clark Library and the library foundation.

The story tells of the surprising relationship that develops between widow Tova Sullivan, who works night shifts at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, and the curmudgeonly Marcellus, and how he solves the decades-old mystery of the disappearance of Tovas son, Erik.

The storys full of surprising plot twists and fascinating facts about octopuses.

Marcellus was originally inspired by an internet video Van Pelt saw of an octopus trying to escape from a cylindrical container, she said in a recent IR phone interview from her home in Wheaton, Illinois.

The character really stuck with me.

And hes stuck with a lot of people.

Marcellus caught the eye of Jenna Bush Hager, who selected Remarkably Bright Creatures as a featured book on her Read with Jenna segment on the Today Show last May.

If someone told me. Youre going to love a book about an octopus, I might say, you dont know my tastes.

But love it, Jenna did.

Marcellus had one of the cutest personalities of any character Ive ever read about, she told Van Pelt during their Today interview.

To check out the segment, visit https://on.today.com/3M9l5p0.

Its a novel filled with love, humor, joy and healing, she told viewers.

A Washington Post reviewer called it an ultimately feel-good but deceptively sensitive debut about what it feels like to have love taken from you, only to find it again in the most unexpected places.

Although octopuses  to our knowledge  dont talk, it turns out they can do a heck of a lot of extraordinary things  solving puzzles, squeezing into and out of amazingly tight spots and being able to manipulate locks.

In the case of Marcellus, he likes to steal late night delicacies  eating a few of his neighbors in the nearby aquarium tanks  and scrounging in the breakroom for take-out food scraps.

He also knows how to wedge open doors and how to scoot out a very small hole in his tank and then scoot back in before its too late.

The things he can do physically  all of those things are possible, Van Pelt said.

His insights into the human heart, however, are uncharted territory.

Marcellus was the most enjoyable character to write, she told Today viewers. He could go on for hours about anything. Hes your grumpy uncle or grandfatherwho just has opinions about everything.

The other main character, Tova, is lovingly based on Van Pelts own Swedish grandmother.

I took my grandmothers sensibilities in creating her character, which is that of a loving, stoic and very independent woman who was fastidious about cleaning.

The novels success took Van Pelt a bit by surprise.

Van Pelts book debut in bookstores was remarkably good timing, hitting the market in Spring 2022, after the Oscar-winning Netflix documentary, My Octopus Teacher, became a viral sensation.

I always liked writing. I was always good at it in school. I did things like I was editor of my high school newspaper, she said.

She always envisioned that if she did any writing as a career, it would be more like journalism.

A native of Tacoma, Washington, Van Pelt ventured into fiction writing when she was between jobs and in a transitional life space.

It was a little bit of a surprise to me when I discovered how much I loved creative writing and making up these characters and making up these worlds and settings.

Besides the fact there is a giant Pacific octopus in my novel, all of it is very real to me.

In the early days of her fiction writing, she went down a YouTube rabbit hole of video after video of octopuses escaping their enclosures, and solving puzzles and having these (distinctive) personalities.

I thought that would be a really fun character to write. The voice of an octopus that is held captive by what it considers an inferior species  the humans.

Van Pelt decided to go with the flow of ideas and have fun with it.

In her Helena talk, she will be sharing some insights about writing, book groups and perhaps some of her firsthand experiences meeting an octopus at the Milwaukee Zoo.

Let us say, the octopus was not impressed.

A newcomer to fiction writing, Van Pelt has learned a great deal from writing groups and from continuing education classes.

Shes an enthusiastic cheerleader for continuing ed writing classes offered on many college campuses and by school districts. You dont have to get an MFA.

She also speaks highly of writing groups offered by libraries and writing workshops.

I love community book events and community reads like this one, where you have an effort to bring people together around reading and participating around the shared experience of a single book, Van Pelt said.

Having done a lot of book events in the past year, Ive come to believe that book clubs and book events are an important part of our societal fabric.

Lewis & Clark Adult Services Librarian Suzanne Schwichtenberg said the library particularly wanted to invite Van Pelt because shes a young author, whos written a New York Times bestseller.

People love it, she said of the book.

Tuesdays event will showcase a fresh voice in the writing community. And, surprisingly, in the Montana writing community. Van Pelt and her husband own a vacation cabin near Flathead Lake.

I think author events encourage people to think about their own creativity and about community, Schwichtenberg said.

Its a fantastic opportunity for Helena to  see and meet a New York Times bestselling author for free.
If Gov. Greg Gianforte's veto stands, Montana's 2-year-old compensation program for those wrongfully convicted will sunset on July 1.

House Bill 423 sought to update the program installed by the 2021 Legislature, which for the first time established a route where those who have been wrongfully convicted could seek compensation for their time in state custody.

The program provided $60,000 for each year in state prison and $25,000 for each additional year that person was under state probation or parole.

Last week Gianforte, a Republican, vetoed HB 423 because of his disagreement with a key component of the bill that took counties where the conviction occurred out of the compensation equation. The bill sent to Gianforte would have the state pay for any claims, not the counties where law enforcement and prosecutors secured the wrongful conviction. The governor has wanted counties to bear some of the burden since the program was first created.

On Monday, the Secretary of State's Office said it will poll lawmakers for a possible veto override on HB 423.

Another key provision in HB 423 was eliminating the July 1, 2023, sunset date. By vetoing the bill, the sunset date remains in place and the door to file claims would close in a month and a half.

Cody Marble, the only person so far to file a claim under the new program, said he was not surprised with the disconnect between the Legislature and Gianforte on the issue.

"I just wish he would listen more or talk to more people who were on the committees before he signed the veto," Marble said Monday.

Lawmakers and the executive branch have been at odds over the program as long as it has been a matter of discussion.

Gianforte, in 2021, had sent the original bill back to the Legislature with several major changes that lawmakers accepted hesitantly after working in bipartisan fashion ahead of the session to craft a program that worked with all stakeholders.

Among the changes Gianforte required then in exchange for his signature was the July 1 sunset date.

" Since this is a new program, the next Legislature should review it to ensure it should be continued or revised," Gianforte wrote in his 2021 amendatory veto letter to lawmakers.

With wide support, lawmakers this session opted to continue the program by an 81-17 margin in the House and 44-1 in the Senate.

"It's been four years of negotiating in good faith," Amy Sings in the Timber, executive director of the Montana Innocence Project, said Monday. "To have this be where we're at right now, it's disappointing at every level.

"The whole thing has me feeling like what's the point of having government if at the end of the day, folks are just going to let their egos rule the outcomes," Sings in the Timber said.

A spokesperson for the governor's office on Monday said a person incarcerated for a crime they didn't commit "deserves redress and compensation," but ultimately placed blame upon the Legislature for adjourning before his suggestions could be incorporated into the bill.

The Montana Innocence Project represented Marble as he worked to overturn his conviction after 15 years in and out of incarceration. In 2016 a judge overturned his conviction based on new evidence, saying it "undermined the confidence" in Marble's criminal conviction. That ruling set the stage for a new trial, and the Missoula County attorney's office dismissed the case, writing it "lacks integrity."

Marble's claim for compensation was complicated by the other provision Gianforte tacked on to the 2021 bill, putting counties on the hook for 75% of the payout to exonerees.

That dynamic changed the program from a simple payout system to an adverse court proceeding, similar to the protracted and expensive litigation claimants had to endure before the program.

Missoula County, now facing potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation, has since reversed course and now argues Marbles' conviction was sound.

The Innocence Project had also been directly involved in designing the program lawmakers passed in 2021 to avoid a legal fight like the one Marble now faces.

"The overriding goal for exoneree compensation is to provide a measure of meaningful compensation for those wrongfully convicted and wrongfully incarcerated in the most expedient way possible," Sings in the Timber said.

The governor's office, however, has maintained the state should not bear sole responsibility for paying out those claims. In his veto letter to lawmakers May 1, he wrote counties should be held liable for the brunt of compensation claims as a matter of prevention of future wrongful convictions.

On May 2, the House approved the governor's amendments, a tradeoff to see the program continue despite disputing Gianforte's changes. However, the Senate had adjourned ahead of the House without addressing those changes, meaning Gianforte had to accept the version in which counties held no liability or veto the bill outright.

"Unfortunately, the Senate motion to sine die passed on May 5 before the Senate had the opportunity to consider my amendatory veto, and for that reason the amendatory veto failed," Gianforte wrote Friday in his second veto letter on the bill. " Shifting 100% of the responsibility of the cost of the optional wrongful conviction program to state taxpayers is a disincentive for counties to ensure proper training and implement other measures that prevent conduct leading to wrongful convictions."

A spokesperson said Monday the Secretary of State's Office is preparing to conduct a poll in which lawmakers can vote on a potential override of Gianforte's veto. While HB 423 cleared the Legislature with relative ease, lawmakers have generally acknowledged overriding a veto is more easily done when body is still in session than when legislators have returned to their daily lives.

Lawmakers have 30 days to return their vote on overriding the veto. SK Rossi, who lobbied on behalf of the Innocence Project this session, said Monday their conversations with lawmakers about the override have shown some appetite for overturning a veto on a bill that saw wide support.

Marble, meanwhile, said the governor's veto appears to grant him the latitude to resolve his claim, even if the program sunsets July 1.

At the end of this veto letter, Gianforte notes the 2021 Legislature, in establishing the program, appropriated the adequate funds to a special revenue account "to cover any pending claims filed under the wrongful conviction program."
Recently Matt Smith and Marc Devokaitis posted online "A Modest Proposal: Can EBird Help Choose Better State Birds?"

They propose replacing the Western Meadowlark with the Thick-billed Longspur as the state bird of Montana.

They propose the Thick-billed Longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii) because 60% of the global population of Thick-billed Longspurs breed in Montana.

The Thick-billed Longspur also breeds in southern Canada and Wyoming, in wide-open spaces. It migrates through Wyoming and Colorado, spilling over state borders along the way, and winters in Texas and Mexico. But over half the population breeds in Montana.

As the name suggests, this Longspur has a thick bill and, like other species of Longspurs, an elongated rear toe, the spur.

If you see a bird singing while parachuting down to earth, with its wings upstretched and its white tail feathers spread wide, that's probably a male thick-billed longspur. The aerial-song display is the way the species establishes and maintains it territory.

The bird likes open spaces, particularly shortgrass prairie habitat.

Buff and brown streaks on the back, and an inverted black T on the white tail, characterize this Longspur. A breeding male has a white face with black crown and black on the upper chest, plus a chestnut-colored patch on the wings. It's handsome.

The Thick-billed Longspur used to be called McCown's Longspur, named after John P. McCown who in addition to collecting birds fought as a Confederate general during the American Civil War. His defense of slavery provided cause for removing his name from the species, not that his political views had anything to do with his birding or vice versa, but his discriminatory behavior only hastened the renaming.

The renaming was part of an ongoing movement for Bird Names for Birds. It's a fact that birds named for people were usually named for white men. The naming generally failed to recognize indigenous people or people of color, or women of any description, for their contributions to understanding birds. Thus the renaming campaign targets all birds named for people rather than just those birds named after people who discriminated against Black people.

But the status of the species, rather than the name, is the subject at hand. Should it be the state bird?

Montana's state bird has been the Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) since 1931 when the state's schoolchildren selected it by vote and the state Legislature affirmed the selection, also by vote.

The Western Meadowlark sings a loud song, and it is easy to see due to its bright yellow and black streaked and spotted plumage. It is fond of open grasslands.

The Western Meadowlark is so popular that it is also the state bird of North Dakota, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oregon.

Smith and Devokaitis propose alternatives to the Meadowlark for those five states too: the Marsh Wren for North Dakota, the Black Rosy-Finch for Wyoming, the Lesser Prairie-Chicken for Kansas, the Greater Prairie-Chicken for Nebraska, and the Hermit Warbler for Oregon.

That would leave the Western Meadowlark without any state recognition.

How can that be fair?
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High around 90F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy in the evening. Thunderstorms developing after midnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 68F. SSE winds shifting to N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Chris Samples spoke with Mindy McLanahan, pastor of the Cornerstone Methodist Church. He asked her about the history of the church, her thoughts on the liberal direction of the church and the challenge of the change.

To listen to this interview click HERE and HERE and HERE




" " A pathway leads through Aokigahara Forest, in Fujikawaguchiko, Japan, 2018. In recent years, the dense forest has become known as a place where people go to commit suicide. Carl Court/Getty Images

Warning: the following article includes frank discussions of suicide. If you or somebody you love is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.

In the year 864, Mount Fuji experienced a violent, six-month eruption that buried entire villages and left behind a massive field of hardened lava. Over the past 1,000 years, a tangled forest grew on that lava field or forest floor, in the shadow of the snow-capped volcano. Its official name is Aokigahara, but most Japanese call it jukai, which means "sea of trees."

Advertisement

Aokigahara is a popular hiking destination just a couple of hours from Tokyo in the rural Yamanashi prefecture. But not everybody comes here for the fresh air and sweeping views. For decades, Aokigahara has served as a darker kind of destination. For lost souls who see no other way out, Aokigahara is known as the suicide forest.

According to the Yamanashi government, there were more than 100 suicides committed in Aokigahara forest between 2013 and 2015 alone, CNN reported. The victims, whose remains are found deep in the sea of trees, often travel from far away to join countless others who have ended their lives in these mist-shrouded woods. The Japanese government no longer gives statistics on suicides in Aokigahara in an effort to deter people from coming there to do it.

But how did this scenic and serene forest at the base of Mount Fuji become so intimately associated with suicide? We reached out to Lindsay Nelson, a political science professor at Meiji University in Tokyo, who writes about Japanese horror films, including a chapter on the suicide forest in her book, "Circulating Fear: Japanese Horror, Fractured Realities, and New Media."
COMPANY NEWS: The Internet of Things (IoT) has become an increasingly popular target for cyber attacks in recent years because these devices are often poorly secured and can be easily compromised.

To highlight the vulnerabilities of IoT devices and encourage better security practices from manufacturers, the Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) organized a Pwn2Own competition last fall in Toronto that focused on hacking into IoT devices such as printers, network-attached storage (NAS) devices, routers, and smart speakers. This competition brought together experienced hackers to demonstrate their skills in finding and exploiting vulnerabilities in these devices. Here, we will explore the research we conducted on the Netgear RAX30 router for the Pwn2Own competition.

Bypassing Buffer Overflow Protections: Stack Canaries

When conducting research for a Pwn2Own competition, it is not uncommon to discover multiple vulnerabilities in the targeted device or software. In fact, right at the beginning of our research, we identified several vulnerabilities that were trivially exploitable. However, since the competition reduces points for duplicate issues, we knew that simply reporting these vulnerabilities would not be enough. Instead, we decided to dig deeper and uncover more complex and novel vulnerabilities that would provide us with a competitive advantage.

It didnt take long before we found an easy to find but difficult to exploit vulnerability in the soap_serverd process running on port 5000. This process handles Soap messages related to management functionality, mostly in the LAN.

This looked like a good candidate to exploit since we assumed most teams would go for the easy wins.

The vulnerability we found was a stack-based buffer overflow. This class of vulnerabilities is usually trivial to exploit when there are no stack protections. However, it turned out that a few versions back, Netgear decided to recompile all the binaries in the RAX30 router with stack canaries making the exploitation much harder.

Eventually we had to find and exploit five vulnerabilities in a cool chain that earned us five points in the Pwn2Own competition, where Team82 had success in a number of categories in addition to targeting routers. This exploit chain can be leveraged by an attacker to gain pre-authentication remote code execution on affected devices.

Successful exploits could allow attackers to monitor users' internet activity, hijack internet connections and redirect traffic to malicious websites, or inject malware into network traffic. An attacker could also use these vulnerabilities to access and control networked smart devices (security cameras, thermostats, smart locks), change router settings including credentials or DNS settings, or use a compromised network to launch attacks against other devices or networks.

Stack canaries

Before going into the details about the exploit chain we developed, lets talk about stack canaries. Stack canaries are a widely used security mechanism that help protect against buffer overflow attacks. They work by placing a small value on the stack called a canary, which is checked for modification before a function returns. If the canary has been tampered with, the program terminates to prevent further exploitation.

When looking into bypassing stack canaries you generally have three options:

Find another vulnerability that could leak the canary from memory

Brute-force the canary (This is possible only in specific cases)

Logically bypass the canary: do something with the overflow before the canary is checked.

We will focus on the third option: logically bypassing the canary. While this is something that is thrown around every time bypassing canaries is brought up, there aren't that many real world examples where this technique is used.

Exploring the Netgear RAX30 soap_serverd Process

Netgear devices have a dedicated server (soap_serverd) running on port 5000 (HTTP) and 5043 (HTTPS) that is used as a programmatic API (Soap) for the router.

The exposed API allows users to query the device and change its configuration. The server is mainly used by the NETGEAR Nighthawk App for iOS and Android. There are more than 180 actions exposed by the server and they are sorted by the following categories:

UserOptionsTC

AdvancedQOS

WANEthernetLinkConfig

WANIPConnection

DeviceInfo

LANConfigSecurity

WLANConfiguration

DeviceConfig

ParentalControl

Almost all of the functions exposed by the server require authentication.

Netgear RAX30 Vulnerability Details

CVE-2023-27357 Netgear RAX30 GetInfo missing authentication information disclosure vulnerability

One of the few commands that does not require authentication is GetInfo. In the Get response, we can find details about the device such as the model, serial number, and more.

There is not much we can do with this information at this point but lets keep this for later.

CVE-2023-27368: Netgear RAX30 soap_serverd stack-based buffer overflow authentication bypass vulnerability

To handle communication, soap_serverd reads the HTTP headers first and then proceeds to parse them using the sscanf function to extract the HTTP method, path, and protocol version.

The code above will split POST /soap/server_sa/ HTTP/1.1 into three parameters:

method: POST

path: /soap/server_sa/

protocol: HTTP/1.1

As we can see in the calls to memset, each parameter (method, path, protocol) is expected to be no more than 0x7FC bytes long. The server does not check the length of the method, path, and protocol fields meaning we can overflow them and overwrite data on the stack.

Unfortunately the HTTP receive function over TCP port 5000 limits the size of the HTTP header, thus limiting the amount of data we can overflow. In order to avoid that limitation we used something a bit different.

CVE-2023-27369: NETGEAR RAX30 soap_serverd Stack-based Buffer Overflow Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

The soap_serverd binary listens for incoming messages on two ports:

5000

5043 (SSL)

Different socket read and socket write functions are called depending on the port that the Soap message was sent to. When reading the Soap message headers, the server reads data from the socket one byte at a time. However, we discovered that in the SSL flow, the read function doesnt check how many bytes were read, which could lead to a buffer overflow.

Reading unlimited data can result in two issues:

Stack exhaustion: sending large buffers can read more than the stack size and crash the server

Buffer is of unexpected size: The flow that parses the header expects them to be at a certain maximum size.

We can use this vulnerability to write long buffers on the stack while bypassing the overall buffer-size limit. If we use SSL to send the Soap message, we are not limited in size (due to the stack overflow mentioned above) meaning we can overwrite as much data as we want.

Bypassing stack canaries

Now that we understand the sscanf vulnerability and can trigger it without any limitations on how much data we can overwrite, we are left with only one issue: the stack canneries. Once we overwrite data from the stack and right before the function that handles HTTP requests returns, the stack canary is checked and crashes the program.

In recent versions on the RAX30 router, Netgear started to compile the soap_soerverd binary with stack protections. These protections make it much harder to exploit the stack overflow in the traditional way. Our approach to bypassing the stack canary was to try to (somewhat) logically bypass it.

Stack canaries are set at the beginning of functions that have the potential for an overflow, but are checked only at the end of the frame. This means that by using the sscanf overflow, we can overwrite the canary, finish the request handling and response flow and only then get to the end of the function where the canary is checked.

Since most of the Soap commands require authentication, we focused on trying to bypass the authentication flow.

The first thing the server checks when authenticating users is whether the request came from 127.0.0.1 (localhost). Requests coming from localhost do not require authentication. Luckily we discovered that the socket source IP is stored on the stack in an offset we can overwrite with our stack overflow.

Using the stack overflow to overwrite the socket IP to 127.0.0.1 we are able to make the server think the request was generated locally, bypass authentication and run any soap_serverd command.

This vulnerability by itself is not enough because usually we are limited to 0x800 (2048), and so we chained it with the previous vulnerability over TCP port 5043 (SSL), which allowed us to write more data on the stack. The final payload we constructed was:

payload = POST + SPACE + ("a" * [REDUCTED]) + SPACE + ("b" * [REDACTED]) + "127.0.0.1" + ("c" * [REDACTED])

POST: HTTP Method

SPACE: Separator

("a" * [REDACTED]): Path (URI)

SPACE: Separator

("b" * [REDACTED]): Part of Protocol (padding)

127.0.0.1: Part of Protocol (data to overwrite on stack to bypass auth)

("c" * [REDACTED]): Part of Protocol (padding)

Using the fake IP (127.0.0.1) as we see in the After image, we are able to bypass authentication and call any function the soap_serverd exposes as if we are fully authenticated. We decided to call the GetConfigInfo command which returns the entire router configuration including the device's serial, MAC address, hashed passwords, and much more.

CVE-2023-27370: Using soap_serverd auth bypass to reset the admin password

When setting up the router, users are required to enter a new, unique password and provide security questions and answers that will allow them to restore the password if they forget it. The answers to these questions are stored in plain-text (base64) in the device configuration. In order to reset the device password, users need the serial number of the router and the answers to the security questions. Therefore, by getting the raw configuration using the three vulns above, an attacker will be able to reset the admin password.

We used this vulnerability in the Pwn2Own competition to reset the routers admin password and chained it with CVE-2023-27367.

CVE-2023-27367: Authentication Bypass to RCE Using Magic telnet and Command Injection

In the past, researchers have discovered a "magic packet" that can enable Telnet on NETGEAR routers by enabling port 23 TCP in the firewall. https://github.com/davejagoda/NetgearTelnetEnable

The RAX30 router was no different. We discovered that it is still possible to send that open-telnet-magic-packet with a few changes from the previous models, and open Telnet.

The packet is built using:

Device MAC address

Username

Password

SHA256 hash of the password used to set up the router

In order to build the payload, we use the following (which we now have because we obtained a copy of the configuration and reseted the admins hash):

secret key: AMBIT_TELNET_ENABLE+ + sha256(password)

cleartext: MAC (null padding 0x10) + username (null padding 0x10) + sha256(password) (null padding 0x50)

hash: MD5(cleartext)

(hash + cleartext) (null padding 0xb0)

Create the magic packet - Use Blowfish algorithm to encrypt the payload with a secret key as the key.

After sending the magic packet, the device will run a telnet server and open port 23 TCP for new connections. However, now we face a new problem: the telnet interface is restricted to specific commands. We were jailed.

So, we had to look for another vulnerability, a command injection. We discovered that the TFTP command is not filtered before it is executed (CVE-2023-27370), which means that we can run any command using that interface.

This meant we now had shell access to the router (using the telnet service), and had the ability to execute arbitrary commands.

1. Using CVE-2023-27357 (Sensitive Information Exposed Without Authentication), we retrieve the device serial number.

2. Using CVE-2023-27369 (SSL Read stack overflow), we are able to send a HTTPs payload without size restrictions.

3. Using CVE-2023-27368 (sscanf stack overflow), we are able to write a payload long enough to overwrite the socket IP, bypass authentication, and read the device configuration.

4. Using CVE-2023-27370 (Plain text secrets in the configuration) to obtain the plain-text security questions and answers, and the serial number we got earlier we can change the admin password

5. After changing the password we can send a magic packet to enable a restricted telnet server on the device

6. Using CVE-2023-27367 (Restricted shell escape), we get root access remote code execution on the device

These five CVEs can be chained together to compromised affected RAX30 routers, the most severe of which enable pre-authentication remote code execution on the device. Netgear recommends users update these devices immediately.
COMPANY NEWS: Hitachi Vantara, the modern infrastructure, data management, and digital solutions subsidiary of Hitachi, announced today its Hitachi Content Platform (HCP) has been recognised as a leader and fast mover in the latest GigaOm Radar Report for Unstructured Data Management for Infrastructure-focused Solutions. The report evaluated 12 vendors in the market and rated them on their capabilities to address the complex challenges of managing unstructured data in large-scale infrastructure environments. This is the third consecutive year HCP has received GigaOm recognition for leadership in the unstructured data management radar for infrastructure solutions.

For more information about Hitachi Content Platform, visit https://www.hitachivantara.com/en-us/products/storage-systems/file-object-storage/content-platform.html.

The report highlights the exceptional performance of HCP across a wide range of metrics and criteria. HCP was rated exceptional in five out of six evaluation metrics. The exceptional metrics include architecture, scalability, flexibility, performance and efficiency, and ecosystem. Furthermore, HCP was also rated exceptional in five out of seven key criteria, including metadata analytics, global content and search, big data analytics, compliance, and security. HCP was also rated exceptional in both deployment models: user managed and SaaS.

"To be a GigaOm Radar leader, a company must distinguish itself across several key criteria, such as the ability to deliver high performance, scalability across data, and strong compliance and security capabilities, said GigaOm analyst Arjan Timmerman.

"Hitachi Vantara's HCP platform delivers ease of use, with the ability to help customers optimise and secure their object storage performance. HCP delivers fast data processing and insights into data, meeting the most pressing demands of today's modern cloud-native workloads. This is why HCP is considered a leader in managing unstructured data."

Solutions in a complex cloud environment

Managing unstructured data in complex multicloud and multi-vendor infrastructure environments is one of the numerous data management challenges many organisations encounter. According to the report, enterprises face several operational and business risks including dark and orphaned data, security, infrastructure cost, and compliance risks if they do not have a data strategy in place. Additionally, the report highlights that while storage for structured data (or primary storage) is still one of the most significant items of expenditure in any IT budget, unstructured data storage now accounts for 80% to 90% of the total capacity and is growing more quickly than any other form of storage. Infrastructure solutions defined by GigaOm are designed to target data management at the infrastructure level and metadata. Hitachi Vantara has demonstrated exceptional capabilities in these areas, making it a preferred choice for customers.

This recognition is a testament to the company's commitment to innovation and its ability to cater to the dynamic needs of customers in the infrastructure solutions market, said Hitachi Vantara senior vice president of product management-storage Dan McConnell,. As data management becomes increasingly important, companies must address expanding requirements such as performance, scalability, and data intelligence. Data-aware products like HCP are critical in managing costs, gaining insights, supporting new applications, and meeting regulatory requirements for privacy and security, particularly as unstructured data continues to grow at an unprecedented rate. Hitachi Vantara remains dedicated to delivering exceptional data management solutions to its customers.

The GigaOm Radar weighs vendors based on their ability to execute and innovate and their product roadmap. The radar chart shows HCP is well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of customers in the infrastructure-focused solutions market.

HCP offers a broad ecosystem of solutions including comprehensive, intelligent data management to unlock the full value of data assets. Hitachis HCP portfolio has been rated as exceptional for metadata analytics, big data analytics, and compliance and security. HCP delivers comprehensive data management for IoT, big data, and unstructured data whether it is on premises or in the cloud.

This latest recognition adds to the strong performance portfolio for Hitachi Vantara. In addition to this latest GigaOm acknowledgement, Hitachi Vantara recently announced results from TechTargets Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) technical review of Hitachi Content Platform (HCP), validating the platforms scalable high performance. The Hitachi Content Platform: High-performance Object Storage for Cloud-native Applications Report also assessed the cost effectiveness customers can achieve in their data centre modernisation and data-driven. analytics initiatives.

Connect with Hitachi Vantara

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 LinkedIn

 Facebook

Additional resources

 GigaOm Radar report for unstructured data management

 Blog: Hitachi Vantara drives unstructured data management leadership once again

 Blog: Object storage evolution to meet emerging demands

 Hitachi Vantara raises bar for object storage performance, TechTargets enterprise strategy group technical review shows

About Hitachi Vantara

Hitachi Vantara, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi, delivers the intelligent data platforms, infrastructure systems, and digital expertise that supports more than 80 percent of the Fortune 100. To learn how Hitachi Vantara turns businesses from data-rich to data-driven through agile digital processes, products, and experiences, visit https://www.hitachivantara.com.

About Hitachi

Hitachi drives social innovation business, creating a sustainable society with data and technology. We will solve customers' and society's challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (operational technology) and products, under the business structure of digital systems and services, green energy and mobility, connective industries and automotive systems. Driven by green, digital, and innovation, we aim for growth through collaboration with our customers. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2021 (ended 31 March 2022) totalled 10,264.6 billion yen (US$84,136 million), with 853 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 370,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com.

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Australias national science agency, CSIRO, has launched a free program designed to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the growing health and medical technologies sector to develop new products and services.

The CSIRO says applications are now open for the 10-week Innovate to Grow program, which provides SMEs with the knowledge and tools to better identify and understand their research and development (R&D) opportunities, plus develop actionable business plans to advance their innovative idea.

Dr Susie Nilsson, Biomedical Manufacturing Research Director at CSIRO, said the health and medical technologies sectors play a pivotal role in growing Australias economy thanks to our aging population, disruptive technologies and COVID-19 driving local manufacturing capabilities.

Australia is home to more than 1,000 companies working in the medtech and pharmaceutical sector alone, and many of these are small and medium enterprises who we know can sometimes struggle with the transition from R&D to a viable product, Dr Nilsson said.

Supporting these businesses as they pursue new treatments and technologies boosts not only our economy but most importantly helps people live healthier and more productive lives.

Michelle Armistead, CSIROs Innovate to Grow Coordinator said the program is a great opportunity for businesses looking to turn an idea into a viable research and development opportunity and provides invaluable connections to industry experts.

With assistance from experienced researchers and innovation experts, participants in the program will work with a mentor to examine their technical and business challenges, explore their research and development opportunities, learn tips for partnering with research organisations and develop strong funding applications, Armistead said.

After completing the program, eligible participants may be able to access continued support through CSIRO, such as being connected to national research expertise or dollar-matched R&D funding to keep moving their ideas forward.

CSIRO notes that Innovate to Grow: Health and Medtech is open to SMEs working in the following sub-sectors:

Health & Nutrition

Digital Health

Botanical pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals

Diagnostics, Biosensors & Biomedical Devices

Biopharmaceuticals

Drug Discovery

Vaccines & Biologic Therapeutics

Applications for the free program close 12 June and places are limited.

Visit Innovate to Grow to learn more and apply.
Apple's Emergency SOS via satellite service is now available to iPhone 14 users in Australia and New Zealand.

This capability allows users to contact emergency services while outside of mobile and Wi-Fi coverage.

It also allows them to use satellite communications to share their locations via the Find My app.

Emergency SOS via satellite is available on the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max  and presumably on future iPhones. iOS 16.4 or later is required.

The service includes relay centres staffed with Apple-trained specialists who contact emergency services call centres on the users behalf.

Emergency SOS via satellite is offered if the user attempts to call 000 when no mobile connection is available. It can also be activated by pressing the side button and one of the volume buttons until the Emergency SOS slider appears.

The user is asked a few questions to describe their situation, and is then guided to point the phone at a satellite so the compressed message can be transmitted, along with their location, altitude, iPhone battery level, and (if enabled) Medical ID. Transmission takes as little as 15 seconds in clear conditions.

A transcript of the interaction with emergency services can be automatically shared with up to 10 emergency contacts.

A demo feature allows users to test and practice satellite connectivity without contacting emergency services.

It is already credited with helping to save lives in countries where the service previously went live.

Emergency SOS via satellite is free for two years from today for existing iPhone 14 owners, and from the time of activation of a new iPhone 14 model. Apple has not yet indicated what the charge will be after that period,

"The Albanese government welcomes the launch of this innovative safety capability," said Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland.

"Australians know full well the importance of remaining connected in regional, rural, and remote areas, particularly when they need emergency services. The ability to contact Triple Zero with Emergency SOS via satellite when there is no mobile coverage is a strong backup to keep Australians connected in an emergency.

"This will go a long way in helping emergency services respond to, protect, and ultimately, keep individuals safe from harm. Australians are encouraged to familiarise themselves with this feature and whether their device supports it."
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 President Biden sent fifteen hundred U.S. troops to the Mexican border to process the invasion of illegal migrants rather than turn them back. The policy of accommodation is massively unpopular. I would say that President Biden is being advised on border policy by the marketing team at Budweiser.

 President Biden conceded the flood of migrants poised to storm across the Rio Grande on Friday would be messy. It didn't help that Taco Bell just opened its first restaurant in Mexico City. The last thing we need are billboards in Mexico telling everybody else down there to Make a Run for the Border.

 Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas spoke to reporters Wednesday with Title 42 running out and blamed the border crisis on Congress. Reality is irrelevant here. You can't accuse the Biden Administration of gaslighting since they're the ones trying to convert everything to electricity.

 GOP House Members vowed to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for his unwillingness to take measures to halt the surge at the border. He wasn't in town to defend himself. Mayorkis flew to the border to fire the starter pistol Thursday when Title 42 expired at midnight.

 The White House held debt relief talks between President Biden and Speaker McCarthy. They've got three weeks left before default. If they can't agree on a compromise deal and the nation runs out of money, the president and Congress still get their paychecks under the Americans with No Abilities Act.

 Congressman George Santos, celebrated for making up his entire life's story to get elected was arrested by the FBI Wednesday for wire fraud and making false statements to Congress. It's quite messy. Santos now claims he regrets leaving his birth country, Nigeria, where he was born the Prince.

 Donald Trump was found liable for groping Jean Carroll by an anonymous New York jury and fined by a judge who wouldn't let him produce his DNA in defense. It won't cost him a vote. If every other president who groped a woman had been sued, the only one left with any money would be Jimmy Carter.

 New Jersey former Governor Chris Christie accused Trump of being a chronic womanizer after Tuesday's civil verdict. He has his own rather obvious issues. Last year Christie was scheduled to attend the GOP Donors Conference but he canceled when he found out it wasn't a Donut Conference.

 Politico reports that President Biden's re-election team has only hired two staffers and campaign fundraising has yet to begin in earnest. The president seems to be sliding backwards. In the ABC News poll released Monday, Biden's approval rating is at 36%, below Trump, DeSantis and Bud Light.

 Anheuser-Busch said it has no plan to rescue Bud Light sales amid a boycott for partnering with trans star Dylan Mulvaney. Sales have plummeted. The good news is, with Title 42 at the border gone, Bud Light has an instant market of millions of migrants who have no idea who Dylan Mulvaney is.

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 The Newport Beach Jazz Festival line-up is set for the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Newport Beach in June. It showcases some of the most talented musicians in the world. A rock band plays three chords in front of fifty thousand people, a jazz band plays fifty thousand chords in front of three people.

 Chicago cops blamed teen flash mobs that are looting retail stores on lack of parental discipline at home. This is not the country where I was raised. Back when we Baby Boomers were kids, if we weren't home by the time the street lights came on, we were better off starting a new life somewhere else.

 Glamour magazine ran an article advising single women on how to tell if your prospective mate is a workaholic and gave tips on how to be in a relationship with a workaholic. I'm one, and since the pandemic ended about a year ago my girlfriends don't seem to last as long. I must be over-inflating them.

 The Eastern Washington Wildlife and Game Commission issued a cougar population increase warning to all residents Friday. The cougars come out at night and the state needs help. Currently authorities are looking for single males between the ages of twenty-five and thirty to tame the situation.

 Heineken reports a huge increase in sales thanks to its new Heineken Zero that tastes like beer but has no alcohol. I turned down a sample at the supermarket Friday. To a recovering alcoholic like Lord Hamilton here, drinking a non-alcohol beer is like getting a handshake on your honeymoon.

 Netflix cast a black actress to play King George III's wife Queen Charlotte in Bridgerton, which sparked reaction. Critics say the woke network is hijacking British history. For the sake of comedy, I hope they next cast Robin Hood as an urban gang leader who steals from the Bitch and gives to the Ho

 Petco pet stores published a dogs-versus-cats customer survey which found that sixty percent of the Millennials are dog lovers and forty percent are cat lovers. Both animals are territorial. I petted a bunch of dogs at Coldwater Park Friday and when I got home, my dog acted like I'd been to a strip club.

 Dublin's National History Museum opened an exhibit of artifacts from on the Anglo-Norman conquest eight hundred years ago and occupation. I feel another bill for reparations coming. I just cancelled a Viking River Cruise because they won't let me loot and burn the monasteries along the way.

 Politico reported Thursday that the Joe Biden Re-election Campaign doesn't look like a serious operation with only two staffers hired so far and no fundraising organization at all. Hillary has been acting very coy about whether she'd run if Joe bows out. It's not fair for her to keep everybody hanging.

 Live Science says the equivalent of 25 billion tons of nuclear bombs have been dropped on earth due to global warming in 50 years. First it was called Global Warming by the Left, then it was renamed Climate Change by the liberals. And now to recruit the Republicans they will call it the Weather Rapture.

 Restaurant Brands International which owns Burger King announced Friday they plan to close four hundred Burger Kings this year. Picture the ripple effect. On Friday they closed twenty-seven Burger King locations, causing cardiologists to have to consider the BMW Series 5 instead of the Series 7.

 Car and Driver reported global sales of electric vehicles are skyrocketing this spring with the total number of EVs sold up thirty-five percent. Good deals are out there. Costco this week is offering twenty-five hundred dollars off on Volvo electric cars but you have to buy two hundred and forty of them.

 National Geographic displayed an ethnic map of Slavic Eastern Europe from the Baltic Sea to the Balkans. It displays the locale of Western Slavs, Southern Slavs and Eastern Slavs, and both Russia and Ukraine are Eastern Slavs. CNN is racking its brain trying to find a way to blame the war on racism.

(COMMENT, BELOW)
include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> In the summer of 2020, Becky Fast started receiving calls about the six-mile-long creek that winds through parks and neighborhoods in Johnson County, Kan.

The Johnson County commissioner heard from residents who wanted to know about the waterway's name: Negro Creek.

Years earlier, hundreds had signed a petition to change the name, citing concerns that it was racist and offensive. But Fast said the racial reckoning that came after George Floyd's murder in 2020 galvanized the community to reconsider the creek's name - alongside cities, military bases and school districts across the United States that were looking to remove names with racist ties around the same time.

The creek became the center of a years-long process dedicated to learning more about its history and deciding whether to rename it, led by Fast, community leaders and officials from the two cities it runs through. While historians were unable to definitively pin down the name's origin, a story about an enslaved man who escaped from captivity and - when tracked down at the creek by enslavers - killed himself rather than being re-enslaved, became folklore in the area.

Late last month, the committee created to oversee the process, which included several Black leaders in the community, voted unanimously to keep the Negro Creek name. Jay Holbert, president of the NAACP branch in Johnson County, who served on the committee, said he and the other members agreed that changing the name would mean losing the history of enslavement in the area along with it.

"We wanted to keep that known to the public," Holbert told The Washington Post. "Because when you start erasing history, you start losing a lot of information as to who was what, what was what and why things were going on at that time in our country's history."

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In the fall of 2020, the committee sought the help of Diane Mutti Burke, a history professor at the University of Missouri at Kansas City, who along with one of her graduate students at the time looked through old maps and online newspaper databases for mentions of Negro Creek.

They completed their first report in February 2021, finding that the first mention of the creek was in an 1879 article in the Western Progress, a Spring Hill, Kan., newspaper.

The article said a Black man had tried to escape slavery before being surrounded at the creek and dying by suicide to avoid capture, according to a report written by Mutti Burke and the graduate student, Deborah Keating.

Another article published in the Johnson County Sun in 1993 stated that there was a local theory that a Black person was "hung near the creek." It added that older news articles made clear "there was a persistent local legend that linked the creek's name to an incident of racial violence." Throughout the United States, there was also a pattern of naming locations with the word "Negro" to mark places where racial violence took place or a Black person died, according to the report.

In some instances, the name of the creek was written with the n-word rather than "Negro." But in 1963, a federal mandate required geographic locations with the racial slur be changed to "Negro," Mutti Burke said in an email. She said Negro Creek's name was officially changed in October 1978, likely as part of a federal renaming project.

The report also stated that the researchers could not substantiate whether the creek was part of the Underground Railroad, which is "notoriously difficult" because it was kept secretive.

During their research, the materials Mutti Burke and Keating could access were limited because libraries and archives were closed during the pandemic, making it a challenge to authenticate any version of the origin story. Early last year, after receiving the first report, committee members asked Mutti Burke to try to authenticate the story again, hoping it would yield the name of the enslaved man at the center of the theories surrounding Negro Creek.

But again, despite accessing physical records, poring over archival material and expanding the databases they searched, Mutti Burke and Keating wrote in a second report, completed in May 2022, that they were "unable to authenticate either the story linking the name of the creek to the death of an enslaved man or his name."

However, they wrote that the story of the enslaved man seeking freedom "can play a central role in interpretation" because there was "a strong local oral tradition" that it was the origin of Negro Creek's name.

They added that while the waterway couldn't formally be represented as a part of the Underground Railroad, it still likely played a role in "enslaved Missourians' path toward freedom."

Before voting on whether to keep the name, the committee presented the findings to residents. Not everyone in the community was behind keeping the name.

Holbert said there was an age divide over the renaming. Younger people tended to be in favor of changing the name, thinking Negro Creek was too offensive to remain.

But, Holbert said, keeping the name would help the community understand the history of the area.

"If we don't keep in mind of the downs and some of the bad things that we went through, you are destined to start repeating it," he said. "And we don't want that. We want the younger generation to be aware of, this is what we went through."

After receiving and reviewing the findings, the Johnson County committee on April 26 voted unanimously to keep the name.

By 2024, Johnson County leaders hope to install plaques near the river to explain the stories surrounding the name it will continue to bear.

"I think it's going to work out really nice not only for us, but for the community and for the history itself and keeping it in front of people," Holbert said.
Toyota North Carolina is in a purposeful methodical ramp-up for its electric-vehicle battery manufacturing plant in the Greensboro-Randolph megasite.

Toyota committed to the Liberty site in December 2021 with a pledge of having at least 2,100 employees at full production, ranking it among the largest economic-development recruitment projects in North Carolina history.

Production is expected to begin in 2025 at what will be 2 million square feet of space within three buildings. Toyota has pledged a $3.8-billion capital investment in the operations.

Two 500,000-square-foot buildings are dedicated to hybrid electric vehicle battery production, while a 1-million-square-foot building will be focused on electric vehicle battery production.

The first building has been walled in, and the walls for the second building are being erected, Toyota North Carolina communications manager Emily Wilemon-Holland said Monday.

The pad for the third building is currently being prepared for construction.

The Liberty plant is an example of Toyota building things locally where they are sold, said Norm Bafunno, senior vice president of Unit Manufacturing and Engineering at Toyota Motor North America.

Its not a 100% alignment, but we try to get as close as we can in our (production) footprint in the United States. Were going to have to keep up with the North American consumer, and that begins in North Carolina.

Sean Suggs has been hired as president of the North Carolina unit, along with Don Stewart as vice president of manufacturing in charge of plant operations, and April Mason as general manager of plant services.

Also being hired currently are supervisors and facility maintenance technicians.

Toyota said it plans to start hiring production and maintenance positions in mid-2023. To apply for open positions, go to www.toyota.com/careers.

There are plans for in-person applicant assessment and interview locations in Asheboro and Greensboro through NCWorks locations.

In October, Toyota North Carolina signed a nearly three-year sublease for a former five-story Labcorp office building at 1701 Pinecroft Road in Greensboro that will serve as its operational hub until its electric vehicle battery production plant debuts.

Wilemon-Holland said each floor of the Greensboro temporary facility will have a distinct operational focus.

Floor 1 would handle key parts of hiring assessment, including: intake and registration, waiting area and assessment using a computer-based simulation; skilled trades with computer lab with a hands-on skills evaluation; and face-to-face interviews and medical screenings.

Floor 2 would provide a dojo training area emphasizing key points of manufacturing, including safety, quality and internal logistics.

Floors 35 would contain administrative and support staff offices, and space for teams to collaborate.

Background

The Toyota subsidiary plans to build lithium-ion batteries at the plant for about 200,000 hybrid and electric vehicles annually.

Toyota plans to roll out 30 battery electric vehicle models by 2030.

This is only the beginning of what I considered as a long and bright future for the plant and marks another significant milestone for our company, Bafunno said.

This plant will serve a central role in Toyotas leadership toward a fully electrified future and will help us meet our goal of carbon neutrality in our vehicles and global operations by 2035.

As with the Dell Inc., Caterpillar Inc. and Herbalife Nutrition Ltd. manufacturing plants, Toyota is finding significant internal interest from employees willing to transfer to work at the Liberty plant.

The reason I say North Carolina and Liberty is a great location for doing business is that we have a lot of internal interest in people wanting to work in North Carolina  higher than any other plant that weve announced or opened in the U.S., Bafunno said.

He said some Toyota employees want to return to North Carolina because they are graduates of N.C. State, UNC Chapel Hill or other North Carolina universities.

They havent really had a chance within Toyota to do that until now, Bafunno said. Its an indication of the quality of life, the access to the mountains and ocean, and its a beautiful area.

Bafunno said some Liberty plant workers could come from as far as 70 miles away, but the bulk of hires will come from within 30 to 40 miles.

Its a personal decision of what potential employees determine is right for them in terms of driving to the plant, Bafunno said.

Were working very hard to create what we consider to be an employer of choice in that area of North Carolina. Theres going to be great wages, great benefits, job security  great elements for a career.
CBL Properties and a joint-venture partner have signed a $148 million loan that has been secured by its Friendly Center and the Shops at Friendly Center properties in Greensboro.

CBL, based in Chattanooga, Tenn., is owner and operator of Hanes Mall in Winston-Salem and Friendly Center.

The company said during its first-quarter earnings report May 10 that the loan was closed April 4 and considered a major component of CBL completing more than $312 million in financing activity thus far in fiscal 2023.

CBL described the Friendly Center loan as a fixed-rate, non-recourse mortgage. CBL chief executive Stephen Lebovitz described the loan as a particularly outstanding accomplishment.

The previous $145.2 million loan had been set to mature in April 2023.

According to Corevest.com, a non-recourse loan allows the borrower not to be personally liable to repay the outstanding balance of assets.

Investor property lenders use this type of loan if they feel the borrower has a more long term track record of stabilized real estate assets.

If the collateral is insufficient to repay the loan, the lender incurs a loan loss. With a non-recourse loan, the principals of the borrower can transfer ownership of the loan collateral to the lender.

They then can walk away from the debt without having to pay anything further to the lender.

The company emerged on Nov. 1, 2021, from federal Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after entering protection in November 2020 and operating on a business-as-usual format.

Tony Plath, a retired finance professor at UNC Charlotte, said the lender is taking a risk with accepting a shopping center property as the lien for the $148 million loan.

As a former commercial lender whos trained in commercial real-estate lending, I sure wouldnt give CBL non-recourse debt for a mall property (whose corporation) recently emerged from bankruptcy protection.

After all, under these circumstances, just what is the property really worth in a foreclosure filing? Theres not exactly a large, liquid and active market for mall properties these days, after all.

Theres simply no way that Id agree to these terms as a lender, since they expose me to far more default risk than Im willing to accept.

Plath said that for Friendly Center, of course theres increased risk here that the mall could be placed into a resale transaction due to foreclosure on the mall in the event of a default circumstance.

But, this risk is quite low in todays market. Just whos interested in buying a struggling mall these days in the first place?

So really, just what is the collateral worth here?

Previous loan risks

CBL disclosed the Friendly Center loan arrangement as it provided an update on the potential foreclosure or conveyance of one of its three Triad properties  Alamance Crossing East in Burlington.

In February, CBL disclosed that it expected the Burlington property will be placed into receivership imminently, as well as its Westgate Mall property in Spartanburg, S.C.

On May 10, CBL said Alamance Crossing East was placed into receivership and deconsolidated.

Alamance Crossing East has served as the security for a $41.4 million loan to CBL. The lender has not been identified.

CBL has a separate $29 million loan secured by the Spartanburg property.

If the Burlington shopping center is foreclosed or conveyed back to the lender, it would be the second time in the past seven months that has occurred for a CBL property in North Carolina.

In July, CBL conveyed its Asheville Mall property to its lender in exchange for forgiveness of the $62.1 million loan secured by the property.

The Asheville property was sold for $62.15 million in August to New York-based Kohan Retail Investment Group.

CBL said in February it is in discussions with the lender for a two-year extension/modification of a $97.4 million loan secured by Cross Creek Mall in Fayetteville.

CBL said at that time it forecasted closing the extension or modification within 90 days.

On Wednesday, CBL said it is in the process of finalizing the extension or modification.
The property of a Dollar General retail store in Greensboro has been sold for $1.88 million, according to a Guilford County Register of Deeds filing Friday.

The 1.78-acre tract at 5904 Church St. was bought by Berkshire Ltd. Partnership of Boise, Idaho.

The seller is Teramore Development LLC of Thomasville, Ga. It is at least the forth Dollar General property in the Triad that Teramore has sold in the past four years.

In February 2022, Teramore sold the property of a Dollar General store in Stokesdale for $1.97 million. The 2.07-acre tract at 7105 U.S. 158 contains a 9,100-square-foot retail building.

In June 2021, Teramore sold a Dollar General retail property at 903 Lake Road in Thomasville for $1.89 million to two Illinois commercial real-estate companies.

In December 2019, Teramore sold a Dollar General retail property at 3103 Kernersville Road in Kernersville for $1.77 million to a California commercial real-estate group.
Happy Monday. Heres hoping the weekend treated you well.

Its all fun and games with plenty of yucks (and bad puns) when cows and tractors get involved in police work.

And why not?

Two separate incidents, four months apart in and around Boone, ended peacefully enough. No one was injured, suspects went to jail and the involvement of farm denizens - and implements - made the write-ups just funny enough for national distribution.

Back in January, Boone police arrested a guy whod stolen a tractor and led officers on a slow-speed chase through town.

The man, identified as Ronnie Hicks, refused to stop when cops hit the blue lights and took off at speeds approaching, say, 15-20 mph.

Stop-sticks - pronged devices laid across the road that puncture tires - didnt do the trick. They were not terribly effective on a tractor, Chief Andy LeBeau said afterward.

Officers shot the tractor tires because, police said, they were concerned about security at a nearby elementary school. Hicks pulled a knife and was subdued by a blast from a taser.

The bovine incident, reported far and wide last week, also came as the result of a police chase.

A 34-year-old man named Joshua Russell Minton, police said, fled a traffic stop May 9. Boone police and deputies with the Watauga Sheriffs Office.

The suspect jumped from the vehicle in Deep Gap near U.S. 421 and took off on foot. Cows, police said, led the pursuers to where their suspect was hiding.

Apparently cows do not want suspected criminals loitering in their pasture and quickly assisted our officers to where the suspect was hiding, police noted in a social media statement. The cows communicated with the officers as best they could and finally just had the officers follow them as best they could and finally just had the officers follow them to the suspects location.

Whacky cops and robbers stories, its all fun and games.

Until its not.

Over the weekend in Shelby County, three people, two 18-year-olds and a 20-year-old, died Sunday night in a police chase when the car they were in crashed into a house. Three others were injured.

That chase began with a reported shooting.

And right here in Forsyth County, three people died last week in a fiery crash in which sheriffs deputies decided to chase 29-year-old Joseph Brandon Smith, who was driving a stolen 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis car the wrong way on the Northern Beltway.

Madison Lynn Grotschel and Jayce Alexander Haverkos, on their way to go fishing for Gods sake, were killed when their Dodge Charger was smashed into by the Mercury.

Smith died, too. Hed made a U-turn onto the Beltway in an attempt to get away from a deputy and headed east against oncoming traffic.

A minute later, three lives ended - two of them innocent teens in the wrong place at the worst time.

You are chasing someone whos going 120 miles per hour in a piece of crap car, and you end up ruining these teenagers lives, Katie Lynn Grotschel, Madison Lynns mother, told a coworker.

And for what? To charge a guy with stealing a car worth a few thousand bucks at most? A conviction for stealing a car and fleeing to elude, following months of Lets Make a Deal court wrangling, likely nets less prison time than it takes to earn a degree from community college.

Each incident, whether they involved tractors, cows or a piece of crap Mercury, involved very different factors before some police watch commander, a sergeant or lieutenant, OK'd next steps.

Across the nation, there is no one-size fits all policy involving police chases. The state has no appetite for doing so. On that issue at least, legislators eager to meddle in schools or zoning matters, say, have been content to leave to locals.

Still, at a minimum, the matter deserves a stand-down with an honest, sober conversation among serious (and open) minded local decision makers.

A model policy by the International Association of Chiefs of Police includes this recommendation: Pursuit is authorized only if the officer has reasonable belief that the suspect, if allowed to flee, would present a danger to human life or cause serious injury.

Madison Lynn Grotschel and Jayce Alexander Haverkos, as well as those who loved them, deserve that much.

Slow down near WFU

WINSTON-SALEM - Seems obvious enough, but if business requires your presence near Wake Forest this morning and early afternoon, build extra time into the schedule as happy graduates - and relieved parents- celebrate graduation.

As noted helpfully - and verbosely - by city officials, motorists should expect to encounter elevated volumes of traffic in and around the campus of Wake Forest University, which will affect normal travel.

Yup.

And for the price of possibly losing a few minutes to aggravation, local restaurant and bar owners, as well as the wait staff who depend on tips to pay rent, remain grateful.

UNCG grad celebrates two things

GREENSBORO - As long as were on about the caps-and-gowns crowd, take another minute to consider the path, swollen feet and all, traveled by Abby Bailiff, a member of the UNC Greensboro class of 23.

On May 3, one day before she graduated with a doctorate as a purse practitioner, Bailiff gave birth to her first child, a boy named Bodie.

According to the UNCG communications staff, Bailiff left the hospital at noon on Thursday May 4 and decided she was going to walk in her ceremony - a choice that caused a ripple in the big social media pond large enough to attract the attention of tens of thousands on TikTok.

I remember walking into the gymnasium for graduation, and everybody was just cheering and standing and there was a huge crowd, Bailiff said. I dont know if it was a mix of the hormones or just how overwhelmed I was feeling, but I just started crying. It was just an overwhelming feeling of accomplishing so much within the last couple of days. It felt really good.
A taxi delivered a 56-year-old woman to a Winston-Salem hospital after she was shot in the chest while riding in the vehicle Sunday night, authorities say.

Maude Knight was in stable but critical condition at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, the Winston-Salem Police Department said in a press release Monday morning.

Officers responded at about 10:42 p.m. to a report of gunshots in the 1200 block of Thurmond Street, a largely residential area northwest of downtown. While at the scene, officers were notified that Knight had been transported to the hospital by the taxi in which she was a passenger at the time of the shooting.

She and the vehicle were struck (by) bullets from nearby gunfire, the police department said it determined in its preliminary investigation. The case remains under investigation. No arrests have been made or suspects identified.

Anyone with any information on the shooting is asked to call the Winston-Salem Police Department at 336-773-7700, Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800, or En Espanol 336-728-3904. You can also view Crime Stoppers of Winston-Salem Forsyth County on Facebook.
Social determinants of health are known to drive medical outcomes.1 Hospital readmissions, postoperative complications, infant mortality, referrals for procedures, and pain management are all areas in which social determinants of health, and racism in particular, negatively affect healthcare access, experiences, and outcomes. In a 2020 survey, 40% of first- and second-year medical students believed that Black patients have thicker skin than White patients and do not feel pain as much.2 On a widely used test to determine eligibility for a kidney transplant, Black patients have points added to their score, making kidney function appear closer to normal, under the assumption they have more muscle mass than White patients.3 Infant mortality is 2.3 times higher for non-Hispanic Black babies than for non-Hispanic White babies, and Black mothers are three to four times more likely to die after giving birth than White women.4,5

According to Healthy People 2020, a blueprint to eliminate health disparities and achieve health equity, patients most affected by health disparities have systematically throughout their lives experienced more obstacles than those less affected.6 Even in the context of major advances in medicine to diagnose, treat, and prevent chronic diseases, racial minorities continue to receive a lesser standard of care. Healthcare providers need to know and understand how race makes a difference in care and work to overcome these barriers.7

The most important way to achieve healthcare equity is to address the social determinants of health, according to the CDC: Social determinants of health such as poverty, unequal access to health care, lack of education, stigma and racism are underlying, contributing factors of health inequities.8 This article highlights the historical and present-day evidence that racism continues to affect patient health.

RACISM AS A SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH

Although race is defined as a social construct, historically researchers and clinicians have often used it as proxy to explain genetic and evolutionary differences among patients.9,10 Despite medicalization and broad acceptance as an accurate descriptive label for groups of patients, race has been debunked as a biological determinant of health.9-12 Yet, race continues to be used to classify and stratify patients based on social interpretations of their physical appearances, leading to the experience of racism.13

Racism can be defined as a system of structuring opportunities and assigning value to people based on social classifications of race.14 Racism disadvantages certain people and communities through the establishment and perpetuation of beliefs, stereotypes, and biases that reinforce the superiority of a dominant group over others.15 These attitudes can contribute to acts of racial discrimination at multiple levels: internalized (an individual's worldview); interpersonal (between individuals); and systemic (within societal systems or institutions). The interaction of these various levels of racial discrimination establishes an intricate and interdependent system of racism that oppresses and harms those in the nondominant racial group.16,17

RACISM AS TRAUMA

Because of racism's negative effects, it is considered a social determinant of health, which is defined as the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life.18,19 Social determinants of health have been identified as key contributors to health inequities, which are further defined as avoidable inequalities in health between different groups of people due to differences in geography, societies, and socioeconomic conditions.20 As a social determinant of health, racism has a profound effect on the health of patients and communities.21,22

Research additionally links racism to trauma.23-27Racial trauma is a term increasingly used to describe perceived or witnessed instances of racial discrimination in which patients experience a physical or emotional threat of harm or injury; humiliation or shaming events; and negative alterations in cognition, mood, or functioning as a result.25,26 Racial discrimination can lead to the development of many health conditions, with the short- and long-term effects of trauma and cumulative stress having lasting implications for patients.25,27,28

In addition, race-based trauma extends beyond the individual level to include intergenerational trauma. This cultural traumatization stands in relation to racial trauma experienced by people, amplifying and gradually adding to the current experience of race-based trauma of individuals and communities.29 The trauma and cumulative stress of being a member of a marginalized population can result in poorer health outcomes.30 In intergenerational trauma, perinatal and early childhood stressors result in epigenetic changes with significant, negative long-term effects on patients' health.31

ALLOSTATIC LOAD

Introduced in 1993, the term allostatic load was coined to reflect the cost of chronic exposure to fluctuating or heightened neural or neuroendocrine response resulting from repeated or chronic environmental challenge that an individual reacts to as being particularly stressful.32 The concept illustrates the effect of external trauma and societal stressors on long-term health outcomes. Research has expanded our understanding of the effect of cumulative stress in both a psychosocial context as well as on physical health outcomes. Isolating single, specific sources of stress can be challenging because they often are intertwined. Yet further investigation has continued to show that elevations in allostatic load lead to increased mortality, both all-cause and that related to cardiovascular disease specifically.33

SYSTEMIC RACISM AND STRESS

Understanding the effects of racism on health has been explored extensively in the fields of public health and medicine. Aside from the lack of equitable treatment in healthcare, worse health outcomes among Black Americans also are due to the psychosocial and physiological stress of racism.5 Some theories and frameworks that have been used to explain the dynamics of racism and health are John Henryism, Sojourner syndrome, and weathering.

John Henryism

This term originally was used to explain the disparate levels of heart disease and hypertension among Black men.34 However, it also has been used to research other chronic illnesses.35 John Henryism is named for American folktale hero John Henry, who worked as a railroad steel-driver. In the folktale, John Henry competes against a steam-powered engine to construct a railroad; although he wins the competition, he dies with his sledgehammer in his hand.34 John Henryism is the concept of high-effort coping strategies to overcome barriers that would otherwise preclude academic and financial success.34 It has often been observed in Black Americans with higher levels of education and socioeconomic status.34,35 This is especially more apparent for Black Americans employed or educated in spaces where there is a lack of minority representation.34,35

Sojourner syndrome

Although John Henryism is relevant across sexes and genders, Sojourner syndrome examines the role of racism, sexism, and socioeconomic status on the health of Black women.36 The development of this theory originated from a 1993 interdisciplinary study in Harlem, New York City, where researchers examined factors identified as contributors to disproportionately high maternal and infant mortality among Black women and newborns.36 Sojourner syndrome considers the amplification of stress that results from racism when compounded with sexism and provides a socioecological context for the health disparities experienced among Black women.36 Like John Henryism, Sojourner syndrome is an adaptive mechanism to stressors resulting from racism.36

Weathering

The academic community has faced great difficulty in understanding how oppression, racism, sexism, and discrimination can be shown to affect the health of specific populations. One example is the challenge of understanding why Black mothers have three times the risk of maternal death than White women.

The concept of weathering has been shown to be both reliable and predictive of a greater prevalence of maternal morbidity among Black women. In 1992, and later in 2006, researcher Arline Geronimus proposed the weathering hypothesis, which posited that Black communities experience premature health deterioration because of the cumulative effects of social, economic, and political oppression and marginalization. The adverse health outcomes associated with this hypothesis can be understood as direct consequences of racial trauma. This has implications not only for Black communities but also for other people of color who experience racism. The cumulative stress that accompanies racial trauma leads to physiological changes that weather and erode the overall health of non-White communities, predisposing them to health problems, accelerating biological aging, and contributing to earlier mortality.37-39

Geronimus has noted that over the years, weathering has faced great skepticism. In a 2018 National Public Radio interview, she described the evolution of the scientific community accepting the concept of weathering:

Many in the medical community really seemed to think that there was just something intrinsic or genetic: that Black-White differences in health must be [caused] by some hypertension gene. Or if it wasn't a literal gene back in Africa, then maybe something about how hard the Middle Passage was, that people who survived it had this gene for salt retention. It's been very well debunked both on anthropological grounds but also...if you compare hypertension rates, for example, between American Blacks and Blacks in the Caribbean. The American Blacks have far higher rates of hypertension, yet both [populations] went through the Middle Passage.40

Geronimus also has described the scientific foundation of weathering, specifically dismissing the myth that DNA and molecular programming are the roots and causes of the difference in health between Black and White patients.40 Instead, Geronimus asserts that DNA changes are not static and vary related to environmental and social factors, rather than the older notion that DNA is destiny based on race. The older notion has led to the belief that we are destined to have certain diseases based on our DNA, rather than the fluid process Geronimus describes. In that process, significant DNA structural change occurs, influenced by environmental and social circumstances, causing genetic irregularities in how genetic expression occurs. As Geronimus noted, That's a pretty powerful idea, and it sort of refutes the DNA-centric one, that you are destined by the literal DNA you have to have certain diseases or not.40

Additionally, Roeder has written about the work of Geronimus and how US medicine is failing Black mothers.5 A February 2017 article in The Nation offered a close look at the role of discrimination and oppression in the increased mortality of Black infants.41 One of the key findings was the increasing body of evidence looking at discrimination, compared with race, as a factor in understanding why Black babies are dying at such a high rate.41

Weathering addresses the scientific evidence that race is, in and of itself, a nonbiologic myth, and that race often is used as a proxy for actual medical causes of poor health. Weathering also identifies racism, not race, as a cause of poor health in Black patients.37 Epidemiologist David R. Williams and colleagues have written about the effect of racism on health, noting that the role of racism is distinct from the genetic makeup of specific races, which has now been dismissed as an unscientific construct: In recent decades, there has been remarkable growth in scientific research examining the multiple ways in which racism can adversely affect health. This interest has been driven in part by the striking persistence of racial/ethnic inequities in health and the empirical evidence that indicates that socioeconomic factors alone do not account for racial/ethnic inequities in health. Racism is considered a fundamental cause of adverse health outcomes for racial/ethnic minorities and racial/ethnic inequities in health.42

Simons and colleagues also add to the growing body of research about weathering and about the effect of racism versus race on what they describe as the elevated rates of illness, disability, and mortality seen among Black Americans as a physiological response to the structural barriers, material hardships and identity threats that comprise the Black experience.43

CONCLUSION

Clinicians may feel overwhelmed by the idea of how to target change as it relates to the intersection of racism and healthcare. A first step is using evidence-based practices, especially in the areas of patient-clinician communication. Research studies have demonstrated that Black patients often feel dismissed or ignored when discussing their health concerns.44 The World Health Organization has recommended the following five actions that can improve patient engagement and health outcomes:

educating healthcare providers about patient engagement

supporting patients to become actively involved

broadening the ways in which patients are involved

recognizing the importance of communities

providing an enabling and supportive environment.45

The Baylor University Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy opined about the need to view racism as a chronic disease as well as a public health crisis: Racism is not new. It's unceasing with no treatment or vaccine in sight. A more appropriate diagnosis would be racism as a chronic disease, like cancer or diabetes. But this particular chronic disease does not destruct the body of the individual who is infected. Instead, in America, its effects are felt throughout the entire Black community and are not only physical, but also emotional and social.46-48

Racism experienced by Black patients is both systemic and systematic. Decades of research has highlighted that the healthcare system continues to fail its most vulnerable groups. By adopting this perspective, PAs can conceptualize a variety of opportunities to enact change. An initial starting point in mitigating the effect of racism in healthcare is improving patient engagement. Clinical and administrative PAs can improve the delivery of healthcare by incorporating the social determinants and using objective clinical tools when making healthcare decisions. PAs also must be mindful of common but inaccurate assumptions about racial differences in health outcomes and assess each patient's risk factors individually. Additionally, clinicians must understand how the cumulative stress of racism can contribute to the development and exacerbation of chronic diseases. The health outcomes of Black patients may be further affected by interpersonal relationships; community support; or institutional, state, and federal policies.49 These levels of effect provide ample opportunity to create ripples of change.

Racism is not an issue that exists only in a realm outside of healthcare. It has direct consequences on the health and wellness of our patients, friends, and colleagues. All clinicians have a responsibility to create an environment for positive change in any way they can.
Patricia "Big Mama" Barron never wanted her restaurant to be known solely for its chicken.

But when the Food Network stopped by Big Mama's Kitchen and Catering, they honed in on the oven-fried chicken. Now, it's the number one item at the popular North Omaha restaurant.

Gladys Harrison, president of the restaurant and Barron's daughter, said there's so much more to try at the family-owned restaurant. There's fried fish, sweet potato pie ice cream, cornbread, collard greens, rotating specials and Harrison's favorite sides  sweet potato pudding and macaroni and cheese, which she likes to eat together.

Big Mama's is one of 70 stops on the Nebraska Passport tourism program, the annual tourism promotion effort that encourages Nebraskans and others to visit a variety of attractions, parks, coffee shops, restaurants, stores and more across the state. Each week, were highlighting one or more of the locations.

Passport participants collect physical or digital stamps at each stop, and qualify for prizes based on how many places they visit during the program, which runs from May 1 to Sept. 30.

Passport visitors who stop by Big Mama's can get a discount when they eat at the restaurant.

Big Mama's has been featured multiple times over the years on the Food Network and the Travel Channel. Customers have included famous politicians, actors and restaurateurs like Guy Fieri.

For years Big Mama's was housed in the cafeteria of the old Nebraska School for the Deaf. Pictures and knickknacks from Barron's house decorated the restaurant.

The feeling that we wanted you to have at the old place was that you were sitting at my moms kitchen," Harrison said.

Three years ago, the restaurant moved to the Highlander Accelerator building near 30th Street and Patrick Avenue. The building is part of the 75 North development, which aims to revitalize the neighborhood.

"We still wanted to have the same good old soul food," Harrison said. "We still wanted you to feel like you were sitting in your grandmas kitchen, but this is your grandma 2.0."

The new restaurant has sleek black couches, patio space and a bar. Big Mama's shares the space with another restaurant, Best Burger, and the bar Dena's Place, which is open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The look of Big Mamas has changed," Harrison said. "The feel of Big Mamas has changed. But what has remained the same is the food. Those recipes that were handed down from my great-grandmother, we still use those recipes."

Harrison said her mother knew the restaurant's new space would be more modern and lose some of that homey feel. Barron, who died in 2018, helped plan the new space but didn't get to see the final product.

While eating at the new Big Mama's location, visitors looking out the windows will see new developments, businesses and apartment buildings on nearly every corner.

We are really privileged to be here in this neighborhood that was built with some intention and built with a purpose of bringing all kinds of people together to restore economic and housing opportunities in this part of the city, Harrison said.

Harrison said her mother was adamant about keeping the restaurant in North Omaha.

She was born and raised here," Harrison said. "She grew up here. She learned lifes lessons here and she wanted to see North Omaha restored to the wonderful place to live and work and have a business that it was when she was a young girl.

The street outside the restaurant was recently renamed Patricia "Big Mama" Barron Street, marked with a commemorative sign. Harrison said when people drive or walk by, she hopes they think about her mom but more importantly what her mom would have wanted them to do.

Think about what you could do to make North Omaha a great place to live and work for everybody and then get out there and do that, Harrison said.

And Harrison has some final advice for people making their first trip to Big Mama's:

Come hungry."

Top Journal Star photos for May 2023
A 55-year-old man was hospitalized Sunday morning after he crashed into a semi truck that was turning onto Nebraska Parkway in south Lincoln, according to police.

The man was driving his Volkswagen Beetle north on 91st Street toward Nebraska Parkway at around 8:15 a.m. Sunday, Lincoln Police Sgt. Chris Vollmer said.

As the man neared the highway, a 45-year-old man driving a semi truck started to turn east onto Nebraska Parkway from the southbound lane of 91st Street, crossing into the 55-year-old's path, Vollmer said.

The vehicles collided and rescue crews took the 55-year-old man to a local hospital in critical condition, Vollmer said.

Police haven't cited either driver for their role in the crash. Investigators don't suspect drugs or alcohol were factors in the collision, Vollmer said.

Safest cities in America 2023: Violent crime rate increases drive per capita cost of crime Safest cities in America 2023: Violent crime rate increases drive per capita cost of crime The 15 Safest Cities in America The 15 Most Dangerous Cities Methodology
HARTINGTON  A woman charged in connection with the shooting death of a Laurel man has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge.

Carrie Jones last week waived her right to appear in person for a May 22 arraignment and entered written pleas of not guilty to first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence and being an accessory to a felony.

A pretrial conference was scheduled for July 24 in Cedar County District Court.

Jones, 44, of Laurel, is accused of aiding and abetting her husband, Jason Jones, in the death of Gene Twiford, whom she told investigators had verbally harassed her for several years. During a previous hearing, an investigator testified that the day before the Aug. 4 shooting, Carrie Jones threatened her husband with a handgun and a knife, telling him he needed to stand up for her to end the harassment.

She told the investigator she didn't tell her husband to kill Twiford but did say shed do it if he didnt.

Hours later, Twiford, 86, was found shot to death, along with his wife, Janet, 85, and their daughter Dana Twiford, 55, in their burning home at 503 Elm St. in Laurel.

Jason Jones, 43, is charged with their deaths in addition to the shooting death of Michele Ebeling, 53, whose body was found in her burning home across the street from the Jones' home.

Jones has pleaded not guilty of four counts each of first-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony and two counts of first-degree arson. His pretrial conference also is set for July 24.

Carrie Jones told investigators she 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 administered first aid after he refused to go to the hospital. He was arrested without incident at his home about 24 hours later.

Carrie Jones was arrested Dec. 16. She remains in custody on a $1 million bond.

Jason Jones is being held without bond at the Nebraska Department of Corrections Reception and Treatment Center in Lincoln, where he continues to receive medical treatment.

Safest cities in America 2023: Violent crime rate increases drive per capita cost of crime Safest cities in America 2023: Violent crime rate increases drive per capita cost of crime The 15 Safest Cities in America The 15 Most Dangerous Cities Methodology
With just 13 days left in the legislative session, a proposal to implement Nebraskas new voter identification requirement is expected to reach the full Legislature early this week.

State Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon, the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee chairman, predicted the committee will advance a carefully crafted measure that brings together ideas from multiple bills and that lawmakers will pass it.

The job of passing voter ID legislation involves threading the needle between the new language in Nebraskas Constitution and the Supreme Courts interpretation of the federal Constitution, he said. We also have to make sure that the orders we give to our county elections officials can be executed.

The measure likely will be an amendment to LB535 that has been forged through weeks of sometimes heated negotiations between Brewer and Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar, who introduced LB535 and led efforts to put a voter ID measure on last Novembers ballot.

The ballot measure, which passed overwhelmingly, requires voters to present valid photographic ID before casting a ballot in any election. The constitutional amendment left it to lawmakers to determine how the requirement should be carried out.

Secretary of State Bob Evnen, Attorney General Mike Hilgers and Speaker of the Legislature John Arch also were part of the discussions. Arch said the job of crafting implementation legislation has been complicated.

It has to be constitutional. It has to be workable. You need to limit the financial burden and you need to ensure you dont disenfranchise voters, he said.

Although the parties have reached agreement on the principles of the amendment, they are waiting to see the actual language before moving forward. Slama said she has been working with the legislative bill drafting office on that language for several days.

Under the tentative agreement, voters could use a variety of government or tribal identification documents, as long as the IDs show the persons name and a photo of the person. Student IDs would be accepted, as well as IDs from nursing homes. The IDs would not have to be current and expired ones could be used.

Voters without an acceptable photo ID could get a free state ID through the Department of Motor Vehicles. People also could get free copies of birth certificates from the state, if needed for obtaining a state ID to vote.

The DMV would add photos to temporary IDs, so those could be used by voters who lost their drivers license or state ID or had those documents stolen. Temporary IDs are provided to people for use in the weeks before their permanent ones arrive in the mail.

The agreement also would require that people voting by mail show their ID to an adult witness, who need not be a registered Nebraska voter. Witnesses then would have to sign the ballot envelope, attesting that they had seen the voters ID. Witnesses would face legal penalties for lying.

Voters who showed up at the polls without an acceptable ID would be allowed to vote a provisional ballot. The ballot would be counted only if that voter showed a valid ID to an election official within seven days of the election.

The tentative agreement would not require additional citizenship verifications from voters, but the secretary of state would be charged with ensuring that only citizens are allowed to register to vote.

The government committee heard three contrasting approaches to implementing voter ID requirements this year. They differed over acceptable types of identification, requirements for mail-in ballots and the process for handling cases where voters show up at the polls without ID.

All included features that went beyond simply carrying out the voter-approved measure. Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard had a pair of proposals that would have virtually eliminated mail-in ballots. Sen. Jen Day of Omaha had a bill that would have automatically registered people to vote when they got a drivers license, unless they opted out.

Slama offered two major rewrites of LB535 that would have required voters to prove their citizenship, along with their identity, when voting.

Brewer rejected all of those features, saying he wanted the implementation legislation to focus on voter ID and not tackle other election issues.

Despite strong support for the voter ID ballot measure, Nebraska has not had widespread issues with its elections.

Ahead of last Novembers election, Evnen acknowledged that the state has not had a problem with voter fraud generally, let alone any cases of people trying to impersonate others so they could vote  the type of fraud that would be prevented with voter ID.

Photos: Scenes from Lincoln's May 2 General Election
The Nebraska Legislatures own research office is casting doubt on the amount of water that state officials expect a proposed canal will deliver to the state.

But it appeared few lawmakers had seen those findings last week, even as they march toward transferring $574.5 million in state funds to build the canal and claim water from Colorado.

The analysis done by the Legislative Research Office suggests that an outside consultants report  one used by state leaders to justify spending more than half a billion dollars on the canal  may overestimate stream flows and overstate the canals benefits.

And it raises a question, says one outside expert who viewed the analysis last week: Is this canal worth pursuing?

I guess, if I were a legislator, Id have to pause, said Mike Jess, longtime head of a state department then called the Nebraska Department of Water Resources, who served under both Republican and Democratic governors. Is there a better place we can spend this money?

The Legislative Research Office recently prepared a memo with its analysis after a request by Sen. John Cavanaugh, an Omaha Democrat. It was unclear Wednesday whether the memo, which Cavanaugh then gave to the Flatwater Free Press, is the totality of the internal research or some type of summary.

The research, which is meant to be a resource for state lawmakers as they make policy decisions, uses charts, graphs and is highly technical. But the conclusion is unmistakable: It suggests that the outside consultants portrayal of the canals benefits is overly optimistic.

That consultants report, creates a false impression of the quantity of water the canal could deliver, says the memo at one point.

Under a century-old compact, Nebraska has a right to water from the South Platte River during the fall and winter months if it builds a canal. Last year, then-Gov. Pete Ricketts proposed building it, saying it was crucial to protect the states water supply as Colorados population surges.

After the Legislature approved $53.5 million in initial funding  just a fraction of what Ricketts sought  the state hired a contractor, Zanjero, which issued a roughly 200-page report in December.

That report says the canal project is well worth the cost.

The Perkins County Canal Project would provide significant benefits for all Nebraska water users in the Platte River system that exceed project costs, it reads.

Gov. Jim Pillen added more than $125 million to the budget request after the Zanjero report was issued, bringing the potential tab this year to $574.5 million. This single request is orders of magnitude greater than the Department of Natural Resources typical asks, Jess said.

The Department of Natural Resources entire budget is typically about $30 million a year.

(This request is) kind of like going through the sound barrier, said Jess, who headed the water resources department for 18 years.

Jess is among experts who question whether the proposed canals benefits are overhyped. But proponents see the investment as a no-brainer.

We have something we can do, said Tom Riley, head of the state Department of Natural Resources. Were fortunate that (this compact) exists and we can develop and have this canal system and storage and continue to provide that benefit of water for Nebraskans for a long time to come.

And the full Legislature has largely agreed. State lawmakers on Wednesday gave second-round approval to the budget bill that includes the $574.5 million transfer from the states Cash Reserve Fund into a canal fund. The bill only needs one more round of approval.

On May 4, lawmakers soundly rejected (11-32) an amendment from Cavanaugh to backtrack and fund the original proposal for a smaller canal.

In its main budget bill, the Legislature appropriates $62.8 million of that money each of the next two years for the project.

Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, a Republican and Appropriations chair, said he has relied on the experts at Zanjero in weighing the canals potential benefits.

If more information were to come out that called that report into question, he said, a future Legislature could change course  funds are only committed two years at a time, and annual expenditures are limited, which he considers a moderate approach.

The threat of drying up irrigated land and hurting the economy out there (in western Nebraska) is a serious threat, he said in a brief interview.

Though the Department of Natural Resources considers Zanjeros yield analysis conservative, the research memo points to multiple places Zanjero couldve been more careful in its estimates.

It found that the contractor appeared to overestimate stream flows and that its economic analysis of the project appears to overestimate project benefits, inflating the ratio of benefits to costs.

In effect, this approach treats the project like it was constructed in a single year, eliminating the need to discount costs, it says.

The memo, in detailing these takeaways, is dense and highly technical  Jess and Cavanaugh, though, agreed on its major takeaways.

The takeaway from this report and the comparison is just that  the Zanjero report is overly favorable toward the project in terms of how much water will be available and what the return on investment will be, said Cavanaugh. Thats just the bottom line.

In an ideal world, Cavanaugh said, senators would have a better understanding of such a complicated project before investing so much money upfront. Jess said that if he were a lawmaker, hed at least want a briefing where he could ask more questions about the project after seeing the memo.

In a March interview with the Flatwater Free Press, Riley said hes presented to nearly every legislator at different times, and that getting people the information they need to make good decisions is important to him.

The department hosts a website with documentation related to the canal project, including another reconnaissance-level economic benefits analysis from ERA Economics that found annual benefits of about $54 million.

Riley did not have a chance to respond to the memo as of Wednesday afternoon.

Any senator couldve requested the same additional research Cavanaugh received.

Neither Clements nor Sen. Bruce Bostelman of Brainard, who chairs the Natural Resources Committee, had seen the memo. Both seemed skeptical of it, noting that the Legislative Research Office wouldnt have the same resources or expertise as Zanjero.

At a public hearing earlier this year, legislators didnt ask Riley any questions about the project  far-and-away the departments biggest ask.

Riley said DNR has moved onto the design phase of the canal project, contracting with Omaha-based HDR. And while he believes theres enough yield to support the cost of the project, he said the department will be updating Zanjeros analysis with its own.

I hope in 10 years or so  that were bringing water in the canal and that were storing that to be able to use for irrigation and other purposes down the road, he said. What if wed done it 10 years ago? Wed be talking about that today.

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.

The 10 best beaches in Nebraska ... no, really! Lake Mac Calamus Reservoir Wagon Train Lake beach Niobrara River Branched Oak Lake Pawnee Lake Box Butte State Recreation Area Brick's Beach Swanson Reservoir Two Rivers State Recreation Area Lake McConaughy
KENOSHA  Carthage Theatre is making waves again, receiving national recognition for its work.

MementoMori-Horizontal.jpg The Carthage College original play Memento Mori, directed by Professor Neil Scharnick, received two awards from the national committee of th

The original play Memento Mori, directed by Professor Neil Scharnick, received two awards from the national committee of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival for excellence and positive impact: the Citizen Artist Award and the committees newest honor, Distinguished Achievement in the Facilitation of a Brave Rehearsal Space.

MementoMori-Vertical.jpg The Carthage College original play "Memento Mori," directed by Professor Neil Scharnick, received two awards from the national committee of th

It is the third time a Carthage production has received the Citizen Artist Award, which recognizes programs in higher education using theatrical production to promote long-term societal impact through an artistic lens, to encourage empathetic exploration of the complex cultural and physical world, and to advocate for justice on campus and throughout the world.

The Brave Rehearsal Space award celebrates teaching artists who create a rehearsal room community that prioritizes the mental, physical and emotional well-being of their student artists; empowering them to safely engage with challenging theatrical stories.

The awards are a tremendous honor, and I think these particular awards show something more than the excellent work were doing, said Scharnick, a 1999 Carthage alumnus. They show that were doing work that matters, and were doing it right.

Corinne Ness, dean for the Division of Arts and Humanities, echoed Scharnicks praise for the theatre program.

The long history of Carthage Theatre awards is evidence of its quality, she said. These two newest honors recognize the community that we work hard to maintain  a space where student artists can fully realize their potential with the support of an exceptional faculty.

Creating Memento Mori

Each year, Carthage commissions and develops a new play, partnering with award-winning playwrights and theater artists from across the globe.

Throughout the New Play Initiatives 14-year history, students and faculty have collaborated with award-winning writers.

The 2022 installment began as a collaboration between Scharnick and one of Irelands leading acting instructors, Donal Courtney.

With the working title Memento Mori  Latin for remember you must die  the play would encourage performers and audience members alike to engage with lifes biggest questions.

Before the project could move beyond the earliest workshop stage, however, cancer took Courtneys life.

Dedicating the work to the Irishmans memory, Scharnick and his students wrote and developed Memento Mori over the next several months.

The play tells the story of a young musician named Alice who recently passed away. Her friends mourn and try to make sense of her death while Alice tries to come to terms with life beyond the grave.

After it premiered on campus in November, Carthage Theatre was invited to perform Memento Mori in January in Flint, Michigan, at the Kennedy Centers Region 3 college festival.

Based on productions showcased at eight regional events across the country, the committee selected the national award winners.

The Carthage cast and crew also traveled to Ireland to perform the play at the historic Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin and at West End House School of Arts in Killarney.
RACINE  From a young age, Lydia Taft loved to read. She enjoyed it so much that teachers sometimes told her to stop reading and pay attention in class.

Taft appreciates that literature can broaden horizons.

You can be transported to your own world for a little while, or someone elses world, said Taft, a Case High School freshman.

Her love of reading has continued through the years, and Taft was one of 10 students whose passions were highlighted at an art event Thursday evening.

THE PASSIONS PROJECT  Racial and Social Justice Racine Gallery Night showcased a variety of high schoolers, including LGBTQ+ students, people with disabilities and Black, Indigenous and people of color.

Art activist Heidi Wagner, a Racine native, captured the stories and passions of 10 Case students, which were shared at The Branch at 1501, located at 1501 Washington Ave.

Portraits of the students and descriptions of their passions were displayed for the more than 100 attendees to view and read. A video of the students passions was shown as well.

High schoolers are often asked about college or job prospects, so Wagner enjoyed shifting the focus to their interests.

I was really inspired to hear their stories and to see what it means to them to be a part of what theyre passionate about, Wagner said. That gets lost in a lot of the noise about the bigger issues.

Jude Smith, a Case sophomore, was one student who shared his story. His passion is acting, which began in elementary school. He has pursued theater work as the years continued.

I see acting and theater as an escape not only for the audience but also for the performer, Smith wrote in his portrait description.

Smith, who has cerebral palsy, wants to be appreciated for who he is and show that disabled people can do more than just be disabled, he said.

Array of experiences

The gallery was sponsored by THE PASSIONS PROJECT and Racine Educators United, the union that represents Racine Unified School District instructors.

The REU is part of the National Education Association, the largest labor union in the United States.

Wagner wanted the event to also highlight the importance of public schools.

Everyone having access to an education is foundational to Racine as a city, Wisconsin as a state and the United States as a country, Wagner said. Education is meant for everybody, and it should be more accessible and equitable across the board.

Thursdays event was several months in the making. Many Case students were nominated to be photographed, and the nominees were narrowed down to 10 students who spoke with Wagner and videographers starting in October.

There was at least one student from every high school grade. Wagner aimed to talk with a diverse group to amplify an array of experiences.

The more intersectional the project is, I think its more interesting, Wagner said. For every student that we photographed, theres at least 10 other kids that couldve been photographed. They all have passions. We just dont ask them about them all the time.

Sofia Badillos passion is swimming. She has swum competitively since age 7 and plans to swim in college.

Badillo, a Case senior, sometimes feels like she sticks out at larger meets, though, because she rarely sees anyone else who looks like her.

In those moments, Badillo reminds herself that she earned her spot and belongs. She said the same is true for students in the project pursuing their passions.

Badillo, who was one of seven people on a gallery panel, also enjoys teaching young people to swim, especially Hispanic girls. She did that last summer and called it a hugely rewarding experience.

That just builds so much love in my heart, being able to see those kids learn every single day, Badillo said.

REU President Angelina Cruz, an event organizing committee member and panelist, expressed gratitude for the students efforts and encouraged attendees to continue supporting them.

Keep showing up for our kids, Cruz said. Its so important. They are our future leaders. I would say theyre our leaders now.

Student involvement

Indeed, Thursdays event was largely student-led.

High schoolers were photographed, helped organize the gallery, prepared the food that was served and captured event videos.

High schoolers on the student organizing committee said the process of coordinating with classmates and community members was challenging yet illuminating. They enjoyed learning about their peers passions, many of which they were not previously aware of.

Isabella Ramirez, a Case senior and student organizing committee member, hopes attendees at Thursdays event learned something as well.

I hope they can take away a realization of all the passions that Case students have, and a different idea of Case and what each student is capable of and how everyone has their own story, Ramirez said.

Samya Gray, a Case junior and student organizing committee member, said it was nice to bring all these different students together and actually put them in a spotlight.

Theyre actually doing something that they love, Gray said. Our generation, were more than what people think.

Smith, who was also on the student organizing committee, enjoyed getting to know people from diverse backgrounds.

It really brings us together, which is a thing I think we really need in this day and age, Smith said.

Case Principal Cassie Kuranz expressed great pride in students who participated in and organized the evening, saying it was one of the most impactful events she has been part of.

This is what Case is about, Kuranz said. This is who we are.

Wagner hopes attendees were inspired by students and have a better understanding of their experiences.

I have been blown away and so impressed with the heart and dedication of these students, Wagner said. I see them, and Im excited about them and what are their next steps as they continue to develop as people.

YaNiece Giovanni is one of those students. She was a panelist and spoke about her passion: fashion.

As a child, Giovanni remembers walking around her house in different outfits, and she has developed her own style over the years.

Giovanni, a Case junior, encouraged people to pursue their unique passions.

Its OK to be different, Giovanni said. You dont have to change yourself to fit in.

Giovanni also stressed the importance of being nonjudgmental.

Everybody has a dream, and you wouldnt feel too happy if someone judged you for your dream, Giovanni said.

Building connection

Most of Wagners prior work on THE PASSIONS PROJECT has involved older residents, and she enjoyed working with teenagers.

Im seeing a lot of parallels between working with older adults and students, Wagner said. They both do have that intersection of ageism that comes into their worlds. Its cutting in different ways, but its the same kind of thing where theyre being told that they arent capable of having a strong voice or being seen or heard in certain spaces.

Smith has a strong voice, and he said the project emphasizes that all people deserve equal respect and protection.

As a community, we are all one, Smith said. We may not share the same interests, but we are all humans  There should be no racism, there should be no ableism in this world, and this project, I feel, is helping to bring awareness to not doing those things.

Taft was a panelist and appreciated that the event showcased people of different identities and connected them by going beyond arbitrary labels.

Its a really great thing to show everyone, Hey, Im a person, you can connect with me, Taft said.

Reading has broadened Tafts horizons, and she hoped Thursdays did the same for community members.

Ten photos of THE PASSIONS PROJECT | Racial and Social Justice Racine Gallery Night Sofia Badillo Jude Smith Kaleah Williams Alonso Echeverria Jesus Perez Leah Starks Ya'Niece Giovanni Heidi Wagner Panel discussion Checking out the other shots
RACINE  A young author from the Racine area will make an appearance on a local show Saturday to show off his new book.

Josiah Love will be on eighth episode of the seventh season of "Project Pitch It" this Saturday.

"Project Pitch It" is a show where Wisconsin-based entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to five local leaders and moguls. It airs on WISN-TV (Channel 12). The format of the show follows the long-running NBC series "Shark Tank."

Project Pitch It is hosted by Jerry Jendusa, the former co-founder and CEO of EMTEQ, a globally recognized aerospace electronics manufacturer. He also serves as the shows executive producer.

Jendusa is joined this season by a few of his fellow moguls: the executive chairman of WEC Energy Group (We Energies parent company) and a director of Associated Banc-Corp and Badger Meter Inc., Gale Klappa; David Gruber, founder and CEO of Gruber Law Offices, an award-winning personal injury law firm; and Peg Ann, former owner and CEO of Empire Level Manufacturing and Life Moves.

Dr. Deborah Allen, who appeared on the show as a mogul from seasons 2-4 and Jamie Andrzejewski, who presented her company, Nourish Natural Products, in Season Five will both appear on the show as guest moguls.

Project Pitch It claims to have created more than 300 jobs for entrepreneurs in Wisconsin.

The title sponsor for Project Pitch It is the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukees Lubar Entrepreneurship Center.

Bev Greenberg is Project Pitch It's creator and has served as executive producer for all seven years.

For this season, middle and high school children will be featured on the show's eighth episode, including Love.

Josiah Love

Love said he was inspired to write by the pastor of Stand on His Word International Apostolic ministries, Kathy Balistreri.

Love began writing his first book, "Angel Detector," a children's book about a boy who can see angels, when he was nine years old. His mother, Semone Love, helped him with his first book. Love said his mother, and probably money, are his inspirations to continue to write.

Since Angel Detector, Love has written two books by himself.

His second book is a cookbook titled "Quarantine Fun Cookbook for Young Chefs," designed for kids aged 5-17 to help them make simple recipes when people were quarantining in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Love said he was inspired by Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer LeRoy Butler to make a cookbook after Butler signed a copy of his own cookbook for Love.

With Love's third book, he went back to children's books. "King For Cookies Adventures" is a story about a king and his love of cookies.

"He's been trying a book every year, and that was truly not my plan," Semone said. "He's on a roll to becoming an author."

Semone is proud of all three of her children, with Josiah being her youngest. She credits each of her three children's entrepreneurial aspirations to herself, bringing them along as she sold crafts to make money as they were growing up.

Love presented his fourth book, "NFT for Beginners-How to Create, Sell, & Buy," a book on non-fungible tokens, to the moguls on Project Pitch It.

Love's book focuses on buying, selling and creating NFTs. When he first got into NFTs, Love said he struggled to figure out how to make them. He hopes that this book will make it easier for people wanting to get into the hobby.

Josiah couldn't reveal much about his appearance on the show ahead of its air date, but he did explain how he and the other students on Project Pitch It were put through a "Boot Camp" to learn how to present their pitches to the moguls.

"It was a lot," Josiah said. "They had to teach us how to talk to the moguls and what we are supposed to say to to them. I think it was a three week boot camp. They helped me pitch my project and become a marketing person, like I was going to sell something to them, but really they are going to invest something into me. I got to help them understand what it is because they don't know anything about NFTS, or the value they have."

Josiah said his biggest take away from his time on the show was learning marketing skills.

In his free time, Josiah likes to experiment with different technologies. He currently is spending his time building computers and learning about artificial intelligence, with his mother cheering him on every step of the way.

Can you guess the iconic TV show from just one image? Name that show Scene #1 'The Sopranos' (1999-2007) Scene #2 'Roots' (1977) Scene #3 'Mad Men' (2007-2015) Scene #4 'Doctor Who' (2005-present) Scene #5 'Orange is the New Black' (2013-2019) Scene #6 'The X-Files' (1993-2018) Scene #7 'Key and Peele' (2012-2015) Scene #8 'Breaking Bad' (2008-2013) Scene #9 'Game of Thrones' (2011-2019) Scene #10 'The Twilight Zone' (1959-1964) Scene #11 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' (1999-present) Scene #12 'True Detective' (2014-present) Scene #13 'Downton Abbey' (2010-2015) Scene #14 'Twin Peaks' (1990-1991) Scene #15 'Broadchurch' (2013-2017) Scene #16 'Trailer Park Boys' (2001-2018) Scene #17 'Party Down' (2009-2023) Scene #18 'The Office' (2005-2013) Scene #19 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' (1990-1996) Scene #20 'Jeopardy' (1984-present) Scene #21 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' (1987-1994) Scene #22 'Unsolved Mysteries' (1987-2010) Scene #23 'Fargo' (2014-present) Scene #24 'Portlandia' (2011-2018) Scene #25 'Nathan For You' (2013-2017)
By Dean Weingarten. May 15, 2023

While mass murderers are as likely to be mentally deranged environmentalists as they are to be Muslims (most do not show political affiliation), some have made clear they favored keeping guns from the general public. It is the ultimate in logic-defying irrationality of those who promote disarmament.

From the Daily Mail:

[the mass murderer] made three key points in the manifesto, which is in the hands of the police: he wanted to kill himself, he wanted to prove how easy it was to buy a gun in Kentucky and he wanted to highlight a mental health crisis in America. The mass-murderer legally purchased an AR-15 assault rifle on April 4, six days before he entered the bank at 8:33am where he was met by a friendly woman colleague at the entrance. He told her 'you need to get out of here' before he tried to shoot her. But the weapon was unloaded and the safety catch was on. He then loaded the rifle, flicked off the safety and blasted the fleeing woman in the back.

Two things stand out from the paragraph above.

First, The murderer could see the way to media fame was to promote 'gun control' by murdering many people with an AR15 type rifle.

Second, if they bank employee had been armed, she could have stopped the mass murder before it happened, because of the incompetence of the murderer. .....
1. Yes. The state is missing out on millions in revenue that is going to neighboring states.

2. Yes. But only if the revenue is dedicated to education funding or property tax reduction.

3. No. As with the state lottery, casinos would more heavily impact lower-income Texans.

4. No. Texas has resisted the idea for years, and for good reason: its morally irresponsible.

5. Unsure. It definitely has some economic benefits, but it would be controversial.

Vote

View Results
Pastor Rick Warren Installed as First-Ever Chancellor of London-Based Spurgeon's College Founded by Charles Spurgeon

Appointment to Leading UK Baptist Theological Institution Reflects Warren's Parallel Convictions on Ordination, Ministry Leadership and Family Connection with both the Founder and Institution

Deputy Vice Chancellor Rev. Helen Stokley (l), Chancellor Rick Warren, Vice Chancellor Rev. Prof. Philip McCormack at the Installation Ceremony of Dr. Rick Warren as Chancellor of Spurgeons College.

NEWS PROVIDED BY

A. Larry Ross Communications

May 15, 2023

LAKE FOREST, Calif., May 15, 2023 /Christian Newswire/ -- Pastor Rick Warren, founder of Saddleback Church, best-selling author of The Purpose Driven Life and coordinator of the global Finishing the Task coalition, today jointly announced his acceptance and installation as first-ever Chancellor of Spurgeon's College, a London-based Baptist Institution that trains men and women for evangelism, ministry and pastoral leadership in the contemporary world.

Founded in 1856 as "Pastor's College" by its namesake, esteemed Baptist preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon, today, Spurgeon's is the leading evangelical college in the UK, with a growing emphasis in online learning. More than 5,000 men and women have been trained in Christian mission and ministry, including over 50 percent of next generation UK pastors and leaders each year.

Beyond his international renown as an innovative pastor, global influencer and best-selling author of The Purpose Driven Church and Purpose Driven Life (with combined sales of more than 84 million copies), Pastor Warren's appointment as Chancellor reflects his own deep and personal connection to the College. His great, great grandfather studied at Spurgeon's and was led to faith, commissioned to Christian service and sent to America to plant churches by Mr. Spurgeon himself. The video of Pastor Warren's installation can be viewed here.

"I am delighted to have officially joined Spurgeon's College as its first Chancellor at this important time in its development and mission," said Chancellor Warren. "I have a deep personal family connection over four generations to Charles Spurgeon and the ministry of the College he founded, and he is responsible for my family moving to America. Further, my understanding of the meaning of ordination and conviction from Scripture on ministry leadership are identical to Charles Spurgeon's published views. I am grateful to God and the College for this opportunity to give back to this community."

Speaking on the appointment, Spurgeon's College Vice Chancellor the Rev. Prof Philip McCormack said, "On behalf of the Governing Body, staff, students, college alumni and the many friends, supporters and stakeholders of the College, I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Chancellor Rick Warren as part of the Spurgeon's College family."

As Chancellor, Pastor Warren will play a key role in supporting the vision of the College to train men and women for Christian mission, ministry and leadership in the contemporary world. The primary aim of the College and Pastor Warren in their aligned missions is to make Jesus known, in-part to respond to the most recent census data showing that less than 5% of the UK population identify as practicing Christians, yet 33% said they wanted to know more about Jesus.

"In his long and distinguished ministry, both in the US and around the world, Pastor Warren has spoken of his link with the great Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon," said Spurgeon's College Deputy Vice Chancellor Rev. Helen Stokley. "His incredible work and experience to-date will be vital as the College continues to expand its civic engagement across London and supporting faith organizations throughout the UK."



Pastor Warren's installation as the first Chancellor of Spurgeon's College builds on the significant progress the College has made in recent years, culminating in its securing of Full Degree Awarding Powers in 2022. The award permits the College to create new degrees in other disciplines in the future based on student demand and the College's core mission. Through its ambitious plans to redevelop the campus and expand its teaching facilities in metro-London, the College is aiming to strengthen its educational offer for the local community, the nation and the world.

As part of this mission, the College will be welcoming more students at Spurgeon's through its online learning community, which can be accessed from anywhere around the globe and for which Pastor Warren will be providing guest lectures, as well as calling on the global Christian community to invest in the College's vision and cause.

"The name of Spurgeon stands for a number of key values that the Church needs to recover today," Warren added. "It represents strong Bible-based doctrine; passionate preaching; extensive church planting; winsome evangelism; a commitment to the ministry of every believer; and caring for the poor, the orphaned and the marginalized. I'd summarize Charles Spurgeon's life and ministry with this slogan: "He made a Great Commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission that produced a great church and a great college."

About Spurgeon's College

Spurgeon's College is a registered charity, Christian theological institution and one of the UK's leading Christian Colleges, located in Croydon (London), UK. For more than 163-years, it has earned a national and international reputation for excellence in theological education, ministerial formation and counselling training.

Spurgeon's College offers an undergraduate course in Theology and postgraduate courses in subjects such as Christian Thought and Practice, Digital Theology and Biblical and Theological studies. The College also offers courses in counselling. Following the Office for Students awarding the College with Full Degree Awarding Powers, the College was able to award honours degrees in the College's own name for the first time from September 2022.

The College currently has approximately 600 students and employs 80 faculty and staff. To-date the College has trained over 5,000 pastors and ministry workers  including faith and community leaders who currently work in over 40 countries around the world, and more than 1,000 professional counsellors who support mental health and wellbeing across the country.



For more information about Spurgeon's College, please visit https://www.spurgeons.ac.uk/

About Pastor Rick Warren

Rick Warren is the founding Pastor of Saddleback Church in California, which grew to over 30,000 weekly attendees across 19 locations, including four international campuses, and an online campus hosting listeners from around the world. He is currently serving as Coordinator of Finishing the Task, a global coalition of churches; denominations; Christian organizations, mission and media working together toward the Great Commission goal of ensuring that everyone everywhere has access to a Bible, a believer and a body of Christ by 2033 A.D., which will be the 2,000th anniversary of Jesus' resurrection and the foundation of the Christian church.

Warren has a Bachelor of Arts degree from California Baptist College, a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.

SOURCE A. Larry Ross Communications

U.S. MEDIA CONTACT: A. Larry Ross, (+1) 469 774-6362, alr@alarryross.com

UK MEDIA CONTACT: Jack Bell, (+44) 783 634 2377, j.b@lodestonecommunications.com
KEARNEY  The investor who purchased Kearneys Classic Car Collection in 2021 is preparing to sell many of the collection's vehicles. However, local volunteers are optimistic the sell-off will open opportunities to stabilize the future of the local attraction.

Labeled as one of the United States top destinations for automobile enthusiasts, the 140 Classic Car Collection vehicles destined for sale will go to the highest bidders via an online auction that opens at 8 a.m. June 13 and closes at 10 a.m. June 20.

It will bring lots of attention to Kearney, Nebraska. We hope a local buyer will buy it and keep it there, said Classic Car Collection owner Alan Gentz of Sterling, Colorado.

Gentz has contracted with the Steffes Group of Fargo, North Dakota, to conduct the online auction. A YouTube video that Steffes produced features some of the Collections rarest autos and at least one with great sentimental value to Kearney enthusiasts, Petes Patriot.

A group of Kearney youths were the pit crew for Petes Patriot, a 1969 AMX SS. The red, white and blue drag racer was the first AMC car to win an NHRA points meet and set a national record.

The Steffes Groups website lists dozens of other classic, rare Collection vehicles that will be sold to the highest bidders during the June 13-20 online auction.

Among those vehicles are:

 1930 Lincoln Model L, one of only 119 manufactured.

 1914 Locomobile two-door roadster.

 1917 Locomobile seven-passenger touring sedan.

 1922 Pierce Arrow seven-passenger limousine.

 1937 Packard two-door convertible.

Steffes Group describes the variety of cars offered in the auction as diverse; ranging from the brass era to the classic era and everything in between.  The classic car auction gives buyers the opportunity to own a piece of history that may not exist anywhere else.

Potential buyers will have the opportunity to personally view the vehicles for sale, according to the Steffes website. The Classic Car Collection museum is open Wednesday through Sunday noon-5 p.m.

The Classic Car Collection opened in 2012 on the east end of the Cabelas-Bass Pro building at 3600 E. U.S. Highway 30 in east Kearney. The core of the exhibit was the 130 vehicles that comprised the collection of Bernie and Janice Talborg. The Elkhorn couple signed over their collection of 130 cars to a nonprofit controlled by the Kearney Visitors Bureau in 2011, so the cars could be displayed in Kearney.

As additional vehicles were donated or loaned, the Classic Car Collection grew to more than 200 vehicles.

Although the auction could result in more than half of the Classic Car Collections vehicles being sold, a volunteer leader of the attraction, Brad Kernick of Kearney, said he and CCCs board intend to press on and keep the attraction open. Ultimately, Kernick said he's optimistic because the attraction can be locally owned.

We currently have over 80 vehicles that will be displayed, including many guest favorites, and are working with several individuals to add additional vehicles to the Classic Car Collection. We are looking at making modifications and improvements to our existing facility and are excited about the future of the collection, Kernick said in a prepared statement.

He said a local group secured all the signage and memorabilia currently displayed at CCC and plans to keep the collection open.

We have a strong and committed group of volunteers who are also excited about the next phase of the collection," Kernick said. "We have a top-notch board of directors who look forward to guiding us through these changes.

Raising money to pay the lease to Cabelas-Bass Pros is among immediate challenges, Kernick said.

Kernick, who chairs the CCC Board, listed other members as Jeff Knapp, Marv Dawes, Jackie Purdy, Gene Beerbohm, Al Young, Tom Henning and John Sahling. Alan Gentz and his daughter, Mariah Gentz, also are board members, Kernick said.
KEARNEY  The Kearney Police Department is investigating after reports of gun shots led to the discovery of a man suffering from stab wounds.

Around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, officers were called to the 1000 block of West 23rd Street on a report of shots fired. The department said officers arrived and found a man near West 23rd Street and Seventh Avenue suffering from an apparent laceration/stab wound to the leg.

Officers administered first aid at the scene and called for a rescue squad. EMS transported the man to CHI Good Samaritan Hospital Emergency Department with a serious but non-life-threatening laceration, police said.

The department said officers located evidence of multiple gun shots in the area, with several residential structures struck by gunfire. Kearney Police Investigators and Crime Lab Specialists were called to the scene to process and collect evidence. At this time there are no reports or evidence of anyone being struck by gun fire, police said.

Kearney police notified the University of Nebraska at Kearney Police Department and UNK officials about the situation because of the incident's proximity to campus.

A preliminary investigation indicated there was a disturbance inside a residence involving the man who was stabbed and an unknown group of individuals. The department said it believes it was an isolated, targeted incident and there is no ongoing threat to the community.

At this time, no suspects have been identified.

There may be multiple witnesses with knowledge about the incident, police said. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kearney Police Department at 308-237-2104, Buffalo County Crimestoppers at 308-237-3424 or through the See It Say It Send It app.

An investigation into the stabbing and shots fired continues. The department said investigators are aware of information circulating via social media, accurate information about this case will come from the Kearney Police Department.

Im certain an incident involving gunfire is unsettling for members of our community. I want to make it clear, this dangerous criminal behavior is unacceptable and irresponsible. Violent crime will not be tolerated in our community," Police Chief Bryan D. Waugh said in a release. "Our investigators will work tirelessly to identify and locate those responsible. As always, we appreciate any information from anyone who may have witnessed this incident or know the whereabouts of those involved.
OMAHA  Omaha is once again receiving attention for its efforts to reduce gun violence  this time in the form of a sizable grant from the charitable foundation of former President Barack Obama.

The Obama Foundation is recognizing Omaha for the creation of a model program targeting gun violence. As part of that, the foundation is awarding $800,000 to the Empowerment Network, a community organization active in efforts to reduce gun violence and improve life in North Omaha.

The Empowerment Network in 2008 launched Omaha 360, a collaboration in which community stakeholders work with the Omaha Police Department to head off gun violence. Both shootings and homicides in recent years are down sharply from levels seen a decade ago.

The grant is coming through the Obama Foundations My Brothers Keeper Alliance, which works to create opportunity for boys and young men of color.

Adren Wilson, the executive director of the My Brothers Keeper Alliance, said the group is confident that Omaha will continue to serve as a beacon of hope and best practices for other communities to follow.

Willie Barney, founder and president of the Empowerment Network, said the grant funds over the next two years will help it work with other community partners in an effort to further reduce violence. The idea will be to go upstream with new initiatives aimed at helping youths succeed in school and connecting them with jobs.

Its a huge opportunity for Omaha, Barney said.

Many cities across the country have recently been searching for answers on gun violence after the pandemic resulted in a big spike in shootings. That has recently helped focus more attention on Omahas efforts.

Beginning in 2007, Omaha began seeing escalating homicides and shootings, with much of the violence centered on gang activity in North and South Omaha.

In 2015, the 50 homicides in Omaha represented the citys highest toll since 1967. The situation was so dire and deadly that in 2011, Nebraska ranked No. 1 in the nation for Black homicide victimization rate.

In late 2008, the Empowerment Network organized the first meeting of what has become the Omaha 360 Violence Intervention and Prevention Collaborative.

At each weekly Omaha 360 meeting, representatives of community, youth, faith, neighborhood, education, social service, gang intervention, and mentoring organizations sit down with Omaha police leaders and work on defusing violence. The weekly sessions regularly draw 80 to 100 participants, and can exceed 120 after a particularly rough rash of shootings.

Though Omaha 360 has many elements, prevention is at its center: Sharing information with police to learn of neighborhood gang hot spots. Canvassing those neighborhoods to ask about problem houses and making sure that people know about available Crime Stoppers rewards. Seeking to connect families with community aid organizations in an effort to keep at-risk kids out of gangs.

Omaha police officials have also worked hand in hand with Omaha 360 and employed all-new tactics, including a beefed-up gang specialty unit, shot detection technology that speeds response to shootings, enhanced rewards for tips that solve shootings and street-level gang intervention.

Looking at FBI crime statistics, the results are notable.

Shootings in Omaha began trending down significantly in 2012. Homicides have dropped dramatically since 2015, reaching lows in 2018 and 2019 that were half the previous levels.

Where Nebraska previously ranked at the very top in Black homicide victimization rate, the state was 23rd in 2019 and 16th in 2020. Such figures show improvement as well as the fact that the state has a way to go.

Omaha experienced the same uptick in homicides and shootings seen nationally during the pandemic. But they ticked down in 2021 and 2022 and remain well below the levels seen a decade ago.

A year ago, a City Council member and others in Kansas City concerned about gun violence in that city visited an Omaha 360 meeting. That led months later to the launch of KC 360, the first program nationally modeled on Omahas gun violence initiative.

Then when ABC News in February did a story on Omaha 360 in Omaha, Barney heard from cities around the country. He and Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer subsequently held a Zoom session with representatives of 32 cities discussing the strategy in Omaha, among them San Diego, Houston, Detroit, Chicago and Atlanta.

CNN also recently interviewed Schmaderer and Barney for a segment focused on the Omaha initiative.

Now comes Wednesdays grant award from the Obama Foundation.

I think its really a strong confirmation of the work that has been going on in Omaha for 15 or 16 years and a reflection of the partnership and collaboration, Barney said. We know we have plenty of work ahead, but there are some really positive things that have developed through that collaboration.

The former president is announcing Omaha as one of four cities recognized for model programs supporting success for youths. The others are Tulsa, Newark and Yonkers, New York.

Barney will accept the award in Chicago on Wednesday at a meeting drawing participants from around the country, and he will also speak about Omaha 360.

Barney doesnt think its the last time hell share information on Omahas efforts to stamp out gun violence.

I think this will accelerate things even more, he said.

Counties with the worst droughts in Nebraska Counties with the worst droughts in Nebraska Nebraska statistics #1. Adams County (tie) #1. Perkins County (tie) #1. Nuckolls County (tie) #1. Nance County (tie) #1. Morrill County (tie) #1. Merrick County (tie) #1. McPherson County (tie) #1. Madison County (tie) #1. Loup County (tie) #1. Logan County (tie) #1. Hooker County (tie) #1. Phelps County (tie) #1. Lincoln County (tie) #1. Kimball County (tie) #1. Keya Paha County (tie) #1. Keith County (tie) #1. Kearney County (tie) #1. Johnson County (tie) #1. Jefferson County (tie) #1. Pierce County (tie) #1. Platte County (tie) #1. Polk County (tie) #1. Lancaster County (tie) #1. Knox County (tie) #1. Stanton County (tie)
Time for a tasty treat as May 15 is National Chocolate Chip Day. We might not know which came first  the chicken, or the egg  but when it comes to chocolate chips and their namesake cookie, the history is well-documented, and it might not be what you think. Chocolate chips actually came after the chocolate chip cookie, and despite their ubiquity, are likely younger than your grandmother (they were first marketed in 1940!). Legend has it that the chocolate chip cookie was a happy accident, born when baker ran out of bakers chocolate and opted for semi-sweet instead.

Check out the free Loyal to the Union: Ohio in the Civil War exhibit at the Civil War Museum in Kenosha. Explore the people and events that made the Buckeye state unique and so important to the Union cause. At the time of the Civil War, Ohio was the oldest and most established state in the Upper Middle West. The Ohio River and a well-established network of railroads moved troops, food and supplies. Ohio contributed more soldiers per capita to the Union Army than any other northern state. Ohios location made it a major route for African American freedom seekers traveling to Canada. The museum at 5400 First Ave. is open today 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibit is available daily through June 4.

The Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 First Ave., is hosting an exhibit featuring works by members of the Transparent Watercolor Society of America. This is the groups annual national juried exhibition and showcases 80-some paintings from the top transparent watercolor artists in the country. You wont believe what these artists can do with watercolor paints. The show runs through Aug. 6. Admission is free to the museum, open noon to 5 p.m. today.

The Anderson Arts Center, 6603 Third Ave. in Kenosha, features works from the Racine Art Guild, plus solo show winners from the Winter Juried Show 2022 and works from the Area Artists Group and Kemper Lakefront Studios. The arts center is open 1 to 4 p.m.today Sunday. Admission is free.




Korea's top general has visited the United Arab Emirates and Oman for talks on bilateral cooperation, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Monday.







JCS Chairman Gen. Kim Seung-kyum embarked on the five-day trip last Thursday and met with Ahmed bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, deputy chief of staff of the UAE's Armed Forces, to thank the country for its support in an operation to evacuate 28 Koreans from Sudan, according to the JCS.







Late last month, the Koreans left the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, where fierce fighting had been taking place between rival forces, in a UAE-led convoy before being transported back home by a Korean military aircraft.







During their meeting, the two sides also discussed ways to strengthen the two countries' "special strategic partnership" forged in 2018 and bolster arms industry cooperation, the JCS said.







Kim visited Korea's Akh unit stationed in the country to be briefed on its operations and encourage its troops.







He also visited Oman for talks with Mohammed bin Nasser bin Ali Al Zaabi, secretary general of Oman's defense ministry, and Abdullah Bin Khamis Al-Raisi, chief of staff of the Omani Armed Forces, on ways to expand military cooperation.







In Oman, Kim met with troops of the Navy's Cheonghae anti-piracy unit docked in the country and encouraged them over their operational posture during last month's rescue efforts, according to the JCS.







At the time, the unit was dispatched to waters off Sudan to provide support. (Yonhap)


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At about 8:30 p.m., the Vernon County Sheriffs Office 911 Dispatch Center received a call about a person trapped under an ATV. According to a press release from the sheriffs office, Francis J. Stanek, 66, was removed from beneath the ATV by family members prior to the arrival of the first responding units. Following the rescue, Stanek was transported by La Farge Area Ambulance to an awaiting Gundersen Air helicopter. The injuries were life-threatening, but emergency medical personnel worked to stabilize the patient prior to air transport to Gundersen Health System in La Crosse.
The Vernon County Health Department has been honored to help serve K-12 students across Vernon County in obtaining needed school supplies through the annual Stuff the Bus program for many years.

The program helps secure needed school supplies to support residents in Vernon County. For many families, finding the financial resources to cover the cost of school supplies for their children can be a true financial burden. To provide all children with the supplies they need to be successful in school, the program staff and volunteers coordinate the fundraising, purchasing of materials, and distribution of backpacks filled with school supplies such as pencils, paper, calculators, and other needed items across the county.

Amy Kleiber, director of the Vernon County Health Department, says, To continue to support area students, Vernon County Health Department and Viroquas McIntosh Memorial Library feel a collaboration will strengthen this programing and outreach effort. Kleiber, along with Library Director Trina Erickson, have been working on positive changes to the program since the beginning of the year.

We plan to engage with community youth and partner with 4-H organizations and others interested in supporting the efforts of the Stuff the Bus Program, Erickson said. Public libraries in Vernon County will serve as new pick-up locations for registered families to receive their school supplies. Specific details about pick up dates and locations will be announced soon.

Over the past three years as COVID-19 affected communities, funding for many programs and services changed. Many schools received funding to help support school supply needs during the pandemic. For most schools, the funding was supplied through COVID federal funding opportunities. Moving forward post-COVID, funding opportunities may be uncertain.

Families interested in signing up for the 2023-24 school year can do so between June 1 and July 17. Signup online by accessing the form at https://form.jotform.com/231006582140140. Telephone signup is also available by calling 608-637-5260 Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 pm.
Not if, when.

This was a key message in the active shooter training held Friday afternoon by Gundersen Health System  a sad reality at a time when health care is experiencing violence we didnt have 10 years ago and the U.S. has already surpassed 200 mass shootings in 2023.

The active shooter/ALICE  Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate  training, hosted by Gundersen emergency manager Tom Wright, was part of the hospitals all day Advances in Trauma Care symposium for staff. Additional classes included PTSD after trauma, suicide in youth, drowning or hanging, ER transport and stays, and a cadaver lab.

Wright, who has been Gundersens emergency manager for 25 years and began teaching ALICE training nine years ago, discussed the change in shooting types over the years, with targeted events being edged out by mass shootings. Health care entities, Wright said, only began seeing the latter around 2021, such as when a gunman killed four random people at Allina Health Clinic in Buffalo, Minnesota. Mass hospital incidents are still uncommon, with the No. 1 cause of onsite shootings domestic situations and the second disagreements in diagnosis.

It was in the early 2000s, said Wright, when the country began seeing signs of an epidemic, with handguns being replaced by assault rifles. Wright stressed situational awareness, recommending people be in the yellow category  prepared, alert and relaxed  in their daily lives. White category is underprepared and unready to take action, a place where people find themselves when they are engrossed in their phones while walking down the street or wearing their earbuds on high volume.

Be condition yellow at all times. Dont be hypervigilant  it makes us sick, its bad for our heart and bad for our mental health, said Wright. It becomes toxic.

Wright advises trusting ones gut when it comes to perceived danger, and if there are signs or subtle warnings of a threat, people should move to category orange, which is alert to probable danger. Red is action mode and black is panic, the latter a dangerous mindset that can result in chaos and harm.

Know your exits. Dont go to a congested exit, said Wright. Thats what shooters (target)  they want the herd, they dont want the stragglers.

In the hospital, Wright noted, doors cannot be locked as staff must be able to easily access patients in case of a medical event. In a shooting situation, staff are trained to unplug the hospital bed, push it against the door and lock the bed into place. In appointment rooms, the examination tables can be used to prevent entrance. All employees are asked to participate in the active shooter/ALICE training and hospital security is part of the law enforcement interface in crisis situations.

We are teaching the staff to protect themselves and the patients by teaching the shortcomings of the shooters, said Wright.

Wright has been asked if hosting ALICE training is actually teaching mass shooters how to navigate and successfully carry out their agenda. This may be true, he acknowledged, but the shooter will be outnumbered by those with the same education working the defense.

There is a list of 10 standard warning signs of an individual who may pose a threat. Six or more of the traits, which range from subtle to explicit and include cruelty to animals, bragging about access to guns or weapons, social isolation, recruiting accomplices for an attack and expressing persistent thoughts of harming oneself or others, indicates high risk.

While Wright does not teach public ALICE training, his advice to community members is to make a mental note of the emergency exits when they are at the grocery store, the movie theater or their workplace.

Emphasized Wright, Chance favors a prepared mind.
The arrest of three people in La Crosse has led to the recovery of three of the 41 firearms that were stolen during an April 25 burglary of The Smoking Gun in Rockland.

Domani Banks, 20, La Crosse, was taken into custody April 27. He is charged in La Crosse County Circuit Court with two felony counts of receiving a stolen firearm, two felony counts of felon in possession of a firearm and one misdemeanor count of resisting an officer. He is being held in the La Crosse County Jail on a $2,000 cash bond. His next court date is a May 19 calendar call.

Sherina L. Drake, 19, La Crosse, was taken into custody May 1. She is charged with a felony count of concealing a stolen firearm and a misdemeanor count of obstructing an officer. She is being held on a $2,500 cash bond and has a calendar call scheduled for May 23.

Briante C. Banks, 31, La Crosse, was taken into custody May 2. He is charged in La Crosse County Circuit Court with felony counts of receiving a stolen firearm and felon in possession of a firearm and a misdemeanor count of resisting an officer. He is being held on a $10,000 cash bond and has a calendar call scheduled for May 17.

La Crosse County Sheriff John Siegel said Monday that 21 of the 41 stolen firearms have been recovered. The sheriffs office is asking for the publics help to recover the remaining weapons.

According to the criminal complaint filed against Domani Banks, police received information April 27 that Drake had given several firearms to Domani Banks. Police went to Banks La Crosse residence, which is also the residence of Mackey K. Drake, 22, one of the three suspects in the gun store burglary.

The complaint says police located Sherina Drake in an upstairs bedroom. She told police she didnt have any of the firearms and agreed to a search of her bedroom. Police located no firearms.

Sherina Drake reportedly told police she found two handguns  later identified as a Taurus G2c 9mm and a Glock G23 9mm  under a rock located underneath a bag of trash. She said she gave them to Domani Banks and asked him to dispose of them.

The complaint says Sherina Banks agreed to call Domani Banks and ask him to give the firearms back. Police drove her to a location in downtown La Crosse, where she had arranged to meet with him. She retrieved the two weapons from him and turned them over to police.

Domani Banks was taken into custody a short time later. The complaint says he denied knowing anything about the stolen firearms.

According to the criminal complaint filed against Briante Banks, he was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over by police May 2 shortly before 5 p.m. on Liberty Street in La Crosse. Police were aware that Briante Banks had an outstanding warrant and asked him to exit the vehicle. He allegedly tried to flee, but an officer grabbed him by his shirt and took him to the ground. The complaint says he continued to resist as police applied handcuffs.

Police searched the vehicle and located a zip pouch containing a firearm from the burglary.

All three suspects in the burglary are in custody. Nehemiah Sample, 26, Trempealeau, was arrested April 27 in Arkansas and is being held in the Chicot County Jail. An extradition hearing has yet to be scheduled.

Robert E. Benson Jr., 18, Onalaska, was arrested May 2 and is being held in the La Crosse County Jail on a $5,000 cash bond. His next court date is a May 19 calendar call.

Mackey Drake was taken into custody April 25 on a probation violation and charged in the burglary May 9. He faces three felony counts of theft of movable property and one felony count of burglary while armed. He is being held in the La Crosse County Jail on a $10,000 cash bond. His next court date is a May 23 calendar call.
BETTENDORF, Iowa  Its hard not to look, but the Iowa Department of Transportation discourages craning ones neck while driving to catch a better view of the work on the new Interstate 74 bridge between Bettendorf and Moline.

Dont rubberneck, said Danielle Alvarez, Iowa DOT I-74 project manager. There are better, safer ways to enjoy the project without having to find out what the deductible is on your car.

One option is boarding the Channel Cat Water Taxi, an open-air ferryboat that passes the attention-grabbing site on the Mississippi River multiple times every day.

Before severe weather rolled last Tuesday, Alvarez led a two-hour tour through the area for about 40 people who reserved their seats months in advance. The engineer covered the planning, design and ongoing buildout of the $322 million bridge, which features two four-lane spans, each 3,400 feet in length with two 164-foot-tall basket-handle arches.

The Iowa DOT awarded the contract to Black River Falls-based Lunda Construction, marking the largest deal in the state agencys history; Illinois is covering about 50 percent of the costs. The job officially began early last summer, and its expected to finish at the end of 2020.

Crews are working 24 hours a day, six days a week to stay on schedule.

We will work every day we can, Alvarez said, noting she cant control flooding or labor shortages, among other surprise delays. We dont have a choice when we only have three-and-a-half years to get the project done.

The bridge is a primary piece of a larger $1.2 billion I-74 corridor project. At completion, there will be three lanes in each direction between 53rd Street in Davenport to a mile south of Avenue of the Cities in Moline.

A spot on one of these popular Channel Cat Talks, organized by River Action Inc., Davenport, may be one of the hottest tickets this year in the Quad-Cities. The latest excursion marked Alvarezs third presentation since early June.

After the first four sessions sold out, River Action added four additional outings in September, which sold out in about a week, program manager Laura Morris said. While the regular season of Channel Cat Talks officially ends Thursday, the organization plans to offer additional guided tours of the water-based construction site next year.

As crews worked on the new bridge Tuesday, a contracted team from the firm Burges & Niple inspected the existing one, which carries about 45 percent of cross-river traffic in the Quad-Cities, Alvarez said.

Those who travel from Illinois to Iowa for school or work should expect longer commute times next year when the existing Iowa-bound span is reduced to one lane.

2019 is when I become the most popular lady in the Quad-Cities, Alvarez said.

In 2020, the new westbound span will carry both directions of traffic until the eastbound span is finished, she said.

The eastbound span, when completed, will include a 14-foot-wide multi-use path for cyclists and pedestrians.

Meanwhile, Alvarez is eager to see the basket-handle arch of the westbound span rise above the water in the coming months.

Sitting in the front row of the Channel Cat, Joyce Holland of Bettendorf took note of the changes since her last tour with Alvarez in June.

I just think its interesting we have a bridge being built in three-and-a-half years, and this gal can give us all the answers about it, Holland said. Its great for our area.
The case against the 10 Republicans who signed paperwork attempting to hand Wisconsins 2020 Electoral College votes to President Donald Trump will proceed in Madison, a Dane County judge has ruled.

Dane County Circuit Judge Frank Remington on Monday denied the defendants request to have the lawsuit broken up and brought before individual courts in their counties of residence.

While state law allows defendants to seek a change of venue under certain circumstances, Remington said the defendants in this case dont meet the necessary requirements. He also noted the lawsuit was properly filed in Dane County, which is the county of residence for at least one defendant in the case.

Wisconsin law does not allow the problematic consequences of ten judges simultaneously litigating the same claims in ten different courts, or ten juries  some 120 jurors  hearing the same claims and rendering ten different verdicts, Remington wrote in his decision.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for May 24.

Although likely not the last, this was just the latest effort to delay any type of accountability, Scott Thompson, an attorney with the liberal law firm Law Forward, who is representing the plaintiffs in the case, said in an email. We are pleased this matter will be resolved in the Dane County Courthouse, just one block from where the fake electors scheme was carried out.

The lawsuit was filed last year on behalf of a handful of Democrats, including two official presidential electors, against the 10 Republicans, as well as Boston-area lawyer Kenneth Chesebro and Jim Troupis, a former Republican-appointed Dane County judge who has represented Trump in Wisconsin.

The lawsuit alleges the Republicans and their attorneys broke multiple laws, including counterfeiting public records, illegally interfering with official procedures, defrauding the public and engaging in conspiracy. Plaintiffs seek more than $2.4 million in damages, including $2,000 in fines for the Republicans and their attorneys, and up to $200,000 in punitive damages for each plaintiff.

Those who signed the documents include Robert Spindell, a Republican member of the Wisconsin Elections Commission; former chair of the state Republican Party Andrew Hitt; 8th Congressional District GOP chair Kelly Ruh; 1st Congressional District GOP vice chair Carol Brunner; former Dane County Republican Party chair Scott Grabins; La Crosse County Republican Party chair Bill Feehan; 5th Congressional District GOP chair Kathy Kiernan; 6th Congressional District GOP chair Darryl Carlson; 1st Congressional District GOP vice chair Pam Travis; and Mary Buestrin, vice chair of the Midwest region for the Republican National Committee.

The slate of 10 Republicans met at the state Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020, to sign official-looking documents asserting that Trump won the state. The meeting took place on the same day that the Democratic slate of Wisconsin electors also convened in the Capitol to deliver the states 10 electoral votes to President-elect Joe Biden. It also occurred after the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Biden had won the election and a month after Wisconsin county clerks canvassed the presidential election results.

The lawsuit was filed after the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission dismissed a complaint filed against the 10 electors.

In a separate case, Remington last week signaled he would send the initial complaint back to the Elections Commission for a second consideration. Remington said his order will stipulate that Spindell must recuse himself on the matter.

Elections 101: Video series explains how elections are carried out in Wisconsin The Wisconsin Elections Commission put together the following series of instructional videos and accompanying lesson plans for use in high school civics classes and the general public. Elections overview An overview of elections administration in Wisconsin. Voting Security Let's take a look at how we maintain security and integrity with all of our elections. Nuts and bolts The ins-and-outs of voter processes like registering to vote and requesting a ballot to vote absentee. A Day at the Polls See what it is like to go to the polls and vote.
Among a system of powerful storms that swept across Wisconsin on Wednesday, at least two confirmed tornadoes touched down in Monroe County, leaving behind substantial damage.

The two tornadoes hit within about 30 miles of each other and less than an hour apart. The National Weather Service confirmed that an EF-2 tornado hit near Tomah shortly after 4 p.m., and an EF-1 tornado hit near Mauston at about 4:45 p.m.

Crews were also evaluating damage in Vernon County near La Farge and Hillsboro to determine whether a tornado hit, but nothing was confirmed as of Thursday afternoon.

No injuries or deaths have been reported from the storms, officials said.

According to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, the tornado that hit Tomah appears to have traveled northeast from Hwy. 131 and Hwy. A for about 15 miles before leaving Monroe County north of Shennington.

The tornado took down multiple trees, power lines and barns, and damaged several homes. The county reported widespread power outages. Multiple semis were blown over onto their sides, causing Interstate 90-94 to be shut down for more than three hours. Traffic was detoured on Hwy. 12-16 through the Village of Oakdale.

The tornado was described as "large and extremely dangerous" by the NWS, and it was "rain-wrapped," making it difficult to see. Debris was seen lofted on the radar.

According to preliminary local storm reports, the area was also hit with hail up to an inch in diameter and winds capable of ripping bark off of trees and shingles off of roofs, though NWS said the storm didn't produce much hail.

Almost simultaneously, a tornado watch was also issued for northeastern Vernon County near La Farge and Hillsboro until 4:45 p.m., and for the Mauston area until 5 p.m.

Damage was reported at the Mile Bluff Medical Center in Mauston, which resorted to using backup power due to the storm, according to officials. NWS crews were on the ground in Mauston Thursday morning evaluating the storm.

Other damage reported near Mauston includes flipped trailers, roof damage, and downed power lines, tree branches and traffic lights.

The Mauston tornado reached wind speeds up to 90 miles-per-hour and was up to 150 yards wide.

Law enforcement is asking people to avoid traveling in the storm-damaged areas as many roads remain impassible and crews are working to get them back open.

The severe weather moved out of western Wisconsin by about 6:45 p.m., moving into the eastern part of the state, where damage was also done.

As of Thursday morning, about 38,000 We Energies customers lost service from Bonduel south to Milwaukee.

In Outagamie County, executive Tom Nelson said some rural roads were impassable, urging commuters to take extra time while traveling and to "be safe."

Crews with the Green Bay Metro Fire Department responded to about 150 calls for service in their area, including calls for downed power lines, damaged poles, gas leaks and damage to homes.

About an inch to and inch-and-a-half of rain fell across Vernon, Monroe, La Crosse and Jackson counties on Wednesday, adding to what was already a wet week.

As of Thursday morning, the La Crosse River had reached 7.45 feet, hovering at a minor flood stage. The Lemonweir River in New Lisbon was reported at 7.7 feet, which is in the "action" flood stage.

The Kickapoo River in Vernon County was on the rise but hadn't yet reached flood stage.

This story was updated at 2:30 p.m. Thursday morning to include the confirmation of a second tornado and the ratings. Any storm photos, videos or reports can be sent to news@lacrossetribune.com.

IN PHOTOS & VIDEOS: Tornado in Monroe County Tornado east of Tomah Tornado east of Tomah Tornado east of Tomah WATCH NOW: Town of Oakdale resident describes storm damage Railroad WATCH NOW: Storm damages home in Town of Byron Roadblock WATCH NOW: Crews clear debris from Grosbeak Avenue in Town of Byron Franklin Road Oakdale Damage Shed House damaged
WASHINGTON  A showdown with Congress that has the nation's creditworthiness at stake; a frenzied scene at the border as pandemic restrictions ease; a pivotal foreign trip meant to sustain support for Ukraine and contain a more assertive China in the Indo-Pacific.

Three weeks since launching his reelection campaign, President Joe Biden is confronting problems in his day job that defy easy solutions. If, as his advisers believe, the single best thing he can do for his reelection prospects is to govern well, then the coming weeks can pose a near-existential test of his path to a second term.

Economists warn that the country faces a debilitating recession  and worse  if Biden and lawmakers can't agree on a path to raising the debt limit. Biden wants Congress to raise it without precondition, equating Republicans' demands for spending cuts with ransom for the country's full faith and credit.

The expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency meant the end of Title 42 pandemic restrictions at an already taxed U.S.-Mexico border. His administration responded with new policies to crack down on illegal crossings while opening legal pathways encouraging people to stay put and apply online to come to the U.S., but Biden himself predicted a "chaotic" situation as the new procedures take effect.

These tests comes as Biden prepares to depart Washington on Wednesday for an eight-day trip to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia. He will try to marshal unity among Group of Seven leading democratic economies to maintain support for Ukraine as it prepares to launch a counteroffensive against Russia's invasion, and to invigorate alliances in the face of China's forceful moves.

Biden put his ability to solve problems at the core of his pitch to voters in 2020 and it is central to his argument for why, at 80, he's best prepared for four more years in the White House.

"I'm more experienced than anybody that's ever run for the office," Biden told MSNBC this month. "And I think I've proven myself to be honorable as well as also effective."

Yet the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 undercut his image, sending his approval ratings sharply down.

An April poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found Biden's job approval rating at 42%, a slight improvement from 38% in March. The March poll came after a pair of bank failures rattled an already shaky confidence in the nation's financial systems, and Biden's approval rating then was near the lowest point of his presidency. It found that 26% of Americans overall want to see Biden run again, up from 22% who said that in January. Forty-seven percent of Democrats say they want him to run, also up slightly from 37% who said that in January.

Aides note Biden entered the White House when the country faced the COVID-19 pandemic, an economic crisis and strained international alliances after four years of Donald Trump's presidency.

"President Biden continues to leverage his experience and judgment to fight for middle-class families and mainstream values, including by standing against congressional Republicans' extreme MAGA threat to trigger a downturn" unless they get sweeping spending cuts, White House spokesman Andrew Bates said.

Biden said Saturday it's "hard to tell" how staff-level talks to avert a crisis on the debt limit will shake out. He plans to reconvene with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other congressional leaders before he heads overseas, but the White House has been firm that while Biden is open to considering spending cuts, he won't agree to them as a condition for raising the debt limit.

U.S. officials warn that the impasse threatens national security and could hurt pay and benefits for troops and U.S. standing around the globe.

"It sends a horrible message to nations like Russia and China, who would love nothing more than to be able to point at this and say, 'See, the United States is not a reliable partner. The United States is not a stable leader of peace and security around the world,'" National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

Biden also faces a key test at the southern border. Migrants were still wading into the Rio Grande to take their chances getting into the country. Lawsuits threatened measures to release migrants into the U.S. to avoid overcrowding in border patrol facilities as well as efforts to crack down on asylum seekers entering the country.

"It is true that the Americas is, at the moment, going through an unprecedented displacement crisis," said Olga Sarrado, a spokeswoman for the United Nations refugee agency.

The U.S. has increasingly seen migrants arrive at its Southern border who are from China, Ukraine, Haiti, Russia and other nations far from Latin America, and who are increasingly family groups and children traveling alone. Border Patrol agents are encountering nearly 8,000 migrants per day, and the recent death of a 17-year-old boy in U.S. custody drove home the challenge. An investigation continues.

With just under 18 months to go until Election Day, it's not a given that these issues will shape voters' decisions, Chapman University presidential historian Luke Nichter said. "There is a long time between now and November 2024," he said.

Jonathan Young, a Democratic donor who came to hear Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday in Atlanta, said Biden must navigate the current gauntlet with something to show the middle of the electorate, especially if Republicans nominate someone other than Trump.
Dubuque Telegraph Herald. May 14, 2023.

Editorial: Keep innovating to engage young people in the tri-state area

A front page story today examines the efforts made to attract and retain young adults in the tri-state area. Local business leaders believe that millennials and Gen Z residents are becoming increasingly important to ensure communities future success. This age group will be key to filling the holes left in workplaces and organizations as baby boomers and eventually Gen Xers retire.

Organizations such as Greater Dubuque Development Corp. and the DRA have placed a priority on growing the population in the Dubuque area for just that reason. In addition to filling workplace needs, an increased population keeps the local tax base high. Several area organizations have found innovative ways to engage young people and work toward keeping them in the area. Consider these programs already in the works:

 Paramount EMS and Loras College paired up to form Paramount EMS Academy, a training program under the auspices of Paramount and based at Loras. Organizers say the program is an attempt to address a shortage of EMS personnel experienced locally and nationwide. Paramount officials envision the academy as a way to develop apprenticeship efforts similar to those used to fill staff shortages in certain trades.

 MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center launched an internship program that allows high schoolers to spend 10 to 12 weeks at the hospital, rotating through a variety of departments. The students observe health care professionals and complete job duties and special projects in areas from the emergency room and radiology departments to cardiac rehab, social work and more in an attempt to build a talent pipeline for the hospital.

 Finley Health Foundation started the Senior Student Promise Program aimed at offering support to students, and aiding recruitment and retention of the hospitals workforce. Qualified senior health sciences students can receive up to $20,000 for educational expenses in exchange for an up to two-year commitment working at UnityPoint Health-Finley Hospital. Upon graduating and seeking work at Finley, the participating students can apply to various jobs, from nurses to lab technicians.

 Clarke University, Loras College and University of Dubuque are partnering on the Dubuque Promise Program, which will award up to $5,000 per year to students who make a two-year commitment to reside and be employed in the tri-state area following graduation. That geographic area includes Dubuque, Clayton, Delaware, Jones and Jackson counties in Iowa; Grant and Lafayette counties in Wisconsin; and Jo Daviess County in Illinois. A grant from the DRA made the program possible.

 Schools have partnered with local businesses to give students on-site workplace experience and connect them with businesses that could serve as their future employers. That resulted in a career signing day ceremony last month in which students committed to work for Portzen Construction as carpenters through North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters.

Wishing and wanting more young adults to stay in or return to the area wont make it happen. But engaging with young people through innovative opportunities such as these are great tools to assist with reaching that goal. Heres hoping more organizations seek ways to follow these examples and connect with young adults, reminding them that they are wanted and needed here in the tri-state area.

Des Moines Register. May 14, 2023.

Editorial: Iowa should stop tilting the scales in civil rights cases

A commission ostensibly set up to help Iowans should change its rules to ensure employers arent favored, writes the Registers editorial board.

The system responsible for settling Iowans complaints that employers or other people violated their rights is, in practice, tilted against those seeking to be made whole.

Thanks to a thorough investigation last year by a volunteer oversight board, we know that the Iowa Civil Rights Commission and its processes put too much burden on Iowans. And it does so in ways that set it apart from its counterparts in other states and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

More than half of complaints in Iowa  mostly about employment and housing  are rejected without investigation after a couple of rounds of paperwork. Those rejections do not lay out clearly enough what next steps are possible, or mention that many people whose complaints have failed to advance have nonetheless gone on to file and win lawsuits. The commissions privacy practices also advantage employers, by essentially requiring clairvoyance from complainants about how their bosses will respond to their claims.

Fortunately, the report arrived with the commission poised for change: It has a brand new professional director, Kristen Stiffler, who started work in late April alongside three new appointed commissioners. Its also moving from being a standalone agency to being housed in the state Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing. That last move could provide the commission with more administrative resources to help clear backlogs of cases, lawmakers have said.

The politically diverse Iowa Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights made seven main findings in its report, but they can be condensed to the two most important steps for improving justice.

Change rules that inappropriately protect the accused

The Civil Rights Commission departs from both common sense and other states practices in a couple of meaningful ways identified in the advisory panels report.

In employment cases, the commission asks the employer involved to explain any non-discriminatory reasons for how it treated a worker. If the worker does not adequately rebut those reasons, the case is usually closed. Theres one problem: The worker is never shown the employers explanation. The commission has cited a provision of Iowa law for this practice, but the advisory committee, which includes several lawyers, disagreed with that interpretation.

Employers and workers also are held to different standards in another way: Workers must provide verified testimony, meaning they formally swear to its accuracy, but employers are not required to do so.

These inequities can and should be fixed by adopting new administrative rules for the commission. Under Gov. Kim Reynolds executive order to streamline rulemaking, this section of administrative code is due to be reviewed by Dec. 31.

Spend a little money on providing justice

The Civil Rights Commission accepted 1,863 complaints from July 2021 to June 2022, its highest number in 11 years. In its annual report, former director Stan Thompson noted that the average processing time for a complaint dropped by 41 days from the previous year, to 150 days. More mediation hearings were held than in previous years, he said.

There are still too many delays. State senators expressed concern about backlogs of cases during confirmation proceedings for Stiffler, the new director. Stiffler told the Registers F. Amanda Tugade that turnover is among her concerns: Excluding my appointment, over 40% of the staff have been with the commission (for) over two years, with 32% of those employees, with five or more years with the commission.

The state, which at present provides about half the commissions funding, should step up its investment, which has remained essentially static at about $1.3 million for about a decade. Republicans who control state government have picked a small handful of departments each year to receive new spending instead of the usual status quo. In the interest of justice, the Civil Rights Commission should be at the top of that list when lawmakers return in 2024.

More, better-paid staffers will be needed if the agency makes the essential rule changes weve outlined to ensure more complaints are actually investigated. Those staffers also can improve other processes: They can handle new cases more quickly. They can continue to provide mediation more often. They can take more care to speak directly with complainants to ensure that their documents are correctly prepared and that they understand they still have options if the commission doesnt resolve their claim.

The Iowa Advisory Committee revealed an agency that has thrown up procedural obstacles for workers while allowing possible mistreatment by employers to pass without investigation. Agency officials and state lawmakers should seize the opportunity to make the commission a place where Iowans can expect just decisions on the merits.

END
Domestic drilling for oil and natural gas is expected to drive extreme demand for the frac sand prevalent throughout western Wisconsin.

The value of proppant sand, used to hold open fissures in underground rock formations, will exceed $4 billion this year and is expected to grow to nearly $6 billion over the next five years, according to the report from IHS Markit. Thats more than 4.5 times the market value for sand in 2016.

Wisconsin has historically produced about a third of the domestic supply of industrial sand.

The report says continued exploration for oil and gas as well as the use of more sand per well are driving demand for the silica sand, whose fine round grains allow extraction of previously untapped fossil fuel reserves.

Analyst Brandon Savisky, who authored the report, said oil production in the Permian basin in west Texas accounts for roughly 40 percent of the demand.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration predicted Thursday that domestic crude oil production will reach record levels in 2018 and 2019, with more than half of the growth coming from the Permian basin.

EIA forecasts that U.S. natural gas production, consumption and exports will grow through 2019.

In efforts to minimize transportation charges  which account for more than 65 percent of sand costs  and shipping bottlenecks, oil producers are turning to lower-quality sand that can be mined near the well sites.

More recently, geologists are looking into whether North Dakota sand reserves could be used for fracking.

But Savisky said infrastructure challenges and the scarcity of water needed to wash the sand are hindering Texas sand, and many producers are sticking with the proven quality of northern white sand.

There still are operators that are definitely demanding northern white, and thats not going to go away, he said.

Kent Syverson, an industry consultant and chair of the geology department at UW-Eau Claire, said Wisconsin sand is also the most economic alternative for producers in Appalachia, North Dakota and Canada, where demand could still grow.

With the exception of several projects already in the permitting process, Syverson doesnt anticipate new mines opening up.

I think that investors would probably not go for that very much now, he said. I think its going to be more the established players seeking to kind of preserve what theyre doing as opposed to big greenfield development.

Last month, Hi-Crush Partners announced plans to expand production by more than 45 percent at its mine in Monroe County.

The Texas company said one of the worlds largest oil production companies had contracted to buy an additional 850,000 tons of sand per year from its Wyeville mine as well as 3 million tons from a new mine to be developed in Kermit, Texas.
MADISON  When the venture capital arm of American Family Insurance launched in 2013, AmFam Ventures was ahead of the curve in terms of corporate investing in that early stage asset class.

Seven exits and more than 25 portfolio investments later, AmFam Ventures is one of the nations leading corporate investors in financial technology and insure-tech fields. It has solid in-state company in those business sectors with the likes of CFMG Ventures at CUNA Mutual and Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures.

Other companies in Wisconsin with in-house investment arms or related interests in startups include Logistics Health of La Crosse, Kimberly-Clark, ABC Supply, Aurora Advocate and Direct Supply. That list could grow if other companies band together to join the venture capital trend.

A mechanism for those major companies to do so is called a corporate fund-of-funds, much like what was created in 2008 in Michigan and more recently in Cincinnati, Ohio. Michigans Renaissance Fund was initially funded by Ford, La-Z-Boy, Whirlpool and later added dozens more organizations. Cincinnatis Cintrifuse launched with investments by Proctor & Gamble, Kroger and Western & Southern and has grown as well.

What is a corporate fund-of-funds? Quite simply, its a vehicle for pooling capital and investing in emerging firms, either directly or through other professional investors.

Such investments can target products or research related to core businesses of the participating companies. They can also invest in startups and scale-ups not related to the mission of the larger companies, but tied to the larger economy in that state, region and beyond.

Corporate fund-of-funds can also attract money from elsewhere, often in the form of co-investments by traditional, stand-alone venture capital firms that tend to congregate on the East and West coasts.

Thats pretty much what happened in Michigan, which went from a venture capital also-ran to a leader during the past 10 years in terms of dollars invested, number of deals and out-of-state investment.

Chris Rizik, the managing director of the Renaissance Fund, described the funds structure, investment experience and results in early 2017 at the invitation of the Wisconsin Technology Council. He described Wisconsin as poised for such a fund. The Tech Council most recently cited the benefits of such a fund with the release of its 2018 white-papers report, Pathways to Success.

We have 1.78 percent of the nations population, conduct 1.89 percent of the nations academic research and generated 1.64 percent of the nations patents, the report reads. However, we have 0.21 percent of the nations venture capital under management and our states companies raised 0.35 percent of our nations venture capital.

One solution for improving those numbers at the earliest stage is the Badger Fund of Funds, which will focus more on the youngest companies. That fund is already in place, with five regional funds investing or forming. A corporate fund-of-funds would aim higher in the asset class and likely build on existing investments in young companies.

Capital availability is one of the major constraints facing entrepreneurs in our state, said John Neis, managing director of Venture Investors LLC in Madison. When we talk with investors in other places about investments here, one of the first thing they ask is whether the local investors are in the deal. If we in Wisconsin who stand to benefit most, and who know the entrepreneurs and their capabilities best, dont back themwhy should others?

Neis, whose firm also has an office in Michigan, said the experience in that state showed multiple benefits, including the arrival of venture capital funds from elsewhere to pursue deals.

Wisconsin has a cadre of major companies. It has experienced investors in angel capital networks and stand-alone funds. Increasingly, it has the right talent and ideas.

Whats needed now is a shared sense of opportunity about reinvesting in Wisconsin and a few corporate champions to take up the challenge. The potential is there.
A California man was arrested Saturday at the Winona Amtrak station after police said he assaulted an Amtrak employee while riding the train north of Winona.

Jason Kalani Mook, 59, of San Jose, California, was arrested after police said he injured the employee by throwing an unopened pop can that struck the employee in the head.

Police said the incident took place in the cafe car on the train shortly after 11 a.m. Mook was arrested by sheriffs deputies at the Winona station.

Law enforcement said the assault was unprovoked and that Mook threatened to kill the employee.

Mooks destination was unknown, but he had been traveling on the train since Spokane, Washington. The incident was the first time any issues were reported with the passenger.

According to the victim and witnesses, Mook was making statements on the train saying he wanted to go to prison.

Mook was arrested for second degree felony assault, felony terroristic threats and misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
With so many social media services aimed at children, parents and families need help.

Some are seeing their childrens mental health suffer despite connections with friends on Instagram and TikTok. Others are questioning if children should be on social media at all.

Lawmakers have taken notice, too.

In April, the European Union approved a new law to force social media companies to remove harmful content or risk paying billions in fines.

In the United States, federal lawmakers recently introduced a bill aiming to ban all children under the age of 13 from using social media. It would also require those under 18 to get permission from a guardian to create an account. And the Federal Trade Commission is proposing changes to ban Facebooks parent company Meta from making money from data it collects on children.

But making laws and enforcing them takes time. For now, here is some advice, for parents and children, on staying safe, communicating, and setting limits on social media:

Is 13 the right age?

In the U.S., there is already a rule that bans children under 13 from using online social media that advertise to them without parental agreement. It is called the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act which went into effect in 2000.

To agree with the law, social media companies have generally banned children under 13 from signing up for their services. However, it has been widely documented that children sign up anyway, either with or without their parents agreement.

Today, however, online privacy is not the only concern when it comes to children being online. Children now face risks of bullying, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts, or worse.

For years, there has been a push among parents, educators, and tech experts to wait to give children phones  and a way to get on social media  until they are older. One example is Wait Until 8th where parents agree to wait until their children are 13 or 14 to give them a smartphone. But neither social media companies nor the government have made any changes to increase the age limit.

If the law will not ban children, should parents?

There is not necessarily a magical age, said Christine Elgersma, a social media expert at the nonprofit Common Sense Media. But, she added, 13 is probably not the best age for kids to get on social media.

The laws currently being proposed in the U.S. include bans on the under-13 set when it comes to social media. But there is no easy way to check a persons age when they sign up for online services.

Companies have added some changes over the years, Elgersma noted. But she said, Developers need to start building apps with kids in mind.

Some parents have chosen to ban their children from social media completely. But experts say this could lead to isolating some children. They could be left out of activities and discussions with friends that take place on social media.

Another consideration is that children who have never been on social media may find it difficult to use social media when they are suddenly permitted to when they turn 18.

Talk, talk, talk

Elgersma suggests that parents go through their own social media and open discussions with their children before they are old enough to be online. For older children, she suggests learning about their interests as a way to have conversations.

Jean Rogers is the director of the nonprofit Fairplays Screen Time Action Network. She advises parents not to say things like Turn that thing off! when their child has been on social media for a long time. Thats not respectful, Rogers said. It doesnt respect that they have a whole life and a whole world in that device.

Instead, Rogers suggests asking them questions about what they do on their phone, and seeing what your child is wanting to share.

Elgersma adds that movies that explore the dark sides of social media or research how social media companies make money can be good ways to connect with children on the subject.

Kids love to be in the know about these things, and it will give them a sense of power, she said.

Setting limits

Rogers says most parents have success with taking their childrens phones overnight to limit their online social media use. It is a plan that usually works because children need a break from the screen.

Rogers adds that it is helpful to explain what you are doing with your phone. Tell your child that you are looking at emails, looking up ideas for dinner, or paying a bill so they understand you are not on there just for fun. Then tell them when you plan to put the phone down.

Im Gregory Stachel.

Barbara Ortutay reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English.

____________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

guardian  n. someone who takes care of another person or of another person's property

bully  v. to frighten, hurt, or threaten (a smaller or weaker person)

magic  adj. very pleasant or exciting

app  n. a computer program that performs a special function

kid  n. a young person

isolate  v. to put or keep (someone or something) in a place or situation that is separate from others

____________________________________________________________________

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Joe Seaman-Graves is the city planner for the small town of Cohoes, New York. He was in search of a less costly way of providing electricity to the town. There was no extra land to build on. But Cohoes does have a nearly 6-hectare water reservoir.

Seaman-Graves looked up the term floating solar on Google. He was not familiar with the technology, which has long been a popular way to produce clean energy in Asia.

Seaman-Graves learned that the towns water reservoir could hold enough solar panels to power all city buildings. And that would save the city more than $500,000 each year.

Floating solar panel projects have seen quick growth as a new form of clean energy in the United States and Asia. Floating solar panes are sought after not just for their clean power, but also because they save water by preventing evaporation.

A recent study that appeared in Nature Sustainability found that more than 6,000 cities in 124 countries could produce all of their electricity demand using floating solar. It also found that the panels could save the cities enough water each year to fill 40 million Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Zhenzhong Zeng is a professor at the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, China. He worked on the study. He said American states like Florida, Nevada and California could produce more power with floating solar than they need.

The idea of floating solar is simple: attach panels on structures that float on water. The panels serve as a cover that reduces evaporation to nearly zero. The water keeps the panels cool. This permits them to produce more electricity than land-based panels, which lose efficiency when they get too hot.

One of the floating solar farms in the U.S. is the 4.8-megawatt project in Healdsburg, California. It was built by Ciel & Terre. The company has built 270 projects in 30 countries.

Higher costs at first

Chris Bartle of Ciel & Terre estimated that floating solar costs 10 to 15 percent more than land solar at first. But the technology saves money long term.

Deeper water can increase setup costs, and the technology cannot operate on fast-moving water, on the open ocean or on coastlines with very large waves.

Problems can come up if the solar panels cover too much of a water bodys surface. That could change the water temperature and harm underwater life. Researchers are looking into whether the electromagnetic fields from floating panels could affect underwater ecosystems. However, there is no evidence of that yet.

In Cohoes, public officials are preparing for the setup of their project later this year. The project will cost an estimated $6.5 million.

Seaman-Graves said he believes his towns floating solar project can serve as an example for other American cities.

We are an environmental justice community and we see a big opportunity for low to moderate income cities to replicate what were doing, he said.

Im Ashley Thompson.

Isabella O'Malley reported this story for The Associated Press. Hai Do adapted the story for Learning English.

__________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

reservoir - n. man-made lake used to store water

solar panel - n. large flat piece of equipment that uses sun's light or heat to create electricity

professor - n. teacher at college level

ecosystem - n. everything that exists in a particular environment

opportunity - n. chance

replicate - v. repeat or copy
The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden says the number of migrants crossing the southern U.S. border with Mexico has unexpectedly fallen.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said border agents reported a 50 percent reduction in the number of migrants crossing the border since Thursday.

On that day, public health emergency measures in the U.S. came to an end.

Mayorkas spoke on national television Sunday. He told CNN: The numbers we have experienced in the past two days are markedly down over what they were prior to the end of Title 42.

Title 42 is the part of U.S. law that deals with public health. Measures in that law permit public health officials to limit or stop entry into the United States by people who are not citizens if a disease is spreading in the country.

Myorkas credited criminal punishments for illegal migrants for the decrease in illegal entry. He said there were 6,300 encounters at the border on Friday and 4,200 on Saturday. But he warned that the new system has just started.

The earlier rules were put in place under former President Donald Trump when the spread of COVID-19 created a public health emergency. Trump also put in place limits on migrants seeking asylum in the U.S.

President Joe Biden told reporters in Rehoboth, Delaware, that he believed the border situation was much better than critics expected.

The Biden administration is requiring migrants to plan a visit with immigration offices through an app. They can also seek protection in one of the countries they are passing through on their way to the U.S. border. Those who do not follow the process, and are caught, will not be permitted to try again for five years.

Myorkas said: There is a lawful, safe and orderly way to arrive in the United States. That is through the pathways that President Biden has expanded in an unprecedented way.

Officials from communities near the U.S. border with Mexico say they had not seen the large numbers of migrants that they had feared would appear. However, in the weeks before the end of emergency powers, tens of thousands of migrants flooded border areas. Victor Trevino is mayor of Laredo, Texas. He said hospitals in his city were nearly full and an emergency declaration was in effect.

It remains unclear if Congress will pass any new legislation on the issue. Republican Party members in the House approved legislation that would continue the building of a border wall and require asylum seekers to first request protection outside the U.S. But the Republican bill is unlikely to be taken up by the Senate which is controlled by the Democratic Party.

Im Mario Ritter Jr.

Sarah Lynch and Tyler Clifford reported this story for Reuters. Mario Ritter, Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English.

____________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

prior adj. taking place earlier

encounter n. (specific to government agency) the detention of a noncitizen who cannot be permitted to enter the country

app (application) n. a computer program for a special purpose

unprecedented adj. not done or experienced before

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Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed concern yesterday [Macau time] about Russian and Chinese military cooperation in Asia and said the security situation in Europe could not be separated from that in the Indo-Pacific region since Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking at a meeting of European and Indo-Pacific foreign ministers in Sweden, Hayashi said Russias war in Ukraine had shaken the very foundation of the international order and must face a united response by the international community.

Otherwise, similar challenges will arise in other regions and the existing order which has underpinned our peace and prosperity could be fundamentally overturned, Hayashi said.

Japan firmly backs Ukraine in the war but China says it remains neutral while declaring a no limits relationship with Moscow and blaming the U.S. and NATO for provoking the conflict. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, in March at the same time as Chinese President Xi Jinping met Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Hayashi accused Beijing of continuing and intensifying its unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China seas by force and increasing its military activities around Taiwan.

In addition, China and Russia are strengthening their military collaboration, including joint flights of their bombers and joint naval exercises in the vicinity of Japan, Hayahshi said.

China, which claims most of the South China Sea as well as Japanese-held islands in the East China Sea, says it has the right to defend its sovereignty and development interests.

Hayashi also warned that North Korea was escalating provocations in the region by conducting ballistic missile launches with a frequency and in a manner that are unprecedented.

He joined dozens of ministers from the European Union and the Indo-Pacific region for the meeting just north of the Swedish capital. China was not invited to the talks.

Since the aggression of Russia to Ukraine, the security situation here in Europe and the security situation in the Pacific are not separable, Hayashi said as he arrived.

Some of the Indo-Pacific countries, including India and Pakistan, have called for an end to the Ukraine war but stopped short of condemning Russia for it.

We all try and address it in our own different ways, Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said. I think a lesson a country like Pakistan has learned is that percolation of conflict is never the answer; that we want an end to hostilities, an end to conflict, so people can go back to building lives rather than destroying more lives.

Most EU countries have provided military support to Ukraine and the bloc has imposed sanctions on Russia. Asked whether the EU was hoping to convince Indo-Pacific countries to align with the blocs stance on the conflict, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said, We dont want to convince anyone. We just want to share our analysis of the causes and consequences of the war.

He dismissed a question about whether it was possible to have a meaningful dialogue with the Indo-Pacific countries without China, saying the EU had plenty of other opportunities to talk to Beijing.

We can perfectly discuss the Indo-Pacific without China, Borrell said. It doesnt mean we neglect China. It doesnt mean we want to substitute China. I dont see where the problem is. MDT/AP
A company owned by a billionaire Chinese real estate developer was fined $4 million for bribing a Los Angeles city councilmember for help in getting a downtown skyscraper approved.

Shenzhen New World I LLC was given the maximum penalty and was also placed on five years of probation, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice.

During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge John F. Walter said the case exposed the crushing costs of public corruption, according to the statement.

A federal jury found the company guilty last year of bribery, honest services wire fraud and interstate and foreign travel in aid of bribery.

Shenzhens owner, Wei Huang, 57, also was charged in the federal case but he is a fugitive and is believed to be in China, prosecutors said.

From 2013 to 2018, Shenzhen provided more than $1 million worth of bribes to Jose Huizar to help obtain city approval to build a 77-story tower that would have been the tallest skyscraper west of the Mississippi River, prosecutors said.

It was never built.

At the time, the councilmember chaired the citys powerful Planning and Land Use Management Committee.

Huizar allegedly received cash, casino gambling chips, luxury stays in Las Vegas, expensive meals, prostitution services, political contributions and funds to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit.

However, the project wasnt approved.

Prosecutors say the bribes were part of Huizars pay-to-play scheme tied to approval of downtown developments.

Huizar pleaded guilty in January to racketeering conspiracy and tax evasion. Hes scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 25. Under a plea agreement, Huizar agreed to seek a sentence of at least nine years in prison, prosecutors said.

Last weeks sentencing was the latest step in a sweeping and ongoing City Hall corruption probe.

In addition to Huizar, a half-dozen other people have been convicted or pleaded guilty to federal charges, including Huizars brother, Salvador Huizar; a former Huizar special assistant, a Huizar fundraiser, a lobbyist and another real estate developer. MDT/AP
Since 2017, 12 out of 22 dangerous buildings in the city have been demolished, the Land and Urban Construction Bureau (DSSCU) director Lai Weng Leong recently revealed in response to an inquiry from lawmaker Ron Lam.

Lai disclosed that 19 buildings had been identified as under risk and that three others were classified as under immediate risk. Of the total, nine risky and three urgently risky buildings have been dismantled, with other buildings are being constantly monitored.

Another 87 buildings had been identified as being poorly maintained, Lai said.

He also disclosed that about 600 notifications have been issued to building owners or owners associations to remind them to repair buildings that had been identified as slightly poorly maintained in a timely fashion.

Moreover, Lai explained that, pursuant to the Urban Construction Legal System, building or unit owners are obliged to regularly inspect and maintain their buildings. Owners will be legally responsible in cases where damage or injuries are caused by poor maintenance.

Urgent cases must be reported to the government immediately, Lai said.

In addition, citing the Housing Bureau (IH), Lai introduced that the government owns a building repair fund that has an umbrella of subsidy schemes. The objective of the fund is to provide support to building or unit owners to regularly maintain public facilities within the buildings, including power networks.

Citing the Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA), Lai added that public facilities, such as public power networks, are privately owned in a legal sense. Individual owners are obligated to ensure their safety.

The DSPA will continue supervising power supplier CEM to ensure the safety and stability of the public section of its power network.

The DSSCU added that data related to its handling of poorly maintained buildings and building repairment is available on its website. Meanwhile, the bureau has only logged complaints or referrals about aged buildings that it received.
A former executive fired from TikToks parent company ByteDance made a raft of accusations against the tech giant Friday, including that it stole content from competitors like Instagram and Snapchat, and served as a propaganda tool for the Chinese government by suppressing or promoting content favorable to the countrys interests.

The allegations were made in a complaint last week by Yintao Yu, the head of engineering for ByteDances U.S. operations from August 2017 to November 2018, as part of a wrongful termination lawsuit filed earlier this month in San Francisco Superior Court. Yu claims he was fired for disclosing wrongful conduct he saw at the company.

In the complaint, Yu alleges the Chinese government monitored ByteDances work from within its Beijing headquarters and provided guidance on advancing core communist values.

Yu said government officials had the ability to turn off the Chinese version of ByteDances apps, and maintained access to all company data, including information stored in the United States.

ByteDance did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The allegations come as TikTok  one of the most popular social media apps in the U.S.  faces heighted scrutiny in Washington and some states about whether it can keep American data safe from the Chinese government. The Biden administration has threatened to ban the app if its Chinese owners dont sell their stakes.

TikTok maintains it never gave U.S. user data to Chinas government and wouldnt do so if it was asked. In an effort to avoid a ban, it also wants to store U.S. user data on servers operated by the software giant Oracle.

In another attention-grabbing part of the lawsuit, Yu alleges he observed ByteDance promoting content that expressed hatred for Japan on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. At another time, he said the company demoted content that showed support for the protests in Hong Kong while promoting content that expressed criticism of the protests.

He alleges the company would then repost the content on its own websites  including TikTok  to attract more engagement from users.

Yu said a fellow TikTok executive in charge of the video-sharing apps algorithm waved off his concerns.

The former executive also alleges the company created fake users to boost its engagement metrics, including by programming them to like and follow real accounts.

Yu is seeking punitive damage, lost earnings and 220,000 ByteDance shares that had not vested by the time he was fired. HALELUYA HADERO, MDT/AP
Photo: The Canadian Press

A passenger walks up to an airport security checkpoint, slips an ID card into a slot and looks into a camera atop a small screen. The screen flashes Photo Complete and the person walks through  all without having to hand over their identification to the TSA officer sitting behind the screen.

It's all part of a pilot project by the Transportation Security Administration to assess the use of facial recognition technology at a number of airports across the United States.

What we are trying to do with this is aid the officers to actually determine that you are who you say who you are, said Jason Lim, identity management capabilities manager, during a demonstration of the technology to reporters at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

The effort comes at a time when the use of various forms of technology to enhance security and streamline procedures is only increasing. TSA says the pilot is voluntary and accurate, but critics have raised concerns about questions of bias in facial recognition technology and possible repercussions for passengers who want to opt out.

The technology is currently in 16 airports. In addition to Baltimore, it's being used at Reagan National near Washington, D.C., airports in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Jose, and Gulfport-Biloxi and Jackson in Mississippi. However, it's not at every TSA checkpoint so not every traveler going through those airports would necessarily experience it.

Travelers put their driver's license into a slot that reads the card or place their passport photo against a card reader. Then they look at a camera on a screen about the size of an iPad, which captures their image and compares it to their ID. The technology is both checking to make sure the people at the airport match the ID they present and that the identification is in fact real. A TSA officer is still there and signs off on the screening.

A small sign alerts travelers that their photo will be taken as part of the pilot and that they can opt out if they'd like. It also includes a QR code for them to get more information.

Since it's come out the pilot has come under scrutiny by some elected officials and privacy advocates. In a February letter to TSA, five senators  four Democrats and an Independent who is part of the Democratic caucus  demanded the agency stop the program, saying: Increasing biometric surveillance of Americans by the government represents a risk to civil liberties and privacy rights.

As various forms of technology that use biometric information like face IDs, retina scans or fingerprint matches have become more pervasive in both the private sector and the federal government, it's raised concerns among privacy advocates about how this data is collected, who has access to it and what happens if it gets hacked.

Meg Foster, a justice fellow at Georgetown University's Center on Privacy and Technology, said there are concerns about bias within the algorithms of various facial recognition technologies. Some have a harder time recognizing faces of minorities, for example. And there's the concern of outside hackers figuring out ways to hack into government systems for nefarious aims.

With regard to the TSA pilot, Foster said she has concerns that while the agency says it's not currently storing the biometric data it collects, what if that changes in the future? And while people are allowed to opt out, she said it's not fair to put the onus on harried passengers who might be worried about missing their flight if they do.

They might be concerned that if they object to face recognition, that theyre going to be under further suspicion, Foster said.

Jeramie Scott, with the Electronic Privacy Information Center, said that while it's voluntary now it might not be for long. He noted that David Pekoske, who heads TSA, said during a talk in April that eventually the use of biometrics would be required because they're more effective and efficient, although he gave no timeline.

Scott said he'd prefer TSA not use the technology at all. At the least, he'd like to see an outside audit to verify that the technology isn't disproportionally affecting certain groups and that the images are deleted immediately.

TSA says the goal of the pilot is to improve the accuracy of the identity verification without slowing down the speed at which passengers pass through the checkpoints  a key issue for an agency that sees 2.4 million passengers daily. The agency said early results are positive and have shown no discernable difference in the algorithms ability to recognize passengers based on things like age, gender, race and ethnicity.

Lim said the images aren't being compiled into a database, and that photos and IDs are deleted. Since this is an assessment, in limited circumstances some data is collected and shared with the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate. TSA says that data is deleted after 24 months.

Lim said the camera only turns on when a person puts in their ID card  so it's not randomly gathering images of people at the airport. That also gives passengers control over whether they want to use it, he said. And he said that research has shown that while some algorithms do perform worse with certain demographics, it also shows that higher-quality algorithms, like the one the agency uses, are much more accurate. He said using the best available cameras also is a factor.

We take these privacy concerns and civil rights concerns very seriously, because we touch so many people every day," he said.

Retired TSA official Keith Jeffries said the pandemic greatly accelerated the rollout of various types of this touchless technology, whereby a passenger isn't handing over a document to an agent. And he envisioned a checkpoint of the future where a passenger's face can be used to check their bags, go through the security checkpoints and board the plane  all with little to no need to pull out a boarding card or ID documents.

He acknowledged the privacy concerns and lack of trust many people have when it comes to giving biometric data to the federal government, but said in many ways the use of biometrics is already deeply embedded in society through the use of privately owned technology.

"Technology is here to stay," he said.
Lobbying for or encouraging voters to cast blank or invalid ballots should be penalized in the future, the Electoral Affairs Commission (CAEAL) recently suggested in the wake of the last parliamentary election.

The commission has just released its concluding report on last election, held in September 2021, and made some suggestions.

Last election saw the citys lowest voting turnout since 1999 and the most blank ballots in history. The 2021 election had a 42.38% turnout rate, as well as 3,141 blank ballots and 2,067 invalid ballots, accounting for 2.29% and 1.51% of all ballots cast.

In contrast, the 2017 election garnered a 57.22% turnout rate, with both blank and invalid ballots accounting for less than 1% of all ballots.

The CAEAL identified the weather as the culprit of this state of affairs.

It also saw the first electoral disqualifications in history. A total of 20 candidates were expelled from the election due to the Electoral Affairs Committee deeming them unpatriotic.

Despite this, the concluding report of the CAEAL did not review the reason why voters lost interest in voting; rather, it recommended punishing those who suggested that people cast blank or invalid ballots in the future.

The CAEAL sees the act of lobbying for or encouraging the casting of blank or invalid ballots as obviously initiated to disturb electoral procedures and damage the fairness of the election.

On the other hand, in order to guarantee all candidates are patriotic in the future, it is suggested in the report that a vetting committee be established in the future to verify whether candidates uphold the Basic Law and pledge allegiance to the Macau Special Administrative Region.

More power is also recommended for the Judiciary Police (PJ) to identify illicit promotions.

The CAEAL suggested that the PJ cannot currently help much in cracking down on illicit promotions during election periods due to its lack of authorization. It added that illicit promotion on online platforms had become more frequent in the past few elections.

As such, the commission recommends vesting the PJ with the legal power to identify and investigate online illicit promotions.

On the participation of civil servants, the CAEAL suggests a clarification in the Election Law that those civil servants required by law to be politically impartial should not participate in any form in an election. Violators should also be subject to punishments.

Discrepancies in the Election Law between the Chinese and the Portuguese versions are also addressed in the report.

Related

[REVISED]
A person suspected of killing seven people and injuring 11 was grabbed by police in Lyuliang city, Shanxi province, the local government released yesterday.

According to the release, cited by China Daily a man surnamed Guo, 27, injured a 21-year-old woman as a result of an emotional dispute in Xingxian county, Lyuliang, on Saturday afternoon and thereafter killed her mother-in-law, her husband and her son. After that, the suspect drove to escape, during which he hit a police officer and 13 passerbys. Altogether, seven died and 11 were injured.

The case is still under further investigation and a joint task force has been set up to carry out relative work, the release said. China Daily
The number of tourists visiting Macau has reached 60% of pre-pandemic levels, with a stable majority of tourists coming from the mainland and Hong Kong and a number of overseas and Taiwan tourists which is still small, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes said.

Considering that the routes between Japan, South Korea and Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand are recovering quickly, we are currently focusing on these markets for publicity, the official explained, saying that the current average daily number of overseas and Taiwan tourists was about 2,600 to 2,900.

While Macao Week is planned to be held in the cities of Qingdao, Tianjin and Xiamen this year, we will also hold overseas roadshows and promotions in the second half of the year, the MGTO director added, as cited in a TDM report.

In addition, MGTO will cooperate with Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia and South-Korean low-cost carrier Jin Air, which recently announced it will resume flights to Macau by next July, to launch thousands of tickets discounts during May and June with the aim of attracting more foreign tourists.

Fernandes also said that MGTO will cooperate with every other airline intending to resume flights to and from Macau. Staff Reporter
* Void votes

 Electoral commission calls for future criminalization of lobbying for blank ballots, following lowest voter turnout in 2021

* DSSCU | Govt identifies 87 poorly maintained buildings

* IR | Melco to open City of Dreams Mediterranean in July

* MGTO to cooperate with AirAsia and Jin Air to further attract overseas tourists as arrivals have reached 60% of pre-pandemic levels

* Ctrip forecasts boost in tour packages for visitors amid optimized entry, exit polices

* Thailand counts votes in key election with opposition favored to win

* Arts & culture

DOWNLOAD PDF

Monday, May 15, 2023  edition no. 4245
Sands China launched its new Sands Resorts Incubation Centre program during a press conference held in The Venetian Macaos Cotai Expo during Beyond Expo.

This program, which will include a series of targeted seminars and competitions, is aimed at encouraging technological innovation, to discover local innovative enterprises with development potential, and to introduce innovative solutions for smart integrated resorts.

Smart tourism is a pivotal direction and trend in todays tourism industry, president of Sands China, Wilfred Wong, said in a statement.

In addition to the launch of the Sands Resorts Incubation Centre program, Sands China signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Parafuturo de Macau Investment and Development Limited (PFM) directed at working together with PFMs Macau Young Entrepreneur Incubation Centre to identify potential enterprises through periodic workshops, classroom trainings, and competition events.
Vote counting was underway yesterday in Thailands general election, touted as a pivotal chance for change nine years after incumbent Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha first came to power in a 2014 coup. He is now running against the daughter of the politician who is the militarys top nemesis.

The polls closed at 5 p.m. and some results were expected in early evening, with a fuller picture coming later last night, after print. Thai elections use paper ballots that are counted publicly at polling stations.

The opposition Pheu Thai Party, headed by Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is widely predicted to win at least a healthy plurality of the seats in the 500-member lower House. After casting her ballot, Paetongtarn said every vote is important for effecting change in Thailand and that she has high hopes for the final result.

But who heads the next government wont by decided by yesterdays vote alone. The prime minister will be selected in July in a joint session of the House and the 250-seat Senate. The winner must secure at least 376 votes and no party is likely to do that on its own.

Pheu Thai won the most seats in the last election in 2019, but its archrival, the military-backed Palang Pracharath Party, succeeded in cobbling together a coalition with Prayuth as prime minister. It relied on unanimous support from the Senate, whose members share the militarys conservative outlook and were appointed by the military government after Prayuths coup.

Prayuth is running for reelection, although the military this year has split its support between two parties. Prayuth is backed by the United Thai Nation Party; his deputy prime minister, Prawit Wongsuwan, another former general, is the standard bearer for Palang Pracharath.

Prayuth has been blamed for a stuttering economy, shortcomings in addressing the pandemic and thwarting democratic reforms, a particular sore point with younger voters. At his polling station, he also encouraged people to come out to vote.

The increased youth vote and general awareness of the damage caused by military rule are key factors likely to determine the results of this election, said Tyrell Haberkorn, a Thai studies specialist at the University of Wisconsin. After nine years of military rule, people are ready for a change, even those who were not interested in rocking the boat before.

Pheu Thai is the latest in a string of parties linked to populist billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted as prime minister by an army coup in 2006. Paetongtarn Shinawatra is his daughter. Her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, who became prime minister in 2011, was toppled in the coup led by Prayuth.

Pheu Thai and Paetongtarn, the most popular of the partys three registered candidates for prime minister, are strides ahead of the competition in the opinion polls. But there is no sign that the countrys military-backed conservative establishment has warmed to them.

I think the conservative-royalist side, underpinning the military, the monarchy, their backs are against the wall. Change is coming and they have to find a way to deal with it, said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Bangkoks Chulalongkorn University.

That means Pheu Thai will have to tread carefully after the election in choosing possible coalition partners.

The Move Forward Party is polling second and is its ideological bedfellow in seeking to clip the militarys wings. But its outspoken support for minor reforms of the monarchy, while winning younger voters, is unacceptable to most conservatives to whom the institution is sacrosanct, and scares off other possible coalition partners.

Many believe that Pheu Thai might look in the other direction for a partner, by cutting a deal with the Palang Pracharath Party and its leader, Prawit, who is less associated with the 2014 coup and the hard line Prayuth has pursued. GRANT PECK, BANGKOK, MDT/AP
DHAKA, Bangladesh  Volunteers in Bangladesh's coastal districts used loudspeakers to urge people to seek shelter Saturday ahead of a severe cyclone.

United Nations agencies and aid workers prepositioned tons of dry food and dozens of ambulances with mobile medical teams in sprawling refugee camps with more than 1 million Rohingya who fled persecution in Myanmar. Cyclone Mocha was closing in

on the coast of southeastern Bangladesh and Myanmar with wind speeds of up to 135 miles per hour and gusts of up to 150 mph, the Indian Meteorological Department said. It was projected to make landfall Sunday between Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh and Kyaukpyu in Myanmar.

Bangladesh, with over 160 million people, prepared more than 1,500 cyclone shelters. The navy said it readied 21 ships, maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters for rescue and relief operations.

In Myanmar, rains and winds picked up since Friday and prompted over 10,000 people in villages around Sittwe in Rakhine state to seek shelter in sturdy buildings including monasteries, temples and schools, said Lin Lin, the chairman of the Myittar Yaung Chi charity foundation.

Speaking from Cox's Bazar across the border in Bangladesh, the International Organization of Migration's deputy chief of mission, Nihan Erdogan, said Bangladesh put in place a massive preparedness plan. He said his agency trained 100 volunteers in each of the 17 refugee camps on how to alert rescuers using flag warning signals when heavy rains, floods and strong winds lash the region.

The World Health Organization put 40 ambulances and 33 mobile medical teams on standby at Cox's Bazar, the agency's spokesperson Margaret Harris said. The World Food Program said it prepositioned enough food to cover the needs of more than 400,000 people for one month.

In May 2008, Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar with a storm surge that devastated areas around the Irrawaddy River Delta. At least 138,000 people died and tens of thousands of homes and other buildings were washed away.
LOUISVILLE, Ky.  A shooting sparked by a dispute inside a business left one person dead and four wounded in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, authorities said Sunday.

Officers were called to the scene about 11 p.m. Saturday, Louisville Metro Police Department spokeswoman Alicia Smiley said in a news release.

Two men and two women were found wounded in one location and taken to a hospital, Smiley said. One of the men was in critical condition and the other three were stable, she said.

Another man was found shot a short distance away and was also taken to a hospital, where he died, Smiley said. No arrests were immediately reported.
Sultan Restaurant, where customers will not be expected to tip their servers, is expected to open on Williamson Street next Monday.

Owner Sultan Ahmed, 31, said he's waiting for flooring in the kitchen to be installed so he can get the equipment in, but otherwise the rest of the remodeling is done and he has all of his permits from the city.

He's proud of his Pakistani restaurant's business model, where employees will make $20 an hour and full-time staff will also get a 5% profit share.

Ahmed said the feedback he's gotten on the tipping model has been mostly positive.

"People seem cautiously optimistic about it," he said. "They are, for the most part, hoping that it works out. But I think, because it's such a rare thing, there's kind of (an), 'oh well, maybe it won't, you know?"

Ahmed said the restaurant has five or six reservations so far for a total of 18 customers on opening night.

Servers won't be required to reject tips if someone insists on tipping, he said.

Ahmed said some people have made the suggestion that the restaurant donate the tips to charity. He said he hasn't decided on that, but intends to put the idea to a vote at the first staff meeting.

Servers will be instructed to let customers know the restaurant is "a no-tip establishment," Ahmed said.

Receipts will instruct customers to not leave a tip and there will be no space for one on credit card slips.

Ahmed said the restaurant will have six employees: three in the kitchen, two servers and a bartender.

He said he doesn't know of any other no-tip restaurants in Madison.

Even with the no-tip policy, Ahmed said Sultan won't charge higher prices, and will offer a middle price point that will reflect the quality of the ingredients used and still allow the restaurant to be as accessible as possible to customers.

Sultan, 1054 Williamson St., will have a lounge feel, subdued lighting and lots of dark wood surfaces, metal and cascading lighting, which shines from the ceiling and along the walls.

The 1,700-square-foot space, formerly Roman Candle Pizza, will seat 50, including 10 at the bar.

Ahmed said the food will be primarily Pakistani, similar to Indian food, but with northern Pakistan Punjabi influences.

The menu will have many small plates to share so customers can try multiple dishes. It will include a cheese board; lentil fritters; tandoori fish; many chicken dishes; braised beef shank with shaved ginger and cilantro; minced lamb; and beets, mango, pickled red onion and mint.

The restaurant will be open Sunday through Thursday 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 4 p.m. to midnight. It will also offer an all-you-can-eat brunch Saturday and Sunday. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Roman Candle Pizza closed a year ago after almost 18 years, with its owner saying it never quite recovered from COVID-19-related shutdowns.

36 Madison-area restaurant, bar, bakery, coffee shop openings in 2022 Taqueria Los Atlantes Golden Nest Pancakes & Cafe Hot Lunch Zippy Lube Coffee, Donuts, and Fried Chicken Tacos El Capi Good Co. at Pioneer Pointe The Bubbling Teapot Sabores Fusion Grill Nori Sushi & Grill North Shore Pizza and Subs Sookie's Veggie Burgers Turn Key La Pollera Colombiana Restaurant Eno Vino Waunakee BigSur Cantina Amara SASS Sauce + Shells The Borough Beer Company & Kitchen Taza Swagat Sun Prairie Little John's Lunchbox AzTec Taqueria Mishqui Peruvian Cuisine Dirty Dog Taphouse Ollie's Forward Craft & Coffee Jacknife The Ready Set FreshFin Poke Hilldale Mom's Bar Prost! Tucuma Northstreet La Taguara Far Breton Bakery Dagu Rice Noodle
LOS ANGELES  Six months at a resort may sound like fun, but it had its drawbacks, according to the cast of Saint X.

Playing a family at a Caribbean resort, Betsy Brandt, Michael Park, West Duchovny and Kenlee Anaya Townsend stayed at one resort, filmed at another.

We were living the life that we are seeing, Park says of the Dominican Republic resorts. We were going to all of the places, all of the local joints (and that) was kind of interesting.

But when they came back to the all-inclusive resort where they were staying, it was a much different picture.

They played the Macarena all day, says Executive Producer Leila Gerstein.

And there were foam parties in the pool, says Duchovny.

There were moments when the couples staying next door were partying it up and we had a really touching scene (to film) the next morning, Park adds.

Everybody is on their vacation and were working, Brandt says. I can imagine some nights what we looked like walking into the hotel bar and other peoples romantic dinners. They thought it was the craziest family reunion.

For the four, however, those resort-filled days and nights helped bond them as a TV family. In the limited series, Duchovnys character is murdered and raped on vacation. Twenty years later, her sister, played by Alycia Debnam-Carey goes on a mission to find out what happened.

The heat was often unbearable, Debnam-Carey says. You are, like, meling. It feels glamorous but, by no means, is it vacation. There was a weird kind of differentiation.

To bond, the actors went into a family workshop on the first rehearsal day. We didnt really know each other all that well, says Park. But 45 minutes later, we left that room in tears. It was amazing what (director Dee Rees) was able to accomplish in that 45 minutes.

When the actors shot scenes dealing with the loss of a daughter, they were able to process the feelings more deeply. I have my own kids and my own imagining of loss, Brandt says. But I would just picture (Duchovnys) face and pray to God wed find her. Thats what makes it so scary and powerful. I hoped to God I was doing justice to the people who have gone through this.

Park also talked to his brother, who had lost a 20-year-old son. I was channeling my brother, he says. We talked about this extensively. Whenever I was working with Betsy, I felt like I was in safe hands. In a way, it helped me out. This entire shoot, in a way, was therapy for me.

To help each other through the darker moments of Saint X, the actors spent off-camera time together.

Otherwise, it would have been horribly depressing, Brandt says. Were really a family. We ate dinner (together). We flew together. We did it all. Im hoping the payoff is that the audience feels the loss because they were invited in.

Saint X airs on FX and Hulu.
Photo: K'atl'odeeche First Nation

A First Nation reserve and nearby town in the southern Northwest Territories have been evacuated as a wildfire spreads in the area.

K'atl'odeeche First Nation issued an evacuation order Sunday afternoon advising residents to register at the evacuation centre in nearby Hay River.

The Town of Hay River then issued an evacuation order at 11 p.m. Sunday, directing residents to travel to Yellowknife, roughly 480 kilometres away.

In an update early today, N.W.T. Fire said it was highly likely the wildfire had breached the K'atl'odeeche First Nation Reserve and jumped the river to the western part of the Town of Hay River.

It said this was likely caused by winds carrying embers from the fire.

Roughly 3,500 residents from Hay River and the K'atl'odeeche First Nation were ordered to leave last May as the area experienced its worst flooding on record.

In October, the Northwest Territories government said it estimated flooding caused more than $174 million in damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure.
WAR IN UKRAINE

PARIS  France pledged additional military aid for Ukraine on Sunday, including light tanks, armored vehicles, training for soldiers and other assistance as the Ukrainians gear up for a counter offensive against Russian forces, following surprise talks in Paris between the Ukrainian and French presidents.

Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy and France's Emmanuel Macron met for about three hours at the French presidential Elysee Palace  an encounter kept under wraps until shortly before the Ukrainian leader's arrival in Paris from Germany on a French government jet, extending his multi stop European tour.

With Ukraine planning to go on the offensive hoping to retake Russian-occupied territory, military aid was a top agenda item. Macron's office said France will supply dozens of light tanks and armored vehicles "in the weeks ahead," without giving specific numbers. Also promised were more air defense systems, but again details weren't made public.

More Ukrainians will also be made battle-ready, with France aiming to train about 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers in France this year and nearly 4,000 others in Poland as part of a wider European eff ort, Macron's office said.

In a statement, France described its support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as "unwavering" and promised that its political, economic, humanitarian and military aid will continue "for as long as necessary."

In a tweet on his arrival, Zelenskyy said: "With each visit, Ukraine's defense and offensive capabilities are expanding. The ties with Europe are getting stronger, and the pressure on Russia is growing."

France has supplied Ukraine with an array of weaponry, include air defense systems, light tanks, howitzers and other arms and equipment and fuel.

France dispatched a plane to pick up Zelenskyy in Germany, where he met with Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier Sunday and discussed his country's planned counteroffensive. Zelenskyy said it will aim to liberate Russian-occupied areas within Ukraine's internationally recognized borders, and not attack Russian territory.

The Washington Post cited previously undisclosed documents from a trove of U.S. intelligence leaks suggesting that Zelenskyy has considered trying to capture areas in Russia proper for possible use as bargaining chips in peace negotiations to end the war launched by Moscow in February 2022. This would put him at odds with Western governments that have insisted that weapons they provide must not be used to attack targets in Russia.

Asked about the report, Zelenskyy said: "We don't attack Russian territory, we liberate our own legitimate territory."

"We have neither the time nor the strength (to attack Russia)," he said, according to an official interpreter. "And we also don't have weapons to spare, with which we could do this."

"We are preparing a counterattack for the illegally occupied areas based on our constitutionally defined legitimate borders, which are recognized internationally," Zelenskyy said. Among areas still occupied by Russia are the Crimean peninsula and parts of eastern Ukraine with mainly Russian-speaking populations.

A Luftwaffe jet flew Zelenskyy to the German capital from Rome, where he met Saturday with Pope Francis and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni.

It was his first visit to Berlin since the start of the invasion and came a day after the German government announced a new package of military aid for Ukraine worth more than $3 billion, including tanks, anti-aircraft systems and ammunition.

Zelenskyy thanked Scholz for the support, saying Germany is now second only behind the United States in providing aid to Ukraine  and joked that he is working to make it the biggest donor.

"German air defense systems, artillery, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles are saving Ukrainian lives and bringing us closer to victory. Germany is a reliable ally! Together we are bringing peace closer!" he wrote on Twitter.

Scholz said that Berlin has so far given Kyiv some 17 billion euros in bilateral aid and that it can expect more in future.

After initially hesitating to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons, Germany has become one of the biggest suppliers of arms to Ukraine, including Leopard 1 and 2 battle tanks, and the sophisticated IRIS-T SLM air defense system. Modern Western hardware is considered crucial if Ukraine is to succeed in its planned counteroffensive.

In the western German city of Aachen, Zelenskyy also received the prestigious International Charlemagne Prize, awarded to him and the people of Ukraine.

In her congratulatory speech, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen compared the war in Ukraine to the fall of the Iron Curtain more than 30 years ago.

"Every generation has its moment when it has to stand up to defend democracy and what it believes in," she said. "For us, that moment has come."

Zelenskyy accused Moscow of trying to turn back the clock of European history.

"Modern Russia waged war not just on us, as a free and sovereign state, not just against united Europe as a global symbol of peace and prosperity," he said in his acceptance speech. "This is Russia's war for the past."

"We are preparing a counterattack for the illegally occupied areas based on our constitutionally defined legitimate borders, which are recognized internationally."

Volodymyr Zelenskyy,president of Ukraine
SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT | CAMP BRANDENBURG

When Girl Scouts arrive this summer at Camp Brandenburg, they will be greeted by improvements at the site  including some they did themselves.

That's because scouts who visit the camp at various times often take part in service projects to spruce up the camp, which opened in 1945 off Highway 12 near Springfield Corners. The tasks can be as simple as picking up sticks that litter trails  a job the younger scouts might tackle  to lining the paths with downed trees. One project involved turning an existing structure into a "fairy house," which a group of scouts based on Madison's West Side tackled recently.

Scouts aren't required to complete service projects, but the properties run by Girl Scouts of Wisconsin  Badgerland Council belong to the members, said Nick Harnish, experience enrichment manager. The work is a way to pay it forward, whether it be a lengthy service project or just putting in an hour on a weekend, he said.

"It really teaches our girls a valuable lesson of service leadership," he said. "It gives our Girl Scouts ownership of Camp Brandenburg, but it also helps the council maintain that beautiful facility."

The fairy house project involved painting the structure, which is in a wooded area overlooking Lake Katrine, also known as Brandenburg Lake, and laying bricks over dirt for a floor. The scouts also installed shelves and reinstalled poles for the bird feeders and birdhouses near the structure, which was used as a bird blind last year.

"They get to kind of see that every time they come to camp and (say), 'I did that,'" Harnish said.

The camp also plans to put fairy lights over a trail system for night hikes, and scouts will build little tree forts out of sticks and leaves on the ground, Harnish said.

The fairy house project was part of the annual Regent Encampment, now in it 35th year and founded by a number of Girl Scout leaders in the area around West High School. The area is known as Service Unit 15  Badgerland Council is divided into small areas defined geographically. This year about 100 scouts in kindergarten through 12th grade participated in the encampment.

Older scouts who served as volunteers could stay overnight on April 28. The main event was on the next day, and then all older scouts who took part in the encampment could spend that night. One purpose of the encampment is to support troop leaders who do not camp so their scouts have a chance to experience sleeping in a tent.

The scout-led, community-building event is a chance for the older scouts to serve as leaders, as they run some of the activities and serve as role models. The event allows the older scouts to mentor and serve as inspiration for the younger ones.

School Spotlight

Each Monday, the State Journal features a story about learning in Wisconsin. Send story ideas to Sandy Cullen at scullen@madison.com or 608-252-6137.

Anja Forberger, a West High senior and member of Troop 2980, stepped up into a leadership role for the fairy house project as she organized the work and designed how the bricks would be put down. Forberger, who has artistic experience, said directing the project was something that just spontaneously happened.

"We have a very large age range, it was a little harder than expected. I kind of organized people into groups," she said. "I wanted to make sure our project ran smoothly."

"It's always kind of an exhausting process but it is really fun, and I really do enjoy it," Alison Selje, a senior at West, said about leading activities and the service projects. "Lugging bricks and buckets of sand is tiring, and you always have to be on because you are engaging with the younger children."

Selje's mom, Janine Frank, Troop 2980 co-leader and treasurer for Service Unit 15, was one of the organizers of the encampment. The other co-leader is Heather Duncan.

"When I first saw the project and the scope, I was a little concerned we weren't going to get it done," Frank said. "It was hard work."

The encampment featured three stations that the scouts rotated through. In addition to working on the fairy house, the scouts also built a "track box," which is a big wooden frame on the ground. It will be filled with sand in hopes that wildlife will walk through it and leave their tracks for humans to study and do plaster molds.

Other station focused on environmental education, particularly pollinators, and the scouts worked with native plants and bee bombs, which are small spheres created by mixing seeds with soil, clay and/or compost. They are tossed or placed on the top of soil, and eventually the seeds germinate and grow into flowers that benefit bees and other pollinators.

In the afternoon, parents and family members arrived for an event that combines flag ceremonies with a bridging and awards ceremony. Troops who had fulfilled certain requirements walked across a tiny bridge to symbolize moving on to the next level in scouting. Something was said about the scouts as each crossed the bridge.

"It is a really cool way to celebrate with the larger Girl Scout community," said Christie King, main organizer of the encampment, camping chair for the Service Unit and co-leader of Troop 2587.

Christie King's daughter, Cecilia, is a freshman at Monona Grove High School and an example of someone who stayed with her original troop despite moving away from the West Side. She said there are various traditions connected to the bridging ceremony. For example, Brownies might be given brownies, Juniors may be awarded Junior Mints, and Seniors sometimes receive gold keys.

"It really reinforces being a sister to every Girl Scout," Lily Zea, a freshman at Monona Grove High School and member of Troop 2587, said about helping with the bridging ceremony.

Zea's mom, Leslie Coberly, is the other co-leader of Troop 2587.

Because it was Forberger's last year in Girl Scouts, she walked the opposite way on the bridge to symbolize "bridging to adulthood."

Harnish said the council is working on other improvements for Camp Brandenburg, which will host its first overnight summer camp starting June 21. The camp has a nature art focus, and work is being done on a four-season building that will have a walkthrough nature center and an area for creating art. The track box will be part of the learning center. The camp also is putting in a new dock and a pit to play gaga ball.
IMMIGRATION | END OF TITLE 42

MEXICO CITY  For weeks, Solangel Contreras raced.

The Venezuelan migrant and her family of 22 trudged through the dense jungles of the Darien Gap and hopped borders across Central America.

They joined thousands of other migrants from across the Hemisphere in a scramble to reach the United States-Mexico border and request asylum.

They raced, unsure what changing migratory rules and the end of a pandemic-era border restriction, Title 42, would mean for their chances at a new life in the U.S.

But after missing that cutoff, robbed in Guatemala and crossing into Mexico shortly after the program ended Thursday night, Contreras, 33, had only one certainty in her mind: "We're going to keep going."

Confusion rippled from the U.S.-Mexico border to migrant routes across the Americas, as migrants scramble to understand complex and ever-changing policies. While Title 42 has come to an end, the flow of migrants headed north has not.

From the rolling mountains and jungles in Central America to the tops of trains roaring through Mexico, migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, Nicaragua, Ecuador and beyond push forward on their journeys.

"We've already done everything humanly possible to get where we are," Contreras said, resting in a park near a river dividing Mexico and Guatemala.

Root causes remain

The problem, experts say, is that while migration laws are changing, root causes pushing people to flee their countries in record numbers only stretch on.

"It doesn't appear to be the case that this is going to curb the push or pull factors for migration from Central America, South America and other parts of the world," said Falko Ernst, senior analyst for International Crisis Group in Mexico. "The incentives for people to flee and seek refuge in safer havens in the United States are still in place."

For Contreras, that push came after her brother was killed in Ecuador for not paying extorsions to a criminal group. The family was living in a small coastal town in the south after fleeing economic crisis in Venezuela two years earlier.

Others, including 25-year old migrant Gerardo Escobar, left in search of a better future after struggling to make ends meet in Venezuela like Contreras' family.

Escobar trekked along train tracks Friday morning just outside Mexico City, with 60 other migrants, including families and small children. They hoped to climb aboard a train that migrants have used for decades.

Escobar was among many to say he had no clue what the end of Title 42 would mean, and he didn't particularly care.

"My dream is to get a job, eat well, help my family in Venezuela," he said. "My dream is to move forward."

Different rules

Despite misinformation prompting a rush to the border this past week, analysts and those providing refuge to migrants said that they don't expect new policies to radically stem the flow of migrants.

Title 42 allowed authorities to use a public health law to rapidly expel migrants crossing over the border, denying them the right to seek asylum. U.S. officials turned away migrants more than 2.8 million times under the order.

New rules strip away that ability to simply expel asylum seekers but add stricter consequences to those not going through official migratory channels. Migrants caught crossing illegally will not be allowed to return for five years and can face criminal prosecution if they do.

The Biden administration also set caps on the number of migrants allowed to seek asylum.

At the same time, Biden is likely to continue American pressure on Mexico and other countries to make it harder for migrants to move north.

Mexico's Secretary of Foreign Affairs Marcelo Ebrard said they don't agree with the Biden administration's decision to continue to put up migratory barriers.

"Our position is the opposite, but we respect their (U.S.) jurisdiction," Ebrard said.

Yet in a news briefing on Friday, he announced Mexico would carry out speedier deportations and no longer give migrants papers to cross through Mexico.

Little deterrent

While the new rules likely won't act as a strong deterrent, Ebrard and the head of a migrant shelter in Guatemala said they saw a drop in the number of migrants they encountered immediately following the rush on the U.S. border. Though the shelter leader said numbers were slowly picking up.

Migrants continued to make it across the U.S. border, even as the new rules were announced. At a cemetery near Roma, Texas, about 60 migrants who had crossed the Rio Bravo were waiting to be processed around midnight. They included a large group of Chinese migrants who huddled for cover under a driving rain.

Another member of the group, a Guatemalan who left her country to escape an abusive husband, crossed the river with her 4-year-old son. With the rules changing, she was unsure if she'd qualify for any asylum help.

Ernst, of International Crisis Group, warned that such measures could make the already deadly journey even more dangerous.

"You'll see an increase in populations that remain vulnerable for criminal groups to prey on, to recruit from and make a profit from," he said. "It could just feed into the hands of these criminal groups."

Meanwhile, Contreras and others continue trucking forward, even with no clear pathway forward and little information about what awaits them at the border.

It's worth it, she said, to give a better life to small children traveling with them.

"We've fought a lot for them (the kids)," she said. "All we want is to be safe, a humble home where they can study, where they can eat well. We're not asking for much. We're just asking for peace and safety."

"It doesn't appear to be the case that this is going to curb the push or pull factors for migration from Central America, South America and other parts of the world."

Falko Ernst,International Crisis Group
Whitewater police said they are investigating the robbery of Fort Community Credit Union on Friday afternoon.

At about 3:30 p.m. Friday, police received a report of a robbery at the credit union at 203 E. Milwaukee St. in Whitewater, Chief Dan Meyer said in a statement.

The investigation determined that at about 3:11 p.m. a man entered the credit union wearing sunglasses, a black medical mask, dark cargo pants, and a gray zip-up hoodie over a bright yellow shirt with dark lettering beginning with the letter Y that was larger than the rest of the lettering on the upper chest, Meyer said.

The suspect was carrying a fabric lunch tote, wearing a single glove, and was described as a white male, about 6-foot, with a slender build, Meyer said.

The suspect is seen in the accompanying pictures from surveillance cameras.

He approached the counter with a note demanding money, but didnt show or imply a weapon. He was given an undisclosed amount of money and left the credit union at 3:14 p.m. in what was reported to be a dark hatchback vehicle with white stripes, possibly a newer model Mini Cooper, Meyer said.

Whitewater police ask that anyone with information on the incident contact them at 262-473-0555 option 4. Tipsters may remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers at P3Tips.com. Individuals contacting Crime Stoppers can receive a reward of up to $1,000 for tips that lead to an arrest.
Editors note: The Childrens Museum of the Magic Valley Launch a Legacy capital campaign is ongoing to raise funding for a 14,000-square-foot building in downtown Twin Falls. This is the fourth in a weekly series of stories from the museum about its mission to serve the Magic Valley. Information: 208-536-3455; info@cmmv.org

Music expresses that which cannot be put into words.  Victor Hugo

Have you ever watched an infant/child respond to music with body movement in fun and creative dance moves? I have, and its a fascinating to think that their brains are wired to innately move and express their feelings without speaking. We are born with a creative power to communicate through music. We believe that this true for all the arts.

As many as 88% of Americans believe that arts education is essential, yet its practice has been consistently declining for three decades. This is especially true for smaller communities, like those nestled within the Magic Valley.

As we see this decline in arts and humanities among our youth, we also see a rise in mental health issues. This is not a coincidence. Children and youth are losing the ability they are born with, to think for themselves, to create art and music and written accounts of their lives and even losing the ability to create human connection with others, without a consistent practice in artistic expression.

Heres one way to stir up more magic in our valley: Build a childrens museum KIGGINS: Childrens museums left a lasting impact on my daughters childhood, and thats why Im rooting for the ongoing effort to bring such a place to the Magic Valley.

We stand with the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, who said we want every child to have access to music, paintings, writing, theater  all the arts  regardless of their socio-economic circumstances. We want all American children to learn how to express themselves and to understand the ways in which others express themselves.

With CMMV, children will be able to create in the art studio, perform on the stage, taste in the kids teaching kitchen, play outdoor musical instruments, and so much more. Early exposure to the arts and humanities provides benefits to children ranging from fine motor skill development to cultivating creativity, critical thinking for problem solving, expressing their emotions and sharing their experiences with others.

The children of south-central Idaho can experience better human connections, develop empathy, and promote self-esteem through their involvement in the arts and humanities.

Next week: More on the CMMV.
A motorist and two passengers were injured early Sunday morning when their vehicle collided with a farm implement northwest of Jerome, police say.

The 33-year-old Ketchum man was eastbound in a GMC Yukon at 2:21 a.m. on 300 North when he collided with a westbound farm implement pulled by a tractor driven by a 66-year-old man from Hazelton.

The driver of the Yukon was flown to a local hospital. His passengers, a 45-year-old woman and a 49-year-old man, both of Ketchum, were driven by ambulance to a hospital.

All occupants were wearing seat belts, and the incident remains under investigation by the Idaho State Police.
A Hagerman man was flown to a hospital Sunday evening when the pickup he was driving drove off the road and rolled on U.S. Highway 30 in Gooding County, police say.

The 26-year-old man was westbound at 6:04 p.m. near milepost 182 in a Dodge Ram pickup when the vehicle went off the road, overcorrected, rolled and struck a fence.

The driver was not wearing a seat belt, while a passenger, a 31-year-old woman from Hagerman, was wearing a seat belt and was not injured.

The roadway was blocked for about 40 minutes.

The crash is under investigation by the Idaho State Police, which was assisted by the Hagerman Fire Department, Gooding County EMS, Gooding County Sherriffs Office and Air St. Lukes.
The seven acres of hilly pasture along Little Rock Creek were lush with bluebunch wheatgrass, needlegrass and an abundance of native forbs.

Georgia Harrison, a University of Idaho plant sciences graduate student, was encouraged by the healthy native plant communities in her experimental plot, which had been aerially treated nearly two years earlier with the long-lasting herbicide Rejuvra. Just as important to the researcher were the plants that werent present  the hillside was devoid of cheatgrass, Japanese brome and other invasive annual grasses, which outcompete native species, degrade forage quality and increase wildfire risk.

While showcasing her research to a tour group at U of Is Rinker Rock Creek Ranch in central Idahos Wood River Valley, southwest of Bellevue, in the spring of 2022, Harrison also surveyed an 8-acre untreated check plot nearby. Both areas were part of the same grazing unit, but annual grasses were getting a foothold in the untreated pasture.

Harrison, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, is involved in one of three ongoing U of I studies at the research ranch evaluating the efficacy of Rejuvra, as well as how it should be applied and its effects on nontarget plant or animal species. The herbicide could provide land managers with an important new tool.

The research projects

Harrisons three-year study, funded with $90,000 from Bayer Crop Science, wraps up this season, analyzing how treatments affect annual grasses, nontarget species and wildfires.

We saw reduced annual grass cover and minimal impacts on native forbs and grasses, Harrison said. It looks promising.

Another project wrapping up this season, funded with $30,000 from Bayer, will quantify how the broad and even distribution of Rejuvra droplets improves the herbicides efficacy. The study is also evaluating a treatment of Rejuvra applied in combination with the herbicide imazapic, which moves farther laterally in soil but doesnt last as long.

A two-year study launching this spring will be funded with $110,000 from a U.S. Forest Service competitive grant, building upon the prior research. The project seeks to inform federal land managers how Rejuvras effects on nontarget vegetation may impact small mammals and sage grouse.

The Forest Service will use the results to guide the possible approval of Rejuvra, which contains the active ingredient indaziflam, for use on its terrain. The federal Bureau of Land Management may also look to the study for its own Rejuvra approval process. Studies show Rejuvra controls cheatgrass for at least 18 months following spring application, compared with about one year with imazapic, which is the agencies current go-to herbicide.

Other researchers involved in the Rejuvra studies include Tim Prather, a College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) professor and senior associate director of the U of I Rangeland Center; Tracey Johnson, an assistant professor in the College of Natural Resources (CNR) and director of research at Rinker Rock Creek Ranch; and masters student Kirby Lau, of Hillsborough, North Carolina, who is studying natural resources.

The idea is when you make changes in plant communities, thats basically the habitat in which small mammals and sage grouse live, Prather said. When you make changes, is that to their benefit or detriment?

A powerful tool

Rejuvra would help federal land managers remove highly flammable annual grasses from fuel breaks on public lands. The herbicide could also provide a tool for restoring largely in-tact plant communities where annual invasive grasses are beginning to take hold.

Lau will evaluate treatment responses of forbs of importance to sage grouse, in addition to trapping small mammals to assess their responses. The researchers will also evaluate how annual grass density affects fire patterns and behavior.

If we understand something about how animal communities or wildlife habitat are affected by herbicides, thats going to inform when and how to use these herbicides, Johnson said.

Small mammals of interest in the study area include deer mice, Great Basin pocket mice and sagebrush voles, which are a species of conservation concern. The rodents are essential cogs in the food web of their ecosystem and seeds from annual grasses may provide them an important food source. Furthermore, the researchers will be interested to see how treatments affect certain shallow-rooted native annual grasses.

To understand how the herbicide affects sage grouse habitat, the team will monitor bird droppings, the time sage grouse spend in treated areas versus untreated areas and how well forbs of importance to chicks fare.

What we have found is were getting forb recruitment. Forbs are increasing, Prather said.

Within hill pasture at the research ranch, where Rejuvra has been applied aerially, Prather has also observed encouraging signs for sage grouse.

There is a lek there, Prather said, referring to locations where sage grouse gather for courtship displays, and when we go there to sample plants for a study looking at differences in the plant community, pretty much every time we flush at least one group of sage grouse. We havent lost those sage grouse.

The study analyzing Rejuvras effects on small mammals and sage grouse was funded with a two-year, $110,000 competitive grant from the U.S. Forest Service under award No. 22-DG-11010000-006.
The letter, a remarkable document, was a serious cry of desperation wrapped inside a legal argument. What kind of response it will, or should, get is something people all over Idaho should think about.

The message dated May 1 came from Tarie A. Zimmerman, a member of the elected governing board for North Idaho College, and addressed to the state Board of Education:

During my brief tenure on the NIC Board, it has been controlled by a three-member majority that appear to be determined to destroy NIC. I have worked, to the best of my ability, to combat these efforts, but to no avail. We are at a critical point and without intervention from Idaho State Board of Education  I believe accreditation will be lost forever.

OUR VIEW: What's happening at North Idaho College could happen anywhere  even here OUR VIEW: North Idaho College, one of the state's original building blocks of higher education, is dangerously close to collapse. If it could happen there, it could happen here.

That strong language is not hyperbole. The only way the actions of the governing majority on that board make any sense is if they specifically are intended to demolish the 90-year-old community college. The whole gory story of those activities is book-length at this point.

Conditions  caused not by administrators, teachers, students or finances but rather specifically the extremist majority on the governing board  have reached the point that NICs accreditation may be yanked within a few months, which could mark the effective end of the college. (A speculation: It might also allow the beautiful lakeside campus to be sold off for commercial development, making someone a mint, but thats another subject.)

Quote The letter, a remarkable document, was a serious cry of desperation wrapped inside a legal argument. What kind of response it will, or should, get is something people all over Idaho should think about.

Zimmerman asked: Can something, anything, be done to keep the college from being deliberately driven off the cliff? Her words: This letter is a request that the Board take action to intervene in the governance and affairs of NIC to prevent NICs impending loss of accreditation.

The state board apparently has not even responded to the letter, much less acted on it.

The usual rule is that elected officials (like the NIC board) have more authority than appointed ones (like the state board) because theirs comes right from the voters. The campaign to elect the extremists on the NIC board didnt argue in favor of killing the college, but given the dynamics of the races and the boards recent history, what has happened should be no surprise. Would it be reasonable to say that if the voters want to destroy the college, they should be able to?

How about a K-12 counterpart, if a local school board majority wanted to do what the NIC board has done, and basically end schools in a school district? (That isnt an implausible scenario these days.) State takeovers of local public schools have happened, starting in New Jersey in 1989, with more than half of all states later passing laws allowing for state takeovers.

Short of that, Zimmerman suggested (in a well-crafted legal argument) the state board take over NIC administration at least while accreditation is under review, on grounds the board is responsible for general supervision of the state educational institutions per the Idaho Constitution.

What exactly general supervision means may be harder to say. In December, a statement from the board opined, By statute, Idaho community colleges are governed by locally elected boards of trustees, not the State Board of Education.

But beyond the legal question sits something larger: Does a group of people in Idaho, through their election choices, have the right to put the torch to education in the state? Should state government, charged with overseeing education in the state, simply stand by and do nothing?

The Idaho Constitution (Article IX, Section 1) says The stability of a republican form of government depending mainly upon the intelligence of the people, it shall be the duty of the legislature of Idaho, to establish and maintain a general, uniform and thorough system of public, free common schools. The reference specifically is to public schools, not colleges, but surely the principle applies to higher education as well.

Will the constitution and the statutes be read as the enabler of an education suicide pact?
Im seeing a lot of back and forth lately on whether or not theres a crisis at the border, with greatly increased migration and limited ability on the part of law enforcement to respond.

Personally, I dont consider it a crisis at all. Immigration is just people moving from one place to another  maybe permanently, maybe temporarily  for any of various reasons.

Maybe theyre safer from criminal or government (but I repeat myself) violence in the new place than in the old place. Maybe there are more jobs. Maybe the jobs pay more.

Or whatever. Moving isnt some kind of unnatural phenomenon. The average American does it 11 or 12 times in his or her life.

Now, Tom, Ive been told many times, if you think theres no crisis at the border, you must not live near the border.

In fact, I DO live near the border  fairly close to the U.S. border in the form of the Gulf Coast, and VERY close to the border separating Alachua County, Florida, from Levy County, Florida.

Quote The only way to make Americans afraid of "border" crossing is to pick a smaller subset of immigrants ... and make them sound like a threatening "other."

On any given morning, I can watch literally hundreds of immigrants fleeing Levy County and crossing into Alachua County for better livelihoods on the other side of that border.

A lot of people live in Levy County, but work in Alachua County.

Why do they live in Levy County? Because its cheaper. Home prices are lower. Rent is lower. Taxes are lower.

Why do they work in Alachua County? Because wages are higher.

Is that a crisis? No.

Why isnt it a crisis?

Because the meaning of crisis is something politicians can use to make people fearful and demand bigger government.

Its hard to make Americans afraid of other Americans crossing city and town limits, county lines, and state borders, simply because hundreds of millions of us do that hundreds of billions of times per year. Most Americans cant do their grocery shopping without crossing at least one or two borders.

The only way to make Americans afraid of border crossing is to pick a smaller subset of immigrants  the few million who cross the U.S.-Mexico border on their way from Latin American countries each year  and make them sound like a threatening other.

Are those immigrants really any different than the Americans who do the same border-crossing stuff every day?

Well, they do tend to be more socially conservative, to commit fewer crimes, to pay more in taxes, and to consume less in government welfare benefits. But thats not very frightening. Which is why the people who want you to stay frightened generally omit, or lie about, such facts.

If theres a border crisis at all, its that so many Americans believe these demagogues scary border crisis stories.
Photo: The Canadian Press Vida Smith is shown in an undated police handout photo. Police say remains found in Banff National Park last week are that of a woman who vanished in 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Calgary Police Service

Police say remains found last week in Banff National Park are that of a woman who vanished nearly three years ago.

Vida Smith, who was 69, was reported missing by family when she didnt return to her home in Chestermere, east of Calgary, on July 21, 2020.

Her vehicle was later recovered but she could not be found.

About a week later, Kevin Barton, who is also known as Chris Lee, was arrested and charged in Smith's death.

He was convicted of manslaughter after a two-week trial in 2022.

Calgary police say they received information about a possible location of Smiths remains in October, but a search of the area could not be conducted until spring.

Police say the remains were found Tuesday near a rest stop off the Trans-Canada Highway east of the Banff townsite.

They say an autopsy last week confirmed the remains belonged to Smith.
Money sent home by Filipinos working overseas grew 3 percent in the first quarter to $8 billion from $7.77 billion a year ago, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Monday.

The growth in cash remittances from the United States, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates contributed mainly to the increase in remittances in the first quarter of 2023, the BSP said in a statement.

It said that in terms of country sources, the US posted the highest share of overall remittances in the period, followed by Singapore, Saudi Arabia and Japan.

Data showed that cash remittances in March also rose 3 percent to $2.67 billion from $2.59 billion a year earlier. This was due to the growth in receipts from land- and sea-based workers.

Personal remittances, which include non-cash items, also rose 3 percent in March to $2.97 billion from $2.89 billion recorded in the same month last year.

The increase in personal remittances in March 2023 was due to higher remittances sent by land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more and, sea- and land-based workers with work contracts of less than one year, the BSP said.

Personal remittances went up by 3 percent in the first quarter to $8.91 billion from $8.65 billion in the comparable period in 2022.

Cash remittances went up 3.6 percent in 2022 to a record $32.54 billion from $31.42 billion in 2021 on sustained demand for skilled Filipino workers overseas. The full-year remittances growth, however, missed the official target of 4 percent set by the Bangko Sentral.

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By Jessica M. Bacud

The Armed Forces of the Philippines recalled history when it declared victory against the Communist Terrorist Group following the successful interception of the MV Karagatan arms landing of the CPP-NPA in July 1972 at Digoyo Point, Palanan, Isabela.

To commemorate the successful seizure of the armaments landing, the AFP had Senior Sec. Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., Officer-in-Charge of the Department of National Defense, lead the unveiling of the MV Karagatan 1972 marker in Digoyo Point, Palanan, Isabela on May 13, 2023.

Other AFP and Philippine National Police officials also participated, including MGEN Audrey Pasia, Commander of the 5th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, BGEN Percivel Rumbaoa, Regional Director of PNP PRO2, Col. Sadiri Tabutol of the Tactical Operations Group 2 Commander and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) RO2.

Rep. Ed Christopher S. Go of Isabelas 2nd District, Mayors Angelo Bernardo, Edgar Go of San Mariano, Divilacan Venturito Bulan, and Ana Cristina Go of the Isabela Agricultural Cooperative (NMIAC), Tourism RO2 Regional Director Troy Miano, and RD of PIA-2 Angely Lubo-Mercado were present to witness the unveiling of the marker.

The MV Karagatan arrived at Digoyo Point in Palanan, when on July 4, 1972, the group that would receive the weapons at shore was led by Victor Corpus, a military defector who was a member of the NPA at the time.

Corpus was given the responsibility of directing the group that would accept the weapons at shore, as the ships crew got into a dinghy and met their NPA contacts by the coast.

The New Peoples Army, the military wing of the Marxist-Leninist-Maoist Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), attempted to smuggle weapons into the Philippines using the ship, which was intercepted by the Philippine Military.

President Ferdinand Marcos imposed martial law in the country on September 21, 1972 owing in part to the incident.

Following the presentation of confiscated weapons, Sec. Galvez discussed with the troop fresh government initiatives that would be advantageous to the Philippine Army at Camp Melchor F. Dela Cruz, Gamu, Isabela.

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BANGKOKThailands progressive Move Forward Party (MFP) claimed victory in the countrys election Monday after a stunning result that decimated military-backed parties, which have ruled the kingdom for nearly a decade.

A massive surge for MFP in Sundays ballot left it on course to be the biggest party, followed by its rival opposition the Pheu Thai movement of billionaire ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thais turned out in record numbers to deliver a brutal verdict on former coup leader Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, blamed for economic stagnation and a crackdown on rights.

MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat said he would seek to build a six-party coalition including Pheu Thai.

I am Pita Limjaroenrat, the next prime minister of Thailand, he told reporters at the MFP headquarters in Bangkok.

We are ready to form the government, he added, vowing to be a prime minister for all.

Pita said he had called Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Pheu Thais lead candidate to be prime minister, to congratulate her on her campaign and invite her to join the coalition.

The sentiment of the air has changed, it was right. It was the right timing, people have been through enough, he said in English.

Today is a new day, and hopefully it is full of sunshine and hope.

Between them, MFP and Pheu Thai are expected to take 292 out of 500 seats in the lower house, with the two main army-allied parties mustering just 76 seats in total.

But in a kingdom where coups and court orders have often trumped the ballot box, there are fears that the result may yet be thwarted.

MFP has vowed to reform Thailands strict royal insult laws, putting it on course for a collision with the kingdoms powerful royalist-military establishment.

The newest force in Thai politics, MFP channelled the energy of youth-led pro-democracy protests in 2020 in an election campaign pitting a young generation yearning for change against the conservative old guard embodied by 69-year-old ex-general Prayut.

I feel like my country has (hope) for the future, Beam, 29, a personal assistant in Bangkok who voted for the MFP and took part in the 2020 protests, told AFP on Monday.

People have really opened their eyes.

With ballots counted from 99 percent of polling stations, Election Commission data showed MFP on 14.1 million in the popular vote followed by Pheu Thai on 10.8 million.

The United Thai Nation party, led by Prayutthe ex-army chief who seized power in a 2014 coupwas a distant third on 4.7 million.

But in a sign of the potential flashpoints ahead, Pita on Monday repeated a promise to reform the lese majeste law that imposes harsh prison terms for insulting the monarchy.

This was an issue once deemed untouchable in Thai politics, and which Pheu Thai shied from during the campaign.

Work together 

Pheu Thai, which has been the most popular party for two decades, had hoped for a landslide win that would allow it to lead a coalition.

Paetongtarn, daughter of party patriarch and exiled billionaire Thaksin, congratulated MFP on their success and signalled cooperation in a potential future government.

And despite their success, MFP and Pheu Thai still face many hurdles to secure power, due to a junta-scripted 2017 constitution.

The new premier will be chosen jointly by the 500 elected MPs in the lower house, plus 250 senate members appointed by Prayuts junta.

Adding to the uncertainty, rumours are already swirling that MFP could be dissolved by court order  the same fate that befell its predecessor Future Forward Party after it performed unexpectedly well in the 2019 elections.

The Election Commission is not expected to officially confirm the final number of seats won by each party for several weeks.

But on Monday it said MFP was on course for 151 seats and Pheu Thai 141.

Protest legacy 

This election was the first since the 2020 protest that demanded curbs on the power and spending of Thailands king.

The demonstrations petered out as Covid-19 curbs were imposed and dozens of leaders were arrested, but their energy fuelled growing support for the more radical opposition MFP.

MFP sought millennial and Gen Z voters, who make up nearly half the 52 million-strong electorate, but early results indicated their inroads across all demographics.

The party swept Bangkok, capturing every district but one.

It is predicted to also take districts in the staunchly Pheu Thai northern territories  even flipping Thaksin Shinawatras home district near the northern city of Chiang Mai.

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Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents arrested a Taiwanese wanted by authorities in Taipei for large-scale fraud.

The foreign fugitive was identified as Yin Chih Chou, who was nabbed inside a condominium unit along Adriatico St., Ermita, Manila.

BI fugitive search unit operatives who arrested Chou were armed with a mission order signed by BI commissioner Norman Tansingco issued upon request of Taiwanese authorities.

He will be deported as soon as our board of commissioners issues the order for his summary deportation. He will then be included in our blacklist and perpetually banned from re-entering the Philippines, the BI chief said.

Tansingco added that Chou will also be deported for overstaying and for being an undocumented alien as his passport was already revoked by

the Taiwanese government. He reportedly last arrived here on July 19, 2018 and never departed since then.

Citing information obtained from the TECO, BI-FSU acting chief Rendel Ryan Sy said an arrest warrant for fraud was issued against Chou by

the Taiwan Hsinchu district prosecutors office two months before he fled to the Philippines.

Chou allegedly enticed his victims to give him money which he would purportedly use to buy fine goods and luxury items at bargain prices.

The victims reportedly received the victims money via dummy accounts opened by Chou which he then pocketed and absconded with.

Chou is presently detained at the BIs holding facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings.

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The Philippine Navy said China is the one crossing the line in the West Philippine Sea amid tensions in the area.

Philippine Navy Chief Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr. cited the recent radio challenge made by a Chinese vessel in the area of Pag-asa Island.

I believed the scenario happened in the vicinity of Pag-asa Island and its obvious who is crossing the boundary, Adaci said in an interview with ANCs Headstart.

The Philippine Coast Guard recently installed five navigational buoys or sovereign markers in critical areas of the West Philippine Sea.

MORE BUOYS. Members of the Philippine Coast Guard prepare additional navigational buoys in the Kalayaan Group of Islands in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), including Patag Island, Balagtas Reef, Kota Island, Panata Island, and Julian Felipe Reef. PCG Maritime Safety Services Commander Vice Admiral Joseph Coyme says they serve as a guide for Filipino fishermen and large ships sailing in the WPS. PCG Photo

The buoys, installed near Patag Island, Balagtas Reef, Kota Island, Panata Island and Juan Felipe Reef carry the Philippine flag and signify the countrys sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the countrys exclusive economic zone, the PCG said.

The move also highlights the countrys unwavering resolve to protect its maritime borders and resources and contribute to the safety of maritime trade, the Coast Guard said.

For his part, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez on Monday commended the PCG for installing the buoys.

The Coast Guard should install more buoys in the entire breadth of the WPS, from the northern part of the country in the Ilocos region to the south in the Palawan area, because that is the extent of Philippine territorial waters China is claiming, he said.

He said the markers should serve as a warning to the Chinese and other foreign powers that those are a demarcation of our 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) under international law.

China should leave that area. They have no business occupying certain islets and sea features there, he added.

Rodriguez said the Coast Guard should also place buoys near Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, which is about 120 miles from Zambales and Pangasinan and a traditional fishing ground for Filipino fishermen from the two provinces.

That is clearly part of our EEZ, and yet China is occupying it. The Chinese Coast Guard routinely harasses our fishermen there, he said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Navy announced that two of its ships, the BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) and BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS-17), participated in the seagoing phase of the second ASEAN Multilateral Naval Exercise last May 13 to 14.

Navy spokesperson Capt. Benjo Negranza said the maneuvers took place near Grande Island, Zambales, and Lubang Island, Bataan.

Nine ships from participating ASEAN navies joined the seagoing phase of the AMNEX, he added.

The two-day phase was composed of exercises and maneuvers designed to enhance interoperability and maritime responsiveness, improve synchronization and communication, and develop mutual trust and understanding among participants in the conduct of maritime operations and humanitarian assistance and disaster response, Negranza said.

In April, more than 100 Chinese vessels were seen lingering near the West Philippine Sea and the PCG reported provocative tactics by the ships, including a Chinese coast guard ship that sailed into the path of a PCG vessel, almost causing a collision.

In July 2016, the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated Chinas expansive nine-dash claims covering the entire South China Sea and recognized the Philippines sovereign rights in the area within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

Beijing ignored the international ruling and deployed hundreds of militia vessels in the disputed areas, including those belonging to the Philippines.

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Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly will be in the Philippines this week for a three-day visit aimed at promoting regional stability and rules-based international order, as well as to discuss Canadas new Indo-Pacific strategy with Philippine officials.

Joly is expected to meet with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, and other members of the Cabinet to discuss regional security and stability and maintenance of a rules-based international order amid tensions in the disputed South China Sea and Taiwan Straits.

The Canadian official will also discuss Canadas Indo-Pacific Strategy and its partnership with the Association of South East Asian Nations in the meetings.

The Indo-Pacific is the global center of economic dynamism and is of strategic importance to our security. What brings our countries together is our unwavering commitment to democracy, prosperity, and a free, open and sustainable Indo-Pacific, rooted in the rule of law, Joly said in a statement.

According to her, Canada aims to deepen relationships in the region with key partners, including Philippines and Korea which she will be visiting before her Manila trip.

Joly is the fourth minister to visit the Philippines under the Marcos administration.

She was preceded by Minister of Trade Mary Ng, Minister of Agriculture Marie-Claude Bibeau, and Minister of Development Harjit Sajjan, complementing and reinforcing two bilateral meetings between Marcos and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last year.

While in Manila, Joly is also expected to engage with academics, non-governmental organizations, and civil society leaders to gain insights into the challenges facing the Philippines and the region.

As Canada intends to build on strong people to people ties with Manila, Joly said she will seek ways to enhance cooperation under Canadas Indo-Pacific Strategy to confront malign influence, combat climate change, protect maritime environments, and build more resilient, inclusive, and prosperous societies.

Considered as one of the fastest growing economies in the Indo-Pacific region, the Philippines creates commercial, development, and climate finance opportunities for Canada, the Canadian government said.

In 2022, Canada-Philippines bilateral merchandise trade totaled CAD$3.1 billion with merchandise exports to the Philippines valued at CAD$1.1 billion (CAD$1.3B in 2021), while imports from the Philippines amounted to CAD$1.94 billion (CAD$1.4B in 2021).

Canada is also home to at least 960,000 people of Filipino descent, while a growing number of Filipinos visit family and friends in Canada, study at Canadian colleges and universities, or emigrate to Canada.

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Paris, France  Russia has already lost geopolitically its war in Ukraine war and is effectively becoming a vassal state of China, French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview published Sunday.

De facto, it has entered a form of subservience with regards to China and has lost its access to the Baltic, which was critical, because it prompted the decision by Sweden and Finland to join NATO, Macron told the Opinion newspaper.

This was unthinkable just two years ago. So its already a geopolitical defeat, Macron said ahead of a visit to Paris by Ukraines President Volodoymyr Zelensky later Sunday.

Lets be clear, Russia must not win this war militarily. So its up to us to see how to help the Ukrainians with their counter-offensive, and how to prepare the issue of security guarantees in the negotiations that will inevitably take place, he said.

Ive always said that in the end, Europes security architecture will have to fully defend Ukraine. But it must also envisage non-confrontation with Russia and rebuild a sustainable balance of forces, he continued.

But there are still many steps that must be taken before we get to that, he said.

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Khartoum, Sudan  Christian worshippers were attacked in a Khartoum-area Coptic church during mass on Sunday, both warring sides claimed, blaming each other for the attack.

The Sudanese military, under army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, said in a statement that paramilitary forces fired bullets at Christian worshippers at the Mar Girgis (St George) Church in Omdurman, the capitals twin city.

Burhans forces have been fighting since April 15 with his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the heavily armed paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The RSF blamed the army for the attack, which caused serious injuries among worshippers, it said in a statement which condemned misleading campaigns targeting our forces.

Fighting has disrupted Sudans communication links, and Mar Girgis church could not be reached for comment.

The warring generals have traded heavy gunfire, air strikes and anti-aircraft fire in densely-populated Khartoum and other parts of Sudan since they fell out in a power struggle.

Hundreds of people have been killed, thousands wounded and nearly a million displaced by the fighting.

Representatives of both generals, meeting in Saudi Arabia, had pledged on Thursday to honour international humanitarian law.

The agreement brokered by Saudi and US mediators does not amount to a truce but provides for the safe passage of urgent humanitarian aid and commits to the protection of civilians in the fighting.

Sudans Christians suffered decades of persecution under Islamist general Omar al-Bashirs regime, several high-ranking officials of which returned to power following a coup by Burhan and Daglo in 2021.

Their putsch derailed a transition to democracy after the fall of Bashir in 2019.

Government figures say Christians represent only three percent of Sudans population, although Christian leaders say the real figure is much higher.

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Given the recent bullying of Filipino fishermen and their countrymen in the West Philippine Sea by better-armed Chinese vessels, we are elated the Philippine Coast Guard has started monitoring PRC vessels in the area.

One good thing going is the PCG has allayed concerns regarding the situation in the West Philippine Sea, saying the tension there with Chinese vessels is not heightened.

In a radio interview, beamed nationwide on Sunday, PCG Vice Admiral Joseph Coyme said, in a mix of English and Filipino, they are currently monitoring several alleged Chinese militia vessels anchored in Philippine-claimed claimed maritime areas, but said these vessels do not affect their operations that much.

The good thing now is we are not escalating the tension, through the presence of the Philippine Coast Guard and law enforcement agencies, said Coyme, who led placing five navigational buoys or sovereign markers in critical areas of the West Philippine Sea.

The buoys, installed near Patag Island, Balagtas Reef, Kota Island, Panata Island and Juan Felipe Reef, carry the Philippine flag and signify the countrys sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the countrys exclusive economic zone, the PCG said.

The move also highlights the countrys unwavering resolve to protect its maritime borders and resources and contribute to the safety of maritime trade, the PCG added.

In April, more than 100 Chinese vessels were seen with their long-drawn-out presence near the WPS, and the PCG reported provocative tactics by the ships, including a Chinese coast guard ship that sailed into the path of a PCG vessel, almost causing a collision.

In July 2016, the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, the Netherlands invalidated Chinas expansive and non-historic nine-dash line claims covering the entire South China Sea and recognized the Philippines sovereign rights in the area within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

The nine-dash line has been used by China to show the maximum extent of its claim, without indicating how the dashes would be joined and in turn affect the area being claimed.

The PRC has not clarified the legal basis or nature of the nine-dash line on maps that stretches more than 1,500 km off its mainland and cuts into the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.

Beijing ignored the international ruling and deployed hundreds of militia vessels in the disputed areas, including those belonging to the Philippines.

Washington has expressed its support to Manila and reiterated its obligations to its ally under the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.

Washington said: The United States stands with the Philippines in the face of the Peoples Republic of China Coast Guards continued infringement upon freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

The United States stands with our Philippine allies in upholding the rules-based international maritime order and reaffirms that an armed attack in the Pacific, which includes the South China Sea, on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft, including those of the Coast Guard, would invoke US mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, it added.

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Fresh data from global cybersecurity company Kaspersky shows a total of 49,042,966 local threats were blocked by Kaspersky business solutions from infecting companies here last year.

These types of attacks were more prevalent in businesses in Indonesia (19,614,418 incidents), Vietnam (17,834,312), and Thailand (5,838,460).

A total of 3,841,548 local threats eyeing business in Malaysia were prevented by Kaspersky, 1,585,384 in the Philippines, and 328,844 in Singapore.

These statistics represent the malicious programs found directly on users computers or removable media connected to them (flash drives, camera memory cards, phones, external hard drives), or which initially made their way onto the computer in non-open form (for example, programs in complex installers, encrypted files, etc.).

While local threats against SEA businesses are higher compared with the number of online attacks monitored and blocked by Kaspersky last year, a steady dip is also observed on a year-on-year basis.

The peak of the pandemic in 2020 saw 92M local infections prevented by Kaspersky. It dipped in 2021 with 69M incidents and further down last year with 49M, almost just half of 2020s total number. Despite the downward trend, businesses should still be on guard because weaponized USBs and removable drives can still be an effective source of malware that can compromise your networks, servers, and even hardware, warns Yeo Siang Tiong, General Manager for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky.

Protection against offline attacks not only requires an antivirus solution capable of treating infected objects but also a firewall, anti-rootkit functionality and control over removable devices.

In case a rogue USB or removable drive infects your systems, Kaspersky experts suggest businesses to have a comprehensive defensive concept that equips, informs and guides your team in their fight against the most sophisticated and targeted cyberattacks like Kaspersky Extended Detection and Response (XDR) platform.

More information about this new platform at go.kaspersky.com/expert. Kaspersky in Southeast Asia also has launched a Buy 1 Free 1 promo. Businesses can now enjoy two years of enterprise-grade endpoint protection for the price of 1 with Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business or Cloud or Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response Optimum, with 247 phone support. Interested customers can reach out to sea.sales@kaspersky.com.

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Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune.

Daisies executive pastry chef and partner Leigh Omilinsky and executive chef and proprietor Joe Frillman at the Logan Square neighborhood restaurant on May 10, 2023. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

Daisies, the Midwestern pasta restaurant in Logan Square, didnt just move. Nor has it simply expanded with daytime pastries  it has reinvented itself and become one of the best new restaurants in Chicago.

Its thoughtfully provocative, in both its cuisine and core beliefs. (More on a 25% service charge later.)

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Yes, we can still get the pappardelle pasta with mushroom ragout, but the restaurants identity has expanded beyond the initial guiding question posed by chef and owner Joe Frillman: If the Midwest was a region in Italy, what would the food look like?

We can go to Italy and find wonderful things. But we cant go anywhere except Daisies to find its particular and sometimes peculiar collection of dishes  beef tongue, salmon collars and parsnip gelato, for a start.

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I was thrilled to sample the jumbo ramp raviolo, the must-order dish of the moment, taming wild ramps with a hidden heart of ricotta and a golden egg yolk.

We usually almost run out every day, no matter what, Frillman said.

Ramps are so seasonal, the dish only graces the menu for about three weeks. Its inspired by the uovo in raviolo at the Michelin-starred San Domenico restaurant in Italy, but Frillman first fired it up at The Bristol some 14 years ago.

The raviolo at Daisies in Chicagos Logan Square neighborhood. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

He gets ramps from Mick Klug Farm in Michigan, a Chicago farmers market favorite.

We blanch and puree the tops, then fold that into the actual dough so its this nice, vibrant green, Frillman said.

Cradling the yolk, pressed ricotta and more cooked ramp leaves comprise the filling with soft pungency. After its cooked, they finish the dish with SarVecchio Parmesan from Wisconsin and brown butter sauce.

We throw in pickled ramps, some of the pickled ramp liquid and just a little bit of lemon juice, the chef said of the sauce, because its quite a bit of fat that you have to cut through with acid to balance it out.

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Its a beautiful balance of the fattiness from the yolk, cheeses and brown butter, against the bright, bare sweetness of the pickling elixir.

Its so simple, even though it takes two days to make the whole process, he added. And you get it on the plate and the presentation doesnt look like theres anything to it.

Meanwhile, we might think new award-winning executive pastry chef and partner Leigh Omilinsky is all about the sweets. But thats not what sells out during the daytime counter service cafe.

Anything savory goes first, Omilinsky told me. Ham and cheese croissants, no matter how many we make, we sell, she said.

They were long gone when I visited one recent afternoon, but a lone asparagus and burrata brioche cream bun remained. Roasted seasonal spears over the distinctly milky cheese topped beautiful buttery bread. Its some of the best brioche Ive had.

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The asparagus and burrata brioche cream bun at Daisies. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

The pastry case held transportive French treasures, from a buttery kouign-amann to flaky croissants, as well as a fragrantly fruity olive oil orange cake and strawberry glazed cream scones.

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Longtime Daisies fans will find familiarity in the former Radler beer hall: potted carrots cooked silky with duck fat made the move from the old Daisies space up Milwaukee Avenue, along with colorful pickled carrot ribbons. But the Publican Quality Bread crackers have been replaced by housemade gnocco fritto. The little fried puffs skyrocket the dish from starter to stellar.

The potted carrots, cooked silky with duck fat, at Daisies. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

Pierogi, unlike any other in the city or perhaps the physical world, also made the move. They remain so light they may have floated, but the crustaceans and sauce have changed. Now the impossibly delicate potato-stuffed pockets swim among plump, shelled mussels in a pool made with the Champagne of beers.

Beef tongue, smoky medallions hidden in a cloud of charred cabbage, dressed with clam vinaigrette and fresh dill fronds, rekindled memories of summer grill outs in my bungalow backyard.

But the butchers cut of pork, tenderloin on my visit, is the only truly meaty dish on the vegetable-forward menu. And its boldly so, with thick yet transcendently tender grill-marked slices over radiant carrots, sauteed sauerkraut and rustic dumplings.

Salmon collars with horseradish gremolata hit my table with promise. When Ive had the seafood delicacy in Japan, or Japanese restaurants anywhere, theyre precious and priced accordingly. Even when I worked as the chef at a fishing lodge in Alaska, they were an occasional treat.

Here, it was a shimmering and abundant plate. My first bite seemed off, though, confirmed with a few more nibbles of the same piece that gave off a sulfurous note. So I let my server know, but I took the leftovers home to taste again with a fresh palate. They did not charge me for the dish, my server said, because I didnt love it.

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The salmon collars with horseradish gremolata. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

But Mom and Pop Chu, my Chinese parents who first taught me to appreciate whole fish, loved it  so much so that it was all gone, and I never got another taste.

I asked Frillman how he intended the collars to be.

We grill it so you get a little bit of smoky flavor char on the inside, and then on the top side, well finish it in the broiler so its medium-ish, hopefully, the chef said. Collars should be cooked a little bit more  because of the amount of fat thats on there, you want to get that to the point where it renders out a little bit.

Next time, Ill ask for the collars well done, because I prefer the fins a bit more crisp. But the greater point is the staff handled the blip flawlessly.

My server also made my mushroom sour, an earthy yet tart nonalcoholic take on the mushroom margarita, which has been on the Daisies menu since 2019, after Frillman took a trip to dine at Blue Hill at Stone Barns in New York.

The mushroom cocktail that I got was so mind-blowing, Frillman said. It still had citrus, it still had flavor, but the body and this umami is what inspired us to come here and ask, What is a margarita in the Midwest?

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The mushroom margarita cocktail. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

At Daisies, they infuse tequila with mushrooms, then strain them out.

We press and ferment that pulp, then dehydrate and turn it into a powder, he said. The saltiness from the fermented mushroom is what we use to rim the glass. You get the balance of the sweetness and the tartness from the citrus.

The drink is purposefully there to push boundaries, he added, but its a radical decision of another sort that has stayed with me.

Daisies applies a 25% service charge to dine-in checks to benefit all of the staff, a change it began implementing in June 2020. Beyond the outstanding menu, airy space and skilled service, this practice perhaps impressed me the most. Having grown up in the restaurant industry, I experienced the racism and sexism of tipping long before I learned its disturbing history and effect on employees.

A lot of people do not realize the difference in pay between front of house and back of house, Omilinsky said. Especially at places like a big steakhouse where servers can bring home six figures, and line cooks are not making that.

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A lot of people say weve got to do something about it, she added, until its their money.

So here is a person who has the ability to make a change and educate, she said of Frillman. The more restaurants that do things like have a service charge, and make health insurance just part of your job, the better we are as a whole.

I found the service charge seamless and clearly explained, but its still the occasional subject of online outrage.

[ Chicago restaurants rethink tipping amid pandemic-born industry shifts ]

This is a giant experiment, Frillman said. I dont think the general public understands the laws, and the legality of a lot of how things are set up to benefit, essentially, the business owners.

The minimum wage in Chicago can be as low as $14.50 per hour for employers with four to 20 workers, which would amount to a full-time annual salary of just over $30,000 (poverty for a family of four in the U.S.).

But tipped workers, like restaurant servers, can have a minimum wage as low as $8.70 per hour. If a worker doesnt make enough in tips, the employer is supposed to make up the difference. That doesnt always happen, and the city, state and federal authorities have been historically negligent in enforcement.

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So who gets the 25% service charge?

This is different. I cannot emphasize this enough. This is a system we have found that works, Frillman said. Half stays with the service team. The other half is used to up the pay for the hourly employees in the kitchen, but it is also used to up the hourly employee pay of the service staff as well.

The interior of Daisies in Chicagos Logan Square neighborhood on May 10, 2023. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

They do not expect a tip on top of that, a message reiterated multiple times: online, by your server and in print with your check. But some people still tip.

And that tip then is subjected to tip rules, which means that tip stays with that server and that service team, Frillman said. If service gets overwhelmed, the restaurant will remove the service charge.

For all the people who say to just build it into the price, that rarely, if ever, works. Even as a professional diner, when I see a price thats 20% more, I have to pause for a mental calculation.

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Over an ethereal parsnip gelato, I heard no pushback from the tables around me on a busy Friday night.

Nor when my platter of one of each of the perfect treat-sized desserts arrived: raspberry kolaczki, turtle brownie, hazelnut crunch bar, chocolate chip cookie, oatmeal cream pie, raspberry pretzel pie and gooey butter cake. Im calling them Midwestern mignardises; everywhere else theyre miniature sweets, except for here.

Assortment of treats: turtle brownie (front/left) and raspberry pretzel pie (front/right), alongside the chocolate chip cookie, oatmeal cream pie, hazelnut crunch bar, gooey butter cake, and kolaczki. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

Omilinsky also offers fully plated desserts, including a curiously named chocolate bumpy cake.

Sanders Confectionery in Detroit originally created the Sanders devils food buttercream cake in the early 1900s. Its usually a chocolate sheet cake and has rows of buttercream piped on top, then frosting on top of that, Omilinsky said. So it kind of ends up looking like little speed bumps on top of your cake.

By day, its a mini chocolate Bundt cake with lush dark chocolate ganache, but by night its a little different.

I am not the biggest buttercream fan, so I changed it to a hazelnut mousse and made a fun little pattern on top, so you still get the idea of it being bumpy, she added.

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But both day and night, the cakes are topped with puppy chow, the sweet Midwest snack.

I cant wait to go back. Or rather, return. Because at this new Daisies, there is no going back, deliberately and deliciously so.

Daisies

2375 N. Milwaukee Ave.

773-697-9443

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daisieschicago.com

Open: Cafe daily 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dinner Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday 5 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 to 11 p.m.

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

Prices: Starters $8-$17, proteins $19-$42; pastas $18-$45; desserts $3-$12. Service charge of 25% applied to all dine-in checks.

Noise: Conversation-friendly

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible with restrooms on single level

Tribune rating: Outstanding to excellent, 3 stars

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Ratings key: Four stars, outstanding; three stars, excellent; two stars, very good; one star, good; no stars, unsatisfactory. Meals are paid for by the Tribune.

lchu@chicagotribune.com

Big screen or home stream, takeout or dine-in, Tribune writers are here to steer you toward your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here.
Program graduates received a total of $20,000 of money and services for their local small businesses at the Startup Martinsville-Henry County Awards.

The awards ceremony for the the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce and the Chambers Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) program was held Monday in Council Chambers. Six businesses from the county and the city were honored.

In the eight-week class, each participant completed a business plan which was pitched to judges.

Six of the eight businesses that pitched their business plans were awarded money, and all participants who open their business won a one-year membership to the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce.

E and K Caskets LLC, owned by Eric and Katherine Giles, is a retail and wholesale casket business and a showroom and floral shop. The Giles have been renovating their business space since last year and were awarded $3,000 to go towards printing equipment. The business will have a ribbon cutting and grand opening at 11 a.m. on June 5.

Front Runner Logistics LLC, owned by Tamara Gravely, is a freight broker company to coordinate transportation for all types of commodities. Gravely was awarded $4,300 including in-kind office space rental in the West Piedmont Business Development Center and funding to obtain a surety bond.

Gill Fitness Training LLC, owned by Devyn Gill, offers personal training and nutritional guidance with help meal planning and preparation. Gill was awarded $5,600 to go toward a projected $20,000 cost for new equipment.

J & H Market, owned by Jimmy and Heather Wyatt, is a store with groceries, meals, gas and other conveniences on Preston Road. It was awarded $3,200 to assist in purchasing kitchen equipment in their new food truck.

SWAM (Saving Water and More), owned by Sarah Wall, is an online, eco-friendly retail store with biodegradable, recyclable, non-plastic and sustainable items. Wall was awarded $1,600 for the purchase of printers and shelving units.

MHC Elite Cheer and Dance, owned by Brittany Jones and Melissa Manns, specializes in hip hop and cheer opportunities for girls from 8 to 18 years old. The business will host competition events and was awarded $2,500 to purchase studio equipment and stock uniforms. No one was present to represent the company at the ceremony.

Its always a great day when you can give away money and help someone on their journey to becoming a successful business, Chamber Executive Director Brenell Thomas said.

We wish each of our graduates much success in your entrepreneurial journeys, Thomas said. Youre success contributes to the revitalization of our community and we are committed to helping you succeed.

Lets do our part and support these new ventures by telling somebody else about each of these new startups that weve learned about today, Thomas added. Congratulations to each of you.

Thomas thanked the following partners: the City of Martinsville, Henry County, C-PEG staff, Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, The Campbell Family Group, the G.W. Lester II Fund, the Anonymous Fund from the Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia, Patrick and Henry Community College, Longwood Small Business Development Center, local entrepreneurs and small business experts.
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina is preparing to host 250 supporters of the land trusts conservation mission at its annual Flavors of the Foothills food-festival fundraiser on Saturday, May 20, at Fonta Flora Brewery Whippoorwill Farm, presented by the Chip and Debi Hills Foundation.

The Conservancy will welcome Executive Chef Daniel Wheeler and his team of well-known chefs from around the region, who have all generously volunteered their time to prepare small-plate entrees that highlight local ingredients and sustainable agriculture techniques.

This event is a fantastic display of the intersection between agriculture and community. Its important that, as chefs and culinary professionals, we are aware of where our food comes from and are accountable for the environmental impact, said Wheeler, who served as the executive chef for Flavors of the Foothills in 2022 as well. Were proud to support Foothills Conservancy, who is helping promote sustainable farming techniques and farmland preservation  so this is a real win-win.

Other chefs billed to attend the event are Chef Ben Sullivan of Hickory, Chef Rick Doherr of Hickory, Chef Jeremy Salig of Morganton, Chef Ben Philpott of Charlotte, Chef Steven Goff of Asheville, Chef Obie Ferguson of Morganton, Chef Sean McMullen of Asheville, Chef Sam Diminich of Charlotte, Chef Andy Hickling of Charlotte, Chef Samantha Ward of Charlotte, Chef Luis Martinez of Asheville, as well as chocolatiers from JF Chocolat of Charlotte.

This is one of those events that we know the community looks forward to every year, said Meg Gaito, who leads Foothills Conservancys development program. Were so honored to welcome our new presenting sponsor, the Chip and Debi Hills Foundation, as well as our Peak Protector sponsors Ingles Markets, NextEra Energy and Engel & Volkers Real Estate. Without their support this event wouldnt be possible!

Proceeds from this event will support Foothills Conservancys general operations, the working capital and capacity that allows the land trust to sustain its conservation mission work. For more information about the event, including a full list of chefs and sponsors, visit foothillsconservancy.org/flavors.

Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina is a nationally accredited regional land trust that inspires conservation in Western North Carolina by permanently protecting land and water for the benefit of people and all living things. A 501(3) nonprofit, Foothills Conservancy has conserved more than 68,000 acres in its eight county service area: Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Lincoln, McDowell and Rutherford, in three major river basins: the Broad, Catawba and Yadkin. Information about Foothills Conservancy, including ways to support its work, can be found online at www.foothillsconservancy.org or by calling 828-437-9930.
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:

Association between CpG methylation and renal function. The methylation level of each CpG site was tested for its association with baseline eGFR (ac) and eGFR slope (df). The results of all the 434,908 CpG sites analyzed in this study are shown using Manhattan plots (a, d), quantilequantile (QQ) plots (b, e), and volcano plots (c, f). P values were computed using two-sided Students t test. In the Manhattan plots, CpG sites with a Bonferroni-corrected P value <0.05 are shown in red. The horizontal red lines show the cutoff above which all sites are significant at FDR = 0.05. In the QQ plots, the diagonal straight line is the expectation under the null hypothesis.  is the inflation factor. In the volcano plots, CpG sites with a Bonferroni-corrected P value <0.05 are shown in red. Credit: Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37837-7

Researchers from Sanford Burnham Prebys and the Chinese University of Hong Kong have developed a computational approach to predict whether a person with type 2 diabetes will develop kidney disease, a frequent and dangerous complication of diabetes. Their results, published in Nature Communications, could help doctors prevent or better manage kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes.

"This study provides a glimpse into the powerful future of predictive diagnostics," says co-senior author Kevin Yip, Ph.D., a professor and director of Bioinformatics at Sanford Burnham Prebys. "Our team has demonstrated that by combining clinical data with cutting-edge technology, it's possible to develop computational models to help clinicians optimize the treatment of type 2 diabetes to prevent kidney disease."

Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide. In the United States, 44% of cases of end-stage kidney disease and dialysis are due to diabetes. In Asia, this number is 50%.

"There has been significant progress developing treatments for kidney disease in people with diabetes," says co-senior author Ronald Ma, MB BChir, FRCP, a professor in the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. "However, it can be difficult to assess an individual patient's risk for developing kidney disease based on clinical factors alone, so determining who is at greatest risk of developing diabetic kidney disease is an important clinical need."

The new algorithm depends on measurements of a process called DNA methylation, which occurs when subtle changes accumulate in our DNA. DNA methylation can encode important information about which genes are being turned on and off, and it can be easily measured through blood tests.

"Our computational model can use methylation markers from a blood sample to predict both current kidney function and how the kidneys will function years in the future, which means it could be easily implemented alongside current methods for evaluating a patient's risk for kidney disease," says Yip.

The researchers developed their model using detailed data from more than 1,200 patients with type 2 diabetes in the Hong Kong Diabetes Register. They also tested their model on a separate group of 326 Native Americans with type 2 diabetes, which helped ensure that their approach could predict kidney disease in different populations.

"This study highlights the unique strength of the Hong Kong Diabetes Register and its huge potential to fuel further discoveries to improve our understanding of diabetes and its complications," says study co-author Juliana Chan, M.D., FRCP, a professor in the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who established the Hong Kong Diabetes Register more than two decades ago.

"The Hong Kong Diabetes Register is a scientific treasure," adds first author Kelly Yichen Li, Ph.D., a postdoctoral scientist at Sanford Burnham Prebys. "They follow up with patients for many years, which gives us a full picture of how human health can change over decades in people with diabetes."

The researchers are currently working to further refine their model. They are also expanding the application of their approach to look at other questions about human health and diseasesuch as determining why some people with cancer don't respond well to certain treatments.

"The science is still evolving, but we are working on incorporating additional information into our model to further empower precision medicine in diabetes," adds Ma.

More information: DNA methylation markers for kidney function and progression of diabetic kidney disease, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37837-7 Journal information: Nature Communications
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Location of German Ultrafine Aerosol Network stations across Germany and classification according to station type. Stations used for this analysis are highlighted with red boxes (dashed for sensitivity analysis). Credit: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202209-1837OC

A new study conducted by Helmholtz Munich researchers reveals that ultrafine particles, representing the smallest size fraction of particulate air pollution, might be more dangerous to human health than larger particles. These findings add to the growing body of evidence that it may be insufficient to focus on larger particle concentrations and gases when assessing public health risks. It was now published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

There is concern that ultrafine particles (UFPs; particles with a diameter of less than 0.1 m) can cause more health problems than larger particles. UFPs represent the smallest size fraction of particulate air pollution but differ from larger particles in many ways. For example, they contribute negligibly to particle mass but dominate in number concentration and have a large surface area and reactivity that allows UFPs to transport more chemical compounds. However, evidence on the health effects of UFPs is still limited.

A team of researchers around Prof Dr. Annette Peters, Dr. Susanne Breitner-Busch and Maximilian Schwarz from the Institute of Epidemiology at Helmholtz Munich has now investigated the effects of particles of different sizes on cause-specific mortality using data from a dedicated monitoring campaign. They found an increased risk of death due to respiratory diseaseespecially for smaller particles compared to larger particles.

The researchers conducted a multicenter epidemiological study over eight consecutive years from 2010 to 2017 in the three German cities of Dresden, Leipzig, and Augsburg. This study is one of the first to use several measurement stations per city to reflect different exposure situations and used a novel statistical approach to analyze the data.

These data from a highly specialized measurement campaign enabled the scientists to achieve high standardization and comparability between the monitoring stationsa major problem when measuring and analyzing UFPs.

Increased risk of respiratory mortalityespecially for smaller particle sizes

The researchers reported a significantly increased risk of respiratory mortality five to seven days after exposure to UFPs. It could be shown that for an increase of 3,223 particles/cm3 in concentration the risk of respiratory mortality increased by 4.46 % (95 % condence interval: 1.52 % to 7.48 %).

These results were independent of other particulate air pollutants (e.g., PM2.5), suggesting an autonomous effect of these particles. In addition, further analyses showed that the smallest particle sizes had more pronounced effects on respiratory mortality.

Moving beyond fine particle mass

"These results provide an additional step towards a better understanding of the health effects of ultrafine particles and their potential inclusion in future routine monitoring," concludes Maximilian Schwarz. As one first step, the World Health Organization published good practice statements in 2021, specifically calling for more UFP data and the need for epidemiological studies.

"The study's findings add to the evidence that it may be important to focus our air quality monitoring and public health risk assessment on concentrations larger as well as ultrafine particles and gases," Prof Dr. Annette Peters states. If the body of studies strengthens, mitigating other pollution classes, such as UFPs, would positively impact public health.

More information: Maximilian Schwarz et al, Impact of Ambient Ultrafine Particles on Cause-Specific Mortality in Three German Cities, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202209-1837OC Journal information: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
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Dr. William O'Neill examines Fred Casciano on April 12 at Henry Ford Hospital following the novel cath lab coronary bypass procedure . Credit: Sal Giacona/Henry Ford Health

Henry Ford Health Interventional cardiologists William O'Neill, M.D., and Khaldoon Alaswad, M.D., took a page out of the medical history books by performing a new coronary bypass procedure replicated from one not used in decades to treat a patient living with crippling anginaa severe symptom of coronary artery disease.

Retired painting contractor Fred Casciano, 60, from Traverse City, became the first patient anywhere to receive the life-changing transcatheter procedure on April 12 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. The procedure was re-engineered from an operation first developed in the 1950s.

"This new procedure we specifically engineered for Fred has never been done before but it replicates a bypass operation performed in the 1950s," said Dr. O'Neill, director of the Henry Ford Center for Structural Heart Disease. "It opens the door for non-surgical treatment of thousands of patients who cannot have stents or open-heart revascularization procedures." Each year, hundreds of thousands of patients are treated in the U.S. with coronary bypass surgeryopen heartor stent therapy through a cath lab procedure.

"Coronary revascularization has been a mainstay of therapy for coronary artery disease since the 1960's," said Dr. O'Neill.

Despite these available procedures, many patients are not able to receive the treatments because their coronary arteries are too small or too diseased to achieve effective bypass or stent procedures, he explained.

This medical challenge has led Henry Ford Health investigators to look back at the original operation developed decades ago. The original method required two operations and involved placing a bypass into the main vein in the heart known as the coronary sinus. The advantage of the operation was that the bypass was directed to the large disease-free vein. However, the original method also required two operations about a month apart. This risky method was later replaced by a safer coronary artery bypass procedure also known as coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) that became more common in the 1970s.

With this new procedure, Henry Ford Health cardiologists are optimistic about the possibility of positively impacting even more patients.

In Casciano's case, Drs. O'Neill and Alaswad attempted to re-create the original operation without using the open-heart method. A channel between Casciano's circumflex artery and his coronary sinus was successfully created during the cath lab procedure, and the channel is functioning well. Dr. O'Neill added that more testing will be done to assess how well the bypass is working.

"I trust Dr. O'Neill and Dr. Alaswad and their team with my life," Casciano said just one day after the three-hour procedure. Before the Henry Ford cardiologists presented this as an option, Casciano had been told he out of traditional medical solutions and had just one working coronary artery left. "And that's when Dr. O'Neill said, 'We're going to bring the blood in the back door because the front door is closed.'"

Following the successful bypass procedure and a one-day inpatient stay, Casciano returned home with his wife Annette to Northern Michigan, where he has been recovering and getting back to his busy daily routine.

"I don't stop. I just keep going. I can't sit still," said Casciano, who'd initially traveled to Detroit in January to see Dr. O'Neill for any available possible treatments to fix his recurring blockages. Casciano has been under the watchful eye of Dr. O'Neill for years.

This wasn't the first time Casciano received revolutionary treatment. In 2019, Casciano was one of only two patients in the U.S. to receive a coronary sinus reducer implant as part of a Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved clinical trial led by Dr. O'Neill. A reduced blood flow in his heart had created the angina condition.

"My arteries couldn't feed blood to the heart as fast as it was draining the blood through the veins, so they put a drainer restrictor in me," recalled Casciano.

About two months after receiving the coronary sinus reducer, Casciano felt well enough to try a new bike trail that had opened up from Traverse City to Suttons Bay in northern Michigan. Thanks to the implant, he made the 35-mile roundtrip ride with no problems.

However, when his condition worsened last year, he once again reached out to Dr. O'Neill for answers.

Casciano's coronary arteries previously treated with angioplasty and a stent had narrowed again. The condition known as in-stent restenosis is a blockage or narrowing that comes back in the portion of the coronary artery previously treated with a stent, where scar tissue forms inside the stent.

"Dr. O'Neill told us that we're going to make an attempt to try something else and within a couple of weeks he had a plan," said Casciano's wife, Annette.

During the re-engineered procedure, Drs. Alaswad and O'Neill created a channel from the coronary artery to a vein to bypass the recurring and almost complete blockage that has continued to plague Casciano for much of his adult life. Casciano first experienced heart attacks at the age of 38 while working and was treated with angioplasty and a stent. At 41, he was diagnosed with 98% blockage of all major coronary arteries and underwent quintuple bypass surgery.

Unfortunately, a couple of months later, the blockage was backand has continued to pose problems.

"It's an exciting breakthrough that we hope will allow us to treat many more patients with this condition in the future," said Dr. Alaswad, medical director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

Provided by Henry Ford Health
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Think you might be struggling with depression? It's not always easy to recognize, but identifying the symptoms is the first step toward getting the help you need.

Depression is a common mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. In the United States alone, an estimated 21 million adults had at least one major bout of depression in 2020, representing about 8.4% of the adult population, according to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Symptoms of depression vary from person to person, but some are more commonly experienced than others.

Exploring the most common symptoms will help you know what to look for if you suspect that you or someone you know may be struggling with depression.

What are symptoms of depression?

Craig Sawchuk, a clinical psychologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., said "understanding the basics of depression can help you take the next step." In a Mayo Clinic video, he noted: "Depression is a mood disorder that causes feelings of sadness that won't go away  and people who experience depression can't just snap out of it."

Depression can show up in many ways and can affect each person differently. But some common symptoms are associated with this condition. They can range from feeling persistently sad or hopeless to losing interest in activities you once enjoyed. Other symptoms may include changes in appetite, sleep disturbances and difficulty concentrating.

According to the NIMH, these are common symptoms of depression:



Persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety or emptiness that do not go away

A constant sense of hopelessness or negativity

Unexplained irritability, frustration or restlessness

Overwhelming feelings of guilt, worthlessness or helplessness

Loss of interest or enjoyment in activities that used to be pleasurable

Persistent feelings of exhaustion, fatigue or being slowed down

Difficulty concentrating, remembering things or making decisions

Changes in sleep patterns, such as difficulty falling asleep, waking up early or sleeping too much

Unplanned changes in appetite that lead to weight gain or loss

Unexplained physical symptoms, such as cramps, digestive issues or headaches that don't respond to typical treatment

Thoughts of suicide or death, or attempting suicide.

While any of the above symptoms can be warning signs of depression, one of the more easily recognizable symptoms is a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed.

It's not uncommon for people with depression to feel this way. But losing interest in activities generally can lead to a lack of physical activity, negatively impacting your overall health. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, being physically active can improve your mental health, reduce your risk of chronic diseases and even help you live longer.

Exercise releases endorphins, which are feel-good chemicals in the brain that can help boost your mood and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. When people engage in activities they enjoy, they're more likely to stay active, mentally focused and have a sense of purpose. In addition, staying active and engaging can help combat depression symptoms. Activities that involve social interaction can help alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation, which are common among people with depression.

Anxiety versus depression: What's the difference?

Feeling anxious is also a common symptom of depression, but sometimes, these two conditions can be confused. According to an article for PSYCOM written by licensed professional counselor Kathleen Smith, anxiety is characterized by feelings of worry, nervousness or unease about a future event or situation.

Depression, on the other hand, is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness and lack of interest in activities. While they have different symptoms, anxiety can also be a sign of depression. In fact, the same article pointed out that many people with depression also experience anxiety. Therefore, if you're experiencing symptoms of anxiety, it's essential also to consider whether you may be struggling with depression.

Recognizing depression symptoms is the first step toward getting help

If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, it's important to remember that you're not alone, and help is available. Recognizing these symptoms and seeking support can be the first step toward feeling better. Whether it's reaching out to a trusted friend or family member, making an appointment with a mental health professional, or contacting a crisis hotline, addressing your feelings is crucial. By seeking help, you can start to manage your symptoms and improve your overall well-being. Don't wait to get the support you need.

Copyright  2023 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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Credit: CC0/Pixabay

Dangers like working high above the ground or with heavy machinery are common hazards for laborers in industries like construction or excavation. But there's another near-universal hazard for laborersheat.

Margaret Morrissey, a postdoctoral fellow within UConn's College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources and president of occupational safety for the Korey Stringer Institute, led a recently published study that found heat is the number one cause of exertion-related injuries and fatalities on U.S. work sites.

This work was recently published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Using data reported to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), the team found that of all injuries and fatalities, about 3% were exertion-related. Of that 3%, a staggering 89% were related to heat stress.

This study shows that heat is a significant danger for laborers in industries like construction, excavation, farming, and assembly line workers. Morrissey says she hopes this study can help improve health and safety measures to protect workers.

"We want people to recognize heat is a problem and it might not be one people automatically think of," Morrissey says.

There is a body of scientific literature examining exertion-related injuries and fatalities among athletes and soldiers. But until now, no one had conducted a similar study for laborers.

"We really don't have a good idea of what that looks like in the laborer population," Morrissey says.

Average number of accident-related severe injury per month (20152020). (A) Average number of accident-related fatalities per month (20172020). (B). Note: number above each bar = average number of injuries/fatalities each month. Credit: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2023). DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032683

The data may also be underreporting exertion-related injuries and fatalities. The data employers report to OSHA is limited to events that happen at the work site, meaning it does not include when someone suffers an injury or fatality related to on-the-job heat stress elsewhere.

Additionally, some heat-related illnesses treated on-site, with simple measures like hydration and body-cooling, are not included in OSHA data.

Based on how OSHA asks employers to classify the cause of an injury or fatality, events that may have been related to heat are attributed to another cause.

"Not only are we seeing predominantly heat-related fatalities and injuries for exertion-related events, but we're thinking this is underreported too," Morrissey says. "The problem may be a lot bigger than we originally anticipated."

Morrissey emphasizes that heat-related injuries and fatalities are preventable. There are simple, low-cost measures employers can take to protect workers in hot conditions, like hydration, body cooling, environmental monitoring, and educational training. Employers can also engage workers in heat acclimatization, which gradually exposes workers to hot conditions, allowing them to adapt to better tolerate heat and decrease their risk of injury.

In this study, the researchers also found that there were more injuries and fatalities in the summer months. But they do not know why this is the caseif it was due to increased heat, or another factor, like the fact that there are usually more workers on site in the summer months. Morrissey says they plan to investigate this pattern further.

Morrissey says she also wants to look at the temperatures on days with reported incidents, since events like cardiac arrest, kidney strain, and cognitive impairment may be caused by heat.

"Whenever we think of heat stress, a lot of people only think of heat-related illnesses," Morrissey says. "But in reality, there's so many different things that heat can cause."

More information: Margaret C. Morrissey et al, Analysis of Exertion-Related Injuries and Fatalities in Laborers in the United States, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2023). DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032683 Journal information: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Drugs approved in the US require "substantial evidence" that they are effective. But an investigation by The BMJ into the recent approval of the antibiotic Recarbrio from Merck suggests that these standards are being bypassed.

Peter Doshi, senior editor at The BMJ, describes how US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scientists had serious doubts about Recarbrioa product 40 times more expensive than an existing generic alternativebut the agency approved it anyway.

Did the FDA break its own rules in approving this antibiotic, and what does this case tell us about problems within the agency, he asks?

Recarbrio is a combination therapy made up of a new beta-lactamase inhibitor (relebactam) and a decades old Merck antibiotic (imipenem-cilastatin) to treat complicated infections. It costs between $4,000 and $15,000 for a course, compared with a couple of hundred dollars for the generic version of Merck's old antibiotic.

In its FDA application, Merck submitted results from two clinical trials comparing Recarbrio with imipenem in adults with complicated urinary tract infections and in patients with complex intra-abdominal infections.

But FDA reviewers noted that Merck had studied the wrong patient population to evaluate the added benefits of the new drug, and said the trial for urinary tract infections showed that Recarbrio was as much as 21% worse in effectiveness than the older, less-expensive imipenem.

The FDA concluded that "these studies are not considered adequate and well-controlled." And of a third clinical study, the FDA called it a "very small," "difficult to interpret" "descriptive trial with no pre-specified plans for hypothesis testing."

Yet despite all three clinical studies not providing substantial evidence of effectiveness, FDA approved Recarbrio.

"Instead of basing its decision on the clinical trials in Merck's application, FDA's determination of Recarbrio's efficacy was justified on past evidence that imipenem was effective, plusto justify the new relebactam componentin vitro (lab) studies and animal models of infection rather than evidence from human trials as required by law," writes Doshi.

Others are concerned that Recarbrio's approval essentially amounts to a return to a way of regulating medicines that the FDA abandoned a half century ago prior to the agency's "substantial evidence" standard.

Doshi explains that, under specific circumstances, the Director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) can waive in whole or in part the FDA's "adequate and well-controlled studies" approval criteria. But the FDA told The BMJ "there was no center director memo in the file" for Recarbrio.

And when The BMJ contacted Janet Woodcock, CDER Director at the time, and now the FDA's Principal Deputy Commissioner, she said she was not aware that the clinical studies of Recarbrio did not provide substantial evidence of effectiveness.

Woodcock was also unable to confirm that approvals of new drugs require at least one clinical study of the drug itself that demonstrates substantial evidenceevidence lacking in the case of Recarbrio.

A spokesperson for CDER told The BMJ that FDA "applied regulatory flexibility" in approving Recarbrio.

It is unclear whether this regulatory flexibility enabled FDA to conclude Recarbrio had met the legal "substantial evidence" standard without "adequate and well-controlled investigations" of Recarbrio, says Doshi. FDA declined to answer the question, saying "We have no additional information to provide."

The decline of science at the FDA has become unmanageable, argues David Ross, associate clinical professor of medicine at George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and former FDA medical reviewer, in a linked commentary.

He describes Recarbrio's approval as "shocking" and says while much of the blame must go to the FDA's reliance on industry paid user fees for around two-thirds of its annual drugs budget, "the corruption of the FDA's scientific culture remains the primary culprit driving the deterioration of safety and effectiveness standards."

To address this "dismal situation" he suggests tapering the FDA's dependence on user fees and improving public access to the information received by the FDA, its reasoning, and its decisions.

"The Recarbrio approval is a sentinel event, warning of a return to an era when drug effectiveness was an afterthought," argues Ross. "Although the FDA crowed about this approval, it would have been better advised to remember that "for a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled," he concludes.

More information: Peter Doshi et al, Investigation: Did the FDA break its own rules in approving the antibiotic Recarbrio?, The BMJ (2023). DOI: 10.1136/bmj.p1048 David B Ross, The decline of science at the FDA has become unmanageable, BMJ (2023). DOI: 10.1136/bmj.p1061 Journal information: British Medical Journal (BMJ)
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Women should start getting regular mammograms at the age of 40, according to a new recommendation being drafted by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. This is a reversal from the previous recommendation of age 50, which means more than 20 million women will now be considering mammogram screening.

In order to better understand the implications of this change, the Gazette spoke with Steven Isakoff, the director of Breast Cancer Clinical Research at Mass General Cancer Center and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

GAZETTE: In the past, mammogram screening started at age 40. But in 2009, it was increased to age 50. And now it's reversing back to age 40. Why?

Isakoff: In the U.S. breast cancer treatment community, we've generally felt that it never should have changed from 40. So for us, this is back in line with what we've generally recommended. The reason that it changed from 40 to 50 was a decision from the task force that the benefits did not outweigh the perceived harms. And the harms that were considered in their evaluation were things like the psychological impact and anxiety associated with getting a false positive, the risk of a biopsy, or the risk of additional follow-up. And there was a concern when these guidelines came out many years ago that it was a bit paternalistic to say, "Well, we think causing anxiety for women is a harm, so we're going to change the age to 50 when the likelihood of finding cancer is a little higher."

Most patients will tell you that if there's a chance of finding their cancer a little earlierwith a small chance of a false positivethat's OK. The other thing to consider is most of the false positives are picked up on a screening mammogram. What that means is the patient gets called back for a diagnostic mammogram. Generally, these do not lead to surgical interventions that are unnecessary. In the majority of cases, it's simply a call back for more imaging, which most of the time results in "nothing to see here" and the patient goes back to regular screening.

GAZETTE: Since we're seeing an uptick in young women getting breast cancer, is this a situation where the benefits are outweighing those risks?

Isakoff: From the committee's description in the guidelines, that seems to be what changed. They reported that between 2015 and 2019, the annual incidence of breast cancer in the younger population increased by about 2 percent each year. And that crossed a threshold where they felt that screening at that age makes sense. As the incidence of the disease in the population changes, then the benefit of screening can change as well. And that seems to be what they're referring to with this most recent change.

GAZETTE: Black women, who die of breast cancer at twice the rate of white women of the same age, may benefit from earlier screening. Do you think earlier screening could affect that racial disparity we're seeing?

Isakoff: We sure hope so. Black women report screening at the same rates as white women. And that implies that access to screening itself, or the desire to do screening, isn't the reason for the disparity. But with an increasing rate or incidence of breast cancer in younger Black women, making this screening technology available to them will help. But there are a couple of important points. One is younger women in general, compared to older women, tend to get more aggressive types of breast cancer. And Black women compared to non-Black women tend to get more aggressive types of breast cancer. And it's well-recognized that those kinds of cancers may not be optimally identified by screening because they tend to grow a little bit faster. They can often be the cancers that are picked up in the interval between screenings. We have to recognize that we need more than just screening.

The other point I would make is that it's equally importantif not more importantto make sure that after screening, cancer patients are provided equitable care for the follow-up diagnostic studies and treatment. I think that's going to make a really big impact, more than just screening.

GAZETTE: This new recommendation is going to affect more than millions of women. How do you think that will impact the healthcare system?

Isakoff: In Massachusetts, for the most part, we've never stopped recommending 40. I think we're fortunate to be in a state that is very supportive of equitable healthcare and committed to improving it. But I have heard from colleagues around the country where they had actually changed the age to 50. So will there be some cost to the healthcare system there? Probably, but mammograms are a fairly cheap test to do. And we hope in the long run, it will actually help because it'll diagnose cancers earlier when they're more treatable and require less aggressive treatment. Hopefully it will have a positive impact on the healthcare system because it'll have less people with advanced disease, which is when the cost of care gets very expensive.

GAZETTE: How do you see this new recommendation benefiting both patients and providers?

Isakoff: I think the benefit is it provides a little bit more consistency. Often, medicine is not a black-and-white decision. It can be very troubling for patients when they see differing opinions. There are still some discrepancies in breast cancer screening, but at least the recommendation states that it is now generally recommended to start earlier. From the provider side, it will help ensure that these screenings are paid for; we certainly have heard of cases around the country where some organizations or insurers were no longer covering mammograms from ages 40 to 50. So this will help restore that. And I think it allows us, as providers, to really support the value of mammographic screening and potentially reduce long-term mortality from breast cancer.

This story is published courtesy of the Harvard Gazette, Harvard University's official newspaper. For additional university news, visit Harvard.edu.
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Artists Alexx Temena, from left, and Andrea Yarbrough work on their installation "House of Kapwa" with the help of Raheem Williams on May 14, 2023, near Oakwood Beach. The piece is one of 12 artworks in a community-based arts initiative called E(art)H Chicago. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

In December 2021, Chicago artists and community organizations were called on to raise awareness of the citys key environmental issues to nurture urgency and hope, and inspire action across neighborhoods. The results of that callout will be revealed in a launch of public art projects across Chicagoland under the banner E(art)H Chicago, or Earth Art Chicago, from June 3 to 17.

The Illinois Science and Energy Innovation Foundation gave out $679,500 in grants to artists and community organizations to produce projects that stimulate community engagement on environmental justice from the Southeast Side industrial corridor to the North Branch of the Chicago River. The work ranges from theater for toddlers inspired by the ecology of Chicagos Southeast Side wetlands and pollinator columns in the Back of the Yards that function as a habitat for insects and animals, to a dance ritual in Grant Park that pays homage to the cultural traditions of the urban farm.

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Were funding 12 exhibits in different neighborhoods and they all represent a variety of environmental issues ... an issue that speaks to the community and is coming from the community, said the foundations program director, Uzma Noormohamed. We have environmental justice represented there, ecological grief, the relationship between the industrial development along the Chicago River and nature, and how to heal our relationship to the land, how to do things differently, how to have more native plants, how to look and think about our role differently, so it evokes a lot of different expressions.

The foundation sought letters of interest from artists, environmentalists and nonprofits to apply for tiered grants ranging from $7,500 to $100,000 from December 2021 to January 2022. Nearly 150 applications were submitted, and 30 finalists from 19 neighborhoods were then interviewed by project staff members and art advisers who then selected 12 winners. Projects are located on the Southeast Side and in McKinley Park, Albany Park and Little Village, among other neighborhoods. Funding partners that include the Builders Initiative, the Joyce Foundation, Chicago Frontlines Funding Initiative and the Regeneration Fund provided money that went to artists, collaborative groups and nonprofit organizations.

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Ines Sommer used a $35,000 grant to complete her 35- to 40-minute documentary film, The Hills. The work centers on a deserted 67-acre hill made up of slag that Republic Steel/LTV Steel dumped from the 1950s to 1980s and features voices of community members alongside contaminated land, water and wildlife. The Rogers Park filmmaker said she hopes viewers realize that the problems on one side of the city should matter to all Chicagoans. The film will be screened June 8 and 17.

Filmmaker Ines Sommer is seen at Wolf Lake on May 12, 2023. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

Not to sound catastrophic, but we cant pretend like whats affecting one part of our city will not have repercussions for all of us as Chicagoans, Sommer said. I think thats the kind of level of awareness that I would love for people who live outside of the Southeast Side to have  that it should matter to all of us.

Artists Alexx Temena and Andrea Yarbrough partnered to bring the House of Kapwa to fruition by Oakwood Beach. The $90,000 interactive outdoor installation centers on rest, collective care, ecological grief and the Filipino Indigenous virtue ethic of Kapwa, or shared interconnectedness.

The large circular structure has an opening at the top that represents a connection to ancestors and to the divine when we rest and slow down. The structures exterior is a 360-degree natural loom that visitors can weave composted flowers and plant material into, and allows one to sense the relationship between how we care for ourselves, for one another and for Earth.

Temena said it was important for the structure to be in a contemplative, relatively quiet space to honor the sacredness the pair were trying to imbue into the project, a place that is going to be holding folks in a collective practice of rest and of collective grief.

Yarbrough, steward of the group titled in c/o: Black women (in care of Black women), said space also had to be one that someone who looks like us would go access.

When we rest, we start to feel  we grow a sense of awareness and concern and responsibility outside of ourselves, beyond ourselves and not just human to human but also human and land, Temena said. Its not just self and other, its self and plant, and self and planet. Its this connection, and growing a sense of who we are is beyond our individual earthly bodies. In our rest, we connect to the cosmic nature of Kapwa and being able to extend that awareness and responsibility and concern. We are aware of the grief and the losses that weve endured collectively, thats beyond just our particular individual losses.

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Artists Alexx Temena, center, and Andrea Yarbrough, right, work on their installation titled "House of Kapwa" with the help of Raheem Williams on May 14, 2023, along the lakefront near Oakwood Beach. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

During the June 3 opening ceremony for House of Kapwa, Temena will conduct a rest ceremony, with music and weaving as a way to contemplate ecological grief, as a meditative and contemplative practice. More events focused on collective wellness are set for the fall, Yarbrough said.

Noormohamed said artists coming together in this initiative have the opportunity to connect with their communities and create what essentially becomes a gathering space so people can organically learn and demand together, grieve together and act together.

Art has always played that role in social change and transforming how we see things and how we understand and act in our world, Noormohamed said. Were not saying go out and protest a certain issue or demand a certain policy. But we do know that this kind of coming together creates motion, it creates demand, demand creates pressure, creates change. That is one of our fundamental ideas that we have thought about, as far as how does this translate into something beyond this? When art is created intentionally to encourage community gathering, then people come together and they feel possibility.

Visit earthartchicago.org for June ceremonies and screenings. Registration is required for some events.

drockett@chicagotribune.com
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A new artificial intelligence analysis of thousands of posts from the popular online discussion forum Reddit reveals that vapers are concerned about e-cigarettes' possible impact on everything from their respiratory, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular systems to their mental and sexual health and sleep patterns. They also worry about the possibility of addiction, cancer, and dental problems.

"Our goal is to shed light on how the public, in their natural conversations, describe health concerns associated with vaping e-cigarettes," said Alexandra DeLucia, a doctoral candidate in computer science at Johns Hopkins University's Whiting School of Engineering.

DeLucia was part of a multi-institution team that conducted the research as part of the JHU's Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation. The team included colleagues from the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products, or CTP.

"The FDA CTP's mission is to protect Americans from tobacco-related diseases and death," DeLucia said. "Our hope is that hearing what 'real voices' are saying will significantly enhance understanding of how people think about e-cigarettes."

The researchers believe this information has the potential to inform new, more effective public health research and media campaigns by leveraging the voices and experiences of ordinary people who use e-cigarettes.

DeLucia worked on the analysis with Mark Dredze, an associate professor of computer science at Johns Hopkins and director of research (foundations of AI) at the university's AI-X Foundry; Adam Poliak, an assistant professor of computer science at Bryn Mawr College; and John W. Ayers, associate adjunct professor of medicine at University of California San Diego.

To find detailed discussions about e-cigarettes, the team turned to Reddit, with its 55 million daily users and about 10 million daily posts. Reddit was preferred over Twitter and other social media platforms because of its long, conversational format.

"Tweets are great for learning what restaurants someone went to last night or what political party they support," DeLucia said, "but when it comes to complex issues, we need richer data that goes beyond Twitter's social media character limits. Reddit gives us that."

In addition, Reddit conversations are conveniently organized into smaller communities called "subreddits," allowing the researchers to identify conversations related to vaping and to have confidence that the conversations being analyzed were relevant. To further focus their data, the team included only discussion threads and posts that contained the phrase "does ____ cause," DeLucia said.

"That allowed us to capture questions such as 'Does e-juice cause X' or 'Does vaping cause X?'" she said.

"What we learned was that people posting in discussion threads about e-cigarette use on Reddit primarily describe respiratory, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular concerns," DeLucia said. "Less-cited concerns were neurological, dermatology, oral health, and sexual health. Additionally, psychiatry, oncologic, addiction, and sleep concerns were raised by posters."

Next steps for this research include applying this method to additional Reddit communities to discover perceived health outcomes of other products.

DeLucia and the team presented their findings at the annual meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, held in early March in San Antonio.
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Credit: StigmaWatch

Mental health stigma refers to the negative attitudes, beliefs and misconceptions that society holds about people with mental illness. Despite considerable advances in awareness and understanding, mental health stigma is still pervasive in Australia.

For people living with mental ill health, and often their families and caregivers, stigma means regularly facing negative attitudes about who they are.

It can result in discrimination when it comes to employment, housing and education, driving social exclusion and perpetuating harmful misconceptions about mental illness.

Stigma also contributes to a culture of silence and shame, leading many to internalize negative beliefs about themselveswhich can limit help-seeking and impact ongoing recovery and quality of life.

Put simply, mental health stigma can be a significant cause of harm. In fact, those with lived experience of mental ill health say living surrounded by stigma can be harder than dealing with the condition itself.

Cameron Solnordal, SANE Director and Peer Ambassador describes stigma as a weapon: "When I was given my diagnosis, it was stigma that told me I was never going to have a home, have a job, have a family, have a life. It took me 15 years to realize that was all completely wrong.

"Stigma is a weapon that keeps people apart, and I don't want to be apart anymore."

Stigma and the media

Mass media is a major driver of public stigma, as was emphasized in the Australian Government's recent draft National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy.

The evidence shows that media portrayal of negative stereotypes encourages and reinforces stigmatizing community attitudes.

Conversely, positive media stories of recovery have been shown to be powerfully destigmatizing.

The global 2022 Lancet Commission on ending stigma and discrimination in mental health found that the use of media-based interventions for addressing public stigma is not yet widespread and there is a need to gain a greater understanding of the role of these interventions in stigma reduction activities.

What is the real-world impact of media interventions?

SANE StigmaWatch was established in 1997 as one of the first programs in the world to support positive media representation of mental illness. In partnership with more than 5,000 community "StigmaWatchers" around the country, StigmaWatch monitors media outputs against the best-practice media guidelines produced by Mindframe, an Everymind program. Where necessary, they will contact journalists and media outlets to suggest modifications.

SANE also encourages positive media output by connecting media professionals with lived experience representatives.

In 2021, we undertook research to better understand problems in Australian media portrayals of mental illness and suicide and how StigmaWatch is influencing these portrayals. We analyzed StigmaWatch activity between 2017 and 2021, reviewing more than 1,300 reports from stigmatizing media news content in online, TV, print, radio and social media.

Our results showed that the StigmaWatch process works.

Almost half (44.3%) of the media coverage that was identified as problematic by StigmaWatch was amended to be less harmful following contact with more than 450 journalists.

What still needs to change?

Our analysis also uncovered trends in the types of issues and problematic media content reported to StigmaWatch.

Most of the breaches were related to media portrayals of suicide.

These are critical to address because there's considerable evidence to show inclusion of suicide methods or locations can result in copycat behavior, and that omitting these details can prevent suicide deaths.

The use of sensationalist or inappropriate language was also common. Terms like "deranged," "psycho" or "topped themselves" contributes to stigma by reinforcing inaccurate and harmful stereotypes.

Removing these is a simple way of reducing harm without impacting the purpose of a media article.

Our analysis also showed that stigmatizing portrayals of people with schizophrenia were particularly common, especially making a causal linkage of schizophrenia to crime. The research evidence shows the vast majority of crime that occurs in the general population is not attributable to mental illness and that people with mental illness are more likely to be victims of crime than perpetrators.

Our research shows that efforts by StigmaWatch to address media-based stigma are influencing positive change in how the Australian media portray mental illness and suicide.

Reducing stigmatizing content is improving the accuracy and quality of media portrayals of suicide and mental illness. This reduces public exposure to misperceptions and inaccurate stereotypes that contribute to harmful stigmatizing attitudes towards people with mental illness.

StigmaWatch is playing a critical role in addressing suicide risk and improving the quality of life for those with significant mental illness.

Working together with the media, we can break down outdated stereotypes and create a world that is safe, inclusive and fair for people living with mental illness.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Talking to toddlers helps shape their developing brain, according to new research from the University of East Anglia.

Researchers captured thousands of hours of language data from babies and toddlers wearing small recording devices.

They also carried out MRI scans to study the structure of their developing brains, looking in particular at a substance called myelin.

They found that two-and-a-half year olds who heard more speech in their everyday environment had more myelin in language-related areas of their brains.

The team say that this is likely to support more sophisticated language processing.

Lead researcher Prof John Spencer, from UEA's School of Psychology, said, "We know that children's brains develop very rapidly in the first two years of life, with brain volume at about 80 percent that of an adult brain by the age of two.

"Myelin is made up of protein and fatty substances and forms an insulating layer around nerves in the brain. It makes brain signals more efficient.

"Imagine you have a hosepipe with lots of holes in it. Myelin is like wrapping the hosepipe with duct tapeit insulates neural fibers, bringing more of the 'signal' from one brain area to the next.

"We wanted to know more about how this substance is involved with early brain development and particularly whether talking to young children boosts myelin production."

The team studied data from 163 babies and toddlers, who wore small recording devices for up to 16 hours per day across three days.

These devices captured 6,208 hours of language data in totalincluding speech from adults, conversational turns and words spoken by the children themselves.

To measure brain structure, the researchers waited until the infants fell asleep and then carefully placed them in an MRI scanner to measure brain myelin while the child slept.

Prof Spencer said, "What we found is that the toddlers who heard more speech in their everyday environment, also had more myelin, which is likely to support more sophisticated language processing.

"In other wordstalking to your kids is very important in early development as it helps to shape the brain."

The study is one of the first to show that language input is associated with brain structure early in development.

Prof Spencer said, "Prior work showed a similar association in four to six-year-olds, but our findings push this association much earlier in development. Indeed, we even found associations between language input and brain structure in six-month-old infants.

"At that age, it looks like language input might help delay myelination, possibly facilitating brain growth in language-related brain areas.

"Although there is still much more to learn about these processes, the message to caregivers is cleartalk to your baby, your toddler, your child. Not only are they listening, but your language input is literally shaping their brains."

This research was led by the University of East Anglia in collaboration with Durham University, the University of Cambridge, the University of Iowa (US), Brown University (US), Leiden University Medical Centre (Germany) and Concordia University (Canada).

"Language exposure and brain myelination in early development" is forthcoming in the Journal of Neuroscience and currently available on the bioRxiv preprint server.
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: Amir Hosseini/Unsplash

Listening to what young people think about youth mental health is core to understanding why it's such a big health challenge and how we can address it, say researchers.

Koi Tu: The Center for Informed Futures, a think tank at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland was commissioned by Te Hiringa MaharaMental Health and Well-being Commission to explore what young people in Aotearoa New Zealand have said impacts their well-being.

Research fellow Dr. Jessica Stubbing and researcher Naomi Simon-Kumar with support from Koi Tu director Sir Peter Gluckman, undertook a literature review focusing on what young New Zealanders have said about four specific areasbleak futures, social media, racism and discrimination and intergenerational connectednessand how they impact well-being.

The summarized literature, which included 105 publications and reports produced by government and support organizations, charities and researchers, contributed to the Te Hiringa Mahara publication, "Young people speak out about Well-being: An insights report into the Well-being of Rangatahi Maori and other Young People in Aotearoa," being released today (May 15).

Koi Tu is undertaking extensive consultation with young people and with experts to consider other factors beyond the four covered in the commissioned review.

In a Koi Tu commentary, "Social Factors Affecting Youth Mental Health and Well-being," produced to support the publication from Te Hiringa Mahara, the researchers explore what the literature review says and what it does notparticularly, concerning trends about how we are preparing (or failing to prepare) our young people to thrive in an increasingly complex world.

Dr. Stubbing says incorporating youth voice into mental health policy is an urgent priority.

"It's a field in which there are sizeable knowledge gaps. We need to know more about what young people think, particularly diverse groups of young New Zealanders," says Dr. Stubbing.

"Young people are the experts on their world and we know that youth culture moves very quickly, particularly on social media, so we need to be talking to them and hearing their perspectives," she said.

"We need to consider what are we missing when we look at the work that's already been done in New Zealand and ensure we situate youth voice in a wider context. What it doesn't tell us is how we are preparing young people at the early life stageand this is an area that we're exploring further."

Dr. Stubbing says internationally, organizations such as the World Health Organization and the International Association of Youth Mental Health are also recognizing young people's perspectives on youth mental health are vital for research and policy making.

"Historically, no onewhether that's health researchers, policy makers ministers, and governmentshas been great at listening and incorporating youth voice into the bigger context. We need to get better at understanding how all of these things fit together."

A recent Treasury well-being report have said trends from within Aotearoa New Zealand show that our young people are faring poorly when compared to other countries and generations.

Dr. Stubbing says the literature review focused on what young people believe is affecting their well-being at a systemic level as opposed to the personal difficulties they might be facing.

"We have to look at what we call systemic determinantsthe social influences of what's going on in the broader lives of young people in Aotearoa New Zealand that contributes to their well-being."

Rates of mental-health challenges were rising even before COVID-19, which by all accounts made a bad situation even worse.

"Young people report higher levels of stress, anxiety and social isolation related to the pandemic, which also limited their access to health services and support in school," says Dr. Stubbing.

Dr. Stubbing says getting a handle on why young Kiwis are struggling calls for understanding the context of life in Aotearoa New Zealand.

"Not all Aotearoa New Zealand's young are affected equally, with rangatahi Maori, Pacific and ethnic-minority young people, and young people who identify as members of the LGBTQIA+ community particularly likely to experience poor mental health, says Dr. Stubbing.

Peter says reversing the decline in young Kiwis' mental health will require systemic action, a holistic approach and nuanced understanding of well-being and its determinants, which must include what young people think.

"Any sustainable youth well-being strategy must also at its core prioritize funding high-quality research, including evaluation of interventions and strategies," he says.

He says investing in policy change must be accompanied by investment into measuring indicators of youth well-being over time, and continuing to prioritize tracking progress such as through the Treasury Well-being report.

"As the results of policy change or action taken at a central government level are likely to be revealed over longer periods of time than a single parliamentary term, such sustained action will require significant cross-parliamentary action and collaboration across successive governments."

Doing nothing about the problem places society in jeopardy.

"If we want to see a New Zealand that thrives in the future, we need to be addressing this and prioritizing the voice of our rangatahi," Sir Peter says.

Provided by Koi Tu: the Centre for Informed Futures
The Montana Department of Transportation on Friday approved final construction plans for the Flathead Lake Alpine Coaster in Lakeside.

The decision comes after months of back-and-forth movement on the project, which has incensed residents of the community on Flathead Lakes western shore.

According to MDT, the approach and encroachment permits for this project are still under review, and construction cant move ahead before those approvals come through.

The coaster website indicates the attraction will open in spring 2023.

Wedel and her husband, Torsten, operate Wilderness Land Holding LLC out of Stevensville. The pair has been endeavoring to bring an alpine coaster to western Montana for years.

In 2021, the Wedels sought to build their project in Rollins, but they eventually moved north to Lakeside. There, they have encountered opposition from residents and worked continually with MDT to secure the necessary permits to operate.

The final approved construction plans contain a number of variances from MDTs standard design criteria. These include speeds slowed to 55 miles per hour, a reduced length for the turn lane into the Wedels property and obstructions that wont be removed from the side of the road.

Members of the Lakeside community and the Upper West Shore Alliance continue to voice concerns with the non-compliant design and the coaster in general. Questions of safety, traffic and neighborhood impacts have repeatedly dogged the Flathead Lake Alpine Coaster.

The MDT Approach Manual states that MDT must grant reasonable access,' a UWSA email reads. The developers have always had reasonable access. MDT has approved unreasonable access that jeopardizes safe travel for all highway users in this corridor.
A Travis County judge said Thursday that the high-profile murder case against Kaitlin Armstrong in the shooting death of cyclist Moriah Wilson last year will proceed toward a June 26 trial date.

Armstrong, who appeared in court wearing a burgundy shirt with black-and-white jail pants, told state District Judge Brandy Mueller that she is persisting in her request for a speedy trial. Her defense team had sought a speedy trial last year.

However, defense attorney Rick Cofer told Mueller that he and his team might need to request that the trial be delayed until later this year so they can secure witnesses and other evidence for her defense. Mueller asked Cofer to make such a request by May 1.

More: Here's what we know about murder suspect Kaitlin Armstrong's arrest in Costa Rica

Kaitlin Armstrong makes a pretrial appearance Thursday at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center. Armstrong has been charged with murder in the death of star cyclist Moriah Wilson.

Armstrong has been charged with murder in the death of Wilson, who was found shot in an East Austin home May 11. Police have accused Armstrong of killing Wilson because of a relationship Wilson had with Armstrong's live-in boyfriend.

In the days after Wilson's death, Armstrong traveled to Costa Rica. She was arrested there by federal officials and brought back to Austin.

More: Feds detail capture of Kaitlin Armstrong, suspect in cyclist's killing

Mueller pointed out that Armstrong continues to assert her innocence and that it doesn't seem likely she is considering a plea deal with prosecutors.

Mueller said that if the case goes to trial, it probably would be heard by a visiting judge, Brenda Kennedy, who presided over the case until her retirement in January. Mueller said she has other cases on her docket set for trial that week.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Kaitlin Armstrong murder case in Moriah Wilson's death advances to trial
artist impression of a spacecraft on phobos with mars in the background

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado  NASA is going to a moon of Mars with Japan.

The U.S. space agency on Monday (April 17) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to join Japan's Martian Moon Exploration (MMX) mission to collect samples of the Martian moon Phobos and return them to Earth.

The agreement, which NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy signed with JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa here at the 38th Space Symposium, calls for NASA to provide two experiments on the MMX mission when the spacecraft launches to the Red Planet in 2024.

"We've got great partners at JAXA and they are leading this ambitious mission, bringing back the first samples of the Martian moon Phobos," NASA administrator Bill Nelson said in a video message on Twitter on April 16 ahead of the agreement's signing.

"We've had a long history in space together and in this golden age of exploration, the United States and Japan are certainly going to continue to work together. Together, we are going to deepen our knowledge of the solar system. We are going to unlock the mysteries of the universe."

Related: The 7 biggest mysteries of Mars

NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy and JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa stand next to each other with folders open, showing pages. behind them are chairs and curtains

Under the memorandum of understanding, NASA will provide an experiment called the Mars-moon Exploration with Gamma rays and Neutrons (MEGANE) and a Pneumatic Sampler for the MMX spacecraft. The NASA agreement follows an exchange of notes (meaning, a record of agreement) on April 11 between the governments of Japan and the U.S. to lay the foundation for the Mars mission cooperation.

Related Stories:

 Building block of life found in sample from asteroid Ryugu

 Asteroid Ryugu: The space rock visited by Hayabusa2



 JAXA: The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

"With the help of international partners such as NASA, JAXA will continue all efforts towards a successful MMX mission," JAXA officials wrote in statement.

Japan's MMX mission is currently scheduled to launch toward Mars in 2024 and enter orbit around the planet in 2025. It will visit both moons of Mars, Phobos and Deimos, but only land on Phobos, the bigger of the two Martian satellites.

Story continues

MMX will only touch down on Phobos for a few hours to collect samples of the moon. Those samples will then be returned to Earth by 2029, giving scientists their first-ever samples collected directly from Phobos.

JAXA has a successful track record of sample-return missions in our solar system. In 2010, Japan's Hayabusa spacecraft delivered samples from the asteroid Itokawa to Earth. The country's Hayabusa2 probe successfully returned samples of the asteroid Ryugu to Earth in 2020.

Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Instagram.
Fire alarm system hit by accident (Tuesday, May 15, 1973)

The Morganton Fire Department is still evaluating damages resulting from an accident at the intersection of West Union Street and Sanford Drive around 6 p.m. Monday. A Lowman Construction Company truck with its bed in the raised position caught power lines and knocked out fire alarm boxes and related equipment in the Carbon City area and at the city fire department.

Morganton Fire Chief Carroll Sullivan said the shorting of power lines resulting from the mishap completely burned out a fire alarm box at Inmont, causing about $400 in damages. Several other alarm boxes were tripped. The force of the electrical short blew a door open in one alarm box with such force that it slammed against the wall, breaking a framed glass covering on a wall plaque.

At the local fire department, the current short burned out several lightning arresters, blew fuses and broke other fuses, and set fire to insulation in an alarm box.

In materials and labor, Sullivan estimated the cost to repair the damage would range from $1,000 to $1,200, and the cost of maintaining a fire watch at Inmont will be added to that cost. The damage to the citys electrical system is estimated at about $100.

Company celebrates 25th anniversary (Thursday, May 17, 1973)

Twenty-five years ago, Skyland Textile Company chose Burke County for its home.

Skyland manufactures exclusively for the internationally recognized Buster Brown label. W.R. Loftis, retired president of the company, was responsible for bringing the industry to Morganton. Its initial operation opened on East Meeting Street in 1948.

After 25 successful years in the Morganton area, we would like to express our thanks and gratitude to the people who made it all possible  our employees, said Billy Morrow, Skyland vice president. Without them, the success and growth we have had here would not have been possible.

Skyland employs primarily women in the operations necessary to manufacture Buster Brown garments. In 1969, the company became one of the first plants anywhere to offer daycare services to working mothers when a modern new daycare center was opened near the Council Oak plant. The company presently employs approximately 600 people in Morganton and has more than 100 children enrolled in the daycare center.

Childrens Park to be dedicated (Friday, May 18, 1973)

Dedication for the Childrens Memorial Park in Valdese will be held at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. A special program will highlight the event.

The new park is located just east of the city limits and is already being used for picnics. The recreation facility will be dedicated in memory of the five children killed in an explosion almost a year ago.

The park was purchased by the city from Emannuel Micol. The cost of the project was $50,000, with the federal government participating on a 50% basis. The park has a newly constructed picnic shelter, which has been widely used thus far. Twelve picnic tables have been situated at the rear of the property. Swings, jungle gyms, mechanical horses and other playground equipment have been installed. Development of nature trails is in the planning stage.

Students go to Bible college, ministry (Wednesday, May 16, 1973)

Frank L. Parsons, son of Mr. and Mrs. Parsons of Morganton, recently received notification that he has been accepted by Tennessee Temple Bible College in Chattanooga, Tennessee for the fall of 1974.

Parsons, a junior at the North Carolina School for the Deaf, also works second shift in the dye house at Highlander Ltd., where he is assisting in training one of his co-workers, also an NCSD student. He plans to go into ministry and also is interested in becoming a teacher.

Two other local boys, brothers John and Harry Andrews, sons of the Rev. and Mrs. Fletcher Andrews of the Salem community of Morganton, also are headed into the ministry. The brothers are currently students at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Elder brother John will graduate this month with a Master of Divinity degree and will return to North Carolina to take an appointment in the Western North Carolina Conference of the Methodist Church. He also earned a bachelors degree from Lenoir-Rhyne College. While at Emory, John served a church in Bogart, Georgia. For the past year and a half, he has been associated with his brother as pastor of a childrens church within Grace United Methodist Church of Atlanta.

Harry just finished his first year in the theology school and also is a graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne College.

He received his local preachers license two years ago from the Statesville District. He will be ordained as a deacon at the session of the Western North Carolina annual conference this June and will be admitted as a probationary member.

Harry also is a member of the Barbershop Chorus of Atlanta, which won the regional contest in Knoxville, Tennessee last month and will compete in the national finals in Portland, Oregon in July. He is employed by Williamson and Co. and by Richs.
Editors note: Calendar items must be submitted at least five days before an event. Email all items to news@morganton.com.

TODAY

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.

Vietnam veterans meeting

Vietnam Veterans of America, Robert Douglas Avery Chapter 1116, will be meeting at Timberwoods Family Restaurant with a meal beginning at 5 p.m. Meals for first time guests will be paid for. A business meeting will begin at 6 p.m. All Vietnam veterans, members and nonmembers, are invited to attend this meeting. Membership information will be provided for all nonmembers interested in joining our chapter. Any questions that you have may be directed to Chapter Secretary Tom Johnson at 828-413-0143.

THURSDAY, MAY 18

Art Crawl

The Third Thursday Art Crawls are returning to downtown Morganton with the first event set for Thursday, May 18, from 5-8 p.m. Visitors will have the opportunity to visit seven venues throughout downtown Morganton that will be open late and offering immersive art experiences to those stopping by. In addition to these venues, art happenings will be seen throughout downtown including new banners created by Burke County students hanging in the West Union Street Art Alley, life-sized dandelions and butterflies fluttering through the streets and even an artist or two creating masterpieces for people to take home.

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 by calling 828-466-0466.

Board meeting

New Dimensions will hold its monthly board meeting at 4 p.m. in person on campus as well as via Zoom. Contact ckinard@ndschool.org for link information.

FRIDAY, MAY 19

Free Bingo

Free bingo will be held at the Lake James Community Center, which is one mile away from the Lake James fire station on N.C. 126, from 6-9 p.m. A variety of foods, including fish, hot dogs and fries will be available for purchase. Door prize drawings also will be held. Face masks are required. The public is invited.

SATURDAY, MAY 20

Burke County Parkinsons Support Group meeting

The Burke County Parkinsons Support Group will meet at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 20, at the Valdese branch of the Burke County Public Library. Lala Kozischek, corporate wellness director for YMCA of Catawba Valley, will share available fitness opportunities for members with Parkinsons at the Phifer Family YMCA in Morganton. Anyone with Parkinsons and their caregivers, friends and family are invited to attend. For information, call 828-879-1093 or 828-413-0479.

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 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.

MONDAY, MAY 29

Memorial Day service

The American Legion Post 234 Valdese Veterans will be hosting a Memorial Day Service at 9 a.m. The service will happen upstairs in the ballroom area. There will be a brief introduction followed by a video presentation and then a flag ceremony outside. Breakfast will be provided for free by the Auxiliary including biscuits, fruit, juice and coffee from local sponsors.

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.
On April 27, Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina and Blue Ridge Conservancy completed the permanent protection of a 1,125-acre property that spans Wilkes, Alexander and Iredell counties.

This property is located in the eastern Brushy Mountains and was purchased jointly by Foothills Conservancy and Blue Ridge Conservancy from private conservationist Tim Sweeney, who donated a significant portion of the land value after holding it for several years with permanent conservation in mind as the ultimate goal.

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 of N.C. The Brushy Mountains have become a conservation focus area for both of our land trusts, and were anticipating other partnership opportunities with Blue Ridge Conservancy in the near future. As always, were grateful for Mr. Sweeneys effort to secure the land initially and offer it for permanent conservation at a bargain sale price, and thankful for project funding support from Mr. Fred Stanback, which truly allowed our land trusts to take advantage of the opportunity.

It was a rare opportunity.

The opportunity to permanently conserve over 1,000 acres in western North Carolina does not happen often. We are grateful the landowners goal was to protect a significant and important tract of land in the Brushy Mountains, said Charlie Brady, executive director of Blue Ridge Conservancy. I am especially proud of our partnership with Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina in this project. The effort was a unique collaboration of land trusts working together with a common goal of conservation, in partnership with the landowner. Providing public access on a large scale in the Brushy Mountains will be an increasing focus of Blue Ridge Conservancys work.

Foothills Conservancy and Blue Ridge Conservancy are both 501c3 nonprofit land trusts that protect western North Carolinas land and water resources and are nationally accredited through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. Moving forward, the organizations will work together to steward the property for environmental protection.

Blue Ridge Conservancy is a private, nonprofit organization incorporated in North Carolina. Since its founding, the organization has protected more than 22,000 acres in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey Counties. Information about Blue Ridge Conservancy, including ways to support its work, can be found online at blueridgeconservancy.org or by calling 828-264-2511.

Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina is a nationally accredited regional land trust that inspires conservation in Western North Carolina by permanently protecting land and water for the benefit of people and all living things. A 501c3 nonprofit, Foothills Conservancy has conserved more than 68,000 acres in its eight county service area: Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Lincoln, McDowell and Rutherford, in three major river basins: the Broad, Catawba and Yadkin. Information about Foothills Conservancy, including ways to support its work, can be found online at www.foothillsconservancy.org or by calling 828-437-9930.
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Mourners arrive at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home in Oak Lawn for the visitation for slain Chicago Police Officer Areanah Preston on May 16, 2023. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

The funeral arrangements have been set for Areanah Preston a week after the Chicago police officer was fatally shot as she returned home from a late-night shift.

Preston will be remembered at a visitation Tuesday from 3 to 8 p.m. at Oak Lawns Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, 4727 W. 103rd St. Her funeral will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Trinity United Church of Christ, 400 W. 95th St., according to the Chicago Police Department.

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The 24-year-old officer had been described as a rising star dedicated to public safety by Tyrone Pendarvis, commander of the 5th District where she worked.

She was a lion, Pendarvis said at a vigil honoring Preston last Tuesday. She was a delight of a person  and thats the type of officer we need.

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[ Chicago cop, 24, killed just after her shift ends. I wanted to be an officer ... a person to fight for justice, she said in 2021 interview. ]

Dionne Mhoon, left, receives a hug as her husband, Terrance Mhoon, holds up an image of Mhoons daughter, Areanah Preston, at a vigil for Preston in Chicagos Washington Park on May 11, 2023. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

Preston was getting ready to celebrate her graduation from Loyola University Chicago with a masters degree in child and family law when she was killed, her mother Dionne Mhoon said. Prestons family remembered the officer as an intelligent and happy person.

She was all of that and more, Prestons grandfather told the Tribune shortly after her death. I cant speak about her without breaking up.

Preston had parked her car and began walking toward her Avalon Park home when she was attacked, according to Cook County prosecutors.

Three people jumped out of a sedan and ran toward her, surveillance video cited by prosecutors shows. In the video, a muzzle flashed, and Preston fell. She had been wearing her uniform when she was shot, prosecutors said.

Four teens arrested two days after the l shooting are being held without bond. Prosecutors have charged them with murder as well as a slew of other felonies, including robbery and arson.

[ 4 teens held without bond in slaying of Chicago off-duty officer ]

The Police Department suffered a similar tragedy when Officer Andres Vasquez Lasso was shot and killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic-related call in Gage Park in early March.

Hundreds of police and first responders gathered outside St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel as family and friends shared emotional tributes during Vasquez Lassos funeral mass.
Buttes public schools had a total enrolment of 7,245 in 1906, a significant increase over the 5,949 counted in 1900.

The 3,761 girls and 3,484 boys were instructed by a total of 210 teachers, plus 14 principals and a substitute corps of 10, spread over 14 schools. The greatest enrolment in 1900 was at Lincoln School, with 909, but Grant was a close second at 885 students, and Grant was the most populous school in 1906.

The six-month revenue for the district totaled $120,440.89 in 1906, derived from a county apportionment of $60,854, a state allotment of $35,481, the special Industrial School Fund of $15,709, and a library fund of almost $8,400. They also held a general fund of $125,000.

Expenses for the six months ran to $187,553, with almost 70% of that in teachers salaries, adding up to more than $130,000. Monthly teacher pay averaged just over $100 per month per teacher at a time when a miner working six days a week made $90 or $95 a month. Alice Dinsmoor, the superintendent of schools for the district, received $120 per month. Other six-month expenses included almost $12,000 for janitors, $1,200 for truant officers, $1,047 for utilities, and $157.50 for care of horse.

Thomas E. Speirs was the only male principal of a Butte school through most of the 1900 to 1910 time frame. He was born in West Virginia where he began teaching when he was 17 years old, and he taught in Washington and Idaho before coming to Butte in 1895 when he was 25 years old. He served as a teacher for about a year before he was appointed principal of Grant School.

In 1900 Thomas Speirs roomed at 17 West Broadway with his brother Hugh, who became a Butte city police officer in 1907. 17 West Broadway, the Mantle & Bielenberg Block that still stands there today, had lodging rooms on the third floor along with halls where seventeen different unions held weekly meetings, as many as four per day at times. Thomas later lived at the Goldberg Block, at the northwest corner of Park and Dakota Streets, the building that became the J.C. Penney store and burned down in 1972.

During his tenure as Grant School principal, Speirs was chosen president of the Montana Teachers Association when it met in Butte in 1906. The state association had 675 members that year, and attendees acclaimed the Butte convention the best ever.

Thomas Speirs led Grant School until about 1909 when he moved to Everett, Washington, and then Portland, Oregon, where he was principal of a grade school when he died in 1927 at age 57.

The original Grant School was on Division Street just south of Mercury between Grant and Gaylord, a site east of the Belmont headframe today. By 1898 it was overcrowded with 70 students per classroom, and a new school was built on Atlantic Street at Galena (northeast of todays Belmont Senior Center). When the Atlantic Street School opened in early 1900 it was renamed Grant, and the original Grant School building was sold for $2,000 and lost to expansion of the Belmont Mine yard. The new (1900) Grant School was demolished in 1975 to make room for the expansion of the Berkeley Pit.
A naive newcomer to Anaconda remarked to a Smelter City native that it probably felt heartening to see vegetation returning to the hills behind the courthouse. The year was 1990.

The woman, usually soft-spoken, responded with a burst of heat.

Id take the arsenic and the lead and all the rest if the smelter was operating and my kids could come home and get a job, she said.

The copper smelter closed in 1980. The focus since 1983 has been Superfund cleanup of the pollution wrought by emissions from the towering smelter stack and restoration of natural resources lost during a century of smelting.

Restoration is meant to dovetail with or follow cleanup. Thats the Superfund process.

Now, the states Natural Resource Damage Program, which generally focuses on restoration and not remediation but also does both, wants residents of Anaconda-Deer Lodge County to help identify ways to spend up to $4 million in restoration money on lands owned by the city-county. Another option might be to acquire property.

Remediation must happen first.

British Petroleum-Atlantic Richfield is in charge of cleanup of the lands owned by Anaconda-Deer Lodge County that are the focus of the NRDP.

Restoration of county lands will not occur until BP-AR has implemented the appropriate remedial requirements, said Doug Martin, restoration program chief for NRDP.

One potential use of the restoration money could be to buy the A-Hill property, currently in private hands, near the courthouse.

Martin said the proposed amendment to the Anaconda Uplands Restoration Plan could possibly sanction use of funds for such an acquisition.

Contingent on approval of its purchase as outlined in the amendment, and additional due diligence, NRDP funds may be available for its purchase, Martin said.

What about the C-Hill?

We are aware of community interest in the C-Hill, Martin said. NRDP is not currently involved in any discussion of its future ownership.

Otherwise, the money likely will help pay for restoring native vegetation, construction of erosion-limiting structures (such as those mimicking beaver dams), acquiring wildlife habitat and creating a trails network.

A foundational principle guiding natural resource restoration is that the profound pollution that begets federal Superfund designation has previously robbed generations of citizens and wildlife of the wealth associated with a healthy environment and its recreational assets.

In 1977, the Atlantic Richfield Co. bought the Anaconda Co. Three years later, Congress created Superfund. And Atlantic Richfield was deemed responsible for remediating the Anaconda Co.s sprawling legacy of pollution.

A consent decree settlement negotiated in 2008 specified that up to $4 million could be used for restoration actions on land owned by Anaconda-Deer Lodge County once other remediation and restoration work reached fruition.

The remediation, focused on state-owned lands in the so-called Anaconda Uplands, was recently declared officially complete.

Before launching restoration work on lands owned by Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, NRDP staff said they want to share their ideas and solicit input from the public about how to proceed with the $4 million.

A related public meeting is set for May 24 at 6 p.m. in the Montana Tammany Ballroom, 200 Main St., Anaconda. Instructions for participating remotely are available at https://dojmt.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023.05.24-Hybrid-Meeting-InfoProcedures-FINAL-R.pdf
Until two months ago, Cartiers website showed Indigenous children playing in a field of tall, green grass. The French luxury jewelry brand said it was working to promote the culture of the Indigenous people and protect the rainforest. But the project that the site described never took place, and Cartier took down the photo when contacted by The Associated Press. This incident aside, some of the Yanomami and their defenders praise Cartiers promotion of Yanomami causes. But that one of the worlds biggest jewelers would advertise with images of an Indigenous people devastated by illegal gold mining has some complaining of greenwashing, a corporation promoting its own image by supporting a cause.
CLAYTON, N.M.  Thirteen weeks into her pregnancy, 29-year-old Cloie Davila was so pukey and nauseated that she began lovingly calling her baby spicy.

Davila was sick enough that staffers at the local hospital gave her 2 liters of IV fluids and prescribed a daily regimen of vitamins and medication. This will be Davilas third child and she hopes the nausea means its another girl.

Davila had moved back to her hometown of Clayton, New Mexico, so her kids could grow up near family  her dad, aunts, uncles, and cousins all live in this remote community of about 2,800 people in the northeastern corner of the state. But Claytons hospital stopped delivering babies more than a decade ago.

Aside from being sick, Davila was worried about making the more than 3-hour round trip to the closest labor and delivery doctors in the state.

With gas and kids and just work  having to miss all the time, Davila said. It was going to be difficult financially, kind of.

Then, Davila spotted a billboard advertising the use of telehealth at her local hospital.

In rural regions, having a baby can be particularly fraught. Small-town hospitals face declining local populations and poor reimbursement. Those that dont shutter often halt obstetric services to save money  even as the number of U.S. mothers who die each year while pregnant or shortly after has hit historic highs, particularly for Black women.

More than half of rural counties lack obstetric care, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report released last year. Low Medicaid reimbursement rates and a lack of health workers are some of the biggest challenges, the agency reported. New Mexico Medicaid leaders say 17 of the states 33 counties have limited or no obstetric care.

Those realities prompted the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, which is part of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to launch the Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies Program, RMOMS. Ten regional efforts nationwide  including one that serves Davila in northeastern New Mexico  have been awarded federal grants to spend on telehealth and creating networks of hospitals and clinics.

Weve never done this sort of work before, said Tom Morris, associate administrator for the office at HRSA. We were really testing out a concept  could we improve access?

After joining the telehealth program, Davila didnt have to take the afternoon off work for a recent prenatal checkup. She drove less than a mile from her job at the county courthouse and parked near the hospital. As she stepped inside a ranch-style yellow-brick clinic building, staffers greeted Davila with hugs and laughter. She then sat on a white-papered exam table facing a large computer screen.

Hello, everybody, said Timothy Brininger, a family practice doctor who specializes in obstetrics. He peered out the other side of the screen from about 80 miles away at Miners Colfax Medical Center in Raton, New Mexico.

The visit was a relief  close enough for a lunchtime appointment  and with staff Ive known my whole life, Davila said. She heard her babys heartbeat, had her blood drawn, and laughed about how she debated the due date with her husband in bed one night.

Theyre nice, Davila said of the local staff. They make me feel comfortable.

Yet, Davila may be one of the last expectant mothers to benefit from the telehealth program. It is slated to run out of money at the end of August.

Oh My God, It Really Made a Difference

The day after Davilas prenatal checkup, Brininger sat at his desk in Raton and explained, The closest OB doctor besides the one sitting in front of you whos working today is over 100 miles in any direction.

When the telehealth program runs out of money, Brininger said, he wants to keep devices the grant paid for that enable some patients to home-monitor with blood pressure cuffs, oxygen sensors, and fetal heart rate monitors so they dont have to drive to see us.

The retired military doctor has thoughts about the pilot program ending: I will hope that our tax dollars have been utilized effectively to learn something from this because otherwise its a shame.

Because of the grant, 1,000 women and their families in northeastern New Mexico have been connected to social services like food assistance and lactation counselors since 2019. More than 760 mothers have used the program for medical care, including home, telehealth, and clinic appointments. In its first year, 57% of the women identified as Hispanic and 5% as Indigenous.

Jade Vandiver, 25, said she feels like I wouldnt have made it without them.

In the early months of her pregnancy, Vandiver slept during the day and struggled with diabetic hypoglycemic episodes. Vandivers husband repeatedly rushed her to the Clayton hospitals emergency room because we were scared I was going to go into a coma or worse.

There, hospital staffers suggested Vandiver join the program. She eventually began traveling to specialists in Albuquerque for often weekly visits.

The program covered travel and hotel costs for the family. After months of checkups, she had a planned delivery of Ezra, whos now a healthy 6-month-old. The boy watched his mothers smile as she talked.

Without the program, Vandiver likely would have delivered at home and been airlifted out  possibly to the smaller Raton hospital.

Ratons Miners Colfax is a small critical access hospital that recently closed its intensive care unit. The hospital sits just off Interstate 25, less than 10 miles south of the Colorado border, and its patients can be transient, Chief Nursing Officer Rhonda Moniot said. Maintaining the hospitals obstetric program is not easy, financially its not easy, she said.

Moms from the area dont always seek care when they need to, she said. Substance use disorders are common, she said, and those babies are often delivered under emergency conditions and prematurely.

If we can get them in that first trimester  we have healthier outcomes in the end, Moniot said, pulling up a spreadsheet on her computer.

At Ratons hospital, 41% of mothers who gave birth before the RMOMS program began failed to show up for their first-trimester prenatal exams. But over two years  even as the covid-19 pandemic scared many patients away from seeking care  the number dropped to only 25% of mothers missing prenatal checkups during their first three months of pregnancy.

I was, like, oh my God, it really made a difference, said Moniot, who helped launch the program at Miners Colfax in 2019.

Lets Not Let It Die

Just a few weeks before Davilas checkup in Clayton, the New Mexico programs executive director, Colleen Durocher, traveled nearly 1,600 miles east to Capitol Hill to lobby for money.

Durocher said she cornered HRSAs Morris at an evening event while in Washington, D.C. She said she told him the program is working but that the one year of planning plus three years of implementation paid for by the federal government was not enough.

Lets not let it die, Durocher said. It would be a real waste to let those successes just end.

By April, Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) said he was impressed by the programs lifesaving work and asked for $1 million in the federal budget for fiscal year 2024. But the money, if approved, would likely not arrive before Durocher runs out of funding in late summer.

As the August deadline looms, Durocher said one obvious option would be to simply extend the grant. HRSA spokesperson Elana Ross said the agency cannot extend funding for the program. Each site, though, can reapply by offering to target a new population, include new hospitals or clinics, or provide services in a new area.

Of the 10 regional programs across the country, the one in New Mexico and two others are slated to end their pilots this year. Seven other programs  from Minnesota to Arkansas  are scheduled to end in 2025 or 2026. During their first two years, the 2019 awardees reported more than 5,000 women received medical care, and all three recorded a decrease in preterm births during the second year of implementation, according to HRSA.

The three initial programs also expanded their patient navigation programs to connect hundreds of women to emotional support, insurance coverage, and social services, such as transportation and home visiting, agency spokesperson Ross wrote in an email.

New Mexico Medicaids interim Director Lorelei Kellogg said her agency would like to emulate the programs care coordination among hospitals and health staff in other areas of the state but also alter it to work best for different Indigenous and tribal cultures as well as African American partners.

There is money in the states budget to pay for patient navigators or community health workers, but there are no funds dedicated to support the maternity program, she said.

In the meantime, the programs funding is set to run out just days before Davilas baby is due in early September. In the coming months, Davila, like many mothers with an uncomplicated pregnancy, will have monthly prenatal telehealth visits, then biweekly and, as her due date nears, weekly.

Its nicer to be able to just pop in, she said, adding that it would be harder for the community if the program didnt exist.

Still, Davila may be one of the last moms to benefit from it.

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Poland has received its first shipment of U.S.-made HIMARS rocket launchers as part of a defense upgrade amid security concerns due to the war in neighboring Ukraine. The country's defense minister and military officials attended an acquisition ceremony at a Warsaw air base on Monday. NATO member Poland is spending $414 million to buy 18 advanced combat HIMARS launchers and two training launchers as part of the broader effort to modernize its armed forces. The defense minister says talks are underway for the eventual purchase of almost 500 aunchers. Some of the billions of dollars worth of equipment Poland is acquiring will replace weapons it gave Ukraine to help it fight Russias invasion.
Governor Kim Reynolds stopped by Muscatine last week to learn more about the citys 3D home building project as well as speak with local leaders from the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine.

Reynolds visited on May 10 and also spoke with local leaders of the flood response.

We were incredibly pleased in the governors interest and time spent learning more about the 3D home building plans, Community Foundation President Charla Schafer said. Those in attendance enjoyed participating in the conversation and learning more about the technology and science behind the 3D builds. The governor also indicated her plan to stay engaged in our local work, as well as Alquists planned work across the state later this year.

First announced in 2022, the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine has partnered with Alquist 3D, Muscatine Community College (MCC), the Muscatine Center for Social Action and several other local and state groups to try and solve the countys housing issue through innovative means, providing options that are more affordable, more sustainable and faster than traditional housing development.

Funding has been allocated by the State of Iowa to 3D home printing research being led by Iowa State University, and locally to support printing homes with a lower-income price point in a neighborhood revitalization area targeted at first time homebuyers, Schafer explained.

During her visit, Governor Reynolds had the chance to watch one of the projects most crucial tools in action: the 3D robotic home printer, which was created by Ric Technology. She also learned more about how MCC is going to be offering a 3D Home Printing Certificate Program this fall, the first program of its kind in the state.

Her interest was also in the proactive measures Muscatine Community College has taken to be at the forefront of workforce training and research for this innovative housing development tool, Schafer noted. Muscatine is not alone in the supply-side housing pressures on individuals, communities, and economic development, so aligned workforce training will be an integral component of success.

Through the colleges new program, MCC will offer hands-on training for students who are interested in utilizing this emerging technology as they strive for a career in construction. MCC will also add to the research currently be done in relation to the 3D construction field, namely in how hemp fibers can be used in the concrete formula to strengthen it.

Currently, it is expected that residents will get to see the construction of the first 3D printed home in both Muscatine County and the state of Iowa later this year. The home will be 1,300 square feet and will be built in the Arbor Commons subdivision, which recently saw its groundbreaking. Alquist 3D will be supervising the project while Hagerty Earthworks will serve as the projects local contractor.

For those wishing to know more about 3D home printing and about the houses that will be built in Muscatine as part of this project, they can visit www.givinggreater.org/housing.

The 2023 housing market in 5 charts The 2023 housing market in 5 charts Home prices remain high Homes are more unaffordable Low inventory keeps prices elevated Builders unable to keep up Rents rise as fewer people can buy
John Eddie Hanes III will not turn 20 until September, but he faces the prospect of spending the rest of his life in an Iowa prison.

He is accused of being one of three men who shot and killed 14-year-old Jamon Winfrey on Feb. 24, 2021, in Davenport. He is charged with first-degree murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence with no chance of probation or parole.

Hanes also faces the felony charge of intimidation with a dangerous weapon.

Not long after the doors of the Scott County Courthouse opened Monday morning, Hanes sat in Courtroom No. 3 while prosecutor Elizabeth O'Donell and defense attorney Beau Bergmann questioned some of the 54 people summoned for possible jury duty.

Hanes watched the proceedings with the lower half of his face covered by a black surgical mask. He communicated with Bergmann by responding to notes written on a yellow legal pad.

Jury selection continued Monday afternoon.

Hanes is not the first person who went to trial on the charges of first-degree murder and armed intimidation for the killing of Winfrey.

Chrystian Z. Smith, 19, of Davenport, pleaded guilty in February to a single count of attempted murder in relation to the teens death. His plea was part of an agreement with the Scott County Attorneys Office, which initially charged him with first-degree murder and intimidation with a dangerous weapon.

District Court Judge Henry Latham sentenced Smith to up to 25 years in an Iowa prison on the attempted murder charge, according to court records. Smith must serve a minimum of six years before he could be eligible for parole or work release.

Smith faced a jury trial in the matter, which was conducted in November 2022, but the jury could not reach a verdict. A second trial was pending when he entered his plea.

Javon Combs, 21, of Davenport, also is charged with first-degree murder and intimidation with a dangerous weapon. He has yet to face trial on the charges.

In earlier court hearings related to the killing, police accused Smith, Hanes and Combs of being members of the Mad Max Gang or MMG, while Winfrey was a member of the Savage Life gang.

At the time of the shooting, the gangs had shoot-on-sight orders for each others members, according Davenport police Detective Jordan Sander, who testified during a preliminary hearing in Javon Combs' case.

Sander had worked as a member of the Davenport Police Department's major crimes unit for six years at the time of the March 2022, hearing. The unit investigates crimes like homicide and burglary, but "gang-related shootings take up a fairly decent amount" of the unit's time, Sander said in court.

At the preliminary hearing, Sander laid out how Winfrey's shooting unfolded. He said at about 4:22 p.m. on Feb. 24, 2021, officers went to the area of 13th and Farnam streets to investigate a report of gunfire. An initial investigation indicated three vehicles  a black four-door sedan, a gold sedan and a silver minivan  were chasing one another with shots fired from at least one of the vehicles, according to police.

Sander testified that Combs, Smith and Hanes were able to block the vehicle they were chasing, causing the vehicle in which Winfrey was riding to stop in the roadway, and that Combs and one of the other two men fired at Winfrey, striking him.

Officers located a scene and recovered spent shell casings but did not find anyone with injuries nor any damage to property during that first response.

Winfreys body was found the next day in a yard between houses in the 1300 block of Farnam Street.
If all goes according to plan, when the riders in RAGBRAI enter Muscatine on July 29 they will be greeted with possibly the worlds largest sculpture of a watermelon slice on the trip along Mississippi Drive.

During the regular Muscatine City Council meeting Thursday, Mayor Brad Bark, addressing the council as the director of the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, presented a potential project for Riverside Park. He explained the $40,000 cost of the watermelon slice and the foundation had already been raised with local donations and that the council simply needed to OK the project and determine a location.

We have the best riverfront all the way up and down the Mississippi River, Bark said.

The council unanimously approved the project, but no specific location along the river was determined. Bark said the idea is to have the slice somewhere people entering Muscatine  along Mississippi Drive, on the river, or on the trail system, will see it. The slice is expected to be in place before July 29 and the city is working with area farmers to be able to give slices of watermelon to RAGBRAI riders.

Bark said the idea had come from an area business that recommended Muscatine have an additional attraction. Currently on the riverfront, the city has the string of pearls (the lights on the riverfront), the Fisher of Clams statue and the Norbert Beckey Bridge. While Bark had originally thought of a water park, he said that project would be cost prohibitive. In searching the Internet, he found several areas that have a sculpture of a watermelon slice.

Muscatine and Muscatine County have been famous for growing watermelons and cantaloupes. Melons grow better in the sand that is prevalent on the south side of Muscatine. The rumor is this is how the town of Fruitland got its name.

The largest watermelon slice sculpture city workers have been able to find is 29 feet long and 9 feet tall in Chinchilla, Australia. Hoffman Industries in Muscatine has sheets of steel that the sculpture could be made of that are 40 feet long.

The watermelon will be 40 feet long and 16 feet tall. It will be 16,000 lbs. and have an 8-foot steel base. It will be created by a local artist. He said the city is working on determining a location that wont be in a flood plain. Bark also said the slice will be set so to not diminish the view of the river.

Council member Peggy Gordon said she preferred a location at Mulberry on the riverfront or by Pearl City Station, saying that it would not conflict with many events held by the river.

If you think about some people who might want to come visit and take a selfie, its not as long of a walk, she said.

The city is also working with MUSCO and MPW to provide lighting for the slice.
WASHINGTON  House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Monday there's been no progress on debt ceiling talks ahead of a meeting with President Joe Biden on Tuesday at the White House, as the country pushes closer to a crisis over the need to raise its legal borrowing limit.

Compounding pressure on Washington to strike a deal, the Treasury Department on Monday left unchanged a June 1 deadline when the nation will have exhausted its ability to cover its debt payments, though Secretary Janet Yellen also suggested the so-called X-date could move days or weeks later than the estimate.

It's very concerning to me, McCarthy, the Republican speaker, told reporters as he opened the House chamber.

Theres no progress that I see, he said of the staff-level talks that extended through the weekend. And it really concerns me with the timeline of where we are.

Time is narrowing as Biden prepares to depart for the Group of Seven summit Wednesday in Japan. The standoff comes as the Treasury Department issued a new letter Monday outlining its ability to continue paying the nation's bills. Biden's National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that so far, we are still planning to leave as scheduled.

Biden, who was in Philadelphia on Monday to attend granddaughter Maisys graduation from the University of Pennsylvania, told reporters the meeting was on for Tuesday but did not elaborate on prospects for a deal.

The president remained hopeful that an agreement could be reached with McCarthy and congressional leaders when they meet to avoid what would be an unprecedented debt default, which could trigger a financial catastrophe. Now at $31 trillion, the debt limit must be lifted, as has been done countless times before, to allow continued borrowing to pay already accrued bills.

"I remain optimistic because Im a congenital optimist," Biden told reporters Sunday while out for a bike ride in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. "But I really think theres a desire on their part as well as ours to reach an agreement. I think well be able to do it.

Yellen said Monday that agency estimates are unchanged on the possible X-date when the U.S. could run out of cash.

Yellens letter to House and Senate leaders leaves some opening for a possible time extension on a national default, stating that the actual date Treasury exhausts extraordinary measures could be a number of days or weeks later than these estimates.

She said she would update Congress next week as more information becomes available.

Aides said talks had continued throughout the weekend. Staff is narrowing on four areas of potential agreement that could begin to shape a budget deal that would unlock a separate vote to lift the nation's borrowing capacity. They are discussing clawing back untapped COVID-19 money, future spending caps, permitting reforms to ease energy development and bolstered work requirements on recipients of government aid, those familiar with the talks said.

But at least publicly, there was little indication that either the White House or House Republicans had budged from their initial positions. Biden has called on lawmakers to lift the debt limit without preconditions, warning that the nations borrowing authority should not be used to impose deep spending cuts and other conservative policy demands.

Republicans led by McCarthy want Biden to accept their proposal to rollback spending, cap future outlays and other policy changes in the package passed last month by House Republicans.

Weve not reached the crunch point yet, Biden told reporters Saturday before flying to his beach home. Theres real discussion about some changes we all could make. Were not there yet.

Biden did signal over the weekend that he could be open to tougher work requirements for certain government aid programs, which Republicans are proposing as part of the ongoing discussion. He has said he will not accept anything that takes away peoples health care coverage.

I voted for tougher aid programs thats in the law now, but for Medicaid its a different story, he said. And so Im waiting to hear what their exact proposal is.

Administration officials said the talks among staff had so far been productive after Biden and the leaders  McCarthy of California, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky  ended their first meeting last Tuesday without a breakthrough.

The president described that Oval Office session as productive even though McCarthy said later he didnt see any new movement toward resolving the stalemate. White House and congressional aides have been in talks since Wednesday.

The staff is very engaged. I would characterize the engagement as serious, as constructive, Lael Brainard, head of the White Houses National Economic Council, said on CBS Face the Nation.

McCarthy has insisted on using the threat of defaulting on the nations debts to wrangle spending changes, arguing that the federal government cant continue to spend money at the pace it is now. The national debt now stands at $31.4 trillion.

An increase in the debt limit would not authorize new federal spending. It would only allow for borrowing to pay for what Congress has already approved.

Average consumer debt jumped 7% in 2022historic growth as pandemic wanes Average consumer debt jumped 7% in 2022historic growth as pandemic wanes Consumer demand for most types of loans increased more than usual in 2022 Average overall debt increases, no matter the credit score Debt trends follow similar pattern across generations Mortgage debt increases alongside higher mortgage rates Student loan debt decreases as borrowers await court ruling Factors attributable to increases in debt
A teen drowned Saturday in the Ben Martinsen Wildlife Area in Clinton County, Sheriff Bill Greenwalt said in a news release.

The wildlife area is along the Wapsipinicon River south west of Clinton.

Greenwalt said that deputies went to the wildlife area on Iowa 67 south of Folletts at about 9:45 a.m. to investigate a report of a missing 18-year-old person.

Upon arrival, deputies met with two teenagers who reported their 18-year-old friend missing from the campsite.

First responders from the Clinton County Sheriffs Department, Low Moor Fire Department and an off-duty Camanche firefighter began searching the area and the backwaters of the Wapsipinicon River.

A K9 from the Clinton Police Department and a drone also were used in the search.

At 10:28 a.m., the body of the 18-year-old was discovered in the backwaters of the Wapsipinicon River by the Camanche firefighter.

The victim, whose gender was not released, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The identity of the victim was not released Saturday pending notification of family members.

The case remains under investigation by the Clinton County Sheriffs Department and the Clinton County Medical Examiner.

Also assisting at the scene was Clinton County Emergency Management and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

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